Evenings

My perfect night is probably boring as hell to somebody else.  But last night, I had one and I was so happy.

It was sunny for a Monday so getting to work was bearable.  The sun also helped me in getting through the day...it actually went by so quickly!  Then it was time to go home and the commute was trouble free and much shorter than my usual night.  Bonus.

When I got home, time to make dinner, lunches for everybody's school and work day, and make sure that I defrosted any items I needed for the next night.  I cleaned while I cooked and got lots done.  

Then it was time for mandarin and math homework.  The kids were total rockstars.  They actually wanted to do more homework!  They didn't complain, they understood it all.  I was even surprised at some of their answers for their homework as it was much better than what I could have come up with.

Bath time was next.  No point in having kids that like homework if they stink.  It was easy peasy.

While the kids were getting for bed, I went to go exercise.  Got my workout in and felt good.  And of course, I needed a shower too. 

Spent some snuggle time with the kids and just talked to them.  They told me about what was on their minds.  Sweet as can be.  

After all of that, I still had time to watch a show with hubby and work on a scarf that I've been knitting.  

So totally boring to someone else.  But it was just a peaceful transition last night.  And I really felt I had a good balance of kid, family and me time.  

Tonight...well, let's just say I didn't have a perfect night.   So I will try to remember my perfect night more often and hope that it happens again soon.

Small Break

I've been knitting scarves for a while for the downtown eastside.  I buy my own yarn and then knit as many scarves as I can throughout the year in time for winter.  Then I either go and give the scarves out or I just give them to an organization/group that can take those scarves and give them to those on the street that need them most.  I can't get out to volunteer so this is a great way for me to give back in some small way.

But lately, I've been knitting for Knit-A-Square too.  Basically, it's an organization that helps infants with AIDS in Africa.  I can knit a couple of things...but I've kept to the knit squares.  These squares along with other squares that others have donated around the world are stitched together to make blankets for children inflicted with this terrible disease.  These children get very cold and these blankets help them immensely.  Again, it's my volunteer work and my way of giving back.  It's not a lot, but it's what I can do at this time.

However, I have had to give up this knitting for a very small period of time.  Hula girl needs me.  I'm taking her on another road trip and making her a knitted skirt.  Not very pretty.  But every hula girl needs something warm to wear if she's heading somewhere a little colder.

After knitting the skirt, I will be back to knitting for my charities.

Stats

I love stats!  I love them so much that I wanted to major in it.  But I ended up doing something.  Doesn't mean that I can't continue loving them.  Even better, I know a stats professor!  So he tells me whatever and I'm just fascinated. 

However, the stats I'm talking about aren't about numbers.  It's just about general stats about this blog.  As I've upgraded to the next version, there's an opportunity to check all things about this blog.  From web page views to sources of where new visitors are coming from.  

I can also tell where most traffic is currently coming from.  Canada!  Well, that's not suprising as most of my friends are from here.  But it breaks it down even more so I can conclude where my readers are really coming from...Richmond, Coquitlam, Burnaby.  Not suprising that it's the in the lower mainland.

But I find it surprising that there are viewers from other countries such as Malaysia and Russia!  But I guess if you're putting in search words, certain things just come up.

Hopefully new readers find this blog interesting enough to continue visiting!

 

WWW

Oh yes...Wild Women's Weekend!  This is my annual retreat that I go to with a number of women  (some I know, some I don't) and we just have the bestest time.  It's really a weekend for all of us to chillax from our crazy lives and our kids.  From movies, to board games, to cooking to whatever any of us want to do...it's all fun.  If anything, there is a ton of time to catch up and talk to our heart's content.

This year will be a smaller bunch at 12.  I think the most we've had was 40 and that was just insane.  But 12 is really great!  Really a great chance to sit and chat with people I haven't seen for a while.  Oh, and sleeping in.  OMG.  And with so many people, we all take turns cooking.  But basically, we only have to cook 1 meal in 3 days, 2 nights.

