"Normal day, let me be aware of the treasure you are. Let me learn from you, love you, bless you before you depart. Let me not pass you by in the quest of some rare and perfect tomorrow."
- Mary Jean Irion
Anybody feeling overwhelmed with life these days??? (By the way - my hand is raised & waving right now!!) I often wonder how do people (scrappers that is) find the time to be a mom, to be a wife (and sister, and daughter, and aunt, and friend & everything else???), to keep the house clean, to chauffeur everyone around, and then on top of it all - to actually scrap??? I look at these blogs where people offer up beautiful photos of wonderful memories & seem to be so "together" and then these BEAUTIFUL pages - I mean pages people - more than one??? I can barely get in my craft room these days, much less scrap!! My daily life is running me ragged :) I can't complain too much, I did just have a weekend to myself, but it flew by so quickly & while I treasured the time - I could have used a bit more :) I did work on my Project Life album a bit & honestly I loved doing it. It was so nice not to have to "think" to much about a design or trying to coordinate everything. Just to print out pics and get the memories recorded - I could almost exclusively do that, and set the 12 x 12 layouts aside. But, creatively I think I'd get bored - I do love a 12 x 12 canvas :) Here is what I came up with for week one (yes I know I am behind) - I know it doesn't match but I enjoyed using up bits & pieces of products I hadn't touched in forever :)
Oh & guess what - I made it into Creating Keepsakes!! I only have been published once before (in Scrapbook Trends). I rarely submit simply because there's no time :) But this was a call through Jillibean Soup & I was super excited to be chosen :) Here is the magazine . . .
And here is the layout (mine is the "Snow Happy" layout at the bottom) . . .
And guess what - I have an extra magazine to share with one of you FABULOUS readers!!! Just leave a comment below & I will pick one of you Sunday evening :) It is a Special Issue FULL of tons of great ideas to scrapbook about all year long :) Oh & guess what - there's more :) I ended up getting some doubles of Jillibean Soup stamps from Jill & she said I could give them away on the blog!!! Here are the sets:
#1
#2
Cute right??? So just leave a comment below for a chance at the magazine & 2 stamp sets :) Enjoy!!
Oh Julie, you aren't the only one that feels that way. There are plenty of us that do. I know I am with you on that one. Just take it one day at a time. That is all you can do. And enjoy each one because they go by fast!!!
ReplyDeleteSo so very cool that your page was published!! Congratulations!! It is a great page, as all of yours are.
Glad you enjoyed your weekend and are having fun with your PL. Such great photos, my friend.
Have a great weekend!!!
Congrats on your pages! I think it is very normal to feel that way and I know for me not only do I have to schedule time to exercise I have to schedule time to craft. Just like I don't feel all there if I don't work out it is the same with my mind and crafting. You will get there. :)
ReplyDeleteI've often wondered the same thing! Life sure does have a way of getting in the road of scrapping! LOL! Congrats on the publication and thanks for the chance to win some goodies!
ReplyDeleteJulie!! I know I feel the same way... but it DOES get easier... and there will be more time :)....I use to pick between sleep and scrapping... lol! Congrats on being published again! Looking fwd in seeing your layout, and thanks for the chance to win some stamps... Here's sending you some hugs and hopefully some more time to yourself! (BTW, LOVE your first week of project life... I'm hoping to start mine... NEXT year... you brave girl you!)
ReplyDeleteJulie - Congratulations on your layout in Creating Keepsakes! Its an awesome one! It would be wonderful if we all had more time to scrapbook, but if we had all that spare time, there wouldn't be much to scrapbook! Keep your chin up!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your publication! Very exciting. :) A terrific double. Your project life looks terrific. Great to record the every day routine. Hope Bitsy is doing fine with her shots. She reminds me of my Lady only Lady is a bit homely. ;) But.... she makes up for it in personality and is the most loving dog I have had. Regarding the young moms who accomplish all this scrappy stuff, I don't get it. I would never have been able to when I had little ones. Maybe they lock their kids in the closet? I joke! ;)
ReplyDeletecongratulations, Julie!! It's always fun to see your work in print. I love those stamps too.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the pub-not surprising to me, though-your layout is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being published again. One of these days I might work up enough nerve to submit. Your "snow happy" layout is adorable....I love what you have been doing with tags lately and have inspired me to use them on a few pages recently. Thanks for sharing your Project Life pages....I love them. Thanks for the chance to win some goodies....I love those stamps.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being published. Your Project Life looks great to me. Everything doesn't always have to match and co-ordinate - it's getting the memories recorded that's important. I don't know how some people get so much done either -I'd never have had the energy for it when my kids were little.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand! I had an ice day today, so I thought I would do some scrapping during naptime since there is never time during weekends. I'm down in my room for maybe a half hour when my husband says he needs help because he is trying to fix a clogged up pipe. Grrr! By then the little guy woke up. Oh well. Maybe tonight while the hubby is at his hockey tournament and the little guy is in bed. Congrats on being published!
ReplyDeleteWow..first congrats on the publication! That's awesome news!!! Second..your project life is amazing, I wish I could do it ( maybe one day). Thirdly...overwhelmed with life? Count me in. I've had so many things going on personally that I just stay in my studio and create. It's therapy for me right now. Kids, jobs, family... we just have to try and find that balance everyone talks about. When someone does find the answer...let me in on it please!!! Take care, breathe and enjoy today!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting and cool to get published! Yay you! :D And thanks for the chance, would love to win a copy of this issue and who doesn't love stamps?!
ReplyDeleteI am feeling the same way about being a mom (and everything else) and scrapping. It's exhausting! Thank goodness for Project Life. Love it!!! And your week one is fabulous. BIG congrats on the pub. Such a great layout!!! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the pub, how exciting! I hear ya on the being overhwhelmed. I went over my limit this week(my child came home with the...you have lice note...) and I think my hand is waving in the air farther than yours, lol! We just need to keep telling ourselves, it will get better, it will get better!
