Book Nerd

Hello again.

So today this happened.

I go into my kids' rooms as little as possible. I tell people that it is because I want them to have "their own space," but mostly it is because their rooms are unbelievably messy and it makes me simultaneously terrified (of stepping on legos), infuriated (I just redressed all those naked baby dolls in their original outfits yesterday!), depressed (I just redressed all those naked baby dolls in their original outfits yesterday!), and guilty (a better mom would make her kids clean up after themselves). There is generally a walkway from the door to the bed and to the closet, and every other inch of floor space is covered with toys and books and dress up clothes.

Tonight, when I went to put Molly to bed and read her story, I discovered this little collection of books stacked next to her bed. There isn't a clear path to the bookshelf, so I guess she decided to just bring the bookshelf to her. She's got to get prepared for her extensive night time reading, you see. You can never be too close to your books.

I too have my own untidy tower of books next to my bed; books I am reading right now, books I finished months ago, books I just bought, books I'm intending to read eventually. Even books I'm never going to read. There are piles of books in pretty much every room around here, even the kitchen and bathroom. To me, no room feels right without some books in it. If you can force your children to become readers simply by surrounding them with books, mine don't stand a chance. 

Really, I know there is nothing really extraordinary about loving to read. Billions of people have loved to read as much as I do. But at the same time, it feels extraordinary to me. Of all the things I am, being a reader is probably the most fundamental and important characteristic. So much of my personality is shaped by my indefatigable love of books, by what I've read at certain times of my life, but my ceaseless ability to escape into the pages. I am who I am because of books, and if books are the only part of me that gets passed down to my children, I'll be a happy mom.

So, seeing my sweet little goose with her stack of books, it feels like maybe I am doing something right with this whole parenting business after all. Maybe I don't have to feel guilty about having my nose in a book always, maybe I am just demonstrating one of my favorite things about myself. And maybe soon enough, I'll get to share my favorite books too.

A Crap-Ton More SmashBook Pages

So, today I thought I'd share a few more Smashbook pages. These are all pages from the fall, since that Smashbook us finished and I already have pictures of it taken. I know I should share more current pictures of spring pages, but whatevs. It is what it is.

This page is from Thanksgiving, which is pretty much the beginning of Christmas for us. There are several of my favorite products on this page, and guess what?! I'm going to tell you about them! On the top left is the Smashbook calendar tape, which is very super cute and useful as I have become kind of obsessed with dating everything. You can also see two different washi tapes, which are both of the $.97 variety from Walmart. See, I am crafty, and frugal! Don't you want me as your new best friend? On the pictures on the bottom right corner, I used Cosmo Cricket tiny type, which is one of the best things ever. They used to make alphabet ones, but stopped. So, if you have seen them anywhere, please let me know. All of my alphabet sheets are out of vowels.

Oh goody, the Christmas pages begin! My holiday pages got a lot more scrapbook-y and a lot less crap pasted in, and this is because I didn't Smashbook at all in December. Gasp! Things got super crazy busy and my fingers were busy crocheting all those homemade gifts and wrapping and whatever, and I didn't do it at all. So, everything from December is slightly less genuine and slightly more adorable. And yes, I worry about the authenticity and veracity of my scrapbook. I am kind of a nerd. Oh well. 

I must have decided I didn't like the paper that came in the Smashbook here, since I covered the whole thing in patterned paper. But I like it plenty now, har har. I bought a roll of text printed wrapping paper in the Target dollar section and used it for everything but wrapping. Don't you just love the Target dollar section? The tree on the top left was a gift card that I swiped from Walmart along with my paint chips. Shhh. Oh, and there is a rick-rack banner, which may just be the best thing ever.

I always have tons of notes and crafts and extra stuff around Christmas time, so I added an extra pocket to keep it all in, though I usually only use the calendar pockets to mark the start of each month, lest my Smashbook get too fat (this one is busting it's seams). This page features the exploits of Dash, our Elf on the Shelf, a huge part of our holiday this year. I included a rare 5 X 7 collage, a size I almost never scrap with since we had so many adorable pictures of Dash. And more washi tape. That red stripe was almost the theme for all my Christmas pages.

Found objects are kind of a big deal around here. Ben is always going on "treasure hunts," and I can totally see where he gets it. I am always picking up trash neat little doo-dads around and sticking them in my purse to put in my Smashbook. My kids fight over who is going to get my grocery lists for their smashbook. So who could blame me for seeing this funny little interplay on the test paper at the craft store and NEEDING it? The only thing that could have made it better was if it had been about Harry Potter instead. Have I mentioned that I am a bona-fide Harry Potter freak, complete with snitch tattoo? (Ahem. New best friend?)

Santa dropped by our house this year and took a bunch of pictures and even left a video for us. We're just that cool. The awesome situation in the bottom left hand of this page is just a red envelope that I turned into a pocket. Inside the envelope is the kid's letters to Santa, and the back of it holds all the extra Santa pictures. I used two brads and a bit of bakers twine to hold the envelope shut without sealing it. And my mustache stamp was just right when stamped in white was the perfect touch. You can see here that I covered all the pages with my own paper again  so that they'd match my theme. 

Last one for today. I really like how this turned out. It's got the right amount of pretty things and pictures and journaling. I printed my standard sheet of 2x2 pictures, but also used some wallet size for variety. Sometimes the pictures are just too cute for two inch squares. I also discovered red label tape, which has pretty much rocked my world ever since. I lurve it so. Those number type stickers appeared again so that I could comment on each individual picture. Sometimes I wonder if it is all too much. Am I really going to forget that picture four was when we assembly lined presents into the house, or that Ben kept singing to the sky to guide Santa? The answer is probably yes, so I will just keep on documenting all the little things to prevent my crappy memory from ruining all my memories.

And that is a crap-ton more of my Smashbook pages. More to come soon. Thanks for reading!