May 29, 2020

around here

Claudia according to my phone, around here Asheville, covid19, home, life, quarantine, Spring 0 Comments

today is the last day of school for Lily

the last day of fourth grade

we homeschooled for three months

at 10am she will be having a zoom toast party with her class

in a non covid19 world, she would be having an in the classroom celebration with her classmates and teacher

it’s all bittersweet isn’t it?

school is over and that’s always a happy kid feeling however, she is sad because next year she will have a new teacher and classmates and she won’t have a chance to physically be together as a classroom again with her fourth grade crew

there are tears at the end of every school year for Lily

today will probably be no different despite how different distance learning has been

it’s a strange world we are living in and i don’t want to give into this new normal

because it sucks

regardless of how well we are trying to make it work

anyway, we officially have a rising fifth grader

amazing how time flies….

happy friday friends

our garden has given us the most magnificent peony season. thankful for that

morning coffee with peonies is a new favorite

and so is coffee with banana bread. banana bread all day, every day

i had not caught a sunrise since Lily began homeschooling in march

there are quiet days when i get to enjoy this space. and some when i don’t

have made some new rainbow makers

i miss stitching faces but have not been inspired to paint any new ones

hi

she’s really wonderful about always keeping herself busy. and creative

three mile walks

a distance playdate with her bestie. it’s hard being apart

bitch stole my look

May 22, 2020

around here

Claudia according to my phone, around here Asheville, covid19, home, life, quarantine, Spring 0 Comments

we had quite the rainy week here

it rained nonstop from monday until thursday afternoon

and it was cold too

i guess we had ourselves a wintery week during spring

i think we made the most of it

we cooked, baked, and even had a whole day of homeschooling in bed

in a way, the rain was much needed and suited the quarantine mood

happy friday friends

thankful for all the flowers. outside. and inside

i have been propagating my established plants like crazy with the hope of having even more green babies

she only has five days of school left and she rocked this homeschooling life

we continue to eat all the home cooked meals. not complaining

costa del sol ocean treasures filled with the best of memories

after weeks of nonstop jackhammering, it was finally quiet this week and i enjoyed every quiet second of it

May 15, 2020

around here

Claudia according to my phone, around here Asheville, covid19, friends, home, life, quarantine, Spring 2 Comments

hi friends

how are you all holding up?

we’re good over here but i have certainly had my share of unmotivated and uninspired days

which is ok i think

and once i come to peace with it, i allow myself to be what i am feeling and wanting/needing

there is always the next day right?

i’m just trying to breathe and take it one day at a time

i think that’s what we are all trying to do right?

wishing you a peace filled weekend

i spent some days in the basement going through and organizing my storage boxes. found the nineties

i also found this frida kahlo paper doll book i bought for Lily when i think she was still in my belly. had looked for it years ago and couldn’t find it. we both decided it should stay as is and in our frida collection

and speaking of collections, been going through all my nature treasures trying to somehow feel closer to the ocean

there have been lots of delicious meals

tuna nicoise

grilled octopus

a loaded hotdog with chips and radishes. i never liked radishes before

three ingredient banana, peanut butter, cocoa powder muffins

banana bread

strawberry clafoutis

plenty of time being spent in the kitchen these days

mother’s day

on nice days we take lots of walks around the neighborhood

cinco de mayo

it’s been really loud here all day every day with the hotel construction still happening below our backyard. they start jackhammering at 7:30 every morning and don’t stop until the end of the afternoon. despite all the noise that makes me want to crawl out of my skin (and leave this house), i try to create and focus on the quiet corners

flowers still getting me through the day. especially pink ones

our first peony this year

late night shenanigans with Lily when she asks me to brush my hair out

still trying to keep busy through my hands. ordered some self drying terracotta and made my own beads

a distancing visit to her bestie and her chickens to drop off some books

and a visit to her teacher to drop off some flowers for teacher appreciation day

May 8, 2020

#mamaandlilycovidspringbreak2020

Claudia according to my phone, around here, everyday life Asheville, covid19, home, quarantine, Spring, spring break 0 Comments

