karenika

2016 Stories – 26 – La Brea Tar Pits

During our trip to Los Angeles (more on this next week) my friend Rose suggested that we visit the La Brea Tar Pits. I had never heard of this but apparently Jake had and he said he’d heard of them but had never visited them. So off we went.

It was amazing!!

I am not even one of those people who likes to visit History Museums or is into archeology. But this was still amazing. I had no idea what the tar pits were and could not believe what they found in all that tar.

If you’re like me and don’t know anything, here’s where you can read all about it. We did many other things in LA but this was my favorite part of the trip!

Stories from 2016 is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

June 2016 – Evening Looks – 19

Here’s girl nineteen. Another one that was super hard.

she has a lot of shimmer. Here’s a closer look at the shimmer.

Evening Looks is a Monthly Project for June 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

Living Intentionally – 26

This week is the 26th week of the year. That means half of the year has passed us by and many of the intentions I’d set for the year ended up going nowhere. Well maybe not nowhere, but also not somewhere 🙂 Anyhow, as I looked up the week of the year to title the post, my first reaction was oh no, half of 2016 has already passed, i’ve missed my chance to get it right. But then, almost immediately after, I thought, we’re only at the halfway point, I have another whole half before the year’s over. I can get so much done in six months.

The way things usually work for me is that I start the year strong, do my projects and goals until around June where a few things start falling apart due to the summer schedule and then the lost momentum causes me to drop off the rest of the stuff. Around October/November, I start building up momentum again and start planning the following year out. I make plans, I get excited, I have ideas and document, plan, organize, etc. so I can start out the year strong.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. A year is a long time, even a season or a month is long. If I don’t give myself permission to reset throughout the year, season, month, that means that I am giving up on those days. Life’s too precious to do that. There are still too many days in this year to give up on all of them.

As it worked out, there are a crazy amount of things going on in my life right now. Major changes at work, chaotic schedules with summer camps, upcoming trips to possibly Seattle and definitely Boston. What I am realizing is that the chaos of life will never end (and may it not) so I will have to find my own normalcy and routine within there. I will have to choose to honor my priorities whether they be my health, my family, or my alone-time.

Six months is a tremendous amount of time. I can accomplish mountains in that time. I am not ready to give up on 2016 yet. Here’s to being more intentional.

Weekly Intention: This week is our last week before camps start so i want to use this week to get a few of my new routines started. I am guessing i will spend a good amount of the next three weeks driving. My intention this week is to be patient with work. To remember that there is an ebb and flow and change comes with a lot of uncertainty. Things will settle and all will be ok. Have faith. In the meantime, I’d like to spend time on myself. Exercising and eating well. Enjoying the backyard during these longer days and warm evenings. I also intend to spend time doing math with the kids. One on one time with each boy.
Choices I want to make:

One: I will choose to exercise daily and try out a new way of eating.
Two: I will choose to temper my anxiety and worrying instinct at work. I will choose generosity and spaciousness.
Three: I will choose to make some plans for July. Let’s see if I can take it one week at a time.

I am looking forward to: One more quiet week this week.
This week’s challenges: I would like to use this week to plan out the next three weeks a bit, this will be challenging but I think also rewarding.
Top Goals:

Work: I want to mostly just be present at work. Do what needs to be done but not panic and not read into things.
Personal: I want to exercise, eat more protein, and drink more water and see if it helps with my energy level. I’ve been very lethargic and I am hoping these will help.
Family: I want to go back to doing daily things with each boy. I love our time together.

I will focus on my core desires (kind, strong, true, generous, brave) by:

I will be kind to my work mates on all sides. This is rough and I will do my best to make it easy on everyone.
I will be strong by rebooting my goals and kicking off a new momentum.
I will be generous with everyone. I want to feel generous all day, every day this week.
I will be true to my goals for myself. I will aim to be the best version of what I can be.
I will be brave by putting my anxiety aside as things settle down. I will not react but I will wait and respond as/if needed.

This week, I want to remember: that all will be ok. That I am really lucky. That things always have a way of working out. That I am incredibly thankful for the amazing, amazing, amazing life I have.

Here’s to a wonderful week!

June 2016 – Evening Looks – 18

Here’s girl eighteen. This was a hard one.

Evening Looks is a Monthly Project for June 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

June 2016 – Evening Looks – 17

Here’s girl seventeen.

she has a lot of shimmer. Here’s a closer look at the shimmer.

Evening Looks is a Monthly Project for June 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

A Book a Week – Being Mortal

I read Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End because it was a book club pick. I would never ever have read this one on my own. I just felt it was too morbid. I don’t like nonfiction often and will rarely choose to read it. So I resisted this one.

But I read it. And I am so glad I did.

It was a powerful, thought-provoking book that was incredibly worthwhile.

I’m told Gawande’s other books are wonderful too so maybe this is the sign I need to pick one up.

June 2016 – Evening Looks – 16

Here’s girl sixteen. This one was tough. I almost didn’t even want to try.

Evening Looks is a Monthly Project for June 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

June 2016 – Evening Looks – 15

Here’s girl fifteen. I like this one.

Evening Looks is a Monthly Project for June 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

2016 Stories – 25 – Three Days in Pismo Beach

When we have a few days off school, we often sneak away to a local town just to get some rest as a family. We are grateful to live so close to so many beach towns. While we’ve visited almost every one of the towns up and down the Pacific Coast Highway, Pismo Beach is likely at the top of our favorites list. We love that it’s always Southern California weather. It’s right by the beach and it can be a bit grimy. Too prim and proper is not for us.

On this particular vacation, the kids spent most of their time building things out of sand, so Jake and I wanted to setup our little beach tent so we could be in the shade. What we didn’t know was that this tent requires multiple PhD’s to setup. I only wish I were joking. After two hours, much yelling and even more yelling, we finally were able to put it together. And it was lovely once we did.

But I don’t think we will ever be able to go to the beach again because I don’t think we could ever repeat it.