Loving Flowers For Your Loved Ones

Are there any romantic ideas quite like a great gift of flowers for your day, bring a smile to your face, and cause you to really feel special? Whether you're a man or a woman, giving a flower or a bouquet to your spouse is one of the best, most affordable ways possible to add a little natural, old-fashioned romance to your relationship or marriage.

If you want to bring a smile on your wife, husband, girlfriend or boyfriend face, then flowers are one of the few romantic gifts that require such little thought and yet still go a long way. Flowers are easy to obtain, affordable to buy, wonderful to look at, smell wonderful and may function as a fresh reminder of your love for days. 

When it comes to individual online flowers delivery in Gurgaon or creative bouquets and arrangements, there are a lot of options to choose from you could get your lover flowers every week and get them to seem new and unique every time.

Pick your flower

For several hundreds of years, the red rose has gained the popularity as an image of love. It symbolizes interest, love and romances and on Valentine Day, large numbers are bought around the world.

If however, a rose is too traditional for your flavour, a professional florist will be able to recommend you on buying the best collection of flowers to show your feelings. Every flower has a particular significance, and some flowers have many definitions, according to their colour. The red chrysanthemum symbolizes romantic love, while the yellow-coloured chrysanthemum signifies unreciprocated love. With the help of an efficient flower shop, you can create a shiny, wonderful bouquet that is a tasteful and symbolic expression of your emotions.

Choosing your loved one's favourite colour as a theme is a popular choice for many flower buyers. This effort and good care show your thoughtfulness, rather than purchasing a meaningless gift. Arrangements such as flowers with shiny colours in a variety of colours and colours such as white, red, pink, orange, violet and yellow-coloured create wonderful gifts.

Gift Ideas

The services of a professional florist can add a designed and expert finish to your gift. Flower shops have several choices for flower arrangements and gift hampers to complement your romantic gesture. Suggestions for romantic gifts to add to a slow down include chocolates, champagne, bubble bath and candles. Flower shops generally offer a delivery service, creating an ideal opportunity to surprise your beloved by having their gift hamper and flowers sent to their front door.

Chocolates show desire. Delivering confectionary such as chocolate is associated with love, especially as it is an aphrodisiac: candy causes emotions such as excitement and heightened sensitivity.

The mixture of flowers and a great gift hamper sent to your beloved will not only be a welcomed surprise but function as an ideal way to show that they are in your thoughts. However, if you really love someone and worry about him or her, then you do not need any occasion to send flowers; you can do so just like that to show how much you care.

Moms Special Sarees: An Ode to the New-Age Mothers!

Over the years, the concept of Indian moms has undergone an intense makeover - from a stereotypical textbook version of a mother to first being a woman, who has her priorities sorted and straight. This transition has left everybody in awe and completely baffled. She prefers choices and isn’t afraid or feel guilty to exercise them - be it about wearing a saree to work or the decision to have kids or not. Be it about working post marriage or getting married at all!  She keeps herself first.

She keeps her health on priority and completely does away with the idea of putting her in the last. The emotional melodrama is also tossed out of the window. They don’t hesitate to walk out of a scene that drains them and their energy. This is something that definitely calls for the celebration! Happy Mother’s Day!

Bharatsthali enlists the new-age mothers from all over the world, who have brought a refreshing change in the melodramatic-sacrificing-helpless Mother India-esque landscape and of course, they all love to wear sarees on special days or their special visit to India.

Heera Modi

In her late nineties, Heera Ben Modi is a guiding light to many. Her son, Narendra Modi may be the Prime Minister of India, but she stays in her hometown, stands in the bank queues and takes an auto back home. Simple, contented and happy in wearing dharmavaram silk sarees. Such understated qualities in a human and she have them all!

Angelina Jolie

Does she need an introduction? She may not be a biological mother to her six kids, but she is their guiding light and has faced both compliments or critique because of them. She has had her share of bad relationships, flings and marriages but that never stopped her from taking the control her own life. Both her professional and personal life are inspiring and worthy to be chronicled.

