Doughnut Plant: Your Sugar High

It was a dreary morning on an unusually cold Friday in March. She sat there watching the NBC Today show, like she did every morning. The morning hour of the show went by and the noon hour - New York Live was on. As she cribbed about the weather to her folks back home, a sweet treat lightened up her grumpy face.

Enough with background score already!! Let me get to the scrumptious part of the post - The Doughnut Plant. This delicious delight is presented in the most unique ways here at the Doughnut Plant - with over a 1000 reviews on Yelp.com it has to be on your must-eat list while in NYC. Their doughnuts are so popular they have stretched their offerings to as far as Japan and Korea too!

They have doughnuts made three ways here - yeast, cake and filled. While the yeast doughnuts are light and fluffy , the cake doughnuts have a chewy texture which is like cross between a classic birthday cake and a buttery pound cake and the filled doughnuts like its name are oozing with creamy custards and sugary house-made jams.

So, as we are in line waiting to bite into these sinful discs of sugary goodness, the wall and seating decor at the store catches our attention. As you can see here, everywhere you look there are doughnuts in reel and real!



Carrot cake, peanut butter & blackberry, coconut cream and pistachio were some of the unusual doughnuts on the menu. The wait was over,choices made - vanilla bean, roasted almonds, chocolate, blackout and creme-brulee put in a brown bag. They run out of the popular doughnuts of the day, so you need to get there early or like us, you'll miss out on the days specials.

That said, we took our doughnut-seats. I bit into what was one of the most delicious bites of my life - creme-brulee. This bite sized creamy doughnut bursts in your mouth and you cannot help but go um-yummmmm like I did. So much so that, my hubby dearest got back into the long line of hungry customers to get a few more to-go.

While I'm gonna sleep dreaming about waking up to coffee and creme-brulee on a Sunday morning, you can choose to drool over, get to Doughnut Plant on 23rd street, Chelsea Hotel, between 7th & 8th avenue or simply put it on your bucket-list of must-eat-while-in-NYC !!

Ciao...

Go Green : St.Patrick's Day

The calendar hits March first week and hints or perhaps more-than-just-hints of green pop-up everywhere. From bake shops selling green cookies to the most popular "party city" advertisements on TV, you cannot escape the green madness. Specially if you are from New York city, home to the largest St.Patrick's Day parade outside of Ireland, you rather blend in!

Celebrated every year in the 2nd week of March, the day is dedicated to the Irish Saint - St.Patrick's. This cultural and religious holiday is welcomed by the Irish and all the Irish wannabe's by being a part of and watching from the side walks of downtown New York - the famous St.Patrick's Day parade. The key to feel part of the crowd - YOU HAVE TO GO GREEN.
Locals and tourists all clad in shades of green clothes, funky green accessories like beads, beer, hats, green eye-liner and some even have rats on display, like the one I have on my head here(green of course!).


While crowds gather to enjoy the parade and watch as bag-pipers and performers march the streets, revelers have their own celebration happening alongside. The Irish pubs in the city score the highest on the party meter, while other pubs give out free shots for customers dressed in green.
Considering the Irish love their beers and on a day when gallons of it is being gulped down, get ready for some madness on the streets and down-under in the subways.

Last year, we were down there on the streets, scrambling to get shots of the performers at the parade and a sense of Irish patriotism. Its not only Irish vibrations we feel on ground but in the air too - This a little different, it is the strong smell (almost a stink) of Irish wannabe's strutting the streets of New York, leaving behind clouds of beer. This year round, we skipped the parade and decided to step outside later (when the weather opened up) that evening and oh-boy we were not prepared for what we saw!

As I have always said, when in New York, you are guaranteed to be entertained in more ways and places than you can ever imagine. On the subway ride, we got into one of the cars with a bunch of drunk Irish Wannabe's and from that moment on it was show-time. This one guy, put up a pole-dance show with the rest of his gang cheering him on, thank god he was not dressed like one ;-). The trains on this day are a green overload, with people shouting, screaming and giving the sane onlookers some nasty looks and one-liners.

All this said, it's religious for some and revelry for others. Either way, experience the madness, enjoy your free drinks and make merry as you get ready to welcome spring!

How Restaurants trick you!

As foodies, my husband & I are always on the lookout for restaurants serving up diverse cuisines in an ambiance to match. In our quest, we discovered that buying restaurant deals off popular websites like Groupon and Gilt City (our favorite) turn out to be big money savers.

Off late what we also discovered, was what seemed like harmless tricks by restaurants to begin with, that at the end weighs down heavily on your pockets! On a lovely weekend night, we settled in on our table at a downtown tapas restaurant. Dimly lit, with long wooden community tables,high chairs and low lying lamps, we were ready for our culinary sojourn. There came the very friendly and smiling waiter, we had taken our picks & ready to order. Just as hubby was about to rattle away his choice for the evening, the waiter brought out his secret weapon! So, this is how it goes - "Tonight we have our specials, freshly caught shrimp and aged prosciutto from Spain, would you like to try one of these". Like a kid in a candy store - hubby is excited at the thought of eating something he is deprived of usually, thanks to anti-red meat me! So, he goes ahead and orders the aged prosciutto. The prosciutto arrived and was thoroughly enjoyed and downed, the tapas plates kept coming and soon so did the bill! To hubby's utter shock, while the other tapas plates were priced at $10, the special of the day prosciutto was a killer $24...

