Mother of two girls... and?

----------------------------------------- In the beginning---------------------------------------------------

Garima: A mother

People: Wow, congratulations, must be busy and hard.

In my mind: No, its easy, well I don’t know any better, this is what it's supposed to be I guess!

Garima: A mother of one girl

People: Girls are so precious. Am sure she will give you sleepless nights when she gets to her teens

 In my mind: Uh, why? My brother and I both must have given a lot of sleepless nights in our teens. But yes I agree, Kids are precious and my Little V more so for me

----------------------------------------- A few years later---------------------------------------------------

Garima: A mother of two girls

People: Wait what? Wow.

Generally look at Sumit and say: Time to get the second job and bulk up. You need the muscles to ward off boys.

Generally look at Garima and say: Time for the boy, may be third time's the charm!!

In my mind: What!!

My two girls are perfect. When we planned for our second, it was since it felt right for our family(and of course increase chaos), we didn’t even find out what gender the baby will be- goes to show, we didn’t care: Boy or Girl! So yeah.

Please, my kids are perfect to me and family is complete. If we do have a third kid and if that kids a boy, great and if that kids a girl: even better, I have a load of hand me downs already.

Kids are expensive, yes we know that. Trust me! But that does not mean my darling husband needs a second job, trust me we thought it through before we went down this path of parenthood. And bulk up?? Seriously?

I don’t think my dad was peeling boys away from me when I was in my teens. Bulk or no bulk, I was just fine and so was my dad. And I think my girls and Sumit will be fine as well.

Now gist: Phew!

It's a natural thing to ask: Two kids, boys or girls?

And then I would assume it's a natural thing to say: Good for you, can I see pictures? Let me know when I can meet them?

And if you ask, drop them off and head out to the movies..... We LOVE it!

And then move on to the next topic.

Why does us having two girls give us collective gasps or even hearing double trouble! Seriously?

 We live in 21st century right? Let me check the date again! Yes we do. So please Butt Out

Pura Vida

There is no other way to describe it. I have been mulling on my keypad at how to start this post, but Bliss, Stress Free, Relaxed, Perfect, none of them apply. Pura Vida. Meaning  Pure Life.

That sums up our family trip to Costa Rica. This was one of those 'impromptu' plans, well sort of! Over facetime we spoke to cousins and were like, oh wow the girls have spring break together! What are the chances. I followed by, oh you guys are thinking of Costa Rica? Why Not?

Done Sealed. Two days later 6+1 infant plane tickets bought.

The relaxed nature of this planning also resulted in the relaxed nature of our trip. A friend of mine had a detailed post on her trip, another friend had made a trip a month ago. Done. So that was our starting point.

Costa Rica is one trip which needs detailed blogs per me. So, I am hoping to split this post into our highlights.

Here are our broad itinerary of the trip

Total : 10 days

Nuevo Arenal: 1 night

Arenal: 3 nights

Monte Verde: 2 nights

Guancaste: 3 nights

South Beach Miami: 1 night

We landed in Liberia and it was HOT as hell. 97 F hell. Coming from 25F of Chicago, this was a shock, a pleasant shock. Within 30 minutes of us landing we were in shorts, flip flops, hats, sun glasses. I was annoyed at myself for asking for AC after the Chicago Winter, but two sweaty kids and a cranky me= recipe for disaster.

After car rental, I heard a growl and realised its my stomach. We drove to a wonderful Tiki joint en route and had the local food: Casado

My daughter was amazed at my Spanish: No Huevo and No Carne! But the result was a super helpful cook who stopped by our table, understood our food preference and got the first delicious meal on the table.

I knew then, this will be one delicious trip!

The people in Costa Rica are just wonderful, smiling, helpful, kind and above all always willing to adjust and make you comfortable. This trip, we did the non-resorty experience. We wanted to get the cultural experience have the girls see local life, places and understand the subtle true living of other countries.

And trust me, thats what Pura Vida is all about..

