Week In The Life™ 2019 | Monday Words + Photos

Ah, Monday

Ah, first day of Week In The Life™ for 2019

How did it go for you? 

Remember that this project is a bit more of a marathon than a sprint. Remember that you can always take shots on different days and include them in your album if it helps illustrate your story. Don't get too rigid about how this is all supposed to go. Your goal is to document a period of time - twenty years (heck even five years from now) no one is ever going to say to you "hey, didn't that happen on Wednesday instead of Thursday?"

In my recent Set Up + Approach post I talked about using the journaling cards as a guide for my storytelling each day. The Monday card title is "this week" - I definitely thought about it as I went about my day asking myself the question what did "this week" mean to me? 

What I found is that I thought a lot about the week ahead while I was capturing images here and there throughout the day. I looked at and took a screenshot of the the weather forecast. I printed out a calendar for the week and am adding it to my project. I also thought about how the title "this week" is about looking ahead and also about what's happening right now. This is the week I'm documenting and it all starts with this first day. 

Some basic details: 

  • I took a mix of iPhone and DSLR photos today. These days I mainly use my iPhone and I've evolved into taking a whole lot more vertical photos than ever before. 
  • I loved re-creating some past shots and looking for completely new angles. 
  • I used the self-timer on both my iPhone and my DSLR for any of the photos I'm in today. I will prop up my phone on any available surface. 
  • I opened up the Notes app on my computer/phone and jotted down thoughts throughout the day. This was helpful in capturing bits and pieces of thoughts, emotions and observations over the course of the day. 

Throughout the day I totally felt like I wasn't taking "enough" photos until I sat down tonight and uploaded them and realized I will have more than enough for my album.

Here's a look at my Monday: 

Monday mornings after our time without any kids is usually really quiet. It’s the calm before the tornado of kids descends upon the house after school. 

Today I started my day feeding the cats, doing a load of laundry, making a cup of coffee, checking social media, and then sitting outside to read and drink my cup of coffee. The weather this week is looking awesome and sitting outside is a great way to start the day - I should be able to do this when kids are here too. 

My day always begins with medications (thyroid, mood-stabilizer, allergy) + vitamins.

Our dog Woody passed away before our Spring Break trip to Hawaii so pet detail has simplified some. It's so strange to be able to have the doors to the outside open without everyone freaking out that Woody would get outside. He loved to take off and explore the neighborhood but he was really hard to get back into the house. 

During this project I often think a lot about the person I am vs. the person I want to be or the person I aspire to be or the person I sometimes imagine myself to be. 

I am a mix of all these thoughts and emotions and aspirations.

But really, I'm just me. 

I like routines. I like flowers. I like books. I like sunshine. I like working. I like yoga. I like coffee. I like writing. I like taking pictures. I like learning. 

And I love being married to Aaron and that we blended our crazy crews into one. 

The wisteria is in bloom. It was one of the reasons I loved this house when we bought it nine years ago. 

Getting outside and reading in the morning is something I'm really trying to cultivate. I just started this one called You Are Here after a friend shared it with me last week. Loving it for my morning reading. 

This is Sam. He's the one who spends most of the day in his basket in my office. 

Aaron and I fondly refer to him as our child. He's the one who is also often found sleeping in between or on top of us in our bed. He is super, super soft and probably one of the best cats ever born. 

After my morning stuff I head up to my office where I check email, send out a One Little Word® email, post a video on YouTube, and start working on deliverables for the Listen Story Kit. 

I also set an alarm for 11:30 to make sure I don’t miss yoga at noon.

These days Katie works from her own house most of the time. We chat when we need to and have meetings and all that good stuff but there's no reason she has to be sitting here in my house when she can do the same stuff from the comfort of her own house. We've got a good rhythm. 

Aaron is a sleep-in kind of guy. I'd already been up for a few hours before I finally saw him in the kitchen. 

Cantaloupe wrapped in prosciutto for a pre-yoga snack. 

This is Ernie. He's the newest cat addition (last summer). He's awesome and I love that he loves sitting in this window area. 

I am so proud of myself for showing up to yoga on Monday’s at noon. I think I’ve gone three weeks straight now and its just become a part of what I do on Monday.

During this project I often find myself paying attention to in-between times. To the times when it might not feel like I have enough time to start a task when in reality I do. 

I added some meal plan ideas for the week to our chalkboard

And, yep, as you will see I wore my yoga clothes all day. 

Snack after yoga included hard boiled eggs + Everything But The Bagel seasoning from Trader Joes and an orange. 

After a little more work it was time to go pick up Anna from school. Simon's been choosing to ride the bus home from school which seems to be giving him a nice decompression time. 

I totally didn't notice that you could see our house via the back window until I was going back through my photos tonight. 

Love that about this shot. 

