Rains and those Days...

Sitting by your window sill sipping a cup of hot coffee while reading a love story and seeing the rains pour. Ah! that is exactly how it feels,isn't it? Monsoons have arrived and they bring out the best in you. They do! Giving you a break from the vicious heat and making you ready to face those cold winters wrapped in the lights of festivities. The season of happiness, love, heart breaks, warmth, new friendships, mass bunks, hot pakoras and that adrak wali chai, rains caste their spell immediately. The comfort they carry is accompanied by the freshness that they bring along.
Ever seen a kid making paper boats while it rains heavily, or a group of teens enjoying the weather while they sit at the canteen, or a bunch of school kids getting wet in the rain and dancing while coming back home, or a mother who is about to conceive feeling happy seeing it pour heavily,or people falling in love or a newly wed sitting on the marine drive enjoying the rains?

 If you haven't taken out the time or had not had the chance to view at least some of these then you are missing out on LIFE. You are.Ummm? What? Really,don't give yourself a lame excuse of missing out on any of  these because of your night shifts, busy schedules or simply lack of time. It's not just rains that you are missing but you are missing out on a beautiful chapter of life, that aspect when people are the most warm, the most expressive and its not just nature at its best but people who are at there ever best. It's rightly said that 'Some people feel the rain,while others just get wet' and it gives a sense of insane happiness belonging to the former. These little things in life make everything seem beautiful. Those tensions of a pending loan, a demanding job, a fussy boss, an incompatible life partner, a troublesome tenant, a bad relationship, an unaccomplished career, a fight with a best friend, a failure, an insufficient salary, a final examination, a not so homely hostel would always remain. Trust me ALWAYS! And it's time when you overlook these 'oh-so-important' things of life to peep into the brighter side of your life. To view the rains pour, the nature turn beautiful and your 'blue' days turn better :) These things in life bring out not only the lighter aspect in you, but it also brings out the kid inside which has somewhere been lost under the shackles of maturity and time. Don't let that kid die inside because as I always say this mad world needs that 'grain of insanity' in you so make sure you carry it. Life is beautiful only for those who know how to look at it.Take everything with a pinch of salt and  remember that its important to weather the storm and dance in the rain.
#makesureyoudance #monsoons #rains #bestseason

Slow Down

Dreams.Ambition.Focus.Career.Goals
That is all that I have been talking about in one or the other manner till date. But suddenly it hits me, that how 'obsessed' have I turned out to be about certain things in life? It never happened to strike me this way before, like it did a while ago. In this hoard of reaching out to things so ambitiously I completely forgot the most important thing that was equally essential to be done.To SLOW DOWN! Yes. That's what I had been missing out since a while. Of course we need to be goal directed in today's era but then we need to pause and rewind too. How important is it to look back and reflect upon the journey you have traveled till now? I guess absolutely essential. It's good to carry a direction n life, to have something to work upon and to have a sense of purpose in life but like every automobile needs a 'service' to work efficiently again, every 'mobile' needs a recharge before it dies out similarly every one of us need that 'energy booster' or rather 'power saver' mode once in a blue moon. The only reason that I thought of writing upon this 'not so thought of' topic was that I had missed upon this 'break' and drifted from my sense of 'passion' in life and I dint want any one of you to do the same.It's good to learn from mistakes. So all you fellow readers here who are or have been experiencing a sense of 'focus loss' in life lately and haven't been able to get hold of the 'why' of it, probably one of the reasons could have been staying 'over focused' since long We have a tendency of  being dichotomous,don't we? There are no grey shades to life, it's either black or white. But sometimes it's good to take the middle path, to follow your heart and not your mind,to take a deep breath and to just let things go where they want to because at the end you will only get what you really wanted to. Trust me on that. It's equally essential to follow like it is to lead, because unless you follow you would not know how to lead. It's a very common scenario today, when articles are flooded about how to get rid of 'frustration', 'stress' and 'depression' in life and all of them brimming from nothing but 'life stress'. No doubt that the amount of tensions and work pressure is exceedingly high these days but then you need to have your own stress busters. It's good to go out on an odd Sunday evening with your family and not your colleagues, to go out on the lake instead the mall, to watch out on nature rather than your idiot box. That work's, it absolutely does. So make sure that you make up your bucket list soon, I've already got mine... Just be sure that you carry your own grain of insanity in this mad mad world and then life will be worth it!

 #Carrygoodnessaround #yougetwhatyousow

Something I Miss...

