Smitten, totally smitten!

I don't follow fashion too closely or buy anything and everything in vogue. But I do like to keep a watch on all the pretty stuff in trend and one of them that has grabbed my EYEBALLS with their stunning designs - AMRAPALI JEWELLERY!

Almost every celebrity dons it and every single design is stunning - classic, quirky or a forever-design- they come in all categories! So for my birthday this time, S surprised me with some striking unique pieces from Amrapali!

Here's a striking knuckle ring, that I think is not just unique, but a classic piece too!

I imagine, it would suffice if worn just as a single piece, with all the attention towards it - very aptly too! The fact that I have long fingers help! I can't wait to be invited for a wedding soon...anyone getting married? :)

S always makes it a point to buy complete gifts - so he also got me a contemporary spike pendant - though its not a goth-sorta piece - it is elegant yet spunky, in my opinion. 

The breakfast table that the jewellery sits on, is an improvised version. A DIY idea inspired me to work on our simple glass table into this. I stuck all the coppery 1,2 and 5 cents from France to make this! 

what do you think? :P

I love...

- the smell of fresh earth right after it rains....mannvaasanai

- a beautiful morning, a cup of tea and a few minutes of solitude

- watching baby girl cuddle with S, there is so much love in that visual

- thayir sadam and urulakizhangu roast ( curd rice and roast potatoes)

- nowadays....a relaxing long massage

- anything new - a haircut, a dress, jewellery, something for the house, anything!

- lying down on Amma's lap

- tight hugs and numerous kisses from baby girl

- myriad expressions of baby girl - mischief, glee, joy, laughter, serene,introspective ( yes, introspective!)

- a great book, especially gripping ones that are un-put-downable

- freshly manicured nails with interesting nail colors

- a clean, uncluttered and spotless home

- a relaxed Sunday morning, with no agenda, newspaper in hand and a sumptuous breakfast

...in no particular order!

I am a B+ sort of a person now!

"Don't expect to see positive changes in your life, if you surround yourself with negative people" - I read this somewhere and analyzed my associations very keenly some time back and acted on it. I realized that I get bogged down by other's judgement, opinions and criticism and after a long introspection, it dawned on me that its more about them, it was not me. It was their insecurity, jealousy and envy that brought about all those negative vibes. 

There is nothing much I can do about others. But I can definitely work on myself, my attitude and the way I think. So I began to ruthlessly ignore these people or what they thought of me. IT DOES NOT MATTER. Yes, I can be a better person, without reacting, with silence, and work towards it on my own terms - not based on what other's expect of me. It is not easy - its difficult to turn a deaf ear to hypocrisy, pretense, fake praises, especially jekyl and hyde kind of people, I really began to avoid! 

S is a non-confrontational kind of a person while I confront head on! I always believed that when you confront and talk it out, the problem gets solved. It does get solved, when the other is also ready and wanting to find a solution! So, when there arises a conflict with such insecurity, it is often a never-ending quicksand! It is better to keep silent and be a spectator. Let time run its course...confrontations and communication do not always work! 

You can be hurt, only if you allow yourself to be hurt - i would hear this from S all the time, through my married years. I will not allow anymore. PERIOD. More power to ME!

Babe in Paradise!

....my little munchkin having fun at the beach - Havelock Island, Andamaans!

Old habits die hard!

...Blogging is an old habit and I want to ensure it remains live and kicking! After Baby Girl joyously came into our lives, everything and everyone else has taken a backseat, including the blog! I was pleasantly surprised to receive messages from friends and family that they miss reading my blog...So here I am, taking baby steps - making a "comeback of sorts" on the blog now that I have some time on my hands - some "me-time"!

How have I been? Busy....busy...romba busssyyyyyyyyyyyyy. Life has changed radically and I am thoroughly enjoying my time with Baby Girl. Of course, there are days when she drives me up the wall! Mostly, we are having fun, happy, joyous and totally content. Touch wood. I have become a very patient, saint-like mother, which is probably next to impossible - if you know me personally! BUT I am! :) I have heard Amma tell me very often, when you have your own daughter - you will understand! ...I do NOW!

I am discovering so many qualities about me that I had no idea I possessed...some good, some not-so-good...strength ( both physical and emotional), empathy, excellent time management, multitasking to paranoia, temperamental outbursts ( lack of sleep and tiredness!). 

In my humble opinion, the purity, innocence, simplicity and the unadulterated love and adulation you receive from a child/baby - is something every individual must experience, it is pure joy and more than anything else, makes you want to be a better person - a better version of who you already are - if that makes sense! Having said that, I strongly feel being a parent is for everyone! Its a huge responsibility and definitely requires you to be selfless, to always put someone else before you. It does not come easily. 

