Memoirs...

2016.

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 13:47:00 +0000

I know, I know. We are not in 2016 yet. We make all these resolutions and decide to change our lives from January 1st every year, year after year, and set goals for ourselves, but I am only coming to realize off late that it doesn't matter what date it is, what time it is, or what moment it is. On that note, let us review the year that was.

1. To be able to do lunges/squats comfortably with a barbell. - Acheived!

2. To be Bikini ready by the end of December. - Nope. Not quite there yet.

3. To start saving money (seriously, I spend everything I earn. Like, everything. Need to be more responsible) - Still working on this one.

4. Take 2 international trips and 2 trips within India. - Well, I took 1 international trip and 4 within India. Does that count? I think so.

5. To take a leap of faith careerwise. - I don't think I am quite there yet.

6. Buy a DSLR - Nope.

7. Take food blogging more seriously. - A little bit, yes.

8. Replace my entire wardrobe (except any 5 items that hold sentimental value) - A big yes!

9. Finish another Marathon. - Didn't happen.

10. Travel with Lover. - Yes.

2015 started out on a great note but I cannot say the same about the note it is ending on. I am glad that this year is getting over and I am positive that 2016 will bring in happiness and success for all of us. I have been writing these checklists for years now, but I don't think I will be continuing to do so anymore. I am going to look at the bigger picture, and just be grateful for everything that I have and pray for the well being of everyone around me. I hope 2016 makes me a better person, helps me exercise wisdom and maturity, and give me the strength to hold on to my one true love.

May the force be with all of us.

PMS woes

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 17:08:00 +0000

I am one of those women who undergo some really crazy mood swings starting 10-12 days before my period. That is almost half a month. My body goes through such drastic ups and downs that it becomes very difficult for me to handle. I suffer from PCOS, for which I take birth control pills to regularize my period. The first side effect of these pills is mood swing. I am not making this up, I cried at a YouTube video this evening where people were prepping for the Boston Marathon and I saw a man running with a wheelchair on which his loved one was enjoying the fresh breath of air.

I am blessed with a brother who has seen me go through the painful and irritable process and always made sure that he gave me the space or attention as needed. It turned out quite well when he started dating a girl and would do the same for her. But not everyone can be that understanding, even if they want to. Some of the common questions asked to me are:

“What can I do to help?” “How can I make this better?” “Am I doing anything wrong?”

The answer to all of these is - I don’t know. I cannot tell you how you can make this better for me. I cannot possibly give you any suggestion when I am not able to handle myself in these times. One moment I am euphoric, the other moment I am crying, and later I am stuffing my face with food that is totally not good for me. I know I should try and get in a light workout, but getting out of bed becomes such a task, that it all just seems far fetched. Sometimes even a person next to me breathing loudly makes me flip.

I am not using this as an excuse to do whatever I want. I don’t even know why I feel the need to put this out there, but it would be nice to have someone at least trying to understand that it is not in my hands, how I react to situations. Sometimes one just needs that someone to hug them and hold them and tell them that everything is going to be okay. Seems like this is a lot to ask for.

Sometimes we feel the need to remind people to be a little more considerate towards us, but repeating it every month only leads to making the opposite person frustrated. Where does that leave us? Nowhere. Possibly wanting to punch another person for breathing too loudly next to us.
The amusing part is that they used to do it all for you before. They used to keep track of your dates. They used to be OKAY with your mood swings. I guess its just a chore now. When it becomes a chore, we just have to let go.

Where’s my bar of chocolate?

2015 Checklist!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 19:13:00 +0000

Hello again!

First of all, if you're reading this, let me wish you a very very happy new year. Hope 2014 was a great year for you and even if it wasn't, hope it gave you the strength to see it all through and never give up. Wishing everyone a fantastic 2015!

As for me, 2014 was a year which at the end of it has left me with no major complaints. Every year I sit down on the same date and try to summarize the year that was, realizing how much I learned and grew as a person, but this year taught me how to prioritize my feelings. It taught me to value myself more, to make myself happy and content, to feel accomplishment, and go to bed with a smile on my face. All of this, but not in a selfish way. I really think I deserved that. Almost no one can fiddle with your mind once you start being happy with yourself!

Lets see how I did in 2014, here we go!

1. Lose Weight. Get Fit. Build Stamina. CHECK! Although this change occurred only post late November, I am going to give myself credit for it. I really do feel I have become more fitness oriented, not in the "lose weight" kind of way but more like leading a healthy, fit and strong lifestyle. I workout for 2 hours, 5 days a week and have managed to lose 8 kilograms of pure, unadulterated fat since 22nd November 2014.

