Meet Molly: A Fellow Almost Indian Wife Pt. 2

A few weeks ago, Molly, a fellow Almost Indian Wife shared what it's been like to move to India. She gave us a glimpse into her experiences and her struggles. Today, she's sharing more about her journey!

What has it been like for you to settle into a new country, new home, and fully integrate yourself into Indian culture?

Personally, I have gone through a lot while living in this other culture/country. I’ve gone through happiness, depression, loneliness, and just about every feeling.I used to be a VERY independent person, I mean I did everything; the chores, the errands, shopping, grocery shopping you name it! But ever since coming to India, I have to depend on my husband Jim for EVERYTHING! And he’s so busy with the ministry, sometimes I don’t get to go out of the house for weeks at a time! Which of course put a strain on our marriage in the beginning. I want to learn how to drive, so I don’t need to depend on Jim so much, but Jim doesn’t want me to learn because he himself is so scared of driving.The driving in India is the worst! Just imagine no one following any traffic rules, that’s how it is. The driving is also on the left side, with the steering wheel on the right, which is something I will have to learn. You can look up on YouTube, “driving in India” to see what it’s like.Either way, going outside as a “white” girl is the worst experience. I’m talking about the actual Indian experience, like shopping on the street corners, and getting expensive things for really cheap. Even walking on the streets is dangerous, you are surrounded by beggars and little kids that come up to you for money. I was even chased for 5 minutes one time because a lady wanted more money than what I gave her!

Common things you will see on the road:

Also, because I'm White, Indians try their hardest to cheat and take advantage of me. When you shop on the streets, most of the time you can bargain with the salesman to get a better price, but with a white person...! They double and triple the cost of things!I can never go shopping without my sister in law because she knows the value of things and what the real cost is. They do have huge malls, and really nice stores where we live, and because of me, that is where we shop now. Jim’s family soon realized that they can’t take me shopping where they usually go because then they won’t get good prices.I just hate the thought of “bargaining” or “bribing.” It is something I am definitely not good at. So, just like America, we go to the more “fancier” shops where things have price tags on them. I always have to hide when there are vendors coming to the door, such as people selling clothes, bangles, jewelry because they will raise the prices.Even getting into an auto rickshaw I always have to stand behind Jim without them seeing me, then once he gets the cost of how much it will be, then I come around the corner and get in. I wish it wasn’t like that, but we certainly can’t afford triple the cost of everything just because of my skin color.I was definitely not prepared when we first moved to India. I just came from a place where you are friendly to people, can trust them to a certain extent, have your own privacy, people say their "please" and "thank you’s" etc. But here! It all went out the window. And since we came here for the ministry, there are certain things I should and shouldn’t do anymore. I can’t wear short sleeve shirts, no shorts, only full-length skirts, no tank tops, my arms have to be covered, I have to wear a shawl wherever I go, I can’t sit cross-legged in front of elders and my hair has to be covered in any church event.The clothing I have to wear is a chudidars or a sari (I can wear jeans only if Jim and I are going out, which isn’t very often). Also in church, the woman sits on one side while the men sit on the other.Indians are also very concerned about education. We have parents in our church who break their backs day and night as hard working laborers, just so that their child will get a good education. Education is everything to them, without it you're basically no one in society. Also, if their child has a chance to go abroad, it is a huge pride for the parents. I love hearing parents talk about their children who have gone to America because they seem to understand me more and the culture where I come from.In the end, my husband and I are here for God and the ministry. I have my moments of being homesick, there are good days and bad days. India is full of culture and diversity and I’m very blessed to be going through this experience. God has revealed a lot to me about myself and in our marriage. I feel that ever since living here, I’m able to understand Jim more because I’m living what he has lived his whole life before he met me and it has been tough but well worth the eye opener. We both love our cultures and that is one blessing our kids will have, a life of two very different worlds.

Do you have questions for Molly about her experiences? Ask her in the comment section!

My Multicultural Family: The Olympic Summer Games

As a mother in a multicultural family, I'm always looking for new ways to teach my kids about the world. My husband and I work very hard to blend the East and the West in our family. The more you blend cultures, the more you realize how important it is to teach your kids about the world around them.My kids have developed a deep love for their mixed heritage. I didn't expect that love to grow as quickly as it did. My oldest son loves sharing about his culture with everyone around him. Whether it's how to eat Indian food with his hands or his love for our holiday traditions, he's always talking about it.I don't want my children's passion to start and end with their own culture. I want them to see the beauty in the world around them and have a desire a desire to learn more. The more we teach our kids about the world around them, the more comfortable they'll be with themselves.The 2016 Olympic Summer Games are right around the corner. It's a huge opportunity to teach your family about the world!Multicultural Kid Blogs just came out with their Summer Games Activity Pack! This pack is truly in a league of its own. It's 100 pages of history and activities! When your kids have finished going through their Summer Games Activity Pack they'll know about the nations with the most medals, famous Olympians, Olympic sports, delicious recipes, and so much more!This year we decided to throw the Olympic Games into our homeschool routine. This activity pack has been a huge resource for us because it's fun for all three of my kids. I don't know about you, but I struggle to find activities that work well for all their ages. This activity pack is great for any age!This week we pulled it out and started to learn about the different nations. While my kids were coloring the maps, I read through the history portion. At first, I thought it was more for my sake. They get to color and I get to think they're learning about the world. I was greatly surprised when my five and three-year-olds continued to stop me while I was reading to ask questions. They were so intrigued to hear more about popular sports and find out what the Olympic games are all about.Whether you're homeschooling your kids like us or you want to teach your kids about the world, the Summer Games Activity Pack is perfect! Here is a little recap of all the things it offers!

What To Expect In Your Summer Games Activity Pack

History Of The OlympicsInformation On The Olympic GamesOlympic Medal TrackerColoring PagesRecipes For Each NationActivity PagesYou can even take it up a notch and host your own Olympic Games at home! Take what you learn from the packet and make your summer one to remember!

Get your Summer Games Activity Pack here!

 

My Multicultural Family: A Letter To My 5 Year Old

Dear Baby Boy,

Today is the day you've been counting down for. You're 5! You're 5 years old! My little baby is 5 whole years old. Even though you're so excited to be one year older today, momma wishes I could slow it down a little more.

Every night while we're praying, I pray God will make you stay my little boy forever and ever. You stop me every time and remind me God won't listen, with your little frantic voice. You want to be big so bad. You want to skip it all and be a big kid.

I hate to break it to you Baby Boy, but you will always be my little baby in my eyes. Even as you get bigger and don't need to depend on your momma as just as much. I'll always see you as the little baby that changed my entire life. I waited my entire life to be able to hold you in my arms.

You made my little world so much bigger. 

You showed me what it means to love someone so much it hurts. 

You taught me to see the best in everyone like you do. 

You showed me what it means to be a loving unna (big brother). 

