Ever since we came to Rexburg, we've joked about going to Bear World. When you drive by - it kinda looks like a small outside petting zoo. We joke about it being Jurassic Park, only with bears.
Well, currently they are hosting Cub-Palooza, and with a half-off price ticket, we decided to see what it was all about.
The park has 2 parts, the drive through wildlife park and then the play area/shops. The best part is once you pay for admission, you get to go through as many times as you want. We drove through twice this visit and I was SHOCKED at how close they get to you. You drive through with your doors closed and windows up, but they come within a few feet of the car.
I took this picture from the car window, without my zoom lens. Yeah he was about 5 feet from the car.
Well, currently they are hosting Cub-Palooza, and with a half-off price ticket, we decided to see what it was all about.
The park has 2 parts, the drive through wildlife park and then the play area/shops. The best part is once you pay for admission, you get to go through as many times as you want. We drove through twice this visit and I was SHOCKED at how close they get to you. You drive through with your doors closed and windows up, but they come within a few feet of the car.
I took this picture from the car window, without my zoom lens. Yeah he was about 5 feet from the car.
We headed to the second part of the park, and went to the petting zoo area. Zoe got to pet all sorts of animals, her favorite was the deer. I mean how often do you get to pet a deer?! They were very sweet in nature, there was even a baby fawn Zoe got to pet.
There is also a mini amusement park, that you can go on as many times as you want with paid admission, definitely a great addition to our trip.
Also, have you ever seen a swan close up? They are HUGE. I was shocked at how large they were. Beautiful and graceful, but huge.
It was a great way to spend a Saturday morning, and the ice cream helped :)
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
My package from Pretty Little Studio came yesterday and I knew exactly what I wanted to make. Before we headed down to Utah for Easter, we had the Stauffer boys over to help decorate some egg cookies. Jamie and I had a good laugh watching the kids (specifically Noah) enjoy the sprinkles. I've been holding onto these Easter cookie pictures for a few weeks, waiting for those adorable bunny pennants and circle tags.
I also ordered some items from their brand new collection, Monsieur. These woodgrain numbers are gorgeous - and I can't wait to use them.
Hoping to have some more time to play with this fun stuff - and scrapbook our egg hunting photos.
XOXO,
Holly & CO.
I'm in LOVE with the new stamps from the April Studio Calico kit, as well as the bicycle paper. (Still available HERE) These pictures are from a picnic Zoe and I had a few weeks ago, during a warm afternoon. She loves my Instax camera, probably because it looks like a toy, but she insisted I take some pictures of her and this is what I got. One smile, one crazy face - which is totally normal Zoe.
Our town is rather small, and we are looking forward to summer evenings spent riding around to the park and to get ice cream.
I've found a bike I'm in love with - a cruiser style, and we pulled out Zoe's tricycle today. She's still learning how to control the handles and steering, but she's getting better. We took a little ride around the block after lunch, and again just a few minutes ago. Hopefully we can get to the park soon, where they have a flat sidewalk, ours is all chunky and bumpy.
.JPG)
.JPG)
She's so tall we might have to get her a new bike before the end of summer- thank goodness someone's birthday is coming up soon :)
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
Super excited for today's share! At Paper Issues, we are having a blog hop to kick off the new theme, which is SMASH!
I made my first SMASH book last summer, documenting all our fun adventures and memories and I really enjoyed the sarcastic pages and great designs included in the book. But I'm going to admit I was a little afraid of it. Afraid of doodling, misting, using too much product in it....
But when I decided to participate in the April Photo-a-Day Challenge, I thought the SMASH mini book would be a perfect size to put the project all together in.
I made my first SMASH book last summer, documenting all our fun adventures and memories and I really enjoyed the sarcastic pages and great designs included in the book. But I'm going to admit I was a little afraid of it. Afraid of doodling, misting, using too much product in it....
 |
| SMASHbook for Summer 2011 |
But when I decided to participate in the April Photo-a-Day Challenge, I thought the SMASH mini book would be a perfect size to put the project all together in.
The SMASHbook mini is by far my favorite size, it's about 5x7,
so it's great for instragram photos and even 4x6.
One of the best part of SMASH books, is the stash buster factor. Let me explain. Because there really are no rules in the SMASH book, you can use this book, to use up random packages of thickers, or those 2 or 3 labels you have left on a sheet, even cardstock shapes that you really have no other use for...
Here are a few of my pages, although this book is incomplete as the monthly challenge isn't over :)
Now, here comes the fun part. Paper Issues is giving away this awesome prize pack!
To enter:
You must follow Paper Issues on Facebook
You must follow the Paper Issues Blog
Leave a comment on the the Paper Issues Blog
And if you follow my blog and leave a comment, you'll be entered into a little giveaway from me:
2 new rolls of the SMASH tape
Now Hop on to Chrissy's Blog
And If you are looking to start SMASHing - Stop by the Paper Issues Shop and use coupon code HOLLYH for 20% off your entire purchase!
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
I had some time to play last night, and I remembered Elle's Studio has a new sketch every Thursday.
Here is this week's sketch -
Here is this week's sketch -
And here is what I came up with -
This is a picture of my sister and my niece, who looks more and more like her mother every day. We had such a great time hanging out together last week, Eliza is a crack-up, and my favorite thing she says is, "No." It's the way she says it that is so funny.
The majority of the supplies are from the Studio Calico April kit, with some new Amy Tangerine bits and some pieces from my stash. I am in LOVE with the wood frames from Crate Paper, they are such a unique piece to scrapbook with.
