Ali Edwards's Blog, page 161

Project Life® 2017 | Week Eighteen

When I'm playing "catch-up" in Project Life® (which I totally don't view as a "bad" thing and have zero guilt about) one of the things I do to help get my weeks completed is pick a design idea and repeat it on the majority of the photos. This weeks formula included alpha stickers + a hand-drawn subtitle in either white or black ink + a small yellow star (from a past Story Kit™). Having a formula in place like this cuts down on the number of decisions I have to make overall and that to me is a win.   

Here's a look at Week 18: 

For this spread I chose to use two of my alpha sticker sheets: Cascade and St. Helens. You can also grab both those colors are part of an alpha sticker bundle here. 

This week ended up with less journaling and I'm also totally okay with that too. For me, once again, it's the sum of all these spreads that adds up to the bigger story of our year. 

My title card this week is the marketing card from the Brave Story Kit™. I'm continuing to include a "gratitude" card each week - love the focus that gives me for telling a story each week. 

One thing I pulled out this week that I haven't used much is my One Little Word® Roller Stamp. Here's a look at the sentiments that come with this stamp: 

I used this on a couple photos this week - it's great for One Little Word® documentation but also great for regular storytelling and also great for planners. You can see it used on the photo below as well ("gratitude" and "this photo"). 

Sometimes when I set up a formula I will make a conscious choice to deviate from that formula. In this spread that happened on the flower photo - for that one I decided to use one of the circles from the Adventure Messy Circle Stamp Set + Tillamook Crafter's Ink + a one-inch circle punch. Another thing I do with my formulas is allow them to be flexible based on the photo - some of the hand-written squares went about the alpha sticker words and some below. On some I included a hand-drawn frame and I skipped it on others. There is no right or wrong. 

That cool ampersand patch is from a past Studio Calico kit. Behind that patch is cork ampersand that is part of the story in the following week that (that spread was shared in the Fun Story Kit™ classroom this month - each month I share one Project Life® spread in the Story Classroom using that month's kit. 

SUPPLIES USED REGULARLY IN PROJECT LIFE® 2017
Project Life Design A Page Protectors Project 52 Fresh Core Kit (anything with rounded corners - often title cards) Past Story Kits™ Rolling Date Stamp 12x12 Project Life® / Heidi Swapp / Black & White Album Week By Week Word Art Gratitude 3x4 Notepad AED Precision Pen

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. 

Day In The Life™ | June 2017 Completed Project

I think this is probably my most favorite way to approach 
Day In The Life™. 

Here are some of the things I loved about the project this time around: 

I loved that the documentation day for this one happened right as we were transitioning out of school and into summer.

I loved using the timer on my phone to capture one story and one photo each hour.
It totally does not need to be more than that - such an easy, simple way to give yourself direction. 

I loved that I simply copied and pasted my text from the journaling I had done on 
Instagram onto the digital version of the Day In The Life™ Mini Kit No. 4 journal cards. I could have just as easily re-written them by hand on the cards from the physical kit but I just felt like printing them this time instead (love being able to mix it up). 

I loved that when I went to print I only had the small number of photos I took to choose from (one each hour) - no extras to make choosing any more complicated than it needed to be. It took me about 15-20 minutes to edit/crop and then print my photos using my 
Epson PictureMate PM400.

I loved going really simple with my embellishing including using 
the roller stamp from the kit as a title for each card and then stickers from the Word Phrase Sticker Bundle and the WITL Phrase Sticker Bundle.

And I loved putting the completed pages right into my Project Life® album using Design F Page Protectors. I cut the second Design F page protector in half (using my trimmer) and then used a Fuse Tool to turn the 4x6 pocket into two, 3x4 pockets. 

Here's a look at the completed project that is spread over one and a half pages: 

The YAY is from the Fun Story Kit™. I used a star pattern silkscreen and Cascade AED Acrylic Paint to create the pattern on top. Story Kit™ subscribers can check out the how-to for this in the Fun classroom. I super love that the word is correct when we view it from both the front and the back. So cool. 

On each card I used the rolling stamp to add a "title" -ing word or "currently" or "around here" and then simply added a couple stickers to some of the photos. 

I used an older Week In The Life™ stamp set that included the small circle to designate whether it was AM or PM. 

