Remember how when you were little, it seemed like Christmas could never get here fast enough? Now it feels like I just blink and it’s upon me, ready or not. And with four busy kids, a new business, a second “real” job and a household to manage, this year is no exception.

I’m guessing I’m not the only one feeling a bit stressed this weekend. So I thought I’d take a little detour from my typical post and share a little holiday humor … the process of hunting down these little tidbits has helped me already. Hopefully it’ll help to brighten your spirits a bit, as well.

All I Need to Know, I Learned from Santa …

1. Encourage people to believe in you.
2. Always remember who’s naughty and who’s nice.
3. Don’t pout.
4. It’s as much fun to give as it is to receive.
5. Some days it’s ok to feel a little chubby.
6. Make your presents known.
7. Always ask for a little bit more than what you really want.
8. Bright red can make anyone look good.
9. Wear a wide belt and no-one will notice how many pounds you’ve gained.
10. If you only show up once a year, everyone will think you’re very important.
11. Whenever you’re at a loss for words, say “HO, HO, HO!”

Five Ways to Track Santa Online

Looking for a few more “modern” ways to connect with Santa? Check out this article. Options include sending St. Nick an email, asking the Jolly Old Elf questions online,  peeking in on him live via Webcam, chatting with Santa on your iPhone, and tracking his progress online on Christmas Eve.

Helpful Holiday Diet Tips

1. If no one sees you eat it, it has no calories.
2. If you drink a diet soda with a candy bar, they cancel each other out.
3. If you eat standing up, it doesn’t count!
4. STRESSED is just DESSERTS spelled backwards.
5. If you eat the food off someone else’s plate, it doesn’t count.
6, Cookie pieces contain no calories because the process of breakage cause calorie leakage.
7. Food used for medicinal purposes have no calories. This includes: any chocolate used for energy, brandy, cheesecake, and Haagen-Daz Ice Cream.
8. When eating with someone else, calories don’t count if you both eat the same amount.
9. Movie-related foods are much lower in calories simply because they are a part of the entertainment experience and not part of one’s personal fuel. This includes: Milk Duds, popcorn with butter, Junior Mints, Snickers, and Gummi Bears.

‘Twas the Week Before Christmas
By Joyce Luke

‘Twas the week before Christmas and all through the school
Not a pupil was silent, no matter what rule.
The children were busy with paper and paste;
The mess that they made with it couldn’t be faced.

The teacher half frantic and almost in tears,
Had just settled down to work with her dears,
When out in the hall there arose such a clatter
up sprang the kids to see what was the matter!

Away to the door they all flew like a flash;
The one who was leading went down with a crash.
Then what to their wondering eyes did appear
But a green Christmas tree! (To decorate I fear!)

When the teacher saw this, she almost grew sick.
She knew in a moment it must be Old Nick!
She ran to the door (all her efforts were vain)
But she shouted, and stamped, and she called them by name;

“Now Tommy! Now Sandy, Now Judy and Harry!
Stop Billy! Stop Robert! Stop Donny and Sherry!
Now get to your places get away from the hall
Now get away! Get away! Get away all!

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly
The pupils, pell mell, started scurrying by.
They ran to the blackboard and skipped down the aisle;
Their faces were shining and each had a smile.

First came a basket of popcorn to string
-Then came the Christmas tree (menacing thing).
As the tree was brought in there arose a great shout;
The pupils were merrily romping about.

The state they were in could lead to a riot;
The teacher was sure, if allowed, they would try it.
Her nerves how they jangled! Her temples were throbbing!
The rush of her breath sounded almost like sobbing!

The lines of her face were as fixed as a mask;
It was plain that she didn’t feel up to her task.
The look in her eye would have tamed a wild steer,
But the children ignored it; they did every year.

A tear from her eye and a shake of her head
Soon led me to think that she wished she were dead.
She spoke not a word but went straight to her work,
Strung all the popcorn which broke with a jerk.

