Is it Friday already?? Ha – I say that because I honestly have no idea what day it is half the time. My days consist of snuggling, rocking, one-handed eating and trying to do everything else in the moments of quiet.
I’m slowly getting back into things – Evs is transitioning back to full-time work and so the days that he is home I am taking full advantage and letting them have their daddy-son bonding time which gives me space to just…be. And sleep. Mainly sleep really. We’ve also managed to get out of the house a few times and even braved the shops to get Rehan some new clothes (he’s in that awkward in-between stage of being too big for his newborn clothes and too small for the 0-3 month ones).
One good thing about having a baby is the time you have to catch up on reading – I spend the times with Rehan attached to my boob scrolling through blogs on my iPad and attending to him as he makes cooing noises or somehow manages to fall off or asleep.
So, here are a few links that I have read and loved this week.
This made me snort out of my coffee in the morning – kids can be disturbingly creepy. My favourite – “I want to peel all your skin off”. I cannot WAIT till Rehan starts talking.
Being an Instagram addict – I love the idea of this DIY wall art. Am very tempted to get a frame and put this up in the hallway.
I’ve always thought that running is more than just a way to get fit and exercise. It’s literally a METAPHOR for life. Here’s 17 things running teaches you about life. I love very single one of them.
Dealing with a squealing baby sometimes (ok, most of the time) makes your nerves frayed and ends frazzled and the importance of me-time has never stood out so much for me. There are just MOMENTS where I know I just need to be quietly by myself before I can be a better person to those around me. Kinda like the oxygen-in-the-airplane scenario. This post from Tiny Buddha (one of my newest fave sites!) write about how taking quiet time for yourself helps people around you.
If you have not heard of Bad Lip Reading you need to go see THIS. It will make you pee your pants. And then when you’re done – watch the latest one for The Walking Dead. The exchange between Rick and The Governor at the end nearly made me split my stitches. You have been warned.
It feels like it’s been a while since I have a done a weekend post, and I blame…well….there’s a few things to blame, but I won’t go there. Because it is the weekend and that deserves happy thoughts! I have officially started my maternity leave so for the first time in a very long time, I have endless days in front of me (well as endless up until the point baby decides to make an appearance!) with nothing to do and nothing to think about. The last time I felt this way was when I finished my university degree and hadn’t started my first job – those few months in between were glorious and so full of possibility and TIME.
The heat has been relentless over the last week or so with temperatures way above what is considered decent for Autumn, and only in the last day or so have I been able to get some relief from the weather.
So what am I doing with my time?? Good question.
Well, because Evs has always said that I’m quite insane – I signed up to Marie Forleo’s b-school that started on Tuesday. She is insane, she is hilarious and no-nonsense and I feel like I have learnt so much in the mere days I have started this course. It was a huge investment on my part, both financially and given I don’t actually have a business yet – but I have an idea, actually two, and that means a lot of change for me in the coming year.
What does that mean for this blog??
Nothing much really – but, what it will be is that I am going to keep this space as a space for me – to write. To share my life and ramblings, to not try and fit every passion of mine into one little box. As I inch closer to having my world completely turned upside down, I need a place that I€ can come to and just pour my heart out. I had stopped that with my old blog, fearful I had given away too much of myself, but you know what – it was HONEST. It wasn’t always positive but it was REAL.
I like to think I have grown since that time, and I will keep this place a positive and safe one for me. I will be sharing what’s on my mind, motherhood, marriage, my daily life and of course – these weekend links.
What I am then going to do is sometime in the near future (not sure when yet, perhaps once I have slightly gotten over the sleep deprivation-survival stage of parenthood) is launch my new site that will primarily focus on everything health and wellbeing. This passion of mine, I think is too big for this blog and it deserves its own place in the internet. I am going to be gentle on myself and take it very slow – these are all ideas, but the spark has been ignited and I’m surrounded by people with similar passions and drive that I am going to make this work.
So….that’s my plan. And once the new site is up and running, I’ll let y’all know.
Onto this weekend’s reading!
There’s something else that I’ve been counting down the days to and that’s happening on March 31. C’mon people – Game of Thrones Season 3!! And to gear up for it, Thought Catalog found a video that takes us back to the time of the mid-90’s when Xena and Hercules ruled and did a trailer for Game Of Thrones in the same style. Oh you know you would have watched it back then as well.
When it comes to trips, I find myself becoming a bit of a frantic planner – I NEED to have some things certain and planned. Evs, surprisingly, while he is the most OCD organised person there is in every other aspect of life – actually likes to go with the flow. What are you? What about your partner/travel buddy?
“Shadow careers… (are) things we do that are not our true calling. We get a lot of certainty out of our shadow careers, but not true fulfilment. Imagine the artist who chose the corporate route instead. Or the writer who chose to be an attorney. Or the healer who chose to become an insurance agent. Or the entrepreneur who took the 9 to 5 because it was a more certain path. The shadow career is a false expression of who we really are”I read this post from the lovely Connie Chapman (*fist bump* last name share!) and it really resonated with me. I feel like that it could have been written directly to me and I’ve taken the first steps to move out of mine and the world’s shadow.
