The Way it Should Be...

Jason had an athletic dinner last night so I was flying solo. After dinner I walked the kiddos to the playground so they could run around some.  There was a cool breeze blowing and as I sat on the bench and looked around I thought, "This is the way it should be." 

I watched as the playground and neighborhood came alive.  There were moms with baby's, toddlers and tricycles, kids running around barefoot chasing frogs (those would be my kids, btw), 9 and 10 year old boys riding their bikes as fast as they could, mom's and other woman chatting while the kids played. And other than the ridiculous number of women (mom's and helpers) carrying around bowls of food and force-feeding the kids between trips down the slide, it felt like life when I was a kid...a time when we didn't worry about child predators and grave illnesses that can come of walking barefoot. A time when neighbors actually talked with one another and the kids didn't have to read a long list of rules before entering the playground.  Ah, the good 'ol days.  Thankfully for me, Indonesia isn't politically correct when it comes to neighbor relations and playground safety.  My kids might actually get to be kids.

___

In other news...after my realization that I haven't scrapped much in the last few months and that I have soooo many pictures from this summer AND that even if I don't have time to scrap them any time soon, I knew that I DID want to do something.  So, I decided I would make a mini-album to summarize the past few months.  Problem was, I didn't know where to start.  So, as I am finding more and more, I decided I would make a template for myself first. I did the design, then I plugged in all my photos and text (without worrying about papers and embellishments) and then I picked a few simple papers and other things to complete the album.  Easy peasy! 

Credits: kraft paper by Gina Cabrera, other papers and flower embellishments by Michelle Coleman from her Chasing Rainbows kit.

I actually have a few more pages to this, but you get the idea.  I just created a bunch of template pages for myself and then mixed and matched depending on how many photos I wanted to use for a specific event. I created the album in 8x8 but I am not sure yet how big I will print it -- trying to decide between a 6x6 album or to go ahead and print it out 8x8 (my normal scrapbook size) and just put the pages in our regular album (sort of an album within and album).  I'll give it some more thought :)

And since I already MADE the template, I decided to package it up and put it in my shop.  Totally did all this on a whim, so I haven't even given it to my CT yet.  But I loaded it in the shop and you can grab it HERE.  It's 25% off this week too!

I did one other page yesterday:

Credits: Vera Lim's SWEET CHILD OF MINE kit and the font is PRINTING PRIMER by Fontologie, available HERE.

___

Two updates for you:

1) I have just hired a helper that will start on Monday.  We are doing a one month trial -- just to make sure we get along since we will have to be around each other all day every day.  She comes highly recommended, has worked for expats for 20 years, and loves kids.  Hopefully it will all work out!

2) An awesome blog reader gave me a tutorial for changing my folder icons to whatever picture I wanted. YIPPEEEE!  I am well on my way to redoing all of my icons so I actually know what is INSIDE my folders.  Thanks Tara.  Here is what she gave me -- it worked perfect: (btw, this is just for a mac...you do it differently on a pc)

How to make your "folder" look like a "preview".... 

1. Open the file and find the preview picture.
2. Open the preview picture that you want to use and view in "Preview". When in "Preview", either go to Edit -> Copy or do Apple-C to copy the pic.
3. Close out the file and click on the file folder (right-click or double click, if on a notebook)
4. Go down to "Get Info" and click.
5. When that pops up, there will be a little folder in the left hand corner. Do not use the LARGE folder in the bottom. Click on the little folder and you will see it slightly highlighted. Either go to Edit->Paste or do Apple-V to paste the picture.

YOU ARE DONE!!!! I hope this helps!!!!

Comments

[MaryRuth Francks]

Love your new template pack! Great pages!

[Tara]

Glad I could help you, Janet!!

[Becky]

Oh my goodness...where do you find the time? That is an adorable little album! Just perfect! 6 x 6 is so fun to do...I have a couple of those hanging around...they're great.

[Rachel]

Lurv the template!! I want to make a year in review type album for my family, and I think this would be perfect to use, but would it happen to include calendars for all the months? If it doesn't, could it? :) :)

Thanks!!
Rachel

[MandaKay]

Awesome summer book you made! So glad you are loving life over there - sounds like a nice country - you really don't worry about child predators??? So hard to imagine now days! Glad you found a house helper - that is totally different from here in the states to - i am JEALOUS!!!

[Kristin Hasson]

Oh this is perfect! I was trying to find a quick and easy album for the kids to take back to school next week. This should be PERFECT! Thanks.

[Theresa Marie]

BEAUTIFUL scrapbook pages! I love your description of the park and yes, that's how it should be. So glad that your children could enjoy the night and you were able to enjoy it as well :) gorgeous template too!

[Stacy]

I can't wait to pick this mini album up in your store. It's just lovely. I would also like to get the kraft paper you used for your background, if possible. If you would...please share the name of the kit it belongs to?! I am assuming it's at DDE. Any help you could provide would be wonderful. Thanks.

[Hollie]

Glad to hear you are enjoying it there and have found a potential house helper. Do you think you can explain the differences between here and there that make a house helper a necessity there? I know it is common in some other countries and I am so curious to know more about what it is like!!!

[Jen S.]

Could you please tell me where I can buy the 2008 Mini Album template you posted here? The link for where to purchase the album no longer works. Thanks!