While I Wasn't Blogging: Catching Up

After a blink-and-it's-gone-February, I feel like I have finally settled into 2018. Clearly, I have lost my pace when it comes to writing and blogging, but not for a lack of ideas.

While I wasn't blogging... 

• I finished the first semester with my new students from Spain and France and welcomed a handful of new students from Italy for the second semester (and transitioned into second semester with my Spanish and French students). 

• I broke out of my comfort zone and decided to try CrossFit. I feel like the work I had been doing with my trainer prepared me for this transition. I'm getting stronger every week I love the variety with each class and the motivation from the CF community. I even registered for the Open, the annual CrossFit Games. It feels great to be part of a team and I love seeing what my body can do now that it couldn't when I first started in January. It's all about progress, not perfection. 

• I started keeping my nutrition on point with whole, unprocessed foods and looking at macronutrients instead of calories for changes in body composition over weight loss.  I've been working with a nutrition coach who monitors and adjusts my numbers (if needed) every week. I'm in week 11 and down 9 pounds and 10 inches. It works. 

• My husband and I have been delving deeper into real estate investment and are closer than ever to buying our first property. Positive energy welcomed. 

• We've been planning summer travel. My niece will be here in June, so I'm looking forward to some quality time including her first trip to NYC. We're also thinking about where we want to travel while we're in Spain this summer. And as always, I'm checking out flight deals for unexpected long weekends away. 

Life is good. I'm outside more, meeting friends IRL whenever possible, reading more offline, doing my thing. I'm excitedly awaiting spring, in spite of the nor'easter knocking on our door. 

Ideas are swirling like butterflies. I need to follow a couple of them and see where they lead. 

What's new in your world? Any new challenges or pursuits? Inspire me. 

Ahora 23: Life in Bullet Points

• Blogging affords you the opportunity to say what's on your mind, but it also presents the quandary of whether what you're saying matters. One of my favorite bloggers is Steph, from Life According to Steph. She says what's on her mind, and it matters. I am continually humbled by her bravery in speaking out against injustice and inspired by seeing her and her beloved MFD walk the walk. While she may not consider what she does to be heroic, she's a hero to me...both of them are. She's inspired me to take action in my own way and it's true....you never know who you're inspiring. 

• I'm chomping at the bit to begin working again. I LOVE my job. It's been a long summer. Our meetings begin in another two weeks and then my semester begins the week of October 9th. I. Can't. Wait. 

• I was supposed to be exploring northern New Mexico with friends this month, but a series of unfortunate events has plagued me since the beginning of August, culminating with a bout of bronchitis and costochondritis. Sadly, between spasmodic coughing fits and significantly higher altitude than where I live, everyone agreed that it was best to postpone my trip west. 

• Despite the various ailments that followed me around all summer, our vacation in Spain and Portugal was fabulous! It was wonderful spending time with family and friends in Spain. Porto was a lot of fun, but packed with tourists, so many more than the last time we visited five years ago. We hosted a friend from the States and it was fun playing tour guide in our other home. 

• Now that I'm more than halfway through my 40s, it seems like a good time to consider a 50 before 50 list. Lists can be motivating, and forcing me outside of my comfort zone is a win-win. 

• I'm super excited that next month, we're going to a Pitbull and Enrique Iglesias concert. Most people react with some degree of surprise when I mention that, but it's true. This is pure fun. We have seats in the upper balcony, so I'll be channeling my inner Miami vibe dancing the night away. Then, a couple of weeks later, we're going to see Ray LaMontagne on his Passing Through tour. 

• Everyone has their thing, but I cannot stop looking at airfare; there are some great deals out there. When you're location independent but your equally travel-loving partner is not, the struggle is real. 

• Weird fact: I have an odd interest in the stories of the Colombian and Mexican drug cartels. I have watched movies about it, like Scarface and Blow. I have watched various documentaries about Pablo Escobar. I watch every season of Narcos and have finished the first season of El Chapo. And now, there are two new movies coming out, one with Tom Cruise called American Made and another with Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz called Loving Pablo, both which I can't wait to see. 
  
