Some Thoughts on New Year's Eve.....

Walking the Wintergarden Spiral at the Waldorf School~

A little perspective on New Years Eve from me to you:
i'm writing it all down because apparently when one does this it makes it a more powerful and attainable goal...here goes <3
~Do things that will enhance my well being which means taking care of mind, body and spirit. Continuing to train my mind for humility and openness which means approaching new ideas with curiosity and intrigue. Running my body, working it out until it is tired..exhausted some days. Continuing to eat more and more fresh fruits and veggies...tons of them! My spirit is the most tender to me. Continuing to surround myself with uplifting community who believes in me and encourages me to grow and is gentle with me when I'm sensitive and reminds me that I am enough...we all are.

~Linger, lounge and dream....Take time to enjoy the slow moments. Slow down and be present for those in front of me. In the wise words of Leo Tolstoy, the most important time is now, the most important person is whoever you are with and the most important thing to do good to is the person you are with. I'm on my phone too much and am generally distracted by this and the vast amount of daily chores that need to get done. This needs some revamping.

~Walk more. I was just inspired by something the filmmaker Michael Moore recently talked about and it was regarding walking more. Walking outside more, every day if I can. Walk in the cold evening air wrapped in a warm coat and scarf. Walk for the pure joy of doing it because I can, not because I could lose weight or because it's what I'm supposed to 'do but because it's free. It's freedom for the mind. It can only bring good.

~Use my gifts for the betterment of others and myself. I have a love of so many things and have talent galore. I've been developing my photography skills slowly but surely, I love decorating and design in general. I love nature and being outside, I love to just talk about things that inspire me...and to be with like minded community...I'm a great listener and it's easy to make me laugh. Angels inspire me and so do a number of spiritual topics. I have a talent for organization and creating small little sacred spaces. I have learned about the healing properties of essential oils this year and they have changed my life. Alternative medicine fascinates me and I have read so much about it and have experimented a ton as well. the list goes on and on....

~Take chances and always believe in myself. I'm working on this one as far as my professional life....which I'm not even sure I need to be concerned about yet. I do want to continue to always believe in myself and remember that all it takes is a little bit of effort and a positive attitude (and maybe divine timing) and the world is basically open to all possibilities. i'm working on having confidence in new situations and within social situations, i don't think I'm alone in this. I'm learning that it's ok if people don't like me....I'm learning. The ones with the radical ideas are never the most popular anyways. That's hard for me to swallow but it's a harsh reality that I'm slowly coming to terms with. I still walk in kindness and try very hard to have an open heart and an open mind and a non-judgemental attitude.

~Pursue my passions. My passions are so many to list but in a nutshell it is just to continue to grow and learn about myself and to create more peace within my own family so I can be of better service to them and everyone who comes into my life.

xoxo

*this was inspired by Mimi Kirk, a beautiful woman and someone who I admire greatly

Watercolor painting with the little brothers~

Just wanted to share a sweet memory for me. It's of an afternoon painting session where the light was just right, the mood was quiet and creative and we were all inspired by each other. Our family life is anything  but tranquil, surprise surprise...so when we have these introspective and harmonious moments it is so special to me. Our new kitty "Cocoa Blue" even joined in for the fun ;) From our family to yours, all the love in the Universe <3

She is a feisty little ginger who we found as a wee kitten on the side if a busy street. We took her home and never looked back.

One of Toby's favorite quiet activities is watercolor painting.

Josiah has the sweetest little profile. When he is engaged with something artistic he is like a completely different child..calm, focused and full of joy.

getting it just right~

Dragons and Outdoor Playspaces

This above is the famous dragon bread that is served every September at the premier fall time festival at the kid's school. They have many celebrations throughout the year to welcome in the changes of the seasons and to celebrate the harvest which the bountiful Earth has given. The celebration of Michaelmas is the first big event of the school year and it reminds us that we have great wisdom inside of us and to trust that. Just as the light diminishes in the outside world, in the winter, with shorter days and much less sunlight, life can mirror this internally. We must rely on this inner strength and wealth in order to get through the "winter of the soul" as I like to put it. Challenges (or dragons) are met each and every day and we must remember that we can be warriors of light and goodness.

This bread dragon reaches 20 foot easily.
After the Michaelmas play and all of the presentations that the grades classes have performed, we all, as a community, go outside to plant spring bulbs together around the school property. I took this opportunity to take just a sampling of pictures of the unique play space that the children at the Cincinnati Waldorf School get to enjoy every day.