2. Run a Marathon: CHECK! Well, lets not call it a Marathon, it was a Walk-a-thon. But I did it. I only did a 5k walk in 55 minutes. But I did it. I have built my stamina way more and can cover close to 10 km now, but I did it. On to bigger marathons this year! :)

3. Travel More with Lover.: FAIL. There is a reason. He moved to my city in September for a project. Since he is now based out of Bombay, it has been quite hectic getting him settled in, and him adapting to the pace of Bombay, while finding a place to stay, managing work, home, maids, cleanliness, bills etc. We just haven't had the time. But he's settled here now, for few months at least, and travel is definitely on the cards.

4. Get a Flying Job.: FAIL. To say that Aviation in India is going through a bad phase would probably be an understatement. As much as I love to fly, I have started to think practically. I am giving myself till the mid of 2015 where I'd focus on flying as my career completely. If nothing happens, I am prepared for a switch.

5. Learn to Let Go: CHECK. I have realized that the more I try to force myself to let go of things, the more I cannot. So I finally decided to go with the flow and I am very happy to report that I am not having emotional breakdowns in the middle of Ghulam Ali Ghazals anymore!

6. Value people who value you: CHECK. I have made it a practice to value peoples' emotions towards me, especially the positive ones. Sure, I have my special someone who I drive crazy with being stubborn and the least understanding person ever, but in general, I have learned to value words spoken by people who know the value of words and feelings.

7. Help the needy. CHECK. CHECK. CHECK.

8. Learn to Listen: CHECK. I must confess, I had the toughest time dealing with this one until after September 2014, but I am learning to listen. I am learning to shut up as well.

9. Write more often. CHECK. I have been fairly regular with my food blog this year. But I can still improve on the frequency of my posts!

10. Learn a new Language. CHECK CHECK CHECK! Oui, you're reading from Mademoiselle Ashrita who has completed her beginners level in French speaking! :) This month I am starting with level 2! YAY!

80% again! Damn! Needed to do better!

Alright, lets set some goals for 2015.

1. To be able to do lunges/squats comfortably with a barbell.

2. To be Bikini ready by the end of December.

3. To start saving money (seriously, I spend everything I earn. Like, everything. Need to be more responsible)

4. Take 2 international trips and 2 trips within India.

5. To take a leap of faith careerwise.

6. Buy a DSLR

7. Take food blogging more seriously.

8. Replace my entire wardrobe (except any 5 items that hold sentimental value)

9. Finish another Marathon.

10. Travel with Lover.

All the best to me, and to you! What are your resolutions this year? I would love to know!

Clusterfuck.

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Fri, 24 Oct 2014 17:23:00 +0000

SNAFU. FUBAR.

Charlie Foxtrot.

Some of the terms I can associate my life with at this very instant. I wish I could go ahead and post something cryptic yet philosophical, make some smart references, throw in a metaphor or two here and there but the fact will still remain. My life is a clusterfuck.

I am nothing if not a planner and the plan I had for my life has long fallen flat, caught fire and burned to ashes at this stage. I have no focus, no direction, I am ready to go anywhere, but its just that I have no destination. Some may call this living on the edge, taking it one day at a time, but it just makes me feel sorry for myself at the end of the day, for being okay with achieving even something that is close to nothing. Why am I okay with this? Am I really prepared for living my life this way? I don't know.

Its supposed to be the festive season, and I am sitting at home, alone, typing a blog post about how miserable my life is, while I am almost dizzy with the medication for my flu. I don't see the point in dressing up anymore. I don't feel the festive spirit. No one's smiling around me. I have no energy to say anything positive to anyone either.

Emotionally I am not doing great either. I wish I could elaborate. But it'll just make me cry. That's the thing with clusterfucks. Its all haywire.

The nose hair that never grew back.

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Wed, 09 Apr 2014 03:51:00 +0000

Image Credit: Google Search Images

Ever heard the patent song of the character Phoebe Buffay from the popular TV series FRIENDS?

Smelly Cat, Sme-ll-y Cat,

What are they feeding you?

Smelly Cat, Smme-lllll-y Cat,

Its not your fault...

Except it is. Phoebe could take it. I cannot.

Lets face it, we have all been through that stage in life where someone told us that we stank. Some of us felt bad about it, went home and cried, took offense and never spoke to those people again. Some of us took offense, never spoke to those people again but decided to shave our armpits and invest in a deodorant so no one could ever say that to us again. Some of us are so paranoid that we never travel without mints or chewing gum or some kind of mouth freshener. But some, and I hope that there are not many of this kind, they ignore it and continue to stink the place up. Yes, the story I am about to tell you is real. It is about my nose hair that I lost forever.

