Project 52: Week 02

At first glance, this doesn't look like variety at all. I admit, it looks like a bunch of green plants (some of which are dying...oops.) But there is a variety of herbs in this little pot of soil. I can't remember how I started researching it, but somehow I discovered that in order to have a full garden with herbs and even veggies, you don't need very much space. In fact, you don't even need to be on the ground. Since we are on the 3rd floor of our apartment complex (which I hope will soon change to the first floor of a house...we're in the process of looking at the moment), learning this made me ecstatic. And because I know that my green thumb isn't very green, I decided to start out small by planting herbs, which seem to have a very strong ability to stay alive. In this arrangement, I have rosemary, peppermint and some sort of onion. We haven't eaten any yet, but it sure has added to my happiness when I glance out our balcony door during the day.

If you haven't done so yet, check out some of the other photos on our Pinterest board. Christy and Ashley were so creative yet again this week on taking the word variety and capturing some great photos. While I was sitting here stumped on what to photograph, those girls took variety to a whole 'nother level, which I absolutely love.

And without further ado, here's the word for Week 03...(Can you believe it will be February next week? I sure can't.)

• Week 03 | Jan 26-Feb2: CIRCLE

And here's the link to everyone's photos via Pinterest.

• Week 01 | Jan 12-Jan 18: NECESSITY
• Week 02 | Jan 19-Jan 25: VARIETY

Join us! If you want to link up your photos, I've created a pin board on Pinterest. Click here to view it. This board is a community board. All you need to do to join is email me (martapeters@gmail.com) or leave a comment on the blog letting me know the your Pinterest profile name. Once I have you entered you're free to submit your photos to that board.

Oldies but Goodies

These are random, somewhat older, photos that were on Sebastian's phone, but I wanted to make sure I posted them--more for my sake than anything else. Oh, and for Oma and Grandma. I know they love a little Aliyah in their days from time to time. :)

This photo was taken on my company's annual end of the season trip in August, which was in the Dominican Republic this year. Since we're in shuttle, Aliyah isn't in a car seat and that made me a little nervous, no doubt. You can be sure that she was buckled in and I had her in a strong hold the entire 10 min drive. The trip, by the way, was awesome. A little humid (we've been spoiled living in California and Arizona), but Aliyah had a blast swimming every day. She's a little fish, that one.

Next up showcases Aliyah's love for any type of sport ball and her ability to give her Dad the look so he buys it for her. We probably have at least 10-15 different types of balls in our place for no apparent reason. Just a couple of weeks ago, Sebastian came home with a football for her, and I just looked at him and thought, What is she going to do with a football, honey? She's a year and a half. But I gotta give Sebastian the benefit of the doubt, because I mean seriously, could you say no to this face? She gets us to give in more often than we'd like to admit.

Next, we have a photo from one of our Saturday morning family walks. I think this was the photo that I realized she was no longer a baby. She is a full grown toddler. And look at that mouth full of teeth. She's got some chompers. I should know, since about every other week (sometimes more) I get a report from daycare saying she bit someone. If anyone has any tips on this I am all ears. She knows not to bite her Dad and me, but I can't seem to get her to stop at daycare. From what we've observed so far, she's an emotional kid. When she's happy, she shows it, when she's discouraged she lets us know. My instinct (or mother's bias--you pick) is that at daycare she just gets frustrated (since usually the incident involves another child taking something from her) and she can't convey her emotion through words, so she bites. I'm hoping this phase is a short one.

And last, here's the most recent one. After getting professional photos taken over Christmas with my family, she learned from her cousins, Faith and Grace that when a camera comes out you say, "Cheese!".  Here she is with a mouth full of PB and her cheese grin. I think this girl could eat toast and peanut butter for every meal.

And that's Aliyah for you. Like any toddler, she keeps us on our toes, but also has us laughing and gushing over her almost all the time with the things she learns each day and her cute sense of humor. Someone once told Sebastian that as kids get older, it just keeps getting better and better. I completely agree. 

Project 52: Week 01!

I'm excited to say that Project 52 is well under way. We have a handful of creative gals participating and so far from what I've seen, I'm impressed with the photography talent, not to mention the innovative ways they took the word, "necessity".

Necessity was somewhat of a tough word to capture, because to me, there seemed to be so many things I thought I couldn't live without. But then as I thought about it more, I realized that I'm pretty spoiled to consider so many things necessities. I'm not about to give anything up just yet, but it does put things in perspective.

In the end, I decided to choose light. Light seems like a necessity because it is one of the main components for growth in living things. Our world literally would not be here without light in the form of sun and energy. Plus it seems fitting for photography, since photography is essentially capturing light.

