Welcome to Day 4 of our Countdown to 2010 … just two more days to go before we’re celebrating (and logging) the New Year!!!

"The Real Me" by Kristin Rutten

Today just happens to be my 40th birthday, the perfect excuse for a bit of reflection & self-evaluation. In fact, this whole year has been a bit like that for me as I decided at my last birthday to spend a little more time during this year documenting “me” as I approached this milestone. I started a scrapbook album specifically for that purpose, which I dubbed “Me: 39 and Counting!!!” I didn’t get quite as far on that album as I might have liked, but you can check out the pages that I did get completed in my personal scrapbook gallery here.

What does all this have to do with our Countdown to 2010? One of the first pages I created for my “me” album was a layout highlighting a practice started by my favorite scrapbooking role model, Ali Edwards. Ali chooses one word each year to help provide a little focus as she goes about her life. Check out her recent blog post and keep an eye on her blog for more on the topic in the next few days.

"Balance" by Kristin Rutten

I decided last year to give this a try and after a fair amount of thought, chose my word: BEGIN. You can read my blog post and check out the layout I created centered around that decision here. I found the whole concept to be very helpful, so I have now chosen a new word for 2010: BALANCE. I blogged about this choice as well, which you can take a peek at here. You might remember the layout above, which I created about my new word a few weeks ago. I blogged about it here on the site in this post.

If you haven’t participated in this little exercise before, I encourage you to give it a try this year. The process of choosing a word itself can be very helpful & enlightening … and once chosen, it’s a lot like having a little angel sitting on your shoulder as you go about your day, reminding you of what is really important to you. In the busy-ness of life, it can be easy to lose sight of that sometimes.

If you’ve chosen a word – or are thinking about doing so – I’d love for you to share it below in a comment!

Coming up in tomorrow’s Countdown to 2010: A Special Year-End Story Board

Click on “comment” below to share your thoughts…

It’s time already to wrap up our Grand Opening SPOOKtacular! These last three days have just flown by … and thanks to all of YOU, it really has been a lot of fun! I hope you feel the same way…

Here are a few little tidbits to give you a better picture of what’s been going on this weekend…

• Every participant has had the opportunity to download 238 MB of scrapbooking freebies.

• At last count, more than 80 new members have registered in our Community Forum since the celebration began … and the number keeps growing.

• We have given away 3 Memory Logbooks, 1 mousepad, 6 magnets and 4 free passes to our first online workshop – The Gift of the Year: 2010.

• We’ve welcomed several new Book Club members & workshop participants.

• Scrappers have been busy creating pages for our two layout challenges … you can see their creations HERE and HERE.

• We’ve completed three fun Halloween-related polls. Check out the results of the today’s voting HERE.

I hope you’ll take a few minutes to browse the Community Forum & the Layout Gallery … there’s lot of very entertaining & inspirational material there to read & see. Pages like this, for example…

"Love My Siblings" by ltarbox

and this…

"An Angel and a Shark" by pennynoel

I promised you one last treat before wrapping up the weekend … and HERE it is. This little goodie is compliments of sponsor Kris Myers Design and although it is the last of the treats we’re giving out this weekend, I think you’ll agree it was worth the wait. Kris was even nice enough to share this layout to jump-start your creativity…

Please be sure to take a few minutes and leave a nice thank you to Kris for providing this fun freebie. You can do that HERE.

I would also love for you to take a few minutes to leave me some feedback about this weekend’s celebration & the site overall. My goal is to make this a place that busy scrapbookers of all ages, locations, backgrounds & experience levels really enjoy and want to visit often… your feedback – both positive and otherwise – will help me do that. Feel free to leave me a comment HERE or if you prefer, via the Contact Us page.

One last little reminder … Don’t forget to set your clocks BACK one hour at midnight tonight for Daylight Savings Time!

And …. Happy Halloween!!!

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!

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.

Take a peek at these great examples a real life storytelling & scrapbooking found around the Web this week.

{Hint: Click on each image below to view a full size version, as well as any credits and other information supplied by the creator.}

"What Was Beautiful in '89" by panders77

Friendship bracelets? Check. Jean jacket? Check. Acid washed jeans? Eeks. Check. Yup, I was an ’80s teen, too! “What Was Beautiful in ‘89″ by panders77 is a great example of effectively capturing a significant moment in time without a ton of journaling. Love the lists and all the visual examples of that time period. This one made me smile just to look at it … and reminded me I should do something similar. Copied to my “To Scraplift” folder? Check.

