When Drama Credit Card exceeds limit, this post happens...

                         So, I was thinking... actually experiencing how judgmental and crazy a few people around me are. I never knew that people can be so immature and jealous sometimes. I am so frustrated. You think it is a problem with me? I have the wrong attitude? May be not. There are many people who I absolutely love to be with, and I absolutely love how they tackle things. I also accept that I might piss off some people with my behavior, but I just wanted to write out my feelings aloud, and hope that the related people understand it, though I don't believe in it. Hey, You!

                       So, you really feel that you understand my life completely? And give me expectations to meet. And... Judge me. And even get mad at, and scold me? I am just working and taking care of husband and myself. That means I have all the time in the world? And it is not okay for me to say that I cannot find time to call and talk to people. It is still okay for you to do the same, because you have a kid and you are very busy? I mean, do you have the same job like mine? Do you live in the same city like mine? Do you live my kind of a life? Everybody has their own life, and everybody is busy with their own things. If I don't have a kid ( which I do now, though), it's not that I am sitting here thinking of what to do with my time. I have lots of other things which I care to do. I wouldn't say that you don't have the right to ask me to talk. But you definitely do not have the right to declare my free time. If you want me to call you, be the person.

                       You are very jealous that you cannot even congratulate me on my achievements? What kind of a friend are you? Instead of congratulating, you just go on asking your Q's, or talking about your concerns. Would I even care to share the news next time? Hell, no! At least learn to act a little.

                       I visit you, and something accidentally is spoiled. Not because of me though. You then give me a call and ask if I spoiled it? Can't you see that I am jealous that you have it, and I deliberately spoiled it?

                       Kids are the best in the whole world, with no malice and thinking only good for everyone. How can you say bad things for such kids? If kids have a dark complexion, or don't look as cute as your own, it's not their fault. It is your fault for criticizing innocent beings for something they have absolutely no control over, just because you hate the mother or father. Please do remember that you might have another kid.

                       Now, you ask me for help. And try to get all the information from me. I ask you a Q in return, and you shut up for good. What do I call it? Smartness? If you want to share nothing with me, don't ask me for help. What kind of a cheap mindset is it? Do you really want me to help you even after I understand your behavior? You don't share any of your ideas, but still interested in knowing mine, and when something good happens to you, you talk it off as a miracle. Come on, you are in the modern century.

                       Did I ask you for any advice? What to do with my baby? How to deal with my husband? How to take care of my family? Then why in the world would you advice me about these things? Don't you have a family of your own to take care of, that you are forcing me to take care of my family the way you want? You took care of your kids the way you like. Let me do the same here!

                         You talk not very nice of the things I buy and I have. Talk them off as old-fashioned. But still try to buy the same kind of things? 

                        I know people feel that I cannot stand for myself. If I stand for myself, and give them back then and there, the relationship definitely breaks, and there are lot of strings attached, which I don't want to break. So, I keep my feelings shut, and try to wear that guilty mask on, all the times. I am not a perfect human being, but accept my mistakes, and I feel guilty. I secretly wish that a few people understand how others can understand the meaning of their actions. God bless them all!

Project 52 - Week # 2

                    

                      Patterns keep changing in life. Though I am afraid of change, and cannot easily embrace it, life would definitely be very boring without a change. A slight change, changes all patterns in life. But just like in the case of a kaleidoscope, they still are beautiful, if you have an eye for beauty. Read more.

Project 52 - Week # 1

                     

               

                   Here I am, with my first picture-first week. I wanted to start with the picture of my lucky charm. Yes, she has been my, OUR lucky charm. The gift we got from the heaven. The only someone who can love us unconditionally. Yes, I said that. 

              According to me, Read More.

The most awaited cube of mine

                      Friends who have been in touch with me, would know this, that I joined my new job a month ago. And now, I just feel like sharing how I got the most wanted cube :)
                      So, it is kind of a job that I was waiting for. And, I am fortunate to have found it. Again, I give credits to my Lucky Charm... my DD. I had my new hire orientation, and met a couple of cool folks. And came to know that I don't have a cube of my own. You have no idea, how much I longed for a cube at work :). Last 3 projects of mine, were all agile floors. And, it is really very bad. I was asked to share cube with another person, for a while, before I get one - either by kicking out someone or moving two together. But soon after, in just a week, they got me a cube.. a little farther away from my team, though. And so, I moved my things and there was the happy ME !

                      Only then I came to know, how much demand this cube was in. The next day, someone comes and asks - " Is this your cube?" I am like.."Yeah?"  "Okay.. we have a resource that we wanted to sit here. How come you are sitting?" The very polite new me, says.. "Not sure. You could ask the admin".
                       Then comes another lady, with the same Q. This time, a little surprised to see there is yet another team waiting to put their member here, gave her the same answer. Am I the admin or the one who assigns the cubes, Sweetie??

                       The next day, another gentleman, walks up to my desk. I would hate him, even if I know nothing about him. I know I am a horrible person for doing that. But still, I can't help being it. I don't think I am racist though! So, he asks me.. "You are sitting here temporarily. Aren't ya? " This time, an annoyed me.. "No". And he says.. "Is your team here?"  "No. On the 2nd floor." "How come you are sitting here? You are not supposed to be sitting here" Ohhh... I didn't know that you are my manager's boss. Looks like he forgot to ask you!

                      Couple days later, the second beautiful lady(BL), strikes again!
BL: Hi... am sososo.
Me: Hi... sisisi
BL: So when are you leaving?
Me: In the next 10 minutes ( It was the EOD)
BL: No, not now. When are you leaving this office?

       What the crap?! I just joined, and am not looking to leave this office for years to come!
Me: This is my work place. I may not leave
BL: Oh, Sandy said that you are a temporary resource and would be leaving soon
Me: Anxious about not knowing this, confused if they were letting me go, asks her.. "Is it? I didn't know that!" . Most genuinely!
BL: You said you were going to India right?
Me: Nope!
BL: And now, she gets really frustrated, and asks me even more frustratingly, "Pull up the chat conversation we had"
Me: What? Am I a split personality or what? Did I forget chatting with someone? I say - "We never chatted"
BL then realizes that she is talking to the wrong person.

I mean, what do you think lady? You just walk up to someone and talk whatever and make her anxious? Please... And for all of those.. how have been waiting for my cube.......

Life has no Ctrl+Z

                          Something serious this time. How many times have you felt that you wish you could go back and undo something? Or do something differently? Am sure many. Something happened very recently, that made me think how important the actions I do, are. And how they no longer affect only me, but many others around. For a couple of days, I have fantasized a way to undo things.
                          I wanted to share a small story from the movie Talash ( I don't like Amir khan as such). It happens that he goes on a picnic with kids and wife. When his son asks him he wants to go around and play, he lets him. He then gets onto a speed boat and gets drowned in the river. Amir keeps thinking that he should have done so many other things than letting him go. But can't do anything now.
                          Now, something less serious... Yesterday, I slipped my new mobile, which is hardly 2 weeks old, on the wash basin. And unfortunately it broke. It's very disheartening that it broke even when it fell from a height of not even 2 feet?! I really wish I did not carry it with me, and I left it at my desk. I really wish to undo it.

                           With a baby around now, I realized how important it is to me, to watch carefully, everything I do. Even a moment of negligence could cause great trouble. Not just that, as people say, Opportunity knocks the door only once. So, better grab it the very first time. Any worry later is of no use.
                           But life is still beautiful. The beauty of life lies in the fact that though we cannot undo what is already done, we can understand it and learn from it. Instead of worrying too much, every moment must be spent with utmost care, wisdom, understanding and love.

Project 52 - 2014

                         So, as part of my '35 before 35', I am starting my project 52 for this year - 2014. Don't forget to keep reading my posts on the new blog as well. You can find the tab for prj 52 on the top, just beside Gayakapriya. And I wish you a very very Happy and a wonderful new year ahead. 

Merry Berry

Tres Leches Cake

            Another cake for an item in my list of '35 before 35'. Tres Leches in Spanish, means three milks. So, this is a cake soaked in three kinds of milk. I got to make this twice, but didn't take a picture even once. Very disappointing. And I am not interested in consuming few more calories, of the same taste, just to take a picture, lol. Anyway, I want to quickly give out the recipe.

Ingredients:

1. Condensed Milk
2. Evaporated Milk
3. Whole Milk ( I used 2% reduced fat milk)
4. Whipped Cream

Preparation:

1. Make a white cake using mix ( I used pineapple mix the first time)
2. Let the cake cool down
3. Poke the cake with a fork all over, when the cake is still warm
4. Mix condensed milk, evaporated milk and whole milk
5. Ladle the milk mixture over the cake making sure that the entire cake is covered
6. Cover with a cling wrap and refrigerate for an hour at the least or over night
7. Whisk the whipping cream for 10 minutes/ till it is soft and using a spatula apply it on the cake

Princess Cake for my little Princess

              It's been 4 months already, since my LO was born, and it feels only like yesterday. I must say, it's overwhelming to handle various things happening around in life, when no one seems to understand your exact mental or physical state. No matter what you are going through, people expect you to meet their expectations. And some people, try to intrude into your life not only by giving unasked suggestions but also judging you as a mother. This is uninvited particularly when you are going through the so called 'Baby Blues'. However, with loved ones around and especially with mom's support, I'm enjoying time with my sweetie to the best. I cannot thank my mom enough for what she has been to me. I hope I can be such a good mother.
              So, as I mentioned before, I have been working on this list '35 before 35' (though I now think I should make a '30 before 30' first). And one item is, to bake 12 cakes. With my LO completing her 4th month, I wanted to bake a princess cake for her, and here it is ( May be not perfect, but good enough for the first time, for an amateur).

Directions:

* Bake 3 Cakes of decreasing diameter

* Cut out a small circle from the center, to put the doll in

* Finish icing the 3 pieces to join them together. (I just used fruit jam here, to avoid cream :) and used toothpicks to hold the pieces in place)
* Start frosting the outer side of the cake

* Once this is done, place the doll in the center
* Start decorating the cake and Voila! The princess is here!!

Quick Recipe-Pani for Pani Puri

       A very quick recipe of Pani for Pani puri. This is for my records too :)

Ingredients:

* 7 cups water
* 1 Green Chilli
* A small piece Ginger
* 1 tsp tamarind ( or as required)
* 1/2 tsp chat masala powder
* 1/4 tsp cumin powder
* Salt - as required
* Coriander leaves for garnishing

Preparation:

* Make a paste of green chilli, pudina and ginger
* Mix it in the water along with the other ingredients

Get puris, boil and mash 2 potatoes, cut some onions. And I love replacing Meeti chutney with Hot and sour maggi sauce. Stuff the puris with potatoes, onions, sauce and water. And that is it! Enjoy delicious GolGappe!!

35 before 35

             I was going through a blog post on 35 before 35, couple of days ago, and thought I should make such a list too. And I have 30 on the list already!! I have some, more than 8 years, to do these though. It might be a little early for setting up the list, but I still am doing it.

             I may not be able to share the entire list here on the blog, for it has some ideas that I may not want to share. But then, I am planning to upload some posts about those. I am also forcing DH to make one such list for himself. He is apparently not interested at this point of time, but I am not going to give up, lol.
             

Egg Quesadilla

Had this for breakfast this morning :)

Salsa (Serves 3):

Ingredients:
Tomatoes               - 3 Small
Onion                     - 1/4 of a big Onion or 1 Small Onion, thinly diced
Mixed Vegetables   - 3/4 Cup (Sweet Corn, Beans, Carrot cut small)
Oil                          - 1/4 Tsp
Mint Leaves           -  As required          
Cilantro                  -  As required
Salt                        -  As required
Hot Sauce              -  As required

Preparation:
1. Heat Oil
2. Let all the ingredients cook for 3-4 minutes in the Oil

Omelette (Serves 1):

Ingredients:
Egg              -  1
Milk             -  1 Tsp
Onion           -  Thinly diced
Chili Pepper  - 1 Small, thinly chopped
Salt               - As required

Preparation:
1. Break the egg into a bowl, add milk and whisk
2. Add Salt and whisk
3. Add peppers, onion and mix together
4. Heat a nonstick pan and slightly grease it
5. Pour the mixture on to the pan and make an omelette

Quesadilla Preparation:
1. Make a Tortilla ( Chapati)
2. Place the omelette on the tortilla and fold it into half
3. Cut the tortilla into triangles
4. Serve it with Salsa and Chips on the side

Cake from Scratch

              I've always wanted to bake a nice cake since I heard and ate Debbie's cakes. She was a friend's colleague, who baked very nice cakes. We had her make cakes for 4 of our birthday parties. Though I was successful in making a cake with cake mix, I could never make a cake from scratch. Not until the last month when my mom gave me a recipe she uses for sponge cake. (I do remember making a carrot cake for New Year 2012, which failed big time :( )
              With the help of mom I made the cake from scratch. DH wanted to take it for his colleagues. But I was very less confident about it's taste that I asked him not to mention my name. But turns out, they liked it a lot and they are asking for the recipe. How funny :)
              Then, for my LO's 3 months celebration, I decided to make a cake myself. I just made a classic white cake and decorated it with low-fat alternative to frosting - Jam lol. Strawberry Jam, Apples, Grapes and white chocolate chips are all.

Smart or Ethical?!

        It's been a while since I thought of my blog. There are some such things that life brings to us, when we forget about any other thing in the world. And it happened to me too. Yayy!! So the 'One a day' I started some time ago, was kind of successful. Not completely though. I did start doing a few things but later on other things took me away. Phew! And now, I am back here and want to be actively involved in my blog. Let's see if something can be done as opposed to history :)
        I have been thinking about how a person should be, smart in getting the work done, or ethical. Looks like being smart sometimes means - to be completely unethical. And to forget any humanity left within. For instance, during a conversation, one of my colleagues said that her manager would first inquire if the person has any kids before considering her for the job. It's just an IT job with 9-5 work hours. I do not know what it has got to do with her kids. His reason for doing that is that she might not be able to work late hours if ever it is required. I am not sure how much having kids will affect the work a person does. Should she really be deprived of the job for some late hours which she might not be able to work?
        I read an article recently about pregnant women not getting jobs. Seems like a manager herself is appalled to have recruited a woman who seemed normal in the interview but started showing the bump 3 months later. She herself has kids. I do not understand why a pregnant woman is not supposed to work when she can. She surely would take leave a little later. But who can guarantee that a non pregnant woman or a man will not take a month's leave due to some other reason? Why should she not be allowed to work when she can? The article advises any pregnant woman appearing for an interview to be true to the employer. As per the writer, she should tell them before hand, that she is expecting a baby. She says that hiding it would start a non-transparent employer-employee relationship. Would the manager have recruited her, had the lady told her before that she was expecting? May be not. It is illegal to talk about pregnancy during a job interview and denying to offer a job because someone is pregnant. But still, if an already showing woman appears for an interview, it might be hard luck for her to crack it.
        There would be no one who wouldn't accept that what a woman does when she gives birth to a child is a miracle. Doesn't she deserve a few things for the miracle?!

White Cake

Ingredients:

White Sugar        - 1 Cup
Butter                 - 1/2 Cup
Eggs                   - 2
Vanilla extract     - 2 tsp
All purpose flour - 1 1/2 Cups
Baking Powder   - 1 3/4 tsp
Milk                   - 1/2 Cup

Preparation:

* Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease the pan
* Cream together sugar and butter. Then beat in the eggs and stir in Vanilla.
* Mix flour and baking powder
* Mix this with the cream mixture
* Pour the milk and stir until the batter is smooth
* Pour the batter into the pan and bake in the over for 30 - 40 mins

Hurricane Vase lamps

                  This is something I came across on Martha's blog and thought would be nice for some special occasions :) Uhmm.. It was for Valentines Day special Dinner at home this time! I made them with just a slight variation.

                   The process is quite simple. All you need are some hurricane vases and color gift tissues. Measure and cut the papers so that they fit the vase. Stack them up and stick them to the vase. Light some nice candles and there they are!! Make sure the candles don't burn the paper up :)

For more detailed 'How to' on this, here are Martha's Hurricane Lamps.

Violators will be mashed into hummus

                           Here is something interesting, that I found in front of a Mediterranean restaurant. I often go there, but noticed this only the last time. I did not understand what they actually do with violators though. Apparently, they are not going to mash them into Hummus :) :)

And.. am on a cooking spree!!

            The 'One a day' I planned seems to be going good though I didn't do all the things I planned for. Contrary to doing one a day I have been doing same thing on all the days :) Yeah I've been cooking a lot, in addition to other small things.

             I planned to try out a new recipe every week. And it turned out to be, trying only new recipes. A few posts on the way about the recipes!! Okay.. no confusion, these are not my own recipes. They are new, in the sense, I tried them for the first time. I will just post the recipes, but this is not going to be a recipe blog for sure. I also started the journal I have been procrastinating for about 5 months now. There are many trades I am a Jack of and I really love to see myself as a master in most of those. So, I think this project will really help. One more art I always wanted to try out was nail art. I am planning for this too. I will just end this post with a nail coloring pic :) The brown I really loved... Revlon Foxy.

One a Day

                 Life's been different after moving to Dallas with so many new things happening. It's been equally good and bad. After almost 3 months, after moving here, I realized how I wish I did a few things that bring me happiness. So, I decided for myself, yesterday, that I will start doing one thing a day, that makes me happy. Every day must be exciting and must add something worthy. I planned an hour at the least, if not more, each day. These days I take very little care about my blogs. I hope I can keep them organized and active too, if I can put into action, my plan :)
                Gayakapriya is making good progress. It's been very very long since I have added any content to it. But, there are enough people who make use of it. It feels really very happy when someone says that my blog is helping them learn something. That solves the purpose of my blog. I planned to put a day aside, for Gayakapriya too. I am targeting a post a week for now. I am sure I will make this happen this time, unlike all the other times when I plan to do something but put very little into action :( :( Wish me luck guys!

Powered by Happy Book

     While I was just writing my previous post, I saw this email sent to me. I thought I can share it.
Basically, it's the summary of what was discussed in a meeting, which I did not attend, as I am a contractor. And, the meeting is something which contractors are not invited for. Am glad that I got to see the summary. It is the summary of the main points explained in a book called 'Powered by Happy book'. What I understand is, these are the things one can do to stay happy. And I think that I saw this mail in the right time. I myself should put into action these points. So, here is what the mails says: 

• Create your own definition of Happiness 
• Have you ever stopped to think about what Happiness means to you?
• Choose happiness and make it Happen
•  If you are not happy, make decision to remedy it.
• Avoid what hold your Happiness hostage
• Minimizing worry and negative thoughts
• Spend too much time worrying about problems, complaining about them, or simply avoiding them, when we could confront them and move on. Need to separate fact from ficiton
• Hang with a gang that gets it
• Being around negative people can not only affect your attitude but also how others see you.
• Dump the to-do list and start an I-Wish list
• Your to-do list might change daily, but your wish list will bring you back to your big-picture life goals
• Take the "Un" out of "UnHappy" and be grateful
• Instead of thinking about all the things that could go wrong, think about all the things that are going right
• Make a high-yield happiness investment
• Think about the happiness you get when you help others
• Oh, Happy day- Get your happiness on the calendar now!
• Make sure to include fun events on your calendar and not just work items
• When all else fails, just laugh
• "Laughter is the best medicine". Be able to laugh at yourself.
• Pack your happiness and take it to work

PS: This is all worded my Terry, except for presenting them in an order on my blog.

When I don't want the night to End..

    It's been really tough for me to manage things for the past few months. Everything seems to be going against me, except for one or two. The happiness of that success didn't last for long though, because of the rest of the things going against me. I am happy that it's all coming to an end soon. I will soon be home. But this mental torment just a week before the end of everything, is what is not expected. From a few days, I keep waiting for the day to end, so that I can be home. Once I was home, I did not want the night to end, so that I need not face the morning which visits with so many 'I did not want this' moments. I do not even feel like sleeping because it feels like the morning is soon there, in the very next minute. I keep encouraging myself, saying that I should get back brave and face everything. But with everything against me and everybody against me, it's really getting tough. I try to convince people explaining everything and requesting them to understand my situation. But the weird thing is, no one seems to understand. The reasons they give, are just blunt and improper. This is what is cheesing me off. I don't find at least one crazy answer to why people are not interested in helping, when they actually can, except for the one that they can't help being selfish. Until a few weeks ago, the phrase 'Like I care' really helped me in facing difficult situations and people. I made a post on this phrase too, but somehow, it's not going to make it's place on the blog. I use this phrase with lots of attitude, and it makes me feel really 'like i care'. Till now, am the one experiencing the anguish. And I feel like that's going to make me strong. I realized it just today, when I talked to someone very strong about what I want to do. And said that it is what I will do, whatever it takes. May be I should behave just the way people do. Looks like, they can understand things only that way. I think all this helps me get strong, but I cannot take this stress. I am hoping that everything will be sorted out soon.