PL2018 - Weeks 40, 41 & 42

My mum held the fort down at home, while Barry and I spent a week out at the West Coast, in Sooke, celebrating our 20th Anniversary. We had such a nice get away, even the weather cooperated for us. The last time we were out there as a family, we were met with typhoon-like conditions. It was October then too, so we counted ourselves as pretty darn lucky.    

Week 40:

• I don't think I could ever get tired of beach pictures. 
• I also don't think I could ever get tired of beach combing and beach art. 
• There was the excitement of what I'm calling 'SNO-ctober' while we were away. Kids both had a snow day, which was fun for everyone. 
• We celebrated on the beach with some bubbly one night, where we were rewarded with the most magnificent sunset. 

Weeks 41 & 42 combined:

• A trip to the Rothney Observatory with Trex.
• We took Mason to the open house at SAIT, just so he can be a bit informed. 
• First ringette tourney of the season for Adrenaline, they lost all their games in the Lonnie Krahn, but had a lot of fun doing so.  
• Another marvellous sunset over the foothills and mountains. 
• Family photos, while celebrating Barry's parents 60th Wedding Anniversary. 

The following Sahlin Studio product was used: 

Week 40

Calendar Card Stamps: http://the-lilypad.com/store/2018-Calendar-Cards-Stamps.html

Kindred Journal Cards: http://the-lilypad.com/store/Kindred-Journal-Cards.html

Kindred Kit: http://the-lilypad.com/store/Kindred-Kit.html

Weeks 41 & 42

Calendar Card Stamps: http://the-lilypad.com/store/2018-Calendar-Cards-Stamps.html

4x6 photo templates vol. 1- https://the-lilypad.com/store/4x6-Photo-Templates-Vol-1.html

Everyday Routine Elements:  http://the-lilypad.com/store/the-everyday-routine-elements.html

Everyday Routine - Journal Cards - http://the-lilypad.com/store/the-everyday-routine-journal-cards.html

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

It's that time of year again!

I have begun to put together my December Daily foundation pages.

You might recall back in September, I talked briefly about December Daily. This is one project that I anticipate and love to do. Love it. I always get a bit nostalgic when I bring out my DD albums from past years, and see just how little my kids once were.

I mean come on...

How is it even possible that this sweet boy now towers over me, and this little girl is only a few inches away from looking at me right in the eye? Seriously, how on earth has that happened so fast? Seeing photos printed and in an album, make me so happy that I took the time to do this, and to see it through to finished.

When the kids were little, the Sears Christmas Wishbook was definitely the first sign that Christmas was fast approaching.

The photo above, of them going through the wishbook page by page, making notes about what they hoped to ask Santa for...  My heart. Seriously. It still explodes when I look at this photo.

One thing that remained the same for me and the kids, was the Sears Wishbook. I remember it showing up at the house. I was mesmerized by the pages of things, from childhood through adulthood. I ordered a lot of things from Sears over the years, because of that Christmas Wishbook. I'm glad the kids got to experience the wishbook the same way I did. Sadly, that's one tradition that has been lost, now that Sears is no longer a thing. I'm glad the kids got to have it for a few years at least, when the magic of Christmas was at it's peak.

They don't pay too much attention to toy store ads anymore, although recently a rather exciting glossy  Christmas flyer arrived from Toys R Us, both kids took their time going through it page by page. Once a kid, always a kid!

Now that we've hit mid-november, I've begun to put my foundation pages together for this years December Daily album.  I'm using a 6x8 album that I had stashed away. I did have to order some page protectors for it, but vowed this year not to purchase anything new. My goal this year is to use what I have.

And then then Sahlin Studio released this new collection: Home for the Holidays

Seriously... I'm swooning over this collection. The journal cards, the paper, the elements, the numbers. There's a lot that is swoon-worthy. I'm smitten.

How lucky am I? Because I'm part of the creative team, I've been playing with this! I have to say,  so far it's been fabulous!

Here's a few pages:

I wanted to be able to see the 'tree of words' underneath the page protector. This gives you a rough idea of the look I'm going for.  The paper I used on the 'M' is very tiny. I think I'll enlarge it slightly , and perhaps change the colour of some of the sentiments on the page. I'm still tinkering with this, and it's not completed quite yet.

This year, I'm going for simple. And repetition. 

