And then I got an iPhone...

A few weeks ago I got an iPhone. And since then I've been busy!


Busy asking Siri questions, telling her to set my alarm, and yelling at her when she she doesn't understand me.


Busy making words with my friends.


And busy Instagramming everything in sight...

Random mementos from our dinner at Melisse? Instragrammed.


Pet cemetery at Disneyland? Instragammed.


Myself in the car? Instagrammed!


Seriously, I have to resist the urge take a picture of every inanimate object in sight just to instagram it. Who knew a few photo filters could be SO addicting?

I know I am about 4 years late to the iPhone party, but I have to say, I like it a lot. I feel like my old Droid was pretty good (probably because Droids are becoming more like iPhones every month), but the iPhone is just a little more "slick" and easy to use.

I've got lot of other apps too... Pandora, Pinterest, CNN, Yelp, Flixter, Netflix, MyFitnessPal, The Bible, Southwest, and All Snow. But I'm always on the hunt for new apps. What iPhone apps do you like?

Stream of Consciousness x10

1. On Saturday the Bear Triplets went to be with Jesus. I'm so heartbroken for Carey and Jeremy. Please pray for peace and comfort for them. They both wrote beautiful and heartbreaking stories about their three boys (Rudyard, Desmond, and Oscar) on their blogs: Carey's Blog and Jeremy's Blog (warning, do not read these at work like I did).

2. I'm finally getting a DSLR camera! A Canon Rebel. It's my birthday present from my Mom! Thanks Mom! Now I'll need to learn to use it. I am EXCITED!


3. I didn't win Kelly's Korner's $600 gift card. But Kelly did like my 6 ingredient recipe! Woo hoo!

4. I finally finished our Europe Trip 2010 photo album on Blurb. That only took me a year, ha!

I still need to edit the book. But if you want to preview it here, you can!

5. I really want to go to Napa this summer, but the Mr. says it's not in the budget because apparently if we go to Napa we're gonna have to buy several cases of wine. Le sigh.

6. Speaking of budgets, our Pastor wants to talk to use about leading a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Course at Church. (I wonder what Dave would say about a Napa Trip? Le sigh again.) Exciting but kind of intimidating too.


7. We started watching Season 4 of Mad men on Netflix. Good stuff so far!

8. I think I'm gonna have the Mr. take me to Glen Ivy Day Spa for my birthday present. I think that's what I want.


9. I have several weddings coming up this Summer and my company semi-formal party this weekend. I going to hit up Nordstrom Rack and try to find some fun dresses. I'll let you know what I find.

10. I love summer because that means it's gazpacho season! I need to post my gazpacho recipe.

Digital Scrapboking & Photoshop Elements

One of my the items on my "to-learn" list (and Baby Bucket List) is Photoshop Elements. Particularly to learn how to do digital scrapbooking.

Since High School I had loved to do paper scrapbooking and scrapbooked all of my pictures from 1996-2007. But a couple of years ago I just lost my zest for paper scrapbooking. I figured, if all of my pictures are digital, my scrapbooking should be too. But clearly I've dragged my feet on actually learning Photoshop Elements.

So this weekended I watched some YouTube Tutorials, downloaded some free scrapbooking papers and elements and went to town creating my first few pages.

I started with our 1 year anniversary pictures to test out my skills. Here's how I did...


Not too bad for a beginner, right? Right?

My plan is to do layouts for all of my 2009 pictures, and then put them into a Shutterfly or Blurb Book. Then do 2010. And eventually 2008 and 2007. Yikes! How did I get so far behind?

Are any of you digital scrapbookers?

If so, where do you like to get your scrapbooking elements?

I found a few places that have free elements for personal use that I really liked:
http://www.summertimedesigns.blogspot.com/
http://www.shabbyprincess.com/

But I'd love to hear if there are more out there (I am sure there are).

Also, what Photoshop Elements advice do you have for me?

We're getting our wedding album. Finally!

After one year and 5 months of marriage, we've finally ordered our wedding album!