Some times are like water, however hard you may try and hold them they just keep drifting off your hands and some like sand,however hard you may want to let them go, they don't until you let your fists open.
And sometimes opening your fist isn't that easy. Everybody has there own story to tell and there own good and bad times. But the times that I miss, those that I know will never come back, those that I long for are the ones bygone. Some people get what they want so easy isn't it? I haven't been lucky to get what I want from life that 'easy'. Never in my life have things been an easy prey. Those who get hold of anything and everything they desire, I don't know whether it's something to be happy of or something to be afraid from? I am sure we can figure this out by the end of the post but for now every coin has two sides and the side unnoticed is often the side one should be looking at. Let's unleash the latter. I don't think getting what you want from life every single time would be interesting. Though I do agree that my bias for the ones working for there goals is more because I relate to that slot but still trying my best at neutrality I really think the former aren't very fortunate. Not because they get 'everything' but because they get everything without working towards it. I've always held a strong belief that its not really about the happy ending but the 'journey' and it's sad that they have missed the 'journey' part to there story. That journey which would have made them better, that journey which would have redefined there perspective towards there 'I', 'me' and 'mine' and perhaps that journey which would have given them the courage to fight there own battles, to stand tall in front of every storm, to have that aspect of 'humanity' still alive in them. I am proud that I belong to the era when to win a 10 rupee note from my parents I had to score a 10 on 10, proud that I belong to the time when I was given a pat on my back for wishing my elders, proud that for me 'childhood' meant tom and Jerry,outdoor games with my neighbor hood friends,proud that the definition of 'happiness' started at family and ended at friends. It gives me immense pain to see the rate of crime,corruption and for that matter disrespect growing amongst the younger slot. It's those times I miss when teachers meant lifelines and parents meant our entire world. In that hoard of moving forward, of getting everything with a click of a mouse the people today have forgotten where they have come from. It's not that change isn't required,it definitely is. Change is the law of nature and thus is inescapable but then there are some things that are constant and should always be.You can always change for the better. With the increasing count of elderly in old age homes, teachers being ridiculed by there students, molestation cases by there very own family members I don't know what are we up to? If that is the swag you want to brag about then I am sorry it's not cool. To forget your roots and carrying pride in it, is really not cool. How difficult is it to stay loyal to your family,to bestow trust upon your friends,to carry goodness around you? I still don't think it's that difficult. It's those times that I miss...
I don't know if you've carried something to look back from my post but I have a little quote that will do the summing up for me...
#justbe #reflections #lookingback
Make sure you are able to do this too....

Unexpected End| 31 Day Blogging Challenge

Day 15 of this 31 day blogging challenge will be the last day of this challenge. I know this end wasn't expected but there wasn't much choice. Blogging is something that comes to me instantaneously, something that I like to do in my free time, something that serves as a stress buster for me. I had took up this challenge in order to bring consistency to my passion so as to give a direction to my ability but instead it started restricting me in its limitations. Undoubtedly it has given me a great number of followers, regular readers but till the time 'I' don't think that 'I' am doing justice to my own talent I can not just keep writing. The quote being amongst my favorites rightly says that it is about the journey and not a happy ending :) I am glad of taking up this challenge and I promise to keep writing regularly. But unfortunately this was getting very self centric and I did not wish things to turn this way. More posts will be in store for sure but for now let's just celebrate the midway completion of the challenge because.....

#Illbeback #withsomethinginteresting #tillthensigningoff #31daybloggingchallenge #ends

What Should Be In a Handbag|Day 14

I know ideally according to the challenge the topic should have been 'what's in my handbag?' but personally I do not feel it's something that should be spoken about on a platform like this. I have stood by a simple principle always and would further, that 'I will use this platform not only for my own good but for yours too' and I don't think reading about what I carry in my handbag would suffice that. Like a normal day girl even my handbag looks somewhat like this...

