The Bag that made Me Cinderella.

Does owning a pair of branded sunglasses or shoes take u really high?

The answer for me, atleast, is YES!

I was totally laid back with my mood swings and checking out the local magazine showcasing the hip bag collection for 2007 and some fashion accessories, when I realized it was time to do the dishes piled up in my kitchen! hmm..What an interesting pastime!

As I was doing the dishes, I was calculating the amount of money to be saved to own a nice Zara or a Gucci bag and a classy black watch. Im a total sucker for bags and watches!

It was 5 pm when my mom returned home from work. As always, she was updating me with the details at work,When she announced that a patient of hers gifted her a bag. She's a nurse and I was in the kitchen when i was hoping against all hopes that it would be a cool,hip bag,preferably in black or white like I've always wanted.Mom went and showed Dad the bag first,don't ask
me why!I was the next one in line to have a look of it.There goes the last plate and my last prayer hoping not to see a dandy old bag.She then took off the cover and it was a
Givenchy!!!

Aaagh!!!
I could faint.

It was a beautiful white and black bag. Talk about having two birds in hand! I was freaking out,but that wasn't just it. There was a purse in the bag with all these little goodies from Givenchy.The latest matte foundation, the day cream,night cream, the PERFUME,a nail polish,make up remover,two lipsticks..aagh!I couldn't breathe!I was way too excited and my mom was startled with my reaction. She was pleased she made my day!

What a blessed day it was indeed!

If only you guys could taste the yummy lipstick.mm..and the perfume!How mesmerizing!Im sure the men might have started calling the stores to find out if more of the lipstick and the perfumes were in stock.Try it on girls,its truly a fascinating experience.

I feel good that I can experience happiness from life's little unexpected moments.

It's just a bag.

But something that could bring that precious smile and the feeling like you're someone "wow", is simply priceless! I mean how cool would I look walking down a street with a Givenchy bag than a regular carry bag? Eventhough heads don't turn, it would definitely make me confident and make me look an inch tall with my nose high up in air!

Girls, save some time and money to make you feel good.
A day to pamper just yourself. You are a princess.
Stop and have a look in the mirror. Love yourself.
If you can't take care of yourself,you can't take care of any one else!

We all are Cinderellas in our own ways, spending most of our time cooking, cleaning, washing, scrubbing the floors, changing the dirty baby diapers, feeding the whole family and not to mention the slogging at work. We all deserve a Cinderella moment in our busy scheduled life.

Im glad I found mine.
I hope its yours next! :)

Why are Indian parents so demanding?

Is it me or does this question arise in all your minds too? Why are Indian parents so overprotective with their children when the American parents think that their children will not be developed if they are not allowed to do things on their own? Blame it on the culture, the safety issues or even one's own insecurity of not being a good parent that leads to horrendous mix of
feelings amongst the children.The confusion that parents have ,first of all, must be clearly analyzed and corrected.


Fear.

One of the key disaster creating factors.The fear that their children would be led astray or remain indisciplined if they do not take the rod.The children would remain silent which the parents take it as their success but infact, they just staying numb deep within making a boundary or a wall keeping their now called enemies away from their space.They would be confused and irritated since many decisions, though small, would be left for them to take as they're not ready to share it with their rod handling parents.To discipline and to scare your kids are two different things. Why did Jesus say, inorder to enter the kingdom of heaven, be like the little children?? Innocence, my dear parents, is something to be handled with care.Its priceless and it wont last long. So as long as your children are blessed with a gift that would soon be taken away from them,why not let them enjoy it and prepare their way into the big world with a hug, kiss and maybe a pinch!


Safety First!

True, some of the parents are really freaked out when it comes to the safety of their children.In the world of paedophiles, molesters, kidnappers,etc..which parent wouldn't be concerned?Do you think American parents aren't worried about it? But instead of locking them up in their rooms or restricting their activities to indoor,accompany them to parks where they get to enjoy the fresh air and have some fun in the sand! Even you could strengthen the bond between your children by sharing a few laughs on the see-saw or on the swings.Go camping with your kids once in a month or go sight seeing,teaching and showing them the different cultures striving around their little world.Involve your children in activities like cooking,cleaning the house,gardening or even doing the laundry.I understand there's no time for anyone to spare these days. But time's something that doesnt wait for anybody, it just passes by, like your little ones' childhood.What they would look back in their future and say depends on their today. So think twice!


