Ali Edwards's Blog, page 146

Week In The Life™ 2018 | Thursday Words + Photos

Ah, Thursday. 

So many things to be thankful for in all of our daily lives. One of my favorite ways to approach one of the days of this project is to simply look through the lens and literally see the things I'm thankful for in my life right now. That's the story I'm telling today. 

I'm thankful that Anna often wakes up in a cheerful mood and she's awesome at saying "I love you."

I'm thankful for the calla lilies that came from my parents house at the beach and come back to life again and again here in my yard. 

I'm thankful for blackberries and almond butter and a gluten free oatmeal mix I really like (Bakery On Main Unsweetened Instant).

I'm thankful for uninterrupted work time when I actually meet my deadlines. 

I'm thankful for my scrapbook table (originally from Ikea) that has survived so many projects. 

I'm thankful for Anna's school and the fundraising luncheon I attended today. I'm also thankful fro the opportunity to share a little piece of what I do with that community. 

I'm thankful for this go-to snack of a beef stick and kombucha between pick-ups. 

I'm thankful for the stories she shares with me after school. 

I'm thankful for the white walls + long dresses + then changing back into my yoga pants and hoodie. 

I'm thankful for kids who play music and dance. 

I'm thankful for this guy's commitment to his scout meetings (today he was working on some assignments for the Family Life merit badge). 

I'm thankful for easy to follow recipes. Tonight I made One Pan Chicken Sausage Veggie Bake With Potatoes. It was a major hit for everyone, including the pickiest among us and I will totally make it again. 

I'm thankful for iChat and the ability for Anna and her cousin Gabrielle who lives on the east coast go get a chance to face to face chat. 

I'm thankful for a car that's big enough to haul this crew around and thankful for Aaron, Audrey and Elliot going to Anna's season-end soccer practice where parents and families face off against the girls. 

I'm thankful for the awesome cheer that Anna's coach started years ago: Soccer Chocolate Kittens Always Keep Trying. 

I'm thankful for this guy who puts up with me taking photos like this. 

I'm thankful for this table that is great for eating, for art, for puzzles, and for work. 

I'm thankful that the quiet that follows the chaos. 

I'm thankful for this guy's super kind heart. 

I'm thankful that this guy is still down with me taking photos of him. I asked for permission tonight and it was granted. Taking photos of him in/on his bed with the main light source coming from his bedside table lamp is one of my favorite things. I also love that he has a pile of books next to his bed just like me. 

Today was full. It had a bit of everything including walking around the track while Anna was at soccer so at least I got in a little bit of movement. Looking forward to a bath + book after I finish up this post. 

As always, thank you for being part of this community. 

You are invited to share a link to your Thursday words + photos in the comments below.

Week In The Life™ 2018 | Wednesday Words + Photos

Multiple times today I asked myself "What is the story I want to tell today"? I didn't have a clear path or idea and nothing came to mind specifically like it did yesterday with the word "savoring."

I've always maintained that this project is a marathon and not a sprint (same with December Daily®). There's always an ebb and a flow to my feelings and to my enthusiasm throughout the week - that's totally normal. The key is to keep showing up - to the words, to the photos, to connecting with your feelings and thoughts and observations about your life right now. 

My life looks very different than it did five years ago. My physical address is the same but so many other things are different. Sometimes people want to categorize everything in terms of better or worse - for me it's just what it is - life right now. 

Here's a look at my day on this particular Wednesday: 

Most days I feed the pets as the first adult to make it downstairs. Two are included here and the other one is surely not far behind. Woody is 15 or 16 (no one really knows) and the cats are both 7. 

Most days all the kids make their own breakfasts. This was something that Aaron did at his house before and carried over here. Some eat cereal, some eat toast (with Nutella one day a week), some have a breakfast sandwich, some have oatmeal. 

Some days I take a moment in the car after dropping kids off and just pause. 

Today I woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Actually, as I got curious about why I was grouchy, I think what it really was was anxiety about doing something different in my regular daily routine (Kait Hurley came down from Portland to do a movement + meditation with me). I was excited to meet her and looking forward to it so I'm not sure if that was really the cause of my anxious/grouchy behavior but I know I felt better once she was here and we started doing yoga and chatting. It's the unknown, so often it's that unknown piece that grabs a hold of me. 

