My Baby Girl is 2 & a Half!

Gabriella turned 2 and a half yesterday, and it didn't even occur to us until about 6 pm. Then we rushed to the garage to measure her height on our special wall in the garage - and she's grown so much! 

I can't believe how fast time flies, and sometimes I wish I could just freeze time. I love the stage she's in right now so much. She is talking so much, and loves being "cozy" (one of her favorite words right now) with her blankets and animals and baby dolls. She also loves swinging on her swing in the back yard, playing in her sand box, making necklaces, coloring, and playing with play doh among other things. 

Her favorite song to sing right now is "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," and she loves singing it in a whisper to me before she falls asleep. Her favorite color is yellow, and her favorite shape is a heart, although she loves stars too. She can be very headstrong if she wants to do something, but also has the biggest heart, and is so affectionate and loving. My heart explodes with love for her every day. I didn't even know a love this great was possible. I am so grateful for her - she is truly my ray of sunshine!

Swell Inspiration

Aloha friends,

Not long ago, I learned about Liz Clark, a woman who has been sailing solo for the past 9 years, as the captain and sole crew member of her own ship. Recently I came across her blog, and now I am even more inspired by her. She is such a wonderful reminder that we all CAN live our dreams, be brave, be supportive of other women, (and humanity in general,) and live sustainably on our Earth. 

Check out her blog for some true inspiration for living the dream! She is truly a magical & wondrous human being.

www.swellvoyage.com

Photo is property of Liz Clark at www.swellvoyage.com

On being ALL IN

So hey, it's been awhile. I know, the last time I posted, my baby girl was 2 or 3 months old. And now, well, she's almost 2 & a half years old. Time flies. A lot has happened between then and now, but I won't try to cover all of that.
What I feel called to write about (briefly) came about last Sunday. I've started going to church again after oh, just about 23 years. I have only attended twice so far, but both times my experience has been  pretty profound. I guess I just really connected with the message both times.
So, this past Sunday, Pastor Dan talked about being ALL IN in life.
Like putting it all out there, putting it all on the line. I really got what he was saying. At the end of my life, I don't want to think I didn't give life my all. I want to know that I tried my hardest, loved the best I was capable of loving, showed up for those I care about in the best possible way I knew how, and the lived the best life I was capable of living.
It's easy to forget to try our hardest when life is so busy and there is just SO MUCH going on at any given moment, with work, children, the horrifying news lately, and all of those other things in life. But being ALL IN seems worth it, because you know that whatever happens, you've given your whole heart to make a difference, in whatever way you can.

Baby G's First Trip to the Coast!

We went to Sea Ranch last weekend, and it was Baby G's first trip to the ocean. We did not get to go on the beach b/c Sea Ranch does not have beaches which are easily accessible. But she got to see the ocean from afar, and breathe the salty air! She also did great on the car ride both ways and had no trouble being away from home. It was nice to get away on our first trip with baby!

Baby G Lately

Hi Friends!

I've gotten a little behind on my posts, so I am playing a little bit of catch up. Here are photos of Baby G at 8 & 9 weeks. Her 8 week photo is of her as a baby kitten on Halloween Eve, and the 9 week photo is of a walk we took last week. She loves staring up at the trees on our walks. Stay tuned for Week 10, will post soon!

7 Weeks Old & Full of Smiles

Baby G is 7 weeks old now, and in the past week she smiled for the first time! At first, it was just a fleeting, occasional thing, but now she is doing it all the time. It completely melts our hearts!

Baby G at 6 Weeks!

Gabriella, also known as Baby G, turned 6 weeks old today! Time has been flying by. Some of the things she loves right now are bath time, staring at the sky, holding hands, going for walks, and being held and sung to.

We love her so much, and feel so blessed to be her parents!

Our New Little Bundle of Joy!

 Our little bundle of joy, Gabriella Kalea Ossa, arrived on September 4, 2012 at 1:18 pm, weighing 8 lbs, 3 oz, and measuring 20 inches.We are loving every minute with her. She is happy baby and is really content most of the time, unless she is hungry, and then she lets us know!

I always secretly sort of thought that the term "Bundle of Joy" was a little over the top, but being a parent now I understand. There is no better term than that for the love of a new baby.

They truly are "Bundles of Joy."

Xoxo, Jeneka

Inspiration

What inspires me?
Here are a few photos of things that inspire me in some way for some reason.
In some cases I could tell you why. Maybe it is an object, color or idea that inspires me.
In other cases I couldn't say. It's a mystery even to me, which makes it even better.

What inspires you?

Q & A: Do you feel satisfied with Where and Who you are, right now?

