The Weekend Send-Off

November 11th, 2011 - filed under: Furthermore » Feedback

This is what you look like when you eat lunch, right?


Oi there! It’s the weekend already! And today was the first day it felt like winter, here in Portland. What about where you are? Are you in for a wintery, weather-y weekend?

Surprisingly, I like it! Winter is fun (at first), and baby-in-snow will be really fun, and I’m ready to bust out the scarves and mittens. Hey winter, I say “bring it!”

~~~


So, I’m resigning myself to the reality of my posting schedule. Some weeks I blog every day – high quality, high quantity. But other weeks, I can only get in one or two posts before the Weekend Send-Off arrives. Instead of stressing out, I’m trying to accept it. Because I really need less stress! I hope you guys know that I’m always doing the very best that I can. Thanks for coming along for the ride!

~~~


Le Love List:

1. Bonzai Bags!


I ordered a very limited edition run (only 29 available!) of these organic cotton, eco-ink, made and printed in America, TOTALLY FABULOUS tote bags, which will go on sale next week. I’ve been using mine around town and I LOVE it, and I can’t wait to get the rest of them out into the world. And just in time for the holidays!

If you buy a Bonzai Bag, you better send me a picture of you with it, deal? Yay!
(more details next week . . . )


2. Raising A Humane Child
I’m currently taking this 6-week, online parenting class, and we’re just wrapping up our first week. IT IS AMAZING. So far, I have already learned and connected and cried and grown. This class is wonderful, and it is just what I needed, and I can’t recommend The Institute For Humane Educations highly enough. Love!


3. Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder – AGAIN
Damian was out of town from Sunday until mid-Thursday. 4 1/2 days all by myself, the longest I’ve gone. I’m not going to lie – I was scared! But we did freakin’ great. We had a blast, and Waits was a champ, and I was a supermom, and sure, we had or DIFFICULT (*ahem*) moments, but overall it was a million times better than I’d feared. I’m re-learning about how attitude goes a long way.

Every morning Waits woke up saying “Daddy?” and looking around for Damian, which was so so sweet. We missed him!


