Simple Days

All life connects. Nothing happens that is meaningless.
-Kobi Yamada

Hey Summer..

Hi guys, Now that summer is here I will most likely not blog as much just because I don't have to many things to share. It feels a bit slower over here and my kids are hanging out with me all day.
We have made it a priority to take as many trips to the beach as possible but mostly in the afternoons. (after work) I love watching the sunset and grabbing bean burritos.  We just walk around with no plans other than being together. I have convinced myself that after 5 pm the day is mine. My only obligation after 5 is to my kids..I love that.

The other thing I love to do is to send mail. My friend Jen is doing this great project that has to do with mail love...Check it out here.
Love Notes

There is a lot of running taking place here. I love running. I love running with my dad. I love running with my friends early weekend mornings. I know that what I get from it is what I put into it and that works for me.

Summer time is also pedicure time..I love getting my nails done.

OK, so last week my dad and I ran the fourth of July Independence day run and I had my fastest 15k ever..I was super excited because I did it. I came in 17 out of 80 girls my age.. That makes me want to work harder and run more. 

Then when I get a little time I paint while my sister takes naps.

My friend Elena met me at the beach the other day.. Our plan was  to just hang out and do nothing. We hung out until 9 pm and laughed and tried to get a heart picture and we talked and talked.. I think summers are supposed to have special non planned evenings.

This summer is feeling slow so far.. I love that. The priorities in my life are Loving all that I do. 

I am making the best of my life.  Loving each day and doing my best to be present in all that I do. Its not always easy but If you just keep going forward, putting one foot in front of the other somehow eventually things work out .. Here are a couple pictures of my life lately.. 

Mom + Kids + Running = Fun

You'll all be pleased to know that I have kept up my training.  Monday and Tuesday are typically my days off.  There is a fun run on Monday nights that takes place about 30 minutes from my house.  It has now become our family fun run night.  Now you should know my kids are not runners and they don't consider the run to be fun.  So I have been trying to make it fun for them and I think it's working. Yeah Me!!!  I helped them both pick out special clothes that are just for running.  Isabella has decided to barrow all my pink stuff.   Second thing I had to do was make sure they knew where we are starting and where the finish line is. I think they get that from me.  I like to know what's going on so I try not to surprise them during the run.  I try not to push them to hard because I want them to embrace running.  The third thing I do is I get really excited about going out with the group.   I always take the time to introduce them to the people we are running with.  It's so cool to me, when the owner of the store we meet at says "Hi King family, thanks for showing up."  I also like hearing "That a girl Bella" from one of the ladies who thinks Bella is such a cute runner.  The most important part about the fun run to my kids is... Where we eat after the run... So I tell them if you jog, limit your walking and most importantly don't whine... We will go out after our run... Guess what it works...
This week we went to SUBWAY.
It's simple but my kids love eating at Subway.  It's a treat for them to go out to dinner. All this stuff works and now they are excited about running on Monday nights. I need to say this for them. Like I said I don't push them, we jog about 2 miles in 40 minutes..maybe 2.5 miles.  I make sure they are having a good time.  No sad faces here.
Christopher said to me that this is our new family tradition... I guess the lesson for me is this... If I make it fun and respect their limits we can have family fun run night.. It's not the distance it's just being together... "Quality Time"

If you ever want to get your kids outside more, go with them.  Kids just want to be close with their parents...

Monday Pretties

The last couple of weeks I have been slowly working on turning my inner volume down.  I am doing this in an effort to hear what's going on around me.  I have been taken walks by myself, with out any musical distractions and I just listen.  Last week I  took my kids to the beach.  We all took our journals and I asked them to take a couple of minutes and just write.  It was so cool to be sitting there, with my kids, doing something we love.  The more aware I am of how good my life is the sweeter my days become. 
Worry less live more.

