{ taking care of ME }

So pretty much the entire past 2 months I've been taking care of people....my kiddos who were sick in March, my grandfather who was in the hospital at the beginning of April back east, my dad who had surgery at the end of April, my mom who has been going crazy due to her father & husband's recent hospital stays, racers, elderly neighbors, etc.

On Mother's Day I was whooped. And fried. {Nothing like traveling home w/ two grouchy& stomach bug sick kids in the car, from putting on a 24 hour adventure race on Mother's Day to cheer ya up! ;) } But the race was over. Gramp is back home getting better, my dad is healing and getting stronger everyday and got great pathology results back last week, my kids are on the mend....but I'm not. I have an eye infection (that I neglected for almost a month and now need steroids to treat); I have a rash on my back from lord knows what (stress?!?!) that I need to see the doctor about; I've been overdue for my cancer checkup/bloodwork with the oncologist for months now; I hadn't had a pedicure since I went to Mexico in November; I need to get a funny mole checked out by my dermatologist; I need a massage to ease my achy body; I need to lose the 5lbs I gained from "stress" eating in the past month and I needed to start working out on a regular basis again.

I basically decided I needed to press "restart." Unfortunately I can't jet away to here for a week, but I could fit all of the above needed things in at home. So, I decided that the next 2 weeks are going to be dedicated to self-care. One thing a day written into my momME planner. I scheduled a follow up eye appointment and checkups with my other doctors. I scheduled a colon cleanse. I am going to buy myself some of flowers at the farmers market this week. I scheduled in workouts and bought Tracy Anderson's new DVD that I vow to do every day with a vengence. I ordered up the BluePrint 3 day Juice Cleanse that I am going to do next week. I planned out all healthy meals and no eating out. I'm scheduled for a pedicure (purple toes in case you are wondering). I am going to drink a billion gallons of water and detox off the diet coke that I have been consuming far too frequently lately. I'm going to go to hot yoga class and sweat out all of the toxins. And I'm going to write daily in my new gratitude journal that I won on Leslie's darling blog. I am going to splurge on a massage for myself. I am going to take of ME.

That's my plan and I'm sticking to it.

print above available at etsy.

{ 10 things that make ME happy }

Be sure and check out my guest post on { 10 things that make ME happy } on Emily's delightful blog, Wide Open Spaces.

{ the break part II }

print via etsy.

"I became a positive influence by standing in opposition to what matters least by choosing to live for what matters most."
- Lee Wise

What I've been working on these past few months is this concept of {choice}. I am a working mom. And I have a choice on how to spend my time. Either on what matters most or things that matter the least. I choose to raise my children FIRST and then grow our businesses second. I can't do it all. I can't. (And I'm done trying.) I can CHOOSE to do things that make ME and my family happy & healthy over things that don't.

I'm not complaining. I am fortunate that I have so many good, positive things to choose from in my life. But with poor choices, chaos & neglect can happen. What are we telling our children when we say we don't have time to exercise but we have time for facebook, twitter, etc? Why do we say we don't have time to cook our families healthy dinners but we have time to read 75 blogs a day? Now, I'm not saying that you have to cut the internet out of your life (I know I can't). There are SO many blogs that are inspiring, that help ME be a better mother, business owner, wife, etc. But reading all of these blogs takes time away from SOMETHING in your life, as it does mine.

So, I've been working on making smarter choices. Cutting back on internet time. Getting a good nights sleep each night instead of being up until 1:00am working. Increasing my shipping time by a couple of days. Getting some help when I need it in the shop or with household tasks. I've been saying {no} to others and {yes} to my family. All of this with the intention of being more present in my home and simplifying my busy world. I've also been working on cutting expenses and unnecessary purchases so we can live more simply and travel more - I love this concept of creating a {mindful lifestyle rich in experience.}

So today, thanks for listening and for your support. I'd love to hear how all of you work towards balance and positive choices in your lives. I'll be back later this month with our garden plans, a Yoga for Families DVD giveaway, some amazing {day in the life} guest bloggers - Tara from Ink+Wit and Alli from Bird Dog Press... two of the most creative and inspiring woman I know. So don't forget about ME!