That was it, we had learnt our lesson! Just last week, when we went out to this fancy dining place, the waiter came by and put out his specials for the night and we kept calm and went with what we saw on the menu! Good for us, because the special appetizer for the night was just a mere $56!!

So, buckle up and stay strong, do not getting carried away with tricks like these!

For more tricks click here - restaurants use to make more money

Ciao...

International Women's Day

It's that day of the year again, when Women around the world are celebrated or should I say a day chosen just so Women stop and appreciate all that they have contributed to Planet Earth - International Women's Day.

Over the decades Women have been seen more and more in the forefront in every field thinkable. I indeed believe that we as Women are wired to multitask and juggle between caring for a family and pushing ahead in the workforce. I would like to think of us Women as "Super Women". I mean lets face it, whether you work with the creme-de la-creme in the political arena or in a small organization in a small town, it is upon our tiny shoulders to maintain sanity at home and ease the stress at work.

For Women living abroad it dawned upon me the challenge is bigger. If you are from India like I am, you are all too familiar with the culture where almost everyone can afford to hire domestic help, which eases the chores to juggle. When I landed on foreign soil, after having lived in the comfort of my parents home with almost nothing to do except for getting myself to work every morning, reality hit hard. It dawned upon me, that I was now the maid, the cook and everything else in between and I had my own career goals to reach too.

Across cultural and ethnic communities around the world,Women constantly face the big "Balance Challenge". Not only do they have to fight their way up the ladder in a corporate race dominated by testosterone, they are also faced with constant criticism about whether Women can do equal justice to both roles as a nurturer and a bread winner.

This subject got into the headlines recently around the eve of International Women's Day. It was about different statements made by two of the most talked about Women in all of USA, apart from the first lady Michelle Obama - who of course was in the news for her excessive media appearances and those infamous bangs. Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo and Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook. While one was being criticized for her company wide policy changes to end the convenience of "work from home", the later was criticized for her latest book "Lean In" - where she lashes out against society who call a woman bossy if she is outgoing and driven instead of praising her as a leader.

Talking of the Yahoo policy, which was largely taken advantage of by Women in the workforce looking to score gold on that "Balance Challenge" - the CEO herself a working mother who hit the headlines after she announced she was pregnant when she took on the job and got straight back at her desk in 4 months time, she faced stark criticism. The jitters of this Work-from-home policy were felt across the country, as Women began to fear the day when their company would adapt a similar policy. Her justification to all of it - she felt telecommuting took away from a major chunk of productivity and by bringing her employees to office each day would improve the same.

Sheryl Sandberg on the other hand asks Women to "Lean in" - in her new book. Her book released last week, was the hot topic of discussion from the news desk to water-cooler talk across the country. She says that through this book she aims to arm Women with the right tools and guidance to climb that wobbly corporate ladder. She has even set up a non-profit organization called LeanIn.org to which all her book proceeds will be channeled, with an aim to get those (14 percent of executive officers, 18 percent of elected congressional officials and 22 of 197 heads of state) numbers growing.

All this being said, I wonder how much of our success depends on our support system at home - truth being a fairly large chunk. Men being the traditional bread winners for decades, have never faced the same. Be it the days when they left their family behind to fight the enemy or today when they jet-set for business trips, the woman is left behind to juggle it all.

I sign off by saying that a strong upbringing, family support and most of all a supportive life-partner are the key essentials to Women like you and me achieving success in all that we do.

Remember we are the best managers and CEO's of our lives, our successful careers are an affirmation that we indeed are wired to succeed in all of the multiple roles life throws at us.

Cheers to Women empowerment!

Ciao...

Reality bites!

Let me begin by giving you an insight to some facts of my life(may be its yours too!). I have been skinny, thin, not fat - what ever you may call it all my life. Fact is I am plain simple healthy(touch wood) so stop worrying about me! Friends, family (there are always exclusions) and pretty much everyone have always assumed that I just have to put on weight. Off late I have turned into a foodie too, so now even the more the world of "those people", vouch I will and should put on weight! Ever since I moved to the country where 68% of people are obese - statistics say so(!), it was a given for most of "those people", that I will grow "out" into this new person.

Not that I have anything against fat people, sorry if I gave anyone that impression, curvy is surely sexy - guess you have to be happy with what you have lol !
I just like to indulge in all the good things in life and still remain healthy. So my key to indulgence - moderation. I think this applies not only to food but to everything that life has to offer. Don't hate too much, love too much (if there is anything like that at all), drink too much, eat too much, say too much, think too much and the list goes on. So, going by this philosophy, I have always been able to eat what I want and not kill myself for it and I guess the icing on the cake has been that, I have always loved to exercise too!

