A Sleepy Blue Ocean

Just a few things keeping me going this winter

2012-01-27T09:42:00.000-08:00

Every winter my hands become super dry and ONLY this bee bar has saved me from "human sandpaper syndrome". I was introduced to it years ago by my best friend it's my go-to lotion when regular lotion won't work. It's natural healing powers are amazing! I always get the vanilla scent because it smells so pretty.

Honey House Naturals Bee Bar

This Feng Shui CD has lulled me to sleep many a night. It is peaceful and soothing. I toss it in the CD player for that spa-like feeling when I indulge in hot bath. The combination of music flows and it is perfect background music when you take a trip to that "happy place" inside yourself.

Have you heard of Smash yet? It's a line of scrapbook products. I love the design and the fun-ness. I went a little cuckoo and bought a bunch of their stickies, tape, pens and bookmarks. My particular favorite is the Glue Pen that has a pen and glue (duh!). I don't know why it appeals to me, but when I'm paper crafting I always need glue and a pen and this tool makes it handy. I have yet to purchase a Smash Folio which is their journal/scrapbook (right now I have too many of my own), but I am getting one for my daughter for her birthday.

A lot to be thankful for

2012-01-26T19:13:00.000-08:00

1. Drinks like the one above that nourish the body
RED, RED JUICE (juiced in my blender)
1 medium beet
2 medium carrots
1 medium apple
about 1 cup of water (give or take)

2. a puppy who is slowly healing from some surgery

3. the make-up kisses and hugs after a quarrel

4. kids who "simplify" their rooms without being asked (they got rid of a lot of stuff they don't need anymore)

5. smiles that make the eyes sparkle

6. learning that frustration comes more from your own bad behavior

7. deep breaths

8. sunshine when you think it's supposed to be another day of rain

9. warm, wooly socks that keep my feet cozy

10. this song that makes me happy and reminds me it's okay that i'm a "rainbow"

Wordless Wednesday: Love your food (in this case, butternut squash)

2012-01-25T15:35:00.000-08:00

Join me here on Wednesdays!

Muffins to die for!

2012-01-24T11:09:00.000-08:00

It's Day 2 of the Love Your Body Cleanse and I'm craving sweets. I'm craving them because for 10 days I can't have wheat, dairy or refined sugars. I literally salivate when I think about chocolate or cookies or muffins or cupcakes. I could go on and on, but I'll stop. Oh, wait. Let's keep this going with a picture and a link to a recipe you will bow down to. Yes, this recipe is that good. I'm not even lying. These absolutely delicious, aromatic, yummy muffins that I can't have right now should be made by you today. Your family will thank you. You will thank you. But, most of all your taste buds will weep in joy. Behold, Just Jenn's Banana Crumb Muffins!

Please eat these or something similar for me today. Thank you.

Getting back on track

2012-01-23T14:25:00.000-08:00

Sweet little snow berries found in our yard all dressed up with a quote.

I haven't blogged in a while. I've wanted to because there has been so much fun to share, but I haven't because, well, so much fun has happened. The kids were off for 2 weeks with Winter Break and then the weekend after their first week back it snowed like crazy here in our little town. This closed area schools down for 3 days. And it shut down any kind of "normalcy" here at home. But, we are now back on track... kind of.

The hubby and I have started a 10-day cleanse called the Love Your Body Cleanse. For me, it's a great way to re-connect to my body and show it some extra care. I must admit that with the holidays and the New Year I was eating so many yummy, but somewhat unhealthy snacks. Finding my way back to greens and whole grains will ground me and keep me focused. I was getting too spontaneous with food and allowing myself one too many "treats". In other words, WAY too much refined sugar. Oi!

So, it's only mid-afternoon of Day 1 on the cleanse, but I already feel refreshed. This is what my food intake looks like thus far:

Water (lots o' water)
Avacado Smoothie (avacado, cucumber, banana, agave, romaine lettuce leaves)
Picnic Lunch (hard boiled egg, raw nuts, olives, apple slices, carrots/cucumber slices with hummus)
Red, Red Juice (beet, carrots and an apple)

I'm looking forward to tonight's dinner (creamy kale salad, brown rice with tahini dressing and roasted fennel/carrots/beets)AND then my dessert (a cup of roobios tea with coconut milk).

Tomorrow's menu sounds just as delicious and if you ever get a chance to participate in a cleanse like this one, you should!

A Self Study

2012-01-02T17:30:00.000-08:00

I look at myself and I wonder who I am. I mean, I know who I am on a somewhat superficial level; a mom, a wife, a woman, a caregiver, a daughter,a 38 year-old, a sister, etc. But, who am I really? Do I really exist? I think, therefore I am... right? I look at the wrinkles forming around my eyes and my lips. I look a my hands and see how they have grown more tired and more aged. They don't look like young hands. But, I don't feel old. I don't feel the way I look and I wonder if a new self is emerging. A self that is much more than time, more than a physical being, more than a thought...

They say the eyes can tell a thousand stories. I guess tonight's is just one of many.

What he said

2012-01-01T18:36:00.000-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

This pretty much sums it up

2011-12-15T19:13:00.001-08:00

Found here.

Yup. I can't complain. Some highlights were:

homemade candy cane ice cream
a late start at school today
the kids helping out with chores
snuggle time with the hubby
friendly folks at the market

Wordless Wednesday: Sunset through the trees

2011-12-14T11:04:00.000-08:00

Fuhgeddaboudit

2011-12-13T14:14:00.000-08:00

Yes, I did just say fuhgeddaboudit. Yes, I do know this saying is hardly used anymore and is old and completely outdated. No, I don't care. It is a word that best describes how I feel about the cookies we made this past weekend. These cookies are da bomb (Uh oh, somebody stop me because I am getting way old skool in the post)!

I present the Nutella cookie. Mmmmm, Nutella. I found the recipes in a local newspaper article. Enjoy!

Our Nutella yumminess.

Basic Dough Recipe
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla

Sift flour, baking powder and salt. In a seperate bowl combine butter, sugar, and brown sugar and beat with a mixer until well combined. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Gradually add flour mixture and beat until evenly blended. This dough can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 3 days. Makes about 4 cups of dough.

Nutella Sandwich Cookies
2 cups basic cookie dough, chilled
1/4 cup Nutella
1/2 cup powdered sugar, sifted

Preheat oven to 350F. Roll dough to about 3/8-inch thickness on a sheet of lightly floured wax paper. Use cookie cutters to make your "sandwich" pieces. Bake about 8 minutes, or until tops look done. Let cool on cookie sheet and then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Spread the Nutella on half the cookies. Top with remaining cookies. Dust with powdered sugar.

Back on track

2011-12-12T09:50:00.000-08:00

Saturday morning came and the hubby asked what I wanted to do this weekend. Sometimes I think I need to come up with something cool or exciting to make my life seem interesting, but really all I wanted to do was stay around the house and hang out with the fam. So, that's what we did.

