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. Sylvia says…
    02/08/2012

    LOVE this project and can't wait to see yours! Thanks so much for the awesome freebie, I will include it into my PL album today. Have a great day 'shooting'!

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

    Hey Ali

    Saw that you are doing this only yesterday and my mind is whirring about joining in. Probably will do tomorrow.

    So looking forward to seeing your's and everyones day in the life.

    Just saying 'day in the life' makes it sound so important and it is isn't, it every day is.

    Oh, and thanks for the download too.

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

    This is a wonderful wonderful idea. One day, i will do this. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Sandra says…
    02/08/2012

    Thank you Ali, for the download. I will def. use it.
    I love seeing a day through my photos.
    So far so good. I must say that I forgot to take pictures of my girls getting ready for school, because of the hectic morning routine.
    Love to see everyones endresult.

    Sandra :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. Vera says…
    02/08/2012

    my wednesday is winding down. i had fun sneaking pictures in places in never usually take them...in stores, at the gym... thanks for the freebie~

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

    thank you very much for this new .studio file!!! it's very pretty.
    and thanks for the idea of day in the life!
    bye

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. dawn says…
    02/08/2012

    Good Wednesday Morning everyone!! I am excited and ready for today, have taken 2 photos already. This is a perfect time for me to document our family also, we have bdays this week and little ones that keep changing to fast. Thanks so much for inspiring us to do this Ali, have a fun day as well.

    Are you putting the linky up tomorrow?

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Eni says…
    02/08/2012

    Thanks so much for this gift!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. Mallory says…
    02/08/2012

    Thank you so much for the freebie Ali! I love it! I work at a preschool from 9-5 so it'll be interesting to see how this turns out. I hope I can pull it off. :) Happy Wednesday!

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

    Love this free download --- perfect sizes etc.

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

    Rock on! I love this freebie! Thanks, Ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Lisa W. says…
    02/08/2012

    Man your good...very very good. THANK you for reminding us all that "A day in the life" is SO important to each and every one of us...through good times and bad!!! Thanks Ali:)

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. kelli says…
    02/08/2012

    I'm snapping away. ooh love the freebie. it's cool to be you. and it's cool to read your blog. sigh.

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. Katie says…
    02/08/2012

    Thank you so much for the freebie! I'm so excited to join in for my first Day in the Life!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. Nicky from Canada says…
    02/08/2012

    thanks for the download Ali

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Patty says…
    02/08/2012

    Hi Ali, count me in today!
    I am documenting my day from 4 am...I am finished to read the biography of Henry Cartier-Bresson and I feel just motivated for "The Decisive Moment".

    Thanks for sharing your digital work for free this time and for open your heart everyday for us. I really enjoy this day with all of you in this challenge of documenting our story!

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

    A*W*E*S*O*M*E...
    thanks ali!

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Anne says…
    02/08/2012

    Thank you for the download! It inspires me to make a Minialbum about this! I will definitely us it!

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

    Have a fun day with your project Ali. Sounds like you could use a great big hug too so consider yourself hugged! You are an inspiration when you use creativity the way you do to make yourself and your life better. :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Nikki M says…
    02/08/2012

    Love that this is happening today. What better day than today to DO SOMETHING! :) Thanks for the freebie. My PL album is shaping up nicely with lots of bits of your products that I adore. Thank you for your generosity and encouragement. I also can't believe that Anna is already almost 3!!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Paula G says…
    02/08/2012

    I'm in today! It started atypically and no telling where it will end...it's one of those roller coaster type days...but I've taken a couple of photos already and thanks SO much for the free download :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. Celeste says…
    02/08/2012

    Thanks for all your gracious freebies Ali! And always challenging us to share our stories, both the easy and hard ones!

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

    Its your story telling inspiration that led me to you.
    Appreciate the authenticity of needing to tell what is good and loving in the midst of life and its transitions. That will be looming in my mind all day.
    ~j

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Dori says…
    02/08/2012

    Thanks for the lovely freebies. I'm clicking away...

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

    Thanks for the freebie- love your new Silhoutte cutable PNGs! I've been awake early (probably the excitement of a whole day to document) and am working to get my husband shooting Blackberry pics of his day too- just emailed him with a few ideas for photos that hopefully won't embarass him. Told him that he tell his co-workers it was for his goofy scrapbooking wife. :-) Thanks for the forms for Week in the Life too- makes recording projects like this much easier.

    Reply 0 Replies

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