Ali Edwards's Blog, page 193

Love You Because Mini Class Now Available

Love You Because is part of the series of classes I taught at in-person workshops earlier this year. I've updated it as a self-paced online workshop that includes a presentation video covering the reason why, a 50-minute step by step video where I walk you through the process of creating the album, a PDF handout with step by step instructions and full color images of all my pages, PDF printables, a message board and a gallery for sharing your project. 

I absolutely love doing albums like this - simple, easily repeatable (
great for gift albums) and very meaningful. Taking the time to write out the reasons why you love someone is absolutely worth your time. 

We've also got almost all the supplies you need to complete this project available in my shop, including the 
Heidi Swapp canvas album and the butterfly rub ons from Jenni Bowlin in a variety of colors. See the supplies included below the information on the Class page. 

Full details on this self-paced workshop available 
here. 

You can also purchase the 
Mini Class Bundle for $44 that includes my Day In The Life™, Love Your Because, and I Am Tag Book (available in October) if you are interested in taking all three workshops. 

And in case you missed the announcement last week, I've teamed up with 
Epiphanie to come up with a classic, clean-lined everyday camera bag and it's now available in three colors. 

Here's a short promo video with more details: 

I love how these turned out and have been carrying around the cream bag for the last few weeks (with and without my DSLR).

Hope you have a great weekend!

Week In The Life™ 2015 | Monday In Album & Video Overview

Monday was really all about the photos. 

For any of you just joining in, I'm sharing my completed Week In The Life™ album day by day. 

As usual, let the ideas I share here be a jumping off point for you and inspiration to create your own album any way you want. This isn't a competition or something that is meant to make anyone feel
less than - embrace what you have in front of you right now: your style, your words, your photos. Celebrate them for what they are rather than what you might wish them to be. These are reminders to myself as much as they are to you. Remember, we are in this together because we love the same thing: memory keeping. 

One observation for me as I was working through this first day: this has definitely become a words & photos album vs. originally when I included much more daily memorabilia. I thought about this when I saw an image on Instagram from Julie Campbell (JULIE_STAMPS) where she was including a good amount of "stuff of life" - I loved seeing the mix of type and texture. It's definitely something for me to think about as I approach next year - which will be in the Spring in order to move it away from the Fall. I do tend to include those sorts of things in Project Life®, which might be why it doesn't feel like I'm totally missing capturing those kinds of things. 

A FEW THINGS TO NOTE
All text I included on the photos came from my Monday words & photos blog post, unless otherwise noted (such as on the photos of each kid in the pool).  All photos printed here at my house either on my Epson R2000 (all 6 inch x 8 inch photos) or my Epson PictureMate Show (4 inch x 6 inch and smaller).  Monday is super photo heavy and includes quite a few 4 inch x 6 inch that are adhered back to back. I probably won't have that many on other days.  I love this project.  It might be a couple days before I'm back to share Tuesday. I've got a couple other projects that need some attention before early next week. 

Here's a look at my Monday in the album: 

I shared this one yesterday in my First Steps post. Just a reminder that I have the divider coming after my daily intro photo. 

First up, the 3 inch x 8 inch page protector (if you want more of this size you can get them here). Rather than using this timeline card for words I added photos which were cropped to 2.5 inches x 1.75 inches. On two of the photos I added words that came from my blog post before printing. 

Throughout the day I added a bunch of 2-inch Avery Index Tabs to the outer edges of the 3 inch x 8 inch page protector and to the photos adhered back to back. They are a staple product around here. Inside the tabs I stamped using the stamp included in the Week In The Life™ kit (digital version of those stamps available here).

The back side of the 3 inch x 8 inch page protector includes a photo. I cropped my photo to that size in Photoshop and then printed it on an 8.5 inch x 11 inch piece of photo paper and cut it out (I printed both the Monday and Tuesday 3 inch x 8 inch photo on the same sheet of paper). 

On the right you can see the first 4 inch x 6 inch photos that are adhered back to back and then holes punched to fit into the album. Along the edge are the Avery Index Tabs with stamped sentiments inside. 

As you might have read in my post yesterday I considered adding more page protectors but decided that the route of adhering back to back would work just fine. 

