Monthly Archives: March 2005
Hahahahahahaha… this was a HUGe discovery for me after we first got married. I did the same thing, bought all of the smell free stuff thinking that Geoff would like it better. Then much to my dismay he announced one night while we were having dinner with friends how much he missed having his laundry done by his mother, being a little territorial back then (now I’d gladly give it back to her to do 
) I was alittle insulted, thinking he thought she was better at it then me. It was the smell good stuff… he missed that nice Tide smell. I went right out & purchased the nice “regular” scented Tide & Spring Fresh Bounce sheets and he’s been happy every since. LOL Thanks for the memories!
hehehehehe! I love to rotate scents!
Oh yea. If I HAVE to do laundry (and who doesn’t?), I’d MUCH rather have the scents. At least that’s one thing nice about it!
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I have such trouble with clutter (mental and physical), too!! But here is my new game plan (3 days in) for keeping our house in some semblance of neatness:
Monday – Bedrooms
Tuesday – Bathrooms
Wednesday – kitchen
Thursday – vacuum and dust
Friday – garbage (okay, it’s really mostly a free day)
Laundry is still every day, but I’ve found that it helps me to tackle things one at a time…
Whoops – forgot to add, since it’s more to the topic, as far as uncluttered brain…well, I’m cutting back on some commitments, too, and I also lay down with Cole for a little while at naptime. It gives me a few moments of peace to regroup, plan, and just think for myself.
love the “not dangerous” hehe
I had to set up a cleaning schedule for myself too:
Mondays-living room
Tuesdays-Bathrooms
Wednesdays-Bedrooms
Thursdays-straighten up
I have recently gone through a declutter mode in my life, simplify…be at peace with myself and the people around me. I submit only when I have something that fits(scrapbooking) and I dont stress over making something new for everything out there. I also simplified in the area of relationships. I had to rethink the people in my life that caused me stress. I dont need them! One of the things that my doctor and everything I read tell me is important, and that will most likely be a good mindset for getting pregnant is to cut out the stress….so far it is working, and I have a much better feeling about the “someday I will have a baby” being sooner than later. Sheesh…I wrote a novel! sorry about that! You touched on a topic that is so important in my life now though!
I hear you! I am a several time flylady flop out. I consider my house clean if I’m not mortified if a friend suddenly stops by. I completely understand how you feel about an uncluttered brain. This is something I have been thinking about for the last several days. So thank you for putting my thoughts into words so I can read it and absorb it!
I tried flylady once, but it didn’t stick. Speaking of clutter, with just two kids in my house, the amount of paperwork that comes home from school and daycare is UNBELIEVABLE! If my dd draws a stick on a piece of paper, according to her, that is a treasured work of art. I keep the good stuff in a box marked “4K” and throw away the rest when she sleeps. 
I like the word: Simplify. and yes, I need to unclutter some of my brain too! Great post
You know….once again you have hit it just right…I often wonder what is wrong with me…why I can’t finish everything I want to…and now I know….MY BRAIN IS TOO CLUTTERED!! That is such a perfect description of my life….I absolutely positively need a brain “CLEAN SWEEP”! I am going to work on that….you have inspired me…(once again).
Thanks
Lisa
Ooooh I love flylady too!! I did it for maybe 2-3 weeks tops andthen it slowly got away fro me. I still keep it clean but it’s more ofa holy cow it’s Saturday and I need to clean the Mon-Fri mess! I love that sparkly sink though – still do that quite abit- it just feels good!!
Isn’t it amazing how much we all have in common? I find it so funny…..I read your blog and so much sounds like me. I read Tara’s blog and again…..I find so much of me in it…so many of us share the same “stuff”! It’s nice to know we have support from one another….or just to know we are not alone!
If there were a contest on cluttered homes, I think I’d win, hands down! I like this Shannon….and I need to join the challenge! Thanks
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He is too cute!
Love this picture! Soooo cute!
Betcha smiled back!!
I love it!!!! What a cutie!
Oh My…could that be any cuter??? Darling!
Adorable!!! Just too cute
Awwwwww how could you not smile … he is soooooo cute!!!
Moriah
Yikes this is sooo funny Shannon! What a doll!
Shel
So sweet!
So darling!!!
Great pic!!! Way to capture the moment!
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You ROCK, Shannon! Love reading your thoughts!
Looking forward to the continuation……….this is so much better than reading a book, this is life!
You have me in tears…….geez-o crow you write so beautifully! You ought to write a novel…based on your feelings! It would be a best seller…..seriously!
I so know these feelings……totally! Can’t wait for the continuation…whatever it may be!
ps…I like how you are using your blog…I may have to start over…..hmmmmm, can I do that?
Have I told you lately how brilliant you are?? Truly awe inspiring girl! You really should write a book. You have such a way with words!
Shel
loved this entry!!!!
Shannon… you the best! Love this 3rd person entry!
So… when is your book coming out Shannon???
Oh my gosh! That had me in tears!! Beautiful!
Amazing entry Shannon!!!!!!!
awesome…if it was a book, I would buy it! You have a way with words!
your writing is wonderful! i love reading it! thanks and keep it going please!!!!!!
tara
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“And I’m tired of it. Who cares? Really, I enjoy making friends and having that aspect, but most of all I love being creative. And it shouldn’t matter if I start feeling like someone is more creative than me, or has a better gig than me and let myself feel diminished by that. When I sit down to do a layout, I love that feeling of accomplishment. Regardless of who else is fabulous, I’m going to focus more on being happy with my work. I’ve been lucky that others have appreciated it, but really, that’s not what’s important. So if I never get on another design team again, never get published again, that’s ok…It’s about the forest…or the trees…or…whatever. ”
Shannon….you spoke from my heart! I have felt so much like that lately! I’ve in fact said as much. When did I stop scrapping for me? I know that isn’t what you said directly…..but it’s exactly how I feel. You are so inspirational in your blog….I totally appreciate it and I thank you! I am very hard on myself and have such esteem issues. I loved scrapping……I do love it…love being creative, love doing this for my children….but I’ve been lost.
