{ Photo-boxes into Scrap-boxes! }

Isn't it a wonderful day, today? Well it sure is for me! Day off from mind-numbing work and people, apple-mango-tango laundry is tumbling, duvets are fluffed, and peace--Meggie consumed with hiding her bones in couch cushions. I am usually too tired to blog when I come home from work, sad, but undeniably factual. Right as I pull into our garage there's a routine I follow:

• Turn off  car and radio 
• Grab lunch bag and coffee tumbler
• Set lunch bag and coffee tumbler by the garage door steps
• Walk to the mail box. *A Hike: If you're a clumsy female like myself: who wears fancy-slippery ballet flats: who has a long driveway: who lives in a neighborhood that has shitty snowplow men: who does not scrap off any damn ice or snow in the street. *So yeah, that's an adventure all its self.
• Walk back from the mail box, the adventure repeats while cussing.
• Tries gracefully while having mail in hand and attempts to snatch lunch bag and coffee tumbler all at once.
• Walks through garage door into the house
• Greeted by an excited six-month-old canine and everything in hands goes into the air.
• Let out the naughty excited six-month-old canine to "Go Be Quick," AKA: Potty.
• Put coat and shoes in closet.
• Pick up stuff that was dropped.
• Walk upstairs.
• Set down (not so gracefully) the mail, lunch bag, coffee tumbler and handbag on the island. 
• Walk down stairs.
• Let in the excited six-month-old canine.

*And, if it Thursdays, bring the garbage can back into garage.

Fortunately, today I can erase that lists of steps off of my day.

To continue on my joyous day off;

After Cal left for work, folding laundry and putting it away upstairs. I decided to take a coffee break and watch some TV. Sipping my coffee and successfully not burning my tongue, I flipped through channels of prime time morning television. Price is Right was just was not doing it for me and I flipped to the next channel. It was The Martha Stewart Show! Which I haven't seen in forever because I work in the mornings. I use to watch that show all the time and What Not to Wear on TLC when I took my beloved Oma to chemo treatments.

The Martha Stewart Show's topic today: The Family Show, dedicated to all things family. Turn life's memorable moments into charming keepsakes with scrap-boxes from Weddings editorial director Darcy Miller, and make hearty, kid-friendly ribs with chef Emeril Lagasse and his son, E.J.

Being a foodie and all, I wasn't quite impressed by the 'BAM!' phenomenon; however, his child son was a comedic cutie. What intrigued me the most was Martha's editorial director, Darcy Miller. Her creativeness, witty personality and not to mention her three adorable little girls, made me to continue to follow the program instead of flipping through channels. Her ultimate passion besides her beautiful girls is scrap-booking. I've always wanted to learn more about elegant scrap-booking and her vision was even better. She took her love of scrap-booking to scrap-boxes!

Below is a sample of her work. This weekend I'll be in search of photo boxes. My vision is to put my bridal ballet flats from Grace Footwear with a wedding photo.

Another idea that I have is to do what Darcy did, a wedding photo with the wedding invitation. I'll make sure to post my finished products as once as I am finished!

The How to Do:

With a few household and crafts materials, you can frame a collection of family mementos, creating an interesting display. Here are some of the ways Darcy Miller, editorial director of Martha Stewart Weddings, puts them to use. 1/4-inch-thick foam board: Back photos, illustrations, and paper ephemera for extra depth, or add a layer or two inside baby clothes for a filled-out look.

Adhesive dots: Give a child's dress fabric folds with these reusable dots, or hold open the lid of a mounted watercolor set.

Background paper: Add a pop of color to the box wall, or choose a similar-hued one to let the objects take center stage. Mount it on foam board if you plan to secure items with straight pins or wire.


Craft glue: Stick tiny dots of confetti outside the glass for a snowdrift, or dangle a silver streamer from the frame's top. Double-sided foam tape: Adhere heavier items, such as a small dress, to paper or foam board.

Double-sided tape: Affix a photo to the inside of the frame's glass with a small sliver of tape, or attach circles of confetti to background paper.

Straight pins: Secure little ballet slippers or bikini ties to background paper mounted on foam board. For a clean look, snip the pinheads off with wire cutters after pushing them in.

Wire: Display "floating" sunglasses and swimming goggles with pieces of wire looped through holes in foam board, twisting the wire ends in the back.

Source: Tools and Techniques for Darcy's Scrapboxes

Product Greatness: I bought this today off of Amazon, I can't wait! After months and months of searching for the perfect scrap book, I finally found the one. Price of $18.71 + tax and shipping. Pretty hard to beat!

The perfect keepsake book for the special moments, celebrations and romance of  your wedding. From first-date jitters to the engagement, from the wedding day through the honeymoon and anniversaries, this scrapbook helps a bride capture the defining moments of her wedding in personalized, creative ways.

Written and illustrated by Darcy Miller, published by Harper Collins.

Darcy Miller Designs