  By the way, The Two Escobars about a soccer star who shared his surname with
  the infamous drug lord is a fascinating tale if you ever run across it on your streaming channels.  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  What's going on in your world these days? Who is inspiring you? What are you loving? What's on your X before X list? Let me know in the comments. I love hearing what you're up to. Cheers! 
  
  

Ahora 22: It's Fly Week!

The back to school displays are up and ready for shoppers looking for early savings and I still have summer on the brain because we're leaving for vacation this week. 

We don't have much to do, but perennial vacation tasks are left to the last minute by my procrastinating husband. No problem though...errand dates are fun. 

Here's what's happening ahora, now, in my corner of the world...

Listening to...

Camino Island by John Grisham. I joined Audible on Prime Day and this was the first book I picked. I have read other Grisham books and the plot of this one was intriguing. I'll start it this week. 

Do you have any recommendations for good audio books? The best one I ever listened to was The Boston Girl read by Linda Lavin. She was captivating; I could see every smile...every expression.  


Started reading...
Miracle Morning: by Hal Elrod "The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life (Before 8AM) I'm a morning person, so this seemed like a natural fit. 

I'm excited for the new Dan Brown book, Origin, to come out. I enjoy the Robert Langdon series and this one is set in Spain, so I'm sure that this one will be a fun quick read too. 

Watching...

American Ninja Warrior. I am continually inspired by these athletes. I love hearing their stories and seeing how they find strength in this kind of physical challenge, like Jimmy Choi. 

Movies...
A long summer means more down time, so I have had time for movies and I have seen a few good ones, like...

Lion

Loving

The Big Sick

Looking forward to...

• Vacation! 
• Spending time with my favorite new driver! I can't believe it, but my sixteen-year-old niece is a newly licensed driver...and she flew into town this week with one of her BFFs. I am thrilled for the opportunity to spend time with her and enjoy some fun girl time. 
• A friend of ours is visiting us for two weeks in Spain this year. It will be fun to show her around our local favorites and maybe find a few new favorites as well.  
• I will be traveling to northern New Mexico in September before my semester begins. Friends of mine recently bought a second home there, and since our husbands will be back to work by then, we decided to take some time and explore the area around their new home. I have never been to that part of the United States and I'm eager to explore Taos and the Four Corners region. 
• The new school year! I can't wait to meet my new kids!

The hardest part...

Leaving our girl. She's in great hands with her "godparents" and her dog-BFF, but we'll miss her. 

What's happening ahora in your world? Any book or movie recommendations?

Ahora 21: Now in My World

In true New England fashion, March entered like a lion, with cold and wind biting enough to send the heartiest of groundhogs back underground in search of a warm corner. 

The early days of March were a harsh transition from the sun and warmth of Florida we had enjoyed only days prior, but onward we move, pining for our own warm, sunny days, which, eventually, will find their way north. 

Here's what's happening ahora in March. 

Reading...

• Follow the Yellow Arrows by Suzanne Ball. This is fun reading for me because the Señor and I hope to do the Camino Frances in 2018. This book has practical advice and insightful commentary for anyone thinking about doing the Camino de Santiago. 

And, if you've ever considered doing a Camino yourself, or know someone who has, this film, The Way, will feed the wanderlust. Even if a Camino is not in your future, this is a beautiful film about forgiveness, compassion, and tolerance. It's worth a watch. 

Watching...

• Like many other people, I am watching and loving This is Us. I also love the soundtrack, and this site has all of the tracks from all of the episodes. 
• The Golden Girls...the entire series is streaming on Hulu. 
• Documentaries like these and this one here, The Smog of the Sea, which just crossed my feed this week. 

Eating...

• A lot of oatmeal. I've been making a pot of steel cut oats on Sunday nights and eating it with fresh berries and a handful of nuts. Delicious! Or, I use the whole, dry oats and make a pancake.

