50 Place Challenge

We're making progress on the 50 place challenge. We visited 9 new spots since last I checked in. We loved the Katsina doll exhibit at the Heard Museum and the Fear exhibit at the AZ Science Center was a blast. We made friends with the geese, ducks and pigeons at Encanto Park one hot afternoon. Most recently we took a weekend jaunt up to Prescott where we made fast friends with a diverse group of folks, saw a couple of bands live at Yogashala and made short work of the downtown area. We dined at the super cool Raven Cafe (http://www.ravencafe.com/) where rooftop seating made an afternoon meal a total delight. We took in the fabulous scenery at Watson Lake and visited the ever cool Arcosanti. Also while in Prescott, we toured Sharlot Hall Museum, where we got a glimpse into the happening life of one busy female pioneer. 17 new spots to go!

Reticent No More

I've been participating in Landmark Education for a little over a year now and this endeavor has most definitively simplified my life. I've been freed up from years of "stuff" - physical and otherwise. This week I've had 2 major areas of life defined.

The first area has to do with how I've "failed" - namely how I've "failed" to sing on Broadway and how I've "failed" to publish a book. I haven't actually failed because I've never once auditioned to be on, or anywhere near, Broadway and I've never even completed writing any of my so called books so, naturally, they aren't published.

Bill and I had a brilliant conversation that unearthed where this fear of failure originated - and we discovered that it was at my birth. I was born early and had to stay in the hospital. My mother tells the story of how heartbroken she was to go home without her baby; of how she felt she had done something wrong. Something happened for her as a first time mother that also happened to me as a newborn and kept happening as we both grew older and further apart. From that moment onward, fear of failing, of being rejected, governed my choices. The pattern is crystal clear throughout my life - reticence reigned. Distinguishing this has opened up my whole friggin' world. The possibility to pursue what I want "out loud" and beyond is new and invigorating - I'm choosing to be whole and fearless and unstoppable.

The second area has to do with the way I've allowed my past to dictate my present and my future. I've struggled with how to describe what I do on a daily basis and with how it isn't what I used to do. I was an educator in a classroom. I've gotten present to how I'm *still* an educator but my classroom is bigger now. It includes the whole world and 2 students for life. I am choosing motherhood as an educational playing field and it's a grand one - perhaps the grandest I'll ever know.

Finding triumph in these 2 areas has inspired me to do things 1 week ago, I simply wouldn't...join a Moms group - which I swore I'd never do, write more openly and publicly - which I swore off doing, get serious about photography - which I've been swearing I would do. I also will learn to play the guitar so I can accompany myself at all the new gigs I'll be taking on. Watch out world, I'm on my way!

Numbers

So I'm amending my 50 new places endeavor to include new restaurants...time's a running out! School starts 9 August and we still have 26 places to visit. We knocked out 4 this afternoon. We visited Angel Sweet in Chandler today for yummy gelato. It was a treat for Adele's updated immunizations - 4 shots is worth a little sweetness. She had chocolate chip. Lise and I shared super dark chocolate and coconut - it was like a Mounds bar ice cream sundae. We had dinner at Liberty Market in downtown Gilbert and enjoyed some tasty sandwiches - the grilled cheese and chicken salad were especially good. We enjoyed a little coffee treat (hot chocolate for kids) at Bergie's Coffee House, also in downtown Gilbert. Yes, despite the triple digit heat, we are hot drink fans. The girls also played in the splash pad behind Liberty Market - under the water tower. What a lovely little spot with fountains and tables and benches. It was a terrific afternoon!

For the 500 item purge, I am at 368. Getting there!

Getting Crafty

We've been doing at least one craft every day this week. One of my goals of living simply includes accomplishing something creative every day. Getting the kids involved has been a lot of fun. I gave up being attached to what they actually produced and committed instead to the process of being creative. Releasing attachment to the outcome has made a tremendous difference in many areas of my life but in parenting, the difference is especially profound. For crafts, together, we made a diorama, star bead necklaces & bracelets, a banner, ornaments, decorated wooden dolls, and constructed a bird feeder. Normally, I would see most of these things as junky but I'm realizing that the path to creativity can't be fostered unless there's *some* lack of purpose. I can't design the outcome of every endeavor if I want the kids to have an amazingly creative experience. Surprisingly, the items don't register as junk but as products of love, care and thoughtfulness...for now, anyway.

Go To Foods

In our house, we have a few go to foods that pinch hit when times get busy. The most popular is the "smorgasbord" which often includes leftovers, cheeses, fresh vegetables, hummus, and fresh fruits. Another easy one is a bag of Bertolli's pasta to which I add 2-3 cups of frozen vegetables. Another one is soup and tuna with toast. A big help in the kitchen and one of my favorite cooking tools is the slow cooker. I try to use it once a week, often with chicken thighs, vegetables, honey, mustard, rosemary and spices. I absolutely love the way it fills the house with delicious aromas. The last major go to food is a Thai dish called laab which is made with ground meat - I use turkey. The turkey is sauteed in a pan then added to fresh cabbage & carrots dressed with a traditional Northeast Thai "sauce" using sugar, lime, red hot pepper flakes, garlic & fish sauce. Knowing my go to foods makes life easier to manage - there's rarely ever need to fret over what's for supper!

