Noting.

Note to self: Don't eat chocolate cake and a candy bar for lunch... EVER.AGAIN.

That's all.

Searching.

You know that phrase, "A good panty is hard to find"? You don't? Oh, right... that's because it's "A good *man* is hard to find." True as that may be, my problem is with the panty. I already have a good man. So my search is on to find the perfect panty.

I mean, even this Roman woman in a mosaic at the Piazza Armerina is saying, "Dude! Romans! What's up with you? Make me some good panties!"

As a child, I didn't care so much. I mean, sure it was "silk-like panties from Target or nothing", but my mom *got* that. She (obviously) knows, also, that a good panty is hard to find. But as a child, I didn't care about what I care about today.

Comfy fabric. Tagless. Wedgie-proof. No panty lines. I mean, isn't that what all women want in a panty? Well, okay, not *all* women, or there would be no imperfect panties out there. And let me tell you... there are *a lot* of imperfect panties.

"Oh, why don't you just wear a thong, Reyanna! Those are *oh so* comfy. Who doesn't like butt-floss?" Uhhh... yeah. HATE.THONGS.WITH.A.PASSION. The woman at Victoria's Secret told me, "Oh, just wear them for a few days. You'll get use to them!"
Uhh... no. Lady, it didn't happen.

Comfy fabric? Usually.
Tagless? You can find them.
Wedgie-proof? Don't kid yourself... something that is perpetually *in* your butt is not wedgie-proof.
Panty lines? Virtually never.

And now I have like $40 worth of thongs in my drawers AND panty lines. Sheesh.

This may have to do with the fact that I was a gymnast. See, gymnasts get wedgies... often. As in, those leotards have set up camp there, and they are not leaving until practice is over! Period. So maybe that's why I don't like thongs. *I* know that little string is not *supposed* to be there. I can feel it. It doesn't matter how long I wear it. It's not pulling a "Violet from The Incredibles" on me and disappearing into thin air. It's like I'm an eternal gymnast (wedgies forever, oh my), except I can't do the cool tricks anymore. OK, maybe *one* cool trick... ;)

So... the search continued... The Hanes Women's BoyChic? (Actually, are much cuter in real life. They look really strange in this picture!) A *great* panty. Found at Walmart for about $5.88 (give or take a few cents) for two pairs.

Comfy fabric? Check!
Tagless? Check!
Wedgie-proof? Check!
Panty lines? Oooh, so close.

They're made of cotton. The downfall. Cotton panties must give panty lines... it's their job.

And even companies who *claim* seamless/no panty lines (read Victoria's Secret $14/pair panties!) fall short. I know. I own the Body by Victoria Hiphuggers... in most colors. Very comfy. Some are tagless. Usualy wedgie-proof... but still... they usually have panty lines. *sigh*

So yesterday, I decided to try the Body by Victoria Boyshort. Yeah, I may as well put on a thong. They're pretty much setting up camp too. See, I read "boy short" as in "shorts that are boy-style." Oh, no, that's what they *want* you to read. But yeah... it really means, "Boy, are they short!" As in, shorter than a regular pair of panties. These are worse than briefs.

Another favorite of mine? Hanes Women's Boxer Briefs. Probably the most comfortable pair of panties *ever*.

Comfy fabric? Check!
Tagless? Check!
Wedgie-proof? Check!
Panty lines? Oooh, again... so close.

Now, Hanes, if you're reading... ditch the cotton and go with a Nylon/Spandex blend. The world of panties will be yours! We know you've been making panties longer than we've been wearing them so please, help us! Our bottoms are anxiously waiting.

And if *you* think you've found the perfect panty, please share with the class! :D

Flying.

So day after tomorrow, we're heading out again. This time to Texas. Weren't we just *on* a plane?! *sigh* I'm not much for flying. All that walking through the airport, and you're thinking, "I just want to get to my gate and sit down!" And then you get on the plane and you're thinking, "I just want to get there so I can stand up!" Tee hee. And I seem to be hungry ALL the time in airports. I think it's the overpriced food... it calls out to you... some sort of subliminal message.

Though, this plane trip won't be as long as the one to California so that's a relief. :) We're spending Thanksgiving with Jeremy's family. I finally get to meet the aunts, uncles and cousins... finally, after five years of marriage. :D

I have seriously been looking forward (for two months!) to warmer weather! 70s and 80s... sun, short sleeves, no jacket, for eight days... ahhhh... it'll be so nice...

Uh-huh. Yeah. Then I decided to check the weather. *sigh* Just.My.Luck. The day we leave? Sunny and 86 degrees. The whole week we're there? Rain. RAIN.RAIN! And temps in the 30s and 40ss. And the day we come home? Sunny and 70 degrees, of course. *laugh* You just have to laugh at that.

San Antonio is punishing me for what I did last time. Yeah, that handstand picture? That's me. I'm doing a handstand at the Alamo. I don't just stand places and take pictures. That's too boring for me. I must do a handstand instead.

And see, you're allowed to take pictures of the Alamo. You're allowed to take a picture of yourself in front of the Alamo. But doing a *handstand* in front of the Alamo? Umm... yeah, not allowed.

And word to the wise, if *you* ever decide to do a handstand at the Alamo... and you're up in the handstand, and you hear a loud whistle, and some big guy yelling... yeah, that would be the security guard, yelling at you to get down and get out! Or so I've heard...

Questioning.

I found this at LauraVegas' blog, and I thought it looked fun. :D

1. are you taller than your best friend? Yes, for some reason, I'm always taller than my best friends. Oh! except Britt... we're the same height. :D But Camille? She's a shorty. ;)

2. do you have a favorite type of pen? I do... fat ones. Especially these. Mmm... those are good.

3. look at your planner for November 28, what are you doing? I will be flying home from Texas.

4. what color are your toenails usually? during the summer, they're Mamma Mia by OPI. During the fall/winter, I don't paint them. *sigh* I should.

5. what was the last thing you highlighted? hmmm... I'm thinking... some sort of text... with a highlighter

6. what color are the curtains in your bedroom? beige (IKEA was out of dark brown, darn it!)

7. what color are the seats in your car? grey... yeah, I'm pretty sure they're grey.

8. have you ever had a black and white cat? I love black cats best. I've had Asher and Sydney (both had a bit of white on them).

9. what is the last thing you put a stamp on? My student loan bills. Ugh.

10. do you know anyone who lives in wyoming? uhhh... nope, but my mom was born there! She lived there for about 3 months. :p

11. why did you withdraw cash from the ATM the last time? I don't do that unless I do laundry at the Laundromat. Does using your debit card at the grocery store count? If so, then I took out money to tip our bagger. :)

12. who is the last baby that you held? Wow... it's been a while. I think Corbin, my friend Rachel's baby.

13. can you spell well? yes, I can. And I also have spell-check-as-you-type on Firefox. YESS. :)

14. do you like cinnamon toothpaste? yup, and that's what we always use!

