the MotherLOAD - Day 8

Today's challenge was to scrap about your needs. I took the easy way out and scraplifted the example page ;-) Here's my LO:

I can't live without the internet (or I'll suffer from fanfiction withdrawel...), reading material (be it books, my ereader or magazines) and, of course, my girls!

the MotherLOAD - Day 7

Today's challenge was to reinvent old scrapbooking techniques & trends such as themed papers and cut out photos.
I chose to NOT follow the prompt again and did another remake of an old 8,5x11" page:

the MotherLOAD - Day 6

Today's challenge was to use a self-portrait, since scrapbookers tend to spend a lot of time behind the camera and not so much in front of the lense...
I used some pictures that were taken a few weeks ago and made this page:

It's about me having lost approx. 20 lbs since the beginning of the year and being on the right track weight-loss-wise (even though I am not entirely there yet).

the MotherLOAD - Day 5

Today's challenge was to break some of the (self-imposed) scrapbooking rules, like using another format, supplies or techniques than you're used to.
I broke the rules by not following the prompt (haha) and redid another old LO. This used to be a double 8,5x11" which I converted to a double A4 spread:

{BTW, I can highly recommend going on a whalewatch tour when you are in the Boston area, it was AWESOME!}

the MotherLOAD - Day 4

Today's challenge was to make a LO using only the bare minimum of supplies. Since I was on a roll converting old LOs, I did another one. This one used to be 8,5x11" and I redid it as an A4 as well (just like yesterday's).
Coincidentally, it didn't need a lot of 'stuff': just some patterned paper & plain cardstock, alpha stickers, inked edges and stamped journaling block with handwritten journaling.
The original had a typed title and journaling, but I couldn't find the old file on my PC and couldn't be bothered to retype it ;-)

the MotherLOAD - Day 3

During the first 9 weeks of basic training, one of the assignments was to make 4 'snack bags' containing different embellishments and today's challenge was to use one of those snack bags.
Since I didn't do any of the basic training assignments, I didn't have any snack bags prepared and I therefore chose to forego today's challenge.

For some time I've been thinking of converting some old LOs into A4-format, so I redid an old 12x12 LO that I made for an online class a few years ago in order to put it in my binder with all my other travel LOs:

the MotherLOAD - Day 2

Today's prompt was to make a lay-out about something that made you laugh recently. I used a conversation I had with my colleagues, in which I made a crude comment that shocked them somewhat... ;-)

{I actually gave this some thought: the patterned paper symbolizes my quick wit (haha) and the brown symbolizes my potty mouth ;-) }

Busy day

I had a busy day today, running from one medical professional to another...
First, I had an appointment with my GP to talk about my burnout-symptoms. Then I went to have my blood tested for my vitamin- and cholesterol levels (the results will be in on Monday). And finally I had an appointment at the dermatologist to have some blemishes removed (fortunately I came up clean a few months ago when I went for my BCC check-up).

I'm exhausted!

the MotherLOAD

9 weeks ago the MotherLOAD class started at Big Picture Classes. The class consists of 9 weeks 'basic training' and a layout-a-day scrapmarathon from September 1-26.
While I did not actively participate in those 9 weeks basic training, I do plan to do another layout-a-day for the last part of the class, like I did last May.

Today is the first day of the scrapmarathon and the prompt was to scrap a goal.
I decided to make some sort of checklist of the things I need to do before travelling to China next month:

Burnout

It's been a hectic few months at work, it's been hectic in my personal life and my vitamin D is still extremely low, which isn't helping matters one bit!
So, all in all, it's not too surprising that when things slowed down at work a few weeks ago and we were somewhat getting back into our groove in our family, the sh*t hit the proverbial fan. It's like when people get migraines in the weekend or suffer a heart attack during their vacation because their bodies get to wind down from the day-to-day stress.

The good thing is that I didn't get above-mentioned heart attack. The bad thing is that I sort of experienced a mental breakdown remeniscent of my burnout 5 years ago.
Work I could have handled. The deaths of my grandparents as well. Even coping with the effects of my vitamin deficiency would not have been a problem. Just not all AT THE SAME TIME!

So I'm taking a short break, as per doctor's orders. I took a few days off work and will start working half days next week. I took an (already planned) trip to the island of Texel this past week to empty my mind and relax.

It worked. I'm already starting to feel better.
I'm not quite there yet but I think I stepped on the break in time before I got to the point of no return.

One of the benefits of a burnout? At least you recognize the signs the next time, before things get too much out of hand...