But at last it was finished and placed on the tree;
Then came the bell and the children were free.
Their shrill little voices soon faded away
And peace was restored at the end of the day.
As she looked at the Christmas tree glistening and tall,
She smiled as she whispered, Merry Christmas to all!

Dear Santa,

I’ve been a good mom all year. I’ve fed, cleaned, and cuddled my two children on demand, visited the doctor’s office more than my doctor, sold 62 cases of candy bars to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground, and figured out how to attach nine patches onto my daughter’s Girl Scout sash with staples and a glue gun.

I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases, since I had to write this letter with my son’s red crayon on the back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who knows when I’ll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I’d like a pair of legs that don’t ache after a day of chasing kids (in any color, except purple, which I already have) and arms that don’t flap in the breeze, but are strong enough to carry a screaming toddler out of the candy aisle in the grocery store. I’d also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh month of my last pregnancy.

If you’re hauling big ticket items this year, I’d like a car with fingerprint-resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music; a television that doesn’t broadcast any programs containing talking animals; and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking daughter doll that says, “Yes, Mommy” to boost my parental confidence, along with one potty-trained toddler, two kids who don’t fight, and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way up without the use of power tools.

I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting, “Don’t eat in the living room” and “Take your hands off your brother,” because my voice seems to be just out of my children’s hearing range and can only be heard by the dog.

And please don’t forget the Playdoh Travel Pack, the stocking stuffer this year for mothers of preschoolers. It comes in three fluorescent colors and is guaranteed to crumble on any carpet making the in-laws’ house seem just like mine.

If it’s too late to find any of these products, I’d settle for enough time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it being served in a Styrofoam container.

If you don’t mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely. It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses of an organized crime family; or if my toddler didn’t look so cute sneaking downstairs to eat contraband ice cream in his pajamas at midnight.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is ringing and my son saw my feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the chimney and come in and dry off by the fire so you don’t catch cold.

Help yourself to cookies on the table, but don’t eat too many or leave crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always, Mom

Click on “comment” below to share your thoughts…

Ever received a gift that meant far more to you than its monetary value? The story behind that gift is perfect scrapbooking material.

This was the case for today’s Layout of the Week – “The Truck” by Calendar Girl Alyson Hall. Check out the story and you’ll see what I mean …

"The Truck" by aly321

Casey is such a hard person to buy gifts for. He loves to be able to just get exactly what he wants, without anyone else worrying about it. This year for Christmas his sister found an old Tonka truck on eBay that was just like the one he had as a kid. He used to play with it for hours, and called the horses that came with it “Pones.” It was the perfect present. I was so excited for Christmas morning. As he opened the gift, tears came to his eyes as he remembered his childhood. He loved the gift. He kept it on a high shelf for a while, but then decided he wanted his kids to enjoy it as much as he had. Now it is his son’s favorite toy, and he loves to play with the “Pones” just like his daddy did.

Now THAT is the spirit of Christmas.

Aly’s page was inspired by this week’s Weekly Challenge in the December 2009 version of the Memory Logbook. Though this week’s prompt was “The five gifts that have meant the most to me so far in life…”, you can see that Aly took her own spin on the question, which is exactly what the Logbook was designed for.

Book Club members can find Aly’s page in the Logbook Sample Layout Gallery inside this week’s Challenge album, as well as several other wonderful examples created by our Calendar Girls. I invite all of you who are following along with the Logbook and creating challenge-based pages yourself to upload your layouts to that album so we can all enjoy and comment on them. It’s amazing how much inspiration can be found both by viewing the other pages in the album and sharing your own. There are no deadlines involved in the Logbook Weekly Challenges, so feel free to post your pages for each week at any time as you complete them. I would love to feature YOUR page as our next Layout of the Week!

