I enjoy all the prominence :-)

Now, who would not like to garner all the importance given around? And it’s even more irresistible when it comes from my four year  old doll – “D” , my best friend’s daughter, who’s very very dear to me. She hugs me after meeting me, like a long-lost friend meets the other. She giggles, laughs and plays with me. She calls me her best friend and wants me to join her school, in the same class. And then, when the time comes for me to leave, she starts throwing her tantrums and hates to see me leaving. Oh! I wish I could stop the time then and there; and say – let me enjoy some more…more of such special moments!!!

To my little, adorable “D”,

I love you to the core and want all the happiness in the world for you. And, there’s something uncanny about the bond that connects us – something that’s beyond my understanding.

With all the love in the universe,

Yours forever!

 

Goood Morning – A new day, a new year!

This year has started on a whole lot of positivity, unlike last year. Don’t even wish to remember some “incidents” and difficult times caused by unscrupulous people. But, lessons learnt well

Anyway, met a childhood friend after 6 looooong years…we visited Delhi Haat…did some shopping…had some yummy steamy momoz …Met another friend…received a bunch of my favorite flowers(tube-roses) and a music CD that has a collection of my favorite old songs. A very thoughtful present I must say. Had delectable Chinese food for dinner…and a sinful cheese cake to celebrate the new year eve. Will post some pics very soon

So it was meeting friends, presents, shopping, food-ing and fun! Absolute bliss! Delhi is bringing so much happiness to me…could not have asked for more. Love this place.

Touchwood!

Happy New Year to alll you lovely people….. once again

Hand pinched…

 Man from the village

  Trinket Box

  Bird bath

  Oil Lamp

    Two little innocent friends

Award…Tags…Fun

Here I am, pleased to receive this Sunshine award/badge and completing this tag of few of my favourite things. Tags are always fun, aren’t they?

Food: Anything well cooked and wrapped with love

Color: Blue, Black, White and a lot of pastel shades

Sports:  Football and badminton

Dessert:  Caramel Custard, Chocolate Brownie, seviyan…

Artist/Singer/Band:  I have always loved R.D. Burman music…Kishore Kumar Songs…

Pair of shoes:  Flats…ethnic mostly

Accessory:  I love black metal jewellery and anklets…

Hobbies:  Reading, blogging, pottery, cooking, travelling, and …I don’t remember as of now

Beauty product:  Not much…moisturizer, kajal, and lip balm

Snacks:  Anything chatpata…. Yummm

Movies:  Hmmm… I love watching classics…but anything that’s a timpass..I can watch it

Thank you Faisal for the award and the tag. It was fun!! Thanks to Ajay too for tagging me, though I am yet to take it up, And, I would like to pass this Sunshine badge and tag to all my beautiful readers who visit my page, read and leave their lovely comments. Keep shining

Alllll iz wellll

This weekend was fun. Inclusive of good times, good food, good movies(Yes 2 actually), good shopping and a good haircut

Let me know how was yours? Have a super week ahead

 

Wordless Wednesday…

but laughter unlimited

I have heard of SAVE Earth…but SAVE Puri????

By the way, my mouth is watering & am going to have a round of pani puri NOW…I think you guys should go for it too!! What say?

Moments we create!

Well, I realise good moments are actually created. Just expecting things to turn fine all by itself is sort of inane. We must do things that bring us joy, do things that give us pleasure. We must create those moments, make them special. These days, I cook more often. I try new things, spend time watching classics on Television, listen to Mukesh/Md. Rafi / RD Burman songs, water my plants, I meet close friends, spend more time with family, read lots of books, journals,  & I write as much as I can.

O’er this weekend, I visited a very close friends’ place. It’s been a long pending one. This time, I had decided not to drop the plan, come what may. And, what an amazing time I had with him, his wife & adorable, beautiful, little daughter who is going to turn a year old in a few days.  Those were a few good moments. We went for an evening walk together along the road. There was so much greenery. We crossed a very old cemetery too. We talked, cracked jokes, laughed, remembered some good ol’ times, pulled each other’s legs, and walked back home. Later, we decided to go out for dinner, but on our way we changed our plan. We wanted to cook at home together.  We stopped by for grocery shopping and picked up all that we needed to cook up a sumptuous dinner. We returned home.

And in no time, while we were chatting, chopping, stirring & cooking, our meal was ready. Spicy Pulao, Chicken Drumsticks cooked in a tomato rich gravy on slow fire , Stir fried potatoes & frozen peas. All prepared and ready to be served with chilled coke. Yes. We gave a damn to calories and hogged instead. We did not regret going out. Had a relaxed hearty meal, & then I was dropped back home safely.

All in all, had a blast! Yes, we create moments like these and make life worthwhile. I shall cherish these special moments life long.

Towards a healthy journey

Today morning was not the regular sunny-bright ones. It was cloudy, little dark and cold.  It brought some rainfall too, a brief one though. For me, it was a lovely one. I love rainfall, any season, any time.  And, I am glad with the fresh air flowing in the morning, a light drizzle made a perfect weather for me to restart my Yoga days. Yes, I feel so rejuvenated. So fresh after those long Suryanamaskars (without the mighty Sun ) and a few Asanas here and there.

Want to make this weekend a little fitness bound so would include mostly fresh fruits, juices, steamed vegetables and healthy cereals in my diet. I think it’s a great idea to flush the toxins out of mind, body & life. What say?

How are you planning your weekend? Here’s wishing you all a super healthy weekend!

Series of events…

that has kept me occupied since last week! Plays, get-togethers, Children’s day competition at our NGO, Cooking…etc!

