Mash101

A Spring Welcome from Sunisha Designs

2011-04-01T00:21:00.005-04:00

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Monday Music

2011-02-07T22:34:00.000-05:00

Just thought I'd share my top eight songs of the moment. Mind you, some are old, some are new and some are just so:

1. Counterpoint by Delphic

2. Last train to London by ELO

3. Pumped up Kicks by Foster the People

4. Allison Road by Gin Blossoms

5. Non-Believer by La Rocca

6. Kill by Jimmy Eat World

7. Overdue by The Get Up Kids

8. On the Tower by Sondre Lerche

January, a quick cool breeze

2011-01-29T14:25:00.000-05:00

Perhaps it's because we have kids. Perhaps it's because this is one of those years there's already so much going on. Whatever it is, January flew by ever so quickly. But I have to say, this is the most organized start to a new year I've had ever. I love it!

We started out by gathering all of the fresh oranges from our tree in the backyard and making the sweetest orange juice. And when you can start the year healthy, you just feel good, you know? After all this has been one long cold Florida winter. Believe me though, I'm not complaining at all. I've in all kinds of weather and all kinds of cities, so this suits me just fine. Besides, I'm finally getting some fabulous wear out of my boots and jackets.

Midway through the month, we awoke to icicles on our trees plants and grass. It was like a flashback to our Rochester days. The kids couldn't believe it and I couldn't stop taking photos from the front of the house to the back. When the sun came out, you could see the most beautiful colors in every icicle. I could have spent all morning outside.

The kids have enjoyed this month despite the cold. Heading out to play football in the evenings or just for Saloni to run around is always fun. She definitely has the most energy out of the four of us.

So one Saturday, Sunil was inspired to try a walk on the beach. We must have piled on several layers of clothes because it felt like it was hard to walk! What an awesome morning it turned out to be. Saloni picked up so many cool shells and feathers, she said "this is best discovery trip ever!" And Sohan stayed tucked in the stroller trying to stay warm. It was freezing but invigorating at the same time. Love love love being so close to the beach.

I am hoping that the way the year has started will be how the year will unfold. Like a fresh glass of orange juice, like a colorful icicle and like a family morning at the beach. Here's to 2011

The Season of Many Happies

2010-12-31T15:15:00.005-05:00

It's not easy knowing that while December is my favorite month with it being my birthday and Christmas, this year, it's a birthday without my Dad. You see, we were born on the same day and so, it's a bittersweet day for me, but I'm thankful for every year that I have my health, family and friends.

This year, I felt like I had a birthday week with each of my best friend's taking me out to lunch or breakfast. Talk about feeling loved! It's a real blessing to have a few true friends vs. 100 fake ones. I've always believed in quality over quantity, I mean with time being as limited as it is, who would want to waste time with someone who doesn't make you feel good? And at 39, I'm loving the people I choose to hang out with, you know who you are!

And speaking of feeling good, my hubby and kids made me the cutest cards. With Christmas around the corner, getting the decorations up and seeing the twinkle in everyone's eyes made me smile. After all, I may be feeling a little low without my Dad, but that would be no reason to deprive us holiday lovers the spirit of the holidays, gifts and all. And how lucky we got with having two Christmas weekends. One weekend with Sunil's brother and his family from Sarasota and one weekend with just us. Oh yeah, now the kids think we'll be doing this every year!

Well, it was a long year but like I said, when you have your health, family and friends, you can safely say, you have it all. God bless everyone.

The Loneliest Day

2010-11-29T14:44:00.000-05:00

Dear Pappa,

Remember when you tried to teach me how to ride a bike? I kept falling off and kept getting hurt and you told me to keep getting up. I wish you were here Dad, because I can't seem to get up today. I miss you. It's the first Monday since I came back home and there such a deep silence in the house. The kids are at school, Sunil is at work. I am here. Alone. And surrounded by a thousand memories of you.

Where do I go when it feels so lonely? I need you to tell me. You know, back in Irvine, when I was at your old desk in the garage, I found your work diaries. You never shared these wonderful writings! I pored over them in the still of the night. They were so wonderful...all about management, sales, marketing and things you have learned at work. The last page was dated August 2008, three months before your heart attack. The attack that took everything from you.

I'm trying to understand what it is to say goodbye. Saloni asks me all the time if I'm sad about Arvind dada. What a gem of a girl. Sohan has wiped my tears so many times. And you would be so proud of Sunil. Pappa, he said the most beautiful words at your funeral. I tried to say as much as I could, but it's not enough.

I looked at the clouds this morning on the way to the kids' school and said hi to you. Saloni asked if you could hear me...can you?

It's cold, windy and gloomy here. But I hope where you are it is sunny and warm and beautiful. And most of all Dad, know that you gave us the best in so many ways. No matter what corner of the world you were in, you were with us.

I love you Pappa.

Death called me today

2010-11-17T23:44:00.000-05:00

The saddest of songs, the gloomiest of days...nothing can sompare to what I felt today. In 24 hours, my life changed completely. Last night, I was on a high from a successful fashion show. Marcia and I sold handbags, made contacts, made it on stage and even met the press. I was so happy and elated. All I could think of was how proud my parents and Sunil would be.

Come the morning and I was decorating and cleaning the house for a DCMSA brunch. That's when the call came from my sister. My dad died. He passed away in his sleep. Peacefully. No falls or pain or anything. It was God's will. And as the broom fell from my hand, I was overcome with tears and emptiness.

I called Sunil's parents right away. I had just told his Mom an hour prior how great the show was and how I was looking forward to them coming tonight for a Diwali pooja (prayer) and dinner. It was not to be. The next 24 hours felt like 48 hours. Perhaps it hit me more when I had to explain to Saloni what it meant when someone dies. It's like your best friend being in an accident and you never get to be with them again.

I'm enroute to CA tomorrow and I am scared, empty, sad and hungry all at once. Just a month ago, we were laughing together. Time may heal all wounds. But the time now just hurts.

October Symphony

2010-10-20T14:37:00.001-04:00

If you don't know the song "October Symphony" by the Pet Shop Boys, I highly recommend, you hear and download it. It's the perfect autumn song and it rings true for this month.http://video.search.yahoo.com/search/video?p=october+symphony+the+pet+shop+boys

Happy Birthday Saloni!

2010-10-02T09:20:00.000-04:00

For her first birthday party to celebrate turning five on September 30th, Saloni was in the driver's seat. We took her to choose her cake, choose her pinata (a cute purple guitar) and preview the venue - our favorite Beaches Diner in Atlantic Beach. Friday night was the night and everyone started to arrive around 5:00pm.

The menu was easy and hey, no cooking for me! We picked up the beautiful balloons which Winn Dixie so thoughfully had ready and packaged so they weren't flapping all over the place in car. And the cake was decorated with music notes and all her favorite colors. As rushed as every parent feels to make everything go on time, the evening could not have gone smoother. Everyone, albeit a few friends, came to party. And the best part? Nothing went worng. No, really. You know how you look back at weddings, parties, other events and laugh or reminscince about things that went wrong. This night was one to remember for everything that went right.

The kids had a blast from Sunil directing a Disney channel Bingo game we created to breaking the Guitar pinata stocked with candy to an arts and crafts project the kids got to take home. It was so much fun and the food was so yummy.

Want to see what I mean?

Photos coming soon!

Aiko? Aiko!

2010-09-20T02:01:00.000-04:00

Hey guys Aiko's coming to town. And he's bringing his Mom and Dad too, this is Nisha and PJ from Atlanta. That's what I love about Sunil's family, they're the family that always visits from every corner of the globe.

Arriving Saturday afternoon, dinner out at night, Jag game Sunday. 18 holes of golf Monday...I'd say it was packed alright! And we wouldn't want it any other way. The kids were in heaven with Aiko, and this dog was right at home walking from room to room and even coming into our bedroom Sunday morning at our beside to wake us up..too cute.

Do we see getting our dog in the future? Hmm, we're not there just yet! But all my old fears aside, I'm getting so much better with dogs now. And Sohan was right at home eating Cheerios off the floor with him!

Thanks again for an awesome time guys, we always have so much fun with ya'll.

Being goofy..the key to staying young

2010-09-09T02:01:00.000-04:00

Even though Saloni is just about to turn five this month and Sohan is at 2 1/2, they have already made me improve my life in so many ways. We adults tend to get so stuck in the rut of our habits, mannerisms and moods, that we forget to just let lose and be. To move on from the coffee spilling, to say "who cares" if there's laundry piling up and by all means, grab a hand and dance or bake. Play dress up, shout, be goofy, call a friend on a banana, tackle Pappa and oh, always smile.

Love those stormy skies

2010-09-06T00:56:00.000-04:00

Some days...

2010-09-01T16:37:00.001-04:00

Some days I just have to realize that friends come and go.
Some days, I have to remember how sweet it is when Sohan brings me an Oreo because he notices how he and Saloni got one but not me.
Some days I have to appreciate all the days of work Sunil puts in and can't be home to nap or pick up the kids from school.
Some days I have to remind myself that even though I'm constantly doing thankless chores, there is such a thing as silent thank you's in kisses, hugs and smiles.
Some days, pulling out my old photos and having a good laugh at my teenage thick eyebrows is just the kind of free humor I needed.
Some days, seeing a butterfly whip across the driveway and into the big blue sky makes me stop and breathe.
Some days, it's good to look in the mirror, put on a little color and straighten my back and say, "Mash, I love you."

Because some days are just a little tougher than others.

The Buccaneeeeeers!

2010-08-31T01:26:00.001-04:00

Hanging with the Sarasota Joshi's is always a blast especially when you add a Jaguar game to the schedule! We set out on Thursday and had a ball with Arjun and Neelam. I of course spent most of my time yapping away with my sister-in-law Adeeti. Makeup, clothes, in-laws, you name it, we talked about it!

Friday night, they got sitters and we hit the town for some really yummy Italian dinner in a setting that was worthy of a European cafe. And oh, did I mention the dessert and coffee was divine?

Saturday started the day celebrating Raaksha Bhandhan, a holiday celebrating the relationship between brothers and sisters. We then headed out after much-needed naps to Tampa for the game vs. the Buccaneeeeeeers - I say it that way because Sohan loves to stretch out their name likes he's singing it. Now, if you know our history, we've been booted out from the Jag games due to lighting problems before and yes, as luck would have it, we got outed again! And when you see the photos below, all those empty seats were not from the lighting warnings, but the real game in full swing. And the NFL thinks we have ticket sales issues! But oh, before that...Adeeti and I were sent back to our cars just because I had a backpack. Apparently, tote bags are allowed but not anything on your back. And oh what a long walk it was...

