Wednesday, March 5, 2008

More Therapy, er...I mean, Scrapbooking

I had a wildly narcissistic urge to do a book featuring pictures of me from the past. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that. I feel like I should be doing books of my loved ones rather than of myself. However, having said that, I also have to say that it was, surprisingly, pretty therapeutic to do. I used 15 pictures of myself, taken between 1965 and 1996 and put them into a 6"x4" chipboard booklet. The picture above shows what the cover looks like. Above is the inside cover page and the first picture.
I made little envelopes and tags for each page and wrote something about each picture on the tags.

I didn't include a picture of each page, but you get the idea, right? The pictures weren't all that thrilling to look at, but I found that remembering what was going on in my life at the time they were taken was somewhat...enlightening, to say the least. I realized several things. The biggest of which was that somewhere along the way, I forgot that life was about more than paying bills and disciplining kids and trying to please people. I realized that I have gotten into a strange little habit of focusing on everything that's wrong in my life and have stopped enjoying everything that's right. I'm telling you people...stop spending your money on a therapist and start scrapbooking. You'll find yourself swimming in a veritable ocean of mind-boggling epiphanies about your life and the path your life has taken. lol You'll also probably figure out that all those times you've worried about this or that have been moments wasted! Now before you all start thinking I've turned over a whole new leaf and will be leading the International Choir of Sisterhood and Love in a rousing rendition of Kumbaya, let me assure you that ain't gonna happen. I expect I will always be a little bit surly, especially when it comes to politics, celebrities and other great injustices of the world. (Hey, some things will always cause me to rant and rave and no amount of warm and fuzzy feelings will change that. I mean heck, I've been trying to improve my outlook on life, not trying to channel Mahatma Ghandi!) Let's just say that I'm making a humongous effort to acknowledge my blessings and embrace the good in life. Because, as I said on the inside cover page of my little "me" book, I don’t want to spend any more time wondering if I've lived the best I could. I want to know I did.

27 comments:

  1. hey dear you are writing your personal history and that will be something to cherish by you and your family for many years you are inspiring me girl and as far as the test goes you are young at heart:> You have too much hair to be Ghandi anyway:>

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  2. Scrapbook away!
    I'm not sure it is any cheaper than therapy... just more fun!

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  3. You have found what your awsome at girl! Those books are beautiful. I think it is awsome that you have found something to help and fill your time.

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  4. I've been dancing through the living room and singing She's Back She's Back to the tune of Kumbayah and Uncle Wallace, who decided that I had totally lost my mind, went to bed. Of course he had to get up again and come see what I was talking about. He be pleased, lol. I love you so much, I just can't tell you how much...I hope there's enough of that bolt of cloth we're cut from left over for Kara!
    Love ya Baby girl
    Aunt Sandi...
    ps
    love the pictures...you were one fantastic looking kid...pretty good looking grown up too. Now go buy your Lady Clairol Red...a lady never lets her roots show!

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  5. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! *screaming and squealing*

    YOU ARE BACK!!!! Girl, I didn't even read your bloomin' post, just had to come over and say AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhh - Well, you know what I mean!!!

    So, I will get my grinning self together and go and read you. Welcome back honey and you are going right back up on my blogroll as soon as I leave (I thought you'd hung it up for good, so GLAD I was wrong!). Glad to see you Kari - Jen

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  6. I read the post. I love what you had to say. You wouldn't believe the lack of living I do at times because of certain issues that I have. Your idea was great, the book was beautiful, and 80's hair familiar! Jennifer

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  7. YEA!!!!! Kari's back!!! I have missed you sooooooooo much. I was afraid you wouldn't return, and then who would I look to for servings of social atrocities!!!!

    Really Kari, I am glad to read you are back. It IS possible to have a dear friend in someone one has never met...

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  8. Wow....you're really good at this scrapbooking business!!! Did you have lessons? Or are you just creative and talented naturally? Both your Dad's and yours are wonderful. Great job.

    Oh, it's so good to have you back.

    Love and hugs!
    Kat

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  9. Oooo look at you go with the scrapbookin'. It's GREAT! I love your lil' book. I'm trying to create something of the sort, but in 12x12.
    Keep up the scrapin'. ;)

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  10. Oh its so good to see you again and hope all is well

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  11. Pretty neat stuff. Love the way you added the info tags with each page..

    I did leave this same quote with Janet, but I'll add it again since it is one of my faves, By Walt Disney: "Happiness is a state of mind. It's just according to the way you look at things."

    Cassie

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  12. Kari!

    Sounds like you have been doing a lot of soul searching. I think that is happening to more and more people these days. I know I definitely have been trying to improve my outlook on life. I tend to lean toward the glass half empty way of thinking, and I want to get away from that. You are headed in the right direction. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other! (OK! I sound like the song from that Christmas movie.....ROFL)

    I LOVE your scrapbooking style, and your book about yourself! I started a BOM (Book Of Me) after reading the book by Angie Pedersen. I haven't gotten very far! LOL It's sad, that as scrapbookers we will scrap about everybody, and everything, but ourselves. We are part of our family history as well. I even tried to teach it as a class at our store, but couldn't get anybody to sign up, because they didn't want to scrap about their selves. You should take a look at all of the books by Angie. She also has several websites. http://www.scrapyourstories.com/ and http://angiepedersen.typepad.com/

    P.S. I really like the new look on your blog! Very pretty!

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  13. Just loving this idea!

    Oddly enough, I wouldn't have enough photos of me to get past page four. Seriously, I am camera shy and always have been. I have definitely become the disappearing woman.

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  14. Glad you're back and feeling better.
    I just bought some scrap booking supplies and Next on my list of things to accomplish is to start digging through the boxes of old photos and make some nice albums. I really liked how yours turned out! I'll let them inspire me to get busy on my own!
    God bless.
    Terri

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  15. Kari,

    You could make a business of this. I mean you are really good at it. If I ever get my lazy butt movin, I woud like to make one for each of my kids and grandkids. But first I have to get off of this crazy computer. LOL Love your book, it's so nice.

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  16. Wonderful!! Wonderful!! Keep scraping, the books are so great..and keep up the venting as well, some people need to be kept on their toes. I'm with vee, I'm not sure that I have enough photos of myself to do a book. It seems that I'm the one who is taking the pictures, I'll have to get DH to take some soon..its great to have you back. Katie

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  17. Good for you!

    My first scrapbook was a geneology book with pictures of my growing up at the end. It isn't nearly as creative as yours... just a bunch of pictures crammed onto a page with no bling. You should teach classes!

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  18. Great job, on your books and your feelings/thoughts, Kari! Keep up the good work! These books are wonderful!

    Pat

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  19. I think it's great that you're doing a book about you. You're just as important as anyone else! That'll be great for your kids to have to learn more about you. Looks great!

    I love the new look to your blog!

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  20. I just kind of found you, and I have to say you have amazing talent! I always wished I could do something like that. I am afraid I am not artistic enough nor am I disciplined enough to actually put the pictures I have into a great book. You rock!

    Kelly

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  21. Hi, kari, haven't stopped by in awhile, but wanted to say HI! Your scrapbook sounds like fun. I've never got into srapbooking, but I admire those crafty women who do it.

    I have just discovered scrapbook paper...it's neat stuff!

    Rhoda

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  22. Oh Kari! That is a fabulous idea for a scrapbook. You did such a nice job, it looks beautiful! I'm so glad you are back...your posts always seem to speak to me, they really do. I'm so wanting to try one of those little books myself. And, your blog looks so pretty and happy, too.

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  23. thanks for the advice.I will try and find the drink. I know what you mean about finding something and then it's gone. Makes me so mad!
    I love food and amount is hard for me. I also have no metabo. I took diet pills all my life thinking I was fat.I have always done this roller coaster and now at this age it is hard.
    Alot of the meds im on also cause weight gain.So it's danged if you do and danged if you don't.that is why all I care about is feeling good.
    Miss you,Brenda

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  24. Kari, I love your scrapbook! Great job, and I agree that scrapbooking is therapeutic. Thanks for stopping by and visiting!

    Sandra

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  25. That looks great and I love the big hair picture. It's important to scrap ourselves so we leave a footprint of our time here.

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  26. What a great idea! I began scrapbooking in 2003 and I've looked a life differently ever since then. Even though I don't have much time to scrap right now (finishing my master's degree while teaching full-time and mom of 3, I always try to remember to live in the moment and appreciate NOW. I also have really become much more reflective of my life and mindful of how I spend my time and who I spend my time with!

    Great job on your scrapbook!

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