Wishing You All...

A wonderful 2015! May the new year be filled with health and love...

Hope you...

Had a Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah or just a happy! 

No blog/Fab 5 today as we spent the day turning ourselves into lobsters by the pool! And now we are dining outside listening to the waves. Tonight will have us watching Thai boxing...which has my boys all sorts of excited!

Anyways...much love to everyone!

Siem Reap, Cambodia...

This post is a little late in coming, but I finally downloaded the pictures off my camera and I figured I'd take the time on this rainy morning to blog a little...

First off, I L-O-V-E-D Siem Reap! LOVED! I loved the people, I loved the town, I loved everything about it...so much so that I'm going back in February with friends who are coming to visit!

We stayed at the Golden Temple Hotel...which was fantastic. Good service, nice rooms, great pool...no complaints!

 

 

We hit the ground running when we arrived in Siem Reap and immediately headed off on a mini temple tour. The temples around Siem Reap are amazing...just amazing. Even the kids - who are not easily impressed unless it is lit up in neon and has a WiFi connection - enjoyed the temples.

 

Angkor Wat

You can read more about Angkor Wat by clicking here!

 

 

Ta Prohm

You can read about Ta Prohm by clicking here!

 

Bayon

You can read about Bayon by clicking here.

 

Lots of people love Ta Prohm because of the trees and how they are affecting the temple, but I was more partial to Bayon with the immense faces...

 

Saturday morning had us heading out on a 4 hour quad tour through some of the smaller villages surrounding Siem Reap. Our tuk-tuk driver and guide for the day, Hong, picked us up at 6:30 a.m. Doing this tour gives you a much better perspective on what life is like outside of "town." Rice fields galore. Water buffalo blocking the "roads." Little children running around naked. Lots of poverty. I was proud of our kids who did take note of everything they were seeing and it led to some good conversations. Life is very different outside of the "expat bubble" we live in most of the time. We did have fun giving high fives and candy to the kids as we passed by them...the smiles were priceless.

 

 

Saturday afternoon had us heading back into Siem Reap for lunch and foot massages - even the damn fish one! I couldn't take the fish one for long - too weird! But, it was definitely a new experience.

 

Saturday evening had us dining on Cambodian bbq with some KL friends - Brandie and Mike and their kiddos. In addition to beef and pork, some kangaroo was cooked up as well!

 

Sunday morning had us up and at it early again as we were all doing the Family 3K at Angkor Wat while many of our friends from KL were doing the 10K or half marathon. There is something special about being out at the temple as the sun is rising...

 

 

The kids had fun "racing" and I even enjoyed the 3K run - which I haven't been able to say in a while. (It may be time to bring running back into the workout mix of CrossFit and golf.) And Blaine was able to walk the race with no pain since his injury. Wins for everyone!

 

So there you have it...5 days filled with temples, tuk-tuks, cheap beer, massages, quads, running, friends and lots of smiles!

 

I can't wait to do it again!!

 

Fab Five Friday Returns...

Aaaahhhh, it's Friday and I'm back with an edition of Fab 5 Friday. I went to Crossfit this morning, grabbed a shower, and I'm now drinking coffee and banging out a quick blog. I'm going to head into school soon for one last check of things and then...it's done.

So this week's Fab 5 is not too exciting...but it's good to be back at it! So let's do this!

1. Rest and relaxation. The week in Penang was not perfect weather wise, but it was so relaxing...sooooo relaxing. I read good books, slept in, had drinks with friends...just nice. I feel recharged and ready for Christmas in Phuket! Hahaha! But, seriously...it was nice to get away without kids.

2. Dinner at Feringgi Grill. Monday night we had an amazing dinner at the Feringgi Grill...it was super yummy! Chateaubriand for Two...no need to say anything else!

 

3. A Trip to the Tailor. A trip to Penang is not complete without visiting Ron. Yes, new shirts and dresses for me and new shirts and shorts for Blaine. Merry Christmas to us! 

4. The Return of Hart of Dixie. Yes, this show is completely mindless and silly and I am rejoicing that it is back on television. With a lot of my faves on break until February it is good to have something new!

