Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini...:)

This is such a sweet video and a good one to start your week with a big laughter.

I like this song - Itsy bitsy Teenie weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.....lol....

This is one of my favourite video and a reason to make everyone laugh.....

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jaV-6qunC3g

To listen to the song by Brian Hyland ( I love to dance on this song....:))....here is the link

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ICkWjdQuK7Q

The girl in the middle is so sweet.....muahhhh:)

Proud of you!

My friend who is 6 years younger to me made me feel so proud as I share a link to one of his article published in a National Paper. Aditya (Adi or called as a tattooed brahmin by me) is like a child to me or a younger brother. I have never met him but my first print media article was edited and published in one of his magazines. We talk once a while and almost chat daily on whatsapp...!

To see his article in yesterday's paper make me feel as if I am seeing him. It is a great feeling, and I would love to share the link with my readers. It is true when I say I feel happy when my friends grow in their life - whether in real life or virtual life....:)...they were and will always be special to me.

Here is the link - Polish Your Personality....

God shall bless my all friends!

:)))

Colours of Morning....

When I got up this morning, my eyes were all red and swollen. Maybe, I cried beyond my eyes could tolerate. I applied ice all around my eyes, and it really hurts. I lit a lamp in my temple and just watch it, trying to concentrate to wash out all the pains that I felt last night. At times, you find hard to share your sorrows with anyone around, as you feel scared of being judged. Maybe, I preferred crying in the washroom rather than sharing my sorrows. Observing the lamp and finding peace sitting next to my home temple made me feel peaceful. 

I started reading 'Bhagvad Gita' before I experienced the sunrise, and started my day with regular yoga asanas. Back to sun salutation from today. 

Few lines of Bhagvad Gita (of course I cannot read Hindi so it has to be in English or Hinglish)..........

"He alone sees truly who sees the Lord the same in every creature...seeing the same Lord everywhere, he does not harm himself or others."

I find solace as I remember words of my 'Art of Living' teacher - 

" I believe no one else is responsible for one's misery. He/she is responsible for his/her state of mind or miserable instances so am I. We cannot stand other's responsible for hurting us as we could not define or draw a line. Every mistake is a lesson for one to better his approach in life. We should not blame others for what we experience but we should work to improve ourselves by making us strong and stable. Forgiveness is not about forgiving others but learning not to hurt your soul. Life is a wheel and it has to move. It cannot stay for long at a place as it's purpose is to move. When you stop for something for too long, you forget the purpose of your life."

Such beautiful lines can make anyone feel at peace. Maybe, it is hard to preach but easy to teach but at the end of the day - life noves on!

Happy Weekend!

~

Maa- Charcoal Painting

I have reproduced a painting by Jagannath Paul named as 'Maa'.

I took three weeks to complete this canvas. The technique used is 'combination of charcoal and acrylic' painting....

My first attempt of charcoal painting. I have tried to give three shades to the entire painting. You can view the same on my Art Blog as well.

http://archanaartgallery.blogspot.in/2013/09/charcoal-painting-maa.html

Happy Weekend!

I DEDICATE THIS POST TO.....??

It is hurtful when you lose a family member who stood with you and loved you beyond your expectations. My husband lost his grandmother last night. All these eight years, I never felt she is my husband's grandmother; I always felt as if  'she is my grandmother.' I have promised myself not to cry as my grandmother always taught me in all these eight years - to be strong and not to postpone life for anything!

The second day of my marriage was a surprise as she gave me the gift of life - liberty to live the way I wanted to live. Strange but I was the most pampered daughter-in-law in her life indeed she always treated me like her own daughter. She used to apply hair in my oil and tell me few lovely lines - 'you have lovely hair but you should eat some butter. It is not good to be so thin. Aaj kal ki ladhikya figure figure kya figure......you should be strong to handle life.'...(:

Omg! my mother never loved me so much. She used to enter my room every morning, and feed me prasadam like a kid. Instruct me to eat whole of it, made out of semolina, and unsalted butter. She knew I cannot write or read Hindi so she gifted me a book of her Guru, written in English. 

A lady who never went to school could educate me so much about life and Hindu mythology.

She stood with me in all my decisions in my real and virtual life. Her few lines that will last with me -

'God did not chose you to be a mother as he wanted you to be a mother of many children. HE gifted you this life to have fun as in Hindu Mythology, if you have not taken any obligations in your past life, you are not bound to repay in this life by being a mother or a parent. HE wants you to help others in repaying their obligations. HE wants you to help other parents for their children. Do not postpone your work or stop life for anything. Let it flow like a moving river that meets the sea at the end of its journey. You have to be strong to live life, and to live it your way, Archana!'

I can do nothing other than dedicating this post to the most humble and beautiful woman I knew in this lifetime - my grandmother. I will always love you and miss you. I had so much to share with her but.................................???

Just a line from the movie 'The Lunch Box' that makes me move on - 'We tend to forget things, if we have no one to share'. I could remember many things as I could share them with her!

The basket of love in my life seems to be shrinking......R.I.P Dadi...

