JournalMama

Isn't the start of a new year refreshing? What do you hope happens in the year 2010? Jot down a quick list of goals for the year. You can hold off on making the rest of the layout for another day if you need to, but at least you have the goals written down before, say, March when goal-setting for the year isn't as exciting. A list of goals is a great addition to your scrapbook albums. With a list, chances are you will not reach every single goal, but you will be documenting your hopes and dreams. What a treasure that will be for future generations to come across in our pages!

While you are at it, pass that journaling pen on to your kids and husband for them to do the same. You may even want to start a goal-writing family tradition.

Here's to having the inspiration to dream big goals--and the blessing that all of them DO happen this year.

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Looking back a year is always a great way to see how you and your family have grown over the last year. Pick as many of the following items from the list below to easily and simply highlight the changes in your family--from a new car to a new baby to a healthier lifestyle. It really can take very little words to capture the essence of some big and small changes in your life. Once you list how things were a year ago, jot a few sentences about how they currently stand and what the future might hold.

Car I drove:
Car other family members drove:
Cell Phone I used:
Number of members in our family:
Number of pets:
Where we lived:
Where I worked:
Where other family members worked:
Old debt balance: (hopefully its gone down or you paid everything off! :) )
Status of residence--own or rent?
Number of countries visited:
Number of states visited:



Example layout to follow!

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In the middle of the creative process of selecting colors, patterns, embellishments and layout design, it may be difficult to switch gears and write a short statement of the pictures themselves. There is nothing wrong with setting a nearly-complete layout off to the side to add the journaling later (but not too much later) on. This is especially true if you are at a crop or engaged in a movie while you scrap.

DO have a plan for when you will add the journaling. This is a matter of choice: every 5 layouts? Once a week? Once a month? This is entirely up to you. You will probably find once you get in the groove of writing, the task is completed easily and quickly.

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Do you have a Facebook or Myspace account? If so, you have ready-made journaling. You can take any one status message and make it your journaling or title. Also, combine many statuses to show the big picture. In fact, there is a fabulous application in Facebook called My Year in Status that will make your journaling look fantastic and is quicker to complete than brushing your teeth.

Search for the application "My Year in Status" on Facebook or click this link to get there directly.
Choose the style you like and you are as good as done. You can choose the statuses you want included or let the application select randomly. Print it out, couple with a favorite photo or two or with a year in review picture collage. Easy peasy, don't you think?

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