Category Archives: space

Day 55: Summer

Posted in fear, Gratitude, Happiness, intention, joy, Love, memories, motherhood, parenting, positive living, simple living, space, spark joy, work life balance, working mom by

here I am, happily taking the back seat.


With her dad in the front seat by her side, I was definitely the back seat driver and had a hard time keeping my mouth shut. 

Today was another new moment and I could see my baby girl growing up and doing things her way. 

While we were out teaching her to drive, Charie cooked dinner for us after I started the rice in the rice cooker. We came home and all enjoyed a delicious dinner out on the patio togetherZ

When I forget whether I enjoyed this summer Staycation at the end of summer, remind me of this moment, and the time and space we shared slowing down and enjoying whatever came our way.

Life is good.

xo

Day 47: Summer

Posted in love and light, memories, motherhood, parenting, positive living, rooted, simple living, space, work life balance, working mom by

Forget the shoulds.

This was the highlight of my day.  My old BFF and I went for a hike together first thing this morning and this was one of the little nuggets we unveiled.

We shared stories and ideas about life and parenting and adulting. We shared our vulnerabilities, and our joys and we listened to each other, while we enjoyed two hours moving up and down the hills together.

We talked about life and where we are now and what we dreamed of becoming and how far we have come. We decided that one of the best ways to enjoy this one life and to create our happily ever after and our Norman Rockwell moments was to live life in the moment, not wanting for or wishing to be anywhere else and to accept where we are right now. We decided that we had to stop thinking of all the things we should be doing or should have done and to be okay with what is and what we have chosen to do. We know we need to enjoy the present moment and not to compare our present moment with anyone else’s. Pretty basic thoughts, but we so often forget, especially as social media tells us stories and we create stories in our head of what we should be doing to vacation, to exercise, to be beautiful, to be a good mom, and to be whatever. Let’s stop the shoulds and the stories in our head and create our happily ever after in this moment, right now, enjoying what is and making the best out of our one, wonderful, imperfectly perfect life.

So simple, right?  Wanna try? Are you ready to practice with me? Let go of the shoulds. You’re doing great just being where you are right now, doing your best.

Tonight I chose to eat ice cream with my family, even though I “should” be watching my calories. There is always tomorrow.


nAMaste 
 

Day 37: Summer

Posted in connection, family, fear, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, joy, Love, love and light, memories, Mindfulness, motherhood, one love, positive living, simple living, space by

This month we have been bombarded with hateful acts, instilling fear and sadness and awareness. 

I use social media to highlight the good everyday, despite the chaos and conflict and negativity.

I choose love. One love. Are you with me? I am with you.

nAMaste

Day 36: Summer

Posted in connection, family, Friends, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, memories, Mindfulness, motherhood, parenting, positive living, simple living, space, work life balance by

Who would have thought I would enjoy being “home” this summer?

By being home and not being “busy,” I’ve created space for magic to happen and I am loving it.

I’m enjoying my kids and my friends and my home and my work and my husband. I’m enjoying the flexibility and the lack of stress and rushed feeling. I’m enjoying the opportunity to say yes and to create experiences on the fly without being too busy.  

Today I finished our puzzle with Juliana and felt a sense of mindless accomplishment!


I love that the kids have come and sat by me and we have worked together on our puzzle throughout this past week, sharing conversation while we created patterns and filled the gaps. Thank you Nate and Becky for our gift!

I also love that Julie texted me first thing this morning to see what I was doing and to see if I wanted to head over to Santana Row for an hour just because. I wanted to sit in my jammies and drink coffee, but I can never say no to Julie and am always thankful for her spunk and drive and shared curiousity. She keeps me moving and exploring and I adore her!


I made her stop for a selfie because I loved the surroundings and pretending we were on holiday because we are! Thanks, Jewels!! 

Later in the day, Juliana and I went out to celebrate her getting her driver’s permit yesterday by getting bubble teas and shopping together. I can’t believe we have another permitted driver in our house. 

And for dinner tonight we took the advice of one of Juliana’s snapchat friends, and made Mac and Cheese and added BBQ chicken with melted cheese. We had a late, fun, family dinner at home and it was perfect.

I am going to bed early tonight as I was up really late last night and haven’t been able to shake the tired feeling all day today. 

Nevertheless, today was good. 

