Support for the Goleta Mom work

Do you love to get notifications for events in our area on Facebook and Instagram? Do you love looking up a park on the blog to see if it had bathrooms? Consider supporting the work I do by supporting some things I love! (I do get a small kickback from these, but I only recommend things that I have tried and truly love.)

Online Cooking and life skills classes for kids & teens:  https://sl290.isrefer.com/go/vip/rdupar/

Fashion and Color Analysis with Created Colorful

Online Pilates and wellness with Lindywell

Book Discussion Questions: Present Over Perfect

My spiritual formation group is still meeting and reading together. Our most recent read was Present over Perfect by Shauna Niequist.  It is written as essays and is autobiographical. It is available on Hoopla as an ebook and on Audio through my Goleta and Santa Barbara libraries. We split the book into 2 3 section chunks. 

Parts 1-3
- What aspects of Shauna's life change resonated with you? (Or didn’t.)
- Shauna talks about the idea of “Fake resting?” (page 35) Is this something you are prone to? Why or Why not?
- On page 37, Shauna lists some fundamental questions. “Am I loved? Does someone see me? Do I matter? Am I safe?” Which question jumped out for you?
- Page 49 reads “If you're not careful with your yeses, you start to say no to some very important things without realizing it.” How does this cause you to reflect on your own life?
- On page 74, Shauna shares the analogy of pouring out the vinegar before you get to the oil. Is this how you pray instinctively? Or do your prayer habits look different?
- On page 83, Shauna mentions that each church can only be “half the pie.” What gaps have you found in your church experience?
- Page 106 reads, “In seasons of deep transformation, Silence is the greatest guide. Silence will become the incubator for your new spirit, keeping it safe, growing it steadily. Has this been your experience with silence? How so?
- Page 128 reads present over perfect is about rejecting the method every day is a new opportunity to prove our worth and about the truth that our worth is inherent, given by God, not by hustling.
- There are a lot of stories we tell ourselves about what’s required of us. (“I’m a hard worker.”) And a lot of stories our culture tells about what’s required of the moment. (“Carpe diem!”) What story are you telling yourself about what constitutes “the good life” right now? Is that story particularly gendered or Christian? Does it matter? *
- What practical ways are there to reshape the life we live? 

* Thanks to Kate Bowler's question list

Parts 4-6 

Other places to hear from Shauna: Kate Bowler and Emily P. Freeman

Bowlero

Recently we purchased a summer bowling pass from Bowlero. For $40, you can bowl 2 games every day and have free shoe rental (Sunday- Friday open-close and Saturday open-4pm). For $55, you can upgrade to any location, a daily $5 arcade credit and 15% off food/nonalcoholic beverages. The passes are good May 13th - September 1st. 

Otherwise: 

Cost: Online Reservations will put the cost at about $125 for a lane for 2 hours including shoe rental. It is far cheaper to walk in and get the lane, but you are not guaranteed a quick spot.  

Location: Goleta near Yogurtland on Calle Real

Directions: From downtown, take the 101N to the Fairview exit and take right onto Fairview. Take another right onto Calle Real. Bowlero is about 1/2 block down on the right. 

Parking: Free on site

Hours: M-W 2pm-11pm Th/F 2pm-12am, Saturday 10am-12am, Sunday 10am-11pm
Time: 1-2 hours

Drive Time: 10 minutes 

More Information: https://www.bowlero.com/location/bowlero-santa-barbara

Nearby:  Goleta Library, Fairview Gardens 

Quote from my 11 year old: "It's great to bring friends." 

Related Posts: 

Choose Your Own Adventure 2025 

Refugio Nature Program

We spent a weekend camping at Refugio State Park and enjoyed perfect weather (in June!). We noticed that they have a junior ranger program with activities. The little house where the junior ranger programs are located is at the far end of the day use parking lot.

Otherwise: 

Cost: Day use pass for the Refugio State Beach is $10.

Location: Refugio State Beach 

Directions: From Goleta, take the 101N to the Refugio exit just past El Capitan. Take a left to go under the freeway, another left to follow the frontage road and a right to the kiosk.  

Parking: In the day use area unless you are camping. 