Most days Simon would like me to watch some video clip or another at one or more points throughout the day. Today it was an old Saturday Night Live skit called The Loud Family that included Bill Murray (his favorite). Videos are one of the ways he connects with people and he really likes to see me laugh. 

Most week days you'll find me (and Katie on some days) right here at this desk with a cat in the basket. Today I worked on editing videos that I shot yesterday for the next Story Theme release. 

On this day I had the awesome opportunity to do a flow and meditation with Kait Hurley in my backyard. She lives up in Portland and had reached out a couple weeks back about coming down to do one of these together and have a chat about it after. I'm doing her Summer Reset Challenge right now and I adore the fact that she pairs meditation with each one of her workouts. And yoga and meditation outside is amazing. 

Some days I prep dinner at lunch. Today I cooked the spaghetti squash and chicken I used for this recipe for dinner: Dairy Free Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo. This made the actual time for making dinner that much less and I'm all about simplifying that process. 

Most days this guy is here with me during the day. He's in his office and I'm in mine. We meet up for lunch when our eating schedules align. Today while I was doing the dinner prep he emptied the dishwasher and we talked about Westworld podcasts again. 

Some days Anna brings a friend home from school. Today it was a sweet friend who lives in our neighborhood. This young lady is a super accomplished dancer and it's always fun to have her at the house. 

Most days I walk past these shoe baskets and think I should make all the kids go though them and take out the ones they don't wear any more. And I need to get to the bottom of who it is that bear belongs too since he's obviously not a shoe.

Some days Simon comes up into the office after school to work on homework. Today he was working on some reading for a Scout meeting (Citizenship In The World I think) and looking things up online when he wanted to learn more (he's really into WWII history at the moment). 

Some days I'm in the office until 5pm or so but most days recently I'm out of here when I start the kid pick up - usually either at 2:30pm or 3pm. This week has been different with working on these blog posts in the evening. 

Tonight Simon and I ate dinner together while Anna had dinner over at her friends' house. Aaron's kids are with their Mom tonight so he is working on music and doing his own thing. 

Some days while Simon is at Scout meetings I take my laptop to Starbucks and write. I like the change of environment. I also like the reminder that I can get a lot done in a short amount of time when I just sit down and do it. 

Some days Simon has more Scout responsibilities when he gets home. Tonight he was trying to figure out how to tackle some Webmaster duties before his evening shower. 

Most days everyone reads a bit before bed. 

Most days I'm in bed before 9pm right after everyone gets settled. I love getting in bed and opening up whatever book I'm into at the moment and closing up the day - especially during the week. 

You are invited to share a link to your Wednesday words + photos in the comments below.

Week In The Life™ 2018 | Tuesday Words + Photos

Today, as I was going about my day, I thought a lot about slowing and savoring. On my @ae_wellness account over on Instagram I did a video/story chat talking about how I'm looking for opportunities to take things slow in a variety of aspects of my life. 

So to tell the story of my day I'll be using the prompt "savoring." Savoring doesn't mean everything is perfect and awesome - it really just means I'm intentionally looking for the good within the moments of everyday life. 

In our house there are a lot of moving pieces - kids going here and there with activities and friends and lots of chatter. I am continually working on embracing the flow of our days - some days that feels easy and other days I'm resisting the flow and running old tapes in my head. Today included a combination of both. 

Savoring the time it takes to get kids to and from school. I know it won't last forever. I take Simon + Anna and Aaron takes Isaac, Elliot and Audrey. Right now they are at four different schools - next year they will each be at a different school. One of the things I love about the morning and afternoon drive right now is that Simon is into a couple local radio stations and he loves to look at me as each new song comes on to see if I know it or not. It's a little game we've been playing for awhile that I love. 

Savoring moments like this when I get to eat breakfast outside on the porch before diving into my work. Today our morning weather was amazing. I ate my breakfast and read our local paper. 

Photo note: I took one shot and decided to just go with the blurred background image. 

Savoring the way the white lilacs reach all the way up to the sky. I recorded an around-the-yard video that I'll share here next week. 