 

5. Friends Coming to Visit. We have our first non-Cargill friends coming to visit at the end of January!! I don't think I could be more excited! Betsy and Kirk will arrive the 31st and I can't wait! It's been fun planning things to do - including a trip back to Siem Reap - and figuring out what they want to do while they're here! I know January 31st will come quickly!!

So that's all I've got today! Christmas is right around the corner and the spirit is slowly seeping in. It helps to have kids who are excited for our early celebration on Sunday. I wish all of you a happy holiday season with friends and loved ones...Merry Christmas!

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

Well, I had every intention today of blogging about our trip to Cambodia while I sat poolside and soaked up some sunshine. BUT, it is raining and I forgot my camera cord which means all of my pictures are sitting on the SD card and I can't get to them.

But, I will not be stopped from blogging...today I'll share a little Christmas spirit.

Sometimes it's not easy to find your Christmas spirit in the tropics if you've spent your entire life celebrating Christmas where it's cold and often snowy. (Now please...don't get me wrong. I don't miss the cold and snow...but there is something very "holidayish" about it at Christmas time.)

As Blaine and I drove up to Penang yesterday we talked about how we were lacking some of the "spirit" this year. We did not bake for our friends as I was busy at school and he has been busy with work. There was not a ton of Christmas shopping as the boys asked for only a few things and MONEY! (Yup, they're growing up - money and big ticket items!) Blaine and I didn't buy presents for each other as we have said we would rather pick up art or some other meaningful item on our travels - which this Christmas will take us to Phuket.

But, we are surrounded by Christmas here in Malaysia. And the spirit seems to come and go. For me it is the simple things...a Christmas carol can immediately put me in the holiday spirit. A cocktail with friends on a Friday night while Christmas tunes play and everyone shares a few good laughs. Watching "Home Alone" and "Elf" with my kiddos while we snuggle under blankets with the air conditioner cranked up. A beautifully decorated tree.

And, we have seen some beautiful and creative Christmas tree displays this year...many of them located across the street at Publika. Not all of them am I a fan of, but I do admire the artistic intent...

 

In the airport in Siem Reap

 

At Publika...recycled pallets with a blue light beneath it

 

This one has a train track with toys on the outside and kids can play with toys inside of it

 

Made of paper stars...

 

Made of white paper doves

 

Local grasses

 

Cardboard recycled with a yellow light

 

Well, I'm not sure what this is...maybe some grumpy Christmas elves?!

 

Definitely not my fave...

Sometimes you just need to seek out your Christmas spirit...I hope you all find yours this holiday season!

I'm Baaaacccckkkkk...

Yes, today is my official last day of teaching! Woohoo! (Yeah, the kids still have school next week, but this girl had already booked a trip with her husband for next week - so the school made it work!) Anyways, I've given exams, graded exams, written comments, and I think I've finished almost everything on my to do list - so I'm outta here!

So...reflecting back on the last few weeks...Here's what I've learned:

1. Teaching is still part of who I am. Once a teacher, always a teacher. I've had some different jobs since I last taught in the traditional classroom, but I've always been teaching in some way, shape or form. The things I used to do as a teacher, they still work today. The skills I once had, still apply today. It was good to put them to use.

2.  BUT...I don't want to go back to teaching full-time. This was a great experience for me, but I do not want to go back to the traditional classroom everyday. I like my life as a mom, housewife, taxi driver, CrossFitter, golfer, cook, baker...you know, the day-to-day stuff I was doing. I'm still not sure I'm totally fulfilled on a professional level, but teaching isn't the answer. I'll continue to search...

3. Kids are still kids. I taught some really great kids these past few weeks...really great. And that part was super enjoyable. There were a few who made me want to drink, but 98% of them were awesome.

4. Be nice to your kids' teachers. You know what...our administration...well, let's just say it leaves a lot to be desired at times. (Yes, that's my politically correct statement and we'll leave it at that!) But, we have some really great teachers at our school who are working hard not to let the admin crap weigh them down. Give those teachers the props they deserve because as someone who has been on "the inside" I can tell you they are doing good work.

5. My husband and kids rock. Yup, they do! These past 7 weeks have required some juggling and additional responsibilities for them and they have been troopers! So thanks for letting me get this out of my system!

Anyways...back to blogging and figuring out what I want to do with my life!! I'll try to update next week about our trip to Cambodia! It ROCKED!!

