Grow With Love: Staycation - my experience so far

I bought Plant Your Story's Grow With Love: Staycation workshop about a month ago, before all this bedrest/hospital/baby worry stuff. I had high hopes of planning fun activities with the boys at home while daddy worked, then little weekend outings to the museum, park, zoo, etc. God had other plans, though, and I found myself on bedrest a couple weeks later. All summer fun plans put on hold. But I didn't want to totally abandon the workshop, either, so I've had to find creative ways to scrap some of the prompts. Here's a few pages I've completed so far, some before bedrest started, some after. I'll also include a brief summary of the prompt inspiring each page.

Prompt 1 summary: Take a photograph of a "detail" of this day, some kind of "memory residue."

I snapped a pic of the aftermath of a little nesting/cleaning spurt - a clean bathroom and (mostly) neat living room! My title explains that this is not a typical day for us :)

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Prompt 2 summary: Choose a single moment in time to document.

I chose naptime - one of my all-time fave times of day as a mommy!

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Prompt 3 summary: Scrap about your summer reading.

I read a lot, usually on my Droid while feeding baby, eating, taking a quick break, any time I have a spare minute. I enjoyed documenting the books I've read so far this summer, and I have plans to scrap a page about books still on my list to read, and about reading with Cai (who inherited mommy's love of books!).

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Prompt 8 summary: Capture fun, silly, water-play moments.

Yes, I did the prompts out of order! I especially cherish these captured moments, since I'm not sure when the next time is that I'll be able to splash in the pool just me and Avyn. Middle kids always seem to get the short stick. But I love that he's finally old enough now to sit up on his own and enjoy some water fun with mommy! This was a fun memory to scrap!

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Prompt 11 summary: Explore a local attraction, take a day trip, etc.

By this point I was on bed rest, so I lived vicariously through my sisters Lizzie and Becca and scrapped about their trip to Six Flags Fiesta Texas, somewhere we've all wanted to go since moving to San Antonio. Plus I had a blast using the amazingly fun kit Vintage Carnival kit by Sahlin Studio!

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Prompt 18 summary: Create a list using the word "Reasons" as your foundation.

I linked this page up in my last blog post, so I won't bother you with it again! 

That's all I have finished so far, but I have a couple of Staycation pages in the works, and ideas brewing for more. Some of the prompts I think I'll save for after baby's born, and we can do a little more in the cooler fall weather. These 100+ degree temps are just too brutal for anything more than pool or A/C! I do look forward to exploring more of this beautiful city and outlying areas, there are so many places I still want to take the boys: Children's Museums, the coast (just a couple hours away!), Landa park, various parks and pools around the city. Can't wait for cooler weather! Oh, yeah, and a healthy baby :)!

Catching Up is Overrated

I've let this blog sit gathering dust for so long that the mere thought of trying to "catch up" sends my brain into a panic-induced coma. So I've been playing my favorite game - avoidance - for months. Finally today (in the shower, where all my most brilliant realizations occur) I decided that playing catch-up is way overrated. Who cares what happened two months ago? It's ancient history. So I'll just start with now.

Right now I'm on doctor-prescribed strict bedrest, and have been since July 25th. Baby Riah isn't due until September 23, which seems like forever. Since taking care of a 2 1/2-year-old and a 1-year-old while on bedrest is pretty much the definition of impossible, we have all moved in with my parents while Josh works 2 hours away. To add to the fun, a nasty cold has been working its way through the family, starting with me, moving on to Mom and Avyn, and flirting with my Dad and Becca. Hopefully we all survive the next few weeks. Although there are many things I can't do on bedrest (and it would be very easy to lay here and pour out a list of complaints, complete with whining and moaning), it's much better for my attitude and general stress level to focus on what I can do. I started a list last week using the Sticky Note app on my computer, and I add to it every time I think of something. Here's what I have so far - and if you have any more ideas, I would LOVE to hear them!

