PL2022 - Week 3 | Sahlin Studio

Week 3 of my project life album is mostly photos with a few embellishments. 

Proof that you don't need much to capture your stories or memories. 

• The memes going around right now, about Covid shots and boosters... They're so funny. And thankfully we can still laugh. 
• Chicken wings in the air-fryer have been perfected. Now to try some new flavours. 
• Barry and I spent the week isolating. So very boring. On the last day, we ventured out to the car wash. 
• Love watching Madelyn in the kitchen. She's becoming a fine little baker. 
• Stopped for burgers after Mason's hockey game. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

PM [essentials]: fasteners: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Essentials-Fasteners.htm

PL2022 - Week 1 | Sahlin Studio

Here is week 1 of my newest project life album. 

The four of us spent New Year's Eve together again this year, and I just want to say, I don't take that for granted for one minute. I might have spent my last new years with my parents the year I was 17.... And that's a big maybe. I spent a lot of time with friends and or boyfriends. 

Things were different when I was a teen. You went out. You got together with friends. You hung out. 

I'm so thankful that we get to spend this quality time with our kids, and each year I know the time is numbered. This year we had appies and played games together. We watched the Calgary countdown at midnight, and welcomed in 2022 together. 

I hope this year heads in the right direction. The last few years sucked balls. 

• We go through so much hot chocolate during the winter. It's Madelyn's favourite.
• New Year's Eve with my peeps. 
• The sunsets have been spectacular lately. 
• Miss Libby, finding a place to sun herself inside. 
• Still get so much joy from watching Mason play hockey. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Magazine: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Photo-Journal-Templates-Magazine.html

Year of Templates - 2021 | Sahlin Studio

As I'm sure you're aware, Sahlin Studio offers a free template each month. No strings attached, if you want it, you have the whole month to download it for free. 

At the end of the year she compiles the templates into a 'package'. Well, that 'package'  is now on sale. 

Although I love to create my own unique pages, I LOVE that templates are a jumping off point for any quick memory I want to include. Just add and go... So quick and easy. 

Here's a look at the layouts I created using the 2021 templates:

January:

[Little did I know, at the start of 2021 that it would stink even worse than 2020 did]

February:

March:

April: 

May:

[So thankful I have this layout and memory captured]

June:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November: 

December: 

All templates and digital product is Sahlin Studio. 

PL2021 - Week 37 | Sahlin Studio

Week 37 of my project life album.

The pandemic that just keeps going...

• One thing I look forward to in the fall is the cotton candy sunrises and sunsets we get. So pretty. 
• Yet another state of emergency declared because of Covid and the demand on our health system.
• Madelyn's canoe day with her Trex group. 
• Barry and I spent some much needed time in the woods. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

PM See Ya Real Soon - Kit: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-See-Ya-Real-Soon-Elements.html

PM See Ya Real Soon - J. Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-See-Ya-Real-Soon-Journal-Cards.html

 

PL2021 - Week 36 | Sahlin Studio

Week 36 was a bit heavy. 

It's almost impossible to believe that it's been 20 years since the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre buildings in New York. We watched quite a lot of documentaries this week. Some I'd seen, some I hadn't. Watching that happen again, is like reliving it over again. 

20 years later, it's still hard to remember.

• Madelyn is ever so hopeful this 12 ft skeleton will make it's way with us. [She's talked about it for the past year]
• Flowers in the garden are peaking.
• Enjoying  nights outside.
• Remembering...
• Mad went to the first high school football game with a friend. She is bound and determined to get some 'high school experiences in' in light of how crazy everything is with Covid. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used:

PM Vibes Elements: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Vibes-Elements.html

PM Vibes J. Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Vibes-Cards.html

PL2021 - Week 35 | Sahlin Studio

Week 35 of my project life album. 

This week basically signifies the end of summer, and the start of school.

Even though we had an amazing summer, it's hard to say goodbye to it. The days getting noticeably shorter, the evenings cooling off... 

Here's my page:

• First day of Grade 11. 
• Miss Libby, surveying her space.
• On owl look out.
• A pop and a catch up after work. 
• Still not scared of critters. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Flashback elements - https://the-lilypad.com/store/flashback-kit.html

Flashback J. Cards - https://the-lilypad.com/store/flashback-journal-cards.html

PL2021 - Week 34 | Sahlin Studio

Today is October 1st. September went by in a flash. 

