Late on July 11, we returned from our trip to Mexico and now trying to get back in the rhythm of our life at home. On July 3rd, we left for a week-long daring adventure to the Riviera Maya with our toddler and teen. We left the country just in time for the 4th of July holiday the next day. It was somewhat odd to celebrate the occasion in a different country, seeing the red, white and blue balloons while listening to some classic American music.
Passport Hell
Recently, we planned a trip to the Maya Riviera area in Mexico. We were excited about some beach time – it had been a while. My kids and I have never been to Mexico. Then I realized that my passport still had my maiden name, but the rest of my documents and my ticket were in my married name. I had an extended visa in this passport, which I didn’t want to lose in a renewal. I got various information, such as needing to contact the Indian embassy and also that I just needed to present both passports – the updated and the one with the visa.
Farewell My Dear Princess Pooja
Dearest Pooja,
it feels challenging to even accept that I’m writing to you in the universe as of 6/3/11, rather than find you in my home, to tell you directly how much you have meant to me. The words have been forming, and they feel inadequate.
Morning Rice
It’s National Vegetarian Week! Hooray! In honor, I want to share a simple breakfast recipe that I made this morning. I was hoping my two year-old toddler would appreciate it. But of course it is a mystery what she will take to or not. At first she didn’t want to try it because she didn’t recognize it (I assume), but eventually, she was won over, possibly by the fragrance of vanilla and cinnamon.
My husband and I are both from the south, so that means there are some foods, like grits and peach cobbler, that hold a special place in our hearts. He is particularly fond of peaches and we had plenty of canned and jarred, so I made a peach cobbler recently.
Raviolis rule with kids of all ages
Trying to please the appetites of a 12 year-old and two year-old vegetarian kid at the same time is not always easy. This is where pasta comes in to the rescue. There are a variety of pastas, and the one my kids probably like best is raviolis stuffed with spinach and cheese.
The Butterfly Experiment
I’m on day 1 of an interesting experiment that I have not done exactly right and have already seen the desired result. The experiment is about manifestation and personal transformation.
Managing Stress
Are you highly stressed or anxious? Stress can wreak havoc on our health in many ways. Here are some ways to manage it:
Keep Perspective: It is important to keep perspective. When you feel up, keep notes. When you feel down, take notes. When you are down, read these notes to see how you got through it, and more importantly, that you did get through it. When you are up, enjoy it, and know that you may go down…Don’t take life too seriously! Remember that the only thing that remains constant is change, “this too shall pass.”
Loss and Gain
Lately, I’ve had to come to terms with the idea of loss more – something I think I’ve had to deal with in varying degrees with some challenging peaks. It got to an overwhelming point and I had to remind myself how I got to the other “normal” side before.
Gardening is on the Horizon
Last Fall, I tried to take some gardening indoors – I put up my Topsy Turvy plant with pepper and tomato plants in my dining area, brought in some of my mint and planted some herbs.