Also! I just discovered this parenting blog this very morning, but I suspect that it’s going to be invaluable. // Sparkling glitter-red toenails and shiny metallic silver fingernails. // This morning, Waits threw his arms around my neck and squeezed me so tight and with so much love, it brought tears to my eyes // Speaking of which, I sure have been crying a lot lately. It’s good. // I just finished my second batch of cold curried tempeh salad and oh! but there will be a third batch, oh yes there will. // The Internets – notably this, and this, and this. // Watching my baby video-chat with my husband. // Watching Waits in the garden, in his little galoshes, holding my big steel colander and plucking the green tomatoes that are never going to ripen. This absolutely melts my heart. // When things get bad – like, really bad – and you’re really stressed and really scared, and you have a decision whether to become an anger-ball of angst, or whether to laugh at life’s madness and roll with it, and you muster all your strength and just laugh with your husband, even though it’s HARD. And then, all of a sudden you get a phone call that changes EVERYTHING, and the Universe provides, and things are going to be okay . . . and you have to wonder if it isn’t because you decided to take the path of love . . .

~~~

Alright guys, now it’s your turn – tell me what you’re loving this week!


My darlings, this happy little post will stay at the top of the page all weekend, so stop by any time to leave your Love List, ask a question, or offer some feedback! Or if you’re new, please introduce yourself and say ‘Oi!’! This is your community, so get involved!


Have a wonderful winter weekend, my dears

  • Annie

    Love

    1. Daddy Sang Bass by Johnny Cash. I have listened to that song all week and it isn’t getting old.

    2. Being involved in Food Not Bombs! again. It’s so awesome, and I love cooking with everyone in such a communal and relaxed way, for a purpose. In the last couple weeks, we’ve cooked for an anti-plutonium fundraiser, Occupy and next week at a fundraiser for a program helping kids in Juvenile Prisons in Cambodia. I think we may start up serving just ’cause for free (at a fundraiser we ask for donation if you can) on the weekends again, depending on existing food programs.

    3. Having plans to go to Tassie in January, to go camping up a mountain. Woooh!

  • http://farmersmarketvegan.wordpress.com Ali Seiter

    Loves:

    1.) Going to yoga after a week-long hiatus because you’re too damn busy going to gymnastics practice every single night and getting ridiculously sore. Ahh, yoga feels gooooood.

    2.) SOCCA. Seriously, why don’t I just make this stuff every single night?

    3.) Four-day weekends, the perfect chance to catch up on all your work and relax.

  • http://poweredbytheletterk.tumblr.com Katie

    Bonzai bags! I need one! I will be feverishly awaiting details.

    I don’t normally step in for le love list, but this week I feel the need to, because something you wrote really resonated with me…

    1.” … and you have to wonder if it isn’t because you decided to take the path of love…” Yes to this, 100%. Over the last few weeks I have been able to see the amazing effects of mustering up the strength to take the path of love even when old die-hard instincts cry out for distance or superficial protection through defensiveness or anger or frustration, and now that I’ve gone down that path, I’m never going back. I feel very fortunate to have been put through these tests, and I’m holding on to that.

    2. Marina Tsvetaeva. Oh, how I love her. An amazing poet who is single-handedly getting me through this semester, she has replaced drudgery with excitement and enthusiasm. Translations of her are not frequent, nor are they generally perfect; hopefully I can make a difference on that front.

    3. Oakland. Things are really up and down over there right now, and I’m so far away that I can’t really do anything about it, but the struggles just remind me what a dynamic and passionate and complicated place I come from. Send good thoughts to Oakland, y’all…

    Weekend!

  • Anonymous

    Whoa, your list this week was such truth + oh so beautiful. I am trying more and more each day to take the path of love <3

    1. Random acts of generosity: my friend and I met for lunch (at Gracias Madre, yum!) and he surprised me with a beautiful bunch of lilies "just because". It totally made my day (and my subway ride home, where I got to feel special haha).

    2. Network chiropractic. I have had some serious back issues (from a rafting accident in Costa Rica on my honeymoon nonetheless!) and this amazing healing modality is expanding my mind and realigning my body.

    3. Rainy weather. I don't know why, but when we here in the bay area go into our rainy season, part of me gets really happy. I bring out the heavy sweaters, fun rain boots and cozy up in a little cafe by the window.

  • Alexander

    1. I HAVE A 4.0! In three of my four classes and overall! I don’t know what exactly I have in the fourth yet, I have to go see my grade but still!
    2. I got offered a job working as a supplementary instructor in anthropology next semester. I’d work about 7hrs/wk and get paid $8/hr. Don’t know if I’ll get it but I hope I do because it would be so awesome!
    3. Uploading English homework while listening to the scene from Star Trek: Insurrection where Captain Picard, Worf, and Data are singing the Gilbert and Sullivan song ‘A British Tar’.

  • Sarah C.

    Ah, I am glad you got that call that changed everything! (I need one of those, to be honest!). This weekend, I love autumn weather in Texas (which is like summer in some places), swimming classes, and toddler smiles.

  • http://www.healthyincandyland.com Candy @ Healthy In Candy Land

    I just wanted to stop and say hello. I found your blog a few weeks ago and have been enjoying reading very much. You write with such honesty it makes me want to just give you a hug after every post. (I swear I’m not a creepy stalker or anything.)

  • Brianna

    Bag me, darlin! I want one :)

    I love your blog. It’s the only one I read consistently. I will read it as frequently or infrequently as you need to post to be sane.

  • Melisa

    Same here.

  • http://www.toysandlearning.co.uk/ Rishley

    Wow,i love this cute little angel.I want this bag.Its really an interesting blog.I enjoy at the time of reading this blog.Keep sharing with us in future too.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    I love hearing from you Katie, and I love your Love List. I’ve been keeping an eye on Oakland too. Sending my good thoughts and wistful memories. =)