Nita Ambani

She could singlehandedly be credited for the transformation of her son, Anant Ambani. When he struggled with severe health issues and obesity, she made sure that he wasn’t left alone to face the Internet trolls and associated complications. So, when he decided to knock a few pounds off, she was with him. She exercised and followed a strict diet along with him. All while she was managing the work. Talk about work-life balance and a strong bond with Kanjivaram pattu silk sarees as strong as this!

Madhu Chopra

Madhu Chopra ran away from home to be a doctor and likes to wear ikkat sarees in her daily routine. She is a certified pilot and can speak nine languages! Her daughter, Priyanka Chopra is her reflection when it comes to confidence and taking some bold decisions such as not wearing itsy-bitsy clothes and missing out on ten films in the early phase of her career.

WarisDirie

WarisDirie might not be a popular name for you, but for over a million girl she is Godsend and a fighting warrior who saves them from atrocity like genital mutilation. Waris was a victim of genital mutilation when she was all of five and ran away from home because her father fixed her marriage with a man in his sixties. She came to London, became a model and eventually started her NGO- Desert Flower that fights against female genital mutilation. Besides, her view on teaching our sons about consent and gender equality are as relevant and much-needed in today’s time.

Your mother might be a single parent, who couldn’t make it to your PTA or basketball game every time because of her hectic work schedule, but because of her job, you are studying in the top college of your city and have a better chance at your future. She could be a stay-at-home mum, who hardly socialises but ensures that you and your family continue having their meals on time and have one less worry to take care of. She wouldn’t join or hang out with you and your friends post-school, but she makes sure that you are well-fed and your bed is ready.

So, while love for you and her desire to do good to the family remains the only constant, she isn’t going to let herself to be exploited by emotions or circumstances!

Best Festive Outfits from Top Fashion Collections

It is that time of the year again when you need to dress up in your trendiest of outfits as you dance away the night with loved ones during Navratri and other festivals. Rest assured that the nights would be full of fun and soirees. To ensure that you look your trendy best at the gatherings, we have five amazing outfit ideas that have been inspired by our amazing festivals. Start searching for these outfits online and enjoy the festivities at their best.

Skirts and Lehengas

Flaunt an envious feminine touch and wear that sensual appeal that can make heads turn at the gatherings with ethnic skirts and lehengas. Nnnow has an amazing collection of skirts like Placket Printed Maxi Skirt, Printed Panel Maxi Skirt which you can team with backless tops, mirror work cholis, etc.

Moreover, with the help of Nnnow Coupons, you can now buy these amazing outfits at amazing prices. Rest assured that there are plenty of beautiful options at the online store to make sure that there is something for everyone. Browse through the collection before selecting and prepare yourself for the compliments.

Koti Jackets

If your busy schedule has left little time for you to prepare for festivals, a koti jacket can definitely save your day. Koti jackets are short jackets that can be easily paired with an extensive range of amazing outfits. Be it something Indian or western, the jacket looks beautiful with anything and everything.

While you can buy the jacket separately, Lifestyle has a great collection kurta sets that come with a matching koti jacket. And with the help of Lifestyle Coupons, you can also get great discounts on your purchase. The best thing with these jackets is like other accessories, you can pair them up with many of your other outfits too to ensure that you look your best each of the nine days.

Traditional Sarees

No matter what kind of formal occasion or festival it is, you can never go wrong with a beautiful saree. Renowned Indian designers now offer a vast collection of sarees designed with a twist to make them a perfect fit for the urban consumers. Available in bright colors and trendiest of designs, you can rest assured that you’ll put your best foot forward this with a beautiful saree.

Shoppers Stop is a popular online store that is offering a vivid collection of stylish sarees for the occasion. The store is known for its affordability and you can rely on it for timely delivery of your selected outfit. Don’t forget to use Shoppers Stop Coupons when shopping at the store to avail massive discounts.

Anarkali Suits

Turn into the Anarkali who will burn the entire dance floor not just in pubs and discos but cultural gatherings. Anarkali suits are very popular among women in India due to the wide range of options in which they are available. You can purchase a tube Anarkali for that wow factor or team the kurta with a silk trouser to look like a million bucks.

