Aggie Shoots. Aggie Scraps.

Today I am grateful for discovering scrapbooking. Scrapbooking has evolved from a hobby and addiction to a passion that consumes me. It is great to feel passionate for something outside your family and my dream job. And yet, it is also why I am passionate for scrapbooking – because of my family. For me, scrapbooking has stopped being that – but really has turned into something: preserving memories + creating art.

I love the outlet is has given me to relieve my stress, I love the artistic expression I derive from it – taking pictures, doing my way with words and just combining both to record a memory.

I love the friends I have met because of this passion. I love the teams I have been on and am currently serving – they inspire and constantly challenge me to be at my best. I love the rewards it gives me.

I am grateful for being able to put down what would be the greatest littlest things in life.

Treasure the little things because one day you will look back and realize they were the big things.

My sister has a new job and while it is still a writing job, she will be on the technical aspect of things. This means she needs to learn as much about as data integration software and support as possible. The program she is learning is Syncsort. Syncsort Incorporated develops, markets, and services high-performance software for data management and data protection. Syncsort’s products are used in more than 50 countries to speed data warehouse processing, improve database loads, improve query performance and back up and protect data in distributed environments. With emphasis on technical excellence and superior service, Syncsort products are assisting customers around the world in realizing the performance potential of their data processing systems. Syncsort Incorporated is a leading developer of high-performance data protection and data management software for mainframe, UNIX, Linux and Windows environments.

Just wanted to share some entries I bookmarked on my reader ages ago
(If you havent already, you really should subscribe to feeds – Bloglines or Google Reader, whichever works best for you.)

• If you haven’t known Ali Edwards’ blog, you might be living under a rock. She has posted some cool tips on how to enjoy the season (as a life artist) and has some suggestions on how to document Christmas too.
• Ok, you don’t know Ali Edwards. You’re forgiven. But if you don’t know Martha Stewart, you are out of this world, LOL. Who doesnt want to be like Martha? (in her craftiness). She has her own Christmas Workshop for this year you might like to check out.
• The Write Stuff – some nice variations on how to put some journaling on your pages.
• Want to dabble on hybrid but really are overwhelmed with the items you need? Check out FPD’s hybrid kits. They very per month. Im especially in love with November’s Kit.
• New Challenge Find: The Design Experiment. I live for challenges. I love how I get the nicest prompts out of them. I dont necessarily play but I get all the ideas they offer.
• And finally, Im doing this this year, after signing up for it last year. Im ready to infuse it with my December Daily Album. That is the main goal for next month!!

I hope everyone is not getting too overwhelmed with December being only five days away from now (Because I am getting overwhelmed). Aside from some projects I REALLY REALLY would like to finish, I need to prioritize real life projects and the struggle on which one to really do (and finish) and that struggle alone is overwhelming I dont really get anything concrete done.

Anyways, here are a couple of LOs I have done for the past two days. I usually take a break from scrapping if I realize I have not been scrapping for stories. I plan to scrap tonight if the kids will let me

(All layouts are linked to my Flickr gallery)

Im busy uploading layouts to Artscow, I got 150 8×10 prints for free because of referrals Thank you – I can now completely get rid of my 2008 layouts backlog at a much cheaper price. Edil will be so surprised to see I can fill my shelf with my art now. I can now work on getting the Library of Memories done (finally, after three years of scrapping, LOL).

I need to work and then catch up on sleep after I tally with our budget. Scrap more! Spend less (my mantra for the rest of the year LOL).

Sometimes there are people who really get unlucky. I heard a mom’s friend have a multitude of health problems that started with they think was just gout They had it checked and it turns out she has arthritis, diabetes with kidney complications and eye failure. It was really a shock to find all of that out in one day. So now, they are monitoring their mom’s medicines round the clock – she has a lot to take and a series of treatments are starting for her as well. This makes me want to have my parents’ health checked as soon as possible as well.

• Have you seen my new blog look? That is courtesy of Zoe’s blog in a box and the techie mind of Caryl! Thanks Caryl! The widgets are still pixelized (because Im too busy and lazy to update them) but they will be done within the week, hopefully .
• It’s Christmas season! It really is the most wonderful time of the year. With that I am bombarded with a truckload of Christmas CT stuff which make me want to start decorating NOW.
• I am trying to get caught up with CT assignments – all the book making at Artscow wasnt helping me finish it (For the record I think Ive topped all my layouts this year this month. LOL). That and finishing some assignments about acne treatment.
• My Artscow books have arrived. I think I have four packages in Manila that Im anxious to see! I have stopped making books for now – the last projects of the year will be Matthew’s I am 7! book and the Year in Review but that’s it.

I would end with some layouts Ive done over the weekend:

Credits:
1)

MandaBean’s Be Blessed Kit
CK Renaissance

2)

Libby Weifenbach and Cherekaye’s Skidamarink Kit
DJB Sweet Treat

This is a page about how Martha has been with me 24/7 for the last six months.

I forgot to blog about this!

Here is my layout:

This a blatant scraplift of Emily Merritt’s 20 Things. I thought it would be so cool to have us have a page each.

Matthew was the one who wrote my “things”. You can read about it here.

Look at these:

Arent they fun and spunky? You might get the shock of your life when you find out their prices – they are only $8!!! Yes, you read it right. $ 8 Complete Rx Eyeglasses are being offered by Zenni Optical – The popular online eyeglasses shop! Holiday Glass Frames From Zenni Optical are now available and if I were you, Id get one for each outfit you need for Christmas! If I needed eyeglasses, I would even think twice of getting them!

Yep, you see that right. Im now a creative team member for Little Dreamer Designs It came as a shock knowing there were 150 applicants. And I just had to send my app in because working for Michelle Coleman has been on top of “dreams” ever since I started scrapping. I didnt send my app not knowing the requirements though and I like how laidback everything can be – just 4 layouts a month So now, Im a team member for three stores and a challenge group. I can afford NOT to shop and still scrap for days – I have tons of ideas, I like what I have evolved into and the possibility of earning from this is seen – what more can I ask for? I AM Living My Dream