One week of doing what I love

At the end of March, someone reminded me that when life is at its craziest, that's when it's most important to carve time out for yourself. And that's when I decided to sign up for May's LOAD (Layout a Day) Challenge. I was not under any false pretense that I would actually produce a layout every single day this month; however, I knew that by signing up, by scrapping "with" friends virtually, by being inspired and encouraged by others challenging themselves to achieve the same goal, I'd undoubtedly scrapbook more than I otherwise would this month (especially since the last time I scrapbooked was in 2012). The layouts are admittedly not always my best work, but I've come to realize that doesn't matter. What matters is that I have finally documented some of life's stories that had not previously been scrapped and may never have wound up in an album had it not been for participating in this challenge.

The prompt for Day 1 was "Mrs. White in the House."
Our cat, Mimi, with fur as white as snow, immediately came to mind.

I think this is my favorite layout to date.
Seeing this picture scrapped makes me want to scrap a "through the years"
layout of the many pictures of the three of us.

Most inventive to date, I took a stock photo of a nook color
and turned it into my background paper.
Looking at my Instagram feed, I was amazed at how many nook photos I had
and realized this was a love that needed to be documented.
Best of all, when we're reading on some crazy new device years into the future,
we can remember what our exciting new technology looked like in the early 2000s.

The prompt for Day 4 was greed. Wanting to be a little more greedy with my time
this summer, and combining the prompt with Tami Morrison's challenge for
National Scrapbooking Day, I created a summer bucket list.
Once I've completed the list, I'll document the pictures on an opposing page.

Off prompt again for Day 5, I finally documented the non-traditional Thanksgiving
tradition that my husband and I have been enjoying for the past three years.

I happened to be going through photos from earlier in the year
and knew I wanted to document this story before it got lost in the cobwebs of my brain.

Using a photo from my husband's Facebook feed that I just HAD to scrapbook,
I finally completed an assignment from an online class I'm currently enrolled in
(and miserably behind in).

Humanity Lost, Humanity Found

"Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."   

                                                                                                 ~ Anne Frank

Sitting in a meeting yesterday afternoon, a coworker burst in to tell us that she had just gotten off the phone with so-and-so who told her that "There were several explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, and bodies are everywhere!" Ignoring the obvious lack of tact, we all went running in separate directions to grab our phones and took to both social media and news sites. My mind immediately flashed to a teacher running into my classroom, shouting, "A plane hit the World Trade Center" and turning on the TV just in time to watch the second airplane strike.

In times like these, it's easy to question where our humanity has gone, decry the unspeakable and senseless acts of violence we commit against each other. But last night, as I read hours worth of tweets in my usually ignored feed, my heart swelled, my eyes filled with tears at the heart and humanity people showed for complete strangers. Yes, there are the amazingly selfless and courageous rescue workers, first responders, and heroic bystanders that rushed toward the explosions instead of away from them. What struck me more, though, were the acts of kindness like the one this runner experienced:

And the collective conscience of this group of strangers to do what they could to help was so great that the American Red Cross had all the blood they needed within two hours of the explosion. 

There was such an outpouring of offers for free shelter, food, connectivity, and companionship that a Google Docs spreadsheet was created to assist marathon runners and families find the help that many of them needed:

And, of course, there was the power of social media. I remember on 9/11 spending hours trying to get through to my friends and family in NYC and people who might have heard from them. Say what you want about social media, but it's hard to deny the power it has to provide relief and comfort when tragedy strikes:

This morning, as I listen to the news reports and continue to skim my social media feeds, I choose to focus not on who did this or why - the answers of which I don't think I'll be able to comprehend even when known - and focus instead on the stories of humanity.

Currently in April

Currently is a weekly journaling challenge created by Kristin from rukristin papercrafts. 

Color Edition Currently Cards are designed by Kristin and embellished a little by moi.

I first learned about this challenge from Sarabeth (who has created a cool spin on the challenge for book lovers) earlier this year. While I don't think I'll keep up with the challenge on a weekly basis, I'd like to incorporate it at least once a month into both my blog and my Project Life album. What are you doing currently?

