It's All about your Funitude

Celebrating Children and The Funny, Poignant & Clever Things They Say!

2011-10-03T14:34:00.000-07:00

I am always fascinated by the minds of the magnificent little ones amongst us. I love their clarity, inherent joy, humor and general connection with all that is. Children remind us that there is only love. They remind us to stay present and open to all the possiblities of life.

I enjoy tuning into the minds of children and celebrating the child in all of us. When we allow children to be who they are, they grace us with their inherent knowledge and inspirations. They then become all they are meant to be, in this magnificent expanding world and global community we live in.

I am forever inspired by children and their focus, openness and never ending search for FUN. On my journey I have come across a 3 year old who wants to become an orchestra conductor and I witnessed his abilities in front of a youth orchestra. I have met a 7 year old voice over actress who has very specific dreams and desires. I made traveling postcards with kids that were intent in their desire to send love and friendship to orphans in Mexico. I experienced the excitement of children as they ate free ice cream cones or played with kittens and puppies at an adoption outpost.

I was priviledged to see two 7 year old best friends decorate cupcakes together as they shared funny stories. I was touched as shy children opened up enough to read to listening dogs at a local library. I saw the awe in childrens' eyes as they watched a magician perform a show or were fascinated by the simple way to make butter.

I have interviewed these children and many more to create my first 2 in a series of fun, uplifting ebooks.
These actual convesations with children are touching, funny and inspirational. I hope you enjoy these stories as much as I have enjoyed writing them and hearing all the funny, poignant and clever things kids say...

Click Here to see my books in the Amazon Kindle Store

Amazon Reviews:

A view into the simple joy of childrens' minds

Marilyn LoRusso shares special moments in the presence of young wisdom. Each story has its own world. Even more than the kids' clever sweetness, I enjoyed the window into the author's work and her deep connection with children. LoRusso has a strong, clean writing style. Highly recommended as a heartwarming and uplifting read. - Suzanna Stinnett, Author of Sugar Divorce & The 4 Hour Publisher

Childhood in the words of children

Marilyn LoRusso's conversations with children took me back to the days when my own children were discovering the world and making it anew in the ways in which they delighted in each new discovery with such enthusiasm. Reading LoRusso's book I was struck by the deep respect she has for children, and how seriously she takes the business of fun in life. Her book highlights poignant moments, some happy, others difficult, but rendered heartfelt through the children's words who speak of these. LoRusso is an extraordinary ambassador who brings back both the light and lightness of childhood in her accounts of her encounters with children and their world. - M. Benet, Author of Mapmaker of Absences

Coming Soon!

"For the LOVE of Kids..."

2011-03-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

I have been having so much FUN writing my column, "For the LOVE of Kids..."

every Wednesday for the Larkspur-Corte Madera Patch!

I report on FUN family events, review children's movies, books, kid friendly restaurants

and interview kids along the way!

You are welcome to browse my columns...

"Wyndano's Cloak" by A.R. Silverberry

2010-09-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

BOOK SOLD OUT AT BORDERS!

A.R. Silverberry's novel, Wyndano's Cloak, delivers a message of encouragement for young people to believe in themselves and trust the treasures they carry inside. The book has won six awards, including a Gold Medal in the 2010 Readers Favorite Awards, Preteen Category; and rave reviews, including these:

"Silverberry weaves a magical tale . . . chock full of everything a great fantasy novel needs; dashing young men, adventures galore, treachery, love and intrigue . . . I highly recommend this book for pre-teens and young adults, it’s an excellent foray into the genre of fantasy books. The fact that there are two strong, capable female main characters makes it exceptionally appropriate for girls this age." Karlynn Johnston.

". . . A coming-of-age soon to be classic that is certain to keep kids entertained and away from the TV and video game system for long stretches." Reader's Choice Book

“Wyndano’s Cloak, an engaging adventure with an extraordinary heroine, captures the courage and sense of adventure that lies in the heart of all young girls.” Sandra Martz, editor, When I Am an Old Woman I Shall Wear Purple

He will be appearing at Borders Books San Rafael, September 25th, 2 - 4 PM. He is partnering with Drawbridge, an expressive arts program that serves homeless children in the Bay Area; a portion of author profits will benefit Drawbridge in these events.

A.R. grew up in Marin, attending Homestead Elementary, Red Hill Middle School, Drake High, COM, and Dominican College; and currently lives in Santa Cruz County. More information about him, the novel, and his charitable fundraising are on his website.

And, here is a link to his most recent blog post which thanks me for my appearance!
so sweet! blog post

"Whales, Whales, Whales!"

2010-09-05T17:01:00.000-07:00

I just returned from a magnificent day gray whale watching off the cliffs of Bodega Head in the town of Bodega Bay. It was windy and cold but there were about a hundred of us scattering bodega head and the nearby cliffs. There were lots of ooohs and aaahs as large gray whales broke the ocean's surface. There were 6 different whales spotted while I was there. They were spouting, surfacing and spyhopping. Spyhopping is when they lift their heads out of the water. There was alot of group spouting and surfacing. I could see their shiny black backs and knuckle ridged spines. After they submerged I could see an elongated, smooth oval of calm water, known as a footprint. Gray whales travel 10,000-14,000 total miles during their migration. That is the longest migration of any mammal. They migrate north in the spring and south in the winter. They are actually born black but appear gray because of all the barnacles and scarring.

