Being busy over the holiday season is probably a normal thing. So I don’t feel so bad about little updates on my blog. I was a bit amazed that people are ready to start new projects and ideas over this season. Well, if anyone out there still need web project to be done - just write a comment and I will contact you.

This year was amazing for me and our company. I would be lying if I say it was easy. Honestly - I have never worried about so much things than this year. Recession has made my life more stressful and uncertain. This is why I look forward to New Year with big hopes. This years promise is that I gonna spend more time on my family than our business. And usual those kind of things really work out when you put a thought in them.

Happy New Year! Let all our New Years resolutions come true!

***Note: If you are wandering about events posts I do monthly check out the new page dedicated just for that. I decided not to spam my blog monthly with events posts.

Photo is from our companies 2y anniversary newsletter - I just love this cupcake

Lately I haven’t been writing much into my blog as I was working on our company website. I know the basics around social media marketing, but its just coming all together now in my head. I’m writing new content for our new homepage (its not released yet), creating twitter account, facebook page for company. Filling that with content and contacts… and that’s just start of all it. I still have to write some blog posts (as we will have blog in new website) and create LinkedIn page (and I get error all the time and support doesn’t support me). I went through different web development companies websites, got some ideas of keywords, descriptions and titles of pages. And then this weekend I have meeting with designer, who has his unique ideas about our website (and he is best designer I know, no offense). This is why I’m sorry for slacking on my own blog. I know that it’s about time to release new event list and I will do that… just give me some time.

p.s. if anyone is free enough to help me with some English texts, I would really appreciate it!

33 countries were presented today in Oatlands Primary School my daugher is attending. I find it very great way to learn more about different cultures and people. It was my first time participating in such event so my stand about Latvia was rather small.

This Sunday we went to visit chocolate warehouse to see Easter Bunny and get personalised egg. Warning - if you decide to go there, don’t forget to eat before. Decorations and chocolate all around made me feel very, very hungry. Event is free for adults, but you probably will buy a lot of chocolate eggs. I recommend this for all chocoholics (like me).

When I came back here from Japan about 2 years ago, I missed a lot of things. While usually I don’t fuss over food, I really miss Japanese healthy meals, products and lunchboxes (bento).

It didn’t took me long to find Asian market in George Street (there are few Asian shops around too), Asian supermarket on the other side of Jervis shopping center and place where to buy sushi rice not so far away from my house at Roy Fox in Donnybrook. I’m getting another 10kg rice pack today. I will use it over few months.

After half year of me being in Dublin, my daughter started school. She needed lunchbox everyday and it made me in real pain. First thing - I couldn’t find any good lunchboxes and second thing Irish don’t eat much hot food during lunch, but mostly sandwiches. I don’t think it’s healthy in any way. It’s hard to understand why main meal is in the evening at 6pm? It’s hard to sleep afterward!

So in search of perfect lunchbox I came across J-List site. I can spend hours on that site just looking at items. We ordered lunchbox with Hello Kitty. It was first late 3 weeks, but after a call they send it in next day. So I would say they don’t have too bad service. I gonna order from this site soon again, so if you want to order something as well, let me know.

Lunchbox is only start of my healthy lunches mission. I found yet another site Just Bento - which is completely great! All those recipes just wait for me to make them and I made few already.

But I still struggle with Irish healthy food policy. If everybody in school takes sandwitches, my kid feels left out as she has something different. So my next order from J-List will be with decorating things. For example, my daughter loves rice balls (onigiri), but I need some decorative set to make it cute. Cutness will win over the non-sandwich food. At least I hope so. Wish me luck with this!

What will happen with your loans, debts and credit cards after you die or get serious illness? What will happen to your company shares? Do you have the best pension deal or you are loosing money? Do you want to invest, but don’t know where?

I met Joe O’Regan, owner of Oregan Financial, today and was really impressed. We went through my private and my companies finances and came up with ideas how to improve things (e.g. get life insurance). Consultation itself is for free, so I advise it to anyone wandering about their finances. It’s great way to think where you can save money. Oregan doesn’t try to sell right away and gives you a really good advice. They are using BestAdvice.ie site for latest insurance, pension etc. deals. I found it really great website, but you have to have membership to access information.

So what should you do next? You should go to Oregan Financial website and get a free consultation about your finances.

For those who don’t live in Ireland - snow is very rare here. It usually appears 1-2 times per winter and melts right away. That’s why all kids gets extremely excited when snow is actually out there on the ground. This is one of such mornings.

I keep practice to go out on Saturday or Sunday to some event. I like to chill out and I love my kid to see something new. This time we went to two events - Chinese New Year and Lightwave festival’09.

Here is photos:

Today is birthday of my husband. Happy birthday to you! <3

We did some celebrating already yesterday. And he got lots of presents from which his favorite is scarf and cake. Here is some photos:

The weather is getting pretty cold and it’s not like we can play outside much anymore. So I did some research over internet, what can I do with my kid indoors.

She is 5 so not too big and not too small. Currently when I’m busy she plays computer games, but it’s not the thing I wish her to do all weekends.

I found few games over net I probably should buy:
- Carrom (Indian game with moving discs. Haven’t seen it, but sounds fun)
- Ludo (I played similar game when I was small. It always made me sleepy)
- Bingo (when I was small it was called Lotto. Good for kid to remember numbers)
- Twister (haven’t played it, have heard of it, I want it)
- Tower (you build tower from small wooden blocks and try to pull out without breaking tower. Should find where I put it)
- Cards (I used to play sooo much card games when I was small. Have to ask my mom send over card game book)
- Uno (also card game, but it is simple and fun for kids)
- Lego (which kid doesn’t like it? I haven’t bought much Lego for my daughter, but probably should cause she loves building houses from everything else)

And few more ideas for myself to remember:
- Music lessons. My family loves singing and I know a lot of traditional English and Latvian songs.
- Cooking lessons. It’s always fun.
- Geography lessons. Spend one day related to one country. E.g. read about Italy, go to Italian restaurant, play Italian games etc.
- Exercise. I was thinking about buying Wii, but then I have to buy Tv as well (yep, don’t have any). Maybe then just switch on music and dance?
- Games like “Can you be a … snake …?” and let kid to do it.

And in worst case scenario I will allow her to play games. Currently she plays NeoPets and Nickelodeon. They both has a lot of fun and educating games.

If we get out of the house to some indoor activities, I would want to go to following:
- LeisurePlex. There is 3 of them in Dublin, however I find them very loud and tiring.
- E.N.R.G. - haven’t been there that’s why I want to see it. Seems big enough for few hours fun.
- National Aquatic Centre is quite a far from our house, but it is a great place for full day fun.
- The Ark - also haven’t been there, that’s why I want to go there
- Imaginosity is close to our house and it is great for kids.

And there are few more places, that I’m not interested at the moment, but you can take a look.