But when you win and have an awesome family weekend, who's complaining? The hotel was cozy with two separate rooms joined in the middle with a family room. Late night Burger King hit the spot along with some mindless tv and gossip.

Sunday morning, it was back to Jax.

Summer 2010

2010-08-24T09:23:00.000-04:00

Love, popsicles, rain.
Disney channel, Selena Gomez, feeling the fame.
Water splashing.
Friends laughing.
Long afternoons naps and baking.
Is that sound the garage opening?
Pappa's home! All is good.
Love the Ashley Woods neighborhood.
Homemade sandbox.
Watching TV and Uncle Knickknocks.
We beached it.
We ran it.

This is summer. We loved it.

Terry Parker 20

2010-08-16T11:05:00.001-04:00

I wish I could see my friends from when I was in elementary school and junior high. They'd probably laugh at much I've changed. I was such a nerd back then.

Going to Sunil's 20 year high school reunion sent butterflies in both of our stomachs. Funny though, because I didn't even know anyone. As soon as we got there though and he started to see familiar faces, the laughter started to roll and I of course, started clicking away. What it is about seeing your husband laugh with intensity that is so sweet?

There's nothing Plain about Plano

2010-07-25T01:19:00.000-04:00

Little sleep, lots of food and plenty of girl talk. That's a Joshi weekend for ya! Saloni and I went down there for the weekend and we crammed in as much as we could. Sunil and Sohan stayed home to do some serious male bonding and claimed not to miss us that much!

This was a great trip for both of us though as watching Saloni feel so close to her older relatives made me all mushy inside. For me, this is the family I always wished for and am thankfully married to. It's true, no matter where you go, if there's a Joshi there, you are guaranteed good company and plenty of good food.

On the agenda? Daily ice cream. Shopping Priti style. Chilling Khushee style. Food 24/7 a la Daksha bhabi's kitchen. And even an adorable children's play. Not to mention the dinner out, the late night talks...whew...what did they put in my coffee?

And oh, don't let the photos fool you - Saloni's till a Jaguar and Gator fan...she's just appeasing her sisters. Hee hee.

And when we were onto Harshad kaka's house, it was yoga, gymnastics and lots of eating, again! Ami kaki, we loved those cupcakes! I just don't know how someone can contort their bodies the way cousin Roma and Harshad kaka and Ami kaki can. I had more fun taking the photos!

Rockin' good ol' Rochester

2010-07-11T01:52:00.000-04:00

If you ever want to see the nostalgic side of Sunil and I, just bring up Rochester, NY. We won't stop talking or smiling. It was the best two years of our pre-kid days. There's something very sweet about this town. It's small and quaint with neighborhoods that have large front and backyards. Lots of Mom and Pop restaurants and roads that make you laugh with all the potholes.

We went there this past weekend for a 25th Anniversary party for the AAIR group. It was wonderful from the start. Just being able to hold hands at the airport and not a stroller was very different for us! Of course, we were calling Sunil's parents more than they called us to check on the kids. Thankfully, outside of plenty of ice cream and tv, they were just fine.

Seeing my old friend April was awesome for me as Sunil got to meet her husband and we googled over their baby girl, Izzy. It was a short breakfast but we crammed as much talking and laughing as we could.

We drove all over Rochester - we went to the Red Cross office where I worked, Strong Memorial Hospital, where he worked, ate at our favorite restaurants, and even drove by the golf courses we used to play at. But one thing bummed me out was the Krispy Kreme place we used to eat at closed! We were looking forward to warm gooey donuts...free when the red light is on. But oh well, at least we did all we could in a weekend.

Everyone at AAIR was thrilled to see us and it was so nice to be in their company. Something about Rochester always makes feel warm inside. Hmmm...love that town.

Hi Dad, I miss you...

2010-07-08T00:24:00.000-04:00

I can't begin to tell you how hard it is to know your parents are well, slowly drifting away. My father's dementia has been getting worse and he has more days where he is falling than walking now. My mom is often so tired of this huge change in her life that I'm not sure if her memory lapses are from aging, stress or an onset of dementia. At this stage, it could be all three.

What's worse is being so far away. I can't go hug them. I can't take my dad out for McDonald's hash browns or fries - he's loves them. And I can't tease my mom about her massive collection of all things kitchen-related. (There is no one on this planet who has amassed as much as she has in housewares!) I miss my dad's advice about life and his deep voice telling me abou the weather. These days, he's so short in conversation. They can't feel how wonderful Sohan's hugs are or how he loves jumping like crazy at any given moment. They can't see Saloni's "live" performances of Selena Gomez or the Jonas Brothers. And I miss that gleam my mom would have when Sunil would be dressed for work. She loves a man in a tie!

I know you're probably thinking, "why not visit more often?" But you see, it's not that simple when you have two kids that are under five and an amazing husband with a busy schedule. As much as I want to see my parents, I absolutely hate being away from my family. In fact, twice in the past couple of years, I've had tickets booked and have cancelled the trip because I got butterflies in my stomach about leaving.

But from this emotional sadness I feel everyday inside, I have learned some very important lessons that I want to share with you:
1. Live! I mean really live your life. My parents had so many plans to travel and see people and go places and now they cannot do anything of that. Even going to a local party is a stretch because of my dad's condition. Balance your savings with your spending because enjoying a little now is just as important as enjoying later in life.
2. Don't hoard. If I were to tell you that my mom's literally has several brand new boxes of coffee makers and she doesn't even drink coffee, you'd think...what the? But yeah, anything and everything can be found at her two-bedroom townhouse. I mean more than you can imagine. She has made many stores in her lifetime happy! But she has given more away to us sisters than enjoyed them herself. Don't let the $9.99 price make you a hoarder. Use it or donate it. Enjoy it or share it, but don't turn your home into a storage cabinet.
3. Travel. It is the best gift my parents gave me. From the time we were kids, we went everywhere by car, train, boat, plane. By the time I was 25, I saw several cities in India (and got live five years there), Singapore, Thailand, Dubai, several countries in Europe, Mexico, Canada, Hong Kong and did cross country road trips all over the States. I was so grateful to them. They always told me and my sisters that while they could have saved a lot of money, they wanted us to see the world and give us the knowledge of all that there is out there. I couldn't agree more. I hope to do this with our kids because it's something they'll forever cherish.
4. And last, forgive. I'm not going into detail here. But in a nutshell, do you really care that that guy on the road cut you off? Don't shorten your happy times wasting time on petty things. Those who are jealous, insecure, judgemental, etc., expend more negative energy than they should. Be you and move on.

P.S. I love you mummy and pappa. I'm me because of you.

Sohan's first haircut

2010-07-05T21:38:00.009-04:00

Our darling Sohan's Bhadhaa ceremony was the highlight of the weekend. While he was an angel during the pooja part, he was weary when the scissors came close. We gave him a few snippets until he figured out what was happening!

All in all, anything is celebrated with family is always wonderful.

Happy 4th to the Goofy's!

2010-07-05T21:36:00.000-04:00

So our favorite and one and only Sarasota Joshi's were in town as well as Sunil's mom's younger brother and wife...put them all together and you've got a weekend of laughs. Hemant mama, her brother, is known for being the most easy-going and funniest person - you always smile when he's in the room. Wish he could visit more often.

Speaking of wish, I can't tell you how awesome it is to have cousins that are a drive away. Saloni's "big brother" Arjun and lil' sis Neelam are all peas in a pod. Of course, add Sohan to the mix and well, the noise increases ten-fold. But so does the fun...see...

Two Peas in a Pod

2010-06-21T01:02:00.000-04:00

June, oh springy June

2010-06-05T10:37:00.007-04:00

So of course I'm excited that it's the month of my lovely hubby's birthday. He's finally going to be my age. Well, at least for six months. Come December, he'll be teasing me about how I'm six months older than him. Yeah, I get it honey!

Something about June...I can't quite put my finger on it. But I love the flowers, the sun is out longer, coffee tastes sweeter and I feel like there's more time to daydream.

We've been getting our toes wet in the sand more often at the beach now. We visited Fernandina Beach for Sunil's birthday at our fav. neighborhood pizza place - Arte's Pizza - simply the best and freshest. Follow that with fudge and ice cream on a warm evening and you know your birthday went well.

I love that my life has been about appreciating the small things. I love that Sunil loves watching the grass get greener and that Sohan can chase a little lizard like it was the most exciting thing ever. And I love the influence Saloni has had on me. Whether its about dressing better "more colorful mom, no beige!" or saving money or taking time to relax - she truly is a girl's best friend.

So I guess I feel good about June. I miss my sisters and their families that never find time to visit. I miss all my CA friends. I miss my parents. But you know, having married Sunil has taught me the real meaning of family. I've never known a family to be so big yet so close. Always visiting, always inviting.

It's June, go barefoot and enjoy.

I love you nine times more

2010-05-31T11:03:00.002-04:00

Happy Anniversary honey...5/27/10
it's been nine years of everything I could have dreamed of and more...I love you!

One Cousin, Two Cousin, Three Cousin...More!

2010-05-30T23:41:00.002-04:00

Did I tell you it was going to be a record year of family visits this year? A joke I have with my friends is that with everyone coming and going, I sure get to keep the house sparkling! Not to mention the fun cooking and baking experiments. Don't worry, no one was rushed to ER! But I do keep Tums handy, just in case.

So here's a regular threesome that came one after the other. Sitar, well, he's a regular and thank goodness for that. It gets Sunil out on the golf course for a day and prime remote control coverage of ESPN. Who wouldn't love that? Following was Priti, and actually it was her first time coming but she had so much fun, she said she's returning for more! I'm glad too because she's now become my Marketing Strategist for Sunisha Designs, my shopping pal for all things trendy and on sale and a great hit with the kids. And then, there's my one and only "pinki friend" Khushbu. She's my gal and yeah, believe it or not, this is her fourth time here but we didn't get to see each other for the last two years, so this was an awesome 10-day visit. And she got to be here as me and Sunil celebrated the big nine year anniversary!

Okay, enough talking, you'll get the gist of the fun we all had with these photos.