i guess for the sake of having a spring break post like in the previous years, i should do one although, it was very much the opposite of all the previous years due to covid19

it was the same for everyone else

i am aware

a stay at home spring break

not worth much talking about but worth documenting and sharing i guess

happy weekend friends

there was baking

there was cake for breakfast

there was an easter folar

there were positive moments

and not so great positive moments

there were many slow mornings

there were creative mornings

there were safe outings

there was safe distance playing

there were healthy lunches

there were many walks around the neighborhood

there was a haircut

there was snuggling with all the loved ones

there was a stuffed animal chair project

there was golden light

and there was a super pink full moon in libra

April 14, 2020

around here

Claudia according to my phone, around here Asheville, covid19, family, home, life, quarantine, Spring 0 Comments

it’s tuesday, 8:47am and Lilian is up, dressed and having breakfast at the dining room table while listening to a fractions video her teacher made for her class

spring break is officially over and homeschooling is back on

supposedly they will go back to school on may 18th however, i highly doubt it especially since the last day of school is may 29th

most states have already declared that students will not go back to school

we shall see

anyway, how are you guys doing?

i have reached the highest of highs and the lowest of lows

i’ve gone from getting up and going on my long walk and being happy about spring to wanting to stay in bed all day with my head under a pillow like it was winter

between the quarantine life we are all living right now, life changes that i have not opened up about on here yet, spring break here instead of in miami, pms and the full pink moon in libra, i cried for three straight days last week

i couldn’t help myself

it was all i could do

it was all i wanted to do

once i did, i felt better

sometimes you just have to cry

i do anyway

miami memories with my brother from 2006

from a spring walk

quarantine roots

our art sofa/wall

did a little cleaning in the basement and found this beauty from 1994

how we do sundays sometimes

it’s all about the beets

she gets ready and dressed for homeschooling every morning

made some of these. it had been a long while

William built two boxes and planted some things

after dinner walks

where we would have started our spring break this year. with our K in st. pete

and then in miami at the same building we have stayed the past three years for the remainder of the time

Lily’s crying rabbit that she painted when she was two, was a mood for a few days last week

April 3, 2020

around here/homeschooling

Claudia according to my phone, around here Asheville, covid19, home, homeschooling, life, quarantine, Spring 0 Comments

this week was our third week of homeschooling and today is the fifteenth day and the last for a week due to spring break

homeschooling has been a pleasant experience for us so far

Lily wakes naturally, has breakfast, makes her bed, gets ready and then sits herself down at the dining room table where she opens up her chrome book and begins her school day

her teacher has been wonderful and very present during the whole process

there are plenty of emails from her, assignments on IXL and live video conferences with all the kids

she has truly stepped it up and is a true boss!

while homeschooling during the day, we break things up with snacks, walks, scooter rides, trampoline time and crafts

being at home doing things is not unnatural for Lily and i

it’s what we have always done

ever since she was born and we lived in the apartment in southbeach

there have been times in the past where Lily was curious and asked to be homeschooled and now she is having an opportunity to do so (silver lining)

and i must say that she is pretty good at it

she is disciplined, focused, gets all her work done…

not any different from how she is when at school really

the hardest part is not having the freedom to see or get together with her friends

but facetiming with her besties makes that a little easier too

when school work will be done today, we will officially begin our spring break

in a healthier and freer world, we would be on a plane to st. pete where we would hang out with auntie K for the weekend and then monday rent a car and drive to miami where we would stay at an airbnb in the same building where we have stayed the past two years until next friday

that was the plan anyway

obviously we had to cancel everything and are staying home

i’m trying to be grateful for all the things we have but in all honesty i am having a hard time being here

may better freer times come back sooner than later

happy friday friends

week two, day six

outside trampoline break

week two, day seven

crafting break

week two, day eight

outside scooter break

week two, day nine

week two, day ten

week three, day eleven

outside walking break

week three, day twelve

outside scooter break

March 27, 2020

around here/physical distancing

Claudia according to my phone, around here Asheville, covid19, family, home, life, quarantine, Spring 0 Comments

