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1411

MysTri Mum2 Comments

That is the number of tigers left in India .Tiger is our national animal,we say proudly,the low number embarasses me.Everytime,I see the Ad for Save Our Tigers,and watch that lonely cub,waiting for its mom,cowering in its cave,my heart breaks.No baby should have to go through that..Man or Animal.
I remember my excitement,when my parents took me to the zoo.It wasn’t the first time,definitely..but it was definitely a time,I remember most vividly.The reason being,we had just finished the chapter of Wild Animals in Social Studies.I remember feeling the childish pride,when I pointed out and differentiated the lion,tiger and leopard from each other,correctly..and recited a note on Tigers,for our group.
I wonder,if there will be any left,by the the time,I take Aadya to see them.About 6 years ago,I remember waiting for the lone tiger in Hyderabad Zoo.It looked so lonely and uninterested.The one in Melbourne Zoo,was too tired and may be Old…
I am linking up a post thatGoofy Mumma wrote a couple days back.
This post would be me spreading the word. I suggest you do too.
Spread the Word
Let everyone know that our tigers are on the brink of extinction and that they need us. Now. You can start by joining the Save Our Tigers movement on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, and spreading the word wherever you go – online or offline.

SMS
A short message can go a long way to help save our tigers. Let all your friends know about the movement through SMS – just type in your message and ask them to visit SaveOurTigers.com to join the roar.

Write to Editors
Write a letter or an email to editors of popular newspapers and magazines, asking them to support the cause and highlight the urgency to save our tigers. The more people we can reach and inform, the louder our roar will be.

Donate
Organizations such as WWF and The Corbett Foundation work for tiger conservation and need our active support. If possible, you can chip in with funds, volunteer for work or donate clothes, etc. for the forest guards by tying up with such organizations.

Volunteer for Our Tigers
Your time is the most important contribution for our tigers. If you think you have the skills or the commitment to help the tigers on-site, do contact an NGO working for tiger conservation to volunteer for our tigers.

Preserve our Natural Resources
Loss of habitat is one of our tigers’ biggest problems. We can reduce pressure on forests by avoiding unnecessary use of forest-derived products, such as paper and timber.

Be a Responsible Tourist
Visit tiger sanctuaries and national parks and discover our country’s natural heritage. But please remember that the wilderness is to be experienced, not to be polluted by packets of chips, etc.

 

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Placemats or Napkins

MysTri Mum6 Comments


I was always interested in drawing and one summer,took drawing classes in school.I must have been in 3rd or 4th std. And that year the drawing teacher really liked my mom..She had to..after all my mom was the headmistress and her local gaurdian.So,she spent a lot of time at our place.And seeing my interest in colors,offered to taught me fabric painting.And together we painstakingly completed a set of cushion covers and a table cloth..I loved it.Since then,I have painted quite a few table cloths ,unfortunately,don’t have any to show..as all have been gifts..one or two,may be found at my dad’s and aunt’s place.Anyway..these babies(in the picture)started off as placemats.I got the fabric cut and design printed in India but I realised,they are too small as placemats..measurement error..so made them,into napkins..We have had 2 sets of guests see them..and one of them,wants the same for her table!!
That being said,I am not happy with the finishing,specially the hem and will redo them,once,I can stitch a straight line on the machine.

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Midnight surprise..

MysTri Mum10 Comments

I tried to think of many clever titles for this..but,I couldn’t come up with anything,so I stuck to the simple and sweet..Sweet like the surprise ,I got at Midnight.
We had a long funfilled day..DH was away..yes cricket..but Friend S came over to spend the day with us..and Goofy Mamma and family came over for dinner. Dinner was so much fun..they are as laid back as us..and so a great time was had by all.We took the kids to the park,where BB and Aadi screamed the place down…actually no..squeal,is the right word.The squealing and the naughties,continued at home as well,while we chatted up a storm..and no there was no alcohol.
Goodbyes are always tearful,in Aadyaland.And there I should have got my first clue..but I didnt.Today DH suggested we go for a drive..(normally I suggest and he vetoes)..Anything to avoid the tantrums..we played along..told Aadi,we were going to follow BB’s car…MY FRIEND BB,she calls him.DH took a long time to come out-that should have been my second hint..I missed it again.We went for a drive..and she kept asking if I can see her friend BB’s car,till she fell asleep.
I wanted to come home too and blog.He just kept driving,missing one U-turn after another..saying he forgot..or some crap.3rd hint..missed it again!He was actually buying time,till midnight..Finally,we entered home at 12.15am..and this is what I saw..

Just when I was beginning to give up,the man manages to surprise me..how sweet is that.I think I am falling in love with him,all over again.
Happy Valentine’s Day,Sweetheart and Happy Valentine’s Day,everyone!

Mumma's Kitchen · Uncategorized

Cookies Anyone?

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So,I saw these cookies on a fellow Raveller’s blog and Aadi caught me!And she demanded for some.I was drooling myself and decided to try the recipe.Only..I was/am on a diet and I didn’t want to blow it.So,I decided to play around with the ingredients.So here’s a dieter’s version of the cookies..

You need-
3/4 stick of butter(at room temperature)
3/4 cup sugar(I just had one kind)
1/2 tsp salt
2 egg yolks
2 cups flour.
(I just changed the quantity of butter)

And followed the rest of the recipe ,as is..from Here

1) Using a hand/stand mixer beat the butter till smooth and very creamy. Add the sugars and beat until well blended, about 1 minute. The mixture should be smooth and velvety, not fluffy and airy.
2) Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in the egg yolks, again beating till the mixture is homogenous.
3) Add the flour and mix using a spatula, until the dough looks uniformly moist. The dough will not clean the sides of the bowl nor will it come together in a ball. You want to work the dough AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE.
4) Divide the dough in half and shape each piece into a smooth log about 9 inches long.
5) Wrap the logs well and refrigerate them for at least 3 hours (or overnight).
6) Preheat the oven to 350F. Line the baking sheets with parchment paper.[160Deg in Fan Forced oven]
7) Remove the log of dough from the refrigerator, unwrap it and place it on a parchment paper. Brush some yolk all over the sides of the dough- this is the glue then sprinkle the entire surface of the log with coarse sugar.
8) Slice the log into 1/3 – 1/2 inch thick cookies ( no thinner than 1/4 inch). Place the round on the baking sheets.
9) Bake for 17-20 mins. When properly baked the cookies will be light brown on the bottom, lightly golden around the edges and pale on top. Remove from the oven and let it rest a minute before carefully lifting them onto a rack to cool to room temperature.

The cookies were yummy!!! I used the fan forced oven and heated it up too much..burnt the first batch!By the second batch,I realised my mistakeand adjusted the temperature.The cookies came out beautiful and were demolished in 10 minutes flat.I just got to taste 1 ..rest was gobbled up by the father-daughter!

I am going to try this again..I m thinking..if the diet version is sooo good..how good would the Real thing be??

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Pencil sketch

MysTri Mum8 Comments



This is what I sketched today..Its been so long,since I actually made a pencil sketch.I don’t even remember when was the last time.
I showed it to Aadi and she exclaimed..wowwwwwwww cakeyyy..
I really really want to take sketching and painting classes……I suck at making faces..sigh..

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The Diva Speaks

MysTri Mum11 Comments

I am so in love with my Google Reader.After nearly 3 years of blogging,I figured out the importance of G.Reader.Thank you,Wordpress.
One of the recommended blogs on the reader today was-The activity mom.I promptly added her to my reader and started reading and found this on her blog-
Interview with your child-

What is your name? Aadya(said like Aadiya)
When were you born? Ummm..Kal.umm March 30.
How old are you? ummm 25..
Who is your mommy? Mamma..Trishna is my mamma
What does your mommy do? Laptop mein Kaam
Who is your daddy? Sanj*** is my daddy
What does your daddy do? Sanj*** daddy apne car mein jaake Aadya ke liye choclate leke aate hain
What is your favorite color? ummmmmmmmmm..ummmmmmmm…nmn(M’N’M)..blue
What do you want to be when you grow up? Daddyyyyyyyyyy..
What is your favorite food? Chocolate!
What food do you not like? Balls(Peas)..When I become a baby,I will remove all the balls from my plate.
What is your favorite animal? *Lost interest* Chocolate…No Aadya what animalcatty..(she likes elephants!)
Where do you want to live when you grow up? No Answer…
What do mommy and daddy do after you go to bed? T.V. dekhte hain
What does daddy say? Toys Rakho!!! (pick up your toys)
What does mommy say? Apna Car Rakho! (keep your car in your room)
What is your favorite song? Shah Rukh khan wala
What is your favorite movie? Baby movie(Hey Baby)
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Stick icecream
Where is your favorite place to eat? Mc Dolans!!(Good Ole McDees)
Who is your favorite person?*hugs me tight,as if testing waters*Kesh uncle
Who is your best friend? Sahil Mamu
What is your favorite book?*Ran to her room and brought out a whole stack of books!!!What is your favorite game? I don’t know Mom!!
What is your favorite thing to do?Sona aur painting karna(then why do you trouble me at bedtimes??Mamma suno i am telling you story..
And that is the end of the interview!!LOL

Edited to add- One Happy daddy made halwa at 10.00 pm and was generously rewarded b kisses and I love you Daddy!

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Craft-mojo

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I have been cribbing to whoever will lend an ear,that I have lost my craft mojo..the only crafts I enjoy are the ones that I can involve my daughter in.:D
I finally finished the hem on the last of the table mats..and I really wish,I was sewing.I really want to sew something to get over the sewing block…to graduate from just started to beginner level.Hopefully tomorrow..:)
Will post the pictures of the table mats tomorrow.

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Weighty Wednesday Again

MysTri Mum8 Comments

Disclaimer- The following post is just a narrative of my daily diet and so not meant to replace professional guidance.This is purely free Gyan-Take it or leave it!

So,its weighty wednesday and I don’t have any weight-loss to report.I am PMSing big time and craving sinful things.Ate some carrot cake over the weekend .This week,I didn’t lose any weight..but the good news is,I didn’t gain any either! And I can’t find my tape..yeah I am clumsy,like that.

Last week,I promised Kavya,that I will write about the diet that I am following..so Here you go,darling:
I start the day with twenty minutes of yoga-Breathing excercise,followed by Kapaalbhaati and some leg raises.
Following that,I drink 1 tall glass of water.(aiming for two)

Breakfast is typically-Oats/Cereal with low fat milk OR 2 slices of bread with cheese OR 1 slice bread with an omlette Or Paratha with sabji.

Mid-morning- 1 cup tea with 2-3 biscuits or 1cup tea with a slice of bread

Lunch- 1 and a half cup daal(or chole/rajma curry)+1 cup sabji or non-veg+1/2 cup yogurt or 1 glass butter milk.A bowl of salad.Sometimes,I just mix yogurt to the salad and make it into a big bowl of raita.Rice or roti,if I am still hungry..but mostly I am too full.
OR A big salad -either chickpea salad or Rajma+macaroni salad Or boiled moong salad with a dash of ketchup,with a glass of thin buttemilk.-These salads are heavy enough to be had as a meal.
OR Cracked wheat upma,made with lots of veggies,with a glass of buttermilk.
OR Daal and omlette.

Tea- 1 cup tea with 2 slices of bread or 1 cup of coffee with 3 marie biscuits Or a bowl of fruit OR 1 bowl cornflakes with milk.
between tea and dinner- 1 glass V8 (or not-if dinner is early)

Dinner- Same as lunch-only no carbs. OR A big bowl of soup with Salad or raita.

This is pretty much what I have been doing for the last 2 weeks and I am enjoying it.I don’t even think of it as a diet.I have a high carb breakfast because of my medication.And on days that i really want to or feel like eating Rice or roti,I eat it.
I have come to realise that a diet that works for one,may or may not work for another..So,if at all you decide to follow a diet like this..use this one only as a guideline and tweak it according to your tastes and circumstances.If anyone would like to discuss more,leave me a comment and I shall revert,promptly-I promise!
And this is what we made in craft hour yesterday..details here

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What do you do

MysTri Mum10 Comments

When you find your child eating a spoonful of dinner and then going to the bathroom to spit it in the toilet?
I am so angered and shocked by this discovery that I can’t even think straight.Aadi didn’t eat her dinner today.It was a hot day and I didn’t force her.I gave her some cold milk instead.When I was winding up the kitchen,for the night..she saw the leftovers and asked for her dinner.By then,it had cooled down a bit and so,I thought may be she wanted to eat.I served her a little veg pulav .She ate a few spoonfuls and then said I am done.I coaxed her a little more.I had served her less than a quarter cup of rice.Surely,she could finish that.She was dancing around,I coaxed her some more,threatened to not talk,she opened her mouth took a big bite and then ran away.I didn’t pay attention,thinking she is playing and will come back for the next bite,which she did.
Normally,I don’t encourage her playing/walking around while eating.She sits on the chair and eats her meals at the table.But today,I was also tired,so didn’t pay attention.Two mins later,DH called me to show the food that she had spit in the toilet!
I was so sad.I am so sad.Is that all my child values food for?We have told her about us being lucky to get food.That its a gift from her beloved “Jai-Jai Bappa”[GOD] and she says yes everytime.Does she even understand it?Or is it that she is trying to please me at no matter what the cost?It saddens me to think that I pressurised her to think and behave so slyly.
Anway,naturally she got a time-out.We told her to sit in her room and think about all the poor kids who didn’t have anything to eat.And when she understood how sad they were,she was to go and say sorry to Jai-Jai Bappa ,for insulting the food he blessed us with..and then say sorry to papa-mamma for wasting the food they worked so hard for.
She came out crying after 2 minutes,I think more because of the punishment,but she went and said sorry for Jai-Jai Bappa and her dad and me.Which makes me wonder again…did she understand anything or is she just aiming to please.
I was still annoyed at bed-time and yelled at her,which made her cry..which made me angry..When we asked her to stop crying/screaming,she ACTUALLY screamed loudly!Defiance??I don’t know..but I don’t want to be the reason,my sweet child turns into a defiant brat.I don’t want her to grow up,thinking that she is good for nothing or not cared for..or that she would be loved only till she kept us happy…BECAUSE,thats so not true.I don’t want her to change..to change to please someone else.
She is sleeping next to me and my heart is breaking into a thousand pieces.Starting tomorrow,I will try to control my temper..I really will.
Edited to add- after she appologised,I sat Aadi on my lap and explained that Daddy worked very hard in the office to get money so that we can buy food.Mumma works very hard in the kitchen,to cook..so that she can eat it.And it makes us very sad when she wastes food like that.She nodded,hugged us and said,she wont do it again..I dunno..what to think!…. Sad 😦