karenika

2017 Stories – 34 – Laughter

We’ve been taking family photos for over 7 years now and I am so very grateful for them. They make my heart swell each time. Lately, I’ve been asking Jake to take photos of me with the kids, too. And these are quickly becoming my favorite because Jake always makes us laugh. There is so much laughter and joy in these photos and the gratitude I feel when I see them is endless.

Thank you my wonderful husband!

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

August 2017 – Ten-Minute Art – 16

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

Ten-Minute Art is a Monthly Project for August 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

Living Intentionally 2017 – 34

Weekly Intention: This promises to be a bit of a crazy week. As you read this, I am somewhere in Oregon trying to see the total eclipse. We decided to make an adventure of it, we’ll see how it plays out. My intention for the time away is to eat as well as I can and possibly to yoga when I can. And then my intention when I am back is to jump right back into things. Let’s see how well I can do.

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

Work: maybe figure out a better system for email.
Work: blog post.
Work: tickets to Seattle.
Work: be fully done with september goal, send emails.
Work: create the darn dashboard.
Work: prep email contents.
Personal: exercise 6/7 days.
Personal: continue eating clean.
Personal: do well while away.
Personal: Journal regularly.
Personal: Do mapmaker #5
Family: have fun, be open minded.
Family: orientations for both kids.
Family: prep for school!
Family: take photos!

This month’s intention is: August: Shine from the Inside Out: Ok you did the outside in and now it’s time to reflect again. The year is half over. How are you doing? What are you keeping on the inside? Also, it’s time to let others see the real you. Don’t be afraid. Shine.

Ways to Shine this week:

One: Bold: Going on this trip is bold enough for me!!
Two: Open: Open to taking this nourished version of me on the road and seeing how she does.
Three: Heal/Nourish: time to get my hair done this week and focus on some journaling to heal.

I am looking forward to: the eclipse baby!

This week’s challenges: being on the go, and making it all work.

Top Goals:

Work: book tickets to Seattle, finish packet , do dashboard.
Personal: exercise+food+journaling.
Family: enjoy trip. prep for school.

I will focus on my core desires (bold, mindful, nourish, love) by: being a bit more present this week. going with the flow. not overworrying.

This week, I will say yes to: adventure.

This week, I will say no to: undue stress.

I am worried that: i won’t exercise. i’ll stop eating well. eclipse visiting will be disastrous. i will fall off the wagon with my nourishment. some unexpected thing will go terribly wrong.

This week, I want to remember: everything will be okay. have faith in the universe.

August 2017 – Ten-Minute Art – 15

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

Ten-Minute Art is a Monthly Project for August 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

August 2017 – Ten-Minute Art – 14

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

Ten-Minute Art is a Monthly Project for August 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

August 2017 – Ten-Minute Art – 13

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

Ten-Minute Art is a Monthly Project for August 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

Books I Read This Week 2017 – 33

I started the week with Spirit Junkie which had some parts I liked but overall Gabrielle Bernstein doesn’t seem to be doing it for me. I can’t connect with her message.

I then jumped to the very short The Little Things which was a bit better than meh but way too wordy for what he was saying. I agreed with his ideas, I just wish he had an editor.

I then read Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice which I knew nothing about but I knew Brene would be worth it, and she so was! I didn’t want to put this one down at all. I wish she would come out with a book every month!

I then read Mrs. Fletcher which I knew I’d have mixed feelings about and I did. It had some interesting bits but also many bits I wasn’t crazy about.

I then read The Dying Game which was interesting, twisty and worthwhile. I really enjoyed it.

So grateful for books.

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

August 2017 – Ten-Minute Art – 12

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

Ten-Minute Art is a Monthly Project for August 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

Nourish Me – 33

Mind:

I read: I listened to Brene’s Sounds True lecture this week and it reminded me that I need more of that in my life. So I’ve downloaded some Tara Brach and intend to listen more.
I learned: I’ve been doing Stephanie’s Map Maker class and the August OLW.
I watched: only one hour of TV this week.

Body:

Exercise: Woohooo, another week of exercising!! I’ve been trying to introduce a new class each week, this week i did two new ones on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Here’s what I did:
- Monday: Body Pump
- Tuesday: Body Pump
- Wednesday: Sculpt and Core (which was cardio!) and Mat Pilates
- Thursday: gBarre
- Friday: Body Pump Express and Mat Pilates
- Saturday&Sunday: resting all weekend
Food: I’m also introducing a new food each week. This past week was brussel sprouts and buffalo meat.
- Veggies: butternut squash, spaghetti squash, eggplants, zucchini, beets, celery, cucumbers, broccoli rice, brussel sprouts, kale and spinach.
- Protein: chicken breasts, ground chicken, ground buffalo, and eggs.
- I am still not hungry between meals. Often I am not even hungry for dinner.
- No coffee for five weeks now. Not craving it.
All the others: I’ve been flossing nightly, taking my vitamin C, and putting cream on. I bought a new face mask and some new earplugs because mine hurt when i wake up (because i sleep on my side). I’ve also bought a bunch of food-to-go items because we will be out of town next weekend.

Soul:

I rested: Still sleeping strong. I’ve been waking up at 6 but this week i’ve woken up a bit more than I’d like. I’m hoping the new earplugs will help.
I connected: Connected with a few new friends at work this week, and it was wonderful.
I journaled: I journaled a bunch! woot!!
I made art: I did my mapmaker homework!

So grateful for my progress, here are some more shots from instagram.

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

August 2017 – Ten-Minute Art – 11

You can read about the start of this project here.

karenika.com

Ten-Minute Art is a Monthly Project for August 2017. You can read more about my projects for 2017 here.

2017 Stories – 33 – Flowers

I posted this on my Instagram a week ago but I wanted to also preserve it here.

When I was younger my mom filled our house with flowers. I liked them but as I grew up I felt they were a waste of money since they die so quickly. But now all I want in my house is more flowers. Here’s some of what I bought this week. As it turns out they are the cheapest solution for feeling happy! And to make sure to honor my mom I got an orchid for my bathroom.

Nathaniel and I have been going to Trader Joe’s and the farmer’s market each week just to experiment with different flowers. I have yet to find anything that beats the ranunculus but we’ll keep looking!