2017 Stories – 17 – A Day in the Life

I was intending to do a Week in the Life this week, but after the day I had on Tuesday, I just decided I didn’t want to do it. So the only day I took a lot of photos ended up being Monday. So I figured it could be a Day in the Life even though it wasn’t really an ordinary day because David had no school and so we let Nathaniel skip it, too. And I took the day off work. None of these are typical. But still here are snippets from our day.

I wake up to find Nathaniel reading on the couch. This is very typical for just about every morning. He’s since started reading the Percy Jackson series.

He also turns on all my shiny lights. I think this is because he wakes up when it’s still dark (and also he loves the lights just like I do.)

A quick early morning shot together. David’s still sleeping.

It’s time to wake up David because Nathaniel and I are very hungry. David got this from HarryPotter land and it’s one of his favorite things to sleep with, it’s extremely soft. The other blue/pink one is his favorite Pokemon which was handmade by a wonderful lady on etsy.

I told Nathaniel that he always has his mouth open in all my photos. Here’s what I got in return. You’ll see he made me live to regret mentioning it.

We went to Cafe Borrone for breakfast, one of our favorite places. His mouth is still open and you can see David didn’t think it’s funny either.

We’re back home and while the kids played, I checked out the new Facebook group for my wonderful Life Restoration class.

Then it was time to do some painting while listening to a book.

During the camp, one of the ladies was wearing LuLaroe and it was so soft that I decided I had to get one (I have since bought one more.)

 

While Nathaniel played in mine room, David watched some movies on the stairs.

 

I decided these rocks would be my June art project. I loved the ones I saw at Melody’s ranch.

 

Shine cards are my May project and my homework for One Little Word in April. I took the time to journal a few.

Then it was time to go out again so we went to Palo Alto for some super yummy food. We love the waffles with nutella and bananas and strawberries at Coupa Cafe.

And I love the cappuccinos, too.

Then we went to Rocket Fizz which sells just about any candy you can imagine. David got a chocolate bar with cake batter and Nathaniel got gummy roulettes.

We dropped David off at his Tech Challenge session and got back home. I love how the tree is so big right now.

While Nathaniel read, I spent some time working on my Life Restoration work.

And planned the rest of my week.

Then it was time to go to Kepler’s to see one of Nathaniel’s favorite authors. The first three rows were full of his classmates.

He spent time chatting with all of them.

And then got to have his books signed and we loved listening to Andy Griffiths again. He is absolutely amazing and if you have little kids and he comes to your town, you must must go see him. He’s amazing.

 

Then it was time to go home, shower and go to bed. David was also home from his session. He listened to a bit of music while I made lunches for the next day and listened to more of my book. It was an unusual day but also a magical one.

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

April 25, 2017 | Stories from Twenty Seventeen | Leave a comment

April 2017 – Fabric Sentiments – 17

You can read about the start of this project here.

This one says: it is easy to believe we are each waves and forget we are also the ocean.

karenika.com

Fabric Sentiments is a Monthly Project for March 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

April 25, 2017 | Fabric Sentiments | Leave a comment

Living Intentionally 2017 – 17

Weekly Intention: This is a week of family. Nathaniel’s birthday is today and we will celebrate both in the morning and the evening. Tuesday is a bit of a crazy busy day but the only one this week. Wednesday morning Nathaniel gets to come to work with be for bring your kids to work day. Thursday he gets to go to the doctor for his well appointment and David goes to the orthodontist this week, too. Saturday is Nathaniel’s official birthday party and then we have to race down to the Tech Museum because it’s also David’s Tech Challenge day! Sunday is another birthday party for Nathaniel. So it’s a lot of time with the boys celebrating, taking care of, and driving around. It’s a no-meeting week so I will also have all the evenings free this week which is an incredible rarity. I plan to take advantage of it by having some wonderful family time and some lovely quiet time which I hope I can fill with the journaling I intended to do last week. I am ok to let myself mourn a tiny bit more this week if I need but I’d also like to transition to the next phase and stop wallowing. I’d love to sleep a bit extra while I can. Mostly, I’d like to celebrate my (not so) little people!

Things I want to get Done: 

  • Wrap Nathaniel’s presents!
  • I really would like to put a dent in the Sydney trip plans.
  • Book my work hotel for Sydney. 
  • Order and get his cake, make his baggies, in general get ready for the party.
  • Help David with his journal. Get it ready.
  • Book the kids’ summer camps
  • Send newsletters

This month’s intention is:  Shine Quietly: It’s crucial to take time to reflect. Take this month to reflect on how things are going. Is there anything you need to adjust/change/drop or pick up. It’s ok to shift things. It’s also important to acknowledge what’s working. Take the time to shine some light inward and see what’s going on. I love this intention. I want to honor it. I am not sure what’s getting in the way of my journaling and why I am resisting it so much.

Ways to Shine this week:

  • One: Bold: I don’t have any bold plans this week. Taking it easy this time.
  • Two: Open: Open to understanding how to grow. To doing things differently.
  • Three: Heal/Nourish: Here’s to increasing my vegetable intake!

