"Reasons To Smile" Mini-Album

As most of my girlfriends know that when I have a favorite anything, I kinda get a "bit much"...crazy...silly...sorta loud and I talk really fast. Ha-ha, I can't believe I just wrote that. Although, when I'm happy -- I actually don't mind if I kinda look ridiculous -- Life's too short, right?! Right! So, November 5th was a day I was looking forward to since it was announced a month earlier. One of my faves was coming to town & teaching a class: Reasons to Smile.

Here is the cover:

Around here...

October was so full! I can't believe it's already November! Life has been really good to us...I'm very thankful in every way. Perfect timing for the theme of the month I suppose, definitely thankful! Here are a few favorite photos + moments of mine this month. ***it's a lengthy post***

This is the day I've been waiting for -- He was really interested in looking through his baby album which then led to all the other scrapbooks created for him. :)

ScrapTalk: Almost 6! Mini-Album...Finally!

Three years ago I made an mini-album called "Almost 3" -- that was during a time when Joey was summing up his first year in an early intervention program, when we were first introduced to his challenges and then, diagnosis -- and everything in between. A lot of emotions and uncertainties that were very new to us...as a parent, a couple, a family unit... Documenting that moment in time was very important to me then...and fast-forward to the present time, soooo thankful I did. 

mini-album: inspired by AmyTan

Travel Mini inspired by the very talented Amy Tan! The Mr. and I will be taking a couples trip to one of our favorite places, Chicago, in August; we are meeting up with 4 other couples! I couldn't help but take Amy's advice to "just create"! It took all of 30 minutes to put this together and get it ready for our trip. I love her technique with using the clothespins & sewing machine - very cool & simple! I plan on scrapping while on the trip; my first to try this out. Very exciting to say the least.

Found this. Love this.

Two really good things:

1. Making lists; in our household we are huge fans of making lists! (Yes, even the little guy - although you can't really read it, just ask him & he will translate. :)

via: Today and Tomorrow

A few good things...

Hi Friends!!

I was SUPER stoked to wake up to this:

I thought I would never see the day, ha-ha.

It's been a long time coming (I guess) in getting a J-O-B! Ha-ha. I laugh about it because for the longest time, I've always felt a need to want to work even though I've been a SAHM since 2005. Yes, I've worked on a few design jobs since then but nothing like what I used to do working for Corporate America. Eh-hem, back in the earrrrly 2000's. During the years of being at home, I've struggled with "defining myself" -- it was difficult to be at home and not work. When we found out about Joey a few years back about his challenges & then his diagnosis....well it was easier for me to make the decision to stay at home. So, four years later and Joey has progressed well (as you've all read here in the blog) -- the "guilt" of going back to work wasn't so ever-present as it once used to be. 

My background is Interior Design. It has been a passion of mine since I was 9 years old. My last clock-in-clock-out job was for a furniture dealership. AutoCAD was my forte back then for commercial spaces for clients such as: Yahoo!, Network Appliance, Broadvision, etc. So, how all of this came about? ...being season tickets holders for the San Jose Sharks! I know, it sounds crazy! It started with going to our first pre-season game...there were a few people who sat a row behind us & then three rows behind that I used to work with that were also season ticket holders. Can you say reunion? Well, two months forward, one had asked if I was interested in working... Keywords that pulled me in: Contract work - Part-time - Working around Joey's schedule. Umm, Yes! So, I've been working at least 4 to 5 times a week and I clock out just in time I need to leave to pick up Joey from school! Sweeeeet!!! Couldn't be more happy to be in my element...it feels really good & I really enjoy the work.

I've been documenting/scrapbooking lately using Becky Higgin's Project Life album (photos to come)...and here's a photo of me "working" that I plan on including. :) Awesome!! Love everything about interior design especially when it comes to space plans (umm, floorplans). 

Week in the Life 2010 Album!

So here it is. I loved the process for making this album; much more than the previous time. Not sure why though? I especially enjoyed taking my time in choosing the photos I wanted to use, what paper, what type of layout, page protectors, etc. I do love all the memories captured during this week. It was one of my favorite weeks to document...all just by chance. Nothing was really planned -- we did have a lot of things scheduled -- but then, we had a couple of days when nothing was planned. This album is a huge project (huge undertaking I think) -- I'm so glad I did it! With three camera choices to pick from (SLR, Point & Shoot and my good ol' Blackberry) depending on what type of day it was going to be for me definitely made the project little bit less cumbersome and more enjoyable!

