Paris - Part deux

I wrapped up my last post about the Paris trip with our visit to the Eiffel Tower.  

The following day, we headed to the Louvre, which was just a short walk from our apartment. 

Going to the Louvre has been on my life list since I took French classes in high school!  And I must say, it did not disappoint.  However, I wasn't quite prepared for the size of this place. It used to be palace and it's massive.  I actually got lost at one point.  
  

I didn't bring my big camera on this day because my shoulder was aching from lugging my bag around, and I definitely regret it.  My pictures would have been much better with my SLR.  So excusing the quality of my pictures, here are a few of my highlights:

The Venus de Milo was probably my favorite piece.  In fact, this wing, that was full of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, was my favorite part of the museum.  I couldn't believe both the size and the detail of these pieces. 

I knew the Mona Lisa was going to be smaller than expected, but she was still impressive to view and her eyes definitely follow you!

 Of course there were numerous beautiful paintings, too many to post.  One of my favorite parts of this experience, however, was just walking through this beautiful palace.  It was gorgeous!

That afternoon, after we had lunch, we headed back to our apartment to relax and work on our presentation, which was the following day.  

On Friday, we spent most of the day at the conference.  Our presentation went very well, and to celebrate we decided to take a cruise along the Seine that evening.  The weather wasn't the best, but I got some really good shots of the city.  I just loved seeing these beautiful old buildings along the river. 

The Louvre

Notre Dame

On Saturday, we awoke and had our standard chocolate croissant.  Then we headed out to do some shopping.  I had decided that I wanted to bring home some pottery to display in our house.  I read about a pottery shop La Maison Ivre and so we headed that way.  And this store was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

I would have bought half of the things on display if I could.  It was full of beautiful linens and pottery. 

I came home with this beautiful piece which is displayed on one of our shelves. 

I love that every time I look at it, it reminds me of this fabulous trip.

After buying our trinkets, we went to a delicious crepery for lunch.  After that, Angela and her mom headed to Sacre Coeur.  I was kind of tired of the tourist scene and really just wanted to soak up my last day in Paris.  So I wandered the streets, popping into various boutiques and finally landed at a cafe where I sat and people watched and wrote in my journal.  

Our trip ended that night with a fabulous French meal where I had the most delicious risotto and chocolate mousse for dessert, of course. 

I feel so very grateful and so very blessed to have had this experience.  It was a wonderful trip, and I will cherish the memory.  The French definitely enjoy life, and since I've been home, I've been inspired to slow down a bit, savoring a few special moments of each and every day. 

My hope is that one day, I can return to France and explore the countryside.  I would love to see more of this beautiful country. 

On a Whim

I dyed my hair red last week.  It was an unexpected decision.

I was walking through Target and about to buy my usual "warm medium brown" semi-permanent hair color.  Then I picked up "medium auburn brown".  I figured I would just go for it...thinking it would still be more brown than red.

I was wrong.  It's definitely red!

What do you think?

I'm still undecided as to whether I love it or hate it.  The good news is that it will wash out so I'm not really committed to it.

I know that it's not a coincidence that I did this one day after learning I'll be submitting my proposal in six weeks.  When I'm stressed, I tend to do these kinds of things on a whim.  I've also been re-staging our bookshelves....trying to integrate some turquoise into all the red.  Nothing like a little home decorating project to keep you focused!  Don't even ask my husband about this one.  He thinks I'm certified crazy.

By the way, he also thinks I'm nuts when I ask him to take pictures of me for this blog.  It could have something to do with the fact that I make him take them over and over again, but the picture above speaks for itself.  I mean really? Who poses like that?!

Here's another great one for your viewing pleasure.  I'm not chewing anything.  I swear.  How's that for keepin it real ?!

Anyway, I'm going away for the weekend with some of my girlfriends and I can't wait to surprise them with my fiery redheadness!  

After dying my hair, I remembered that being a redhead is on my life list!  So there you go....now I can check that off!

Speaking of my life list, I looked back and there are a few other things that I managed to check off in the past year:

6. Quit my job so I can spend more time with my son  

49. Dye my hair red

31. Take Liam to a music festival

43. Learn embroidery

I quit my job in June, which was the greatest decision ever!  I'm so blessed to be able to spend more time with Liam while also focusing on my studies.