Savoring my morning walk in the sunshine and then the transition to work. Listened to The Daily + a podcast called Westworld: The Recapables (because Westworld is RAD). 

Not sure that I actually savor anything about this one - ha. This cat searches out water everywhere. No water is safe here. I do enjoy him very much (which is one of the definitions of savor). 

Savoring my list of work stuff including shooting images and videos for the new Story Kit™ theme that will come out on the 13th. 

Savoring the nap I took in the middle of the day when I felt bone-tired. 

Savoring a few minutes of sitting in the car in silence with a new book while I wait to pick up Anna. This is a super quick read called Destination Simple: Everyday Rituals For A Slower Life. Super practical tips for slowing down and making more intentional choices throughout the day.  

Savoring the rain drops on the car windshield. Sun + rain = happy plants. 

Savoring this cheerful young lady. I enjoy her company so much. 

Savoring the fact that these two like to go to bookstores too. Today it was Simon's idea because he had a gift card and wanted to get a Star Wars cook book that he had seen previously. Anna picked up a couple books and I grabbed one (yeah, I remember what I said yesterday but I justified it because it's from the kid section and one of them might read it eventually). 

Savoring how into the art journaling both girls are right now. Audrey got up and did it this morning before school and they both did more this evening. 

Savoring the chopping. Tonight I made Against All Grain's Instant Pot Mexican Chicken Soup (following my menu plan here). Simon, who has never been much of a soup fan, felt like it was too spicy. Audrey protested some about the spice and the "unknown" ingredients. Everyone else loved it. 

Savoring photos like this when you just get lucky. Lucky that we can see Simon's smile. Lucky that both Aaron and Isaac are actually off the ground as they did a warm up for an exercise routine. 

Savoring this relationship between these two. 

And savoring the relationship between these two as well. They rode bikes to the pool for a couple hours. 

Savoring the flow of the evening. I ate with the girls on the first shift and then Aaron ate with the boys during the second shift after they came back from the pool. They were also playing the game Punderdome while sitting at the table (I am terrible at that game). 

Savoring showers for all the kids tonight. Ha. Savoring how they play. 

Savoring the quiet at the end of the day. Super ready for bed today. 

Wrapping things up a little earlier tonight so I can tuck people in and get into my bed and do some reading. 

You are invited to share a link to your Monday words + photos in the comments below.

Week In The Life™ 2018 | Monday Words + Photos

Welcome to the first day of sharing for Week In The Life™ 2018. 

Today I'll be sharing my Monday photos and words and you are welcome to share a link to your own blog posts in the comments section. All my photos were taken with my Canon G7X (small camera that I use for travel + garden videos). This is just a personal choice I made this year vs. using my phone. As always, the best camera is usually the one you have with you. 

A couple notes about my photos: 

To take self-portraits I used the timer on my camera (Aaron took a couple shots as well later in the day).  I am purposefully playing with light and letting my dark images be dark when there is a light source in the image. This camera can't go as low as the 2.8 on my Canon 6D, but it took some pretty cool images today and kept the dark parts dark and the light parts light. I like the challenge and the playfulness of that piece of this project.  You'll see some familiar angles (if you've been part of this community for awhile) and others that are new. I'm looking and experimenting with some different angles. 

Here's a look at my Monday via words and photos: 

I am 42 years old. It often shocks me when I remember that fact. I like being in my 40's. I like having life experience on my side and I like that I am still learning. 

The table beside my bed is overflowing with books to read. My phone, my watch, my kindle, and a rotating collection of books that are from my collection both old and new. 

Real life is that I told myself today I need to take a break on the number of books I've been buying lately. 

Right now I'm really working on incorporating movement/exercise most of my days. Today I walked 3-miles in the morning first thing (kids were still with their other parents until after school). I listed to the Autoimmune Wellness podcast and thought about ways I could be reducing our food waste (menu planning is definitely helping). 

Real life is that I am really proud of myself for continuing to show up. 

Blooms everywhere along my walk. On trees, on shrubs, and on the ground. 

Real life is that I love walking for the practice of observation - especially to be a witness to the seasons. 

After my walk I did one of Kait Hurley's exercise videos in the new space that Aaron has set up in the garage for working out. I love how she incorporates meditation at the end of each exercise. 

