MsAn turned 5 in July..Yes I am still in shock! I am still in denial about the fact that she starts school in 3 months’ time ! My baby is a big girl now..OMG !!

She is obsessed with dogs and the Paw Patrol Show. There was absolutely no confusion about what the theme for her party was going to be .  Once I had her go ahead, I asked two very dear friends for help and we set out to plan the best Paw Patrol party ever. Pinterest came in handy for inspirations . I had so much fun planning this  Party.

One of the things on my list was ‘Marshalpops’ and that called for red edible glitter . I couldn’t find any in the local shops and  didn’t have time to look for it anywhere else. A friend sent me a link to make DIY edible glitter and I tried it.And we had beautiful sparkling marshalpops.

We made signs for the party and MsAn was such a perfect little hostess. She greeted each of her guests at the door and , instructed them to wipe their paws and showed them where the food was.

She also very clearly instructed her friends that the characters on the cake were hers and they were not allowed to touch or EAT them!

 

The cake table was set against the backdrop of her favorite characters from Paw Patrol.

And here’s the cake, a masterpiece by Hannah of KreamCake

 

Our little guests left with these little doggie bags 🙂

All in all, it was a great party and the birthday girl was super impressed ! Her smiles and an offhand comment from MsA( Actually that was a pretty cool party, mum!!) totally made it worth all the effort!

More later,

Love,

Trish

 

 

 

Yes, you read that right! I crib when I eat salad for lunch 3 days in a row, but, to be honest, I actually enjoy this salad.

I love how beautiful it looks 🙂 See for yourself

Yup! That’s my lunch box .

My salad has a generous serve of salad greens – lettuce, rocket,spinach leaves ; red capsicum ; tomato(depending on my mood); cucumber; red onions, avocado( if I have any handy); fresh green coriander and 100 gm Tuna in chili oil . Love love love it! And so I crib and complain, but I love this salad.

My other favorite salad is the coleslaw..I don’t have a photo, sadly, because mostly its my on the go, quick meal. I mix a cup or two of finely shredded coleslaw with ranch dressing, a bit of salt and pepper and my yummy salad is ready 🙂

What are your current favorite salad recipes? Do share 🙂

More later,

Love,

Trish

Day 2 – Here I am.

Its been a weird kind of day – the kind that made me want to not talk about it . Actually, that’s not right. Its been the kind of day, that made me not want to talk at all.

Yeah, its been weird. Its my short day at work. I work around Ms.An’s kinder on Wednesdays – so I can drop and pick her up. Today started as usual with me rushing MsAn to hurry up for Kinder, ended up being 5 mins late for kinder and in turn 5 mins late for work. Somehow, my day at work was good – I don’t even know why but when I walked out of the office building, it was with a smile on my face and unexplained happiness.

Oh! It could have something to do with a colleague commenting that I had lost weight or it could be the general camaraderie in the office, as it’s a short week. Then,SP and I went out for a coffee, before he went to get the girls and I went to see my old trusted Parlour lady – It’s almost shorts season here 🙂 When I came home, after my pampering session, MsAn welcomed me with cuddles and cute talks.

And then, everything went downhill. I don’t know if it was the sight of the remains of all the treats my dad had lovingly sent – Every year my dad sends us a care package with all the home-made Diwali snacks. This year’s parcel came half-damaged, most of the food was turned into crumbs.Totally broke my heart. Or it could have been the fact that we were looking for some forms to send back to school and the fact that I couldn’t find them. I need to de-clutter and de-clutter and then some. Just looking at all the stuff we have, overwhelms me and not finding the time to tend to it, makes me anxious.

It could also have been MsA’s persistent whining. She can be a model child, when she wants to. To her credit, she is a great kid, but then, she is at the age, where, everything is a big deal. I keep telling her, ‘ Don’t sweat the small things’ and try to be patient, but some days, it just pushes the wrong buttons. Today’s argument back-chat was about why I wouldn’t let her go to school with her hair, loose.She has long,thick hair – that’s why! After going back and forth,over and over again, I lost it. I mean, completely lost it and screamed and sent her to bed angry.

It could also have been the prospect of eating another salad for lunch tomorrow, in an attempt to lose weight. Although, to be perfectly honestly, I actually enjoy my Tuna salad on most days.  I still don’t know, what made me so miserable. Why is it that when you are naturally cheerful, sunshiny ( is that even a word?) person, some days just suck your sunshine out?

