Tiny Moments

There are tiny moments in everyday that are special. They might happen often but if we I stop long enough to really see the life that we  have created its the tiny moments that that float like bubbles and shimmer in the light that bring much joy.  I have learned that the color of life lies within the person who is watching. It takes work and a good outlook to see the light sometimes.

Looking for the light and the pretties in our days can become a habit. A habit worth creating.

Its important to choose to capture the good things the special tiny people in our life to remind us . We are loved we are special and we can even be the glitter that shines from with in.
I choose happiness .
I choose to work for it.
I choose to create a life I want.
I choose to focus on the tiny moments .

La Jolla Half Marathon

The La Jolla half Marathon was this morning and it was a success. The weather today was perfect running weather.

I was in wave four with my dad. We started together but that was it. He took it a little bit easier today. I felt emotional this morning. They started the marathon by singing Sweet Caroline for Boston and it was emotional . The entire situation in Boston was devastating and this year watching the marathon was amazing and happy and sad. Once the race started and there I was running with a bunch of cool strangers and the I have a Neil Diamond in my head then I look behind me and see my dad. Running a few feet behind me and it dawned on me how lucky I am and how I really have to take all these moments with him in and how much I appreciate him. I have been running with him about 5 years and its always fun . My dad is a funny guy.

The weather was perfect. I ran right under 9 minute miles the entire way. I was really proud of myself. I am not a fast runner so  I have to practice practice practice to get better. So yes I felt excited to be able to run the entire way and stay under 9 min miles. This half is a-lot of peoples favorite because it has great views and lots of water along the way. It is usually never hot and you only have 1 big hill mile 7 and after that as they say its down hill.  When I got to the end I had my very own cheering section. I heard my name being yelled my nickname and mom. That was so cool so I ran as fast as I possibly could for the last half mile. I was felling good.

Here is my little man at the end of the race. He loves my medal.

Here is my dad and I. He had an OK race but I think he rocked anyway. He looked good to me. 

This is the view you see at the end of the race. So you get a medal and look to the right and see this view. Nice end to a great race. 

A wave

Hi Guys,  Yes today little man said by with a little wave to his swimming teacher. It was the cutest thing. After he kept waving and people walking by waved back. We have had a good week with 2 more swim classes for the little guy done and dinners have been made and homework has been done. Yes it is the simple but I like it. I have a half marathon this weekend I am looking forward to running it. I have been very diligent with my running and for the month of April I am up to 115 miles so far. I am going to start wearing a heart rate monitor to see if I can pick up my pace and find a comfortable new quicker pace. I feel that I have been doing just fine nothing hurts and the only thing that bothers me is that I am tired more. I hate being tired but I think I just have to get used to it. I met a girl at swim practice today that told me her husband ran 40 miles on his 40th birthday and says it was the worse experience of his life. I asked her why and she said getting ready for his birthday run was to time consuming. That made me think am I doing enough ? I hope so because 40 miles a week is enough for me right now. Next month I will go up to 45 miles a week . That's what the training plan says so as long as it feels OK I will do it.  The other new thing is I finally found a runners yoga class close by and I am scheduled to go try it this week. I really hope it helps with not feeling so tight . I am happy with what I am doing as far as slowly getting more miles in with out getting injured. I am hoping to start doing trail runs once week in May I found a cool group and they said I could run with them so hopefully they won't completely kick my butt. Have a wonderful week .

Easter Snapshots

These are some of my favorite pictures from yesterday. I am super excited to get them in my project life album . they should be developed sometime today. Our Easter was full of time well spent with family . I hope you had a good weekend too.

Todays theme song is

This is my dad and I after our run today. I heard this song three times today on my run so I feel this was my theme song for this Saturdays run…I felt so content when I heard it. I put my arms out and closed my eyes and pretended to fly. 

Saturday Mornings

Saturday Mornings always come quickly. I am usually not looking forward to getting up early but once I have had my cup of coffee the morning seems a little more full of energy or at least I do then my dad comes over and that's about the time I run upstairs get dressed find all my stuff and go run. Lately I have been trying to run a little bit more with Jack in the stroller. When he naps I run with him and he sleeps for most of the run. I have been feeling so grateful and full of gratitude with so many sad things going on in the world I just feel so incredibly grateful for the simple thing in my life. I am at a stage in my life that simple is what I want and crave for. I never saw that happening but my heart feels settled and I see that simple things help my entire family. I am cooking simple nutritious food and  somehow I have let go of my fear of getting my cooking right. My kids love having diner together every night so we sit and we all talk about whats going on and eat. I am feeling like my heart is poured out all over my family and vulnerable in the love I have been feeling for my little modern family and after years of being afraid of getting hurt or left behind I am now in a place that knows I can handle anything . I am now a true believer that less is more and that its the love we have for our families and each other that keeps us good. So here is to Saturday mornings and I hope what ever you do today is simple and full of joy.

The baby

Baby Jack is almost 8 months old. I have a hard understanding that time goes by so fast. He loves chewing on medals. After I sanitize them and only long enough to get a couple pictures. I am not sure why we let him do this but we do.

He loves pillows. He loves to hold them squeeze them and eat them but the cutest thing is he loves to rest on them. I still need to get a picture of that.

He is also reading Runners magazine. Start them young I say.. I am joking but I just couldn't resist.

