All Hail 'Ash'

Hi Readers,

The buzz about Ash's weight gain has really got the best answer by what Ash chose to wear @ Cannes. I was never a fan of her's, but after her undaunted act...I can't stop admiring her. She proved that the haute couture are not only for those size zero women but also for the new mommies like her who still have the post pregnancy fat or in other words also for plus sized women. When the other celebrities who appear in Cannes are going gaga over the strict fitness regimes and ridiculous diet plans to loose all the fat and stay zero sized, she choose to say no and appear in her own skin. 

All these years, she stood as an epitome of beauty...,she became an adjective and a subjective reference for the term 'beauty'. At the media interaction, with the properly put across wise words, she boldly told the world, that its okay to be plus size and it is good to accept your own skin with dignity and poise. After all, she is a woman, a part of the nature, where change is inevitable, why should she be exceptional just because she is the shutter bag's favourite. 

Now, I hope all those woman out there who plan to shed all the weight even before heart fully enjoying the moments of motherhood, or shy away to show their extra weight and stop making public appearance unless n until all the fat is lost,...she gave a strong message to 'relax and dwell in those gained kilos accepting it as a phase of life'. She may not be giving a novel or completely new message, but in this generation, this is much needed dose. All Hail 'Ash'.

I personally loved Abu & Sandeep Khosla's designer saree with full sleeved blouse on her. She looked very elegant. What say?

Where as the designer gown which actually created ripples and tabloids called Ash gutsy is the one below.

Cheers

Jyostna

Inspire....

Dear All,

Are you wondering why am I on a writing spree??? Past few days kept me very busy that I was not able to come out with some good posts. But, I have a news to share with you all. I was cribbing about my return until recently. Only after I could accomplish something, my senses were soothed. The something is what I have been waiting for, since last 1 and half year. Finally I see some positive light onto what I have been planning. While the accomplishment is that I could finish my first design-build project all by myself, the news is that my business venture will kick start very soon. More details can be found in my web page which will also be shared soon.

I will share my first project details on my web page but as of now, I want to leave some basic info about it. Its a commercial project, a corporate office branch in South India for one of the leading Japanese automotive test systems companies. 

Its quite exciting to sail in this phase but at the same time a little perturbed to get into a new arena which I never thought I would. 

Gearing up with a lot of inspiration inside, will definitely need more from you all...bring it on pleaseee!!!

Cheers

Jyostna

Satyameva Jayate???

Hello Readers,

With Aamir's advent into television, the small screen had added another feather into its cap. The program's positive intentions and bringing our burning problems to open discussion with no hype and hoopla must be credited. All three topics which were dealt in the program have been existing since long with no solution seen so far. After all, it is us who have to change more than implementing a paper solution. But how far have we changed???

Just after days the child sex abuse discussion was aired, newspapers report a 8yr old girl was raped and murdered by an unknown person in Bangalore. Just today there was a new report about a man hanging himself and his children unable to arrange funds for his daughter's wedding. Both of these were discussed, explained and put across properly so that even the laymen can also understand. In the 8yr old girl's case, since the culprit was not found, its not easy to boil down to solutions. But what about a father who could not pay off his daughter's wedding arrangement costs??? 

I see a lot of people who are so concerned about what other's think in our society. But, rarely do these others play a part in our lives. What we or our close bound family thinks/requires is more important rather than some random others opinions. It all depends on how we present our situation to the society. The taboos we have are too much that we don't talk even when it is required. Thanks to Aamir's show which is putting away the taboos and venting out openly.

I have written a piece about the big fat Indian weddings earlier which marks how the rich express their flamboyance to the peak in weddings.You have and you spend, is a case which has no issues. This case arises only when you don't have yet you are compelled to spend. Just because one can't afford an extravagant wedding affair, it doesn't mean that he/she loses his stature in the society. As long as you are comfortable hosting a simple affair and have to no regrets to keep it so,..none would dare to question against what you did. 

Coming to Child sex abuse...The same reason why it is not being curbed is that we don't come out and punish the offender. Often, we secure the kids but never stop the rascal who has committed the nonsense. We try and hide off the offender instead of declaring his deed. On top of our stupid beliefs, the show reveals that there are no proper laws in our constitution against this abuse. How sad??? 

We appreciate Aamir Khan for bringing out such show to us, but do we introspect and really implement from our end??? This remains a question to me until I see a dip in the cases mentioned above. 

Cheers

Jyostna

Humming the Summer tunes

Hi All,

Having seen the worst of summers in my hometown, I don't wanna ask the cliched question to my blog dosts, as how are you doing in this summer or hows summer treating you. 
The Sun shines at its best and scorches at its peak in this season. But, to me therez a brighter side of these summers in my nostalgic pages. Slipping back to those days I recollect days when mom use to literally lock us (me n my bro) up in a dark room..dark room as in a room which keeps away the hot baking light of the summer noon. Thick and dark colour curtains were chosen for summer to sheild the blaze. Since mom was also an educationist, she too had holidays in summer. It was all of us with some relatives visiting us in summers, all together get locked until the sun says bye for the day. And there comes the actual fun time that we shared indoors. Food, fun and laughter was inevitable in summers....also our tricks and trails to get out the dark room and play outside. No matter how hot it is, we loved to play outside.
Summers always came with a package of food, indoor entertainment, and power cuts. Luckily, summers in my childhood saw only evening power cuts. Had they were in the morning, I wouldn't have written this piece. The best food of the season I would call, was mangoes in all varieties...raw or ripen, we made the best of use of them. Watermelons were consumed often,which kept us cool in the noons. Palm fruits which also come in the season are yet another most consumed fruits to fight the heat. Icecream wallahs who came ringing the bell in parching sun, invited the kids from all corners to run out and grab their frozen bite. Indoor games and afternoon movies were some of the best activities which somehow made us stay inside the home. It was the best time to develop hobbies and crafts. And the evening power cuts let the ladies loose to gossip and gossip till the night slips away unknowingly, and let the kids play endless hide n seek games and enjoy group dinners. 
Summers are the best time to make Pickles and condiments. The process of preparing pickles was  also interesting and involved everybody in the household. That process will need an entire post for itself. The irony is that we always enjoyed many different varieties of pickles mostly in summer. Even though foods hot and spicy as such were believed to increase the heat in our bodies, we never had any issues with pickles and mangoes. Every household would churn cans of butter milk to compensate the heat rather than compromising on pickles. All other condiments were also prepared in bulk and stored till next summer. Exchange of condiments, pickles was very common.
For people who had go out there were charities which came up with road side temporary huts to serve buttermilk stored in big clay pots. This was the best drink anyone would crave for in summers. Potters had best time of the year, since their clay pots sales were rampant.The main roads and city centers were all empty and businesses almost closed down in the noon time.
End of summers brought storms and cyclones sometimes. Even they were interesting to us except for the thunderbolts which frightened us. And mom used to ask us to chant Arjuna's many names.
Be it the food or the activities or the relatives visits or the indoor games/crafts,...everything was fun and interesting. I feel that's one of the best way to beat the heat. 
For all those moms, I would say, don't afford to miss the best moments of summer rather than miffing about the heat :):)

Cheers

Jyostna