om: learn as if you were to live forever

Last weekend I helped out my friend and Soft Flex Company co-worker Sara Oehler with her book signing event at Bead World in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sara was on-hand teaching a free make-it-take-it earring project and signing her new book co-authored with Jamie Hogsett, Show Your Colors.

I helped out with individual customers when needed, picked up flying scraps of beading wire and talked about Soft Flex Company products and projects with shoppers. Below you'll see me talking someone through the finer points of crimping. Bead World is a really nice store with helpful staff and being right off the freeway it was super easy to get to.

After the event was over Sara gave me and the Bead World staff a quick knitting spool lesson. I have wanted to get my hands on a knitting spool for while. Jamie and Sara have an entire chapter in their book dedicated to it and we have a bunch of free beading project ideas on Soft Flex's website using it. I LOVE texture and so it's only natural that I really love the designs made with the knitting spool.

Here is my first knitted wire bracelet with Soft Flex Company wire and a knitting spool!

It's a little wonky in spots but, for a non-knitter I am pretty pleased with how it turned out. It took me a bunch of tries to get it started but, once you past the first few rounds of loops it becomes really relaxing and meditative. I love learning something new! Thank so much for the mini lesson Sara, love you!

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ~ Gandhi
 

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. Anyone can join – read about it here.

om: dying eggs

Tonight we boiled up some eggs and dyed them for Easter. Nothing too fancy. We used a simple egg dye kit. The boys added some lines and scribbles with a white crayon to get some of the eggs to resist the dye. The also ombre colored a couple. They are excited to hunt for eggs this weekend. Many wishes for a Happy Easter!

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. Anyone can join – read about it here.

om: best week ever

Last week my kids had off school for Spring Break, I had to work during the week but was able to change my schedule a bit so that we could plan afternoon outing with the boys. This gave them something to look forward to each day and after going to the movies (The Lorax was great!), the park, the pool, rollerskating (love!), going to a restaurant dinner (rare that we do this), art making and attending a st patty's day parade and farmer's market they declared it their BEST WEEK EVER! Not bad considering they were requesting trips to Disneyland and Legoland at the start of the week. These little joys in life make happiness go round.

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. Anyone can join – read about it here.

om: cooperative abstract painting

We picked up a "new" old couch for the boys playroom at a rummage sale two weeks ago so, we reorganized the room and added art to the walls. I had a large frame (about 2ft x 3 ft) with a cardboard backing that was sitting in the garage.I pulled out the paints and let the boys paint away. At first they each had there own idea of what should be on the painting and they were pretty far off from one another so, instead of battling who paints where and what I suggested they create an abstract painting. They both knew the term from my art masterpiece visits in school so, excitedly they both agreed "to create nothing".

 

They worked on this piece very cooperatively. It was a nice calm painting session where the only rule was to have fun and use all the colors.   

 

The finished artwork is about 2ft x 3ft and hangs in their playroom. I love putting my kids art on the walls and especially love when they create with that purpose in mind. I think seeing your artwork displayed at a young age makes it easier to imagine when you get older and I want my kids to feel like their art is always worthy of being displayed.

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. Anyone can join – read about it here.

om: A mountain

We walked up "A" mountain this week. Every time we pass this popular mountain on Arizona State University's campus the kids ask if we can go up to the "A" and this week we finally did! I am surprised to say that it was Bert and my first time too, especially since we have lived close to it for many years.

The walk up isn't long but, it can be a bit steep in areas. The kids have never really been concerned about the height of a mountain before on a hike but, this time they really noticed it and it frightened them a bit. It isn't all that high actually but, I think the fact that it's surrounded by buildings, roads and a stadium they were more aware of how high we were. Due to the all the height talk I wasn't sure if they enjoyed themselves but, Ethan asked to go again because he wants to touch the "A" next time (he was a little nervous about going any higher then we were this time) so, we have another walk up planned in March.  I love getting out and exploring with Bert and the kids.

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. Anyone can join – read about it here.

om: sedona getaway

I have had quite a few moments this week, the RAW Stimulus art event invitation has been a really inspiring moment which birthed new paintings in the works (and many more ideas swimming around in my head) but, today I'm going to write about my time in Sedona.

My husband and had a two night getaway in Sedona to celebrate his Birthday and Valentine's day. My mother in law graciously stayed with the kids while we took off for some time together. Sedona is a beautiful place to visit and I am grateful we live close enough to enjoy taking day trips there. The red mountains never fail to calm and center me. I am in awe of them and even question their existence sometimes, often saying to Bert that the mountains look like a fake backdrop. As if, my mind can't wrap its head around such beauty.  But their she is, mother nature in all her glory.

We had a fabulous time at the Lodge at Sedona Luxury Bead and Breakfast and Sedona Rouge Hotel and Spa. Why two places? Well we followed the deals as "they" say. We found a smoking deal for Sedona Rouge that included an hour couples massage, breakfast and morning yoga. We were all over it. However the deal was not valid over the weekend so, we booked it for Monday night and looked around the Oak Creek Canyon for Sunday night, as I had a strong desire to be in the trees and by the creek. We had never stayed at a Bed & Breakfast and were not really sure if we would like it but, Bert stumbled upon the Lodge at Sedona online and this place looked great and they had a wonderful winter deal for Sunday so, we decided to give it a go. It was only one night so, why not try it. Well, we loved it! It was really private and just what we wanted.

