Fly Free under the Blue Sky

As I sat down to pen something today, I thought can we really “Fly Free under the Blue Sky”? Not literally, but in essence do we feel free? I guess that again depends on how we define our freedom. Is it just having free time, feeling liberated or freedom of rights?

I am not going to talk on the mundane side of it, but decided to write about the first aspect – feeling free. So when do we actually feel free? The most obvious answer would be - On a Vacation. Our mind is relaxed and we are away from our daily monotonous tasks.
Now let me ask – Do we really feel free on a vacation? While most of us might reply ‘Yes’ instantaneously, the truth is in this tech savvy era we are never free- thanks a lot to our cell phone and tablets.

Not counting the James Bond (location surveillance) aspect of our cell phones, we are still interrupted by calls at dinner tables; the urgent emails from work, oh yeah the Facebook, What’s app, Instagram notifications and what not. Even if we decide to ignore those updates, the "Social Media Ghost" still lingers over and is present in our each and every Happy moment forcing us to click and share!
Active dinner Table conversations seem like distant past –
Oh Let me do a check in, 
Do I find any coupons, 
Let me look for tips and suggestions, 
Wow! Let me click the food, 
We really got to take a Selfie.
 
Biologically our Eyes need downtime from what I call the "Screen Fairy". Our body craves to be free.
Free to feel the morning whispers, free to feel the precious raindrops, free to breathe the cool breeze, free to relax in the water, free to listen to the humming birds, free to be ourselves.
Ancient sages have said, when the mind is free, one can meet thy consciousness and actually learn more about oneself! Let’s take some time and give ourselves the gift of this freedom, and then we can truly fly free under the Sky!
 

Want to write.....!

I really want to write but my hands are tied. No! Literally they are, but ofcourse not with ropes (giggles) but with my kiddo. Never thought life could get busier than busy. Made me truly understand the true definition of having one's hands full.

I am not complaining absolutely not! For the joy he brings to my life outweighs everything else. all of a sudden everything in life is somehow connected to him and he is center of everything I do, I dream, I hope and I endear.
Its like the soreness from having done weight training yesterday, you are so sore but you love it! Haha, what a comparison, I am laughing at it now. (LOL)

OK coming back to my desire to write- I really can't blame anyone but myself for not writing since two years. Writing helps me ease out all emotions and is comforting, yet I never get it, the true credit it deserves. So far in life, its always helped and awarded me with a unique sense of accomplishment.
When I go back and read what I've written I do 'self-admire' and 'self-pity' at the same time. 'Self- Admire' because I like what each article/poem has turned out to be. 'Self-Pity' because I don't write that well, that often.

Whoa, I am finally writing and on 'writing' (smiles). I guess that's a good start and I will likely continue. So here's 3 cheers to my writing alter ego!

Magazines!!!!

Here’s my two cents on – ‘Magazines’.

I wouldn’t say that I like reading magazines, I rather like Browsing magazines. It’s the pictures that interest me the most, but sometimes I also pay attention to the Editorial section ;)

The kind of magazines I like to read depends upon my Mood, Timing and most importantly the Quality of Paper used. I am a Movie Buff but I don’t mind reading a magazine on politics if it has good pictures and paper.

What I like the most about magazines is that they are Undemanding – oh Yeah! They keep you engrossed but then you can take a break and come back to them anytime you would like to. (Unlike Novels which demand your attention and you can’t resist taking a break!)

Let’s talk about the Cost Benefit analysis – A standard $3-$4 tabloid magazine provides good entertainment as well as knowledge about the latest trends and what’s happening around! You would always learn at least something new from the magazines and thinking about of time we spend on reading (in my case browsing) them is actually worth it when compared to a standard size Novel.

No wonder magazines have been so popular throughout the world.

It’s funny how the world of magazines is connected these days, you would see environment stuff or even politics in Tabloids and film stars, latest products etc. in Political Dailies.

Some amount of credit goes to the Advertising Industry for that; after all they draw the line that connects all the dots be it politics, films, books, history, culture etc.

A recent trend in the Retail Industry has been to offer free magazine subscriptions at the end of the merchandise sales transaction. The Retail Specialists are convinced by the idea that the average customer likes to read magazines and will be attracted to shop and consider their store as a preferred place to shop, if they offer their favorite magazines.

Time, CondeNast are some of the Magazine Giants who have already explored this territory.

When I was a kid, I always considered magazines as a good Travel Companion. One of the reasons I will wait for an opportunity to travel by bus or train was to buy magazines from the station vendors.

Even today wherever I go, be it a grocery store or book store or may be an information center, I always get attracted to check what’s new in the magazine aisle. It is just so lively and enticing.

I would like to leave this at the thought that the importance of magazines in our lives is much more that we give them the credit for- Just think about it.

BTW Honey lets go ahead and order our next year’s magazines subscriptions!!!

A getaway to Delaney Vineyards

In this vineo-socio life, I always wanted to visit a Vineyard. Our trip to Arkansas has always been getting postponed so we decided to explore a local Winery.  Google painted Delaney Vineyards as the first nearby search result and so we decided to explore it.

We reached the Delaney Vineyards (located in Grapevine TX) at 4:15 pm on a fine December evening not knowing it will close at 5 pm. (The official timing is Monday to Saturday 12pm – 5 pm). We hurried in and found ourselves in a small antechamber shop selling marketing merchandise. A lady greeted us and welcomed to the faculty; she explained that tours are given on the hour and tastings on the half hour. (It costs $10 for tasting the six different varieties of wines inside and we need to buy a token from her). We decided to give it a try and obtained the token from her.

