10.26.2014

Week in the Life™ 2014 | my preparations + video


Hello! This past week I spent time photographing and documenting a regular week in our lives. I've captured things like how our bed looks unmade, the giant stack of stuffed animals in my daughter's room, places we went, things we did. The regular and the new. It was a good week. Busy week. But a good week.

During the week I don't have much time to put things together. My focus is on living life and capturing it as I can in words and photos.

But I did get a chance to prepare some things before the week and it really helped me get in the mindset and get excited about it.

So I thought I would share a few of my preparations for Week in the Life™with you here.

A little backstory: Week in the Life™ is a project created by Ali Edwards to capture a regular week in our lives. You can watch a video from Ali and read more about that here.

I have tackled the project once a year since 2011. Have completed a full project once. My 2012 and 2013 albums are still in progress. You can find my 2011 album here.

The great thing this year is that Ali has created a kit that can make the project easier. You can find that here. If it is sold out, you can absolutely create your own kit. I have for the past three years and have loved it. You can read about my 2012 plan here.

Also be sure to check out Ali's post about getting ready here. Lots of good information and inspiration. Basically all you need!

Please note even though I am on Ali's digital creative team, I would be using her digital templates anyways, as you can tell from my past projects. I'm just super thankful I can use the digital supplies and show inspiration on these products this year. Otherwise, I have no affiliation with Ali for this kit. Just sharing things I love and hoping to inspire you too!

When I was getting ready for the week, I was inspired by Kristin to share a bit more about the kit. Check out her awesome post of preparation here.

Here is a video about my preparations + photos below. Let me know if you have any questions and if you like this type of video. I can do shorter but often I get carried away in details. Let me know as I am considering sharing more video here similar to what I do in classes.



2014 Week in the LIfe™ Preparations from Annette Haring on Vimeo.
Sharing my preparations for Week in the Life™ 2014 using the Ali Edwards kit + supplies from my stash.

And here are some photos of my preparations. Album with title page on the left, supplies from the kit + my stash on the right. I use paper trays from Target for my organization and as well as trays, baskets, etc. The little white bowls you see in the box are from Ikea and the round ones are from Target. The really small one is an antique butter pat dish. Love those and things like Jello molds for organizing the little things. But that's for another post.


Adore these kraft bags. Link at the end of the post. I even bought a set to use in last year's too!


A look at my title page so far. I painted the chipboard numbers to white and used the 2x2 pocket page for them. They fit perfect with the added paint and may not even need stitching! I think I will add a 2x2 page at the very end for consistency too.


Will be using the 3x8 daily sheets for documenting each day. On the back I can use photos, more journaling cards / more stories. A collage of receipts would be cool too but I think that's what I will be using in the daily bags.


And just a final note about my camera gear. Like I mentioned in the video, I was feeling a bit down because I didn't have an awesome lifestyle / documentary type lens. My kit lens has died so I don't have a wide angle anymore and then there is the wish that I had a better camera body, etc. This older rebel is five years old now. I happened upon this post at Clickin Moms and it hit me: love the camera you have. So I embraced the cameras and used what I had this week. And you know? It was awesome. I loved trying to play with my Olloclip more. I backed way up and tried lots of angles with my 50mm. I think I did a good job. At least for where I am now. It was good. 

So if you are feeling similarly, I give you this challenge: use the camera you have. At least we can get some photos. At least we can capture life. Isn't that what it's all about?




Ali Edwards Stamp Set Giveaway!!

And as a reward for making it through this post, I have a small give away! I am crazy in love with the AE kit and so I bought two. Yes, I am crazy! The only thing I don't need is two stamp sets. 

So if you would like to be entered to win this awesome stamp set, leave a comment below sharing a comment about Week in the Life. It could be your approach for week in the life. Any tips, when you are doing it. If it your first time. What you love about it. What supplies you are using. If you found this post and video helpful. Any of the above would work. 

I'll pick a random winner next Sunday, Nov 2nd. Good luck!!