Side of the Lodge were our room was.

The drive up was great. I love when you get out of the city and everything is opens up, makes space and you begin to decompress. We got to Sedona and had time to kill before our room at the B&B was ready. We walked around downtown, had lunch and wondered into a couple of galleries. Time was moving wonderfully slow. As it started to rain lightly we decided to go head to The Lodge. It is set back from the road and is surrounded by trees so, it had the quiet, woodsy vibe I was looking for. The decor is mission style with lots of warm wood, stained glass and wrought iron details. I loved it as soon as we got there. Our room was spacious yet cozy. We had a fireplace and sitting area, our own bath and a private patio. There was a fountain right outside the bedroom window which was so lovely to listen to. Only a few rooms were occupied on Sunday night so, it was really relaxing and quiet.

Me on my second walk around the Labyrinth.

The Lodge was the perfect place to unwind and just hang with Bert. We both enjoyed a trip around the Labyrinth. It was interesting and soothing. The idea that there is one way in and one way out that wind around and you just follow it really quiets the mind. (Do you see a theme here? Ah peace and quiet). We ended the evening with a wonderful meal at Dahl & DiLucia. Handmade pasta, delicioso!

Monday morning we had a wonderful gourmet breakfast at The Lodge before heading off to Sedona part two. We drove up towards Oak Creek Canyon. Stopped for a short hike. It was still cold and rainy so, we kept the outdoor exploring to a minimum. We had healthy and hearty lunch at the organic eatery ChocolaTree. They had tarot cards on the table to play with which was fun. My card of the day was "Passion" and Bert's was "Higher Knowledge."

We checked into Sedona Rouge and within the hour headed down to the spa. We got there 30 minutes early to relax and use the steam room before having a deep tissue massages next to one another. Bliss. Afterwards I used the steam room once more before we retreated to our room for the rest of the night. the next morning, I went to the morning yoga class at the hotel's spa. Ah ... it was so nice. Then, we had breakfast and stopped at a thrift store for some hunting before driving home. 

It was a fabulous trip. I love my valentine. I love how much fun we have together, how easy it is to be with him and how much adoration we have for one another. We are lucky in love. xoxo

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. Anyone can join – read about it here.

om: my new 'do

 

My endearing husband pushed me to treat myself. We are going away for two nights without the kids this weekend and he wanted me to do something for myself before we go. All last week he asked me if I wanted to get my haircut (since I have been saying that I wanted to cut my hair for a few months now) or if I wanted to get my nails done (I think my last pedicure was in the summer, yikes!). Both were obviously tempting but, I am down right frugal about treating myself. I responded that I was okay and that we should just save the money for our trip instead.

Well, his birthday is this Monday the 13th and a friend gave him a card with some birthday cash. Do you know what he does with it? He gives it to me and tells me to treat myself. When I hesitated, he headed over to Groupon and found me a deal on a haircut at Green with Envy, an organic hair salon. This was an offer I just couldn't refuse, that is right up my alley so, I jumped on it. I got my hair cut into a short bob and it looks and feels so light and healthy! Plus, I look a lot like I did when we first met so, he really likes my new 'do. I am one lucky girl to be married to my man, Bert. I am grateful for his love and kindness and am really so looking forward to our romantic getaway this weekend!

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. Anyone can join – read about it here.

om: hello princess

My sweet little boy is sitting next to a sweet little girl in kindergarten who is teaching him how to draw princesses. I have been the recipient of many, many princess drawings this week. I love that the first one says "Hello Prinses" in the bubble. Do you see how much his drawings have evolved? His last one yesterday is so much more detailed. He makes my heart smile.

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. Anyone can join – read about it here.

om: taking time to pause and plan

I love wrapping up the end of the year and setting new goals. But right now, I'm a little stuck. 2011 was a roller coaster in many ways and I think I am still processing it. So instead of trying to gather up a quick set of goals for the new year - I am taking time to pause and plan. I need to let space in, gain a new perspective and see what opens up and guides me. I hope to do just that by limiting my time online, spending time outdoors, starting my mornings with zumba and ending my days with meditation or yoga. I have been playing around with the idea of choosing my first "word of the year" and look forward to seeing what that ends up being. I just need a little more time for my thoughts to simmer before I commit to my 2012 plans. Are you heading into 2012 with resolutions planned and ready for action or you still trying to gather your thoughts?

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. I decided to join in the fun. You may want to too – you can read more about it here.

om: giving in to my yoga mat

Breathe

All week I have had yoga on my mind. I have been admiring Art Asana's 2012 Yoga Pose Desk Calendar by Eliza Tobin, I have been listening to the ambient yogi sounds of Desert Dwellers, I even wrote down the word "connected" in my sketchbook this week because I was feeling so very unconnected. Deep down I have been yearning for the mind body connection I receive when practicing yoga.

When I cancelled my gym membership in August I was sad to no longer have my yoga and dance classes available to me but, I thought I would put a new self motivated routine in place. I had the highest hopes for yoga since it is something you can do anywhere with as much or as little time as you have. But I underestimated my need for having a specific class time in place and having an atmosphere that feels good to practice in. I have been saying to myself just do it already but, at the same I think ... I have other things to accomplish, it isn't quiet enough, I am not in the right head space for letting go and stretching deeply and so I wait for another "better" time.

Last night I finally gave in to my yoga mat. It wasn't the most opportune time but, I said to myself enough is enough, I need this. I pulled out my mat and started stretching while Bert watched the world series right next to me. I tuned out the tv, I breathed, I stretched and I felt great. I felt my body lighten, make space, felt my inner strength and focus arise and my stress melt away. Feeling just how stiff and tense I was during my practice awakened me to just how far I am from the flexible and centered self I was just a few months ago. In class my yoga teacher would remind us that a flexible body is a flexible mind.That saying always resonated with me and right now my body is rigid, tense and very far removed from where I want it to be. Why do I deny myself the things that make me feel so good, so peaceful, so connected, so loved? What is it inside that makes me rebel against self care?

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. I decided to join in the fun. You may want to too – you can read more about it here.

one moment: new beginnings

Many moments this month have been about new beginnings, the start of my favorite season; fall, a baby shower for a good friend who is having twins (yay!), a wedding shower for someone I've been friends with for over a decade and our family embarked on the search for a new rental home. In the midst of all the moving talk my 7 year old son got himself hooked on the HGTV show House Hunters. He has been recording episodes like a mad man and was so excited last week when we started looking. He loved every house he saw and wanted to discuss all the options just like on the show. It's been pretty cute. We have even discussed careers building houses, designing houses and decorating houses. He says he would like to design houses and some buildings too but no bigger then 5 stories, because he doesn't heights.

Funny how house hunting goes, we saw an apartment and 3 houses the first day. We saw a really cute house in a nice neighborhood and we thought it was a great fit for us. After a day or two I started worrying about the size of the home and how we would fit everything. My need to explore as many options as I can kicked in and we were on the prowl driving around neighborhood to neighborhood and of course searching online. After seeing a number of different options we came right back to the first house we liked. We went back to see it a second time and this time I brought a tape measure, took down all the rooms measurements and created the little layouts above. Once I figured it all out I found that everything fit wonderfully. I totally should have done that the first time around and I could have saved us the wild goose chase - then again I probably would have done the exact same thing! We were approved for the house this week and will be moving 2 weeks from now. New beginnings are certainly a challenge but also a wild adventure full of unexpected surprises.

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. I decided to join in the fun. You may want to too – you can read more about it here.

one moment: stomach pains

This cactus looks like my stomach felt - Phx Desert Botanical Garden

So after a very nice week of hitting the trail each morning my OM moment was being hit with stomach pains for 5 days. Out of nowhere I felt my stomach swell and a pain emerge on my right side and lower back. It was a pain I had once before, while vacationing in New York this past June. I thought the pain was from too many protein bars while traveling but, alas no protein bars where had leading up to this past Saturday. I found out that I have a family history of gallbladder issues and I think I am experiencing them too. On Sunday I started researching online and I found gallbladderattack.com. It has a wealth of diet information. Bert ran out for beets for me to eat to help my pain and it worked so, now I'm trying to change my diet to be gallbladder friendly. According to the website I should avoid eating greasy fried food, meat, dairy and gluten. Yikes!

I finally started feeling better Wednesday night and by Friday I was back to eating 3 meals. I am currently meat and dairy free. On a positive note, I lost 4 pounds this week making my total weight loss 6 lbs in 2 weeks. Sweet! I picked up a vegetarian cookbook at the library and made my first meal last night ... potato and peas in red curry sauce ... yum! If you have a veggie recipe you love, please share it with me. I'd love to try it.

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. I decided to join in the fun. You may want to too – you can read more about it here.

one moment: hitting the trail

My OM this week is taking the time to explore a community trail. Trails that meander through our community are a nice perk that I have not taken advantage of until now. You see, I cancelled my gym membership this month and not having my zumba and yoga classes readily available has made me a little anxious (especially since I packed on some unwanted pounds this summer) so, I came up with a plan. After the kids get on the bus for school I would to take a walk, every day.  I decided to make the trail closest to our home my first destination. I walk to it, then do interval running/walking while on the trail and walk home. It takes about 30 minutes and has been really great to be outside each morning while its a cool 90 degrees. ;)

The quiet trail has been a destination I look forward too. I was sad about leaving my gym classes but, in hindsight I had become pretty comfortable and the shake up in my workout is just what I needed to re-motivate myself and I shed 2 lbs! Plus, I have been seeing bunnies each morning and they make me smile.

One Moment [OM] is a weekly meet up that promotes living in the moment.  Whether funny, sad, ridiculous, or banal, looking for these moments can promote balance in our lives. I decided to join in the fun. You may want to too – you can read more about it here.