MY NOW...

Outside my window: Hi, I have decided that I will be writing about my week gone by and what I am doing right now on Mondays (if possible...”smiles**” and today it is possible to do so , and so, here I am)

It’s 10.30 at night and I have just finished up cleaning up after dinner, a little early compared to the other days as I normally finish after 11.00.

Off course its dark outside and I am in my son’s room as he is out for work and my hubby is watching an action movie out in the living room.

I am thankful... That my annual eye check up is finally done and that I have only a slight increase in my reading No.

I am wearing... Blue kurti and my grey leggings (I am still in the same dress that I wore in the evening for my eye checkup and then a round in the mall.

I am wondering... If I will get back to reading my never-ending pile of books and magazines that have been lying unattended for a very long time .I had been experiencing discomfort while reading on the computer and my books, and hence got my eyes checked to find that my reading no has changed and that I will need new glasses.

I am reading... For the last couple of days I have been reading sites which tell me more about India in the 1920’s, 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. I have always loved to know about old India and how it was living in those times. But I could not find much on that subject but recently I have found some very good sites that tell me more about the daily lives of people in olden India.

I am watching: As I said I have been watching more than reading in the last few months.

I am watching some nice serials on TV which are family dramas.

I have been also watching my favorite you tube channels mostly hauls.

I have started watching REVENGE SEASON 3 which my son downloaded for me. I love this serial and only the first two seasons have been telecast in India.

I am hoping... To start reading again the way I used to especially, books as there are so many which I have purchased but not yet read.

Last week: Nothing special, just clearing and cleaning up after my brother and family left back for the US.

Invited my husband’s doctor friends over for dinner on Saturday night, had good fun with them.

COOKED: I menu for the day was

              Palak Masoor tonak, French beans vegetable, paneer butter masala,chicken tikka masala(heritage), roasted corn salad, and vegetable pulao/ Biryani.

With chicken tikka, reshmi kabab, vegetable chilli for starters.

 Around the house... There is a lot of cleaning and organizing to be done as the festival of lights DIWALI is just round the corner.

One of my favorite things: I loved the cool lassi (sweet yogurt drink) which I had when I was with my hubby on a hot humid afternoon.

Enjoying eating apples which are in season right now in India.

A few plans for this week:

 Lots and lots on my to do list.. Priority being

CLEAN, CLEAN AND CLEAN

                         Read some old magazines and discard a few.

Today’s menu:

Breakfast: egg fry and toast

Lunch: Tomato dal and papdi vegetable rice and roti

Dinner: French beans vegetable

Today was one of the simplest menus that I could ever make.

TODAY...

For Today

OCTOBER 7^TH 2014

Outside my window: Sunny and humid morning … Its 10.35 am and I am just taking a little break which means a little change from my morning routine. I love such small breaks although to some it might look like I am distracted and might take a little more time to complete what I am doing, but frankly these small breaks keep me going and give a spring to my step whenever I start again.

I am thankful... For the 24 hour water supply that we get in our society while there are so many buildings in our society who get water only for about 4 hours a day.

I am wearing... polka dot pajama pants with a blue colour T-shirt.

I am creating... A “SIMPLE PLEASURES” scrapbook using pictures that I cut from magazines or download from around the web.

I plan to go to. In Mumbai where I stay “station road” is a place for doing some simple day to day and reasonable shopping and I love visiting such places as you can find some really good items for a very small price..I plan to go to a place called Malad for my station road fixation.

I am wondering... Will I use my pile of downloads to be used for home binders.. I always go on downloading  interesting” to do lists” or such templates for my home binder but finally write on a blank paper to suit my convenience.

  I am reading... Reading books has taken a back seat as I have to get my eyes checked for my reading number. But that does not stop me from reading some blogs which I get my daily inspiration from.

I have been on a look out of blogs that are motivational and which help me improve my day to day life.

I am watching: As I said I have been watching more than reading in the last few months.

I am watching some nice serials on TV which are family dramas.

I have been also watching my favorite you tube channels mostly hauls ..

I have been also watching documentaries on YouTube about AGATHA CHRISTIE my favorite author.

I am hoping... I will complete my pending TO DO LIST this week.

Last week: It was a very hectic and busy week with my brother who is on a project in the USA came visiting after a year.

There were lots of food being cooked, lots of jokes and lots of eating out too fun and hectic both at the same time.

