Sweet sweethearts

T @ 13 months and Ammi in Eluru.

Welcome Home darling! Welcome home....

The sight of strength

Few days ago, a freind of mine said, "mera dil halka hua ab tumse baath karkay"....i dutifully accepted the gratitude she felt for unloading her issues.

We are told that we feel lighter when we share what we feel. I beleive so....but how do you spot the sight of strength in a friend who can endure your "stuff".

Am i making sense? Because in my kuckoo, i perfectly am.

The answer to that my baby is, how you feel and how they make you feel when you share. Thier voice, thier touch, thier honesty everything makes you feel so cared for and loved for. The enormity and the lightness of the situation takes a full circle. I hope you can be a friend with such strength and i hope you find friends with the same. 

Whats important for you?

Y'day in the middle of eating his pizza with this friend, T says "but mom l--- is eating with his mouth open". I somehow salvaged the situation there and moved on. 

I had been wanting to blog about this topic of how parents can enforce manners in kids and this is just as good time as another. For me, there are some manners that i swear by and i make sure that T learns them. I dont care what situation we are in, if there is a platform that i see as an opportunity for my son to learn, you bet, i'll seize it. He's learning to say his "No, thank you's", "Yes, please's", eating with mouth closed, cant swing feet while eating, using his table napkins, putting his shoes back where they belong, hang his towel after finishing it up, putting his clothes in the dirty laundry, he sometimes even tells his dad which one is a tea spoon and which one is a table spoon. I know i sound like a military mom but there are things i can tolerate except an unruly one.

However, its tricky when lines get fuzzy esp when we are in a setting where other parents dont acknowledge the same factor as an important stage to let thier kids know of what is acceptable and what isnt. I respect all parents choices irrepective of if i agree or not, I respect thier choices, i honestly do. But how do i explain my kiddo, that people make different choices, people dont tend to see the same picture even from the same stance. 

Instead, i probe T with questions that try to strike the point home that we are responsible just for our own manners and not everybody else's. Even as i'm reading my blog, i feel i come off as a harsh one, but, on my watch, I yearn for him to seek to do the right thing consciously. Do you ever see kids saying thank you without even looking at the person they are thanking for. I dont know why but it irks me!!

What are the ones that you lay the line on?? What are some important ones for you, do you ever think?

Nice watch's!

Few movies worth the watch time...

Ghost world strikes a chord of acceptable behaviors, challenges accepting unacceptable patterns, portrays the highs and lows of a seeking mind. It ends with Jaan pehchaanho, jeena ....of Sir Mohamed Rafi.

American Rhapsody- now that is one movie everyone who moved away from thier homeland would connect with. Parents who try hard, kids who take too easy, the struggle to come to a medium of embracing of who they have to be. But mostly of keeping promises.... 

The Englishman who went up the hill and came down the mountain - All about perseverance and old school meets new ideas. Awesome movie. Hugh Grant and that pub guy just break it all.

Before and After - Meryl Streep, Liam Neeson - A+ acting, excellent script. About a mother and father who are trying to save thier son from the accusations of a murder. But during the whole trial, how they each learn about eachother, the strength of family, Liam Neeson just comes off so awesomely and Meryl does this job of a mother, who lets the child grow in thier own pace and does what is right though it might...oh well...

Bridges of Madison County - I had seen this almost 5-6 years ago, i still remember one scene in the rain, she's in her car, and he's in his car and the struggle she does with herself with all the might she has to stay in her car and not go in his. She can so gracefully potray the character, it's freaking scary. 

Falling in love - Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro - My god, in few scenes it just tears your heart apart.  Aonther one of her classics, saw many years ago. One scene when she tells her friend about how she feels about robert de niro, expresses what she's bottled up. About two people, who meet as strangers in a train and become friends and how that later on grows into more and more. Time tests what they hold for eachother and they trust thier guts on that.

Kramer VS Kramer - Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep again. Cant tell how many oscars it won. Its just a beautiful movie.

The Reader ; and The Revolutionary Road - two of Kate Winslet's classics. Ok i gotta stop - i'm so getting carried away. I only started for Ghost world and American Rhapsody.

I;ll keep bringing more of what i like. 

Happy daddy's day!

While Hallmarking, i saw one card that just made me laugh so loud in store - it went something like this...

One month after Mother's day, 

someone said, 

Hi! wait a minute, 

what about the fathers!!

Apparently thats about the origin of fathers day ; ) 

Either way, it's a beautiful way to celebrate the love, the quirkiness, the strength that dads bring in to our lives. Taran and I are going for a fathers day carnival at his school this evening. 

Happy Fathers day, my darling abbu! I'd have taken you to Billy Elliot broad way show. 

Dear sugar bunnies, enjoy your weekend and dont forget to tell your dad all the things about life and in general that you learnt from him, muaah!

How True?

“ A person’s worth is contingent upon who they are, not upon what they do, or how much they have. The worth of a person, or a thing, or an idea, is in being, not in doing, not in having. Alice Mary Hilton


There is stuff in my head that i find hard to convey and i just let go of not explaining or fiercely hope the other person "gets it" on their own. This is one such. 

Wander, ever?

:)

Now my big question is, can you muster the courage to get there? 

Hi, I got to...

"tell you something first"....

no i dont have anything to say but if you were to share any news, who is the first person you'd share the news with. Is it your mom, dad, a sibling, a dear friend, your spouse? Is there any order you follow for the people you want to share the news with, do you care what time are you calling, do you feel the need to just shout out the window?

When does it feel that news has circulated enough to feel that the news is shared to its fullest extent? Who means the most? Who is your safety net?

They did! Would you !

They got married in a park in Brooklyn, rode bicycles to the bar they first met at for reception. How uber cute is this for a couple who did this because they were on budget, but even if not, it's a way to celebrate thier day to day life together doing what they do on a every day basis, aieh! Now only if Indian weddings swing this way, parents can route the wedding fund for their beach house fund. My personal fave are the vintage wedding themes!

From Perfectboundblog.com 

Candies from Pinata :)

The picture of candies fallen on the ground from the pinata reminded me of all the mishri's and acrot that haji saab would shower in the air after the "kabool"'s from the bride and the groom.

Keep it beautiful, darlings.

Beat the heat

The sweltering heat in my neck of woods is driving everyone to stay indoors at a cooler place.

Reminds of those hot summers in rajahmundry. We werent allowed to ride bikes, go out until the sun is set. All we were left to do was do a lot of coloring, read comics, stare outside the window lying down on the divan by the fan, (I still remember the crow that would sit by the tall coconut tree, sometimes i would woner why doesnt it fly around like others).

Since there wasnt much to watch on TV, we were only allowed to ride to the video rental store late morning or late evenings. I'd walk to the corner book store where that guy would rent out magazines. Right next to it was the ice cream parlor, yumm...

By late afternoon you could hear the local farmers or vendors who'd sell the coconut water or munju's, we'd rush to them and those guys would bring the coconuts to the first floor and we all kiddo's would sit on the stairs and drink them. Even if we didnt want to eat, baba would call them anyway because he'd feel sorry that they are working in the hot sun and maybe this way they'll get a break and also make some money. My Sweet  Daddy.

I also remember munni khalajaan would make what she now calls "Linku chutney", and we'd sit propped on the attic space looking out the garden of her home and i'd just eat the chutney.

The thattaya across the street would plop this chair under the tree and watch the kids play, the stores open, the light traffic of evening walkers and young lads driving past thier prospective girl friends homes ;)

Once the sun was set, it was such a different story, quick cold baths, ammi would always dress us in light color frocks, the lemonades, the bicycle rides to anywhere we wanted, doing homework, going to "drawing classes", watering the plants, talking to friends, attending to our aunts and uncles who'd visit us, going out with mom.

When the power would be off, lunoo and I would recite the musical lessons we learnt, and our neighbours would call to us from thier living rooms and ask for more :)

A lot of gushing to me and all the memories across the different times are clashing. Let me enjoy the moment, and this is the song on my play list.

Say Cheese, bubba!

Ever wonder what are the little things you do for your little tots that would be cherished or forgotten. 

From PostSecret

When i saw this many weeks ago, it was so heartwarming and priceless.

I cut T's cheese slices the exact same way and even put it back in the plastic wrap it comes with. It started as a way of teaching shapes, but now, i do it anyway, because....i dont know why but i still do. i even cut his omelette's in triangles. Aaahh....When i saw this on PS, I wondered for a second if T would remember what i do with his cheese, when he's all up and out of the nest. It'll be fine if its not remembered, as long as he knows he's loved to infinity and beyond : ) Love you, bubba!

Have a "Cheesy" weekend, buddies!

iFashion :)

That smile is to die for....and the name Gul...sweet!...if i'd ever have a girl, Gul would be one of the final name contenders. The outfit, the tan clutch, the watch, the shoes, hair do...perfect. Me Likey very much!

At Car and BIke Awards

Look who's dunnit again! Less is more...The blue is kinda dark for my taste, but for a evening event, i'm sure it's pretty blue. I love when women sport a watch with a very feminine outfit such as a saree. 

I'll bring more of these as i see some good ones around. 

What would you save??

I have a stack of old pictures and albums under my bed. It's very comforting to have them there.....on days that my sleep is evading me and i'm unable to gather my thoughts, one of it that drifts back to me is, what would i do with these pictures, if my house catches on fire! My beat goes faster and my mental notes starts letting go of the stuff i can move on with out.

What pictures and what "things" would i take with me....what is it that is imperatively important from my past and present that i would risk myself in fire to rescue to make them a part of my future, what is it that i'd be incomplete without. It's a thought, that zips and zaps like a familiar stranger, this is a thought where i'm alone.

But this morning, during my Sunday ritual, i came across this website, The burning house. What can i say, my thought smiled and came back to me, all i know is my world of lunacy is not alone. This will inspire me to take action of my "burning" thought and hopefully i'll jot down and take picture of the stuff, i'd take with me.

What would you grab on before taking the exit!

When do moms stop??

As i was wrapping up my AM call with my mom, i told her i have to rush as there was a mothers day luncheon picnic at T's school. She was as excited as i was, wanted me to get there on time and says "Zara achey dhang ke kapde pehno" (translated to ....well i dont have the heart to translate).

My jaw just dropped, I'm not a 5th grader anymore and still i get these tidbits slung at me. I frowned "mamma, why did you say that" (in my head, thousand balloons were popping up wondering "I wear good clothes, dont I")

But then she goes on about how i always wear the plain jane clothes. It was my cousins wedding, all were decked out and i chose to have have a dark brown suit stiched with classy neck and well whatever...she thought something was wrong with me, look at luna, she has nice jhumkas on, her pretty green
and white lehenga.

We were at a family friends daughter wedding, i wore a simple yellow and purple kurta pyjama, the only reason i remember is because she fussed over how i could have worn something more dressier.

Ha ha...by god, i love her to pieces, but she can have me in rambles in no time.

I was thinking about all those incidents and more while I chose to wear my pretty green blouse with Express jeans, a simple bracelet. Rushed to McD's got something for myself and t's teachers. Late by 9 mts, i even managed to put some quick makeup on in less than 3 mts in the car. I hope T knows how he good he has ;) I hope i fit my mom's bill of dhang ke kapde, but i know i'll always be the plain jane who chooses clothes from the bottom of the drawer for her. This song was on fm as i was rushing...

Have a well dressed weekend, my sugar plums.

Would you work it?

Rani On Filmfare: (Un)Covered

Love the lehenga she's sporting on right side, she paired it so beautifully too. To make it wearable, outside of the ramp and photoshoot, I'd do nice jhooti's, change from black to white blouse, high neck, sleeve cut right towards the neck, showing off some skin on the shoulders, with a white dupatta laced with just a hint of gold or maybe red, all those chunky bangles.

If you heading to a friends mehendi, if you are throwing a tandoor party in your backyard even, i'd keep the hair simple, no more of jewellery, no earrings nothing, just a gorgeous lehenga and smile to go with it- totally workable.

Rani is such a charming gal. That's me reporting from Fashion central of my blog. Thank you for tuning in, will bring you more as i spot some simple workable ones. Muaah!