In the beginning of October, I started walking every day. I decided that this was time to tackle my issues for once and all. I spent the first month walking while listening to a book on tape. I listened to several books and I felt that the book was keeping my attention focused elsewhere and helping me exercise. For the month of October, I averaged 15 minutes per mile. That’s not so bad for someone who hasn’t exercised a day in the last five years. (Actually, probably longer than that.)
This past Saturday, the book I was listening to was really boring so I decided to put some music on my iPod instead. I wasn’t sure if this would keep my attention in the same way but I didn’t want to waste time thinking about it so I put some of the loudest songs I had on my computer on the ipod and I got down to the business of exercising.
And let me tell you…..music makes a BIG difference.
While the book might be more interesting, the music is definitely more inspiring and gets me going in just the right way so that I can push myself harder and more without trying. I was so amazed at the results on Saturday that I have moved to using only music on my runs now.
Today’s average was: 11.16 minutes/mile.
That’s almost 4 minutes per mile faster. And the only change has been listening to music instead of audio books.
Talk about the inspirational power of music.
This was the fifth day in a row that Nathaniel woke up at 3am, feeling wide awake and unable to go back to sleep. I am tired, worn out and about to keel over. I tried so hard to get him to go back to sleep. I took him in my own bed even and rubbed his back but nothing. So we got up. And thus started our day.
Which meant I was operating on low batteries all day long. I did take a short nap but it didn’t make up for the lack of proper sleep. I made a list of all the things I do every single day now and it’s getting pretty big:
1. full time job
2. meals for both kids, taking care of kids, driving david back and forth to school bus, changing a million diapers, playing with both kids
3. a layout
4. exercise for 1-2 miles, mostly running now
5. take photos of kids
6. process photos, pick good ones, edit etc.
7. write this blog post
8. most days i also write at least one more blog post. either for here or for weekly gratitude or creative therapy etc.
9. add to that bedtime, hubby time, email, reading my book, etc etc.
These are things I do every single day. It gets tiring. Especially when I wake up at 3am. So today I wasn’t so great at taking photos. I got this from David who did not want to be interrupted.
But Nathaniel smiled at me.
I am off to do more work so I can take off for my book club. More tomorrow.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I took the time to exercise. I really really didn’t feel like it but I did it anyway.
2. I am grateful that for book club tonight. Look forward to seeing good friends.
3. I am thankful that Jake came home early tonight. I really appreciate it so much when he helps with everything so much. He’s amazing.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. that daddy came home early
2. watching calliou
3. checking out a star wars book from the library
Journaling Reads:
You have such an adventurous spirit. You are always moving around and discovering new things without fear or trepidation. When we were at the pier ad Pacific Beach you didn’t show one ounce of fear. You just walked up and down with me chasing close behind you. I was scared the whole time but you were having so much fun that I could not bear to stop you. I love you my boy!
Tim Holtz Products used:
Lost and Found paper
Shabby Vintage paper
Alphabet soup Grungeboard
Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink
Barn Door Distress Ink
Tumbled Glass Sapphire Distress Ink
Sprocket Gears
Game Spinners
Trinket Pins
Details:
Today was all about crafting. I had a few projects that I want to complete before the goodie boxes come this week. I am leaving for NYC in 5 days and I have so very much on my list until then. I know I will be filled to the brim with anticipation all week, too, which won’t help productivity. I get to see my sister in five days!! My sister. Her husband and my nephews. I haven’t seen my sister in over a year and a half and my nephews and brother in law in almost four years! And in less then a week, I get to see them. In NYC of all places. My favorite city in the world.
After some morning crafting, we all decided to go to Whole Foods for some lunch. As I shot photos of my layouts, Jake got the kids ready and I couldn’t help but snap a photo. It’s low quality but I love it.
Nathaniel’s firmly in terrible twos land right now. We see a lot of this.
While David is kinder than ever. He has to put up with me going insane with Nathaniel’s shrieks.
But he helps, trying to make the little one laugh.
And we get this laughing while crying face.
He also shares his crackers and works hard to clean up all the mess Nathaniel creates fifteen times a day.
The little boy is super lucky to have a brother who does so much work and putting up and still loves him so so much.
And now I am off to do the worst part of all this creating which is processing photos and then maybe, just maybe I can actually read a few pages in my book. I need to start making my book list for 2011 too. 52 more books to read. Any suggestions?
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that finished some projects that had been nagging at me and i love the way they turned out.
2. I am grateful that we got so much family time together. There’s nothing I love more than watching my kids and husband play and laugh together.
3. I am thankful that David and I spent a lot of time doing workbooks. He’s so great at thinking creatively and critically. I love being a part of this with him.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. building my lego airplane with daddy
2. mommy
3. playing with nathaniel
I forgot what a huge mess December Daily creates. I finally set up my book today and after pondering it for so long, I love how it turned out, of course. I always love it.