This is the album binder I originally chose - I decided to change it but that's only for the reason of being "consistent and matching the other albums on the shelf" purpose.

Cover Page:

Each day consists of one 8.5x11 intro page with an outline of what happened in the day, one baseball card protector page mixed with journaling and bits & pieces of the day, one mixed 3.5x5 protector page with photos & its description and ends with an 8.5x11 protector page.

Monday:

Tuesday:

Wednesday:

Thursday:

Friday:

Saturday:

Sunday:

Last Page:

CHEERS!

Just felt like scrapping.

Found some free time to create a few scrapbook layouts. Actually making it a point & planning out some time to be creative has been a challenge for me lately. I need to be in the mood to scrap. And that mood came and so glad it did. It's a nice release for me. It's nice to be able to close the door, turn on some music and have some much needed me time. Creating six layouts in a span of three days -- maybe a total of 3 hours -- isn't too shabby. I'm a horrible multi-tasker. So, actually starting something & finishing it in between my daily routine in a few hours spread into a few days is huge for me! Cheers!

Scrapbook + Challenge = Happy

This is the layout I created for the Studio Calico Sunday Challenge. Very simple and that is what I like about it the most! These photos of Joey were taken from when he was 5 days old to when he just turned 3 years old. He was SO tiny! I miss those days. He's 4-1/2 years old now & in a big boy bed...and he's still a good sleeper! I will keep bragging til no end -- he still sleeps a solid 2-3 hour nap & and still goes to bed between 8:15-8:30pm and wakes up between 6:30-7am! Gotta love it!!!

This is the layout challenge I created for our scrap-blog. Creating resolutions are the best part of the New Year! D & I sit down every January, at the dining table with calendar & pen in hand. On the back of the calendar we write down all of our goals for the year: family, couple, Joey, business, etc. Then we follow it by writing down all the trips we want to take in the year (as a couple & as a family) & writing them down in the calendar month. I think it's awesome! Last year, we were successful (not completely but enough to keep us all happy).

Day Eleven to Day Twenty-Five.

Day 11:

I try to incorporate some self-portraits in my Dec Daily albums since I'm always behind the camera capturing the special moments. I enlarged this photo (almost 8x8) and adhered it on a Paper Source bag that I kept from last year.

Day 12:

Is a vellum envelope that holds all the gift tags on presents that were given to Joey this year. On the left page is a view from outside my craft room. We woke up to some frost...Joey & I loved it! He thought it was going to snow.

Day 13:

These were teacher gifts!

Day 14:

I got the stomach flu that week so I documented it. It was my first time getting it, YUCK! The left page tells the story behind the teachers gifts and when Joey & I got sick.

Day 15:

Twinkle Lights.

Day 16:

Joey is actually figuring out the advent calendar while eating a snack; total multi-tasker (didn't get it from me!) The left page are little details about how I organize gifts to relatives, stocking stuffers, etc.

Day 17:

Is a pocket full of receipts! :) What a perfect place to put them? If I need to exchange/return something, I know where to find them! The left page are little Joey-ism's he would repeatedly say throughout December!

Day 18:

Are pictures of Joey's artwork. On the left page, I wrote about how 'creative' we were as a family throughout the month.

Day 19:

This is D's business Christmas card sent out to his clients. We also had his company's Christmas dinner that night. A TON OF FUN! The details of the evening are inside the card.

cont'd Day 19: Inside the card! Eh-hem...Yes, you do see a photo of me puffing a stogie!

Day 20:

Is the day we had our Christmas!! The photo is my favorite. The look on Joey's face when he realized that Santa did get him what he wanted was priceless!!

Day 21:

...is really still the 20th! D decided to splurge on Joey...he left one morning to do errands & came back with a big surprise for him!! (Inside the green pocket is where I journaled about it)

Day 22:

Our Christmas card.

The left page shows how D surprised Joey with his new "toy"...

Day 23:

Is a Before & After page. We were leaving for So. Cal to celebrate two more Christmases and since we would be having family visit shortly after we return...I took down the decorations early. Turn the page over and you'll see the "after"... This is a first for me!

Day 24:

Is a page of favorite random photos that were taken in the past month...A bit of reflecting if you will...

Day 25:

Christmas spent with family!

Ahh...it's complete! I love how full the album is...and I love that it's finished!

Happy New Year!

*** Sorry for the blurry/dark photos of the pages. I wish you could see the album in person -- it's so much better and less blurry/dark...and there are misspelled words but I'm OK with it. :) Hope you enjoyed them nonetheless. Cheers!