My Sleeping Beauty: A Scrapbook Layout Remembering The First Easter of Motherhood

"I tried and tried to stay awake to have my picture taken.
But I was so very tired that I couldn't be awakened.
This whole day was so exciting, I guess it was too much for me.
So I shut my eyes to take a rest, and slept too sound, you see.
Yet I hope that my photo will bring everyone great pleasure,
And as years pass by, and I grow up, my photo you'll always treasure. 

~Your Sleeping Beauty"

Author Unknown, Source: Scrapbook.com

"Sleeping Beauty" 8 1/2 x 11 Baby Scrapbook Layout

I couldn't have found a more perfect quote about my sleeping beauty than the one above. I just wish I found it BEFORE I created the layout and added it in place of my boring journaling (oh well). The photo was taken eight years ago on Easter Sunday and was one of several that showcased the newest addition of our family (including ones of her with each family member, eating applesauce for the first time, wearing a bandana and sitting on the roof of my childhood playhouse...don't worry, someone was holding her.)

That photo sat in an album for eight years until I was looking for something that would fit into the "beauty" category to fulfill the most recent ScrapTiffany challenge. When I saw it, I immediately thought "sleeping beauty." Perfect.

Then I started looking for letters and decided to use up stickers that I've had for over five years. I stuck with a neutral theme, distressed, inked and added a hodge podge of embellishments including painted chipboard. 

A closer look at my sleeping beauty:

And here's a layout with another photo that was taken the same day (when the sleeping beauty was awake):

"Kisses" 8 1/2 x 11 Baby Scrapbook Layout

Visit the ScrapTiffany blog to see more beauty-themed scrapbook layouts and cards. Photographs on the layouts were taken by Rick Sheridan of Look At Me Studios. Thanks for stopping by Snap.Scrap.Blog.Tweet!

You may also be interested in:

• Decorating Easter Eggs With Googly Eyes
• Baby Scrapbook Layouts: Journaling to Remember Your Baby's Special Moments
• Scrapbook Layouts That Celebrate Children

Why I Always Get a Seasonal Flu Shot

I will never forget the year my daughter and I were sick with the flu and had to miss a trip to visit family at Christmastime. Everything was packed (since I'm an early planner) and we were ready for our scheduled road trip two days later...until the flu bug struck. We wanted Santa to visit us, not the dreaded flu. Plans changed, but a lesson was learned that year: Always get a seasonal flu shot so we will never miss Christmas again. That was in 2003.

Now, I make it a priority to get my family vaccinated against the flu each October. I even did it when I was pregnant with my second child to stay healthy during flu season. Yet, last year was a bit of a hassle because of all the H1N1 hype and we ended up having to make three trips to the doctor's office and flu clinics to be fully vaccinated against each strain of flu virus. It's easier this year because one flu shot protects us from three different flu viruses (including H1N1).

I'm sharing this little story with you today for a few reasons:

• Germs are nasty and I don't want you to get sick with the flu.
• I wanted to scrapbook the photo above of my daughter and I home sick with the flu. (I used MemoryWorks Simple Stories: Life Documented kit.)
• I may receive a small thank you (valued at less than $20) since this post is part of a TwitterMoms blogging program and you can have a chance too if you click HERE.

I just got my flu shot. Have you? For more information about the flu vaccine and how you can protect your family from the flu this season, visit www.cdc.gov/flu. Thanks for stopping by ScrappinMemories4U.com!

This week in Layout A Day, a.k.a. #LOAD

Here's my most popular scrapbook layout this week from Layout A Day. It even made it to the Explore section of Flickr! You can see the rest of my #LOAD layouts HERE. Short post today...I gotta pack for an all day crop tomorrow! Haven't been to one in years! Thanks for stopping by ScrappinMemories4U.com!

Baby Scrapbook Layouts: Journaling to remember your baby's special moments

Babies! They are so cute and cuddly when they aren't stinky. They grow so fast and before you know it, what was once helpless in your arms is now toddling around, eating Cheerios with a dash of dog hair off the floor. So grab your camera and take lots and lots and lots of photos! Don't worry, you can always delete the bad ones and there will be many of them with a fast-moving bundle of joy zooming around your living room and the store and any open space, especially when your oldest child is playing soccer and you have to chase your toddler onto the soccer field. (Yes, I know this from experience.) 

When your child is still a baby, make it a habit to write down memories and accomplishments in a journal since you won't have as much time to scrapbook. By doing this, you will have what you need for the journaling that goes alongside the photographs on your scrapbook pages. "Mommy brain" will cause you to forget some of these memories, so after taking photos of your child eating applesauce for the first time, write it down in a journal or even a piece of paper.

Quotes can also capture a special moment by setting the mood of a scrapbook layout. The quote can be from a famous person or even your own child. Just remember to document as much as possible as your child grows up. Photo albums are great, but scrapbooks with photos and journaling are even better.

 

"Kisses" (8.5x11 Page Layout) 

Photograph by Rick Sheridan of Look At Me Studios

"W" (8x8 Page Layout)

"Birth Story" (12x12 Page Layout)

All layouts were created by Danielle Hunter of Scrappin' Memories 4U. 

You may also be interested in:

• Scrapbook layouts that celebrate children 
• Pregnancy Scrapbook Layouts
• Scrappin' Memories 4U Custom Scrapbooking