the good life

let's take a breath. a long, deep, collective breath. are you with me?

1-2-3. breath in and breath out.

feel better? i do.

this month has been an adventure.  more than i could have ever imagined.  that adventure has brought great things to our lives but it has also turned everything we have been used to upside down.

 it started with this simple phrase, "i'm thinking about going back to work."

once i put that out there - things changed.  isn't it funny how that happens? (or terrifying.)

i have so many thoughts to share about this roller coaster i have been on.  but right now i just want to stay in the space of calmness and get ready for what's next.

i've missed being here. writing. telling our story. i have missed it so much and thought about it a lot, but i've had little time to sit down and write. when i logged in today - blogger asked, who are you again?

the one question i kept asking was, with time being more limited, what do i want this space to be for me, for my family, for you? it's been on my mind for a while now.  it's time for a re-design. not for what this blog looks like, although it needs a face lift, but for the content that i write.

i think it's all part of whatever is next for me. this blog gets to evolve as i do.

there have been events over the last few months that make me think differently or at least see the things in our lives differently. a lot has happened and a lot has left a deep impact.  i'll want to write about the things that stood out.

here's some of the things that might inspire future blog posts:

• 3 job offers and the fear of making the wrong decision
• 1 temporary job that ended last week
• 1 new job that starts this week
• a possible career??
• a new creative adventure
• a possible career??
• the taylor swift concert with sofia - she's growing up
• andrew's quest for high school
• jordan exploring college - gulp!
• softball games, swim meets and football games with the band
• another fantasy football season - staying mellow 
• our 21st wedding anniversary
• a super soul sunday session with oprah - i'll need a week of posts for this one
• a trip to vegas

there are lots of stories to tell.

i'm still planning on doing menu posts.  let's face it, food is my jam and my menu helps to keep me organized. i'll post tomorrow what's on the menu for this week.  recently it's been a lot of take out and i'm looking forward to getting back in the kitchen this week.

here's to figuring out this life thing together.

everyday in may recap

it's done. a goal i set and a goal i achieved.

what worked

• planning my posts ahead of time. looking at my calendar and knowing what was coming up and what i could write about.
• staying flexible. i started with some ideas and used sticky notes to work out the weeks. but i moved the sticky notes all over the calendar depending on my mood, inspiration or time i could devote.
• consistent posts like menu on monday, just a thought on tuesday and 5 things on sunday. those are  easy to plan around.
• no excuses. even if the post went up at 4:30pm on a saturday,  even if i thought no one was going to care if i missed a day, i was not going to let a day go by without writing. this was something i set my mind to.

what i would like to do differently

• write my posts ahead of time. i would love to get posts written and ready to post before the day they are posted. i've done it before but it takes planning.
• photos. i need to have a better set up for taking photos of things.  my house doesn't get a lot of sunlight so i'm always struggling with exposure and correcting on my computer.
• variety. i'm not a food blogger but i like to write about food. i'm not a photographer but i like to take photos. i'm not a professional crafter but i like diy projects. maybe i need to focus on one thing...or maybe not. i don't think i fit into one category and not sure i need to.
• my writing style. i find myself using the same techniques over and over - read bullets and repeated words. it's time to change things up around here.

what i got out of it

• overall i call this a success. it was a practice that i did everyday. i can look at my archives and see 31 posts in may. i only had 8 in april, so that's progress.
• i saw what people responded to. it was interesting looking at the stats over the last month.  the most read post was this one. if i didn't post a link to facebook i didn't get very many readers. only a few people read this one but it was one of my favorites.
• it inspired me to write more. i was constantly thinking about writing and what ideas i could come up with. i looked for inspiration and read and listened to anything that would give me that.
• accomplishment. like running a marathon or planning an event or having summer goals, this gave me something to shoot for and work towards. i don't think every piece was genius but i was honest and i captured thoughts and details of our lives. that was the goal. 

is blogging a dying art? i guess it depends on why you do it. for me it's about telling our story, that's why i will continue to do it. i found lots more stories i want to tell.

the blog

i am feeling jittery as i write this. excited, inspired, full of energy. i can already tell that the thought of having to write everyday this month is going to be good. so good. or maybe it's just the caramel macchiato coursing through my veins.

either way. let's go with it.

today i wanted to talk about blogging.

i started this blog 8 years ago! 4/24/07  eight people read that post. so much has changed and so much has stayed the same. i started writing to tell my stories, our stories. i wanted to share photos and talk about how the kids are growing up.