It felt good to not be anywhere, not to expect anything and to just really be in the moment. I'm sure you can do that out and about too, but for some reason I felt a strong urge just to be grounded at home. We watched the Lunar Eclipse. I took a long, steamy bath. I read. I crafted with the kids. We played Munchkin (a totally FUN game, but we get kinda competitive). We watched the hubby play Uncharted 3 (which is pretty friggin' awesome because it feels like watching a movie but you are able to be an active part of the storyline). I knitted. We ate homemade food. We ate homemade desserts. I reflected on this thing we call life. We laughed. We watched silly movies. And we hung out in silence... a lot.

An early morning icy trail

And today I feel unhurried even though I have a few errands to run. After I dropped off the kids at school I took a walk with the pup, Zoe. We got to explore some new trails that are now being exposed in the backyard. I can see some clear, new paths now that all the leaves have fallen off the trees and the blackberry bushes have become somewhat dormant. It was neat to explore these new paths. And I felt a wonderfully grateful heart when I would look up from some of these paths and see home. It felt exactly where I was supposed to be.

Combo AEDM and Wordless Wednesday: Pretending to be Monet by "painting" with my camera

2011-11-16T09:58:00.000-08:00

~ Canon PowerShot SX210 IS
Manual setting, used Macro

AEDM: Dear Fog,

2011-11-15T09:38:00.001-08:00

You greet me like a little wrapped package. I don't know what's behind you, but I do know that once you have been completely broken open something beautiful is bound to show itself. Today you opened up and there was sunshine... warm, glorious sunshine! You certainly know how to keep a girl in suspense.

~Canon PowerShot SX210 IS
Landscape setting

AEDM: Asterik

2011-11-13T14:20:00.000-08:00

I needed a hat for my early morning walks with Zoe, the pup. The mornings are coooolld. The pattern for the Asterik Hat was pretty and simple. That's right up my alley. I finished this in about 4 days with the majority being completed today... so that's why my AEDM posts have been scarce.

Yarn: Naturally Caron Country in Silver Service
Needles: size 7 Circ and DPNs
Pattern: Asterik Hat

AEDM; Moon Blessings

2011-11-09T17:51:00.000-08:00

This is just a fun little doodle I did when my son wanted to draw with me. I could take this to the next level and re-create it on a canvas with some paint. Hmmmm....

~Black Ink on white paper

AEDM: Yums for our tums

2011-11-06T17:30:00.000-08:00

~Canon PowerShot SX210 IS

The fam and I enjoyed some yummy ice cream at our favorite place in Vancouver. Ice Cream Renaissance has captured our taste buds and other ice cream shops just don't quite live up to its standards. We enjoyed some Pumpkin Pie and Farmer Joe's Secret flavors. These were so delicious!! Pumpkin Pie speaks for itself, but Farmer Joe's Secret was quite the mystery that we have yet to solve. We may have to venture back again to give our taste buds another crack at revealing the secret.

AEDM: New Fall Runner

2011-11-05T14:05:00.000-07:00

I've been getting the home ready for Thanksgiving and when I saw Tara Dennis' jute table runner I knew I had to make me one for my own table. I didn't have jute, but I had some burlap so I used that instead. I think it came out pretty cool. It resembles Tara's piece somewhat and at least the burlap reminds me of a scarecrow which reminds me of a fall harvest which then reminds me of Thanksgiving. The burlap is probably more "shreddy" than jute, so if you can get jute, I would recommend that over the burlap. Only time will tell to see how long this runner last. I'm pretty confident it will last well past Thanksgiving dinner.

AEDM: Can't we just get along

2011-11-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

~Canon PowerShot SX210 IS

We are still waiting for our cat, Max, to fully welcome our pup, Zoe, to the family. Max is 5 years old and is pretty used to ruling the roost. A bouncy, playful addition to his normal quiet, calm atmosphere has been slowly analyzed. I think Max is loosening up. I can't wait for the day these two have some real fun with each other.

AEDM: Tie one on

2011-11-03T13:40:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to sew up a little tie for my little man. So, now that I have the motivation and the time a tie has been born. I recycled an old shirt of my husband's and voila!

I couldn't get the little man to stand still. Do you know how frustrating that is? Ha! I found the tie pattern over at Lil Blue Boo. It's a really easy pattern and fast to sew up! I'm grateful for wonderful crafters like this sharing their ideas.

Combo AEDM and Wordless Wednesday: I love finding LOVE

2011-11-02T09:23:00.001-07:00

~Canon PowerShot SX210 IS

Art Every Day Month

2011-11-01T15:14:00.000-07:00

I am participating in Art Every Day Month because it will motivate me to create, create, create. The neat thing is that your art can be anything; a drawing, a poem, a photo, a dance, a food creation. It's all up to you and what you want to create and share. I love that!

I like to doodle and today in honor of Dia De Los Muertos I penned a calaca. It was fun to draw and now I want to do more but take a little more time with them. If you want to participate in Art Every Day Month you can sign up here. I hope to see your work posted!

This is Halloween...

2011-10-31T10:29:00.000-07:00

It's finally arrived. The night of ghouls and ghosts and zombies and things that go bump in the night is here. And let's not forget the trick or treating. That is my kids' favorite. Well, maybe it's a close tie with dressing up. So, Happy Halloween to everyone! May you enjoy tonight's festivities... whatever it is you decide to do. Stay safe and warm! Here are a few fun activities we did to celebrate the season.

Funtastic Painted Pumpkin Rocks
~gather a few small rocks, some orange and black acrylic paints and your imagination

Day of the Dead Mask
~get your printer ready with some card stock and round up the crayons for this one. click copy and save on the picture of the color-in mask.

Leaf Banner
~you'll need your sewing machine for this one and leaves gathered from your yard, the park or your neighbor's yard. stitch them all together and hang them up!

Creepy Lunch
~a last minute idea... chicken lumpia easily became fingers of troll, aussie bites became lizard and frog toes, blueberries became crow eyes and a package of applesauce became smushed brains. i hope they eat it all!

Thankful Thursday: Deciding NOT to feel sorry for myself

2011-10-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

Oh boy! I've been the biggest baby for a couple of weeks now. I've been throwing tantrums and pouting. Basically, I've been a very bad girl. But, today's post won't be about that. Today I'm so thankful for:

1. Reading these questions, "In the limited twenty-four hours of this day, are we showing up? Are we really here? Now? Are we home in the deepest meaning of the word?" Answering them puts it all in perspective. Appreciating Denise Roy for asking these in Momfulness.

2. Taking a break to read and watch Zoe play

3. Brian Selznick's amazing story of Hugo Cabret. I'm reading this with the kids and we are hooked. We love love love the intriguing storyline and all the pencil drawn pictures like this one:

4. Laundry day because that means clean clothes

5. Moments video that reminds of special moments in my life. The quick shots of the newborn babies brought tears to my eyes. They were happy tears.

Moments from Everynone on Vimeo.

Wordless Wednesday: Just Patchy

2011-10-19T08:29:00.000-07:00

I tend to sit and think about food

2011-10-18T14:50:00.000-07:00

I think about food A LOT. Food is almost the first thing that pops into my head in the morning... what should we eat for breakfast and then what should I make for lunch and if I had a good Sunday, dinner is usually covered, but if not then it's what should I make for dinner. My days revolve around food and I can't tell you how grateful I am for all the awesome food blogs. I wouldn't make it without them. Seriously.

