Ali Edwards's Blog, page 141
September 10, 2018
Are You Stretched Too Thin?
Earlier this year when I was attending the Mom2.0 Summit I was invited to participate in an interview with my friend Jessica Turner for a new series she was putting together to celebrate the launch of her new book Stretched Too Thin. The focus of the series is on how working moms thrive but after watching all the interviews I think any woman could gain some insight while watching if you are feeling stretched thin in your own life.
The result of the interviews she conducted is The Thrive Series - a free, four-day set of interviews that are delivered to you via email (two interviews per day in one email). Jessica's goals with this series is to help you let go of perfection, ask for help (that's one of my tips), implement organizational tactics, communicate better, and invest in your relationships.
Here's a short excerpt from my interview with Jessica:
You can register for this free series here (this series is available until September 17th).
You might remember me writing about Jessica's first book The Fringe Hours when it was released back in 2015. I'm super excited about her new book Stretched Too Thin: How Working Moms Can Lose the Guilt, Work Smarter, and Thrive that is coming out September 18th, 2018 and have been listening to an advance copy of the audio book on my walks.
It's good.
I love that Jessica reads the audiobook - it totally feels like chatting with a friend.
Within her words I've found so many good reminders about being conscious of the choices I'm making with my time, my energy, my love, etc. I especially liked the marriage and parenting chapters but all of them had pieces of wisdom and things to think about/implement (or to take away - like guilt). I really enjoyed listening to it on my walks and might just be the book that changes the way I think about audiobooks.
Big thanks to Jessica for sharing her gifts with the world and sharing her friendship with me.
September 7, 2018
December Daily® 2018 | Thank You
A big wholehearted thank you to all of you who participated in the December Daily® launch yesterday.
I also want to extend a very large thank you to Inked Brands for the updates they made to the shopping process + website pages this year. There is so much behind the scenes work by a whole team of people that goes into this launch for months in advance. I am grateful for this team and their hustle and heart.
If you have any questions about your order please reach out to my Customer Service team (including issues related to the credit card processing delay) and they will be happy to help you. As always we appreciate your patience as we work through a large volume of conversations from launch day.
Many products are still available if you are looking for products to support your #decemberdaily project this year. Some of my favorites that are still available include the following:
December Daily® Main Kit // I'll be using this as the base for my project in 2018. 3x8 Page Protectors // Love adding these to my 6x8 albums. I'll be using the red 6x8 album this year. December Daily® 6x8 Number Stamp Set // I just love these and will find lots of uses for them outside of this project too. Be Merry And Celebrate Chipboard Bundle // We made sure to order extras of the chipboard sets this year. December Daily® 6x8 Transparency Bundle // Always something I love to add to my project.I can't wait to tell stories with you this holiday season.
Curious about the December Daily® Prep Party we are hosting here in Eugene, Oregon this November? Katie and I did a podcast with our friend Jess on her Pocket Talk Podcast where we talk about why we are doing it, what you can expect at the event, and we also chat some about December Daily® in general.
September 5, 2018
December Daily® 2018 | Full Look At The Kits
I'm super excited to bring you a full look at the December Daily® 2018 kit options today. These, along with all our other December Daily® products, will be available tomorrow morning: Thursday, September 6th at 7am Pacific.
One of the things you'll notice this year is that we are offering one Main Kit, one Mini Kit designed by Liz Tamanaha of Paislee Press, and one Kids Kit designed by Brandi Kincaid. This year we are mixing things up and offering more shop products to allow those of you who would like to pick & choose the pieces you might want to work with to tell your story this holiday season.
You can see other shop products (journaling cards, papers, embellishments, stamps, etc) we revealed last week during our Facebook Live here.
PLEASE NOTE: Make sure to go read yesterday's How It Works post to understand how this ordering process works.
Below you'll see images and videos of what's included in each of the kits this year. Additional images and information will be included when the products are released tomorrow:
DECEMBER DAILY® 2018 | MAIN KIT $49.99
Here's an overview video of what's included in this kit:
DECEMBER DAILY® 2018 | MINI KIT $19.99
Liz' Mini Kit this year includes 6x8, 4x6, and 3x4 cards, a number sticker sheet, puffy sticker sheet, chipboard sheet, and rubber embellishments.