Have a happy monday

River's Edge Music Festival

This will be my last post about last weekend. I know it's kind of overkill but hey that's me. Let me start by saying, in my book, Live Music is right up there with Godliness.  I am debating whether I can afford to go to Coachella next year or if I am going back to Minnesota.  As much as I love new experiences... IF I can pull it off I will attend Coachella...  If not Minnesota here I come.
Here is a list of my Favorite Band from River's Edge Music Festival in St. Paul, Minnesota.
1. Dave Mathews
2.Hey Rosseta  
3. K.flay            
4. Motion City Soundtrack
5.Sublime        
Thank you for reading my blog this week and hanging in there with me. I'll have lots of cute smash book layouts to share with you next week.  I also made the purse I am holding in the picture above.  I will tell you all about that and what NOT to do when making a purse. Lastly I have lots of running stories for you...


Have a great weekend
G
XOXO

I know you know.

I'm sure most of you know who Sublime is and how totally fun they were... but I was totally happy to hear Sublime with Rome last weekend. Sublime with Rome is a musical collaboration between Eric Wilson and Bud Gaugh, formerly of the band Sublime, and singer and guitarist Rome Ramirez. The group chiefly performed songs by Sublime, which was fronted by Bradley Nowell until his death in 1996.  I had seen the band Sublime with rome a couple years ago in san Diego. Back then their sound seemed a lot heavier and harder.  I never thought about purchasing their album.  That changed in Minnesota.  They sounded much more put together and they were a blast to watch live..  So I am definetly going to put their album on my gotta get list.  Don't you love this song?

Polica

Another musical discovery that I mad this past weekend was Polica.  I really liked their music it left me feeling euphoric, like I was hovering through a magical garden... The band is originally from Minnesota so they had a lot of fan support. Did I say I really liked them?  I stayed for the entire show... I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite bands I discovered this past weekend.  I still have a couple more, so please check back.  I hope you like them too.

Hey Rosetta

                              This past weekend while I was in Minnesota I discovered this band called Hey Rosetta... They are new to me and I am proud to say I am a big fan. They sounded great live. Their songs had a traveling feeling to them. I don't know if this ever happens to you... You know when I hear a song If I can close my eyes and travel with the melody. That is how I can tell how much I like the band...How far my mind can travel in those three minutes.. I came home and looked them up on I tunes. I just bought their album. Please watch their video and listen to this song. It's a little sad yet happy at the same time. I am loving it. Can you travel when you close your eyes while listening to this song ? Regardless watch the video it's beautiful.. I want a day just like hers.. Viewed through that same lens..

Back from Minnesota

I was here this past weekend. I had an amazing time.

The Flaming Lips crowd surfing.

Me just standing there taking it all in.

Minnesota ..I am coming back next year.

Loving relaxing on the grass just listening and having a cold beer.

I was loving her hair..She has my favorite nail polish color in there.

Listening to my favorite band in the world live.
Dave Mathews & Tim Reynolds

I had a bad ass weekend.. Full of so many things that makes me happy. Live music and cold beer. Great people watching. Relaxing, good food and lots of laughing and dancing dancing and more dancing.. I am sharing with you  some of my favorite pictures that I took with my camera.. I will share some of my phone pictures later. I am putting a post together about the bands I really liked. I definitely discovered a new favorite. There is something about listing to Dave Mathews, playing a live venue,  that makes me super duper happy..  Especially when I have enough room to dance my little heart out.  I hope you had a great weekend...  I will have lots to share this week.

A Must Have..

http://society6.com/zenpencils/44-BUDDHA_Print
There are things that a girl must have and for me this print is one of them..

Happy First day of Summer

Happy First Day of Summer

I live in San Diego and unfortunately we are suffering from June Gloom.  I don't know why but it seems every June the clouds roll in and the sun disappears. Hopefully June Gloom is over.  Today we had consecutive days of sun along the coast.  I wonder if it is a coincidence that the Sun arrived on the first day of summer.  I apologies for not posting more on my blog...  I got into a little bit of a blog funk... I still have a lot to say but I just haven't... I don't like this feeling...


