dear Emma/ project life: minimalistic approach

so I'm going to do my best to get this post typed within a reasonable time ;)

and this is why-

so at work yesterday I smashed my finger between a metal bar and roughly 150 pounds of metal grid. Grid is what the company I work for uses to attach to temporary stores to hold up fixtures to place merchandise. These things are atleast 8 ft tall and 4 ft wide. We loaded 15 of them on a metal cart since we needed to get them into storage containers so we could move them out. When we began moving it worked... and I was think YAY way more efficient... then the next thing I know they shifted and found my finger. It immediately turned blue and doubled in size. I went to the hospital and they said I fractured my distal phalanx.. up higher its too swollen to know what else I may have done. It looks so bad today!! its scary to unwrap and look lol.

so Emma if you ever follow in moms footsteps and decide to be a business woman like I am, I always want you to know there are sometimes consequences when you choose productivity over second thoughts on safety. You should be efficient and productive... just sometimes safety falters and Im just lucky I didn't injure my employees. 

OK so now I wanted to share with my friends how I approach project life and how you can do it with ease and efficiency no matter where you are in your life. 

So I know sometimes you look for inspiration online.. and it becomes rather overwhelming. I know this happens a lot...

when I look at some pl albums I fall in love with her approach and skill. Yet I can't fall in love with the rooms, amount of product used, and unbelievable amounts of paper cutting, gluing, sewing, stapling, securing, and amounts of products some use. I wish I could, but if I have something out of place, I loose my mind. I simply cannot contain and store those amounts of products... so I take my own approach and found the products I LOVE the most and I will contain them with in my own PROJECT LIFE station.

Maybe this is the main reason why I traditionally find myself being a digital scrapbooker, its all contained within an external hard drive. I don't like opening drawers... I would rather open a window!! ;)

So when I convienced myself that I would do pl this year, and that I would do it with paper scrapbooking I knew I had to stop and think of exactly how I would do it.

First I think that's why I settled so quickly on Becky Higgin's Project Life Kits. 

everything is simple. straight forward. highy organized and ready to go!! I'm sold 

so my first way to organize is to keep the kit directly how it comes from Becky. 

can't beat that right?

Next I knew I had to have me essential things, paper scrappers just have to have somethings that normally a digital scrapbooker would use a click of the mouse for. So I thought about it for a bit... and I came up with this as my project life station.

so below you see what I use to "move" my station. Its a christmas gift.. which I still haven't put my own photos in yet lol

its nice and simple just a coffee table tray with handles. Allows me to work at the table in any room, the living room, the bedroom... ect you get the picture. I think I secretly love it more because as a digital scrapbooker I've always been able to scrapbook ANYWHERE I could put my laptop.

so this little holder here

is actually a tv remote control holder Josh's parents got us for Christmas. Since I don't have but one tv remote... didn't see a use for it at first... as i thought... kinda looks like a pen holder.....  then it kept adding on. It is a great way to hold all your essentials. Honestly I don't ever see that thing filling up with more than that. I fit my corner rounder, stamper, 4 pens, journal cards, 3 smash book cards, 2 washi tapes and 2 stamp pads. 

I really hope sharing helps others who don't feel they have enough room, they don't have enough supplies, or are worried about creative ways to organize. Just look around your house and don't be afraid to sample and REUSE!! 

much love guys and can't wait to see everyone's next week. 

Cover Page, Planning, and Project Life Week 13 down

So I actually attempted to update my week 13 from my phone... 

Yeah that didn't work! You couldn't see the photos or tell what I was updating. 

So I've made a new post and uploaded directly from my computer. I really want to keep with sharing my weekly pages with everyone, So lesson learned. 

This most likely will take some extra time since I've gotten sidetracked with you, Community, and blog updating!!

OMG by the way I'm hooked on this show ;) you'll have to watch it one day when you are old enough... tho I bet it wont be as funny to you

To start with let me share my cover page. I had so much fun making this. Its as creative as this woman gets with scrapbooking too.

Mainly I used Project life kit Clementine by Becky Higgins

I also used the smash book travel pad for the little cutouts that I wrote our names and ages on.

I used some Washi tape and a sharpie to write on the polka dot card.

I picked up some Thickers from Hobby Lobby to put the R and 12 on..

*yeah thats a 12 covered up by your adorable hand! 

Then I used some journaling grid cards and used my corner chomper to round them back again.

I used my Smash book date stamp to date the years.

I use my Sharpie and my Smash book pen to do my writing. I'm hooked on the look I get with the two different sizes.

Now here is week 13 two page spread. I'm wanting to add a 10 page photo insert where I tell about your new climbing obsession! I also want to add a little tidbit insert to tell Uncle Ryan's Story... I'm just not entirely sure how I want to do it yet. Its a pretty rough and indepth story so I was actually thinking I might seal it shut til you are quite a bit older.

So close up of the side 1 journaling cards. I used the 2 size markers and again loved it. I think I'll keep with it throughout the rest of the pages. We both got 2 fortune cookies and both of them said how we would both live a long life! So unique I loved it. I documented some about the new year, project life, and how you've gotten a new habit *CLIMBING*

Picture and snipet of you and your new chair and you with our new project life kit!! That's a little insert from the kit when we got it.