• Photograph the people and activities around me
• Scrap! (ZZS challenges, Sahlin Studio featured kit and template challenge, Mscraps new releases, Staycation class, Avyn's birthday, bedrest)
• Write blog posts
• Play Civilization 3
• Learn about my DSLR
• Read books
• Make list of baby stuff still needed
• Shop online for baby stuff and other stuff
• Make friendship bracelets
• Knot pearl necklaces
• Look up (and then do) stretching exercises safe for bedrest
• Organize digiscrap supplies
• Purge digiscrap supplies
• Organize photos
• Make Avyn's birthday card

I also scrapped a page about ten reasons bedrest isn't so bad. 

I actually bought the kit I used specifically for this layout. I rarely have such a specific idea in mind when I buy something, but this kit was too perfect. Want to see? 

"Positivity" by Lauren Reid and Jenn Barrette (at The Lilypad)

See what I mean? Isn't that the most perfect kit for me right now? Full of timely reminders to look on the bright side, the cup is half-full, be positive, etc. I also used a template from Biograffiti, from her 10s List Temaplates set.

Here's two more layouts I've scrapped about bedrest:

I used the kit "Familiarity" by Karla Dudley, and a free template from the July Design House Digital blueprint challenge. And I have to brag a bit - Karla featured my layout on her blog for her Feature Layout Friday!! I feel special :)

I scrapped this page for a Scrap Orchard Make it Snappy challenge, using mostly "I'm Outta Here" by Captivated Visions (definitely one of my favorite kits recently). 

Well, even if no one reads this, I feel much better for having jumped back on the bloggy bandwagon. I have so much I want to share, and many more layouts! One of the best things about bedrest is the extra time for scrapping! 

In My Life Today

Why hello, blog, long time no see! Did you miss me? Life conspired this month to keep me away from my computer more than I have been in months. I spent a week in the hospital with our youngest, with many subsequent doctor visits. Our Internet has been down more than up this month. And I've simply been exhausted - running around like a crazy woman trying to keep up with the boys, the house, and other responsibilities. And you know how hard it is to re-start something once you've lost momentum. Today I noticed a great inspirational post over at The Daily Digi all about blog memes and how they are a great way to capture a "slice of life," either on your blog and/or in a scrapbook page. I liked the one they shared (borrowed from The Simple Woman's Daybook), so I'm going to participate here! If you decide to do something similar, I'd love to read your meme!

FOR TODAY
Outside my window... it is misty, gray and drizzly, but still in the mid-60s, which was warm enough for Cai to play out on the balcony (which is sheltered) for a while this morning.
I am thinking... of how very much I am behind on. Even with paring back some responsibilities this month, I still have so much to catch up on, and so little energy to do it all. 
I am thankful for... a heavenly Father who knows the long-term plan for my life and my children's lives, and promises that His will is good and perfect, even if all I can see is darkness in front of me.
From the kitchen... I hear uplifting Christian music from KLOVE, our local Christian station, because I'm at my mom's and she plays it 24/7. I love listening to the radio here, because our radio at home doesn't come in well. 
I am wearing... too-big hand-me-down jeans and a purple t-shirt. Also, my feet are bare, which is silly because they are cold, so I've got a comforter tucked around me.
I am creating... this blog post. Duh. Also on the creating to-do list for today: a rough family schedule and at least one scrapbook page (probably scrapping this list!).
I am going... to spend a night in downtown San Antonio at the Rivercenter Marriott next Wednesday with Josh to celebrate our 3rd anniversary. We plan to eat at the fancy Fogo de Chao Brazilian steakhouse too! I'm so excited!
I am reading... The Parent Adventure by Rodney and Selma Wilson, for a small group study Josh and I are participating in at Northeast Bible Church.
I am hoping... that my Grandpa finds us the perfect minivan at an equally perfect price next week. We really need a second vehicle!
I am hearing... Avyn cooing, gurgling, and babbling in his seat on the floor next to me. And sometimes coughing, because he is sick again, poor baby.
Around the house... I don't like looking around our house, because it's a depressing, avoidance-coma-inducing disaster. I need a maid.
One of my favorite things... are Sonic cherry or cranberry limeades. Yum.
A few plans for the rest of the week: Church and small group on Sunday. Taking Avyn to the GI specialist on Monday. Celebrating our anniversary a little early on Wednesday/Thursday. 
Picture for the day:  My two bookworms :)

Thanks again to The Simple Woman's Daybook for starting this great blog meme idea!

