an·ni·ver·sa·ry

Oxford defines it as "the date on which an event took place in a previous year"

I define it as "the date that on which we celebrated the best decision with friends and family"

Don't ask me which how many years... I know its in double digits and its more than 10  years and less than 15 years.

For the rest of years, "Let's celebrate the day you gave up on finding anyone better than me" (Accompanied with counting our blessings)

Happy an·ni·ver·sa·ry Honey

You are my rock, my support, my confidante and above all my partner in crime.
You get my lack of sense of humor, you get my craziness and you sort of put up with my pulling the blanket!

It's been a ride filled with adventures, bumpy roads, smooth sailing and of course
lots of laughter (mainly your jokes and my laughter)
lots of food (mainly my cooking and your appreciation)
lots of travel (mainly my idea(s) and your perfect execution)
lots of drama (mainly my drama and your tolerance)
lots of kids (yes, 2 is lots!!)
lots of memories - all together honey!

 Happy Double Digits Anniversary!

The Devil's Hairband

It's Haloween!

Its the day of the year we take kids door to door for them to score lots of candy where the rest of the days, we are yelling at them to not touch candy.

It's the day of the year, where the kids creativity shines and they think about their costume long and hard, the stores have these costumes on display with the tackiest fabric and the overpriced price tag.

It's the day when the kids are excited about scaring other people and completely forget about the monsters below their bed which keeps them awake the rest of the year

It's the day when my little angels finish the breakfast the quickest, get ready the quickest and very patiently sit to get their faces painted to match their costume.

It's the day when even I thoughtfully laid out 'my costume' the night before!!!

Yes, this is my costume of choice (!)

I walked to the cafeteria for my morning coffee run, I  smiled and wished Happy Halloween to the colleagues who applauded my spirit of dressing "up".

Some stared longer than normal and I wondered,  I am wearing the 'Devil Headband' Am I inadvertently pissing someone off for what it symbolizes.  Am I in some HR violation?

Later, I was chatting with someone who wanted to see my kids dressed up pictures and I told them She is an Arabic Princess and we thought her how to say 'Hello' in Arabic! There was silence, the 'someone' cautioned me, "Be careful, people might not like it! " (The Arabic Princess)

At first I didn't get it, and then it struck me.

Have we become that narrow minded that even on Halloween, we have to be 'politically correct' Are people really that "in-tolerant"?

My response: I am still donning my 'Devil's hairband' in office (No violation, I checked) and going to nudge my Arabic Princess to say 'Marhaba' a little louder at "Trick or Treating" this evening.

Let's enjoy the candy, the smiles of the cute faces and definitely 'Marhaba'. It's Halloween

Munch Bunch: Thanksgiving Edition: Zesty Cranberry Relish

It's Thanksgiving... already! This year seems to have flown past!

Thanksgiving means lots of food, lots of meeting and greeting family and friends and definitely being thankful for all we have and cherishing the time.  Of course as an Indian, this is an inherited festival for me. I learned about this festival, its significance and its importance in my adult years after moving here.

During my single days and even child free days, it was all about having an extended long weekend and a vacation. Over the years we have formed simple traditions for us as a family. And as it should, most of them involve food.

This past weekend, we had our monthly Munch Bunch: Gathering of 4 like-minded couples along with families who meet monthly with a new theme or cuisine. This way we get to attempt new recipes and test and fail in a much smaller setting and learn about cuisines of the world.

This month's theme: Thanksgiving

Menu:

Drink: 

   Mulled Wine

Main/ Appetizer Course: 

   Cranberry Relish

   Butternut Squash Risotto

   Angel Hair Pasta

   Green Bean Casserole

   Pull Out Garlic Bread

   Brussels Sprout Salad

   Habanero Sauce

Dessert:

   Pumpkin Pie

   Berry Pie

And we ate and ate and then ate some more in true Thanksgiving style!!

Here is the recipe for 'Best-est Cranberry Relish'

And I say that for two reasons, the taste: It was one of the most refreshing things to taste. With the Thanksgiving menu as elaborate as it was, it was the perfect add-on!

And then second reason-The effort- its the easiest recipe to assemble and follow. It took me 7 minutes from start to finish. Definitely follows my theme of 'Quick Food Fix'

And for a taste as solid as this- it was totally worth the 'effort'

A very dear friend of mine who hosts two traditional thanksgiving dinner during this season gave me this recipe.....so I definitely have her to thank for it.

Ingredients:

2 Whole Oranges

6 Cups Fresh Cranberry

1.5 Cup Sugar (You can adjust this based on your intake)

Process:

1. Wash the oranges and place them in the blender with the skin

2. Yes, with the skin, trust me on this

3. Blend the orange in a nice 'smoothie' consistency

4. Add the washed cranberry and sugar

5. Run the blender until cranberry is well in 'relish consistency'

6. Add about 1/2 cup of water for a smoother finish

7. Tada! Done

Yes, done, I did say 7 minutes for a reason!

Now just place them in a box for serving. Recommendation: make this the night before you are having the thanksgiving dinner... it really helps the juices and the flavors to enhance.

Enjoy

 

Here is our set of kids being thankful for amazing companions, wonderful friends and a happy home. 

This year we have our cousin visiting us for Thanksgiving, we are planning to watch the Thanksgiving Parade, enjoy the ChristKindle Market followed by gathering of some friends for.... you guessed it: More Food

Happy Thanksgiving. 