I cut my hair a few weeks back and lost probably around 6 inches. I don't do anything to it most days when I'm just here at home. 

Real life is that I have eyelash extensions that I totally love because I rarely wear makeup and I like how it makes me look like I have mascara on. 

I loved starting my day with exercise. I don't always get to do it on the mornings that the kids are here, but it's definitely my favorite time. 

Real life is that Sam somehow got out into the garage and during the meditation he started scratching on the door. Loudly. 

After showering I made myself some gluten free oatmeal with berries + almonds and green tea and carried it up to my office. It was about 10am when I sat down at my desk after exercising, showering, and moving laundry around. 

Real life is that this is just my work-task planner (I use a Get To Work Book). I use iCal for all the kid/family/personal scheduling. 

Real life is also that I quit coffee over a month ago and I'm honestly not missing it much at all. 

Katie and I were out of the office for most of last week so we had a bunch of catch-up work to take care of today. I also did a bunch of design work. 

Real life is that I continue to be so thankful for my job, for working from home, for Katie, for flexibility, for this community. 

Around 1pm I stopped for lunch which was leftover salmon + broccolini + cauliflower on top of some kale. I am totally a fan of leftovers for lunch.

Last year in June I cut out gluten and dairy from my diet and I haven't looked back. Overall I simply feel better. It's all been a part of my overall wellness journey that I'm still on right now. It's totally making me happy. 

Real life is that I still want to increase the number of vegetables I'm eating overall.

After lunch and back to my desk where I work for a bit longer before beginning the afternoon kid pick up. Today included a lot of design work for next year's One Little Word® products and for our second Day In The Life™ project later this fall. 

Real life is that there's almost always a cat in that basket - my little constant companion. 

Before heading out I usually stop downstairs in the office/music room that Aaron built himself in the garage. It's also the room we got married in here at our house. 

Real life is that our kid schedules are often in flux in terms of who is picking up and dropping off the McKercher kids. I'm going with the flow and getting better at it all the time. 

My first pick up is Simon. Some days I get Anna first and other days I get Simon first and Anna goes to an after-care program. Simon reminds me each day when he gets in the car that he'd like to have a girlfriend. Today he also told me some jokes that I did get on video and will likely share at some point. 

Real life is that I never know the mood of the kids until the get in the car. I always hope for the best. 

Next up we picked up Anna and then grabbed Isaac from his Mom's while the other two had after-school activities. 

Real life is that all the kids are getting huge. 

Real life is that Simon had his phone taken away (a consequence for not following the rules) so as I was reading the paper at lunch I saw that the Sunday New York Times had a whole section about movies coming out this summer. Giving him that section to read after school provided him with a ton of entertainment - especially when he saw this whole article about Animal House (he loves comedy so, so much). 

The lilacs are going crazy outside. I didn't spend as much time as I would have liked outside at any point today. I did go out for a bit and weed around some sugar snap peas that are making their way up some poles. 

Real life is that I can't bring lilacs in the house because the scent is too overwhelming. I tried again today and it's still true. 

Screen time for Anna. 

Real life is that we've had so many discussions about screen time recently (how much, when, boundaries, etc) and I don't think they are going away any time soon. 

Tonight I made Against All Grain's Meatloaf Meatballs from her Meals Made Simple cookbook. The whole process was made easier because I cooked the meatballs yesterday and just re-heated them today. 

Real life is that I have really been loving cooking. I feel like I went for such a long time not interested in it at all and now I've got my weekly routine down (shopping + planning on Saturday) and it's making me really happy. I love that it is making me slow down overall - letting other things go so I can focus on getting healthy food on all of our plates. 

Real life is that I made a turnip + parsnip mash and Elliott was the only kid who thought it was decent. Next time I'll just make potatoes.

Monday night is Scout's night for Simon. I asked him if he would come outside so I could take a photo of him (I hope to do this for each kid over the course of the week) and he agreed. He's super excited for the new Han Solo movie that's coming out later this month and the new Fantastic Beasts movie coming out later this year. 

Real life is that he is 6'1 and amazing. Scouts has been so good for him. 

Elliott hanging out on the couch for a bit after dinner and texting with some friends. 