On my photos I'm adding a few different things: phrases from the perforated strip sheet in the kit, chipboard pieces (often with the initial of the person added using the white letter stickers), or stickers/chipboard from past Story Kits™.

Use the day of the week cards from the Week In The Life™ kit to add a little extra to your overall story. Here I hand-wrote "we are" using a Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Big Brush and then typed up a few fun facts about each of us right now. I also laughed out loud when I reviewed the Monday video from last year and heard myself read what I wrote on a similar card last year - Dave Matthews of course. Tis the season as Aaron and I get ready to go see him at the Gorge again next weekend.

For printing my text on the 3 inch x 4 inch card I measured the open space with a ruler and then created a text box in Photoshop that is 2.5 inch x 1.5 inch. I typed in my journaling and then did a test print on a regular size sheet of paper. Next I held it up to the light and temporarily adhered (with just a bit of adhesive) the card right onto the first print and re-ran it through the printer. Voila. 

On the left is the back side of the 4, 3 inch x 4 inch pockets. I added the "monday" wood veneer + a chipboard geotag to my cookie photo. 

On the right are eighth more 4 inch x 6 inch photos that are adhered back to back to create new pages. 

This next section of back to back photos enabled me to include 8 more 4 inch x 6 inch photos. 

I added the yellow label using foam dots to lift it up a bit off the page. 

Here's an example of where I used chipboard from a past Story Kit™. 

Words & photos. 

I love that I was able to get those photos into the album.

Take advantage of this opportunity to write a bit more about the people you are including in your album. On these two photos I added details about who each of my kids are right now - their interests, their strengths, and their challenges. Might be my favorite page yet. 

The last spread for Monday includes 2, 4 inch x 6 inch photos + a 3 inch x 4 inch decorative card + a full page 6 inch x 8 inch photo. 

I liked the idea of adding another something extra between these two pages - especially after adding so many photos earlier within the day. I wanted a different texture than the page protectors. This is also a great way to add in some patterns to your album. Love the layered look too. 

On the back of the heart card I adhere the yellow stripe pattern with the phrase "a week in the life of us." 

On the last photo for the day I added one of the chipboard stars with an "A" for Anna. 

Here's a video overview of Monday: 

ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES

In addition to the 
Week In The Life™ kit I'm using: 

2-inch Avery Index Tabs Phrase stickers and chipboard pieces from past Story Kits™ Crop-A-Dile for punching holes in the back to back photos Black Staz On Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen Big Brush 6x8 Week In The Life™ Layered Templates No.2

Week In The Life™ 2015 | First Steps In Creating An Album

Now that we've collected some photos and words (or at least the photos) for Week In The Life™ it's time to begin bringing them together into a tangible album. 

People approach this process in a hundred different ways. Some people like to give a little space and time between documenting the week and putting their album together. Others like to dive right in and finish it up. My general approach is to work on it very soon after completing my week but sometimes, like last year when December Daily® was so close, it just isn't possible. Know that it's okay whenever you end up putting it together. There is often a real beauty that comes from waiting and separating yourself a bit from the content - different stories emerge when you look back vs. when you are documenting in the moment. There's also a beauty that's very evident in doing it right away - the stories and photos are fresh and top of mind and your enthusiasm for the project may still be moving you forward. 

Whatever you decide to do it will be awesome, because what's really awesome is what you've captured from your life the last week. 

As for me, my album will be photo and word-centric much like my approach in 2014. I guess you could say I'm not ready to let go of that style just yet (and many other projects I do include more product play). I also like seeing similarities in design as well as content from last year. 

Another great resource as you are getting started is my Working On The Album post from last year. Lots of ideas and tips and things to think about. 

I eased into the "making" of this album yesterday by printing out my main photo for each day first. I like having a full-page 6 inch x 8 inch photo as a "start" for each day. I went back through, selected and edited the ones I wanted to use, placed them in the 6 inch x 8 inch templates in Photoshop (I'm just using a full page vs. the collage option) and printed here at home on my Epson R2000 printer. If you are interested in learning more about working with layered templates check out this post from last year.

