PL2023 - Week 31 | Sahlin Studio

Week 31 of my project life album:

• The robins/crows and magpies were agitated all day long and it wasn't until supper we realized there was an owl in the tree.
• We saw [and heard] a murder of crows fly overhead.
• Bug whisperer.
• With the forest fire smoke in the air, we do get some spectacular sunsets. 
• Celebrating Dad's birthday.
• Love bringing the outside in. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

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

July 2023 Template Freebie | Sahlin Studio

Happy July! Can you believe we're already halfway through 2023? How is that even possible? 

The start of a new month also means the release of a new free template from Sahlin Studio. Here is the free template for July, follow this link to download the template for free.

12x12 in size, with lots of spots to add your own touches. Here's my version of it:

I also used July's featured product on this page, Project Mouse (Paradise) This collection is on sale for 50% off through all of July, so get it now while you can for this great price! I used the entire bundle on this page, but you can pick up individual pieces [paper/elements/journal cards/word art] for 50% off as well. 

We had such a great family vacation last year. We went to our happy place, the west coast. We enjoyed a week together hanging out and beachcombing.  I hope to get back to there soon. There's something so soothing about hearing the waves crash.  

I don't know how many more family getaways are in the cards for all four of us but I sure enjoy our time together when we're able to make it happen. [And I tend to think that as long as we're paying, they'll continue to join us]

The following Sahlin Studio products were used:

Template: http://sahlinstudio.com/free-digital-scrapbooking-template-sketch-july-23/

Project Mouse (Paradise) Bundle: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Paradise-BUNDLE.html

March 2023 Template Freebie | Sahlin Studio

Happy March! 

We finished off February with a whopping 32.1 cm of snow. [12.64 inches] Most of that falling in the past week. February is a short month, but it sometimes feels brutal and long. 

I get terribly jealous when people start to post photos of blooming cherry blossoms... We're literally months away from that. 

Today is gorgeous, it's +5 degrees Celsius, the sun is shining, the roads are an utter disaster. The forecast is for it too cool off once again, with the chance of more snow...

On the bright side, here's the template for March, from Sahlin Studio. Download it for free through the whole month.

We took the kids to yet another concert. [We're making up for time lost during Covid] Part of their Chrismtas present was tickets to see Chilliwack and Honeymoon Suite. We had front row seats people. Front row. It was pretty epic. So thankful that the kids have the most awesome taste in music. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

March Template: http://sahlinstudio.com/free-digital-scrapbooking-template-sketch-march-23/

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

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

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

February 2023 Template Freebie | Sahlin Studio

Happy groundhog day! It's already February and I don't know whether the groundhog saw his shadow or not [I sometimes prefer to not know whether we're in for 6 more weeks of winter] and then I remember: Right... I live in Canada. Of course we'll get 6 more weeks of winter...

With the start of a new month, comes a new template freebie from Sahlin Studio. Free to download through the whole month! To pick up this months template follow this link.

Last week Barry and I went on a road trip hoping to check out the methane gas bubbles at Abraham Lake in Alberta. It's been on my radar for a few years now, but it's nearly a 4 hour drive to get there. And driving for 4 hours in the winter, in the mountains, isn't always ideal. 

Also, you can't be guaranteed you will see the bubbles. The lake could be covered in snow, and then you're out of luck. 

We decided on a date, set out and began traveling west. Two hours away, the clouds got lower and thicker, it started to snow a little bit. We turned off the transCanada highway onto highway 93 headed north.  The road was marked as 'in fair condition'. 😳  The roads were not awesome, visibility not super. There was so. Much. Snow. It was obvious the plows had been through recently.  We began to wonder if we'd made the right decision. Once we got on to highway 11, the scenery and roads changed completely. The snowy landscape melted away, the road was dry and the sun was shining. 

We made to Abraham Lake and at the first stopping point there was actually not a breath of wind. Which from everything I've heard and read, is highly unusual. The huge lake had no snow on it, which was such a surprise [all the bodies of water we passed along the way were covered in snow] We made our way down to the extremely slippery surface [wearing ice cleats] and we saw the bubbles!!