Here is the other side. again a closeup of the four journal cards. I added one of the little stickers included with the kit. The stickers are cute, I'm just not 100% on how I want to use them yet. I really love the happy birthday I did with a big sharpie. Its a great way to title. 

again I matched up a photo with a snipet. It was your new fridge phonics and a joke at how obsessive compulsive mommy and daddy are. Daddy lined up all your magnets in alphabetical order and we use the certain letter to correspond with what we stick to the fridge. Its funny if we are paying rent and stuck it to the fridge it gets an R. We move them down for you to play and we put them back in order to make sure you don't loose one. 

so here is a look at this week and kinda an idea of how I use post its to plan the week out.

So I immediately insert the left date card, and put all 8 of my journal cards in. I usually don't write out on the cards immediately unless I feel its a story I'll forget. I drop a little orange post it note so I keep track of the 8 stories. Last week i had a few extras, so I changed it up and didn't loose my journal cards. The best thing I've done to keep track is the post its. sometimes I'll drop a post it where my photos are so when I snap the photo I'll know where I want to put them. 

My list of what I used this time is

And I want to share some of the amazing inspiration I've found thoughout the web. I keep up with these ladies since they are a constant source of Inspiration.

Ali Edwards

Becky Higgins

Marcy Penner

Maryann Perry

I'm going to do my best to keep this up to date with inspiration to share with my fellow memory keepers. Emma I'll keep this up to date to share your stories and memories so we never forget all the fun and love we share together

Project life week 13

So I've finally caught back up. I have a couple more journal cards to fill out, but not bad considering I restarted the entire album!

One Little Word 2012: inspired

Its another year.

Time for the re-evaluation of who,what,where, and when.

It usually always happens at the turn of the year simply because you are usually...

INSPIRED.

[in-spahy^uhrd]

adjective

1.

aroused, animated, or imbued with the spirit to dosomething, by or as if by supernatural or divine influence: aninspired poet.

2.

resulting from such inspiration: an inspired poem; an inspiredplan.

That is actually my One Little Word. One Little Word that I set for myself at the beginning of the year. Its a word I try to keep in my mind when I feel I get side tracked or lost.

I'll be inspired to actually live a healthy life. The last 3 months I've lost 25+ pounds. I've worked somewhat hard at it, so I know if I work hard at it I'll move past the rest.

I'll be inspired to actually complete some pins on pintrest. There are so many new things and amazing things I've been inspired by, I just haven't move through the rest of the inspiration to actually complete it.

I'll be inspired to actually enjoy the little things in life. I'll stop worrying that something isn't right or something isn't perfect... and just enjoy.

I'll be inspired to actually complete something on my bucket list. I want to do many things in my life time that creates a peaceful and zen life. I would really like to do one thing if only one thing that I've set up on my bucket list. 

the holidays are near...

So its getting close to that time!

Its almost time for Christmas. I can't wait to spend some family time together. We will be having Christmas for my side on Wednesday. Your grandma Toby will be coming up from Rolla to have dinner at our house. It will be fun, we are doing a pot luck type dinner. I'm sure we will play some games, and then grandma said she wrapped all your gifts in single boxes because she wanted you to have a bunch to open. 

On Sunday or Monday we will head up to St. Joesph to have Christmas with Daddy's family. I haven't heard what we have planned yet, but I'm sure it will be fun. I actually haven't even heard what you are getting yet!! 

The rest of the time I'll be working and Daddy will be working. I'm continuing to work on you December album and you'll continue to recover from your terrible cold and teething you are doing right now. 

BTW:

You have a whopping 14 teeth!! Thats insane little lady.

Love you bunches 

Mommy

Project Life: Clementine kit is here!!

I was so excited to open that amazon box today! I peeked in and I love it. I'm not actually starting back to my normal pl yet since I'm finishing up december daily.

so you attempted to help me pick it up... which was too funny. That little box weighs a lot. After a little screaming and grunting you got it to come somewhat off the floor ;)

and like I mentioned earlier... I'm using my smash book as a way to keep track of things and plan out my project life stuff. It actually works really well. The picture glued in looks 

SCARY!! hahaha.

Here is a quick sample of the design and kit I chose. It LOOKS FANTASTIC! there is a great design and layout to this project that I love. It works well for what I want to do

and hey anyone can do it anywhere!

Look at my temporary pl station... my kitchen counter ;)

hey it works. I keep my album there closed to the side so I can open it as I go. I put a little basket and keep my journaling card box right there on top of the microwave... and shoot if I get hungry I just whip something up real quick

<3

another day down, sick baby, and pl updates...

Oh for the love of..

snot!!

that's literally all i've seen tonight. You are so sick! I feel bad because you are still so young that I really can't give you anything to help you get over it. Luckily you aren't overly grumpy.

I've also added a few new things to my Project Life list.

I picked up a smash book to help me plan, organize, and play with journaling and emperphia. 

then I picked up their date stamp to help me label the journal cards. I LOVE it already

next I ordered my project life kit from Becky Higgins. I went with the Clementine edition. I guess I couldn't pass something up from Lili!! 

and I grabbed some design A page protectors.

and I couldn't pass up getting some Washi Tape from Cutetape.

Thats my start for after the December Daily ends. I've been having so much fun with December Daily I can't believe I'm over half way finished!! I'm completely caught up on all journaling... I just have some decorating things and photos to print off. Not bad for this lady ;)

I hope to take some time tomorrow to go and pick up my pl kit, try and find more smash supplies at Michaels (they were sold out earlier) make some prints, decorate the dd pages, and spend the day with you  <3 

sounds like a perfect thursday

xo Mommy