I’m so grateful for the longer days of summer, having long days of sunshine is nothing to take for granted. One of the most magical parts of California. I haven’t really established a nighttime routine yet, but I have been doing daily yoga and cream so I’m making progress even if it’s my own way. I haven’t begun the reclaim list yet. I have to find a practical way to do that, I’ll think through it.

• Progress on the big five:
  • Y: i found someone to prune one tree and replace the other. waiting for them. I will research planting in the meantime.
  • G: Got the unit moved! Haven’t done the last bits.
  • S: Done with appointment four, the rest coming later this month.
  • Sa: nothing yet 🙂
  • D: woohoo got the car serviced and washed my car!
• Three Medium goals:
  • I will look into launching quests this coming week maybe?
  • I started the MBSR book, week one down.
  • made a lot of progress on my endless list of chores:
    • get car serviced
    • get tree pruned
    • figure out downstairs plan
    • ultrasound
    • decorate office
    • decorate yard tent
    • decorate garage
    • flush water heater
    • return g items
    • also: bought new glasses!
    • also: booked V tix

• Start: Started and wow hard so far!
• Stop: doing a good job so far!
• Continue: meh no visual nottaking yet so far.
• Brave: have not started this one yet.

Really productive start to the month. Somewhat helped by the short week, let’s see how I do this coming week! Here’s to another good week. Paying attention. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.

Since it’s two days to the end of June, I figure it’s best to do a review at the same time as a weekly update. Now that it’s the end of June, summer is already half over which makes me kind of bummed. But it’s all good, taking every day as it comes and trying both not to jump ahead and also savor what’s here.

Big Goal is done and dusted, I am proud of myself. It was a good idea, good execution, and great memories.

• Progress on the big five:
  • Y: did some of these. didn’t touch side yard still and didn’t decorate the pergola, maybe I can before Wednesday.
  • G: Did donations, bought a few things but calling movers today.
  • S: Done and also did the replacement renewal and appointment.
  • Sa: Well I did find new people to leave Sadie with which was not about training but still worthwhile progress.
  • D: Well not sure I will do this one. Can’t decide.
• Three Medium goals:
  • Did a whole bunch in June. Feeling good about it!
  • Did a lot of practice then did a whole sketching journal during travels. Good job for me.
  • This one will have to be a July plan.
  • Making solid progress on this one, too. Let’s see where it goes.

• Start: yes! did this!
• Stop: so so much better on this one, too!
• Continue: Took so so much time off in June, I am very proud of myself.
• Brave: trips done, seeing them done, no driving. still proud of myself.

I did a lot this month. Proud of myself. Here’s to another month. Paying attention. Loving my people. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.

I feel like the universe didn’t get my memo on the summer going slowly. It’s already midJune and I am not ready for the days to go as fast as they are. I will do my best to slow down and savor every day as much as I can.

• Progress on the big five:
  • Y: No new progress this week but it was 90+ this week so I didn’t want to be outside.
  • G: didn’t schedule the movers yet.
  • S: All set on this one!
  • Sa: Sweet Sadie will be practicing this week.
  • D: No progress this week.
• Three Medium goals:
  • This was a dud week with a lot of other stuff on my mind.
  • Still doing a lot of practice on this one, I am proud of it.
  • I did look up the book but haven’t started yet.
  • Started decorating my office!!

• Start: yes! Still doing this one!
• Stop: I’ve gotten better on this, too. Work in progress.
• Continue: I a little bit more time off last week, I am proud of myself.
• Brave: meh no progress on driving yet.

Ok progress this week but that’s ok. Our AC broke and I got that fixed and that was a big win! Here’s to another good week. Paying attention. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.

Here’s to the official beginning of Summer! I really would like June and July to go very very slowly. Once we hit August, we have to actively worry about several big milestones we have this year and I don’t want to wrap my head around any of that yet. Pretty please.

Big Goal: Even though I am tempted to make a goal around food, I am tired of disappointing myself, so I am going to pick a different one. I think my big goal this month is to figure out some plans to go visit D. This involves a bunch of planning and I keep putting it off but I think it will make me sadder not to go. Either way I’d like to have made a decision and plans so I can stop thinking and start doing.

