"If I Could Share..." by LauraMarie

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Maybe it’s because St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner. Maybe it’s a burst of spring creativity. Or maybe I just happened to look in the right places at the right times. Whatever the cause, I found all kinds of great “real life” inspiration for you this week in our neighboring galleries.

"Smiling is My Favorite" by casbury

“Smiling is My Favorite” by casbury just makes you want to smile, doesn’t it? Love how casbury used a movie line as a jump-off point, then showcased all of those smiling faces in this bright, sunny page. Gotta love how she incorporate a few familiar favorites, too.

"Our First Home" by pomi

“Our First Home” by pomi caught my eye right away with its circular design and fun titlework. There’s a ton of journaling packed into this page, yet it doesn’t feel overwhelming. Love the pretty spring colors, too.

"My Week" by LeahR

Simplicity at its best … that’s how I would classify “My Week” by LeahR. Love the clean design and the use of a photo series to tell most of this story. I like that she documented her typical week, even though it sounds a lot like my own. LOL

"Caught in the Act" by Kim Mauch

“Caught in the Act” by Kim Mauch cracked me up, largely because my hubby seems to have the same definition of “reading.” A nice example of scrapping those everyday moments & habits that make us who we are.

"10 Photos" by Ebony

The circular design of “10 Photos” by Ebony caught my attention right away and I love this playful use of list journaling. The “note to self” is a nice touch, too… I’ll bet most moms could do a page like this about ourselves. I know I could… and probably should.

"2 O'Clock" by tkeetch

I share the same definition and anticipation of “naptime” as tkeetch in her layout, “2 O’Clock.” A fun use of this kit … love the layering & how the photo of little Harvey is tucked into the design.

"Little Miss Lizzy" by monsu

The bright colors contrasted with the dark background and black and white photos really make “Little Miss Lizzy” by monsu a great page in my book. I also love the clever little corner design. All I need now is a translator so I can read about this little cutie.

"50 Ideas" by emileem

It can be tough to scrapbook a long list without it looking like, well, a long list. But emileem provides a great example of how to do it well in “50 Ideas.” Love the look of the journal, complete with little check-off boxes, and the scattered embellishments do a nice job of completing the photo-less picture.

"Forget/Remember" by Britgirl

I’m always a fan of layouts that share family values in the context of an activity. Such is the case in “Forget/Remember” by Britgirl. Love the cool color scheme & the way the title/quote grabs your attention.

"Same Chin, Different Personalities" by sweetpeony

Comparing shared family traits seems to be a common occurrence at holiday get-togethers, but how often do we take the time to scrap them? “Same Chin, Different Personalities” by sweetpeony is a fun round-up of one particular family … but poor girl. Four brothers? One was plenty for me…

"Avery Year-In-Review 2009" by nikkiARNGwife

I love pages that show changes over time, which is the case in “Avery Year-In-Review 2009″ by nikkiARNGwife. Avery looks like quite the little character … the kit and design used here complement him perfectly and set a very playful stage.

"Carnival 2010" by coco

I find group photos to be tough to scrap, so I just love the clever way coco did it here in “Carnival 2010.” The bright colors, cute cartoonish embellies and fun clusters really make this page feel like a carnival.

"Tribute to Bonnie" by JALong

My final choice today is an example of great design, creative listing and heartfelt journaling. But there’s more to the story of why I chose to share “Tribute to Bonnie” by JALong. This page is but one of many, many beautiful tributes to a gal that touched countless hearts in the community at Designer Digitals, as both a Creative Team member and a friend. Sadly, this lovely lady was suddenly taken from her family and friends late last week … and those who knew her, online or in person, have been sharing their thoughts through the Designer Digitals gallery ever since as a last gift to her family.

I share this with you today for two reasons – first, to express my own condolences to our friends at Designer Digitals and the people who loved Bonnie, and second, to point out how strong those ties are that are built between scrapbookers who may or may not ever meet in person, but who share lives and stories through the pages posted in our online galleries and the conversations in our forums.