Baby Boy you are teaching all of us more than you know. Your little brothers look up to you and I do too. You have such an innocent little heart and remind me every day to love people more. You love everyone around you and would do anything for them. 

I can't wait to see the young man you grow into. You're going to be a world changer. All you have to do is be you because you are enough. You are such a blessing to everyone around you. 

xo Momma

I was recently inspired by another blogger over at Baby Making Machine about the importance of making memories. She interviewed her little girl on her 6th birthday to remember it all and I'm doing that today too!

5 Year Old Birthday Interview

What's your favorite color? BlueWhat's your favorite food? Mac N CheeseWhat's your favorite thing to do? Camping OutWho's your favorite superhero? ThorWhat do you want to be when you grow up? A Grown UpHow many kids do you want to have when you grow up? ThreeWhat do you think makes someone a good daddy?Being nice.What kind of daddy are you going to be? Just like my daddy.

Find Out How Stitch Fix Spiced Up My Momma Style

How Stitch Fix Spiced Up My Momma Style

I do receive a small commission if you sign up with Stitch Fix. However, all thoughts and oppinions expressed here are my own. I only refer items I truly love and use.My momma style has always been the same. I find something I like and end up buying the same thing over and over again. After getting married to my husband, my style started to change. I was introduced to the world of Indian clothes and loved it.They were the complete opposite of what I typically wore. While I wore neutral colors, they were all bright. While I like simple, they were elaborate. It showed me that I didn't know what styles I liked as much as I thought I did. I started trying to explore different styles and brands. I set up Pinterest boards to get inspiration, but one problem always came up. While I could look up styles at night after the kids went to bed, I couldn't go shopping and look around with my kids.My husband travels for work which means it's just the kids and I most of the time. When I go to the store I go with a purpose. I make a plan so I'm in and out as long as possible. The longer I end up at the store the more likely it is my kids will melt down or start fighting.Right as I was about to give up on spicing up my wardrobe, I found Stitch Fix. It's an online company that lets you shop at home!!

How Does Stitch Fix Work

Step One: Fill out your profile and let the company know what you like, don't like, want to try, and even throw a Pinterest board in there. I set up my own Pinterest board to show them exactly what I liked.Step Two: Get a stylist. Stitch Fix assigns a personal stylist to you. Yep, that's right! They check out your profile and even ask you questions. You can even send them a note too, explaining what you want in your box.Step Three: Receive your Stitch Fix box with all of your goodies! This is the fun part. You get a box full of five different items. You can see what they are, try them on, and see what you think.Step Four: Within three days you will return whatever you don't want in the bag they send you. It's simple. You don't have to pay to return it, you just drop it off at a post office. You only pay for the items you keep and your $20 styling fee goes towards any item you end up buying.Step Five: Show off your adorable items!

What's In My Stitch Fix Box

Check out my box reveal here!

Maxi Dress $68: This dress is from Papermoon. It's comfortable and has a cinched waist. I loved this dress because I tend to not be able to wear long dresses because they're too long. This was great because i could move the cinch up higher on my waist for the perfect height.Halter Blouse $44: This blouse is from Pixley and it's just adorable. I love flowy tops like this because I find them so flattering. Especially because I like to wear leggings as often as I can. This top is perfect to wear with leggings or skinny jeans.Clutch $48: This clutch is from Street Level. Wow. Let's just take a second to admire this little beauty. It's adorable. I love that it even has an optional strap. You can dress it us and use it as a clutch or wear it day to day with the strap. It even has multiple pockets and can even work as a wallet.White Denim Jacket $88: This jacket it from Liverpool. While this coat was extremely comfortable, it reminds me too much of the 80's. I even talk about that in my unboxing video. This was the only item from my box that I wasn't a big fan of. However, they recommended it to go along with the maxi dress which I could see being really cute.V-Neck Dress $68: This dress is from Liverpool. This was the item I ended up choosing to keep. It's adorable and it was perfect for my conference. I spiced it up with a cute necklace and I've already worn it a few times! I love it because it comes right to my knees and it super comfortable.

Find out more about Stitch Fix here!

Pin For Later

 

Why Every Women Needs Her Own Tribe

My Week At She Speaks 16

This week I was blessed to be able to attend the She Speaks 16 Conference! It's been an amazing opportunity to get together with a group of women passionate about writing and speaking. The week has been full of amazing workshops and testimonies from inspiring women.I was able to leave my two older kids behind with their Nanamma (grandma) and Pinni (aunt). It's always so hard leaving them behind. Always being the two times in their entire lives! Right before I left, I started running through the list with my four-year-old."Mommy put your baby, lotion, and toothbrush in your backpack. Be sure to help your brother while I'm gone and you better miss me."The entire time I'm saying this, his hand is on my cheek and he's reassuring me with the sweetest little reassuring voice."I know mom. I know. I know."It was right then that I realized it wasn't my kids that would struggle with momma being so far away. It was me! They couldn't wait to spend time with their cousins and everyone. I love that they're getting bigger, but I can't help the sting I feel as I left. My kids are becoming independent little boys.Just to make myself feel a little better, I took my youngest little boy with me. I know, but I couldn't help it! My mom even offered to come and watch him while I was at the conference during the day. Maybe next year they'll all stay behind. Maybe...I learned so many things throughout the workshops. One of the biggest things I learned is how important it is for every woman to have her own tribe. A tribe is a group of your people. People that will have your back against all odds, help you get through the good and bad times, and you know you can count on. Here are a few reasons you need one!

Every Women Needs Her Own Tribe...

To Surround Herself With Like-Minded People

One of my favorite parts about going to She Speaks this year was the fact that I was able to sit in a workshop with over one hundred like-minded women. We were all there with the intention to learn more about writing, shape our strategies, and to be encouraged. It was a huge blessing. Being surrounded with like-minded people means you all have similar goals. The passions, strategies, and opinions are all different, but the core was the same.When you surround yourself with like-minded people you're essentially saying,"We're all on the same journey together, going to the same place. Let's walk together to encourage and support each other. We make take a few different paths on this journey, but I know at the end of the day you're in it with me." 

To Have People Willing To Challenge Her

There is nothing worse than surrounding yourself with a group of yes-women. What in the world is a yes- women you may be asking yourself? It's a woman that says yes to everything your say without fail. While that may sound nice, it's not.We need to fill our tribe with women that challenge us. We're imperfect and are bound to do things we shouldn't. Whether it's ranting about something that feels big in the moment, but really isn't in the grand scheme of things. Maybe it's the fact we've been in a bad mood all week because one of your kids aren't sleeping well... Or maybe you're trying to decide if you should take on yet another task when your plate is already completely full.You don't want to fill your tribe with a bunch of women that will encourage you to make bad decisions. You want women that will challenge you. That will be in your corner and tell you not to take on another task because you need a break. Or challenge you to have a better attitude while encouraging you. You need to be challenged in your life. Who better than a friend you know loves and cares for you?

