My Summer Schedule

Summer-2015-(D)

I am attempting something a little different with my summer work schedule this year. A few months back, I was thinking about the kids’ summer break and what my hopes and goals were around it. It dawned on me that I had a lot of paid time-off stored up, and why not make use of it for something other than an actual vacation or being sick? I decided to “cash out” to take off 4 days per week in June and July. So, essentially only working 1 day per week this summer. My intuition led me to the decision that taking the extra time off from work to spend more meaningful family time was a good choice for me. Thankfully, since my work is aligned with schools and my manager is very supportive, it was an option that was doable.

Summer-2015-(B)

And now it is here. This is the first week of my summer schedule and I am keenly aware that the next 7-8 weeks will fly by. So in an effort to set some goals but still get the chance to relax and recharge, I have two intentions established for this summer :

To spend meaningful time with the boys enjoying opportunities to create, learn and connect.

 

To embrace the slower pace and use the time to dive into personal projects that bring me joy.

Summer-2015-(E)

For my time with the boys, I am giving us a rough framework to guide our days. Every day I have with them I will join them in one creative activity. Nothing fancy or elaborate, just one creative project or endeavor per day. We will also read…a lot. Mainly because that is something we love to do together. Now that the boys are both able to read, I am going to attempt to implement an afternoon silent reading period where we sit together for 20 minutes or so and each read silently to ourselves. I think it might be a good way to establish this as a regular habit in our house. Who knows if it will stick, but it doesn’t hurt to give it a try 🙂 I also hope to take them on a few “field trips” to different museums and such. I am bound and determined to keep them curious and excited about the world around them.

For myself, I am going to try to follow a morning ritual that will allow me to feel like I have been productive on a personal level at the beginning of the day which will allow me to be fully present the rest of the day. I will wake up early, drink my coffee and read my favorite blogs & articles, then exercise after that. Then I will attempt writing daily. I gain and learn so much from writing this blog, but it has been tough to maintain a regular writing schedule with work and life demands during the school year. This summer schedule is the perfect opportunity to get stronger at making this a daily habit. So by 9am, I will have invested in 4 hours for myself. It might sound like torture to some getting up that early, but I love it and find my peak brain function is in the morning.

Summer-2015-(C)

As a family, we intentionally don’t have many big plans scheduled. We would like to sprinkle in a few special outings that we will surprise the boys with throughout the summer, but nothing major.

I am very much looking forward to this summer and want to be present for all of it. I have a feeling spending my “saved” time and “splurging” it on myself and our family will be a very good investment.

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Podcasts I am Loving Lately

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iPhone’s Podcast App icon

You might remember I declared my love for podcasts on THIS POST. Since then, I have added more to my list of favorites. I am still an avid & regular listener of:

But the thing with podcasts is that as you listen to one, you get introduced to others. Or, in my case, I hear an interview of a person that really resonates with me, and then I “search” to see what other podcasts might have interviewed the same person. And then, odds are, I will discover a new podcast I love!

Here are 3 new additions to my list of podcasts I am enjoying lately:

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1. Happier with Gretchen Rubin. This is a newer podcast hosted by Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project (loved it), and the new book Better than Before (can’t wait to read it). Gretchen is very big on understanding habits and how we can get them to work for us to lead happier lives. As you know, I am huge on them as well as I posted about HERE. On this podcast, Gretchen is joined by her sister, Elizabeth, and the two of them go through a series of topics and practical tips for a happier life. They are intelligent and fun, yet totally relatable.

You will like this podcast if: You enjoy the magazine Real Simple. 

Episode I recommend:  March 4, 2015 – Getting More Sleep, Resisting Strong Temptations, and Why It’s OK To Be Boring

 

James-Altucher-iTunes

2. The James Altucher Show. I love James Altucher and his interview style. First of all, his caliber of guests is on par or better than Tim Ferriss, which I still love. He interviews authors, bloggers, entrepreneurs, and just overall interesting smart people. What I especially love about James is that he seems genuinely curious about the people he interviews. He also “double clicks” a lot, which means, he doesn’t just take the answers his guests give at face value. He asks them to explain and give more details in a way that I rarely have seen/heard in an interview.

You will like this podcast if: You like to listen to intelligent conversations between interesting people from different walks of life.

Episode I recommend: Episode 108 – Ryan Holiday Shares His Secrets of Success

 

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3. Smart Creative Women with Monica Lee. I must say, this podcast is helping me fill in the void as I await Grace Bonney’s podcast, “After the Jump”, to come back from hiatus. Similar to the James Altucher Show, Smart Creative Women is an interview format show.  I always find interviews with creatives and entrepreneurs fascinating, and felt the void as I await “After the Jump” to return. Monica also interviews interesting creative women, so getting to know their stories better through the podcast is very enjoyable.

