mud, sweat and tears

Today I've finished an awesome autobiography by Bear Grylls - Mud, Sweat and Tears. Ivo and I both love watching his shows Man vs. Wild and Get out alive so I was really curious about this book and I'm not disappointed at all. Ivo read it in two days, I think (and he usually doesn't read books at all which are not sport related) and I enjoyed it as well.

This book is a great insight into Bear's life. He describes his early years as a student and then as a member of UK Special Forces unit, his climb on Mt. Everest, little bit of background of his show Man vs. Wild and his family life. His values come through strongly and his commitment, inner strength and importance of strong relationships are very well shown in this book.

He is definitely a huge inspiration to both of us. I found a few wise thoughts in his book and wrote them down:

" Our dreams are just wishes, if we never follow them through with action.
And in life, you have got to be able to light your own fire.
Action is what keeps it alight."

"Action, you just have to keep going. Then keep going some more."

" Smile when it's raining, and when you're going through hell - keep going."

Yes, we are big fans of Bear over here. Patrik loves to watch his show as well and Ivo got even Bear's sunglasses after he saw them on his show ( they really are cool and not expensive at all).

I can't wait to watch or read more of Bear's work in the future and I'm definitely recommending this book for reading.

reading again

Five weeks ago I changed jobs. I'm back in Vancouver and back on my long train commute. The good thing about spending  a lot of time on the train and bus is that I can read again. And I LOVE reading. Within these five weeks I've read 5 books! Right now I'm reading the last one -The  Lost Husband by Katherine Center.

Jodi Picoult - The Storyteller - this book was really great. I read most of Jodi's books and this one is definitely one of the best ones. The ending was sad and unexpected. Really awesome read.

Lisa See - Shanghai Girls - such a powerful story about sisterhood and strength of women. I really enjoyed this book.

Bob Harper - The Skinny Rules - I've bought this one and I'm half way through. I love Bob's workouts (which I do with DVD). This book is written very well, simple to understand with great tips from the famous trainer.

Glennon Doyle Melton - Carry On, Warrior - Glennon has such a great storytelling skills. This book made me laugh but also almost brought me to tears. Loved her stories about motherhood and everyday life. The only thing I don't get are the religious comments which are hard for me to understand because I'm not religious. But otherwise this book is must to read.

Katherine Center - The Lost Husband - I've read all Katherine's books and loved each and single one of them. I love her style and  I know this one won't be different. I've just picked up this book on Friday from library and can't wait to get deeply into this story.

 
Supplies: Read word by Ali Edwards - Tall and Skinny alpha.

the host

Today I've finished The Host by Stephenie Meyer. I bought this book maybe two years ago right after I read Twilight but somehow I didn't get a chance to read it until last week. I have to admit that it took me a while to get into the story but once I did, I was hooked and couldn't put it down.
The story is about humans and souls (aliens) and the impact they have on each other . If you like fiction, you will enjoy this book for sure. The story was very well written. I think I might re-read the Twilight soon...
I'm starting The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown now and continue reading Elevate the Everyday by Tracey Clark.

this i know

I am so loving my new book by Susannah Conway. I've been reading little bits here and there on my travels to and from work and I'm savoring every single page of it. This book is definitely THE book. It makes me pause and think about the little things, about myself, about my life.

I know I will be opening this book often and re-reading it several times. These lines below caught my mind today:


I am an original. Unique. And every day I will do my best to remember this and graciously accept the extraordinary me-ness that is not ego or arrogance, but a gentle and humble recognition of the fact that

there is only one of me.

Just like there is only one of you.

This book teaches me the right way how to look at the person in the mirror, I see every day, with wide open eyes and heart.

How to love her. 

How her deepening wrinkles, dry imperfect skin and wiggly tights are acceptable.

How all these "imperfect" details of her are totally fine and make her who she is. Unique.

How she has to learn that each day has only twenty-four hours.

How letting go of some things sets her free.

How everything she does is good enough and that she doesn't have to be so tough on herself all the time. She tries and that's what counts.

How even if she is tired at the end of the day she still can move mountains (hello cardio/running/biking workouts and Brazil butt lift) and feel so energized afterwards.

