windows to *ME*

Circle Journal Horror Stories

As I've mentioned before I joined a Circle Journal group on 2Peas.  Our first mailing date is January 15th and I'm really excited to share these journals with others from all over the world.  Well lately, I've been seeing these posts on 2Peas about Circle Journals gone bad.  Disappearing in the mail.  Do you suppose there's this huge pile of beautiful, creative, pieces of art just piled up amongst the masses of lost mail?  Oh the horror!  I think the more likely explanation is that these people are keeping the journals. Why oh why would someone do that?  Isn't that considered stealing?

I must admit I'm getting a little nervous about spending six months working on all these Circle Journals (twice monthly mailings) only to have my treasured album never to return to me.

What are your thoughts on this?  Have you been involved in a Circle Journal?  How was your experience?  Have you wanted to join one but are afraid of this very thing happening?  Leave me a comment about it.  I'd love to hear that either . . . . there are others who feel the same as I do . . . . or I'm just being a little weird about it and I shouldn't worry too much .

I say Karma catches up with you eventually and this would definitely piss her off.  That reminds me have you seen "My Name Is Earl"?  I just love that show . . . . but that's another post.

2005 In Review - Challenge

After reading Sophia's post on 2Peas I was inspired to complete her challenge.  Who knows, some of this material may even end up in my Favorite Memories of 2005 album class.

2005 In Review
1. JANUARY
1. Did you have a new year's resolution this year?:  I don't usually make resolutions, I always remind myself to try to be a better person, be kinder, slow down, keep things more simple and take care of myself.
2. Who kissed you at midnight?: My wonderful husband, Doug
3. Did it snow where you live?: No, we rarely get snow in the Portland area.
5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop?: No I haven't.  As I get older I don't enjoy big crowds as much as I used to.  I do like to watch it on TV though.
FEBRUARY
1. Who was your valentine?: Again, my loving husband, Doug.
2. What did your valentine get you?: He gives me his love everyday - I need nothing more.
3. When you were little, did you buy valentines for your whole class?: Of course!
MARCH
1. Are you Irish? No
2. Did you wear green on St. Patty's Day?: Yes, I am usually in the festive spirit.
3. What did you do for St. Patty's Day?: Nothing special. 
APRIL
1. Do you like the rain?: I always remind my self that we need the rain.  Do I like it?  No, especially not the misty rain that gets in your eyes.
2. Did you play an April Fool's joke on anyone this year?: No
3. Did you get tons of candy on Easter?: No, but I just love those Butterfinger easter eggs.
MAY
1. What's your favorite kind of flower?: It's a tie roses and tulips
2. Do you like the spring? Yes, I love all of the flowers as they bloom, the new leaves on the trees, the longer days and knowing that summer is not far off.
3. Finish the phrase: "April showers bring...": May flowers"  Of course!
4. What would you think of as a spring color?: Lavender
JUNE
1. What year did you graduate from school?: 1984 from high school
2. Did you go on any vacations last June?: No vacations last year, spent all of our extra money trying to get pg - should have gone to the Carribbean
JULY
1. What did you do on the 4th of july?  Every year we have a neighborhood barbeque with games and lots of fun.  I got drenched by my dh in the water balloon toss!
2. Did you go on any vacations during this month?: Again, no vacations.  Thanks for reminding me . . . .
AUGUST
1. Did you do anything special to end off your summer?: Just lots of time with family, relaxation and enjoying the last bits of summer.
2. What was your favorite summer memory of '05?: Every year we sell at an antique show in Sisters, Oregon.  It is always one of my favorite memories of the year!
3. Did you go swimming a lot in the summer?: No, I'm not a swimmer.
4. Did you go to the beach a lot?: I don't really consider the Oregon Coast as the beach.
SEPTEMBER
1. Did you attend school/college in '05?: No
2. Who is/was your favorite teacher?: My senior year in high school my favorite teacher was one that ended up being a really good friend after high school.  Don't see her much anymore as we've just grown away from that time but I really enjoyed her friendship.
3. Did you like fall better than summer?: Fall is beautiful in different ways.
OCTOBER
1. What was your favorite halloween costume ever?: A couple of years ago I dressed up as a witch complete with big nose, green face and green hair.  I added orange fishnet tights to complete the ensemble.
2. What's your favorite candy?: For Halloween I love candy corn!
3. What did you dress up like this year? I didn't dress up, put on my comfy sweats and handed out candy to at least a hundred kids in the neighborhood.
NOVEMBER
1. Whose house did you go to for Thanksgiving?: My dh was sick so we stayed home and had a quiet day together.
2. Do you like stuffing?: Oooh yes!
3. What are you thankful for?: I am thankful for my husband, my family, my health, my freedom and the many opportunities that offers.
DECEMBER
1. Do you celebrate Christmas?: Yes
2. Have you ever been kissed under mistletoe?: Not lately - hmmmm should have put some up.  It's not too late.
3. What do you want this year for christmas?: I really do not need stuff.  Just the love of my family and time together those are the gifts that make me happy.
4. What's the best present you ever got for christmas?: See answer above.  I receive this year 'round.
5. Do you like cold weather?: I don't have a great tolerance for cold.  I prefer 80 degrees.
6. How would you rate your year on a scale of 1-10?: Overall, the year was memorable.  I am still here.  Happy, healthy, loving my husband and life in general.  Looking forward to see what 2006 brings.  I recently came across this quote . . . . . "We are not defined by what happens to us but rather how we deal with it."  It really speaks to me and although there were some not-so-great things that happened to me this year I feel that I've dealt with them well.  So I guess I would give 2005 a "10".