Alyque Padamsee & Sabira Merchant after their brilliant performance in “The Game“. The act was absolutely flawless.

Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak, Benjamin Gilani, Akash Khurana & others in “Antigone” – A Greek tragic play. It was my life’s best experience to watch such legendary actors perform live on stage. Naseer was marvellous, so natural.

Children’s Day at Safa(www.safaindia.org). All hidden talents were discovered during this drawing competetion. (Look at their winning smile …They all were fabulous and so creative!

Made some kachoris stuffed with green peas, Alu dum, Daal fry and kheer with nuts and jaggery for dinner.

And, further…am off to Jaipur for a Dance & Music festival o’er this weekend!!

Maggi & chai tonight ;)

Maggi is something; I cannot avoid. Period. Fear of putting on weight just vanishes, when a bowl of piping hot maggi is served. When there’s nothing in store, quick maggi comes to rescue our hunger pangs. I have tried many versions of making a maggi – plain, soupy noodles, stir fried with loads of veggies, with eggs, curry noodles, etc and I love all the versions. With these extra efforts, 2 minutes is not enough though !! I have tried having maggi at odd hours too, past midnight, during evenings, it’s just an anytime meal for me… & yes yeh dil still maange more

Once in Bangalore I remember, amidst so many junk food options I opted for maggi, you may now imagine my craze for maggi

TGIF :)

It’s Friday evening & I am already thrilled at the thought of no waking up early mornings, no hurrying – worrying for the next 2 days. But, Friday evenings also bring around a lot of hard core thinking as in…how to effectively spend these two days… 

• A movie?
• Lunch/dinner?
• Meeting friends over coffer & some heartfelt conversation?
• Shopping?
• Self-pampering at a lovely Spa?
• Cooking or baking?
• Picnicking? 

Or… some good time lazying around at home with a book or possibly some sweet ‘n sour moments with family or all of that? Oh God!!! Can’t decide seriously! 

Leave my unresolved mind, may you all have a super weekend ahead!

Happy times ahead :)

Each time, each year after Raksha Bandhan, I feel so elated; as the string of festivities begin one after the other. Those declared offs from work, relaxed vacation for kids after exams, lots of revelry, meeting & greeting, shopping, fun and frolic – All brings copious amount of joy to us and our loved ones. I suppose, that’s exactly why India is a land of colourful festivals and cultural excellence. What say???

The smell of festivity is almost there in the air, and yes, I am loving it!!  Here’s wishing you & your loved ones a festive Blast this season!! 

- With lots of love & smileys 

Weekend Breakfast

Sometimes I treasure these moments … A relaxed state of mind amidst a good ambience`, lost in a fantasy world, having a quiet breakfast with a lavish spread…enjoying every bite, followed by a lovely-aromatic warm cup of tea! Isn’t it a great way to kick start a weekend ?

May you all have a fun weekend ahead

Some Coffee?

An evening that marks an end to a tiring day at work. Would you not want to indulge yourself for all the hard work? Not with parties, lavish dinner, get-togethers etc…but simply with a warm cup of coffee to go with my favourite Blueberry Muffin at a favourite coffee bar.

Happy Weekend!!

My sins against gender stereotypes!

This is one tag I simply could not resist doing. Seriously…especially for a tomboy like me i mean thats what my friends say…

 (The badge looks cool Thank you IHM & Suranga

Thank you : Masood, Comfy, Piyu, LOI, Misty – for tagging me! Oh yes!! The creator needs to be thanked too so…thanq IHM 

Here’s the TOP 10 list:

1. I hang out mostly with boys and gel really really well with them. In fact, 90% of my close friends are boyz..(If somewhere i remind them that yes there’s a girl among them,,,they say “tu bandiyon mein kahan count hoti hai ….

2. I just cant be so mushy…mushy …and touch-me-not kinds…sorry i just cant be…

 3. I am always involved in the family for all kinda decision making thingys…cause they think I am really sensible one…

4. I am very quick when it comes to shopping…do not spend too much time out there..trying and checking things… I pick up things randomly if its appealing…

5. I love doing all the manly chores like fixing plugs, electronic stuffs etc…& believe me I take enough pride in that

6. I hate gold jewellery & not at all crazy about diamonds ….or any loud jewellery..

7. I lovvvvvve gadgets…even those toy cars…I love collecting them.

8. I am crazy about cars…and speed defines my driving . My brother always complains  mom saying.. “Mummy yeh bigde ladke ke tareh gaadi chalati hai” ( Mom she drives like one spoilt brat :D )

9. I have travelled alone & can manage things quite independently.

10. I hate talking on phone for a longer period…i try to Kiss (keep it sweet & simple..)   come on you naughty fellas …thought otherwise?

But having said that, my heart is still of a woman, I am compassionate, I still love cooking, I love doing house-hold chores, take immense care of my loved ones, listening to soft music, am very emotional… hmmm…I think I am pretty balanced…

I guess after a long long long time I managed to finish a tag so thanks to all…now you better comment otherwise …(me rolling up my sleeves    )

Am I the last person to do the tag I think so…but letme pass on the tag in order to avoid the curse .. to Puja, Ajay, Titaxy, Mandira….and all those who have not done

A pictorial weekend tale!

These blossoms in my balcony made my morning brighter…! As the sun was rising, the buds were slowly opening up!

This close-up shot, I feel came out really well. Somehow, a favourite of mine with the haze…

I enjoy sipping my tea opening the windows, allowing the calming breeze in …while browsing through some quick news leisurely…!

