it's my girls' world

Hello last Wednesday in April of our new normal! Here's what's been going on in these parts in our efforts to make every day seem not like Groundhog Day!!

What we're eating this week?

Old tried and true comfort foods mixed in with new recipes, all the while  while trying to get fruits and veggies in and use things in the pantry so we head to the grocery every 10-17 days. 

Monday: Lentil soup with all the veggies in the world and frozen leftover turkey. 

Tuesday: sada roti with fried cabbage and salted cod with tomato

Wednesday: butter chicken with veggies, salad and rice. Cauliflower rice for me. 

Thursday: udon noodles with tofu

Friday: either Finger Food Friday or BBQ

Here are  some of the creations lately.

Sushi bowls for the win.

What I'm reminiscing about

Other springs when things were different...it's warming up more and more though so that's good!

What I'm dreading

I think what we're all dreading... that this disease takes longer than they are anticipating.

What I've been up to…

Cleaning/Organising all these little neglected areas in the house. Lots of satisfaction there.

What I'm working on

Homeschooling these critters. They require lots of attention in different ways and some days it is satisfying but others it just saps all of my energy. I'm sick of hearing myself talk. 

What I'm excited about…

I kinda like this pantry shopping, menu organising, grocery planning  and using lots of different things to create our meals and cater to our household needs. 

What I'm watching/reading…

What I'm listening to..

What I'm wearing…

No makeup and it is glorious!! All the leggings and tops in the world. 

What I'm doing this weekend…

There will be  baking, wine, food, family, books and TV. D and I started to watch some old rom coms. Last weekend was When Harry Met Sally and Peggy Sue Got Married. 

Also, we've taken to doing a proper Sunday Lunch (Trinidadians would know what I'm talking about) followed by a Bollywood movie just like they would have in tnt when we were growing up. My kids are aghast at the thought of three hour movies in another language. 

What I'm looking forward to next month? 

What else is new?

We opened the pool early this year and it's really nice to look at!

So that's what's been going on.... Hope you have a wonderful day, lovelies. 

 Linking up with  Shay and Shaeffer

x

I got this idea from Sarah the other day and wanted to do a "state of the nation" if you will about what's been going on here... our new normal seems to be continuing longer than we thought it would with no real end in the foreseeable future to be honest. Here's what's different vs what's still the same:

What's the same?

- I get out of my pjs everyday. I'm not a stay in pjs all day gal. 

- We still try to eat as many as those fruits and veggies as possible. If anything, my kiddos are eating more veggies than ever before as they eat more meals at home....

- Exercise is still a  part of my life (for my sanity). I do live classes via Zoom with my F45 crew almost daily. My kids and I also take a walk most days. 

-  My kids still have their music classes, albeit virtually and I still nag them to practise. 

- I give my kids "extra" work as usual... Singapore Math and curriculum books are still key here.

- I still blowout my hair (albeit not as fastidiously) as I feel so much better when my hair isn't frizzy. I also pay attention to my skin and teeth carefully. Ain't nobody want a cavity now! 

What's new?

- My kids slowly stumble out of bed. Bedtime is later and not as forcefully enforced and if I'm totally honest, I don't actively wake them up as I enjoy some solitude.

- Instead of one cup of tea in the am, it's now two cups. 

-  No cleaning lady coming here these days so we all take it day by day and if something needs a scrub/wash, it gets done. 

- We watch/read way too much news here. 

- No makeup, no problem!

- There are screens during the week here. Too many. I'll allow it. 

- Trying out lots of new recipes and revisiting old favourites. Oh and the adults eat carbs these days--- and sugar! 

I tried Indian pulao for the first time yesterday.

- C is also becoming quite the baker and cook. She made homemade custard the other days 

-  Lots more game nights and family doodling time! 

- Homeschooling my seven year old might do me in. 

- D works from home as much as he can. On the days, he has to go in the hospital there is more anxiety but then again, that has become the new normal. 

This has been an awfully tumultuous time here. My mom is a front worker in NYC and was diagnosed positive a couple weeks ago. She has had moderate symptoms and though she is slowly improving and has been able to stay at home so far, it has been such an uphill battle with many not so great days. My dad is seventy and they're still in the same house though trying to isolate from each . They didn't want to test him but there's an almost certainty that he's gotten it.  Thank God that so far he is still asymptomatic but the way this thing is working, you don't know. 

So yeah, there are off days here. And we have to make sacrifices. But it's simply and absolutely nothing compared to what these front line workers,  hospitalised patients and families are going through. So for all our sakes friends, and as much as possible, please, please stay home. 

Just popping by to say hi and to showcase our subdued but wonderful Easter activities from last weekend. 

