Hello from beautiful Silicon Valley. TGIF
Here are a few scenes from my day outdoors.
I hope you’re inspired to go outside and explore.
Namaste.
Monthly Archives: October 2013
Baby Love
I spent time with baby P today and her mama. It brought back all kinds of memories and joy. I love babies and mamas and if I were to go back to work again, I’d come back as a mama’s helper. Women helping women. That’s my new mantra. I have a feeling this one will help guide me in the direction of what I should pursue next. But for now I’m still enjoying resettling with no expectations and limited demands on my schedule.
I think being a mom, especially a new mom is such a challenging job and takes all of your being. I think all moms should have an assistant, at least for the first year as they get acclimated and adapt to their new roles. Wouldn’t that be a good idea? I know I could have really used one when my little ones were little and I was transitioning into my new role as mama. It would be especially helpful in communities like Silicon Valley where most everyone is a transplant without family near by to help out. Don’t you think?
Being with baby P today made me smile. We sat on the floor and sang songs, learned some new sign language from her mama, watched her read and eat some books, and helped her balance and dance by holding onto my hands.
Life is good. Have you hugged a baby lately?
Trying New Things
How do you keep life exciting? What do you do that makes life fun?
I’m always looking for new things to try, rearrange, and explore. I never want to be bored. How about you?
Today I had fun playing with our new Vitamix 5200. Think of a blender on steroids with several speed variables, with the highest levels spinning so fast that the friction causes the contents in the carafe to heat up after several minutes. This is a cool new toy for the whole family to enjoy.
I made tortilla soup with tomatoes, a red pepper, carrots, cilantro, chicken, rice, garlic, onions, lime and cumin with salt and pepper to taste. I just threw in everything I had and in 10 minutes I has warm, delicious, healthy and savory soup!
When I picked up Juliana from school, we made a date with the Vitamixer. We headed to Sprouts to pick up fresh and frozen smoothie ingredients. Our after school snack was also a cooking experiment and entertainment.
It’s the little things in life that make me happy.
Tomorrow we’ll try milkshakes!
What is something new you have tried or started lately?
3 Months Ago…
Three months ago today we moved back home. I’m feeling much happier today about our decision. Almost every day the sky is blue and the sun is shining and warm. If for no other reason, this makes me smile. I feel content just because of the weather. Every morning I ride my bakfiets to take Charlie to school and I smile. I love this new ritual and truly appreciate the daily experience.
We have reconnected with friends, established new routines and have “normal” schedules now. Even though I don’t like the busyness of Silicon Valley and the daily obligations and time commitments, I am at the same time also thankful for this community and the opportunities my family has here.
I still miss what we left behind but I am happy here. My takeaway is that you have to create your happiness wherever you go and keep redefining yourself as circumstances change. This is exciting too because it keeps things new and refreshing. For now, I’m happy rebuilding, reconnecting, resettling and enjoying the journey back home.
Santana Row and Christina
Santana Row is this beautiful shopping and people watching place in San jose. It’s supposed to feel like a little version of a European marketplace. It has housing above the shops, hip and expensive restaurants, and a center courtyard like area where people can gather and sit and relax. There are expensive designer stores and a beautifully landscaped boulevard. It’s a fun place to be and quite crowded on the weekends.
Today I met my friend Christina for lunch at Plutos. Plutos is a healthy restaurant where you can order salads with your favorite chosen ingredients or specially made sandwiches. We sat outside in the sunshine and just enjoyed catching up.
Christina is a friend whom I met through another mutual friend at a coffee date. But Christina and I had seen each other and smiled at one another at a literary event for our kids years before. She knew that if we ever met we would be great friends! 7 years later we’re still enjoying each others’ company! How cool is that?
Life is good! I love the girlfriend connection!! Love ya girlfriends!! xo
Autumn Day on the Delta
My favorite time of the year is summer time, but I think autumn might be a close second. Today we drove up to the Delta to spend the day with our friends. I loved the drive and experiencing the bright fall light and colors.
I love the open fields, old barns, and cows in the fields.
My favorite place to be is anywhere on the water with my family and friends. Today Rob took us out for a ride in his boat. I had my permagrin again and couldn’t stop smiling. Feeling the water splashing on me and the sun warming my skin is the best feeling. Thank you Rob for taking my kids and I for a spin!! We loved it.
Thank you Pat and Marcia for preparing a nice lunch for us. We enjoyed sitting out on the deck and relaxing, chatting and enjoying your company.
The kids loved jumping off Chuck’s boat and into the water. I had just as much fun photographing them. It was a perfect day!
Thank you Pat and Chuck for inviting us over. We had a wonderful day with you.
The drive home was just as beautiful as the drive there. We had a very busy yet fulfilling and fun weekend! We just need another weekend to rest now!! :-). Hope y’all had a great weekend too!
Beautiful sunset
Tailgating and Football
The highlight of today was tailgating and watching American Football. Stanford is ranked #5 and is so much fun to watch. We love gathering with friends out in the Eucalyptus Forest before the game against Washington and just chilling outside together.
Nothing better than finding a big stick and getting dirty!
Red Solo Cup…. I keep hearing Leland singing karaoke about his dear friend!
Best buddies.
Once we finish the party out in the field, we continue the celebration inside the stadium. Tonight’s game began right away with a Stanford touchdown which set the pace for the rest of the game. Here’s a little video clip so you can feel what it’s like to be there.
Tonight was so warm and comfortable to be outside all night long and we never got cold. It was a great evening and Stanford won!
