tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74272672024-03-13T09:36:53.841-07:00A Little Peek InsideAmy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.comBlogger813125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-53552230277913278212012-07-22T07:31:00.002-07:002012-07-22T07:51:41.201-07:00Modifying food choices even furtherA few weeks ago I decided to eliminate dairy products from my diet just to see what would happen. I've had one common recurring health issue that many women get that has plagued me since I was in my 20s off and on. I found out that this issue is likely caused by milk and its other by-products.<br />
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I don't drink milk, but I do consume plenty of dairy: yogurt, cheese, half n half in my coffee. It's not a whole lot, but enough just the same. So I bought some soy creamer and a couple cartons of almond milk and coconut milk at Trader Joe's. I tried coffee with just the almond milk one afternoon and it was rather nasty. Half soy creamer and half almond milk was good. I don't want to go too heavy on soy products because <a href="http://greensmoothiegirl.com/articles/what-is-good-nutrition-anyway/" target="_blank">that can be unhealthy too</a>, so I try and balance it out.<br />
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A week ago I got the book <a href="http://skinnybitch.net/" target="_blank">Skinny Bitch</a> from the library. In the past I was was put off from reading it because I had heard it was rather vulgar, but in the end, the salty language made it funny and not much different from how I hear people talk today anyway. But the basic message in the book is to recommend a <b>vegan </b>diet because it is the healthiest and most morally responsible way to eat.<br />
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So now I've been eating vegetarian as often as possible, filling up on my fresh fruit and vegetable juice in the morning and eating a big salad before having lunch or dinner. I've been trying out tempeh and making more vegetarian dinners. I've eliminated Diet Coke and have seltzer water or club soda if I want something bubbly. I put away the Splenda and now use raw agave nectar and use my steevia more often - no more artificial sweeteners. <br />
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<b>I've lost SEVEN pounds!</b><br />
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I'd like to lose another 10-15 pounds, even more if possible. I've never been very overweight, just a little bit, and those pounds added up slowly over the years beginning with my happy comfort 5 pounds I put on just before getting married. It needs to come off.<br />
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My husband is not vegetarian, nor contemplating a vegan diet, but to his credit (and he deserves a lot of credit) he has also modified his eating habits. This is a man who used to insist on meat for every meal and he'd eat big portions of meat. His weakness was beef.<br />
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He's now open to having beef only once a week, (I'll eat a different vegetarian meal on that day). The rest of the week has lighter meats with less portion sizes and a vegetarian meal once a week. He incorporates more vegetables into his meals and even joins me with a morning juice, something unheard of earlier!<br />
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Here are a couple of websites I enjoy reading that has been helpful:<br />
<a href="http://www.vegancoach.com/" target="_blank"><b>Vegan Coach</b></a><br />
<b><a href="http://www.vegancoach.com/" target="_blank">Green Smoothie Girl</a></b><br />
<b><a href="http://www.forksoverknives.com/" target="_blank">Forks Over Knives</a></b> (great movie you MUST see. Their articles and recipes are terrific resources.)<br />
<b><a href="http://www.happycow.net/" target="_blank">Happy Cow</a></b> <br />
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Do you have any recommendations? Success stories? I'd also love to hear comments if YOU are vegan or vegetarian with a non-veg spouse. <br />
<br />Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-84647155240555801852012-07-01T07:24:00.000-07:002012-07-01T07:24:08.143-07:00Summer Happenings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Since Aidan got out of "regular" school a few weeks ago, I've been spending a majority of my time with him. It's given me some time to think about the direction my life has taken and I'll sum it up as follows.<br />
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<h3>
Health</h3>
Golf is getting on board for a healthier lifestyle and I couldn't be happier. But our eating schedules are exactly opposite as are our sleeping habits, and that is a challenge.<br />
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I need to lose at least 15 pounds, preferably 20, and it's becoming an urgent matter, mostly because I can't stand myself any longer. A friend of mine at the Thai temple says she simply does not eat after 4 pm. I like her idea and I'm considering giving it a try. However, Golf eats his main meal at night and if I have to cook, I will have to forbid myself to eat a bite. Maybe I will have to eat a nice salad before 4 o'clock and then I won't be tempted. <br />
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I'd like to know if you've successfully committed to a lifestyle change regarding food when having to cook for your family. How did you do it?<br />
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I still juice every day, and now Golf's interested in joining me, so I've been getting lots of fresh <a href="http://berkeleybowl.com/produce.html" target="_blank">produce at Berkeley Bow</a>l for good prices and running them through the juicer every morning. I drink a liter of juice and I give a pint to Golf, who is still getting used to the taste.<br />
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I have not yet done a juice fast, because I think it might be too challenging having to fix meals for Aidan and Golf, but I might check out the <a href="http://www.jointhereboot.com/forums/" target="_blank">Reboot forum</a> to see if anybody there is doing that and finding support.<br />
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But I still get very tired, and I think that part of it is my mental state regarding work. <br />
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<h3>
Work </h3>
I feel utterly defeated with my online businesses. Last month gave me a total of $365 in earnings after 3 years of hard work. I don't have to tell you what kind of ROI that is. I have three websites right now and I'm letting one go. I'm not doing much with the other two because I feel so badly about them. The business model sucks, that's all I can say, and every webmaster and business owner is a slave to Google's whims. That's the bottom line and I don't want it any more. <br />
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The new business venture is definitely promising, and it incorporates art and writing. I am enthusiastic about the possibilities and I already have a story and am working on the preliminary sketches.<br />
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But instead of going at the task wholeheartedly with vim and vigor, I prefer to chat with other moms at the temple. When I do work I get sidetracked easily and find excuses to do something else. What is going on here?<br />
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I feel like I'm floating in some sort of weird void when it comes to financially contributing to the family. This has been an issue ever since we moved back from Thailand and it's a spiritual/emotional block I need to work through. Maybe I'm still reeling over my online failure.<br />
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<h3>
Spirituality</h3>
I'm supposed to be meditating every day. I don't.<br />
When Aidan was in regular school I would meditate every morning, but something about his summer schedule is not making me do it. I have plenty of time during the three days he's off, but instead I check FaceBook and now I'm writing in my blog.<br />
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When he goes to Thai school I am pretty good about sitting for half an hour in the main room, so I do feel good about that and it is helpful.<br />
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I have been listening to inspiring dharma talks where I want to work on myself and also change the world. But I also feel like I can't do much when my first responsibility is to take care of my family. And my family is my priority, so all things in good time. I'm not stressed about it, for taking care of Golf and Aidan gives me so much peace and satisfaction. It feels wonderful.<br />
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And so these are the three areas in my life that need some work. Writing it down gives it clarity and I see what I need to do. Hmm.. maybe once summer vacation is over, I'll update this to chart my progress. <br />
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<br />Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-90116404754561640262012-06-07T17:09:00.001-07:002012-06-07T17:09:48.145-07:00A Path Unfolding<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My online businesses have been utterly devastated by Google and life has been turned upside down. Funny though, I feel numb to it all and don't care anymore. Right now I have zero interest and am taking a much needed break from building a website with an obsolete business model.<br />
