Xpressions

The strawberry season is here and I simply can not resist the fresh, juicy red fruit. Strawberries are eaten in various forms, but the most popular I feel are the strawberry with cream and strawberry shake options. With the onset of summer, a cool refreshing milk shake is just the kind of thing you would look forward to after a hard day at work ... :). So I too decided to make one for myself with these few easy steps ... Wash and clean the strawberries and chop them in 2-3 pieces each. Add the chopped strawberries, Sugar (as per taste) and chilled milk into a blender.  Blend it well. It gives a light pink color which i simply love ...  Serve it with a strawberry or 2 on top of the glass. You can also use some strawberry crush on the glass to give it a more appealing look. And you are ready to sluuurrrppppp ..... Aah!! .... :)

Had this idea of creating a hand made personalized calendar since many days. Am finally able to actually create it. Hand made because I'm writing the dates and personalized because I've added family photographs and birthday/anniversary reminders for myself. Really simple and even make for a great gift to near ones specially right into the new year. Here's the plan ... Requirements : Handmade paper - any color of your choice, I always prefer white Colored gel pens - If you get them with sparkler ink, its even better Photographs of the family members/friends - Idea is to get at least 12 photo's one for each month. I've used this birthday/anniversary theme. So I selected photos of family members who have their birthday in that month. You could use other themes like seasons or festivals - so select seasonal/festival photo's to represent season or festival falling in that month. Photos having people in them make it more personal. Decorative Items - Anything fro...

Had a super lazy weekend ... Felt good to be at home doing nothing for a change ... well not like totally nothing .. had some fun with colors ... :) And watched the new movie - Ek mai aur ek tu. Best part is the movie moves with good pace and is over in less than 2 hours. Not overtly emotional and shows somewhat realistic situations in life for a change. Loosely based on the English flick 'what happens in Vegas', this movie also shows a Vegas wedding in drunken stupor between the lead actors. Liked watching both Kareena and Imran Khan on screen as individual characters but there is no great on-screen chemistry between them. Overall a good watch for a lazy weekend.

Recently going through my collection of snaps came across this beautiful photos which I had captured while in UK. It was fall time and these snaps were captured in a park. The leave are changing colors and are in different stages giving the trees a very colorful look. Summers in Europe may be a more joyful time but I would vote for fall as the most beautiful time of the year. Sharing a few lovely snaps here ...

This was the first weekend of the year ... so decided to start it with something new. Got 2 new plants for my terrace garden ... :) An aloe vera and a lemon grass. Both plants are known for their medicinal value. Tea made with lemon grass, tulsi, adrak and pepper is the best known homemade remedy for common cold. With dipping temperatures, it's the best thing to have, to prepare yourself against the cough/cold viral infections which come around this season. These lovely new shoots come along with the new year. And hibiscus is the best plant in my kitty right now. Its always blooming ... :)

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year 2012 .... Time to stop by and think how 2011 went. Mine was a great year. Many amazing memories, many dreams which came true. 2012 is here with a whole new set of ideas and expectations. New heights to achieve, new places to visit ... Looking forward for another wonderful year ....

My favorite season of the year ... Sitting in my balcony and having hot 'chai' has never felt so good .. :) Unfortunately been too busy at work hence haven't been able to make any outing in last few weeks. But looking forward for something interesting during Christmas and New year. Temperature in Pune is going around 10-12C now. The roads get deserted around 8:30-9:00pm. Less traffic woes for me as this is my usual time of travelling back from office .. :) Early mornings in gym are also blissfully less crowded. Carrots, apples, peas and pears all in abundance. Waiting for grapes and strawberries now .. :) May be I should head to Mahabaleshwar for the strawberries in the coming weeks now ... :)