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I am not lucky enough to have time to scrap every day. But I always have a list of "to-dos" going in my planner or a notebook. I am constantly jotting down things in my planner. When I scrapbook, it's right there with me. After my son turned one, I made a layout for each month of his first year, including a calendar for that month. On the calendar I was able to note what we did, his milestones, cute things he did, etc. I have continued this now that he's two and I'm recording the new words he comes out with every day. I have a hard time composing a "journal" entry each day, but jotting I can do...then I have fodder for when I scrap.

I can't remember what I ate for lunch yesterday so, for me, the most important thing is to write/preserve my thoughts RIGHT AWAY!
I'm taking Cathy Zielske's "Everyone Can Write a Little" class @ Big Picture http://www.bigpicturescrapbooking.com/microblogpromo.php and I'm finding Twitter to be a pretty cool little tool. Somehow having that tiny limit of characters to use makes me want to write more (it's the rebel in me) and I can add bits from home or my phone when ever I think of something!

For me, the best way to acurately record an emotion is to relate it to how I felt in another situation, that way other people have a better chance of understanding, too. The other day, I showed a poem I wrote to my mom about college, and she said "oh- I remember that feeling". That's what I was going for. Thanks for the chance to win- great prizes today!

Sometimes when I cant think of what to journal (or what to title a page), I go back to songs or a quote that relates to the subject. Sometimes that helps start the conversation or put words to my thoughts.

My best journalling tip is to simply speak from your heart and write just as you would talk - in your normal "voice" with words that you would use in conversation. Your kids will appreciate it so much in the future!

I like to pretend I'm telling someone the story and write like I'm having a conversation. I like it to be authentically mine, my own words, including slang.

I just realized recently that I have journaled more than I realized. In e-mails to good friends, I have wonderful accountings of the good, the bad, and the totally hilarious. Now I just need to copy and past them into an aesthetically pleasing format. :)

Write as though you were talking to someone and telling them about the pics. Whatever you would tell that person is what should be journalled :)

I think about the story I want to tell and all of the little things I want to capture about that moment. I brainstorm a list of things: setting, mood, events, tastes, sights, sounds, anything that helps cature that moment in time. Then I write it out, I find the brainstorming helps the writing go more quickly and it just flows together.

This year I took a new approach w/ a 365 blog, which I write little tidbits of the days events and have been keeping up w/ this every 1-2 weeks. I "think" it will help me w/ my scrapbooking in that I can look at it as I'm getting a page ready and remember those little meaningful things...

I was always told just to make sure if a picture is printed to write on the back of it date and info about that moment. Hope this helps someone, as for me, LOL, I am so having a hard time doing that. the pics stay on the computer and dont get tprinted unless i need them. I really need to find a different way to journal.

I write what first comes in my mind...I don't second guess it...because my first thoughts are the raw and true memories/words/moments!

I scrap everyday moments SO much more often now that I'm in the habit of keeping a "Scrap Random Journal" document on my computer desktop! I jot little moments, sayings, happenings there during the day...it's a great reference when I've got a moment to scrap, I can just open up the document, pick a moment I've written down, and get started scrapping a great story!

I am not very good at journaling. So to make the task easier for me I write in point form with short sentences.

Wait until the kids are in bed, there is less distractions then :)

my best journalling tip is carry a small notebook with you in your purse - I do this and then pull it out quite often when the kids say something cute or funny or I want to remember certain details about something we've done - I use it all the time and also note next to it if I have taken a picture to go with it .. this often leads to quick scrapbooking since I find I've already thought about the layout in advance.

Unlike some people I usually have the problem that I want to write SO much about this event/ picture on the layout. Sometimes I close my eyes and think about what was the most important thought/ feeling/ quote at this event which I want to be sure to remember in years. Sometimes I just let the layout sit on my desk for another night/ few days and journal when it "speaks" to me.- It always does sooner or later! One does only have to be patient sometimes. These two ways work best for me most of the time! :-)
Love, Anne

Still working on becoming better at journaling. I like to get the kids to write about the picture and putting that in the layout.

Be honest and speak from the heart or the funny bone. Whatever the moment calls for.
Thanks Ali! Kelly R.

If I didn't left enough room on my layout for journaling, I often write it on the back of the layout... that way I still preserve my memories, even if it's not really there... for all to see!