Good bye 2013...Hello 2014! Happy New Year!

2013 has been a roller coaster of a ride! Many ups in our business/creative lives, many downs in the health category and lessons all in between!

Overall I would say that 2013 was informative and by no means a wash. Looking forward to moving on ward and up ward in 2014, implementing the lessons of the past year.

I am grateful for every twist and turn but mostly for the family and friends that were with me the entire way! I am also thankful for the faith in which I have found and hung on to which made even the darkest moments bright.

Love and light my friends, more progress is to be made in 2014 ♥

Happy New Year!

Getting back at it and it feels real good!

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, 

change the way you think about it."  ~Mary Engelbreit

The past two weeks have been filled with pure chaos! It has been hard to schedule in our daily walks with all the catch up that has been played after taking that time off to recoup. I am back at it though! At least every other day we are out walking or being active. AND of course I took pictures for proof ;)

The past few weeks I have been pondering why it is so easy for me to get off track with changes that I start in my personal life. I have come to the conclusion that I have a weird relationship with change. As most people do, I fear it yet need it.

I had a boss tell me once that I feared change, I did not agree as the context it was given in was work related and I have always had the attitude of "if it is not broken why fix it". Her statement stuck with me though, for this time in my life when I needed it.

Now, more than ever I need change. In order for me and my family to move forward we need to tweak a few things. Today, change is encouraged. My perception of change has a lot to do with it, too. If I look at our daily walks as a chore or something that has to be done...I do not want to do it (unfortunately, this is a personality trait). If I look at it as a tool to help me change in the other areas I hope to change then it gets done and it is enjoyable. I swear, humans are their own enemy. While free will was gifted for the good in us, we can sure turn it around and use it against ourselves and others.

Here are a couple of quotes I found on change that help, hopefully they help you too! The last one is a reminder that we do not know what life holds for us once we do change but the results are usually for our benefit. Especially with those positive changes we make.

"All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another."  ~Anatole France

"You must welcome change as the rule but not as your ruler."  ~Denis Waitley

"Change always comes bearing gifts."  ~Price Pritchett

Now for the photography...

We see this waterfall on a trail that we take usually when we are all together...love me some family walks!

Pup, on the trail we usually take

Yep, still seeing hearts...they are not as frequent as before but they are there. All you have to do is look :)

It was a cold morning walk on Litton Trail with my Mama...

We saw this HUGE mushroom. Anyone know what it is?

Always beautiful at the Empire Mine Trails!

A bee, I like to see these!

Nothing but blue skies and Pine Trees...love Empire Mine Trails!

The wildflowers are in full bloom!

I had some company on this day!

Poppy likes it when Alyssa rides her bike...it gives her an excuse to run fast and not listen ;)

Love this goof!

If I was a bird, I would spend a lot of time in this tree.

This makes me think of the past, not sure why...nothing specific, just "the past".

The Great Oaks...as I call them. They are just gorgeous right now!

Love it! Big. bold. Green. Fresh.

This was not taken on a walk...I stopped on Ridge Road one day before my daughter got out of school. This reminds me of my brother, his favorite flower is Lupine.

Love this pic...nothing better then blue skies, wildflower fields and evergreen trees!

So this is what I have captured the past few weeks. The next few coming up I have to work on not allowing distractions and my own perspective get in my way.

Love and light friends...thanks for reading ;)

Walk a little here, walk a little there...must reassess and keep going!

I think this blog and my goal of walking needs to be reassessed. While walking daily is still ideal, it is not realistic some weeks with all that needs to be done. Monday's, forget it! I tried to fit in a walk with Pup while my daughter was at dance lessons this last Monday but Pup is not comfortable around cars, streets, etc. and it was not enjoyable. Neither of us got any good exercise. So, I am just going to forget Monday's and try to walk at least 6 times during the week.

Also, the same is true for finding time to blog about this adventure. I will try to continue to post daily, or ever other day but some weeks it just might not happen; like this week. Do know that I be walking, though!

Sunday- Yep, I am about a week behind ALWAYS! I am finding that Sunday walks are among my favorite because my husband usually comes with us and we are all together. These walks are not as stressed as the walks with just us girls. Pup and daughter listen better, we find lots of treasures and have a lot of fun. We took the girls over to my Mom's house and walked on the Litton trails. I did not know that they linked up with the trails at the High School and could lead to Ridge Road but I do now!

Before we even started the walk, my daughter found this heart! It is on a plum tree where a leaf or branch used to be.

Litton Trail ends up behind NU, who knew! Not me and I have been living here for 24 years and was very familiar with the trails when I was in school.

My daughter found a hide out!

NU has a course along the trails with a giant set of Monkey Bars...could not keep my Monkey off of them!

Tuesday - My daughter asked for us to wait until after school to walk so we did. Took the usual route by our house.

Grass Valley Landscape, my new sunset spot that does not have poison oak ;)

Wednesday- We did not take a walk but Pup needed some exercise so I played a long game of "chase me and if you get the bone we can play catch". Pup likes to keep her toys from us, according to the family that had her before us, Pup has always played that game.

Thursday- Walks alone is probably my most-est favorite me time. While I do enjoy company on walks, it is the walks that I take alone that really help me stay focused and grounded. I feel so good after an alone walk. On this particular day we went to the trails at the end of Gold Hill Drive. These are such nice trails, full of wild life and respectful people. For most of the walk I listened to an Owl hooting away and came across a very talkative Crow. We will be back to this trail :)

Beautiful day for me time!

It is so hard to get a picture of my Pup when she is not moving, I will take the puppy love though :)

Friday - Took the usual trail by our house, Nana was with us.

I love where I live!

So today is Saturday, filled with the unknown. I do know there will be a walk at some point, a little house chores and a whole lotta love!

Peace, love and light my friends!

It is the little things, ya know? Happy Birthday to me!

Yesterday, we woke up to snow! So naturally we took an early walk...

Goof troop

Oh, look another heart in the snow!

Mommy Love

Today is my day of birth. Today joy came to me in little ways; my daughters class singing HBD to me (with cha cha's), flowers and a card from my husband and many well wishes from people all across the globe. I found serenity gazing in to the landscape and by feeling the light of the sun. We had a wonderful family walk. I got my husband to come!

I could not have asked for a better birthday sky!

Family Walk! My husband, daughter and I

Here is the heart the I saw today ♥

 

My daughter found a feather! ♥

Life is wonderful if you let it be, love and light my friends!

DAY 3 - I be walking....

11:03 am - December 26th, 2012 marks the day I started walking EVERYDAY. Rain, snow or shine, I be walking. I chose this mode of exercise because my dog is also over weight and needs the movement just as much as I do. I also love being outdoors.

December 26th I walked with lots of motivation. My brother was still visiting from Albuquerque and it gave us the perfect opportunity to spend some time together. The 27th we walked again, twice. Today, the 28th, has been difficult. Seems my motivation hopped on the plane to Albuquerque with my brother. I will have to find it and get moving....

1:30 pm - I had some errands to run so my daughter and I left the house. We decided to walk around town instead of taking the dog out in the mud. It was a nice walk, but it ended with frozen yogurt. Uggg! Although the yogurt is low fat and sugar free the yogurt covered raisins and peanut covered M&M's were not. Hey, there were raisans and nuts on it! LOL, it could have been worse!

The motivation to walk is not the only obstacle I will have here, I am determined that walking will be part of my every day life. Portion control and sugar control are going to be the hardest, no doubt! Changing habits is never easy!

Snoop Lion and Bob Marley

So, I am sure you heard that Snoop Dogg is changing his name to Snoop Lion. Upon Snoop’s visit to Jamaica he awakened to a new reality that he may be connected to the spirit of Bob Marley.

A few years ago my reaction would have been, “Yeah, right!” But today, knowing what I know about spirit, my reaction is “Right on!”  Like Snoop, I have gone through my own awakening and realized that there is more to us than what we can see. There is a part of us that is not yet explained and that part is one part of life that feels right and makes sense to me now.