This is not a post to brag about my slim self, sorry again if your thoughts go like "yeah bitch, stop bragging about it" - it has been about how little tolerance people have around you, when you are overweight they poke fun, if you are thin/slim they are jealous - I have had umpteen number of people tell me at my face, gosh why don't you grow fat and it always left me flabbergasted! It just got worse,once got married - since I guess it has almost become this societal or biological norm (I don't know)that you surely will pile on the pounds! I sometimes wonder, that if people put in the same amount of time and effort into bettering their own lives - this planet would be a better place to live.

Body image is something which makes the human race the most insecure or secure. As great Gandhi said "Be the change you want to see" (sarcastic!!!).This also reminds of the times before I was married,I am sure everyone relates to this; how the entire world "seems-to-be" worried about or playing the good old match-making trick and literally torturing you about your "unknown-big-day" - I have known friends who have been under the radar for this at really mean levels, and hell no its not fun at all. Once you have successfully jumped the hoops and slid through the loops and get married - you almost feel a sense of triumph over those wagging tongues,alas!Well, how mistaken you were? Let me tell you, specially the kinda of inter-religious wedding I had, I have heard some of the most harsh and horribly rude advice from people. So, the talking, taunting, comments will continue. And then when you realize "phew its been a year now and everyone is quiet" - then their come the talk of the new arrivals. So, basically the people around you the so-called society which I sometimes feel we are unfortunately part of, always have something to say,advice and gossip about your life.

I guess for me,my escape from all this has been two fold, for one I moved to country where literally no one really cares what you do or not do and people do mind their own business unless you are in show-business ;) Also, finally I have learnt to give a damn about what anyone thinks I do, or feels I should do, because I want to be responsible for shaping my life and yes sometimes I succeed and other times I fail - then I get up, brush it off and move on.

Off late, since I started off working as a freelancer, I feel I am a world of my own. I pat my back for my good work and criticize myself for time lost. I am my own boss, haha... feels nice to say that!

Basically, do what you want and let the world bitch about you if they want to - well remember you are important enough to be thought about and talked about !!

There is always a brighter side to everything in life....

Cheers

(Anywhere along the post felt if you felt I am referring to you, hell yeah I am!)

Dussehra ..... Reliving its glory

Having spent my growing up years in this quiet pensioners paradise – Mysooru as its originally called or the more modern name Mysore, this city has evolved leaps and bounds, but yet has managed to retain its old world charm. Mysore, a city with a rather sleepy & lethargic feel comes alive, brimming with vibrancy and flocked by culture-vultures from all over the world – come Dussehra. The spotlight shifts to the city’s most treasured edifice – ‘The Mysore Palace’, illuminated with over 100,000 bulbs this majestic palace is lit every evening through the celebrations.

The tradition of Dasara(also spelt as Dussehra)– is celebrated with great pomp and show since the time of the Maharajas. Dussehra literally translating to "Dush-hara" - destroyer of the bad, a festival celebrating the win of good over evil is the most revered festival in this region.The grandeur of the sacred Dussehra is also evident in the homes of all Mysoreans. Starting on day one "Bombe Habba" (Doll festival) is celebrated in every household, and it is even more special in homes with little children. This brings out the age old collection of dolls depicting stories surrounding the festivities and of the epic Mahabharata and several newer additions too. The center of all the dolls called "Raja and Rani" is adorned with jewels and rich drapes, it is called "Pattada Bombe". This display of colorful dolls is on throughout the festivities. Catch a glimpse of Mysore's most famous home known as "Bombe Mane"

This is one time of the year when everyone in the family get together in festive spirits. After I moved to Bangalore a good 11 years ago, I have always made sure I was there for the 10-day long Dussehra puja that is celebrated in all its traditional flavors at my grandfather’s place. Born in a city that is known for its rich cultural heritage and strong family ties, with this write-up I dig deeper into its much celebrated glory and my memories of it over the years.

Day ten when the puja draws to a close is when everyone in the family sits down after a scrumptious breakfast, and one such time about 2 years ago is when I got talking to Grandpa - one of our many cultural and philosophical talks I have had with him over the years.This time, our conversation was centered around the history behind the grandeur and visual treat this city has given India and the world year after year. Taking me into a time capsule, to the era of the Maharajas, Grandpa told me about the days preceding the celebrations in the city.

The preparations of the festivities began with the intense training sessions between man and his majestic beast – the elephant. Every day the elephants walked from the palace to Bannimantapa, carrying weights of 750 kilos on its back. This majestic animal handles all the weight (literally and otherwise!!) of the procession with ease, striding along with its graceful walk.

