Just Make Stuff

21...

Most everyone loves their birthday, but throughout his life Mac has loved it an extra whole heck of a lot. And he decided about a year and a half ago that turning twenty-one would be the biggest life event in the history of the universe. 

He seriously has talked about it pretty much non-stop for a solid year. He is lucky enough to be going on a Vegas trip with his dad's whole family and Mac had a million ideas. That has meant a few trips to Party City, which was one of Mac's very favorite stores growing up. Three years ago when I shared eighteen favorite photos for Mac's 18th birthday this photo in the shopping cart was one of them. 

Mac decided he wanted to recreate it on one of our Party City visits. He was pretty sure he could actually fit in the front. We told him very well might be able to get him in there, but he probably couldn't get out. So he settled for the back. This then & now photo combo is now officially added to my collection of favorite Mac photos.

Today's the big day...Happy 21st Birthday Mac! As I always annoy you with when I say over and over... be careful! Love you...

A loooong walk...

I have sat at my desk for four years. Between four years of creating and grading college classes (and three of those years spent helping to run a cheerleading program) I have been on my trusty desktop computer a whole heck of a lot. 

Since Mac has graduated, I have had more time, and this past fall I spent the time coming up with even more college class activities. But in the spring, I finally decided to use the time I have to get my rear-end out of this chair and start really moving. 

Besides a walk most nights, I had not done much of anything since grad school and it showed. A few months ago I really started moving again and it feels so, so, so much better. 

After noticing on July 3rd how many steps I had gotten in just the first two days of the month, I decided to set a goal of a half million steps in July. It worked out to be 16,129 a day. I knew this would be the only month of the year I would have the time to do it, so I figured I'd give it a try. 

I made a table to keep track, since I am a geek like that, and then I walked. I did good-old fashion aerobic videos in the morning, tried to make my way around the house as much as I could throughout the day, went on a long walk with Sean after dinner and then the kicker was when I mentioned my 500,000 plan to a neighbor and she wanted to do it too. She and I have spent most nights walking the loop of our cul-de-sac over and over for at least a couple miles. 

All of this meant I hit my goal four days before the end of the month. And I didn't stop today, my Fitbit step-count for today is 19,479. 

I won't be able to keep walking this much in August, but I will make sure to keep getting to at least 10,000 steps. However, if you want to get 500,000 steps next month here is a PDF table 500000 steps (assuming you share my geekiness).

Summer Mantle...

When I took down the 4th of July mantle decorations I wanted to put something up for the rest of the summer.

I gathered a few things that have been here before, along with a fabric wreath I put together a few months ago, a PushPrint Studio card, and I spelled out "summer" in bright colors for one more big frame. 

If you would like a copy of the simple summer print you can download it here. The print is 12x16 inches and fits into this Ikea frame. I printed it on 13x19 inch paper since that will fit in my printer, but you could print it as an 8x10 or take the file to an office supply store to have printed.

We actually only have a couple weeks left...well Sean does since he'll be back in school at the beginning of August. I'll still be home, but it'll be all semester preparations all the time.

College Survival Kit Graduation Gift (again)...

A few years ago now I gave Mac's cousin a college survival kit as a high school graduation gift. Thankfully she really liked it, so I have given the gift to other high school grads a couple of times since then. The most recent time was a few weeks ago. I updated it a bit with hand sanitizer that has essential oils to help keep colds away and one of these zippered coin pouches from Etsy to hold either headphones or a flash drive. I had purchased a yellow polka-dotted one before for my headphones and one for Mac too...and even Sean uses one to put his wedding ring in his gym bag for when he is out coaching after school. They are so great that I purchased a handful this time to be stocked up for little gifts.

I still feel like it's random to give things like kleenex packets and carabiners for a high school graduation gift, but it seems to work.

Project Life 2017: 01

I was working on week twenty-seven today (and received my second batch of printed pages last week), so I thought I'd finally share week's one through sixteen. 

For 2017, I am using the same title cards each week (it's the Project 52 Fresh Edition set available in the app) and I've really liked keeping the same simple design with them. Besides my one page each week, I've made a few extra pages for holidays like Easter and Mother's Day. And I included all my Week in the Life photos and journaling.

Even though the year is only halfway done, I am already thinking of next year and contemplating switching to two pages a week so I have more room. Big life decisions, I know.

You can see my other Project Life posts here.

Happy 4th of July...

Hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans, dill dip, s'more bars, brownies, rice crispy treats, little berry fruit cups, root beer floats, fireworks, music, family and friends. 

We are getting ready to host one of our favorite celebrations of the year. Hope you have a wonderful holiday too!