Breathe

Last year, I chose a guiding word for 2012, 'embrace.'  I used it as the overall guide for things I wanted to do in 2012 and thought out more genearl goals that fit under my guiding word.  I think my guiding word was with me all year.  It helped me get back to mindful self a bit, to be in the moment as much as I can, and to find the 'strawberry' or golden nugget in everything that came my way.

This year, I decided on a word that is a bit more for self-care.  Not that 'embrace' wasn't, but I think I need a more inner-self word.  So, I have selected 'breathe' as my 2013 guiding word.  I need to take a step back, a slow step back these days.  I find that sometimes, I am rushing so much or feeling stressed or so annoyed at the traffic in front of me, that I am holding my breath.  I need to pause and breathe with attention and care for my inner self and for my body.  I need to take a breath of fresh air more often.  I need to pause and focus on my breath; I need to get back to yoga breathing.  I need a little, simple silent mantra "breathe breathe breathe." 'Breathe' makes me envision oxygen going through my body, giving me strength and I need to do more physcial exercise breathing this year.

There is a wonderful yoga teacher in my town that does a class just for women with cancer.  Her mantra "Breathe in all that is good, breathe out what we don't need' is so powerful and I need to focus on this exercise more often.  I can't get to her class very often these days because of work, but I can sit and do this exercise on my own.

I think my word will help me shift that tiny bit when I need it most.

Last year, Jessie and I made banners with our words.  I am hoping to make a new one for 2013.

Under my more general ideas and hopes for 2013, I hope to finish my dissertation (?!?!?), to read a bunch of fiction, to vacation with Mike (a few times!!), to walk more with Mike, to sew clothes, and to make shakes (with Kale!).

Holidays and Happy 2013

We had a whirlwind Christmas, it seems to go so fast.  We had a lovel visit in RI, which included several parties and gatherings to celebrate together, Christmas Eve and Christmas day.  I think I was allowing myself to be in the moment the whole time we were home so I didn't take out my camera at all.  Except for this sweet moment when these two little munchins were playing with Nolan's new kitchen.  Christmas was filled with lovely family time, delicious good, too many cookies, and sweet moments.

a very serious 'cheese'

Our christmas stretched out until Sunday night, our last holiday gathering at my aunt's.  During appetizers, we all made some snowflakes to send to help decorate the new Sandy Hook Elementary school, which is opening its new doors in January.  There was a call for snowflakes to help decorate the new school, to welcome the students into their new school. It is a simply gesture but part of a large project that will hopefully help just a bit.  I hope snowflakes made with a little love will be hung all over the school and will send little hugs to each child as they enter their new school location.

Mike and I enjoyed a slow New Year's day morning, ate some rasberry butch baby, and bought a new couch!!

Happy 2013, we are ready!!

Hope and Gratitude

It was a bit of a rough start to this holiday season.  We are still missing our furry little pup just so much.  I don't know quite how to even write about the tragedy that occurred in CT, I can't imagine the depth of the grief.

I am feeling so much gratitute for all that I have though, and I am feeling a lot of hope these days.  We have been decorating trees, hanging a lot of sparkly lights, wrapping presents, and drinking a lot of eggnog.  We are packing up for a short trip home to celebrate Christmas.  I am looking forward to family time.

Merry Christmas!  And lets hope for a healthy happy 2013.  I think I know what my 2013 word will be...more soon!

I made the tree skirt!!

being thankful

picking the right tree

my cute hubby

see the barkers way back there?

little senny

Ms. Seneca

We had to say goodbye to Seneca, our fuzzy family member, this week.  I can't tell you how difficult this has been.  Seneca brought us such joy, laughter, and comfort every single day.  She had a wonderful 13 and a half years...just doesn't seem long enough though.  We are trying to focus on the good memories.  The void that is left in our home and in our family is deep.

The first picture ever on my blog was of Seneca.  I was newly in love with Mike, early in our relationship.  At the time, I was a doctoral student and TA, and worked a lot at home.  When Mike went off to work each morning, Seneca would come to my house for the day.  She would play with Mylo (my roommate's dog, who is well missed too), or she would chase the chickens, or she would sit right next to me while I worked.  It was around this time that I was inspired to start a blog.  It was a new wonderful relationship with Mike and with his dog.

Seneca loved new friends, she loved the moms and grandma's, she loved little kids who stood at her level because they were close enough to kiss.  She loved treats and sneaking on the couch or leather chair while we were out. Seneca loved new toys and all of her dog cousins and dog friends.  Right to the end, Seneca would become super pup when she was outside.  She loved going to parks, and loved snow.  A few weeks ago, we had just a light dusting of snow and I took her out for a walk and she instantly turned into her pup self, running in the snow all excited.  She just had so much love in her and it spread around her.

She was our fuzzy and loving family member,  there for us every moment.  Words can't say enough, words can't explain this loss.  We will miss her forever.

Did I tell you about Ophelia?!

Another belated but important blog post - I have a brand new, gorgeous niece, Ophelia Wren!  We met her when she was just 5 days old!! I am in love again!! She is a little bundle of love!!

FOUR YEARS!

Happy 4 Years of Bliss, Babe! I had some techinically difficulties so this is a bit belated but I wanted to stop in and say that I am the luckiest gal ever because I have this amazing and wonderful partner next to me in my life.  Love you!

dealing with sandy

Well, it has been a week since Sandy hit our area.  It has been hard to learn of the devestation left in her tracks.  Memories of Katrina are stirring.  Friends with no heat, seriously scary long gas station lines, power lines down all over...There seems to be an outpouring of help, though.

I had a bit of survivor's guilt because we never lost power.  They say 90% of our town was in the dark, and for a week, but we were in this tiny pocket of town with our lights and heat and tv.  We had some family in and out to charge and eat some hot food.  One evening, Donna wanted to eat dinner by candlelight.  So we had a Bring-your-own-flashlight Risotto party.  Mike and I made Lemon Risotto and Donna made Mushroom Risotto.  We enjoyed eating in candlelight by the fire.

Donna and little mike finishing up with stirring

donna's beautiful table despite darkness

donna and big mike ready to eat

Mike and I also attended a black tie wedding despite power outages.  our friends had to haul in some major generators but the party was on! By the way, Mike and I didn't realize it was black tie until 2 days prior to the event and when everything was still closed post-storm.  Luckily Michael helped us out with some black tie assessories.  After 6 hours in a gas station line and a few guys with a siphon, we were ready to party.