A Wall Hanger Gift for my Mom on her Bday!!

Aren’t bdays special??? Especially, when someone in your family has her/his bday coming. Do we not wish to gift them something that feels special to them? Ya, same way, my mom’s bday fell on June 26 and I wanted to give her something that she’ll never feel like throwing away anytime. So, it had to be something damn special to her.

When I pondered on what she likes the most in this world, it struck me. I have always noticed that nothing thrills her more than spending a weekend with both my sissies’ kids. She adores all the three tiny tots – UTHRAH, HRIDHAY n AKSHAT.

So, I decided to make her some sorta handicraft with the snaps of the kids. Finally, I decided on a wall hanger so that it could hang somewhere in my mom’s kitchen and keep reminding her that she’s always remembered though we daughters are miles away. But, right that time, I was at a loss. My inner voice was like, “Who are you kidding? You always suck at crafts. Face it”. All I knew was to write pages n pages and well, there’s nothing more.

But, as usual, “Light Bulb” :D.. I am at Indore staying at my uncle’s for internship. Here, I am blessed with a cousin who’s a killer with ArTs n CrAfTs!! Her name’s POOJA and below pics show some of her works. The 1st pic is a collage of her quilling works.

Lovely crafting, ain’t it?

With a maestro to help me out on the craft part, I wrote a 3 stanza verse (That is all I know to do ;P :D.., it helps me survive) to go with the wall-hanger.

              

With the ingredients ready, we got busy on June 23^rd night at 11pm and by 1.15pm, the hanger was ready and looking all fine. 

We were a little late in shipping the gift to my mom and we expect it to reach her only 2 or 3 days after her bday. As I wrote this post even before it reached my mom, am still waiting for my mom’s reaction when she receives it.

P.S: When I said we got busy on June 23^rd night, I would like to confess that it actually means  Pooj was busy with the hanger and I was busy watching the FINALS of ICC Champions Trophy between India and England, cheering away loudly and shamelessly applying Fevicol on my hands and then peeling off the dried glue.

5 CHEESY HABITS I JUST CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT!!

Cheesy Habits: Well, everybody has them, don’t they? But I am not entitled to be the judge of anybody out there but I sure well know myself. Yes fellas, I do live with an oddball inside me who has a handful of habits that anyone would name Cheesy. Over the years, they have become an integral part of me that I just can’t stop myself from doing them when I get a chance. 

Sooo, here goes my very own list of CHEESY HABITS.

Habit #01: SLIDING THROUGH MY MOBILE’S TOUCHSCREEN FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON

Swish, Swish, Swish!! Yaap, I just keep swiping and sliding through my mob’s touchscreen without any purpose. If the Icecream Sandwich living inside my mobile had a mouth, am darn sure that it would burst out it’s anger at me and go, “#^?$@*!&?#”. I never let the poor OS cool down. Travelling in a bus, if am bored, I swipe. Sitting in a theatre, if the movie drags, I swipe. Squatting inside my room, if there’s no one, I swipe. Waiting for a repy text that hasn’t come in yet, I swipe. Book wide open before me for tomorrow’s exam, I swipe. With my head down if a group of people look over at me and whisper amongst themselves, I swipe. Pathetic?? Maybe, but I owe one to this habit for helping me get through awkward situations.

Habit #02: APPLYING FEVICOL ALL OVER MY PALMS, LET IT DRY AND THEN PEEL IT OFF

During all those hours spent for craft classes in school, and art short-term courses in college, this weird habit of mine always found a way into my head. And I would end up deserting my hanf-done handicrafts to give my palms a Fevicol spread. Peeling off the dried glue used to give me pangs of excitement:).. but the real challenge was to peel it off totally without tearing it and finally get to see our handprints shimmering on it. Ahhh, such joyous moments they were. Till today, if I see a Fevicol tube lying around, I don’t give it a 2nd thought. I just pounce on it and have a good time on my own.

Habit #03: DELIBERATELY PULL OUT A STRAND OF HAIR NEAR THE FOREHEAD AND LET IT LOOSE

Just when I am all set with the perfect hairdo for a day out, I get this weird urge. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I contemplate for a moment. After that, no idea what makes me do it, but I choose a short strand of hair on the front, pull it out and just let it hang out loose as if windblown. I guess it’s some sorta strange feeling inside me that all my pretty looks lie hidden in that single strand. Growing up, this habit is like a daily duty. I do not let my head out the door until I have that innocent strand let loose.