It was David’s Wii day but the little one decided to have a go first.
And then imitated his brother.
Who is much more skilled at the whole Wii thing.
Most of what Nathaniel does is look up to him with envy and respect and love.
A lot of love.
And I tried to tear David away to snap some photos.
I got the funny faces, of course.
And while I worked on my book and David played, the little one created a huge mess. I should have taken a photo cause it was phenomenal. But he is so cute and so sweet that we just cleaned it up lovingly.
Besides exchanging a jacket and cashing a check, I got literally nothing done other than my December Daily. It took my entire day. Wait, I did exercise. More than ever before even. I did 30 minutes and 2.5 miles. I ran for 17 of those 30 minutes. Now I am aching all over and I have all the other items on my list that didn’t get done.
I am off to do some of that and process December Daily photos. More coming soon. Hope you had a lovely Saturday.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I ran. I actually ran more than I walked today. Go me!
2. I am grateful that I finished the December Daily. I’d been thinking about it for weeks now but I wouldn’t let myself work on it during October. I have a few other higher priority items on my list but I wanted to do it so I just did. Go me.
3. I am thankful that I get to have one more weekend day.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing wii
2. coloring
3. getting one more piece of halloween candy
Happy Friday!! Love Fridays. Especially Friday evenings. Especially on a weekend where we have no commitments.
While I was making lunch for Nathaniel, my mom called us on Skype and my nephew was there too so he made lots of gestures to try to get Nathaniel to imitate. Nathaniel watched with great interest.
And tried to imitate a bit.
He clapped and opened his arms and waved and we all laughed. Mostly at the joy of our kids interacting over such a long distance thanks to great technology.
When David came home, Daddy came soon after so he took him for a short bike ride.
And when Nathaniel realized he was being excluded from the adventure, he wasn’t happy. Not at all.
But when they were done, he made sure to put the helmet on a few hundred times and he even got Daddy to put him on the bike for a minute. Oh the little boys who get their way.
We have a friend of Jake’s coming over for dinner tonight. We normally get Turkish take out when we have rare guests. And tonight is no exception. But since I am trying to be so much healthier, I ordered salad for me and made sure the appetizers are things I dislike but Jake loves. Trying, really trying.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that despite feeling tired and not up to it, I still walked today. Only 1.3 miles but better than nothing.
2. I am grateful that I finished a bunch of crafts projects I wanted to finish this week. Consistent and steady always works.
3. I am thankful that my plans for this weekend are quiet so i will scrap some, read some and try to get ahead of my todo list for a change. Oh and cuddle up with my family a ton since I am leaving town next weekend.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. taking my batman book to school for share day
2. riding my bike with daddy
3. getting a wolverine silly band
4. watching a little sprout (yes, hanging head in shame.)
Journaling Reads:
When I first started practicing photography, I remember being awed by the range of greens in nature. Have you ever noticed how very many shades of green there are? It’s breathtaking.
There is so much in nature that inspires me. The towering redwood trees of Marin, the endless Pacific Ocean, animals, flowers, the sky. Sand, water, snow, leaves. Pretty much all of it leaves me speechless.
On days when I am down or in need of some inspiration, I take my little boy and go on a walk in my neighborhood. I take the time to look at small details. The way young leaves of a plant are several shades lighter green than the mature ones. The way a single flower can have six shades of blue or red. The way a tulip opens wide like it’s waiting for a hug.
When I lived in Southern California, I used to go to the beach for that. My mom always said that she didn’t like seeing an endless ocean. She likes to look at the sea and see other islands, some land. Not me. I love the immensity of it all. I love how it makes me feel like all my problems are so small.
I am at the bottom of my photos so I need to go take some more. It’s been a little too hectic for some photo trips so I need to take the time. Today started with a trip to the TMJ doctor and some more shots to the temple. He did adjust my splint though so I am in a lot less pain than I was. Then we came home, Nathaniel napped, I worked, I walked, I worked. After lunch, I decided to put some clothes on him cause his pajamas were soaking. So I also snapped some photos.
I love this one so much.
My sweet boy is so handsome.
And then he went and dug up David’s shoes to complete the outfit.
When we got David, I tried to get some shots of him, too but he wasn’t as accommodating.
But I got one!
And that’s the end of another day. I did a small crafty project today so I am happy about that and I walked/ran so I am happy about that, too. Time with my kids, work, eating veggies. That’s about all I hope for from a day these days.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that I am going shopping tonight. I decided to gift myself something for walking every single day for the last 34 days. Maybe a sweater.
2. I am grateful that though stressful, work is extra productive this week.
3. I am thankful that the weekend is almost here. And I have a bunch of things on my list but nothing too stressful and there are two happy mails headed my way for next week, too. I am a lucky lucky girl.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. mommy giving me a batman book (my friend Kathy gave me tons of reading books yesterday and I am so thankful, too.)