After printing out each photo I added one of the perforated strip phrases from the kit. 

There are no hard and fast rules for choosing your photos. I rely a lot on my gut - which ones grab my attention, which ones were my favorites from the day, which ones do I want to use full page? I considered having all the start photos for each day be self-portraits but ended up switching that up as I went along. 

TITLE PAGE

Here's a look at my 2015 Title Page: 

I considered using the 2-inch pocket page as my title page, but came back again and again to this photo. I played around with a few different ideas for a title that would be directly on top of the photo and ended up using the black sticker that was part of the kit packaging (I think I first saw Trisha Harrison using it in the 2-inch pocket page) in conjunction with the white plastic numbers. This means I won't use the numbers with each day of the week as I did last year, but I'm rolling with it. Along the bottom I printed the actual dates and then used the phrase "our lives are made of these moments" from the perforated strip sheet. There is also a "week in the life of us" and a "week in the life of me" included on that perforated strip sheet as well if you'd like to use that on your title page. 

To adhere those white plastic numbers I used spray adhesive. 

MONDAY START

I started adding words directly to my photos and printing them out for Monday. My words are coming straight from my blog posts for last week. I've got all of Monday's photos printed and am currently deciding what to do with a bunch of 4 inch x 6 inch photos that I still want to include but don't have enough pockets for if I follow my own set-up. Last year I adhered those extra photos back to back and punched holes along one edge and added them to the album that way. I'm considering doing that again because I liked the look of it and Mondays are usually the day I have the most photos.

I'll share my completed Monday soon, but in the meantime here's another look at the end of my Monday:

I'm going with a full-page 6 inch x 8 inch photo at the end of each day again as well (the templates include a photo collage option if you want to be able to fit even more photos). I like how it really puts the emphasis on the photos to begin and end that way. 

As you can see, I've got my words on the photos and I just need to add some embellishments before calling it good. If you didn't write anything down as you went along last week here's something to consider: Look at the photo and think about what it means to you. What is the story behind the photo? What's important about it? What can you tell me about it that will tell me more about your life or what's important to you or who this person is who was in front of your lens? For the photos of Simon and Anna in the pool on Monday I literally sat here and looked at them and thought about what defines each of them right now and simply wrote that out (you'll see those images and words when I share my full Monday collection). 

I'm using the font Remington Noiseless (same as last year) in 9 pt type or smaller. 

For more Week In The Life™ posts check out my archives  here . 

Shop Updates

While I work on my Week In The Life™ album this week I wanted to share a general Shop Product update with you. 

Over the last couple of months we've been adding AE branded physical products to my shop in addition to the digital products we often add weekly. Sometimes these products are designed for a specific project or workshop and other times they are just things I use a lot and would like to have available for anyone else to use as well. 

My goal is to offer you intentional, versatile (you'll hear me say that quite a bit in the video below) products that can be used in a variety of memory keeping projects. 

Here's a look at recent updates to my shop:

Here are direct images to the products mentioned in the video above: 

Stamp SetsPensChipboard SetsOversized AlphasLabel Stickers

Thank you again for the support! 

Let's tell stories together. 

Week In The Life™ 2015 | Sunday Words & Photos

I want to begin today with a giant thank you to everyone that has participated, supported and followed along this week. 

My plan is to begin printing photos today or tomorrow (just to give myself a bit of a break) and bringing it all together into my album over this next week. The current idea I have in my head is to use type directly on my photos before printing in Photoshop in the same manner that I did last year because I really, really liked how that turned out. That said, once I start working on it today I might go an entirely different route. 

Please remember as you start the process of putting your own album together that there is not a right or wrong way to do it. Many people will put their album together without any typed journaling and there will be lots of wonderful examples shared both in the message board of the 
WITL community, in the WITL Facebook group, Instagram (#weekinthelife), and other places around the web. 

Again, thank you. I hope this process of collecting photos and words was meaningful to you. 

Here's a look at our Sunday: 

Today began with Anna waking up in the sleeper couch I have in my bedroom. The chest is a family piece, currently holding my record player. Ikea frames are waiting for photos. In the hallway an empty shelf I took out of Anna's room is waiting to get moved in to the garage. 

