Two Month Ta Da list

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So we are closing in on two months in our new home.  We’re starting to feel settled.  It’s a work in progress, but it feels good.  Even if the kids do still ask when we are going back to Rome.

The other day I mentioned Gretchen Rubin’s Ta Da list.  The idea being that instead of focusing on the never ending To Dos, to reflect on everything you have accomplished.  Ta Da!

Especially because I worry we are never doing enough or trying enough, I thought it would be fun to look back on everything we HAVE done.

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I don’t feel safe (and it bums me out)

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So we considered a lot of factors before we decided to move here.  Air quality.  Schools.  General quality of life.  Food.  Ease of travel to other places.  Cost of living.  Transportation.

No, we didn’t have a set list.  We didn’t tick the boxes.  These were just general concerns swirling around in our heads.

Safety.

This was definitely on the list.

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I don’t feel cute (and other first world problems)

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So when we first got to Kuala Lumpur, I realized I wasn’t feeling my cutest.  Whatever that means.  Just not feeling my best.  In the appearance department.  Not feeling comfortable in my skin.

Whenever I feel like this, I’m quick to point a finger at the gray hair.  Is it terrible?  Is it even that noticeable?  Is everyone staring at me and whispering things behind my back?  Wow, that chick let her roots grow.  For like A YEAR.

But I think just saying the gray hair, is an easy fix.  It doesn’t really get at the root of the problem.  (Heh.)

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Why I finally decided to do corrective eye surgery (PRK) and why I LOVE it

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Some time when I was a little kid, I remember hearing about this magical surgery where they could fix your eyes.  You wouldn’t need any glasses at all.  I don’t remember if it was the news.  Advertisements.  I don’t know.

This may have stuck out to me because I heard about it around the time I got glasses.  I HATED my glasses.  I got them in 6th grade, and I would keep them on my desk and only put them on to read the board.  Basically I walked around blind most of the time.  Awesome.

But there was this AMAZING surgery that could fix all of that, right?  Well, besides being expensive and something they probably don’t do for children, I remember having a conversation about it with my dad.  He wore glasses.  Maybe he should do it?

I’ll never forget what he said.  (For the record, I don’t think he remembers this conversation at all.)  He said that he used his eyes to earn a living for his family and he would never jeopardize that.

OK.  Game over.  No LASIK for me.  Don’t want to be blind.

Then I got contacts in 8th grade and everything was pretty much OK so I sort of forgot about it.

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Let’s talk about podcasts

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Are you doing podcasts?  What are you listening to?  When do you listen?

I’ve gone from not understanding how to listen to podcasts at all to figuring out Stitcher and now listening every chance I can.  Usually this is while I’m cooking, doing chores, or getting ready.

I keep thinking I’m going to make it through my backlog of podcasts, but I never do.  They just show up faster than I can listen.  Here are some of my favorites, and I’d love to hear what you’re into!  Even though I don’t have space for more, I’m always up to try.

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Decorating options for a rental

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So earlier I talked about designing our new lives in KL.  Now I’m talking about design at home.  Specifically, how to decorate our digs for the next three years.

I struggle on this one.  Three years is temporary, but it’s still a decent chunk of time.  But should we be investing time, money, and energy into decorating?  There are so many things I like to spend my resources on.  (Namely travel and food.)  Where does this fall into the picture?  Is having a music-activated disco ball in the guest bathroom a need or a want?

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Designing your life

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Moving can be a pain.  But it is also a time of new beginnings.  Fresh starts.

A good reminder that we get to choose what we want to do in our days.

I’m sitting here like a kid in a candy store trying to decide how we should spend our time.  On the one hand, it is early days.  On the other hand, early habits tend to solidify.  This is a special time to remake before habits become hardened, calcified.

In no particular order . . .

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