happy mornings

1. hot showers
2. visiting with friends
3. new ideas
4. having the best time waiting at the PAMF pharmacy for jeff's prescription. lea and i sat and had lunch and sang and talked and read. it was magical.
   
5. going to the zoo and museum in PA and having the best time seeing the bobcat, peacock, fishies, bunnies, snakes, turtles, rats, and geese.

nugget - making the choice to do things that don't requires money is a wonderful way to get back in touch with the world and my soul

public benches

1. lea for being so sweet all day while i go through my pms
2. the library for surprising us with an amazing event and running into kristen, anneka, and bordy
3. watching lea and bordy (our little love birds) hang out with each other and be so gentle and loving
4. my husband for loving me unconditionally
5. admitting to my huge retail therapy issue and knowing i can make a change to find healthier and less guilt-ridden ways to cope

nugget: it's never to late to use my creativity and drive for great internal change

coming clean

it's been a while...so i have a longer list this time.

1. being honest about a few things that have been stressing me out
2. knowing that each day is new chance to change the things that need changing
3. my husband's unconditional support
4. painting heavily for st least a few days per week
5. completing a painting that i am in love with - finally! (really bad picture of it attached)
6. seeing my brushes on the sink after being washed...or, the fact that my brushes are always out now!
7. jeff's understanding while my moon is in phase and the fact that he called it when i was being a bit crazy-eyed
8. kristen for getting lea and i to music class today
9. the san mateo library collection of cookbooks
   
10. new recipe for butternut squash gnocchi
11. loving our home despite all the clutter
12. my red clogs
13. lea's grace, thoughtfulness, humor, dance moves, and resolve
    

nugget: i miss writing these everyday so i am going to go back to it. it helps me so much, especially in stressful times!

peaceful days

it's been a few days so i have a longer list than normal....

1. the progress i'm making on my paintings. i realize i am not a fraud, just in need of studio time.
   
2. the beautiful 2 dozen gerbera daisies jeff brought me from the city
3. lea for getting me out this morning for a morning stroll through our hills. it was all her idea and i love that independence. it reminds me that i'm not totally in charge, just in charge of her safety, food, showering of love and shelter.
   
4. fresh, homemade smoothies as a family - best recipe below
5. library online hold system. all the best books brought to hmb and waiting for me for only $0.75
6. our rattling pipes will soon be silenced
7. new towels and bathmats
8. overstock.com - we found an amazing down comforter for soooo cheap!
9. running into some friends at bluesky and running around with the kidlins
10. all the blogs that i read daily providing inspiration, food for thought, peace of mind, and wonderful ideas for daily tasks and explorations

nugget from daily om: going with the flow is not lazy, it's inspired. To truly go with the flow requires awareness, presence, and the ability to blend one’s own energy with the prevailing energy. Going with the flow doesn’t mean we toss our oars into the water and kick back in the boat, hoping for the best. Going with the flow means we let go of our individual agenda and notice the play of energy all around us. We tap into that energy and flow with it, which gets us going where we need to go a whole lot faster than resistance will.

*if that doesn't sum up a successful state of mind as a parent, i do know what does.

smoothies:
frozen peaches, strawberries, and raspberries
wallaby vanilla yogurt
frozen haagendaas vanilla yogurt
orange juice

blend with hand held blender or the like. delish.

progress

1. my new assignment in painting class and feeling so happy to have assignments i'm actually working on
2. the fact that i've painted more in the past 2 months than i have in 2 years
3. our family walk this morning to get breakfast and coffee
   
4. the understanding jeff and i have for each other
5. lea's kisses
6. giving lea a bath and seeing her little body all clean and shiny after
7. the inner peace and calm i have now that i'm painting

nugget: take each day at a time

girlfriends

1. seeing a friend i haven't seen in 7 years today and meeting her daughter. crazy.
   
2. not pussing out on having the reunion above
3. lea's numerous songs and dances throughout the day
4. jeff's willingness to dig deeper and unravel old stress
5. having an amazing night with two amazing women, talking, sharing stories, philosophies, and beers.

nugget: attitude is EVERYTHING

tuesday - iDIG - morning walks

1. feeling so tired waking up, and then realizing we just need to get out in the sunny, warm weather and take a walk, get coffee and visit the chickens. changed my whole day.
2. seventh generation cleaning products - they work and smell oh so good.
   
3. deciding to take the time to paint while lea took a nap instead of taking a shower. this is the first time of many. i'm finally on a roll working on a painting that keeps my interest. (and not worrying about how thrashed i looked when we went out in my "dirty" state)
4. the fact that i have something i can do that truly makes me happy from the inside out
5. jeff and i figuring out a way for me to continue working with my painting teacher by taking a private course with her on tuesday nights - and the fact that i was invited to do so.
   
6. daily om - on so many occasions it tells me just what i needed to hear - eg: walk through an open door when presented with one - which led me to my new class, my new books, and a fresh take on my options in life
7. feeling a bit more buddah about cleaning our home, doing laundry, and mopping the floors
8. making plans i actually look forward to
9. lea singing her own mama song and laughing while driving yesterday
   

nugget: there are no mistakes, just avenues for growth and reconnecting with your desires

idig - bluesky

1. wonderful painting class on sat helping see the new direction of an old painting i was stuck on
2. spending the whole day panting and feeling so excited about what i'm doing
3. wonderful lunch with lea and jeff at bluesky cafe
4. lea's now saying thank you (in her own way of course)
5. forgiving myself for mistakes
6. being invited to work with an amazing painting teacher to help further my direction
7. boxes of clementines
8. my new iphone with video
9. chai
10. my beautiful view of the ocean in my studio space
11. and for today: still, sunny day on the coast

nugget: forgive yourself, invite others to do the same

idig doors

1. jeff for allowing me to sleep in until 9:45 after a long night
2. having the courage today to do something that totally freaked me out of sheer necessity
   
3. even though it's hard, talking with jeff about tough topics and knowing that things will get better with time and more sleep
4. watching jeff help lea select, choose the color, and try on her new shoes at rei. she was in control of that situation.
   
5. the feeling of lea melting in my arms when it's time for milk and nap time
   
6. learning limits
7. creating new energy and love in places i didn't know existed
8. reconnecting with an old friend and making plans to meet her and her daughter
9. knitting and the knitting class with kristen - and looking forward to more in the future with a larger group hopefully

nugget: (taken from daily om) Every time we walk through an open door, we create a sense memory that encourages us to move into the new fearlessly.

idig libraries

1. having a wonderfully, clean home today
   
2. lea's 3 hour nap
3. having such a wonderful day with lea walking around downtown, and at the library.
4. watching lea explore, dance, sing, eat, and make new friends all at the same time
5. jeff coming home from acupuncture in a calm happy place

ebay rocks

independance day/weekend

1. spending time in my studio (and the fact that i have one!) making toys and clothes for lea out of all the beautiful fabric and ribbon i have collected
2. ani difranco
3. seeing sam and diva and loving their company and seeing their faces light up with lea around them
4. having my stupid period, and cramps, and mood swings, BUT having such a wonderful connection with jeff that he provides me with everything i'm asking for to make it a little easier
5. understanding how fortunate i am to have such an amazing life

nugget: the more i let go of the image of myself i wish i could be the more i realize i'm already there