VIDEO OVERVIEW
SUPPLIES

DITL Mini Kit No. 4
DITL Mini Kit No. 4 Digital 

Story Camp 2017 | Bring On The Connections + Next Date Announcement

A couple weekends ago Katie and I held our first Story Camp event here in Eugene, Oregon. 

We welcomed 30 attendees, 9 Creative Team members and 1 local friend (love you Amy) for a community building experience rooted in honoring our stories. 

It was so, so great. 

We talked a lot about practice (both in the way we view our stories and in the projects we create) and a lot about making things less "precious." We talked about loosening up our memory keeping expectations and embracing simple formulas to help us get more stories told and take a whole lot of guess work out of the entire process. We tangibly "practiced" telling our stories using a variety of products and sharing stories around the tables with new friends. 

On one of my Instagram posts Katie called it a “game changer of a weekend” and I can’t even articulate/express to you all the ways that is true. 

My One Little Word® this year is connect and that was one of the core reasons I wanted to do this event. What I learned - or was reaffirmed or became wholeheartedly obvious over the course of the weekend conversations - was that many others are really looking to connect with an in-person community of memory keepers who value story.  

There is so much magic in gathering together. I’ve known that to be true but sometimes I forget. I'm thankful to Katie for pushing to make this happen and for supporting me with all the planning and organizing of the entire event. 

For years now I’ve been honing in on what’s most important to me in this memory keeping lifestyle. My own voice has been becoming stronger as my mission has become more clear - to empower people to own and value their own life stories and to create tangible records/projects of those that reaffirm those messages to them in their own lives (“scared is what I’m feeling/brave is what I’m doing”).  

On Saturday evening as the group buzzed with conversation and projects and drinks I looked around the room and took a deep breath of thanksgiving - for this whole entire adventure of my life. Seeing people actively connecting with new friends who share a common interest was the most awesome thing to witness. 

This group. Love these new friends who asked questions and shared stories and listened and were open to hearing whatever it was they were there to hear. 

Katie and I loved being able to invite and include any of our Creative Team who were able to make it in this event. They are all brave storytellers. In the photo above is Katie, Brandi, Sarah, Pam, Ingunn, Jen, Jenny, Kelly, Laura, me and Jess. So thankful for the ways in which my entire team shows up to tell their stories month after month. 

Getting to connect with them in person was a very real gift to both Katie and me. It was emotional for all of us and we missed those who were unable to attend. 

The Story Camp crew. Peter (Katie's husband), Paolo (who's been my friend for more than half of my life), and Christine (our awesome Marketing Specialist who works for Inked and totally gets us). Gratitude to this crew goes beyond words. 

Christine put together this video that gives you a glimpse of what our time together looked like: 

You can also read Kelly's post about her experience here. 

The verdict is that we will be doing this again. It was totally worth it. Read below for details about the next event: 

STORY CAMP // OCTOBER 2017

We loved our first Story Camp go-around so much we have decided to do it again this fall at the same location. We are also planning to offer this event again next year so if you are unable to register for this event there will be more chances in 2018. At this time we do not plan to offer these workshops online nor will we be taking this event on the road.

We learned quite a few things during our first experience and because of that we are making a few changes to adjust the overall flow of the event and adjusting the price. Here are the two main changes: 

We are adding another day - the event will start on Thursday evening vs. Friday evening and end on Saturday evening. This gives more focused time for the journaling workshop (moved to Friday morning) when people aren't tired from traveling. We are adding another workshop. When reflecting back over the content of the workshops for the weekend one of the things I personally felt was missing was an opportunity to talk as a group about photography and the huge role that plays in our memory keeping processes. Adding this workshop will allow dedicated time to dive into this topic as well as potentially doing a photo walk around the area (weather dependent). 

Our October event will be open to 35 people. You can read all the details on the main Story Camp information page here. 

This event sold out very fast the first time and we anticipate that it will go fast again. We suggest making sure your current payment option is up-to-date for your account here on my site. If you are wanting to attend with a friend we recommend that one person purchase both spots. 

Registration for the next event  will be on Tuesday, June 27th at 10am Pacific.  Link will not be live until registration opens.

New Perspectives In The Same Environment

A couple weeks ago, as I went about living my life, I was taking photos like I usually do when I saw something so crazy cool through the lens of my camera. 

