Mama, can I meet Arcade Fire?

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I was driving Will to preschool today while listening to Arcade Fire’s album The Suburbs title track The Suburbs when Will asked me “mama, are those guys real?”

Confused, about his question, I looked around trying to figure out who he was talking about. I could only see some average looking people walking their dogs. Surely he could not mean them. “Which guys?” I asked.

“The guys making the music” he replied.

Ahhh.
“Well, they are real, but this is a recording of them.” Will was pretty thoughtful and didn’t say anything so, I continued… “These guys are pretty famous… they have won awards because they have been practicing a lot.” (Being me, and being a mama, I couldn’t help make a plug for the genius nature of the propensity to practice.)

After some more thought Will asked “someday could I go meet them?”

 

Human, Feel Good

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Diet.
Is it a bad word?
It is if you want it to be. It doesn’t matter what you call the way you eat. Other people’s opinions matter not. How you eat is a choice you make based on desire, needs, etc.

I prefer to concentrate on focusing on what makes me feel good. If I feel good it seems like everything else just falls into place. I know, that’s easily said, but truly, if you just eat the food and do the things that feel good then life IS good. Don’t believe me? Ok, then go ahead, prove me wrong. I dare you.

I know I have spent a lot of time proving this theory wrong. And, as a result, I have spent a lot of time feeling crappy and having low energy. So, I just started surrendering and being (more) honest about the way I feel. I have started saying yes to things I used to think were not for me or were too much trouble or cost too much money. That was all a bunch of horse sh!t. I now feel better. – Yes, there are bad days too. But those bad days are easier to get through and to learn from as I eat better and feel better. And, regarding the monetary matter, I find the return on the money I spend on better food to be lucrative.

When you are ready to, you can try something that works for you.

Just say yes.

Need some support?
I’m here. And in one of my next blog posts I will cover the topic: “Support Systems & Inspirations.”
Lot’s of people are out there just waiting to be a part of your support network. It helps if you don’t worry and you just speak and act from a place of humanity. Because, that’s what you are after all: human.

Its easy to say from my vantage point of all my life experience and in the calm and grounded mood that I am in now. But, feeling like a crazy person at times, I am here as living proof that you can do it.

Becoming a Linchpin

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Billy gave me the book Linchpin by Seth Godin about a week and a half ago. This is one hellufa book.

I put another very important book aside to start this one. We came to the consensus that it was JUST the RIGHT thing to do. It turns out we were right. It is rocking my world in the most fantastic way. I am becoming more present and leaving fear behind. Oh no, not ALL the time, but A LOT more. And even just this improvement is worth the read. Just wait until I am done. What scary, amazing things will happen to me then? To you? Because when I finish I will be affecting those around me. That is part of my mission, and Linchpin agrees.

Linchpin is about being indispensable in all you do. That equals anything you want it to, really. Job security, social good, any interaction you have in the world will be affected.

It is about shedding a bunch of crap that we have been told that we need to do. Things that hold us back and make us unhappy. Things that actualy hurt us, hurt everyone. This is not a self help book this is a book that uncovers fact that is hiding from you and you didn’t even know it. How could you? Read the book and you’ll find out. Its a friendly, honest, important and easy read. Just keep turning those pages and enjoy.

Ps. You can start by reading the first chapter for free on Kindle. The Kindle version is even cheaper too!

Take Back Halloween!

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Will the Fire Fighter - Halloween 2011

I want to dress up for Halloween, but I can’t find a strong drive to make it happen. Even now, Halloween morning, the idea of dressing up is tugging at me.

My 3 year old wanted to be a ghost but with no “Nice Ghost” options in sight he went with “Firefighter”. We went to the Halloween Spirit store and scrapped together a costume for him. The better quality firefighter costume that still contained all its parts inside the package was far too big. We found a jacket of okay quality in a package that was missing the hat and the “boots” (which were simple black leg coverings with reflective stripes just like that of the jacket). I went searching around in the hat section and found a misplaced fire helmet that went to yet another (missing in action) firefighter costume.

The place was chaos.

I did try on a Egyptian goddess type costume but it was so cheaply made that I could not bear to fork out the thirty bucks for a haphazard, throw-away costume.

Pass.

But, as I watch my son don his costume multiple times a day with a thoughtful look in his eye and, as I have the pleasure of seeing a boost in his imaginative play I feel a bit envious. I want to play dress up too!

It is so great seeing him feed his soul. What would feed my soul, at this point in my life, would take far too much work than this mama can handle these days. I would love to be a hybrid of things: a Gaia-esque, dancer, innovator, great thinker, goddess. Or something along those lines…

As I was getting warmed up to work at my little cafe table this morning, I just happened over to Heather Armstrong a.k.a. “dooce” ‘s blog and saw her link to this inspired site “Take Back Halloween : A costume guide for women with imagination”. Just get a load of this quote from this site:

Their lovely and wonderful costume ideas of Themistoclea and Medusa are the ones that most move me. I have actually been wanting to be Medusa for a while. I think I will wait until Will is a bit older just in case it freaks him out.
via www.takebackhalloween.org

Themistoclea - via www.takebackhalloween.org

Medusa, cursed: snake-haired and ugly goddess who's eyes turn people to stone.

