Make No Little Plans - 2016 Scrapping Goals

So when Holly and I started our blog last year we started with a joint post on our goals for scrapping. Well we have been at it for almost 1 year and I think we have both accomplished a lot... But still there is always more to get done.

2015 was the second year that I am 100% digital.  I am still loving every.single.minute... With my crazy work schedule I find that I can get short bits of time to work on layouts through out the day - commuting to and from work on the train, traveling on an airplane or in the evenings. I don't have to "find" my stuff or pull anything out other than my laptop which I have with me all the time anyways! I have completed challenges at various stores (you often win freebies this way), have a few assignments on digital CTs (Creative teams) and generally kept up with Project Life.

Here are some of my favorites:

Using Janet Phillips templates from the Daily Digi and kit by Just Jaimee Storytellers

Glamour Ghoul collab by Libby Pritchett and Amber Shaw at Sweet Shoppe

Using Chelle's Creations and Prismatic from Heidi Swapp for Project Life

I also started a project that I have mentioned before - my Christmas Card albums. I have 6 years of cards already printed in 2 books. In 2015 I will add my December Documented (like Ali's Edward's December Daily - just not daily stories)

Here is the first of 2 Christmas Card books I completed

Officially I am complete through middle Sept, with several other fall weeks completed in Project Life. I have a Shutterfly coupon which expires on 1-31-16 so I am trying furiously to finish up... This is the first year I have printed a bound book - 10x10 size and I am loving this size! I do love the printed 12x12 from Persnickety but I only have so many shelves so something has to give.

I also have worked (inconsistently) on my vacation album from our trip to Spain last Dec/Jan. I am using the Month of Challenges at The Lilypad to try and get some of these missing pages completed. So far I've been very successful at using the challenges to fill these holes.

By the numbers- PL layouts completed - 110+ ( I did a lot of pages from our summer vacation)
Fun/Challenge pages completed - 60+
Spain vacation pages -40+
Challenges completed- Iron Scrapper at Scrap Orchard - 24+
CT teams -2
Guest CT- 2 teams

Studio Basics Hello World at the Daily Digi

So what are my goals for 2016.. as Daniel Burnham said "Make No Little Plans..."

Finish was my One Little Word last year and I did get a lot finished but I was derailed mid year by some extended family health issues and did not finish My Week in the Life- but that is life (pun intended!). I will have a full blog post about my project and my process using the Project Life app.

Finish my Spain trip album - and take some of my favorite pages and create mini albums for each son so that they can have their own  This album I am printing 12x12 through Persnickety

Finish my December Documented and Christmas card album for 2015.  Depending on the number of pages I may combine this with 2016... I love the ease and size of the Shutterfly 10x10 books. (will link you direct to Shutterfly site with affliate link)

Finish my 2015 Project Life and continue in 2016 - I love this project.  I may change it up a bit this year - blog post to follow on this too.

Continue on 2 creative teams - realistically work and family come first but I find being on a CT really helps grow my digi skills and my productivity and proficiency...Plus I LOVE playing with pretty new stuff (you noticed I never said I spent less digi scrapping vs. paper scrapping...)

Finally and most importantly I want to document/scan lots and lots of old photos, scrapbook layouts and memorabilia.  To that end I got the BEST gift ever from my hubby - A Shotbox! I don't know if you have heard about this yet but it will revolutionize they way I am able to incorporate memorabilia.
I promise to do a whole blog post this weekend but for right now I'll share some pics and a link to their website...Shotbox.me. (This is an affliate link so if you are so inclined to purchase I would love it if you used my link.)

Extremely portable and comes with its own bag - which was a surprise to me

I also got the side shot to photograph 3D objects

As I said the carry bag is awesome - everything has its own spot and can be easily carried on your shoulder.

So that's it...of course that is plenty!! I also will be a much more regular blog contributor - Holly as been doing such a fantastic job and as you can tell I have been creating so I just need to share more and more regularly.

Don't forget to visit us on Facebook and Instagram. Make sure to hit Like if you enjoy our content!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram

Luly's December Memories..or my take on December Daily

So while Holly is doing her December Daily in a 6x8 album with the Take Ten kit ( which is adorable- take a look here at Holly's December Daily prep.....) I will doing a Digi version with some great products from The Lilypad. I'm already a regular subscriber to Just Jaimee's Storyteller Collection and Memory Pockets Monthly. They also have a fabulous DYD: Document Your December that they previewed for National Scrapbook Day in Nov. So of course at that point I was super excited to start my first official DD but life is crazy so I didn't quite get the prep time in that I wanted. But the great thing about digi is that you can catch up quickly!

I don't have young kids so I know I will not have a fun/cute/interesting story to tell every day so mine will be more of a compilation of December memories from 2015 as we tend to do lots of stuff right after Thanksgiving and right around Christmas when the boys are in from college.