Hope you’re enjoying your weekend!!
Stella & Dot
Tonight I hosted a Stella & Dot trunk show with several of my girlfriends. Stella & Dot was the entertainment for the evening, with women trying on jewelry and enjoying wine and nibbles and each other’s company.
I love when I have company over to the house because I clean and have a delicious smelling, uncluttered house! My floors are shiny and everything is in it’s place. I worked hard to get ready for tonight and was happy to open my home for several girlfriends.
I loved seeing everyone and watching them mingle and get to know each other, trying on jewelry and just having a good time.
I love that Stella & Dot was started by such an inspiring woman, Jessica Herrin, and that she shared her vision with other women and built a soon to be billion dollar company. Anyone can join and make it what they want it to be. For me, I do this as a hobby to afford my love of the jewelry and accessories and to get together with other women. Some women do this as a career and make six digit salaries! Some women build a team of women and coach and inspire other women to reach their dreams. I love that you can build your business to be what you want it to be and you can be part of a great team.
I had so much fun seeing everyone and only wish I would have had more time to socialize. Let’s get together again soon!
If you’re interested in checking out the company and spoiling yourself, come shopping online with me: http://www.stelladot.com/adrianahartley . If you want to earn jewelry for free, call me to host a party for you with your friends. And if you’re wanting to do more and become a stylist, I can help hook you up. Just send me a reply. All the best!
STEM and GAINS
Have you heard of this acronym before? It stands for
Science
Technology
Engineering
Math
Where we live in Silicon Valley, there is a push to help motivate, inspire and influence girls to find interest and passion in these subjects. When I was growing up, my dad always told me that I was going to college. It wasn’t like I had a choice, it was just a given. I was going to college. I didn’t exactly know what I was going to do once I got there, but I always knew I was going.
When I got there, I decided I was going to be an elementary school teacher. That was mainly because my cousin was a teacher and I always looked up to her and admired her. So I wanted to be like her when I grew up. I was also told that being a teacher was a good profession for a woman because she could teach and then be home for her kids too and have summers off when kids were off for vacation. This was probably good advice. But I didn’t take it. I started down that route, but got bored and wanted to make more money and be financially independent and to travel and I had all these other big, idealistic dreams, not that I wouldn’t have met them being a teacher, but I wanted more. I wanted a different challenge.
I decided to change my major from Liberal Studies to something else. The something else was something I was unsure of. My dad told me I should study engineering or math. He was an engineer and taught math and so he thought these would be good fields for me. I looked into the engineering and math programs, met with the Deans of the Colleges and did some research. But I didn’t know what I would do with a Math or Engineering degree and I couldn’t envision what I would do with my degree in these fields, nor could I imagine being in class with all men and practically no women. I was intimidated and naive. Luckily I chose Business and found a successful career and met my college goals, but what if?
What if I would have had more women role models? Or what if when I went to meet with the Deans, they walked me through some career discussions or let me sit in a class and shadow the learning? Would I have made a different choice? Perhaps.
The reason why I’m writing this is because Juliana was chosen to join a program in Santa Clara that does just this. It’s called GAINS – Girls Achieving In Non-traditional Subjects. GAINS provides opportunities for young women to explore non-traditional fields, particularly those related to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Students are given the opportunity to hear from and talk with female professionals currently working in these fields. Students learn more about future careers, visit colleges, attend conferences and explore many options for education. How cool is this? How lucky is she?
She is going to have even more female role models. She is going to have other stories to hear besides mine and her families. Although she has wanted to be a doctor since she was 3 years old, and most likely she will become a doctor, perhaps through GAINS she will have the chance to explore other scientific fields and be inspired by women working in technology companies like Google and Facebook, and LinkedIn. Perhaps she’ll visit a hospital and shadow an intern or doctor for a day and discover if she likes being in this type of environment. I’m hoping GAINS will create a spark and she will light the way to her own happiness and success one day, well prepared!
I am thankful for all the volunteers leading this program and offering to help mentor young women in the Bay area. I am also thankful for the sponsors that help fund this amazing program offered to now over 200 girls and growing! We are lucky to be part of such a great community. Thanks!
p.s. Out of everyone in the audience tonight at the kick off meeting, I won the raffle and received a sweatshirt and water bottle. I love winning!!
Exercise
What’s your favorite form of exercise?
How often do you work out? And for how long? Do you make exercise a priority?
Some people I know exercise every day. Others, not at all. And some just sometimes. Are all sets happy? Yes, I think so. It makes me curious why some people feel like they HAVE to exercise, some don’t want to at all and others are happy either way.
I love exercise just because I love it. I am happy whether I do or don’t and don’t feel like I have to exercise to be happy. The opposite is true for others and I find this fascinating.
I choose to exercise because I enjoy the social and fitness aspects of it. I do a mix of group and individual sports and am happier when I’m working out with friends and sharing that social component. I learn so much from my friends and feel like when we’re exercising and chatting, we’re sharing an experience and time together, and are figuring life out and it makes it all a little sweeter.
Why do you workout? What do you do? Do you switch things up or stick to one or two things?
Today I ran 3 miles alone and then later walked with a friend. Yesterday I did a power yoga group class and tomorrow I will play tennis with friends. All of these forms make me happy. I feel like I exercise because it’s the right thing to do and I want to stay fit, strong and healthy, and to be a good role model to my kids. I don’t think I lose any weight from working out, but maybe that’s more because my eating habits are out of whack! I’m working on those too, but that story is for another post.
Good night. xx
here i am 