• Happy Birthday Noah! Today, he is 12 years old! Our soccer playing, gaming, singing, funny, loving, caring, feisty, sensitive, animal loving, no dessert he didn’t love, Noah! May you always know how much we love and support you and that we are willing to lay down the line for the essential boundaries too. First thing this morning my husband wished me a happy mamma birth day for all my hard work on this day. We went to 42 weeks, btw and then had a hell of a journey and recovery. Thank you for making making me a human mama and giving me the gift of motherhood in my older age. I knew from the moment I met your papa, you were coming. Feel free to send him any words of wisdom...and I’ll share with him! #happybirthday #motherhood #mother #mama #myboy #oldermama
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    Happy Birthday Noah! Today, he is 12 years old! Our soccer playing, gaming, singing, funny, loving, caring, feisty, sensitive, animal loving, no dessert he didn’t love, Noah! May you always know how much we love and support you and that we are willing to lay down the line for the essential boundaries too. First thing this morning my husband wished me a happy mamma birth day for all my hard work on this day. We went to 42 weeks, btw and then had a hell of a journey and recovery. Thank you for making making me a human mama and giving me the gift of motherhood in my older age. I knew from the moment I met your papa, you were coming. Feel free to send him any words of wisdom...and I’ll share with him! #happybirthday #motherhood #mother #mama #myboy #oldermama
  • My favorite current Black Authors. There are so many more. This book stack has my top favorite novels and memoirs from the last couple of years. I’m sharing today in honor of National Book Lovers Day and in honor of Black Lives Matter. Read Black authors and buy books from Black authors. Novels: 1. Women, Girl, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. 2. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 3. Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo 4. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones Memoirs: 5. The Light of The World by Elizabeth Alexander 6. Hunger by Roxanne Gay 7. Between You and Me by Ta Nehisi Coates I loved all of these so much from the writing to the storytelling. I learned so much from each of them and was changed because of these books. Happy reading! P.S. I hope you all know that is just one way to support #blm **Reading has always been a way that I can learn about my own biases, put myself in someone else’s shoes, enjoy storytelling and art for the sake of it, and keep growing, changing and creating a better world. #booklover #bibliophile #read #bookstagram #books #favoritebooks #blackauthors #blacklivesmatter #nationalbookloversday #bookstack #roxannegay #bernadineevaristo #tanehisicoates #yaagyasi #tayarijones
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    My favorite current Black Authors. There are so many more. This book stack has my top favorite novels and memoirs from the last couple of years. I’m sharing today in honor of National Book Lovers Day and in honor of Black Lives Matter. Read Black authors and buy books from Black authors. Novels: 1. Women, Girl, Other by Bernardine Evaristo. 2. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi 3. Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo 4. An American Marriage by Tayari Jones Memoirs: 5. The Light of The World by Elizabeth Alexander 6. Hunger by Roxanne Gay 7. Between You and Me by Ta Nehisi Coates I loved all of these so much from the writing to the storytelling. I learned so much from each of them and was changed because of these books. Happy reading! P.S. I hope you all know that is just one way to support #blm **Reading has always been a way that I can learn about my own biases, put myself in someone else’s shoes, enjoy storytelling and art for the sake of it, and keep growing, changing and creating a better world. #booklover #bibliophile #read #bookstagram #books #favoritebooks #blackauthors #blacklivesmatter #nationalbookloversday #bookstack #roxannegay #bernadineevaristo #tanehisicoates #yaagyasi #tayarijones
  • Gotta love a cat man. I love this photo. And baby, Mosi, is doing well. #cats #catsofinstagram #husband #adoptedkitten #adoptedcat #catman
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    Gotta love a cat man. I love this photo. And baby, Mosi, is doing well. #cats #catsofinstagram #husband #adoptedkitten #adoptedcat #catman
  • How to Make Money a Self-Care Practice. “Money Practice,” n. Old definition: A terrifically tedious, stressful, and painful monstrosity that I should do, even though I hate it. New definition: Everything I do, on an ongoing basis, to help bring more clarity, peace of mind, and success to my money relationship. Something that helps me maintain my money relationship as a steadfast and supportive part of my life. Something that is constantly evolving, uniquely mine, and deeply nourishing. Something that gives me continual feedback about how aligned I am with my values and intentions, and continues to refine my self-awareness, enhancing every moment and aspect of my life. I get the very best support for my Money Practice that I can, and in turn, it supports me and every area of my life. So . . . What Exactly Is a Self-Care Practice? If you came to visit my beautiful mountain town of Boulder, Colorado, you might hear people use the word “practice” surprisingly often. We talk about all sorts of practices. A meditation practice. A yoga practice. A conscious sex practice, a gardening practice, a journaling practice, or an authentic communication practice. While this might sound a little precious, it points to an important truth: we can take any area or habit in our lives, fill it up with intentionality, awareness, and compassionate discipline, and reap deep rewards.uff” into a decadent self-care practice? What if you actually looked forward to your money practice because it made you so much happier, more alive, and mindful? What if it was founded in and reinforced your most cherished values? What if it connected you ever more deeply to yourself, the world around you, and even your spirituality (whatever that means to you)? This is truly possible when we approach our interactions with money as a self-care practice. So let’s define exactly what we mean by this. A self-care practice is something you do consciously, with intention, on a regular basis, to support and grow yourself. It’s a healthy habit that, over time, provides a cumulative benefit. To read the full Art of Money book excerpt, head to my profile. #bookexcerpt #selfcare #financialhealth
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    How to Make Money a Self-Care Practice. “Money Practice,” n. Old definition: A terrifically tedious, stressful, and painful monstrosity that I should do, even though I hate it. New definition: Everything I do, on an ongoing basis, to help bring more clarity, peace of mind, and success to my money relationship. Something that helps me maintain my money relationship as a steadfast and supportive part of my life. Something that is constantly evolving, uniquely mine, and deeply nourishing. Something that gives me continual feedback about how aligned I am with my values and intentions, and continues to refine my self-awareness, enhancing every moment and aspect of my life. I get the very best support for my Money Practice that I can, and in turn, it supports me and every area of my life. So . . . What Exactly Is a Self-Care Practice? If you came to visit my beautiful mountain town of Boulder, Colorado, you might hear people use the word “practice” surprisingly often. We talk about all sorts of practices. A meditation practice. A yoga practice. A conscious sex practice, a gardening practice, a journaling practice, or an authentic communication practice. While this might sound a little precious, it points to an important truth: we can take any area or habit in our lives, fill it up with intentionality, awareness, and compassionate discipline, and reap deep rewards.uff” into a decadent self-care practice? What if you actually looked forward to your money practice because it made you so much happier, more alive, and mindful? What if it was founded in and reinforced your most cherished values? What if it connected you ever more deeply to yourself, the world around you, and even your spirituality (whatever that means to you)? This is truly possible when we approach our interactions with money as a self-care practice. So let’s define exactly what we mean by this. A self-care practice is something you do consciously, with intention, on a regular basis, to support and grow yourself. It’s a healthy habit that, over time, provides a cumulative benefit. To read the full Art of Money book excerpt, head to my profile. #bookexcerpt #selfcare #financialhealth
  • There was so much beauty in the last 36 hours and the timing of everything. While we were ushering our older cat to the other side, we found out that this same window, is when some of our closet family friends @daniellecohenphotography + crew, were moving their whole family from the west coast to the east coast and had a short stop in Boulder. While my girl was resting and dying on our couch, I could watch her from my kitchen. I continued to check in on her often, I baked up a feast. I had to feed 10 people. So we had 4 chicken pot pies and 2 blueberry cobblers and greens. It took 3.5 hours because I had to let the insides of pot pie cool before baking and so on. I was baking peacefully and checking in my girl, Lil, to touch her and talk with her. When everyone arrived, we sat outside, did our best to social distance, and ate and ate and connected. Throughout our dinner, each person came to the front door to peek at lily on the couch. It felt like we were all sitting vigil for her. Then I set up a mattress on the living room floor to be with my girl cat. My husband and son said their goodbyes, thanked her and got her to purr for the last time. My boy knew she would pass overnight, I wasn’t sure. I kept checking in with her and after some mild throwing up and gentle sounds that I haven’t ever heard her make before, I heard her take her last breaths. She passed peacefully at 2:15am. I’m in awe of how gracefully she passed. I’m so grateful to have been present for her at her passing. Usually we are at the family cottage this time of the year. And I’m aware now that all the signs were there and she was coming to me (I found her at the foot of my bed yesterday morning) and telling me it was time. I’m so grateful for our beautiful friends that blessed us, feasted on the yummy food that was made with so much love and goodbyes, and that they were a part of Lily’s passing. Photo #1: the food. Photo #2: the families. Photo #3: Oscar boy sitting vigil with Lily as she was close to passing. #family #sittingvigil #ritual #food #baking #sayinggoodbye #love #breakingbread #beginnerbaker #catsofinstagram #potpie #blueberrycobbler #feast
