5 places I go over and over:
1. Work
2. Gym
3. Grocery store
4. 7-11 with the good ice and Diet DP
5. Library
(I have a pretty boring life)
5 people who email me regularly:
1. Boss
2. Co-workers
3. Grandma Beckie
4. NR
5. Writing group members
(some of you reading this owe me an email or two)
5 places I like to eat at
1. Home
2. Whole Foods
3. Mazza
4. Keith and Jamie's
5. Grandma Lanes
( I don't get out much due to 10 month old, but I'm starting to dislike eating out, anyway)
5 places I would rather be:
1. Bay area visiting my frister
2. Vacation- preferably somewhere on a beach
3. Bear Lake
4. Jackson Hole
5. Asleep in bed
(Going to a few of these places in the next few weeks...YAY!)
5 TV shows I watch all the time:
1. So you think you can dance (my summer obsession)
2. Army Wives (Lame, I know, but I love it)
3. The Next Food Network Star (don't know why but I love this show)
4. Gilmore Girls (my all time favorite TV show)
5. Bunny Town (I have a 10 month old - give me a break....)
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
A Little Gift
This afternoon, I took Riley for a walk in a beautiful little town not far from where we live. As I walked along, enjoying the gorgeous surroundings, the sunny day and my baby's happy laughter, I realized that I am delighted with where I am right now. Geographically, yes, but also physically, emotionally, spiritually....in many, many ways, I am very lucky and very blessed. I also contemplated some decisions I am trying to make and pondered how the results would impact my life, Riley's life and the lives of other's I love and care for. Ultimately, I came to the conclusion that I have a lot to be grateful for and whatever I choose to do needs to give back in some way.
When we arrived home, I put Bug down for her nap. She was tired out from the sun and from taking in all the new surroundings, and was content to go right to sleep. Before I settled down for a Sunday afternoon nap, which is becoming a much anticipated weekly tradition for me, I took Harley outside. Still thinking about my day so far, and about the utter contentment I had felt while walking with Riley, I noticed something right by my foot: a small card, printed with this message:
Hmmm....coincidence? I don't think so. I think it's a little gift, put into my path, to let me know that i was right on in my thinking and I need to follow those thoughts with action. Which i plan on doing, right after I take a nap.
When we arrived home, I put Bug down for her nap. She was tired out from the sun and from taking in all the new surroundings, and was content to go right to sleep. Before I settled down for a Sunday afternoon nap, which is becoming a much anticipated weekly tradition for me, I took Harley outside. Still thinking about my day so far, and about the utter contentment I had felt while walking with Riley, I noticed something right by my foot: a small card, printed with this message:
Hmmm....coincidence? I don't think so. I think it's a little gift, put into my path, to let me know that i was right on in my thinking and I need to follow those thoughts with action. Which i plan on doing, right after I take a nap.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Aaaahhhhh.....summer.....
- lazy evening strolls through the Avenues
- walking barefoot through the cool grass early in the morning
- watermelon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- watching kids play in the fountain at the Gateway
- the smell of sweat and sunblock
- tank tops and flip flops
- pedicures with little flowers on the toes
- buying fresh flowers at the farmer's market
- riding my bike at dawn
- watching the stars from the roof of my building
- outdoor concerts
- street festivals
- jetskiing on Bear Lake
- hiking in the canyons that surround my city
- baseball games (first MLB game this year!)
- several trips to see loved ones
- taking my little one swimming several times a week
So far, I am LOVING this summer. So much to do. So much to enjoy. So much to look forward to.
What do YOU enjoy about summer?
Friday, June 20, 2008
Taking care of myself (5 things Friday)
I had a LONG conversation a few days ago with a friend who is going through a really hard time. She is trying to make some big career decisions and she works a million hours a week as a pediatrician, which is a very noble, albeit draining, career choice. Add in some men issues and a family drama to her already crazy world, and that pretty much sums up her last few months. If anyone needs some good old-fashioned self-care, she does.
I kept telling her she needed to take some me-time. Go to the spa. Get a massage. Take a bath. Read a novel. Basically, do something for herself. And the sentence she kept repeating was that she couldn't do that, she needed to X, Y, or Z. Now, I understand the need to keep going...that there is always something to do or somewhere to be. But I'm learning really quick that if we don't take care of ourselves, we can't take care of others. On airplanes, they tell you to secure your own oxygen mask first before assisting your neighbors...same concept applies. So I thought I'd use my 5 things Friday list to document 5 main things I do to take care of myself.