And if you are not following along in the Logbook, now’s a great time to start! You can find the December Logbook, as well as the 2010 full Logbook and individual monthly versions, in our on-site store. {Pssst…. Use coupon code HUMBUG and get 10% off your purchase!}

Click on “comment” below to share your thoughts…

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Around our house, Thanksgiving is extra busy because my youngest son was born just a few days before the holiday. This year his birthday fell on Tuesday, so while most folks were busy getting ready for Turkey Day, we were knee deep in tween-age boys, birthday cake, presents and your general birthday chaos!

It’s also hunting season … and around our house, that’s significant. Let’s just say my husband chose Lewistown first for the hunting & fishing, second for the job. So pretty much everything revolves around the last hunt, the current hunt, the next hunt … you get the idea.

So as I write this on the eve of Thanksgiving, my husband has already packed a lunch for tomorrow and gone to bed, with the alarm set for 5-something so he can get out to his favorite spot before sunrise. Even though it is after 10 p.m., my house is crawling with my very awake nieces and nephew, who managed to sleep a chunk of their 6-plus hour drive over here with my parents and are now raring to go for a while yet.

There’s a thawed out (I hope) turkey in the fridge, four pumpkin pies stashed in the back porch (no room in the fridge), and a new layer of toys, popcorn, shoes & other “stuff” strewn across my all-day cleaning job.

So rather than concoct some clever Thanksgiving layout to share on this site for this Thanksgiving Day … or create some other appropriately-themed post, I decided to instead share a couple birthday photos before shifting focus away from the computer and on to the family.

Which is exactly where I hope you are on this wonderful holiday as well.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with you and yours … and we’ll catch up again after the turkey’s all gone!!

Click on “comment” below to share your thoughts…

When I came across not just one, but three pages in our Layout Gallery the other day that all shared a theme I relate to so well, I just knew I had to share them together like this.

So if you’re at all like me … and Aly … and Jenn … and Heather … and find that your virtual friends are as big a part of your life as those you have “in real life”  … and if you occasionally feel a bit strange about that or have friends or family members who don’t really understand this … you’ll appreciate these wonderful pages and take solace in knowing you are definitely not alone.

"Cooler Online" by ali321

"Goofy Funny Silly Zany" by hguenthe

"More Than Just Scrapbooking" by JennBarrette

Though miles may lie between us, we’re never far apart, for friendship doesn’t count the miles, it’s measured by the heart.

~ Rozina Hasham

• Catch your first glimpse of our 2010 Creative Team … the Calendar Girls!
• Learn the ins & outs of making a very special album for a very special someone in your life.
• Get inspired through amazing examples of “real life” scrapbooking on our Wednesday Story Board!
• Check out this week’s Layout of the Week from our on-site gallery.
• Take a peek at what’s new in our Gift Shop & find out how we can help you drop a few hints before the holidays!

I typically write my blog posts the day or so before they are posted and generally have a pretty good idea ahead of time as to the topic of each. But given the opportunity this evening to write what was going to be a rather detailed Tip Sheet for a great scrapbook-related gift idea – or go out for a much overdue dinner and movie with my husband – I chose the latter.

So instead of that Tip Sheet, which I will save for another day (soon!!), I thought instead I’d share my gratitude list for today. I’ve been feeling pretty thankful lately, in large part because of the overwhelmingly positive response I’ve had to this site and the Memory Logbook, and figure it’s probably a good idea to acknowledge that and just enjoy it for an evening.

So here goes … 10 Things I’m grateful for TODAY:

1. The opportunity to invite a dozen amazingly talented ladies to join me on the Log Your Memory adventure as our first Creative Team – the Calendar Girls – and the willingness of these women to give so much more than they’ve been offered in return. You’ve met two of them already … and you’ll get to meet the rest of these wonderful gals on Monday!

2. An experience-based sensitivity to what it is like to NOT be among those chosen for such a call, which makes me appreciate even more all of the wonderful ladies who threw their hat in the ring at the risk of not being selected.

3. Beer-battered shrimp with jalapeno cream sauce, not to be outdone by the chicken & artichokes to follow or the nice big glass of white zin. Mmm-mm!

4. A cozy theatre with Vince Vaughn, Jason Bateman, and my favorite leading guy … my own sweetheart of a husband … who doesn’t mind sitting through a chick-flick if it means we can sneak away together for a few hours without the kiddos.

5. So many wonderful events coming together in just the right way at just the right time, leading to animated conversations about a future full of hope and opportunity.

6. Healthy kids who are eager to cuddle and play and laugh and sing and dance.

7. The prospect of getting to spend more time with the extended family as the holiday season gets underway.

8. The ability to let a kitchen full of dirty dishes and a messy floor take a backseat to the need to focus creative energy on a goal well worth working toward.

9. The availability of open source software and tons of online support to help me get where I’m going without needing to fork over a ton of cash.

10. Continual support and encouragement from friends far and near. So much would not be possible if not for you!

It’s time again for our weekly roundup of inspirational “real life” scrapbook pages from around the Web!

"Enjoy" by mummytothree

“Enjoy” by mummytothree provides a snapshot into this family’s life just days before the birth of a new baby. We tend to take tons of photos and scrapbook memories right after a new little one arrives, but it’s nice to have this reminder of what was going through mom’s head just before such a life-altering event.

"Spontaneity" by Miracle's Momma Designs

I love how Miracle’s Momma Designs used a quote as a springboard in “Spontaneity,” but then added a few thoughts of her own to make it a bit more personal and help connect us to what was happening in the photos.

"The Beatles Rock Band Influence" by aromachock

“The Beatles Rock Band Influence” includes both a song list and a series of notes about the memories associated with the musical side of this cute little guy.  Aromachock didn’t write a ton of journaling, but she didn’t need to – this page still tells a lot about this stage in her son’s life.

"Thankful 4 Books" by gonewiththewind

Gonewiththewind describes her love for books in her beautifully designed “Thankful 4 Books.” I love how she included lots of little tidbits in her journaling, from how books are a part of her daily routine to the types of books she likes to how she loves to open a book and smell the paper and ink. I can totally relate!

"My Wish" by Jule

Though I don’t really understand the journaling in “My Wish” by Jule because it is written in German, I was quickly attracted to the design of the page and the photos. She mentions in her layout description that the page is about her dream of someday being a photographer. Such a nice reminder to document not only what we are doing today, but what we’d love to do in the future.

"First Shave" by MelissaL88

The play-by-play account in “First Shave” by MelissaL88 sounds so much like something that could easily happen in my house, especially with two boys who are growing up way too fast! Someday when this youngster is all grown up, this page and its detail will transport this family right back to the sights and sounds of this time in their lives – real life scrapping at its finest!

"Jack's Apple Pie" by Emmy

I like this page by Emmy because it doesn’t scream “school page,” yet documents “Jack’s Apple Pie” and how it resulted from a favorite unit of study in kindergarten. Doesn’t Jack just look so proud?? I bet he’ll be even more pleased to see that mom took the time to document this for him and recognized his achievements.

"Thankful" by AjaAbney

I absolutely LOVE this page – “Thankful” – by AjaAbney because it is a beautifully scrapbooked reminder of something I am so guilty of not doing often enough – simply slowing down and enjoying the moment, especially when it comes to my kids and family. This is the type of page that would be perfect framed and hung on the wall as a daily reminder to simply “be present.”

"Special" by LiJo14

“Special” by LiJo14 struck a chord with me because this mom took that extra step to describe all of the little details that make this adorable little guy special, rather than just writing the word “special” on the page and leaving the rest to your imagination. Who wouldn’t enjoy hearing about all of those little ways someone thinks they’re wonderful?