Real life is that he's 11 and looks way older and regularly acts way older too. He skipped a grade (both he and Isaac skipped grades) which makes him younger than most of his peers even though he looks older. 

Anna was really excited for Audrey to be here tonight so the three of us could paint together (you can read more about how this started here). 

Real life is that I found this to be so relaxing and calming tonight. Sometimes I have a hard time slowing down - there are always a million more things on my list. I continue to remember that most of them will still be on my list tomorrow. 

The yard is totally waking up once again. And I'm a sucker for warm light inside a house coming through the windows. 

Real life is that those bags of planting compost have been in that same spot for a few months now. 

The light, the light, the light. 

Real life is that I still plan on painting all this white sooner or later. Saving up some money for the next phase of changes in our house (basically the downstairs). 

Audrey's painting. My painting. 

Real life is that she wanted to blow air through a straw to move the paint on the page and my first thought was about whether it was going to make a mess. I'm a work in progress. I love how it turned out. 

We ate our wedding dinner at this table. It was the best purchase I made last year. Having this extra area for homework or eating or painting is so great for all the people in this house. 

Real life is that the windows and the light and the green make my heart explode sometimes. 

Both girls came home to baskets of clean clothes to put away before bed. 

Real life is that we really need to plan a time to go through all their current clothes and figure out what fits and what doesn't. Tis the season as the school year begins to wind down. 

Real life is that Anna, just like me, is often first to bed after doing her jobs. 

As I wrap up this day it's 9:20pm and I'm so ready for bed + a little bit of reading before falling asleep. 

You are invited to share a link to your Monday words + photos in the comments below.

Week In The Life™ 2018 | Let's Do This

Welcome to Week In The Life™ 2018! 

I so hope you enjoy the process of becoming a direct observer of your life this week. Tell me, through your words, what real life looks like for you right now. Show me, through your photos, what real life looks like for you right now. Focus on those two pieces this week and tackle the bringing it all together the following week. 

You are the main character in this story and your story matters. 

Starting tomorrow morning I'll share my own words + photos for each day this week.

Let's do this!

More details on this project and links to past examples, blog posts, etc. can be found here. 

Menu Planning | Week Of May 7th, 2018

Week In The Life™ starts tomorrow! I'm super excited to document my week - this year I really want to focus on taking "intentional photos" vs. photos of every little thing. As I get ready to start tomorrow I wanted to make sure to get myself organized with a menu plan for dinners this week. Here's a look at what I'm planning on making this week (kids will all be here almost every day this week + weekend): 

Monday: Meatloaf Meatballs from Meals Made Simple (Danielle Walker cookbook)
Tuesday: Instant Pot Mexican Chicken Soup from Against All Grain. 
Wednesday: Dairy Free Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo from The Real Food RD's
Thursday: One-Pan Kielbasa Veggie Bake With Potatoes from The Real Food RD's (love sheet pan meals for sure)
Friday: BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad with Brussels Sprouts & Kale from The Real Food RD's

I also want to try these Breakfast Cookies from Against All Grain. 

Reviews from new recipes last week (just made one from a recipe since I was traveling most of the week): 

Yankee Pot Roast from Nom Nom Paleo // This was amazing in the instant pot. Still definitely took some time but it was so good. Just Anna and Simon here the night I made it and they were all over it. I served it with garlic mashed cauliflower (also a Nom Nom Paleo recipe) and roasted asparagus. 

Have an awesome week! 

Art Journaling With Anna

A couple weeks ago I was browsing Instagram and came across an art journaling video on Liz Lamoreux's feed. She was just doing her thing, finding joy in the journey, and I thought to myself that I really wanted to offer this kind of activity to any of the kids around here and do some myself. 

I jumped on Amazon and ordered four watercolor journals (for me, Anna, Audrey, and potentially Isaac and if Simon and Elliot are interested I'll order some more), watercolors, and pen sets. 

Sometimes we really have to act on those impulses.

They've been sitting on our big living room table for a week or so waiting for the "right" time or for someone to ask about them. 

Actually last night started out with Anna wanting to watch a movie while Simon was at Boy Scouts. After being reminded by Aaron, I reminded her that we were trying to stick to our screen time limits (one hour per day on school days) and maybe we could just go take a bath and read (something she still likes to do with me). And then I looked over on the table and saw the supplies and asked her if she wanted to work in an art journal instead and she agreed. 

