At some point I stumbled across a blog called Zen Habits which I have been reading regularly ever since. Here is an excerpt from the "About" page on the Zen Habits website:
"My name is Leo Babauta, I’m married with six kids, I live on Guam, I’m a writer and a runner and a vegetarian and I love writing Zen Habits.
Zen Habits covers: achieving goals, productivity, being organized, GTD, motivation, eliminating debt, saving, getting a flat stomach, eating healthy, simplifying, living frugal, parenting, happiness, and successfully implementing good habits."
I have enjoyed being inspired by Leo's posts and have tried to make some changes in my life because of them. One thing I am currently involved in is a challenge to create a new habit. The idea is that if a) you get into the habit of doing something daily and b) you report on your progress daily, you are more likely to create a habit. As such, I joined the February Challenge with the goal of doing my back exercises every day. I didn't read about it until February 4th but I have been doing my exercises and posting every day since then. My back thanks me.
Even better, the energy I am getting from meeting my committment to myself seems to be spilling into the rest of my life. The other day I finally cleaned off my dresser, I have been trying to keep the kitchen counter clutter free and I started the first paintings I have painted in I-don't-know-how-long.
Are there any habits you would like to cultivate? If you decide to join the challenge...let me know. I am planning to create another habit next month.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
Cause he likes bows?
R: "Why did Uncle Bobby and Auntie Brooke name their dog Bowie?"
Me: "I don't know. Maybe they just liked that name."
R: "Do you think it was because he really, really likes bows?"
Me: "Yes, that's why. I think they named him Bowie because he really, really likes bows."
Me: "I don't know. Maybe they just liked that name."
R: "Do you think it was because he really, really likes bows?"
Me: "Yes, that's why. I think they named him Bowie because he really, really likes bows."
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Sushifest 2008
Based on some droolworthy posts by one of my favorite bloggers, CityMama, I got it in my mind that I wanted to make raw fish sushi at home. One thing that really stood out in the second post was that she got an entire pound of tobikko. Yum! That is R and I's favorite! I made a comment asking her where to get tobikko (she used to live in my city) and she told me to go to Uwajimaya. In further correspondence, I asked her where to get sushi grade fish and she pointed me again to Uwajimaya.
Our friends Nicole and Gene and their twins came over. Nicole had told me Gene was an experienced sushi chef. I immediately went to work with him to create nigiri, assorted rolls, and some sashimi (when we ran out of rice). Gene did turn out to be the master sushi chef (thank goodness). The kids had fun eating handfuls of tobikko (no kidding - there was tobikko EVERYWHERE!) and sushi rice while we were making the sushi.
It took us quite a while to make all the sushi. I had forgotten about that part! But in the end we all sat down at the table and had an amazing feast. R (who is 4) was game to try everything. Remember she was the one who wanted the octopus but in the end she didn't care for it.
Here is a photo of our spread. I can't wait until the next Sushifest!
Last Saturday, we took the kids and made the trek to Uwajimaya. The kids had a blast. The all loved the huge dragon hanging over the checkout counters. R got to meet her "Hello Kitty" needs and the boys wanted to sit in front of the live crab tank forever. As a raw fish sushi novice, I asked the nice man behind the counter to help me figure out what to get. Here is what ended up in our shopping cart: tuna (two cuts), yellowtail, salmon, octopus (my daughter wanted a piece the size of her head but we just got a few slices to try), tobikko (sadly no pound size containers!), and eel (unagi). We bought a variety of Japanese beers. I forgot all about the wasabi and the pickled ginger but happily, we had them both at home along with nori and avocado.
Our friends Nicole and Gene and their twins came over. Nicole had told me Gene was an experienced sushi chef. I immediately went to work with him to create nigiri, assorted rolls, and some sashimi (when we ran out of rice). Gene did turn out to be the master sushi chef (thank goodness). The kids had fun eating handfuls of tobikko (no kidding - there was tobikko EVERYWHERE!) and sushi rice while we were making the sushi.