Other supplies:
If you have any questions about supplies or help with Week in the Life, let me know!

And one last thing: be sure to check out Ali's free Week in the Life community on her site here. It will be a great source of inspiration and motivation. Also, I printed her daily sheets and used them this week as well. Some days I was better than others. Hoping to fill some more in today.

Have a great week!


66 comments:

  1. Love your video and how you organized before doing the WITL. Your an inspiration! Thanks for the chance to win the awesome stamp set!

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  2. I would love to actually go through with it one day.. I have drooled and followed others as they put it together, but it has just always seemed too intimidating to me....maybe one day ill muster up the courage to actually go thru with it!!!

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    1. Thank you so much Ali! And thank you for all your inspiration!

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  4. Excited to do this for the first time... Documented my week after back surgery and took pics of family and friends who helped out our family!

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  5. Hello!

    I am a new follower to your blog and just started working on scrapbooking since I moved to Germany. This post is quite inspiring and hopefully I'll eventually be able to create pretty things like you do!

    Love,
    Jenn

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  6. You have convinced me to do WITL for the first time. I have done Dec Daily before but not this project. Buying the kit isn't in my budget right now but it is a great excuse for me to use up some of my supplies. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  7. I loved your video. I am going to concentrate on telling the stories this week and not worry about the photos I take ... and don't take.. :) Thanks for the chance (I don't think my first comment posted.)

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  8. Love the video!! Not only how your album looks right now, but also how you store the kit and supplies & showing your notes. I'm planning to do December Daily this year and this is very helpful for that as well! Thanks for inspiration!!

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  9. Loved your video! and am impressed with your prep for WITL. I started on it today, but don't have the kit. I would love to win the stamp set. Thanks for the giveaway!

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    1. hey there! not sure if you saw the next post, but you are the random winner! Please email me at annetteharing@yahoo.com and I can mail it to you!

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  10. Your video makes me want to do a WITL! I think I'm gonna try but I don't know if I'm gonna do this this week because it is vacation time! As I can't afford the kit right now, I'm gonna create my own cards and I'll add this to my PL, I love having everything in the same place!
    Thanks a lot for the chance to win this stamp!!

    Aline

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  11. Wow! Great video. You are so much more organized than I am, even with my kit. And thank you for the still shots too! Don't enter me in the drawing since I have my own AE kit, but thank you so much for the inspiration.

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  12. I had thought about doing this but had decided I had too many other projects going on. But now after watching your video, I think I will take it on. I want to try to make it as simple as I can so that I will complete it in real time. I don't want to spend anymore on new projects so I will shop my own stash. I already have 6x8 binders, page protectors and plenty of things that would be perfect for this.

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  13. I've never done A Week in the Life but I really want to!

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  14. Just wanted to say Thank you for sharing :) I love your organisation. The only thing I have done is set up alarms to remind me to keep up with taking photos :) PS. Sorry if I've double posted, the first post seems to have been gobbled up in cyber space :P

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  15. I will be embarking on this project for the first time this year. I plan to use some studio calico project life kits I have on hand but would LOVE to add Ali's kit to it! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  16. Great post, I got several ideas out of it. Thank you so much for sharing it !

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  17. Hi and thanks for the chance to win. Very inspiring post - I tried WITL about 4 years ago and still haven't put together the album. But if I won this kit, I think I'd have a better starting point, since everything coordinates and Ali makes it look so easy!

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  18. Great post! I don't have Ali's kit but I am going to document this week using what I have on hand. This will be my 3rd time doing this! It's always fun to look back on!

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  19. Love the cover page. I can't wait to outline mine. I usually wait til I take a vacation home to complete the week. But I think this year I will complete my daily life.

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  20. Last year I try to do it but I didn´t finish it. This year I have already prepared the album. Thanks for sharing your process

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  21. Love your video. I'm thinking my album approach through before I embark on my WITL tomorrow. I've participated in this project for several years now and love it.

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  22. Fabulous post with great ideas and inspiration on how to approach this project! Thank you for sharing and thank you for the chance to win!

