documenting life with a bit of swag...

Happy Sunday! I have a new pocket layout to share today using my new favorite product line. As soon as the sneak peeks of the Simple Stories Life Documented collection were released a few months back, I fell hard. Hearts, wood grain, bright colors and coordinating pocket cards made it a necessity. As soon as the products arrived on my doorstep this past week, I was planning my first project (and several more). For this page, I used the Life Documented 2015 card pack, the Icon Sticker Pack the Bradz Brads (which, by the way, are adhesive! No more prongs!) and the fabulous February Swag Bag. That's all!

This pages focuses on the two big events of the last week of January - Amalia turning ONE and the now infamous blizzard that wasn't for our area, Juno. While this collection has nothing to do with winter or birthdays, it worked perfectly to document both events on one page. 

And, can we just pause for a moment to marvel that this baby is one? She amazes me every day, my sweet girl.

Here's an overview of the Life Documented line available now. It's stocked in the Paper Issues shop and you can have it all for 20% off with code JENBOOM. Enjoy!

she completes us...

It is with great joy that I announce the birth of our daughter, Amalia.

01.29.14

6 lb, 11 oz

19 inches

Two years ago...

Two years ago today, the meaning of Christmas Eve forever changed for our family with the arrival of our sweet little boy, George.


We love you to the moon and back again, G!!!


xoxoxoxo,
Mama

it's {un}officially summer here...

For most, summer unofficially begins Memorial Day weekend.  It's when lifeguards finally sit on duty at beaches and community pools open their gates.  Picnics are had and a large big crate of watermelon sits at the entrance to every grocery store.

Around here, we start summer just a few days earlier with the celebration of Mr. Boom's birthday.  This year we had only been back from Greece for a couple of days and G was still fighting jet lag but, the birthday must go on!  We had a wonderful grilled steak dinner at my in-law's followed by, what else, cake and ice cream.

I'm sharing this mainly because I love a couple of the captures from that evening...G helping his Baba blow out the birthday candle, right after eating his very first ear of corn, for which he needed no instruction!

a birthday, a cold and a partridge in a pear tree...

As I write this post, I'm still trying to figure out exactly where the last week went. Between my three-day birthday celebration, work and George coming down with a cold, time slipped away. I've been reading the #reverb10 prompts and am hoping to get to some of the backlog later this week but, if not, I'm letting it go. There are enough potential stressors in December without adding another to the mix.

So the birthday recap. in short, this was one of my favorites ever. Mr. Boom was able to take a day off of work to make a long weekend and both my parents and my in-law's joined us in baby-friendly outings to celebrate. That's what I wanted, time with my family. That (and the Kindle3 + green case....squeeeeee!) is exactly what I got.

Last Sunday kicked it all off with a trip to the Children's Museum. My parents met us and everyone had a great time watching G explore all of the exhibits. Not surprisingly, those that involved water were among his favorites. Is there any better gift than the joy on that little face? I think not.

The day was capped off with a delicious lunch at an italian restuarant around the corner from the museum. Blue crab and corn stuffed shells for me...oh, yum! And that was just day one of the festivities. Much more to come - soon, I promise!

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

role play...

Feeling overly nostalgic this morning, I started thinking about all of the roles we play in life. All of the titles we assume on the path that leads us to where we are at this very moment. Just think about it for a moment and a vivid timeline will appear...

I was born a daughter, grand-daughter and niece.

At 4 months, I was a cousin.

At 3 1/2, I became a sister.

At 4 years, 9 months, I entered kindergarten and became a student. Sometime that year, if not before, I was called friend.

Through school I was a a reader, soccer player (briefly), swimmer, Editor-in-Chief, honor student and then, high school graduate.

In college, I was psych major, a children's entertainer (part time job), copy girl, Resident Advisor, girlfriend, tennis player and woman of the world as I lived, studied and traveled in England.

After graduate school, I became a social worker and this role defined me for many years until I assumed my new role two years ago, staff trainer.

In February 2009, I was blessed to become a wife to my incredible husband.

This year, beginning today at 35 years young, I am about to take on my most coveted, anticipated, dreamt about role yet.

I will be Mom.

Life, in all of it's roles and forms is very sweet and this year is my proof positive that the very best things do, in fact, come to those who are willing to wait patiently.

Today I am 35 and I am infinitely blessed.