After a few chores, made a quick yummy vegetarian..err…eggetarian lunch …Bhaja mug daal, (Yellow dal fried in ghee), Alu Bhaja (Crispy potato fry), omlette without any onions …just with a little pepper & salt along with rice and ghee. (Too much ghee I know but could not resist )

… a brief afternoon nap & then took my cousin & neice to a nearby university park in the evening.

She had a great time there (am sure you can see with her posing and all!!)

While she was playing around I clicked a few random pics…These champa flowers are my favourite! They smell divine!!

Champa strewn all over

A bed of dried bougainvilea flowers & leaves!

A small temple, in the park. The Lamp lit in such a way, it looked like sun shining brightly …

A dusky evening….slowly coming to an end!

Little one’s fun just does not want to end..she craved for icecream and then I took her for some creamy ice-cream delight! ( In the pic she warns me not to click & let her enjoy her ice-cream )

These are little joys that shall remain close to my heart always !! Overall, had a fantastic – fun-filled – relaxed weekend! How was yours..?

Guests & Friends!

“Lakdi ki kaathi, kaathi pe ghoda…” (I am wondering if she is trying to imitate the horse or in a real grumpy mood ) – Just a random pic of this naughty one!

Please be warned as my house has turned to a white board/black board/notebook whatever… possibly it can! My 2 year old… shweet & cute little niece scribbles almost anything and everything on those empty walls. Perhaps, I am to be blamed for this, as I have fetched her lots of crayons and color pencils recently, not knowing she would use the entire wall as her canvas to stir up her creativity. Well, I get scolded too for this but I don’t mind as long as my kiddo is all smiles

Wishing you all a super weekend ahead!!

Cheers!

Birth-day!

Well, I have always loved celebrating family’s and friend’s birthday. Throwing surprise parties, buying presents etc…gives me immense joy & contentment, especially when I get to see the smile on their face..(For sure money can’t buy this  ) but when it comes to my own birthday, I kinda really feel shy!!! :) Yeah…I know we have another year less to our lives, but nevertheless, I feel we all must celebrate our birthdays and thank our moms for gifting us such a colourful life. This, I believe is surely a good-enough reason to celebrate and have a blast on birthdays if not anything else. I probably try to keep it quiet… but, it can’t be a low-key when I have such a loving family & lovely friends around who carefully choose to remember birthdays and care enough to call and wish, send bouquets, buy me presents, pray for my happiness & goodwill. 

Yes, It was my birthday today and trust me at home the celebrations started since yesterday evening…when my bro got a cake and a beautiful bouquet and gave me lots of cash saying “buy whatever you love” (Afterall I am their only sweet adorable sis :) ) Well, with cake-cutting comes a free facial so…had a nice chocolaty creamy facial on my face and then the calls started overflowing as the clock struck 12.00 AM marking the beginning of my birthday…following beeps of message alerts, emails. It was a real sweet surprise….when during the day, my ex-boss and a few school friends called up to wish me…. I really feel blessed having surrounded by such warm and loving people.  The day was slightly boring as I had to attend a so called important Leadership Meeting…and the minute it got o’er I escaped and rushed back home to spend the day with mom…& as the day advanced I guess there was more fun in store. It wasn’t planned & we ventured out for lunch and movie…After having a sumptuous lunch….luckily with Rajneeti running houseful I managed to get tickets for the show, and my Mom, sis-in-law and I along wid my cutie-pie niece got to watch the heavy-duty flick. After the show, we did a bit of shopping, visited a bookstore, got more gifts :) and then ended the day with a lovely hot coffee Latte at Cafe Coffee Day. 

Overall, I had a great day! Thankyou God, thanks Mom and thanks to all who mean a lot to me and my life!

A day in a small town.

Bardhaman, a small town situated in West Bengal some less than 100 km North west from Kolkata.

A nice weather,sky all covered with grey clouds promising heavy downpour…. 

The historical Curzon Gate built in honor of Lord Curzon

A clearer view of The Curzon Gate

Sandesh…bengali sweets are incomplete without it’s mention. They are mouth watering, melts right into your mouth

Roshogulla with raw mango essence (Flavor of the season)

Ahhh hot fritters(Beguni and Alu Chops made of brinjals and mashed potato) with tea at a claystove stall. Nothing to beat a lovely rainy evening.

This man thinking I am a journalist while clicking pictures requested to click one of his pics

Silver lines..lightening up the night in the sky….

And…I leave the town next day early morning while the sun manages to smile bright after the night’s heavy downpour! While driving back; I envied the simple life that people led there, untouched by most of the modern transitions that has taken place in the cities. They live in their present, happy with the meagre they earn and live contented. They have not advanced, may be which is why they have not lost their simplicity.

Ghar ka khana!

Interestingly our taste-buds crave for an array of food each time. Sometimes spicy, sometimes sweet, sometimes plain simple food, sometimes no food at all may be. Most of the times, if dining outside I get tempted to try on different cuisines just for the sake of experimenting & experiencing (of course to kill my appetite too), when I realise some taste scrumptious and some don’t.                                

My food habits are pathetic, I hardly eat my breakfast. If breakfast means having a mug of tea, then I follow it ritually with a buttered toast (now I am bored of this too). Lunch is usually a Sub. I prefer Sub not for any Size Zero fad but my work gets really hectic and eating a heavy lunch makes me feel drowsy and makes it difficult to sit through the remaining hours post lunch.  Though some days, team lunch / lunch with friends becomes an indulgent. Dinner I skip if I have had a heavy lunch or may be chapatti/rice with some curry. 

What I long for is a nice weekend home cooked lunch, which I try and make it lavish yet simple. Nothing tops my list than home cooked food. So here I went to hand-pick some fresh looking luscious veggies from bazaar. (Not the super markets as I feel they are not the farm fresh ones). 

