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Monday, August 12, 2013
Gavin's First Day of Preschool
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Thursday, January 24, 2013
Our essential selves
The thing I love about running is its simplicity.
You don't need make up, a personal trainer, a class, or equipment. Just some clothes and shoes, and you're good to go.
This is as bare-bones as an activity can get and I love that through my training I know I can tough out almost any condition nature throws out at me. Most recently I've ran in icy conditions, rainy conditions, tropical conditions, and at home to more temperate weather.
Moreover, I have very positive memories and associations with specific runs. Like the 10+ miler I ran a year or so ago to the mall and went shopping. Or 13+ miler with girlfriends I adore. Or the tremendously hilly 10k I ran with my husband that I nearly quit. Or the 5k obstacle course that reminded me how afraid I am of heights. Or the very first race I ever completed: a full marathon at 26.2 miles in Honolulu. I could go on and on...
The gist of this post is that running (outdoors not the dang dreadmill) is more than exercise to me. It is going out and being part of nature. It is a form of active meditation. Most importantly it is a means for my subconscious to make its desires known. And lastly, it is a sure-fire way for me to hear what my essential self wants.
As such, recent events have me tabling my training plan for spontaneity. As long as my mileage is within a certain range and I throw in an easy run, a tempo, and a long run, I feel good. Wait not just good but strong and wholesome. In every way.
The intelligent and like-able Martha Beck defines our "essential selves" as who we are at our very core. The quiet voice inside of us who steers us to safety, happiness, and contentment. In contrast our "social selves" is our outer shell that we use to interface with the world. The intention of our "social selves" can be muddied with other people's expectations of us. Again, according to Beck, the way we find true contentment (which she defines as our "North Star") is to have our essential selves and social selves exist harmoniously.
Here's a link to the book I'm talking about:
http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Your-Own-North-Star/dp/0812932188
About two weeks ago during my long run at Coyote Hills, I kept hearing in my head "I am athlete." Being attuned to my individual intuition I knew this to be my essential self asserting itself, quietly but clearly. And of course, she was right on cue, while on a long run doing my favorite activity in my favorite place at that.
The first thought I had was Geez, my essential self has poor grammar, LOL. But as always that little voice was spot on. Most recently, I have been feeling, acting, and thinking like an athlete. And you know what? I like it. I like it a dang lot.
To me, as a runner, life is one big run. There are hills, ditches, flat terrain, rocky terrain and hey, don't forget mother nature. Sometimes she is a m/f'r. JK. Not really.
What I'm saying is this: keep running. Or moving or walking or dancing or ujamming or biking or swimming. Whatever floats your boat, just keep moving. And most importantly MOVE FORWARD.
There will be excruciating hills. But there will also be bliss. Embrace them all and you will emerge stronger, wholesome, and content.
No matter what m/f'rs throw at you, you will come out on top.
Just listen to that small voice.
You'll be happy you did.
I know I am.
Have charmed and blessed week, friends.
= )
You don't need make up, a personal trainer, a class, or equipment. Just some clothes and shoes, and you're good to go.
This is as bare-bones as an activity can get and I love that through my training I know I can tough out almost any condition nature throws out at me. Most recently I've ran in icy conditions, rainy conditions, tropical conditions, and at home to more temperate weather.
Moreover, I have very positive memories and associations with specific runs. Like the 10+ miler I ran a year or so ago to the mall and went shopping. Or 13+ miler with girlfriends I adore. Or the tremendously hilly 10k I ran with my husband that I nearly quit. Or the 5k obstacle course that reminded me how afraid I am of heights. Or the very first race I ever completed: a full marathon at 26.2 miles in Honolulu. I could go on and on...
The gist of this post is that running (outdoors not the dang dreadmill) is more than exercise to me. It is going out and being part of nature. It is a form of active meditation. Most importantly it is a means for my subconscious to make its desires known. And lastly, it is a sure-fire way for me to hear what my essential self wants.
As such, recent events have me tabling my training plan for spontaneity. As long as my mileage is within a certain range and I throw in an easy run, a tempo, and a long run, I feel good. Wait not just good but strong and wholesome. In every way.
