Wordless Wednesday - The Wild West

Wordless Wednesday - While Hiking in Idyllwild, CA

The Four Agreements, For Me & My Son

If you are looking for more happiness in your life, I recommend the book, "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz.

Here are the Four Agreements:

Each morning, I remind myself of the Four Agreements and try my best to apply them to my daily life. If I can consistently follow these agreements, I think my life would have less drama and more peace. It is a goal I am working towards. And if I can teach my child to live his life, cultivating these habits (agreements) before he becomes an adolescent, we just might have a happy camper during the teenage years. Wouldn't that be nice.

Two weeks ago I shared the Four Agreements with my 10 year old son. This is how I summarized them (in kid talk): 

1. Watch What You Say. 
Try to use only positive language and positive thoughts. Your words and thoughts have power.

2. Don't Take Anything Personal. 
Jack had a hard time understanding this one so I gave him an example: "Say your friend comes to school in a bad mood and says something negative about you for no reason. You will probably react in one of three ways. You'll have hurt feelings, you might say something negative back to your friend or begin to believe the negative thing your friend just said.....none of these are good. What if you told yourself maybe my friend had something bad happen this morning at home, maybe my friend stayed up late last night and is just tired, maybe he doesn't feel good? In most cases, when someone is being hurtful towards you, it usually has nothing to do with you (not taking it personal), it has to do with what's going on in that person's world, how they feel about themselves.

3. Don't Assume Anything. 
My son instantly told me that the above example was full of assumptions! He's right and I had to think fast!!! So, I went back to the example and said, "If a friend says something mean to you, ask them if they are having a bad day, ask if they don't feel good, etc." Ask questions. If you ask questions and clearly communicate with people, you will have less misunderstandings. My son completely understood this Agreement and now points out every time I assume something. I had no idea I spent a portion of my day assuming things until my 10 year pointed it out!  

4. Always Do Your Best. 
If you do your best, you will not have regrets.

I taught my son the Four Agreements to give him tools to create a peaceful life for himself...turns out, he's helping me incorporate these agreements into my daily life too. 

Namaste.

Baby Hummingbird Leaves the Nest

I happened to be outside with my camera and was lucky enough to see our backyard baby hummingbird leave the nest for the first time. She flew a couple feet and landed on the outside of our table umbrella. 

She sat there for about five minutes, looking for her mother who was trying to get her attention in a nearby tree.

If you look closely, you can see the mother in the top right corner on the edge of the roof.

Right after I took this photo, she flew away with her mom. I'm already looking forward to next Spring when I can watch this all over again.

Happy "Early" Mother's Day.

Earth Day: Our Children, Our Future

http://printpattern.blogspot.com

Please remember to teach your children the importance of "Recycle, Reduce, Reuse." Our children are our future. If you don't make a change, then nothing will change. Celebrate Earth Day, April 22, 2013.

VW Bus...Need I Say More?!

So we went a little "hippy dippy" this past weekend...sold the old Volvo and bought a 1977 VW Westfalia Sage Green Bus with plaid interior. And let me tell ya, we haven't looked back. 

"I have to fit this in our garage?!" 

Jack digs the sink & stove. It even came with the original pots & pans.

Cooper looks like Scooby Doo, 

shall we call it the Mystery Machine?

Jack can't wait to go camping. 

It's a Camper/Pop- Up with two beds.

All original interior. She's in great condition.

Even has the old school blue California license plates.

Six more years Jack...

I'm still trying to master 1st gear.

We can't wait to take the Bus on exciting adventures with our kids...up the California Coast, camping, beach and desert trips. Nothing compares to this tin can. I've had a blast just driving Jack to school this week...I can't begin to imagine the life long memories we'll share in this old Bus.

Earth Day Products

As Earth Day approaches, many Etsy sellers are showcasing their best eco friendly, recycled, upcycled and repurposed products.

Here are my top five picks: 

Personalized Cutting Board, Bamboo Wood by Twisted Branch Designs

Wooden Spoons in Chevron by The Bakers Confections

Upcycled Plant Baskets by 5th Season

"Save the Earth" Organic Cotton Purse by Crafts by Nesli

Paper Bunting - Recycled Garland by Peony and Thistle