Today’s lunch was made of raw jackfruit and potato curry (one of my favourites), lady’s finger cooked with shallots in a poppy seed paste, some daal to go with rice & fresh cucumber salad and green chillies.

Dessert…? It was chilled Lassi (A drink made of sugar & yoghurt) topped with cream to beat the heat!

Wedding Season

Personally, I detest attending weddings because that multitude of gathering somehow scares me and I kind of feel slightly uncomfortable. But if it’s someone close I make it a point to go, convey my wishes and steer clear. If, the wedding is in the family I have discovered it’s fun…& the best part is that it is an extraordinary formula to reinforce the bond. Shopping together, feasting, chalking out wedding-plans, cracking jokes, night-outs, etc. is an utter joy.

My brother is getting married this month, towards the end and all the mad rush has just begun. Yeah, my opinion still is the same…having too many people around and all that hullabaloo is panicky… however, it’s 100% FUNtastic . The togetherness & enjoyment it brings is simply wonderful, besides welcoming a new member in the family!

You all are invited

A bit of humor now?

What’s PMS ??? Girls, I know you would jump into conclusions….BUT Its not true what you think

  Guess… ?

-

-

It’s Pissed-At-Men Syndrome

 

Art of baking breads!

Well, yes one of my desires to learn baking breads and cakes turned out to be truly delicious last week! I apparently found one institute that teaches reasonably well …the art of making fine breads, cakes, croissants etc. It’s an art I say that involves patience, interest, creativity besides a passion to eat and treat.

It was my first class, & I learnt to bake breads with the help of my chef` after much kneading & punching ! Aroma was so much delectable…while it was baking hot in the oven…it’s almost inexplicable in words, you have to just experience it!!

Delicately gave it different shapes. Some into buns, knotted breads, dinner rolls, tutty frutty buns etc

Unbelievable isn’t? Yes, I baked them :) ! Fresh out of oven and when buttered, it just melts into your mouth!!

Here’s wishing you all a great weekend ahead!

 

Sunday Delight!

Sundays I generally hate to go out. I reserve Saturdays for most of my outings or meeting frens, movies, lunch..dinner, household chores…whatever. The reason being ….entire week we kinda slog and then weekend outing Pheeeew!!! So one day I somewhat feel we must get some respite…a day spent in a lazy way…!! You know…waking up late…doing  just nothing… DVDs…reading books and FOOD ….???

Pic: Google 

Well thanks to Pizzzas they yummy isn’t? Home delivered, hot..scrumptious, cheeeezy Pizzzas!!! I order the garlic sticks too; they are delecatable with a mug of HOT TEA !!! I apparently watched A Beautiful Mind. It’s extraordinarily beautiful! Nothing but Dr. Nash and Alicia’s love stays on…in my mind!

Am touched…

…after watching this beautifully animated movie Up.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                A dream like …imaginative creation ! Guys, if you haven’t watched it… you have missed something! It’s FUNtastic!

Event – Served with Love!

As I have always said and that’s what I strongly believe, cooking to me is therapeutic! The joy one can derive by cooking for the loved ones is inexplicable in words. I enjoy it to the core. I have not yet gained expertise in most of the cuisines… however; I can claim that whatever I cook or have cooked so far has always been with love & passion and that’s why i guess Mom’s khana always rocks as they somehow manage to add that extra element of love leaving the meals lip smacking  

I have been following Arundhuti’s blog for quite some time now, and I could not help but participate in one of her Events(Refer the link for more details)  that she declared sometime ago. The event says that this January prepare a dish that is most favourite with the person we love! It can be ANYone…parents, siblings, friends, husbands, kids, cousins …anybody we love to cook for!

Here’s what I made for my brother this month – “Gajar ka halwa” !! He simply loves it so much so that even a huge helping is always less and he wants to devour more of it. Carrots are best available during this season & i thought why not a dessert which is so famous in India!! 

An American writer quoted : “Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.”

Season’s Greetings!

Christmas is celebrated worldwide irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Perhaps it has to do with all the festivity & joy it brings along, isn’t? Long ago, I had bought this christmas tree & this evening just tried & decorated it with bells, stars, candies, confettis etc. It was so much fun…for all of us at home

Christmas without goodies is not done so baked cookies, cakes, made some nutty chocolates(they turned out unbelievably yummm ), & soft ‘n fluffy pancakes

Here’s wishing you all a very very HAPPY CHRISTMAS & a fantabulous year ahead!

God Bless!

Rocket Singh – THE SALESMAN

Ok, after enough reviews and surely to take a break from the routine stuff n crazy work – schedules in the recent past… I decide to watch this movie…Rocket Singh: Salesman Of The Year! It’s funny, not the movie yet, I will come on that later…I drive away faster after work to reach the theatre and be able to grab a ticket and here on roads some cranky fella thinks am competing with him and HE does not give me the SIDE… I grumble and mumble in my mind, thinking if i miss the movie “I will see you, you …You Idiot”… and end up racing with him. And believe me it gives me immense PRIDE to defeat a man on the roads ( Pun-Intended).

Thankfully, I reach the theatre and get a ticket too… NOW all the weird stares…? I fail to understand why is it that people give bizarre looks when you are in the theatre to watch the movie alone… I mean, ya its fun to watch it with friends but eventually you go to watch the movie and not to gossip…Yeah..? Anyway, sitting there I suddenly realise …what if someone asks me if I came alone to watch this movie. I think hard and then come up with a solution that if a situation like that arrives I can answer confidently I AM A FILM CRITIC :D; perhaps that could shut their mouth or whatsoever.

Now, on the Movie…as a FILM CRITIC Well, yes I loved the movie. It’s again one of those feel good movies, first half may be a bit slow paced but i guess that was required to give the twist to the tale but surely at no point you feel bored which is the merit of any good movie. WARNING: this is not a typical Bollywood Ishtyle so you must not expect hero-heroine dancing around trees or loud music, rona dhona etc. It’s a neat subject-oriented flick – one dealing with Sale’s Man’s life, theri work pressure & challenges. All the characters did a fairly decent job, and justified the characters well enough! No melodrama and really well directed. Even to the minuscule detail if you watch… that the phone given to Ranbir Kapoor was soo dirty.

Coming to Ranbir Kapoor, I know it can be a bad compliment for MEN but I felt like pulling his cheeks …he looooked so damn cute and adorable.

That’s not all …like good old story books, this movie sends you back home with a moral too :D for the BOSSES of course “Business is all about people and not just numbers, if people are happy, the business will prosper “

Creativity Flows

A sudden creative bend, a drive to do, learn all that I possibly can. Time seems to fly and I feel, am losing on time. There’s so much to explore, so much more to accomplish. I have always loved to love new challenges, excitement, and experiences in life. I remember having dabbled myself in Salsa Class once, Theatre Workshop, Aerobics, Yoga Classes etc. Now I want to learn Indian Classical Dance. I personally admire all its forms, especially Kathhak. It’s so expressive and beautiful.

Piano Lessons, Photography Workshop, Baking Classes, are a few that tops my list now.

Long over due…TAG

It’s always fun doing TAGs. Thanks Faisal :)

• What is your current obsession ?
  Current obsession…connecting with people i guess, through blogs, facebook, tweets etc
• What are you wearing today?
  Hmm clothes…what else people wear???
• What’s for dinner?
  Food I hope
• What’s the last thing you bought?
  Chocolates
• What are you listening to right now?
  Songs of Kurbaan…
• What do you think about the person who tagged you?
  He appears to be sincere and honest
• If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be?                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Near Lake Schwarzee in Austria …actually just saw the pic in a magazine and am like thrz nothing better than this…
• What are your must-have pieces for summer?
  Sunscreens, lucknowi kurtis
• If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go?
  Any place as long as it’s away from workplace
• Which language do you want to learn?
  Sanskrit
• What’s your favourite quote?
  Anything that makes sense …
• Who do you want to meet right now?
  Very close friends ….may be o’er coffee
• What is your favourite colour?
  Black/white
• What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own closet?
  I have a beautiful black lucknowi kurti…
• What is your dream job?
  Don want to do any job anymore…want to be an entrepreneur
• What’s your favourite magazine?
  Frontline,  Business Outlook
• If you had $100 now, what would you spend it on?
  Sorry, I would need rupees to be able to use in India
• What do you consider a fashion faux pas?
  Biggest i guess is people thinkin anything they wear looks great on them. Fashion is knowing your type and wearing accordingly
• Who according to you is the most over-rated style icon?
  Who cares…ya?
• What kind of haircut do you prefer?
  Always shoulder length…cause it’s easily manageable, though long tresses look really good
• What are you going to do after this?
  If i feel sleepy i will sleep else continue wid my internettin…
• What are your favourite movies?
  Quite a few…
• What are three cosmetic/makeup/perfume products that you can’t live without?
  Moisturizer, talc and kajal..I love to define my eyes
• What inspires you?
  All those who have struggled to be where they are now…
• Give us three styling tips that always work for you:
  Wear what suits you, what is comfortable and …and …that’s it..!
• What do you do when you “have nothing to wear” (even though your closet’s packed)?
  I frequently freak out on this .. :( but to my rescue jeans n a tee…
• Coffee or tea?
  Tea mostly but if it’s coffee then only @ Barista or Mocha @ CCD
• What do you do when you are feeling low or terribly depressed?
  I just keep quite…
• What is the meaning of your name?
  My name means …Dew…
• Which other blogs do you love visiting?
  Actually so many…
• Favourite Dessert/Sweet?
  ANYDAY, ANYTIME chocolate fudge/chocolate walnut brownie…hmmm it’s yummmm
• Favourite Season?
  Winters
• If I come to your house now, what would u cook for me?
  Well, depends what time you would…
• What is the right way to avoid people who purposefully hurt you?
  You said it right…just AVOID
• How do you calm yourself down when you are agitated or angry?
  Depends on what made me lose my control…I try and look at it from other’s perspective…
• Who is the modern ideal girl…the one who knows how to shop, dress and enjoy or the one who is simple but manages the house, kids and herself well?
  …Modern does not mean who knows how to shop, dress and enjoy…anyway…don’t care much

Cooking Spree …

Working during the week leaves me with no stamina to get into the kitchen and cook; hence, over the weekends I make it a point to cook something really special. I plan for an entire day & therefore balance it out with a light breakfast or heavy lunch/dinner or vice-versa…! I could not have digested the meal without taking the pics to share with you all so here it is…

Breakfast was buttered toast with scrambled eggs and tea

Dinner was egg-mughlai parantha served with  aloo curry and chips

This was an exception, for some reason I had to cook the dinner during a weekday and am posting the pic now . Had made chicken curry and peas & rice in a jiffy ….

Now this was the FOOD of the day it turned out to be super delicious …..A rich chocolate cake . Come on, now don’t be mean and leave your comments for all my hard work

Deliciously I reminisce…

Now, this tag I could not have missed it … I love food & moreover love cooking if it’s for my loved ones including family and friends. I derive immense pleasure out of it especially seeing the delight on their faces after having a nice meal. There are plenty of such moments I fondly cherish, let me try and share a few with you all which is close to my heart:

• Somehow, I don’t know if it has happened to others, but with me it has happened several times. There are days when I have a severe craving to have my mom’s particular dish, and even before I tell her, I find that cooked the same day. It’s really uncanny to me….. :D but surely proves to be true that mum’s can read your mind. And, I end up embracing her with a smile.
• Sundays used to be special at home as my dad would take up cooking and all of us longed to sit together and have our afternoon meals. He was an excellent cook.
• Food memoirs and not mentioning canteen fun is not happening at all. During college times, friends and I used to visit the canteen to devour the samosas served with hot sambar (weird combo…I know) but trust me it used to be yummmm :D ! Up north anyway there’s a fetish for sambar, so we’d frequent it like crazy. For one plate of samosa we used to get unlimited sambar… so instead of ordering many plates, we used to order one plate of samosa and several servings of sambar. The canteen wala got so fed up that after a few days he changed the rule…..”Samosas served with one bowl of sambar ONLY”
• During the same college days, I remember when my best friend and I rushed to her place once after a long tiring day at college. Aunty was not there and Uncle could find nothing else to feed our empty stomachs but a fresh bottle gourd. He quickly made a curry out of it and served us with piping hot rotis. We devoured it to our heart’s content and can’t express how delicious it had turned out to be…
• I know am not a spoilt child, though love to behave like one :D when it comes to Mom still running behind me with food so that I have a morsel or two at least; while rushing to work during the crazy morning hours and listening to her grumbles…that I wake up late and do all this drama

Thanks to Puja . It was wonderful reviving some old memories.

Statue of high stature

After a long time, had a nice memorable weekend ! The weather was perfect and decided to take mom out…We cruised all the way to the beautiful statue amidst the Hussain Sagar Lake. It stood beautiful. Though, I was quite pained to see the edges of a beautiful water body/lake polluted

Clouds hovering all over

   The Buddha’s statue amidst lake

   Very well sculpted at the base

        Fading sunset…

Followed by a chocolaty icecream treat and shopping….! Mom was happy and I was glad to see the happines on her face

Wintry Mornings

When you wake up in the morning apparently to find yourself quivering, feeling lethargic …yet pleasantly warm …you know winter season has arrived :) … The fogs that refuse to steer away until afternoon sometimes, the sun hiding much behind, the chill, and of course the warmth one feels under the warm clothings is all so wonderful. Much later when the sparkling sunny rays sneak and clear the fog, you feel the intensity and that’s terrific. You strangely feel cosy. That’s a winter morning for you… a season between autumn and spring, a season with shorter days and longer nights! A season for blossoms…a season for snowfall…a season for celebrations!

 We all must learn to enjoy each season the way it is meant to be. Several mugs of hot beverages, fire place, and curled up in the comforter with a book may be… is all I want in a chilly dusky weather. And, do not miss the moonlight in a cold wintry night, it’s incredibly beautiful!

As Henry David Thoreau (An American Author) says, “Live each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each”

Blog Award

I never knew that there’s one such medium through which we can actually evoke our emotions, express what we feel, make pals we have never met, and receive accolades…until it was introduced to me by a very very special person in my life, Puja! In fact I would like to thank her profusely as she is the one who actually motivated me to take it up and help me create this webpage too (P: Remember how hastily we chose a name???)) !! Yes I am referring to the blog space it’s truly fantastic. A diary open for all where we record our life’s strange chronicles of joys, sorrows, success, failures, weird experiences, disappointments etc.

It becomes even more overwhelming when someone actually acknowledges it. Yes, it feels great to receive my first blog award(I Love Your Blog), I know am not as great as most of the blogs I browse through (Just being modest you see ) but these are some candid thoughts of mine that I have shared so far! The other one is Inspirational Blogger Award

Heartfelt thanks to Swaram for her sweet gesture and all my readers too

Weekend Masti

Childlike I was splashing and playing around in the terrace…

Followed by bengali thali, made some bhaja mug daal( A kind of lentil nicely fried in ghee), palonk shaak(spinach mixed curry), begun bhaja(fried aubergines), alu potoler daalna(Alu parwal curry) and ghee rice. Watched 3 movies in 3 days: Wanted, What’s your Rashee and Dil bole hadippa …. A few hindi movies are neither good or bad …they are better termed as timepass

A bit of Self-Thearapy

I have been thinking of this from quite some time now but finally it happened and I am thankful it happened. Wanted to take a break from work, wanted to feel being at home, enjoy the monsoon,(Oh yes! It’s Oct and still raining in Hyderabad don’ believe..? Go and check weather report ) waking up late without worrying about piles of work-load at office or cerebral planning of dealing with the day’s schedule, meetings, reports, deadlines etc… etc…! Simply putting forth wanted to enjoy some moments of absolute freedom and pleasure. Freedom of mind and spirit. Yes, vacation necessarily does not mean taking time off to some exotic place, plush greenery, valleys. It can be even being at home, doing things that you love the most, watching a DVD at home theatre, cooking yourself a lovely meal…relishing every bite, a warm hair oil massage, anytime nap, or just sitting by the window sill and gazing at the intermittent shower outside and listening to melodious and soulful music. Yes, I just did that something perhaps called self-therapy?

I regret JUST one thing in life of not having learnt how to ride a bike, or else I would have ventured out for a long…long…long drive downtown in this downpour and allow the rain to drench me…completely  and permit the wintry breeze stroke my face tenderly…. !

Durga Puja – Nostalgic

Festival means loads of shopping, fun and frolic , get together with friends and ofcourse lip smacking delicacies. It’s “Durga Pujo” time now and as a child I have grown up visiting various Pujo Pandals and the exquisite sculptures of “Ma Durga” seated in those beautifully designed, magnificent and fantabulous themes.. It used to be so much fun to hang around with friends, giving anjali and devouring the bhog of khichudi(A porridge cooked with rice, lentils, veggies), meeshti chaatney(a sweet pickle sort), begun bhaja(fried aubergines) and believe me it tastes heavenly. This festivity used to continue for days together with many more feasts and exotic dishes.

Today, as it’s maha-ashtami I made a complete beakfast of Luchi(Puris), narkel nadu(Coconut laddu), aalu dum, cholar daal(lentil preparation), and paayesh(kheer).

Wishing you all a very Happy Navratri and Dashehra!!

Ramzaan!

Today as the fine line of moon is sighted; all over the world there is excitement to celebrate Eid tomorrow. In Arabic Eid means festivity. It’s believed that the Holy book “Quran” was revealed during this month to Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). Today it also marks the end of fasting that Muslims observe over a month during this period… Throughout the day from dawn they refrain from food and water & break it only at dusk. It allows, Muslims to practice self-discipline, sacrifice and most importantly empathy for those who are less fortunate. It further enables more endurance & spirituality over human mind, body & soul. Although it is customary, but during this month Muslims devote to God completely and seek absolution by means of offering special prayers, reading the holy book & giving alms to the poor and needy ones. Each festival is sanctified in its own sweet way and so is Eid. It’s even sweeter with the meethi siwai (a sweet dish) that’s so popular across all religions during this festive season !!!

God bless one and all as they celebrate Eid with their family and loved ones!!

It was sunnyday today :)

  

 Stuffed samosas…. with evening chai

  

Chingri macher malai curry(A bengali delicacy – Prawns cooked in a rich and creamy coconut milk). Goes very well with steamed rice

Kolkata & Bay of Bengal

It was a very short trip to Kolkata recently, but I love the place, ofcourse minus it’s humid horrid weather. Kolkata has it’s own charm otherwise, you get to see those lovely..ancient architecture, beautiful french windows and an earthy feel beside the river ganges and Howra Bridge….!! Hmm it’s truly magnetic, and not to forget those chatpati chaat,  samosa, veg-chops, phuchka(Pani-Puri), egg-rolls, authentic bengali cuisine and land of ultra-soft Roshogulllas

This picture is taken from the aircraft while flying back over the river and then gradually the Bay of Bengal…the clouds floating like soft fluffy cotton all across the sky….Oh!!! It was beautiful &  so mystifying that I just got absorbed and absorbed….

Dissolved in rain

Pitter…patter rain drops… today it looks like monsoon has set in finally

Lovely weekend

Well, this weekend was extraordinarily great. It was so much fun meeting Megan for the first time who visited India from United States, and within no time we became sort of good pals; predominantly because we shared a lot of common interests like, nature, animal kingdom, travelling, reading fairy tales, CHAI , vegetarian food…no wonder our birth month is even the same. We did shopping together, browsed books, had quick bites, exchanged notes on cultural differences, transitions in United States after Obama’s presidentship etc etc!!!

  

a..quick bite of chocolate fondue and Iced Tea….(hmmm the chocy syrup was deliciously exotic!!!)

…a hurried trip to crafts mela!!!

…and enjoyed the much awaited shower

By the way Megan was amused of whatever little she noticed on roads that Indian women are always so well dressed and made up to perfection, unlike in west where they are more casual. Am sure she would get a shock of her life to see Ekta Kapoor’s serials where Indian Women wake up with their make-up on

Anyway, thank you Megan for the wonderful time I had with you!

Early Sunday Morning!

 

Sunday mornings, what do you do when you unwillingly wake up early? Make yourself a hot cup of ginger tea with buttered toast and croissants, pick your current read and sneak into the terrace…sometimes looking at the family of pigeons and sometimes reading the book.! Believe me it’s divine….sipping and feeling the warmth in the slightly windy weather…

Over the weekend!

This weekend was good too ! Met a very good friend over lunch after 3 long years…! He is not too keen about plays and stuff but poor him he still agreed to come along. However he said he did enjoy the show and liked his first theater experience!!! After the play we bought some plants… went on a loong drive, and shared lots about our personal lives, work, here ’n there that we missed in the last few years…! 

Well, about the play, “An Idiot for Dinner” was fun..and hillarious! Brilliant performances by the artistes, as on an average they were just 22 year olds…! Just for your info “Bheja Fry” the bollywood flick is an adaptation of the same!!

This week quite an affair…

 Saw the glitz and glamor of Hyderabadi Walima (Reception).

 Bunked and took my family to a park which had so many peacocks …they looked amazing swirling and hopping around. The minute I went close-by to capture a pic in my cam, it ran away swiftly leaving me disappointed. But lemme admit, the place is awesome, and the slight drizzle in the evening made the trip even more pleasant. Later we had our share of yummy customized icecreams at one of the coziest parlors.

 haha!! Not to forget how much I played with my adorable niece. made her 9Xm’s “Bheegi billi’ (her fave channel)…and she was so delighted that she kept looking at the mirror.

          

      

My Powdal..baby ( She calls powder that way)

August 1st – Calendar Blocked :)

I was lucky to have posted Evam’s(Theater Group, Blr based) one of the shows before, “The Odd Couple” and to that I win a Free Golden Ticket to their upcoming Play in Hyderabad “An Idiot For Dinner”   on 1st Aug ..! 

