Memories, Dreams, and Reflections 2011

Instead of a Scavenger Hunt this week, Ashley created Memories, Dreams, and Reflections 2011.  Even though we didn't have to take any new pictures for this, I think that I spent more time on this than I normally would for a weekly hunt.  It was definitely worth it, though.  Enjoy!

1) me

I'm 28.  Don't leave me any comments about how young I look.

2) I Love You

Angel loves both of us equally and enjoys getting this kind of attention from me, too.  (Jake doesn't appreciate comments about how young he looks either.)

3) Still Laughing

I REALLY wish that I had a picture of the time that Angel stole Jake's egg and bacon sandwich right off the coffee table while I was helping him do our taxes back in the spring.  We literally are still laughing about that.  The above picture is one of the times that Angel was "helping" me photograph a bunch of things for Etsy and this blog.  Angel lives up to her name and very rarely does anything mischievous, let alone downright bad, so it's really funny when she does do something that actually isn't very good.

4) Winter Wonderland

I'm cheating and using a picture that I actually took in 2010.  I had a lot of pictures of snow in Iowa by 2011 so I didn't take any more the last winter we were there.  But we still saw this exact picture from our condo sliding doors on several occasions in 2011.  We haven't had any snow like that yet in Milwaukee this winter!  The longer it waits, the better.

5) Birthday

 Jake got this book for his birthday this year from one of his new friends in Milwaukee.

6) Friends

This is us with some of our friends in Iowa on Match Day.

7) I Was Inspired

I am constantly inspired by the materials that I use.  One ideas leads right to the next.

8) Spring Fever

I took these pictures at work a couple weeks after Match Day.  So so ready to be done with the school year!

9)  Travel / Vacation

Jake and I took a trip to the Washington DC area this summer.  This is a picture of part of the World War II memorial.

10) Summer Days

Jake and a friend at the Bristol Renaissance Faire this summer.  Jake and I did this almost every year when we were dating and are glad to have started the tradition again.

11) A Day In My Life

Just about every day in my life involves working with beads, buttons, and/or some other type of crafty material (paper, fabric, etc.).  This was true even when I was teaching full-time.  Finding even 15-20 minutes a day to work on a project is really relaxing for me.

12) All Smiles

My cousin's little one at the Milwaukee County Zoo this summer.

13) Autumn Harvest

One of my favorite parts of the midwest is the seasons here.  Fall is always so gorgeous.

14) Family or Home

We love our new house in Milwaukee.

15) Celebrate!

This is us before the matches on Match Day.  How do we look so relaxed?!

16) Let's Do It Again...

I was able to go the zoo three times this summer/fall.  I am looking forward to going again in the spring.

17) I Miss You

As I said in my 2011 accomplishments post, the part of teaching that I do miss is the students.

18) Beautiful

We got to visit the National Cathedral during our DC trip.

19) Dress Up

At the med school reception before the graduation.  They didn't get to keep those sashes so people borrowed them beforehand for pictures.

20) Macro

I went with the first one that came to mind, as this decision for this prompt would have been way too tough if I spent a lot of time on it.  I still feel like this piece really says "me" and my shop.

21) Holidays

Angel was more excited about my basement floor present storage area than the Christmas tree upstairs.

22) My Favorite

I actually like the picture of us for Celebrate! (#15) more, but I like one a lot, too.  This was part of the post-match picture taking session.  

23) Don't Ever Change

Many neighborhoods in the Milwaukee area have a lot of character, including our neighborhood.  I hope that doesn't change any time soon.

24) Just Because

I figured I'd spare you another picture of Angel and show you something else that I enjoy taking pictures of: ducks.  This is another picture from our DC trip.

25) Hopes and Dreams

I am really excited for this new line that I'm officially releasing this month and for all of my other shop plans for 2012, too.

I hope that you enjoyed this!  Stop by Ashley's blog to check out the other submissions for Memories, Dreams, and Reflections 2011.