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    I am trying too, and it is not easy, but it always, always pays off. I just have to remember that!

    I’m glad to hear your chiropractic work is going so well (2 weeks in a row on the LL, if I remember correctly, yes?). I’ve never been to a chiropractor but my dear friend swears by hers and even took her infant! It’s something I’ve definitely been meaning to look into.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Oh Alexander, CONGRATULATIONS! That is such spectacular news, and good for you. What an accomplishment, I hope you are so proud of yourself. You better celebrate! =D

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Good thoughts to you that you’ll get the call you need, Sarah.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Thank you Candy, and welcome to Bonzai!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Bags to both of you, yay!

  • Lou

    I totally sympathise on the being the lone-parent… it is tough, I’m in a similar situation at the moment BUT it does make you really truly appreciate your partner when he returns. I’m loving the tropical flowers that are popping out everywhere to welcome Summer, tending to my herbs and hanging in the backyard with my boy (we made a makeshift may-pole with toys hanging off the washing line today, hilarious!) Love your blog… and Waits has too much style :)

  • http://twitter.com/keephealthstyle Laura Agar Wilson

    I always love these posts, they put such a big smile on my face! This week I’m loving all the organic kabocha I bagged at the one farmers market we get near me, eating hot broth and vegan sausages on these cold dark autumn nights and anticipating my best friends 30th 80′s themed birthday party tonight, I’m going as a punk :-)

  • Sam

    It’s been wintry here in Ohio this week, and I’ve got a lovely cold as a result. I’ve been loading endless servings of soup with cayenne though, and pounding peppermint tea, and I think it’s working :)

    Le Love List:

    1. Bonzai Aphrodite- this is the only blog I read regularly, like a couple other people have said, and I love it! I’ve been reading for most of the year now, and again, like others have said, I’ll always be reading no matter how often you’re posting! When you don’t post as regularly, it makes me smile to think that you’re probably busy doing something fun/challenging that’s keeping you away from the computer. Love the bags too!

    2. Grad school- it’s hard as crap; I got a 4.0 as a cultural anthropology major in my undergrad, and it was challenging. Grad school in public affairs is challenging in a completely different way, and let’s just say I’m not going to get a 4.0. But I feel like I’m learning and working my ass off, and meeting great people and learning what the heck I want to do after graduation much more so than I did during my first 4 years of college.

    3. Eureka- my favorite show ever on SyFy. It’s been keeping me company during the past couple of sick days.

    4. Finally feeling comfortable with my sense of style- and without buying a bunch of new clothes! I’ve always felt mostly comfortable but never quite as confident as I like in the clothes I wear, and by rediscovering old thrifted sweaters and layering and socks (Sock Dreams yay!) and boots and men’s shirts I feel more confident and awesome and badass and comfortable in my clothes more often than ever.

  • Blake

    Florida just got a “cold front” that is lasting all of two days. Highs are back in the 80′s tomorrow. I want the cold front to stick around (but no snow, can’t deal with the snow).

  • Sam
  • http://suburbansnowwhite.blogspot.com Katrina Donovan Fleming

    LOVE your blog! Your pics especially are captivating! What kind of camera are you using?

  • Catreinhardt

    how limited edition? i want bags!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    29 available! They’ll go on sale next week. =)

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    For the fancy stuff I use a Canon 50D, but lately a lot of my pictures are just taken with my iPhone (like the ones in this post). The iPhone camera quality is insane – better than out little point-and-shoot! Plus I love all the aps you can use to manipulate the mages. =)

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Haha, that is awesome.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Thank you so much Sam! What a sweet and encouraging comment, I hope you know how much I appreciate it.

  • http://myperfectlyimbalancedlife.wordpress.com Lexie

    I just came across this blog, and I’m in love! Not only are your photographs beautiful, quirky, artistic and hang-on-your-wall-worthy, but I love the way you write!
    There’s always something bitter sweet about being apart from people for days on end; it makes you love them even more so when you re unite. I have friends who swear by having regular ‘breaks’ from all human kind so that when they come back, everyone seems remarkably lovely and there’s never a silent moment.
    I think the same can be said with blogging =) taking breaks always cooks up the most wicked posts and you end up writing better and posting more meaningful things.

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Hi Lexie, thank you so much for such an amazing comment. You are so sweet and you totally made my night. Welcome to Bonzai!

  • Anonymous

    Yes, you are so right…I totally forgot I posted it last week! But it is worth repeating, this stuff seriously heals :)

  • http://suburbansnowwhite.blogspot.com Katrina Donovan Fleming

    Thanks so much!

  • http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/ Sayward Rebhal

    Ohmigod spelling! Excuse my massive amounts of spelling mistakes, yeesh.

  • Sarah C.

    Thank you – very sweet of you!

    I have to add one more thing to my love list:
    Finding acorns in the washing machine because my little girl cannot take a walk or go to the park without picking things (like rocks, acorns, sticks, leaves) up and putting them in her pockets. Yay for inquisitive toddlers!

  • Moira

    Those bags ARE fabulous. Had a great week and reunited with a great friend last night. It has been yet another week of reflection.. and a very beneficial one at that. AND, I finally kick-started my flabby ass into running. I’m on a roll!

  • http://simplybeme.com Jenny @ Simply Be…me

    Kids in fedoras = awesome!

    I just returned from a weekend away with my husband. My mom is visiting and we treated ourselves to a weekend alone. When we got back last night Lincoln was so excited – those hugs just keep getting better!