Ketchup

As my title obviously implies, this is a catch-up post! Our internet quit on Sunday, and although AT&T says it's fixed, it's not. So I've been visiting my parents a lot this week, which has the added benefit of built-in help with the boys :)! All the time I could get online was spent playing with the lovely, hilarious girls over at Mscraps and celebrating the store's first anniversary. The amazingly generous designers donated lots of prizes for about 20 different games and challenges, so I had no shortage of inspiration this weekend. Here's the pages I completed (and the coordinating challenge):

Challenge: Scraplift Chain

For this page, I scraplifted the person who posted before me, which was tj7933, and I chose her page "Christmas Gala 2010" if you want to go look at it. :)

Challenge: Finish Me Off

This was an interesting challenge - we were all given a .jpg scrapbook page and had to "finish" it, but without changing any of the elements already there. I like how mine turned out! Everything is from the Mscraps Birthday Blog Train collab (which you can still get - hurry!!).

Challenge: White Space Layout

Pretty obvious - we had to create a white space layout. This one came together pretty quickly, one reason I love white space pages!! I absolutely ADORE this kit, too - Sketchbook by Three Paper Peonies. How cute is that pencil?! (Almost as cute as the little boy in the picture, right? :))

Challenge: Topsy Turvy Template

For this one, the hostess gave us a mixed-up template (with the element spots, paper strips, and photo slots all jumbled up on the page in no particular design). The challenge? Use just the bits we were given, nothing extra, to create a layout! Fun and challenging! The papers and most of the word art on this page is from Happy Talk by Three Paper Peonies and designs by Anita. The elements are from all over - I really had to dig through my Mscraps stash for this one!

Challenge: Template #2

Sadly, I missed out on the first template challenge of the weekend because it ended yesterday, and I had no Internet. But I had fun with this one - we gave Avyn his first taste of "solid" food a couple days ago, and he was thoroughly unimpressed. Made for a cute page, though. If you've got a messy child, then maybe you need the kit Messy by Three Paper Peonies, too.

Challenge: Create a new siggy

It had been a while since I created a new forum siggy, so I whipped this one up just in time to enter this challenge. It's pretty simple, but I like it! Also, I got to use that super-cute Messy kit again!

Thanks for being patient with me this week - hopefully we will figure out this Internet issue soon. And I promise a post soon that's not just showing off my recent layouts! Do you have any ideas for topics or tutorials, or burning questions about scrapbooking that you think somebody ought to answer? I'd love to hear your ideas!!

Top Five on Friday - Photoshop Shortcuts

For today's top five list I thought I'd share five of my favorite, most-used Photoshop shortcuts. Although I've used Photoshop CS3 for close to four years, I constantly learn new things. It's a powerful piece of software, and while I've thought about upgrading, CS3 does everything I need and so much more! I feel like I've only recently started to get comfortable in it! So here's my top five shortcuts, in no particular order:

1. CTRL-J (Duplicate layer). Very handy when clustering, repeating an element, building a title, and so forth. Much easier than dragging the same element onto the page multiple times!
2. CTRL-ALT-G (Clip selected layer to layer below). This is particularly useful for templates, to clip photos or papers to the appropriate shape. 
3. CTRL+/- (Zoom in/out) and CTRL-0 (Return to normal zoom). I use this shortcut all the time, to quickly zoom in and see how something looks at 100%, or zoom out to get "the big picture" (since unfortunately I don't have a lovely giant monitor!).
4. SHIFT-CTRL-N (Create new layer). Helpful especially when working with brushes. If you don't create a new layer, the brush will just stamp down on whatever layer is currently highlighted (like your paper, or element, or photo), which means you can't adjust it. Create a new layer for your brush, then you can resize, recolor, and fiddle with it to your heart's content!
5. CTRL-Z (Undo last action). Not much to say about this one - although it should probably be first in the list!! I'm pretty sure this is every scrapper's most used shortcut :). 