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During this time off from work, I've been indulging in some activities that I enjoy. I've attended some meditation evenings and went on a date with my husband during the day to see Snow White and the Huntsman while Aidan's in school. <br />
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Yesterday I drove to the <a href="http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/" target="_blank">Insight Meditation Center</a> in Redwood City for a half-day mini-retreat. From 9:30 AM to 12:15 we had both walking and sitting meditation and a short dharma talk by Gil Fronsdahl, whom I've wanted to meet for awhile now as I've been listening to his podcasts for going on 6 months now!<br />
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It was a fabulous day. I've discovered just how much I enjoy walking meditation. It holds my attention quite well and moving my body and noticing the world around me with my eyes open is appealing. I can still become rather concentrated. I will explore this further, that's for sure.<br />
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What else do I plan to do during my time away from my websites? Well, Aidan starts Thai school on the 15th and I plan to take him to the temple and just hang out all day. I may take a hike in nearby Tilden Park, walk around the neighborhood, and help out at the temple. I'd like to contribute with work, like cleaning up after lunch. The wat also has a nice garden and I would like to do more walking meditation in that garden.<br />
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During these meditations, my path has become clear. I don't have to abandon online business, but I may have to give up my stroller website. It is not viable at this point, especially if Google keeps penalizing it. Successful online entrepreneurs always talk about offering a product and selling it yourself. Product, product, product.<br />
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I like to write and I like to draw. Golf, a friend of ours and I are developing a new venture together that will produce products and these products involve aspects of creativity that I'm good at and enjoy. So I shall put all my energy into this new venture. I'm not going to say too much right now, but you can be sure that I will write about it as it develops.<br />
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Oh, and this kind of work is possible to do from Thailand as well, so if things go well next year, at the very least we can visit for a month before deciding to move back. <br />
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The path is becoming clear and it's an exciting time! <br />
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<br />Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-53964542165459274252012-05-24T06:26:00.003-07:002012-05-24T06:34:20.956-07:00Twists and Turns Ahead<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JXhlTpwx7jg/T74uuBboInI/AAAAAAAAAhc/GWurtUOdUGo/s1600/2012-05-23-052312_change-thumb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JXhlTpwx7jg/T74uuBboInI/AAAAAAAAAhc/GWurtUOdUGo/s320/2012-05-23-052312_change-thumb.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/molly-hahn/buddha-doodle-change_b_1539672.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Huffington Post</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've been working extremely hard for three years this June on my websites. I made the decision to go in that direction to earn income at home so I could have maximum flexibility for being there for my son. Take him to school, volunteer at the school, be with him for homework every day. I also wanted to be my own boss with unlimited earning potential.<br />
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Turns out I'm not the boss when it comes to online business. Google is. My business plan is not sound: it is utterly dependent on what the big G decides is worth ranking in their top pages. For years I've worked extremely hard to put out quality content. For my stroller site I actually buy strollers, take my own photos, carefully and thoroughly test them out, and do a video demonstration and review. Google doesn't think that's good enough, apparently.<br />
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Since last year Google has made some significant algorithm changes called Panda. Late last month they released another called Penguin. I won't get into all the details about what each of these means but I will say that most of these changes slashed my traffic in almost half each time. I'd get slammed, then build back up half a year later then get taken down again.<br />
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This is not a good business model. I also see other stroller review sites that SUCK with half-assed content thrown up and only stock photos used - sometimes extremely out of date ones, too. They get ranked higher than mine. What the heck???<br />
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So when I have one of hundreds of stroller review sites that can get wiped out overnight, even when mine is miles above the others in terms of quality and value to the reader, I realize my business is way too vulnerable. I cannot have a business that gets wiped out so easily.<br />
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Yesterday I listened to a dhamma talk by Ajarn Brahm called <a href="http://www.dhammaloka.org.au/downloads/item/1319-this-too-will-pass.html" target="_blank">This Too Shall Pass,</a> and after one of his famous stories he said, <b><i>"When you are surrounded on all sides and you can't do anything, then do nothing."</i></b><br />
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That really spoke to me. I can't do anything about my website, so I'm doing nothing. It's going on the back burner. I will still write guest posts on a few blogs I've agreed to do monthly, but until Google changes again, I'm not going to bother. Why put in all that hard work and effort only to be punished?<br />
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During this time, another door has opened. Golf and his friend Will have discovered a business opportunity. One that could get our families back to Thailand for a time! <br />
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So I'm helping Golf. I'm spending my time on a project that could pay off big time, that has far more potential. I totally enjoy what I'm doing and once this project ends, I'll find something else to do to help.<br />
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During the summer when Aidan goes to Thai school I shall find some opportunities to do other things than worry about when I can work on my website. Perhaps I might volunteer a few hours a week in an old folks home nearby and make some good merit. I find I'm becoming intrigued by the elderly, knowing I shall be one of them one day. I might take some more day hikes in the regional parks nearby and, of course, help out in the Thai school during lunch. Maybe even work on my own language skills!<br />
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Rather than being bitter and angry about my situation, I am actually looking forward to what the future brings me. Google may change its algorithm again and I may get huge surges in traffic and sales, but I will know that that success could be as short lived as the next algo change. My purpose is beyond that. <br />
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<br />Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-70059557955464359462012-04-30T10:52:00.000-07:002012-05-02T10:54:41.194-07:00Happy Anniversary!8 years together. Happy Anniversary honey - I love you!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_H2r1QMzlI/T6F0or2gN1I/AAAAAAAAAgw/aBkq9PJwZVQ/s1600/8-years.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1_H2r1QMzlI/T6F0or2gN1I/AAAAAAAAAgw/aBkq9PJwZVQ/s320/8-years.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-16869113442583447622012-04-16T06:14:00.002-07:002012-04-16T06:14:50.357-07:00First Daylong Retreat<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jjmvigNt8SA/T4wXWvRgUTI/AAAAAAAAAgM/62hEjrdIzNM/s1600/spiritrock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jjmvigNt8SA/T4wXWvRgUTI/AAAAAAAAAgM/62hEjrdIzNM/s1600/spiritrock.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://spiritrock.org/">spiritrock.org</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'd been planning for my best friend's 40th birthday for some time now, wanting to give her something very special. I'd heard of Spirit Rock Meditation Center in Marin for quite some time now, and thought that a day long retreat with her would be the perfect gift.<br />
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I've also been attending Insight Meditation Center talks in both Oakland and Berkeley, and basically Spirit Rock is the "mothership" of these centers, so I had a good idea of the teachings. I'd also heard the teacher of our daylong, Sharda Rogell, give talks on <a href="http://dharmaseed.org/teacher/164/" target="_blank">DharmaSeed</a> via podcast. <br />
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The previous week had nasty weather, the most spectacular thunder and lightning storm we'd seen in years was only two days previous to our day trip. But Saturday could not have been more beautiful: crystal blue sky, crisp breeze and warm sun. The land on Spirit Rock is gorgeous, just look at the photo! <br />