Fab 5 Reminders For The Week...

Oh, it's been a trying week in so many respects. If I had one hundred decisions to make this week, I've questioned at least 99 of them. I don't know where all of the self-doubt came from, but it was definitely there. Thankfully, Friday has arrived.

This week reminded me about a lot of things...things that I sometimes forget about as I go through my daily life...and so it is those things that I will share with you today.

1. Be grateful. I am grateful this week for all of the little things - conversations, coffee, reassuring hugs, text messages, kisses from my kiddos, coffee (Ooh, I said that already!), the use of the words "thank you." There's probably a million other things I could list, but you get the gist. These are all little things...it's not like I won a trip or received a check for a million dollars (I'd be grateful for those things, too!), but sometimes you just need to take a moment and know that the little words or gestures or insignificant items such as coffee can really make a significant difference to someone. This week those things mattered to me. For that, I am grateful.

2. You can change your mind. About a week ago I stated to a class that this was "...the way it is. Just deal with it." And then, this week, I found myself in a situation where I had to go back on that. At first, I'll admit it, I was pissed. I really didn't want to back down on what I had said. I was angry that I was being put in a situation where I felt I was going against what I had vowed would be. But, a few days have now passed and I realize, you know what, it's okay to change your mind. It's okay to reverse a decision if the situation calls for it. In the long haul, this is SOOOOOO minor...for me and for those involved. I've learned from it...and I hope they have, too.

3. Be committed. I'm subbing right now and I thought that it would be really easy to just come in, teach the lessons, and leave each day at 3 p.m. But, I find myself heavily invested in what I thought would just be a silly little job. The pay is crummy and, at times, the job is very trying, but I'm all in. I'm committed to the students. I'm committed to the teacher I'm subbing for. I'm in...110%! I think that whatever you choose to do, you should be all in. Commit to it...give it all you've got. At times, that commitment may try to suck the life out of you, but the rewards are great. I wholeheartedly believe that.

4. Give yourself a break occasionally. My back has been out for most of the week. It's much better today, but Monday - Thursday - it sucked, to put it nicely. What does this mean? Well, I did not exercise one minute in the past week. Not one. There was a time in my life when this would cause extreme anxiety...I mean extreme. But, sometimes you just need to accept things for what they are and move on.

I also did not cook one meal for my family this week. Yes, my kids lived on boxed macaroni and cheese and cereal, toast and bacon this week. We're all fine. My kids did not starve. Heck, they didn't even care.

So put aside your Pinterest aspirations and inspirations and know that it's okay to give your children a meal from a box, miss a workout and drink an extra beer every now and then. We all need the occasional break.

5. Hug your kids. If you have kids, give them a big, ol' hug! Grayson and I butted heads several times this week, but at the end of each day...we hugged it out. One night (after the arrival of his report card) I even said to him, "Hey dude! We need to hug it out." And guess, what? Things were good. They're only little once. They make mistakes. We make mistakes. But, I still firmly believe a hug can make things better...

Okay...so these are my reminders for the week. Nothing earth-shattering. No great words of wisdom. Heck, you might not even need these reminders, but maybe one of them resonated with you. Or, maybe when you have a difficult week in the future...one of these reminders will come in handy!

Whining...

Yes, I'm whining today. Please stop reading if you don't want to listen to my whining. I'm giving you fair warning...

Okay...you've been warned.

It's been a craptastic week. Here's my whiny list: My back went out. I've had some students driving me to drink. My husband is in Minneapolis. Grayson's report card was not so fabulous and, more importantly, he just didn't really care. There's a damn lizard living in my cupboard who has scared the shit out of me the last two days. I haven't exercised all week due to my back. And there has been a serous lack of coffee in my life this week.

Yes, these are all minor in the grand scheme of things. I'm not homeless, starving or destitute. No one has died, nor have I killed anyone this week. (Score one for me!) But, I'm whining...and when you whine it's never about anything critical or crucial to your life.

Yeah, yeah...you can take your happiness shield and stick it!

So anyways, if my whining offends you...well, I was going to say I'm sorry, but I'm not. My filter is really low this week...I mean REALLY low. And, I'm pretty much just telling it like it is...so if I offend you or a member of your family, maybe you could just cut me a little slack. Just a little...and...

