Ramblings of a pretty woman!

My neighborly artist and the little dancing people!

2013-05-21T13:12:00.003+05:30

Many years back, I chanced upon The Mad Momma's blog (thank you mad momma!) where she had decorated her corridor with warli art and thought it was a brilliant idea to enliven a dull space like the corridor which is often ignored or left bare...we lived in a rented apartment then, and I didn't want to do that in someone else's home (technically!)

Incidentally, Warli art form is very popular folk painting among tribals in Maharashtra and is usually depicted only in white! (Since, my walls are already white, we decided to go with black!)

So I waited for sometime until we got our own home...alas, just as we started settling in....we moved to Paris! So finally the time has come and we are back home. But with Baby Girl and settling back in, I hardly found time! ( This post has been lying in my draft for a long time now!)

As luck would have it, my 12- year old neighbor R is fantastic and has an artistic bent of mind and comes up with very creative ideas and projects. I asked her if she would like to paint my wall with the little dancing people a.k.a warli art!

She readily agreed and managed to complete it in a couple of days....its gorgeous and is a center of attention, especially for Baby Girl...she gets up from her nap and stares at the little people with awe! I am grateful for those 5 minutes of rest... :P

Its a strip on the corridor leading to the rooms....and apart from the art, has a collage of various paintings and memorabilia from our travels across Europe and its a nice walk down memory lane...

and that wall feels so complete now! I admire the people as I walk across looking for Baby Girl, numerous times through the day...:-)

Returning to our Home!

2013-04-08T11:17:00.002+05:30

When we decided to return to India, that too, to our own home in Pune....there were constant plans running in my mind about what I want to do...when we get back! With baby girl around, the execution is much slower....but i did get to work!
I got these gorgeous wall decals in Paris and stored it away to put it up when we get back to our own home....a sense of permanence prevails only in my own home, so I waited with bated breath for the "execution"....and it was definitely worth the wait!

its simply gorgeous and definitely makes my simple walls stand out in our master bedroom!

They are an easy and effective way to renovate and of course, not too expensive compared to painting it all over again!

The wall decals are a big plus for us coz Baby Girl loves to stare at all the patterns and colours...so I decided to add one more to the T.V. room....so that we can distract her while she eats...

I have always wanted to add some greens and plants into the decor, but with Baby Girl around, its not a practical option right now coz everything goes into her mouth! So I chose this decal from www.shopo.in and it was pretty easy!

I had pretty specific things to do, on my mind - when we got back....so I was online shopping for stuff and to be fair, it has all worked out much cheaper and is a great success too! One of them are these storage cabinets with a vintage look and ceramic drawers - they are super cute and very kitschy!

I have stored all my pretty fragrances and put it up in the living room alcove and it has turned the otherwise ignored corner into a lovely turn! :-) I bought three of them at a very reasonable price on www.pepperfry.com ( this is NOT a sponsored post! - just sharing the website for fellow readers if it helps!)

We have lots of things to store away, but alas there is no storage - i bought this lovely chest of drawers that proudly displays all our memories and memoirs! All our mundane stuff is neatly concealed too - win-win? This is from www.pepperfry.com too!

I bought a table runner in bright colours and added all our pictures from our travels and my favorite Buddha! :-) Its a calm and peaceful alcove with happy memories and loved ones! :-)

Baby Girl, as you all know was born in Paris. S and I, wanted something that is a reminder of the city and something we could show her when she grows up. We do plan to take her there when she is older. So I was eyeing this piece on www.maisonsdumonde.com while in Paris, and got it shipped to India.

It is like a window with a view of the Eiffel Tower, exactly where our apartment was - in close proximity and with a great view! It makes for an amazing theme in the living room!

Boy, am I glad we bought this! Baby Girl stares at it and pulls at the window pane - yes it is an actual window pane without a window, of course!

Our guest room is filled with glass paintings and long stitch projects done by yours-truly over the years....

The one with the mama panda and baby panda is so apt and meaningful now that I am blessed with Baby Girl! :-)

The murals in wood that I mentioned here are a prime focus in the living room!

...my favorite purple pouf and the kitschy mirror!

I have rearranged our terrace a little bit - here and there!

...Our new decor is eclectic and kitschy now, Like? :-)

...Leaving Paris with a contented heart!

2013-01-03T16:15:00.001+05:30

...Oh Boy! Little did I know, back in 2009, when we arrived in Paris, that it would be a life-changing experience on so many levels - apart from the gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower from our living room of course! ;-) We arrived in Paris in Winter and I experienced hail and snow all at once...and while it felt super romantic at first, I am not a fan of winter anymore! :) I am a sunshine girl, I need all the warmth, literally too! The flip side being the fashionable winter coats and boots, for sure! :D

Paris will forever be special for me (not only because it is a romantic, beautiful city) coz Baby Girl was born here! She is our biggest blessing and God chose to give her to us in Paris! :-) The health care system in France is amazing and they took care of me and my precious child at every point and made sure she was healthy, happy and beautiful and gave her safely in our hands...I am ever grateful for that. They also ensure that the mother is well taken care of, and is able to spring back to good health. Serendipity??!!