So I want to share a little bit more about my habit-making situation.  I told myself I was going to run for 21 days straight because research has proven that it takes 21 days to form a habit...  I love running because it is a stress reliever. As many of you know, I spend everyday taking care of my handicapped little sister.  It is not an easy job but I feel mentally and physically better after working out.  My short runs average 3.3 miles and my long runs average 12 miles.  In the past 21 days I only missed one day!!! The hardest days for me to get up and run were days 4, 7 and 13.  Once I got passed those days I was good to go.  I am happy to say that I have running fever again. I really try and listen to my body when I run.  I drink lots of water and I rest when I need to.  I also signed up for a bunch of half marathons to keep me focused on my goal… My short-term goal as a runner is to complete some good trail half marathons.  When I say good I mean I want it to be easy. I don't run for time because I don’t want to be disappointed.  I run to for the experience and feeling of accomplishment.  My big goal over the next 6 months is to finish my first 50k, while training for that I plan on running at least 1 full marathon.  Those are my running goals for the rest of the year.  I am excited to share my journey with my peeps.

My summer plans include some light travel (starting this weekend), having fun with my painting and drawing.  Oh yeah and I really want to crochet a bikini for myself...  Is that crazy? 
  I will be sharing pictures from this weekends concert fest getaway next week so be sure to check back… Also, I made this really cute purse to take all my journaling stuff.   When I see a band I like I want to be able to write down their name and what I liked about them. (I am terrible with names)… 
While Carmen and I were hanging out today I painted her portrait... (The one at the top of this post.)  She was so happy she started to cry… I asked her to stop as I was about to cry too:’(  I feel lucky that I am able to care for her, making her laugh along the way.  I know this post is all over the place but that’s my brain for you...

Again, Happy First day of Summer Peeps.

Love G

XOXO

Monday Catch Up

It seems like last week flew by...Heres some pictures that capture whats going on in my life...

100 Miles Later...

This weekend I woke up around 6 a.m. on Sunday.  I put on my running shoes and went out for a short jaunt.  As soon as I was done I hurried home and got all of our stuff ready for the San Diego 100.  My kids and I were on our way to Alpine to see our good friend Jeff (he is married to one of my best friends Charlene)  finish the San Diego 100 miler.  This is something I  dream of doing and completing.  I was so excited to be able to be there for him and his family.  I have to admit I was selfishly super excited just to be there.  Think about it, I know someone who had the drive and the commitment to train for and complete a 100 mile race.  It is both crazy and amazing to me.  I had that same feeling inside as the day I met Kelly-Rea.. You know that holy shit I am about to meet someone who is a hero to me feeling..  I was just so happy to see all those men and woman finish something so amazing.  It really is a commitment of drive, passion and love.  It was also really great to be able to see a married couple that truly loves each other!!!  Jeff and his wife Charlene have been married over ten years and they are such a great team.  Despite the fact that Charlene was worried about him running, she was waiting for him at every aide station.  She brought him food, changed his shoes and cheered him on...  He may have run the race but he was not alone...  I guess for me the best part was watching this family, that truly loves each other, was that they all pull together for Jeff.  It's so nice to be a part of something so good.   So back to the story... Jeff finished the San Diego 100 miler yesterday.  I stood there with about 10 other people just waiting to see him do something great and he did.  Although all his friends and family were happy to see him finish, no one was happier than Jeff!!!

A Lovely Sunday Song

Its an Instagram Saturday

This is what my Saturday looked like through  Instagram... I have been doing lots of thinking.  I'm trying to slowly implement little changes into my life.  Today my dad and I had our long run.  I have only missed one day of my 21 days of running.  The first 8 days were very hard for me.  The hardest part for me is getting up at 6am, getting dressed and running out the door.  I started with mindset of no expectations, just run baby.  This morning my long run with my dad was pretty easy and I think that's because I have been practicing... My stamina is slowly coming back.  Practice is is a good thing... 

