Tis The Season for Giving: A Giveaway and My Time in Barcelona!!

Remember when I went to Europe?

Remember how I didn't really tell you about it yet?

Except for this little sneak peek?

Partially, it's because I wanted to wait until I had time to "scrapbook" my pictures.

Two years ago, I converted.

From paper

to digital.

Best decision ever.

No longer picking up infinite scraps of paper off the floor

scraping double sided tape off the table tops

throwing away cellophane sticker wrappers.

I LOVE IT.

So far I have one complete album, from my Ireland Trip in 2009,

and all of the pages complete from my Baltic Cruise in 2010.

My Memories Software contacted me, offering two a free copies of their program,

the My Memories Suite

one for me, and one for you.

Uh, YEAH. 

Totally the motivation I needed to get started on my Mediterranean Cruise from this Summer.

I decided to whip up a few digital scrapbook pages from my time in Barcelona and share them with you!

I also wanted to share with you my thoughts on the program -

it's really easy, and pretty comprehensive.

I have used both Picnik and Photoshop Elements previously for creating my pages.

I would say this program does a ton more than Picnik,

and is a lot more user friendly than Photoshop Elements.

My favorite feature? 

Collages!

I use Picnik almost solely for the collages and layouts,

but My Memories Software offers way more, and they are totally customizable.

Meaning you can add as many pictures as you want.

You can move them around

Make them different sizes and dimensions.

You follow?

You can make blog collages, HOLLER!

They also have a ton of fun fonts, papers, a few stickers and stamps, 

among other things - all built into the program.

Maybe digital scrapbooking is something you have been interested in getting started with

honestly, this might be a perfect place to start. 

A super simple program, with a lot of customizable options.

Here are a few things that I whipped up

quickstyle and everything!

I have to say, making these pages was a lot of fun - and super simple.

Not just telling you that. 

I whipped up the last two last night!

So, do you want your own copy?

Here's what you need to do - 

Mandatory for entry:

just head on over to www.mymemories.com 

and tell me your favorite digital paper pack or layout in a comment here,

and you are IN.

Anyone can enter, not just bloggers!

Do you want extra entries?

Follow My Memories blog

Like My Memories on Facebook

Follow My Memories on Twitter

Tweet (including a link to this post) about this giveaway.

Leave me a comment for each for an extra entry.

You have until Thursday night, December 15th, at 10pm PST to enter.

I will announce the winner Friday!

Are you interested in purchasing the software?

My Memories has given me a $10 off coupon code to share with you.

Super cool, right?

Code: STMMMS31160 
(copy & paste!)


Feel free to share the code and the giveaway with anyone else as well!
It's good forever!

(This is my first sponsored giveaway, which means My Memories provided the software for me and the winner for free! All opinions are happily my own.)

Buongiorno! Florence, Pisa, Lucca, Wherever!!!

Greetings again from halfway across the world.

Today, ITALY!!!!

Hopefully the day involves some vino, cappuccino, and a tower that lean's-o.

Yeah, that was a stretch.
Work with me here. I don't know any Italian.
I've got my high school Spanish to get me through.
And my dad. Who thinks he is Italian.
All his buddies are Italian cyclists.

I'm totally serious.
Growing up they had names like Carlo, Franco, Oreano, and Gian Carlo.
Yep. They are all brothers.
And they bike.
It was like the freaking Giro de Italia whenever we'd go on adventures with dad.
That's like the Tour de France.  But the Italian version.

In fact. Many, many, many moons ago - these buddies of my dad's took him TO Italy.
They rented a villa.
It came with an italian woman who cooked for them every night.
During the day, they'd ride all around the Tuscan Countryside.
On a lot of the paths the Giro guys had ridden on only a few weeks earlier.
Little kids would come out of their homes, and wave flags along the side of the road.
Cyclists are rockstars in Italy.
I think my dad loved his rockstar days.

I just know that he is going to be the happiest clam the next few days as we explore the land of his wannabe ancestors. 

So today, we are traveling through some of the same area.
Supposedly, including a tour of Lucca. Shoutouts to Krissie, Wendy, and Jessica - who's stories of Lucca are some of the best around. They went a decade ago - and are still telling the tales. ;) Right ladies?

Hopefully I come home with a few of my own....that don't require a winky face.

We'll also be checking out that leaning tower. I'm sure I'll be posting the required "holding up the tower" picture when I return...just hold your horses, okay?

So now, you are wondering, where was A Cuppa Kim, A Year Ago?
I was floating along the Baltic Sea.
Waving at Poland.
Lithuania.
and Latvia.

Which meant, LOT's of reading time.
Mentally, I was in Sweden, with The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo.

Here are a few pics from my at sea days...they are all combined into one layout...but you get the idea....

(click for larger)

Bonjour, from Monaco!

Bonjour! (Is that what they say in Monaco? They are almost-but-not-really Frenchies, right?)
Good Morning!
Today I am rubbing elbows with the Grimaldis.
I totally am.
Okay, maybe not.
But, for all I know. I might be.
(remember, writing this in advance?)