Popular brands like Biba, Ira Soleil, Haute Curry, Jashn, Stop, and much more offer beautiful Anarkali kurtas which you can definitely consider for special occasions. You can find a great collection of these popular ethnic wear at Lifestyle, Shoppers Stop, Nnnow, and other popular online portals.

If you are confused about what you should buy, the options mentioned above are sure to make things easier. Browse these popular options and recommended stores to select the best outfits for the festival. Use the coupons when shopping and you are sure to enjoy a shopping experience like never before!

People Who Make the World a Better Place

Often, it is not the one who is sitting on the throne that brings about change in a country. It is the minions who work at the grass root level who are the causative agents for all the changes that happen in this world.

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Yet, we forget them conveniently and all the praise gets garnered by the politicians and the top brass in any community. 

The daily wage workers who sweep our streets, takes away our garbage and toils in the hot sun at construction sites and farms make this world better place. We usually forget them conveniently.

Among us, some do recognize this and treat them with dignity. The old lady who lives on the ground floor of our apartment always keeps a plateful of food to feed the municipality worker who comes to empty our garbage bin in the morning.

There are also those who take care of the homeless and the street animals. There is a house in the block next to ours which is a shelter for all street dogs.

The owners of the house, keep their gates open and at any given time there would be at least ten street dogs relaxing in their compound.

I have seen this man who distributes blankets to the homeless in the streets during the bitter cold season in Bangalore. 

The man who lives in the apartment on the opposite street feeds crows daily in the evening. The ruckus created by the crows are not out of greed, but of happiness. 

He gives them small pieces of dried coconut. Crows by nature are very suspicious creatures. But, they trust him completely and he is their friend. Every evening, while the rest of the birds are returning home after their daily wandering, I see a large flock of crows flying towards this man’s terrace.

Yet another news story that impressed me recently was about a Bengaluru MBBS student who drives an autorickshaw after his classes to fund a charity at the hospital he studies, which takes care of medical bills of poor patients. 

Source: ScoopWhoop

His father died early in life and his elder brother is paralyzed. He has two young sisters. The autorickshaw was a gift to him from the hospital superintendent for passing his exams with good marks. You can read his story here.

All these stories convince me that there is definitely goodness left in this world. The media shares such stories but it gets drowned in the negativity that floods it.

Do you have any such story to share? I would love to hear them.

 Linking this post with We Are The World Blog Fest, aiming to infuse social media with all the good stories that are out there, the stories that show kindness, compassion, hope and the resilience of the human spirit.  

5 Kitchen Products I Love

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In my home, the kitchen is where only I can rule. I spend hours daily, cooking and cleaning for the family.

There are many products appliances that I really love in my kitchen. If asked to choose among them, I would select the following without much ado.

Prestige Grill-Toaster:

I purchased this using the winning coupons from the Game of blogs conducted by Blogadda. It is my savior during many hectic evenings where my fussy eight-year-old demands something yummy. A few slices of vegetables, cheese, and bread gets grilled and toasted to perfection within minutes. It vanishes from the plate within seconds. It is very compact and user-friendly.

LG Oven:

I am a reluctant baker. But I love making cakes on special occasions. The rich chocolate cake I make is a hit among my relatives and friends. I love it when the aroma of the cake wafts through the house. I use it also to cook one pot meals during emergencies. I have been using it since the last six years with zero complaints. 

 

Borosil Mixing bowls:

These lovely bowls come handy when making cakes, biriyani or other special dishes. Whenever I take these out, my family immediately guesses that some special item is going to be on the menu. Good to mix cake batter, marinating and also serving.



Pigeon Induction Cooktop:

This is another one of my saviors. All my cookers are induction type and hence my cooking gets over quickly. An LPG gas cylinder lasts over six months for me as I use it only to make tadkas, deep frying, dosas or other slow cooking items. Its timer helps me set the time to cook boiled eggs, veggies, noodles and other special items that have specific time requirements. It doesn't use too much electricity and increase our electricity bills. I use this to boil water for bathing. We don't use geyser anymore.


