How Mama got her groove back

Happy 11 month LIDversary to me (yesterday)!  I'm working on getting my groove back and I am starting with having fun!

Yesterday to celebrate my 11 month LID my BFF and I went to Indy for dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant.  Strangely, we don't have a 100% Vietnamese restaurant here, although some of the Asian (hate using a generic term, but it is kind of necessary here) restaurants in town do have a smorgasbord of Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai...what else am I forgetting?  Part of having FUN is trying something new so new is what we got.   It was really good, but don't ask me what it was.  I honestly don't recall the Vietnamese name, but it was also known as #25.  Yep, I reverted to the number system.  I also ordered a #5 appetizer and a #1 dessert.  Actually, the appetizer was a soft spring roll and the dessert was a bananna frittata--yum yum! 

I had the realization yesterday that my nesting phase has gone on far too long.  Somehow the only thing I have gained is 40# and a bad attitude.  Well, no more.  Mama's coming out!  For fun, that is.  Don't want anyone in China (or elsewhere) thinking I'm coming out of anything else--not that there is anything wrong with that.  I have put my life on hold, put my finances on hold, and put my friends on hold.  I also realized that I never wanted to be one of those women that lost her identity after having children. But that is exactly what is in danger of happening if I don't get out there--I need to have fun, experience new things, meet new people and have a support system set up for when my daughter does come home.  I would be cheating not only myself, but her.  Who wants a boring mama?  Not me! 

I'm going to start volunteering at the Asian Culture Center.  In exchange for me teaching English as a second language, I will receive help with Mandarin.  I plan on joining a new Bible study for women this week that I think will be very good for me.  I'm also thinking of taking an exercise class at the gym or taking a class at the art center.  Yeah, I'm getting wild over here...try not to scoff.

And in parting tonight I want to share a little something that I'm sure most of you have already seen, but I just learned about through Kristen.

I was a huge Sex and the City fan, so this version of white Jewish girl in Beijing trying to find love is entertaining and rather heart-warming.  Enjoy!