10 Things I Loved In February 2014

For the last few months I have been doing these reflection posts after being inspired by Rosie’s. Taking time each month to reflect on the good things that happen each day/week/month has done wonders for my ability to actually stop and notice the good stuff. 

uc davis arboretum

Ten Things I Loved In February

Things I/We Did

1.     Rainy Day Book Club Hike to celebrate reading Cheryl Strayed’s WILD.  Super excited to finally be part of a book club again. I only know one woman, but each time we meet I meet more cool, interesting, smart, funny women. Plus I’m reading books I wouldn’t necessarily ever pick up on my own.

There are few things I find more satisfying than reading a good book and then getting to talk about it.

Are you in a book club? What have you read that you’d recommend?

2.     Showed upThis has been so helpful for me to build my relationship with my family and it sure has helped during my mom’s illness. I’m also reaching out more which can be really difficult in times of need. Progress! 

3.      Rainy day play dates and nature walks. I am still deciding if I am a complete nutter butter or a genius for taking my preschooler out in the rain and to play in the puddles and mud afterward. It is totally gross and a pain in the butt to clean up, but she’s super happy and being outside regardless of weather helps regulate my moods. I guess I’m a genius!

Any other ideas for keeping a super energetic toddler busy? I am seriously open to new ideas. Share your parenting gems.

4.      Prescribed rest. Twice. Permission slip to rest. I napped a lot with the kid in February, and I regularly go to bed in the 9 o’clock hour and this month I slept in as late as possible. And I do feel better when I get more rest.

5.     Connected with our ridiculously awesome neighbors. I had no idea what a great neighborhood I live in until we had a kid and suddenly we were enveloped into this community of like-minded generous and lovely families. It is so comforting to know someone right outside your front door can help if you need it or make you laugh. U Street Gang, you are allright!

Products and Services I Dug:

6.  Sprouts Farmer’s Market. Is now a good time to tell you I’ve been finding a weirdly huge amount of comfort in the produce aisle? Like for real. If you follow my Instagram feed you can watch up close and personal just how I’m eating my life’s savings away in fruits and vegetables.

7.  Amazon Prime. Just keeping up with my status as the last to jump on every band wagon. Free Kindle books, my favorite vegan protein powder, free movies – what is there not to like?

Books I Can Highly Recommend:

8.   Let’s Explore Owls with Diabetes by David Sedaris. Do I need to go into how much I love David Sedaris? Good. This one was not my favorite, but still comforting like my favorite sweater, bowl of soup, cup of tea. He just cracks me up even when he’s not being funny.

My favorite of his is Naked. Then Barrel Fever. If you haven’t read those yet, stop what you are doing right now and get yourself to the bookstore.

9.    Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Jen Corace. One of those random recommendations in the picture book section of the library. The magic words spoken? “My kindergarten class loved this one!” Thanks, Teacher I Wish I Would Have Introduced Myself To.

Do you read picture books? What are your favorites?

10.   Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I read the first Hunger Games a year ago and then the two sequels in a week. I am so fancy. Also I like reading young adult fiction when I’m sick. It’s really all I can keep up with.

Videos I Fell For: .Pretty much all of the videos from Hilary Rushford of Dean Street Society. So adorable AND helpful.

 

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So what are you loving lately? I’m always on the lookout for what is delicious in food, drink, fashion, and life. Leave me your favorites in the comments or write a post of your own and link back here.

Image Source: My Instagram!

In Case You Missed It Edition! Volume 29

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Each week I’ll give you links to posts that made me laugh, cry, think or at least raise an eyebrow. Please click the links and check out the posts. You may find something that rocks your world too.

Leave me some feedback in the form of comments below on what you liked, what you hated and what you’d like to see more of. I’m here to help you find the best of what is online.

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Strange how going back to work helped me settle and actually feel rested. Pretty sure the routine and predictable schedule helped me get grounded. Is this true for you too or am I becoming one of my third graders?

