Big News!

Hello friends!

I am so excited to let you know that we now have a lovely little Facebook group for our online community and I'm over the moon excited to get started on this fun passion project!

A Lovely Life, Indeed is a FREE Facebook group where you can connect with other seekers of all things lovely. 

You still can expect the same travel, wellness, food, and inspiration that you’ve come to expect, but there will be special shout-outs to my Xennial and Gen-X sisters who are taking on midlife with hope and genuine excitement for the opportunity that lies ahead. 

You see, I'm turning 50 next month and I couldn't be more excited. My 40s have been amazing and I plan to welcome the new decade with similar hopes, dreams, and intent.

I hope you'll join us. We'll see you inside. 

Decluttering and Moving Forward

Have you started to declutter? Marie Kondo has started a revolution of sorts, first with the book and now the Netflix series about tossing all that does not spark joy.

If you're into thrift shopping, now's the time for you, as Kondo devotees donate their spark-less belongings and clean up their personal clutter.

After Marie Kondo-ing my own clothes and junk drawers, I continued thinking about clutter, both physical and digital. 

I began cleaning up my social media feeds too, unfollowing pages and accounts with whom I really wasn't engaging. What I looked for online and what "sparked joy," I realized, were the people with whom I had made a connection, in real life or online. 

And that brings me here. 

I am so grateful for those I have met through this space. I am grateful for the opportunities that it has afforded me throughout the years. As a result of this space, I have made wonderful friends and shared transformative experiences, and it remains something that, indeed, sparks joy. 

And so it remains.

If you're new here, welcome! Later this week, let's sit for a cup of something and get reacquainted. 

My heart smiles today as I push publish on this post. I hope you'll come back for more. 

Three Things September...Playing Along

Sometimes tag games can be fun. As a reader, I enjoy reading about the people behind my favorite blogs, so I thought it would be fun to share some of the same information with you. 

I won't tag anyone in particular for a response, but if you're up for it, share your responses or at least one in the comments. Thanks!

Three things that are always in my car

A charging cable, extra napkins, a reusable shopping bag. 

Three things I always have on hand in the pantry or fridge...

Nuts, Dove ice cream bites, canned beans

Three shows I will always watch if they're on TV…

ER, Chopped, The Big Bang Theory

Three travel experiences I want to have...

Driving the Pacific Coast Highway, walking one of the routes of the Camino de Santiago, the Great American Road Trip with my husband.

Three things I won't eat...

String beans, organ meats, steak

Three things I always will spend money on...

Food experiences, travel in any form, stuff for our dog Gracie

Three things that are always in my purse...

My glasses, gum, a small notebook

Three things I love about my hometown...

Walking in the Public Garden and the Boston Common, cappuccinos and cannolis in the North End, the Boston theatre scene. 

What say you? What are your three things? Thanks for the post inspiration, Steph. 

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 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. 

Celebrating Freedom: Day 10...An Overview and an Announcement

The last ten days of Natalie Sisson's Freedom Plan Blog Challenge were enlightening. 

I always knew my ultimate goal, but some of the details were a bit fuzzy. 

This challenge helped me clarify some of the unknown. 

Here are links to the topics I explored over the last ten days and how I responded to each prompt. 

Day 1: Finding Your Focus

Day 2: Discovering Your Why

Day 3: Creating a Vision: The Ideal Day

Day 4: Defining Your Superpowers

Day 5: The Power of Routine 

Day 6: Finding Your Tribe

Day 7: Imperfect Action

Day 8: Choosing Adventure

Day 9: Location Independence 

And now, day ten. 

Day 10: Meaningful Takeaways

Here's what I know for sure. 

Surround yourself with people who get it. 
People who don't chase their own goals have less capacity to fully support you in your quest. When things get tough, or when you start prioritizing the steps you need to take, those in your inner circle may not understand why you have to say no or why you need to do x, y, or z. 

Find your tribe. 
Find them in person, and if that's not possible, seek them out books and virtually...through podcasts and Facebook groups. And love those around you who may not understand, but can cheer you on the way that they can. 

See it and make it happen. 
And, the more you can visualize where you want to be, the better chance you have of achieving it. 

I'm living proof. 

I'm a vision board maker...the old school kind. I save my magazines, buy poster board and a glue stick, and every year...more or less, I assess and revisit goals. 

In January, I was part of a 10 day goal setting challenge, offered through a Facebook group by a coaching friend of mine, based on Chalene Johnson's 30-Day Push Goal Challenge. I struggled with the formatting and it wasn't coming together. 

