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.

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

27Jul2016

Day 47: Summer

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

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

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?

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.

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.

20Jul2016

Day 40: Summer

Posted in exercise, family, Gratitude, happily ever after, Happiness, intention, Love, motherhood, positive living, simple living, work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

Summer days are really long, especially when you get up before the crack of dawn and go to bed at midnight!! I have 14 minutes left in the day and hope to be in bed in 7, so I’ll make this quick.

This was the highlight of my day: getting out of the house for a run and dragging Charlie along on his bike.

The run part was very hard and my legs felt like lead and it was hot!!

Today was a day of resistance and digging down deep to find gratitude when I wanted to cry and scream. I did come untethered and almost cried but was too tired to care to cry.

In the middle of feeling like shit, I tried to remember all the important things you need to know when you feel down. The problem with practicing what you’re supposed to do when you don’t want to is that it takes a lot of will power and energy when you don’t have a lot of will power and energy. I did it anyway and could feel the shift. I know it works when we practice, but man, fighting that resistance is a challenge.

Today was a challenge. And tomorrow is another day for peace, with hopefully a little more sleep, a little more food, more water and more down time.

nAhhhhhhhhMaste…..

19Jul2016

Day 39: Summer

Posted in work life balance, working mom by adrianahartley

Some days are full and busy and go non-stop.

Like today.

And I am out of energy.

Can you relate?

How was your summer day? What made you smile? Tell me a story. 🙂

I’m taking the night off…all 16 minutes left of day 39!! I really need to get to bed earlier.

Goodnight, BeLoveRs.

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?