Tickleback

I may be 38 years old but I just want someone to play tickle back with damn it, is that too much to ask for? I am cleansing these next two weeks which means I am eating next to nothing..somewhere between 300 to 500 calories per day. I put myself through this self induced hell usually twice per year. Last year I did an intensive detoxification under the assistance of a naturopathic physician which involved several shots, a strictly vegan diet and 8 weeks of flax smoothies and fruit, lots and lots of fruit. However gruelling it may have seemed I emerged from it my eyes brighter my skin more supple and my hair and nails looking better than they ever have..At the time I needed the intense detoxification however, after I quit drinking it was was imperative I remove the aftereffects and rinse the liver so to say. I have done other cleanses in the past, in particular the traditional Master Cleanse which I highly recommend. This time around I am switching things up a bit and doing an Acai berry cleanse. 4 days in and I feel wonderful..Cleansing is one of the oldest forms of treatment and healing for the body, particularly in Eastern religions as is fasting. It marks a season of renewal inside and out and is done for spiritual reasons in many places throughout the world to this day. It has become popular here in our Western society as a method for weight loss. I like to think that by doing so it compliments my health and well being.
Toxins aren't the only thing I am getting rid of this weekend, the garage is almost..almost cleared out. I sold more rouge furniture today, letting go of those chairs I have been hanging on to in hopes of one day reupholstering them (who was I kidding). Replacing bedroom furniture in one room meant it was out with the old. Replacing the kitchen set with something more sleek and fitting..Feeling liberated I headed off to a thrift sale today only to return with an armful of more books, as if 5 bookcases and growing isn't enough the only solution to this problem is that I need a library, then I won't feel compelled to get rid of any when space gets tighter. Novel idea...
I am going to spend the rest of the weekend reading said books, making meatballs, teaching my little man, taking a long walk and of course sleeping in tomorrow..ahhhh Sundays..I think brunch is already calling my name.

You can also find me.....

Slow Hot Weekends

It's too hot to ride bikes, it was in the plan but the reality is that humidity is rearing its ugly head once again in tandem with this 110 degree weather and most of our weekend was spent inside. If only it would rain..I cleaned our palace and had some good yoga time this weekend, having done an hour of restorative today it was like getting a full body massage. They say that doing one hour of restorative yoga is the equivalent to 8 hrs of good sleep. Last night I slept so good, better than I have in a week. Jake and I set out to pick out some gifts with his birthday money and get slurpees. He decided on Starwars motor bikes and action figures..another Anakin and a whole slew of battle droids & clone troopers. I haven't had to cook in a whole three days, amazing. At least not anything substantial.We did pizzas last night from the local deli and tonight the boys brought home Chicago style hot dogs and fresh cut fries. While this has lightened my load considerably this weekend I always feel yucko if I eat out too much. That's it for take out for a while! My parents brought over and helped us put together my new outdoor patio set. It really makes the back patio into a beautiful and comfortable space. All I have left to do is add some string lights and potted cacti...I  would love to do ficus trees if it wasn't for the javelina that eat anything and everything they can get too. School starts in just a few short weeks and I started getting together the lost list of supplies..1 new backpack 2 more too go, still need to head out for school clothes for the little man and get every ones hair cut. I am looking forward to being home more this week..Like many moms who work full time I felt like I was always missing out on things when I couldn't be the one to go on field trips or attend lunches in the middle of the day.My oldest so will be getting his learners permit this week, I just can't fathom this still. I can't help but look at him and think of him at 5 yrs old, the little man who went with me everywhere and did everything with me, my shadow. This will be a good week. It will be busy finishing up my last sociology session for the summer but by next weekend it will be done and over and this busy mommy will be on break for a whole 40 days from school. Looking forward to going to The Clear Light Buddhist Center next Sunday, the start of my meditation classes and my middle son will be attending their children's meditation program. I also have a few retreats here coming up that I am excited to attend, I have been slowly bringing more spirituality into my life and I think this will enable me to continue to do so. This is what speaks to me in this chapter in my life so I am going with it..I am also entertaining the idea of Unplugged Sundays, more on this to come.. Hope you all have had a blessed weekend..

