Dark Chocolate Bark and Lentil Soup and Mac n Cheese and Nachos

January 4 2017:

Coconut dark chocolate bark and gluten free, dye free peppermint bark ….. Perfect!!

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January 6 2017:

Lentil Soup with Short Grain Brown Rice … with a squeeze of lime drizzled on top! YUM!!

Lentil Soup 1.6.17#2

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More meals for the week …

Camilla Vegen Chili and Vegan Mac n Cheese Meals January 2017
Vegan Mac n Cheese Smothered in Vegan Chili

Lentil soup and rice and skillet cooked sweet potato Meals January 2017
Camilla’s Lentil Soup mixed with Short Grain Brown Rice with English Cucumber, Avocado, and Skillet Cooked Sweet Potato

Lillian Cinamon Toast Meals January 2017
Lillian’s Gluten Free Cinnamon Toast, Raw & Roasted Cashews, English Cucumber, Raisins, Date, and Apple

Thomas French Toast Meals January 2017
Thomas’ French Toast with Raw Honey

Thomas Fruit Apple, Honey, Cinamon Meals January 2017
Thomas’ Fruit of Apple drizzled with Raw Honey and a sprinkle of Cinnamon

Vegan Nachos Meals January 2017
Camilla’s Vegan Nachos with Vegan Cheese, Black Olives, Onion and Garlic

Seatbelt and Review and Preparing

January 2 2017

Buckling your own seatbelt …

I’m going through papers before sitting down to create my 2017 mind map and two theme words for the year and came across Lillian’s intention card from when she was eleven years old.

She did indeed accomplish this by that summer, I believe. I felt moved to share. May this give you pause and deep heart centered reflection as you move into the new year. xoxo

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January 2 2017:
Deep in review of 2016 and coming to a knowing of 2017. Listening to music, eyes closed at times, remembering, reflecting, envisioning. This feels different than any other time in the past. Feels wonderful, feels the pretense to a huge shift …. xoxo
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January 3 2017:
Throwback to 2011 … At nine years old she finally blew out candles!!! Blowing breath out of one’s mouth is a miracle … A miracle indeed! xoxo
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January 6 2017:

Finalizing review of 2016 and coming to the knowing of 2017. Lillian is done with this part of the process. And Thomas may create his in the moment.

We had a nearly two hour family meeting last night. I shared my theme of 2017 – The Shift. Shared my two words for the year: Knowing and Allowing. And my anchor – Writing.

I also shared that there is deep tiredness within me. All part of the process for me and a quality that is an integral part of the shift that will occur.

I will be releasing some things that do not serve me nor our family. And, as of now, may very well be as a tree and hibernate for the winter. Will create a blog post with the final 2017 vision and more details. If interested, I invite you to sign up to receive blog posts directly to your email. xoxo

Prep Work for 2017 Goals and Visions 1.6.17

Rushing Water and Winter Wonderland

January 4 2017:

From the Thomas n Camilla December 2016 Date Day on Monday. I love this sound. Yet, I also love the silence and quiet of the snow covered wood upon departing the rushing water. Such beauty in contrast. xoxo

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January 5 2017:

Winter Wonderland walk this morning. Icicles are incredibly beautiful!! I took about 20 pictures of them!! Loved seeing the ducks all huddled together snacking on cracked corn. They make the sweetest sounds when eating.

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January 6 2017:

Thomas and Lillian in the Winter Wonderland! xoxo

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January 7 2017:

Sweet Lovey wasn’t as excited about the snow as we’ve been!!! Quickly took her picture and got her back inside. She says, “Too cold!” xoxo

Lovey in the snow 1.7.17

How a Family of Three Lives in a Tiny Home

January 5 2017:

Top 10 Countdown Continues! The Number THREE 2016 CamillaDowns.com blog post with the most views: “Living in a Tiny Home Adventures – Four Months” … Hoping to write an update post on this! It’s been a while!

“One night after dinner and dishes, I cleared the table. Thomas and I then played a “homemade” version of ping pong using what we had. Brought so much deep belly laughter … From Lillian too as she watched us. I think the ball had fun too …..

Living in Tiny Home Adventures – Four Months

 

 

An Open Letter to My Daughter’s Meltdowns

January 3 2017:

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Top 10 Countdown! The 2016 blog post on CamillaDowns.com with the most views: Dear Meltdown – The article which was quickly accepted and published by elephant journal.

May this land in front of the one who would benefit from reading it …

Dear Meltdown: Meet My Friend Mindfulness

 

Snug and Cozy New Years Eve Celebration 2016

January 1 2017

Team TLC snug n cozy celebration with ….

Pomegranate Italian Soda for Thomas and I and pressed apple juice for Lillian, cheese and cracker tray, root vegetable chips, and vegetarian chili scooped over avocado. Part 1

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Team TLC snug n cozy celebration …. Part 2

Ended the night with a Letting Go and Calling In Burning Ceremony. xoxo

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How to Have a Homemade Christmas

December 25 2016:

The most cherished and beloved gifts. Part 1

Lillian created a Nature Book for me that caused my eyes to sweat.

“Grass is healthy food and beautiful.
Sky is a beautiful ocean in the sky.
Flower is a pretty thing in nature.
Trees are old wise spirits in nature.
Ocean is a reflection of the sky.
Night is a beautiful time.
Animals are people and nature like us.”

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I wrote a poem for each of them and made it into a wall hanger.