How was your Saturday?

Day 26: Summer

Posted in family, happily ever after, Happiness, motherhood, parenting, positive living, simple living, space, spark joy, work life balance, working mom by

Okay, this could be the best summer now that I’m getting the hang of relaxing and being at home-not-at-home-and-working.

We have time to be, time to relax, time to work and play and low stress. There is space, sacred space  at home and I’m finally embracing it. Hallelujah!!

So do you want to know what I’ve really loved this week?  I knew you’d ask…I am loving pet sitting for friends with Juliana. I have loved checking on the chickens everyday and filling their water and gathering their eggs with my kids. There was a simple joy in waiting for the eggs each day and awe in how this process even works. I loved watching them peck at the water tube too and hearing the clucking sounds they made.


I loved seeing the cats and their different personalities and appearance and how three different families have three different ways of feeding and raising their fur babies. I used to not be a pet lover and now I’ve changed and that’s pretty cool. I guess old dogs can learn new tricks.

How’s your summer going? What do you love about it?

nAMaste

Day 19: Summer

Posted in connection, family, Friends, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, joy, memories, motherhood, space, working mom by

Flowing…going with the flow and being in the moment. That is what I’m doing this week and am loving having the time and space to flow, even though I find it challenging to let go of schedules, expectations and control.

Tonight we ate dinner at 9pm, after Christian prepared it for us. We never eat this late, but tonight this is what flow felt like and we flowed, eating on the couches in the family room sharing crazy, chaotic, interrupted conversations.

Tonight I caught up with an old friend in between drop off and pick up points, because I’ve missed her and was curious enough to text and attempt to connect at the last minute and she said, YES!  This is what flow felt like in the moment of not being too busy! It was great to give her and her girls hugs and to share a few moments together.

I could get used to this perfectly imperfectly unstructured summer and can’t believe we are almost 3 weeks in already. Where does the time go?

Life is good, especially when we flow.

nAMaste

Day 14: Summer

Posted in Happiness, joy, Mindfulness, nature, rooted, simple living, space, work life balance, working mom by

Summer is a great time to break routines and schedules and to relax.

I’ve shifted my work hours to the early mornings, so that I can be “done” with my work by noon-ish, which means I am waking up by 5:30am and starting work at 6. So far, I am loving this practice.  

I made a big salad and ate a late lunch outside on the back patio all by myself.  After I was done, I put up the umbrella and decided to rest on the outside sectional sofa, closing my eyes for a half hour in the middle of the day. It felt good to do nothing and I rarely just sit. I loved it, and could get used to this inactivity.

I love summer, especially this second week with the kids away!  Life has been less chaotic and I got to celebrate the moments with less stress.

TGIF – have a great weekend!

Day 8: Summer

Posted in family, Friends, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, Love, one love, positive living, space, work life balance, working mom by

I wasn’t planning to count the days of summer when I started with day 1, but I’m kinda liking it and keeping track of the days passing by.

This is my first summer as a working mom and it has been a bit of an adjustment this first week, as I worked from home and volunteered, had a birthday to celebrate and was helping my kids prepare for their volunteer service trip, along with some other personal stuff.  I was thankful for the weekend to arrive today and to sleep in, however I was still awake at 5:15 am. That seems to be my new normal, along with the birds.

Today I enjoyed celebrating a friend’s surprise birthday party and relaxing with girlfriends in the sunshine. I also was thankful for my birthday flowers that are all over my house and fill the space with a wonderful fragrance and beauty.


I love that I have such great friends and family with whom to share this beautiful life. 

Please send good thoughts and prayers for the kids and youth leaders who leave tomorrow to build houses in Mexico for those less fortunate and keep them safe.

Life is good!

nAMaste

Day 6: Summer

Posted in family, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, joy, Love, love and light, positive living, rooted, simple living, space, spark joy by

I love open space, old barns and the look of old barn wood.  Today I enjoyed a date with my husband at the Pichetti Winery. We stopped along the way to pick up my favorite food for lunch, a poke bowl from #gofishpoke and enjoyed our lunch on the winery picnic tables and a stroll around the beautiful property.  It was a gorgeous day to be outdoors.







Made a wish!


I love trees, even the old and fallen ones.

Love the light!



I am content and another year older.  How was your day?

Live it up, BeLoveRs!! 

Xo