Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Rambling

Its about that time of the year again when the wheels start turning, and change is coming. The time when you look back at the recent past one more time before you step across a new threshold, before you jump in head first.


Only a third of the year has gone by and already I feel I have accomplished so much more than I'd hoped for. For lack of creativity, my new year's resolutions have always been to be a better person than I'd been the year before. It was never anything specific. Just general ideas like trying to be more patient and less angry at the world.

But this year I actually put my goals into words. I decided I wanted to achieve more at school and try and get an 80% overall average. I decided I wanted to start actively taking care of myself from the inside out. I actually learned to wash and style my own hair after years of leaving it in the hands of the saloon women ( I dare not call them hairstyling professionals because they're definitely not that) and I cut down my daily skin care routine to just 3 products! That might not seem significant to some of you but for someone as self conscious as me, that is a major feat.

Here's my list of accomplishments this year.

  1. Learned to let go sometimes and let things take their natural course.
  2. Learned to recognise when to say no to certain situations
  3. Learned to take care of my own hair
  4. In the process of learning to make good meals.
  5. Learned the value of simplicity and taking one's time
  6. Reduced the quantity of artificial products I use overall

Now that I have put it into words, it doesn't seem like a big deal, but I'm sure you can picture the proud smirk on my face anyway.
And you know that....The best is yet to come.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Sunday afternoons

The ceativity and execution of this idea just makes you stop and admire beauty in odd places
When the world has slowed down to a less hectic pace, you are left alone with you wandering thoughts. For me, Sunday afternoons are just so full of contemplation and reminiscing that I often find myself returning time and again to I wrote this for you and PostSecret just to remind myself of the signficance and potency of hope, love, faith and honesty, and to gain a little sense of companionship.

Even from anonymous strangers.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Volte-face

Image from www.apartmenttherapy.com/

I am predictable, I know. And yes, I am very easily influenced by the people and events around me. I might try to deny it, and pretend to be diffrent. But the honest truth is; I am just as unique as everyone else. (oxymoron right there!)....
And as usual, as everyone becomes a little disenchanted with fashion and all things sartorial towards the end of summer, so I have I found myself thinking about the vain and superficial obsessions with current trends and all the pretty clothes. Hence to save any sort of common sense and individuality I still have left, I have turned my attention to the space I live in. A much more sensible and less superficial preoccupation, don't you think?

Friday, February 15, 2013

7 Days of Poetry: I Am - John Clare

I Am

I am: yet what I am none cares or knows,
My friends forsake me like a memory lost;
I am the self-consumer of my woes,
They rise and vanish in oblivious host,
Like shades in love and death's oblivion lost;
And yet I am! and live with shadows tost

Into the nothingness of scorn and noise,
Into the living sea of waking dreams,
Where there is neither sense of life nor joys,
But the vast shipwreck of my life's esteems;
And e'en the dearest--that I loved the best--
Are strange--nay, rather stranger than the rest.

I long for scenes where man has never trod;
A place where woman never smil'd or wept;
There to abide with my creator, God,
And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept:
Untroubling and untroubled where I lie;
The grass below--above the vaulted sky. 

Thursday, February 14, 2013

7 Days of Poetry: How do I love thee? - Elizabeth Barrett Browning


How do I love thee?
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death. 

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

7 Days of Poetry: I know why the caged bird sings - Maya Angelou

I know why the caged bird sings
The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

Monday, February 11, 2013

7 Days of Poetry: The highwayman - Alfred Noyes

We close this week of poetry off with one of my all time favourites.

The highwayman

PART ONE

I

THE wind was a torrent of darkness among the gusty trees,
The moon was a ghostly galleon tossed upon cloudy seas,
The road was a ribbon of moonlight over the purple moor,
And the highwayman came riding—
Riding—riding—
The highwayman came riding, up to the old inn-door.

