Week In The Life 2013 Starts Monday
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On Monday I'll be starting my annual Week In The Life project and even though I'm feeling pretty tired from all the back-to-school transitions happening around here I'm really excited.
Check out my 2013 planning post here.
Here's some additional details and thoughts:
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT NEXT WEEK:
Each day I'll post my photos, a photo count, and a few observations from my day (I will post my Monday photos on Tuesday morning). See an example from Tuesday last year. From the 9th to the 15th my focus will be on documenting daily life with photos and words. I'll put my album together in a tangible format the week after (hybrid using the 8.5x11 layered templates).
There will be a sponsored giveaway each day next week that will be open for 24 hours - leave a comment at the end of the post to enter the giveaway. We will post the winners of the giveaways all at once the following week.
Each day next week I will also include a place within my words and photos post to share a link to your blog or Flickr or Instagram stream. Love the sharing that happens during the week.
WHAT TO DO THIS WEEKEND TO GET READY:
Download and print out the free Daily Sheets.
Take a look back through my Week In The Life Archives to see how I've approached this project in the past. There are a bunch of different helpful posts for getting in the right frame of mind as you begin.
Purchase the layered templates (8.5x11 or 12x12) or 4x6 journal cards from Designer Digitals to simplify the process. You can also check out my other everyday life product suggestions or my collection of photos from last year all in one place on Flickr.
Charge your camera battery. I tend to like to try to use my DSLR (also known as my "big" camera) more during this week.
Practice using your self-timer so you can get yourself in the pictures.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT:
Getting yourself in the photos. Turn the camera on yourself using the self-timer or get someone else in your house-hold or work to help you out. Get creative with including yourself - how can you document the everyday things you do and include yourself in the photo? I almost always get a photo of myself doing laundry. Glamorous? No. Real? Yes.
Take photos of the most basic things. Those things that we often take for granted are often some of the things we miss the most if there's a big change in your life. Think about favorite things in your house, your unmade bed, your desktop (clean or dirty), a favorite wall in your house, the inside of your fridge, etc.
This is not a race or a competition or a comparison game. This is an opportunity to see your life as it is right now reflected back to you via your own images and words.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
Join the Week In The Life 2013 Flickr Group to share your daily photos.
Join the free Big Picture Week In The Life Community here to share your work and communicate with others documenting their week.
Use the hashtag #weekinthelife on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
AND MOST OF ALL...
Have fun. Take a deep breath (I'll be doing this I'm sure). Get connected to your life (the who, what, where, when, and why of your everyday life).
Have a great weekend and I'll post a little something to get us all going on Monday as well.
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97 comments
[…] Week In The Life Starts Monday (How To Prepare) […]
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SOOO EXCITED TO START!! I've wanted to do this project forever, and am ready to tackle it this year! Bring it on :)
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Can't wait!
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Hi Ali, I just discovered Katrina Kennedy's podcast and how awesome that the first one I listened to was the one you were on!!! Our family is coming off of a VERY stressful summer where all the plans I had for memory making and documenting were completely derailed. Things are slowing getting back to normal and I am hoping the week in the life project might be just what I need to reconnect with our everyday, finding the gratitude and seeing how can we smooth some things out. I don't know for sure how far I'll get but even if I just get one day or a few portions of days I'll be actively thinking about it. You are such an inspiration to me to document our memories and reflect on our lives in a way that works for me - without ever feeling like it isn't enough. Thank you!!!
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I think I’ll be attempting this. I’m a digital scrapbooker, and I already do Project 365, but I love the idea of doing more. I started Project Life this year (digital version) but I failed miserably. I did do a Week in the Life last year (in October with another blog) and I loved it! This sort of stuff is more fun and interesting to me :D
I'm going to blog it, and scrap it!
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Ali - will you be selling the sentiment tabs you designed for 2010 with the updated 2013 this year?
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Thinking of doing this for the first time. (honestly, I'm afraid I'll be a little embarrassed at how little I get done in a day, but that's where I am right now.) Really wish I had done it at least once in recent years before we moved, so I'd have one from that part of our life, so that tells me I should probably just do it! It's amazing how many "ordinary, everyday" photos I thought I was taking, only to wish I had photos of a bunch of stuff I never thought to capture.
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Thank you for these words, Jennifer. I think we always think we can catch a glimpse at this part of life later. I'm thinking later is tomorrow. :) I'm feeling like I need to examine my life a bit at the moment anyway. Maybe doing it with photos will help me view where we are and where I'd like us to move along to...
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Ok, I admit it...this is my fourth year but I call it "Almost a week in the life" I never seem to make it a full week. I'm totally ok with that. I love the journey of this week and always keep in mind how amazing it would be to have something like this from my Oma or Great Oma. I know in the future my kids will love it. I already do.
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I am jumping in and giving this a whirl this time. It sounds so wonderful!!! I am having a problem downloading the life daily pages, though...have tried a few different times and on different days (thought maybe I was just too tired to figure out what I was doing wrong the first evening!! hehehe) but even this morning, it tells me there is a network error and it closes. :( Any other way I can get a copy of those pages...I think they may keep me on track...lol
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Thanks, Kara!! I use Chrome at work, but still had IE at home...shameful, huh?? I didn't even think about that being an issue...thank you--issue resolved!! Whoo hoo!! :)
I had this same problem and the download worked fine when I used firefox instead of explorer.
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I've only recently heard about this project, but I am looking forward to joining. It sounds like a wonderful way to concentrate on capturing my current life. And a reason to start blogging again. Go me.
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7:35pm on Monday here and I have 70 pics from my day. The first time I have ever participated in WITL. No plans just taking photos and I am so happy to have captured so much more of our everyday today!!
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This will be my first time participating and I am excited to play along! I did #dayinthelife in April and used your digital templates (first time using them) and it turned out to be a super cute addition to my projectlife album! I ordered the album you suggested and some extra page protectors, I will order the digital templates this week sometime and it is 9:15am on Monday and I have taken 4 photos so far. Have a trip to go to the Gentleman of the Road Tour in St. Augustine this weekend, so it is an interesting week for me to document. Thanks Ali for all of your inspiration!
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i'm going to be participating for the first time this year. i won't be making an album but will post photos on IG (melissashim).
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First time for me too - I've lurked and procrastinated long enough!! But this time I AM GOING TO DO THIS. Many many thanks for your inspiration
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I am doing it next week so I can include Parent Weekend at my son's college. In the past I've done it and he's been here and a big part of it. But I'm still figuring out this new life with him at college and I just couldn't wrap my mind around a week in the life with him off stage.
I'll enjoy seeing what everyone else does this week! Have fun!!!
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I didn't find this until tonight (Monday) so I'm going to do my WITL next week. This willbe my first time so looking forward to picking up some tips and inspiration from everyone this week x
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definitely keeping it super simple this year and doing daily blog posts. I may scrapbook some of the photos but I'll let my blog do most of the work.
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Ali-
Are you still using the Epson Picturemate?? If so, do you recommend it? Thanks.
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Yes - love it! Use it all the time.
Thank you!
I had read that post and was curious after using it for a bit if you still really liked it :)
I am on the hunt for a new quick printer.
THANKS for the reply!!
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My first time participating. Hope I can keep up...
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This year I'm participating in a week in the life but I am a week behind schedule... oops :)
How will you format your PL layout for this week?
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