The Break-Up

Stage 1: Shock

Stage 2: Hurt

Stage 3: Betrayal

Stage 4: Anger

Stage 5: Moving On

Stage 6: Happiness

Stage 7: Closure

When you are in college, you go through these stages with crushes, likes and the opposite sex in general. Sometimes you skip stages, sometimes you stay and mull in one for longer. But as age progresses, you think you get calmer, more refined to navigate the above stages. You know what is happening.

But sadly, no matter what the break up is- all stages apply!

I had a recent break up. Before the rumor mills start- It was with my nanny.

Stage 1: SHOCK: 'What you are leaving me?' I didnt see any signs, why? What am I going to do, No way? There is no notice.

Seriously?

Stage 2: HURT I have been blind. Of all people, you?  We have been together for so long, why so sudden? Ouch, what will I do?

Seriously?

Stage 3: BETRAYAL:  I never expected this. After all I did for you and your family. I touched you when NO ONE was. I trusted you, helped settle you, your family. Loaned you money, time and drove you around.  and you did this! No notice.

Seriously?

Stage 4: ANGER:  You dumped me, no I DUMP YOU. You are not worth it. Your 'type' will stay your type. ALWAYS. No matter how considerate I have been, you did this.

Seriously?

Stage 5: Moving On:  Hmm, What is, will be. It's fine. I still have me and my family. I put up with your SHIT for way too long. I should have let you go a long time ago. I am better off now. I am sure

Seriously!!!

Stage 6: HAPPINESS : Wow, its like a weight lifted off me. This feels awesome. Everything is perfect, I survived, got smarter and above all happier. There is more laughter and more fun and more cleanliness for sure. Why didnt I think of this before

Seriously!!!

Stage 7: CLOSURE: Oh man, I am awesome. My family is awesome. This is like a well-oiled machine and you had just slowed us down. I love the freedom and the laughter and the cleanliness. Good Bye. Thanks for nothing. Good Bye

Oh My god, I love this!

Seriously!!!

So yes, my nanny on the eve of my birthday 'dumped' me VERY unprofessionally. She didnt honor the one month notice period we had agreed on. She was not even going to tell me she is quitting. I guess being a girl, my 6th sense is super active and I asked her thrice and then she was forced to confess.

So it always has to be the perfect storm: Nanny dumps you. Husband is travelling, you are swamped with work, one of the kids is not well.

And then I realized you know what. Its all fine. Not fine-fine. But fine. And will only get better.

With my recent break-up I went through all the standard stages in 1 and a half days. Flat. And I have been happy since. Kids are laughing more, walking more, being more independent. At the same time, Sumit and I are more relaxed and laugh about those things that nanny didnt do. We did honestly put up with her for longer than we should have. No one likes change, and we didn’t either. Without this nanny, Its actually nice. And this time the real NICE NICE!

But yes, I am back in the market for a new one- I new more professional, more stable and definitely more active nanny. Suggestions??

6 year old's take on Marriage: Seriously?

And so the season of 'She said what' continues in our house hold.

We were at a wedding this weekend of very dear friends. Lots of fun,  dancing and celebrating the new journey with our friends.

 The four of us are sitting and watching the ceremony when Miss V, the chatterbox says:

Miss V: Why are they getting married?

Garima: They love each other and want to spend the rest of their lives together.

Miss V: Hmm, but they can do that even without getting married. Just live together.

Garima and Sumit: "Shocked' Look at each other hoping the other one takes to respond to this.

 The few seconds in between felt like an eternity

Garima: Well, they want to celebrate with friends and family. Have an awesome party.

V: I do like this party a lot!

Next topic of conversation starts.

But, Sumit and I are still in shock.

Help anyone?

School House Rocks!!

It was like a Wren & Martin lesson... but with more music and more fun!

That was my take anyaway.
For my 6 year old: This was the best SHOW ever.
The School House Rocks LIVE! in our favorite kids theatre was a very mesmerising collection of basic English rules and stuff packaged in fun, sing song alongs and interactive representation.

For me, I know, Grammar was not my forte, writing that as a blogger, puts me to shame, I know. But trust me, having this fun way of showing what adverbs are and what subject-predicate it would have been so good.

Though I was deprived, I am glad my 6 year old was not. She loved the songs and would sing along the tables etc. I think the best part now is, she reminds us what a adverb is, what a noun is as she speaks. It is making her think a little before speaking.

