Being Thankful :)

I am Thankful :)

It has been long since I posted a thankful note, some where I drifted with the flow!!

I am thankful for my god, for his plans for me, for his love that grows with each passing day

For the hardships coming our way that test us, stretch us, and make us pursue our goals with lot more vigor and fire!!

 I have tenderly embraced his love, his existence 

I know God cares for me, for all of us,

 because his love wafts in our surroundings, in the daily miracles that i happen to see!!

Messy hair diary

Messy hair diary:

Imagine this: you got to go out, everything is ready and perfect and you are all set to shine but then you look at your hair, all messy, frizzy, unruly, euuuuhh!! That’s my story, it has always been that way since my yester years but lately after delivery and this journey into motherhood, it has become all the more grubby, disheveled, and to be honest enough, I  haven’t tended to them also, I haven’t cared enough, no oiling, no proper conditioning, nothing much!! Hmmm where is the time to do all that…I comb them, well that seems enough.  I have been thinking of possible solution to my messy hair story, questioning and counter questioning all in my mind:

Let’s go for a haircut?

We can but what if it turns out to be utter disaster, makes it even more unmanageable,  what will I do then??  no let’s consider other options first. So Haircut!!

Ok, the how about hair straightening/smoothing therapy?

Well  

A) it’s expensive and

B) They are going to apply so many smelly chemicals on my head, and the aftercare is heck!! just too much,

 so a big NOOO, hair straightening/smoothing therapy

What are my options here?? a bit of care, oiling, and conditioning, can work wonders, let’s try that first….it will not happen overnight i know, A lot of care and disciplined regimen is what I need for now!! after all I have no other choice !!

And while I have come to the end of this post, I have convinced Akash to give me a coconut oil head massage ;) so got to go  :)

Have a happy weekend!!

Where am I??

I wake up to the comfort of a familiar surroundings, Lofty wind pushes it way inside the room and fills me with a sense of calmness and comfort!! I am wide awake ....and happy for being that way!!

Earth is rotating slowly to complete one full rotation around the sun, and I am completely unaware about the rotation because I don't feel it anyway, I am too busy marveling at the beauty all around me, too happy to a part of it even though I know that it's not my reality anymore, that as the earth will keep rotating around the sun making days and nights and before I know , My day will be looking at me directly into the eye and mumbling, "it's time to go".

and even though i will pack my stuff with heavy heart,  get my luggage x-rayed for any potential threat to the airport authorities, take a boarding pass for the flight to Mumbai, a "PREEMINENT" part of my heart will always be in Kashmir, wandering in the wilderness, getting awaken by the crisp morning breeze every day...

I will always love you with the deepest core of my heart!!

A fleeting moment - Thank you note :)

Last night , late late at night, a girl not so happy seemed to be emerging from my core,  leaving  my chest...evaporating into the air all around me...she turned to face me, looked me into the eye....and  I saw a pang of sadness in her perfect orb shaped twin eyes.

Her face pale as left over milk, her heaving heart that barely seems to be beating, her dry cyanotic lips, her clouded mind... chaotic with so many prophetic queries.... and I wondered why?? 

 I looked at her with those probing inquisitive eyes, and exactly at that very precise moment she smiled faintly, opened her mouth and said to me:

Tonight,I am nothing but your imagination,  a sham, a story book, a chimerical unfounded  nebulous entity, a pure figment of your and only your imagination  "Thank you " for liberating me !! For You have worked real hard to make me what I am today, and I am so glad you made me a Phantasmal blue-sky!!

Lemongrass and Ginger Infusion

At times breaking the monotony/the same old routine that you follow everyday is good for you, for your health, well that's what i did ...while ordering for groceries this time , I ordered lemongrass and Sunflower seeds, and in the morning I made some fragrant lemongrass and ginger infusion...

Early morning I was there in my kitchen chopping those heavenly fragrant greens of lemon grass, pounding this  aromatic ginger and dissolving the golden jaggery !! and i made something amazing :) 

To make this infusion I used:

Lemongrass

Ginger

Jaggery

Let's talk about the goodness of Lemongrass and Ginger:

Lemongrass also known as Citronella apart from being used extensively in Aromatherapy and an excellent insect repellant, it strengthens the immune system, is helpful in painful swellings, in menstrual cramps, obesity, skin conditions,it is an  excellent nervine tonic, and also beneficial in fever, cough and cold.

Ginger is effective in nausea, vomiting, morning sickness, painful conditions like arthritis and painful menses and it boosts the immune system.

The benefits of these two herbs are many and not limited to the few listed above...

Method:

chop lemongrass, pound ginger and add both to 4 cups of water in a pan with lid and bring to boil, when the quantity of water is nearly half i.e 2 cups, turn the knob off, give a standing time of 3-4 minutes...now in a separate pan  add few pieces of jaggery  in 3/4th cup of water and let the jaggery dissolve in it....add this jaggery water to the lemongrass and ginger infusion as per the taste....and drink the infusion freely!!  drink the goodness of these herbs!!

I choose jaggery instead of sugar, why?? because of following reasons:

Sugar has only sucrose whereas jaggery has sucrose with traces of mineral salts, iron ( as it is prepared in iron vessels) and some fiber , which makes it excellent choice for anemia or iron deficiency.

 Sugar being simple in nature, is instantly absorbed in the blood and releases a burst of energy, which can prove harmful for some internal organs like kidneys, eyes, and brain, whereas jaggery is digested slower than sugar so it releases energy slowly which provides energy for a longer time and is not harmful for the body. 

Jaggery is very good as a cleansing agent. It cleanses the lungs, stomach, intestines, oesophagus and respiratory tracts. Those who are exposed to dust or silica in their daily life are highly recommended to take jaggery.

and finally to the above infusion, I added a tsf of Sunflower seeds, 

They are rich in poly-unsaturated fatty acid linoleic acid, which constitute more 50% fatty acids in them. They are also good in mono-unsaturated oleic acid that helps lower LDL or "bad cholesterol" and increases HDL or "good-cholesterol" in the blood.

Like other nuts, they are also a very good source of proteins with fine quality amino acids such as tryptophan that are essential for growth, especially in children. Just 100 g of seeds provide about 21 g of protein (37% of daily-recommended values).

Natural anti-oxidants, rich source of vitamin E, B-complex, folic acid, essential minerals. Calcium, iron, manganese, zinc, magnesium, selenium, and copper.

This was the perfect start of my day...it was healthy , it was yum!!

Source of information:

Organicfacts.net
Webmd.com
whfoods.com
Nutrition and you.com

Time, letting go, and change!!

Not just the momentarily uplifted mood but the sustained effect, or to say correctly all day long sustained release of the contentment and happiness!! There was an unnecessary upheaval going on in my mind….tottering my peace of mind, making me tired and gloomy by the end of the day…. That’s when I started to read “Book of women” ~ Osho, it is a great book indeed…it cleared many cobwebs in my mind….and when cobwebs are removed, the light enlightens the soul, gives a clear visibility to the eyes….your vision changes from being myopic to much wider!!

There is time for everything…time for loneliness, time for solitude, time for celebrations, time for introspection, time for letting be, time for gathering the pieces of the what is left, time for moving on!! And what’s more important is to understand the subtle hints of time, telling you silently to change with it…

when you see a peony, it’s large, often fragrant flowers, filling the air with its fragrance, you know it's spring and when you see the beautiful pink flowers of a lotus, afloat on the top of water surface, while the roots are deep in the soil in bottom, you know its summer, you rely on your knowledge, on your instincts to know when is the time for what!!

You should know when it is the time to embrace the change gracefully, like unfolding petals of a flower that embraces the wind….even if the fact remains that wind might embrace the flower so passionately that it might blow the petals away….into the air…

On a lighter note, We (I and Josna) had been on a day out, just two of us on Saturday…kids were taken care by their respective dad’s while the two of us shared some lighter moments over a cup of coffee and iced tea…it was a break for both of us…break from our routine and I must confess I forgot about whom I was for those 2 ½ hours…the conversation was about life in general, our future goals, how we want to see our life in say next 2-3 years and how to focus on good things in life!!  In all the effortless thread of communication, we forgot to click a picture of us...the memorable picture!! anyhow I am saving that memory here in my post forever!!

Homemade Herbal Soap :)

Story goes like this, “so the really handsome Narcissus saw his reflection in the pool of water and he fell in love with it”

Yeah I made this saffron, turmeric, and rosemary soap at home today and I fell in love with it…   :)

I am so happy to have finally made it, few days earlier even yestreen it was a dream…so distant, so far…just in my thoughts…but today I am holding it in my hands…smelling it and taking pride in it!!  After all  “I made a soap, a homemade soap”.

My soapy story goes back to the post (here) when I started to pay attention to the products that we have been using without actually being aware of the chemicals used in their preparation...so I thought I will make soap at home as well since it can be done... and I will be making it as safe as possible by using all the natural ingredients!!