15. what kind of car were you driving 2 years ago? same one as now. My Toyota Corolla. Love that car. :)

16. pick one: miami hurricanes or florida gators? Well, I wouldn't like to be in a hurricane, and I wouldn't want to meet a gator that wasn't in a zoo. Wait... are these sports teams?!

17. last time you went to Six Flags? Oh, gosh, umm... it was either last summer or the summer before that. We had annual passes.

18. which show currently making new episodes should be canceled? I have no idea because I don't watch television. But I heard they made a show about the insurance cavemen?! What?! Probably that one. Tee hee.

19. closest thing to you that is yellow? A cereal box. It's on the computer table because I was eating cereal while I was on message boards. LOL.

20. last person you gave a business card? Weird! We were just designing my business cards this morning! So... nobody yet. :D

21. who is the last person you wrote a check to? Again, student loan payment to St. Mary's University of Minnesota. :p

22. closest framed picture to you? Directly to my left. I'm swinging on a tire swing. :D

23. last time you had someone cook for you? Just a few weeks ago. I was visiting my grandparents. My grandpa made *THE* best omelet ever!! It was bacon, onion and avocado... seriously best omelet ever (and I don't even *like* avocado)!

24. have you ever applied for welfare? nope

25. how many emails do you get in your inbox daily (excluding spam)? hmm... maybe 5?

26. last time you received flowers? Actually, Jeremy got me tulips for Valentine's this year! Wow, they were beautiful. :D

27. what is the weather like? It's 2:42 pm, and it's 39 degrees. Brrr...

28. do you play air guitar? LOL. Yes... whenever I hear the Who on CSI (if I ever watch it).

29. has anyone ever proposed to you? yeah... Jeremy did twice! LOL. He said it felt so good the first time that he wanted to ask me again... so he did. So two proposals in a time-frame of about 60 seconds.

30. do you take anything in your coffee? depends on my mood... sometimes black, sometimes milk and sugar

31. do you have any Willow Tree figurines? never even heard of them

32. what is/was your high school's mascot? we were the Pirates. The Pagosa Pirates. But I once was able to convince a gullible friend that we were the Pagosa Springs Wombats, and our colors were baby pink and sky blue. That was funny.

33. last person you spoke to from high school? one of my best friends from high school, Kim. She called me Friday night, just to say hi (and that she has a new boyfriend... a guy we went to HS with. LOL.)

34. how often do you use hand sanitizer? a few times a day usually. LOL. I'm so anal about germs because I get sick so often.

35. would you like to learn to play the drums? uhh... nah.

36. what color are the blinds in your living room? I don't have blinds in the living room. I have curtains... ivory ones. We have blinds in the kitchen and bathroom... they're white. What a strange question.

37. is you furniture cloth or leather? wood and cloth

38. last thing you read in the newspaper? does online newspaper count? I read about a love story in Manhattan. Very sweet.

39. what was the last pageant you attended? pageant? Does the average American attend those?

40. what is the last place you bought pizza from? That wasn't frozen? Disneyland. LOL. They have gluten-free pizzas at Redd-Rocket's Pizza Port. :D And it was super tasty.

41. have you ever worn a crown? my wedding day... I bought a gold Disney princess crown and my sister hooked my veil to it. :D

42. what is the last thing you stapled? I don't even remember!

43. did you ever drink clear Pepsi? Yeah, I did! It was strange.

44. are you ticklish? yes, very. Jeremy is the most ticklish person ever though so in order to get out of being tickled, I just tickle him. :D

45. last time you saw fireworks? Labor Day. :D Oh wait! A few days after Labor Day, there were some RIGHT out my bathroom window. That was weird.

46. last time you had a Krispy Kreme doughnut? I've never actually had one. I didn't find out about them until after I discovered I was allergic/intolerant to wheat. I did chew on one once and then spit it out. Tastes like a doughnut. LOL.

47. who is the last person that left you a message & you actually returned it? Camille... to confirm our movie date for Friday. :D

48. has your mailbox ever been full? I think on Yahoo. Oh, wait, snail mail? Definitely.

49. do you have a black dog? nope, Amber is gold/white and Ruby is red/white.

50. can you give one reason why David Caruso is allowed to keep acting? UGH! NO! Can't STAND that guy. Worst actor ever. Perhaps he... you know... gave something extra special to somebody high up? It will boggle the mind forever... LOL.

51. are you an aunt or uncle? yup! I'm Ani (aw-nee)! Aunt to London (in Heaven), Cullen, Reysa, Alaura, Brenna and Mairen (May-May).

52. who has the prettiest eyes that you know of? Probably my sister. Oh! And my friend Melissa. WOW!

53. last time you saw a semi truck? yesterday... we did lots of driving around.

54. do you think people lie on these surveys? perhaps. I don't though!

55. what is something you know you need to do, but you keep making excuses? Putting stuff on ebay. The thrift store is so much more appealing

Okay, so now your turn! I mean, if you'd like... :D

Watching.

A friend of mine asked me about my favorite movies and TV shows. When I replied to her (through email), I thought, "You may be sorry you got me started... I am quite long-winded... in case you didn't know..."

See, most people can just spout of some answers, but for me? It's more than that.

Favorite movie of all time: Sound of Music

Favorite movie I watch over and over and never get sick of: Love Actually

Other movies I could watch over and over and over: Groundhog Day, When Harry Met Sally, Speechless, 50 First Dates

Did you want genres too? I usually do those, but I'll just list my other favorite movies! :D

V for Vendetta, The Parent Trap (both), Pollyanna, Disney's Sleeping Beauty, The Motorcycle Diaries (you MUST see this if you haven't... it's a drama about Che Guevara... awesome! I was forced to watch it for college Spanish, and I'm SO thankful now. Who knew?!), Wayne's World, Stranger Than Fiction (I brought you flours!), The Shawshank Redemption, Rudy, White Oleander, Amelie.

Then there's a few that I thought were AMAZING, but I couldn't watch again... like Monster's Ball and Adaptation. I thought V for Vendetta was one of those too, but I've seen it three times now, and I just close my eyes at scary parts. :D

And TV shows. Well, okay, here's the thing. A few years ago, we hardly ever watched TV, Jeremy NEVER watched it so we got rid of it. We watched movies on our computer. Then this last summer, Jeremy decided he *needed* a 32" flat screen, HD LCD TV and HD antenna so that he could watch CSI in Hi-Def. The only show he'll watch (a friend got him hooked). So... we got a TV (MUCH to my chagrin... I put up a fight like you wouldn't believe!), and you know what?! We do watch CSI... most of the time. But that's it. It's used for DVDs. I forget we even have one until I want to watch a movie. It's a glorified movie screen, hanging on the wall.

