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!

Happy Mamma's day!

It's mothers day tomorrow, my dollies, it's a wonderful way to express to all the special mom's in your life what a wonderful job they are doing. Your mom, your wife, your daughter, your sister, your friends - all of who inspire you, bring smiles to your day, who make days tolerable, who seal the hurts away, do wish them and tell them how much you cherish them.

It totally rocks to be a mom, but more than ever i've realized as my mom's child, that the world is a better place with sweet, tough, sassy mom's with beautiful hearts. Love you all babes!

Was i missed ke nahi (not a breathing breath with that thought, aieh. koi nahi...iss blog rajya ki huzoor ki aisi qwahish ki zurrat nahi ki) (kya baath hai meri jaan) alrighty enough with my trials on the fly and just want to wish the moms of all blogland real and surreal ;) a very happy mothers day. Hope all the dads of young guns treat the mamma's of the tot world like a princess.

Be tough and strong cookies! Miss you mamma, T learnt a mothers day song at school, i made him sing it to my mum, she absolutely loved it. (Rambling again, will stop.) 

Chile to Ireland

I distinctly remember, Irfhan in the train, telling his co-passenger, about the book he's reading (scene from Name Sake). He says, you can go to different places without leaving where you are by reading a book. Maybe he didnt say the exact words but its to that effect.

Few weekends ago, i picked two books from our local library, "a jewel of a story" proclaimed New York times,  on the cover of The postman (Il Postrino) by Antonio Skarmeta, translated by K. Silver. It suddenly reminded me of the times when my mom use to translate russian stories in telegu for local publications. It piqued me and i picked it!

Mario Jimenez the postman asks Pablo Neruda the poet, if everything in life is a metaphor for something else.

I found this line profound, if you try to think about it, in your day to day life, dont we live a sleuth of metaphors, dont we?

(reading Return Journey of Maeve Binchy, currently)

One

I heard in French today - Dieu est un comédien jouant devant un public trop peur de rire.... translated to God is a comedian, playing to an audience too afraid to laugh!


Ha ha ha....

Evening Spring

Picked a friend at Exton station and dropped her at home, she was sick, i was sick, her kiddo was sick. But the spring air was anything but, my mind was racing, my heart was racing.

It reminded me of those care free evenings with just a hint of coolness in the air of hyderabad, after a long sweaty day.

Right after the shower, when you step out on the balcony....
Right after dinner, when you sit on the bike for a ride....
Right after finishing that ice-cream and stepping out of that baskins at middle of the night with cousins and uncle.
Right after wearing a crisply ironed kurta and smell like Mysore Sandal and head to that movie with bunch of friends.

I'll never point to motherhood for stripping me of those moments, i'll, however to the rigid discipline i follow for myself and my son, to the harsh winters of north east.

I was in a part of town that i was not too familiar with, but it let me see the world i had left behind, a book i finished reading was coming to me, places i havent been to, and been to were entwining me.

Is it really....

From Post Secret

It's amazing how world around you resonates to what you feel. My thoughts go out to this post card sender, whoever you are. Hope peace and affection find you. i keep thinking of sending some of mine too, but then everyone else does such a great job that, i'm more inspired by thier woa (work of art).

As you turn around the corner of the street, as you go across a familiar place, as you see a dear one's facial feature in a strangers face, do you wonder- who does your thoughts tie back to?

The road ahead seems so fiercely gravelly, can i walk bare foot, can you walk bare foot....ever think.

Pick your battles....

Few weeks ago, after a mother of headache slaughtered me for 2 days straight, i knew who to point my blame on....my teeth. Except for one root canal and few other minor issues, i'm in good shape, was my assumption. 

During a much needed dental visit, my Canadian dental hygienist, who was admiring my purple shoes and how she loves purple, and how after 4 yrs she painted her room purple (ok sista!), and is also venturing on border stencils (wow! bit much)....she asked me the most dreaded question, how often is it that i floss. AAhh...the F word again! I honestly admitted to her how i brush twice, sometimes thrice a day, but i detest flossing. It looks complicated, i'm not sure i'm doing it the right way, not sure if it's doing its job, i attempt it however but only to stop rather quickly.

Waterpik

After hearing me, she google chromed me to show what a waterpik was? hmm....interesting, mental note made to look it up asap at home. There i was after shiny clean teeth paid out of my pocket, and a estimate for the implants to remove my root canal filling that made me roll my eyes, i rushed back to look up what this hoopla about waterpik was. 

Read all about it in 10 mts and thanks to Amazon, few days later, this wonderful product made it to my home. Post charging, i tried it on this am, it kinda feels funny the way the water works around your mouth, but i think this product has potential. The instructions say, i can even fill it with mouthwash. It's a oral irrigator, a fundoo word, but me likey. A worthy alternate to traditional flossing. 

This is in no way promotional for the product, but my sheer amazement that, how we are not aware of some wonderful products there, which make our life so much easier, healthier and cleaner.