Week in the Life : Sunday Photos + Words

10.05.08 Sunday
- Simon up at 6:30am. I was up at 7:30am. He put on his own sweats, socks, and long-sleeved t-shirt. Watching Higgly Town Heros on Chris’ computer.
- Make coffee.
- Getting excited about putting this album together.
- Check email. Watch Meet The Press. Check out the paper.
- Talk to Chris on the phone.
- BLT for breakfast. Simon had apples + bacon.
- Listen to Dave Matthews and work on CK column.
- I love that I can google something like “song from Flash of Genius trailer” and find out in two seconds that it is “Where are you Going?” from Dave Matthews.
- Simon is calling me “Tarzan Who Doesn’t Say Too Much” today. And calling himself “Tarzan Who Is Very Strong.”
- Leftover pasta for lunch.
- Hot chocolate for dessert.
- Look through baby clothes and start sorting by size.
- Work on CK column again.
- Make pumpkin muffins.
- Fold laundry.
- Measured Simon on the wall. He’s two inches taller than May of this year.
- Leftover chicken noodle soup for dinner.
- Watch 60 Minutes.
- Work on column a bit more.
- Simon and I to bed to read.

I am hoping to work on my album today to be able to show you a completed spread by tomorrow morning. One thing I would love to do is have people upload their completed projects to the Flickr group as you complete them.

Also, feel free to email me images (completed pages only please) as I would like to show some of them here on my blog as well for variations on the creative process.

Thanks for all the kind words throughout the comments from this past week. I am so glad to read so many people enjoying the process and just going with it! Have a great Monday!

A complete list of posts related to the week in the life project can be found here.

Comments

[gina]

I like taking photos of the foods we eat, too. Love the angle of the batter and cupcake photos. Earlier this year I tried to get photos of some of our regular, but sporadic, traditions -- like making homemade pasta. Time for breakfast!

[Debby Schuh]

Ali...I posted lots of pages of the week in the life album I did with you on my blog. It's so fun to look back at and so happy to have this treasure! I need to do it again!

[Mish Gasser]

Whew...we made it! I must admit I kind of pooped out the last two days, but all is not lost. Like you always say - "embrace imperfection". LOL This was fun.

[Janine]

I just emailed you over a few of my pictures from this week. I love the fact that you have mostly wood hangers in your closet and I now want hot chocolate with lots of marshmallows!!!!

[Molly]

I am in LOVE with these everyday images AND your clothes are the most ymmmy colors.

Though I couldn't do the week of documenting right now, I did an abbreviated version, as SJ suggested a 'gift of the present.' I loved documenting a few 'right now' life moments on Saturday and Sunday and stayed up late last night to finish. I'll be posting it later today.

Thanks for pointing me in that direction, Ali.

[gardenymph]

Well the first part was easy, and I hope that the next part is fun too. I tend to over think my decisions each step of the way, and since this is the first time that I will be doing layouts, I am a little nervous that it is going to take me a long time.

I may wait and see some ideas from you and other people before starting to make the album. One thing is for sure, I need to keep it simple as I do not have a large source of supplies to pull from. Also I have soooo many pictures. I will need to pare them down to the ones that most effectively tell the story of our week, I think that will be the hardest part for me.

Looking forward to seeing what everyone does.
Jennifer

[Juliana]

I love it... Congratulations for all !

[Artfulyogi]

Thank you.

[Melissa]

Ali, can you post your pumpkin muffin recipe? They look fantastic!

[Holly]

Hi Ali,
I didn't particpate this time, but will sometime soon!! I've been inspired by your posts.

You must have made alot of chicken noodle soup, there's nothing like good leftovers! What's your recipe?

[scrapwordsgirl]

This was an AMAZING project for me and my family!! We all LOVED it very much. By the end of the week my kids and DH expected me to take photos of what they were doing, eating, etc. I can't wait to start putting this all together. Going to get the photos developed today and start gathering my materials...the fun part for sure!!!:)

It has been fun to see a peek into your life as well, Ali.

I shared this project with my website and uploaded photos all week like you did. They all love you as much as I do!!:)

Les

[Nicky Anderson]

Great fun so far, having been still trying to think about how I am going to layout - and still can't decide on size - either 8 x 8 or 12 x 12. Wish I was home all day to play!!!
Have a great day
Nicky

[Carmen]

That green cup of cocoa.... *wipes drool*

[Linda]

I'm so excited to get moving with this, but find I miss my camera a little today! An added benefit? I learned new tricks and became much more familiar with my Rebel this past week!