Thus, we shall talk of 'what SHOULD be in a handbag?' Today, talking of the era that we belong to, the newspapers are filled with tips given to all the women out there to carry things for there safety, for there own good in there handbags, like say a bottle of pepper spray, a small first aid kit and even an emergency app in there smart phones that dial a number on there own when the women seems in danger. Shameful? Isn't it. I don't think that's spreading awareness rather I feel it's spreading fear amongst us. I take this not so very deep topic as an opportunity to talk about 'women empowerment'. It's essential that we talk of it today. The world does not want another 'Nirbhaya' does it? At least I don't. We are heading towards an era of savagery and barbarianism! To an era filled with desperate and vulgar minds. Minds that are filled with filth and nothing else. With there stench getting unbearable for us every day. Not even a single page of any newspaper is without an eve teasing case or a molestation case or a gang rape case of a minor or a girl traveling in a bus, train or a public vehicle. What a shame. Shame on those who have restricted the preamble's 'All Indian's are my brother's and sister's' pledge to just a pledge. And not very surprisingly they take pride in it? Ah! why won't they, the entire system is involved in it, because half of such cases include no one else but the involvement of a police official. It gets on my nerves not because I myself am a girl but because all of this is not at all human! Rather than educating us about who to talk to, what to wear, how to laugh, who to go out with, what time to be back at, what to carry so that you reach home safely at night, each of them should take the responsibility to educate there sons that how gruesome can things turn, how inhuman an act are they indulging in, how shameful it is to molest a girl walking on the road as tomorrow it can be there own sister, mother, wife or even daughter. It is important that they understand the sensitivity of the situation. Rather than launching these stupid programmes that are good for nothing as I just said that half of the times the crime is committed by the ones who should be controlling it they should focus on improving the psyche of individuals, of lowering there stress levels, of providing them with the basic amenities so that poverty does not become a reason for all of it. The most shocking news is to read of a girl being a victim of these cheap acts by her own relatives and even her own father. Nothing can turn worse than this. No government measure can be of any good until we decide to improve our own self's. It's aptly said that 'Charity begins at home!' and its our duty to follow the same. It's very easy to point out things and say that this can never change or that can never happen but it's difficult when it comes to application. So 'Be the change, you want to see in others!' Rather than rendering tips on what should women carry in there handbags try aiming at a better and a free tomorrow.
#introspect #womenempowerment #spreadthecultureofhumanity

Favorite Qoute|Day 13

Day 13,holds something fruitful in store. Something that I've always looked up to,something I've always believed in and something that I keep in my mind every day I wake up. I firmly believe that we need some kind of  fuel to ignite that spark within and for me this serves as that fuel.

 Yes that is my favorite quotation. "The best is yet to come!" What a wonderful thought. That's the only thing that spins in my head whenever I go through a good or a bad phase in life. Whenever I think that things can not turn worst than this for me is the time they tend to worsen. It's those times that I bring myself together with a hope that tomorrow will be a better day. That tomorrow will have something more to offer. There is only one instance that suddenly strikes me presently. Once while I was giving an interview and my interviewer asked me "Who are you? And why are you here?"That day onwards things completely changed for me. Of course I couldn't give the perfect answer that time, but yes that question made me rethink over it again and again making me realize that it was not just restricted to that 'interview' but beyond. It was meant to question my existence. It was meant to question my individuality. It was meant to question where I stand? And I did question myself, trying to figure out all those answers that I was meant to find a meaning of. I am glad I figured out another 'bit of me' while I was trying to do all of this. The question was aimed to do so and it did. I started believing in what life had to offer with an open mind. From being a very closed and an amateur teenager I managed to bring a remarkable change in myself. Feeling good about it. It not only gave me a sense of purpose in life but also helped set a passion to strive for. For those of you who have left your passion behind, who have lost that fuel to strike a spark, who do not know what they are meant to do, trust me The best is yet to come!. Just stop, pause, close your eyes and think for a moment of all that I've just said. I am sure when you open your eyes the world will seem new to you.
#Hope #Forabettertomorrow

If I Won A Lottery|Day 12

This challenge is really 'self centric' that's what I've gathered :P in these 12 days, but yes it definitely has popped a bubble somewhere inside me :). That bubble which gives me one more chance to step close to my dreams. Winning a lottery! Whoa, now who could have thought of that? Such an absurd topic to blog about, isn't it? But I am sure, reading this post you can broaden you horizons on how to turn spendthrift without giving a second thought ;)

Firstly :P that's how huge I want the lottery to be ;) if ever I get one, because there's a whole lot of a bucket list that I need to go through :D

MY BUCKET LIST

This is going to be long :P. A huge lot of things that I would prioritize on if I won a lottery would be...

1.

Owning this with my own money, at this point of time can only be possible with a lottery :P. I want to ride this beauty to the university with my RayBan on every day ;)

2.

I am crazy about wrist watches :D I so love to collect them. The first thing I would love to buy for myself will be a Rolex for sure. It will be a dream come true,these little diamonds studded in the dial take this watch to the next level, and I so want it. Like NOW! ^_^

 

3.

  Shopping is a girls best friend! And there can be no two ways about it. I desperately want a wardrobe change. There's so much new to look up to these days at the stores. From Gucci, Armani, Mk, LV, UCB, Mango, Madame, Jimmy Choo and every other brand that one can think of, are all that I need in my closset ;).

 

4.

A makeover :D from MAC. This is such a must in my bucket list.After a wardrobe change all I can seek for is Good Looks,Good Looks and Good Looks!

5.

A convertible Mini Cooper Cabriolet in my backyard! :p Yes that's what I ll do winning those millions. Ah! That day ;) A perfect long drive in my own 'cooper' somewhere down the lane. (Dream>Check!)