You would like this podcast if: You are in a creative field or an entrepreneur.

Episode I recommend: April 22, 2015 – Elle Luna: Choose Must

 

Elle-Luna

Elle Luna

In addition to discovering podcasts that I enjoy subscribing to, I really enjoy some of the individuals that I feel have “mentored” me in some way as guests on podcasts. If I love them on one, then I tend to want to hear more from them. If you come across any interview or article featuring these people, it is worth the time to stop and listen:

Elle Luna

Jon Acuff (if you know anyone graduating from college, you must get them his new book – phenomenal)

Seth Godin

Ramit Sethi

Noah Kagan

If you are in the mood for less autobiographical, self-development or business content and more in the mood for a storyline listen, then I do have two series I highly recommend. I finished the entire series of each within a week. The way these two series delivered their content is SO unique and well-done that you just can’t help but binge on every episode until they are done.

Serial-Podcast

The first is Serial. Now, if you are already listening to podcasts, there is NO WAY you have not heard of this. It has been on the top podcast list for over a year now. But for those of you who have not yet ventured into the world of podcasts, Serial is a blockbuster. Serial is about a true-life murder case that is reopened after 20 years and re-investigated. I am a big scaredy-cat and was worried that it might be too much for me, but it wasn’t.

You will like this series if: You like to watch shows like Unsolved Mysteries.

 

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The second one is Startup. It follows a veteran podcast producer as he decides to launch his own podcast company. He records himself throughout the entire process and produces a series unlike anything I have ever heard before. You follow him as he raises the capital, worries with his wife, finds a business partner, and launches his company. All in almost “real time” which makes you so invested in his success.

You will like this series if: You are curious about how people leave comfortable well-paying jobs and risk everything for the sake of their passion.

So the next time you are going for a walk, driving somewhere, or cleaning house use the opportunity to learn something new!

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Recent Read: The Crossroads of Should and Must

I just finished a book that is unlike any I’ve ever read before. The Crossroads of Should and Must by Elle Luna. It is the most beautiful book in its message, and its execution.

Source: My instagram

Source: My instagram

I do not want to rob your experience of reading this book, so I will keep the description and details brief. However, if you want an idea, The Crossroads of Should and Must is about listening to the voice in your heart (or gut). That “voice” is your MUST. This MUST will lead you to your true calling and purpose in life. Sounds like a simple solution. Just listen to that voice and all will be grand. Not so easy. Getting to MUST can be an extremely uncomfortable journey. But a necessary one.

Mark-Twain

The biggest conflict that we face in listening to MUST is … SHOULD. SHOULD is your mind’s way of keeping you safe from any possible harm or discomfort. SHOULD is society’s expectations of the “right” way to live. SHOULD is a parent’s loving concern for their child to pick a path that is safe and will be financially stable. SHOULD feels safe and very comfortable. MUST can feel scary and uncertain. The problem with following SHOULD is that MUST will always be deep down inside of you, no matter how much you push it to the side.

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This book dives into the importance of finding and choosing MUST over SHOULD. It is utterly inspiring and thought-provoking. Elle Luna really sets the tone by sharing her personal story of recognizing her MUST. Then she helps us recognize the influence of SHOULD’s in our lives. She acknowledges how difficult it can be to choose MUST. She lays out ideas and processes to help you discover your MUST, and then nudges you to go out and do it.

Crossroad-of-Should-and-Must

Besides this beautiful message that surely will ring true with every soul who picks it up, the way the message is presented is groundbreaking. Elle basically infuses the book full of her art. Her art IS the message. If pages like this don’t make you want to keep reading, I don’t know what will.

Crossroads-of-Should-and-Must-III

It is a gorgeous and easy read. I finished it in 2 days. This is not a book that will just sit on your nightstand for months. You will read it and will think of 100 people you want to gift it to.

Who is this book perfect for?

  • Anyone who is responsible for teaching children.
  • Anyone who is following a calling they are passionate about.
  • Anyone in a job they are not passionate about.
  • Anyone getting ready to graduate and find their first job.
  • Anyone who is in the middle of the career.
  • Anyone who has recently retired.
  • Any and all parents that need to understand how best to support their children as they grow into their own.
  • Middle and high schoolers who need to be listening for that voice and learn to not ignore it.

In fact, I really cannot think of one person who could not benefit from consuming this gorgeous book and message. I highly suggest that you consider buying The Crossroads of Should and Must for yourself and a friend. It’s going to be my “go to” gift from now on.

And, if you are interested in hearing Elle speak about this topic, I just heard a great podcast episode on Smart Creative Women with her as the guest. Just click HERE to go straight to the episode.

 

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Design Lesson: Finding Balance In Your Home Decor

Although I am not an interior designer, I have learned a few lessons along the way from the many years spent poring through inspiring home decor. I figure between the years I spent ripping pages from design magazines followed by many more years spent “pinning” from the web, I have got to have something to show for it. Right?