I started the tradition of photographing my previous year's Christmas cards that I receive and adding them to a Shutterfly 10x10 photo book.  I have from 2009-2014 complete with a few more years photographed.  I think I have all the cards since 1990 (the year before hubby and I got married)- I know I am dating myself... so this is an on-going project.

My first attempt at this album 2012-2014 with 2009-2011 also completed.

I will add my DD pages to cards album.  I might add 2 years to the same album but I am ok with that as I might just do a monthly highlights page(s) in my regular Project Life album.. I have done plenty of December kit shopping to handle this (lol)

Here is my cover page

For this project I will use Just Jaimee's DYD  December Christmas Accents, 6 x 8 templates and papers, Just Jaimee's Riley Storyteller Collection (which has lots of gorgeous Christmas add-ons too), Story Cards No.2 by Sara Gleason, Amy Woods, Dots & DooDads,  Traci Reed's Stitched Grids templates and Ali's Intentions freebie on her blog on my cover.

I will do mostly 12x12 pages but I will add a mixture of 6x8 pages that I will cut down in width and add a washi tab to make it like a real insert in my Shutterfly book. I will be honest the different sized page protectors was one on my favorite parts of the physical project like that I did for 3 years.. I will use some of Just Jaimee's prepared 6 x 8 pages as an "insert" like in Ali's physical version.

Here is a 6 x 8  - fairly simple with great stories and a few embellishments

Just Jaimee's kit also has some great pre-done pages which I might include 1 or 2

I'll be back on Monday to show you my progress on the other days of December so far (although I won't be picky as long as it was after Thanksgiving!)

Week in the Life Day 5

Since I spent most of day in the office, I thought it would be good to show some of the details of the things that I see everyday from my little corner of the office.  I set my camera to timer to take a selfie!

These are some of my favorite pictures of my kids through the year.  I also love how the frames really match the mood of the photos! The plastic football men are from my alma mater - a gift my hubby (something he definitely likes better than I, but I still appreciated the thought!)

I use a collection of mugs to hold my assortment of pens, pencils, paper and binder clips etc.  I like to have lots of fun pens and pencils from my travels and of course Donald Duck - my favorite!! These make me smile every time I get a paper clip.

Speaking of Donald - I have a small collection (and a bit of dust!)  Maybe I need some more soon :-)

One of the gals in the office is getting married soon - and was trying out cupcakes instead of  a wedding cake.  They just look so beautiful - we will have to wait for the tasting results.  Its amazing how these little cakes have taken everyone's imagination.

Love the outdoor dining that is everywhere in Chicago during the summer.  Its something that helps get us through the long and cold winter!  The flowers are also everywhere - on the streets and planter boxes and plazas.  When I am super busy and leaving the work super tired at the end of the day - and see the folks out enjoying a beverage - I get a bit jealous and think that maybe one day it will be my turn! Well on Friday I did go out and meet a client for a beverage after work - and again always fun things to see in a big city

like a funky ice cream truck

and cool interior for the bar

and col lighted structures along Congress Parkway

and a view of Trump Tower in the distance.  So my hubby is super supportive of my work and came to pick me up  and bring me home..

Since it was already super late, we picked up dinner at the local "fast food" place and hubby had picked up a nice bottle of cheap wine at Costco.  Drinking out of my favorite cup that was my birthday present 3 or 4 years ago. Everyone has their favorite glass to drink out of - and none of them match!

Finished packing for the Scrapbook Expo that will be held in Schaumburg over the weekend.  I was good and only signed up for the crop - but I am excited that Becky Higgins will be teaching - I hope to get to meet her!.  I have a few mini books that I will be finishing that I will give to future Make A Wish kids (my hubby and I volunteer) and to finish the journaling for my Europe albums from 2012... wish me luck and see you tomorrow.

Week in the Life Day Three

I have been amazed at how aware of my everyday routines this project has made me.  I am truly blessed even if some days I feel harried (and mostly feel behind).  I am not always smiley happy every minute of the day - and sometimes I expect my family/co-workers to read my mind - which of course is an unrealistic expectation... but more about that later.

I had asked my son at college to take some photos of his day - I got a few in the morning, not so many after that... hoping that today will be better.  The transition back to college is always a little tough - and he has been rather contemplative this year.  He is usually rather contemplative - and that's ok!

Here is his routine from getting up to walking out his apartment door and the view on the main street walking to campus.

He is spoiled with his own bathroom. Boy I'm jealous!

I love that he's got all the important stuff right near him. His beloved Bears (pillow), flag for family and roots and the framed scene from Barcelona that he bought on our vacation in December. That reminds him that maybe his parents ( and especially his mom :-) might be cool to hang out with he is an "adult". 

True college guy apartment with the dogs playing poker!

Walking to campus. I asked for a few more today. Let's see how that goes!

My day started the same as most.  My lab loves to follow me around in the morning - here he is waiting outside the bathroom door for me to finish drying my hair.