I was outside in the front yard while the girls were riding bikes and I decided to lay down in the grass. I don't usually lay in the grass in the front yard but the cats were out there too and Sam was being especially playful. I had my phone with me because I had taken a photo of Aaron working on Audrey's bike and as I was laying in the grass looking up at the sky I turned over to take a shot of one of the cats in the grass and I saw a completely different view of my house than I ever had before - looking up at it from the ground. Most of the times the photos I've taken of the front of my house have been from the street - looking at it straight on. 

This was one of those ah-ha moments for me about seeing things "fresh" with the same eyes. And all it took was putting my body in a different position and aiming my lens.

It was like getting an unexpected gift from a dear friend and it was such a good reminder that we can choose to see the same old, same old stuff of our lives through fresh eyes by simply changing our perspective.  

Overall I feel like I am taking less photos than I used to (at least I think this is true - no scientific data to back up that claim) but I definitely still take them and I take them with what often feels like intention. That intention is often to support a story I would like to tell at some point - to capture a feeling, to capture a little story about myself or one of the awesome people that share this house with me, to remember a moment in time, to document a chapter. I'm pretty sure I will always love seeing life through the lens of my cameras but, as with most things in life, there is an ebb and a flow to interest, motivation, etc and I'm totally fine with that. 

With the a-ha moment of new perspectives in my same house in mind, the next morning I walked into Anna's room where she was sitting at her table (table and outline stools from Land Of Nod - those stools are on super sale) watching YouTube videos before school and learning how to draw some characters. I started off by taking a shot like I would normally do - generally standing in the doorway at my regular height and looking down on the scene. 

Things I like about this photo: 

I like that it shows the stuff of life - the way the girls are interacting in their room, the baskets, the drawings, the clothes on the floor, how she's sitting on her stool, etc.  

Things I don't like about this photo: 

One of the main reaons I wanted to capture this story was because Anna was using the iPad to learn to draw. In this angle you can't even see that she's looking at an iPad. 

To mix things up for a new perspective - and to capture more of the story I wanted to tell on this occasion - I got closer to Anna and I crouched down on the ground to be closer to the level of the table and took a shot straight-on. 

When I looked at this shot through my camera lens (just my iPhone) I was blown away by the windows. Just getting down to this level and shooting straight on gave a totally different look and feel to the moment. 

I love that I can still see the stuff of life (you can't see as much stuff on the floor but that's not what this story was really about) and as a viewer you can see that she's looking on the iPad. I also love how she's holding her hand. 

Finally, to tell an even more complete story through the lens of my camera I tried one more perspective - a "looking down" angle that showed what she was actually drawing on her table. I love how her artwork is framed by the pens at the top, the iPad to the right, and her body along the bottom and left corner/edge. 

So loved this reminder to myself to look for new perspectives on some of the same stories I've been telling for awhile. 

Nothing has changed except me seeing my current environment from a new perspective. And that might just have the power to change everything. 

Using Photo Books To Celebrate Kids Artwork

I am a super fan of kids artwork. 

I am
not a super fan of storing all the artwork. 

I've been staring at, and also moving from place to place, a large pile of paintings that Anna did when she was in preschool (
she just finished second grade). I adore these paintings for a couple reasons: (1) I love simple and abstract marks on a page, 2) Anna made them, and (3) her teachers asked her what she drew and wrote her response on each and every one. Those words make this artwork that much more special to me because some of the things she said are just so awesome (things like "Mommy and Daddy are jumping on the bed"). 

I've had an idea to turn this pile of paintings into a photo book and it took me a couple of years (you know how this goes) to finally make it happen. My goal was to document the artwork without having to keep and store all the artwork. I might keep one or two of these - maybe pick out my favorite and put it in the frame - and then I'm going to let the rest of them go. 

I've used 
Artifact Uprising in the past to create a soft cover photo book from a trip to Kauai and love their quality and their overall mission to honor what is meaningful so it was a no-brainer for me to use them again. 

I LOVE HOW THIS PHOTO BOOK TURNED OUT. Yes, I actually used bold + caps to communicate to you how darn happy this photo book made me. See below for my process and a video overview of what the end result looks like. 

NOTE:
This is not a sponsored post. Artifact Uprising did not pay me to do this write up or give me a discount on these photo books but I am an affiliate of theirs and if you use the links I've included here I will receive a small percentage of your purchase.

Here's a look at my process for creating this photo book: 

As you can see in this silly photo
(thanks Aaron) of me holding one of these paintings, they are not small and they were not easily stored away. Some of them used to hang in Anna's bedroom. 