"Create" by LauraLiz

I think most scrapbookers can relate to “Create” by LauraLiz. I love how she describes the “ideas coming out of my pores” and shares examples about how creativity is simply a part of who she is and how she lives. I definitely need to lift this one someday soon …

"Thankful" by Ace's Wild

As someone with more “virtual” friends than those I can actually see and sit down at a table with, I love that Ace’s Wild took the time to document why she is “Thankful” for her online community of friends. If those around her don’t really “get” her connection to her Internet friends, they just might have a better understanding after reading her journaling. Another page that would be good for me to do someday soon … then maybe my own family would quit giving me so much guff!

"Free Spirit" by g8rBeckie

Take a close look at “Free Spirit” by g8rBeckie. Don’t you just feel like you KNOW this little guy after experiencing this page? His little personality just shines through in the photos and the fun design … and then the journaling really pulls it all together. Such a fun way to end this week’s Story Board.

That’s it for this week! I don’t know about you, but I now have the itch to do some scrapping!! It’s been far too long … hope you get a chance to play a little yourself!

Today’s Story Board brought to you by …

Interested in seeing YOUR business, store, Web site or favorite designer promoted here? Sponsorship opportunities are available … to find out more, inquire through the Contact Us page.

… and counting!

It’s hard to believe but the Log Your Memory site has already been live for four weeks! It’s been a great first month and I’m looking forward to kicking off the New Year with lots of new friends!

A few highlights from the first four weeks …

• We’ve welcomed more than 250 new members to the site, plus several guests that haven’t taken that final step and registered yet.

• The Scrapbooker’s All-In-One Memory Logbook is now available from three locations – you can purchase all three versions in our Lulu bookstore HERE. (Be sure to use current coupon code: GREATBOOK to get 10% off). The perfect-bound version is also now listed on Amazon.com. And the Print-It-Yourself downloadable PDF version is now available directly through our Web site HERE.

• The Memory Logbook will be making an appearance at its first trade show this weekend at the Creating Keepsakes Convention in Seattle, thanks to our new friends at Dixie Pieces.

• We have more than 70 members on our Facebook Fan Site.

• We have already given away FOUR FREE copies of the Memory Logbook to lucky winners at ScrapScene and participants in our Grand Opening SPOOKtacular… with more to be given away this month at various locations around the Web. (Pssst…. Fans of Ali Edwards take note… be sure you don’t miss this weekend’s giveaway post!!)

• We’ve introduced the first two members of our first Creative Team … with 10 more to be announced in the next few weeks.

• We are almost a week into our first online workshop and the participants are busy creating some amazingly meaningful gifts for their loved ones. Here’s what one participant had to say this morning …

I want to thank you for a wonderful class. I’m having a blast and have decided to work in parallel for a calendar for my husband too!!! And one for my 2 year old, dated for year 2020, so she can know how I’ve been influenced by her until now.  This is a wonderful opportunity to document life!!! Thanks again!

It’s not too late to join them if you don’t mind playing just a bit of catch up…

• We’ve featured almost 50 amazing & inspiring examples of “real life” scrapbook pages found in galleries around the Web in our weekly Wednesday Story Board feature.

• Members have shared almost 400 beautiful scrapbook pages and left more than 750 comments in our Layout Gallery, including this cool “likes & dislikes” page by interstitchal.

"Likes/Hates" by interstitchal

It’s wonderful to see so many new friends that embrace the “real life” philosophy of scrapbooking. Here’s to a great first month … and we’re looking forward to many more!!!

Looking for some “real  life” scrapbooking inspiration? Check out these great examples found in neighboring galleries this past week …

"Be Yourself" by mlewis

“Be Yourself” by mlewis is a rather original way to document Halloween for her son this year. Rather than making the jack o’lantern the center of her story, she focused on her son’s funny behavior in relation to it, an example of his personality that will be a fun memory to look back on in the future.

"Dear Santa" by cherryberry

This page by cherryberry is another unique take on a holiday layout that I just LOVE! “Dear Santa” is much more than a letter to Santa and standard wish list … it’s a humorous look at the joys and frustrations of motherhood and reveals a side of this mom that probably isn’t obvious on the surface to those who know her. Definitely on my “to scraplift someday” list!

