Wednesday, August 18, 2010

A New Wave

It's been a while since my incident at the airport and now I've been at home in Salalah passing out my vacation. It's not that bad though. I've had alot of walking and spending quality time with the family.  Spending time with Achilles and Chaya has been very rewarding and they are teaching me alot.

Recently my husband has been in contact with an old friend. She seems like she is rather sent from heaven. She is exactly what I've been wanting for a long time and I will get to meet her in a week.  I can't wait. I am sure she will have lots to teach me about myself and the chidlren since we share a common interest when it comes to Achilles. I hope it will be the beginning of a life long friendship.  We have only spoken through email and chat and already I feel like we have known each other for a lifetime.

So here I come life! I come with arms wide open, ready to take a leap of faith!  Who knows what life will bring but I'm open to it all!

Until next time, I hope will be soon until I give you all an update. Come along on the ride with me!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Leading up to Summer

Well, it's been quite a long time since I've made an entry to this blog. I've been quite down and out and thinking what to do, where to go, how do I cope with my anxieties and stresses of married life plus children.  It's been quite a ride. I still haven't gotten the help that I need.

I'm looking to the universe to help me and spending time in prayer, trying to look at the bright side and bring positive energy my way. It's a long and lonely process not having people like me around. People here are quite close and I think it may be rubbing off on me and I'm beginning to become more like them. I don't want that for myself. I want to remain the bubbly person that I know myself to be, who laughs out loud and makes crazy jokes, and doesn't care what others think of me when I scream at the top of my lungs.

My family and I finally got all the things we needed to go on a well needed vacation to my husband's home country.  Little did we know there was yet another obstacle in store for me at the airport.

I was 5 hours early for my flight to Canada and was so excited, waiting to get through check- in and wait to board the plane. My husband had purchased the tickets and the airline hadn't asked for anything specific.  I got to check- in and they wanted to see the card that we had bought the ticket with.

My heart dropped to my feet as I wondered how I was going get it. It was 3am and Derek was fast asleep.  The airline's system (Etihad Airways) was so screwed up that some of the people whom the computer had asked to show their cards had not needed to show one when they got to the airport. So there I was trying calling my husband at 3 in the morning with no response. I called until the phone got too hot for my ears and my hands were tired and eventually his battery had ran out.

I sat at the airport crying, wondering why me, why this had to happen to me now; with 2 children at hand, fast asleep and nowhere to go.  Luckily there was a friend who was there.  She was my guardian angel that early morning and I couldn't have come through it without her. 

But the hours flew by and my plane took off without me. There was no space left on the subsequent flights I could have gone before my visa would expire so I had to go back to Salalah ( I was in Muscat now 1000km away) by bus; the plane to Salalah was fully booked at least up til 3 days later. I wasn't going to stay in Muscat for 3 exxtra days with nowhere to go and 2 children at hand!

But along the way there was lots of help. There was Tahl in Nizwa who let me stay at her place for 3 days, and there was Senan who drove me to the aiport at midnight, and then there was Mona who helped me at the airport.  And Tahl saved me again, when I needed someone to take me out of the airport with all my stuff, and drove me around to go to the airline's office to sort out some stuff , and then offered to let me stay at her place again.

I guess I'm quite lucky to have had all these people around when I needed them the most in that very tragic moment for me.  Now I'm still trying to get Etihad Airways to give me my money back. It sounds like it's going to be a long and tedious process. That's almost 3000 USD we may lose!

I hope we get our money back, and I hope we can still have a good vacation because we really need the break!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Life Stinks!

Someone please find me a psychiatrist! I'm so out of it! What should I do with myself?  I'm seriously on the brink!  I haven't been able to write a post for weeks; I'm so out of it.

I really need some professional help! I can't stand being in my house. I can't stand my husband. I can't stand anything!  I have nothing to do but take care of the kids which is so not me! There is no place here to have an outlet.

The morning seems fine and then my husband gets home and I still have no break from the kids.  They just keep at it; my 2 year old is still on the boob like never before and its freaking me out.  My husband doesn't seem to get that I need a break and I need him to do his part.  He seems to think that going to work is all he is obligated to do.  He doesn't contribute to anything else.

He doesn't have anything nice to say and always finds something to complain about that I did wrong or that I'm not doing.
Aren't I doing enough!

Please someone.  I need help. I'm afraid I might do something stupid!

Monday, March 29, 2010

How To Clean Your Face Naturally



Recently I've discovered a new way to clean my face. It's called the OCM (Oil Cleansing Method). It may sound a bit strange to clean your face with oil but it works.
Fact: Oil does not cause oil skin or acne; that's due to a combination of hormone, bacteria and dirt.

Here is a quote from acne.org

“Oil dissolves oil. One of the most basic principals of chemistry is that “like dissolves like.” The best way to desolve a non-polar solvent like sebum/oil, is by using another non-polar solvent similar in composition: other oils. By using the right oils, you can cleanse your pores of dirt and bacteria naturally, gently and effectively, while replacing the dirty oil with beneficial ones extracted from natural botanicals, vegetables and fruit that heal, protect and nourish your skin. When done properly and consistently, the OCM can clear the skin from issues like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blackheads, whiteheads and other problems caused by mild to moderate acne–while leaving your skin healthy, balanced and properly moisturized.”

Therefore good quality oil is the perfect substance for cleaning sensitive skin; such as on our face because it helps gentlly remove the dirty oil and replace it with good, nourishing, healing oil.


How to Get Started

1. Make your cleaner

Simply mix the oils together in a small bottle, give it a little shake, and you’ve got yourself a homemade, frugal facial cleanser. The most popular blend of oils for this cleansing method is castor oil and extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). The castor oil draws out dirt and other gunk from your pores. The EVOO is a brilliant moisturizer, helping heal and nourish the skin.
• For those with normal skin, you could start off with 20% castor oil and 80% EVOO.
• For those with acne-prone or oily skin, reduce the proportion of EVOO, and try 30% castor oil and 70% EVOO.
• For those with drier skin, try 10%castor oil and 90% EVOO.


Experiment, and find what ratio works for you. Just start off with a little bit, and then try it for a few days. I began with one teaspoon of castor oil and three teaspoons of EVOO in a little squeeze bottle.

2. Gently rub it in

Pour a quarter-sized amount into your palm, rub your hands together, and slowly massage your skin with your fingertips. Don’t splash your face with water first — apply it dry. Work the oil into your skin for about a minute, and enjoy the peaceful massage at work. Don’t scrub — just rub.

3. Steam your face

Next, wet a washcloth with hot water (but not scalding!), and put it over your face until it’s about room temperature. This is steaming out your pores, removing the impurities and the dead skin cells. It’ll take about a minute — enjoy the nearly-free facial.

4. Wipe off the oil

Take the washcloth, rinse and wring it, then gently wipe off the oil. Your skin will probably feel softer immediately.

ENJOY THE BENIFITS!

I've been doing it for a while now and it really works well! My skin is glowing more than ever!

Special thanks to Tsh at simplemom.net

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Poo

Ok.

So I'm trying to get my son Achilles to use the potty.  I've been reading all these articles about how to get them to use it but it all sounds so tidious to me and seems to take alot  of effort of  my part.  Having a 4  month old to take care of  is making it a bit difficult to give so much attention to potty training my 27 month old.

Some parents can train their children by the time they're 18 months; others have wait until they are 3 or even 4!  But I tell you, I'm so exhausted of changing diapers on a 27 month olld who is very active.  And when stuff keeps spilling unto everything in the house I think it's time to get him out of those diapers and unto the loo.

Do any of you moms out there have boys that have been potty trained already?  What was the experience like for you? Any suggestion on how to get my son to use the potty?

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Slowly

Since my last post things have been very slow for me but amazingly progressive in the right direction.

To all my dear friends who have commented here or in other ways, thank you so much for your inspiring words.

Noteworthy are Nataly; though you didn't comment on the blog we had a sound comversation which has kept me going until today.

To Terri; you are a wonderful human being and amazing mother.  Keep inspiring others.

To my cousin Sharms; at times I have been angry at you for the things you have said in the past but lately you have had nothing but encouraging words and have shared some of your own stories with me which makes my porblems seem like nothing.  Thanks for sharing and keeping close.

And to my dearest husband Derek; I know I don't give you enough credit but you try, and this weekend you went above and beyond my expecations.  All I had really had to do was feed the children which you couldn't possible do. You've got no goodies! ;-)

I hope I always remember to give you credit for your great effort. I love you!

So let's see if I can keep up the encouraging words in upcoming posts.  Keep coming again and again to see what's been transpiring

And I leave you with this.  May you enjoy.

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Just Thinking

Who ever said moms had to be wonder women.  We can't possible do it all you know!  We just do what we can.  After my last post I thought I was on track to having an amazing week but who was I kidding.

I couldn't be further from the truth.  I still don't understand what some of you are talking about.  How the hell do you have time to cook and clean and change diapers and be all sproozed up for your husbands?  I must have missed the memo completely. 

I tried some of you guys techniques for dealing with the children but everyday seems to be more overwhelming than the previous one.

What do I do now?  Nothing seems to be working.  You guys are probably tired of my rantings and how my life sucks. 

I feel like the worst parent on earth; I really do!  I've just been moping around the house the past few days feeling so angry and hopeless and depressed.

One  minute I'm vibrant and it seems like I'm finally seeing that silver lining and then the next its back to feeling sorry for myself.  If there's a psychologist out there...I need you to check me in!  I really need one. 

I think mostly I need someone to talk to.  It sucks here; having no friends and all.  Most of the other teachers act all weird as if they're so special and they dont want to mingle with someone like me.  They avoid every opportunity to even say hi.

I went to the baby group two weeks ago so the children would see other kids and they could have some meaningful interaction other than me and Derek but it seemed all weird.  I got this really bad vibe like they didn't want me there.  I mostly sat around with the children and played with them.

And I guess my suspicions were right because no one sent me an invite this week to say where the baby group was taking place.

What is up with people? Why do some people think they are so much more inportant than others?
They have flaws just like the rest of us.

Maybe all of you guys will stop readinf my posts after this one...Because I'm starting to annoy your eyeballs out!  But please don't.  I look forward to your encouraging words...They keep me going.

At least these photos make a bit of a difference.  I'm smiling for 5 seconds!


Friday, March 12, 2010

The Unexpected

Today we decided to go to the beach, a different one from the Pineapple beach. We thought we knew the way (we had gone there before but someone else was leading) but we couldn't find it.  We drove around in circles hoping to find the road we turn off on but we did not succeed. 


While looking for the road we encounterd a part of town that we hadn't ventured on before.  It had the most lovely houses I have ever seen!  While exiting this neighbour we swung by the industrial site and found a new store.  There were lots of interesting things in the store.  And we came upon these.



Well it's not an accurate picture of the glasses, but don't I look silly!!

On our way home we decided to go up the mountain.  We had been there before at night, but in the daytime there's lots to see. Ittin Cave Park is what it's called.  It the most amazing little place, half way up the hill that has a little cave at the back.  It was so quiet!  Living in the city makes you forget how peaceful it is to just listen to the silence and hear everything else that's out there.  The wind rustling, the birds singing..  It seemed so surreal.  We sat for a while and enjoyed the calm and decided that we would do it every week.

Achilles really enjoyed himself as well.  There was lots of space to run around, and so he did.  The perfect end to the weekend and great start for the new week.

Oh yeah, and then we had a Thali!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Basil


Here is the latest on my basil plant. Yippee!!!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Am I for real?

Oh No!

Since moving to Salalah this past August I have been very out of the ordinary.  I find every opportunity to spend, sometimes just browsing for a very long time, even now that I have 2 children to drag around I still do it!

My life is so empty.  There is nothing that I can find to really hold me together.  Achilles, my eldest, is driving me insane!  Like right now, I'm trying to write this entry and I just can't stand it that he's all over me. 

Is there something really wrong with me?  Am I suffering from post partum depression or something?  Someone help! I can't do this any longer.  I feel like I'm going to pop any minute now!

"STOP SCREAMING ACHILLES, YOU"RE DRIVING| ME INSANE!", I say.

Maybe 20 times everyday.  He's either jumping on the computer, busting phones, or whatever else he can find to annoy me.

I really dont enjoy living here...its too depressing.

Any thoughts anyone?  I really need your expertise...all the other moms out there...anyone..help!

Monday, March 1, 2010

No Energy

Yesterday I decided for the millionth time, that I was going to get on track with exercising more.  I'd been feeling very sloppy and sluggish for weeks.  I realized that I needed to take alot better care of my body to be able to enjoy life with my children.

It was 5pm and I set out for a jog along the grass next to the highway.  It's a beautiful place to relax.  It was very encouraging to see so many people there.  Some walking, others running, then some jogging.  It felt great.  The last time I tried to exercise it felt  horrible and that was weeks ago!

Forty-five  minutes later I was home and exhausted.  Then my back started hurting alot.  I couldn't understand why.  Derek thought it was from running and I wondered  why.  He seemed to think it was because I was carrying so much extra weight that I wasn't used to carrying.  It made sense.  I am carrying 5 kilos more than my pre pregnant weight.  I normally do feel "out of my element" with any extra weight I have on.  I guess I just didn't notice it because I expected to put on weight with the pregnancy and all those hormones maybe eased the pain.

So let's see how long I can keep this up!  I plan to do it at least 3 times a weeks.  Maybe by the summer I'll be back to my old self, and have lots more energy too!

Saturday, February 20, 2010

A Beautiful Afternoon

My husband and I rarely go on outings. Unless it's something pretty spectacular then we don't bother so much.  I like going out, being in the car, but my husband doesn't like driving.  However yesterday was quite different for him.  He enjoyed the drive.

We decided to go to the "Pineapple Beach".  I guess it's called that because there is a lone palm tree there that sort of looks like the top of a pineapple.  The beach is very secluded and there is a gorgeous cliff. I didn't get the best angle but this is still quite nice.



 It was late in the afternoon.  The sun was almost past the stage where you would get a sunburn. Being as white as my husband is we have to avoid getting burnt at all times!  Achilles was very happy to be there. He ran to the water, let his feet touch and run back to shore.  I had a swiw with Derek, my hubby, which I had not done since a month before Chaya was born.  It felt immaculate!

The water was warm and crystal blue.  I thought to myself, " I could stay here in Oman for a couple more  years"; in Salalah that is.  The rest of Oman has nothing like this..well...maybe Muscat, but that's about it.  The weather is alot more pleasant down here than Muscat!

Chaya slept for most of the time on the beach and it was relaxing.  It was the perfect end to the weekend( in the middle east the weekend begins Wednesday afternoon and you're back to work on Saturday).





Hope to have lots more of these!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Growing Basil

"This will be an easy task" , or so I thought. I decided to try to grow basil on my porch. Here in Salalah there are lots of people with plantations growing food and basil is supposed to be very easy to grow.

I attempted to grow some with seeds from a friend's plant. After weeks of trying to grow that nothing happened. Then I attempted to grow it from cuttings.  They all died. I thought to myself that it was impossible to grow basil where I lived because we didn't get enough sun on my side of the building.

Today after seeing a blog where people grew plants on their root tops I thought to myself if those people could do it on their roofs, why couldn't I? I had thought of it before but I was too lazy to go to the top of the building and water the plants, or that the plant would get stolen.  There are lots of people living in my complex.

I went out to the pot, which from a far looked like nothing was going on.  To my surprise I looked in the pot and there were about 10 little basil plants looking straight at me!


So after about 6 weeks this is what I got. I'm quite pleased.  I look forward to taking care of it in the upcoming weeks and seeing it grow bigger and give me some delicious basil leaves.  Can't wait!
I will update you all on the status of the plant is subsequent entries.

CouchSurfing

Whilst back in Dominica a couple years ago my husband and I discovered couchsurfing. It is an organization you can join where people allow you to stay at their place while you're travelling.  Whether you're doing a massive trip, trying to see alot of countries or you're just getting from one place to another just because you happen to be there, its an option.

Since then my family and I have hosted alot of people from all over the world. Some are great guests, others; not so much. It's nice to meet people from so many backgrounds.

This week Ida Skogstad stayed with us. She is from Norway and is a wonderful guest. She came to Oman on photograhy assignment; I think and has been in Oman for over 2 weeks now.



The children bonded with her very well and its very sad that she has to leave today. I was loving the company!  Well hopefully there will be lots more like her and I can relax a bit when the kids go crazy.

Until next time...

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Lentil Soup


I have two children, Achilles who is 2 and Chaya who is 7 weeks old. Having them so close together there is hardly any time to do much especially cook. So the other day I decided to experiment with soup. Yes soup, its very easy to make and you can make a whole lot and have it for the whole week.



So here's the recipe:

2 cups of lentils
2 onions (diced)
5 cloves of garlic
1 tbsp ground black pepper
2 tsp salt
70gms or so of tomato paste
2 litres of water
2 carrots (diced)

Directions

Saute onions, carrots, garlic for 5 minutes. Add black pepper and tomato paste. Transfer this mixture into the pot with the lentils and water. let pressure cook for 30 minutes.
You could soak the lentils overnight if you want. They cook quicker that way.

And there you have it, Lentil Soup! Very delicious! Spiced to perfection!

Everyone who reads this should try it. You can't go wrong.

No more complaining from my husband that there's no food cooked when he gets home from work!!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Thali


A Thali is an indian set meal. It is vegetarian. I am very enthusiastic about being as much as a vegetarian as I can. Here in Salalah, Oman there are many indian vegetarian restaurants. They are very cheap and very good!

Yesterday my family and I went to this new one that we heard about, " The Indian Restaurant". It was the best one we had had so far. It felt like we were eating in this fancy restaurant where everything is supposed to be expensive and exotic, so that's why it tastes good, but this place was good because they took the simplest and freshest ingredients and spiced them up perfectly.  It was absolutely delectable!

I suggest that if anyone wants to visit Oman they should come to Salalah to try out the Indian restaurants. You won't be disappointed.