Fabulous Fridays: May 30 Edition

Photograph by Macey

Happy Friday! Oy, what a week this has been. Even though it was cut short by the holiday on Monday, it has been intense training for my new job. I'm learning a ton and meeting lots of new people. Which means lots of new names to forget. And lots of opportunities for making a complete fool of myself.

I don't really need to go into full detail here, after all, I like to keep these Friday posts happy and bright, but I will say that I felt like a complete idiot on more than one occasion and that I'd really rather never have to introduce myself in front of a group of people again. It's really not fair that being nervous means that my hands (and often, my legs) shake uncontrollably, and that my mind goes really fuzzy.  Also, apparently it is not cool to be a blogger. Oops. Thank goodness I have some sweet coworkers who feel my pain.

But anyway, back to the good stuff. Here are some of the things that have made this week fabulous:

• Fox has really made me feel special this week. He is always excited to see me at the end of the day, and though I'm exhausted, I love playing frisbee with him on my living room floor, and getting some rather enthusiastic toddler hugs before bedtime. 
• On Sunday, I got together with my gal pals for brunch book club, and though only two of us had read the book (ok, so I still haven't finished the book), we enjoyed the delicious offerings at Screen Door. And then Macey took our headshots and it was fabulous.
• One of my new coworkers told me she read my blog last night and said she could relate to my last post. That made me feel the warm fuzzies, and like I'm not sailing this ship alone. Plus, she's really cool.
• I met up with two coworkers who are not on my team for drinks after work today, and it was great to hear how their training has been going, and how they feel about our training group. They're also really rad, and totally sweet.
• On Monday, which feels forever ago, my friend Jenni invited me to a seafood boil at her place. I'd never been to one before, but I was happy to be invited and enjoy some delicious food with great company.
• I've been rising early all week to get to work early for breakfast and I haven't been grumpy at all (note: I am NOT a morning person). I've actually enjoyed my slow mornings, and getting to chat with my new coworkers before we start working each day.

When I look at things that way, this week has been pretty wonderful. This weekend, I have every intention of hitting up the market and then conquering a mountain (third time's a charm, right?). In any case, I'm living life quite fully right now.

What has made your week fabulous? Have any mountains of your own to conquer this weekend? I'd love to hear from you!

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Fabulous Fridays: May 16th Edition

Hey-o! Happy Friday! This week has flown by- so much so that this is the first and only post I've managed to put out all week. Normally I might just ignore that and not elaborate as to why, since some bloggers complain when other bloggers apologize for not posting and give excuses as to why. But my excuse is good and exciting (to me at least).

You see, today is the last day of my current job. For the past nearly two years I've been working as a sales assistant at a TV station, and it has been a great experience. I couldn't have asked for a better boss, and better people to work with in general. I've worked hard and learned a lot, so I wasn't really looking for a new job...

But then I saw an opportunity for a job that could just well be a perfect fit for me (might turn out not to be, but so far, things have been lining up quite nicely). In fact, I saw this posting on Twitter of all places. You guys, if you're not on Twitter you are missing out- so far I have gotten a job and won tickets to an amazing (and normally expensive) foodie event. Twitter pays.

Well, needless to say, after a long and interesting hiring process, I was offered a job and I begin on Monday. But, I have to fly down to San Francisco on Sunday for a week of training, hence my lack of posting- I've been busy filling out background checks, making travel arrangements, and connecting with my fellow trainees/future coworkers. All of that, plus training my temp replacement at work has left me with little to no time for online anything.

Anyway, so that has been my awesome week, and now for a few other things that made this week fabulous:

I got plenty of Fox time this past week (another thing that keeps me from blogging- family first, blog second). On Saturday night, I babysat the kiddo while his parents went to the movies. We had our own movie night- it was a double feature: The Little Mermaid and Frozen. This kid loves a movie with a strong-willed female as the lead. On Sunday, he was dressed nice and dapper for Mother's Day and I took him out for a little stroll with Lucy (he loves taking her for walks). While out, some nice older women wished me a Happy Mother's Day- I felt it would have been rude to say I'm only just his aunt.