I didn’t want to write something glum on the second day, but I couldn’t help myself. I am more of an instinctive writer and specially on days like today, fail miserably to ignore my moods. Whoever said writing is therapy, was absolutely correct – I am feeling a little bit better, than I was, when I first started writing this post. On that cheery note, I will stop and say good night!

See you tomorrow 🙂

Love,

Trish

A few days back, I saw a friend’s update on Facebook. It was the lovely Swaram – asking if anyone was game enough to join her  for a month of blogging. I commented,’ I am tempted, but don’t want to fail again’.
Swaru said, ‘ The only way to fail is to not start at all.’

And so…here I am – trying my hand at non-stop blogging for a month, yet again!

So, I thought long and hard, about what writing style I wanted to follow this time – I could pick a theme and follow it through – umm..what theme?? OR I could follow the prompts ( I am sure Google would come handy if I put my mind to it ) OR I could just do what I normally do – unleash the verbal onslaught – as it comes to my mind, and spills on to my screen, unplanned, unedited. I think that suits me the best.

As I am getting older, I am realising, that my self-censor button is always ON. I have lost count of the number of times, that I edit my thoughts, before speaking or don’t say them at all. Sometimes, it’s out of politeness and at other times, just because I can’t be bothered and then, there are times, when the sarcasm is lost to the audience. So, about time that I unleash the verbal onslaught somewhere, and where better, if not here.

After much procastinating all day today, I decided to get cooking out-of-the-way, put on a movie and start typing. After the gluttonous weekend we have had, in the name of Diwali, I chose something simple tonight – My mum’s tomato soup and plain cheese pizza. The soup simmering away, I put the movie on – PINK –  in case you are interested and I was ready to type my ramblings away – only I got distracted – Facebook – need I say more?  The movie was playing, only I hadn’t watched it. So, I started it again, and browsed Facebook again, while the titles rolled and the next thing I know, the movie was back to where I had stopped – yes, I got distracted again. Started the movie again, ignored the computer, started watching the movie and then, started the post. God! I am losing my touch – I used to be the multi-tasking queen.

Anyway, the movie is now paused and I am typing away. By way of conversation, how was your weekend?  We were fortunate enough to get a long weekend this year for Diwali and Halloween – Ms.A’s school had curriculum day and Tuesday was a public holiday. So, we spent most of our time relaxing, enjoying the festivities and bonding over little rituals. SP put up the lights, Ms A and MsAn helped me prepared sweets and savouries, then helped decorate the house. We were chatting, while cooking and I said,’ You know what’s the best part about Diwali?’ and without skipping a beat, MsAn said,’ That we are working as a family.’ That moment there, totally kicked my festive spirits, a whole new notch up!

I leave you with a photo of my favourite moment, as I mentioned above 🙂 and another of my girls dressed up in their finest Indian outfits

If you are game enough join in the fun by writing or leaving a comment on the participating blogs – the complete list can be found here.

See you tomorrow..

Love,

Trish

 

 

So almost 2 years ago, I started a Ripple blanket for our bed. I had big plans. It was going to be the most colorful, most beautiful handmade blanket ever.

I followed Lucy’s pattern – Did I ever mention, how much I love her blog? It’s one of my virtual happy place. So, anyway, as I was saying, I started the blanket, I mixed and matched the colors, and matched and mixed again and finally got started.

But…life got in the way, the blanket joined the pile of other UFOs, until a couple of weeks back, when we were going away for the long weekend and I decided to pull it out. I started working on it again, very diligently. And then practicality took over and I decided to turn it into an infinity scarf instead.

So, that’s exactly what I did..and I love it! MsA loves it even more and honestly, wears it better than I do 🙂

What do you think?

Love,

Trish 🙂

 

The girls are playing Basketball now. So much fun! Ms.An is on the Under8s Team and Ms.A is on the Under12s.

Its amazing how much they have already improved in the 3 weeks, that we have been there. On the first training night, Ms.An was the only one, that didn’t know how to dribble. And if I am perfectly honest, I was disappointed. I thought, this was a mistake, I should’ve atleast done a trial class before signing up, ordering uniforms etc. SP was a bit antsy too.  But, here’s the thing – MsAn couldn’t care less that she was the only one that couldn’t dribble. She couldn’t care less that she was tinier than the other girls, or that some of them were able to shoot baskets( Some of them have been playing for 6 months or longer) All she cared about was how much fun it was and that she had her own Basketball.

