Day 50: Summer

Posted in connection, Cooking, exercise, family, food, Friends, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, one love, positive living, simple living, work life balance by adrianahartley

Today was much better than yesterday. And it’s day 50 of my summer staycation. I still woke up very early, and Charlie was up early too, so I just snuggled with him on the couch while the morning was still and everyone else was still asleep. It was nice to do “nothing” together.

After having coffee and reading the paper, I prepped the ingredients to make fresh spring rolls for this evening, which took more than 2 hours. After straightening up the house and decluttering, including washing all the dishes, I squeezed in a quick workout before showering and preparing for my lunch date.

Juliana invited her friend and her mom over for a double date with us. We served fresh fruit and baby carrots, and made grilled paninis, while they brought cookies and chips to share. Afterwards, we went to get luxurious pedicures together that felt so good! I loved the girl time together.

We got home in time to relax for a bit. Actually, Charlie asked Juliana to bake him a strawberry cake and she was busy making the frosting while I relaxed. There is a perk to having big kids! I loved that she did this for him.

Soon after we progressed on to the first stop of our progressive dinner. We enjoyed potstickers and sushi, shrimp chips, fruit and rice balls.

It felt really strange to show up empty handed. Everything was amazing!

After an hour we progressed to the next house, where we enjoyed an Hawaiian theme, with pulled pork sandwiches, mango coleslaw, and pineapple. Everything was so good and I was having such a great time, that I forgot to take a picture before we progressed to our house for the 3rd stop.

We made fresh spring rolls with dipping sauces. By the time we got to our house, we were all so full and we still had to save room for homemade strawberry birthday cake.

I was happy being organized and prepared early this morning, getting all my work done, to be able to enjoy the entire rest of the day and night. I guess that’s a bonus to waking up early. It was another fun day to be on a staycation.

I hope you’re enjoying your end of the week.

hugs

28Jul2016

Day 48: Summer

Posted in best friends, connection, Friends, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, one love, positive living, simple living, work life balance by adrianahartley

Tonight I am thankful for my BFF who always has good ideas and inspires me and picks me up and makes life great.

I am happy even when we are just in the same room, sitting on the beach or shopping on Santana Row. It doesn’t matter what we do, I just love her energy.

Everyone needs a good friend like her! I am thankful for my sunshine!

Be well, my friends. And be a good friend!!

nAMaste

26Jul2016

Day 46: Summer

Posted in Beach, connection, family, fear, simple living, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

It’s almost August. I think it starts next week. Oh my goodness. It does. That means school starts up again 3 weeks from tomorrow, which seems like a long time but it’s not really! We have residency verification dates and photo dates and school schedule pick up dates and pirate camp and life guarding and driving lessons and homework to still squeeze in before we are done. It feels like summer is almost over and that gives me anxiety! I feel like it just begun and I’m finally getting the hang of it. I’m a little slow at this adapting thing, and once I finally feel comfortable, it’s gonna be time to create a new schedule again and to change again.

Hopefully I’ll be ready, but right now I’m already feeling the end of summer blues.

How do you handle change? Do you flow? Do you get anxiety? Is it no big thing? I am curious.

Here’s to slowing down and enjoying the last few weeks of summer! I plan to go paddle boarding and to get to the beach before it’s over. What will you do with your summer days?

25Jul2016

Day 45: Summer

Posted in connection, family, happily ever after, Happiness, simple living by adrianahartley

4 years ago today we moved to Amsterdam,with fear and excitement in our hearts. This was what prompted me to begin blogging and I have been enjoying sharing my days here for more than 4 years now.

Today we drove back from Southern California to our home in Northern California. It’s always bittersweet to say goodbye. We had a great vacation with family and wish we lived closer to each other.

Do you live close to your family? Would you choose to live close to your family if you could? I would, even though I am happy where I am.

nAMaste

24Jul2016

Day 44: Summer

Posted in best friends, connection, family, happily ever after, intention, joy, Love, memories, motherhood, parenting, simple living, spark joy, Uncategorized, work life balance by adrianahartley

Today we celebrated Charlie’s birthday at Hurricane Harbor in Valencia with his cousins. We were worried about the air quality as the Santa Clarita fires are burning out of control and were only 10% contained this morning.

