Bliss List #11

June 22, 2012 By 2 Comments

Awwwww, summer.  It’s Friday, the second week of summer and there is bliss everywhere!  It’s been a while but I’m re-hooking up with Liv Lane and her beauties this week to share a slice of bliss on my corner of the earth.

1.  Each morning since school got out, I’ve emerged from my slumber and immediately looked forward to a fresh, delicious cup o’ coffee from our incredible, amazing, miraculous new coffee maker.  The best part?  It is simple and fast.  Flip the switch, put in the cup, and press ‘brew’… it is a mini, yet enormous miracle on our kitchen counter and, and, and… we get to pick from a plethora of flavors each morning.  Mmmmmmm.  Spoiled bliss.

2.  I’m getting my body back!  At the beginning of June each year, I have to work off about 10 pounds of birthday donuts from the school year.  I’ve spent most mornings at the gym or running outside.  I signed up for a half marathon in Denver in September and think I might actually be able to run it!  The downside?  I’m just gonna keep it real here, so hold your nose.  I keep thinking that some stinky person is following me around the gym.  Nope.  I stink.  Clinical strength deodorant doesn’t work for me and clearly I need an intervention.  Stinky folks, help me out!

3.  For fear you might go running for the hills slapping your knees and rolling your eyes, I was going to refrain from mentioning that I started writing a novel this week.  I’ve dreamed of writing this for years and years, have come up with every excuse in the book (some legitimate) for not starting.  You know what I realized though?  This is at the top of my bucket list… to finish a novel, even if it never gets published.  My goal is to write two pages a day.  Thanks to Jess Morrow, her writing course and the awesome women who enrolled, I found my inspiration.  Yee-haw!

4.  The most blissful slice of my life these days, though, is that I’ve been able to press on the brakes a bit and actually spend meaningful time with my family.  One of our favorite discoveries is an awesome game called Blokus Classics Game
which will surely be worn out by the end of the summer.  Not only has been enlightening to watch the kids develop their strategies in the game, it is nice to finally get past the ‘sore loser syndrome’ that can ruin the fun of any game.

I hope you are enjoying your summer as much as I am!  Cheers to 2012 and all the changes that abound… do you feel it in the air?  Watch out, be ready.  All is flux,  my friends, it’s ALL in flux!

 

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Bliss List Exploded

May 4, 2012 By 2 Comments

I haven’t done a bliss list in a while but it is not due to a shortage of bliss!  This time of year surely starts to feel chaotic and exciting at work.  You thinks kids get excited for summer?  MUST be a fraction of the anticipation teachers feel!   The beautiful weather keeps me on the porch, my family has a renewed summer-like energy, and my life is unfolding in the most unusual and remarkable ways!  The bliss is surely plentiful!

In short, but long:

1.  A quick, but wonderful visit from mom.  Bliss.

2.  Crappy situations that keep me clear about my path.  Bliss.

3.  Daddy watching his son play football for the first time.  Bliss.

4.  Orchids… surprise, surprise.  Bliss.

5.  Online psychic development classes a la Leigh Hopkins and Echo Bodine.  Bliss.

6.  A quieting of the mind without strenuous effort to get it quiet.  Bliss.

7.  Great neighbors.  Bliss.

8.  Angel Numbers.  Bliss.

9.  Nights on the deck in the backyard.  Bliss.

10.  Friends that love and care.  Bliss.

11.  My outlook on the future…. BUH-LISS!

Don’t forget to check out the Bliss List Par-tay with Liv Lane… she rocks.

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My Bliss List {#9}

March 23, 2012 By 7 Comments

Spring Has Sprung!  My entire list this week has to do with the weather and the change of seasons!

 I *expletive* LOVE SPRING!!

1.  Look at this tree.  No, that is NOT snow, that is fluffy springiness loveliness. Nuff said.  Bliss.

2.  Bike riding with the kids at the school across the street.  Ella learned how to ride her bike last summer in this school’s parking lot.  You can’t put a damper on those memories, and reliving them… bliss.

3. Snow on the mountains, warmth in the valley.  Beauty AND Bliss.

4.  The realization that the dead of winter and the short days filled with darkness are on their way out… nothing better!  Bliss.