The plan for today is to hoof it around Monte Carlo.
When you hear Monte Carlo, what do you think of?

Princess Grace?
Elegance?
Beauty?
Casinos?

Yep.
Mom, Dad and I are headed to the Grand Casino.
Hopefully it works out.
They say Monte Carlo FITS inside of Central Park.
I have walked a good distance of Central Park, so I think we should be able to make it to the casino.
And since I'm hours ahead, I have probably already hit it BIG, and am never coming home. Ever. It was nice knowing all of you. I'm onto bigger and better things. ;)

I may or may not try to double down.
Always on 11.
Always on 10.
NEVER split 9's. Or 10's. EVER.
ALWAYS split 8's. And 7's.
These are the kinds of things my grandma teaches me.
She has trophies you know.
This kinda stuff runs in the blood.

If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's better that way. Promise.

Let's move on from my sketchy behaviors...shall we?

A year ago today...where was I?
GERMANY!
Warnemunde to be specific.
My mother never ONCE said that name correctly.
Even now, still doesn't.
Hint: The W makes a V sound - you know how those crazy German's do.

Germany was an adventure. They wouldn't take my Visa anywhere. They just didn't have credit card machines.
Finding an ATM took an hour.
And finally, my dad and I were able to enjoy some pastries at a cafe.
There were tons of cute shops in Warnemunde.
A little vacation town for the Germans.
Reminded me a lot of Sausalito in appearance and atmosphere.

Earlier in the day, we took a tour through Rostock - a little bit larger, more bustling city in northern-eastern Germany.
While we were exploring the city center, the circus came to town.
Literally.
I'm not talking Ringling Brothers.
I'm not talking Cirque du Soliel
I'm talking, a Water for Elephants, travel by train, pitching tents in a field, gypsy type circus performers, circus.

It was AMAZING.
We were mid-tour when a man in a red coat with tails came up to us, and in broken English warned us "the elephants are coming! the elephants are coming!"
And we looked up, and a small herd of elephants was being escorted through the square. By just a handful of circus performers.
There was a table of fresh fruits and veggies directly in front of us - which we thought was some kind of religious tribute or symbol, but was really just a snack for the pachyderms.
I was SO excited that the elephants were going to be going by us, I turned my back to them, while my dad snapped picture after picture, after picture.
I didn't turn around for about 2 minutes, and was completely startled to find the elephant, DIRECTLY behind me. No buffer. No gates. No man standing by with a tranquilizer gun.
Just me and dumbo.
The look on my mom's face was priceless.

I love Europe.
I love how things happen there that would never happen in the states.
Like elephants roaming free through town.

It's been real Germany....I'll see you again in a few days when I make my connecting flight back to the states....

Until then, we'll always have Warnemunde:
(click for larger....and look into that elephant's eye - he was totally checking me out)

 

Hola! From Spain!!

Hola Amigos!

Hoy, yo estoy en Espana!
How's that for five years of Spanish!? I'm not even sure if I am using the verbs correctly - but WHATEVS. Most of you probably don't care!

So - get this, I am 30.
I am in Barcelona.
And I am on a bicycle.

(Technically, I am 29 and writing this, a full month in advance...NERDALERT) - but you get the point!

I thought I'd let you know what I'm up to while across the world today!

Also technically, by the time this posts, I have probably already ridden a bike through the streets of Barcie-Pants. (Copycatting that city nickname from Reagan. Because I love it).

So right now, I'm probably off spending way too many Euros (remember, I forget how to convert...and it does not work in my favor), drinking a coffee in a cafe, and about to begin my Med-Sea adventure. Ship leaves TONIGHT.

I can't really tell you how things are going - because, remember, I'm not there yet when I'm writing?  But, let's just pretend things are AWESOME. That the flight was fabulous, accommodations are nothing but luxurious, and the food is delicious. I'm totally not jetlagged, and totally not exhausted.

Hey a girl can dream, right?

Anyway, a little fun for you...ready?
Today, while I'm exploring Barcie, you all can see my adventures from a year ago TODAY.
When I was in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Yep. I know. I really do. I am a lucky girl.

My biggest regret from Denmark? Not renting a bike. Seriously. If you go to Copenhagen. Walk. Or bike. Do NOT go on any bus tours. Including the Ho-Ho's (hop on, hop off).
We started our tour on foot.
Found the castle.
They have a real live queen in Denmark.
Had breakfast along their famous canal.
Ate the most expensive croissant of my life.
They put them on the table, like "hey free bread"
But they are not free.
Lesson learned.
But the Danes bike EVERY WHERE.
There are HUGE bike parking lots.
The cars and buses can hardly get around.
Copenhagen is a 2 wheeled city.

So, like I said, lesson learned, and today I'm biking Barcie with my dad. Hopefully the Spanish feel the same way as the Danes about biking and it was a worthy adventure.

And that I can find some flan.
And a Cafe Ole (yes, I know it's spelled Au Lait) - which sounds french, but was the name of the character on Strawberry Shortcake from Mexi-cocoa. Um, which basically means NOTHING, because I am in Spain.


Enjoy:
(click for larger)

Tomorrow...Monte Carlo!