We looked at the watch and we still had 10 more minutes to kill and so we decided to engage in our favorite pass-time- clicking pictures.

Finally at 4:30, the lady announced we could now enter a big hall for Wine tasting.
Expecting a dingy room, we were surprised to see a Christmas decorated Hall with a good seating arrangement. A server welcomed us and started educating about the different varieties of Wine and what we were going to be offered to taste.I couldn’t help my inquisitive nature and asked her a few questions –  

 

What’s a dry wine and how it is different from a normal one?  As response to this question, she poured some dry wine in the glass and offered me to taste. She mentioned that dry wine lacks sweetness and so is often used to complement a desert.

What is the best temperate to store wines? She mentioned White wines could be stored at room temperatures but Red wines tastes best at around 60F and thus can be refrigerated.

Ideal orientation for a Wine bottle? She suggested keeping the wine bottle at a certain angle, because that allows the cork to have some contact with the Wine and stay damp.

After tasting a fair share of wines we thanked the server and decided to explore the place on our own.

We took a few good shots and stepped out to see the vineyard. Since it was not a grape season we did not find any fruit but the vineyards looked very picturesque.

We decided to take a few more pictures and call it a beautiful evening!

Overall it’s a good place for laying back and savoring some authentic Texas wines. 

I wish I were,,

Here's my FIRST few lines of Poetry, I wrote in school -

I wish I were the Chief in the Army,
Creating in the Country Harmony,
Developing among the citizens, a feeling of Peace
Which I wish could never Cease!

I wish I were a Shopkeeper,
Listening to the Bargain of the People,
Giving my own Price,
That could everyday Rise!!

Shopolicious

“Sometimes Life seems to be all about – The Red Lipstick, The Red Nail Paint and The Red Dress!”

Shopping …..Oh la la – A word that brings smile to a women’s face (Well not always, but mostly :)) . The fairy Tale World of Shopping works like a Magical enchantment to lift the spirits and alleviate your mood!

So here’s for all ya ladies , a 5-point theory on shopping – “Shopolicious”...

Type-1: Window Shopping
Well we all know this type – When we are bored or money a lil tight, this form of shopping works like magic to cheer us up.
You get to know the market trends – what’s in and what’s out; get updated with the upcoming sales and new stock events. 
Your boy friend/husband will NOT get bored to wait, as you dance in and out of the fitting room.
It gives you a feeling of contentment without even shedding a buck.
Only drawback is, after returning home you feel drained out not because you are physically tired but because you are empty handed.
But on the positive side, you update your “wishlist” before going to bed and promise to mind your expenses for that lovely COACH bag or the LIGHT BLUE D&G perfume you just experienced today.

Type 2: Helpful Shopping
“Hey Can you help find me a Perfect Dress for the evening?”
“C’mon I need your opinion.”
Sounds familiar? Well this type of Shopping is to help your Friends and Family with their piece of shopping. You’re considered an experienced Shopper (King of the Jungle) and your opinion counts. Again like Window Shopping it is an Inexpensive, Guilt-free soul enriching experience! And like window shopping when you don’t buy anything for yourself, you get exhausted but those sweet “ThankYou’s” and the charm on the faces of people you shopped for, make it’s a wonderful experience and a "Time Well Spent" activity.

Type-3: Compulsive Shopping
When the world seems upside down and the going gets rough, there’s nothing that can raise your spirits except “Shopping” and so you are “compelled” to shop!
Without even glancing at your credit card statements you get ready and march to your favorite shopping avenue.
You buy this, you buy that; this makes you look thin and this does not look bad.
The end result is that you buy everything that you like but don’t necessarily need!
When you glance at the bills you don’t care, because you had a wonderful time and you are very happy and contended!
“Honey! Why don’t I cook something special for you!!” (You see this one actually works)

Type 4: Mandatory Shopping
This one is NOT my favorite and is pretty much a mundane task sometimes. The monthly groceries, condiments etc fall into this category. Sometimes we just wish the money spend on this one could be utilized better for all other forms of Shopping ;) LOL

Type 5: Wishful Shopping
This type is buying everything you “like” and have been wishing for.
This “Wishlist” is actually the byproduct of Type 1 a.ka. Window shopping.
It’s carefully calculated and planned. You know where to go, what to buy and for how much!
It’s something you are never sorry for and is time & money well spent.
This gives you a unique sense of achievement and makes you proud for reaching your goals.
WHOA I finally got that GUCCI Dress and the PRADA Clutch!
Trust me your boy friends/ husband wouldn’t ever mind this type ;)
Shopping has its own Charm and Glory and sometimes it’s all the only Medicine you need to bust all your stress. So gurlz what are you waiting for - Lets go Shopping :)


Personal blog

On eve of my Husband's Birthday Mar 31, 2011 -
Life is a Dream come true,
Only and Only b'coz of YOU!

You brought me Light when it was Dark,
God answered my Prayers before I could Ask!

To be with you is like Breathing Air,
So easy and comforting, I could Swear!

I love you and will always Do,
Need you to know How Lucky I am to Have YOU!

As another year bids Aideu,
Wish you Good Luck in verything you Pursue!

And a very very Happy Birthday to You!
I Love You!