6.

Being an aspiring psychologist this is all I desire. A jazzy counselling clinic of my own to work at. This is exactly how comfortable and soothing I want by working ambiance to be. #dreamoffice

7.

After buying all that I have listed,becoming all that I desired, my ultimate end that I shall seek is carrying my bag pack, a Nikon DSLR and leaving for a world tour. I want to see every beautiful place this planet has to offer, roam in every lane of every country, touchdown every continent, ocean, city, mountain range. Sit at a beach drinking a pinacolada,gazing at the sunset,hearing the silence of the waves with no one to disturb.

#lottery #life'sgood #that'swhatIseek

Most Proud Moment|Day 11

Day 11,the challenge is really gearing up now. These 31 days from the very start have been and further will be challenging for sure as the day when I started till the day I've come to,this journey has been immensely demanding. Today it talks of taking pride in yourself. I'm sure that each one of you have experienced this moment of joy, though I am yet waiting for it. It isn't that I haven't been lucky enough to experience great times, there were many,but it's just that they were not the 'most' proud moments so to say. I am still hopeful :)
It's truly said that...

And I follow the same.Coming to what I should be talking of, my most 'proud moment',well frankly as I said above,it is yet to be experienced. But the one that I take immense pride in till date, has definitely been my weight loss. I know it might not be a very big thing to brag about or take pride in, but for me it has been a turning point to my life. I haven't had the sources of spending lavishly in a gym or consulting a professional dietician like many of you. This journey has been hard, it has been challenging. There were times I felt isolated, times when I felt I was in a battle with my own self, times when my body starting giving up but then my mind didn't.I never knew I had this fountain head of determination in me, never knew that a girl like me could change and change for the better. Those days when I carried a baggage of 125kgs had been pressurizing. It had been stressful,lethargic,hazy. That phase of life that I've left behind me a few years ago somehow never tends to leave me. The kind of glutton that I was,loosing an inch seemed unimaginable. I have never learned to 'give up' but this challenge made me 'give up' time and again, and 'that' feeling wasn't good. Six months that I had begun to 'exert' I didn't loose even half an inch! Depressing,that's what it was. I had almost begun to loose hopes from myself now,till the time the effort starting showing results. From that huge girl who couldn't even jog like about a 100 m in half an hour,who couldn't stop hogging till the time she was told to, I take pride in saying that she's transformed to a girl who now can easily do cardio for 2 hours and eat wisely and in a much more balanced manner. :')
I may not  have the 'perfect body' yet but loosing those 60 kgs has left a lasting impact for sure.And I am glad it did not just stop on 'loosing kilos' but I made sure I carry on the same determination,patience and passion for every single thing in life. That lesson has been the best I've experienced,leaving a better me, a me who is active, energetic, healthy, wise in making decisions for herself, who is confident,presentable and a one who does not know what 'impossible is'! It was pure bliss,that moment when I felt proud in the manner things had turned for me after giving my everything to it. It had finally paid off.
Today I can vouch for the fact that....

#justbelieveinyourself #nolookingback #youhaveitwithin

First Celeb Crush|Day 10

Perfect day for the perfect topic. 26th June when my crush has just turned 29 and here I am writing about my first celebrity crush,which is none other than him...

Eye Candy :D that is what he is, in this silly age group that I belong to, every girl wants her man to be tall, handsome, rugged and he absolutely fits the criteria for me!
I go banana's every time I see him. The day I saw the promo of  Ishaqzaade, his debut on celluloid, was the day I fell for him. He give's me that 'butterfly's flying in the stomach' kinda feeling :P. His career though has just started, yet he has made a mark for himself for sure. Called the 'ladies man' he seems to grab my attention not just because of his looks or his work on the silver screen which I absolutely love, but also because of the kind of a person he is in his real life. I can easily identify with him.We both have come down from say a 125kgs+ to a fairly good body weight ;). Another thing common that I find between him and me is the soft corner we have for our 'mother' :).  He can carry consistency,punctuality and a humble attitude with grace and that is what I like about him. Of course the stubble is like a cherry on the cake for me, but then the way he carries himself with dignity having been subjected to so much in his personal life is commendable.
He's shown his versatility from his very first movie. From his fanatic outlook in Ishaqzaade,his aggressive plus a soft double role in Aurangzeb,his humor filled outlook in Gundey to his every woman's man look in his recent 2 states :D he seemed to take my heart away.(P.s I cant wait for his next ;)
He seems to please me in every look be it...

This guy next door look or...

This smoking red hot look. I can't seem to get enough of him.

#P.S All I want to say to you today is...

