A Day In The Life | Documenting Today

Thursday With Anna
From February 2010.

Happy Wednesday!

Here's my goals for today as I document A Day In The Life:

1. Take a bunch of photos. I feel like I've slacked off a lately. Some of my favorite photos have come from the times when I've been consciously documenting our days (such as during Week In The Life). I'm thinking I'll probably do a combination of iPhone and DSLR with the intent to create a "picture story" (via Henri Cartier-Bresson) of my day. I'm hoping to get some good use out of the wireless remote I recently purchased for my bigger camera.

2. Really capture a written look at the basic everyday details (times, places, events) combined with observations, thoughts and gratitudes of life right now.

I'm planning to add my content to my Project Life album. I created an 8.5x11 layered template for photos that I'm going to pair that with the Daily Sheets (no need to re-write or type all that content over again).

No matter what time you come across this post today (or in the days to come), it's not to late to do this on your own. There's never a perfect day for this project. Maybe you do it for half the day or tomorrow or the next day or next week. You don't have to add it to Project Life. Maybe at the end of the day you look back and see five stories you want to tell. Maybe just one. Maybe you'll create a minibook of your day or a single layout. Or maybe you will post on your blog and capture the content with words and photos online.

Whatever you do, it counts.

I'm doing this today because I need to see, via words and photos, where we are (I am) right now. I need to be reminded of all that is good and loving even in the midst of a major life transition. I've learned over the years that these sorts of projects have a way of bringing that all to the surface and it helps me see the areas I may need/want to make adjustments in daily routines.

Click here to download the A Day In The Life freebie.

To help celebrate today, and encourage you along the way, I designed a digital freebie for you. It includes two PNG files (one 4x6 and one 3x4) and two Silhouette Studio files. For more information on working with digital files check out my links for Getting Started With Digital Scrapbooking.

Have fun today. No rules. No stress.

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126 thoughts

  1. sarabeth burke says…
    02/08/2012

    i love this!!! it was a crazy night at work and this morning was just so busy in between interviews, etc...so i'm going to do my day tomorrow instead :) thanks for this!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. Gólya says…
    02/08/2012

    Thanks a lot this freebie!

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. DanaN says…
    02/08/2012

    Thank you for the freebie! Enjoy documenting your day.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Christina in TN says…
    02/08/2012

    i'm working tonight therefore can't be around to take photos tonight, so i'll be participating in WITL tomorrow. looking forward to it! currently, i'm enjoying everyone else's photos via Instagram. :) also, thanks for sharing the word art.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Chris H says…
    02/08/2012

    I wasn't sure I'd do this today as it seemed it would be a very humm-drumm sort of day...been under the weather the last few days and feeling low. I found that by going ahead and starting it, even later in the day, my mood lifted and I felt better mentally, even if physically I'm still a bit off..

    Turns out our school is dismissing early for impending weather and I'll have at least one friend hanging out here with my daughter. This project is inspiring me to be more present in their surprise afternoon off and plan to grab some fun snacks and see where the day goes...

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. khloe says…
    02/08/2012

    Ali, why don't you do a simple tutorial to create these beautiful handwriting words? I'd like to create one of these with my calligrafy!! :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Ruth G says…
    02/08/2012

    Love the freebie! I also love how Anna is looking at the camera, for me this would mean that the process of getting the picture then becomes part of the story to journal (what was going through her mind at that moment?) TFS!

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Karen Clinkinbeard says…
    02/08/2012

    Thanks so much for the word art freebie. I don't think I have a page LO with out your word art! I'll add it to my stash. Love your blog and all the ideas you give us.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Mrs. V says…
    02/08/2012

    Thanks so much for the freebie, and I am so excited for the layered template. It is the perfect size because I like your idea of having the inserts being smaller than the regular 12x12 for the week, and I just ordered some 8.5x11 page protectors. Now, I will be all set!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. Deirdre says…
    02/08/2012

    Thanks so much! Hoping to capture next Tuesday as a day in the life.

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. leanne says…
    02/08/2012

    going to do this on Saturday, a non work day.....

    i think that taking the time to focus on who you love, and capturing the little details thru words and photos is a great reminder to be thankful for all that is well in your life...... thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Kristina says…
    02/08/2012

    Thanks Ali for the print out. It's 4:30am Thursday here in Australia and I'm all done too. Had a fun day just capturing the moment many many many times. Now too just sort them. Cheers again for the inspiration to stop and smell the roses as they say. Xo

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Linda J says…
    02/08/2012

    Thank you, you are so generous!

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Kirsten H says…
    02/08/2012

    so all over this today. Just going with my iphone through the day trying to capture the ordinary

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Shaela says…
    02/08/2012

    I'm going to do this - maybe next week when we get back to "normal life", haha. Thanks for the freebie!

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Wendy O. says…
    02/08/2012

    Friday is my day. Can't wait. I have camera batteries charging!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Tammy says…
    02/08/2012

    First time doing this for me, and I have LOVED focusing like this today. I do PL also, so I always feel that I have a good focus on the details, but I have already taken about 75 pics today, and am having a great time. So far planning on using Becky's Design F photo organizer for the insert. We'll see...I was at first a bit disappointed b/c my toddler got sick, and it is clear that this will be a stay-at-home, low-key, pajama day, and that didn't seem as interesting, but it totally is. Thanks for the inspiration and the fun of playing along with the rest of you!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Nadine W says…
    02/08/2012

    Thank you so much for the freebie!!! Awesome!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Amanda says…
    02/08/2012

    Thanks Ali! Love it!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Cristina says…
    02/08/2012

    Thanks for the freebie! I can't wait to see how you put together your day in the album!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Donna C says…
    02/08/2012

    Thank you Ali!!! YOu r wonderful!

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Libbi M. says…
    02/08/2012

    i am having so much fun with this project. it's only 12:07 and i've taken a ton of photos so far. can't wait to see your new product at designer digitals tomorrow so i can start putting this all together. thank you so very much for the free download too.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. sharon says…
    02/08/2012

    Thank you Ali,
    You are so motivating to me. I did the july 2011 WITL and gained so much insight and my life is in transition also so it was an immense guide foe me. I still feel that this is an excellent avenue
    for me to be grateful as well.

    Blessings and hugs,

    Sharon Dryjanski Phoenix,,AZ Creative Escape

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Scrappin' Annie says…
    02/08/2012

    Thank you so much for the freebie

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Chris says…
    02/08/2012

    When did my life become so crazy that I couldn't even remember that I had wanted to do this WITH YOU today?

    Crazily, I have no worries though... I have some photos from this morning, and there's one or two I can re-create to fill in a blank or two (from my quiet time while kiddo napped).

    Ali - know that we al stand behind you during this transition to offer support and virtual hugs. I know I love your outlook on life, and I appreciate how you share so freely. And thank you SO MUCH for reminding us that sometimes taking the time TO document can help us re-evaluate how we are spending our lives.

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