Twenty- five Seven

Are mothers our greatest critics?

January 21, 2015

My parents live in Pune which is only 120 km and 3 hours away from Mumbai yet it often is as long as three months before I see them. Every year I start out with the intention of visiting them at least once a month but then like all New Year Resolutions, this falls between the cracks and before I know it, I land up visiting just when I have to. Some years ago I decided I’d meet them on their birthdays but even that has become slack with my every day schedule. Since I am really very busy, even my parents don’t come to Mumbai all that often so it’s been a year since they visited my home. Yesterday, after a year, my parents finally came over for lunch.

I was really excited as a lot has happened over the year in terms of home refurbishment and redecoration. I am of course in daily touch with my parents thanks to the mobile phone which allows both of us to talk while on the go but was specially happy to finally be able to show them how the house looked after all the paint and polish. And I was thrilled when my mother approved of the entire effort and look and said that everything was looking great.

My mother is no interior designer, nor is she a party planner but she is a meticulous worker who has always prided herself in doing a good job. Always one to follow instructions to the T, she can’t stand sloppy slipshod work and takes pride in learning things and trying to improve herself, even at this age so praise from her is praise indeed!

Do we all seek approbation from our mothers? They are after all our first teachers, our first supporters and ardent fans so is that why we value their praise the most?

Are you like me, grinning like an idiot from ear to ear when your mother says well done? Even when you’re all of 50 + ?

This is my post for Write Tribe Pro Blogger Challenge.
Every blogger needs some guidance

January 19, 2015

I have been blogging for several years but just realised last year that I was getting nowhere. With no plan in mind, no goals to reach and no audience to reach out to, I realised that my kind of blogging was like pouring water down a drain hole – a complete waste of time and energy.

For any activity to be meaningful it has to be channelised and often one needs guidance. Last year I consulted with a professional blogger in the hope that he’d get my online publishing on track but I found that I was made just another sucker and that my blog identity and online presence is just as insignificant as it was last year and the year before that. Just today, when most of the month is over, I realised that all one really needs to do is to find help online and while surfing the net, I came across Blogging 101 which I will join up in February.

Reading the fine print is key to being a better writer, indeed a better blogger. There are so many blogs out there in the blogsphere with wonderful content that often leaves me wondering – hey why didn’t I write that one? or – that’s just what I think, how come I didn’t think of writing it ?

Well, the answer is quite simple really, to be a better blogger, you have to be a better reader. It is only when the mind is exposed to a million written words that can one get inspired to write – for writing is not only about ideas and thought but also about words that make sentences and stories, words that describe sounds and emotions, words that stir and stimulate, words that create and inspire, words that capture the past and paint the future. In short, it is words that make a blog and you must have a whole treasure trove of them from which you can dig up the most amazing words, retell the most amazing stories and make the most amazing blogs.

I am looking forward to joining up the course in February and hope to be a better blogger.
Bags for all seasons

January 19, 2015

The other day I was driving down Bhulabhai Desai Road and was moaning and groaning about the slow moving traffic when a splash of colour in the Aakar Art Gallery window caught my eye. Aakar for years now has been synonymous with “exhibitions” or pop up sales outlets for outstation vendors. Over the years I’ve found it the best place to buy my kaftans (from the now defunct Shefali) , Jaipur quilts, chanderi saris and the like. But this time I was stunned by the simply gorgeous bags that screamed “Buy me, buy me buy me”.

So I got out of the car and made my way to the “exhibition” of bags – lovely, lively prints on thick, heavy duty canvas. The bags are the kind one normally gets to see abroad and I was even more intrigued. It turns out that they are manufactured by Stitchman Inc an enterprise of Nissin Shah , the next gen entrepreneur of Stitchman Group of companies founded by Vijay Shah of Ahmedabad . Stitchman deals with industrial sewing machines so perhaps making bags is only a natural progression for Nissin who moved back to India to set up a bag making company in a state known for its high quality cotton.
Stitchman Inc exports to the US and Japan and is available online in India through Amazon.in, Flipkart and Snapdeal where it retails under the brand RHOMBUS.

The exhibition was a trial run to see how the Indian market reacts to cotton canvas bags : the fact that it was a sell out should come as no surprise as their bags are environment friendly, fashionable, sturdy and truly value for money.

With different models to choose from, the bags will definitely find a place in everyone’s wardrobe with their smart looks and timeless appeal.

Bags for wine bottles, bags for shopping, bags for travel and bags for gym gear. Bags with handles made of leather, bags with handles of thick cotton cord. Bags with shoulder straps, bags with funky prints, bags in trendy colours .

The bags are well made and perfectly finished.

Great for personal use and gifting too!

This product review is my own personal opinion and I have not been paid to do it.

I am proud to be a part of the Write Tribe Pro Blogger Challenge

Are mothers our greatest critics?

Every blogger needs some guidance

Bags for all seasons