iphones apps for mums...

I've recently stumbled across two iphone apps that are super handy for you moms.  ArtKive, is a free app that allows you take photos of your kiddos artwork, label it, and even share it with the grandparents.  After the school year is up, you can simply hit one button and it transforms all that art into a digital coffee table book!  I'm certain it will get more attention and views in a book rather than a nice box somewhere....

Anyone ever wish you had time to journal certain days or events for your kids, but honestly by bedtime rolls around you are worn out!  DayOne app allows you take photos and list a few things about your day, and even stamps the day with the weather.  You can tag events or kiddos- which makes printing out a "journal" a snap.  You can journal for multiple kiddos, but print only entries with "Ethan" tags!  Read more about it here.

video...then what?

I consider myself a pretty decently organized person.  However, it took me a good two years to figure out that I cannot keep up with printing photos and placing them into labeled albums.  It was too expensive and time consuming.  I finally came to be okay with backing my photos up to SmugMug where they are organized and safe.  I have traded in my photo albums to making a book on iPhoto for each year of the boys life for their birthday...much easier to display on the coffee table too!

But when it comes videos, I have them everywhere:  YouTube, on my computer, iPhone, and a slew on our digital video camera.  I have no idea where to store them where they are safe and easy to upload to, watch, and share.  The videos are precious clips of Ethan and Bennett.  I could breathe a deep sigh of relief if I knew I had them in one safe place.

Does anyone recommend a website?  I prefer online to an external hard drive...because they too can get broken, lost, or stolen.  And while I'm at it....a new video camera.  I just dropped my flip video camera 4 inches and totally broke it and lost all the video of Bennett's first days at home.  Urrgghhh.  Any advice is welcome:)

the big picture debate...

What do you do with all the hundreds of photos you take of your kids?  I have no idea what to do with mine anymore.  I am stuck between the digital world and the old school way of actual photos placed in albums.  I used to back them up on Smugmug and then print them all and spend hours putting them in albums and labeling them.

albums stacked on by bookcases

Then... I got behind.  Lets say I am a good year behind.  I still organize them on my computer and back them up in smugmug.  I just couldn't keep up with printing and albums.  Looking back, I shouldn't have printed all of them, just my favorites.

For Ethan's 2nd birthday, I made him a book on iphoto of his 2nd year (12 months-23 months).  I took all of my favorite photos from holidays, everyday, and events and made a book.  I was impressed with the quality of the book verses shutterfly or snapfish, but it was more pricey.  It did take me several hours, but not near the amount of time or money spent on albums and prints.

 the front of the book

inside cover

sample of one of the pages

the back of the book

So what are your thoughts on photo organization?  I have had this ongoing debate with myself about what is "best" thing to do.  I can't imagine not going to my mom's house and looking through my baby albums.  Are we cutting our kids short if we don't make these for our kids?

gotta love it...

Reason #515 I love blogs is because you come across awesome finds like these cool kid plates and bowls.  I have said many times I would like to design a fun, cool set of dishes for kids that mom's can buy a set of that actually stack in the cabinet!  Who knew that Smiling Planet has these adorable and very green plates and bowls.  How cute are they?

smugmug....

Many of you have heard me talk endlessly about photos: taking photos, storing photos, arranging on albums....... Anyhow, I finally took the plunge (thanks to an online coupon) and joined smugmug. It is an online website where you "backup", share, and order your photos. The main reason I joined was to have my photos stored in a safe place if my computer crashed or my external hard drive (where I used to keep photos) was stolen or damaged. It is my hope that it will serve as place to share my photo with family and you can order your own prints (if you want!). So family....be on the look out for emails from "smugmug" and please send me feed back if you try to order prints, view my albums, etc. Here goes....

picture overload...

I recently spent almost 3 hours at Wolf Camera getting over 600 pictures developed. I started with 950 and edited them down to around 600. It is my goal to get them in chronological order, in an album, labeled, and uploaded to our external hard drive. Now, where do I find the time to do this? If anyone has any suggestions....maybe a little starbucks will get me started. Here's hoping! I think I'm in over my head!