This Year...

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A new year is about to begin. And with it, comes new hopes, new dreams, new wishes and many more. There is so much excitement in the air on new year's eve because the next day officially marks a new beginning. For me, new year's eve has always been about celebration - of the year that has gone by, of the year that is about to start and being amidst the ones I love. But this year, I wanted the celebration to be within me. I didn't want to be in the middle of a crowd trying desperately to get the husband on the phone at 12 to wish him happy new year (the first time after marriage we are away from each other for new year!) and trying even desperately to find the brother and parents among the crowd to hug and wish them the best. This year, instead, I chose to stay at home, reflecting on the year that went by and hoping for a good year ahead.

This year, I want to be a better person. I want to love more. I want to smile more. I want to worry less. This year, I want to pursue all that I like and push myself to the limit that I have to extend the limit. This year, I want to connect with me in a better way. This year, I want to write more, read more and dream big. This year, I want to go for many a trips and come back with memories for a lifetime. This year, I want to be happy!

This year I wish well for my family. I wish love and happiness for us. This year, I wish my little cherub all the cheer. I wish the house be filled with happy sounds of his laughter all the time. This year, I wish we have lots of family time together. This year, I wish all of us stay healthy. This year I wish us just enough - enough of happiness, enough of health, enough of everything. This year I wish we have the best year!

Here's to the year that went by and the new year that holds lot of hope. Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday, My Baby Boy!

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You are two already! Time flies indeed!

I still remember this day, two years back, when the doctor told me "it's a baby boy!". I still remember the joy I felt. I still remember smiling to myself thinking about all the things we were going to do together. I still remember that tiny face which resembled my grandfather's and wondering how godly you looked. I still remember holding you for the first time. I still remember trying to hug you and sleep and you were so tiny that I was, in fact, hugging the entire you. I still remember, each and every moment we shared till now!

Life has been on a fast forward button from the time you were born. There has never been a dull moment ever since you were born.You have been my best part in the last two years. You've been my heart, soul and life. You've brought out all the emotions I had and the ones I never knew I had as well. I've prayed the hardest for you, I've wished better than the best for you and I've hoped you well all the time.

You've grown since the time I set my eyes first on you. You are a total entertainer. You blabber and talk to everyone around you in your own language. You are becoming more of a charmer as each day pass. Talking with you is my favourite pass time now. I love playing peekaboo with you because it's just too cute to see you stand right in front of me with your eyes closed and thinking I can't see you. I love how you come running to me and give me a hug just for the sake of it. I love how in your sleep you want to snuggle next to me and hug me. I love the sound of your laughter. I love the way you talk. I love your naughtiness. I love the way you make me feel special. I love the fact that we are a team and I promise you we'll be a team..always! 

And I love you... I will always love you.. And I will always remember this day two years ago. Because that day, I was given the best gift in life to treasure, protect and love forever!

Happy Birthday, my baby boy! Here's to many many more and all the wonderful days in your life through which you spread happiness to all!

Vegetable Green Curry

This time, after I came back to Bangalore from Kerala, I was tired and lazy. We - me and my little boy - were in Kerala near to a month. I did absolutely nothing there other than lazing around. In my defence, I can't be blamed. I was at my home and I was getting a break from the routine chores in Bangalore, so this was my time to rest! Combined with this, our last week in Kerala was hectic with a wedding and all things associated with it including an almost three day trip to attend the wedding which included almost 12 hours of travel by car in both direction and taking the same day flight to Bangalore. This got the better of me and I was a dead log by the time I reached Bangalore. And the weather here did not help at all. I was put from an oven to a fridge! Ok, I might be exaggerating but Kerala and Bangalore are two extremes when it comes to weather!

So, once I was settled and the routine chores started, laziness not over though, all I wanted was a Thai Green Curry. I love making the curry from scratch and hate using the store bought paste. This time though, I was ready to make an exception - if the store didn't have the ingredients, might as well buy the paste and make the curry! But, the store didn't have that either. The craving was so bad that I really wanted a Thai Green Curry. So I decided to make a Pseudo Thai Green Curry. You can't call it a Thai Green Curry, per se, and hence I named it the Vegetable Green Curry.