My nose hair had a beautiful childhood. It was mainly filled with many a delicious fragrances, right from the mind awakening fragrant tadka, or the refreshing shampoo fragrances. Sure, there were instances where the nose hair had to bear the smell of garbage and other wastes, rotten fruits and vegetables, smelling peoples sweat from a distance and guessing who it was, among other things. My unsuspecting nose hair thought it had seen it all.

Excited about being an almost 20-something, me and my nose hair left for Canada and were all set to face life with the 'YOLO' attitude. We learned the smell of success, the smell of failure, smell of burned food, unwashed laundry, living alone and keeping it clean. Then we met my roommate, 'P'. P changed my nose hairs' life forever.

Imagine the smell that puts you off the most. Then multiply it by 10. That would be the smell of P passing by from the distance of 10 meters from you. I am not even exaggerating. My nose hair was awake like it was on crack. I could feel it in my nose. We assured each other that we could do this. We were wrong.

Imagine the smell that I described before, masked by the cheapest 'scent' you can find. I say 'scent' because they are sold on roads and cheap shops as duplicates of the original stuff, and somehow accentuate the body odour. I think I just threw up a little in my mouth. At this point my throat and innards joined the party with my nose hair. I think I had a Migraine for 3-4 months during those days.

Now imagine the smell masked by the scent, along with a really strong breath odour. I am talking the-green-coloured-smoke-from-cartoons-associated-with-garbage-or-rotten-things strong. People stopped talking to her. No one wanted to be her friend. I convinced my nose hair that we are good people and should talk to her about it. She laughed it off in denial and said she did not smell anything. Stunned, we left.

P started hating me and I moved to the couch outside our room for the sake of my nose hair. I would secretly wash her laundry, and replace her soap with extra strong scented body wash. I even bought her a new deodorant, parfum and the strongest breath mints available in the market. Winters were the most difficult times, as we could not keep windows open with all the snow, and had to rely on vents for air. My nose hair had reduced to half by that point.

One fine day P was sitting next to a guy in class, and happened to just raise her hand to ask a question. The monsters of her armpit directly released on to the poor boy and he threw up in class. He was so mad at her that he told her even Skunks smell better. She cried a lot that day. I convinced my nose hair (for the last time) that she needed a hug. My nose hair completely melted that day. I never spoke to her again, and my nose hair never grew back.

I guess what I am trying to say is that nose hair are more important than we would imagine. You must never let your nose hair down. You have an involuntary relationship with them. Just for that sake, please, I beg you all to bathe. Bathe at least once, daily. You don't wanna be like this guy:

As for P, she moved on, got a really good job. The stinky tales still make their rounds. I do not miss her, but I will never forget that stench in my life. I hope she found the right deodorant for herself.

This post was written for the IndiBlogger.com contest #WhatsThatSmellBoss in association with Racold Thermo Ltd. You can check out their Facebook page here.

Snip.

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Thu, 13 Feb 2014 18:19:00 +0000

You know, I have realized that having to lose weight is not just a physical but a mental process. Once you dig deep enough to get to the point where you're so lost, you don't know what to do or say or think, when you break down and cry like a baby, when you let go off that tough exterior, you lose a lot of emotional baggage and that shows on the weighing scale as well as on your body too. I am still a work in progress as far as all this goes, but I think I am ready to be out with the old and in with what and who really matters.

Over the years I have spoken about de cluttering and letting go but when we say we let go of things, we sometimes bury some emotions just because we are not in the state of facing them at all. Those emotions, in our opinion are not worth the hurt and tears, but they cause us more damage than we can think. Every time we talk to someone we are seemingly opening up to, we speak about either having some emotional skeletons in our closet or having gone through a lot in life and being able to feel the pain of some people because we experienced it at some point in our past. Did we really deal with those emotions at all?

I guess we need to fish out all those buried emotions from inside, and deal with them, cry over them, and when we talk to people the next time, we think to ourselves that as much as we are aware of how it felt, we are so glad that we are not in a place that we can feel it anymore.

I just wrote a Dear John letter to my jerk of an ex boyfriend. Although it has been several years since we broke up, I guess there was some part of me that kept certain emotions locked inside. It would have been another story if it was anything happy but all those memories are of disapproval and betrayal. I wrote to him saying that I forgive him for everything he did, not because of any other thing but for my own peace of mind.

I feel light headed already. He will probably send me an email back with a list of swear words I would have never heard of, but you know what, I forgive him. I will update on how this affected my weight loss goals next week.

2014 Checklist.

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 06:43:00 +0000

Hello Blogosphere!