We sometimes joke about our “real” versus “online” friends. But if there was ever need for proof that these relationships are real, important and meaningful, here it is. Thanks for sharing your stories & lives with me … and for letting me share mine with you.

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If you didn’t catch Ali Edwards’ post yesterday about “getting real,” I encourage you to check it out. It couldn’t have come at a better time for me …

If you’ve been hanging out me with for the past five months (yes, it’s already been five months!), you’ve probably noticed a recurring theme in my more personal posts … that never-ending struggle for balance. It’s a struggle I don’t ever really feel like I’m making headway on. Sure, I have days, even weeks sometimes, when I feel like I’ve got things on a pretty even keel. But for the most part, I generally feel like I’m doing way too much of one thing … and not enough of another. The only thing that really changes is just what is on each end of the scale … and as much as I do, I still feel like my list of what’s NOT getting done is growing so fast that I’ll never catch up.

The older I get, the more I notice a need to step back and see the big picture more often. I find that I get so focused on my current projects that I start to lose perspective. And it’s typically after I’ve been hitting the same wall over and over and over again that I finally pause and think … wait, I could probably change this if I just stopped for a few minutes to think about it. The trick is to actually take that time to stop and look.

So that’s why I find Ali’s post so helpful. In it, she shares a whole list of things to think about regarding facing the reality of your present life. It’s that focus, those specific questions, that I’ve been needing lately to force myself to step back for a bit and take a look at the bigger picture.

I could probably fill a whole journal with responses to those questions because Ali touches on so many different areas that apply to me. But for now, I thought I’d focus on the scrapbooking part of my life, since that is the area that I seem to have the strongest feelings about, both positive and otherwise. Plus, you probably don’t want to hear about all that other stuff…

I’ve narrowed the areas I most need to “get real” about down to the following three, which are so intertwined that I’ve lumped them all together…

1. My vision of what scrapbooking “should” be and what it actually “is” for me.
2. Expectations of myself.
3. Amount of projects on my To Do list.

I tend to feel like I’m supposed to scrapbook everything, because at one time that was my goal. I had visions of completely recording every important or memorable detail of my kids’ lives, not to mention my own, and have also had thoughts about going back in history and getting a bunch of the family “stuff” documented as well … you know, in my spare time.

The reality? I can’t even “keep up” with scrapping what happens right now, let alone go back the 14 years I’ve had kids or the 40 years I’ve been alive … or the centuries of my family history. I have boxes upon boxes of saved photos, letters, ticket stubs, programs … all waiting for that “someday” when I’ll get around to getting it all neatly organized and/or scrapbooked.

Um, reality check. It just ain’t gonna happen. And I realized that about a year ago, which is when I started to rethink my approach. I kind of let myself off the hook – or so I thought – and decided to try to focus more on the stories and less on trying to document every little thing my family does. But while I gave myself permission to let go of that need for chronological, uber-thorough record-keeping, I didn’t ever really let go of that vision or take the time to really think through a system that will work for me … and then put it into practice. I’ve been bouncing back and forth like a ping pong ball … and the result is feeling a lot of …

Guilt about all of the stories that I’ve already forgotten that I didn’t get around to recording in time. Guilt about the mess that keeps growing in my office. Guilt about the huge number of layouts focusing on my daughters in comparison to the handful I’ve done about the boys. Guilt about starting projects and not finishing them. Guilt about not spending enough time scrapbooking … and spending too much time scrapbooking. Guilt about wanting to scrapbook the stories more than wanting to experience them. You name it, I’ve probably felt guilty about it.

And guilt is not the feeling I want to have in connection with my scrapbooking. Nor do I like feeling like I’m not measuring up to my own impossibly high standards. And here’s the kicker … if I just stop, get off auto-pilot, and look at the big picture, it finally dawns on me… who am I doing this for? Do I even WANT to remember all those little details? Is trying to capture the past making it impossible to be in the present? What is this almost obsessive approach costing me in the process?