Hard To Pick Just One

Saturday Night Fever

So excited to see each other!

My little man has been gone for almost 2 weeks where he has been camping on the beach in So Cal with his Dad, enjoying the festivities in Lake Arrowhead for the 4th and having all kinds of fun. 2 weeks is a long time, I am so happy to have him home..We made the couple three hour drive to meet Dad, Dads girlfriend and pick him up today, I don't know what it is about car rides..the first half of the trip I am usually hopped up on caffeine and the second half I can barely keep my eyes open. It doesn't help much that my passengers seat may very well be the most uncomfortable passenger seat in the world..it has the twisted locked up seat syndrome most BMW's catch. It's kind of surreal seeing the father of your child like for five minutes every few months..this was a person who used to live with me for a long period of time, for whom I was engaged to, danced with laughed with,talked all day and night with, took trips with,loved with..and now it's like we are strangers as if he never knew me and I never knew him. It's strange how that happens..but people I guess they just come and go. I never gained my consciousness fully today after only getting maybe 4 1/2 hrs of sleep..hell I should be sleeping right now but for some strange reason I get a second wind around ten..getting back into the swing of things this coming up work week will be fun times. I was woken up probably 4 times last night to the sound of my neighbors arguing..they are a sweet couple and hope they can pull through whatever problems they are facing...nothing good to say about staying up all night fighting with someone.I did manage to do a half hour of yoga today..even if they were just mainly seated positions and make an awesome dinner bacon wrapped fillets, spicy pasta salad with smoked Gouda and tomatoes, corn casserole, and raspberry cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream...thanks Pioneer Woman. That was about all I was good for today..speaking of work next week can you say "pending doom"? Well tomorrow is Sunday thankfully and hopefully after a good night rest will have one more day to enjoy the these great boys and have a little downtime before the circus begins.. if there is any hope of that happening it may be a good idea to put down the coffee..like now.

Whats Happening This Weekend

I hate Walmart.. I have only set foot in one probably 5 times in my life
 (one being today)

& I can't stand it..not my kind of place

Nerf Guns are crazy...do we really need 15 of them in the house..really?

Praise be the husband who cooks his wife a big Italian dinner

Pretzel M&M's are oh so good

It feels like Sunday here's to 3 day weekends

A Bill Murray movie is in order for the evening

I actually took a nap today

and stared out the window at the beautiful view from my room

said the word pretentious then reminded myself to forgo the urge to label or say things

unless they are good things...

Subversive Saturday

Thomas Cobian 2011

My first Subversive Saturday showcasing all of the fine things I flat out refused to do today and all of the fun things I chose to do instead..Let's dive right in shall we....

I should have....
Wrote my paper for music class
Taken my World Religions midterm
Emptied the dishwasher
Dusted something
Windexed some stuff
Went shopping for something practical like a strapless bra

What I did instead to be Subversive?
Messed around the library
Went to the coffee shop three (yikes) times...Holy crap no it was four..
Did a fruitless search around town for chocolate covered espresso beans
Laid in bed and read for like three hours (Man...)
Drove way out of the way for Thai food & took pictures of midecentury modern light fixtures on the building next door to Touch of Thai...hehe
Forced my boyfriend to go into a Reflexology massage parlor in a strip mall (we didn't let anyone touch us)
Ate a bunch of salt & pepper popcorn
Hung out in Best Buy dream shopping for home theatre systems.. (this was not my idea..well sorta)

Mastering the art of doing nothing much... It's been a long day..but hey the kids are gone for one more day which like never happens..I think I need to sleep in tomorrow..Come on admit what you didn't do today?
Make me feel better. Thanks Lisa over at Its Own Sweet Will  for reinforcing my list of excuses!

Old Town Scottsdale 4th Street 2011