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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Sidelined

Supplies Used: Retrospective Kit, Modern Dates - One Little Bird; Hello Life Title + Journal Boxes - Ali Edwards; Cut in Pieces Template - Katie Pertiet

Journaling reads:

I’ve been trying so hard to make exercise a habit this year. I enjoyed classes at the YMCA during first quarter but couldn’t quite make it work with my schedule. Then when spring rolled around I bought good running shoes and started working through the Couch to 5K program. I enjoyed having a goal to work toward, even started running occasionally with Sarah, but still found it hard to keep up when life got busy. Finally, finally I had started up again in earnest, made some real progress in distance and pace, was prepping for an actual race in October when my back pain, which had been nagging for weeks, became too much to ignore. Sidelined again. I sat out a frustrating two weeks with no exercise, waiting for the symptoms to subside. I’ll be starting physical therapy soon - getting some help to incorporate more stretching and strengthening to my regimen. Hopefully I’ll emerge from this experience smarter, stronger, and more determined to maintain this hard-won dedication to being healthy.

Crocodile Hunters

Supplies Used: GO BIG Template No. 1 - Splendid Fiins; Gator Crossing Kit - Katie Pertiet

Fun page! I love the colors on this one...and the fact that I happened to have this "Gator Crossing" Kit in my stash already.  :-)  Perfect!

Friday, September 28, 2012

Journey to Saqqara

Supplies Used: Smootzy Frames Fun & Funky, Mixed 2 Backgrounds, Shmootzy Alpha No5, Certified Organic Borders, PDQ Overlays Vol 11 - Nancie Rowe Janitz; Very Krafty: The Neutrals - Splendid Fiins; Vintage Postcards - Jodie Lee; Make Your Own Postmarks Pack, Messy Stamped Textures No.1 - Katie Pertiet; Around the World Collab Kit; A Day at the Beach Collab Kit
I reached waaaaay back into the archives for this picture, building a bit on a long-term project that has been sitting neglected for a while. I participated in a study abroad program in college that took us to Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Italy. I have had almost half my photos from the trip converted to digital format and have done very little to get them scrapped - they've just been sitting on my hard drive. Glad to be able to finally add a bit more to it, and relive the fun memories again!

This picture shows the stepped Pyramid of Djoser at Saqqara (outside Cairo). The pyramid was neat, since it represents the earliest form of pyramid building prior to the well known complex at Giza. But the more amazing sight at Saqqara was the mastaba we visited. Mastabas are part of the funeral complex, built to house the remains of other prominent officials of the day. The artistry of the carved walls, some still bearing their original paint were breathtaking. Every wall was covered floor to ceiling in hieroglyphics and pictures. I found it alarming that most of the walls were unprotected at the time, though it did afford an incredible and unobstructed close up view to the builders' handiwork.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Currently...



(This post inspired by Ali Edwards)

Currently I am...

Feeling pain in my lower back, brought on by my recent foray into running/walking. I visited the doctor today, and will be starting physical therapy soon. I find this frustrating because in trying to do something good for my body it has caused unwelcome bad side effects. I'm trying to view it as part of my journey to wellness, which apparently for me needs to become more well rounded and include different forms of exercise and lots more stretching.

Committing to keep working at the exercise and participate in my first 5K coming up in three weeks.

Watching very little TV these days, except the preschool kind. Spending my free time in the evenings working on scrapbook pages.

Scheming about how to move forward with a new idea I've had. I've already discussed it with my Dad and I think it's something we would undertake together, starting with some experimentation.  Could be fun!

Growing cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, and some other fall crops in my garden.

Thwarting whatever little critters keep coming into my garden and nibbling up the lettuce and spinach as soon as it sprouts. May need to admit defeat in this area and purchase some seedlings this weekend from the Farmers' Market so that I can make up for lost time.

Dreaming about the future, which lately has included jobs and the kids' educational opportunities. Little D will be starting kindergarten next year, and I've been researching private schools and thinking about how to become more personally involved with his learning experiences.

Eating Oreos and milk every night before bed. My usual ritual.

Worrying about my husband's health.

Realizing that, along with exercise, we need to change our eating habits. I'm struggling with HOW to do this. While I know in my head what needs to be done it seems an overwhelming journey to undertake and one that may not exactly be well-received by the entire family.