Again my hubby drives me to the train which I take to work. I am an early riser so I often see them raising the flags on the building across the river.  It is nice to see this as a start to my day.

Work was completely crazy today - back to back meeting, including our monthly division meeting - with one 1/2 time slot to get the rest of my work done - ha!

While I was at work, hubby and son worked on painting front door and back windows- an extremely long over due projects!

Headed out to our suburban office for a special strategy meeting (took the train out) and had a good meeting.  But first another view of the river and tourist boats- my favorite!

My boss (& President of company) happens to live very close to my house and even closer to my grandmother's house.  I went to visit her again today - as I have almost every day I have been able for the last 2 months since she fell and broke her arm and hip.  She is one very tough cookie for almost 92 years old.  Forgot again to get a photo.... tonight for sure!

On the way home, my boss had to pick up his dog from doggie day care - another lab (this time a chocolate like our first lab!).

From the big lunch at work I wasn't hungry and I was excited our dance class, lesson and demo!

So class tonight was merengue ( we can totally handle that), then our lesson was different in that we had 2 instructors- so each could work and go twice as fast! We worked on rhumba, cha-cha and bachata!

Here's the hubby with our instructor whom we love!! Next the demo included more advanced steps ( where we could be) if/when we continue on lessons. Tango, hustle, salsa etc....

Definitely!!

But wait the evening was still not over as when I got home I ran right to the computer to join the Scrap Orchard chat with the featured designer - Kristin Aagard for part of her freebies. My oldest son had logged in for me. 

Final goodnight for tonight for my son, as he watches Netflix - I will miss him...

Till tomorrow!

Week in the Life- 2015 Edition:Day 2

I have already so enjoyed this process of documenting my everyday life. This is a great adventure- and even more importantly I am getting my family to help me in my documenting journey. This day I am going to document myself.. You would think it would be easier but maybe not so much... We will see as the day progresses

I am very fortunate that I work in a beautiful city with some spectacular views. Here I was at a meeting and I got to enjoy the spectacular view. But let me not get ahead of myself. 

Starting first thing in the morning, my work day routine is not too different. I get up around 5:00am ( well the alarm technical my goes off at 4;50am- but then there are a couple to more snoozes depending on my hubby who is in that side of the bed), feed the dogs, start the water for coffe (him) and tea (me) and let them out. Shower, dress and makeup- while hubby takes 10 minutes to get ready-I am not that quick (although I don't take too long...). I got hubby to take pics of me this morning putting on my makeup 

Here you can see part of our big bathroom renovation. That took a huge part of our summer ( and summer money's) but I am so happy being able to use this shower again. Now to decide on a shower curtain...

Jack always hangs out on our bed while I'm getting ready. 

Since I was out of town last week- still not organized with the grocery thing, so my favorite fast restaurant is McD's- egg white delight for breakfast 

Train to work and walk to office in morning is always great- even in bad weather. 

Mostly in my office today, but the view to the river is really nice (except when they ring the bells when testing the bridges- instant headache day!) 

I did get this pic when I got to office and published my blog post yesterday. 

As I said the view is VERY nice. But not as nice as the view from the 30th floor where my afternoon meeting was and my cover photo for today!

Lunchtime is usually spent at my desk checking emails and my favorite digi shop forums but again, lunch/grocery thing not organized so I had to step out- not that I mind in beautiful weather like we have been having! Here I went to my favorite Mediterranean food place- Roti. Yummy falafel salad. 

Lots of folk out in the afternoon as well on the way to the train- lots of outdoor patio areas to take advantage of in summer, plus the water taxi and other tourist boats- very nice on a nice day. Sometimes makes you forget your day at work. 

After work was not as exciting- visited my grandmother ( where I promptly forgot to take a pic! Although  I am going again today- so need to remember!!!), diner of pulled pork I made on Sunday night in the crock pot (also trying to use up all the stuff in my freezers which are out of control!), order some of my son's books for school then we did something fun! We had taken dance lessons about 8 years ago for almost 2 years (so 6 six years ago). Well about 2 months ago they had a "reunion" party and we were hooked again!! We got a free lesson and then hubby got me a few lessons for my b-day present. We both are loving it!! We are trying to make it to more classes- since otherwise it's super expensive and you don't get proficient. We went to a practice party last night- tonight is another lesson and "demo"- their version of the hard sell. The folks are all super, super nice and we have the same instructor we had 6 years ago- who we adore!!

Huge rainstorm while we were dancing but basically stopped while we were driving home. A little TV ( we almost only watch Travel channel or travel shows at night) then off to bed at nearly 11pm. Late for us but hubby is off tomorrow so he didn't feel the need to sleep so early. 

Tomorrow I'm going to get my son to take pics of his day at school. 

Ali Edwards Week in the Life - you are genius!! Till tomorrow- love this project!