Right now I'm all about The Sneaky Chef. I have a book so I'm not really reading her blog,but check it out. She has some freebie recipes listed.

I found Orangette some time ago and I fell in love with her pictures of food. They are beautiful.

Dinner: A Love Story is a new one for me and I can't wait to try some of her recipes. The blog is a great read as well. We really do have love affairs with food.

Here's another site with beautiful pictures of food. Buns In My Oven looks gourmet but the recipes are easy with nothardtofind ingredients. Love that!

Meal Planning 101 is another fave. This one has weekly dinner menus for you. This is for the dining adventurists. She has a lot of cool, unique dishes.

I would love to know some of your favorite food blog sites. Please share!

Music that takes me away

2011-10-17T11:35:00.000-07:00

Over the years so many songs have taken me all over the place. They've taken me to lands only found in my imagination. They've taken me to emotions where I ride higher and higher into the sky. Some have even taken me to the deepest depths where there is no light. Here are a few of the thousands that have done just that.

Carolyn's Fingers by The Cocteau Twins

Follow you into the Dark by Death Cab for Cutie

The Shining by Badly Drawn Boy

Sunshine Song by Jason Mraz

I want to learn how to do this

2011-10-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

I'm sure most of you have seen the pretty palette pics that are on certain sites. Design-Seeds happens to have some of the prettiest.

I wish I knew how to make my own palettes from some of my own pics. Anyone out there know how and would be willing to teach me? I'd be a good student. I wanted to make a palette from this picture I found online:

Don't these pretzels look absolutely yummy? They are packaged pretty cute as well. I found them over at Baked Perfection. You have to check out her site! All her food creations are simply amazing. It's dessert heaven.

Thankful Thursday: Letting the rain fall

2011-10-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

1. Walks down to the creek with Zoe, the pup.

2. The squishy sound of mud underneath my rain boots

3. The green that comes from all the rain we've been getting

4. Long, colorful socks to keep my feet warm and dry

5. Pretty much anything by Bon Iver

Wordless Wednesday: Breaking Through

2011-10-12T13:57:00.000-07:00

Have you tried these?

2011-10-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm just a little late in the baked snapea game, but ohmygoodness you can't go wrong with these little bites of heaven. They have just the right amount of crunch and they aren't covering up the veggieness with too much salt. It's a perfect combination. Now only if they sold them in bulk.

Making progress

2011-10-10T07:54:00.000-07:00

We had contemplated adding a dog to our lives for some time now. There was always some excuse about it not being the right time. But, when is it ever the right time? I finally asked myself that question and LO AND BEHOLD! we now have a new canine baby.

It's been a journey. Lots of hills, notsomany valleys. Our new pup, Zoe, keeps me on my toes... more than I want to be sometimes. Ha! Most days I would love to just sit and stare at her lovely sleeping face, but she's teaching me about being pro-active and having an agenda and staying on schedule. Yeah, that scheduling thing cannot be messed around with or else you have messes around.

My favorite part is taking a nice walk down to the creek with her. She makes me stop to "smell the roses" although in her case it's more like dead leaves, clovers and blackberry bushes. Taking that time to stop really does allow me time to think about things.

We've only had her about a week and a half, so I'm still learning how to be a "Puppy Mom", but I think I'm getting the hang of it. I hope I am.

Fan-FREAKING-tastic!

2011-10-07T09:27:00.000-07:00

It's October and that means all kinds of ghoulish goodies are on the brain. Here are just a few of my favorite Halloween-y looks:

Cart Before The Horse Etsy Shop

Past Pottery Barn Halloween Decor

Some random pic of someone's vintage Halloween decor

Awesome sugar skull gift boxes from Don't Eat The Paste

Fun costumes (Where's Waldo and Wanda?)that bring back memories from 1997

Thankful Thursday: Dreaming good things

2011-10-06T19:16:00.000-07:00

1. Sleep. Much needed sleep.

2. Knowing my kids are safe... for today.

3. Puppy eyes that look at you and trust you so deeply.

4. Misty rain that lands on your eyelashes and when you close your eyes the drops gently splash your cheeks.

5. Making a choice to rid toxic relationships from my life.

6. The anticaption of a relaxing, don't-have-to-be-anywhere-except-soccer-so-we-can-do-what-we-want weekend.

7. Planning the week's dinner menu on Sunday and being able to meet today with pan in hand.

8. Hot chai on a cold day.

9. Devouring page after page of a well-written, suspenseful book. Do yourself a favor and read Sarah's Key.

10. A working heater to warm up the house.

Wordless Wednesday: ZOE

2011-10-05T10:07:00.000-07:00

“Lentils are friendly—the Miss Congeniality of the bean world.”

2011-10-04T19:48:00.000-07:00

I'm a big fan of soups. My kids are notsomuch. Well, I should say my youngest isn't. For dinner we had Lentil Soup courtesy of The Sneaky Chef. My daughter ate up her bowl. I can't divulge the recipe per copywright laws I'm sure, but here's a link to the "sneaky" part you add to the soup: White Puree which is made up of cauliflower and zucchini.
I had heard about The Sneaky Chef a few years ago, but didn't think anything of her until recently. Boy, was I missing out!! I've made a few of her recipes and have been truly pleased. The family liked them as well. I'm a new fan! I do divulge the "sneaky" ingredients once everyone is almost done eating. I just can't seem to keep them a secret for very long.

Halloween!! Only 28 more days to go!

2011-10-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

As much as I love Thanksgiving I seem to always associate Fall with Halloween. It's one of my favorite holidays and not just because of the candy. And as I slowly decorate the house I smile because each little knick knack has a story. October means you can be even more silly than usual. You also get to play around with your "dark" side. As the earth around you falls into a slumber your youthful spirit awakens. October lets you "shake out your sillies". It lets you prepare for more indoor activities that come with the cold. The countdown begins...

Did you know?

2011-09-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

Did you know tomorrow is World Vegetarian Day? I didn't. But, know I do! It's always fun to learn something new. Here are a few more veggie-type related links:

Eat A Rainbow Everyday
Annoying Orange
A Veggie Venture

Planting seeds of gratefulness

2011-09-29T20:39:00.000-07:00

1. Oil pastel color crayons. I love the way color so effortlessly glides onto your paper.
2. Wind blowing through the trees because it sounds like ocean waves crashing into shore.
3. Good books that make you laugh and smile and think and mention Shakespeare about a hundreds times. Wednesday Wars does it all.
4. Surprises of the cake-y kind. Yum! Thanks, Mom!
5. Faraway friends thinking of me.
6. Chickens who get fatter and bigger every day. They are so cute.
7. Questions at dinnertime being our most favorite part of dinner. Thanks to How Does She for introducing me to this idea. My kids love it! But, now I have to come up with my own questions as we are down to the last 5 from the ones the site has posted. Doh.
8. My son using my behind as his punching bag. It's not as bad as it sounds and it reminds me how small he still is and treasuring that he hasn't gotten too "big" yet.
9. Being able to go to my daughter to help me solve game puzzles. She's that smart and I only hope she gets smarter.
10. Mindy Gledhill's voice in this song:

Wordless Wednesday: The Fall

2011-09-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

Do you know what goes good with rain?