"So You" by Gabi

How many of us have set out with a particular photo in mind, only to have our subject take things in an entirely different direction? “So You” by Gabi is a great example of working with what IS rather than what you envision … and the result captures an authentic piece of everyday life that a pre-planned photo would never have done.

"My Little Storyteller" by norton94

The combination of photos and journaling in “My Little Storyteller” by norton94 does a great job of capturing a piece of this little cutie’s personality. Plus, I just love the layering & little details on this page. Right into my fave folder!

"Home Cookin'" by ali321

I love how “Home Cookin’” by ali321 contrasts her earlier expectations with motherhood with the reality of her experience. So many times, I think it comes as a shock when our adult lives don’t match up with the vision we had as kids … maybe this mom’s children will have a little easier time of it after reading their mom’s scrapbooks!

"H1N1 Vaccine" by wvasweetness

“H1N1 Vaccine” by wvasweetness does a great job of documenting something that is currently affecting nearly every one of us in some way. Won’t it be interesting in 20 or 30 years to look back and see how much things have changed? Hopefully we’ll be looking back with relief that this malady is no longer an issue in our world.

"Perfectly Girly" by Crystalbella77

It’s sweet, feminine and full of a mother’s feelings about having a little girl … the perfect combination for a layout titled “Perfectly Girly.” Crystalbella77 includes a ton of journaling on this page, but you would hardly notice it because of the gorgeous design. I just love that black and white photo nestled in like a special piece of jewelry among the flowers …

"Turning 2" by Sus Designs

Sus Designs gives us a wonderful example of a birthday layout that goes beyond the traditional cake and candles shot. “Turning 2″ describes this little boy’s behavior in response to a crowd of birthday singers, a sweet memory and a more meaningful take on an experience that could have easily blended into all of the other birthday pages.

"Made from Scratch" by Colies Corner

“Made from Scratch” by Colies Corner just jumped out at me in the gallery. It’s a fun layout sharing an everyday activity familiar to many of us with children. I just really like the design of this page and the brief journaling about this particular mother-daughter experience.

"Game Day" by gandcsmama

Having more than one child of my own who tends to make unique clothing selections, I enjoyed how “Game Day” by gandcsmama shares the story of why this little girl is dressed the way she is on this particular day. There’s nothing particularly unusual about it … it’s just a glimpse into this family’s real life. And that is exactly the kind of scrapbooking Log Your Memory is all about.

"He Hung the Moon" by Darcy Baldwin

Darcy Baldwin had a story to tell about her hopes and dreams as a younger person and “He Hung the Moon” is a great example of doing just that. Her story takes center stage in this layout, complemented by a historical photo relevant to the story in place of the one more directly related but lost along the way. I love that she found a way to tell the story instead of giving up because of the missing photos.

"Just Because" by RebeccaH

A photo taken and a page created “Just Because” RebeccaH wanted to capture an “ordinary moment in an ordinary summer day.” Is there a better reason to scrapbook? Not in my book. Plus, this is just a really pretty page.

That’s it for this week! Look for more great examples of real life scrapbooking in next week’s Story Board.

Today’s Story Board brought to you by …

Interested in seeing YOUR business, store, Web site or favorite designer promoted here? Sponsorship opportunities are available … to find out more, inquire through the Contact Us page.

A big focus of Log Your Memory is on “real life” scrapbooking and this typically translates into more journaling on our scrapbook pages. Often the telling of the “story” to go along with the photos is what sets real life scrapbooking apart from the crowd. But journaling can be intimidating, especially when faced with a big, blank page.

One of my favorite journaling tricks is using lists. The beauty of a list is that it takes the pressure off … you don’t feel the need to write complete sentences, use a ton of fancy words, or even necessarily spell or punctuate everything correctly (well, unless you’re a little particular, like me!!) And oftentimes, just starting a list is all it takes to get the ball rolling and the thoughts onto your page.