They are colorful and fun and happy. 

My first step in this process was to photograph all the paintings. 

To do that I used a 
white foam core board (I order these on Amazon) on top of Katie's desk with nice natural light coming in from the window to the right (I turn off all overhead lights when I photograph projects in this way). You could totally shoot these with your phone camera but I went ahead and used my Canon 6D with my 24-70 lens (this is what I generally use for shooting projects). 

I chose to photograph rather than scan this artwork due to the size. If it would have been smaller I would have considered scanning it vs. photographing it but this worked just fine. 

My goal was to get these all photographed at the same time so that the light quality was the same for all the photos. For me that was mid-day - the light here right now seems to be the best at that time depending on the amount of clouds vs. sun. Look around your own house for a good indirect light source when shooting your projects. 

After shooting all the paintings I uploaded them into Aperture and then edited them in Photoshop - mostly lightening and brightening using Curves and Levels and Contrast. 

I saved them all to a folder on my desktop and then uploaded them to my account at 
Artifact Uprising. 

For this photo book I went with a 
Hardcover Photo Book sized at 8.5 inch x 8.5 inch. They have other size options - I found this one to be just right for this project (I wanted it to be square). 

These albums start at $69 and go up from there depending on how many additional pages you add. They have a variety of colors available for the linen cover (I went with Lemon Appeal - you can see it in the video below) and then you can select photos for the book jacket (I chose a close up image of two of the paintings for the front and back of the jacket). 

For the first page I included a photo of her from this period of time, the name of her preschool, and a date range so I don't know the exact dates. 

And then the rest of the book is just images of these paintings. 

Seriously, holding this completed photo book in my hands made me so happy. 

I used the same simple white-border template for each page and simply selected the artwork image and their program loads it right into the page. 

It probably took me an hour and a half to two hours for this whole process (taking the photos, editing, and then uploading/formatting the book within their program). I initially kept putting it off because I thought it was going to take a lot of time but once I got going it went really fast and I was so happy to submit my order. 

I ordered it on June 8th and it arrived here on June 15th (I did not select any expedited shipping). My album included 50 pages and the total cost of the album + shipping was $80.99.

Here's a video that walks you through Anna's artwork photo book. I also included another photo book I made last Christmas for Aaron (also from 
Artifact Uprising) that I haven't shared here yet: 

Here's a closer look at a couple of those pages I made for Aaron's book: 

The album I made for Aaron is a 
Layflat Photo Album and starts at $139. 

I super, super, super love how this one turned out too.  

It's 10 inch x 10 inch and it was definitely more expensive but so worth it as something special just showing photos of the two of us from when we met in 2012 through 2016 (
it was his main Christmas present last year). 

The full-bleed panoramic page option was definitely my favorite. 

But truly I love it all. 

I loved bringing all these photos together in one place.

If you like this kind of idea for kids artwork you should also totally check out a photo book template that Liz Tamanaha designed for Shutterfly called 
Mini Masterpieces. Actually I'm not sure if Shutterfly is still offering that photo book template but the ideas in her blog post are awesome and could be applied to other projects. I may do something similar to that with the other pile of random pieces of artwork I've saved of Anna's over the last few years.

Story Kit™ & Story Stamp™ | Fun

Hey friends! 

In the Story Classroom this month we are focusing on stories related to the word Fun. Last month we changed up our kit pages and each subscription now has it's own shop page that you can check out here: 
Story Kit™, Story Stamp™, and Digital Story Kit™ (there are links to each one at the bottom of each page). As a subscriber you also have kit pages for each of your subscriptions located under your User Name in the top right corner of the page (this is where you go to select any Add-On purchases to be shipped with your box between now and June 14th at 11:59PM Eastern). 

Here are a few thoughts about this particular theme: 

Because we’ve had fun yesterdays and fun today's and we’ll have fun tomorrows. Because we could all use a little more fun and light-heartedness in our lives.

Initial story ideas for the Fun theme include: 

What do you like to do for fun these days and who do you do it with? Also, what was fun for you as a child?

Do you consider yourself a “fun” or a “not fun” person? How does this work play in your life?

When you think back on your life, what is your most fun memory?