My Jhumki Jhumka Collection!

Jhumkis are a classic, just like sarees...they never go out of style!
Amma had a major crush on Jhimkis or Jhumkas ( down south it is Jhimki and in the North it is referred to as Jhumkas - they are basically the same!)...but she could not afford them when she was a young woman herself...so when she could afford them....she bought one too many for me and I had many variants since childhood - but didnt have a fancy for them whatsoever!

Years passed by, and Amma's fascination has caught on, it is right on trend...and it definitely suits my big face! I have enough variations in gold, 1gm gold, lac, silver, gemstones, temple jewellery, different combinations...you name it...and I have it! :-) I am hoping to pass them on to Baby A - well, if she doesn't care for them, like Amma would say "One day, you will beg me to give it to you...so will she!" ;-)

These are my first jhimkis....the one's my parents gave me as part of my wedding jewellery in gold. They are classic south indian style jewellery and I have a piece that reflects my roots down south!

...these are called "temple jewellery" and are often worn in south indian weddings and for dance performances as well....they are very flattering on most faces! :-) I wore them for my wedding too! 

I bought these 1-gm gold jhumkas and wore them for Baby A's ayush homam....it's an affordable option that suits my pocket while looking as good as any gold jhumkis.

I have always been in love with kerala jewellery - i like bithe lovely designs - their maanga mala, big oversized jhumkis...this is a palakka style jhumki and oversized jhumkis are always in vogue...the fact they suit my equally big face is a plus!

Second to jhumkis, I love pearls or anything pearly for that matter...also, they add elegance to any outfit- be it a saree or any western formals!

I bought these to go with a contemporary red saree for my brother's wedding. I wanted something that would not be too overwhelming, considering the red saree is bright already - sort of monochrome-colored jhumkis!

Oxidized jewellery/costume jewellery for everyday use, to be paired with kurtas and kurtis.

I love turquoise and anything blue or turquoise-y! ...I loved these coz they are a good mix of modern look with traditional elements, especially in a jhumki!
Unlike my usual self, I have worn all of these at some point in time - casual, everyday, important events, to work....everywhere! How do you like my collection? I plan to expand this collection....as time goes by.

Diwali in 2013!

....the festivities have caught on...and how can our home be left behind? Apart from spring cleaning, I have been sprucing up our balconies....the focus being just outside as we spend a lot of time with Baby A there, mostly ensuring nothing is broken or thrown out of the balcony! :P

Notice how everything is placed at a certain height....so she cannot reach! ( as of now, atleast!)

I had a "Eureka" moment, we have a lovely light fixture that we have had for years now but it recently went kaput! They have these lovely glass cylindrical outer cover - I retained them and converted them into flower vases... aha! 

The Buddha reigns supreme in every part of our home, the little garden in the balcony is no exception! 

Our cozy balcony near the bedroom makes for a nice little private space where I can sit and work, play with baby A or have a nice cup of chai peacefully, while watching the kids play...or enjoy some peace and quiet...which has become pretty rare nowadays!

We had a lovely Diwali with Baby A, and it felt like we relived our childhood - our enthusiasm and happiness at her curiosity, excitement and joy was refreshing and made all the effort worthwhile!

Gorgeous box of Jewellery - Manjushaa!

I am always on the lookout for traditional jewellery - with a contemporary twist! I love it, when its simple yet elegant, affordable yet good quality and as I began my search - i stumbled upon www.manjushaa.com
Manjushaa literally means "box of jewels" and what a gorgeous treasure it is! :) I was pleasantly surprised to find something in every single category - right from anklets, maang tikkas to an awesome collection of temple jewellery and navratna collections which are timeless and can be worn numerous times at weddings, and almost with every saree!

Part of the "Navaratna" Collection...these lovely sets can be a versatile addition to your jewellery...without burning a hole in your pockets!


They also have some traditional pieces and some unique pieces of "temple jewellery". I have seen many versions that look very similar on so many women that these sets were a refreshing change from the usual...don't you think?

I am lusting on this set - the chain is so pretty too! I remember my granny or paati wearing a similar earring and begging her to give it to us! ;-)
A bride could make this a part of her wedding ensemble or it could work for those who look for jewellery for their arangetram too! any bharatanatyam enthusiasts, are you listening? The workmanship is stunning - and every piece of jewellery leaves an impression on you - I am impressed, for sure! 

I have a soft corner for Jhumkas - they are timeless and forever in trend! Look at these beauties...

Have a look at their website ( Click here) and take a look at their huge variety of lovely, simple designs...understated and very elegant! Their prices are very reasonable, starting from Rs.500/- and upwards and the kemp collection starts from Rs.2000/- onwards! Enjoy! 

My neighborly artist and the little dancing people!

Many years back, I chanced upon The Mad Momma's blog (thank you mad momma!) where she had decorated her corridor with warli art and thought it was a brilliant idea to enliven a dull space like the corridor which is often ignored or left bare...we lived in a rented apartment then, and I didn't want to do that in someone else's home (technically!)

Incidentally, Warli art form is very popular folk painting among tribals in Maharashtra and is usually depicted only in white! (Since, my walls are already white, we decided to go with black!)

So I waited for sometime until we got our own home...alas, just as we started settling in....we moved to Paris! So finally the time has come and we are back home. But with Baby Girl and settling back in, I hardly found time! ( This post has been lying in my draft for a long time now!)

As luck would have it, my 12- year old neighbor R is fantastic and has an artistic bent of mind and comes up with very creative ideas and projects. I asked her if she would like to paint my wall with the little dancing people a.k.a warli art! 

She readily agreed and managed to complete it in a couple of days....its gorgeous and is a center of attention, especially for Baby Girl...she gets up from her nap and stares at the little people with awe! I am grateful for those 5 minutes of rest... :P

Its a strip on the corridor leading to the rooms....and apart from the art, has a collage of various paintings and memorabilia from our travels across Europe and its a nice walk down memory lane...

and that wall feels so complete now! I admire the people as I walk across looking for Baby Girl, numerous times through the day...:-)

Returning to our Home!

When we decided to return to India, that too, to our own home in Pune....there were constant plans running in my mind about what I want to do...when we get back! With baby girl around, the execution is much slower....but i did get to work! 
I got these gorgeous wall decals in Paris and stored it away to put it up when we get back to our own home....a sense of permanence prevails only in my own home, so I waited with bated breath for the "execution"....and it was definitely worth the wait!

its simply gorgeous and definitely makes my simple walls stand out in our master bedroom! 

They are an easy and effective way to renovate and of course, not too expensive compared to painting it all over again! 

The wall decals are a big plus for us coz Baby Girl loves to stare at all the patterns and colours...so I decided to add one more to the T.V. room....so that we can distract her while she eats...

I have always wanted to add some greens and plants into the decor, but with Baby Girl around, its not a practical option right now coz everything goes into her mouth! So I chose this decal from www.shopo.in and it was pretty easy! 

I had pretty specific things to do, on my mind - when we got back....so I was online shopping for stuff and to be fair, it has all worked out much cheaper and is a great success too! One of them are these storage cabinets with a vintage look and ceramic drawers - they are super cute and very kitschy!

I have stored all my pretty fragrances and put it up in the living room alcove and it has turned the otherwise ignored corner into a lovely turn! :-) I bought three of them at a very reasonable price on www.pepperfry.com ( this is NOT a sponsored post! - just sharing the website for fellow readers if it helps!)

We have lots of things to store away, but alas there is no storage - i bought this lovely chest of drawers that proudly displays all our memories and memoirs! All our mundane stuff is neatly concealed too - win-win? This is from www.pepperfry.com too! 

I bought a table runner in bright colours and added all our pictures from our travels and my favorite Buddha! :-) Its a calm and peaceful alcove with happy memories and loved ones! :-)

Baby Girl, as you all know was born in Paris. S and I, wanted something that is a reminder of the city and something we could show her when she grows up. We do plan to take her there when she is older. So I was eyeing this piece on www.maisonsdumonde.com while in Paris, and got it shipped to India. 

It is like a window with a view of the Eiffel Tower, exactly where our apartment was - in close proximity and with a great view! It makes for an amazing theme in the living room! 

Boy, am I glad we bought this! Baby Girl stares at it and pulls at the window pane - yes it is an actual window pane without a window, of course!

Our guest room is filled with glass paintings and long stitch projects done by yours-truly over the years....

The one with the mama panda and baby panda is so apt and meaningful now that I am blessed with Baby Girl! :-) 

The murals in wood that I mentioned here are a prime focus in the living room!

...my favorite purple pouf and the kitschy mirror! 

I have rearranged our terrace a little bit - here and there! 

...Our new decor is eclectic and kitschy now, Like? :-)

...Leaving Paris with a contented heart!

...Oh Boy! Little did I know, back in 2009, when we arrived in Paris, that it would be a life-changing experience on so many levels - apart from the gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower from our living room of course! ;-) We arrived in Paris in Winter and I experienced hail and snow all at once...and while it felt super romantic at first, I am not a fan of winter anymore! :) I am a sunshine girl, I need all the warmth, literally too! The flip side being the fashionable winter coats and boots, for sure! :D

Paris will forever be special for me (not only because it is a romantic, beautiful city) coz Baby Girl was born here! She is our biggest blessing and God chose to give her to us in Paris! :-) The health care system in France is amazing and they took care of me and my precious child at every point and made sure she was healthy, happy and beautiful and gave her safely in our hands...I am ever grateful for that. They also ensure that the mother is well taken care of, and is able to spring back to good health. Serendipity??!!


I must admit, it was a quite a challenge communicating with the doctors and hospitals due to my limited linguistic abilities a.k.a French!

France is often known as the "land of cheese and wine" and it truly is....while I didn't really acquire a taste for cheese or wine, I did acquire the nation's obsession with fitness and exercise! In these 4 years in Paris, both S and I are a lot fitter and healthier - when you see people jogging at noon or even at 10 at night, we had to take it seriously too! I exercised throughout my pregnancy, even til before I was going into labour - and it made the entire process so much faster and easier...I will ensure that it continues even after we go back to India, the elliptical at home, for sure is an investment!

We have traveled to some absolutely gorgeous countries in Europe (I can't believe we have been to 16 countries so far!). S had told me long back that I should take him on a Europe trip on our 10th anniversary! I made it all come true even before that! :P
Jokes apart, we are truly blessed to be able to travel to so many beautiful places and the beauty is etched in our memories forever...we both love travelling and living in Paris gave us the access and comfort level to plan ahead and have a good time! ...and we had a lovely vacation ever so often, whenever we could get away...

I have acquired a few "forever friends" with whom I had fun times - learning new things, sharing our different cultures, thoughts, aspirations and I have felt as loved and understood as I would, with some of my best friends! Our different backgrounds didn't really matter - deep down, we all value the same things and seem to have the same common problems! We may be across different parts of the world - but I am sure we will stay in touch and visit each other often ( hopefully! - Catrin, if you are reading this, this is specifically directed at YOU!)

On a more serious note, I think I have also matured in my thought process - I have learnt to accept people as they are - I tend to judge someone instantly, I don't do that anymore! I have learnt that its unwise to judge someone unless you have experienced it yourself! 
When you live alone, especially abroad in a country where the language and people are alien....I have realized and feel grateful for all the love, family, support I have - both physically and emotionally - never take anything or anyone for granted! 

All said and done, "home is where the heart is..." and I am excited about moving back to India too and can't wait to take Baby Girl to meet all my friends and family, and we will all live happily together wherever we are - she will go to her own home and her own room - ALREADY! She receives a lot of love and affection across the globe, and she is truly a blessed soul in that sense :-)

My Little Miss Congeniality!

...Baby Girl is wide awake, I have been rocking her for ONLY a couple of hours in my arms and she continues to stare at me... :-) Both of us enjoy the silence and look at each other and the lovely lights of the Eiffel Tower...I can't help but remember the time when I was pregnant and unable to sleep, I would sit in the living room and worry about whether everything will work out fine and if I will have the darling baby safely in my arms? ...and now, here she is...calm and serenity personified...my body and arms are tired, my eyes droop sleepily...and she gives me a BIG SMILE! Just like that....I am all energized and savor this lovely moment...and in just another 5 minutes, she is fast asleep, holding on to my fingers in her hands! :D

I wonder how my daughter can be such a morning person, I most definitely am NOT! ...On most days, I check her crib to see if she is awake...and there she is, smiling at her toys , enjoying the colors all around her, playing by herself without a whimper...and she looks at me and gives me a big smile to say " Hi Amma, Good morning?" and sometimes will even chuckle when I make funny noises to make her laugh! (Of course, on some days, she may cry - but it could be hunger or that she did a big job or bad dreams!)

Baby Girl is the most cheerful baby I have ever seen...often, she smiles at even strangers, at the hospital, visitors she is seeing for the first time, her Amma, Appa, Athai, Anna, Patti...anyone and everyone!...and its not gas! She actually recognizes and smiles genuinely at you! Its the most gorgeous smile...

I have a horrible toothache right now and its simply unbearable. I am crying in agony and fervently trying to get a dentist appointment....while I try to explain, I am in tears....she smiles at me, a big smile...as if to say, I understand....you will be alright ( Who is the baby?)!...and I can't help thinking what a wonder my Little Miss Congeniality is! I fervently thank God for our little blessing! :-)