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  23. loved your video!!! And I WANT that SC transparency...so bummed I don't have it!! Cute!!

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  24. And I had to look up Tracy Larson after you mentioned her and I love those WEEK IN REVIEW cards...if I don't use them in WITL, they will be a PL 2015 staple!!! Thanks!!

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  25. Oh my....I love that stamp. I am working on getting my pages ready as we speak :)

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  26. Love the stamp....& Love you, Annette!!! You are such an inspiration to this working mom! YOU ROCK!!!!

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  27. I've never done WITL, but the more I read about it, the more excited I get!!

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  28. The video was very inspiring, right after I went rummaging through my stash to find cards that would work. I also loved the way you used the 2x2 pocket page as a see through intro page...going to steal that idea for sure!

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  29. Thank you so much for the video! This is my first time ever completing WITL and I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Seeing your layouts help put me at ease and a give-away is even better!! Bring on tomorrow!!

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  30. Just completed my first WITL last week. Now time to organize it all. Love your video and photos.

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  31. This will be my first attempt at WITL. I was just planning on using my stash. This stamp would be great to incorporate. Can't wait to start.

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  32. This will be my first WITL album and I'm so excited to start tomorrow. Thanks for sharing your preparation process! I loved your video :)

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  33. I have never done WITL. However, I keep seeing it and reading about it and you are inspiring me to give it a whirl! I can't wait to go back and look at your 2011 album.

    The stamp set just might send me over the edge and help me 'just do it'!

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  34. Thanks for the Chance! I like creating a week-overview spread that compares the basics of each day! Breakfast, wake up times, exercise routines, etc!

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  35. eek! so excited to enter!

    oh week in the life. I've known about it for about two+ years now but was always too chicken to do it, for some reason or another. I'm so so excited to be taking part this year. My go to supplies are the WRMK 8.5 x 11 binder and pages along with some of my own journaling card designs.

    thanks so much annette!

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  36. Live how you've set everything up, esp the numbers on the first page! I'm documenting this week and hoping to keep it up! Thanks for the chance to win the stamp!

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  37. Your video made me excited to do week in the life. Thanks for sharing.

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  38. Love this, thanks, I had no idea how to set up week in the life, now I do :) xx

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  39. You are so organised. What an inspiration. Like A Diedrick I've been tempted but not done this… yet. Please share your completed album too. And thanks for the chance to win the lovely stamp set.

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  40. Love this, the title, the album...please finish it this year as I can't wait to see your finished album!!!

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  41. Love your style! Your video was inspiring and helpful.

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  42. Alexandra from the NetherlandsOctober 27, 2014 at 5:56 AM

    Hi Annette, really helpful to see and watch your preparations. This will be my 2nd year doing Week in the Life. I love to take a lot of pictures and most of all reading and looking back how this particular Week in my life was. So this year I made my own Week in the Life kit by using products from my stash, most of it comes from the Studio Calico Project Life kits (I finally are able to use them, yeah ;-) ! ) And for me I have to be a little more patience this week since Saturday my left ankle is bruised, so I can hardly walk, have to take time to rest so I have to adjust to a completely different schedule as anticipated :-) But as Ali says: ´You can DO this´ so I´ll try to stick to that and my motto is ´It goes the way it goes´ so someday I will have more pictures and other days less as long as I take the time to write down the stories of my life this week. Looking forward to your completed album! Thanks again :-)

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  43. This is my third year doing WITL and I love these albums. I will take photos and notes throughout the week and complete my album next week. I did some pre-planning, like how I would like to include the journaling, the photos and memorabilia. I can't wait to put it together!

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  44. This is my first time doing WITL, and I'm super excited! I'm a 16 year old scrapbooker. Life moves so fast and changes so quickly, so I really love the idea of documenting what a week in my life is like right now, at 16, in October 2014. Not sure what I will do for the album yet...I'm thinking about stripping an old chipboard 81/2 by 11 album and decorating the cover, so that I don't have to buy a brand new album. This week I'll just focus on taking the pictures and getting the words down. So excited about this! :)

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    1. Hannah, that is so awesome! I love that idea and definitely that will work! Check out Ali's past projects as she previously did 8.5x11. It will be awesome!

