Week in the Life 2017

So i had the best of intentions to get my Week in the Life done last year "real time"...I did the project on Becky Higgin's Project Life app.  I used the Currently Edition designed by Peppermint Grandberg (One Little Bird) and overlays from Just Add color (also in the app).  I really had the best of intentions and even had a number of layouts done..but it was that final part of finishing that took me almost a year.  This year I vow to do better!! I will still use the Project Life app - but now with FFT (Free Form text) I am sure it will be SO MUCH easier.....

If you haven't heard yet about this new option, take a look at Becky's blog here and join her Facebook group here.  I was able to use some great freebie dates that Mommyish shared to her newsletter readers as well.  Plus there are a few digital items from various Ali Edwards kits - since of course she is the driving force behind this awesome documenting..  She has had some great posts getting everyone ready for this year's Week in the Life which is this week coming up - May 7th through 13th.

I have Ali's digital cards from 2016's kit as well a whole years worth of Storyteller digital kits that are calling my name...I feel confident that I have plenty of supplies but I definitely need to work on my timeliness....  keep an eye out for more regular posts here on the blog, including my 2017 December Daily which I finished a few weeks ago and finally got a chance to photograph...

So without further adieu - enjoy the picture heavy post!

Cover

 Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday - girls night out!

Thursday - celebrating my son's bday early

Friday - headed out of town for a real girl's weekend!

Saturday's festivities with the gals

Sunday - headed back home on the train - it's good to be home!

Closing page of my album

Hope you enjoyed my project.  I am excited to follow along again this year - and while my documenting may not be perfect its certainly something that my family will enjoy in the years to come!  Thanks for sticking with me!

December Daily Catch-Up: Days 3 - 6 with Holly

I'm sharing more of my progress today on December Daily 2016. Go back to this post to see how I set myself up, to do this project as a digi book this year. I am still deciding whether I will print this as a 6x8 book, or print the pages and put them in a binder.

Day 3 was actually a two-parter. We spent the afternoon at Auntie Deb's making dough ornaments, before heading out to the Morton Arboretum Illuminations. I felt both deserved a 2-page spread. The first page features "Holly" papers & elements by Amber LaBau Designs. I'm also using her Story Grid, Vol. 2 (modified) on the left side.

Day 3, Part 2. The Morton Arboretum Illuminations was beautiful!
Credits: Amber LaBau City Sidewalks Pocket Cards & Elements. Ali Edwards' 6x8 December Stories Layered Templates.

Day 4 was another awesome holiday tradition that we just started last year, our trip out to a tree farm to chop down our Christmas Tree! This place is so picturesque, especially with the snowfall we got while there! I loved the horse-drawn wagon ride in the snow with those majestic Clydesdales!
Credits: Sahin Design's Holiday Collection, Template: Story Grids, Vol. 2 (modified) by Amber LaBau Designs.

With so many great photos and memories from Day 4, it got another 2-page spread. I had some sweet pocket cards from The Crafty Pocket. I suggest checking out her shop for some coordinating flair!
Credits: Happy Christmas, Story Grids, Vol. 2 (modified) by Amber LaBau Designs, Holiday Hand-drawn Phrases and Holiday Word Art, Vol. 2 by Ali Edwards.

Day 5, this was our tree trimming, which actually occurred the day before (shhhh!). When there is an event on the day, I put it in that slot. If I don't have anything related to that date, I fill in. This project is about doing what works and not sweating the small stuff. Like Ali Edwards says, "It's about the stories". Credits: MPM, December Wonder  and Ali Edwards' 6x8 layered templates.

Day 6, Brunch with Santa. Again, this occurred on Saturday, but I'm putting it here and talking about the kids pictures with Santa, or non-pictures.... I'm using the December Wonder MPM (a subscription at the Lilypad).  Most of the cards shown are by Paislee Press. This monthly collection is a collaboration of designers at The Lilypad.

Thanks for catching up with me and December Daily!
Holly | www.paintedladiesjournal.com
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Setting Up My Digi "Document Your December"

Have you been enjoying the beginning of your December? Did you decide to do a scrapbook project just for this month? This is only my second year doing one. Last year I created a physical book. I decided to go digital this year. I think it will be very easy to keep up with, especially if I have my digi kit pulled together in one place. And if you haven't started yet, it's not too late! Start now, who says it has to start December 1. Or maybe you've already been taking photos.