At first I wasn't sure if I wanted to pay for an expensive, high-quality wedding album. I figured that I could make my own on blurb.com. But after doing some thinking and looking at professional wedding albums like the one that That Wife ordered, I knew that it would be something that I would treasure.

So I worked with my photographer and ordered a 40 page 12x12 album with approximately 130 images in in it. It covers getting ready for the wedding, the ceremony, the couple/family/friends pics, the reception, and our "Trash the Dress".

I just finalized the proofs and I am so excited! I love all of the layouts but I think my favorite are the panoramic two page spreads.

Here are a couple of previews....

{Click to enlarge -- Wedding Ceremony }


{Click to enlarge -- After the ceremony}


{Click to enlarge -- Wedding reception details}


{Click to enlarge -- Panoramic page, Trash the Dress}

Can't wait to show you more pictures of the album when I get it!

How about you other married gals out there? Did you do a professional wedding album? Make your own? Have not yet made or ordered one? If you posted about your wedding album on your blog, please link to that post in your comment. I'd love to see other people's wedding albums!

Photobooks and Digital Scrapbooking

In high school and college I was HUGE scrapbooker. But in recent years I'm less and less into it. The time and the cost of paper scrapbooking have become huge factors for me.

I've recently started making some digital scrapbooks/photobooks. Back in June I blogged about making a Honeymoon Photobook on Blurb, I've also done a Kodak Gallery Book for my Baptism, and MyPublisher Book for our Engagement Pictures/Wedding Guest Book.

Here they all are:


So I was really excited when someone from Shutterfly offered me a free 8x11 Photobook!

I used my Shutterfly book to capture all of our "Wedding Festivities" -- basically the events around our wedding like Bridal Shower, Rehearsal, Rehearsal Dinner, etc that weren't the actual "big day."


I think the book turned out great!

Here are some of my Bridal Shower pages...


And our Rehearsal Dinner...

{Click to enlarge any of these pages}

Here is a look inside of all of my photobooks (the Shutterfly one is on the upper left side).


What I liked about Shutterfly:
- Really high quality book
- Cute backgrounds to choose from
- Lots of layout choices
- Easy to use
- GREAT prices
- Fast shipping

The only thing I didn't like is that the website seemed a tad bit slow at times (probably because of the large size of the photos in my book). And you have to be connected to the internet at all times since you build the book online (you don't download software).

(I also found that scrappers can create digital scrapbook layouts in Photoshop or other programs and then upload full pages to Shutterfly to have their books printed. I really want to give this a try! Does anyone use Photoshop Elements for Digital Scrapbooking? Would you recommend it?)

Because I liked making my Shutterfly Photo Book so much, I wanted to give you a chance to win one! Click here to enter my giveaway that I've posted on my "Reviews and Giveaways Blog!"

The Pose

On yesterday's post an Anonymous commenter wrote "So, I just have a question- how come in every single pic you put your hands on your hip :)?"

If I were a betting woman, I'd bet this was a friend or family member of mine since I often get a lot of flack from them for "my" pose. But in case a dear reader picked up on my signature picture pose, I thought I'd do a brief history of "the pose"...

(I actually poured over hundred of pics in Kodak Gallery to bring you this post, so get excited! )

Back in 2001 the signature "hand on the hip" picture pose was basically non-existent...

Love those High School dance photos, don't you?

Then I went off to College, and by Summer 2002 the pose was starting to appear...


In 2003 the pose shows up more and more...


But by my 21st birthday in 2004, the pose is in full effect in pictures galore...

I spent my 21st Birthday in Vegas with my parents and 6 of my best girlfriends. So fun!

It's all over the place in 2005, especially on Halloween...


By 2006, the pose has even made it's way onto 18th century war ships...



And I'm still loving it in 2007...


In 2008, it really becomes pretty pervasive...


Even at the bridal shop trying on dresses...


I use the pose so much that my friends dub it "the pose". At my bachelorette they have us all pose in "my" pose...

Well... kinda.