2011-09-27T16:07:00.000-07:00

It's our 3rd straight day of rain here in the Pacific Northwest and nothing goes better with rain than a hot bowl of tomato soup and a grilled cheese sandwich. It's comfort food. You don't need a recipe for grilled cheese, but may I recommend Tillamook Cheese. I am brand loyal on certain foods and I just haven't found anything better than Tillamook. It's the go-to cheese for your sandwich. And when you don't have time for homemade soup, you just have to go with Pacific Foods Organic Creamy Tomato Soup. It's super yummy. Oh, and it doesn't necessarily have to be raining to be in the mood for this combo, but it sure helps!

med·i·ta·tion n. A devotional exercise of or leading to contemplation

2011-09-26T08:21:00.002-07:00

Luke and his friend enjoying a quiet, contemplative moment at the lake. Ommmmm.
It has been a long road of meditation for me. I'm still learning and finding new ways to meditate and make it more of a habit. Recently, I participated in The Chopra Center's 21 Day Meditation Challenge-Summer. It was an awesome experience and I urge anyone who enjoys meditation or wants to commit to a practice to give these types of challenges a try. If you allow them to, they will have you tap into a part of yourself that you don't get to hang out with very ofen. It's that soft voice inside of you that you sometimes gets ignored because the world around it is too loud.

I have to admit that I have a hard time meditating on my own. I am one of those that need a guided meditation to keep me going and focused. I told you I was still learning.

So, in my search for more guided meditations I found another free meditation site named OnlineMeditation.org. On this site you have a chance to take 12 meditation classes. You begin by learning the basics of Sahaja Meditation. I really like the way the classes are broken up into 4 sections with one section being a guided meditation. I intend to open myself up to a new teaching and give myself some time with that soft voice inside.

Because Friday really means Funday

2011-09-23T13:21:00.000-07:00

My husband and kids love this site that merges faces together. It's called Morphthing. It's a fun way to waste some time... if you have time to waste. If you are in the Doctor's office you may get some stares when you start laughing to yourself. Some of the images you can create are hilarious. Most are interesting. This one of two classic actresses is pretty cool. See if you can guess which two I morphed (scroll down for the answer).

Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe

Grateful Thoughts

2011-09-22T11:56:00.000-07:00

1. All the new colors that are peeking up everywhere.
2. The tree-lined street where I live.
3. Motivation finding me this morning so I could take a nice run.
4. Recommendations for new books to read... Sarah's Key.
Have you read it?
5. The happy way the sun shines on the green grass.
6. Sweet smells of lavender wafting through the dryer vent.
7. Cool, refreshing, clean water to drink.
8. Finding a moisturizer that doesn't cause a terrible reaction to my skin.
9. Crunching on cucumbers
10. A neat video to remind me about what's important:

Wordless Wednesday: Happy International Day of Peace!!

2011-09-21T09:23:00.000-07:00

"Chai"

2011-09-20T09:36:00.000-07:00

A cup of tea does wonders on a cool, foggy morning. It warms you up from the inside out. Here is a tasty recipe for "chai":

1 cup of Almond Milk
1 tbs. Agave Syrup or Honey or even some Raw Sugar (whatever floats your boat)
a sprinkling of Allspice (add as little or as much as your tastebuds like)

Mix all in a saucepan and warm to your liking over medium heat. Sit down, put your feet up and enjoy.

Sprinkle Kindness throughout your day

2011-09-19T10:25:00.000-07:00

image found on Practice Random Acts of Kindness

I'm no Mother Theresa, but I do try to be kind daily. I think the world is full of kind people and when you've been touched with an act of kindness you just can't help pass it on. Kindness can be a habit you don't want to break. Spreading kindness can even be just a thought... a pure thought sent out to the unsuspecting. Check out some creative, fun, kind ideas here:

Spread Kindness
Operation Nice
Random Acts of Kindness

Funky Finds Friday

2011-09-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

Soccer season has started and that means sitting outside for long periods of time... and cheering and having fun, of course. Audrey is on a new team this year and in a new league. She's happy the league colors include her favorite color blue. So, naturally she needed a new hat to brave the sidelines when the weather gets chilly. I present Scoops to you.

I'm so glad I found this pattern. It's a cute, happy and fast knit. I went with a thicker yarn than suggested and smaller needles. This means I used fewer stitches as well. I like the way it turned out, but I do want to knit another hat with some thinner yarn. I used Plymouth Yarn's BAZINGA! in color 05 on size 9 circ needles.

Thankful Thursday

2011-09-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

1. Possibilities of new friendships
2. Donuts
3. A hubby who surprises me by making the bed in the morning
4. A short break in my cleaning day to sit, have tea and update my blog
5. Cool IKEA desk
6. The sun peeking through for just 5 minutes on a cloudy day
7. My kids' laughter
8. Watching my cat, Max, sleep
9. Trusting that everything will be okay in the end because if it's not, then it's not the end.
10. This video meditation

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

Tasty Tuesday

2011-09-13T13:06:00.000-07:00

Blackberries are everywhere! Our new home has vast amounts of blackberry bushes growing in the front and back yards. And since there are so many a blackberry pie was only necessary.

For my crust I used Ruth's Grandma's Pie Crust recipe on AllRecipes.com and it is friggin' unbelievable. The dough is super easy to work with and it comes out ever so light and flaky and justright. It makes about 4 9inch pie crusts.

The berries took minimal work (well, aside from picking them, of course.). Just gather 4 cups of berries, 1/2 cup of flour and 3/4 cup sugar (less if your berries are super sweet). Mix together until all the white is gone and pour into your crust. Bake according to your crust recipe. YumYum!

A Mindful Monday

2011-09-12T17:04:00.000-07:00

I love this picture my daughter took of Spirit Lake up near Mount St. Helens. It was a lake created from the eruption in 1980.The water is crystal clear and the area is beautiful. It's amazing what can come from destruction. It's a lesson learned and I'm taking heart.

I'm hoping to get my blog a little more organized by attempting daily themes. We'll see how that goes. I think it will make it easier for me to share what I'd like to share with you.

So, on Monday's I want to try and be mindful. What helps me do that? Well, since you asked (heehee)I'd like to let you know about Notes from the Universe. If you haven't already heard of these, then OH JOY!! These little notes are sent daily via e-mail and they will light you up when you open and read them. They are little reminders of the small things that make up our world. Here's an example:

"The best way to find "love," which, incidentally, is just as true for finding money, is to focus less on these by-products of a life well lived... and more on a life well lived.

Simple is as simple does.
The Universe

Dance life's dance, today, without preconditions."

I urge you explore the whole site at TUTs Adventurers Club. It's the yang to the yin (you know, those yucky days or moments when you think the world and all of its inhabitants just can't seem to make it work). Carpe Diem!

