Delicious cakes

Just a few pics of the new cakes learnt..

A course of baking, decorating and designing cakes.

Its a doll pastry front view

Back view

 Black forest pastry

 Chocolate muffins in a chocolate cup

 My favorite fruit pastry

More on this soon...

Adieu to 2011

Cant believe its the last day of the year . This year have been a year of happiness,sorrow,  celebration, adieu, tragedies, new life, new relationships , new learning , new dreams , new home , new city, change of city, was a year in which I watched max movies in the theatre etc etc etc..

2011 started with a wish from my would be life partner Ritesh. This year passed with a preparations of wedding.. The results of my students and there gratitude towards me was overwhelming.. I miss them and my teaching life ..

Wedding bells ringed on May 11, 2011..A year where we came together to build our cocoon of love. A day of too much perfection , A moment of happiness to start a life with Ritesh plus a moment of pain to leave behind the family with whom I spent almost my quarter life. 

Stepped in a new family, a new bunch of people, new relations to maintain, new city, new environment, adjusting in the new environment while still holding the roots of past quarter life.  Everything seemed easy by the support of Ritesh- my husband ,my family , my in-laws and my friends. 

Completed my one year with Ritesh - July 19 2010- July 19 2011. A great and a special 12 months of my life.. Got a iPhone as a gift from Ritesh to mark the importance of this day in our lives.. This day will be remembered every year , as it is important day in both of our lives..

A year of new challenges . A sudden , unexpected, drastic change in life came with a decision of shifting from a well known metro (Chennai) to a not-so-well-known town Nellore. I know it was the need of an hour and it was a right decision yet it was really painful for me , as even before I started the search for my dream man who is according to my expectations, I was looking for a metropolis and many opportunities it offered. I knew the equation would change after marriage, but never thought this would change so much that life would seem just a MIRAGE- A mirage that promises lot of things but is still just a mirage. 

A new life started again in a another city Nellore, A complete new life , with so much of love from Ritesh, my family, my in-laws , my friends but a torture to the peak from my near and dear ones. Never expected ppl will drain my strength instead  of doubling it.. 

A year of new learning.

Learnt Poster Rangoli, Sanskar Bharati Rangoli , Quilling, Cooking full time, Baking , decorating and designing cakes. 

A new member who took birth in our family- Reha , welcome to this new world ... I even welcome the baby gal of Basanti, one of my new friend.

A year when we celebrated our anniversary of 6 months on 11/11/11....

A year of my first abroad trip to Singapore and my first holiday on a star cruise..--- The most beautiful birthday gift and a great place for honeymoon ..

Celebrated my Birthday on 13/12/11- a day with a descending numbers 13 - 12 - 11.. It was my silver jubilee since I have stepped in this beautiful world i.e A completion of quarter life and a start of quarter life crisis.. 

A year in which I have become a hard core fan of Nicholos Sparks. A year when I started blogging, A started writing my daily journal.. 

A year where I again failed to complete the Harry potter series. 

A year where I am actually  gaining weight which I have never been my concern but have become a concern this year..

A year where I realized "If you don't have an iPhone, you don't have a Phone." My iPhone is at service center , I wish the coming year gives me back my sweetheart , my iPhone..

A thanks to everybody who contributed to make 2011 special for me.  A special

 thanks to Ritesh, my Love, my awesome , most amazing, wonderful husband. I am so blessed and so thankful to God to call him my husband, my best friend. Thankful for his example, his support, his love for me and our family, his never ending encouragement to me...

Bye bye 2011..

My wishes for 2012 to everybody

Happiness

Good Fortune

Contentment

Longevity and 

Love.

Happy New Year 2012...

Being a girl is great or difficult?

My views on , Being a girl is easy or difficult ?(a general view and  not going in very much of details just one aspect of being a girl..)

Many a times I feel its very difficult to be a girl and other times I think its so great to be a girl.