Haloween-i-fied!

Yes I am coining a new word: Haloween-i-fied:
\Pronounced\ Ha-low-eeee-niiii-f-ed
\Meaning\ Haloween activity which never ends....
\Usage\  Excalmation:  I am Haloween-i-fied
Let me explain.
Haloween is celebrated on: October 31

In our house:
Costume Search began: September 14
Costumes bought: September 28
Home decorated: October 5
Pumpkin Patch: October 12
Haloween Part'ies: October 26-27
Pumpkin Carving: October 28,29
Haloween Day: More parties, More Trick or Treating and More... Candy

So today is Haloween and I am Haloween-i-fied!

Our first pumkin carved together- Cutting- Sumit, Scooping- Chatter Box, Carving- Garima, Eating pumkin scopped gooey- Little Lady! 

Decorations in our house.... Flying ghosts, witches, stop-if-you-dare signs.... we went all out

nd of course- On day of Haloween even school lunches get Haloween-i-fied!

Happy Haloween All!

It's going to be different this year!!!

And it dawns on me... thanks to slick advertisements on TV and grocery store with cards, and baskets and me getting emails: this deal that deal for this day that I know Mother’s Day is coming.
One evening, while seeing one of those cute (cheesy) advertisements for mother's day, I asked SD: So when is it this year? He was as clueless as me. And yes, in all fairness, I am as clueless about Father's Day as well. I am sure the slick advertisements will tell me.
I googled, and now I know: May 9th. Perfect, Sunday! I could head for brunch with family. SD could get me a card, V will definitely have an art project and a lovely gift waiting for me. I will call my mother and mother in law, and wish them. And maybe I would write a mushy post after about how great the day was! On how I got pampered; or how, I could sleep in and not worry about a thing.
But wait a minute. I am fine if it turns out to be just another lovely Sunday. I will be fine cheering for SD's cricket game or getting up earlier to cook up V's favorite breakfast, or head out to zoo! It could be more than what Hallmark dictates it to be. Don't get me wrong, I love hallmark Day's. No harm done is my take.
Remainder of the year, SD will continue to volunteer to help clean up dishes. V will shower me with unexpected kisses and cute one-liners. My mother’s will mean as much as any other day. I will still consult my mother on OMG, How to I store this. Or ask my mother in law, how to cook this! They will be equally supportive. SD will continue to do his bit to support my crazy endeavors, stepping up to let me chill with my girls or simply be him and cheer me along. My friends will continue to help me out when I really need to shower or just pee and V needs to be fed!
So you know what, every day, is a mother's day for me.
Hmm, so may be, this year, I will reverse Mother's day meaning. It might just become a day, when I thank all the special people in my life, who help out in big and small ways to make me a better person, a better mother and happier self! Yes, that's going to be my mother's day gift to others!

Brunch at my place, while they put their feet up and relax, I thank them for being wonderful to a confused mother through the year!

To gift or not..

Valentine’s day is coming to town.. la lala la…. Hehe.. Ok, so SD and I don’t technically celebrate this day! I always find the restaurants pre-booked and too cheesy and too "red" for our taste. We try to have a simple but a memorable evening. A delicious meal indoors. Lots of sweet gestures to make the day memorable! And oh yeah, a gift!
I know, its a Hallmark Day....well marketed.. well crafted. But come on.. it doesn’t do any harm does it?
Though if you ask me what we did last year for V-day, I have no idea! I think we got V some cute red t-shirts.. and baby stuff! The one before.. hmm yes that one I remember. It was right after we had V. SD surprised me by coming home early.. got a lovely gift and amazing dinner reservations. It was our very first date after we became parents. He got a very cool watch for my mom as well! And for V, we got her- guess what: "Baby's first valentine" Bib. Original I tell you! ;-). One year, SD was travelling and came home later in the night. I had cooked up a fancy dinner at home; which included cute heart shaped cutlets, and S and G shaped patties. (Don't ask!) I was all dressed up in my amazing Blue Saari for the candle light dinner… technically fireplace light dinner ;-). I know one year I got a cute box of chocolates, which when you open it, plays a love ballad. Chocolates were eaten promptly and V loves it now; it’s her favorite play box!
So now, another Valentine's is looming.. and I know the sweet gestures, simple dinners etc will all follow. But I really don’t know what gift to get. And I don’t want to say.. no gifts necessary! Because they are! :-)
SD is not a big gift giver (!). Well per his standards he is, for a greedy me... he is not! So I will make him sweat it! I know I will! I will tell him, I want a gift, and he will have to wonder what! For V it will be easier.. I think I already know what we are giving her…a new book: Potty Training! (It counts … yes it does!) Ok fine, we will get her something cute! Now back to my husband SD- gosh!!! What do I get for him?
Electronics, Perfumes, Personal Accessories, Clothes, Shoes, Miscellaneous: WHAT?
If I get something for the house as his gift pretext. Its not fair! If I get something for us; realistically, I will be using it more! So what do you get for your husband.. as a surprise.. which he might not need, but you can create a need for it. Should be usable, easy to store (!) and definitely enjoyable! And his face would become child like and his excitement will be felt in the room! Advise please!

And SD... too bad, since I blog, I get help on your gift.. you still have to hunt and hunt for mine!
Or may be.. this year, I will go easy.. and actually just relax and enjoy the day! May be a lovely walk in the park will be perfect........hmmmm... Naah! Gift please ;-)