Keeping Up Appearances !

I grew up watching Keeping Up Appearances , Mr.Bean on my Brit blood side :) The evergreen 80's kids can never forget the era where we've started getting Americanised in Malaysia. I'm talking about "The Mission Impossible" , "The A Team" , "McGyver" , "The FullHouse" and the ever famous "Beverly Hills 90210". I had huge crush on Brandon ( Jason Priestly )  then *sigh*.

Do you guys remember "The Growing Pains" ? How I wish I could turn back the clock and go back to my childhood! Ugggh..... I cant believe I've always wanted to grow up when I was young......what the........... was I thinking ?

After all these series of  Americano.... as a teenager I was so hooked to FRIENDS :) Who will not love David Schwimmer *screams*. Those were the days I say!

Uncle Onslow in gray suit and Lady Bucket in the pink hat :)

Uncle Onslow ( Geoffrey Hughes) is such an awesome guy......... I've  just remembered the bitter sweet memories of  London life back in 2004/2005. I was back to my childhood routine of  watching him in Keeping Up Appearances.  The Buckets never fail to make us laugh bursting out our lungs!

Certainly the world is going to miss you. RIP Geoffrey Hughes.

I'm brown and I'm loving it !

No one can deny that we're living in a fast moving life where image plays an important role. Women of  today is faced with challenges of  handling too many things at once Human beings, we're all different and unique as god's creation.

As we've completed the first decade of  this millenium, being an Asian (that too of  Indian ancestry) SKIN colour is of  the "main" attraction people see in the society. Well, this conception existed centuries ago. Light skinned ladies are seen as beautiful people.

Indians Asians are very much obsessed with the skin colour and fairness creams. 10 years ago when I was the bride's maid of a relative, I wore an electric blue saree (which my mom chose and she think's I look good in it! ), the story started when the guests at the wedding started complementing me saying that they were not able to differentiate the bride and the bride's maid because we looked equally good. One of  my aunt commented saying that I'm brown and the bride is light skinned :)

15 years ago ( I was in school then ) I played hockey and netball for the school team. Well, I'm naturally born brown and I get tanned and dark very easily exposing myself to the sun. We never bothered about sunscreens and facials. My grandma used to comment on saying that I'm dark and I dont care about my skin. I overheard her conversation with my aunt "dont she know girls should not be long under the sun, these days it's tough to get groom for light skinned girls and she's dark".

It wasn’t the first time I'm forced to listen to comments about my skin , the topic has come up in my extended family several times, usually in relation to beauty, marriage, and the tan I get each time I step out for game. But their exchange also served as a reminder that, despite the backlash in progressive Indian circles, the color of someone’s skin continues to be an age-old point of contention dating back at least to British colonization, and perhaps even to ancient times.

I'm lucky that I've come across many open minded people and like I've mentioned in my earlier write ups, I've been showered in complements. I still remember the day I was out with Bee to the Japanese Garden in San Francisco. My darling Bee does all sorts of comical stuff trying to snap my pic, I was smiling out from ear to ear and a passer by walked in to say that I'm beautiful :D  Well, I believe Bee's quite used to this scenario in the restaurants, shopping malls and at places of interest. My point is, not to speak that I receive complements but the point that we all hang on beauty matter.

Beauty is skin deep. We must be thankful that God blessed us with a capability to lead our lives. Just see a girl who is deaf and dumb, see a boy who cant walk on his own. See a family in America hit by economy crisis and jobless. See the hunger of  helpless kids in Somalia. Have you seen the suffering of  a cancer patient on the bed on death ? My heart goes out for all of them.

The outrage in Indian social media reached it's peak -  FAIR & LOVELY the reigning fairness cream and Indian ad campaigns that try to dispel the myth that the most beautiful women from the subcontinent are the ones who could pass as Westerners.

