{ happy birthday samme }

Today, my sweet little girl turns SIX....off to go celebrate HER!

{ feed ME }

Check out Karen's great post about meal planning using LobotoME's Feed ME weekly meal planning notepad (her Feed ME notepad pictured above)! {ps - isn't her handwriting to die for!!?!}

We just rolled back into town so I don't have this week's meal plan to share yet....But I'm going to whip up some of Jamie Oliver's yummy looking chop salads for sure. Have you watched his new show, Food Revolution yet? Love it, love him! He rocks my food world. And hopefully he will rock yours as well.

ps - I think we are going to add this yummy looking tabouleh recipe to the menu.

{ on my mind }

1) thinking about removing my facebook, twitter & flickr accounts to decrease the amount of time spent online....

2) loving the photobooth application on my computer. we had over an hour of giggles the other night with our new mustaches.

3) gearing up for our gardening projects this season....reading this, this + this. going to start our indoor seeds this week (we usually plant in the ground mid-late May...we live at 6800 feet afterall).

4) loved spending a few days in moab, even if it was for work....its a great place to take some deep breaths, some short hikes and clear my head. thinking about a solo 2 day/1 night trip over there sometime this month in honor of my birthday....

5) easter. it feels like that snuck up on me a bit this year, but i've got to get on it. we do easter up big time over here. we cook, color + hide about 6 dozen eggs each year. the hunt outdoors lasts forever. the bunny leaves easter baskets filled with crafty goodness and very little chocolate (or mom will eat it). oh and a new toothbrush. am i the only mom that does that? then we feast on a yummy, healthy brunch and then go for a nice, long hike.

6) wednesday our sweet little girl turns 6. six. how did that happen? have i recorded enough of it? have i been a great mom? have i given her a good foundation? have i filled her heart with love, laughter and fond memories? i sure hope so. this week, its all about samme. we are talking about blueberry pancakes in bed, cupcakes, rainbow birthday parties, a birthday dinner (she requested brown rice and broccoli - i love her!), a movie date & more. lots of fun to celebrate the lovely little lady she is...we love you samme. happy "early" birthday.

7) need to drink some mega coffee before we enter into the BOTTOMLESS PIT we call a garage to organize and properly store the things we call our LIFE. It's necessary and I know it will feel good when it's done... re-inspired this spring to simplify our belongings...it seems like i'm always purging (I AM) but dreaming of days when I can easily roll my bike out of the garage without heaving it over boxes, tools, lawnmowers, etc.

We're on the cusp of a whole bunch of new, wonderful things. SPRING being one of them. The universe is sending love + healing + growth our way....I can just feel it.

{ on my mind }

found here.

{ back to the mat }

LOOK at my new, amazing yoga mat that Tracie sent to ME! Tracie had LobotoME's Mantra Poster image made into a custom yoga mat for ME from Yogamatic (who I've waxed poetic about before)!

Thank you so much Tracie - its hard to imagine loving my yoga practice anymore than I already do, but with this mat, it is amazing...when my mind starts to wander to things beyond my yoga practice or my breathing, I look down and I read "Breathe." When I start to think about all of the things I should be doing instead of spending 75 minutes in a yoga class, I look down and read "practice self-care." When I start to think about all of the things there are to worry about, I look down and I read "energy flows where attention goes." And at the end of my practice I meditate on "my life is an incredible opportunity to laugh, love and play."

Thank you Tracie for brightening up my world! This is just what I needed this week...

{ enough already }

So, this print sums up my life lately. I was all gung ho about spring...springing forward as I called it. Well, last week took a turn right off the happy highway when we found out my dad has prostate cancer. This coming only a year after my mom was diagnosed with kidney cancer. And you all know my ovarian cancer history. So, needless to say we are all "cancer-ed" out. I never want to step foot in another oncology office. Ever. Enough already.

The good news is that with surgery & treatment, etc. his prognosis is good. But with news like this coming on an annual basis its been difficult for me to fully embrace happiness, you know what I mean? It feels like just when I start get back on track, life throws me another dodgeball (that hits me hard). So, I'm going to press the re-start button beginning now. To embrace spring, to be happy. To look forward. To be hopeful about my dad's prognosis. { I don't suppose any of you want to take me here to help with this? ;) }

image above that sums up my life perfectly available here.

{ on my mind }

1) The above pictured little sales kit that was sent out into the world to one of my favorite stores....here's hoping their buyer loves LobotoME goods as much as you all do. {fingers crossed}

2) The trailer for Eat, Pray, Love.... I loved the book and wasn't sure if they could make it into a movie worth making but after watching the trailer I think they might be able to pull it off.

3) This article in the New York Times entitled The Femivore's Dilema. I'm not sure I'm crazy about the term "Femivore" but the noble concept of creating a home, a sustainable lifestyle for our families struck me... a few snippets that really resonated with me. “Femivores expand those of another: feeding their families clean, flavorful food; reducing their carbon footprints; producing sustainably instead of consuming rampantly. What could be more vital, more gratifying, more morally defensible?” and “Is my home the engine of materialism or a refuge from it?”