yesterday i thought about how the term “social distancing” should be replaced with “physical distancing”

i find that in a way, people are more social than ever before because they finally have the time to be

when i checked in on my girlfriend Connie who lives in los angeles, she told me that online dating is on its peak out there

i see through instagram and facebook that people are more present on there than ever before

and i think in a way, that is a little silver lining to all of this

like so many who are fortunate enough to have food, a comfortable home, good health, the right finances…. we are counting our blessings and trying to find our own silver lining in all of this

for me, it has been waking up naturally with the sunrise again

to create more art

to enjoy having Lilian home all day

to go on nature walks and be thankful for all the open space we have around us

to cook simpler meals

to enjoy and be thankful for our home. all of it

hope you are all well friends

despite everything, i am happy it’s spring

have done some foraging and keep bringing spring inside

slower and later mornings

i keep creating art

i also keep saging the house. not only is sage a great spiritual cleanser, it is also great for purifying your home by getting rid of germs and bacteria

watering day

open window weather

we’ve been having such beautiful spring weather that we have been able to have a handful of meals out here already

and although i know it is way too early, i want to fill this space with all the green babies!

an afternoon dog walk and a puddle reflection

trying to support local businesses

music! it is always playing in our home. now more than ever. the alex cameron pandora station has been a favorite of mine for months now

March 20, 2020

around here/social distancing

Claudia according to my phone, around here Asheville, covid19, family, home, life, quarantine, Spring, Winter 0 Comments

spring!

it is finally spring

despite everything that is going on in the world right now, yesterday was the first day of spring and it was a glorious one

i have been waiting for spring for so long….

i am happy she is finally here

this was Lily’s first week of homeschooling and we were mostly home with the exception of some walks in the neighborhood

she has math/reading packets to work on as well as planned lessons by her teacher online along with daily independent reading and journaling

once school work is done we occupy ourselves with artsy/crafty projects, cleaning, organizing, short dog walks….

so far we are ok

the social distancing comes somewhat naturally and is not the scary part

but let’s just stay indoors and take it one day at a time shall we?

with the windows open

because it’s finally spring!

hope you are all well friends

a dress day

she finally had her audition but because everything has been canceled we are not sure of the outcome

still a favorite family game

there have been a lot of dog walks

homeschooling day one

homeschooling day two

homeschooling day three

homeschooling day four

there have been lots of artsy projects

June 21, 2019

around here

Claudia according to my phone, around here Asheville, family, friends, life, Spring, summer break 2 Comments

one of my oldest girlfriends arrived yesterday and today we will get in the car and drive to nashville where we will be seeing Perry Farrell perform live tonight

going to see a favorite with a favorite

what more can a girl ask for?

happy friday and happy weekend friends!

spring. still winning

what father’s day looked like

cool slow mornings

hung up more art. you should too. it’s important

a sleepover with a good classmate

portugal memories from three years ago

pre father’s day parents night out

a visit to see a favorite friend/local jeweler

i bought new earrings and i am obsessed with them

a hair trim waiting to happen

Lily went to baking camp this week and not only did she love every minute of it but she also brought home the most delicious baked goods every day

day two of baking camp

day three of baking camp

the last time i saw Perry Farrell was in 2011 in miami during art basel with a then 1 year old Lily. see you soon Perry! can’t wait

June 14, 2019

around here

Claudia according to my phone, around here Asheville, friends, home, life, Spring, summer break 2 Comments

last saturday at our friend’s end of the year party, there was an altercation between Lily and a classmate where personal boundaries were pushed and disrespected

parents had to get involved and a he said/she said situation is never easy

phone calls and texts were exchanged throughout the week, feelings and emotions were high but eventually on wednesday Lily and her classmate met up (with parental supervision) and Lily got to share her truth, her feelings and got her power back

it’s important more than ever to talk to our children about respect and consent

so proud of our girl for being strong, standing her ground, facing someone who scared and disrespected her and for speaking her truth

happy friday friends