• Progress on the big five:
  • Y: Decorate under the pergola, fix the fence lights, maybe clean the side yard & buy plants.
  • G: Do donations, move ikea unit, buy a few things and a rug maybe.
  • S: Laser appointment three. Follow up on replacement.
  • Sa: not sure I want to do anything on this one.
  • D: maybe if i am brave, go to berkeley and oakland to renew library cards.
• Three Medium goals:
  • more workflow stuff, get the quests going.
  • practice visual notetaking, do the book I bought, create my own library.
  • restart the art mbsr book possibly, or some other deeper dive plan.
  • decorate my office.

• Start: regular visual notetaking practice.
• Stop: replying fast.
• Continue: to find pockets to take time off.
• Brave: trips, seeing them, and driving and my brave this month.

Here’s to another month. Paying attention. Loving my people. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.

Meh this week was a total wash. I had a lot of after-work meetings and I just came home exhausted. I ate out practically every day. It was not the best. We will see if I can do better next week.

• Progress on the big five:
  • Y: The pergola got here and man oh man we spent hours trying to put it up! It’s up now and i LOVE it.
  • G: It was such a hard week that I completely and totally missed the donation truck when it came by. I’m going to have to reschedule. Giving myself grace.
  • S: Nothing more to do here this week.
  • Sa: No new progress on this, still just have a plan.
  • D: Still commuting all the way down to new office. I need to schedule maintenance, maybe I can do it for this week.
• Three Medium goals:
  • Yes so much more this week, I am on a roll!
  • Still have a few ideas for the yard and want to vacuum it all, too. Then onward to the garage. I will start with buying a rug, I think. I like rugs it turns out.
  • I didn’t do extra work on this, this week. I will try to this coming week.

• Start: some bumps but one day at a time.
• Stop: doing a good job on this mostly. last week was just hard.
• Continue: more of this, this week. so much time with so many people. met with someone new, then P from work, then went to bookclub, then met with J. Lots of socializing this week. Too much, in fact.
• Brave: Yes, looking for a new sitter for Sadie. I may have a lead. Let’s see if I get lucky.

Good progress this week. Here’s to a better week. Paying attention. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.

My big goal this month is to focus a bit more on health both for movement/stretching/mental well-being and for nutrition. I spent more time walking this week than before partly thanks to my son being in town for the week. I hope to take that up a notch this week.

As for the food, I asked for a little help from Gemini this week to help me come up with super simple ideas. I asked for <15mins, lots of veggies and protein. Not a lot of ingredients. Here’s what I got: I ordered a bunch of the groceries to prep these, so let’s see how much progress I make this week!

I am hopeful that I will at least make a few of these.

