Posts Tagged ‘potd’

a not-so-ordinary day in the life

Monday, May 16th, 2011

I spent a whirlwind Friday zipping up to Salt Lake City for a television appearance. My alarm went off at 3:15 am and I was back at home, snuggling with my kids by 7:15 pm. Here are some glimpses of my not-so-ordinary day. As much as I love the everyday and the ordinary and the mundane … I for sure appreciate the fact that the “big stuff” in life very much plays a part in making up our life experience as well.

Friday was kind of “big stuff” for me. I haven’t done any tv anything since … I can’t remember, honestly. It’s been years. So my tummy was filled with butterflies. But my soul was filled with calm. I was participating in something that honored and celebrated motherhood. Anyone who reveres that sacred role has my attention. I felt grateful to have the opportunity to talk about motherhood and documenting life. Two of my greatest passions.

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Night before: Scrummaged through my closet and found something to wear. Shirt from Target, cardigan from DownEast Basics, belt is Wet Seal, skinny jeans are Cello Jeans, necklace was … umm … shoot. I totally can’t remember where I picked that up but I know it was while traveling. I just can’t remember where. For sure I texted pictures to my friend Jen for approval.

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Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix. Applied my makeup, start to finish, just minutes before boarding the plane.

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Show time! This cutie girl right here? Michelle is Studio 5′s executive producer and she is sharp. Darling. Organized. Warm. Personable. And … the one who invited me to be a part of the show.

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A couple on-air shots, thanks to my cute family in the audience with cameras in hand the whole time. On the left, I’m part of a panel discussion about the “little things” that mothers do that go a long way, even if we don’t think they matter much at the time. On the right, I’m sharing some ideas on suggestions of things moms would want to keep for their kids. Great studio audience, by the way! Glad some of you could come!

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Darin and Brooke are the hosts of Studio 5. Genuinely kind people. Really. And I about died when I learned that Brooke is only 27 years old! She’s too cute for words and single. I’m just saying. Somebody set the girl up on some dates! She’s a catch!

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Some personal friends & family were able to carve a chunk of time from their day to be there. So super grateful for them and for others who sent me texts + emails showing their support.

1. Lori Whitlock! As in, my graphic designer behind our products. Yay!

2. Sydney, Jen, Morgan — friends from our years in Cleveland who now live in Utah.

3. Kevin (as in … you love him for answering your tech questions here on my blog) and Lauren, my sister-in-law. Love them. Yes, that’s an iPad in his hand.

4. I literally wouldn’t be where I am without these people. My parents, of course. Yay that they just happened to be in Utah! And that’s Lisa Bearnson there in the middle — familiar to many of you. She was the one who believed in my talent and took a risk at hiring a 21-year-old who was just crazy-passionate about scrapbooking. Because of her, I was led to many professional opportunities that I never, ever dreamed would be a part of my life. I was tickled pink that she could come.

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Aaaannnd we’re back on-board.

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Goodbye beautiful Salt Lake City, with your snow-capped mountains in May.

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Hello again, beautiful Grand Canyon that I love to fly over.

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As I found myself staring out the window like I always do on a flight, I held the iPhone out in front of me to snap a picture. Why? Because this is so me. I am such a sucker for arial views. I find it completely fascinating to see lakes and rivers and mountains and farms and little towns and big cities … from straight above. It always makes me feel and think very reflectively. I always have a renewed sense of appreciation for God’s creations.

And so for that reason, this picture says a lot about me.

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I encourage you to do something similar. Get yourself in your documenting of life. You are, after all, a part of your life. And your life — ordinary or extraordinary as it may seem right now — is completely worth documenting.

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Posted in family & children, photography, scrapbooking, travel | 27 Comments »

POTD inspiration

Wednesday, January 19th, 2011

First of all,  I’m excited to share a POTD idea that I just implemented into our Project Life book yesterday. It was kind of an exciting a-ha! moment for me in my little quest to document life.

{ POTD idea }: Take a screenshot of a satellite view or map of your neighborhood.

Totally a worthy POTD, don’t you think? So what that you didn’t actually take the picture? We can thank crazy-expensive technology for that. Just head over to GoogleMaps and plug in your address. Click on Map or Satellite for options. Zoom in & out to see if you want a wider angle or a close-up view. Then get a screenshot (I use SnapNDrag on our Mac) or a snapshot (with an actual camera) … and there you go!

(No, this isn’t our neighborhood. I just picked a random suburb in the middle of the U.S. to illustrate.)

Where you live is very much a part of your story. Including a birds-eye view is just one more angle from which to document our life. Then journal about why you love the area, or what makes it hard to live there, or whatever you want to write about.

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If your approach to Project Life is documenting a little piece of life every day, you may find yourself wanting a little inspiration from time to time. A few ways to get POTD ideas:

1. If you type “POTD” in the search field here on my blog,  a list of blog posts will come up that have POTD inspiration in some way. I will continue to share POTD ideas on my blog from time to time.

