Following My Heart

As I was waiting at the street corner for these friends to cross and meet me for brunch, this heart was laying on the sidewalk at my feet.

Sweet serendipity.

*sigh*

There's nothing better than the love shared between our sister friends.

Reflecting on my Best Shot

I'm a reflections girl on many levels. This shot is one from the PhotoWalk in San Francisco. The reflection itself is a little muddy but I know it's me.

Speaking of muddy...it's been a rough week since we've lost our sweet kitty. Thanks to you all for such kind comments and well-wishes.

So, the question is, what have you been reflecting on this week? Do share your Best Shot with us.

A Tribute to Real Love

We had to say our good-byes yesterday to part of our family.

18 years ago a curious kitten was born in a closet. A few months later I met her (and the compassionate man that assisted her mother giving birth to she and her liter mates amidst piles of his clothing). I fell in love with the man, and his cats. He and I got married. We had two children. And we have never known one another without the cat family in our lives. The mama left us first. And then a sister. And yesterday, the last of our cats had to let go too. 18 years later and the end of such a rich chapter of our lives. The hole she has left feels cavernous. There will always be the open space in our hearts that can never be filled by any other and we will lovingly hold her memory there for always.

Good-bye sweet friend. We have loved you for so long and we shall never forget how blessed we were to have you with us all these years.

The Post-BlogHer Glow

Everything I needed to know I learned at BlogHer

1. Internet friends ARE real friends (despite what any non-blogger might say).
2. Getting away for the weekend without the kids is good for the soul.

3. A big bathtub is worth the cost of a hotel room.
4. I get very cranky when beer is not readily available at events.
5. Paper bags can make a fashion statement.
6. San Francisco looks magical at night.
7. Cold weather in July is refreshing.
8. Walking can be fun.

9. Making new friends is awesome.
10. Time with soul sisters is worth the cost of admission.

BlogHer Best Shot

How can I possibly choose one shot from such an incredible weekend. So much love, support, encouragement, empowerment; words could never express it. But a shot like this one does say a lot about it feels when you can bask in a big beautiful dose of soul sisterhood.



Do you have a shot that says something about what's been happening in your life? Share your joy.

Sister Symbols

Have you seen what we've got clickin' at Shutter Sisters?
Baubles , Blurb books and BlogHer!

Needless to say I guess but I'm...

See you there!

Rockin' Best Shot Monday

Well, we are back from our summer adventure. Whew. That means of course we are back home to the many luxuries we've missed (like a king size bed and a hot shower) but also those we didn't miss (like endless laundry, dirty dishes and the clean up from the great flood that happened before we left). Even still, it's great to be home.

The amazing Stephanie seems to be feeling the same way and shared it in this little gem over at Shutter Sisters. Her post prompted my Best Shot for this week as it's the perfect example of the earth's currency. There's nothing more endearing than to have your child discover one of nature's treasures.



It was along the dirt road on the way to the frog pond that my youngest unearthed this beauty she has since dubbed The Spud Rock (for obvious reasons). That rock came along on the rest of our vacation with us. It even crossed the border into Canada and back again and now it's taken it's rightful place on my daughter's bedroom dresser.

What sorts of treasures have you captured this week? Do share. And welcome back...I missed you.

Fishing for my Best Shot Monday

Share your Best Shot today over at Slurping Life.

I will see you all back here next week for what I'm pretty sure will be some more photos from our vacation (which has almost come to an end). Until then, happy summer shooting.

Easy Breezy Days of Summer

Well, well, there's internet access even way out here in the sticks. Who knew?

Even still, the lovely Melody is hosting Best Shot Monday for a few weeks for me so be sure to pop over there to leave your best shots of summer (or whatever else you want to share). As for me, I leave you with a BSM that shows us living it up family vacation style.

from the road

Yellow Polka Dot Best Shot

There's been a Parent Bloggers blog blast happening this weekend and the gist had to do with bikinis. You know, something like, the bikini: friend or foe. It's summer and all that so I guess, it is the season to fret about these matters. We'll I hate bathing suit shopping as much as the next gal, and I have even a stronger dislike for wearing them but I'll be honest, I do wear a bikini when a bathing suit is an absolute must. I'm not saying it's a great idea or anything, as a matter of fact I'm not a big swimmer so I rarely strip down to my suit even when I'm at the beach or pool so I guess not many people would even know I'm in a bikini, underneath it all. But I am.

A girlfriend of mine (with almost the exact build as me) admitted she wears one too although she wasn't sure it was such a good idea either. And here's the real kicker, she actually asked another friend if she thought she had any business wearing one, after birthing and nursing 2 kids, rounding 40 and all that. Her friend apparently didn't feel the least bit shy about replying an honest one liner; you're borderline. Which means at best, I'm borderline too.