Hail to the Godparents!

2010-05-26T12:32:00.001-04:00

I've been counting the days, weeks, months and years for my Godparents, Charu aunty and Yogesh uncle to visit. It's been over six years since they came to Jacksonville and the first visit in our home. So I was doing jumping jacks at the front door when they arrived late Thursday night!

You can see from the smiles how much fun we had. It was so one-on-one and so personal. No time limits, no "we have to be there's", no clocks pretty much. Just long talks about life, family, kids, sacrifices, work, travel...you can learn a lot from them, I definitely have over the years. This was one visit that really made my 2010!

Happy Two Sohan!

2010-05-13T20:09:00.000-04:00

Today you turned two,
we are so happy and proud,
we can't to sing happy birthday
out loud!

You're adorable and sweet
and oh such a treat!

Happy 2nd birthday cutie pie!

Nature in Bloom

2010-03-29T23:31:00.001-04:00

I'm a nut for taking photos as you might probably know. And taking shots of flowers, the sky and anything naturistic really gets me clicking. I mean honestly, wouldn't seeing these flowers make you pause in your tracks?

The Sarasota Joshi take on Jacksonville and a couple of Jags too!

2010-03-21T23:24:00.001-04:00

Hey Shashank kaka!

2010-03-18T22:39:00.001-04:00

Sunil's cousin, Shashank and his son, Anand who is one out of three boys, came into town for a conference. Landing at our place on Tuesday night, we had a blast with them. Anand loved played the leader on the Easter Egg hunt and teaching Saloni how to play Sorry, while we got to catch up with Shashank. It's always nice having one-on-one visits from family - your attention isn't divided and you can get to know them so much better. Wish you were here Mala!

Class Pictures

2010-03-10T16:32:00.001-05:00

Awwww....Saloni and her class, just so cute!

An Art-riffic Day!

2010-02-28T16:19:00.001-05:00

I love love love seeing Saloni and Sohan get right into arts and crafts. Saloni's imagination is amazing. From turning toilet paper rolls into microphones or scraps of paper into works of art, she makes getting through a long day easy. And Sohan, well he likes to get right "onto" his interests too!

The Red Rose Ball

2010-02-14T16:14:00.002-05:00

Okay, so as you know, any chance to get dressed up gets me quite giddy. I mean after all, when you are always chasing crumbs, food bits, dust and whatever else enters the home with two kids, you can't wait to feel glamorous every now and then. So when our dear friends Rahul and Sujata asked us to join them at the Red Rose Ball, we didn't blink. A Friday night out, a good cause and fun with friends? We're there!

A Zoorific Day

2010-02-13T21:47:00.000-05:00

The zoo is a place that fascincates and saddens me at the same time. It's wonderful that they've brought animals from all over the world for us to see and learn about, but they always look so bored and caged in. Who can blame them? But on our trip this time to the Jacksonville Zoo, I was happy to get some great photos while the kiddos had fun. Even though I felt for these amazing creatures who would much prefer being in their own habitat, they were doing "good" by being here for visitors like us.

What a night

2010-01-30T00:41:00.003-05:00

So a scary thing happened tonight and thankfully, Sunil was home. We were watching TV in our family room when suddenly the alarm went off as if someone had opened a window or door. We knew it wasn't downstairs because we could visibly see all the entry points. Yet strangely, we couldn't hear any activity upstairs either. I told Sunil to hit the "police" button on the alarm. But after that, I was clueless what to do. Standing frozen in the family room with Saloni and Sohan, Sunil was quick to get us into action.

He directed all of us into the garage and we got into my car as quickly as possible. We waited in the driveway to see if we could hear anything outside. Nothing. And the alarm company didn't even call my cell, which they should have. I called the alarm company and sadly, got a long recording of options. When I finally got a person, she said that they really don't have an emergency number! What? Anyway, I told her about what happened and she (a little too calmly) said she would conference me into the local police department. I honestly could have just called them myself.

It turns out that the police never got our dispatch signal which makes me wonder if that "police" button even works. Thankfully, they sent a car out and the policeman thoroughly checked our home before we entered. While we were blessed that this was probably just a faulty window that triggered the alarm, it made me want to pass these tips on...

1. With two kids under five, be sure to always check on your supply of wipes, diapers, a blanket, spare toys/books and extra clothes in the car.
2. I've always been a muncher, and with kids you have to have snacks on hand. While we waited, the pack of Starburst in my bag really came in handy! But other great snacks that don't spoil rain or shine are goldfish, raisins, fruit rolls, cereals and good ol candy.
3. Keep your cell phone charged and when you're home, keep it near you. You never know when you have to grab and go like we did.
4. Keep a small stash of cash in your car. If we had to make a longer getaway, knowing we had enough for a Taco Bell or Walgreens run eased my mind.
5. Have your neighbor's numbers in your phone or in the car and not just the home numbers, because if they have call waiting, like my in-laws, you'll never reach them! Ask for their cell and work numbers too. Luckily, we have great neighbors on either side that we can call anytime.
6. And then there's the obvious stuff - flashlight, notepad and working pen, jumper cables, etc.

And oh, I'm changing my alarm company Monday morning. Any company that's supposed to keep us safe and doesn't have an emergency number, failed to ask if we were in a safe location, actually failed to ask me anything really, is not worth having!

If you have any stories like this, I'd love to hear them. Be safe.

Games, Gators and Gainesville

2010-01-25T12:41:00.002-05:00

I love starting the weekend Friday night. When I say that, I mean that I love having plans or activities that makes me feel as though my hubby's been home for hours even when he might have just arrived at 5:43pm. Saloni had been asking for a while now to watch "The Wizard of OZ", so I ordered it from Netflix and after dinner started to watch the movie. Add popcorn and big blankets and you immediately know this is so much better than a freezing overpriced movie theatre!

While we only watched half of the movie as we all got sleepy early, I wrote a quick list of the weekend's plans and what to take. What to take to Gainesville that is.

Saturday morning was nothing short of a blur of color and noise. We frantically packed for the weekend trip, swallowed breakfast, tried to clean things up and thankfully remembered to grab Abbie's birthday present. Saloni was invited to her friend Abbie's, from school, birthday party. Chuck E Cheese is great at 10:14am because it had just opened and you could visibly see your kid from almost every corner. Sohan was everywhere and was in awe of all the sights and sounds. When Chuck E Cheese himself came out to sing Abbie happy birthday, he walked right and danced with him hand in hand!

We had fun watching Saloni explore and eat pizza with her friends. After the party and cake, we headed out on our road trip. This would be the second Gator basketball game we've seen this season. It's a great environment and I love that the games are long enough to keep your attention and short enough to get you home at a decent hour.

For me personally, being in Gainesville strikes a sweet emotional chord inside just knowing that my hubby spent a good part of his life here becoming the person he is today. I love catching his gaze as he looks out the window and sees what's changed or what's stayed the same. I love how suddenly he drives at 32mph so he can remember the shortcuts he'd take to class or how that new bldg. used to be the site of his old apts.

I don't have as much of a connection to UC Irvine. I worked full time and went to college at night. It was only in the last year that I went full time to college, but I crammed so many credits so that I could finish that taking interest in anything else was not an option. Sure I can still remember what that crisp California air smelled like and the walk between bldgs where my heels would go click clack. But going to Gainesville is special. I just have to look out the window.

22 Melancholy Days

2010-01-22T14:21:00.000-05:00

So it's 22 days into the new year and well, I'm a little melancholy. Not that the year has been bad so far. It's just that whenever it is a new year, for some reason, I feel overwhelmed with expectations of myself and from friends and family. I don't make resolutions but instead I organize my mind and the stuff around me to hopefully make a good start into the month. And yet, I'm still down.

My work with local organizations has been very productive. Had my first board meeting with DCMSA. My first meeting with ALA about my role as the Silent Auction Chair and its progress. Sunil and I went to the first Team Teal kickoff for the Jaguars and I even interviewed to become part of the Champions Club for the team. So, why oh why can't I shake off this cloud of feeling sad?

Part of it must be my parents in CA and their declining health. Part of it might be that I'm 38 and feel it quite often in my dropping energy levels! But I'm trying my best to keep my head high and think of what's good right in front of me since I can't change what's far away. My husband's great sense of humor. My kids' love for all things new and musical. Bargain buys, milk in the fridge, a good hair day, friends to vent to, and family members that call as though they know you need a shoulder...

So, I'm going to make a cuppa joe and call today a day to turn around and WAKE UP! Goodbye melancholy, hello Manisha.

Letter to the Florida Times Union

2010-01-02T10:43:00.000-05:00

Our local newspaper asked residents to write about lessons learned, experiences, etc., that we had in 2009. The edited version they published online is here.

Here's what I wrote in full:

What I’ve learned…

By Manisha S. Joshi

Starting the year 2009 was difficult. My parents suffered dual heart attacks within 48 hours in November of 2008. While my Mummy survived okay, my father was in a coma for about a week and when he opened his eyes and looked at us, I had never felt more scared. Scared because a thousand questions flooded into my head, would he talk again? Walk again? Know what happened?

Fast forwarding into 2009, after months of rehab (God bless all the nurses and patient assistants), my Pappa was able to come home. But he was not the same. Because of significant oxygen loss to the brain when he suffered the heart attack, his memory was impaired and his thought processes were scattered. Add to the fact that my parents live 3,000 miles away in California and you can see why “ringing” in the New Year had a different meaning for me. While my sisters bore most of the weight of their care and significant lifestyle change locally, it was hard not to have the chance to do things for them. Simple things like baking them cookies or taking them out for dinner. They were able to find a dedicated home healthcare aid, Weeda, and she has become part of the family now. She takes him on three mile walks and plays card games and talks to him to get him energized.

Through phone calls and photographs, I try my best to get my Pappa talking about family, our kids and everyday things like the weather, the news, etc. My Mummy, ever full of sorrow from such a sudden change in their lives, was even harder to console. Here they were on a sunny day in November preparing for a party when suddenly Pappa just collapsed. Their amazingly healthy diet and easy-going lifestyle would have never predicted this.

