the little things.

it is true. an attitude of gratitude makes just-enough a feast! in the depth of the lowest of days, there always is a reason to be grateful for. and, more enough than not, I find these moments closely related to my family, my kids especially, and my friends! 

my friends are my guardian angels. and, my daughter and son are little cherubs that can make me forget my splitting headache with their soft kisses and chubby arms around me. they are always so warm and smell so snugly that I just want them to hug me forever!

the little miss holds her creation - snowflakes stickers on bands of green and the golden yellow star

chubby dimpled hands have always fascinated me. and, it's always Ashu, Ashvita, who comes to my mind when i talk of little hands that can be eaten. *cruella laugh* i can safely say i have seen her grow from a baby with a curly mop of hair to this poised and calm five year old, through her pictures.

thumbprint trees.   

her mother, also Shilpa, and i met on flickr and have been friends for over four years. we met once, last year when they had come down to India for diwali. it is, and will be one of my most happy memories for years to come. i can also safely say this, we are more than friends. and, the only part not making us sisters is the name. what parents will give the same name to both their daughters!

 with ribbons stuck and baubles drawn.

when i saw this little bundle of creativity in action, it was more than an inspiration. and, i am overwhelmed and grateful that her mother agreed and spent quite some time photographing, for 'the kitchen window.' all pictures in this post are by Shilpa, and all ideas were executed by five-year-old Ashu.

 minimal. whimsical. just lovely.

 no limits to her creativity.
moustache stickers!

here's presenting diy greeting cards that little children can make. can you imagine the happiness such a card would bring grandparents and uncles and aunts and/or parents who cannot make it to the big day. it would feel like the child sent a part of themselves in the mail.

 thumbprint reindeers!

what did i tell you about edible, sweet hands :)

 and, her personalised goodie bag to carry all the cards she made.

the colourful bands tree.

this is where Shilpa records her exotic travels and her colourful everyday life. thank you Ashu, you are a rockstar. thank you Shilpa, much love.

PS
aren't you guys glad that there is something on the blog, other than me :D

a handmade christmas

    the christmas tree is coming up. we make a few ornaments each day and hang them, what with term exams for kids and all. can't wait to finish it and wake up to a full, shiny tree every morning.


twirling in the breeze

linking to 'santa stories' at Colours Dekor & 'itz' festival time' at Liven Things Up...
PS
the inspiration http://www.flickr.com/photos/24285065@N02/6423753833/in/photostream

my earliest memories of christmas are of those celebrated in Bathinda Cantt. mom would have started baking and making all types of things before this date then. you see, the perils of sometimes being the only Christians posted in one of the Army stations is that everyone flocks to your house on Christmas.

on Sunday afternoons in December, after most of the prep was done, mom would take a cane stool (we call it mooda) to the sunniest corner of the lawn and make these santas. sometimes, the neighbour Rao aunty would drop in and over juicy keenu segments (a hybrid of musambi and orange, if i remember correctly) dipped in salt and pepper mixture they would complete the whole set of egg shells.

now, i never thought i'd make them or even remember them. but, i did. i enjoyed it, too. and, you know what, kids remember the oddest and sometimes the least important things, things that we wouldn't even shrug at. *OH EMM GEE moment* yet to put up our tree, but, there's bits of Christmas here and there in the house :)



linking to 'santa stories' at Colours Dekor and 'itz' festival time' at Liven Things Up