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Project Life - Lessons Learned

On New Years Day 2011 I put the finishing touches on my Project Life 2010 book. When I ordered the kit I had no idea if I'd even finish it - come on now, we all have unfinished scrapbook projects laying around - don't judge!  I also had no idea how many lessons it would teach me!

When I look through the book I can SEE how blessed I am.  I mean we all know we are blessed.  Just living in the U.S. of A. makes us blessed but when I flip through this book I can actually see photos of the blessings, I can SEE God's hand at work in our lives. 

Even though 2010 wasn't the best year we've had  it was still one fantastic year for us and the book documents that.  All the trips, family, friends, and things we did. 

I see how resilient we are and how we don't stay down for too long when things try to knock us down.  When we closed our family business this year it took me nearly 3 months before I could actually journal that week, but during that time we were still living life out loud!  

I also overcame my urge to make this book perfect.  Early on I changed the style - skipped labeling the pictures with the day,quit the arrows,  stopped pressuring myself to put a picture in every day and in the end it turned out wonderful.  There's not a page I don't love even the one with only 3 pictures, some journaling and filler cards.  It's my life and it's NOT perfect!  

I've always known it's the little things that make this place a home and this is my first book that has ever documented things like what my desk looks like, how I decorate the mantel for the seasons, the messy kitchen, a new purse or towel I love.  

I am super proud of this book and I debated long and hard if i should do one for 2011.  Will I be able to keep it up two years in a row?  Will I find new things to photography?  Will I get bored with it?  

Today I ordered my 2011 Project Life Kit.  I decided I can keep it up, I will find new things and some of the same things to photograph and HOW can I get bored with my life?  It's Fabulous! 

Here's to a New Project Life Year!  

Christmas Stress -YIKES!

You know, I’m trying to stay calm, trying to relax and enjoy the moment and be in it, but then it sneaks up on me, it grips my chest and sucks the breath out of me. 

Christmas Eve is 2 weeks from today. My presents aren't completely bought - despite two days of shopping this week.  My cards aren't written.  My tree isn't decorated. I haven't fulfilled my duty to turn in a Christmas article.  The cookies aren't baked.  The presents I do have aren't wrapped.  AND worst of all the presents I need to mail aren't ready.  

What was I thinking?  I mean it comes EVERY year.  Normally I am ahead of this.  Normally I am about done by this time.  

I'm thinking I should have gone away for the month..............  Left gift cards in envelopes for everyone and had a big party in January when I got back.........  that's what I'm thinking............. LOL

Santa ClausE and Christmas Cottage

Even though we haven't put up any decorations, written any cards, or wrapped any presents yet - we have been keeping up with our Christmas movies -so far we've watched Elf, Santa ClausE and Thomas Kinkade's Christmas Cottage.  The Santa ClausE is one of our favorites so that was an easy pick.  The Christmas Cottage was a new one for us this year.  My sister-in-law Paula gave it to me last year for Christmas and we didn't get a chance to watch it.  I must admit I really enjoyed it.  I learned a bit about an artist I truly admire and of course shed a tear or two.  

I'm waiting to feel a bit more Christmasy before we break out Holiday Inn, White Christmas and Miracle on 34th Street .......... 

Project Life - an Update

Well here we are just about to enter December and I thought I'd let everyone know how this project has turned out!  With about 6 weeks left until the end of the year I can honestly say I'm Gonna Make it!  I really wasn't sure when I started out with this project, if perfectionism would rob me of the joy or not.  Along the way I made some changes - I didn't label each picture with the day, I quit with the little arrows, and I took the pressure off on a picture a day.  Some weeks have photos from one very important day, or a day we had a lot of fun or a pool party.  One thing I have enjoyed is taking pictures of everyday things.  Or being able to put in a picture of one thing that would never make a traditional album.  

 
Now, the big decision is - Do I do it again? Are you doing it again? I'd love to hear how you've changed this project to make it work for you and if you are going to do it in 2011.