Here's an overview of what's included in this kit:
DECEMBER DAILY® 2018 | KIDS KIT $29.99
Designed by Brandi Kincaid, this kit includes a 4x4 album, two sticker sheets, a 3x4 stamp set, a mini ink pad, and a whole fun collection of 4x4 cards.
Here's an overview from Anna + Audrey of what's included in this super cute kit:
I hope you enjoyed this full preview of the kits we are offering this year.
EDITED TO ADD PRICE LIST PDFHey again! Katie put together a price list and a product image list for all the items that will be available tomorrow. Hope this is helpful for you!
Click here to download the price list (no images).
Click here to download a product list that includes images.
September 4, 2018
December Daily® 2018 | How It Works
Each year before the release of the
December Daily® collection I like to go over how the Order Selection Period works to refresh everyone's memory and introduce newcomers to the community about how ordering works for these specific products.
This year we've made some changes to the way the shopping pages are set up (and other backend updates) in an attempt to make this a better overall shopping experience.
We are hopeful that these will be positive changes and will help alleviate some of the slow loading and other issues we've faced in the past for this very popular release. That said, we are imperfect people trying to get it right and it's totally possible that there will be issues on the day the products go live (
this Thursday, September 6th at 7am PDT). We thank you in advance for your patience if issues do arrive. Our goal is to create an awesome experience for you and we don't like it just as much as you don't like it when things don't run smooth.
Below I am showing screen shots of what the new shopping experience will look like (on desktop and mobile) so you will have the opportunity to be more familiar with the process before the page goes live.
Grab yourself a cup of your favorite beverage and take a few minutes to read through the details.
Feel free to ask questions in the comments below.
When the products go live on Thursday morning there will be a new option under the December Daily® dropdown menu to shop (right now that dropdown includes the "Product Preview" and the "Planner + Journal Bundle."
When the new shopping experience is live you will first see that we have broken the products down into four categories. Each one will have their own tab across the top of your browser window:
My Box, Kits + Albums, Stamping, Embellishments, Paper.
My Box: This is where your products will appear after you have checked out using the box in the top right.
Kits + Albums: Includes kits, albums, page protectors. Stamping: Includes stamps, inks, stencil + paint, pens. Embellishments: Includes chipboard, stickers, embellishments, etc. Paper: Includes journal card sets in a variety of sizes, transparencies, tags, etc. Checkout: Once you have added any items to your box a sixth tab will appear in red. You can click this to checkout or use the red button under your box in the top right corner. You will also be able to check out via the red box icon on the top right corner.
(
To view this larger on a Desktop please right click and select Open Image In New Window.)
When the products are live you will be able to click on any product image and will be taken to a product page that includes a description and additional product details. You will also be able to add to your box from the main shopping page (
as you see above) or from the individual product page.
When you add an item to your box from this main shopping page the red "add to box" will temporarily turn green showing you that the item has been added to your box. It will return to red enabling you to add more if you want of that product.
PLEASE NOTE: I highly recommend identifying the items you are most interested in and checking out with those things first. Let's say you know for sure you want an album + the Main Kit and a chipboard bundle. Add those three items to your "DD cart" (the red box icon in the top right) and then go through the checkout process to secure those items. Those items will then appear in your "My Box" tab - as will any additional items you add to your "DD cart" and "checkout" before the 30th. Items in your "DD cart" aren't secure until you have actually checked out.
The above screen shot shows where your "DD cart" is located while you are shopping the December Daily® products. You will not be able to add products from my regular shop to this cart - it is a completely separate cart for December Daily® during the Order Selection Period.
You can adjust the amount of the item you want to order or remove the item from your box (o
nly before checking out) in this area. Please make sure to double-check your quantities before checking out.
Once you have clicked "checkout" and gone through that process your products will then appear under the "My Box" tab.
Above is a screenshot of the checkout page for desktop users. With our simplified shipping this year (flat rate $5 for domestic and $15 international) you will be charged this flat fee the first time you check out. After that it will note "PAID" in green for "Box Bundle Shipping" on any future checkouts.