Young and old were ignoring the wind and cold as we all shared the FUN moments as the gray whales put on a show for all of us! Seagulls swooped near the whales and soared over the cliffs. We were all connected, smiling and laughing as we shared these magic moments!

Ofcourse, on the way back I had to stop and have my favorite fish tacos at The Island Style Deli in Bodega Bay. They seemed extra delicious today!

Watching gray whales playing in the ocean always raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

"Early Morning Ride!"

2010-08-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

If you have been to my blog before you know my husband and I LOVE riding our motorcycle together. We love exploring all the beauty of northern California. Today we took our motorcycle out at 8:45am since the temperature was heading towards 100 degrees! We decided to ride to Point Reyes Station in West Marin for breakfast. The ride past Stafford Lake, the Nicasio Reservoir, Olema and into the town of Point Reyes Station was spectacular. The bodies of water were like glass as they reflected the sky and hills above. Hawks were perched high above scoping breakfast below. Winding through the trees and feeling the early morning air was exhilarating. We arrived in Point Reyes Station at 9:30am.

We stopped at one our favorite breakfast spots, The Pine Cone Diner. Their motto is: "Good Food with Prickly Service." We have been eating there for years. There are tables outside in the sun and tables and a counter inside. Gina has been our server for years - we feel like regulars. The diner is decorated with vintage decor. And the food is good! Robert loves their egg scrambles and hash browns. Today we shared a tofu/egg scramble with crispy hashbrowns and english muffin. Gina created this dish with eggs, tofu, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, jack cheese and caramelized onions. It was so yummy! Many locals eat there and we love the homey feel of The Pine Cone Diner. Always a FUN time.

When we went outside to our motorcycle, which had been parked by itself, it was now surrounded by a group of Harley's with their owners. They were the sweetest group of guys from the East Bay. They called themselves the "Wednesday Morning Riding Posse." It was so FUN talking with them about their bikes, rides and group. They were headed to the coast and we headed home to get out of the heat. We returned home by 11:00am.

Early morning rides with Robert always raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

"This was in the Cat Bowl this Morning!"

2010-08-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

"Belated Birthday Bash!"

2010-08-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe it wasn't quite a "bash" but if you've read one of my blog posts before you know I LOVE alliteration AND I love celebrating my birthday, even if it is a month later! My friend, Liz (@moviemouse on twitter) had wanted to treat me to a birthday day. Of course, life happens, and we decided on August 19, exactly one month after my real birthday!

We started with a 3 mile walk around Pacheco Valle, where we both live, and have been walking together for the last 9 years. Pacheco Valle has a 1 mile sidewalk path that is a complete circle around the valle and sometimes we feel like hamsters walking around and around and around. We both have decided that walking and talking is our favorite type of exercise! We love talking about the beauty all around us and appreciating our wonderful lives. We love focusing on thoughts that feel good and practicing our better feeling "stories."

After our walk we went to my friends garden to harvest tomatoes, basil, mint (used to make mojitos tonight), apples and flowers. I love eating tomatoes right off the vine. I tried to control myself from eating too many since our next stop (after showers) was to Toast Restaurant in Novato. I love the food at Toast, especially their roasted beet and spinach salad with fresh goat cheese, red onions and balsamic dressing (I have them add avocado).

Liz had the Chinese Chicken Salad. They were both so delicious. When Patty, the manager, heard we were celebrating my birthday (even though it was a month late) she treated us to a dessert of our choice. The salads are very large and I was so full but we decided on a citrus cake with fresh berries (blueberries & strawberries - my favorite berries) and whipped cream. All I can say is WOW! We ate the whole thing! Thank you Toast Restaurant for a wonderful belated birthday lunch and complimentary dessert. (Did you know that Toast does not have a corkage fee when you bring your own wine).

Then we headed off to see the movie, "Eat Pray Love." Liz had read the book (I had not) and we both had gone to see Elizabeth Gilbert talk a few months ago about her new upcoming book that takes over where "Eat Pray Love" left off. We both enjoyed the movie very much! It was the end of a wonderful belated birthday bash day!

Celebrating my belated birthday with my good friend always raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

"Having FUN with My Grandson, Evan!"

2010-08-14T11:18:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a wonderful 3 days we had! My 7 1/2 year old grandson, Evan, came for a visit ( he lives about 1.5 hours away). I remember thinking when he was about 3 years old how FUN it would be when he could stay over night and we could do FUN things together!

I met my daughter-in-law half way and the three of us spent a few hours in Alamo Creek Park in Vacaville. Then Evan and I headed to Mrs. Grossman's Sticker Factory in Petaluma. We arrived just as a tour was starting. We watched a 20 minute video about the history of the business and how stickers are made, with about 50 other kids and adults. Then we were taken on a great factory tour, seeing all the machines, inks, huge rolls of stickers and more. We had a wonderful tour guide who would ask the kids questions and give them stickers for answering (right or wrong!). Then we all went into the project room where they give you lots of stickers and a postcard to decorate. Then of course, a visit to the sticker store! We had a wonderful time. We had sticker projects for the next three days! That night I went to sleep early. Robert, Evan and Asia made popcorn and watched The Little Mermaid.

The next day Evan came with me to my Toastmasters meeting. He took on the role of "jokemaster" and told 2 jokes in front of the group. He was so poised, adorable and funny! He enjoyed the meeting so much he told me he wanted to be a Toastmaster!

These are the jokes he told:

"What weighs 5,000 lbs and wears glass slippers?"

