Rejoice (Christmas) Digital Scrapbooking Kit Freebie

New to digital scrapbooking? Never downloaded a digital kit before? What in the world are .rar files anyway? Get your answers here: How to Unzip Files So You Can Digi Scrap.

Wow, it doesn't feel right to be doing fall leaves last week and then Christmas this week, but I know Christmas will be here before I'm ready. We are nearly done with our Christmas shopping. I have a few projects still to do, but I'm not feeling the least bit stressed yet.

This layout is from Christmas morning pictures from last year. It was a special Christmas, because it was my Great-Grandma Jensen's last Christmas before she passed. I didn't realize that before making this layout. It will be sad not to trek up to Ogden this year to see her. I can't remember the last Christmas that we didn't make the trip.

I think I'm getting better at the whole digital layout thing. Making these kits has really forced me to practice. Oh, and I was going to mention that some of the patterns were inspired by vintage Christmas wrapping paper.

(Click thumbnail to download.)

Kit Contents: 6 Pattern Papers, 1 Overlay, 1 Flower Sticker, 1 Bird Sticker, 1 Flower Flourish, 1 Journaling Block, 1 Background paper shape, 1 Rub on Label

Book Reviews

I was going to wait to start this next year, but I think I'm going to do it now, because I just read two highly interesting books, which I want to share. So, the idea is that when I read a book, I'm going to post a brief review of it--fairly simple stuff, but it will be a way for me to track what I've read and share some of the things I've discovered.

Forever Today by Deborah Wearing

Genre: Non-fiction memoir

Very brief summary: A memoir from Deborah Wearing, the wife of Clive Wearing, a highly accomplished musician and conductor. His memory was destroyed in an illness caused by the herpes virus, leaving his intelligence intact, but unable to form new memories. He is said to be the most severe case of amnesia ever recorded, and he can only remember 7 to 30 seconds at a time. He can’t remember Deborah’s name, but he knows he loves her. His musical ability was left, because of the different ways in which we store knowledge—his procedural memory still works, so he can remember how to do things, but not much else. Because of the safety issues, he’s had to live at a hospital or in a home for brain injured people since his illness in 1985.

How I heard about it: We were studying neurons and memory in my science foundations class and we talked a bit about the case, including reading a few articles and watching a few videos. After hearing that his wife had written a memoir, I went to my library’s website to see if they had it.

Where I got the book: Library.

What I Found Most Gripping: This is really a story about love. Clive still loves Deborah and recognizes her. I felt her ability to handle the situation to be extraordinary. Clive basically wakes up every few seconds, realizes something is deeply wrong and feels like he’s just woken up and gained consciousness, and this is repeated over and over again and it’s no use explaining it to him, because he just forgets a few seconds later, yet Deborah’s compassion and patience and love in dealing with this is inspiring and touching.

Any negatives: It’s a bit choppy in the beginning.

Readability: I couldn’t put it down! I read it in one night, staying up far too late.

Boys Adrift by Leonard Sax

Genre: Non-fiction

Very brief summary: Dr. Sax talks about the way boys are becoming unmotivated in recent years and identifies five key factors on why this is happening. He also outlines a plan on how to fix it.

How I heard about it: From my child development class. As part of our lessons, we listened to a podcast with Dr. Sax talking about his book.

Where I got the book: Library.

What I Found Most Gripping: As the mom of three boys, it’s something I worry about all the time. I want my boys to feel supported and to have grounded values. I want them to be masculine, but as defined by our values, not the rootless, slacker dude or the macho homeboy. I’ve noticed this trend in my own life, and with three boys, I’m deeply invested in the subject. I think the thing I took away from it the most was the problem of making school masculine again. Not to leave out the girls, but to make it socially acceptable for boys to be smart and do well in school. Also, that we need to create opportunities for our boys to get out in the real world and not become addicted to the false achievement provided by video games.

Any negatives: I felt it was well-researched and the arguments were persuasive and well-supported. I did find a few of the scenes where he talks to parents to feel artificial—like he created them just for the book, but that’s a very small negative among a wealth of interesting, documented evidences.

Readability: I couldn’t put it down. I talked to everyone I could find about it—my sister, my mom, my husband. I was fascinated all the way through. Another one I read in less than 24 hours.

So, don't you think I deserve some extra credit for all that reading? Joking. In all honestly, I'm grateful to my instructors as the source for some very interesting and insightful reading.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Yesterday, when Mom and I went to exercise, the kids stayed at the day care. They did some face painting, which the kids loved. Xander's is a turkey.








Also, this past week, I decided to crochet a little scarf. I put a little magnet closure in it, which works really well. The scarf part was from a Lion Brand pattern, which you can see here. I did a different flower for it. The one they had is cute, but I wanted a slightly different look. I made it out of wool yarn, which makes it cozy and warm, and it's the soft kind, so not too itchy.

