Yesterday we went for a birthday party. My cousin’s little boy turned 4 last week and it was his birthday party . The party was at an awesome play center.The kids loved it. I met a lovely lady, whose family had migrated here, when she was 4 years old. We had a nice conversation and then,she moved on to chat with someone else.I said hello to some of my cousin’s friends, people I had met before and then found myself a quiet corner to people watch. 

SP, on the other hand, socialised with a few people , struck a conversation with someone he had never met before and by the end of the event, had swapped phone numbers. Something similar happened at last weekend’s party. SP got involved, met some friends  and got introduced to some new people.All this while, I caught up with a friend – both she & I , spent all our time there, talking up a storm.

Normally, it’s the other way round – I am the social one, mingling with everyone, striking conversations with random strangers, while he is either talking to me or the kids or glued to his phone.And even when I am talking to someone else , I am uncomfortable and anxious, that he is probably getting bored.There is also the unsaid awkwardness that he is only interacting with his phone. So, these two parties were a welcome change.

That being said, I have come to realise that as I am getting older, I don’t feel the restlessness that comes with the silence in a crowded room.By silence, I mean the loneliness that creeps upto you, unseen. You see, that doesn’t bother me anymore. Don’t  get me wrong , it’s not like I am turning anti-social.I still enjoy meeting people and still enjoy conversing with them , but at the same time , I don’t have the self-induced pressure to fill every quiet moment with words. I am starting to enjoy my own company a little more . It’s amazing how I don’t even feel the need to check my phone every minute that I am alone.

I don’t know if the change is good or bad, but when you start enjoying your own company , it must be a good thing ! 

Do you find yourself changing with time to or is it just me? 

I leave you with a quote from my favorite Facebook page – 

Love,

Trish 

Since watching the movie Storks, MsAn is convinced that she will finally get the sibling that she has been begging us for. We went away for a weekend, in September.On our second night there, she came up to me and said,’ I need to tell you something.’ She made me sit down on the couch and then presented her case – ‘ MsA and I have decided that we want a sibling and it has to be a boy this time and his name will be Abir!’ First..it took me 2 minutes to recover from the shock of it! One that she had planned this whole speech! Two, that she had picked a name that was on the top of my list of boy names, when I was expecting the girls! Once  I had recovered from the shock, I informed her not very nicely, that there will be no new sibing!

That hasn’t deterred her spirits though. She still brings it up! Then MsA woke up super excited the other morning and made a card requesting we get a new baby. She had a dream that they were getting a new sister. The card she made had the new baby’s profile listed ( she loves making lists and descriptions!) and the new sister was going to be called Anya!

Anyway, on Friday, a colleague brought in his new daughter, a 6 month old cherrub, cute and cuddly. I was feeling clucky is an understatement.

MsAn had her first school transition day today. She was so excited about it last night that she couldn’t fall asleep . 

SP dropped her off at the school and I picked her up after. The transition teacher said, she is so chatty and that MsAn asked her how old she was. I said I was surprised she didn’t ask her if she was married and how many kids she had.

MsAn found a friend in the same room and also has a few friends starting school with her next year. So it will be fun . Although I am a little worried about how she will react to the new environment . Every year when   they changed rokms at the childcare, she cried and cried for the  first few weeks .  I am hoping next year will be different . 

For now I leave you with a pic of  my precious second-born, all set to conquer her little world 

…going to work on your day off and being greeted with a tray of mini scones made by the Boss-man!

Happiness can also be a cupcake with green frosting..specially if you are a 9 year old ! 

Image Courtesy Google images

Sometimes all you need to start a conversation is a willing person , who is equally eager to talk. Like the saleswoman at a local Clothes Store, I went to today. 

I spotted a pair of well worn Black stilletos in the trial room and asked the saleswoman  casually if they were hers. She replied yes and went on to tell me how sore her feet were. She then showed me how one of her feet had a bigger bone. I, in turn told her how I had flat feet and it ran in the family.

We continued chatting for a while , at the cash counter – about hayfever ,US elections, kids. SP gently nudged me that it was time to go. 

Next, we went to the childcare to pickup MsAn and I spotted a mum tipping sand out of her child’s shoes.We smiled at each other ,she rolled her eyes, I shrugged and told her – “You are  doing the wrong thing..If you tip all the sand out, how will you make the sandpit in the backyard and we both started laughing .Another mum walking past, joined in . Funny thing is none of us know each other , but hey!us mums needs to stick together 😃😃
As we were leaving , SP commented that it’s not a surprise our girls are such chatterboxes.

Anyway, tell me , do you ever strike a conversation with a stranger or would you rather not? Would you indulge someone like me or politely excuse yourself ? 

