Cherish

By now all the kids have returned to school and as parents we are taking our psychological big breath to prepare for the busy year ahead. For me I have one less child heading back to school and instead heading into the workforce. I couldn't be prouder of our Mr18 son. He has shown extraordinary commitment to school when it wasn't easy and is now relaxing into the life he deserves and enjoys (I just wish he would put more sunscreen on..)

I believe that it's in the hard times we have a space to challenge ourselves and either grow and achieve or retreat and build up the strength to take on the next challenge. This is also true in the scrapping world (on a smaller less stressful scale) and in particular with the new More Than Words collection that on it's outward appearance being a pretty feminine collection but when you take up the challenge you can create some fabulous layouts just for our boys and the special men in our lives.

This is a layout of Mr 18 using only products from the More Than Words collection.

Head on over to Cocoa Vanilla Studio and check out this collection as well as many others to provide you with more creative challenges. 

Thanks for stopping by .. 

Lauren xo

It will be enough... (I hope)

It's Tuesday and today my little girl ventured off to begin new year at school. Later in the week my son will do the same. This time of year leaves me with mixed feelings. A feeling of excitement for the year they will have, a feeling of apprehension of the life lessons they may learn and a feeling of sadness that they are growing at what seems to be a super sonic speed. I know as a mother I have a role which is to teach them the skills to survive this world and to enable them to live a full life with confidence and bravery, kindness and compassion. But..It's at this time of the year I wonder am I truly doing enough? am I on the right track? am I missing something? I hope and pray that whatever I have to give. The 'little' or the 'a lot' it will be enough. 

Over the last little while I have had the pleasure of being apart of the Kraft + challenges blog. 

This is a great challenge blog and the design team truly blow me away with their talent. As part of my 2018 year it was with great sadness I resigned from the team. I hope that when life settles a little I will once again be apart of the Kraft + family. 

Check them out over on facebook and Instagram. 

Facebook

Instagram

Here are the layouts I created while on the team.

I encourage you to have a go at some of the challenges and have a chance at winning some wonderful scrappy prizes. 

Blessings Lauren xo

One Year Ago... wow.

Hello hello again blogland and hello beautiful creatives. 

It has been just over one year since I shared a post and there are many reasons as to why. The biggest was that life became a little bit actually a big bit to much. I said yes to so many things that by the end of the year I was left with nothing. Nothing to give my family and nothing to give myself. 

Reaslising this and the cost I decided that 2018 would be a year of saying no and not leaving myself emotionally and physically bankrupt.

I realised that I am precious, that even thoughtI can't do it all it is still ENOUGH. I realised that this life is precious and that it should not be survived but LIVED. 

I want to write, I want to have the emotional space to respond to my needs as well as my family's and I want to be creative not only with paper but with my ENTIRE being. 

So with that said not only am I resusitating ME I am bringing back to life this blog. We are going to walk hand in hand over the next 12 months and see what will happen. I am making nno promises but I have to admit I am a little bit excited. 

So for my first post I want to share with you the projects that I created apart of the wonderful Scrapping Clearly design team. The experience of designing for this Australian store has been wonderful and I feel truly blessed to say that in 2017 I was a Scrapping Clearly girl. 

Enjoy..  

Travelers Notebook/Planner

Mixed Media 

All the products I used are available to purachse in the Scrapping Clearly store. 

CLICK HERE

I want to thank Kylie Tout (owner of Scrapping Clearly) for becoming a wonderful friend and trusting me to represent your store over the last 12 months. 

When I look back on all these layouts I see a wonderful collection of captured memories. I know that I am so lucky to be able to create this way. 

Blessings 

Lauren xoxo