I feel its great because, girls are loved, cared a lot, they have extra privileges than men, they are handled delicately, they are matured at a very early age., they are patient, they are kind, they have a soft and  a brittle heart, they are capable of anything and everything, they build homes and take care of their families, they can be mothers- the best service one can ever give or get. girls can bear all the adversities those come in their lives yet they don't show anything on their face, they enjoy each moment in a childish way , yet be very matured.

At the same time I feel its unlucky or for that matter difficult to be a girl, because she has two families to live at, but she cannot be at both the families at the same time. One family is where she have spent her quarter Life , where she have learnt what she is today, The other being her in-laws, where she have to live the rest of her life.

Being recently married , I feel its really difficult to be a girl even with the extra privileges of being a girl, mostly because when I am with my husband I miss my mom and I want to be with her, and when I am with my mom , I miss my husband and I want to be with him.

I am always confused about this , as I cannot choose in between the two as both are equally important for me.

Hmmm I thank god that I am a girl who is blessed with an amazing husband and a sweet mom..

Preeti

Happy Birthday to Me!!!

Lots to write, but no time to structure my thoughts.. Life has been a real busy these days..

just a quick update..

Dec 13 2011, My first B'day after wedding was great.. Had a great time..

Ritesh gave me good surprise, He made me realize that I completed my quarter life i.e. 25 years of my life..
It was pleasant day . Ritz wished me a happy birthday every hour I love him for such little things yet so effective ones.. Got wishes from everybody I expected. Will upload the pics soon..

Got a surprise b'day cake from Nikki , my cousin .. overall a fantastic day..

So cheers!!! quarter life crises have started..

Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers.  ~Charles W. Eliot

Sanskar Bharati Rangoli

I completed my Sanskar Bharati Rongoli today with this Rangoli.. Feeling of Diwali started even before it..

Have a look...

At the first day , I felt , I will never be able to learn till this point, but i made it till here..

Poster Rangoli- Day 5

Today we did Ganeshji, and even gave it a traditional lok by drawing the border of Sanskar Bharati Rangoli..

This one is without Border

This one is with the Sanskar Bharati Rangoli Border.....

It feels satisfied when  I have a look of this .. I never thought I would be able to learn this, it seemed impossible to me, but after doing this I feel, everything is possible just a bit of effort is needed and a bit of interest is needed..

Will continue my remaining course in Dec due to lack of time....

Poster Rangoli- Day 4

With Diwali approaching, we had a theme of Diwali with a Diya burning ..

It was small but sweet and elegant .. 

                                                     This is the poster prepared by my tutor

This is prepared by me.......

This is the variation ..We mixed Poster Rangoli and Sanskar Bharati Rangoli to give a traditional to it..

Looking at the burning flame, One thing which comes to my mind is, keep the flame of learning always burning... Dont satisfy for less.. Learn, Learn and learn.....

Looking forward for more posters day after tomorrow..

P.S : All inspired to learn the Rangoli from Ritesh.. 

Poster Rangoli : Day 3

After a day's gap, it was difficult to concentrate, but anyhow managed to complete my 3rd poster which was a combination of blue shades..

Blue being my fav color, I liked this poster a lot..

Initially felt its not my piece of cake, but at the end it was real satisfying (even if it was having a lot of flaws)..

Have a look...

Poster by my tutor,

 Poster by me:

My shade have come out a bit lighter than hers but still its feels great as I completed it as it seemed an impossible job for me..

Poster Rangoli- Day -2

Today was the second day of learning Poster Rangoli..

Today we fiddled with colors , Orange, yellow, red , black, Nature is distinct in itself, its beauty cannot be demonstrated accurately, but this my attempt to capture its beauty.. 

Poster by my tutor...

 Poster by Me ...

Cant wait for the next poster tomorrow.. 

Poster Rangoli.. Day-1

Too Many things to learn, but a very little time...

I started learning Poster Rangoli yesterday..  To begin with, yesterday we learned a few strokes .. I was eager to start the posters today..

Initially i felt, will I be able to learn? When my tutor was teaching me the poster day, I got a bit of confidence as  its not impossible, Later when i completed my poster , I was more than happy, delighted, as if I have got a gold medal ..

DAY 1:

Poster by my tutor

These are the posters prepared by me..                                                                

Looking forward to learn the colored ones from tomorrow..  

Quilling

I just started learning quilling..

Out of curiosity I jumped to advanced and made a flower pot..

More on Basic quilling later....

Movie Moments: "Forrest Gump"

 Tom Hanks' best performance ever and such a sweet, sincere and heartwarming story. Here are my favorite moments from this film.

Moment # 1: Forrest meets Jenny
Forrest is going to school and gets on the schoolbus. No one wants to sit next to him, but then he hears the sweetest voice. Jenny tells Forrest he can sit next to her and it’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Moment # 2: Run Forrest run
Forrest and Jenny are taking a walk when bullies try to get Forrest. Jenny tells Forrest to run, and he does. And he’s running so fast, his leg braces break and he keeps running without them. And running will become his trademark.

Moment # 3: Forrest meets President Kennedy
Forrest is invited to the White House to meet president Kennedy. Because he’s thirsty he starts drinking Dr. Pepper. A little too much Dr. Pepper, because when it is his turn to meet JFK, he tells him that he needs to pee.

Moment # 4: Forrest meets Bubba
Forrest is going to the army and on the bus there’s again no one who wants to sit next to him. Bubba tells him he can sit next to him. He starts telling Forrest everything there is to know about shrimp and all you can do with it.

Moment # 5: Forrest and Bubba meet Lt. Dan
When they arrive in Vietnam, Forrest and Bubba meet Lt. Dan. He starts telling them about all the rules and Forrest thinks Vietnam is not a bad place at all.

Moment # 6: Bubba dies
When they are being bombed by the enemy, Forrest is trying to rescue his men. He finds Bubba, wounded, but manages to carry him back to the coast. Bubba tells Forrest he wants to go home and then he dies.

Moment # 7: Lt. Dan blaming Forrest
While Forrest is a sleep, Lt. Dan pulls him out of his bed. Forrest saved him when he got shot, but Dan lost his legs. Lt. Dan tells him that he should have left him to die there.

Moment 8: Forrest shows his wound
Forrest is about to meet the American president again and when he asks him where he was shot, Forrest tells him he was hit in the buttocks. When the president says he would want to see that someday, Forrest pulls down his pants and shows it to him.

Moment 9: Forrests speech
Forrest is going to give a speech, but someone pulls the plug so the microphones don’t work. Forrest doesn’t know and just keeps talking. When the microphones are plugged in again, his speech is finished and we hear him say: "That's all I have to say about that".

Moment 10: Lt. Dan visits Forrest
After Forrest bought a boat and started Bubba-Gump shrimp, Lt. Dan comes to visit him. He once made him a promiss, that if Forrest would own a shrimping boat he would come and work for him. When Forrest sees him, he jumps of the boat and swims towards Lt. Dan. Not long after that, we see the boat crash into the dock.

Moment 11: Jenny sees her old house
Jenny and Forrest take a walk and pass by Jenny’s old house. Because she has bad memories about her childhood, she starts throwing her shoes and rocks at the house. Forrest never understood what happened when they were young.

Moment # 12: Forrest asks Jenny to marry him
After watching the New Year’s Eve fireworks on TV, Jenny goes to bed. Forrest stops her and asks her to marry him, because he would make a good husband. Jenny says no, because she thinks he doesn’t want to be married to her.

Moment # 13: Forrest starts running
After Jenny left again, Forrest decides to start running. And he keeps running, for three years.

Moment # 14: Forrest meets Forrest Jr.
Forrest found Jenny and finds out he has a son, Forrest Jr. The first thing he asks Jenny is if he’s smart and then he goes over to the little boy. We see the similarity between father and son.

Moment # 15: “I wish I could’ve been there with you”
Forrest tells a sick Jenny about the skies he’s seen. Jenny wished she could’ve been there with him and Forrest tells her that she was.

Moment # 16: Forrest at Jenny’s grave
Forrest is talking to Jenny, who died. He tells her about little Forrest. He ends up with telling her that if she needs anything, he won’t be far.

Moment # 17: Waiting for the bus with Forrest Jr.
Forrest is waiting for the bus, together with his son Forrest Jr. Before he gets on the bus, he tells him he loves him.

Favorite Moment: Moment # 16: Forrest at Jenny’s grave

P.S : Copied from the blog - October Sky..  As Even my fav moments from the movie are same...

Amboli ghats - The Nature's Retreat , Shiroda Beach - Heaven

Friends as ppl say are angels, who lift us to our feet when our wings forget to fly..

This was the day before the friendship day, we 6 of us planned a trip to Amboli ghats and Shiroda beach..

Myself, Shurti and Shushma started from Bijapur and Sweta , Lalita started from Bangalore to Belgum.. Ganesh joined us from Belgum.. We reached Belgum by 7, fed our tummies, and started the most awaited trip to Amboli in our hired Tavera..

As we started, the weather was good, cool.. I took a window seat, I was speechless looking at the beautry of the nature it was real green.,. I felt that, someone had put a green blanket over the sides.. It was that amazing ,.. plus the breeze made it really special.. For sometime I forgot that I am with other 5 ppl , The beating of wind on face was the victim,it made me forget everybody, infact everything for a while.. 

Our first destination was Nangatarasakari temple and water fall.

The waterfal really unique. It looks as though the shaft is man made and like an open well..

                                                    

The sound of the water was melodious.. It was so loud that we were not able to hear one another..

We did few sight seeings from the top of the mountain, once it was totally covered by the clouds, at the next moment , we could see the entire village residing below..

Our next destination was Amboli- Dab - Daba, the most popular site on this stretch, The scene of the waterfall was amazing, we were stuck by the magnificence of the place. There were steps under the fall, and we could see the tourists under the fall enjoying the perfect hydro adventure.

 It was a completely amazing feeling to be under the falls, the water falling on the face was like feeling heaven, above that , it was raining heavily. All our tiredness , fatigue seemed to vanish as the force of water fell on us..  Climbing the steps and looking above towards the falls, the feeling was like someone is showering on us. I can never forget it..

Later we had some vada-pav, sweet corn and onion bhajis..

Later we headed to Shiroda. in the true sense, Amboli ghat is a picture perfect frame of beauty, scenery and magnificence surrounded by mountains, it has deep valleys and on 3 sides and Konkan coast on the other side.

Singing, playing Antakshari , eating dates, bums and teasing eachother we headed towards Shiroda with a tea break at Sawantwadi.. 

Lush , Greenry with palm trees and coconut trees will welcome you to this small , not so famous village called Shiroda. Shiroda beach has long stretch of clean sparkling beach.Shiroda beach has a natural beauty, privacy, sparkling blue waters, long stretch of silver sands, cool sea breeze whispering in your ears.

We collected a lot of shells, I have been to a lot beaches, but this one is the rare beach where we  found so many shells plus a variety of them. so so small, cute , few big ones and one huge..

We enjoyed a lot.. Nature has so many facets, Once it is so calm and silent , at the other side the water fall is loud yet the sound is so soothing to ears. The sound of waves beating the shore is as well so soothing. With some few sweet memories to cherish , and with a hope to come back again if we missed something, we headed back to Belgum .

 It was an amazing trip. If you are looking for a soothing place, A place that is sure to rejuvenate your senses, go there, enjoy and relax under the nature's immensely beautiful vistas. I am sure you will forget everything else.

P.S: 

Participants: Me - Preeti (Nakharewali), Thanks to Shruti (Khadoos 2), Sweta (Khadoos 1), Sushma(chupa rustam) , Lalita(Chalak Lomdi) and Ganesh (Front seater) and our driver Mujju(Munni) for making this a big hit..

Preeti                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Rainbow: best described..

Yesterday when I was strolling in my balcony to enjoy the drizzle, I happened to see a Rainbow after a long time, As I was enjoying the beauty of the rainbow, I just forgot every thing for a minute , just thought how can Nature be so distinct yet so beautiful, then I thought how beautifully can it be described?  it reminded me one of my school poem ,which is still my favorite.. 
It reads as below..

Boats sail on the rivers,  And ships sail on the seas;  But clouds that sail across the sky  Are prettier far than these.  There are bridges on the rivers,  As pretty as you please;  But the bow that bridges heaven,  And overtops the trees,  And builds a road from earth to sky,  Is prettier far than these.  Christina Georgina Rossetti

Passion

The quotes about passion..


I dont know how passionate I am about my few dreams.. but  I really doubt that does it really matters to be passionate or have dreams ?? coz many a times your dreams and passion depends on others than us.




well all said and done...


I' ve learnt and experienced this in Life..


“Passion, it lies in all of us, sleeping... waiting... and though unwanted... unbidden... it will stir... open its jaws and howl. It speaks to us... guides us... passion rules us all, and we obey. What other choice do we have? Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love... the clarity of hatred... and the ecstasy of grief. It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passion maybe we'd know some kind of peace... but we would be hollow... Empty rooms shuttered and dank. Without passion we'd be truly dead."


Preeti

NO PROBLEM LASTS FOREVER!!

No problem lasts forever. No matter how permanently fixed in the center of our lives it may seem, whatever we experience in this ever-changing life is sure to pass. Even pain.

Difficult situations often bring out qualities in us that otherwise might not have risen to the surface, such as courage, faith, and our need for one another. All of our experiences can help us to grow.

But we may need patience. Some wounds cannot be healed quickly. They must be given time. In the meantime, we can appreciate the new capabilities we are developing, such as the capacity to mourn and the willingness to accept. Let us share our losses and triumphs with each other, for that is how we gather courage.

(From Courage to Change: One Day at A Time in Al-Anon II, page 77).

Bachpan

“There are too many books I haven't read, too many places I haven't seen, too many memories I haven't kept long enough.” but still the memories of childhood can never fade..

My first blog is about my childhood...


My Childhood, the best time of my life till now. It has given me a lot and has taught me alot. Today when I see my niece and nephew being fed by my bhabhi's , I miss the time when my mamma use to feed me, use to give me a lovely bath, sleeping on her lap, playing with her, going to the market with my papaji, asking him stupid questions. Watching Tom and Jerry, I dream of jini, small wonders, uncle donald, and too much cartoons. Love to play outside, cycling and fighting with other children, crying on scratched knees, crying for those colored water candies, buddhi ke baal, those road side pani puri, bhajjis  ... It was just a big amazing time, free from all the hectic worries of the world, no tension to earn money, no tension of relationship, just me and my world. My lovely parents , whom I can insist for anything in the world, even till now :). Just want that time to come back again which is not at all possible. This is life and this is how it goes, we can't do anything. The childhood memories are wonderful to remember. The smell of new books and thinking whole day in the class what will be there in the lunch box today. The stage fear in school during mandatory news reading, playing volley ball, khokho,those oiled and plaited hairs, those school uniform...

 God!!! Now when I am getting married the next month the memories of childhood just amazes me.. The transition from child of my parents to being somebody's,  leaving the home where I spent all my childhood days is really a different feeling ..A feeling of pain or happiness??  I dont know.. what I know is its a mixed feeling..

So much have changed since childhood..

Me in those wonderful days

Me now all grown up..

Just wondering how life changes so quickly...

When I talk about childhood the poem of Subhadra kumari chauhan strikes always.. I first time read it in my Hindi text book..and now I always surf net and read it more oftenly..