To Have People That Get Her

Do you know the feeling when you're trying to explain something to a friend, fearing they're going to think you're crazy, and they just get it? They understand exactly what you're saying and have probably experienced something similar as well.You need to fill your tribe with women that get you. This happens when you're vulnerable and open up. The more you let the walls down and share the ins and outs of your life with your friend, the closer you'll get. As you get closer they're going to start sharing about their life and you can see where your lives are similar.One sign of a lasting friendship is one you can start to vent to only to hear, "You don't have to say anymore... I know exactly what you're saying."This happens through vulnerability, raw honesty, and trust. Allow yourself to grow closer with your tribe and gain a group of women that just get you.

To Have Someone To Cry With

I can't tell you how many times I have called up a friend to just cry with. Life gets sticky, messy, and overwhelming. Sometimes you're going through a painful season in your life and you just need a friend. Having a tribe of women you're close to a trust means you can call one of them and just let it go. You can cry on their shoulder and they can cry with you.A good friend and a good tribe of women would cry with you. They understand you feel overwhelmed and truly empathize with you. They feel your pain and want to help you get through it. They've created a safe place for you to come and be real and raw with them.

To Dream Big With

As women, we're big dreamers. We strive for big and bold things. Sometimes those big dreams can get pressed down when we're busy with work or kids. You need a tribe of women that are there to remind you to dream big. They remind you that you're worth it. They remind you that you're capable and can do anything you set your mind to.Surround yourself with people that will always challenge you to be the best you can be and to stop limiting your dreams. You are worth it. Remember that.

How Can I Build My Tribe Today?

Having a tribe is crucial for us ladies.We need this tribe to help us, encourage us, challenge us, and help us to be better women. Look around you today and determine who your tribe is. Remember to pour into those ladies in your life. Build your tribe by encouraging them and be the friend you need and desire to them!

Send this post to your tribe and tell them how important they are to you and start building your tribe today! 

Pin This For Later

5 Things Every Mom Needs To Hear

"Oh no! He must be freezing without his socks! Did you know he's missing his socks?"

Please tell me I'm not the only one that has heard this DOZENS of times at the store!

My children have always had an unnatural ability to lose one or both socks in the car, never to be found again... It doesn't matter how many times I try to put them back on. I'm not even surprised anymore when we get to the grocery store and I find my baby... sock-less.

I bundle my kids up with whatever's left and we start the "stress-free" grocery trip adventure. Obviously, these trips are easy. My kids never whine for all the goodies they see, toys I refuse to buy, or whatever else they deem fight worthy. I'm sure yours don't either.

Before any of those things even get to happen, were stopped by a frantic "Good Samaritan." This Good Samaritan runs over to our cart and lets us know something horrible has happened! Something catastrophic!

My. Child. Is. Missing. A. Sock.

 

Then the Good Samaritan starts searching everywhere. "Oh my goodness. Poor baby, you must be freezing. Did you know he was missing a sock?"

Instead of dealing with this person any longer I instantly say, "Oh no! Maybe he lost it down one of the aisles." Then I run off without waiting for her response.

Seriously. There is no way my child would ever get hypothermia due to a missing sock! In fact, I don't think a child has ever been hospitalized or taken to the doctor over a missing sock.

I know I'm not the only one that has dealt with this. People are always more than willing to offer up their opinions and advice. The question I have for you is how do you respond? Are you open to people that start spouting off unwanted advice or do you shut that business DOWN?

After I had my first son, I would look everywhere for advice. I was constantly posting my questions on Facebook or Twitter only to get dozens of completely different answers in return. I always ended up more confused than I was before I asked!

I would ask what people think I should give my son for a terrible cold... Then I would hear things like this...

"Give them Tylenol right away!"

"Medication is terrible for kids, let them drink garlic and ginger water."

"It's probably because you guys vaccinate..."

Am I right or am I right?! I know you're all shaking your heads furiously with me, in agreement! It's hard enough as a parent, trying to navigate through motherhood. Add in some opinionated people and you feel like you're always doing it wrong.

Well, I am here to tell you that you are an amazing mother. Missing socks and all. You make decisions for your child based on what you think is best. It may not always be the right choice, but that's how you learn. The love you have for your child out weighs it all.

Be comforted in the fact that we are all trying to figure it out with you. It doesn't matter how many kids we have all had, kids are all different. You have to figure things out all over again each time.

So, what can we do to encourage moms out there? We can take a minute to tell them a few things all moms need to hear. Find a mom friend of yours and encourage them! They need it.

 

5 Things All Moms Need To Hear

You're doing a great job

Every mom needs to be told she's doing a great job. There's so much pressure on her shoulders. She wants to be the best mom she can be, make the best choices, please those around her... Whether or not your think she knows what a good job she's doing, tell her. Telling her means so much.

You don't have to listen to everyone

As a mom, you feel pressured to listen to everyone. Whether it's a parenting book, doctor on TV, friends, family, or your Good Samaritan. Remind them they don't have to listen to everyone. It's nice to be reminded.

Trust your mommy instincts

Remind them to trust in their own instincts. We all have that mommy gut that tells us what's best for our baby. Sometimes you need to let everything else go and just trust in that. Mommy instinct is a powerful thing!

You can take a break

Moms spend all of their time taking care of their kids and their family. It's easy to overlook time for themselves. Mommy guilt can even kick in and tell you how wrong it is to prioritize time for yourself. Remind a mom in your life they can take a break. A break means she can get the TLC she needs.

Thank you

Take a minute to thank a mom in your life. Thank them for dedicating their life to their kids. Thank them for all their late nights, delicious dinners, cleaning the house, taking care of sick babies, kissing boo boos, and so much more. Every mom needs to hear this one. Thank you.

Take a minute and encourage a mom in your life.

10 Things Every Dog Lover Should Do This Summer

This post is sponsored by Evite. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Meet Bella, our beautiful freckled tongue dog. She was adopted into our family shortly after my husband and I were married and has been one of our best friends ever since. She's officially turned us into dog lovers!I've always loved dogs, but adopting one pushed my love into over drive. We got her when she was about 6 months old from a shelter. A few months later, we ended up welcoming our first little boy. Our dog went from our family pet, to our family protector. She was always looking out for our little boy. If he would cry she would even start barking and push us into the room!Five years and three kids later our dog has become the family dragon (when the kids decide she's no longer a dog), protector, best friend, comforter, and family member. Needless to say, we love our dog!

10 Things Every Dog Lover Needs To Do This Summer

Head Over To Your Local Doggy Park

Check out your local doggy park and bring the whole family! Your dog will meet new friends and get a change to socialize. By socializing your dog you help promote good behaviors by providing them with the opportunity for other dogs to show and remind them what to do. Dogs with good social skills also tend to be better trained and better family dogs overall.

Go On A Family Vacation

Book a pet friendly hotel or go camping with the family. Then you can bring your dog and enjoy your vacation together! Hotels are becoming more pet friendly over the years and encourage you to bring your pets along!

Throw A Pet Themed Party

Throw a pet pawty and invite your friends like we did! We decided to throw our son a Paw Patrol party for his third birthday and it was a hit! The evening was full of pet themed snacks, silly animal music, delicious Paw Patrol cake, and paw print decorations!

Doggy Friend Meet Up At The Park

Invite your friend's puppy pal along on your next play date at the park! Most parks are designed to bring your animals as long as their on a leash and you clean up after them. Kids look for our pup at our local park and run over when they see her!

Teach Your Dog A New Trick

Teach your dog a new trick this summer! Our kids decided to teach our dog the "vacuum trick." The whole week our kids decided to purposely drop things on the floor so our dog would come and eat it. Our kids thought it was amazing and our dog loved being spoiled with treats.

Go On A Family Walk After Dinner

Clean up dinner and then take the whole family for a walk around the neighborhood. It helps everyone get some exercise, gives you an opportunity to talk about your day, and helps everyone wind down before bed.

Adopt A New Family Friend

Head over to your local animal shelter and adopt a new friend! There are so many dogs looking for a loving home like yours! Afterwards you can even throw your pup an adoption party! Invite all of your friends and their pups to celebrate your new family member.

Set Your Dog Up On A Doggy Date

Do you have a friend with her ow doggy friend? If so, plan out a fun doggy date. You can invite them to go to a local hiking trail, meet at a dog park, or even a regular park. It helps your dog get out of the house and helps socialize them even more!

Set Up A Doggy Water Station

On our recent walk around our neighborhood we saw this! A little girl decided to set up a dog water station. We caught her while she was filling up the water bucket. She put out a little sign and reminded families to keep their pups hydrated while on walks! Set one up and invite the dogs around the neighborhood.

Host Your Very Own Pet Olympics

This final tip is for the ultimate dog lover! Are you up for the challenge? Invite all of your friends and their pups to their first dog olympics! Set up an obstacle course, make a fun little award, and getting the party started!

Enter Now

#PawtyPeople Photo Contest

Is your pet a pawty animal? Prove it! Enter our #PawtyPeople Photo Competition. To enter for a chance to win, just follow these steps:1. UPLOAD a photo of your pet being a summer pawty animal to our contest form or yourfavorite social media platform by 7/25. Make sure to use #PawtyPeople so your entry can becounted!2. SHARE your photo submission like crazy with all your friends so they can help vote starting7/26!3. VOTE every day from 7/26 to 8/11 to increase your chances of winning! *Limit one vote per person, per entry daily. Submission period ends 11:59:59 PM EST on July25, 2016. Voting period ends 11:59:59 PM EST on August 11, 2016.

Enter Now 

Simple Potato Curry Recipe

Evenings in my house are hectic to say the least. While some people are winding down for the night, my family is just getting started. My kids have had their second wind from nap time and are bouncing off the walls.They jump from couch to couch, flipping cushions, pretending the floor is lava. Come on, why would it not be hot lava that forces them to jump all over my furniture and throw toys to fight the supposed lava beast... They even make sure to let me know how important their fight is because they're saving me of course.Far be it for me to stop them. I just sit there hoping they'll get all their energy out before dinner. It only backfires 5 times out of 10. I'd say that's pretty good odds for a parent...Needless to say, I'm always looking for simple hacks to help my nights run a little smoother. Otherwise my kids end up eating peanut butter and jelly more often than I'd like to admit. Lately, I've been letting Indian cuisine influence my meals plans and I've found the easiest dish you have to try!Whether you're making an Indian meal or trying to sneak an Indian side dish in, potato curry is perfect.Potato Curry Recipe

Ingredients:

6-7 boiled potatoes (quartered)1/2 diced onion1 tsp turmeric1 tbs black mustard seeds2 tbs butter or ghee1 green chili (halved)1 tbs salt

Directions:

Boil your potatoes until tender. Make sure they aren't too tender otherwise this will turn into Indian mashed potatoes! Set them aside.Heat a small pan on medium low. When the pan is hot, add the butter, onion, and green chili.Cook them for about 5-10 minutes until golden brown. Add in the turmeric, salt, and mustard seeds.Cook for two minutes. Add them into the boiled potatoes and mix.

Pin For Later

Amazon Deals For The Whole Family!

Happy Amazon Prime Day!

Amazon Prime has become a HUGE favorite it my family. While my husband is away for work, I'm always looking for ways to simplify! Ordering things on Amazon has definitely done that!! I love being able to add things to my cart and getting them two days later!Seriously it's a life saver.You know what it's like getting all of your kids to the store, dealing with them fighting in the carts over the lack of space, and then searching the store for the items you need... Then you have a ton of kids like me and you have to shop at places where they have the double seated carts... Give me a shout out if you know what I'm talking about!

Him

Coleman Road Trip Beach Shade

Xbox One Bundle

Hamock

Portable Grill

Her

Gap Gift CardEssential Oil DiffuserAmazon KindleStila Make Up Set

Kids

Kid's TabletZoo Insulated Lunch BagsReusable Baby Food PouchesStar Night Light

I do receive a small commission from any sales made, but I only recommend items my family uses already and LOVE!

Meet Molly, A Fellow Almost Indian Wife

Today I am very excited to introduce you all to my friend Molly. She’s a fellow Almost Indian Wife and just got back after living in India with her husband. She took some time to share about her experiences in a new culture with all of us!

Molly tell us a little about yourself.

Hello everyone, my name is Molly Elliot and I’m married to my wonderful husband of 4 years, Jim Elliot. Jim and I were married in India, November 2012, and soon after that we came back to the U.S to work and save some money. We just came back to Bangalore, India January 2015 and have lived here ever since.These are pictures of our wedding.

What was it like for you living in India? Can you share a bit about your experiences?

My experiences while living here in India have been both good and bad. I understand each state has their own culture, but I’ll share my experiences living with a Tamil family. My husband and I came here to do ministry alongside Jim’s dad who is a pastor, as well as help raise 11 street children (girls) that they have been running since 2001. We currently live with the girls, my in-laws, and Jim’s two sisters. The boys home (15 boys) is separate from the girls’ home, outside city limits.We live in a three floor house, the ground floor is my in-laws space, first floor is our space, and the second floor is the girls space.

What struggles have you faced while living in a new culture and home across the world?

One of the biggest struggles for me since we’ve moved here is not having our own place. In America, Jim and I lived on our own for two years, we learned how to survive with each other. Here in India, the son has the responsibility of taking care of his parents until their death. This was a huge strain on our marriage because I wanted it to be like America; live in our own house with our own rules, our own privacy, go to the in laws house if not every day then every other day. I wanted our life to be exactly the same as it was, but I learned the hard way that it would never be the same. Usually our day begins with being woke up by our wonderful neighbor who sweeps the outside of his gate at 3:30 in the morning for an hour, right outside our window. That’s one common thing you will see, all the women get up early to sweep the outside because of all the dust, then (if they are Hindus) they will decorate the cement with chalk designs.Then we go downstairs, have our morning tea, you can NOT start your day without having chai tea! we have our Indian breakfast which is usually; Dosa with Chutney, Idli, or Puri, or my ABSOLUTE favorite; Masala Dosa. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day because it doesn’t involve rice.

Next, we have lunch around 1:30 pm and you can’t miss the chai tea at 4:00, and then we eat dinner at 9:00. Dinner was a big struggle for me, because we eat dinner at 6 in America, and I’ve tried to get everyone to eat earlier (for health reasons) but they just hate the thought of eating early. I get along with my in laws very well. The mothers will do anything for their kids! especially if he is the son. I notice Jim’s mom treats Jim differently than his sister, more in a “respectful” way. That’s another thing I learned, women are less valued then men. Whenever we have guests come over, it’s always the men that are served first. The women have to eat last after the men have left the room. I thought it was horrible at first because in America we always sit together as a family, but that’s not the case here. After I came, they knew how important eating with family is to me, so we always sit together now at the table, sometimes I have to force my mother in law to eat because she insists on being the last to eat.We also eat with our hands, at every meal. The first time I tried, it was a disaster. I had rice everywhere and I couldn’t get it in my mouth without half of it on my chest, but with practice I got the hang of it now.This is how we buy fruits and vegetables, they come right to the door!

Be sure to subscribe so you can catch part 2 of Molly's story! Do you have any questions for her? 

Chai Spiced Donut Recipe

The first few days post vacation are a little hectic to say the least. You're running around trying to unpack your suitcases, find everything you packed, and get back into your routine while your kids run rampant through the house.If you're super lucky, you're even dealing with jet lag. So instead of dealing with the chaos fully rested, all you can think about is climbing up into your bed and pulling the covers over your head.Then you have to think about breakfast. You walk to the fridge only to remember you've just been on vacation for a week so you have nothing in the fridge other than the left over you forget to toss before you left that have grown a disgusting fur coat. While looking into your bare fridge your kids run over pulling on your legs telling you they're STARVING...Admit it.. How often have you found yourself in the same predicament I found myself in this morning?Well, I have the solution for you! Pick up a pack of Pillsbury or pretty much any other pre-made biscuit dough and you can make Chai Spiced Donuts for breakfast!I discovered this little trick a few months ago. It's been a staple in our house ever since! They are so easy to make and only require a few ingredients that you usually have on hand in your pantry.My kids can smell them from upstairs! They run down when the smell reaches their room and start trying to negotiate how many they can have.

Now, I know you probably expected this, but we had to kick up the traditional donut recipe. Instead of covering the donuts in cinnamon sugar, we decided to let our Indian culture inspire us and decided to make our own chai sugar!If I'm feeling extremely inspired I even whip up a glass of Indian Chai Tea.

Chai Sugar Recipe

2 cups of Sugar1 tsp Cinnamon1 tsp Ginger1/4 tsp Cloves1/4 tsp NutmegCombine all ingredients and set aside.

Chai Spiced Donut Recipe:

Heat a saucepan with vegetable oil over medium high heat. I used a small saucepan and filled it half way with oil. If your oil is too close to the bottom, the biscuits will burn or cook too quickly.Pull your Pillsbury biscuits apart and flatten them. Then place them to the side. Pull off a small piece of dough and place it into your oil when you think it's ready. You will know it's ready if it instantly starts bubbling around the dough.Place in 2-4 biscuits at a time. Turn the dough when it's golden brown on the bottom (about 30 seconds to 1 minute). Cook the other side until it's golden brown and then place it on your wire sheet. When it's cool enough to touch, you can dip it in your chai sugar.

Pin For Later

Ooma Telo: Your Very Own Smart Home Phone

This post is sponsored by Ooma Telo. As always, all opinions are my own and I'd only recommend products my family loves. 

3 Reasons Our Family Fell In Love With The Ooma Telo

Blocks Unwanted Calls

Ooma Telo is known for its blacklisting feature. If you decide to purchase their premier service (only 9.99 extra a month) you get this amazing feature! It blacklists entire area codes and toll free area codes. You can even enter in up to 1000 additional phone numbers. Say goodbye to unwanted telemarketer calls during dinner time!

Ooma Telo is Budget Friendly

You can head over right now and see how much you can save a month with your very own Ooma Telo smart home phone. This home phone is designed to save you time and money! You'll be surprised at just how much you can save!

Connects With Your Devices To Make Life Easier

If you're like our family, you probably have a few devices at home. Ooma Telo can connect with your Apple Watch, Amazon Echo, Nest, Phillip Hue, and LIFX Smart lightbulbs! The whole point of buying those devices is to make your life simpler and Ooma Telo is taking it one step further!You can forward calls to your Apple watch, receive messages from Amazon Echo, or even receive safety alerts letting your know if it detects fire or carbon monoxide.

Helps Our Kids Gain More Independence

One of my absolute favorite features of the Ooma Telo is that it changes colors based on who's calling you! I am very picky with my kids when it comes to them answering our home phone. They can't answer unless they know who it is. The problem is that they're little and can't read the names on the phone. Ooma Telo has solved the problem! If someone we know is calling it turns green. If it's someone we don't know it turns red. Brilliant!

Simples Steps To Get Your Very Own Ooma Telo

Are you ready to get your own Ooma Telo?All you have to do is call Ooma Telo today! They can port your existing home phone from your current carrier to Ooma Telo for a one time fee of 39.99. They do all the hard work for you!Then you just need to order your device which is a one time fee of 99.99. After that you just have to worry about your monthly plan which can be as little as 9.99 a month.

An Added Bonus!

You can even add an international plan! This hit the sweet spot for our family. With family all over the world, it can be expensive calling family members in India. Not anymore! Now, our kids can call their Uthas, Pinnis, and Thatha anytime they want!

How Can You Win A Free Ooma Telo And More?

Do you want to win your very own Ooma Telo, one year of Premier Service, a Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide detector and one LIFX and Philips Hue smart light bulbs?All you need to do is calculate how much you will end up saving on your phone bill over the next 3 years, how long it will take, and let me know in the comments!

Ask The Almost Indian Wife: How Can I Learn My Partner's Language

Ask The Almost Indian Wife

This new series is here to help all of us discuss things we all deal with in our multicultural families. This week's question is important whether you are looking to learn your partner's language or if you want to raise your children in a bilingual household.

_________

Dear Almost Indian Wife,

"How do I, an English speaker, begin to learn my partner's language? Similar to Hindi, but it's actually Gujarati. In search of all resources, tips, and ideas to learn and to be able to communicate with only Gujarati speaking family members."

_________

How Can I Learn A New Language?

Learning a new language can be intimidating. Not to mention, feel impossible if it's not a common language in the US. I've wanted to learn Telugu since my husband and I got together, but it's been hard. I could never find resources to learn the language and ended up just learning words here and there.My determination was renewed when I had kids. I knew I wanted them to be fluent in both languages. My husband travels for a living and is gone a lot. I knew that meant I would be the one home with them the majority of the time so the responsibility would fall on my shoulders.I started researching every resource I could find. Here are the most effective ones I discovered.

Audio CD's

Go to your local library or look online for audio cd's. They tend to have more language options and work for any lifestyle. You can listen to them at home when the kids are napping, on the way to work or the gym, or at night after a long day.

Books

I wouldn't recommend a book as your sole method of learning, but it's a great supplemental resource. Once you learn the correct way to say the word, the book will remind you. Then you can read the book and it will teach you the correct way to put sentences together. If you're like me, your book will end up covered in highlighter!

Private Tutor

There are a ton of tutoring companies that offer different languages. Having a tutor come into your home or skyping with you is one of my top choices. They can hear you say different words or phrases and correct you. As you get to know the language better, you can even have conversations together.

Full Immersion

This is one of the most popular ways to learn a language. Whether you're trying to teach a child or learn later as an adult, this method work. Full immersion means you move to the country where the language is spoken or you move close to or into the same house as relatives that speak the language.This is what we aimed for with our children. We moved in with my father in law and he sits with our kids every morning and reads books to the in Telugu and teaches them different words. He also talks to them in Telugu. At first they had no idea what he was saying. Now, I've noticed them responding in English!

Tips For Learning A New Language

Learning a new language requires a lot of hard work and determination. If you're not careful, you will give up. It can start looking like more work than it's worth. Here are a few tips to help you.

Make It Fun

We are more willing to learn something new if we have fun doing it. Find different ways that you can enjoy learning it every day. One way to have fun is to learn with someone you love. If you're learning to be able with your spouse, practice with them. It's more fun to learn with someone.

Talk In The Language At Home

As you learn the language, start using it at home. Whether you use it for different words or complete phrases. You need to practice as much as you can. Even if that means you're home, talking to yourself. Practice, practice, practice.

Entertainment

Another way to make it fun is to bring your entertainment into it. Netflix has an entire foreign section! You can scroll through and look for a movie in the language you're learning. Then put subtitles on and enjoy! You will even start noticing how they put sentences together and pick up on what they're saying.

___________

The most important thing to remember when learning a new language is that it takes time. In a perfect world, we could learn overnight and start talking to family members in the language right away. In reality, it's going to take time and hard work.The great thing is that it's going to mean so much to your new family when they see you learning their language. They know you're learning so you can talk with them. As you learn, start using what you do know in conversations together. They can take part in helping you learn and it can become a bonding moment between you.

What tips or questions do you have about this week's topic?

How Should We Talk About Someone's Ethnic Background?

I recently posted a video on my Facebook and it started a lot of conversations on whether or not we should ask someone about their ethnic background. The video referred to people asking strangers about their ethnic background.The video received a lot of different responses. Some people think it's always fine to ask, regardless of the circumstances. Others believe that you should have somewhat of a relationship before you ask. At the end of the day, this video caused conversations to happen and I couldn't be happier!Just because you're OK with people asking questions about your ethnic background doesn't mean everyone else is and visa versa. At the end of the day I think it becomes a heart issue. If you're asking with good intentions and because you really want to get to know someone, it's great!

When Is It OK To Ask About Someone's Ethnic Background?

Curiosity is a normal part of human behavior. When we see something we aren't familiar with or can't label, we want to figure it out. As a mother of biracial children, I do tend to notice other biracial individuals and my mind starts to wonder. However, I wouldn't ask them about it unless we knew each other on some level.There are so many different views on this. Personally, I think you should get to know someone or at least know their name before you start asking questions about their ethnic background. As you start getting to know someone, it becomes a natural part of the process. You start asking each other questions and learning what makes each other tick.I love learning about someone's background because it all plays a part in who they are. Whether they grew up with a single mom, in Hyderabad, are the oldest in their family, etc. It's all a part of who they are.

What If I Don't Know How To Ask

People can usually tell if you're asking about their ethnicity because you care about them as a person or if you just want to fulfill your own curiosity. If they see you're being genuine, the how isn't usually a big deal. They can see that you aren't trying to be rude and that you are asking the best way you can. Then they're usually more willing to answer you.The problem is when people start throwing in stereotypes and assuming things about a complete stranger.

Here's What You Shouldn't Say To Someone Of A Different Ethnic Background Than Yourself

I asked my readers to share some common misconceptions they've experienced. Here are a few of the ones that really make you wonder what the stranger was thinking!

"I'm giving you the Hindi pamphlet so you can understand."

It doesn't matter whether or not you actually needed the pamphlet in a different language. They assume you do because you're Indian.

"His family must be really upset that you're married. Do they hate you?"

How do they know how your relationship is with your in laws? They assume there's strife because he's Indian and you're not.

"Was it really hard growing up in the US?"

They must be forgetting that the United States is full of people with different ethnic backgrounds. Just because you see an Indian man doesn't mean they grew up in India or a Russian women mean she grew up in Russia.

"You're so light! There's no way you can be African American!"

Who made the decision that you have to be a certain shade to "qualify" as African American?

Here's What You Should Do If Your Curious About Other Ethnic Backgrounds

As a society, we should all be learning about different cultures. The more we learn about them, the less likely we are to make generalized stereotypes. Stereotypes are what causes issues in talking about someone's ethnic background. Instead of asking someone about their background, we make statements based on what we assume to be true. Instead of assuming, learn.You should ask someone about their ethnic background to learn more about them as a person and to learn about their culture. Sometimes, it's hard to identify stereotypes we may have. The more you learn about another culture, the more those stereotypes are broken.

Let's Keep The Conversation Going

This has become a sensitive topic in our society. People get too nervous of saying the wrong thing and end up not talking about ethnicity at all. We need to challenge this and get the conversation going. The more we talk about race and ethnicity, the more walls are broken down.I want my kids to grow up in a society where they can be proud of their ethnic background and not feel ostracized for it. They love being biracial because they get to see amazing things from their culture. This can stay the same if we let all the stereotypes go and break down barriers between each other.

Pin For Later

My Multicultural Family: What I've Learned From My Traveling Spouse

While most families are packing up to head out of town for the summer, my family is getting ready for some epic staycations! My husband, Joel travels for work and summers tend to be one of his busiest times of the year for him.As I'm sure you can already imagine, having a traveling spouse is hard. I'd love to say I handle it all perfectly and that things run smoothly while he's gone... but no. That's definitely not the case. Instead the dishes pile up, the house gets cluttered, clean clothes end up in my closet full of other clean clothes (not folded, but piled nicely in the corner), dinner consists of chicken nuggets or cereal, and bed time is strictly at 7 every night so momma can get a break.It's not all bad.

Having a traveling spouse has taught me a lot.

It's taught me to be more comfortable with myself.

My husband and I got married when we were really young. I was only twenty! The reason I will never forget how old I was is that we went on a cruise to the Bahamas and I was so excited there wasn't a drinking age there!Ahh, the little things that bring us pleasure.I quickly learned to depend on my husband. He's an amazing man and has always taken care of our family, even when that consisted of the two of us. I have always been more comfortable with him by my side. It was really hard when he started traveling because I just wanted to stay home. I didn't want to go to events or get togethers with out him. I felt uncomfortable being alone.Then I realized how wrong that was. I didn't want to be so dependent on my spouse that I couldn't do things without him. He was always encouraging me to go and one day I finally listened. Sure, it was uncomfortable at first, but then I gained a new sense of pride and independence.My husband will always bring out the best in me, but that doesn't mean I'm not my best when he's not there. I will always be me whether he's there or not. Having him travel so much has taught me to challenge and love myself more.

It's ok to not be supermom every day.

While my husband is away for work I'm doing a lot. I have to help my three year old cope with daddy being gone (he struggles the most), take care of the house, take care of the dog, do everything needed to be done for the kids, make three meals a day, keep everything organized, fix broken things around the house, take on things my husband normally does, try to live frugally while he's away, and try to find time for myself.Doing it all isn't just hard, it's impossible.I've tried. I've tried doing everything at 100 percent and I broke down. I felt like a failure because I could barely get things done and the things I did do weren't done well. Then a very wise friend asked me a very wise question.Why are you trying to be supermom?I wanted to do everything perfectly and let everyone know I could do it. I could be an amazing mom while my husband was away and I didn't need help from anyone. Instead I found out just how much my family was suffering from my own pride.No one expected me to do everything. No one expected everything to be perfect. It was me. I was the one that wanted to do it all.My family became so much healthier when I stopped trying to be supermom. Now, I'm honest when I can't do something. I spend every morning looking at my to do list and ask myself what actually needs to get done today.This has lead to a closet full of unfolded clean clothes, chicken nuggets for dinner more often than not, sticking closer to the house to avoid getting everyone ready, and me asking for a lot of help. Guess what... It's also made for a much happier family.Now, my family talks about how to make things easier while daddy is away. We've landed on chore charts for the kids, snack boxes so snacks are figured out ahead of time, simple schedules, and mommy time.

All my kids really want is for momma to make time for them

My kids really don't care if I fill up our days with crazy adventures, perfectly clean houses, extravagant meals, and that I do it all on my own. All they really want is quality time. They would rather me make more time for them than to spend more time cleaning or stressing out about things around then house.My husband has talked to them a lot about how much faster things go when everyone contributes. Now, we make it a big game at night. We spend fifteen minutes and see who can clean up the most. Then we have more time to read books together and chat about our day.It's crazy how long it took for me to realize this. It helps me give myself a break on the hard days. All my kids really want is me.

Does your spouse travel? What has it taught you?

Simple Ways To Save Money This Summer

You know it's summer when you can look out your window and see...kids splashing in sprinklers..popsicle stained smiles..and the smell of families grilling all day..It can also mean spendy vacations, multiple trips to pick up fast food while out, and heading to your local kid's store for new summer clothes. Instead of dipping into your savings, let's chat about a few simple things you can do this summer to keep more money in your pockets while having a memorable summer!

Simple Ways You Can Save Money This Summer

Organize Your Kid's Clothes By Season

Take the day to go through your kid's clothes. Then sort them by season and put the clothes you don't need in storage. As a parent, you know how quickly clothes can get lost. By sorting them, you can know exactly what you have available. I can't tell you how many times I end up heading to the store to pick up items, only to find them in my kids closet the next day.Organizing your kid's clothes can also help you get a little extra money by taking clothes that don't fit your kiddos to a local consignment shop.

Buy Snacks In Bulk

The most tempting thing over the summer is to buy snacks in individual wrappers for your kids. It makes it quick and easy to grab while you're out all day, but it's not as nice on your wallet. Instead, head to your local grocery store or a Sam's Club and buy your snacks in bulk.We started using a snack box a few months ago and it's save me a lot of money! My kids know exactly where they can look for snacks and I tell them to put snacks in their back packs before we leave the house. All you need to do is take you snacks and put them in individual and reusable containers. The containers even save you money because you can rinse them out and use them again when you're done.

Label Anything Your Kids Bring Out Of The House

How many times have your brought containers to a friends house or to a local splash pad and mixed them up? I've done it so many times! Then you don't want to be that parent and fight with someone over a container!Well, worry no more! You can start labeling items you bring our of the house! These labels are amazing! Your kids can customize them and you can choose what they say. They don't wash off in the dishwasher and you can choose the size! They have labels for inside your shoes, the tags on your clothes, and items like cups.Labels are a way better idea than using a sharpie because they don't wear off over time.

Pin For Later

How are you saving money this summer?

Garlic Naan Recipe

I have been racking my brain on what recipe to introduce all of you to first, then it hit me… GARLIC NAAN! It's my favorite thing to make with just about every Indian dish. Naan is served with almost every Indian dish. It's the peanut butter and jelly of Indian cuisine.Delicious.It's a tasty, buttery bread that melts in your mouth. Follow the recipe below and you will see first off all, how easy it is, and just how addicting it becomes![amd-yrecipe-recipe:18]

**Update: I've been getting a lot of questions about what I use to cook the naan. Traditionally, you a clay oven to cook your naan. I use a grill pan and it works great!**

10 Reasons To Remember Why You Love Your Dad This Father's Day

A Few Things To Remember This Father's Day

During Mother's Day, we talked about things children shouldn't expect from their moms. I mean, come on... It's Mother's Day and our kids expect us to wash their clothes and make them dinner... Nope. It's our one day to be selfish!With Father's Day around corner, I thought it would be fitting to talk about all the reasons we love the dads in our lives. Dads get a lot of smack through out the year, but we couldn't do it with out them.I grew up with many different father figures in my life until my mom married my amazing dad when I was ten. It taught me just how important my dad is in my life. He taught me more than I could ever have imagined and showed me what it meant to put your family first.Now, I'm able to see my husband be an amazing father to my three boys. I love seeing what he teaches them and that they get to have such an amazing leader in their lives.

10 Reasons We Love Our Dads

1. They Put Up With All Of Their Kid's Shenanigans!

Just take a second to remember all of the crazy things we put our dads through as kids.

