In Pursuit of the Arts

If you've been around my blog or any of my social media accounts, you know that I'm a lover of the arts and specifically music.  Recently while ushering an Atlanta Symphony Orchestra concert, I came across a page in Encore Atlanta that peaked my interest: a whole page of events geared towards children!  I wanted to take a moment to share these upcoming events with you.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra's Upcoming Family and Education Events 

Musical Mondays (for children 5 and under)

Next Date: Monday, March 5, 10:00 am

Also available: Monday, April 2 and Monday, May 7

From Encore Atlanta: "A new hands-on music education experience for early learners and their caregivers to explore fun, engaging ways to make music together with movement, instruments, singing and more!"

Music for the Very Young (for children 1-5)

Next Date: Saturday, February 24, 9:30 am, 10:30 am, and 11:30 am 

Also available: Sunday, February 25, Saturday, March 10, Saturday, March 11

From ASO's website: "Bring your little ones along as we set off on a journey to discover Music Around the World. We will have a blast as we move and groove to the music of North America, South America, Europe, and Africa.  Join us as we explore the difference in melody, harmony, rhythm, dance, instruments, and more!"

Seuss at the Symphony (Family Concert)

Sunday, March 4, 3:00 pm

From Encore Atlanta: "Join Sam-I-Am and the gang as we meet Seuss at the Symphony!  Watch the timeless Dr. Seuss tale, Green Eggs and Ham come to life on stage along with Richard Einhorn's My Many Colored Days, and selections from Aaron's Copeland's Old American Songs." 

Atlanta Symphony Youth Orchestra "Crescendo Concert"

Sunday, March 18, 3:00 pm

From Encore Atlanta: "Enjoy the future of classical music with the region's most talented young musicians.  Tickets are only $12 and provide a great introduction to classical music for the novice, or an affordable family experience.  

January's Ta-Da's!

In keeping with my 2017 "Ta-Da!" theme, I'd like to offer my January 2018 "Ta-Da!" list!  A "Ta-Da!" list is a list of things you've accomplished.  Looking back at accomplishments is a great way to keep momentum in achieving the goals you wish to reach.

Daily

I feel like I'm about 50/50 on my daily goals.  I haven't been as consistent at writing down the things for which I am thankful, but I do feel myself thinking them throughout the day.

I've actually been getting to bed earlier, which helps EVERYTHING.  Not quite at 8 hours, but working my way there.

My prayers have been pretty consistent while my daily writing is hit or miss.  I feel like I've been doing a pretty decent job of getting pictures and stories on social media outlets.  I'm very proud to report to you (and my dentist in a few weeks) that I've only missed maybe two floss days!

I've done great at drying the dishes after each wash and seeing a clean sink when I walk into my kitchen is a reward in itself.

Weekly

We've done pretty well with the weekly movie nights with the kids... so far we've watched (or re-watched) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Coco, and The Little Prince.  These times are so precious and I really hope we can keep it up!  Chris and I have been OK with our date nights... most of the time it's either a double-date or a group date.  We're trying to get better about intentional time together so we'll see how February goes!

I've been decent about getting in the running and yoga and have enjoyed the weekly hot baths to help recover from the long runs.  Finally, I've been consistent in speaking to my parents weekly, which I've enjoyed.

Monthly

My monthly goals are some of my favorite goals and I can almost check all of them off!  

 This month I finished two books- Gone Girl and Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff.  We also finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone via audible, which was fun to listen to as a family.  We haven't had an official "date night" to discuss it, but we have discussed it at great length as a family.  We haven't gotten our entire family together for a dinner, but we have visited with most of our family one-on-one at least.  There were no races to report for January, but I've got one already finished for February and more scheduled for March and May.  Finally, one of my favorite monthly goals that I've accomplished is having coffee (or lunch or dinner or drinks).  I was able to have coffee with a dear friend and spend time catching up.  I also worked in two dinners with other friends.  I've got one lunch on the calendar for February and hope to squeeze a few more coffees in as well.  As a stay-at-home mom, I'm learning that these social interactions are so important for me and I am truly enjoying them.   