Did you know that almost 50% of you use a mobile device for shopping on my site? That's awesome.
Here's a look at what you will see on your mobile device. Again, the navigation between the different categories will be right there along the top:
From this screen you are able to add products directly to your box by clicking the small box icon under the product. The small red box in the upper right corner is what you currently have in your "DD cart." Once you complete the checkout process your products will then be viewable under "My Box" in the main navigation.
You will also be able to click on the individual product to see more images or get more details:
If you are shopping from a mobile device you will have an option when you are checking out to "Check Out Right Away"
OR to scroll down to review your details before checking out. Pleas note that once you have completed checkout you will not be able to remove items or edit order. Please be sure to review your order quantities before checking out.
The Order Selection Period for December Daily® begins on Thursday, September 6th at 7am PDT and will end on September 30th. After the Order Selection Period closes we will box up your order and ship it to you in early October. Make sure you have an updated credit card and shipping address on file with us and that you are signed in under your "My Account" before starting to shop. Go do that now. Once you have checked out you CAN NOT remove products from your box or edit your order. Customer Service will not be able to make adjustments to your order after you have checked out. Please verify the numbers of product placed before checking out - you will be able to see an adjust the quantity of an item before you check out via the box icon on the top right of your page. The project will always be more important than the products. NEW: You will be able to use Paypal or Gift Cards for the December Daily® Box Orders this year. If there are complications my team will be working to solve them as quickly as possible. SIMPLIFIED SHIPPING RATES
After listening to feedback we have decided to simplify shipping rates across the board (in the past different items have had different shipping costs). For 2018 the Box Shipping rates will be as follows:
$5 Domestic Flat Rate $15 Internation Flat Rate
This will be charged on your first "checkout" and that will be the only time you are charged shipping. After that if you checkout again under "Box Bundle Shipping" it will say "PAID."
My hope is that in sharing this information with you today it will help you have a better idea of what the shopping experience will look like. Please let me know if you have any questions below.
Tomorrow I will post video walkthroughs of each of the kits we are offering for 2018.
September 3, 2018
Lego, Lego Everywhere
In thinking about the common bonds between the seven of us one of the things that always comes to the surface is Lego.
The kids pretty much know that I am a pushover for both books and Lego. If they ask me to buy them a book it happens almost immediately. Depending on the Lego it might also happen immediately, especially if it has anything to do with Harry Potter. If you don't know they have a whole new series of Harry Potter sets now available (these are likely to be Christmas gifts around here). I might have ordered 20 of the small Harry Potter Mini Figure bags a couple weeks back just to see if we could get Mad-Eye Moody which was the one Simon was most after (yes, I get that this is ridiculous). We ended up getting all of them except Voldemort, Harry Potter in PJ's, and Newt Scamander. I might have just ordered those specific three from eBay. I also might have sat at the table with Simon and Audrey and fully experienced joy as we opened up those 20 bags to see what we got.
I've shared stories about Lego in the past because they have been a pretty big part of Simon's story.. Here's a look at what Simon was up to with his Lego back in 2010 (a lot of the drawers you'll see in that post are now in Isaac's room).
As I was thinking about it today it dawned on me that if I went into each of the kids rooms right now Lego would be one of the main things I'd find. I decided to go around and take photos of what I found in each of their rooms. I also decided to take some shots of how we store Lego in each of their rooms and share a bit about that.
The girls (who share a room) have really been into Lego recently and have been wanting to play with more traditional sets than the ones specifically marketed to girls. They have been going into Simon's giant tub of less loved Lego and finding all kinds of treasures which are now on their floor.
I love seeing what they create and how they play together. I just bought this People Pack set for Anna last week and she was so excited because it came with a bunch of mini-figures. I don't remember seeing these "People Packs" before but I love that they include a whole bunch of different people.
In the girls room we use something similar to these under the bed plastic tubs to hold Lego (and dress up clothes and other random stuff). They really don't seem to care at all about having it organized and I think they actually like the process of "digging" through the bins (by color, shape, mini-figure, etc) so at least this way they have somewhere to go when I get the point where I can't stand them all on the floor any longer.
