Only when it is dark enough, you can see the stars.

  When I first moved to Santiago, Chile in September 2009, I was a vegetarian. I thought it might be challenging to find food that I enjoyed in a country that prided itself on asados (bbqs) and carne (meat), but I learned to get by. Back then I ate a lot of cheese empanadas and cooked at home. I was a volunteer and then employed by an NGO making enough money to pay rent, so eating "out" wasn't necessarily a thing. Food on the go was crackers, granola bars and sopaipillas (Chilean street food: fried pumpkin bread with salsa (pebre) on top, so yummy).  In 2011 still in Santiago, I decided to go vegan. This was more of a challenge. Since I hadn't really loved the cheese options I found i n the grocery store (in my budget) it wasn't a huge challenge to give up milk and cheese at first, but eating vegan in Chile?? It means you like salad and more salad. It means you don't say "No como carne" to a Chilean because they'll give you chicken soup (real ex...

  2020 man.... Who would have guessed? The new year was really fun. We were in Chile, in the coolest house with ALL of Nico's family, partying, actually partying, the kids were asleep in the house, we were in the quincho* music blaring, full DJ equipment thanks to my brother in law who has that in his house apparently? We had food, drinks, dancing, it was great. The next day we lounged by the pool, we watched a movie all cuddled up together the 8 adults with home made popcorn, the kids slept, they played together during the day. We went to the beach, we cooked awesome meals and ate at 11pm. I drank wine every night, really good Chilean wine. I mean 2020 had ALL THE potential. Back in the states mid January, I planned 6 trips for the upcoming year, a conference away by myself (2 nights in a hotel room by myself!!) I was so excited, vacations and trips, a little get away to Canada with Nico after several years of pregnancy/infancy and no time alone. Things were ok, I had solved my i...

Nico and I took a while to decide if and when to have a second baby. We felt really lucky with our first, besides the first three months which completely turned my life upside down, she slept, she ate, she smiled, she grew, she's smart, she's a joy. We wondered what if the second one wasn't? Then there was the whole moving of countries, spending all our savings, not finding jobs right away, adjusting to life in a new country and basically getting really used to life as three. Finally we made the decision and what felt like in a blink of an eye we went from three to four. Only it felt a lot more like from one child to one hundred. In all those years of contemplating number two, the nine months of pregnancy, not one person, friend or foe, mentioned that the second baby would be harder. Noone. SO when it was....well I was just shocked. Then suddenly everyone I knew with more than one child started chiming in about how hard number 2 was. Like litteraly, my OBGYN, friends of fri...

If you couldn't tell from the title above, this is not a post for the weak at heart. I was resigned to make this birth (number 2) go better than the first. I really wanted one of those quiet, peaceful, beautiful birth stories. I watched video after video of those types of births, I read two hypnotherapy books, I took a 500.00 6 week hypnobirthing class, I meditated daily, I got a doula and I did daily exercises to get the baby in a good position, I even walked 2-3 miles a day! Similar to the first go, my due date came and went peacefully. I thought I would be OK with it this time, I think I would be more patient....but something inside of me slowly started snapping. I worked until I was 38 weeks pregnant this time, taking two weeks off to prepare my body, mind, house and life for baby 2. That was very helpful, from daily walks, yoga, acupuncture and cleaning, I did enjoy my time off even if it was still the end of dreary winter. Yet, three days past due date and I found myself ...

It's really hard to believe that we left Australia a year and a half ago. I think of Melbourne so often that it feels like it was months ago. We've definitely settled into life here, in terms of working, living, friends, activities, and family. I still have not decided if I like it to be honest. What I have decided is to be mindful. While there is lots to be grateful for, many of my friends from AU still ask, "are you glad you moved?" Some because they are considering their own move back to their home countries, others out of curiosity and some because they want us to come back ;) Yes and no I often answer. I miss so much about Melbourne and I miss so much about my friends that still live there. Melbourne has been voted the most liveable city in the world for like 7 years in a row, so it's not hard to believe it would be easily missed. From living a few blocks to the beach, to free accessible healthcare, a gun free society, 4 weeks of vacation a year and 12 na...

Well officially we have entered Spring! BUT...we also still have a foot of snow outside and its barely reaching 5 degrees Celsius. Sooooo it's warmer than it was in January. I can't believe I thought 3 degree Celsius was cold in November, I hadn't seen anything yet! We have survived winter and we actually did get used to it after a while. Playing in the snow can be fun when its not too cold outside. I've also survived winter in Boston in the suburbs with no car, so feat of strength... check! There were a many times of trying to push a stroller through the icy snow that neighbors may have heard me cursing, but at least I can say I got my exercise. Amelia has successfully started American daycare. She's one day down but seemed pretty happy so that's a positive! I start work next week and hoping that with it the snow melts. Spring is meant to be a time of new beginnings and I find it appropriate that we are starting new journeys now too. Our house is nearly furni...