The intelligent and like-able Martha Beck defines our "essential selves" as who we are at our very core. The quiet voice inside of us who steers us to safety, happiness, and contentment. In contrast our "social selves" is our outer shell that we use to interface with the world. The intention of our "social selves" can be muddied with other people's expectations of us. Again, according to Beck, the way we find true contentment (which she defines as our "North Star") is to have our essential selves and social selves exist harmoniously.
Here's a link to the book I'm talking about:
http://www.amazon.com/Finding-Your-Own-North-Star/dp/0812932188
About two weeks ago during my long run at Coyote Hills, I kept hearing in my head "I am athlete." Being attuned to my individual intuition I knew this to be my essential self asserting itself, quietly but clearly. And of course, she was right on cue, while on a long run doing my favorite activity in my favorite place at that.
The first thought I had was Geez, my essential self has poor grammar, LOL. But as always that little voice was spot on. Most recently, I have been feeling, acting, and thinking like an athlete. And you know what? I like it. I like it a dang lot.
To me, as a runner, life is one big run. There are hills, ditches, flat terrain, rocky terrain and hey, don't forget mother nature. Sometimes she is a m/f'r. JK. Not really.
What I'm saying is this: keep running. Or moving or walking or dancing or ujamming or biking or swimming. Whatever floats your boat, just keep moving. And most importantly MOVE FORWARD.
There will be excruciating hills. But there will also be bliss. Embrace them all and you will emerge stronger, wholesome, and content.
No matter what m/f'rs throw at you, you will come out on top.
Just listen to that small voice.
You'll be happy you did.
I know I am.
Have charmed and blessed week, friends.
= )
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Aulani Photobook
 |
| Cuties at the Honolulu Airport ;D |
Create your own custom photo books at Shutterfly.com.
Hello everyone!
Today is your last day to get a free 20 page photo book!
There is a feature on Shutterfly that automatically creates the book and is SUPER EASY!
Then you embed your creation onto your blog, send an active link to shareproject@shutterfly.com and you get a $10 gift certificate.
=)
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
The Big Daddy Post: 2012 in Review (12/5/12 update)
Dear Blog,
It is 3 am and I heard this post calling to me: "Check off something on this list!" FINE!
Racing
Bay to Breakers 10k-
Stanford Scamper 5k- TO WRITE
See Jane Run Half Marathon- TO WRITE
Kids for Sports 5k- TO WRITE
12/5/12
I am writing this post on the living room floor while the kids are asleep and my messy kitchen is calling me.
But, I did promise I'd be back today so here I am.
Blogging is hard. Kinda like running but for the mind. You need to get warmed up. Here's the update.
Gigi's & Gavin's developmental progress
School:
When I picked up Gigi and Gavin from school today their school director asked to have a word with me. CRAP! I'm in trouble. Or Gigi or Gavin. But that was not the case, let me explain.
Gavin started school in late September and surprisingly acclimated very well. Very little crying and right before school he is always excited to go.
But, we've figured out why. He has become Gigi's shadow at school. Whatever she does, wherever she is, lil bro wants to be there.
No wonder their teachers are always complimenting her on how good of a big sister she is. She's always there. It is great to see that she is so nurturing. Showing him how to do "work" (Montessori lingo for a selected activity) while her time for learning is compromised.
So the school director informed me that they are going to be more strict with Gavin and separate him from Gigi. She mentioned that he may not "like" coming to school because of this temporarily. I told her that she has my full support and that when at home I will talk to him about "being a big boy" and doing his own work.
Academically, Gigi is beginning to read short words phonetically. Gavin is able to follow directions and do age-appropriate work.
Emerging personalities
Both of my little ones are very sweet but Gigi is more generous with affection while Gavin doles it out to his inner circle.
