Seedlings...

Brit and I are participating in a seedling swap party in a month... We all got our seeds and have planted away... I decided to start mine a different way... Using a paper towel. Check out what I found today:

Day 6... 

They are so precious!!!

Day 10: 10 Things To Be Thankful For- The Strength of A Woman

Being a woman is empowering, being a mother is superhuman! JMP and I met in our early 20’s, and since then we have seen each other through life’s challenges. We both have been through things that we couldn’t have dreamed of, and you know what??? We survived! We survived to be better women, stronger, more compassionate, and a host of other adjectives too numerous to mention.

JMP is an amazing friend and listener with wisdom beyond her years. I am very impressed at how she handles adversity looking it dead in the face with positivity, and an “anything’s possible” mentality! I told her one time how much weight I wanted to lose thinking I might as well just cut off some limbs or something, and she responds, “Oh that’s totally doable, if you do yadda yadda yadda it’s totally reasonable that you reach that goal!” I thought to myself, “are you serious? This seems impossible!” She reflects such strength and inner power.

And I’m impressed every time I think of what woman take, put up with, and overcome, giving birth amidst a natural disaster, a woman in Africa gives birth in a tree! Mothers running marathons, I mean these are AMAZING women! Please let every experience shape you, and grow from what may seem to be mistakes. Women are so powerful it is truly a beautiful thing!

For all of our woman readers out there, we want you to think of a moment in your past that made you powerful. You survived that moment, you have lived to see another day, and guess what you can do anything and everything you put your mind to. So, pat yourself on the back. You are GREAT!!!

Never forget your personal power to choose where your life goes today!

Day 9: 10 Things To Be Thankful For- The Ocean

The ocean is a great and magnificent force.  Just try to go surfing and take a few hits from the waves and you are quick to realize this fact in a most painful way!  But what an awe inspiring part of creation!  It's both majestic, and mysterious, and sometimes scary thanks to movies like "Jaws".  But the ocean is one of our favorite places to go to think, relax, sleep, exercise, and everything in between.

If you live on the coast don't forget to drive past the beach today... And take a minute to take in the salty breeze and beautiful sights.

Have a great day!!!

Day 8: 10 Things To Be Thankful For- Spring

The smell of Star Jasmine as the breeze blows, beautiful Wisteria drooping from a trellis, longer days, are all wonderful signs of spring. Spring is a time of rejuvenation, the end of hibernation and birth. After recently watching Bambi, it’s also a time to get “twitterpated”.

The dictionary describes spring as: to rise, leap, move, or act suddenly and swiftly, as by a sudden dart or thrust forward or outward, or being suddenly released from a coiled or constrained position.

And although they are defining a different kind of spring it is apropos. It’s like we are released from the bondage of boots, heavy coats and tightly wound scarves. We are free to liberate our toes, upper arms and legs that have gone for some time under the cloak of darkness.

Birds seem to sing cheerfully willing in this wonderful time of year in. There’s a bit more pep in my step, and getting out of bed to do the morning run is just a bit easier knowing that a bright sun will be there to welcome me.

This is the time of year when many are thinking about their years goals. Something that JMP and I constantly do. And we are rejuvenated thinking about how we are going to reach them.

One of JMP's 2011 goals was to feed her family delicious foods while saving $$ by planting a huge garden.  In just a few short months this garden will be in full bloom with a melange of fruits and veggies. Mmmmm....I can't wait!!!

Here's JMP's loving husband and our manager working on the planter boxes

“70% of success in life is showing up”
- Woody Allen

Day 7: 10 Things To Be Thankful For- Travel

They say that a picture is worth a thousand words so I’ll be brief.  JMP and I have had the privilege to travel to some really great places.  There’s nothing like traveling to learn about other cultures, yourself, and that your 50 mile radius of life is just the tip of the ice berg.  Enjoy the pictures of places that our journey through life has lead us to!

The Louvre Paris, France

Casa Mila Barcelona, Spain

Kids in Costa Rica

Beach in  Costa Rica

Boat with Octopus Santorini, Greek Isles

Day 6: 10 Things to Be Thankful for- The Sun

Being fortunate enough to reside in Southern California we get a lot of bonding time with this great luminary. If it’s cloudy for more than 2 days we’re like, “hey what’s up? We don’t live in one of those other places where the sun is an infrequent visitor! We’re Californians, and we are not used to arctic temperatures that plummet below 70!”

But there could be nothing more relaxing than lying on the beach and basking in the sun and all its glory (of course with plenty of SPF)! When I’m at the hospital all day I can’t wait to get out from those walls, and feel the warmth of the sun as it wraps its arms around me and fills me with Vitamin D! Ok slightly dramatic I know.


And it’s amazing how much it affects one’s mood. While living in the Midwest I felt really depressed and unmotivated not being able to see the sun on a regular basis. It is actually something that I think about often how I am so thankful to be back where my roots are deep in the warm southern sunshine, with flip flops. And I know that JMP enjoys her time in the sunshine taking little L for runs. Something about the sun just gives you energy and life; I mean even flowers are drawn to it! 
So go out and take a bike ride!

Day 5: 10 things to be thankful for-My baby's smile...

With all that goes on each day. It can be hard to smile and move forward. The other day, as life had taken a drastic turn I looked at lil L and I just couldn't help but smile at him.  Life just looked brighter! How could it not look luminous when I was looking at such a radiant smile. Oh, how a simple smile from my baby brings me so much joy! 


So this one is for all the babies out there. And hopefully as you look at these cute faces your day will be a little more... smiley!  

Lil L

Z's first experience at the Happiest Place on Earth!

"Children are like having your heart outside of your body."