Black socks they never get dirty...

2011-08-25T11:40:00.000-07:00

Maybe the reason I love black clothes so much is because they never look dirty. That's the thought on my mind today better known as Laundry Day. There isn't anything too special about laundry day. It's a tedious chore that has no beginning or end (at least in our household this seems to be the case).

Over the years I've been trying to move away from the chemicals found in dryer sheets and laundry detergent. There has been a lot of trial and error. A couple of years ago I tried Seventh Generation's detergent but it didn't seem to get our clothes clean enough. Mind you I was still hooked on the thought that fragrance (i.e. Tide) meant clean. A few weeks ago while reading The Kind Life blog I discovered Soap Nuts. Have you heard of these? I hadn't and so I had to try them. I ordered a sample from Green Virgin Products and the rest, as they say, is history. This is my third week using the nuts (After the sample size I went back and ordered the 1.1 pounds bag) and I really dig 'em.

They clean the clothes nicely without a bunch of smelly fragrance and they do a great job on my towels. My second week was a tad iffy, but I think it was because I put the bag of nuts at the bottom of the washer. For some reason it seems the clothes smell fresher when you drop the nuts at the top of the washer once you've put your load in. This week I'm using some drops of lavender oil on my dryer balls and now the clothes smell even fresher!

I'm still a Soap Nuts newbie so my review comes more from the excitement of finding something new rather than a solid history, but I do recommend giving them them a whirl.

Smart Girls know stuff!

2011-08-17T09:46:00.000-07:00

I think Amy Poehler is the new Tina Fey, but 10xs better. If you don't know Amy Poehler (ohmygosh, you don't know Amy Poehler???!), she was on SNL, starred in Parks and Rec (super hilarious show. definitely netflix or hulu it if you want to laugh and laugh and laugh), and she created the cartoon and was the voice of The Mighty B!. Amy is simply the bee's knees when it comes to women comics.

And if she couldn't be more rad, she hosts the very cool Smart Girls At The Party webisodes. Amy interviews younger girls who are basically doing what young girls do; yoga-ing, gardening, writing, etc. Although it is geared to the younger girls, I still love watching them as much as my gal. Smart Girls At The Party aims to "change the world by being yourself". Isn't that wonderful?! If you are a girl (or even not because my son and husband enjoyed some of the webisodes too), do yourself a favor and watch one or two. You'll walk away with a smile and you'll want to join in on the Dance Party. Hey now!

Find more videos like this on Smart Girls at the Party

Tea is a cup of life

2011-08-15T08:48:00.000-07:00

Making time for tea means you are making time to share, to breathe, to relax, to dream, to open yourself and to just be. Our time for tea started with croquet.

We've had a croquet set for years now but never used it at our old place because... because... well, now I don't know the real reason why. Our old place was dry (meaning the dirt was hard as stone) and our backyard was hilly and I was notorious for making up excuses to not do instead of just doing. But, that's changed.

So, out came the croquet set. And this particular day croquet needed to be paired with tea. I even made tiny tea sandwiches which included ham/cheese, cucumber and PBJ. Oh joy was had!!

We played a round of croquet and then had the most delightful tea party. It was so wonderful to just sit with my kids and truly enjoy eachother's company. There was no rushing about to finish as fast as we could in order to move on to the next project or scheme. We talked about upcoming school nerves and about possible weekend activities. And most of the time we just sat quietly, drank our tea, soaked in the sun and smiled.

What a Summer Morning looks like in our household

2011-08-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

I guess I should rephrase that. It should (honestly) be What a Summer Morning looks like in our household when mom is on the computer.

WhooHoo! Let's grab all the towels from the garage, throw them in the utility cart and ZIP ZOOM around.

Were you wondering if anything besides towels was in the cart? If so, wonder no longer.

Epic crash on the lawn. My plan of action was (1. Turn away from the computer (2. Stare in bewilderment (3. Wait to see if anyone cries (4. No crying so proceed to laugh (5. Grab the camera and then blog about it ~ Oh, what a bad Summer Mommy.

Fancy Schmancy

2011-08-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

I hardly ever get dolled up. It's no one's fault except my own. After the first kid was born it just seemed kind of pointless to get dressed up unless I was going into the office. And that, my friends, was hardly ever. I was pretty thankful to have a job that allowed me to work from home. My husband liked my stay-at-homeness (I don't think that's really a word), but did not like my stay-at-homeness look. Seeing your wife in the same clothes from out of bed to right before bed is not very becoming. Okay, honestly, it wasn't that bad... but, almost.

I've always wanted to have the motivation to dress fancy almost every day by adorning myself in a pretty dress, cute little shoes, a flawless face and an actual hairdo. I'd love to dress like Chuck from Pushing Daisies. Do you remember that show? That character? If not, here is Chuck rockin' her cute outfits.

I'm not even close to achieving fancy schmancy, but I'm getting there thanks to The Joy Up. One of our assignments was to get fancy... put on a dress, take time to do your hair or your makeup, or wear a piece of jewelry that makes you feel fancy. I coudn't do fancy alone so last night I got the whole family involved in this fancy deal. Why not?! We put on our nicest clothes, had dinner by candlelight on the good china, and had virgin margaritas. Yum! The kids were so excited that they had dressed themselves up 2 hours before dinner!! Even my hubby didn't complain when he put on a tie and some nice slacks. It was so much fun and I'm hoping to make it a custom. Life is definitely too short not to celebrate for no reason except to celebrate. We could easily celebrate in shorts and jeans and on the regular ol' dinnerware, but making it a wee bit more special really adds that little extra somethin' somethin'.

Gettin' fancy.

Ooooh, she's fancy!

I'd like the fancy look to stay. The older I get the more fancy I need. Heh. I may not be able to pull off cute shoes all the time though. Dresses look okay with clunky boots and/or tennis shoes, right?

Oh Joy!

2011-08-05T14:11:00.000-07:00

Joy is a return to the deep harmony of body, mind and spirit that was yours at birth and that can be yours again. That openness to love, that capacity for wholeness with the world around you, is still within you. -Deepak Chopra

I joined Hannah Marcotti's The Joy Up Program and it's been awesome. Taking time to focus on joy is just what I needed. It's not that joy hasn't been in my life, but Hannah's program helps you tune in to it more... to be present with joy and to turn things around when they don't seem very joyous. Heck knows with 2 kids on me 24/7 I really need to see the bright side of certain situations that arise when they get sick of playing together. Also, it's pretty darn cool to really notice the way joy engulfs those around you. It's like you are this beam of light and others are mirrors and joy just keeps getting bounced around all over the place.

Last evening after dinner my hubby was pooped and needed to lay down for a few minutes. The kids felt bad and offered to clean up after dinner for us so we could both rest. They woke us up 15 minutes later and they had actually picked up the whole house!! Now that's the kinda joy I'm talking about!!