Lamenting the potential future loss of some favorite foods but committing to keep the Oreos.  :-)

Loving the crazy things the kids do and say. They alternate between making me nuts and making me laugh. I'm trying to focus more on the positives and enjoy spending time with them while they are in the phase they are in right now, defiance and all.

Trying to stay interested and engaged at work.

Wondering what it means when I have to try so hard to stay interested and engaged at work.

Appreciating beautiful, mild weather and the emergence of fall. I love summer, but I do enjoy the changing colors and the holidays that arrive in the latter part of the year.

Dreading wearing cold-weather clothes because they are not nearly as composed and up-to-date as my spring/summer clothes. I'm already sick of them and I haven't even started wearing them yet this year.

Chastizing myself for complaining about clothes when I am incredibly blessed to be able to buy things that I need and want.

Thanking God for the ways he has blessed me and looking to the coming months with expectation, hopefulness, and open arms.

Monday, September 24, 2012

You Are My Happy

Supplies Used: Needs + Wants: Eyelets Galore 02, Loopies Vol. 2 - LoopyLove, Brownbagger Paper Pack - liv.Edesigns; Hot Mess template 1, wishy washi - skies are grey set 1 - Splendid Fiins; For The Record 2 Documented Element Pack #1 and #2 - Echo Park; Pretty Much Stitches - KStudio

Definitely my favorite picture. Carter being...Carter. So very much HIM.

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Stay Little

Supplies Used: Just Stay Little Kit - Dani Mogstad; Splatters Vol. 1 - liv.Edesigns; Marigold Templates - Sara Gleason

Too fast. Slow down.

The Parent Paradox

Supplies Used: Pumpkin Spiced Latte Kit - Dani Mogstad; Falling for You, Paint Swashes Vol.2 - liv.Edesigns; Vintage Photo Frames No.2, Neutral Date Bits No.1 - Katie Pertiet

The other night the boys and I went for a quick walk down to the neighborhood cul-de-sac after dinnertime. Since the road isn't busy I let them go a bit ahead of me. Both kids were running, of course, and it occurred to me that I should probably tell them to stop. But I didn't stop them, I just let them go, and Carter fell and scraped his knee. As I was carrying him home I realized what a paradox it is to be a parent. You want to protect the kids from any sort of pain or disappointment, but to do that would deny them the experiences that make them wiser and braver later in life. The "Anyway" poem written by Mother Theresa came to mind and I used my own variation for the journaling on this page.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Day to Remember

Written on September 11, 2011. A memento for my children and all those who follow.

Today is a day of remembrance. Make this anniversary of September 11th a day to sit and reflect on these events. Remember heroism in the face of evil. Remember patriotism through pain. Remember unity and understanding. If you haven't done so already, please write down your memories of September 11th and its meaning to pass on to your children and your children's children who will grow up without firsthand knowledge of that day. The most beautiful gift we can give to future generations is the knowledge and perspective of past events - a reminder that in this world bad things happen, but goodness and light are far more enduring.

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Halloween 1984

Supplies Used: Oct 31 Collection - Fancy Pants Design; Bookshelf Scrap Pack Templates No.1 - Katie Pertiet

The designers over at JessicaSprague.com keep releasing these great Halloween kits, but I don't have enough Halloween pictures to scrap! (My kids are too young - not a lot of Halloweens under their belts yet!)  So for this page I decided to use a photo from long ago that I recently restored. I love how it turned out! (Yes, that's me...I was seven years old.)

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Jam Session

Supplies Used: Narrative Kit, Check It Cards, Tidbit Alpha, Modern Dates, All Scratched Up Borders No.1 - One Little Bird Design; @ the Office Graph Paper Background Brushes - Splendid Fiins

Saturday, September 1, 2012

Trick or Treat

Supplies Used: Happy Halloween Collection - Lori Whitlock; Bubbling Over Brushes, Needs + Wants: Eyelets Galore 01 - livE.design; Chillingsworth Manor Element Pack #1 - Echo Park; Journaling Brushes - Katie Pertiet; Creator Kit - One Little Bird; Papyrus Template - Sara Gleason

Reached back into the photo archives to pull out these Halloween pictures that I hadn't gotten around to documenting. We went pretty low-key with David's costume that year (a shirt we already had plus a foam construction hat) since he was wearing his costume to school. His Grandpa even got into the act by wearing his own "construction" themed costume. The two of them went out together for David's first-ever trick or treating experience. They weren't gone very long - but long enough for him to come home with a bagful of candy!