DIY: Memento Ornaments

This simple DIY project could be the perfect gift for so many occasions! Have a friend getting married? A friend having a baby (baby shower invitation)? Do you have left over family photo Christmas cards from the past few years? This is what you can do with them! Cut them up & put them into a clear glass ornament! Then, you can enjoy them in a new creative way time and time again (on your Christmas tree or hanging in your house somewhere).

 I'm excited to continue doing this with special invitations or mementos to place on our Christmas tree each year. 

... When Andrew saw it, he said:  "You killed one of our invitations??!!!?" I think he likes it... 

And... If I know you... you may be receiving a variation of this as gifts throughout the years :) 

If you make one of these, send me photos to share! I'm sure there's much variation possible! 

This was the first one I made for my brother & sister in-law as their 1 year anniversary is this month. I unfortunately did not use a pencil/pen to curl the paper and it doesn't have as polished of a look. Sorry guys! I then found this step to be an important one when making an ornament out of the invitation from my own wedding.

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This was my inspiration found via Pinterest from this gal's Blog. 

Daddy Daughter Date

My dad and I headed to Cannon Beach (from Seaside) last weekend for a quick daddy/daughter date. Two the things we have in common: we like photography & art. So, we did a little photo shoot of Dad's recent ceramic creation that I previously blogged about here.

We planned on doing a quick water color painting while on the beach, but it was too cold! So, Dad had the great idea of scooping up some sea water with the tea pot and heading back to the hotel to paint using the salt water! Below are our painting creations. Let's just say, I haven't water colored since elementary school, but it's the perfect quick art project. I need more practice for sure!

 *** Painting Adventure***

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The large one is mine, the small one is Dad's... I'm so thankful for a Father that loves us kids equally yet individually and knows us each so well. Thanks for a fun little date Dad!

Read/see more about Beyond Jordan Studio (this tea pot & more) here! 

My Happy Place

 

Welcome to my happy place. The beach has always been a place I love & some of my happiest days have been spent here. I was thankful to have gotten to spend a brief 24 hours at the Oregon Coast this weekend. We went right after work on Friday and came home in time for some new years celebration time with Andrew's fam.

Here are just a few photos from our mini-trip. I wish I was still there.... much better than working and the LOADS of laundry and cleaning I have stacked up. 

Watched War Horse (great movie!)

Walked along the beach

Had a Daddy/daughter Date

Hot tub for nearly 2 hours... it was fabulous!

Caught up with my Mom & Brother

Ate good food

= a great 24 hours!

PS- I really want to go whale watching after watching a crazy documentary about a killer whale who killed a great white shark. Awesome!

 Rain Boots are the perfect beach-feet-gear! I don't know why I never thought of this before!

We used to do this all the time as kids! Still got it!

 

A bit of honesty: These past 2 weeks have been jam packed with family and fun which has been so great! However.... this guy and I have literally spent 1 night together (just us) in our apartment in two weeks thanks to working nights and holiday stuff.  I miss him just a little..... okay... a lot! I'm aching for time away with just us.... But the holiday "break" is over. Looks like a weekend getaway is in order!

New Year Prayer

What a great year it has been! I'm so grateful for so many exciting life events to include: graduating from college, becoming a nurse, getting married, moving to Portland, and getting a "big girl" job. Whew! Looking forward to a year of stability... at least that's what I'm hoping for!

 

Just One Request

Dear Master,

for this coming year
Just one request I bring:
I do not pray for happiness,
Or any earthly thing—
I do not ask to understand
The way Thou leadest me,
But this I ask: Teach me to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee.

I want to know Thy guiding voice,
To walk with Thee each day.
Dear Master make me swift to hear
And ready to obey.
And thus the year I now begin
A happy year will be—
If I am seeking just to do
The thing that pleaseth Thee. 

--Unknown Author 

 I'll share photos from our beach trip & New Years resolutions soon!

Favorite Weekly Pins

  

1. Dream House

2. Looking forward to some Oregon Coast time in 2 days!

 

Life is always better when you spend it with someone you love

 

Always true. Story of my life right now. 

 

 My hubs is obsessed with dinosaurs. This makes me think of him.

 

A great reminder. 

Sorry these are blurry.... You can thank Pinterest.

Have a fabulous day! I'm headed to bed :)

Hubby & R-Family Christmas

 

 R Family photo from Christmas Eve. "The wives" (me and Nick's wife Michelle) were at work  :(

 

Here's a few photos taken by Uncle Mark from Christmas with my hub's side of the family. They have SO many fun traditions and it was so much fun to have Christmas with such a large crowd! I wish I could show a pic from the whole group- the more the merrier! 

Christmas with the R's is full of games, everyone opening their gifts one at a time and taking part in each person's excitement, delicious food, scavenger hunts, and Dance Central! Such a fabulous time to simply enjoy one another. I'm thankful to have joined such a loving family.

 

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Finally it was Andrew & Jenna Christmas time... 

 

 

Like I said, the longest Christmas ever...  But we finally made time for some Christmas as a couple. Though it didn't happen until 1AM this morning (the 27th), it finally happened and it was glorious. We will probably still be figuring out our own Christmas traditions over the next many years, but we were sure to have a few sweet treats and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus before opening gifts. 

 

My hubby's face was priceless when he opened his Star Wars Trilogy movie gift. I still don't understand how someone could love star wars so much, but I'm happy to make him happy with such a simple gift.

 

I'm SO excited for this as our speakers busted a few months ago. Thanks Andrew!  

We had a great time opening gifts and just being with each other. We've had a festive, wonderful, and exhausting last 2 days but it's back to work for the next 3 nights for me... Then it'll nearly be New Years!