2. If you click on the Photography category here on my blog, you can scroll and scroll and scroll some more to find more ideas — from me and also from awesome fellow blog readers.

3. The Project Life Community always has the latest & greatest in idea-sharing among fellow Project Lifers.

4. Check out other favorite blogs of those participating in Project Life or any type of 365 project. For example, I’m recently inspired by Susan Weinroth’s approach, which is to use her iPhone for their family’s daily shots. No fancy camera, no editing.

And now … I’m pleased to announce yet another way to get life-documenting-picture-taking inspiration! As most of you know, I use the platforms of facebook & twitter to share ideas, links, tips, and even an occasional POTD idea.

5. Now — moving forward — you can expect even more consistent POTD idea-sharing on facebook & twitter. Yippee! Not necessarily every single day but pretty close.

It’s simple: Just click HERE if you want to “like” my facebook page so you automatically get my feed. Or click HERE if you want to get see how to get my twitter feed. I’ll share the same ideas in both places. No reason to follow me in both places.

{ This is the fun part }

I’ll share plenty of my own POTD ideas, sure. But I also want to share the very best reader ideas too. Variety is the spice of life. Have you got a knack for taking great pictures? Have an inspiring POTD idea that most people can relate to or find inspiration from? Here’s the scoop:

1. Email your POTD idea(s) to submissions@beckyhiggins.com anytime. Subject line: POTD.

2. JPG format. Full or medium size.

3. Be sure your picture is already edited, if needed.

4. No deadline. I’m always interested to see what you’re photographing!

5. Must include your first name … and it’d be great to know which state or country you call home.

6. Please include just one quick sentence that describes the concept or idea behind your POTD. Remember, ideas I’ll be passing along via twitter & facebook have to be very short & sweet.

7. By submitting your picture(s), you automatically grant permission for me share/use your picture. Just because you submit a picture doesn’t mean it will be shared or used. If I do share or use it, I’ll let you know. Did you catch all that?  : )

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Posted in photography, scrapbooking | 20 Comments »

Project Life is being delivered.

Monday, December 27th, 2010

I hope everyone had a truly wonderful weekend. I’d like to share this poem with you. Written by a fellow blog reader, this showed up in my inbox just before Christmas.

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Twas the morning of the 23rd, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.

.

The boys were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of x-box games danced in their heads.

With mamma in her bed, still trying to sleep

Could not figure out what was making that peep

.

When at my front door there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the stairs I flew like a flash,

Tore open the front door and hoped I didn’t crash.

.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of early morning to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a Purolator Man, and a box filled with cheer!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

.

He spoke a few words, but went straight to his work,

And handed me my package, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger on the box for me to sign,

I quickly followed by putting my name on the dotted line!

.

He sprang to his van, to his horn gave a whistle,

And away he drove like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!”

My box full of cheer was a total surprise!

Didn’t expect it would come , I’m not gonna lie!

She continues…

Just wanted to share my excitement about getting my Project Life 2011 early! I am SOOOOOOOOO excited. I live in Canada and we always get things late, late , late. But this was such a nice surprise to get my package early, early, early!!!!

Thanks for creating this project. I got my first Project Life this year and it has been such a blessing in my life. I have taken pictures of moments that would have never been captured. It’s so much a part of who I am now – taking pictures of the everyday stuff. Thank-you for helping me to capture in a book what MY life is really all about.

Tamara in Okotoks, Alberta (Canada)

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Thank you Tamara! I love her wit and humor and excitement and the fact that she took the time to share that with me. Dar-LING. And remember MaryAnn’s video thank-you message and tour of her Project Life book? She, like Tamara, and like many of you, has also received her Project Life.

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I’d love to see everyone’s I-got-my-Project-Life! pictures. It’s simple.

1. When you get your product, have someone take your picture with “the big white box”. Or get in front of the mirror. Or set the timer. (No, it doesn’t need to be in front of a Christmas tree.) Get creative or keep it simple. However you do it, you’ll have a little glamour shot of you + Project Life.

2. Email it to me at projectlife@beckyhiggins.com

Note: When you email me the picture, please be aware that you are giving me permission to share your picture here on my website or in other promotional material.

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No, we are not done with the 12 Videos of Christmas. As far as I’m concerned, the Christmas season lasts as long as I’m eating fudge. And I’m still eating fudge.

The next video will be a tour of the Project Life kit, for those who are curious about what to expect when you open the box. In the meantime, many thanks to those of you who have ordered and who are telling others about Project Life.

Day 1 of sales resulted in Project Life being the #1 and #2 best-selling products in the entire Home & Garden section of Amazon on December 23. This screenshot was my POTD (picture of the day) for that very exciting Thursday. Again, thank you!


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Posted in holidays & seasons, products | 20 Comments »