it's my girls' world

Friday, January 17, 2014

5 on Friday- Happy 1st Blogiversary to me!

One year since I've started blogging. In honour of this, my 5 on Friday this week will be my five favourite blog posts. Once again, I am linking up with Darci, Natasha, Christina and April.

Here goes, in no particular order, my 5 favourite blog posts

I don't have a favourite kid but I have an easier one--- the question is which one?

This one was a bit of rambling, very random but very real and really depicts our everyday life. It's really how I feel. I love my life but the days can be looong.

I didn't get to tell him...

This is one of my very favourite posts but it's not even about my kids--- well I guess technically it is. I wrote this when my brother's firstborn, my nephew was born. I was so happy for my brother and his wife as they had a particularly sh!tty year and this birth was the biggest blessing for their family. It's my little bit of parental advice being imparted.

Our carpet needs sterilizing

I love good low grade potty humour and this post about why our carpet needs sterilising still makes me laugh.

My mini visit to TNT

This trip was the first one I took without Anjali but it was really great seeing my family and friends and meeting my new nephew.

And she is 1... Happy Birthday Sweet Anjali

Technically, this is one of my two favourite posts- this is the other. However, I couldn't put two birthday favourites. Anyways, these posts really express how absolutely and unconditionally I love my two sweet peas... the real reason for this blog. I also love how through the pictures in each post it is illustrated how much they've grown just in one year and all the adventures they've had.

I hope to continue blogging for a very long time. 245 posts and 17, 745 blog posts later, I still really enjoy sharing our adventures with everyone. Thank you for reading!

PS. After a year, it was definitely time for a refresh- hope you like the new look of our little corner of cyber space.

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Everyday life in 2014- Week 2

Happy Wednesday. Here's a list of our everyday ongoings in week 2 of 2014.

Day 8- this little lady started going back to the gym (day care) with me. She took a break for a couple weeks. She was thrilled to be back.

Day 9- full disclosure, I totally forgot to take a pic on day 9 but this pic reminds me of how I feel most mornings.

Day 10- Check my little gourmand loving her butter chicken at this wonderful new restaurant we tried.

Day 11- We went to a very sweet surprise anniversary party for our aunt and uncle. It was a touching evening!

Day 12- We went for a quick dinner at the Keg on Sunday night after we had a lazy day at home

Day 13- Bye bye Ajee and Aja!

Day 14- Back to normal everyday routine

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Grandparents are amazing!

When I first had Cassia, when I noticed how she treated my baby, I asked D's mom if she loves her grandchildren as much as her children. She replied-- more. She said that you look at your grandchildren, you see this miracle and you think 'did my child do this?'. My grandmother always told me that as well. As I can't imagine loving anyone more than I love my children, the verdict is still out on my end.

As I've written before, we were blessed to have two sets of grandparents here for the holidays. Yesterday, D's parents left. They spent about 5 weeks with us... longer than they've spent for the past few years. Though they'll miss the kids especially, I think the adults in our house will miss them more. As it was so cold out, we were indoors mostly so we spent lots of time together. We played games, cooked, chatted, shopped (my mother in law loves the mall), dined out maybe more than we should after the holidays, watched some irreverent TV (sorry mom) and just spent quality time together. The house is empty without my father-in-law on the phone and my mother in law and her great cooking.

My kids won't have the same access to grandparents that we had growing up. My family would visit my grandmother every single weekend. We would have Sunday dinner, great conversation and walk away with $5 as our second allowance for the week... I think my cousins nowadays get $20! More than that thought, it was about family, tradition, respect and the wisdom of elders. My grandmother was there in our earlier years as our childcare when our parents went to work, in the later years as a built in babysitter when we were sick and in the even later years as a supporter during our teenage and young adult angst. Up until now, my grandmother is one of my favourite people.

So what do we do? We rack up those frequent flyer miles and make the trip to TNT. Also, we load up the Lexus (D doesn't allow eating in the A4) and head down to NYC. In the meanwhile, our inn is always open for visitors!

Come back soon! XO

Friday, January 10, 2014

Five on Friday- First for 2014

Haven't done a Five on Friday post since before Christmas. Once again, linking up with A.Liz Adventures

1- Sugar Detox time- So as I mentioned before, D and I are on a sugar detox. After all the baked goods, candy and wine over the holidays, my mid section needs this. We're giving ourselves only one or two cheats a week but for the most part it is no sugar- fruit, dates or healthy bars for dessert. And no wine! So far, so good. I do still crave it sometimes but I shove a couple handfuls of grapes in my mouth and we are good. We've also for the most part cut out simple carbs. Next week, we'll kick it into high gear and reduce carbs even further.

2- Back to our regular routine for the most part. School has begun again. Music and dance classes have started, dinner is being cooked at midday, lists are being made and we go to the gym four mornings for the week. I love these routine days so much!

3-Mama- or mummy- in a very whiny tone has become the word of the minute around here from my seventeen. And it is said in a commanding tone.. again... and again... and again....

4- Darin's parents are still here until Monday. His Dad had surgery and they had a doctor's appointment this week. We've enjoyed their company very much but at the same time, we felt so sorry for them being cooped up inside for most of their time here!

5- January is very fittingly National Soup Month. Makes sense right? Here are a few of my favourite soup recipes.