I am looking forward to: celebrating Nathaniel!

This week’s challenges: Tuesday and Saturday are a bit fuller than I’d like but I am not going to worry about it.

Top Goals:

  • Work: stepping back and picking up what’s fallen on the floor.
  • Personal: get out of the funk. enough is enough.
  • Family: celebrate both my boys.

I will focus on my core desires (bold, mindful, nourish, love) by: designing the life I want for myself.

This week, I will say yes to: enjoying my free evenings.

This week, I will say no to: wasting time.

I am worried that:  i won’t be able to figure a way forward, it will continue to be vague. nathaniel’s party won’t be good. david’s team will struggle. i will be unproductive all week. i won’t be able to let go. i won’t journal or eat well or give myself grace. I will continue to be where i’ve been.

This week, I want to remember:  that every day is a new one and i get to start over. i get to choose.

April 24, 2017 | Living Intentionally | Leave a comment

April 2017 – Fabric Sentiments – 16

You can read about the start of this project here.

This one says: be easy. take your time. you are coming home to yourself.

karenika.com

Fabric Sentiments is a Monthly Project for March 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

April 24, 2017 | Fabric Sentiments | Leave a comment

Weekly Reflection 2017 – 16

Three ways I shone this week: I will say that while I started the week strong, I basically didn’t really shine the rest of this week. The kids had no school on Monday so we went out, we spent quality time together and I still had some quiet time. But on Tuesday I went to work and the not-good news I was already expecting greeted me and sort of put a damper on my week, even though I’d been anticipating it. Here’s to remembering that mourning in advance doesn’t help not being sad when the news is indeed what I feared it would be. Anyhow. I basically took the time I needed for myself (and am still doing so) to feel what I need to feel here. I did all the regular things I am committed to but I also let myself mourn. Maybe that’s the way I chose to shine this week, by being in my truth.

Things I wanted to get Done: I didn’t get too much done this week to be honest.

  • I did finish buying Nathaniel’s birthday presents though they still need wrapping and his birthday is tomorrow.
  • I also bought all the bits for the gift bags for his party.
  • I finished my shine cards.
  • I didn’t figure out a plan for our Sydney vacation but I emailed a friend who can help me.
  • I didn’t book a stitch of summer camps. I know this is a bad thing. I got a gift certificate for Nathaniel for one and I have ideas for both kids but I booked nothing. 
  • I delivered both of the books.
  • I did not send the newsletters.
  • I just sent an email to check on school payments

I celebrate: a wonderful breakfast that lasted 3+ hours with a new friend

I am grateful for: a short hike we took on Saturday. Loved being in nature, loved seeing the kids run around.

I nourished myself by: mostly resting this week. letting myself feel what i feel.

Reflecting on my worries: bad news did indeed continue but i survived it and despite feeling down, i feel very supported and i am not ready to give up just yet. i didn’t journal (except to write the shine cards) and i got some done but not a lot. but it’s all ok. i remembered the books. it was mostly a blah week with some wonderful moments and i’ve learned that life is always some ups and some downs. may the downs not be really bad news even if it means the ups have to be moderate, too.

I let go of: being fake. i decided to just own who i am. always. more on this tomorrow.

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

  • bold: trying was bold. i am grateful i did.
  • mindful: allowing myself to feel the pain and sadness and being mindful of it.
  • nourish: i’ve ordered a lot more fresh veggies this week, i am hoping it will lead to more nourishment.
  • love: despite being sad, i know that i have an exceptional life. i am grateful for every minute of it. and i felt so much love from so many people this week. thank you.

What made me laugh this week: my new friend and i did a lot of laughing.
What I tolerated this week: sadness, vagueness, and not knowing what comes next.

My mood this week was: quietly sad.
I forgive myself for: feeling sad despite all the wonderful things in my life.
What I love right now: flowers on my desk.

Here’s to a wonderful week seventeen!

April 23, 2017 | Weekly Reflection 2017 | Leave a comment

April 2017 – Fabric Sentiments – 15

You can read about the start of this project here.

This one says: we are masters of the unsaid words. but slaves of those we let slip out.

karenika.com

Fabric Sentiments is a Monthly Project for March 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

April 21, 2017 | Fabric Sentiments | Leave a comment

Books I Read This Week 2017 – 16

A new Anne Lamott book is a cause for celebration and Hallelujah Anyway was no exception. She is amazing and I hope she continues to write and publish books for many years to come. Thank you for being you Anne Lamott. 

I checked out The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down because it sounded like a book that would speak to me. And it was absolutely wonderful. Highly recommended.

I listened to A Little More Human on the way to Idaho. It started out interesting but then I didn’t like it and I kept waiting for it to be good again, but it never was. Put this one in the camp of “i want my hours back.” there were things I liked about it, but overall, not so much.

This is How It Always Is was my favorite read of 2017 so far. It might be my favorite read of the last 5 years. I loved every little bit of it. I loved it. Really, really loved it.