And because the blogging experts have decreed that no post is complete without a photo, I'll share my latest layout(s) with you - I suppose it's even an example of my top five, since I certainly used all those shortcuts! I rarely create double-pagers, but that was part of the challenge over at Oscrap's Designer Spotlight this week: to scrap a two-page layout where one or both pages used a patterned background paper. Often my best pages come from challenges, because they force me to step outside my little comfortable box. This is also my Log Your Memory Weekly Challenge #4 layout - this week's challenge was to scrap about a project. I took a more metaphorical approach, but I needed the scrap therapy of my topic!

Left side - Journaling reads: 1. Feed him every 3 hours, both sides. 2. Supplement with 1 oz formula at each feeding. 3. Suction his poor nose, even though he hates it. 4. Persist with the inhaler for breathing treatments. 5. Start solids and sippy. 6. Make sure he gets lots of tummy time and room to practice rolling over. 7. Take fenugreek and pump to increase my supply. 8. Love, play, pray, cuddle, kiss, sing, talk.

Right side - Journaling reads: Some days I feel like a terrible mother. Some days I don't know what to do for you, how to help. I hear you coughing and choking, snorting as you struggle to breathe smoothly, and my heart breaks. Is there anything I could've done differently? I know this is a pointless line of reasoning no matter what. It won't help you get better. Instead I need to focus on doing everything in my power now to help you heal, grow, develop, and blossom. I can snuggle you and soothe you, and give you what only a mother can: a mother's love. But most importantly, I can pray for you and trust that God holds your tiny body in His strong arms, and He can heal you. Yes, He'll probably use doctors, and it's my responsibility to get you to the right ones. But I know that in the end, your life and health is in God's hands. And baby, there's no safer, healthier place to be. I love you so much, Avyn! 6 months old, January 27, 2011

I'll be back a little later today with a huge special announcement from one of my favorite digiscrap stores - yep, big enough for me to post TWICE in one day!! Curious yet? Heehee...

Breathe in the sunshine, sweetie!

Do you ever feel so overwhelmed with everything that needs done that you don't know where to start? I do, frequently. I finally have a few minutes when the boys aren't screaming, the house is at least to an ignorable state, and I can focus on ... something. So I stare blankly at my computer screen with a rising sense of panic and desperation thinking of my extensive to-do list.
Just a few minutes ago I was in such a state and expressing (er, complaining) to my husband that I didn't know where to start. I had just asked him to open the shades because it's a beautiful day outside. He looks at me and says - "Breathe in the sunshine, sweetie!" (He followed that up with "Let it improve your mood!" but I probably deserved that one.)
Hmm... thanks, honey. I needed the reminder to take a minute, breathe, appreciate the beautiful day God has gifted us with, and calm down.
Bonus - I suddenly knew what to blog about! Check one item off my to-do list! I hope my little moment of enlightenment has inspired you to "breathe in the sunshine" today, especially if you are feeling especially stressed. :)
Oh, before I go - I scrapped last week's P365 photos yesterday, and I am SO PROUD to say that I am actually caught up (with the scrapping part lol)! I figure I better enjoy that while it lasts!

Just playing around...

As you may have noticed I've been playing with the "look" of Life.Ink.Scraps, exercising my practically non-existent HTML muscles. I changed the background, added cute little doodley post dividers (huge pain in the butt), and even managed to adjust the size of the blog to fit within my background and fit the post dividers. Mostly, anyway. I'm sure I'm not done fiddling - I really want to design my own background, dividers, and especially a blog header. A cool header is at the top of my to-do list. I want everything customized and pretty, not just boring Blogspot-in-a-Box. Unfortunately, I don't have the HTML skills, which means hours poring over tutorials, screwing up, ranting and raving at the screen, scratching my head, trying and trying again.
But I'll get it. Eventually. Hey, I managed cute post dividers. It's all downhill from here, right?

I'll leave you all with the two P365 layouts I've completed so far. Yes, I know, there are days missing. I fell off the P365 wagon within two weeks. OH well I wasn't planning on winning any prizes, just documenting our daily lives a little better. I'm pretty sure there aren't Project 365 police out there hunting down offenders so until I'm notified otherwise, I will continue to call my little project "P365," even though it will likely be more along the lines of "P310" or "P278."