Mixbook

Remember when I mentioned a special photo project a couple of weeks ago? Well, I finished it up, ordered it, and it finally arrived yesterday.

 

I purchased a Groupon to Mixbook many moons ago, way back in February of last year. While I hadn’t forgotten about it, I just didn’t have the time to devote to the project until suddenly the expiration date was fast approaching and I knew I had to get a move on.

I also had a hard time deciding what I wanted to do. I knew I wanted to do a photo book, but I couldn’t decide what kind. Since I already order a blog book every year (or three, as in the case of 2011), I figured I would focus my Mixbook photo book on one event, such as our wine country vacation or our trip to the beach or Riley’ first birthday. But I wasn’t completely thrilled with that idea.

Then my friend Bridget suggested I do a book of Riley’s “firsts”: first bath, first haircut, first outing, etc. One collective book capturing all of his first little moments and experiences in the first 16 months of his life.

Done.

I came up with about forty “firsts” and quickly decided to center the whole book around photographs, since I already write more than enough on this blog. However, I did label each page, and UJ contributed a fantastic poem for the front of the book describing many of the “firsts,” which I just love.

It took me a little while to get used to the Mixbook interface, but I loved the many choices for backgrounds and layouts and how I could also manipulate everything to get it just the way I wanted it to look on the page.

I think the book turned out really great, and I’m so glad Bridget gave me the idea. I love this whole photo book craze. It’s so much easier than scrapbooking!

This book, along with my photo book documenting Riley’s arrival way back in August 2010, is something I will treasure forever. Hopefully one day Riley-bean will appreciate it just as much as I do.

Oh, and I also just bought a second $50 coupon to Mixbook so I’ll need another idea of what to use it for before February 2013. Let me know if anyone has any other brilliant suggestions!