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January 16, 2017
Lifestyle, New Year, Photo Projects

A Yearbook for 2016

Thank you Mixbook for sponsoring this post.

When I started my blog 6.5 years ago, it was to document my life. I wanted a way to share pictures from studying in Northern Ireland with my mom and have a place I could look back on to remember. I’ve been a scrapbooker as long as I can remember (seriously, I’ve got some great ones I made in elementary school) and I’ve been obsessed with taking photos of the people I love and the places I go. I’ve got boxes upon boxes (ask Bruce) of photos I’ve taken on disposable cameras & ones I printed once I got my first ever digital camera my senior year of high school (it was a big deal people, big deal!) The point is, my photos are some of the most dear positions I own. They tell stories, evoke memories, and bring up all kinds of emotion and this blog has always been a place to let them live.

As I was looking back on my blog for my recap of 2016, I realized I had taken so many pictures. This blog has stretched me and pushed me toward better photography. Not just composition, manual camera settings, and editing but also the content and the moments I capture. I’ve wanted to grow in my photography skills so I’ve invested in better equipment (like my Nikon D700) and I’ve carried that camera around everywhere. I take photos at home, with friends, on trips, and to all the family events. I take pictures to remember – not just the selfies and the staged family photo on a timer – but everything & the in between. Our lives and how we live them.

Like I was saying, I have a 2016 folder on my computer divided up by months. A whole year of pictures that I’ve taken and shared – some on Instagram, some on my Facebook for family to see, and most on my blog. They live digitally – in folders and on servers. Which honestly is incredible but there is still something about those boxes of photos & that stack of old scrapbooks. They are physical and they are real.

I found the box of all my scrapbooks (majority unfinished – oops!) & yearbooks from highschool as Bruce and I were cleaning and organizing our office (just trying to make room for two desks, a photo studio, and an etsy store over here). I got lost in my memories of years past – the stack of yearbooks all at least a decade old. I flipped from page to page and laughed as I read the comments –  “I signed your crack,” “HAGS,” and funny stories from the year.  I wanted more of that.

So I took all those organized pictures on my computer and I set out to make a yearbook for us. A yearbook that wasn’t trying to fit the memories of 1200 kids in one book – but one centered around our family of two and the wonderful people we share life with. A Mayberry yearbook. A giant scrapbook of 2016 without having to print and scrapbook it all (praise!) I logged in Mixbook and set out to make one of my favorite ideas ever.

Using Mixbook to create my yearbook was not only easy but fun! I picked a layout and went to town, uploading a month of photos at a time. I even saved my project multiple times to come back later which is a HUGE plus to making a yearbook on Mixbook. When I finally got to the end of December, I sent it to be printed. I knew I was going to love it when it arrived in the mail but I didn’t know how much I would love it. As I started flipping page to page, my eyes filled up with tears. A whole year of our lives in my hands – the trips, the parties, the gatherings, and the everyday.

I picked the hardcover lay-flat style of photobook so that I could leave it on my coffee table as a book for friends to look through when they come over. Already so many friends and family have smiled, laughed, and teared up while looking through the yearbook. Photos in print evoke emotion. Photos in hand tell stories. And I started a new tradition for the Mayberry family – I’m now just debating on whether or not to have people sign it 😉

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Hello + Welcome!

I’m Elizabeth, a Colorado photographer and blogger. I’m also a wife, mama, sister, daughter, and friend! Welcome to Oak + Oats! Here we look for the remarkable in the every day. We love photographing our daily moments, making memories, and sharing our favorite places here in this space.

Our happiest days are spent together – many of those with a camera in hand! My free time (ie: Nap Time) is spent behind my computer screen sharing our tips and stories with you! I’m glad you’re here!

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OLDER POSTS

Looking back on 2020

Christmas Eve

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The Family Holiday Gift Guide

Creating Christmas Family Traditions & Being okay when they Change

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FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

12 MONTHS 🎉🎉🎉⁠ ⁠ This little turned o 12 MONTHS 🎉🎉🎉⁠
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This little turned one whole year this week! Figured I should wait for the official stats to include in our last monthly photo 😭😍😭😍 22.2 lbs and 30.3 inches tall. Not as big as her sister but still a pretty big baby. ⁠🙌🏼
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According to tradition, we went out to breakfast (so thankful restaurants were open for indoor seating) and she ate as much as her big sis! ⁠
⁠
Current favorite word is book but she also says dada all day long. And the roars. She LOVES TO ROAR! ⁠( other words: mama, ruff, and signs "all done")
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In every effort to keep up with her favorite friend & sibling, she is already walking around like she owns the place and we just cannot even with her! SO MUCH LOVE! ⁠😍
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Happy Birthday #OurMillieBea⁠
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PS: I have a one year old and a two year old now. WHAT?!?!? 🤯
We put @photowall_sweden wallpaper up in our dinin We put @photowall_sweden wallpaper up in our dining room and now everything looks like a still life painting. I don't hate it.
About as cake smashy as our cake smash got! Big si About as cake smashy as our cake smash got! Big sis ate more off the tray than #OurMillieBea did! Only one finger got in her mouth and an essence of icing made her smell like a piece of cake the rest of the night 😍😂
Happy Birthday my littlest 🎉 One year old, my h Happy Birthday my littlest 🎉 One year old, my how the time flies! Beyond grateful for the gift you are to our family! You bring both your parents and your big sister so much JOY! Spent most of my day with my family and this little birthday girl not getting birthday posts edited + written + posted but that's the way it should be! Good thing I like to celebrate birthdays all month long because lots more of #OurMillieBea coming soon!
Happy Birthday Eve my sweet #OurMillieBea 🎉 Happy Birthday Eve my sweet #OurMillieBea 🎉
This week has been a hard week and I just wanted t This week has been a hard week and I just wanted to remind you that no amount of instagram scrolling is going to soothe your heart. The headlines, inspirational quotes, and commentary only pales in comparison to Truth. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) Go there. Read your Bible. Don't know where to start? Google a reading plan and open your Bible up. We need to be a people who hide the Word of the Lord in our hearts, who know Jesus Christ personally (who is the way, the Truth, and the life John 14: 6), and shine His light. The world needs hope, let's know it and let's share it! 

#faithfilledfridays with 
@nurseryrhymeville @atwinkleintheireyes @bethanykimsey @steph.pollock  @3littlelambshomestead @shannacrowell @thecashells 
@devoted_Motherhood_ @lifes.a.jess @jenniferpepito @anndunagan @_kindletogetherness @oakandoats @littlemindscreative @mobilizermom @cedar_hills_kids_homeschool

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