But I learned a very important lesson from this. And that is “live!”. Live with what you have. Surround yourself with what you want. Live in the moment, because it can be taken from you at any given time and at any age. Write that letter to your best friend. Send a thank you to your dry cleaner. Love the ones not just related to you but those that make a difference in your life, because that’s your family too. Channel your energy towards those you can help. Knowing I can’t do everything I want to for my parents because I’m far away hasn’t stopped me from channeling those desires towards my kids. Teaching them to donate to Goodwill, digging dirt with them, visiting their grandparents (my husband’s parents) weekly and just making sure they are loved helps me sleep most nights.

Mummy’s strength and commitment to my Pappa always inspires me – they have been married for 52 years now. While my Pappa doesn’t remember who I am on some days, I take shelter in the fact that I’m blessed with an amazing marriage of eight years and healthy, happy kids. And that is one memory no one can take from my parents.

My 2009 12 Best

2010-01-01T14:56:00.000-05:00

What defined the months for us? I'd have to say, patience, growth, understanding and lots of laughter and play. My life has truly changed for the better since being married to Sunil. No matter what problem or stresses I face, I know I can't count on him to help me get through it. Plus, it's definitely a bonus that he has a hilarious sense of humor.

The kids, oh the kids. How much they have taught me in such a short span of their lives, I hope they will one day know. They have taught me to be more patient, less cranky, more huggable and less hurried. No matter how tired I am, they always give me a reason to stop and smell the diapers!

To my amazing friends and relatives near and far and to all the places and faces that make my life easier - you are a blessing to me!

So, it was hard for me to pick the 12 best photos from each month...but here's what the meant the most to me. Thank you God for keeping us safe, happy and healthy. You always know the way...

January - watching Sohan go from sitting to standing

February - a visit from my awesome friend April, who comes every year from Rochester, NY

March - baking and doing art projects with Saloni

April - the Joshi family reunion

May - our eighth wedding anniversary

June - those amazing Florida rainshowers

July - fireworks on the St. John's river

August - visiting my parents in Irvine, CA

September - happy 4th birthday Saloni

October - Jag games and family visits

November - Thanksgiving and being thankful...for everything

December - family, family, family - always the place to be!

Blogging Along the Avenue.......

2009-12-08T17:28:00.003-05:00

Today while driving mundane errands, I thought to myself..."why do I blog"? Is it because I love looking back and being reminded of times spent? Is it so our kids and can remember these times in writing and with photographs? Or is it so friends or strangers that may pop on to my blog can feel in touch with me no matter where they are?

Maybe it's all of these things. And of course, my love of writing. How I miss my youthful days of just staring out the window and gazing yonder...coming up with poems and thoughts and dreams. I miss catching that peaceful time.

Now it's more of writing checks and replies to forms and responsible grown-up things. So I'm hoping to be a better blogger and stay more in touch with my inner writer. I know I haven't written as much as I want. But if this the best the 21st century has to offer me as solace to the e-driven world, I'll take it!

Now off to that view out the window...

Day trippin to St. Augustine

2009-11-29T12:57:00.000-05:00

Can I just let the photos do the talking? My fingers hurt from well...miniature golf! Or rather, making sure Sohan wasn't running towards the boats!

Happy Holidays on the Morning Show

2009-11-28T12:48:00.001-05:00

Saloni was invited to be on the Channel 4 Morning Show to listen in on Christmas stories read by Bruce and Staci. All the kids were so cute and had their own personalities. There was a surprise visit from Santa and goofy comments made by the kids which made for an interesting two hours!

Thanksgiving...a festivus for the rest of us

2009-11-26T22:18:00.001-05:00

Okay, if you haven't heard of Tofurky, don't cringe. It's a turkey made from soy. But don't get me wrong, cook per the instructions on the box and you get one gross tasting "thing". We learned our lesson back in Rochester when we made it for the first time. Thank God, Sunil had thought of making cheese enchiladas just in case!

But now it's our annual tradition making a Mexican Tofurky. Sunil's a master at it, so I make the dessert and sides, while he skillfully stuffs it with sauce, cheese, beans and a combo of spices. In the oven for about an hour and you've got one tasty veggie turkey.

You see on our Thanksgivings, no birds are harmed. :) And major post-lunch naps are a bonus!

Jags, Flags and More......

2009-11-25T01:52:00.000-05:00

These photos were taken from the November 8th and 22nd games. I'm sure by now you realize what huge Jaguar fans we are. Sunil's parents have been season ticket holders since the team was formed. And we began getting our own four season tickets since Saloni was born. I love the fact that both kids have been coming to the games since they were 3 months old. I definitely can't say it's always easy! I usually miss important touchdowns and plays, there's at least two bathroom trips for Saloni, prayers that Sohan won't fill up his diaper too much within the four hours we're there and we've had a few vomit incidences as well.

But Sunil and I know that if anything, they will walk away with a rich understanding of the sport, which I have profound respect for (after I finally learned the in and outs of the game in my early years of marriage) and they will hopefully grow to love being a Jag fan. By the likes of the interest they show, I think they're right on track.

We had the wonderful chance to seat with Wayne and Dolores Weaver in the owner's box. This is the second time for us and it's awesome every time.

Happee Halllooowwweeen!

2009-11-03T11:42:00.000-05:00

Boo!

Camp Rock fan Saloni Joshi hits the streets of Arrowleaf Lane...brother Sohan took to the stroller and watched in awe this strange candy-fest of a night!

These photos below are from her Halloween Parade party at school. I always joke with Sunil that he should have married a dentist. If you've been to our house, you know there's M&M's in practically every room and our pantry is like an all-year Halloween stockroom!

It's A Teal, Teal World

2009-10-19T02:16:00.001-04:00

The Sarasota team came up for a visit while Sunil's parents were vacationing in New Zealand. Crisp fall weather and a winning Jag game were perfect ingredients for weekend fun. And watching all three age levels in the kids, Arjun 6 1/2, Saloni 4, Neelam 2, and Sohan 17 months...was a ball.

Gotta love our backyard and the wide open space...thank goodness no gator sightings so far!

Happy Diwali 2065!

2009-10-17T16:52:00.000-04:00

Happy Birthday Tom!

2009-10-03T09:31:00.006-04:00

One of my closest friends, Staci, threw a surprise 40th for her husband Tom, and there were tears and laughter throughout the room. Food was awesome and she had these adorable decorations made with cute facts and photos about Tom on each table - such a nice personal touch.

Happy Birthday Beach Girl!

2009-10-01T16:38:00.000-04:00

Although we had offered Saloni a birthday party for her 4th birthday, she opted for a family evening at the beach. We couldn't argue with her choice. Joseph's cheese pizza, juice boxes, sand toys...and her amazing imagination...it was an awesome evening. Plus, having Dadda and Daadi with us always adds even more smiles to her pretty face.

A Class Act

2009-09-15T23:51:00.000-04:00

If there ever were a classy football coach, may I introduce you to Wayne Weaver? The Winn Dixie where we shop had a Jaguar Open House and you'd better believe we all went. I was bummed that Sunil had a consult to see a patient and couldn't come. It was so much fun. They even had teal cotton candy - leave it to me to focus on the food! The players were so friendly and Wayne made it a point to walk around and say hello to the crowd. Saloni's highlight was meeting Wayne and Jaxson Deville - she even lifted her jersey to show him the t-shirt she was wearing with his picture on it!

So proud to be a season ticket holder!

Daadi and Daada time

2009-09-10T22:24:00.000-04:00

I only met my grandmothers but never my grandfathers. And even then, never got to spend the quality time our kids do with their grandparents. It makes me glow to see what an impact they have on our lives as parents and how much the kids look up to them. God Bless them!

Road trippin' to Sarasota

2009-09-10T01:49:00.000-04:00

Sunil's brother and sister-in-law

and their two cutie pies,

moved into a new house

that's got sunshine and lovely insides,

So we got into the car for a visit

and had a great time,

laughing, movies, eating and more

that's how family's defined,

The kids played so happily together

we need not worry at all

in fact we didn't even notice

how time just flew by us all...

I'm a Bridesmaid!

2009-09-02T01:13:00.001-04:00

I'll never forget when my longtime friend April called me from Rochester to ask me to be her bridesmaid. I thought I was in a movie. First of all, I haven't been to an American wedding in a long time and I had never been "in" a wedding ever. So of course I was totally flattered and floored at the same time. She's my bud and I was so happy to be there for her.

Now you are probably thinking...wasn't she in Nashua, NH and then Irvine, CA and then Scottsdale, AZ? Yeah, this trip was the last of my whirlwind travel. I never been on a plane so many times in a row. But hey, do what you can while you can do it. I've learned that from seeing what happened to my parents.

So back to April and oh, the handsome and sweet groom Walter. A match made in Rochester heaven. He's charismatic, caring, fatherly and laid-back and she's beautiful, detail-oriented, kind, generous and ever the planner. They definitely balance each other out and the wedding with its rain pop-ups and time delays and whatever might have tripped things a bit went all but smoothly.

Thanks for asking me to your bridesmaid April...I was honored to be part of your family on this special day and always!

Cactus, golf and food...where are we?

2009-09-01T00:59:00.001-04:00

The second week of August brought us to AZ and we already knew it was going to be fun with a capital "F"! Need I describe Ragiben's (Sunil's cousin) amazing menus that she plans on a daily basis? Or the fact that I see my adorable hubby laugh the most around his cousins? Or the great time the kids had dancing and watching endless Disney movies with everyone who could stand it?

Let's just say, that the hot weather aside, it was a great few days. Bijal treated me to a spa massage. Sunil got a wonderful day of golf. Saloni even came up with the awesome idea when we were at the mall of getting everyone matching t-shirts. Isn't she something? So Bijal and I did and it was like the creation of a new tradition. Plus, there isn't a Joshi who doesn't look good in a nice tee! And in between, it was nothing but food, football talk, naps and a little Tiger Woods Wii...come see for yourself...

Home sweet Home

2009-08-31T14:31:00.000-04:00

Visiting California is emotional for me no matter what the occasion. It feels every street is telling me a story as I pass by. All the grown trees nod, old stores I use to shop at beckon...these are my old grounds and lots of memories are embedded here.

So going back home to see my parents the first week of August was even more emotional as I was worried whether my Pappa would remember me or not. It still shocks me when I think of their heart attacks in November of 08' and the effect it left on them. While Mom went back to her ways, Dad, well, he got the worst of it with dementia and brain damage.