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A small flock of wild turkeys were strutting around and the male was all puffed out, showing off his stuff to the ladies. He was magnificent!<br />
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Without going into too much detail, our day consisted of talks, sitting meditation and walking meditation. I learned that I should work with my laziness by rescheduling meditation times when necessary and not scolding myself until I actually DO something (or don't do something as the case may be).<br />
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The talks were about letting go and trusting that everything will be OK because we don't really know what REALITY really is. Just being here now, coming back and being mindful, and trusting. That's the whole point of my journey.<br />
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I was able to define my journey style, so to speak. This inner adventure of mine is just to see what happens. No goals, no concerns if I'm "doing it right" or not. Just giving it a try, keeping at it, and seeing what happens. I liken it to me being a little bug on a leaf, carried away by a stream. The Dharma Stream as Sharda called it. :) I like that. <br />
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This was a great day for Mellie, too, she enjoyed the talks, got to practice her meditation posture, contributed to conversation, and loved the environment. We both ate delicious Indian food afterward and ended our experience that night when I dropped her off at her place.<br />
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Everything went perfectly. It couldn't have been better. Thank you.Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-91390558722346294412012-04-03T08:22:00.000-07:002012-04-03T08:27:54.842-07:00Spring Break Plans (That Never Materialized)This year for spring break we've decided to just stay home. In the past, we had some goals for spring break 2012.<br />
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The first was to be moved back to Bangkok for a few years. Yeah, I had it in my head over a year ago that by spring 2012 we'd be moving and ready to start the new Thai school year that commences in May. That certainly never happened! Funny how things change... My husband doesn't want to go now because of possible political upheaval. He says the country is on the brink of some major sh!t going down and wants to say far, far away. <br />
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Another idea I had in my head was to go visit my sister in Chicago. I've always wanted to see Chicago. I never pursued it fully and now spring break is here and it's not going to happen this time around. This is mostly because we're still just getting better in our finances and more sure footing would be better before taking a "real" vacation.<br />
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And speaking of a real vacation, if the job scene is looking better for my husband and my online business continues to improve, then we may consider going back to Thailand for a visit. I would love for Aidan to attend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Daroonpat" target="_blank">Daroonpat </a>for a few weeks and take some trips this time. I'd like him to visit the beach and to take a day trip to Ayutthaya.<br />
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I feel very stagnant, but I do not dwell on this. I've been working more on improving income so that we don't HAVE to be stagnant any longer - got to work on goals in the right order after all! That is a mistake I've made in the past and it gets a person nowhere.<br />
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What is your story with goals that never materialize? How do you deal with feeling stagnant? <br />
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<br />Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-8492098871532240832012-03-27T10:10:00.002-07:002012-03-27T10:10:37.887-07:00Strollers Galore!Lots has been happening in my business lately. First it's finally been growing out of the slump it's been in since October, though I'm not at the visitor numbers I was at last April - jeez almost a year ago!<br />
<br />But I am coming back slowly but surely and that's all I can ask. It's made me work hard, and that is a good thing! As a matter a fact, I'm now producing my own stroller review videos that I imbed in my webpage reviews. You can see (and subscribe) to my YouTube channel here: <b><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/BabyGearEnvy" target="_blank">BabyGearEnvy on YouTube. </a></b><br />
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Then earlier in the month I had contacted Joovy about reviewing another of their strollers, and surprisingly it was just delivered to me yesterday. I was surprised at how quick it happened, and quite pleased. Thank you <b><a href="http://www.joovy.com/" target="_blank">Joovy</a></b>! I have the new Scooter to review within the next few weeks, so let us keep our fingers crossed that the weather will cooperate for a good video opportunity.<br />
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Next, I wrote an article for my friend Tina over at <b><a href="http://www.shopaholicmommy.com/" target="_blank">Shopaholic Mommy.</a></b> She has a fantastic blog that has just been redesigned and it looks incredible. I now write monthly articles for her site and my most recent contribution was just published yesterday on <a href="http://www.shopaholicmommy.com/shopping/maclaren-stroller-news-updates-for-2012/" target="_blank"><b>Maclaren Stroller News Updates for 2012</b></a>. The article talks about the new changes made to one of their models and a new one coming out. You get to see a couple new color schemes as well. If you love Maclaren strollers, you will find this article interesting.<br />
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Lastly, I got the opportunity to write for another blog, more of a general lifestyle blog, and this article is about the <b><a href="http://chakru.com/top-3-umbrella-strollers-budget/" target="_blank">Top 3 Umbrella Strollers for Every Budget.</a></b> So no matter if you can spend less than $100 or over $200, you will still get a quality product.<br />
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Lots of strollers going on this week! I just love it!Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-75539779478127260682012-03-21T06:32:00.000-07:002012-03-21T06:32:28.560-07:00Let the Juicing Begin!<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MDHH06/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=thelealam-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000MDHH06" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000MDHH06&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=thelealam-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" /></a>I've been holding out, waiting for the right time to get a new juicer. Not just any juicer, but a Breville, the brand used on the movie <a href="http://www.facebook.com/FatSickandNearlyDead" target="_blank">Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.</a> That was the movie that <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thelealam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B000MDHH06" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />really inspired me to try juicing.<br />
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Although I've been making green smoothies for almost a year and a half, the limitations are that I can't use harder vegetables. I blend apples, cucumbers and celery, but certainly not root vegetables like carrots and beets. The juicer, I believe, gives me more variety, but it does not juice greens.<br />
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So I finally found a Breville on Craigslist. I'd been waiting patiently because yo can get a pretty good deal - sellers who've used it only a handful of times before discovering they aren't into the juicing lifestyle. I got the one pictured at right, it is the Compact version that I found for only $70. It has a tiny crack in the bowl and is $20 less than retail, though on Amazon it costs more than $150! (So much for cheaper on Amazon!) Luckily the seller lives in the same town, just two blocks away, actually, and she still had the user manual and cleaning brush. Woo hoo!<br />
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And it works quite well, though one of the complaints I've read in reviews is that bigger chunks of fruit and veggies pass through into the pulp instead of being juiced. My model does indeed do that a little bit, so what do I do? Scrape it out and run the pulp through once more. I'm able to get a little bit more juice!<br />
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So yesterday evening I made a concoction with apple, celery, and carrot with a nub of ginger for a kick. It was so good, I mean incredibly delicious! Unfortunately, Golf and Aidan are not as enthusiastic as I am. They take a sip here and there and don't like it so much. Amazing how our tastes are so different!<br />