How chocolate can be a nice reward.

How loved she is.

That she is enough.
She is me.

what I've been reading lately

 Last week I finished the Harry Potter series. I loved the books! I think so far these books have been my most favorite ones I've ever read. Every time I finished a book, Ivo and I watched the movie. The movies were done great but they still disappointed me because they missed a lot of important clues and details. We still have to watch the last one though. I can't wait to see it.

Last Thursday I picked the first book of Hunger Games trilogy. At first I didn't like it, it was hard to get into the book and I almost gave up on it.  But I decided to give it a chance and read a little bit more. Then after chapter four or so I was hooked and couldn't put it down. I had to return the book into library before I was able to finish it but luckily my colleague has it and borrowed it to me. I finished it today on the bus on my way home. I'm looking forward to get my hands on the second book.

What have you been reading lately?

it's all about your heart

"Women are constantly being persuaded to want something unachievable, to look younger or thinner and above all to fit in because being different is too painful and embarrassing. I have accepted myself in a world that does not accept me, because I have learned - and more than any of the lessons of my accident, this is the one I wish I could teach everybody - 

- that our hearts matter most. Your heart matter most, so be gentler and more patient with yourself, and their hearts matter most, too, so be kinder and more compassionate to others. It's a beautiful heart, not a perfect body, that leads to a beautiful life." 
                                      ~ Stephanie Nielson

Today on my way home from work I finished a book called Heaven is Here by Stephanie Nielson. This book taught me so much about the little things in our lives that are overlooked frequently or taken for granted.  The words above said by Stephanie struck me the most, it's such a powerful reminder to all of us to appreciate what we have.

the last lecture

Today I've started reading The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch. I heard about Randy on Oprah's Lifeclass for the first time. She was talking about this book and used some quotes from the book in her class about dreaming big. I'm still at the beginning of this book but it's made me think about a lot of things already.

I really liked his story about his football coach from his childhood, he said in the book: " When you're screwing up and nobody says anything to  you anymore, that means they've given up on you." When you see yourself doing something badly and nobody's bothering to tell you anymore, that's a bad place to be.  You may not want to hear it, but your critics are often the ones telling you they still love you and care about you, and want to make you better.
This is so true! We use this with our children. We support them in everything but we want and try to make sure they get it right the next time and learn from their own mistakes.

I will be definitely ordering this book for myself, right now I have it just borrowed from the library. You can also watch his "Last Lecture" online.

the pioneer woman

Today on my way back from work I've finished another book. I've been fan of Ree's for quite some time, I own her cookbook - The Pioneer Woman cooks and I love reading her blog. Last week I picked her Black heels to tractor wheels in library and couldn't wait to read it. The book was such a pleasant read. I had a lot of good laughs while reading it. I really loved reading her love/life story.

"once you are Real, you can't be ugly"

I just read this quote from a book The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams on Brene's blog and it really got me. It's really beautiful so I decided to share it with you as well! I haven't read the whole book yet but I immediately put it on hold in our library. Can't wait to get it and read it to my children.

"Real isn't how you are made," said the Skin Horse. "It's a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but really loves you, then you become Real."

"Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit.

"Sometimes," said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful. "When you are Real, you don't mind being hurt."

"Does it happen all at once, like being wound up," he asked, "or bit by bit?"

"It doesn't happen all at once," said the Skin Horse. "You become. It takes a long time. That's why it doesn't often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out, and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don't matter at all, because once you are Real, you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

around here | hello summer

And just like that we've jumped from winter/spring weather straight into summer. And we love it! This awesome weather gives us so many possibilities...
.... to play and have fun outside

... training in the lake

... playing on the beach

... riding our bikes to school, going to splash park, having dinners outside and many many more..

Yesterday I finally finished The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. I LOVED that book. At the beginning it was a little bit harder for me to get into this book but then I couldn't put it down. I highly recommend this book to you if you haven't read it yet. 
Now my "reading" is mostly about job posting. Not fun but it has to be done. Hopefully something interesting will come up soon.