4) The spending hiatus - gosh, I haven't been posting about it weekly but I am still doing it (other than my slipup last week).... The bottom line is that I can control what I purchase these days for myself much better than I used to. It doesn't mean that I still don't want this outfit big time, because I do. How are you all doing, those of you that are participating.

5) Off to yoga class this morning. To say I need it is a understatement. A lot of personal stuff has been going on this week which I'll post about sometime when I can wrap my head around it. But I have a lovely new yoga mat courtesy of the lovely Tracie to practice on (I'll bring my camera and take pictures to share with you all) which will surely inspire my practice today!

6) Oh and my horoscope today is a good one. Here's hoping it comes true. "The next four weeks are all about you, dear Aries. It's your turn to recharge your batteries for the rest of the month. Fortunately, people and opportunities will be drawn to you inexplicably."

Here's wishing you a SPRING + SUN-filled weekend!

What's on your mind these days?

{ green ME }

So, a day late and a dollar short, but hey, maybe you can bookmark this post for next year, right?

For the record, we aren't big celebrate St. Patricks Day people. It's not our thing, its not our heritage, but I do always love a good reason to spread the green smoothie love around and brighten the kids day in unexpected ways.

Samme got to follow little shamrock shapes to a little green suitcase filled with green & healthy goodies (green office/school supplies, green slim, a one dollar bill, green apple, etc.) And of course I didn't take any pictures yesterday. Because that is how I am rolling this week.

- green pencils
- green notepad
- green pencil sharpener
- green stapler
- dollar bill
- green nail polish
- green slime
- green straws for green smoothies
- organic green apple
- garden seeds for green veggies (kale, spinach, pepper, chard, etc.)
- green balloons
- green paint
- green markers
- green journal

St. Patty's Day Meals served on green plates of course...
breakfast: green smoothies, green scrambled eggs, avocado slices
snacks: organic granny smith apple slices, kiwi slices, celery slices, green grapes, green pirate booty
dinner: spinach pizza & a big green salad (greens, green pepper, avocado, celery, cucumber) {Corned beef & cabbage is not my thing, to say the least.}
dessert: green homemade popsicles from leftover morning green smoothies

Anyway, I think my point is that you don't have to give your kids a bucket of green candy for St. Patrick's Day. Holidays can be just as fun without high fructose corn syrup. Just saying. ;)

As they say in Ireland, "Go mbeire muid beo aran am seo aris!"
May we all be alive and well, this time next year!

{ springing forward }

After a month of traveling and sickness, I'm finally feeling like myself and getting back on track with everything and starting fresh on other things.

1. I've been focusing on my own wellness (yoga instead of p90x) and tons of green juices and green smoothies. Sickness + sinus infection be gone!!!
2. I started spring cleaning the house - I can't wait to open up all the windows and air out the house. I'm doing a room by room approach. Slowly but surely. Of course the rooms get dirty again right after I clean them. I'm trying not to think about that.
3. I cleared out some more stuff out of my closet - jeans that are too loose (yipee) and some other BLACK clothes and purchased a few new bright & cheerful pieces for spring. Spending hiatus be damned, I needed some spring cheer in my closet and on me. I got this, this and this.
4. We are in the throws of gearing up for the 1st adventure race of the season. Praying for sun & warmth in the desert as I think I have a Vitamin D deficiency after the long winter.
5. Getting a fun spring routine going for the kids & I. After a winter of feeling cooped up by SNOW and sickness, we are starting to venture out more. Setting aside specific time each day for fun outings and projects with the kids (eg. swim with Henry on Tuesdays from 10-11 after a 9-10am kickboxing class). I'm heading back to a few workout classes with my friends each week - p90x worked fine this winter while we were cooped up and I am going to continue doing it 3-5x a week, but I miss seeing my friends at the gym. Of course all of this means working less. Work less, play more.
6. Starting to think about gardening and itching to read this. Still thinking about getting some chickens, but I wonder if we really need something else to take care of? ;)
7. The rest of this month is a Spring theme for after school projects with Samme - flower collages, flower paintings, flower shaped sandwiches, planting spring seedlings, painting bird houses, etc.
8. Gearing up for Samme's 6th Birthday at the end of the month. SIX. Six going on thirteen. That's all I have to say about that. She has requested a rainbow themed party - rainbow gumballs & rainbow pencils for favors, rainbow cupcakes & more.
9. Thinking a lot about this great post on Zen Habits about reclaiming the lost art of a rest day. I feel like I could use a rest MONTH. What about you?
10. Loving this Swedish home. Everything about it is simple perfection. (pictured above, image via here.)
11. There are yellow tulips all over the house. It helped cheer me up when it snowed yesterday. ;)
12. Loving all of Tracy Porter's Spring Line. Dreaming about this, this & this. But since I already thwarted the spending hiatus this week, thinking I'd better take a break from using the credit card. ;)
13. Loving this song {something good this way comes}

What's on your mind these days?