[Rachel Smith]

Ali,

That was so much fun and now I am having camera withdrawal. Anytime I get up to do something, the thought goes through my head, "Where's my camera? Oh yeah, I don't have to take a picture of this!" ;) This is a project I will definetly do again. I am super excited about seeing how you put yours together and to start thinking about mine. I am mixing up page protector sizes in a 12x12 3-ring American Crafts album. I'm going to put my daily comments in 6x12 page protectors, bits and pieces in the baseball card ones that you're using, and I also have some with 4x6 pockets. It's going to be awesome!

Thanks so much!!
Rachel

[Linn]

I just returned from vacation to find this wonderful album idea waiting for me! I can't wait to give it a try.

[Michelle B]

Hey Ali -

I had so much fun watching your week. You have a very nice life which you should be proud of! I am starting over this week, with the project and I feel excited. Thank you for all you do.

[JosieK]

Am I the only one who things that Ali should document everyday on her blog? I loved this little peek into your life. Many times, I was about to move in with you...although I don't know how my husband and small little ones would feel about that..
But, it was great and I participated as well and found my own photos fascinating. I've always taken pictures of everything since my kids were born. My husband never understood what the point was of all the photos, (thank heaven for digital cameras..can you imagine if we had to still buy film?) but now, I think he gets it when he looks at all the photos on our computer.
Anyway, thanks Ali.. great challenge, love watching Simon. What a great kid! Love watching your belly grow! Blessings to your family!

[Tiffani]

OK, NOW I'm going to have to make pumpkin muffins today after seeing that picture!!! Since it frosted for the first time last night, it seems like perfect timing!

[Danielle]

I had a great time collecting the photos and journaling throughout the day. Now, comes my biggest problem---FOLLOW THROUGH!! I tend to start things with an explosion and go overboard and then I fizz out!! I took 2652 photos last week so the real test for me now is to put it all together!! Thanks for the inspiration!!

[Kristin]

I just started reading this last night and good timing!!! I'm starting mine today (Monday thru Sunday). I was hoping to use my Rebel and learn as I go, but found that my P&S is a little easier to carry around. I'm getting some fun pictures! And trying to come up with some fun ideas. Thanks for the inspiration!!

[tara]

Thanks for the great project, can't wait to put it together. I've already started printing my pics. I just emailed you some of my favorites.

[Robin]

I am so glad that I did this challenge. I now understand why I get so tired. We are busy. I knew that already, but when you document everyday it really brings to light how much we do each day. I am really looking forward to putting this altogether. I just hope I can keep up the momentum and get it done. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else is doing.

[Hillary Chybinski]

YAY!!! This was fun - I hope to upload pictures to print during my 2 YO's nap today. . .I have an album I'm planning to use - I need to select one of my monthly club kits to use. . .and I'm set.

Thanks-
Hillary

[Monika]

Hi Ali,
So excited to start the second phase of this project!! I've been getting so much inspiration from you. Love your pictures of your family and home. Hope your feeling well and I hope all your doctors appts went well.

[LesleMora]

We mark our door frame too. I am always amazed by how much the kids grow. Crazy fast!

[vdalton]

I just have read your quote on the left--It is so going into my "week in the life" project.

thanks,

{vicki}

ps.......those muffins look scumptious----I LOVE pumpkin

[Laurel]

Ali,

Thanks so much for the fun week of creativity! I did feel a little odd not photographing the morning routine! I think I'm going through camera withdrawl! I have photos from the beginning of the week of Kyle (5 1/2) with his hands over his face because I was taking so many images and by the end of the week he and his brother Dane (4) were fighting over who got to take the next image! I was a wonderful week! I'm anxiously awaiting my American Crafts book and will start choosing images for the cover page! I can't wait to see what you put together!
Pumpkin Muffins....yummy LOVE LOVE LOVE anything with pumpkin! Have a great week!
Laurel

[LisaO]

I love checking out your blog, loving the photos you take everyday. I didn't get a chance to follow along this week, will have to give it a try another week. I'm with the other girls, can you please post your pumpkin muffin recipe..

[Michelle]

Just love Simon's silliness, so creative, wish we could all live that way! =)
. . .
Mid-week my family told me I had been doing this for TWO weeks already. Last night they told me it had been THREE weeks. Such abuse!

=)

[Susan Wilson]

You've done such a good job getting all this material and keeping your daily schedule. I think this will make your final job (the album) so much easier.