It took us quite a while to make all the sushi. I had forgotten about that part! But in the end we all sat down at the table and had an amazing feast. R (who is 4) was game to try everything. Remember she was the one who wanted the octopus but in the end she didn't care for it.
Here is a photo of our spread. I can't wait until the next Sushifest!
Celebrating a Century of Posts
...plus 3. This post is my 103rd post. Who knew when I started this adventure that I would get to 103.? Thanks to everyone out there who reads this blog (all 3 of you). I'll try to continute to keep you entertained but meanwhile...
YAY!!!
YAY!!!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Magical Hay
R: Mom, can you please go get my little truck from the car?
Me: Sure. I can do that right now.
R: Can you put it on the counter next to my money and my magical hay?
Me: Uh, ok dear. (R got a holiday gift from K which included some sparkly packing material. Apparently, that has now become "magical hay". Who knew?)
Me: Sure. I can do that right now.
R: Can you put it on the counter next to my money and my magical hay?
Me: Uh, ok dear. (R got a holiday gift from K which included some sparkly packing material. Apparently, that has now become "magical hay". Who knew?)
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Temper Tantrum
Me: Are you mad a me?
W - dramatically: It's just...I didn't get any time to myself tonight. I had to do so many things. It felt like I had to keep doing things.
Me: What things?
W: The car stuff and I had to start the dishwasher.
Me: Why were you doing those things? Why did you start the dishwasher? I could have started the dishwasher.
W: You never start the dishwasher.
Me: I started the dishwasher last night.
W: I don't want to change the sheets! I hate changing the sheets.
Me: Oh, that's what this is about.
W: I never want to change the sheets again! Let's just get a new bed! And books! I don't have any books to read.
Me: I have books for you to read.
W: No - you don't have any books for me to read.
Me - looking in the closet where we keep the books: Yes, I do. Here is a Wen Spencer book. You like Wen Spencer.
W - wincing as he looks at the cover art: No thanks.
Me: No, you like this author. You liked that book called...what was it?
W - as I am paging through to find the name of the previous book sees something: Space ships? Does it say space ships?
Me: Yes, dear. It says space ships.
W: Ok, I'll read it.
W - dramatically: It's just...I didn't get any time to myself tonight. I had to do so many things. It felt like I had to keep doing things.
Me: What things?
W: The car stuff and I had to start the dishwasher.
Me: Why were you doing those things? Why did you start the dishwasher? I could have started the dishwasher.
W: You never start the dishwasher.
Me: I started the dishwasher last night.
W: I don't want to change the sheets! I hate changing the sheets.
Me: Oh, that's what this is about.
W: I never want to change the sheets again! Let's just get a new bed! And books! I don't have any books to read.
Me: I have books for you to read.
W: No - you don't have any books for me to read.
Me - looking in the closet where we keep the books: Yes, I do. Here is a Wen Spencer book. You like Wen Spencer.
W - wincing as he looks at the cover art: No thanks.
Me: No, you like this author. You liked that book called...what was it?
W - as I am paging through to find the name of the previous book sees something: Space ships? Does it say space ships?
Me: Yes, dear. It says space ships.
W: Ok, I'll read it.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Potty Talk
WARNING: This blog post contains poop humor. Read at your own risk!
My twin sons turned two at the end of December. One of them, G, just told he first joke. I said to him, "Are you poopy?" His reply? "No, mommy!" Then of course I said, "No, I am not poopy. Are you poopy?" "No, daddy!" He had the funniest smile on his face as though he knew he was being funny.
His brother, L, joined in the fun. During one of these exchanges, he actually tried to check my pants to see if I was poopy and then he started laughing.
They are funny guys...
My twin sons turned two at the end of December. One of them, G, just told he first joke. I said to him, "Are you poopy?" His reply? "No, mommy!" Then of course I said, "No, I am not poopy. Are you poopy?" "No, daddy!" He had the funniest smile on his face as though he knew he was being funny.
His brother, L, joined in the fun. During one of these exchanges, he actually tried to check my pants to see if I was poopy and then he started laughing.
They are funny guys...
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