The festival dawns in the ‘Ashweja Masa’of the Hindu calendar. On the first day, known as Padya, Mysore households and the inhabitants of the palace begin festivities by invoking goddess Chamundeshwari and asking for her blessings for yet another year of wealth and prosperity to the city and its people. Special offerings are made to the goddess through all the ten days of festivities. The Maharaja performs puja as a mark of respect to the ancestral throne made in pure gold and adorned with jewels, every evening before he takes his seat.

A Durbar is held even today, with the erstwhile Maharaja’s son Krishnaraja Wodeyar leading the proceedings. I had the sheer honor of being witness to this royal tradition a few years ago. Once the puja is done, the king steps down from the thrown and his wife performs the traditional ‘Muttina Aarti’ – performed using a round platter studded with royal pearls. This ritual takes place everyday starting from Padya, the first day of the festival till Ekadashi, the tenth day.

As engrossed as we were, I remember my sister joining in with some piping hot Mysore filter coffee for us. Sipping on coffee we learn about the eighth day (or Ashtami as it is called) of the celebrations, which marks the Saraswati puja, a day where the goddess of knowledge is honored. This is the day we most enjoyed as kids, since we would be asked for few books to keep in front of the goddess & we would give away the most important ones generously (our escape route)!

The ninth day is when the focus now shifts to the palace where all the training given to the regal elephants comes into play. This was the day, when the king and his son ascend on the 750-kilo Ambari (a mini thrown), with all their kingly attire of added kilos of jewelry and would go on a procession, striding along the vibrant streets, towards the Bannimantapa (In recent times however, it is only Goddess Chamundeshwari who ascends on this thrown, this is after the Government took over the responsibilities of the celebrations). Offerings are made at the mantapa and the leaf of the Banni tree is taken and distributed amongst relatives and friends.

The ninth day also marks the celebration of “Ayudh Puja”. “Ayudh” primarily refers to weapons, according to the epic Mahabharata – Arjun was believed to have found his divine weapon on this day & hence it is believed to be auspicious to begin or revamp/reinvent your learning on this day. People buy new machinery, automobiles and much more that they believe will bring prosperity and good luck to their business.History apart, this day brings back fond memories of celebrating with family. At home, we begin our day by making a paste of “kumkum”/Vermillion and apply a little of this paste to all the appliances used at home as well as our car. Dad always loved doing this ritual and went big on the “red tika”, followed by a flower. We also decorated our car with bright flowers, rolled the wheels over a lemon and did a little “Arti” too. Then dad would be off to office to attend the puja there and being in the manufacturing industry it was always a big day for them. At home I would wait for his arrival as he would bring loads of sweet and savory snacks to munch on. Mom would make “Usli”/Sundal (stir friend sprouted lentils in coconut) in the evening.

Reminiscing about the celebrations and so engrossed we had almost forgotten that it was time to catch the live telecast of the procession on TV. Having seen the procession up close several times, now that most of us have moved out of Mysore, it has become more of a family reunion sort of thing, so we enjoy watching it together at home.

The highlight being of course the elegantly decked up elephants, along side elaborate tableau's making their way through the packed city streets, with enthusiasts peaking from roof tops, tree tops and tall buildings, it is a sight no one wants to miss. The most entertaining of the tableau's for me have always been the traditional folk dances from different parts of the state like the Dolu Kunitha (Dolu: a drum) & Kamsale dance. The vigor and vitality of the city’s celebrations attracts people from across the globe, who plan their holidays around this time.
The last day of the celebrations has many cultural shows across various venues of the city, such as dramatics depicting stories relating to the festivities, Bharatnatyam performances and musical concerts.

Speaking of Bharatnatyam, it takes me back to my years in Mysore where I learnt this traditional dance form from my guru Dr.Tulasi Ramachandran who runs a dance school called Nrityalaya, and has made many contributions to the field of classical dance and Kannada literature and was even awarded the “Kannada Rajyotsava Award” for her achievements. Memories of Vijayadashami, is a day when we thank our teachers and gurus. At our dance school the atmosphere would be of giggles and chatter of kids of all age groups, and we would give platters of fruits and flowers to our teacher, ‘Amma’ as she is fondly called by her students and receive her abundant blessings. She would show us her love by having these lovely gifts laid out, which she would divide into categories for different age groups and let us pick what we wanted! This day also marks the torch light parade held at the university open theater which is attended by several heads of state along with the hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts.

Well, this was my rendezvous with my dearest Grandpa - running through all aspects of this cultural extravaganza (hugs to Grandpa). I’m left nostalgic, I miss home, I miss family, longing to see them and hug them and tell them how much they mean to me. Its festivities in India that bring families closer, undo any negative emotions and instill in us a feeling of togetherness. I’m proud to be from a country so immensely blessed with culture and of course to belong to a city that is the very definition of Dusshera to me :)

PS: I kept the festival alive here in New York in our little home with some tasty food, prayers, offerings and blessings. Hope everyone had a great festival! Sharing a little glimpse with all :)

Trendy Transitions!

