Peter, would you eat this?

I have never cooked sausages from the German Butcher before...

...and so, this was definitely the experiment.

Well, they need a sauce to cook in - right?

So a little tomato paste, coconut milk, fresh herbs and of course, 

loads of garlic and onion!

(Is that how you make sauce? Who knows!)

Bahahha!

I can't even tell if this is done or cooked right through?

Is it cooked?

OMG.

Lauren, you are hopeless with meat - just hopeless!

And voila...cucumber and lettuce with sausages?

Ugggh.

I will not be making master Chef anytime soon.

So...yeah.

Maybe I will order pizza next time.

Getting My Arse Kicked - Thanks Lisa BodyRock~!

Like a million other people, I wanna try some new workout routine for 2015.

Well, at least for the month of January.

So here we go - have your ever heard of  BodyRock?
Well, its KICKING my butt with the very first workout - FIT TEST!

(Cough-couhg - not as FIT as I thought - cough-cough - dang IT!)

Me high-five-ing the camera as Lisa and MILLIONS of other people do.

There was NO ONE at the gym that night.

Thank goodness because I sounded like I was being tortured with all the grunting

but 

every now and then I would talk to myself....crazy?

Yup, but you already knew how crazy I was.

I was smashed....and soooo gross!

But killed it, done and DONE!

And ever since I have been body-rocking everyday and although it KILLS 

me, I'm surprised I haven't stopped yet! 

Hahah!

Trying to say goodbye to big-BEEFY tennis legs....and well, because this 

is such a SHOCK to my body, my legs have been swollen for the last three days.

May take a couple weeks for my body to get use to this craziness!

You know you did a good workout when your cheeks are still red...or well, 

you are just REALLY out of shape!

Arrrgh!

Already thinking about the workout tomorrow...good feelings gone!

Bahahha!

What is your new 2015 challenge?

Birthday Wishes To One Great Lady - Me Mum

Just a little birthday message for someone I can't give enough credit to.

My mom.

Have a great day mom, you deserve it!

Luv

Lo

Mosquito Season: My Last Time Experiencing It (cough-thank-goodness-cough)

(Deep breath)

I am sick.

I'm sick because I actually 

ENJOY

the smell of burnt mosquitoes....ewww!

Burnt mosquitoes or mosquitoes smoked against the wall, Lauren?

BOTH!!!

I own my very own electric racket that makes the most satisfying sound when...

....MOU-hahahhah!

I have also shocked myself electronically many-a-times so

I guess what goes around comes around?

 

WATCH OUT YOU LITTLE BLOOD SUCKERS!

I am ready this year.

This means war.

(Deep sigh)

Exhausted at the thought already, there are just too many!

(Another deeper, sigh)

You can do it Lauren.

Just try to be a hero, one day at a time.

Boom.

What is this coffee telling me?

Think the guy serving me was trying to tell me something...?

That I have multiple personalities?

Ummm yeah, already knew that thanks.

Now back to work.

(Bof sound - French style)

The Dog-Sitter (aka Miss Wells)

The dog type?

Not sure.

The dog sex?

Male.

The dog name?

Fletcher.

DAY 1

Lauren is wet.

I had to give Fletcher a bath because he stepped in something gross...eww!

I was wet for the rest of the day.

Awesome.

Fletcher sparkled he was so clean.
(I don't think he liked me very much on the first day)

DAY 2

We meet a new friend....

Fletcher and Alex...two boys trying to dominate one another.
Awesome.

No, I did not take a picture of that.
I am a class act.

And while we were there, I met a friend as well... Hello Mr.Cappucino!

DAY 3

We returned to one of the only green spaces in Dhaka...a bakery called "Holey"

It that sells bread. 

And now also sells coffee.

What else does one need in life?

That is true, I will mention to the owner about some dark chocolate.

Mmm.

I get coffee every time and it makes my morning....

...Fletcher's too!

Too worried about taking him off the leash....remember people, dog-sitting means responsibility!

Hah!

I could get the hang of this "walking dog" relationship.

DAY 4 

Fletch missed his dad this day, case closed.

Look at that SAD, I-don't-want-to-go-for-a-walk-face....I want my 

DADDY!

But the moment we got outside....Fletcher made ANOTHER new friend.

(Sorry dad, you were quickly forgotten!)

Sniffing and playing lasted for hours.

