So I was working on this juicy post for my first Project Life progress report but I got all distracted by the SWAT team in front of my house ordering my neighbor to come out with his hands up. Later I learned he was barricaded in his home with some impressive looking firearms. (Glad I never mentioned the leaf-blower issue.)
Don’t worry, I got my picture of the day from the upstairs bedroom before joining my kiddo in the back room away from the windows. I also got a lesson in
common sense I’ll write about later.
In all the commotion I didn’t save my post properly so I’ll work on getting it back this week but for now, here’s a look at my first week of Project Life, 2012.
One of my favorite things about Project Life is the community created around it. It’s another way of connecting with people who might only have one thing in common – this lifetime.
Jessica Turner at The Mom Creative designed a weekly Project Life link party and hosts it on her site here: The Mom Creative.
This year I’ve decided to join in the fun for as long a it’s fun! As a reporter, I work well on deadlines and knowing I plan to post every Tuesday will help me make this project, which is like happy crack to me, a priority to be done in the margins of my day rather than the dessert at the end of the day that never comes because I’m too full by then. You KNOW what I mean, right?
Instead of waiting to complete my 2011 book, which I am doing because I want to not because I feel I should, I decided to start this year right away and not let my past efforts (or lack of them) hold me back because this is supposed to be fun!
And it totally is. I loved putting together my first week’s layout. (The two 12x12 pages that complete a week’s worth of pictures, journaling cards, etc).
week one, side one
week one, side two (love having a place to tuck those birthday cards).
Week one title card – the stamp smudged
and I knew that would bug me so … I used some Smash tape and called it good. It was in The Drawer. More about The Drawer another time but it’s designed to make it so I have all I need right there. Because if I have to go rooting through stuff to finish a day … I get sidetracked and then two hours happens with nothing to show for it.
I love my “This week in Google” notecard, I used the bi-fold card and did a Top 10 of my Google searches this week. My favorite: “How to convert Celsius into Fahrenheit” because someone changed all three thermometers in this house to Celsius and we had high fevers for a couple days.
This year instead of post-its which are expensive the way I used them, I’m using index cards which are cheap and Sam loves to use them when I’m done to play “mail” or play “office” love that kid! Above is the index card for Sunday’s SWAT team surprise and my notes to include the article when I get the paper.
This is an index card cut to size with notes to check out Ali’s tutorial on creating a 4x6 canvas with 2 pictures to fit in these pockets. And then, the reminder which picture I wanted to do that with. I {heart} Ali. Photoshop should totally cut her a commission.
As for my cover page? I got overwhelmed with the possibilities so I put it together exactly per Becky’s suggestions in the kit. Done. (I am keeping an eye out for cover page layouts inspiration and someday I might change it. Or not. I would like a picture of all four of us together and maybe Annie Dillard’s quote:
How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.
At some point tomorrow I’ll be back with my {What’s’ Working} post for Wednesday. Sometimes they’ll relate to Project Life other weeks, they’re just life hacks I’ve picked up and appreciate along the way.
{It’s not to late – if you want to join in! And if you don’t I promise Nathalie’s Notes won’t become 365 blogs about Project Life.}
