September 2017 – Travel Journal – 10

You can read about the start of this project here.

Our first day in Sydney, we were all wiped. We walked to Circular Quay and Nathaniel ended up sleeping on my lap in a cafe.

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Travel Journal is a Monthly Project for September 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

Books I Read This Week 2017 – 37

I read the Class Mom pretty quickly. It was funny but it was also trying too hard to be funny in my opinion. It was ok but it will be a book I will forget pretty quickly.

I then moved to  Reincarnation Blues  which was unusual and interesting and I am still not sure if I like it or not.

Almost Missed You was a quick read, too, and also not super interesting. It was okay but meh.

I then read Home Fire which was interesting even though it was hard to read. I liked it and I liked the characters, the story and I am glad I read it.

I am now reading Stress-Proof which has a lot of facts but also a lot of “this may help…” which makes me think a lot of this book is still theories and not proven anything but still interesting and worthwhile to read, for me.


Books I Read this Week 2017 is a year-long project for 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

September 2017 – Travel Journal – 9

You can read about the start of this project here.

The next day was our flight to Sydney for the second half of our vacation. The kids were in a good mood.

karenika.com


Travel Journal is a Monthly Project for September 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

Nourish Me – 37

Mind:

  • I read: Nothing but books this week! I’ve been super busy.
  • I learned: I’ve been doing Stephanie’s Map Maker class still and One Little Word! I haven’t begun the Courageworks class.
  • I watched:  We watched Ozark a bit more. I seem to have no patience for TV lately.

Body:

  • Exercise: This week was tricky with no work Monday, Jake’s birthday on Tuesday and in Seattle all Wednesday but I still managed to get 4 classes in.
    • Monday: nothing since it was no-work day and all my classes are at work.
    • Tuesday: Yoga.
    • Wednesday: nothing I was in Seattle all day .
    • Thursday: gBarre 
    • Friday: Body Pump Express and Pilates.
    • Saturday&Sunday: resting all weekend
  • Food: 
    • I did a poorer job this week. Not due to the meals, I am still eating really healthy for my three meals but i am having chocolate in the afternoons and i’ve been making things like zucchini bread or pazooki equivalents with paleo recipes but those items are still bad for you and I need to stop eating them. I am hoping it was hormonal and I can just stop now. 
    • This week I stuck to peppermint tea only so no caffeeine besides the one coke zero I had a few of the days.
    • All the others: I’ve been still a bit less diligent than usual this week but i did a face mask and have been flossing, putting cream on,  and taking my vitamins more often than not.

Soul:

  • I rested: Sleeping strong and having no trouble falling asleep which is a miracle for me.
  • I connected: Connected with my Young Adult book club, all my work mates in Seattle and went to both a grade leads meeting(for Nathaniel) and back to school night(for David) at the kids’ school. I also spent wonderful alone time with Jake on his birthday. 
  • I journaled: I did journal for MapMaker but not doing a lot of other journaling, i’d like to fix that this week.
  • I made art: I did my last mapmaker homework and OLW for September.

So grateful for my progress, I have more shots on instagram.


Nourish Me Week 2017 is a year-long project for 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

September 2017 – Travel Journal – 8

You can read about the start of this project here.

On the way to Port Douglas, we stopped at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventure which also was a huge hit. The kids loved seeing the crocodiles and getting to feed and touch so many unusual animals.

karenika.com


Travel Journal is a Monthly Project for September 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

2017 Stories – 37 – Jake’s Birthday

Jake and I have back-to-back birthdays. We’re exactly one week apart and he comes first. Even though today is mine, last Tuesday was his.

As of a few years ago, we make a point to take both of our birthdays off work and make sure to spend it with each other. (Maybe when the kids are gone we can take the whole week from his day to mine.)

This year was the most unplanned I’ve been and I felt terrible about it. We still managed to get some reservation at a lovely place in the city and had a delicious lunch. We spent most of his special day shopping for me but of course he was completely gracious about it and so, so kind. It was just so lovely being only the two of us. I’ve now been with Jake for 25 years and he’s the best person I’ve ever met. 

I am so lucky and so grateful to have his love, and to have him in my day to day life to share my moments with, to raise kids with, to experience life with; he is the very best person to share my life with because he always makes it more colorful, more enjoyable and more full of love.

I love you with all my heart, my love, happy happy birthday. To many, many, many more together.

 


Stories from 2017 is a year-long project for 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

September 2017 – Travel Journal – 7

You can read about the start of this project here.

On our last day in Cairns, we drove up to Port Douglas as we’d heard it was a fantastic drive. It didn’t disappoint.

karenika.com


Travel Journal is a Monthly Project for September 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

Living Intentionally 2017 – 37

 

Weekly Intention: This is closer to what I am hoping my “typical” weeks will look like for this school year. We have back to school night for Nathaniel on Wednesday which is obviously atypical but otherwise I have a pretty regular week with the exception of Tuesday which I will take off for my birthday. I am hoping to get into the groove of this new rhythm. Understand when my fitness classes are. What my Wednesday mornings look like now that I will be at the school each week, and build some quiet time into each day, etc. Here’s to making that possible.

Things I want to get Done: Here’s the list for his week.

