Christmas

it's almost Christmas, today is the 20th and I am sitting in my bed, aimlessly browsing and thinking I should at some point get up and set up the tree atleast.

Every year the urgency is lesser and lesser. I feel I should do it and yet am not motivated enough to actually get around.

Tomorrow a friend and her family visits us. I want to get going before that atleast.

I had plans of cake and stuff, will probably get going on that on 22nd. 23rd is K's birthday and as per the grinch, he didn't want to have anything so will comply with his wishes (so much the better for me!)

Amma and all are off to Bangkok for Christmas and I am so glad they are doing this instead of the usual christmas fare! She is maha excited and so are the kids. 

Tis (almost) the season

It's like I don't want this year to end. I've tried and failed miserably to make it last longer by ignoring the days and dates. I looked at my phone calendar this morning and was shocked that it is already the 18th.

At the beginning of this month, I swore I would make the last month of the year really count. This meant that I would work hard and end the year on a high note. After the first week, all of that went down the drain and with it, I went into a downward spiral of lackluster energy.

I spent a whole week watching videos online, whole chunks of the day just went down the drain hole that is the internet. A few mismanaged days and a whole week was lost. I managed to pull myself out of the hole and attended to some family commitments on the next weekend and had the whole shebang over for a lunch which I enjoyed making, but didn't enjoy eating!

Classes at the studio have been slow. And today I told myself that mentally I had checked out for the whole year. I hope to do my customary year end post which serves as a reminder for all that I have done, what I missed and what I look forward to in the new year.

I've spent long days reading, sleeping, really giving my attention to my cooking, cleaning the house, watching over Sage and cuddling with him. To me this is enough and I am not going to shame myself with regret at having wasted a couple of weeks. As the festive season kicks in, I haven't even put up the Christmas tree yet, will remedy that tomorrow.

Amma was to spend christmas with me this year for a change, but she's had a bout of ill health that's left her drained and so she's decided not to come over. It will be just us for Christmas now as always. I'm hoping to make it small and meaningful. 

Prettify your home for the Festive Season

I'm doing a blogging marathon on the cooking blog. Today i tool a detour from all the festive cooking and wanted to share a few simple ideas about adding a little bling and cheer for the festival. I am a list maker, I try to be organised, I try my best to finish stuff on time. Most times I succeed, sometimes I fail. I don't sweat the small stuff. In an earlier life (read - a few years ago) I wanted everything to be perfect ~ the house, the table, kitchen, food, life in general.
Almost having a breakdown over it Good sense prevailed and I live to tell the tale. The house is never perfect, but these days, when we have unexpected guests, I don't scramble around to make it appear like something out of a magazine (which by the way is impossible, because they have teams of people to do that). Living with a domestically challenged K and now a really crazy dog which thinks he owns all the cushions in the house has further drilled down that story!

Last year for Christmas, I did not, for the first time in 8 yrs, put up my tree. Only because we had a young pup in the house and I was paranoid he would swallow the ornaments. yet, I didn't think it was the end of the world, because hey! it isn't. its an artificial tree with baubles....  That said, I almost always use my favourite accessories, dim lights and candles to make everything look pretty.

More than anything, it is friends and family and a warm welcoming home that is of importance. No amount of decor can make up for a home that is not welcoming to people. Our doors are always open for family and friends, we love having people over and sharing food and fellowship with them. Over the years, I have found, the more comfortable you are with yourself, the more comfortable and inviting your home is.

here are some things I do.

Bring out the serial lights and put them up where you can, doorpost, balcony, over the mantel or behind the TV. I put them amongst my plants in the balcony.

Rangoli and oil wicks in earthen lamps. I bought these inexpensive ones from a craft bazar and have been reusing them for 5 years now.

Flowers - even the ones that you grow in a tiny pot. use this as a centerpiece on your table .

Put your shot glasses to use and float a single flower in them. Here I used flowers that I found growing in the yard next to where I live

Use T-lights to avoid messes on your table tops. A Glass jar makes for a beautiful decor addition

Line up a row of diyas on your side tables - please make sure they are not at a level which can cause harm to your children or pets.

Serial Lights again ~ this time inside a glass jar which lights up the bar beautifully

almost at the end of the year

its holiday season... a phrase borrowed from the west no doubt, but all around its a mad festival frenzy. the weather has been killer the last few weeks, last night touching 8 degrees which is very rare for hyd at this time of the year...

my spell with ill health continues and its right now so annoying that i cant even talk about it. i've completed many courses of medication and now am taking the natural remedies route!

my sil and niece are here to begin the relocation process and after weeks of school shopping, we fixed on something yesterday.

i have tonnes to do, cookies to make, cake to bake and other stuff... i went minimalistic with the tree this year... just gold accents and white light.. it looks smashing! even if i say so myself..... :) leaving you with a picture to hopefully spread the cheer!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas

 

To all of you who stop by here… family, friends & readers of this blog……. a Very Happy and Blessed Christmas. May the peace and joy of this season be upon us and with us always….With much love and thanks for reading

wordless wednesday

i know its a conflict with the post title.... but i liked the way it sounds and it aptly reflects the way i am feeling right now.... the weather's awesome...i've just had a snack which included banana choco chip cake and am waiting for k to get himself out of a traffic jam and get home.... its onam today. So for those to whom this is important.... happy onam.... i made pal payasam today and i miss being with amma and appa for the festive food. was i a mallu in my last birth i say!!

its finally feeling like christmas

The festive season is upon us……shops, malls and homes are festooned in red, white and green……for me, it’s the favourite time of the year……the chilly evenings and mornings adding to the air of festivity, anticipation of celebrations and time spent with family and friends….the sweet treats, candy, cookies and cake…

I make my own Cards ……so for a few days, i was busy cutting, block printing and sticking paper to make them.......also planned on making cookies and some savoury eats….and cake of course…. the planning begins in November……however, like all best laid plans, they go awry….some due to my own fault……and sometimes things just get out of hand……the panic and falling to pieces is all part of Christmas……it wont be Christmas for me, if everything moves on like clockwork!!

This year, K and I will be celebrating at home……we couldn’t make the trip to Bangalore to join Amma and my brother’s family….work and other commitments have kept us very busy……so its bittersweet……while I love doing up the house, cooking and having friends over….sometimes I just wish I could be with Family….that’s what festivals are all about right??

Its not Christmas, till I put the tree up….and between all the things that were driving me crazy,  I stayed up one night till 1.30 a.m to get the tree decorated……I couldn’t bear another day in a bare home……as I stepped back to watch the lights on the decorated tree……it simply tipped forward and fell flat on the floor……for what seemed like an age, I stood there….teary eyed, as I watched the decorations scattered on the floor, the tree with the lights still blinking, asleep……on the ground!! For a second I wondered if I should turn off the lights and deal with it in the morning……but I couldn’t bear to wake up to a mess……so I took a deep breath…..and got to work….first to untangle the mess of beaded garlands and fairy lights….and pick up all the baubles that got flung across the drawing room!! I stayed up till 4.00a.m, but I was finally done……just the sight of that made me feel so much better……next was to tackle all the other stuff that was overwhelming me……both for work and for the festivities….. putting my management training to use, I drew up a time quadrant to plan my work….to do lists make my life seem so much better!!

Last Year's Goodie Hamper for friends and family.....Viennese butter cookies, muruku, rich plum cake (store bought) and eggless date and fruit cake

I realized that fretting over time that has gone by, wont accomplish anything…yeah I am a dim light bulb sometimes!! Last evening I made some mixed berry/ raisin and cashew cookies (recipe coming soon) and as I sit here to type this up….the rich fruit cake I have attempted for the very first time is baking….filling the house with an amazing aroma……I have a fudge to finish!! And then am all set…..yesterday was K’s turn to turn a year older….he always feels ill on his birthday and this year was no better……tho he isnt as bad as last year!! We’re having a smallish combined celebrations tomorrow…..

To my dearest friends, family and readers, I wish you, the Joy and Peace that Christmas embodies………wherever in the world you are, have a wonderful Holiday……Love and Happiness always!!

Season's Greetings

Diwali is officially over…. I am not sure how I feel about it yet…. I didn’t feel like it was diwali while it was here cos essentially K requested for a “no celebrations please” I don’t know why… but I agreed…. So we didn’t light lamps (like I had planned), or have a party (like I had hoped), we just had some good food (isnt that the whole point of festivals anyways?) and watched three awesome movies back to back….cut ourselves away from everyone and everything, for a brief while we watched the fireworks across the cityscape…..but other than that, I think we had the quietest diwali ever…..

I was just interrupted by this weird call….from Airtel broadband, peddling some games on demand…. When I politely said I was not interested…the polite guy asked if he could ask me a question…. I answered yes….he asked me if I was married…to which I said yes….then he asks if I have kids….i say no….then he pauses…. And says….oh…. not yet….. oh ok maa’m…..  if he wasn’t so polite…I’d have bitten his head off…. But I still think this was a weird question to be asked by the provider of an internet service…. I’d rather they check some other way if there are kids in the household!! Weird!!

The global financial situation, i was told by the newspapers, has had its impact on the festivities this year.....from the sounds of crackers, i think it was a lot less than last year....but the newspapers had pages and pages of supplements offering huge discounts on everything from clothes to groceries to furniture and appliances.... i have been abstaining from buying anything since my resolution  to refuse, reduce, recycle and reuse....... anything except groceries that is.... so its been a little over a year now.... and i havent bought anything!! no matter what the temptation...clothes, shoes, home decor stuff, crockery..... nothing.... and i am pretty proud of that!!

Anyways, back to diwali…. apart from the fact that i made chocolates on order in the run up to the festival, we didnt do much.....I donated the rangoli colours I had to some women from our building who didn’t have any and were making a giant community rangoli…. I ended up doing it with them…and it was quite different from my usual just saying hello and walking off!! I think they were more surprised than I was that I stayed and partook of this community thingie!! I also donated a huge box of crackers that I was hoping we’d burst….. they were leftovers from last year…man!! We got soooo many last year…. I gave away the whole box, to my building’s handyman’s kids….i was not very happy that K made me do this….but was glad in the end…..

So that was diwali….pretty nondescript….. but on the brighter side…. I feel very rested…

I hope everyone had a good time…those who planned large scale bashes and those who like us wanted low key ones…. and those who don’t celebrate…. I hope you enjoyed the holidays….

odd bits...and some fun times....

i wonder if i should make this a dear diary kind of blog....??

sometimes i think i am such a cribster .... go on and on about the same thing!! like K being so busy.... i have said it enough number of times here...but still like last week, he completely bowls me over with something done totally out of turn....

on thursday we had a couple of our friends drop in and stay over.... we haven't been able to catch up over a long time and sometimes i wonder if it is design or sheer coincidence....i also realise that nothing, not even the best of friendships will stay alive without nurturing...anyways, i was on one of my baking sprees and we did spend some time catching up before K came back from work...we chatted into the wee hours with mosquis having a buffet laid out for them...we still managed to stay up till early morning!! i rushed off to church for the good friday service and k left for work only when i was back.... so B and i spent the quiet day together..... saturday was nothing much to write home about except that the rain which began on friday went on through the rest of the week....i mean it poured like it was the middle of the monsoons.... i am getting more and more paranoid about this reality called global warming....and shudder to think what might happen now......

in the pouring rain on Sunday i went to church.....is it me or just being opinionated about everything....i noticed that unlike before, so many things have changed about church...i mean for one...no one ever comes on time...and the latecomers always want to sit right in front!! i noticed people walking up and down apparently searching for something during the service....talking on the phone or with each other...and kids aren't told to keep quiet anymore...i mean i would be told to behave and given a severe dressing down if i didn't listen (when we got home of course) and in many ways one stare would be enough....but not now...... anyways... i must mention here that i find some of the speakers extremely funny.....they really don't have a message contained in their sermons and just go on and on.....this person who spoke on easter morning, began by saying he had three things to tell us....rambled on about two things...suddenly lost track of what he wanted to say and narrated the entire story of a movie called "babeth's feast"...i checked online and i haven't found any movie of this name...but since i heard the whole story...i can tell it to you if you want!! so after narrating the story...he just forgot the conclusion of his sermon....realised that he had less time...and signed off with a song sung from the pulpit off key!! wow!!