Recognizing I am enough

I have been having lots of feelings of self-doubt.  I am trying to figure out where all this self-doubt comes from… I really don't care about the past and what created this bag of self-doubt.  What I am trying to understand is... “How do I get rid of it?!?!?”  This morning while on my run I was thinking how great it would be to have a “recycle your shit here” service…  That would be so terrific.  If you are carrying crap from your past and you’re ready to get rid of it, you hit a button that says, “To Recycle Press Here.”  Then I woke up and realized it just doesn’t work that way.  Some people say you need to work through it.  Others say you need to just let go. There are thousands of books that tell people how to exercise the demons.  I am learning that different things work for different people.  That’s what makes us individuals.  The key is acknowledging the issue, figuring out what works for and putting in the time and work.  I am right in the middle of my mission of wanting to let go.  What do they say? Three steps forward 2 steps back. Since I am on this self proclaimed mission of lightning my load, I thought I would share a little of what’s helping me move forward… First I am learning to be kind to myself.   I am thinking positive thoughts and I’m not allowing self-criticism.  I need to say nice and kind things to myself.  We all need to hear I love you mom or honey you’re so beautiful, Babe, I am so in love with you, you’re the best, you complete me etc...  That’s nice but what we tell ourselves is huge…  The whole kindness matter situation is so true and it all starts with you.  So here is another thing I do…  This is silly but it’s starting to work for me… I am carrying a picture of myself in my purse and when I have all that doubt that creeps I take it my picture and look at myself...  I talk very sweetly to myself and remind myself that I am only human, I am trying my best and that in its self is enough.  Then I say be nice to Gloria and be patient with her… Is that crazy? Things that make you go hmmm
…

The last thing that is working for me comes from this quote… “Happiness in not something ready made. It comes from actions.”~ The Dalai Lama




My suggestion to you is to do what you love to do.  If you love to craft, journal or run make time to do it.  And if you have kids and you think you don't have time, bring them with you on your journey.  Trust me spending time with you is what your kids want more than anything else. You will be so happy and they will learn some self-love routines. So bottom line is be nice to yourself and cut yourself some slack.   When we do this life is just better... Finding our light takes time but I firmly believe we hold on to our fuel… Nurture yourself with love, light, understanding and patience. Practice shinning brightly…

Smash Book fun !!

Smashing on a Tuesday... Here are a couple of pages from my Smash book. These are fun and colorful May pages.. I am doing my Birthday pages today.. As soon as they are done I will share them with you all...  I do miss scrapping all these fun memories in a 12 by 12 album...  I loved scrap booking back when I didn't have to work... It was so much fun and after working on these pages I started thinking that the size of the album does not matter. The really cool thing about these smash books is that the expectations you set for yourself are really not there... You just get some cute stuff on a page and go... I hope you have a nice day and well I am off to run...

Monday Pretties

A Monday Tune

The weekend went by very quickly but the one thing that seems to be living in my head for the last two days is this song..I do love Regina and her goofy high spirited love songs. I woke up this morning went straight for my phone and pressed play..This was the song that was playing and I smiled because when I went to bed this was the song that was playing in my head..:)

Thoughts on Day 3

Day 3.
After taking a some time off from running I am now going to do my 21 days straight of running.  I do this to jump start my training and I am start slow.  Today I ran 3 miles in 30 minutes. I don't mind starting off slow  but I look forward to an easy long run again.  I wonder how long it will take me to get to that easy run? Will it take 2 or 3 weeks?  While I was running my mine drifted to the San Diego Rock n Roll Marathon.  I am sad because I won't be running this year.  I have been lucky enough to have taken part in 6 Rock n Roll marathons.  Looking back at my first I remember thinking "I was pretty fast"... well lets just say I was not.  I kept training and year after year I got better and better.  By the time I ran St. George Marathon in Utah I ran 3:53, that was my best finishing time ever... I was so excited.  That's what went though my head on my short run today.   A bunch of great race day thoughts and how much I love  running marathons.  I feel like Wonder Woman after I am done and the distance doesn't bother me anymore.  I used to stop and cry at mile 17.  By the time I ran my 3rd marathon that stopped happening.  Heck I haven't hit the wall in my last 7 marathons.  I do know I have to continue to train right so I don't hurt myself.  That means getting all my runs in, going to bed early and drinking lots and lots of water.  So tomorrow I will be doing a semi long run with my dad running ahead of me.   He loves letting me know he is ahead of me...  I am sure it will be fun and hard but If I want to run a full marathon and a 50k this year, I need to run, run, run... I will keep you posted and by the way I did 6 pages in my smash book today.
 I will share them next week...

XOXO
G