That being said, I still have favorite shows. Favorite of all time is Friends. I own all seasons on DVD, and I watch it *every* day (pathetic? I think yes!). I used to be a faithful Desperate Housewives fan, but when we got rid of our TV, I fell out of that phase. I was able to watch it a few weeks ago, I still like it, but I always forget to watch it. And Jeremy hates it with the very core of his being so he probably wouldn't let me watch it anyway. :p

So... the only show I watch religiously now (that's *not* in syndication) is Pushing Daisies. It's just... *sigh* awesome. Lee Pace is adorable, and I think I like it because it's just so different from everything else I've ever seen. Jeremy doesn't like me watching it though (remember... hates TV... if he would only *watch* one episode... sheesh) so I watch it online on Thursday mornings. Guess what today is?! Thursday! WOOHOO!!

I also LOVE the Ellen DeGeneres Show. I used to watch that religiously too, and if I was going to miss it, I'd tape it. We no longer have a VCR, and get this... I *forget* to watch it on a daily basis. Grrr. Then when I realize I've missed it... usually at like 3:57, I'm like, "SHOOT! I missed Ellen! Dang it!"

I guess that means that I'm over the TV thing. I'm too busy scrapbooking, thinking about scrapbooking... or visiting scrapbook.com and private messaging, blogging or posting threads regarding scrapbooking. Or yesterday, getting my oil changed.

I contemplated changing the channel to Ellen at the oil change place, but this 90-year-old man was watching CNBC. After much deliberation:

"I want to watch Ellen! It's 3:00! I'm remembering! Should I ask the old man if I can change it? He's old. And maybe all he wants to do is watch CNBC in peace. Perhaps he could die tomorrow, and he will be lying on his deathbed thinking, 'I'm so glad I got to watch CNBC while I got my oil changed. Knowing that gas prices are astronomical is definitely what I wanted to hear before seeing the Big Guy. It was so nice that they just let me watch my CNBC in peace.' Should I ask these ladies reading the latest Britney gossip? Should I just change the channel without asking? I want to watch Ellen! It's possible they don't like Ellen, and Ellen for them is the equivalent of Soaps and Infomercials for me. Oh, dang it. I'll just read this book on Money-Management that I brought. Dang CNBC."

But I digress. Sigh.

So the short answer to the TV question: Friends, Pushing Daisies, Ellen DeGeneres, CSI, Desperate Housewives. :D (But you really appreciated that story, right?! ;) )

I just don't have a simple answer for anything. Does that make me opinionated or interesting? Both? Maybe? Maybe. :)

Update: Pushing Daisies was not a new episode last night. Bummer. :(

Celebrating.

Wow, this is long... but, good story. ;)

Today is the 7-year anniversary of us. :)

We had met when we were 15 (had a BUNCH of classes together... lucky me!), and I liked him RIGHT away. I told my best friend that I wanted to marry him. He was cute and funny and wicked fun! And he just... well, he was glowing... all the time. He walked around school like he was in a bubble. A bubble on top of the world and everything was wonderful. I loved that.

He would stick my pencils up his nose. I would ask him to smell my perfume, and he would lick my hand. He tortured teachers mercilessly (he would fake wetting his pants... poor, Ms. Gozigian)! He was never serious about anything, and I thought he was hilarious. He left our high school at the end of our junior year. We were 16.

Fast forward three years. He moved back to our town. I came home from college due to illness. We started to hang out a lot, and we had SO much fun together. His friends kept telling me that he liked me. I didn't believe them. I didn't care. I was over Jeremy. One night in October, we were playing truth or dare. My turn to choose somebody. I chose Jeremy. He chose "truth." I knew he had never kissed a girl so...

Me: Jeremy, if you could choose *the* girl to be your first kiss, who would you choose? It can be anybody!

Jeremy: Actually, Reyanna, I'd really enjoy kissing you. (He said it very softly and slowly, peered up and smiled.)

Me: *Blush* (Had NO idea that was coming.) Uhhh... okay, thanks. Uhh... err... your turn!

Jeremy: I choose Reyanna!

Me: Uhh... okay. Dare?

Jeremy: Okay! I dare you to kiss me!

Me: (Oh, crap! What have I gotten myself into?!?! Okay, all our friends are here. All our friends are watching. All our friends are thinking, "Holy Crap! Reyanna is about to kiss Jeremy!" Okay, he obviously *wants* me to kiss him. Well, alright, I'll just kiss him... I mean, it's what he *wants*... I should be nice and just, you know... kiss him.) Uhhh... okay. (I lean over slowly and kiss him. He doesn't kiss back.)

So yeah, that was in October. Later that night he pulled me aside and said, "I just wanted to thank you for the kiss. And I just wanted to let you know that I didn't kiss back because I didn't want to be rude. I dared you to kiss me. I didn't think it would be very gentleman-like if I kissed you back." Awww! Sweet! Anywho... okay, so... nothing ensued. We just hung out a lot. He was fun. We had fun. I *still* didn't believe that he liked me.

November 1, 2000, he asked to do laundry at my house. He brought it over... and then left it there. Me, being naive and a complete dork, thought that was an accident. (SOOOOO not an accident.)

So, November 2, 2000, Jeremy calls.

Jeremy: Uhh, hi! I left my laundry at your house!

Me: I know. I noticed. You're dumb. (or something to that effect)

Jeremy: So can I come over and get it?

Me: Yes, of course.

Jeremy: Right now?! Can I come over right now?!

Me: (Strange that he's so excited, but...) Uhh... sure. Yeah. Come over.

So Jeremy arrives and right away says, "Can I talk to you? In you room?" Uhhh... weird. Okay. So I mutter a "yeah, sure," and I walk to my room (as he follows). No sooner did I get in there and he closed the door did he spin around and say, "Do you know how much I like you?!?!"

Me: *shocked* Uhh... no... how much do you like me?

Jeremy: I'm totally stoked on you! You're gorgeous and lively and kind and cool and fun and funny, and you're a tease... but I'm not complaining. And I just think we should be together.”

Me: (Still shocked. How the heck do I reply to that?! Come on. I don't really want a boyfriend. I just got out of that 10-day dating mistake with that stalker guy.) Umm... well, wow, thank you. But I'm not really looking to have a boyfriend.

Jeremy: (Not giving up.) Well, you've had boyfriends before. And you just went out with that stupid guy. (Referring to stalker.) We get along so well, and we'd be so good together.

Me: (Well, he *does* really like me. I guess I can just humor him for a few months, right?! He is pretty cool to hang out with.) Well, I don't know. I do love to hang out with you.

Jeremy: Great then! Okay. Well, I guess I'll go get my laundry.

Me: (Uhh... so are we together now, or what?!)

We both walked out of the room... I'm pretty sure we were both VERY confused about what had just taken place. We hung out the rest of the day, and he kissed me goodbye (on the cheek) when he left that night. Actually, he got all the way out to his friend's car when I saw him RUNNING back up to my door. With a huge smile on his face, he said, "May I kiss you goodbye?!" I turned my face so he could kiss my cheek. We both smiled and he ran and skipped and shouted with glee... all the way back to his friend. Tee hee.