It was amazing to see, and the photos I took do NOT do it justice. It's something you need to see with your own eyes. I'm so glad we finally did this and so thankful we were able to actually see the bubbles. One thing that's crossed of my bucket list for 2023.

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Template freebie: http://sahlinstudio.com/free-digital-scrapbooking-template-sketch-february-23/

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

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

PL2022 - Weeks 31 & 32 | Sahlin Studio

We did have a hot summer. However, this year, we also got summer storms along with the heat. Not too many, just enough to break up the super hot days.  After blue skies and high temperatures, we woke up one morning to dark and gloomy. When the unpleasant days are sprinkled in here and there, it makes it okay. 

I combined weeks 31 and 32 for this page. I just didn't have enough photos for the two weeks. 

• Morning snuggles are everyone's favourite. 
• Dark and gloomy and a bit of reprise from the heat.
• Celebrating Dad's big birthday.
• Unexpected ice cream date. 

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

October 2022 Template Freebie | Sahlin Studio

It's already October! Wow. We have been enjoying the loveliest autumn. The days have been warmer than usual, the nice thing is, the evenings cool off so the house isn't sweltering. 

We did it, another summer under our belts without air conditioning! Woot-woot!

It's also the release of the October template freebie from Sahlin Studio. Click here for template. 

This months featured product is PM Halloween and all the spook-tacular things that go along with that collection. The featured product is available through the whole month for 50% off. A great opportunity to pick up awesome Halloween themed bits. 

Halloween has always been a favourite of mine. Then, for a few years I was totally not into decorating. This year,  I kind of feel inspired once again. That will be good news for Madelyn, who loves to help me put the decorations out. I wish we had crawl space cubbies that I could store boxes and boxes of decor... 

In reality, we don't have a bunch of storage space, so I try to keep things to an acceptable amount. 

I was going through the photos on my computer, trying to figure out which ones I wanted to include in thls layout. I got all melancholy going through all the photos of the kids in their costumes... 

So I simply picked a few of those photos and put them on this layout.  

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

Template: http://sahlinstudio.com/free-digital-scrapbooking-template-sketch-october-22/

Kit: https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Halloween-Kit.html

https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Halloween-Artsy.html

https://the-lilypad.com/store/Project-Mouse-Halloween-Enamel-Pins.html

PL2022 - Week 28 | Sahlin Studio

Week 28 was particularly exciting because we finally got to see Hamilton. We gave Madelyn tickets for the broadway show on her 15th birthday. During Covid. This night was two years in the making and I have to say, it did not disappoint one bit.

We were loving every moment of our summer temps. 

Currently the leaves are beginning to change colour and the mornings are frosty. Not looking forward to winter. Glad I  have more summer pages in the que to look back on. 

• Very disappointed to see this guy leave the Calgary Flames. 
• Hamilton. Enough said. 
• A rare sighting of the young man that lives with us. 
• A dog who adores drinking from the hose.
• Creepy clouds and a face painting. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used:

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

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

PL2022 - Week 23 | Sahlin Studio

Week 23 of my album takes us back to the beginning of summer. 

Oh how I love June... The longer days. The golden sun. Summer laid out before us. 

• Corona Sunrise, an adult bevvie inspired by tik tok. [It didn't disappoint]
• Miss Libby, happiest surveying her front yard.
• 2nd year in a row I participated in Workshop Week. I love that it gets my creative juices flowing. I just wish they'd stay that way. 
• Madelyn came home after school one day after dying her hair blue... There were tears [mine] She promised me it would wash out after 6-8 washes... 😂 It's now mid-August, and still a grey-ish/blue-ish/brown-ish colour. [She did admit she thought it would actually wash out] I knew better, hence the tears. 
• Our completed privacy screen. [It fell over in a storm a week after completion, so had to be slightly revamped]

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

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

PL2022 - Week 19 | Sahlin Studio

Somehow we're already halfway through July.

Time waits for no one. 

Here's week 19 of my project life album, which goes back to the beginning of May.

• Follow up eye appointment.
• Camping weekend with Barry and Madelyn.
• A very chilly little dog.

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

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

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

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

July Template Freebie | Sahlin Studio

We just celebrated Canada Day. It was pretty low key. 

With the start of a new month, comes the release of a new free template from Sahlin Studio. Here is a look at July's template.