Cocktails, Korean BBQ, Shisha and Working Girls...

Last Friday night started out as just another Friday night in KL - a few cocktails after work with friends, then dinner at the local Korean BBQ place (with a few more cocktails) and then some shisha and a few more cocktails and then...well, we decided to check out this club.

Now, I'm not a club girl. I'm a 44 year-old mom who values her sleep, who knew she'd had enough to drink, and probably should've headed home. But when someone says, "Come! Just for one!" - yeah, I found it hard to say no.

So we went to this club in Solaris - which upon arrival was practically empty. No problem. There was lots of loud music, so we figured we'd stay and share a bottle of Absolut and then head home. But, within 30 minutes of our arrival, the place started to fill. With girls in sequins, mini-skirts so short that...well, there's no real need for me to paint you a picture. And when the bottle of Absolut hit our table, we were surrounded by what I will nicely call "working girls." They were like locusts. Very pretty locusts, but locusts nonetheless. At first, I was amazed that they would be so bold as to approach our group who was mostly paired up with their respective spouses...and then I was felt up by one of the pretty "working girls" and I realized, "Ah, it's an equal opportunity thing..." So I could not help but laugh as I watched most of the husbands have their asses grab (mine included) and lots of flirtatious touches...

Soon, the girls must have realized that they weren't getting anywhere with our group. And as quickly as they had descended upon us, they then moved on to a new group of marks, oh, I mean men.

Upon reflection Saturday morning, I found the whole situation quite sad. Obviously these girls have known nothing else for their entire life. I'm sure they've been exploited in some manner since they were young and now they've been sent to KL (most of them were from Thailand) to "make a living."

I don't know what the solution is...but it certainly makes you think. And it certainly makes you thankful.

Feeling Wanted...

So I am in the midst of week #2 of teaching and all is going well. Or at least I think it is. I think some kids are still in a bit of shock that they have a "real teacher"- someone who actually knows what to do in the classroom and is going to hold them accountable for their work, but I'm sure they'll quickly adjust. Or they won't...either way the world will go on.

But, today's blog isn't really about teaching...it's about why I'm happy to be teaching. Yes, it's fun to be back with students, although the same issues that drove me crazy when I had my own classroom continue to do so today. And yes, it's great to work with some really excellent teachers who take the time to check in on me and make sure I'm surviving. But, what really makes me happy is that I got the job - that they picked me for the 7 weeks. That the school wanted me.

When I came to Malaysia I wasn't sure from where I would derive my personal identity. Would being a stay-at-home mom be enough? Would being the wife to Blaine be enough? And, while I love those things, I still sought out something more. I started blogging and then writing pieces for a magazine...and all of those things together started to help improve my feeling of self-worth. (And trust me, I love being a mother, wife and occasional writer.) But, a few months back I needed to know that I still had '"it" when it came to professional endeavours. Every job I've ever wanted, I've got. It's not an extensive list. I find a job I want - and I stick with it. And I give it my best...always. And, I wanted to know that I could still get a job. So I revamped the resume and took a chance.

And I could. I could still get a job. Now, I'll be honest...I don't think they had a huge number of applicants. It may have been a case of picking"the lesser of two evils" - and I won by a slim margin. But, they still chose me. And that feeling of being wanted is important. It's that feeling that encourages me to give it my all and helps to validate my self-worth.

I'm sure lots of "trailing spouses" can relate to that feeling. We have husbands or wives who have excellent careers. Whenever you meet someone new one of the first three questions is, "Who does your husband/wife work for?" Not very often does someone ask what you do. It can be a little discouraging at times. Most of us had fantastic and fulfilling careers...we've just chosen another path right now because the benefits are amazing - for us, for our spouses, for our families.

But, for the next few weeks, if someone does happen to ask, I will proudly say that I'm a teacher - because someone wanted me.

Week 1 of School and The Things I Miss...

So...I've almost finished my first week of working. The kids did not kill me and I did not kill any kids. I call that a win. I joke, but really - I think it was a successful week. I had a couple of kids who wanted to test me - just a little - but I shut that down quickly and I think they realize I'm not a sub that they can steamroll over. Let's hope the next few weeks are equally as successful.

