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Its all about getting your hands dirty :)

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There is a lovely contest going on over at Shruti’s called Artsy Craftsy Challenge and the theme is Hand and Finger painting.And it couldn’t have come at a better time.Before going to India,we had done a bit of finger painting and Aadi loved it.
These days,she wants to learn how to draw and paint..”You teach me”,she says..So,my mind was full of fun things to teach her.
Here are some of the paintings that we worked on-


The Garden- The flowers are made by finger prints .For the stalks-I squeezed a big dot of paint on her finger and asked her to go ‘zoom-zoom’ like a car.For the tree on the side,I squeezed some red and blue and asked her to mix it and smear it!Ta da you have the stem.And then some more zooming around for the green parts.

Come say hello to the Thumbkins..First we made the thumb prints-My thumb prints for Papa and Mamma Thumbkin and Aadi’s for the boy and girl.Then,I drew eyes,noses and mouths,followed by hats,hair,bows,etc.Then,she wanted them to have bodies..So we dabbed and smeared till we got them each a body!


This one is really cool..My friend’s brother showed it to me,when I was a kid.
Fold and unfold your sheet into half and then,dab huge dots of different color,along the line created by folding.Smear the paint along the line.Add some more dots randomly and fold the paper again,press gently with your fingers,going from the fold towards the center of the page and in any direction that you like.Unfold and see the masterpiece that you just created!:P

While I was creating masterpieces,I asked Aadya to put some dots on another sheet of paper.Then we folded the paper horizontally,pressed side ways…unfolded,folded vertically,pressed again and then unfolded.And all done!

Tip- For easy clean-ups,remember to keep some wet wipes handy.
Editted to add-I entered this post for Shruti’s contest.The last picture has a watermark,as Aadi decided to make it better!

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2 States By Chetan Bhagat-A book review

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2 States is the story of a typical North Indian-South Indian couple.A Punjabi guy,Krish and Tamilian girl,Ananya meet at B-school,become friends and soon fall in love.Everything is hunky-dory till the convocation ceremony.Thats when their parents meet and all hell breaks loose.
Cultural shock,sarcastic comments and hurt egos spell doom for the lovebirds.But,instead of taking the easy way out and eloping,Krish and Ananya decide to tough it out and convince their parents.They have a vision of “seeing both the sets of parents smiling on their wedding day”and set about to achieve this goal.
The story goes from Delhi to Chennai,back and forth and the cultural difference between the two families is depicted very nicely.I just wished he had used atleast some Hindi dialogues,with translation.
The story flows very fast and since its a narrative,its an instant page-turner.I felt like I was listening to a friend’s story,which brings me to the next point.The author mentions in the beginning that the story is inspired from his life,but urges the readers to treat it as fiction.This contradiction,makes it hard to distinguish Krish,the hero from Chetan the author.
On the whole a good read.
This is my first book review and so quite amatuerish..feel free to ignore it.:)

crochet

Craft Swap-1

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I am so excited.I was a part of a handmade swap on Ravelry.And then,came my surprise India trip.I asked the group moderator and my swap partner,if it was alright if I posted my parcel,after I got back and they said yes.
I mailed my parcel on saturday morning.Then,we went grocery shopping and when we came back,there was something peeking out of the mail box ..and Lo!It was the parcel from my swap partner!
My first ever Swap gift..I am so excited.
Its a beautiful crochet hand-bag-its crochet shells,as you can tell from the pics.Thanks Battybp
I am dying to write about what I made for her..but I guess I will wait till she receives it.

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Life’s simple pleasures

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[Image courtesy- Google images]
The last few days have been exceptionally hot..We have been indoors all day long..spending our time in air-conditioned living room.That’s the only room that has the AC.Sitting anywhere else is out of question,with temperatures soaring,reaching a high of 42degC.
The heat makes it hard to cook and eat.So,we have been feasting on summer treats..cool cucumber slices,peach wedges,freshly squeezed lemonade,thin buttermilk(taak in marathi).Today was the same.We could barely eat lunch..but a plate full of cucumber sticks was demolished quickly by us.And when I was chomping down my share,a memory made me smile.
Summer-time,usually meant a trip to Aaji-Ajoba’s place in Devlali.And when we visited,my aunt would come over with Sofi-Sahil too.And almost second day,Ajoba(my maternal G’pa) would go to the vegetable market and come back with two bags full of vegetables and fruits.And in those bags,among other things were the little cucumbers..similar in shape and size to the pickle cucumber,but white skin and green flesh..yummmmmm.
We could each pick one of our choice and then Aaji would peel it and slice it lengthwise into four pieces and sprinkle some salt on it and give it to each one of us,in our own kiddie-sized plate..The first bite,when the cool sweet cucumber taste hits you,is bliss…Aah…just remembering it makes my mouth water.
Watching Aadi savour her Kakadi(cucumber in hindi),saying yummm with some bites and just closing her eyes and enjoying the others..reminded me that indeed these are life’s simple pleasures.

general · non-baby · walking · Weight loss journal

Its a first…

MysTri Mum10 Comments

My top NY resolutions this year are to get fitter,lose weight,eat healthy,save money.
And I am proud to say that- its been more than 2 weeks..18 days to be precise and we have’nt eaten out..No restaurants,no cafes,no frozen food and no take outs.How’s that for a start?
The most important thing,according to me,is that,we survived the holiday season,without pigging out eating out.We went out a lot..but I always made sure,we left after a good meal,carried some packed meals or atleast had lunch/dinner ready to come back and eat.Sure it took a fair bit of planning on my part and it is hardwork too..but I am glad,I did.
The last time we ate out was on the 23rd of december..I am so proud of myself.
As for getting fitter-I have crossed Week1 of walks and XBX! I have realised(atlast) that gym is not for me.I am more of a non-gymmer!??!!
And we have been teaching Aadi to play football..nothing fancy..just kick and chase.She just chases happily,while we run and kick..a good workout for 30-40 minutes!There is just something so cool about playing a sport with your spouse..though the way we play ,the game should be called ‘save the ball’..;) But its fun nevertheless.The next thing on our list is to get badminton racquets.We both used to play Badminton,for our school teams ..and have an ongoing bet,to see who is better..we just never played each other!Its been 9 years since we shook hands on the bet,,so,may be sometime soon.
The weekend is over and its Monday again..:( It was a hot weekend in Melbourne..and the recent happenings in the city have sort of freaked me out..so we stayed home.How was your weekend?

Tales from Aadyaland

From the Diva’s mouth

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I had planned on blogging everyday in the new year..but my internet connection is very bad and I keep getting disconnected,every few minutes..which is quiet frustrating.
And typing a post when offline,wasn’t fun..but today,I decided to just do it anyway,that when,when I do get a good connection,I can just blog about something else.Life with Aadi is so exciting..something or other is always happening and I don’t want to forget it.
So,as you know from the title..Aadya speaks..so much that sometimes,it takes us a while to remember that she is not even three.She has her logic right..and she thinks I am her age or that we are the same.Picture this-
At my dad’s place
My phone rings..”Mamma Kaun tha?” she asks even before I pick up the phone.Its my dad..I speak to him.She hangs on to every word in the conversation and when I hang up, asks me..”Is it Papa?” I say “No,its my Papa..your Nanu”.
At nap-time the phone rings again,this time its DH.She wants to know,”Kaun hai?” I answer,”Papa”… “Kiske Papa?”,she demands ..”Your Papa,baby”
Aadi says,”Ohh Achcha,tumhare Nanu?” Mamma=zapped!

Back home
We are getting ready to go for a walk.I pull out a well-worn faded t-shirt..its a hot day.
Aadya-“Mamma,chalo ready karo”
Mamma-“I am ready,baby”.
Aadya-“Nahi this is not nice..I think its tight!
Mamma-!!!
Aadya-“I said na change it..you can wear my blue t-shirt”
Mamma-“Ok get it..I’ll change”
Aadya-“Nahi Mamma,I think its small for you..you are too big…you wear Papa’s T-shirt!”

Early morning,one day sometime last week-
Aadya woke up and woke us up.Naturally,how can we sleep when she is awake.We were cuddling in bed,when she asks,”Papa,who am I?”next points at me,”who is she?” and then,”who are you? satisfied with his answers,she turns to me,”Mummy,your turn.Who am I?Who is he?who are you?”
This morning-
We are trying to move her into her room(yet again!) and so we went to sleep in the room next door.Sometime before sun-rise she woke up crying and I brought her into out bed.This room faces east,so as soon as the sun rose,she woke up.She tried adjusting herself..then,finally told us,”Papa,Mummy..I am going to my room,because,the fan is in my room. ALSO the light is coming in my eyes.”
I still cannot believe she said the whole long sentence..with such reasoning..with correct grammar!

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This India trip….

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….was all about catching up.I hadn’t seen my family in nearly two years.So,you can imagine how it must have been.I reached just in time for my sister(cousin) ,Sofi’s wedding.There was hardly anytime to arrange the clothes to be worn in the wedding..The last time I had worn a saree was in my own wedding and sadly,I don’t fit into those blouses anymore.The few days that I had before the wedding were spent in shopping,endless trips to the tailor and wedding festivities.
The wedding was beautiful and Sofi looked lovely.So did my sister. and everyone else too.I ended up wearing a saree from my wedding collection..so all the shopping trips were for nothing.
After the wedding festivities were finished,we went back to Bombay,where I spent the next few days,falling sick,travelling between my dad’s and ILs’,being a lady of leisure.
Being together was important,so Aaji(my grand ma) and Sahil(Sofi&Sahil are so close to me that its weird referring to them as cousins),came over from Nasik for the duration of my stay.Then the party began.Man,it was bliss to eat meals cooked by Aaji after so many years.Even tea-time or breakfast time was like an extended party.And all we would be eating was probably chai-biscuit or vada-pav.
Aadi took a particular liking to Sahil,so much so that the poor guy couldn’t even go to the toilet,without upsetting her.The sweetest part was,when she went to her Dadi’s house and told her Dadu-Dadi,”I have two Mamas-Mamma and Sahil Mama.”He was literally her second mom.I realised when,one day,we were at the dining table and she kept asking for something and I didn’t understand..And Sahil got up gave it to her.They watched TV together..calling out cartoon characters by their names.They sang and danced.They took the dog for a walk ..if Sahil left without her,she would cry her heart out,till he didn’t get back.And then,she would tell him,that she was “Gussa” with him and ask me to “shout him”.
She knew where Nanu’s stash of candy was kept..she would go to his room..quietly pull him hand and take him to the freezer and ask very very sweetly for some “candy please”.All my threats of “I will not talk to you”didn’t work on either her or on my dad.
We went back to Nasik,half way into the holiday and took Aadya to see Aaji’s house in Devlali.It belongs to my uncle now and is mostly locked.Aaji goes there,when she is feeling very nostalgic.The excitement in her eyes,when I told her,this is where Mamma used to play when she was a little girl..Priceless.It was so surreal for me to be there with her,in that place.I know..it was probably the last time,we went there.I only wish DH was there too.I don’t know how much she will remember..but I remember every single day,that I spent in that house.Every summer and winter vacation..the one year that I stayed with Aaji,after mom passed away..the happy memories and the sad ones too.That house was such an important part of my childhood..the fights we had..the teams we formed..sometimes it was my sis and I against Sofi-Sahil ..sometimes it was Sahil-my sis again Sofi n me…and then the forced handshakes..fighting for the same fruit…though I was the eldest..I resented being the last one to get her share.But all these memories are what make me what I am.I am yet to see a morning more glorious than one in Devlali.Even now,I can smell the tea boiling,the faint sweet smell of wet mud,from Aaji’s garden.Actually,its more my Ajoba’s (grandpa) garden.He is the one who toiled hard to make the garden what it is today.I remember,when I was little,every morning and evening,he would carry countless buckets of water,from the back of the house,to the garden in the front and water the plants.Every single day,never tiring,never missing.And he was 70,then.Aaji took over the garden,when he fell sick.
He planted a small kadipatta (curry leaves) plant,to begin with..sometime in 1975-76..and by the time I was 2,it had grown and spread so much.When I was 5 or may be 6..old enough to cross the road..every year,he would give the tree a trim and the trim would yield so much kadipatta,that even after distributing it to everyone in our lane and across the road,he could sell it to the local vegetable seller.
Anyway,I am getting carried away.In this garden is a white rose,of the creeper variety(?) ..and the special thing about this particular plant is that no matter what,even if the rest of the plants are dying..because of neglect(remember the house is locked most of the time),this little creeper,keeps growing and flowering.Aaji told me this was one of the first few plants that Ajoba planted.
Back in Bombay,I spent one lovely morning,meeting Parul,Aneela and Kiran.Parul was sweet enough to open her home for us.And what a home it is..beautiful is too small a word for it..and very tastefully done up too.Meeting Adi and Arhaan was such a treat.But I missed seeing Krish and Ro and Ayaan & Tarana.The thing with meeting blog-pals is that you don’t have to think of ways to start a conversation.Its almost like meeting an old friend after a long time.Kiran left shortly after tea.by then,Aadi had made herself completely at home..much to my embarassment..she decided that wearing a skirt wasn’t cool and decided to walk around without one. We stayed back for lunch.We were having so much fun,that if I wasn’t meeting the MIL later,I would have happily spent the day there.
Meeting Aneela,made me realise,how much I miss her.It was just so nice to see her again..and Arhaan is just delicious.Speaking of delicious..the Adi-Aadi duo decided that Arhaan’s boiled apple was the most delicious thing on this earth and insisted on eating that.Aneela is one cool mom..she happily handed it over to the notorious duo,who,by the way had warmed up to each other,after the initial “its-mine”/”I-want-his/her toy/book” tashan.The funniest was when we were leaving,Aadi decided to kick up a fuss and started stomping her feet to show her anger…and Adi joined in happily,stomping his feet..thinking its some new game!The best thing about this meet up was that Parul and I heaved a collective sigh,that our kids are normal 2 year olds..who think that every d#%^% thing belongs to them. That all 2 yos think that sharing is not cool.
I remember my OB-Gyn told me once,that when you think handling a small baby is stressful,remember,the baby will turn 2 someday and then say-Mine for everything..and then,the sleepness nights would seem tame enough.
Anyway more on India trip later…

random talks

Insomnia or what?

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Has it ever happenned to you,that the whole day slip off and at nigt,at bed-time,you find your mind full of so many thoughts?Thoughts of unfinished works,thoughts of goals set? And then you realise that you are running out of time. And this running out of time leaves you so restless that you can’t sleep. And when you can’t sleep you cannot wake up early,to gain extra time.

Please tell me,it has happenned with atleast one of you.Every night,for the past 10 days or so,I find sleep eluding me.I try to think,work out a strategy..for its at that time,that my mind presents me the list of things that need to be done.Its at that time that I remember all that I want to blog about..but the thoughts are swimming in my mind..going round and round around my head..I know..coz its almost like I am watching from outside!OK! now,I sound positively Cuckoo,even to myself.There are so many blog posts in my mind..I thought of writing them on a piece of paper,at 3 times in the last two days..but didn’t!Like I said,the thoughts are going around in circles,around my head!I keep thinking,I want to write a post..but all I do is lurk at blogs(sorry,I will start leaving comments again soon) and refresh my FB page like they are going to announce some earth-shattering piece of news there!

Two days back,as I was lying in bed,waiting to sleep,I remember the last set of clothes that needed ironing and hanging in the cupboard..I got up and went to the spare room and picked up the clothes..but the quiet in the house was soo eerie,I crept back in bed,waiting for sleep to come to me.And as I type this,I can’t stop thinking about the 4-5 hangers that are still hanging in Aadya’s cupboard.They need to be shifted to the study.Now,its not something that can’t be done tomorrow..then,why can’t I stop thinking about it?
Am I losing my mind?or have I turned into one of those OCD types?

Please tell me,its normal..May be its all those late nights and sleep-ins over the holidays..,eh?

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My Tulips

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These are the tulips,I wrote about,when I painted my tulip tile.This painting is very special to both DH and me.It adorns our bedroom wall at my in-laws place.This is the first time,I tried streaking and shading in glass-painting.Streaking was alright,but shading was goofed up,as you can see in the yellow flowers.
You know,I feel this India trip was just the break that I needed.My mind is relaxed and full of fresh ideas now.
I picked up quite a lot of yarn,crochet threads,embroidery floss,silk threads,matties in different colors,paints..sequins and what nots.The only thing I didn’t pick up was beautiful fabrics in lovely colors and prints.But,this was an unexpected trip..next time I will be better prepared.
So many ideas,so many projects..so much to do…:)

Edited to Add- The header picture is of a frame,my Aaji,my mom’s mom embroidered more than 50 years ago.It still holds a picture of my grandfather,in his early thirties.
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Happy New Year,2010!

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Here’s Wishing Everyone a happy and prosperous New Year..May this year bring you all that you wish for and more..
May this year see more completed resolutions than broken ones:)
I asked DH what his resolutions were and he said- None..coz resolutions are meant to be broken.
Me?I have a long list…
Losing weight and learning to drive top the list.Speaking of driving,I have graduated from circling the parking lots to driving on a real road with traffic lights.
We brought in the New Year,at home.The baby was in bed,we were cuddled up on the couch,talking and as I watched the lights from the christmas tree fill the room with soft light..the only thought in my mind was ..All is well.. and what little isn’t will be Well!
I leave you with a picture of my Precious,with her precious presents