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  45. I was sitting on the edge about doing this project. After reading this post, I'm ready to give it a go. Thanks for the inspiration!

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  46. Thank you very very much for sharing!!! Although sometimes life is not as we want it, we should be thankful each day, so i decided to make WITL no matter what still being my life and still being blessed.

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  47. Hi! I have some SC PL stuff and I have been trying to start one but it is still in my mind. I know it would save me time so I can capture more of those daily life moments. Thanks for the inspiration! This might be the week if I can get over the idea that everything has to be organized just so.

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    1. Yep, just do it!! Even if you just come away with 1 or 2 awesome pics that you use in a layout, it's worth trying! That's what I did in 2010.

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  48. Thank you so much for sharing your process with a video tutorial. It was very helpful. I have decided to push on with WITL no matter how many photos I end up with. When life is crazy, you tend to forget the important parts like taking just everyday photos. This is a personal challenge for me to be more aware of our everyday at my house. Thanks again for the motivation to do this project...and for the chance to win!

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    1. I know, right? I drool over Ali's awesome wide shots. I think they give such a great documentarian feel. Someday! For now, I actually got some pretty decent wide angle shots with my point and shoot of all things! It's 24mm and then my iPhone + Olloclip! So we make it work, right? Have fun!!

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  49. Throughout the week I use the daily sheets. I print them all and group each day. Then each day i carry around the daily sheet to jot down thoughts, photo notes, and keep up with the timeline. Love this stamp set and look forward to using it to put together my album.

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    1. I only used them sporadically, which is sad. I'm going to go back and fill in what I can from memory and using my photos. Finally got them all rounded up and starting to go through them. Such an awesome but big project!

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  50. So love all the helpful tips and photos! Especially LOVE your "use the camera you have" as I'm repeatedly saying "if only I had this or that camera", TFS!

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  51. Annette, as always, you do such a crazy good job of your projects! My goal this week is to focus more on the stories and less on the embellishments. Keepin' it simple! I didn't buy an AE kit because I have so much 'stuff'! But that stamp set is truly adorable and would definitely help tell the stories of my week! Thanks for doing this little giveaway. Blessings!

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  52. Loved seeing your book Annette. It helps inspire me to actually see the book going together. I love the stamp set and would love to win it!
    Thank you for giving it away.
    Cecilia Reyes

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  53. I am impressed how you got your book together before the WIL documentation! Inspires me not to sit back and wait. Thank you for sharing! Elizabeth Link

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  54. Your video and post has been a tremendous inspiration!!!!! Thank you!!

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  55. Thank you so much for the great video. It has inspired me to get 'going' on my WITL... thanks..

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  56. I loved this post and the video. This is my first time doing week in the life and I'm very excited. Thanks for the opportunity to win! - Jessica Aceves

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  57. Thanks so much for sharing your plan! I'm in HK so almost a day ahead of most people doing WITL and really needed some inspiration. Thanks for the chance to win too! - Katie

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  58. I love seeing your layouts. So beautiful and inspiring. I can't wait to get my craft stuff back and start creating!

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  59. Hello, thank you so much for this video and all the fun you put into it and this project. I'm enjoying taking pictures this week and can't wait to get them all into my album. So glad Ali inspires us to do this every year, this year has really tugged at my heart. The ages and stages of my kids now are so different from the from the first year I did this project. So much has changed from even last year, it's sad yet exciting at the same time.
    I can't wait to see your finished album, your off to a great start. Thanks for always inspiring and sharing with us. Your videos are helpful and you explain things well so thank you and keep them up please.
    Have a great night trick/treating tomorrow.

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  60. Love this post - very helpful. The album I created last year is one of my favorites. This year I haven't taken too many photos but I have a lot of journaling to do, so it will be full of text!

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