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My Best Of…

Smoking As Dirty Pranayama from Elephant Journal. I know it’s controversial, but seriously, smokers pay attention to their breath way more than most. I found this so compelling.

Smore’s Cake In A Jar from How Sweet It Is –  Are you kidding me???? Who wants to de-dairy this for me? I’m still shaking my head at the absolute brilliance.

Renewal – from Namaste *Heather – sounds like the theme from this week’s class. Rest, rest, rest instead of go, go, go.

7 Tips for Giving Effective Praise from the Happiness Project. Check out the comments too. Good stuff.

Just A Titch is Ms. April, TGBTS’s Featured Teacher – love her.

Summer break is on my mind and so is travel. Jenna from This Is My Happiness recently posted on her travels to and in Brazil. 

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That is the In Case You Missed It Edition for this week, folks.

Remember to click the links and leave some comments. This is a conversation, you know.

In Case You Missed Edition Archives -click it to see them all.


In Case You Missed It Edition, Volume 21

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Each week I’ll give you links to posts that made me laugh, cry, think or at least raise an eyebrow. Please click the links and check out the posts. You may find something that rocks your world too.

Leave me some feedback in the form of comments below on what you liked, what you hated and what you’d like to see more of. I’m here to help you find the best of what is online.

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My Best Of…

8 Ways to Feel Happier During An Unhappy Time – is Gretchen Rubin some sort of psychic? After the week I’ve had, I do believe it’s true.

If you haven’t yet read The Happiness Project, please stop what you are doing and go get yourself a copy. I’m reading it a second time because it is full of super valuable reminders about how to take care of your own happiness.  It just came out in paperback this week. I bought a copy for a friend and I’m getting one for my birthday. Book club, anyone?

Do you treat yourself as well as you treat your friends and family? New research shows that self-compassion can lead to a healthier, happier you.

Have you met Sally at Already Pretty?  Her tagline: Helping You Recognize Your Own Beauty, One Post At A Time. Brilliant! Plus there is a new scarf tying tutorial – the pretzel.

Do you live in the Sacramento region? Are you needing a little quiet time for yourself and aren’t sure when, where and how to take it?

Well, I’ve got the answer!

First Sundays (that’s today, friends) I am teaching a fully restorative yoga class at It’s All Yoga. It’s called Sunday Snooze: 90 minutes of laying on the floor with blankets, bolsters, and blocks. It’s like a slumber party where I host and you actually get to rest. No undergarments in the freezer or awkward games of Truth or Dare. Just rest.

No experience or special clothes or even flexibility necessary. The ability to get down on the floor and up again is super helpful, however I’ll help if you need it.

If you’d like more information – check out my yoga classes page – or send me a message at TGBTSblog at gmail (dot) com.

Last little bit on rest… Do you know I have a Rest Manifesto? I don’t fool around when it comes to down time.

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That is the In Case You Missed It Edition for this week, folks.

Remember to click the links and leave some comments. This is a conversation, you know.

In Case You Missed Edition Archives -click it to see them all.


In Case You Missed It Edition, Volume 19

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Each week I’ll give you links to posts that made me laugh, cry, think or at least raise an eyebrow. Please click the links and check out the posts. You may find something that rocks your world too.

Leave me some feedback in the form of comments below on what you liked, what you hated and what you’d like to see more of. I’m here to help you find the best of what is online.

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My Best Of…

Public workers’ rights are under attack in Wisconsin. Mrs. Ripp -one of my favorite teacher bloggers – lives in Wisconsin.

Here’s an excerpt from her post “I Am a Teacher” –

Teachers are not made in college, they become them in the classroom.  Teachers reach out to anyone that enters their worlds, and they impact every single aspect of this American life.  Support them, cherish them, and right now, fight for them and their rights. We are here to help America succeed and grow, not to take the blame.

What can we do?

‘We Are One’ – Candlelight Vigil In Solidarity with Wisconsin Workers – Tuesday, February 22nd -West Steps of the State Capitol in Sacramento, CA – 5:30-7:30pm.