Speaking of Mother's Day, I treated my mom to brunch on Sunday morning. I knew just the place and made reservations in advance. I didn't tell her where I was taking her, though- I wanted it to be a surprise. We went to Imperial, which not only served excellent food, but treated all mother's to a gift certificate to use in the restaurant on another occasion. My mom was pleased as punch. So was I- that food was delicious, even if it gave me a food baby* and left me full for the rest of the day.

In other food news, I tried some new-to-me places on Saturday. First, I met Jenni for coffee at Case Study Coffee downtown and it was great! I loved the atmosphere there- reminded me a little of Europe (one Parisian bistro in particular). After coffee, I went and grabbed lunch from the Kargi Gogo food cart, which serves Georgian food. Meredith's blog had brought this place onto my radar and I had mentally bookmarked it for when I was in the area. You guys, I am sold on Georgian food. They have a vegetarian platter, which pretty much made me fall in love with them. My favorite was the cheese bread (hello), but I also loved the salad- whatever seasoning was on it is totally my jam.

On Mother's Day, the whole family converged at my parents' place for a cookout, since the weather was nice. We pulled out the bubbles and the nephews got to work right away. Apparently my brother's boys are into the pipe bubbles. Later on, for some (slightly) more grownup fun, we all rolled down to the park to let the boys burn off their excessive energy while us grown siblings played frisbee. You guys, frisbee is my happy place. Not a game of frisbee, just passing the frisbee around. It's the simple things.

I've also had some intense yoga classes this week, which has left me feeling refreshed and restored (and a bit sore). Anyone who thinks you can't get strong from yoga should come to class with me. Or just look at my (albeit slight) muscle tone. But the real strength that is built in yoga is all in the mind, and I work on that every damn time. 

That's it for my week- I'm off to celebrate my last day at work, do a ton of laundry and getting ready for my week-long trip, and flying off on Sunday! You probably won't hear from me in this space next week, but if you follow me on Instagram, I'm sure I'll be filling your feed with some San Francisco goodness. I'm also trying out this Snapchat thing people are talking so much about, so if you're so inclined, you can find me there as well as rachsed.

Cheers! Tell me, what made your week fabulous? Do you have any coffee shops/restaurants/bars to recommend in San Francisco? Tell me all about it in the comments below!

*If you don't know what I mean by food baby, then maybe you're lucky. I'm referring to that post-binge bulge that occurs in the lower abdomen, making one look pregnant. With a food baby. True story: I once announced a food baby on Facebook and one of my friends thought I was actually pregnant. With a real baby. For the record: I've only ever been pregnant with food babies.

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Fabulous Fridays: It's May!

Happy Friday, my friends, and TGIF! The sun has been shining here in Portland, but alas, that also means that my allergies have been the worst. But it also means I've been able to wear sundresses and flats, so I guess you win some and lose some.

Anyway, here are some of the things that have made my week awesome:

• Saturday morning was another installment of Ladies Who Brunch Book Club, and we ate at Kerns Kitchen while discussing the hilarious Where'd You Go Bernadette.
• Saturday night my sister and I had Italian Sunday a day early. I made homemade Marinara from the Everyday Italian cookbook, and it is my favorite. So delicious and lots of leftovers.
• I've made it to yoga 3 times this week, and am going back tonight for some yin. I love my studio, and love how I feel after every class.
• Tuesday night I had free tickets that I won on Twitter for Taste of the Nation Portland. I took my sister and we had a lot of fun eating tons of food and drinking wine and cocktails. The biggest highlight was discovering a new-to-us chocolatier (Batch PDX)- we went back for thirds, and I even took two chocolates for the road. 
• On Wednesday, I had happy hour with my mom at Broder Nord (for which I have already professed my love). I had their version of a sazerac and it was divine.
• I finished reading Life After Life, and it was beautiful. One of the best reads of the year for sure.
• Finally, I put in my notice at work, and it went well. I was nervous about it because my boss is awesome and it will be hard to leave, but I am super excited about what is next for me.

Now it's your turn! What has made your week awesome?

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Fabulous Fridays: Good Friday

Happy Friday, y'all! I don't know about you, but I feel like this week went by really fast (the year seems to be whizzing by as well). That said, I'm certainly glad it's Friday, especially since I have great things going on this weekend, including (but not limited to), friend time, a blate, a 3rd date, and Easter!

Confession: I love Easter. Growing up, it meant dressing up (usually my sister and I in matching dresses that my mom sewed for us), wearing fancy hats, getting lots of candy, going to church, doing an Easter egg hunt (and not finding all the eggs because dad could never remember where he hid them all- we could go months without finding some), and having a big meal (often with ham, which I never liked). Oh, and it also meant The Easter Bunny is Comin' to Town. Ok, it still means The Easter Bunny is Comin' to Town (what can I say, I always tear up when Gadzooks is surprised with a dapper Easter suit).

Nowadays, Easter means brunch with the family, lots of candy, and an Easter egg hunt. Last year, the adult children were allowed to participate (again, dad hides them in such a way that they're incredibly hard to find- so much so, that up until a few years ago, I was always aloud to start first because I had the hardest time finding eggs #handicap). Have I mentioned I'm really just a kid at heart? In any case, it will be a lot of fun watching the nephews have fun. Also, I'm making what I hope turns out to be a glorious 4-layer cake.

And now, some things that made this week fabulous:

Time spent at the park with my Lucy, and also with Fox.

Hiking with dad, working on my fear of heights (as well as kicking ass).

The second installment of Italian Sundays, which involved hearty vegetarian stuffed red peppers, boiled asparagus with eggs, breadsticks, and pinot grigio. Dessert was a lovely lemon ricotta cake.

Reading a good (funny) book while enjoying wine and cheese at my favorite wine bar.

Dinner with mom at Three Doors Down Cafe. The food was dang good.

Coloring eggs with my sister and nephew. I even got artistic and made one with polka dots, one abstract, and one as an egg person.

Now it's your turn- what has made your week fabulous? Are you into Easter? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

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Fabulous Fridays: April 11 Edition

Here we are, another Friday already (if you know the secret of where the time goes, please share). I'm thrilled that it's Friday, not just because it is the weekend (as of tonight), but also because I have a second date tonight. So, let's get on with what has made this week fabulous:

Had another Ladies Who Brunch Book Club meeting on Saturday. We ate at Tasty n Alder and discussed Me Before You by Jojo Moyes. It's always wonderful having girl time to discuss books and life, while enjoying some delicious brunch food.

I'm not gonna lie; Saturday was kind of epic. I treated a friend and myself to Ruby Jewel ice cream. I had the Grasshopper and it was my dream ice cream: chocolate mint with marshmallow creme and cookies.

And then I got my hair chopped off. I'm still getting used to having short hair again, but I gotta say it's a lot less hassle.

On Sunday, my sister and I began a new tradition: Italian Sundays. We made a big Italian meal with new-to-us recipes from some of my Italian cookbooks. Cauliflower penne and chickpea salad were decidedly good choices.

And then I had pie with my mom at Pacific Pie Co. Black bottom pie. It was delicious.

That's all for now! I can't wait to enjoy the sunny weather this weekend, and I'm hoping to get in my fist hike of the season. Now you tell me- what has made your week fabulous?

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Fabulous Fridays: April 4 Edition

Happy Friday! Oy, it's been a crazy week. So ready for this weekend.

I feel like time has flown these past couple weeks, and I'm wondering where it all went. Work has been crazy. And my dating life has blown up (much to my surprise).

So, what are the highlights of my week?

Wine tasting with the parents on Sunday. One winery even had a wooly mammoth statue.

Co-hosted the Love Your Body Linkup with Alicia (which is open til Sunday, BTW).

Played with my long hair because as of tomorrow it is quite possible I will have long hair no more...

Coffee has been a necessity.

I've been enjoying my homemade hummus and pita, as well as Life After Life.

I had an awesome first date last night. The kind that left me with butterflies. The kind that leaves me hoping for a phone call, as well as feeling scared to be excited about someone new lest I get hurt again.

What has made your week fabulous? Any last-minute hair suggestions? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

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Fabulous Fridays: March 28

TGIF guys! This week Friday could not get here fast enough, even though the week has sped along. Can I just stay in and binge-watch Scandal all weekend?

Work has been crazy busy, and same with my after-work life.I'm gonna cut to the chase because my tummy is not happy right now and I seriously want to relax.

Things that made this week fabulous:

I did the Dr. Oz 3-day smoothie cleanse. Here is where I get TMI (don't say I didn't warn you- skip ahead if you must). I'd been having constipation issues for the past several weeks, which is not normal for me, and I'd had enough. Part of me is paranoid about my colon health because of my family history of colon cancer, so I'd like to keep things flowing if you know what I mean. I'd heard this cleanse could help with such issues, so I gave it a shot. I was miserable the first two days- I was tired, craved coffee and real food, but by day 3 I felt I could finish strong. Monday I felt completely refreshed and I have had no tummy issues since. I've also gotten back into eating smoothies, so that's a bonus.

We celebrated Fox's birthday with the family on Sunday, and we had a blast at the park playing frisbee in the sunshine. Too bad it was still cold and windy.

I've gotten back into online dating. I've gotten so many messages that I just delete some right away if the guy looks douchey. Nerd alert: I've been considering creating a douche scale to map some of the weirdos I come across. Case in point: a guy who declares in his profile that he is on an Arthurian Quest. No joke. Either way, it's been a good boost to my ego.

I got serious about yoga again. One of my 2-year goals is to complete yoga teacher training, so in order to prepare, I'm back at a yoga studio that I really love. It feels like home. Today before class, some of us even reminisced about the greatness of Louis Sachar.

I finished reading Me Before You by Jojo Moyes and I cried my eyes out. Some of it rang a little to true in regards to my last breakup, but it was such a great read. I finished it in a little over a week, which means I devoured it (I'm a slower reader). Also, Moyes herself replied when I tweeted her (r maybe it was an assistant, but still).

I had a suh-weet dinner with my dad at Gracie's this week. Gorgonzola cheesecake? Check. Pickled vegetable salad? Bomb. Ravioli? Heck yes. But the clincher? Crispy bread pudding. Hoo mama.

Finally, on Monday, Alicia and I are hosting a Love Your Body linkup! I hope that you will join us- see details here.

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Fabulous Fridays: It's Spring!

Happy Friday and Happy Spring! I don't know about you, but I feel like every March I begin to notice new plants and flowers. I'm not talking daffodils and hyacinths springing up, I'm talking the plants I don't know the names of and never really noticed until this moment. For me, every Spring is brand new and I feel like I am seeing the world through the eyes of a child.

This week was a wonderful (though crazy at work) week. The highlight was certainly seeing my dear Swedish friend Ina, whom I have not seen since I left Poitiers, France 9 years ago. I also got to see two other friends I studied abroad with, which was great (the last time I saw them was probably around the time I graduated college, 8 years ago). Meeting up with them was so wonderful because we found ourselves falling into old patterns and everything felt familiar, as though no time had passed at all. Friends like that are priceless.

And now I'm going to leave you with a playlist, because it's Spring! So put on your dancing shoes and enjoy some of these groovy tunes- it's time to bust a move!

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Fabulous Fridays: Pi Day

Happy Pi Day Friday everybody! I hope you have all had a fantastic week. Mine has been filled with ups and downs, and I am definitely ready to get the weekend started. That said, here are some of the fabulous moments from my week:

• Saturday was my oldest nephew's 6th birthday. We celebrated with family and 4 of his classmates at Big Al's where I bowled my worst game ever. Doesn't matter, I was having a lot of fun observing 6-year-old social behaviors and helping wrangle my youngest nephew.
• Saturday was also the Portland Bloggers Speed Networking event at Cyril's at Clay Pigeon Winery in Portland. I am now the Portland Bloggers Blog Master, so I got there early to help set up. I was amazed by the cheese spread and wine that was offered to us by Cyril's, and can't wait to go back!
• Sunday I met up with an old coworker I haven't seen in a long time for coffee, and it was so great catching up with her! I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed talking with her when we worked together, and I'm hoping to get to hang out with her a little more, especially since it seems we're in similar life stages right now (read: early 30s, single, and still figuring out the career thing).
• I also went to Powells Books' huge sale on Sunday. While I nearly had a panic attack because of how crowded the place was, I'm still thrilled with my bargains- almost all books for book club, and one birthday present for my youngest nephew (and one for my mom- not pictured).
• I had plenty of time with my youngest nephew this week, and his word explosion continues. In fact, last night I dreamed he said an entire clear sentence ("there is birthday cake on the lawn"). I took him for a walk to the park after work one day this week, since it is lighter later, and we had fun on the swings and slide. Ah, to be a kid again.
• I belly danced on Wednesday night, and I felt like it was one of my best performances. My teacher showed up to offer support, and I was so happy to have her there! But, she said that now she knows what I'm capable of, she's going to pick on me more in class. Uh oh. 
• Finally, Spring is springing, and the evidence is all over town. Last night I enjoyed a walk around my favorite neighborhood with my dog and there were flowers in bloom all over the place.

Your turn! What has made your week fabulous? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

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Fabulous Fridays: It's March Y'all

Happy Friday my friends! (side note: I really had the urge to type mothaf***as there- I blame the wine and the wearing off Novocaine) Yes, I'm typing this while recovering what is hopefully my last bit of dental work for a while. I'll be enjoying soft foods yet again this weekend.

Anyway, it's March you guys. Spring is two weeks away. Two of my nephews have birthdays this month, as does my dog. I have a fairly busy social calendar this month too (I'm noticing a trend for the year so far). But I'm really most excited for flowers to start blooming. I'm already starting to see buds on trees.

But today is Friday, which means sharing with you guys what made this week fabulous for me.

Given that my last several Instagram posts have been food-related, I guess you could say I had a good food week. I made baked ziti (ok, it was actually rigatoni- I can't seem to find ziti anywhere) and homemade tiramisu for an amazing dinner on Sunday (along with Caesar salad and a nice Dolcetto from Zerba winery). Tiramisu is the way to my heart, so it's a good thing I know how to make a good one. I love me.

The Oscars. I really enjoyed them this year. I laughed, I cried, I shook my fist when Steve McQueen did not win best director, but then cheered when 12 Years a Slave won best picture. I watched that movie on Saturday, and though it was very difficult at times to watch, it was very well-done, and a movie everyone needs to see. I was also ecstatic when Cate Blanchett won because her performance in Blue Jasmine was beyond belief. Her acceptance speech was even more flawless (heck yes I will pay to see movies about women- duh!).

I finally, after searching for a while, bought a new pair of skinny jeans. This is a big deal, y'all. And since this month's Cultivating Self-Love theme is all about loving your body, I might do a special post about my jeans. Let's just say, I'm in love and they make me happy.

I whipped out a good spin in my mini-performance for belly dance class. Spins are not my forte, so to pull one off that made my teacher cheer (seriously, she cheered, because she's awesome like that) is quite an accomplishment for me. I feel inspired to practice for my performance next week.

I had a lovely dinner with my dad at Coppia for Portland Dining Month. I totally brought the demographic down in the place (everyone else looked over 50), but the food and wine were delicious. Sometimes it's nice to eat somewhere that is off of the radar of all the young, hip folk. Especially when that means great, unpretentious service.

Finally, I'm reading Lean In for book club, and I've been making lots of notes. I'm going to have a lot to say about this one, and so far, I"m finding myself identifying with Sheryl Sandberg a lot. I was called bossy as a kid and loved playing teacher/director/photographer. I'm sure I'll have a post ready when I've finished to share all of my thoughts.

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Fabulous Fridays: February 21

Hey hey hey and TGIF! I'm gonna keep it short and snappy today because I'm tired and I need to finish packing for my little weekend getaway. That's right- I'm taking a 3-day weekend to head out with some girlfriends for the coast. We're renting a house right on the beach, so I'm going to get plenty of salty ocean air.

Highlights of my week:

I started reading The Goldfinch, and so far, so good. Also, I need to go back to New York. And I need to hang out in an art museum.