The two play well together until someone pisses the other off (90% of the time it is Gavin). He reminds me of a puppy in that he hasn't fully learned what socially acceptable behavior is. But, I have to point out that he's only 2.5 and he toggles between Terrible Two'ing and Terrific Two-ing in the blink of an eye. Plus he's a boy. I'm sure that with school, him maturing, and consistent disciplining at home, our pup will eventually learn ;D
Gigi on the other hand is a little lady at 4.5. Today I was telling her a story about a super hero family that eats super hero food and when they eat their food they get super powers. The power she was gifted was being able to "glamour" people (True Blood reference which means to control people's mind/actions). The way she would glamour was by touching the person's eyes. She touched my eyes and said "Mommy you will always be with us. You will never get hurt and bleed. You will always be strong."
Awwwwww.www.www.
Gigi's 4th & Gavin's 5th Birthdays
For their birthdays we kept it small and it was nice. Gigi had a craft birthday party at Our Paper Place in Newark with her cousins about 8-10 classmates, a local scrap-booking store. (Which reminds me I miss crafting. Gotta squeeze that in sometime soon.)
Gavin's birthday fell on a cousin's wedding day so we spent the morning and afternoon with my brother Erle's family at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose. We went to Oz & Marcie's wedding that evening and surprisingly behaved extremely well.
Yay. Checking off these topics on my list below.
Goodnight!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12/4/12
It has been an embarrassing amount of time since my last entry.
You have been put in the back burner because life has been so busy. Not to worry, it is the good kind of busy. I hope you understand.
In an effort to make up for lost time (and to check off all the items on my to-write list ) I am creating this "Big Daddy Post: 2012 in Review."
The year is coming to a close and I really want to document the most important things I've learned because life just zips by too quickly.
*Zip* Did you feel that? You just aged.
*Zip again* Its gonna be 2013 in less than a month.
Alright!
Let's get to it! ;D
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Racing
Bay to Breakers 10k- TO WRITE
Stanford Scamper 5k- TO WRITE
See Jane Run Half Marathon- TO WRITE
Kids for Sports 5k- TO WRITE
Social
Mom's groups, playdates 9-17-12 , & community- TO WRITE
Book Club 10/11/12
Girlie Outings-TO WRITE
Travel
Aulani 2012: travel planning- 9/19/12, activity breakdown, recommendations, & reflections-- TO WRITE
Las Vegas 2012: travel planning, activity breakdown, recommendations, & reflections- TO WRITE
Disneyland 2012: travel planning, activity breakdown, recommendations, & reflections- TO WRITE
Other
PROact training- TO WRITE
Personal challenges/hurdles- TO WRITE
Planning system & fortune making- TO WRITE
Blog Housekeeping
Organize blog articles by themes/groups- TO DO
Create standalone pages by themes/groups to allow for easier navigating within the site-TO DO
Network with other niche bloggers-TO DO
It is 3 am and I heard this post calling to me: "Check off something on this list!" FINE!
Racing
Bay to Breakers 10k-
Stanford Scamper 5k- TO WRITE
See Jane Run Half Marathon- TO WRITE
Kids for Sports 5k- TO WRITE
12/5/12
I am writing this post on the living room floor while the kids are asleep and my messy kitchen is calling me.
But, I did promise I'd be back today so here I am.
Blogging is hard. Kinda like running but for the mind. You need to get warmed up. Here's the update.
KIDDIES
 |
| Hot off the press. Taken earlier this morning 12/5/12 :) |
Gigi's & Gavin's developmental progress
School:
When I picked up Gigi and Gavin from school today their school director asked to have a word with me. CRAP! I'm in trouble. Or Gigi or Gavin. But that was not the case, let me explain.
Gavin started school in late September and surprisingly acclimated very well. Very little crying and right before school he is always excited to go.
But, we've figured out why. He has become Gigi's shadow at school. Whatever she does, wherever she is, lil bro wants to be there.
No wonder their teachers are always complimenting her on how good of a big sister she is. She's always there. It is great to see that she is so nurturing. Showing him how to do "work" (Montessori lingo for a selected activity) while her time for learning is compromised.
So the school director informed me that they are going to be more strict with Gavin and separate him from Gigi. She mentioned that he may not "like" coming to school because of this temporarily. I told her that she has my full support and that when at home I will talk to him about "being a big boy" and doing his own work.
