Scrappy Sunday--He is Good

Today I have an older layout to share with y'all. I created this layout back in May (I wish I had the exact date). This was one of the lowest points for me in my infertility experience--after an awful disappointment in the previous cycle, I was trying a treatment plan one last time before moving on to the "big guns." I was scared, and frustrated, and to be honest, angry.

One day during that month I felt peaceful. I felt suddenly sure that G-d was with me, that things would work out in the end, and that He would give me the strength I needed to get to that point. I created this layout on that day, to keep my spirits up when my sense of security faded. I used happy colors (my favorite Studio Calico kit of all time, Lawn Party), and created this layout, which may not win any design awards, but which I will always love. The gray background felt calming to me, exactly how I wanted the layout to feel.

I wrote journaling that meant something to me, and creating the layout just made me happy.

I had no idea that this was the month I would get pregnant. I would not find out the news until several weeks later in June, but it was in May of 2011 that my miracle finally came.

Months later, I decided the layout deserved a repeat. I used the same title, and put together a design that made me happy.

I love that my album now has a visual recording of how life can change in such momentous ways. That's one of the best things about this hobby, isn't it?

Don't be afraid to scrapbook the sad stuff--because one day, when things turn around, it will always remind you of how lucky you are, and how quickly life can change for the better.

One of the hardest aspects of infertility is how isolating it can be. According to Resolve (a great IF resource, by the way), 1 out of 8 couples in the world experience infertility. Yet it still feels so lonely.

I know that many of you have been down this road, and still more of you are waiting for your day to come. If you have an infertility story you feel comfortable sharing, please leave it in a comment or link me up to your blog (I will post links in a future post). You'd be surprised how much sharing YOUR story can help others.

Wishing you a happy Sunday, everyone, with lots of dreams come true.

A note on the giveaway--we have a new winner for Box #2! It is.......Tiffany Davis! Shoot me an email and I will get your package out to you:)

Tiffany DavisJan 21, 2012 06:36 PM

Yay! I've followed your blog for almost a year now. tiffanydenisedavis@gmail.com. :)

Staycation fun

A few weeks ago, S and I decided to take advantage of the fact that we live in New Jersey and head off the big city for a little "staycation." It was wonderful--not much packing, not much traveling, and an exciting destination!

S and I stayed at a fancy Sheraton in Times Square:

I know this photo is SO dark and grainy, but I love it anyway--it looks as happy as I felt.

At night, we headed out to a delicious steak place, La Marais, for dinner--and the highlight was that I ate some dessert AND my blood sugar levels were fine! An exciting development in the life of a diabetic:) We then went to this funky theater in Midtown to see Million Dollar Quartet--S's pick, but I actually really liked it!

We topped off the night with some drinks at the bar (virgin over here):

And menorah lighting (which makes me realize, this was really more than a few weeks ago. Oops!).

The next day, we got off to a late start and then headed to brunch.

We rounded off the day with a Trader Joe's stop (I *love* that store. Although next time I go, I want to buy all of the English toffee bars I can see!)

So that was our staycation--probably the last babymoon before bunny arrives. Speaking of which, my due date is THREE weeks away. Eek!

Tell me--what is YOUR idea of a perfect staycation?

Note--giveaway winners posted below. Jenny, please email me by Sunday or I'll have to pick a new winner!

We have WINNERS!

Thanks for playing along with the giveaway, everyone! You are all helping my nesting instinct very effectively (speaking of which, the coat closet is my next victim, so if you're wanting extra coats . . . .)

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I have two winners to post!

Box # 1 is going to . . . . .

CourtneyJan 19, 2012 08:58 AM

How sweet of you Keshet! I would love a chance to win! Thanks!

Box # 2 is going to . . . . .

Jenny LilacJan 19, 2012 02:58 PM

What an awesome giveaway! I am following your blog!

Please email me at keshet.starr@gmail.com, and I'll get your box out to you!

Giveaway Day!!

Well, the giveaway box in my guest room closet has been overflowing, and causing a few avalanches lately. So I decided it was officially time to pass on all those goodies to YOU!

I have two boxes of scrappy stuff to send out.

Box #1 includes some new October Afternoon (I don't do the Christmas lines, although they're so cute!), and some Crate Paper, Pebbles, Basic Grey and more from last season's releases. There's a Scrapbook Trends issue stuck in for good measure as well!