I have been feeling the “changes” occur. I see it in our strong minded loving children, I see it people everyday who act randomly out of kindness and I see it in nature. I have had a feeling, possibly a premonition that some one that we all recognize would have an awakening and bring upon huge change; not just for themselves and their families but one they could share with the world. I saw this person as a celebrity or someone who is well know by the masses. This just might be it.

As anyone who awakens and chooses to share that part of their life with the world, Snoop will get a lot of resistance. He will face scrutiny and people plainly telling him he is crazy. While, the truth that Snoop is reincarnated as Bob Marley is only known by the Divine but for those of you who smiled funny at me when I considered Bob Marley to be a Divine Master…maybe I was not too far off. Once Snoop Lions first album comes out in the form of Rastafarian beats, it will be interesting to compare the two.

Check out these videos I found on the subject. What do you think?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EX7EqelDuQg&feature=player_embedded#!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UePv182E2Ac

Love and Light, Onward and Upward, Peace!

August/September Business Worth the Buzz - Eco Tot

My friend, Leah, is passionate about Charlie Banana Diapers. Leah feels so good about this brand that she decided to open up her own shop, Eco Tot, featuring just the Charlie Banana collection. I can see why, the international company is dedicated to designing products that anyone would feel confident using on themselves and on their babies, and that they would recommend to their friends.

The corporation is based in Hong Kong, yet supplies markets all around the world. Their team is an eclectic mix of Canadians, Americans, French, British, Argentinian, Nepalese and Chinese and they are proud of the global diversity in their workforce.

The story of how Gaëlle Wizenberg, President of this company, came up the name for this eco-friendly line suggests a little about the kindness and passion that goes behind this brand. On their site they explain how ”Gaëlle drew inspiration from her own two children: her son, Zachary, and her daughter, Charlie – or ‘Charlie Banana’ as Zachary calls her “ and how “it’s with great joy that Charlie Banana® comes to life.” Too cute!

At Eco Tot, you will find not only Charlie Banana Diapers, but the entire potty system. You will find…
•    Training pants
•    The diaper inserts
•    Organic cotton wipes
•    Nursing pads
•    Leg warmers
•    The new hanging pails
•    The waterproof tote to keep all your Charlie Banana goods

For more information about Eco Tot, check it out at http://stores.ebay.com/Eco-Tot/_i.html?rt=nc&_sid=225265660&_trksid=p4634.c0.m14.l1581&_pgn=3.

I have known Leah for many, many years now and I can tell you that she is trust worthy and passionate about life. I have never used Charlie Banana products (although if the Universe gifts us with another child I will) but because Leah believes in them, I do too. Best of luck to you, Eco Tots!

May/June 2012 Business Worth the Buzz: Creative Kids Preschool and Daycare

Finding a daycare is easy, but you can only find a phenomenal daycare once in a lifetime!

When Alyssa was 18 months old we had to find a place for her to spend her days while my husband and I were at work. This was the most terrifying experience that I have yet to deal with as a mom; it even tops some of the unbelievable moments my daughter has blessed us with. Really!

A colleague kept telling me about the daycare she had her boys in but because I am stubborn and a free spirit I had to find one for myself. I visited just about all the daycares that I had not already heard of. Wow, was I shocked to see what crap “providers” were providing for children. The last daycare I visited was an in-home daycare. I really like the idea of having in a smaller, more intimate setting. The woman had the kids crammed into a little room with a TV (and sheets on the windows), while the rest of her house was immaculately filled with glass and other breakables. Not the best environment for my little “bull in a China shop”, LOL! 

That was not the worst part though, to get to the outside play area you had to walk through a cluttered garage with all the usual garage dangers. The play area had all the expected toys and structures; except shade. The woman told me that she sprayed them with the hose to keep them cool and reassured me that trees were on the way. OK. Although the woman was really nice, I walked out of there and never wanted to go back. I had it in my mind that I was going to become a stay at home mom. I was over the whole “finding a daycare” idea.

Until, I decided to listen to my colleague. The day we showed up at Creative Kids was the day my opinion changed on daycares and preschools. It was perfect and exactly what I was looking for; structured yet intimate. It was obvious that all the teachers there were there because they wanted to be, not just because they needed an income. Luckily, Alyssa fit right in and was there until  she started Kindergarten (4 years).