SIMON
As many of you guys might know, Simon LOVES Lego. Specifically he loves Star Wars and Harry Potter Lego.
He's also a fan of some specialty sets like when they released Ghostbusters (that big red building is the Ghostbusters Firehouse). These kinds of sets are definitely expensive but for a kid like Simon who really does interact with them regularly they are worth every penny.
I'm fairly sure this will be a lifelong love and I'm totally down with that. As you can see, in his room they are literally everywhere.
Over the years we've stored extra sets and pieces in a variety of different ways. When we did our upstairs remodel his closet shrunk and the storage he was using in there went away (now it's just for clothes and two big tubs that you'll see below). During that process he decided to put a lot of his Lego into two big tubs (those are from Costco). He kept some specific sets out and kept most of the mini figures (aka "lego guys") but other than that a lot of his sets over the years went into those two giant tubs. These days those tubs are open to any of the kids who want to come in his room and dig through them to add to whatever they are playing with in their own rooms.
Years ago I shared an image of using one of these vintage type trays to hold mini-figures (you can find these on eBay). We pulled this one out recently and hung it up for him to add some of his favorite guys.
These are the giant tubs filled with mixed up past sets that live in his closet under his clothes.
Across the room are his shelves (from Ikea). Lots of Lego here, including some in plastic drawers and lidded tubs that fit within the shelves. Those tubs are the ones that have pieces separated by color or style (heads, hair, weapons, capes, and then a few that are just separated by color).
Simon is one of those kids that doesn't generally rebuild a set. That said he did recently download some instructions to try to rebuild an older set. Generally he builds a set once and if he loves it it stays together until he's ready to break it apart. The other kids are more into building from scratch from the tubs.
ISAAC
Issac actually had a whole bunch of his sets out on our dining room table and just cleaned those today before heading over to his Mom's. He did leave this little collection out, telling me that he was in progress with a "scene" with these guys.
Isaac's level of Lego love is similar to Simon's. In his room (which is downstairs in our house) he is using a bunch of the drawers that Simon used to have in his closet (these are similar). He's also got that bakers rack that I used to have in my office tucked into his room. He uses that for in-progress projects. Amazon has a smaller version of a commercial baker's rack here - I bought this one from a local restaurant supply store.
I'm not sure if he's got any specific organization going on with these drawers or if they are just serving as home for all the pieces.
ELLIOTT
Elliott, who is 11 and going into 7th grade, is the one who said recently that he thinks he is growing out of Lego (and didn't take me up on a recent offer to pick up a set when we were at Target). He has the least amount in his room but I still find him interested in them from time to time.
He's got a small shelf next to his bed in his room that holds a couple tubs and a drawer of some of his favorites.
OTHER PLACES
I also happen to know that there are also a couple of these drawers filled with Lego.
So, yeah: Lego, lego everywhere. Always and forever.
August 31, 2018
Love The Way You Shine | Project Using The Light Story Stamp™
I put together a quick layout using the Light Story Stamp™ and a few of the Add On options from both the Story Kit™ and the Story Stamp™ to share with you guys today along with a process video.
Repeated stamping is a quick and easy way to create a pattern and help support your story. For this project I paired the "love the way you shine" stamp with three ink colors: orange, yellow, and navy blue to create a custom pattern at the top of my 6x8 sheet of white cardstock. Along the bottom I added a die cut, a word/phrase sticker and a date stamp directly above journaling printed on vellum. To adhere the vellum I used some of the fun rainbow washi tape that was offered as an Add On for the Light Story Kit™.
The Light Story Stamp™ and Light Story Kit™ are available until September 11th (or when they sell out).
Here's a short video showing my process for this project:
You are so awesome Anna. You are currently 9 years old and you are definitely shining your light bright. I love watching your enthusiasm for life and the kindness you show others. This week you are at sleep-away camp and I loved seeing how excited you were for this adventure. The fall you are going to participate in a community play and I am so excited to see what you think of that whole experience. You made a choice this time to do that instead of playing soccer (which I know you have enjoyed). I love that you are trying something new, something that you seem to be really interested in. Let that light within you shine. No matter what path you decide to walk down we - your family - will be here to support you and encourage you and cheer you on. Next month you'll start 4th grade and I am so looking forward to continuing watching you grow into the best version of yourself. Love you and your big mighty heart so much.