5.  Sniff, sniff… I smell changes in the air.  I vowed to take care of my body under stress and although I’ve lost a few minutes of sleep, I feel a renewed vigor about my future, and it doesn’t hurt that IT’S SPRING!  Bliss.

Teaming up with Liv Lane and her awesomeness again this week to focus on the beauty and magic in life.  Thanks Liv! xoxo

 

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My Bliss List {#8}

March 16, 2012 By 2 Comments

Makeshift rest area and picnic spot on her sick day... loves the outdoors!

1.  I got to stay home with my little pumpkin, who was sick, on Thursday.  When we left to go pick up Kai from school at the end of the day, she said, “Even though I was sick today, I really enjoyed spending the day with you mommy.”  Sophisticated much?  BUH-LISS!

2.  After submitting a guest post to tinybuddha.com, I got an email that my post will be published on that site in a couple of months.  I adore the messages on her site and feel 100% aligned with the mission and message there.  Pure Bliss.

3.  Coming down from last weekend’s beauty and wonder with my dear friends has been like a bad hangover.  I MISS MY FRIENDS!  The bliss is clearly in the new memories we created and the connection with such amazing women.  Bliss.

4.  It’s really starting to feel like spring!  When I imagine sleeping in during those beautiful summer mornings, coming up the stairs, and eating breakfast on the deck with the kids, I get butterflies in my stomach.  The light at the end of the tunnel is getting bright!  Bliss.

5.  I saw a quote on ‘kind over matter‘ this week that said, “Life Begins at the End of Your Comfort Zone,” and I got hit by a wave of understanding.  Changes are on the way, my friends, yes they are!  Stepping out of comfort is frightening, but I have a life to live and I am in the driver’s seat… don’t want to waste a single day!  Bliss.

artwork by icreatedesigncandy on etsy

Hook up and holla with Liv Lane… recognize your own bliss!

 

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My Bliss List {#7}

March 9, 2012 By 16 Comments

 

Fifi... Ella's Build-a-Bear Creation on her Birthday and New LOVE!!

 

1.  Ella lives in a magical world most of the time… this creation of Fifi’s ‘hair’ brought a prideful smile to her sweet face.  I wish I could live in her world more of the time…

Mom: “Ella, did you know you were born on Dr. Seuss’ birthday?”

Ella:  ”Oh, man, I should have invited him to my party at Build-a-Bear.”

Mom:  ”It’s okay, he’s dead.”

Ella:  ”That’s okay… he’ll be a baby again soon.”

We don’t talk ‘reincarnation’ much around here, but this made my heart smile a little bit.

Bliss.

2.  Anita Moorjani tweeted me after she read my review of HER book, Dying to Be Me.  Unless you’ve read the book, it might not sound super profound, but I really feel awed by her experience and presence in this world.  She is a breathing, walking white light.  It was such a wonderful surprise when I logged on to twitter after a really long day on Tuesday night.  Serious. Bliss.

3.  I got to spend Wednesday night with my sweet niece, Mackenzie, for her birthday.  It’s so nice to have family right around the corner and I don’t want to ever lose sight of how wonderful it is to have them so close by.  I want to enjoy that as much as I can, while we can.  Love you Kenz, Ki, and Bretly!  Bliss.

4.  As this bliss list gets published in the wee night hours of the 9th of March, my dear, amazing friends are getting in their last zzzzzzz’s before they hop on a plane to come to Salt Lake for the weekend.  If you’ve ever moved away from your dearest friends and been in a new place where you struggle to develop and maintain deep and meaningful connections, you’ll understand how amazing it will be for me to share my entire weekend with people who are quite literally my soul sisters.  You could throw us all in a dumpster for the weekend and we would, by virtue of sharing each other’s space, have the time of our lives!  Cheers to their efforts, the love and incredible friendship they have shown me (over the last 20 years), and the amazing time we’ll have!  Bliss.

5.  I’ve spent some time this week questioning what I want to be when I grow up.  While I love my job dearly, I know that it will not be something I do into my 40′s and 50′s.  Thanks to my own intuition, I feel like it is pointing me in directions that are best for my own growth… I trust that I will follow a path that fulfills me and inspires me.  {{crossing fingers tightly}}  Bliss.

