July 26, 2011

Week In The Life 2011 | Monday Words + Photos + Observations

Week in the Life™

NUMBER OF PHOTOS FOR MONDAY | 131

So I wasn't really sleeping when I took this photo. I did just wake-up and I had strategically placed my camera on my bedside table to take some sort of shot first thing. I'm wondering if this is what the kids see when they tip toe (or stomp) into our room in the mornings.

Here's a look at some of my other favorites from Monday:

NOTE: I just updated to Lion yesterday (new Mac operating system) and it's not making friends with my scanner. I'd planned to scan in my Daily Sheets for today but ended up just taking a photo instead. Once I get the scanner running I'll scan them in and share them here.

PROJECT OBSERVATIONS

Doing with this project with two kids in the summer is a whole different ballgame. I need to get a bit more strategic or I just need to let more things go. I'm also still a bit out of sorts from being gone recently - today was the first day that felt semi-normal in awhile.

I find that I'm taking less photos than I have in the past. I'm not sure if that's a result of doing this project so many times already and knowing that I can't use them all (I still recommend taking more than you need just so you have choices when it comes to putting the album together). EDITED: I wrote this earlier in the day. When I actually uploaded the photos there were still over 100. It's really less about the number and more about simply capturing pieces of your day.

VIDEO | Something new for me this year is adding in a bit of video. I took a few random videos on both my camera and my iphone yesterday and I think what I'm going to do is put it all together into one video at the end of the week. Any one else shooting any video along with your still images? I started an iMovie project and I'm adding little snippets as we go throughout the week.

This project is a really great chance to get more photos of yourself (remember what I said yesterday about your story being important). Use your self-timer, get a remote, set your camera on the ground, pass it to a co-worker/friend/kid/spouse/parent etc and ask them to take a few of you too. Experiment - that's how you learn what you like, don't like, etc. I know I've found that the more I shoot the more comfortable I am with my camera and the more apt I am to try something a little different the next time (or rely on an old favorite).

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Don't worry if your first day didn't go according to plan. If you only took a couple of photos - no big deal - start fresh tomorrow. This project is not supposed to be "just another thing on your list" so if it's feeling that way maybe doing it another week is the right choice for you or maybe it's an opportunity to adjust your attitude. This project does take a certain level of commitment and awareness as you go through your day.

Also, if you are feeling like your life is boring consider adjusting your perspective. Think about what you wish you knew about your Mom or other loved one - even if they could tell you about their life at a specific point in time it wouldn't be as detailed or as fresh as you have the opportunity to document your own life right now.

SHARE YOUR DAY ONE

Would love to have you include a link to your DAY ONE of words and photso here. Please link directly to your post vs. your general blog link. Thank you!

TODAY'S POST SPONSORED BY |WORLDWIN PAPERS
Look for the Die Cutting Trio from WorldWin Papers. It includes three NEW! products: 1. Paper Layerz by Megan Elizabeth printed on CutMates diecutable cardstock. Paper Layerz makes die cutting layered images easy and beautiful with nine color-coordinated squares on one sheet. 2. CutMates diecutable cardstock in Light and Dark colored assortment packs. 3. 2nd Edition Cricut A to Z DVD by Megan Elizabeth -- the ultimate "how-to" for using any Cricut die cutter. (The first edition sold 100,000 copies in just 1.5 years.) Visit our Web site to learn more...www.worldwinpapers.com.

FACEBOOK

April 23, 2023

Week In The Life™ 2023 | Special Guest Stacy James

May 14, 2016

Week In The Life™ 2016 | Friday Words & Photos

April 19, 2024

Week In The Life™ 2024 | Special Guest Jen Wong

Comments

77 comments

Jul 26, 2011 2:11pm

Great photos Ali. Is that Simon riding on the two-wheeler totally now? Woohoo!

Jul 26, 2011 2:55pm

This is my first time participating in this project because I am a teacher and usually just don't have the time at other times of the year. I felt slightly bogged down at first because I felt like I couldn't leave the camera--that it had to be by my side every minute. Once I got over that, and let go a bit, I found it was actually fun. Today I haven't taken as many pictures, but I'm okay with that.

I do have two questions though--what did you place your camera on to get the shot of you at the dishwasher? (I am experimenting with my self-timer for the first time). And, are you shooting in manual mode or auto? Your pictures always look so vibrant--they're great!