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Anyway, I made a bunch of this recipe and put it in the fridge for breakfast. The juicer sounds a bit like a vacuum cleaner and I figured that a sleeping husband and neighbors wouldn't appreciate the sound at 7 AM! Plus it's a bit of work cleaning it afterward, and since I have to fix Aidan's breakfast and lunch, I just don't have the time.<br />
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What I will do this morning, though, is put some of the juice in a blender, then run the rest of my Swiss chard through the blender, then mix that concoction - a combination of juice and green smoothie! Yummers!<br />
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Right now I'm just playing around with getting more vegetables and fruit in my diet, but I'd like to go on a juice cleanse at some point, where I don't eat any food or have any coffee/caffeine for a number of days.<br />
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Just a few days of incorporating fresh juice into my diet I have markedly increased energy. It's wonderful!Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-70835874488216763872012-03-07T06:52:00.000-08:002012-03-07T06:55:10.596-08:00MindfulnessWow, I hadn't realized I've been away for so long.<br />
As I've gone along in my life I've explored many things externally through travel, art, living abroad, hiking, etc. Now the final frontier is my own inner workings.<br />
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All the self-improvement literature and success-oriented documents, such as Think and Grow Rich, go on about the commentary running in your mind. Control your mind and you have some control over your life! As <a href="https://www.centerpointe.com/about/bio" target="_blank">Dr. Bill Harris</a> says,<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Everyone creates, in the moment, four things:<br />
1. Their feelings and other internal states<br />
2. Their actions and behaviors<br />
3. Which people and situations they attract or become attracted to<br />
4. What meanings they assign to what happens around them<br />
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Most people do this automatically without seeing <b>how</b> they do it because they aren't aware enough. Awareness creates choice. </blockquote>
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And I'll go further to say that having that choice creates happiness, as was discussed with an interview on Anthony Joh's <a href="http://www.tokyo-podcast.com/happy-movie/" target="_blank">Tokyo Podcast interview with Eiji Han Shimizu</a> on his movie called Happy.<br />
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">My personal journey has taken me to the <a href="http://eastbaymeditation.org/" target="_blank">East Bay Meditation Center</a> twice a month to practice mindfulness meditation. I've tried meditation in the past without much success, inspiration or comfort. My feet and legs ALWAYS fall asleep and it's incredibly uncomfortable and distracting. </span></b><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/boonmee_2192_1141733793" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/boonmee_2192_1141733793" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.boonmee.com/" target="_blank">Boon Decor</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">So in response I recently scored a meditation bench off of eBay for a great deal. Most new ones cost $45 and higher, a price I wasn't ready to pay. So I found a used one for an excellent price, made with hard wood and has excellent quality. It also has rounded legs to tip forward just the right angle. </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Sit on it as you see in the photo and you don't have the pressure on your legs and feet, enabling you to sit longer with more comfort. I wish I discovered this about 15 years ago!</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">I've also been listening to lots of podcasts about mindfulness meditation and practice in daily life. And I find I'm not nearly so restless as I was in the recent past. I would be dissatisfied at not pursuing a move back to Thailand or not being able to take a holiday somewhere different. I'm a person who regularly traveled and explored different places when I lived in Thailand and now we rarely can travel like that here in the US because it's much more expensive. So I go on hikes instead! :)</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-weight: normal;">Now I'm alright with whatever happens because my adventures are now inner instead of outer. </span></b><br />
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<br />Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-85456216715180127152012-01-25T05:46:00.000-08:002012-01-25T05:46:14.537-08:00Waiting for the Right OneI love a good bargain. Who doesn't?<br />
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So instead of spending $150 - $200 on a new juicer, I'm holding out on Craigslist to wait for a deal. For example, last week I saw a Breville Juicer that normally retails for $200 on Amazon listed for only $100, used only a couple of times AND it was in my town!<br />
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I emailed this person, but he or she never got back to me, so I was too late. I've got an RSS alert set up so that anybody who has a "Breville Juicer" for sale will land in my inbox right away. <br />
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I think it's the thrill of the game that's exciting more than anything.<br />
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Oh and speaking of Craigslist, reselling my strollers I use for my reviews has worked out fantastic. I just got a new one a few days ago to review, I was just waiting for the rain to clear to take it out for a test drive. Today's the day to do just that!<br />
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<br />Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-91218667496131420842012-01-22T07:59:00.000-08:002012-01-22T08:00:19.226-08:00Experimenting with More GenerosityMy family and I are not awash in financial wealth. We get by though and through careful choices we are debt-free and shall remain that way. That being established, we need to give more money to causes we believe in. We just need to give more.<br />
<br />
I already donate time to my son's school: two hours per week plus an art lesson once a month. And while that reaps the rewards of a closer relationship with his teacher, I need to practice more <i>dana</i>, or generosity, particularly in the form of cash donations.<br />
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Most religions encourage, even require, tithing. Many expect 10% of your income to go toward giving. It is said that you reap what you sow, and it is the law of karma that you get back what you give. <br />
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I can't help but think that if we gave more then we'll be better off just knowing we're doing our part to support organizations that reflect our values. Right now we give small donations every now and then such as special occasions or to emergency situations such as the Thai floods or Japanese earthquake. I always felt good afterward, but a feeling always lingered that I could and should give more. <br />
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My goal is to give more regularly this year. <br />
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Let's see what happens.Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-67380582007918567772012-01-12T06:32:00.000-08:002012-01-22T08:06:27.262-08:00Reflections on my PastI had a vivid dream last night about my first love. I was 17 years old and a new girl in high school with no real friends. So when he came into my life, not only were those feelings exceptionally strong, as teenage love is, but my entire life was wrapped up in him.<br />
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So much so that decades later I can still have dreams about him that have profoundly strong feelings. I dreamed he died in an accident and I was communicating with his mother, both of us deep in grief and I was despondent. An absolute wreck.<br />
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Why do I still have these feelings? I have no intentions with anybody but my husband and with my first love, well, we're friends on FaceBook and the last time I saw him was at his wedding 4 years ago or so. We chat occasionally on the phone.<br />
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But sometimes I have these incredibly emotional dreams about him and I think the significance is not necessarily with him but with the feelings.<br />
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So after waking this morning I meditated on the "why" of those feelings and thought about what else was going on in my life and how I can help Aidan become a better success than myself once he becomes a teenager. Looking back, I can see how these circumstances profoundly affected the direction my life took and why I am where I am today. I wrapped myself up in what felt good emotionally because I had no other focus or encouragement, except one little thing: something my dad said.<br />
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My dad told us to complete college. He was supportive but didn't otherwise get involved. He said to me and my sisters that we should complete college and he repeated that throughout our high school and college years. I had no direction - no idea what to do or what was interesting, but I knew I had to complete college.<br />
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High school became background noise to my boyfriend. I took after school jobs to earn my own spending money. I maintained average grades despite daydreaming, doodling and even cheating to get by.<br />
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Now this post is truly NOT a "blame the parents for my problems" screed, it's more a reflection on what happened. I've heard here and there that parents tend to back off their kids once they reach high school level because they look like adults and well, they must know what to do! My parents were pretty hands off with me and my sisters, as long as our grades weren't awful and we didn't get into trouble.<br />
<br />
But because they were hands off, I never knew what to explore within school. They never questioned me, that I remember, about what interested me. Mom and dad never encouraged me to pursue a club or outside activity. So I wrapped myself up in my boyfriend and took a job so I could buy nice clothes and go out.<br />
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I went to community college and met Melanie while working at Taco Bell, who became my best friend and life from then on was about going out and having fun and boys. Fun and boys, fun and boys with a part time job and school on the side.<br />
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My parents had their own stuff to worry about and they never questioned or pressured me. Just stay in school, you'll eventually figure it out.<br />
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The fact that I vividly remember my dad encouraging me to finish college proves that teenagers do listen. And I know that if they encouraged me more to pursue a student foreign exchange program or join a debate team or make an appointment with the career counselor or start my OWN business instead of just getting a job, my life would be vastly different. I was a late bloomer and a job drifter, dissatisfied with my jobs (until now) because I lacked direction and put all the energy I had onto my first love and subsequent hedonistic parties well into my 20s. <br />
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I don't want that for Aidan. While I don't plan on being a <i>tiger mom</i>, I'm certainly going to be involved, be more nosy about how he chooses to spend his time once he becomes a teenager and encourage him to explore his options with help from me and others who can help him become aware <b>of </b>those options. Join clubs and have after school activities. And understand when he gets wrapped up in girls, especially once he finds HIS first love, but not let her become his entire existence. <br />
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And so this is how last night's dream evolved. Lots of introspection of the path my life has taken and how I can improve it for my son who's only still 6. There's no blame, only observation on how I can make my son's life better and understand where I am today and why. It's been an interesting ride. <br />
<br />Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-16466414942086754992012-01-09T16:22:00.000-08:002012-01-09T16:22:07.089-08:00A better year in 2012I'm an optimist! What can I say... well, I can say that since the first week of 2012 has gone by, I'm feeling quite good about this year. I think it's going to be better than 2011.<br />
<br />
For a huge variety of reasons, there are lots of people who bid 2011 with a good riddance. Someone said maybe it's out of desperation that we hope for something better this year. I don't like to look at it that way. 2011 wasn't horrible, but I still think this year is going to be much better and I'm excited about welcoming it in.<br />
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I've been actively sowing the seeds of my business since 2009 and I have faith that all that hard work is going to pay off soon. I've delved into my stroller reviews business with more vim and vigor, producing videos and personal photographs to enhance my articles. I fully intend to be at the top!<br />
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In that vein, let me give you a taste of this personalized review that I'm talking about. Here is a review of the <a href="http://www.stroller-envy.com/mia-moda-atmosferra.html" target="_blank">Mia Moda Atmosferra</a> stroller, complete with the video review. You can also see the video <a href="http://youtu.be/W4ZRRb68OI0" target="_blank">here </a>or watch it right now:<br />
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<center><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="284" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/W4ZRRb68OI0?rel=0" width="500"></iframe></center>
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<br />
So here's to a glorious 2012! No resolutions, just hard work with the faith that producing something of good value will return its rewards.<br />
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Cheers!Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-10119575392012199362011-12-23T08:02:00.000-08:002011-12-24T08:16:29.595-08:00Pampering for my Birthday<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-agdAL-x6idI/TvX031mlcvI/AAAAAAAAAd0/8sl858EkKfk/s1600/spa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-agdAL-x6idI/TvX031mlcvI/AAAAAAAAAd0/8sl858EkKfk/s400/spa.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: <a href="http://thedailyobsession.net/2009/01/getaway-at-senspa/#more-8845" target="_blank">The Daily Obsession</a> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Am I one lucky lady! Last week was my birthday (the 12th) and my BFF for over 20 years informed me that she'd like to take me to her favorite spa for a day of pampering! The last time I had a day of pampering like this was for my birthday in 2009 when both my bestest buddies, M & C, <a href="http://peekinside.blogspot.com/2009/12/day-fit-for-queen.html" target="">took me to the Clairmont</a> where I had a body scrub AND a facial. <br />
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This year M took me to a spa near her place of work in <a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=the+presidio+san+francisco&hl=en&safe=off&client=firefox-a&hs=XB&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&ei=lPP1Tu_FAemoiQLJuqGADQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&cd=2&ved=0CC4Q_AUoAQ&biw=1280&bih=655" target="_blank">the Presidio in San Francisco.</a> It's called <a href="http://senspa.com/">SenSpa</a> and it's got a tranquil, Asian theme throughout, which I totally love. The picture above is the Warm Room where you lounge and wait for your appointment. Behind the giant coin sculpture is a cascading fountain over glass. The heater in the middle has a moving, spiral flame, which I'd never seen before but looks utterly magical.<br />
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When we first arrived, we got into our robes and headed to the steam room. We each took in a glass of lemon cucumber water, which was delicious (I'll have to make this at home!) and a cold iced wash cloth. It felt lovely opening up those pores.<br />
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After that it was shower time, taking a long, leisurely shower with all the jets on massaging the entire body and one of those huge shower heads that dump down water all over your head. AAAAH!<br />
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Then we retired to the warm room where we waited for our appointments. M got a massage and I got a facial. My beauty regimen is basic, to say the least, and my skin shows it. After today I have sworn to invest more in my skin.<br />
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My technician, or therapist, was Bianca, a beautiful Romanian woman with a flawless complexion. My facial included two things I've been wanting to get done for ages: microdermabrasion and a chemical peel. Both slough off dead skin cells, lighten pigmentation and reduce fine wrinkles.<br />
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It felt wonderful and I feel like I got a good head start on my facial upkeep. The recommended products were out of my budget, but I swear I will get them once my income increases in 2012.<br />
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The day after my facial my skin felt tender and toward the end of the day it was hot, like a windburn, and red. So I blotted my face with a cool wash cloth and put on more moisturizer.<br />
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After our spa indulgence I took M to lunch on Chestnut Street, which has lots of cool little restaurants and shops. We went to a restaurant called <a href="http://www.a16sf.com/" target="_blank">A16,</a> where we shared a wood-fired pizza, a tasty salad and a delicious appetizer. No wine though. #1 M was driving and it would be unfair and #2 we were just informed that our skin was very dehydrated, so drinking alcohol would be an unwise choice.<br />
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It was a perfect day. By the time we slogged home in the rush hour Bay Area traffic it was early evening.<br />
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Thanks again, M! It was a brilliant day and one I won't soon forget!<br />
