Week In The Life Featured In Real Simple Magazine
A few months back I received an email from a writer who was working on a story for the April issue of Real Simple magazine about things readers can do to improve their lives that are actually worth their time. She was interested in the Week In The Life project and why it was a good idea.
I was really, really excited to get this email and even more excited to see it in print.
As many of you know this project has been a favorite of mine since I captured my first full week back in 2004-2005. The original project was for my album class at Creating Keepsakes University. I remember being so, so nervous before that first class. Since that time my love for this project has grown. These albums are awesome peeks into my life and the lives of my family at a particular point in time.
I love that anyone can do this project. Anyone can commit to one week of personal storytelling, of capturing what their life is all about at a particular moment in time...and then let the rest go. Documentation like this is made even easier these days with all the technology at our fingertips. No one needs to lug around a fancy camera - you can do the whole project with your smart phone. Snap photos with your camera and use a notes/document feature to jot down the details of the days. Pair that with one envelope per day for capturing receipts, handwritten notes, bits of life, etc. and that's really all you need for the gathering phase.
I am getting really excited to do it again in just a couple of weeks.
You're invited to play along from April 19th through the 25th. During
the week I will post my daily photos, stories, and comments on the
process of documenting and gathering. The week after (April 26th through
the 20th) I'll showcase how the album comes together.
This year why not invite someone else to document a week in their life as well? Introduce a friend, family member (maybe a parent) or maybe one or more of your kids to the project. Consider creating a support network to encourage and share with each other over the seven days and then make a date to get together to organize your content into an album. Or just share stories and photos and bits of life you collected.
Thanks Real
Simple for helping spread the message that documenting everyday life is definitely worth the time.
What a nice surprise to find this when my Real Simple arrived!
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I'm in!! I have done this twice now and LOVE it!! Congrats on being in Real Simple. I will have to check it out:)
Always so excited to see what your next dose of inspiration is, Ali!!
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PS. I will for sure share this on my Blog so we can all play along!!
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Congrats Ali! Don't you wish we had an album like this for a week in our life in high school? I've been wavering on doing this, but maybe I should just go ahead and take the photos/save the paper, and put the album together when school is out.
Lea
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Congrats Ali! I was so excited and pleased when I read about you in the magazine. Now your word and work will reach even more people!
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I remember hearing about this project ages ago, but then I read about it again yesterday in my Real Simple mag... and I definitely am going to give it a shot. Love the whole idea of it. =)
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Congratulations Ali! Real Simple is such a fun magazine.
I'm going to invite my readers to participate--whether they're blogging about their own lives or, as a writing project, the lives of their characters!
Chloe
http://chloeneill.com
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Ohhhhh THIS is why you removed my Twitter post about it from your sidebar a week or two ago. Sorry; I wasn't trying to 'scoop' your post!! :)) LOL - - Congratulations!!
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5AM, you are adjusting to jet-lag. Wish I could attend BLISS, but we have a new puppy. Can't leave him with husband for he is hard of hearing and couldn't hear him chewing on the furniture.LOL...so, I'll have to wait. Enjoy your blog and Life's Experiences.
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Just Tweeted this post. So excited to do Week in the Life for the first time this year.
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Hi Melissa - I think the Twitter sidebar is only for tweets I make (not that others make to me). I didn't remove anything :).
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Wow, that's awesome! Congratulations. I did this last year and will do it again this year but maybe not for a few more weeks... :)
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I was thrilled for you when I read the article a few weeks ago. . . putting it out there and inspiring others is a wonderful gift you share, Ali!
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What a timely post. I was just planning a "day in the life" email to send to my boyfriend overseas. He's been gone since January and I've been trying different ways to involve and share with him daily life here. Today it's a "day in the life email." Thanks for all your inspiration in telling and capturing the stories of our lives!!
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I'm going to suggest this to my Open Crop ladies next week. I think I will just provide the materials so that they can get the albums created and then finish them along with us the next week. What fun.
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I'm so excited for this project to start! This will be my first time playing along and I've been reading and re-reading all of your Week in the Life posts. I just wish it was next week!!
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Ali !!!!!!!!! how awesome is that!!!!!!! I am so eager to play along this time for the first time. I am so happy this awesome idea of yours is getting to more people:) now off to pick up the issue:) yippee.
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Ali, so excited for you to be featured in Real Simple! I am wanting to post your WITL button on my blog, but I can't find the code that (I think) you posted for that. Thanks!
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Congratulations on making it into Real Simple! I'm hoping to take more pics that week too + maybe do something with the pics & stories from last time I participated! Here's to some motivation...!!
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Congratulations Ali! Looking forward to seeing the Real Simple Issue. I took the CK class a couple of years ago (with a different instructor). Loved it.
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Congratulations Ali! That is going to be some wonderful exposure to your business and all that you do so well. So very exciting. Now you've got me considering this project again. LOL I wonder if this time I'll get beyond the thinking and fear and whatever else keeps getting in my way and actually go for it.
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i was so proud to see you in my real simple last week.
congratulations!
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u r so right!
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Congratulations! Real Simple's values seem to align perfectly with your values - what a great fit! I will have to go track down a copy for myself! :)
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What issue of Real Simple is the article in? If it is still on the newsstand, I would like to look for a copy??? Sounds like a fun article!
Aloha, Kate
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