February Almost Over?!

Seriously, where did the month go?! I would love to know!
Well I finally finished Jeff's album and gave it to him (I think a week after his actual birthday).
Not sure I've posted all of them, but I think this should do it:

Not much else new, except for the work on the house. Dan is still going there just about every week night and doing something or other... and then on the weekends we both go and get as much done as possible.

This weekend was no exception. On Saturday we sheetrocked Matt's old room (now the guest room, but we both have a hard time getting out of the habit of calling it Matt's room). We sheetrocked the far right bathroom wall, and the new wall at the end of the hall and the new outside of the closet/bathroom wall!!! And we knocked down the old wall that separated the bathroom and Bill's room.

So much work! But its looking so good already.

Things I want to try...

For most people this list would probably include adventurous things they want to accomplish in a lifetime... for me {surprise surprise} it is scrapbook related things I want to try!

• user transparent letters [paint edges. use staples? ]
• masking letter stickers
• look at tattoos from Miami Ink and their art show pieces for doodle ideas
• distress rub-ons using scotch tape
• use more cursive script [my own]
• mix black paisley paper and green polka dot paper
• 100 favorite things-- see CK Oct '06 p64. Add pictures for a few selections
• mini book idea- "why I love old photos"= title. [because now i know that....]

Specific LO ideas:

• Dan with Backhoe- title idea: "Kenny got it wrong... She thinks my back hoe's sexy!"
• Picture of Basement- title idea: "This is Progress?" [took out 43 trashbags, 1 printer, 1 tv, 2 vcrs, countless nails, screws, drill bits]

Quotes:

• "Childhood ends when the novelty of make-believe wears off." -Leora Sanford
• "Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same." -Emily Bronte
• "Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed; I was here. I was hungry. I was defeated. I was sad. I was in love. I was afraid. I was hopeful. I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that's what I made works of art." -Felix Gonzalez-Torres
• "Every morning is a fresh beginning. Everyday the world is made new. Today is a new day. I have lived all my life up to this moment, to come to this day, this moment- this day- is as good as any moment in all eternity. I shall make of this day- each moment of this day- a heaven on earth. This is my day of opportunity." -Dan Custer
• Believing in yourself is not just for you; its for every person who has touched your life in a significant way and for every person your life will touch the same way five minutes from now, or five centuries from now." -Jay Miller
• "One must accept that one has 'uncreative' moments. The more honestly one can accept that, the quicker those moments will pass." -Etty Hillesum
• "Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray." - Rumi
• " ...but the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three on them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4, and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in a hurry to get on to the next things: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less." -Anna Quindlen
• "Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know what you are? You are a marvel. You are unique. In all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michaelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work, we must all work, to make the world worthy of its children." -Pablo Casals
• "It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start." -Mother Teresa
• "I will greet this day with love in my heart. And how will I do this? Henceforth will I look on all things with love and be born again. I will love the sun for it warms my bones; yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit. I will love the light for it shows me the way; yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars. I will welcome happiness as it enlarges my heart; yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul. I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due; yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge." -Og Mandino
• "The only rule is that our interiors should echo who we are." -Mark Schryver
• "Many people seem to think it foolish, even superstitious, to believe that the world could still change for the better. And it is true that in winter it is sometimes so bitingly cold that one is tempted to say, 'What do I care if there is a summer; its warmth is no help to me now.' Yes, evil often seems to surpass good. But then, in spite of us, and without our permission, there comes at last an end to the bitter frosts. One morning the wind turns, and there is a thaw. And so I must still have hope." Vincent Van Gogh

"Ring out the old, ring in the new,

Ring, happy bells, across the snow:

The year is going, let him go;

Ring out the false, ring in the true. "

~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850

Creative Manifesto

My absolute favorite scrapbooking blog is from Ali Edwards. I am never disappointed by her endless creative ideas and unique looks at every day life.

Ali also puts out a newsletter every week including a challenge. This week's was:

http://www.lifeartmedia.com/newsletter15.html

february 7, 2007
volume one : issue fifteen
Do you have a personal creative manifesto? What is a manifesto? According to my handy dandy computer dictionary a manifesto is "a public declaration of policy and aims, esp. one issued before an election by a political party or candidate." Essentially, it is a cool, fancy name for a mission statement - a way to describe your overall creative purpose. This week we are going to investigate how to design your your own personal creative manifesto. Enjoy. Peace.Ali

Here is my Creative Manifesto:

• do something creative every day
• always look for inspiration in unexpected places
• don't overthink things
• see each creation as an accomplishment {not a gateway to the next project}
• play more
• try to look at each day differently- its not just an ordinary day
• live richly
• cultivate strong relationships
• remember to scrap all emotions
• use your words
• use your colors
• achieve balance
• embrace chaos
• be flexible

More Layouts for Jeff's Album

Today is Jeff's birthday! He is 25 years old (my not-so little brother)!
Of course I haven't quite finished his album. I'm hoping to have it done by this weekend.

7 days left...

Only 7 days until jeff's 25th birthday, and I am so hoping to have this album done for him in time... not sure if I can do it. But try I will :)

Here's a few more pages recently completed:

I've got to make 3 or 4 more pages of the head-shaving pictures but I need to print photos in various sizes.

Dominican Republic

Already home from the beautiful Dominican Republic!!! The resort was gorgeous, huge pools, breathtaking beach. Hot and sunny every day! Here's a few pictures of the great time we had (more to come)