Randomness of the Day

Who missed my Random Thoughts?

1) My fingers and nose are SO cold right now.  I don't understand why the building has to be at BELOW FREEZING all day, just because it's hot outside.

2) My new obsession is the Guaranimal Booster Shot from Organic Avenue.  SO delicious.  It MUST be like a billion calories for me to love it so much.

3) Guess what...I need another haircut.  My hair hasn't grown very much from my last haircut.  But I feel like a change.

4) I definitely need to get back into my baking.  But I think I need to rewrite my Baking Bucket List.

5) I've been reading and seeing movies again! Check back for book lists and movie lists :)

We miss you, Bimblebee...

So it's now 2012.  We entered the Land of the "Terrible Twos" and even more big changes within our family were coming up.

Although I never mentioned it before, my mother-in-law, Bimblebee, had been battling Breast Cancer since 2002, and although she went into remission around 2003, it came back in 2007.  By the end of 2011 it had spread a bit, so in 2012 we made a family decision that she and my father-in-law, Papa, move to NYC so that she could go back to Sloane Memorial Hospital (one of the best Cancer Treatment Hospitals in the country).  It was the same hospital that helped her into remission in 2003, so we hoped for the same in 2012.  Since they decided to move to NYC, Bobblehead, Mama, and their two munchkins decided to move into my in-laws' house, where Hubs, Bobblehead, and Tiny Dancer grew up.  Although Bimblebee's condition seemed stable, every week a new obstacle on her path to recovery pushed her back a few steps.  Bimblebee (or Mom) lost her battle on May 17th, 2012, just 3 days shy of her 58th birthday, and exactly 5 days after her eldest sister passed away of a different form of Cancer.  May was not a good month.  On what would have been Mom's 58th birthday, we had an Indian Mourning Prayer at a local Hindu Center, and released balloons.  Not a day has gone by that we don't think about her and miss her. We know she's dancing and laughing with her sister, and watching over us.

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack... (2011)

Last we left off, Hubs, Monkey, and I were spending our New Year's Eve cuddling in bed in my family's apartment in Mumbai.  Monkey's first trip to India was a success (barring some issues pertaining to his first tooth popping up 2 days before we left for India), and he even got to try and enjoy some new foods (Mutton Biryani anyone? My son is already a Foodie).  He even got to try his first taste test when we visited of Hokey Pokey Ice Cream shop, this amazing new ice cream joint blazing through India.  Monkey liked the Mango flavor the best.

2011 went by quick as well...every year seems to be going by faster and faster.  Is that what happens when you have kids?  We went back to work after our India trip, did some more traveling, went to a few more weddings, continued in our Mommy & Me classes, and even enrolled Monkey in Daycare a couple days a week.  Boy, was that difficult.  He cried every morning when I left, and every evening when I picked him up. I also went back to work on a more full time basis.  That was a lot as well. I also joined some girlfriends in a Community Board for our local Children's Diwali Shows.  That took up a lot of time, but the kids really enjoyed themselves.  We had realized the year before that, although Monkey is a very sensitive child, he LOVES performing.  He is such a ham in front of big groups of people! He does not, however, like loud noises.  Very ironic.  We also began the infamous NYC Preschool Search (see the documentary Nursery University).  Boy, what a process!  I hear the Kindergarten/Ongoing School Search is even tougher...(one Mom told me she stopped working for a year due to the Ongoing School Application Process).  Can you hear my knees shaking?
After the Preschool App process was said and done, we celebrated Monkey's 2nd birthday at a kids' gym (very fitting for my very active little boy) with a Superhero chocolate cake & cake pops (Check out my favorite Cake Pop Maker, Lerida, and her New York Cake Pops!) She made Monkey ones for Monkey's 1st birthday, and we had to continue the tradition.  Christmas was spent home with both our families together (which we hadn't done in a couple of years), and was loads of fun! Santa came out for the occasion and everything!

We spent New Year's at a really fun restaurant in the Meatpacking district, Villa Pacri, where dancing on chairs is encouraged, and bottles of champagne come out with sparklers.

