Tonight I’m thankful for our camping friends who invited us to come join them for the day. This is glamping, staycation style and I loved it and brought the smell of the campfire home with me. How did I get so lucky?
Thank you friends!! We had a great, windy, cold, fun time with you.
xo
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
Jeff took Juliana out to practice her driving tonight, which made me happy. I love that she had time alone with her daddy and I know she appreciates his attention. I love when my family is content and together.
I sat down for a few minutes this evening, as I’m super tired today. As soon as I sat down to relax, my little partner came up and forced his way between my hands and my eyes, as I was looking at my phone, of course, catching up on social media. He wanted my attention.
Do you see his paw? That’s where it usually is. And if I stop petting him, he nuzzles a little closer. He makes me smile and helps me to relax.
But I can never sit for very long. I soon got up to tidy up, as having a clean kitchen always makes me happy. As I loaded the dishwasher and swiped down the counters, I looked up to find my buddies watching me again.
Maybe they were telling me something, like they wanted some food? Or maybe they wanted me to go relax again. I chose both options.
I’m thankful for my furry friends today. But Juliana is now asking for a dog…uh oh.
How was your summer day? What made you smile?
xo stay loved
If a picture could be a receipt, this picture would be my receipt for another happy summer Staycation day. It captures a moment in time and I can see my babies growing up and still loving and admiring one another. Charlie adores his sister and loved that she was the lifeguard on duty at the pool today. I loved that he was happy swimming alone in the deep end, having her undivided attention.
When we arrived at the pool, Juliana was on a break because there weren’t any kids in the pool. She didn’t mind at all to put her book down and to come watch her brother. They make a great team and watching them made my heart content.
My BFF and her daughter came to join us and we enjoyed the afternoon hours together, catching up and relaxing and sharing stories
Life is good. I’m loving this staycation thing! Happy 1st day of August. I hope you’re off to a good, new beginning, whatever that may be.
xo
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.
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
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?
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.
xo
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…..
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.
xo
here i am 