Oh...chillaxing, cooking only 1 meal, guffawing the whole time and getting some much needed down time.  I'm so ready for this event.

Thoughts

I've been feeling rather Oprah-esque the last 2 days.  Probably because I've been wearing my Oprah clothing.  Yes, these were the shirts I bought knowing that they were the wrong size.  But they were such a good deal and the thought of being closer to Oprah made me buy them!  But I was pleasantly suprised when they fit!  Though, I probably should shorten them...but that's easy enough.  For now, I'll just tuck them in.

Anyways, wearing them gave me some moments of thought.  I was thinking about the people in my life and how I'm a real supporter of them.  Doesn't matter how crazy their idea is or what crazy dream they want to puruse.  I love it!  Even better, I would love to help them get there.  Because it's their life and their dream.  If it makes them happy and it's not hurting anybody, then YEAH, I want you to achieve it!  Doesn't matter how big or small.  Helping you achieve your bucket list item?  OMG.  Even better!  I want to be your Oprah supporter!!!

Sometimes I do the wackiest things or enjoy things that nobody cares about...but I don't really care what others think because it's my life, my choices, my activities, my dreams.  These choices/dreams make me happy.   My friends always laugh at me and they tell me I'm crazy but it's in a good way!  They know I can take the "ribbing" and I know they support me in every way because I'm living the life I want rather than trying to follow someone else.

For those that haven't found their own way or their own life and constantly trying to follow others, I really do feel sorry for them.  Sometimes, people just need time to reflect on what it is that they want rather than following or trying to be something that they're not.  Sure, I get that sometimes we try on "different" versions of us as we're trying to figure out where we fit in.  But I think when you're comfortable with who you are, you just naturally attract friends that are right for you.  And you naturally will find choices in front of you that will help you in continuing your journey and finding activities that complement and help you achieve your own happiness.

So, with my pink coloured Oprah shirt on today...remember to live your own and best life.

Ok.  Enough of the deep stuff.  Have to go finish some Words with Friends games!!  Yeah, I know.  Important stuff.

Clothing

No, not clothing for me.  I'm looking for clothing for my hula girl.  In fact, I was getting ready to do some measurements to make some clothing for hula girl.  THAT'S how dedicated I am.  I mean, if she's going on a road trip in the West Coast...she better have the appropriate clothing.  She can't travel with a hula dress on when it's raining, windy and possibly snowing.  Tsk, tsk.  That won't do.

But after trying to find appropriate clothing, I realize that hula girl is just going to have to tough it out.  Her butt crack will continue to have to show.  The way her arm is attached, I can't get her to wear clothing because there's no space between her hand and where she's attached.

Maybe she'll just have to wear a long boa scarf.  Not sure if that's just too skimpy for her.

Don't worry Nafisa.  I'll figure out something.

Recipes

This weekend, I had some family and friends come over to celebrate one of my kid's birthdays.  Awesome!  It's a chance to catch up, enjoy a special event and have some good food.

I always try to do a dish or two that is different and then have some regular foods at these soirees.  The one recipe that I tried that seemed to be a hit was the homemade bread!  I've been playing around a little with the cooking time and the amount of water for the bread...but I think I've done it where my family likes it and friends too.

LOL!  This one friend just asked for plain butter.  Screw the dip.  But he basically just sat and ate pieces of the bread with butter.  I'm not entirely sure what else he ate that night.  It was awesome.

What I love at these events is a chance to try some new recipes that I've been wanting to try!  I found this AWESOME website called tastykitchen.com and it has some great recipes.  Some of my favourites included the homemade loaves of ciabatta like bread that I made on Saturday, homemade tortillas that my kids cannot get enough of, the coconut loaf, homemade hamburger buns (yes, I don't even bother buying now), and lettuce wraps.  

It's great as I can get the kids to check it out with me and they have a buy in of what types of foods they want to try.  

So, this weekend, I will try finding some new recipes again!  I feel games day coming on...need some new recipes to try out for that crew!