40 Days

So, I took some time away from Facebook. Why? Because I did a spiritual fast. I gave up something and the thing I chose was Facebook.

My church started the 40 day fast and at first I was like yeah sure! Then when I thought about it I realized it could be way harder than I think. My choice to give up FB was something I knew I would definitely miss and would actually be a challenge. A couple of my reasons for being on FB is mainly stemmed from shifts at the hotel where there is nothing going on so FB is how I connect to friends and family I have all over the U.S.

Things that changed in 40 days:

• I realized how much time other people spend on FB. Ha, my family, my husband, friends, random strangers. Having extra free time its the first thing I see most people do
• My mother in law actually signed up for FB!
• I realized how much time I would spend on it pre fast
• The first days were hard then it got a lot easier
• I missed connecting with people I don't get to see everyday and seeing what they are doing that day.
• I will not put the app for FB on my phone again, at least for a little while

I really have worked on being more present and being more real. People have said to me before you have such a charmed life. I do,but its because of my relationship with the Lord. I am extremely blessed. But, I do have crappy days and its not always walking on sunshine. But, my faith allows me to be positive and thankful regardless and even in the moments where its bleccck and gross. Those are the times when the Lord carries me through.

I'm not perfect, my kids are not perfect, my marriage is not perfect. But, no one's life is perfect. Never compare your life or aspects of your life to others. Don't Judge others. Live your life for God not for other people. Be Kind. Surround yourself with like minded people. These are lessons I have learned and I am grateful for that.

Mahalo,
Adina

Currently

Oh, what a great week. Ha, it feels like my lesson in contentment is a work in progress. God is constantly revealing his abundant blessings on our family an me individually. I think that being a child of God makes life so much more worth living and I don't know how peeps can wander this earth without a relationship with him.

Obsessing over: Claremont,CA this is a town about 2 miles from my house. It's the cutest little village and the restaurants are amazing. Super cute shops. Just charming!!! I love spending time here and love how close it is.

Wrapped up in: Family time! I love having my Hubbs home and we actually get another week with him home,yay! Being all together for all the fun, nonsense and shenanigans we get into makes my life so wonderful and I'm thankful for the time we get wrapped up in each other.


Working on: looking back at my accomplishments physically and being grateful for my journey of being healthy. Instilling a healthy and active lifestyle for me and for my girls is my focus. Not to obsess over their bodies but how they will live and enjoy their lives while implementing activity and healthy living.

Thinking about: how I can spend some time volunteering with my family. We have a different schedule and not very traditional. This should be really labeled,praying about. Because, I really am praying about this more and that God will just show us how we can give back more.


Anticipating: some more traveling and getting my passport renewed :-)

Listening to: Springsteen and guys next to me at Starbucks who are going over a plan for shooting a commercial or film about youth athletics.


Drinking: SF hazelnut iced coffee! I just went on a run and the sun is peeking through my little village!

Happy Wednesday!

Mahalo,

Dina

Happy Monday: race recap

Oh, what a glorious Monday! I got out of bed, feet hit the floor and thought "hmm, just a bit sore." Yay, for ice baths and foam rollers! They are both annoying, especially ice baths but the make the next day sooooo much better!

My race yesterday was amazing! It was the third in the "Beach Cities Challenge" in Southern California. I started in May 2012 with the Orange County half and then did Long Beach in October and finished up with the Huntington Beach half yesterday.

I don't really "train" for these races. But, I do run consistently every week about 15-25 miles depending of my schedule. I will usually get in a 8-10 miler the week before and then race the following weekend. I started last week with a 6 miler and decided to do 4:1 intervals of running and walking. This makes for such an amazing race! Because I can run about 10 miles with out any problem but at mile 10 I'm pretty spent. Yesterday, I was able to run easy through 10 miles then turn it up and run straight through the last 3.1! So amazing!

The course takes you through a beautiful scenic route of pacific coast hwy. The half course is an out and back with about a 3mi detour through some pricey residential. There are some inclines in that portion but nothing to crazy by my standards and I'm not a pro-incline type of gal,ha!

I usually go through so many emotions while I run but yesterday I only had a teeny little, almost breakdown. For me the fact that my run felt easy bc of the run/ walk intervals I didn't really focus on anything other than when to run and when to walk.

My amazing Hubbs was at the finish line to see me get my medal and also I actually got to visit my first post race beer garden since my mama was watching the dumplings. It was so nice to just enjoy that afterglow race moment with Mike and talk about how exciting the course was for me. He is and always has been so encouraging and his support with running has been so wonderful to have! Running can be a little time consuming and finding a balance is something he has really been a part of with our little family.

I don't run for a time goal. Maybe one day I will. But, right now I run for the experience, I run because I can and most importantly I run because it makes me so happy. I never was an athletic child or teenager. So, as an adult the while medal receiving is a big deal!

This race I got two!! One for HB and a monstrous one for completing the challenge! I was so happy to be a part of this series and I can't wait for my next race!

Mahalo,

Dina

Leftovers...

At the end of the week I have some many leftover pictures in my phone so I thought I would use Friday to serve them up! I don't know I'm really nosey and I like seeing other peoples stuff so I thought you might want to see mine! :-)

We are so the parents that buy Disney themed merchandise and bust it out at Disneyland! The girls loved their Belle wands and I loved the five dollar Target price tag!

The girls are super into my EOS lip balm and this was Penelope's first time applying by herself. It only took me 5 minutes to get it back, we are working on that!

 

While shopping on Tuesday w came across this great bench that I am obsessed with and would like to have a yellow bench for my dining room.

