The Happiness Project - Week 29

We went to Johannesburg 

for the weekend. 

It was part of my birthday present.

Friday,

we went out for lunch.

Ethan had fun hanging out with his dad.

There was a beach set up outside.

Ethan gave surfing a try.

We spent the rest of the afternoon

shopping.

Saturday,

was the main event!

We went to the 

Good Food and Wine Show.

Ethan learnt to cook at the Disney stall.

He even got to meet Mickey!

Later on,

Ethan took a mocktail class.

We had a great time as well.

We got tickets to see

Gary Mehigan.

(He's from Masterchef Australia)

But,

I have to say,

Ethan and I both loved

being able to see

Hayden Quinn.

Happiness is a weekend get-away.

The Happiness Project - Week 28

The Grade 2s

are currently learning about health.

How the choices we make,

affect our health.

They are learning about making 

healthy choices

when it comes to

sleep, excercise, mental health, hygiene 

and nutrition.

So this past week,

all second graders

learnt how to make

Freezer Bag Ice Cream.

If you want to know how,

take a wonder over to

Ethan's blog,

where he tells you how.

Anyways,

part of the home learning

for Grade 2,

was to make ice cream.

The cool part of our neighbourhood

is 2 of Ethan's mates

are also in the second grade.

So the three boys,

plus one younger brother,

came over to make ice cream.

Happiness is making ie cream.

High Five for Friday

Another fabulous week

has come and gone.

There's not many weeks left

in Zambia.

And then a new adventure

awaits us.

This week's highlights include:

1. Getting my flight to Ghana booked.

This may seem lame,

but I have a long list of things

I need to do before I even

begin to think of the move. 

The conference in Ghana 

is one of them. 

Getting my flight booked

is step one.

2. Ethan lost a tooth.

This is lost tooth number 4.

3. My brother sent me a new picture

of my adorable niece. 

Isn't she the cutest?

4. I got the best purchases at

today's market.

Not just skulls and fangs, but
PINK skulls and fangs!

5. Mary and her cooking!

This week, Mary made us

banana chocolate chip cookies,

ginger chicken

AND

tofu!!!!

Writer's Workshop - Fall

6 things you look forward to this Fall

I'm in the Southern hemisphere,

which means it's not really Fall here.

But, this season,

there's a lot to look forward to.

1. We're off to the Food & Wine Show

in Johannesburg next weekend.

2. I'm then off to Ghana in October

for a conference.

3. Upon my return,

we're relocating to Tanzania.

4. I get to see the ocean again!!!

5. I won't be working. 

I'll be a SAHM.

You can find me at the gym

or coffee shop

or at home studying!

6. Halloween!!! Hello???? How

can you not be excited about

Halloween?

Being Grateful

My amazing mate, Sarah

wrote an inspirational post.

You have to read it.

Head over here. 

And it got me thinking,

I have been crabby lately. 

I haven't seen the beauty that surrounds me.

I haven't been grateful.

So it's time to stop pouting.

I have a fantastic life.

It's time to count my blessings,

take stock of the wonderful things in my life.

Things to be thankful for

My fabulous husband who got a new job
and will be taking our family on a new
adventure.  

My current school who did not
freak out when I told them
my family would be 
relocating.

My class parents who have been
super supportive.

My fabulous son.

I am 3 quarters away
from having my 
M.Ed in Reading and Literacy.

I have an amazing opportunity
to go to Ghana for a conference
next month.

We are a small, 
but healthy family of 3.

Mary made the most amazing
Ginger Chicken for dinner.

She also made banana chocolate chip cookies
so the bananas wouldn't go bad.

Friends in Dar have been great
since we told them we're coming back.

I have amazing mates
that I have never met
but are always there for me.

My family is about to start a new,
yet familiar
adventure
and I feel truly blessed. 

The Happiness Project - Week 27

Once upon a time,

Ethan and I baked all the time.

Then something happened. 

I wish I knew what it was

or how it happened

but I don't.

Suddenly

Cooking with Ethan

came to an end.

That is...

until this weekend.

Ethan and I decided to bake.

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!!!!!

Happiness is baking
cookies.

Inner Critic

I saw this advert

a week or two ago.

It's South African,

so I'm unsure if there's an American version. 

Is it not utterly relateable?

I can quickly think of a list

of things I despise

about my looks and body.

I'm always trying to improve.

Improve?

Really?

I need to improve?

I joined the

100 squats a day

challenge. 

Part of the challenge is to take a picture

of yourself on Day 1

and again on Day 30. 

I deleted both pictures.

I've moved to the 

intermediate level.

Again, 

the idea is to take a picture of yourself.

I had to delete it immediately.

And as it's the middle of the night,

I am unable to take a picture

now,

but I've decided to take Dove's

advice.

I'm going to stop focusing 

on my yucks

and start concentrating on my wows!

Because, I do have some.

I've got lovely eyes,

and even though my husband would prefer I cut my hair

I love how my hair is growing long.

Every once in awhile,

I get a mani/pedi

and I have the cutest nails and toes

EVA!

And while it took me some time

to think of those,

I was able to come up with something.

Come back and see me in a month,

I'll have more positives,

and possibly even a picture.

Don't let your inner critic control you. 

What beauty do you see in yourself?

The Return

Over two years ago,

Scott, Ethan and I

set off for a new adventure.

Scott was offered a great position

which brought our family to Zambia.

We loved it.

Zambia is beautiful.

Ethan and I love living in Lusaka.

The past year has been a little difficult.

Scott is now based in Kitwe

and we only get to see him on weekends.

But life is great.

We don't have much to complain about.

But all that's about to change.

Scott's been offered a new position.

Our family will head for a new adventure.

Or maybe re-live an old one.

In a few months,

the Nisbets will return to Dar es Salaam.

Yes, 

watch out Tanzania.

Here we come.

Again!!!

Writer's Workshop - Tweet, Tweet

2. Find a tweet you shared last week and elaborate. 

I couldn't choose,

so I'm sharing a few.

You'll notice the lovely hashtag

of #chocolateconfessions.

So what's the deal 

you're asking.

Right?

Well,

I found a cute book

with chocolate quotes.

So am sharing the love

errrrrr.....

chocolate.

But also,

I'm feeling a little down lately.

Facebook is filled with 

healthy people.

Don't get me wrong,

I'm all for a clean, 

healthy living,

but recently I've felt like 

I'm either a slob,

or a horrible mother.

Don't drink cows milk.

Don't drink too much water.

What exercises are you doing?

Make sure you don't let your body plateau!

I went for a run? Did you?

Again, 

don't get me wrong.

This is great,

but lately I feel that's all people want to talk about.

And not only that,

but no one cares what I do.

Cos' it's not good enough

(my thoughts, not their words).

I work full time.

I study at night.

I'm a part-time single mom.

I use to go to bootcamp,

but it was from 4:30-5:30

which made me feel bad for not having dinner with my son.

So instead,

I joined the 100 squats a day challenge.

I come home from school

and throw in a Jillian Michaels DVD 

while Ethan is out playing with mates.

I eat fruit and vegetables.

And chocolate.

And I don't want to be judged for my chocolate!

And so....

to make me feel better about myself

I'm sharing the chocolate love.

With a few chocolate confessions!

The Happiness Project - Week 26

I celebrated the anniversary 

of my 30th birthday 

this past weekend.

It was a great weekend.

My son bought me flowers.

I had a fantastic dinner

with some incredible mates.

And there was even

a cake!

Then today

a couple of teachers

planned a little luncheon for me.

With cake!

Happiness is chocolate cake

for one's birthday-anniversary!

Future Ex-Husband

One of my mates 

is addicted to the show

The Fixer. 

(I recently learnt it also goes by the name

The Scandal.)

Well...

Monday nights there isn't much on TV

so I listened to my mate

and watched it one week.

And the week after that,

and the week after that!

It would appear, 

I'm also hooked.

And one of the reasons I'm hooked

is one

Scott Foley.

And he's all grown up now.

Not exactly the same

as he was as Noel

on Felicity.

The Anti-Bucket List

We all have things on our

Bucket List.

Things we hope to do

before we die.

And if you're like me,

you probably keep adding to it.

That way,

I'm guaranteed to live a long life,

as I have to make sure I get everything done. 

But...

what about the anti-bucket?

You know...

the things you plan to NEVER do.

For example....

Playing with snakes.

Go skydiving.

Wear a flesh coloured bikini.
(yes I went there!)

Read Heart of Darkness
(I tried it 3 times, and never succeeded)

Time travel.

Walk on the moon.
(or moonwalk)

Mud wrestle

Cook Christmas dinner.

Cook Thanksgiving dinner.

Cook any dinner.

Swallow knives.

Eat fire.

Hmmm....

not sure what else....

Do you have an

anti-bucket?