Happy Bootcamper!

I spent the first couple of days after cancelling our holidays puting up a brave-front in front of my girls. I was my usual chirpy and happy self keeping my elder girl company while she does her work, and helping my younger one with the daily crafts planned for her. When my girls went to bed I sulked and took out my frustration on my husband. The poor guy took it all in a stride ...ever so sweet.

I was having so much trouble getting myself out of the in-no-mood for everything in my life. I needed something badly to get me back on track. When I found out about The Original Bootcamp (OBC) from another blogger I was convinced that it was just what I needed to get myself out of the rut - an hour of intensive outdoor exercise military style at 7am thrice weekly.

I signed-up for the OBC without much fact finding. I assumed that I would be able to handle it after having a personal trainer in the gym for awhile. From its name (military style bootcamp) I expected it to be tough, kick ass and intensive but ..... After 20 minutes into the session I was gasping for breath like a pathetic 50 years-old grandma. The intensity of the exercises was totally unexpected. I was in total shock. Me? Somehow who has been exercising regularly with a trainer, has to struggle so much? It was humiliating and mind boggling at the same time. It dawn onto me (much later) that I cannot do high intensity strength training and cardiovascular exercise at the same time. It's either one or the other. I was just not trained to do both by my trainer (yeah, pushing all the blame to him).

The aches and pains that I had during the first week was horrible. I had so much difficulty walking up the staircase to my friend's place (on the 2nd floor). I had to walk at an angle to lessen the pain. My friends were shocked, surprised, concerned and amused. I burst out laughing when my 8 year-old offered me her hand.

Things got better in the second week. It was still tough but I kinda got addicted to the after-session bazillion "happy hormones". The so satisfied with myself feeling was awesome. By the end of the second week, I fired my personal trainer (while he was still on holiday) and signed up for my second month as a Happy Bootcamper, one who could work my muscles and run on the same day!

Responsible Decisions

Hubby and I made a painful decision last month. We cancelled our planned 6 months in advance, eagerly awaited year-end holidays abroad. It was painful, difficult, awful but we did it. At times I wish that we are less responsible, I wish that we love our daughters a little less, I wish that we are more selfish ......

My elder girl's teachers felt that she has the ability to secure a government scholarship to study abroad. As the exams are going to take place in September next year, we were advised to prepare early (huh?) and send her for extra coaching during the year-end break. Being the non-typical Asian parents (Asian parents tend to be very obsessed over kids education) we laughed it off. We were shocked when my girl told us that she wanted to have a go at the scholarship thingy. We tried to talk her out of it as hubs and I prefer our girls to have a more balanced school versus all-other-fun-stuff. She convinced us to support her decision ....

We ended up cancelling our holiday plans - hubs went back to work and I was busy sending her to and from tuition classes. While she was busy with homework, my younger girl and I prepared Christmas gifts for our friends. We made Christmas trees out of our friends favourite chocolates and sweets. We even made one in Japanese wasabi beans and sugarless sweets for a special old lady. I was inspired by Angie of Treasure For Tots. She has a tutorial on it.

This is what I made for my girls. After doing 11 trees, I was too lazy to paint/decorate the pot. They were not the least bothered, more interested in the goodies (all their favourites).

I was not in the mood to do any Christmas baking or any other baking for that matter. My oven was not warmed-up for over a month. I was busy feeling sorry for myself (over my cancelled holidays) when my kids were not looking. I know, I know, I am a spoilt and immature mummy.

Here's a song (my favourite) from me to you. I hope that your Christmas was filled with lots of Joy, Peace & Happiness!

If Dreams Are Meant To Be Met

This is the perfect scene I would love to wake-up to everyday, if I have my way. I always dream of living  by the sea with my man during our retirement days. We will have our dream house then, incorporating two of our must-haves ....... a whole floor for his music room and a super humongous craft room for me filled with all my "toys".

Here we will live our perfect lifestyle, away from the hustle bustle of the city life, with the sea as the backdrop. We will start our days with an early morning run by the sea, followed by a full session of pilates and many many hours of crafting (for me) and reading (for him). Here no cooking is required (yeah!), and my man will enjoy having Diet Coke and crackers for lunch and dinner!

I get all excited just by "dreaming"............ If dreams are meant to be met, this will be my paradise.

*Stop dreaming* it's time to move my butt and do the dishes. Aghhh... the hard realities of life!

My plot of land for my dream house by the sea