Double colour Leguminous flower

"Where did you click this pic from?" On seeing this beautiful double color leguminous flower, one of my friend commented.

"In our society." I replied.

"Where in our society?" She asked with a bit of surprise in her voice.

"Just below your kitchen balcony." I smiled.

"I never notice this flower."

"Of course it can't be noticed from sixth floor as its size is small." I said with a little wink. "These days it is blooming you can watch it whenever you pass by that area." I smiled.

Healthy cooking

Dear readers, can you guess what I am cooking?
(Hint Healthy recipe)

Filling a cheque

“So, should we start the business meeting?” I asked two gentlemen sitting in front of me.

“We can do the meeting in the bank!” One of them suggested.

“Why in a bank?”

 “Actually I have to present the cheque of Rs. 37 lacs.” He replied. “You come along with us and we can do the meeting in the bank.”

“You can present the cheque after this meeting; it is only 9:45 a.m. yet.”

“Ya, but it is very urgent. If it is not presented early, it will not be cleared.”

“Fine. Then present your cheque first, I am waiting for you here. When you come back then we will talk about business.”

Both of them went away, I took out my novel and started reading.

Two hours later, they came back.

“Just because of YOU, my work was not completed.” The person who had to present the cheque complained.

“What did I do? I was sitting here reading my novel. I said. “How can I disturb you?”

He realized that he picked up wrong words and said politely, “As you were waiting here, in hurry to return back while filling the cheque I wrote 37 thousands instead of 37 lacs. My cheque got wasted.”

“If you were so concerned about me and thinking about me while filling a cheque then why you filled only 37 thousands, you should have filled 37 crores.” I thought. ;)

Book Review : If Truth be Told – A Monk’s Memoir

I have read the memoirs written by so many saints and sages but Om Swami’s memoirs ‘If Truth be Told – A Monk’s Memoir’ is one of the best. The flow is simple, lucid and interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

I went to HarperCollins office to attend a meeting organised by Indibloggers. At the end of the meeting, one of the staff members asked all the bloggers to pick any book which they liked the most from the HarperCollins office. As I passed through the passage with cabins on both the sides, I saw an ochre colour book on the shelf above the sitting area. I went closed to it and found it was written by ‘Om Swami’. Wow! I am a regular reader of Om Swami’s blog and have watched some of his videos. His talk about ‘What is God?’ inspires me the most. Earlier, I desperately wanted to visit the function of the release of ‘If Truth Be Told – A Monk’s Memoir’ at Delhi. But I couldn’t as I was busy or ill or both, I couldn’t remember correctly now. I picked up that book and announce that I wanted this book. I was the first blogger to choose.

This book tells about the life of Om Swami before and after taking ‘sanyasa’. He was voracious reader from his childhood days. He learnt astrology and tantric practices at young age. His name was Amit Sharma and lived in Patiala along with his parents, sister and brother. At the age of eighteen he went to Australia for higher studies. He worked hard to earn and to learn simultaneously. He made a good amount of money and started his own business which he later on extended to U.S. and Europe. He took sanyasa from a naga sadhu but left him as sadhu had not yet mastered his emotions like anger. He went to Himalayas to do intense meditation in silence and solitude. He succeeded and realised himself. He felt a sense of dispassion and detachment arising from within without any effort. Just like when we churn milk it turn into butter and that butter can never be converted back into milk, his mind experienced an irreversible peace and immense joy.

Some of the wisdom gems from this book are listed below:-

1.  When you write, I want the writing to be so taut that if anyone is to remove even a comma from your sentence, the entire paragraph will have to be rewritten. When you speak, I want you to struggle, not because you cannot think of words with which to express yourself but because so many rush to your mind that you have to really choose to pick the word that is most apt, that is perfect.
2. Never lose stocks. Never forget that you buy them to make a profit. Once you have reached a profitable position, exit. If they betray you and you are making a loss, exit. Your goal is to make more profits than losses.
3. Why do we earn, and why do we learn?
4. It is wrongly assumed that tantra is about tantric sex, tantric massage, tantric yoga and so on. This is not where tantra starts or ends. Tantra is an inner journey the practitioner undertakes to break the conditioning of the mind and move beyond the conditioned and egoistic self, so that he may see himself as he truly is.
5. Meditation, worship, praying it’s all useless if we are unable to go beyond what holds us back.
6. Self-realization is removing yourself from the support structure. You no longer require the pillars; in fact, you become a pillar of divine love and light.
7. The eternal truth is that you have the right to live your life to the fullest. Every moment.
8. Find what makes you happy and pursue it.
9. You are a master of infinite possibilities.