I made one folder on my computer called "2016_DYD." I also have a folder under here called "2016_Photos" to dump the pictures into, on a daily (or even weekly) basis! Here's a screenshot of my folder structure:

You need a few basic things to have organized. 

• Calendar of Events
• December kit (elements, papers, cards)
• Template assortment (I'm going with 6x8)
• Numbering System           

Calendar of Events. I like to look ahead at local events and known commitments we have for the Holiday season and put them on a calendar. I use Google Calendar and make one called "Holiday Schedule". Then, I just google events going on and put them in when they work. You can see that I've got a lot of blank spots. "Elf Mischief" can fill in where needed. There are lots of stories about the holidays that can be told to fill in those days that don't have things going on. Stocking on the fireplace, story behind a specific ornament on the tree, favorite holiday food.

Your December Kit. First, pick your kit. Amber LaBau's new release last month, "City Sidewalks" was just a perfect fit for me. Here's the paper and element kit. Here are the coordinating cards.

You will also see me using this kit in this year's Document Your December. This is Holly Papers and Holly Elements.

Template Assortment. I purchased some of the Ali Edward 6x8 layered templates this year to use for this project. 

I wanted more variety, though. So, I took the Amber LaBau Story Grids and modified them to 6x8. The Story Grid v2 works best for this, but I recommend the whole collection of story grids for 12x12 pages. They are a nice change of pace! They are bundles into two collections. 

Story Grids Anthology | Vol 1 and Story Grids Anthology | Vol 2

I'm also mixing it up with a combination of photo overlays. Ali Edward's combo pack and Amber LaBau's 3x4 overlay set and 4x6 overlay set. These also come as pdf printables, if you are doing a hybrid project.

Numbering System. I wanted an alternative option for number my days (or events). I will also be mixing these Countdown Cards Vol. 1 and Vol. 2. I like that I can used these as cards with journaling, or as stamps over paper or photos. The other great thing about them is that they are not December specific.

Here are a few of my first pages! Our elf arrives on December 1st, so that is my typical first layout...I know the elf gets mixed reviews, but my kiddos are so excited and happy to see him! And that makes me happy.

Day Two was a holiday stroll in our neighborhood. I'm still waiting for the image of the photo with Santa to come from the photographer!
Stay tuned to social media for more layouts all month! @paintedladiesjournal

Holly: Week in the Life Day 7 - Photos and Words

Ok, this may be my favorite starting 6x8 photo of the week. I took the time to "move" the fork over to the side since it was smack dab in the middle and bring it on top of Ali Edward's stamp.

Christy woke at 7AM and headed over to her new place to get a few things and shower there. I slept a little more and then lay in bed editing WITL photos on my phone.

09:00 AM. GOT UP. Showered. Heavenly.

Bought the frappuccino at CVS last night in anticipation of needing coffee in the morning with little or no choices in her barren, almost moved-out-of apartment. Check out the caveman/woman salt & pepper shakers...

This is my new favorite sister picture. I can't believe it's the only one we took. Glad it's a good one. Okay, there is one more later on. Wait for it...

Saw this cool mural on our walk to the cafe.

It wasn't hard to talk my sister into going out for breakfast. Hee. Hee. My reasoning was that we'd work through lunch and have a good dinner later, so better have a filling breakfast. Did I mention that I would be helping her purge stuff and pack stuff this weekend?

I soon figured out why my sister chose this place. I think the bartenders that work here are required to have beards and tattoos. And maybe half sporting some man-bunnage. So, I had to be asked twice if I was rum added to my creamy cappuccino indulgence. My immediate response was NOOOOO. Then, my sister quickly answered YESSS for her's, so I felt like a smuck. It was our only chance to booze it up. So, when the bartender looked back to me with a raise eyebrow, I said, "Ah hell, ok".  Well....I couldn't stomach it. I think it had 4 fingers of rum in it. I stirred the hell out of it, hoping I just needed to mix it better. After getting a few inches down, somehow, I asked a different bartender to please add some more coffee on the sly (I didn't want to the one who made it to feel bad). My sister did the same. LOL!!!