Game #4 for Canucks tonight!! We hope for a win!!

the season of second chances

Yesterday while I was waiting for my appointment, I finally finished a book I'd been reading for several days. It's called The Season of Second Chances by Diane Meier.

Here is a review of the book I found at goodreads:
A house in Amherst, Massachusetts, is being reborn. Wallpaper samples and paint chips, fabric memos and bits of molding form a magpie's nest around an off-beat, brilliant, emotionally arrested handyman, who seems to know, as if by wizardry, how to bring the crumbling wreck of a Victorian back to life. At the center of this house stands Joy Harkness. An irascible, smart, sharply funny, guarded college professor of a certain age, she has, at the pinnacle of her career, made a move so uncharacteristic of her insulated nature, that she wonders whether leaving her position at Columbia, moving from New York City to a small college town, and buying a house so utterly unsuited to her talents and her temperament are symptoms of a breakdown." Pursued by the campus's middle-aged lotharios, besieged by colleagues who insist on the intrusion of friendship, and cornered by the town handyman, Teddy Hennessy, as he oversees her renovation, shares makeshift meals, and imparts creative and practical wisdom on how houses become homes, Joy begins to see that everyone's life might be improved by a little restoration.

Lately I haven't had too much time for reading so this book has been only my second one I read this year. I really enjoyed the story and recommend this book to you. The next book on my to-read list is The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer& Annie Barrows. I hope to finish it on time so I won't be unprepared for our book club meeting next month.

a gift from a dear friend

 

This book waited for me in our mailbox today. My dear friend Tracy sent me this beautiful book as a gift. It traveled from all over the world - from New Zealand to Canada! Thank you so much, Tracy!! I'm so in love with this book! And every time I will be reading it, I will be definitely thinking of you!

This book was written by talented Vinnie Pearce and is filled up with beautiful art. Vinnie is not just one of the most talented artists I've ever known but also a great friend and amazing woman. So this book is double special for me as I really admire both of these women.

Thank you so so much, Tracy!! Love ya!

currents

We are having a short school week this week. Patrik had Mon-Wed off at school and tomorrow is already Friday! I can't believe how fast the days go by lately.

I had the pleasure to hear two of my online friends on the phone, Kathy and Tracy. It was SO fun to hear them and finally put a voice to their name (we know each other from a scrapbook world and have never seen each other in person). I hope one day we will be able to meet personally. Thank you so much for calling me, Tracy,  you really got me and it was so great to hear your voice! I promised Tracy that I will take a picture of my workspace, so here it is. We put it into our kitchen, I really love how it gets together so well with the rest of the space. I just wished there would be a better light in the room, it was snowing outside at the time I was taking the picture.

Lately I feel so inspired by stuff I see online that I want to try so many new things, mostly art/photography related. Ivo is always making fun of me because he knows the same thing as I do, that each day has only 24 hours. But wouldn't be nice to have few more extra?

Here are my latest favorites/need to be done/random/ things on my imaginary wish list:

- love this video by Tracey Clark, her everyday photography is just so amazing

- I would love to take her workshop. it seems I need to find work soon though to pay for all the beautiful and interesting stuff out there...

- I would love to give a try to mixed media art

- shutter sisters is my everyday-to-go for reading and inspiration

- coffee. my.everyday.addiction

- Digital Scrapbooking by Vinnie Pearce is on my wishlist. i hope one day it will be sitting among the other art books on my bookshelf

- speaking about Vinnie, have you seen her latest canvas work? it's stunning, she is so so talented

- chocolate chip cookies, my guilty pleasure

- finishing all the project from last year, hope to have them done soon

- I really enjoy reading Left neglected by Lisa Genova

- I'm going to read this online book soon so I will understand more my one little word. thanks for the link, Molly!

- remember these stools from my post? I wish they weren't sold out. they would be so perfect at the kitchen island

- I can't wait for spring to come

- I'm trying to cook using a slow cooker today for the very first time so wish me luck! Thank you so much for this gorgeous gift, Reb and Jeanette!!

