Has it been 2 months already?

hiyaa....✋I dont know why I am posting an update after 14 years randomly, I just remembered I had a blog and I wanted to document my everyday experiments.... like all other hobbies, needless to say that this went down the drain.. I had an update that I never posted and do want to it show up on my blog which I didnt even remember it existed until today... , I still want this place to come back and see how niave I was and how a decade has changed everything.. new places, new beginnings , no longer in Chicago... good and bad things.. it is nostalgic to read my own post.. may be ... may be this is a sign to buckle up and pick up some good habits....   😁                                                  

👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀

UPDATE from 2011 .... 14 years late ......

                                                                    After I posted about my to-do/goals to achieve in this 6 months period, I have been hibernating, not literally but in the blogging world.The funny thing was I already quit after the first post. So today I thought why not just update about what I have done in the last two months. I have all these thoughts in my head that I would like to jot it down, but neither I have the interest to sit and type or even have the the time to finish up all my chores, gather the remaining few ounces of energy, sit late night and post something. Today I chose to push myself.
So far lets see...


I have started exercising better than before but not 6 days a week. On an average I am able to exercise(bike, walk, jog) thrice a week.

I have been drinking atleast 48 gallons and sometimes 1 gallon but definitely better than where I was before

The main motivation to write a post is that I weighed myself and oh halleluah!!! I lost 5 lbs, I will be very mad if that stupid scale was wrong. I will post a pic of me, so atleast I can see some difference visually and also it would be fun to document the process.

I haven't read a single book, I did flip through several home decor books, if that counts(I know thats cheating...) The min I get to bed I snooze.

No manicures, no classic movies, not a single scrapbook page ( I know how lame!!)

We visited Minnesota (1/6), we only got to spend a day in mall of america. My toddler had a lot of fun at the Nickelodean Universe and the aquarium, but the shopping part was really sad, there is a lot of renovation going on and nothing much to shop. We got great deals on summer clothes in Aurora prime outlets, the next week.

Under education, I started out sincerely and now I havent been reading much. I just started reading about foot ball online. I know I am not going to patiently read a book. I will start pushing myself to read more. I just started learning VBA- VB for Excel, it seems to be interesting.

Under food, I did snap some photos and will be posting recipes soon. I havent tried any desserts yet. I have been able to cook somedays ahead but I am tired by 6 pm and have no enery to cook everyday. Thats work in progress.

Toddler has been reading some books with me, he is pretty much where he was 2 months ago with potty training, I have given up any kind of training.
I have been praying few mins everyday and going to temple every month but the rest I havent even tried.

I did start container garden, the seeds were sown in may and now some of them transferred to pots, do lets see how they are going to come out this summer, but it is so exciting. I will welcome ideas on how to organize it in such a way that it looks clean rather than bunch of pots occupying space in my small roofless balcony.


I will post my updates on the rest of my 6 month goals in my next post.
If you are interested to know what goals I am trying to achieve here is the list.

Overall I am enjoying the process though I havent accomplished much, but I will definitely try to improve everyday.

You too can give it a shot, a small change brings a lot a inspiration in ourselves.
Enjoy the summer!!

Our Navarathri Golu celebrations 2014

Finally here is our 2014- 5 step Golu, a display of dolls, followed by some information on Navarathri celebrations for anyone interested. Our Golu has few new collections this year such as Pongal celebration set, farmers , Sadhabhishekam (60th birthday, renewing vows), peacocks etc. Hope you like it. I had fun making the goddess figure and decorating with saree and jewels ( first shelf) , also making the village scenery with mountains out of plaster of paris and trees and greenery (side table). Thank you for stopping by. I have an e-tambulam for you!! Enjoy!

















 



உழவர் செட்



 

பிள்ளையார் வாத்திய செட்

பொங்கல் செட்

நர்த்தன பிள்ளையார்















 

Freezable Egg frittata -breakfast on the go- recipe 1

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I am in the quest to find relatively easy, healthy, make ahead recipes. Thats how I came across oodles of frittas and quiche recipes on  Pinterest.

 K, my hubs usually makes these egg breakfasts on saturday mornings, they are so delicious and full of protein, keeps our tummies so full until late lunch. I just tweaked his recipe and added veggies and herbs. When making it fresh in cast iron skillet, its takes only 15 mins start to finish, you will love the saltiness from the cheese and the baked crust at the bottom.  

Go ahead, try it with some of your favorite herbs and spices and let me know how yummy it was. 

Thanks for sticking with me so far like yolk to the shell, green on the leaf you get the point. 

Take care 

Ramya     

Easy breakfast: Egg frittata 

1)Cheese,salsa,spinach,eggs,herbs, oil,salt & pepper

2) Sauté salsa in oil for 2 mins with herbs.

3) Whisk eggs and spinach, salt and pepper.