Hooking up with Liv Lane again this week as I find the beauty and magic in my life (during a week that I lovingly refer to as ‘hell week’ because of the busy schedule and sometimes frustrating meetings I have with parents).  If I can find bliss in dreadful days, so can you!  Don’t be a grouchy ladybug… find the miracles around you!

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My Bliss List {#6}

March 2, 2012 By 12 Comments

 

Ella's Arrival

1.  The most blissful list topper for the week is today’s celebration of Ella’s arrival in our family.  Her robust, sensitive, fearless, joyful nature is priceless.  What an incredibly lucky momma I am to have this sweet soul in my life.  Happy Birthday, my magnificent 5 year old!

2.  Ella had a field trip to the History Museum this week and came home and told me that she really thinks that we need to get a Triceratops.  ”And don’t worry mama, it won’t eat us, because it doesn’t like meat,” she mused.  I told her about the word extinction and she replied, “I already know they are all dead, but I still think we should get one.”   I guess anything is possible, right?  I’m all for magic… after all, I ride around on a unicorn all day.

3.  One of my favorite read alouds each year in school is Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls.  I learned, baptism by fire, that I could not read the final chapters all by myself.  No.  I needed help… and since I wasn’t prepared that first year, I enlisted my students to read it for me while I hyperventilated at my desk.  Since that first year, I have been more strategic in preparing for my breakdown and I call on one of my parents to endure the torture of crying whilst reading.  This week marked the fourth time I’ve read that book to my class and I STILL enjoyed it just as much this time as I did the first time.  I guess some things will never change, for just when I think I might be able to hear it without crying, I still find myself sitting at my desk wiping the tears away.  What an amazing book!   *Sniff, sniff*

Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls

4.  It’s March and  I kicked February’s ass!  Need I say more?  I didn’t think so.  BLISS!

5.  In one week from today, I get to experience heaven.  I can’t tell you how… but it will be pure BLISS… minus growing pains, heartache, or stress.  I will be in heaven… one week from today… PURE HEAVEN.  I can’t wait!!  Eeeeep…. nothing like best friends to fill a weekend with love and magic!  Bliss!

I love me some Liv Lane and appreciate her for helping me find the bliss in my life on a regular basis.  This week had some sure fire ‘growl’ moments, but eeeeking out all the good, with a strainer, leaves all the crap leftover that I can just toss out with the trash!  Happy Friday… the light at the end of the winter tunnel is approaching and surely we can ALL smile about that!

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My Bliss List {#5}

February 24, 2012 By 16 Comments

 !BLISS!

Hooking up with Liv Lane again this week because, well, it is soul

nourishing to pinpoint  bliss!

1.  I can do what I wanna do.  Yes, it is bliss to become conscious of my own power to change the things in my life that I don’t like.  Problem solvin’ instead of problem admirin’!  No one is a better advocate for me than ME!  If I don’t like something, by hullaballoo, change it!  Check.  Bliss!

 You don’t drown by falling in the water, you drown by staying there. -Edwin Louise Cole

2.  I got a huge Symphony chocolate bar for Valentine’s Day from one of my students.  My bliss is that I got to enjoy parts of it everyday… the bummer now is that, well, it’s gone.  Eating these little slivers of melting, semi-crunchy, toffee-rific deliciousness actually spread my bliss across multiple days, and with a fresh, ice cold Diet Coke, although super unhealthy, was pure BLISS!

3.  A Friday Read-a-thon for my class.  Yep, reading ALL day.  A few of my best memories in 6th grade were those days of slumbering, nuzzling, and cozying up to a great book and reading the day away.  After I do grades, I plan to get my READ ON with them!  Bliss!

4.  The basketball hoop attached to my garage.  It was born on Father’s Day last year and was a result of hard labor by two determined and caring men, that had enough love for my family to make it happen for my sweet husband.  On our sunny days above 45 degrees this week, my determined little boy has begged for some hoop time with his mama.  It’s not so much the basketball playing itself, but the sheer determination I see in his whole being, the perseverance and drive to make ball meet hoop.  Complete bliss!