The first part of my trip was just me and Sohan. Sunil joined me with Saloni and I gotta tell you that kids can literally save the day. If I couldn't get my Dad to laugh, these kids definitely did. Their goofy and unexpected behavior was just what any doctor would order. And even though my Dad is quieter than ever, Saloni and Sohan didn't shy away from him thankfully. My favorite line of all was from Saloni when my Mom asked her if she remembered them, Saloni exclaimed, "Of course I do! I've been here before! Remember?" It was so cute!

I was so happy that I came. Honestly, this was a very satisfying trip in that I got to see face to face their day-to-day living and meet their fantastic home healthcare aide, Vida. She is a Godsend and a huge help to my parents. Meeting her and talking to her about my parents was instant relief. All the things I was stressing about being 3000 miles away almost melted away. Not that I don't worry about my parents every minute of the day, but knowing they are in good hands made it easier.

We took them to 6 restaurants in a week! And to an Indian music concert, shopping, errands...wherever we thought would get them out of the house and feeling the sun on their face. I just think that simple act can make you feel so good, you know? The organizer in me couldn't help but organize a lot of their closets too...we had a trunkload of stuff we took to Goodwill. But we made a sort of morning trip out of it by first going to McDonald's and getting coffee and hashbrowns for everyone...honestly, the look on my parents faces was like kids eating candy after Halloween. I'll never forget it. I love you Mummy and Pappa...and even though you may not remember this visit Pappa...somewhere in the back of your mind, just remember you are always with us.

People Are People in Nashua, NH You See...

2009-08-03T11:37:00.004-04:00

Depeche Mode in concert? In the U.S.? In your town? I'm so there! When Sunil's cousin Sheelu first emailed me months ago that Depeche Mode was going on a world tour, I was floored. But nothing compared to the feeling when I asked Sunil if I could go see them in her hometown and he said, "Sure, as long as I don't have to go!"

I was giddy getting on the plane with no kids and only D'Mode songs in my head. Of course, I called them every chance I could get. But it was so nice to be far from home yet "at home" at Sheelu's. It's the kind of Northeastern home in a beautiful tree-lined street with cool breezes and all the windows open. I love houses where you can kick up your feet and just chill. Her daughter, Mia, is just a year younger than Saloni and is a living doll. You just want to squeeze her every chance you get!

I got their Friday morning and had left by Sunday morning. And while I was supposed to be back in Jacksonville by 2:30pm, two major flight delays got me back after 11:30pm! It was miserable. But hey who's complaining when I just had an awesome weekend jamming to my all-time favorite band, hanging out with Sheelu and her family, visiting their beautiful local temple and seeing Sunil's other cousins as well. And oh, to top it off, I had the best Caramel Apple Martini ever!

I'm gonna be coming back to Nashua...real soon!

Blue Skies

2009-07-24T10:47:00.000-04:00

Blue skies...I'm dreaming into blue skies...

Yeah, Nisha's in town

2009-07-23T10:22:00.001-04:00

Sunil's cousin, PJ, who lives in Atlanta, who is married to Nisha...okay where am I going with this?! Lemme start over, Nisha came into town for work and being her second time here this year, we couldn't be happier. Especially the kids...

Her disposition is always happy, enthusiastic and for someone who doesn't have kids yet, she can really get down on the floor and have fun.

Pizza, fun and games? I'm there Mom!

2009-07-19T22:30:00.003-04:00

There are those days when the weather is too hot, so no outside play. The kids TV shows are in rerun mode, so that gets boring. And then making crafts...well, for some reason, we just had to run out of finger paints.

So we headed out to Monkey Jungle Pizza Saturday - formerly known as Ollie Koala's. Boy was it fun - for the kids of course. I love when we can get them out of the house and physically moving. All these summer months of heat and humidity can really drain them out. And I just don't want to put them in front of the TV all the time. So thank goodness for places like these. Plus, it easliy gets them to nap afterwards...a win win situation for us parents!

Happy 4th America!

2009-07-07T11:38:00.001-04:00

Yup, you guessed it...we stayed at the Hyatt downtown for our annual 4th of July weekend fun. The weather was pretty hot and humid. But taking the river taxi helped us beat the heat. Here we are living in Jacksonville for 5+ years and we had never gone on the taxi! It was great, I highly recommend it, but in cooler weather.

Thanks Mom!

2009-07-01T21:17:00.001-04:00

I've never figured out why anyone would think pizza and popsicles don't make a good breakfast!

For the love of Kaka

2009-06-29T01:31:00.000-04:00

There comes that time of year
when Uncles and Aunts come to share their cheer,
When their laughter is infectious
and the jokes are just outrageous,
Great at golf they may be
but sun and wind can be challenging you see,
So thanks Sitar kaka for a great time
come back soon for more to find!

Happy Father's and Daada's Day!

2009-06-20T00:28:00.000-04:00

For all that you do and all the sacrifices you make, you always manage to make us smile.

Rain or shine, through ups or downs, fathers are always there. Here's to my Dad, Sunil's Dad and all the Dads out there. Remember how thankful we are to you!

Writing, Eating and other Activities of Life

2009-06-17T09:29:00.008-04:00

Been doing a lot of thinking and daydreaming about a lof of things. This time of year gets so hot that those dark thundershower clouds are such a welcome sight. And for some reason, I get more work done when it's cloudy out than sunny, do you have this happen to you too?

I'm loving my days with the kids and am really relishing being a mom. Sunil's birthday just passed by on the 13th and I love every year I have with him. I still get all tingly when I think back of how excited I was to introduce him as my fiancee! And now, here he is...a great dad and a wonderful husband, and oh a really cute doctor!

We went to our first Jacksonville Suns baseball game and had a blast. The weather was nice, the crowd fun and of course, who doesn't love the smell of popcorn and cotton candy?

Carnival Day

2009-06-08T20:45:00.000-04:00

Cambridge Prep School had their end-of-year celebration and I really wish adults had a party day like this! Luckily, parents had to stay with their child through the festivities and were assigned a classmate to partner with them. So you can only guess who was partnered with Saloni. The apple of her eye, Jonah! Just one look at these pictures and you can imagine yourself being there.

Her teachers Ms. Sonia and Ms. Monica. She's had a great two years with them.

Love and fate make Eight

2009-05-27T22:03:00.003-04:00

Yipee! We made it! Eight years of marriage today!

Looking back, mostly through albums and talking about the years past, we have really had a good time. Whether it was travel or sporting events or having kids or eating late night cereal or just watching Seinfeld reruns, we genuinely have a love for life.
And I like that I'm seeing this in the kids too. They are such a mirror of who we are. It's easy to get lost in errands and duties and responsibilities, but when you find that quiet moment when every one's home and all is still, there is no greater feeling than that of the one you love just being next to you.

I love you honey!

Father's Day everyday...

2009-05-16T15:00:00.003-04:00

I'm not sure if it was really Hallmark or someone eccentric that came up with these Mother's Day and Father's Day type of days. It's really so commercialized and stressful if you ask me. I mean for us daughters or sons, we have to be sure to get the right card with the right sentiments and mail it on time if our parents are out of town. And of course we have to remember brothers and sisters - related by blood and marriage.
And then comes the gift-giving. Both of our parents are hard to give gifts to because they honestly have everything they need and want. So Sunil and I usually settle for a nice meal out, which because of the kids, we love to go to Sweet Tomatoes. Best place for families and friends I think.
And shouldn't everyday be celebrated just for being ourselves, be it a parent, child or grandparent or single person? I don't think you need a date on a calendar to celebrate just being...

Happy Birthday Cutie pie! Love, Saloni

2009-05-13T11:38:00.004-04:00

It's here Mummy and Pappa, my lil' brother's 1st birthday. And I really wanna have a nice picture with him. Mummy, I know you are always carrying the camera around, so can you take one of me and Sohan...well, okay you can take more than one. I have to make sure I look good right?

And one more thing, can I give him a Jonas Brothers card? And oh a cake with candles on it that I'll help him blow? Oh but let's just get him in the picture first!

Golf, Movie and Pizza

2009-05-03T22:21:00.009-04:00

It was time for our semi-annual "staycation" or local vacation where we play tourists in our own town. This time we ventured to World Golf Village. While the weather veered on the warm side, the golf Gods were calling and just the gorgeous view day or evening from our window was heaven enough. And starting off the weekend with pizza Friday night was our kinda fun.

Sunil got a chance to hit some balls on the driving range while Saloni, Sohan and I had fun taking long walks around the entire village. Perfect for working off all those munchies and candy bars I brought from home! What didn't work though was the small size of the hotel room. Sohan either bumped into us or we tripped over him and I thought for some odd reason that leaving all the usual toys behind would be refreshing for the kids. Not!

The outdoors saved us though as the moment we left that room, Saloni and Sohan's faces would beam with that "where are we headed?" expression. The 18-hole putput course is awesome and the best part is you don't have to stay at the hotel to play it, so I highly recommend it. Saloni tried her hand on it too although she was very busy making "ant hills" at each hole!

We just can't get enough of Pappa!

I'm the King in here!

Spring Fashion 2009

2009-04-30T16:13:00.005-04:00

Thankfully, my two biggest fashions shows for Spring are done. I won't day they went without any hitches though. At the Bag Ladies Luncheon which was the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's annual fundraiser, the MC/Clothing Designer announced the handbags as designed by "Manisha Designs" and forgot to describe them with each outfit!

Then at the evening event which was Jacksonville Magazine's first cover model competition and fashion show at the amazing One Ocean at the beach, the announcer Cole Pepper forgot my handbags in the script. Ha ha!

Things happen and I learned you just have to go with the flow. Thanks to my friends who came out to be with me and for my hubby always there for me! I had a great time at both events and more than anything, having my handbags well received by the audience and friends alike was the best thing ever. The way they matched the outfits and photo opps that resulted were a great promotion for my business. I have to thank my Sales Exec. Julie for helping pull both of these events off smoothly.

I can now rest for a little while...until that design bug bites me!

Art Wednesdays

2009-04-29T21:55:00.005-04:00

Saloni's days off from school are Wednesdays and Fridays and I just love these days. I often call them pajama days because we stay at home and do all sorts of fun projects, art work and eat anything and everything. I have to say that she is an organizer extraordinaire. Anytime there's a closet that needs help, Saloni jumps in and puts everything in its place. I love it!

Sohan is always up for any mischief and these days, he loves getting into every cabinet and crevice. I honestly think those who use parent locks on cabinets miss out on all the curious moments kids have. But hey, everyone is different and I'm just happy to my two nut jobs to keep me nutty.

