2.for.Tuesday

Hello there 2011. Welcome. People, there are so many great projects out there. So many great communities. If I had the stamina and the time and the follow-through-itiveness I would join them all. Today I'll just share a few. A few that I think are absolutely do-able. Because that's what I'm all about these days. one: One Little Word. Such an amazing concept. So simple. Pick a word. A word that encompasses what you'd like this year to be. A word that is speaking to you for unknown reasons. " "Can you identify a single word that sums up what you want for yourself in 2007? It can be something tangible or intangible. It could be a thought or a feeling or an emotion. It can be singular or plural. The key is to find something that has personal meaning for you. This is not your mother's word or your spouse's word or your child's word - this is YOUR word. One little word can have big meaning in your life if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities. And here's one thing that is totally interesting: sometimes a word will pop into your brain and it will not make any sense to you right now. Give it some time. Let it percolate a bit. I have often found that our hearts speak to us in very unique ways. Maybe this is a word you need to hear but just aren't ready for it yet. Again, be open to the possibilities. " [aezine Ali Edwards] The best thing about this project... The only thing you have to do is pick a word and see where it takes you. My word is OPEN. What's yours? two: Move More Eat Less. Tonight for dinner instead of having two tamales and a small salad I'll be having one tamal and a large salad. Mission accomplished. Oh, and I'm going to twirl with the girl. Off to do that now. And the bonus for the new year: three: Six People 12 times. A family photo a month. I love this idea! And though it might sound overwhelming, just looking through her photos and reading the circumstances in which she is taking her photos has helped me realize that it's only as daunting as I make it. four: Ali's approach to Project Life. She talked about leaving the book on an empty counter [got to find one of those] and having the stuff there in a basket for anyone who felt so inspired to just add a little something. "A family journal, compiled by our family. It makes my heart beat just a bit faster thinking about it." It makes my heart beat a little faster too.

I'm Currently Working

on items #14 + 27 + 30 on the list. We'll see how it goes. My timing is bad. The baby is coming at noon'ish on the 21st. Yeah, my timing is really bad. I'm still trying to work out the execution kinks in my head. Some of it is very clear. Some of it, not so much. Here's a little peek. It's pieces of a quote from Katherine Center's book Everyone is Beautiful: I'll try to share the process. Wanting to be better at sharing the process. I will tell you this little tidbit: the idea started with this. The concept intrigues me.

It Must Be Ribbon Week

because seriously, pin another one on me. Last night I finished my 2007 family book. Whew! I keep doing this little victory dance. I've been working on it for... oh, I'd say three years. Good grief. Here's a little peek for you.

2007 by Bruce Mandi BOOK INFO

Now, where did I put that ribbon?

Just A Few Reasons Why

I am going to be working on this for the next 10 days. As you can see, we really need it. Really.

This Just Happens

to be exactly what I need right now. It's at the top of my wish list. If I'm staring at it everyday do you think it will help? They keep popping up. Calling me. Taunting me. Where, oh where, to find one? Finally I was given directions. And not just directions, but background too and the copywrite is expired. Now I know that if I'm so inclined, since I'm feeling especially empty in the pocket book at the moment, I can just make one up myself. Now to decide if it's worth the time. Yes or No? I've got a list of things to get done before the new little gets here in... oh, I think it's about 16'ish weeks or so now. It's quite long. The list I mean.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I got my floor mopped so I decided to take the time to play with the poster. What do you think? Is it too crowded? Do I need to make the font smaller/look for a different font? What about the the aged vs. plain edges? The bigger crown or smaller [it's a little bigger in the coral one] What about color? That's where I'm going to get hung up. I just like too many. Too many. If you'd like one, let me know. I have connections.