As for MsA, she was so nervous on the first training night, she didn’t even want to go, she said her tummy was sore. We still went – I , all but threatened her, reminded her of the money spent, anyway, we got there and halfway, through the training session, she came running to me and said,” Mumma, do you think we can sign up for the next season also? Because I am having sooo much fun!”

And that’s how it started..we are part of a team now – the girls love it..we are getting to know other parents and realising slowly that everyone is in the same boat, all the new girls and their parents.I am learning how the scoring works, what’s allowed and what’s not 🙂

Here’s to more fun times ahead 🙂

 

Its been so long since I wrote anything here, I don’t even know where to begin, how to begin..

So, let me start with the most exciting bit..My little baby, my MsAn turned 5!Yes, time has flown and my little miss will be starting school next year. She is now enrolled in the same school as MsA and wants to start going there, already! Oh my Gosh, I love looking at her excited  face, when anyone asks her ‘who is going to school next year?’ 

Speaking of school, SP has finished School too and will be graduating from B-school next month. 

And whilst on the subject of schools, MsA loves her school too, she just hates a new person, every week, at school and that person ‘ ruins ‘ her life and day!!! #joysofbeinga9yearold 

As for me, I am trying to master the art of solo-parenting as fast as I  can. SP has been travelling during the week since the end of July and I am still getting used to it. Doing double drop offs before work is what tires me the most… actually I  lie… its the waking up half an hour earlier than usual – that’s what tires me most. Other than that, its business as usual. 

Oh! We celebrated Book Week last week and the girls dressed up as’ Cat in the Hat’ from Dr.Suess. I had so much fun putting their costumes, together ☺

I leave you with a pic of my Cats …

xx

Trish 

Hello World,

I am here again, after a long gap. Wonder if anyone is still reading? Oh well! I have time to write today and write, I will!

So..o.. exactly two days before I wrote my last post, I had submitted a job application – you know the kind where almost all your skill-sets match, but you not a 100%. Yes, one of those – so, I submitted the application, said a prayer and forgot about it. A couple of days later, I got a call for the interview. OMG!! To say that I was excited will be an understatement!! So, I went for the interview and guess what? I GOT the job! The next couple of days went too quickly. I served my notice period and was ready to start at the new place.

Even though, I have been working for the last 4 years and a bit, but a typical work day for me was  3-4 hours long. I would drop the kids to school/child-care and then go to work. I would finish work,  grab lunch/ coffee, do a quick grocery run and then pick up the kids and return home, all within 7-8 hours. And I did this twice a week,sometime 3 times. When I picked up a second job, some weeks were very busy, with me doing 8 hour shifts on my ‘off ‘ days, but it wasn’t consistent.

With the new job, I am at work for 9 hours, including breaks. We are out of the house for nearly 10 hours .I start early – earlier than SP, earlier than MsA and I have to wake up early(that’s the only thing that I don’t like)!! SP was dropping the girls, when I first started and then, one day, I had to drop Ms.An because she was super-clingy and we walked in, as they were serving breakfast. Since, then, I have been dropping her off. So, anyway..I am loving the new job, but the house is a mess, the car is a mess, the laundry barely gets done on time. I try and plan our meals, ranging from hardwork – fun – one pot, in that order, as the week progresses. But, I have near zero energy and no patience when I get back home. So, its in everyone’s best interest that our tummies are filled and everyone is in bed, at the earliest. Its a huge balancing act but we are all still alive 🙂

I read this post today and it felt like The Mummy Code was talking about me! Only she was brave enough to share the pics of her messy car..I am still not that brave 😀

I just realised, almost every single one of my post in this year has been, when I was sick and in bed .. not a good sign. I’ve been sick, last couple of days – cold – asthma – flu – asthma and I am ready for a break, ready to be able to breathe comfortably and to be able to talk without huffing and puffing or sounding like I swallowed a toad. But, in between sipping copious amounts of tea, feeding the kids( who are both flu-ey), helping them bake some banana bread and cleaning up for the cleaner( what?? You mean, you don’t clean up before your cleaner comes in ? 😛 ),  I managed to churn out a blogpost..So, it’s not such a bad thing, after all.