"I REALLY like him," I thought. "Yeah, we're together now."

Oh, Jeremy. Honey, you are adorable. Thank you for being "stoked" on me. The last seven years have been amazing. Here's to 90 more. :D And who knew that humoring you would land me a SUPER-cool husband?! ;)

(Picture taken a few months after we got together. This is a picture of a picture because I couldn't get the scanner to work. I'll post the better one soon.)

Eating.

I took some photos of Tasha, my neighbor (age 14). I can't wait to scrap them. She is just so beautiful!

I was at a loss as to what to make for dinner tonight so I decided to Google some type of casserole with broccoli and pasta. This is what came up, and it was pretty tasty! I took out the chicken (but still used chicken broth), as we eat vegetarian at home (preparing meat/poultry grosses me out). Decided to share. :)

3 oz. cooked penne or small tube shaped noodles (I used macaroni)
Salt and pepper
3 c. steamed, chopped broccoli
2 1/2 tbsp. butter
1 c. chopped onion
2 cloves chopped garlic
3 tbsp. flour
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 1/2 c. chicken broth
1 1/2 c. whole milk
1 bay leaf
3/4 lb. chicken breast tenders (strips)
Pinch nutmeg
2 tbsp. chopped parsley
1/2 c. cottage cheese (I didn't have this so I left it out... tasted great without it.)
3 tbsp. Parmesan cheese (I think I put more of this on, and it was good!)

In large bowl put cooked pasta and broccoli. Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a sauce pan, heat the butter over medium heat. Add onion and cook for about 3 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and flour; cook for 1 minute. Stir in thyme and then slowly whisk in the broth and milk. Add bay leaf, bring to boil, reduce heat and cook gently for 10 minutes. Add chicken and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until chicken is barely cooked through. Remove from heat and season with salt and pepper and nutmeg. Add to the bowl with the pasta and broccoli along with parsley and stir until mixed. Put casserole into oiled 11 1/2 x 8 inch baking dish. Dot with cottage cheese and sprinkle with Parmesan. Bake for about 20 minutes until heated through and the top is lightly browned.

Enjoy! :D

Loving.

I'm so loving life at this very moment. Funny how a simple call from a friend at 9:30pm can just lift your spirits. Not just a friend. Camille. The epitome of a fabulous girlfriend. The kind of girlfriend who gift-wraps a bottle of nail polish one day... just because she knows I liked that color she had showed me (on her toes!) a week earlier. *sigh*

I can truly say that my life is not the same without her. It is more fabulous because she's my friend, and we enjoy (and savor) every moment together because they are few and far between these days. Camille, you're my best girl, and I heart you much.

Deciding.

I've been so down lately. I haven't been able to decide why. Well, I'm home now... all the time. Okay, all but six hours of my week where I get to take a break from my house and go coach some gymnastics. Those kids are way cute (not when they're screaming, mind you, but cute nonetheless). Oh, and please... for all that is good and precious in this world... please, please do not name your child after a car. Okay, the car Mercedes was named for a person so that doesn't count, but no Toyota, Chevrolet or Nissan. Please? Thank you from the bottom of my heart. :D Because though I LOVE children, and I'm nice to them, and I love working with them, there are just some things I won't do. Sue me. Fire me. I won't call a child the name of a car. Or Princess. Or Hercules. Or Your Highness (yes, there are children named these things)! I digress...

Anyway, I'm home... all the time. And I was thinking... Am I down because being home is reminding me that I can't work or get my Master's degree? I thought that's what it was. Turns out, it's not. I mean, I'm sure that's a part of it. But then my landlord said to me (she's also home because she's sick), "I love being home!" Yes. There it is. Those four words. I need to embrace it.

And by embracing it, I need to get out more. I hung out with my neighbor last night. We had SO much fun! We ended up having so much in common, and we just totally hit it off. And I was smiling... and laughing... and having a great time. And it hit me. YaSeeTimmy. I need to get out more. I'm down because I'm a social person. Well, I'm not down *because* I'm a social person... that sounds silly. I'm down because *though* I'm a social person, I haven't been very social. A complete and utter social butterfly. I need people! So I'm deciding now that I will get out more. I will go to the stamp store (my one stop shop for socialness). I will hold MemoryWorks parties/crops. I'll have people over for dinner. I'll simply take the dogs for a walk downtown.

Decisions are good. *sigh* I feel better.

p.s. YaSeeTimmy... it's from the movie, Speechless. It's the lesson learned. It's that moment you realize you hit the nail on the head.

Learning.

Something I learned yesterday: If I'm feeling down or depressed, cleaning out and organizing my scraproom and/or scrapping always helps. It just makes me feel so good. And I finished 2 1/2 pages! Woohoo! I had SO much fun doing it... the best part. :D

Pondering.

I drive down Post Road often enough. The health food store is there. The Post Office (surprisingly ;) ) is down there. There are shops, ice cream windows, restaurants, pharmacies, retail stores, etc. It's just your typical "get-anything-there" city street (though RI has so few of them).

And every day that I drive down Post Road, I look over to see the empty space where Blockbuster used to be. I've always wondered what it will be next. Though judging by how long it has been vacant, it still could be a bit longer. After all, it *is* Post Road. Rent is probably expensive. The one thought that usually crosses my mind is: "That would make a great scrapbook store location. I wish somebody would open one there. That would just be neat."

There was nothing that special about yesterday's drive down Post Road. Just another Tuesday. I had gone to TJ Maxx with a friend. She needed new bedsheets. We took along her elderly grandmother and her younger (teen-aged) sister. I will be pushing the irrelevent button now. Who I was with has nothing (that I know of) to do with my story. So we parted, hoping to meet for dinner later on that evening. Leaving them always leaves me with a smile on my face. I have never met a family that makes me feel so happy and welcome.

So... as I was saying, there was nothing particularly special about yesterday's drive down Post Road. Just another Tuesday. I passed the Blockbuster as I always had... thinking, "That would make a great scrapbook store!" And then... it hit me. Hey, I could open a scrapbook store of my own! It doesn't necessarily have to be right there in that space, but that would be a wonderful challenge to open a scrapbook store.

Yes, a lot of work. I already have one skeptic. A friend of mine said she had already written up a business plan for one in our area. She said, "You'd have to sell a lot of buttons." Hmmm... not exactly the mentality *I* have. I consider my daily time at sb.com to be "research" for my business. I've been studying buying habits, likes and dislikes of the clientele. And visiting other scrapbook stores (over an hour away) is just a perk of the "research."

We currently have one scrapbook store in Rhode Island. I'm not impressed by it. There are several in Massachusetts, however, that are fabulous. But the one in Rhode Island? The people are very nice and helpful, but I just feel like the selection is much like our local AC Moore. Not many name brands or things that make it stand out. It's a bit cluttered and difficult to walk through.