Yesterday, I got to go visit a brand spankin' new baby, Brody, who made my heart melt. He was about 15 hours old when I got to hold him. I'm so glad Karli asked me to bring my camera, we got some sweet pictures.
Precious, huh?
Make sure to stop back on Sunday, we've got a new Paper Issues theme up, complete with a blog hop!
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
I squeezed out one more layout from my March Studio Calico kit, that brings my total to 8, which I think is pretty good, considering I was out of town 3 times in march as well as sick for a good chunk of it.
I used a sketch from Kelly Purkey's Sketchbook 2 class to make this page, with a few alterations. Even though it's simple, I really like it, the gold thickers just make it pop!
We are getting into a new routine with Ryan off school now, it's nice to have another adult to talk to and to have some extra hands to help out. I really missed him.
I forgot to share the pattern I made Zoe's dress for the Easter egg hunt from. Here's a close up of the fabric, surprisingly, it's from Wal-Mart. Here is the link to the tutorial for the dress: LINK
I also made one for my niece, but her's didn't have sleeves because I had a fight with my mom's sewing machine. But she still looked cute running around saying, "Egg, egg, egg!"
We cheated and had frozen yogurt before dinner and now we're not really hungry, go figure. But I'm hoping to get some more craft time while I'm anxiously awaiting the birth of my dear friend's new baby!
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
We had a last minute change in plans, to spend Easter in Utah. (For those of you keeping track, yes I have been there a lot lately) But this was our only chance to get our entire family together this year. Scheduling conflicts, jobs and school, are making this our only chance.
Thanks to a good friend, we were able to get some family picture taken, for the first time since 2008. (More pictures to follow once Aly finished with them :)
We took them in this amazing place my Mom found while she was walking. It's tucked back behind my brother's high school, and then you have to walk down a stone staircase, as you can see in the first photo. (not easy in heels), but it was beautiful, perfect for pictures.
Not only was my whole family in town, a large majority of my Dad's side of the family was in town also. We invited them all over on Saturday for an EGG-stravaganza! Lots of yummy food, egg coloring and egg hunting of course!
We enjoyed spending so much time together over the week. I know I've left out a lot of details, but it can be summed up in a small phrase, Family First. That's what we did last week, we put family first, and everything else fell into place. I only wish that every day, life were that simple.
Thanks to a good friend, we were able to get some family picture taken, for the first time since 2008. (More pictures to follow once Aly finished with them :)
 |
| Photos via Aly Willis Photography |
Not only was my whole family in town, a large majority of my Dad's side of the family was in town also. We invited them all over on Saturday for an EGG-stravaganza! Lots of yummy food, egg coloring and egg hunting of course!
And then came Sunday, the reason for the season.
 |
| Zoe in her Sunday best |
We enjoyed spending so much time together over the week. I know I've left out a lot of details, but it can be summed up in a small phrase, Family First. That's what we did last week, we put family first, and everything else fell into place. I only wish that every day, life were that simple.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
I know some people don't like Mondays, and some weeks, I'm not a fan of them either, but this one is leaving me in a much better mood than the past couple have days.
Maybe it's because I was able to finish a quilt I've been working on, to give to a sweet friend having a baby hopefully soon!
Maybe it's because I spent yesterday listening the the Prophet and leaders of our church.
Maybe it's because I have freshly painted nails in a pretty spring pink. (Essie Bachelorette Bash)
Maybe it's because Ryan will finish this semester in just a few short days.
Maybe it's because my entire family will be together this weekend for the only time in 2012.
Maybe it's because Zoe was telling me stories about how Jesus protected her from the Big Bad Wolf on the way to school this morning.
I think you get the idea. This list could go on and on. I'm thankful for that.
I've got a page to share this morning.
This Dear Lizzy strawberry paper was PERFECT for this picture of delicious berries. The rest of the supplies were from the Studio Calico Daydream Believer February kit. (which I think is still available and on major sale!)
Thanks to Tina Azmus, I discovered a fun photo a day challenge, from Fat Mum Slim : HERE is the link
I missed yesterday's but I'm gonna work on that today.
Today's challenge is color:
I have a fun plan with what to do with all my photos from April! I'm super excited about it.
Zoe has a concert for preschool tonight at the old Tabernacle, the theme is patriotic songs, and I'm excited to see her singing again, we had such a good time at her Christmas concert.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
Maybe it's because I was able to finish a quilt I've been working on, to give to a sweet friend having a baby hopefully soon!
Maybe it's because I spent yesterday listening the the Prophet and leaders of our church.
Maybe it's because I have freshly painted nails in a pretty spring pink. (Essie Bachelorette Bash)
Maybe it's because Ryan will finish this semester in just a few short days.
Maybe it's because my entire family will be together this weekend for the only time in 2012.
Maybe it's because Zoe was telling me stories about how Jesus protected her from the Big Bad Wolf on the way to school this morning.
I think you get the idea. This list could go on and on. I'm thankful for that.
I've got a page to share this morning.
This Dear Lizzy strawberry paper was PERFECT for this picture of delicious berries. The rest of the supplies were from the Studio Calico Daydream Believer February kit. (which I think is still available and on major sale!)
Thanks to Tina Azmus, I discovered a fun photo a day challenge, from Fat Mum Slim : HERE is the link
I missed yesterday's but I'm gonna work on that today.
Today's challenge is color:
I have a fun plan with what to do with all my photos from April! I'm super excited about it.
Zoe has a concert for preschool tonight at the old Tabernacle, the theme is patriotic songs, and I'm excited to see her singing again, we had such a good time at her Christmas concert.
XOXO,
Holly & Co.