2. having our new art teacher at school (she’s the real teacher, she was away on maternity)
3. watching a little sprout (yes two days in a row, it’s been a rough week for me.)
Foreign Affairs was another book club pick. An old book but a Pulitzer Winner. So I had expectations. And the reviews said it was awesome and hilarious. So I had even more expectations.
In the end, I think it was so-so. I didn’t feel strong connection or empathy to either character. On the contrary, I felt like Vinnie was being a stuck up, stubborn, annoying person the whole time. And if I can’t stand a character, I can hardly read the book. I made my way through this one but I am not sure what I thought of it. It wasn’t terrible but it certainly was not hilarious.
At least not for my sense of humor.
Tulips are forevermore my first love.
After we dropped David off on the bus today, we went to visit my friend Nicholas. The plan was to walk his dog but I was tired and Nathaniel is still sick-ish so I asked if we could just hang out instead. It was a great way to start my day. Then we rushed home to let the cleaning lady in and Nathaniel loved having them here and showed off my wearing his hat.
And taking it off and wearing it again and taking it off again. About twenty times or so.
After they left, he took his nap and I worked and walked and worked more. We are a delicious lunch of sole fish, heirloom tomatoes and he even had some eggs. I went back to work and he just walked around, trying to decide what to get into next. Then he put on the headphones and walked around some.
And then grabbed my pedometer (which is not working at all and randomly making a LOT of sounds) and played with it some.
After we picked up his brother, we gave him the toy Nicholas gifted me this morning. David was a fan and played quietly with it for an hour.
When I asked for a smile, this is what I got.
Oh well.
All in all, much better day than usual. Mostly cause I kept my cool for most of it. I didn’t get to do a layout today and I have to rush to book club in a bit but I might finish a small project before then if I am lucky. If not, there’s tomorrow. Working on being less in a hurry and more peaceful. Peace peace peace. It always comes down to that for me. And being content. so much better than happy as Tara Whitney recently pointed out. I love being content.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful to have spent some time with my friend Nicholas and I get to see him tonight, too.
2. I am grateful that the house is all clean and tidy. Nothing like this great smell of clean.
3. I am thankful that the last of my December Daily items have arrived and I cannot wait to sit down and put my album together.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. playing with Nicholas’ toy
2. getting a silly band from a friend at school
3. watching a little sprout
Catalyst One Hundred and Twenty-Three is: Is there something about someone that you’ve always wanted to know but have never asked?
Thoughts:
A few years ago, I took this amazing class that completely transformed my life. Shortly after, I was back home in Turkey and I was telling my family about the class. My grandmother listened intently and said she wished she’d taken the class and that she had some big regrets about her life. I remember making a mental note to follow up with her, at the time. But I never did. And, this last winter, I lost my grandmother. So now I will never get to ask. So I wanted to make my art be a reminder that you should always ask. Right now. Do not put it off. Do not assume. Ask.
I worked very very hard to become an American citizen so I never take the privilege of voting for granted. Never.
Today started around 3am when Nathaniel decided it was morning time. Then there was early morning naps which lead into the whole day feeling out of whack. As I worked, he played with everything and piled on whatever he could find. But he was really good for the most part.
And then my work went into a speedy downfall which started swallowing me up inside it. And from that point on it was chaos chaos and more chaos. It wasn’t until 5:30 that I remembered I hadn’t snapped a photo. So I quickly grabbed one of David.
And one of Nathaniel with all the food on this mouth. He was really whiny by this point. Exhausted and wiped from the super-early nap.
He’s still sick, too. And so am I. I am hoping we’ll recover sooner than later. Because the day was such a mess, I have a ton of emails, comments, and other todo list items piled up on my todo list. I also have my layout from this morning still sitting on my desk, unfinished. Which means I have to tackle those next.
I am also avidly watching CNN. Election nights are always my favorite to watch and really the only news I watch these days. No Glee tonight so more reason to stick to CNN.
Three Things I’m Grateful For:
1. I am grateful that after all the chaos and stress, the build did go live and so I can now relax a bit.
2. I am grateful that I exercised. I will be grateful for that every day for a while. Lost one more pound, too.
3. I am thankful that I get to vote. I don’t take nearly as much time to appreciate the fact that I am American. This was a lifelong goal for me. It’s something I am deeply thankful for. Deeply. Democrat. Republican. Recession. or not. I am so grateful to be in this country. This is where I belong.
Three Things David’s Grateful For:
1. drawing
2. sitting next to maggie on the bus
3. mommy
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projects for twenty twenty-six
projects for twenty twenty-five
projects for twenty twenty-four
projects for twenty twenty-three
projects for twenty twenty-two
projects for twenty twenty-one
projects for twenty nineteen
projects for twenty eighteen
projects from twenty seventeen
monthly projects from previous years
some of my previous projects
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