I wanted this first experience to be really simple and fun. I got out my computer and we looked through Liz's feed so she could get an idea of what I was talking about and I suggested that we just copy some of the techniques that Liz showed. That is so totally the best way to begin. I went upstairs and grabbed some washi tape and a jar of water from the kitchen and we got started. 

I honestly can't tell you the last time I just played like that without any end result in mind. It was so great. 

We looked up art quotes on Pinterest and Anna picked one to add to her first page. You can hear her read it on my "Art Journal" save Instagram story. 

I love that it was something we did together. I love that it was simple. I love that there are so many lessons inherent in this practice - especially embracing imperfection. I will welcome any activity that enables me to easily slip that into the conversation (always a good reminder for myself). 

We talked about colors and how much water to use (or not use) and sticky washi tape and pen sizes and we made stuff just to make it. 

The best way to end the day.

I'm looking forward to this as a regular evening/weekend activity and seeing who else around here might want to participate. Starting with just pens and watercolors is an easy way to begin and we might branch out from there. 

PS // I just looked in my archives and the last time I posted something about art journaling was in 2011. I used to incorporate it a bit more into what I was doing and then I think that life + work got in the way. 

For The Love Of Books | What I Read In April 2018

April ended up being an awesome month of reading and a month for memoir. I'm totally into real-life stories right now and the two I read in April are both highly recommended. 

WHAT I READ IN APRIL 2018

Educated : A Memoir // From the very beginning I loved the author's writing style and the way she was weaving her story. I think this is one of the best, if not the best, memoirs I've read. I want to tell you that I loved this book, but I don't know if "love" is the right word because it was a hard story to read at times - for all kinds of different reasons. What I loved about it was that it was a story of becoming - of finding yourself and your own story. There were so many times I had to stop to tell Aaron something that had happened as I was reading either because it was so crazy (either awesome or terrible or almost unbelievable). I love a book that encourages us to challenge our assumptions about the beliefs we grew up with and find ourselves within (and owning) our own individual story - whether we continue to believe or walk away or distance ourselves or reconnect. Highly recommended.
The Girl Who Smiled Beads (received from the publisher - also available via  BOTM ) // Back in 2014 I heard Clemantine speak in Washington DC at a summit on girls + women in Africa which was sponsored by the ONE Campaign and Google. The event itself and the stories presented were profoundly moving and educational. When I was offered an opportunity to receive an advance copy of this book I jumped at the chance to get to go deeper into Clemantine's story and I think this book is a must read. It's a hard, raw read and one that is super important for all of us as human beings. It's a complex story of her escape from the Rwandan massage as a child and eventual arrival in the United States as a refuge. It is also so much more than that story - she intimately shares the impact of that entire experience on the way she thinks about herself, the way she views the world, and the ways she has attempted to own her own story. It is a book about becoming. Highly recommended.
Then She Was Gone (BOTM) // I wasn't sure what I thought of this book at first and it felt a little slow at the beginning. But once it revealed a twist + then more twists, I was hooked. I liked that the narrative goes back and forth between characters - really showcasing their different motivations and personalities. It was a totally decent psychological thriller if you are into that genre I'd definitely recommend it. It would have made a good beach read.
Circe (BOTM) // I totally wasn't sure what to expect with this book but I picked it because I've been trying to challenge myself to read things I might not normally pick up this year (different genres, voices, etc). I found this one challenging to get into initially only because I can't remember much at all of the Greek Mythology I learned back in school (little bits here + there - but there are so many names) but once I just accepted that and started to reintroduce myself (via googling names and briefly reading their stories) I was totally into this story told from Circe's point of view. I actually decided that I liked not knowing "everything" about all the different Gods + Goddesses because it helped me to be surprised when the story revealed itself. I really, really liked how this book was written. I loved that is was from her point of view - so many interwoven themes popped up throughout the book: separation, love, fear, family, magic, monsters, bravery, and the ways we each own or own story. I think this one will stick with me for awhile.
First, We Make The Beast Beautiful: A New Journey Through Anxiety // I'm about half-way through this one and already know that I'm going to recommend it highly for anyone who has a history of anxiety or other mental illnesses. This book has comforted me, made me laugh, taught me lessons, and made me look at my anxiety/depression through a different lens. I may write more about this when I finish it during May but wanted to include it now because it's just so good. 

