Week in the Life : Tuesday Photos + Words (and a workshop giveaway)
Just a note that Stacy Julian organized a really cool project encouraging everyone to give ourselves the gift of the present moment. This is precisely what we are doing with this week in the life journey. Check out her blog today.
From Tuesday:
Went with the simple list idea again - not as detailed as day one, but still much more than I would ever do without this project.
1. Super happy Simon wake-up this morning. He came into our room around 2am. I stayed for a bit and then went to his bed (which happens to be a bit more comfortable because of a firmer mattress). He joined me at about 5:45am just before the alarm went off at 6am.
2. Breakfast routine same as Monday: bagel + cream cheese for Simon, cereal for Chris, and me, I have to wait a bit for my thyroid medication. I usually eat after Simon leaves for school.
3. Every morning that Simon is cheerful I am so very thankful.
4. Working on a project for Australian Creating Keepsakes.
5. Listening to OPB.
6. Head out to the Farmer’s Market. Pick up spinach, carrots, celery, red onion, raspberries, and flowers. Grab a toasted bagel from Bagel Sphere.
7. Ship package to Australia.
8. Look up some recipes at www.allrecipes.com. Do a bit of meal planning for the week.
9. Text Chris to pick up a couple things at the grocery store.
10. Make German Apple Cake + eat hummus and pita chips for lunch.
11. Clean up kitchen.
12. Move laundry around.
13. Back to work. Internet. Emails.
14. Talk to Mom on the phone. Ask her about how to get the cake out of the bundt pan.
15. Totally bummed that Mothering.com message board has been down today.
16. Simon comes home on the bus.
17. We check out his Communication Notebook. Looks good. He brought home the same library book he brought home almost every trip last year.
18. On comes the Darth Vader costume and Star Wars video.
19. Chris talks on the phone. Mom reads about cloth diapers.
20. I take a little nap.
21. Dinner is tostadas (Chris cooks). Dessert is the German Apple Cake.
22. Simon does his math homework (no complaints tonight) at the table and then puts on his PJ’s.
23. Reading homework on the couch.
24. Family light saber battle.
25. Simon in bed. Read Green Eggs + Ham.
26. Back to work for a bit.
27. Watch Tivo’d John Stewart.
This week I am excited to give away a spot in Kolette Hall's Giving Well (In 2-hours or Less) online workshop at Big Picture Scrapbooking.
Kolette is one of my favorite people and happens to be having a baby right around the same time as me next year. She is a fabulous product designer and instructor who really keeps the emphasis on things being meaningful and coming from the heart.
Here's the basics of Giving Well:
Gift-giving is an art. From the gift tag and wrapping paper to what's inside the package, you are saying something when you give a gift. Back by popular demand, Kolette Hall has designed a fresh round of fabulous, manageable gift ideas for the holiday season and all year long. This class is literally packed with everything you need to give well for the holidays or any special event all year long - and Kolette has designed every idea you will see in this class!
Every other day, you will receive a new idea for "Giving Well (still in 2-hours or less!)." True to form, Kolette has also included her exclusive downloadable artwork to help you create the perfect gifts, holiday cards and gift tags. As those of you who joined us last year for Giving Well know, you will be amazed with what you get in just four weeks of class time.
You asked for it, so we're starting class a month earlier than last year to make sure you have plenty of time to get those projects done for the holidays! Whether you are mass producing one gift idea or choosing to craft a different gift for each person on your list, you'll get tons of ideas for creating personalized gifts in less than two hours. Come join Kolette as she guides you in your new art form: the art of Giving Well.
You can read all the details about this online workshop here. It runs October 9 through November 5th. While you are there you can also check out her year long workshop for 2009: A Life Well Crafted.
To be entered leave a comment below and let us know if you have started planning for the upcoming holiday season yet. Comment section will be closed at 5pm today (Wednesday) and the winner announced shortly after.
A complete list of posts related to the week in the life project can be found here.
Really been thinking about the holidays, gathering that christmas feel in my heart as the days get shorter and the morning and evenings cooler. I had the opportunity to experience Kolette and her husband at Creative Escape ... very inspiring!
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About 8 years ago we started the tradition, in my husband's family, to exchange handmade gifts for Christmas. There are 7 brothers/sisters in his family and we have so much fun on Christmas day presenting and receiving these wonderful creations. There have been so many different types of presents. Examples include homemade food items like jam, cookies or mustard, some gifts made out of cloth such as small table quilts, aprons or penny rug coasters and some paper crafts like homemade cards and books. Handmade gifts are just the best! My husband and I have not yet decided what we will be making this year.
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ohmygoodness! So many have started, and finished! Christmas planning, shopping and all. wow! I used to - and just haven't the last few years. Although - i found I saved more money cuz I wasn't shopping the great discounts, however. I really want to do the album like you did last year Ali - SO cute! and a great keepsake of the daily things in December. I'm enjoying watching this week's project - and I will do it - though not this week. I sent the camera with my daughter on her school trip to Outdoor Education for the week. I would LOVE to do the Giving Well class. Kolette is so darn talented!
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I have learned from experience that if I don't start the Christmas cards early, they will become a stress factor. And as I really enjoy making the cards (if I'm not stressed out, that is) I have already started planning them this year. That way it is a treat thinking about them instead of something on the list of things I HAVE to do. :)
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Hi Ali! I have several ideas about the holidays but I have not actually done anything about them yet. I would love to be able to take this class! Maybe it will get my butt in gear and get going...