It worked up super quickly and it's really easy pattern, just what I need for right now. It's so nice to be able to do projects like that right now when I'm so busy with school. If I did it again, I would probably do another row around before doing the scallops. I have crazy short rows when I crochet for some reason, which is why I almost always have to adapt patterns.

Anyway, happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all have a wonderful, food-filled day.

Piles of Leaves Digital Scrapbooking Kit Freebie

New to digital scrapbooking? Never downloaded a digital kit before? What in the world are .rar files anyway? Get your answers here: How to Unzip Files So You Can Digi Scrap.

This is one I started a long time ago, which I just finished up this morning, just in time for Thanksgiving. The photos on the layouts are ones I took at our local park two years ago. I can't believe how much my kids have grown, especially my baby.

I've definitely gotten better at the whole digital distressing thing. I still feel like I'm not great at it, but it was fun to play with. I hope you enjoy it!

(Click thumbnail to download)

Kit Contents: 8 Pattern Papers, 1 Solid Paper, 3 Labels, 1 Journaling Strips, 1 Set Brackets, 2 sets of sticker leaves, 1 Scallop Circle Mask, 1 Row Brads, 1 Word Art

The Blob Digital Scrapbooking Kit Freebie

New to digital scrapbooking? Never downloaded a digital kit before? What in the world are .rar files anyway? Get your answers here: How to Unzip Files So You Can Digi Scrap.

Wow, it's been a long time since I put up a kit. I'm had a little spare time this morning, so I finished up this kit.

This layout is all about Griffin right now. He's a hoot right now. He's not what I would call "laid back." He has tons of quirks and challenges, but he's never boring, for sure.

(click thumbnail to download)

Kit contents: 15 Pattern Papers, 3 Journaling Blocks, 3 Labels

My poor, neglected blog.

I hate that I haven't had a chance to update recently. I even did some sewing for Halloween that I really want to share, but school has been eating all of my time. Five weeks left! I have no idea if I will do this full-time again or not. I'm thinking that maybe part of the problem is that three of my classes are 2 credit classes, but they aren't really less work than my two 3 credit classes (plus, I have one 1 credit class that is pretty easy). Still, I miss having a life outside of school. I try to take breaks, but it feels like the load is never-ending.

That brings us to my real reason for posting today. Yep, ulterior motive here. I have a lot of little details to wrap up today and tomorrow and my motivation is very low. I've left most of the opinion giving until the end. I never thought I would be tired of giving my opinion, but I am.

So, here's my list for today:

Friday the 6th
DUE: Journal Format
DUE: Sci Lesson 8

Sci:
--Activity Four (Discussion Board)
--Activity Five (Class Meeting)
Rel
--Core #4 Case Study/Discussion Board
--Advice Column
--Provident Living Project Journal Entry 4
--Exam
Int
--Midterm Test
Eng 252
--Submit Finished Journal Article
--Look Over Readings
--Podcast
Child
--Chapter 8 Collaborative Quest
--Chapter 10
----Read Chapter 10
----Reading Check Quiz
----Collaborative Quest
----Journal Entries
--Dear Abby Letters
--Any loose ends
Eng 110
--Find 10 Terms

In the next two hours, starting at 10:00 AM, I want to finish these items (the ones I've been putting off all week):
Sci:
--Activity Four (Discussion Board)
Rel
--Core #4 Case Study/Discussion Board
--Advice Column
--Provident Living Project Journal Entry 4
Child
--Chapter 8 Collaborative Quest
Eng 110
--Find 10 Terms,
If I get that far, I will worry about the rest of my list. I'll come back and update, in case anyone is interested. If not, it's ok. You can pretend. :0)

Edited to add: Hey I did it and with 30 minutes to spare! Go me. Now, I have a lot more crud to do today. My second list:

Sci:
--Activity Five (Class Meeting)
Child
--Chapter 10
----Read Chapter 10
----Reading Check Quiz
----Journal Entries

That is a lot to do. I've read 2/5 of chapter 10 already, and it takes a long time, because there are videos to watch and little activities to do here and there. That science meeting is a recording that will be an hour long. I still have to have a lunch break too. Ok, so I'm going to give myself until 3:00 to complete it--and them I'm taking a break and watching Gilmore Girls. It's 11:33 am right now. I'll be back to update later.

Edited 2nd time to add:
Well, blah. I got kind of close to making my goal. One of the videos I had to watch was 45 minutes long,so that slowed me down and bit, but I also had to go get my children from school when I wasn't expecting to do that, so that also took a chunk of time out of my studying. Anyway, I'm going to stop for now and watch Gilmore Girls.