A Downtown date..

Yesterday night I went on a date..Movie and hot fudge sundae night. Sometimes as I drive into downtown I am reminded of how beautiful all the lights are..Then I immediately imagine what it would be like to live in all the action. am sure it would be a blast and fast..

joining me on this fabulous date is Bella and Christopher. He is really not into letting me take is picture right now so he is the photographer.

We went to watch Yogi Bear in 3 D. ( I know) but when you become a mom that doesn't sound so bad. To be honest I liked it a little bit. Then comes the reason I really wanted to go out..Hot fudge Sundaes ..So after the movie we walked about 7 blocks after I took a Gloria detour. That's the one were I get us just a little bit lost before I figure out were we are going. Then we find the ice cream parlour. I asked Bella to find our seat and she did..right under this sign.

Then we all sat down only had one minor breakdown but soon enough we were happy and eating chocolate...

Everyone got there own sundae..I don't really enjoy sharing ice cream sundaes..do you ?

Then before you know it..Our date night was coming to an end..

So walked only 4 blocks this time heading over to the mall. I love love taking pictures of these two together. Its amazing to me how big they are..

Then we drove home but before I found the freeway there was time to take it all in again..The beauty of lights and the cabs and that feeling of just how lucky I am .

Merry Christmas and I hope to share with you what happened when we tried to make a gingerbread house...

A Christmas song..

I love this song. Listen to the words they are so perfect for Christmas...

Ramblings from Gloria's brain.....

I felt like a small note was in order..So how are you feeling about Christmas right now ? a little overwhelmed..Really excited. Are you a planner so its all ready and hiding in the garage. Or maybe you haven't actually started. I am a little bit of all of the above ..Yup call me scattered I don't really want to think about it until I absolutely have to Gloria King. I also know that its absolutely OK to be were I am regarding Christmas. That some how I will pull it together ..So dont fret I think given all the stuff we need to get done . We are all doing a great job. ( when I get a little scared inside I go and smell my tree)

So I am sending you a big Christmas hug...

LOL G

A Christmas Evening with Miss Bella

Bella and I went on a Christmas date, Its funny I was tired and grumpy I was not in the Christmas mood , but i had promised my sweet Bella I would take her to the botanical gardens to see Santa so after me acting grumpy and complaining about having to go...Bella reminded me that I promised so of we went.

and I am so glad I did...We had so much fun. We both got to talk to Santa about what our Christmas wish was..We held hands , we did some running, and we did...

arts

and crafts.

There was kissing and hugging and laughing..

Yes, she has Christmas nails...fun !!!!!

I am so glad I went and just let myself be with Bella..We will both remember our little night out

A List of goals for 2011

A list of the races/goals I have planned for 2011..

January 17Th Arizona Rock n Roll Half

February 13Th San Diegito Half

April 17 Th La Jolla Half

May 14Th Rosarito Ensenada 50 mile bike ride

May 22ND San Diego Century ride

June 5Th San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon

July 4Th Long Beach Half

August 15Th AFC Half

Sept ????

Oct 1st St. George Marathon

( I will do 3:45 )

November/December Unearth Retreat

This is a small part of my goals I have set for next year.

One of the most exciting things for me when starting a new year is.....(drum Roll please)

getting a new Planner......Joy hmmmm....This year I have yet another kelly-rea 2011 Planner.

I am going to fill this beauty with so much love , oh and yes making goals then achieving them..have you started planning 2011? You know if you start putting it out there and writing it down or even making a simple list on your blog...You might just make it all happen.

have a blessed day..

Gloria

Monday Music Time

Here is what I already knew that just became very apparent to me this weekend. If you really like doing something ,practice doing it often as you can so you can eventually get really good at it. If you really like a friend tell them and show them how you feel so they can also be aware of how special you think they are. Every day maybe starting today whisper to yourself ..Tell yourself...I am amazing in everything I do. If you slowly start doing small acts of kindness to your friends, practicing your passions, telling yourself how wonderful you are before you know it you will believe it, Your friends will feel it and your art will show it...