  • Work: clean email again. 
  • Work:  blog post please.
  • Work: start planning October get together.
  • Work: dashboard iteration 2.
  • Work: do the deck.
  • Work: do posters
  • Work: move meetings around to work better
  • Personal: one client call
  • Personal: exercise 6/7 times. 
  • Personal: continue eating clean. 
  • Personal: Journal regularly.
  • Personal: Do mapmaker #7 (and 8?)
  • Personal: start Brene’s class
  • Personal: find some solution to chocolate.
  • Personal: Continue with the new scrapping/storytelling system.
  • Family: do math with N
  • Family: do math with D
  • Family: back to school night for N.
  • Family: get chores done for school.
  • Family: My bday!
  • Family: Check in regularly with my nephews and my sister.
  • Family: take photos!

This month’s intention is: September: Shine Patiently:  September is a month of change. New year. Maybe new school. New routines. New season. This month always comes with changes, adjustments, and revisiting of schedules. Be patient with yourself. Be patient with others. Remember to shine. Even if it’s in small doses. Great reminder to me this month.

Ways to Shine this week:

  • One: Bold: How can I be bolder with my nourishment?
  • Two: Open: Open to finding my rhythm this week!
  • Three: Heal/Nourish: I will rest and get back into routine with self-care.

I am looking forward to: my birthday πŸ™‚

This week’s challenges: Wednesday will come with two trips to the school, so a bit challenging and Monday is always my long day. But nothing too scary this week.

Top Goals:

  • Work: blog post and dashboard.
  • Personal: exercise+food+journaling.
  • Family: math time.

I will focus on my core desires (bold, mindful, nourish, love) by: journaling more this week and being mindful.

This week, I will say yes to: celebrating my birthday!

This week, I will say no to: chocolate. can i?

I am worried that:  i won’t exercise. i’ll stop eating well. my lit club partner and i won’t get along. something will go wrong. i won’t ever stop the chocolate cravings. i wont ever catch up to my own life. i’ll disappoint someone. 

This week, I want to remember:  i am so lucky to be able to celebrate another birthday, alive and healthy.

Weekly Reflection 2017 – 36

How I shone this week:  Here’s how I shone this week: I made it through!! This was an insane week. Monday was a holiday. Tuesday I took off to be with Jake for his birthday but then worked at night until 7pm and then went to bed soon after so I could wake up at 3:45am and get on a plane to Seattle where I spent all day working and then made it back home 1:30am that night (next morning?) only to wake up 5 hours later and go to Nathaniel’s class for a grade lead meeting. And then drove to work and then back up to the school for David’s back to school night. Friday, I went to exercise at work, drove back home to take a phone call for a school event i am helping chair, then i went to midday book club and then back to work until 6pm and then came home, did math with David and then did work while Nathaniel slept and David went to see a movie with Jake. Phew. I am tired just writing all of this down. But I did it all. I tried to do it with grace, too. I showed up. For work, for jake, for my kids, for friends, and for myself. phew!

Things I wanted to get Done:

  • Work: Cleaned email! (though already a bit of a mess now) Didn’t do blog post, went to Seattle, sent the email, started the dashboard, got the email done.
  • Personal: Exercised only 4 times but it was all that was feasible. Ate clean save for the chocolate (even during travel) Didn’t journal enough. Did mapmaker 6 but not 7 yet. Did OLW September and cashed check. I am continuing with my fun new scrapping system and I love it. 
  • Family: went to school for back to school night and N’s conference. We had Jake’s birthday day and took photos. woot!!

I celebrate: surviving this week.

I am grateful for: traveling safe. being safe.

I nourished myself by: sleeping and exercising as much as possible.

Reflecting on my worries: I managed to exercise as much as possible. i survived wednesday and thursday. david had a good week. nathaniel is making friends and adjusting well. packet may or may not be a disaster. time will tell. i got stuff done! things are ok. flight had no problem, i made it back in time. i did not disappoint Jake. phew!

I let go of: being mean to myself about the chocolate but i do want to experiment with trying to stop.

Core Desire Check-in (bold, mindful, nourish, love):

  • bold: all of this week was bold.
  • mindful: mindful that i need to get more rest this week.
  • nourish: this one is all about chocolate and letting go of the need to have it.
  • love: i love that my life is so full and textured and varied and layered.

What made me laugh this week: i laughed during book club and with my friends at book club.

What I tolerated this week: not enough sleep!

My mood this week was: tired, worried.
I forgive myself for:  being anxious.
What I love right now:  i love that I have a day off this week (i am taking it off for my birthday.) and that this week is getting closer to a “normal” week.

Here’s to a great week 37. 

September 2017 – Travel Journal – 6

You can read about the start of this project here.

On the way back from Kuranda, we got the Skyrail which was a huge hit with the kids. We also laughed at these fake Instagram frames that were along the path.

karenika.com


Travel Journal is a Monthly Project for September 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

September 2017 – Travel Journal – 5

You can read about the start of this project here.

The next day, we went to a small rainforest town called Kuranda. We took this awesome train up there. 

karenika.com


Travel Journal is a Monthly Project for September 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

Books I Read This Week 2017 – 36

I read the The Marriage Pact in one breath. Very fast paced, unbelievable but still kept me on my toes. I also liked the ending. There were some interesting thoughts on marriage in the book, too.

I then moved to The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl which was quick and easy read but not great. Not as great as some of the others I read this year. Like Luvie’s one.

Of Mess and Moxie was 200th book of 2017 for me. Jen Hatmaker is awesome, this book is awesome, I loved it.

I then read Amanda Wakes Up which was an easy, fun read about politics and media.

I am now reading The Locals and enjoying it so far. It’s not 100% engaging but I like the characters and I like the storytelling so far.


Books I Read this Week 2017 is a year-long project for 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.