currents :: 4.7

listening: to a cool tunes mix on itunes.
eating: a reheated pancake.
drinking: coffee with caramel macchiato creamer
wearing: jeans, grey sweater and aqua tank top and my black chucks, of course.
feeling: cozy.
weather: cold, cold, cold.
wanting: a skinny caramel macchiato from starbucks.
needing: to make optometrist appointments for the boys.
thinking: about our summer plans.
enjoying: the art journal that i started on monday.
wondering: yes.


this week we are playing and doing and seeing.  i wish we had planned a mini vacation somewhere but i am enjoying the time alone with the boys.  yesterday i took jordan and 2 of his friends to the park to play some basketball and football.  at first i was engaged in their conversation about sports and school.  but i quickly got the feeling that my job was to drive not talk.  no, they are great kids but i'm a mom.  so i just listened.  


today the boys will learn all about a wedding registry and then we'll hang out at home.  and tomorrow?  no plans yet but i'll think of something.

happy thursday.

wordless wednesday

{re}focus :: april

it's april already.  how did that happen?

Source: workisnotajob.com via Gioconda on Pinterest

i read over my march goals before starting this post and feel good about where i am.  i love that my goals change and redevelop throughout the month.  in march i had a goal to get new camera gear.  but in the process of choosing it i realized that i needed more time to answer one simple question.  what do i need that i'm not getting from my current equipment?  until i had a answer the choice would not be clear.  i'm still figuring it out.

so, although i am putting my goals out there i am also open to changing them and making them fit into my life. and since it is april 5, some of my goals are already underway.

personal development | finishing that 5k was amazing.  and as soon as it was over i started thinking about what was next.  i want to work in more 5 mile runs.  maybe once a week on saturdays.  and round out my workouts with core and strength training at the gym.  i want to use this month to improve my running and then i will do another 5k in may.  i also want to put more effort into my diet.  more than anything just being aware of what i am eating everyday and how that adds up.  with summer coming up, and lots of weddings this year, i want to feel comfortable with how i look.  combining good eating with exercise is the way to make that happen.  oh and i could really use a haircut this month.

document | well, i've been practicing with my camera and really getting to know what it's limitations are.  i'm actually happy with it.  but know that an upgrade would mean a few extras; larger screen, maybe video, more focus points and higher iso's.  i'm not going to make a decision, or investment, until i am sure of what i want.  posts like this one help.  and this one that specifically talks about food photography. but i am taking lots of pictures.    i've been reading and looking at lots of pictures on  blogs.  and i will practice, practice, practice.  i am also noticing that i could use more photos that tell a story.  i have a lot of pictures of food, words, still life.  but i want to record relationships, and moments.  i am hoping to set out on some photo taking fieldtrips this month.

create | i want to scrapbook more this month.  traditional scrapbook layouts that use some of the fun products i have.  i'm so glad that i signed up for sketchbook 3.  it's giving me a place to start and inspiring me to get some pages done.  i've already finished my first layout from the class, so i'm off to a good start.  i plan to start an art journal this month.  creatively i am a pretty structured person.  i like to follow a sketch or use a kit to get my layouts done.  but the thought of opening a blank page in a sketchbook and setting my imagination free scares me, but will be a wonderful creative challenge.  i listened to this podcast and that's what gave me the motivation to do it.

read |  still working on the help.  we haven't had a weekend away so my reading time is limited.  but i hope to finish it this month.  i'm considering reading my life in france or water for elephants next.  my in-laws and grand parents gave me the food stylist's handbook that i've been enjoying too.  there is something so beautiful about food.

organize | our house in need of some serious spring cleaning.  i mean taking things out of the way, way back and getting rid of stuff.  today i took a tiny step and cleaned out my spice cabinet.  i threw things out and organized it so i could see where everything is.  if it didn't have an expiration date and i couldn't remember when i bought it, i threw it out.  and it felt great.  i'm gonna keep that going and move to the pantry next and then all of the cupboards and drawers in my kitchen.

april is going to be a good month.  i can feel it.

weekly menu:: week 14

trying to come down from a great weekend that included watching andrew pitch one inning of his baseball game (and not hit anyone), a monte carlo housewarming party, a 911 call at church (not us but someone at church during the service), food trucks, frozen yogurt and a movie.  i'll post all about our experiences tomorrow.

here's the menu for this week.  it's spring break for the boys and our week has quickly filled up with activities, playdates, haircuts and dr.'s appointments.  but dinner should be easy going this week.

monday - preschool fundraiser at IHOP.
tuesday - turkey paninis and sweet potato fries
wednesday - lemon chicken and hummus pitas (i had this for lunch last week while out with a friend and i can't stop thinking about it.  so i will try to recreate it at home.)
thursday - chef salad
friday - grilled salmon and couscous (never made it last week)
saturday - linguini with asparagus and egg (from the current everyday food magazine.)
sunday - dinner with friends


looking forward to sleeping in a bit this week.  although sofia has school but she doesn't start until 9.  so that gives us some time.  i am hoping to get back to the gym after taking last week off to "heal the ankle".  it feels great, so i'll take it easy.  


we decided not to do the gator 5k in april.  i really want to make sure i am 100% before committing to training again.  but may looks good.  and now 2 people have tempted me with doing a triathalon this year.  swimming, biking and running.  what have i gotten myself into?  no commitment yet, but i'm thinking about it.


wishing you a happy monday.

five on friday:: learn something new

no april fools jokes for me today.  not a fan of pranks.  but i do have five classes that i would love to take.  some for sure and some on my wish list.