You rock and must really think I’m a stalker now LOL!
Hugs!
Oh Shannon…first of all…I don’t get the forest or tree thing either….what is up with that??
Second…THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this! I have been doing a lot of soul searching since my HOF experience (or lack thereof) this year…and wondering about this whole “keep up with the Jones” attitude I find myself having. To hear it put so well by someone with your success, talent and heart really hits the spot!!
Thanks and btw…I think you are very “COOL”!!
Hugs
Lisa
I’m with you…. it all seems like a blur of green leaves and trunks. Great post today! Something I know I get overconcerned with. Thank you!
i always find it astonishing and intriguing that even the coolest of people doubt themselves and find that they aren’t the coolest… such a fabulous post, shannon.
You are sooooo right! I have recently re-evaluated what I like about scrapping and the rejection part of publishing is NOT it. LOL I like posting my layouts & reading praise and scrapping with others who love it as much as me, not to mention shopping for the stuff & trying new things. Again, no where in there is the part of creating something that is not what I want in hopes that someone else likes it.
Great post!
Moriah
I always wondered about the stress of it all and if it ever got to anyone on HOF or a GG or any of the other design teams. Guess you cleared that one up for me, but it also sounds like you are still very much in this for the right reasons. It is awesome being published, no doubt – nothing beats that phone call when someone says hey, we want your stuff in our magazine, I mean come on – that’s AWESOME! But, I like the person (Cathy Z I think) who said, it’s just pictures, paper and glue… and a whole lot of memories. That’s what it’s all about.
so true my friend…so true. You wrote what I feel often
amen sistah!
Bah! Found you, too!
Shannon you rock. That’s really what it’s all about – being happy with what we’re doing, and not getting lost along the way. Thanks for this post. I do a lot of that soul-searching myself lately.
Hey, just reading your last post. You seriously looked like you’d lost weight today… super fab in your jeans. Of course, we only see each other monthly, and we usually have kids draped across us…
You know… you never have these feelings when you never win anything… you really ought to try it. Of course, that would be impossible oh, Master Scrapper…
Hi Shannon..popping in over here. You hit the nail on the head about what I hate most about scrapbooking. It’s hard to rise above it and do it/participate in it without being caught up in all that crap. Something I struggle with everyday. EVERYDAY!
It is strange Shannon as I have been feeling EXACTLY like this lately and have said it often to friends. The past few months have been alot of soul searching about why I do this. When I start to dislike it, envy others, or feel inadequate it makes me take pause and reflect on why the heck I do it in the first place? Or more accurately… why I began. I am moving towards a good place right now… I can feel it. With balance and purpose! I can tell you are as well!
Shel
well said , indeed. Its so easy to get off track…and thats so far from where we all started in this endeaver..
Hey you! Long time no talk…on’t even ask me how I stumbled upon your blog…I feel like I’m spying on you now…LOL! Anyway, Amen. I have days where I feel this same way. I’m glad to hear I’m not alone. E-mail me if you ever need to talk. I took a giant leap back from the craziness to reevaluate and refocus. Family is first. Those two kids that wake me up every morning (when I desperately need my sleep) are my purpose…my reason…my everything, and that man lying next to me that rolls out of bed to get them breakfast (so I can get that sleep I crave) is great at helping me to remember what is truly important. Hugs to you…you are such an awesome girl!
I’m with you….
I don’t know a scrapper who doens’t struggle with this from time to time. I think its normal. I just try to enjoy the process and most of the time that’s enough to keep my head and heart in the right place.
You know you’re pretty awesome, Shannon – the layouts and the attitude. Glad I stumbled upon this tonight.
Lisa
I hope you don’t mind me posting to your blog. I know you through MDW, but don’t really know you (if that makes sense!).
I think it’s all about perspective and it sounds like you’ve found your place. Now, go hug those sweet babies of yours ’cause they are absolutely beautiful!
Just find happiness where you are and success will meet you there!
beth
Shannon- jumping in here…I could have SWORN that I wrote that post…lol. I think we all as scrappers feel this way. I struggled with this SO MUCH lately. Finally I stopped, backed off and decided I was gonna do things MY WAY. I can’t live my life worrying if I will get a page published, or asked to be on a certain design team. I can’t politely dance around things hoping to someday get somewhere. I am gonna do things the way I want to do them and if someone likes it Good..if not….then that is fine too. It is still my work, my blood, my sweat, my tears and in the end that is all it has to be. Scrapbooking is such a creative art form and unique to the individual. We all are good at certain things, have our own trademarks. The moment I saw myself trying to CHANGE the way I do things in order to get something out of it, I decided it was too far gone. I had to stop. I had to go back to me. That is all I can do. I don’t know what magazines are looking for, I dont’ know what it takes to be on those prestigous design teams…but I know what I like and that afterall is the ONLY thing I should consider when making my pages.
Ok…off the soap box here…lol. Just wanted you to know that you weren’t alone!
Candi
Only when I decided just to scrapbook for me and purely for me, did I ever have any “success” in the SB world. I think you do your best work, most creative work when you are unconstrained. It is all entirely subjective and at the end of the day, the only person you should be trying to please is you (or in this case me). We are all on our own individual path, towards self expression, to creativity. Success is relative.
by Shannon Montez
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