Ready for next week's word? Alright (and if you're new to the project feel free to jump in no matter what week we're on!)...

• Week 02 | Jan 19-Jan 25: VARIETY

And here's the link to everyone's photos via Pinterest.

• Week 01 | Jan 12-Jan 18: NECESSITY

Join us! If you want to link up your photos, I've created a pin board on Pinterest. Click here to view it. This board is a community board. All you need to do to join is email me (martapeters@gmail.com) or leave a comment on the blog letting me know the your Pinterest profile name. Once I have you entered you're free to submit your photos to that board.

Words to Live By in 2012

Let me tell you something. I thought I was pretty clever in the beginning of January when I decided that I was going to pick out three words to live by in the coming year. Turns out this idea has been around for awhile. How I managed to not see it until I thought of it is beyond me, because now I see this idea popping up everywhere on blogs. (Though, that seems likely since now that it's in my head, I'm more aware of it.)

It took me awhile to figure out what words I really wanted to concentrate on this year, as well as to not add anymore than three. Otherwise, it would just become another long list of resolutions that would be hard to accomplish. ( I did still create a personal list of about twenty goals/resolutions...you know, just in case I nail these three words right off the bat in the coming months.)

Here's what I'm going to strive for in twenty-twelve:

Kindness: Being genuinely and thoughtfully kind to others in big or small ways everyday. Taking time out of my day for others, and not just when it's convenient for me. Stopping to open a door for someone, giving someone a hearty, full smile and hi instead of a hurried, half-nod, refraining from becoming frustrated at the hubs because he didn't put his shoes or socks away. I want to allow myself to take a step back and tell myself that for the all the times I feel like getting annoyed or impatient with people that not only am I just as imperfect, but that, this doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things, and for all the gestures of kindness that I can do and I think might go unnoticed, this does really matter in the grand scheme of things.

Perseverance: To keep at things and do so with intent and confidence (key word: confidence). To start what I finish (and in a timely manner) and keep going on projects or goals when my attention wavers or my uncertainties get the best of me. I need to remind myself that if it's a goal worth achieving, getting through the boring parts and the times when I feel insecure are necessary for success.

Attentiveness: This is probably the one that will be the most difficult on the list. I know I can be a better listener when I talk to people. Sometimes I don't listen because I'm terrible at voice-to-voice small talk with people I don't know very well. (Put me on google chat or email and I'll "talk" your ear off. Put me on an elevator?...Oh no.) Verbal small talk makes me nervous and I wish it didn't, because most often when I'm talking to someone I don't know very well, I'm thinking about the next question I can ask them so that there's absolutely no silence in the conversation. It's not that I don't hear a word of what that acquaintance says to me, but it certainly hinders my ability to truly listen to what they're saying. With the people I am most comfortable with, I want to concentrate on listening with as much love as I can give to those that are closest to me. This means, in most cases, consciously setting down or stepping away from whatever else it is that I'm probably trying to multi-task and concentrating on the loved one I'm talking to. They deserve my full attention after all.

So those are my three words for 2012. Has anyone else tried this method of resolutions? I'm curious to see if it's any easier or harder to stick to three words of improvement that encompass a lot of unspoken goals. I guess I'll just have to wait twelve months and see.

Doodles | Show a Little Love

Sebastian is gone this weekend visiting family in Philadelphia. Sadly, one of his closest uncles died last week due to cancer. I didn't know him very well, but I remember Sebastian talking very fondly of him when we dated and throughout our marriage. I knew he was someone special when this particular Uncle flew all the way out from the east coast to attend our wedding in 2009.

My mom and I were talking recently about how we so often say that we want to visit someone, but sometimes time runs out and we never do. I'm learning bit by bit that we just need to make time. Otherwise, there will always be something else that needs to be done. It's not that that a person isn't special to us, it's just that so many other things can and will take our time and attention if we don't set aside time for seeing those we love (as well as doing the activities we love).

And even though deep down, we all know this, I completely understand that it's a tough wisdom to execute. So if anything, maybe we just need to pick up the phone or write a little note to those that we hold dear to us, so that they know we're thinking of them.

When I began this post, I didn't mean for it to be somber. What I really meant was to showcase some doodles I worked on tonight since I'm home by myself with a sleeping tot tucked snuggly under her covers. And these doodles, as quirky as they may be, are about love, which is what we need to tell and show those around us often.



I have some fun ideas for these doodles. Can you guess what that might be? I'll be working on this project throughout the weekend and will try to show you what I came up with later next week.





Here's to the weekend...and to telling someone special you love and appreciate the good they bring into your life.