We were lucky that the park and freeways were open and we were able to arrive before the park opened for the day.

As soon as we entered the park, we went to find lounge chairs in the shaded area first. Once we were settled, everyone began exploring and cooling off, as it was already so hot first thing in the morning.

We all had a good time, floating down the lazy river, splashing in the kid areas, bobbing up and down in the wave pool and riding a handful of rides.

Happy birthday, Charlie! Today it was fun to play in the water and in the sun with our family.

Life is good.

23Jul2016

Day 43: Summer

Posted in connection, family, happily ever after, intention, one love, parenting, positive living, rooted, simple living by adrianahartley

What was your favorite part of the day?

My favorite part of the day was when all 10 of us were in the pool at the same time. All the cousins and aunties and uncle were together in the water and this made me happy.

I didn’t take a single picture today and that is rare for me, especially with so many fun moments.

By not taking pictures and not being on my phone, I felt more fully present.

At dinner tonight, we all agreed to leave our phones down and it made a big difference to the experience. I know this should be obvious, but it’s not in my family, and I enjoyed us all being in the moment together with limited interruptions.

Life is good. Keep on loving each other and lifting each other up. I hope you had a good day.

Namaste

22Jul2016

Day 42: Summer

Posted in connection, Cooking, family, food, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, joy, Love, memories, motherhood, parenting, positive living, simple living, work life balance by adrianahartley

I am happy that we got to celebrate Charlie’s birthday today with family, doing what he loves and feeling his joy of being an almost teenager.

We enjoyed donuts for breakfast, bowled in the afternoon, made pizzas for dinner and ate red velvet cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes for dessert.

Life is sweet! Today was good. Sending blessings of peace to you and your family, and especially to those in Munich today.

Happy Birthday, Charlie. You are loved! xo

21Jul2016

Day 41: Summer

Posted in connection, Cooking, family, food, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, simple living, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

I didn’t take any pictures today, although there were some beautiful sites along our journey.

Today I am thankful for my sisters who welcomed us home and made us a wonderful dinner with literally an hour’s notice of our arrival. Jeff just returned from Europe and is jet lagged and I’ve been a a working, solo parent for the past week plus. We were both too exhausted to think and they did the thinking, planning, shopping, prepping and cooking dinner for us and this gift was priceless and much enjoyed.

It’s great to be loved! Thanks, sisters!!

How was your day? Did anyone spoil you? Did you spoil anyone?

Life is good.

18Jul2016

Day 38: Summer

Posted in Beach, connection, family, Friends, happily ever after, Happiness, Love, memories, motherhood, parenting, positive living, rooted, simple living, spark joy, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

I choose to wake up bright and early every day. I have figured out a work schedule that allows me to get most of my work done while my teens and tween sleep in. Once they wake up and get moving and finish their chores, there is plenty of time for us to enjoy each other and our staycation.

Last night before going to bed, Charlie told me that when he woke up that he was going to make me eggs for breakfast. I loved the excitement of the anticipation that he was going to cook for me. I love the little things in life the most.

He woke up maybe two hours after I had been working already. The first thing he asked was if I was ready for breakfast. He hadn’t forgotten his promise. I love his thoughtfulness and his breakfast hit the spot.

I really appreciated his gesture and I think he was proud of himself. He asked to sit with me for two minutes, and how could I resist?

I think he was also excited for our beach day that we had planned and I love that he wanted to give back. While I worked, the kids got stuff ready to go to the beach and when I clocked out, we were almost ready to go.

We loaded the car and drove over the hill and were set up on the beach for our picnic by 1pm. We enjoyed the warmth of the sun and the cool ocean breeze and didn’t leave until after dinner time. The kids and their friends and the moms all had a good time and didn’t want to leave.

When we finally left, we kept with our new tradition and stopped for ice cream at Marianne’s before heading back over the hill to arrive home again. Who says you can’t have ice cream for dinner and dinner for dessert?