And as I came home Wednesday I started thinking about the things I missed since I was back in the working world...so today's blog is dedicated to that!

1. Coffee. I had one cup of coffee this week. Just one. Really, it's a miracle the kids did survive. I can be a raving bitch without coffee. (Yeah, yeah...keep your comments about how I can be a raving bitch with coffee to yourself!) I wish coffee shops opened at 7 a.m. - even 7:30 a.m. - so I could grab a cup on the way to work. But, alas, that is not the case and I will have to limit my coffee to weekends...and substitute in many Coke Lights until Christmas.

2. My 8 a.m. CrossFit Peeps. Oh, I miss my morning WOD!! And I miss the morning peeps! (A special shout out to Jo!!! Save my bar for me!!) I only made it to one 5 p.m. WOD this week due to the kids' schedule and my schedule and, well, life. I'm a morning girl for sure! Evening workouts S-U-C-K!!! So, the next few weeks will be challenging in that respect. Next week I may have to try getting up with Blaine and doing home WODs. Oh! The horror! We all know a home WOD is not nearly as gruelling as heading to the box. I can cherrypick what I'm going to do...although I promise to throw in some burpees. (I did them this week at home...I was a good CrossFitter.)

3. Writing. I miss my morning writing time. Not just the blog, but when I would email friends. When I would brainstorm ideas. When I would gather my thoughts and put them in my ever-so-cute notebook. (Thanks Alissa for my fabulous notebook! It gets used a lot!) I still need to work out time to write, but it will come as I fall into a routine.

4. ?

5. ?

Hmm...I can't think of a 4th or 5th thing I miss. I call that a win, too. Because really...all of the things above are minor. Really minor. And by Christmas...things will return to the way they were. So life is good.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Hong Kong and Vietnam...

We had a great time in both places...that's all I can really say!

Here's some pics from our trip!

We stayed at the Disney Hollywood Hotel...very relaxing!

The kids had two full days at MickeyLand!

This involved lots of walking and, well, I can't tell you how many times we did the Buzz Lightyear ride...too many to count.

And we had lots of smiles!

Toy Story Land was a big hit! Caleb did the RC Racer ride - once! He said that was enough!

The boys are still not too old to pose for pics with Chip and Dale - even giving hugs!

The new parade was a hit!

And we also toured Hong Kong! We walked right through the Umbrella Revolution!

Sampling pork jerky and egg tarts with our guide, Amy.

Victoria's Peak - An amazing view!

Dim Sum at the famous Maxim's located in City Hall. They even have the little trolley which goes around the dining room allowing you to pick what you would like! So old school, yet classic.

A trip on the Star Ferry to see the Walk of Fame.

The boys had to do their best impression of Bruce Lee.

Then it was off to Vietnam. We took a day tour to the Mekong Delta.

Our guide was Nhi and she took us to a Buddhist pagoda on the way. It was just beautiful.

My happy Buddha had his photo taken with a real happy Buddha...so huge and made of marble.

Then it was a trip on a junk on the Mekong. The water is filthy...I will not be doing any triathlons here!

We visited a coconut candy making shop and Blaine sampled some snake wine.

Then it was a horse cart ride to listen to some traditional Vietnamese music and sample some local fruits and honey.

Then it was time to row a boat to lunch. Elephant ear fish and all sorts of yummy stuff! Plus some local beer!

Friday was a relaxing day at the roof top pool!

Friday night was the AO Show at the Saigon Opera House. I highly recommend it! My kids really enjoyed it!

Dinner that evening was a Cuc Gach Quan. Nate was supposed to meet up with us, but got caught in the incredible Ho Chi Minh traffic. It's okay...he made it to our hotel later and we managed to order  some delicious dishes.

This restaurant is famous because Angelina and Brad (yeah, we're on a first-name basis) brought their son (who was adopted from Vietnam) here when they brought him back to explore his culture. It was yummy...I don't care who you are!

And Saturday morning before we headed home had us drinking coffee with Nate at this great café called Myth. Nice atmosphere, good conversation and fantastic coffee.

 

 

Our next adventure will have us off to Cambodia in early December. The blog may be quiet until then as I started back teaching today! (And it was lots of fun! Just like I remembered!)