I have so much on my mind about this. There are so many ideas I have. Hopes I have. We'll see. I mean, I'm just *thinking* about it. It's something to do. And I think it would be wonderful. Yes, it's a big risk. But I think I would rather take that risk knowing that it's something I'm really passionate about, rather than staying at this job that is just mediocre. That thought makes me feel good inside. Like it's a good idea to pursue a dream. After all, my mom is opening up her first bakery at age 54. That's risk! ;)

I'll keep you posted...

CKC Classes

I wanted to summarize each class I took at CKC (and post pics later) because I don't want to forget anything! So... here we go...

1. Basic Grey - Latest & Greatest
We ended up being 20 minutes late to this class so we had already missed TWO layouts. The three LOs were pretty cute. I glued down half of two of them until I decided that I really wanted to do my own thing. The kits were cute though, and I loved that it was BG paper... the reason I took the class. Really no new techniques, but a few pointers so that was nice! All in all, a pretty good class.

2. Shop Your Stash!
My first class with Brittany from CK. She was an excellent teacher; best I had at CK, actually. She felt so comfortable and really knew what she was talking about. Can't say enough good things about her! This class had GREAT pointers, but the unfortunate thing was that we had to memorize all the ideas for using our stash. They didn't print out a list. She just talked about them as we made our accordion mini-books so it was pretty tough to take it all in. The mini-book was pretty cute (black with some bright summer colors), and I was able to grab a pencil and jot down some ideas on the back of my driving directions. (I'm so resourceful! Tee hee.) I wish I could have gotten all the ideas though! *Note to self: Next year, have a small notebook and pencil handy for each class!*

3. LuCKy Girl
My second class with Brittany. We made a mini-book in a CD tin for this class, and I LOVED the papers!! I can't wait to finish this project! She wanted us to make a book with things that made us feel happy, lucky and blessed. She really encouraged us to "sway" from the example book and be creative, and I think that's what I liked best about her teaching style.

4. It's a Girl Thing
These Rusty Pickle papers were adorable!! Shaina and I took this class together (though we didn't get to sit together), and we just had so much fun with this! It was probably the most challenging class for me because there were instructions on putting it together, and since I'm not proficient at making albums in the shapes of handbags, I needed to listen! LOL. I loved that the papers were double-sided so it gave us room to go against the crowd. We didn't have time to decorate the pages, but I didn't mind. I'll have so much fun with this in the coming months! The teacher was great... very witty, laid back, and just downright cool. Her name escapes me for the moment, but she was great. (We we wearing the same RP shirt too!)

5. Shabby Chic Times Three!
Probably my least favorite class, but it had the CUTEST papers!! They were by... umm... shoot! I can't remember! Well, I'll have to find out. (Melissa Frances!) Anyway, these vintage children. Too cute! We traced with this very interesting hexagon thingy. The cutting tool was neat... just a needle on the end of a stick. We wanted to buy some later, but we were out of cash and far from an ATM. Next year! And I MUST get the pack of these papers. They are just too cute. I didn't put the three LOs together yet because they were VERY simple and basic (almost CM style) so I'll have to mix some of my products in and figure out what I'm doing with it. But cute papers. :D

6. 10 Things Every Scrapbooker Should Know
My third and final class from Brittany of CK. This was probably my favorite class. The project was cute (though not my favorite of all), but it gave SO much room to do your own thing. Like I said, I love Brittany's teaching style... or... way of thinking when it comes to "creating" scrap projects. She encouraged us to be our own artist and "do our own thing," which I loved!! I thought more teachers needed to have that philosophy. We learned a great technique... layering punched flowers and curving up the edges for a 3-D look. It looks amazing! And I'll probably do it all the time now. So glad I have the punch we used in class! I also went to Brittany afterward to introduce myself and let her know how fabulous her classes were. Shaina was with me, and she enjoyed meeting her as well. I let Brittany know that someday... I hope to work for CK or SS. :D

7. How Do I Love Thee...
This teacher seemed like she had never taught before. Granted, she *did* say that this was her first time teaching at CKC, but supposedly... teaches at her own scrapbook store. Basically, the class went like this: She handed out the kits and then said, "Let me know if you have any questions!" Now to me... that's not a *class*. That's a place you go to buy a page kit. And if I just wanted a page kit, I would have chosen one from from the Vendor Faire. But I don't buy page kits because I really like to do my own thing. So... that's what I did with what she gave me. The kit was cute. Shaina hated her class during the same block, and she wished she would have gone to this one instead. The kit *is* cute, and I'm kinda excited to put it together, but I wish I would have seen something interesting or new or different in that class. Oh well.

All in all, some good classes. Next year, we've decided that it would be better to maybe take only two or three classes and use the rest of the money to buy stuff or stay the third night. It was nice to take a bunch of classes though... just to see how they are and stuff. We had a great time!

CKC Summary

So... I had a FABULOUS time at CKC. I feel terrible that Kristin didn't enjoy herself, and I feel partly responsible. Shaina and I planned to get there around 8:30, but I only got four hours of sleep so it was SO hard to get out of there on time. (I wanted to sleep as long as possible because I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep again until after midnight [I was right]).

So I'm so bummed that we didn't get to spend more time with her. Not to mention, I was SO not feeling well: tired, moody, hips hurting (even with my cane)... so poor Kristin! I feel bad for her that she had to be with "Not-So-Fun Reyanna." :D My spirits were much higher the next day once I got some sleep!

Shaina and I took three classes the 1st day and four the 2nd day. They were great classes. They did go SUPER fast, but I didn't mind all that much. After the first class, I totally expected it so I tried to read ahead to at least see what the heck we would be doing. LOL.

I pretty much liked everything we did in the classes. The last class I had, the teacher was not what I expected (she just handed our kits to us and said, "Let me know if you have any questions"). It was strange! No new techniques or new info/pointers... nothing! Weird. Kit was cute though. It had a lot of room to be creative and not follow the instructions... I liked that! There was one other class... I didn't like the the technique or LOs, but I really liked the papers so I was happy. :D

All the classes, I really wanted to do my "own thing" in regards to the project. Some left little room to be creative, but I found it challenging (in a good way!) to do something different from the rest of the group. I didn't want to have the same project as 50 other women, you know?! So... once I *finish* all my projects... LOL... I'll take pics and let you all see.

The Vendor Faire was AWESOME! Yes, VERY overwhelming as Kristin said, but we got used to it by the 2nd day. (And I was able to go back and get Kristin the things she wanted, thank goodness.) I took pics of everything I bought! (Love the cute AMM bag!)