;))

Today, I realised a fact, I have started thinking like a responsible mother. I fought with my mom just for a thought in my mind to leave something for my daughter. I could not handle stress due to sudden developments in my professional life. When I kept the phone, I realised the sudden change in my attitude. 

I am feeling lucky and happy not for the fact I fought with my mom but I am capable to see a responsible mother in me. I guess this is the last stage in my life. It completes me as a woman.

For all the mothers who love children and believe in sponsorship/ adoption, aren't we glad to god....?

Cheers:)

Garden Of Chocolates...:)

I am working on my fifth book, and I just realised, I have already completed my fourth poem. But yes, this is the festive season in India, and I am sharing the link to my FB page dedicated to chocolates. If you love chocolates, please visit my FB page and like it. Do not forget to share on Fb wall. 

https://www.facebook.com/Garden.of.Chocolates

Have chocolicious weekend!

Awarded Death Sentence to all the 4 : Nirbhaya Day!!

This day will be always celebrated as 'Nirbhaya Day' on my blog. I am happy to introduce a label as 'Nirbhaya Day' in the memory of 16th December 2012, rape victim who succumbed to her injuries on December 29, 2012 at a Singapore hospital. It is a day of celebration as all the four accused involved in this gruesome act are awarded death sentence. Though, Nibhaya pleaded to the authorities to burn them alive before she lost the battle of life. But I feel justice has been done to the family of Nirbhaya, by awarding death sentence to all the four accused; I am sure the 17- year-old who is still under the reform home will also be not spared after 3 years. 

It is time to say R.I.P Nirbhaya!

Nirbhaya's soul will now only rest in peace. It is a time for Indian to be happy and hold our faith in Indian Judicial System. Some hope for every Indian women or rape victims....

!!

What's Latest on my Art Blog?

Check out the below link to view my latest post on my Art Blog

- http://archanaartgallery.blogspot.in/2013/09/handcrafted-diyas-and-chocolate-wrappers.html

http://archanaartgallery.blogspot.in/2013/09/handcrafted-diyas-for-festive-season.html

Justice For Nirbhaya!!

I was following almost all the news channels before I decided to blog.

Second day of Ganesha Celebration, and what can be better than decision around true justice for Nirbhaya. More than justice for her, it is a mandate action for the government and legal authorities to make a law in favour of protection of women in India.

Rape of 4 year old girl or Mumbai based 21 years old photojournalist, highlights the incapacity or incapability of our Indian Law to protect our women.

When I shared my last wish with my family, the only concern was the location to learn and master it. India was not given as an option to me. Honestly, I could feel the insecurity of my people. If I could do it, I might not take India as my location as it is really unsafe for me or any women.

A true justice for Nirbhaya will save many more rapes and crimes against women in India. It hurts to read an artcile with a cup of morning tea around gang rapes or acid attacks. We are living a life of fear. India got independence but women in India are still struggling to make their out of it.

Justice for Nirbhaya tomorrow will give light of hope to many more such victims and maybe a new road to protect women against such brutal crimes.

I decorated my home temple for the first day of Ganesha Celebrations. I wish and share it here on my blog for all the ones who are praying for Nirbhaya.........!!

Dreamz Unllimited!

I just started with something interesting!

I always got a positive feedback for my chocolates as I put lot of effort in making them. But this time, it is a step ahead as I am making combo packs with handcrafted diyas and home-made assorted chocolates, presented in fancy boxes. Kicked off with my first small order.

There is no end to dream and move on!

But the only funny factor is when you are talking to a guy about your work, and he questions you - 'Are you planning to do modelling?", you feel 'yikes'. Look at my work and respect it. 

I guess such hurdles to handle difficult men, and still not giving up is the real challenge. As an Indian woman, and part of a society, where a woman is only questioned, I believe to answer back.

If you are one of me and struggling to make your way, I will just write a line - 'Move on by kicking to sustain yourself!'

Dreams are unlimited but can be only fulfilled, if your spirits are high to achieve them.

Keep Dreaming!

My Another Book starts.........

After three books and an anthology, I just started with my fifth book. I am writing volume 2 of 'The Fragrance of a Beautiful Life - Volume 2' (though I might rename this book later). I have set a target of completion around Feb'2014 as I do not plan to strain my back. I am done with three poems and just started the fourth poem :). I plan to write 20 poems in this book or maybe more if time permits and I do not experience a 'writer's block'....!

It feels good when you get back to work. Though I am not able to sit for long hours unlike my earlier books. So I want to make the most of my good indeed healthy time for completing this book on time.

Back to blogging for my readers and just three days away from my first oil painting ( a beautiful landscape) with my teacher. I would not call it an art class as we talk and she instructs me to make the painting. No spoon feeding or holding my brush. My teacher gives me complete liberty as I have two years of experience in different art forms now. My teacher tells me, 'This painting is made by you. I am just correcting your strokes at few places as we use oil as the medium.'.

Hmmm......so all in all a good start with a bad back!

:):)