 

La Opala dinner set:

This is something which brings in nostalgia. When asked to select a dinner set, I had gone for La Opala as this reminds me of home. I even searched for the exact design that we have at home. Was not successful, though. My husband jokes that even rasam-rice tastes yummier when served on these white pristine plates. 

 

Three Favourite Blogs

I am a strong believer in synchronicity. Whatever happens to us happens at the right time for the right reason. Every person comes into our lives with a mission.

Even blogs. Every word we read gives a new meaning, a new dimension, which we may not have explored. For that very reason, I like searching for new ideas and tutorials online.

Some blogs inspire me, some guide me, and some help me unlearn accumulated bad habits.

Three blogs, which I am thankful for are:

Louise L Hay Blog:

I consider Louise L Hay as my guardian angel. Whenever I ask I receive messages via newsletters or social media updates tailor suited to my needs.

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WritetoDone:

Being a writer, I often turn to this website which has tons of information to help a writer in the various stages of writing and publishing. 

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If you are looking for tips to plot your novel, short story or that perfect blog post, you don't have to go anywhere else. Check out this website.

2000 free Amigurumi patterns

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One of my favorite hobbies is Crocheting. Creating small stuffed dolls using crochet is called Amigurumi. Amigurumi supposedly have a Japanese origin. I love making Amigurumi dolls. You can check out the ones I have created HERE. Crochet is a great stress reliever and you can also create mittens, dresses, shawls, blankets if you learn just a few crochet stitches. For Amigurumi, you need to learn only the single crochet stitch, which is the first one you learn.
Why not try it out?

As bloggers, I believe we have the capacity to influence and help others. Many of us use this amazing platform and bring about change into the lives of their readers. The power of the pen or the written word is mighty. It can leave wounds, which are very difficult to heal. So use it the right way.

On this blessed Thursday, I request all my fellow bloggers to use the power of blogging to spread the message of love and compassion. Love is the most powerful tool in the world. I have never tried to hurt anyone through my blog posts as I believe in Karma. When we hurt others through words, the hurt return to us manifold. It has this boomerang effect.

Happy Thursday, everyone!

This post is written for #ThankfulThursdays being hosted by Tina Basu and Amrita Misra

12 Lessons from 2016

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January told me to hope.

 I was walking through new paths, where unknown fears and strangers lurked at every turn. Strangers who took your words and twisted it to suit their wicked ways, or used it as barbed tools to taunt you. Words once uttered were lost forever; it would never be yours again.

February taught  it was okay to make mistakes.

We make errors in judgment while selecting friends, trust the wrong persons and then suffer due to these errors.

March came with tough lessons and pain.

Yet, it also planted the seeds for a new dawn. I migrated my blog to my own domain. A new website in my name was born. It was also a month of darkness. People I trusted turned against me and shocked me with public vitriolic attacks.

April taught me that nothing lasts long, even pain.

I understood that even pain doesn’t last long. Only those who brave the waves survive to tell the tale. I was fortunate to have enormous support from family and friends.

May asked me to look ahead with courage; every night was followed by day.

 Lessons I have learned from my bellowed father helped me see pinpricks of light even amidst the darkness. I overcame my fears.

June came with drizzles of new hopes, new plans.

 Like the rain brings with itself the pleasant smell of wet earth, June brought with it new friends, inspirations, and lessons.

July came along and filled me with happiness.

I got selected to Anita's Attic, a longtime dream. It gave me a new courage.

August was the harbinger of new beginnings.

Classes at the Attic began and every Saturday instilled in me fresh ideas, a strong belief in the strength of the written word.

September was fun all along, new friends, new lessons, and new courage.

 Words became my friends yet again. They made me smile and taught me to have fun playing with them.

October brought new tidings, new beginnings and renewed some old vows.

I began writing earnestly again and rewards too came instilling in me with confidence.

November said it was time to forget and forgive.