Hours: see the Instagram page for updated info

Time: 45 minutes if you do the craft

Drive Time: 20 minutes 

More Information: Instagram or State Beach Website

Nearby:  Refugio State Beach, El Capitan State Beach (Closed in 2025) and Gaviota State Beach

Quote from my 11 year old: "I liked the craft." 

Related Posts: Choose Your Own Adventure 2025 

Slime and Playdough

 

This Week with one teen in school and one tween at home. We did a lot of play dates, pool time and a class campout! 

Here are our favorite playdough and slime recipes we often make on play days like this! 

Fav Slime Recipe: https://mamapapabubba.com/2013/02/05/valentines-day-slime-favours/

Fav Playdough Recipe:  https://livingwellmom.com/easy-homemade-playdough-recipe/  

REEF

 

Recently we checked out REEF, UCSB's teaching aquarium. (REEF stands for Research Experience and Education Facility.) If you have seen touch tanks at a school science night. they probably came from here. The tanks are interactive, educational and fun. 

Cost: Free

Location: Near Campus Point at UCSB 

Directions: From the 101 take the 217 to UCSB. Take the second roundabout exit (left towards the beach). Follow the road along the bluff and park in the last lot on the left (there are coastal access spots.)

Parking: Saturday $4 or $3 an hour

Hours: Open House hours are on Friday 3:00pm–5:00pm and Saturday 11:00am–2:00pm (but only during the school year). Spring dates are April 11-June 7. SPRING DATES END SOON!
Time: 30 minutes 

Drive Time: 10 minutes 

More Information: https://msi.ucsb.edu/facilities-services/reef or on Instagram

Nearby: Campus Point, Goleta Beach, UCSB Labyrinth, 

Quote from my 11 year old: "I got to hold starfish, a sea cucumber and urchins. It was very fun and I learned a lot. It is fun for all ages and I really recommend it."

Educational videos from 2020: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzNC-IK5BNlgY3cZrGrWEqQ  

Related Posts:

Choose Your Own Adventure 2025 

Campus Point

UCSB Labyrinth Walk 

Tide Pooling 

Choose Your Own Adventure 2025

 

Over the past two summers, I have realized and accepted that summer blogging looks different with a teen and a tween! I only blog about things I have actually done with one or both of my kids, but I have kept a list of things I would like to do and so we have done a handful of things over the past few summers and I have written them up! Here is the list I am chipping away at that we have done a few things from in 2023 and 2024. If you have any suggestions, let me know. 

From 2015 Parks

Armitos Park got new play equipment 

Eastside Neighborhood Park also had an update

From 2016  and 2020 Beaches

Rincon Beach
Sandyland Beach ?
Padaro Beach ?
Loon Point Beach 
Finney Beach 
Summerland Beach 
Gaviota Beach

From 2017 Nature Walks
Wind Tunnels at Gaviota State Park
Cheltham/Westmont Trail
Allan Road Footpath
Ortega Hill Loop
Ennisbrook Trail

From 2018 Day Trips
Lake Casitas Water Park got a facelift! 
Canzelle Alpacas

Great American Melodrama
Pump It Up (Ventura)
Marina Park (Ventura)
Ventura Aquatic Center
Quicksilver Miniature Horse Ranch (Santa Ynez)
Solvang
La Purissima Mission
Seein Spots Farm

From 2019 Museums
Old Mission Santa Barbara
Rancho La Patera & Stow House
Santa Barbara Carriage and Western Arts Museum
Santa Barbara Historical Museum (El Presidio)
Ablitt House
Bellosguardo Estate
Casa del Herrero
Casa Dolores
Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum
Reagan Ranch Center
Ridley Tree Museum of Art (Westmont College)
Santa Barbara Art Museum (UCSB)
Santa Barbara Surfing Museum
Santa Barbara Veterans Museum
Susan Quinlan's Doll & Teddy Bear Museum
UCSB Multicultural Center
Elveroj Museum of History and Art
Guadelupe-Nipomo Dunes Center
Guadelupe Cultural Arts Center
La Purissima Mission

Refugio State Park 
Santa Maria Museum of Flight
Santa Maria Valley Historical Railway Museum
Wilding Art Museum
UCSB Marine Science Institute (REEF)