If I remember correctly, the building that we are in currently sits on ten acres. There is plenty of green space for the kids to play sports at recess, go sledding, do their games classes and just run. That's my Elijah to the left of the soccer ball....he absolutely loves soccer and might go far in the sport one day.

The children don't have typical play ground equipment here. Instead they have natural objects such as enormous sections of logs and sticks which provide simple, open ended creativity. That's my Josiah in the middle facing you with a group of second and third grade boys. I sort of crept up on them and I'm not even sure if they noticed me :)

When we first moved to this property five years ago, it was completely undeveloped and just simple mowed grass. Over the years, and with much help from parent volunteers, a large marshy area was turned in to a wetland for the children to explore in. Willow was planted and a long board walk was constructed so the children could easily get around the mud and water.

A lot of the younger children enjoy the large sand box. Again, they will use sticks, pieces of bark, grass, leaves, and whatever else they can find in the natural world to create their own little worlds outdoors.

No one ever said they come home clean...this is after Toby refused to walk on the boardwalk.

This is what being a child is all about~

Another view of some of the strategically placed tree stumps that the children adore. In the background, you can see the bell tower that Elijah's class built as a project several years ago. They also have a volleyball court, large covered picnic area, deep hills for winter sledding fun, a rain garden, raised garden beds, herb gardens, flowers and trees gallore......This reverence for nature was one of the reasons I have always had a strong affinity for this style of education. I am always renewed and refreshed when I spend time outdoors in the simple beauty of nature...and it makes it even more enriching when you get to spend the time with your good friends <3
xoxo

We went to a pumpkin patch....

...and here is the story.

                            

Special time spent with mama and daddy~

Some Simple Staples

If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen all of these photos before so enjoy for the second time around.... if you don't please sign up for free and follow me at http://statigr.am/viewer.php#/user/16127623/ and check out my #wannaknowwhatieat series. Instagram is such a valuable resource for those of us who are visual. You can just about search for anything you are looking for inspiration on and connect instantly to folks all over the world. Since I'm so visually inspired I'm one of those people who photographs my food constantly....I know...it can be annoying and my kids do roll their eyes at me but it's so gratifying and I look at it as a photo diary of sorts :) Enjoy some Iphone pictures of a few of our simple plant based staples.

A light oil free stir fry

Freshly cut mangoes (a favorite around here) cut in an easy to eat manner

Just picked greens from the local organic farm in town

A quick open faced sandwich with cucumber, hummus and a thick slice of heirloom tomato

Healthy fast food

I'm pretty sure the majority came from the garden...kale, tomato, corn, cucumber, avocado

Splurge! Tortilla pizza with Daiya cheese and BBQ tempeh on top

Tofu Quiche and curried rice and veggies

An after school favorite...popcorn with Bragg's liquid aminos, nutritional yeast and melted coconut oil

A Few Thoughts on Spirituality

This summer has brought about many adventures and we have accomplished so many new things. We have traveled, created beautiful art pieces, eaten lots of delicious food, learned how to be more attentive together and enjoy each others' company. It's been a growing experience, as life should provide, and only now have I been inspired to write something more in depth and share it out into the world at large. The big boys are back in school and I am home with T. It's a lonely sort of transition but I am no stranger to loneliness nor does in intimidate me. There are so many things to do to keep "busy" in life so that's not a struggle, it's the long mornings with a toddler that force you to keep your emotions in balance....it's the afternoon hump of keeping the kids calm enough before dinner...it's the evenings that drag on until finally you have heard not a peep from anyone in ten minutes. phew...they are finally asleep and then you pause and remember.... you have to do it all over again tomorrow. This is the loneliness I am speaking of. The notion that you are trapped in your routine, your life, your family....and you have to find the small joys and the moments of beauty to inspire you and remind you that you are amazing and have a lot to give to the world.
I'm currently in a battle with my ego....aren't we all....and it is constantly looking for answers. For a way to define who I am. To say "this is me and that is you"....to divide us all into tiny little compartments so that we fit nicely and it can understand why others are the way they are and why they do what they do. This is all good and clarifying but it doesn't provide depth...at all. It just organizes and categorizes and divides. Instead I have been listening for the things that swell my heart. The stories that I catch a moment of while I listen to our guru and it touches something so deep that I stop what I'm doing and turn it up loud....then everything is still. The songs that are put together and open my heart up to concepts I have never thought existed...a way of loving deeper and truer...I am grateful. Or the moments spent in quiet meditative openness where the pieces finally meet together and I feel a greater purpose to life....again gratitude.  These are what I want more of...these are what I want to continue to put my focus on. The day to day stuff, the mundane service we do for others, can be inspired by the good nature from within. Of course, life will still be lonely at times and I will continue to stay busy and one of the greatest pleasures in life for me is to meet new people and do new things...i am constantly learning how to do this with a more open heart.
Also, I'm looking forward to the introspective colder months where the daylight slowly wanes and the air is crisp and cool. This reminds me that all of the light and strength we are used to gathering from the warm summer moments need to come from within now...from a sacred place that has been storing and reminding and now it's put to the test. Will it sustain you. Will you be able to sustain yourself and remember your strength. Yes. We all have it within us...community helps too...but that's another post for another day.
In Love xoxo