In my birth month, I took an oath to forgive and forget. I concentrated more on self-healing and leaving the past behind. It was time to surge ahead and to conquer new horizons.

December as always brings with itself the hope.

This month always reminds me that even in cold winter, the warmth of a loving soul was the only essential thing required to keep our dreams thriving. Though it is one that brings the year to the end. it also brings the hope of Christmas, New Year and the prospect of a fresh beginning.

Dear 2017, I had a tough yet fruitful 2016.

Hope you will be kinder to me.

The Wonderful Seven in my Life

There are many people in my life I feel grateful for every day. To pick seven from them is tough. But here I go in no particular order:

My mentor Anita Nair:

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I was privileged to be part of the 4^th season of Anita’s attic, where I had one to one interaction with my favorite writer. But for her, I might have stopped writing entirely. The insights, feedbacks, and the subtle hints that pushed us in the right direction were the main characteristics of Anita’s attic. I met some other wonderful writers, my tribe, there. She also introduced us to many established personalities from the publishing world like writers, editors, agents, and social media experts. What a writer needs most is constructive criticism, someone who can point out their strengths and weaknesses. How wonderful it is to be mentored by someone whose works have been translated into 30 languages already. Thank you, Anita, for entering my life at the right time.

My son and Husband

My son:

They say the best things come in the smallest of packages. Yes, this small packet of love, laughter, and naughtiness makes my life bright and merry every day. It is nice to be scolded at times by a tiny tot for being irresponsible. And best is when they turn into your Guru. He is my Kannada guru. I know I am a very slow learner. But I promise I will be a better student from now on.Thank you, Achu, for being my everything.

My husband Venugopala:

It is fun when the man of the house is one jolly person. He reads my moods, puts up with them, and encourages me to go after my dreams. And most importantly, he supports me when I need it the most. Over the years, he has become my best friend and confidante. There are no secrets between us. And yes, he is my alarm clock and disciplinarian when it comes to my sleeping habits. But for him, I might read throughout the night and sleep through the day. Thank you, Venugopala, for being my best buddy.

My best friend Aathira:

Aathira

Years ago, if someone told me that my best friend would be someone I haven’t even met, I would have called him or her CRAZY. But that is my truth now. I met Aathira via blogging. After we were published in an anthology together, we began chatting occasionally, mostly about writing. We got published together twice again and then we began interacting via Whatsapp. Now there is nothing under the sun that we don’t talk about, though mostly they are centered on books, writers, and writing. She was with me when I was going through a very bad phase in my life early this year. I was down in the dumps. Insecurities and self-doubt plagued me. She sent N number of messages, consoled me and made me laugh with silly jokes. She was the one who told me about Anita’s Attic first, the best step ever for the writer in me. Being an amazing writer, she inspires me. We belong to God's own country. Jokes which only we mallus can understand, calling each other names in Malayalam are our favorite pastimes. Thank you, Aathira for being there always with a bucketful of smilies.

Me with my siblings Dr. Sunil Kannada and Dr. Mini Kannada

My sister Mini:

If there is one no-nonsense person in our family, it is my big sister. She will tell when and where I went wrong and offer the right solution. She is one person I first call for anything. She is my pillar of support. She is my personal doctor and Achu refuses to take any medicine other than what ‘unnuamma’ gives. And yes, he openly admits he loves her more than me. Alas, she is the better cook and mother. The hours spent on the phone with her are some of the best. Thank you, Miniachi for introducing me to many good things like Reiki, for lessons in grooming and discipline. What will I do but for you?

My brother Sunil:

Laughter is what I associate most with my brother. When he is around, laughter is never far. His friends, his anecdotes about college life, movie outings, travels, everything makes us laugh. He is the better writer. He is the better poet, humorist, and everything in between. I really wish he would take up writing seriously one day. With the experiences from his life as a doctor, I am sure he has tons of data already to spin out books after books. Thank you for being a happy presence in my life.