Linger Moments ~ No. 7

lin·ger

/ˈliNGɡər/

verb

to stay in a place longer than necessary, typically because of a reluctance to leave.

You know those moments: the ones often catching you by surprise, causing you to pause a little longer than perhaps intended. You are invited to take a moment to linger as you complete the first half of your week and look forward towards the second.

1. Anne With An E

Like many young girls (though no others in my family) Anne of Green Gables was one of my favorite movies as a child.  Recently, it seems the beloved book and movie seem to keep coming up.  A blogger-friend frequently mentions how she uses the original film score as a backdrop to her writing.  An Instagram account that I enjoy following also brings up in her desire to just live in a simplified "Anne of Green Gables" world.  At every mention of the story, I felt a longing to go back to those childhood days.  Then, just like that, Netflix created the series Anne with an E.  I watched one back at the beginning of summer and decided to wait to watch them with my daughter.  We are only a few episodes in, but we are loving it!  I love the values it is helping to teach my daughter including the importance of friendship and of loving oneself.

2. Dave's Killer Bread "Good Seed"

We first tried this bread at a friend's house during the impending Hurricane Irma.  Sandwiches were made for the children; however, my particular child decided not to eat on this occasion which meant I had the pleasure of eating the deliciousness that ensued.  This bread is some of the most flavorful bread I've ever had on a sandwich, and you probably don't know this about me but I'm quite the sandwich aficionado.  It's thick with nutty-flavored seeds without tasting dry at all (which is exactly what I was expecting).  Some of the seeds featured in "Good Seed" include whole flax seeds, sunflower seeds, ground flax seeds, un-hulled brown sesame seeds, and un-hulled black sesame seeds.  It comes in a full-sized loaf or a thin-sliced loaf.  I've found it at our Publix here in Roswell, but it took our Milton Publix a little while longer to get it in... I've heard that if you request products they do their best to stock them, though.  Try it out- seriously. 

3. Burt's Bees Basil Leaf Natural Soy Candle

I've been a long-time user of Burt's Bees' products, from their amazing (non-addicting) Beeswax Lip Balm to their soothing Baby Bees' products, and have generally loved them all along. When I discovered their candles at our local Publix (for Buy-One-Get-One, nonetheless), I decided to try one and picked out a "Basil Leaf" scent.  It smelled fresh and clean and I decided it would be perfect for our kitchen.  The first time I lit it, I continued throughout my day and upon returning to the kitchen, was greeted with a fondly memorable scent of the old Harry's Farmer's Market.  I was shocked at first because I always had assumed what I was smelling at Harry's was in fact lavender from their soap bar display.  However, the nostalgic feeling the scent gives me is enough to make it an instant favorite as well as keep me burning it all day.

18 for 2018

Borrowing an idea from Gretchen Rubin, I decided to list 18 items/goals/resolutions for myself to work towards in the year 2018.  I've broken them down into daily, weekly, and monthly goals and ambitions.  

"Either only once or every day." Andy Warhol

There are some things that are easier to remember to do when you do them every day.  They become a habit- not something you have to decide if you're going to do it or not, but just something you do every day.

Daily:

1. Write down one thing I'm thankful for

2. Get 8 hours of sleep

3. Pray for my family, church, and country

4. Blog writing for 5 minutes

5. Post a social media post or story

6. Floss

7. Dry the clean dishes and put them away

8. Avoid speaking or thinking poorly of others

"I must have a prodigious quantity of mind; it takes me as much as a week sometimes to make it up." Mark Twain

Weekly:

9. Popcorn-movie night with the kids

10. Date with Chris

11. Take a hot bath

12. Call my parents

"Do you want to know who you are? Don't ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you."  Thomas Jefferson

Monthly:
13. Read 2 books

14. Monthly book club with Chris
15. Learn to cook one new dish

16. Dinner with my family

17. One race a month

18. Coffee with a friend

I plan on doing future posts detailing some of the above items.  Are there any that YOU are particularly interested in hearing more about?

I'd also love to hear about your 2018 goals/resolutions/aspirations!  

