I've never done December Daily.
I've watched my sweet friend Ali do it year in and year out and always thought it was cool, but I'm going to tell you something that you may or may not know about me: Christmas, for many years, has not been my favorite.
This year, for numerous reasons, my head is in a better space as the holiday season kicks into full swing. Part of it is the work I've been doing with my therapist, in looking at my life and determining what kind of person I want to be in the time that I have left here. Actually, this is probably not just part of it; it's mostly all of it.
I always had an insane passion for Christmas when I was younger, but over the years, it felt more and more like a burden. The commercialism of it all depressed me. The hustle and the bustle were two things I avoided at all costs.
And then last year, if I'm being completely honest, I had moments as Dan and I were wading through the mucky muck where I wondered, "What if this is the last Christmas we are together as a family?" It was a fleeting thought, but a thought nonetheless. That's what happens when you dig in and shake things up.
I think what has happened in 2012 is that I'm connecting to my life in very real and meaningful ways. Or at least I sure as hell am trying to.
And this opens up space for joy.
Pain is there too, but they can exist in the same place, which is something I've really only recently learned.
It's funny. When I started writing this post, I thought I'd just show you a few shots of my album, and I will, but I didn't think it was going to go where it did, you know, into therapy land talk.
But there you go, right?
Shall we move on to scrapbooking? Okay. Let's...
I am using the Studio Calico December Daily kit and holiday products from Elle's Studio. And if I may say to Studio Calico, please, for the love of all things scrapbook related, MAKE this 4 x 6 album all the time! It's the perfect size. I am in love with it. I want to marry it.
And I'm planning to do a combo of hybrid pages, keeping it very simple as I go.
I don't know if you picked up by looking at those little wooden trees, but um, yeah… I EMBOSSED them. You're welcome.
I'm using old Christmas papers in this album too, from BasicGrey. Remember this?
I'm keeping all of my stuff on my dining room table so it's ready to go, every day.
One little cute find was a holiday stamp from J Crew, of all places. You may find them still in the stores.
I'm looking forward to documenting life this December, in this little album. I know many of you will be doing it as well, and I'm happy to join in the fun.
For more information on December Daily, click here.
For a huge selection of December Daily products designed by Ali Edwards, click here.
For holiday products from my collection, click here.
