Nathalie's Notes

Geeking out

“Really? You’re taking a class on how to organize your pictures?” Asked the imaginary voices in my head when I consider what The Random Others might think.

Mmmhmmm. And I am loving every minute of it. Of course, it’s not even about how to organize pictures, instead it’s about the stories behind them, stories I want to share with  my family and friends.

If I get swallowed by a sinkhole today, I would have piles of pictures and boxes of memorabilia that mean everything to me, but nothing but a mess to clean up behind me for everyone else.

Unless I act on my best intentions and find away to live with my pictures and scraps of life in a way that is enjoyable instead of embarrassing … or guilt-inducing as in “I should really get those in an album.”

“ I should really put people we know in that frame!”

“What pile is that picture I need right now in?”

Enter Stacy Julian and her method of Finding Photo Freedom … it was love at first sight for me. She had me at “library of memories.”

Libraries and memories being two of my favorite things, and all.

Total detour: For a few months I’ve been conflicted about this blog, it’s direction, what I should – and shouldn’t - write about.

Partly because of my new job, and partly because I have such a varied readership – some of you want more about crafty,creative stuff, some ask for more of the writing in real life stuff while others consider it emotional TMI, then others want more journaling, some about writing, some about parenting, but most not all of the above.

Mostly, I am thankful that anyone wants to read this stuff, much less comment on what they like to see, but in an effort to create balance, I went underground completely.

Turns out that isn’t what anybody wanted, including of course, me!

(What’s that expression about not being able to please everyone? I’m still in people-pleaser recovery over here.)

In the spirit of posting something that matters to me instead of the little I’ve been doing recently, here’s the scoop on my current happy crack project:

I am taking Stacy’s class through Big Picture Classes (yes, the same place I’m so excited to be teaching my Art of Self-Preservation journaling class).

 

I started a DIY version of her system years ago after reading her book The Big Picture. *

But it was more like a “start it yourself, then stop” version, really.

This time, things are falling into place and I want to convert everyone into trying something like this because it is really that awesome.

So, here’s the books for each of the following categories:

Things we do |People we love

 Places we go | All about us

The orange binders are Project Life books from 2012 … not finished, FYI.

Here’s the start of my category lists just brainstorming the different things we do/people we love, etc. Just the start of the list, if you  know I love you and you’re not on that list, I might already have your tab made!

The tools I tweaked to help me keep the rating and sorting of photos going so I can do it in five minute chunks. (It’s working!)

Photo triage in action … so fun to go through these and find unexpected connections.

These will eventually become four category drawers that I’m working on this week.

The first connection I made for a class assignment, me jumping in the pool circa 1980, my son jumping in the pool in 2011 … We have so many water-related pictures I’m thinking of making “Splash” one of my category tabs in the Things we do drawer.

More later on this and many other things connected and otherwise; I just wanted to share these little bits for now.

* As an Amazon Affiliate, earning my pennies where I can, I included the link to Amazon if anyone is interested in buying the book, or anything else on Amazon, I get a few cents for transactions, so I appreciate you getting to Amazon through my site!

By the way when readers subscribe to my blog it’s like getting a high five in my inbox. Of course when they unsubscribe I get all self-conscious. Thanks for signing up to get these free updates from Nathalie’s Notes.

 

 

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{Project Life: week 17}

 

And then nine weeks happened. I think I should rename this Project Life Goes On because I have managed to keep taking pictures and notes on the ordinary and extraordinary highs, lows and mediocre meanderings of our days.

And because, no matter what, life does go on and there is always something to be thankful for. Project Life (goes on) is one of the things I am so very grateful for, so here is week 17 and I will post weeks 9-16 later.

Title card: I was inspired by Maria to dress this card up – it’s one of my least favorites in the kit but when I saw her cute, simple addition I changed my mind and used it for the first time this year. I don’t love how the “week #17” turned out … but whatever.

(You can click on each picture to enlarge it and take a closer peek).

{Week 17: left side}

{Week 17: right side}

{Week 18 in progress}

Notes: I use a lot of index cards around here ala Anne Lamott. I’ve started recycling the backs of them in place of Post-its and write my ideas for journaling or pics I took, or want to take … my current Project Life hack is to tuck the days of the week stickers in the next week’s pocket so it’s right there as I’m popping pictures in the pockets. Not having those stickers immediately accessible was a small thing creating a big block in progress. Your block is probably different than mine but can likely be fixed with a tweak in your thinking, process or expectations.