(answer: "Cinderelephant").

"What do you get when you cross SpongeBob Square Pants with Albert Einstein?"

(answer: "SpongeBob Smarty Pants")

Then we had a picnic lunch with my friend, Sally, played on the "beanbag mountain" at Mary's Futons, visited Robert at Lights of Rafael, and stopped at the Pet Arcade to pet the kittens, puppies and see fish, lizards and bunnies. Then off to a FUN store in Novato, Dollhouses, Trains & More. This is an amazingly large store filled to the brim with trains, collectibles, dolls, miniatures and more. There are fully set up train and holiday villages that you can turn on to watch the movement. We stayed for 2 hours playing with all the hands on exhibits that are extremely kid friendly. We both had so much FUN exploring and choosing some fun miniatures for our collections. They have the largest miniature collection in the United States! Prices are reasonable too.

That evening we had a power outage for 3 hours. We lit candles, made a fire, and played hand shadows on the ceiling with flashlights. Our cat, Asia, loved watching the flashlights. We also played improv/word/story games. (Asia just listened...)

The next day we took a nature walk around Pacheco Valle. We saw deer with their babies, visited the secret garden and walked over bridges and streams. Then we had lunch at the Northgate Mall at Chipolte and dessert at Berry Swirl, where you can make your own yogurt sundaes! Robert met his son half way and made the grandson exchange!

Spending time with my grandson, Evan, always raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

"Sandy Sentiments!" (from the Jersey Shore)

2010-08-03T07:58:00.000-07:00

"Letter Flip" is Flipping FUN!

2010-08-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

I love word games! I received "Letter Flip" for my birthday and lovelovelove it! I brought it with me to the Jersey Shore when I went to visit. It travels well, is light, no little parts to lose, waterproof and is great FUN.

My long time childhood friend and I have been playing "Letter Flip" on the beach at every chance we get. We are a bit addicted! Each round takes about 20-30 minutes and we keep saying "one more round." We have played in the sun, in the rain and realized if we each had the game we could play over the phone! She lives on the east coast and I live on the west coast.

Today I was on the beach at 8:30am and she came to play "Letter Flip" at 9:30am. She said only for an hour and we played for 2 hours! I wonder if there is a "Letter Flip Anonymous."

Being on the beach with my good friend and playing "Letter Flip" always raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

FUN in NYC!

2010-07-29T15:32:00.000-07:00

What a great day in NYC! My long time friend and I took the train in to the city to see a Broadway Show Matinee. We were headed to Tickets at Times Square to see what was available. On our way we were offered discount seats to the musical "Memphis." We decided to go straight to the box office and get seats. It is a tony awarding winning musical! With tickets in hand and 2 hours before show time, we wandered up and down the side streets, window shopping and people watching. Times Square is bustling with tourists, live music, street vendors and tons of energy! We stopped at a year round costume shop and "Michael Jackson" wandered in dressed in full costume to buy a sparkly microphone.

We ate at Smith's Bar Restaurant and shared a delicious eggplant, onion, cheese panini and salad. It was so nice to hang out at the cafe talking old times, new times and people watching. We continued on to the Shubert Theater where we had center mezzanine seats. "Memphis" was fantastic! I loved the music, singing, dance numbers, actors and overall production. A wonderful story about the underground blues clubs in Memphis in the 1950's and how the music became mainstream when DJ's introduced the music on the radio. Broadway sets, costumes and energy are always so magical! When the actors took their final bows the entire audience was standing, singing and dancing. We all danced our way out of the theater. New York audiences are incredible!

We wandered slowly back to Grand Central Station to catch our train back to the Jersey Shore.
Below are some FUN images of New York City!

A FUN day in NYC with my childhood friend always raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

Birthday Brunch & Elegant Earrings in Occidental!

2010-07-19T08:53:00.000-07:00

Wow! What a wonderful birthday day with Robert! We had a leisurely morning then took the motorcycle to the quaint town of Occidental (only an hour away in Sonoma County). It is a beautiful ride through the redwoods on the Bohemian Highway. We had lunch at one of my favorite places, Howard's Station Cafe.

The Stations Mission:

"Our vision at Howard Station Cafe is to serve healthy organic ingredients as often as we can and provide a place of comfort through delicious food. All of our eggs are organic, and we offer organic options thru out or menu. Howard Station strives to nourish the community by building a strong support system for local businesses while making our locals happy. We hope that you enjoy being served as much as we enjoy serving you, and we thank you for your support."

They are open daily until 2:30pm. Great breakfast, lunch, juice bar and bakery. I had the grilled portobella mushroom sandwich with carmelized onions, guacamole, jack cheese and tomato on a kaiser roll. I love that sandwich! The cafe is always busy with great service and great food. Our server, Kelsey, was so gracious and sweet. When she heard is was my birthday she brought us a complimentary warm apricot bar that they bake right there. It was delicious!

Then we went across the street to one of my favorite gift and jewelry stores, Galleria. I knew I would find the FUN sparkly colorful earrings I wanted for my birthday from Robert. This store is filled with designer jewelry, colored glass, fountains, crystals and more. I immediately spotted the Firefly Jewelry Collection - and found a beautiful pair of earrings! I lovelovelove them!

Then we spent the afternoon by our pool where we swam, hot tubbed and played a new word game, Letterflip, I had gotten for my birthday. What a perfect day!

Days like this always raise my FUNtelligence Quotient!