"10 Ways You Inspire Me" by hguenthe

Our Gift of the Year: 2010 Workshop class is focusing today on creating a dozen lists to add a great deal of meaningful journaling to our gift calendars, such as the example you see here by Creative Team Member Heather. We are using a “10 Things” type of list to share a variety of qualities, memories, and other characteristics that are special about the subject of our pages. (It’s not too late to join the class, by the way … go HERE for more information.)

You can use the same type of approach with nearly any scrapbook page. The nice thing about setting a definite number … 10 Things, 5 Reasons, 13 Ways… is you know when you are finished, helping to quiet that nagging little voice that keeps telling you that you didn’t say enough or do it “perfectly.”

There are lots of wonderful examples of list-style scrapbook pages or blog posts out there. A couple of my favorites are those by Ali Edwards and Katie the Scrapbook Lady. One particular “16 Things” post by Ali several months ago inspired me to create a blog post of my own, which I later turned into this scrapbook layout …

"16 Things"

Here is another list-style page I did a few months back, highlighting “21 Things That Make Me Smile.”

"21 Things That Make Me Smile"

In the spirit of “10 Things” journaling, here are “10 Things” to help get you started the next time you’re facing a blank page and decide to try this method …

1. Pick your focus. What is the big picture or story you are trying to share on your page?

2. Grab a piece of scratch paper and a pencil … or open up a new document on your computer … and write your focus at the top of the page. Then just start writing down words and phrases that come to mind. No censoring, no editing … just let it come out.

3. If a list is too inhibiting, try a brainstorming map. Write your focus in the center of the paper and circle it. Then start jotting down words and phrases all around the edges. You can draw lines connecting thoughts that seem to go together … or not. There is no wrong way to do this.

4. After you run out of things to write, put it down and leave it alone for a while. You may be taking a break, but your subconscious mind will continue working on that list. Keep your paper nearby so you can come back and jot down ideas as they come to you while you go about your day.

5. Spend some time just thinking and reminiscing about the subject of your list. For example, if you are writing about all the things you love about a specific person, see if you can recall specific things they have said or done that reinforce those feelings and how you felt at the time. Write them down, as well as the associated feelings. These will often trigger even more things to add to your list.

6. Ask other people what they think of when you mention the topic of your list. Their ideas will very likely trigger memories or ideas of your own. Write them down.

7. Dig out some photos or other visual reminders of your list topic. Looking at these images and using your visual sense rather than just your thinking cap will tap into another area of your creative brain. Write down whatever thoughts this triggers.

8. If your topic is a person, call them up and visit for a while. If it is an object, get it out and play around with it. Being around that person or thing will help you tap into yet another area you may not have touched on yet.

9. Draw inspiration from other list-makers. Even if they are making lists about entirely different subjects, just reading someone else’s list makes you think about things in a slightly different way and can help get those creative juices flowing. For example, our workshop participants are reading and sharing each other’s “10 Things” calendar lists today in the private workshop forum. Even though none of them probably know the individuals that the other lists are about, we all share enough things in common that we can relate to and draw inspiration from each other.

10. If you’ve done even half of these steps, you likely have a very long list. Now is the time to go back and remind yourself of your main focus for the page. What message do you really want to get across? Get out a marker, highlighter, crayon, or whatever you prefer and start circling those items on the list that really click with that message. Now’s the easy part. Simply pull out all of your highlighted items and tweak them however you see fit to create a perfect list for your scrapbook page.

That’s all there is to it! If you find yourself getting stuck even after all of these steps, simply create a shorter list! There are no rules to scrapbooking, other than those you set for yourself. Tell your story in the way that works for you and have fun doing it … that’s “real life” scrapbooking!

Ready for some new “real life” inspiration? Check out these great examples I found in our neighboring galleries this past week …

"Special Moments Together" by Nzingha

“Special moments don’t occur only on special occasions…”  I couldn’t have said it better myself, which is why I wanted to share “Special Moments Together” by Nzingha. It’s such a pretty reminder of the importance of capturing everyday moments in addition to the more obvious “big” ones.