A Reunion for all Ages

2009-04-20T10:58:00.025-04:00

If you know me well, you know that I come from quite a small family. And I mean very small. You can count the total number of aunts, uncles and cousins from both sides of my parents and the number falls under ten! So imagine my astonishment when I married Sunil and his first cousins alone are in the double digits. Wow! Lots of names and faces to remember but also lots of fun to be had. I honestly learned the meaning of family after getting married. I learned about sacrifice and trust, give and take, being loyal and being loved and also being there in all times - good or bad.

If there were ever a perfect definition of family, it would have been in the last ten days of what was touted as "The Senior Joshi Reunion". It was meant for all of Sunil's dad's living siblings and their spouses to come together for ten days of eating, laughing and reminiscing. There was plenty of that and more. I learned about family members that had passed and what they were like. I learned about how hard his older brother worked to get all of his siblings to America. I learned what struggles and sacrifices they all made so that we kids could have a good life. Wow. No Hollywood movie could get close to capturing these tender emotions on film.

Tender thoughts and tears were shared when we celebrated Vishnu kaka's 73rd birthday

Each day, they planned different activities that took them out and about in Jacksonville and as far as Lakeland to the Swaminarayan temple. A week from today, we had all of them over dinner and you know how nervous I get when there's a large dinner at our place. But thankfully, all went well and everything tasted good! And the best part of the evening was yet to come. We sat them all down and then Sunil gave an intro of a dvd that we created for them to view. Intrigued? You can check it out here: http://www.justinnetti.com/client/video/ There wasn't a dry eye in the house! Sunil and I had predicted some emotional reactions, but nothing like this. It was great. The ladies even got treated with custom-designed clutch purses from me in black and gold sari fabric and a copy of the dvd for the family. The emotions that were felt in that room on that night just can't be compared to any other I've felt with family. Especially this family. My family.

Dinner at our place

Karaoke night - you just had to be there!

Having a ball with Saloni and Arjun

Presenting Jag fans Nalin Sr. and Nalin Jr. (Sohan)

Oh yes, part of the fun - cooking and endless eating!

No Joshi get-together is complete without the very competitive card game of Zero

As one of the quotes in the dvd said, "the family you come from is just as important as the family you are going to have." I couldn't agree more. I love being a Joshi. So, thanks to you "Seniors" for everything you have done to bring us here and to teach us that family is the only unit that will always be there for you. No matter what.

Dear Dad

2009-04-04T06:36:00.008-04:00

Dear Dad,

I woke up to feed Sohan at 6am this morning and couldn't fall back to sleep. You see, I was thinking of the Saturdays when we would wake up early. You were always an early riser, well you and Mom. I guess that's why that saying is true - early to bed and early to rise, makes a man happy, healthy and wise. Because if anything Dad, I feel frazzled, tired and not so wise. Were there always so many things to do? So many responsibilities, so much paperwork, so much of everything? You and Mom made it look so easy. Of course, you were blessed with not having to check multiple e-mail accounts, choose from 400+ cable channels, waste 15 minutes staring at choices of yogurt (non-fat, low-fat, flavored, unflavored, brand name vs. generic - it's too much!) and so on...

I miss those day when we could easily sit at the breakfast table and while you and Mom sipped on extremely hot tea, I don't know how your mouth survived, I would munch away on sourdough toast or Honey Bunches of Oats cereal. Every bird in Irvine was awake outside and all that was ahead was a few errands and a vast expanse of time.

Dad, now that things are different, I'm not sure how to rewind those days with you. You know I'm a sucker for reminiscing. I can do that all day through photo albums, conversations, mementos...I just hope that somewhere in the corner of your mind, you've kept a special place to go back to those days. Every morning that I hear the birds chirp as the sun peeks it's head above the trees next door, I think of our mornings.

And by the way, no excuses, I'm going to wash the car in the driveway, the old-fashioned way. Those times when we washed all of the cars together made for some of the best conversations, I guess because it was uninterrupted time. I have to find that happy place of time again. And so, I'm going down to set the breakfast table before everyone awakes, just like Mom would. Because Dad, I wish you were here...join us for breakfast won't you?

Jax Beach April 2007

Is it Saturday Yet?

2009-03-24T15:22:00.004-04:00

The weekend before it was time to wear green on the 17th, we had one of those Saturdays where you turn around and think, is it Saturday or are we already getting ready for Monday? The weather was picture perfect with the wind at our back and the sun shining. I just can't compare anything better than to wake up to open windows and birds chirping outside while you can watch trees dance in the wind.

I thought, "Okay, today's the day, I'm finally going to use my automated cookie press." I bought this gizmo eight months ago, yeah, embarrassing, right? But once it was in my hand, I felt like a gourmet confectionist (is that a word?) churning out pretty shaped cookies while Saloni and Sohan kept me company. After a few batches, her attention turned to Sunil, who was happily fertilizing our backyard. There's something about men and yards, they just go together well, like women and kitchens - no generalizations intended, but you know what I mean.

In the evening, I took the kiddies to my best friend Staci's house, where they played and we caught up. I love that she has the same philosophy as me in that the outdoors, dirt and kids go together. I mean remember mud pie days? Now every body's breaking out the anti-bacterial spray if kids just touch a shopping cart. I'm all for clean, but not at the expense of a child's imagination and freedom, just look at the fun they're having. And oh, isn't that the most adorable Barbie jeep?

Fashion Flashback

2009-03-23T14:24:00.007-04:00

I love being able to update my website for Sunisha Designs with photos from fashion shows - it gives me a chance to really see my work in action. And this time at the Children's Home Society's Hope for Design show in February, almost every outfit carried my line. It was so great! This is thanks in huge part to my new National Sales Director, Julie, who as an ex-model, has backstage and onstage experience in this arena - what a bonus. I took a morning out to get her on film, while Sohan amused us with his fascination of all the wardrobe changes. I think you can agree that even Grandma would be happy with these handmade pieces...colorful, stylish and oh so chic!

The Perfect Afternoon

2009-03-19T23:23:00.003-04:00

a day for naps and giggles and fun

a day with my kids and a day under the sun......

we skipped school and made it a day

of puzzles and crayons and ticklefests, oh hey!

but their pappa was at work and we missed him so much

when he came home that evening we all hugged him a bunch.

Aiko, Atlanta and us

2009-03-12T12:51:00.005-04:00

When the phone rings and I hear that one of Sunil's cousins is coming into town, I immediately get my pad and paper and jot fun things to do around town. Newlyweds Parag and Nisha came over Feb 27th weekend and we had an absolute blast. We were forewarned that their adorable puppy, Aiko, was also joining them and preparing Saloni for this was quite amusing!

While Parag arrived Wednesday night because he had a local fellowship interview, Nisha arrived on Friday night after fighting hours of Atlanta traffic. We still managed to stay up till 2:3am sharing stories of travels, kids and the family. Since the guys had a fun day on the golf course Friday, Nisha and I hit the spa Saturday morning and what a treat it was. I highly recommend the Ponte Vedra Inn and Spa - they are courteous, timely and the place is the ultimate in relaxation.

We came back with sandwiches and then hit the beach in the evening with Joseph's Italian pizzas in hand. Saloni had fun throwing Aiko a ball for him to catch and every now and then, we would take turns taking him for a walk. Sohan couldn't stop giggling every time Aiko would pass him by. It was really cute.

Sunday we head to Sunil's parents place for brunch and then bid a sad goodbye. Here's hoping we see them real soon and here's to an awesome weekend. Thank for coming guys!

When April comes before March

2009-03-09T22:05:00.005-04:00

My dear friend April came over Valentine's weekend and boy, was it a blast - as always! April and I used to work together at the American Red Cross when we lived in Rochester, NY. She has come to visit us in Jax every year and those visits are something I've really come to treasure. There's nothing better than a best friend who's known you long enough to reminiscince and make for more memories ahead. I love all the talks we had, the planning for her wedding this fall, the trials of parenthood and on and on...

One morning when I came down from my shower, I found Sohan had fallen asleep on her - how cute is that?

And oh, since she came on Valentine's weekend, she got quite a laugh from all the candy that Saloni devoured from school. Hmmm, I'm hoping my little chickie doesn't inherit Mommy's cavities!

Football, Friends, Fun & Frost

2009-02-03T23:24:00.010-05:00

Is it possible that you can watch football, entertain friends, have fun and see frost outside your window? In the sunshine state? Yesiree! Our Superbowl party was a real hit last year, so we decided to host it again. We left the menu the same: Sunil's famous punch, Pani Puri & Bhel (yummy Indian food), chocolately desserts (this time, it was chocolate covered strawberries) and my homemade choco-chip cookies. And oh, a roaring fireplace.

But we added an "entertaining" addition for the kids. We asked Bridget from Artoga to come and share her magical combo of yoga, art and dance with them. They had a blast and so did the parents who were caught more times upstairs in the game room with their kids than downstairs watching the game!

A few days later, frost hit and I got these great shots of icy plants and grass in our yard. I knew my trench coat would come in handy here!

And fun is always an element when you have two nutty kids and a great husband.

The Delicate Balance of Happiness and Hurt

2009-01-20T01:10:00.008-05:00

To me, life is such a balancing act. Not just of time and duties and activities, but of deep emotions. The kind that sink into your skin so deep, you wonder if they were always there waiting to surface. Daily, I think of my parents. And daily, I wish I was there. To hold their hands, to take them out for walks, to see their smiles, their sadness, their everyday. The stuff you just can't touch over the phone. Here's my family celebrating my parents 50th wedding anniversary in December 2007. It was a great night as we had never all been together in one room at one time.

Just as tears surface when I hear my pappa's voice, Sohan comes around the corner with a smile as wide as the miles between Jacksonville and Irvine. I break out a smile too. What a joy he is! Always happy and ready to explore the next fallen potato chip on the floor. His joy for life matches that of my dad's, who is walking more each day. And although he still needs help, he is not one to ever back down to any challenge. That's what makes him pappa. He reads the paper, watches the news and tries his best to remember what he can of the live he led. And what a great life it was - travels all over the world, international residences, great education, rich experiences, a family who loves him...All things I hope his memory will recapture.