The group crops were awesome! I had heard people asking, "is it worth the price?" OH YES!! You get TONS of stuff (the pic without the bag) as you walk in the door, PLUS they have giveaways each night. I won a Card Creations idea book the 2nd night. Shaina won two class giveaways... the lucky duck! And it was so fun to be in the room with about 200 other women... all scrapping away. We met these awesome ladies (one was in her fifties, the other in her early forties) on the first night. They were so fun!

I plan to do LOs of the trip, and it will be VERY detailed so that I don't forget ANYTHING! LOL. I want to remember what I did and didn't like so I can plan better for next year. But it was awesome, and being with Shaina the whole time just made it all the more special. We also got to hang out in the hot tub, which was heavenly. We hope to stay all three nights next year. :D

Scrapbook Organization - Everything Else

Well, we're nearing the end. Some of you may already be finished organizing your scrap spaces, and they're now beautiful works of art. I know we dropped some along the way... LOL. Perhaps every now and then, we'll have a "preventative maintenance" challenge! LOL. Or perhaps we can do a pretty-up-your-space challenge. LOL. I know that I kinda want a new theme... I know, I know, strange. ;-)

So here is what we have left...

STAMPING

Clear stamps

Rubber stamps

Acrylic blocks

Stamp cleaners

EXTRAS

Paint

Stickles

Mod-Podge

Distressing Tools (file set, sanders, etc)

Mini Albums

Cards

Bookmarks

I saw in a lot of the photos in Flickr that these things seem to be the most difficult for people to find homes for. A lot just piled on shelves in front of *other* things that are neatly organized. Tee hee.

I created this rule for things like that. Goes like this... if you have more of two of something, it needs its own home (box, container, etc.). Not really a "rule," more of a guideline. Tee hee. And it's really nothing at all... just something I like to tell myself to stay more organized in my house.

For these things, you COULD just use one big box and label it "Craft Supplies," or "Paint 'N' Things." ;-) You may not have enough room for each thing to have its own small box or container. The Dollar Store is a great place to find small containers for CHEAP. Dirt cheap. I'm talking like... ONE dollar! ;-) (I'm in a silly mood today...)

Stamps are fun to organize. TONS of different ways. Lately people are coming up with new and fun ideas to organize their clear stamps. And you can organize by manufacturer (I DO like to keep all my SC stamps together...) or theme.

Clear stamps go really well in a binder with clear sheet protectors. I bought a box of transparencies from the office supply store, and I use those to stick the stamps on, and then I slide those in to page protectors. Really easy, no hassle kind of system. You can also stamp the stamps on a white sheet of paper to stick behind the stamps, so you know what's in there and where it goes. I tend to just use the original packaging for that. I think I'm just a hoarder of stamps, really. I rarely use them, but I'm glad i have them on hand... you know, just in case... :D

If you're pretty much done with your space, and you have just little "extras" on the shelves and piles of fabric and piles of paint and stuff like that, and you're not sure what to do with it. Throw it all in a big box. You heard me! Just grab a big box (go get a clear, plastic box a la Rubbermaid or go to UPS and get a big cardboard box). Write the comments on a sheet of paper and tape it to the top or the side, so you know what's in there.

You want to do this little trick at the end for several reasons:

1. It will get all this stuff out of the way to make your space look clean and pretty.

2. It will all be in one place, so you can sort through it in spurts (if you would like...).

3. You may find that all these items *should* be together.

4. While looking at all of it, you'll decide that certain things you KNOW you want in a certain place or a certain item you want all by its lonesome.

5. It will get all this stuff out of the way to make your space look clean and pretty. (Okay, I already said this one, but it's really important!)

If there's one thing you take way from this challenge, it's this: Everything needs a home. A *labeled* home. Even if it shares a home with something else, it should have a *designated* home.

I've learned that if things like to pile up in one certain place (for me, it's next to my adhesives and next to my pens), it's good to have a *catch-all* place. I have a small plate (like a saucer) next to my pens and scissors that catches itty-bitty embellishments and photos and shards of paper that I didn't use or I forgot to put back with the kit or whatever. I like this little dish. It's messy in that little dish, but it's *contained mess*, and that makes me happy.

And then next to my adhesives, I was noticing that things were starting to "pile" up as well. So I added a paper sorter (you can get them at Michaels or Joann... it's like a white box with 4 or 5 shelves to place paper). I stick stuff like alpha/embellishment packaging I'm not sure what to do with right then (why can't I throw that stuff away??!?!). Or photos I decided not to use on *that* project. Or papers I *wanted* to use on that project, but didn't. Things like that. It's just a temporary home or catch-all, and i think that EVERY scrapper needs to have at least one of these designated spaces by her (or his) workspace. Something to think about.

Hmm... did I forget anything?! That's all I have to say about that.

BUT... do you have any questions? Or comments? Or anything that is particular challenging you in your space?

Oh, how I do wish I could just fly to everyone's home and do it for you. Seriously, I'm talking to a professional organizer friend of mine (she works at The Container Store with me), and she said if she gets any scrappy/crafty clients, she'll just send them to me, and I was like, "YES, PLEASE!" I'd love to just be let loose in a craft room. Just give me time and a credit card (tee hee, okay, and a budget...), and I'll have at! :D

You guys all did great at this challenge! And I really hope that you upload photos to Flickr, so we can all see those beautiful spaces!

Scrapbook Organization - Storage Solutions

Well, we're nearing the end of the challenge. We only have "Extras" left. That means stamps, mists, cards, Stickles, bookmarks, mini albums, etc... pretty much things you used to "alter" other stuff (or the altering items... I guess we can split that into two sections if you wanted...). BUT we won't be doing that for these next two weeks.

I was asked by Wendy Smedley to do a Q&A for her organization class at BPS. I spent A LOT of time on this (posted at my blog), and I decided it was all pretty useful for this challenge! So... go here to my blog to see it.

I have TONS of suggestions for storage solutions, plus photos of my own space. And on the SC blog this last week, there were TONS of ideas!

What are your favorite storage solutions?

What have you been using so far?

Go down your list (embellishments, trimmer, pens, papers, etc), type them up here, and let us know!

Did you come up with other ideas you decided not to use? Let us know!

Are you stuck?! Do you need *more* ideas for certain items? Ask us... we'll brainstorm and come up with something!

Share your ideas and solutions with us! I can't wait to see! :)

**Also, in the next two weeks... once a day (if you can), go to the messiest area of your house (doesn't have to be your scrap space). Set a timer for 15 minutes, and put away as MUCH stuff as you can! Or... grab a box or laundry basket. Go through your house and pick up ONLY the items that go in to the kitchen. Or ONLY the items that go into the bedrooms. Then spend 15 minutes another day putting that stuff away. Wait till you see how much you get done in just 15 minutes! (The timer really does encourage you to go faster!)

Get the kids in on this! When I was a nanny, this was the kids' favorite game! LOL. They didn't want to clean up their toys, unless they were being timed! Super fun. :)

Good luck!

Scrapbook Organization - Tools & Essential Staples

Hello Organizers!

