Thoughts On A Rainy Wednesday Morning

I did that purple thing a few years ago. It was the only color I didn't or wouldn't accept into my wardrobe. Then something changed and purple/plum is a big favorite now. Almost as much as grey.

hi ali! haven't checked in on your blog in a while (i'm trying to keep up w/ my 3 y.o. and 15 month old boys). but...i still have made time for your december daily albums for the last two years (ok, i'll be honest, i have about 4 days to finish up from '08-i have memories/thoughts written, just need to complete the pages). have you posted anything yet about this years? do YOU have time for this year? i know you are a busy mama yourself. i hope you will though, i look forward to it so much. and looking back at the year before while i'm getting all the christmas decorations out it the best!
have a great day!
beth

I am definitely doing it again - just have not had a chance to get it ready yet :). One of my favorite projects.

Lol! I thought the exact thing when I saw your picture.. I said, wow Ali's lost weight and looks fabulous (even with the cut off face ; ) So reading the last paragraph made me smile!
And btw, I didn't like purple either until this season. I just can't help it!

Please share your process for removing yourself from the random e-mail subscriptions...Is there any universal process for removing yourself from random junk period for e-mail accts? Longtime follower...but just a recent commentor

I am too just getting into that "purple" trend! It was sooo hard last year, but now I just *love* it and can't get enough of it....just the right shade though! :)

Always inspired my your writing Ali. Thank you! (and congrats on the jeans...you know what they say...9 months up - 9 months down) :)

Hi Ali,
I love purple too,and my favorite combination is purple with gray...LOVE it.You look fantastic ,don't need to worried about fitting in your jeans. Just get a new one, with a purple flower on it . :)
Have great day!
P.S.: I am still working on my Christmas mini album from last year too.....Have all pict. and journal there.It is bad,is it? I have to catch up...Maybe I will do 2 in the same time,compering...
THANKS

Glad to hear that you are feeling well. You look great. I like purple, too. In fact I am wearing a purple shirt and sweater right now. I am with you on getting rid of some of that junk email. I figure that if I hit the delete key automatically, that is a sign that I should remove myself from the list. Good luck with that...
Leora

Hi Ali,
I remember you writing about how to alter the Week In a Life overlays so that photos and journaling could vary from day to day. Can you tell me where I can find that info again?
Thanks so much for all your insight and inspiration!

Didn't think I was that much of a purple lover too, but then just realized I'm wearing a purple tee right now (more of a greyed eggplant) & we have the same colored couch, and purple trim on our house... Wow, we're so in style & didn't even realize it! Great pic of yourself---you look fabulous! The purple you're wearing looks pretty dark, more blue violet :). Fun pattern behind you---is that a shower curtain or window curtain?

Hey Ali,
I can relate to so much of your post today. I too have decided to start removing myself from email lists and have finally lost the baby weight since baby #2 arrived six months ago. For me, it was with the help of Weight Watchers online. It has made a huge difference in my attitude these days. I am also anxious to read that book recommendation, looks like something I would enjoy.
I just want to say, I am loving your class, and even though I have yet to complete a layout (photos are still on their way), your weekly videos and tutorials are amazing. They are one of the things I am thankful for right now.
Love your jacket!

i'm in the process of clearing out all my random e-mail subscriptions as well - it seems like just when you think you've gotten them all, another one crops up that you forgot about!
i'm also clearing through all the starred items in my google feed reader - it's scary how many of those have accumulated. rather than let them sit there unloved, i'm either doing something about it or just getting rid of it.
clearing clutter sure feels great!

Hurray, Ali! I LOVE PURPLE, and as a teacher, my students know it. I wear purple a few days a week, grade with purple pens only and carry papers back and forth to school in a purple bag. :) I'm glad that it's growing on you as well. Have a fantastic day.

Hi Ali! You look great - and purple is a nice color! Really it is :) I have two boys. Young boys. Ages 5 and 3. They are 22 months apart. And my experience with being pregnant is that it took 9 months for you to have the baby. 9 months for your body to expand and expand and expand some more. 9 months for hormones to build and build and build. So give yourself 9 months (at least) to get back to yourself. I noticed the 2nd time around it took longer than nine months (12 for me). And that is just your physical body! A mother does go through a change with each pregnancy. I don't know if it is the hormones or just the change in life, but its a change. It can change who you are - but in the most wonderful ways. And just like little Anna is trying to figure out how she fits into this world - I think the whole family goes through that, especially the Mamma! So give your self a break and time and whatever you need. Being pregnant and having a baby is more than a 9 month journey on your body and your soul. It takes time to recover and like every journey, it changes you a bit on the way. For you Ali I am positive it has made you an even better person. Thanks for letting us blog readers tag along on your journey. :) I think you look great!

I have never been a fan of purple, but I do like that plum/purple w/ grey! LOVE IT!
and wow, your baby is 8 months already!!!!!!
crazy! how time flies!
tara

What a great feeling to feel like yourself once again! Love purple! That color sweater coat looks really good with your blonde hair and light complexion.

Ali, talking about becoming yourself again - I have a theory about the pregnancy of the mother, after the baby is born. It takes another 9 months to bring the woman back (or to "produce"a new woman)! It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who felt this way!

Good for you Ali! I remember it taking awhile to be ME again after each child was born. Everything changes so you are never really the same, but there is a level of normal that is nice to get back to. Enjoy being the new and improved normal Ali!! :-)

I don't think as mothers we are ever the same as we were before our children come into our lives. I know I am a totally different person than I was before my son was born. I think as we go through the journey of life we are changed from within by all things good and bad. Often, it's the challenging things that happen to us that make us stretch into something entirely different. For some people, it makes them better people and for others, it doesn't. I never knew that I could be as patient, as strong, and as full of love as I have discovered myself to be since my son's birth. Sometimes a birth of a child can also be a sort of re-birth for us as mothers. Who wants to be the same person they were all their lives, anyway! How boring. I would rather be interesting.

Absolutely. I am just writing about that right now :).

I LOVE that moment when I start to finally feel like "myself" again after a baby.
You just get to the point you feel like you can breathe.

I think I need to join you on the quest to limit e-mail clutter. There is just. so. much.

Ali -- Welcome back.
#1 your hair looks amazing, healthy, and full of life.
#2 purple is a wonderful color full of prosperity - find a way to embrace it.
#3 you always find a way to make my day better and I thank you.
#4 I just did the same thing with the email clutter issue. I as receiving so much advertisement and I am just a small fish in the pond.

I noticed a lot of purple and raspberry colors this fall in the stores, too. Love that purple sweatercoat . . . and you're so smart to just put all of that information under the photo because you know we that have inquiring minds want to know . . .
I too need to declutter my email!