Light Story Stamp™
Inks: Tillamook Crafters Ink, Deschutes Crafters Ink, Memento Luxe Dandelion Ink
Light Add On: Variety Die Cut Bundle
Light Story Kit™
Light Add On: Stripes Washi
Circle Stamp Block
White Cardstock
Secret Service Typewriter Font
Rolling Date Stamp
Vellum
Tiny Attacher
Canon MG7720 Printer (for both the photo + the journaling)
Want more inspiration like this? Become a subscriber to my Story Kit™ , Story Stamp™ , or Digital Story Kit™ and get access each month to a new classroom that includes 4 process videos using products from the Kit and Stamp and story ideas specific to the theme.
August 29, 2018
December Daily® 2018 | Facebook Live Shop Product Video
Hey Friends! I recognize that not everyone uses Facebook so here's a look at the Live Video we did this morning to show all add-on options that will be avialable when the December Daily® products release next week on Thursday, September 6th at 7am PDT.
There is a lot of information at the start of this video and I will be posting a How It Works blog post to be posted next week - most likely on Tuesday - that will walk you through the shopping process for 2018.
We will be showing a full look at the Main Kit, the Mini Kit, and the Kids Kit here on my blog next week on Wednesday, September 5th in the morning. That post will include video walk-throughs of each kit and price information.
Please let me know if you have any questions below!
December Daily® 2018 | Journal & Planner Now Available
For the first time last year we offered a December Daily® Journal (red cover) which was designed to help you tell the stories of the season with story prompts. Included in that Journal we added pages for planning as well - calendars and lists and other pages - to help you stay organized during a busy time of year.
After listening to feedback, and after playing around with it myself last year, we decided to change things up and are offering two different products this year: a December Daily® Journal and a December Daily® Planner.
Both are now available and ready to ship.
BUNDLE OPTION: Purchase both the December Daily® Planner and the December Daily® Journal for $5 off. Check out the Bundle Option here.
Read below for more about each of these products and video overviews.
DECEMBER DAILY® PLANNER
The December Daily® Planner is all about giving your seasonal to-do lists a home. We've created pages for you to make lists of gifts, cards, menus, shopping, photos, etc. I love the idea of having a specific home to keep all my holiday planning in one place to help me create time for what matters most. This planner includes month-at-a-glance and weekly calendar pages, date stickers, and word/phrase stickers.
Here's a video overview of the new December Daily® Planner:
DECEMBER DAILY® JOURNAL
The December Daily® Journal is designed to help you reflect and tell stories during the month of December. I imagine curling it up with it on my couch or in bed at the beginning or end of the day and responding to one or more of the prompts. It's a great option if you want to take a break from the crafty aspect of the traditional December Daily® project but you still want to document your season. It's also great if you are currently focusing more on the words than anything else.
The prompts included are the same as were included in the original December Daily® Journal last year (red cover). They are the tried and true stories I find myself wanting to document each season. Some people found this really helpful last year in establishing stories they wanted to tell in their December Daily® album.
Here's a video overview of the December Daily® Journal:
Thank you for your support of this project and these products! Please let me know if you have any other questions.
August 27, 2018
Around Here | Late Summer 2018
The transition out of summer and into fall is upon us here - just barely in terms of the weather - but I can totally feel it in the rhythms of our day and the preparations for endings and beginnings.
I'm thinking about how we measure our days by calendar and seasonal rhythms. I'm thinking about how much I have always loved the start of the school year - for myself as a student, for my kids, for myself as a parent, for myself as a working Mom. I'm thinking about my One Little Word® "space" and the role it has played in my life overall this year. I'm thinking about how little time I spent at the pool this summer and wondering what in the heck we did around here instead - mainly it's just that the kids are getting older and have different activities. I'm thinking about how much I have continued to learn about people and wholeheartedness and loving kindness and worth over the years. I'm thinking about needing to get out in the garden and clean things up as we move into the next season. I'm thinking about all the books on my to-read list and how much I love books and am so thankful for people who put their words out into the world. I'm thinking about how much easier transitions are for Simon as a young man than they were when he was little.
