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.

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From Tuesday:

week in the life : tuesday morning by you.

week in the life : tuesday morning before school by you.

week in the life : morning work by you.

week in the life : chris at work by you.

week in the life : driving to the farmer's market by you.

week in the life : farmer's market by you.

week in the life : capturing me by you.

week in the life : coming home by you.

week in the life : hello darth by you.

week in the life : pumpkins on the porch by you.

week in the life : simon's day by you.

week in the life : farmer's market bounty by you.

week in the life : fresh flowers by you.

week in the life : simon + chris fixing tostadas by you.

week in the life : german apple cake by you.

week in the life : reading homework by you.

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.

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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.

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A complete list of posts related to the week in the life project can be found here.

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638 thoughts

  1. Karlynn says…
    10/01/2008

    love your photos!!
    I have done some shopping and I got the motovation from you to do a christmas album before Christmas, DONE it!! All I have to do is add photos after christmas, love this idea as this always seems like such a big chore to me after christmas, so thank - you ..

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Jeannine B. says…
    10/01/2008

    What a great giveaway! I am just beginning to think about gift and project ideas for the holidays. I am committed to "handmade giving" this year. I am really eager to get started on our families holiday cards!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Jessica F says…
    10/01/2008

    No planning yet, but I'm always determined to do a little better than last year. I really want to be organized this year so I'm not so stressed and can enjoy the reason for the season!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Susan D. says…
    10/01/2008

    following this for sure! love the idea of documenting it all. it's easy to forget.
    i don't allow myself to start thinking about the holidays until today (Oct. 1st)...halloween kicks it off for us. i hope to make more crafty homey type gifts for presents this year.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Carrie says…
    10/01/2008

    I haven't really started planning for the holidays yet, but I did buy a Christmas gift for a friend a few weeks ago. I guess that counts as planning. Right?

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Yvonne says…
    10/01/2008

    I admit I have not even taken out the Halloween decorations yet! Horrors! I've got all sorts of ideas in my head, but I'm so determined to be ahead of the game this year, last year I was so unorganized that it took away from the real spirit of the season for me.
    That bothered me into January of this year. It bothered me that I was bothered by it, you know? I am determined that that is not going to happen this year. I'm going to plan reasonably, and ENJOY. No matter what comes. My baby is now two and this will be her first Christmas that she's old enough to enjoy it. I intend to savor every moment!This class sounds like the perfect thing to get me motivated..

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Samantha says…
    10/01/2008

    This is the first year my husband and I will be celebrating the holidays in our own place (instead of at our parents... even though we will go there too.) I am excited to collect the ornaments and decorations I have and decorate the apartment! This is the first year I will have my OWN tree! :-) I can't wait!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Karin says…
    10/01/2008

    Oh, I would love to participate in that class! I have not started any holiday preparations yet.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. gina says…
    10/01/2008

    I have already started thinking about gifts. For various reasons I do want this season to be less about the money/stress/rush and more about family/friends/gratitude for all that we do have. I've already had a family portrait taken so I have one less thing to do/stress about. It's far from perfect, but it will do and be cherished by the grandparents! I am brainstorming about the gifts that I can give - especially for our children. Trying to make it special and not so commercial.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Susan Ringler says…
    10/01/2008

    You're killin' me girl! Here I am thinking that because I managed to write a partial list yesterday of the last couple days and take some shots of things around here that I was hangin' in there, but NOW wow Ali, ready for holidays, surely you jest!!!! (((((grin))))) ((((grin)))). This girl is SO not ready for the holidays!Susan

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Julie says…
    10/01/2008

    I have started, I am publishing my own cookbook this year and copies of it will go to almost everyone on my list! I did the same thing 7 years ago and people have been begging me to do it again. It is a lot of work initially, but makes the holiday easy becuase it is all done!
    I love the holiday season and love new ideas. Trying to go homemade and eco friendly this year :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Catherine says…
    10/01/2008

