The past couple of days haven't been so smooth around here, to be perfectly honest. I think arranging an office ranks right up there in a marriage with the likes of taxes and entertaining in-laws. It's particularly difficult when you have, say, a Type A and Type B... an extrovert and introvert... an ENFJ and ISTP... (see the Myers & Brings website for more information...). However simple or complex you may think it is, it has been no small feat that we're still married after attempting a task like cleaning the office.

We had a perfectly lovely evening at a friends' home last night... good conversation, no dishes to do, and home at a reasonable hour so the kiddos could get to bed. I asked briefly if Duane would help me move "one" thing... and I was, perhaps, being optimistic (which I like to be) and a bit sneaky (which is just a fact). There was more than one thing, if I were to be honest... and well, I like being that too, so there you have it.

Well, the situation went from great to tolerable to not-so-wonderful in like six minutes. We approach tasks such as these SO differently... it's almost ridiculous. We went to bed with the office looking something like this:


Then my husband made a wonderful observation this morning: if we can't do something like this together - well - then, one of us should take care of the task. And, since I wasn't about to give up detagling the mess I'd created (some sort of cord-envy, I'm sure...), then that means it was me.

And I would say the boys and I had a very productive morning! Between them playing "spaceship" and somehow being convinced it's FUN to move mommy and daddy's two hundred hard-backed books, we got a lot done!

See, to the left of where the printer now stands, there was a 5 1/2 foot x three level bookshelf that was FULL. So, in addition to moving all of that, I took four bags of recycling out to the garage, and I think we're set!

Here's to the start of the journey... being able to blog about the custom-made treasures I'm going to make for you... :)

Ok, so I would consider myself a capable person. A tad creative, really organized and entertained by those things that I am not good at that others are. You may have to know me a bit better to understand, though, why I get frustrated when things like a computer or software program don't do EXACTLY what I TELL them to do!!!

I think it's mostly because I expect things to be VERY user-friendly. Why, one might ask themselves, would I DO something if it wasn't going to be USER-FRIENDLY??? Don't I WANT people to use it? Don't I want them to be HAPPY when coming accross this certian trait/feature/service???

For example, we have success now that I've discovered that in order to resize an image in Adobe Photoshop Elements, one must select File --- Export. Export. Not copy, not move, not paste, not "resize for web"... Export. Humph.

Enough of the rant. Good news is that I finally have uploaded pictures for a few pages of Gavin's album which I returned to his mother a couple of weeks ago! This will just begin to introduce you to my style. I look forward to sharing many more pages with you now that I've discovered "Export"...!





And this is an example of a page that I finished mirroring a page Gavin's mom had done previously. I think it turned out well color- and style-wise.


If you contract with me to complete a personal scrapbook for you or a loved one, one option is to upload photos such as these for your approval before they are affixed to the page. This provides input by you and as long as they are regularly checked, should not add much working time to your project. Something to consider. :)

Have a happy day! It's Friday! Whoo-hoo!!

While I await my first "official" customer, I must say, I am having a BLAST getting set up! I'm so giddy it's almost rediculous. Well, I'm sure some would say it IS rediculous... actually, my husband, for one would answer that in the affirmative. He does his best to keep up with my enthusiasm, but many times I go way past his threshold.

In addition to getting my scanner to work this weekend, we are using tax return money (still have to figure out the delicate balance of not LOANING MY MONEY to Bush) to invest in a color laser printer. YIPEEEEEEE! And it does EVERYTHING, let me tell ya. Well, I don't have it actually set up yet (I'm cleaning my office and am using the promise of opening the box as my carrot/reward)... but the young man at Office Max was very knowledgable and assured me it has everything.

Here's a picture of it:

:)

In all seriousness, I was floored by the customer service provided by Office Max. The staff was SO helpful, really knew their stuff and spent T-I-M-E with me... do you remember what that is? I can't recall any other retail establishment I've been in the past six months - a year, probably - that spent as much time with me as these people at Office Max. Do check out a location near you - and if you're in the Twin Cities, head straight to Stinson Blvd and The Quarry. Oh, and well-priced, too. THANKS GUYS!

Yesterday was "Memoranza!" - a pleasure as always to sit in a sun-filled room with good juices flowing and good conversation. During the day, I thought a lot about my new adventure by way of this blog and business interest... why something such as this would hold my attention longer than other hobbies I've embarked upon (from the beginning? signing, writing, musical theatre, cross-stich, knitting, stamping, sewing, quilting... need I go on?).

At the end of the day, I believe photography, recording stories and yes, eventually scrapbooking... are all about heritage, family origin, moral teachings and faith. A desire to be connected can range from "don't care" to "live and breathe". I think I reside around the 80th percentile... it's pretty important, but not all I am. In addition, I know from personal relationships that the study of geneology is sometimes painful for a variety of reasons. My suggestion would be that there's value from whatever the past is, as long as there is no bondage emotionally or spiritually. Ahead is an unwritten book and we have every opportunity in front of each of us!



This is a photo of my great-grandparents and their children... my Grandpa Johnson is to the far right. He passed away in 1994 - and it seems like yesterday. I share this as a celebration that my scanner is working... and a celebration of the future: what a handsome lot they are - how blessed I am to have come from these beautiful people. May my boys know their character and experience their dedication, work ethic and family roots.

I'll let you know soon how my own personal family heritage album is coming along!

I’m so excited because tomorrow I have the opportunity to sneak away and scrapbook ALL DAY LONG! My sister-in-law is having a scrapbooking event at a beautiful Catholic church here in the Twin Cities… floor to ceiling windows; every scrapper gets her own table, unlimited supplies and good conversation! Heaven!!! Just heaven, I’m telling ya!



This picture of Gabe is of his first birthday… and when I was immediately panic-stricken that I had not one picture of him in the house. See, we went digital right after his birth… and no printing, no saving, no nothing had taken place. YIKES! I didn’t have a photo to send to daycare the next day (immediate problem) and I didn’t have any plan for how to archive our family memories (future problem).

This brings me back to when I started scrapbooking: when my baby was one year old. This was almost three years ago. What a pleasure it’s been! I went to my first scrapbooking event, much like the one I’m going to tomorrow, and I think it took me like three hours to crop my first picture. Slowly but surely I got used to cutting away unused space, and creating a story from the photos. My style as obviously evolved, and I’m more and more comfortable using all the supplies that are offered these days!

Most of all, I’m thankful for the keepsakes I’m creating for our family… the joy on the boys’ faces when they look at their books… and I’m looking forward to how good I’ll feel in the future, knowing it's all done. :)