Birthday Girl! Birthday Apricot Bar! Birthday Earrings!

Joining the Jacuzzi Family Winery!

2010-07-14T18:11:00.000-07:00

Robert and I recently visited the Jacuzzi Family Vineyards in Sonoma. It is a 3 year old winery owned by the Cline Family. The Cline Cellars Winery is directly across the street on Arnold Drive. Jacuzzi Family Wines are originally from Italy and have been in the US since 1936. And yes, it is the same family that manufactured the bath and spa that bears their name! They have complimentary wine tasting and share a building with The Olive Press. We had FUN tasting many types of olive oil and ofcourse tasting the wines. Their wines can only be purchased at the winery or through the wine club.

The grounds are magnificent and reminescent of Italian architecture, fountains, plazas and views! We had stopped on our motorcycle then returned the next day. We had such a good time taking pictures and wandering through the vineyards. It is a wonderful picnic location and event venue. We tasted more wines and decided to join their wine club. We really enjoyed the smooth reds: Sangiovese 2006, Tocai Friulano 2009 and the Gilia's Vernaccia 2008. Our first shipment is not until October so we brought some bottles home with us. They also have some FUN events at the winery that we look forward to attending. You can follow them on TWITTER!

Beautiful Italian Vineyards and great wines raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!
(even if it is located in California only 15 minutes away!)

Petaluma Art & Garden Festival!

2010-07-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Robert and I took the motorcycle to the Petaluma Art & Garden Festival. It was a beautiful Northern California summer day to browse outdoor art, food, wine and live music. We loved listening to "Zebop" - a Santana Tribute band. I had to get up and dance (especially since one of the songs lyrics was "vamos a bailar"). The booths seemed especially colorful. There were tons of people and plenty of tables and chairs to sit in the sun or shade. There was alot of food for sampling. The Cold Stone Creamery gave away mini ice cream cones! So Yummy! The smoothest ice cream I have ever had! I especially love the real flower jewelry designed by Ricciardi Designs from Mill Valley. They grow their own flowers to use in their innovative and FUN jewelry designs.

It was a lovely afternoon!

Outside summer art festivals always raise my FUNtelligence Quotient!

Art Walking Tour with Art Works Downtown & WalkBikeMarin!

2010-07-09T22:02:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful evening strolling down 4th Street in San Rafael for the 2nd Fridays Art Walks sponsored by Art Works Downtown. This evening was especially wonderful because WalkBikeMarin (WBM) and Art Works Downtown (AWD) joined forces. Kelly from WBM was there to gather us together for a FUN group walk while Stan from AWD guided us through many of the galleries, pubs, stores, restaurants, and book stores that feature local Marin artists.

We met at City Hall for a 2 hour guided art walk. There were about 10 of us. We began on 4th & G St. and ended up at 4th & Lincoln visiting 12 locations. What a FUN group of people that enjoyed art and walking! Many of the locations served wine and finger foods and had live music. It was FUN seeing such a variety of art. A memorable stop was at the Art Works Downtown Studio. There was a reception for "Realm of Dreams" and many of the artists' studios were open. There was also a woman's drumming circle outside!

Here is the group next to an outdoor sculpture made out of old bicycle forks. Stan on the right and Kelly on the left. It is such a wonderful idea for these diverse establishments to display local artist's work. We all discovered stores, restaurants, and galleries that we will definitely revisit.

Thank you Art Works Downtown (follow them on Twitter & Facebook) and WalkBikeMarin (follow them on Twitter & Facebook) for sponsoring such a FUN event! And thank you Kelly for the FUN bicycle gift giveaways! This event definitely raised my FUNtelligence Quotient!

Here are some pictures of the featured art: (click images to enlarge)

Art Works Downtown Room Gallery Donna Seager Gallery

< On the Sidewalk
    outside AWD

                                      Whipper Snapper >

Stickers Raise My FUNtelligence Quotient!

2010-07-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

I lovelovelove stickers! Especially sparkly ones...

I am fortunate to live near one of the most popular sticker manufacturers in the world...Mrs. Grossman's Sticker Factory in Petaluma, CA. I decided to visit the facility. I watched a 20 minute video, did a sticker project, took pictures, bought stickers from their store and chatted with Beau and Kathy. You can also do the one hour tour.

Mrs. Grossman began her sticker business in 1979 on her dining room table. The first sticker was the red heart, then variations of the heart in all colors and designs, then over 30 years later the company is continuing to design, manufacture and sell thousands of sticker designs. Mrs. Grossman still works at the company and has a wonderful loving connection with this FUN business. Her favorite thing to hear from her employees is. "I love my job!" And she hears it alot! Everyone loves bringing joyful and FUN stickers to millions all over the world.

The spacious facility is brightly decorated with large rooms for tour participants, sticker project tables, and a history of ALL the stickers decorates the walls. Large windows showcase the beautiful Sonoma hills. The store is filled with thousands of stickers, scrapbooking and cardmaking supplies. Kathy works in the store and loves organizing and refilling the sticker displays. Beau, the company dog, wanders around greeting guests!

It is a FUN place to visit! I am looking forward to taking my grandson and niece to the factory! Tours are on the hour and $3 per person. The store and virtual tour are always available at no charge. And they give everyone a sticker postcard project for free. Here is the Schedule. And you can follow them on TWITTER! Here are some more FUN pictures!

My sticker project...Angus (Beau's father) & sticker covered mailbox...Factory stickers

Stickers raise My FUNtelligence Quotient!