Creative Kids is clean. Creative Kids is positive. Creative Kids is about making friends and growing. It is a preschool and daycare center that has the feel of a home day care center because it is filled with love and passion. They teach the kids respect; for both yourself and your friends.  They help your child meet the standards to get into Kindergarten; academically and socially. Overall, our four years of being at Creative Kids was phenomenal. We are truly blessed to have started Alyssa’s school years here.

More so, Alyssa’s Kindergarten teacher noticed and mentioned how “whoever was with her before she started Kindergarten prepared her for both learning and playing with new friends.” This really made me feel more compassion towards these ladies than I already had. Another professional noticed their mad child rearing skills which set it in stone for me; Creative Kids rocks!

Although Alyssa is now too big to go back we are so happy that she started school with Miss Cindy and Miss Sara, not only because we created a strong bond with them and others but also because they prepared her for the next step in her journey! I have said it before and I will say it again, lifelong friendships start at Creative Kids!

Cyber Detox: An eye opening experience

This last weekend I took a Cyber Detox. I heard about the concept on the news and thought that is would be worth trying since I had spent a lot of time on the internet lately. I was also a little concerned after hearing on the news that people are starting to get addicted to it. Could I be one of them? We live in a society that revolves around technology. The number of people in North America who use the internet has increased by 152.6 % since the year 2000. What are the outcomes? Well, like all things, time will reveal all the positive and negative outcomes but one thing is for sure, people are addicted to the internet and have their lives completely wrapped up in it. Banking, weight loss, hobbies, parenting, social media, you name it, there is an App for it! Just like any addiction, it will have an effect on your life.

 

I did not expect any results other than having more time to spend with family and to do a few things around the house. I knew that I would not miss Facebook or email – it was only going to be for two days. I also knew that I would be able to get back on line Monday just as usual. Time spent was watching Scooby Doo with my daughter, finishing a few projects, shopping with daughter, took the dog for a walk with daughter and just hung around the house with family. It was a wonderful weekend and the energy in the house seemed mellow. Just as I thought it would be.

The component of the cyber detox which surprised me was how often I found myself saying, “Oh, I will look it up on line.” What was it I felt I needed online? Our bank account balance, a recipe, the weather, parenting advice, health advice, and I had the urge to search Norse Mythology. I should also mention the numerous times I wanted to check in to Facebook. The realization on how connected my life is to the internet was, and still is, overwhelming. While I am probably the least connected person, as I only own a PC for internet use, I am just as connected as the person who sleeps with their iPhone. Perhaps more so because I also use the internet for work.

A friend of mine will sit and argue with me until no end about how Facebook is allowing Mom’s to “check out” which is creating a generation of kids (and families) who are completely disconnected. Pun intended! I never saw what she was saying because I am so connected to it myself. I see the good in it; and am aware of the bad. Now, I have experienced the bad in it. I can see what my friend is saying about how technology is shaping our lives, our kids and our future. 

This makes me want to preserve what life was like before internet. What was life like before the internet? I was forced to pick up books to find the information that I was looking for. I was prompted to turn to my family for communication. I made myself wait for the weather until the 5 o’clock news came on and I survived without Facebook. I got a few small projects done and the house was clean ALL WEEKEND! My life was no way affected negatively by not being online; in fact, more positive came from it than anything. 

Fact is most of us are way to connected to the internet and not connected enough with the things that really matter in life like family, our health, Mother Earth, our spirituality, our neighbors, our friends. Sad. It really is.

It is as strange to me to deliver these findings to you online as it may be for you to receive them. Truth is the only way to capture anyone’s attention is through the various sources of media that we have available to us. What do you do? It is the age that we live in now, we have to adapt. Overall, being on line is just like every other thing in this world besides air, it is best in moderation. Anyway, this is definitely food for thought.

Onward & Upward!

~Sarah

Taken by me, Sarah Herbert 

Spring of 2002

Blog Sources:

http://www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm

http://addiction.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Causes_of_Internet_Addiction