A little close-up:

Box #2 has some new Cling stamps, Washi tape, Cosmo Cricket, mistables, and a few exclusive Studio Calico stamps stuck in:)

And another closer peek:

If you would like to win a box, here's how to ENTER!

1) Leave a comment in this post by SUNDAY at 8:00 PM.

2) Either follow my blog or leave me an email so I know how to find you:)

*Fine print--I am happy to ship to international winners as long as you can pay shipping! Otherwise, US only please:)

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Scrappy Sunday

Happy Sunday, friends! Today will be a bittersweet day for us--attending a funeral, and later taking care of more things to do before bunny arrives. We're also meeting with great friends in Brooklyn, and S is pumped about meeting their new cat (he really wants a cat. but i feel like a baby is a good start for now. ha!)

I have a new layout up with the Scarlet Lime February kit!

The blog theme this month was personal style, so I pretty much had fun and used a bunch of my favorite things (label stickers, doodling, flowers, etc) to pull together this layout. You can check out more on the Scarlet Lime blog right here!

Speaking of style, how would you sum up YOUR scrappy style/philosophy?

A trip down (scrappy) memory lane....

Hello friends! I hope this week has been treating you well. Mine has been filled with cooking, scrapbooking, catching up with friends, and trying to get my yearly budget organized, plus a bit of working thrown in for good measure:)

I have some oldie-but-goodie layouts that I've never shared with you, so here they are today!

This first layout was created for an Ella Publishing article based on a sketch by Donna Jannuzzi. I used my very first kit of all time, Studio Calico's Lawn Party kit from last May.

This next layout was created with Lawn Party (again--sigh, I loved that kit!) and some fun Elle's Studio goodies! The photo is from years and years ago, and is with one of my best friends from growing up.

This last layout was published in Scrapbook Trends earlier this (or I guess last!) year. It was my first magazine assignment and thus very intimidating, but I'm pleased with how it came out!

So tell me--what is YOUR favorite layout of yours lately? If you have it in a blog, link me up!

I hope you enjoyed the scrappy share! Happy end of the week, everyone:)

One Little Word...

I've been thinking about my One Little Word for a while. And in true Keshet form, I'm a little too wordy to settle on just one. So I've chosen a phrase.

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This year is going to bring a lot of changes, and if you know me, you know that change is not my specialty. I hope this phrase reminds me that figuring out how to manage life and motherhood will come over time, and I just need to focus on the day at hand. I also hope it reminds me to be present in each day because life moves SO, so quickly.

So here's to 2012....one day at a time.

Oh, that bunny....

I hope this isn't becoming one of those "hey look at my baby! look at it again!" kind of blogs. If it's been a bit baby-heavy lately, I apologize in advance. Let's just say, my life ain't so exciting otherwise the past few weeks.

I am 34 weeks pregnant right now and Bunny is weighing in at 5 pounds, 3 ounces! It's grown almost 2 full pounds since my last ultrasound, which explains why I've been so tired the past few weeks:)

Bunny was not such a fan of the ultrasound--at first, it was curled up in a ball and refused to unfurl itself (in its defense, the room was freezing). Then, when the technician turned on the 3D/4D feature, it stuck it's tongue out.

Nothing like a little attitude in the womb, right? I'm already nervous for the teenage years....

Write Click Scrapbook January

It's a new month, a new year, and time for another gallery over at Write. Click. Scrapbook!

I had fun finally getting to play with my Studio Calico December kit. Love the colors on this one!

The theme for this month was "today," so I decided to use an older photo as a catalyst to discuss what has changed.

The journaling reads: I can’t believe this photo is over 2 months' old—pregnancy is long, but it has gone by so quickly. I can’t wait to meet little bunny in just a few weeks! Love you, Mommy

I had so much fun putting together this layout. I'd been a bit "blah" about scrapbooking lately and bogged down in assignments, so getting to just play with pretty colors was refreshing. Check out the rest of the gallery this month right here.

In other news, I'm at almost 34 weeks, so this pregnancy is in the home stretch. Surprisingly, though, the anxiety has come back very strong this week. Note to self: Do not google "34 weeks pregnant stillbirth" on the Internet just for reassurance. It's a bad idea. If S "accidentally" turns off on our Internet service one of these days, you all know why:)

I hope 2012 is treating you well so far! What are YOU doing today?