I love to make soup and enjoy it all week, especially when the weather is wet and cold. Last week I made an Italian Minestrone with Quinoa and the week before that was an Egyptian Lentil Soup.
Tonight Christian asked if we could make Dutch Pea Soup like we used to eat in Holland. I gathered the ingredients and then we worked together in the kitchen to prepare a warm family meal.
This hit the spot and brought back great memories.
Life is Good!
I love the beach. It is my favorite place to be. I would live by the beach if I could, and someday I will. For now, I enjoy it whenever I can – in any kind of weather.
This morning Norine and I woke up early and went for a 3 mile run before our other friends woke up. The views were breathtaking and the air was crisp. We ran through the neighborhoods, seeing other runners and walkers and dogs and surfers out early too, in the fog and damp air and we were all smiling. There is something magical about beach air.
After our run, we joined our friends for breakfast before heading back out for a rain walk on the beach.
Life is good!
Having routines helps us to know what to expect and provides order for our daily lives.
But it’s always nice to have a break too.
Tonight I snuck away from homework, dinner, dishes and snuggles to travel over the hill to the beach to hang out with girlfriends.
It’s so important for women to have time together. There’s something so wonderful about girlfriends gathering and laughing and sharing, cooking, eating and drinking and playing together.
Life is good!
They say what we think, we become.
So let’s think about what we loved today. What went right? What made you smile?
Today I loved the connection I had with Juliana the most. Sometimes parenting a teen and being a teenager are both challenging roles, and when we can dance together and not step on each others’ toes or walk off the dance floor, the day is good.
I loved playing tennis with my teenager today and really, truly enjoyed having her on the court with me, sharing my passion and time alone together. There are so many reasons why I loved this the most today, but basically I loved us just playing together and taking the time out of our busy day to stop and play.
Life is good.
Charlie helped me to build my new jewelry box.
I have collected an awesome collection from Stella & Dot over the past three years and wanted a place to store my collection. I read about this ALEX chest of drawers from IKEA from another Stylist on our private message boards that worked well with our display trays.
Charlie and I worked for two afternoons putting together my new treasure box. I gave him his very own tools as his early Valentine's Day Present and he was thrilled. He mentioned how long it was taking us to finish our project. I was able to throw in some life lessons as we worked side by side. We had 6 drawers to build and it first it was a bit challenging. As we worked on, we got into a rhythm and were able to figure out the process, decreasing the time it took to complete each step.
I loved having him work with me and teaching him that sometimes work is easier with a partner. We also learned that at the beginning, things are harder to accomplish because we haven’t don’t the work before.
And as we repeat the steps, life gets easier as we learn and understand how things work. As I was finishing one drawer, he was on to building the next. He was so industrious and focused and had so much fun building with me. He is learning that things take time and that as you practice, things get easier.
Life is Good!
I was walking down a side street in Palo Alto today and flashed back to Europe. One of the things I realized I miss being back home again is discovering charming new places and being curious about what I might find around every corner.
Seeing this brick building with the enticing entrance sign and architectural lights hanging outside made me curious again. I didn’t even really care what was inside. I was just happy to be seeing something new and interesting, and feeling that feeling again.
The feeling of wonder and curiosity.
How was your day? Did you discover anything new?
My relationship with food is changing. I’m trying to lose a few pounds and am trying new strategies. None of this is new or rocket science and I know we all try to lose a pound here or there.
The thing that I’m noticing this time around is how much of my time and life is focused on food. Have you ever thought of it like that before?
I was sitting on the floor, looking up at our bookcase and noticed how much space was consumed just by cookbooks, that I hardly ever look at but like holding on to anyway. I even like thinking about food.
I was thinking about how as a mother and provider of sustenance for my family, I spend quite a bit of time thinking about, planning, gathering, preparing and serving meals over and over again. And typically when we are doing something socially, food is involved. Same with date nights. We think about where we should go out to eat. Food is a form of entertainment and feel goodness and something that is shared and enjoyed and creates connections and shared memories.
Now that I really want to lose weight, my mind is shifting. I don’t want to be thinking about food as entertainment. I want to eat more healthfully and be more mindful of my portions and food choices. Yet my old self really is a foodie and I like to try everything and share everything and I don’t have an off switch. I love food! And when it’s in front of me or shared with me, I want to eat. But now I’m wanting food to be less of a priority and focus – not that I don’t want to eat, but I want to spend less time thinking about and preparing food, if that makes any sense. Yet if I want to be surrounded by healthier options, I have to spend more time at the grocery store buying fresh produce and chopping it up so I’m prepared when hunger strikes. Today I made a minestrone soup with quinoa and kale that I can enjoy quickly when I’m hungry during the week.
I’m working on self control and controlling my temptations, yet it’s quite challenging. It’s that yin and yang thing again, and it’s a struggle. The desire to shed a few pounds and enjoy shared meals. I know they’re not mutually exclusive and that there is a balance, yet I’m not there yet and my family isn’t joining me on this ride. I’m getting there…I think, but this is work! And I know there are substitutes and I can still share meals, but the carrot sticks are just not as appetizing as the crackers and artichoke dip and I have to work on the discipline while I change my behaviors.
How about for you? Is this easy? What’s your strategy to eating and living healthfully? I’m curious what works for you. Have a great, healthy week!
I was very needy today. I felt like I had a lot to talk about. I was very curious and had lots of questions. I’m laughing just thinking about what played out next. I don’t function very well when I don’t have a plan and don’t know what to expect, and feel frustrated with myself when I can’t just flow with the freedom from not having a plan. It’s like the ultimate contradiction and it drives me crazy! My brain has lots of ideas about what should happen and when they should happen, but being part of a big family with big teenagers and a busy husband and a crazy 9 Year old, my plan doesn’t always mix with their plan and getting them to share their ideas to come up with a master plan for the family is pure chaos. At least in my brain. I totally respect that my husband is busy strategically planning at work all week and just wants to relax on the weekend, but I’m still needy of figuring out all the details so I don’t end up staying home and cleaning and cooking. I want more!! Is that too much to ask? I think it might just be….
So as we sat to watch Charlie’s basketball game, my mind wandered practically every 5 minutes as I looked over my to do list in between watching Charlie play when he was on the court.
I didn’t realize I was sharing my stream of consciousness with my husband, as much as I was, as I shared idea after idea about what we should accomplish today and everyday practically for the next few months, and what was floating through my head. I didn’t realize I was asking a lot of questions over and over again, like a four year old, until he started teasing me and I couldn’t stop laughing.
He said I sounded like a parrot and he mocked me in the voice of a parrot, repeating the questions I kept asking him. Luckily I can laugh at myself because he was really funny and really accurate. I started laughing so hard because I had no idea I was that irritating. I just wanted attention and wanted to plan out my life. Is that too much to ask? I realize I’m a bit crazy and I’m ok with that. And actually I really appreciated his humor and his ability to point out that I was a bit cuckoo.
And because he was so kind and funny and made me realize we didn’t really need a plan and could just flow with what presented itself, we had a great day after all. I am content and not a parrot. Squawk!!!
here i am 