Medusa, said to be once beautiful until Athena cursed her, is ever beautiful to me. I love those snakes and her awesome power. Sick and twisted a bit? Probably, but she has ever had an effect on me since I saw Clash of the Titans. I want to be the Medusa with the writhing snakes in her hair. Except, when I “become” her, my snakes will be rubber.

Even if I don’t dress up, it was fun to think about the possibilities in my head. And I feel that could be just enough of a dose of fantasy for me right now.

… Tonight we will celebrate with dear friends with children of like ages to that of Will with an early pizza dinner so that we can get an early start on the amazing walk down Russell Street in Berkeley, California which is famous for its elaborately decorated houses and festive mood. If you go early its pretty kid-friendly. After dark, get your preschoolers and toddlers out of there! That’s when the ghouls come out that love nothing better than to scare the poo out of young and old indiscriminately.

Happy Halloween!

Favorite (and not so favorite) Things

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I find myself checking out dooce.com when I should be doing other things. Its one of my favorite ways to procrastinate online (following checking email and facebook as well as other miscellaneous sites).

Yesterday on dooce’s blog she (a.k.a. Heather Armstrong) posted her own answers to a question from Gettysburg Mom, a user on the dooce community forum. At the end of her post she asks us, her readers, what our answers are.

I was inspired to answer her question here on my own blog. Here we go:

FAVORITE THINGS about the holiday season:

-Specialy treats flavored with pumpkin, cinnamon, clove, and cardomom (but not all at once). Oh, and hot cider. Yum.

-Christmas music. I love to hear it and sing it. Will liked singing Christmas music last year and I have a hunch he will like it even more this year! (I have this fantasy that we will get all dressed up and go Christmas caroling. … that will most likely stay a fantasy unless someone else makes it happen).

-Wrapping presents. (Heather, I would wrap yours were I in town. I LOVE to wrap presents. I make them mini-works of art.)

-Christmas trees.

-Celebrating Christmas at my mom’s. She always makes the house so cozy and her Christmas trees are so lovingly decorated. Christmas is just not “Christmas” if I can’t be with her in her home.

-Watching my son’s growing love of celebration and ceremony. He loves to sing Christmas songs and he likes the stories and ritual behind it. He also loves seeing his family!

LEAST FAVORITE THINGS about the holiday season:

-Christmas shopping. I invariably shop for myself when I should be shopping for others. … I just don’t know what people want (that I can afford). … I know from my own experience that when I receive a gift that I just can’t use or don’t want to use I feel guilty and burdened. I love the thought of the gift and, I especially love looking at the wrapped version of the gift and the opening of the gift but, too seldom do I find something inside that I need or want. Sorry! (See? I feel guilty just admitting it.) I would rather receive a note with an announcement of a donation made to a community who needs water or education.

-Being cold. Moving to the San Francisco Bay Area helped out a lot in this department. (Especially now that I migrated over to the East Bay.) I would freeze my a** off in Portland, Oregon (where I moved from 6 years ago).

-Bad Christmas Music. This needs no explanation, right?

-Bad Christmas Food/Drink. You are what you eat. And I don’t want to be crap. I don’t want to feel like it either.

-Driving from the SF Bay Area to Portland. That’s how we get there (if we’re going). It was easy when Will was a baby, he would just sleep most of the way. He’s 3 now. We have to do the trip in two days to ease the many “pains” for us all involving Will’s comfort level. (Its better on our backs too.)

-Pressure and obligations. This means different things to different folks, I am sure. And it varies a bit from year to year for myself. (This could be a whole ‘nother blog post.)

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Enjoy yourself and the ones you love. And, consider doing something for others whether it be a smile, or something like a donation to help build a well for a community who desperately needs water.

You choose. You always have a choice.

I Am Grace

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I am sitting in Cafe Gratitude in San Francisco for the second time this week. I am craving whole, raw, vegan foods. The quality and the energy of the foods they serve here are alluring.

I am so tired. I have been feeling shifts in my world like a dizzy moment where plates slide and gnash and a mini quake happens for me only. I want to repair my health in mind and body and am piecing it together as I go.
I feel there must be a better way. A faster one. One that goes something like this:

sit down, assess, make a plan, implement.

…what?

 

That’s not what I’m doing right now. That’s not how I am choosing to cope. I’m sure its not Right* what I’m doing.

 

For one, Cafe Gratidude is expensive. I just ordered a 8 1/2 dollar beverage. Yes, it will be amazing and yes it will be filling but, no, it will not provide me with the full and adequate snack my body deserves (especially now when my reserves are depleted).

