Celebration for a soul

She was the epitome of emotions. She was the kind mother's heart. She was the only person who could handle the baby me when my brother was born.She was the cuddle in summer vacations. She was the support to sleep on the floor, in summer vacations. She was the library of stories just like my grand mother. (They were so much like each other)

She was my second grand mother. She had the abundance of calmness and fun in her voice. She was the one who even when from older generations,supported in whatever I chose to do.

But there was a pinch of pain. In fact Two, in her life. She was hurt by many people in her life but some how the love she showered on us never had a hint of it.

She never met the most important person of my life but chose to bid us a good bye. Painful it was for her,we just remember that she smiled and laughed off her pain. She chose to sleep forever

Fai, If you are reading this. If you can hear me talking to you in real like you do in my dreams..

'I'm not really upset that you left us because I know you are there with us, all the time. You left for the better life. You still laugh from your heart and smile from your soul but then I must tell you that this only daughter of our family always and always remembers you. Dad and mom feel the vacuum which would never escape from our lives but then those sputters of your giggles fill us with happiness when we see your photo. I choose not to be sad today. Because, that is not you would ever want me to be. I choose to be kind today, To celebrate you in our lives.'

Arty-iest Wishes

I was & I am always a fan of hand made personalized cards.Not just plain flowers on it or wishes written in artsy fonts but something written/painted related to the person to whom you are gifting. Something which is close to him/her. Something about which he/she is passionate about. His/her unique personality trait.If you can what he/she hates the most, The Best. Yes, I am a big believer in gifting funny birthday/greeting cards apart from a handwritten notes in it.

Some how I have been failing to make such cards for near and dear ones in the way I always wanted to. Call it lack of time or energy,I either choose not to give any cards or play some pranks or gift something he/she wants. This card making business is something I avoided many a time last year. In fact I'm horrible at it since a couple of years.

So, after reading this , convincing my mom to paint like she used to in her childhood days and seeing a cousin experimenting with crayons - my usually tired soul last night suddenly picked the old compass water color box and started painting. (Okay,that is a bit dramatic but it happened.)

Today is my director-friend-mentor-foe's birthday and I thought of experimenting my old but yet to be rejuvenated painting skill on him!  This is what I made! :D

Now this 'Out Of The World' chap is going through Emotional Global Warming.


:D

Transformation

Declaimer: My Singapore-roomie told me I've become a Buzz Feed writer.One more for you! :D


Not a movie or some topic from Chemistry to talk about. It is my own story. Story of transformations which I feel is still going on.(Isn't it always 'On' in life?)

I have blogged about my Tom-Boyish self in college days before. I am extremely positive about them but I was not what I was then. I was this strong girl with a lot of self respect but still Girlish during school days. I loved dancing - classical and folk. I loved dressing up. I remember myself imaging myself in mom's beautiful saree in front of the mirror. Next I remember is becoming extremely not-interested in dresses, cosmetics or any other lady like interests. Apart from dancing (Who can leave dancing?!) This was because of my professional interest - I was sure to excel in a male dominating field with self respect, I have to act like Boys!!That is what I felt& I did.I achieved the respect. (That is another story how I fought sexism many a times but found super strong buddies in boys) By this time with no exposure to latest fads and fashion I was well behind other girls of my age. (To my mom's dismay)

When I joined my first job within cosmopolitan crowd outside my home town, slowly it stuck to me that I was not what I was pretending to be. I loved kohl clad eyes. I loved bright popping lip colors. I loved cooking.I loved dances intensively. The teen age which should have appeared in my brains in college days, started getting out on the surface while my other batch mates were already taking matured decisions of life. (There were trade offs both sides) At the age of 23, I actually started having crush on boys around or on the screen! (Can you imagine!?) I was suddenly comfortable with the idea of being girlish but still independent, fierce and trendy. But that was still the idea.Even my tenure in Singapore never grew me in that direction but my next job did a bit. I got married in between,with Mr.ISB and his love for this super confused -lazy to dress-still-a-fashion lover-tomboyish girl.

Now after almost two years of wedding, knocking on the door of 30s I have started knowing myself a little more than ever.

• I love dressing up when I am in the mood to dress up. I am not the foundation and corrector kind of a girl but yes,I do love flaunting bright lipsticks and big ear rings. My dislike for Gold or Diamond jewelry does not put any hindrance here because hey, we have other stones and beads as well. 
• I do not like shopping in over crowded places and seeing many things together overwhelms me. I am also picky about my companion while I shop. Mr.ISB is very patient and hence he becomes the first choice after my mommy dearest who is my fashion fiesta. (Yes, because she could not be one she wants me to be one, oh she dreams a lot!) My bro-buddy in Delhi and my friend R from Mumbai(or Ahmedabad) make my shopping experience awesome. Oh how I miss shopping for cosmetics when I did not know anything about fashion at all with them. In short,these four persons in my life can make me shop well. Nobody else can. (Frock buddy N,time to shop together?Time to 'not only talk' about shopping!)
• You tell me what to wear, if you are not my mommy I would dress up like a beggar in front of you. I work that way. My fashion sense can float across extremely comfortable old clothes to traditional sarees with beads. If I really (A big deal!) put my ideas in practice, they would be very very unique and hence not digested by many. Well, I have stopped caring about it. 
• I do not agree with most of the suggestions given by slim ladies.Hey, I have a fuller figure and that means what works on them, does not work for me. I do really have to dig into current trends at all to understand the logic. 
• Colors. I love Black irrespective of seasons and functions. I love Red as well. With age, I have grown to love baby pinks and creams too. But, you give me a cultural excuse to not to wear a specific color (which is usually Black),I'm disliking you for one or two hours. I love Black fiercely. Oh wait, I love Dark Purple and Maroon too!
• Make up. The only cosmetic product I am comfortable with is Lipstick. With Humidity of Mumbai- Kohl or an eyeliner is difficult to love forever. So to avoid looking like a Panda, I keep on ditching eye make up often. I think,I am doing fine with it in daily life. Of course an ethnic attire or the western dinner dress is not complete without kohl rimmed eyes. I seldom use foundations/corrector/Blush etc.
• I was never so much aware of my fitness level. The relation between the look and the fitness is no more a secret for me. I consciously try to not to binge or to under eat. I try to workout a bit if not for an hour. Approaching 30s with your exhausted self is not something I want.
• I was never into Sarees before.I so love the attire. The wedding and the post wedding life changed me forever. I still do not get the chance to wear sarees much,in the way I want to. I still dream of buying ethnic-rich sarees. Girls will be girls!
• I've been craving for a huge wardrobe make over because this small town girl is weaving the idea of wearing super smart outfits after giving away old stuff. I want to buy classy lipstick shades, over sized tee shirts, super comfy pants, big tote bags and a watch may be? A black flatforms and a cute little pair of sneakers.I think now I have got the shoe-loving-bite. Better late than never.
• I'm eyeing on trips outside India because I do not want to drill my pocket with ridiculously priced Estee Lauders or Mac.Mango or Guess. While I am not a pro-brand girl,I have come to become cautious about choosing cosmetics and shoes. I do not really buy any of them just because they are super cheap.

If my twenty years old self would read this, her heart would pop out of the body. Seriously.

Oh,I love where I have come to in the journey!

Z is for Zonkified

I could not believe my eyes when in Online Urban Dictionary I found this word! Check here and hover over words- Funny and New English Actually!

By Definition the meaning is 'Totally Messed Up' and you know now why I'writing about it. Messing up any situation is actually not my way, I do mess up with my own mind but I do not generally mess up with situations. Oh well, they do mess up with me. (If the whole explanation has kept you sane, move ahead!)

I've hundred of things to do which are absolutely mandatory. It would cost me a bomb if I'd miss any of them. That is how I have been feeling Zonkified.

Applying for my visa, oh well the list of documents even for a tourist visa is putting me under stress because I do not have many days and some embassies decided to not to work!

Going to Ahmedabad and make a plan to save myself from 45 degrees there.Coming back to Ahmedabad without any sickness.

Wrapping up office stuff and mentoring my subordinate to do my work for two weeks. If everything goes well, my vacation would shape up. Ah well, Booking tickets for Norway. (Yes, planning for a Norway vacation guys!) *Keeping my fingers crossed~*

That reminds me I have to shop a little before I shop there like crazy in case I go to Denmark :D

I'm not really good at investing money hence when my Dad-In-Law being a CA himself  is managing my portfolio. I should at least sign on all the forms now! The useless Daughter-in-Law is being Daughter-Out-Law now!

I need Visa!!! Mercy, Danish Embassy!

Oh the title should have been 'Zapped'!