2.for.Tuesday

hello hello hello! going to try to be quick here. we're on our way to the mountains again for the rest of the week. I love the mountains, but I am peopled out. it doesn't matter who or where. I am really just done. I hope it will be okay [seeing as how this is another family reunion trip]. I have to keep reminding myself to be pleasant. especially with this woman I work with. she honestly never stops talking. I feel like screaming. well, I won't tell you what I feel like screaming. it's not very nice. I'm not very nice. I keep telling *B* I shouldn't be allowed out in public, but he doesn't seem to be listening.

so, the plan this week is to put together my best of '08 book [the photo above is not mine. It's Rachel Denbow from the steady hand faulty heart class I took. I just love the look of her messy books stacked up]. I know I've been talking about it a long time. I'm not taking a book. I'm not feeling very social. I will put together the book.

one: 100 reasons to love summer. Molly Irwin is making a book right now and watch her progress is really inspiring me. I keep flip flopping in my decisions. totally indecisive as to how I want to do this thing. cold + clean professionalism? tactile + messy? so many different ways. I guess you get to be surprised with me. because, like I said. this week. I'm ordering it on monday. done or not. so it better be done.

two: poladroid. Molly shared this today. I love it! Seriously, there is this obsession I've always had with instant photos [I think I've shared this with you before... when I was so sad I lost the bidding on the grandma polaroid... that is still a sad memory for me.] once at work I won a gift card for $20 dollars to the mall + it was when wal-mart was still in the mall so I bought a mini polariod with the money and I loved it but I wish the photos had been larger. I still randomly look at e-bay for old polaroids. I am dreaming of a photo walk date with *B* on a quick trip somewhere we've never been. I've always wanted to hop on a plane and go on a date someplace new...

anyway. this program is so fun. you just drag + drop your photos onto the polaroid camera. then wait + watch as your photo magically appears as a polaroid. It even has cute sound effects. oh, try it try it try it!

enjoy the journey!

just a few things

I've got rolling around in my head right now...

1. 20 pages in 20 days. It's a class Jessica Sprague is offering and I don't know if it's the way she presented it or what, but the obvious simplicity of it struck me. I can do that. It's totally do-able. Of course, she is offering ready made templates and I'm cheap. I would totally not pay the $60 for the class when I can make my templates myself + her style is not my style so I would only be using the basics anyway. But the point is. 20 pages in 20 days. I love it.
2. 12 stories. Ali asked the question: "If you could only create 12 scrapbook layouts that defined your life what stories would you tell?" I've been thinking about this too. As I walk around picking things up and trying to be more productive I've been tossing this one around. I'm also thinking in terms of 12 stories that defined 2008 [since that's the yearbook I've decided to really focus on first].

I am feeling very pressured to get this yearbook done. It's been calling to me far too long. This week my focus is on my house + getting it put back together + letting the ideas roll around + taking notes. Next week I will start the 20 pages in 20 days. Join me if you'd like. I'm trying to figure out how to share PNG files. If you can open this file let me know. I would be happy to share all of the templates I make with you if this works out [BTW the bird on the apple is just a clip art from the net in PNG form. I'm just trying out the box].

Enjoy the journey!

update: I just tried uploading a super cute template [honestly, doesn't that look like a real transparency? It's all digital + a vintage book page for good measure] and it won't support such large files on the free accounts. I'd have to pay for a business account for this to work. I'll keep looking. This is what I did with it as I was throwing it together. Again, I'm at a loss for words. Someday...

I Am Bewitched...

Since we got back from Sea World we have been trying to figure out the best way to handle our family videos. We bought the recorder before we left and now it's 6+ months later and we've got lots more video to deal with. Just like my photos... we're glad we have them, but what are we supposed to do with them? I'm trying to look at them from different angles. Just like I do with my photos:

I'm not just taking these for me so I should leave an unaltered original filed somewhere of all photos/videos. Just because I like extreme cropping and photos of legs for my projects doesn't mean that everyone likes that, and my favorite photos may not necessarily be theirs + vice versa. I may not want to see the dirty dishes in the background or hear me hollering at one of the kids in the background, but one day that will be a reminder of life. So it should be saved... out of my line of sight.

I want to crop out all of the unnecessary and keep the expressions and the mannerisms. I want to make it the way I see it. Not necessarily the way it is [though I'm not really sure what the problem is with the camera. You'd think it would capture what I see...]. *B* says I envision life with twinkling lights and fairy dust and that I get upset when it doesn't come out that way. That's just fine with me [minus the "it doesn't come out that way" part]. I like those things.