This week I was inspired by Maria at Crazy Lovely Madhouse and by Christine Newman at My Scrapbook Art – Home is where the art is …

I love what Maria said about the Project Life honeymoon seemingly being over. It’s not that I lost my enthusiasm personally but I hit a rhythm and stopped seeking out the inspiration and ideas of others in the PL community. Their posts inspired me to share again and that makes me happy!

To see all my other Project Life posts click here and here.

Dr. Seuss and other coolness

I made this for you guys … you can print it, copy it,  pin it, post it or ignore it!

I felt moved to make this for my readers after seeing a pin linking to Lisa Brown Graham’s generous post with cute and instructional downloads for a super thoughtful gift for future graduates.

As the school year nears its end, I am excited to have come across this idea on Lisa Brown Graham’s blog.

I

 

I immediately ordered Dr. Seuss’ Oh the Places You’ll Go and I will ask Sam’s preschool teachers to write a little note in there. (I’m sure I can pick one up at yard sale before Jake is in school.) I’ll do it every year until I can give it to them for graduation! I know it’s hard to imagine that day being on the horizon but … it will.

I am still figuring out how this  part will work but I might some how alter the book to include some of their artwork and school pictures. How cool would that be?!

(Talking to Mel about this morning I mentioned that really, what do we do with those school pictures we pay so much for?! Like my senior pictures in their pretty, pricy folio? What am I supposed to do with those? For awhile my parents kept it displayed but now it’s in a box. Really, though is my husband going to put them up at work risking looking like some kind of sick twist pedophile? No. So in the box it stays where I periodically see them and wish I could tell 17-year-old me you will one day long to be this “fat”!)

But, back to the point: Lisa’s blog has a cute downloadable note to print instructions to the teacher and some other goodies (like a link to a free Dr. Seuss font)– check it out!

If you want to get the book, support your local independent book store. If, however, you plan to use Amazon anyway … thanks for linking through my Amazon store to buy it here. (Affiliate link).

Tip: If you’re thinking of doing something like this, be as accommodating to the teacher as possible! There is so much going on this time of year in addition to their normal work load.

p.s. if you haven’t done something yet for teacher appreciation day (May 8th) … you can get one-day free shipping on Amazon gift cards! Click here to buy one for teachers, grads, moms or dads … (affiliate link, you like knowing that right?!)

For more teacher appreciation day freebie thoughtfulness check out what the cool cats at Persnickety Prints came up with here.

Eyes on your own paper, y’all

 

My passion for Project Life is no secret. So I’m kind of bummed to hear about people being intimidated to start something so awesome and designed to be simple because of how other people choose to approach the project.

I’ve noticed my tendency to do this when I’m clicking around blogs. First, I’m like: “Oh! That is so cool. I love how it looks.” Then: “Wow. Everyone’s blogs are so sophisticated looking and I can’t figure out how to change my banner!”  "These picture are amazing!” And finally: “I’m such a hack. I suck.”

Except that I totally don’t suck. Not at everything anyway. I’m a writer not a designer. I like to learn more about designing and keep up with the technology that allows me to share my writing and participate in this Project Life community in a visually appealing way. But it’s not my priority. So I’ll get there when I get there. Or I won’t. No worries either way. I don’t come by this attitude naturally. At a young age I learned to compare myself to others and catalogue where I didn’t measure up and  then use that as as evidence of my unworthiness.

That type of chronic thinking landed me on a therapist’s couch. Luckily. Luckily I realized there has got to be a better way to live this one, short, precious life than by going around counting the ways I suck.

I share this not because it’s comfortable but because I know I am so not alone on that journey. So many are told we need to “get more confidence.” But they don’t sell that at Walgreens. You get  confidence by earning it –  from, get a load of this, your own self!!! Because until you have your own approval, no one else’s will be enough. I promise this is true. Deep down, you know it’s true too.

{Yes this all ties in with the self-help series I’m working on, more on that soon!}

One step toward increasing your own self-worth is to DO the things you love. Even if, especially if, you don’t think you’ll do it as well as anyone else. Think of it as your opportunity to impress your own self. And as practice for giving the finger to the part of you that says you can’t.

Project Life may not be for you. Plenty of people just aren’t into documenting life. BUT if this project calls to you, you know in that inner desire that bubbles with excitement at the possibility of participating … you can totally do it your own way.

I think I’m sensitive to this because it’s kind of what happened to my love of scrapbooking. I loved scrapbooking when I did it my own way, ignorant that there was an “industry” and keeping it simple, pictures, stories, scraps of life (ticket stubs, cards, etc.) I didn’t know, or care, if I had a style. Or how my style, or lack of it, measured up to others. Because I didn’t care. I was having fun with it.