Ta-Da! A Look Back on 2017

A writer that I often reference and truly look up to, Gretchen Rubin (see previous posts about her here, here, and here), often talks about setting clear goals and being extremely specific about how you plan on reaching those goals.  Her writing also introduced a new version of a "To-Do" list, called a "Ta-Da!" list.  Rather than listing things to do, one makes a list of things they've already accomplished.  The thought process behind this is that if you see all you've accomplished, you're more likely to keep going and are encouraged to accomplish more.  So, before I post my 2018 Goals, I wanted present to you my 2017 Ta-Da! List.

2017 New Years Resolution #1.
To-Do: Read 25 Books

Ta-Da: 11 Books Read

As you'll read in the upcoming post about 2018 Goals, I will once again endeavor to read 25 books this year.  While I'm disappointed that I did not reach my goal of 25 books for 2017, I am still proud that I read as much as I did and plan to make 25 books happen in 2018!

2017 New Years Resolution #2.
To-Do: Publish 50 Blog posts

Ta-Da: 13 Blog posts Published

Yikes... this is nearly half of what was published in 2016.  Sometimes I wonder if this blog is something I should even be doing but the thought of never writing makes me feel considerably unhappy.  Trust me when I say I truly think of this blog and writing nearly every day.  And someone once told me when there's something you love so much that you think about it every day, you should never let that dream go.

2017 New Year's Resolution #3.
To-Do: Complete Level 3 of Rosetta Stone

Ta-Da: Nada

This is another slightly embarrassing assessment... As of matter of fact, it's been so long since I've logged in to Rosetta Stone that I don't even remember what level I'm currently on... somewhere in level 2, I'm sure.  However, I'm happy to report my daughter's French is daily improving, which only makes me wish they had language immersion schools (paid for by the state) for adults. 

2017 New Year's Resolution #4.
To-Do: Dance More

Ta-Da: 3 Months of Salsa Classes which concluded with graduating from the "Beginners Classes" to the "Intermediate Classes."

This past summer I finally decided to pony-up and signed up for Salsa lessons.  It was one of the most fun things I've ever done!  I met a great group of people and while I felt it necessary to stop lessons for a while once my daughter's school was back in session, I look forward to starting them up again next summer.

2017 New Year's Resolution #5.
 To-Do: More Yoga, and Perfect the Push-Up

Ta-Da: I haven't done yoga in about a month

Up until then, I had been going several times a week, but once school got out for the holidays, it was less convenient to go and with all of our holiday travels and activities, it became super easy to just skip it.  Once school gets back in, I have every intention of getting back into it and perfecting the crow pose, which I actually nailed once last year!

 2017 New Year's Resolution #6.
To-Do: Be Honest with Myself and Others About What is Best for My Family

Ta-Da: This is an ongoing endeavor of which it is quite difficult to gauge the progress.

However, I feel as though we've taken great strides this year in making decisions while putting our family first.  One of the biggest ones was this past Fall when I cut back on my teaching by nearly 50%.  I'm now teaching the least amount of students I've ever taught, but I daily see the benefits of having more afternoon time with my children.  Especially Fiona, who started 1st grade this year, is enjoying having someone to help her with homework and is excelling in her studies.

Additionally, I had filled in a "Bucket List" at the front of my 2016-2017 Emily Ley academic calendar, and I was pleasantly surprised to see I had accomplished those goals:

• Visit  Chris' Grandparents
• Create Memory File Boxes for Fiona and Eliot
• Play for Church
• Volunteer/Usher for ASO
• Potty Train Eliot
• Get a Puppy!

I look forward sharing my goals for 2018 with you in my next post. In the meantime, I'd love to hear of your "Ta-Da" moments from 2017!

In Pursuit of Achieving Goals

A few weeks ago, I received a new "Achievement" notification from my Nike Run App, which I use to track my running and racing.  The diamond icon surprised me as I did not think I had done anything great in my running endeavors as of late.

I clicked on it and realized it was a One Year Anniversary of my first date of using the app.  I know there's plenty of tracking apps out there (and probably a lot that this one does that I do not even know how to use...) but I do enjoy watching the miles add up and having each run's route, pace, duration, and splits in the same spot.

While each individual practice run or race may not seem huge, I felt like the following numbers were worth documenting:

77 Total Runs.

257 Total Miles.

15 Races.

12 5K's.