I feel like I deserve major points for being able to calm down my nephew in less than 5 minutes after his parents left for the gym Wednesday night. He was screaming his head off, upset he'd been left behind, and I tried various tactics- "do you want to watch Nemo?" uh uh, "do you want num-nums?" uh uh, "do you want to wash your hands?" yeah. This kid loves washing his hands and brushing his teeth.

I had a final dinner and the soon-to-be-shuttered Portland institution that is Wildwood. And it was one of the best dinners I've ever had. You see, so many restaurants don't put too much thought into their vegetarian entrees, like they really don't care to impress people of my ilk. But the caramelized pear and gorgonzola ravioli with brussels sprouts and pistachios was one of the most thoughtful vegetarian entrees I've ever eaten. It was so complex- sweet, sour, salty, deep. Dessert was equally fabulous- caramelized white chocolate panna cotta with ginger, shortbread, and bruleed bananas. No element outshined another- each flavor worked in unison to create a delicious masterpiece.

That's the best of my week (the worst: oh you know, fillings and temporary crowns at the dentist- wah wah). Tell me, how was your week? Do you have any grand plans for the weekend? 

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Fabulous Fridays: It's Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! I've had that book up there since I was a little kid, and used to read it every year on Valentine's Day. It has all kinds of cute poems, and reminds me of the simplicity of being a kid on this holiday.

I'm going to get straight to it today! It's been an intense week, so I'm looking forward to some R&R this evening. Nothing sounds better than chocolate ice cream and doggy cuddles.

Before I leave you, here are some powerful self-loving posts from some rad women:

From [In]Complete Magazine

From All Things E

And what would a holiday be without a playlist? I've got you covered. Be prepared to feel all the feelings.

Enjoy! And tell me-- how are you going to celebrate love for yourself today?

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Fabulous Fridays: Another Snow Day

Happy Friday, everybody! As if the Pacific Northwest was feeling left out of all of the polar vortex action, Mother Nature has decided to give us freezing temps and a snowstorm of our own. While I understand that we don't have it as bad as other parts of the country, as an almost native to the area, and as someone who enjoys living here because of the mild winters, I'm complaining. Besides, I have Raynaud's, so anything colder than 70 degrees and sunny will have me complaining (though anything below freezing has me aching at entirely new levels). Clearly, I'm going to be that old lady that complains about her stiff achy joints and the weather.

But complaining is not why I'm here. No, I'm here to celebrate another Fabulous Friday! This week flew by and was jam-packed with dentist appointments, dance class, happy hour, and snow. Oh, and I guess there was some big sports event on Sunday, and I guess our region's team won. I don't know, I was too busy mowing on chili and watching the Puppy Bowl.

If you follow me on Instagram, then you're probably caught up with my shenanigans. In that case, I'll share with you what you didn't see: our lovely bit of snow. I was lucky enough to leave work before the snow really got going, and boy am I glad. Some people were stuck on the roads for two hours, and it sounds like my route would have been a parking lot. Instead, I made it home in time to play with one of my favorite little guys on the planet. I present to you, Fox in the snow:

How was your week? What are you doing to keep warm and pass the time? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

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Cultivating Self-Love: Fabulous Fridays, January 24

Yay, it's Friday! I hope you have all had a lovely week. Given that I am currently operating on an empty stomach, I am going to hop straight to it and share with you how I have cultivated love for my spirit in the past week.

• Saturday morning I had my first meeting for Ladies Who Brunch Book Club. My pal Macey headed up the group, and we gathered to discuss books, eat brunch, and picked our first three selections. Given my love of reading, and my love of discussion, this was really satisfying for my soul.
  
• Naturally, after book club, I wandered around Powell's Books, picking up the first two books we selected. Aside from the woods, bookstores and libraries are my sanctuary. Some feel spirits in churches and cemeteries; I feel them in bookstores.
• We had a family dinner on Sunday night, which meant nephew time. The boys were being extra cute, crowding around a table to watch a train movie on my mom's iPad. Even cuter? When Fox grabbed my hand and pulled me over to watch a train movie with him so he wouldn't have to watch alone. Cutest? When Fox wanted on Desmond's lap, so Des let Fox climb onto his lap and they got cozy. Seeing how these cousins love each other warms my soul in the itchiest way possible.
  