I'm excited to see how the album will turn out. So far, I love it. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

https://the-lilypad.com/store/Home-for-the-Holidays-Elements.html

https://the-lilypad.com/store/Home-for-the-Holidays-Journal-Cards-1.html

https://the-lilypad.com/store/Home-for-the-Holidays-Journal-Cards-2.html

https://the-lilypad.com/store/December-Days-No-4-Numbers.html

November Template Freebie

It's that time again, to introduce the free template from Sahlin Studio! This template is free to download through the month of November, to do so, just follow this link. 

This template really spoke to me. [Let's be honest, most of them do] Because I'd just been away with Barry, celebrating our 20th anniversary, I knew I wanted to feature a photo of us in this space. 

Here is the original template:  

Here is my take on it: 

Love documenting the story of us celebrating our anniversary, in our happy place. 

I'm so happy I have these photos and stories. I'm so glad I still love doing this memory keeping as much now, and when I first began nearly 20 years ago. 

The following Sahlin Studio product was used: 

https://the-lilypad.com/store/Gather-Kit.html

https://the-lilypad.com/store/Gather-Journal-Cards2.html

PL2018 - Week 39

Week 39 really wasn't that long ago. This week was a busy one, lots of running around. At this point Mason had been on the ice for a number of evaluations, but still didn't have any information as to placement. Hoping to hear early into the next week. 

It was also the week that Barry and I were looking forward to our little get away. 

• We celebrated Barry's birthday, by making him BBQ his own steak. He chose steak and he's convinced us all, that he's the only one brave enough to 'cook with fire'. 
• Mason had to get fitted for a new retainer and hockey mouth guard. [I had to leave the room, because the giggles struck...] Giggles and gagging, is not a great match, although hilarious. 
• We left Calgary and the COLD. Arriving in delightful and temperate Kelowna. Though today will be going down in history as the longest. Drive. Ever. 
• Went pub hoping Friday night with some friends, had so much fun trying the 'beer flights'. 
• Saturday, we went to the wedding. The day couldn't have been more perfect for them. So fun. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Calendar Card Stamps: http://the-lilypad.com/store/2018-Calendar-Cards-Stamps.html

Simplify Kit: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Simplify-Kit.html

Simplify Journal Cards: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Simplify-Journal-Cards.html

PL2018 - Week 37 & 38

Feeling pretty thankful, that we've been enjoying some lovely fall weather the past week.

Barry and I were away for our anniversary, and during that time, SNO-ctober [how I'm choosing to refer to it] hit Calgary with a vengeance. There was a snowfall warning of up to 25 cm some places got as much as 40 cm! What?  Holy cow.  Can you imagine having a snow day, on October 2nd?

On the west coast, where we happened to be, it was raining.  As one friend so eloquently put it, "You don't have to shovel rain..." And it's true. You don' have to shovel rain. Ever. 

Our drive out to BC was lovely, the colours were spectacular. All the reds from the maple trees and such, that we don't have here. It was a surprise to see, and we really loved doing the drive. On our way out, colours were gorgeous, on our way back... Well, remember the photo above? It had clearly snowed... 

These were both taken in the Rogers Pass area of the TransCanada highway. On the way out, the colours were stellar. On the way back, everything was covered in snow...

Once we got home, the weather didn't improve. Our first week back, it snowed more than it didn't. I was beginning to think perhaps winter was here to stay. Luckily, it did warm up. Which brings us to last week, temperatures were lovely. It was normal again. Seasonal. Thank goodness. Hoping that the snow stays away until December 1st. [Because, whether you agree with me or not,  December is just better when it's white]

Here is week 37 of my project life album. Yes, I did put week 38 on my calendar... But it wasn't. And I didn't realize the mistake before sending it off to be printed. Sometimes I make mistakes...

• It seems like the leaves are changing colours super early this year.
• A picture of me and my Mum, on a walk at Fish Creek Park.
• Ringette evals, which is a gross stressful time for all involved.
• Miss Mad and the dog. 

Actual week 38: 

• CC at Carrie's place, we're on our 18th year together as a group!
• Hate seeing all the leaves on the ground. Not ready for the cold. 
• Beautiful rudbeckia on our Edworthy walk this week. 
• We've already had a lot of foggy mornings this year too.
• Barry working on the lights in our family room. 

The following digital product was used: 

Week 37 - Paislee Press - Autumn Vibes 

Elements https://the-lilypad.com/store/Autumn-Vibes-Elements-by-paislee-press.html

Journal Cards https://the-lilypad.com/store/Autumn-Vibes-Journal-Cards-by-paislee-press.html

Templates https://the-lilypad.com/store/Autumn-Vibes-Templates-by-paislee-press.html

Week 38 - Sahlin Studio - Project Mouse Movies

https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Movies-Journal-Cards.html

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

https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Movies-Papers.html

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

http://the-lilypad.com/store/2018-Calendar-Cards-Stamps.html

PL2018 - Weeks 34, 35 & 36

Playing a bit of catch up.