Family FUN at the Farm! Tara Firma Farms!

2010-07-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

To wrap up a wonderful visit from my brother-in-law, Dave and 13 year old niece, Caitlyn, I took them to Tara Firma Farms in southern Petaluma ( I street at San Antonio Rd). I called Tara at 8am this morning and she said we were welcome to stop by. Since I had been there before and knew the lay of the land, I led us around the lower property to visit the animals, vegetable garden, and store.

When we arrived Joey and Regina greeted us and told us where to find the baby pigs.
First we stopped in the baby chick house. Caitlyn and I loved holding and petting the super soft adorable baby chicks and listening to them cheep and munch their food and huddle in groups! We didn't want to leave but realized there were piglets to see!

We stopped and saw large pigs cooling themselves off in the silky mud, then found a large mama and her 4 piglets. Dave hung out with the mama as Caitlyn and I took pictures of the mama and adorable babies. We wandered around the expansive vegetable gardens and visited the chicken coops as we discovered increasingly larger and larger chickens in each successive coop.

Our final stop was the produce and meat store. Regina gave us some super tasty plums from her trees! "The best around," she proudly told us. And they were!
I purchased some lettuce, beets, collard greens, green onions and she even sold me a half dozen of the precious eggs! shhhhh! I hear they are quite valuable this time of year and I felt honored to come home with some!

We also chatted with Joey, Tara's son, and played with their dogs. Joey took us up to the main house and Tara came out to greet us. It is so wonderful to have this environmentally friendly family owned farm nearby. They are such a wonderful, generous, loving family and I love bringing people to visit the farm!

Here is a summary from their website: Tara Firma Farms

"Grow the mind to grow the soil to grow the food that strengthens the Community."

We are a family-owned farm implementing pasture-raised and organic practices to produce REAL food. We are committed to offering healthy chemical-free, all-natural produce and raising grass-fed, pasture-raised and humanely-treated pigs, cows, and chickens. We are also committed to providing hands-on education about our all natural and environmentally friendly farming practices to people and their families in hopes of creating a happier, healthier existence for everyone on this beautiful earth!

Free tours on Sundays starting at 10:00 am through 4:00 pm. or Call 707-765-1202

Visiting the Farm always raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

Our Annual Family Ride & The BEST Fish Tacos Ever!

2010-06-30T20:56:00.000-07:00

Every year my brother-in-law and niece come visit in the summer (from Sacramento) to take a motorcycle ride with my husband and I. They love escaping the hot Sacramento weather and riding to the coast. Today we rode to the Russian River Area through Sebastopol, Guerneville, Monte Rio and stopped at one of our favorite coffee/tea stops in Duncans Mills (about 5 miles from the coast). We love sitting on the back deck of the "Gold Coast Coffee & Bakery." There is a butterfly garden, hummingbirds, a fountain, Willa the stray cat and great coffee, tea and daily baked goods.

We continued on down the coast stopping at a beach. It was quite windy and the waves were huge and the water sparkling! We continued to Bodega Bay to have a late lunch at the "Island Style Deli." It was our first time there. It is a small shack-like locale with FUN island decor and great food. They all had Fish & Chips and I had the most A-mazing Fish Tacos! Perfectly cooked cod with shredded lettuce, cheese, scallions and a wonderful sauce on a moist soft taco. I asked the server about the sauce and she said they make it there with passion fruit and chili sauce. It is hot and sweet and a wonderful addition to the tacos. She said if you bring a jar and let them know ahead of time they will fill your jar with the special sauce. They looked so tasty and yummy that I forgot to take a picture of them before I ate them! oops! The whole ride home I was thinking about when I would go back to have the Fish Tacos again! I lovelovelove them!

Every year we enjoy our family ride escaping the heat and stopping at new restaurants and beaches and also stopping at some of our favorite haunts!

Riding with Dave, Caitlyn and Robert always raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

Singing Flora & Fauna Raises My FUNtelligence Quotient!

2010-06-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

WOW! My walks in Pacheco Valle have been teeming with flora and fauna!

I have been feeling as though I am in a Disney Movie....

Today I witnessed 2 wild turkey families on an outing. Two moms with their children all in one group - one with 12 babies and the other with 13 babies. They were chirping, scurrying, eating and generally enjoying what they do best. Then I happened upon 3 ring tailed hawks landing in an oak tree (the oldest oak tree in Marin County). They sunned and squawked and were quite the majestic sight. Then a bright blue bellied lizard scurried across my path as a yellow swallowtail butterfly flew from tree to tree.

And, ofcourse, squirrels chirped and ran across the ground and up tree trunks jumping from limb to limb.

It was quite a 30 minute walk! All that was missing were all the animals breaking out in song! Actually I think I heard some singing in the recesses of my mind...

My daily nature walk raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

New FUN Local Restaurant and Improv Raises My FUNtelligence Quotient!

2010-06-19T12:51:00.000-07:00

It is always so much FUN when new restaurants open, especially when they are in your backyard! Boca Pizzeria and Wine Bar opened last night in the Pacheco Plaza on Ignacio Blvd in Southern Novato. The place was "hoppin." It is a sister restaurant to Boca Steak & Seafood Restaurant on Ignacio Blvd. People waited outside with wine glasses in hand on a beautiful Marin County evening. The staff was energized and friendly, tables turned over quickly, the wine bar was packed, neopolitan pizzas donned many tables and there was a general FUN buzz throughout!