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<br />Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-3603854820217348322011-12-11T07:44:00.001-08:002011-12-11T08:06:00.845-08:00Semi-HomeschoolingIt is a problem that many parents face: Your child has a class mate who is THE troublemaker. In Aidan's class, there is a boy who has some serious problems. He disrupts the teacher and bothers the other students. He blocks the flow of learning when children are trying to focus and do their work.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-abUGvBGadag/TuTR6JkdpTI/AAAAAAAAAdY/E9omRR9-FHM/s1600/classroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-abUGvBGadag/TuTR6JkdpTI/AAAAAAAAAdY/E9omRR9-FHM/s1600/classroom.jpg" /></a></div>
At the parent/teacher conference last week, Aidan's teacher told us that she just doesn't know what to do anymore and that she plans to have a behaviorist come into her class to give her some advice because she's used up her "bag of tricks" with this troubled boy. She admitted that when this boy was absent for a few days last week, the entire vibe of the class completely changed. That is such a shame!<br />
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Aidan talks about this boy frequently and mimics his antics. This child has infected the behavior of a few boys in this class, influencing relatively well-behaved children to misbehave. My child is included - he's picked up some bad habits.<br />
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So Aidan's teacher, instead of teaching, has to spend a lot of her time giving this troublemaker individual attention. This gives the kid additional attention from the entire class. Ms. Teacher has to stop her instruction and deal with this kid's antics. Classmates think that the troublemaker is being funny and, well, since that gets attention, they copy that behavior.<br />
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It's utterly disgusting and my child is being cheated. And there is nothing I can do about it.<br />
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But the only thing I CAN do is make up for it at home. Already for an hour each day Aidan and I hang out together and do homework, read and play this coin counting game, which involves math in a fun way. But I want to make sure that what the class is lacking is made up at home.<br />
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Have you dealt with this problem with your kid(s)? What did you do and how did your child turn out long term?Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-58112362600610909092011-11-27T06:56:00.001-08:002011-11-27T07:41:24.118-08:00Eliminating CoffeeAbout a month ago, Golf and I watched a movie on Netflix streaming called <a href="http://www.fatsickandnearlydead.com/" target="_blank"><b>Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.</b></a> The director and creator, Joe Cross, is a lively and likeable Australian who came to the USA for 60 days to do a juice fast and lose some weight. He had a chronic skin condition, not to mention heart and cholesterol problems.<br />
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During this time he also talked to Americans about food and what they actually eat. That most of their diets are made up of highly processed grains, too much dairy and meat. Vegetables and fruits, which should make up like 65% of your diet, ranked at only 5%.<br />
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Joe Cross also met a trucker during his travels and later helped him lose a tremendous amount of weight and changed his life.<br />
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I don't need to lose 100 pounds, though! Only 15 - 20 pounds. I would also like to do a juice fast to jump start my progress, likely a 7 to 10 day cleanse like a lady he interviewed during the movie. She wasn't overweight, but she suffered from migraine headaches and she was doing the fast to help her with that and her overall health.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k9m7d2D1lIc/TtJYCGI8eJI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/KzWc3THO7-o/s1600/coffee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k9m7d2D1lIc/TtJYCGI8eJI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/KzWc3THO7-o/s320/coffee.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love coffee!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But I have an obstacle I need to overcome before I start this purifying cleanse. I'm addicted to caffeine! I've been a loyal and enthusiastic coffee drinker for nearly half my life. I love the taste and the mental boost that caffeine gives me. I drink not only coffee but iced tea (both green and black) and Diet Coke. Love it ALL!<br />
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So beginning today I've decided to wean myself down and by January, I'll be caffeine free and ready to do a juice cleanse. I'll also be ready to buy a nice juicer! I'm already on Craigslist looking to buy one for a cheaper price than online.<br />
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How am I weaning? Beginning today, I am limiting myself to only one cup of coffee in the morning. Normally I have two. Instead of cup #2 of coffee, I am taking a cup of black tea, English style (a little milk and sweetener). Mid morning I'll have another tea and then no more hot caffeinated beverages. In a few more days I will have only tea. Then from there I will slowly wean myself down from all caffeine. No more Diet Coke. I normally have a glass-and-a-half per day, so it's not out of control, but I would like to give my body a break.<br />
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And that's what this cleanse is for - not only for getting rid of some extra weight, but to show myself that I can do this, that it is possible. I'm curious to see how I will feel as well.<br />
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January is also a good time to do my juice fast because that marks my one year anniversary of regular green smoothie diet! Yep. I've been consistently having green smoothies nearly every day and while I feel better and have more energy, I do need a big boost with the juice.<br />
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I'll report my progress here.Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-49780201792652230192011-11-20T07:03:00.001-08:002011-11-20T08:01:21.820-08:00Holding Off Another Year?Ugh. I hate to say this, but Golf and I have decided to hold off going back to Thailand to live for one more year, or at least for the time being... Why in the world would we do this?<br />
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The flooding has not only damaged physical infrastructure, but also the economy. Additionally, the situation has brought out ugly political fighting, worsened with the possible pardon of Thaksin. This will likely cause worse turmoil within the country, so we just want to stand back right now.<br />
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There is another reason we want to hold off. My business. I do stroller reviews as well as other baby gear and I've taken it up a notch by purchasing my own products to use and review and make videos. I don't have to tell you how much more meaningful that is, right?<br />
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Let me tell you, it is far easier, and less expensive, to do product reviews right here in the United States than in Thailand. This change is critical for my business' success and giving it a year to grow and become more financially steady is smart.<br />
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After all I have to make a choice. My business or another fancy that is spiritually gratifying? Frankly right now I have to buckle down and work and Golf seemed reluctant all along to go back.<br />
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Maybe by summer we can take a month to come over and stay. You know, an in-between compromise. I miss Bangkok, afterall, and the entire expat lifestyle. But change happens and I'll never live the same lifestyle I did pre-kid. Having a child changes EVERYTHING and if I think I'll be living there as I did before, I am quite mistaken.<br />
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So there you have it - new goals, new timeline. Let's wait and see what happens.<br />
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PS: Speaking of my business, I need to do a quick plug here: I've written my <a href="http://www.shopaholicmommy.com/baby-gear-reviews/stroller-reviews/do-you-buy-strollers-from-baby-trend/" target="_blank">latest article on Shopaholic Mommy</a> about what lies ahead for Baby Trend strollers. If you're a newer mama and need this information, you should check it out. :)Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-24006341444082623582011-11-11T07:01:00.001-08:002011-11-11T07:12:35.262-08:0011/11/11For the first time in 100 years it is, again, 11/11/11. I had heard, probably on <a href="http://www.coasttocoastam.com/" target="_blank">Coast to Coast AM,</a> that on this day what I want is tripled. I should light a white candle and meditate on the things that I want, and so early this morning I lit my brand new vanilla-scented votive and thought about and wished for what I wanted.<br />
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Unfortunately, during this time, my mind wandered toward a woman with whom I worked during the ESL testing I was doing a month and a half ago who was having some serious personal issues. Why my mind went there, I don't know. So instead of focusing on her sour frowning face, I turned it around and wished for her to be well and happy again.<br />