So my conclusion after thinking about this today is that I need to spend more time thinking about this. I need to step back and really define what role I want scrapbooking & memory-keeping to play in my life, clarify what I am trying to accomplish – and what I am not – and set some realistic goals & expectations to help make that vision a reality.

Once I get it figured out, of course I’ll share … but please don’t hold your breath.

I’ve got enough to feel guilty about already.

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When scrapper’s are feeling uninspired, unmotivated or simply just don’t feel that special something that moves us to sit down and almost effortlessly put together a layout, we tend to say our “mojo” is missing.

I don’t know exactly what “mojo” is … and in this case, our friends at Dictionary.com weren’t much help…

None of these definitions really fit, do they? Leave it scrapbookers to be so creative that we come up with our own definition of a word.

But even though I can’t clearly define mojo, I definitely know when it’s lacking in my own creative life. It’s when I actually have time to scrap and sit down to my computer only to find myself … empty. No ideas, no inspiration, no desire even to start a page. And I know that all of us go through periods of time when that spark is missing.

Most of us have found that if we’re patient enough, that spark eventually finds its way back to us. But I’ve also found that there are a handful of activities that help me speed the process and get the creative energy flowing again. So I thought I’d share what helps me in hopes it might help you, too….

1. Browse the galleries. It takes about 2.5 seconds for me to find a scrapbook layout I like in the many galleries I enjoy visiting around the Web. There is just a never-ending supply of ideas and talent waiting there to inspire us and you have only to look to find something that speaks to you. I have lots of favorite places to visit, but lately I’ve found the galleries at Sweet Shoppe Designs, Designer Digitals, Scrap Orchard, Peppermint Creative and Scrap Matters to be especially inspiring sources of the kind of “real life” scrapbooking I most enjoy.

2. Go shopping. Sometimes my scrapbook purchases are driven by a page I am doing, but more often than not, my pages are inspired by a great new kit I’ve discovered. I am constantly amazed at how product designers can create kit after beautiful kit without ever seeming to run out of new ideas or fun color combinations. And as you might have guessed, many of my favorite designers live in the same places as the galleries listed above. Pretty convenient, eh?

3. Do a little blog hopping. There is just something about peeking into the studios, homes and lives of other scrapbookers that makes me want to follow their example. Sometimes it’s seeing a cool mini-album that gets me going, other times it’s reading about their memory-keeping philosophy or seeing a collection of albums all lined up just so. The best part about blog-hopping is there is always a new or unfamiliar one around the corner just waiting to be discovered, as well as a growing list of reliable favorites. Among those I return to again and again are the blogs of Ali Edwards, Cathy Zielske, Jennifer Wilson, and Lain Ehmann.

4. Look through old photos. My main goal in scrapbooking is telling stories – my own and those of my family. And it doesn’t take long to start thinking of stories I’ve yet to share once I start looking back at family photos I haven’t seen in a while. Oftentimes, a page idea comes to me while I’m actually taking the photo … and it usually doesn’t take long for those ideas to resurface when I go back through those photos later on. And once the idea is back and the photo is at my fingertips, it’s not a big leap to having an urge to get it scrapped.

5. Take some new photos. Just as looking at older photos can get the creative juices flowing, so can taking new photos. In fact, I rarely take a photo anymore without at least thinking about ways it might work in a scrapbook page or looking for new angles that might help tell a story. Thanks to digital photography, it’s become extremely easy to jump on those ideas as soon as they come, and quite often, I’ll be scrapping a page within mere minutes of taking the photo that inspired it.

6. Write out a non-scrapping To Do list. There’s nothing like being unable to scrapbook that makes you want to do it! I’ve found that the more non-scrapping related work I have to do, the greater the drive to shove it all aside and play with a layout. Sometimes creating a list and making a little scrapping time my reward for completing it is all it takes to set the gears in motion again.

7. Find a challenge. Nearly every scrapbooking site hosts a variety of challenges with just about every kind of theme you can imagine. An idea or focus, a deadline, a little friendly competition and oftentimes a prize … that’s about all it takes sometimes to get you scrapping. Plus, they’re usually a lot of fun!

