vancouver

 

 

Last week we were in Vancouver.  Over the past 7 years we've taken local weekend trips but haven't had a proper vacation since 2009.  It seemed like the right time to do something more ambitious than visiting grandparents in LA; my parents were actually with us on this vacation, but Vancouver was a welcome change of scene.

There was so much to delight in Vancouver. I couldn't get enough of the First Nations art & totem poles, and although everything inside the aquarium was gorgeous, my children were mesmerized by the Keys To The Streets piano sitting in the plaza out front. The best part of our trip, however, was the food.  We ate not once, but twice at Touhenboku Ramen, and I sincerely wish we could have eaten at least three times at Ritual. I highly recommend pizza with focaccia-like crust from the Pzazz stall in the market on Granville Island, the brown sugar cookies from The Salty Cookie Co. are not to be missed, and I will forever wax rhapsodic over the marshmallows from Goodmallows (we brought home several bags flavored with Earl Grey tea -- those were my personal favorites -- but all the flavors were rather amazing). 

Have you had any good travels this summer?  But more importantly, what did you eat when you were there?

doki doki

I recently heard about this book: The Sound of Silence by Katrina Goldsaito, illustrated by Julia Kuo.  I haven't actually read it (yet) but there is a visual and auditory collage created by the author and illustrator which starts with the words, "Doki doki is the sound your heart makes when you see someone or something you love."  It's a beautiful glimpse into the spirit of the book and you can find it HERE.

strandbeest

How much do I love this? A whole lot.  

You can read more about the work of Theo Jansen HERE.

old-fashioned summer

photo credit: rachel wolf :: clean

Dear lovely friends,

I've been intending to share this with you since the start of summer, but posting lately has been difficult for me.  Still, there are a few more weeks of summer vacation, and the last few weeks before school starts always feel bittersweet.  It's a time to sneak in those last summer-vacation activities... another visit to the beach... a few more art projects... and making popsicles.

The inspiring list below was composed and featured in a blog post by Rachel Wolf.  Rachel is the owner of LuSa Organics (we swear by her essential oil Sleeping Potion blend).  To see Rachel's original post, you can click HERE.

25 TIPS FOR AN OLD-FASHIONED SUMMER VACATION

1. Slow down.

There's no hurry to get anywhere, so let's savor where we are. You only have one chance at this day, this season, this relationship, this childhood.

2. Under-schedule.

Less on your calender means more space for the people you love. If your kids are accustom to a pretty full plate it might take them a bit to adjust. But when they do a whole world of possibilities will open up before them.

3. Make space for simple play.

I can't say enough about the magic that this brings.

4. Invite friends over for a picnic.

And don't clean first. Spread an old blanket on the grass and dig in. Memorable, real, and unplugged in the best way.

5. Have a campfire.

If only because it's high time you teach your kids what "I hate white rabbits" means. (Or as my kids say it (between coughs), "I don't like white bunnies!")

6. Build a quick and easy backyard fort.

It'll take you ten minutes and keep your kids entertained for the summer. No Pinterest perfection required. Just a bedsheet and some rope. Boom.

7. Make a habit of saying "yes".

Can we go swimming? Can we have dessert? Will you read me a book? Embrace the yes and see where it takes you.

8. Stay up late chasing fireflies.

Because what could be better?

And besides. Bedtime is over-rated. (Just ask your kids.)

9. Blow some epic bubbles.

I mean honestly. How could you not? These bubbles will captivate everyone, young and old.

10. Go swimming in a lake.

Or the ocean. Or a creek. But get your feet wet in nature. And if the water is cold I double dare you to dunk!

11. Sleep out in your backyard.

With or without a tent. Under the moon and stars, just you and your family. Summer was made for this.

If you want to take the sleep out even further, plan a road trip to a National Park. Because the Parks somehow feel like everyone's backyard.

12. Explore without agenda.

Your block, a city, the forest, your home state. Make an adventure of it. On bike, on foot, by car, or by train, get out there and find new places to love.

13. Listen to your children's stories.

As Catherine Wallace brilliantly put it, “Listen earnestly to anything [your children] want to tell you, no matter what. If you don't listen eagerly to the little stuff when they are little, they won't tell you the big stuff when they are big, because to them all of it has always been big stuff.”

Don't wait. Start today.

14. Have less rules.

The world is safer now than it has ever been. Safer than when I zipped down the driveway with no helmet and was told to "be home before dark". Children learn best through freedom, and we adults thrive with less "should" and more "want to" in each day.

15. Churn some ice cream.

Tonight, tomorrow, everyday. Always churn ice cream. It's one of summer's simple pleasures.

16. Go outside and play.

Games without rules, just you and your kids. Sword-fight with pool noodles or toss the softball, grab your rollerblades or find that dusty bucket of sidewalk chalk.

Play feeds our souls. Especially when we do it together.

And remember, we deeply need nature. Let yourself go into the calm bliss of biofilia. It will heal you in so many ways.

