tech fast

I've taken a break from my computer, from blogging, and kept social media to a minimum this past few months. It started with a trip to Wisconsin, where there was no place for technology--just fresh air, clear skies, and miles of pristine woods and lakes. It was truly lovely, and much needed. There have been times when I have felt like much of my connections with other souls comes though this avenue of online everything, as there hasn't been a whole lot of time away from my little one. I'm so happy about this choice to stay near her during her early years, but I admit there are times when it can feel lonely and isolating. So I am grateful for the beautiful connections I have made online.

Still, this break was much appreciated by my own soul, as it gave me time to just be with myself for a while, with no distractions. Julie gets cranky when I am on the phone or computer, and I can't say I blame her. My attention is divided, and I am not living in our shared present moment. We are also back to our beloved Waldorf parent-child class, and the conversations I have there always inspire me to no end to be more present, "worthy of emulation" as Rudolph Steiner said, and unplugged from technology in my little one's presence.

But I am happy to be back online now. As of today. To finish this post was en epic battle with inertia and the end of the day oblivion I have found myself sinking into day after day. It is all too easy to just collapse onto the sofa for the remaining hours until bed, but when this has become the norm (as it has these past months), I am left wanting and creatively unfulfilled. When I don't devote time to what makes my heart sing and sparks my passion, I am not filling my own cup. But that is a whole other post. There is much I want to say on the topic of pursuing our passion! So for now, I will end by saying thank you to the recharging and rekindling that this little tech fast provided, and move forward in excitement for what is to come.

33/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

We took a trip to Wisconsin recently, and spent our days in a cabin by the lake. We walked quiet roads surrounded by forests as far as the eye could see, and took a break from technology, as well as the bustle of city life. She adored every moment, and it left us all longing for a life that is more in touch with nature.

32/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

It takes her a while to warm up to new situations. She likes to observe carefully and intently before dipping her toes in. Here she is at a birthday party full of excited children, holding tight to Daddy, in full on observation mode.

30/52 + 31/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014".

Better late than never! The first portrait was taken on the day she got her very own sling. She put as many of her little friends in there as possible, and beamed from ear to ear all day long.

The second portrait was taken at our favorite gardens. She is so at home there. Her little spirit breaks free from the usual reservations she has in public, and dances about the trees and flowers.

29/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2014."

Such a pensive little soul.

20 facts

I shared these facts on my other home on Instagram today, and thought I'd share here, as well :-)

1. I’m American (French & English) & Japanese, and I spent half of my life in Tokyo.

2. I attended 2 high schools, 2 middle schools, 3 elementary schools, 2 preschools, and a few acting schools and colleges. And I just started back in school to study photography.

3. I started acting professionally when I was thirteen.

4. I’m a HUGE introvert. I love dining, going to the movies, and traveling alone, and big groups make me super nervous.

5. I’ve been a vegan for a decade.

6. I play the handbells. They’re awesome! The bond you form with your bell choir is the best. I’m currently on the hunt for a bell choir to join!

7. I bartended for thirteen years, and have the stories to go with it ;-)

8. I have a bunch of phobias—bodies of natural water, flying, insects and spiders (EWWW!), and needles. Ugh.

9. My favorite books to read are cookbooks. I like to pull out a stack every day, and dream up elaborate meal plans.

10. I am terribly impatient, and have quite the short temper, even if I don’t always show it. I’m working on this.

11. Every few years, I get an overwhelming urge to move somewhere new and start fresh. Oregon? Washington? Somewhere green and lush where we could have our own garden, and live more of a country life would be ideal.

12. I can’t stand Elmo. Today, my daughter said his name, and I pretended I had no idea who she was talking about…

13. I was an English major in college. I adore books and writing.

14. I hated my unruly hair for years, and straightened it for so much of my life. Now I let it go natural, and am much happier.

15. My life’s dream used to be becoming a successful actress in Hollywood. The reality of the industry didn’t sit well with me. I never felt authentic within it, and the constant self-judgment got to me. So my future is wide open now, which is scary, but exciting, too. Yay to blank slates!

16. If I could only eat one more food for the rest of my life, it would be natto (fermented soybeans—sticky, smelly, and so good!) or miso soup.

17. I love to tap dance. I’m hoping to really throw myself into dance again. In the meantime, I’m obsessed with “so you think you can dance”.

18. I don’t like to go shopping. Unless it’s for food :-) Most of my clothes are from college and even high school…

19. I was sick for many years, and it completely changed the way I live, and how I see the world. I am definitely thankful for my life in a way I wasn’t before I was ill. It also opened my eyes to healthful eating and alternative healing, which has been an amazing adventure.

20. Motherhood has challenged me in ways I never could have imagined. I am becoming who I really am and always was beneath the layers of self-doubt that I’ve struggled with my whole life.

Thanks for reading!!

what we ate

Our meals are evolving. We are in that awkward in between phase where Julie can eat a lot more of what we eat, but not quite everything. I haven't quite figured it out, and somedays I fail epically. Somedays, we get our green smoothies and juices in, and it makes up for the fact that she has turned her nose up at every other meal. I really can't wait for the day that she will be as excited about food as I am!

Breakfast-Oatmeal with apples, coconut milk, cardamom, and cinnamon, melon
Snack-Brown rice cake with walnut butter, barley tea
Lunch-Sprouted wheat tortilla pizza with tofu ricotta, basil, mushrooms, and olives
Snack-Seed crackers with hummus, banana, green smoothie
Dinner-Split pea soup, brown rice
Dessert-Cinnamon-espresso chocolate chip cookies from Chloe's Kitchen. (mama & papa)