And I leave you with this list of things that I've been doing this past month, while taking a self-imposed {break} from farting around on the internet... :)

1. I meditated. Not everyday, but enough that the silence helped.
2. We had Henry's adoption finalization in the court and a party afterwards.
3. We celebrated Sam's 5th birthday with family and friends.
4. I deleted my facebook account.
5. I ignored my twitter account.
6. I wrote in our family journal on an almost daily basis.
7. I caught up on orders (finally).
8. I practiced lots of yoga.
9. I sat on the couch and watched Season 1 and Season 2 of the West Wing (best show ever).
10. I bought lots of fresh flowers for almost every room in our house to help usher spring in.
11. I ignored my blog and most others as well.
12. I took Sam rock climbing a ton and she {rocks}!
13. I sent gram & gramp lots of letters and care packages.
14. We launched our new company.
15. I sold some more stuff on ebay. Less is more. Less is more.
16. I made a dozen healthy veggie casseroles for the freezer for use on nights when I don't feel like cooking.
17. We put on our first race of the season.
18. I decreased my blog roll and google reader from 100+ blogs to ~20.
19. I spring cleaned a lot of the house.
20. I wrote in Henry's baby book (finally).
21. I got new pictures of the kids printed out and enlarged for framing on our wall.
22. Did I mention I sat on the couch?
23. I read my past issues of Seeing the Everday magazine cover to cover.
24. I worked out more.
25. I refrained from drinking diet coke and instead drank oodles of water and green smoothies.
26. I took {unimportant} items off my to do list.
27. I read this, this and this.
28. I got ~8 hours of sleep a night. Beautiful. The kids cooperated and Will got up with Henry when needed (thank you willy).
29. I didn't sign Sam up for any additional activities this spring (only one 45 minute ballet class once a week that she loves). After a winter packed with swim lessons & ski lessons, we all needed a break from activities.
30. I planned a weekend away at the end of the month with my BFF from childhood who lives in NY.
31. I decided not to exhibit at the National Stationary Show this year. I have enough to do already. I've let it go.
32. I had 2 great date nights with Will.
33. We had a family photo shoot with this delightful photographer.
34. I sent my friend Amy who was diagnosed with brain cancer recently a kick {cancer's} ass care package.
35. I helped my friend organize her nursery for the baby that recently arrived.
36. I took my mom out to lunch.
37. I started taking the supplement ashwaganda for energy & strength.
38. I bought a new pair of red shoes. :)
39. I savored the bed time read books & snuggle routine with Sam instead of rushing through it so I could get back to work.
40. We planned a family getaway to Moab for this week....lots of hiking and rafting planned.
41. We toured Sam's kindergarten classroom. Yes, I cried. But I am happy with the choice we are making and so is she.
42. I celebrated my 33rd birthday with a quiet day at home with the family and later this week a {not so quiet} night out with my girlfriends! :)
43. Really enjoyed this post and this post from these inspirational bloggers.
44. Went to the library every week with Sam to get more books to read.
45. I hiked all over the place with Henry and went on a hike with a dear friend who I see far too little of.
46. Colored about 6 dozen eggs and planned a chicken coop so by next easter we have our own eggs.
47. Made about 7 dozen cotton easter bunnies. Sam couldn't stop... :)
48. Was finally introduced to Edward {twilight} and my obsession has begun. I honestly didn't get what y'all were so obsessed with....but I finally saw the movie and read the book and yes, I am now on board. Fully, on board. ;-)
49. Colored 48 easter eggs. Hide 48, located 45.
50. Was more present in my world. More present with my family. More present with myself.

{ celebrating }

Some things I'm celebrating today.

1. My 33rd birthday. THIRTY-THREE. I can't quite process the fact that I am getting older because I don't FEEL older.

2. Spending a fun, relaxing day with my sweet family on a beautiful spring day.

3. My husband bringing me a green smoothie and a cupcake for breakfast. My 2 favorite foods.

4. Samme picking daffodils from the garden for me first things this morning. The garden is now barren but my office sure is cheerful.

5. Being cancer free for almost 9 years. Hip, hip, hooray.

6. Looking forward to yoga class this afternoon and sushi tonight. My 2 other favorite things.

{ what is real...? }

This post entitled {what is real} is exactly what I have been talking about and working on lately...since I couldn't have said it better myself, I'll refer you to this amazing post at Superhero Journal.