1. I try to live a healthy lifestyle. I work out pretty regularly. I eat well most of the time. I drink a lot of water. I wear sunscreen. I try to get enough sleep (although this is difficult with a baby). I limit caffeine and sugar and am working on cutting both out of my diet. I get regular checkups and do self exams for breast and skin cancer every month. I do yoga a few times a week and meditate daily. I'm not perfect in any of these areas but I'm trying to do the best I can, both to feel better for myself and set a good example for my daughter.
2. I indulge in the things that make me feel good. I get massages almost weekly. I get pedicures when I can find the time to go (or when I'm at my sister in law's house) . I buy new music off of I-tunes when I want to jazz up a workout or my walk into work. I recently bought a mountain bike because biking makes me feel alive. I buy new clothes because I enjoy getting dressed up and feeling good about how I look. I hired a housekeeper because I love a clean house and don't have time to do it. If something makes me feel good, I find a way to have it in my life and I don't feel guilty about this because I work hard for what I have. Plus, because of the "single mom with small child status", I don't really go out much and don't eat out much, so money has been freed up that goes into my little luxuries.
3. I am trying to simplify my life. What does this mean? I am really trying hard to think about what I spend time on, what I use, what I buy, what I need, what I want and what I have room for. If I don't use something, I have been trying to find a new home for it. I've donated a lot of stuff and I have spent a lot of time going through everything I have and making sure I have a need for it and a place for it. I don't go shopping just to go shopping because that's when i buy a lot of junk I don't need and this contributes to the clutter I am working hard on getting rid of. I keep a list of stuff I need and then I try to buy it all at once. My simplifying extends to every area of my life. I have simplified my life by hiring a house cleaning service and having my groceries delivered. I order necessities like deodorant and tampons and hairspray online and order a 3-4 months supply at a time. I pay my bills online. I have my dry-cleaning picked up and delivered. Basically, I am trying to keep the necessities in my life orderly and simple so I don't have to spend a lot of time worrying about them. I would much rather spend my time and energy living my life with my kiddo than cleaning my bathroom or buying groceries.
4. I am focusing on my spirit. I know, that sounds a little hippy-dippy-trippy and very "happy, sunny, la-la-la" but what I mean is that although I have always been a fairly spiritual person, I haven't really worked on it. It's just been there. So now I'm spending time learning more about what I need for me to feel whole and complete. I'm reading about various religions, I'm examining the one I was raised with, I'm spending time meditating and praying, I'm writing about it. Basically, I'm exploring a side of myself that has been neglected or ignored for a while and trying to figure out how it all comes together for me.
4. When all else fails, I write about it. Writing has become a huge part of my life. I spend a lot of my (very limited) free time writing. I'm working on several projects that I hope to have published and I'm spending a lot of time and effort on my writing group. I'm hoping to find a way to work with a writing coach next year when my writing group ends. I have found that having the ability to put words together in a way that expresses what I am feeling has been a huge part of healing from some of the recent events. Also, it's been a great way to purge myself of the anger, bitterness, and heartache that have been inside of me and has also provided a method for documenting the stories of the early parts of Riley's life for later, when she is ready to know about that part of our lives. Writing, whether in an assignment for my group or on a post for one of my blogs, has been a great way to take care of myself by getting the words outside of myself.
So, there you have it...a list of 5 things I do to take care of myself. Let's hear from some of you...What do YOU do to take care of yourself?
I kept telling her she needed to take some me-time. Go to the spa. Get a massage. Take a bath. Read a novel. Basically, do something for herself. And the sentence she kept repeating was that she couldn't do that, she needed to X, Y, or Z. Now, I understand the need to keep going...that there is always something to do or somewhere to be. But I'm learning really quick that if we don't take care of ourselves, we can't take care of others. On airplanes, they tell you to secure your own oxygen mask first before assisting your neighbors...same concept applies. So I thought I'd use my 5 things Friday list to document 5 main things I do to take care of myself.
1. I try to live a healthy lifestyle. I work out pretty regularly. I eat well most of the time. I drink a lot of water. I wear sunscreen. I try to get enough sleep (although this is difficult with a baby). I limit caffeine and sugar and am working on cutting both out of my diet. I get regular checkups and do self exams for breast and skin cancer every month. I do yoga a few times a week and meditate daily. I'm not perfect in any of these areas but I'm trying to do the best I can, both to feel better for myself and set a good example for my daughter.
