Holiday Journal

I thought today would be a great day to give you a good idea about a type of journal since it is St. Patrick's Day.  How many of you will make your kids yummy green meals, dress them up in green clothes, or have a treasure hunt?  Most of our holidays are filled with traditions.  Some of these traditions only work for little kids but some you carry on with throughout your life – and even pass along to your children's children.

One great way to remember these special holidays is to just snap a picture.  That’s it!  It may seem like not a lot of work, but through the years they’ll add up and you’ll be glad you took a few minutes to take that picture.

A few tips:

Make sure you label the pictures – you may think you’ll never forget what year it was, but the more years pass, the more likely you’ll forget.  RENAME the file for the computer or if you print out your pictures and don’t want to scrapbook them – write the year on the back with an ACID FREE pen.

It doesn’t have to be a posed picture – it can just be of the kids eating breakfast or the treasure at the end of the hunt… don’t worry about perfection – just capture the moment.

You can save these on your computer forever and ever or you could always print them up – get a cheap sketch pad and put them in that, or scrapbook if you are feeling adventurous (or have the time).

Remember journaling isn't all about writing essays and pages of your thoughts (although that is part) it is about keeping memories, remembering happiness, and celebrating life – especially holidays! 

A Cure for Journaling Hand Cramps!

How often have you been writing in your journal, trying to catch up, only to find that one and a half pages on your hand is hurting and cramping – so you say, “I’ll just have a little break.” Suddenly that “little break” turns into 2 days, 2 weeks, 2 months, or in my case - 2+ years! 

Some of us prefer typing to writing and guess what – THAT’S OKAY!  That is why blogging has become a popular form of journaling – its faster and you don’t get those pesky hand cramps.

Well… I have another solution – an idea for the busy lady who wants to type her journal, but doesn’t want to have a blog or doesn’t want to share too much on a blog – drumroll please….

www.ldsjournal.com

Let me start by saying the following:

*  I do not work for ldsjournal, or get paid for letting you in on this awesome website.

* You DO NOT have to be LDS to use this site – its for everyone!

Now, with that out of the way let me tell you some great points about this website that I know first-hand (yes I use it):

*  Its free!!!!!!!!!!

*  You can save your entries.

*  You can eventually make the entries into a book – with or without colours and pictures.

*  It has a “journal jar” option, in case you cant think of what to write – along with options of answering questions all about you to create a mini-history.

*  If you are interested – there is even a welcome video that tells you more about it.

*  Its free!!!!!!!

It really is a great site – if journaling online is something that interests you.  I recommended it to the Young Women in my church branch, but think it is great for all ages.  Go on, go have a try.

 

 

 

Sometimes We Just Need a Reminder…

I bet you think this entry is going to be about remembering to write in your journal – its not! I think most women who once kept a journal of some sort don’t need a reminder, its always there in the back of our minds whenever something good, bad, (or ugly) happens. Well, don’t worry, I have an idea!

All through growing up my mom kept a calendar. It was always pinned to the wall and EVERYTHING was written on it from appointments to birthdays. When the end of the year came around she would put the old calendar away and pull out the new one (the most exciting part of that was looking at all the new months pictures for the upcoming year). I always wondered why she wouldn’t just throw them away – why save them!?!? Then I got a bit older and a bit wiser and I completely saw the wisdom in this way of “keeping a journal”. I could go back through the calendar and see when my first day of 6th grade was, when she had her first ultrasound for my sister, where my parents went on their anniversary. Do you see what I’m getting at?

Most of us don’t have the time (or the motivation) to write pages and pages of journals – but how many of us have time to jot down a word or two in a calendar? Now, does this have to be your ONLY journal or your way of writing your journal forever? No, I must admit, for me as a woman without children – my calendar would be significantly less full than some of my counterparts with children.

So say you have a new baby, you just cant find the time to wash your hair, yet alone write in a journal and one day that little baby gives you their first smile. Why not jot it down on the calendar and then you can always use it as a “memory jogger” when life slows down a bit (yeah right) or when you can finally make some time just for you.

It might not work for everyone, but if you are struggling to write in your journal this actually might be just the idea you’re looking for.

Journaling and Scrapbooking? No, thanks!

I cant count how many time after setting up my journals and scrapbooks for a class that I hear the women, almost in unison, say, “No, thanks! Journals and Scrapbooking take too much time, too much money, too much creativity, etc.” I can fully admit that I used to be a “scrapbooking addict” – spending all my single girl money on the latest and greatest things – but that single girl money changed to married woman budgeting and I quickly learned that keeping a record doesn’t have to cost much money or even take much time. Every Thursday I will be giving hints/tips and ideas about how to make it all a bit more enjoyable and a lot more affordable! I’ll add in some photography tips (though I am far from an expert)!

Journals and Scrapbooks don’t need to be the “normal” things that we are used to seeing – bulging binders filled with pictures, stickers, cut outs, etc. or journals filled with pages upon pages of elegant handwriting (although there is nothing wrong with those). Keeping a record can be so much easier – made up of things found in the everyday like calendars, quotes, pictures, family history, newspapers, and so much more. I’ll do some entries on all of these and so much more, trying to make the reaction change from, “No, thanks!” to “Yeah, I have a spare 10 minutes – show me more!!!”

See you next Thursday!!!