  

id·i·ot [id-ee-uht] n.. A foolish or stupid person.  SMASH HIT IN BANGALORE & CHENNAI, NOW PREMIERING IN HYDERABAD!!

Evam  &  The Boardwalkers invites you to a dinner with more laughs than you have ever had!
 
An idiot for Dinner - A stage adaptation of the French film ‘The Dinner of Idiots’ , Also made as the Hindi film ‘Bheja Fry’
 
Directed by Michael Muthu
 
Saturday, August 1st – 3:30 and 7:30 pm @ Ravindra Bharathi Auditorium, Near Assembly, Public Garden Road, Saifabad, Hyderabad – 500 004, Tickets: Rs. 200/300/500

Grab Tickets at www.bookmyshow.com NOW! Also, now you get the tickets delivered right to your doorstep by calling 39895050! Tickets also available at Odyssey (Jubilee Hills & Vikrampuri)

For more details, log on to www.evam.in
Call Us @               09840222363         09840222363 /               09840612333         09840612333 for details!
 
Preferred Media Partner: Hyderabad Times, Radio Partner:Radio Mirchi
Retail Partner: Odyssey 
Lifestyle Partner: StyleSpa
 
About the play: Impeccable food, great wine, engaging conversation, soft music. What could possibly be missing in a perfect dinner gathering? Well… An IDIOT? Originally made in French, titled “Le diner des cons”, our adaptation begins with Sanjay, who – with the help of an “idiot scout” manages to find a perfect idiot to take to the dinner where the evening’s “guests” are poked fun at. Our enterprising protagonist, R.Golden Gopu, gets invited to one of those dinners. Gopu loves to build replicas with matchsticks, which seems to be the only thing he can ever do without causing pandemonium.As the chaotic evening unfolds, click here for more 

 So, when was the last time You met an Idiot?

19th July’s Diary!

Well, last week a friend almost ridiculed me saying, “What?? Again Bangalore…it has become your second home now”..Seems to be quite true for me …however it was one of the craziest trips in recent times, boarding the train on saturday night, reaching in the morning and again back to train the same evening for way back home. A few of us amongst our friends planned to visit Ravi who is in India currently on a vacation. Last time during his trip from London he visited us in Hyd and this time we travelled to Blr. What a trip it turned out to be….an amazing one…Food, Fun,…shopping, al in a day’s trip.

 ..(Kalyan, Ravi, Rishi, Sundeep)

Bangalore has some of the best places to hang out I must admit. I know the readers would find it weird but we indeed visited all these places in a day’s time Pecos to try out the dosa & chicken( Superb), Amoeba to play games, Coffee House in Brigade’s road for the famous filter coffee, Hard Rock Cafe(Loved the ambiance’…and the Tortillas with sour cream), another cafe to try out the famous Toast and scrambled eggs. The guys later headed towards another pub and I had a fun ride with Rishi to Comm Street for some shopping…Phew!!!!!!!!! It was indeed tiring for all of us but had a blast in true sense!

 (The Cant. Station)

Finally, this post goes incomplete without thanking Aunty(especially for her yummy Upma ), Uncle, rishi for the wonderful hospitality extended during our visit.

Awesome…

You know what you have to do when you feel things aren’t good around? Just pick up Abha’s tag It’s really awesome! Well am thinking now where should I begin from… to list down the 7 awesome thingz about me…or rather 7 thingz that make me awesome??? Hmmm…let me go point wize…

1. I am awesome because, I really love my family unconditionally and have always thought of ways.. to bring in happy moments in each one of their life through some or the other ways..be it a movie outing, lunch or dinner outing, buying presents(both for friends & family) randomly or planning special birthday surprises for them…! It’s a great feeling to see the euphoria on their faces.

2. I am awesome because, I am always there for my friends to hear them and help them out!! Friends are really important in life & I firmly believe that. They support you when you shy away from your family thinking that you do not want to burden them with your pain. Hence, I somehow ensure and pray that the bond never breaks…”Touchwood!”

3. I am awesome because I am a good human being(believe in humanity than anything else & that’s a trait I consider to be an important feature defining a good human being) who is compassionate, fun-loving, cheerful, and caring by nature … I do get sensitized to see someone in pain and agony.

4. I am awesome because I can sacrifice my happiness for the ones I love dearly. Yes, sacrificing is not easy, it requires enough courage and strength to let go of things which are very close to your heart.

6. I am awesome because I am not selfish and think about others too.

7. I am awesome because I get bashed by tough times in life and yet emerge as a stronger person who still has faith that “Life is not worth wasting time on imprudent things, it’s worth enjoying, it’s worth celebrating and it’s worth being an AWESOME person”

Thanks Abha to begin with this tag…it indeed gives an awesome feeling to jot them down!

10 Things that I am thankful for..

Ok, I have recheked with S on the rules if I can only list 10 and not 40 like she did  that too after repeated threats I am makin an attempt to finally post them,

No. 1 : My loving Mom, family and close friends…

No. 2: …that I am still a simple, loving and caring person and have not changed with times..

No. 3: Friends who have accepted me back

No. 4: Some horrifying nightmares that I got rid of

No. 5: My weight-loss

No. 6: Mom’s made khana, Anda parantha, kadhi chawal, rajma chawal, chicken kebabs with salad and parantha not to forget the hot cup of adraki chai.

No.7: Long drives, weekend tours, enjoying monsoon and getting drenched

No.8: My latesht phone and ipod

No. 9: My job even during the recession

No. 10: Books, wordpress, facebook, orkut, twitter, music, movies (Not like Kambakht Ishq of course)….

Thanks God!