This is a great question. I believe that as human beings, of course we are always changing and evolving and never necessarily "there," in terms of being done changing and growing and meeting all of our life goals.
On the other hand, what I have found in my own life (and the lives of many friends & acquaintances) is that while certain things in my life might be "right" or "ideal" at any given time, certain things won't. And that list of things is also constantly evolving and changing.
For example, 4-5 years ago, all I wanted was to find love (or a life partner or both,) find a fulfilling career/attain financial stability & find a nice place to live.
I did all of that. I married a wonderful man, found a great job, and (along with our dog Coconut) we have a happy home together.
But!
Although the things I was missing are now fulfilled, there are now NEW things that kind of nag at me that I believe could be better to create a more fulfilled life.
These would be losing weight, getting back into writing, doing my art projects, returning to hula, swimming, etc. These things may seem minor or petty but these are my passions, which have been sort of latent or nonexistent for a while.
So I guess my point is that what you want, or what you feel is missing in life, often changes.
And in the past, when I have spoken about this with friends, most of them feel the same way.
While some things might be going well, other things may not be. And life will probably always be like that.
I think that there's a lot to be said for counting our blessings, and taking small steps to make the changes we are seeking.
But ultimately, there is give and take, and every area of life will never be 100% perfect. So we just have to decide for ourselves at some point when life is finally "good enough." Because after all, it's not a dress rehearsal.
Xo, Jeneka

The Ups and Downs of Christmas

Christmas IS a wonderful time of year. Time with loved ones, sparkling lights, holiday cheer, parties....but for many, it is also a difficult time of year.
We went to a nice holiday party that my husband's company put on, and also got to spend a really nice evening with friends. We also got to see both of our families to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Our time spent with friends and family was undoubtedly the highlight of our holidays season this year.
However, my grandpa also passed away about a month ago, and it was a strange and sad realization that I'll never spend another Christmas with him. Also, a week or so before Christmas, a friend's husband passed away of cancer at only 43 years of age after a valiant but brief battle. He should have lived twice as long. They hadn't even had to time to start their family, which was their biggest dream.
Another friend lost a dog. Actually two of them did. One dog died of old age and the other one, I can't even go into it, but the whole situation broke my heart.
I am not trying to focus on the negative here, but I'd be lying to say that none of this affected my Christmas experience this year. A lot of people also get lonely at Christmas. I wasn't lonely, as I have my wonderful husband and dog, but I definitely felt waves of sadness for the other reasons I mentioned.
For some reason, everything is kind of magnified at Christmas. Maybe because the stakes - and expectations - are really high for things to be really special. And life just isn't always perfect. In fact it rarely is, especially on occasions when we really badly want it to be, like at Christmas.
Losing expectations is part of it I'm sure, which is a tough thing to do, but helpful probably.
Being grateful for what is, whether it matches how you want it to be or not, is probably another helpful coping mechanism. And realizing that life is never perfect, even at the holidays, is probably a good thing to remember too.
But since I'm no good really at making these changes despite good intentions, maybe I'll just spend my holidays somewhere else next year, away from the fray. What? The tropics you say? They're calling my name.

Mexico

We spent a week in Cabo, and mostly relaxed, swam in the pools, took beach walks and hung out with our friends we were down there with.
Rob went deep sea fishing one day, and we also cruised around downtown Cabo quite a bit. I tried nopales (cactus) tacos, which were really good! And we met lots of cool folks, locals and visitors alike.
One of the best days we had was the day we spent at the infinity pool, called the "Sky Pool," with the Santa Cruzes and the Mauros. We drank Cuba Libres, swam and hung out all day in the sun, then went to "The Office" (a beachside restaurant in Cabo) where we got to have a wonderful dinner on the beach with our toes in the sand.
We got to see sunsets, eat wonderful meals and fall asleep to the sound of the waves crashing just a few hundred yards away. We got to wake up to the incredible beauty of sun, the sea, sand and swaying palms trees. Oh, and the people there were incredibly nice. I feel truly blessed for the vacation. I think we both needed it.

Small Wonders in San Francisco

On the Thursday before last, I went to a meeting with the Bay Area Travel Writer's Group which was held at the SF Aquarium of the Bay. I learned a lot from the presentation that they gave, like how they capture animals from the open sea to display in their aquariums, but they also release them all back to sea after a short stay at the aquarium. The aquarium has also been able to do several studies on many of the species that have stayed with them for awhile. According to the woman who spoke to us, the octopus is the most intelligent creature they have there, or is at least the most intelligent in ways that can be quantified. I guess they give their resident octopus different games like a lock and key (or sometimes a rubics cube!) to keep him entertained.
My favorite sea creatures though are always the jellyfish and the sea stars. Somehow both truly evoke a sense of wonder in me every single time I see them. I think it is pure visual delight. The jellies are truly enchanting with their translucence and their floating movements. As for the sea stars, I like their shapes and colors, and also for some reason I just think it's really cool to see stars (something I associate with the skies and heavens) underwater.
To the underwater wonder makers: I love it that I get to share this Earth & Sea with you. You will forever enchant me.

Top Ten Favorite Books of All Time

Top Ten Favorite Books of All Time

1. The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho

2. Journal of a Solitude, by May Sarton

3. The History of Love, by Nicole Krauss

4. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert Pirsig

5. On the Road, by Jack Kerouac

6. Molokai, by Alan Brennert

7. House of the Spirits, by Isabel Allende

8. Dreaming in Hindi, by Katherine Russell Rich

9. Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

10. Small Wonders, by Barbara Kingsolver

Mendocino

Life has been a whirlwind lately. Work started back a month ago, and with several packed weekends, we've been burning the candles at both ends lately.