So... sorry about the rambling, basically I've been trying to figure out the video editing software we have and trying to alter our videos. I'm not very good at it and I'm not very patient, but today Kara shared this video on her blog... This is what I want to do. It's magical. How the heck does one go about doing something like this? I will figure it out and when I do I will share our stellar family videos. Until then I will keep my hollering at the kids a secret!

PACOVOLUME "CookieMachine" from discograph on Vimeo.

First I will figure out how to shoot manually with my camera. I'm thinking I probably won't even use the manual mode once I learn, but I want to learn so I have a greater understanding of the concepts as a whole. Yes, someday the camera will capture what I see and I won't have to do altering after the fact. I know it's possible. For the most part, Hula Seventy doesn't alter/edit her photos. Someone commented on her photos in Flickr and asked what editing program she uses and I'm pretty sure she said she doesn't. A true photographer. I think it's amazing [when I popped over to grab her url for the link I quick read her post and she was talking about capturing life as it is... including old home videos. You should read it. She is so great with words and imagery. Love her].

enjoy the journey!

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p.s. Today *A* came home with an orange and black striped witches hat and two collapsable trick or treat pumpkins. He wanted me to get him a cup holder so he could take his water bottle on his bike with him. I was standing in the kitchen at the time and my synapses collided and now *A* has an ice cream bucket hooked to the front of his bike for a basket. I'm so glad that Blue Bunny has started putting their half gallons in plastic cartons. I've been using them for all kinds of things, but this is by far my favorite.

As he rode away on his bike he kept looking back at me grinning and waving and grinning some more.

March 4th

march forth I am infatuated by this date. Not as imposing as the new year it is a time to committ to moving forward. I am working on a way to complete the projects that I am still passionate about the importance of but have lost some of their pull on me. It's a secret though... I will share more soon! What is on your perpetual to-do list? Enjoy the journey! Oh! I almost forgot this video. I LOVE it. I wish I knew how to just load it here. Please don't pass it up just because of inconvenience...

Stories in Hand

This is from the Stories in Hand class. I hope you all signed up because the class is closed. One of the things I kept on my new list from the last is to write something every day. This time I mean it!

Enjoy the Journey!

to-do...

Inspired by my sister I decided that I really need to do some photo uploading and photo sharing. Now is not the time. The girl is non-cooperative. I want to do it though. Don't let me forget this:

1. San Diego
2. Halloween
3. Update on The Girl
4. anything else I keep forgetting about.

Seriously... KEEP BUGGING ME!

The Windows Are Open

And that is a big deal. It means that the weather is finally turning! I love the crisp nights of Autumn. The smells of Autumn. The feel of Autumn. Last week we went up Cedar Mountain and the colors were beautiful and it had snowed the night before and it was lovely. I took some pictures [just went looking for my camera so I could upload said photos... it's missing. I hope *B* hid it to teach me a lesson and not the very real possibility that a child wandered off with it. that would be really sad]. I taught the nieces/nephews how to whistle with acorn tops. We scared the boys getting lost on a muddy road. I think Autumn is my favorite time of year and I honestly think that it's the only reason I love Halloween. No, I think I might just love halloween for the candy. And the dress up. Can't forget the dress up. It's been a very busy week for me. Here are a few notable occurances:

• Tuesday I went and watched Les Miserables at Tuachan with the Y.W. I loved sitting in the open night air of the canyon. If you haven't experienced Tuachan you really should try to make it... in October. It's the only time of year that it's not sweltering (I'm sure there's a time in the spring too, but I can't decide when that would be. April maybe). When I got home the girl was screaming at *B*. Wonderful *B*.
• PTA meeting yesterday. Have I used the word stupid yet? ARGH! the girl cried the whole time. again.
• Last night was supposed to be my book club but it was canceled. I went to Krumpet's instead. They were having a halloween late night sale and the cashiers were all wearing blinged out witch hats. I loved them. I love halloween. Really, I think I just love to dress up but don't feel comfortable drawing attention to myself. That makes halloween the perfect opportunity and I don't feel like an idiot in the process. I should really get over that issue. I bought a few strands of jingle bell spider garland.
• I also had a church volleyball game last night. Finally I am feeling the volleyball in my blood and it's so good! It's been such a long time.
• Tonight the boys are gone camping again and it's just me and the girl. I have a to do list for the weekend. It goes like this (in order of importance/deadline):