We've been enjoying the loveliest weather. There are even some trees with leaves still on them. Slowly changing colour. We don't take autumn for granted around here. Or the the way the changing leaves beautify everything. Some years it freezes and sadly, the leaves just fall off the trees. 

I still have tomatoes growing on my deck. We haven't even had a killing frost yet. I consider that very lucky. 

Here's week 34 of my project life album:

Mason showing the blanket he made for his sweetheart.

Kids that came into the kitchen wearing band shirts from the same band. 

A trial run on the bus.

Is anyone going to buy Covid stuffies? Please say no...

An outdoor birthday gathering to celebrate August birthdays. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

PM Celebrate Paper: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Celebrate-Papers.html

PM Celebrate Elements: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Celebrate-Elements.html

PL2021 - Week 33 | Sahlin Studio

Each month Sahlin Studio has a featured product for sale. This month it happens to be the Project Mouse Wilderness collection. [Click on link to go to the sale page] 

You can pick up the entire bundle, or pick and choose whatever elements you may want. Whatever tickles your fancy. Being the featured product means it's on sale for 40% off regular price. Prices are in effect until the end of September, don't wait too long! 

Here is my week 33 project life page, using this collection: 

• Our flowers look so good this year!
• Together Barry and Madelyn painted the bat box they made. 
• A visit in the woods that did my heart good. 
• Finding a lost treasure.
• Watching the storm roll in from the back yard. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

PM Wilderness Elements: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Wilderness-Elements.html

PM Wilderness J. Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Wilderness-Journal-Cards.html

PM Wilderness - Word Art: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Wilderness-Word-Art.html

PL2021 - Week 32 | Sahlin Studio

Summer is officially winding down for us. Kids have headed back to school. The days are getting shorter. Leaves are beginning to turn colour. As with the spring season, I wish our fall lasted longer. I wish we could stretch it out across several months.  

Fingers crossed we get a nice warm September to enjoy. Maybe even October. Winter will be upon us before we know it. 

For now, here is week 32 of my project life album, still documenting our summer days...

• I've had a little bit of garden success this year. It's been fun enough I'll try again next year.
• Madelyn and Barry finally built the bat box they've been talking about for the past few years. 
• Libby loves to be chased. Mason was a willing chaser.
• The smoke-haze... It seems to be our new regular summer occurrence.
• Enjoying coffee outside in the morning, every chance I get. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

https://the-lilypad.com/store/SS-Summer-Stories-Kit.html

https://the-lilypad.com/store/SS-Summer-Stories-Journal-Cards.html

PL2021 - Week 31 | Sahlin Studio

I used PM Wilderness collection, to document this weeks project life page. 

You're in luck! Project Mouse: Wilderness happens to be the featured product through September from Sahlin Studio. On sale for 40% off, through the entire month. 

If you happen to be outdoorsy, it's a great collection. I also wanted to show how flexible it can be. Here is week 31 of my project life album. 

• Barry the bird whisperer [and very interested Libby]
• Dropping Mad off at her week long CALM camp. 
• Celebrating Baba's birthday.
• What the mountains looked like for most of the month. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

PM Wilderness Elements: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Wilderness-Elements.html

PM Wilderness J. Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Wilderness-Journal-Cards.html

PL2021 - Week 30 | Sahlin Studio

A look at my project life spread for week 30.

I used photo journal templates to capture a few words right on the photos. I tend to do that a lot, but this gives specific space for it.  Some times less words make for better stories. 

• Libby loves to be in the yard when we're out there. 
• Quite a bit of owl activity in the neighbourhood this summer. 
• Made some rhubarb scones with white chocolate chips. They tasted better than they looked. 
• Bar works so hard in the yard, which at this time of year shows. 
• A visit with family we haven't seen in over a year.

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

 

Photo Journal No. 3: http://sahlinstudio.com/new-in-the-shop-photo-journal-templates-stamps/

Flashback Elements: https://the-lilypad.com/store/flashback-elements.html

Flashback J. Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/flashback-journal-cards.html

PL2021 - Week 29 | Sahlin Studio

Considering how low key our life has been since March 2020, this week was jam packed with fun. 