Happy Birthday Arjun :D

Wishing you a very very happy birthday :* keep growing hawter ;). The stubble seems to suit you :D so please keep it on! Here's me wishing you all the love, luck and happiness in life. And I've also baked a small birthday cake for you :)

Just to say happy birthday Love <3
#crush #arjun #hot #infatuation :)

Piercings and Tattoos|Day 9

Piercings and Tattoos. Day 9 and we talk of the most 'in thing' of the 'gen X'. Well personally I like getting both of them. They seem to be the trend setters for today's generation.Teenagers specially,seem to be really crazy about both.
The craze of getting pierced has been immense amongst girls from the very beginning though now the guys seem to be catching up. They want to get inked and pierced too.Though I personally dislike the latter. No doubt piercings do suit guys like 'Ranbir Kapoor' in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani to enhance their characters but reel is definitely different from real. They sure look glamorous on celluloid but generally on a daily basis these tend to suit a very selected few. Girls on the other hand have geared up on their 'nose piercings' recently, which seems to be the 'new fashion' for them,every girl seems to wear a  nose stud or a thin silver ring. Studs in my opinion do look 'hot' and sure increase their beauty.

Something like this seems to just look perfect. Though the girls in there teens these days consider getting there 'chin', 'brow' and 'belly button' pierced as  their 'swag' but it does not seem to catch my attention.
Coming to tattoos, well getting yourself inked is the most coolest thing to do, it serves as a big turn on especially for guys. I want to get inked too :P but not as what people casually do, by getting there beloved's name inked on their wrists or necks like...

...her, so as to regret afterwards. These are a big no no for me. Little ink marks do look cute on some, however the guys like it on their toned arms I prefer it to get it on the side of my wrist. Something like...

...this,seems to instantly grab my attention. This looks cool at the same time not over the top. Just the right thing to get done (though I know how bad it hurts to get a permanent tattoo done :P yet I want one).
#Nextbigthing #Gettinginked #Areyou?

Old Picture Of Me|Day 8

Today's topic is really close to my heart. Everybody has their own story and so do I. I haven't led that normal girl next door life ever. I've striven hard to make me who I am today. The only 'old me' that I recall is...

 :P Surprisingly,yes that is what I looked like a few years back. Though this 'outlook' did not seem to 'please' many,it seemed to please me.It still does. I loved how I used to be,irrespective of the 'cat calls' I was subjected to day in and day out by people walking on the streets,my very own classmates,my distant relatives and what not.It did not seem to bother me till the time 'I' decided to change for my own good and not for others.To not show anybody but myself that I can be better than that.

Yes,presently I do look like the above,which is hard for me to believe too. I never thought I ll make through such a long but of course a fruitful journey. This change that I now notice is not only in how I may appear to 'everybody' or 'myself' but also in how people 'treat' me now. The difference is unimaginable! It seems as though I wasn't living in a world of 'polite humans' before. This feeling makes me sad,it does. However I do realize that today's gen 'X' just has three words in their dictionary which are 'Good looks,good looks and good looks',yet I feel a little differently about it.The saddest thing that anyone can do I feel is to 'judge' somebody on their 'outlook',without trying to peep in. Looks for me were never a criterion and can never be. I think we can rise above that.We definitely can.
I am sure all you beautiful bulky women out there have that confidence to face the music. If you think you're good for 'yourself' then that's the only thing that matters :)
#Justbeyourself  #Changeforyoureslf  #AndNotforothers

 

10 Favorite Foods|Day 7

Within no time a 'week' has passed since I started with this 31 Day blogging challenge.With the most interesting topic in store for the seventh day I present to you my 10 favorite food dishes.Being born and brought up in Chandigarh, a proud north Indian :), I am fortunate that I belong to not just the 'City Beautiful' but a city which is a hub for almost any cuisine that you may name.With the most jazzy eating outlets available in the city to the most diverse range of foods to pick from I choose to be 'simple' in terms of the food I grab. I am very choosy when it comes to hogging. Healthy is wise :) and I choose to be the same :P. For those of you 'Vegetarians' out there who want to have a great time binging upon some mouth watering food without consuming any much calories,this is the right post to read ;)
My 10 Favorites are...

1.Paneer

Well if you have been consistent with the previous posts that I v written,you will be very well versed with the fact that how much I love paneer :P. So yes,this will top the charts for me. I love it in any and every form however some of the dishes that I really like to dig in be it early morning or the mid night hour are paneer bhurji, kadhai paneer, paneer tikka and chilly cheese.
For all you Chandigarhians the best places to have a good serving of an economical yet yummy paneer dish that I will recommend will be Sindhi's sector 8, 9/11 sector 44, Nagpal sector 22.

2. Tokri Chaat

This is sinful P. I can have this all the time without getting over it. For all those chaat lovers out there this is a must. A very interesting preparation of the normal routine chaat. It's a combination of thick chilled dahi (with a hint of sugar), a chutney made of gur and imli and a green chutney, boiled chickpeas,boiled potatoes, sprouts, pomegranate along with crushed bhalla, papdi,and golguppas.

The only place that I recommend for a great chaat snack is Sindhi's sector 8, however Gulaab sector 35, Guru Nanak Sweets sector 44, Baba Dairy sector 21,Gopal's sector 35 and Bengali Sweets Panchkula (near Fun republic) are great options to have a mouth watering plate of chaat too.

3.Spongy Dhokla

A light yet fulfilling Gujarati delicacy that I am really fond of is a spongy khamman dhokla.  As soon as you take a bite of it, its a mix of sweet and tangy flavors that burst into your mouth. Usually prepared from gram flour it's made spongy by adding a syrup which is a combination of lemon,sugar and water. It's best served chilled. A lot of varieties have come up in the city beautiful recently and I've got my hands on almost all of them but my personal favorites remain the 'Plain' khamman dhokla and the 'Masala' khamman dhokla of Gopal's sector 35.If you haven't tried them yet then you're surely missing on something yummylicious.

4.Red Sauce Pasta

My Sunday afternoon 'brunch' that I love preparing myself by experimenting with a variety of veggies and sauces is a simple yet filling Red Sauce Pasta. I like it authentically prepared with olive oil,basil and a lot of red tomato salsa sauce. You can add as many vegetables as you want starting from olives,baby corn,sweet corn,bell peppers to broccoli,zucchini and even shredded grilled chicken (in case your a non vegetarian). The best pasta servings in Chandigarh are available in Pizza Hut and Dominoes (sector 35). Make sure you try them!

5.Khandavi

Another Gujarati delicacy (no wonder I love it :P as my mom's a Gujju) that I absolutely love is a Khandavi. I am sure, a lot of you might not even be aware if a dish like that exists or not. But once you try it you cannot resist yourself from eating at least a bowl full of it ;) I bet. Gram flour is used to prepare it and the special tadka of sesame and mustard seeds along with curry leaves acts like a cherry on the cake. The new food joint called 'Gulaab' sector 35 Chandigarh, presents an interesting preparation of these rolls with a stuffing of roasted coconut and pomegranate.

6.Poha

If you live somewhere in or around Mumbai then I am sure this needs no introduction.An all time favorite of every Aamchi Mumbai ka aam aadmi is Kanda (onion) Poha with Sev on the top. However I personally prefer it without Sev. It's a delicious evening tea snack for some and a complete breakfast for many. I grab it as a complete meal. There is no place that I will recommend you to have this :P my mom makes the best kanda poha in the world :D. It takes the next level when she adds roasted groundnuts to it which is worth relishing especially during monsoons. Humph! I see some saliva dripping on the keyboard now :P

7.Uttapam

A much known South Indian delicacy that I love is uttapam along with white coconut chutney and red tomato chutney. It is not only very light to consume but is absolutely flavorful too. Some prefer it along with sambhar however I personally love it only with the chutney's. Usually consumed as a snack in north India you will find the most amazing preparations of the same in Jallandhar Sweet's sector 23, Gopal's sector 35 and Sindhi's sector 8.So if you are looking for a tummy filling light mid time meal then uttapam is the best of the lot.

8.Pindi Chole

Believe me they taste much more yum than they appear. An all time favorite north Indian dish Pindi Channa are boiled chickpeas prepared with a lot of masalas.They are usually eaten along with a puri, bhatura, aloo tikki or a tandoori naan in north India.They mean the same to us Punjabi's like the macher bhaat means to Bengali's or an idli sambhar means to a south Indian. :) There is no as such specific place that I love for serving Pindi Chole but yes any sweet shop that you may find on every nook and corner of the city will ace in preparing Chole for sure ;) Try them all!

9.Grilled Soya Champ

This mouth watering dish amazes me every time I eat it. It's a vegetarian leg piece :D An energy booster for sure it's a rich source of protein especially for all you vegetarians out there ;) I love them grilled however people prefer them fried, it sure enhances the flavor but then the calorie count too ;) So make sure you do follow a proper gym regime the next day or take it as a cheat meal from your oh-so-boring routine as I do :)

10.Mushroom Corn Sabzi

Being a mushroom lover you cannot ask for a more delicious combination than mushroom and corn. They really go well with one another. I can not get over it when my mom prepares it in winters :). Piping hot, I like it with a dash of extra red chillies. It is prepared both in gravy or dry however I like the dry preparation with a rumali roti which is a special Indian bread :). 9/11 in sector 44 Chandigarh serves the best preparation of the same.
 Yummy. I am not too sure weather I have done justice to the post or not ;) but sure that I had a gala time writing it :D
#Foodlove #Foodie #Keepeating

3 Personality Traits I am Proud Of |Day 6

'Personality', that complex combination of a persons 'traits' or characteristics that reflect in there behavior,something which is beyond a persons outlook and more close to how a person reacts in a variety of situations with that combination of traits which he/she is subjected to.To each his own!
Well I know this definition may not 'fit' the layman perception of 'personality',however being a student of a behavioral science like Psychology myself,I could not help but put that in a simpler manner than that. :)
Coming to what I just listed above, 'to each his own', we do understand that there is something called 'individual differences' and that's what a personality is all about.That is the only aspect by which 'me' and 'you' are distinct in our very own way :). Each one of us have a number of personality traits some of which we ourselves like and some which we are embarrassed to hold,today we are going to talk of the former. Those of our 'prominent' personality traits that depict our personality clearly. The three that I proudly own are...

1.Assertiveness

An absolutely essential yet often unnoticed 'trait' which I am proud that I own is being assertive.The most easiest manner in which I can put this is 'your ability to politely say no to someone'. Yes that is what it stands for me. To be able to put your point forward without neglecting it's consequences on yourself or the other.There's a thin line between being assertive and aggressive or dominant and if you refute that then the purpose of holding it gets totally defeated.In this era of moving forward when everybody demands a 'comfy living style' this seems to be really important.Believe me that...

 And I am proud that I do not settle for anything less :)

2.Being 'Non Judgmental'

This now,is really something.I am not in the lieu of saying that I 'completely' own it,but I am really proud that I have nurtured this aspect of me.Proud that I am at least trying to fulfill it to the extent that I can.Being socialized in a country like India,which is home to such a diverse population I take courage in saying that I try and respect individual differences that I try and inculcate the same amongst those around me.We all here above any thing else are 'humans',so let's not  forget that and blindly run behind those umpteen cultures, castes, religions, creeds, sexes, genders, careers or classes that we might belong to and try and impose it on someone. THIS is sad,it really is.And I really feel strongly about it.It reminds me of what Rumi once said...

So just try and see the 'uniqueness' each of us is subjected to. Be strong enough to accept the choices others hold along with your own, because mind you individuals are meant to be different, it's just clones who are similar.

3.Determination

Well this like the former two though cannot be 'inculcated' much but is something that comes from 'within',and I am glad to have it in exceedingly well amounts in me (very humbly though). This aspect lets me reach those 'dreams' which I would not have otherwise been able to fulfill had it not been my own will power. It flows in my genes,so to say :). I've always seen a struggling yet a happy father, a sacrificing but a perfect mother, a supportive though a struggling sister and a  younger but a hardworking brother. Without a frown on any of those faces they manage to give it all they have and that makes me do the same. Two words called 'give up' are non existent in my dictionary, thankfully I have never been brought up in a fashion to just 'let' things go without working for them,to be a looser in your own eyes . I truly believe that if YOU think YOU can then YOU WILL. It is that parameter that makes it all up for the 'normal every day girl intellect' that I possess.The only thing that I've always followed and had faith in is that...

The only message that I mean to put across by the above self disclosure that I've just done is not to aim for or grab any 'attention' or sound 'boastful' but to make those few of you that might be reading this post by any chance,to realize that everybody is 'gifted',all of us knowingly or unknowingly have it in us,it's just about Identifying that spark and then spreading that light across.Though the only difference you and I might be sharing is that I have been lucky enough to unfold those :) I hope you see them in yourselves too.

#Discover #Unleashyourpotential #Itsallwithin :)

My Guilty Pleasure|Day 5

Okay! Now this sounds SINFUL ;),it's 'meant' to sound so :D.
Day 5 it is and today it's about something I would not have written otherwise had it not been a part of this 'blogging' challenge :P.
Some things are better left unsaid :P, they are,but anyhow here I am with all those inner fantasies that I do derive 'pleasure' in although it makes me feel a bit guilty ;)
Well there are these 3 things that make me go gaga whenever I see them or get hold of them...

1. A Royal Enfield :D

Yes yes,you got it right.And not any royal enfield that I see makes me drool,but the one exactly shown above makes me feel absolutely crazy! A military green one seated Royal Enfield ;) I know it does not go well with the 'stereotypical notion' that the world holds of a fragile girl,although I do not befit any of the two categories :P but how do I care? I so want to own it and go on an isolated travel around the country (which is my dream). So yes,this is the hot shot and the foremost 'guilty pleasure' I have.

2.Cottage Cheese

Belonging to a pure Punjabi household what more can one ask for,rather than a homemade mummy ke haathon ka Paneer :D.(especially when your mom's the best cook in the world) I really go bananas seeing paneer,it instantaneously hits my food chord and adds an extra potbelly to me,so much so that I can never get over it.

3.Men with 'Stubble'(Specifically Arjun Kapoor)

My heart goes out to men with a bearded look ;). As I just mentioned in specific Arjun (my new found crush :P) turns me ticklish pink whenever I see him on celluloid. Stubble does serve as a big turn on for me,it adds to the look making men look 'manly'(P.S Especially for those who dislike chocolate boy looks like me). Cherry to the cake is when they have not just charismatic looks but a flabbergasting personality. Chivalry completes it all. They definitely are on the hit list of my 'guilty pleasure's' ;) and are purely an eye candy! (so now you know what to do to flatter me ;)
I am glad I've come to an end of this post. Humph! This was embarrassing,but yeah fun for sure.
I am waiting for you guys to share yours too. #Guilt #Pleasure #Fun #Writeon

Earliest Childhood Memories|Day 4

Childhood :) that memorable phase of a person's life that always brings flashbacks of some sweet and sour memories,the former being more for sure.This challenge has come to it's fourth day,but I am glad it's giving me an opportunity to dig into what I might have left behind in my head,to walk down that beautiful memory lane and to remember those wonderful childhood days that I had been subjected to 'once upon a time' :')
I am happy and feel myself to be lucky enough to have had a very colorful childhood,a one that many of us don't get and a one that I would love everyone to experience once in there life's.This post demanded my earliest childhood 'memory' but I could not resist myself from putting an apostrophe 's' to it :). As and when I hear someone say childhood certain vivid and fond memories that I always get instantaneously are the one's that I am going to share.Let's see whats in store...
For me it just begins and ends on two words, which are...

Family and Friendships 

I don't know of others but these two were enough for me to make my childhood worthid :) Holding the hand of my mom and dad while I was learning to walk straight,sitting on my grandpa's shoulders and going to the market to buy a new toy,listening to folk tales and mythological stories from my grandma,dancing on the bed with my sister,baby sitting my younger brother,waiting for my summer vacation so that I could visit my maternal grandparents and having the time of my life with my uncles,aunts and cousins (who mean the world to me) summed it all up :)

To read comics(yes I belonged to the 90's :P) and fairy tales,to go out and play all the time that I had after finishing my homework and to wait for the light to go off so that mummy allows me one more time to see my friend next door ;) (we didn't have any inverters that time :D and I am glad we didn't). Those little things that made me happy and that sadly don't exist anymore in this comfortable world so to say made my childhood colorful :). 'Free time' that these days means going onto social networking sites and writing on your friends 'walls' rather than climbing one ;) meant just letting your gates of imagination being left open for superman's, mickey mouses and Donald duck's to enter :)

Happiness was not getting an 'i pad' or a 'PS2' but a...

Yes,those were the childhood day's :') that still tickle a tear down my cheek...
#Goodoldtimes #Bestmemories

My blog name|Day 3

 "They say I am a Dreamer,but I am not the only One"
Day 3,and it's all about defining your 'business name',defining what do you stand for and why this and not anything else?
It's been quite a while since I've started penning down my feelings,trying to give them a suitable expression and if you really have been consistent with all my blog posts then you definitely know what am I talking about,rather what I've always been talking about :) 'DREAMS'. Dreams are that one thing that have always kept me going. They instill in me a spark to get up the next morning and work towards them. Ever since I've blogged this blog name has been there and as it's rightly said 'There's a reason behind every story' and I have a little story about how this blog got it's name.Here is how it goes...
I had always been 'labelled' as 'ambitious',as the one who not only dreamt but tried and follow them to whichever end they may lead.But I realized that I am not one of a kind,there's more to it.That day the only thought that struck me was...

 

I really hoped and wished that a day may come when everybody strove for there dreams,made sure that they really happened and decided to settle for nothing less.Because...

 

They really can.That is how I thought of writing a blog that is purely devoted to 'dreams'.
To refute the misconception that dreamers can just 'dream' and have no link with reality.Trust me at one point it doesn't matter what people say,it doesn't matter how long it takes,believe in yourself and your flying high,it only matters how true you are,be true to yourself and follow your heart.I found this platform totally apt to put my thought across to all those dreamers who have it in them but haven't been able to bring it in front of the world with the fear of being subjected to moralizing of people.It's not at all required.Dreams do have a world of there own but that world is not to be scared of but to be experienced because it's beautiful.Let it collide with the reality and it's colors spill over the canvas of 'this' world to make it brighter,merrier and a place to be in.Believe me...

So just walk towards it,and there will be no looking back :)