In 2009 one of my best friends insists that we BOTH pose in my pose for this picture...


And it apparently catches the attention of a blog reader...


BUT just for the record, I don't do the pose in "every single pic". If I'm holding a beverage I won't do it, instead I'll hold the beverage out in front of me.

Like this solo cup in 2007...


Champagne in 2008...


Coffee in 2009...


And sometimes when I pose with Mr. I'll put my hand on his chest, like this in 2007...


And this in 2008...


But the "hand on the hip" is definitely my standard go-to pose.

So now you know the history of the pose. It surfaces around 2002 begins peaking in 2004.

But I have not yet answered the question, "how come in every single pic you put your hands on your hip"

The answer may be in the history... because In 2001 I joined my sorority. Maybe I picked it up there along with " The Sorority Squat"...

That is "The Sorority Squat". It is usually done in a picture where there needs to be two rows of girls, so the front row assumes a cute little squat. Sorority girls, you know what I'm talking about right?!

It looks kind of like this when done with a larger group...

Note: we did this with our Moms at the Mom's Tea Sr. Year as a joke

But the pose can't be blamed solely on the Sorority, since many of my sorority sisters don't consistently gravitate toward the pose.

I guess I do it because it make me feel less awkward in pictures, makes me stand up straighter, makes my arm look thinner, and makes me feel sassier.

Here's a recent pic, minus the pose...


I know I don't look bad in that picture, but I feel like I look kind of hunchbacky and demure. And my arm doesn't look as thin as I like it to.

When I don't do the pose I'm always thinking "what do I do with my hands? Ahhh!" So I guess that the pose just makes me feel more confident in pictures, which makes me feel happier, which in turn (I think) makes a better picture.

How about you? Do you have a way of standing, posing, or smiling that you gravitate toward for pictures?

10 Ways To Beat the Post-Wedding Blues

Recently, I was talking to a co-worker of mine who got married last month. I asked her how she was doing. And she replied that she felt “odd” now that her big day was over. Finally not in constant “wedding planning mode”. Not unhappy, but almost a feeling of “now what?”

I know that some people fell right into wedding bliss and were so-freakin'-glad to have all of the wedding planning behind him. But I think for many of us it’s natural to feel a little let down after all the hours, money, and passion you’d put into planning your wedding.

My co-worker got me thinking about the "post-wedding blues" and the ways that I beat them.

Therefore, I now present to you, dear readers, 10 Ways To Beat the Post-Wedding Blues.

1. Get organized
Through the magic of a wedding registry, you now have two sets of china, a Panini maker, guest linens, and more kitchen spoons than you know what to do with. Now is the time to get that house or apartment organized!

Use some of you wedding cash and head to the Container Store, Bed Bath & Beyond, or Target to buy some organizing gear. Think about adding shelving in your living room, kitchen, and spare rooms. Buy kitchen cabinet organizers, closet organizers, under the bed boxes, and bathroom organizers. Trust me, a little bit of organization early on goes a long when you’re adding a deluge of new stuff to your newlywed home.




2. Write thank you notes!
In this technological era, a hand-written note is so meaningful, so be sure to write those thank you notes. Set aside a fun night to bake some treats and have some wine with the hubby while writing thank you notes. Use the time to reminise about the sweet things family members said to you at the wedding or how funny his fraterity brothers danced at the wedding.

I ordered some really cool photo-collage thank you cards and through the magic of wine and cookies we finished writing almost all of them in one night!




3. Create Wedding a Wedding Shadow Box and Mementos Box
After your wedding you end up with a lot of wedding crap memorabilia left sitting around or stored in your house/apartment. And if you're like me, you may have worked really hard on some Wedding DIY Projects, so you don't want to just toss all of the stuff or shove it in your Mom's attic. So display your favorite wedding memories in a Shadow Box. Such as the invitation, program, ribbons, a favor, and some pictures.

Then save some other key mementos (like place cards, RSVPs, some flowers, or some of your favorite cards in a beautiful box)

Then toss the rest. I'm talking about business cards from vendors you never use, scribbled notes of ideas, or the 50 leftover programs you might have. Yes, it’s painful, but remember, you’re saving the stuff you care about most.