Black Friday

Normally on this day John and I set out with master lists in hand to conquer this years Christmas shopping.  Usually we come home nearly done.  Mostly because I have been thinking and planning it for weeks.  This year however is completely different.  It's the end of Black Friday and all I've purchased is a ticket to Tangled.  Yep you read that right.  There is not ONE Christmas present in the house, not one idea down on paper and no plans to go out tomorrow.

I wonder what this means?  I um.... didn't even have him get up in the attic today, and I uh.... don't really see him doing it tomorrow either.  The house cleaned up very nicely after Thanksgiving dinner yesterday and I'm not wanting to see boxes of Christmas stuff stacked up all over it - yet.  

We had a wonderful time watching Tangled - Disney's 50th Animated Film.  You can read my personal review and check out a wonderful video of clips from all 50 films over at Agent on the Loose.  

Now, I think I feel like watching another Christmas movie tonight..........  I wonder what Stephanie will pick?

Thanksgiving Traditions

Our family has many different Thanksgiving Traditions - there's turkey, and stuffing, and sweet potatoes and pumpkin bread and over the years we've added ham and macaroni and cheese and who knows what other carbohydrates we might add next.It's really just a carbohydrate fest.... 

 This is the buffet table we set up - I could say my table is kinda small, but the truth is we only had 6 eating and enough food to feed -- well let's just say there was food enough for your family as well!  During dinner we had some conversation starter cards and John passed them out.  We talked about where we'd like to go on our next vacation, what our favorite breakfast food was, if we could have any job for one month and the skills to perform it what would it be and quite a few others. 

We usually play games and this year Stephanie begged Paul to bring Call of Duty - Black Ops (real Thanksgiving like! LOL) 

 We also played Bop-It!  

One thing we've started doing is ending Thanksgiving Eve with a Christmas movie - the end of Thanksgiving marks the beginning of Christmas - at least around here, it's the official kick-off for Christmas music as well.

Tonight after all the leftovers were clean up, cleared out and chilling in the fridge we settled in for the first movie of the year.

Stephanie got to pick the Official First Movie of the Season and I could hear her anxiously unwrapping a new movie ---- well it's wasn't exactly new, David bought it for me for Christmas last year........ but I'm not exactly a big Will Ferrell fan so I never watched it before New Years Day - which is the official last day we watch Christmas movies here. 

But I am a GOOD SPORT and my kids do know me pretty well by now and so I settled onto the couch in pj's and wrapped in a nice fleece blanket.

I can honestly say I did not expect to love ELF as much as I did! My absolute favorite part was when Buddy put the Star on the top of the tree...... we had to pause the movie I laughed so hard and I now understand why a few years back Stephanie randomly popped a cotton ball into her mouth only to realize this isn't such a good idea with BRACES.

Happy Thanksgiving!

End of Summer Review

I decided to do a little end of summer review - check on my blog and read through the list I made for myself at the beginning of the year.


Read for pleasure again - I can honestly say I am not doing bad on this one. The year started out strong and I've managed to do more reading for pleasure this year than I have in the last 3 or more years combined so yeah for me!


My body has not been tweaked yet - thumbs down on that one!


Those date nights are still negotiable but the years not over yet - something to keep working on!


Be more productive when I work - I can say yes to this - I'm doing better this year with FOCUS and using my work time wisely - I also quit Farming...........


Spend time being creative without guilt! - Been scrapbooking regularly and even went to a card making class...... set up a new scrapbooking room and feel pretty good about the whole thing! NO GUILT!! YEAH! Now blogging is another story!


Family and Friends - I always try to keep things in perspective and put my family and friends over things but responsibilities sometimes get in the way ....... I'm doing pretty good, but room for improvement for sure!


Deep Yet With Jesus - Can you ever get close enough - I don't think so, I just want to keep getting closer every day!


So that's my End of Summer Review!