II

He'd a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin,
A coat of the claret velvet, and breeches of brown doe-skin;
They fitted with never a wrinkle: his boots were up to the thigh!
And he rode with a jewelled twinkle,
His pistol butts a-twinkle,
His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under the jewelled sky.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

7 Days of Poetry: All You Who Sleep Tonight - Vikram Seth

All you who sleep tonight

All you who sleep tonight
Far from the ones you love,
No hand to left or right
And emptiness above -

Know that you aren't alone
The whole world shares your tears,
Some for two nights or one,
And some for all their years. 

Saturday, February 9, 2013

7 Days of Poetry: She walks in beauty - George Gordon Byron

She walks in beauty

She walks in beauty like the night
of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
meets in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
had half impair'd the nameless grace
which waves in every raven tress,
or softly lightens o'er her face -
where thoughts serenely sweet express
how pure, how dear their dwelling - place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
so soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
the smiles that win, the tints that glow,
but tells in days of goodness spent,
a mind at peace with all below,
a heart whose love is innocent. 

Friday, February 8, 2013

7 Days of poetry: Synergy of love - Mark R Slaughter

We can't ignore the fact that Valentine's Day is coming up. It's everywhere you look. And although I'm not so big on the whole idea, I thought it would be a good idea to take this time to share some meaningful poetry. For the next seven days or so I'll share some poems that have struck a chord with me. Not all will be love poems but I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Synergy of love

'Were you honed from poetry? '
I asked your saddened smile.
For it seems to tell a longing tale -
One of words in oratory 
That speaks in languid metaphors
From lips of mind in deep despair
And solitude from inner wars
That over time has rendered life so frail.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Honey, Cinnamon and Coconut oil face wash

This is a DIY for a very simple face wash. I have acne prone skin, and when I say acne prone I mean white heads, black heads and even cystic pimples. I have tried different products over a considerable period of time but my skin always seems to adjust and then the product doesn't work anymore.
After the significant success of using apple cider vinegar as a toner for over a year, I thought it might be worth a try to see what other beauty products might work for me right out of the kitchen cupboard. This is one that seems to be working so far.




You'll need:


Cinnamon
Honey
Pure coconut oil
Empty container to store your concoction

Monday, January 28, 2013

All's well that ends well

I just got back my laptop after having it in repairs for a month. I'm so relieved everything seems to be working just fine now, and it's all in time for the new school year. I should really take this time to thank my friend John and acknowledge his expertise. I can't begin to imagine the work it took to fix it.

I am excited to report that I am not as addicted to my technology as I thought I was. I was pretty calm when one morning my pc wouldn't switch on. Normally I would have had a cow AND a nervous breakdown! Same thing with when my phone stopped working, I just accepted it and dealt with it. I feel all grown up now :-)


Monday, January 14, 2013

The beauty department

the beauty department

Having come across this heavenly real estate of webspace, I couldn't help but share. I found this website almost a year ago while trying to determine the perfect foundation for my skin tone.
Even though I haven't yet accomplished that arduous task [I am almost convinced finding that perfect shade is like finding the fountain of youth, mythical] I have learned a lot from their tips, hints, tutorials and occasional educational posts. I am sure whatever your beauty issues are, they have something for you.


Its definitely worth a look.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Hair-raising.


As more and more women fall into the natural hair movement, I find myself stuck at a crossroads, often questioning if I should follow suite. I have had natural hair before, twice, by my own free will. But both times I couldn't handle all the effort and work that went into maintaining it and getting it to look decent. I am much happier with my chemically treated hair. I find that its easier to manage, feels and looks healthier [because there isn't as much breakage] and is overall a joy to have.
But fearing the judgement and prosecution that is gathering speed against women with straightened hair, [cue India Arie, I am not my hair], I have been prowling around the net, keeping myself updated on the natural hair blogs. So imagine my surprise when I came across this article;

Sunday, January 6, 2013

It's a wrap!


I just couldn't help myself with that post title. After having been inspired, albeit after the fact, by this post, I found myself falling in love with wrap skirts. They are so versatile and never look the same twice. And the bonus is, with me being so petite, I don't have to worry about sizes, its a perfect fit.

Thursday, January 3, 2013

2013

 
Image from Galaxy Photography
Happy New Year.
I hope the celebrations went very well and that you're looking forward to an already promising 2013. Wishing you a blissful and prosperous year.