Today included Simon waking up way too early again, me telling him he couldn't have screen time (since he woke up and immediately started watching it) and then him going back to sleep in his own bed. 

Today I used a blow dryer on my hair for the first time all week. Most often during the summer I just let it air dry. 

Today Anna and I ventured out to Costco first thing to gather up supplies for our late-afternoon party with friends. 

Toady we also stopped at the grocery store for additional supplies. 

Today I noticed that these flowers in front of my house were blooming again for the second time this summer. What a gift. 

Today Sam tried to escape a million and one times. He will eventually be an indoor/outdoor cat like George (he was in his previous homes as well) but I want him to have a little more indoor time to get used to us and that this is his new home first. 

Today the sprinklers came on in the morning and I started to clean up the back patio for the party.

We don't have a lot of parties here, but it's so great to get together with friends. It's been a priority for me the last few years to make these kinds of things (or just getting together with friends outside of any of our houses) more of a priority. I love the community, the shared history, the laughter of the kids, etc. 

Today Simon emptied the dishwasher while I made the marinade for the flank steak. 

Today I picked up two new tables at Costco to make the seating area that much longer. I also sprayed the cob webs from the side of the house. 

Today I filled the cooler full of beer and San Pellegrino. 

Today I bought some flowers to have on the table in the backyard. 

Today I found these three in my backyard. One random Sweat Pea, one small white Dahlia, and one sprig of Queen Anne's Lace - all either volunteers or growing up through cracks in the ground. 

This made me think of my parents again - my Mom always seems to have one or more little vases of flowers she's brought in from the yard. He little collections are always so great and often fragrant and just such a reminder of how much beauty exists in the world. 

Today I used two white flat sheets to create a table cloth to cover my tables before friends showed up. 

Today friends showed up. 

Today Katie's husband Peter ended up in charge of the grill. 

Today I loved seeing my friends inhabiting this space. I loved hearing the kids laugh and run and chase and dance. 

Today we shared a meal with each other - all contributing something to the table. 

Today I ate in my backyard with friends. 

Today we laughed as Simon made his famous face for Katie as she took this photo. He can't do it without laughing now. 

Today the yard was full of kids. 

Tonight we reminisced, listened to music (thanks John), watched our kids put on a dance show, made plans for future get togethers, and said thank you.

Tonight we left the dishes for tomorrow. 

31 MORE THINGS | BEGINS SEPTEMBER 1

Enrollment is now open for 
31 More Things. This workshop includes a collection of 31 new prompts, presented over the course of 31 days, that invite you to tell stories about your life via a single word as a jumping off point. Emphasis in this class is on simply practicing your storytelling skills using some of my favorite techniques and getting over your fears of putting words on the page. Some of the single-word prompts include: home, passion, color, cook, paper, mess, etc. Full details here - class begins September 1. 

SHARE A LINK TO YOUR BLOG

I'd love to have you share a link to your SUNDAY words and photos below. Please link directly to your post vs. a general blog link. In addition you're invited to come over to the free Week In The Life™ Community Gallery & Message Board.

Week In The Life™ 2015 | Saturday Words & Photos

You are almost there. 
One more day. 

As usual, I'm ready to wrap this one up. I love the project and there's still much to do in terms of putting it all together but by this time in the week, I'm ready to not have the little self-reminder to capture more (even though I'm so thankful to myself for making the effort because there are some gems). 

I took less photos today (right around 48 with my DSLR which includes doubles and triples where I was trying to get the settings right), as is customary with this project generally as I work my way through the week. Really the main thing I'm missing today is me sleeping on the couch, making lunch to take to the pool, and then watching The Wizard Of Oz once we got home. It was all very calm and wonderfully ordinary. 

Here's a look at our Saturday: 

Saturdays are for sleeping in late (or waking up early and then going back to sleep). 

Saturdays are for messy top knots. 

Saturdays are for leisurely breakfasts and sometimes ones that come from a cookbook. My Mom sent this 
Garfield cookbook to Simon (arrived in the mail this week) and he was so, so excited. It's called Garfield: Recipes With Catittude and today he decided he wanted to make the waffles.  

