Adios, 2011!

I’m back!! After quite a while, in terms of time in blog-land :-). Well, my brother-in-law and his family are visiting from USA, and since they come once in about 3-4 years, it was quite an event. Then there was a wedding in their family and then Cub got sick.

He got these really terrible mouth ulcers and was screaming all night long. My Mom, who is his pediatrician, is on holiday in Singapore and so we took him to another doctor who diagnosed it as Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease. Only someone whose kid has had this can have any idea what we went through. Poor thing was in agony and didn’t sleep for 4 nights. Obviously he couldn’t eat anything as well, and the doctor prescribed lots of ice cream. That did calm him down a bit, but mostly it was cold strawberry flavored yogurt and probiotic milk (Yakult) that he found palatable. 

Thank God, he’s better now and had some proper food today. We told everyone who called to ask about him that all he could have was cold foods, and now our freezer is choc-a-bloc with ice cream!! There’s Choco-Almond, Kesar-Badam, Choco Crunch cones, Pista Green, Vanilla – yup, Baskin Robbins, bet we can outdo your stock now!!

This is how our freezer looks now:

And here is our fridge, with still lots of Cub’s ‘cold food’ leftover:

Hence, I’m back to blogging today! I also did a workout, shampooed my hair and am feeling a lot cheerier after a harrowing 5 days :-). I have so much stuff to share with you guys; I don’t know where to start. Anyways, I think since this is the end of the year and I want to do the propah year-ending thing, I’ll talk about what I did this year in this post and do the whole New-Year-Resolution dance in the next post.

(These lists will feature only the positives, after all I don’t really feel like listing out all my mess ups on such a public platform ;-). And obviously my negatives this year translate into resolutions for the next, right?)

Things I did good this year:

1. I started my own blog!!! And I’m lovin’ it :-). Before starting to blog myself, the only blogs I read were The Fabulous Life of Not So Rich and Infamous, Hippie by Heart, Thinks fashion is art as well as Already Pretty. Now, I’ve been exposed to so many other wonderful blogs and love reading posts by bloggers across the world on various topics.

2. I embarked on a fitness journey and I’ve been at it consistently for two months now. I’ve already started losing weight!! Also, I don’t feel tired at all, can do with little or disturbed sleep (read: sick child) and feel great!!

3. I control my portions, have my vitamins everyday and ensure I have at least one vegetable dish for each meal. I’ve also upped my fruit intake. Due to this (and exercise), my hair has become manageable and my skin is also looking better.

4. I’ve started using a night cream, foot cream and hand cream. I’ve also started experimenting with hair spray, lip gloss and compact powder. (For a kajal-only person, this is a big step :-))

5. I’ve started looking at the big picture and am trying to stop sweating the small stuff. I realize that as long as the basics are in place, i.e.: my family is healthy, we have a comfortable home, we love each other etc., everything else will fall into place eventually. Of course, lots of room for improvement :-)

6. I’ve moved cities and am now closer to my parents. Hence, I’m more involved in their lives and they also get to have fun with Cub more often.

7. I’ve become a much more conscientious shopper. I don’t go crazy at sales and think a lot before actually spending on anything. As a result, I’ve begun to think more innovatively about the stuff already in my wardrobe.

8. I’ve decluttered a lot this year and it’s become a regular process. I am now trying to prevent clutter from building up in the first place.

That’s all I can think of at the moment. Really, Fab? 365 days, and all you’ve accomplished are these? Well, not an impressive list, but at least I can honestly say that I’ve done something progressive this year. And something always beats nothing, right?

What are the top things that come to mind when you think of what you’ve achieved this year?? Do share it with all of us!!

Recipe for the week - Easy Veg Stew

This must be one of the easiest recipes I know. When I say stew, it might be a little different from what you probably think of as a stew. This one is what you’d find if you stepped into any random Malayali family’s home and asked for some stew. (Not to mention how utterly creeped out said family would be, thinking you were some kind of curry crazed psycho :-)). Anyway, this is so easy to make, especially if you have some of the ingredients packaged before hand. P.S. check out the easy peasy tips :-).

What you’ll need (2-3 servings):

1. ½ onion sliced
2. 1 tbsp ginger garlic paste
3. ½ tbsp crushed peppercorns
4. 1 sliced green chilli (optional)
5. 2 cups of assorted chopped veggies
6. chopped coriander leaves for garnish
7. salt and vegetable oil as required

What you’re going to do:

1. Heat a pot and pour some oil. When the oil is sufficiently heated, put in the onions, ginger garlic paste, green chilli (if using), peppercorns and salt. Yes, that’s right, just dump it all in at once.

Easy Peasy tip: Use ready made ginger garlic paste

2. Stir well and fry till the onions are beginning to brown. Then add the veggies and mix well.

Easy Peasy tip: Use frozen veggies. I used a mix of fresh and frozen.

3. Stir fry the veggies for 2 minutes, then pour in about ¾ cup of water and cover and cook till veggies are done.

Easy Peasy tip: Use a pressure cooker for max 2 whistles.

4. Just before serving, add some coconut milk, warm slightly and garnish with chopped coriander.

Easy Peasy tip: Use ready to use coconut milk.

There, now don’t you think making this is a breeze? Especially with all my easy peasy tips? :-) This goes perfectly well with plain untoasted bread for a simple, light but satisfying meal. However, the ideal combination would be some Malayali style appams, soft and spongy to soak up the fragrant coconut milk gravy. You can balance out the mildness in this dish with a spicy chicken/seafood side dish for some protein.

Do try this out at home; won’t take long at all. I’ll leave you with a pic of my ‘easy stew meal’ with flat-pan appams and Kerala-style fried prawns:

I like the gravy to seep into my appams; messy, but oh so yum!!!!

Lust List - December

The last lust list of the year!!! Wow, time is speeding by, I feel like I just posted November’s lust list last week!!

There are actually a lot of things I am lusting after right now. (In addition to making me lazy, this time of the year also makes me very materialistic :-)). However, I’ve shortened the list to these beauties. Feast your eyes on them, girls!!

1. Dark Orange Rodna Halter Dress

Source: Anthropologie

Isn’t the cut of this Anthropologie dress lovely? Perfect for the parties you’ve got all those invites for. Of course, if you live in colder climes, a coat will be needed, for which see end of list. This is actually dark orange though it looks kinda red in the picture. I love it anyway!!

2. Red Cosmetic Pouch

Source: Hidesign

I like most of Hidesign’s stuff, despite comments that they all look alike. This cosmetic pouch is simply darling and it has a pocket in front too!! So cute, I want to use it as a handbag/clutch/something-to-show-the-world!

3. Charlie Striped Mug

Source: CBS Store

Mmm, yes I know, not usual lust list stuff. But it’s true, I have been looking for a similar mug (also, cheaper) ever since I saw it on Two and a Half Men. I admit, I’m not really a fan of the show, though hubby is (all men are Neanderthals!); but the mug caught my eye and since then I’ve wanted to make it mine.

4. Color Block Scarf

 Source: Asos

Please don’t yawn on seeing ‘color block’. Just look at the scarf. Pretty, right? It goes great with neutrals like shown, though I would prefer to wear it with a solid colored bright dress in one of the colors being blocked. P.S. – Any resemblance to Charlie’s Mug shown above is purely coincidental :-)

5. Lace Snowflake Necklace

 Source: Etsy

Perfect for Christmas!! Even if it doesn’t snow where you live :P. I like the gentle colors and the delicate patterns. Something very dreamy about it.

6. Metallic Flat Sandals

Source: Aldo

Assuming you have a whole lot of parties and things coming up and assuming that you’re planning to dance at them, I would like to suggest these comfy yet glam flats from Aldo. They have a whole range of lovely flats, but I liked these the most.

7. Suede Trim Trench Coat

Source: Burberry

I’ve saved the best for the last. Ladies, here is the Suede Trim Trench Coat from Burberry in Dark Canvas Green. Yes, I know, you want it. And you want it now. How can you not? Look at that lovely rich color and that texture. Don’t you want to touch it?? I do. (Long sigh) :-).

So, which one did you like the most? Any special plans for year-end shopping?? Let me know!!

Link List - November

November was predominantly a month of Thanksgiving, with bloggers thinking back upon the year and upon their lives and listing all that they were thankful for. Thanksgiving also meant a lot of Turkey related recipes :-). However, here are some awesome links from November that don’t really have much to do with Thanksgiving ;-).

Like I said, November was all about Thanksgiving, but don’t forget that October was about Halloween. Ashley at Make it and Love it gives you a virtual parade of some really cool costumes!

Got a treadmill but bored to tears just thinking of it? Tina of carrots n’ cake has some solutions for kicking treadmill boredom in the butt.

If you’re having trouble choosing shoes for skirts or dresses, fret not. Imogen of Inside Out Style is here to help.

Here is a lovely tutorial from Divya of Jewels of Sayuri on converting an old spoon into pretty jewelry.

Denise at Woman’s Day has a list of things that every woman should find time for.

Everyone knows that maintaining consistency in your workouts is the tough part. Jamie from DailySpark shares some tips.

Are you among those who think that being visually impaired can stand in the way of becoming stylish? The inspiring Michelle of Eyeronic doesn’t think so. By the way, love her blog name – awesome, just like her.

The gifting season is here and Aubree of The Yellow Blackbird has some cute and frugal gift wrapping ideas.

Don’t believe everything you see, all the time. Especially concerning celebrity looks.

Shaheen of The Purple Foodie takes you on a virtual tour of a foodie’s paradise. Read this and tell me you aren’t dying to go to Brussels :-).

Twilight and porn. Shocked? Well, that is what Kent Woodyard thinks at The Relevant Magazine.

I know you’re probably going crazy shopping this festive season. But before you set out, do read this wardrobe organizing post by Sal at Already Pretty.

Finally, the coolest cat in town is here. And it ain’t over easy :-)))).

Bad kitty, eh?? Bet it’s a really coooool movie!!!!

So, we’re heading towards the final month of 2011. Exciting!!! Hope you guys enjoyed all the links; do let me know what you think of them!! :-)

Recipe for the Week - Tricolor Pulao

Weekend’s gone by. Even a Monday’s gone by. And this is what I made for dinner on Monday – my version of the tricolor pulao. I think other versions use chickpeas instead of sweet corn to add protein to make it a complete dish. But since I already had a chicken side dish, I decided to go all veg with this one :-). This dish is especially useful for those days when you don’t want to spend too long cooking and can use up frozen stuff.

What you’ll need (2-3 servings):

1. 1.5 cups of Basmati or any other long grained rice – washed and drained
2. 3 cups water
3. 1 lime
4. 1/3 cup each of frozen green peas, sweet corn, diced carrot
5. ½ a big onion sliced finely
6. 2 red chillies chopped ( you can also use green)
7. 4 garlic cloves chopped finely
8. 1 tbsp ghee
9. 1 bay leaf
10. ½ tsp jeera (cumin seeds)
11. ¼ tsp turmeric
12. ½ tsp garam masala
13. salt to taste

What you’re going to do:

1. Heat a heavy bottomed pan and add the ghee. When melted, add the jeera. Once it splutters, add the bay leaf, torn into two.

2. Add the onions and fry till they are nice and brown.

3. Add the garlic and fry till the raw smell disappears. Add the veggies, turmeric, garam masala and fry for 2-3 minutes.

4. Add the rice and fry for 2 minutes. Then add the water and salt.

5. Squeeze the lime juice into the water. Bring up the heat and then turn it down once the water begins to boil. Cover and cook till all the water has been absorbed, stirring once or twice in between.

Voila! Your tricolor pulao is ready!

I love this dish because of how mildly spiced it is and yet, so colorful. It is perfect with a spicy paneer/chicken dish and a cooling cucumber raita. Mmm….yummy and healthy dinner!! And here’s one more thing – this dish is preschooler certified!!

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Weekend Haul!

There’s something about this time of the year that makes me feel like slacking off. Off my fitness plans, off my shopping budget, off my work etc. I guess that’s what’s causing me to neglect my poor, poor blog. However, I am proud to say that my exercising is right on track and I have also begun to lose weight!! Yay to me!!!

I went shopping last weekend with my parents and the Cub. I got an assortment of stuff, and thought it might be fun to do a haul post. Nothing very fancy, just… stuff.

First of all, I got me this wonderful white bag from Fasttrack. I have been looking around for a white bag that can a) be easily cleaned b) hold lots of stuff (I have a preschooler, remember?) c) is soft and adheres to my body.

Tall order? Enter white bag from fast track. It’s soo soft, just the way I wanted it, and oh, so roomy.

Its got some check detailing on the front and on the zipper panel in gray.

Another thing I love – lots and lots of pockets. There are quite a few compartments on the inside and a zip pocket at the back and two compartments on the sides as well!

My Mom loved it too and she got one in black. Though I think the white looks better :-). It’s also available in green.

I also got another item that’s been on my list for a while - a black stole. I found one with some embellishment on it.

A more or less impulse purchase (wasn’t really on my list) was a pair of golden heels with silver glitter on it. They looked pretty and I realized I didn’t really have any footwear to wear to weddings and such. Ok, I admit I was looking for a ‘gap’ in my shoe collection just to get my hands on these ;-).

Detail of the silver glitter straps:

Also got a Lemon Intensive Hand Cream from Fabindia and a Skin Renewal Night Cream from Lakme.

My Mom got a Neem Tulsi toner and an Avocado facewash from fab. Sorry, no pics :-(.

And here is Chetan Bhagat’s latest book: (Will read and review soon)

My brother-in-law’s son’s birthday is coming up next month and we decided to get him and his sibling some gifts.

Some transformer stuff:

  

And a dragon egg from the Dragon Universe. (Please don’t ask me anything more about it, I don’t really know. It just looked really complicated and….boyish :-))

I'm guessing this is the dragon that's supposed to be inside the egg:

So that was a nice little shopping expedition. We had a lot of fun and also feasted on some authentic Kannada Vegetarian cuisine. Sorry, I didn’t stop to take pics; just jumped into my meal the minute it was served :-).

With Christmas and all coming up, how is everyone else doing with their shopping?? Have you made any heavy duty purchases yet?

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