Simple Eating

As I continue the 500 item purge (up to 274 now), I am mining various collections. One of the more enjoyable sessions has involved going through my recipes. Years of collecting recipes from family and magazines had developed into quite an impressive stack. I eliminated about 100 recipes and consolidated the rest into categories (Vegetarian, Ethnic, Meat, Fish, Fast, Sweets, Drinks). The recipe binder is labeled EATS and is organized using 3 holed photo pages. I've tried a number of different systems but this one, so far, keeps me coming back to it - which, to me, is a sign that it works.

I took inventory of the pantry, fridge and freezers and then I created a monthly menu wherein one new recipe is scheduled to be attempted each month. The monthly menu includes "culinary" themes such as: smorgasbord, fondue, ethnic, easy, adventure (variations on a theme), etc. Having a plan is paramount to our eating simply. Knowing what we have and using what we have is integral to the pursuit of simple living for me. Next post: GO TO Foods!

A Designed Life

Early in this quest, I mistook simplicity for minimalism. While minimalism may be a form of simplicity, I've discovered that simplicity doesn't have to be minimalist. I've embraced a form of simplicity that has me live a life designed around what I love and not what I don't.

What do I love? I know that I love haphazardness in small doses. I love my family to pieces. I love beaches, big skies and the bustling array of blues they produce. I love the big picture but its details even more. I love conversation. I love food. I love a lot of forms of art.

In my designed life, I've endeavored to include as many of my loves as possible. At the present time, I'm sensing that my cup overflows - hence the 500 item purge. I want always to have space for what I love and I want always to have space to be more loving. Simplicity isn't about giving up what you don't want to but I do think it means surrounding yourself intentionally with what inspires you.

The Energy of Things

I believe everything has energy and as I continue my 500 item purge, I'm assessing the energy of things. One of my favorite ideas is http://www.postsecret.com/

I bought one of the books a few years back and have often marveled at the intensity of the secrets and the perfection of the cards. I realized today as I considered whether it still held a place in our home that the momentum behind most of the secrets is less than inspiring, in fact, most of the secrets, as secrets are wont to be, are downright depressing.

I'm donating the book to Goodwill and already feel a lightening of energy in the house.

500 and 50

The 500 item purge is slow going right now. I have 2 days to purge 447 items and may not be able to to pull it off. I will be addressing the file cabinet next. I got caught up on the 3 day weekend and found myself having fun with the fam which was, as always, perfection! We went to parks, the zoo, swam in the pool and celebrated the 4th.

I've been inspired by the reminder that simplicity, for me, involves being engaged in adventure and fun. Sometimes all my ducks aren't in a row but what I've found is that the return on adventure and fun is almost always more than having everything be a certain way. I just got to keep practicing giving up what gets in the way.

We hit Freestone and Tumbleweed Parks this weekend so summer destinations number 20 now. We also went to the zoo but since I've already banked it, I won't count it again. 30 places to go!

Simple Eating

Part of living simply means having time and energy to create culinary feats of adventure and love. This week as I endeavor to complete the 500 item purge, I found the resources to make 3 meals that absolutely made each day awesome (if I do say so myself.)

Wednesday night:

Poached tilapia in a liquid mixture of soy sauce, oyster sauce, plum wine, sugar, & garlic served over shredded carrots & cabbage with sliced strawberries & cucumbers garnished with fresh from the garden tarragon

Thursday night:

Slow cooked cajun chicken served over coleslaw and baked beans

Friday night:

Cooked shredded chicken with mushrooms, fresh from the garden eggplant and peppers marinated in soy sauce, maple syrup and garlic served with pad thai noodles and sauce.

Summer Places

While in PA, we hit Outdoor World with an indoor water park, miniature golf and indoor/outdoor pools. Last weekend we checked out Mesquite Groves Aquatic Center in Chandler. For .75/kid (free for 2 and under) and $2/adult, the 15 minute wait was bearable. It was packed but the girls had a ball!

So far, the summer places we've hit number 18!

7 Places in VA

While in VA, we hit the Virginia Air & Space Center, the Hampton Carousel, the SPCA's petting zoo, the Virginia Living Museum, Buckroe Beach, Colonial Williamsburg, and the splash pad at Peninsula Town Center. We had an excellent time everywhere!

3 Places in NC

While in NC, we hit Onslow Beach, a playground on Camp LeJeune and the historic town of Swansboro. We loved being in NC with family and being near the water made the visit absolutely perfect!

5 Places in DC

While in DC, we went to the American Science Museum, the Washington Monument, The WWII Memorial, The USMC War Memorial (Iwo Jima) and the Carillon Bells from the Netherlands. It was a quick but full day that was both inspiring and humbling.

50 Places

One of the summer challenges I've found is this one: http://kaboom.org/ where you are invited to visit 50 parks and playgrounds. I am extending the parameter for my family to include museums. Part of pursuing the simple life, for me, is to live more fully into the possibilities I see in the world. Generating adventure and connectedness are part of the world's possibilities I want in this life. I will post a little about each of the 50 places we visit this summer. We went to the PHOENIX ZOO yesterday where Adele took this photo of Smokey in Harmony Farm. It was a hot day so, before the elephants and after the gibbons, we also took advantage of the splash cavern.

500 Items

I just started a new 500 item purge and this time I am taking inventory of everything. I am down 55 items so far and have consolidated storage locations for several things already. I have enlisted Adele's support by asking her to choose her favorite things over all to keep. When I ask her to choose what to donate, she suddenly chooses to keep everything but when she's asked to choose her favorites, the outcome is revealing. This technique has made a difference for both of us - choosing what we love to keep and donating what's left over.