i think one of the biggest misconceptions and one of the most frequent comments i get is how do you do it all. my answer is always, i don't. i blog because i have to, so it's a priority for me. i cook because  i love it. i do things for my family because that's my job. i volunteer because it makes me feel good. i run because i can.

i don't do anything perfectly. i have a partner that shares the same priorities and keeps me moving forward. i take what i do seriously and work hard everyday to do things right - and i make a lot of mistakes.

after 8 years of blogging i have 851 stories. thousands of photos i've shared. there are 75 drafts of posts sitting in a folder -may be time to revisit those. i have documented countless trips, meals, birthdays, holidays and thoughts in my head. i have made lots of goals and achieved some of them. it's awesome to look back at the list of posts and see that our life is there.

not everything is easy, not everything is good. we've actually had a lot of difficult moments over the last few years. and i choose to share some but not all of that. i realize that although i write first and foremost for me, i don't need everything about our lives out there. finding that balance is tough, it's personal.

i have shared my tips on blogging. i read LOTS of blogs to get inspiration and ideas. sometimes writing is easy and sometimes, well, i don't write at all.

after eight years my blog has grown. not a lot. i don't publicize it to get more readers. i probably could. but i'm ok with the people that consistently read my posts, it feels intimate. a bigger audience doesn't mean my writing is any more meaningful.

i'm working on consistency and content. the bloggers i follow are always blogging. not every post is a gem but i know that if i check in there will be something to read. it keeps me coming back.

i've thought about life without blogging. and i've gone a few weeks without updating. but there is this nagging feeling when i don't sit down and write. it bothers me. so that's when i know this is what i have to do.

thanks for reading along.

i am here

but i can't seem to concentrate on anything interesting to share.
i need my creative juices to flow.
i'm looking for inspiration.
be back soon.

five on friday:: favorite blogs

i went through my bookmark categories and picked out my favorite blogs from each.  i've shared some of them here and there.  hoping you find some inspiration.

1. crafting::  elise joy blaha
i love the balance of crafting, cooking and everyday life posts.  her writing is easy and yet i learn something every time i visit.  i also love the graphic look of her site.  she is redesigning her blog, so make sure to check back on monday. check it out here.

2. cuisine:: sunday suppers
i love the concept of this site.  they make dinner on sunday and then the following week they share recipes, entertaining ideas, photography and even flower arranging.  they haven't done a dinner in a while, but look back at their archives for some beautiful ideas.  check it out here.

3. photography:: penny de los santos
she...is....amazing.  if my life had taken a different direction, perhaps this would be me (minus the short hair).  she started as a photojournalist for national geographic.  but her photography has evolved into a storytelling device for culture, food and passion.  she is currently doing a series of videos and pictures all on her iPhone.  check it out here.

4. design:: black eiffel
this category contains blogs for entertaining, graphic design, fashion.  this is a simple blog that posts ideas and inspiration all in one place.  check it out here.

5. inspiration:: ordinary courage
good words, pretty photography, a nice breath in my day.  i've posted her ted videos before.  she is funny but so inspiring.  she talks about the courage to be who you were meant to be.  check it out here.

there you have it.

have a wonderful weekend.

how i blog

i am by no means an expert on  blogging.

but i did start a blog 4 years ago and have kept it going.

someone asked me for some tips.

i thought i would share what i do.

1. i use blogger
i use blogger because it's free. plain and simple. it let's me do everything i want to do.  if i wanted to make this blog bigger and better, (more pages, different content, more attractive)  it might make sense to pay for typepad.  but i just wanted to get started, and free was the only way to go for me.  at one time i had a .mac blog but that was only because we bought our computer and they gave us a deal on a year subscription.  i am happy with blogger and see no need to go anywhere else for now.

 i also had a food blog on wordpress for a blink of an eye.  i love their look.  and it's free too.

2. i write about anything and everything
i was so worried at the beginning that i didn't know what my voice was.  i started this blog to write about our family and what we do.  i knew that only the family read it and that was ok.  it also gave me a place to post the hundreds thousands of pictures that i take.  this year i got a little more serious about blogging and have been posting this and that to figure out the kind of blog i want to have.  in the end it may just be a blog about my family.

my biggest goal in writing this blog is to practice.  sometimes my style of writing works and sometimes it doesn't.  sometimes i publish my posts and sometimes i don't.  the point is to write.  if you like to write about food, great.  if you like to write about sports, great.  if you like to write about travel, take me with you and we can write together.  write about anything and eventually your voice and tone will reveal itself.