8. Pick up a good book. Books have been a consistent source of inspiration for me for as long as I can remember, in all areas of my life. Whether it’s home decorating, marketing ideas, menu planning or scrapbooking, I can usually rely on a good book to get the ideas flowing again. Favorites on my scrapping bookshelf right now include Life Artist by Ali Edwards, Real.Life.Scrapbooking. by Rebecca Cooper, Get It Scrapped! by Debbie Hodge, That’s Life by Nic Howard, Encyclopedia of An Ordinary Life by Amy Rosenthal, and We Dare You by Kristina Contes, Meghan Heath Dymock, Genevieve Simmonds and Lisa Fiin.

9. Seek out new experiences. My husband teases me about this, but one of the easiest ways to make me want to scrapbook is to force me out of the house to try something new with the family. Since I always have a camera with me, it doesn’t take long for me to start capturing this new experience … and of course, the natural next step is to want to scrap it. The shutter gets to clicking, the ideas start flowing and pretty soon I’m just itching to get back home to get it on a page.

10. Take a break. If all else fails, sometimes the best way to get that creative energy back is to just quit trying so hard to be creative. Take a break, shift focus for a while, start a project completely unrelated to scrapbooking, or just get some rest. Sometimes the best remedy for me is simply a really good night’s sleep.

So now it’s your turn. What tips & tricks have you discovered to regain your mojo after it’s gone missing?

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When it comes to scrapbooking, few things do more to keep the creative juices flowing than sharing our creations with others. After all, the reason most of us spend the time we do to create all of these pages and albums is to make sure our stories and experiences find an audience and a memory outside ourselves.

And one of the easiest and most fulfilling ways we share is by posting our layouts in our favorite online galleries.

Few things make me want to scrapbook more than the thought of sharing my layouts in the gallery. There’s just something about seeing that nice big image displayed alongside everyone else’s pages that makes me smile. And fueling that fire are the nice comments left by other scrapbookers in the hours and days that follow, validating me as a scrapbooker and helping me to feel that I have been seen, heard and maybe even understood.

As first a scrapbooker, and now also as the owner of an online scrapbook-related business, I have noticed there is an often unwritten etiquette to being a welcomed and valued member of the online scrapbooking community, particularly when it comes to site galleries. But I’ve also noticed that it sometimes takes a while before newcomers catch on to these commonly accepted and expected standards of gallery behavior.

So today I thought I’d take a few minutes to share what I’ve learned in hopes of helping fellow scrapbookers make the most of what the gallery experience has to offer.

When it comes to playing nice in our favorite online galleries, just think about the advice our mothers gave us …

1. Play by the rules. Every gallery has its own set of rules which you generally have to agree to in order to become a registered user with uploading and commenting privileges. The rules typically spell out what can and cannot be included in your image descriptions (such as whether you are allowed to link to outside stores and Web sites), file size requirements, daily upload limits, and whether you are allowed to post layouts created with products purchased outside that specific site’s store. Follow the rules out of respect for all of your fellow scrapbookers, as well as to avoid annoying the site administrator.

2. Give credit where credit is due. Product designers deserve to be acknowledged when you post a layout that includes their items, including templates as well as all papers, elements, alphas, fonts, etc.The same holds true when you “lift” the design of another scrapbooker or when your page is inspired by a particular book, Web challenge or other source. By providing such information you are not only showing your support and respect for these designers and authors, you are helping your fellow scrapbookers find new sources of inspiration and resources.

3. Do unto others… If you like to receive nice comments on the layouts you post (and who doesn’t?), then take a little time to return the favor in the galleries you frequent. It doesn’t take long for fellow scrapbookers to recognize “hit-and-run” posting, which nearly always means the layout is there just to sell a product or that the person is much more interested in receiving than in giving, neither of which will earn you much love from your fellow scrapbookers. This is especially true for galleries supported by specific stores, as opposed to the open galleries that are not connected with any one particular retailer.

4. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Most scrapbookers practice this art because they enjoy it, not because they’re looking to have their pages picked apart. Unless someone specifically asks for constructive criticism, it’s best to leave only positive, encouraging comments in the gallery. Even if they do suggest they are open to critiques, it’s wise to think twice before saying too much … and then only through a private message. The same holds true for typos and other little mistakes. No one likes to have their weaknesses pointed out in public.

5. Quality over quantity. When it comes to gallery comments, more is not necessarily better. If you’re going to take the time to leave a comment, say something that shows you actually looked at the layout and found something to appreciate. A handful of sincere messages is much more meaningful to the page artist than a big, long list of comments that look exactly the same as those on every other page in the gallery.

6. Do a little more than is expected. While you certainly are not required to include the text of your journaling in your layout description, it sure does make it easier for your friends to really appreciate and enjoy your page if you do. This is particularly true if your journaling is lengthy or in a size that is difficult to read on a computer monitor.

7. No trespassing. If you are posting a page in a gallery owned by a site that sells scrapbooking products, it is generally a good idea to limit your posting to pages that are created mostly, if not entirely, with products purchased from that site. Some sites require this, but this is a good rule of thumb even for those sites that do not. The exception is a gallery that is truly an “open” gallery, in which case this will usually be made known in the site’s policies. Remember, it is often product sales that make it possible for a site’s gallery to exist. It’s poor form to make a habit of posting pages using products sold by that site’s competitors unless such a practice is specifically allowed on that site.

8. Say thank you. One of the best ways to show your support and appreciation for your favorite product designers is to share the pages you create using their products in the galleries where they reside. This is particularly true if you happened to obtain those products through a freebie post or giveaway on a site outside the designer’s regular venue … let those designers know you appreciate their generosity by letting others see their products in action. A nice little thank you note never hurts, either.

Have your own tips or advice on how to be a true gallery standout? I’d love for you to share them in a comment below…

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I cannot tell you how difficult it was to choose today’s Layout of the Week. In fact, it has literally taken me all day to tackle this post and I am finally pulling it together just a few minutes before midnight.

Not because I didn’t have several pages to choose from … because I did.

And not because the choices were not worthy … because they definitely are.

This week’s choice was especially difficult because our topic for the week was such a tough one … “What are your biggest fears?”

Let me just say, I am extremely impressed with the brave scrappers who tackled this prompt. It is not easy to face our fears … and harder yet to put them in writing and then share them with the world.

Yet more than two dozen gals did exactly that.

And while scrapping our fears has proven to be quite a challenge, reading about them isn’t so easy, either. You really have to let yourself be vulnerable to share this kind of stuff … and reading it tends to make you realize just how alike we all are in this area.

When I finally managed to narrow down one page to share as our Layout of the Week, I chose this one by leeann77…

Weekly Challenge #9 Layout by leeann77

Why? Because Leeann does such an amazing job of summarizing the fears that seem to be universal among mothers … and throughout our gallery this week.

The fear of losing our children. The fear of losing our spouse, our parents, our loved ones. Leeann even had the courage to come right out and use that word that most of us pretty much danced around. Not only that, but I think she really hit this one on the head when she said… “I guess what scares me about admitting my fears, in writing, is that it will make them come true.”

Yet she still had the courage to write those fears down, scrap a page about it, and share it with the rest of us.

Congratulations to Leeann on having today’s Layout of the Week! She will receive 10 bonus points through our Real Deal Book Club Rewards Program. And a huge thanks to everyone who shared your pages for this challenge. If you haven’t done so already, I encourage you to brace yourself and take a peek in the Challenge Gallery. And while you’re there, I hope you’ll take a few minutes to thank these gals for sharing …

Get the inside scoop, be the first to know about new product releases & get special discounts by subscribing to our new weekly newsletter, the Log Your Memory INSIDER. Delivered directly to your INBOX every Sunday afternoon.

Please share your thoughts in a comment below …

If you’re not familiar with March Guest Designer Suzy Iverson of SuzyQ Scraps, it’s time you become acquainted. Lucky for you, we have a variety of fun ways for you to do just that this month at Log Your Memory.

