{this moment}

this moment} - A Friday ritual.
A single photo -
no words -
capturing a moment from the week.
A simple, special, extraordinary moment.
A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{ Jump }

I don't have a lot of words within me lately..or time to post on here actually.
There is a lot of emotion flowing through these bones though.
Things are moving so fast at the moment.
This week is a HUGE life changing week.
Many doors are closing behind me.
About 6 months ago I moved into my Aunts house to pay off debt built up in a 10 year relationship with my ex who walked away from it all.
This gave me a great opportunity to get ahead of it all for which I am incredibly grateful.
It has been a lot of work but that is taken care of now.

I found out last week that he is getting remarried Saturday.
To the woman that has kept him out of his kids lives for a year and a half now.
He called out of the blue and asked to have them at his wedding.
He hasn't seen them in 5 months although he lives 5 minutes away.
As a matter of fact, I could count on my fingers how many times hes seen them in the last year.
I am grieving for them still..but proud of the present we have created as a family of three.
They are amazing souls. And have found a kind of peace and wisdom in this that I suspect comes from being old souls. Understanding way beyond their years.


Saturday is the same day I am moving into our new Summer home on Lake Michigan.
And having an Open House at my office that we are expecting around 200 people to attend.
And a picnic meet & greet for the newly formed environmentally focused charter school my kids were accepted to next autumn.

Closure on the past...a future full of greatness all within one day.
wow...I'm overwhelmed.
I'm tired.
I am so so happy.
We have come so far.
Next week, I hope to sit on our new porch, kids snuggled close..
the lake serenading us and we can all exhale.
And breathe in again together knowing
that all is well in our world
and
love really is all you need.

~Here's to Jumping~
Sara

{ explore. dream. discover. }

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." -- Mark Twain



I'm about to take a huge leap into the unknown. In two short weeks, we will be moving into a beach house steps away from the lake in another town. It is in a sweet, eclectic, artsy lake community just a half hour outside Chicago.
Lovely as it sounds..I find myself nervous..fearful even.
This huge, beautiful house is for sale and...nothing is selling these days. The owners are in limbo..paying two mortgages. I will be renting on floaty terms..if it sells we have 30 days to move. If it doesn't sell, we get to stay in a super cool house with lake views for dirt cheap.
I love this house.
I can't afford to buy this house at the moment.
We may stay a couple months or a couple years...everything is up in the air.
I'm learning a great lesson in attachment. I'm learning to live in the moment.
My children are learning to take risks and have faith the next wonderful opportunity will arrive when the time is right.

I imagine cold drinks, lots of laughter and friends gathered on the large front deck..taking in the cool lake breezes and the sounds of the waves rocking us to sleep at night.

But...one thing I know for sure is...this is just the kind of break we need.

:: Week 4 of Cleansing ::

The ladies I work with and a few other holistic health practitioners out of Chicago decided to start a Spring Cleanse together. We started on the Equinox and today marks 4 weeks behind us and well..umm..14 weeks to go *ouch*
I work in an Acupuncture Clinic & am constantly giving advice on holistic, whole food nutrition but over the last couple years I have let my own weight creep up on me as I eat a little too many of these wonderful foods. Moderation. Yep..I may need some of that *ahem* So who is going to listen to a practitioner offering advice on health who is in poor shape herself? What was I thinking letting myself go???
Life gets busy..as a single working Mom, I find myself eating on the go a lot. I've just adjusted myself to preparing healthier foods to bring along with me and enjoy on the go.
I won't lie. It hasn't been easy.
But it is getting easier.
And I feel great.
My skin has cleared up..I have more energy..my digestion is wonderful..and my clothes fit better. I also make a point of walking the beach or hiking the dunes at least 5 times a week. This isn't just about weight loss to me but about transforming my whole lifestyle. I want to feel great ALL the time. I want to set an example for my kids in this fast food obsessed world they live in. I want to make the most positive choices for my body so I can carry that out throughout the whole of my life.



This is a super intense plan of diet, cleansing supplements, sweating and drinking lots of water. Basically, we can eat...

* All meats (except pork)
* Vegetables
* Fruits (except oranges)
* Eggs
* Brown rice (short or long grain)
* Brown rice cakes (plain)
* Brown rice cereal (hot)
* Tea, Coffee

* For cooking or salad dressing: extra virgin olive oil, cold-pressed coconut, apricot or almond oils (most other oils are toxic to the body.)
*Seasonings include: Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acids, salt, pepper, lemon, etc. (as long as there are no sugars, yeast, or anything not on the PLAN.
*naturally raised and organic foods

As a vegetarian, finding my protein has been a bit of a challenge but very doable. The meal options are way more for my friends who eat meat.

As I get settled into this new way of eating, I find myself getting more and more creative in my meal planning and snacking. Scrambled eggs are pretty delicious with slices of pear or apple in them. Roasted sweet potatoes with a dash of cinnamon and sea salt are a great snack food. In my smoothies, I add coconut milk for a little creaminess. I found out that guacamole is just as tasty on a brown rice cake as a chip. That sliced tomatoes, fresh basil & olive oil are delicious without my usual fresh mozzarella & balsamic. And I've been able to satisfy my sweet tooth more with fruit & this delicious sugar free coconut milk "ice cream" {which is somewhat a cheat because it has Agave & Dried Coconut but goodness gracious is it yummy to enjoy small bites of with fresh banana, pineapple or blueberries on top)



I just can't wait for Week 9 when I can add back in: dried fruit, juices, soy sauce, vinegar, legumes, tofu, nuts, and popcorn!

It's amazing how much I've craved tofu and almonds.

So..as week four comes to an end, here are the numbers that motivate me..

I've lost 21 lbs and just over 2 points on my BMI!!!!

Now THAT is something to celebrate...Cheers to abundant health and well being!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual.
A single photo -
no words -
capturing a moment from the week.
A simple, special, extraordinary moment.
A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{weekending}

Sunny Sunday mornings are made for hiking with friends through the Dunes and windy afternoons are full of soccer these days. I sure love this time of year. There was plenty of giggling around these parts this weekend.
Here's hoping you & yours had a lovely weekend full of simple joyful moments.

{this moment}

A Friday ritual.
A single photo.
no words.
capturing a moment from the week.



Head on over to see Amandas blog at SouleMama for more moments

Bright Blessings,
Sara