- I'm so extremely lucky that I have the privilege to stay at home with my kids thanks to my wonderful husband

- in 12 days I'm turning 32

- I love my life

bright side of disaster

No, the title isn't about my life but about book I've recently finished. It's another book from Katherine Center and I loved it as much as the first two I read from her. I read it in just two days, it is a great page turner. I think Katherine is becoming my new favorite writer. And I've just found out that she is finishing her fourth novel, I'm really looking forward to it!

What is the last book you've read?

Katherine is a part of Shutter Sisters, love the video she and the other ladies made for Mom 2.0 Summit art show.

 

Here is what the video (Katherine) says:

WHAT I WOULD TELL HER:  (If I knew what to say.)

You are a miracle.

And I have to love you this fiercely:  So that you can feel it even after you leave for school, or even while you are asleep, or even after your childhood becomes a memory.

You’ll forget all this when you grow up.  But it’s okay.

Being a mother means having your heart broken.

And it means loving and losing and falling apart and coming back together.

And it’s the best there is.  And also, sometimes, the worst.

Sometimes you won’t have anyone to talk to.

Sometimes you’ll wonder if you’ve forgotten who you are.

But you must always remember this:  What you’re doing matters.

And you have to be brave with your life so that others can be brave with theirs.

The truth is, being a woman is a gift.  Tenderness is a gift.  Intimacy is a gift.  And nurturing the good in this world is a nothing short of a privilege.

That’s why I have to love you this way.  So I can give what I have to you.  So that you can carry it in your body and pass it on.

I have watched you sleep.  I’ve kissed you a million times.  And I know something that you don’t, yet:

You are writing the story of your only life every single minute of every day.

And my greatest hope for you, sweet child, is that I can teach you how to write a good one.

easy come, easy go

I set my alarm clock for 6.05 am last night with intention to do my workout before everyone gets up in the morning. And I did it! I usually do my workout with DVD in the afternoon but kids are always running around and I wanted to have at least this time just for myself. I felt really good after and had everything ready on time (breakfast, lunch for Patrik) so we were ready to go to school. Once I got back, I played with Katrin a little bit and then went to the mall to get the last few items I needed for Christmas. I got almost everything except one thing so I call the mission successful.

When I got home I had about 20 minutes to eat my lunch and then it was time to drive to school for Patrik. I was really pleased how everything went smoothly today. But then it's changed, of course. I picked up my prints for December daily album this morning and I was ready to put them into the album. I finished 3-4 days and then I ran out of the adhesive so I wasn't able to finish it. I thought I will finish the photo pockets instead since I finally got the photos (I'm using the same as posted here - the office tags) I have for grandmas but when I cut my photos I found out that I ordered a wrong format! So another thing isn't finished. Sigh. And I thought in the morning how everything will be done by evening. Well, tomorrow is another day, right?!

I wanted to share this photo with you. The situation made Ivo and me laugh so hard.

The story: we have only 1 Santa's hat but two heads which want to wear it. I promised Patrik that he can take it to school tomorrow but he has to let Katrin wear it today. So he came up with this plan...

You just gotta love kids... :) And I thought I won't have anything interesting for my December daily album today. Thanks, buddy!

For you who loves to read I highly recommend the book I mentioned here. LOVED it!! I finished it yesterday and I know I will be reading the last chapter soon again. Here are few lines from the book:

And here, after all that, is what I have come to believe about beauty: Laughter is beautiful. Kindness is beautiful. Cellulite is beautiul. Softness and plumpness are beautiful. It's more important to be interesting, to be vivid, and to be adventurous, than to sit  pretty for pictures. A woman's soft tummy is a miracle of nature. Beauty comes from tenderness. Beauty comes from variety, from specificity, from the fact that no person in the whole world looks exactly like anyone else. Beauty comes from the tragedy that each person's life is destined to be lost to time. I believe women are too hard on themselves. I believe that when you love someone, she becomes beautiful to you. I believe the eyes see everything through the heart - and nothing in the world feels as good as resting them on someone you love. I have trained my eyes to look for beauty, and I've gotten very good at finding it. You can argue and tell me it's not true, but I really don't care what everyone says. I have come, at last, to believe in the title I came up with for the book: Everyone Is Beautiful.