Mom of Children

Daria

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18 comments on thoughts’n pictures

thoughts’n pictures

The 2023 photo book is here! ❤️

It’s our thickest one so far, with 111 pages (maximum on Shutterfly). My labor of love. Every year I wait for the bright orange package to show up on our door step. We have been ordering annual photo books since 2017, the year L was born. Having kids made me more sentimental and wanting to preserve memories. I don’t photograph every day but still end up with a lot of pictures! About 800. The annual photo book also provides validation for me that our kids are happy, healthy, and have everything they need and then some.

Decorating sugar cookies

Speaking on memories. Made sugar cookies on a whim. Seriously, who am I? I do not like cooking or baking with the kids. But! This was a Betty Crocker mix, just add an egg, some butter, and done ✅

Saw a play!

T and I had a date! We went to a bar for a quick drink then headed over to our community theater. Plays can be hit or miss, but this one was really good!

Sunday morning hang out
Sunset on Sunday was breathtaking
That’s my very long-legged shadow 🤣
Outside!
L made a doll from pipe cleaners
R at his friend’s house ❤️

Sunday night- the barfs came. R was throwing up non-stop during the night. So I had to take a day off work to care for our little dude.

It’s rough being 4 years old
Feeling marginally better so went for a walk
Daria's avatar

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Daria

Mother, teacher, partner, friend. I love coffee, books, and travel with and without kids. I dislike exercise. Nothing glamorous here but do have moments of insight.

18 responses to “thoughts’n pictures”

  1. Elisabeth Avatar
    Elisabeth

    Yay photobooks. I just LOVE receiving that package in the mail. It is definitely a labour of love.

    So sorry about the stomach bug. Those are the worst. Ugh. I live in absolute dread of them.

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    1. Daria Avatar
      Daria

      Thank you Elisabeth! He is feeling much better 🙂

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  2. Diane Avatar
    Diane

    What beautiful golden light in those sunset pictures!
    I made a photobook once – for my in laws of my oldest child’s first year. And then I was going to order myself a copy, but procrastinated, and then the company that I used folded. wump wump. And then morbidly, my in laws have both passed, so I guess I have the photobook after all.
    I wish I did make more of an effort and make yearly photobooks. I think of all the photos on my phone and on my Husband’s phone – seems like such a shame to just keep them there.

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    1. Daria Avatar
      Daria

      My Polish friend inspired me to start making photo books. I visited her in summer of 2022 and saw all the yearly books she made for her daughter who is now 8.
      I use Shutterfly and they have a free designer service where you give the all the pictures and they throw them into a book for you. You can then make any changes. It didn’t take long at all.

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  3. Grateful Kae Avatar
    Grateful Kae

    Ahh I’m so jealous of the beautiful photo books. I so wish I had started doing that when the boys were little. At this point, they are 14 and 15, so…. that ship has sailed. Ha. I suppose could always start now going forward, but seems a little pointless almost…? I wish they were cheaper, because if they were, I would maybe consider going back and making them for previous years. But I believe they add up to like ~$100 or so sometimes, don’t they? If you have a lot of pages? I am trying to print blog books of my travel recaps from our more recent vacations, which also gets pricey, but I think I will love having the written versions (plus I intentionally include a ton of photos in them), so I guess that’s better than nothing.

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    1. Daria Avatar
      Daria

      Totally get your point!
      I use Shutterfly and make the book, place it into my cart, then wait for the unlimited pages deal. It always comes a few weeks later. Then I buy it.
      So initially my book was 400+ dollars but with unlimited pages and other coupons it came out to $86.

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  4. NGS Avatar
    NGS

    I’m always surprised at how easy cookies are. Even if you don’t use a pre-made mix, it’s just flour, sugar, and a couple of other ingredients. I always act like I’m some sort of pioneer when I make cookies from scratch, but it is a million times easier than cakes or tarts or whatever! And it’s fun! And delicious!

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    1. Daria Avatar
      Daria

      Omg yes!!! I feel like that, too 🤣🤣

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  5. Natka Avatar
    Natka

    Wow that’s a big photobook! Impressive!

    The doll made from pipe cleaners reminded me of dolls we used to make out of dandilions 😁

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    1. Daria Avatar
      Daria

      Ohhhh yes!! We made wreaths to wear on our heads too but mine never stayed put

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  6. Lisa's Yarns Avatar
    Lisa’s Yarns

    I also started making annual photobooks when we had Paul in 2018! They are so much work but so fun to look back on! My 2023 one isn’t done yet, though. I only have maybe 4 more months to work on and then I will wait and order it when there is an unlimited free pages dealer, just like you!

    I’m glad you guys had a fun date night!! But poor R! Stomach bugs are so so terrible. I hope everyone else stays healthy!!!

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    1. Daria Avatar
      Daria

      Thank you so much! He felt better after a few hours.

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  7. San Avatar
    San

    That’s so great that you’re putting together a photobook for each year. We’re much more likely to pull that out and thumb through the pages than looking at all the photos on our phones (or computer).

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    1. Daria Avatar
      Daria

      That was the reason I started making them- my kids love looking at pictures when they were young and hearing stories, and I don’t want them to be looking at my phone where the pictures are stored.

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  8. Stephany Avatar
    Stephany

    That’s a big photo book! You had a fun year. 🙂

    Every time you post a photo of the outside of your home, I just love it. It’s like a postcard!

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    1. Daria Avatar
      Daria

      Hey Stephany!! Thanks for stopping by 🙂 nature in NJ can be very beautiful!

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  9. Maya Avatar
    Maya

    I hope you enjoy your photobooks for years to come! I too–like Kae–wish I had started making photobooks when my kids were young enough to appreciate them.

    I hope your little one is feeling better!

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    1. Daria Avatar
      Daria

      Thanks Maya!!!

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