I guess the relationship between me and this blog has become that what is between two people who were once best friends, but now only end up calling each other on Birthdays (New Year in this case) but that doesn't mean one bit that they do not love each other. They just understand the absence. The annual phone call (blog post) becomes introspective and self evaluative which is always a good thing, but one thing remains constant, that comfort level like you just met yesterday, and updating each other on life happenings is just so much fun!

So here I am, in that introspective and self evaluative mode, with last year's checklist, and in full swing to make a new one.

2013 Checklist:

1. Get fitter, leaner. FAIL. I have been neglecting my health all of this year and really need to buck up and make a change in my routine for my own well being.

2. Think a million times before letting people into your life. Check. I am of the kind who refuses to let go of things. Be it people or instances which hurt me. While I am still working on that, I have been very very careful about letting new people into my life. Funny thing is, the more I try to shun some people away, they carve their way into my heart. I am only thankful and I feel so loved that I earned not one but two beautiful friends this year.

3. Get your dream job. Check+Fail Baking has been going on full throttle *touchwood* and my creative juices have been flowing in full swing. Whatever keeps me creating new stuff everyday definitely makes me happy! But still waiting for my Flying job!

4. Reward yourself more often. Check Just yesterday I was talking about this same thing with someone, saying that I have decided to reward myself more often. I have been shopping for myself steadily over the second half of this year, and maybe spent a bit too much on myself but hell, I love it!

5. Try not getting hurt by what other people say about you. Check+Fail Like I said in point 2. above, it has been difficult to let go. But I have been making a conscious effort at not letting those things affect me. Still need to work on it though!

6. Travel more. Check Traveled to Mussoorie this year for a wedding! Then the numerous Delhi trips, Miami happened, and I know its lame but being a Mumbaikar I only managed to reach Lonavala this year! So a big Check!

7. Manage a Piggy Bank. Check. I have been lousily managing one. But yes I have been managing one and thats what counts :P

8. More Shoes, More Make up! Check People! I have 8 new pairs of shoes and a whole new make up wardrobe! *happy dance*

9. Give up on Aerated Drinks except Soda with a squeeze of Lemon/Sweet Lime. Check I actually have grown over Aerated Drinks except I crave for Cola with Pizza or Butter Chicken.

10. Love the love like you never loved anyone else. Check. Check. Check. I am head over heels in love.

80% ain't bad!! :D I am happy!

Here goes my checklist for 2014:

1. Lose Weight. Get Fit. Build Stamina.

2. Run a Marathon

3. Travel More with Lover.

4. Get a Flying Job.

5. Learn to Let Go

6. Value people who value you.

7. Help the needy.

8. Learn to Listen

9. Write more often

10. Learn a new Language.

Lets see how this goes! Bring it on 2014!

The Mandatory New Year Checklist post.

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 15:21:00 +0000

First of all, a very happy 2013 to all!

2012 has been one of the better years for me. After feeling lost for over a couple of years, 2012 showed me some direction. Realizations happened, Priorities made their way and made themselves recognized. All I did was go with the flow.

I said that my 2012 began on an amazing note in my last years Checklist post. I spent it with people I loved the most, even if they were miles away and had just made an entrance into the beautiful mess I call my life. The year flew away quicker than expected :) Lets see how I fared on my 2012 Checklist!

1. Must. Get. A. Job. : Well, not quite the job of my dreams, but things did start to move for me. I started baking a lot, got a lot of attention on my food blog Caramel Wings, and people loved what I baked so much that I started taking small time baking orders and did a couple of cooking workshops too. I am still taking some one on one baking classes :) Check.

2. Lose 10 more kilos. : I'll be honest. I lost them, but I put back on. I have not been regular with my gymming thanks to all the cooking workshop run around and with all that food reviewing and eating, I have put on. I did lose inches though. So this one, I will consider a fail.

3. Try to run a Marathon. : Nothing. Fail.

4. Learn a New Language. : Fail too.

5. Buy a new Cellphone. : I actually bought a new cellphone and WON another one this year in a contest! I am now using the Nokia Lumia 800 and I don't care what you guys say, I love it. Check.

6. Buy a new Camera. : I'll say this one is a pass too coz the Nokia Lumia 800 has an amazing 8 MP camera. Check.

7. Be in a LBD ready body. : Not quite. Fail.

8. Buy more shoes. : Bought 4 pairs this year. Not bad! :D Check.

9. Spread Love. : I think I did :) Check.

10. Stay in Love. : I am, I so am. Check.

A 60% is not too bad but I know I could have done better! But with new goals and a newer outlook I now put together my Checklist for 2013!

