resolutions...

So I'm not one for resolutions… always seems to feel like I'm setting myself up for failure somehow.  I just rather prefer to surprise myself with new & unexpected ventures, or something of the sort.  But when I stumbled upon this about midway through last year… well, it was just too much fun!

and I've been waiting to see if she would put out a 2012 version,
and well… she did!!  It's time to do somthing different.  And what better way to come up with some suggestions for your TwentyTwelve Resolutions?

here's a few I love…

 four posts in the last four days… I'm thinking, good start.

and snap a few photos of course…

yes please!!  still so many places I need to go
before we have to leave this beautiful country.

 okay, this takes me back & is actually a funny story… you see, my sister & I used to sneak all the ingredients up to our bedroom during the middle of the night (including the kitchenaid mixer) just so we could eat all the cookie dough!

which could be interesting… you see alot of people spell my name "Nilou."

so in my mad search look what I discovered… this facebook page and this website.

such a novelty for me, 

because you don't just run into Nelous every day, you know… 

 so many of us just go through the motions… with all the technology these days, things get lost in translation, or we don't fully commit our attention to a conversation.  time for a change.  eye contact, people.

 pretty sure my hubby will LOVE this one.

ummm yes please!  loved doing this as a kid…


 so. very. important.

So what are your New Year Resolutions?
to make your own or to get some ideas, you can visit here.

and best wishes to you all in the new year.

52 reasons I love you...

So the hubby & I just passed up our ten year anniversary… I decided that even though we have never given the traditional gifts, I wanted to do something different this year.  That being said, year ten = aluminum/tin.  So me being my somewhat clever self, decided I would get him an iPad, since he is always traveling.  I asked the sales clerk what material it was made of, to which he answered aluminum… perfect!!  I even topped it off by using tin foil to wrap the gift.  I pretty much outdid myself, but I wanted something a bit more personal to add to the mix, and that's when I remembered seeing a fun little project on pinterest, or you can see it here.

Now enter the crafty Nelou.

First up, find the playing cards… Not that we don't have 50 million packs of them already, but none of them seemed to fit the bill.  My next trip to the flea market… paydirt, vintage playing cards.  I combined the best of 2 packs, and got to work.  First off, I set up an off-limits room where I could spread out the supplies I needed:

{self healing mat, exacto, triangle, sharpie, double-stick tape, cardstock, number stamps & stamp pad, hole punch, circle rings, & the playing cards of course}

I used heavy-weight craft gift tags, and was able to cut 2 from each tag.  

Once I had them all cut, I hand-wrote my 52 love notes.  

 Next, using a joker as a guide, I hole-punched the cards 

& secured them together with the rings.

 After I had them in the order I wanted, I got busy stamping.  And I must say 

I loved the imperfections when a small smudge would occur, or I would 

happen to press a little too hard, leaving a little corner of ink from the stamp.

 Lastly, I used the double-stick tape to attach them to each card.

 and voila!  52 reasons I love you… 

Sadly, this took me a little longer than expected, so the hubby didn't quite get it on our anniversary… it became a Christmas present instead.  So if you are starting to think towards Valentine's Day, and think this is a fun idea… start now!!  

Not only will it make your loved one melt… but you'll remember 

all those important little reasons you fell in love in the first place.  

is it over already?

Wow, I can't believe how fast Christmas came and went… 

I was however a little more ready for it this year than last.

Which means… pretty presents under the tree, yippee!!

week twenty-two :: christmas

me :: Laura

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmastime with your loved ones.

Now to ring in the New Year!!  

which means lots of fireworks in our household… 

Stay warm & safe, and best wishes, wherever in the world you may be.

holiday cheer!

a whole lot of things come to mind,

here's a few from my list…

week twenty-one :: holiday cheer

me :: Laura

what brings you cheer during the holiday season?

on a crisp sunny morning...

I had the pleasure of meeting up with this lovely family
to shoot their photos, just in time for christmas.

here's a few of the memories made on that beautiful day…

baby it's cold outside...

I can't help but think of one of my favorite songs when I hear this phrase… 

and who does it better than the fabulous Zooey Deschanel??
ummm, I'm thinking no one.

week twenty :: baby it's cold outside

Laura :: me

can't believe tomorrow's Christmas Eve!!  everyone get their shopping finished, 

or do we have any of those last minute shoppers out there?  

kickstart your morning...

week nineteen :: morning

me :: Laura

so what get's you going in the morning, bowl of cereal or a cup of joe?

thankful...

With the week of Thanksgiving (and yes, we're posting a tad late, 

but everyone deserves a break, and it was a holiday after all…)  

Well, we decided what could be better than the theme "thankful?"  

and I am thankful for so many things…

Grace seems to be doing much better, although she's been a bit mopey the last few days, which I'm hoping is due to the fact that her dad has been gone for a bit now.  And even though he does seem to be away from us more so since we've moved here… he was able to be here for the Thanksgiving holiday.  Some families may not have been so lucky.  Being away from family is especially hard during the holidays.  So to all the men & women out there away from home…
I'm incredibly thankful to you for serving our country & protecting our freedoms.
Thinking of you, may you all return home safely.

week eighteen :: thankful

Laura :: me