It was a good year, but happy to move onto 2012 (as Li'l Sis so happily portrays above)!  Bring it on!

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack...(2009-2010 recap)

I know, I know...you're wondering where the heck I've been for the last 2 and some odd years.  I've been pretty busy actually.
The last you heard from me (September 24th, 2009), I was 3/4 of the way through my pregnancy.  Well, on December 8th, 2009, my li'l monkey (we had a baby boy!) was born in all his 7lbs 10oz and 21 1/4" glory.  Monkey was a handful from the get-go, and I went through a bit of PPD (more about that at a later date perhaps).  But boy, did I fall in love with this kid the moment they placed him on belly. That super pensive face--he always looked like he was deep in thought--I couldn't stop staring at him (can you imagine how he must have felt?  "Moooooom, STOP looking at me!) 2 1/2 years, about 100 milestones (and tantrums) later...and I still can't stand being away form him.  Needless to say, going back to work when Monkey was 3 months old was not an easy move for me. I went back part-time initially, but have been rockin' 4 days a week for the passed year.
Back to my lost 2 1/2 year timeline...
Tiny Dancer got married to Golden Boy October 2009 -- I was 8 months preggers and Mama could have delivered right there on the dance floor. (Thankfully, she didn't.)  We partied til the break of dawn, baby bellies and all.
Mama had a baby girl, my Stinkybelle, in November 2009.  She was a feisty diva from day one and I love every bit of her.
2010 seemed to wiz by...I turned 30 (woohoo!!), we did some traveling (Monkey got to meet all his British cousins!), took Monkey to a few weddings, made some new friends, and tried out a few Mommy & Me classes.  Monkey rolled over at months, pulled himself to standing by 8 months, stood on his own by 9 months, and started walking at 10 months...and within what felt like seconds, it was his 1st birthday.

We had a Monkey themed party (of course) with a big ol' chocolate monkey cake and some monkey cake pops. Of course, he spent most of the party crying or with pensive-face.

The following week, Monkey started getting his first tooth, and we left for his first trip to India to visit his Bada Nana (Great-Grandfather). Monkey had a lot of fun trying new foods, running around India, and meeting new people.  The three of us, Hubs, Monkey, and I, spent New Years Eve cuddling in bed together. Perfect way to end a busy year.

Baby Dancing to Beyonce

OMG...so gonna be my kid. hahaha.

Good Girls Go Bad- Cobra Starship OFFICIAL VIDEO *HQ*

My new favorite song (and ringtone). Gave it a chance for Leighton Meester, loved it for Cobra Starship.

*just found out it was written by Kara Dioguardi and Kevin Rudolph. Now why didn't Kara use THIS song for the Idol WInner's first single?!

Ooooh, We're HalfWay Theeere...

Say hello to our li'l blueri, Baby BrownieSugar @ 20 weeks. :) Hubby & I have decided NOT to find out the sex of the baby (much to the chagrin of MY mommy), and letting ourselves be surprised on the day we actually meet Baby face to face.
So far, Baby likes to take naps and is a tad stubborn (like it's Daddy) ;)
I think we bothered Baby enough by the end of the appointment as it put both hands up in prayer to let him/her be. Hahaha.
I love you, Baby. <3

I Wish I Craved Broccoli

Apparently, preggers Victoria Secret model, Adriana Lima, a former chocoholic, has found chocolate to be repulsive during her pregnancy.

Lucky. All I crave is pizza, cupcakes, cheetos, bacon and syrup waffles, and suddenly, beignets.
Why can't I just crave fruits and veggies??

Check out the article on Adriana's pregnancy -

Adriana Lima: Chocoholic to Chocophobe

Mmmm....sounds good....

I don't really know any other way to save and add someone's twitter post to my blog (besides screen capture)...so that's what I did.

Bacon & Syrup waffle sounds divine. Wish I had a waffle maker at home to try the bacon-filled waffle on my Sweet, Delicious Cravings post.

How Dangerous Would This Be For Me & My Wallet?

The SmartSwipe...