The sunset was GORGEOUS on the way home from LA on Tuesday and mike and I stuck our phones out of the car to get a pic. This was the best of the 5 or so ones of the roof, random cars, etc..

 

New APP for run/walk interval training! Plus the guys voice is exciting that tells me when to run/walk. I feel like he may be attractive so I'm like "okay, okay!" when it comes on, ha!

Mama and Pen plying with my new ear buds for when I run. She likes to try out everything!

 

This last pic was of the moon I think on Monday night but I just loved it!!!

 

 

We have such an exciting weekend coming up I am so glad its Friday,Ready to get it started!

 

 

Mahalo!

 

Dina

Thankful Thursday

So, all day yesterday I wanted to blog about something! Well, waking up this morning with my husband and girls next to me I began to just feel so overwhelmed with God's goodness. In the midst of my bliss praising The Lord for my blessings....bananahead city began. The girls went into nonsense meltdown mode over nothing! Like instantly! Hah! I started loosing my patience super fast. I felt like "what the heck happened! Here I am so thankful and now this!!?" But, here's the deal I can't be thankful just when times are good I need to be reminded I need to be thankful always!

This had been a rough couple months and I don't always share to much about stuff that doesn't make the "highlight reel" ;-)
I think so many times we can get caught up in showing all the good times we forget that it ain't always sunny! With Mike being gone poses so many difficult challenges that I often don't think about or plan.

I have an amazing family that helps me out so much. It also helps that my husband is so willing to listen, change and adapt both as a soldier and a husband.

Being thankful can be so broad and general but today I want and choose to be thankful for a couple specifics.

1. Gods love and mercy he shows me as he waits for me to fall and look to him after trying things on my own and not working. :-)

2. My husbands patience and unconditional love that he shows me and our babies daily. He loves me regardless of my actions and I see Gods love daily shining through him as my partner in life.

3. For my girls when they are having meltdowns. I'm blessed to hear them whine and complain on days when they are not their perfect selfs. This shows me 2 things. One, how God must feel when I'm complaining and wanting something that's not in his timing or will for me. Two, that there are so many people longing to have babies of their own and how blessed I am to have these 2 with me regardless of their current behavior.

These are things I'm thankful for today and I pray that God will reveal his plans for our family even more in the next months ahead.

Choose to be kind and be thankful regardless of what you are currently going through. I included a pic right now from the mall... Neither precious dumpling wanted to take it whining "no, no pictures!" Haha! It was perfect because I was smiling because I'm thankful for all this even the "bananahead city" days!

Mahalo,

Dina

Happy Monday!

What a delightful weekend for our little family! Friday I was blessed to spend all day with my Greenlee! We hit all the hot spots Starbucks, Marshall's, Nordy's and Corner Bakery for some lunch. I then got some time to go dancing with friends at The Ranch in OC. Which I'm always grateful for no cover with a military ID. It was nice to unwind and catchup with friends after an eventful week!

We have been prepping this week for daddy's return from Germany, yay! So, when ever Michael goes for the Army I try to do something around the house as a surprise for his return home. Last time I painted the dining room and kitchen. I love doing stuff at home and my style borders bo-ho, shabby chic-esque. I love feeling like we live in a little escape from reality in our little cottage.It's eclectic, comfy and it's where we call home.

So, the room that was next to handle was our bathroom. Greenlee wanted a pink bathroom, of course,Ha! Well, we did compromise and we settled on a coral pink color which we all seemed to like! I still need a new maybe paisley or busy, colorful print shower curtain to pull it all together!

I was so excited to go pick up my love and enjoy some time before we went and got the kids and headed home. There is a place in Echo Park I have been wanting to try called Mohawk Bend. It was just the place to get cozy with my man after being gone all month. They have a HUGE collection of craft beer and a great organic menu. I had a great burger with sweet potato fries and a yummy IPA called Rebellion. Mike had the fish and chips which were amaaaazing!

Upon our return home Mike gave us some gifts he brought back for us. He got me the most crazy, cool box of German chocolates that had different liqueurs. Let me just tell ya that the German version actually have liquid liqueurs in them not just flavored goo! You could breath fire after one of them! They were so yummy and mike knows my love of first chocolate but also my love to reuse cute,intricate wooden boxes which these came in!

We had a wonderful weekend and now planning a fun filled week together to enjoy being reunited. Time apart is hard but the best part is taking a step back and realizing the importance of sharing our lives together. How much we value and appreciate each other and not taking any time together for granted. Being married is a journey and just like any other aspect of our lives you get out of it exactly what you put in to it! With busy lives and so much nonsense in our world It's so important to make it a priority and give it the attention it deserves. I'm so happy he's home and can't wait for our next set of adventures!

Mahalo,

Dina

Currently..

Getting back to the blogging world! Things are shifting in my life and in our little family and I'm learning to find the beauty in change and knowing I am right where I should be.. That's huge for me! hah!

Currently…

Obsessing over: Painting the cottage powder room. That's a fancy term for painting the bathroom! Ha, doesn't the first part seem way more charming!?

Working on: Getting everything ready at the cottage for the return of my soldier! Can NOT wait till he is home!!

Thinking about:A lot of career moves for both me and my husband and how they will all unfold in our lives. #kindofabigdeal

Anticipating: Saturday, because he comes home!!!!yay!!! Also, my next race is coming up on 2/03 at the Huntington Beach marathon! So, ready to run!

Listening to: Florence and The Machine, I'm super into it right now and love the sorta laid back, strong lyrics and rhythms

Drinking:. Starbucks, of course! Sugar free hazelnut iced coffee,Yummy!

Wishing:I had way more money in our bank account to buy decorating nonsense for our house!

Happy Monday!!

Mahalo,

Adina