5.  Walking up the stairs to get my kids ready for school at 7:00 am and seeing SUNSHINE come through the windows!  Seriously… that is some serious BUH-LISS!!  Holla for longer days and sunshine!

 It’s Friday… you can’t be grouchy about that!  What is your bliss?

 

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My Bliss List {#4}

February 17, 2012 By 16 Comments

1.  This might look like some kind of art but I prefer to call it therapy.  Lucky for my students (and for me), we have an artist who comes to our school to do 12 art lessons with our kids.  This lesson was about Gustav Klimt.  Not only because I had the poster “The Kiss” in my bedroom for 12 years, but also because I love the way he infuses color and geometry in his work, I was super ecstatic to have this therapeutic time to explore my creative side.  I suppose I might be better off helping the art teacher manage the 30 kids in the room, but maybe not.  The kids are better off the rest of the day (and maybe even the rest of the week) for allowing me to participate in this therapeutic process.  Bliss.

 

2.  I suppose the theme of bliss for me this week must be pointing to art.  A disappointing and hurtful situation turned into a blissful night with my kids.  Kai left school holding a picture of a watercolor he had done on Wednesday morning.  With tears in his eyes, he said, “The art teacher didn’t hang mine up on the board because she said the seahorse was too dark.”  I looked at his beautiful work of art, knowing that I didn’t give a crap what colors he used, and feeling upset that the art teacher did something that resulted in hurt feelings.  He went on to tell me that she didn’t hang up another little girl’s art either, for the same reason.  This little girl cried openly and was very hurt as well.  I contacted his regular teacher to let her know that I was concerned.  Why is this on the bliss list… a crappy move by an art teacher which resulted in tears?  On the way home from school, Kai said that he really wanted to get some watercolor paper for home.  We stopped off at the grocery store and found a pad of 12 sheets of paper, just for watercolor.  When we got home, we spent two hours doing art.  Two hours!  Both kids loved every moment and so did I.  So relieved that her hurtful remarks didn’t affect his motivation and love of creating beautiful watercolors.   Wednesday night… Bliss.

 

3.  In the spirit of creating, Ella decided that after she completed two watercolors, she wanted to make a balloon creation.  Need I say more?  Bliss.

 

4.  Watching the Grammys on Sunday night following the appearance of Adele on 60 Minutes was so fulfilling.  She has such an unassuming, grounded, and humble air about her that is so refreshing.  Her voice… well, there aren’t words.  Bliss.

I don’t really need to stand out.  There’s room for everyone. -Adele 

 

5.  February 17th… Happy Birthday to my pops AND Happy Blog Class Graduation to me!  This is one of those coincidences that is too perfect.  My path led me here, in a large part due to my dad, which then ultimately led me to rediscover my love of writing.  My dad would  tell me that he is proud of me if he were still here today, but he doesn’t need to be here to tell me because I already know.  He. is. proud.  Cheers pops!  Bliss.

 

Linking up with Liv Lane again this week, for some Bliss List Love!

 

 

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My Bliss List {#3}

February 10, 2012 By 28 Comments

1.  Kai sings.  This week, he got his hands on some headphones and realized he could hook it up to his little game console.  I was sitting in the living room watching the tube with my husband when, all of a sudden, we hear a kind of whining.  I had no idea what it could be.  Upon turning down the volume on the tv, there it was.

“Cause it’s a beautiful night, we’re looking for something dumb to do.  Hey baby, I think I want to marry you!”

Smiles crept over both of our faces.  He has no idea that wearing headphones automatically makes you loud and confident.  It was so adorable… and just got better and better as each word bellowed from his chest.

He doesn’t look a thing like me, but he sure did inherit my singing voice… not so sure I’ll be winning any Idol competitions in this lifetime.  Bliss.

