Once again I find myself wondering where the time goes? But I'm sure you're all tired of hearing that (cause I know I am tired of saying it!) So lets move on. I have been feeling better - almost back to my cheerful ole self again and then the last few days have been blah - but I trudge on taking each day as it comes.
I found myself on Sunday so bored with sitting in front of the TV once again... so I (gasp!) decided to put down the iPad and come down to my computer for some good ole fashioned hands on the keyboard interaction. Don't get me wrong - I love my iPad... but the thing is - even thought he won't admit it - hubby likes it just as much as me - so my time is limited - it is like letting go of your baby on the first day of school - excited to share - but then you want them back in your arms when you miss it!
Anyways back on topic. My love affair with Pinterest is very deep these days. My love affection with Project Life is even deeper. Here's the catch. Pinterest and iPad = not so cohesive! So on Sunday I came down on the computer and got sucked in to the vortex of all things Pinterest. Well OK lets rephrase that - all things for my Project Life board on Pinterest. If you are not following me please do so - you can follow my Project Life board here if you are looking for all sorts of printable's. I love the sharing and ideas that this project is providing anyone who is participating!
You see - I AM participating in Project Life this year... I have the little blog badge right over there on the side of this blog to prove it. I participate in the "Project Life" Forum over at Studio Calico (if you haven't checked this forum out it has so much inspiration and resources - truly invaluable for everyone!) I have purchased the Clementine kit (because actually USING last years would have made to much common sense), and I have been following blogs, galleries, "Pins", and all of the creativity this year. I am silently kicking myself daily for not following through with this last year.
2011 I managed to get the first 7 weeks done... then not sure what happened. I do now know that I WISH with everything that I really did keep this up last year. Although the year was full of sadness and lots of stress - I look back now and realize how much of a blur it all is. I will probably never remember all of the great little everyday moments we also shared and experienced. For us 2011 will always just be the year that we lost Dad and it is sad because I know deep down this isn't true - but when we do not document the little things - somehow the big things tend to overshadow the details. If for no OTHER reason - this is why everyone should be doing Project Life. I am determined to let this be a lesson to me. I so wish I would have continued participating even when I quite documenting... how I wish I had those everyday memories know to look back on and cherish.
So this year - a fresh start.
I haven't been the best with taking photo's - but truth be told although I love the concept, and admire those girls who take a thousand photo's a day - I always FORGET to snap that photo. I am working on pulling out my camera more and my iPhone even more - but I just need to remember to do it!! If I can be a little truthful - I sometimes lack the vision of what to photograph. I will be relying alot on re-interpreting past photo's, staging some photo's or using stock photo's/logo's - and perhaps just fudging it a little! But I'm OK with that. I have lots of ideas jotted down and have collected lots of paraphernalia. As for SUPPLIES - well we won't even go there! I have enough to do 5 years of Project Life's - but I manage to always purchase that one thing that my PL just wouldn't be perfect without! Please tell me if you can relate to this concept? Anyone?
So why haven't I been sharing my weekly layouts with you all? Trust me - I would like nothing better... but this my dear friends is the extent of my Project LIfe... this is where I am at with it.
Giggle.... my unorganized, PL temporary work station. Calendar, Folder for paraphanalia, last years cards, and some odds and ends. This desperately need to be organized, supplies gathered, and sorted, and a workstation established... but baby steps girls!
But as of today with my youngest upstairs sick, and being off work for my second day now - I am starting to DOCUMENT my project life! I am "sticky noting" all of pages... (thanks to the brilliant Michelle Wooderson idea) . Printing my photo's and starting with week 9 (feb 27 o March 5!). I will go back one week at a time - and although it seems like lots of work - I am actually excited to see this all come together. It may sound silly but I don't feel behind - for a few reasons. 1) I have been participating by writing down important events in my Calandar (just for PL use), luckily I have a memory that is fantastic for little details and filling in the blanks or days I missed 2) I have been taking some photo's - because after all I have been participating in project life now since the beginning of the year - and if I didn't snap the photo - well thats OK too cause words can document just as well. 3) I have so many ideas for extras that I want to add into my album that I have been collecting, "Pin"ing, and planning for many months now. I know what I want my project life to include, what I don't want to include, and what will make it "me".
This my friends I think is the key difference Participating and Documenting.
If your feeling behind in your documentation just start today... you will be thankful for it in a few weeks from now - and even more thankful this time next year. And really if we skip a few weeks - does it really matter? Will future generations close our albums in disgust because we only documented 47 of 52 weeks? The last few days I have seen some chatter on blogs, forums, etc about giving up, not staying caught up, or feeling discouraged. I hope none of you give up on this. Even if all you do is write a short sentence on your day, snap a few photo's during the week, and keep a few receipts you ARE participating!! Heck my December Daily is only half done - but its out on my counter and every week I do another page - because I participated in the process and only now am I documenting it. For me in the past if I didn't have my page done that night... or my week done the following Monday... or the assignment done before the next one... then I was behind... doomed... and 9 times out of 10 gave up. I have just learned to distinguish the difference this fine line for me... it was a blurry line for me for awhile and hence, why so many projects never got completed. I am glad that I have now realized the difference between Participation and Documentation. I have thankful for this realization.
Today I will start documenting my participation!
I need to clear off my counters (ie: which means moving over December Daily stuff - It's not going away until Im finished! ) and just START. One page at a time... One slot at a time.... Trying to document all of the happy little moments... the rough days.... the friendships... the parenting... and everything else. Get it out of my head - and onto paper!! this is going to be the fun part!
Oh and by the way - I was at Micheal's yesterday picking up paint for my son's art class (cause apparently my colours aren't good enough?!?) when I stumbled across a new shipment of stamps in their dollar bin. PERFECT FOR PROJECT LIFE!! I am so excited to share them with you - and because I wanted to thank you all for sticking with me these last few months - I just may have picked up an extra 1 or 2 or 7 or 8 extra stamps for a nice give away as well here. (I also have some more goodies too!) More on the give away in a few days so be sure to check back in!!
Here is a peak...
We will see you soon.... Off to Document!
