July 2017 – Playing with Paint – 20

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

Spread your wings and fly.

Playing with Paint is a Monthly Project for July 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

July 28, 2017 | Playing with Paint | Leave a comment

Books I Read This Week 2017 – 30

I started my week with Sycamore which is sort of a mystery but really so much more. I really enjoyed this story.

Then I read What We Lose which was a quick read but also tough. I have mixed feelings about this story.

I was looking forward to reading We Are Okay which had been on hold for a long time and I loved loved this cover so much so I hoped the book wouldn’t disappoint. And it did not. I really enjoyed this, too.

I’d waited a long time to read All Grown Up too. I got lucky and found a copy at the library and read the entire book in one single sitting (as i took a bath even!) It was very good. (even if i disliked parts and characters.)

And finally it was time for some Pema Chodron again, so I grabbed Don’t Bite the Hook in my Overdrive queue and let myself bask in some of her wisdom and kindness again. Love her.

I finally enjoyed Hello, Sunshine which I knew would be a simple and easy read. It was and it was still enjoyable. 

Lovely week with fun books!

Books I Read this Week 2017 is a year-long project for 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

July 27, 2017 | Books Read in 2017 | Leave a comment

July 2017 – Playing with Paint – 19

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

A pretty cage is still a cage. Fly free.

Playing with Paint is a Monthly Project for July 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

July 27, 2017 | Playing with Paint | Leave a comment

Nourish Me – 30

Mind:

  • I read: I abandoned more books this week and jumped ahead in my queue to read what I really felt like reading. I’m getting better at this.
  • I learned: nothing new to report here. 
  • I watched:  Jake and I watched a few more episodes of The Billions and I finished Designated Survivor.

Body:

  • Exercise: Woohooo, another week of exercising daily!! Here’s what I did:
    • Monday:Body Pump
    • Tuesday: Vinyasa Yoga
    • Wednesday: Pilates
    • Thursday: gBarre 
    • Friday: Vinyasa Yoga
    • Saturday: 5K Walk 
    • Sunday: 3K Walk (this is usually my rest day)
  • Food: Still doing great here, I cooked so much more food than I’ve ever had in my life! Here are some things I’ve prepped so I could have food all week:
    • Veggies: Zucchini, squash, eggplant, beets. I also cut celery, cucumbers, and had broccoli rice and spinach.
    • Protein: Petrale Sole, Chicken breasts, ground chicken, ground turkey. I also bought chicken sausage but haven’t had it yet. 
    • I tried the Chocolate Protein powder and it was terrible! At least for me 🙂
    • I loved Dates in my Fab4 but I know they are sugary so I shouldn’t really have one each day. I also love bananas. I will try new things this week.
    • I am still not hungry between meals. Often I am not even hungry for dinner.
    • No coffee for two weeks now. Not craving it.
  • All the others: Blood tests were good. I am still working on taking care of my teeth, my skin, my feet. Taking it one day at a time.

Soul:

  • I rested: Major progress here, too. The 10pm-6am works wonderfully still. On Thursday I even went to bed at 9pm so I could wake up at 5am and it was no problem. I’ve started wearing earplugs and using the light function of my alarm (my alarm has a light that slowly gets stronger, emulates the sun coming up.) I’ve been sleeping solidly.
  • I connected: No connecting with friends this week but I bought a ticket to go see Glennon with my friend in a few months, does that count?
  • I journaled: Doing pretty badly here. I think it’s cause I leave it to the end of the day, so I need to rearrange the time of this commitment. 
  • I made art: No art this week either. 

So grateful for my progress, still and hoping it sticks.

Nourish Me Week 2017 is a year-long project for 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

July 26, 2017 | Nourish Me | Leave a comment

July 2017 – Playing with Paint – 18

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

Your way is not the only way. You can choose a different way.

Playing with Paint is a Monthly Project for July 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

July 26, 2017 | Playing with Paint | Leave a comment

2017 Stories – 30 – The 100 Day Project

The night before The 100 Day Project started, I knew I wanted to participate. But I also knew that in the next 100 days I would be traveling internationally, and working super hard, and I just couldn’t commit to doing anything difficult.

Right before I gave up, I got this brilliant idea: I would post a photo on my instagram one photo of a moment of joy in my day, every day, for 100 days.

And that’s exactly what I did.








Best project ever!!

Stories from 2017 is a year-long project for 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

July 25, 2017 | Stories from Twenty Seventeen | Leave a comment

July 2017 – Playing with Paint – 17

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

Go big. Wish for all you want.

Playing with Paint is a Monthly Project for July 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

July 25, 2017 | Playing with Paint | Leave a comment

Living Intentionally 2017 – 30

<if you read my blog over email, could you please do me a favor and come here and leave a comment that you are still receiving my emails? i appear to not be receiving them and i wanted to check if it’s just me. thank you!>

Weekly Intention: This week’s intention is just to do more of what I’ve been doing. Get up early. Exercise. Show up. Do it. Eat well. Work hard. Finish things. Catch up on email. Just keep doing what I started. Show up!