We also took Liam to his first music festival over a weekend in September.  It was a very family friendly event.  One that we'll definitely return to again this year.  Here he is with my sister-in-law dressed up as a gorilla for the parade.  Cutest. gorilla. ever.

I just recently started embroidering.  I don't necessarily have a lot of time to dedicate to it, but I find that when I do, I really enjoy it.  I like to keep my hands busy!  Plus, it's fun to learn the different stitches and to make something pretty in the process.  Once it's done, I'll share the end result...you can expect that probably sometime in 2017.

Now that I've re-read those lists, I'm inspired to do more fun things!  I just need to write that dissertation proposal first.... 

Intention

So here it is January 10th and I'm still trying to adjust to the idea of 2013.  I feel like 2012 ended in a whirlwind, and I think I'm still recovering!

For the past 10 days, I've been reflecting on the past year....writing in my journal, trying to figure out how to invest my energy as this new year begins.  I'm not necessarily big on New Year's resolutions, but I do like to begin the year with some goals and intentions.

Here is my list for 2013, in no particular order:

• Use fewer paper towels.  I'm quite ashamed to say that I have a paper towel addiction.   It's not a very "green" habit.  If I spill something, I automatically reach for a paper towel.  I really do care about our environment and don't want to be wasteful so I feel that I need to change this. I've recently purchased new dish cloths and cloth napkins and have started using those instead of paper towels.  So far so good.
• Stop forgetting my reusable bags when I go to the store.  I have several reusable bags, but sometimes I don't remember them.  Every time I walk out of a store with a plastic bag, I feel terrible!  So....I've loaded my trunk up with them and every time I make a shopping list, I'm adding a note to myself to remember the bags.
• Write in my journal more often.  Recently, I've started journaling again.  I find that on the days I journal, I feel good.  Really good.  It's like therapy and meditation wrapped up in one.  I'm not going to try to do it every day. I know I need to be realistic, but I'm aiming for at least several times a week.
• Take time to read books beyond school work.  As a graduate student, this one is tough.  Most of my extra time is spent reading journal articles and scholarly books, but  I miss reading for pleasure.  So, even if it's just 5 or 10 minutes before bed, I'm going to try to indulge my love of reading a little more.
• Continue my exercise commitment.  I have exercised on a regular basis for most of my adult life.  After having Liam, however, I found it difficult to find the time.  This past summer I made it a priority again and I saw some real results from my efforts.  I always feel better when I exercise so I plan to keep at it.  I think of it as taking time to nurture myself.
• Be present as a mother.  It can be difficult in this day and age to be truly present as a parent, and I work, very deliberately, at being present while I'm with Liam.  I want to continue making this a priority.
• Only buy clothing and items for my home that I love.  I made this same goal a few years ago and it served me very well.  I need to refocus on this a bit.  Every time I go to make a clothing purchase, I ask myself if I love the item.  If I don't love it, then it goes back on the rack.  This helps keep me from spending money on items just because they are on sale and also helps cut down on excess.
• Submit a dissertation proposal, begin my research and submit an article or two.  Graduate school has been going well and I want to continue the momentum that began in 2012.
• Play more and worry less, live in the present, be grateful, and choose happiness.  Last year, my word for the year was positivity.  I tried to spend the year choosing to be happy, to think positive, to be thankful and to believe in the best. I want to continue living with these in focus because I have found that they really do make a difference in my daily life and my sense of contentment.  

For 2013, I have chosen the word intention to guide me.  

Source: http://pinterest.com/pin/152489137353166795/

I want to mother my son and nurture my marriage with intention.  I want to use my time intentionally. I want to work hard towards the intention of finishing my PhD.  

I don't want to just show up but rather, I want to make things happen.  I want to be fully present each and every day, living my life with intention.  

I have high hopes for 2013.  It's exciting to imagine the wonderful things this year may bring.

Today I'm linking up with Edie over at Life{in}Grace as she talks about using our time more purposefully.  Please visit her beautiful blog and check out her link up!

Life List Part Two

Recently on my birthday, I decided to write a Life List of one hundred things I would like to do with the time I have left.  Here is the second half of that list.  


As I read through this list, I find myself inspired.  In fact, I've already chosen five things to check off this list, this year.