Remembering is not a problem for our endearing Saloni. She can recall the minutest of details and is great to have around when you don't have a pen or paper. I love to stop and tickle her and get that infectious laugh inside my head. I need that to silence the sorrow I feel for mummy who at times spends more time than she should wondering why it all happened. How is it that two seemingly healthy parents can have heart attacks within 48 hours of each other? It just doesn't seem right.

But while I could waste time wondering about all the why's, I know I have to focus on the now. I have today to enjoy, experience, embrace. My kids. My husband. My life. It's here and in front of me. That delicate balance.

Fireworks and the 5th mile

2009-01-09T16:14:00.006-05:00

You are probably wondering what these two themes in the title have in common, huh? Well, let me tell you the comment that propelled me to finally start walking for my health. You see, it was New Year's weekend and every six months, we do a local vacation. It's a great way to get to know your own city so we chose downtown Jacksonville and got a riverfront room at the Hyatt. The views were just gorgeous and the front seat to the fireworks on the water were amazing. So amazing that the sounds scared Sohan straight into the bathroom (we had to put him in there because of the noise!).

As we were walking around the Landing, the restaurants and the like, I was huffing and puffing. Sunil said, "Honey, you know you're slim but not fit. You should be fine with all this walking." Man, was he right! It got me thinking...shame on me for having God bless with me limbs that work fine and all I use them for are the day-to-day duties of life. Flashback to my Dad, he was one who walked every single day, rain or shine and now he can't even walk without help. So, what was I waiting for?

Well, today I reached the fifth mile in my first week of walking. I am now determined to walk 2-5 miles a week with Sohan and stroller in tow. I love the glow and sweat already.

"Dad, thanks for being part of my inspiration."

The 31 days of December

2009-01-02T14:00:00.016-05:00

To describe this month is to describe every aspect of human emotion one could possibly feel in a month. From turning 37 to seeing my father being admitted into a nursing home to watching Sohan crawl 25 miles an hour, it has been quite a month. I absolutely love this picture of Sohan. It seems to reflect so many things - curiosity, hope, fear, dreams, thoughts, the unknown, the past, the future...all of what I was feeling as he was watching clouds float by on the plane.

Although my trip to CA again was with a heavy heart, I felt good spending time with my sis Smita, her husband, Ashit and their kids, Jay and Josh. While they ate up Sohan, I really go to bond with all of them and more than anything, realize what the value of family coming together is.

Here's dear old Dad giving his best hug to Sohan. It was so nice to see him light up after so many days cooped up in the hospital. He is positively the most determined individual I have ever known and with all that he has gone through and continues to go through, I've yet to hear my Pappa complain about anything.

This was the first time he was taught how to walk again and he was just beaming like a child. So excited so eager to take more than ten steps. So like the Dad I've always known.

On a lighter note, my two favorite nutjobs are just the apples of my world. They are the reason it makes dealing with my parents plight a tad bit easier. Here's Saloni in her adorable Dora dress - all decked out for her Christmas party at school. And of course, she'll be in any picture with her best friend and "boyfriend" Jonah - isn't he just the cutest?

Speaking of cute, here's my bundle of sweet potato pie Sohan!

With everything going on, I could not be more thankful to have Sunil by my side. His levelheadedness keeps me grounded just when I might feel like breaking down. If you're reading this honey, you ARE the best.

My Dear Pappa

2008-11-26T12:06:00.006-05:00

It was exactly 10 days ago when my sister called to tell me the news that my dear Pappa had a heart attack. We were at the Jaguar football game when I noticed that there were two missed calls on my cell phone and as soon as I noticed it was my sister's phone number, the phone rang again and I burst into tears.

That night I didn't know what to think as we came home. Was he okay? Was he unconscious? Was he breathing? Not knowing how bad or good the outcome was going to be, I was thankful for two things big things: my sister being there for my parents and second, that they were both here last month to see the kids. Had Pappa never met lil' Sohan, I might have taken this news even harder.

The evening of Monday the 17th, Mummy had a heart attack in reaction to all of this and was wheeled into ER. At that point, I had to get on the next plane...

Tuesday was when I saw Pappa and Mummy in ICU for the first time. It was quite an eerie experience as they were both just doors apart and I had never seen Pappa in a hospital for anything. Mummy had her pelvic fracture last year in July, so I remember seeing her go from hospital to physical therapy, but this was totally different.

He was so swollen and still. A large breathing tube seemed to engulf his face and there were tubes running all over his body. I didn't know whether to cry or scream. I had always joked with Pappa of how I inherited his hands and feet - short, stubby and full of veins! Now there were so swollen I could hardly recognize them.

Sunil arrived Wednesday night and helped all of us decipher what the doctors were saying in laymen terms which was a huge help. It was only on Thursday that Pappa opened his eyes for the first time and we couldn't tell if his frowning was out of feeling miserable or being confused or just nothing. We stroked his hand and tried our best to get a reaction. He seemed to react better to male voices than my sister and I, so we let the son-in-law's do the talking. Meanwhile, Mummy was released to the floor upstairs and was doing better, so we tried to focus on getting her stronger for Pappa.

Friday, we saw him shed a tear and boy, it caused us to gush a lot more of them. It's really hard to describe the state we were in. I hate to admit it, but because of his comatose state, we were supposed to be thinking of a eulogy or a plan for him to come home? Stranger yet was simply seeing him this way. This is a 75-year-old man that had traveled the world, had sacrificed so much so we could live well and have the best education. He was smart, adventurous, spontaneous, an up-for-anything guy. And now, here he was...completely dependent on machines to keep him alive.

We had to head back home on Saturday as I hadn't seem Saloni and Sohan for five days and Sunil had work on Monday. I was on the plane and the tears kept coming. Having just spoken to Dad that Sunday morning on the 16th and then hearing at 4pm that he had a heart attack was so shocking.

Now, ten days later, he is alert and is responding more to the doctors and my family. Smita is taking awesome care of everything and my Mom is out of the hospital and on her way to getting stronger, mentally and physically. I can't wait to go back again and see his beautiful face - aged, tired, worn out, but always Pappa.

Gerber Days

2008-11-11T23:53:00.010-05:00

Sohan turns 6 months old in two days on the 13th and we just started introducing him to baby food. What a cute little mess he loves to make! His favorites are sweet potatoes and bananas so far. He always makes a funny face when it comes to peaches or green beans. Look below and you'll see what I mean!

"Fall"ing in love with Color

2008-11-07T23:23:00.007-05:00

This is Fall in Jacksonville.......crisp blue skies, cool creezes, gorgeous sunsets and color everywhere. Ready to visit?

Bumble Me some candy!

2008-10-31T00:45:00.003-04:00

Saloni had a great time trick or treating this year. We decided that instead of going the neighborhood route, we'd go to St. Johns' Town Center for Halloween. Boy, did we all have a lot of fun! There were lots of kids and parents

having fun getting candy and oogling over everyone's costumes. It got pretty chilly that evening and stopping by Renna's pizza for dinner was the perfect way to end our sugar fest.

Happy Hindu New Year!

2008-10-29T09:12:00.005-04:00

This week is one of my favorites on the Indian calendar. Diwali, the festival of lights, is really the festival of cooking, eating, socializing and remembering what's most important in life - faith in God, family and surrounding yourself with those you love. I missed my family in CA, but being close to Sunil's makes me feel right at home during holidays like these. We did our traditional Laxmi pooja and Chopda pooja last night at Sunil's parents house. It was Sohan's first Diwali and although he was a sport swimming in a large-sized Indian outfit, he was happy as ever getting back into a onesie! We had a wonderful time celebrating the New Year and can't wait for more festivities to come.

Yellow, Back and Teal

2008-10-27T23:57:00.004-04:00

Saloni's first Halloween party was at her best friend's Jonah's house on Saturday. She looked so adorable in her Bumble bee costume. Jonah's parents went all out with terrific decorations, goodies to eat and a birthday cake to celebrate his 3rd birthday. Now, Saloni just can't wait to go trick or treating with Sunil.

On Sunday, we ventured to the stadium to watch the Jaguars try their best at football. Even though we lost again, I had a fun catching some candid shots with our friends.

The 25 Days of October

2008-10-25T20:57:00.017-04:00

I can't believe it's been 25 days since I last wrote in my blog. This is the longest break I've taken in writing and I've really missed it. For some reason, I hit a writing block...I haven't even written my company newsletter in two months! So not like me. But I must say, it's not as though I've been sitting around doing nothing..does that even happen these days?

To reflect on the days that have passed this month would be to walk through many a social weekends with friends and visits from family. While I know that our kids are the main attraction, I sometimes like to secretly think that they enjoy mine and Sunil's company too.

From the northeast came Sunil's cousins on Saturday the 10th. Why is it that when I have the whole day to cook and get ready, I still am panicked in the 11th hour? Lucky for me, Sunil is a great helper and we were able to get dinner hot on the table and the kids to eat! Darshan bhai and Hetal bhabi and their daughter Khushali made for a very social weekend and watching Saloni bond with another cousin always makes me smile.

As the clock struck midnight on the 15th of this month, my parents arrived into Jacksonville. They have been waiting to meet lil' Sohan and luckily since one of his fave times to drink milk is midnight, they got the best greeting! Five days with ever active Saloni and ready to crawl Sohan, tuckered us all out in a good way. Mummy and Pappa got to play with all of her toys, watch her shows and hear her tell stories about school, friends and her love of the outdoors. The weather was so beautiful, she grabbed every chance she could and took my parents on multiple walks! We also went with them to visit our Hindu temple, shop and eat at St. Johns Town Center, visit her school and attend her gymnastics class. I got a chance to really spoil them with all the recent cooking I've learned. And boy, practice does pay off! Knowing they loved every bite of it has made me want to try even more goodies. Good things the holidays are coming up, eh?

We had a great time with my parents and as always, I was showered with lots of love, advice and great talks about our travels and times when I was a kid. I can't wait to see them again and in the meantime, I'm going to appreciate every second of being a parent they way still do today.

Turning Three

2008-10-01T22:33:00.004-04:00

Our sweet Saloni turned three on Tuesday. She's now getting back in touch with her girly side and even picked out this adorable dress to wear on her birthday. Gotta love it! With Sunil's brother and his family in town for the Jaguar game, she had a headstart on Sunday with gifts and surprises.

From a cool Lego track to books and clothes and puzzles, she had a great time getting lots of new goodies. We had pizza and homemade strawberry cupcakes for dinner - simple and sweet. I'll let all the photos here do the talking...