However, we were lucky enough to have Rob's cousin Nicole come to visit, she came all the way from Chile to see the family.

We took her to the Mendocino Botanical Gardens, which was heaven on Earth!

There were all kinds of gardens there, and each was exquisite in its own way.

We took a few walks on the beach too, and got caught by a rogue wave!

We took a path along the bluffs, and Rob got so close to the edge that he gave me a panic attack!

We saw seals playing in the waves and had some yummy meals.

We even got to meet up with my mom and some old friends for a barbeque in Albion, where we ate, drank, laughed (a lot), and played ukulele.

All in all, it was a sweet, relaxing weekend.

A few tips for anyone headed to Mendo:

The gardens were incredible. If interested you're in going there, more info is here:

http://www.gardenbythesea.org/

We stayed at the Atrium Bed & Breakfast in Fort Bragg. It was charming, clean, affordable, and included a nice breakfast.

http://www.atriumbnb.com/

Pinot Noir grapes are grown in the region, and you can find some great Pinor Noirs there. I recommend the Pinot Noir by Carneros, 2009. It was incredibly good.

Baby Birdie Onesies

For some strange reason, I have wanted to make baby birdie onesies for a very long time. I love fabric and have daydreamed about how pretty all of the different fabric patterns would be as birds on baby onesies.

My friend Meghan was awesome enough to join me and we had a great night "getting crafty," drinking wine, (and later gin limeades), and talking and laughing into the early morning hours.

It was a pretty simple process:

We bought the onesies.

We cut out the fabric using a bird shaped silhouette.

We stitched the birdie appliques onto the onesies using embroidery thread.

(We did use hoops to keep the onesies in place as we stitched.)

In order for these onesies to endure washing, they may need another set of stitching outside of the embroidery thread in order to avoid letting the applique fabric fray around the edges.

Other than that, it's a pretty easy (and fun) project, with a nice reward for very little work.

It's kind of addicting, I may just do a whole series of them.

Xo, Jeneka

Love this

This photography team, collectively called Tinywater Photography, is pretty great. Portrait photographers in Sac & SF who specialize in babies, weddings, and dog portraits, they produce some of the best portrait photography I've seen. Check them out!

The Latest & Greatest - Getting Crafty!

The latest and greatest finds for getting crafty are here!

Let's start with a fun site for printing photos in novel or unusual formats.

Printstagram, a printing outlet for Instagram, has options to print out tiny photo albums, a poster full of thumbnail sized photos, your photos in sticker form, and/or your photos in the form of a polaroid print. Gotta love it!


Not sure if you're into fabric, but I for some reason love finding beautiful fabric swatches & daydreaming about cool appliques I could make out of them. My next project is birdie appliques on baby onesies and women's tees with some of the fabrics at Imagine & Marimekko.
Check out all the options here, some of these fabrics are too lovely to believe!

(This list was composed by the author of the fantastic blog Design Sponge, a great blog on design!)

Getting crafty with paper is always fun.

All about birds!

And more birds!

Enchanting Encinitas

Adorable Ari, among the rocks.

Amazing Lilah, doing kartwheels on the beach!

Piper and her girls ~ all such beauties!

Catching the sunset and sharing some wine with the lovely Karissa at Kai's.

With Piper and her girls ~ I miss them!

Another perfect day at the beach with my girl Karissa.

Some great friends, some great wine, and a great night: Matt & Paula, myself, & Kacia.

I just returned from one of my favorite places on Earth. Encinitas, California. It's about half an hour north of downtown San Diego, and is a wonderful little beach town with lots of great surf breaks, vegetarian restaurants, tropical flowers, and friendly people.
In addition to it being a wonderful/beautiful place, some of my closest friends live there. I went to spend the week with my dear friend Karissa, and we spent it taking long beach walks, catching the sunsets, swimming in the waves, and shopping for lovely beachy gifts for friends and family.
I also got to see Piper, one of the best friends I've ever had, who I met in college but hadn't seen in years.
I lived in Encinitas for three years, from 2002-2005. I learned to surf there, and spent some of the best times of my life there. I left because there were some deaths in my family, and I wanted to be closer to the people I had left. I still miss it there, and I still miss my friends there dearly.
Watching the pelicans swoop overhead, hearing the "whoosh" of their wings as they flew by, seeing the sun melt into the sea, breathing the salty air, watching sailboats float by, watching surfers catch waves & kids building sandcastles, diving waves in the ocean, & getting covered in seaweed - these small moments are so rich for me. They are the kinds of moments I live for. As with my time in Hawaii, I left a little bit of me there when I left. But I also brought those places with me, & these places are in my heart forever.

Sunset Sailboat Trip

For our one year wedding anniversary, we did something we've wanted to do for a long time: we took a sunset sailboat trip in Santa Cruz. We'd done something similar a couple of years ago on our one year dating anniversary: we'd taken a catamaran on Lake Tahoe at sunset. It was such an incredible experience that we'd wanted to get back out on the water ever since. We finally got the chance this past weekend in Santa Cruz. We saw pelicans, sea otters, seagulls, seals, and lots of other sea birds. It was a wonderful way to celebrate one year of marriage.