We saw Black Widow in the theatre. Finally. It was supposed to be released last year, but was of course, pushed back. We easily booked seats on line and were able to secure 4 spots together. The movie was good. I'm already looking forward to watching it again, so I can pick up on the things I missed. 

It's been so much fun watching my little container garden explode with growth. My herbs are growing like crazy, as are my tomatoes. I can't wait until they're ready to eat. I also grew a zucchini plant [so far 2 decent sized zucchinis] and a pumpkin plant which has been winding it's way down the fence. 

• We watched the NHL hockey draft and we're really sorry to see Gio go...
• Seats and snacks, ready to watch Black Widow.
• We met up with the Wick's to celebrate Xmas Adam in July. I mean, why not? All the furniture and electronic stores are doing it. 
• My vegetable bounty. 
• Mad's trip to Calaway Park. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

You are Here Kit: https://the-lilypad.com/store/you-are-here-kit.html

You are Here J. Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/you-are-here-journal-cards.html

PL2021 - Week 28 | Sahlin Studio

Flashback to week 28 of my project life album. 

The first few week of July was super hot and humid. 

Then the hot stayed, but the smoke settled in. We've been luckier some days than others, but it's been relatively hot and smoky. Not an awesome combination. 

• I will never tire of these sweet wild flower bouquets that get brought home to me. I suspect my days for getting them are numbered.
• Floating down the little red deer river, it was just as much fun as promised. Thanks Carrie!
• On the nights we get a sunset, the hazy skies put on a show. Other nights the sun just disappears. 
• Snuck Madelyn in to her first 18+ event. [That is certainly a picture of good parenting] It did help to know a guy in the band... Who in turn knew the event coordinator. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

https://the-lilypad.com/store/SS-Summer-Stories-Kit.html

https://the-lilypad.com/store/SS-Summer-Stories-Journal-Cards.html

PL2021 - Week 27 | Sahlin Studio

It's been approximately 3 weeks, since we've seen clear skies that are the colour blue.

I know we should consider ourselves very lucky, as British Columbia is fighting so many out of control forest fires. There are places that have been obliterated by fire. It's heart breaking. 

But the weird hot temperatures and grey skies, they're not much fun. Again, we've been fairly lucky because it's smokey, but hasn't smelled really bad, except for a couple of days.

It kind of feels like summer is over. Each hot grey day fades into the next. It's getting darker earlier and earlier, but the last week or so, the sun just kind of disappears behind the clouds/smoke haze. It's been kind of depressing actually. 

Having said that, at least we're not in danger, and so many are. Sending our prayers to all those in places we know and love in BC. 

Here's week 27 of my album: 

• These phones... I both love them and hate them simultaneously. I sometimes wish we'd never had them. They consume so much time and energy. And there are so many fights about their use. Which seems to be all. The. Time. Grrr...
• A very dramatic hair before and after. 
• Rhubarb gin. Enough said. Soooooo good. Barry was skeptical until first sip. Trying to figure how we can make enough to last throughout the winter. Another summer in a cup drink. [Gin and Tonic will likely always be #1 in my heart, but this is a very close 2nd] 
• This dog currently [as in at time of posting this in August] STILL SMELLS LIKE SKUNK.

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Highs and Lows - Kit: https://the-lilypad.com/store/highs-and-lows-kit.html 

Highs and Low - J. Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Highs-and-Lows-Journal-Cards.html

August 2021 Template Freebie | Sahlin Studio

We're already into August, and that means it's time for another Sahlin Studio template freebie. [to download template, follow this link, free through all of August]

Here's the template: 

And here's how I used it. 

I love the simplicity of adding a few photos, choosing paper and elements. 

This came together quickly, and we now have photo proof of Mason's 19th birthday. [How is that even possible?]

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Template: http://sahlinstudio.com/free-digital-scrapbooking-template-sketch-august-21/

PM No. 2 - Papers: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-No.2-Papers.html

PM No. 2 - Elements: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-No.2-Elements.html

PM No. 2 - Word Art: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-No.2-Word-Bits.html

PL2021 - Week 26 | Sahlin Studio

Week 26 means we've made it halfway through the year. 