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One area of my life needs improvement. Lots of us are in that same situation though, so it's not like my family is in the minority on that one. It's for better a better financial outlook. In my case, if some obstacles are cleared, then that will open up the path for better income, but it is out of my control. So I keep on doing what I can and doing my best.<br />
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But all other aspects in my life that are going well; I acknowledge that and am extremely grateful. <br />
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So have a happy and contemplative 11/11/11 everyone. It is an auspicious day indeed!<br />
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What are you wishing for today? Comment below! <br />
<br />Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-32914515616019199672011-10-21T11:53:00.000-07:002011-10-21T11:54:01.141-07:00Shake it Up!I have an irrational fear of earthquakes. Not good for someone who lives only a few miles from a very active fault line (the Hayward Fault Line).<br />
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Yesterday we had not one but TWO earthquakes right about 4.0 on the Richter Scale. The first one was at 3:46 PM it rattled some of our things, and it happened BOOM! Just like that. Usually I can hear it coming a second or two before it hits. This one gave no warning and it was a jolt rather than a roll. <br />
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The second one was at 8:16 PM and I was standing on the sidewalk outside. It felt like one sharp jolt as well, but Golf was up here in our apartment on the 3rd floor and he said it shook worse than the one in the afternoon. He was putting Aidan to bed when it happened.<br />
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I can't help what happens to me when an earthquake hits. My heart beats so fast it feels like it's going to explode out of my chest. My whole body shakes and my legs get so weak I feel like I'm going to fall down. After the 2nd one hit last night, I could not sleep. I put my headphones on and listened to late night radio until 5 AM, my usual wake up time.<br />
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Today I bought some earthquake preparedness items. 3 gallons of water. I'll put them under Aidan's bed. 4 cans of tuna. A 6-pack of ramen noodles. Plus we have some other canned food in the cupboard, but it's a start. We just don't have a whole lot of room. We already have candles and batteries. I feel a bit more prepared today.<br />
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In other news, my site got Panda slapped again. For those not into SEO, that means that Google changed its algorithm again last week and my <a href="http://www.stroller-envy.com/">best baby strollers </a>site got hit hard. Over 50% drop. It sucks! But there is nothing I can do but continue with my good work.<br />
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I have decided to take it up a notch and do more stroller reviews myself. I've ordered a really cool new stroller and it ought to be here early next week. I will use it out over a period of a few days, see if any of my mommy friends with babies want to try it out and then make a YouTube video.<br />
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In the meantime I've been busy writing articles. A new opportunity presented itself earlier this week and I got to post an article on <a href="http://schmoozins.com./">Schmoozins.com.</a> The article is called <a href="http://schmoozins.com/brand-new-strollers-for-2012-new-models-exciting-fresh-colors-and-luxury-enhancements/8483">Brand New Strollers for 2012.</a> I'm really excited about this blog and it's got some great information on there.<br />
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Then I just had my bi-weekly article published on <a href="http://shopaholicmommy.com/">Shopaholicmommy.com</a>. This article is called <a href="http://www.shopaholicmommy.com/baby-gear-reviews/stroller-reviews/chicco-stroller-reviews-and-news/">Chicco Expands & Improves Stroller Selection.</a> There are lots of changes and new stroller models coming out late this year and beginning next year. Lots of stuff to write about! <br />
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So despite my business shake up and the literal shake-up of California, I'm excited about the direction my business is going. I know things well shape up again soon.Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-2439365420932647852011-10-03T10:12:00.000-07:002011-10-03T10:14:53.924-07:00New Green Smoothie ComboWhen Aidan was in his school at the Berkeley Thai Temple yesterday, I discovered that a local Berkeley Bowl natural food store was just two blocks away. I went in without any intention to buy anything, just wanted to pass some time before lunch.<br />
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Berkeley Bowl is famous for abundant produce, cheap produce with many different varieties of fruits and vegetables. Often times prices are half of what you'd pay at a Safeway or Lucky grocery store chain and even farmer's markets!<br />
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So I ended up buying a big grocery bag full of yummy produce to have for dinners and for my green smoothies.<br />
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Today's smoothie I tried something different. I bought some raw flax seed meal. Flax seed has lots of Omega 3 fatty acids that help combat bad cholesterol and has lots of fiber! So I put a scoop of that into my smoothie today.<br />
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For greens, I saw something there I'd never seen before: green pea sprouts! And for only $1.89/lb! I paid $1.89 for the 4 oz tub of little clover sprouts, so the same price for 4 times as much sprouts was such a deal, so I got about a pound of it to use as my main green vegetable for my smoothie today. So total was combined clover and sweet pea sprouts. While at Berkeley Bowl I bought a type of organic kale I'd not seen before, but it didn't go into the smoothie today. I plan to try it out later this week!<br />
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The rest of the smoothie was made up of:<br />
<ul>
<li>frozen pineapple and strawberries</li>
<li>1.5 cups of unsweetened organic soy milk</li>
<li>3 scoops of whey protein vanilla shake mix</li>
<li>a few sprinkles of steevia extract sweetener</li>
</ul>
This makes enough for two breakfasts. The sprouts give a very strong flavor and I couldn't consume it all in one go. I had half, took Aidan to school, got back from my powerwalk and now I was just able to finish it.<br />
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With it being October already, that means I've been drinking green smoothies on a fairly regular basis for 10 months now. Knock wood, I've hardly gotten sick and have been feeling healthy and fantastic! Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-49279140141394374112011-10-02T06:30:00.001-07:002011-10-02T06:50:02.652-07:00Work Updates & Planning a Thailand ReturnWow, three weeks already and now we're in a new month! I was dreading October's arrival a little bit because I was wishing for September to stretch on a few more days. Why? Because I was so disappointed in my earnings! My stroller site's traffic was like a roller coaster, up then down, up then down, and all the while trending slightly downward. BOO! Turns out quite a few business owners experienced the same phenomenon.<br />
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Because of this and past experience of my sites falling prey to Google's algorithm changes, I need a more diverse income, so I've decided to pursue my old job in Bangkok when we return to Thailand. Originally I was adamant about not doing anything but working on my sites, but I think that earning a local currency with an occupation that is high in demand is smarter, just in case my income gets slashed in half because of a whimsical change on Google's end. Once I get my income WAY up will I decide it's time to cut back on teaching.<br />
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So here's the plan: Currently I've been working mornings to administrate the annual California English language learner's test within the local school district. So far my team and I have finished two middle schools with one more to go. That should be done in about a week and a half. After that, it's full throttle with my websites, writing as much content as possible and starting site #4 in about four months.<br />
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Then come January I will contact my former employer in Bangkok and discuss coming back, when, negotiate pay and Aidan's tuition. I'm confident I'll get hired back on since the director said he would welcome my return, plus I've stayed in the education system, more or less, in the six years I've been away.<br />
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Before January, I'm getting Golf's and Aidan's passports updated.<br />
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I've told my husband that he will be in a unique and valuable position in Thailand because he is so fluent in English and familiar with western ways. He's been disconnected with any network in Bangkok because he's lived in the US for so long, and it's important to have connections to find any decent employment for Thais.<br />
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I told him he could probably find work at the US Embassy or through one of the businesses at the American Chamber of Commerce Thailand since he is a US citizen now. He needs to just promote himself and attend some events. <br />
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Overall, he's not nearly as excited about returning as I am. I will miss my friends and family here, but I've always thrived in Thailand and had a thoroughly enjoyable experience there. I always felt my opportunities shined brighter abroad and it will be my chance to shine again for a few short years. Golf prefers life in California. It's all a compromise!<br />
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So that's it for now. Here's expecting that October going forward will bring on more fruitful abundance!Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-48102535414999986962011-09-10T07:49:00.000-07:002011-09-11T07:36:49.730-07:00Getting Back to Thai<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WW-q_uGzxdE/Tmt0ct4E8wI/AAAAAAAAAc4/DXCGu0suQeY/s1600/thai1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WW-q_uGzxdE/Tmt0ct4E8wI/AAAAAAAAAc4/DXCGu0suQeY/s1600/thai1.gif" /></a></div>
First a little backstory: I had known in the back of my head about this podcast production called <a href="http://www.bangkokpodcast.com/">Bangkok Podcast, </a>but I had forgotten about it until I read <a href="http://womenlearnthai.com/index.php/greg-and-tony-say-adieu-to-bangkok-podcast/">Cat's post</a> that it was shutting down. So in my curiosity, I went to iTunes and downloaded a couple of episodes and was extremely impressed with the production.<br />
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So impressed, in fact, that I've been voraciously listening to multiple episodes per day, reminiscing about my time in Thailand from 2001-2005. Greg, one of the Bangkok Podcast hosts, has been there since 2001 as well and <a href="http://www.gregtodiffer.com/">on his personal blog,</a> he had commented about <a href="http://gregtodiffer.com/home/2011/7/25/a-few-thoughts-on-ten-years-in-thailand.html">spending the last decade</a> in Krung Thep and how much change had taken place. Boy could I relate to his photos of the new Paragon shopping center under construction and how sad it was to see the beautifully designed Intercontinental Hotel get torn down (at least I got to go inside once and tour the gardens before Paragon!) I also remember the opening of the MRT subway and how exciting that was despite the initial glitches.<br />
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Anyway, getting back to Thai. In their Bangkok Podcast, Greg and his co-host Tony have a <a href="http://www.bangkokpodcast.com/category/thai-language/">Thai language series</a> where they talk about learning Thai from foreigners who have become fluent in the language and they discuss how they did it and what it is like living in Thailand when this major form of communication is opened up to them. It's been so engaging and encouraging that I've decided to crack down on my Thai again.<br />
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I have 7 months to see how far I can get and this is my plan. Rather than go out and spend a ton of money, I'm going to work with what I already have and the goal is to READ. Reading will improve my vocabulary and therefore improve my speaking. It will open up my world.<br />
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So I will finish with my two novels I'm currently involved in and as soon as I'm done with them, I'm going to finish the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0071420304/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=thelealam-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0071420304%22%3ETeach%20Yourself%20Thai%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=1&a=0071420304&camp=217145&creative=399369%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20%21important;%20margin:0px%20%21important;%22%20/%3E">Teach Yourself Thai</a> book I'm in the middle of - and have been for over a year - and then get Benjawan's <a href="http://word-in-the-hand.com/">newest talking dictionary</a>. Even that one is on hold, because I have her old one that I think will do for now.<br />
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Then I plan to go through all of Aidan's worksheets from his summer Thai school and read all the new words on them, write them out, translate them and study them. Learn Thai with a 6-year-old! I'd like to see how far I can take it by March or April 2012.<br />
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Because our goal is to go back to Bangkok at that time! Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-28650376341635074952011-09-07T17:00:00.000-07:002011-09-10T08:21:37.464-07:00Golf is a US Citizen!Our family reached a major milestone today. My husband became a citizen of the United States on this day!<br />
He took the Oath of Citizenship at the Paramount Theater in Oakland this morning along with 1,200 other people from 96 countries. The balcony of the beautiful theater was filled with friends and family for the joyous occasion. Mom and Dad made the journey the night before and joined us.<br />
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The night before, the parents took us out in a celebration dinner at a steakhouse in Oakland and while the restaurant was more casual than expected, the food was outstanding! I just shared with Aidan and Mom, but Golf had a huge steak that he devoured and was a happy and satisfied man.<br />
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On Wednesday, the BIG day, Aidan didn't go to school so he could attend, too. The ceremony was just right, not too long. The MC could greet and say some sentences in Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Tagalog, French and Hindi and needless to say, all of us in the audience were impressed!<br />
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Later on, the lady who would do the swearing-in oath, read the names of the 96 countries represented that day. When your home country was read, you would stand and by the end of the list, everyone was standing. They were then instructed to raise their right hand and repeat the oath line by line. It was cool.<br />
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Then new citizens handed in their green cards and received a certificate of naturalization. They now don't have to prove that they are in the United States legally. Think about it. I don't have to carry documentation with me because I am a citizen. Golf doesn't either. Made me feel so good and it brought a big cheer in the audience.<br />
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It was such a great day and Golf was on top of the world as we all were.<br />
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Next step in the coming months is to get his American passport.With a green card, his travel prospects were restricted, along with time limits. But with citizenship his options just expanded significantly. Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427267.post-79497802581200396192011-09-06T12:50:00.000-07:002011-09-10T08:21:13.124-07:00Website Showcase: Baby Development News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.babydevelopmentnews.com/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="http://www.babydevelopmentnews.com/images/bdnezine_2.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
Attention new moms! I want to show you a fabulous website called <a href="http://www.babydevelopmentnews.com/" target="_blank">Baby Development News,</a> which is all about ensuring your baby masters and fully develops all natural skills, abilities and talents during the first 24 months.<br />
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Baby Development News is run by webmaster/owner Dalene, who is a professional occupational therapist. She enjoys the company of children and especially newborns to age 10 years. Dalene's passion is to help babies and children achieve their full potential and develop their natural abilities. <br />
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BDN has informative articles on baby's progress, such as the time they are newborns and during their first year. On BDN you will also learn about the skills children must master, such as <a href="http://www.babydevelopmentnews.com/languagedevelopment.html">language development.</a><br />
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You also get valuable information about the <a href="http://www.babydevelopmentnews.com/developmentalbabytoys.html">best developmental baby toys</a> and some informative <a href="http://www.babydevelopmentnews.com/babyfoodreview.html">baby food reviews.</a> <br />
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So come check out Baby Development News to have all your questions answered by Dalene, who's got one heck of a site that greatly helps parents with small children. <br />
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Original Article written for the <a href="http://www.stroller-envy.com/best-baby-strollers-blog.html" target="_blank">best baby strollers blog</a> at <b>Stroller Envy</b>Amy Thttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05298813796594032650noreply@blogger.com0