I AM IN LOVE......

with Project Life, that is.  I know for those of you that are loyal followers, I have been babbling about this memory keeping system for months.  Fun purchases, but NO results.  I am sure that most of you were thinking I was just that girl that cried wolf and you would never see a completed page.  OK, so maybe I didn't start out using it as it was originally intended, but ladies, at my crop on Saturday....I worked it like nobody's business!!!!

I started documenting an amazing trip that I took to Cabo San Lucas for a friend's wedding.  It was the most beautiful wedding and I want to be able to look back on it and all the fun that I had on that wonderful vacation.  The trip was April 2009....so the pictures have been sitting in envelopes, in a drawer, literally for years.  I started out documenting old school style, but I was just not feeling it - even though I had bought a pad of beautiful paper specifically for this project.  So after much debate and some wonderful advice from some of my crafty readers (thank you all so much!), I decided to tackle it Project Life style.

 I have to be honest - it is different and is going to take some getting used to.  I am generally a pretty simple scrapper - easy on the embellishments, but really heavy on pictures.   So far this system has even less embellishments, but I can totally see that changing as I get more comfortable using it.  I got about 140 pictures into the book - probably close to 2/3 of my pictures - in about 8-9 hours....say what?!?!?!  I am convinced with another day of dedicated work, I will be done.  I have to order some extra page protectors that are special sizes so that I can add some keepsakes .  I can't wait to get those, because I know the extras will only add to the character of the book.

I am not giving up on traditional scrapping, but I have definitely decided that I will be doing the Disney Cruise album for Zach using the Project Life system.  That trip was almost 8 years ago and desperately needs to be in an album instead of piled in a box.

My goal of four trip/themes documented in 2013 is back within reach and I could not be more excited!  I am attending a scrap retreat in November and can totally see getting the entire Disney album completed during that weekend - with a bit of advance planning on my part.

The tub of pictures...some as far back as Zach's baby pictures (almost 13 years now), doesn't seem quite as daunting now.  There is a solution...other than to give up.  In my book...Becky Higgins is a lifesaver!

In other weekend news, I picked up Zach from Allaso Ranch on Friday night after work.  In the best of circumstances, it is about a 2 hour and 15 minute drive - on Sunday with no traffic.  Friday night starting out in rush hour it took me almost 3 hours...grrrrr.  I will admit that I was a bit crabby when I got there even though I was so excited to see Zach.  The service had already started when I arrived, but there is nothing like walking into a huge room filled with kids and parents worshiping together....the love in that room was overflowing, and I truly felt blessed to be there - especially since his dad normally goes to get him.

Sunday, my plan was to tackle the huge mound of laundry that was bellowing my name.  My friend had other plans...he called and said meet me at my place and let's go for a ride.  I jumped at the chance, because we have been trying to coordinate this for months.  Although me trying to get on and off of a motorcycle is nothing short of hysterical, I think I am a biker girl at heart.  I love riding and if I could, I would go every weekend - at least when the weather wasn't crazy.  It was definitely a packed weekend, but a lot of fun!

On a final note, I started the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred this morning.  It was not my idea of a good time, but I survived and I am determined to get through the month.

Now, will you ever witness my before pic with the "gut gone wild", I have serious doubts.  But if I do get brave enough, come August 1st, I will be linking up with Big Holly, who is anything but big to share my results.  I have a friend locally that is doing it as well.

We only met a few weeks ago, but I am fairly certain we were separated at birth (4+ years apart...lol)

Although, I am attempting it in the morning and she is tackling after her she tucks her wee one in...I plan to check in with her after each workout and I have a sneaky suspicion that if she doesn't hear from me, she just may go all JM on me.  Have a great week!