One of the things I have picked up is the importance of balance in our homes. Specifically, the balance between cool and warm elements in your space. Something that can happen if you decide you like certain colors is that everything you buy ends up being in that color family. The room might start feeling a little “off” or “one note” in that case. It can be hard to pinpoint what it is that is not making the space what you envisioned. That’s where balance comes in!

Creating a balance with the colors you choose will instantly make a room more inviting. For example, here is a room I recently was admiring. Nice, huh?

My guess is, like many of us, the person who lives here loves cool colors – sea foam walls, gray couch, blue chairs, gray rug. etc. But, if you take a moment to analyze it a little more, you can see what makes this room so inviting is the elements they included to ensure it is not all “cool”. Check out the picture below to see what elements help to balance this space.

Clad-Home-example-with-arrows

So what do you do if your room feels a little too cool or a little too warm? It’s all about balance! All it takes is incorporating some warm elements into a too cool room and vice versa.

Here are some ideas of how to add warmth to a room:

– gold/brass elements

– caramel leather

– warm wood tones

– pillows in colors like…red, yellow, orange

Here are some ideas of how to cool down a room that is reading too warm:

– silver or stainless steel elements

– espresso leather

– cool wood tones

– pillows in colors like …green, blue, violet

 

I have a few areas in my own house that have this issue. I am brainstorming which elements I can bring in to balance it out a bit. Hopefully this rundown gave you some ideas of how you can find some balance in your home!

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Our Favorite: Picture Books about Historical Figures

In the past, I have shared our favorite books to encourage creativity and books to make you laugh. Today I am sharing some our favorite books about historical figures. I love love love this “genre within the genre”. Sometimes, a biography is still a little too much, you know? That’s when a good picture book comes in.

One of the common threads in most of these biographical picture books is that they bring to life what these people were like as children. Of course, that is captivating for any child. Especially when they know that this person did great things with their life. Another common thread is seeing these little people follow their passions and curiosity intensely.

Whatever-you-are-quoteHere are some that we have loved. These are not our favorites because of we particularly loved these historical figures before, they are favorites because the stories are so well done. And that is what it takes to captivate both parent and child:

Storyboard---Books-about-historical-figures

 

1. Me…Jane by Patrick McDonnell. This is one of two books about Jane Goodall on this list. That might lead you to believe we are big Jane Goodall fans. Not particularly. But both books are excellently done. This is a beautifully illustrated account following Jane as a child who loved animals and her dream to travel to Africa to work with them. A touching and inspiring read.

2. Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne. This book starts at the childhood of Jacques Cousteau and his deep curiosity for the sea. It takes you along as he follows his dream to explore the ocean and in doing so develops many of the equipment still in use today. Children are so fascinated with the world under the sea. Learning about the man who scratched the itch to know about this mysterious frontier is very exciting.

3. Young Frank Architect by Frank Viva. This book sounds a lot like another favorite of ours, Iggy Peck Architect. Although there are a few common threads in the two about creativity and thinking outside the box, this one actually references two famous architects named Frank – Frank Ghery and Frank Lloyd Wright. The boy in the book starts creating structures that don’t fit the mold, and is told  by his grandfather that he is doing things incorrectly. They take a visit to the Museum of Modern Art, where the boy studies the work of the two Franks and realizes that it’s okay to not fit the mold.

4. Abe Lincoln’s Dream by Lane Smith. Of all the people highlighted in these books, Abraham Lincoln is my favorite. I am in awe of his story and his character. This book’s strength is the illustrations. The story revolves around a little girl who meets the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. He shares that he is restless over not know what happened to his country before he died. He flies with her over the nation while she fills him in on how we have changed since he left. It’s a heartwarming story.

5. On a Beam of Light: A Story of Albert Einstein by Jennifer Berne. Until this point, I never realized that this book and Manfish share the same author. They subject in both books are extremely curious and passionate. This story starts with Albert Einstein as a baby where we learn that he didn’t speak for the first three years of his life. We come to see he did not fit in at school or with other children. But by following his extremely inquisitive mind, he made a huge impact on the world. Lovely book all the way through!

4. The Watcher: Jane Goodall’s Life with the Chimps by Jeannette Winter. This is the second book about Jane Goodall’s life on this list. It’s illustrations and tone are completely different. This one has more details and is a little less whimsical. But definitely another fantastic way to introduce this important figure to children. Hopefully they will be inspired by the impact one person can have by following a childhood dream.

Bravo to all of the children’s book authors and illustrators creating these awesome books. It is clear that when you put your focus on creating a good book and don’t feel the need to “dumb it down” for kids, it is a win-win.

Have you read any great picture books lately? Do tell!

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