My 365 Grateful Project Fail

I had high hopes at the beginning of the year. January started off well with my 365 Grateful project as I happily tweeted away and despite my husband's broken ankle in February, I kept up with the #365grateful hashtag. 

Then March arrived and I started skipping days. By April, I simply wasn't in the mood to publicly share my thoughts. I have plenty of things to be grateful for and figured I would continue the project privately.

It's now May and I haven't worked on the project in a month. I have the mini-book started and don't feel like tossing it aside. I may use it to add highlights of the year or just wait to begin again in 2015.

Have you ever had a project fail? If so, how do you work through it? ~Danielle

Related:

The Start of My 365 Grateful Project
Pet Memorial Scrapbook: It's Finished!
EcoScrapbooking: Crafty Ideas for Eco-Conscious Scrapbookers

EcoSpotlight: Eco-Conscious Children Changing the World

It's Earth Day! As your EcoScrapbooker, I'm delighted to spend this green holiday with all of you and have three amazing stories to share.

I'm far from being an eco-activist and know there are many more changes needed before feeling comfortable with adding an eco-friendly label to my family. That's why when I hear about children taking a stand and successfully changing the world for the better, I'm inspired and want to do more.

I encourage you to read the brief introductions and check out the links given to learn more about these three eco-conscious children who have changed the world around them.

EcoErek

Photo Source: The Sustainable Spot

Let's begin with EcoErek since he's a local boy who's made the news several times over the past few years. In 2009, Erek Hansen held his first denim drive and shipped 1684 pieces to National Geographic to set a world record. As the largest donor, he attended the ceremony in Washington D.C.

Several years and many awards later, Erek has collected over 19,000 pieces of denim and nearly 12,000 shoes. The 6th annual Denim Drive has started and if you're in the Northwest Ohio area, stop by the Toledo Zoo's "Party for the Planet" on April 26 and drop off your unwanted jeans.

Mia

Photo Source: Change.org

When Mia Hansen (unsure if she's related to Erek) was ten-years-old, she created a petition to stop Jamba Juice from using Styrofoam cups. Over 134,000 signatures later, Jamba Juice agreed to phase out the chemically-laden cups by the end of 2013.

Abby

Photo Source: Change.org

In 2012, Abby Goldberg was thirteen-years-old and already knew plastic bags were damaging the environment. She wanted her town to ban plastic bags and like Mia, she started a petition on Change.org. The signed petition was given to Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, who then called Abby to let her know he would veto legislation that would make it illegal to ban plastic bags. See her interview on HLN: 

Have you heard of an inspirational child making eco-friendly changes? Let me know in the comments below or share with me on Twitter or Facebook. ~Danielle

Related:

Scrapbookers of the Future

The EcoScrapbooker Manifesto

EcoScrapbooking eBook: Crafty Ideas for Eco-Conscious Scrapbookers

My 2012 To Do List

If you look around my house, you'll find a handful of to do lists scattered about. They are in open notebooks on the kitchen counter (I spy two right now), another is tacked up to the January calendar on a dining room wall and there are two more pinned to a cork board in my craft room upstairs.

The one I'd like to talk about today is currently tucked under my left arm and lists a variety of goals I plan to accomplish during 2012. My main themes for the year are to get published, declutter and live a healthier life. 

Have a look at My 2012 To Do List:

• Write and illustrate a children's book.
• Write a scrapbooking ebook.
• Submit projects to magazines and other publications.
• Scrapbook all of 2011 by mid-February (I have a Mixbook Groupon that's going to expire).
• Create a scrapbook layout every day in February (Layout A Day).
• Stay up-to-date with 2012 scrapbooking.
• Learn Photoshop and use my Bamboo Tablet.
• Continue working on my Smash Book.
• Take 12 photos on the 12th day of every month (Ella Publishing's Take Twelve).
• Organize an Earth Day blog hop.
• Organize an Eco-Christmas blog hop.
• Make 2-4 Christmas cards every month (Jingle Belles).
• Use up saved chipboard.
• Use my scraps.
• Make handmade paper.
• Create a video tutorial.
• Organize my craft space.

In addition to these craft-related goals, I'll also be working on:

• Decluttering the home.
• Updating the kitchen.
• Getting a hot bod (hence the healthier living mentioned above and the new exercise equipment scattered around the house).
• Writing more.

This list is not set in stone, but something that I plan to look at often and use as a motivational tool. I'll add it to my sidebar and with my goals in the public realm, I'll be more likely to accomplish most, if not all of them.

What are your goals for 2012?

Related:

Recent projects: A scrapbook layout + 5 Jillibean Soup cards

Tutorial: Framed "Things To Do" List

10 things I learned from blogging every day