I had an amazingly delicious creamy polenta with mushrooms and balsamic reduction starter dish. My husband and I shared a marguerite pizza with mozzarella, tomato sauce and basil. We had a wonderful cabernet wine. The pizza comes quickly and is yummy! Our server, Shauna, told us the super hot ovens cook the pizza in one and a half minutes! Wow!

We sat next to an adorable 6 year old girl and her father. Her name is Kate Finnegan and "she owns" Finnegan's Marin Restaurant in Novato. When I asked her if she was ever at the restaurant she adorably said "I own it!" We chatted with Kate and Henry, (her father and owner with his brother of Finnegan's - I'm guessing "they" pay the bills- not Kate!), as we all enjoyed our meals. We are planning on trying Finnegan's soon. In her picture Kate is showing me her amazingly sparkly light up pink sneakers!

After dinner we went to the former Pacheco Playhouse, now the Novato Theater Company Playhouse on the opposite side of the Plaza. My improv teacher, Mick Laugs, and Kayla Gold, owner of Kayla Gold Vocal Studio, presented a wonderful teen improv show. Together they ran a teen improv workshop all week which culminated in last nights performance. There was alot of creativity, FUN and laughter.

It was a wonderful evening and great to have all this FUN in my backyard!
Good Food, FUN and Laughter raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

Motorcycle Rides with my Husband Raises My FUNtelligence Quotient!

2010-06-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

Living in Northern California is amazing! There is so much beauty right outside our door. It feels like my backyard playground. My husband and I love our Yamaha Stratoliner Cruiser! He drives as I ride on the back and soak in all the beauty. From the wine country to the coast, we love taking day trips to nearby towns, cafes, beaches, wineries, shops, parks and more! I often pack a picnic and we find FUN tables, benches or grassy areas to eat.

One of our favorite local overnight trips is to The Lodge at Blue Lakes right outside of Ukiah. The lodge is on a pristine spring fed lake. They have kayaks available, fishing off the pier, outdoor barbeques, evening boat rides, beautifully renovated rooms with jacuzzis and more. It is a peaceful getaway with lots of FUN things to do. And in the nearby town of Upper Lake (a one horse town) is the Blue Wing Saloon & Cafe, a great restaurant for outside dining, Sunday brunch and local music. I love thier sweet potato fries!

Having the motorcycle has cut down on our "leaving on vacation time" because we love staying in the area and exploring all the beauty and FUN that is all around us (and my husband doesn't like leaving our cat very long!) When it stays light until 9pm sometimes we take evening rides. We love riding to a body of water on a full moon night and seeing the moon reflect brightly on the water with the San Francisco Skyline lit up in the distance.

We often take the same rides over and over and marvel in the continuing and expanding beauty. And no, I do not have any desire to drive my own bike! I love the feeling as he has control of this amazing machine and I get to relax and drink in all the beauty. I also love all the leather and fringe I get to wear. You might note in this picture all the different color fringe boots I wear! So FUN!

It is an exhilarating experience that we can share together! Yes, motorcycle rides with my husband truly raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

Marin County Open Gardens Tour!

2010-06-06T17:59:00.000-07:00

click images to enlarge!

Beauty Raises my FUNtelligence Quotient!

This weekend I went with a friend to tour private gardens on the Marin County Open Gardens Tour. We had so much FUN driving around and visiting these beautiful homes with diverse gardens and amazing views.

I love feasting my minds eye on beauty both natural and manmade. We saw a manicured 2-tier garden planted with roses, a meditation area complete with Buddha stature, a tree house and fountains. I visualized croquet games with lemonade served! This home had a spectacular view of the San Francisco Skyline with sailboats dotting the bay.

Our favorite garden was on a 30 acre estate overlooking the San Francisco Bay. Several crescent-shaped terraces curve around a natural bowl in the land where a waterlily-coy pond lives. The gardens overflow with ornamental grasses, perennials, a rose arbor, mini-orchard, olive grove, vegetable garden and more! There are paths throughout and multiple sitting areas. We enjoyed lounging on the decks imagining margaritas being served! We didn't want to leave!

Beauty is everywhere and I appreciate how it fills me with JOY! I am looking forward to next years Garden Tour! These Open Garden Tours take place all over the country.

Check out their website to see gardens in your area! ENJOY!

Guide Dogs for the Blind Graduation Ceremony!

2010-05-29T16:58:00.000-07:00

Wow! This experience was sure to raise my FUNtelligence Quotient! The Guide Dogs for the Blind Campus is in San Rafael. They breed and train labrador retrievers for blind and visually impaired individuals from all over the United States and Canada. The graduates were from Canada, New York, Pennsylvania, Colorado, New Hampshire, California and Hawaii. The puppies are raised by families for about 12-18 months. Then the dogs return to the campus for a 2 month training before they are matched with a blind or visually impaired person in need of a guide dog. The dog and new owner are housed in the dormitories on the campus for 2-3 weeks for bonding and training. The graduation is open to the public in a beautiful setting amongst redwood trees and beautiful gardens. The families that raised the dogs are paired with the new owners and they share touching and loving stories.

Then I went on a tour of the facilities to see the dormitories, common area rooms and kennels where the breeders, dogs in training and puppies (future service dogs) are housed. It is a wonderful facility with friendly people and a beautiful campus.

