Showing Kindness

The weather was GORGEOUS today so we jumped on our bikes and headed to the park! Lucy LOVES riding in the Burley and Bella and I LOVE riding our bikes, so everyone is happy :)

We arrived at the park and Bella instantly disappeared into the gaggle of kids already playing. Lucy and I hung out and worked on her sand play "etiquette". As in, sand doesn't go in other little girls' hair. Even if it looks pretty.

After about 15 minutes, Bella came over to me and said:

"Mom, I can watch Lucy while you go read your book..."

Wow. Really?! Now that got me excited :) Mostly because I really like the book I'm reading right now** but even more so because of what I saw in Bella's simple action. Just the fact that she thought about me and decided to show me this kindness (even though she was deep in play with her new friends)...it was so touching and it made my mama heart sing :)

After leaving the park we headed over to Caffe Luna, where we sipped cold drinks, sat on the porch and enjoyed the sun a bit more before heading home to our nest.

**I haven't written about downsizing/organizing/simplifying in awhile and I'm excited chat with you about it soon...it's spring cleaning time baby! :)

Monday Inspiration

Breathing a sigh of relief...I think we are finally coming out of the fog after 5 days of the flu. It will take awhile for things to get "back to normal" around here...but we are working on it. I think I'll start with laundry :)

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the past week. My favorite new throw blanket, my sweet Bella who is growing up before my eyes, and my smiley Lucy. Life is good.

And now for some inspiration!

I haven't been a huge fan of chai in the past, but it's growing on me! I found this amazing homemade recipe on Pinterest. Can't wait to try it.

Have you been trying to limit your time on Facebook or just your time online in general? Check out this cool site.

Tara, Justin, and Zeb are starting a new journey! They leave Vegas today in their new rig. Love this family.

My heart just aches for Japan right now. Here is a neat page with some Twitter updates from Japan (in English).

These little dwellings are SO awesome. I hope they can survive...

Yummy yummy dreads. So much color! Love her whimsical art.

I get warm and fuzzy feelings when I see our very first RV out there on the road again.

Faryn's work is amazing. Love love love.

I'm LOVING this post by Mandy at Messy Canvas. There is such joy in the little stuff. The little "finds", quotes, things that friends send me. And I long to have a space in the house that is just my stuff. Heck, I need to do this just so I can FIND my stuff. Now I have to figure out where on earth I could do it :) Every corner is currently occupied. Do you have something like this in your home?

Have an inspired Monday! xxoo

Celebrating Five

::: photo credit :::

I wanted to write about this fun milestone yesterday, but the flu came in and stole my motivation :) However, I just can't let the weekend go by without celebrating a bit!

Walk Slowly, Live Wildly turned FIVE years old yesterday! I posted my very first blog on March 11, 2006. I still remember sitting on our red couch at the house in Des Moines...trying to decide what to name it. Back in those days, MySpace with the "cool place" to be and the blogosphere was still just a child. It's crazy how much has changed in 5 years!

This blog has opened so many doors for friendship and new experiences. In fact, our initial tour around the country was originally a "let's go meet blog readers" tour...and it's such a blessing to know so many of you in person! I honestly can't imagine my life without the friends I have met online. I would venture to say that the majority of the people I interact with on a day to day basis and those who inspire me the most were once "strangers" I met online.

This online space we have created...it's quite an amazing web of interconnectedness.

As part of the celebration, I would love to hear from you! Leave me a comment just to say hello and tell me a little about yourself! But beyond that, I would love to hear any stories you have about:

• Online friendships turned "real life" friendships
• Online communities that have changed you forever
• Any "remember when" moments or experiences you and I have had together in real life  :)

It's one of my dreams to someday gather all of my friends for a big weekend retreat...wouldn't that be amazing? But for now...we'll just have a little party right here :)

Stay tuned for some really fantastic celebration giveaways in the next couple of weeks!