"Im the parent!"

When it comes to the point when you order your children not to do this and that,and when they ask,"Why can't I do that?" Grow up.Dont give reasons like,"Im your mother and you have to listen to me".Give them the right reason for your action. Inspite of the soft talk, if things aren't going well, then look eye to eye with your child and tell him the consequence of his behaviour.I bet most of the parents would be saying, "Yea right!Be a parent and then comment!" I agree I aint a parent but I was once a child. Even parents are mere human beings who are bound to make mistakes.They're not perfect. Accept it. Experience teaches all, how to deal with various tackles of life.You're the parent. Show your kids who really is the grown up here!


The Raaga of the Ancestors.

Many folks have told me that they do the eye rolling and constant yelling because that's how their parents behaved when they were little.Maybe you calmed down because you didn't want to hear your mom go on and on. However,some kids enjoy having fun tormenting their parents and showing them who the real boss is! So stop for a while and think what could possibly make your child actually hear you.Dont mistake me with "bribary system" like, "If you score well in Maths, you'll get a new ipod!!". Some children listen and instantly obey-God bless them, some hates to be sent to their rooms to think about their actions, some become goodies when their father comes in the picture,etc. Find out what invokes your child. Dont go for your
parents', grandparents', aunts' or neighbours' child-handling mantra.They're your children and your experiment! ;)


So relax. Have fun being a parent, even if that means to handle three wailing kids at a time!!Someday they'll understand what you've gone through when they'll become parents.That'll be your payback time!Many crave for this "headache" that you're facing today.

Stop, take a deep breath and smile. Have a blessed day with your children!

What You Want and What You Need..

Many of us get really mixed up with these two four lettered words : Want and Need. Some even mistake it for the same.Be it shoes,clothes,house,job or even a partner!I believe all of us are traumatised with this question at one point of our life or the other.Many gyan gurus say that its really what we need that we have to go after, than what we really really want.But who's going to explain the carnal mind! ;)

Read through some of the tips that would really help you fight this dilemma.

1. My soul saver has always been my best friend. Whenever I had an "in pin safety pin" moment in my life, I relied on her and vice versa. Did you know that even a research at Harvard in the US has shown that two heads are really better than one at problem-solving? Well,now you know. Talk it through a friend with whatever decision in life you're struggling with and see the difference!

2. Honestly speaking, this method has never lasted with me. However,many others have really made a drastic change in their financial,spiritual and professional areas of life, adapting this mantra. It's the "pen on paper" method.Write down what you want at the groceries so you wouldn't over spend, jot down the things you've dreamnt of doing always and how you want your life to be and work towards making your dream a reality. Trust me, patience is the key word. Since I'm a true gemini, I lack it! But you must never give up because I believe in, "To have a future you've always wanted, you have to work on your present and forget your past".

3. A very good friend of mine had once told me that "Destiny" will reveal itself to you when you're in a fix.You're inner self will help you recognize between the two and the blurry vision of doubt of what you're craving for and what you're really looking out for,will no longer exist.Its like seeing your future laid out like a red carpet and waiting for you to walk on it. It indeed is a beautiful feeling. I hope you'll feel it someday too.

4. Lastly,I believe the core reason for a confusion to live within you is because you lack happiness. I know, its something you can find but not easy to own. But maintain that peace within you. Dont ask for more. The laws of the universe reveals that there is no scarcity at all.Everything we want is here on earth. Its provided for us to enjoy. However,when man gives birth to greed,strife is caused,a fight is put up and then arises a winner and a loser. A winner would keep having and wanting more because his greed is never satisfied and a loser would always remain in lack of his resources which causes deprivation. The energy released from this cycle of fight changes our inner self,our internal peace and indirectly affects all of us as an
individual,a family,community,country and our little world.

So be at peace dear friends, for we all have come into this world with nothing and will return to dust with nothing more. Own happiness and truly make an effort to distinguish between your short-term wants and your long-term needs.

God bless!

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening - Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know,
His house is in the village though.
He will not see me stopping here,
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer,
To stop without a farmhouse near,
Between the woods and frozen lake,
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake,
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep,
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.