Are you ready to dive into your tools and essential staples?!

TOOLS

Punches

Heat Gun

Deco Scissors

Hole Punches (hand held or Crop-A-Dile)

Eyelet Setter

Circle/Shape Cutter

Die-Cut Machines and Accessories

STAPLES

Trimmers

Rulers

Everyday scissors

Craft Knife

Pens

Markers/Colored Pencils

Adhesives

(Feel free to add any others to your own list.)

Last week, in a desperate need to simplify my life, I decided to purge a WHOLE bunch of scrapbook supplies. I would have thought that wouldn't include too many of my tools, but I was wrong.

I think tools are one of the most difficult things for people to purge and organize. Well, they are for me! I think the thing that helped me most... is really sitting down (or you know, standing up) to figure out HOW much I use them, WHERE in my scrap space I use them, and WHEN (in my creative process) I use them. These questions helped me SO much went I went about organizing them.

I do know this about tools... the ones you use (or want to/like to use) ALL the time, should be at arm's reach, or you won't use them. So pretty much what I did... I got rid of all punches, shape cutters and deco scissors that I never use. If you keep these things thinking, "But what if I *DO* need this some day?!" you're going to just collect stuff you never use.

Seriously, if you haven't used it in a year, get rid of it. Give it to a friend (or your kids or your garage...), and if you need it, just borrow it from them. And then if you need one down the road, and you feel like you're *constantly* saying, "I wish I had this!" then go buy it. It feels good to purge things you don't use. :) (And you don't feel guilty for not having tools you're not using.) I promise... if you get rid of something you don't ever use, you won't miss it, and you'll forget you even had it! LOL.

Also, tools... are a bit cumbersome. Some are fun to play with, but sometimes you're just in this crafting "groove," and the thought of taking the time to get the tools out and actually use them is more work than you want. And... you may feel like it's not worth the work, so you just skip the tool usage.

THIS is why I keep all my tools in OPEN storage containers, baskets or bins. (Tools don't have to have any fancy storage.) This way, I can reach over and grab something quickly. I don't have to pull something off a shelf, open a box, etc. My heat gun with embossing powders (which are rarely used) do sit on a top shelf, but they're also in an open container, so if I do need them, everything is RIGHT there.

Right next to my Making Memories trimmer (that sits on a table), I keep my Creative Memories photo trimmer, other portable trimmers, my rulers, and a 3-hole punch... and they all sit in an open basket:

I've used this for the past two years, and it REALLY works for me. Grab and go. I don't have to open a drawer or open a box, and I LOVE that. Tools already take long enough to use... I don't need that extra time needed to actually GET to them. LOL.

The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker suggests doing a layout or two (like... right now) to decide which tools you use ALL the time. My suggestion is that while you are working on a layout, keep a shoebox (or container that size) on your table or down on the floor at your feet. As you use tools, throw them in that box while you're not using them. Then at the end of your creating process, look at what's in that box. What did you use? What did you use the most? And think about keeping all those things together from now on.

Simple Scrapbooks magazine's "Basic Tool Kit" includes:

portable paper trimmer

small scissors (I use Cutter Bee)

black archival journaling pen (I use Copic blows ZIG out of the water)

pencil (I use an archival safe one from Creative Memories)

pencil sharpener

art gum eraser

paper adhesive

photo adhesive

portable container to hold above tools (try these Stockholm boxes)

If you only use three main adhesives on every layout and maybe two journaling pens, it's okay to keep those in one place or in your portable container, and then keep the rest of all your pens and refill adhesives in a closed container up on a shelf some place. (I have a set of two drawers that stay up on a shelf. One drawer holds extra pens/markers/pencils and the other holds random adhesive I don't use much, plus refills for the ones I do.)

If you feel like you don't have enough space for your supplies and how you want to organize them, then think UP. Shelves above your workspace can create SO much more room. Once I installed shelving (elfa from The Container Store, which goes on sale 30% off - tomorrow through May 10th), I couldn't believe the extra space I created. Even if you have only one corner of a room, you can use shelves as high as your wall.

Underneath my work space (I'm a standing scrapper), I have a small basket that holds punches:

And then my deco scissors and Fiskars punches (which I use on just about every layout), are kept in this cute open container on a shelf right at eye level:

I keep my punches (organized by shape... one container for circles, one for squares, and one for flowers/hearts/stars/etc) in these canvas bins from The Container Store. Those bins are in a row on the floor under my computer space, but still within reach. I LOVE punches, and I use them ALL the time. I used to have them in a closed box on a shelf, but because punches are heavy, it was more practical for me to store them down low.

The Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker also suggests keeping tools hidden away in drawers or closed boxes or closets... because they are usually unsightly and can be an eye-sore to a "pretty" scrap space. I just wanted to mention this as well because not everyone organizes and stores things the same, and this may be an option you'd prefer.

For more photos of my scrap space, visit the December archives of my blog. :)

I hope everyone has fun organizing their tools and staples! I can't wait to see what everyone does! If you post your photos to our Flickr group, let us know, so we can go see!

p.s. I've decided to post challenges on the 14th and 28th of each month from now on. I don't know about you ladies (and gents?), but those days are always bittersweet for me. I'm excited for Reveals, but then I have to wait 14 more days for the *next* Reveal. LOL! So I thought this would be fun... keep us busy for those 14 days, and also give us something to look forward to after the Reveals are Revealed.

Scrapbook Organization - Paper

CARDSTOCK and PATTERNED PAPER

When I first started scrapping, I didn't put too much thought into how I'd store my paper. I saw people using the wire cubes (from Target) with zip ties to create 1.5" shelves to horizontally store paper.

This system works for a lot of people. It's easy. It's cost effective, and you can see your paper. You can also buy cubes (Michaels, Jo-Ann, Container Store, etc) that have paper shelves already in them. Purchasing plastic and wire paper shelves (like stores use) are also great options.

I decided that I didn't like that the paper was "loose" just sitting on a shelf. I needed it contained. I was SO thrilled when I found the Cropper Hopper Vertical Storage holders. They are perfect for me.

First I just used one or two for all my cardstock, and separated the colors by 12x12 tabs that you could buy to fit in the holders. Then I found the Cropper Hopper Paper Pouches, and they worked great! One pouch for each color.

This system worked wonders for me. If I needed yellow cardstock, I'd grab the yellow Paper Pouch. I had all my yellow cardstock in that one Pouch, so I didn't have loose cardstock floating all over my desk.

I soon outgrew those and moved on to the Vertical Storage holders, again, one per color (well, orange and yellow share, as do black and brown. I keep my cardstock in ROY G BIV order (pink after red and brown/black/white to follow violet).

These are just a few ways to store your paper. You can also keep them in page protectors in an album. Or a 12x12 accordion file. Or a hanging file folder solution.