 Vegetable Green Curry

Ingredients:

• Onion - 2 no.s, sliced
• Ginger - 1 inch, grated
• Bay leaf - 1 no.
• Zuchini - 1 small, cut into cubes
• Aubergine - 1 small, cut into cubes
• Mushroom -  few pieces, washed and cleaned 
• Babycorn - 3 no.s, cut into 1 inch pieces
• Bell peppers - a few cubes of red, green and yellow variety
• Coriander leaves - 1 cup
• Mint leaves - 1/2 cup
• Green chilli - 3 no.s
• Coconut milk - 1 cup, thick
• Oil - as required
• Salt - to taste
• Sugar - a pinch

Method:

• Grind the coriander and mint leaves along with ginger and green chillies and keep it aside.
• In a wok, heat oil. Add the bayleaf once it's hot.
• Add the sliced onion and salute till it's translucent.
• Add salt and sugar.
• Add the ground paste and saute for a few minutes till the raw smell goes.
• To this, add all the vegetables except mushroom and mix till the paste is well coated.
• Add a glass of water and mix properly. Let it boil.
• Once it starts to boil, lower the flame, cover and cook till it's almost done.
• Now add the mushroom pieces and cover and cook till done.
• To this, add the coconut milk and water (if required) and simmer till the flavour sets in. Do not let it boil.
• Serve hot.

Notes: 

• You can also add tofu, carrot, cauliflower, broccoli and peas.
• This curry goes best with rice.

This curry may not come anywhere near the Thai Green Curry in terms of flavour and taste, but it can definitely replace it in times when you have no other option. I loved the taste of it and by the time I finished my dinner, Thai Green Curry had gone out of my mind!

The Paragon Experience!

The first time I stepped into Paragon, I was excited. It was in their Calicut restaurant and I had heard so much raving reviews about the food and I was just too thrilled to try out their dishes. That day, I had the famous Paragon Chicken Biryani, Fish Mango Curry, Kallumakkai Roast and Kozhi Porichathu. Each and every item I tasted that day stayed in my heart and every time I remembered the Paragon food, I was drooling. And, that experience stayed with me that even now, whenever we have a talk about the best food experiences that we've had, this is on my top list! Years later, I heard Paragon was opening its branch in Cochin and I was jumping with joy because Paragon Cochin would any day be an easier access for me. 

Veg Biryani

On my first visit to Paragon Cochin, I was way too eager to grab a seat and place my order without any delay to relive that first Paragon experience I had years back. This place is three floors huge and always full! The waiters are friendly, eager to help you out and give you suggestions on the menu. They keep coming every now and then, enquiring about the food and checking if you require anything more. Though, I was a bit apprehensive because, in most cases, the food never tastes the same in branches as it is in their main centre. However, as soon as I took the first mouth, I knew I was reliving my Calicut Paragon experience. This time though, I had turned vegetarian and I didn't have much options. So I had to settle for the Veg Biriyani. It may not be as amazing as their famous Chicken Biryani, but among the veg biryanis that I've had from several places, this ranks among the top three for sure! 

After the first visit, I've been here whenever I had a chance to be in Cochin because this is, hands down, one of my favourite eat-outs in Cochin. I've accompanied people who are not crazy about eating out and converted them to Paragon fans as well! 

French Onion Soup in Bread Bowl

On my last visit there, a week back, I had a wonderful dining experience. We were a group and while the non vegetarians were ordering the Chicken Biryani, French Onion Soup and Fish Mango curry, we, vegetarians, were lamenting on how we were missing out on the Paragon's signature fish mango curry, when the waiter told us that he can get us Veg Mango curry! So this time, I started off with a Veg French Onion soup and Peppery Grilled Paneer. The French Onion Soup came in a bread bowl. You had to scrape the insides of the bowl and mix it with the soup. This is, by far, the best soup I've had in Cochin, if not in Kerala. The Peppery Grilled Paneer, tossed in freshly ground pepper with a dash of lemon was full of flavour and a welcome change from the usual starter range in restaurants. 

