2013 May

Story Giveaway

May 31, 2013 5 Comments

Ready to see Story Playground in action? (Read more of the back story here.)

This video explains the process:

Now imagine that with your own stories, your photos and your voice.

Accounts are free and it is free to create the books. You can purchase them and virtual copies to share with others. New users that sign up during the month of May will receive enough credit to share 5 copies of their first book free. The credit can be redeemed any time. Sign up now and create your story when you’re ready. The spring sale is also on through the rest of today. Like their Facebook page for future deals and sales.

Time for the giveaway!

Here’s the title page of my first book:

{created with Dani Mogstad’s Chasing Rainbows digital kit}

The first fifteen people that sign up for a free account, log into Story Playground and leave a comment here saying that you have will receive a virtual copy of my book: 17 Whimsical and Captivating Things about Me. (Cuz we all have them! 😉 )

Much Love!

Filed Under: {tickles and smiles}

Introducing… Story Playground

May 21, 2013 1 Comment

Two of my brothers worked together to build a very neat site to share stories: Story Playground. The idea is to take your photos and your voice and make a book that can be viewed over and over. It can be any story. Fun family vacation memories, stories from growing up or ones about the people in your family that came before. Top 10 lists, recipes, wishes for the future – whatever is shared is sure to be loved by those you love.

Steven and Adam are experienced programmers with families. Years ago Steven recorded his grandpa telling stories. They have been able to share those stories with their children. His grandpa’s captured voice is animated and vibrant on the recording – just as Steven remembers him. Steven says those stories were an important part of his childhood. He wants to someday share them with his children’s children. He wants his children to also know his stories and voice and that’s one big reason behind Story Playground. His children are also loving telling their own stories and expressing their imagination and creativity.

I love the way the library is set up – where you can see all the available stories you have and click on the one you want to view. Nice and easy for children and grandparents and everyone. 🙂

Creating a “virtual” book is free. You can make as many changes as you want. When it is how you like you can purchase virtual copies to share with family and friends. A standard 20-page book is about $10 for 2 gift copies and the price per copy gets less the more you buy – $30 for 30 gift copies. The stories are available online the moment they are shared. In the not-too-distant past I checked into the costs of making an ebook. It was hundreds of dollars. This is sooo much more affordable. I also love that you can buy the copies to share – and all the viewer needs on their end is a free account to view the book.

In their words: “Story Playground, created by software development company Dragon Playground, LLC, makes it simple to create and share your family’s unique stories. All you need is your memory, some pictures, and the internet.”

Right now they are having a fun spring sale to try out the product: http://storyplayground.com/Home/SpringSpectacular

New users that sign up during the month of May will receive enough dragon gold credit to share their first book free. The credit can be redeemed any time. Sign up now and create your story when you’re ready. 🙂

Already have an account or want more than one story to share? One purchase per customer is eligible for the half-off deal. Just enter the promo code P-Spring50 at checkout.

I’m working on my first creation. Come back soon for a fun giveaway. 🙂

Filed Under: {tickles and smiles}

Well, hello…

May 18, 2013 1 Comment

Dollies. 😉

My wondrous friend Karly had a sewing day and invited us. Karly’s sewing is delightful and fun-loving – this pettiskirt is one of my favorites she’s made and her post on storing patterns – brilliant!

The magical afternoon began with the girls (Karly’s girls, my two older ones and niece) choosing their doll dress size, fabric and legging fabric. Ooh – and eye color. That was fun. 🙂 The free doll pattern by girl. Inspired. was a perfect choice for our girls and made good use of some pretty fabric scraps.

Karly was so sweet to cut out the pieces while her little ones played/danced nearby. So fun to see her in her element.

Love the twirling dress and adorableness of her little guy.

After the pieces were cut, Karly showed the girls how to use a needle and thread to sew on the button eyes.

After the eyes were sewn on and all the pieces carefully laid out and admired…

it was off to the sewing machine.

Karly patiently sewed and sewed and the girls watched and waited… mostly patiently.

Then they got to stuff the arms and legs and sew up the bottom section of their dolls.

That they loved too. Huge thanks to Karly for a splendid afternoon and new skills learned!

