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. Lynn says…
    10/01/2008

    Hi Ali! I usually don't start this early...I'm a bit of a procrastinator by nature. But this year, a friend and I are getting together once a week to make our gifts. We're going to start by making card sets and then who knows!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Shell Mackay says…
    10/01/2008

    Because I have to send all my pressies overseas - I have to be very organised way earlier in the season sometimes - even before the shops have what I want.
    This year though, with having vistors for over a month, being away overseas for a month along with a high school graduation - I have found myself VERY behind - and beginning to panic.
    This class would be a godsend!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. CoCo says…
    10/01/2008

    This year is gearing up to be pretty hectic - we are building a new house and hope to be in by christmas - so I expect most of my gifts will be the domestic kind. I blush now when I think that one of the gifts I planned to give my each of my 3 sisters last year was a mini book - still unfinished - but hopefully can be ready for this year! I did have a good excuse last year too though - a new baby. Best wishes during your pregnancy A - mind yourself

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Michelle McGuire says…
    10/01/2008

    I have started to make a few gifts using photoshop. I have also started to plan for my cards.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Debbi G. says…
    10/01/2008

    Hi Ali..started planning yet? been thinking about it, but actually, physically getting it done? not yet, but I am collecting ideas. Love how you started early last year, and thinking I may try it. We go to Florida for Thanksgiving and it'd be nice to some home and already be decorated for Christmas or at least started.
    Thanks for the give away.

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

    no official planning yet. Picked up a few gifts, thought of some more. I guess I have done a little bit.

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Lisa H. says…
    10/01/2008

    I always have good intentions to start early, but I still end up rushed those last few weeks in December. This class sounds awesome!

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

    I have started planning for all of the upcoming holidays! I want to make them all special for us, so I have begun preparations and stockpiling ideas!

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

    I have started collecting ideas for Christmas gifts and card lists...I have a baby on the way due in February, so might as well take advantage of this 2nd trimester energy now. :) A friend and I are also going to take a sewing class this next month so we can use our dusty sewing machines for the first time and hopefully make some holiday gifts.

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Kelly says…
    10/01/2008

    I have begun planning my gift giving. Mostly just compiling ideas at this stage, but have firmly decided on one gift. A handwritten letter to my immediate family members telling them what they mean to me. Haven't decided whether to do it for Xmas or Thanksgiving yet though.
    Kelly
    Grove City, Ohio

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Sarah Lambert says…
    10/01/2008

    Hi-
    I have actually started planning...picking out activities to complete...starting lists and deciding on some new decorations!!
    Sarah L

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

    Yes, starting planning a little bit. Unfortunately my whole family has birthdays in the two months before Christmas, so I'm thinking about those before I think about the big one :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. murdie says…
    10/01/2008

    I have thought about what I want to do. :) The only action I have taken is purchasing fabric to make pajama pants for everyone for Christmas Eve. On Saturday it seemed like a good idea that I get a head start. (will probably be sewing on Dec.23 knowing me!)

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

    Oh my, I love to craft for the holidays! I have started to fine tune some ideas. I want to mass produce one idea for most everyone- it will be either biscotti and a coffee drink mix OR Spitzbuben cookies and a tea drink mix. Still dreaming of packaging and what will work best. After that, I will do some projects for specific people for gifts. So excited about them, must get started!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. elizabeth holder says…
    10/01/2008

    i would love to win this - i decided this year to make alot of my christmas gifts so this would be perfect - i have already purchased some small stocking stuffers too!

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

    I love to plan for Christmas and usually start in July or August. I plan for NFL gift buying to begin in October (lots of football fans in our family). I started playing around with my rubber stamps in August and have a good idea of what my Christmas cards will look like this year. Finally, I have decided to give photo books to most of family this year {using Ali's Today You Shutterfly ready template}. Thanks for all the great ideas, Ali!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. minna says…
    10/01/2008

    No plans, no ideas...it's way too early for me to even think about the holidays!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Sally says…
    10/01/2008

    Trying something new this year. The kids already have too much "stuff", so I want to give meaningful gifts that don't create clutter. We want to get season passes for local attractions, movie tickets, or even music download cards.... haven't got it all figured out yet, but I am totally excited that we won't have to rearrange bedrooms to fit all the stuff.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Trish D says…
    10/01/2008

    What a fun class! Yes, I've already started working on holiday gifts. I'm making mango lip balm (from thesage.com) for friends, cousins, etc and have narrowed the cookie list down to three varieties. Also doing nice family pic with the frame ornaments I bought on clearance in Jan :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Therese Bradley says…
    10/01/2008

    About A Week in the Life: I'm taking less photos than I did when I took this class with you at CKU. However, I'm writing so much more of my story. That is one huge way taking this class with you changed my scrapbooking.
    About the gift giving class: I just looked at this yesterday and am longing to take it. Our finances are a bit tricky and I promised myself I wouldn't purchase more scrap stuff so I would LOVE to win this class. The best thing is Big Picture encourages you to use up what you already have.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. sarah says…
    10/01/2008

    Just waned to say thanks for a glimpse into your life. I've learned a lot about my "right now" and just how fleeting it is. I see your beautiful home, beds made, awesome farmer's market finds, complete with flowers...then I look at my disaster of a home. And you know what? I am absolutely okay with it. I have learned this week that my "other" life is on hold for the moment...the one that resembles what you have shared with us..(I'm typing this with an 8 week old baby on my chest, & a 2.5 y.o. playing downstairs) My "other" life, the one where I can take a shower and do the laundry all in the same day, will resume one day, and I will probably wish for these days. Days when they are young. Thank you or guiding me to these realizatons. My life is better for having "known you" through your web-site. :)

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

    Hi! Yes, I am quite (surprisingly!) organized for Christmas this year! It is my favorite time of year so I gear up for it for a while. I've made a few and bought a few gifts already. Plan on doing more 'making' than 'buying' this year.

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

    Ali, I love all your photos! This is such a wonderful project and I'm really enjoying focusing on the here + now this week. A fairly atypical experience for me.
    Yep, I've started some planning for the holidays. This weekend, I found some old recipes from my mom and grandma that I want to be sure to make this year. And am working on a few handmade gifts (that I thought I'd have time to make last year when I started them in November - oops!). And, lucky me, decided to give myself the early gift of taking Cathy's Design Your Life class.

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Marie says…
    10/01/2008

    Hi Ali. I can never plan ahead, and always have to do the last rush hour shopping (or scrapping) I am having a baby in January and I do not think I am going to have a very creative Christmas this year!! But I might surprise myself...who knows??! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. cindy b says…
    10/01/2008

    I literally JUST made out my 'master list' last Saturday. Between now and Christmas I will have made out MANY lists - revising them each time I make and/or purchase a gift. This year I am hoping to MAKE 90% of my gifts!! Thanks for the chance to win Ali! peace and blessings...

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