Aleppey Veg Curry

For the mains we ordered Veg Biryani, Aleppey Veg Curry, Veg Mango Curry and Kerala Porotta. I must say that none of these dishes come near their non veg counterpart but this is the best veg dining experience you can get in Malabar cuisine. The Veg Mango Curry was heavenly and this time, it was truly the star. We couldn't stop ourselves from taking one more serving as soon we finished the earlier serving and this curry was finished before anyone knew!

The Veg Mango Curry

Each time I've dined here, I've left with a wide grin on my face, an overfed tummy and a promise to myself to go back there soon! This place is truly a foodie's paradise!

The Alma Mater

Twelve years since I finished school and five years since I last went there, I walked through the gates of that beautiful cream and maroon building which still lifts my spirit just like it used to a decade back.

This building, place to many a wonderful memories, has not lost even a bit of it's charm. In fact, it seems to have increased manifold, embracing me with memories of love, laughter and happiness. All of a sudden, I was that little girl again, my mind jumping like a kid, devoid of all the worries that age brings upon you and all I did was smile and smile some more. The only difference is you love your teachers more now, without any grudges because over the years you've learnt to cherish them and found meaning in their actions. Each corner in this building is a part of your life interwoven with a memory that will never be washed away. Each familiar face reminds you of the times spent there with them being a part of it. 

The classrooms remind you of the love, scoldings and punishments which the teachers took upon themselves to give you every now and then. Here, we made our gang, shared lunch, talked during class hours, studied together and just had fun in general.

St. Thomas Central School, or more affectionally called the STCS, was our pride. This was our shrine - the shrine that imparted knowledge to us, the shrine that made us who we are. This was our second home!

Memories kept flooding my mind as I walked around the campus - the chapel, the canteen, the grounds, bus bay. The eager rush to the canteen as soon as the lunch bell struck to gorge on those yummy cutlets, meals, porotta and beaf fry. Boy, the taste still lingers in my mouth! Those quick and mandatory visit to the chapel before exams and competitions or the random times we spent here just for a peaceful moment. All those candles lit and heartfelt prayers said here never failed me. This chapel has surely witnessed some of the most sincere prayers of quite a lot of us. The endless matches played in those grounds and the entire school coming together to cheer for our boys. All these are not mere memories, this is the spirit of STCS - the one that is imbibed in all those who've spent atleast a year at this amazing place.

Though I was here only for two years, this place holds the best part of my heart. Here, you were always encouraged to pursue your interest, extra curricular activities were given as much importance as academics and life, in general, was just joyous. The teachers gave us their best, the office staff were our greatest support, even saving our back when we were naughty and was sure to be punished by the faculty. This school gave me friendship that will last an eternity and gifted me the two best years of my life that I will cherish forever. We shared, we cared and we watched each other's back without expecting anything in return.  It was here that I enjoyed the last bit of innocence before college and profession took over and innocence was lost somewhere in between. Life here, was all about fun, enjoyment and friendship. This school gave me memories for a lifetime, memories that will never get lost in the midst of today's rush, memories for which I will always take a pause, to think of and smile.

This place is a treasure trove - a treasure trove of memories, friendship, love, knowledge, happiness and much more. I am sure, even if many years pass by in between, whenever I step into this building, I will be that talkative, giggly, uniform adorned school girl. Because, this place can never hide the kid in you. This, is my alma mater - My STCS!

The Big Three-Oh!

What is with all the hype around birthdays? I'll tell you. Birthdays are celebration. Celebration of you, celebration of your life and celebration of how special you are to others. I love my birthdays! It is the day I celebrate the two special people in my life who mean the world to me. It is the day of realisations, past reflections and future promises.

This year though, I was feeling a bit low that the three people I usually spent my birthdays with, are travelling and not with me. But on the brighter side, I had my remaining pack - my  son, brother and grandmother with me. This year, the birthday started with this cheeky monkey wishing his Amma his version of "happy birthday". I am still pumped thinking of it. It was the best part of the day! I could go on and on about this birthday wish, but I am sure you got the gist of it. 

Messages kept pouring in and calls kept coming. Also, wishes kept coming from my cuties, with their lovely moms sending me their pictures with a happy birthday message or making them wish me. Nothing can touch your heart as much as a gibberish happy birthday from a little one! Once up and about, I got ready for a breakfast date with one of my best girls from school. And she comes with thirty cupcakes to celebrate the 30th year! I am awed by the time and effort she put into these cuties to celebrate my day.

By midday off I went with my childhood bestie. She is in fact more than a bestie. What do you call someone who has been there with you since you were a kid, never left your side, happy or sad times, told you on your face about what was right and wrong and cared for you just like their own? You got the point, right? So we went shopping, roamed around the city for a while and left for home to meet again after a break. By evening, the brother came home with a cake and a gift from the parents. While I was out he had taught my little one to sing happy birthday and these two boys did make it a happy one!

Dinner was all about people I consider family. And the birthday ended on a happy note with this family dosa! 

I would not say it couldn't have been any better. It would have been the best had my husband and parents been here but I won't complain, because it was way better than how I imagined it to be! I am grateful for the year that has gone by, grateful for the people who stood by me and was a major part of my life this year. 

Life, so far, has been the best with the most wonderful parents, who has supported me every single time I made a decision, telling me the pros and cons but leaving it to me to do what I want and backing me up, even when I told them about the boy I liked and wanted to marry. Even today, they continue to marvel me with the love they shower on me, supporting me in the most subtle way that only when I think of it later do I realise that, without them, I wouldn't have been able to push forward. They gifted me my best man - a brother who has been my biggest support, coming up with sensible suggestions all the time I am confused, being mature when I am immature and just being a gem all the time. 

I so hope the next thirty is going to be just as beautiful as the last was!

That Soft Skin And Combating Motherhood Worries

I've been called a fussy and finicky mom by my family quite a lot of times that I've lost count. What they don't realise is that I can't afford to be not fussy. I have just one baby and his health is of prime importance to me. Each time this boy falls sick, it is I who tire out worrying and loosing my sleep. My baby's hygiene matters to me than all the hugs and kisses showered on him. After all, a healthy baby is a happy baby!

The health and well being of your baby starts from that soft, smooth baby skin. That super soft cheeks, satin toes is quite an attraction that all you want to do is nibble on it. Which is why, keeping the baby healthy starts from his super soft skin!

Here are the five things I would do to keep my baby's soft skin safe:

Oil massage

Oil massage has been a significant part of my little one's bath routine. From the day his bathing ritual started, Adhrith would be applied virgin coconut oil all over his body before bath. Initially, it was his great grandmother who took upon herself to give the baby, oil massage and bath. She wouldn't let anybody else do this and finally, after the first few months, she started letting Amma and I do it, quite half heartedly though. Still, she used to supervise us till she was satisfied we were doing a good job! Oil massage protects the skin from drying out, prevents the skin from infection and ensures that my baby stay healthy. And, oh boy, how soft and supple was the little one's skin after an oil bath! 

Choosing the perfect toiletries for your baby

It is very important to understand your baby's skin and choose his soap and moisturiser accordingly. Since I am a very finicky mom, I am averse to the commercialised products available in the market and I try to stay away from them as much as possible because of my lack of knowledge of the ingredients used. Because of this, good old Pears soap was my safe bet for my baby.  Subsequently this changed to Sebamed body wash (since we travel quite a lot, this was a better option for me) and Cetaphil lotion. These products have helped me keep Adhrith's skin soft, moisturised and allergy free.

The diaper selection

Selecting the perfect diaper for your baby is very important because reckless use of diapers will leave the baby with nappy rash and vulnerable to infection. I have always been a Pampers advocate. Nothing else has worked out well for me as Pampers did. I've tried several other diapers, but the mother in me was only assured with the quality of this brand and no other! They are soft, absorbent and trustworthy. Now that the boy is almost two years, he is almost done with diapers except for travel and Pampers comes to our rescue in those times! Now, Pampers brings you the softest ever Pampers Premium Care Pants. Its cotton-like softness is #SoftestForBabySkin and allows it to breathe, thus keeping baby’s skin soft and healthy, and your baby happy.

Wet wipes - saviour at your service 

This has been my biggest blessing since Adhrith was born. Gentle on the skin and rough on germs, it is quite convenient while I am on the go too! The baby bum is exposed to urine and poop while in diapers, that they are easily prone to infections and rashes. Wet wipes helps you fight the infection causing germs and is not rough on the skin. This has been my constant companion, travelling with me ever since my little one was born and helping me keep my baby safe!

A balanced diet

I consider this the most important of them all! I ensure that everyone in the house eats a balanced meal and in particular, the little one. I don't advocate giving babies supplements and tonics. To me, nutrition has to come from the food we eat and not from these supplements whose ingredients I am not quite sure of. I am a happy mom if my little one eats his daily intake of fruits and vegetables with sufficient intake of protein, calcium and iron. As the years pass, my baby is growing to be a big boy and all these may end or change. But as a mother, I will always ensure that he remains healthy and whatever may be left behind, I am not going to compromise on his balanced diet. This ensures that his skin stays supple, blemish free and hydrated.

To me, my little one is my world and as a mother, I will always ensure that he stays safe and healthy, trying to shield him from germs and stay clear of infection, in the best possible way that I can!

Hopscotch.in - A Review

I rarely buy clothes for the little one, let alone do an online cloth purchase. All those clothes his loved ones gift him is more than what he can wear on a daily basis that till date, unless I fall in love with something hung on a store, there has been no need to do a clothes shopping. 

But, inspite of there being nothing to purchase, I found myself scouting the Hopscotch website. Those t-shirts and onesies in the ads that keep popping up on my Facebook page was so appealing that I had to check it out. There is a misconception that boys clothing are borish while there are lot of option for girls. I love finding cute t-shirts and dressing up my little fellow, so much that my friends and family joke about how my wallet would have been way lighter had my baby been a girl! Anyways, coming to the Hopscotch website, they have quite a lot of classy stuff for babies! There are lot of cute onesies, one-liner t-shirts, shirt, shorts, rompers and shoes for boys. However, when it comes to online shopping, I am always worried about the size and quality of the material. This time around though, I decided to take a chance and zeroed in on three t-shirts.

So I chose these three. Though the boy is almost two he is still in the 9-12 months size range. The ollypop t-shirt starts from 1-1.5 years and since I liked it, I bought that anyways. I placed a cash on delivery order for the three.

The delivery came two days earlier than what was estimated. I loved their packaging - classy and very tastefully done! The three t-shirts were neatly packed in this artsy butter paper you can see in the above image with a personalised thank you card from the founders. 

I loved the handsome boy printed t-shirt, although it is still big for the boy and I will have to wait for sometime before I can make him wear :(. The hungry babies tantra tee too is quite cool for a normal wear. The let down was the super boy t-shirt. Considering that I paid the most for this, I would have preferred a better quality and material. Not that it was not good, but it was just ok as compared to the other two. Though, overall i think these three were a good purchase.

This website is going to be my favourite shopping place for the boy for sure. Whoever said about there being no selection for boy's clothing should check this site out and thank me later. I've already shortlisted a couple more for the boy!

From a very satisfied customer :) 

P.s: This is solely my view and I have not received any benefits from the site for the review.

A Family Lunch Date at the Nagarjuna

After we shifted our home far away from Koramangala, it was so difficult to convince the (lazy) husband to take me to my favourite restaurants in and around Koramangala. So one fine day we had to go to central Bangalore early in the morning and once the work was done by around noon, I promptly told the mister that there was no lunch at home and since I was very hungry and also felt like having Andhra cuisine, we had to go to Nagarjuna! I kept my fingers crossed, without him noticing of course, and managed to convince him to take me there (an achievement, definitely).

Ever since I knew I had a little heart beating inside me, almost 3 years back, I preferred vegetarian food and it hasn't changed till now. The last time I dined here was when I was pregnant and I must say, nothing much has changed from then. The food still remains tasty and spicy, the waiters friendly and the service speedy. Since it was a weekday, we got seats rather quickly and once we were settled, we placed our order. While I was sure I wanted the Veg Meals, the husband kept wavering between the Chicken Biryani and the Meals and finally opted for the Veg Meals with omelette. 

The food came without much wait and needless to say, it was yum! The chutney is their highlight - it's spicy, tangy and the best I've ever had! Everything from the pappu charu to the buttermilk ( I skip the kheer since I am not a fan of sweets) was just as I remember having from here always - tasty! Our little one too was quite enthusiastically having his share of the meal, finishing off both our kheers and curd with sugar! Be warned that the meal is on the spicier side, but overall it is a happy dining experience. 

Our personal favourites here:

1. The Veg Meals - Nothing beats it!

2. The Chicken Biryani - The last time I had that was three years back but the husband still drools over it!

With a happy tummy and a very diner friendly bill, I promised myself (loudly so that the husband hears very clearly) to come back soon!

The First Fall

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One moment I was laughing heartily and talking to my friend and the next moment my boy fell down along with his cycle. I scooped him up immediately. I generally don't but this time I felt I had to. And, Thank God I did because it indeed was a major fall. Blood was oozing out from his chin and for a split second I thought I would panic because first, we were in the park and we had to reach our home, quite a few floors high and second, he was bleeding and crying. 

After all the hospital visits and a couple of stitches later, I sat down and thought about the whole episode. I was indeed wiser by a few thoughts and experiences that I had to note it down!

You need to be strong

You are the mother. If you panic, your baby senses it. So you need to be strong and act as if this is no big deal. I stayed by his side, while the cut was being stitched up because knowing what was happening and seeing how my baby is, is the best assurance I could get about my little one being ok than being in the blind. I didn't want to leave him in anybody else's care because I knew that seeing me by his side will be his greatest comfort. And to do this, I had to be strong!

The pathetic service called the ER

After two hospital visits, a one night wait, couple of stitches and Rs. 6000/- less in the pocket, I pity and pray for the people who has to be rushed in to the Emergency Room of a hospital. These two hospitals were not the first emergency visits I experienced. I have mostly had bitter experiences with the emergency service of hospitals. The casualty seems very casual! If you are not unconscious and you can walk, whatever maybe your problem you are asked to wait and subsequently they forget about you waiting and you have to remind them atleast two to three times that you are "still" waiting!  And here we thought, emergency service meant getting emergency care!

The 'loot the public', modern hospitals

I have always been someone who believes it is justified on the part of hospitals to charge for their services and we are not to crib about the charges because, after all, it is a life in question! Yes, to give you the best of care they need sufficient fund to provide the latest, state of the art facilities. But Rs. 6000/- for a minor suturing process for an infant? That felt way too high and unjust that the husband couldn't resist an "Are you joking?" response when the staff told us the bill amount! I didn't go back to the hospital again, not even for removing the stitches. We were travelling to Trivandrum, my hometown and once we reached, I took him to the hospital we usually take him here. It cost me Rs. 130/- for removing his suture that I had to resist myself from hugging the billing staff and giving a pat on her back! Upon asking how much a suturing would cost here, I came to know that it will not be more than some two hundred odd rupees. Two hundred rupees! I could have taken a flight from Bangalore to Trivandrum, put the suturing and returned, still it wouldn't have come to the six thousand rupees we coughed up for a minor suturing!

Here's to many more!

This was the very first thought that came to my mind. It was not that the boy had not fallen before but they were all minor slip and falls. This was the first major one with a deep cut and this was just the beginning. I've seen my brother falling a lot of times and there are lot of stitch marks on his face and I am sure (though I hope not!) this boy will follow his uncle's footsteps! He is a kid, there is going to be a lot of jumping around, climbing walls and trees and I have to be prepared. 

Whatever said and done, each fall breaks a mom's heart, each cut is a strong stab on her heart and you have to try hard not to feel guilty! 

A Sunday With Mrs. Funnybones

Two weeks back, on a Sunday early morning, when the rest of the house was fast asleep and I was enjoying my time alone, I took the new book I got for half the price because of some minor damage (which I wasn't much bothered about as long as I got the book) and sat myself on the bean bag in my balcony.  The moment I took my eyes off the book, I realised almost three hours had gone by and I hadn't realised - Thank God the husband and the kid was still asleep!

I had a lovely three hour conversation with Mrs. Funnybones, who made me laugh, read my mind and   spoke out (or penned down rather) things that crossed my mind at different times! I laughed out loud with her and thought about our three hours together much after that. You will marvel at the way she makes light of serious situations and jokes about those overwhelming, irritating situations we find ourselves in. She is funny, intelligent and a time-pass! 

What strikes a chord with you and Mrs. Funnybones is the fact that you know about the types she has written about. Just like her, you have all these characters around you that she talks about and you can totally relate to it! Mrs. Funnybones depicts the modern day multitasker woman, who does everything on her own, including what, earlier, the men of the house did. She also rants and gossips and insults, all quite funnily, about the people in her life - just like us! She wonders out loud about being a daughter, wife, daughter-in-law and a mother. Those petty fights we have with our mother, those adjustments we make amidst the disagreements (in our mind) with the mother in law, the kids who need us every waking moment that sometimes you just want to run away, the bigger kid also known as the husband or the man of the house who takes you for granted, acts quite bossy at times, but is quite dependant on you for everything! The cook, the neighbours, the lady beside you on the flight, your friends, she discusses with you on everything you can relate to. She describes the new mommy phase so accurately that it reminded me of mine. How rightly she related the new mom to a cow! This lady, she made me laugh, emotional, sentimental and light-hearted! 

Dear Mrs. Funnybones, I loved my time spent with you and I look forward to spending more time with you!

P.s: You can click on the link below to buy the book!

My Step-up Twin

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I love the idea of twins! Growing up, I dreamt of having a twin sister - those Sweet Valley series effect! I always used to wonder how it would be to have a twin sister. Then that gave way to the dream of me having twins. When I learnt I was pregnant, all that I had to ask the doctor was if it was twins and "no" came the answer. There went my wish down the drain!

People thought I was crazy, but twins have always been a fascination for me. The idea of having someone to watch out for you no matter what, share your interests, lend a ear for your worries and who just knows you without any explanation - that felt good! But it was still a fascination and not what I will experience. 

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Then it struck me one day. I've always had a twin sister alongside me. It just kept changing from one person to another depending on where I was in life. It was my childhood friend when I was a kid, the best friends in school, my close friends in college, my close friend from school who got married at the same time as I and who conceived around the same time as I did with our first babies, my colleagues who shared my interests at my work place, my neighbour who has a same age kid as my son - I found my twin in all these people and many more. They were there when I needed them, made me laugh, held my hand when I was worried and stepped up for me every single time without fail. And I realised, I will always have a twin in someone who shares my same interest and passion, whom I can open upo and whom I can relate to!

So, my dear ones who have been my partner in crime at any point of life, Thank You for being the twin I never had!

For The Love Of Dawn

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I am a morning person, in fact, an early morning person. I love to get up before sunrise. It gives me so much of 'me' time, time to finish quite a lot of work and still left with plenty of time in my hand. I tend to work double my usual pace during early mornings. Things get done faster, my brain process faster and there will still be time left to do more stuff. There is a special vibrancy in the air - an energy you feel only when there is a calmness around you.

 Getting out of home way before the sun is up and breathing in the fresh air - there is nothing to beat that freshness! There is no sound around you, people are yet to get up from their sleep, the roads are yet to get busy and that is the moment I find so much positive energy around me - it lifts my mood, gives me the energy I need for the day and clears my mind. 

This is also the time that my Mom (Amma to me) and I have always bonded with each other. If there was one person who loved this hour of the day much more than me, it has to be Amma. When I was a kid, this was the time she used to teach me. She would wake me up at 04:00 (which is still my favourite time to get up!), let me freshen up and have my bath and then she would make me sit down for study time. She would explain to me all the stuffs I didn't know and teach me new stuffs that may or may not be there in the text books. As I grew up and there was no more school to attend, I still loved getting up early morning just to talk to Amma or see her get ready for temple or start her day.

My favourite time of the day it is - the dawn!