SMASHing

I learn so many things from fellow bloggers. One thing I find is that I have to watch my desire to buy the new rad thing....like for instance so many people are sporting this necklace in the blogosphere:

Sold by: Cheerfully Charmed

You should check out the site to see pics of models wearing this. It will give you an idea of scale.     I have to realize I cannot pull off this necklace.  I need to stop thinking about it. I think it would hang down to my belly button. But it looks so good on others. The weird thing is that I haven't seen anyone in person with the necklace...only people I know in the blogosphere. 
So, anyway, I have to be sure that I balance my appreciation of how cute something looks on others without allowing my brain to turn into that ugly creature in The Lord of the Rings.  {My precious.} (Side note: I didn't see this movie because the trailer scared me.)
Anyway, I digress. Back to my point. I heard about Smash Books somewhere in Blogland and I'm not completely sure which blog was the first place I saw it. You know how I go over to my Sis's house and paint? Well sometimes I don't paint. Like, the last time I didn't paint. I went to Michael's to get some art supplies and just couldn't get excited about painting that day. But I did see a Smash Book in shocking pink. I LOVE Pink! So...that day, I decided that a Smash Book was a reasonable creative thing to buy and would not break the bank. In fact, it will take me quite a while to "fill". 
Both of my sisters and I enjoy a good glossy magazine (actual paper pages). I know I had too many subscriptions in my past life. Not "too many" because I didn't read them. In fact, I read all of them. But, they were "too many" because I never wanted to purge the old issues. I always had at least one article I wanted to refer back to. 

At some point, my sisters began to trade their magazines with each other. Hubby and I eliminated all my magazine subscriptions and I try not to buy any because we did this whole downsizing thing a few years back and we eliminated our "extra" things...one of which is wonderful, beautiful magazines. 
A few months back I was out of work for almost a week (sick). My lovely husband brought me tea and magazines to comfort me while I recovered. I haven't seen so many wonderful magazines at one time in years. 
What to do? SMASH them. --I said I always have a few articles or pictures I want to refer to...so I took my mags to Sis's house and we both made sure we had read every word that we wanted to. Once read, I got to enjoy those reference articles again as I created snippets and pasted them down in my Smash Book. 
Here are a few of my Smash Pages:



BTW, Smash Book (the company or its parent company) does not know I exist. I have not been compensated to write about their product. I paid for my Pink book with real money (probably not actual cash...but my money...you get what I'm sayin'). So this is not a sponsored post. 
BUT, I want to state for the record: Smash Book:  If you would like me to write a sponsored post for your product please get in touch. I'm sure I can review a few more labels and tape and lots of fun things. The easiest thing would be if you sent a nice box with a sample of everything and I will be able to write several posts of how much fun I can have with your product. {So, just send an email and we can talk}
Some other beautiful people have written about their Smash Books. I want to give them a shout out: Jessica @ The Thriftiness Miss wrote: "Do you Smash". CAS @ An Oasis in the Desert wrote: "A "Smashing" Experience". Miss Angie @ My So Called Chaos wrote: "Are you Smashing?"  (There's a strong chance that this was the blog post that introduced me to Smash Books and helped me recognize them when I was at the store.)  Miss Angie followed up with a Blog Party. I haven't checked out the other posts...but plan to go back to see other ideas. And, Ricki Jill @ Art @ Home is hosting another party & a Giveaway. I'm SO there!
Other Posts about my love of all things Magazines:

My Life in Magazines
Libraries and Bookstores