A couple of great moments (#iPPP)

Despite an overall rocky start to 2013, I have managed to grab a couple of great moments:

I changed jobs and am doing something I never realized how much I love.
(More on that later.)
The ladies I left behind sent me off with a huge laugh (read the cake),
and this is why I miss them. 

I embraced my inner child and celebrated Purim as Miss Piggy.
(Blondes do have a lot of fun.)

Hubby & I have celebrated many B'nai Mitzvah students becoming "adults."
Here, we celebrated in style at The Zone at the Williams-Brice Stadium.

Always a Florida Gator, I couldn't help causing a little rival mischief at the party.
Cocky had no idea what bit him. #gatorbait

Mom came to visit, and we saw Les Mis on stage.

I led a 15-minute Passover Seder.

I enjoyed sharing my favorite haunts in Charleston with my mom.

And, of course, there were shenanigans.
OMG, hai, Tina Fey!

My 29th birthday (for the umpteenth year) ushered in cupcakes.

And I got to be queen for the day at work
(though I got none of the perks that come along with the crown).

I'm grateful for these happy, healthy moments that I was able to grab, and I know I will hold tight to the memories of them.

A Fresh Start

No foolin' - it's really me!

image source

Thus far, 2013 has been "The Year of Sick" (for both me and my computer), and while it feels like the only balancing I've been doing is between doctors' appointments and pill bottles (and external hard drives), the end of March shone a light at the end of the tunnel. Though it's hard to grasp that we are now one-fourth of the way through what still seems like the new year, I'm happy for a new month and a new season with which to give myself a fresh start (or restart, as the case may be).

I think the universe often finds a way to tell us what we need to hear. Glennon Doyle Melton on her Today Show appearance this morning emphasized the importance of showing up and talked about focusing on "grabbing a couple great moments a day" as opposed to feeling guilty for not enjoying every moment.

So here I am, showing up. No apologies, no guilt, no real plan. Just putting one foot in front of the other, typing one letter after another, trying to grab a couple of great moments along the way.

2013: The Year of Balance

As was probably evident in yesterday's visual year in review, 2012 has been a fun but busier-than-before year. Thus, to say that I bit off way more than I could chew with my goals this year is an understatement. That said, I still have a lot to show for oh-twelve.

In the midst of the crazy that was my work life this year, which included planning and executing three community-wide events, writing three English units and editing two language arts textbooks, designing and editing six newspapers and twelve newsletters, and launching and maintaining several social media campaigns, I still (though it beats me how) managed to accomplish just shy of half of my 12 of 2012 goals:

My happiest victory is that I actually read 12 books - WOOT! I'm hoping to do the same (or better) in 2013.

Equally exciting for me is that I continued practicing Hebrew so that I can read it - albeit SLOWLY - and more importantly understand some when it is spoken. I'm already signed up for another Hebrew class in January, so I'm hoping that my communication skills in this language will continue to improve in the new year.

In addition, I finally made a decision and temporarily closed my Etsy store, enjoyed more date nights with Hubby, and wrote. A LOT. YAY!

Moving onto my one little word, I experienced renewal of spirit, relationships, budget, and home. Renewal of body is an ongoing challenge, as is renewal of balance. Which brings me to my one little word of 2013...

This year, I will have ONE goal: to practice (not achieve) balance. I have a feeling that by practicing balance, other goals will incidentally be achieved as a result. More importantly, though, is the knowledge that a focus on balance will make for a happy Cheryl.

What is your focus for 2013? Whatever you choose, I hope it makes you blissfully happy!

Photo Card

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Seasons of Love

The Twelve Months of Oh-Twelve

Five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure, measure a year?
In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights
In cups of coffeeIn inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.
In five hundred twenty-five thousand
Six hundred minutes
How do you measure
A year in the life?

-- "Seasons of Love," Rent

Friends and family, travel, and countless good memories have made for a very blessed year in the life. Here's to more seasons of love in 2013! Wishing you and yours a happy, healthy New Year...