And then … I got excited about the Scrapbooking Industry. There were stores, magazines, websites … I loved all of it. Until I realized that instead of scrapbooking anymore, I had become a hoarder of supplies and my pictures stayed in boxes and on multiple unorganized files on my computer labeled “new folder.” Why? I think I felt like I wasn’t “doing it right.”

I didn’t know it at the time as it was a gradual shift from actively engaging in my passion to sitting on the sidelines, watching longingly as others played Varsity.

The pages and projects I was looking to for inspiration seemed so complicated. So embellished. So not me. If that was scrapbooking, I wasn’t a real scrapbooker.

Then I discovered and fell in online love with the work, mission and passion of Stacy Julian, Ali Edwards and Becky Higgins. For me, they lead me back home to what matters to me: the stories, the passion for  sharing them, the joy in creating. They were like the coaches who insist everyone takes a turn at bat because everyone has something to offer, their own way in their own time.

So if these inspiring women are the industry coaches, let’s pretend I’m the teacher and I have this one thing to say:

Eyes on your own paper, y’all!

 

 

{December Daily} revisited; deadlines avoided

I’m on deadline. So, naturally I’ve written the thank you notes from Sam’s birthday – in October. And one to the staff at the hotel we stayed at over Thanksgiving – Holiday Inn Express in Troutdale. And the Mayor and Council of my town … I’ve scrubbed random spots on doors and walls I’ve managed to ignore for 18 months and after this post I suppose I’ll have to actually get back to it.

Or … I could spend 40 minutes messing with my  December Daily video because I’ve been meaning to do that since April when many of you couldn’t see what I’d posted. Turns out I used a copyrighted song in the background and that killed this video star.

Inspired by the awesome Ali Edwards, December Daily is a project I will hold dear because participating in it brought me light and kept my focus on the positive during a particularly dark period of my life. Anyway, here’s take 1,000 for those of you who asked:

December Daily 2010

This album turned out exactly the way I wanted. How often does that happen? My favorite part though is that it’s the first time I’ve finished something I’ve started just for myself. If there’s a deadline or it’s for someone else I’m all over it but things that are just for me get put on perma-hold. Or, rather, they used to.

I thought that was my favorite part until Sam saw me get the album out with our other decorations and has asked to sit down and read it together several times a day. I love, love, love that!

For more about my whole December Daily process, click here for archives or on the “December Daily” in the category cloud to your right.

I would love to hear from any of you planning to join in this year. I’ll share more about my current plans for THIS year’s book … but first I have to write the final drafts for my column and book review. Really. I’m on it.

{Project 365: week 12}

 

The scrapbooking community in general and with this project specifically there’s no such thing as “copying” or “stealing” ideas. The term is “scraplifting” and anyone’s allowed to do it … in fact, it’s encouraged. The only thing is that isn’t cool is not giving credit where it’s due – the sharing of ideas is widespread and some of the most simple things are inspiring. I saw a Netflix envelope in Amy’s book and commented on it, she said she saw it on Ali Edwards’ site … and now, it’s in mine. A little scrap of life. That envelope was for a Mater movie which Sam deemed “too scary” in the first few minutes. Now we have Weeds, Season 6, disk 2. FYI

Some of your questions have been about process and what’s making this year work compared to the year of Project 180 sticky notes. I’ll get to those soon … for now I’ll say what’s working for me is a combination of routine and flexibility. I suppose that sounds contradictory but for me it’s been just right. That, by the way, has also become the key to my parenting and homemaking. Speaking of which … duty calls.

{Project Life–week 9}

 

I’m on deadline for three things due on the same day so expect to see a few posts as I procrastinate.

Week 9 … my 35th birthday and a snow day … working on combining my everyday pictures and basic notes on life as we live it makes we want to actually start scrapbooking again, I think I’ve mentioned that. I get ideas like the huge, pink blanket Matt’s grandma made – Sam calls it the “sprinkle” blanket – was in another picture with Matt when he took a road trip around the country in what I thought was the world’s ugliest van … until I saw the one in our driveway … anyway, I thought that would be a cool page to show the evolution along Matt’s journey … maybe even find a picture of his Grandma Bernie to include. Those are the stories, huh?

And, of course, I adore this little snowman. It came home on a huge piece of paper so I cut it to size and since I love seeing Sam’s name written on his art I cut that out and stapled it to the top.

