15 Marbles

..is my mantra these days. That is the only way,I can keep up with life and not get overwhelmed. Making plans based on how the day is going,instead of pre-planning in advance. When I make plans in advance,I either forget about them..OR I forget about the plans made and end up making other plans on the same day 😦 

Like today for instance..I had plans to catch up with two girlfriends and their toddlers and I invited another gf over for lunch.. asked a fourth if she wanted to come over and taste some new dishes that I want to try cooking!!! I knowww sounds bizzare but its a true story!
And after the girls left,I asked a friend if she wants to go for a walk,while Ms.A attended drawing class..completely forgetting that I would have the cleaner over at that time..Seriously embarassing 😀 So I need a day planner/week planner..something that I can see all the time-May be a huge sign board with flashing lights or even a white board..thoughts?

The only thing that I pre-plan is the meals.I try to get meals sorted for the next day..either preps or half of the meals cooked or shopped.We have decided consciously to cut down on takeaways and so being prepared helps and it saves money!
Yesterday I spent $40  $37.39 and got stuff to make 3 dinners- 
1 bag of ravioli and a bag of garlic bread- for dinner last night.I had the fixings for sauce.
1.5kgs for chicken – Cooked 1 kg for dinner tonight (butter chicken mix also bought last night)
Marinated half kg chicken for a meal later in the week.
1 can of chickpeas to cook tomorrow night.Some salad fixings and snacks for the girls to munch on.
And to think a dinner or breakfast for 4 at McDonalds cost that much.. when we go to a drive-thru..Sitting there makes it more expensive. 
Besides this is good practice for MB12 weeks 🙂 Can you tell I am excited???Can you?Can you?? 😀

Hope you are having a good week..more soon..xx

First of September is first day of Spring in Australia. I L.O.V.E spring..She makes me happy..despite the hayfever!There is nothing I love more than to see new leaves appear on the bare branches. 
Its a new beginning..so many things to look forward to..I find my blues are at bay,when we move into the new season.

Today was far from perfect in terms of weather..it was dark and gloomy and rained all day..but it didn’t dampen my spirits..I know its more pschycological than real but still 😀
This month I am starting the Michelle Bridges 12 week body transformation again and I am excited. I had signed up for it 2 years back,when Ms.An was 6 mo and had managed to lose a fair bit of weight and also gained strength..that is my aim again this time. Every time I start a new plan/diet I vow to stick to it..but I let go again. Here’s hoping this time will be different. If I feel brave enough,I will share photos.. Let’s see 🙂
Gosh!! Can you believe it ..we are in the 9th month of the year?? This year sure has gone fast.I can’t wait to get to the end of the year..exciting changes await,more about those later. Here’s one of my favorite photos of spring,from a couple of years back 🙂

Dearest An,
You turned 3, nearly 3 weeks back.I didn’t plan to write this today,but you went to bed,on your own today,I think for the very first time.There was no dilly-dallying,no fighting(ok there was a little playful fighting-more about that in a minute)no call-outs for milky/water,no jumping on the bed-Just kisses and long cuddles,I Wuv you Mumma and lights off. I left you in your room and you went to sleep in less than 10 minutes.Thank you,Princess,Mumma is relaxed today and so I can write this letter to you and when you are old enough to read it then we can read this and laugh together.
Ms.An,you are my firecracker- you are so full of spunk,you just DONOT stop.I think the only time that you are quiet or still is when you are asleep.A couple of months back, I  We  your papa  we,both your papa and I were worried about your speech.Papa said he didn’t understand what you spoke. I had to constantly translate,what you were saying.We were also trying to constantly see if you were measuring up to the benchmark that your sister set up..and finally came to the conclusion,that you are both different-very different. She had more words and a clearer speech,but you had more understanding,were/are smarter and better at your gross motor skills. You were grasping the pencil so well,even before your 1st birthday and had the most perfect defined strokes :)Sorry baby – you are perfect the way you are 🙂
We were worried that you didn’t follow our instructions..I spent many nights worrying about it,before finally concluding that you didn’t follow instructions,not because you didn’t understand them,but because you didn’t care about them OR because you didn’t think it was worth stopping your FUN to follow our instructions.Yelling doesn’t work on you,but if I just say the same thing in a different tone,you happily oblige :)You are a free spirit,not scared of anything or anyone..my crazy girl 🙂

My beautiful,head-strong girl,you have taught your mummy and daddy that parenting is not a piece of cake.. Its a bit of give and take..its a big learning and for that I am grateful. You taught me that I don’t know everything and that I need to find newer ways to get through to you. 
You are the most adorable,most loving little girl,Anan.. you smother me with kisses and tell me that you ‘wuv’ me a hundred times in a day and I love it.And then I ask you,do you love me or do you love Papa and you think. and then say..umm Papa! And I pout and you pat my head and say..’all fine..all fine..don’t cwy’ 
You have settled well in your daycare(touchwood) and are so independent.You like to eat your meals yourself,take off your clothes yourself.As soon as we come home from outside(school,park,anywhere else),you sit down,just outside the laundry door and take off your socks and shoes.Makes my heart melt every single time! Feeding you your lunch or snack is a luxury for me,because you don’t let me baby you..But when I ask you,”Are you my baby or my big girl?”You always say,Baby. yes,you are my baby.. my last one:) 
Your love for your sister continues to grow,but sibling rivalry has kicked in.You have to do everything she does.I was kissing her good night one night,when you decided to sleep with her and you observed us quietly and then covered your face and started crying,saying your new favorite phrase-“I can’t take it anymore”O.M.G. I had a hard time keeping a straight face while trying to calm you down.
Your other favorite phrases are:
I hate it!(not sure where/who you picked it from)
Whatever you do,DONOT break/drop it.
Gimme one more chance..the cutest!
Godu Me!(Meaning -Pick me up)
And – Ohh Mannnnnnnn..said with the most frustrated expression ever!

At 3,your favorite foods are-cocktail sausages,daal,chicken nuggets,any other chicken dish,chickpeas,kidney beans,maggi noodles,strawberries and yogurt. You happily taste and eat other things too but these are a definite hit.

You keep me on my toes,you tire me,you challenge me and you make me earn my mummy stars..but you love me unconditionally and completely.You make me smile and make me complete in a way no-one else can. You will give me my grey..you are the noise of my life,but I won’t have it any other way..for it will be dull life,without the sparkle you add to it..
Love you forever my little baby…
Hugs n kisses from
Your little Mumma 

This year Rakhi was quite low key.We were all sick last week and Ms.An is still sick. So, there were no fancy meals,no handmade rakhis..but once we got showered and ‘dolled up’ the mood changed..well not Anan’s but that’s OK.
But here’s  this year’s Rakhi in pictures 🙂