    Oh Ali, I would so love to take this class. I had the pleasure of having Kolette as a teacher at Creative Escape. She is remarkable.
    Yes I am beginning to think about the holidays and gifts. I hope/ want to make several mini albums for my two adult children and 5 grandkids. This class would be perfect for moi...lol.
    Thanks a bunch, Catherine A

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Jackie Hughes says…
    10/01/2008

    No plans for the holidays yet. I want to enjoy Fall first! ~~Jackie

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Ingrid says…
    10/01/2008

    Last year as we spent way too much time cleaning up wrapping paper, going though said wrapping paper to make sure there were no polly pocket & bionicle pieces lost in it, boxing up everyone's gifts etc... we decided this Christmas would be a handmade and simpler Christmas. I'm going apple picking this weekend to get an early start on neighbor, teacher, mailman gifts. My Dad passed away last year so I'm making each person in my family a mini album of them & Dad/MorFar/Husband.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. deb says…
    10/01/2008

    love you both---with the economy this year it's going to be a handmade Christmas and I need something to get me going....thanks deb
    ps loving the week in the life

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Kristin says…
    10/01/2008

    I have started already - i have to get presents all around the world and so i have to start early. I love that with a little careful planning the holiday season is just that little bit less stressful. My next project is to start making home made calendars for grandparents and aunts - pics of the kids from each of the months will go with it. Its a much loved gift i do every year since we had kids.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. lisa d says…
    10/01/2008

    Now that the temps are dropping, I have started some planning... just booked our weekend "girls only" shopping trip for November with my sisters and Mom (also a surprise for her 70th bday!), designed my Christmas cards, and am looking for new stocking patterns to begin making for the kids. I would love to take the class and spread the joy of the season to others! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Melanie J says…
    10/01/2008

    I have NO gift ideas yet for the holidays and a baby due Oct. 19th. This class would be so good for me! I love Kolette's work and her DH--Jason--rocks. I used to hear him give motivational talks--love the Halls!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Laura says…
    10/01/2008

    I took Kolette's class last year and loved it. In fact, I was just looking through my project materials a few weeks ago when I started planning for the holidays. I travel quite a bit and like to know what my plan is before the holiday rush hits.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Becky says…
    10/01/2008

    Oops, sorry about the empty post!
    I have begun to plan, I have airline tickets home and the family gift exchange name draw has been posted!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Adriana Puckett says…
    10/01/2008

    I started preparing for the season by focusing on our spiritual life. There are so many children in need, that I think our family's emphasis this year will be on helping, rather than acquiring. We will be sponsoring a child and looking for ways we can help others in the community.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Karen says…
    10/01/2008

    Absolutely! At the beginning of each year, I start a new spiral notebook with tabs listing each person I have to get gifts for. Hubby, son, daughter, mom/dad, sister, other relatives, friends, etc... Throughout the year, I write down things that I would like to get them/things they like so when a holiday comes...I look their name up and there is a list of things that I know they would like! Usually I would have forgotten about half of the items if I didn't write down!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Cristina says…
    10/01/2008

    Yes! I've actually started to turn into a bit of a "planner"...gasp! Owning and operating my own little businees makes me plan about 6 months ahead these days. I've been rolling out new xmas cards on my site each day.
    xoxo
    cs

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  24. Alisa Young says…
    10/01/2008

    I love this idea and am starting to contemplate a bunch of ideas for the holidays to come. Mostly I am looking at some homemade or special items that don't cost a ton, but can make a big impact. Always looking for more ideas. Love your blog and have been repeatedly drawn to your style ever since I first saw your stuff on 2peas years ago.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Gioconda says…
    10/01/2008

    my husband's family always picks names for our exchange in the summer. so i have the name of the person i am giving to and have been putting thought into a special gift. i love that this gives me a lot of time to get to know the person better, if i don't already, and get them something that i think they would want. and no gift cards this year!

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