Susan Wilson

[Trish in NY]

Hi Ali! What is that great toy that Simon was playing with on Sunday? It looks like something my son would love! (Working on lists for Santa, haha!)

[Sara M]

Your pictures make me want to:
1) throw away about 1/2 of the stuff in my house so it can be as clean and organized as yours. Your next project should be a week of decluttering and organizing tips.
2) make pumpkin muffins.
3) make a big mug of hot chocolate.

Thanks for sharing your week with us.
I am going to do this in a few weeks.
Sara

[Deborah]

Would you like some hot chocolate with your marshmellows?

:)

[Jo (England)]

Sunday saw the end of my week too. Really excited about putting everything together, eager to start but at the same time not too sure where to begin. I have some divided page protectors which I plan to use along with 12 x 12 page protectors. Looking forward to seeing your spread to get inspiration and ideas! Thanks for the project Ali. It's been great doing this project in the knowledge that lots of other people all over the world have been documenting their lifes too.

[JoLynn]

I don't mean to get picky but "Where are you Going" is by Dave Matthews Band, not just Dave.

[Vicki Arnold]

I just had a thought of how to play with this concept a little more. I am going to try to do a "week in the life" from my son's perspective, and maybe the dog. :)

[Annette]

thanks Ali,
I had a great time doing this. It felt weird this morning to not bring the camera with me. Can't wait to see how yours comes together. I may not get to mine until later in the week. Next few days are crazy busy.
Annette

[Carrie]

I started today (a day late and a dollar short!), but let me tell you, coming from the point of view as a teacher, getting my students involved is AMAZING already. I shared what I was going to do this week and told them I needed their help to "fill in" my work day. I am so excited to share (the appropriete bits of course) this experience with my students. As a building we are really trying to get the kids more excited about writing. I'm going to use this to start "A Day in the Life" projects in November. What an amazing and inspiring way to make life and teaching real for my students; showing how I am a writer in "real life" and how it doesn't just have to be 5 paragraph explanatory essays!

Oh ya, I'm loving it for myself too-caught the sweetest pic of my 15 month old eatin' his waffle with his ankles crossed in his chair. He always does this, I keep saying "I NEED to get a pic of that!" and today I did. I can't wait to see everyone's projects so I can scraplift some great ideas. Maybe starting a week after you all is a good thing...

[Liz Ness]

Oh boy! My tummy wants to come for a visit -- what with the yum-o hot chocolate and muffins!

=)

[kreativekate]

I am so proud of myself! I kept to the photographing all week, instead of fizzling like I usually tend to...even with an unexpected trip to the ER. Oh, well, a week in the life, right? I got some of the most wonderful, unexpected shots, too. Now comes the really fun part! Can't wait to see everybody's interpretations!

[Melanie J]

Thanks for doing this, Ali. Today is actually Day Seven for me, as I started last Tuesday. It was quite an eventful week for me so I'm really glad to have it documented. I'm planning to do a photo book from Shutterfly to make it a simple process. My baby is due the 19th so I'd like to have it done and back before then. Again, thank you for the inspiration.

[tonya]

LOL - I always love measuring charts right on the wall. Here are 2 of my family's: http://tonyadoughty.blogspot.com/2008/10/measure-up.html

The vine/leaf measure chart I drew on my wall in our house to measure my kids and the chart on the bathroom wall in my Grandma's 1912 house that goes from when my Dad was born in 1943 to current times and covers 2 kids, 3 grandkids and 7 great-grandkids.

[christen]

i'm feeling a little withdrawal today...it was fun to try photography a little differently. i just got some photos developed and i'm very excited for the next step of the project!

[Susi from Germany]

Today is my last day taking pictures (and it's evening in Germany already). Hubby is kind of glad I think, even though he took some pictures of me without being told :-).
I started to print some pics today and my printer didn't do the quality I was looking for, so I have to upload them. Waiting instead of starting (until they're in the mail) ... Plus I had to re-think my layout ideas since they don't develop wallet size. :-(
This project has really opened my eyes. We should be thankful EVERY DAY for what we have and stop nagging about all those tiny things that aren't even worth talking about! I bet it will be so much fun to look at that album a couple of years from now!
Thanks Ali for the inspiration! Can't wait to see how your pages turn out!

[ellie]

Your pumpkin muffins look GOOD ~ if they taste good could you send the recipe?