My mother Panchali:

My father and mother

There is no one who can be as wonderful like a mother. She led a very inspiring life being the first woman from our village who ended up working in a white-collar job outside our state. She is a no-nonsense person and scolds us mercilessly if we err. After we lost our father, she is one person who we all cling to. We used to tease her because of her name and ask where her other four husbands were! Panchali, after all, had five husbands. Thank you, Amma, for being who you are.  

So tell me about the people in your life you are grateful for.

This post is written for #ThankfulThursdays being hosted by Tina Basu and Amrita Misra

We are Starstuff: Thankful Thursday

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Sometimes in my dreams I fall from a height, spinning across galaxies, passing through tunnels of light, experiencing inexplicable joy. Is this caused by a memory that has been embedded in my genes? Did human beings arrive on earth from a distant place? Are we made of stardust? Is there anyone like us out there in the cosmos?

Such questions often trouble me. While in school, cosmology was one section in science in which I always scored full marks. Even today, I devour any article/video that talks about the universe.

Image Source: www.tinabasu.com

Today is Thursday and it also happens to be my birthday. This #ThankfulThursday, the event that I am thankful for is my birth on earth, this tiny blue dot, as a human being. We are the only species gifted with the capability to think. One who can imagine different worlds and that too I am born in an era which has seen enormous scientific advances!

With every significant leap that science takes, humanity hopes to solve the biggest of mysteries. Where do we come from? Where do we go? We are nowhere near the answer yet.

But isn’t it enough to be grateful for this life, this moment, this birth? When we feel one with the cosmos, all the petty fights, the ego clashes; everything become immaterial. Even the earth we reside is an insignificant tiny blue dot when we consider the entire cosmos.

Let me quote from Carl Sagan, the eminent American cosmologist and astrophysicist here:

“Every one of us is, in the cosmic perspective, precious. If a human disagrees with you, let him live. In a hundred billion galaxies, you will not find another.”

― Carl Sagan, Cosmos

Isn’t this profound? If we can think this way, there wouldn’t be any conflicts in our world.  Being born on this beautiful planet as an intelligent being is in itself a miracle. Shouldn’t we be thankful for it?

This next quote explains how similar we are even though we belong to different races, continents, and nationalities.

 “The nitrogen in our DNA, the calcium in our teeth, the iron in our blood, the carbon in our apple pies were made in the interiors of collapsing stars. We are made of starstuff.”

― Carl Sagan, Cosmos

Do pick up the book Cosmos by Carl Sagan where Sagan reveals the jewel-like blue world inhabited by us. 

This post is written for #ThankfulThursdays being hosted by Tina Basu and Amrita Misra

The Grateful Tech Savvy Woman

Source: www. tinabasu.com

Have you ever wondered what would happen if one of our dead ancestors (preferably from a few centuries ago) resurrected and arrived to live among us? Our world would amaze them and if not guided around, they might end up in a mental asylum. The gadgets would scare them. The vehicles would drive them crazy. Shouldn’t we be grateful that we live in this century where everything is just a few clicks away?

We live a privileged life today. The very fact that you are reading this post is proof that technology has given you the freedom and a platform to express your thoughts and beliefs. We have a voice in this world because of technology. A post on social media can touch many lives. A blog post, a tweet ,a newspaper article, a podcast, a YouTube Video, whatever way we wish to express our thoughts, we can. It is all free.

A few decades ago, women didn’t have a voice. Many still don’t. I have the technological know-how to create a voice bubble of my own which can be accessed and interpreted by anyone, anytime. I can talk to a loved one residing in any part of this world. I can watch them live via Skype. I can exchange news daily with my family and friends via Whatsapp. I can learn new things via the internet absolutely free because a few individuals have graciously shared their knowledge online.

Our grandparents didn’t enjoy this privilege nor did our parents. I am addicted to technology and I try to update myself with the latest technology. Being tech savvy always has its advantages. I feel safer and enjoy more freedom online. So that is one habit that I am grateful about. 

Tell me what is that one habit that you cherish and is grateful about?

I plan to write #ThankfulThursday posts on every Thursday starting today.

I am linking this with Twinklingtina of TinaBasu.com, who is hosting this  Linky party along with Amrita Misra.