"Shave or Crave" - BlogAdda contest

                                         

This post is a part of the 'Shave or Crave' movement in association with BlogAdda.com

A stubble isn't bad as such but when it upsets the evening spirit, rough on the cheeks and your age begins to show off among those tini mini white hair, it can be quite a spoilsport and above all “I hate the Devdas look”. Reminds me of Shahrukh’s awful overacting in Devdas..

So, my cheerful mood on a Sunday took a toll seeing my hubby sport a stubble all of a sudden. The plan was to go out to the nearby mall to encounter the pre- Christmas celebrations.

“Eeeee, what’s that???” I shrieked.No reaction…

 “Please take it out”….. I lowered my pitch… (You know it works with men most of the times to see the woman bend)
Ignored…

“I beg of you”---and I waited for a decent response this time.. My man is a man of few words and for him "Action definitely speaks louder than words".."Bhaaaam" went the door…and I was left dumbstruck and helpless. All my pleas were paid no heed to and I was at a loss of words to influence him. All my hues and cries went kaput. And my ego and self- respect..Sob,sob L

My next plan was to serve him something that would brighten up his mood as the old thought goes “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”…I guess I had already made some way to it long back and couldn't push any further so my version of the same would be “The way to kill a man’s ego is through his stomach”. So I made his favorite dishes. He was happy, appreciated it much, and hummed a few lines of some crappy song (one of his favorites ).Taking benefit of the situation, I popped those pleads again.. “So all those lovely dishes were to blackmail me emotionally huhhhhh!!!”…. – instantly came the response…and poor me!!I was out of ideas to trick him!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So when it was finally time for us to move out in the evening, I felt so sick and grumpy that for a while I wished I was a man and could grow a stubble too LSo just as I was contemplating to cancel the evening plan, my hubby finally spoke up  ...”Ok babes, it’s Christmas time, time to rejoice and make your loved ones happy...So, don’t worry, I’ll get rid of it..Now cheer up and get dressed quickly in that favourite black of mine (again one of those that I hated to put onL but anything to eradicate a stubble)

“Thank you Santa, for bringing some sense to my hubby’s brains”…

Workaholic turns SAHM

A fun-filled and meaningful work/life balance,supportive and loving social circle,handsome paychecks vs a thankless,tiring,24/7 stay at home mom job..Which one do you choose?? Needless to say,the former!!!

Hmm,Unfortunately,life doesn't leave us with much choice..and we have to become one at some point in our life when family takes priority over career..
By the grace of God and with a good day care support,I could work for a good period of time after my son's birth..But I knew that it would all end one day and I would be forced to stay back home raising him..And so it finally happened after 11 years.

And I expected my life to be simpler with a long sabbatical,fantasy of my much desired me-time, organizing the house,trying different recipes,finding new hobbies,upgrading my skills and the joys of being with my baby that I really missed while at work..

It's been 3 weeks since my journey as a stay at home has started..The first 2 weeks were nothing less than hell,with sudden tremors of outbursts picking up every now and then, struggling to cope up with joblessness and excessive multi-tasking ..Outcome: Failure to keep an over active child chirpy all the time and feelings of guilt sprawling...I guess that's what happens when you are suddenly left with an unproductive mind and  an unrewarding never ending job!!and my happy plans remained as unfulfilled dreams only..and what happens to the poor kid..He is left to wonder what's wrong with mommy and gets crankier,grumpy and irritated !!

After much struggle to keep a maid or not,I finally zeroed in on a part time maid with my hubby's support who could bring me some solace and the sanity that I was beginning to lose..

Now,again,my mind is getting back to its normality, blissful thoughts are flowing in,productive thoughts are filling in and I am finally on my way to accomplishing my much cherished plans..Outcome: The poor kid is bubbly again!!

A few things that I gathered from this journey are :Never over-estimate your capacity,multi-task only to the extent you can ,meditate once in a while ,break out of the routine,write your heart out,exercise or indulge in any sport activity and most importantly get help if you can afford to till you are prepared to handle the show on your own..

Quote on life

Easy baby food recipes - II

Ever since my son started taking solid food,I've been on an experimentation spree for easy homemade baby food recipes.I strive to give him stuff that would add to essential nutrients and build up a healthy immune system while maintaining the taste factor.

The other day while chatting with my maid,I learnt about this great cereal mix.This baby food recipe has a blend of a variety of cereals ,very easy to make and extremely healthy.I've been feeding him this mix during breakfast and early evening snack times.

So for all those fussy eaters like my son,here's presenting the secret recipe which is definitely worth a shot.

Method

Dry roast equal quantities of flattened rice, wheat, dalia, rice, different varieties of dal  sprinkled with some ajwain and cumin seeds(to aid in digestion and apetite and provide millions of other health benefits)Coot it,grind it and store it in an airtight jar for frequent use.

To make the preparation,heat some ghee in a pan ,take 2-3 spoonful of this mixture and mix it well with the ghee.Cook it until the color changes to pale brown. Add some boiled water and milk to this. Cook again for another 3-4 minutes until you get a smooth consistency.

For an enriching taste,add some almond powder/raisins ,garnish with fruit pieces and jaggery syrup to sweeten it.

The superb,rich,filling and nutritious all cereal mix is ready to be served now.

Also check out my other easy weaning food recipes at http://stay-athome-moms.blogspot.in/2012/03/easy-baby-food-recipes-1.html

Cough remedies for children

Cough remedies for children

Children are prone to cold and cough more often during early years. The chances can double up  if they are kept exposed to external environment like day cares  and playschools. Research says that a cold normally lasts for around 7 to 10 days and no remedies can make the cold go away faster. You can treat the symptoms though and bring some relief to the affected child .I am presenting some of the routines that I follow , some tips jotted down from the net  and as recommended by my pediatrician to treat common cold and cough in children.

The Art of making chocolates -workshop in Thane

Chocolates!!chocolates!!chocolates!!!Who doesn’t like them and if you can make chocolates in the comfort of your house when you have a little kid around,what else would you want !!! I made the most of the Mumbai visit this time by learning how to make basic yummy chocolates that does not take much time, are easy to make and costs much less than what you would get in the market!!

We made 23 different varieties of chocolates ranging from plain, crunchy butterscotch, crispies, fruits and nuts, cappuccino, orange delights, minty mint ,caramel, flaky ,double decker chocolates in different shapes to cookie dips, coco nutty bounty and lollypops. We learnt packing them too in decorative paper wraps.

So, for all the newbie’s like me ,you can join B.G’s classes and also follow them on Facebook @ BGs-Chocolates

Also, sharing this easy chocolate making recipe from  YouTube :

chocolate covered corn flakes recipe

How to treat Head injuries in children

How restless and helpless did you feel when your loved one fell down and hurt himself in the head for the first time? Wasn’t it terribly petrifying  and distressing? I have experienced the same too!!

Well, the good news is that most head injuries are not alarming and you can do a lot to safeguard your  little one in such mishaps .Head injuries in children are common during childhood and adolescence. After all, falling is a way of growing up too!!