Habit #04: NIBBLING AWAY SLATE PENCILS

My idea of a tasty snack anytime, throughout the whole of my childhood. They were like my very own version of Breadsticks. On and on I would nibble and gobble them up, until my mom threatened me with a spanking. The saddest part was when I had to move to school from kindergarten, because we had to switch over to notebooks and lead pencils. Then, gradually to pens. My habit sustained a hard hit due to it as the slate pencils were forgotten at my home. But, the craving never died. It still prevails in me and once during my high school, I have even tried to wrench one out of an innocent kindergarten kid.

Habit #05: COLLECTING CADBURY TEMPTATIONS WRAPPERS (ALMONDS)

Devouring the chocolate like it was the last food on earth was one thing, but I still do not understand why I started collecting the wrappers. I guess my eyes fell in love with the glossy shine of the wrapper and my hands were smitten with its velvety touch. These wrappers I have collected over the years are my personal Treasure stamp. Please wish me luck to eat even more of these almond flavoured chocki bars and to forever keep collecting those wrappers.

That is all guys. Though these may be odd habits, never once have I even considered the thought of losing them. Cuz they define me and I am happy doing them even if am branded a weirdo.

ChEeRs To ChEeSiNeSs,
Kay..<3..!!

ThE vOiCe Of A sTuDeNt!!

Life moves at Lightning speed ain't it?? Between the cramped up schedules and running late for meetings and chasing up money and tending to our issues, our minds become so stuffed that we forget to express our gratitude to all those people who strived to make our life better in ways possible. Among those well-wishers, our Teachers hold a higher stake. As we move through School, Graduation, Post-graduation and Diplomas, we meet in life a number of teachers who not only mould our minds with the wealth of knowledge but also imbibe in us values, values that will determine how we design the blueprints of our lives. 

So, here I am, as usual, with a poem to give a tribute to all the teachers out there devoting their time to building all of us students whom the nation calls, 'ThE FuTuRe PiLLaRs'. 

As we stood wayless

Starting to feel helpless

You made an entry

Along with an artistry

And motivated us all

Not to finish small

But reach for heights

And strive through nights

To achieve our goals

And become great souls

You never lead us astray;

Made sure our life was in array

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CI: Scrap #03 – 5 North-Indian snacks that became my Favourites!!

Days ran by and over a month crossed, during which I learnt lotsa tips on ‘How to be an Indorewala’.

When we blend ourselves with a new city, do we not learn and get acquainted with its culture and practices. One vital thing that shapes up any culture is Food and Cuisine. Hailing from the most southern part of India, I was always on the lookout for southern dishes like Idlies, Dosas n whatnots. But, due to the need of having to take breakfast and lunch at the company I was training with, I had to give in and adopt the eating habits of Indore fellas.

I gotta mention one difference between the Northern and Southern cuisine. While we tend to go heavy on dishes, these folks prefer richness. And Oh Yeaaa, I guess everybody was born with a sweet tooth here. Not one meal course gets covered without a sweet dessert. So, among all these delicacies, I have grown a crush on a few North Indian snacks. So, I have tried to create a list of my 5 most favourite snacks: (I have also added sites that host good recipes on how to prepare these snacks at home)

· 1. POHA: Wondering what it means?? To put it in simple English terms, it is nothing but Flattened Rice. It is so beaten that it can absorb liquid easily and quickly. Throw in a few veggies of your choice, add salt & turmeric (Totally ur choices to spice it up even more), top it up with lots of Sev namkeen with 2/3 Jalebis at your side and Lo n Behold!! U’ll have before you a tasty breakfast snack. Best thing about this dish is that it can be fixed up in a matter of minutes.

· 2. GOLGAPPAS: The most ancient form of Chaat, which we more commonly know as PANI PURI. Yup, those very same tiny puffy balls that are filled with a liquid that tingles your taste buds as you gobble up one after another of those puris. Of course we get them in our places too, but the real taste was born here guys.

· 3. KACHORI: Again a Chaat type of snack very popular around here. Imagine a crispy flour ball flattened with spicy stuff inside and you have nailed it right. They exactly take the size of our Idlies. I especially liked the Dal Kachori very much (mostly Moong dal n suchlike variants). We can also get to see many varieties like Aloo, Dahi n many more. Spicy Kachoris are served hot with sour-sweet Chutneys to add more taste to it.

· 4. SABUDANA VADA: Though this snack is a deep-fry dish n a time-taker as the ingredients have to be soaked overnight for preparation, I took a fancy to it. Indulge your senses into this vada along with spicy green chutney and hot tea by your side.

· 5. VADA PAV: I know I may be late in getting to know about VadaPav, but I got introduced to it only here. And after trying it out with different combos like Sabudana, Aloo, Cheese Chutney, this Indian Burger became one of my favourites right away.

Other than all this, Paneer Tikka(Kebabs), Rasagullas and Rasamalai also caught my attention. But, please people, do not think that I spent all my days eating and tasting and profiling my favourites. I was working full-time and eating part-time, though at times, it was the reverse way too.

Do try tasting these items when you get a chance. I am sure you’ll love them too and don forget to ping me if you come across some other delicious snack. Always open to new dishes :D..!!

Amidst Mouthfuls,
Kay..<3..!!

ThE mIsSiNg VoIcE..!^!

Remember a tiny bird who decided to look for her LOVE in "ThE InCoMpLeTe SoNg"? 

Dear readers, if a recap is needed, click on the title to read my first poem - The Incomplete Song Link . So, what did ever happen to that lovely soul?? Here is the next poem that brings out her journey as she flies around looking for a Love so powerful that it could conquer almost anything in the world.

!!ThE mIsSiNg VoIcE!!

Up in the glossiest of night skies

  Flies a feathered girl with bated breath,

She was just a tiny dot to the eyes

  Yet, the sheer grit within her did showeth,

It would and did make one marvel awhile

  As to what the dear soul was beseeching,

Thus, we backtrack along lines sung erstwhile

  To know that, for an answer, she's searching,

The question our girl faces,

Will she reach her so-called destiny??

  Will "ThE MiSsInG VoIcE" sing back?

Will the voice make her feel sunshiny??

  Or Will she keep flying forever in black?

To sing with rapture and fly with passion

  And lead a life being deliriously happy

She needed love as vast as the ocean

  Which would no longer leave her empty

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CI: A Whiff of Dusty Air – Scrap #02

Scrap #02 – How the TrAiN jOuRnEy whiled away!!

        

So, where were we when I signed off?? Waiting for the train, ain’t it..

Well, at this point, things are pretty simple and ordinary. There is no point to point train from my town (You see,my town is registered on the developing front ;P ) or nearby junctions in the part I hail from. So, we had to board the Thirukural Express that runs from Kanyakumari to Hazrat Nizamuddin in New Delhi that covers a distance of 2922 km in between, thereby becoming one of the longest running super-fast trains in the country.

We knew it was gonna be a lengthy journey. Because my bro n I boarded the train at Virudhunagar by May 10^th evening and we were to reach Bhopal only on May 12^th morning. So, here is the list of things I carried/did to keep myself throughout the journey (Listed according to popularity n preference :D )

ü  MUSIC: This will always remain on my “Survival Needs List”. I just cannot get through a day without listening to at least 4-5 songs a day. And on this train, music got me through 14 hours of the day.

ü  BOOK: I carried with me the newly released book, “LEAN IN: WOMEN, WORK, AND THE WILL TO LEAD”, written by Sheryl Sandberg. Ms. Sandberg is the COO of Facebook. This book held me captivated inside the pages till I had drunk in each and every word on them. Now, this book is a must-read for all my dear women who are striving to add more meaning to their life with a working career. “LADIES, ROADBLOCKS ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS ARE VERY COMMON; JUST SHATTER THEM WITH YOUR MERE WILLPOWER”                                                 

ü  DEBATE: I have this bro who’s a cool guy to roll with. But, he can be a bit annoying at times. So, as usual, I endured his annoyance in this journey in the form of a debate on the topic, “What is the use of women working?”. He was darn strong in his points, but so was I. All I can say is that We have always given a thrust to Men’s dreams and powered them up; Now, let us build our own dreams for awhile.

ü  USELESS STUFF: Other than all this, I would just stare and stare at whatever was in front of me; Be it people or an empty seat or food or a piece of iron dangling from the upper berth. And finally I came up with a Quote – “GREAT MINDS AND EYES STARE WHEN DEEP IN THOUGHT” (Plz don temme it’s totally junk, give some respect yo guys ;P ).

And I gotta mention chomping up almost 4-5 packets of Lays n Cheetos. But, guys, we do have to cut down on junk food consumption as Teenagers who eat three or more helpings of junk food in a week have a 39 per cent increased risk of severe asthma. Have a check tab to control mates.

With all these, I managed to get through my 2-day train travel at ease and I also did stay clean all through to Bhopal plus a 4-hour car travel again to my Uncle’s home in Indore. I wouldn’t call this journey peaceful but rather EVENTFUL, I would say. 

CONCLUSION: LANDED IN INDORE!!

Cya,

Smelly yet Fresh-Lookin KaY

(Ll bath soon mates :P )