There are still down moments, but at least they don't last as long because you remember all the joyful things your life is made up of. I wish my sunflowers could be a part of Hannah's program. For some reason they haven't opened up yet. It's kinda sad. I keep hoping one morning I'll walk into the kitchen and their petals will be spread open wide greeting me with all their "sunshine." Until then, they stay shyfully closed.

Cheep! Cheep! Chee!

2011-07-31T19:22:00.000-07:00

We welcome 3 new little members to our flock! Today we drove down to Portland's Urban Farm Store and got to pick our fave chicks... an Americauna, a Brown Brahma and a Blue Andalusian. They are all equally cute and ohsosweet. And Urban Farm Store rocks! Their staff is super friendly and very knowledgeable. If you live in this area and want to buy chicks, I recommend visiting them for sure!

We have our chicks set up downstairs to stay warm. Luckily, we had a huge empty pond tub that we were able to use. It gives them plenty of room for a little exploring during the day. The kids have already named them. I think the name choices are pretty cool.

Up top is Cookie Monster(Blue Andalusian), in the middle is Penny (Brown Brahma) and on the bottom is Yellow Jacket(Americauna).

We have our coop all built but we have to prepare a little run area for them. I'll have to post pics of the coop next time. I'm super excited to raise these little ladies and look forward to watching them grow and their personalities emerge. I know I shouldn't have a favorite, but I can't help but be drawn to our Americauna. She'll be giving us some greenish blue eggs in a few months and that makes one happy smiley mama.

Sinkin' into Summer

2011-07-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

The move from California to Washington has kept me preoccupied and super busy with unpacking, cleaning and organizing. The kids haven't been quite as preoccupied. I must say I am proud of the way they have kept themselves entertained. It's true they spend a lot of time arguing because they are spending VAST amounts of time together, but, hey, they are learning a valuable lesson here... conflict resolution.

This past Friday I think I finally sank into Summer. A Summer that is spent with the kids and not trying to dig myself out of some moving box. I can't be all work and no play. We know what that makes, right? So, I turned to Nature Rocks which is an AWESOME site full of fun things to do in the great outdoors. No one wants to be stuck indoors. Check out their Summer Activity Guide. You won't be disappointed and neither will the kiddos. Also, The Nature Conservancy has a fun Treasure Hunt printout.

Summer, here we come (fashionably late, of course)!

Our collection for our sunprint.

A pretty yellow wildflower that caught our attention on our nature walk.

Washing some rocks for Rock Archaeology.

Making our way back up the steps to home. My dad did a great job carving them out for us!

Chance is always powerful...

2011-07-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

Let your hook be always cast; in the pool where you least expect it, there will be a fish. ~Ovid

So we did it. We made a momentous decision in our lives which moved us from safe California to the wild unknown Washington. Am I nervous? Am I a little scared? Will I miss all the familiarity of California and my family... the family? Oh, heck yah! But, the excitement and the beauty of the unknown and the feeling of this being "right" outweighs my anxieties. The husband and I couldn't ignore the voice we both heard when it came. And the voice wasn't loud or demanding or threatening. It was a soft voice offering peace and love.

It was kinda nutty how everything aligned to make this move possible. Sometimes I cry because I am so grateful for the opportunity and the hand of Divine Grace that we soulfully took hold of. This was definitely a once in a blue moon chance. We thought about what the kids would miss and we thought about the safety of our existence in a small town doing the same ol', same ol' that provided much comfort.

Moving day was sad, I admit. The home we grew to love for 7 years would no longer be home. We were about to embark on a true adventure in a new town that we didn't know and people didn't know us. We would call an unfamiliar house home.

Audrey in her old room with her many moving boxes.

The moving van all packed and ready to take our stuff to Washington. *Sniffle Sniffle*

The Flocks invade Washington!

Now it's been 2 weeks since California. We are unpacking boxes and making things our own. We absolutely LOVE LOVE our house and our yard! The backyard is amazing. It's a yard of scouting and treasure hunting and collecting and meditating and peace making and soul finding. We look forward to what's on the horizon for us. But most importantly we look forward to discovering our new home together as a family.

The little man enjoying his freedom in the backyard.

Me and our backyard wild daisies. I love that they are everywhere!

The fam (my dad even came along to help us move!) in the backyard "jungle". The kids call it paradise. *Smile*

Luke's Colorful Dragon Smoothie

2011-06-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

The boy wanted a smoothie and he wanted to come up with the ingredients himself. So, he opened the fridge, grabbed a few things and we blended away. Pretty darn good turnout if you ask me.

Luke's Colorful Dragon Smoothie
4 strawberries
6 grapes
1 banana
6 frozen pineapple chunks
5 frozen mango chunks
1 heaping teaspoon of Strawberry Nesquik
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cups crushed ice

Mix all together in a blender. Pour in a glass. Top with whipped cream. Enjoy! *Makes about 24 fluid ounces

Major Rewind

2011-06-12T19:46:00.001-07:00

It's Sunday night and I find myself with some time to write. How sweet it is! I've been wanting to recap a day trip I took on Mother's Day weekend because it was so very, very awesome. It was an early Saturday with a clear, blue sky. The sun was shining and the anticipation of spending a day with my Mom and sister was pure joy. So, we loaded the van and began a wonderful journey of sights, smells and tastes.

Our day was spent at Squaw Valley Herb Gardens in Squaw Valley, California. Squaw Valley is a teeny tiny town in the Central Valley with golden hills and sparse oaks. When we arrived at the "garden" we weren't expecting the lush beauty that greeted us.

We knew immediately we were in store for something truly special. And special it was! Rosemary, owner and teacher, wowed us with her vast knowledge and wisdom of herbs. She introduced me for the first time to Lemon Balm (Melissa). She paired a few leaves of Melissa with sliced apple and the combination was a feast for the taste buds! After a wonderful tour around the garden Rosemary treated us to a delicious homemade tea of ginger and honey. We were then given a yummy appetizer of crackers topped with cream cheese, fresh cut chives and their edible purple flowers.

Everything at the gardens was enchanting. Rosemary truly knows how to showcase not only the physical beauty of the herbs, but she captures their natural savour and makes you long to know as much as she does. Everywhere we walked we were greeted with perfect photographic scenes.

Towards the end of our visit we enjoyed a light vegetarian lunch of organic treats. Rosemary happens to be an awesome cook as well! Our plate of food was not only pretty to look at, but delicious as well. It included a spinach quiche, a cucumber and beet salad and a cous cous salad. Yum!

Our visit is still vivid in my mind and I long to recreate the tastes and smells. If you ever find yourself in the Central Valley please plan on stopping by Squaw Valley Herb Gardens. Rosemary's tours should not be missed. They are true gifts to the soul. Our souls were definitely enriched.

Tune In Thursday. It's somebody's birthday, yo!

2011-06-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

My littlest man turned 8 today. He's such the character. Not a day goes by without him trying to make us laugh. He's pretty good at it. I went through old pics today and I couldn't help but cry for the baby he used to be. Oh they grow up way too fast.

Here's a mix in honor of his birthday. 8 of his favorite tunes to celebrate his 8 years on planet earth. Rock on!

