Happiness is....

... seeing my little nephew have my husband wrapped tightly around his little fingers! The delight on hubbs face when that little fella slobbers all over his face is hilarious :-D. This from somebody who I haven't seen being v comfortable with infants :)

Tell me whats happiness for you?

Linking this to Thursday Challenge -"Happy"  and WT Write fest Day 6. The task for the day is "Ask a question".

The Quest for life....

... Begins when you realize, 'YOU' are insignificant.......

Clicked by Pheno @ Sravanbelagola

Linking this to AtoZ challenge - Q is for Quest ..

A Plate Of...

See what's been on our menu over past few weeks!  I assure they tasted as yummy as they look here... Now if you need details on the recipe, pls do feel free to reach out to my resident-chef Pheno :-D (errr blame him for this food-porn too)

Golgappas with  a difference anybody - That dash of Vodka makes a difference Indeed :-D

Savory Tarts :-D

Now for this finger-licking good Pork Rib came from Cory :-D

Linking this to AtoZ challenge - P is for Panipuri\Pie\PorkRibs :-D

11 Things Every Woman Should Write Down.....

There's no better way to celebrate the rich, full life you've lived so far—and the big, bright future ahead—than telling your story!

The ever diligent Shilpa (Yo that's the word I associate with you, Shilpa) has tagged me in her post to complete this very interesting list complied by Oprah  -  11 Things Every Woman Should Write Down Before the Year Ends!

Go on, read my story so far...

1. What Younger You Would Like About Present You

For having a 'life' .. a life beyond the every day rut of living. A life revolving around books, friends, blogging - how these simple things make a huge difference to the quality of life!  Another facet I am truly proud of is the fact that I am somebody many would think twice before picking a squabble with!

2. The Watched/Read It List

Courtesy Goodreads, today I have the complete  list of books I have read through the year and a even bigger list of "to-read" books. Go on, visit my page to see what's on my bookshelf this year! Though I have managed to read only 34 of the 50 books I signed up for, it was a beautiful journey of books this year!

As for movies, I already have a list of movies I am hoping to watch the coming year !

3. The Mistake You Never Want to Make 

A mistake I was very close to making, but then as usual the fate had the last laugh! To bring a child to the world for sake of society and not cause you want to bring a child into the world. I see many couples popping out a child within a year or so of marriage - its almost as if producing a child is the one and only obligation in marriage! No child really deserves it.....

The irony though is that today I am more than ready to welcome a child into our life but we have been having no luck in conceiving one :-/

4. Your Ideal Outfit

Am sitting at home writing this post in my comfy PJs ... indeed my ideal outfit ;). But on a serious note, I would love to have more of western formal attire in my wardrobe - well blame my 'personal shoppers' (read my sis n Sabs) for the lack of it :-P

5. A Deep, Dark—Shhh—Secret

Let it remain that way huh ;)

6. The Most Unexpected Compliment You Ever Got

This must be somewhere in grade eight or so. Nobody until then had ever complimented me for my "looks" - instead in their foolishness had made me an awkward and conscious teenager. So it was a pleasant surprise when my class teacher signed my autograph book complimenting me on my radiant smile . I still remember the exact words she wrote! Haa the difference a simple compliment makes to a teenagers psyche

7. That One Quote

When life hands you a lemon make lemonade (or better still get some tequila!).

8. The Best Surprise You've Ever Had

Must be indeed the peter pan of my life - my husband. He truly lives up to the adage "Like father, Like Husband" ;). What more can a daddy's gal want... especially considering I  married him a couple of months after I lost my daddy!

9. Your True Happiness 

Lies in the small things in life....

 The simple pleasures of reading a good book, watching a good movie, of traveling, of rustling up a good meal together and of good times! By no standards do we lead a fancy life - I dream of traveling around the world, of a better home, of a decent bank balance and a complete family. But as my peter pan says "It's the journey, not the destination, that really matters"!

10. Your Favorite Failure

For having ditched the damn software engineer job. Funnily I was good at it, but always knew at the back of my mind that it's not what I want to do! Today my job doesn't pay me half as much as a programming job would have -  but  I know, I have made a change for good! Though honestly there are times I regret it -  for the extra penny it would have paid along with the foreign assignments!I Am still optimistic that time will erase this teeny-weeny regret a day soon!

11. An Amendment to the Bucket List

Ho the slacker in me would love to slash out a few items in my bucket list - to read and write Malayalam(my mother tongue), to give driving another shot among other things - but lets leave the list as is for now - shall we?

An interesting questionnaire rt. I will tag Cory who originally shared this list with us.... I am sure she will have a v interesting story to share with all of us!

With this, I bid 2013 a warm adios and welcome 2014 which am hoping is a more happier and fruitful year......

Grateful.....

...A prayer on my lips, I send up a prayer of thanks to the forces up above for preventing a disaster from happening! I cant even begin to think what would have happened if the battery had exploded when the phone was in his hands or close to the ears! Thank You is all I can say.......

Shared Below is Hubbs FB status today - this incident happened just a couple of hours back....

******************

 

ATTENTION Samsung S4 USERS - I had a very narrow escape today . I felt my Samsung S4 grow very hot and immediately opened the mobile and put the battery on the table. It exploded right in front of my eyes and started spewing smoke resulting in a fire alarm in my office building. The room could not be entered for a while due to the toxic fumes. I am really lucky to have escaped otherwise the results could have been catastrophic. These phones are dangerous....... Look at the state of the battery....... Had I not taken the battery out even the phone would have melted and burnt me.

A Haiku...

Have you checked out the latest challenge at WT? This time its a haiku contest.... all you have to do is pen a Haiku around this pic

the blooming berries
nurtured by sun, rain and love
planters eyes aglow

Go ahead submit your Haiku. You may end up winning a framed copy of this picture from the photographer himself(A co-incidence totally that he happens to be my beta Half ;) )

Free Write - Amms in Bangalore!

"Free Write" was the  prompt for the week at WT.

What is a free write? It is essentially writing without conscious thought.
Most free writes go like this: You write down whatever comes into your mind for 15 straight minutes either as a word purge (no topic at all) or on a prompt. You could read more about it here

Now writing without a prompt would have been disastrous for somebody as fickle-minded as me! So while I was clear I would be writing about my niece, I let the words flow. Here is the final draft with not much of editing. Tell me how you liked it!

 --------------------------------------------

 Last week was dedicated to my little niece who was here on a short vacation. Through her, I lived my dream of  a complete family - “Ma, Pa N the little One”! Just drove home the fact that am more than ready to start a family ~~ Hoping it’s a day soon!

Another facet that her visit reaffirmed is my love fo weaving stories and I couldn’t have asked for a better audience than the little one. We spent a day each at Thar Desert, Ooty and even experienced the bitter Chicago winters. We woke up to morn yoga on Goa beaches, had a nice continental breakfast, sunbathed with Mr & Mrs. Adam before flying down to London to meet the queen ;).  And when all this traveling was getting to us, we had a career makeover and became a fisherman and farmer in turns :-D. Her incessant question of “So where\What are we today” even when she wakes up in the middle of the night is all the ego boost I needed :-D.

A Day in Thar!

Today after she’s left, I miss the daily thirty mins late night session in the park – just her and me swinging gently, weaving these stories and getting lost in far far away lands … bliss!!

Now for all that she enjoys this story telling sessions, I wonder why she hasn’t yet taken to reading - this when her house is filled with Amar Chitra Kathas and many others. Is it cause nobody has taken the pain to read it to her? Maybe she should have started with something simpler – something she enjoys and then slowly upgraded the reading standards! Her frustration when I insisted that she reads “Charlie and Chocolate Factory was obvious – does she feel reading is a chore and so doesn’t really enjoy it?

Amms, I miss you darling… muah!

Food Stories ** Day 4 - Festival Of Words **

"Write Tribe" the amazing write club am a part of  is hosting its first festival of words from 1-7 Sep on the theme "Seven". You could get more details about it here....

Am choosing to write of the seven loves of my life.... 

If you been in this space for sometime you know that food is my one true love! But when somebody taking the effort to cook up a dish simply cause u like it - it speaks volumes of their love for you!  So every 3 months, Pheno's 87 year old Grandmother religiously sends across home made(by her!) "Idli Podi"(Locally called "Gun Powder" as it can be explosive to your taste buds :-D)  simply cause it's his favorite.

Off late, she's been bed ridden for few months due to a recent Gall bladder removal surgery that she had to undergo and is now barely on her foot! But when she heard that we have exhausted our stock of her "gun powder" absolutely nothing could deter her from dragging herself into the kitchen and hand roasting-pounding until her signature "podi" is ready exactly how her grandson loves it!! If this doesn't speak of her love for him I dono what does.....

Thou it ought to be a family "secret", I will be generous enough to share it with you ;)

1. Boiled rice           1 cup
2. Urad dal              A handful
3. Chana dal            as above
4. White til               one level table spoon
5. Hing                    half tea spoon
6. Whole pepper      1 teaspn
7. Red dry chilly       12  ( more according to taste)
8. Jeera  :                 half teaspoon
9. Salt                      2  teaspn(  or accrdng to taste) 

 Method:

Dry roast  items 1   to 6  except  hing  till  nicely  fried (Rice should  be  crisp). While frying red chilly use a little oil. Hing and salt can be added while grinding. You can also roast curry leaves and add to it. Allow it to cool. Grind coarsely. The powder should not be very fine. 

Day 1 - Festival Of Words....

"Write Tribe" the amazing write club am a part of  is hosting its first festival of words from 1-7 Sep on the theme "Seven". You could get more details about it here....

Am choosing to write of the seven loves of my life......

 Speaking of love, As on yesterday I finished 6 years of marriage  with pheno who ensures that the journey of life is indeed an 'Phenomenon' come rain or sunshine......
 

Journey of Life.....

As we embark on the "seven year itch" journey, here is hoping this year will bring us more luck, hope and happiness :). N of course more goodies, more hols, more laughter.....

Lost Treasure!

Meethi was babysitting her next door toddler. She picked up few curios from around the house to entertain him. After play time, Meethi indulgently lets the boy carry one of them home.

But all hell broke lose when Meethi’s husband returned back home and saw it missing. He declared that it wasn’t just a curio -  he had jealously safeguarded it all his life! He demanded that she goes pronto to neighbours house and bring back his “lost treasure”!

Meethi rolled her eyes as she presented her husband’s “lost treasure” back to him – a toy car from his school days!!!.

This is NON FICTIOUS piece written in repsonse to 100 Words on Saturday prompt of "Lost Treasure" At Writetribe. No prizes for guessing who the character Meethi is sketched after! Here is one of hubbs many "treasures" that he refuses to part with!

The Valentines Day Gift!

It was their first Valentine's day together. Chandan had already picked a designer watch for Payal - it didn't need much of a thought considering she has been sporting a humble HMT watch for the few months he has known her.

They were engaged to be married in few months - a typical arranged marriage they stepped about awkwardly around each other . Chandan considered Payal a bit too 'rustic' for his taste - but she had a gusto for life that never failed to charm him. Just last weekend, he had whisked her away to his apartment for a impromptu date - he rustled up the only dish he could fix with some aplomb - pancake doused with his favourite Hershey's sauce.  But the way her eyes danced with glee as she took her first ever bite of pancakes was a delight to watch - Haa the small joys of life that he relived through her.....

Valentines day happened to fall in midst of a busy work day for Chandan - as he hopped from one meeting to another, he received a call from the reception desk informing him about a parcel. He was excited to see that it was from Payal - thou was a wee bit disappointed when he unpacked it and saw a bottle of Hershey's chocolate sauce along with the regular mushy mushy Archies card. Never a ardent fan of mushy mushy things, Chandan skimmed through the card - but his eyes slowly popped out as he read the last line in the card - "I can think of much more delectable places than pancake to douse the chocolate sauce with.... Let your imagination soar ;)". He was blushing so much that he had cover his face with his hands as he lifted the phone to call her....

Picture Credit: MorgueFile (http://mrg.bz/LsH3I1)

This part-fiction was written as this week’s prompt at Write Tribe.

Keep the 'Change"!

.... N that's exactly what hubbs n sabs are upto in this pic...

Look closely ~~ they are exchanging notes on their respective coin collections n even bartering a few! Now now how many of u know people who in their 30s still harbor these hobbies!! Here's BTW a deco of sabs coin collection... I will save hubbs for another day, another contest!

Linking this to may Photo a day contest for the prompt 'Change'

In my mailbox ...

Today in our mailbox was a courier with the latest Jeffery Archer book "Best Kept Secret" autographed by the author! This parcel was for Phenomenon  - a prize for winning a local radio quiz competition :)

The pics have been clicked by urs truly but collage is  courtesy Sabs :)

 This is part of May photo a day contest for the prompt "mailbox"

Smile with me.......

... as with this post I finish the 500th post in my blog :). Here is something yummm to make the celebrations complete....

Now this was baked by hubbs to bring in my sisters Anniversary! Loooks yummmm doesnt it :). So here is the catch - the cake 'sunk' in as soon as it was out of the oven but we aint the ones who gets discouraged by these minor details. So with a v calm elan, the ugly depression bang in the center of the cake was filled with 'Gems' n lo ;)

Speaking of smiles, here is a pic that sure brings a smile to my face  - the simple pleasures of childhood....

Sabs Says "Similar yet different"!

 Linking this to May Photo A Day Challenge for the prompt "Smile"

Living on the edge....

.. Hubbs gives a new meaning to it by indulging in his hobby of 'Knife Collection'. Here have a decko of Knives in all sizes n shapes that he has collected till date....

This I know is a v modest collection - but yea its a start! The longest one (err should i call it a sword) was picked from around Amristar golden temple n then lugged around to Chennai, Hyderabad before reaching bangalore(Can u imagine the security checks he must have had to pass!)! The eagle shaped one is a gift from his mom on his bday. In the last row, the right most one is from Africa while the other two are "Kukri" from North-east(commonly carried around by the Nepali Gurkhas) picked while on a hol there!

So which of the lot did u like the most?

Linking this to May photo a day challenge for the prompt - shapes

Book Review: Hammer of Eden by Ken Follett

This is a guest post courtesy Hubbs. Now over to him...

I have always been fond of Ken Follett. His unfolding of a story is tantalizing and as well as gripping.

Pic Courtesy: Google

In the book - Hammer of Eden - he takes the most unlikely of concepts and makes it a terrifying
thought. Imagine a bunch of commune dwelling radicals having the idea and finding the means to set off controlled earthquakes just to bring down the urban egocentric and conceited know-it-alls. Follett has done some extensive research on seismic studies to pull this off.

I will of course not cover the story thereby ruining all the excitement. What I will do is recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a thriller at breakneck speed.

A warning to the busy bodies.... You might leave ur daily activities and finish the book at one go :-P. So if you are prepared for this go for it and savor the complete essence of Ken Follett. Go on get hammered... 

Linking this to AtoZ challenge - K is for Ken Follett

"Jack N Jill" Retold.....

Here is a retelling of the fav poem "Jack N Jill" put together by Hubbs.

Jack and Jill
In high places
Reckless
the great escape
Strong Medicine

This was a part of then spine poetry contest conducted 2 months back.  I have spoken abt "Spine Poetry" here - You could also visit their FB page to know more.

Another one that he put together that day is my fav thou ~~ with a dark Undertone to it

Aghora
Fifty Shades Darker
The Art of Dying
Every Second Counts
Bringing Up the Bodies

 So tell me which one did u like?

Linking this to AtoZ Challenge - J is for a retelling of Jack n Jill!

Insatiable...

.. is what my "mood" emoticon should read :-). But err can u blame me when my resident-chef is on a cooking spree... Hv a decko on what was on menu over last few days......

A  cheesy frittata with the works for the appetizer?

A Beef steak medium well-done with pepper sauce and Mashed potatoes!

A Tiramisu experiment with mascapone cheese, Kahlua, Coffee powder and dark Chocolate!

 Pics n ofcourse all the cooking is courtesy Hubbs :-D

Linking this to ABC Wednesday (I is for Insatiable)

Valentine day.....

.... Should be symbolic of the true loves of our life! Now who says that its only ur "Special somebody" who can be the "Love of your life". It could be anybody from your niece to your pet dog to your best friend rt.....

So imagine the high that hubbs is in on this special day for he is been gifted with what can only be called as one of his many "true loves in life" -  by his SIL on the valentines day eve!

So without any further ado let me introduce this "special something" that has hubbs positively glowing ..... A pair of "pluggers" :-D (Jus a fancy term for funky sandals - the kind that you would wear on beach)

All of u allowed to roll ur eyes at this juncture for how can  a pair of sandals can give a man in his 30s a high(beats me too!)! But  plz remember its ma hubbs we talking of who is truly in love with his shoes-sandals n the fact that there is a ongoing curfew at our house on buying more shoes-sandals. The curfew is simply cause he already has 30+ pairs of shoes-sandals(!!!!).

Here is a pic frohttp://capturedalive.wordpress.com/m his blog, to commentate this day.......

PS: This post originated post a conversation on FB with Mridula

Chef in action

That's my fav chef in his elements  ;).

The apron is courtesy my sis n the wok was on his wish-list for so long that yours truly finally gifted it to him on his bday. The glee on his face was akin to a child gifted with his favorite toy :-).  Now tell me how many men do you know who has kitchen appliances on his wish list!

PS: Errrrr for the uninitiated the chef pictured here is ma hubs ;-) N the next item on wish list is barbeque, blender, kitchen processor... yea the list jus goes on n on **Roll-My-eyes**
Now will somebody explain him the dynamics of a clutter free kitchen!

Linking this to ABC Wednesday(C is for Chef)