I’ll come back and write more mundane stuff, when I am better 🙂

 

 

 

 

Blogging in your head doesn’t count ..No, it doesn’t..You can’t go back and read your thoughts 🙂
I have written quite a few blogposts in my head in the last few days, but they are lost somewhere, in the mist that is otherwise known as my grey cells.
Like the other day, a few weeks back actually a month back( OMG!! I can’t believe its been a month since I came back from India!), when I came back from India, we were still jet-lagged..atleast, Ms.An and I were. Ms.A trained her body back to Melbourne time. She slept in the first day, and set alarms from the very next day- alarms for waking up as usual and for bed-time etc. Yes! She is super-organised.
ME? Well, I will not lie. I struggled. I struggled big time! We arrived on Thursday night and I went back to work on Monday, but I was like a Zombie for almost 10 days.
So, anyway, the day that I was talking about..We dropped Ms.A to school and were home by 8:30am. I decided that we were going to go back to bed. But, Ms.An decided that she was hungry. So, we had breakfast and I decided again that we were going to go back to bed. And Ms.An decided that she wanted to go poop and that she needed to share her worldly wisdom with me. Poop done, I decided again that we were going back to bed, but Ms.An wanted me to read her a story and then play with her animals..I ignored her, rolled over and pretended to sleep. But, she continued talking, poking me awake and what not. Finally, I gave up and sat up to do all that she wanted me to.
To say, I was grumpy, will be an understatement.
Finally, it was time to go pick up Ms.A from school and guess what? Ms.An fell asleep! And if you have ever had to wake up a sleeping child, you will know what I am talking about. If you don’t know what I am talking about, I will tell you in four simple words : All Hell Broke Lose! Somehow, MsA was picked up, we arrived home and a shattered grumpy child and a grumpier mum went to bed and we were awake for yet another night .

Anyway, all that talking about naps, is making me sleepy.I am off to take a Sunday snooze.
More later,
T

Ms. An is the newest chatterbox in the house. Everyone, that we met in India, commented on how the shy little girl from last year, wouldn’t stop talking, this time around. I am still amazed at how much she has to say, and to think just 6 months back, I was worried, about whether she would ever talk anything other than baby talk.
She has an opinion on everything and is not scared to share it. She is quick to share her excitement and disappointment.
When my BFF’s mum gave her a roti, smeared with freshly made ghee, she called out to me and said, ‘Mumma, come here and see this ghee..its the most amazing ghee in the world.’
When I scolded Ms.A and she started crying, she said to my sister, “Tuku, your sister made my sister cry. She is a rude mumma. I am not happy with her.”
She told her Dadu-Dadi that their ‘ son has the same Gods in his house’ and that their house is her Daddy’s house and that Nanu’s house is her Mummy’s house.
She told her Nanu,after reaching Melbourne,”Nanu, I am happy now, I am with my mummy and my daddy now.”
She,doesn’t know what shy means, she couldn’t care any less about the langauage barrier, she kept talking to people, whether they understood what she was saying or not, whether she fully understood what they were saying or not. She just kept chattering away 🙂
She makes up songs on the go, adding the name of the person/kid we are with..For example- “Rain rain go away, BabyS wants to play”  ” Cheeky little J, jumping on the bed”
And what prompted me to write this post, was what I heard today. We were walking up to MsA’s class, for school pickup and MsAn kept pointing at things, ” Look Mummy,he is taller than her; My friend H’s mummy is bigger(taller) than you; Friend K is tinier than me.. I was amazed, I didn’t even realise when she got so smart and learned to compare and use comparative words and in the correct manner, not just random words thrown together.
And my favourite line of all times is, ” Mumma, if you get angry/ don’t do/give this, I will never be your chotula( little one)” , said with the cutest little pout and arms crossed on her chest!  And just one look at that pouting little person is enough to turn me in to a puddle of mush.
My little chatterbox, started kindergarten this week. I am still in denial..I refuse to accept the fact that my munchkin is not a baby or even a toddler anymore.Her new found love is Chota Bheem, from our recent India trip.So, she wore her favourite Chota Bheem T-shirt and took along the Chota Bheem book, to kinder. I leave you with a picture of my precious…

Love,

Trish