NEW ADD-ON OPTION FOR SUBSCRIBERS

Last month we introduced a new option for subscribers to to purchase from a limited selection of Add-On products and have those shipped with your monthly subscription. Between the 13th at 12:00am Eastern and the 14th at 12:59pm Eastern, subscribers can add these products to their boxes at no additional shipping cost. Check out our 
2017 Subscription Update page here for more details. Depending on product availability subscribers may be able to purchase the Add-On's after the Add-On period has ended and regular shop shipping rates will apply because they will ship separately from the kit. 

If you are a current Subscriber you can select + purchase Add-On's via your new drop-down menu access under your user name in the top right corner of the site. If you subscribe to more than one you will have a Box for each subscription and the ability to purchase Add-On's for each one. 

If you are new to the Story Subscription program, check out all the details here. 

If you are already a subscriber the content in the classroom will be available to you on the 15th just as in the past.

Here's a look at
the
Story Kit™ contents for Fun:

Here are the optional 
Add-Ons for subscribers of the Fun Story Kit™ theme. Two of these products are exclusive to subscribers at this time (but may be added to the shop in the future) and the other is from the shop. Some months we will have only new theme-based products as part of the Add-On selection and other months we might include a staple item from the shop. 

Here's a video overview of the 
Story Kit™ and Add-On options this month:

The
Fun Story Stamp™:

The 
Story Stamp™ will also have Add-On options available to subscribers. In the coming months we will introduce Add-On products that differ from what we are offering to Story Kit™ subscribers but for the first couple of months they will be similar, with the addition of a full-size Crafter's Ink option. 

Here's a video overview of the 
Story Stamp™ and Add-On options this month: 

We also have a Digital Story Kit™ subscription available that includes access to the classroom content.
Your digital kit and the classroom and any Add-Ons purchased will be available to you on the 15th once your card has been charged for the month. Here's a look at what's included for Brave (which also shows all the designs for the journal cards included in the printed version of the kit): 

Digital Story Kit™ subscribers also have five Add-On options available (if you subscribe to both the Story Kit™ and the Story Stamp™ these should also be available to you for purchase): 

And a couple peeks at the layouts I created with the kits this month in addition to the one featured at the top of this post (
full details, including process videos and how-to handout, are included with subscription):

Again, thanks so much for subscribing and/or considering my Story Subscription program! If you have any questions about this program please let me know below in the comments. 

June 2017 Digital Release

Happy June!

In January we announced that we are switching things up a bit with our digital products and will be releasing
one main themed digital kit at the beginning of each month. These are similar to the
Digital Story Kits™ in terms of the products included in the package. They will have journal cards, digital chipboard shapes, a stamp set, quote card, and sometimes other elements that will change from month to month. 

We are absolutely still continuing to offer our Story Kit™ subscription that includes options for a physical kit, a physical stamp set, and a digital kit. This digital kit has nothing to do with the subscription program and is simply a change to the way we are adding projects to our digital shop.

This month's digital kit theme is celebrating Dads and the beginning of Summer (!!). This digital kit package includes 12 journal cards, a quote card (in both horizontal + vertical orientations), a "stamp" set, and a set of digital chipboard pieces/shapes.Like this style of kit? Make sure to check out our past monthly digital kits which are still available for purchase here. 

NEW PRODUCT BREAKDOWN FOR JUNE

June 2017 Digital KitDigital Day In The Life™ Mini Kit No. 4Lens Digital Story Stamp™

If you are looking for more information on Getting Started With Digital Scrapbooking check out my free series of posts
here or check out my in-depth Hybrid Workshop that teaches you all about working with digital products in paper projects. 

CLASSIC AE

We're also continuing to release additional 
Classic AE products each month. These are products from my past collection previously offered at Designer Digitals (Classic AE products are designated with a grey box around the product preview and have their own category here).

Thanks for your support and here's to telling more stories together!

New Stamp Sets Now Available

Happy Wednesday! I've got eight new 4x6 stamp sets now available to help you get more of your stories told. 

Check them all out here. 

New sets include: 

Encouragement Speech Bubble (similar digital set available here) Family Time Food Messy Circle (similar digital version available here) Adventure (similar digital version available here) Goals (similar digital version available here) Daily This Is (similar digital version available here) Real Life (similar digital version available here as part of a past Week In The Life™ set) Adventure Messy Circle (similar digital version available here)

Here's a video overview of all the new stamps: 

// SPECIAL OFFER //

Now through June 15th at 11:59PM EST when you order $50+ of stamps you can also get one of my Crafter's Ink bundles for $10 (one bundle offer per person, while supplies last). Use promo code INK1 for the first release and promo code INK2 for the second release. Enter the code at checkout and the bundle will be added to your cart at the discounted $10 price. 

