Speaking of grilling … one of favorites lately is KABOBS! Grab some skewers, soak them in water for about 20 minutes (so they don’t burn on the grill), cut up some favorite vegetables (mushrooms, bell peppers & such) and some marinated steak. Or try chicken with fresh pineapple. Also really good.

A couple of interesting questions came up on the CK message board the other day, in reference to my Start to Finish online article. One reader wanted to understand why I chose the colors I chose for the birthday layout (because she would have never chosen those herself). Another reader wondered if I’m getting sick of scrapbooking after all these years of constantly doing layouts “for work”. Valid questions. I’m sharing my message board response here:

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Why blue? I guess I would answer – Why NOT blue? I don’t try to match my pictures. I try to complement them. And since I wanted this layout to feel “boyish” … that’s what I went for.

To be honest, my color selection (and often my product selection) rarely takes much time at all. I just do not dwell on those decisions. I grab colors that “feel good” right then, and just go with it. It’s not scientific to me.

Someone asked about me getting tired of scrapbooking. Do I really enjoy scrapbooking anymore? Oh my. Let me be really clear about something: I LOVE SCRAPBOOKING.

Yes, it was a hobby-turned-career for me (never in a million years did I see that coming) but it is first and foremost my HOBBY and I’m immersed in it. I embrace it for what it is – a wonderful outlet that not only allows me to express myself creatively, but allows me to also organize & preserve my family’s stories & experiences. It’s just a perk that I get to share my work “professionally” as well. And because it happens to be my work as well, I am constantly challenged to keep creating. And I love my job for that.

So no – definitely not sick of scrapbooking. (But it’s a great question, because I can see how one might think that!)”

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And back to a few questions from you guys …

[ clipboard ]

Luann asked about the double clipboard I used to display my layouts (see July 24th blog entry). That was part of the June KOTM, and it’s no longer available. If you’re not up-to-speed on the KOTM program, you should definitely check it out. CK offers a new kit each month and they are really a lot of fun.

[ children's journals ]

Susan asked about the journals I keep for my kids. Something a lot of moms do, I imagine. I just have a journal for each of my kids and try to write in it every so often. Sometimes the journal entry is an update of what they’ve been up to. Sometimes it’s a very heartfelt message to them about my love, my personal testimony, the desires of my heart. Sometimes it’s a quick note about something funny they said. I know that they’ll appreciate these journals as they get older. I started them when they were born and I have no intentions of stopping.

[ baby album ]

Jenny is “desperate” to find pictures of the 6″ x 6″ baby album that I’ve made several times over. It can be found in “Our Family Scrapbooks”, the book I did with Lisa Bearnson. I’ll also give you a glance at Porter’s entire little album here.

SO simple. Pick two favorite pictures of Baby for each month of their first year. No journaling, way simple design, super do-able! It’s kind of a show & tell type of album, something fun to look at. My version doesn’t have journaling because all of that is in Porter’s big scrapbooks & his journal (as mentioned above).

BUT – I will note that if this is the ONLY baby book for Baby, then there absolutely should be some journaling. At least quick notes & highlights from each month. If you’re doing this as a gift for someone having a baby, they will be so grateful to have an adorable album already created for them. All they have to do is add the pictures. What a perfect gift for a new (overwhelmed, tired) mommy.

Darn it. I don’t mean for my blog entries to get this long.

Peace out.