My soul city

What, you ask, is the real reason
to love Boston in every season?

I have seen a few, but not all
and many a skylines have had a close call.
It is not trusty ignorance who urges my blush,
nor unchanging habit who causes the rush.

Nay, dear reader, it is much much more
the sights and the sounds that touch my core.

You think to your self you will escape the trap
And, I promise, a year will turn you to sap.

Let's start with snow piled high on the ground,
like crushed diamonds sprinkled all around.
Bare trees all decked up just for you,
like a million little stars blinking on cue.

Soon tiny spring will slowly saunter in
while we patiently wait on needles and pin
Generously it will carry with it
abundance of tulips if weather permits.

And then the real pearl the oyster unfolds
as sunshine sprinkles over the crafty cold.
The gardens are lush and brimming with laughter
so many squirrels and ducks to run after.

And I promise you another thing
something spectacular
that will make your heart sing.

Cross the bridge on any day
and silently watch
your worries drift away.

Every traveler who has been over
has turned their head
to a stunning sight forever.

It isn't just Charles that holds your attention,
The chic Boston buildings too need a mention
And with them, the arty campus of MIT
is as much part of the beauty you see.

The arrogance of Charles is deserved
as it plays it role with such reserve.
On one bank lie the Hancock & the Pru
while the other boasts of MIT crew.

So dear reader, I am well aware
about Boston you may not really care.
You think to your self you will escape the trap
And, I promise, a year will turn you to sap.

There ain't no princess here

I have recently started thinking that perhaps, just perhaps, we are fighting a loosing battle.

We, G & I, have always maintained a gender neutral environment at home. Which means, that neither of us uses the gender card to either get out of responsibilities or to assert our rights. We both are opinionated and yet never chauvinistic about it.

And this extends to little A, too. We haven't gone the route these parents have, but rather strived to make it happen in simpler ways. Such as our expectations from her, her books and her toys.

For those who have read my previous posts, know how much 'pink' bothered me. So, now imagine our discomfort when the darn princess shows up every where. And I mean everywhere.

Try shopping for a 2-yr old and you will be surprised by all the products that come in the princess theme. Right from the gauzy pink dresses to plates and spoons, from bibs to sticker books, and from story books to toys. It is exhausting sieving and sifting for non-princessy items.

If that wasn't enough, her daycare provider has a bag full of princess gear for 'dress-up.' And then there are strangers who think it perfectly normal to playfully let A know that she is "pretty as a princess."

So, for parents like us, where do we draw a line and, most importantly, how?

To being happy and appreciative!

Keeping up the tradition from last year and the year before, started 2012 with no resolutions.
So, looking forward to a pressure and guilt free year :)

All I hope is that I focus on all that is well in my life, find some time to write and appreciate all things beautiful. For now that seems enough.

Talking about all things beautiful, here are a few goodies I recently stumbled upon and they made me happy.


1) What better way to teach kids gardening than in this fabulous play house. Check it out here.

2) Stumbled upon this sweet world of Loxly Hollow on Etsy and boy, am I drooling!

This one just seems perfect for A's bath time fun!

3) Serious love for this beauty! Would love to own this unique piece of art.
Saw this on Annie Howden's blog
Oh Honestly! .
It has my mind racing and am filled with a number of ideas that I could pull off. It seems so doable and lovely that I might just give it a shot some day soon.



4) Another thing of joy for me in the past couple of days has been this random image that G sent. I have looked at it a hundred times at least and every time it makes me smile. It reminds me so much of little A.
Enjoy!

Anything you have seen or read that made you happy and smile?

Iron Chef at home

After picking up G from the T, we made a quick stop at the grocery store to pick up wonton wrappers and avacado. Standing at the produce aisle, G challenged me to an Iron Chef showdown with wonton wrappers being the chosen ingredient.