1. make invites for primary get-together.
2. make changes to primary sacrament meeting presentation: cut out parts [2 sets], type in words to songs for teachers copies, make up program for for the presentation.
3. baby names. three of them.
4. scan collabo stuff & do a new post/call for starters (you know you all want to play...).
5. blog class assignments [that post about autumn up there... that's an assignment!].
6. finish slippers.
7. get long sleeved onesies and applique something to match slippers.
8. CLEAN THE HOUSE! This one is in desperate need of being numero uno, but it doesn't have a deadline. I guess it could technically go in at no. 4, but well... even though cleaning makes me happy I really enjoy that other stuff too!

I think I'll put some cider on the stove to make the house smell yummy. Or maybe I'll just simmer up some chai spices and have some chai hot chocolate. mmm.... Or maybe I should just go to bed so I can tackle that to-do list seeing as how I spent my night reading Percy Jackson and playing on the computer...

enjoy the journey!

Erin, This One's for You!

You know, if you'd call me you wouldn't have to cry for new posts... And for everyone else out there: Erin was laughing at me because I just finished a week long class called "Bling Out Your Blog" by Kimberly Brimhall... I "met" a lot of fun new people, but didn't do any of the assignments. As always, there is a very good reason for that. As always! Anyhow, I will get around to it. You need to check out her blog. I love it. Also, I've opened up my blog to the public so... I will continue to be uber-paranoid about protecting the innocent and would appreciate the help of commenters in the know. Thanks!

Call Me Crazy...

I'm creatively brilliant at four a.m. and I have decided to actually do one of the brilliantly outrageous ideas I had. Check out the new "what I'm up to" link you can't miss it... it's the huge COME PLAY! bubble. That's what I've been up to. I'm trying to get it going. Today I'm sending out the first package to a woman in Australia. That will be fun! Enjoy the Journey!

New Quote and Randomness

Yes, and it's about time. I was reading Ali's newest newsletter and I loved this quote she used. "I will not die an unlived life." Similar to my no regrets attitude I had in college when I went on a three day hike with people I didn't know at all. Or when I climbed the climbing wall set up in the middle of campus just to prove I could because it scared me to death by humiliation. Or when I told this guy I liked him just so he would know because I'm not good at sharing myself... plenty of other examples. None of them earth shattering. Mostly just small, everyday stuff that isn't a big deal at all but seemed huge at the time. What happened to that? Until last week I had this sticky-note stuck to the window of my cupboards that said "nurture happiness". It was no regrets evolved. Regrets now involve my guys. I want them to grow up happy. To try new things. To explore life and everything it has to offer. I try to do this, really I do, but I'm not great at it. Right now I'm stuck in the "if only's". If only he would clean up all of the paper scraps he leaves lying around when he cuts out the entire ocean of sea creatures. If only he would ask instead of sneaking into my stuff like a little thief. It makes me want to scream. Sometimes I do. Then I feel bad and think I'm the worst mom in the world. I threw that sticky-note away because it kept falling on the floor. It had been there for a year at least. I think I need to make another one and keep trying. Get rid of the "if only's" and nurture happiness. Mine and theirs. Enjoy the Journey!

This is Too Cool.

I've been doing 20 min. surfing sessions. Trying to keep myself from getting lost... look at how cool this is. I think I will get some one of these days. Wouldn't they make a cool mini-album type thing? And you wouldn't even have to do much... They're called moo MiniCards. There are 100 cards (approx. buisness card sized) in a box and each card can have a different photo and you can write something different on the back of each one. I think they're awesome! Maybe I should be better at taking my 365 photos. I'm not doing it self portrait any more. Nice that I just want the stinking cards! Enjoy the Journey!