More than once he said, "I'm really inspired."

This is so what it's all about with him - finding a link to connect, a way in through stories and characters. He loves Garfield. Garfield loves food. It's natural that he'd be interested in this. My Mom is so smart. 

Saturdays are taking a photo and sending an email to Grandma to show her what he made (he told me he had already called her when he was waking up today to say thank you for the book). 

Saturdays are for activities like this. Even though this is about as far as I got. I've been wanting to work on 
this puzzle for so long but then I got distracted by removing my gel polish and then reading more of the Uniquely Human: A Different Way Of Seeing Autism book (which is awesome and now I'm about halfway through and I'd definitely recommend it to other parents and people who work with people on the spectrum. 

Saturdays are for making messes and cleaning them up. Actually there's still quite a pile as I type this at 8pm.

Saturdays are for taking long naps on the couch. No photo for that one. 

Saturdays are for being all in. I told the kids on the way over to the pool that I wanted to take this photo with them and they were willing. I took one test shot and then set the timer and jumped in - this was the first one with me in it and I did one more. The focus isn't perfect but I'll totally take it. 

Saturdays are for looking for the little things. 

Saturdays in the summer are often for getting outside. I had thought we might head to a river today but decided to just relax closer to home. There are forest fires blazing in Washington and Oregon right now and the haze was super thick here today. 

Saturdays are for just hanging out. For reading what I want. For disconnecting from work. For being together. For re-charging and taking long naps. 

SHARE A LINK TO YOUR BLOG

I'd love to have you share a link to your SATURDAY words and photos below. Please link directly to your post vs. a general blog link. In addition you're invited to come over to the free Week In The Life™ Community Gallery & Message Board.

Give Sunday | 33

This year, in honor of my 2015
One Little Word® "give," I'm sharing a hand-drawn quote each Sunday here on my blog.

Katie picked this quote from Jacqueline Kennedy and I think it is so fitting as we wrap up Week In The Life™ this week. 

Click here to read my initial post and download the #givesunday word art title and checklist for helping you to give a little something today. You can also view all the past #givesunday quotes via the archives. 

Click here to download the #givesunday 33 quote. Please note: If you are reading this post via email you need to click through to the actual blog post to download the file. 

You're invited to join me. What will you
give today?

Have a wonderful Sunday. 

Week In The Life™ 2015 | Friday Words & Photos

Ah, Friday. 

If you've made it this far, awesome. If you stopped earlier, awesome - I bet you captured some photos and words that can be made into something that's just as meaningful (
make an album, add to Project Life®, do some traditional layouts). Do the best you can with what you have. 

Again, thank you for being a part of this journey this week. 

Here's a look at our Friday using the prompt "the story of this photo:"

The story of this photo | I have a bad habit currently of reaching for my phone first thing. I'd like to change that habit. Maybe next week. 

The story of this photo | Coloring before breakfast. And I love when she has her hair in a pony tail. 

The story of this photo | I told them to go outside after a morning that included a lot of me getting frustrated at the messes they had left in most rooms around the house and and challenges getting them all picked up. They got it done. Anna is really in a play and drop and on-to-the-next phase. It's not my favorite. 

The story of this photo | After kids and messes and clean ups and food and coffee and getting Aaron & the kids out the door and and and. Finally sitting down at my desk for some design work (and quiet).

The story of this photo | My single tomato plant that's a volunteer from last year (means I didn't plant it this year, rather it sprouted from a decomposed plant from last year). My friend Ali told me I should cut off the branches that aren't producing to help the green ones that are growing to ripen quicker. Might embark on that project tomorrow. 

The story of this photo | Taking care of business. 

The story of this photo | Anna was playing Jenga on the floor in my office near Katie's side of the table. Katie took this shot. The Jenga pieces are all over the floor in this same spot as I type up my words for the day. 

The story of this photo | Exactly where he's supposed to be. He loves, loves, loves this basket. He got in their the first day we brought him home and it's definitely become his space. 

The story of this photo | Laundry on the counter. Fridge open. Drying dishes on the other counter.

The story of this photo | Not a single complaint about leftover cold pizza. Pineapple for her. Cantaloupe for him. Pepperoni for me. 