Here I am back again,after yet another long break. Let's just say I was busy enjoying the summer! Talking of summer, isn't it pure joy dressing up during this wonderful time of the year, where the sun is your best friend(well on most days!)? Slip on a pair of shorts, slip into one of those breezy maxi's or well just hit the beach in your bikini - its easy breezy simple!

All good things come to an end and so does summer sadly! Like here in NY and many parts of the world, other than for some lucky folks like across the coast in Australia - its time to pack on the layers! To many of you living abroad and in the northern regions of India - where there are distinct seasons and with that the wardrobe changes, its the time of the year, where you say "astalavista" to the spirited summer that went by, and that was precisely the task we (my hubby & I) had on our hands last evening.

Getting out those bulky jackets, sweaters, scarfs and gloves. Our closet was soon filled in the shades of grey,warm oranges, black & emerald green; to gear up for shorter days, crisp fall air and warm tones of yellow,brown, orange & burgundy coating the leaves.

So, that brings me to this feeling I've been having since may be a week into the season-change. I do not know if any of you have felt the same, as for me it is my first transitional season - from summer to winter that is. You wonder how, well I belong to southern India, where for the most part people wear the same type of clothes all through the year and may be just throw in a sweater or a raincoat at the most!

So, the chilly winds,gloomy days are here.I slip into my boots, my feet feel restricted and confined. I put on my jacket, the one I really love, my shoulder feels the weight. My cozy cashmere & warm woolens have my skin break into a rash! All this had me thinking that not only was I in my mind resisting, it was my body too! But well, its embracing change that makes life exciting, so here I worked up some simple pieces which all of us have in our wardrobe and how we can use them as "transitional pieces" into the colder part of the year!

My top 10 trends:

1.

Let me begin with that cute summery dress I picked out and did not want to put away for next year - Well, add a pair of tights or knee high socks teamed with Boots and yeah i'm totally working it!

2.Summer was about colored jeans, so I find a Burgundy pair in my closet! And voila - burgundy just happens to be a popular trend this fall-winter season! So, team it up with a warm black turtle neck, some chunky accessories or a printed scarf and you are all set to hit the town!

3. While the weather is still kind enough to show off those summer sleek legs, pair a winter sweater with a summer romper/shorts and you are all set!

4. Well, winter to me is all about layering. So, its time to use those summer tanks and pair them under a plaid shirt, a cashmere cardigan, or even a summer dress to keep you warm and trendy!

5. Windy days calls for pulling out those scarfs from the corners of my closet where I see them piled up. I wear them in different textures from woolen to cotton(on the more forgiving weather days) & since its still the beginning of fall - all you Indian girls who have those gorgeous drapes of "dupatta's"(stole), this is the perfect time to use them to brighten up your look!

6. When the cold blow of wind angrily gushes by me, my fingers they go really really cold and that leaves me not feeling good.

So, yeah I'm sure just like me you miss those mani-pedi's to show off those prim-proper Nails with summer hues & jewel tones but you can still add that splash of color with (?) - Gloves of course! Happy shades of yellow & red or richer tones of emerald green & chocolate brown sure add to the autumn cheer.

7. Fall-winter is also the best time, whether you are having a bad-hair day or just want to stay away from a brain-freeze, hats/caps are you best friends. And this season I see some very cool ones in stores.

The most trendy one was what I would like to call the turban-inspired woolen cap. I picked it in a burgundy shade, pair that with dark lips and it lifts from blah to bold in seconds!

8. Speaking of trends would be incomplete if I do not mention - accessories. My favorite for this season and something that has been a big hit in the past is shades of gold and copper.

Incorporate these in simple zipper detailing on your jacket, that rocker-chic bag, those studded boots or chunky bracelets and earrings. And what better, gold/copper enhances that gorgeous glow you are showing off after that sun-tan this summer!

9. This one is specially dedicated to a good friend, who has been on a frenzy looking for that perfect winter boots - to go with her formal office look as well as flaunting it on a weekend out in town! Ankle boots are your best bet that fit both purposes. Color wise black or brown are ideal. But don't get boggled down by the thought of your Plain-Jane boots.

If you are the one to wear those slightly flared formal trousers to work then you can up your style by going for ankle studded boots - these are well hidden behind those trousers and can jump right out for that urban-chic look on the weekends! You can also wear more fitted trousers with the slightly higher plain boots for the workday and team the same with an embellished top for a night out- and it would still give your look a lift. The other popular trend this season is the mid-high heel tie-up boots.

10. Well, I have saved the best one for last!! This is a trend I am yet to experiment myself, but totally digging it! As you know, other than the accessories that warm you up during winter, there isn't much you can show off in terms of jewelry. So, why not add that va-va-voom to those black & bulky winter jackets with some funky buttons!!

From vintage themes to faces and creatures - let your imagination run wild this winter & you'll see you can still have a lot of fun while the sun is on the run!! (haha... that rhymes too)

I hope you all enjoyed this post as much as I did writing it. Feel free to add on to this list of trends!!

