Enjoying the moments

I've spent the last month soaking up a lot of moments.  Choosing my free time to write, nap, snuggle, play, and occasionally pick up around our little home.

I often read so many other blogs and websites to find inspiration, but lately I was feeling overwhelmed that so many other people were somehow doing "it" [life] so much better than me.  I immediately pulled myself away from the computer screen to allow myself some distance from that envy.  Distance to spend on myself and my family and our great community of friends.

As always, I am refreshed!

I hope you'll enjoy these moments from our annual San Luis Opisbo trip as much as we did!

Monday Motivators

“We both touched wood on the cafe table and the waiter came to see what it was we wanted. But what we wanted he, nor anyone else, nor knocking on wood or on marble, as this cafe table-top was, could ever bring us. But we did not know it that night and we were very happy.” - Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

I forget what I want a lot of the time.
A feeling on the tip of my tongue of finding myself needed.
Finding myself important.
Finding myself memorable.

Stories of loss and tragedy leave me feeling useless and guilty and superficial.  In just a few words I can spiral.  

And then a few blurry Halloween pictures melt all of that needy, guilty forgetfulness away.
I am needed.
I am important.
I am memorable.

I am lucky.

Sharing these pictures and sharing my little blog is me constantly knocking on wood.  These moments, even the blurry ones, even the useless and guilty and superficial ones, ground my shaking fearful feet.

Thanks for being an audience.  Thanks for sharing blurry moments with me.

Monday Motivators

“Saturday morning was come, and all the summer world was bright and fresh, and brimming with life. There was a song in every heart; and if the heart was young, the music issued at the lips. There was cheer in every face and a spring in every step. The locust-trees were in bloom, and the fragrance of the blossoms filled the air. Cardiff Hill, beyond the village and above, it was green with vegetation, and it lay just far enough away to seem a Delectable Land, dreamy, reposeful, and inviting.”  - Mark Twain, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

May all your adventures be dreamy, reposeful, and inviting too.  Even if it's not summer.  And even if the adventure sometimes seems rather small.

Octoberfesting

It may still be flip flop weather here in Southern California, but that's not stopping us from celebrating a great Autumn season.

How's your celebrating coming along?

Reading

The Los Angeles weather is finally cooling off.  Our version of fall is slowly creeping in and all I want to do is curl up with some books and a warm cup of coffee.

Here's what's currently on my nightstand reading pile.  I'd love to know what's on yours.  :)

(Midweek) Motivators

I'm still playing catch up with life and therefore this blog. 
But it's better late than never to share how we celebrated our now almost 14 month old's birthday.

Learning

Miller started preschool a few weeks ago.  Even though leaving him in the morning is still a rough few minutes for him, when I pick him up at lunch he has nothing but proud smiles and stories to tell me about his day.

{"My backpack's too heavy!"}

The beginning of a school year was always so special to me.  I moved around quite a bit growing up (13 different schools before graduating high school!), and a new school was an exciting time to meet new friends and refresh myself. 

I sure hope my kids have that same collective giddiness and those same nostalgic memories to look forward to (and look back on) each fall.

{1987 Fisher Price Discovery Map via Artsefrtse's Attic}

{1979 Muppets Lunch Box via Proud Rufus Trading Co.}

{Vintage Nautical Book Bag via Scarlet Fury}

{Vintage Peanuts Pencil Case via Soft Focus Vintage}

{Vintage Playschool Children's Desk via Alsredesign Vintage}

{Vintage Houndstooth Sport Coat via Udaskids}

{3 Ring Binders via TheFrontHouse}

Monday Motivators (Back in Action)

 It sure is nice to feel super again.

 

What's motivating you this week?

Details

I often lose myself in stress.  It's such a thin line between focused balance and frazzled to dos.  These last few months have been struggle for me and it's been hard to find the right words for wholeness.

I'm grabbing at them slowly.  A practice that stretches me thin, but still a practice that pieces me together.

Details like these from a recent trip Evan and I took to Palm Springs focus me.  Details like these ground me.  Details like these remind me.

I am always details.
I am always "to dos".
I am always me.

The words will come.
Steady, focused, me words.

Steps

I felt like I was trekking through mud for awhile. 

It's a good thing I'm starting to feel solid on my own feet again, or else I would be missing out on how exciting all this walking around can be.

Standing

Today I am bones. 
Rattling, rummaging bones.

Shake-
Shaker-
SHAKEN to stand on my own two feet.

Tomorrow I am bones.
Steady, sturdy, walking bones.

For the Fans

WE FINALLY HAVE OUR OWN WIFI!!  And a few minutes that I'm using to be totally unproductive.  My troublesome list of tasks can wait.  I have a chile cheese tamale in my belly, a Hansen's pomegranate by my side, and a collection of memories I've captured on my phone camera.

Enjoy these few moments in time as I enjoy a few more of my own.

Simplicity

There's a mockingbird's nest in our orange tree in the backyard.  The mother bird perches herself on a nearby rooftop.  She's ready and fiercely cries out when we get too close.  She's gone only a few moments throughout the day to find food. 

And then she's back.  Feeding.  Protecting her family and her home.

I've had a tiresome week.  Too many hours spent working.  Too many boxes to unpack.  Too many hours spent feeling frustrated that there's only 24 hours in a day.

I watch that bird every morning and I'm envious of simplicity.

Simply, deep breaths. 
Simply, one moment at a time.

Monday Motivators

I'm coming up for air. Deep breaths and full eyes. It's madness and bliss. This sweet stirring of movement. Time and a solid wifi signal patiently wait for the dust to settle. I hope you can too. :) P.S. I'm finally now on (and addicted!!) to instagram. (@actualizingamy) Let's catch up!