The First Purge...

I started my scrapbooking diet. No diet is easy, this one included. 

I started with a "small" area. My punches. I have die cuts and a silhouette cameo, so in all reality, I don't need a lot of punches.

 

I bought this white shelf from IKEA for the sole purpose of holding my punches. My word. Who needs 6 drawers full of punches?

 

I am glad to say, that I don't have 6 shelves of punches, but I do have three. Time to "shop."

 

Isn't it interesting, that I keep this Tab punch by WeR in a little box right on my desk. THE ONLY ONE that I keep right near me. Obviously it's a keeper.

 But what about all of these??

I had actually organized my three drawers of punches by love them, okay punches, don't know if I like these punches. That was telling me something!

 

 Right away, I could get rid of these. Donated!

 

I wasn't sure about this one, then realized I make banners by cutting rectangles and notching them myself. This one could go.

These were ones that I needed to think about a little more. The hiccup is that I do use a lot of these for classes, but not for personal use. I know that this will be a struggle with some of my supplies.

 So here is the end sort.

These are the punches I kept and they all fit in the top drawer. I will eventually label the drawers, but will wait at this time in case I rearrange some of the drawers.

 

These are the ones that I kept, too, but in the second drawer. I would have gotten rid of them if I didn't use them for classes.

Phew. 

First purge. It was ok. I must say that it did feel good to get rid of some of that extra weight!!  But I can't "think" this hard about every item. It will take me years to purge if I do that! Need to follow my gut and just get rid of it!!!

Wish me further luck!!

 

 

A Confession..

Sometimes I just want to throw it all away.

WHAT? 

Throw what away??

Sometimes I just want to throw all my scrapbooking stuff away and start over.

WHY??

Well, there are several reasons.

First, I have a lot of stuff.  I organize and reorganize and I still can't find what I want to use or did I even have that embellishment/paper/ink in the first place? 

Then I get overwhelmed and grouchy. Grouchy does not help with the creative process. So then I start to panic.  How am I ever going to go through all this stuff.  And the big question: what if I get rid of this and then later I need it?  Because, you know that always happens!!

Well, I came across an article where a scrapbooker gave up scrapbooking for three years due to being overwhelmed. Right now, I totally get it. She also shared an article on how to go on a Scrapbooking  Diet.

 

You can check out the article here.  

See her shelves...that is IT!! Those are her scrapbooking supplies! Wow! And I actually like it! Could I get down to those few supplies...ummmm...No. But could I get MY stuff down to more manageable amount...absolutely!!

A part of her article that really hit home was the "Downsize" section. She wasn't referring to downsizing as in getting rid of your supplies, but downsizing the size of your albums! I am a HUGE fan of mini-albums. I love to create them and can bang those out in no time! Love the little stories or events in a little book.

 THEN WHY AM I TRYING TO DO 
12x12 ALBUMS???

WHY AM I TRYING TO DO PROJECT LIFE IN A 12X12 ALBUM?

WHY AM I DOING SPORTS IN A 12X12 ALBUM?

I am failing miserably at 12x12 anything and especially at 12x12 project life. I get frustrated and end up doing absolutely nothing with the pictures! 

This quote comes to mind:

 

So, I have come to the conclusion, that I need to go into scrapbooking detox. What does that mean? As described in the article, I need to look at my supplies in a new light. I am going to "shop" my supplies, meaning would I buy that item now if given the chance? I KNOW there are things that I have that I wouldn't give a second glance at in a store today and those things need to go!

I think I have a fabulous scrabooking room and I want it to be the happy place it was intended to be. My creative space! My happy supplies that inspire me!! 

So wish me luck and here I go...let the detox begin!!

BOO!

I am so grateful that my kids have not had a heart attack yet. 

They are so easy to scare and we all get a kick out of scaring each other.

On this morning, I was taking a picture out the window when I heard Jack heading towards the steps. When he came around the corner I yelled, "AHHHH!" and snapped a picture. I caught him in mid yell!

I am also grateful the boys both have a good senses of humor! We laughed and laughed after taking this picture! 

I must share that Jack had scared me that same morning! I guess what goes around comes around. The sad/bad thing is that I want to catch more "scares" on camera now!!

TBT

Throw Back Thursday!

Jack is obsessed with monkeys! He loves them, he wants one (especially a real life finger monkey) and he has a few stuffed ones!

