I may not be doing P366 but I am doing this – the February Photo a Day Challenge! I love the prompts – it doesn’t contain any prompt for capturing heated gloves or else I’d come up with a zero entry since I live in a tropical country.

I am in Day 5 and I am already thinking what to capture for the days ahead. It’s not too late join!

**I am doing all photos through my iPhone and processing it with Instagr.am, an iPhone app.

One of my goals when I turned 30 is to be able to complete one album that is all about ME. My album is nowhere is near completion but I have it all in my head. I have been quite frustrated with the way my pictures are lately (weight gain + crappy photographer who doesnt know how to use her camera) but I aim to compare digital cameras and decide if I should get a new dSLR for us again.

Here is the cover the album I plan to do:

Cover for my 30 things in 30 album:

Credits:
Susan Bartolini Just a Thought
Libby Pritchett Paper Clips Background

——————-
I will just do a 30 events that shaped me at 30 book. Words + pictures!

I cannot believe it! I completed Project Life for January on time! I am really loving how everything is turning out I wish I can take better pictures – but bear with the images below.

WEEK3:


*click on the images for a larger image:

Used Ali’s word boxes.

Put together 2 3×4 journaling grids in a 4×6 page.

Insert – my daughter’s artwork + an image of her drawing.

WEEK 4:

I finally know what works for me – and CZ products are helping me!
Inserts:
Kung Hei Fat Choi (Chinese New Year)

My husband’s birthday:

As you can see, I am keeping it short and simple everytime (K.I.S.S). I can’t seem to stop doing those inserts though, and see myself doing more of them in the future (I cant wait for the 6×12 and Design G protectors to go back in stock!). I probably would be doing regular insert features (12 on 12, CURRENTS, IN THE NEWS, shopping list (buying a bluetooth motorcycle helmet), ON THE MENU, etc) when I get my thoughts in order.

January was all about warming up to Project Life, not pressuring myself at all and trying to discover my flow.
Now I can really start making it my own!
Thank you for dropping by!

Today…

Outside my window…Sun barely out, still dawn (6AM), roosters crowing.

I am thinking…if I can squeeze in some scrapping time today. I hope so!

I am thankful for…(something really mundane for now) Pinterest!

From the kitchen…breakfast for the kids – bacon, longganisa and rice.

I am wearing…shorts and a shirt!

I am creating…Project Life inserts (haven’t started on Week 3, maybe I will have the photos printed next week, together with Week 4 and month-in-review layouts).

I am going…to have an alarm system this week while working – 30mins. work, 10mins surfing, 30 mins stand up and walk away from computer — I’m trying to insert some bursts of fitness in my routine.

I am reading…the Happiness Project.

I am hoping…that the husband gets paid this week!

I am hearing…Marts telling Ate Caren she wants braids as her hairstyle today.

Around the house…Kids at 6AM already dressed for school. They need to come to school earlier than usual in preparation for their foundation day activities next month.

One of my favorite things…XBox Kinect’s Dance Central! The whole family is enjoying dancing all day – if only I can sneak in to catch a video of them dancing I am sure that their video once posted will have so many youtube download downloads! (Im kidding of course )

A few plans for the rest of the week..catch up on work, step up on move regimen (I cant even claim it’s move more – since I havent been moving prior to this week ), celebrate Edil’s bday this weekend.

A picture I love:

It’s not everyday I get a picture like this, without me bribing them into posing. They did this on their own (How sweet!)

Project Life Week 2 Done!

I had more pictures and stories to tell this week so I finally bit the bullet and used some inserts. I just used the Design B page and cut 3/4 of it (I was against it at the start, thinking it was a waste of page protector, but I just had to try it and voila – I liked it!)

Experimented a bit with my process lately and found it easier for me. I think writing it down in a tangible form me, like in a planner, was better for me to keep track of memories I want to get included as opposed to doing everything electronically. (I still write down things like, refer to tweet Jan. 10th, etc.)

(With all the pictures I’ve been taking, I’ve been wanting to get an SLR again.)

I still don’t know how to take pictures of them properly, so pardon the poor lighting.

Note:
1. I need to find a good photo developing company. I tried a new one this week and I wasn’t satisfied with them.
2. I wrote some letters for my daughter and husband this week and folded it half and pinned it. Sometimes, when it’s personal, you want some “cover” instead of having it laid out in the open. I love that about paper!

I think I am going to challenge myself and just use one PHOTO per day for Week 3. I think the challenge for me right now is choosing which story to tell, and which ones to let slide (iPhone pictures let you capture the most mundane things). I think I will use the “This Week” card in the next weeks to come. It’s basically a week wrap up FOR ME. Notice I included another Martha-ism in the spread as well.

On the page insert, I decided to include a word art I saw at Pinterest which moved me. I stapled it with a grid journaling card and wrote my feelings about it.

We had some fun last week and I decided to include that too – notice the small 3×4 photos – those were iPhone photos collaged in PhotoShake

And if you are curious what other PLifers’ first week look like, just click on the button below!

Sharing my Week 1 Layouts – done in less than an hour! Wow. I kept going back and forth thinking, “Am I done?” “Should I do anything else?”

**Warning: Image Heavy Post**

My Title Page:

My Week in Review:

Some tidbits:


(Used Designs by Lili templates for this, she designed the Clementine kit too You can see her designs at The LilyPad)

Couldn’t resist a Martha quotable quote there – an Instagram pic.

