True Confessions of a Project Lifer

{If you have no idea what Project Life is, read this post: What is Project Life?}

True Confession #1: I am a day late on this post. I guess Project REAL Life took over yesterday! Our AC went out and we were all sweating and crying. No, not just the babies. :) But don't worry, I still have the rest of the week packed full of Project Life. Here we go!

True Confession #2: I have a LOT of catching up to do! (Does anyone actually ever feel "caught up"? If so, please educate the rest of us! But when it comes to Project Life, I'm trying to be okay with it. More on that later. 

And #3: I am in no way an expert on making super cute, "scrapbooked" Project Life stuff. If you do want to see that, there is TONS of inspiration out there. But for me, simple is better. I mean, the scrapbooking element of it is what I was trying to stay away from in the first place! Basically I just want a book full of pictures that we can look through with our kids. So remember that! (I need to remind myself every once in awhile too.)

So here it is. I started Project Life in February of 2010. I heard about it and ordered and then could not sleep until it was on my doorstep! I was so excited to have a solution that felt like it was do-able. 

I did the basic photo-a-day approach for 2010. It was a lot of work, but I also kept it so simple. One picture (4x6) and one journaling card per day. 

Not the most glamorous picture of me with my box.

2011: I got the gorgeous Turquoise Edition and tried to look at this year as more of a week-at-a-time (a la Ali Edwards.) I also added in a lot of stuff last year. By that I mean in between each 2-page layout for the week, I sometimes added additional sheet protectors! I cut and sewed some of my own to be the right sizes, but NOW the amazing Miss Becky Higgins has come out with pretty much any size you need! (Tomorrow I'll be focusing on the new products.)

2012: I'm still doing the week-at-a-time. On Sundays I go through the week and pick out pictures for the week. Sometimes I have written on journaling cards throughout the week, and sometimes I do it all at the end, on Sundays. 

Photo-A-Day vs. Week-At-A-Time

I love reading my 2010 album, because I was pretty consistent and wrote every day. It was my journal. I will admit, I felt some stress about getting a picture every day. Some days you take a 100 pictures, some days none. I like the routine and habit of it, though.

When doing Project Life a Week-At-A-Time, I feel like the pressure is off to take a picture every single day. (Or at least a decent/or meaningful one) Looking back at the week I can decide what stories were important. If there are 4 great pictures from one day, I put them all in and don't worry about it. Here is an awesome example of the Weekly concept from Jennifer Woodbury, A PL Team Contributor. Oh, and hurry to her site to enter an awesome GIVEAWAY for a set of all the new PL Plastics (sheet protectors) that were just released!

In the end, you will just be happy to have an album to look through! 

I try to remind myself of this all the time. Am I going to look back and say, wait - that picture was taken on a Monday, NOT a Wednesday!!! HECK NO! And neither will you. Or your kids.

So this morning I counted up how many weeks are not 100% complete. I don't know if I should share the number! Ha! I'm starting with finishing 2010 (that has the least empty spots) and going forward from there. I am going to spend 15 minutes every night editing/uploading pictures to print. And I want to be caught up by the end of September. That sounds like a long time but, if I have almost 3 years of life documented, that will be SO exciting! No more guilt trips!

Here's where I got behind in 2010...the week I found out was prego with #2! Thank you, morning sickness!

True Confession #4: I drove my husband crazy when I first became a Project Lifer. I was always taking pictures of things like our dinner plates. Guess what? He's totally on board now that he has seen the albums and gets to look back at all the "little things" we do everyday. I can honestly say it has been such a blessing to do this project. My family loves to look at our Project Life albums. My husband has even been known to take a picture from his work day or bring me something to put in the album. If you have older kids, get them in on it! It really is something you can do as a family.

A picture I never would have thought of taking before Project Life - our house number on the curb.

 (Oh, and the baby's binkie in the gutter.)

I hope this post has answered some questions you might have or at least helped someone that's a little behind to know they aren't alone!

{My theory is, the stuff I do have done is great, I treasure it, and it's much better than what I had before, which was nothing!}

Tomorrow is all about Instagram, smart phones and getting prints made for Project Life.
(Hint: there's a new free App I'm SO excited to tell you about!)

I'd love for you to follow me on Instagram! My name is @sisterssuitcasenat or you can click here:

Find us on: