Summertime - Sunday Evening Reflections

source

Today was the first sunny day in ages and I feel fabulous.  I realised once again that my mood can be very dependent upon the weather and I've been a bit of a grump this week, what with the crap weather.  I'm mostly disappointed that I haven't been able to do fun, summery, touristy stuff with Mum, which has irritated me.  Upon reflection, I need to leave that nonsense behind and just enjoy having her here for the hols and cherish being curled up on the sofa, watching movies with her.

So in the sunshine today I pottered, cleaned, weeded, baked, dozed, read my book, giggled and stared out of the window at the water and the sunset.  It was perfect - lots of me time, yet it was spent with two of my favourite people (Phill & Mum.)  I love summertime.

Such a lovely way to end a dreary week and kick off a great week to come!

Your turn... What's your favourite thing about summer?

Sunday Evening (actually late night) Reflections

Every week seems to be whizzing by at break neck speed - it seems as soon as I blink, another week has passed and it was just as busy as the last.  My co-workers and I have spent so long looking forward to the fortnight of holidays, I do try to be mindful (since it was pointed out by another co-worker) that it seems we're wishing our lives away in pursuit of time off!  Not quite the right way to live day by day.  

I'm hoping to slow down and take some time over the next couple of weeks of holiday.  The days are already filling up with all manners of lovely things, like hair appointments, lunches, dinners and events in jamat khane (my mosque) - happily busy, but I need to remember to find that balance... to get back to eating healthily, planning meals, resting and exercising.  

source

Phill helped me regain my balance yesterday and we had a wonderful day lunching, brunching and dining all over the city - our scrumptious meals were punctuated by movies!  Fun, happy, kid's movies - I think I've mentioned before that I love the escapism inherent in a good movie, and cartoons are no exception.  We started off by going to see Despicable Me.  Hilarious.  Loved it... seemed Phill and I were the only ones laughing most of the time, but a great movie, nonetheless.  

Then, as a surprise, Phill took me to the IMAX screening of Beauty and the Beast.  I'm a sucker for a good love story and this movie certainly counts.  It doesn't matter how many times I've seen it, I love it.  Makes my heart all warm and fuzzy.  What was even better, was that there was a gorgeous little girl who looked to be around 4 or 5 who rocked up with her parents in a Belle ballgown!  If that wasn't cute enough, at the end of the movie when the happily ever after happens, she exclaimed "YAY!" and started clapping and giggling... I couldn't help but to smile; let's be honest - everyone is thinking "YAY!" at the end of the movie anyways.  picture source

I also picked up that great book that I wrote about yesterday.  I'm really trying to take some of it to heart and make some positive changes in my life.  So grateful I found it, to help me on this journey!

While I'm really looking forward to these next two weeks' holiday, I'm also super excited for Term 4.  Aside from the weather starting to fine up, sniffles starting to reduce and the long holidays looming, I'm excited to hang out with my class.  I have to admit, over the past term, my students have been working incredibly hard and really starting to take ownership of their learning.  It seems as though that mid-year switch has flipped, the light's gone on and they're now more mature, independent and motivated.  They've always been a great bunch of students, but a corner has been turned and it's just awesome.  So lucky to have such lovelies! 

Hopefully I'll find that balance over the next little while... is there anything you're looking for or forward to for the next fortnight or two?

Sunday Evening Reflections... At Long Last!

Things have been so happily frenetic the last few weeks, I haven't had peaceful Sunday evening to write in a while.  I loved every minute of it, but I didn't realise how it had all caught up with me until last week when my eyes did some crazy swollen thing!  A big lie-in yesterday solved the problem quick smart and I'm back to my sparkly self.

Highlights of the last few weeks include lots of mail (which of course I tore open in my great anticipation.)  I was feeling a bit blue today, and got the most lovely letter from one of my pen pals in Aussie and reading what she had to say brought so much lightness to my heart.  So thankful I started writing letters!  I also got an awesome card from Ang - another friendship I'm happy to have rekindled through the magic of the Internet.

  source

Shayda bai (Mum's sister) was here from Sydney for meetings a couple of weeks ago.  We had a lovely dinner out together on our last night here and I took her to the top of One Tree Hill and for a drive around the neighbourhood.  I've said it before and I'll say it again - family time is so good for the soul. 

 source

Also along the lines of good for the soul - had an awesome time at Phillipa & Truman's last week.  We went over for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  We were spoiled with great food and stimulating conversation.  It goes without saying that I enjoy any time I spend with Phillipa, but it was really great to get to talk to Truman and get to know the man that my wonderful friend is going to marry in April!  

On a more serious note, I've been sending lots of love and prayers for strength to everyone in Christchurch and to those with friends and family there after the massive earthquake that rocked them last week.  I'm also very thankful that no one died in the quake (although, sadly there has been one quake related death since then.)

I'm sure there's so much more over the past couple of weeks that I'm missing, but I must get to the fabulousness that was this weekend...

First of all, I have to say (yet again), I've got some awesome friends.  I'm very lucky.  I probably don't tell them as often as I should, but I count my blessings every day that I am so fortunate. 

This afternoon, I had a great Skype chat with Megan today (after a very lengthy Facebook chat).  It was so fantastic, leaping into the 21st century!  Phill installed Skype on his laptop a good 8 months ago, and I admit it, I was resistant.  While chit chatting with Megan, I downloaded and installed it and we were off to the races!  It was wonderful to see her beautiful, smiling face and to hear her infectious laugh.  Megan.  Rocks. 

As I mentioned in Friday's post, it was Eid.  Phill was out that night, but we spent the rest of the weekend celebrating.  On Saturday he made me a very special dinner and we had fancy ice cream for dessert.  You can't go wrong with white chocolate raspberry ice cream!

source

Today, Phill and I had the most wonderful day wandering around West Auckland.  We went to the Waitakere Ranges Park and it was absolutely idyllic.  We then had lunch at a cozy restaurant in Titirangi overlooking the bush.  All through the day, the lyrics from Lou Reed's song, Perfect Day ran through my mind (even when I was having a meltdown with changing gears on hilly, windy roads.)  

Oh, it's such a perfect day
I'm glad I spend it with you
Oh, such a perfect day
You just keep me hanging on
You just keep me hanging on

Just a perfect day
problems all left alone
Weekenders on our own
it's such fun

Just a perfect day
you made me forget myself
I thought I was
someone else, someone good

source

Thank you for another perfect day, my love.

I can't wait for this week! 

A fortnight's worth of Sunday Evening Reflections

I was busy having an awesome and relaxing time with LeeAnn in Wellie last Sunday, so I happily neglected my writing last weekend.  In spite of an achy back and a bit of a nasty sniffle, it's been a really lovely fortnight.  Things that I loved over the past two weeks...

 photo source

1.  Getting to blob out (or lie on the floor so my back didn't ache) during a sick day last Monday and watching one of my favourite movies - Monsoon Wedding.  I've also just read that it is being adapted into a Broadway musical, which they started casting in June.  I'm curious to see how one of my favourite films translates onto Broadway.  The movie is a riot of colour and festivities, fraught with familial drama - I hope the stage production is as spectacular as the movie!  I always get a bit nostalgic for my family when I watch it, but it never fails to make me ridiculously happy.

2.  Being back in class the day after.  It was actually really lovely and the children were so very sweet, knowing that my back was achy and Katy was still sick.  Such a great group of children.

3.  I did a Parent Information Evening (about Montessori Math and Storytelling) on the Wednesday night of that week, and even though only ten people came, it went really well.  I think it's one of the best ones I've ever done actually!  It's a shame more parents weren't able to make it... but I left there feeling pretty fantastic and I got some really positive feedback about it. 

 photo source

4.  Hanging out in the Air NZ lounge, and being able to take my friends in on the way to Wellington and back.  It was just so very decadent and such a pleasant way to wait for our flights!  It made the delay on the way down much more palatable.  I'd love to take Phill somewhere soon just so we can go hang out in the lounge for a bit!

 photo source

5.  A fabulous weekend in Wellington, spending quality time with LeeAnn.  Girlfriend time is so good for the soul!  The purpose of the trip was actually work related.  The first reason was to attend a day's workshop at a school only a few minutes away from LeeAnn and Warwick's (gorgeous) house.  The workshop was fantastic to reignite and re inspire me, but most of all, it was a great chance to catch up with other Montessori professionals in New Zealand and to touch base with some fantastic folks that I haven't seen in ages.  Katy and I stayed on and spent Monday morning observing another 9-12 class.  We came away with some great ideas and feeling really excited about implementing some changes to make our awesome class even better. 

(That was mostly just the first week, except for the Monday observation!)

6.  I got my pretty new knitting needles in the post (which I battled for on trademe - I curse trademe lurkers!)  They're beautiful and I'm looking forward to doing some knitting with them! 

 photo source 

7.  A Friday night, all snuggled up on the sofa, nursing my cold, feeling sorry for myself and watching Iron Chef... I'm convinced that's why I feel better today!

 

photo source

8.  A super Saturday spent pampering myself.  I had my hair done first thing in the morning and then had a fun evening out with Rebecca, starting with a yummy dinner at Wagamama followed by watching the movie, Salt. (I thought it was entertaining - not fabulous, but a good, fun movie to watch on a Saturday evening with a good friend.) Again, girl time is so very good for the soul - and I always have such great time with Rebecca (which I think I've mentioned before!) 

Before.

 9.  I just made some tasty (Weight Watchers) self-saucing puddings.  What a lovely way to end a Sunday evening. 

After.

Whew.  It's been a fantastic fortnight - bring on another week! 

Sunday Evening Reflections

I've been pulling myself out of this blue funk, and I have to say, I'm quite pleased about that.  It's utterly exhausting being down about things that can't be changed, so I've accepted things the way they are and I feel... lighter.  It's nice. 

I have to start thinking about this more throughout the week - I often find that I end up writing about things that are predominantly weekend related. I've been slack at recognising it this week... but here goes!

1.  We just had the YUMMIEST roast lamb for dinner tonight.  I managed to put my back out first thing Saturday morning, so I've been a bit foul all weekend.  To inject a bit of pep, Phill made the most delicious roast and to top it off, he's bought ice cream and mint chocolate ice cream sauce that will harden into a shell.  I am truly the luckiest girl, ever.   To further extend this food fabulousness - I get to take the left overs for lunch tomorrow!  No looking longingly at my coworkers' tasty looking treats at mid-day - tomorrow, it's mine that is the luscious lunch!

photo credit

2.  A great movie date with Rebecca last night to see Knight and Day.  It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen, but a bit of good, giggly fun.  Tom Cruise plays (plays??) crazy so well... and he did look good.  I also drove the cute red car on the highway there and back and did okay!  Rebecca was lovely and supportive (as she always is!)  I enjoy my time hanging out with Bexki - whether we're exercising (which admittedly, I've not been so good with) or shopping (she is an excellent shopping partner) or just being.  She's always got a sympathetic ear, but also offers wise words and some sensible perspective.  I am so thankful that I've gotten to know her better over the past couple of years. 

photo credit

  

3.  We went to some open homes on Saturday.  None of them were THE HOUSE but it was great to get out and see what was available and to get an idea of what I want in a home.  So exciting!!

4.  We started last week with an hour and a half session in the art room.  The kids were lovely and completely engaged the entire time.  It was such a beautiful, peaceful way to start the week.

But my favourite moment of the week...

5.  While giving a lesson on integers on Friday, one of my girls (who lost her father when she was just turning six) stated (in a very blase manner and seemingly out of left field) "You know, when a life has sorrow in it, it makes you appreciate the good things that much more.  Some people don't realise how good they have it.  I appreciate what I have."  (As she drew her number line from -10 to +10.)  I had to turn away so she didn't see the tears in my eyes.  If it wasn't inappropriate, I would have gathered her up and hugged her to bits.  Thank you, KW (I don't like using my students' names on here, but Katy will know who I'm talking about), for reminding me how good I really have it. 

I'm really looking forward to this week - hope you have a great one too!