Listening to...

• On Pandora, I've been listening to a lot of Ray LaMontagne, Jack Johnson, and Michael Franti. 
• On Sirius, for some strange reason, I have been loving 70s on 7. I'm an 80s baby, but for whatever reason, disco is my jam these days. 

Wearing...

• Glasses. For the first time since I was a child, I am wearing glasses full time. They're tri-focals and they take some getting used to. My reading glasses, apparently, weren't cutting it anymore. 

Looking forward to...

• WITS17. I will be traveling to Milwaukee next month to attend the Women in Travel Summit. Want to learn more or join us? Register here. This is an amazing experience for women interested in travel as a hobby, a blog, or a business. 
• Che Malambo, a male Argentine dance troupe is coming to Boston. Rooted in the gaucho style, the show involves precision footwork, drumming, and song. Here's a preview. 

• Jack Johnson concert. He's my go-to Pandora channel. I can't wait to see him live!
• Wicked. The touring company swings through Boston in late spring. This has been on my short list for a long time. And we got discounted tickets through Goldstar. Even better!

So that's about it for me this month. What's new with you? What's happening ahora in your world?

Ahora 20: Currently

Happy New Year!
As someone who has a genuine dislike ambiguity about the winter holidays, I am grateful to wake up on January 1st with all of that behind me and nothing but a fresh, clean year filled with opportunity. 

Here's what's happening ahora...now, in my world. 

Reading...

The Gratitude Diaries by Janice Kaplan. 
I loved reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project, so I thought this could be a great way to frame my year in gratitude. Kaplan organizes the year into seasons with themes like marriage and family, health, or money and finance. She is a proponent of the gratitude journal, and admittedly, I am enjoying the process of reflecting on my day by writing in my own gratitude journal. It's a quick and easy read and one of the most powerful takeaways is the power of perspective.

Eating...
A lot of soups and stews. We're even having one today, especially good after last night's snow. Tis the season. What's your favorite broth based soup or stew? 

Ali's recipe from Gimme Some Oven for a 20-minute Moroccan Chickpea Soup may make it into our winter rotation. Doesn't this look good?

Drinking... 
More water and tea. I'm making an honest effort to drink less coffee and more water and tea, and ultimately, tea with no sweetener. Here are a few of my favorites.

Planning...

My vision and intent for 2017. I did a vision board at the end of 2016, and it has already started working. Crazy! Ask and you shall receive. Want to make your own? Start here. 

Watching...
Like most in my social media circle, I am watching and loving This is Us. It's well written, relatable, and heartfelt. The musical score is pretty good too. 

Listening to...
My standard Pandora channels: Jack Johnson, Spanish Guitar, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Jimmy Buffett, and French Cafe Radio. And my podcasts:  Side Hustle School and Happier with Gretchen Rubin. 

Any recommendations?

Trying...
A light box. This one has low/medium/high settings and you can set it for 15, 30, and 45 minutes. Who knows whether it works, but for me, like others do with the salt lamp, it's worth trying. And speaking of salt lamps, any recommendations on size? Does it work for you?

So that's about it. It's winter, but it is pretty. 

What's happening ahora, now, in your world? 

Are you a Word of the Year person? Please share your 2017 word and inspire me. 

Ahora 19: Peeking out of the Rabbit Hole

I know that it has been a while; for me too. 

Every time I think about sitting down to write, something else take precedence, and it just never gets done.

While I have a few minutes this morning, I wanted to peek out of the rabbit hole and say hello. 

I miss you. 

Thanks for sticking around. 

Here's what is trending in my world these days. 

Learning
The in's and out's of my new job. It is like a rabbit hole; I begin one project, which detours into another and another. I LOVE my new job. I love working with my students and my co-workers, and the flexibility of location independence is a dream come true. Learning the platforms and grading assignments in a fairly self paced curriculum take time. There are times when I am inundated and other times, less so. I wouldn't change a thing. 