I must admit, it was a quite a challenge communicating with the doctors and hospitals due to my limited linguistic abilities a.k.a French!

France is often known as the "land of cheese and wine" and it truly is....while I didn't really acquire a taste for cheese or wine, I did acquire the nation's obsession with fitness and exercise! In these 4 years in Paris, both S and I are a lot fitter and healthier - when you see people jogging at noon or even at 10 at night, we had to take it seriously too! I exercised throughout my pregnancy, even til before I was going into labour - and it made the entire process so much faster and easier...I will ensure that it continues even after we go back to India, the elliptical at home, for sure is an investment!

We have traveled to some absolutely gorgeous countries in Europe (I can't believe we have been to 16 countries so far!). S had told me long back that I should take him on a Europe trip on our 10th anniversary! I made it all come true even before that! :P
Jokes apart, we are truly blessed to be able to travel to so many beautiful places and the beauty is etched in our memories forever...we both love travelling and living in Paris gave us the access and comfort level to plan ahead and have a good time! ...and we had a lovely vacation ever so often, whenever we could get away...

I have acquired a few "forever friends" with whom I had fun times - learning new things, sharing our different cultures, thoughts, aspirations and I have felt as loved and understood as I would, with some of my best friends! Our different backgrounds didn't really matter - deep down, we all value the same things and seem to have the same common problems! We may be across different parts of the world - but I am sure we will stay in touch and visit each other often ( hopefully! - Catrin, if you are reading this, this is specifically directed at YOU!)

On a more serious note, I think I have also matured in my thought process - I have learnt to accept people as they are - I tend to judge someone instantly, I don't do that anymore! I have learnt that its unwise to judge someone unless you have experienced it yourself!
When you live alone, especially abroad in a country where the language and people are alien....I have realized and feel grateful for all the love, family, support I have - both physically and emotionally - never take anything or anyone for granted!

All said and done, "home is where the heart is..." and I am excited about moving back to India too and can't wait to take Baby Girl to meet all my friends and family, and we will all live happily together wherever we are - she will go to her own home and her own room - ALREADY! She receives a lot of love and affection across the globe, and she is truly a blessed soul in that sense :-)

My Little Miss Congeniality!

2012-11-09T21:40:00.002+05:30

...Baby Girl is wide awake, I have been rocking her for ONLY a couple of hours in my arms and she continues to stare at me... :-) Both of us enjoy the silence and look at each other and the lovely lights of the Eiffel Tower...I can't help but remember the time when I was pregnant and unable to sleep, I would sit in the living room and worry about whether everything will work out fine and if I will have the darling baby safely in my arms? ...and now, here she is...calm and serenity personified...my body and arms are tired, my eyes droop sleepily...and she gives me a BIG SMILE! Just like that....I am all energized and savor this lovely moment...and in just another 5 minutes, she is fast asleep, holding on to my fingers in her hands! :D

I wonder how my daughter can be such a morning person, I most definitely am NOT! ...On most days, I check her crib to see if she is awake...and there she is, smiling at her toys , enjoying the colors all around her, playing by herself without a whimper...and she looks at me and gives me a big smile to say " Hi Amma, Good morning?" and sometimes will even chuckle when I make funny noises to make her laugh! (Of course, on some days, she may cry - but it could be hunger or that she did a big job or bad dreams!)

Baby Girl is the most cheerful baby I have ever seen...often, she smiles at even strangers, at the hospital, visitors she is seeing for the first time, her Amma, Appa, Athai, Anna, Patti...anyone and everyone!...and its not gas! She actually recognizes and smiles genuinely at you! Its the most gorgeous smile...

I have a horrible toothache right now and its simply unbearable. I am crying in agony and fervently trying to get a dentist appointment....while I try to explain, I am in tears....she smiles at me, a big smile...as if to say, I understand....you will be alright ( Who is the baby?)!...and I can't help thinking what a wonder my Little Miss Congeniality is! I fervently thank God for our little blessing! :-)

Lust List for the Home!

2012-10-16T22:35:00.001+05:30

I recently updated our furniture, decor as you can see here! So of course, I need to be Bill Gates's sister to be able to afford everything all at once or buy it all at once! But there is no harm in "window shopping", in this case - "screen hopping" - so here goes!

All images courtesy, and available at : www.maisonsdumonde.com

I love how elegant and modern wrought iron furniture looks though it has its disadvantages!( tends to creak a lot!)...anyway, coming back to this lovely "cocoon", I love beds with a canopy for the simple reason that it gives me a feeling of being in a cocoon! :) Someday....or maybe one down the years for baby girl? we could both curl up together... ;-)

My love for all things "Buddha" is no secret and its apparent from all my "decor posts" earlier...(click here and here)...I am attracted to a "Buddha" only if the face is right...it should resonate absolute calm and tranquility and some of them really call out to me! Here's an example for you and left to me, I would surround myself with him anyday...

I have always fancied the name "papasan", it sounds damn cute and if you look at a papasan, it shrieks sheer comfort and you can curl up in the balcony, enjoy a lazy afternoon reading a book and some hot chai! :) It sure looks inviting, doesn't it? That is a must-buy on my list!

While a papasan is probably more affordable, this is another "book-chair" I have been eyeing...a baroque style lounge chair!

Baroque style furniture is typically characterized by grandeur, drama and is exuberant owing to its Roman origin...

Both S and I loved it, except the cost is as grand as it looks! It costs more than a entire living room sofa set! :P A girl can dream, right? :)

Tea lights are a great way to lend some colour, brightness and romance to a cozy corner - they are economic too! It can also double up as diyas during Diwali...I love this stand with its multi-coloured tea light holders! What are you lusting after?

...From God with love...

2012-09-22T14:05:00.000+05:30

...comes our baby girl, safe and sound! She is just perfect - beautiful, healthy and happy ( I would repeat this sentence to myself all the time through my pregnancy). She comes to me after numerous prayers and good wishes, she is my penance! :)

We have been through some painful losses a few years back...this heartbreaking event was not only draining physically, it also broke my heart to a million pieces, shattered my confidence and has made me paranoid. It is a loss I will never get over, will carry to my grave...why am I revealing this sad event now?

I realize that you value and treasure something a lot more, when it comes to you after a lot of hard work and great difficulty. You learn to be content and appreciate it a lot more - never take things for granted...

Many of my friends are mothers now and for some of them the journey is not so smooth! What I have shared is very personal and I share this on my blog to let people know that "positivity" "prayers" and "belief in GOD" can make a huge difference in our lives...eliminate negativity and negative people from your lives and you will do a lot better!

I am blessed in many ways and she is truly a big blessing in my life - many people including close friends and family have been very encouraging and positive, cheering me up when I was down( of course, I have those moments!) and sending me positive vibes - it has made a huge difference...

Some fascinating trivia - I found out that I was pregnant with baby girl in Slovenia when we were on a holiday and we scouted all of Ljubljana for an open pharmacy to buy a pregnancy test! We walked a long way to find one - it was christmas time in December last year! She is born in Paris...so she is truly a "global" child already... :)

I know all babies are beautiful. But baby girl has the most beautiful, calm and serene face and is a happy child. When she looks at me - I see God in her - she is our very own "ummachi papa" - that's how we call her fondly! :)

Baby girl seeks all your blessings, good wishes and smiles at you...

"Let there be light and cheer..."

2012-07-09T13:42:00.000+05:30

We are evolving constantly with time, and this is reflected in our homes as well. I love bold vibrant colours,unique eclectic elements infused into our homes - after all, your home is a reflection of your personality, of who you are...

My passion for home decor began a long time back, and the opportunity to experiment and try new things began when we set up our own home in Pune, India! Unfortunately, I did not blog or take pictures of our home when we were in Bangalore.

I update the accessories and decor at home as much as I update my wardrobe, which evidently is pretty often! :P

When we moved to our Paris home, I began the change with this and this! Over the last four years or so, we have gone through many subtle changes - here, here, here, here and here!

This couch has been with us for many years and we have used it a lot since we moved to Paris, so its worn out and though it looks good and is in good condition, it began to sink really low and we had back pains often....so we decided to buy a new one and get rid of this! I never thought we would be so attached to a piece of furniture, but every little thing at home has some memories attached to it.

Isn't life all about looking forward, happiness and creating new memories? So we moved on with optimism and this time green is our "new black" of sorts! Sunlight, warmth and sunshine is such a rarity in Paris. So I wanted to infuse a lot of light and colour in our home - so I chose green and purple as our colour scheme this time for the living room ( you will notice that we are leaning towards green slowly)! :)

We veered towards a textured olive green-lime green upholstery and moved away from the traditional black or pastel colours that are often chosen!

I love purple and wanted an element of it in the living room - hence the bonus futon! This upholstery would have been too overwhelming for the couch, but adds a pop of colour in small elements to the subtle green!

Both my MIL and Amma have some lovely wood carvings in their homes and I have always loved it! So when I saw this mural on a home decor website here, that too at a bargain, I literally jumped on it! It looks absolutely gorgeous and is an absolute keeper, will remain a constant in our home - wherever we go!

Over a period of time, I have slowly collected and co-ordinated the accessories around the "green" theme, including the mural, taishi, cushions( but, of course!) and the patch work embroidery!

I can't wait for my folks and S's folks to visit us again and enjoy, appreciate and share our lovely home! I have been so excited about every little detail....and S can finally heave a sigh of relief now! :P

Colour pyschology in home design suggests that the colour green fosters peace, calm and a feeling of warmth and security in your home. Green is not only the "in" colour right now, it also leaves us with a feeling of contentment and totally relaxed. Cozy, for sure! :)

I still have it...

2012-06-19T14:49:00.001+05:30

...its been long since I worked on a glass painting, I don't work on it here in Paris as I am not sure where I can source the glass from!

I bought a cheap photo frame to create this, so I removed the glass to try something...so I finally worked on it and came up with this! Its a rose shattering against a glass...if you can't make out what the concept is about! :)

....and the crown on Buddha's head is one of the earrings - which I thought looked really pretty....and I lost the other one from the pair! I am the queen of recycling, eh? ;)

Do you like it? :)....I am mighty pleased with it coz I finished it within a half hour!

Clothes Overhaul!

2012-06-18T12:47:00.000+05:30

...I strongly believe in getting rid of clutter, but holding on to the good things in life AND clothes! Optimum utilization is KEY....I love to do potter around and do something creative with my time...it makes me feel very productive and creating something, even if in a small way...makes a huge difference to how you feel...anyway, I digress!

So I have this old top that I bought in Singapore a long time back, which shrunk in size over several washes...but I love these chinese accents on it!

So I got rid of the top I had "outgrown", but cut out these beautiful and vibrant accents....

....attached them to a plain silk top in black....and Voila!

I have an interesting new top and I retained the lovely embroidery patches too! Ingenious, you say? I KNOW!! :P

9 years of...love and happiness(mostly!)

2012-06-11T15:39:00.003+05:30

S makes his yearly visit to the blog...I have always maintained...he is a man of few words, but they are always profound and astute!

I thought long and hard since J asked me to write another piece for our 9^th anniversary but wait…no, that’s not true at all! Neither did I have to think long nor very hard since it all came to me when…

I awoke early this morning to the soft pitter-patter of summer rain outside our bedroom window. Then, I was jolted awake by the rumbling of the washing machine (it hasn’t been installed properly so it makes a hell of a racket). Once that was fixed, I lay awake in bed listening to blissful heartbeats asleep next to me. Soon (too soon), there was bright sunlight streaming through brushing aside the rain, only for the rain to make a sweeping comeback announced by rolling thunderclaps.

I mused at how these early morning minutes were like our partnership: serene, raucous, frantic, peaceful, dazzling and thunderous. In our years together, we have had pretty much all of this and more.

Of course, when you go to sleep, you know you will get up fresh the next morning and when it starts to rain, you know that it will be sunny eventually (even in these grey European climes!). But, in life, there is only love, hope and trust that take us through to “the other side” of whatever cloud we’re under. I have always felt we are like the Sun to each other – you know that it is there always even if you can’t always see it. As time passes by, it’s like a piece of you that grows a little each day and you don’t even realize it’s there.

9…2003…2012…numbers like any other but for us, they are all special...the last 9 years have been quite special (see my 2011 post to pursue this line of thought). Is it 9 years already? This is the first year in a very long time that we have not travelled outside of “home” in the first 6 months of the year as its been so busy since the start!

This is the first time we are in a place that we have been before on our anniversary. We spent the day watching a movie (in a theatre after a long time!), shopping and just wandering around the city, which was a welcome change! This is the first time J lost a bet to me and actually admitted it (she bet on Djokovic). And it’s our first 9^th anniversary! Lots of firsts in 2012 and we’re not yet ½-way through the year!

2003 changed both of our lives in a way we would never have imagined, in a good way. There were so many pleasant surprises along the way: for example, before I met J, I could never have imagined a person calling me to say “can you come and pick me up? I’m out of gas and standing on the side of the road and there’s a tree here” :P . And little did we imagine then that we would spend our evenings gazing out over Parisian rooftops at probably the most famous monument in the world from our living room…

and 2012? it’s all change now again… Just like the number 9 is what you get when you add the digits of any multiple of 9, we will keep coming back to this year in many ways…

so, I look forward to getting up tomorrow and many more days after to the soft pitter-patte of summer rain outside our bedroom window knowing that, there is more to come…

P.S. - S writes some beautiful poetry on his blog, if you would like to read...click here!

Accessorizing my personality!

2012-05-22T17:50:00.002+05:30

Offlate, I am really drawn to quirky pieces of jewellery....everyday stuff that is interesting and unusual in a way that brings a smile on your face and reflects your personality...not make you wonder what's wrong with this woman, mind you!

I love how gold complements my skintone, but I prefer the matte gold as opposed to too-shiny-in-the-face kinda gold! I found this really cute collar necklaces on www.asos.com , I am in love with it and wear it to work with bright summery tops/blouses. It really brightens up the entire ensemble!

I love turquoise and have many bold and chunky necklaces or "statement necklaces" in the same color and I picked most of them from my trip to India! :) It goes well with a plain white shirt or top!

Here's another one that's really cute - its a moustache, of course I prefer my man clean-shaven for sure! It makes for a nice change to brighten a Monday morning, what say?

I loved this "peace and love" pendant with the very girly sort of detailing in it, makes it look very feminine and pretty...

I picked this up in Bangalore from India coz the pendant has an elephant aka my favorite God Ganesha or "the Elephant God" as people here in Paris tend to refer to him...its really cute and brings out the child in me....

I fell in love with this claw bracelet, beware - i might dig into you if you rub me the wrong way! ;)

My Super Mom (Amma!)

2012-05-10T20:36:00.000+05:30

I feel there is a lot of beauty in calling her "Amma" in my mother tongue rather than calling her "Mummy" or "mom"...hence the revised title!

On my way back home yesterday, I could'nt help feeling emotional as I kept thinking about my teen years. When I became 'sweet 16', my mom did the sweetest thing for me. She went to Hyderabad with her friend before my birthday for some occasion....and came back and gifted, not one or two, but 16 dresses!!!!! She was like, I wanted your 16 to be very special for you! :-) I was so touched by her thoughtful sweet gift!

My mom/dad have always been really loving and thoughtful, despite being strict most of the times. I remember when i was 13 or 14, my mom got transferred to Bangalore, and she had to go due to circumstances. My brother and I, stayed with my dad and he took very good care of us. I would cry everytime she came visiting over weekends and when she had to go back...So my dad surprised me the next morning. I woke up to my mom fondly waking me up lovingly with endearments and calling me her sweet little baby....I was thinking I must be dreaming...Amma is in Bangalore, so how can i hear her voice? Actually, my dad had recorded her voice and she spoke to me like she was right there with me...and every day he would wake me up with that recording...When we got back from school, he was very thoughtful and engaged us in learning the 'Hanuman Chalisa'...my brother and I sang the whole shlokas in some time to my Mom in a few days time and her face lit up with happiness....it was worth the effort. Appa did everything he could so that we did not miss Amma too much.

I remember staying with my Perima ( my mom's elder sister) one weekend and crying to see my mom...she was like 'Come to me, darling! I will hug you!" I was such a mean thing and said 'But your sari does not smell like my mom's! I want amma...'!!! She (my perima) is no more but I always think of her as a person with genuine love and affection for me.I think about it now and can't stop feeling bad about my behavior. But at that point, i could'nt fully understand why Amma had to be away from us. She must have been miserable already staying away from her husband and kids. To top it all, if i cried everytime she left, I am sure she would go back to Bangalore very miserable too...I wonder how she coped with it all and remained cheerful and happy, it would make me insane to be in a situation like that. Amma is a very strong woman.
That kind of selfless love, only comes from a parent, I guess!! :-) I feel so blessed when I think of my awesome parents! I am what I am because of them...( I turned out pretty ok, me thinks!) ;-)

Edited to add: Amma in her stylish avataar when she visited us in Paris in 2010!

www.shopo.in

P.S - I WON the contest! Yay!!

Indian jewellery with a twist!

2012-04-07T15:19:00.002+05:30

...my newest acquisition...after the neli ring, is this pearl beauty! I love it as it combines the traditional kundan pendant with a cluster of pearl strings - which makes it really modern yet ethnic! :)

I am a pearl junkie and have a variety of jewellery in pearls, including multitude of traditional pearl strings (thanks to Amma!)...to contemporary pearl strings in grey that can be paired even with western outfits - which I do tend to wear to work sometimes!...and I am very lucky in the fact that they are ALL gifts from family or friends! ;)

...here's adding another treasure to my kitty, and for once something I did BUY! :)

Organizing Fetish!

2012-04-06T13:49:00.000+05:30

...and a fetish I am glad I developed! I have grown fond of organizing all my stuff and especially how it makes life easier and "sorted"!

After organizing my dressing table here, I tackled the bathroom with its numerous appliances we both use, well mostly I use! ;) The hair dryer, straightener, curler, S's electric shaver and other sundry toiletries that we tend to use on a daily basis and stuff that can be all over the place! So finally, I managed to put it all together like this and "brand" it in my own style!

I bought this online from www.littlewoodseurope.com if anybody is interested...

I have a bunch of artificial creepers that I bought long back, I added that to give the room a touch of "greenery and nature". :) We are pretty sorted and "safe" now that there aren't wires hanging everywhere and its all neatly stowed away after use!

Spring is the time of plans and projects...

2012-04-01T21:41:00.002+05:30

...as sunlight peeks into our lives slowly...we are waking up to the warmth and sunshine and are definitely more cheerful! I can never say it enough...I never ever thought I would long for sunshine so much....this year has been pretty busy from the start, yet I have managed to complete tiny projects around our home, which always brings me joy! :)

I deliberately chose a pastel coloured frame to offset the blue in the painting and it adds the right "springy" effect to the room...

I bought these 2 prints of Van Gogh that I loved, when we went to Amsterdam to bring in my big 3-0! Finally, I got it framed and it brings a pop of colour to our room, and we wake up with a smile in our little fairy land! I love our bedroom - it totally looks like our very own little paradise! One of the print is this - of almond branches and another one is the very popular "Cafe de nuit" ( which means cafe at night!). Our home in Paris has this painting in a big frame and I loved it, so I bought one to take back to our own home in India! :)

These white orchids are one of my gifts from S this birthday in March! I loved it coz its going to be around for a while! I get really sad when fresh flowers wilt and don't really last long! S was super thoughtful and got me the plant too! So they adorn my kitchen window and cheer us up in the mornings as we have our cup of java or chai! :D

Have I changed?