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Do you find yourself sitting at your desk jaws clenched, wondering where your concentration has gone? Or is it just me?

Sarah from Pink of Perfection invites readers to share ideas on How To Find Calm In the Work Day. Do you have anything to add?

Doing one thing at a time is one of Sarah’s calming tips and one I struggle to follow – especially online.

Recently, I’ve been spending much less time on social media (Facebook and Twitter) – I’ve been on a sort of accidental Social Media Diet as Tammy from Rowdy Kittens calls it. Check out her video for tips on how to ease yourself away from the online.

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Curvy Yogis UPDATE!

Photo shoot number one took place this week and the results are amazing!

Here’s a little sample.

photo credit: vanessa vichit vadakan

I’ve got a photographer for a second photo shoot (thanks Vanessa!). It is looking like the end of March – right before the deadline. Details will follow (like the exact date and location) – please leave me a comment if you are interested.

The Flying Yogini has been writing about the Curvy Yoga Revolution.

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That is the In Case You Missed It Edition for this week, folks.

Remember to click the links and leave some comments. This is a conversation, you know.

In Case You Missed Edition Archives -click it to see them all.

In Case You Missed It Edition! Volume 13

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Each week I’ll give you links to posts that made me laugh, cry, think or at least raise an eyebrow. Please click the links and check out the posts. You may find something that rocks your world too.

Leave me some feedback in the form of comments below on what you liked, what you hated and what you’d like to see more of. I’m here to help you find the best of what is online.

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My Best Of…

I love the idea of taking small steps to meet your goals. I spend a lot of time getting bogged down in overwhelm and it’s nice to see how other people take big projects and break them into small pieces to get them done. The most important step is giving ourselves permission to start.

Do you ever suffer from not being able to sleep because you can’t turn your head off? I do. Here are some great tips for getting back to sleep.

I love this breakfast post from The New Professional. Do you have any breakfast tips?

Are you interested in starting your own Happiness Project? It’s not too late!

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That is the In Case You Missed It Edition for this week, folks.

Remember to click the links and leave some comments. This is a conversation, you know.

In Case You Missed Edition Archives: Volume 12Volume 11,  Volume 10,  Volume 9, Volume 8, Volume 7,  Volume 6,  Volume 5,  Volume 4,  Volume 3,  Volume 2,  Volume 1

In Case You Missed It Edition – Volume 11

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Each week I’ll give you links to posts that made me laugh, cry, think or at least raise an eyebrow. Please click the links and check out the posts. You may find something that rocks your world too.

Leave me some feedback in the form of comments below on what you liked, what you hated and what you’d like to see more of. I’m here to help you find the best of what is online.

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My Best Of…

Is it just me or does anyone else suffer from the if-it-can’t-be-perfect let’s call the whole thing off?     Perfect is the enemy of the good from the Simple Dollar.

Keeping with the perfection is not the goal club – another awesome interview over at the Happiness Project.

I’ve been in a scarf tying rut. I’m a European and Simple Neck Loop junkie. No longer! From now on, I’ll be mixing it up more. Learn how to tie a scarf here.

Ever since I declared my 11 Things for 2011 – I’ve been a decluttering machine. Although I’ll admit at one point I was walking around in circles muttering to myself wondering where to start. These 3 Questions helped get me started.

Stop. The. Presses. I know these are meant to help your “parents” with their computer issues, but I think I might be old enough to BE the parent. In any case, if you’ve got questions about using your computer to make phone calls, or upgrading your browser or video chatting (!) or well anything else click here for easy to-to videos.

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That is the In Case You Missed It Edition for this week, folks.

Remember to click the links and leave some comments. This is a conversation, you know.

In Case You Missed Edition Archives: Volume 10,  Volume 9, Volume 8, Volume 7,  Volume 6,  Volume 5,  Volume 4,  Volume 3,  Volume 2,  Volume 1