Drinking
Hot mulled apple cider. And Cinnamon Dolce coffee; I can thank my niece for this new obsession. 


Reading and planning to cook my way through...

Eating
Dinner With Julie's quick cassoulet. It's quick, it's easy, and it is delicious! It makes the house smell amazing too! With a glass of red, an arugula salad, and a warm baguette... bliss.

Watching
This is Us. If you haven't started this series, you can stream it free on Hulu. It's that good. 
And the soundtrack is playlist worthy. 



Exploring
Boston. We had friends in town last weekend, and we had the chance to play tour guide. 

In Baah-stin speak, the corner store. 

No matter where I go, Boston, you're my home. 

Loving
Being somewhat of a stay-at-home-dog-mom. It sounds ridiculous, I know; however, I love having the flexibility to take Gracie outside at lunch time to play. 

She seems to like it too. 

And squeak toys are the best. 

Fall colors? Yes, please. 

And Snap Chat filters for days...if you're on Snap Chat, add me... https://www.snapchat.com/add/alovelylifeind. I'm always looking for fun accounts to follow. 

Celebrating
My Mom and Dad's 50th Anniversary. My brother and I planned to surprise my parents back in July. We did it, and it was wonderful. 

And Happy 4th Birthday to my lovely space in the universe. A Lovely Life, Indeed turned four on November 1st. 

Stressing

About the election...

This election gives me anxiety. The energy, the ads, the Facebook rants, the surprising jaw-dropping views of those I hold dear...I guess I do live in a bubble. A warm, happy bubble.

And this election compels me to retreat. 

But, it's critical that we get out there and vote, my American friends. 

We don't have to agree on candidate or ideology, but we do have to voice our choice. 

It's a big deal...and the world is watching. 

Still not sure? Take the quiz from I Side With and see who parallels your thinking the most. 

Also, read up on your state's ballot questions and carefully consider your options down ballot. Consider future legislation and the Supreme Court; it's not just about the executive branch. 

Okay. I am going to go and get some work done. Tell me...
What's happening now in your world? 
Let's catch up. 




Linking up with Kristin today. 

Ahora 18: June in Bullets

Here we are at the end of June. Already. Every cliche people have about the passing of time is spot-on accurate. 

Here is what is happening ahora in my world. 

• School is out for the summer! Hooray. I am happy to report that my kiddos did great on their ACCESS exams, a test that measures their proficiency in reading, writing, speaking, and listening in English. Since I am an ESL teacher, this is our "high-stakes" test (in addition to the kiddos that also take PARCC). 

• I am getting excited to go see my girl in Florida next week. This is such a joyful two weeks; I can't wait to see her and talk with her and just be. I am one lucky auntie. 

• It's almost Spain-vacation time, so I've been eagerly researching places to go in Galicia and in other parts of Spain, as well as in Lisbon, where we will be spending three or four days before flying back to the United States. 

• I've developed a serious iced-coffee habit. I'm trying to make it at home, but it just doesn't taste the same. The best I have found is the Starbucks unsweetened coffee at my local supermarket; it's still not the same, so more often than not, it's off to Starbucks and Dunks I go. 

Thanks for the free coffee, Starbucks. 

• Tis the season for returning series, so I've been rationing the new seasons of Grace and Frankie and Orange is the New Black. I also have been catching up on movies I have wanted to watch. Everest was a thrill and a confirmation that climbing this mountain has never and will never be on my bucket-list. I read Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air years ago, and I'm fascinated by those who do climb, but I will be content wandering around the foot of Everest, inspired by her majesty with both feet firmly on the bottom. Self awareness is a wonderful thing.

• It's fun playing tourist in Boston. 

• Anxiety over the political situation is a real thing. Good grief.  

