100 list {part two}

A list of things I hope to accomplish in my time on this planet {in no particular order}:

26. help design & build my own home
27. age gracefully
28. learn arabic or turkish
29. be sure of myself
30. inspire someone
31. be a successful blogger
32. win a blog giveaway (3x now!)
33. go skinny dipping
34. go to france
35. go rock climbing
36. see the pyramids
37. create something that will be a family heirloom
38. learn to knit and/or crochet
39. have a {feminine} six pack
40. try AntiGravity yoga
41. do bikarm yoga regularly
42. try ayahuasca
43. see the grand canyon
44. go to an observatory to view the sky
45. visit all fifty states
46. live in an r.v. for a six months to one year while road tripping
47. run at least five miles without stopping
48. write an article for a magazine & have it published
49. visit all seven continents
50. use the i ching every morning

tell me... what's on your list?

get back to to it!

I hope you had a fantastic Thanksgiving among your family & friends!

I certainly did!!

And now, after spending three glorious days in Southern California with my parents and sisters, it's time to get back to work! I admit, I overdid the pie and under-did the exercise (read: not at all) but all is not lost. I think, at least for me, that is one of the biggest dieting pitfalls out there. I make all the right choices for a while but at the first sign of a slip-up, abandon ship! It's easy to start out with good intentions (I packed my running shoes & clothes) but fall to temptation. So rather than let it knock you down, use it to your advantage. Plan for those holiday feasts by working out a little harder those few days leading up to it. Really push yourself so you don't end up feeling guilty for a little indulgence. A treat here and there can be a good thing! So long as you don't turn treats into an all day, everyday kind of habit. Make great dietary choices the rest of the time so you can have an extra slice of your Mom's amazing pie or a few extra Christmas cookies. Start fresh, eat well, work off all that yumminess and watch yourself make progress. Because ultimately, one indulgent meal is not going to derail your efforts, just like one hard as hell workout isn't going to make you lose 5 pounds. Put in the time and you reach your goals, whatever they may be. Just remember to have fun getting there. Enjoy yourself and celebrate your progress!

{this moment}

{this moment}- A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama

merci, danke, gracias

:: my loves

::  snacks

:: technology

:: snowy mountains

:: friends

:: warm days in November

:: vacations

:: second chances

:: books on cd

:: coffee

do you know the colors?

You will need 

:: one ice cube tray

:: red, yellow & blue food coloring

:: 1-2 droppers

Fill an ice cube tray with H2O.

Add a drop of food coloring (primary colors only) to either 3 or 6 of the compartments.

(I did 2 drops so the yellow was more orange.)

Demonstrate how to add a drop of two colors to the water to create a new color.

Watch your child discover the theory of color!

I should know better.

Apparently I am afraid of structure. I read somewhere that it was good for new bloggers to create and publish their writing schedule, both for themselves and their readers to refer to. How silly of me. Once I did that, I had nothing to write about. 

Obviously I am still going to write about all these topics. But when I say every Monday I will write about such and such, I have nothing to say. Unless of course you want to read the same thing every Monday. (Blah blah, yes, it's going well, this is what I'm doing...) Yeah, I'd get sick of that too. 

So again, my apologies for again writing for a week and then disappearing for another. Let me make it up to you. 

{this moment}

 {this moment}- A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by SouleMama

I am having an existential crisis.

It seems silly to be so influenced by a damn documentary, but I recently watched How the Earth Was Made and ever since I can't stop thinking: what if nothing matters! 

The film is basically a timeline of the planet's creation and is really quite fascinating.

 Once it reaches present day however, it doesn't stop. 

It continues with predictions of an ice age in so many thousand years and the eventual death of the planet in a few billion. 

Yes, I realize I will be loooong gone at this point but I can't get over the fact that 

no matter what we do, create, think or believe,

 our beloved blue and green will go the way of barren Mars. 

Am I a nihilist?

I just feel like, what's the point? I haven't given up... I plan to live a full life. But still,
 I will die, the Earth will die. 

It's the end beautiful friends...

being present

With a shocking frequency lately, my daughter's various requests have been met with no/later/in a minute and so on.

Dishes need to be washed, laundry folded, the baby fed... 

I am making time for everything but her.

I've turned down board games, park trips and yes {regretfully}, even cuddles.

I admit, I find sitting on the floor playing trains or dolls a bit tedious but when did a clean sink become a higher priority than cuddles?

Undivided attention and affection are such a basic needs and surely have great impact on our children's lives. Yet how often do we find ourselves too "busy" or simply bored by the idea to spend time with our children.

I fear that one day, my "no" will be the last because she'll never ask me again, having been turned down so many times. Apologies then will be too little, too late. 

The thought literally turns my stomach and aches my heart.

My children awe and inspire me. I have found joy in motherhood... it's where I belong. 

It seems silly that I have to consciously choose to make this effort but I am committing to myself and to my babies to be fully present for them and take the time to truly meet their needs... to quit brushing them aside for another time.

So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go have a tea party and snuggle my girl.

curiouser and curiouser

It is truly amazing what a little effort and time to nurture self can do.
In the 3 weeks since my weight loss challenge began, I have lost about 5 pounds and gained energy, discipline, strength and motivation.
Rather than start with drastic lifestyle changes that would likely overwhelm and lead to burn-out, I've put my effort toward simple swaps that have had big impact.
I encourage anyone on a weight loss journey to begin their first four weeks with these simple steps
(the hard stuff can come later, once these have become habit):

:: Get some sleep! And be consistent. Try to get to bed and wake up at the same time each day... yes, even on weekends. Learn what your body needs... I shoot for 7 1/2 to 8 hours each night.
:: Plan meals and snacks. Find a free template online or create your own. I plan my week's meals a few days in advance so I'm never caught off guard come meal time.
:: Drink water- I drink at least 60 ounces daily, just shy of one ounce per inch of my height. Drink a glass first thing in the morning and often throughout the day.
:: Eat 'power foods'. I like the Abs Diet list.
:: Eat often. Seems counterintuitive but if you get too hungry, you'll probably overdo it the next time.
:: Take a multivitamin and fish oil. I take mine just before bed so my body can first absorb nutrients from the food I eat throughout the day.
:: Eliminate refined sugar as much as possible. Raw honey, (real) maple syrup, stevia, sucanat and agave are good alternatives.
:: Decrease alcohol consumption.
:: Eliminate temptation. Get rid of the junk food in your cupboards. If you're anything like me, if it's there, you'll eat it.
:: Replace processed foods with whole foods.
:: Remember: this meal is not your last. Learn and listen to your body's fullness cues and stop eating when you're satisfied. There's no need to clear your plate at each meal. Serve yourself less to begin with if you have a hard time throwing away food.
:: Start exercising. Start small and do what you can for now. Remember the hard stuff can come later.
:: Be flexible. Life happens. Plan for slip-ups and changes to your routine. This isn't all or nothing.
:: Be gentle, set goals and remind yourself why you are doing this.

{disclaimer... I am not a professional or expert... this is what has worked for me... I encourage you to do your own research and discuss weight loss and fitness goals with a professional}

Also, tell people about your goal. Spread the word that your are on a path to transform your body and life! If they love you, they'll encourage you, cheer you on and keep you in check when you face temptation or discouragement.

source

apologies

wow, this has not been my week. I'll be back fresh monday!