But then, our obsession with skin color in the U.S. is equally alive, just in the opposite direction. The indoor tanning industry worth billions, surpassing that of China and India combined, and about 70 percent of young and middle-aged Caucasian women use products to make their skin darker. One of my close friend is willing to take the pain of  burns to get her sexy tanned look ! For Americans, a tan is associated with being healthy and athletic; the need to have some “color” in your cheeks, arms, or cleavage has become the norm. In a way, it’s comparing apples to oranges—the social implications of fairness cream in India can be vastly different than tanning in the U.S. But the truth is, such distinctions don't amount to much when people's health and positive self-image in both countries are under threat. 

I'm just shocked to see an Indian ad, Clean and Dry Intimate Wash to lighten up the private parts ! How ridiculous is that ? I'm just speechless as this looked like a real comedy stuff to me as I've seen the good and the bad side of  India. Instead of  improving on life aspects , the social media is manipulating the people to make billions in the cosmetic industry. I just wonder what Mahatma Gandhi thought when he stood by his principles to form India !!

The experience I've gained meeting desi ladies in the US, they'd always bragged about how California changed their rosy complexion to brown :)) Skin colour was the first thing run in their mind to look good. What can I say, the place and culture we grew up certainly influence and makes part of our personality. This inferiority complex or always nagging about self image is a kind of  illness. The thing would constantly hit their mind and make them depressed. It's ridiculous how Freda Pinto was pointed out to be very dark to represent an Indian beauty :)

People, because they think and they have memory, are born to discrimnate for one reaason or another. It's not only lack of beauty, it could be race, religion, intelligence, sexual preference, caste, or whatever. If  everyone on  earth were of same heritage or looked beautiful, we would invent preferences to differentiate one another. While we try to eradicate discrimination for all reasons, we should keep in mind, it's human nature.
We can never change people's thinking but we can choose what we want to be and how we want to be happy. I'm thankful for what I am today and  yes, I'm dark and I'm loving it! Here's the lovely Anu Hasan speaking for the rest of brown beauties!

Festival of Lights , Diwali

An auspicious day to look forward for all Hindus in the world....because it's time to light up our home with the light of joy and happiness ! It's Deepavali / Diwali joy.The Festival of Lights signify the victory of good over the evil within us…

As a child , I've always looked forward this festival. On this  festival day , everyone starts  waking up early in the morning before sunrise and having an oil bath… and the whole day, we will be in the festive mood… New dresses… Sweets… Bursting crackers… Watching the special TV programs and visiting friends home. Aah.. those days of childhood where we visit our grandma's home in Port Dickson.... she would do some traditional sweets like laddoos and ghee balls. Such a fun filled childhood. Diwali really means a lot for kids.

Whenever we speak or think about this festival, we would be getting the thoughts of above joy and happiness… In one side as we all are celebrating in the festive mood… there is another side of people that we have to think about…

Right now my  thoughts are on the other side of people , who are celebrating the same festival by just looking at the colorful lights in the sky…? Yes… Children in orphanages… Aged people in homes… Helpless men, women & children on roads… It is not that these people don’t want to celebrate the festival as we do… It is that they are in a situation that they cannot…and I can truly understand how they feel. The most beautiful thing in the world is sharing. I wish I could share all my joys and happiness and light up someone's life.... ! It hurt me the most when I first visited India , a scene which I've never seen in my life before. Do such scenes still exist in the world ? I could not just control my tears seeing small babies , ladies carrying infants and begging for a rupee. There are parents who've been abandoned by their own children. When everyone screams of joy and happiness , what do these people deserve loneliness and pains.... just looking at others...  I want to do something instead of feeling pity for them…when I get the right opportunity.

I am looking forward the real "Ananda Deepavali" ie Joyful Diwali where I can really share the happiness of lights with people who are less fortunate. I also cant wait to meet my family back in Malaysia and India. No festival is perfect without family members around us.

The words of Swami Sivananda have been ringing in my ears..... "All the lights of the world cannot be compared even to a ray of inner light of the self. Merge yourself in this light of lights and enjoy the bliss of the brightest of lights - God".


 Wishing everyone a very happy , prosperous and safe Diwali !

Amma....Mommy....Mom...being a Great Mother !

Parenting is a skill , this is what I've learnt throughout my life , I must admit that being a teacher back in Malaysia has taught me a handful of  knowledge on child psychology .There are ways of being a great Mom ! Discipline is the keyword , teach them that discipline is a form of  love.