From Kids Choice Awards 2021 

Riding a Surrey 

Bowlero
Lotusland
Lompoc Aquatic Center
Art from Scrap

From 2022 Hikes

Cold Springs Loop
Gaviota Wind Caves 
Lizards Mouth 
Tangerine Falls 
Lizards Mouth
Rattlesnake Canyon
Parma Park
San Ysidro falls
Seven Sisters
Skofield Park
Tunnel Trail

Related Posts
Summer of the Parks (2015)
Summer of the Beaches (2016)
Summer of the Nature Walks (2017)
Summer of the Day Trips (2018) 
Summer of the Museums (2019)
Summer of the Beaches 2 (2020)
Summer of Kid's Choice (2021)
Summer of the Hikes (2022)

Choose Your Own Adventure (2023)

Spring Snapshot 2025

                                               

While I have kept posting events on Instagram and Facebook, I haven't kept up with the blogging!  I have some more capacity to blog again over the summer and I am excited about it! 

Favorite New Product: Trader Joe's Leave In Conditioner My curly girls and I have used a lot of leave in conditioners and detanglers over the years. Out current favorite is this one from Trader Joe's.        

              

What is Working for Me Right Now: Audiobooks! As part of my job, I have been driving to Carpinteria often. I have an Audible subscription, but I also have been enjoying free library books through Libby and Hoopla. Fun Hoopla fact--with Goleta card you can check out 5 items a month, but with a Santa Barbara card you can check out 10 items a month. The items are slightly different between the two libraries as well. You can have both library cards.

Last Book I Finished: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
Mille goes to work for the Winchester family because she is desperate for a job. The wife is crazy, the husband is hot. I could see what was happening from a mile away from when we hear the dark secret of how the wife is crazy. The ending was interesting but didn't outweigh the predicability or the creepy.

                                                

Life Project: Getting Ready for house guests and revamping our guest room. 

What we are eating today: "Rainbow Quinoa Casserole" I shared this one back during the 40 recipes the year I turned 40! 

Related Links:
Fall 2023
Summer 2023
Fall 2022
Spring 2022
Winter 2022 Snapshot
Fall 2021 Snapshot
Summer 2021 Snapshot
Spring 2021 Snapshot
Winter 2021 Snapshot
Fall 2020 Snapshot
Summer 2020 Snapshot
Spring 2020 Snapshot
Winter 2020 Snapshot
Fall 2019 Snapshot
Summer 2019 Snapshot
Winter 2019 Snapshot
Fall 2018 Snapshot
Spring 2018 Snapshot

Book Discussion Questions: Soul Survivor

I am reading a book called Soul Survivors by Philip Yancey with my spiritual formation group. It is an autobiography of sorts, telling the people who have influenced Yancey's faith as he matured. This book is not in any free library places, but it was easy to get a used copy on Thriftbooks. We split the book into 4 3-4 chapter sections for discussion over the first half of the year. 

Chapters 1 through 3
How did you relate (or not) to Yancey's experience of the church?
Did you learn about Martin Luther King in this chapter that you did not previously know?
What aspects of our life and culture are we blind to you today in a similar way that the church has been blind to racism?
How is the "problem of pleasure" problematic for the atheist?

Chapters 4 through 7
How do you think Dr Brad's work with the poor and marginalized and forms his life with god?
How do we give live like Dr Cole's and give dignity to each person's life and story?
How do you feel like Tolstoy and Dostoevsky get faith right? How did they get faith wrong?
How do you think Gandhi embraced the ideals of Jesus without learning to live by faith or accept the grace from God?

Chapters 8 through 10
What did Dr Koop model about how Christians should engage with the wider world?
How does Donne's suffering at lack of fear inspire you?
How do we shift our view on heaven to be more in line with God's?
How do we, like Dillard, allow beauty and nature to lead us to God?