2.  Twice a year, I get to take my fourth graders to the Utah Fine Arts Museum at the university.  The first time I saw this statue, I think I stopped breathing for a minute.  The resemblance… it was like Robert Arneson, the artist, had my dad sitting right in front of him while he sculpted this likeness.  I’ve been back six more times since that first visit and each time I go, I ‘purposoul-ly’ seek it out, so I can stare into his eyes, give him a huge ‘hello’, and chat for a couple of minutes.  Yes, I talk to the statue.  I haven’t actually hugged him yet, but ya never know!  Albeit a little less blue in the face, minus glasses, and a couple years younger… identical.  Bliss.

Artist: Robert Arneson

Kent Walgren

3.  Incidentally, while I was searching for photos of my dad for #2 above, I came across this picture, taken October 12, 2001.  The day we got engaged.  What an amazing day that was.

And WOW, we thought we were the shiz-nat… well, cuz we were.  Bliss.

 

Look for your bliss!  It happens several times a day.  Your heart flutters an extra titch, your soul feels at home and peaceful, the hum drum of your day pauses, and you feel light and fluffy.

Have a great weekend!

Thank you, Liv Lane, for helping me continue to find my bliss every single day!

 

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My Bliss List {#2}

February 3, 2012 By 30 Comments

I can’t help it… I love the Bliss List, coming to you via a blog link-up, originated by Liv Lane.  Just like last week, the moments of bliss, for me, are interruptions in the flow of my day.  The interruptions are moments where my mental flow pauses, appreciates, and processes the stimuli with feelings of warmth, purpose, and mindful reflection.  A mental bookmark is filed and the day, then, continues as it had.  Here goes…

1.  The responses to my blog this week have been really moving.  The idea that anyone was affected by my message after they finished reading it and that the effect continued throughout their day, amidst the hustle and bustle of their regular lives… well, feels incredibly uplifting.  I am having so much fun with this blog… and with the writing in particular.  The community of over 100 inspired women taking the course, the dialogue on our FB page, the support, the incredible posts, the encouragement from Liv Lane, all of it… YEE-HAW!  Bliss.

 

2.  I walked in to check on my kids Tuesday night and saw the sweetest thing in the whole world.  They were tucked in together, sleeping so peacefully, Kai’s hand placed gently and lovingly on Ella.  I pulled my phone out of my pocket to capture this sweet moment, turned it on, and clicked.  The second that I clicked the picture, both kids opened their eyes, full throttle, and busted a gut laughing.  Yep, they got me… staged a moment that they knew I would completely melt over, and then laughed hysterically when I ‘bit’.  At 4 and 7, they are coming up with THIS?  What, oh, what am I in for?  I’m a momma to two silly jokesters?  Bliss.

 

 

3.  Crossing guards surely don’t get enough credit for the job that they do in order to keep kids safe on their walk to school.  The responsibility that they have can be a matter of life and death.  On my way to school this week, I noticed that there was a ‘substitute’ crossing guard.  She looked very old… not trying to be rude at all, but this woman appeared to be in her 80’s, at least (which could contribute to her sweet appeal as a crossing guard).  As the car got closer and closer, I noticed that she was really tuned in to each vehicle that approached her intersection.  When my car was about 60 feet away from where she was standing, a warm, fuzzy feeling crept through my entire body as I watched her wave, almost hysterically, to each and every passing car.  She was beyond excited about her job and she made sure that she put a smile on each drivers face as they passed.  A simple gesture (albeit over exaggerated) made by a crossing guard had me grinning from ear to ear all the rest of the way to school.  I happened to notice that I was not the only one to receive her joy.  As I passed another car through the intersection, we made eye contact and gave each other a knowing smile, as if to say, “she just made my day!”  Bliss.

 

4.  You will soon find that I have a unique love of deliciousness.  Experiencing the world through taste and smell is just as powerful to me as witnessing it with my eyes.  So, here is some crazy awesome, fancy-schmancy, sophisticated, amazingly delicious spaghetti sauce.  How could it be so good, coming from a jar?  Well, I’m not really sure and that is why it is so amazing.  It just is.  I don’t ask questions, I just eat it.  Pricey for a jar of sauce but worth every red cent.  Thanks, Emily McMaster, for the introduction.  My taste buds have a deep appreciation for you!  The downside?  Well, now everything else tastes mediocre, at best.  Vodka Sauce… bliss!

What is your bliss?

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