• I'm still working my way through The Fire Starter Sessions, and I'm getting a lot out of it. I'm getting a greater vision for how I perceive myself, and how I would like others to perceive me. I feel like I am a rainbow, and other people only ever see a few colors. Sometimes that is appropriate, but there are times that I want someone to see it all and understand that I am whole.
• I had bellydance class on Tuesday, and my teacher really pushed me. There was a movement we were working on and the teacher told me I had it, but she wanted me to give more in one part of it. This basically required opening my heart- literally opening up my chest to the audience (or mirror in this case). It seems like such a simple thing, but that critique, and my resistance to doing what was asked, are really the crux of where I struggle with my dance. It is hard to make myself vulnerable when I dance, as dancing on its own already makes me vulnerable. So I want to work on that and explore that. It was a soul-cracking moment.
• On Wednesday morning, Fox was super cute in saying goodbye to me before I left for work. He's not normally awake when I leave, so it was extra special to see him before I started my day. Having the sweetest little blond-haired, blue-eyed boy waving goodbye over his gate as I left was about as sweet as it could get. You bet I started my day with a smile.
• I've been incredibly busy lately, in the best way, but when I take on a lot of social commitments, my me-time tends to dwindle. Recognizing that fact, Wednesday night I took a little time, grabbed my citrine and perdidot, and lay on the floor for a little mini-meditation.
  
• A second bloom has opened on my orchid plant. My thriving orchid reminds me that with patience and care, even something that looks dead can become something truly beautiful and flourishing. Plus, bright colors make me happy.

Tell me now, how was your week? Have you done anything to care for yourself? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

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Cultivating Self-Love: Fabulous Fridays January 17

Happy Friday, my lovelies! How is it that we're already half-way through the month? 

I have been so busy this past week, and this weekend is shaping up to be even busier. Right now, it feels like me-time is a luxury.

I'd like to take today to check in and see how I did with cultivating self-love for my spirit this past week. It was a roller-coaster week, with today being the low point. It is a truth universally acknowledged that if you set out to cultivate self-love, you will be tested. You will face challenges to your self-esteem, and that is your opportunity to choose love. It is all well and good to love yourself when all is sunshine and lollipops in your life, but it is quite another to love yourself when you are in the midst of dealing with some big mistakes you've made.

Thankfully, because I am consciously choosing to love myself, I am able to recognize when my inner critic rears her ugly head. This week, I've been challenged countless times, and I am actively choosing to accept that I make mistakes, but so does everybody, and my mistakes do not make me unworthy of love and respect. And since I am choosing not to be afraid and beat myself up, and can direct my effort toward figuring out how and why my mistakes occurred. Personally, I've noticed a pattern: when I go for too long (over two years) without a proper vacation, I get worn out, and it affects my ability to do a good job at anything. A clear mind renews focus.

So, it's time for me to plan a real vacation sometime in the next year (the sooner the better).

Without further ado, here are some of the things that have helped me cultivate self-love for my spirit this week:

I had breakfast with Macey and we chatted about life and spirituality, and it was nice to talk about these things with someone who is on a similar wavelength.

I believe that soup is soul food. The process of making soup can be quite meditative, and I feel that pleasure connects us with the divine. Mmm...

I had a show this week! I danced to a live band, and really let myself go to the music. When I dance, I feel like I am tapping into the energy that connects us all. There is no feeling like the feeling I get when I dance, and I hope to do this until I'm well into old age.

How soothing for my soul was it to receive this little package from Lisa. Lisa is a champion for self-love, and just a dear person. Little did she know, I have a soft spot for elephants, and I consider them one of my spirit animals. Bonus: it's an incense holder. I've already given this one a home on my bookshelf next to my matryoshka doll and favorite candle.

I'm still working through Part 1 of The Fire Starter Sessions, and this quote blew me away. It seems so basic, and yet, how many times do we resist this? I'm keeping this one as a reminder for my word- radiant. 

How did you cultivate self-love for your spirit this week? How do you show kindness to yourself when you've made a mistake? I'd love to hear form you in the comments below.

Leave a Comment cultivating self love, fabulous fridays, mistakes, spirit

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