Year in Review Visual Journal Photo Book Layout

Hey Folks!

Hope you’re enjoying the last days of summer! I was running around as usual in the Photo Book Family household getting ready to run some errands, and an idea popped into my head. I was thinking about all the new things I personally experienced this year or new things that have become a part of my routine, and I was trying to think of a creative way to remember it.

Then I thought back to the Year in Review photo book that I made for Photo Book Baby (or should I say Photo Book Toddler) last year to highlight his second year, and I remembered my nifty little collage that I entitled “My World”. I thought to myself, why not make one for myself, and possibly Photo Book Hubby?

I love the way my son’s collage turned out. At a single glance I can take in his world. Some things, while very normal and somewhat mundane (like diaper ointment) trigger a funny memory or make me smile. These are the small details that I will love to look back on when my son is older.

My collage would probably have to include homemade cole slaw – I’ve been making that at least once a week this past year. It just goes with everything. My recipe is pretty standard, but includes julienned Fuji apple (yum)! What I like about making it myself is that I can control how much mayo (and thus how much fat) goes into my version.

I’d also have to include homemade pizza – I’ve also been making that pretty often and I’m surprised I never really tried to do so before. My version uses either fresh mozzarella or much less cheese and lots of veggies like spinach and mushroom. Now that I’ve started to make my own, I find it very hard to order delivery pizza because there’s just so much cheese! Don’t get me wrong I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE cheese, but I want my family to eat healthy and I don’t think you need all that heavy cheese to have a tasty pizza.

The third would have to be my Japanese milk tea. I love having my cup of tea every morning.

I swear this is not a blog about food, but food is such a big part of our lives, I wouldn’t be surprised if half of the collage is about food!

As for a non-food item, I include a photo of my camera in there. It’s not uncommon for me to shoot 300+ photos on an average outing with the family. I find myself shooting away as it’s hard to get a toddler to sit still – I’m trying for that tack sharp focus on his eyes!

You can put anything you want in your collage. Maybe a new favorite book you’ve read, a new coffee shop you love to frequent, a go-to outfit, your favorite summer sandals, your everyday purse, your phone, your watch, your wedding ring, a gift from your significant other or child, what you eat for breakfast, anything that would give a feel for your world for the time period you’re trying to cover.

I know that our lives are so full of work, activities and general day-to-day craziness, that we often don’t take time to reflect on us. I do keep a written journal, but honestly, I’m lucky if I get to write in it once a month (but once a month is better than nothing!). A visual journal may be right up your alley. If you don’t do it in a year in review book at year’s end, do a similar layout for your end of summer books, or make a “favorite things we enjoyed on vacation” collage for a trip you took.

Have fun making yours! What would you definitely include in your visual journal collage?