This Week's Menu

John is re-reading In Defense Of Food, and I love it!  He is all about more vegetables!  I love when one of us watches a documentary or reads a food book or sees a good recipe, because it helps serve as a reminder to do what we already know: be more intentional about our food choices.  During these cold winter months, I need all the extra nutrients that I can get.  Bring on the veggies!  Here's what we're eating:

Rotisserie Chicken, roasted beet and goat cheese salad

Roasted mustard potatoes, roasted asparagus, sauteed squash, fruit

Corn, sausage, sweet potato chowder

Pesto pasta with shrimp and spinach

To The Aquarium

Last Friday, we hit up our pretty ballin' local aquarium.  We got in for free because I am ninja-good at sneaking in places for free, or we got in on our friend's buddy pass.  You decide the truth.  It was amazing, and I even cried a little bit at the penguin exhibit.

We were there along with half the schools in our county.  I was loaded down with a stroller, three winter coats, a camera (duh!), and a few snacks.  Logistics were tricky, but I was on a total can't-believe-my-kids-get-to-experience-this high, so I basically floated on Cloud 9 for a few hours as we went through both buildings.  

We've watched and tremor-ed at Jaws For Toddlers Finding Nemo so we're all about sharks and fish and scary scuba divers.  We also read a lot of Curious George Goes To The Aquarium, and we understand that sometimes a penguin needs rescuing.   During breakfast I explained to Burl that we were going to aquarium.  There was no explanation needed-he just needed to know when we could go.  

Burl was so excited.  He enjoyed it all.  While some exhibits were more exciting than others, he showed an interest in it all.  Fern was along for the ride, mainly watching Burl as her cue for when to get excited.  

About crying at the penguins: Oh, man.  I might tear up just writing this.  Burl's face was full of wonder.  He was amazed.  He moved from window to window in fascination.  There was a lady in there feeding the penguins, talking to the onlookers.  If that wasn't enough, three penguins started chasing each other.  They were swimming, leaping out of the water, spinning, circling, jumping on the land.  Most of the penguins were putting on tricks as well, and it was almost too much to take in.  I watched my kids as they stared.  They were amazed, entertained, excited, and fascinated.  That look on their faces made this mama a little teary.  The bigness of what we were seeing met the smallness of my babies, and I got all mom-emotional right there at that penguin exhibit.

That moment set the tone for the whole trip.  We were giddy.  Toting around all the stuff, weaving in and out of crowds, and getting Fern in and out of the stroller proved to be small sacrifices for the whole experience.  

Thanks to those who got us in.  This trip was wonderful and we really enjoyed ourselves.  

Last time we went, Fern wasn't born, and Burl was the same age that Fern is now.  Oh, and I was about 40 pound heavier.  In case any of yall are numbers people.  It was fun to read about that trip.

My Minimalist Craft Space

Oh heavens, I feel like I've been gone from this place forever.  An over-exciting weekend and a sick computer have kept me away for a few extra days.  I'm back and I'm ready to talk about my little minimalist make-over of my life.  Well, makeover might be too strong of a word, but things are changing at my house.  Aren't they always, though.  Gosh, sometimes I crave change and growth and evolution so much, that I'm looking for it all the time.  

So, here's the thing: I started reading the Minimalist blog.  Have you tried it?  It's good stuff.   My favorite entry is where they talk about how decluttering is a farce and not the answer to our excessive lives like we think it is.  A close second is the entry where they drop this line: Organizing is often well planned hoarding.  These reads are the things that have really helped me put into action some of the things that have been tugging on me since I got back from Belize in June.  There's excess.  There's stuff.  There's life.  And I want to do it all.  While I do like my possessions, my excess shows up big time in the things that I want to do.  Some have issues with having, I have issues with doing.

 

While I've been examining all areas of my life, just for fun because that's my idea of fun, I've been thinking about my crafting area.  It's been messy and cluttered for a bit, and I've left it that way.  That's how "artist" are...they have messy, cluttery spaces.  The stuff was getting on my nerves and I needed to clean it out, but I needed more.  I had to give up on a lot of stuff that I wanted to do.  I wanted to make everything and it just wasn't happening.

While I'm still interested in crafting some things, I've found some freedom in letting a large portion of my projects go.  I'm not starting on anything new.  I'm not holding on to several little half finished projects.  I'm just laying low and working on a few things here and there.  I think that's called growth.  

I highly recommend subscribing to that blog, and start asking the questions: what do we need to cut down on?  What else do we need to let go?  Where else can we find freedom?

Piddle Piddle

This morning the kids are off with my mom for donuts and John is off for a haircut and a session at the climbing gym, so I find myself at home-by myself.  I have what I sometimes dream about: the house to myself.  As I try to relax and enjoy this time, I don't.  I just get too hyper yet calm and can't seem to find the sweet spot where I perfectly enjoy my time.  I dance to Jackson 5, then I grab my camera and walk outside. 

I walk through a chilly house, past a door and two windows.  I sit down at the computer to turn on some loud music, and I happen to check my facebook feed.  I see three updates that it's snowing.  I turn my head to the left and see that it's really coming down.  Wow, I really missed that one.  Social media: 3, My ability to be present and aware: 0.

While I almost want to feel guilty and hate myself for not being productive or relaxing well, I'm letting those lies slip away.  Sometimes it's fun to piddle about without any expectations or guilt.  On this chilly weekend, my advice to myself and to you is to be free.  Enjoy.  Whatever that looks like.
Happy Weekending, Cool Peeps.