This month I'm also sharing a video overview of what I read last month and what I am planning to read next month.

You can also view this video on my 
YouTube channel here. 

BOOK OF THE MONTH SELECTIONS FOR MAY

It's also time to select new books from 
Book Of The Month Club. 

As part of their Ambassador Program I get to order from their monthly selections a bit early in order to share with you and celebrate their new releases each month. 

This month I picked two books: 

The Mars Room
Still Lives

This month Book Of The Month has a fun promotion happening just in time for Mother's Day. Buy a Mother's Day gift of BOTM and get a free month for yourself. This is one of my personal favorite gifts to give and it was how I was initially introduced to BOTM a few years ago. 

FULL LIST OF WHAT I'VE READ IN 2018

JANUARY 2018

The Heart's Invisible Furies (BOTM) // I super, super loved this book. Just go read it. Now. 
The Woman In The Window (BOTM) // Perfect suspense book. Great beach read.
Everyone Brave Is Forgiven // It’s been quite awhile since I underlined passages in a non-fiction book but I did a few times in this one because the language and imagery used was just so beautiful. It’s a story that will stick with me.
The Year Of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store // Super quick read on a topic I’m interested in - how less can mean more. This book is more memoir than how-to and I was interested in her story and all the ways in which she cake to having and wanting less. Glad I read it. It’s so much more than just a story of not shopping for a year.
Turtles All The Way Down (BOTM) // This one was a like but not love for me. I did really like some of the writing, especially towards the end, that related to the forward movement of life with mental illness. I think these kinds of stories are important and the pieces where he was writing about her self-talk/voices really resonated with me personally.

FEBRUARY 2018

Bel Canto (finished this one right at the end of January) // I really, really enjoyed this book. I love her writing style and I loved the way the story flowed all the way until the end. It felt super abrupt - but I guess that's how life goes sometimes too. I loved the themes of adaptation, of love, of change, of escape (literally from the life you were living one moment before), and the push and pull between relationships. Oh and it totally made me want to go to an opera.
The Great Alone (BOTM) // I stayed up way past my bedtime to finish this one last night because I just couldn't stop reading. I loved this book. I loved that Alaska + the climate was basically a character. The subject matter is challenging for sure - violence, loneliness, family issues, etc. - but the story is rich and complicated and well-told. Love these kinds of epic stories. So, so good. 
The Broken Girls (BOTM) // This book legitimately freaked me out multiple times. The kids around here all know I was reading a scary book because I kept saying “this book is scary” - ha. Loved the twists and turns - I zoomed through the last half super quick. If you are looking for a haunting style of story this one’s for you. I actually almost stopped reading it at one point but I am so glad I finished. 
An American Marriage // I read this one without knowing anything about it because it was recommended highly by a friend (and then I saw it popping up everywhere). This is an emotional, real, raw and very well written story that is different from what I've been reading lately. I love being surprised. Beautiful, compelling writing that really gets to the heart of complicated human relationships. A line I loved : "But mostly my life is good, only it's a different type of good from what I figured on." This has been the lesson of my life as well.

MARCH 2018

The Astonishing Color Of After (BOTM) // This book started out a little hard for me to get into but once I did I ended up adoring it. Totally adoring and loving it. I loved the interplay between the present and the past, the treatment of the experience of grief, learning about Chinese/Twaianese traditions, the magic of the way she views her family memories, and the continual use of colors as descriptors for scenes and feelings. I feel like this is one that will stay with me for a long time. SO GOOD.
The Last Equation Of Isaac Severy (BOTM) // This one took a long time to hook me - not sure if that was due to my sporadic reading this month or the story itself. I almost moved on 1/2 way through but decided to give it one more try over a weekend getaway and I was glad I did overall (but also happy to move on to the next story).

You can also see everything I read in 2017 here.

Week In The Life™ 2018 Countdown

Next Monday (May 7th) will be the start of the 2018 Week In The Life™ project. 