I am learning... Nothing new as there was lots of work around the house with guests and also with my maids on leave at that very time due to their own problems.

 Around the house... House is a mess with the guests having left and lots of laundry to be done and things being in a disorganized state.

One of my favorite things: I have been loving my mobile case which is in a festive print just apt for the festival season that is on in India.

A few plans for this week: Lots and lots on my to do list..1. As I have to get my house back in order after my brother and family have left to go back to the US.

2. Plan to go out one day for lunch with my friend which has been postponing for the whole of last month.

3. Update my home binder which has not been opened for quite some time now.

4. Organize my clothes cabinet as it really needs looked into before the Diwali festival comes near.

 5. Have to read some magazines and start discarding a few as I have completely used up all the available space for my books and magazines.

LEARN AND LIVE

As we grow we learn, we learn lessons through good experiences and the bad ones and it’s up to us to act upon what we learn, turn every mistake into an opportunity..

Source

I was visiting my aunt over the weekend, she enjoys writing out small quotes or phrases which she comes across in the newspaper or even a story that she reads. And she was kind enough to share that diary or Journal with me.. We spent a great afternoon together discussing the things or quotes that she had written over a steaming hot cup of tea and vegetable fritters. These are the moments which I cherish in my life.

I feel each one of us should have a journal, in which we can jot down the things that come to our mind as we read something or even as we watch something.. When a writer writes a story he has some characters in mind which have a personality and that personality is portrayed on the screen, now it’s up to us to look at that character and try to learn something from it either the way you can be or the way you should not be., It’s a great way to improve our personality while enjoying the serials that we watch.

I will be sharing with you some quotes that I loved from my aunt’s diary and also some which I myself have learnt over the period of time.

I would love that you comment on those quotes and we together can learn something out of it..

I will be putting in the quotes under the thread LEARN AND LIVE.

1.   1.. TREAT OLD AGE AS A PERSONAL VICTORY, CONSIDER IT AS A PRIVILEGE, YOU HAVE GONE THRU THE GOOD AND THE BAD TIMES WITH STRENGTH AND IT HAS TAUGHT YOU A LOT ALONG THE WAY.

IT HAS GIVEN YOU THE WISDOM THAT ONLY YEARS CAN GIVE.

2.THE ONLY WAY TO AGE GRACEFULLY IS TO REMAIN ACTIVE AND ENTHUSIASTIC ABOUT LEARNING SOMETHING NEW.

Please put in your comments regarding the lines that I put in so that we can add up to our quotes about life.

SMILE

source of photo

A SMILE IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN GIVE TO ANYONE, ANYTIME AND ANYWHERE.

It’s a thing that is priceless and every person may he be a pauper or a millionaire can give it in abundance.

You need to practice to know its worth. 

I have myself experienced the pleasure you get when you smile at someone who least expects it from you or in that particular situation.

Try smiling today and see the difference it makes to you and them.

Try smiling at those who meet lots and lots of grumpy people in a day, like the bus conductors, rickshaw drivers, ticket staff or such people you work for you but are never appreciated like even the traffic police.

Give a smile everyday to someone new someone unknown and see the world change for you and for them.

BEAUTY OF THE RAINS....

Its been pouring here in Mumbai.. and I feel so good..
I do not know why but rains bring out the best in me. If you read my earlier post you will know...



This above picture is not mine but Its such a beauty and I had to share it with you.. Here in Mumbai we cannot have such open streets to be able to enjoy the rain but I would love to be in the photographers place
stand in the place he or she is standing and watch the street while sipping a hot cup of coffee.. What bliss I can only dream of it.
I have more such pictures to share which have not been clicked by me but nevertheless gives one the beauty and essence of rain.



I love such pictures of the rain on the streets... Hummm




SHEER PLEASURE OF GETTING WET IN THE RAIN..



                                 LOOK AT THIS PICTURE  REAL BEAUTY..source..Source. 



EVERY PERSONS CHILDHOOD MEMORY--source



Beautiful photograph and lovely street.. It would be such a pleasure to walk on this pavement with your umbrella and drops of rain hitting your face...

RAIN, RAIN....

WOW!! Finally the rains are here in Mumbai, It’s been a real hot and humid summer and all were eagerly waiting for respite from this heat.

And here as I sit at my computer table at 11.30 at night, I can hear the putter patter of rain drops on my window sill and it’s like music to my ears. I love love love when it rains.. Sheer pleasure.

RAIN and rainy days are my idea of simple pleasure. I get as much pleasure in sitting at my window sill looking out at the rainy pouring down as I get while out in the open and soaking in this wonderful thing called rain.

I do not know why but my whole attitude changes when it rains, I become more calm more relaxed and do not think the daily chores as a burden I enjoy doing everything that normally I would get bored doing.

Smell the rains; feel the light breeze, the first shower brings with it this earthy fragrance that can be enjoyed only when experienced. I can smell that right now wafting through my window and let me tell you it’s the best natural scent that one can ever experience. It becomes refreshingly cool after the hot and humid weather.

I found this quote on the web:

And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow.

Gilbert K. Chesterton

AWESOMENESS...

If you read my earlier post you know that my little brother, who is in the US with his family right now, visited the BLUE BONNET TRAIL and he clicked some awesome pictures there.

I love open spaces and would love to visit this place one day (I might or maybe not  ... It’s your destiny) , but due to my brothers photographic skills and his love for clicking things that are so similar to my taste I could visually visit this place and enjoy it.

So I decided to share my joy and my visual appreciation of this place. In this post most of the pictures are horse related they look so grand beautiful! The earlier one had the field and flower pictures 

ENJOY AND PLEASE COMMENT if you have ever visited this place and your experience about it...

BLUE BONNET TRAIL

My younger brother who is with his family in the US for the last few months has been enjoying his weekends , and off course sharing his adventure and photos with us.
He enjoys clicking pictures and when you get open spaces like the one he visited its always a pleasure.
He has allowed me to share some of the pictures clicked by him with you all , I hope you appreciate.
He visited the BLUE BONNET TRAIL in Texas .. the photos are so so beautiful that I had to share them with you all.

LIFE'S LITTLE INSTRUCTION...

As life goes on you learn from it,

Everyday a new lesson is learnt if you are conscious of the happening around you. So learn from new people, learn from old.

When you wake up in the morning it’s upon; you to decide how happy you are going to be. So my advice to you will be:-

1. When you wake up wake up with a bright smile on your face.. Walk up to those close to you and begin your day with a positive greeting full of life and cheer.

2. As you go to Office or for your college , don’t forget to wish the most unexpected people a good morning like the Bus conductor , the Rickshaw driver or those people who are of help to you in some way or the other , this will not only brighten your day but there’s too..

3. PRAISE and GENUINE APPRECIATION goes a long way try it on the most  unexpecting people.

4. never forget to compliment the meal when you are a guest at someone’s house. It’s the effort that goes into cooking that wonderful meal.

5.Make sure to do things for people who’ll never find out.

6 Stop blaming others, Take responsibility for every area of your life.

7.DON’T waste time learning the tricks of the trade, learn the trade.

ADD COLOUR TO YOUR LIFE...

In my last post I was talking about the little things that matter in our life.

Try to look for the small everyday things that give you pleasure, the things that you do as a routine and sometimes as a special treat, but nothing exclusive just the ordinary.

Try to search for the exclusive in the ordinary.

Here I will like to add some of my little things ..

I love colour in everything the brighter the better.

So, I make my mornings brighter by using a new mug everyday not a brand new one everyday but a new from my collection which I may have used after about a month .

I have a huge collection out of which some are for looking at.. (Heheh… ) I love them so much that I am scared to use then lest they break.. Hummm…

But they give me as much pleasure as I would, using them, so purpose solved.

I used a new one for my birthday last month and had been saving it for the day.. It’s a beautiful mug which I purchased in Goa (my native place) in August 2014. And It was looking at me since then waiting for the day it will be used… Heheh..

Here is my beauty...

Isnt it lovely.. I love the pistachio coloured background and those lovely pink roses.. Please take a note of the cute cute table mat which I have folded below that mug.. perfect for my type of person.. love the colours and like it better as I can wash it in the machine and the colour does not run.. (smile****)

check out the great table mat below the mountain of fried fish .

I also love using colourful table mats just for the look of them while eating.. I love the cotton ones which are very rustic and beautiful.

I love colourful bedroom linen as well as bathroom linen like napkins and towels. I have a huge collection of napkins which I use in the bathroom or in the kitchen..

Just last month I purchased half a dozen of kitchen towels which I don’t think I will ever use.. They will only be for looking at and enjoying every day. But don’t think I am regretting not using them for what they are used.. I purchase some of them only to have them in my collection so ..chill…

I will be discussing each of my simple pleasures in different posts so that those of you who read can also put in your comments about it and also tell us if you have something similar in your little things list .

pls do comment below ... 

IT TAKES LITTLE....

IT TAKES LITTLE...

to give oneself true , pure inner peace and a feel good thing...
to get the simple pleasures of life. I am going to be writing about the little things that one can do everyday which do not cost anything but give us a lot.
Each individual is different and so the likes and dislikes too change ..
Here I am going to mention the little things that give me comfort, happiness and I will also go on adding to later posts as I think or feel that inner pleasure when i do them or when I experience them. It may help others to be conscious of the little things that happen and which they should give some attention to in order to make one's life richer and more satisfying.
Let me share with you some of my little important things. There will be many more which we realize from time to time and I will share them with you from time to time.

#GETTING AN EXTRA 15 MINS OF SLEEP BEFORE YOU       START YOUR DAY.

   

                                    photo source

#DRINKING A COLD GLASS OF WATER AFTER COMING     HOME FROM A HOT AND HUMID WEATHER                       OUTSIDE.

photo source

#ENTERING A ROOM WITH AC ON WHEN ITS SO HOT  
OUTSIDE.


 #FIRST DROPS OF RAIN ON YOU.

                                     photo source

GETTING THAT FREE HOUR WITH A HOT CUP OF TEA   TO YOURSELF AFTER A REAL HECTIC DAY.

These are very little and simple day to day things which we do but do not think about do not sit back and be conscious of them and so lose out on the sheer pleasure of the moment.
Try to enjoy the best moments in your life and they make your day a better day.
There will be things and happenings over which you do not have any control but these little things are those which you do have control over , some just happen and some we have to make them happen so that  we can sit back and at the end of the day have something to feel good about.. If you like this post please comment and add your feel good things in the comments below for all to read.
I will be adding my little things as we go along so please join in and help others realize the little things that make our life so much better .

What are your little little things??

SHOPPING ON THURSDAY

Last week I purchased so many things that gave me true pleasure.. It’s not always that your shopping outing is a success. But this time I really found some great things which I love and which are not very expensive.

On last Thursday it was a Public holiday here in India, and hence I decided to go with my parents and my son to the other side of town, which takes about 1 and half hour by train from where I live. But my father being a generous man that he is decided to treat us to a taxi ride to the place and back..

My son was already there at my mom’s house since the day before so I had to go to their house and we all planned to go to the shopping place by cab.

I have to take a train to go to my mom’s house and from the station go by taxi..

We reached crawford market where we were going to shop at around 5.45 which was pretty late

We had only had about 1 and half hour to shop around as we had to go home and then I had to leave to reach back home.

I went round the main market which sells dry fruits , some imported cosmetic items and also things like paper bags , tissues  etc.. there is a great fruit market too…But I was interested in only buying the stuff which I do not get easily near my home so I bought a lovely non stick cake pan, then I bought some dry fruits for my hubby who loves to eat a bunch of dry fruits after his meals and dry fruits at this place are the best.

My major shopping was at the fabric store where I found some awesome prints on kitchen towels, I am a great great fan of kitchen towels and it’s very difficult to find those made of printed material here in Indian we do have those which are cotton and checked prints but not with floral prints etc and I got these which were supposed to be rejects and hence at a very cheap rate.

I picked up some cotton table mats as well which I will use when there are some special guests at my place.

Traveling in traffic is the only things that is a problem here in India and so once you go to such places it’s not likely that I will visit this place immediately .. so I wanted to shop a little more but my parents who are old for such a adventure started getting uneasy and tired and I did not want them to be uncomfortable because I was comfortable shopping for hours together.. If you have to shop at your own pace and time you should come alone.

But I was very happy with what I managed to get in such a short time , It so happens that sometimes you go on for hours searching for the right things but you end up buying things that are a compromise , but today I unexpectedly got things that I love .. I was not expecting that I will shop a lot and hence it gave me happiness to get these little things MY SIMPLE PLEASURES.

We also had some snacks and falooda a rose milk shake with vermicelli and ice cream which this place is famous for...

I will share with you the pictures of my purchases; I have not clicked them as yet but add them as soon as I have them uploaded.