Schoooooool's out for Summer

2011-06-08T12:32:00.000-07:00

The sun is shining. There's not a cloud up in the sky and it looks super blue. The temp is a magical 79 degrees. Can the last day of school be any more perfect? I think not.

Oh Summer always holds so much excitement. It's all PJs, spontaneity, crafts and adventures from here on out. And this Summer promises to be a whole new world for us. I will reveal more later. But for now, Happy Last Day of School (even to those who have a few more days or a couple more weeks)!!!

They are soooo excited!

Ohmygosh, last walk to class as 2nd and 4th graders.

In the universe, there are things that are known, and things that are unknown, and in between, there are doors.
~William Blake

Soulful

2011-05-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Ohmygoodness, what a week! I am finally finding the time to sit still for a moment. I thought about grabbing my notebook and my needles and yarn and then I just sat and breathed in. I thought about writing about my truly wonderful Mother's Day and then... I just breathed in. I needed the quiet. And when it was time to return to the "noise" I found these. Simple and beautiful and soul-touching.

Prophecy Song by Joanne Shenandoah

ALL WE WANT from Nic Askew on Vimeo.

Friday Fun!

2011-05-06T12:56:00.001-07:00

I loved Choose Your Own Adventure books growing up. It was fun to have choices in a story and decide where the story would lead you. This video is a cute take on Choose Your Own Adventure. So where will your story go?

Tune In Thursday

2011-04-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

Play. Listen. Smile.

Good Morning, Moon

2011-04-19T12:58:00.000-07:00

THE MOON THIS MORNING
The moon this morning hung like a bulb
She hung in purple dawn
And though I crept through traffic thick
To her my eyes were drawn

No scars were there that I perceived
Nor pits, nor jaded face
Just one bright light whose majesty
Hung there in utter grace

-JWM

I love a moon in the morning. There is something quite magical to see a moon big and bright and round at breaking dawn. Good morning, Moon!

A Story for you

2011-04-15T09:18:00.000-07:00

One Friday two lovebirds decided to have an outing.
Found at lepetitelefant's etsy shop

They decided they'd travel to London.
Image found on Flickr

No, they decided on Paris instead.
Image from We Heart It

They ate yummy food and then took a little ride around the countryside.
Found at Mis Nopales Art's etsy shop

They felt truly in love.
Found on Pinterest

And then they went to bed.

The end.

A little yarn'll do ya

2011-04-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

One of the big things for me this year is finishing up some old projects (and starting new ones). I FINALLY finished the Purl Bee's Elisa's Nest Tote. Can I get a Whoo Hoo?! I'm embarrassed to admit that this project took me over a year and a half to finish. And it wasn't because the pattern was hard it was because I didn't want to tackle the handles. They are tediously long. I was super lazy about it and kept making excuses for why I couldn't finish it. Then one day I said, "Enough!" and I got busy. I'm glad I kicked myself into gear. This bag is so handy for carrying my store bought veggies.

The lace pattern reminds me of honeycombs. I used Knit Picks Swish Worsted Yarn in Semolina on straight #7s.

I also finished another Fresco Basket Whip Cowl. I love this knit because it's so pretty and it keeps me on my toes with the lace pattern. I used Lion Wool Yarn in Pearl Gray on DPNs #8.

I am now working on Knitty's Lace Ribbon Scarf. It's such a pretty pattern and probably one I can wear in the spring. Well, that's if I finish it before summer. I've been taking it a wee bit slow. It's a relaxing knit for me so I'm enjoying the time just knitting and meditating on each stitch. I'm using Knit Picks Palette Yarn in Sweet Potato on straight #4s.

I guess this year could be the Year of the Lace for me too. It seems I've been drawn to lacey patterns. Lace makes me happy.

Is the Universe talking to you?

2011-04-13T11:42:00.001-07:00

I've been on a journey for a while now. I guess we all are on a journey. A journey of self-discovery and letting go of crap that has filled our minds with negativity. It's been a slow walk for me with some blocked paths. There also have been some tough hills to climb, muddy paths to trudge through and a few obstacles to overcome. But, a voice keeps me going. I believe it to be the voice of the Universe. Some people may call it God or Allah or Buddha or even Jesus. But, it's a compassionate voice wanting the best for me. A voice that cheers me on and tells me everything will be okay when I feel everything is going to hell in a handbasket. Do you hear the Universe talking to you sometimes? Do you listen for it?

I stumbled upon Avasa & Matty Love's song, "What if", via Your Joyologist. It fits how I feel right now in this moment so perfectly. I'm so grateful this song fills my ears when I need it to.

What If by Avasa & Matty Love

The Boogeyman

2011-04-11T21:04:00.000-07:00

The Boogeyman is never cute. He's never up to any good. And once he's stuck in your mind you can't seem to get him out. My poor son has had trouble falling asleep these past two nights because he keeps thinking a "robber" will break into our house and scare us. My son also says this "robber" has a gun. It's breaking my heart to know this image is wreaking havoc in his mind. We are having a tough time reassuring him that everything will be okay. No amount of singing, gentle meditation breathing or sweet stories has been able to clear the image from his head.

And I kind of know what he's experiencing. I can lay awake for hours under the covers with my heart beating a million times a minute when I freak myself out at night before bedtime with a Boogeyman image. Imagination can be good thing but only when you are dreaming of rainbows and sunny skies and little bees that sing, "High Hopes".

So, finally after 30 minutes of laying in bed with my son and holding him close for safety I am now typing away on my keyboard listening to his soft breathing as he sleeps. The lights are off so I don't disturb the kids. The house is quiet too... maybe a little too quiet.

Dear Mother Nature,

2011-04-08T06:29:00.000-07:00

You really surprise me. We decided to have dinner in North Fork at La Cabana and enjoyed the 25 minute drive east. You created a beautiful sky of big, fat, gray clouds for our drive, but no rain. Why do you tease? As we sat enjoying our absolutely delicious dinner (I had Shrimp Diabla which was food for the soul!) it started to snow. You funny girl, you! You are a mysterious one. I just never know what you will have in store for us. I do have to say Thank You though. The kids absolutely LOVED the suprise.

Love,
Me

Quiet

2011-04-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

It's quiet today. I am listening to the Pink Martini channel on Pandora and looking out my "office" window at the rain coming down. It's not a bad way to work. I'm not complaining.

This song played and inspired me to grab my camera and take the above picture. Mood music.

Familiar Ground

2011-04-06T18:54:00.000-07:00

There's a sense of peace when walking familiar ground. You know how much further you have until you reach your destination. You know the parts where you will start to breathe a little heavier and your heart will beat a little faster. You know when to stop and visit the ol' spot. You hear sounds you remember hearing on previous walks. Familiar ground provides a momentary safe haven. It reminds you of where you are in time.

Our short hike up Revis Lane East always brings a calm feeling of solitude. You feel far up away from everything, but still in the heart of it.