Jul 26, 2011 5:55pm

Hi Michele - I set the camera on a stool in our kitchen. I shoot in AV mode :)

Jul 26, 2011 3:17pm

[...] fine. Speaking of, don’t forget to check out this post with helpful advise for this week! Also, read about Ali’s first day an her observations about the project, here. [...]

Jul 26, 2011 3:38pm

ALI - I'm on day #3 of week in life and loving it! Thank you for sharing your pictures from yesterday. Random question Ali - where did you find your purple Nike zip up in pic 15? I have been on a hunt for this thing - i find mostly they zip just at the top, but I like how yours zips all the way up. Plus I love the color :)

Jul 27, 2011 3:13pm

Ali-You are totally going to laugh at me, but I have been on an online hunt for the jacket. This isn't it, is it? different material?

http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/?l=shop,pwp,c-1+100701/f-12002+10001/ipp-48/pn-1&cp=USNS_KW_0611081618#l=shop,pdp,ctr-inline/cid-100701/pid-380683/pgid-401873

Jul 26, 2011 6:09pm

thanks ali!

Jul 26, 2011 5:53pm

I got that at our local Nike store a few months ago :)

Jul 26, 2011 4:15pm

Ali, your photos are always so genuine and inspiring. Love how crisp and clean they all are and my favorite has got to be a tie between you "sleeping" and Anna hugging the babysitter. So, so sweet. And...you've inspired me to grab a shot of the ceiling fan in my son's room for today. Love your perspective!

Jul 26, 2011 4:42pm

[...] favor when the occasion warrants. But my cousin Sarah had posted about her efforts to take on Ali Edwards’ Week in the Life project, and I was instantly inspired. This project seemed not so much like a scrapbooking effort, per [...]

Jul 26, 2011 4:56pm

I absolutely love the hopscotch rug in Anna's room! Could you please share where you found that (if you remember)? I am getting ready to have my very first elementary classroom this fall and would love to incorporate that kind of rug somewhere!
Thanks and thank you for always posting such amazing ideas and moments from your life!

Jul 27, 2011 11:50am

Awesome! Thanks so much Ali!

Jul 26, 2011 5:51pm

Hi Ashley - that's from CB2 (I think) from a couple years ago.

Jul 26, 2011 5:23pm

your photos are absolutely amazing! love the one of Anna hugging her caregiver:) such a sweet photo!

Jul 26, 2011 6:10pm

[...] am joining Ali Edwards and so many others in creating a Week in the Life 2011 journal. It started yesterday. I’ve never been very good at taking pictures and even [...]

Jul 26, 2011 7:54pm

Can you share with us the colour of paint in your bedroom? LOVE IT!

Jul 26, 2011 8:08pm

I was just thinking how dull my day has been - so your advice to adjust my perspective was perfect! I would love to know what my family was doing when I was 7 ( I sure can't remember!) - so off I go with a new perspective for a new day! Thanks

Jul 26, 2011 11:02pm

This is my first time to participate in this project. I took 11 pictures today. To me, my life seems dull but it will be neat to look back in later years and see what our family was doing. Thanks for inspiration.

Jul 27, 2011 4:24am

Awesome photos! And can I just ask is that a hopskotch rug in Anna's bedroom? I LOVE it!

Jul 27, 2011 6:10am

whats Simon done to his foot? hope its nothing to bad I see its bandaged up in the photo of him on the sofa....Love your photos and looking forward to starting my album next week, absoutly love your flower photos to its stunning....

Jul 27, 2011 12:49pm

Shooting videos as well with iphone. Planning on including a disc at the end of my photobook (gping the digital route)
thanks for the log sheets. Very helpful.

Jul 27, 2011 4:02pm

[...] Monday Words + Photos [...]

Jul 28, 2011 5:47am

Here's my Monday http://scrapflicka.blogspot.com/2011/07/week-in-life-monday.html

Jul 28, 2011 10:45pm

I can't believe no one has asked yet! I am so curious about your bedding, where is it from and is it a duvet cover? LOVE IT

Jul 29, 2011 10:45am

I love seeing the start of your week and Anna's sweet smile at breakfast!

Jul 29, 2011 10:58am

It helps to be reminded to change our perspective - it really makes a difference as to how we see things.

We use cookies