2 10K's.

1 Spartan Super Race.

6.48 Minutes Lost Between First 5K and Fastest 5K.

1 3rd Place Age Division Win.

1 1st Place Age Division Win.

While over a year these numbers can seem like a lot, each and every practice and race felt very "small picture"... I NEVER felt like running until at least half-way through each run.

And I also would have never had the motivation to get out there without being blessed with some serious support from my best friend (and running buddy!) Colleen, my dear husband Chris (who would come home from work and let me immediately leave him with the kids so I could run... and also spent many a Saturday morning home alone with the children during my races), my special niece Victoria (who would come spend the night on weekends when Chris was gone so I could still race on Saturday mornings) and countless other friends and family who were always so encouraging.

Finishing is better than "never started" and last place beats "didn't finish." 

In Pursuit of Favorite Beauty Items

While I do enjoy trying new beauty items, what I really LOVE is finding new favorites that quickly become staples in my beauty routine.  I wanted to share some of my favorites with you: both a few luxury beauty items and several budget-friendly beauty items as well.

Favorite Drugstore/Supermarket Beauty Finds

Method Moisturizing Boday Wash in Olive Leaf

I first saw Method products at Target right after we had been married.  I love the idea of more natural products and when I found the Olive Leaf scent, I fell in love.  It's got a clean scent with olive leaf, fresh herbs, and a tiny hint of citrus (which I normally steer clear of, but enjoy in this product).  Bonus: it also comes in a Moisturizing Hand Wash so you can continue to smell this nourishing scent all day!

Aveeno Stress Relief Moisturizing Lotion

As I write this, I realize just how long I've been using this lotion- probably close to 15 years!  While I will still occasionally try new lotions, I always seem to return to this one.  Its scent includes lavender, chamomile, and ylang-ylang.  I use it all over and it leaves my skin super soft!

Acure Moroccan Argan Oil

After reading French Women Don't Get Fat, I had always wanted to try Argan Oil, which Mireille Guiliano raves about having incredibly anti-aging properties.  However, it wasn't until I started using essential oils (and needed a base oil for the ones I was using on my face) that I finally purchased some to try.  I use it in the morning with a drop of Melaleuca (Tea-Tree Oil) and a drop of Frankincense.  I like the purifying properties of the melaleuca and love how the Frankincense helps to brighten my skin tone!

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser

This is a relatively new find as a product I had used in the past was discontinued.  I love the grapefruit scent and use it in the shower after runs and at night before bed.  

Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

For years I used Mary Kay's Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover, but after finding this one that can be purchased almost anywhere (and is half the price), I converted.  It does not irritate my eyes (which are pretty sensitive) and works great to remove my heavy black eyeliner and mascara.  Bonus: Kroger has its own version of this that I like to stock up on- it's about half the price and just as effective!

Favorite Luxury Finds

Aveda Madder Root Shampoo and Conditioner AND Aveda Color Conserve Daily Color Protect

I went a subtle shade of red about a year ago and my hairstylist recommended these products to help prolong the life of my color.  They work so well that nearly every time I wash and dry my hair, people ask if I've just had my hair done!  Since I love my high-quality salon but cannot afford to go as often as I would like, these products are a great investment for me as they help me stretch out the time between my salon visits.  

L'Occitane En Provence Ultra Rich Body Lotion

I mean, who doesn't like L'Occitane?  I love its Shea Butter scent and especially love how it moisturizes without leaving literally any type of residue once it's dry.  I literally feel as though my skin is more radiant when I've used it.  Since it is a bit more expensive than my trusted Aveeno, it's been a little while since I have splurged on it.  I did receive some as a birthday gift and have been savoring it since :)

Lancôme Absolue Night Premium Bx

I received a sample of this from my mother-in-law and immediately understood why people tend to invest in luxury night creams.  Within days of use, my skin seemed brighter and more youthful.  I love the scent and just as I can still remember the scent of my mother's night cream when I was a child, I hope my children will one day think of this scent on my face as I kiss them goodnight and say their prayers.      

FTC: This is not a sponsored post.  All opinions are my own.  Links may be affiliate.