2. I indulge in the things that make me feel good. I get massages almost weekly. I get pedicures when I can find the time to go (or when I'm at my sister in law's house) . I buy new music off of I-tunes when I want to jazz up a workout or my walk into work. I recently bought a mountain bike because biking makes me feel alive. I buy new clothes because I enjoy getting dressed up and feeling good about how I look. I hired a housekeeper because I love a clean house and don't have time to do it. If something makes me feel good, I find a way to have it in my life and I don't feel guilty about this because I work hard for what I have. Plus, because of the "single mom with small child status", I don't really go out much and don't eat out much, so money has been freed up that goes into my little luxuries.
3. I am trying to simplify my life. What does this mean? I am really trying hard to think about what I spend time on, what I use, what I buy, what I need, what I want and what I have room for. If I don't use something, I have been trying to find a new home for it. I've donated a lot of stuff and I have spent a lot of time going through everything I have and making sure I have a need for it and a place for it. I don't go shopping just to go shopping because that's when i buy a lot of junk I don't need and this contributes to the clutter I am working hard on getting rid of. I keep a list of stuff I need and then I try to buy it all at once. My simplifying extends to every area of my life. I have simplified my life by hiring a house cleaning service and having my groceries delivered. I order necessities like deodorant and tampons and hairspray online and order a 3-4 months supply at a time. I pay my bills online. I have my dry-cleaning picked up and delivered. Basically, I am trying to keep the necessities in my life orderly and simple so I don't have to spend a lot of time worrying about them. I would much rather spend my time and energy living my life with my kiddo than cleaning my bathroom or buying groceries.
4. I am focusing on my spirit. I know, that sounds a little hippy-dippy-trippy and very "happy, sunny, la-la-la" but what I mean is that although I have always been a fairly spiritual person, I haven't really worked on it. It's just been there. So now I'm spending time learning more about what I need for me to feel whole and complete. I'm reading about various religions, I'm examining the one I was raised with, I'm spending time meditating and praying, I'm writing about it. Basically, I'm exploring a side of myself that has been neglected or ignored for a while and trying to figure out how it all comes together for me.
4. When all else fails, I write about it. Writing has become a huge part of my life. I spend a lot of my (very limited) free time writing. I'm working on several projects that I hope to have published and I'm spending a lot of time and effort on my writing group. I'm hoping to find a way to work with a writing coach next year when my writing group ends. I have found that having the ability to put words together in a way that expresses what I am feeling has been a huge part of healing from some of the recent events. Also, it's been a great way to purge myself of the anger, bitterness, and heartache that have been inside of me and has also provided a method for documenting the stories of the early parts of Riley's life for later, when she is ready to know about that part of our lives. Writing, whether in an assignment for my group or on a post for one of my blogs, has been a great way to take care of myself by getting the words outside of myself.
So, there you have it...a list of 5 things I do to take care of myself. Let's hear from some of you...What do YOU do to take care of yourself?
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Talkin' Loco
"You is talking loco and I like it!" -Hansel, From Zoolander
I am starting to realize that sometimes, you gotta wade hip-deep into the "crazy" to find the "crazy, but in a good way" things you need in your life. These are the people, the thoughts, the ideas, and the plans that add color and clash to your world.
I need to remember this...that it's ok to shake up my safe, predictable, type-A existence every now and then.
So, here's to the crazy ones! And thanks to the very crazy one who reminded me of this. Nice to have you back.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Five things Friday
I know my posts on Fridays are usually Gratitude Friday, but my writer's group is now doing a "Five things Friday" exercise, so I thought it might be fun to post those here on some Fridays. The idea behind the exercise is to think about 5 things related to whatever topic is being discussed, and use those as an springboard for ideas to inspire your writing. The topic this week is enjoyment, so here are Five Things that I'm enjoying right now.
1. I already confessed this guilty pleasure to my sister, but I am totally into the Lifetime TV show "Army Wives". I DVR'd all the episodes from the first season a couple of weeks ago during a marathon, and I have been working my way through them over the past several days. I still have a bunch to watch, but they are proving to be a good way to wind down at the end of the day. They are fun and a little over the top in the drama department, but overall, a pretty good 42 minutes of time. Plus, the show takes place on an Army base, so there are lots of clips of hot soldier-types...talk about man-candy. Yummy! Gotta love a man in uniform!
