Simply Us

Neil and I had the opportunity in June to take 11 of our High School students up to Seattle and Tacoma on a missions trip to help out an organization called Network Tacoma. I took so many pictures that week, lots of them with my Canon and yet many I took with my iPhone. Which you know were just screaming to be made into Instagrams.

This one I think is my absolute favorite just because I have wanted to see the Pike Place market for so many years now and on that Saturday we got to tour the downtown area a little and that included the market.

I love how Seattle created this sports complex, where their baseball and football stadiums are right next to each other. And this tower is pretty cool.

I just loved how this clock tower was peeking out over the other downtown buildings.

It wouldn't be a trip to Seattle without a special drink from the original Starbucks. Hands down the best experience I have ever had at Starbucks. I loved it, and my drink!

We just barely got to see the needle as it was starting to rain, but one of the girls and I jumped out of the van and ran to get a few shots.

I am so in love with my burlap Tom's and Neil found a great deal on these Tom's in downtown Tacoma. This was taken at the airport before we came home.

One last shot of the two of us while on the plane, and no, my husband hadn't shaved all week. And no, I didn't like it. But it was a mission trip so I can't complain.

I love this picture of Mt. Ranier just after we left the Seattle airport. It is such a beautiful mountain.

We flew into Oakland on the way there and back and on the way back I happened to get this great shot of the Golden Gate Bridge.

I really don't like flying, so I spent most of the time listening to my playlist and ignoring the fact that at any moment I could plummet to my death, or the fact that I was trapped. Yes, I'm crazy!

This is the Tacoma Bridge and I just loved it's shape and overall awesomeness.

This little coffee shop in downtown Tacoma was so good. They had flavors that I had never seen before, like what I ordered... a Salted Caramel Frappuccino.

This was a beautiful building in downtown Seattle. The colors just popped.

Last but certainly not least. We spent some time in a few downtown Seattle parks talking to the homeless that seemed to be everywhere in that area. As Neil and I walked around there was a man preaching there in the park and some were listening to him yell at them about how they need Jesus. He was very much on fire for the Lord, but he was also very in your face about it and condemning those that don't believe. As he stopped yelling his sermon and picked up his things, and his gathered his posse, this older man sitting in a lawn chair picked up his trumpet and started playing "How Great Thou Art". I stood there listening to the beautiful melody perfectly played and realized that this man was speaking the love of God so much louder than the man that had been yelling at the top of his lungs. It was a moment of peace and beauty and something that I will never forget.

Those are just some of the images that I captured that week. There is so much more that I could tell you and share, but then I might never leave my computer! Hope you enjoyed, I know that I can't wait to go back there.

About a year ago I bought my first SMASH book from K & company. I have slowly been filling it with random things I like, events and places that I go, and things from Pinterest that make me happy. Well I am thrilled to say that that first book is complete! Now of course I need to get to work on all of the others that I have... slowly but surely. Here is my cover with AC rose trim added on and rubons from Fancy Pants.

My inside cover with self portrait and my first washi tape, oh that seems like so long ago! Many, many rolls of washi tape later!

My first page I wanted to feature the person that I love the most in this world on, at that time, his new motorcycle.

These are pictures that I took of things that I love and use on a daily basis, first off my coffee, and not last (just added last) is my adorable kids.

Random things that I am thankful for. This was still very early in my Smashing style, later you will see that I evolved into a much more scrapbook/artistic style.

A page about my starting a photography business, and our trip to see Breaking Dawn.

Outfit inspiration from Pinterest, yes I printed out all of those pictures and cut them each out!

Pictures of me and our trip with my parents to see Kellie Pickler in concert.

My wish list on the left and on the right is a few of my favorite things which it took me a while to realize that it was all becoming food related.

Places that my husband and I want to go someday. Oh, someday...

My top 10 desserts from Pinterest that I want to make and try.

I decided to fill in a few of the smash pad lists and put them here. Then I used Pinterest to find images to go along with some of those things.

Bible Verses that make me happy, many are ones that I need to read often.

Home Decor ideas that I got off of Pinterest. This was before I dedicated a whole book to Home Decor/Ikea hack ideas. I really should get started on that one, I have the dividers done but that's it so far. Whoops!

Blogs I love to read are on the left page and on the right are some things in my house that make me happy.

Scrapbook pages that I like and things about them that I want to try out on my own pages.

DIY projects from Pinterest that I would love to do at some point. In all of that spare time you know!

More DIY ideas and I used the YOU to write my journaling about doing these projects.

Favorite books from my life on the left and recently read titles on the right. I need to read more often.

Pictures of Neil and I and words from poems and stuff that I have found online and liked.

Scrapbookers that Inspire me.

Recipes that I want to try, I need to expand our family menu desperately!

Shoes I love on the left and shows that I love on the right. I'm thinking now that I need to do a whole smash page dedicated to BBC Sherlock.

iPhone apps that I love are randomly written on the left and different accessories and gadgets for the iphone on the right.

This is the page that I wish wasn't there. I was trying to cover up the ugly horse face before I realized that you could just use paper to cover the whole page. But you try and you learn right? So this is about nail polish and the colors and how much I like them.

My mom and I work the scrapbook expos here in SoCal and this was the Anaheim one. Lots of fun!

I love Purses! These are just some of the ones that I have found on Pinterest and wanted.

My Right Now page is on the left and on the right is where I started getting a little more artistic with my pages. I took that picture of my new shoes while we were in Maui and it makes me happy.

A few more scrapbook layouts that I like.

My mom and I drove all the way to San Diego for the day just to take an all day class with THE Amy Tan AND Kelly Purkey! It was a dream come true for me to get to meet them, learn from them, and get to know them a little.