karenika

February 2016 – Choice Cards – 09

Here’s card nine:

It says: Choose to Capture Your Stories

Choice Cards in a Monthly Project for February 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

Today I Choose – 06

Here’s week six in my sketchbook. Another collection one. This one is all food. I figured if I can’t eat it, i might as well draw it 🙂

Here are closer shots of each side:

Today I Choose is a year-long project for 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

A Book a Week – Vanishing Girls

I read Vanishing Girls because I loved Lauren Oliver’s “Before I Fall” so very much. But I didn’t like the Delirium series all that much. Nor did I love Panic. But I keep giving her chances because her writing is so good.

Alas, I hated this book.

Hated it.

There is a major twist at the end and it was so stupid. I hate books that do a twist where the whole book feels super gimmicky. What’s even worse is that this exact gimmick was done in another YA book I read this year and I hated it then, too. So it was extra frustrating when it happened again.

Here’s to hoping she does better.

February 2016 – Choice Cards – 08

Here’s card eight:

It says: Choose the Soundtrack Your Days

Choice Cards in a Monthly Project for February 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

2016 Stories – 06 – Building Gliders

Last year was the first year David (and two friends) decided to do the Tech Challenge. They signed up really late and worked very hard for three months putting their building together. At several points last year, it seemed like David wasn’t sure about doing this. He did persevere and their team ended up building the building and it withstood all the earthquakes. It was a major triumph for their team.

But since he was spent, I wasn’t sure he’d want to take it on again this year. Especially with middle schools looming in our pile of work.

But as soon as the museum announced this year’s theme, David emailed his friends and started talking about it. After some iterations, they are now a team of six and they are well under way. They have been meeting weekly and working hard on building the gliders, the set, coming up with ways to steer the plane, and putting together a story.

It’s been really inspiring to watch David as he goes through this. I know there’s still a long way to go and there might be some tough and stressful times ahead but I love watching how excited he gets. How much he’s learning through this process.

I am so very proud of him.

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

February 2016 – Choice Cards – 07

Here’s card seven:

It says: Choose to Believe in Magic

Choice Cards in a Monthly Project for February 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

Living Intentionally – 06

Weekly Intention: This week, my intention is to rest and be calm as much as possible. I know that’s two intentions but so be it. Last week I worked long, hard days and I panicked and stressed needlessly several times. I do not want to do that anymore so I plan to actively choose the opposite. To consciously slow down, be calm, and keep things in perspective. Here’s to hoping.
Choices I want to make:

One: I will choose to celebrate my sons, especially David who turns eleven today. They awe me every single day.
Two: I will choose to snuggle up, pay attention and be present. I am traveling again in less than two months and I want to make the very most of these days together.
Three: I will choose to assume the best. I find myself often going to the worst possible outcome in my head or worrying constantly in my heart. Neither of these is helpful and I want to choose to stop and just be grateful for now instead.

I am looking forward to: Meeting my friend Evelyn tomorrow. More debates this week. I love watching the debates.
This week’s challenges: It’s another full week so I think the challenge this week will be balance. Making sure I exercise. Making sure I rest. Making sure I am present with the boys.
Top Goals:

Work: I have some delicate cross-team coordination this week, I hope that goes well.
Personal: I’d love to actually do some art and read a bit each day this week. However small.
Family: I have to buy my tickets to home during my trip to Zurich. Also book a trip for winter and spring breaks. Just get more organized in general. meh.

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

I will be kind by prioritizing what matters over what feels urgent. My family. My husband. My kids. They matter most.
I will be strong by choosing to let go and not try to do everything.
I will be true to myself by getting more organized so I can feel like I am spending my time on what I value.
I will be brave by having faith that things are going to turn out ok and I can let go of the worrying/stressing.

This week, I want to remember to: Live all of my life. January was all about work, for the most part. March will likely be about middle schools but February is that sweet spot in the middle. I want to live all of it. I want to be in this moment and really soak it in. I want to catch up on some of the work for my kids’ school I’ve been dropping on the floor. I want to start some special math time with Nathaniel. I want to remember to focus on all aspects of my life.

Here’s to a wonderful week!

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

February 2016 – Choice Cards – 06

Here’s card six:

It says: Choose to Welcome Each Day

Choice Cards in a Monthly Project for February 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

Weekly Reflection – 05

Three Choices I made this week:

One: I chose to go out and socialize when I didn’t feel like it (I rarely feel like it!).
Two: I chose to pay attention to some areas at work that I think needed some care.
Three: I chose to play along and not take things personally at work. I tried to focus on the greater good.

I read/learned: Not a lot of progress this week 🙁 I am still reading The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend and listening to The Past.
I celebrate: I celebrate the upcoming weekend!
I am grateful for: being home. I am so so grateful to be home.
I focused on my health by:

Walked 10K steps every day
Ate as well as I could, still no Diet Coke or lattes

I made art: No art this week I did make some over the weekend and I look forward to making more this weekend.
I let go of: I let go of my instincts a bunch of times this week. I chose not to be on the defense. I chose to collaborate.
Core Desire Check-in:

Kind: I was very kind to a few friends, generous with my time and information.
Strong: I was strong and consistent with exercise.
True: I stayed true to myself. I tried to be honest and still kind.
Generous: I was generous with information and time as much I was able to be.
Brave: I went to multiple social events even though i really felt like sitting at home, in my happy place.

Here are some photos from this week:

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

February 2016 – Choice Cards – 05

Here’s card five:

It says: Choose to Spread Your Wings and Fly

Choice Cards in a Monthly Project for February 2016. You can read more about my projects for 2016 here.

Today I Choose – 05

Here’s week five in my sketchbook. Another collection one. This one is all shoes. I wanted to have fun with it so I added stickles as well just to add some sparkle.

Here are closer shots of each side and the sparkles: