Category: Uncategorized

Uncategorized

The craft hour

MysTri Mum4 Comments

Its the Valentine month. So,we made some cards. Aadi chose the paper and I cut out hearts from them.Aadya loves stickers and this was the first time she handled glue and she was so excited.She did confuse it with paint at first,painting being her first love and all.Then,I showed her that she can stick with it and then she was on the roll..She was pasting hearts so fast,getting impatient with me,for cutting it slow.
The thing about being a pre-schooler is tha they find even trash,interesting.She loved even the windows that were left after the hearts were cut..looking at them in awe,saying Woww with each window that I kept aside..
And after we finished making cards for mummy and daddy,she insisted on making one each for Friend S and her hubby too.
Here’s what we came up with-

We used readymade cards and hand made paper from the scrapbooking aisle of the reject shop.I just cut hearts and she pasted them,as she liked.
She is enjoying these craft sessions more and more.This will be our entry for this contest.
Edited to add- Can someone tell me how I can upload an audio file here?I tried but,it didn’t happen.

Mumma's Kitchen · Uncategorized

Light Daal Makhani

MysTri Mum4 Comments

[Edited to add pictures]

I love playing with recipes..In another era,I could tell the ingredients in a dish,just by tasting it.Now,I have mommy-brainitis and can’t focus enough on eating,without,yelling at the child to stop running around or to chew her food properly.But,I learnt lot of my cooking,by just taste and tell and try and try till you succeed.
Daal Makhani has been my favorite since childhood..and I love making it for my friends and family.But,much as I love the yummy creamy dal,I am not too fond of the calories.And I love playing around with my ingredients.This is one recipe,I tried got it right on the first go..and so it was easy for me to tweak it,to make it low cal.

Here you go-

You Need-
2 cups black Daal(whole Urad daal)
1/2 cup Rajma(Red Kidney Beans)
1 medium sized onion(finely chopped)
1 medium sized tomato(finely chopped)
1/2 tsp grated garlic
1 tsp grated ginger
1 tsp cummin seeds
2 tsp oil
2 tsp corriander-cummin powder
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garam masala
salt to taste
3 tsps low fat butter(I used the olive oil spread by Bertolli)
1/2 cup low fat milk

Preparation-
Wash and soak the black Daal and kidney beans in warm water with plenty of water.Typically 6-8 hours is enough to soak.
Heat oil in a pressure cooker.Add the cummin seeds,let it cackle.Add chopped onions,fry till golden brown.Add the ginger and garlic..stir and add chopped tomato,followed by the soaked Daal and beans ,salt and spices.
Add 3-4 cups of water.(I don’t measure it,I eye-ball it..the water should be enough to cover the beans and then some.)
Pressure cook (4-5 whistles or 20 minutes).
After you take the cooker,off the flame,let it cool a little.Wait till all the steam goes out.Then,add the milk and butter,stirring while adding.Simmer for 5 minutes,garnish with fesh corriander leaves and thin ginger sticks.
Serve hot with Roti or rice.

Uncategorized

For the love of tomatoes

MysTri Mum9 Comments


Here’s presenting-The first tomato from our kitchen garden..Ta..da…

And here’s a little girl,who’s loved tomatoes since ever since she took her first bite of one..

Back from a grocery run..It was like she could smell the tomatoes..She would ignore all the grocery bags and reach for the one,which had tomatoes in it.She never looked..just reached in and pulled out one..How she knew which bag to look in..No idea!

And enjoying the fruit,yet again..

And can you guess what happenned to the star of our garden??Well..we checked on it every day,waited for it to turn RED and then,waited patiently for Mamma to take a pic and then,promptly,popped it in our mouth..to enter the tomato heaven…Aaah!!
Editted to add-I had some crazy thoughts niggling at the back of my mind,after I posted to pics..so deleted one!

Uncategorized

The budding composer-My daughter

MysTri Mum7 Comments

Yes,you read it right!
We were over at Friend S’s place and after dinner were sitting around.Dinner was this most amazing Mutton curry..Everyone else had rice and mutton curry..while I had some curry and some yogurt.A very fillng meal and then had half a GJ for dessert.
So we were sitting around and another friend’s kid had got this microphone toy,that was really cool.So,started the little diva’s performance..first she just said hellos..then she sang on demand..singing “Meri Khushiyan,meri duniya” from Hey baby.That’s her most favorite song.Then,she said,I will sing something about my munnu shonu(her baby)..And she goes-
“Hello my munnu shonuuuuu..I am going to pick you up and put you in the strollerrrrrr..and put you in the stroooller.Ohh my munnu shooonu..Oh my sweetie pie!”
Claps clap..Next song please
“I-eyeeee Am Aadyaaaaa..AAdyaaaa has a car-seat..car-seat..Papa is sitting in the carrrr seattt..and mummyy alsooooooooo.”Someone snickered and she glared and said..Don’t spoil my song!!!
I am still reeling in shock from this..My baby composing her own songs with real tunes! Another friend R,actually wanted to know which song she was singing..
A big Kala Tikka..May her life always be so melodious.

Uncategorized

Plain sheets..hate’em..

MysTri Mum5 Comments

So,I don’t know why I can’t find good printed bed spreads here.I bought some in India,this time but had to leave them behind,because of lack of space…so I just have to bear the plain sheets..but they are like a speck of dirt in my eye.I won’t be comfortable till,I don’t jazz them up.
I have the plain sheets in-beige,maroon and ink-blue..I know I know..yuck… but it was the need of time.When you make a cross-county move with nothing but 4 suitcases and have to set up a home,from scratch..the last thing you want to spend on is sheets.We picked up the cheapest sheets available.They are nice and soft..but just too plain.
Oh and I also have this gorgeous deep purple set,that someone gifted me,but again,its all plain.So,I am thinking what can I do to jazz up the sheets..
1) Dye them…batik style
2) Dye them…Bandhani style
3) patchwork
4) embroidery-Too tedious…
5) Paint them…

What else can I do with them?Any ideas?

Uncategorized

My day today

MysTri Mum4 Comments

..was just a normal day..nothing special about it..but I have a headache and want to write a no-brainer..to keep up with Nablopomo.
It was a beautiful day…slight drizzle in the morning.Just my kinda day.I love these,cool mornings,after it has just stopped raining.Everything seems so bright and clear,as if God took a big brush and scrubbed all the dirt away.I woke up,weighed myself..lost a few 100 gms and that cheered me up,instantly.Yesterday the scale showed that I had gained a few 100 gms..and so I was bummed.I know I know I shouldn’t check the weight everyday bt I am trying to get a pattern..of what increases and what decreases my weight..
Anyway,morning rituals done with,I sat down to do my yoga.I have slowly learned to stop cocking my ear to listen for Aadi.I used to feel a little guilty about taking this time for myself,but I dont anymore.Those 20 minutes each morning are pure blisss and they kickstart my day like never before.
Aadi woke up,just as I was putting the water for tea..turned the gas off and started the drama of brushing the child’s teeth.She refuses to rinse-and-spit..COZ,”My t-shirt will get wet MOM!” Thankfully,got through that without any tears or tantrums.B’fast was peaceful too.
Then started the demands for cookies.I offered to go get some.No,she wanted me to bake some.So,we decided to bake.And bake we did..that’s another story,that we messed up the oven settings and burned the first batch..the second batch was yumm.I know I know..will post the recipe later..But burnt or not,EVERY LAST Crumb is gone !
Lunch was terrible..No it tasted fine..but lunch-time was terrible.Aadi didn’t want to eat her lunch and cried screamed all the time..as a result,I ate too fast ..you know to drown the noise..I wish meal-times were tear-free!I think I need to just do a drashti for her!:(
Post-lunch,we did some crafting..Today,we made Valentine cards and made sand print/paint cards.Yes Yes,pics..tomorrow.
Evening was alright..between lunch and evening there was one more crying session ..I dont remember why,because by then,I had a head-ache starting at the back of my right eye..It just got worse.Friend S called up to ask,if we should cook together.I told her,about my grand plans of Curd-rice for the husband and and daughter and Soup and cracked wheat Salad for myself and said that they were welcome to have the curd-rice.She mumbled something about my suddenly boring diet..I took a deep breath and told her and myself..its for a little while and for a VERY GOOD Cause.When I first started the diet..I sort of anticipated this kind of reaction and so was prepared for it.Anyway,they took a raincheck and went away to a thai place instead.We ate in! 😀
Then we went out to the Reject Shop to get some craft supplies for this challenge over at Shruti’s.I have come to love the Reject Shop,the australian equivalent of a dollar-tree..though,not everything is for a dollar. Oh and bought Aadya her first Paper cutting Scissors!!Yay! We remembered about the scissors after paying for the other stuff and they dont accept card for an amount less than $10.My purse was at home..And that was the perfect recipe for a meltdown.Aadi cried and cried until,finally she comprehended that we were going home to get some MONEY for her scissors.We came home,got the change and went back,its a short drive and she had fallen asleep.
We spent the evening watching 20-20 world cup..The head-ache is still here..but..we made it through the day..:D
Does anybody,Somebody..have any pointers on dealing with the screaming and crying?I have had it with the screaming..More later ..Have a good weekend.

Uncategorized

Being a Mom

MysTri Mum11 Comments

I recieved this as a forward from a friend–

Did you ever think like this….A human body can bear up to 45 dell(unit) of pain.But at the time of giving birth, a woman feels up to 57 dell of pain. This is similar to 20 bones getting fractured at a time…So love your MOM…..!!!!

And right at the end of the email was this –

And I had to blog about it.
This pic is so US-as in Aadya and me.
Aadi has been a cuddler since birth.She loves snuggling up to us,in bed and even through out the day,she needs to be close to us..when we are watching TV,she is almost on one of us,so much so,we have to push her away.But,immediately after she has woken up,in the morning or after a nap,the cuddles are non-negotiable.And then,it has to be only Mummy,giving her those cuddles.If I cuddle her on the bed,she mumbles in that half-asleep-half-awake state..Coach(couch) pe chalo..So,we go out to the living room,on to the couch..and settle down..and we stay that way,till the pricess is ready to wake up..She nuzzles my neck,touches my face,turns this way and that and then,sleeps some more.She darts me annoying looks,if I reach for the remote or my phone.If I am reading a book,she keeps squirming,till I don’t put it away,and hold her with both hands,resting my chin on her head..I expect all these reactions and still do it each time,just to get those reactions.
When she is satisfied with her cuddles,I get showered with kisses..I hold her close a little longer,breathing in that baby smell..of her hair,her mouth…and she obliges..then breaks away,only to say …Mom,can I get some water/dudu now?

…Sigh…
My fuse has been really short with Aadi for the last few days..I dunno if its her whining or my PMS hormones..But I think,this pic was all I needed to calm down.I was feeding her(remember she refuses to eat on her own these days) and she was fooling around..I yelled,whacked her hand for playing with her food..rapped her on the head,lightly for not opening her mouth on time..and then,the I clicked the preview button and saw the picture..I put her bowl away,hugged her tight,kissed her hurt away..and then sat down to write the post…its straight from my mind’s eye..so I am not going to edit this..I will leave it for the days,when she is just driving me up the wall!

Uncategorized

The writing is up on the wall

MysTri Mum2 Comments

..er..Door!
This was supposed to be a christmas surprise..but the unexpected India trip,washed off most of my plans.Not tbat I regret that..I had so much fun.Any way,
I got these wooden alphabets from the hardware store(Bunnings),the home depot kinds.

Three coats of acrylic paint(on hind-sight I think spray paint would work too!) and some random drawings later,the alphabets were ready to adorn the door.I had a bunch of fridge magnets,that came in the mail,you know the restaurant/real-estate card types.And I had put them away for ‘craft’.So,I cut them in 12 strips.I stuck 6 strips on the back of the alphabets,(2 on the D) and stuck the remaining 6 on the door.Then,let the magnets do their work.
Ta..Da..

Cost-
Wooden Alphabets- $0.89 (*5)=$4.45
Color-from the stash
Magnets- Free.(recycled!)
And the excitement on the child’s face is what makes me one happy Crafty maa.

Uncategorized

Weighty Wednesday

MysTri Mum12 Comments

Its Wednesday and I was looking forward to post today.I am happy to report that I have knocked off another 1.2 kg!and lost a total of 2.5 inches-1 inch off the waist,1 off the hips and 1/2 from bust.I am kicked! .I had measured myself last time on the 22nd of January.
I have been very determined and have been working hard.And by working hard,I don’t mean only excercise..in general,I am trying to stay on my feet for as long as possible.
Along with this I started some Yoga,and modified my diet(thanks K).I try to not sit down for 15-20 minutes after eating.So,right after finishing my meals,I get up and do the dishes and tidy up the kitchen.Previously,I used to leave this chore for later.Consciously or unconsciously,I have tried to bring in small changes in my lifestyle.
My goals- I am not aiming for anything huge..Ofcourse,being able to lose weight is huge! But,this time,I have set myself small goals.I want to lose another 2 kgs till my birthday.Then,I would have achieved my 1st goal of losing 5 kgs till my birthday.
My next goal is to get more flexible.I started practising Yoga,since 8th grade,since it was a part of my school curriculum.And was very comfortable with most asanas. I don’t know when or why,I stopped practising.Since I started yoga again,I find myself remembering the various poses and remembering how flexible I was.KapalBhaati Pranayam-When I first started it,I was doing it all wrong,I was stressing my throat to exhale forcefully.When I started exhaling correctly,I couldn’t do it for more than 1 minute.Now,after nearly 2 weeks,I can do it for around 3-4 minutes comfortably.
Weight lost since 14th October 2009- 4.2 kgs.
Feeling good!
This is just the third day of NaBloPoMo and I am wondering what to write.Is there anything you want me to write about?Leave me a comment and I shall oblige:)

Uncategorized

Of resolutions and crafting.

MysTri MumLeave a comment

One of my resolutions this year is to craft more.I have promised myself a couple hours each week for my crafting..be it knitting,painting embroidery..whatever..
So far I am on target..we are in the 6th week of the year and I have quite a few things to show for.
First we did the hand/thumb painting for thiscontest.Then,the canvas painting for Aadi’s room and then,there are place mats that I painted-fabric painting.But,they are incomplete as I couldn’t decide how to finish them-as in should I just hem the edges or use lace or bias.For now,I am only hemming the edges and can I tell you how much I hate hemming!
I want to finish a dress I started knitting for Aadi last May.I want to finish it before May 2010! Its so hot here,I don’t feel like knitting or crochetting..or even looking at yarn.Painting seems like just the thing for summer.
And the gardening.I have been tending to my little kitchen garden.I had planted a tomato sapling,before going to India..everything else died..the husband forgot to water..but it survived and it has 2 tomatoes growing on it!Inspired by this,I got some more plants-another tomato plant,a strawberry plant,gerberas and some others that I dont know names of..but they look and smell nice.
And today,I painted Aadya..as in the wooden Alphabets that spell her name-They go on her room door! Painted them a shocking fuchsia..pics of the completed project to follow soon.
I am trying to do a post a day..hope I can!