The story of this photo | An afternoon break for BoxTrolls and lounging on the couch. Simon's feet are almost as big as mine. 

The story of this photo | Anna was sitting next to me on the couch playing games on the iPad. I asked her if we could take a photo together and she was willing. Love. It was about 3pm and she was still in her PJ's. Thank you summer. 

The story of this photo | A light afternoon workload meant that Katie got to go home early so Anna kept me company while I worked on a few things in the afternoon. 

The story of this photo | We stopped for dinner at one of our local favorites (
Cafe Yumm - Anna had a small Yumm bowl and Simon had a chicken skewer & a quesadilla and I had soup) and Simon humored me with this shot while Anna was in the bathroom. Around here we would notice that he is not wearing his usual hat (a white Nike hat that he wears all the time that is "the" hat). His level of flexibility has increased so much over the last few years - definitely something to celebrate. 

The story of this photo | Our friend Kim invited us out to her family's farm for an evening of water gun battles and smores. We made a quick stop at Target on the way for some water guns and ended up getting Simon another pair of swim trunks and another swim shirt because I didn't think it all the way through that he was not going to love getting his regular clothes wet (at least I thought about it before we got to the farm). Anna, no problem. Simon, big problem. 

The story of this photo | Kim had set up buckets with water and hoses and the kids loved it. Anna got soaked. Simon played for maybe 15 minutes and then retired to a chair. These kinds of activities can be hard for him - the chaos, getting squirted by random people, lack of control, etc. I totally get it. 

The story of this photo | Anna, on the other hand, was totally into it. 

The story of this photo | She might have met her match in this one. 

The story of this photo | Yeah, I'm not sure where he gets that face. Love you Simon. My friend Kim grabbed my camera and took this shot of Simon and me. Love friends that get it. Love friends that invite us. Love friends who take an interest in getting to know Simon. 

Love Fridays. 

LOVE YOU BECAUSE MINI CLASS

Want to make an album that documents the reasons you love someone in particular or a group of people? Check out my new Mini Class that walks you through the steps of creating a 6x8 album: 
Love You Because (now available with immediate access). Workshop includes a 50-minute step by step video that walks you through the process of making the album, a 15-minute presentation that includes a focus on the reason why and an overview, a full color PDF handout with a how-to and images of my album, a printable set, message board and gallery for sharing your work. There is a bundle option available as well if you are wanting to take all three of my mini-classes - details on that are here. 

SHARE A LINK TO YOUR BLOG

I'd love to have you share a link to your FRIDAY words and photos below. Please link directly to your post vs. a general blog link. In addition you're invited to come over to the free 
Week In The Life™ Community Gallery & Message Board.

Week In The Life™ 2015 | Thursday Words & Photos

Today's message: Keep going and find a rhythm that works for you. 

Your rhythm might be photos just a few times throughout the day. Your rhythm might be more in the morning and less in the evening or vice versa. This project isn't meant to be photos of every single moment of your life over the course of the week. Remember that you are telling the story of one week in your life that includes a whole lot of little moments along the way. Those seven days come together to tell one bigger story of what your life is like right now. Stretching it out over seven days allows you to capture bits and pieces here and there and miss some things along the way and still tell a fairly complete story. 

I like doing this project at different times of the year. The last time I did it during the summer months was a few years ago. My family's life does look different in the summer months - there's a different rhythm and flow and flexibility. We've made it to the pool quite a few late afternoons and evenings this summer and I'm so happy to be able to create that space for my kids. 

Here's to keepin on keepin on and having fun along the way. 

Here's what I want to remember from our Thursday: 

I want to remember that it's worth it to take the time to plant flowers. This year I didn't plant anything new in my garden knowing that I would be traveling on and off. I love bringing the outside in and these hydrangeas are the main thing blooming out there right now. I also have one huge volunteer tomato plant that came back after being planted a previous year. I'm missing having the dahlias I've had in years past and need to make time to get new ones in the ground for next summer. 

 I want to remember the first time Sam made his way downstairs on his own. He and George checked each other out and no major fights ensued. He wasn't down there for too long before he headed back upstairs. 

