Happy Friday! We're into the third week without a car, and I have to admit that my legs are pretty sore. Still, I'm loving all the exercise we're getting and although everything takes longer and requires more planning without a car, it also forces us to slow down and live moment by moment. I'm stopping to smell the roses and flowers, if you will. That's a quick watercolor sketch I made a while back. I really really like it. You might be able to see a small water splotch on one of the leaves, ... Read more
Happy Friday + Randomness
Our little black 2001 Honda Civic died nine days ago. RIP. It chugged along with so few complaints and problems for almost a decade (we bought it used), but it expired ignobly by overheating repeatedly, becoming unfixable. It had seen better days, sure, but it never felt precious -- not once did I feel the need to admonish clumsy hands attached to kid bodies for spilling a few morsels/drops of eats and drinks and we gave muddy shoes little thought. It was a no big deal kind of vehicle. Car ... Read more
Are You Proud of You?
K often runs up to me to show me something she's made: a song, a story, a drawing. "Are you proud of me?" she asks. I ask back, "Are you proud of you?" As someone who grew up needing a lot of external validation and knowing how hard and fickle and endlessly dissatisfying that can be, I do what I can to plant little seeds of self-approval in my little girl. I like to watch her glow, nod, and say, yes, yes I am. I'm so proud of me. I might be naive to think that this will instill a lifelong ... Read more
Happy Friday + Cleanse
Happy Friday! Yesterday, I met up with a good friend for coffee and received this mouth-watering book as a gift. The Food Lover's Cleanse by Sara Dickerman -- a chef turned food writer -- is exactly what I need right now. I can't wait to dive in! Although I didn't indulge that much in junk food during the holidays, I was under the weather much of the time, and my body is feeling a little run down and in need of a reboot. It's a stunning book with photography by Michael Graydon and Nicole ... Read more
Happy Friday + Randomness
Happy Friday! I've had an eventful couple of weeks, what with my car overheating and billowing smoke all over the highway and then losing my ipad -- which is like an appendage of mine -- so I was rather discombobulated. We've ended on a high note, however, because the car's been repaired, the ipad returned (I left it in a cafe bathroom and someone was kind enough to turn it into the staff) and holy wow, the Secret Valentine Exchange!!!! We clocked in with over 180 participants!!! We think there ... Read more