Our Next Adventure.

So, there is something sort of major that I have failed to tell you guys.  I'll just go ahead and say it....we are moving to Italy for 7 months.  And we leave a week from Saturday!!

There are stories about how this all came about and what it has taken to get here, but I figure I'll just go ahead and share things about this adventure as they arise.  I really want to blog from over there....both as a way to keep in touch with you all and to help preserve the stories and photos from our big trip.

In the meantime, we have lots of packing, planning and visiting with friends and family to do!

We will be back here in about 11 days, can you believe it???

A Little Something.

I'm pretty sure I never mentioned it, but a few years back, our family and home were featured in Riviera Magazine.  We had a fun day harvesting honey and photographer Ethan Pines was there to capture it all.  I can't get over how little the children were just a few years ago!

Fast forward three years, and the editor of Riviera told me she wanted to do a little something just about me and my blog in their upcoming travel issue.  Needless to say, it was flattering and I said yes!  This time Noa Azoulay of Feather Love Photography (whom I have admired through the years) came out to take the photos.  It was strange getting photographed by myself....I really don't enjoy being in front of the camera!

If you want to take a peek, here's the little piece in this the May issue of Riviera Magazine.

{i still haven't seen a hard copy....just the online version!}

Mama Time.

A mom's schedule is strange, if you ask me.  The hardest work (for me, anyway) comes early morning, afternoon and evening (especially between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m.) and weekends.  Basically, the opposite of a traditional (9-5) workday.  I get a reprieve (in terms of freedom and flexibility) in the morning on weekdays after the older kids go to school until 1 p.m. pickup.  Of course, I always have my sidekick, Little E, with me.  But in general, she is pretty easy and can entertain herself for decent periods of time.

I guess this isn't a strange schedule when hanging with other mom friends, but I happen to have several close girlfriends who don't have kids (holla!) and their days are pretty different than mine.  I guess what I'm not saying but thinking is....I LOVE MONDAY MORNINGS. I literally exhale when the weekend is finally over and I can enjoy a relatively quiet and orderly house.  I relish this time.  I even enjoy sharing it with Little E because she is such a joy and as anyone having three kids knows, having just one at home is. a. BREEZE.  Not sure which rule of nature dictates this, but it just does.

I try to do something on Monday mornings to make that time extra nice.  A real shower?  A hot breakfast?  A special beverage?  Yes, that's exactly what I made this morning.

Mama's Monday Morning Mocha

I've been eating mostly paleo lately, and this mocha reflects that effort.....I want to post more about what and how I've been eating....another day for sure.

1/2 c. homemade almond milk
1 T. raw honey
2 T. raw cacao
dash vanilla extract
pinch sea salt

Whisk all of the above ingredients together in a small saucepan.  Gently heat over medium low heat.  Pour into a mug and top with a shot of espresso, if desired/needed.  ;-)

I also drizzled a little coconut cream over top because I was feeling indulgent.

How do you decompress after the kids go to school?

Capturing Time.

My friend Karina wrote a really nice post about trying to slow down time, and offers some great ideas for achieving the feeling that life is not whizzing by.  I am always searching for ways to capture the special moments that happen everyday.  I have a terrible memory for details, but it gets better when I actually pay attention and really experience those moments.

Here are some techniques that I use (but should be using more).  The first two come from a trusted friend.

1.  Stop and pay attention to all of your senses.  Ask yourself: "What do I hear? smell? see? feel? taste?" It is amazing how that always grounds me and puts me in the present.

2.  Close your eyes and "breathe" through the tips of your fingers.  Draw your breath up your wrists, arms, shoulders, body, down your legs and out your toes.  (This is great for awakening your senses which helps with the previous exercise.)

3.  Just say no to over-scheduling.  I have never been one of those people who loves to pack my day with a million things.  I have no problem saying no if I don't really want to do something (non-essential), or if doing it will crowd my day too much.  This really works for me.  I need downtime and I need slow.  Life in a family of five is fast and busy enough.

4.  Go offline.  Nothing makes me feel less in the moment then killing an hour on the Internet.  Oh, I still do it, but that's when I feel that "time is slipping by" anxiety the most.  I am not good at turning off my phone and shutting the top of my laptop, but it always works when I do find the discipline to do it.

5.  Make a cup of tea.  It's mental, but this always relaxes and comforts me and helps me pay attention to what is going on.

What about you?  What do you do to stay in-the-moment?

photo credit unknown

Family Photos.

I'm not sure why, but I have never posted the photos that Kim took of our family last fall.  She came out on a beautiful October weekend (unseasonably warm as I recall) and we took advantage by being outdoors much of the time.  We ventured to the Salk Institute and Glider Port for a few shots late one afternoon.  The only regret I have was that B was not able to join us so he wasn't part of those photos.  Ah well.....at least we got a bunch of the kiddos in such a spectacular setting.

 I'll share some of the photos of the whole family that we took at the house sometime soon!

Homemade Pantry Party.

For at least a year or so, I had been wanting to have a casual party with some girlfriends to exchange homemade goodies.  The idea is we all have something we are more comfortable making....some bake, some are into canning, some are experts with gluten-free goodies, some ferment, some have loads of homegrown produce that need to be turned into something delicious.  The idea was to bring something you enjoy making.

So, finally, after a lot of thinking about it (and then reading this article in the NYT.....hey if all the Brooklyn hipsters are doing it, we should too!), Lyann and I hosted a little get-together in January.  There were 12 of us who wanted to join in (there was no pressure if someone felt it was too much extra work), so we brought 11 items of whatever we made to share with the group.  We made it a "drop in" so that friends could come at anytime and leave whenever they needed.  What ended up happening was everybody stayed the whole 3 hours, drinking tea, snacking on plates of (even more) goodies that friends brought to share.  It was a really, really nice time and I think everybody was really excited to take home their "loot."

{lyann brought shortbread for everyone to sample her butterscoth and muffins to sample her lemon curd}

There was a great variety of items offered: granola, kimchee, an indian cilantro chutney, ketchup, ghee, salad dressing, marmalade, a pomegranate chia seed drink, and lots more.

{scones, clementine cake and "secret ingredient" truffles to snack on with tea}

{little e's friend ida and her mom came to the party}

After the party, Desi was smart (and nice) enough to set up a blog for all of us to post the recipes we used.  A really great resource.  Hopefully a few more friends will add their recipes (hint hint).  We are about to plan a second party in the next couple of weeks.  There is so much inspiration in spring.....I can't wait to figure out what I'm going to make this time.

{one friend's basket of goodies to take home}

Have you ever done something like this?  How did it turn out?  We are still trying to figure out the best, most fun and easy way to do this every couple of months, so I'd love to hear your thoughts or suggestions!