A Michigan 4th

I can't even begin to explain to you how lovely Michigan summers are. It's pretty equivalent to the South's spring weather: highs of 80's & 90's and low's of 60's & 70's with plenty of sunshine. For my last two years of high school, my family lived on Selfridge ANGB which is right on Lake St. Clair. We loved having neighborhood block parties and watching the fireworks from the lawn. 

This year I had the chance to be up there again for the 4th of July. Along with my friend Amanda, her fiance Andrew, and her sister Kristina, we drove over to St. Clair Shores to watch the fireworks. People watching is always fun to do while waiting for nightfall ;)

beautiful water

Andy & Amanda

Amanda, Me, & Kristina

The moon was crazy orange/red and super low in the sky at 9pm

Easter Pretties

{I just realized I never did an Easter post. Wow. Talk about really late!}

This year's Easter was low-key. We went home to be with our family for a short weekend.

I decided not to take our big camera, so I took a few snapshots on my phone instead.

A few days beforehand, Matt and I went to our first ever Messianic Seder meal at our brother & sister in law's church. It was lovely evening to remember Passover.

"to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His grace and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." Revelation 1: 5-6

MY Top Photo Apps

1. Instagram
*FREE

For the past year and a half I've become a huge fanatic of this app!! It doesn't help with my photo obsession either!! :) There are many great filters (my usual choices are: Nashville, Walden, Sierra, Toaster, and 1997)!!!! I like to use the extra features sometimes which are the tilt shift (choosing what's in focus) and Lux (helps with underexposure/brings out highlights/helps with shadows) AND to be honest, I've made many "IG friends" that are interested in my life- not just my pictures!! {Welcome Android Users!!!} 

Follow me @lifeasapepin

2. Labelbox
 *FREE but .99 for extras

This app is fun for making little word tags on your photos instead of writing out descriptions in the comments. Each label is a different design with it's own font.

3. Picframe 
*.99

For putting multiple photos together, I like this over Diptic. This app allows each box to be changed in dimension by placing your fingertip on the line and moving it to be larger or smaller, pictures can be turned around or upside down, borders can be any choice of multiple colors and patterns, and the corners can be rounded too!!! Lots of options!

4. CollageDay 
*FREE

I just realized it is misspelled! HAHA! This app has lots of "stickers" and backgrounds you can use alone or with your pictures. You can choose each piece and make them large or small as well as bringing them "to the front" or "to the back"!!! Super fun and way cute!!!

5. maskingtape
*.99

Best kept secret & my favorite app purchase ever (so far)!! I think there are hundreds of tape (think washi tape) designs to pick from with at least 40 colors for each!!!! Crazy!!! And SO much fun! I use this app first to make my design and then another app for adding my pictures (Picframe, Montage) before uploading to Instagram!

6. Montage 
*1.99

                              {via Stefaloo}                                (w/maskingtape)

It's not super easy to use, but you can make really cool collages in all sorts of shapes: circles, diamonds, hexagons, squares triangles, etc... I really need to practice more :)

7. Phonto
*FREE

Want different fonts than the typical 5? This is the app for you! It has about 30+ choices.

8. LensLight
*.99

 

                               {via JUXT}

Ever wondered how people make the glitter, rainbows, light spots, stars, hearts, and other cool light rays and flares? Yep- this is probably it....there are a multitude of different light lenses and colors to add on top of your photos.

9. Gifture

*FREE

Thanks to my husband for this find. It takes multiple photos in succession and makes them into a moving (animated) photo!!! How cool!!!

Hope you enjoyed my fav photo apps!

What are yours?! I'd love to know!!

IG update

{December 2011- February 2012}
follow me @lifeasapepin

Remake 6 M&S Wedding Edition 2 {Pinterest}

I am a lover of details.
I tend to notice the small things that others tend to overlook (not intentionally).
I've always appreciated the minute details of the color palettes, fonts, invitations, programs, shower invites, flowers, etc of any wedding (or party for that matter)!!!
I might be strange to some people, but because of this I tend to photograph certain things more, break down how things were done to recreate myself, and impress upon others the things I find important :)

I hope that you find this true in my blog.


SO, if you missed M&S Wedding Edition 1- GO HERE!! & to continue in the sweet little details of wedding decor........

1. Striped Paper Straws*****

 

Who doesn't love these?!?! The grey paper straws were perfect for sipping water, coffee, or tea with and they matched the wedding colors!!

*Kikkerland straws (144 for UNDER $6 a box) from Amazon

2. Lanterns & Pom-Poms****

After hanging lanterns over the dance floor, I had a few leftover so I tied them together along with two white pom-poms and hung it (thanks Cindy!) over the Welcome table in the front foyer of the lake house.

*It was a little last minute touch of fun :) & the lanterns were from my wedding-love when I can reuse things!

3. Chalkboard Menus****

I made these beforehand (#2) and then bought little frame stands from the Dollar Tree. They gave "directions" for the guests as to where to place gifts, take a favor, write a piece of advice, build their own s'more, dinner menu, wine menu, and to have a good time!!!
*These can be used over and over

4. "S'More Love" Sign***

Having a S'more table was such a fun idea! There was a firepit at the lake house and it was the cool place to be :) Using burlap, paint, & twine (things I already had), I sewed together this banner to designate the table with chocolate bars, graham crackers, & marshmallows!

*Cute play on words

5. Wooden Cake Stand***

Matt's dad cut down a tree (which was also used for firewood) from their backyard to make the cake plate. It was sanded and sealed for the cake to be placed on. Somehow it didn't make it from the plate to the wooden plate? lol

*Tied in the natural elements of the small wooden pieces and the cake table backdrop frame, plus it was FREE

#1, #2, #3, #4, and #5

 from Mark & Sandy and Let's Party

Hot Springs

We are VERY fortunate!!! (One of) Matt's aunts & uncles owns a little cabin up in the mountains of Hot Springs, NC. So before the craziness of the holiday season began, we ventured up into no cell phone signal territory in order to relax. 

One of my girlfriends from college (also post-college roomies & bridesmaids in each other's weddings), her husband, & dog joined us for a 3 day weekend. We hiked, played games, lounged, ate, and slept in the entire break.

Friday evening we ventured around the little town, had dinner at the Smoky Mountain Diner, walked to the river, and enjoyed the atmosphere of Bluff Mountain Outfitters

I got some pottery from this cute shop The Artisun Gallery

Saturday we hiked up to Lover's Leap along the French Broad River

Heather & I

              What a cute family

Snack Break

Here comes Beaux

Before enjoying our Crockpot spaghetti dinner

Right across the street from our cabin is the footpath that leads to the Appalachian Trail. On Sunday, we walked the AT for longer than we expected to (almost 5 hours) and we never quite made it to the hiker's shelter. LOL.

Happy (& tired) Hikers

If you're ever looking for a weekend getaway

check out the charming 

Chapel View Cottages

Thanks for a lovely weekend!