For starters, Suzy has very generously provided a ton of free goodies for participants in this month’s new challenge chat series … our Memory Logbook Weekly Challenge Chats. Book Club members who attend these chats receive a brand new free layered template from Suzy just for stopping by, perfect for use in your Weekly Challenge layouts or any other page you wish. And to sweeten the deal, those who complete and post their layouts by noon Mountain/2 p.m. Eastern on Thursday receive an additional free gift.

This month, that free gift just happens to be a portion of the brand new digi-kit … “Serendipity”… created by Suzy especially for Log Your Memory. Complete all five challenges and receive all five pieces, which amounts to getting the complete kit absolutely free! That adds up to more than 65 MB of digi-goodies for the kit alone, not to mention the five templates given away in the process!

But that’s not all …

Everyone is also invited to attend our Guest Designer Template Challenge Chat this evening at 7 p.m. Mountain/9 p.m. Eastern for an hour of inspiration, a chance to visit with our generous Guest Designer, and you guessed it … even more goodies to play with, including another free template and the chance to earn an entire alpha set that coordinates with Suzy’s great kit!

The chat is open to everyone, but you must be a registered member to enter the chat room. If you are not already registered, you are welcome to do that here prior to the chat.

And in case you’re not quite convinced (and even if you are!), we have yet another treat for you … a free download of this adorable add-on kit below, which gives you a nice little sneak preview of the fabulous new full-sized kit we keep talking about…

Click image to begin download (16.7 MB)

If you like what you see, I hope you’ll also check out Suzy’s blog and store, where you’ll find lots more of her wonderful designs. And to help you do that, Suzy has even offered a special discount just for Log Your Memory fans.

Have fun playing with all these goodies … and hope to see you at the chat!

Get the inside scoop, be the first to know about new product releases & get special discounts by subscribing to our new weekly newsletter, the Log Your Memory INSIDER. Delivered directly to your INBOX every Sunday afternoon.

Please share your thoughts in a comment below …

If you’re looking for examples of great journaling, beautiful design and lots of “real life” scrapbooking, you’re in the right place! Check out these inspiring and clever pages spotted in neighboring galleries this week …

"First Job" by willow885

“First Job” by willow885 provides a nice glance back at the world of retail before the arrival of Big Box stores, complete with a few price comparisons and other little details which will only become more interesting as time presses forward. Love that the photo puts it all in context, complete with the lineup of station wagons.

"The Big 3-0" by rainydays

Having just passed a “milestone” birthday myself, I was quickly drawn to “The Big 3-0″ by rainydays. No birthday cake & candles here, but rather reflections on how she feels about reaching this life stage. Even more interesting would be a followup when she hits the big 4-0 to see if those perceptions have changed.

"Guardian Angel" by coco

The interesting composition of “Guardian Angel” by coco quickly caught my eye, but I also like how she used a quote about guardian angels to help tell her story. It’s one of those pages you can just look at and continue to find new details you hadn’t noticed before.

"Little Baby" by iciclelady

The title of this one by iciclelady says it all … “The little baby days are so fleeting.” Though the first months with this little one will soon be history, mom has done a wonderful job of documenting the experience to help the memories last a lifetime. Love the softness of this page, as well as the choice of photos.

"My Yellow Dream Room" by lunafaerie

“My Yellow Dream Room” by lunafaerie is a nice reminder that we don’t have to always scrapbook about what has already happened … or even with photos of what is. Instead, she shares her goal of what she hopes will be, complete with an image to guide her way. Love the simplicity and the fun titlework. (Wouldn’t mind crawling into that bed, either!)