In the end OM Swami said, “I’ve given you my truth. Go, discover yours.”

Dear readers, I think this is my longest post, may be because I am a great admirer of Om Swami. :)

WORD UP 2015! Gurgaon

I am sitting next to Ashish Chopra in WORD UP, 2015, Gurgaon whose videos go viral on Youtube especially the one in which he paid the toll of the car behind him on Delhi - Gurgaon Toll Plaza. 


Some of his famous videos are as follows 
1. How to travel visa free https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmJVs_I-I5w
2. Premium Auto Rickshaw Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe6cI5REP-0
3. Travel light https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQbJOod7fTM

Earlier his lecture on 'Vlogging how to's' was very interesting and inspiring. 

Book Review : Those Small Lil Things In Life and Love by Rahul Saini

‘Those Small Lil Things In Life and Love’ by Rahul Saini is very interesting, simple and humorous. For light reading, for time pass this novel is a good read or rather should not be missed. It tells about the friendships, relationships and family life of a guy named ‘Raj’. The most interesting point I liked in this book is Rahul gifted soap to his girlfriend, in his school days. The Bollywood songs and scenes give an exciting filmy angles to the incidences happening in Raj’s life. There are no erotic romantic scenes to attract masses but sweet,light romance. 

In this book the story moves alternately in past and present. The font sizes are unlike to differentiate between the present and past. I must say that I like the past more than the present especially the school days memories of Rahul which are very interesting and full of surprises. One can easily relate to the main character and his naughtiness. 

There are some typing mistakes which can be ignored as the language used is casual and not literary. 

Rahul Saini is the author of ‘Just for You’, ‘Paperback Dreams’, ‘The Orange Hangover’ and ‘Just Like in the Movies’. ‘ThoseSmall Lil Things in Life and Love’ is his first book. He resides in Gurgaon. He is architect by profession. He loves to write stories and paint. The collection of photographs on his blog is very beautiful.  

This novel is like a soothing breeze!

Avid reader

"I bought two books a day before yesterday. Today, I finished reading both." I said.
"You read so fast. Do you read in washroom?" Miss. 'I' asked.
"No. I am not that avid reader."
"Actually, I read books in toilet as my sister doesn't allow me to keep the tubelight on after 10 p.m. as she likes to sleep in dark room. So, I have to go to washroom, to sit there and read and read till I feel sleepy."

WORD UP! 2015

I attended Word Up! 2015 organised by Indibloggers at Striker, Gurgaon. It was a nice experience to hear the views of Lakshmipathy Bhat, Nandita Iyer, Ranchit Hirani, Kiran Manral, Vishal Shroff, Arun Nair and Ahish Chopra. Kiran Manral gave a lecture on 'Confessions of a Reformed Blogger'. She is the author of 'Once upon a crush' and 'The Reluctant Detective'. I got the chance to click photos when she was sitting just next to me. :)))

Kiran Manral is busy surfing and I posing for some more pics with her! :))

Overall I was a nice experience to be a part of Indiblogger Meet and I had a great time there. :)

Dear readers, this is 700th post. :)

Book review : There’s Something About You

‘There’s Something About You’ is Yashodhara Lal’s third book. Earlier her two books namely ‘Just Married, Please Excuse’ and ‘Sorting out Sid’ were bestsellers. ‘Just Married, Please Excuse’ was her autobiographical novel in which the character named Yashodhara faces adjustment problems with her hubby Vijay during the first three years of their marriage and ‘Sorting Out Sid’ was from written from a view point of a male.

The most interesting point I liked in ‘There’s Something About You’ is that the female protagonist is not beautiful, slim or attractive like the heroines of other romantic novels. Trish, the main character is in her late twenties, overweight, single and have lots of problems in her family and career life. She is burdened with lots of responsibilities like any ordinary person in the society. She fights with her problems own her own. She keeps trying to find a solution for the problems arising one after another in her life. She is helpful and even tries to save a stranger’s life at the risk of her own life. While reading she doesn’t seem to be a character but appears to me like a real person living my next door.

Sahil, the main character is in his thirties, doesn’t want to join their family business, plays guitar, helps the underprivileged and has some super natural powers of seeing the past or future of the person whom he touched by chance. Although Trish is an exception!

This is an unusual romantic novel in which as the hero touches the heroine, she felt electric current passing through her, something much similar to classic Bollywood movies. The chemistry between the two is interesting and the conversations are mostly enjoying.

The story is set in Mumbai. Trish with her parents lives in a small sized flat with a view of sea. The sunset is described beautifully by the author.

The sun was setting now and Trish watched the shimmering pink and orange rays splaying out over the ocean in silence. She couldn’t quite believe it. Her impetuous act had actually paid off in a totally unexpected way. She knew that Ba would be watching the sunset from his window, and this made her feel a sense of oneness with him. Maybe – just maybe – things were going to be all right.

Generally while watching sunset we think that our problems will end with it and the next day will be a new beginning, new hopes and will be full of new desires. Trish parents, Akansha, Lisa, Nivedita and Zee helps in moving the story further in an interesting way.

Yashodhara Lal’s way of writing is very impressive and very gripping. I liked to read very less female writers or I must say I admired only ‘Pearl S Buck’, ‘Jhumpa Lahiri’ and the third name I add to this list is ‘Yashodhara Lal’.

In the end, I would like to say to my readers that if you love unusual love stories this is the best book for you. If you want to read a light romantic novel then this book should not be missed.

Lose weight

Everybody should do exercises whether the person is young or old, fat or slim, rich or poor, working or non working. Exercises like walking, body weight squat, lunges, cycling, side bends, single leg bends and limb raises are good for healthy living. Everybody should focus on the betterment of health. Those who can’t find the time for rigorous exercises because of work pressure in office and home can do exercises for just five minutes. Five minutes exercise is like a healthy snack. It will rejuvenate and recharge the body as well as the mind. Skipping, climbing stairs, sit ups, wall push ups, chair crunches, stationary jogging, dusting and household chores, seated calf raise, dancing, desk pushups and weight lifting can improve body metabolism and overall health.

Many people do crash diet to lose weight. It is not at all a healthy way to lose weight as it harms the person physically as well as emotionally. Instead of losing weight through crash diet it is always better to lose weight naturally by cutting on the amount of sugar intake. Honey is a better substitute for sugar as one table spoon of honey contains lesser calories than sugar. Moreover, honey is sweeter than sugar so it is added in less amount to get the same level of sweetness. Sugar lacks proteins, enzymes and vitamins where as honey contains proteins, enzymes, vitamins and anti-oxidants that body requires for healthy function. Honey has lower Glycemic Index (GI) than sugar.

Benefits of a teaspoon of honey a day are weight management, sugar substitute, source of energy, aids digestion, helps in cold, cough and throat irritation, gives beautiful skin. Honey Diet is a healthier option for mind, body and soul. Dabur honey is sourced from the forests of Sunderbans and Himalayas. It passes through strict quality checks before processing. The whole process happens in the most hygienic environment, without any human contact to the product or the bottles. Dabur provides pure honey which means fitness and good health. Dabur honey comes in 1Kg bottle and 400g squezee.

One of the healthy recipe in which honey is the ingredient is Honey fruit salad by Chef Vikas Khanna.

Ingredients

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup canola oil

1/2  teaspoon fresh lemon juice, plus the juice 1 lemon

1 1/2  teaspoons poppy seeds

1/4  teaspoon salt

1/4  teaspoon prepared mustard

1 apple, cored and diced

1 banana, sliced

1 avocado, peeled and sliced

1 (11- ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Method – For the dressing, combine the honey, orange juice, oil, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, poppy seeds, salt and mustard in a jar with a tight lid; cover and shake well. Toss the banana, apple and avocado with juice from one lemon to prevent the fruit from turning brown. Combine the fruits, raisins and nuts in a fruit bowl. Add the dressing and stir gently.

Eat honey to lose weight!

Surf fast, super fast!

I am mad about watching cricket. I sit for hours and hours in front of T.V. to enjoy cricket match from beginning to end. Like everyone else, I am also eager to know what will happen on the next ball. While watching cricket, I am so absorbed in the match that I forget about the world around me. Surprisingly I even forget to eat and drink.

Last Sunday, I went to see my doctor as my stomach was upset, my legs and arms were paining and I was feeling very lethargic. My doctor advised me to eat light food which is easily digestible, to do regular yoga exercises and to walk twice a day. He warned me not to miss a single day otherwise my poor health will deteriorate further and then the chances to recover will fade away. He also prescribed some medicines for betterment of my health which I had to take thrice a day.

“Although I like to walk and exercise in the park but when the cricket match is telecasting I don’t want to do anything else, not even exercises which are must for my good health.” I told my friend.

“You can watch the match on your mobile.” My friend said.

“The internet connection on my mobile is very slow. I lose interest in match as it downloads very slowly.”

He suggested me, “Download UC browser as it is fast, faster and fastest. Moreover your time will not be wasted till the circle moves round and round while downloading cricket match. You will not feel bored rather will enjoy the each and every ball of cricket match, especially the sixers hit outside the boundary wall by your favourite cricketer, Yuvraj Singh!”

I followed his advice and downloaded UC browser and UC Cricket. Now I can watch match very clearly and smoothly. The picture is very clear. I love to hear the commentary with each and every ball played. The voice is so clear and blends well with every action.  

My friend further guided me, “Not only you can watch cricket matches on UC cricket but you can also download your favourite Bollywood songs. You can watch ‘Tumse jo dekhte he pyar hoya’ while doing kapal bhati, a breathing exercise.”

“Yes, I love UC browser. It makes my life interesting. I am enjoying every moment with it.”

“You can also surf the internet with a very fast speed. Surf it all, Surf it Fast!”

“Doing exercises and walking becomes more interesting if entertainment goes side by side. I will not miss my exercises as per my doctor’s advice as well as I will not miss my cricket matches as per my heart’s voice.” There was a tinge of naughtiness in my voice. 

Trendy stoles

An article ‘Mix up your fashion – Master the stole!’ on Rewardme inspired me to write more about the stoles and in super stylish ways they can be worn. A stole can be worn in different ways giving a totally new look to the wearer.  

Infinite loop

Hold the stole on the neck with both the ends equal. Tie both the ends. Make another knot to avoid slippage of fabric. Twist it making a loop shaped like letter 8. Drape the bottom loop of eight over the head. Stole made up of silk can be used for this style.

The necklace

Fold the stole diagonally. Put it around the neck with both the ends equal. Like infinite loop tie both the ends, twist it to make a loop in the shape of letter 8. Drape the bottom loop over the head. Set the loops as one likes. Chiffon fabric can be used for this style.

Knotted shawl

Drape the stole on the shoulders. Take both of its ends at the back, wrapping the respective arms. Pull the ends tightly and tie a knot. Pull the scarf fabric below to cover the knot. This will give an appearance like that of wearing a shawl. Thick fabric can be used for this.

Double sided twist

Take two stoles of different colour and prints. Hold them together back to back. Drape them around the neck with unequal ends. Like basic wrap, drape the longer end around the neck so that both the ends are equal. While turning around the neck also turn the fabric so that both the stoles are visible, one in the loop close to neck and other falling down on both the sides of neck.

The turtle neck

Drape the stole around the neck with one end considerably longer than the other. Drape the longer end around the neck three or four times. Tie a knot of both the ends. To secure tie one more knot. Adjust the loops in such a way that knots are behind the draped fabric.

The two knots

Drape the stole around the neck with equal ends. Tie a knot in the middle of one side of stole. Tie another knot in the middle of other side of knot. This simple style gives a trendy look to the wearer.

The classic knot

Fold the stole in half lengthwise. Drape it around the neck with unfolded end significantly longer than the folded end. Pass the unfolded end from the folded ends. Tighten the knot, to look amazing.

Theme 2 “I am participating in the ‘Ready For Rewards’ activity for Rewardme in association with BlogAdda.”

Stole – A fashion statement

I loved the article ‘Mix up your fashion – Master the stole!’ on Rewardme. It tells how stole can be used in different styles. A stole can give a new look to the wearer even on a plain shirt, top or evening gown. It can make simple and less attractive dresses more striking. Wearing a stole in different styles can give a person, totally new look without spending money on buying new clothes. It makes the wearer’s personality very appealing and attractive. A stole can make the wearer fashionable by just the way it is tied around the neck.

While selecting a stole the color and print should be carefully selected as they should be appealing as well as trendy. Bright colors and patterned stoles give good results. One can even try wearing those colors and patterns that one doesn’t like. A stole should be made of light material like silk n chiffon. One can also wear a stole made up of fur for warmth and classic look.

This article also explains about how to tie a stole. In basic wrap, it is tied around the neck with uneven lose ends. Hold the stole unevenly around the neck and wrap the longer end around the neck keeping it enough lose around the neck. For this style the stole should preferably be in rectangular shape.

It also highlights another technique to wrap a stole around the neck which is known as arranged wrap. For this style the stole should be square. Fold it diagonally to make it a triangle. Place the folded side on the shoulders. Hold both the ends at the front and tie them together. Turn the stole so that the knot goes at the back. For a cowboy look the stole can be wore with knot on one of the shoulders.

This article is written in a very simple language so that even a layman can understand it. It explains the step by step techniques how to tie a stole around the neck. It clarifies all the points in detail how to create various fashion styles. It tells that stoles can become an integral part of one’s dress without spending too much money on buying new clothes. The picture of stole in the beginning of the article is very beautiful and very attractive. I must confess that this article steals my heart. It is the best article I have ever read on stoles.

Theme 1 “I am participating in the ‘Ready For Rewards’ activity for Rewardme in association with BlogAdda.”

Best out of waste

The article ‘Make or break’ on Rewardme inspires me to write this article. There are some of the articles which can be created by using unused and incomplete sets of crockery.

Clock

Take a plate, mark its center correctly, made a hole in the center with a driller. Insert the clock machine in the hole. From the top of the clock place the hour hand down first, then minute hand and in the last second hand. Bolt it to hold the hands and motor in position. Don’t forget to add battery to make it tick.

Candle

Glue a cup on the plate with epoxy glue. Try out multiple color combinations to get excellent results. Melt the paraffin wax in a pan. But always remember to melt it slowly so never put it directly on fire but put the pan containing wax in boiling water. Add the desired color and scent to it. Place the wick in the center of the cup and hold it in the position with a help of two sticks placed on the rim of cup. Slowly pour the wax without disturbing the wick. Allow it to cool. Remove the sticks and trim the wick to half an inch above the candle.

Flower pot and wall handing

Take one cup. Cut it in the half. Glue the two half pieces on a rice plate from the flat side. Glue a hanging loop on it at its back side. Use them to plant small plants or to decorate flowers or to hold spoons and forks. 

Bird feeder

Glue a cup on a plate. Make three holes equidistant from each other just below the rim of the cup. Draw beautiful strings through those holes and gather them together on the top and tie a knot in iron ring. Hang the iron ring. Put the grains in the cup and enjoy watching birds while feeding.

Pin holder

Take three small sized cups. Glue them on a plate in a line or circle. Put the stuffing inside a small cloth just double the size of the rim of cup. Sew it from all sides and draw the string to make it a small ball. Glue the ball carefully in the cup so that it puffed out of the cup rim. Hold the pins and needles in it. Now they won’t hurt anybody more in the house.

Pen and pencil holder

Glue cups, cupcakes, small bowls and plates etc. to create different stands of various sizes and designs which can be used to hold pens and pencils.

Theme 2 “I am participating in the ‘Ready For Rewards’ activity for Rewardme in association with BlogAdda.”

A meeting with Yashodhara Lal

I got the chance to meet the renowned author and blogger Yashodhara Lal to meet her at HarperCollins event organised by Indibloggers. It was great talking to her about her new release 'There is something about you', her impressive style of writing and the way she manages her job, motherhood responsibilities and being an author. I was amazed how she found time for all!

Earlier, Manasi Subramaniam from HarperCollins shared valuable information about to get published, points to be kept in mind while submitting a manuscript and the steps through which a book passes till publishing. I found the information how to publish a ebook very useful. Karthika Vk, Chief  Editor, Harpercollins interacted with the bloggers.

In the event, including me seven bloggers were present. It was fun to meet a poet, a doctor, a lifestyle blogger, a person who runs two blogs one personal and other on literature and two tech bloggers. Meeting new bloggers, knowing about their blogs, interacting them is always fun. I thank Indibloggers for organizing such events and giving me a platform to meet so many bloggers from various fields and a very famous blogger n author Yashodhara Lal.