The weather this week has been reminiscent of our summer vacation and the day we spent at Carmel Beach. The part of the beach we were on had a big hill. We ate a lovely picnic at the top of the hill, then headed down for a dip in the ocean.

Reluctantly, I took my iPhone to get some quick pics of Zoe playing in the ocean. The last time I brought a camera to a beach, I ended up getting sand in the lens and ruined it, so I left my big camera at home. I spent 5 or 10 minutes taking her picture and then I put my phone down and we played in the ocean.


The water was cold but the delight on her face with every wave that came was worth it. Zoe couldn't remember the last time we were at the beach, so this trip was like the first time all over again.


I love Instagram for captioning these moments right as they happen. It's so helpful to be able to go back through my feed and read exactly what I wrote about that moment 6 months ago.

For the first time in a long time, I went scrapbook shopping. With so many new and gorgeous products coming out - I just couldn't resist. I visited two of my favorite online stores, Elle's Studio and Paper Issues. I've been on Design Teams for both stores before, and was always impressed with Elle and Cassie, their respective owners. Customer service and shipping is second to none! I would highly recommend both stores.

So excited to finally share some scrapbooking on this blog! It's about time, right?

When I got my September kit this week, I immediately sat down and scrapped 4 layouts. I was in major need of some scrappy time and some awesome new products. The September kit is FULL of brand new CHA-S stuff. Unfortunately the kit is now sold out, but you can avoid that next month by signing up for a subscription HERE.

Now it's time to share my layouts. Thank you to Aly Willis for these amazing pictures of Zoe. (PS. She is running a special on portrait session right now - contact her HERE)

 



































This kit was super easy to work with, each page just fell together and thankfully, I still have a bunch of stuff left, so you will be seeing more pages with this kit in the coming weeks.

Happy Saturday!
XOXO,
Holly & Co.

Well it's finally that time! The August Scrapbook Circle Kit, True Stories is now available for purchase. Head on over here to take a closer look. I highly recommend adding the printable to your order as well. I used that a lot on my pages. I also used a lot of yellow from this kit. The bright colors were just calling to me.

It looked as though summer had finally arrived here in Rexburg.
The sun was hot, the splash park is now open, snow cone stands popping up everywhere...
Until the clouds came today. It looks like rain and clouds will be here all week.

But that isn't stopping me from using my awesome new Elle's Studio summer tags.


































While this photo was taken back in May, I used the "Photograph #001" tag, because it feels like the first summer picture I really took. One without jackets or socks, just us outside, playing, and enjoying the sunshine.

I used this shape from Silhouette for the bubbles and then filled them in with Elle's Studio summer tidbits, as well as varying papers from my stash. I added some other tags from the Summer Lovin' collection and some washi tape covered chipboard stars as accents. I dribbled some Mister Huey (Lunchbox, Clay, and Heirloom Blue) for good measure.

After moving my craft room into our bedroom over the weekend, I was forced to realize how much stash I really have, so I am making an effort to use it up - even if it's in small bits.

I saw a Summer Manifesto, over on Jenni's blog and I think I might make one for myself. Or at the very least a bucket list for this summer. We are so close to so many awesome outdoor attractions, we really need to take advantage.

Do you have a summer bucket list?

XOXO,
Holly & Co.