Friday was all birthday fun... to be captured in another post. 

My friend, Jenn and her kids send a little package of cookies and icing. The girls were their best selves decorating these cookies with way too much icing!!!

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend focused on family, togetherness, hope and beauty... and mini eggs.

                              

Note, I haven't done half of these yet and I take things day by day but hope to in due course.  It helps us to feel a little bit better about our home whilst making me feel in control.

What random areas in your house have you been cleaning?

Now it's your turn to link up....

C was born on Good Friday and now we are back to her birthday on a Good Friday, full circle. It certainly was a Good Friday for our family!

If I could freeze time and capture C right as she is at this moment, I would certainly do it. Ten has been such a wonderful age for my beautiful girl.

C is tender hearted, sweet and helpful. She has a tender heart and a determined spirit. We have the best conversations and I love hearing her political, social and introspective insights.  She is a peace maker like her mama and a critical thinker like her dad. 

This has been a year filled with  wonderful learning and growing for C. I'm seeing such strides in her learning. She is really wanting those good grades and working so hard towards them.There's a big push at the end of her swim races to beat that personal best time and to place. She is also calm and tries her best presenting and performing (her violin) in public for for adjudication, something a lot of adults still struggle with. She is obsessed with skiing and loved this winter!

C is such an easy kid. She can make her meals, clean up after herself and entertains herself well. A book and a snack and she will be AWOL for hours! 

C is always up for a good time and lots of laughs. She keeps me current with life 'hacks' from Youtube, the most popular music and what's 'in' and 'out'.  She is obsessed with baking shows and is always wanting to try a new experiment in the kitchen. She made her first three course dinner for the family with no help!

Here are the questions I usually ask her on her birthday. They have begun to get very excited over this little tradition of ours. 

Favourite colour?

Green

And your favourite food?
 Chicken Alfredo

Who is your hero?

You and daddy ... super cliche 

What do you like to do the most?

Read 
(nothing new here)

Who new that for this month's currently, we'd be living in bizarro land!In the meanwhile as we navigate through all this uncertainty and stillness, I'm linking up with Anne for a little Currently in April!

And because we all need some smiles, here you go friends.... some Covid funnies.

How many of you guys have more snacks in the house than before? 

Stay safe and stay home, friends!!

How well does your family know you? Well after these next few months, we as a family will know each other a whole lot better! I saw this on a friend's FB page and asked my family to play along...

How tall am I?

D- 5' 7"

C- 5' 6" and 7/8's 

A- Like 5' 6" something.

(My family does know my height quite well)

What's my favorite thing to eat?

D- Insert carb here and buljol (think of a salted cod poke)

C- Oysters

A- Peanut butter

(all staples in my diet)

What is something I say a lot?

D- I'm always cleaning up behind you guys

C- I talk too much to you guys

A- But first, do your list (in these times, I make a list for them and they have to finish it)

(Haha, all of the above is true. )

What do I do when I’m not with you?

D-  talk to all your family on Facetime... simultaneously, workout and work. 

C- You're with us all the time now. (so true, ha!!)

A- Book club or bingo

What is my favorite movie?

D- When Harry met Sally 

C- The Sound of Music

A- The Wishing Tree

(none of the above, family)

If I could go anywhere, where would I go?

D- Right now... hello? Stay home!

C- Greece... again. 

A- Paris

(D is so right... at least right now anyways!)

How do I annoy you?

D- You stopped the wet towel on the bed but there's something still... I have to think about that one....

C- You don't annoy me...

A- When you scream out my name

What is my favorite TV show?

D- Do I need to pick one? The Bachelor, A Million Little Things, Grey's Anatomy.

C- Station 19, A Million Little Things, Grey's Anatomy, This is Us, The Bachelor, DTWS.... you have a lot of favourites (ha, so true, kiddo)

A- Grey's Anatomy or Station 19.

(My family knows my selections well)

You get a phone call that I am in trouble, who am I with?

D- Petal

C- I dunno, I don't want to know

A- I dunno

What do I hate?

D- When your  best friends disappoint you. 

C- When A talks meanly

A- When C or me don't listen

(again, all true)

What’s my favorite drink?

D- A  pineapple express. 

C- Water

A- Water

What's my shoe size?

D- 7

C- Size 8?

A- 5 maybe 6

(they are all wrong, it's 8.5)

Describe me in 3 words.

D- Why do I feel the future of my marriage depends on these three words?Dedicated, trustworthy and beautiful. 

C- You're my mom... 

A- Smart, Strict, Sweet (Awwww kiddo)

(sidenote, not a most recent pic, this was in the good old days when restaurants were a thing!)

How well does your family know you? Stay safe and stay home, friends!