My head and my heart is full of the stuff of life as we move from one season to the next.
Here are some of the transitions happening around here right now:
This year all five kids will be in different schools. Two in 4th grade (one at a charter Montessori school and one at a Catholic school), one in 7th grade, one in 9th grade, and one in 11th grade. It's not as crazy as you would imagine it would be if they all lived here in this house all the time, but it's still amazing that they are all in different schools. Aaron generally drives Audrey, Elliott, and Issac to school because they all go to school on the south side of town (their Mom lives on that side of town) and I drive Anna and Simon to their schools in the central and north side of town. Chris & Tiffany have been building a house within a mile of us and we are excited for them to move in and get settled. This summer they have been living with Chris' parents and the kids have been spending time with them on weekend adventures. I think we are all looking forward to getting back to a more regular routine with the start of school and their transition into their new house. A few years ago Chris and I joked/talked about him buying the house next door to my house. We both figured that would be very convenient but also probably too close. A mile or so away feels good. It's close enough for the kids to walk back and forth or for a quick stop by on the way home to pick up or drop off. Work-wise I've been doing a lot of design work for next year's Day In The Life™ kits (excited to mix it up a bit for next year) and another Story Planner release (both those products will come out in 2019). Also, it's all December Daily® all the time behind the scenes right now as we get ready for that launch. I'm also working on a new Hello Story workshop for this fall. Last month we adopted a new orange kitten named Ernie. Technically this is Isaac's kitten but he's definitely keeping all of us on our toes as both an entertainer and as a menace. He's basically a mini-version of Sam with a whole lot more energy.
Anna has decided to skip soccer and participate in a children's theater production this season with the Rose Children's Theatre. I love that she was pretty clear on that choice and I'm excited to see how she likes it overall. She's done summer camps with them the last two years so this will be her first time participating in one of their bigger productions. This year they are doing Honk Jr. and casting week starts this week. She's a bundle of all those things when you start something new. Aaron and I are getting ready to go see Dave Matthews Band at The Gorge. I am so excited because they didn't have concerts there last year and the year before Aaron went on his own after I had blood clots. You can read my posts from 2014 and 2015 here. This is absolutely one of my most favorite adventures that I look forward to all year. I love being outside. I love Dave. I love spending time with Aaron. I love meeting new people. I love the landscape and the view.
Embracing. Loving. Breathing. Listening.
August 25, 2018
Project Life® 2017 | Week Thirty-Seven
Here's that missing 2017 Project Life® spread that I talked about in the video recently.
So now I'm officially done. For real.
Here's a look at Week 37:
For this spread I used cards from the Seasons Of Fall Journal Card Set.
My simple design formula for my 4x6 photos includes using the 1/2 circle paper pad from the Travel Collection Main Kit (2018) + Deschutes Crafters Ink + See & Stamp Transparent Alphabet.
Embracing the words that don't really fit with some messy stamping.
I used my Brother Sewing Machine to stitch the 1/2 circles onto my photos.
Cut those label stickers in half (or less than half) and use them on more than one title card.
I used a couple of the oval shapes from the September Stories By The Month™ Chipboard Set on two of the 3x4 photos.
Remember, not all spreads need to have a ton of words. Bring on the balance and bring on the ability to finish up your projects.
SUPPLIESDesign A Project Life® Page Protectors StazOn Ink Rolling Date Stamp Epson PictureMate PM400 Printer Seasons Of Fall Journal Card SetDeschutes Crafters Ink (navy blue)See + Stamp Transparent Alpha StampsBrother Sewing MachineGold ThreadStories By The Month™ September 2018Travel Collection Main Kit 2018
You can see all my past Project Life® blog posts here. For more information about my overall process make sure to check out my self-paced Storytelling With Project Life® workshop.