To take advantage of this promo please follow these steps: 

Add $50 of stamps to your cart. Enter promo code INK1 or INK2 at checkout. We will automatically add that ink bundle to your cart at the special rate of $10, while supplies last. 

For The Love Of Books | May 2017

I managed to finish four books and start one more in May. I am super happy with my reading progress this year and am finding that it's bringing me so much joy in my everyday life and really encouraging me to slow down.  

This post is part of my monthly series "
For The Love Of Books" where I track and share what I've been reading in 2017. I'm also trying to do that on Goodreads as well if you are already into that platform. My hope is to post on or near the first of each month to share what I ended up reading last month and then share what books I'm selecting from Book Of The Month (BOTM) for the next month.

Please Note // This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

Today is June 1 and that means it's time for current
BOTM subscribers to choose books from this month's selections.
If you haven't joined yet read below for a cool joining bonus this month. 

For June's Book Of The Month I chose the following books: 

The Sisters Chase by Sarah Healy // I started this one already and am loving the story.  White Fur by Jardine Libaire Chemistry by Weike Wang

Sometimes people ask how I have my books already when most people are just choosing? I initially received a gift subscription from Katie for Christmas and started posting about it on Instagram because I was so in love with the idea of getting a book in the mail each month. After that I was contacted by their media team and invited to be part of their Ambassador program where they give me the chance to see the books in advance and they send them to me in exchange for a post when the new books become available each month.

JUNE BOTM PROMOTION // Sign up for a 3-month membership for just $10 per month.

IN PROGRESS

Currently Reading:

The Sisters Chase (BOTM)Old Friend From Far Away:The Practice Of Writing Memoir by Natalie Goldberg // Finding myself obsessed with books about writing memoirs right now - most likely because I was in the middle of putting together my Story Camp workshops. This one is totally speaking to me right now. Highly recommended if you are looking for some ideas for your personal writing practice. Read the bottom of this post about another memoir book I read in May. 

Started But Haven't Finished // Sometimes I start a book and get part way through and set it down for one reason or another - lately it's been that I've been more excited to read something else:

Secret Garden // I think I have about 1/4 left of this one.  Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind The Frantic For A Simpler, More Soulful Way Of Living // Reading this one slowly when I feel like I want/need to read the words.  Born A Crime: Stories From A South African Childhood (Kindle) // Loving this one and picking it up here and there between other books. At Home In The World: Reflections On Belonging While Wandering The Globe // A new book from Tsh Oxenreider who runs the site The Art of Simple. This one is a memoir about her family's nine-month traveling adventures. 
READ IN 2017

NOTE:
(BOTM) means the book came from the Book Of the Month Club. 

JANUARY

You Will Know Me (BOTM) // First book from BOTM. Read it in a day and a half (suspense). Enjoyed.  Lucky You (BOTM) // I remember liking this one as I was reading it but to be honest I can barely remember it now. This is why I'm trying to remember to post some short thoughts on Instagram when I finish each one. 

FEBRUARY

Behind Her Eyes (BOTM) // Suspense. Crazy twist. Enjoyed.  Perfect Little World (BOTM) // Vacation read. Liked the change of pace on this one (had been reading more suspense). This one was a sweet little story with topics of motherhood and family and tribes of people and how things change.  What Alice Forgot (Kindle) // Vacation read. Totally enjoyed this story and imagining what it would be like to experience memory loss in this way. Not suspense.   

MARCH

The Twilight Wife // Aaron picked this one out at Target to read while we were on vacation and I read it when he was done. I thought this one was okay - probably had something to do with the fact that I read What Alice Forgot right before this one and they both deal with memory loss (this one is more suspense). The Stranger In The Woods (BOTM) // Non-fiction. This true story about a man living in the woods of Maine for almost 30 years read like a long-form magazine article. I enjoyed the break from the fiction I've been reading.  Exit West (BOTM) // This one was a lot different from what I've been reading and I appreciated it for that. Different kind of narrator (omniscient) and subject matter (refugees). Glad I read it.  Marlena (BOTM) // Gave this one three stars on Goodreads. I'm going to go with "like" but not "love" on this one. I kinda think, after finishing it, that it might be one that will pop up in my mind as I go about my days (so maybe it should get a better review). I enjoyed the story and she used a few writing techniques that I really liked. Sometimes it felt slow and I just wanted her to get on with the story :). Pachinko (BOTM) // Seriously loved this one and am super glad I picked it up again after putting it down before our Mexico trip. Epic generational tale of Koreans living in Japan (really loved learning more about that). 

