Project Life: April

Yay!

More documentation of my "mundane" life :)

I just got off the phone with my friend - my BFF from high school.  What a great moment to hear her voice after such a long time!  She & I haven't spoken in who-knows-how-long, but we just picked right up where we left off.  

Do you have a relationship like that?  Someone who may be far away (physically or situationally) and yet near and dear to your heart forever?  I am so grateful I have a few ladies in my life like that.  

My Project Life album is documenting these amazing blessings that are my women friends.  Clearly I NEED them in my life, and I appreciate them soooo much!  Although my daily life is focused on my kids and making them my priority - it is important to me to make personal connections with my friends.  That is truly what I am all about. 

In Week 14 I was so super duper excited to celebrate my other bosom buddy: Marisol!  What a joy it was to watch her lovely smile as she excitedly anticipated her upcoming wedding at her bridal shower.

In Week 15 I was so happy to celebrate my friend Kelli's birthday by throwing her a  little dinner at our house.  She is wonderful.

In Week 16 my AMAZING friend/cousin took my kids for the week of spring break so I could work (training some swimming instructors).  She is a gift to me!  Then we got to Easter plan and shop and talk and drink and laugh and play and hang out, too!!

In Week 17 I got to spend a little adult time with my homegirls Liz & Yvonne.  We shopped and day-drank.  How great is that?!

In Week 18 I spent one afternoon (National Scrapbook Day, People!) with my crafty friends Christina & Marty.  We mostly ate and talked, and why shouldn't we?


As you can see, I love people.  I am blessed beyond measure with enough food, shelter and clothing.  But I am especially blessed by the friendships and the real connections we can make through them.  You want to talk makeup and clothes? - I'm probably not your gal.  You want to talk deep thoughts, longings, childhoods, and joys?  - Oh, heck yes.


Loving reality,
Stacey

Project Life: March

When I began 2014 with the goal of scrapbooking in the form of Project life, I had no idea that I would actually like it!  It gives me a creative outlet while documenting what some might consider the mundane parts of our lives.  

But I LIVE in the mundane, people!

The most trying, frustrating, absolute-insanity-making moments of my life are rather mundane.

"get dressed"

"get dressed"

"get DRESSED"

"GET DRESSED!!!!!"

You know those moments?  The I-am-trying-to-get-these-little-people-to-follow-my-directions moments?  

Some of my most beautiful, lovely, tear-inducing moments are also mundane.

"You are the best mommy in the world"
(spoken when they aren't even asking for ice cream)

Watching one jump higher, read stronger, play with an imagination that is so out-of-this-world awesome - this is pure beauty.

And THAT is why I scrapbook anyway.  To leave a mark in this world that we were here, dangit!

We matter.

They matter.

You matter.

{Writing the word matter a bunch of times looks weird.  It sounds weird in my head, too. }

And that matters, too.

Nothing is really mundane.  It is just part of my story.  My average, run-of-the-mill, so-so, bench-ridin', hold the hot sauce, kind of story.

And it is beautiful.

So is yours.


Fondly,
Stacey

February Project Life!

What's that you say?

It is almost May?

But, it's not, yet.  :)

You may know that my husband had hip surgery Feb 24.  And has been on crutches or the ice machine since.  And I've been doing most of the cooking, cleaning, caretaking, etc since then.

***insert my high school swim coach's daily mantra/quote here:

"Excuses lessen the pain of failure, but never lead to success."

So I'll just say, I AM doing stuff.  Scrapbooking, cleaning (kinda), laundry (lotsa), and caretaking.  I just haven't blogged about it.  I apologize.  I know you've all been holding your breath out there in the interwebs.

So, here are my Project Life pages for February!!

I started getting the Studio Calico PL kit.  It is fun!  And probably WAY too much stuff.  I'm starting to hoard.  A little.

Week 9 began with surgery.  It went well, but recovery has been rough.  If you pray, maybe you could lift up my husband for his endurance in this recovery.  It is hard for both of us.

But I am so, SO grateful for today.  The sun is shining, I have some time to myself, and I am making cards and blogging and scrapbooking a little this morning.  I am healthy.  My family has shelter, water, clothing, and love.

What more could a girl ask for?

Haha.  A lot more, I guess.  Starts with L.  Ends with "ouis Vuitton" Ha.

But it wouldn't truly make me happy!

Only a little...


Totally grateful for what I have today,
Stacey

Project Life: weeks 1-5

EEEVVVVEERRRrrryybody's doing it.  At least it seemed like everybody but me in the scrapbooking world was doing Project Life scrapbooking.  It is a simple system of getting your life documented: doesn't involve any scissors or glue.  Just slide your pictures into these 4x6 or 3x4 inch pockets.  Slide the cards into the other spaces and voila! - scrapbook!

It is a system created by Becky Higgins.  I mentioned in my New Year's resolution post  (HERE) that I was going to start with the new year... AND I DID!!  

The book is a binder (super easy for putting pages in and out of).  Above is my title page.  I am using the Midnight Edition of the Project Life card sets.  It is black/grey/white with pops of yellow, so it is very neutral. 

Aaaannnd it just so happens to match our little Christmas card photo shoot by the Uber-talented Patty Schmidt Photography.  So I used those pics for the cover: perfection!

Week one was so full of photos that I used a small insert page in order to include all the shots I wanted. I mean, we WENT TO THE ROSE BOWL! (Go Stanford!)

I'm not sure if the rest of 2014 will quite measure up to the first week: NYE at the Harmons', Rose Bowl, followed by three nights of scrapbooking at Cousin Patty's house!

Probably not.

Additionally, I'm attempting to document 1,000 blessings (Inspired by the book 1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp).  You'll start seeing my lists show up here in Week 2...

A little note on how this whole scrapbooking "Live in the NOW"...

1. It is made possible by the advent of the iPhone.  Probably 95% of these pics are taken by the camera I have with me: the one on my phone.
2. It is made possible by the Canon Selphy printer (I have the CP900).  They have an app that allows you to wirelessly print from your phone.  SO. EASY.  The quality isn't stellar with the phone picture + home printing, but it is DONE.  And I am all about getting it done.

So there you have it: Project Life.  I really enjoy traditional scrapbooking - it is "my thing" for sure.  But I was getting weighed down with an entire scrapbook page for me to tell these daily moment stories.  I like that they are here, documented, saved, cherished - REAL LIFE moments.  And when I have a longer story to share, an event, or something that I really want to stand out, then I can take the time to be artsy and wordy and take up as much space as I want.

And now that I already have documented January 2014: it feels so so good.

Maybe this would be an easier, less stressful way for you to document your family's story?  Many people do it monthly, or with no time restraint at all.  What do you do?

One thing I will encourage is to print those pictures.  Get them in your hands.  If you have time, jot a note on the back.

I bet you love coming across photos of yourself, your parents, and other loved ones that help you know more about your/their life.  I do!

Let me know if this helps or hinders you today!

Hoping it helps,
Stacey