3. i make time to write
probably the number one question i get is, "when do you have time to write?" the answer is, i make the time.  i made a committment in january to write something everyday.  and i've been consistent, for the most part.  i usually write after the kids go to bed.  in the summer i am writing in the morning.  it takes me about an hour to write a post, depending on the topic and the number of photos i have that day.  sometimes i have a topic in mind and sometimes i don't.  but usually if i sit down at the computer and just start typing something develops.

4. i keep a calendar
this has been my best tool since january.  i bought a calendar specifically for my blog posts.  i can plan ahead what topics i want to write about.  i can look back and make sure i don't repeat myself.  i use the calendar to jot notes or websites that i visit.

5. i have a few regular posts
my weekly menu, wordless wedensday and five on friday.  these posts help take the pressure off of trying to figure out what to write.  they give me a structure and that makes it a little bit easier.

6. i give myself the freedom to change things up
i don't force myself to write.  i don't force myself to be funny although it may seem that way.  i do take this blog seriously but i don't want to pressure myself.

7. this is me
yes, bobby edits my work sometimes.  but for the most part this blog represents who i am. the words come from my heart and they are honest.  i use my pictures.  and if i do post someone else's photos i make sure to give you an accurate link.  it's important for me to be authentic.  note - 2 of the photos in my slideshow from the wedding contained photos taken by my sister in law.  i forgot to mention that in the post.  so sorry sandy.

8. i'm not looking to make money
well, at least not on this blog.  i want this blog to always be me, not kitchen aid or target.  although i'm not sure i would turn them away if they wanted to advertise here. i would however consider writing for someone else's blog.  that would be fun.  want to hire me?

9. i look for blog posts throughout my day
i think about stories and blogging all the time.  sometimes my stories come from a picture i took or something someone said.  i am listening and looking and aware of what's going on around me all the time.  that skill comes from studying writing my whole life.  you write what you know.  ideas are percolating all the time.  i use my calendar to write those ideas down and when i feel like i've got something i take that idea to the computer.  i actually have an idea that i want to make a feature on my blog, that will eventually become a book and then a show on food network.  just kidding family, i'm getting ahead of myself.  but it's something i've been wanting to do for a while.  stay tuned.

10. i just write
it's pretty simple and sometimes pretty obvious.  just write!

i am a huge fan of the pioneer woman.  she had a post on blogging that i love and you might find more valuable information there.  check it out here.

please, if you are considering starting a  blog, just write.  you will never regret it.

one of those days

you know those days.
the ones where you feel like you've given all you've got.
the ones where you end the day wondering what happened to those 15 hours i had this morning.
the ones where you added more things to your to do list than you crossed off.

you know those days.
the ones where you run around in circles, fill your car with gas and then run around again.
the ones where you wonder how you managed to go to a meeting and remember to bring what you were responsible for and offer creative suggestions.
the ones where you coordinate and solve issues only to have everything fall apart.
the ones where you drive away wondering, how am i going to get this all done?
the ones where you realize you are not.

you know those days.
the ones where you drop your daughter off at school and are reminded that you are responsible for snack the next day.
the ones where you rush to the grocery store.
the ones where your friend invites you over for a deli sandwich and talk about losing weight before summer.
the ones where you laugh and laugh and then rush out so you're not late for pick-up.

you know those days.
where you are never at the right place when you need to be; close to a computer, in a good cell phone spot, near pen and paper.
the ones where you get phone calls from strangers because your cell phone number was printed on a mass mailing for a bank.
the ones where you just can't answer everyone's questions when you need to.

you know those days.
where your son pitches a confident second inning.
where you get an email that confirms you are about to do something amazing.
where you chat with your sister about the trip you are about to take.
where your other son brings home a 100% in a subject he's been struggling with.
where your husband tells you over and over how good dinner was.
where you can't think of anything to blog about, and then you finish your post.

i had one of those days.
but today is a new day.
and i'm ready for it.

make it a great one.

five on friday

sunday, april 24 will mark my blogiversary, as they say.  i have been writing here, and on my old mac site, for 4 years.  crazy.  but so cool.

5 things i've learned from blogging.

1.  it's important to share my story.
recording our story, pictures and everyday life means something to me and to my family.  when i look back at my first post 4 years ago, i can remember what life was like.  the kids were younger, but still adorable.  life was changing and hectic and fun.  it still is but in a different way.  i am so happy i have those stories documented here.

2.  believe that every post matters
yes, this is fun.  yes, this is an outlet.  no, i don't think this will become my career. since january i've been able to post daily, monday through friday.  but i don't want to post just to have something up.  i want to say something.  and i want it to mean something to someone.