it poured incessantly all through service and after....we got home to a really soggy balcony and water every where on the potholed roads.... one off season shower and this is the haalath of the hyderabadi roads!!

post a really late lunch.....we lazed around a while...and towards the evening gravitated to the balcony....its something else to be sitting watching the rain.....everything hazy and beautiful...kindof like the state of mind you want to remain in....chai gave way to mojitos...i'd seen this on my naesake's blog and it caught my interest...i'm not crazy about rum...but this one was fab...although i replaced two main ingredients...this was still great...and there we sat...k and i while it drizzled a few feet away .... listening to film songs from the 80's....umrao jaan....masoom, ijazzat.... bhupinder singing..."mere ghar aana...." and do deewane shehar mein" ...rekha...shabana and the wonderfully talented farooque shaik....we talked gulzar and jagjit.... rdb and asha...with a candle because theres no light on the balcony....and it was so wonderful.... k said like we were at our own lounge!! yeah he was right!! i didnt want to get up from there.....no phones...no doorbells....nothing!! ahh...i think i would have said yes if k'd have asked me to marry him...

I think it helped more than I gave it credit…or maybe I was just fed up with my cribbing self…..i got off my sorry ass and got a few things done yesterday!! The Christmas tree and tinsel are finally off…not just off, but packed neatly in the pre designated boxes and up on the loft till next year….just like I liked them and just like how I would ideally like them packed…. I didn't succumb and put them all together in a plastic bag in a jumbled mess I was so tempted to….. I endured a raging headache for 3 hours as well…. But I feel good…life is getting back to sanity…. Then I baked two cakes…one was a disappointment…of course it was bound to be if you saw what I did…. I was pissed with myself….so I baked another and this one rose to the occasion quite beautifully….who can resist a whole wheat chocolate cake?? Not me….. the prize of course came in the evening….a few casual mentions of hitting a night spot came together…and I was all up and ready…..a hot shower made me forget that terrible headache…. There's something about a hot jet of water hitting you on the head and shoulders that no therapy or drug can buy………. I spent some time on my hair and ignored the fact that I should have threaded my eyebrows….infact when S (who we were going out with) asked the inevitable "what shall we wear?" I answered "what difference will it make? Its going to be dark and everyone will eventually be drunk…and after a couple, regardless of what we wore or weighed we'll feel like Cindy Crawford" …….. so we hit town…. 10 D my favourite watering hole, I was already almost drunk!! Only one thing struck me….we'd come for retro night….and when you start to enjoy retro night, you know that you are older than you thought!! I had a blast…. I loved the music and regardless of my severed toe nail braved the dance floor…. And yeah…..i did feel like Cindy Crawford!!

Christmas

k and i got back early this morning from bangalore after Christmas......as usual the fog in Delhi delayed the flight from bangalore to Hyd!! after many years we travelled to bangalore by a semi sleeper bus...tho touted as a luxury bus, i must say regardless of how much you can push back a seat, it isnt the same thing as being on a train....i love train travel.....the trip was much anticipated by my family and tho i'd have liked a few days to recover from the strain of organising K's surprise bday party....we didnt have a choice, with the 23rd and 25th being so close!!

its always the case when you are with family and worse so over a festive weekend, that all you seem to do is eat, sleep, eat, try to recover from all the eating and sleeping and then do it again!!

we also spent a tonne of cash...(as is becoming a habit) K dropped the battery and cover of his motorazr in an open drain and that was the end of a year long association....so we had to shop for a phone....and i had been hankering after a digital camera....so we finally made the committment and picked one up from gk vale.....i was so happy....almost salivating at my christmas gift.....i told K with all the travelling and purchases (some needed and mostly needless ones) for ourselves and the house, this has been one expensive year for us.....he just smiled and indulgently exclaimed...it has been a year well lived.....

so we touched base last night and since our car was with a friend rode home in a taxi...i sat in an ambassador after quite a while.....had a lovely night's rest and thanked god that i didnt have to wake up and rush to work......K has had to do that unpleasant thing while he left me at home to unwind, unpack and set things in order......

with Silus baby set to make an appearance in the first week of jan.....we're all waiting.....i hope she has an easy time......