2017 SCRAPPY PLANS

I give myself the month of January to really think about what I want my year to look like and what goals I need to set for myself to make that happen. One of things that really helps with that process is starting the One Little Word project® (you can find more details about Ali Edwards One Little Word® here). 

This year my OLW is:

I have so many things that I want to change about my little world that I live in. Some of them are big, and some of them are small, but all of them are needed! You'll probably see me talk about some of those changes here on my blog throughout the year, but in this post I am just going to talk about my scrappy plans for 2017 and some of the changes with my approach to memory keeping!

PROJECT LIFE®

I have started a Project Life® album for the last 3 years. I say started, because I don't think I have actually fully completed any of them. I have done mostly 12x12 albums, but last year I decided to switch things up and use a 6x8 album. I really loved working with the smaller size, and to be honest if I could still get my hands on the same albums I used last year I would probably continue using it for this year too. Right now I am thinking about switching back to a 12x12 album for this year, and have already completed a couple weeks in that size. I will be documenting my year using a weekly format and I am planning on using this grey album from Becky Higgins to house all my spreads. My favorite products to work with when I am using pocket pages are from One Little Bird and Felicity Jane. You can probably expect to see a lot from both brands mixed throughout this years album. I will also be posting weekly process videos on my YouTube channel. Most importantly, I will be trying to stay pretty current with this project, because when I let myself fall too far behind it just becomes more of chore and less enjoyable. 

TRADITINAL PAGES

I am also definitley going to be telling my stories through traditional pages as well. I have never really had a plan when it came to my scrapbook layouts, at least not one that has stuck. This year I plan on being more intentional with my stories and photos that I scrapbook. I have subscribed to Ali Edwards Story Kits™ and Stamps since the very beginning and my plan of attack is to take most of my story telling inspiration from the themes of those kits every month. Of course I will get inspiration from other places along the way, but my main goal is to just scrap with purpose. I will probably use the same grey album that I am using for my Project Life® album, or maybe this white one? I also want to use a variety of page protectors and maybe even mix a few pocket pages in as well! Along with my Story Kits™, I definitely plan on using my Felicity Jane kits to create my layouts. I have had my eye on the Gossamer Blue kits, and want maybe try them out at one point this year too! Just like my Project Life® spreads, I will also have process videos for most of my traditional scrapbook pages over on my YouTube channel. 

CAMPING ALBUM

Last year I documented our family camping trips in Traveler's Notebooks. I didn't really share too much of that process. It was really new to me and I didn't know if it was going to stick, but I ended up loving it and plan on doing the same this year. The reason why I picked a Traveler's Notebook was that they were small and I could put them in our trailer. I actually can't wait to bring them out on our first camping trip this year. When I work on little side projects like this, I take the opportunity to use up my stash. I will probably share these notebooks this year by either sharing a few process videos or doing a album share.

FINISH OLD PROJECTS

Most of my albums on my shelf are not complete. Some of them I need to add just a few finishing touches, and others are just in the beginning stages and need a lot of work. My biggest goal for 2017 is to finish each project that I start, and to finish all my unfinished albums!! I know I will need to sit down and figure out what my action plan will be for the unfinished projects, but it is definitely something I want to work hard towards. 

I think that pretty much sums up all the scrappy goals for the new year. I really am excited and hopeful that this year will be a really productive year and that I will have a few new albums on my shelf as my reward!

I would love to have you along on this memory keeping adventure, and this is where you can find me.

YouTube: Banning Lane
Instagram: @BanningLane
Facebook: you guessed it... Banning Lane

and of course right here on this blog!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and hopefully we will see you all very soon.
-Dannielle

Best Camping Trip Ever

This camping trip to Priest Lake had been planned for a long time. Tony and my Dad planned and reserved our camp sites months ago. It may have just been the best camping trip ever and this is what I want to remember.

I want to remember how awesome it was to camp by a lake with a beach. Everyday we made a trip down to the water to play. 

I want to remember the look of pure joy on London's face every time she got brave enough to walk out into the lake and sit down.

I want to remember how cute it was when a little girl asked London if she wanted to play. They were the only little girls on the beach that day, and it was so fun to see them play together.

I want to remember how much London wanted to catch a squirrel. She walked through the woods with a rope so that she could tie him up and take him home if she happened to catch one.

I want to remember how fun it was to play sequence over and over again. It's been a while since we have all played that game and it looks like it is still a family favorite. 

I want to remember our morning bike ride down to the lake in our jammies. I wanted to get a picture of the lake, and the view was worth the ride (and walk) back up that hill.

I want to remember how cute Tony looked in his camping shoes that we got him for Fathers Day. They just made every outfit look great. He is still just so darn handsome.

I want to remember the cute little resort we went to for dinner one night. It had a very Dirty Dancing feel to it. I told Tony more than once that it would be a great place for us to get away to for the weekend. We will see if he picked up on my not to subtle hints.

I want to remember watching Tony and my Dad having way to much fun siting on tubes out in the water while flying London's shark kite.

I want to remember stopping for ice cream on our way up to camp, and thought it was such a good treat that we made sure to go back down later that week for an after dinner snack.

I want to remember playing games in the trailers at night. We were told a bear and her cub had been coming into camp and being outside in the dark scared me.

I want to remember how London wanted to go watch a movie in Poppy's trailer every night. It seems like that has become the norm when we camp with my parents. During the day I like her to play outside and enjoy being in the woods, but watching a movie before bed seems to be a nice way for her to end the day.

I want to remember how good it felt to have five whole days to spend as a family with absolutely no plans.

I want to remember how nice it felt to be home in our own bed after that five days.

It was an awesome camping trip. The longest one we have ever been on with our trailer. We will definitely be going back next year, a maybe even try to make another small trip before this summer ends.