Wednesday, July 27, 2011

i also have a label maker


i didn't have a blog last september. the month i spent creating my travel binder for our west coast road trip. the one with the sheet protectors and the tabbed dividers. with the cover illustrations and spine decoration. it was a beauty, and i'll keep it forever. it's got ticket stubs, copies of plane tickets, pictures and reservation numbers in its clutches. what started as a way to organize all the chaos that comes with a long journey turned into a scrapbook without my intention.

and i've started another one. for our october 2011 trip. this time, we want to head up the east coast on route 1. to explore everything our side of the nation has to offer. from philly to atlantic city. from NYC to cape cod. i want to see the leaves turn as we head north and pull on jeans and heavy boots to walk around old city streets at night. i want to stay in little, inexpensive motels and save our money for the food. to stay up late and get up early and pack and shove all we can into about one week.

it's such a process, planning. but when it comes to life, man oh man. when that scanned, black and white picture of the golden gate bridge is replaced with the real, towering structure itself, and when the reservation number for that special cafe only the locals know about transforms into a bowl of steaming chowder on the misty oregon coast, it makes it all worth it.

in college, i once assembled a massive binder of 65 daily news clippings for an extra credit assignment in my sophomore year journalism class. when i pulled it out of my book bag, contents poking out of the edges, thick with effort and time and long nights with glue sticks, my professor looked at me in disbelief. i didn't think anyone was seriously going to do that assignment, he said as he took my project.

don't underestimate the power of a girl who loves organization.

(and extra credit in a terribly difficult class.)

16 comments:

Blondie's Journal said...

It sounds like you are going to have a wonderful trip. Keeping a scrapbook will help you relive it all again. Hurray for you on that assignment, you are amazing!!

XO,
Jane

Claire said...

yey for keeping scrapbooks!!

katie [the bright life] said...

that sounds like an amazing trip you're planning!! and would that steaming chowder on the misty oregon coast happen to be from mo's? it's one of my favorite places on the coast! xo, katie

jeanette from everton terrace said...

Most of the time I can't even comment on the subject matter of your posts because I am always in awe of the way you paint your words on the page.

kimbirdy said...

oh that's so cute! a huge binder full of all your memories for each adventure. love it. i think that's what i've turned my blog into in some ways. it's amazing scrolling through and saying "oh yeah!! i forgot how awesome that was!" i've traveled all over the east coast and it's such a beautiful place. how exciting to take that on as your next adventure!

Christi said...

Oh, wow. I am totally excited to hear all about your trip in October. It sounds absolutely wonderful, and something I'd LOVE to do one day!

Erika Lee @ A Tiny Rocket said...

Such a fun trip :) I have always wanted to run around the east coast. I think October is going to be gorgeous too because of the beautiful fall colors.

Unknown said...

I'm excited for your trip in October and It's not even mine! I will look forward to hearing all about it! :)

Laura Darling said...

I live in Philadelphia, and you picked the perfect time to visit!! There is SO much to see and so here, and I just love it in the fall!

And Atlantic City is fun too! :)

Southhamsdarling said...

If I was going to come across the visit America, the places on your list are all the places that I would love to see! Have fun compiling your scrapbook and I'm sure it will be a fantastic trip. Will you be going in your camper van?? Will Pablo be going to?!

Janette said...

you're great! and i want to see that travel binder...


Janette, the Jongleur

Amber said...

your October trip sounds awesome. If you make it out to CT, I could be your personal tour guide :)

kate said...

everything about this post was wonderful and adorable. as a fellow organization lover i adore your admiration for the beauty in a well planned trip. i can't wait to see the pictures and writings from that life changing fall trip you are planning and for all the unexpected, unplanned wonders along the way :)

Eleanor at Mirror Of My World said...

wow thats amazing. its lovely to collect memories. :) xxxx

Amy @ AGirlCalledBeloved said...

I really need to get back into scrapbooking. I miss having the physical photo books to flip through!

Cara-Mia said...

Sounds wonderful. I hope you'll share photos. I need to create something like that for my February honeymoon road trip to San Francisco.

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