Have a wonderful Monday and Smile,

G

Camera-napped

This morning as I was looking for a certain picture I noticed my camera had been camera-napped by a certain little girl. Did she try to hide it from me that she borrowed my camera , nope..She left some incriminating evidence behind...

and I love it..

I can't wait till she wakes up so I can kiss her and thank her for her little astistic gift she left for me....Have a great Friday.

Ramblings from Gloria's brain.....

Do you ever feel when you shift ? I am not sure if its maturity or if its just life. Things I am afraid of are my heart getting hard. That scares me. I would like to be able to love completely with my whole heart with out being too afraid of the what if's. This for me means loving my kids for everything the are . Working hard on not trying to be to scared of them getting older. You know how growing up people we had not seen in a long time would tell our moms oh! my I cant believe that's Gloria she was so little last time I saw her. I hear that happening with my kids and I get just a little sad . Its kinda crazy don't you think..We start as little babies and now we have babies . Maybe we don't have kids but we are big girls now. We are WOMAN !! ..AARRGGGHHHyyeeaahhhbbBBEEAAUUTTIFULLcomplicatedHapppysadPassIONATEfemales.

This is the point were you are being transported into my head. I am afraid of getting hurt a boy/man. I know if you don't take a chance you'll never give anyone the opportunity to love you. Here are my thoughts on that. I am making choice to love this man I met 100% and hope that if worse case scenario happens meaning( broken heart thing) I will in that have had the opportunity to love someone completely and know I went all out.

We need to survive and make it . We need to take chances in love in relationships in our own space..It could be as easy as painting your dining room wall red..Its taking chances.. letting go of pieces and stories of our life that don't serve us anymore... Is that not the coolest statement... Let go !!!! which for me goes hand in hand with forgiving myself for unfortunate situations that I was a part of or were a part of my life. I don't want to think anymore about who's fault it is rather I just want to practice looking at the situation and seeing what part of it I responsible for and working on that.

Here is what I have learned about me in the last three months..That I believe goes for all of us. First of all we can choose to survive just about anything (really) and come out on top. That on top for me means I dont want to be scared anymore. I think we need to take an active role in our own survival. We need to surround ourselves with people we know are going to help us stand tall not pull us down. This is very important . I have heard many woman say I don't have any creative friends or my girlfriends live in Texas..Go out and meet girls. The How.. Learn to knit and join a knitting group at your local yarn store.. Take a class (beading or painting or creative writing ) have an art class at your house.. Honestly you learn to do anything on yo tube..Invite someone from work or the gym or school to come over and learn to crochet with you...Its that active role in finding friends who will keep your heart happy. We need to nurture our souls. This means reading books that are good for us. Listening to music that enriches our life. I can't tell you how many times I end up listening to really sad music and then wonder why do I feel this way..Hello G..what do expect go make some yes Cd's. The whole surrounding ourselves with love.. I heard at unearth that making a little shrine is good for your soul too. I have to do that but then again I think my house might look like a shrine. HHmmmm...

So oh !!! man growing up and maturing at 38..What a concept....I believe that if we stand up straight hold our head up high, believe in our dreams and love each other all whole hearted somehow life turns out kinda fantastic.....

With all love,

G

Happy Birthday Elena

Happy Birthday and Congratulations are in order to my sweet friend Elena , I love you very much and I feel very blessed to have you in my life...Hope you had fun at Disney..

Sunday Video

Moment...

Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors).

One of the moments that I felt most alive this year was right before I ran the St, George Marathon.

We drove to Utah from San Diego . In the car was my dad and my 7 year old daughter and my 9 year old son. We drove up Friday and headed straight to the Sport expo to pick p my bib. I was really excited , a little scared because really for the first time I had put expectations on my love of running. I wanted to do 3:45.

After a long drive we made it to the State of Utah and guess what lucky us our hotel and the expo were close by. We first stopped at the Hotel and there it was the sign that said Welcome Marathoners. That put my heart in a shuffle. my brain shuffles like this..( OMG gloria..your here, we are here, we are going to do this, lets take a facebook picture so my friends can know too)

Next the expo. I want to say walking into the expo is one of my favorite parts because its alive and my fellow running peeps are here. I get to wear my running tees that are too unflattering to wear any where else but that tell me . You've done this before G..You can do it again. The there is my dad who is loud and love to tell people how proud he is of me because as he says my daughter has ran lots of marathons. I love walking down the halls of some weird convention were people from all walks come together for our race number.. This number allows us to run the race. It allows us to challenge our selves but more than anything its a great thrill to prove to yourself that you can do this. Its your race number...yeah This moment is one were I am super present and ready to just do my best. Thats a little strange that it turned out to be not the race but the preparation that I love the most...I got this promt from Ali Edwards Blog...Thanks and Ill be back soon...

Holy Cow...its December..

You know when you lose your blogging Mojo. When you think you don't have anything to write about..Yup , my brain has been living at the Holy Cow !!! I miss my Blog but what do I write about address. So, I am going to make December my just write G month...So here's what's going on in my head pertaining to Art.. I want to go to Art School...I am going to figure out a way to make that happen . Next, I have been kinda painting and watching a-lot of how to paint with acrylics...on you tube...If you have any recommendations on books to buy or DVDs please leave me a comment and let me know.. I have also been majorly blog hopping to all of these amazing painting blogs..I love Blogs ( for the record ) I really do..
I want to tell you about this fun painting..I took the picture with my I phone so I know there not great but I just needed to share my stuff. I will take better pictures this weekend...This girl reminds me Beyonce in that movie Dream girls..I would love to learn to paint those glamorous 50's girls...I am definitely learning lots and have lots to learn. The whole skin tone blending situation is a challenge. Composition is tricky too...So, here I have a question..I want to paint two girls and a tree do I just pencil it on the canvas first and if the answer is yes..What type of pencil do I use ?hmmm

I bought those tiny canvases you know the 4 for 4 dollar ones and I am having Bella do portraits of her teachers for Christmas presents..How cute and completely affordable too

The next thing is...Check out our new Bubble Gum Life Blog....

Leave a comment and let us know what you think...Its pretty cool..Its just a feel good Blog but Carrie and I have so many great Ideas and dreams that we are going to accomplish through our little sweet blog....

Have a great Day and I missed you..

G

Sunday Song

This was Rogers favorite song...When we would go out and they played he just would light up..I miss him but I know he is with me everyday..That makes me happy.

So, Dear Roger this song is for you...

Me today..

I do love this picture...I have to tell you I had way to much to drink too..

I haven't really blogged and I have been waiting for those things that make me want to write and share. I thought I would share a bit of what's going on in world and head.

I am missing my kids but I will see them soon. Some one asked me do you miss them as much this time as last time they were gone...I guess so..but ti's strange how we change every time hard things happen . How we grow from that expirience and acclimate..

I am not running right now because I don't really feel like it. I don't want to make myself do it unless I have the need because I want to love running.

I am crocheting hats for my gramma..I found the coolest shade of purple for her.

I am driving a-lot and therefor feel super grateful I have a Pruis.

I am really becoming aware of something that the universe is doing ..Its shifting in a big way.

I am more excited about the future and very hopeful.

I am loving pedicures...( i just do right now )

I am wearing jeans as much as possible.

I am letting my hair grow.

I am looking forward to 39...

I am getting wrinkles and I am a little bit kinda okay with it..

I am going to paint soon...

I do wish i could have hung out with my scarf sister but next time.....

I love this song...

My first John Mayer bumper sticker was put on my car 2002. His first album spoke to me at a time in my life were I lived far away from my family but I had 3 great kids to keep me company..I had an SUV and I loved going places. I would pack up my kids maybe twice a week and drive. We would always drive at least hour away and always had John Mayer playing ..I would take us on little adventures and watch my tiny little people explore. My kids are 7,9,16 but this song reminds me of a time in my life when I chose to have fun and enjoy my life with my little kids...

I am in love..with this blog..

I am officially in blog Love..
I feel like I came across the if I had my own newspaper that I was written for that part of mr that just makes me smile this would be it..I have not attended a Brave Girls Camp. But I am on the waiting list . I just in the the last week or so came across there blog..I put it on my side bar and I love it..Its so inspiring and feels so right. They ask great questions and if you take the time to read other peoples comments there so RAD...Have a great weekend and our new prompt is also up at Bubblegum Life Head quarters...LOL G

Me..

On trust..

I am hearing this word twirling in my head a-lot. Trust is something that I guess we are born with right? We trust that our parents will feed us and that they will love us. We trust that they provide a home for us. We trust that the little things will be there tomorrow.

I lost trust at a very early age. I guess I didn't really lose it as much as it was taken from me.

Many things happened that were not in my control. It changed me in many ways. This last year I lost my long time best friend she betrayed my trust . My heart forgives her but I can not forget what she did ever. I struggle with trust. I struggle with taking chances with people . I get scared and I back away. So, I am working on taking chances right because I don't want my heart to turn into a rock..I do want not believe in the power of love. So I am forcing myself to take a chances. I am choosing to trust in those I love. Trust that even if crappy things happened a really long time ago that I have the power to let go of them. I know you cant let just let go and poof its gone. Hurt comes when you least expect it and kicks you in the butt. I let it kick me I feel the yuckiness and let myself sit with it and then I say OK I know I feel this way right now and I recognize how I am feeling but now I need to move on and start letting the hurt go. Its been working for me. I am trying to move forward in this healing process, trust . I don't want to get stuck. I want to grow and it seems that with trust and love we need to take chances with our heart and that's can be scary..but there's no way around it.

Silver Strand Half Marathon.

It was a great race day morning for me. It had sweeet surprises and I was in good company, I really have been a little lame on the running front since St. George . I believe that when I run a full marathon I get tired of running for a while. I really do try to listen to my body when it tells me to stop. I stopped for about 7 weeks putting in like 28 miles in the last month. So when this half came up lets just say i really had not trained but I just wanted to do it anyway ...so I did.

My dad on the other hand hurt his foot and he was unable to finish. He will be OK he just needs to rest his foot for a while. It was a little warm but really it was a great day.

Late Sunday Video

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Your Appointment with Friday

Ok..So what do you get when you add....Two Girls + Yummy Food
Bubble gum Life..

go check out our new Prompt...

12 things I am grateful for...

Twelve things I am grateful for..

I am grateful for my Legs..

I am grateful for Chase..

I am grateful for 4 hour conversations that seem to short.

I am grateful for girlfriends..

I am grateful for new friends.

I am grateful for pretty music.

I am grateful for hugs.

I am grateful for my Car.

I am grateful for chocolate.

I am grateful for pencils.

I am grateful for the color Pink.

I am grateful for people who don't give up.

Stuff to share..

Carrie and I are doing our Bubble Gum life blog ..Go here to check it out..HERE

Its turning out really cool.

So I go to our very cool little space on the Internet. I was trying to take it in to see how it felt. It feels Pink .

We have really cool prompts to help you creatively. We have really pretty pictures. We have fun sketches.. I think its really exciting because its evolving into something magical.

One of our November prompt is Fall Hues..Carrie takes amazing pictures..and our layouts are so cool..

OK.. I am changing the subject because I have not had a chance to blog and I have stuff to share..I went to the Unearth retreat earlier this year. Changed my life. Here is what I wrote about it back then. (earlier post) The woman who puts these amazing event together just opened registration for two more..Go here the unearth website ..I am going to do everything in my power to attend either one..

This amazing female named Liz Lamoreux wrote a book..I got it in the mail in these beautiful bag and it was definitely shipped with love. Its called Inner Excavation...explore Your Self Through Photography, Poetry, and Mixed media..To me reading that title is like warm caramel on vanilla bean ice cream...Really , how amazing does that sound. Then I opened it...( bells went off peeps !!!! ) It's so perfect for us. Thank You Liz .. If this was in the book Olympics and I was the judge I would have a big 10 sign over my head. I am so excited to see how this will help me grow as a person. I took this picture at work..(shh...) I am in book love..

Video Sunday

Reality Check

Hello..I wanted to check in and have you know a glorious reality moment..

This is me and my three kids..

I sometimes feel like I am fully settled in the whole single mom thing. Other times I not so much. I can honestly say that Art is my healing solution at this moment in time. I have not run since the St. George Marathon. So its not running..I was looking through my Kelly-Rea journal and realized I had written this quote about 20 times or so .

When we allow ourselves to be happy or sad we are cooperating with the spiritual law.

Lets just say Gloria is in major cooperation mode. That being said today was overwhelming maybe it was my hormones because I have those or maybe I am a scared. Being afraid is OK too. Its all OK . Being human is such a beautiful thing to be able to feel and to love and to be sad to be happy its all beautiful..So here I am just like you trying my hardest to do well ,to understand ,to love and not to hate..so I am sending my love to my all of you and saying keep moving forward don't give up and don't stop dreaming...

Hello Bubble Gum Life !!

Carrie and I have our sweet blog up..go here to check it out. Our Project Monday is going to be there too. Carrie and I both have our layout up and there both fun...
Thanks and have a happy Tuesday..

Welcome to Bubble Gum Life !

So guess what Carrie and I have been working on bringing you something sweet. Its our new sweetness of life project. I am really excited to be able to start on such a wonderful life project with my Best friend. I think we will be able to bring a smile and just a little bit of added sprinkles to your life...So here we go..We will be up and running sometime today and we will be moving our project Monday over to our new sweet blog....So please join us ...I think we are going to have a wonderful time..

Its Sunday

celebrating my friends..

Yup..it was simple and it was easy. We celebrated Chili , being together, good beer and telling each other stories..

I had a Chili cook off two weeks ago because I love Chili..NO

because I miss my friends and I wanted a good excuse for us to get together. Its always a little nerve racking getting the house clean and getting all the the last minute things you need but it's so funny how as soon as the door bell rings and your first guest arrives you forget about the house stuff . Your just so happy to have your friends in your space. Having them smile in your kitchen. I love that feeling. I love that I was able to introduce new friends to my old friends.. I hope to have knitting night next.

November First Carrie and I have a surprise....

Your Appointment with Friday

Thank You for joining us this Friday evening. Carrie and I are here with your sweet Photo Challenge for this Friday. Our word of the week is Taaa Daaaa ...

CELEBRATE

1. To observe (a day or event) with ceremonies of respect, festivity, or rejoicing. See Synonyms at observe.
2. To perform (a religious ceremony): celebrate Mass.
3. To extol or praise: a sonnet that celebrates love.
4. To make widely known; display: "a determination on the author's part to celebrate . . . the offenses of another" (William H. Pritchard).

What Celebrate means to me...To be so aware and in the moment that you feel the need to Celebrate. I celebrated Isabella starting Guitar Classes this week by having celebration consisting of chocolate cupcakes.Its taking that extra moment or saying a couple extra words to celebrate someone. Its observing how wonderful an expirience with candles.. You know the feeling.. We have it a-lot when we are little..Birthdays, Christmas, Easter...

As we grow up it gets harder to find that feeling of celebration.. It comes on less frequent..

but practicing celebrating the small things brings it back.....So lets take a picture of something that brings that feeling to you..

The sweetness of life ..countdown

My oh so Sweet friend Carrie and I have been working on a little something...We will show you November First...So to get ready we made chocolate cupcakes and this one is for you....We will be back tomorrow with our Inspirational Photo Friday..

Pictures from around my house

Loving all the sweet little things around my house..

Project Monday

If your thinking its not Monday..Yeah, I know but for a moment lets pretend. Carrie and I made the cutest postcards..Carrie had a great Idea. Take a picture of a local map. I found one that has San Diego and Mexico on it. I like that because I was born in one and reside in the other. Carrie made the back of postcards files. So you should blog hop over there by clicking here. I am planning on doing a couple of layouts with mine too..
I dig the Idea of holding something or making a post card knowing that the person who you were thinking of would be holding it next..Its romantic..
I wont be able to send mine in the mail without an envelope but that OK..I stitched the back of the post card and had left over fabric that I was going to cut but decided not too. I like it frayed and imperfect..kinda like me..I used memorie makers mini letters and was going to sew them on but I liked it just like this...

Who am I