Till then stay stylish!!

"Tai-Tai-Tai" To "1-2-3" - My Dance Journey

After a short hiatus between travelling to India & setting up a new apartment, sharing my thoughts about something that has always been close to my heart has been long overdue. So its going to be a long one, brace yourselves!!



To begin with I need to travel back-in-time to the day my mother introduced me to a world where music to the ears reached my feet, quicker than I had imagined. My first & only formal Bharatha Natyam training under my Guru(teacher) - Dr.Tulasi Ramachandra, began at the tender age of 7, when my mother realized that music made me move! At the time being away in boarding school did not allow me much time to go for classes regularly, but my beloved Guru took classes for me on a daily basis when I was home for holidays. Hence, my holidays were always something I looked forward to (of course for reasons other than dance too!), as the first thing I did when I got back home was take out my dance book & start practicing.

Back then we lived on the first floor & I can tell you our owners downstairs were not happy listening to the constant "Tai Tai Tai"! But nothing quiet deterred me, as I continued learning, I began enjoying it much more. A lot of childhood snaps, mom would ask me to smile for the camera, I would give her one of newest dance "Mudra's" (hand gestures) that I'd learnt lately. This interest grew into becoming an integral part of all dance programs in every school annual day.

As I grew up, attending dance class became a more rounded experience. Our Guru not only taught us to move to the sound of different beats, but also how to walk-the-walk in life too. Be it knowledge about our Indian culture & traditions or the importance of education; she was always our guiding light. I always noticed how if any student had issues learning a step or is doing it wrong repeatedly, she would so gently ask "If you do not understand, tell me, I'll teach you again". Her gentle & soft tone & reassuring smile always cheered you up, how ever low you felt. Several mothers bringing their daughters to class, would bring complaints to our Guru, as they knew we would always listen to her words. We students too would many a times share our highs & lows with her & she was always there to listen.



I still remember the time after I moved back to Mysore, whenever I went to class on weekdays straight from school; I would wait for mom to come to class so that I can grab a snack before the class begins. On several occasions Tulasi Miss would give me fruits to eat & make sure I'm OK. All these little experiences began to make us feel a part of her family. As buds bloomed to flowers, "Nrityala" (my dance school) became a world where I made new friends, had the most loving & caring mother (My Guru) & learnt an art form through which I forgot everything else around me.

I would like to share some of the most fun times I've had along the way. The festival of colors - Holi, was such fun. Our Guru with all of us little girls played with full vigor & excitement, her child like playfulness & free-spirited nature would be at its best. One of the most exciting celebrations we had was the "Mehendi Party", where we all got together & one of our seniors "Rekha Akka" applied beautiful designs on our hands & then we were served yummy food! And the most grand of events used to be the annual "Vijaydashami" celebrations during the auspicious 9 days of Dussera. We girls would decorate the whole place & there would be little gifts for everyone who came. It was on several occasions like these that imbibed in us our strong cultural ties.



Life moved on & as we little girls grew into young teenagers, I had to move to B'lore with my family. I remember how hard i cried as I did not want to leave Nrityalaya & my friends behind. It was by then that our batch had started preparing for our Junior board exams. with the immense support of my mother, I used to practice during the week & travel on weekends to Mysore to train under my Guru & with her blessings did well in my exams too. With that came an abrupt end to my Bharath Natyam - between college, tuition & then Engineering, I could not continue my training. But the lessons I learnt, the training that was imparted has stayed with me till date.

I later got back to dancing folk & Bollywood in Engineering, where we girls formed a group called "The Banjarans". My active participation continued through solo & group dances. After another break for a year or so, I started branching out into other forms of dance.

Salsa it was - hence for the next 2 years i transformed from "Tai Tai Tai" to "1-2-3", but found myself under several occasions catching up quicker, which made me realize it was my classical roots that has paved way to better understanding other dance forms. During the course of these two years, I also experienced the absolute joy of meeting my then dance partner turned friend, turned boyfriend & now my dearest hubby Arun Devotta.



After all these years of my association with dance in its many forms, on my last visit to my hometown - Mysore, I met my Guru after several years. She sadly could not make it to the wedding, but this conversation I had with her totally breathed new meaning to my new life ahead. We spoke about how its perfectly alright to blend in with today's so called "modern outlook, modern thinking" & still be routed to your culture & take it with you everywhere you go. Her smile, her warm hug & blessings shall always remain with me, until the next time we meet. Love you Miss for everything you are & in all the ways you have influenced my life in becoming a better human being.

I hope this post has done justice to my learning & passion for dance. As for my dance journey, I shall keep it going in every way, be it practicing at home or social dancing with hubby!

Fashion & You

I'm back with a new post & this time its strictly about street fashion NYC style. Everything I write here is from what I see & observe of people everyday on the streets, on the subway trains & on store mannequins!

Literally if I have to say, New York is walking talking fashionistas haven.

There are a million little elements of style you can pick up from the hoards of people you see each day & at the end of the day pick what suits you best - which is the most important lesson to learn, not everything that someone wears however beautiful it might not necessarily suit you, your body type & your personality. Finally you will evolve with your very own signature style which is "everyone else's" but yet is no one else's but your "own" ! I hope that made sense.. haha !

Having said that, I'd like to say some of the trends/styles I have picked up from various sources over the years & added the "Shwetha touch" & made it my own. My all time favorite being, wearing a plain white or black top with light wash jeans & team that with bright funky colored accessories.

This gives me a chance to pull out my bright colored bags, "ouch" bright nail colors & of course my summery footwear. The next one being pastel/floral tops with a crop jacket - you can play around so much with colors & I love that. Recently I tried this lovely peach crop jacket with a teal blue tank, sounds odd (?), well a lot of times you never know until you give it a shot! The next one being hugeeeeee chunky rings, I did wear them back in India too, but here they are simply over the top huge & really fun when the winter doesn't give you a chance to show off much haha! Well rounding up from the several other trends I love has been the bright stole/scarf which is a must in winter. I mean common I know black absorbs heat & thats why is the most preferred color in winter & its a all season color too. Can you imagine people wearing,black pants, a black blouse (top), black shoes, carrying a black bag & wearing a black stole!!! Ufffffffff that is the most depressing sight to see on a gloomy winters day. The only way I can pep myself up is by bringing in that element of color pop by way of my bag, nails, eyeshadow & stole/scarf.

Having talked about my favorite trends, some of my most inspiring sources over the years have been wide & varied. From fashion shows on Fashion TV, Ambika Anand's "I'm too sexy for my shoes", Triny & Sussane on TLC, Tim Gun's - Guide to style, What not to wear on TLC, my beloved magazine Femina, my super favorite Indian fashionistas website - highheelconfidential.com, a beloved friend "Shruti" - I have always admired her sense of teaming things & accessorizing & we are so similar in our thoughts too, after all we are Virgo's born a day apart! Last but not the least this list is not complete without mentioning the woman who brought me into this world,nurtured me with her tender hands & fights with me till date like she's my friend - my dearest "Amma".

This post would not do justice if I do not talk a little about her style back then. Going back to my memories from my growing up years, I always felt I had the most fashionable mom! From sporting chunky wooden bangles, long earrings & bright colored lips to wearing skirts, long frock like dresses & stilettos (which I cannot walk in for nuts & she does till date with grace) to carrying off the Indian Sari oh-so-gracefully - she has been the envy of many many women ;) ! All of this gives me joy because today I still wear a lot of the chunky jewelry she wore back then & cherish it with all my heart. A lot of what I know today, specially draping a sari is all thanks to her! to A women with a beautiful smile & warm heart she makes everything she wears look good.

Saying this I wrap up "my mini style guide" with my favorite places to shop, keeping fashion & my pocket in mind - Vero Moda/Only, Forever 21 & H & M. My girlies feel free to tell me what you thought of this. I know I am no expert & learning each day, but as my close friends would know I have a passion for fashion!! :D

Cheers !!

Sights & Sounds of NYC

As the day dawned, I enjoyed my morning cuppa - courtesy hubby dearest & we were chatting about where I was planning to go that day. With a strict ban on malls/stores (me the shopaholic), I was still unsure.

Once hubby was off to work, I began browsing about the museums of the city & which ones have free entry - very important as museum entries can cost you $20 & upwards. While at my search, I found the "American Folk Art Museum". So, thought what better way to explore a new country - by looking back at its origins, art & culture. Called hubby, checked for the route & I got going.

Well, its been two weeks in the city & I must say I'm very confident going about by the local buses here, but the taking the subway train; it was my first day. As i stepped out of the apartment, lovely bright blue clear skies welcomed me to a pleasant day, perfect for my day out.

So I began my walk to the subway station, had to re-fill my metro card, but for some strange reason the machine wouldn't accept the card, as i struggled with it, a white bulky man approached me (remembered everyone's advice,never stop too long anywhere in NYC & do not talk to strangers!) - he offered me his card saying it had $4 on it, I was hesitant & said "no thank you" & walked right up to the ticket counter. As it turned out I could just pay $5 & buy a two-way ticket. Phew thank goodness I thought on my feet & did not fall into the fat guys trap!

After a little struggle to swipe in the Metro Card - which should ideally unlock the bar & a little help from a young guy, I was on the platform as I spotted the train make its way to the station. I hopped in & the train whisked me away from one street to the next & as petrified as I was about the subway, my fears came true.

From exactly opposite to where I sat, there was this rather tall, middle aged guy - with an almost 3-day white beard with sharp cheek bones & piercing eyes. Every time I raised my gaze I could see he was looking straight at me, with this rather very upset look on his face (may be he was having a bad day I guessed). Crazy subway stories began haunting my head & though I was looking down at everyone's shoes (the lovely winter boots :P) I could feel that he had all eyes on me & that was terrifying. Trying to keep my calm, I finally breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the announcement for 59th street come up & off I scooted out of the train & surfaced to the less scary world above!