• Breakfast
  • Greek Yogurt & “Berry Smash”: Take a big scoop of plain Greek yogurt. Mash some fresh raspberries or blackberries into it to create a natural “syrup” without added sugar. Top with whole blueberries and raw sunflower seeds.
  • The Protein Power Plate: Two hard-boiled eggs (from your 5-5-5 prep) paired with a sliced pear and a handful of raw almonds. [5 Minutes High Pressure: 1 cup of water in the pot, eggs on the trivet. 5 Minutes Natural Release: Leave them in the pot for 5 minutes after the timer beeps before venting the steam. 5 Minutes Ice Bath: Move them immediately to a bowl of ice water for 5 minutes.] alternatively apple or pear dipped in almond or peanut butter.
  • Yogurt-Dipped Apple Slices: Slice up two apples. Mix a little cinnamon into your Greek yogurt and use it as a thick, high-protein dip. It’s faster than a bowl and feels like a treat.
• Lunch
  • English Cucumber Boats: Slice an English cucumber in half and scoop out the middle. Fill it with your pre-shredded Instant Pot chicken mixed with a little olive oil and dried oregano. It’s fresh, crunchy, and very clean.
  • Chicken & Grape Spinach Salad: Toss your shredded chicken with baby spinach, halved grapes, and walnuts. The grapes provide a great burst of sweetness that replaces the need for a heavy dressing—just a squeeze of lemon will do.
  • Beef & Snap Pea Cold Plate: Use your pre-cooked shredded beef or sliced roast beef. Pair it with a large pile of raw sugar snap peas and a sliced apple. This is the ultimate “no-prep” lunch for busy days.
  • The “Adult Lunchable”: Prep containers with your hard-boiled eggs, a few slices of high-quality roast beef (ensure no pork/turkey), and a large handful of snap peas or baby carrots. It’s zero-assembly and very filling.
  • Tuna & Apple Salad: Mix canned tuna with diced apples and celery. Use a dollop of plain Greek yogurt instead of mayo for extra protein. This holds up well in the fridge for 2–3 days.
  • Mediterranean Tuna Salad: Mix canned tuna (in water) with diced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and a squeeze of lemon. You can eat this over a bed of spinach or straight out of the bowl.
  • Rotisserie Chicken Salad Cups: Buy a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken and shred it (discard the skin to keep it “clean”). Toss the chicken with a little olive oil, lemon juice, and herbs. Serve inside large romaine lettuce leaves or bell pepper halves.
• Dinner
  • Instant Pot Lemon-Garlic Chicken & Green Beans: Cook chicken breasts in the Instant Pot with 1 cup chicken broth, 3 cloves of smashed garlic, and the juice of a lemon (12 mins). Serve with steamed green beans (you can buy the bags you just pop in the microwave for 3 minutes).
  • Beef & Broccoli Sheet Pan: Toss pre-sliced beef strips and bagged broccoli florets with olive oil, salt, and garlic powder. Roast at 400°F for 10 minutes. Since you don’t like ginger, garlic and salt keep it savory and clean.
  • Zucchini & Ground Beef Skillet: Brown some ground beef in a pan with salt and garlic. Throw in a bag of pre-cut zucchini coins or “zoodles.” Sauté for 3–5 minutes until the zucchini is tender but not mushy.
  • Lemon-Garlic White Fish & Asparagus: Place white fish fillets (like cod or tilapia) on a sheet pan with a bunch of asparagus. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon. It bakes in about 12 minutes, keeping your total active prep time well under the 15-minute mark.
  • Sheet Pan Salmon & Rainbow Veggies: Place salmon fillets on a tray with broccoli, bell peppers, and asparagus. Season with lemon and herbs. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 12–15 minutes.
  • Instant Pot Shredded Beef: Put a beef roast (like chuck) in the Instant Pot with beef broth and garlic (no spicy peppers). Cook for 60 minutes, then shred. Store this in the fridge. To serve, just reheat a portion and toss it with a bag of steamed green beans or zucchini.
  • Zucchini “Noodle” Beef Bolognese: Use your Instant Pot to cook ground beef with a jar of “clean” marinara (check the label for no added sugar or pork fat). Serve it over pre-bought zucchini noodles (zoodles). You can sauté the zoodles in a pan for just 2 minutes so they don’t get soggy.

I am hopeful that I will at least make a few of these.

• Progress on the big five:
  • Y: Ok I haven’t gone through the side yard, yet but I think it’s less messy than I think. I will take a pass this week, maybe. I did order a bunch of things for the yard this week. A rug, cushions for a couch, tablecloth, fairy lights, and concrete to weigh down the umbrellas. Let’s see how it looks when things come. Round two will maybe be fake trees, heater, more rugs, pillows, and a storage.
  • G: Woot, trash picked up. Filled out a donation request, we’ll see if/when they call. If not, have some other ideas. Didn’t buy something for garage yet, but have ideas.
  • S: Appointment two done, and three booked. Looks like nothing else needed at this moment in time.
  • Sa: No new progress on this, still just have a plan.
  • D: Still commuting all the way down to new office. Thinking about a local vacation for us three possibly. Will try to plan.
• Three Medium goals:
  • Woot, did an awesome one Friday night. Yay!
  • Did so much work on this!! Lots of ideas for the yard, and some ideas for garage.
  • Haven’t done the list yet. Maybe this week if I have mental space.

• Start: I have no idea what my plans were, lol. Alas he’s safely in London. So far, so good, let’s see how tomorrow is.
• Stop: Sleeping earlier thanks to new office and new schedule!
• Continue: Spent so so much time with D and also met my cousin and talked to so many random people at the cafe!
• Brave: I expect this to happen in the next ten days. We have to see how he settles first.

Good progress this week. So proud of myself and how much I am doing. Day by day, drop by drop.

Here’s to another week. Paying attention. Savoring and living in awe. And taking steps to move onward.