Other books this group has read and worked through:

Theodyssey: A Spiritual Formation Journey by David V Smith

All My Knotted Up Life: A Memoir by Beth Moore (Discussion Questions) 

Invitation to a Journey by M. Robert Mullholland 

Praying Like Monks Living Like Fools by Tyler Staton (Discussion Questions)

Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer

The Spirit of Justice by Jemar Tisby

Invitation to Solitude and Silence by Ruth Haley Barton 

Winter Snapshot 2025

Hello Followers! I have been so busy with a new job transition, there hasn't been much time for blogging. My kids are also at a different stage where they have many things to do and exploring with mom gets less time.  

Favorite New Product: Trader Joe's Chili and Lime Flavored Rolled Corn Tortilla Chip AKA Takis Okay, I don't really know if these are new or if my kids just found them, but these are a after school treat (or sometimes even a bribe--take a bag to school to share with your friends if you......). 

What is Working for Me Right Now: Both an online and a paper calendar

I am admittedly kind of old school. When I got an Android Smart Phone, I tried to do an entirely digital calendar and to do list. It just doesn't work for me. So every Monday I write out the digital calendar onto my paper one. It gives me space to think on the week and do any necessary planning. It isn't efficient in one sense, but it gives me contemplative space to think on my week and often things that might have fallen off my radar surface to make it on my to do list. We use Google Calendar and each member of my family has a separate, shared calendar. 

Last Book I Finished: No Logo by Naomi Klein This is a well research book that conveys the reach of branding on our culture. It has been on my to-read book for years. Since it is over 25 years old, it seemed like many of the issues changed a lot from when it was written. Social media and the rise of influencers have changed the landscape of this a lot. 

Life Project: Transitioning to a new job as an adjunct professor at Westmont College! 

What we are eating today: One Pot Spaghetti with Cherry Tomatoes and Kale (using brown rice-quinoa pasta and add ground turkey)

Related Links:
Fall 2023 
Summer 2023
Fall 2022
Spring 2022
Winter 2022 Snapshot 
Fall 2021 Snapshot
Summer 2021 Snapshot
Spring 2021 Snapshot
Winter 2021 Snapshot
Fall 2020 Snapshot
Summer 2020 Snapshot
Spring 2020 Snapshot
Winter 2020 Snapshot
Fall 2019 Snapshot
Summer 2019 Snapshot
Winter 2019 Snapshot
Fall 2018 Snapshot
Spring 2018 Snapshot

Yearly Reading Challenge Part 2

One of my COVID year successes was changing up the way I read to be more intentional. I have been doing this now for 5 years and it fits well. Each target is tied to a month of the year and it makes it easier to track and meet the targets. I have not made it every year by December 31, but I have finished within days almost every year. In 2020 and 2021, I hit all the categories! I didn't quite make it in 2022 because of school in the spring (master's degree) and work in the fall. In 2023, I finished within 12 hours and 2024 within 10 days. Check out the first 5 years here. 

I have shared the reading list on my personal FB page, but here it is for wider perusal.  Note: this list has categories that reflect my Christian worldview, especially March and July, as well as choices in each category that are Christian books. In past years, I have included a Spanish language choice as well as a teacher/education choice. (I also spent many years in a GK Chesterton book group and so read a Chesterton or C.S. Lewis book too.)  I share to inspire you to think of categories that would fit you and to share my reading life too. 

 I italicized the potential picks in each category for 2025. I am trying to read books I already have or that are already on my to read list, but something new always catches my eye too! 

January Social Justice for Martin Luther King Day:

2025: How to Fight Racism

February Marriage for Valentine's Day:

2025: Language of Love 

March Christian Living for Lent: 

2025: Soul Survivors, Invitation to Solitude and Silence, Experiencing Scripture as a Disciple of Jesus 

April Environment for Earth Day: 

2025: Is a River Alive?  

May Biography: 

2025: Brave the Wild River,  The Hiding Place (reading this one aloud to the family right now)

June Parenting for Children's Day: 

2025: Untangled, Woven

July Christian Fiction for summer: 

2025: The Brethren

August Children's for summer: 

2025: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

 

September Classics for Back to School: 

2025: The End of the Affair 

October Food for Harvest: 

2025: Well to the Core

November Science: 

2025: Burnout, Revenge of the Tipping Point

December Global Issues for Christmas: 

2025: Jesus and John Wayne

Related Posts: Yearly Reading Challenge (Books from 2020-2024)