10 Years and Hours of Fun

2008-09-27T20:59:00.005-04:00

We headed down to Gainesville Friday afternoon for Sunil's Medical School reunion at UF. Every Gator there had stories and laughter and good times to share. I really enjoyed meeting all of his old friends and their spouses and the new Dean.

Sohan was the star of the show and we jokingly predicted that he'd be at UF in 22 years attending Med School!

Reflecting on the yesteryears...

H is for Harshad Kaka

2008-09-22T15:39:00.006-04:00

Teaching Saloni that H is for Harshad kaka

After eight years, Sunil and I and his parents were excited to welcome back his uncle (Kaka) and aunt (Kaki) to Jacksonville. Harshad kaka and Ami kaki live in Dallas and he is my father-in-law's younger brother. Let me just say that the Joshi brothers definitely share a love for laughter, food and good times.

It was great staying up late on Saturday night to play cards and talk about life, retirement, work and raising family. It's funny how on nights like these, sleep finds a way to delay itself, no matter how tired you feel. Thank goodness for that!

Sunil's Mom and Ami kaka bonding over stories of cooking and motherhood

Some Days Don't Need Words

2008-09-17T23:25:00.006-04:00

Do you ever find that some days just don't need words? That it's nice to pause, stare out the window and watch big puffy clouds pass by? That while there are dishes waiting to be washed, bills to pay, phone calls to make and on and on, there is beauty in that one quiet moment. Today I paused and found myself smiling at this great view. C'mon, I know it's making you smile too.

Mondays

2008-09-15T00:48:00.003-04:00

always love them, but they seem so multiplied like dishes in the sink

like the shoes by the door that are old and stink,

mondays, mondays, too many lists and too less of this

quiet and peace and boredom i miss,

the counch invites, i reunite

gently i fall as sleep my name calls....

It's called Affogato Darling

2008-09-14T21:57:00.007-04:00

I'm getting better at cooking more things out of my daily routine. I'm making it a point to try recipes I've collected in my recipe binders instead of just storing them. The rewards include more fresh foods, happy faces at the dinner table and watching your hubby and kids take second helpings. Not to mention increased confidence in the kitchen. It's such a great feeling! So this one is a real easy treat but feels like you're eating something out of a ritzy Italian cafe.

It's called Affogato and all you do is make your favorite hot coffee - I like mine instant (it's called Bru from the Indian store). Then find a beautiful bowl. It's important that what you eat out of is attractive and beautiful - it makes eating more pleasurable. Scoop some vanilla ice cream into the bowl and then pour the hot coffee (half and half optional) over the ice cream. Sit back. Find a window view and enjoy. Mmmm. Instant joy. Nigella style.

12 Years and Still Going

2008-09-12T23:55:00.006-04:00

I remember the first time I met my friend Christiane. I was doing an internship with Robert McGraw Architects as part of my college requirements. She was from Germany and had a beautiful accent and an overall pleasant way about her. We became friends in an instant.

Over time, we have shared stories, laughed, cried, enjoyed numerous cups of coffee, dined, whined and have been there for each other through anything that life threw our way. I usually get a chance to see her when I visit my family in CA, but I didn't get to the last couple of times, so it was a real treat when I heard she was coming here. Since this was her first visit to Jacksonville, I could have easily crammed a lot of sightseeing in, but relaxing and catching up sounded much better.

She arrived Tuesday and we simply had the best time...just like all the times before. Seeing me as a mom made her laugh and seeing her reach so many career and personal goals in her life made me smile. Long distances between friends and family are never easy, but visits like these make up for all those lost days. She's on her way to Miami for a program through work and I can still hear her voice in the house...the way I first heard it 12 years ago.

A Weekend for All Seasons

2008-09-09T13:48:00.005-04:00

Have you ever had a weekend where you were away from home but felt ever so closer to it? That's how most of our vacations are...we get away from the daily grind only to feel closer to the happiness that resides at home. So it was with much joy that last Friday came along. It was the first time Grandma (Daadi) and Grandpa (Daada) were going to spend an overnight adventure with Saloni and Sohan. Are you sitting for this one?

I dropped them at around 4:00pm and Sunil and I went over their typical habits and sleeping times and any other concerns parents would have of being away for the night. The funny part is that we couldn't wait to get to St. Augustine and Saloni couldn't wait for us to go. What a surprise! Sohan, of course, was in heaven with all the attention.

We checked into the Casa Monica - a gorgeous hotel dating back to the yesteryear's and placed perfectly among the shops and restaurants in this quaint city. We had stayed there pre-kids and diapers, so with those sweet memories, we strode right in. We picked our favorite restaurant Acapulco and enjoyed the water views from the balcony. The balmy breeze had the perfect touch of cool...such a perfect atmosphere. It was so nice to talk, laugh, and gaze at the views with no interruptions for bottle feedings or lil' bathroom trips. Of course, an hour into dinner, we called home and to our joy, all was fine. Whew!

Beautiful views from our room

Saturday we strolled to the coffee bar and had breakfast in the wraparound balcony downstairs. I only treat myself to egg and cheese croissants on special occasions and this sure was one! We just love St. Augustine. It may be the oldest city in America, but it's modern in its shops and eateries while still holding onto the history that so many flock here to discover. That's a hard combination to achieve.

Where else would you find a horse-drawn carriage outside your hotel room?

While Sunil had a committment to do an allergy talk for the Indo-American Medical Forum,I glued myself to my favorite magazines and enjoyed views from our room. After checking out, we felt so relaxed and peaceful. A feeling that hotels are great for providing. Getting back to Sunil's parents' house, they were in a sea of toys and crayons. But with a huge smile on his face, Daada didn't even want to part with the two cutie-pies. We couldn't stop thanking them for our lovely night out and more than that, for spending time with our tiny tots for whom we felt even more closer to while we were away.

The Novelty of Numbers

2008-09-03T23:08:00.002-04:00

As a mom, I find the curiosity in children's stats interesting. No one hesitates in asking me the height, weight, age or size of my kids. I have yet to meet a mom that feels shy about her kids' stats...after all, 80% of our conversations are about our offsprings.

Yet, when it comes to our own stats, why is "politically incorrect" to talk about that? Why is it that I have to say "If you don't mind me asking, how old are you?" I think it would be wonderful to openly talk about our age, our height, our weight or even size. In fact, I have a funny story about size. As you know, iIm trying to lose my post-pregnancy weight. I have eight pounds to go. YEAH! So about a month ago, I finally decided to buy some summer shorts to get me through the time before I get back into my old clothes (which thankfully, I do now). The funny part? I was three different sizes in three different brands. My normal size is two. But at the Gap I was a six, at Express, I was an eight and at J. Jill, I was a four. Imagine that!

I say this with a grin on my face that each of those shorts are now loose on me..he he. It has been hard getting these pounds to shed, but I am determined to get back to my normal 110 pounds. Oops, now you know my weight, well, my pre-Sohan weight. For someone who loves sugar, anything sweet and chocolate to the point of most rooms in the house having bowls of M&M's, turning away from these goodies has taken real determination. And oh, on the days that I've cheated...my stomach put up a fight!

So back to numbers, I think we should embrace our stats the way children do. The joy they derive from declaring their age and how tall they are and everything - let's not lose that. Who cares if the new 40 is 30 or the latest cream zaps wrinkles. Being happy in your skin is a great thing. And so at 36, standing at 5' 4", I'm welcoming the new freckles from my weekend out with the kids.

A little Rod Stewart...

2008-08-27T00:01:00.002-04:00

Remember the song, "If Ya Think I'm Sexy" by Rod Stewart? Well, don't laugh but that's been ringing in my head. Want to know why? I FIT INTO MY OLD CLOTHES! Yahoo! Woohoo!

If you have felt any earthquakes around you it's probably me dancing to my own tune and feeling like me again. Three long months after delivering Sohan and the time has finally come that I can actually take a pair of pants off the rack in my closet and put them on vs. staring at them as if they were an old dinosaur.

Every time I wear something Saloni tells me that I'm not fat anymore and that my "buttocks are small"! Gotta love the honesty of children. But more than anything a huge piece of my self esteem is back and I walk straighter and feel happier. A girlfriend of mine asked me over lunch what is it that I want to feel and I told her that with everything keeping me so busy, I want to be organized. And she said "Nope, that's not a feeling. Try again." Well, the first word to pop out was "sexy". Yes, I want to feel sexy and attractive. There I said it.

So, on goes the deep red lipstick and my favorite chinos and my polo shirt and on goes a good dose of confidence. Confidence that I haven't had in a while, but you know what? It was always there, it was just hiding under that excess weight...

Poem for a Blistery Day

2008-08-22T22:31:00.002-04:00

Crashing down the rain comes
in droves
in buckets
in dollops with wind,

The trees dance in a poetic kind of way
Once to the left
then to the right
then back and forth in a swaying motion,

The sounds of the storm
seep through every window
Entering the room
like a squeaky wheel down the street,

Flashlights and candles ready for action
Bundled in blankets and sighs,

Waiting, commiserating,
Till the evening falls onto the day
like a high tide onto the sand,

Goodnight oh wind and rain
and stars and moon
and land and trees
and to the song of night I swoon...

Surprise!

2008-08-20T20:23:00.005-04:00

Surprise Sohan!

The call came Thursday night that Uncle Brijen from Scottsdale, AZ, had to come into town for a meeting. We got excited as did the little pumpkins that company was coming. What we didn't know was who else was at the airport when Sunil went to pick him up. Surprise! Aunt Bijal arrived in tow! I didn't know until they all came home that she had come along too. It was just great. Lots of hugs and smiles all at once. Nothing like the feeling of family in town, you know? Mom and Dad came over for dinner and we had a jolly weekend talking, eating, watching the Olympics and splitting time between the Jaguar game and the beach. After Khushbu left, I was pretty down and out, so having Bijal come to cheer me up was really sweet.

Sunil and I can already tell they're going to make great parents as they were all over Saloni and Sohan. We even thought it would be fun for them to take Sohan back to Scottsdale and surprise Aunt Ragi whose sons are heading to college this week. Wouldn't that be fun? All in all, we made the most of their short visit which seemed longer than a weekend - good times are like that. I've always believed that good company makes the days seem longer and sun feel brighter...so thanks for the visit guys...and come back soon!

Sandcastle Queens

Time to head back before dark

In Good Company