3.  share what i love
my favorite posts are the ones that come from my heart.  those are the easiest to write and the ones i find get the best response.  whether it's stories about being mom, which i want to do more of, or stories about school or just plain pictures, it's things that have meaning in my life, big or small.

4.  i need an editor
i write in stream of consciousness which doesn't always work. it helps to have someone (bobby) read my posts and correct my spelling or syntax.  and also challenge me.  what did you mean?  i don't think your point comes through here.  it needs something.  and when i'm doubting what i wrote, he'll say it looks great, post it.  it helps that he's a writer as well.  he knows where i am coming from.

5.  just write
i have definitely kicked it up this year.  i am taking this more seriously.  in order for me to keep this up i have to find ways to simplify.  i write at night after the kids go to bed or in the day when i have some quiet time.  i plan ahead. i keep a notebook with me.  i think about writing all the time.  as i'm going through my day i ask myself questions:  what story do i want to tell today?  would anyone be interested in this thing that happened?  what is my intention? as a child i kept a journal and i challenged myself to write something everyday.  sometimes just a line.  sometimes more.  putting words down on paper, or a computer, can be so very powerful.

i'll be celebrating on sunday.  well, celebrating easter and my mother-in-law's birthday.  but maybe i'll have a little something special to remember this occasion.

are you wondering what to give on a blogiversary?  how about a comment.  that would be cool.

goals for 2011

happy new year!

2010 was a wonderful year for us.  lots to be thankful for and so many memories that filled our year.  i love that so much of it was documented on this blog.  i love that i got to share it with my family. and i am really looking forward to this new year.

with that i do have some goals that i am hoping to achieve this year.  first off i wanted to share my word for 2011.  i have chosen a word for the last few years and it has been helpful in getting me to tackle some of the areas in my life that i feel need to change. my words have been RESOLVE, GRATITUDE and last year my word was TIME.  i wanted to work on taking better care of my time, not giving away my time, being to places on time, not wasting time.  i say it worked pretty well.  i was very conscious all year about making the best use of my time and being realistic about how much time i have.  there are still things that i need to work on, like making more time for certain chores around the house and getting to bed earlier.  but overall it was a success.

this year my word is FOCUS

 i have to say that this word chose me.  i was thinking about it for a while and as i became open to possibilities this word kept popping up.  and it is such a perfect time for this.  i have been feeling scattered and all over the place lately.  i worry about what could happen, i have a hard time getting things completed.  and i think my problem is focus.  i have a hard time working on, thinking about, and dealing with the task at hand.  i am thinking about what's next.  i am washing the dishing and get distracted by the "ding" from my email.  i have so many areas in my life where i just need to simplify and focus on what i really want/need.  it just seems to suit my life right now.  so focus i will.

and i really want to start here.  my blog is such a great place for me.  but i feel like i am missing something. i love sharing stories about my family but i feel like there is more i want to share.  i know i started my food blog a while ago but my heart just wasn't into keeping it up.

so my thought is to expand this blog and incorporate other things that make me, me.  i have a weekly schedule that i will start out with and adjust as i go along.  see what works and the response i get.  i will include posts on food, crafting, family and home, photography and a little section i will call "in focus".  things that i want to share that may not fall into any particular category.  i also intend on sharing the post more widely.  on facebook and twitter.

i am super excited about taking this on.  i plan on treating this blog like a job for a while.  who knows maybe it could turn into one.  if nothing else, and my real purpose for doing this, is to discover what i want to focus my life on.  sofia will start kindergarten in the fall and i want to move in a direction that i can spend time doing while they are in school.  i am hoping that writing posts about the things that i love will help me focus in on out what that is.

looking forward to it.  and thanks for reading along.

attitude of gratitude :: november 2

lately life has been busy and a bit stressful and my energy level and creativity is on low empty.  i don't know what it is.  so in an effort to force myself to write, and to recognize all of the blessings in my life i thought that i would post those things that i am grateful for.  i would like to say that i will do this on a daily basis but i hate to put that out there and then disappoint, although i think i just did.  so i'll just post when i can, even if it's just a line or a picture.  november 2 is a good place to start and i even have a gratitude for yesterday.

so here goes:

november 1: my 200th post - kind of exciting.  i didn't even realize it yesterday when i posted that it was so monumental.  i started this blog as a creative outlet, a place to record our lives, a way to communicate with family.  i look forward to posting and sharing.  as i read through some of my previous entries i can find the voice that loves her family and kids, that deals with challenges, that has the best of intentions, at times i even think i'm kind of funny.  this blog reminds me what an amazing life i have.  i think about writing all the time. i think about making this blog bigger and more creative.  i know that just a handful of people read it and that's ok. it's a safe and honest place for me.  that's all i need right now.