Wow, halfway through 2021, which seems crazy. 

Here's week 26, which included a photo to flip open for a little bit more story and journaling. 

We had a crazy heat wave our first week of July. It was stupid hot. I got irritable with the heat. At first we all escaped to the basement to feel cool. Then the basement stopped feeling so cool. If these temperatures get to be a regular thing, it's not looking good for our keeping cool... 

We have spent a lot of time this year sitting with our feet in buckets of cold water. It works really well to help you cool down.  

• Air cast is off, thank goodness. 
• Sitting outside I happened to capture this awesome photo of the rays of sun coming out behind the clouds.
• More talk about the 'heatwave'.
• Libby met nose to nose with a skunk. In our backyard, the meeting did NOT go well. 
• Celebrating Mason's birthday with a legal gathering inside our house. 

The following Shalin Studio products were used: 

PM Vibes Elements: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Vibes-Elements.html

PM Vibes J. Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Vibes-Cards.html

PM Vibes Word Art: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Vibes-Word-Art.html

PL2021 - Week 25 | Sahlin Studio

We're smack dab in the middle of summer right now, and we just can't seem to catch a break.

First we had heat warnings in place. The end of June and first part of July were sooooo hot. We're just not used to temperatures in the high 30's. 

Now, we have air quality warnings, as there are fires surrounding us in every province and state. It's cloudy/hazy/smoky. It's hot and muggy and no one wants to spend much time outside, breathing in the smoky air.

Here's week 25. In the midst of our heat wave. Without the smoke filled skies:

• As temperatures soar, we've spent a lot of evenings in the yard, trying to stay cool. 
• Nose Hill is so green. It makes my heart happy.
• New phone photos, using the portrait mode. Feeling so, so lucky. 
• This guy turned 19 this week. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

PM Beginnings - Elements: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Beginning-Elements.html

PM Beginnings - J. Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Beginning-Journal-Cards.html

PL2021 - Week 24 | Sahlin Studio

Week 24 of my project life album was super quick and easy. I used photo template journals for a few of these photos. 

So easy to drag and drop and then add some words. 

Sometimes, the simpler the process is, the better. 

• Morning snuggles is pretty routine.
• Libby came nose to beak with this little magpie fledgling. Part of me wishes they'd become best friends like they do in a Disney movie. But I'm pretty certain that in real life, this little bird wouldn't stand a chance...
• Madelyn dressed up for the ickie awards at school.
• A quick story about the mailbox we've had for 16 years.
• Rain and sunshine. I love it when this happens. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

photo journal template No. 2: http://sahlinstudio.com/photo-journal-no-2-templates/

PM [Essentials] Fasteners: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Essentials-Fasteners.html

PL2021 - Week 23 | Sahlin Studio

Sahlin Studio's featured product for July is Summer Stories. 

Download this collection for 35% off, anytime during the month. It's perfect to use, especially if you have any stories pertaining to summer that you might want to document and remember. I love the colours and whimsy it offers. I know I'll use it multiple times this summer.  

I used on week 23 of my project life album: 

• She is getting around surprisingly well, on one foot. 
• Little fledgling magpie. 
• Celebrating Ama's birthday.
• Mason made a trip to the mountains with friends, they successfully hiked a hike rated difficult. He came home exhausted. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

https://the-lilypad.com/store/SS-Summer-Stories-Kit.html

https://the-lilypad.com/store/SS-Summer-Stories-Journal-Cards.html

PL2021 - Week 22 | Sahlin Studio

This project is about keeping track of life. 

All of it. 

The big things as well as the little things. 

This week took a turn we didn't expect, that had Barry and I taking Madelyn to the Children's Hospital. The verdict? A broken ankle. So not fun. 

• Mad's first significant injury, resulting in a trip to the hospital. She broke her ankle while trying to climb a tree.
• The weather has been unseasonably warm. I think I heard the farmers almanac give us a hot dry summer... Time will tell. 
• The pollen is out and it is EVERYWHERE.
• Caught this photo of Mason watching our nearby baby robin family. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

https://the-lilypad.com/store/the-everyday-routine-journal-cards.html

https://the-lilypad.com/store/the-everyday-routine-kit.html