Here's a snippet...

"In the wake of my clearing, I had the sense that my energy was too far-flung, dispersed in too many directions, that I had been tending too many things I couldn't touch and that I was out of balance in some fundamental way. I realized I needed to bring my focus in closer and tend things much nearer to home. And when I say this, I mean really close to home, like my actual home, my family, my neighbors, my body, my heart, my community right here in Berkeley. I had to look hard at what’s most real and true in my life.

And of course, how do you reconcile being a blogger, surfing Facebook, emailing, texting, phoning, twittering when you are on a quest to ground yourself in what is real in your life? How do these things fit in? and what am I giving up by spending countless hours checking email and blogs and weather reports and celebrity gossip columns? What am I not creating in my life as a result of all of the life force I give to my "friends" in cyberspace?"

{ happy spring }

Happy spring! Wow, I thought the winter blues and bad news would never end...but after a weekend in the sunny desert; being on the mend after never-ending colds; flowers blooming in the garden....I'm beginning to feel like ME again!

This spring season is all about renewal, self-care and blooming to ME. It's a great time to re-evaluate by taking a good look in the mirror...have you been slacking with regards to your health and happiness edges? Be honest. I know I have (which is why I've been on my self-imposed internet break). Perhaps it's time to shed a few pounds? Commit to healthier eating? Align your heart and mind with some sweaty exercise? What about planting a garden? I'm been inspired by all of the great home gardens featured in this month's Sunset Magazine as well as our very own First Lady.

Remember, we can't control what is going on in the world around us, but we can control how we react to it, how we spend our time & energy and what we do to make our homes happy havens. I'm still on my blogging hiatus but I'll be back in a few weeks. { ps - thanks for all of your well wishes, sweet notes and even lovely flowers - thanks tracie! you're all so sweet ~ }

{ Hello ME, welcome to summer }

Hi June! So glad to have you here! I love the bright, shiny sun in the morning and the fact that it doesn't get dark until so late in the evening. I loved being outside all weekend - working on the garden; jumping on the trampoline with Samme; & riding our bikes around.

So, now that we are almost 1/2 way through the year, I thought it was a good time to check in with ME about my 2008 goals. How are they coming along? Have things fallen by the wayside? I know some of mine have...The ones with "x" are going well or progress has been made!

:: Family ::

x : To be a patient, imaginative, & mindful MOM everyday. --- It has really been helping ME to schedule in time each day for un-interrupted play time with Sam and to remember that she is only this age ONCE (oh and what a FUN age!!).
x : Play more. Work Less. More 3 day weekends! --- I'm getting better at this & hope more improvements will continue.
x : Spend less. Make gifts. Do more. --- Yes, I am doing better about spending less and saving more but it is still challenging not to whip out the CC.
x : Adopt another child...putting it out there to the universe! --- We are currently # 19 on the waitlist and I wrote a story about our process here.

:: Personal ::

: Do something everyday (hiking, biking, running, yoga....just something!) ** This needs work still! I am using my Fit ME notepad this week and have workouts scheduled everyday! Today is Cardio Sculpt class with Julie!
x : Plan & prepare healthy meals daily. --- I don't buy junk food. Never have. Never will. We eat healthy - I aim to mix it up a bit more and try new recipes. Sometimes I just stick with the same things over & over.
x : Plan & take time for ME everyday. --- I am good at this. Each day this week, I have ME-Time scheduled - sometimes that is my workout time for the day, but other fun things get added too - like going to see a movie with girlfriends on Thursday night.

:: Environment ::

x : Recycle everything & anything - think beyond paper, glass, plastic & aluminum.
: Save $ for solar panels for house so we can be completely off the grid. --- In progress.

:: Career ::

x : Successful NSS Tradeshow/Launch new products at NSS. Did It! So glad that its over though! :)
x : LobotoME in MORE stores in 08! --- its happening!
x : Successful & efficient Gravity Play event season. --- It's underway. Still some streamlining to go, but getting there.

Anyway, I hope you find that you are making progress with some of your goals and if not, what can you do TODAY, to get back on track? Or do some of them need adjusting - they are your goals, change them, mix them up if you need to. And if you need even further inspiration, check out Simple Moms tips for creating a new habit in just 30 days.