I have bookmarked this post because it will be PERFECT for the baby’s nursery. Such a simple DIY, it looks great for parties as well.
I was actually going to try this if baby was showing no sign of coming after my due date. There IS actually a scientific reason to why this has been suggested in the first place but this hilarious article made me laugh out loud (because I’m uncomfortable and pregnant and willing to try anything to get baby out).
Ok questions – what would you, dear reader, like to see more on this blog? Happy that I’ll be sharing MORE of my brain-farts with you? Will you check out my health blog when it gets launched??
Holler for the weekend!! It’s an extra-special one because, yep, you guessed it – it’s my BIRTHDAY! (Well, yesterday but I’m celebrating all weekend long!). It’s a funny thing about birthdays, that no matter how old we get, there is always that tiny spark of excitement about it. And no amount of being blasé and tyring to act cool that it was “just another day” could stop that feeling.
I WAS meant to have a day off yesterday, but had to go into work which was made slightly better because my manager bought me cupcakes and Evs treated me to lunch. Dinner was low-key with the family at the local Thai restaurant and, OMG, more cake.
We’re hosting a low-key BBQ at our place on Sunday afternoon, perfect summer weather (maybe with a touch of summer thunderstorms) and lots of food, friends and laughter.
But, I’m also taking some time out this weekend for myself. I’m feeling exhausted, more mentally than physically to be honest (although sleeping in this heat has been terrible) and am desperate need of a break. So, in the spirit of me-time, here are some links for you too:
More so than ever, I’m turning into a fan of being ACTIVE, rather than dedicating time to exercise. These days, the ability to just keep moving is enough to satisfy my bones and I enjoy it a lot more. This post from Sarah Wilson explores the idea of the current message of “Exercising making us fat”.
I haven’t been on a huge chocolate bender for a while, but this sugar-free chocolate is tempting me back onto the wild side.
One of my favourite blogs I discovered about six months back was Vienda Maria. In fact, I’ve linked more often than not to her posts here because they resonate so much to me as I try and seek a more simple and authentic life. Part of that is figuring out what I want to do with this blog and sorting through my head to find the answers. As part of my birthday gift to myself, last week I bought her newly-launched ebook – “The Build Your Own Business Blog” (um, only $8! What can I say – I’m a easy person to shop for! ) and am already loving it. Don’t let the word business throw you off, it’s perfect for anyone wanting to grow their blog and perfect for newbies like me that have no clue when it comes to things like SEO haha.
“Success and likability are positively correlated for men and negatively correlated for women,” – Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. I am so guilty of this. Especially in the workplace where I have (now looking back, quite embarrassingly) sacrificed myself for likeability. I’ve let people walk all over me and convince me that things were MY FAULT and I’ve agreed with them, because I wanted them to like me. This article explores the truth about women and likeability.
While I can’t confess to fully feeling like this, I have many friends who live the life of an expat. Perhaps, it’s the same when I return to India and things feel nothing has changed and yet everything has. This post about finding the answer to Where Do I belong? is a great read.
Ohhh. I had to agree. I HAD to. Even when 4 out of the 6 shows listed here are some of my favourites – they really need to SHUT IT DOWN (Especially Glee *sob*).
This girl. Where do I start – besides having a banging blog and life (I mean who would NOT want to live on the beaches of Goa??)- she also has another food blog that makes me drool every time I wander over. These garlic-coriander pull apart rolls are something out of this world. You must try them.
Ok, I am off to get the house in some sort of order before people start arriving (I mean I have a DAY, but who can be bothered cleaning in this heat!) and think about the menu.
“Most good things happen without a plan: friendships, falling in love, finding a job, and so on. If you want to make your new year count, you’ll need to be intentional — not by setting goals, but by making space in your life for what really matters.”
Hola friends! It HAS been a while hasn’t it?? Thank you to those who messaged and emailed – everything is all good and I’ve just been swept up in the waves that are the new year. I started work again last week which was crazy and as much as I was trying to not let it be a repeat of how I felt right before the break, there were some hairy burning-the-midnight-oil moments.
There has also been a few other medical things I have been dealing with which is why I am a little behind on the pregnancy posts – all is fairly well, but, let’s just say not ideal.
Anyway.
How have YOU been?? I’ve been lurking around a little bit and popping in here and there when I can, but I’ve actually missed this space. We have the Australia Day long weekend and I’m taking this time to get back to the simple things and remember what I decided to focus on this year.
That means nursery designing + healthy cooking + family time + books, oh the books! + worksheet focusing + dream planning
AND this is the first Weekend Reading post of the year!! Woohoo! And I have a few good things for you guys to settle in and read this weekend:
I know we’re well into the New Year now, but there is always time and room for a fresh start. Here’s a great post from Sarah at Yes and Yes about 13 ways for a fresh start this year. I’ve already started by getting rid of clothes I know I’ll never wear and *cough* never fit into again.
If you have never had a Tim Tam, then I am truly sad for you. A quintessential Aussie invention, it has seen me through many, many moments in my life and blown my mind when I discovered the Tim Tam Slam. And, if you’re in an indulgent mood, this Tim Tam Tart will get you going.