As soon as Anna got in the car today she told me that she and a couple friends want to do a Hamilton song at the talent show at their school. I was so excited that she's interested because I love it so, so much. Totally fun to chat about the story and the music as we drove. She wants to be Eliza. 

I love picking her up from school and am so thankful I am able to do it.  

After picking her up we did a quick grocery stop for spinach, bananas, eggs, and broccoli. 

Back at home I usually do some dinner prep or head back to my office. Today I decided to make some cookies before cooking dinner. I went with these breakfast cookies from Real Food Whole Life. They were awesome. 

Dinner tonight was salmon and roasted Brussel sprouts, delicata squash, small potatoes, and asparagus. Super easy to just chop up all those vegetables and roast them in the oven and use the grill for the salmon. We've got one kid who won't eat salmon at all - he made himself a breakfast sandwich. 

Simon has shown an interest in learning to play the guitar which is awesome. Today he was watching a how-to video on YouTube and practicing with one of Aaron's guitars. 

The lilacs are also exploding right now. I can't bring these ones inside because they really make my allergies go crazy. 

The cookies. 

I don't usually plant too many annuals but this year I decided I wanted a bright yellow pot of these beauties. 

We do casual dinners since it's often the case that someone is at an activity. Tonight people ate in waves and some were outside and some were inside. We roll with it. 

Something is almost always happening in the kitchen. Isaac is almost always making a face. Aaron was emptying the dishwasher. 

Anna + Audrey had some neighbor friends stop by and they continued to sign Hamilton songs and laugh. Love having all kinds of kids around here and I am so happy to have nice weather. 

Cleaning it all up. 

I love when the light changes as the day comes to a close. 

When I came upstairs to upload photos the girls brought in some of their favorite coloring books. They recently asked for me to get them the same ones so that they could color the same picture at the same time. They've got some kind of game going where they close their eyes and select the pen colors before coloring. 

I walked downstairs and found Aaron at the puzzle. He sits there for breakfast and works on it in the morning too. 

Isaac on his loft bed snuggling Ernie. He was on the hunt for some lost rubix cubes. 

Aaron calls this bed the "nest."

Aaron drove Simon to Boy Scouts and picked up Elliott from basketball practice and then they were the second wave of dinner. He's currently doing both Ultimate Frisbee and Basketball. 

At the end of the day I come back to the idea of gratitude again and again. Taking photos is a way to practice gratitude and I often capture shots of things I'm thankful for whether they are people, places, things, or emotions. I love seeing the real life reflected back to me. We don't live in a perfectly clean, neat and tidy house and I'm so completely fine with that and I want that to be a part of my documentation. 

This is what my life looks like right now. 

I wouldn't trade us for anything. 

Walking down the hallway to my office this is the reflection of the light from the windows on my wall. 

Here's to this week!

Tomorrow's theme for me is "observing." I'll be keeping that in mind as I go about my day and seeing what kinds of photos come from the concept of "observing."


You are invited to share a link to your Monday words + photos in the comments below. 

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33 thoughts

  1. cornybeard says…
    05/07/2019

    This this post and your words, Ali. Hope you have a lovely week. Here's my Monday:http://shesees.co.uk/week-in-the-life-2019-mondays-stories/

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. argirl says…
    05/07/2019

    I LOVE this project. I haven't made a blog post yet but I think I will later this morning. I don't think I've blogged since last year during WITL. Writing my thoughts has been on my mind lately-to get back in the habit of doing so. So, I am excited to share my thoughts and pictures from this week and hopefully get into some sort of rhythm again.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. kelsterjean says…
    05/07/2019

    What a stellar but simply awesome Monday. I love reading what you right and seeing what you capture. I also thought I wasn’t taking enough photos but realize I had a lot.

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. scrapfin1 says…
    05/07/2019

    I love this post......and project.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. CarolineMcD says…
    05/07/2019
    Reply 0 Replies
  6. nerdgrl says…
    05/07/2019

    Love the idea of "I like..." With no kids/grandkids (but one VERY spoiled pampered princess puppy who just turned 4) our lives are pretty routine. I splurged and bought the bundle and the additional stamp set, so I'm determined to see the week through. I'll also be stopping at Trader Joe's for that seasoning!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. MrsKnight says…
    05/07/2019

    We have been house hunting, and other friends have sold homes and are looking for new ones. We are all just rearranging ourselves in the same town. Someone asked me, in front of my husband, what I mainly look for in a house. It made me pause. I answered, "first is the light". "It has to have good light and a window over the kitchen sink. I can live with anything else." It was so funny to see my husband of 20 years stop cold and learn something about me he never thought to ask! When I saw the pictures in this post, it made me think of where you are on the street, and how the light would be totally different (and non-existent at some times) if you were even just two doors down. You do have a great house!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      05/07/2019

      Yes! So much about the light!!!