1. sketchbook 3

i took the original sketchbook class and loved it.  kelly purkey sends you a sketch and a designer's take on the sketch.  i sometimes find it easier to use a sketch as a starting point when i scrapbook.  one less thing to think about.  and the layouts that she uses as examples are really stunning.  it starts on monday and i am so excited.  you should check it out if you want to be inspired.

2.  cooking class

i hate to admit that i have been holding on to a gift certificate for a cooking class at chez cherie.  no excuse other than just not making the time.  but i love some of the classes they have on the list.  i'm considering the flavors of the mediterranean class in may.  anyone want to join me?

3. food photography and styling workshop

there is one happening next weekend.  not going this time.  but will consider it if they offer it again. (and if i have $349)  take a look at his blog.  he's so funny and takes some amazing pictures of food. you can almost taste it.

4. scrapbook on the road

not that we have vacation plans or anything but it would be fun to put a book like this together.  i have done this in the past for some of our other vacations and i love that i come home with a completed record of our trip.  #4 on this post is one i made last year for our oregon trip. and this is the one i made for our italy trip in 2009. maybe if i sign up it would encourage us to take a trip somewhere.  i love that it's a self paced class.  so i can sign up in a few weeks when i have more time and work at my own pace.   

5.  spinning, yoga or pilates class at the Y

bobby has been encouraging me to try the spinning class in the morning.  i'm not sure how comfortable i would be.  but i guess it's not about comfort, right?  and i feel like i need more stretch and core strengthening now that i am running.  any of these classes would be a welcome addition to my routine.

next week the boys are on spring break.  we are all looking forward to sleeping in and getting some fun time together.  hoping to stay on track with my posts. but if i skip a day you'll know it's cause i'm getting some time in with my boys.

hope you learn something new this weekend.

41 random facts

it's the last day of march.  the last day of my birthday month.  i thought it would be fun to wrap it up by giving you some facts about myself.  in writing this i realized that there are some things that i still want to share.  some very personal, some interesting and some funny. hopefully nothing that will prevent me from getting a job in the near future. it's a good list to go by.  

before you read on, i wanted to take this time to thank you for reading my blog.  some of you daily, some of you every so often.  it's been fun and i appreciate the support and comments.  so thank you!

1. i go by betty, gioconda, nena, b, and mommy.  read all about it here.
2. i love cooking, photography, scrapbooking and now running.
3. i once took a classical guitar class.  i can't remember a thing.
4. i met my first boyfriend on a student film project about elvis.
5. we've been married for 16 years.  
6. i've been a tour guide at a major motion picture studio, a pre-school teacher's assistant, a sales associate at target, a theatrical distribution sales person, and a personal assistant on a tv sitcom.
7. when i first started college i wanted to be a teacher.
8. after taking a creative writing class in my freshman year i changed my major.
9. i spend a lot of my time volunteering at the kids' school.
10. my husband wishes i spent more time at home doing laundry.
11. i'm a terrible housekeeper.
12. i can't make a good pot of coffee.
13. my dream job is to be a food photographer.
14. when i was a kid my dream job was to be a makeup artist on days of our lives.
15. my lucky number is 3.
16. i once got a phone call from an oprah show producer. i promise to do a post about this soon.
17. screenwriting was my major in college but i have only written one screenplay and no one has read it.
18. i went into labor with my first born at 22 weeks and spent the next four months on bedrest.
19. that was the scariest time of my life.
20. my son was born at 37 weeks healthy as could be.
21. i believe in the power of prayer.
22. my 8 year old makes me laugh more than anyone else i know.
23. my 5 year old reminds me so much of me.
24. i have scrapbook crushes on her, her and her.  she inspired this post.
25. my favorite vacation was a trip to paris and rome on our 3rd anniversary.  there have been many great adventures since then.
26. this house has always felt temporary. we've been here for 10 years.
27. my first car was an old ford falcon.
28. i am a "straight and narrow" kind of person.
29. i put a lot of pressure on myself.
30. i've always wondered if i suffer from an anxiety disorder.
31. i am a good listener.
32. i believe that there is good in everyone, even though i'm sometimes wrong.
33. my favorite shows right now are modern family and top chef.
34. 90% of my clothes are from target or old navy.  with a little ann taylor loft thrown in.
35. i speak english, spanish and en peu de francais.  
36. i love my handwriting.
37. i prefer flip flops to snow boots.
38. i'm not very adventurous or spontaneous.
39. i have a lot of self doubt.
40. that changed for me on saturday.
41. this is the life i dreamed of.

wordless wednesday