• Who else is enjoying ice cream this summer? We have a small-batch, homemade ice cream place nearby that infuses liquid nitrogen into their processing. It's delicious and this place is known for innovative flavors like hibiscus cabernet, horchata, chipotle mezcal, and fennel pistachio, among the chocolate and vanilla favorites. I recently had orange tarragon, which I topped with candied walnuts...so, so good!

So that's about it for me this month. What's happening ahora in your world?

Ahora 17: May

May is such a great month for me. It means warmer temperatures, flowers in full bloom, celebrating the amazing women in my life, opening up the pool, a long weekend away, and celebrating our anniversary. 

Here's what is on my radar this month. 

Reading...

I joined up with a challenge group that is mixing wellness goals with a book club model. This book is what we're reading. Admittedly, I am an emotional eater. I'm looking forward to reading her take on the subject.

Eating...

Sesame almond maple crisps. The Señor and I paid a visit to the Second Street Bakery, where they have the most delightful cookie. They're made with sesame seeds, almonds, and maple syrup; I think that's it. When we go, we buy whatever they have left. They're delicious!

Applying for...

Global Entry. With all of the news reports about lines and stress at the airports this summer, we decided to apply for Global Entry. If you're approved, you are included in the TSA PreCheck program as well. In my opinion, the convenience makes it worth the $100. 

Learning...

New strategies in English language learning. May is the month for the annual MATSOL conference. 

The Massachusetts Educators of English Language Learners is an organization that promotes excellence and equity in the education of English learners. It's a nice opportunity to connect with other educators, learn promising practices (as keynote Sonia Nieto calls them) and recharge the vision. 

Thinking about...

Adding a CELTA certification. I am certified in ESL and in English, but I do not have a certificate in teaching English as a foreign language. It seems that CELTA is the gold standard in TOEFL certifications, and as luck would have it, there's a program in Boston. This could open new options. We'll see. 

Researching...

How to get into the online adjunct pool. Any tips? 

Wearing...

A winter parka, heavy sweaters, and rain gear. I'm ready for Spring. Now that we're approaching the second week in March May, I think it's a reasonable request. I mean no disrespect to areas that are suffering from drought, but we're all set for a while. 

Please. 

Source

Also on my radar...

• Travel dates to Florida to visit my girl. 
• Completing a book study on Engaging Students with Poverty in Mind. 
• Our trip to Spain and Portugal this summer. 
• Our anniversary later this month. 
• Big goal closing in...please keep the good vibes coming. 

What's happening ahora in your world? 

Ahora 16: April

Reading...

I have a hard time finding fiction that I like, but I have had recent luck. After reading and loving The Rosie Project and its sequel, The Rosie Effect, I decided to try another work of fiction. 

I am completely enthralled by Anita Diamant's The Boston Girl. I am listening to the audio book, read by Linda Lavin, and I feel like I am sitting at Addie's feet, listening to her story. This may become a new favorite. 

Starting...
A Bullet Journal...I love lists and rather than starting various lists on single sheets of paper, I decided to combine everything into one book. Some of it is practical and some of it is fanciful, but it's all mine and I'm having a lot of fun. 

Drinking...
A lot of tea. Bigelow's Mint Medley is my new favorite. I'm a two-bag per cup drinker. My mom tells me that I'm wasting a bag and I should just leave one bag in for a longer time, but it's just not strong enough, so in go two bags, and a bit of honey.  

Eating...
My weight in asparagus. I have been roasting asparagus at least once a week, and tonight, I discovered that I don't like white asparagus; it's just too corky. I drizzle it with olive oil and then sprinkle it with fresh pepper and Himalayan salt, and then I roast it at 400 for about 15 minutes. In the summer, I grill it. 

Source

Finishing...
Six graduate credits. I am one major project and one section of a module away from completion. In two weeks, the spring semester will be over and I can start planning ahead for summer fun. 

Then there's Gracie...

Pushing...
I am still working on my push goal and I am one giant step closer, but there are still a few variables that need to fall into place. Please continue to send positive energy my way. 

That's what's going on in my world these days. 
How about you? What is happening ahora in your world?