1) Patience is everything. It’s easy to lose our patience, and infinitely more difficult to reign it in and redirect it toward a more positive route. Yet allowing our children to see us overly frustrated is never a best case scenario. Go for a walk, take a deep breath, count to ten… or 100. But practice patience from the beginning and you will likely find you have raised a patient child. Remember that children emulate what they see !

2) Reading session -  Make sure you read your daily newspaper in front of your child. You have every tool you need to help your children grow up smart. Endowing children with powerful vocabulary at the earliest possible time is critical to their cognitive development. Start when they are babies, and don’t stop just because they are suddenly able to read the words themselves. Reading with your child is not only a wonderful time for mutual bonding, it also helps to establish a habit that your children can carry forever. Read to them positive stories , inspire them with historical places or people. Try seeding the fruit of knowledge to your child at an early stage.

3) Time - Treasure  your time with your little ones. The years will turn to vapor soon enough. Today , almost all the moms are working full-time. This gets them so busy handling their own frustrations and doing their own things. Most of the people that I've known send their kids to baby sitters or leave them with grand parents ( especially in Asian countries ! ). Nothing can be compared to what a PARENT teach their kids. I have seen mothers who blame the grand parents for the discipline failure ! This is so wrong , no matter what , after work at the end of the day , mother / father must sit together with the child and ask whats going on his/her mind. This will not only build your relationship with your kid but also a signal that you care for the child. One should never miss seeing the child's growth !

4) Daddy - Treat dad with respect. If you show disrespect to your man , you are crushing a part of your child’s soul and damaging a bit of their future. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you come from, respect is always free.  Remember, children learn by example and you are their constant model. Show your son how to properly treat a woman and show your daughter what to look for in a man.

5) Attitude - Show good  behaviour. Don’t do things in front of your child that you wouldn’t want them to do.Never ever argue or fight in front of your child , the behavior will be registered  in your child’s eyes and mind. The same goes for all bad manners and negative attitudes like greed, laziness, making fun of others , anger, and the like. Be yourself, but be your best version as long as your children are watching. Show love and commitment to each other , definitely the child will grow up to be a good father / mother !

6) Give a chance. Children are often far more capable than what many adults allow themselves to believe. The earlier you start inoculating your child with independence, the more they will be able to help you and themselves to become more capable, well-rounded people. Yes, it can feel frustrating to take the time to teach a two year old to do something that you could do in a fraction of the time, but soon she will be three and have a strong skill set you can easily build upon. You can raise a child with a “Yes I can!” attitude, if you start with “yes you can” first. Dont keep feeding them , let them carry their plate and attempt their meal , yes they will mess up a little but at times we need to let them be and learn at young age. Let them do their own colouring.

7) Individuality. Each of us are unique, yet it is all too easy to project ourselves and our desires onto our children. This rarely does them or us any good. It’s okay to guide them in the right direction, but we should never try to mould our children into what we want at the expense of allowing their true selves to flourish. The best you can do as a parent is to instill your child with the best values you can until those valued are internalized, then stand back and wait for the tree to bear fruit. You want your child to be their best, but sometimes they have to find it themselves. Dont keep nagging to study , play or forcefully do something. Every child is blessed with a talent. Some are good in sports , music or science.... so identify what makes them to excel rather than making them to do what you want them to do.

8) Unity. Never allow your child to think they can come between you and dad. Unless there is blood or vomit involved, it is probably best to agree in front of the extra set of tiny eyes, and then settle your differences in private. Mom and Dad must always be a team and stand together with every decision. If you want your child to know they can’t penetrate the perimeter of your unity, you have to prove it. And on that note, it’s okay to say NO and mean it when you do. Don’t surrender to their whining or you are only teaching them that it is an effective means of getting their way.

9) Be human. Yes, almost all of us are required to work and no, we can’t always be attendant to our child’s every need. But we can do our best with the time we have, and never make our children feel as though they are a burden to our schedules. Make sure to set aside sacred time each day exclusively for them, and don’t allow anything frivolous to breach the significance of that time. Plan your time to spend with your child , be it running around the park , shopping , playing basketball or even cleaning your home. This will also discipline them to take care of themselves !