4) Pour in glass pan and bake @ 350 for 30 mins with foil.

5) Cool and individually wrap to freeze, microwave for 1 min before eating.  

 

Birthday cupcakes with fondant monkey toppers

Birthday cupcakes with fondant monkey toppers

Our son is turning 3 this week end and I am excited as I am making homemade birthday cake and cupcakes. I have started developing an interest in baking desserts in the last 2 years. I have only tried few recipes like Tiramisu, cakes and cupcakes and am far away from perfecting the taste and presentation. My artistic skills are close to 2 in the range of 1-10. I try to copy stuff and sometimes even successfully replicate.

This is one of those attempts that I am very happy and proud about. I had to make 30 cupcakes for my son’s class for his birthday, I could have just bought fluffy & yummy Dominick’s cupcakes, but what’s the fun in that, right? I wanted to do two things

1) Find a good chocolate cupcake recipe- I have failed so many times when I attempted to make cupcakes and got frustrated, so I gave up until this week. I found a mini-cupcake recipe in one of my books, that is perfect size for the kids and not too sweet. I would like it to be softer and moist… but for now I am happy. I will share the recipe soon.
2) Find a decorative way to make the cupcakes more fun for 2-5 yr. olds and definitely easy to make. I decided for an animal theme and at the last minute found this great blog with instructions to make monkey toppers through Pinterest. I followed most of her instructions except making the ears. It was 1 am , yes the one after midnight and I was too tired, I couldn’t care less if the monkeys were deformed, just have to go with “earless monkeys” this year. Sorry monkeys!!!
In order to achieve the above monkey toppers I used :

1) Readymade or homemade fondant ( tan and brown colors)
2) Cookie cutter – circle, heart shape, decorating tip
3) Water
4) Food writing pen
5) Frosted cupcake



I didn’t take any pictures of the steps but the original post is pretty descriptive.
So go ahead and make these for your next celebration, it’s so easy peesy and fun, that your child can even do

A new beginning

This being my first post, I just thought that there wouldn't be better way to start a journal than this. Now is the time to get myself organized, my thoughts included, I have waited long enough. With winter winding down, I would like to try this out this spring. So if you are interested, please join me. I was motivated by this post.

60 things in 6 months/24 weeks/180 days
Start date : March 1, 2011
End date. : Aug 31, 2011
Fitness

1) 300 miles of biking
2) Drink 64 oz / 1 gallon water
3) Drop to size 6 / lose 20 pounds
4) Work out 6 times a week

Entertainment
5) Read 6 books
6) Watch 60 classic movies not watched so far
7) Make 180 scrapbook pages
8) 6 pedicure and manicures

Travel
9) Travel to 6 new places
10) Go camping.

Education
11) Learn about 24 new places 1/week
12) Read news every day
13) Learn American football game in 180 day
14) Learn one new science fact.
15) Learn 6 carnatic songs/devotional songs
16) Re-learn French
17) Take one technical course
18) learn 6 new slokas
19) Learn 1 new English word a day

Food

20) Try and document 180 healthy recipes
21) Make 6 new desserts
22) Learn to make a fondant cake
23) cook previous night during the week

Toddler development

24) Potty training for toddler son in 60 days
25) Sippy cup training in 60 days
26) Read 60 new books for son
27) learn 60 play activities for son
28) Enroll toddler in a private school
29) Enroll toddler in swimming classes/play activity
30) Journal toddlers’ new activities everyday

Personal

31) Spend 10-15 mins praying /shasti kavacham/prayers everyday
32) Create a daily work journal
33) Go to temple once a month
34) Create reminder and send 60 wishes (birthday, anniversary etc)
35) Start a blog
36) 6 hours of community work

Home organization

37) Organize closet, purge, donate clothes
38) Garage sale of old items, toys and donate rest
39) Hang family pics including ones from childhood
40) Make framed art of scenic/modern art for living room
41) Container gardening
42) Make 6 handmade objects for home décor
43) Extend the kitchen with a baking island
44) Buy a sofa for the family room
45) Paint all rooms
46) Create a 2010 year of photos with all families for parents
47) Install pullout trash cans for kitchen and master bath
48) Create a walk through of 3 years of marriage, photo poster
49) Take family portrait and create family poster

Chores:

50) Check mail every Sat and purge junk mail
51) Sort and fold laundry on the same day
52) Launder work clothes every 2 weeks, wear only pressed clothes to work and everyday grooming.
53) Wipe kitchen countertop and sweep kitchen floor every night
54) Make list of items that need to be refilled on a daily basis.
55) Recycle whenever possible
56) Set clothes for work previous night
57) Inventory list for pantry items
58) Pay credit card bill on the 1st of the month

Misc:

59) Save 600 dollars (using coupons, saving electricity, garage sale etc)
60) Donate $1/day to an Indian orphanage