{ drink ME }

Due to popular request, a LobotoME Mantra Sigg Water Bottle is now available via Cafe Press. Drink more water and donate to water projects around the world...I'm donating 100% of proceeds go to Charity Water. Get yours here today! (ps - It prints & ships directly from Cafe Press).

ps - blogging will be a little light this week as I catch up from last week's sickness induced hiatus of all things (cooking, cleaning, exercising, etc.) and get back on track and caught up! Have a great week! It's almost spring!!!

{ random brain thoughts }

so, i'm still sick. yuck. must get better soon or house will implode. seriously, it needs some spring cleaning love. maybe i can convince my mom to come over and get it some connie-cleaning-love. ;) ya, know since i'm on my death bed and all.

anyway, came across some random gems this week...

this recipe for yummy looking morning glory muffins.

this recipe for healthy homemade granola bars

this recipe for some-what healthy vegan cupcakes (did i mention i am practically a vegan these days after watching this film?)

thinking i'd like to become a bee-keeper mostly (okay, entirely) because i want samme to wear this kid-sized beekeeping suit.

dreaming about spring and the garden and being outside in the sun. please, mother nature, no more snow. but if you are going to snow, let me know as i'd like these boots. they may be the only thing that stop me from going insane shoveling anymore.

we don't watch much tv but the new show parenthood is great and the parents backyard is a.m.a.z.i.n.g... makes me eager for summer dinner parties.

MS Awareness Week is next week. Learn more about this disease and consider donating to my friend Tracie's Walk for MS fundraiser.

Totally inspired by Me Ra & her family's journey to a Cambodian orphanage.

Love this post at Under the Big Blue Sky.

Love this and this new to me blog(s).

what's on your mind these days?

{ go here }

I'm sick. In bed. With a wicked head cold & sore throat. I hate getting sick. I know its my body's way of saying "slow the heck down lady" but it still frustrates me when I can't get up & GO! Anyway, since I have very little newsworthy to report and my head feels like it is going to explode, I'm going to shoo you all over to Marta's delightful business + blogging series on her blog. You might even find little snippets of advice from ME.

ps...are any of my lovely blog readers from Canada? If so, can one of you pick up the April issue of Chatelaine Magazine for me? LobotoME goods are in it somewhere, apparently.... email me for details. I'll send you a treat in the mail. ;)

{ catch ME up }

I just got back from a quick trip to San Francisco for a school conference/tradeshow. SF is a fun city (I'm in love with the ferry building and the yerba buena gardens and found chinatown charming & cheerful even on a rainy afternoon) - and yes, i found lots of great cupcakes here, here and here. And yes, this morning I did p90x. ;) Anyway, I'm super fired up about our school + student fundraising program, especially after the great feedback we got from schools at the show...it reinforces that we are on the right track with helping families stay healthy + organized while raising money for school and program opportunities and needs.

Lots going on this week - tradeshow followups, catching up on emails, cleaning the house, unpacking, grocery shopping, etc. An easy and light meal plan for this week (lots of salads, rice & beans, etc.) as we ate lots (and I do mean lots) of yummy food in SF, like oysters from here and lobster sandwiches from here.

Oh, and the spending hiatus. oops. ;) Actually, I did SO great in San Francisco - I even browsed great stores like anthropologie (3 levels of amazing goodness), forever 21 (crowded), etc. and didn't buy ONE thing. I honestly felt overwhelmed by the mass consumerism coupled with the homelessness we witnessed. I just kept thinking, I don't need this. Cute, but I don't need it. I scored great freebies at the tradeshow for the kids (a butterfly garden, earth bouncing ball, glow in the dark pens, etc.) so I figured that would suffice for gifts for them upon my arrival home. But then I saw THIS in the window at a shop in the airport. And I walked by. I didn't go in. I resisted. But then about 15 minutes before we boarded, I ran back and bought it. Will even said, "we'll that's a jenny bag." yes it is. Anyway, between the new bag & the cupcakes, that's a lot of confessing this week. (oh, i should mention that even though i brought all of the p90x dvd's with me, I didn't do them once. We walked and walked and walked all around the city but that was it in terms of exercising.)

So this week is about starting fresh - starting over with my commitment to p90x, starting fresh with a clean & healthy refrigerator, starting over with a manageable workload, starting fresh with the spending hiatus.

ps - Arianna Huffington of the huffington post fame was the keynote speaker at the conference and she was amazing...even those that don't agree with her politically found her charming, witty, uber-intelligent and super inspiring. I took notes and will share more later this week but it focused on the importance of raising your kids to have empathy and to have a solid understanding of the importance of being global citizens. I also started her new book, on becoming fearless in love, life + work which I'm loving. It's about how to raise fearless daughters in this crazy world.

Have a GREAT week my friends! GO!

image via flickr