My Diary

I have relocated to a new city. I am the new lady in town. The culture, food habits, weather, traffic, language is all very different. Until now i was cocooned in my home town, i knew what to expect from the city, the people, the office... this is entirely new terrain to me....my work profile is different...life is now not easy, ITS FULL OF CHALLENGES. But, I, like many women my age and conditions was in a quandary as to continue working or call it a day. But i stuck to it, stuck to this job. Few years back my parents had a dream for me, i completed my engineering, did post grad and joined this public sector company after struggling and working for it real real hard....Should i give up this dream or should i use every bit of strength I have, to keep this job? I chose the latter. I don't have the support i had in my hometown, but i have thought of working at ways to sort things out and not let negativity creep in. When you are positive, god and forces around you help you in ways y...

Moong Dal Cheela is by far my most favorite breakfast n the kiddo loves it too. Its very nutritious and just the comfort food you need in the morning or in your school tiffin. You need: 2 cups of moong dal 1 inch cube of ginger Few pods of garlic as per liking Salt to taste Desi ghee Pick, Wash and Soak Moong dal the night before. Dal should get submerged in water. Grind it with ginger garlic and salt the next morning...You may add chillies to this. My daughter has'nt started spices and chilli so i avoid. Once the batter is done, heat a tawaa...i dont use non stick owing to its health hazards. so i use the regualr tawaa. sprinkle lil oil on tawaa and then and rub potato (half cut from the sliced side) prior to spreading the cheela batter on it. This technique makes it a non stick.... spread batter like in dosa. Put ghee on edges. Let it cook on medium flame, turn and cook from other side. Its cooked before you know it. Serve it with green chutney or butter or w...

We do not have flexi timings where i work. Its defined work hours. I have been able to contribute to the organization i work for, significantly...(so i think). Yet, i strictly avoid late sitting in office, unless something urgent crops up. Within this time there are a gamut of targets to be achieved. So how does one do that? I make most of the limited hours available and follow some basic rules learnt from some lovely ladies i met during my career and some learnt on the way. 1. Reach work on time 2. Do not participate in office politics, more energy than you think is lost in the process! You lose your work hours big time 3. Let your work speak for you 4. Don’t bitch 5. Keep at it, your superiors will recognize your good work sooner or later 6. Stop procrastination, the task that you have been avoiding for real long is not that complex. All you need to do is open that file and start NOW 7. Save your holidays. Might be useful when your kiddo might need you. Learnt this f...

You all know that I Lost 10 kgs precisely in 7-8 months November 2011 to July 2012. This proves slow and steady wins the race. The other part which most don’t know and needs to be shared is coming up. What I did wrong from July 2012 to November 2012 1. Did not have my daily multivitamin which I had promised myself 2. No health drink like Woman’s Horlicks, Bournvita or Nurture etc. No milk in the first place. No curd to substitute/ Paneer - maybe once or twice in a month. 3. Most days I was going without that early morning fruit, which I had been taking initially for 3-4 months 4. My dinner on busy days was just some chapatti or stuffed paratha 5. Little or no exercise/ suryanamaskaar 6. There was a lot of personal stress All in all my meals though were the right calorie, but lacked the nutrition a very active woman like me needs. As a result I was exhausted most days to the extent of reaching extreme anaemia, at the end of the 7 months. Post July all the protein I had was c...

Okay before I write this post I must tell u that the weather is awesome right now, there is a nip in the air and it's really pleasant, makes me wish for a picnic, only if I did’nt have other appointments today or maybe have a party at home, hot cup of chai,pop corn and gup shup. The ultimate unwind after a busy day! Talking of busy days, they are no two ways about a day at work, they need to be ‘busy’ days and that’s how I like it. After work, I often see working ladies coming back home hassled, rushing to their abodes, kids getting cranky, tearing to go play, moms clutching them to reach home….Ahh! So was my case until some time back. I used to rush home, settle daughter with some colors, waited for maids who came trooping in and by the time our chores were done it was 8’ish. My daughter wanted to hit the park and kept requesting but by the time we got free all kids would have left the park and most times I was too exhausted to even venture out. Now I am not one of the moms to ...

This post was written in July and most of what is written holds true even today. Back in June, I had some time off and went to visit hubby who is on a sabbatical and studying. I use my holidays to eat, sleep and have fun, try new local cuisines, soak in the local life! I did all the above but also exercised a lot of restraint and used the gym at least 5 days a week, enjoyed the college life again, evening walks in the beautiful campus which is green and massive. The evening visits to the wonderful juice shop were awesome. Fresh air and delicious juice. My daughter particularly loved her Mango shake and adults oscillated between pomegranate, mausambi, watermelon etc. Quick fitness updates: 1. Weigh about 65 kgs. Yes I have lost close to 10 kgs ladies. Update: Been at this weight for like 2 months now. 2. I have partially quit milk, sugar, and to compensate for my daily calcium needs have started a bowl of curd instead. This curd is not made of skimmed milk. Quitting sugar is par...

When we juggle so many roles, more often than not, we forget whether we are presentable, we look ok, fine or great. Reaching work on time seems more important than anything else. But its always important for your own confidence and self esteem to be well turned out. I adore the ladies working at these five star hotels, they are so damn put together, smart and groomed. Now wont it be treat for your own confidence and well being if you make little effort for a more groomed and presentable you. A well groomed woman at work cuts a smart and confident picture. You of course need to work hard professionally to climb the ladder. But a smart personality will always work in your favor. Office Bag Must haves: There are few staples which when kept in your handbag can save your day. You can use them while waiting during the traffic signal, in your office restroom and will keep you beautiful and charming. 1. Always keep a nice deodorant or perfume as per your liking at all times,will keep y...