Academically, Gigi is beginning to read short words phonetically. Gavin is able to follow directions and do age-appropriate work.
 |
| 12/4/12 |
Emerging personalities
The two play well together until someone pisses the other off (90% of the time it is Gavin). He reminds me of a puppy in that he hasn't fully learned what socially acceptable behavior is. But, I have to point out that he's only 2.5 and he toggles between Terrible Two'ing and Terrific Two-ing in the blink of an eye. Plus he's a boy. I'm sure that with school, him maturing, and consistent disciplining at home, our pup will eventually learn ;D
Gigi on the other hand is a little lady at 4.5. Today I was telling her a story about a super hero family that eats super hero food and when they eat their food they get super powers. The power she was gifted was being able to "glamour" people (True Blood reference which means to control people's mind/actions). The way she would glamour was by touching the person's eyes. She touched my eyes and said "Mommy you will always be with us. You will never get hurt and bleed. You will always be strong."
Awwwwww.www.www.
Gigi's 4th & Gavin's 5th Birthdays
 |
| Taken on Gigi's 4th birthday, 6/2/12 |
For their birthdays we kept it small and it was nice. Gigi had a craft birthday party at Our Paper Place in Newark with her cousins about 8-10 classmates, a local scrap-booking store. (Which reminds me I miss crafting. Gotta squeeze that in sometime soon.)
 |
| Taken on Gavin's 2nd birthday, 5/12/12 |
Gavin's birthday fell on a cousin's wedding day so we spent the morning and afternoon with my brother Erle's family at Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose. We went to Oz & Marcie's wedding that evening and surprisingly behaved extremely well.
Yay. Checking off these topics on my list below.
Goodnight!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12/4/12
It has been an embarrassing amount of time since my last entry.
You have been put in the back burner because life has been so busy. Not to worry, it is the good kind of busy. I hope you understand.
In an effort to make up for lost time (and to check off all the items on my to-write list ) I am creating this "Big Daddy Post: 2012 in Review."
The year is coming to a close and I really want to document the most important things I've learned because life just zips by too quickly.
*Zip* Did you feel that? You just aged.
*Zip again* Its gonna be 2013 in less than a month.
Alright!
Let's get to it! ;D
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Racing
Bay to Breakers 10k- TO WRITE
Stanford Scamper 5k- TO WRITE
See Jane Run Half Marathon- TO WRITE
Kids for Sports 5k- TO WRITE
Social
Mom's groups,
Girlie Outings-TO WRITE
Travel
Las Vegas 2012: travel planning, activity breakdown, recommendations, & reflections- TO WRITE
Disneyland 2012: travel planning, activity breakdown, recommendations, & reflections- TO WRITE
Other
PROact training- TO WRITE
Personal challenges/hurdles- TO WRITE
Planning system & fortune making- TO WRITE
Blog Housekeeping
Organize blog articles by themes/groups- TO DO
Create standalone pages by themes/groups to allow for easier navigating within the site-TO DO
Network with other niche bloggers-TO DO
Thursday, October 11, 2012
October Book Club: What Alice Forgot
For as long as I can remember I've always wanted to be part of a book club. I've mentioned it to my sister and friends for sometime but nothing seemed to materialize (with everyone's varying schedules, tastes in books, physical proximity to each other, etc.)
Until about three months ago I can finally say (yay!) I belong to a book club through my local mom's group (they're awesome!).
The first book we read was 50 Shades of Grey by E L James. Everybody and their mama's mama was reading this so I figure I'm a mama, its on sale at Costco, I might as well hop on board. It took me most of the first book to get rid of my prejudices about the not-so-great writing. It is filled with repetitive clauses and (in my opinion) very little literary merit. Halfway toward the book I was wondering, when is Christian going to turn into a vampire? I googled it and Christian never turns into a vampire. Dang. Oh well. By the second book I was hooked and really bought into their twisted love story. I never got to the third book because we needed to read another book for our club.
The second book we read was Carry the One by Carol Anshaw. Let's just say I didn't like it. There were too many characters to keep track of and I think the author didn't do a good job making any of them like-able. Since there were so many characters, there were even more plot-lines (boring) to keep track of. I stopped reading this book to read the 2nd installment of 50 Shades :-)
Onto the most recent book we are reading: What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty. Two words: LOVED IT!!! The writing was good, the plot be-livable, and the main characters very like-able. I immediately bonded with Alice :-)
The story is about a 39-year old mother and wife who loses 10 years of her memory after an accident at the gym during spin class.