I want to remember that I'm a morning person and he's a night person. I'm a quick moving multi-tasker and he's a very patient single-focuser.   

I want to remember mornings at the table, with and without technology. Cereal, bagels & cream cheese, nectarines. Lots of "keep eating" reminders came out of my mouth.

I want to remember how much I appreciate Katie and her input and suggestions and memory and hardwork and follow through. 

I want to remember how much I enjoy a hot shower, even if it's not first thing in the morning. 

I want to remember her in this space, in this time, full of might and love. 

 I want to remember that it's okay to not have it all planned out. 

I want to remember that listening to him is the most important thing. 

I want to remember that I like wearing dresses, even when there are no special plans for the day. 

I want to remember how awesome it is to get an avocado that looks like this. Seriously. How awesome. 

I want to remember that a lunch like this of little bits of stuff works out just fine. And the watermelon right now is so, so awesome. 

I want to remember how much he loves the smell and taste of sourdough bread. 

I want to remember that many of our days do look very much the same. It's one of the reasons I've taken this exact same photo multiple times throughout the week. This week has been a lot of computer work and less standing-at-my-table crafting work. 

I want to remember his awesome memory, his passion for characters, and his tender heart. 

My other recent Week In The Life™ projects are usually full of car photos because that's a much bigger part of our lives outside of summer. 

I want to remember how sometimes when we get to the pool he just decides to take a nap. 

I want to remember how great the pool is for everyone's attitude and energy level. 

I want to remember that I am a fan of the quiet moments. Today I read through Anna's back-to-school packet while we waited for pizza delivery after returning home from the pool. 

I want to remember the growth that has happened around this table. Aaron and I were looking at photos of kids from a few years ago and it struck both of us that we can literally see the length of our relationship in the physical growth of each of these kids. The girls were both almost 4 when we first started dating - now they are close to 7. 

Tonight I stopped taking photos a bit earlier because I was ready for a little break and ready to get to bed a little earlier than the last few nights (remember I'm the morning person). I think it's important in this project to give yourself permission to not put pressure on yourself to get every single detail of every single day - it's just sustainable. So capture what you can. Look for stories through your lens and enjoy the process.  

Hoping you have a really awesome Friday. 

NEW DIGITAL RELEASES

Grab them here: Everyday Line Sentiments // Say Hello // Say Hello No. 2

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Week In The Life™ 2015 | Wednesday Words & Photos

First, thank you. 

Second, today I was thinking a lot about the concept of "some days" and in "most days" - as in some days/most days our day looks like this and some days/most days our day looks like that. There's also a little bit of "someday" mixed in - as in, someday this might be even more of my everyday life or someday this could/will all be so different. 

Third, today might be a good day to think about the things you haven't captured yet. What's missing from the photos/words you've collected so far? I know I'm missing some evening routine stuff which I think is partly because I'm working on these posts and our normal bedtime routine is a little out of sorts. 

Fourth, if you are looking for the titles I'm using on my main photos each day, you can find those 
here. 

Again, thank you for being here and for sharing your stories. 

Here's a look at my Wednesday: 

Some days I wake up with a cat in my bed. Today it was Sam, who I'm slowly working out of the office.

An unsteady hand is partially responsible for the grain in that photo + a lack of light in the early morning hours. 

Some days, especially in the late summer, both kids sleep in late (late around here = 9am). Generally they are pretty good early risers. In fact I don't think I have a lot of photos of them in their beds in the mornings because they are often up and doing stuff.

Some days I do laundry. I don't have a set schedule for this and I'm generally someone who doesn't mind doing the laundry. I just try to keep it going. Sort and wash and dry and fold. 

Most days I look at this print from 
Hatch Show Print (from the Haley Gallery) as I make my way down the hall into my office. I usually think about my Mom as I glance at it - sometimes reading just a line and sometimes reading the whole thing. I think about my Mom because she had positive messages like this framed in our home growing up. There is one particular one I remember that she hung in our bathroom about the power of attitude (I think it was something written by Norman Vincent Peale). Hoping my kids read these messages as they are growing up too.