Knowing better

2011-03-31T15:17:00.000-07:00

On Sunday I was very lazy and wanted to curl up in bed with some knitting and reading. My daughter had other plans for us. She wanted to take pictures of the wildflowers popping up in the yard and to hang out with some ladybug friends. I tried to make an excuse to not go outside. I was hell bent at that point on soaking up some quality "me" time. She accepted my excuse and as I was walking back to my room I stopped myself. Was I crazy not to take my daughter up on some quality "us" time?? I'm nuts for not wanting to soak up some sun and nature and daughter time! Knitting and reading could most certainly wait. As much as I wanted to hit the mattress and zone out it wasn't what I really needed. I needed to be with her. And from the look on her face when I said, "C'mon. Let's go!" I knew I had made the right decision for my heart and my soul.

Here comes the sun

2011-03-23T18:36:00.000-07:00

It's raining again. It's been raining since 10am. I am not missing the sun that much, but I have a few photos to let a little sun in on this dark, gray day.

On Monday afternoon when the rain subsided for a wee bit the kids ransacked the back and front yards for wildflowers. They presented me with half a bag of fiddlenecks. We had some fun gluing them onto cardboard.

An "A" for a special girl's bedroom door

Special glasses just for Me (I saw this project somewhere on the web, but can't remember the site)

Our cat enjoyed that moment of sun too. I grabbed a shot of him as he basked in its glory. I love how his ears and nose look super pink. It is as if someone grabbed a pink crayon and colored them right in.

Vernal Equinox

2011-03-21T13:36:00.000-07:00

Spring has finally sprung! We are so glad we had a don't-have-to-be-anywhere-lazy weekend. Little League Baseball season will be upon us soon so we truly treasured this past weekend.

The Saturday before the big shift we ventured up into the Sierra National Forest for some adventuring. Our first stop was La Cabana, a Mexican restaurant. A friend recommended this little gem and OHMYGOSH! I'm so glad we visited. I had a wet burrito filled with shredded pork, beans and rice topped with a deliciously mild verde sauce. My taste buds were in glorious food heaven. The hubby and I have been searching for a truly authenic Mexican restaurant up here in the hills/mountains and I think we have finally found it!! We will be back with my parents.

After fueling up our bodies we traveled along Highway 81 up to Jesse Ross Cabin. We walked around a bit, played in the snow and just enjoyed eachother's company in the "quiet". Snow brings such a different kind of quiet as compared to the quiet found on a rainy or sunny day.

On Sunday, it rained all day here in Central California. The winds circled around our house like Banshees. The weather would have kept most folks in curled up indoors with some hot soup and books, but we decided to head back out into the wilderness. We grabbed our snow gear and headed up Highway 41 to Bass Lake.

We didn't get too far because the roads were closed due to a snow storm. We managed up an un-maintained road but drove back down in reverse for fear we'd get stuck and become some sad news story. The snow was falling pretty fast at this point. Mother Nature surely roared in like a lion this year.

Peace for Japan

2011-03-18T17:12:00.000-07:00

Japanese violinist Taro Hakase gives a beautiful, impromptu recital in London to raise funds for Japan's earthquake and tsunami victims.

And Chibird's simple, yet poignant drawing says it all.

A Jolly Green Day

2011-03-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

It was all about the green today. Everywhere I looked I couldn't help but notice that beautiful color. And it was fun to sprinkle a little bit of it throughout my day.

Lunch - green grapes, green edamame, clover shaped turkey 'n' cheese sammies and mint bar

Chocolate Mint-Bars for snacking

The world exploding with green on our after-dinnner walk

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

If it was up to them

2011-03-16T13:08:00.000-07:00

My kids, like most kids, are notorious "fort" builders. As long as you have some blankets and/or sheets you can turn any area into a magical world. A world where only smiles and laughter and friendship and good things are allowed.

Some days I wish I had a big enough blanket to make a "fort" for the world.

"Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Appreciate your friends. Continue to learn. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is."
~Mary Anne Radmacher

There must be an e-Mag Heaven because I'm in it

2011-03-09T10:29:00.000-08:00

e-mags have become some of my favorite reading material. I can sit at my computer and read away and come back to them when the fancy strikes. There's no bulk, no clutter, and no paper waste guilt.

I am super excited to be reading Heather Bullard's loverly Souvenir. The images are breathtaking and the ideas are so-can't-wait-to-try-'em. You can sign up to receive your copy here.

Right now I also have Sweet Paul open on my browser. The pictures of the food are making my mouth water. And the colors throughout the mag are so very happy that you can't help but smile as you flip the pages.

So, close facebook, grab some tea and set aside a little time to get cozy with these e-mags.

Doodling Doo, Doodling Dee

2011-03-03T15:07:00.000-08:00

I had much fun today doodling with Andie. Draw and Fold Over is the most awesome website when you are in the mood for non-solo doodling. Here is what we created:

I must say we were on the same wavelength. The pics are pretty seamless. If you create some, please share. I love the funky characters you can create.

Day 28 I Love

2011-02-28T10:40:00.001-08:00

... my little family. I couldn't make it without them.

So ends my "I Love" posts. I realized finding things to love wasn't hard at all... trying to limit the "I Love" things to share on this blog has been.

Day 27 I Love

2011-02-27T18:32:00.000-08:00

... a perfect combination of foods; butter chicken, cous cous, cucumber slices with a little lemon and salt, a clementine and some naan.

Day 26 I Love

2011-02-26T13:28:00.000-08:00

... knitting.

Day 25 I Love

2011-02-25T12:31:00.000-08:00

... this new little being, my niecey.

Day 24 I Love

2011-02-24T20:42:00.000-08:00

... reading a good book. I'm keen on this one right now.

Day 23 I Love

2011-02-23T16:25:00.000-08:00

... making my own rainbows on super sunny days.

Day 22 I Love

2011-02-22T11:01:00.000-08:00

... a morning walk to breathe in the cool air.

Day 21 I Love

2011-02-21T16:05:00.000-08:00

... bowling on our President's Day day off.

Day 20 I Love

2011-02-20T18:30:00.000-08:00

... french toast for dinner. Yummy!

Day 19 I Love

2011-02-19T19:10:00.000-08:00

... fuzzy, warm socks infused with lavender scent and shea butter.

Day 18 I Love

2011-02-18T08:24:00.000-08:00

... the color purple and little leaves shaped like hearts. Double love bonus!

Day 17 I Love

2011-02-17T19:55:00.000-08:00

... the hope that someone may find this letter and that it may make them smile.

This letter was written on the back of a page from Keri Smith's Wreck This Journal book. The page prompted you to lose the page. I thought it'd be fun to lose it with the hope that someone may find it and be nosy enough to read what I wrote.

Day 16 I Love

2011-02-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

... freshly squeezed orange juice. Yum! And the fact that the oranges are from my parent's orange trees only adds to the sweetness.

Day 15 I Love

2011-02-15T13:52:00.000-08:00

... a cloud that looks just like cotton candy.

Day 14 I Love

2011-02-14T20:08:00.001-08:00

...a hand drawn Valentine from my Valentine.

Day 13 I Love

2011-02-13T14:10:00.000-08:00

... sweet Valentine's Day treats.

Day 12 I Love

2011-02-12T19:54:00.000-08:00

... us.