It’s like one of a thing on my “DIY before I die “ list is checked…I did it!!   and By the way aren't those visible valuable saffron threads so inviting?? 

Lesson learned Over the cup of spilled tea!!

Today both of us (Vihaan and I) were in the kitchen, I was busy making my tea and Vihaan as usual was keeping me company….Even though I try my best to pay full attention to Vihaan, I also try to finish up a multitude of things that are pending …and today in all this mess I kept my steaming hot cup just on the edge of the kitchen counter and I went to check on the washing machine and in the fraction of a second Vihaan got hold of the cup and before I could stop him the tea came pouring down  on his hand and arm…he cried… I caught hold of him, took him to the washroom and immersed his arm in the water…

Thankfully it was not severe…it took him 10 minutes to come out of it…he was okay and he  forgot what had just happened… he forgot... and he forgave me…for not being mentally present, for messing up…he forgave me…even though he was truly hurt…he forgave me easily…perhaps he knew that this hurt was small and is going to heal with time… I was feeling guilty...I was in unrest but my little boy was calm, composed and he resumed playing, he gave me smile...and I thought how  bigger heart this boy of mine has!! Probably bigger than me!! Because I know I am not that forgiving !!

 How difficult we grown-ups find it to forgive someone and how easily kids do it!!

It was a lesson learned…to let go of the hurt because it is going to heal with time anyway.. if there is something that we should hold on to, then its Love, faith and forgiveness!!

Sweet Lime and star Anise Tea

If you are always on the move (like me), cleaning the windows, doing the dishes, making the bed, and all that.... finding it hard to relax and " just be" then I will suggest,  after you are done with most of the household chores, just sit for a while, sink deep in the couch...close your eyes.. go back to your childhood...imagine it's raining hard outside...you walk barefoot and let the rain drench you, embrace you tightly...smell the flowers and breathe deeply....let all the worries, stress leave your body as you exhale and when you feel little lighter...open your eyes...head straight to the kitchen and make this amazing sweet lime and Star Anise tea. It will help you stay calm and lock that lost joy inside for a little while!!

Put few slices of a sweet lime and couple of star anise in a teapot…pour hot water and let infuse for 5-8 minutes. You can also add little sugar if you wish…I prefer plain… hold the tea in your mouth… feel the taste, awaken your senses... and let it in… drink freely.

 You can also refrigerate it  and then drink later on!!

38/365 and Mother's Day celebration!!

38/365

We had a great motherhood celebration here, it was fun, photos, giggles and lots of running around!! 

I did a mother’s day photo shoot with some of my Mommy friends and their adorable babies, will upload pics soon!!

Thanks to akash for this great idea of photo shoot, it was his suggestion that i should do something with my friends today and here I am with the wonderful pictures!!

Two proud Mommy’s J

Photography credit for some of the pictures goes to a wonderful mommy "Ayesha"!!

Mother's day, an awakening and a surprise!!

Being a mother is...

Well it's more than words can explain...I don't know how to put it in words....I  wish i could get into the time machine and go to my yesteryear's and be little more sensible..I wish I could see the world through the eyes of my mother at that stage in life and I wish I could understand what she meant and felt when I made silly mistakes. ..when I was unnecessary rude to her for trivial things...I wish I could change that...but I can't, it's too late in life...but I can tell her now that I love her and genuinely understand what a "mother"  is and I appreciate everything that she has done for me !!

My Mother day gift to my Mother and Mother in law was a  surprise "prepaid mobile recharge" with full talk time  for both of them :)  ...and I know from the conversation that i had with them,  they were bit surprised and also happy at the same time...I have never done anything before on the mother's day, (I know..sounds so rude, but it's true) ...so it came as a total surprise...well It's just the beginning, an awakening for me and I will definitely continue this tradition!!

Sharing a message, straight from the heart…

The template is from Textcutie and quote is mine!!

Jewellery collection

Today I tried my hands on some jewellery photography...I am not that fond of jewellery by any long short and this collection has been lying like that in the box since ages...I am bit aloof in terms of grooming, makeup and all...the only thing that I do is probably apply herbal kajal and a moisturizer and that's all..my makeup routine...so simple..ends in 2 steps!! and when we are going out..guess what, I am the one who gets ready just like that...in no time whereas Akash takes his own sweet time :)


Now a little confession time...I have never ever shopped for lipsticks/any other beauty products or jewellery in my life...all that I have are gifted to me by my family, Akash, my Mother In law, my sister,and friends...they are so generous!! you might be thinking what kindaa woman I am..well I told you earlier that I am bit wired, I wasn't lying when I told you that :) !!

Ok..coming back to the jewellery...Here are few click of my fav jewellery collection!!

These two above- A gift from My Mother in Law

Last three above - Gifted by Akash, one on Diwali and the other 2 just like that ;) !!

At home-with a friend

Finally the much awaited picture was clicked today!!

I had been to Josna's welcoming and cozy home today...and I made sure that we clicked our picture together...I always feel at ease with her, it is the feeling that I get when she is around...feeling that "lets me be" and then everything happens effortlessly... she has that sort of an aura...that is welcoming and serene.

I have also learned quite a few things from her...ginger drink and caramel pudding which she had made for us today and we loved it!! 

Thank you Josna for being a part of our life and making us relish your wonderful recipes :)  !! 

May be I am crazy...but I am happy!!

Well that's what happy people do, happy people are bit rebellious, they are bit different, bit wired, they care less about what others might be thinking of them...they go an extra mile , they ask questions, they never hesitate for asking what they want even if others think that it might sound silly...they take out time to do what they love...they are always on the move...they listen to their heart!!

Ok you might be thinking that I am crazy, maybe I am...because I am happy...I never hesitate for asking the guy at the ice cream parlour to put some extra chocolate on my  ice-cream cone...and he smiles and put it happily...I never care what people will think when I take off my sandals and jump in the stream of water in the local park...and kids watch me and they do the same... they jump in with joy...I know that I have shared my happiness with them...

I never hesitate in asking a local vegetable vendor why is he grumpy, is it because he had a bad day...well I wish whatever it is, it will be taken care by god...I know by saying so I have shared his pain as well...must have made him feel a little better if not much!!

I do what i feel like, I live in the moment!! 

May be I am crazy...but I am happy!!

Our day today - From :( to :)

We had been thinking of buying a new couch for our living room from quiet sometime and finally after going through a lot of mental work...and checking almost every third online furniture website, we ordered a couch through Snapdeal 2 weeks ago and were expecting the delivery today and guess what instead of couch, those guys dropped us a spoiler mail stating that the product can't be delivered , it's out of stock...blah blah!... that was it...we were disappointed, sad and angry...I mean who does that?? the annoying part was that it is still showing in their website as "in stock" so that tells us that their service is just bad...bad...bad...!!!

so what to do next...then we finally purchased another couch from Pepperfry...it's beautiful, much more gracious than the snapdeal one :) it will be delivered by next weekend...  

 This is sad part of story :(

now coming to the other part-

I was totally irked with the clothes designs for the young boys in the market...I mean we have so many options, designs for girls out there in terms of clothing but when it comes to boys...just those Ho-hum shirts, tees, pants and all...nothing new...come-on...don't boys have a right to dress up differently..can't we have something unique , more in the clothing for them :(

That was it!!  I thought of buying the cut fabric and getting something stitched for vihaan...something other than the "flat as a pancake" type of design... after a  lot of internet search I chose an online store Itokri...they have a wide range of cut fabric collection...

I ordered a hand screen printed cotton fabric...and insisted that they deliver it to me as soon as possible so that i can get two shirts stitched....one for Akash and one for Vihaan...{By the way I intend to do a photo shoot...Two guys will look dashing in the similar fabric!!} and to my surprise it was delivered today, in the evening, much sooner than expected date...inside the package was a beautiful note for me from the Itokri team...and a surprise gift as well...it was not the gift or the note that cheered me up but the gesture that seemed to be genuine and really sweet!! that's the real customer service, the wow factor!! 

This is happy part of the story :)

I am thankful to God...for ending my day with thought that good still exists...that there is still goodness around...that god cares for us and is watching over us all the time.

I will be doing a photo shoot of my handsome duo once the shirts get stitched!! eagerly waiting...

I am thankful :)

I am thankful for the creativity inside me :)

I am thankful :)

Because it runs my imagination wild, and I see so many different shapes casted by clouds in the sky!! We all have done it in our childhood, I still do it :)!!

By the way, in the picture below I see a cow & a bear...what do you??

I am thankful :)

I am thankful to God for giving me such good parents!!

Now that I am parents myself, I can understand that it is not a cakewalk, it requires a lot of patience, lots of love, understanding, and at times compromises as well...

I am thankful that my parents raised me the best way they could, gave me quality life, quality education, many good memories, and love in life!!

I love both of them :) from the core of my heart!!

I am thankful :)

I am so thankful for Cameras, without a camera how would I capture and save so many beautiful memories, such great stories, so much love...!!