The Dirty THIRTY

Another major milestone was met at our house this weekend as Shikhar hit the big three-oh!  I know he was a bit sad to say good bye to his twenties,  but I'm fairly certain that his thirties are going to be his best decade yet.

In honor of this momentous occasion, I wanted to do something special.  In our twenties he and I had some crazy birthday parties, but for the past three years most of the b-day bashes I've planned have involved cartoon characters and bouncy houses.

Well, this Saturday night a group of his closest friends joined us for a celebration of all things Shikhar.  The menu included some of his fave craves from local restaurants (Zuppa Toscana and Chicken Scampi from the O.G., Kung Pao Chicken from Rice Bowl), a couple home cooked goodies from yours truly (hooray for slow cooked ribs!), and even some delicious Indian dishes hand delivered by his mother (how can you beat momma's cookin?).  Dessert included Cinnamon Toast Crunch and milk and a carrot cake that was, apparently, good enough to stick your face in.

The find of the week was definitely Tim, the bartender, who kept the drinks flowing and somehow appeared totally unphased by our crazy antics (thank you Craigslist!).  We spent the night playing shuffle board, throwing darts, groovin' to Just Dance on the Wii, and just catching up with old friends.  We took a break from the responsibilities of reality (while the kiddos had a blast slumber-partyin' with Papa and Nana!).

The best part-- when the party was over we were only a staircase away from our bed.  Because, um, we're thirty...and we get tired.   

There is absolutely nothing I could do, no gift I could give, that could show how much I appreciate the man who makes me laugh every single day, who pushes me to be a better person, who has an incredible mind and a heart of gold, and who has literally has made all my dreams come true.  The best I can do is let the guy take a break, forget about his responsibilities, let things be all about him for a while and help him have a good time. 

And judging by some of the pics I found on my camera...I'd say he did. 

Happy birthday babe!

The Power of Positive Parenting

"No!"...how many times a day do I utter this tiniest of phrases?  Countless. 

Now, undoubtedly, many of them are very appropriate.
"No, Shaanie, you can't get inside the dishwasher."
"No, Sonu, you can't go to the grocery store without pants."

And while I do believe children need rules and parents who predictably enforce those rules, I also don't want my kids to start to believe that No is actually their first name.  So, I am making a conscious effort to add a little more YES to their day...to try to identify those requests that are actually not life threatening and won't destroy my home, my car, or my sanity...and say YES!!!

Although it may mean that a project may take twice as long or things might get a bit messy, watching my kids get completely involved in "helping" mommy and daddy or actually seeing their crazy ideas come to fruition has, so far, been totally worth it. 

Yes!!  You can help mommy make pesto!

Yes!! You can help daddy fix the table!

Yes!! You can write all over the tub! (Ok...those are bath tub markers, but still...)

Although as the mother of two curious and active little munchkins I can't totally avoid being a Negative Nancy, I will continue to try to find opportunities for the affirmative.  Hopefully with some positive parenting I can help foster my boys' creativity and encourage them to continue to seek out new experiences.  In turn, they constantly remind me to take time out to play.  The days in life when someone will ask me to take a break from making dinner to play another round of hide and seek are numbered...and I'm trying really hard not to let them pass me by.  













Date Night!



To anyone who has ever considered having a baby in an attempt to save a relationship...think again!  Although creating new life is undoubtedly the most amazing, life-changing, and joyous thing you ever do as a couple, it also puts an incredible amount of strain on even the strongest of bonds.

As a mom of young children ( I think this can be especially true when you're nursing!) it is easy to get caught up in constantly catering to the needs of your kids.  It is at times like these when taking care of yourself (ahem...overdue dental appointment) and your significant other can go by the wayside.  Although it the short-term it may seem easier to let hubby fend for himself, the truth of the matter is that if you have ever needed your best friend, it's right now. 

With this in mind, and with the weaning of Shaanie (making him much more baby-sitter friendly at bedtime) it was definitely time to implement a regularly scheduled date night.  We got the fun started this weekend.  We decided to check out Hiro 88 downtown, and it did not disappoint!  We sat at the bar and just took our time ordering fun drinks, deciding which sushi roll to order next and checking out the local hipsters.  It was so nice to just relax, chat and laugh together without any interruptions.

I think half the fun is going to be planning the awesome things we are going to do together (couples massage??? yes please!).  Although this does mean less time with the munchkins, I know that taking the opportunity to enjoy and appreciate one  another...for more than making dinner or emptying the diaper genie... will undoubtedly make us a stronger parental unit in the long run. 

Cooking with Kids

Even before I was married, one of my favorite hobbies was cooking.  I love trying new recipes and experimenting with new ingredients. 
I was fortunate enough to marry a man who is a very adventurous eater and who loves food almost as much as I do.  I cook it, he eats it...it's a match made in heaven. 
Well, I do believe we've bred yet another little foodie.  From the moment he was able, Sonu has been helping me out in the kitchen.  He is usually an integral part of the food selection process and shares my love for Trader Joe's and farmers markets.
 For a three year old boy, he is an amazing eater -- he will eat pretty much anything and his favorites are varied including shrimp pesto, paneer, edamame, ribeye steaks and grilled salmon.  Now, don't get me wrong, he loves a corn dog as much as the next kid...but I'd like to think that at least part of the reason he's such a great eater is because we have invited him to be involved in the process of feeding our family.
So...today was a great day for chef Sonu.  For Christmas his grandma gave him a few kid-friendly cook books and an awesome chef's hat along with some kid-sized oven mits and tools.  Last night before bed I promised him we could cook anything he chose from one of his new cook books...and it was the first thing he was asking about when he ran downstairs in his jammies this morning.

Making his Selection

In the Kitchen

Two points off for plating :-)

Judges approve!

Nearly everyday at work I encounter parents who are concered about their child's "picky eating" or restrictive diets.  I believe that if you get kids involved in the family feeding process -- when they see where the food comes from, get it all over themselves while it is being prepared, and take pride in the finished product, they are much more likely to be willing to eat what's in front of them. (Especially if it's a cupcake!) 





Happy New Year!!!

Give me a week filled with Christmas gatherings, my baby boy's first birthday, and the start of a new year and you can bet I'll get a little sentimental.  Amidst all of this crazy chaos I can't help but be filled with appreciation for my amazing family while being totally overwhelmed by how fast time seems to be passing.  

I decided to create this blog to serve as an opportunity for me to grow more conscious of my everyday blessings and to document them in a meaningful way that can serve as a valuable record of our lives together. 

So...here's to hoping 2012 will be our best year yet!!  Happy New Year everyone!