Outside for a quick photoshoot:

After being inside they were ready to run around and play with their creations.

Sweet poses for the dolls & the girls:

I adore those giggles and shrieks of delight at the end.

Two months later and my girls are still loving their dolls. They find their way to church and the store as well as snuggled in bed with them most nights. I think partly why those dollies are loved so much is the wonderful memory of creating them.

Filed Under: {Ta-Da! accomplishments}, {tickles and smiles}

Half and Half

May 15, 2013 Leave a Comment

This is seriously the best way to eat leftovers of the baked potato chips.

The potatoes are already a third of the way to being cubed. 😉

Brown sausage in a cast iron skillet. Finish cutting the potatoes and throw into the sausage-y goodness. Scramble eggs on the other half of your massive skillet – or use two. That works too. 🙂

Half potatoes/sausage:

Half scrambly eggs:

Fully delicious.

Enjoy! – Best eaten outdoors.

Seriously, this meal is something our whole family enjoys. Meri (15 months old now!) is sitting on my lap helping me put the photos in the post and she keeps saying “yum, num, yum”. That may have something to do with the brownie remnants on her face. 😉 In my defense – she is pointing at the screen and diving for said photos. She has learned a new word “Tate-toe”! and I am fairly certain if she was given that plate the first thing that would make it’s way to her mouth would be the watermelon.

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {scrumptious schenanigans}, {tickles and smiles}

Grateful Everyday.

May 10, 2013 3 Comments

Do you know my favorite part of this photo?

I’m thrilled my mom loved her Mother’s Day package enough to take a photo of it. Before even opening. Grateful lady.

What I love even more is that she has written “Thanks!!!” on the inside of their mailbox. My mom is amazing-grateful like that.

What mailperson wouldn’t smile every. single. time.?

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {holidays and celebrations}, {tickles and smiles}

Baked Potato Chips

May 8, 2013 2 Comments

I know the real name is Hasselback potatoes – but these are called baked potato chips around this home.

It’s amazing how much quicker they get gobbled up compared to regular baked potatoes. Just a few nights ago I announced it was dinner time to which I got the classic “What are we eating?” I slipped and said “baked potatoes” – groans all around. And then I remembered – “Oh – I mean Baked Potato Chips!” Instant eruption of cheers. Amazing.

Simply slice the potatoes 3/4 of the way down. Rub/brush on olive oil/melted butter/the likes. Or bake them up and place butter between the chips to melt. Stand back as your children eat twice as many as regular baked potatoes.

Reminds me of a legendary family story. When Jim Bob was young he did not like peas. Not in the least. But then his mom started making “meat peas” – those green ball vegetables were downright delicious! He loved “meat peas” for years before discovering they were the exact same veggie under a name-disguise.

I love my baked potato chips with Valentina and cottage cheese. This rosemary/garlic version looks delicious. And this one – Cinnamon Sugar Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Oatmeal Cookie Crumble – you are on my list too.

Filed Under: {capturing everyday}, {scrumptious schenanigans}, {storytime}, {tickles and smiles}

Contraptions Too…

May 5, 2013 Leave a Comment

First though… Meri’s autograph. Drewby was pretty excited to get this! 😉

And now…

How to get a car started by Drewby:

1. Press the boxing glove button.
2. Boxing glove punches the matches down.
3. Push the chair flip back button.
4. Drop a match down the air tube.
5. It goes through the air tube and hits the lighter that starts the cannon.
6. The cannon shoots the keys into the key slot.
7. The key cuts a rope that drops a rock on the gas peddle.
8. The car starts moving.

How to turn your reading lamp on by Autumn:

1. Pull back lever on chair.
2. The toaster lever is pulled down.
3. Really old toast comes out.
4. Toast hits a light bowling ball.
5. The bowling ball falls onto a trampoline.
6. The ball bounces over you.
7. It hits another trampoline while it is cutting a rock off a rope.
8. The rock rolls and pushes a block over to a little space where the bowling ball is going to hit.
9. The bowling ball hits onto the block which has a little trampoline on top.
10. The ball hits the button and the lamp turns on.