Goodbye 2010!

2010 - a year of some tears and big blessings.I am ending this year on a happy note.The Lord had blessed me with so many great things including a healthy baby,a
happy family and many friends.Through face book,i met a lot of old friends and some have become closer once again.

It is time to think about resolutions for the next year.I am planning to continue my weight loss regimen for one more year...It is my greatest wish now to go back to my weight on my wedding day.Last year I had lost 14 pounds and it gives me strength to push for some more...I am targeting 2 pounds a month.I had AGAIN appointed Chuks as my weight watcher.Like older times,he will be suspended from the post again and again when ever i loose control :).We both know that eventually,I will go back to him again,crying....Lets see how it goes.

Second one,blogging.I will definitely be writing on my blog,at least once a month.I started 3BT as an inspiration for me to start writing.I followed Claire's
footsteps in all these months.But,now I am planning to write 3BT only occasionally so that I can concentrate more on expressing whats in my mind and my love for reviewing many a recipes.

Third one,embarrassed to say...At least finish the craft pieces scattered here and there.There is one picture of Jesus complete with instructions to stitch which I had brought from India,four years back.I have not yet finished even one forth of it.The second one,a pink yarn.I was attracted to that hobby when i saw my mom creating woolen shawls just like that.I thought that will be my call.Bought the yarn the very next day,started knitting and the hobby came to a stand still when amma left for India.I had sent the inspiration also in her plane ;) Now,Chuks had found other uses for the yarn-To prevent our Curry plant from falling away,he had tied it with a small stick using my PINK Yarn :( When ever I think of starting a new hobby,he looks at me with a knowing smile and says...nothing.We both know what it means.Suffering from Unfinished Project Syndrome all my life ....Well,I donno i will finish anything ever.But,lets see...

Ok,here's to a great year!!! 3 Cheers...

Wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!

Heavenly Scent, Lunch Box & Christmas recipes

Accidentally found a Johnson & Johnson baby cream sample. I opened the bottle to the heavenly scent that is associated with babies everywhere.

When I reached the car, I remembered that I had forgotten to take my lunch .I ran back all the three floors in the chilling wind and cold and when I reached the door, I was searching frantically for the keys. Suddenly, the door opened and a hand appeared with my lunch box. Chuks saw the lunch box and heard me running up the stairs.

Going through many a blogs and marking dishes one by one to cook for Christmas and finally finding a page full of recipes again to select from.

Susie

Dear Susie,

You will always be remembered as Poppins' first pet. She loved you so much.Remember the days when she used to run to you and say "Good morning,Shooshie!" She showed you proudly to anyone who visited. Remember one day I was feeding you and Poppins came with her milk bottle to give you milk? Chuks tried his best to take good care of you when you fell sick.We all thought that you had survived your sickness and suddenly...you went away.Goodbye susie..

- M@mm@ Mi@

Photos, Ice & Christmas trees

I did it! I had gone through the photos uploaded by two friends in facebook. All 400 of them!

Pa is complaining that he did not see any ice on the cars. Getting up at 10 30 and looking forward to see the ice…I doubt whether it is a good idea.

Most of the homes have lit up Christmas trees. I love to see the faded shadow of Christmas trees lit inside the homes from outside.

Teachings

He taught me:

1.To love unconditionally, no matter what.
2.Take life as it comes.
3.Not to make my life an open book in face book.

I taught him:

1. Every t-shirts doesn’t need to be in shades of grey or black.
2. It really is fun to skip the gym and savor the ice cream.
3.To make ‘Fish Pollichathu’.

Love u,Chuks!

Poppins' Weekend

“Is the little person awake, yet?” – Little Ryan is asking his mom about Poppins. They knew a little guest will be coming at the middle of the night and they will get to meet her in the morning. They were growing impatient.

Alex gifting the paper figure he made at church to Poppins.

“Bye chetta, bye Toys!!!” – Poppins saying goodbye to the four boys and to the toys she was playing with.

Note from a friend, Clouds & Cake

Finding a note from a dear friend, whom exactly I was about to write to.

As I start driving from home, the clouds are all scattered here and there. By the time I reach office, they form themselves to look like Niagara fall.

The smell of freshly baked cake.

Realization, Combed Hair & Weather

That really hurt. I was very moody. J comes online with his usual jokes and my college junior announces her wedding with her classmate. I am more than happy. Being reminded that there is always a ray of hope and happiness,I try not to be mad.

After giving Poppins a bath,Chuks combed her hair. It looked so funny and I laughed when I saw that. She refused to move from the kitchen until I showed her a mirror and assured her that it was beautiful. She hugged me and ran to Pa.

It is cold, windy and sunny at the same time.In the morning,it was cold,dark and raining.