But what's in a bathing suit really besides extra flesh that we wish we didn't have, in all the wrong places I might add? Your size is as important as your age. And from my point of view, it's not important at all. I'm 40 and I'm not freaked about it. It's a number. Just like the size or cut of my bathing suit. It's only weighty if I make it so. Pun totally intended.

Although I am the first to acknowledge a little balance in my life couldn't hurt (less work, more exercise), I'm choosing to focus less on my own bathing suit and more on my daughter's not so itsy bitsy teenie weenie...

After all, isn't the point of the bathing suit summer fun?

You know this little gem had to be my Best Shot for this sunny Monday!

Oh, and speaking of BSM, summer fun and a quest for balance, me and the fam are heading out for a few weeks. Woot! And because I am having to relinquish my control over having internet access (gasp. can't. breathe.) the wonderful Melody will be hosting Best Shot Monday over at her place Slurping Life for the next two weeks (thank you sweet Melody). That means on both June 30th and July 7th you'll be popping over there to post your BSM links. I shall return and be your gracious hostess again on July 14 with lots and lots of shots to choose from I'm sure!

Until then...show us what kind of summer fun you've been having this week (bikini or not).

This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by BOCA.

My Best Shot at Slowing Down

I woke up this morning with a start. Gasp! What day is it? It's Monday, isn't it?

We've had quite the eventful week and I so wanted to write about all of the spinning and swirling mommy emotions that have been flooding my head and my heart but alas, besides a birthday, and a promotion ceremony (my baby has been promoted to middle school) we had a different kind of flood. The laundry room spilled over with so much water from the defunct washing machine that it's damaged our wood flooring AND it got the wall so wet that all of our cabinets actually fell off the wall. Big, heavy cabinets. Right onto our washer and dryer. Big huge crashing sound. Not pretty. And certainly not good timing. Happy Father's Day.

It's hard to focus on the light at the end of this tunnel because I'm not sure how many miles down the road it is but I know we'll get there eventually. This too shall pass my Grandma reminds me. She's right. And it could be worse. As we still have some wrapping up to do before all of the end of the school year hullabaloo starts to settle down it feels so hectic around here, it's hard to keep my head about me. Deep cleansing breath. I will look back on all of this and laugh, right?

Although I have hundreds of photos on a number of compact flash cards all over the house and videos galore from the recent pomp and circumstance(s) -we got a new video camera-yay!-I have yet to get any of them to my computer. However, in the midst of the chaos, I thought it might be nice to share a photo or two that speak more of slowing down and being mindful of what is important, than anything else.

I submitted this image as well as a few others for consideration in a lovely collaborative project called my heart wanders. I was so inspired by their call for images and the project itself, I spend one afternoon in the midst of all the activities and slowed down long enough to create a handful of photographs that I really love. Truthfully, I'm just delighted to have stumbled onto my new blog crush.

So, in the theme of slowing down a bit today, I offer you this best shot for the day. If nothing else, I will be using it as a mediation of sorts to find some calm today. I know it's there somewhere. I just have to seek it out.

Did you find any time to slow down and smell the flowers this week? OR perhaps you captured the craze of life in a shot that brought perspective or maybe even humor? Whatever your week looked like, we'd love to see how you caught it in action.

My Perfectly Imperfect Best Shot Monday

I thought about sharing this shot of my girlies from last week for my best shot but since today is the kick off the fantastic blog series The Gift of Imperfect Parenting at beautiful Brene Brown's blog Ordinary Courage, I figured the much more appropriate photo to share was this one.



Today I'm feeling courageous enough to show you my real life at it's craziest, it's most absurd and with all it's flaws. And you know what? I'll bet you're cool with that, aren't you? See. I knew I liked you.

As I said in you last post, I encourage you to tune in to what Brene has to share in regards to 'raising our children with courage, compassion and connection'. It's a message you don't want to miss. Be sure to pop over to her series and snap up the CD ASAP. You'll be really glad you did.

So...on that note, would you like to share your perfect pictures (or the perfectly imperfect ones if you dare) on this fine yet flawed Monday?

Imperfect is the New Perfect

If you do nothing else for yourself this summer, you must get the incredible Brene Brown's brilliant CD The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting-raising children with courage, compassion and connection. I am serious here. GET. THE. CD. NOW. I promise to write more about it but for now, I wanted to at least begin to spread the word since I have a minute of internet connection at my disposal (my internet has been out for days-eeeek!)

So...why the urgency? Brene starts a series on her blog this Monday (6/9) that goes over what she covers in the CD. I don't care if you are a parent or not, you really owe it to yourself tune in. She teaches some amazing stuff. I cannot say enough about it (or couldn't you tell?) and know I'll be following along with her as the blog series unfolds. Oh, I'll be buying her book too.

You can pop over to her extraordinary blog Ordinary Courage for more details. See you over there!

Let's Click!

You going to BlogHer this summer? Sweet. Me too. And check out what the Shutter Shutters are up to. It's the first ever BlogHer PhotoWalk!



