I Am Sticking With It

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Luck 'o The Irish and all that jazz!!!

I can honestly say that I am FINALLY feeling a little inspired to post again.  It has come on just as quickly as my inexcusably long spell of feeling totally uninspired.  There is no rhyme or reason that I know of, but I do know that I am happy about it!  To be 100% honest, I did some soul searching during my latest dry spell and asked myself the really tough questions....was I really enjoying this blogging thing? was it becoming a chore, rather than something I loved? do I really want to keep it up?  After giving it some very serious consideration, the answer to all the questions was a resounding yes!  Now a yes to question number 2 was scary because I have always said that when I feel like blogging is a chore, I will walk away...no regrets. However, I gave myself the time to stew on that one for awhile and gave myself a deadline to either pull myself together and start posting again or bid adieu to this blogging thing.  My deadline was March 31st. Luckily, a couple of weeks ago, the urge to connect with my followers came creeping back and my wheels started turning.

In the last month or so, I have really been focusing on me and making myself a priority right along with the other things that I used to put first.  I battle with this...a lot.  I think that may have had something to do with the long break - I was feeling incredibly overwhelmed, a bit on the out of control side would be a safe assessment.  In short, I have started attending a fit camp (I am sure you will hear more about this in the coming weeks) and I have also joined a gym that finally opened on Saturday....hallelujah!  This gym is literally 2 minutes from home AND it has 24/7 365 day access.  Both of these are great motivators for me, especially since I can run home and still be able to get a workout in and not have to drive all the way across town again. Anyway, I am not turning this into a health and workout blog, but don't be surprised to see an update here and there or a post that is healthy living focused.

I have also been dying to share my Disney album with you guys as well as another album that I have had in the works for some time.  Before, I never thought I should share much until I was 100% complete....I am not really sure where that came from, just one of my quirks I guess.  Anyway, the first part of the Disney album is complete and thanks to this guy....

Yes, he is sitting on the dining room table...doing his best to grab some natural light

it is photographed and ready to share.  Even though the entire project is not done I am stepping out of my comfort zone!  I plan to share it in three installments starting tomorrow  I am hoping to do a lot more sharing in the future...project complete or not.  Documenting has definitely become a passion for me and I don't want to put boundaries on myself in regards to what is and isn't share worthy at any given time.  I am still battling with my DSLR and am hoping to sit down in the next couple of months and get through the classes that I was gifted last year.  Hopefully, at which point there will be noticeable improvement in my photographs!

Finally,  a new blog design is the very early stages.  I have thought for awhile that maybe I should simplify, clean house so to speak.  I have been longing for a single sidebar so that I have the room to post larger photos and I believe this new design will not only be significantly less busy but it will give me that extra space that I am looking for.  In case you are wondering, Katie is sticking with me as a contributor.  She will still be here sharing her memory keeping and crafting on the third Thursday of every month and I couldn't be more happy about that!  To those of you that are still here and reading, thank you from the bottom of my heart for sticking with me during my extended down time...it means the world to me!!!!

Check back tomorrow for Part 1 of the Disney Cruise album from (cough, cough) 2005.

Third Thursday Scrapbook Stories: February 2014

It is that time again and Katie is here for Third Thursday Scrapbook Stories.  If you are new around these parts, Katie doesn't just scrapbook....she does all kinds of crafty goodness...and then sometimes scraps about it too!  I truly consider it a blessing to have her here each and every month sharing her talent and passion for scrapbooking!  If you love what you see, make sure to drop by Katie Stories, and tell her I sent ya!

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Happy Thursday!

This month just seems to be flying by. Maybe its because its the shortest month of the year, or maybe its the craziness of moving into a new house. Or maybe its just because we are getting closer to the end of the school year and I'm counting down the days!

But no matter what it is, it is flying by.

This month, I wanted to share a layout about crafts. Specifically, wedding crafts. We (and by we, I mean my mom and I...not AJ and I!) made almost everything for the wedding. From the table numbers to the banners to the guest book, centerpieces, menus, invitations...the list goes on and on.

And most of it we did in one weekend last January!

So you know it had to get its whole own layout :)

I really wanted to keep this one simple, so the crafts could stand out on their own. All I used was a fall-themed 12x12 piece of paper, some Recollections (I think) alphas and a journaling card from the Project Life Wedding kit that Julie so awesomely gave me in September. Because she rocks! Thank you Julie :)

I'm really glad that I have this layout and these pictures from our craft weekend. Even though my photographer did get shots of all of my crafts, its nice to remember everything that went into making them as well!

Do you ever scrap about any of the projects you made, or any of your other hobbies?

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Another fun layout from Katie and I am so glad that she is putting her Wedding Kit to good use.  I have a feeling when she gets started on that wedding album, we will see a lot more of those cards pop up!

Things seem to be moving at lightening speed lately, and there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day.  I am trying to get my groove back, but quite honestly I am having a hard time.  It must just not be me, because I have seen a few VERY regular bloggers, announce that they are taking a "length to be determined" hiatus....maybe it is something in the water.  Anyway, a lot has been going on, but it just seems kind of weird to post things that have happened weeks ago...I don't know, maybe that is just me.  As some of you know I attended an all day crop last Saturday, and I managed to all but finish my main Disney album - 8+ years after the fact..lol.  I have some finishing touches to add to it and then I will definitely be sharing it here.  I really love it and am so happy that I made it a priority to get it documented for Zach.  Lots of good memories!  

I am attending the Scrapbook Expo on Saturday with a fellow scrapbooker from work.  I am really excited about that and can't wait to see all the goodies.  I am only taking a set amount to spend and will not go over my limit, so I have to choose very wisely!  I hope that I will come out with a few new items to add to my stash and a lot of great inspiration.  

Have a great day and thank you so much for stopping by!

Project Life Roadblock

I had high hopes of having some 2014 Project Life layouts to share with you this morning, but alas - I hit a roadblock.  Even though I now have my handy dandy Canon Selphy picture printer, I had a lot to print (not just for PL), so I decided to just place an order at CVS.   With all of the sorting and crazy slow upload times, this project pretty much took the entire afternoon.  I was not a happy camper and it was just plain frustrating.  I have got to come up with a better organization system and a better game plan....if any of you have suggestions, please enlighten me!  I am seriously struggling!  Oh yea, and there is the other thing...a lot of my pictures just aren't that good.  I mean, I guess they will do....moments will be documented, but dang the pictures are lacking!  I have got to get through my Shoot Fly Shoot classes, so that I can step up my game.  It is really difficult to get excited about layouts with lackluster pictures.  In the midst of  a lot of mediocrity, I came upon this treasure.....my heart exploded!

This was from one of our ice days at the beginning of December.  My DSLR is REALLY old, so the preview screen is really small.  Sometimes, what I think turned out great is not really great and evidently the reverse is also true.

On a more fun note, I am going to an all day crop on Saturday.  Even though it is just one day, getting away from home with only scrapping to focus on seems to be exactly what I need to get my rear in gear.  That Disney album may get finished yet!