Here are some pictures of the dogs in all stages of training!

follow them on twitter

Jessica KNOWS who she REALLY is!

2010-05-18T19:03:00.000-07:00

Now THIS is how to Raise Your FUNtelligence Quotient!

"I can do anything good!" - Jessica

Doing Something Creative & FUN!

2010-04-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

I am having so much FUN making cards! I went to a free card making class at the San Rafael Public Library a few weeks ago. It has inspired me to craft again. I have always loved crafts - clay, soft sculpture, drawing, painting, crocheting, knitting, collage, beading, jewelry making, sewing and now card making! I have been an art teacher for 2-6 year olds and always loved watching their process and enjoyed playing with all the art materials. I have collected alot of FUN materials I can use for card making. I have beautiful papers, glitter glue, 3-D stickers, colorful blank cards, markers, scissors that cut decorative edges, flowers, pom poms, feathers, it goes on and on! And I am gathering rubber stamps from Michaels, Ben Franklin Crafts and have found some wonderful $1 rubber stamps at The Dollar Tree! I am enjoying layering and collaging images and using sparkly glue to decorate. The more colorful the better. It really makes me happy! And I love making matching envelopes! It has also been alot of FUN to just send one of these cards to a friend or family member....JUST BECAUSE!

What a FUN activity to do on a rainy day while listening to my favorite CDs. Thank you to the free class at the library that reinspired me to craft again!

Tweetups Raise Your FUNtelligence Quotient!

2010-04-27T22:06:00.000-07:00

If you would like to experience something that really raises your FUNtelligence Quotient (FQ), try experiencing a local TWEETUP! Social Media connects people all over the world AND can connect you with others locally! We are so fortunate here in Marin County, in the San Francisco Bay Area, to have a magnificent group of social media tweeple, particularly on TWITTER, who LOVE coming together to socialize, connect, laugh and generally have alot of FUN! Our group of t/women are smart, funny, interesting and extremely lively. We are joining together from all different backgrounds in all different fields of plork (play + work) and finding that common ground. Twitter brought us together and we are having a great time expanding our friendships while we create a wonderful sense of community. Such a FUN lunch today at Thai Smile Restaurant! I look forward to more t/women tweetups! Thank you to Sally, Michelle, Peggy, Lissa, Nancy, Cathy, Lisa, Hannah, Diane, Tara, Susan, Michelle....and ofcourse Doug & Mike!

Thanks Sally for pics!

Beware of Imposters this Easter!

2010-04-03T10:22:00.001-07:00

Just because it's FUN!

2010-02-13T13:08:00.000-08:00

It is very important to clean the inside of your computer screen...and very FUN!.....

click here for cleaning...

"Celebrate What's RIGHT with the World"

2010-02-08T10:05:00.000-08:00

Dewitt Jones, a photojournalist for National Geographic, shares his insight and inspiration! This moving and amazingly beautiful documentary illustrates that when we FOCUS on what's right, what feels good, what's beautiful in the world, in OUR world, we see and feel more of that beauty. He shares how the mission of the magazine, "Celebrate What's RIGHT with the World" has affected his life. Enjoy this moving, sincere, inspirational and beautiful video by a truly inspiring and amazing man! in joy, Marilyn

Celebrate What's Right With The World

Be Inspired as you Visit Dewitt Jones' Website

Reconnecting with "old" Dreams!

2010-02-06T10:09:00.000-08:00

I have been writing about and reconnecting with "old" dreams. It feels so good to refocus. It feels like a new dream even though I have had this dream since I was a little girl. It feels good to see myself there and living that dream. It fills me with joy, serenity AND energy! Now that I KNOW that ANYTHING is possible this dream seems done. I can keep my eye on "the prize" and know that the living of a joyful life is the ONLY way of getting "there." "THERE" is actually a FEELING and once I stay focused on the FEELING, life flows to those magnificent manifestations.

My mind is alive with possibilities! Everything looks new and fresh! As I breathe, smell, taste, imagine, feel and hear everything about the dream it almost doesn't matter if it happens! Though I KNOW it will !
February 6, 2010 - the rebirth of a childhood dream! I am ready to receive it and am open to its expansion!
AND my honey is on board....stay tuned....

FUN Twitter Cartoons!

2010-01-31T19:38:00.000-08:00

click on cartoons to enlarge!

Inspire To Inspire!

2010-01-24T10:36:00.000-08:00

Those of you who follow me on TWITTER know that many of my tweets are about breathing. Breathing fills the body with energy. When you breathe very deeply you can tune into how you are truly feeling at that moment. You can even change the way you are feeling at any given moment. Breathing slowly and deliberately connects you with who you really are - magnificent beings filled with love, joy, health, abundance and well being. Breathing not only calms you but energizes you for the next thought, feeling or action. It can inspire you to take the next step.

Inspire means "to take (air, gases, etc.) into the lungs in breathing, to infuse (breath, life, etc.) by breathing, fill with an animating, quickening or exalting influence, to fill or affect with a specified feeling or thought, to communicate or suggest by a divine or supernatural influence." If you have read my post about "FUNspiration vs Motivation" you remember that it is so much more FUN to be inspired by your next action as opposed to motivated. It is so much more FUN to WANT to take the next step.

Many times during the day I deliberately stop to breathe deeply and feel the presence of the well being that abounds. It fills me with serenity, with connection and with the knowing that all is well and getting weller.

Inspiring truly helps to Inspire.

To Blog or Not to Blog!