In addition, considering how simple Mariott theatre is my daughter got to meet the actors outside and chat with him and take pictures and countless hi-fives. It was so much fun!

I do recommend parents of 1st graders onwards take the kids. It makes them realise, grammar can be fun if you think about it.

Currently Schoolhouse Rocks is playing till May 4:

Chicago - The Marriott Theatre for Young Audiences, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, presents the live musical production of the Emmy Award-winning 1970's cartoon, Schoolhouse Rock Live!. from February 28 through May 4. The musical is directed by the original co-creator of the show, George Keating, with choreography by Ericka Mac and music direction by Ryan T. Nelson. The beloved musical teaches history, grammar, math, science and politics through clever and tuneful songs. 

Note: I received four tickets for review for free. No other compensation was involved. The views expressed above are solely my own and my 6 year old's

Complaining to Enjoying... tough but doable

I have complained. A LOT over this never ending Chicago Winter. I have complained to every one who'd listen, not listen. I have ranted long and I have ranted hard. You get the Idea!

But then, something changed. Sumit showed me a link of the CPD for Polar Days, the theme of the event: Its cold, but get out and enjoy yourself. Hmm, I honestly felt like it was targeted at me.

 We had friends visiting this Saturday and they loved the idea of being out as well, only for a bit, but out.

So we layered, buckled up, layered some more and headed out to the Northerly Island. It was AWESOME. Awesome to see huskies sledding in Chicago. Awesome to hear about their natural habitat, awesome for our kids to pet them and feed them and not so awesome to hear: I think I want a husky as a pet!

The kids did crafts, tried slipping on ice, the babies hung around the indoor camping tent. We clicked silly pictures, laughed so hard!

It was actually liberating- to be out and enjoy the winters as against complaining about them. Of course it did help that it was 32 F/ 0C which is balmy for Chicago standards. But yes, for what's left of winter (I think 3 more months) I am going to make an effort to be out a little more and complain a little less.

Quick Food Fix : A salad transformed

I am really bad at following through on the 'Getting Fit' business. When Fit Bit was new, I was completely hooked on and then health became a bit unmanageable, the first thing out- Being healthy. Sad as usual, but true.

But once again, trying to make better choices, a day at a time. In addition, we are contemplating a beach vacation which is motivation enough.

This weekend we had our besties in town and needless to say we pigged out. Every single meal. So by Sunday night, we all were done. Salad- Juice was the way to go.

Sumit made one of his delicious Juice concoctions and I decided to make salad.

My chatter box said- Salad is not going to fill me up. So I decided to twist it up.

Calling it

Transformed Salad: Cross between torta and Open Sandwich: Or just Something Delicious

Ingredients:

Finely  chopped

1. Zucchini - 1/2 cup

2. Carrots - 1/2 cup

3. Peppers - 1/4 cup

4. Onions  - 1/4 cup

5. Parsley- 1/4 cup

6. Lettuce - 3/4 cup

7. Garlic  - 1 clove

8. Shredded Cheese  - Per taste (Or substitute with Goat Cheese)

9. Hummus  - Per taste

10.Spices: Chili Pepper, Black Pepper, Dried Basil, Salt

11. Pita bread/ Any flat bread

To make:

1. Sauté onion garlic in olive oil.

2. When translucent add the spices per your taste

3. Add all remaining vegetables except parsley and Lettuce

4. Cover and let the vegetable steam

5. On a pan, let the pita bread get warm

6. Sprinkle cheese and then add vegetables on half of sandwich (Just so you can close it)

7. Add lettuce and parley.

7. Close sandwich and Enjoy when crisp.

We ate it with hummus dip and sriracha!

It was our dinner last night and lunch to go today. And needless to say this will be on our dinner rotation menu.

What I loved about it was, its like a warm salad. But the pita (I used whole wheat with sundried tomato) helped transform it in a complete meal. The simplicity of the spices bring out the complete taste of the vegetables.

The cheese helps close the sandwich really well and I cut it in Pizza shapes for lunch for the kiddos.

Welcome to try out the 'Transformed Salad: Cross between torta and Open Sandwich'