10) Be real. Just be yourself. Let your children see all sides of you. Be funny, strict, tender; affectionate, serious and vulnerable. By allowing your children to see all sides of you, you will be helping them to understand themselves infinitely more.

No list of  tips will make you a better anything, not without application placed behind the principles ! Do your best every day and if you fumble, do your best to start over tomorrow. The best tip, however, isn’t on the list above....use common sense and know that your children are watching everything you do. Though you might not realize it, you are the world to them. Do all that you can to make that world a pleasant place to live.

Slow down to enjoy life !

In this modern world , everything seems to moving extremely fast that we at times even need some "air" to breath !! I just dont understand the concept of  multi-tasking :))

Early morning , I see women who applies her mascara whilst driving , how ridiculous is that ? Rush , rush , rush hours. I feel this will only shorten our life span !

Why dont we slow down a little bit to enjoy life ??? Have anyone felt like this before ? I hate last minute work , last minute travel plans. Doing one thing at a time makes a lot of difference.

I have had women who said it off on my face " You are very slow " and claimed  "I'm super fast in anything , I do things very quickly"  ....well to many people , blowing their own trumpet works well to gain attention or to feel better :P

I dont know why do one have to judge another from top to toe. This is correct , that is wrong... very intimidating nature. Enjoying what we are doing is important to me. I just dont like rushing as though sky is going to fall on earth !

I dont like to wash vessels in my kitchen for the sake of washing , but I prefer to wash them carefully and ensure they are clean. I dont like to hurry taking shower , I cannot eat fast , I cannot quickly finish my prayers , simply because I dont do things for the SAKE of doing it.

I love doing what I enjoy , I eat slowly and taste every bits of  it ! It's quality not quantity.

Many of  us  forget to slow down and enjoy our family , friends and  nature around us. We dont really know how lucky we are............. god's most precious gift is LIFE , so LIVE , LET LIVE and LIVE TO THE FULLEST !

The light , the change.......

Day started as usual and was surprised to hear some good news :) The journey of  a thousand miles begins in one single step ! Happy for Bujji !

Just a lazy Sunday.....

An unusual weekend.....:) spent just at home lazing and watching "Cellular" movie , being a fan of Chris Evans... and had good homemade guacamole sandwiches.... for the first time , we went for a tamil cinema together. Unnaipol Oruvan , was a good movie of Kamal.

Rotini in Salsa and Zucchini

Just an evening spent very lovely  today !

Patrick Swayze...

Loved his movies , a great actor. RIP Patrick !

LOVE

"Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition".


Alexander Smith

Appreciate others and be happy !

This strategy works so well and it’s so simple. You can do this at home, at work, with friends, family or even with anyone at all.

You could even do it with a stranger. What the heck am I talking about?

I’m talking about feeling good. There is something you can do right now that will make you feel better almost instantly and here’s how to do it.

In order to feel better fast, you want to stop thinking about yourself and you want to turn your attention to others. You want to start thinking about someone else. And when you do this, you want to do something very specific… you want to tell that other person how much you appreciate them.

It sounds so simple, doesn’t it?

Well it works and here’s why. When you tell someone how much you appreciate them, you make them feel better; and when you make someone else feel better, you also feel better.

Make others feel better and you’ll feel better – and what better way to make others feel better than by letting them know that you appreciate them.

-There's nothing to lose in making ourselves happy and bringing in that million dollar smile in others ! Smile doesnt cost a thing !!!

Panic day !

One my fav place to walk, lost my stuff under the tunnel :))

This is the second time of the year I've been under "panic attack" ! As usual went for my  4  miles walk... lost my cell phone in case with my California Driver's licence in it! Finally found it back on my return under the Guadalupe River trail tunnel ! :)) Thanks Bee !!

Happy Birthday Malaysia !

It was one sweet day when I sat with my parents , talked about "Merdeka" stories. "Merdeka" means "Freedom". A lot of stories........not just one but so many things I learnt , how Indians came and settled in Malaysia , the hard and rough times , the importance of being part of the nation.

Those were the days , sitting on daddy's lap and listening to stories about anything and everything. I appreciate what we are blessed with and the hard times all those national heroes done for us. Today we are enjoying the fruits of their hard work , the struggle they've done for MALAYSIA. Happy 52nd Birthday Malaysia !! August 31....will always be remembered no matter what :)

Those beautiful days I've spent my childhood....... for what makes me a Malaysian...... the list goes on for me to feel proud of being a Malaysian !!! Things I really miss now :

1. Nasi Lemak the pure vegetarian taste
2. Roti Canai & Teh Tarik - 12 a.m at Mamak stall
3. Mee Goreng , I ate Kakha mee , Mamak mee goreng
4. Maggie mee is our national noodles :)
5. Sri Jaya and mini bus @ Bus Mini Wilayah
6. Pasar malam ( Night market )
7. Fresh soya beans and tau foo fah
8. Rojak
9. Going to Pudu Raya station to travel anywhere !
10. Subang Jaya International Airport now it's KLIA
11. The lovely view of KLCC and KL Tower at night ( visible from my bedroom )
12. The Merdeka celebrations at Dataran Merdeka
13. The beautiful Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad
14. The tropical paradise
15. LRT , Monorail
16. Genting Highlands Theme Park , casinos
17. Langkawi Island
18. Brickfields and Bangsar as the Little India
19. KLCC shopping mall and Midvalley Mall
20. Ice Kacang !!!
21. Cendol
22. Putu mayyam and Idiappam
23. Appam balik at Leboh Ampang
24. P.Ramlee movies
25. Travelling to Port Dickson and beach fun
26. Durian
27. Mangosteen
28. Rambutan
29. Mata Kuching fruit
30. Our diverse language and dialects and mixed english !
31. All the festivals , Chinese New Year , Deepavali , Thaipusam , Hari Raya , Christmas...!
32. My FAMILY !
33. My friends !!!

Definitely , I'm proud to be a Malaysian !! Happy Birthday Malaysia !

Pan Am Flight 103 & Al-Megrahi "mercy"

Pan Am Flight 103 - : "Pan Am Flight 103 was Pan American World Airways' third daily scheduled transatlantic flight from London's Heathrow Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport. On Wednesday 21 December 1988, the aircraft flying this route—a Boeing 747-121 named Clipper Maid of the Seas—was destroyed by a bomb, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members. Eleven people in Lockerbie, southern Scotland, were killed as large sections of the plane fell in and around the town, bringing total fatalities to 270. As a result, the event has been named by the media as the Lockerbie Bombing."


Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al-Megrahi , a Libyan was convicted for this act of insanity. 270 people were killed and this guy was released !!!! How sick ! 'Mercy' on a terrorist just because he's diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer ? Where is justice ???? An unjust law is not at all a Law !!! What about the innocent victims ?

I strongly feel this is not the right thing !! Libyan govt is giving compensation of USD 10 million per family of the victims ! "Blood money" to replace lost lives ? What about the mourning ? A child who've lost parent , parents who've lost their kid , students who've travelled with ambitions and goals in them ? Pain is a pain , it can never be replaced !!!! It's ridiculous to let Megrahi out. An act of crime is a crime , Scottish law now tempered with compassion !!

Summer in love with June !

It was a crisp, sunny Summer evening in Bay area. As usual , we went for a walk in Marina Park , Alviso and I was so in love with this summer. The nature and landscape  reminded me of the "Peter and  Jane" book series of stories which my mom taught me when I was 5 years old ! A beautiful summer to remember ! Sweet June !

Just thinking..................

Just like parents usually want to monitor the television programming their children watch, we must be equally vigilant about our own mental programming. Our thoughts have the capacity to manifest destiny.



Watch your thoughts, they become words.

Watch your words, they become actions.

Watch your actions, they become habits.

Watch your habits, they come character.

Watch your character, it becomes destiny.



Our thoughts are the pathway to contentment or disappointment.

Long drive to Phoenix, Arizona.

Right after my birthday celebrations at White Lotus in San Jose , we packed for a month long stay in Phoenix. It took us almost 16 hours with stops in between for meals and rest.... must say this is the longest and most tiring trip I ever had in US !

We discovered a beautiful place called San Louis Obispo , smittened by the beauty of nature , we decided to stop longer by the lakeside.

Women & Jealousy

If you've ever felt jealousy gripping you - I mean really gripping you - you'll know exactly what I mean. Your heart thumps against your breast, your breath seems to rasp in your throat as you gasp for air, and your emotions seem to ricochet between unbridled rage and helpless panic. Not only can jealousy suck your self-esteem right out from under your nose, it can seemingly rob you of any capacity to function normally at all. Jealousy has the capacity to break up relationships and families and destroy careers.


For many women,  jealousy has become a consuming emotion that afflicts them like a disease. They feel no power or control when an "attack" overwhelms them. One of the most interesting things about jealousy is that it appears to be becoming more and more prevalent in the modern world. But, even though it can act a little like a disease, it is not one. You cannot catch it from someone else. So just why is jealousy more prevalent among us than ever before?

Women in the western world have seen their status within society change markedly over the last few decades. We now have more opportunities to flourish and prosper on our own merits than ever before in history. In short, women in general have an unprecedented degree of choice in their lives.


Even women who may be appalled by Sex and the City can recognise that they can largely choose the terms of their romantic relationships. They can choose with whom and for how long. They can choose a career, or kids, or both. They can choose to go for it all. So why do so many women fail to celebrate this new-found freedom and hard-won equality? Why is it that instead of feeling empowered many women still feel insecure, trapped, and afraid? Because with the power to choose comes the chance to lose.

This simple truth holds a magical power to rescue you from the vicious grip of jealousy. But you must work hard to tap into this power - you will not feel it by simply reading the words.

You will also need courage. Women who believe they cannot cope with the possibility of losing tend to be the ones who get jealous. Jealousy claws at you when you feel afraid that you are about to lose something that you perceive to be precious, or something to which you believe you are entitled.


What happens when you feel jealous? How do your emotions make you behave? You become less likeable, more unreasonably demanding, less trusting, less objective - in fact you become less of everything you WANT to be, and more of the things you don't want to be. Your behaviour has the opposite effect of what you intend, and your jealousy makes you more likely to "lose" whatever it is that you're trying to protect!

On the other hand, women who can accept that there is always a possibility of losing tend to cope well by making the most of what they have. Instead of feeling afraid of losing their partner, a precious job, or maybe a close friend, they relish each moment of opportunity to be with the person (or within the job) of their choice. This attitude is what sets non-jealous women apart from jealous women. It is a very attractive attitude. Furthermore, once attracted by it, great partners and/or great jobs tend to stick by you!


Next steps for jealous women…

Recognise that you're only human, and accept with good grace the fact that you cannot make the whole world behave as you would like. However:

* you do have the power to choose many things

* you can always influence the behaviour of others (but not control it)

* if you choose wisely, and use your influence positively, you will maximise the likelihood of feeling confident, secure, and highly-valued

As a woman you can cope with far more than you think. Remind yourself of this fact now and then.

Take full responsibility for your jealousy - nobody is causing it but you. And, if you only remember one thing , remember this: if you let jealousy drive your behaviour, you will always increase the chance of losing what you are trying to keep.


There's no doubt about it - jealousy sucks!

Spending time with kids for free.

I thought it would be useful to list some ways to have fun with your kids without spending a lot of money :



Have a reading marathon.

Write stories together.

Play soccer.

Paint or draw together.

Create a fort in your living room out of blankets or cardboard boxes.

Go on a hike.

Have a sunset picnic at a park or beach.

Play board games.

Play kickball.

Get up early, pack breakfast, and have a sunrise breakfast.

Go to a museum.

Go to a playground.

Play hide-and-seek.

Have a pillow fight.

Ride bikes.

Build sandcastles.

Rent a dvd and make popcorn.

Tell stories.

Have a scavenger hunt.

Make mazes or puzzles for each other to solve.

Play card games.

Garden together.

Bake cookies (let the kids help).

Go to the zoo.

Go to the library.

Shop at a thrift shop.

Create a blog together.

Create a scrapbook.

Make a movie using a camcorder and computer.

Learn to play music.

Fingerpaint.

Make play dough from scratch.

Make homemade mini pizzas.

Buy popsicles.

Make hand-painted T-shirts.

Set up a hammock, make lemonade, relax.

Go to a pool.

Go to a public place, people watch, and make up imaginary stories about people.

Visit family.

Write letters to family.

Paint or decorate the kids’ room.

Make milkshakes.

Play freeze tag.

Create a treasure hunt for them (leaving clues around the house or yard).

Decorate a pair of jeans.

Do a science experiment.

Play games online.

Teach them to play chess.

Learn magic tricks.

Create a family book, with information and pictures about each family member.

Fly kites.

Go snorkeling.

Barbecue.

Volunteer.

Donate stuff to charity.

Compete in a three-legged or other race.

Create an obstacle course.

Pitch a tent and sleep outside with marshmallows.

Roast marshmallows.

Play loud music and dance crazy.

Write and produce a play (to perform before other family members).

Paint each other’s faces.

Have a water balloon fight.

Have a gun-fight with those foam dart guns.

Explore your yard and look for insects.

Go for a walk and explore the neighborhood.

Go jogging.

Take pictures of nature.

Play a trivia game.

Make up trivia questions about each other.

Make hot cocoa.

Play house.

Decorate the house with decorations you make.

Make popsicles.

Play school.

Do shadow puppets.

Make a comic book.

Play in the rain.

Make mud pies.

Blow bubbles.

Take turns saying tongue twisters.

Sing songs.

Tell ghost stories in the dark with a flashlight.

Build stuff with Legos.

Give them a bubble bath.

Play with squirt guns.

Play video games together.

Play wiffleball.

Play nerf football.

Build a rocket from a kit.

Bake a cake and decorate it.

Play dress-up.

Thumb-wrestle, play mercy, or have a tickle fight.

Make a gingerbread house, or decorate gingerbread men.

Learn and tell each other jokes.

Play basketball.

Learn to juggle.

Walk barefoot in the grass and pick flowers.

Build paper airplanes and have a flying contest.

Prank call their grandparents, using disguised, humorous voices.

Little things.....

Do you eat while reading? If so, you might have noticed the phenomenon I’ve noticed: sometimes you can eat an entire meal without even really tasting the food. This applies to a lot of things in our lives: we can spend an hour with our family without really talking to them. We can go to a park or the beach, and not really notice the things around us.


Here’s a tip that seems so simple, and yet can be difficult to maintain in practice: stop, and notice what you are doing in this moment. Become more aware of the present, instead of always thinking about the past and the future.

This is hard to do throughout the course of a day, but being perfect isn’t the point. Stop and do it once in awhile, at different times of the day, and just notice the little things. And enjoy them.

Try these little exercises , they’re very easy !

When you eat your next meal, don’t read and don’t think about anything else except the food you’re eating. Really experience the smell of the food, the texture of the mixture of food in your mouth, the heat or coolness of it, the multiple flavors. This is best if you’re eating something you really enjoy (cakes and chocolates  for me! ).

The next time you’re with someone, whether it’s a loved one or a co-worker, stop what you’re doing, clear everything aside, and take a few minutes to really talk to them. Really listen to what they’re saying. Really appreciate this person, and try to understand them. Really be with that person, fully.

The next time you’re outside, stop, and look around. Appreciate the incredible beauty and simplicity and complexity of nature. Notice living things, from plants to birds to insects. Notice the elements – air and wind, water or rain, the earth, the sun or the moon or the stars. In fact, tonight, go outside and look up at the stars. The stars and the ocean always give me incredible perspective.

When you shower next, try not to think about anything else but the shower itself. Think about the feeling of the water beating on your skin. Really enjoy the sensation. Feel the suds slipping down your body.

You can probably think of other things, but these are just a few ideas. And if you really experience these things, they can be incredible. And life won’t pass you by as quickly as it normally does, which can be a good thing.