Well from here began my crazy walk all the way from 59th street at Lexington Avenue to 66th street on 8th Avenue, which is a good 5 Avenue long walk. So I walked across to 66th street & started walking cross town & after a good 15 minutes of walking I realize that instead of walking up towards Park Avenue, I had walked back to 3rd Avenue duuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhh...
So I began walking back & then walking up again - I have to mention here, that as many temptations this city has (read sweet treats & pizza's) it makes sure you are well toned & strut your stuff with those svelte legs, haha !!

An hour later & battered feet I spot my favorite coffee hangout - Starbucks. Got in, got some coffee & marble cake - pulled a chair & went "phew, my legs hurt"! What I enjoy most is watching the world go by as you sit alongside the window. This particular Starbucks overlooks the beautiful Columbus Avenue, with its huge Columbus Circle dominated by the statue of Columbus, surrounded by stone benches, sitting on which you can watch the hurried New Yorker walk, drive, cycle, roller skate & even zip by in these little mobile vehicles (used by the elderly & handicapped here).
From where I sat, I observed the pretzel seller outside marketing his stand & gathering customers, the sophisticated high society ladies in their pearls & Berkins slowly making their way, the rather serious business guys with their slim fitting suits walking hurriedly, the young New York woman/girl braving the cold & daring to wear shorts (!), the typical New Yorker with his/her long black coat & the rather vibrant young fashionable New Yorker with geeky glasses (which I must say is a rage here & looks very trendy too!), ruffled hair, a long coat, a color popping neck warmer/stole, a sling bag & trendy boots (this is totally my style too!).

Of all this I have said, the New Yorker takes pride in walking their pooches & poodles and the cutest thing you can see everywhere are these little puppies being carried in a little bag or even more luxuriously they have their own pet pram too!!

So at this point I had given up on finding the "American Folk Art Museum" which was supposed to be the highlight of the day & began walking back the long path back to where I hopped off the train. Just as I was walking past the imposing Lincoln Center & film street - over hearing several students talking about the auditions they got through & watching the students of New York Ballet in their regular practice sessions - my eyes fell on this huge red board which read "American Folk Art Musuem". I screamed with joy & whisked through its doors!

Delightfully greeted by the curator, I began my exploring American Folk art, pieces like the tiny piano, the 5 faced statue, the most popular cabin quilts (which reminded me of Indian Kutchi embroidery) & the most prominent piece of work which adorned the entire one side of the entrance wall - The National Tribute Quilt. This was a quilt depicting the NYC skyline made by 4 women as a tribute to the victims of 9/11. Being a small museum with limited displays it gives you the time & patience to read about all its exhibits & appreciate it better.

After the displays I visited to the cute little museum souvenir store. I picked up the "Tribute Quilt" bookmark, a brochure of the museum & some words of wisdom as you can see below.

That was my day, it was long, tiring but all worth the effort. hope I didn't bore you guys!!

Ciao for now, I'm off to see "Ground Zero" Today.

Sunny side up!

First off I would like to say a big "Thank You" to all my sweet friends who have been reading my blog, your kind words have been indeed encouraging.

Being in a new country, it's but obvious that you can't help making comparisons & measure what's better & worse. So here I am sharing with you the brighter side of things in "Pardes".

The most endearing act is "Pedestrian Respect" - I guess its big everywhere except in India - where you can get hit while your walking & be blamed for the act rather than being apologetic & this I'm saying taking my own experiences into play (no offense to safe drivers).

The next bit being how we take "free delivery, free shipping" for granted - here I talk about both us as consumers & the companies giving us the service. And I guess by now most of us wouldn't mind paying those extra bucks for the service & expect it to be top notch, rather than just "hope" things reach you in time & in one piece. I feel its only when companies advertise their "free delivery/shipping" deals & do a good job at delivering - do they earn the trust& confidence of their customers.

In India, online shopping websites like www.yebhi.com & www.flipkart.com to name a few have delivered their promise of product, quality & time! Well yeah, here everything comes at a price & at first I too was resistant thinking its a waste of those few bucks, but experience their service & you realize that its money well spent & this holds good from pizza to pearls & everything else in between!

In the last of my nice experiences I would like to share is that of in the sprawling stores here - from groceries to fashion apparels & beauty saloons to restaurants; where every person working in them have the knowledge of what they are selling, why it is good for you, how you can save on some bucks & are ready with suggestions if you ask - this is true from your humble local bakery to a high end store.

Just yesterday while I was at this store looking to buy boots & while I was looking to have a cupcake - these simple customer service experiences are what I will carry with me a long way & recommend these places too. In a beautiful country like ours if these little things are catered to, there will be no better place than "back home" I guess.

So that's it for now..

Ciao :)