  8. hgauvin says…
    05/07/2019

    I love to read how you document your day. I need some wisteria in my yard. I like to know that my obsession with in-between times is the same as yours. I always have enough time but never think I do. It's nice to know I'm not alone. I actually sat down this morning (at work - shhhh!) and put words to my photos from Monday. I don't think I've ever done that before. It's a game changer and I'm wondering... who is this person??? Ha!

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. bearcatlady03 says…
    05/07/2019

    Your backyard is beautiful! Love all the flowers and greenery.

    Here is my Monday:
    http://www.mandyjoyloves.com/2019/05/week-in-life-2019-monday.html

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. nirupama01 says…
    05/07/2019

    I love seeing all of the inspiration.

    Just one day in and this project has been so uplifting for me. In the fog of PPD that I didn’t know how to get out of, it has been really nice.

    Thank you.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/BxI2KBajXZx/?igshid=qco471lw23dl

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      05/07/2019

      Sending you all kinds of love.

  11. argirl says…
    05/07/2019

    https://stiglets.blogspot.com/ I FINALLY blogged!!!!!

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      05/07/2019

      Awesome!

  12. anniesamuels says…
    05/07/2019

    Thank you, Ali. Your perspective and your words always inspire me so much and, in the process, also lift me up. You are awesome and I love you.

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      05/07/2019

      Love you! Thank you!

  13. carriek333 says…
    05/07/2019

    Love this! I had a full day of photos too even though I felt like I hadn't taken many pics. Can't wait to see how my week turns out. Wish I had a brighter house! Where do you keep puzzle when you're not working on it??

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      05/07/2019

      We have a closet full of puzzles and games that is across from the living room.

  14. Jeannew says…
    05/07/2019

    Just love your words and perspective. Also love that you and Aaron are totally accepting of your different morning routines. I hope my husband and I can do that too when we are empty nesters next year.

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. kccrow says…
    05/07/2019

    This is my first time doing this project and after the first day I am looking forward to an exercise in more storytelling-type photography. I am seeing so many opportunities that I missed yesterday and hope to be more intentional about it today. https://www.kccrow.com/2019/05/07/a-week-in-the-life-monday-stories/

    Reply 1 Reply
    1. AliEdwards says…
      05/07/2019

      You've got this!

  16. kre8tivekate says…
    05/07/2019

    I adore the photo of the cats at their dishes. They are in exactly the same position, tails and all. LOVE that!

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. rosiechristine says…
    05/07/2019

    I'm just so excited that it's WITL - it's almost like a holiday to me after all of these years...rituals and anticipation and surprises. I love following along with your week, Ali. It's funny how much I remember from your past projects. As I read along today I smiled a lot at the new things and also the things that have stayed the same. Namaste, lovely lady.
    https://rosiechristine.com/week-in-the-life-monday-may-6-2019/

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Amandainuk says…
    05/07/2019

    What I love about these photos is the light. Down here in Australia it is autumn. I wake just after 5:30 and it’s dark. Leave for work - sun just coming up. In the office all day. Leave the office - sun setting. Get home - almost dark. So the photos I take are very different. Can’t wait for the weekend and LIGHT!

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. lizness says…
    05/07/2019

    I really love and am resonating with your intention behind observation. =)

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. StudioM says…
    05/08/2019

    Thank you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. MeliF says…
    05/08/2019

    I've said it elsewhere, but I love this project so, so much. Thank you for the invitation to look at our lives in this way. So happy to get tiny details down that would otherwise be forgotten. Can't believe I ended up with nearly 2 pages worth of words for Monday!
    https://mbellishedsite.wordpress.com/2019/05/08/week-in-the-life-looking-at-monday/

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. fannyathome says…
    05/08/2019

    Thank you for sharing!! Always so inspiring. I'm doing this project for the 10th year this year and it's hard to believe!! My boys are 10 years old and I'm so glad I've been documenting a week in the life since they were 1. Here's a look at my Monday: https://fannyathome.com/2019/05/witl-2019-monday.html
    Happy Week!!

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. MonicaMcNeill says…
    05/08/2019

    I'm sharing a few moments each day over Instagram from my phone. Excited to see what I've captured on my camera. https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/mmweekinthelifemonday/

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. denisegibb says…
    05/08/2019

    Even though I have never participated in Week in the Life, I have followed along for years. I think I'll do it next time around because your post today struck me at how beautiful regular life can be. I need to look for that more often in my own. Thanks for sharing - so inspiring!

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. 217Liz says…
    05/09/2019

    Hi Ali! What does the symbol on the poster by your chalkboard mean? Just curious.
    As always, thanks for sharing your life with us! :)

    Liz

    Reply 0 Replies

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