Most weeks days I end up in this spot. During the summer it's usually earlier vs. in the school year when I have more "get them to school" responsibilities. I'm an early riser so I can usually get in some work before they wake up. 

On Wednesdays Katie works from home so it's a little quieter here in the office. We're creating some flexible work routines for when her baby comes later this year (!!!!!). Super thankful that she is a part of my life and so excited for this next chapter to begin for her.

Some days I eat oatmeal + almonds + strawberries + blueberries for breakfast. 

Some days Anna is really into what she will be for Halloween. The current front runner is this colorful witch costume. 

Some days this space is really messy. Currently it's holding Simon's new backpack and his old backpack that has carried him through quite a number of years now. This was the first year in many that he's had an interest in a new one. It's also holding a swim towel - a sign that it's summer. 

Those of you who follow me on Instagram might recognize these lockers that I posted a photo of last month. I went back for them. 

Some days he's frustrated that I didn't cut the strawberry in half. Some days he's super happy when we happen to have leftover pizza that he can eat for breakfast. 

Some days she hangs out with my in the office. Today she made drawings of her and Audrey's names using Stickles. 

She made this sign while I was recording a video for the Love You Because workshop and held it up and mouthed it to me at the same time. 

Snake = snack. 

Yep. I'm much better with snacks than snakes. 

Most days he's got something happening with his legos. Today I told him he could earn money by sorting through bins that currently hold lego messes (aka the ones that just have a bunch of random pieces all thrown in together that makes it impossible to find anything). He's super motivated by money right now since there's a new Lego game coming out called 
Lego Dimensions next month (ps - it looks totally cool of course). 

Most days he gets the concept that it's way easier to locate the random pieces if they are sorted by color (at least). 

Some days she chooses to come read in my office. This couch really is getting a lot of use. Today it was a Dora book. 

Some days she wants to come to the store with me. Most days I go when the kids are either at school or otherwise occupied to just make the whole thing simpler. Today was a quick stop on the way to pick Audrey up from camp for an afternoon playdate. 

Most days you can find me here multiple times over the course of the day. 

Some days I don't take a shower and I wear workout clothes all day and don't workout. 

Some days, rare days, I make cupcakes. It's even more rare that they would be chocolate. If I'm in charge I pick white cake or vanilla or lemon. I let Anna choose today at the store and she chose chocolate cake and pink cherry frosting. 

Some days the boys are here. Today Elliot and Simon played video games. 

Some days Audrey comes over for a playdate. They like to play store, listen to music, watch videos, play with Playmobil people, play with Barbies or other dolls. 

Some days I make a sandwich for lunch. Most times I choose salt and vinegar chips. 

Fun pink wrappers for the cupcakes that I brought home from Merci in Paris on our last trip. No day like today to use them. 

Kids decorating cupcakes. Embracing their creative use of every sprinkle available in the house.

Most days I can't believe how tall he has gotten. 

Most days I'm ready for a nap in the late afternoon. Today I started a new book that I 
read an excerpt from earlier in the week called Uniquely Human: A Different Way Of Seeing Autism. 

Some days we get out the 
Playmobil pool set and put actual water in there. They loved it. 

Some days Chris picks them up for outings or activities. Today he and Tiffany took the girls to the pool for a bit before dinner. 

Some days I/we have wine with dinner. Tonight was teriyaki drumsticks, broccoli, roasted new potatoes and corn on the cob. 

Some days all of us around the table is really crazy. 

Most days the personality of these two is off the charts. 

Some days there are tired kids and arguments and crying at bedtime. 

Some days they are so happy to just be in each other's company. 

Most days you can find me right here, saying the exact same prayer I've said to him since he was a baby. Tonight he also wanted to have a long talk about ways he could make money to be able to buy the Lego Dimensions game when it comes out. 

Some days he's here in the evening. Sometimes it's just him and sometimes it's him + one or more of the kids. Tonight after everyone was settled he had a little one on one time with Sam. He told me "this cat was made for me."

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I'd love to have you share a link to your WEDNESDAY words and photos below. Please link directly to your post vs. a general blog link. In addition you're invited to come over to the free Week In The Life™ Community Gallery & Message Board.