2012-03-18T23:21:00.001+05:30

...of course I have...we all change over a period of time! Some of us change drastically - I would like to think I have changed for the better...I always observe that I react differently to a situation now, than I did in the past...I don't waste my time or go out of my way to ponder over something that is not within my control anymore , and this is something I have to learnt to let go consciously. Especially, with people or "friends"! Its impossible to please EVERYONE - PERIOD. I have realized that its not absolutely essential that every single individual should like me or vice versa, and agree with my point of view or vice versa. Finally, I understand the phrase " agree to disagree"! :)

My mind is never free - I am always thinking about something or the other...and since I moved to Paris, I realize that I enjoy the silence and the quiet times here a lot more now. Initially, I missed the hustle-bustle back home and missed all the familiar noises. Now, it irritates me when someone talks loudly on the Metro or when a group of people make a lot of noise. While, I have been guilty of all that sometime back... I no longer feel, I need to voice my opinion or views all the time, any longer! I feel that I need to talk or be heard - selectively! Of course, I am still close to the people I love and am very vociferous with them...except I don't feel the same way with everyone...in that aspect, I have indeed changed! :)

As I read through this, I have to admit that I feel I am slowly removing all the clutter in my mind - slowly but steadily and its definitely a good change! Its been very busy since the beginning of this year - and I have not written much on the blog this year...here's to making a start with something...

I feel sLOVEnia!

2012-01-12T22:39:00.002+05:30

...this is the slogan for you guessed it right, Slovenia! ....and what a beauty she is! :) S and I, didn't really plan our holiday too well and on a whim decided to head eastwards! While all our friends were very surprised about our choice, we can't imagine why the country is not a popular travel destination! People are very friendly, the country is gorgeous and blessed with tons of natural beauty!

As always, I brought along something to remember the lovely times in Slovenia! I have been eyeing this ceramic drawers on various sites and wondering how to get one, for myself! When I saw this...in a store and fell in love instantly! Its a unique piece, just like I am! :P

Each drawer is very colorful and is BEA-U-TI-FUL! S gets his share too, maybe one draw? :)

I love the ornate wood carvings on top and it holds all my little , pretty bottles of heaven - which by the way - are ALL gifts! I have never bought myself a perfume in a long time! :)

I love chimes and the soft clink-clank of it as the wind blows! Its very pleasant and calming. Though, here the weather here does not permit us to open the windows right now - back home in Pune, the balcony with the swing was filled with chimes of all kinds - all around and we were referred to as the house with all kinds of bells! :) I remember S taking a conference call from home once, and everyone asked him where the lovely sounds came from?

...This is my first post this new year, and I am all excited and filled with wonder and hope, that it is filled with loads of love, happiness, good health, peace and everything warm, bright and motivating as these lovely tea-light candles! :)

The year that was...2011!

2011-12-30T16:54:00.001+05:30

It's nice to go back in time and reminisce how the year passed by...and the first thing that comes to my mind is that it whizzed by....whoooosshhhh!!

Though the year began with uncertainties about where we would be living, work and all other important things that affect our lives, by God's grace, things settled down favorably and S and I, both happily settled in our respective jobs. God has been kind to us, just that it takes time to understand and acknowledge his blessings. Human, that I am! :)

We did a lot of traveling this year too and visited some gorgeous countries - birthday in London, wedding anniversary in Berlin (Germany), a reasonably long trip back home for a big milestone - brother's wedding, weekend getaways to Bruges, Ghent, the French Ardennes, and a lovely year-end holiday in gorgeous Slovenia ( this country needs a lot of marketing for its gorgeousness, which calls for a new dedicated post altogether). I must say, we are super blessed to visit and experience the beauty of gorgeous places, nature and the lovely people and culture everywhere...we are indeed thankful.

I was so excited about my brother's wedding throughout the year that when it actually did happen, it was all over in the blink of an eye and we were back home too! :) I am so excited and happy that he is a married man now. The highlight of this year, for sure! After several years, we managed to see my SIL and her family and the adorable kids - and it was an awesome reunion of laughter, love and good memories for S and I, short and sweet! :)

We have found a lovely friendship in C and P, and they bring a lot of happiness and love into our lives and we are very grateful to have met them! They are such a lovely couple, bless them...In fact, last year, C was here spending time with many others, and it was good fun! Good times...

Wishing you and I, a very beautiful beginning in the new year - of new memories, new friendships, abundance of love and happiness, excellent health and may all our dreams come true! Looking forward to some wonderful new beginnings in 2012! Godspeed!

For the blog, I am going to start 2012 afresh - with a new template! :)

Girly girl!

2011-12-06T14:39:00.001+05:30

Until a couple of years ago, I had no clue about make up or eyeshadows or any of the paraphernalia that is available in the market, and most definitely would not know what an eyelash curler is....reminds me of the girls making fun of Anne Hathaway in The Devil wears Prada! Of course, I did use the occasional foundation/eyeliner/lipstick on occasions...nothing more than that!

Anyway, after we moved to Paris, I couldn't help but notice all the beautiful colors around me and especially, when you see all the lovely cosmetics laid out beautifully in every store - the girl in me has to stop and look, evince interest and finally BUY! ;).

So many women wear the right makeup here and it enhances their gorgeous faces and I changed my mind. I am slowly building up my collection from MAC (gasp!) and I must admit, I just love getting ready for work and can't wait to put on all the colors in the palette!!!!! :D

Though many people tend to pooh-pooh make up, I truly believe its an art! Its akin to a painting, except its your face or personality. You can wear a different persona every other day! I just have fun with it, the key is not to take it too seriously.

Of course, I am definitely not one of those people who refuses to go out sans make up. I do believe, I am naturally beautiful, both outside and from within...but then life would be boring, if it was all plain and vanilla?...make up adds that colour and makes your features 'pop'!

I tried a smoky eye and after much deliberation decided to put it up here, just for kicks! :) It needs a lot of practice to get a finished look, I know... I will get there....soon!

Edited to add:

Stylish and Chic! ( In my personal opinion and stuff I have learnt over the years...)

Do not pluck your eyebrows into a thin line, it makes you look worn out and older - You do NOT want that, I am sure!
Refrain from wearing clothes with rhinestones and stay away from plastic earrings or any other accessory - they are really tacky!
Puff sleeves and jackets or blazers with paddings are a big no-no, unless you are really tiny and petite! They are not flattering in any sense, even if the fashion magazines make it out to be a major trend!
Waist coats are a very classy way to brighten up a dull top or sweater - my personal favorite and style (if you have noticed!). They are very fashionable and practical too!
I fill up an empty spraying bottle with rose water to clean my face - it is a great cleansing medium, keeps you feeling fresh and moisturizes as well!
The Holy grail - Moisturize, Moisturize and MOISTURIZE!

DIY Memorabilia

2011-12-05T15:26:00.000+05:30

On our holiday to Austria back in 2009, we visited Vienna. We bought this lovely (The Kiss) painting by Gustav Klimt, in the form of a ceramic tile as a memorabilia! We have a huge collection of fridge magnets from all our travels and it is our most prized collection! (that requires another post!)

Anyway, It has been lying around for a long time and I wanted to make sure it is not lost over the years, in some insignificant corner or lost in transit when we move homes! Its a small piece and to get it framed was such a pain AND when we did find someone, it cost 10 times more than the tile itself! So I set out doing it myself!

I bought a standard picture frame and removed the glass.
I also bought a plain textured wrapping paper ( I wanted something that looked grand, enhance the painting, not be a distraction!)
I wrapped the cardboard in the matte-gold textured wrapping paper.
The ceramic tile had a velvet patch on the back and it was convenient to stick it on to the wrapped cardboard.
Finally, I put it all into the frame, and voila!...

P.S - I have not been very successful in sourcing glass slabs, so I can use the one that came with the picture frame, to work on a glass painting! :D Two birds with a single stone!!!

Accessorizing intelligence!

2011-11-30T13:40:00.001+05:30

I love wearing different accessories and I feel it adds zing to your personality. Now that winter is here to stay, I wear dark colours and full sleeved sweaters and tops, and long chains, necklaces and pendants add some colour to a plain garment! Remember that the focus is on the chain or necklace that makes a "statement", which means you have to tone down on everything else! :)

I have noticed these cute "owl pendants" a lot on many fashionable women....but they all looked the same, and I didn't want to be added to the common crowd!

But one afternoon, before work, I planned to meet a friend for quick catch-up and some coffee. I arrived early at our meeting point, so I browsed around and found these lovely statement necklaces AND they were on sale ( only the one with the pearls was a bargain)!

The owl pendant in a crystal is something I have never seen, and it was really unique, pretty and MINE! Bien sûr, it has to be! Right?

I wore it to work and my colleague made a comment that its a symbolic representation of intelligence and knowledge in Greek mythology! :) I was intrigued and googled it to find that its absolutely true...how cool is that?

It reads that in Greek mythology, the owl, and specifically the Little Owl, was often associated with the Greek goddess Athena, a bird goddess who often assumed the form of an owl. Athena was also the goddess of wisdom, the Arts, and skills, and as a result, owls also became symbols of teaching and of institutions of learning, being included in the crest of arms of many universities. In the Western world, owls continue to be traditionally associated with wisdom. They are the unofficial mascot of the high-IQ...

I have a big stand that holds a variety of these statement necklaces now, and they do make any dull garment interesting and make me all charged up as well...who needs diamonds and rubies? :)

Itching to be creative...

2011-11-27T14:50:00.001+05:30

I miss working on glass painting that I used to freely work on - one after the other, back in India! In Paris, I am not sure where I can get slabs of glass from...Anyway, this weekend, S and I were busy rearranging the furniture, cleaning and clearing all the clutter from the busy weeks we had....when I found a pile of pebbles I collected from NICE, in the south of France!

I coloured each pebble in a vibrant colour and put them together in this clay Uruli, Amma gifted me when she came to Pune! :)

Its difficult to grow plants as its winter, but I don't give up! Actually, the coriander-hoarder in me does not give up....so I built a space on the balcony around the colourful pebbles. I have loads of little coloured pebbles and small knick-knacks that I have collected over the years...and never really get rid of!

...Slowly, I added the Rajasthani men too....along with the christmas pinecones!

....and now I have something to cheer me up....as I look along outside, with a gorgeous view of the Eiffel Tower and sip coffee, read a book or talk to S!

Wrought Iron Accents!

2011-11-24T14:29:00.001+05:30

I love anything in Wrought Iron...I feel it adds a unique charm to any space and has a nice contemporary feel to it too. Some time back, when I scoured through every home store in Paris for a dressing table for a "budget", I came back with this...though it was slightly expensive! :) I never disappoint the shop owner....:P

It gives a nice earthly feel to that corner of my home, and I think it can look nice, wherever we move too! :) I am sort of confined, in terms of space here in Paris as compared to our own spacious home, back "home"! Not that it stops me from working on improvisations!

I saw some lovely wall sculptures and wall hooks, and some amazing ideas - just need another room! :D To give you an example, I am loving this...very unique and "inspirational", yet modern!

(Picture courtesy: www.ironaccents.com)
If you live in the U.S, you should definitely look it up, I was browsing online and found them! They have an amazing collection of everything under the sun in iron! :)...no, I am not being paid to plug this in...I genuinely feel its a great site with some interesting products to offer...

P.S - The wall clock is a lovely gift for S from his team in India, when we came to Paris and the twin tower hanging is ....from Prague, duh! :) Our memorabilia from that lovely mystical place that did not disappoint one bit! We are very blessed to see so much beauty in our lives! Truly!

Obsessive Compulsive Organizing - OCO!

2011-11-11T15:47:00.001+05:30

Being married to S, has brought a big change in me...and that is, from being someone not too organized, I have become obsessed with organizing and keeping everything in order! Be it my clothes, accessories or maquillage! ;)

For a long time now, I have been looking for a proper dressing table coz all my costume jewellery, skin care stuff, my precious make up and everything else is scattered in the bathroom, bedroom and in every nook and corner possible! I wanted it all in one place, and where I can actually find things when I want to wear something!

I searched for a dressing table everywhere and it was either too expensive, too big or not something I was looking for! Finally, S came up with this brilliant idea to combine this that I already have, buy a similar storage unit, and simply combine it - it totally worked! Everything fits into it. And the bonus is that, it looks colourful, feminine and really MY style! :) As I blog about it, I realize it has gone through many improvisations! It worked out financially too well...coz it was really inexpensive and hence we are in consumer surplus status! :D

The quirky stool was something I bought on a whim, but it fits really well with the entire setup now. Isn't it cute?

I have looked heaven and earth to find a suitable stand for all my earrings! Finally, I found this on www.buyincoins.com and the cosmetic-jewellery-junkie in me, is finally at peace! :D They take at least 3 weeks to deliver, but I was sold out on the free shipping policy and the fact that the prices are bloody cheap.

The rate at which I am buying Buddha figurines, our home will soon be called "The Buddha Home", coz including this one we have 3 already!

On our weekend trip to Bruges of all places, we found this epitome of calm and tranquility in Belgium! The texture of the stone is unique and the facial expression is of utmost importance to me. S loved it too and I promised that I would lug it around wherever we go, but I WANT it! :)

I am loving the fact that peace and calm reigns in every corner of our home now, literally and figuratively! Can you feel it too? :)

Mixing and Matching Fashionably!

2011-11-02T20:59:00.001+05:30

You can never have enough of clothes or shoes, right? Right! But sometimes, I have too many things unused and some of my favorite pieces get lost in all the excess! So I decided to mix it up and wear things differently.
Anyway, here's what I do, so that I can "maximize the potential and value" of my clothes and persona! ;)

I bought these really inexpensive singlets in the U.K in fiery red and a mellow biege, which I pair with this sort of translucent top with sleeves, and it gives it a nice retro vibe and spices the top!
I also picked up these skirts in cotton and knits to use them in summer and winters respecitvely, that look great when paired with flip flops or boots, depending on the season!

Cargo skirts are apparently in vogue, I didn't even realize I had picked one until I saw one in Vogue later ;) The "cargo" tag comes from the fact that the skirt has large pockets on either side of the skirt. (not clearly seen in the picture!)

With stockings or leggings, they make a style statement in winters! I am very fond of waist coats and tend to pair them with a plain simple top. It not only adds pizzazz to an otherwise boring sweater, but also adds warmth in the cold! By combining different garments to make different outfits, you can also save space during travel.

Cowl neck tops double up as a top and as a scarf during winter! I bought this top with the same idea, however it turned out to be a short one!

So I wore it with a sweater and again, here's an interesting way to mix n match and "maxi" mize! So you can give the scarf or stole a miss, and in this case, black and white is monochromatic and goes well with almost all dark colors! I paired it with a pencil skirt and dialled down on the "formal" tone.