[Sharyn]

I love it! You have a measuring wall too - ours is in the kitchen and has the measurements of four kids scribbled all over it. It killed me when we painted the first time that I had to start over - (I took a picture and wrote down all the dates and measurements of the first wall) but now it's all full again.

[Thinkie]

I'm looking trough all my pics of the past week right now, I'm so happy with them! i've brought it back to a total of 177 pics, now I have to think about how I want to scrap them so I can decide in what size or sizes I want to have them printed.

[Sandy]

Hi Ali! I took this fabulous class last year at CKU in Toronto and I cherish the album I made. I am going to make a new one since so much has changed. I love your pictures!!! Here is a link to my blog post about the album I created: http://sandy-sandyscreations.blogspot.com/2008/10/alis-week-in-life-album.html

Sandy

[Betsy Cruickshank]

I am so glad that I am not the only one feeling the withdrawl of not having my camera with me all the time. This has been the favorite of all the times I have done this. I decided to keep it simple this time so I can complete the album. I took over 400 photos-last night I printed over 60 and then pared them down to 28 (4 for each day). I have cropped the photos to 4x4 and am starting to get the album done!!! I do have one QUESTION: How often does a person change the blade in their x-acto knife? I just started using this method and find that I like my blade really sharp. Thanks and have loved this project.

[Holly T]

Great pics...great idea. Last fall, I took a creativity class at Big Picture Scrapbooking and ended up taking a bunch of pictures of things in my life that I normally didn't take pics of. I think I may do an mini-album withe those pictures. And since it is fall again, and you have inspired me to take more pictures of things....I will lots of fall pictures from 2 years in a row. This could be a great tradition...seeing how my family changes, year to year...on fall season to the next. And I do think fall is the time of year that the most changes occur. Different grade in school, lots of fall sports, etc. so it works out pretty well for us.
Thanks for inspiring.
Holly

[Cheryl]

Can we have your pumpkin muffin recipe?

[Kylie]

Thank you so much for your suggestion Ali :) I can't wait to put this project together, and this time I am going to stop worrying about it being "perfect". Thats the reason I never finish any other scrapbook pages/books. I am just going to put this one together, otherwise it will never get done and one day when I am gone my children will wonder why I took 200 photos of the laundry and the dishes!
Kylie :)

[susie l.]

We have a door arch that we measure our daughter on. We have 9.5 years of measurements and she won't let us paint over it!!!!!!!! I really need to scrapbook that. We also love pumpkin muffins with walnuts and golden raisins (soak them in orange juice first).

[Katie]

Well I am so excited to make an album! But most of the shots I have are so dark. I live in the woods and what with all this dark and rain we had last week....ugh! Times like this I wish for a better camera. But such is life. I have had fun anyway!

Looking forward to seeing what everyone comes up with.

Happy Monday!

[Tina Stryde]

Ali,

Just a quick note to let you know how much I've enjoyed the last week...thank you so much for your inspiration yet again! I did get a little tired near the end of the week but I persisted and am so glad I did...now I just hope I can find the time to complete the project...taking the photos was the easy part!

[jessica]

Hi, I am new to this. What is the best way to capture a completed page? Do you scan it, or do you take a photo and then crop/edit it?

thanks!
jessica

[Susan]

Ali,
thanks so much for hosting this and holding our hands through the entire process. It felt really odd at the beginning of last week, taking pictures of everyday moments that I would have never thought to capture before this. By the end of the week, it felt perfectly natural, and today Im also feeling a little lost without my camera.
Im excited to move to the next phase of the project, but I already know its changed the way I think about capturing our life. I know I'll look at those everyday moments differently from now on...so thank you!

[ali.a.]

Thank you for allowing us a little peek into your life! I so looked forward to your pictures everyday and they inspired me to remember to take all kinds of pictures... I discovered that the small things, like toys and cups of cocoa are what makes up our daily life and makes it meaningful!!

[cindy wieme]

Hi...I just love doing this project.
Thank You very much!
Cindy

[Candi]

Simon must be a Backyardigans fan?? My kids are Tarzans a lot!

Thanks for the fun week, can't wait to see your finished pages and get started on my own!

[Elizabeth]

Thank You so very much Ali. I sincerely mean this. I had tons of fun taking photos all week. It was a really eye opener, especially going through them and to see all that I took, I love all the pics. I miss my camera today too! This is a great idea, and I can't wait to develop them and get started. You are a true inspiration and a "Gem" for letting us into your home and life.