“The healthiest people were those who didn’t spend money that they hadn’t earned, to buy things that they didn’t need, to impress people that they didn’t like,” says Deepak Chopra. A funny, ten minute TEDMED video on his perspective on health and happiness. (via MindBodyGreen)
My hormones are all out of whack and I find myself with a slight crush on the most random of people. Especially those on TV. This post on TV’s hottest Dads made me grin and blush embarrassingly at the same time because there may have been moments in my life where I…errr…we’ll leave it there.
Um, it was slightly worrying that I could relate to ALL of what this woman was saying about pregnancy (including the purchase of the Snoogle!), but I’m not freaking out as much as she is (and kinda loving it). That being said, it’s an refreshingly honest article on how some women just really don’t like being pregnant.
“If you educate girls, you will change the world,” – a wonderful organisation (10x10act) released a preview of their new documentary Girl Rising at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this week. Here’s the trailer to see for yourself.
I actually hesitated in posting this post yesterday just in case, despite my practical side saying that the world wouldn’t end and spent my so-called last hours watching Pitch Perfect and wrapping Christmas presents. (By the way – watch it – it’s like a friend described it – Glee meets Mean Girls. HIL-arious).
That woohoo was also for another reason.
I have now officially finished work for 2012. Ohhhh yeah.
Bring on summer and days of heading down to the pool/beach, summer barbeques, long walks in the lasting twilight, copious amounts of food, family and fun.
I’ve been pretty quiet around here and the truth is that my energy hasn’t been the greatest and trying to juggle everything, especially as the close of work came near was slowly and quietly driving me insane. There may have been a meltdown moment, when I was on my laptop at night and Evs asked me how my day was. Cue the waterworks.
Gah.
Anyways, I got over it – things got better, the partners at the Firm gave me Lindt chocolates as a Christmas present (which was simultaneously a very bad and very good idea) and I have now waved goodbye for the next three weeks.
I’m also in slight panic mode because I feel like I have got NOTHING ready for the baby’s arrival.
Example.
Yes, I may have a bassinet, but I don’t actually have any sheets in it. Um, oops.
The poor thing only has maybe a couple of outfits to wear, which is truly horrifying, because I mean, who wants to be seen wearing the same outfit twice??
Anyways, with Christmas literally around the corner I am excited beyond belief.
For your reading pleasure this weekend :
Why you are never failing as a mother. This. YES. I worry a lot about how I am going to be and whether I’m going to be able to keep this mewling, tiny human alive – whether I’ll be able to give them the best and protect them and above all, make sure they are happy and good people. This post reminded me that, this overwhelming feeling is normal and the adage “it takes a village” is never truer.
Um, creepy Santa’s anyone?? Just to get into that Christmas spirit.
One of the things that has been on my mind of late is getting back to the origins of my writing. I MISS it. When I first started blogging about 5-6 years ago, I did it with abandon and shared parts of me. And I realised, then, probably too much, but I also miss the posts where I just wrote. This post about celebrating the style of slow-blogging hit home for me. (via Coffee and Sunshine)
As per the predictions of the Year of the Dragon, it’s been a tumultuous year for everyone I know. Insane changes have happened, so rapidly that it’s no wonder hat we’re all feeling a little drained and overwhelmed this time of year. This post (via Parita) about the top 26 touching moments from 2012 was just the reminder I needed to know everything wasn’t all bad this year. (and maybe made me shed a tear)
Like many people around the world, I was shellshocked at the tragedy that happened at Newtown. Then soon after, the gang rape in Delhi. My heart crumbled at the injustice and I felt so much despair at the world in those moments. This post from Sarah at Yes and Yes on How to stay optimistic, came at the most perfect time as I struggled to comprehend a world where things like this happened. A great read to help yourself from imploding with frustration and grief.
Another one to make you laugh (because we all need more laughter!) – the top 25 funniest autocorrects of 2012. I seriously cried when reading this and baby protested my laughing belly by kicking me hard. Make sure you are alone or in a place where you can howl with laughter.
Looking for an easy, DIY gift idea for friends and family?? I loved these granola nut clusters from Angela at Oh She Glows. And even better? They’re sugar/fructose-free! (well, don’t add the extra sugar haha, but because she uses brown rice syrup – all good )
I’ve decided to take a little blog break as well and focus my time away from the computer. I have so many plans for 2013, and some of them are within reach of manifestation. I just need the time to focus. I’ll be posting still sporadically throughout the next couple of weeks (and you may argue I’ve been on a break already for a while ) with my pregnancy updates and whatnot, but I hope you also get the chance to relax and refocus too.
I’ll also be around on Instagram (gah for a little while at least!) and Twitter in between as well
I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday season – eat well, enjoy your time off and I’ll see y’all soon!
And to gear up for it, Thought Catalog found a 
) and am already loving it. Don’t let the word business throw you off, it’s perfect for anyone wanting to grow their blog and perfect for newbies like me that have no clue when it comes to things like SEO haha. 