"I Hear You" by evitangel

I have no idea what this lovely page by evitangel says, but I was immediately captivated by the interesting design and the “I Hear You” title, combined with the designer’s hints in her description about her son’s “difficult times.” My curiosity about this story and admiration for the amazing design is almost enough to make me want to go back and revisit those college German classes. Almost.

"Small Talk" by aneal

I just love that aneal captured the “small talk” between her son and family. This is what everyday life – and real life scrapbooking – are all about. Remembering the little things that end up someday being the things we’ll miss most. Very cool design, too – I love the blur of the photo and the brushwork over the top.

"The Face of Saturday Lunchtime" by Bush Girl

Boy, how many parents have seen that face before? I’ll bet several times more than the number who have taken the time to scrapbook that face! I love that Bush Girl did just that. “The Face of Saturday Lunchtime” is a peek into this family’s typical day, but she takes it a step further in her journaling and describes her feelings about what’s happening. That’s something her kids are sure to appreciate someday.

"Autumn" by photocowgirl

The beautiful black and white photo first attracted me to “Autumn,” but it was photocowgirl’s journaling that made me stick around a bit longer. I can totally relate to loving fall … and dreading the cold that winter brings. I also love the rich fall colors and the dimension in this page.

"i don't like pink" by jillbeamer

“I don’t like pink” is a mom’s account of her daughter’s emerging fashion sense. I have a feeling I’m going to be in her shoes in the not-too-distant future, judging from my own daughter’s choices when I let her pick out her clothes in the morning. It will be interesting for mom and daughter to look back on this someday and see how things have changed since then. I also enjoyed mom’s observations about her daughter’s only partially concealed interest in girly things, even if she won’t admit it yet.

"Together" by pne123

“Together” by pne123 puts into print a wife’s gratitude for her family’s blessings, even while acknowledging times aren’t always easy and perfect. I’ll bet her husband already knows how much he is appreciated, but I’ll also bet it meant a lot to him to see it expressed on this page. Something I know I, for one, don’t do often enough.

"Cross Country" by d2vasquez

I don’t think kids really have any idea how much of an emotional rollercoaster it can be to parent a child, especially a teenager! I also doubt they are aware of just how much their parents are thinking about them and worrying about them and noticing them. That’s why I love “Cross Country” by d2vasquez. Read it and you’ll see what I mean. Mom could have just patted her daughter on the back and said “I’m proud of you.” But I’m willing to bet the message was much more powerful – and memorable -  doing it this way.

"Addicted" by syapotter

Now be honest… this page could have been done by you, right? Well, I know it could have been done by ME – at least, the journaling! Love that syapotter documented how she is “Addicted” to her laptop because it’s such a perfect glimpse into her own personal “today.” Those little flowers on the cord are sweet, too … I just love her titlework!

"My Girls" by neeceebee

I just love everything about “My Girls” by neeceebee. The sentiment she shares about always wanting a sister, the pink and brown, the circles, the smiling faces, the girly little embellishments … basically the whole thing. Another great example of a snapshot of life that didn’t require a ton of writing to share. Right into my favorites for a future lift.

"What We Do" by erintaylor

Erintaylor captures “What We Do” here both in photos and words. Love the variety in the photos – they really make me feel like I’m a witness to her average day with her kids. Her journaling is also great – a little synopsis of their day ending with her reason for being a stay-at-home mom.  Ali’s word art is a perfect match, too.

"For the Love of Shoes" by shhbabymine

I just couldn’t resist “For the Love of Shoes” by shhbabymine. With two little girls of my own, I just adore all of their little girly things, especially after having two older boys who like anything BUT cute! I definitely want to do a page like this myself … and now I have such a great example to lift. Plus, documenting stuff like this makes it much easier to let the real things go when it’s time to clean out those closets!!

That’s it for this week! Look for another Story Board and tons of “real life” inspiration next Wednesday!

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.

The great thing about scrapbooking is how easily we can find inspiration in pages created by others. To help keep us all inspired, each Wednesday we’ll share our “Story Board” featuring a dozen or so layouts found in galleries around the Web that are great examples a real life storytelling & scrapbooking. {Hint: Click on each image below to view a full size version, as well as any credits and other information supplied by the creator.}

We found some great layouts this week to get us started …

"I Love You Man" by Aggie

“I Love You Man” by Aggie has it all … great quotes, a beautiful bright color scheme, and a ton of journaling that goes far beyond a simple “I love you” to include a mother’s observations, memories, worries & hopes for her son. On top of that, it’s just a beautifully designed page.

