Product Envy - Recording Memories

While I have been trying to do better at recording memories, I've found two products that I'd really like to try. Unfortunately, I'm not in a position to just buy things that I'd like to have (who is?). So I've placed them on my wishlist and maybe someday I'll actually get to test them out. Until then, I'll share them with you.

1) The first product is a lovely Journal Set from the makers of SMASH books. It's so pretty and would make my journaling much more enjoyable. I especially love that it includes some sort of Washi Tape.

2) The second product is a set of 36 Fine Permanent Markers. I love all the different colors and imagine using them in my SMASH book, journal, daily planner, birthday cards, etc. 

So what do you think? What products do you wish you could afford?

A Wordle Toutorial

Wordles are collages of words, like the picture above. You can use them as a fun display or as a way of illustrating written data. To make your own Wordle follow the instructions below:

1. Go to the Wordle website.
2. Type or paste in the text you want to use in your Wordle (you can alternatively enter the URL of a blog or web page) and click "Go."
3. Wordle will randomly generate the result. You can click the "Randomize" button to redesign the Wordle.
4. To change the design of your Wordle manually use the buttons on the top left (Font, Layout, etc.)
5. If you are changing the color remember that clicking the same color option will change which words are each color.
6. You can print your Wordle or I use a snipping tool to save it on my computer. 

Stop and Treasure the Moments

I was thinking about this quote today and realized how well it applies to my happiness project, especially for this month's goal. It perfectly sums up why I want to make an effort to make memories and record them. Memories are our record of what we've done with our lives. I don't want to miss my life. I want to be able to look around right now and fully soak it up. I also want to look back later and be able to remember how it was. 

I can think back on certain times in my life and remember certain things about those times. However, it's impossible for me to remember it all. I sometimes regret not recording how I was feeling or what I was doing at those times in my life. Wouldn't it have been great to look back at those memories now? 

Displaying Memories

I am not an expert picture hanger. I think I've tried once and I'm pretty sure it was NOT level! Thus this goal is a little tough to master! I do have photos that are in "non-wall" frames (what would you call that?). But you can only devote so much shelf space to pictures. And so I have grandiose dreams of an entire gallery wall of photos. Realistic? Not really, but I can dream.

I've been trying to do some research (Pinterest counts as research right?) before I enlist my husband in a nail pound, frame hanging, head tilting party. I found this very helpful article from Better Homes and Gardens. In order to figure out the layout they suggest tracing your frames on scrap paper and taping it to the wall. I think this will work perfectly for us because you can adjust it and level it before you ever make a hole in your wall. Perfect!

What methods do you use for hanging pictures? Any suggestions before we take the plunge? 

SMASH Booking

I only recently purchased my first SMASH book and I'll be using it this whole year to record memories. They are a fairly inexpensive (I don't use a lot of embellishments) and hassle free version of scrap-booking. 

Step 1: Buy or make your own SMASH book. They really aren't too expensive ($9-$15 on Amazon) and they are a great creative outlet for recording your memories. My first book is this lovely green (eco-style) book. If you don't want to buy one, I've seen plenty of printables on Pinterest for making your own.

Step 2: Plan what you want your book to be used for. I actually used sticky notes and wrote out my plans for each page of my SMASH book. Throughout the year I can look ahead and know what I should be planning to get extra memorabilia from or to make sure to snap some pictures. 

Step 3: Print off photos at the end of each month, quarter, or year depending on how quickly you create your book. I'm doing one for the whole year and am planning on printing the photos off in December. 

Step 4: SMASH! Basically you glue in your photos, memorabilia (tickets, programs, leaves, flowers, recipes, newspaper and magazine clippings, hand prints, etc.), and any notes you want to make. The books come with a handy pen/glue stick so you can glue and write to your heart's content. 

Some ideas for SMASH book themes/topics:

• Wedding
• Baby pregnancy, birth, or first year
• Road trip
• School year
• Summer vacation
• Scripture study
• Art notebook
• Project inspiration
• Bucket list journal

What do you use your SMASH book for?