Week In The Life 2011 | Monday & Big Picture Classes Community Partnership
Tags:Welcome to Week In The Life 2011.
Each day this week I'll be posting my photos and words for the day (it may just be scans of my Daily Sheets for the words). Because I'm doing this right along with you, I'll post my Monday photos tomorrow morning and so on throughout the week. Next week I'll share my process for bringing all the content together into an album.
As you embark today here's a couple things I encourage you to keep in mind:
Don't make it more complicated than it needs to be. There's no right or wrong way to approach this project. You might be doing in-depth documentation or you might be doing a single photo each day or something in between. When you feel yourself getting overwhelmed just take a deep breath and keep moving forward. My goal is less to get every little detail and more to simply create a picture of what seven days in a row of our lives look like right now. Some days I may have a ton of photos and other days just a few - and it all works out.
Your story is important. No matter who you are, what you do, your family structure, etc - the story you are living right now is important and worth documenting. I'm one of those people who totally wishes I had this sort of documentation before we had kids, when I was in college, etc. Life situations change so quickly and the things you think are part of your "normal" right now may not be all too soon.
Have fun with this project - it's such a great opportunity to see the basic details of your life through the lens of your camera. Use your camera as your eyes this week - shoot those things you see regularly that you notice (or maybe don't take the time to notice most of the time).
If at all possible just focus on the content gathering this week. I've had the most success with this project when I've separated the two steps - one week for content gathering and one week for bringing it all together in a completed album.
No stress. Take it one day at a time. I tend to start off really strong and taper as the week progresses. I am totally fine with that. I'd much rather have a couple solid days and a few lighter days than nothing at all.

WEEK IN THE LIFE COMMUNITY AT BIG PICTURE CLASSES
My cool announcement for the day is that I've teamed up with Big Picture Classes to offer a FREEWeek In The Life Community classroom. The community includes message boards and galleries (daily + completed projects) for sharing your project - all in one place. Click here to join the Week In The Life Community.
WEEK IN THE LIFE GIVEAWAY
Don't miss the big Week In The Life giveaway happening here.
I also want to take a minute to say thank you to the 2011 Title Sponsors. You'll see them highlighted in each of my posts this week - I truly appreciate their support of this project and hope you'll have a chance to click over and show them some support! Title Sponsors for 2011 include

TODAY'S POST SPONSORED BY | PAPER COTERIE
Join us in celebrating Begin Anywhere Month at Paper Coterie. Featuring our inspiring chat with NY Times bestselling author, Kelly Corrigan about documenting ordinary moments. Also enter to win signed copies of Kelly's book Lift. As our gift to you, please enjoy $40 to spend during August by entering the code: BEGINANYWHERE. Shipping is not included. Code is valid August 1-31.
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88 comments
I did this last year and enjoyed it. This year it will be tricky--we're going on vacation! But it's a week in my life, so I thought I'd see what the week is. I won't do an album, though, just a two-page LO. Last year I did a lot of hidden pictures.
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I got started this morning with a picture of the rain on my car windshield! A WELCOME break from the heat and lack of rain lately. My day isn't too exciting thus far, but interesting to document the everyday stuff that happens during summer break and reflect on what has happened so far this summer.
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I started with 2 journal entries at 5 and 6 o'clock this morning and then... Nothing until 9pm. And no pictures either.
We're decorating and moving into a new home this week and doing this Week in the Life thing week feels like I'm putting too much on my plate. I'm really sad about it, initially I thought it would be cool to document the move, but I think next week will be a better time for me to do this... Good luck to everyone who's hanging in there so far!
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I think it's totally fine to find a better week - especially if you're in the middle of a move. Don't feel bad about it for one second - you can do it another time!
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I actually remembered to take photos this morning. Once my work day is over, I will be taking some more. Keeping fingers crossed that I will manage to complete the project.
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I just saw a link to this this afternoon. It sounds like fun and I am going to give it a try. Thanks
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This will be the first time taking part, and I'm really looking forward to it. I was a bit nervous of people thinking I was mad taking photos of the outside of shps but hey, I never see these people again, so .... So what :)
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Thank you to Ali's sponsors!! And thanks for the continued inspiration, Ali! :-)
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My family and I are enjoying this group activity. I've taken over 50 photos and its only 1pm. I'm hoping to get my kids to take pictures as well. Good luck everyone. Enjoy the ride.
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Thank you so much for the BPC community. I'm off to see what's going on there right now...
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My day has been pretty boring so far - just cleaned out the fridge and sorted laundry but I'm documenting it anyway!
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Am so excited about this week. Getting ready to document! Have fun everyone.
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[...] Today Ali Edwards is kicking off the Week in a Life project!I’ve been reading her blog for a couple of years now and always been itching to do one of her [...]
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hiAli
I started "my week" with some photos ...tomorrow I'll try to post them in my blog ...
thank you, Ali , I love this project ...
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What a day this has been Ali. So very different from last years WITL, in a good way and crazy way. The kids being home ALL DAY has made it hard to write and take pictures like I wanted. Some sibling fighting going on too. I'm exhausted and ready for bed and it's only 7:15. Still so happy and excited though to have this REAL life documented for us. Thanks and I hope you had a good day.
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Thanks Ali, glad to see your day was kinda the same. Makes me feel better. Tomorrow going to be more crazy since I babysit my 2 little cousins all day. Hope yours is a great day tomorrow
I kinda feel the same Dawn - totally different experience :)
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I'm leaving on holidays in two days so this week is so not normal. However I hope to do a week later in August and I know I will be totally inspired by what I've seen.
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Love the data sheets for the week! Thank you! Made it so easy to start today.
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This is my first year doing this and I am excited about it... My husband leaves in a few days for his second deployment to Afghanistan so it will be nice to document our last few days together before he goes. I am sure that our boys will love to look at this album while he is gone.
Thanks Ali for pushing us to document our lives, tell our story and journal about the important things and the everyday moments in our lives!
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Excited to get started on this project, took many pics this morning of my roses...This is a neat project, thanks
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Starting with a bang and so happy that I've almost gotten this entire first day documented with words and photos. Just collecting info for now, but looking forward to see how the week unfolds. Thanks, Ali, for being our inspiring leader through this wonderful journey!
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What a great week to record--lots of fun things going on. Today a concert rehearsal, tomorrow I teach a class, Wed. I get my outer moved, Thursday a play day and meetings, Friday a haircut and a party. By Saturday, I should be exhausted! But I will have had a grand time!
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