"Just Another Manic {everyday}" by Dana

I just love how “Just Another Manic {everyday}” by Dana gives us a glimpse into the ordinary, everyday life of herself and her family. This is a great example of a page that uses simple words and phrases to tell the story, rather than a ton of journaling. It’s also a very effective use of bright colors combined with black & white photos on a neutral background.

"A Matter of Time" by sahlink

Sahlink shares a bit of insight with her daughter in “A Matter of Time” regarding the gift of a watch, the reason behind the gift and how it impacted her daughter’s behavior … all things that her daughter may not even have been aware of at her young age but will very likely appreciate hearing about down the road. The layers & punches of color are well done, too!

"100 Things" by jacinda

This list of “100 Things” by jacinda is a great example of a story that needed to be told which was accomplished even without a single photo. There’s a TON of information here, too – 100 likes AND 100 dislikes. But the list format makes it far easier to accomplish than if the designer had written it all out in paragraph form … not to mention, it would have taken much more room!

"Family Favorite" by clearskies

Clearskies shares a favorite childhood book that is now a part of her own children’s lives in “Family Favorite.” I love how she incorporated the book’s artwork & title, as well as the overall concept. Seeing this reminded me that there are a handful of books from my own childhood that I’d like to share with my children … and of course, scrapbook!

"Her Hips Don't Lie" by emmasmommy

Be sure to read the journaling on “Her Hips Don’t Lie” by emmasmommy. It’s a cute recollection of a daughter’s love for music and dancing, written in a way that shares her mother’s sense of humor, as well. On top of that, she captured the story perfectly with that adorable photo!

"Camo Girl" by HeatherKS

My husband and I had a heck of a time agreeing on names for our girls, particularly when he was as concerned with being able to create a great “nickname” as he was in the name itself. So I can really relate to the story of “Camo Girl” by HeatherKS. Plus, the journaling about the mom’s internal tug-of-war between “girly” and hunting-inspired “Camo” struck a chord, too. This will be a great story to share with little Camryn when she’s old enough to understand!

"My Story... My Life" by neeceebee

“My Story… My Life” by neeceebee is one of those pages that is sure to be cherished by her kids later in life. Her journaling is amazing because she really speaks from the heart. Her kids won’t have to guess about how their mother felt about them or why she raised them the way she did … she spelled it all out for them. Plus, her variety and choice of photos is amazing!!

"Confessions of a Blog Stalker" by lpate

As a bit of an Internet junkie myself, I love that lpate shared this glimpse into her daily routine through “Confessions of a Blog Stalker.” Her use of the screen shots from the various blogs she stalks is perfect, not to mention she’s done a great job with the title work, stitching & all the little details. Definitely one I’m going to need to “lift” someday soon!

"Here and Now" by earlofoxford

It’s sometimes easy to forget that grandparents are “real” people, too! Earlofoxford shared a ton of great insight into the interests, preferences and lifestyle of her and her husband as they approach a milestone anniversary in “Here & Now.” I think it’s great that she also acknowledged that she enjoys their quiet time as much as the time with the grandkids. I wish I’d been able to learn these kinds of things from my own grandparents while they were still here to share them.

"Hard Times" by dna13

The cool, very “boy” design of “Hard Times” by dna13 first drew me to this page. But the down-to-earth journaling of a situation that isn’t all perfect and wonderful sealed the deal. Pages like these help balance out an album and bring a dose of reality into them that wouldn’t be there if we only scrap the “happy” stuff. This story could also possibly help this young man down the road when he faces his own challenges as a parent with a very “real” child. Well done.

"Favorite Foods" by sm_amber

Sm_amber’s fun colors and sharing of her son’s “Favorite Foods” caught my attention and reminded me that I have a few “favorites” pages I still want to get done for my own kids. It always amazes me just how much kids enjoy hearing about their little childhood eccentricities when they get a bit older. Now if I could figure out how to get MY kids to love veggies, that would be even better!!!

I don’t know about you, but all of these great pages makes me want to go do some scrapping! Look for more great inspiration on 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.