Chicago at a Glance

I decided to take the boys to Chicago on a whim and invited my Mom to come along as well. She is so amazing and helpful and positive and the kids adore her, so it was a no-brainer. Chicago is one of my favorite cities to visit, hands down, because it is so family friendly. The food is plentiful for a vegan as well, and each time we go we find a new amazing spot. This time it was the ice cream parlor "Icream" which flash freezes your ice cream (made with soy milk or cows milk) on the spot.  I've never seen anything like it! They used a special machine that smoked and spun and it felt like we were in a time machine and best of all the kids loved it. This vacation was for them for sure ;) The first night we got there we walked to the beach from our hotel. It was small but so cute. That's my Mom below swinging Toby with the beautiful skyline in the background.

The food is one of the main reasons we come here. In Cincinnati, it's not hard to eat vegan when you go out but there definitely isn't a plethora of options like there is here. The Chicago Diner is a must to visit when you are veg. It is the self proclaimed "veggie paradise" where they can make 100% of their dishes vegan. Karyn's restaurants are a favorite also. They cater to the lighter vegan and raw vegan pallet and completely come through on flavor. 

bi bim bap from Loving Hut

butter pecan soymilk ice cream with chocolate chips and pecans from Icream

We also went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. I know this is a controversial outing for a vegan and there is a ton of judgement about whether we "should" support them or not. I decided to go because i wanted to see the giraffes and the kids have always asked me about it and i was curious to see their reaction without putting any pressure on them. It was a long hot day but we were adventurous and took the bus, which was a first for the kids and everyone came home with souvenirs. 

They watched this guy swim around for about 20 minutes and were saddened but amazed. 

J measuring to see if he is taller than a polar bear.

Toby finally fell asleep with his fingers clenched like a baby.


Our hotel was just a few blocks from Navy Pier which is pretty touristy but they have a gorgeous ferris wheel and some old fashioned carnival rides. We loved being able to walk or take the bus to almost everywhere we went. Millennium park was just about a mile away and it has the most amazing art installation I have ever seen. You have to go at night to the fountain and witness it yourself :) Everytime we come to Chicago, Elijah asks me "What if I could live here when I grow up?". I think we all have a crush on this city...if that's even possible :)

the bigger boys enjoying the flying swings

toby taking a turn at putt putt golf

a moment captured with all three of them

we walked for miles and miles and loved every step <3

a Bike Trip into town

We live in a small river town outside of Cincinnati. It really is a dream come true for us. There is a deep forest behind our house, three large parks with trails and playgrounds within walking distance and a ton of activities/shopping within biking distance. We have the candy shop, kroger's, multiple art studios, restaurants galore (a few who are very vegan friendly), a consignment store and Goodwill, starbucks, a farmer's market, canoeing, over 70 miles of paved bike trails...and much much more. It's wonderful for a growing family who loves old trees and friendly neighbors. Tonight was just such a perfect evening. The weather has finally cooled off and we all had a lot of energy so we decided to take the 2 1/2 mile journey to the small downtown area and see what was happening on a Friday night. We found several live outdoor musicians. The main square was bustling with patrons and bikers. We also made a stop to the candy store to get a couple of real lemon slushies, then took a quick bike ride down the trail and along the river to see the most beautiful sunset. On the trip back, my tire popped and I was reminded that life is not about what happens to you, but how you just roll with it and see the opportunities that are within every situation. I got to spend a giggly extra 20 minutes under the stars with my boys outside the small vintage Whippy Dip while we waited for Aaron to go get the car from home. I am filled with curiosity and truly love living life on the cusp of adventure. These may be small town adventures today, but hopefully we are setting our boys up to have no fear of the world or of meeting new people and to make a difference wherever they are. xoxo

                                           the town candy store

                                           cacao nibs, organic cane sugar, fresh vanilla bean

                                                        be still my heart

                                           filled with joy and laughter

                                                     follow the leader on the Loveland Bike Trail

                                                     the most perfect nightcap