मेरा नया बचपन 

बार-बार आती है मुझको मधुर याद बचपन तेरी।
गया ले गया तू जीवन की सबसे मस्त खुशी मेरी॥

चिंता-रहित खेलना-खाना वह फिरना निर्भय स्वच्छंद।
कैसे भूला जा सकता है बचपन का अतुलित आनंद?

ऊँच-नीच का ज्ञान नहीं था छुआछूत किसने जानी?
बनी हुई थी वहाँ झोंपड़ी और चीथड़ों में रानी॥

किये दूध के कुल्ले मैंने चूस अँगूठा सुधा पिया।
किलकारी किल्लोल मचाकर सूना घर आबाद किया॥

रोना और मचल जाना भी क्या आनंद दिखाते थे।
बड़े-बड़े मोती-से आँसू जयमाला पहनाते थे॥

मैं रोई, माँ काम छोड़कर आईं, मुझको उठा लिया।
झाड़-पोंछ कर चूम-चूम कर गीले गालों को सुखा दिया॥

दादा ने चंदा दिखलाया नेत्र नीर-युत दमक उठे।
धुली हुई मुस्कान देख कर सबके चेहरे चमक उठे॥

वह सुख का साम्राज्य छोड़कर मैं मतवाली बड़ी हुई।
लुटी हुई, कुछ ठगी हुई-सी दौड़ द्वार पर खड़ी हुई॥

लाजभरी आँखें थीं मेरी मन में उमँग रँगीली थी।
तान रसीली थी कानों में चंचल छैल छबीली थी॥

दिल में एक चुभन-सी थी यह दुनिया अलबेली थी।
मन में एक पहेली थी मैं सब के बीच अकेली थी॥

मिला, खोजती थी जिसको हे बचपन! ठगा दिया तूने।
अरे! जवानी के फंदे में मुझको फँसा दिया तूने॥

सब गलियाँ उसकी भी देखीं उसकी खुशियाँ न्यारी हैं।
प्यारी, प्रीतम की रँग-रलियों की स्मृतियाँ भी प्यारी हैं॥

माना मैंने युवा-काल का जीवन खूब निराला है।
आकांक्षा, पुरुषार्थ, ज्ञान का उदय मोहनेवाला है॥

किंतु यहाँ झंझट है भारी युद्ध-क्षेत्र संसार बना।
चिंता के चक्कर में पड़कर जीवन भी है भार बना॥

आ जा बचपन! एक बार फिर दे दे अपनी निर्मल शांति।
व्याकुल व्यथा मिटानेवाली वह अपनी प्राकृत विश्रांति॥

– सुभद्राकुमारी चौहान

The other favourite being this ...

Yeh daulat bhii le lo,

Yeh shoharat bhii le lo,

Bhale chhiin lo mujhase merii javaanii,

Magar mujhako lautaa do bachapan kaa saavan,

Woh kaagaz kii kashtii, woh baarish kaa paanii,

Muhalle kii sabase nishaanii puraanii,

Woh budhiyaa jise bachche kahate the naanii,

Woh naanii kii baaton mein pariyon kaa deraa,

Woh chahare kii jhuriryon mein sadiyon kaa pheraa,

Bhulaae nahiin bhool sakataa hai koi,

Woh chhotii sii raaten woh lambii kahaanii,

Kadii dhuup mein apane ghar se nikalanaa,

Woh chidiyaa Woh bulabul Woh titalii pakadanaa,

Woh gudiyaa kii shaadii mein ladanaa jhagadanaa,

Woh jhoolon se giranaa Woh gir ke sambhalanaa,

Woh piital ke chhallon ke pyaare se tohafe,

Woh tuutii hui chuudiyon kii nishaanii,

Kabhii rait ke unche tiilon pay jaanaa,

Gharaunde banaanaa banaake mitaanaa,

Woh maasuum chahat kii tasviir apanii,

Woh khvaabon khilaunon kii jaagiir apanii,

Na duniyaa kaa gam thaa Na rishton ke bandhan,

Badii khuubasuurat thii vo zindagaanii

With this I leave you all with the beautiful and sweet memories of childhood..