1. Get fitter, leaner.

2. Think a million times before letting people into your life.

3. Get your dream job.

4. Reward yourself more often.

5. Try not getting hurt by what other people say about you.

6. Travel more.

7. Manage a Piggy Bank.

8. More Shoes, More Make up!

9. Give up on Aerated Drinks except Soda with a squeeze of Lemon/Sweet Lime.

10. Love the love like you never loved anyone else.

What is your Checklist for 2013? And how did you score on your 2012 checklist? :)

Expectation v/s Acceptation

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 18:49:00 +0000

When we are with people we love and/or care about, we tend to do somethings and expect to be taken for granted. We expect them to just let it go. When we're close to someone, we expect them to know how our mind works and how we may or may not have reacted in such and such situation. We expect them to understand us when we are not able to express, we expect them to listen when we just wanna go on and on about nothing. We cannot help it, we just do. It is a part and parcel of every single relationship, be it personal or professional. A boss expects you to work, you expect your boss to pay you the salary. You expect Mom to to make you food when you're young and she expects you to score well in exams. You expect your boyfriend to do a certain set of things, as does he. We have to face it. We cannot help but expect, but what is more difficult, is to accept.

Acceptation is the mother of all bitches. Accepting your significant other as they are, with or without their baggage, now that is the real deal. Accepting that your child is only an average student, is an achievement. Accepting that you have grown up and may as well help Mom out with making meals at home, is a huge step. Accepting your salary coming in 15 days late in bad times is something we have to make do with, and that your employee is a lazy ass is the kind of acceptance a boss has to deal with. Acceptance is the hidden reality in every single relationship, be it personal or professional. We cannot help but expect, but we have do put in a lot of effort to accept. When we're close to someone, we have to accept them for who they are, whether they are the kinds who would go on and on even when we don't wanna listen or never utter a single word when you want them to talk. We have to accept. Because there WILL be expectations. There will be Faux Pas. The real question is, do we want to accept?

When there is acceptance, there will be more expectations. But is the person worth it? Is he or she worth investing into?

I know you are.

Love, thou art a funny, funny thing indeed.

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Sun, 06 May 2012 16:47:00 +0000

Here’s why I get in trouble time and again, coz I love. I love love and I love to love. Love for me is not something that is between people who are intimately involved or in a relationship or married, but way more than that. I am the kind of person who would also say “I love you” to friends, or just people whom I love.

But with love also comes a certain degree of possessiveness. And that is fine by me as long as it does not result into over possessiveness or obsession. I also get protective and possessive about everyone I love, which is why I have had hard times when my friends started dating guys and I felt like they were ignoring me for no reason. I was a kid back then. Slowly I learned how things worked and worked my way around it.

But this, this was something special. This was love. Every time I said to you that I love you, I got a warm and fuzzy feeling in my heart. I thought it was the same with you. But there I went assuming and I made an ass out of you and me. So when I saw you say “I love you” to her, I died a little inside, and when I saw her say “I love you too” I died a little more.

It’s funny because we’ve been through our share of hard times and eventually reconciled but now its making me feel whether it was just for the heck of it or was it truly because you missed me?

Now when I even think of saying “I Love You” to you, I cringe a little, inside.

Walking down the memory lane.

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:10:00 +0000

I have been staring at this empty typing box for 5 minutes before I actually started typing. Too much to be told, things that were never said before, bonds that no one understood, and an utter load of confusion. But alas, there are no regrets. Hope still keeps the day alive.

When I look back at the first post on this blog, I see what a long way I have come and how many changes took place, I am a completely different person now. In retrospect, I just grew up. Still growing up. Growing more aware of everything and the conscience has started to matter more than it ever did, till date. I am becoming good people, people! Time to change my blog link? I don't know that yet.

I met people who changed my life and molded me into the way I am today and I am thankful to each and every one of them. I am sorry for the things that should have been but did not turn out to be, and I am happy that what was meant to be happened in that moment. The sad part is that I don't know whether I would be able to love anyone the same way ever again. I don't know if I will be able to trust someone again.

But what if someone came along and made all that numbness and void go away?
The hope still remains.

55 Word Story - Theme - Café

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:36:00 +0000

15^th July. It was his birthday. And this was their ritual. Every time they would end up at this coffee shop where they met on the day they started going out. A small kiss happened, and she walked to the restroom. Soon, he followed. Making out in the Café bathroom was their annual birthday ritual!

55 Word Story - Theme - Paper

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 17:32:00 +0000

This is my life. He wrote his feelings down on me, but I was too late before I reached her. A kid found me, folded me all over and launched me in the air. Oh! Sweet flight. I got lost again, only to find myself sailing and disintegrating as a boat in a muddy gutter.

55 Word Story - Theme - Job/Work

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:40:00 +0000

A beautiful morning, a clear blue sky, and this peaceful silence is pierced with the sunlight, revealing on ground the shadows of birds high up in the air.