I totally get that 90% of you sweet readers do not care in the least about technique and details behind the scrapbooking part of me … but for the 10% who do … and for my own process, here they are anyway! For the rest of you, I’m nearly “caught up” and you’ll get a break from this Project Life stuff soon.

Friday favorites and freebies

 

First – my February column, one of two where I throw myself under the proverbial bus for what I consider a good cause, ran this week:

Baby on Board – Kitchen interest comes full circle

We took our first family walk last night! To the park – which means a couple of things – Spring’s a coming and Jake is officially vertical. I wish I’d gotten a close-up picture of Jake’s first little shoes and Sam so sweetly holding his hand. (Sam, I noticed, even kept his hand down low so Jake didn’t have to reach too high).

I love this picture because Matt took it, which means he came to the park with us after work. He drove up our street and saw the THREE of us walking ever-so-slowly and joined us making it our first family walk. Matt was starving so he bailed early, just as the boys’ new friends Paul and Kaylee joined us.

And here, a few Friday favorites:

-Twig and Thistle posted the cutest DIY Valentine’s idea – stickers for fruit – so, so cute.

- Simple decorations. I’ve been using this little frame for seasonal quotes, pictures, etc and this month I’ve downloaded a freebie from Becky Higgins – you can get it here – either print it on your computer or you can have it printed for your own Valentine’s. Ali Edwards has also posted some cool freebies.

My favorite thing this week is that I’m back to being fully-engaged in writing my book, Breaking Branches and I’m enjoying re-reading it enough to think it might just be The One. The first one that makes it … I hope.

Favorite quote from Sam:

I tried an overnight Crockpot oatmeal recipe. By the time we stumbled into the kitchen it looked very unappetizing but made for a nice (pricey) potpourri. As we were coming down the stairs Sam said:

“Do I smell muffins? I smell something. What could that yummy thing be?”

I scooped some out, pretty sure he’d reject it on looks if nothing else, but instead he gobbled it up and said:

“You sure are a fast cooker, Mama!”

Picture Fun

I know it’s not Friday, but being my blog and all, I had to share this as soon as I found it. If you take a class with Big Picture Classes –  you get fun little tidbits like this surprise I found this morning – a link to BeFunky.  So cool! I only got to play around for a couple minutes but here are a few I liked:

 

Vintage Jake

 

Stencil Sam

Warhol Jake

Silva lining

Thought you might like to see my picture of the day taken this morning when I found Sam zipped in Jake’s crib. What you can’t see in this picture is the sound of their laughter. 

I’m not exactly sure how I’m going to share those with you because I know most people don’t want a daily play-by-play of our life. But for fellow Project Lifers and my mother, I’d like to find a happy medium.

Meanwhile … Have you heard of the Silva Method? For most it’ll sound like mental voodoo but I think it’s kind of like meeting God in my heart. I have only just started this week but am already a little surprised at what has opened up for me. In its most elementary explanation: it’s a matter of mental programming. It is the easiest thing I’ve ever done and I hope to have more to share about it later. For now, a small example: Forever I’ve told anyone who’ll listen that I simply can not figure out where to work fitness into my life. So I kept picturing things exactly as they are now and they stayed … the same. With two little kids and a husband with long hours working fitness in meant walking late at night, swimming during our family dinners or before the kids woke up but they range between 5 and 7:30 a.m.

Finding a window when they were both happy enough on their own for me to squeeze in a workout and shower seemed impossible, until I stopped thinking of it that way.

Yesterday I worked out during Jake’s afternoon nap, with Sam by my side and occasionally on top of me. Today, Sam was up at 5 a.m. and we had an early morning workout before Jake woke up. I couldn’t get Day 2 of the Shred on my On Demand so I scrolled through my options, most of which contained the word “booty” or, my favorite, “work your boa.” I picked some random lady who had a circuit style work out sans boas and poles.

Maybe it was the early hour, but she was too perky. Otherwise okay, but really, too perky.  She kept saying “This is great! You feel great!”

Again maybe it was the early hour that made me argumentative but I yelled back at her: “No! It does not feel great. It feels jiggly and awkward, plus I have to pee. None of that feels great.”

What did  feel great though was getting that knocked off my list first thing! And the last two days it was easy for me to fit a good workout in. Super easy. What was different? I’d spent just a few moments using the Silva method to affirm that it was, in fact, easy for me to workout during the day. Kinda cool.

This post brought to you by:

 

Jake’s wonderful nap time and Sam’s new train table Matt built for Santa.