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.
From Tuesday:
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.
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.
A complete list of posts related to the week in the life project can be found here.
I have started THINKING about the holiday season.....does that count as planning??
I would so love to take this class. I returned to college full time this year. It would be wonderful to have some great ideas and HOW TO's for Christmas gifts.
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In my mind, yes, i have started preparing for the holidays! as the kids grow and get more into the holiday, i have grown to love the decorating of the house and creating a festive spirit here. the boys love the lights and we talk about whether we will have colored lights or white lights this year. each year their preferences change. i have decided to follow your lead and be prepared so i can be more in the moment with the kids and my partner this year. i SO want to soak in their wonder of it all. the giving well class would be so great, as i could be in the ball and do it with the support of an on-line class. also, i've never done an on-line class and would love to give it a try. thanks for reading. your blog is really such a source of inspiration and wonder for me.
thanks!
-margaret
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I have not began to get started yet, but I am thinking about the holidays and have some ideas for gift giving. I love this time of year and all the changes outside. I would be thrilled if I win. Thank you,
Cindy (Texas)
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I haven't started planning for the holidays yet...but I have read about Kolette's class and am very interested in taking it! :)
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Hi Ali,
Christmas traditions change when your kids grow older and leave the nest. Two years ago I was lucky enough to have all of my grown kids home for the holidays with one son in the Navy and two kids in college. Last year, it was two kids at home for Christmas (oldest son in Navy now stationed in Spain and second son now in the Army just finished Ranger School). This year it will be just one kid home-- one son still in Spain, second son in Iraq, and our daughter will be home from college! WHEW! I am torn with what to do for gifts since some will be shipped overseas and my heart is not completely into it. I could use some help!
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I have started formulating ideas for our holiday card. Last year I made seperate hannukah and christmas but this year I will only do one. I like to use a punch to cut out our heads and put them on the card in a fun way. Last year we were the flames on candles and balls on a wreath. As for gifts, I usually only make something for my mom and mom-in-law but haven't thought of what to do yet.
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Well, I don't celebrate the holidays, but I sure am looking forward to the cooler weather and doing more fall/winter activities!
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i want to have a really, really nice photo of me and DS to send as a card this year, so i'm planning that.
i've begun my list and am trying to be very meaningful, personal AND on a budget this year. i have ONE perfect gift already purchased!
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Wow this is a great prize! Haven't begun planning yet...just finished a move to another state and trying to get my bearings. Planning shall begin shortly though!
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Yes, I've started planning a little earlier this year. I am excited about the season and the possibilities of completing projects I wanted to last year but ran out of time. Thanks for the chance to win the class spot! :)
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I have started a little bit, we are thinking about handmade gifts for the kids and what they will be. We are doing an old world christmas this year so I have been doing some online research for some cool ideas. Cant wait!
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Is it really October??? How is that possible?! No plans, I'd better start today. I'm really going to make a calendar this year of photos for everyone in the family. I love the description of this class, sounds terrific.
Thanks so much for all of the guiding and inspiration on this project, Ali. I'm loving it.
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Is "thinking about" and planning the same thing? I've done lots of thinking--now I have to get myself in gear and start putting some of those thoughts into action.
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What a wonderful gift! I am always thinking of ways to thank my girls teachers. I love them all so much and they do such a wonderful job! I really want to spoil them. So, yes, in a sense, I have started brainstorming ideas for them. But, no, I haven't actually implemented any ideas as of yet. :>
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I am SO emjoying this project Ali...love reading your comments and seeing the pictures - thank you for the inspiration!
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Being that I'm a mom/wife/college student and this is my final semester, I've HAD to start planning already. I have gifts planned and several purchased, ideas for cards (that I'll make at a crop in November), and we tend to do the same traditional things every year.
I've found that works best for us, both in terms of being organized and we like having certain things to look forward to.
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Love your photos Ali! Went to the dentist today and had pics made while getting an injection..yuck! I have started on CD case calendars for Christmas gifts.
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Hey Ali! I have started thinking about the holidays, but haven't started active "planning". :) Would love some help with that!
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I have not started planning for the holiday season. My youngest has his birthday next week and then I can start thinking of other things. I have a one track mind these days and can only focus on one thing at a time. (hehehe)
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LOOK at all those comments!
YES! I've already started my Holiday Prep! I took Kolette's class last year, and am SO bummed that the budget simply won't allow me to take the new one. Maybe I'll win a spot!
The JOY of Kolette's first class is that it not only brings joy to the recipient, but the giver. And that joy just keeps giving ...
I pulled my class handouts from last year about a month ago and started working on Christmas Cards. Inspired, I started a list of those project to make another go-round of.
Playing on that inspiration, I am putting together a gift of all occasion cards for my housebound mother.
So, yes, I am on my way!
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Hi Ali,
I'm SO excited for Christmas this year. I've already done half my shopping. I even have a December Daily album assembled and ready to go. My husband is graduating with his degree this December. I think that's why I'm so excited for the holidays. By Christmas he'll finally be DONE!
Karen
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I have just started my planning today! I want to make some altered canvas's for the family this year, so today i went and stocked up on the canvas's. I'm still contemplating about the rest of it though!
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Planning is what I could use some help in especially for the holidays! I have started thinking about cleaning and just getting the house in a presentable mode...wouldn't that be nice!
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I haven't really started planning for the holidays yet, I've still got 2 more fall birthdays to take care of before then.
I have started on a baby blanket, and have a plan for a fabric baby book for my new niece. Other than that, I could really use some ideas.
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this year we are on a budget so I've already started to plan all of the hand made goodies that I plan on giving. I love to give stuff that I've made and using all of the things I already have makes it feel even better! Let's face it, I don't think my MIL is going to know if those letter stickers were bought 6 days ago or 6 months ago. She is going to cherish the memory!!!
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