2. I am currently re-reading the Harry Potter series, and am on the third book, "the Prisoner of Azkaban". I loved reading these the first time, but it's good for me to read them now from the perspective of a writer. The plots are so interesting and the creativity of the author is so amazing. There are certain techniques J.K. Rowling uses very effectively that I would not have clued into if I wasn't paying as much attention to the writing as I usually do to the story. It's been a fun way to read them and my plan is to re-read the Ann of Green Gables Series in the same way next.
3. I like a pretty eclectic mix of different music, but I have to say, I have a "summer playlist" on my Ipod that rocks. It has lots of fun, upbeat songs on it from artists like Rhianna, JayZ, Sean Kingston, and Natasha Bedingfield, but it also has Miley Cyrus and Jesse McCartney to fill in on the teenage side and Old school Madonna and Cindy Lauper to round out the mix. It's fun and energetic and I've played it non-stop all week.
4. I've been taking Riley swimming quite a bit lately, and both she and I really enjoy this. We are lucky to live in a place that is very family friendly, and the recreation caters to family activities. We usually go to the community center pool that is not too far from us. It has fun water features, a lazy river, and a really fast water slide. Riley and I went down the slide and I thought she'd be scared but instead she laughed the whole way down and then laughed even more when we both ended up underwater. She's definitely a water bug! I want to encourage her to be active so taking her swimming seems like a great place to start.
5. I have been spring cleaning this week and although it's not exactly fun, I do enjoy the feeling of a clean closet or clutter-free cabinets. It's been a good way to get rid of stuff that I don't really need anymore and to really evaluate where I want to spend my (limited) time and space. I have a couple of rooms left and then I'll be spring cleaned-out for a while.
Well, there you have it. Some things I'm finding enjoyment in this week. What about you? What are you enjoying right now?
1. I already confessed this guilty pleasure to my sister, but I am totally into the Lifetime TV show "Army Wives". I DVR'd all the episodes from the first season a couple of weeks ago during a marathon, and I have been working my way through them over the past several days. I still have a bunch to watch, but they are proving to be a good way to wind down at the end of the day. They are fun and a little over the top in the drama department, but overall, a pretty good 42 minutes of time. Plus, the show takes place on an Army base, so there are lots of clips of hot soldier-types...talk about man-candy. Yummy! Gotta love a man in uniform!
2. I am currently re-reading the Harry Potter series, and am on the third book, "the Prisoner of Azkaban". I loved reading these the first time, but it's good for me to read them now from the perspective of a writer. The plots are so interesting and the creativity of the author is so amazing. There are certain techniques J.K. Rowling uses very effectively that I would not have clued into if I wasn't paying as much attention to the writing as I usually do to the story. It's been a fun way to read them and my plan is to re-read the Ann of Green Gables Series in the same way next.
3. I like a pretty eclectic mix of different music, but I have to say, I have a "summer playlist" on my Ipod that rocks. It has lots of fun, upbeat songs on it from artists like Rhianna, JayZ, Sean Kingston, and Natasha Bedingfield, but it also has Miley Cyrus and Jesse McCartney to fill in on the teenage side and Old school Madonna and Cindy Lauper to round out the mix. It's fun and energetic and I've played it non-stop all week.
4. I've been taking Riley swimming quite a bit lately, and both she and I really enjoy this. We are lucky to live in a place that is very family friendly, and the recreation caters to family activities. We usually go to the community center pool that is not too far from us. It has fun water features, a lazy river, and a really fast water slide. Riley and I went down the slide and I thought she'd be scared but instead she laughed the whole way down and then laughed even more when we both ended up underwater. She's definitely a water bug! I want to encourage her to be active so taking her swimming seems like a great place to start.
5. I have been spring cleaning this week and although it's not exactly fun, I do enjoy the feeling of a clean closet or clutter-free cabinets. It's been a good way to get rid of stuff that I don't really need anymore and to really evaluate where I want to spend my (limited) time and space. I have a couple of rooms left and then I'll be spring cleaned-out for a while.
Well, there you have it. Some things I'm finding enjoyment in this week. What about you? What are you enjoying right now?
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Kiss your life.
Kiss your life.
Accept it, just as it is.
Today. Now.
So that those moments of happiness you're waiting for don't pass you by.
~unknown
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