Things I want to get Done: Here’s the list for his week.

  • Work: catch up on starred email.
  • Work: finish documents (unplanned, wrong).
  • Work: send off q2 closing emails.
  • Work: finalize round one of september.
  • Work: finish report for q2. (and for transit)
  • Work: get C organized 
  • Personal: do OLW july.
  • Personal: exercise 6/7 days.
  • Personal: continue eating clean.
  • Personal: schedule Physical Therapy
  • Personal: check in for taxes
  • Personal: cash check 
  • Personal: Journal!!
  • Family: spend time working and spend time playing with all the boys!!

This month’s intention is:  July: Shine Boldly: This builds on June a bit but it’s time to take things up a notch. Be bold. Be brave. Be loud. Shine with all your might. shining boldly alrgiht!!!

Ways to Shine this week:

  • One: Bold: Keep keeping the exercise, maybe try one more new thing. 
  • Two: Open: Open to the possibility that I can keep this going even when school starts.
  • Three: Heal/Nourish: Really, actually journaling this week 🙂

I am looking forward to: checking off some of the todos at work that i’ve been carrying for too long.

This week’s challenges: making sure the kids’ camp schedule doesn’t interfere with exercise.

Top Goals:

  • Work: finish off the docs i need for september.
  • Personal: exercise+food+journaling.
  • Family: one fun project with each kid.

I will focus on my core desires (bold, mindful, nourish, love) by: making one good decision at a time!

This week, I will say yes to: trying new foods and exercise

This week, I will say no to: worrying about the future.

I am worried that:  i won’t exercise. i’ll stop eating well. i will continue to be behind at work. that all the effort i am putting in won’t matter. that the kids will have a bad summer. 

This week, I want to remember:  that my life is perfect just as it is.

July 24, 2017 | Living Intentionally | 2 comments

July 2017 – Playing with Paint – 16

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

You are free to be you.

Playing with Paint is a Monthly Project for July 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

July 24, 2017 | Playing with Paint | Leave a comment

Weekly Reflection 2017 – 29

How I shone this week: Another good week. Things are really hectic at this moment but we are all making it work. Kids are doing their part. Jake’s really helping and I’m trying to do as much as I can in all areas. I am really proud of our family. I am really trying to take it one day at a time and do the best I can in every area. Some days are better than others, of course, but I keep showing up!

Things I wanted to get Done:

  • Work: emails are still a mess. i’ve started the work on the documentation, and more for september and some for data collection. i haven’t sent q2 closing emails. but i am getting there.
  • Personal: I didn’t do OLW july, still don’t feel ready. I want to do it next weekend if all goes well. i did exercise and eat clean. Didn’t schedule PT or taxes but did schedule allergy appointment.
  • Family: Worked with both D and N on Math, supported him  and Jake. yay!

I celebrate: showing up everyday. one day at a time. one good decision at a time.

I am grateful for: my incredibly supportive husband. 

I nourished myself by: lots of water and downtime on the weekend.

Reflecting on my worries: i exercised. I continued to eat well. I caught up a bit more at work. i am closer to ready for the new cycle. i don’t have control on what matters. i am working to make time for me and my knees are just fine! and jake’s meeting went well!!

I let go of: email. i just can’t catch up.

Core Desire Check-in (bold, mindful, nourish, love):

  • bold: an hour of body pump was bold. 
  • mindful: mindful of making things work one day at a time.
  • nourish: making a list of new veggies and proteins to try.
  • love: i love summer and the long days and the wide range of food options. 

What made me laugh this week: My boys.

What I tolerated this week: still in pain of course and long work hours.

My mood this week was: harried. 
I forgive myself for: taking my time with moving things forward on all grounds. things take time. progress is slow.
What I love right now: i love all these veggies and proteins i am eating. branching out. 

Here’s to a lovely week 30. Here’s to keeping things going!

July 23, 2017 | Weekly Reflection 2017 | Leave a comment

July 2017 – Playing with Paint – 15

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

Love with all your heart.

Playing with Paint is a Monthly Project for July 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

July 21, 2017 | Playing with Paint | Leave a comment

Books I Read This Week 2017 – 29

True to my word of not reading as much, I read fewer books this week. I started with the short story from Stories of Your Life and Others that the movie Arrival was based off of. I then tried to read some of the other stories but that wasn’t working out so I decided to put it down.

Then I read The End of Men which is the book Maggie’s Plan is based on. It was an okay read but I don’t think it’s going to leave a permanent imprint on me in any way.

I was looking forward to reading Spoonbenders but it was so hard to listen to the story, so I decided to switch to reading and it made it a thousand times more enjoyable. I loved this story and I am so glad I stuck with it. 

And finally it was time for some Pema Chodron, so I grabbed Making Friends with Your Mind in my Overdrive queue and let myself bask in some of her wisdom and kindness. Love her.

It felt good to slow down and enjoy the books this week.

Books I Read this Week 2017 is a year-long project for 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

July 20, 2017 | Books Read in 2017 | Leave a comment

 
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