It was time for another Harriet Lerner so I devoured  Why Won’t You Apologize? Fantastic as all her books are.

I was going to read The Most Dangerous Place on Earth but decided it was too annoying for me. So it was finally time to read Waking Gods. I had read the first book last year and loved it and the second one didn’t disappoint. It was a super-pleasant surprise that this was book two of two so it came to a great conclusion, too. 

I sampled Word by Word and Idaho this week, too. I haven’t decided if I will finish either. Let’s see. I have some books that I’ve been looking forward to in my queue so that might take precedence.

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

April 20, 2017 | Books Read in 2017 | One comment

April 2017 – Fabric Sentiments – 14

You can read about the start of this project here.

This one says: too many people undervalue what they are and overvalue what they are not.

karenika.com

Fabric Sentiments is a Monthly Project for March 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

April 20, 2017 | Fabric Sentiments | Leave a comment

Nourish Me – 16

Here are some thoughts per category:

Mind:

  • I read: I’ve been reading a tremendous amount this year. I’ve read 87 books already. What I need here is actually to slow down. I need to be more selective about my reading. Books that don’t speak to me have to be abandoned more easily. I am totally done reading books about conniving women/girls. I am done reading about cruel main characters. I am done reading about things that don’t feed my soul. 
  • I learned: I’ve done a lot of non-fiction reading this year so far which I’m enjoying quite a bit. I’ve reduced the mindless internet reading. But I also seem to have lost some of my patience along the way. I’d like to restore some of that by slowing down. I also still want to take a class. I haven’t taken the step here that I’d like. I am not sure why. Maybe it’s one of those things that you have to just start. So maybe I will schedule 30 mins a week to do this. 
  • I watched: I’ve watched so so little TV this year. This is because I am spending all my time reading or working. This is ok with me. However, I think I’d like to watch more TED talks, more lessons, etc. so maybe I will schedule 30 mins a week to do this, too. 

Body:

  • Exercise: I’ve pretty much stopped exercising. At all. There’s no story here. Yes, my knees are hurting. Yes, I’m tired. But really none of those are excuses that make any sense. I just stopped and I need to start. Now that the weather is good again, I think I will start by taking walks.
  • Food: Food’s been a mess too. I still crave and love the fresh food. I still also crave and love desserts, chocolate, coffee. I miss eating healthier. I will start with lunch. And water. 
  • All the others: I am paying attention to my skin, flossing and what needs to be done most of the time. I think if I can get the other two right, I will feel so much better. This stuff is simple but not easy. For me.

Soul:

  • I rested: I need a lot more rest. I am not sure what it is but I feel exhausted all the time. I don’t want to keep drinking coffee to feel more awake. I want to work from bed more when I have stuff to do but no place to be. I will be more diligent about going to sleep on time. I might have to experiment with cutting out the coffee (or even tea, gasp!) to see how tired my body really is.
  • I connected: I want to be more mindful with my connecting. I would like to take the time to get to know a few parents in David’s class, and a few in Nathaniel’s class. I want to connect with a few friends from work. And a few friends online.  And that’s it for now. 
  • I journaled: This is definitely falling by the wayside. I need, want, desire to journal more. Journaling is how i connect to my soul, my thoughts, my heart. I need more of it in my life. I need to quit obsessing about the reading, and journal more. 
  • I made art: Art is also good for my soul. It’s something that makes me happy. I used to have a discipline of art and lately I’m either not doing it or just getting it done. I want neither. I want to go back to having the discipline of it. I need to think about what this means for me a bit more.

Here are some of my thoughts. My body and soul need this so much and I want to start with my body. What I put into it, how I move it and how I rest it. It’s how I get the strength to do all the other bits. 

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

April 19, 2017 | Nourish Me | Leave a comment

April 2017 – Fabric Sentiments – 13

You can read about the start of this project here.

This one says: now and then it’s good to pause in our pursuit of happiness and just be happy.

karenika.com

Fabric Sentiments is a Monthly Project for March 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

April 19, 2017 | Fabric Sentiments | Leave a comment

2017 Stories – 16 – Meeting Kathy and Melody

I spent last week at Life Restoration Camp. This is a multi-part story. I need to write about this one for a few weeks but I first need to digest everything so I can write about it. But one of the highlights of the week was meeting Melody and Kathy in person. I’ve worked with these two amazing women for quite some time and it’s been a dream of mine to get to meet them, hug them, and hug them some more. I got to do all that and more this week. 

To say that I am grateful would be the understatement of the year. 

There are thousands of words I will write about Life Restoration Camp. But this week’s story is dedicated to honoring the two women (and many others who work with them) who have changed my life permanently. 

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

April 18, 2017 | Stories from Twenty Seventeen | Leave a comment

April 2017 – Fabric Sentiments – 12

You can read about the start of this project here.

This one says: i want to feel my life while i am in it.

karenika.com

Fabric Sentiments is a Monthly Project for March 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

April 18, 2017 | Fabric Sentiments | Leave a comment

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