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Archive for the ‘Me-time’ Category

The Sweetest Mother’s Day Gift

Wednesday, May 26th, 2010

Those of you who know my husband know he’s a pretty amazing gift giver. He’s extremely thoughtful, generous and creative. This Mother’s Day was no exception. He and the boys surprised me by sending me away to the local Westin for a night to enjoy some “me” time. They decorated the room with flowers, musical cards (this was the first year Munch could actually write his name!), candy, wine and magazines.

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At 4 years old, my husband trusted Munch with the secret. He knew for a week and worked so hard not to tell. One time he even sang quietly, as if to convince himself, “I have a secret and I’m not going to tell.” And he almost made it. Almost. But when they came back from their last pre-celebration errand, he shouted, “Mom, we saw a limo at your hotel!”

It was ok though. I had my suspicions. This glorious tradition started last year when I was at the end of my rope after just returning to work from maternity leave and having a sick baby who hadn’t slept more that a 2-hour stretch in a couple months. (And, hey, if that’s what it took to be a spoiled for a day, so be it.) (more…)

One Crucial Detail Overlooked, One Crucial Person Left Behind

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Imagine this. You’re at the airport bright and early because you’re about to go on a much-needed family vacation with your husband and child. You’ve been up all night packing and finishing up last-minute details for work. You’re very tired, but so excited to be finally going to Mexico. All you can think about is lounging in a beach chair, drinking a margarita with your husband, and watching your child play around in the sand.

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Not!

The reality is that you’re at the airport bright and early, but your son is hanging onto your knees crying, and your husband is looking extremely grim because the ticket agent at Mexicana Air has just informed him that his passport expired last August! (more…)

Mirror, Mirror on the wall..

Monday, April 5th, 2010

“Who’s the fairest one of all?”

Unlike the Queen in Snow White and Seven Dwarfs, I don’t have the luxury of standing in front of my mirror and spending a lot of time on my appearance every day. As a working, first-time mom, I find myself invariably in a rush – whether it’s cleaning, cooking, getting to work on time, managing deadlines or the simply caring for a demanding baby. Thanks to the baby I’m in desperate need of a mani/pedi and my hair hasn’t has a professional cut in months! Forget trips to the spa. Buh-bye! Instead, I’ve created these at-home quick beauty treatments. I bask in my DIY beauty prowess!

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Hair
Once or twice a week, I apply some whisked raw egg directly to my hair before I take a shower. This gives a lovely shine and fabulous luster to my hair. You don’t have to leave it on for too long, just a few minutes before you hit the shower works wonders! (more…)

Mommy Does Vegas

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

This past weekend was a trip. I went to a bachelorette party… in Vegas! Talk about out of my norm as a working suburban woman with a 15 month old daughter.

Out of the 12 women who attended I was the only mom of the bunch. While I was thrilled to be celebrating my dear friend and her pending nuptials, I was as nervous as all get out!

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My mind was flooding. Will my hubby and baby be okay at home without me? When was the last time that I was partying into the wee hours of the morning? How much will my hangover hurt? What does a sensibly dressed mom wear to a club? Can I even stay up past my 11pm bedtime?!?!? (more…)

Business travel

Friday, August 21st, 2009

Business travel for me means a trip to the other side of the globe, from Bangalore to Sunnyvale. It has to be the farthest I can go, given the 12 1/2 hour time difference. Thankfully I only need to do this a couple of times a year.

Every time I start planning a trip I am excited at the prospect of “time off,” a change in the routine, for about a week. But the day I have to leave, I don’t pack until a few hours before the flight and print the tickets at the last minute. I just don’t feel like going, and the hour-long ride in the middle of the night to the airport is miserable.

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The myth of planning

Tuesday, August 18th, 2009

When people told me that having a baby was “life changing,” I often balked at the overly obvious statement. Of course life would change… life changes every day, right? What I did not fully understand until my daughter’s first day in this world was how much my time management would be altered.

I have to admit that I have been somewhat of a planner my whole life. I love planning; from parties to vacations to business plans, I thrived on lists and calendars and spreadsheets. I created so many while I was pregnant that I thought for sure I’d have this “mom thing” mastered. From that first cry that woke me up in the middle of the night, I realized that there are no lists or spreadsheets or schedules that can control this new being we brought into the world.

So, suddenly, my very controlled and planned-out world had turned upside down. I realized that I could no longer alter the state of my world by crossing off activities on a to-do list, or figuring out a fancy formula to make all of my budgets balanced. This was a human being, with a mind of her own (to put it mildly). She seemed to have her own agenda and I no longer had access or ownership of it. I believe it was when my daughter was about eight-months-old that after consulting books, websites and friends, I realized that I just needed to LET GO. It’s amazing, because as soon as I stopped trying to figure it all out, it got easier. It was like my eight-month-old daughter was saying to me, “MOM! Stop trying to control everything. You are stressing me out!” Oh! I see…

Perhaps the idea of “planning” is no longer a realistic one. I still make lists and schedules, but I understand that these are just guides and if I deviate off the path, it’s okay. In fact, it will probably make the journey a bit more interesting.

The nannies who do manis

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Let me start off by saying – you can’t stay balanced. Doesn’t matter if you are a full-time mom, part-time mom or stay-at-home mom. There is no way to get everything done.

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