The Paustenbaughs

May PageMaps

I have worked with PageMaps in the past and just love them so I was stoked when the Write.Click.Scrapbook team was asked to take part in this month's PageMaps sketches! The new sketches are all up now so head on over to take a look at the team's layouts!

This is the sketch I worked with:

I stuck pretty closely with the sketch and it came together pretty quickly!

I wasn't so sure about using the larger iPhone photo, but it ended up working.  I really wanted to document this change in my life recently because it was HUGE!  I've had horrible eyesight since I was 11 years old and was dependent on glasses and contacts to see anything beyond a foot in front of my face. 

I finally broke down in February and had Lasik surgery and it is the absolute best thing I could have done!  And like everyone I have talked to who also had it done, I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner!  Love it and love waking up and not blindly feeling around for my glasses!

Thanks for stopping by!

New Favorite Daily Routine

Since August we have had lots of new family dynamics with Terry working over 2 hours away.  Lots of "just girl" time and lots of missing the lone man of the house.  He's a very involved dad and husband so when he's away it really is a huge missing piece in our family.

We added a new daily routine that the girls love and look forward to every Monday through Thursday: Skype. When the computer starts ringing, they run to it so they can see him face to face, read stories, and share the trick of the day.

It's a special time for them and we are beyond thankful for modern technology!  Of course we are also going to be beyond thankful when we get him in person each evening in 2 weeks instead of via a computer screen. 

It also gets us ready for the many skype calls we'll be making once we move and get to chat with the Grandmas and Grandpas. 

I made this for this month's Write.Click.Scrapbook gallery, where we are featuring the every day moments.  This is one of my favorite subjects of the gallery and love what the team comes up with! I just picked up some new My Mind's Eye and couldn't wait to use some of it.  Lots of great goodies from this line.

Thank you for all your kind words yesterday.  I really appreciate it and it definitely helps get through the next couple of weeks of goodbyes.

Feeling Overwhelmingly Blessed

For meeting and getting to know them:

I always know when I move that I will make friends, but I do worry about meeting just more than passing friendships.  I value my friendships, probably even moreso because I have to get up and leave them every 2-3 years.  I value those that truly get to know me and yet still love and appreciate me! I value those that continue our friendship after I am hundreds or thousands of miles away.

I value my work life and the friendships I have made this time at my job:

What started as a lunch bunch grew into full friendships with so much laughter that my cheeks and stomach hurt after everytime I hang out with them.  Our school is going through a lot of changes for next year and I won't be the only one leaving lunch bunch, but all of us will.  This was our farewell and "see you later" weekend before we all head off.  I so appreciate it and the time we had together.

Friends aren't hard to find, it's the true long lasting friendships that are hard to find and keep.

That's what I will miss as soon as that plane is wheels up in 3 weeks.

I feel so fortunate to have met such amazing women who have made an impact in my life. 

I know, tears will be free flowing for a few weeks!

52 Fridays: Round

This week from The Bloom Forum we have several photographers taking part in our theme for the week: Round.

I was at a loss since last Friday thinking of something fun and creative that I wanted to do.  I have been waiting until the last minute recently with all the craziness in our family and this week I actually got my act together early!!  Yay me!

I have several photos this week to share after going on a walk around our neighborhood with my girls.  I didn't think we would find much, but we ended up finding lots of round things around our house.  First up was sitting right in front of me-my youngest daughter who has the biggest, brownest eyes that I love:

They both talked me into slushies from the local convenience store on our walk and they let me borrow them briefly for a quick photo op:

I of course needed a quick pick me up as well, but not in the form of a slushie:

And I found one more when we were almost home at our playground.  It didn't turn out exactly how I wanted, but I still liked the effect:

Now head over to see what Emily Bjornson has to offer this week!

Spring Training-Photography Style

I had the great opportunity to preview one of Erin Cobb's photography videos for the current Ella Spring Training class.  I have followed Erin for some time now and just love her photography style, so I was excited to get this assignment for spring training!

Both girls  have entered that stage in childhood that their paparazzi mama has run her course and I get super goofy smiles or the super fake ones.  Not good.  I love candids, but once the camera goes to my eye I immediately get the stink eye from them.

Erin had some great tips for pulling out some expressions from your kids without them even knowing it. 

I still got some goofy grins, but ended up with some very expressive ones as well!  I took a few of Ella, who happpens to be Mrs. Expressive of our family, and turned them into a layout for the Ella blog today:

Thanks for stopping by and if you're taking part in Spring Training, let me know how you're liking it!  I'm loving all the tips in the videos already!

Team Calls

There are a couple of calls I want to let you know about from a past team and one I'm currently on and ADORE!!