"Be Happy" by gracielou

I’m always on the lookout for pages that tell a familiar story in a new way. “Be Happy” by gracielou is one of those pages. I especially like her use of a quote to set the stage, particularly when it’s presented with such great design, and the closeup photos of this little bathing beauty are just darling. Definitely an improvement over all the bath time photos I’ve taken over the years…

"My Bucket List" by Ace's Wild

Long lists can be tough to present without overwhelming the page with text, but not so with “My Bucket List” by Ace’s Wild. The fun combination of shapes, plus the use of both words and photos to convey this list makes this fun to look at. Of course, I also got a chuckle out of some of the items on her list, like #9. LOL

"He" by Valgal

There’s nothing like playing it BIG to highlight a great photo. Love how this captivating photo takes center stage in “He” by Valgal. Sounds like a cool kid, too, once you tear your eyes away from his face and check out the list. A definite case of less is more.

"8,322 Photos" by mymalloryboys

“8,322 Photos” by mymalloryboys is another example of taking a unique angle to tell a story. In this case, it’s how the number of photos taken of this little cutie is a representation of how enamored mom is with watching him grow, not to mention that she’s shattering the old saying about the youngest kid having the fewest photos. Cool design, too… love the roughed up look and all the little details tucked in.

"Baby It's Cold" by marnie

Figuring out how to incorporate newspaper clippings and other memorabilia into a page can be tricky sometimes. I really like how marnie did it here in “Baby It’s Cold.” The clipping retains its vintage feel, yet the overall page doesn’t feel dated. Clever title, too, considering there are actually two stories here …

That wraps up this week’s Story Board! Hope you’re feeling inspired to scrap your real life … and if not, take a peek in our own gallery here at LYM. I am continually amazed at the collection of pages that grows more impressive by the day. Better yet, add a few of your own!

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Please share your thoughts in a comment below …

Log Your Memory is all about scrapping your “real” life. March Calendar Girl Lydia Tarbox shares her thoughts today on just what that means to her …

It’s All About the Relationships…

The more I think about the concept of “real life” scrapbooking, the more I realize that what I really want to capture in my layouts are the relationships that are so important to me.

Lydia Tarbox

I have been blessed with truly amazing parents, and my siblings are my best friends. I have a wonderful husband who is incredibly patient and supportive of me. And, to top it all off, I have three beautiful and healthy children. More than anything, I want my kids to build the kinds of relationships with each other that will carry them through the difficult times of their lives.

Life isn’t always sunny, but as we endure life’s challenges, we learn what is really important. It’s family. It’s love. And, to me, that’s “real life.”

I want my scrapbooking to document the relationships that I cherish most – so that my children will look back and see how much I loved being their mother even though it wasn’t always easy, how much I loved watching them grow and learn and develop their own special bonds, and how much love I had for so many other people who were influential in my life.

Because there’s nothing more “real” than that!

So, in the midst of the all the other events and special moments that we are all trying to capture with our scrapbooking, make sure you take some time to record your thoughts and memories of the people and relationships that really bring richness and vitality to your life.

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If there’s ever been a journaling prompt likely to apply to nearly every active participant in an online community, it’s the one we tackled this week.

Weekly Challenge #8 poses the question: How has your daily life changed because of the Internet? And though no two layouts are exactly alike, it’s amazing how much we all have in common on this issue.

Take our Layout of the Week, for example. When was the last time you typed out LOL? Now… when was the last time you said it out loud? I don’t know about you, but this layout describes exactly how much this little acronym has become a way of my daily communication and thought process.

And it’s not even my layout … this is the creation of the talented Ericksoc. Here’s what she says…

LOL by Ericksoc

LOL… Funny how this phrase is so common that when I really laugh out loud, I have to say ‘It made me literally laugh out loud.”

Doesn’t that just make you want to LOL yourself?

Congratulations to Ericksoc on having today’s Layout of the Week! She will receive 10 bonus points through our Real Deal Book Club Rewards Program. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to check out the other layouts in the Week #8 challenge gallery … and be sure to tune in next week when we’ll begin a brand new Weekly Challenge Chat series especially for Book Club members. Details in this weekend’s INSIDER.

Get the inside scoop, be the first to know about new product releases & get special discounts by subscribing to our new weekly newsletter, the Log Your Memory INSIDER. Delivered directly to your INBOX every Sunday afternoon.

Please share your thoughts in a comment below …