"Old Alice" is obsessed with working out, a control freak, impeccably organized, is about to go through a divorce with her husband Nick while juggling a budding relationship with the principal at her kids private school. She and Nick have three kids.
"Young Alice" is 29 years old, has a good relationship with her husband Nick, is carefree, fun, spontaneous, hates exercise, has a close relationship with her older sister, and is pregnant with her first child.
I loved the way the author fuses the dynamics of how Young Alice operates in Old Alice's life. It is a well woven story about the intricacies of love, life, family, second chances, and most of all perspective.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes:
This is when Alice realizes how badly her relationship with Nick has deteriorated:
"My lovely Nick. My Nick. I want to tell him about it, because he'd be so angry if he ever heard somebody speak to me like that. He's the first person I want to tell when somebody upsets me; my foot pressing on the accelerator, desperate to get home from work just to tell him, the moment I tell him, the moment his face lights up with fury on my behalf, its better, its fixed. Nick, you will never believe how this man spoke to me. You will want to punch him in the nose when you hear. Except its so strange, because it was you, Nick, you were the man."
An accurate description on young love versus mature love:
"Early love is exciting and exhilarating. It's light and bubbly. Anyone can love like that. But love after three children, after a separation and a near-divorce, after you've hurt each other, bored each other and forgiven each other, after you've seen the worst and the best---well that sort of love is ineffable. It deserves its own word."
As Alice's grown kids serve her breakfast in bed on Mother's Day:
"She picked up the fork, took a mouthful of pancake, and closed her eyes. They would think she was savoring the taste (blueberries, cinnamon, cream---excellent), but she was actually savoring the whole morning, trying to catch it, pin it down, keep it safe before all those precious moments became yet another memory."
You can pick up this book at your local library or pick up the e-book version like I did here:
http://www.amazon.com/What-Alice-Forgot-Liane-Moriarty/dp/0399157182
Goodnight and happy reading!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Playdates, Top Flight Gymnastics
It was our first time there and the kiddies had a blast.
They even had a bouncy house, multiple trampolines of varying sizes, stuff to climb on and jump into.
Gigi most especially loved this ring where kids could swing like Tarzan and drop into a foam pit. Nifty and fun ;D
Gavin pretty much followed Gigi around but enjoyed the bounce house with a slide the most.
The group had a pre-arranged rate of $5 per child for one hour of play (10 kids or more) which I thought was fantastic.
 |
| Gavin, 2 years, 4 months |
 |
| Gigi, 3 years, 3 months |
********
The hour flew by and besides the slight smell of feet (I can't help it) I really enjoyed this place. We will definitely be returning here because the place is a huge air-conditioned indoor play-area which we all enjoyed!
Blog game plan
It has been two and half months since my last posting..boo :(
If this blog were a plant it would be completely dried up, shriveled, and gone by now..double boo :( :(
I am comitting to putting some life back into this lovely little space of mine so that I can retreat, reflect, and indulge in the therapy of writing = )
Below is a list of blog topics I would like to write to about. (If any of the topics interest you, let me know and I will place them on the top of my "To Write" list.)
Family
Wifery
Gigi's developmental progress & her 4th birthday
Gavin's developmental progress & his 2nd birthday
Gavin's 1st day of school
Travel
Las Vegas 2012: travel planning, activity breakdown, recommendations, & reflections
Disneyland 2012: travel planning, activity breakdown, recommendations, & reflections
Racing
Bay to Breakers 10k
Stanford Scamper 5k
See Jane Run Half Marathon
Kids for Sports 5k
Social
Mom's groups,
Girlie Outings
Other
PROact training
Personal challenges/hurdles
Planning system & fortune making
Blog Housekeeping
Organize blog articles by themes/groups
Create standalone pages by themes/groups to allow for easier navigating within the site
Network with other niche bloggers
Buckle your seatbelts people, with a game plan in hand, things are going to get interesting around here ;D!
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