A Cathy Zielske template card. See, this is what I wanted for a long time. Just write things like these coupled with a picture. Tell it as it is.

I’m a big user of Twitter. the overlay card is a freebie from Wild Blueberry Ink Designs.

Thought incorporating writings of US at the start of the year was a good idea. I’d prefer them to write MORE than their name but hey, Ill take this

More writings on the back:

Lastly:
WHY I LIKE PROJECT LIFE

Scrapbooking has involved the family. Edil likes the set up and as you can see was even the one trimming the pictures from the printer. He also has exercised his rights which pictures goes into the album. I guess seeing something tangible immediately and while I am in the process of preserving a memory has opened him to scrapbooking as not just a hobby but a way of really preserving our family’s memories. (And FYI, he told me to buy more )

And if you are curious what other PLifers’ first week look like, just click on the button below!

This may very well be my last post for 2011 in this blog. As I am writing this, it’s almost 5AM and I am the only one awake – trying to finish work since we have a wedding to attend to and we go to the salon in exactly 3 hours. Not what I had hoped to be a last post – a crammed version of what I originally want to write about.

I want to write about my chosen One Little Word – Catalyst, and how getting Becky Higgin’s Project Life kit is tied up with that. Since 2008, I can say I have given up a couple of things all for my love of my family, sometimes to the point of forgetting myself in the process. I absolutely have no regrets as my very easy “sacrifices” turn out to be our biggest blessings and have give us so much joy in the process.

Last year, I wanted ME to be the focus of my One Little Word as I turned 30 but it turned and evolved into MARRIAGE and FAMILY. This year I have grown to have such a deeper appreciation for my husband and our marriage. I have realized we cannot reach our true potential if we are not in sync since we are literally UNITED AS ONE. We cannot soar without having each other’s backs and fly together. He is truly my better half – a better half version of me, and I hope he knows and feels as much as I do when we look back to 2011 and what it has done to our marriage. It’s quite fitting as we celebrate the seven-year itch in 2012!

How does it all tie with Project Life? I have been having a feeling inside of me since October that technology is a two-edged sword. I work, I earn money from the internet (I do not need to apply for Beverage/Sommelier Jobs which will take me out of the house) and enjoy working from home but it has taken such a HUGE amount of time from me. Something’s gotta give. I wont’ give up scrapbooking. Im just channelling it away from my computer and spending endless hours making a PAGE about a single memory.

I’d still do digital – no way I can ever leave that. I’d still be a creative team member for Sweet Shoppe Designs and Nettio Designs. But this year, I have been unsatisified with my pages, thinking it is not capturing OUR LIFE RIGHT NOW. So I will be focusing on photo-sleeve scrapbooking in 2012 – literally, photos + words. Keeping it simple. Involving my family in the process. I will discuss it more when I set up our little corner (finding that corner in our insanely small house is the biggest hurdle) and share what I have done and what I plan to do.

And as Robin of SSD always says, Keep Making Memories — Scrap More.
(Sometimes finding that balance between scrapping vs making memories is hard, but hopefully with Project Life it will be easier!)

Today…

Outside my window…It has been raining non-stop all throughout the week which has made for very gloomy, bed weather. It is hard to get up every morning and harder to go out to finish Christmas shopping.

I am thinking…if I will be able to finish everything I want to accomplish before Christmas Eve.

I am thankful for…blessing of work that has let me give more to my family, friends and charity this season. I thought this was going to be a “lean” Christmas but I get to fulfill a little wishes this year. It’s simple gifts though, not extravagant like solitaire engagement rings, just enough to put a smile on my loved ones’ faces. So thankful for that!

From the kitchen…my Mom’s spaghetti!

I am wearing…a tank top and capri jeans.

I am creating…Christmas gifts for the grandparents.

I am going…to the mall to get some me time after mass – time for a digiperm!

I am reading…the Happiness Project.

I am hoping…that there will be sunny weather next week!

I am hearing…Christmas songs and Fred Claus the movie in the background.

Around the house…bits and pieces of Christmas cheer!

One of my favorite things…my new Moleskine notebooks!

A few plans for the rest of the week: It’s my eldest’s 11th birthday so we are taking him out shopping!

A picture I love:

If you are like me who is an eternal procastinator you probably haven’t done your holiday cards yet. I have yet to mail ours (or even print them) – too busy wrapping and buying gifts for everyone (Backwoods cigars, dolls, books and more!) but I have posted them in Facebook *YAH!* for my relatives overseas.

You can get your cards in time! Or make one – thanks to a great KCB Freebie – you just need to be a fan of her Facebook page and click on the freebie tab on the left!

Look at our Christmas card this year – thanks to Alexis of KCB’s design team

Happy Holidays!

Here is a holiday page that has been on my mind for a long time now and I finally had time to make it right. It is shown in the SSD homepage as part of the Sugarbabe team showcase this month!

Credits:
Julie Billingsley A Joyous Christmas
Font: Bebas

Looking at the pictures makes me excited for our photoshoot this year! We have our matching outfits ready and we have a schedule for the photo studio in a few days. Hopefully the kids and my pimples cooperate (Our househelp would be going home during that time so I’d be in charge of everything from cooking to cleaning the stainless steel sinks and getting our outfits ready so hopefully I would not be as stressed!)

And a page from our Holidays 2009 album: