Stop

I have not gone to work for the last two days and its been nice
to not have to drive 100 miles a day. So what I did today is I had
a slow day. I stopped and looked around and was more aware
of what was going on around me and what I was feeling. I felt
a little slow but it was so nice. I find that on those days when I can
stop. Just Stop and let myself just be a small part of everything it
brings me much needed inner peace.

.

The pink daisies felt warm and lovely. I could smell the flowers.
I could hear the doors playing in this car driving by. It was cool to
feel so connected with  myself and the outside world.

Its in all these precious moments that I feel truly alive.

Monday Pretties

Taking the time to look for that little thing that makes you smile when you click your camera is sometimes enough to hold your smile through out the day. Holding my camera helps me look at life a little more creatively..
Creativity by any means is good.
This is going to my week of simple creativity..
I will be sharing lots pictures, hoping they make you smile.
Happy Monday wherever you maybe.

Saturday doings

Happy saturday..
I have been diligently working on my little blanket. The last couple of days have just slipped away from me. My sister and I did some painting this week and I was lucky enough that I got to baby sit my nephew too..Today is my grandmothers birthday . She would have been 92..My family is all going to go visit her today.. I know she is in a better place. Her and my dad are together and thats nice. I leave you with this song and hopes that you have a lovely day.

Its May

MAY IN BLOOMMay is so beautiful:
Orchards are fair;
Branches of fruit trees
Make gardens of air.
Flowers of fragrance
Bloom in the light;
Fall like the snowflakes
Showering white.
Orchards of heaven
Grow with a grace,
And like a blessing
Perfume the place.
Each tree in blossom,
Each lovely spray,
In this month of Our Lady,
Bring glory to May.

Helen Maring

Happy First Day of May..

I love the beginning of every month.

Specially when the month before feels like its ending on a sour note. So what I like to do is I get excited about what my plans are..This month is special because its my Birthday month.. I have always wanted to color my hair and that's what I am going to do this month..Its a big deal to me because I have always had black hair and changing it kinda scares me but I am going to do it. I am also recommitting myself to my training schedule..( I think one of the reasons my spirit has been in the dumps is because I have not been running consistently)

My kids and I have a set Monday night date night for the month of May planned. I have dinner with my girlfriends coming up too. I am hoping that my sister will be able to get in her wheelchair this month because it would really make our days happier. I am also going to finish my granny square blanket by may 10th..I picked the colors in the above picture to make my blanket. Its kinda goofy but practice makes perfect right ?? I wish the best month for you this month. Thank You for stopping by.

Making me smile

I am loving this version of this song.. I love when I hear a song and it makes me smile.

I love Ingrid. Her voice is magical don't you think ? I feel like if magic had a voice it would sound like Ingrid. I am heading to I tunes to get buy this right now.. 

I am feeling the need to write as I am taking this week to just nurture me.  I am working on my smile this week..Smile G... I am wondering if turning 40 in 18 days has something to do with feeling like I need lots of chamomile Tea. Maybe its that my grandmothers birthday is coming up and I miss her tiny voice.. I guess I am more scared than anything.. Not of getting old but of not having accomplished enough for 40.. Being in this state of Oh my gosh what will become of me... and providing for my children.. I would love to go away for a 3 day retreat and just be around artistic woman who 

believe in each other.. Those retreats really help clear your mind. They bring your soul such peace. I am a happy person and I know that..I will get my smile back this week too..Even if I have to drink 100 cups of tea...

Happy May to you may this next month find you smiling from ear to ear...

Happy Monday Peeps

Sorry..I was gone for so many days..I have not been feeling great. I think this is my...Holy Cow I feel like crap season.. It happens to everyone. I do look forward to feeling better soon..This weekend my highlight was spending almost the whole weekend with my kids and my dad. We went swimming and had pizza. I was going to run the La Jolla Half marathon but I really did not feel up to it so I asked my dad to run for me and he said sure...So Sunday morning we got up at 5:45 am and my dad got ready and I drove him to the start line not with out stopping at McDonald's first...Then I dropped him of and I went to cheer him on..Just like he does for me but guess what ?? He never heard me yelling DAD !!! and I just got to see him pass by...

Thats ok..He knows I was there and I have pictures.. It was strange to watch the race and not be part of it but it was nice that I finally got to be there for my dad...Hope you have a great day...

Loving this stuff

Needed to share
I have been trying different nail polishes..
These two are my Fav..

But this stuff is so good. If you buy a nail polish and you hate hate chipping..Then this is totally worth the investment.
My nail polish stayed on for 7 days with out chipping. That's crazy for me..So I felt like I needed to share..
Have a colorful day.

The Ragnar

These are my favorite pictures from the Ragnar race...
It was a really good time especially since I really did not know anyone.  I made new friends and met some really cool people.  The best part was I got to talk about running for 2 days.  I never participated in a 200 mile long relay race . The only part I could have done with out was the 10.7 mile run in the 98 degree heat... Holy Cow I thought I was going to die..
I was having back flashes from the Bull dog.. I am not a fan of running in Arizona like heat.. (yuck) My team members were so nice they gave me water bottles, ice and they kept watering me down with water cannons... I liked being part of the team and being able to cheer everyone on.   My favorite part was running at 4am..  When do I ever get to do that??? How about Never..  So I got to experience two new things that I had never done before.. I love that. The team was so nice and The Ragnar volunteers were amazing so I highly recommend taking part in this race if you get a chance too..

Quick Check In..

Yeah Its Over....
I had a really great time this weekend. Running and making new friends getting very little sleep and running again. I will write all about my Ragnar experience tonight but for now I leave you with a group Photo...
G

I am about to run the Ragnar.

Guess what I get to do this Friday and Saturday?
Yes I am taking part in this really cool race called the Ragnar.
It's a relay race.. Our team is called the Loffers.
This is my first time ever doing a relay race and it will be my first time running at 2:30 in the morning. It should be fun right???
I think it's going to be a great experience and hey I will have a good story to tell you.. So I am off to get some healthy treats to keep my tummy happy while I run.  Don't worry I won't forget to  pack my camera...
I can't wait to share my experience...
While running the Ragnar I will be sleeping in a van. This will be the closest thing to a camping experience that I have had in a long time...
Have a great day and I will be back Monday or Tuesday morning. It all depends on how tired I am..
I almost forgot I will be twitting my experience along the way...

She is home now

My little sister was in the hospital this past weekend and lucky for us yesterday she came home. She is doing well and she seemed to be in a good spirits. So today instead of going to spend the the day at the hospital (boring) her and I and maybe jenny will join us . We will be crafting... Have a great day.

Sunday in pictures

Pictures from this Sunday make me smile..
Nice long run with friends and my dad.
Time to get ready.
Reading the Sunday Paper with the family.
Short nap.
Almost went Bowling.
Chinese food that made our tummy happy.
Short walks.
Lots of laughing.
Happy Kids.
Happy Dad
Happy mom.
Hope your day was Special.

Instagram Photos that make me smile

Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.
Franz Kafka

My favorite journals from the past..

 I was organizing my soon to be craft room and came across some old circle journals and mini books.. These are the ones that made me sit down. The mini albums that you just want to take in because you love them..Here are mine...

This was a circle Journal about my love for music...
Dave Mathews
John Mayer
Indigo Girls
The doors
Lenny Kravitz
Sublime
according to my mini book these were my favorite musicians at the time..

Happy Together
This was about my friends and family at the time..

This mini album was look into my mind...Looking at it now its funny to me. 

OK this was circle journal and I wanted everyone to post all things that made them smile..
Mine were my kids and running and scrap booking..

This was fun to make because it was made out of plastic sheets..

So there you go..This is why we make journals and write stories in our blogs ...So we can look back and go ooohhhh
that was a great time in my life..
Hope you are having a great day..

Monday Thoughts

Its the second week in April. Easter has passed and hopefully you have pretty nice weather to look forward to. I have chosen to make this an easy week for myself. A couple of things that are on my list are making some really good dinners for my kids . Laying on my couch hugging my kids. I do have work and all that but I want to organize and simplify and focus on what I love. I am training for two fun races this month. I  will show you all the pictures when they happen. I saw this picture today and thought of all the things I do get done and thought of whats most important in this world to me. That's spending time with my kids. I only have them 50 perfect of the time so yes I try to make it as special as possible. I miss them when they are not with me. Today we will have Easter since I didn't have them yesterday but that's OK because I planned an extra special day..When they walk in house they won't believe what the Easter bunny did... I guess what I am learning is that excuses are kinda dumb right ?? I want them to feel Easter with me and they will. If you want to make something happen sometimes you need to just be creative and figure it out. Life is not always rainbows and Unicorns but at least we have the power to make the best of whatever is handed to us. What I have learned that most of the times we have these big expectations when really what we have to offer a situation is enough. No excuses sometimes a little is a-lot. So there you go lots of stuff I have been thinking about. Happy Monday ..

What I am most grateful for..

April is here and do you feel a little more colorful this month.
I really feel like I need yellow flats ..
So here is what I am Grateful for at this moment.
Creating- Creating- Creating
Felt
Smash books
Embroidery Thread
Golden
Bright Materials
Handmade notebooks
Friends that will let you cry on there shoulder
Naps in the middle of the afternoon
Monday afternoon ( because I get pick up my kids from school)
Carmen's smile
I love it when my little sister is feeling good because she is all smiles and that makes me feel like I am doing something right.
The stories my kids write...
I am so happy that my daughter Paola and I are getting along so well. I love my beautiful big girl.
Have a great weekend..I am going on a long run with my dad in the morning and then we are having fish sandwiches..YUM
My dad has been running way faster than me this week so I have to step it up tomorrow.
Oh and guess what I am grateful for my friend Trish ..
check out her blog ..How nice is she...
Its nice to feel appreciated.

Mollie Makes

I Love this magazine. It is super inspiring and it comes with a gift with purchase.
Every girl loves a gift with purchase.  Hello.. There are little mice and there is a great tutorial that shows you step by step how to make them..Oh and the mice have little tiny clothes too..
I love tiny clothes..

How cute is the little doll with my car keys...
If you haven't bought this magazine..
You need to.. I give it a 10
Happy Thursday.

Humming Bird cake..

I had Humming Bird cake for the first time ever last week.
It was so good and I have to say that it was better than my first attempt. 

The reason they call it Humming Bird Cake is because its so sweet a humming bird would eat it..It is very sweet but its perfect with coffee. 

I got the reciepe here...my recipe  
It was very good and its so worth making..
Lets all eat cake..

Sew Happy

Good Morning..
Here is whats been keeping my mind busy and dreaming. Lots of little owl Families. I haven't been feeling how shall we say..in a good mood lately not because anyone did anything to me but just because.. So I decided that I needed to just think about making something cute that makes me happy. After seeing this post on Elsie's blog. I knew at some point I wanted to make a little family to be part of mine..

So here they are the new addition to my family..
Don't they look sew Happy.
Ohh.. They make me smile. I am thinking that tonight I will make some pink ones for my little nieces for Easter.

I guess the best part of these is that the possibilities are endless.. I want to make one with glasses. Have a wonderful day and tomorrow I am going to share a recipe that I think is really worth sharing .. 

Happy April

Happy April
Its the first day of the wonderful month of April witch means a new Calendar page.
Fresh Start. New Moleskin. Pretty Weather.  Great Flowers.
New Red Smash book.
A New Photo Day prompt.
Pretty Dresses with flowers all over.
Pink Lipstick.
So many Birthdays to celebrate this month.
Live music. Record Player Love. Bi weekly bowling adventures.
Long bike rides. Walks to the park. Picnics.
New Hiking Adventures.
I love the first day of the month. Anything that did not work last month ..Let it go !!!
Take a little time to dream and Plan and smile because didn't you hear
this month could be the beginning of something beautiful.