We not only order the same drink, but also the same meal. Which came with this, AND that huge pancake at the beginning of this day's photos. I didn't eat the pancake, but brought it home...it never got eaten. I had 2 eggs over easy and Sis had scrambled. Yum.

We walked across the street to Koppa's just to read the funny labels. "Tedious Pistachios" LOL! We liked that one the best. I was imagining this guy in the back, cracking himself up, creating labels. On our way out, we each, inconspicuously grabbed a stack of free newspapers for packing dishes...

First thing we did when we got back, was start unloading the storage locker unit. I was impressed that stuff didn't fall out on us when the door was opened. hee. hee.

1:00PM Mom and Dad arrive. We were sorting through clothes, trying to purge stuff. (I was adding a few new items to my own collection - cute tops, capri's, yay).

Dad ran over to Whole Foods right away and brought back sandwiches, chips & guac, and lemonade soda. Yum. Good Job, Daddio. He didn't understand all the photo-taking.

Wow, we got through ALL the clothes in this closet and that were in storage. Lots to take to Salvation Army, which was next on our list.

I went with Christy to drop off FIVE bags of donations! That felt good. And then we went to take a few items to the new place.

This is the new place. In a very residential part of Milwaukee. She has a roomie from work now. 

 

I loved noticing all the remnants of my Great Aunt & Uncle's home at Christy's place. That is a coaster with a picture of them on it.

And this is a painting of Benji, their "dog son" from their home. Benji was a puppy when I was a puppy and passed away when I was in college. He was loyal to his family (including us) but don't mess with the family car. Don't come near it. Definitely don't go in it when he was in it. He was loyal... and very protective of their cars.

Ok, this is the part where my Type A Big Sister Personality stepped in. Packing dishes. Poor mom. She tried to just get it done. But I had to re-do the few boxes she had started and had about 5 boxes going at once, trying to fit different size items in the open spots in each box, until they were nicely and solidly packed. Well, that way, nothing slides and around. Everything fits in the box. And it closes. And then the boxes can be stacked. 

Lots of boxes packed. Time for dinner. Mom looked up a Gluten-Free option. Not because she is picky, but because she is a Celiac. She found a sandwich shop (I was surprised) but we all walked over there glad that she found something she could have. Unfortunately, when we walked in the stench was overwhelming. And then my Dad labeled it. A Butcher Shop. Wow. That made it even more disgusting. This place is GF?? And then I saw a little line at the bottom of the menu, 

Gluten-Free Bread......$1.99

Um, no, probably not very safe for a Celiac. Since we couldn't stand the smell a minute longer, we stepped back outside to discuss out options. And then, Christy's nose started bleeding. Again! Mom was bummed.....

AND I WANTED A FAMILY PHOTO.  lol. Sis wasn't very happy with me, but when I sent her to her later that week she said she had NO IDEA our parents were being goofballs and loved it. I had permission to use it however I saw fit. So, here's our awesome family photo from the weekend. I think this is the only time we have all been together without my kids since said kids have been in existence.

Plan B. Mom walked Christy back home to take care of her nose problem. Dad and I walked over to QDoba to get some naturally GF burrito bowls.... yum. All is good.

Ok, here's that other photo of my sister and I, as promised. It' odd. I don't quite understand what I'm looking at, except that it IS my sister and I with parts of our faces swapped. I have her nose and lips and eyes/eyebrows. But it's my teeth, glasses, forehead and hair. I was dying. She introduced me to SnapChat where you can faceswap...oh my. She didn't say I had permission to use this photo, but she didn't say I couldn't, either...

We all watched a movie while eating our QDoba from the limited collection. "Stolen." I shrieked when the motorcycle cop turned around it was my husband's BFF. lol. And we had to rewind and rewatch his whole sequence of lines before he was killed by the bad guy.

And this concludes and Photos and Words for Week in the Life 2016! My first WITL project and I'm really enjoying it so far. And now to get to the "making" of the album!!

Holly | www.paintedladiesjournal.com

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