2010-01-19T10:38:00.001-08:00

Click on cartoons to enlarge!

Appreciate, Appreciate, Appreciate...

2010-01-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

There is such POWER in APPRECIATION. It is a great place to come to as often as possible. Appreciate, appreciate, appreciate! It feels good to appreciate. It calms the mind and raises vibration. As I appreciate, my breathing becomes deeper and waves of serenity flow through my being. Just writing this post feels so good as I FOCUS on APPRECIATION. Appreciate anything and everything. I appreciate how the rain darkens the color of the trees outside my window and moistens the earth readying it for new growth. I appreciate the sound of the rain on the roof and through the gutters as it creates a symphony of sound. I appreciate the cloud cover as it sheds a warm hue upon everything. And I appreciate knowing that the SUN is up there above it all shining brightly!

Appreciation puts a warm glow upon everything. I appreciate what has happened during my day each night as I fall asleep and appreciate all that I have and am as I awaken each day. Appreciate, appreciate, appreciate!
And, it raises your FUNtelligence Quotient!

And I so APPRECIATE my loving cat, Asia.

It's ALL about the JOURNEY!

2010-01-17T11:38:00.000-08:00

"Sure I want out, but I also want to enjoy the journey."

Social Media

2010-01-17T07:44:00.000-08:00

Happiness

2010-01-16T19:05:00.000-08:00

Happiness is like a butterfly.
The more you chase it the more it will elude you.
But if you turn your attention to other things,
it comes and sits softly on your shoulder
- Thoreau

Taken with my cell phone while visiting family on the east coast!

FUNisms

2010-01-16T12:32:00.000-08:00

FUNitude – your disposition or state of mind
FUNtelligence Quotient – the amount of FUN in your disposition or state of mind
FUNmaster – Those who look for FUN in EVERY situation!
FUNchkins – little FUNmasters
FUNhood – those connected to FUN
FUNology – the study of FUN
FUNologist – one who studies FUN
FUNment – a short period of FUN
FUNcation – many FUNments strung together
FUNtivity – the episode of FUN
FUNercise – practicing FUN
FUNspire – spreading FUN
FUNimal – your favorite pet

You are welcome to ADD some!

FUNspiration (I want to) vs Motivation (I should)

2010-01-15T17:08:00.000-08:00

I love taking action when I feel inspired! There is a flow and richness in the action that feels right. Waiting until I feel inspired can be as simple as taking a deep breath and asking myself what I am feeling. What do I WANT to do next that will continue my good feeling or improve on a less than good feeling. The answer might be immediate, which of course, feels so good. Or I might need to take a few more breaths and begin to IMAGINE what would feel good next. Or even think about or go to my list of tried and true thoughts and actions (see blog post "It's all about your FUNitude") that ALWAYS help me to come to an aligned place. Then when I am feeling aligned, it is so much easier and more FUN to take the next action.

I especially love this technique when I am spending time with my 7 year old grandson. It is so much FUN to be in the place of knowing that ALL IS WELL (no matter what!). When I am with him I feel so PRESENT. He knows exactly what he wants. He knows who he is and what feels good. It is always an adventure to follow his lead and go with the FLOW (his flow!). We connect on so many creative, loving, happy, FUN levels.

My life is all about feeling inspired - FUNspired! Knowing that ALL IS WELL. Knowing that WELL BEING abounds. Knowing that feeling aligned and going with the amazing FLOW of life is so much FUN. Knowing that I do not have to know EVERYTHING before it happens. Just knowing that feels so good!

Follow Me on Twitter!

2010-01-13T19:29:00.000-08:00

Twitter is alot of FUN! Social Media connects people who would have never met in conventional ways. It is uplifting to read tweets of those you choose to follow. New ideas, positive quotes, meaningful thoughts and just plain FUN posts are available to read 24/7 from all around the world. It has also been alot of FUN meeting tweeps in person at local tweetups! I have made some wonderful friends and hope to meet more in person from all over the twitterverse!

It's all about your FUNitude!

2010-01-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

Let's have FUN sharing thoughts, feelings and activities that FEEL GOOD! Focusing on what makes each of us HAPPY! It's different for everyone. As we share with others we spread FUN and JOY and give others new IDEAS. I love making these lists! I keep one on my desktop adding to it as I find more to ENJOY. You are welcome to post a list of things that make you FEEL GOOD. Here's Mine:

What makes ME FEEL GOOD List !

1. petting/hanging with/loving my cat

2. taking my daily walk in the beauty of nature, breathing in the joyful flow of the universe, focusing on all the well being and imagining how I want my life to be

3. reading or listening to Abraham-Hicks

4. riding on the back of our motorcycle as my husband drives us through all the beauty of northern California while I appreciate my life and imagine how I want my life to be

5. drinking green tea with milk and agave-love, love, love it !

6. watching a funny movie

7. tweeting joyously and breathing in all the positive tweets from my amazing tweeps

8. my daily 20 minute morning yoga practice

9. writing lists of appreciation and lists of who I REALLY am

10. listening to uplifting music which inspires me to dance

11. taking naps with my cat cuddled next to me

12. sitting each day for 20 minutes, focusing on my breathing and letting whatever happens happen!

13. allowing others to be who they are, no matter what!

14. taking improv classes and laughing soooo much

15. laughing with my husband

16. breathing in the joyful flow of the universe and knowing that all is well !

17. writing joy lists!

18. hanging out in the VORTEX (future blog post!)