Poppins' Play, Solitaire & Lent

1. Poppins licks my nose and laughs out loud. When I held my smile and pretended to be asleep, she does that again and laughs. This time, I could not control.

2. Playing ‘Solitaire’ with Chuks in the darkness and failing each game.

3.Decided to be a full vegetarian for the next 24 days.I know,it is very hard to pull off.But,I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Thanksgiving

1.I shopped till I dropped!

2.I cooked Thanksgiving dinner for the second time.This year, there was no turkey. Jim says,”Chicken…its kind of small turkey” ;)

3.When I was trying boots at the store,Pa asks,”Are you going to the forest?”

Santa Make Over, Statues on the Escalator & Observation

Two Santa Clauses undergoing a makeover at the salon. They are coloring their hair, beard and eye brows. One is asking about extensions for the beard. I never knew this much effort is put behind being a Santa.

Three teenagers are standing on the escalator pretending as statues. Children are pointing at them and cheering. They take pride at the momentary fame.

The art of looking at you and when the eyes meet,making an expression that says I don’t know you at all.

High heels, Red Box & Holiday season

At lunch, there was a lady sitting on the next table. Her one leg is in a cast. On the other leg, high heels! Kudos to her for deciding to walk on high heels despite a broken leg.

The little red box on the top of the other cubicle. It has been sitting there unopened for a while. I like to imagine it as a forgotten treasure and I am waiting for the day someone opens that and shouts with joy seeing the gold coins.

More and more people are wearing red and black dresses. Holiday season has slowly crept in. Cubicles have been decorated with holiday themes.” Joy to the world! “

Color, Quotes & Chocolate

Today I noticed that both my coffee mug and the background color of the blog are the same. I never liked the color brown much. But, somehow I ended up with the brown-black combination in both. I always had this thing with colors where I end up buying dresses of colors which I don’t like. Though I don’t like the color green, I have had many dresses of different shades of green.

“Life is an accidental coincidence of events” – My dad’s favorite quotes. His professor taught that in school. Even after all these years, he never forgot that.

Talked with Miss.AA. She reminds me again and again not to forget to send her favorite chocolates.

Light on Baby's face,"Ebony & Ivory" & Orchid Flower

1.Light is falling on little M’s face. She closes her eyes, opens them. She checks again to see if the light is still there.Then, she covers her face with her tiny little hands and starts to sleep.

2.Arch’s face glowing behind the candles. Everyone sings “Happy Birthday” .The soft black and white layers of Ebony&Ivory cake melts in our mouths.

3.The waitress brings the dishes. Each entrée is adorned with an orchid flower. One waitress is wearing the same flower in her hair.

Fall colors, D's Eyes & IPad

1.The ground is transformed into a bed of bright orange colored leaves, after yesterday’s rain.My car is parked in the middle. Reminds me of some bollywood movie scene.

2.D’s eyes became wider with disbelief when I told her that I don’t like listening to music, much.

3.Chuks is playing with his new IPad.He is looking at it, touching it, cleaning it and smiling to himself. He is totally excited about that like a small boy who got a new toy.

നിനക്കായ്‌..

കണ്മനി നിന്നെ ഒരു നോക്കു കാണുവാന്‍
കാതങ്ങള്‍ താണ്ടി ഞാന്‍ വന്നു,
കാലങ്ങളോളമായ്‌ ഞാന്‍ കാത്തൂ സൂക്ഷിച്ചൊരാ
കടലോളം സ്നേഹം നിനക്കേകുവാനായ്‌.

Pa's visit

The most unforgettable memory of the weekend: Grandpa hugging grand daughter for the first time.

She knows it is Pa who is looking at her curiously. But, she is looking away shyly.

Poppins looking away from Pa, but, singing to him “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”.

Chuk's Birthday

1.“Poppins,please don’t tell Appa that we bought a gift for him.Ok?”“Ok.Ammaaaa”.As soon as the door opened,”Appa,giffff,Appa,gifffff”.

2.‘Someone’ searching inside my car for his birthday gift. Later,”How did you see me?When I checked,both the windows were closed!”.

3.The kids jumping on the air bed.

Twilight,Opening Lines & Sleep

1. Writing on a car:"Southern Wolverines" .Twilight mania at its best.

2."Rick Stood there with the gun.The gun was big.His hand was bigger". - Opening lines of Jonathan Ames' book from the serial "Bored To Death".

3.I was lying with Poppins yesterday to put her to sleep.She did not move for a while.I thought she slept and i got up slowly.Two bulging eyes and a big smile "Ammmaaaa...".

