Time to freak out

Its that time of the year when everyone looks out for a party. Wishing happiness and success to everyone of you out there, I would like to say that look forward with hope and it is the only thing that makes the world go round. Have a strong conscious and stand straight facing any obstacles and you will succeed for you know in your heart that you are right.

If you have done something that in your heart you feel wrong... then try to repair the damage. Out of goodness will emerge the most beautiful thing you need.

FYI

The open day of Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre is 2moro (6th Nov) frm 11 am to 7 pm. This is at Mall of the Emirates. With the metro, its now easily accessible... so do take ur kids over. They can get free mini sessions in a number of art - craft - dance, etc activities which can really help what they would prefer rather than we push them into. I have been there on previous two Open days and its really something I dont want to miss.


Lifestyle is having a good sale at its warehouse in Jebel Ali and the offer is one bag free with a bag. I hvnt chkd this out but its a deal. (1st to 10th Nov)

ooooooooooh where is my spare time for reading...

Had a gr8 time searching for books amongst book lovers. I found a Clive Cussler, Jackie Collins & a number of authors whom I hv never heard of... so what... I love discovering this new world of a new person. I even got a Roald Dahl frm my child. & I paid so little!!!!!!!!!!!

2day is the last day & u have till 5 pm to go to Magrudys. They are giving away a lot of books free too. There are loads of good quality black shoes for all ages. We picked one pair of gents shoes for a mere Dhs 25/- Up to u guys ... go shopping.

book lovers ........... for u

I heard the Magrudy Warehouse sale was really good & paperbooks was for Dhs 5/-. I missed that but will def make it on the cmg weekend.

See what treasures u find ...........

My Diwali Sweets

U all had a peek at my diwali sweets ...... these jewellery are my sweet tooth fascinations. Yes.. I can place orders for u. And I am not getting any payment as it is a favor to a friend of a friend. She needs new customers and I am here to help!

The costs are around Rs 1200/- for a set and if u confirm... I can let the lady know. She is based in Mumbai.

another set up

How about this one?????????

Bling it up .... party is on..

Dress up and accessorize ... I love this line of jewelery. The finishing is amazing!

The work is done in silver and given a gold polish. The set can be altered to match ur colors and delivered to ur doorstep. I loveeeee it.

Shine up the nest

Its that special time of the year again when we love shopping for diyas, lights and all to brighten our homes. I am posting this snap again coz' its real close to my heart. Glitter up ur heart and enjoy festive season at ur best!!!

Skin needs this.....

I have come across loads of people recently who has dry scruffy scratchy skin & not just in winter but any season! Blame it on airconditioning or something else but here is a home made scrub replacing soap for body wash.............

1 Tbsp Green gram powder
1 tsp Kasturi Turmeric powder (ordinary haldi will do for starters)
1 tsp Tulsi powder
1 tsp Dried neem flowers powder (optional)

Mix and add enough water to make a paste for immediate use. I prefer this as face scrub as well as body scrub. It has done wonders. Do check if u have allergies for any of the ingredients. It has made a difference for quite a number of us.

I love avocado peels and the mashed leftover to give me a softer skin. The effects are instantly felt. Just apply on cleansed skin and wash off after few mins. Its a wow effect. I love them in salads as well as milk shakes.

this one 's a stunner!

Here is a jewellery set which has captured my heart. Its made of silver with gold polish and has a guarantee for the color & gem settings. I liked the way the pearls are studded. I have seen a lot of hand made ones but this is really good. I think I want to see how this one is done. I am not sure if only one person is involved in its making but right now I am crazy about it.

Charcoal Scribbles

I had done this charcoal sketching a few years back and really enjoyed the experience. It was my 1st. There is something primitive in doing a work with a piece of charcoal. I had decided right away that I would frame it in the simplest manner.

Here is another knit piece from Vini who had gifted this to me nearly 13 years ago. It has been washed and displayed on my tea table and still retains its vibrant look. Such gifts are an absolute treasure as it has been handmade by her. Thank you from my heart.

Lols

Me and Gym

Done about 3 weeks of gym and toning ............... now thats most surprising to anyone I know. But it is better to know the in and outs when u are fit itself. Always wonderful to lose inches of flab. Right now I am feeling good coz' I am meeting new people. Hopefully another two weeks before I take a break. Lots of plans in the air and hope that goes thru.

Read another two books of Wilbur Smith and as always it was what I need.

I used to have a key chain collection from a long time right thru childhood. Maybe that's a fascination which lead to this picture below. Its from our crystal collection and has magnets to hold it on to the fridge. It is a bird house magnet with an inspiration from key collection.

I am trying to find some time to do some work with gel candles. I do have the raw material ready but something is keeping me back. I do hope I can get a piece ready so that I can give it as a gift this summer.

Chakde to Chakda!

This beautiful piece of hand embroidered work is called Chakda and is sourced from the wonderland of Gujarat done by Vini. I love your work and shortly I am going to feature your knitted table centrepiece which looks gorgeous even after 13 years.

This art knowledge is what I call an inheritance you get from your mom which is invaluable. Till your mid-twenties, you dont want to learn anything from them and then it trickles down to you how much you need them, want their special know-how. Do seize that moment as much as possible as it is never too late to start.

Salads and Flowers ... Welcome the Summer with the airconditioning

There are bargains and discounts all around you but the shopping on display is so stale that one cannot bother to check it out. Looks like new merchandise isnt just coming in! So I better stick to some cooking 2day............ I love making salads especially with a dressing so light that excludes mayo. I had seen this way long back on tv : squeeze out lemon juice into a cup and add a slit green chilly along with a dash of salt and a little sugar. Let them dissolve and strain this juice into ur salad. For the salad, you can include diced cucumber, grated carrots, diced yellow, orange peppers, corn, a few rasins, ripe avocado, skinned and chopped apples........ the list goes on. I just pick whatever is at home. I have this salad salt from my sis in Germany that gives the salad a better flavor or u can add a bit of black salt to. Summer is here and I stay away from my kitchen, especially hot stuff, as possible. So sipping on a tall glass of Khus juice with a dash of lime and lots of ice, I can relax with a good book.

The other day, I was decorating a wedding car with roses, diamonte crystals and more flowers and the lesson I learnt was whatever the weather go for artificial flowers as much as possible!!! The lovely look lasted only for half a day. But how could I resist fresh flowers when I am in the garden city, Bangalore. When you stay in Dubai, you just know how much those fresh flowers make your heart sing. They bring you memories of being called Mogra Bai (Jasmine lady). Hey... that also reminds me when I was called Flower as some people couldnt pronounce my simple name!!!

I have seen a salad made with flowers too in Thailand. How could I eat them ......... its like being a carnivore when one is vegetarian.

Blogs and followers

A long time no see is happening with me mainly due to the fact that there are loads of things to distract me. But then I started getting a real good feeling about this blog frm so many friends........ truly i am blessed. Friends are what makes my world go around!

I am going to feature a beautiful embroider's work...... if ur thoughts are beautiful, u are one too and ur work is surely one for me!!

I can hear u all but I dont see ur comments or u as a follower which is vital to my blog.

The person I follow already has a huge fan following...... Amitabh Bachchan and his blog is certainly awesome. I adore his writing. Do check his blog up at bigb.bigadda.com and u can discover urself.

Happy Holi to everyone. Its fun time with colors and a big welcome to Spring especially since exam days are a thing of the past from 2day!!!

I am going to play with water as color is scarce here. Still someone saved up last year's Gulal and smeared me making me a willing participant. We were getting smiles from a whole lot of people who would otherwise pass as usual.

Rang de to all of u........have a vibgyor time.

Crochet, Swarovski and Exams

I needed a stress buster. Rather than learn Chinese like my close friend, I tried to remember my crochet skills and got my M-i-l to start me off. I restarted doing a piece of crochet which I had done some 14 yrs ago. There are so many art forms that are known to people around us and we appreciate the same in strangers. Though I regret not learning more crochet from my m-i-l, it is now that I have the patience. May be it was meant to be. Like I said to my cousin, moms know a lot more than us... only we think we are a step better. Retrace and find the hidden gems. I gave a few swarovski beads to my mom and she made me a unique charm so dazzling, it floored me totally. What does ur mom know... learn it up starting 2day!

There's an exam fever going on too... almost ending. So this year I gave my 7th grade and 1st grade all over again. I told my female offspring that she better do Commerce as I wont have to look at her books in future but she insists on revising my degree!

Of Gulab Jamuns and painting trials

Yesterday I got a great recipe for Gulab Jamuns without the calorie laden Khoya and I ran home to make it. Turned out absolutely lovely. All I had to do is mix 2gether one and half cup of milk powder, half cup of maida, half cup of yoghurt, one tablespoon of rava and half teaspoon each of baking powder and baking soda and two tablespoon ghee to make a soft dough with a easy hand. Make round balls and fry on a low heat in Canola oil. Keep ready a sugar syrup with little vanilla sugar extra and saffaron and put the fried balls in to soak. The Gulab Jamuns were not too soft as I feared but with right consistency and fluffy enough. Gorgeous and low (cut off by a good measure) calorie sweet. With the milk powder prices dropping and price list of eateries increasing, I think this is perfect to do a bit of cooking. Thanx Sabs ... all credit goes to u on this. No picture will do enough justice.

Meanwhile we were trying our hand at One Stroke painting........ I have to get new brushes and paints but the old ones were ok for trial. It looks like I need to practise more. Hopefully I can do a new work shortly and post here for u to see. Right now I am having Nach Na Jaane, Aangen Theda attitude to overcome!!!!

lights and love

A few hand crafted ceramic flowers on a wrought iron candle light stand with hand painted glasses to help you bring in a whiff of romance.............. lols

have u heard????

There is an andolan in support of Valentine called Pink Chaddies... quite a cheeky way. The consortium (as the campaigners are calling themselves) are going to send lingerie to a person opposing Valentine's Day. What a fun way to do so!! Everything is commercialised anyway so this campaign celebration is more interesting than listening to romance stories. I hope I get to read what happened.......

The Heart Blooms hanging is handmade crystal art with ceramic flowers .. .one of our creations which is hanging from my chandelier. If you like, I can make one similar with red roses for ur V day.

Love as always....... lols

Shop till u drop

Its major shopping time if u have the cash. The last few days of DSF and if you do see a beautiful piece, it should be yours unless of course you didnt wait for me and started shopping a month back. Now is the time to pick up a few deals or if the cash is short, June will be good month.

I was reading a blog a few minutes ago. If one describes an incident which is simply true, it is not accepted. Thodi si jhoot dalo, tho hi log kahenge yeh to sahi hai!! When will Simplicity get its dues as it is always in Style!!

Simple words are from great people

There are some great people out in this world only you are so busy doing nothing that it escapes you. Last week two people have impressed me through the news media. One of them is Amitabh Bachchan. I read his blog and became hooked. Truly a magnificient read. His narrative style is so easy flowing.

The second person's quote reminded me of my childhood and how I was always taught by my father that if you are right and true, you dont have to panic in the worst situation. Keep confidence and have a backup plan. I apply this even to my kids' project. Mr Subramanian Ramadorai, CEO TCS, India, said "[My upbringing] was very routine in terms of very strong middle-class values," Ramadorai says. "It is ingrained in you that you had to do well in mathematics, that you have to be in science, that you have to perform your morning prayers with rigour."

The simplest words touch the most. Find these gems and enrich your lives.

Lols

2009 giggles

I keep thinking what should I add that makes a gr8 read on my blog. It makes me feel good to keep thinking but hardly much as my thoughts are like butterflies and they flit to another thought very much sooner than a few blinks. Like I was adamant that I am gonna diet a bit and started dipping strawberries in condensed milk to bite into!!!!! But I may be forgiven there as I dont know how to diet at all since i hardly had that problem for long. I have been size zero for such a long time that I eat almost whatever I care for.

2day while I was cooking, I picked up a pack of grated coconut & was giggling away remembering an incident... my sis was here frm Germany and we are totally apart right down to life styles. I was at the hypermarket with her and gave a few coconuts to be scraped at a counter. As usual, i was asked to come back after 10 mins. My sis only saw me depositing the coconuts. She was quietly following me around. After we finished & were driving off, she asked me how does the coconut counter guy come to know which customer gave the coconut & how's it billed? I was showing off how covenient it is for us here & how she has to make to do with coconut powder instead. That's when I realised that I hadnt picked it up back after 10 mins. My balloon lost a bit of air quite suddenly..... now it made me giggle alone.

A very happy new year 2009 and hope its a new episode and not re-telecast of 2008. Time heals and changes things. So lets all have the most imp element "Hope" in our lives forever.

I had a good time all December with outings, guests, babies and loads of presents!! What a wonderful holiday break it was for most of the kids had no school & nil H.w. practically all month.

For those who have shopping on the agenda, we have a good sale at Max but all good things get over soon. I searched & searched and 2nd visit I had a gr8 top for my girl for just Dh 20/-. A real gem in black. There are good comfy stuff for housewear which can be worn for that quick trip to the grocery downstairs as well.

I & sis went for a visit to Dubai mall and saw the aquarium paying 25 bucks and we felt ripped off! I dont think it warrants that amount... what do u say?