I have 3 weeks worth of project life pages to share.

Like everything else in life, my craftiness kind of goes in ebbs and flows. Sometimes I'm super inspired to be crafty, sometimes I'm not.

I've been memory keeping for YEARS. What I've figured out is, that for me, this is normal. I no longer beat myself up about it.

I simply take some time away, and then when the mood strikes, I come back to it.

Here are my pages:

Week 34:

• 3-on-3 ringette tournament, playing 7 times in 3 days. 
• We got to Antman and the Wasp. It was good. And yes, I've learned to bring a blanket with me. The theatres are freezing.
• A walk cut short, because of the smoke.
• A boy needing new hockey gear. Again. He keeps getting taller and taller. 
• Madelyn and Alyssa finally made it to Caraway Park. 

Week 35:

• We officially have no more ceiling in the family room. Indeed it's worse before it gets better. Tired of the dust already, and there is a lot of it. 
• Wings and beer with my girls. 3 of 4 were able to make it.
• Mason begged me to make nuts and bolts. So, so good. Sadly they disappear way too fast. 
• Libby, enjoying some outside time in the sun. 

Week 36:

• First day of school for Madelyn.
• For the first time in forever, ringette evaluations didn't start on the first day of school. We weren't on the ice until Friday, such a treat! 
• Freshly groomed little dog.
• A glimpse of fall on this mornings walk. All of a sudden the colours are changing.
• This loving little dog lives for snuggle time. 
• First day of school for Mason.

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Week 34

Calendar Card Stamps - http://the-lilypad.com/store/2018-Calendar-Cards-Stamps.html

Documentary elements: http://the-lilypad.com/store/documentary-elements.html

Documentary journal cards: http://the-lilypad.com/store/documentary-journal-cards.html

Week 35

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

Calendar Card Stamps - http://the-lilypad.com/store/2018-Calendar-Cards-Stamps.html

Worth a thousand words - elements: http://the-lilypad.com/store/Worth-A-Thousand-Words-Elements.html

Worth a thousand words - paper: http://the-lilypad.com/store/Worth-A-Thousand-Words-Paper.html

Journal cards: http://the-lilypad.com/store/Worth-A-Thousand-Words-Journal-Cards.html

Week 36 

4x6 photo templates vol. 1- https://the-lilypad.com/store/4x6-Photo-Templates-Vol-1.html

2x3 photo templates vol. 1 - https://the-lilypad.com/store/3x4-Photo-Templates-Vol-1.html

Calendar Card Stamps - http://the-lilypad.com/store/2018-Calendar-Cards-Stamps.html

October Template Freebie

I love working with templates. 

I especially am drawn to this blocky type of template. 

There's nothing left to do, but pick out photos, paper and embellishments. 

This is the template from Sahlin Studio, available to download for free, through October. To check it out or download, click here on this link. 

This summer, we were able to get way camping with another family we've become close to. As with most camping trips, this trip was booked months in advance, to ensure we got spots. All we could do was cross our fingers and hope for the best weather-wise. 

Calgary was so smoky this summer. It was pretty awful actually. Several days, the visibility was so pour, we couldn't see things we can usually see, from our house. It also made going outside, gross. No one wants to purposely stand outside in campfire smoke...

The forecast weather-wise was good. The forecast smoke-wise was bad... But we made the decision to go anyway. Here are a few photos of our drive out to K-Country. 

First off, we had to drive all the way to Canmore, to pick up Mason from a camp he'd attended. After him spending a week outside at an outdoor adventure camp, he was less than thrilled to know he'd be spending yet another few days outside. 

A glimpse of the 3 Sisters in Canmore.

Once we turned down highway 40, it became pretty clear that things weren't going to get much better visibility-wise. It was super smoky. The air was just thick. Now having said that, on the bright side, once we got to the campground, though the air was still thick, you couldn't smell the smoke. And believe it or not, we were still allowed to have campfires. That one seemed kind of crazy to me, but I was pretty thankful at the same time. What's camping if you can't sit around a campfire? 

The campground was quiet, we figured a lot of people cancelled their plans. The lake was quiet, it was pleasant outside, though not warm enough to hang out in shorts and tanks. The light was incredible, the way it can be when the sky/air is filled with smoke. 

Here's my layout:

Thankful we got to spend time with friends, even though things didn't look super promising at first. 

The following Sahlin Studio product was used: 

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

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

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