APRIL

Good As Gone (Kindle) // Definitely stayed interested and engaged with the story and wanted to know what was going to happen. As others have mentioned, the beginning felt stronger than the end. Felt like the author had a unique voice. Glad I read it. Three stars.  American War (BOTM) // This book took me longer to read than others recently and sometimes I would forget that it was a future US civil war vs. the past civil war and I wondered more than once where in the world the story was actually heading (and was it actually heading anywhere)? There were days where I felt like I was making myself read it - which I don't always don - but for some reason I wanted to keep reading. There was a certain point in this book, probably more than halfway through the story, where I realized that this was an exceptional book. I finished it today and I think it's one of the best books I've read in awhile. I found the author to be an extremely sophisticated writer/storyteller who was very purposeful and deliberate with his prose - I can't remember the last time I really felt that way about the words I was reading on the page. Into The Water (BOTM) // A super fast, page-turning read for me. At first I felt like it was hard to keep up with all the different narrators but as I got more into it I was able to keep all the characters straight (it was one of those where I needed to keep flipping back and forth to remember who was who). Definitely enjoyed for a quick read! 

MAY

Since We Fell (BOTM) // Totally enjoyed this one. Kept my interest with it's twists and definitely wanted to know what was going to happen in the end. As you might tell from most of my reviews, I'm not a super critical reader. If I like it, I like it and I liked this one. Woman No. 17 (BOTM) // This one was a just-okay for me where I definitely felt like I was making myself finish it.  Small Great Things (Kindle) // So, so good. Hard and thought-provoking and worth it. Definitely my favorite of the month.  The Butterfly Hours: Transforming Memories Into Memoir //Picked this one up randomly at a bookstore. I'm always attracted to books about memoir writing (totally in alignment with my memory keeping endeavors) and this one really filled me up these last few weeks as I was working on some new classroom content. Patty Dann also loves to use one word jumping off points to pull stories from our memories/prompt us to tell more (similar to my 31 Things and 31 More Things workshops) so I loved checking out her writing style and reading her stories. I loved how her writing is fact based but conveys so much meaning and feeling just via the ways she chooses to construct her sentences. Quick and easy read.

Stories Revisited Sale Coming This Week

Just a quick heads up that my Stories Revisited sale will be happening this week starting on Wednesday, May 24th at 9am Pacific (here's a link to a time converter for you to figure out the time where you live) and ending on May 28th at 11:59PM EDT. 

Twice a year we offer you the opportunity to purchase any remaining inventory we have of past Story Kits™ and past Story Stamps™. We also make all past Digital Story Kits™ available for sale during this time as well. The next past kit sale will happen again in November.

Please note that no educational content is included with any of these purchases except the Stories Revisited Classroom Bundle. 

Here is a list of the themes we will have available in this sale (some quantities are very limited and will sell out quickly). All past Story Kits™, Story Stamps™ and Digital Story Kits™ will be $14.99 each: 

STORY KIT™ // $14.99 (all clickable links below so you can check out the past kits)

Firsts Old + New Wild Believe Stuff Drive Up Surprise Review Numbers 

STORY STAMP™ // $14.99 (all clickable links below so you can check out the past stamp sets)

Black & White Spark Cheer Old + New Heart Craft Tough Wild Believe Stuff Drive Me Up Surprise Review Numbers 

STORIES REVISITED CLASSROOM BUNDLE // $40

As we have been doing during the last few sales we will be offering a bundle of past theme classrooms. This time the bundle we are offering will include the following themes (11-15): Roots, Build, Black + White, Sparks, and Cheer. Purchasing this bundle gives you access to those theme classrooms. No physical or digital products are included with the purchase of the classrooms - you are just purchasing the education content.

Sale ends May 28th at 11:59PM EDT. 

To view a list of all upcoming and past themes check out this page (a new, visual past kit page is in the process of begin designed as well).