Hot cocoa, Kids &Sis' Photos

1.The hot chocolate Chuks made for me while I was struggling with the code. Thank God for such a nice hubby. Am quite sure he will have a smile at the corner of his mouth while reading this ;)

2.While all the moms at the lunch go on and on about how crazy kids behave when they are out shopping, I was secretly smiling at the thought that my daughter loves shopping. For now.

3.Miss.AA sends her snaps after hair cut. She looks pretty. When I called her to say that she looked pretty, she says she was waiting for my call.

Payasam,Jackfruit & Monkey Dance

1.Thinking of Sabarimala Payasam all day.It has been in my head since Divs mentioned about the prasadam.
2.H@ppiness at its best when Amma told me that the parcel contains my favorite dish,Jackfruit.Its been 4 years since I last tasted one.
3.“OO-AA OO-AA” –Poppins’ monkey dance whenever she is happy.Seriously…she is addicted to Dora.

Poppins' Dictionary - Part II

Bag It - Rabbit
Abada – hairband
Achacha – achaar
Shone-spoon
Makot - remote

Stories, Profession & Lipstick

Today's 3BT is about me ;)

1.I used to write stories in Malayalam.

2.I had always wanted to be a dancer or an archeologist. But, when I had to choose a subject in college, I went for Mathematics instead of History only because of the known fact that I will have to invest years and years in both the fields to become successful. Instead I chose the path of engineering ;)

3.My love for Lipsticks. I don’t know how many I have at the moment. Chuks & my dad say everything look the same.But, for me each one is so different.

Muddy fountain, Photo in the Bible & Smell of the soil

1.Due to the rain,the water in the lake beside my office is muddy.The fountain is spraying the muddy water.It is funny.We couldn’t stop laughing.Plus,it reminds me of elephants spraying water.

2.Talked to Ammamma yesterday.She told me that she had a photo of Chuks and Poppins in her Bible.I told her I was her first grand daughter,Chuks came in the picture only four years before.Still, he is her favorite of all.I am wondering where do I stand.

3.They are cutting the grass in the road.Fresh smell of the soil . I had never liked the smell of soil after a rain .But,today it reminded me of my childhood,when the same smell filled the air after the first rain of the season.After a little search,out of curiosity,found this:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/nature/climate-weather/atmospheric/question479.htm

Fog, Thunder & Dancing with the stars

1.Fog at the bridge makes everything invisible,while I was driving in the freeway.But,there is light at the end of the bridge.
2.Chuks taught Poppins how lighting is followed by thunder.She waits eagerly for the sound of thunder after each lightning.
3.The seventy three year old actress in Dancing with the Stars competition.She surprises me with her dance.

Surprise curry, Photo & Portuguese

1. When I added curd as per the recipe,it spoiled the tadka.Instead,I added tomato and milk(in place of coconut milk) as per Chuks' directions.It tasted so much better...Yummy chicken curry!

2. Sent out family photo to Poppins' day care.She will be happy seeing 'Appa' and 'Amma' while at daycare.

3.The hot discussions at the lunch table made us analyze the cultural similarities between India and Portugal.Finding out that Portuguese and Indian cultures share a lot of similarity . Like in India,every one knows every one.They shout out to their neighbors..After all,it is a small world.

Happ!ness,Achievement & Susie

1.One of the happiest moment of my life. A long time dream come true…
2.It made me smile when I could exercise on the stepper for 30 minutes even after a long hiatus from the gym.
3.“Hi Susie” – As soon as Poppins got up,she ran to the fish tank to wish our gold fish.

"Where is the Fish?"

Chukkan is taking a long rest .Nothing but,he is resting from a knee surgery. Though poppins is sad that her Appa has ‘boo boo’,she is happy that she get to watch more ‘Dora’ when amma is tending to appa’s multiple requests.She is also happy that so many visitors are coming home and she gets to play with a lot of friends. Last Friday,Tarara(Tara aunty),Vinkan(Vikrant) and Soubow(Saurab) paid a visit home.Soubaw – That was the funniest name I heard from her ever…hmmm…Soubow and tarara competed each other to offer her their IPhone and she was ready to play along.

Tarara took Poppins in her hands and slowly asked her “Where are the fish?” . Every one was expecting her to point toward the aquarium.She slowly raised her gaze and pointed at the fridge..She couldn’t think of anything but the fish fry in the fridge.That was the only place she could think of where the fish will be.

Friends,Kozhukkatta & Rain

1. Dinner at a new restaurant with a couple of friends.It was a good break for Chukkan from his surgery and the immense pain.

2.Eating Kozhukkatta slowly,so that it wont finish immediately.Admiring each bite.R bought them.I could never make them as good as R.

3.Poppins and me went for a walk.On the way back,it started to rain . I ran all the way back home while Poppins snugged inside her stroller and kicking at the rain.

Weekend, Humming Birds & Surprise!!!