 

So, I am here. Doing this…

 

ah! – my drink has arrived…

 

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*sip sip* ahhhh…
So splendidly good. It’s like ice cream and a health drink and wonderful all at once. Its name is I Am Grace. I am certainly grateful for this beauty of a drink.

Cheers!

young coconut milk + almond butter + dates + vanilla bean = grace
And now that I have consumed it all I am mighty full and very happy.
~~~
note:
* denotes that more needs to be written on what my where my path is leading me. (Here is a spoiler on one of the details of my path: along with my husband, I am on a diet heavily influenced by The 4-Hour Body by Timothy Ferriss.)

A Gift! Eco-Wrapping

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A dear friend who Will adores presented him with a gift wrapped in a beautiful fabric she had left-over from a sewing project that was held together with a pretty re-used ribbon to boot. My wheels are turning with the possibilities this “scrap” of fabric has to offer now that it is in my hands! I could make something out of it (if I allow myself the time, that is), or I could use it to wrap a gift that we will be giving to a friend of Will’s next week.

This is how I like to wrap gifts too – with objects on hand. It can be anything really. Well almost…

The last wrapping project we did was put together with IKEA newsprint that came inside furniture packaging. I lightly crumpled it then had Will help me paint it. It was fun and super cute. We used Will’s art supplies.

AMy wheels are turning with the possibilities this “scrap” of fabric has to offer now that it is in my hands!)

How do you wrap?

Rainboots Review — Keep the Kid Dry!

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Its raining outside! Will needs a new pair of boots. His last pair are nearly outgrown and covered in the goose poop that I could not bring myself to clean after our last romp at Lake Merritt in Oakland (DAMN GEESE!!!). I am embarrassed to say that the caking on of the goose poop happened his birthday weekend which was MID-JULY! I still have those boots in plastic bag. They WERE in a corner Will’s bathroom hoping for a cleaning. I recently moved them next to the front door next to a bag marked “DONATION” but, how can I in good consiounce give away goose poop encrusted boots.

Nasty.

So, since he has nearly outgrown those hand-me-downs, and since he has gotten loads of use out of them, it is time for a new pair.

I decided to get a pair that he could flex his foot in instead of the kind that kids have trouble walking around in. He’s going to be walking, running, bending down and observing treasures on the ground AND riding his Strider bike in those things. Those cheap boots with the unbending sole just won’t cut it. (Why do they make such things anyway? Is is so much to ask that manufacturers spend five more cents on making the boots with soles the cater to the actual humans who will be wearing the boots?)

I saw some sweet ones that bend, look cool and had additional features that I TRIED to talk myself into spending the money on. I even went so far as to ask papa B if it was an unreasonable amount to spend on a pair of footwear that a 3 year old will outgrow in about a year (unless there is a growth spurt that will render them useless to us next season). Papa B’s response: “you could buy 3 pairs for that amount”. So, I have decided to to go for a “middle of the road” pair. – FINE!

So I went to zappos.com and searched “rainboots boys” and sorted them by price from “lowest to highest” price. Here is the result.

How about these Fire Chief boots from Zappos.com? $26.95

But these dino boots look even MORE flexible and, super cute to boot. $35.00! That is only $5 less than the extra technical ones I really wanted.

Dream boots:

Wear the forest! (Aslo available in black.) Awesome technical boots: http://www.zappos.com/bogs-kids-classic-high-no-handles-toddler-youth-mossy-oak $68! Gulp!

Cute cute cute and no-nonsense: http://www.zappos.com/hunter-kids-kids-first-toddler-youth-yellow $50 comes in other fun colors.

Close contenders:

This one has a drawstring at the top! KEEP OUT: Rain & Snow! And, its a bit cheaper: $37.50. But, will the sole flex? http://www.zappos.com/tundra-kids-boots-husky-toddler-black-black

Love how HIGH these boots reach up the leg. Stay out nasty puddle water! http://www.zappos.com/kamik-kids-stomp-infant-toddler-youth-black~1?zlfid=111&recoName=zap_pdp_sub

This one has the highest customer rating, and I see loads of kids wearing this type of boot. I have tested the flexibilty factor in a store and approved of it! The only problem is they don’t have Will’s size. $27: http://www.zappos.com/western-chief-kids-frog-rainboot-infant-toddler-youth-green-frog . BONUS! Matching cute-overload raincoat: http://www.zappos.com/western-chief-kids-frog-raincoat-toddler-little-kids-green?zlfid=111&recoName=zap_pdp_sub

RECYCLEABLE BOOTS! And they are HIGH, and they have Trek sole, AND a shark pattern. AND they are close to the cheap goal at a modest $31.00: http://www.zappos.com/kamik-kids-sharks-infant-toddler-youth-green?zlfid=111&recoName=zap_pdp_sub