Here is the Shadow Box that I created:



4. Share the Love
As a former bride, you’re in a unique position to share your wisdom and experience with others. Have a wedding planning binder? Have a wedding “workplan” in excel like I did? Have really cool word doc templates for programs or placecards? Package it all up and give it to the next bride-to-be you know.

I “scrubbed” all of the documents that I used to plan our wedding – like our budget template, guest list template, day-of agenda, wedding workplan, and program template and put it all in a .zip file. I now have sent the package to at least 10 brides-to-be who are friends, or friends-of-friends. It’s a cool feeling to know that your hard work lives on!




5. Get Your Wedding Pictures in Order

Plan out your wedding album and order it (I'll admit, I have not yet done this! Yikes!). Get some great 5x7 and 8x10 wedding pictures made and frame them. The longer you wait, the harder it is, so just get it done. Also get pictures framed for your family and friends who were in the wedding as part of your order. They make great birthday or Christmas gifts.




6. Throw a Party!
You have great newly-acquired party planning skills and I’m betting that you have all kinds of new serving platters and pitchers to hostess with.

Throw a fun theme party or you could invite family and close friends who were at your wedding and use this opportunity to share your wedding video and/or pictures.



7. Join a group
While you’re planning your wedding, you’re part of solid community of vendors, bridal party, family, and guests. Plus if you chat on Wedding Bee, Style Me Pretty, or the Knot then you’re part of a “bride-to-be club”

After you’re married, you could end up feeling like you’ve lost that exclusive community.

Start a Newlywed blog and/or chat with other newlywed women on The Nest, Elizabeth Anne Designs Living, She Just Got Married, or another online community.

Also look for opportunities to connect with other newlyweds in your community through church or philanthropy. If you can’t find other newlyweds to connect with, then join a young women’s book club, cooking class, alumnae organization, or running group. You’ll feel part of “the club” again in no time.




8. Do the Name Change (if you’re changing it)
(Ok, on this one, I’m definitely giving “do as I say, not as I do” advice since it took me a looong time to change my time and I still have credit cars and frequent flier accounts with my maiden name. Regardless…)

List out all the places where you need to change your name and begin the arduous process of changing it.

Hint: Start at Social Security and the DMV and branch out from there.




9. Get your Finances in Order
Money is major cause of marital discontent. So set a realistic budget with your husband and start managing your money wisely. Don’t worry if you don’t do well the first few months; it can take a while to get adjusted to the budget.

Tips: Join Mint.com and/or manage your budget in Excel (I have a great template). Some fun advice can be found on Lean with Green.

To make it more fun to save, set some fun savings goals like “Europe Trip” or “New Flatscreen TV” and watch the money grow!




10. Find some Décor Inspiration and do some Nesting

We’ll all admit it, one of my favorite things about planning a wedding was the “Wedding Porn” – you know, beautiful photography of garden ceremony sites, rows upon rows of escort cards, lavish table settings, 6-tier cakes. Spend an hour at Style Me Pretty and you’ll know what I mean. I still swoon looking at this stuff.

Why not add some entertaining and home décor blogs to your internet “ohhing and ahhing” and start capturing ideas for your current or future home?

Some home décor blogs/websites that I love are:
Apartment Therapy
Elizabeth Anne Designs
Young House Love
Hostess with the Mostess
Urban Nest
Decor8
Design Sponge
Brooklyn Limestone
Rate my Space

Apply your wedding planning skills - like bugeting, theming, shopping, and priortizing - to nesting. You can do a lot of fun decorating with a not-so-big budget!




I'm sure there are many many other great ways to beat the post-wedding blues, and I'd love to hear those from you! Leave a comment to let me know how you beat the post-wedding blues.

PS- I'm you're interested in any of my wedding planning template, budget worksheet, or any other details that I posted above, feel free to email me at newlywedsnextdoor@gmail.com