So, who's into roaming the streets of San Fransico shooting photos with with a flock of what Pam calls BlogHer birds? I am, I am!

If you would like to join us, please let us know so we can look for you. Hee hee.

My Best Shot and Kate's Perfect Post

Last summer my family and I traveled to Key West Florida where this shot was taken. It’s one of many that I took on the trip that only touches on the history that exists at this southernmost point. Even simple photos of the architecture give you the feeling that you are not alone there, that there is more than meets the naked eye, that those that came before accompany you with each step.

I hadn’t really reflected much on the trip until a few days ago when I was deeply stirred by a post over at SweetSalty. The photos Kate posted of her peaceful place are sacred, still, and so impossibly hopeful. The quiet calm, the whispering wind, the tranquility she captured prompted me to re-look at some of my photos from our trip.

I began to see things I hadn’t seen before as I poured over the images using her words as a guide. Her offering enlightened me and filled me with an understanding I hadn’t held before. Everything about Kate’s Perfect Post is poetry. Each word woven into the next with some sort of soul string that is beyond anything I can explain. It may be intangible (and something I cannot convey through words) but I can feel it.

The image I share today for My Best Shot is another ode to Kate. To hope and love, to the past and present and to keeping the balance of both. But most of all it's an ode to magic.

I lust so deeply for magic, I swear sometimes I can will it into existence.

These words of Kate's call to me as does the black bird perched on the fence of the ancient cemetery—singing to all of us that our mere will for magic can most certainly bring with it little miracles.

What shots do you have to share with us today and what kind of magic do they hold for you?

--

To see more of the Perfect Post nominees for May, go visit Lindsay at Suburban Turmoil and Kimberly at Petroville where the lists are posted.

Against All Odds

The holiday weekend at surf camp just happened to be rainy, windy, and cold. In Southern California, that's pretty much unheard of and it certainly didn't make for the surfiest of adventures. None the less, the rugged landscape was breathtaking and the girls had a great time.

When I saw that Stacy's theme for the week was flowering, I could have posted any number of photos I've taken in my yard but it was this shot that I wanted to share. These tiny (yet hearty) flowers were emerging right out of the sand from under our platform tent at camp.

Despite the contrary weather conditions, these petite beauties turned their faces to the sun -when it could make it's way through the relentless clouds-full of beauty and optimism.

Rockin' It With the Rookies

A few years back (has it really been that long?) I met the fabulous ladies affectionately called the Rookie Moms. Not only are they wonderful people, but they are behind a great site that offers the most clever and quip ideas for new moms ever compiled into one delightful website and corresponding blog. It’s no surprise that somebody snapped up the idea for a book.

Enter the totally adorable, very helpful and ever entertaining book for new moms, The Rookie Moms Handbook!

I have read through many of the ingenious (and humorous) activities offered on the Rookie Moms site but when I sat down with the book, I was delighted once again by these rich little mommy gems. My favorites being some of the photo projects they suggest, of course.

Take activity #236 which suggests documenting your child’s latest obsession via photos or video. You know, like eating oatmeal every single night before bed. Or is that just my kid?

Or #227 which encourages you to remember photographing babies objects of affection. Since I’ve got one bunny lover and one blankie baby, this one is near and dear to my heart. The Rookie Moms even go as far as to offer effective ways to tackle the photo challenge depending on your personality type; the sentimental or the artsy mom, the absurdist or the bad girl. Funny stuff! I am sooooo going to do some of these (and I am far from a Rookie Mom anymore).

The Rookie Mom Handbook is the perfect book for any new mom (hello baby shower gift). It’s a quick read with fantastic and funny activities to make the early years of motherhood meaningful and that much more enjoyable. And it’s written by two cool moms who have been there before and are doing it all over again.

Way to go Rookie Moms! You rock. All the cool moms think so.

Fit Photo Contest

Do you think you've got a photo that fits? If not, then nows the time to get clickin'.




Pop over to Shutter Sisters for a chance to win the Wii and the Wii Fit!

Gone Baby Gone

Since I am about out the door for an adventure filled holiday weekend with 12 10-year-olds at Surf Camp (yes we've had thundershowers for 24 hours now, oh joy) I thought I'd post my Best Shot Monday today! I won't be home until Monday afternoon (unless of course we get rained out) so we'll just call this a Best Shot weekend!

After reading the Parent Bloggers Blog Blast prompt, I got all weepy and nostalgic about the days when I'd take my daughters to the beach when they were babies. Sunhats and big bottomed bikinis stuffed with swim diapers are a thing of the past for this family-she says half heartbroken and half with a sigh of relief-but our beach excursions will hopefully go on and on.

Even though the chance of thunderstorms will be in effect through this holiday weekend, I am still going to post an ode to my favorite place in all the world...the beach.

May you all enjoy your weekend, whatever it may hold.