We still have a gummy smile and lots and lots of smiles  all the time. He is just so cute I want to keep kissing him all day. You really can't tell but he is so big and heavy. 

Small bits

This is what I am painting. Lots of color and freedom to just go with my brush.
Loving all of it.

Running race schedule for 2014

Running season is here . Here is of the races  I have scheduled for 2014.
San Diego Half Marathon  2:07

La Jolla Half April 27

Glorias 42 mile Birthday run
Rock n Roll full Marathon San Diego June 1
Wild Horse half marathon June 10
Rock n Roll full Marathon Seattle June 21
Rock n Roll half Marathon Chicago July 20
Stairway to Heaven half Marathon August 10
Dick Collins Fire trail 50 miles October 11
Lake hodges 50k October 26
North face half Marathon December 6
I am really excited because I love to run. I have been running for 12 years and it is a huge part of who I am. There is something about the feeling of being able to run for hours outside in nature that I love. I have this huge sense of peace and tranquility during my runs. I come to peace with situations or just let them go. I chant when I run.
Strong mind Strong body
It helps because I am a very insecure person and running gives me the security to know I am strong enough to overcome. It gives me the energy I need to be a good mom and running has taught me discipline . You have to put in the work to get good results.  Running has made me stronger and that makes for a healthier life style. 

Whats on the schedule

What are you up to this weekend ?
This is my weekend in three pictures.
Happy Life

Quick Lesson Reminder

Yesterdays was one of the busiest days I have had in a really long time. So many things needed to get done and there was appointments . Groceries and meals to be cooked and well I was so tired.

but what I did manage to do was spend 30 minutes outside with this little guy painting.  That's what gave me the glitter or pink unicorns I needed to get through the rest of my day with a smile. So my quick lesson was take 30 minutes to do what makes you happy and that could carry your happy heart for the rest of the day.

SuPer HoT but Crazy Idea RuN

Hi There I am glad I have a chance to write here an hour or so after my run. Today its really hot here. I live a little in and from North County and its 80 here but it feels like 90. I went for a run early today with my little man in the stroller . It started out great but it was warmer than normal . I was not sure how Jack was going to handle it so I took toys and if he felt unhappy at any time I was going to turn around and come home. I want him to like the stroller not hate it. So off we went . It was earlier than his nap time so he didn't nap but he sang and made happy baby noises for the first hour or so. I did not wear my head phones like I usually do because I wanted to be able to hear him. Its different running with out them. I felt more aware and more present . I hope that makes sense. I saw all the leaves falling of the trees and I love this little path near my house.

This is it. I really had not paid much attention to it its just a sidewalk with some trees but it has become where I do my hill repeats and its about 2 miles so its long enough to see hoe fast I can go for a mile or two or where I slow down and just jog.  I was thinking on  y magic path today that my birthday is coming up and I will be 42. So to celebrate my birthday I am going to do a 42 mile run. I have always talked about doing that on my birthday and I am not getting younger so its now is the time. I love the ideas that come from running . So now I am going to plan a cool course and invite some friends to meet me at the finish line. I thought I would have my kids make me a medal out of clay. I am so excited to get planning on my this crazy little adventure birthday run.
Have a wonderful day and I will share the entire experience with you.G

Painting Date

I was sitting at home cleaning something when my girlfriend called and said," Can we come over and paint," .. Music to my ears but wait I thought I have to go to Costco. Suddenly Costco was put of for another day.. A girl must know her priorities and I do. So we spent the day painting away. It was so so much fun. I love having friends who love to craft.

This is what we painted. Happy Monday

The Run

So I thought Sunday would be a good day to recap my run week so I can look back and know what I was doing. This is my second 30 mike week and I am less tired this week than last. I have to say that I used to make fun of Hokas but after my hip hurt forever these crazy looking shoes have made all the difference for me. My feet don't hurt and I have no recovery pain. They are really amazing. This next week I am going to go for 40 mile week and see how that feels.  My kids are on spring break so I see company on my runs. I am really excited for the races I have planned this year. I love running and I really look forward to race day because its the pay of to your hard work. If I have learned anything its that if you put in the work you get good results. 

Free People Presents Spark ft. Poppy Delevingne

This video made me smile and smiling is a good thing. lol G

Happy to keep going...

Hi from us. This little man is my full time companion and its really cool.  Whats going on around here  you might ask . For me its being a mom that's number 1 . So yes making lunches for my kids and getting to school on time and making all of our swim team practices also on time. Making dinner for 6 or 7 people depending who is home and I do keep up on the laundry so its not such a big deal. I honestly love it all. I really do. With that I feel that having things I am super passionate about really helps. I love taking art classes and I gift myself the ones I can because they keep me excited and I share my classes with my daughter Isabella and she is great at them so I always have an art buddy.

 Daring Adventures in Paint and Life 
starts tomorow this is a workshop by Mati Rose
It looks like its going to be a blast . This picture was taken at her studio in San Francisco . I was able to attend a work shop she hosted and Mati has a beautiful spirit. So I am excited to take this class for the next 6 weeks.  You should check it out. Its a great way to keep life exciting. I feel if your always taking care everyone else you have to take of yourself so you can do your job with a smile. Whatever your job may be. I love having something to look forward to that is for me. I like that my kids can join me or just see how passionate I am about it. This keep me happy to keep going.