17. Prioritize joy.

So often "joy" takes the backseat. Work? Yes. Commitment? Always. Responsibility? Bring it!

But joy? Oh. We forgot about joy.

Joy fills us in ways that nothing else can. Put it first this summer.

18. Dance in the rain.

Barefoot. With your kids or alone. It can't help but transform you. Note: dancing in the rain will cause epic laughter as well (which spins it's own healing magic).

19. Make some play dough.

Because you might not want to dance in every rain storm this summer. Play dough will fill the leftover rainy days quite nicely.

20. Do something you've never done before.

Dye your hair pink, head out without a plan or a map, or cook some Thai food. Surprise yourself and find joy in the unexpected.

21. Get gloriously, unapologetically dirty.

When was the last time you made mud pies or jumped in puddles? Feel this summer in every possible way. In the garden, the woods, or the river, be in it. Without hesitation.

As an added bonus, getting dirty builds healthy immunity. Who knew?

22. Fear not the unscheduled days.

For they are the most delicious days of all.

23. Unplug.

For an hour, a day, or a whole juicy week. Unplug.

Make eye contact with your loved ones. Play board games. Bake cupcakes. Tell stories.

And do it all without the distraction of technology. You'll leave your media fast feeling open, free, and deeply grounded.

No, technology isn't bad, but a break now and then can be a wonderful thing.

24. Fall in love with simple pleasures.

Because an old-fashioned summer is really about a return to simple. Simple priorities, simply joys, simple pleasures.

A meal on the porch, a bowl of hand-churned ice cream, a walk at sunset.

Make these your priorities this season.

25. And be nowhere else but here.

Because - honestly - where could be better than this?

This life of yours is more than enough.

For more thoughts about summer, this blog post HERE and this blog post HERE are really great. Both posts were featured over at Scary Mommy.

finding peace

Elisa Kleven :: Angels Watching Over Me

Elisa Kleven :: Angels Watching Over Me

Elisa Kleven :: Angels Watching Over Me

I'm glad I posted last night about finding hope and deeply appreciate the warm, supportive responses I've received via email, facebook and here on my blog. After I wrote the post, I continued thinking about finding hope during frightening times, and reached for the most hopeful, peaceful images I could find.  Elisa Kleven's artwork never fails to remind me of the wonder and gentleness of our world, if only we know how and where to look.  I love every book she's illustrated, but the book I reached for this morning is Angels Watching Over Me with words by Julia Durango. (For more information about Elisa's work you can visit her website HERE.)

Further thoughts on finding hope and peace revolved around the idea that we cannot control or change the actions of another person, but we can control how we respond, more aptly expressed by Nelson Mandela: People respond in accordance to how you relate to them. If you approach them on the basis of violence, that's how they'll react.  But if you say, 'We want peace, we want stability,' we can then do a lot of things that will contribute towards the progress of our society. (Words to keep in mind whether one is dealing with a toddler, a teenager or a politician?) Reflections on taking responsibility for our responses brought me back to this quote, attributed to John Wesley (and spoken by Hilary Clinton at the DNC): Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can.

People respond in accordance to how you relate to them. If you approach them on the basis of violence, that's how they'll react. But if you say, 'We want peace, we want stability,' we can then do a lot of things that will contribute towards the progress of our society.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/n/nelsonmand621326.html?src=t_react

People respond in accordance to how you relate to them. If you approach them on the basis of violence, that's how they'll react. But if you say, 'We want peace, we want stability,' we can then do a lot of things that will contribute towards the progress of our society.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/react.html

People respond in accordance to how you relate to them. If you approach them on the basis of violence, that's how they'll react. But if you say, 'We want peace, we want stability,' we can then do a lot of things that will contribute towards the progress of our society.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/react.html

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

finding hope

I try to avoid current events and politics on my blog in an attempt to keep this space a gentle haven, but privately I am fiercely opinionated about politics and world events.  I avoid the onslaught of current events via the internet and instead read the newspaper every day; and the avalanche of events over the past few months has left me especially anxious, frightened and very, very sad.  I am overwhelmed by loss of so many innocent lives -- the unarmed young black men, shot point-blank by police, the retaliation against the police, the attacks in Belgium, Germany, France and the US, not to mention ongoing events in Asia, the Middle East & Africa. And don't get me started on the upcoming US presidential election.

The reason I am writing about this tonight is I have felt strange posting here about crafts and other lovely things while avoiding these other issues which concern me deeply.  I'm not posting with any ideas or solutions beyond the hope that good people of this world will continue to communicate with understanding, to reach out with love instead of fear, and to gently teach their children that all people of this world deserve kindness and respect.

Fred Rogers (aka Mr. Rogers) is often quoted in times like these: When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' His words give me a shred of hope, as does the beautiful drawing above created by artist Diana Toledano.  This image was created by Diana a few weeks ago to promote peace, equality and understanding; you can read about her inspiration and see more of her lovely work HERE.

Where are you finding hope?  Do you have any thoughts about ways to heal our world?