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My Summer Manifesto was so helpful in guiding my summer choices that I have decided to do a Back to School Manifesto. I am trying to keep life in perspective and make mindful choices, I will embrace any help I can get in that process!
Here's to being back in school, new routines, new perspectives, and making time for what really matters!
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Time is a traveler.
Where did it go?
It left, but it didn't
leave you empty handed.
No! It left you with the gift
of beautiful memories,
that you can keep in your
heart for safe keeping,
to cherish forever,
and ever.
— Jane Adams
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January was a busy month for some people. You know how I know, lots of babies due in October! Which is fine with me, being an October baby myself. There are lots of good reasons to love being an October baby. Unfortunately, for me, that makes for a very busy September!
In an attempt to prove my son wrong, I am busy sewing baby quilts that I am hoping will arrive in the babys' houses before said babies turn six!
Right now, the above baby quilt is on the design wall. We do not yet know the sex of this little munchkin so I chose some bright colors to play with along with some really soft white Minkee.
In the studio, for a precious little girl, is the quilt below. Just need to finish tying and binding then it is ready to go.Finally, in the basket, cut and partially sewn, is this quilt for another precious little one.
The blues and greens are really pretty in person. The fabric is an organic cotton which is so soft. It will be paired with a chocolate colored chenille. Yum!
I am hoping to have all of the quilts finished by this coming weekend. A lofty goal for sure, but attainable. Fingers crossed.
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Time flies when you are playing catch-up!
One thing that I have noticed during this process is that I have a tendency to use more photos during the week, even though I don't seem to be including a photo for each day. Sunday of this week I left the beach after Jen and I finished setting up the Emilie Sloan display for the week. Monday was a day of recuperation for me so I included a photo that my nieces' babysitter uploaded to facebook. I just love seeing all of my girls riding their bikes! I actually spent some time on Monday in Trenton with a friend of mine at the pension board and although I took a couple of pictures, the one I like the best is the one of my girls.
Tuesday I was off to learn a new skill, long arm quilting. Such fun! I was so proud of my little project and I cannot wait to try again!Back to the beach to work Wednesday and Thursday. On Wednesday evening, after taking a brief nap, I made Lemon Chicken for my brother-in-law and then ran 45 minutes. Thursday was work, and then home for swim training. Thursday night was our night for swimming sprints, not my favorite.
The photos I took for Friday are all on an insert I included with this week. Mark and I took a ride up to my hometown and the newest national park in Paterson.The top photo in the insert is the home in which I was raised. So many memories. The next photo, the little falls for which my hometown was named. Finally, in the bottom photo, Tony's. We always ordered a large cheese pizza and a number 3 sandwich.
The back side of the insert includes photos from Paterson and the national park. The top photo was taken from the bridge over the Passaic River. The second photo is of the peruvian restaurant where we ate dinner. Finally, the bottom photo is the Great Falls.
Saturday began with a trip to our farmers' market and ended with a delicious meal at Anthony's along with a show at The Ritz. It truly was one of the most perfect weekends.Moving forward I am trying to look for photos that my children posted so that I can include more images of them in our album. It is all a work in process and I am truly enjoying the process.
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Woo-hoo! I am catching up with our Project Life and it feels good. Week 30 was actually July 22 through the 28th. In our life, it was another busy week, especially because I was due to work at the beach for five days.
Home on Sunday, all day, with dinner out. We caught that beautiful photo of the sunset from the parking lot of Target. On Monday, we took a hike out to Apple Pie Hill in Wharton State Forest. So much fun, so many photos. I needed to add a 4x12 insert to add an additional 6 photos from our hike. I think I especially loved the pink blazes. I included bare chipboard letters spelling "hike" on the very bottom picture of my feet on one of the little bridges we crossed along the trail. I love the way that looks.
After our hike we stopped at the Rustic Grill for dinner and then we made a late night run to Ritas for water ice. The perfect way to end the day!
On Tuesday, we picked the one and only tomato from our little garden in the back. Wednesday, back to the beach for work.Thursday I came home for my swim training, only to have it canceled because of a storm that blew in. The picture in the upper right shows me being blown around my front yard. I was back down at the beach on Friday for the Emily Sloan trunk show. The beach house is not as quiet with everyone there, but it is always good fun. Friday we also celebrated Emma's birthday. Saturday it rained all day while I was at the store. Mark drove down to visit with us since I was scheduled to work through Sunday.
Another eventful week, another eventful week documented. I am still really enjoying Project Life! As always, if you are the least bit interested in Project Life, I urge you to check out Becky Higgins' site. I just love recording our family happenings this way. Takes the stress out of the process and allows me to go with the flow, even when I fail to take photos.
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Catching up feels so good! I took an intentional break from Project Life when I started to feel anxiety about "keeping up". Anxiety about anything is not good, but to me, it just seemed a bit unproductive to allow a project that I do for fun, to make me anxious. So, I took a break.
Catching up is hard, but is not anxiety producing and that is where I need to be right about now!
Week 29 was a busy week, as most of my weeks are. It began on Sunday, July 15th. We were able to spend most of this Sunday at home, working in the yard and just enjoying a relaxing day. Monday, Jason was hosting a beer event, so we headed into Philly. What a night! The beer event included full servings of beer and a delicious meal. Afterwards, Jason headed us over to Franklin Mortgage and Investment for some really special cocktails. What a neat experience for us! My two escorts decided they were a bit hungry so we were off in search of some food...We ended up at the restaurant where Jason was going to spend the later part of his evening, but I do not remember the name. It was bring your own vinyl so we ordered a bit of food and listened to the records that Jason had brought along. A very full day.
Tuesday, slept late and then getting ready to head to the beach. A swim night and then bed. Wednesday and Thursday had me down on LBI for work. I included a couple of instagram photos that I took with my i-pod of the storm moving towards the island. I love that I have different ways of capturing all that happens during our weeks!Instagram photos print at 4x4. The extra space in the photo pockets provides a spot for extra journaling. I just love that! Friday I was sewing with Robin, attempting to finish the t-shirt quilts that we had started in 2009. I took a photo of the little red bench at the top of my stairs. It just makes me smile!
Healthy eating is something we have been working on this summer. Saturday a trip to the farmers' market yielded some really special vegetables that made it into our dinner on Saturday evening. We were even able to eat outside on this gorgeous Saturday. I enjoying spending time perusing other blogs where I get to see how others use their Project Life. Seeing the posts and how others approach this project keeps me inspired, yet grounded. It is meant to keep the recording of our daily lives easier, not to make it more stressful. As long as I remember that, I will be okay.
As always, if you are the least bit interested in Project Life, I urge you to check out Becky Higgins' site. I just love recording our family happenings this way. Takes the stress out of the process and allows me to go with the flow, even when I fail to take photos.
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“Write down 10 things
you would do in your life
if you had absolutely no fear.
Then pick one of them and do it.”
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and basking in the glow. I asked Mark if he thought I could do 4 tri's next summer. First response, "sure." Second response, an emphatic, "no!" I'm thinking he could not handle me doing 4 tri's. Oh well...it's something to think about!
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Today I woke up very early. 5:30 am
Today I swam 1/2 mile in Sandy Hook Bay. 7:10 am
Today I biked 10 miles. About 7:25 am
Today I got off my bike without falling! About 8:05 am
Today I ran a 5K. About 8:10 am
Today I beat my goal, 1:45, by about 11 minutes. Just before 9 am
Today, the girls and I pushed ourselves to the limit.
Today, I am a triathlete!
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