Very Merry and Now It's Monday

As I get back to the normal Monday today, memories of a wonderful Christmas are fresh on my mind.  Christmas Eve I was up at 7:00 and baking my traditional Christmas cookies.  Just one batch this year since I knew we would have so many different foods and treats.  I finished wrapping some last minute gifts and then we had a fun day with Doug's family.  We snacked all day, played a few rounds of Bingo and then a very long game of Texas Hold 'em.  Prizes for the games included new lottery scratch tickets that you play on the computer.  What fun!  We had to run to the corner store yesterday to get some more of them!  After the games we ate a nice turkey dinner with all the trimmings and opened gifts. 

Yesterday Doug and I had our family Christmas at home.  It was nice and relaxing, peaceful, joyful . . . . . the perfect Christmas Day.  We opened a few presents, nice simple and meaningful presents.  Neither of us puts a lot of emphasis on stuff.  We cooked a prime rib with mashed potatoes, gravy and asparagus.  I'll be eating leftovers for dinner tonight.  Most of the day was just restful and wonderful, we enjoyed just spending it together. 

I miss spending Christmas Day with my parents but they are enjoying themselves in Arizona and I'll be seeing them in a couple of weeks.  We did talk twice on the phone yesterday but it is just not the same.

Now with the holiday over I'm really quite glad.  I always look so forward to Christmas but am happy to have it passed.  The new year begins.  New projects, new beginnings, new memories to live and capture.  Enjoy!

Ideas For Journaling Your Christmas Scrapbook Layouts

Since we will all be taking those cherished Christmas photos and hopefully preserving them for generations to come, I thought I would blog today about ideas for journaling on those scrapbook layouts.  This also gives me ideas for some great photos to take.  If you have any you'd like to add please post them in a comment here.  I'd love to see them.

• Talk about your favorite Christmas carol. Where do you first remember hearing/singing it?  What is your most fond memory about the holidays as a child? 

• Do you have a traditional dish that you serve/eat  at Christmas?  Include a recipe and a photo of the cook.
• Journal your Christmas card list.  If you send out an annual letter incorporate a copy of that into a layout.   
• Do you decorate for Christmas? Who strings the lights on the house? Who decorates the tree? 
• Do you have any heirloom tree ornaments that you treasure? Photograph them and put them into a layout.  Where did they come from? Describe why they are special to your family. 
• Are you an early or last-minute shopper? Include some of your present receipts or costs of the presents alongside the photos.  This will be interesting and good for a few laughs years from now. 
• What family traditions do you have? Does Santa leave gifts wrapped or unwrapped? Do you have stockings? Do you leave cookies & milk for Santa?  Do you attend a special church service?

Enjoy the process of recording your memories from this year's holiday season

Circle Journals

I joined a Circle Journal group on 2Peas and I can’t wait to get started.  I’ve always wanted to do one of these and have gushed over other’s.  It’s just such a great concept and a perfect way to share part of yourself and your creativity with others. 

Each person in the group picks a theme and starts their CJ, creating an introduction with guidelines for creating entries, a sign in page for each person that participates to sign in and their own entry.  Then it’s off in the mail to the next person who will sign in and create their entry based on the theme.  There is one CJ for each participant in progress at the same time.  The CJ ends up back with it’s original owner who has a book filled with entries by others about the selected theme.  Sounds so fun!

The group I joined has 13 participants and we’ll be working for 6 months to complete our journals.  Mailing twice a month to stay within the time frame.   I’ve decided on my theme – it’s Notable Nature, which basically is complete an entry about a place in nature within one hour’s drive of your home.  It can be a park, mountains, beach, even your own back yard, anything . . . .  I’m hoping I’ll learn about some amazing places all over the world that I would never know about any other way. 

I plan to post my entries and maybe some other’s that strike me as the CJs pass through my hands.  I’m really looking forward to this project.  Now I just have to find a suitable album to use.  Not too heavy as it needs to be mailed.  I’m hoping for 8 x 8” since this seems to be the standard size for a CJ.  If you have any suggestions for an album I’d love to hear them.

Art Journal Class

For some reason the previous "buy now" button isn't working . . . . so if you'd like to sign up for the Art Journal class try this one:

Announcing . . . . .

My new online class - 

Art Journal - Begins January 2nd

Start the new year off in a new way.  Join others online and create an Art Journal.  What is an Art Journal?  An Art Journal is basically an illustrated journal, you will create entries with words, pictures such as drawings, doodlings, clippings, stamps, embellishments; really anything visual.  It is part scrapbook, part journal and part art.  An Art Journal gives you a chance to push your creativity and helps to improve your journaling skills.  Allow yourself to experiment and try things you have never tried before.  It doesn't have to be acid free.  You start with a blank book and just PLAY!

Receive daily prompts delivered right to your inbox.  Each of these emails will include a subject for your entry, journaling prompts, an affirmation or quote you can incorporate into your journal entry and suggestions/directions for techniques to use.  Do you have to participate everyday?  No, complete the entries you want at your pace.  You can follow it exactly or modify it to suit your needs.  These daily emails will get your mojo flowing.

Also included is a private online message board and gallery where you have the option to interact with other participants and post your entries.

When you sign up you will receive an email confirmation, an invitation to join the group message board, and a list of the items you will need to gather to complete the Art Journal.  Most of these items you probably already have . . . . . this is a great chance to use up your stash of scrapbook supplies as well as those odds and ends that have spoken to you in the past and you’ve been hanging onto for just the right project.

On Janurary 2nd you will begin to receive your daily emails, allow your creativity to be unleashed.  The emails will continue for four weeks, through January 29th.

Cost:  $20