november 2: the right to vote - i hate to be so obvious, but it's the truth.  i was the first person in my family to be able to vote in the united states.  my parents didn't become american citizens until later and both of my brothers were born in baja california and naturalized just a few years ago.

as soon as i was 18 i considered voting a privilege and an obligation.  granted i am not very political and i hate to admit this here, but i tend to vote on instinct rather than doing research.  but i am proud of the choices that i have made.  i usually keep my political opinions to myself, mostly because i get worked up talking about it.  but i will say that my views are not necessarily affiliated with one political party.  i know what i stand for and if you fit the bill (ok, lately it's been if you come close), you get my vote.

did i ever tell you about the time i ran for student body president of my elementary school?  yep, me. quiet, shy, me.  i had a campaign manager and had to give a speech in front of the whole school, teachers and parents.  and i won.  do you know why?  maybe it was my brilliant speech and my outstanding campaign slogan, that i can't remember at the moment.  but i'm pretty sure it was because everyone else used an interpretor to translate their speech to the spanish speaking population.  i did it myself, grammatically incorrect and all.  and i got the most applause.  my mom and grandma were in the audience that day.  later in the year my 5th grade teacher signed my yearbook and she wrote "i promise to vote for you for congress one day."  ahh, a short lived dream. i would have preferred she voted for me on "Star Search" since my dream was to be a singer. i'm sure i did not have a huge impact on the student body that year, but it was fun leading the pledge of allegiance at assemblies and being recognized at graduation.  and i am thankful for every vote i received.

so i vote every time i can.  and i watch the results on tv.  and i hope someone will make a difference.  and i hope that things will get better. it has to, right? i voted for that.

ETA:  this post was meant to go up yesterday but we were dealing with stomach flu, mock trial and election results.  best of intentions.

a happy recap

where has the time gone? I can't believe it is already august. we have been busy crossing things off our summer to do list. it might be easier to see what each of us has been up to.

jordan
-he has been swimming like a mad man.
-he took lessons at the park and recs pool and has made some big improvements in his strokes.
-he is reading just as madly. lately it has become a task to get him to put his book down and get outside of the house. if he could find a way to swim and read at the same time he would be set. -he will be taking a mini vacation next week to visit his old friend owen in sacramento.
-he is being a great big brother and playmate to his sibs. thanks jord.


andrew

-he is growing and becoming such a big boy (his legs are still skinny)
-he is starting to enjoy reading on his own. he still need encouragement to pick up a book.
-he is making us laugh all the time.
-he can swim like a fish. we have encouraged him to join the swim team but he's not interested in swimming laps.
-he loves watching america's got talent and wipe out.
-can use chopsticks better than me.



sofia
-has been busy being bossy
-took two swim lessons and can swim on her own. she loves doing belly flops into the pool.
-she works on her homework while the boys do their math workbooks.
-is very comfortable behind the camera. she has taken some good photos lately.
-she loves singing don't stop believing from the glee soundtrack.
-wants to be a power puff girl.
-is a great dishwasher unloader.



bobby
-has been working too hard. but we love him for that.
-has been playing softball like a pro. we love going to his games and rooting him on.
-is dreaming of a brand new camaro and ski boat.
-has the high score on bejeweled . . .but not for long.


me
-i'm staying sane around these kids.
-have been dairy free for three weeks. hopefully we can figure out if i have an allergy to milk or my symptoms are from something else.
-saw an ear, nose and throat dr. for my ear infections. he thinks it might be milk allergy too.
-am longing for a slice of cheesy pizza.
-have been attending pto meetings and getting ready for the new school year.


we
-are getting ready for our italy trip and the first week of school. so nervous about both.
-have been to the beach, the aquarium and the new outdoor mall in glendale.
-spend most of our days at the pool.
-are going to the big bad voodoo daddy concert on sunday.
-bobby and i are going to the dodger game on sunday and sitting in the dodger club seats. bring on the free hot dogs and nachos.
-visited our baby cousin grady and talk about him alot.
-are going to sacramento to pick up our boy and spend some time with our good friends too.
-miss you all and can't wait to see you.

and that is the happy recap.

where have i been?

well, trying to figure out what happened to my blog. i lost it. and now i found it back where i started. we've been busy yes. doing so many summer things and trying to stay cool. but i moved this blog back here, where it is free and simple.

i won't post much today. just a quick hello as i redecorate and get back into it.

thanks for visiting and remember to change your bookmarks.