It's so generous and I love having a template at my finger tips to get a story down. Templates are free to download, through the entire month, so make sure you check it out here. 

I wanted to document our trip to see Foreigner in a little more detail. I know I included some photos in my project life album. But here I'm able to focus on this story alone. 

I wanted to kind of jot down a few big memories from this event. So I used repetition type journaling. I started the sentence to each memory with I want to remember... Ali Edwards is big fan of repetition journaling. 

Our trip to see Foreigner was delayed by 2 years. The band was initially to come to Calgary on March 28th of 2020, but within the first few weeks of that month, it's safe to say that all hell broke loose. Fast forward to September of 2021, and they were announcing concert dates. The kids heard us talking about booking tickets and they were eager to see them as well. So, 4 tickets were booked. 

I can't say enough good things about the experience our family had. This is a night I'll want to remember for a very long time to come. It's hard to believe that I have a 20 and 17 year old living in my house. I sometimes long for the days past, when the kids were little. But man, they are at a cool age right now as well. Love you two so very much. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

http://sahlinstudio.com/free-digital-scrapbooking-template-sketch-july-22/

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

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

PL2022 - Week 13 | Sahlin Studio

So thankful this week to have a dear friend come and spend the night with us, her daughter was in town for a volleyball tourney. My circle of people is small-ish, but there the best of the best!

Week 13 of my project life album is here:

• Making our own fun in the car wash. I've been taking 'selfie' photos since the mid-1980's. I should go back and try and find those photos and document them...
• I had an eye procedure this week, it was more nerve-wracking than anything.  
• Some beautiful tulips from a friend.
• Visiting with friends.
• Madelyn's selfie with the lunchbox crew. She is at home on the stage. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

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

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

PL2022 - Week 12 | Sahlin Studio

Here is week 12 of my project life album. 

It was my birthday week. I knew it was going to be a hard one. The first time in my 52 years that my Mum didn't phone and sing happy birthday to me. 

My sweet girl made me an epic chocolate birthday cake. Seriously, it was delish. So good, that both my Dad and brother requested she make it for their upcoming birthdays as well. 

This was also the week of the now famous Will Smith Oscar 'Slap'. Of course that had to make it into the memory keeping. 

• The most beautiful bouquet of pale pink roses ever, from my mother-in-law. 
• Birthday pizza and cake. 
• Dinner out with friends. So lucky to have them in my life [even if she is an Oiler's fan... 😝]
• The play out of the 'slap' and Madelyn's comments pertaining to the Oscars. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used:

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

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

PL2022 - Week 11 | Sahlin Studio

Here is week 11 of my project life album. 

The highlight of this week was we finally saw Foreigner, a concert experience 2 years in the making. What made it even more fun, was the kids came with us. They were some of the youngest fans in attendance. But make no doubt about it, they knew and sang along to every song. Such a great memory that we'll be able to look back on forever. 

One thing I want to always remember, is after the concert was over, Mason found a guitar pick on the floor. So Madelyn and Barry went up closer to stage, to see if she could find one too. A guy came out from backstage and said "Dad and Daughter, how awesome" and threw her a pick. She was beyond thrilled. 

Such a great night. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

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

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

PL2022 - Week 9 & 10 | Sahlin Studio

Back to weeks 9 & 10 of my project life album. I combined these two weeks, because I really didn't have very many photos. Like hardly any at all... One reason why there are 3 different hockey photos on this page. 

Sometimes the every day looks a little similar. To me, that's ok. I was glad to have the photos I did, and I like how this page turned out. 

• Friday is reserved for Gin & Tonic...
• Mason played a lot of hockey this weekend. His last hurrah for the year. It was a good run, and he enjoyed it. 
• Walking Miss Libby in the snow.
• When I was taking a team photo, Mason grabbed his Dad and stood and posed for me. Love it. 

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

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

PL2022 - Week 5

Week 5 of my project life album. 

• Madelyn is delighted that the school's Main Stage show will be taking place this year. 
• We've become puzzle people...
• Celebrating Grandma's birthday.
• Fun times with the Trex girls at the Tube Park.

The following Sahlin Studio products were used: 

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

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

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

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 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