Be Giving

Posted in belovers, connection, Cooking, food, Friends, Gratitude, simple living, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

“Be giving, forgiving, compassionate and loving.”

You gotta love a cup of tea that comes with an inspirational message.

Julie gave me this fun mug for my birthday and when I drink from it I think of her and smile. It’s the gift that keeps on giving. I brought her with me to work and it was like having my friend with me.

Speaking of my giving and loving friend, today she sent in a healthy breakfast for our bright and early team meeting. What a sweet and caring surprise. I love her and the breakfast parfait was quite a treat too. I am so lucky!

I am surrounded by giving and loving friends and family and they sure make life sweet. Last night Pat baked three different types of cookies for our PEO meeting to share with all of us. And today Sam took me out to lunch because he thought I needed to get out of the office. I want to be like them when I grow up! Or maybe I am practicing being like them, while I grow up.

Tonight Juliana and I baked Snickerdoodle cookies to share and give away. As she was packing up some up to take with her to share with her friend, she said that I had rubbed off on her. I smiled. Today was good.

Life. Full circle. Karma. Connection. Thankful.

I am content and can’t wait to share cookies and tea again tomorrow.

Namaste BeLoveRs.

28Mar2017

The Little Things

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

I’ve missed writing and think about it often, wondering what I would write if I chose to write each night I think about writing but don’t actually begin.

I’ve enjoyed the gift of time from not writing and also miss the days of continuity and focusing on what went well each day when I was writing. That yin and yang thing is always present and there are trade offs, aren’t there?

The little thing that caught my attention today was making the kids’ lunches again. I used to make their lunches, then Jeff made their lunches, and then they made their lunches, you know, practicing growing up and being responsible for taking care of themselves. When we had our Japanese exchange student with us earlier this month, I was making breakfasts, lunches and dinners for everyone, including my BIG kids. After Kohei left, I kinda carried on and continued making lunches, gave up breakfasts and still make dinners. I realized I actually love making their lunches and the connection this creates, providing for them this way. I love that it makes them happy and takes a little bit of the burden away from their busy mornings, even if they could do it for themselves. I love when Juliana texts me during the day to say how much she enjoyed what was prepared for her, or shares her gratitude and a moment of thought, connection, love.

I love the little things.

26Oct2016

Happy Hour

Posted in Cooking, family, food, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, joy, Uncategorized by adrianahartley

It’s 5:00ish here – it’s happy hour! Are you feeling happy?

How was your day? I have a little break between work and play and wanted to check in as I was thinking of it being 5:00 and it being happy hour, even when I was home cooking and cleaning. It made me think of our definition of happy hour and how often we celebrate “it.”

We can and should celebrate happy hour every day, and it doesn’t just have to be at 5:00 with a drink in your hand.

Maybe your happy hour is when you first wake up in the morning and the house is still quiet.

I think I’ve had several happy hours today. Mine started when Jeff brought me a cup of coffee while I was still in bed. This ritual makes me really happy. My cat wanted to sit with me and stay warm and who was I to deny him his happiness? I am a giver like that, and just had to stay a few minutes longer.

Maybe your happy hour is when you’re running or working out. I didn’t choose to spend a happy hour working out today, although I thought about it. I got in the groove of work and just kept going. Some days are like that.

I actually really love working, and most of the hours are happily spent doing what I’m doing, feeling creative, solving problems and helping others. Do you enjoy your daily work? I think if we are going to be spending several hours a day working, that we should be enjoying this part of our journey too.

What about after work? What do you love?

Today I enjoyed being prepared to make a recipe that I had chosen this weekend and got to use the grill. I don’t know why this made me happy, but I think it’s because it intimidates me a little and makes me uncomfortable. After using the grill and making sure the patties were each at 160 degrees, without a flame or burn, I felt strangely proud and like I conquered the all powerful grill. I am happy that I have a meal ready for everyone when they come home from their long days. Feeding my family makes me incredibly happy. Such a basic need, and one that I truly love.

And now, this happy (partial ) hour of connecting and writing is done… I have more to do, to create more happily ever moments before the day is done.

Join me by enjoying whatever you choose to do next and we’ll celebrate happy hour together!

Cheers!

Adriana

27Sep2016

Call Your Friends

Posted in best friends, connection, Cooking, food, Friends, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, joy, parenting, positive living, simple living, Uncategorized, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

I picked up the phone today and called a friend. She didn’t answer and usually I would hang up, but today I left a message and I Am happy that I did.

I told her that I would be near her house this afternoon and would love to drop by and see her, if her schedule was open at all. Lucky for me, she noticed that I called, checked her message and called me back, right as I was getting ready to go out again and we were able to connect.

She invited Jeff and I to her house and we enjoyed an hour or so together, chit chatting and catching up right at dinner time and before her PTA meeting and between our kids’ soccer practice and polo matches. While we were talking, she whipped up fish tacos for her family and insisted that we eat with her and that she had plenty.

I can’t tell you (well, actually I guess I am sharing right now) how cool this moment was. This was living happily ever after right now, and saying yes, and not being too busy, or too tired or too anything (even though we are). We showed up, sat around the table and enjoyed each other’s company in the middle of the day on a Tuesday. I loved this, can you tell?

Thank you Susanne! You made my day.

If you’re thinking of a friend, try calling them. They just might make your day and dinner. xoxo

P.S. Thank you Charlie for inspiring me to write tonight and asking me what made me happy today.

6Aug2016

Day 57: Summer

Posted in Cooking, family, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, positive living, simple living by adrianahartley

What made you happy today?

I love the little things.

Today Jeff helped me to fix my fountain. My fountain tends to get clogged and hasn’t been working forever. I asked Jeff to fix it with me today and he did. We got the shopvac out and vacuumed out the dirt and leaves. We washed the filter screen and reassembled the parts and then filled the fountain with water to test it. The best part was that Jeff stayed calm throughout the process, which was a miracle!! He hates hassles and he didn’t complain, which made me as happy as the fountain working.

This made me so happy! I love that my fountain is working again and the sound of water fills my yard.

We enjoyed the rest of our steakation, sitting on our outdoor sectional couch and planning to go to the new Whole Foods to get delicious, juicy steaks to grill out for dinner.

We had to try the Mochi ice creams before dinner, because it’s summer time and we can have dessert before a late dinner.

Life is good!

I hope you’re enjoying your weekend!

Love,

Adriana

30Jul2016

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

29Jul2016

Day 49: Summer

Posted in Cooking, family, simple living, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

Today was a long day and I was not comfortable. Some days are like that and I try to keep things in perspective, but today was a challenge.

I think it’s partially because I don’t sleep well and am over tired. And partially it’s because it’s the end of a long week and my schedule was off with two days down in So Cal and everyone is home and in and out all day.

By the evening and after work, I took the time to make gazpacho, which I planned to make earlier in the week yet ran out of time. Jeff decided to try making us new cocktails, because we are having friends coming over and we wanted to be sure we know what we’re doing. We’re givers like that! The Dark and Stormy drink was delicious and refreshing.

By the time I was done prepping dinner and making the gazpacho, I was full and had no more room to eat anything that was prepared.

Tomorrow is another day. I am off to bed “early.”

Hope you had a good week. 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.