I notice a line of thin Stratus as I roll gently through the taxiway.

Holding short of the runway, I think,

“I have the best job ever”.

Interruption - Another Tag - 11 things - And I'm not complaining :D

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:05:00 +0000

Tagged by the lovely KofyKat from KofyKat and cannot wait to do this one. Basically all you've gotta do is put down 11 things about yourself and then answer 11 questions by the person who tagged you.
So here I go:

1. I am addicted to cleaning my ears too often. Not a good thing.
2. I am a complete Emotional Eater. I tend to resort to food when I am upset. Much like Po, the KungFu Panda.
3. I really wanna open up a small bakery someday!
4. I sometimes trust people too easily. Very gullible. Again, not a good thing.
5. Which is why I try to avoid conversation with people altogether!
6. Getting my nails done myself has been the latest obsession.
7. I have watched the movie "Despicable Me" thrice in the last 2 days.
8. If I ever get to know that someone lied to me, then that pretty much seals the deal. I will never be able to view that person with the same respect ever again.
9. Even when I cook and bake so much, I think Chocolate is overrated.
10. I secretly collect bridal magazines.
11. You can never have too much Pani Puri.

Okay now time to answer the 11 questions!

1. Which is the one country you would love to visit and why?
London. I am surprised I've never been and I am dying to visit!

2. When you hear that a book is being made into a movie, what would you do, watch the movie first or read the book first (assuming you haven’t read the book)?
I am so not into reading! So almost always the movie!

3. how long have you been blogging? And what difference has it made in your life?
Over 3 years. And yes, it has been like a dear diary as well as a vocabulary enhancer :) Never too late to learn new words!

4. The colour you turn to when you’re in a bad mood?
Blue. I am so blue when I am in a bad mood!!

5. How much of a product junkie are you?
Hardly. I am all about thrift shopping!

6. Sibling love. Love hate. or hate?
LOVE. Only love. Anyone who knows me would know. I love my brother to bits and vice versa :)

7. Favourite perfume that you can’t live without.
Right now, It's Lady Million by Paco Rabanne. But I have always been in love with my Elizabeth Arden Green Tea fragrance.

8. What is the one gift that you want for your next birthday?
Perfect question coz birthday is next month! I would really love a new cell phone!

9. Do you believe in love at first sight?
NO.

10. What’s your favourite song right now?
Gotye - Somebody That I Used To Know.

11. What’s your favourite healthy food item?
Soyabean Chunks/ Granules. All protein and superb overall!!

I Tag everyone!!! :D With the same 11 questions :) Coz really if I start asking questions most of you would be as confused as I am!

55 Word Story - Theme - Water

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 17:54:00 +0000

The road was empty, and she stood with tightly tied shoelaces and music in her ears.

She began to run, away from everyone and everything.

Her earphones fell off. She didn’t bother.

She stopped by a lake.

The cold fluidity encompassed her as she splashed herself in the water.

“This is what I really need.”

55 Word Story - Theme - Gods and Demons.

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:28:00 +0000

She walked in with an invisible Halo. And he sat with that mean, yet charmingly rugged poise.

“But, this is not the right thing to do! God would punish us.”

“Come on baby, just relax.” He said, sniffing another line of Cocaine.

Her innocent eyes met his demonic smile.

He is now going through Rehab.

55 Word Story - Theme - Apples

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 17:42:00 +0000

The day he first saw her on webcam, from thousands of miles away, she was wearing a bright green dress. Her cheeks, though, were turning Red.

“You look like a Green Apple!” he said.

And there was no looking back. She still thinks of him every time she bakes an Apple Pie in her oven.

55 Word Story - Theme - Party

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 08:17:00 +0000

“Hey, what plans?”

“Just at a party.”

“And you didn’t call me?”

“It’s private.”

“Whatever!”

She hung up, angrily rushed home only to find him lying on the couch watching the match.

“GOAL!!! Now THIS is what I call a party! Also, could you grab me another beer?”

“Ughh! Men!”

she got him chips too.

55 Word Story - Theme - Monsoon

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 03:52:00 +0000

The best part about Monsoons is that dull weather, a continuous shower, you sitting by the window and enjoying a hot Cuppa. Just one phone call, and you’re up on the terrace, standing in the darkness, drenched, and the raindrops mask your tears effortlessly. He did it again. Once a cheater, always a cheater. Smirk.

55 Word Story - Theme - Language

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:46:00 +0000

It started with an awkward handshake. Table for two at a quaint coffee shop. I knew he was looking at me all along, but when I looked at him, he looked away blushingly. I couldn’t help but arrange and re-arrange my cutlery. Playing with my hair. Not a word spoken. Body Language at its best.

