Category Archives: spark joy

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 21: Summer

Posted in exercise, family, intention, motherhood, positive living, rooted, simple living, spark joy, work life balance, working mom by

Today was beautiful. Seriously. In so many ways.

I brought the kids and their friends out paddle boarding and kayaking and packed a picnic lunch.  Of course, this is after I already worked 4 hours bright and early this morning so I could enjoy the day “off.”  I struck a balance this week and it felt really good.

I loved that the kids wanted to go with me and had a good time. I loved that I got to paddle too! And the sunshine and weather was just right. 

Life is good!  Happy 4th weekend everyone. Be well.

xoxoxox 


Day 17: Summer

Posted in family, Gratitude, happily ever after, intention, Love, Mindfulness, motherhood, one love, parenting, positive living, rooted, simple living, spark joy, work life balance, working mom by


All these lemons came from the same tree, and this picture made me think of my kids.

You see I’m thankful that I have one large, one medium and one small one.  As the two big ones are growing up and becoming more independent and less needy of me, I still have the small one to grow for a little while longer and this makes me very happy.  Having the little one makes me remember that the big one was once small too and makes me even more aware that the little one is going to get bigger too one day, which makes me be even more present with all three of them. This is an amazing, little, magical gift of three.

Today the little one and I went to the craft store together to get stuff to make stuff. We like to make things together and I love that he is creative. He picked out a wood burning tool and some wood pieces to create some art, even though we were really going in the store to find neon, erasable white board markers that would show up on his metal black board. Luckily we found some of those too on the clearance rack. 

And that’s my happily ever after story for the day.  How was your day?  Did you make lemonade from lemons today?  

Oh, and P.S., This was my way of making lemonade out of lemons today…I was actually momentarily sad about the feeling of letting go and really knowing that my kids are growing up. There’s usually a back story to every happily ever after, isn’t there? Just sayin’

nAMaste BeLoveRs

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

Day 4: Summer 

Posted in belovers, exercise, happily ever after, intention, Love, Mindfulness, one love, positive living, spark joy by


We played dodge ball today. I wish I could share the photo of all the children, youth and adults playing together and the smiles on their faces. I am refraining from sharing to protect their privacy, but it was amazing. My favorite part was playing with the kids in wheel chairs, and watching them play and laugh with the group. 

In the wake of what happened in Orlando this week, and thinking about what we can do, I have the answer.

We can choose to love one another and to play nicely together, no matter what. It’s one small way to make a difference. Listen. Share. Play. Love. Be fair. Take turns. Follow the rules. Include everyone. Be gentle. Run and laugh. Keep moving. Be kind. Repeat. (Just like playing dodgeball.)

nAMaste BeLoveRs. Spread the love.

Day 2: Summer

Posted in connection, family, Happiness, joy, Love, love and light, one love, positive living, simple living, spark joy, Uncategorized by


We spent all day at the soccer field today, after leaving our house at 6:45 am this morning. I loved it and am exhausted!

Charlie’s team won the championships and was so happy! I was excited for him to be on a winning team this year with an excellent coach and great team. It was really fun to be on the sidelines and supporting him with Jeff and the other families.

Life is good. 

P.S. I am sad today about the mass shootings in Orlando. Those families are our families. Their pain is our pain. We are One. We can make a difference in this world by spreading love and acceptance and forgiveness. Be loving. Love you. Love others. Love us. One Love. No Hate.

Happily Ever After Today

Posted in connection, family, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, joy, Love, memories, motherhood, parenting, positive living, simple living, spark joy by

How did you live your happily ever after today? After all, we are not promised tomorrow. So how did you make the most of your today?

This is how I think. I think that today is my best life ever and how am I going to live it up? What will spark joy?

Today I got to go for a walk with my BFF in the middle of the day, since we had to miss yoga. We made time for each other to escape our responsibilities and to go outside for a short while and to enjoy the sunshine, today.

I took my kids out to celebrate Charlie’s Student of the Month award to get bubble tea before dinner, as he requested. We took time to celebrate his gifts and he even got to sit in the front seat, a place usually reserved for the eldest. I loved just sitting with him and Juliana, sharing stories about our happily ever after day.

What else? I called my sister, I texted with my family, and made dinner and we gathered around the table. We didn’t have to go anywhere tonight and it was a gift to stay home and relax.

Today was good. I liked going with the flow and enjoying my family and friends, living the dream, one day at a time.

 What’s your dream? Are you creating it? Go ahead… get started! You’ll thank yourself later for choosing to start right now.

Chaperoning in Chinatown

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


I got to chaperone a field trip to Chinatown in San Francisco today and am thankful.


I’m thankful that Charlie wanted me to go with him. I’m thankful that he was excited to go on this trip with his classmates and I loved hearing his anticipation about possibly getting a straw hat all week. 

I enjoyed the car ride with the other chaperones and was thankful I wasn’t riding the bus with all the kids.


I loved letting my little group lead and negotiate which direction we should head and which shops and sites we should visit, while I watched over all of them and kept them safe and together.

The weather was gorgeous in the city today and I loved the break in my routine. 


I am thankful for my flexible work schedule that allowed me to chaperone without feeling guilty.

And I’m thankful that Charlie found joy with his new straw hat. It’s the little things worthy of celebrating!

Today was good. 

How was your day? What made you feel thankful, wise one?


Namaste.

Pattern and Design

Posted in connection, family, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, joy, motherhood, simple living, spark joy, working mom by


I received my first Stitch Fix order in the mail today, 3 days ahead of schedule. 

I loved seeing the box arrive and was excited to open it to see what was inside. I waited until my husband and daughter and son were ready to watch me unwrap my Mother’s Day gift.

The labeling and the tape and the way things were laid inside the box were all well thought out. I loved the colors and the sticker and the tissue before I even enjoyed what was inside the wrappings. Everything was aesthetically pleasing even before knowing what was actually inside.

I loved the anticipation and was hoping I would love every piece and I did!  What a pleasant surprise.

I love that someone else went shopping for me and knew how to pick what would look good on my body. They did a better job than I ever could because I don’t have the patience or the interest to spend time looking for and hunting and gathering new pieces for my wardrobe. This was actually a very rewarding experience and my husband even asked if there was service like this for men as he hates shopping even more than I do.

After I was done trying on all my gifts, I told my husband that I knew what I wanted for my birthday now. He was thrilled that he was off the hook for thinking and shopping and wrapping and found the perfect gift! It’s a win-win!


Life is good!

Love and Light

Posted in exercise, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, Love, love and light, nature, positive living, rooted, simple living, spark joy by

These are my favorite words right now. I love them as a blessing to others and I love experiencing both. I love the thought of love and light and focusing our attention on all that is good. What we focus on, is what we create and I choose love and light. They’re kinda like my BFFs.

Today I loved finishing the second to last day of my 30 day challenge, completing 240 squats, 38 push-ups and 95 leg lifts!! This makes me very happy. What challenge should I accept next, Yaya?

I decided to complete today’s challenge before dinner. The only thing that’s been consistent with this challenge is completing the daily challenge. Some days I’ve worked out in the morning and others at lunch, mid-afternoon, before dinner and at least before bed. Those ones were the hardest!

Tonight I finished the challenge right around 7pm and decided to shower before dinner. I loved the late afternoon sunlight coming through my bathroom window and didn’t want to leave until sunset.


Love and light. May it surround you and be part of your every day.

namaste