You all know I love and adore Ormolu and pretty much everything that Kaitlin produces!  Doesn't hurt that she is one of the nicest people I've worked with and known!  So if you love Ormolu as much as I do then  you'll love this announcement:

Ormolu Creative Team Call

Such great news!  So get those applications in because you only have until next Wednesday for the deadline.  And we've seen the new stuff coming out and you will absolutely love it.  Every time I think I won't love something more, I always do.  You've seen this, but this is one of my favorite layouts made with Ormolu goodies:

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Also, my friend Rachel is having a design team call for her kit club, Scrapbooking From The Inside Out.  Rachel is also such a great person to work with and her kits are always packed with amazing goodies.  The best part?  She encourages all of us to look inward and scrap those emotions and feelings that maybe we wouldn't normally want to and think about. 

SFTIO Design Team Call Info

I made some of my favorite layouts with Rachel's kits too.  This one I think is my absolute favorite:

So if you're thinking you want to try out a team, I HIGHLY recommend either or both of these teams!  You never know until you apply!

 

Also, don't forget Spring Training is still happening!  Wendy has shared her organization tips to start us off and Erin Cobb will be sharing some really great photography tips coming up!

 

Spring Training Time

Today starts the day for Ella Publishing's Spring Training for the next 2 weeks and it certainly won't disappoint!  I watched one of the photography videos and made a layout from the photos I took through Erin Cobb's tutorial.  It'll go live on the blog on Wednesday, but here's a sneak peak:

Lots of good videos and tutorials coming your way in the next 2 weeks!

You can still take advantage of the 10% off coupon (LEOTARD) and join in!

 

52 Fridays: Perspective

This week we have 15 photographers taking part in the 52 Fridays series from The Bloom Forum and the topic this week really hits home.  Our theme this week is PERSPECTIVE.

To say our lives are a little bit chaotic right now is quite the understatement.  In just 4 weeks all of our belongings will be packed and either headed to storage or headed to Japan (eventually!).  Moving so far away, combined with selling our house, combined with working part time, combined with regular mom duties and finished off with doing it primarily on my own Monday through Thursday and my stress level is a WEE bit high these days.  My patience is thin and it's easy to get wrapped up in how things are affecting me.

That's when perspective kicks in.  I'm not the only one moving so far away, packing away my belongings and trying to relish friendships while knowing I have to say goodbye soon.  These 2 did not choose this life, but roll with it as if they wholeheartedly signed on themselves.

They teach me so much during these difficult transitions.  In the grand scheme of things as long as we all have each other, we will be ok.  Stressed at times, but A-OK!

Now head on over to Jenny Singleton, Frisco, TX Photographer and see her take on this week's theme!

 

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And don't forget Spring Training starts on Monday!!  So excited for this!  Save 10% this weekend.

Seeing Things Anew

First, thank you all so much for the birthday wishes yesterday!  I had a great day with lots of birthday wishes, a rainy run with an incredible friend and topped it off with cupcakes with my 2 favorite girls!

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I posted last week about our trip to see family over spring break and to say I took a lot of photos is quite an understatement!  I think it was a combination of knowing we won't see family for a long time, trying to practice some photography skills and looking at my home town in a new way. 

I grew up in a town of 350 people. Yes, you read that correctly and no, I didn't forget a number or a comma in there anywhere.  It's a 1 flashing light kind of town.  Literally, if you blink, you will miss it.  I have to be honest here and say that growing up there I quite honestly hated it.  I had a couple of friends that I ran all over the place with, but I knew from a young age that I was leaving and going to a city.

My parents still live there and will live there for the rest of their lives.  It's what they love.  When they come see us I think it kind of scares them a bit with all the people, traffic and fast pace!  The girls and I took a walk one afternoon and I went into old lady storytime with them, but lucky for me they enjoyed it and didn't throw me out to the road for the nearest tractor truck to run me over.

This building has been red for as long as I can remember and I never thought anything of it growing up.  Now as an adult I absolutely love it and wish we had had more time for a mini photo shoot with the girls and my parents. 

To me, it's as if time stands still here.  This is something I hated as a child, but now I see the value in that, the sameness.  I see it as a "vintage" town with all kinds of quirks and stories behind the buildings and houses.

I mean, where else can you stand in the middle of the street and snap away with no car in sight?!  We'll be there again before we head off around the world and I'm hoping we have some time to do that mini photo shoot and my kids have the chance to make their own memories in this small pocket in Indiana.

 

Thirty Nine

My thirties have been very good to me and today I'm embarking in my last year in this decade.  

I don't get worked up about age and have no problem with the big 4-0.  Quite actually, I think I'll embrace it.  I have come into my own in my 30's, although let's not kid ourselves, because there is still much to be done!

 

As seen on the Ormolu blog

This last year of my 30's is going to be an excellent one and I can't wait! I'll visit more countries in this last year than in my entire existence combined and I'm itching to start traveling.  I'm also taking this time for me and my family.  No working and focusing on the things I'm loving right now.

 

So today I'm off to do a little birthday shopping and this evening the girls and I will head over for some yummy cupcakes.  I have a slight cupcake addiction and today I'm feeding it!

Have a great day-I'm off to have a great one myself!