55 Word Story - Theme - Sexy

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:30:00 +0000

So I started doing this 55 word story started by @vivekisms on Twitter. Basically he comes up with a theme and everyone submits stories in 55 words or less. Yesterday's theme was Sexy. Here is my entry:

I run my hands all over you. I know that the messier I get, the better would be this climax. I apply some pressure. But I must have faith, I must have patience. Your yeasty fragrance penetrates through all my senses, and makes me feel so Sexy. Oh my freshly baked loaf of homemade bread!

Never too late to check up on checklists!

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:53:00 +0000

First of all wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!!!

I started 2012 on a very amazing note, but more on that later. For now, I have to see how many things I managed to strike off my checklist in 2011!! So here it goes.

~~1. Health is wealth. Concentrate on my health and overall well being.~~

Joined a Gym in June. So I am 15 kilos lighter and looking much better. Feels great to get back in shape!!! :)

~~3. Learn to get out of my shell. Dance like no ones watching me.~~

Typing this after I gave 5 back to back dance performances yesterday, belly dancing, zumba, bollywood mixed! So yes this is a HUGE check!

4. Focus more on my career path this year. Get a freaking job!

Pending.

~~5. Take a trip, with a friend. Or even all alone. Just some me time.~~

Took 3 trips this year. Went to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Port Blair, Chennai, Kolhapur, Goa and Pune.

~~6. Learn to trust people. But not to over trust them.~~

Huge Check.

~~7. Give space, take space. Give respect, take respect.~~

Have been doing better on this one too!

8. Buy a new cellphone.

Pending

~~9. Get a new hair do.~~

Got a new hair do THRICE this year! Yay me :P

~~10. Try to blog regularly :P~~

Started a food blog :) Have been consistently regular on blogsville!

11. Try to learn a new language. Not the basic, but the advanced.

Pending

~~12. Buy at least 4 new pairs of shoes. It is harder than it seems when you have a size 13 women shoe :P~~

Bought 5!!! :D

13. Change my blog url.

Pending

So I am really happy with all that I have managed to get done in 2011!! :D Here is my off the top of my mind checklist for 2012:

1. Must. Get. A. Job.

2. Lose 10 more kilos.

3. Try to run a Marathon.

4. Learn a New Language.

5. Buy a new Cellphone.

6. Buy a new Camera.

7. Be in a LBD ready body.

8. Buy more shoes.

9. Spread Love.

10. Stay in Love.

It is harder than it looks! But I hope I do even better next year! What is your new years checklist?

A Tag! After an eternity :P

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:34:00 +0000

So I got tagged by the lovely KofyKat from My Orange Palette about weird habits! Here it goes:

#1. What's a nickname only your family calls you?

Pinky/Pinku

#2. What's a weird habit of yours?

I tend to grind my teeth sometimes when I am thinking really hard.

#3. Do you have any weird phobias?

Other than that of Water (Drowning), I have a huge phobia of Pigeons. I did a whole post on that one here.

#4. What's a song you secretly LOVE to blast & belt out when you're alone?

Quit Playing Games With My Heart - The Backstreet Boys (I honestly love that song)

#5. What's one of your biggest pet peeves?

When people promise to do something and they don't end up doing it. Don't say you would do something if you aren't sure about it, especially when you change decisions at the last moment.

#6. What's one of your nervous habits?

I talk incessantly when I'm nervous!

#7. What side of the bed do you sleep on?

If the windows are closed, then I sleep on the window side. Else, away from the window (refer to my fear of Pigeons).

#8. What was your first stuffed animal & it's name?

My first stuffed animal was a furry Monkey which could be worn like a backpack. I never named it though, he was always "Monkey". I still have it!

#9. What's the drink you ALWAYS order at Barista?

I ALWAYS order the Dark Temptation. But other than that it's usually Iced Cafe Mocha or Brrrista Blast.

#10. What's the one rule you preach.. but never ACTUALLY practice?

To let go. I have been trying to instill that unto myself though.

#11. Which way do you face in the shower?

I kinda keep moving all around! :P

#12. Do you have any 'weird' body 'skills'?

Not really! I am boring :| Oh yes I can snap with all my finger tips.

#13. What's your favorite 'comfort food'/food thats 'bad' but you love to eat it anyways?

There should be a long list for this one. Mmm but right now off the top of my head, I wanna eat Deep Fried Butter :|

#14. What's a phrase or exclamation you always say?

OMG. I am completely an OMG girl! :P

#15. Time to sleep- what are you ACTUALLY wearing?

What do you mean what am I ACTUALLY wearing? (naughty).... Well I am wearing a loose black tee and pink PJ's with black stars on it :P

Tagging anyone and everyone who reads this post!