Life List Part Two:

1. Visit Morocco
2. Read the Outlander series.  
3. Have dreadlocks
4. Stay in the Stanley Hotel where Stephen King wrote The Shining
5. Teach my son to love books and music
6. Spend the summer at a cabin on a lake
7. Start playing the piano again
8. Learn to write a grant
9. Make jam
10. Visit Oregon
11. Go on a meditation retreat
12. Be a foster parent
13. Own a VW bus
14. Go to a blogging conference
15. Visit the northeast during autumn
16. Learn to make my grandmother’s chicken and noodles recipe (Mom, I’m going to need your help!)
17. Take a hot air balloon ride
18. Live in an RV for a year with my husband and travel around the U.S.
19. Revisit making jewelry as a hobby
20. Travel to Bali
21. Reread the Anne of Green Gables and Little House on the Prairie series
22. Spend a week out at sea
23. Visit the Great Wall
24. Have my own crafting studio
25. Learn to can the vegetables that I grow in my garden
26. Make a pie from scratch…successfully!
27. Have an Etsy shop
28. Spend a long weekend at a spa
29. Write a children’s book
30. Visit New Orleans and the Louisiana swamps
31. Take Liam to a music festival
32. Dive a big shipwreck
33. Learn to hula hoop around my legs
34. Go on a 7 day backpacking trip
35. Try acupuncture
36. Ride in a helicopter
37. Bury a time capsule
38. Hold someone’s hand as they give birth
39. Have a portrait wall in my home
40. Visit British Columbia
41. Go on a girls’ trip with my closest friends
42. Tap a tree and make maple syrup
43. Learn embroidery
44. Make my son a Halloween costume
45. Rock climb
46. See a bear in the wild
47. Visit all 50 states
48. Visit Prince Edward island
49. Have a hammock in my backyard
50. Float the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon

Life List Part One

A week ago today, I turned 35 years young.  I do not fear aging.  The way I see it...every birthday is a blessing.  Right now, I'm happy...I'm healthy...I'm surrounded by love.  I have all that I need.

With each birthday, as I embrace another year, I tend to get a little reflective.  Turning a year older has this symbolic meaning for me...it makes me assess where I am and what I hope to do with my life.

As I look back on these 35 years, I'm pretty pleased with all that I have accomplished, but looking forward, there's a lot more I hope to do. 

To celebrate this birthday, I was inspired by this lovely lady and decided to write a life list of one hundred things I would like to do with the time I have left. 

So here it is...in no particular order, the first half of my life list:

1.       Write my life list (which I have to write because I LOVE checking things off my to-do list!)

2.      Finish my PhD (I did it!!!)

3.      Write a book

4.      Own a chunk of land and a home surrounded by trees

5.      Visit every National Park

6.      Quit my job so I can spend more time with my son

7.      Travel to India

8.     Unplug completely for one week

9.      Learn to play the violin

10.  Plant a big, huge garden

11.   Run a marathon or 50K trail run

12.  Own horses

13.  Help my son find and follow his dreams

14.  Learn to sew my own clothing

15.   Own a home with a fireplace, a big great room that opens into the kitchen, a walk-in closet, my own sink, a hot tub out under the stars , a crafting studio, and a huge fire pit on a patio

16.  Backpack part of the Appalachian Trail

17.   Own a high efficiency washer and dryer

18.  Take a painting class

19.  Grow lovely flowers year around

20. Have a huge farmhouse table where we gather and eat amazing meals

21.  Travel to Alaska

22. Practice yoga on a regular basis for an extended period of time

23. Learn Aerial Arts

24. Own a camper for camping and music festivals

25.  Stop driving so fast…learn to slow down and enjoy the moment

26. Go on an African safari

27.  Take a cooking class

28. Visit the Scottish Highlands

29. See the Northern Lights

30. Have everything we own paid off

31.  Travel to France and visit the Louvre

32. Take a photography class

33. Learn to quilt

34. Become a bee keeper

35.  Go on a long, romantic trip with my husband

36. Keep chickens so we can have farm fresh eggs

37.  Go diving in the Sea of Cortez

38. Write a letter to my son every year on his birthday

39. Take an outdoor survival class

40. Learn to knit

41.  Have a library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with books

42. Go to Squam or some other creative gathering

43. Buy a really nice piece of art

44. Own an espresso machine and learn to make my own delicious lattes

45.  Go on a vacation with my parents, all of my siblings, and their children so we can spend more than a day together at a time

46. Have my house completely organized from top to bottom

47.  Learn to climb trees like my husband

48. Make wine

49. Dye my hair red

50. Create a meditation alter and sacred space in home