 

One afternoon when Jack was 4 years old,  he insisted on taking a portrait with all of his monkeys (and one puppy...can you spot it?) This is such a true reflections of my little Jack-a-roo!

*love*

Ghostbusters!

Who ya gonna call?

(Now try to keep that song out of your head today!)

Jack got a new Lego set when we were in Minneapolis.

He was so excited that they had name tags on! You know, it's the little things that make a Lego guy!

Can you figure out who is who?

 

I believe Jack would make the perfect addition to the Ghostbusters team!

Tuesday, Nov. 4

I voted.

I took Jack with me to vote this year.

 

I've taken the boys with me in past years, but this was the first year that Jack was actually interested in the process. I let him fill in the bubbles. On the ones that I had no idea who they were, I let Jack choose who he thought we should vote for. He loved it all!

 

He also got to feed our Secrecy Folder into the machine. 

"Did we win?" Jack asked me later.

"Um...no. Not even close."

"Maybe next time."

There's always hope.

THE LAST DAY!!

I did it! 

I took pictures for a week. That was the easy part. Now comes making the mini-book. I am determined to get this completed!! Keep your fingers crossed, but don't hold your breath, you may pass out!

Here is the last day of pictures...Sunday Funday!
We were in Minneapolis and headed to the Vikings vs. Washington football game. The Vikes play outside at the Minnesota Gophers college field while the new Vikings stadium is being built. I worried about it being too cold, but the day was perfect for a football game!

Waiting for the train! Jack's first train ride!

The twenty layers Jas had him filling out his jersey quite well!

We had amazing seats!

A souvenir cup of hot chocolate!

 Look how close we were!!!

Teddy! Teddy! Teddy!
He has the stocking cap on! 

I sat by this lump of blanket. Jack was playing his phone and covered up so he could see his screen. Check out the big screen right behind us! This stadium was sooo much better than the old dome!

 It was a great game to watch!
We won so that made it even better!
Now...off to make all these pictures into a book of memories!

Saturday in Pictures...

On Saturday we headed to Minneapolis for the weekend. 

Before heading out I asked Jack when was the last time he took a bath...let's just say his answer made me run to the tub and start a warm soaking bath for him! "Jack are you in the tub?" I got a hand as an answer.

We got on the road around 10:00 after getting a doughnut or two.

Sam is determined to figure out the Rubix Cube...someday!

No shave November started for Jas!

 Jack is on a drawing kick right now.

 Had to get some healthy lunch and time to watch a movie too!

(Sam was sitting right behind him so it was hard to get a decent shot of him.)

We stopped at a birthday party...

 The boys love this new little guy!!

 Happy Birthday to one of our favorite little ones!

 Headed to the Mall of America later in the afternoon, which means rides!!

 Can you see their little feet?

We all were completely exhausted by the end of the day. We headed back to our hotel room and crashed! thank goodness the next day was daylight savings time!! That means...SLEEPING IN!!!

Friday's Pictures and Stories..

Friday was a slow day, not much happening..hung out during the day and worked at night. So, I don't have many pictures of Friday, but don't worry we had a BIG weekend and I have plenty of pictures for you to view the next couple of days!! Yea!! 

Alright, back to Friday...

 

The boys scored on the Halloween candy!! Yea of me...I mean..yea for them! BOOOO for me. It sits there speaking to me all day when they are gone!

 

Sam had to get up early Friday morning, so he laid around watching TV before heading to school. 

 

Jason worked from home and so we went and got coffees.

 

Have to wash my removed moles, put antibacterial ointment and band aids on them for the next four days!

 

Jason working from home.

"Why are you taking me pictures?"

Obviously HE doesn't read my blog. 

 Got our septic tank cleaned out. gross.

 

Moose's hind legs are doing much better. She actually got herself upstairs into my craft room and to her bed under my table.. She seems very proud of herself...which she should be!

 

While at work, I did a little sidewalk chalk art to welcome our customers on Saturday morning to our Christmas open house! 

 Boys playing Sam's new video game. Actually, Sam is playing and Jack is supervising.

Sam is ready for our big weekend!! (hint hint)

 

Jason and I always watch a scary movie on Halloween night. We settled for watching the very first episode ever of The Walking Dead. It creeped me out, so I guess our Halloween movie night was successful.