ReplyDeleteFirst off, LOVE the new blog design. Life has been CrAzY for me too so maybe it isn't even new lol! I love your first week of project life. Congrats on the publication! Love those stamps and would love to read that magazine cover to cover (what a treat it would be lol!)
ReplyDeleteSuzanne suzyq28024@gmail.com
Congratulations on your layout! I have the magazine and that was one of my favorites! Your pages above are great and it looks like your older son is doing well with his reading and art work. You will have plenty of time to scrap those memories and you won't forget. My youngest is in college now and my husband works till 8, so there's plenty of time to pull our new and old photos to scrap. . . and I will!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being published! Wonderful page...and yes those stamps are very cute!
ReplyDeletecongrats on being published. Love your creations. Thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS! I am not at all surprised you got published but I am surprised it's only the second time! I LOVE your work and enjoy your blog.
ReplyDeleteYour posts remind me of my daughter, she calls me often to 'vent' about not having enough time and needing some time for herself away from the hubby & little one. I well remember those days so I just try to encourage her and offer my babysitting services! Nice stamp sets and I always enjoy Creating Keepsake publications! Thanks for giving us a chance to win!
A HUGE congrats on the pub! That is fantastic! I hear ya, about the 'how do they do it'. I have recently be going through the same thing. I had re-arranged, re-prioritized, re-scheduled, whatever you want to call it, redid how I was doing things. While I feel that my family is well cared for and so is my house, that I am not. So obviously I didn't re-balance everything very well. It is a VERY difficult thing to do. But keep at it, we will get there. Yes, we will get there some day! :-)
ReplyDeleteJulie that is SO exciting!!! Congrats to you. :) And thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDelete- April
Oh Julie, funny you say that, I ALWAYS think the same thing! I know how you feel and I only have one child. I think we just need to stop and smell the roses and not stress about every little thing, but it is tough! Thanks for the chance to win! Congrats on being published again!
ReplyDeleteOh, congrats on getting published!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the publication - ya know what it is hard getting time to scrapbook - be a mother and friend (I am waving with you) harder still to hold down a job and work a buisness into that but we do what we have to - you just gotta find time each day even if it is 10mins for yourself to stop and reflect...Just be you! Your loved because of that reason.
ReplyDeleteJulie, Loved your blog of today and especially the quote which I will use today in my own blog... thanks in advance! lol
ReplyDeleteI remember the days you speak of but let me assure you, now my babies are grown, I have retired due to medical reasons after 30 years of nursing and I can tell you, you will have your time back and it will be here sooner than you think, then you may find yourself like me, having to adjust to a new world, a new life!
You are exactly where you need to be! Keep up the good work!
congrats on being published. I really love your layouts. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeletelg
elke
I love seeing your project life album and congrats on getting published! I definitely feel overwhelmed most days lately when it comes to trying to fit it all in. The only time I seem to find is if all the kids are playing and I have a few minutes to craft. I was just eying these stamps earlier today. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting published. The layout is really cute. I've heard great things about that issue. I am also an overwhelmed mommy. I usually scrap once the kiddos are in bed, even if it's just a few minutes.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being published! Love your layout! Thanks for a chance to win the magazine and stamps!
ReplyDeleteGreat layout! Your layouts/sketches are always such great inspirat
ReplyDeleteInspiration! Thanks for the chance to win! (sorry it looks like my post was cut off)
DeleteLove the quote, love your honesty (totally identify! ~ and I am so desiring more productivity, creativity, and completion!!!), and LOVE the stamps!
ReplyDeleteCongrats girlfriend! I saw you at the mall playground Friday morning and thought of saying hello and expressing how I am still a follower of your amazing creativity...but I was afraid of interrupting that precious downtime that we mom and avid scrappers have with our munchkins! So I will add my kudos and admiration to this blog and say: YES! It is hard to find time to do anything but wow! won't we have stories to tell and scrap when we come out the other side of this whirlwind of mommyhood! Enjoy the chaos and living in your yoga pants! And a little or a lot...your productivity stuns us all :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on being published!!! It is a dream of mine! Don't be too hard on yourself. You'll never get back these precious times with those little boys. Mine are all grown up now and out of the house...so just cherish all of the mundane stuff, and squeeze in time for you when you can. Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!! You are an inspiration to so many!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being published!!! And life with little ones definitely gets overwhelming! My dd's birthday is Friday and I haven't even started her decorations! Thankfully her party isn't until Sunday and if needed, I can spend Saturday working as I think DH will actually be home this weekend to offer a little assistance! I've hardly scrapped the past 2 months and its frustrating but life, at least when it involves the children, has to come first!
ReplyDelete~Tracy
blue.tacs at yahoo dot com
your page looks great! I barely had time to breathe when my boys were little but now that they are teenagers i have plenty of time if i can just stay awake! there is a light at the end of the tunnel!
ReplyDeletecongrats on being published. And definitely don't be hard on yourself -- just make sure you mark the dates on the photo's so when you get to them you remember. It's so easy to forget.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on getting published! What an awesome accomplishment! Your layouts are lovely, so I am not suprised that the magazine wanted one.
ReplyDeleteI know everyone has said it, but you do find more time for yourself once the kids get older.
And I do agree...those stamps are too stinkin' cute!!!
I am so bummed I missed the chance to enter the giveaway. Congrats on the mag. That is super exciting.
ReplyDeleteI would bet that 90% of us moms experience all the same things that you mention above. I know I could use more time to scrap. I also think that there are lots of moms that make it look easy, you know they have people fooled. I strive to fake it every day~
Lea~
http://casadesauri.blogspot.com