"Favorite Place" by kresta

“Favorite Place” by kresta is another great example of documenting the little things that make life special. A great photo, a short paragraph and a very appealing, simple design is all it took to save this memory for a lifetime.

"Love" by bexy

The gorgeous colors & beautiful black and white photo drew me in to “Love” by bexy. Her journaling to her daughter in which she describes how becoming a mother made her feel “whole” was the icing on the cake. Love this page.

"me: defined" by sahlink

I can relate to so many things in “me: defined” by sahlink. I love that she described so many of her characteristics, interests and feelings on this page, including her insecurities and weaknesses. I love that she let the kids take the photos and I can totally relate to normally being the person behind the camera. I just really like this page … and wanted to keep it around to remind me that I’d like to do one similar for myself some day.

"Sky's the Limit" by sahlink

I wouldn’t normally include two layouts by the same designer in one Story Board, but I just couldn’t pass up the chance to share this other layout by sahlink. “Sky’s the Limit” is the story of how her daughter worked so hard for a goal and accomplished it, but it’s also a story of how mom felt throughout the process and her own advice & wishes for her daughter. Someday when her daughter has kids of her own, this kind of insight will surely be especially meaningful for them all.

"Art Gallery" by Karah

“Art Gallery” by Karah is a clever telling of a very creative little guy who invited his family in for a showing of his artwork. I love how mom captured the artwork within this layout, as well as the story. Everything about the design is simply perfect – from the framing to the extraction of her son to the clever way she makes you feel you are actually standing in the room. Love it.

"Superwoman" by LauraLiz

What mom hasn’t felt the intense need to be “Superwoman” for her family, yet had to eventually admit that it’s an unrealistic expectation? LauraLiz describes her feelings very well in this wonderfully designed page – and provides a great example of a pretty layout that very effectively tells an important story, even without a single photo.

"Busy Boy" by jenniferfox

Kids everywhere would be jealous to see “Busy Boy” by jenniferfox, the tale of a mom missing the one-on-one time with her now very busy school-aged son so much that they played hooky for a day and did a ton of fun bonding. Though I doubt this little guy will forget the day anytime soon, this page will always remind him. Plus, the journaling shares mom’s view of the day in a way that will likely give him a new perspective on parenting later on.

"Read Me a Story" by QuiltyMom

I had to giggle reading the conversation-style journaling on “Read Me a Story” by QuiltyMom because it reminds me of similar situations in my own home. Love how the way she wrote this sounds so much like what she probably hears on a regular basis… someday when the kids are grown, this will really help recapture the feeling and essence of this time in their lives.

"Girls' Rules" by rmcabana

This layout by rmcabana just jumped out at me because it’s so playful & cute. I like that she captures such an ordinary, everyday occurrence as a child wanting to play by her own rules in such great style. “Girls’ Rules” definitely landed in my “to scrap-lift someday” file.

"Tea Time" by interstitchal

Interstitchal’s “Tea Time” is another great slice of everyday life. There’s not really any journaling and just one photo, yet the page tells a lot about a piece of this person’s life. I’m a huge fan of brown & pink together, too, not to mention skeleton keys and all things girly, so the design alone of this page made it an immediate favorite of mine.

"Because You're Worth It" by jorgies5

This page by jorgies5 earned an immediate soft spot in my heart when I read the journaling about how even though mom knew another pregnancy would probably be difficult, the end result was so worth it. With four kids of my own and my own battles with less than delightful months being pregnant, I feel exactly the same way … and would do it all over again in a heartbeat for the great family I have today. That jorgies5 put it all down on paper for her child makes it that much more special, not to mention it’s just a beautiful layout!

That’s it for this week! And that means the next time we visit, our Grand Opening SPOOKtacular will have officially begun! If you didn’t catch yesterday’s post, be sure to go back and read it. There’s tons of fun planned for the next three days … you don’t want to miss it!

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