1. End of a hectic work week. I am looking forward to a calm and quiet weekend.

2. So many humming birds have been visiting our home these days.Poppins is enjoying each and every one's visit.

3. Getting to know the surprise fact that the uncle & aunty in the next building are our relatives.

Sale, Vacation & Traffic Jam

1.Shops are starting to pull out the fall/winter collection.The summer sale is going on. Its my forth year here and I was never able to buy the summer/winter cloths for next year because we were always in doubt whether we will be here in US that time of the year or not. Anyway,I am happy to be here for four years despite the confusion.

2.Talked with Chuks' mom yesterday. She is clearly sad that the much awaited vacation will most probably not happen. Anyways, she is not opposing the invitation to spent time over here until December.

3.Long traffic jam on the way home.It took almost half an hour to cover one mile.But,instead of honking madly,people are patiently waiting for their turn.

Talk , New Born Baby & Movie

1. Switched off the television and talked with Chuks for a long time, until he sent me to bed saying I will be late in the morning.

2. Baby news again. Another girl is born in our friends’ circle .Maanya, is an unheard name! When I heard the news, I was fondering the sweet memories of the day Poppins was born. Believe me, the moment you hold your new born, its priceless.

3. Finished watching the movie “I love You,Man” . I have been watching it in pieces for some days.

Cake, Sky & Baby

1. Chuks had baked a pound cake yesterday.I couldnt wait for the breakfast today morning.

2. We were driving to the Indian Shop minutes before it closes.When we turned the car to a main road,the sky was bright orange and the sun was about to set.

3. Met a friend's newborn baby .She was so cute n tiny,but has wide beautiful eyes.When I held her in my arms,she smiled at me.

"Tangs", Rajma & Sleep

1. Poppins says "tangs" whenever we give her something.She knows that we love to hear it.She knows how to cheer us.

2.Yesterdays Rajma Curry was a total success.This is the first time I am making an almost perfect Rajma.Even Chuks liked it.

3.Yesterday night,Chuks took Poppins to bed.Hearing them play,I switched off the TV and joined them.After sometime,Poppins pointed at Chuks and I saw him sleeping like a baby.We let him to sleep there and we both played for some more time.

Walk, Construction workers & Sun Flower

1.It was so hot outside yesterday.So,I took Poppins out for a walk at 8 o' clock instead of her park routine on Wednesdays.Met an aunty who is from the same area as mine.She was so happy and relieved to talk to me in my native language.

2.I work at the 11th floor of a building.Construction is going on in here.I can see them outside my window literally 'wlaking' on the glass.I say a prayer to land them safe. But,they look so relaxed.

3.A bright red sun flower in my garden.

Bye, Massage & Gold Fish

1.Whenever I or Chuks go out, Poppins wait at the window. The unwritten rule is we will have to stop near the car and wave at her. She waves back with a wide smile.

2.Got the best massage of my life yesterday.

3.Bought two gold fishes for the aquarium. I love to sit near the fish tank and to look at the beautiful fishes.

'ABC', Humming Bird & Photo

1. Poppins pointed out ‘ABC’ from the channel name on TV.We were truly surprised.Later we found out that she could sing ‘A-B-C-D’ and show actions for ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’

2. Humming birds have been visiting our patio every now and then to take a sip of water.Poppins joy knew no bounds.She shouts "Amaana" "amaana" and urged me to keep quiet.

3. First time ever,Poppins looked like me in a photo.(It was taken by a friend at the park)

Rain,Bell Pepper & Ammamma

1. It started to rain when I reached home yesterday. Watched the rain with a cup of coffee. Poppins sat next to me with her milk bottle and enjoyed the rain.

2. My bell Pepper plant bloomed. This year my patio is full of flowers and vegetables.

3. Talked with my grandma. She was so happy.

Poppins' dictionary

Amaana - humming bird
Potato - laptop
Gora - dora
Dodo - gogurt
Badaada - banana
Belabela - vellam(water)
Motato - tomato
Sorry - cherry
Shower – flower
Pakki - kappi(coffee)
Piss-lips

Earrings,Tennis & Biriyani

Inspired from the blog,Three Beautiful Things,here is my list for the weekend:

1. Pierced Poppins’ ear. She looks so beautiful with the earring. She couldn’t stop herself from looking at the mirror every now and then.

2. Watched the ATP Tournament live. This is the first time I am watching a tennis final. Special thanks to Poppins who sat in the hot sun without any complaint.She loved cheering for the players.

3. Made mutton biriyani.As we came back from church ,the aroma of biriyani filled the home.

Ammaatta

'Ammaatta' - Acronym for ammakuttan...Thats what my baby calls me.She has reserved it only for special occasions...I just love to hear it.