2. They Encourage Us To Be Adventurous And Are Always There To Keep Us Safe.

They always encouraged us to be adventurous, but were always there to catch us if we fell in the end. Or grab us before the "adventure" turned out to be dangerous!

3. They're Inventive

They never let simple tasks bore them... Instead they found creative ways to get them done!

4. They Have Endless Cheesy Sayings.

Was your dad full of cheesy sayings or jokes?

5. They Want To Impress Their Kids

One of their biggest goals in life is to impress their kids.

6. They Make Sure Their Kids Know They Can Do Anything

They never let us feel like we couldn't do something we put our minds to. They're always encouraging us that we could do anything!

7. They Were Always Your Favorite One To Stay Home With

Staying home with dad always meant a lot of fun!

8. They Never Did Anything The "Simple" Way.

They made everything fun! Which means we were willing to do things we never imagined ourselves doing!

 9. They Always Try

Whether or not it works in the end (watch the clip until the end!), they always try their best.

10. Sometimes, They Need To Be Reminded You Care.

Our dads have always seemed tough, but they need to hear how much we love them. It reminds them they're doing a good job and that we need them.

What is one reason YOU love YOUR dad?

The Perfect Gifts For A New Mom Brought To You By Huggies

This post is brought to you by Huggies, "The first hug your baby will ever feel is from you, make sure the second hug is just as good with Huggies Little Snugglers diapers."When someone special in our life experiences something as wonderful as welcoming a newborn into the world, we want to show them how much we love them. We want them to know how excited we are for them. However, finding the perfect thing can be hard.Well, not anymore! Today, I'm partnering up with Huggies to tell you the perfect gifts you should buy the new mom in your life!

The Perfect Gifts For A New Mom Brought To You By Huggies

Meals

The last thing a sleep deprived parent wants to think about is cooking... Help them out by bringing them meals through out the first few weeks. You can prepare something simple, put it in a disposable dish, and drop it off around dinner time.

Snacks

A new mom needs to be eating regularly throughout the day to keep up her milk production and energy to keep up with her newborn's unusual sleep schedule. You can bring her tasty and healthy snacks like almonds, trail mix, grapes, or apples.

Huggies Little Snuggler Diapers

As a parent, you quickly learn just how many diapers a tiny baby can go through. Diapers are the perfect gift for a new mom! Especially Huggies Little Snugglers. These diapers are great because they have a gentle absorbing liner to make sure your newborn feels comfortable in their diapers and it means no leakage!My favorite part about the Huggies Little Snugglers is the wetness indicator! All you have to do is see if the little line on the front has changed colors and then you instantly know if your newborn needs a change! It makes it as simple as unbuttoning their little outfit rather than removing their clothes and taking their diaper off to check!

Time

The first few weeks as a parent are exhausting. A mother has just gone through labor and her body is trying to recover. She's also up every few hours throughout the day and night to feed and change her newborn's diapers.Be sure to offer her your time. Go over and offer to help her clean or just sit and chat. New moms can quickly feel cooped up the first few weeks. Offering to spend time with her will help her to feel refreshed.

Entertainment

A big majority of the first few months with a new baby is spent feeding them. New moms end up sitting and feeding their babies for hours every day. Bring them some entertainment to keep them busy while they feed their newborn. You can bring them a book, a magazine, or even a new movie.

Huggies Natural Wipes

Babies are messy. They create messes you didn't even know were possible. This means a new mom is always in need of wet wipes.Bring the new mom in your life a pack of Huggies Natural Wipes. They're great because their triple layer material cleans up even the big messes. The most important thing is they're gentle enough for your baby's newborn skin because they're full of aloe and vitamin E.

Something Cozy

New moms are tired, typically covered in spit up stains, and just want to be comfortable. Bring them something to make sure they are! You can bring them cozy socks, comfortable yoga pants, or even a comfortable nursing tank.

Where Can I Get These Gifts

Head over to Sam's Club today to pick up the special gifts for the new mom in your life! I love shopping at Sam's Club because they make it easy for families! They provide carts for big families like ours and have everything we could want from clothes to groceries.Sam's Club is even offering YOU a special deal the rest of this month!

Check out this great offer from Huggies!

Buy any two packages of Little Snugglers diapers and/or Natural Care wipes between 5/9/16-6/30/16, snap a photo of your receipt and email/text it to @Huggies by 7/15/16. You will receive a code and instructions within minutes to get your $10 Sam’s Club e-gift card.

Indian Donuts

Our little guy's birthday is here! We were racking our brains trying to decide what theme we should choose. The pictures taken at a child's birthday live on forever. You will show your children as they get older and if you're not careful you'll end up getting the look. You know what I'm talking about. The look that means, "You seriously chose that theme for my birthday. Wow, mom. Lame."I choose to live as the greatest mom ever and to never get that look from my kids. My husband tells me it's inevitable, but I disagree.One theme you can never go wrong with is Bollywood! We decided to have the kids dress up in their Indian clothes, made Indian food, and decorated everything with bright colors. It was perfect because my husband's family was in town and helped with everything!

Food For The Party

We ended up making Keema Curry, Naan, Samosas, Chutney, and Indian Donuts. Everything flew off the platters, but the thing everyone talked about all night were the Indian donuts. They were a hit!The recipe is thanks to my husband’s uncle, Cali-mama. A little special tidbit on family members names is that names are very meaningful. In our American families, we would call our aunts, Aunt so and so. In Indian families you use part of their name and then pinni, which means little mom. I am really only familiar with the mothers side because I’m around my husband’s mom’s side, mostly. Family members are extremely close in Indian families hence why aunts and uncles are called little moms and little dads. My husbands uncle’s name is Calvin so we call him Cali-mama.Let’s all say a special thanks to Cali-mama for this delicious recipe!

Indian Donuts

Ingredients:

4 cups flour1/2 cup plain yogurt2 cups powdered sugar2 eggs1 ½ tbs butter1 tbs vanilla¼ tsp saltoil for frying

Directions:

Beat the eggs. Add in your yogurt, salt, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Make sure all of your ingredients are mixed well. If you’re like me, you can add in some extra vanilla. I always figure everything’s better with an extra splash of vanilla.Start adding in your flour, a bit at a time, until your mixture becomes a dough. Add enough flour for your dough to not stick to the edges while mixing.Roll out your dough onto a floured surface to about an inch thick. I used a cup to cut out small circles, but feel free to use a cookie cutter or anything you have on hand.Heat your oil in a deep pan on medium high heat. You want your oil hot enough that it starts bubbling as soon as you drop your dough in.  *If it’s too cool, your dough will soak up all the oil, but if it’s too hot your dough will burn.* Turn the donut when it’s a light golden brown. Place on a towel after it’s cooked to absorb the excess oil. You can serve them as is or add some yummy powdered sugar on top. Enjoy!