Good old Bailey, what a sport!

DAY 5

Western dog meet Bangladeshi pups.

These two were hilarious...and occasionally cute.

Fletcher wanted off the leash so bad to play, the puppies could not have been more happy
that this weird looking dog was ON a leash.

DAY 6

Our time together is almost done...one more coffee?

To sum up?

I ain't getting a dog anytime soon!

The Game Plan for 2015 by Miss Wells

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

It's 2015, can you believe it?

Personally, I am thankful it's finally 2015 because for the last year I have been writing the year as 2015 (instead of 2014) on the whiteboard, in front of students, on a daily basis...

"Miss Wells! You did it again, you wrote 2015!"

Uggggh - Arrrrrgh! 

One less mistake made in class now, phewwwwww!

So, what goals or challenges or big dreams do you have in store

for 2015?

You do have a game plan, right?

Errrr, right...?

Yeah, me neither.

NEVER have I EVER

written down New Years Resolutions.

I think I have written them down in my head, perhaps even said them out loud but

never on paper, never in hard copy, never on a blog post....

And well, I  normally cheat.

I start early.

Like, I start back in November.

Don't believe me?

It's true.

I start in November so by the time January 1st comes around, 

my so-called "New Years Resolutions" are habits, if not already apart of my every day life.

BOOM.

I WIN!

But for whatever reason this year, I decided to be different.

I wrote them all down.

I wrote a whole freaking page in fact.

See...

I know, I know.

It looks more like a grocery list or some instructions to get to a friends house....but

if you take a closer look, you will see categories, labels and

FOUR basic things that stand out above the rest.

Drum roll please!

# 1 

Find a new (teaching) job.

Oh right, like that's a walk in the park?

It will be the first time Ms.Wells will be 

attending a international job fair with some REAL

experience because she is actually

(hold on to your hats for this next statement)

A REAL TEACHER!

(although some would say - debatable)

I say HUMBUG to those doubts and GIDDY-UP to a new adventure!

Would be lying if I didn't say I wasn't peeing my pants just a little

about this "new job" thingy....eeeeks!

#2

 Learn to listen.

I have been given the gift of talk from the day I was born.

I am not afraid of being honest with people, 

telling people how much I care,

and apologizing when I screw up, big! 

BUT

I suck at listening.

I suck at just being there for someone and really hearing what they need,

Which is an ear, not advice or words of comfort.

What comforts people is someone who listens.

Who can focus on them, 

their words, 

they voice,

their thoughts and emotions.

To be able to one day be that person who people describe as

"Ohhhh, Lauren? She's a great listener..."

It's a long shot but you gotta start somewhere.

And for the record, imagine how much I could LEARN!?! 

Learning from students?

 Professional relationships?

Love?

Tennis?

Dental hygiene?

Training?

Interviews?

LAUREN JUST STOP and LISTEN!

Will ya?

Hmmm.

#3

Get a MAN

Ummm, I think #3 is self-explanatory.

Three years since the last serious relationship, 

three years of being an independent woman

is a good amount of time to learn a lot about yourself 

and

 to not only be okay with being alone...but actually enjoying it.

NOTE TO LAUREN SELF: Going to the movies alone is fabulous, except going to the movies alone in Bangladesh is perhaps NOT the best idea.

Especially when the movie ends at 9 p.m. at night and you are walking home...again,

just saying.

Hah. 

So do I need to explain myself any further or can I just get the crowds

support on this game changer for Miss Wells?  

(Crickets)

Riiiiight - Moving ON!

#4

Drink Less.

Fortunately for me 

(and my wallet)

we are not talking about drinking less alcohol.

I am talking about drinking less coffee.

I do love my daily(s) brown, liquid, elixir of life every morning

(Stole that definition from Tracy Cameron, thanks Tracy!)

Its a wonderful drug that INDEED - I am addicted to.

So...yeah.

I thought I should CUT BACK and well, non-after lunch time!

Urrrgh.

So... 

do you have a game plan yet?

I wouldn't say it's for everyone but if you got nothing else to do....

....why not give it a try?

Don't worry, you don't have to blog about it. That would just be ASKING 

for trouble! Hahhahahhahha!

To a new year with lots of love, laughing, and PLENTY of mistakes!

(Especially at writing the date Miss Wells)

xoxoxoox