I'm super excited to embark on this adventure with many of you again this year! If this is your first time, welcome. Last year I wrote a really long post about the Things I've Loved + The Things I've Learned after doing this project so many times - it's totally worth checking out to get you in the documenting mood. 

A couple things to remember as we get closer: 

1. Make this project work for you. There is no rule that your project. There is no rule that you have to take hundreds of photos. There's no rule that you need to use any specific sort of camera. There's no rule that you have to do it similar to the way you did it last year. 

2. I don't usually do a lot of prep work in advance of this project. I do get my page protectors in order (following the same format as last year - you can read about that here) and slip a few things in the pockets and take a look at my products to have those in mind, but I don't do much else other than that to get ready. I am thinking about having a few things outside the page protector this year and am planning to use the timeline pad from the Main Kit to jot things down over the course of the day. My main focus during the week is on taking photos and writing down details. 

3. Value your own story. If you do the same thing everyday, awesome. Document that. If you are super busy, document that. Document whatever your life looks like right now and really own that story. One of the reasons I love doing this project each year is it's often a great time to take stock in how I'm living my life right now. Your story is important even if to no one else but you. 

4. Consider using Daily Sheets. People have been using these for a number of years now to help document the days. They are a great starting point for learning how to write stuff down over the course of the week and then the content can be transferred to your album later. 

Download the Story Planner version here (5.5 x 7.5).
Download the 6x8 version here.
Download the 8.5x11 version here.

5. Review these past posts to get you in the storytelling mood and to the heart of the matter. 

Week In The Life™ Photo Tips
Our Days Are Built With Stories
What Stories Will You Tell
Check out all my past Week In The Life™ posts via my archive here.

Also check out my 2018 Week In The Life™ Q+A post here. 

Both physical and digital products to support this project are available here. 

As always, thank you for being a part of this community and for your willingness to tell the stories of your life through these projects.

Also, in honor of National Scrapbook Day coming up this weekend, the ladies of Crafty Ass Female asked me to be a guest on their podcast, and my episode is now live (6am EST on 4/30)! Amanda, Kristin, and I discuss details about how I got started in the paper crafting industry, the inspiration behind my new Story Planner line, and my Week in the Life™ project. We also share our feelings about social media in their Patreon exclusive ‘After Chatter’ show, where you can sign up to watch a video of us three chat it up! Head to craftyassfemale.com for more information.

Menu Planning | Week Of April 30th, 2018

I'm traveling this week so I'm just planning two specific meals for Monday and Tuesday. 

Monday: I'm going to make a pot roast in the instant pot - likely following this recipe from Nom Nom Paleo. 

Tuesday: we will do some sort of Taco night - still thinking it through but will likely be something super simple.

Reviews from new recipes last week: 

Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Vegetable & Black Bean Enchiladas from Yum Universe: THIS WAS AWESOME. Everyone ate it without a single complaint. I used enchilada sauce that I purchased at Whole Foods from a local company called Sweet Creek Organics (the recipe includes ingredients for making one but I was looking for at least one shortcut). I included all the same fillings as she did in the original recipe (including the portobello mushrooms, kale, etc) and made a variation on her ancho chipotle sauce using a store-bought chipotle salsa + cashews in the blender that I offered on the side. Aaron also wanted some meat so I included ground turkey in the ones I made for him and the kids and added cheese to theirs. I topped mine with a little bit of Daiya vegan cheese. Seriously this was so good and totally something I will make again.  Vegan Cesar Salad from Oh She Glows: Another total winner. Anna and I had this one just by itself and Simon and Aaron (kids were with their Mom) had it with chicken. Super good - love the crunch from the roasted chickpeas and love the kale mixed in with the romaine.  Pot Sticker Stir Fry from Nom Nom Paleo: Everyone was on board with this one too. I actually used turkey instead of pork because that was what I bought and it tasted just right. Isaac was skeptical of the mushrooms but ate it all (they were chopped super small). This would be a great lettuce wrap filling. 

I also ended up making this Easy Instant Pot Sweet Potato & Beef Stew from Rally Pure on Friday for lunch so good. Thanks to Michelle for positing about that in the AE Wellness Facebook Group (if you have requested to join make sure to answer the questions in order to be added to the group). 

Have a great week!