And in 5 minutes we had our competitive gear on!! We shopped for the ingredients we needed to complete our tasks and we rushed home. The kitchen turned into a battlefield; G & I elbowing each other and trying to complete our tasks with A jostling for our attention.

It took us not more than 30 minutes to get our respective dishes on the table.
G made delicious ginger chicken momos and I made a mango avacado salad with chili shrimp served on crispy wontons.

After ages we had such a blast in the kitchen and on the dining table. Wish we had taken a moment to snap a few pics of the masterpieces we had concocted. Hopefully, there will be another time soon.

A home for books

As most condo-parents, we have been struggling with storage for a while. Trying to get from point A to point B in our condo usually involves some tripping and skipping over our and As stuff. While most of the stuff we consider fine to trip and skip over, As books not so much.

We tried putting As books in our bookshelf, and in a few book bins, but neither worked for us. And nor have we invested in a separate bookcase due to lack of space.

To find a suitable home for her precious books, we spent this weekend brainstorming. We were looking for a storage solution that was:

1) easily accessible for A: she should be able to reach and easily pull-out the books of her choice.
2) suitable for both her room and the kitchen.

As we researched a bit, we stumbled upon this wonderful blog, Domesticsimplicity.com.
In her blog, Lillian used IKEA spice racks [$3.99 each :)] as book shelves. These were just what we were looking for!

A not-so-quick trip to IKEA and we were all set. Not only did we score these functional racks for As books, we also got her this easel. And this is how we set up the area in front of the kitchen.

So far we have put up only 2 racks and each of these racks hold around 10 medium sized books. As for the easel, since it has a white board that A won't be using anytime soon, G folded it and turned it upside down. And secured it to the wall.

Now As books have the perfect home with a perfect location :)
Have you ever come across a nifty idea and used it in your home?

Book Corner

Trying to organize As books & toys requires a skill set of its own :)

And as I was trying to get all her stuff fit into the toy chest, I realized there have been some toys n books that she and I have just loved to tatters. So, here is a list of books that we couldn't live without:


1) Mirror Me (Baby Einstein): G & I picked up this book on our first trip to Babies'r'us :) when A was not even born. We, and by we I mean the three of us, have loved this book since her early days.

2) Quack, Quack: As A grew and started getting more interactive, she couldn't get enough of this one. And once in a while, she still opens it up.

3) Daddy Hugs & Counting Kisses (Karen Katz) : These two are As most favs right now. G & A read these every night before bedtime. And every night they make her giggle n smile.

4) Old Macdonald A Hand-Puppet Board Book: This is a board book with a hand puppet, and what could be better for a 6 month old. We have used this book extensively while traveling n it worked wonders every time.

These are a few for now. Do you have a fav childhood book you still enjoy?

Not so pretty PINK!

Being a mommie of a daughter has always been a dream. I knew way back when i was quite young that I was going to have a daughter. Don't ask me how or why.

Since A was born I have had the most wonderful journey of my life. It has been incredible and scary all at once. Incredible because of so many reasons. And scary because I really, really, from the bottom of my heart, want her to grow up to be a healthy, confident and strong woman. And you might think that it wouldn't be that hard to raise her to be such.

But as I look around myself, I see such negative 'pinkified' consumerism that I am appalled. The princess culture has left me a bit apprehensive, to say the least.

And what better way to equip myself than start reading up. I started with Cinderella ate my daughter by Peggy Orenstein. First, I realize there are many other moms out there who think like me, and it feels good to belong :). Also, that G & I have an up-hill task of making judicious choices in trying to keep the balance between letting A be who she is and helping her better understand the excesses of the princess culture.

As I was reading the book I realized that it was not the color or the princess that bothered me, it was the relentless marketing, and the adult themes thrust on young minds that have left me uncomfortable.

To help better understand how media is affecting the way young girls are growing up, I was recommended this book called Packaging Girlhood by Lamb & Brown. I have heard wonderful things about it, so hoping I get to read this one soon.