2012

I need a holiday from the holidays! It's been a great break filled with lots of family and no school runs.
Now though we have to get back to the daily grind of early mornings, boring packed lunches and homework skirmishes.

I've decided that I will try the 12 things for 12 months instead of resolutions. Too much pressure guaranteed to be broken. I still haven't come up with the whole list but number 1 and first off is to sort out the house. Especially my art room. It's become a dumping ground and complete chaos. Overwhelming but it has to be done.

But for today and tomorrow we will enjoy the last moments of holiday and no structure.

Well the dogs certainly will.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

New year new leaf

I have made my list of 12 things for this year. Originally, I thought I could do one a month but reality said I was destined for complete failure if I did it like this so it has been amended to achieved during the year. A lot of the things I have picked are things that will just make me a better person nothing too dramatic.... I leave that for day to day life!

The blog, I am hoping, will become more regular now that I have this lovely new iPhone. Which I really, really, really love. Don't really know all the fabulous things it can do but give me time I've only had it a short while!

That is of course if I can manage to keep the kids away from it! Darn those apps ;)

Location:Muscat

The post season slump???

So every Christmas season comes around way too fast. There is the usual argument I have with myself do I bake the cookies or buy....inevitably I end up baking in a mad little rush as the guilt starts eating me up. Actually the guilt has only become worse since facebook...all those acquaintances who I don't really know anymore commenting on their baking...sigh I will sort myself out by the time I am 40 and have the courage to not cave to the guilt!!!!!

Anyhow, there was the rush, the shopping galore and then suddenly before you know it the day. Incredibly this year I was NOT up until 4am finishing off the barbie house I had made for Bella I was actually organized!!! None the less 6am comes along awfully fast and the gifts were torn open. Again I found myself saying next year will be different there won't be so much whether that will actually happen who knows!

The family arrived on the 26th, my father and stepmother from Botswana where they are currently working and my youngest stepbrother from Canada. It was lovely and the girls wanted nothing to do with me AND THAT people was the best thing about the whole time they were here!!! OK so there were other lovely parts and they were chilled and easy going but hey when the kids want Opi rather than you....BLISS!

A chilled out New Years Eve with friends and no hangover on the first and then the departures began. Theo on the evening of the 1st and my dad and Lani on the morning of the 3rd. It is always sad to see them go and the house becomes very quiet. While visitors can be a pain when you are an expat it can be hard to say good bye.

Hope you all have had a wonderful new year so far!

XXX

Time....there's not enough!!!!

The diva at the food table....and if anyone makes a comment on why this is under the picture and not on top it will be different next time after I have a conversation with Isra about how the hell to work this picture thing!!!!

Have just tried to attach 5 other pictures to no avail. Will try tomorrow when I am coherent and not wanting to kill the computer!

I am so grateful for the rain!!!!

One of those days

What a lovely and weird day all rolled into one. After a quick coffee I zipped home to collect the tempestuous 2 year old and run some errands. As it is Isabella's actual birthday party on Monday and I don't want to be running like a chicken with her head cut off on the day (tho I probably still will!!) I have tried to be organized. Lola and I went through everything and made sure we had all the necessities. Realized that somewhere in the line I hadn't got plates or balloons so off to the shops we went. I decided because someone else was doing the school run I would head to the big mall! With Lola in tow we drove over. The drive was fine, the first 30 minutes in the mall were fine and then it was as if a little switch went off in my sweet Lola's head. There was nothing she didn't want to touch, grab, eat. She ran. she walked and she threw herself to the floor (more than once I might add)! Now it just makes me think why did I bring her when it is unpleasant, I'm not sure why as I keep doing it! What got me though is running in to a couple of ladies who went on to describe how wonderful their 2 year olds are and wouldn't dream of that. I can appreciate that there may be the odd 2 year old who is absolutely lovely BUT for most this is the developmental stage where they touch and all the rest. It explains why they are a nightmare while shopping etc.

I suppose I am just a bit dissappointed that there are so many women who feel the need to make it all glossy and perfect so that they are not judged by the other mother peers!

Today was my mums birthday and after an early morning call dominated by the kids and their long (expensive) pauses we made the favorite german cake recipe. My mum has used the recipe for everything and it works everytime. Bella loves it more than anything for the bowl licking that happens at the end.

I have jumped back on the mold pouring wagon and started up again at noon. Have committed myself to yet another sale so must have the stock to sell. Knowing now a little more about what works best will make it easier!

Other exciting news is the woman who runs the art program for children with cancer at the Royal Hospital here is coming to pick up some molds.
Thant's it I am on the prowl now for some chocolate!

Lazy Lizard

I am feeling incredibly lazy right now. After a 2 week stint of going full on pouring molds, trimming molds and dreaming molds I have had the two craft fairs and have done well! It was exciting and nerve racking all at the same time. I did have fantastic company at the sales with good friends Laila and Isra who were also both selling their wares. Isra's text messages in the week leading up to the sales were fantastic although I have to say I was a bit miffed that she was so calm while I was losing my mind!!! I think though she is so much more centered and organized than I am....hmmmm not something that is going to happen to me any time soon! LOL

Anyhow I have decided for the next 2 days I will do nothing, the itching to get in and pour is there so I think I will only probably last a day with the above commitment! I can't wait for the molds from my mom to arrive and am praying they do not find their way into the postal unknown! Fingers crossed!

Now on to very important matters happy National Day Oman and if any of you have a chance go NO RUN to where ever you can and get a copy of Muscat Daily edition from Nov 17th, 2009. On the front page is the address of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos! It is uplifting, wonderful, amazing, beautiful, hopeful, respectful, and should be an example to all other countries! This article is one of the many reasons I LOVE to live here, love the people and hope to stay for years to come!

PS the page 2 best deals in Oman is not bad either