I went back again. I reworked my push goal (and the steps it would take to achieve it) until it made sense to me. And then it did.

Ask and you shall receive. 

On Friday, September 30, 2016, I will leave the traditional brick and mortar school, which I love, to become a full time virtual teacher to foreign students who are earning a United States high school diploma. This is no reflection on my current position; I love my school and the littles who have climbed into my heart. 

This is an opportunity of a lifetime; one I cannot pass by. 

My push goal has been achieved. Officially, I am location independent. 

My virtual teaching job allows me the flexibility to work anywhere in the world with a wifi signal...freedom, indeed. 

I am beyond blessed.

And now, thanks to some of the work I did in this Freedom Plan 10 Day Blog Challenge, I'm ready to see how my Freedom Plan comes to life. 

It's an exciting time, indeed. 

Source

Do you want to create a Freedom Plan of your own? 

Consider doing the 10 Day Challenge and see for yourself what your life could look like? 

Location Independence...Freedom Plan Blog Challenge...Day 9

Imagine being able to work from anywhere in the world. 

For some, it means working from home, free of the commute and hours of the traditional workplace. 

For others, it means following their ideal weather, living a nomadic life or one of slow travel, where you experience life as a local for weeks or months at a time. 

Assuming that you still have to work and fund this location independent lifestyle, how would you create a work-life balance?

This is the focus of day nine of Natalie Sisson's Freedom Plan Blog Challenge... identifying what location independence means to you. 

To me, location independence means having the ability to work anywhere in the world, be it in a job with employability anywhere in the world or as a digital nomad, working anywhere with a reliable wifi signal.

As a teacher in a traditional brick and mortar school, this is a challenge, but not impossible.

For me, location independence means the freedom to travel at will, within our financial means. It means having multiple income streams, one of which comes from an employer that is not me. Freelancing is a lovely idea, but relying on my own entrepreneurship for our livelihood is not something that interests me in a full time capacity. 

My work-life balance is detailed in the work I did to describe my ideal day on Day 2 of this challenge. My ideal day is built on location independence; it's my ultimate goal. 

How would you define location independence in your own life? Is this something that is important to you or are you happy with a more traditional work environment?

If you want to design life on your own terms and need guidance developing your own personal freedom plan, it's not too late to participate in this free Freedom Plan Blog Challenge. Sign up here. 

Fall Seasonal Goals

I'm a long time reader of Life According to Steph, and I'm excited to participate in her seasonal goals linkup. Finally! It's about time. 

Here are my seasonal goals for the Fall. 

1. Book travel and accommodations for the Women in Travel Summit (WITS'17). 
2. Plan and go on our annual fall weekend in New York. 
3. Find a new chunky sweater to wear with jeans and tall boots. 
4. Attend one seasonal festival.
5. Yoga at least three times per week. 
6. Participate in a fall 5 or 10k. 
7. Attend a theatrical event. 
8. Reorganize clothes...donate what summer clothes I didn't wear all season and purge what doesn't fit right and what I don't LOVE. 
9. Read a new personal development book. 
10. Try six new recipes: two vegetarian, two crockpot, one fish/seafood, and one baked dessert or casserole recipe.  

Are you a goal getter? Please share what's on your list of goals to accomplish this season. 

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Choosing Adventure......Freedom Plan Blog Challenge...Day 8

Day 8 of Natalie Sisson's Freedom Plan 10-Day Blog Challenge revolves around adventure. 

While some who are participating in this challenge may have spent the day seeking adventure in their own backyard, I chose to spend this day exactly as I wanted. 

And that felt like freedom too. 

Every day need not be filled with adventure of epic proportion in order to feel free. 

Life on your own terms is freedom. 

Today, after catching up on some mileage-related car service, I opted for a quiet afternoon at home...just me, my dog, and Pablo Escobar. 

When the Señor came home from teaching his class, we opted for an at-home date night, with pizza, wine, and movies. 

Tomorrow is Sunday, and we'll enjoy our Sunday coffee date...and some extra cuddling, I'm sure. 

Globetrotting adventure, it was not, but it was life by design. And it was wonderful. 

Did adventure find you this weekend? Do you plan your weekends with intent or do you see where the time takes you?

It's not too late...you can still join Natalie's free Freedom Plan Blog Challenge. 

Sign up here and begin your own freedom plan as you see fit. 

And if you do, please come back and share a link. I would love to see what you wrote.