Take care guys :)

That time of the month.

noreply@blogger.com (Ashrita) — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:16:00 +0000

No, I am not talking about PMS, for all those who are wondering.

It's that time of the month, where you just wanna take a rain check on everything just because you are so overwhelmed with all the information that comes to you, good or bad. You just wanna hit the pause button and breathe for a second. You feel happy, sad, angry, excited and upset all at the same time. To sum it up in two words, you feel "messed up". But with people like me this is the story of our lives. Happens with us more often than not. And I love it this way.

This is that time of the year when I go on and on about de-cluttering our closets and hence our lives. With Diwali around the corner I have no other option but to clean my room (It is not dirty, just that I like to collect a lot of unwanted stuff) and discard what is really not required - like bills from a restaurant which is a decade old, or clothes that are never going to fit me again, to my high school notes to old embarrassing diaries. The diary bit, I like. Every year I read it and I evaluate myself. But this time, in the middle of a huge pile of unwanted paperwork, I found an old CD with my ex's name written on it. Curiosity always kills the Cat and I am no exception. I had to check out what was in that CD. In my usual situation, waterworks would follow looking at all those pictures and videos of us together, and all the songs we loved listening to, everything. But you know what, I am alright. I feel happy.

Exes can never be friends - A lesson which I thought I had learned. But then you know what, it is okay to be friends with your exes as long as you know the boundaries and can categorize your heart and mind well. I was friends with one of my exes for a long time till my notion was changed by my recent ex. I am sure my recent ex still wants me to be friends with him as do I, and that is the biggest contradiction to the exes-cannot-be-friends theory. One of the reasons why this does not hold true in my case is that none of my break ups have been ugly. There was no name calling, no hurling abuses, no disrespect and no grudges. So why not be friends then?

I don't know why am I writing all this on here, it is just I am so overwhelmed after watching those videos and seeing the pictures, the whole journey is just flashing right before my eyes. I was this irresponsible, immature, unaware and hyper excited girl, just so happy to be all by herself for once, and look at where I am now. I mean the difference is massive. The sheer loudness in my volume and actions had me sitting jaw dropped in front of my computer screen in a state of a minor shock. The looseness of my posture, the body language, the dressing sense, the messy hair, the skin... I could go on and on. I am kinda freaked out right now. I know I am at a much better place, and can analyze things and have a better judgment of people. I have learned to forgive and I have learned to apologize. I do not have any regrets, and after all, this is how growing up happens right?

It's just that when I look at girls in their late teens now, and see them behaving the exact same way like I did when I was about their age, I probably would try to cut them some slack. One should never jump to conclusions with anyone. Someone very special to me told me that every one is unique. Einstein failed his 10th grade, perhaps because he sucked at sitting there and mugging up everything. But he went on and found out the theory of relativity and much more. Everyone has something special about them. You have something really special about you too. Some people even are really good at being bad people. Just their specialization I guess.

I lost a distant cousin this evening. He was on the bike with his wife and their 8 month old baby, and he passed away on the spot. His wife is under intensive care. The baby is scratch less... I really don't deal with any news involving deaths very well. I just go numb. I don't cry. I don't feel anything. I am feeling very sorry though. But the sheer thought of death of anyone that I love scares the hell out of me. I think it is just a downside of starting to love your life. Ha, you hate your life and you get lemons, when you love it, you still get lemons. But I would still choose to go from here putting on a happy face.

I have a friend who I have lost complete touch with. She lives on the other side of this world. The thing is, while I lost touch with her, I became a good friend of her younger sister who is in her late teens. She is going through a pretty tough time right now. An unwanted pregnancy. Too late to abort. She hasn't told anyone and is living at a shelter as of now. She has a sleeping disorder so she cannot sleep on time. She cannot eat anything because she pukes out most of the food she eats. There are very few times where I have nothing to say, and this is one of those. I just wish her the best and hope she finds the strength to face all this with a brave shield.

On top of all that, I read a blog post today talking about the ABCs of having gal pals without the drama. A lot of that made sense to me. And then I realized that I do have some really cool ladies in my life, more than I would care to admit. Guys in my life are pretty practical and good friends but I'm telling you, when you start looking better, most of them start getting attracted to you and then it all just spirals down into nothingness. So I am happy with my girlies, whom I never gave any credit for being as amazing as they are, and will continue to stay so.

I am just so overwhelmed with everything that is going around me right now, and somehow it is just not enough no matter how much I try to sum it up into words. I am trying to direct it in the most positive way possible, and I really cannot get myself to talk to anyone about all this. But, for the first time since I started my blog, I feel like I am talking to you guys. Just a stupid rant though!