Thomas: “Knowledge beyond grasp, Gentle and tender heart, Deep knowing of the soul.”

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Lillian: “Beauty shining within and without, Depth and strength I know not, A light shining brightly for the World.”

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The most cherished and beloved gifts. Part 2

A handmade card from Lillian and a poster size drawing from both Thomas and Lillian.

The card is full of original Lillian nature quotes … Plus one from Thomas!

“A sunset is nature’s art.
Rainbows are nature’s fancy artwork.
Night is art to the human’s eye.
Seasons are nature’s beauty.
Wind is nature’s music.
Space is a beautiful art.
Snow and ice are nature’s quiet time.” -Lillian

“Nature is full of awesome animals.” -Thomas

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The most cherished and beloved gifts. Part 3

Lillian made Thomas a Nature Book also.

“A cat can make several sounds including purr and meow.
A dog likes a lot of outdoor exercise.
Fish are living in almost any body of water.
Mouse like a lot of food scraps including cheese.
Ducks are social.
Cows help humans by making milk and eating grass.
Humans can dress up as animals and wear animal headbands. We are animals.” xoxo

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The most cherished and beloved gifts. Last Set of Pictures

Lillian made a Christmas card for Thomas and a noisemaker for me!

Many of you know that Lillian has been working on having flexibility. Something that is extremely difficult for her. At about 9:00 pm Christmas Eve she was still working on handmade gifts. She was determined to stay up until she was done!

She decided at 11:00 that she would go to bed and finish in the morning. YAY for flexibility entering a wee bit!! I simply knew the next morning that it would be best to not even suggest waiting until after opening gifts for her to finish.

So … our Christmas Day did not begin until about 11:00 as we waited for her to be finished …… And, we were all okay with that …. xoxoxo

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There were a few non homemade gifts too!! Thomas and I can play tennis now!! And as soon as it snows he can go sledding. Plus a calendar and a sweater he just loves.

Here’s a great gift idea for someone with sensory issues ……. a soft fuzzy sweater. He asked me if he could wear it all week. Great job Romano Duo on that gift!!! Thanks to Super Owen for the great book too!

Lillian got a box of one of her favorite cookies, a great new LEGO set, some books, and a calendar. Thanks to Super Owen for the great book.

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Gifts beyond the handmade …. I received some great books, a new sheet pan, oh so comfy socks, and since I’m not able to have a real camera right now, a few awesome accessories for what I do have!

Can’t wait to read the books! Thank you Frank for this amazing pan!!! Baked rosemary fries in it last night and they were amazing.

Thank you Olivia for these yummy socks!! And thank you Momma for the lenses. I finally got to go for a walk this morning and tested the macro. Love, love, love it!!!!

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Movie Night: Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn

December 31 2016:

Team TLC movie night …. Lillian’s choice: Holiday Inn –

Lillian says, “Good, musical, Christmasy, great for all Holidays, romantic, and awesome.”

I say, “What a fun movie. We had some great laughs and I enjoyed watching this with Thomas and Lillian.”

Thomas says, “I liked it and it was good and funny in parts.”

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*Holiday Inn Movie Review

To Peace and Love and Compassion and Solutions for 2017

December 31 2016:

Team TLC observes the occasion on New York time!

Now …. time for our last Letting Go Burning Ceremony of 2016. There’s no problems, only solutions.

A couple of quotes with which Thomas chose to end his book and with which I’d like to end this years post.

“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.” -John Lennon

“Everything you can imagine is real.” -Pablo Picasso

It all begins within. One cannot have peace and love without, if not first having it within. Here’s to peace, compassion, self-love, and solutions for all.

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Cheers to Good Health and Well Being and Gratitude and Art Fortune

December 25 2016:

Cheers from Team TLC and The Romano Duo!

We toasted to good health and well being. I’ve been incredibly sick since last Monday and not the best host. Grateful to The Romano Duo for their understanding.

Lillian is having her sleepover with them tonight! May the force be with them!!! xoxo 🙏💤

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December 26 2016:

Lillian says, “I don’t like it when their visits end. They seem too fast. I had a lot of fun with them and I always do”! Thomas says, “Seemed so short and don’t like it when their visits end.”

Today was their last day here …. and my first day to come out of the house since they’ve been here! So we could at least have a picture of all of us. This sickness has been kicking my booty!!

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December 27 2016:

They left early this morning … Safe travels Romano Duo. Til next time!!!

Got a good shot of the sweater Thomas loves. Going on the 3rd day straight wearing it! xoxo

Lillian says, “I don’t like it when their visits end. They seem too fast. I had a lot of fun with them and I always do”! Thomas says, “Seemed so short and don’t like it when their visits end.”

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December 30 2016:

Oceans of gratitude to you Kathy Montoya Duncan for giving me a really good trim. I am grateful for this thick hair, yet it can get pretty heavy feeling being as long as it was. And, deeply grateful for trading my book for the cut!!! Blessings and love abound to you!!!

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December 31 2016:

My art fortune from Pan received earlier this month. Things got crazy busy with Biggest Little Photographer and this got buried in papers. Just came across it again.

I had just met Pan minutes earlier. He did not know the ideas that come to me daily nor that walking is so deeply intertwined with who I be.

Win the day, I have to say, forthcoming, will be the way. …… Walk With Me and Lessons from Nature ….. I AM Ready .… xoxo

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