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I have always loved the holiday season, but I am especially looking forward to this year because our first child will be just shy of his 1st birthday this Christmas. The thing that I enjoy the most about the holidays is taking the time to buy that special gift for everyone-I am NOT a gift card giver! That being said, I usually wait to late to get started to "make" gifts. I usually don't even think about gifts till after Thanksgiving! So, I think this workshop just might be the kick start that I need to really do something special this year.
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I haven't even started thinking about the hoidays yet! We are always on a budget and don't give out a lot of gifts. I think making handmade gifts would be even more thoughtful.
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I have to give myself a pat on the back... I've already started making my Christmas cards and I officially bought my sons their first Christmas gifts yesterday!!
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Xmas time is always kind of sad for us, because we are far away from family, but this year, I guess will be different, as we are pregnant and It will be a start of a new year for us.
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What a great class! Sounds wonderful! I have already started picking up a few things for my kids. I would love to make goodies for all the special people in my life but not really sure what! This would be a great tool! Thanks, Ali! And...I'm having a blast documenting our life this week! It really makes you enjoy the moment and not rush through the day.
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I loved Kolette's workshop last year and would love to take this one. I have started shopping for my daughter's gifts. I am working on some Christmas cards. I have a couple of projects that I want to make as gifts. Now just finding the time to get them done. LOL Thanks for the chance!!!
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Thanksgiving is the big holiday here and I've already started inviting people and planning how to move the talbe saroudn to get everyone in the same room - a requirement. I refuse to have the 'kids in teh kitchen' so to speak, so we move our furniture out of the dining room into our 'great room' and vice versa, then add 2 more long tables and the 20-30 of us eat together. Anxiously awaiting the new Bon Appetit to come out so I can start planning my menu with my parents. Kids are already talking about what they are thankful for.
PLUS this year, we celebrate our 15th (yes15) anniversary on Thanksgiving. WOW! It truly does not seem like its been 15 years.
We start the day with a big breakfast out and a trip to Big Lots (only store open!) then come home to get ready.
I can't wait!
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I have absolutely not starting planning yet so this class sounds perfect for me! Every year I strive to do handmade gifts but never get my act together in time. I need help! :)
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I have started to get ideas for handmade cards and gifts. My DD started her Christmas list to Santa, so far she wants everything in the American Girl catalog.
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I would so love to win a spot in this class! I have had the email printed out about it for a week now...reading and re-reading and trying to decide. I have started my lists for christmas, I love my Christmas lists! I look forward to getting out my lists from the prior years, see what to tweak and change and what I learned from that year. Just told my best friend last night that I want to try and make as many gifts as I can this year!
PS I am loving the picture taking this week for your week long project, my kids are loving it too! Thanks for the inspiration!
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I have to get October done with first - hubby's big birthday (40) this week, Thanksgiving next weekend, then my birthday later this month...basically once Scorpio is out then I can think about the holdiays!
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I actually have decided what homemade gifts I'm making this year, both with SB supplies & baked goods. I picked up a few things at my LSS the other day and am making the yearly list of the people "not to forget" outside of the family: school bus driver, teachers, doctors offices, therapists, etc. Last night while crawling into bed I was thinking how every year I wish I'd done my Christmas decorating earlier so that we could enjoy it longer. 'Think that the day after Halloween would be pushing it? ;-> I mean, the Christmas decorations are out IN FULL FORCE, *WITH TREES* at Lowes, so how could it be too soon for ME to decorate and get my family into the spirit of the Season??
Blessings, Ali.
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I started planning a few days ago and with the exception of the grandchildren, all gifts this year will involve photos in some way and I'm not just putting photos in frames, I've come up with several projects and picking just the right one for each member of our family. With our economy in it's current state, I think it's a good time to think about handmade gifts.
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Yikes am I behind already! ;)
Thanks for the chance.
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I'm ready to make our Christmas cards with a photo from last year (SOOOO much easier than trying to take a new one). I've decided on a few presents (which reminds me I need to start knitting that blanket) and am hunting for homemade present ideas for others :)
I would LOVE a spot in Kolette's class!
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We usually start thinking and planning for Christmas in September . . . but not actually doing anything until November. Always great intentions . . . We're fairly set on what we're getting the girls . . . and I have cards already planned out! I'm getting there.
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This year I plan to use those photos I take throughout the year and have stored digitally!
Recently, I used all my photos from my sons travel baseball season (March-July) and made a photoshop slideshow/movie for the team. I gave each child a dvd which I burned for them. The parents were overwhelmed with this keepsake. With almost 600 pictures, set to music with great transitions etc we will all remember this special season of memories.
I plan on making a YEAR IN REVIEW movie/slideshow for each set of grandparents.All those photos I take will once again be put to use in this project.I plan on selecting their favorite music to add in to the phots/quotes etc. I know they will love watching their grandchildren! I love that my photos will get some use other than my scrapbooks.
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I have the desire to create my own cards and find or make unique gifts, but that's about it! Pick me. Pick me. I could use some inspiration.
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Your pictures are great! I have managed to take just a few each day! Thanks for sharing!
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Ali, your photos are gorgeous, as always! I love your knife rack, btw! LOL! I have begun to think about what I want to make for holiday gifts. I plan on making almost everything, but I am a last minute person, so I haven't started creating yet. They will be better this way...trust me. I would love to take Kollette's class! It would help me out so much!
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