Looking forward to hearing from you ,

Love 

Trish

So, it turns out my finger might be either sprained or fractured. The Dr doesn’t think the swelling is consistent with fracture, so has immobilized my hurt finger for the next 2 days. I go back on Wednesday for a review. So I am sporting a boring band-aid on my two fingers that are ‘buddied’ up together.

Speaking of ‘Buddies’, MsA’s school pairs up Prep Students with Grade4 students as buddies. And every thursday, they have the Buddy session, when the Preppies get to spend time with their Grade 4 Buddies. MsA was so excited about her buddy – she planned a few fun activities to do with her and drew her a card . When MsA was in Prep, her buddy used to give her a fun task each week and a sticker or a special drawing at the end of each session.

MsAn’s teachers have also introduced ‘Partners’ in their Kinder Room. Everyday, the kids have to pick a different friend to be partners with. And all through the day, they do everything together – playing, selecting free-time activities, waiting at the table for their partner to finish food. I absolutely love the concept.

Now, on to hay fever – today Hayfever was at its peak in Melbourne – the pollen levels had reached ‘extremes’.At lunch time, I got an alert from MsA’s school that more than 20 students were sent home and many more were presented to the sick bay with severe hayfever symptoms. I was sitting inside a closed office and my eyes were burning. I am popping the anti-histamines, as are so many other Melburnians. Have a look at this article , if you don’t believe me.

More later, right now, the bed beckons 🙂

love,

Trish

We finally had a lazy Sunday, after what seems like forever. SP dropped MsA for her class while I slept in. One of the advantages of having Pizza for dinner is leftover pizza for breakfast. MsA loves eating leftover pizza for breakfast and so, I didn’t need to wake up. She woke me up when it was time to go. I am so grateful, that she let me sleep-in. I do feel a little guilty, but I needed the rest after the last couple of days.

SP came back and went right back to bed.MsAn woke up at some stage and snuggled up with me and her soft toy and kept talking.I woke up in time to pick up MsA. MsA and I got some grocery shopping done and came home with coffee from our favorite coffee shop. For breakkie, I served myself the Diwali treats that my dad sent.

After brekkie and coffee, I started decluttering. I am happy to say, I got rid of 2 more bags of unused and outgrown clothes. I used to be a hoarder, still am to an extent and so it is sort of liberating to be able to get rid of things, without a second thought. I still have heaps to sort through, but I will get there bit by bit.

In the evening, we went out to the shops, to get organised for the birthday parties, next weekend. No! I don’t want to wrap gifts in the car again. After shopping, we went to the park to shoot some hoops and practice dribbling. I may have broken/ done some damage to one of my fingers, while playing with MsAn. The finger is still throbbing with pain, but I can bend it, although with great difficulty. MsA loves playing basketball and can do it for hours together. MsAn, on the other hand was  very cranky today. She is normally a very happy child, so something must be majorly wrong. I hope she isn’t coming down with something. This is how she spent most of her time at the  park, today.

Speaking of coming down with something, I have a bad case of hay fever..Love spring, hate hayfever 😦

More later,

Love,

Trish

This qualifies as a post, yes? Yes?

Ok, so here’s what happened : There was a call out at work for Overtime, doing & learning something new. I had been wanting to do this for a while, but somehow the time/ day didn’t work out. Finally the stars were aligned and I was able to work on Friday. In anticipation of the long day, I had already scheduled my post for Day4. I came home at 8:30pm on Friday night. SP had got a takeaway dinner for me – I inhaled it and jumped into bed.

The next morning, we had to go for a birthday party. But, we didn’t have a present. So,  we woke up, got ready and went to the shops, to get a present – selected the present in record time, but couldn’t find a bag big enough. The party was at 11:00am and it was already 10:50am. So, I had to use plan B – ducked into a shop and bought a roll of wrapping paper and sticky-tape. Thankfully MsA had a pair of scissors in her bag ( Don’t ask me why!!) She is always prepared for writing and crafting . LOL! So, I quickly wrapped the present in the boot, standing in the car park. MsA rolled her eyes and said,”seriously..who wraps presents in the car boot!” I asked her, if she had a better plan and that shut her up, promptly.

Anyway, present sorted, we arrived at the party and I got to do my favorite thing ever – helping the hostess decorate 🙂 It was a fun party – I spent most of my time, chatting with a friend. MsA had her basketball game, so SP took her for that while MsAn and I stayed back. SP & MsA got back in time for cake cutting and dessert. Our hosts needed help carting the presents from the venue to their home, so we offered to help and ended up staying longer for more chit-chat over cups of masala chai.

By the time,we got back home, it was late and I had a splitting headache. Pizzas were ordered and duly consumed before I found my way to bed.

And that is why,my lovely friends, I missed out on posting yesterday 🙂

Now, to think of something to post today…

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