If you have minimal time to scrap or you often scrap away from home, picking out your cardstock each time you get new patterned paper may also be an idea. Some websites have cardstock colors already chosen (takes out the guess-work) that coordinate with certain lines. So when you go to a certain kit or paper collection, you'd have the coordinating cardstock already there with it!

You could also keep all your red patterned papers with all your red cardstock... instead of having patterned paper and cardstock separated.

In addition to sorting by color, you could also sort your cardstock by manufacturer and/or texture. There are SO many textures out there now. At CHA, I noticed American Crafts have added several new textures (including silk!), and I can't wait to try them!

Organizing and storing patterned paper can be tricky, but there are two ways that are most common: organizing by color and organizing by manufacturer. I have most my paper sorted by manufacturer, but there is just a bit that I sort by color (lesser known brands, ones I don't use often, or the "by the sheet" from the larger chain stores).

I love project folders or envelopes to store my patterned paper. They can hold scraps and anything else that coordinates, and I love that. What's even better is that usually the Cropper Hopper Vertical Storage holders can hold folders or envelopes.

These project folders or envelopes are great for holding full collections (like those from Basic Grey, for example) or whole kits (like Studio Calico!)... so everything is together, in one place when you need it.

You can store your patterned paper in the same container as your cardstock... or not. Vertically or horizontally. It amazes me how the possibilities are endless when it comes to storage. Everyone is different... try different things to see what works best for you!

SCRAPS

Unless you throw away all your scraps (does anyone do that?!), you’ll need to decide on a storage solution for your scraps… both patterned paper and cardstock.

I love keeping all my patterned paper scraps in their original home. I keep them in small acid free envelopes inside Craft Keeper envelopes or project pouches. If they’re larger scraps, you can just drop them back in with the patterned paper.

Patterned paper scraps can be incorporated with your cardstock scraps, or you can keep them separate. You can separate them by color, or keep all the colors together.

Accordion files work great for organizing scraps. You can buy a small accordion file (used for bills or coupons) to house smaller scraps and keep the larger scraps with the original patterned papers and cardstock papers. You can also purchase larger accordion files (8.5x11 or 12x12) for scraps. These are pretty easy to find, and they take up relatively little space.

You can also store scraps in hanging file folders. Most office supply stores… and The Container Store… these days sell portable or desktop filing systems. I found this works great because you can take out a whole file folder (full of, say, blue scraps) and bring it to your workspace. They’re all nicely contained, and you can keep it there until you’re finished digging through it to find just the right scrap. :) With both the hanging file folder and accordion file method, you can usually have enough room to hold both cardstock and patterned paper scraps together.

If you decide to store your cardstock in Cropper Hopper Vertical Storage holders or Paper Pouches, you can keep scraps in a 2nd Cropper Hopper Paper Pouch or a project holder (or sticker holder) to keep them close to your cardstock.

I find that the more accessible my scraps are, the more I use them. So the closer they are to my patterned paper and cardstock, the better.

You could also keep scraps in Sterilite drawers or clear plastic “project cases.” If you keep these containers close to your other papers, again, you’re more likely to use them.

How someone else stores their scraps may not work for you. You may use your scraps for only cards or mini books. You could create a special container/drawer/basket/bucket full of supplies for cards and mini books… and this place could include all your scraps.

Whichever route you choose, choose what’s best for you and how *you* scrap.

Scrapbook Organization - Intro

I thought we'd take the first week to get everyone here, signed in (although if you come in later and want to join in, just jump right in! Everyone is welcome! :D), and write down our organizational goals! So... if you'd like to join the challenge (or have an organized space and want to be a cheerleader), please post ONCE with your goals and survey (or to "save" your spot)! :)

Once we have a majority of people signed on, we can start "chatting," but for now... we'll just chat *about* this thread in one of the other threads regarding this challenge. This will help keep everyone's goals at the beginning of the thread and therefore, easier to go back and edit and look at. :)

And here is a list of things that are nice to have on hand while we're doing this challenge. You don't HAVE to have these things, but this made it easier for me. :)

1. THINGS YOU NEED

Journal or Notebook with pen (attached to journal! I'll show a tutorial on my blog this week.)

Labels (temporary or permanent... post-its, sticky, pre-sticky tags, etc)

Ziploc bags (sandwich-sized and/or snack sized)

Temporary containers (shoe boxes, unused photo boxes, gift bags, that box that chocolates came in, whatever...)

Inspiration (I have an exercise for this too...)

2. GOALS

Now it's time to write down our goals! Goals like... paint room, set up new shelves, re-organize flowers, etc... I mean obviously I'll cover everything in our "program" (tee hee), but it's nice to have personal goals, so you can cross them off as you go. This way, it will support you *as* you go and encourage you to *keep* going! :) PLUS, it will help all of us keep up with you.

We are in this together! We all want to be here for support and encouragement! For this reason, please post before photos as soon as you can (on your blog or gallery or wherever). And no cleaning it up for photos either! That IS NOT allowed! LOL. I don't care if you have cookie sheets and kitty litter boxes in your space right now... it's photo time! :D

3. SURVEY!

(Questions that will help you organize better and choose storage containers accordingly.)

Do you need everything uniform (storage containers all one color or material)?

Do you want things visible and open? Not visible and open? Closed and visible? Closed and not visible? (these questions taken from Organized and Inspired Scrapbooker)

What’s working for you (organizational-wise)?

What’s not working for you?

What do you need to have close-by?

What inspires you?

What do you think will be the most challenging when organizing your space?

What specific thing are you most excited about?

Do you have a color scheme or theme? If so, what is it? If not, do you want one?

4. EXERCISE 1!

Think of your favorite patterned paper... ever. You know, that one line or collection that came out, and you said to yourself, “This is SO me!” Or “Holy Cow! This is so beautiful, I don’t even want to cut into it!” Or “Wow, this is awesome! Can’t wait to cut into this!” Or maybe you were just in awe, “I think I’ll just frame it. No cutting. No gluing. Just framing.” You know what I mean?!

Basic Grey’s Periphery was this way for me. I saw it, and I just... knew. I knew those colors and that feeling. When I look at it, I just feel so... at home and happy that there’s *that* kind of beauty in this world. :) I tried different looks and color schemes for my space, but I kept going back to it. I finally just gave in.

So find that one piece of paper or line. And make a project. RIGHT.NOW. A mini book, an altered box, a layout, a card, a home decor item. Heck, just frame it if need be. And once this task is completed, put it up in your space some place (preferably up out of the craziness). THIS will be your inspiration till we’re done with your room! Even if you don't want THESE colors/patterns for your room, it's good to be inspired!

If you already scrapped it, see if you can go out and buy another. If you can’t, get something out that you have made with it. Oh, and don’t forget to show it to us! We’re all in this together. ;)

***So hopefully, everyone will have these exercises completed in the first week. HAVE FUN! :D I will post all the challengers on this post, so we know ALL who is participating! :D