[Lisa]

I can't BELIEVE I got through the whole week! I just took photos whenever I could and wrote a sentence here and there. It happened to be my daughter's birthday on Sunday, so it was a great week to document! Yippee!

[Bethany]

I've loved doing this project. The week was actually very "atypical" because of a home emergency, but I'm really glad to have documented this challenging time in our lives. I don't know how much of it I would have captured otherwise...

Anyway, thanks for the inspiration. And I'm also wondering--would you share the pumpkin muffin recipe? They look amazing! (And one more request on top of all those above can't hurt.) :)

[Teresa]

Hi Ali,
I really love the idea of an album for 1 week. I just started school and I am sooo busy. I started to work on taking pictures and journaling, but I realized today that I completely forgot to work on the album for about 4 days (no fotos, no journaling). Do you think a page without fotos would work, too?
Love your daily pics.

[Ali]

Hey guys - that pumpkin recipe can be found here (I find a lot at allrecipes.com): http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pumpkin-Muffins-II/Detail.aspx

[carolkola]

Hi Ali,
The divided page protectors seem so hard to find. I called Scrapworks corporate office today, and if I heard them correctly they said they have discontinued the Anthologie line and the page protectors. I am so bummed!

[emilie]

i want to say THANK YOU. you motivate me to get off my pregnant bum and do this... tomorrow is my last day to collect all info and i am so excited. i do have one question, i am ALMOST 34 wks prego, i want to be in my pix but i'm huge... and... i feel unpleasing to the eye... should i include myself? just wondering... thank you for the inspiration

[jennyg]

Divided Baseball Card page protectors: I found them at my local Office Depot and they were the Office Depot brand. Hope this helps.

[Helen]

Gotta try Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin muffins, HIGHLY recommended...

SECONDLY,HOT MAMA! Hope you feel as good as you look. You must be wearing your regular jeans.

[AnneS.]

Thanks for helping us through the week with all your photos and inspiration! I just finished looking at all my pictures. I deleted a few blurry ones but am ready to print them and get started on the album. This will probably be the hardest part for me so I decided to go with a "recipe" of sorts. Maybe it will help others who are stuck on this part. My album recipe is from a Simple Scrapbooks special issue called, "Album Shortcuts." Each two page spread has a collage of photos and a journaling block which I thought would be perfect for each day. The pictures are different sizes and fit together for an 8 x 8 album. I haven't done tons of albums so I thought this would give me a good starting place. I didn't want to bogged down on the layouts---I wanted to make sure I could actually finish this since I had such a great time documenting our week!

[julie]

could you give us the recipe for those yummy looking pumpkin muffins?? my son LOVES pumpkin anything. ;)

[Catherine at Design Editor]

Look at you with the wooden hangers! =)

[gloriaRose]

Could I please get your pumpkin muffin recipe?
They look so yummy.
I want one.
Thanks,
~G

[Alli]

you picked a hectic week for me so I have decided to let it span over the two weeks of school holidays and just accept that I am missing days of photos.

I'm gathering though, sorting out a format and size I want

[Sharon]

Ahhh marble tracks, we have many pictures of the cool things that can be built with marble tracks around our house too! Thanks for sharing:-)

[Gianna]

I have really enjoyed this past week and reading your blog and your journey. I will definitely be doing this now that have have completed it.
I would love for you to post your recipe for the pumkin muffins. They look delicious.

[missteee]

Hi! I'm so inspired by your "week in the life" project! I'm definitely going to do this some time soon! Love it! Have a super day! :)

[sharyn]

Hi Ali! Love all the images you've been sharing; they were a true inspiration as I joined you on this creative journey. I finished taking pictures for the week and am now gathering supplies; I really love your idea to use baseball card holders! Thanks for all the inspiration, Ali!

Oh, and any chance you'd be willing to share the pumpkin muffin recipe with us?? Please :) They look yummy!!

[April]

Hi Ali~

Quick Q... Did you literally just cut and paste your lists that you were posting on your blog? Little to no adding or editing? Just curious about how you completed that part of the project.

Thanks
April

[Anna-Marie Still]

*Sigh* I so wanted to join this journey with you. Life is just at warp speed right now - loved living vicariously through your process when I could sneek over to your blog and check in at how your week was going. Hoping to slow down a bit in November to take note of the little day to day moments. I'll have to try the Pumpkin Muffin recipe - I just posted about Pumkin muffins on my blg today - maybe this recipe could prove me wrong!

[Coleen]

I have enjoyed seeing the days of your week in pictures and I'm planning to try it myself, maybe this week.