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    There was so much beauty in the last 36 hours and the timing of everything. While we were ushering our older cat to the other side, we found out that this same window, is when some of our closet family friends @daniellecohenphotography + crew, were moving their whole family from the west coast to the east coast and had a short stop in Boulder. While my girl was resting and dying on our couch, I could watch her from my kitchen. I continued to check in on her often, I baked up a feast. I had to feed 10 people. So we had 4 chicken pot pies and 2 blueberry cobblers and greens. It took 3.5 hours because I had to let the insides of pot pie cool before baking and so on. I was baking peacefully and checking in my girl, Lil, to touch her and talk with her. When everyone arrived, we sat outside, did our best to social distance, and ate and ate and connected. Throughout our dinner, each person came to the front door to peek at lily on the couch. It felt like we were all sitting vigil for her. Then I set up a mattress on the living room floor to be with my girl cat. My husband and son said their goodbyes, thanked her and got her to purr for the last time. My boy knew she would pass overnight, I wasn’t sure. I kept checking in with her and after some mild throwing up and gentle sounds that I haven’t ever heard her make before, I heard her take her last breaths. She passed peacefully at 2:15am. I’m in awe of how gracefully she passed. I’m so grateful to have been present for her at her passing. Usually we are at the family cottage this time of the year. And I’m aware now that all the signs were there and she was coming to me (I found her at the foot of my bed yesterday morning) and telling me it was time. I’m so grateful for our beautiful friends that blessed us, feasted on the yummy food that was made with so much love and goodbyes, and that they were a part of Lily’s passing. Photo #1: the food. Photo #2: the families. Photo #3: Oscar boy sitting vigil with Lily as she was close to passing. #family #sittingvigil #ritual #food #baking #sayinggoodbye #love #breakingbread #beginnerbaker #catsofinstagram #potpie #blueberrycobbler #feast
  • Our Lily is getting ready to leave her body... She is showing all the signs of dying. We have a vet coming on Saturday do euthenasia. But we're not sure if she will last that long. So today... I will sit with her on this couch on this super comfy spot. Tell her stories of her life. 17+ years ago... We got her as a baby kitten from a litter of barn kitties. I arrived at Whole Foods one day and there was a pile of kittens. We picked her and Finn (who we lost 5 years ago). She was then raised in an apple orchard in Northern California. Lily loved going on kitty walks with all over the orchard. She loved playing on the piles of wood. She loved kneading on my chest. When we moved to Santa Cruz, she wandered around the neighborhood with her brother but the moment I called to her, she would arrive within minutes of hearing my kitty call. Lily and Finn were my babies then, this was before having a human child. I'll pause there for now. So many more stories to share while living in Boulder... She's lived in 5 homes over the 17 years from Cali to Boulder. Became an indoor cat in the last 5 years. She's had many brothers, mostly that she tolerates. But Oli and her seemed to connect and hang out and the orange boys brought her out of her shell again in the last few years. Lily is my only girl kitty. She was very independent but we also had a very special bond. Today, I'll be sitting with her telling her stories. Being with her and letting her know she was loved. And, that it's ok to let go... #catsofinstagram #cat #sayinggoodbye #cats
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    Our Lily is getting ready to leave her body... She is showing all the signs of dying. We have a vet coming on Saturday do euthenasia. But we're not sure if she will last that long. So today... I will sit with her on this couch on this super comfy spot. Tell her stories of her life. 17+ years ago... We got her as a baby kitten from a litter of barn kitties. I arrived at Whole Foods one day and there was a pile of kittens. We picked her and Finn (who we lost 5 years ago). She was then raised in an apple orchard in Northern California. Lily loved going on kitty walks with all over the orchard. She loved playing on the piles of wood. She loved kneading on my chest. When we moved to Santa Cruz, she wandered around the neighborhood with her brother but the moment I called to her, she would arrive within minutes of hearing my kitty call. Lily and Finn were my babies then, this was before having a human child. I'll pause there for now. So many more stories to share while living in Boulder... She's lived in 5 homes over the 17 years from Cali to Boulder. Became an indoor cat in the last 5 years. She's had many brothers, mostly that she tolerates. But Oli and her seemed to connect and hang out and the orange boys brought her out of her shell again in the last few years. Lily is my only girl kitty. She was very independent but we also had a very special bond. Today, I'll be sitting with her telling her stories. Being with her and letting her know she was loved. And, that it's ok to let go... #catsofinstagram #cat #sayinggoodbye #cats