times are changing.

I was on one of my favorite news websites- BBC, when this article caught my eye.

Iraq gets first all-female taxis

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15898825

It hit me right then and there that, yes, our world is slowly but surely changing and progressing. I think it's so important for women to grow and see their potential. I know for many years in my life, I didn't take the time for myself to realize what was important to me and what wasn't. I put other people's needs before my own. And now that I am getting older and yes I can say a bit wiser, I am in a very content position in my life.

I have a lot to learn but reading stories about women who take a chance for themselves to better their lives and the future generation is inspiring. It inspires me to do better.

We live in a world where women are constantly judged. More frequently I've noticed women judging women. I can honestly say, I hate it. I hate when women say "oh that girl isn't pretty", or "that women is like this etc." It's frankly disgusting. And I don't like it because I know there was a point when I was younger and would look at women and judge their beauty.

It was insecurities in myself. But now that I am growing up, I realize that women are so much more connected in ways we don't even care to realize.
It's so important for us to stick together instead of judge one another. Look at this article. It's women who came together and said "Yes! It's not always safe for us to go out, so let's do something about it to make it safe!"

Simply wonderful!

a thousand words.

The sky is the limit.  Laughter is precious and this picture is absolutely priceless.

The story behind this picture is about a young woman named Aasttha Khajuria. She decided she would leave her comfortable life in Edmonton and volunteer her summer educating young children in the slums of Mumbai. 

This story is not about what she taught when she was there but it's about how volunteering makes such a difference in an individuals life. Be it for a second, minute or lifetime- it makes a difference. The smile those children have on their faces is simply priceless. They appreciate the simplest moments. The moments of learning, laughing and loving.

Though Aasttha is back in Edmonton, she will never forget those moments she shared with those children. She will forever cherish her first time volunteering in a country she could call home and also take back what she learned and share it with everyone around her.
"The love I felt for those kids was something I never thought I was capable of feeling. These kids were so happy being who they are. They weren't jealous of anyone or anything," Aasttha said.

When I looked at this picture, all I did was smile. Aasttha has been my best friend for over 10 years and to see her go out and do her little part in trying to make a child smile who doesn't have the same privileges as we do, was so very precious. I feel in a world where everything is fast paced and we get caught up in the rat race, we never seem to take the time to appreciate what we have. We take in too much stress that only causes negativity. So instead of being negative in life; simply be positive. 

Take the time today and make someone smile. Be it for a minute, second or lifetime :)

kissing.

Don't worry, this post is not about actually kissing. Though it would have been an interesting post. It's rather a song that got me through this weekend- filled with writing, writing and MORE writing.

Enjoy :)

Uptan- Natural Indian Beauty

When I was younger my mom would make a paste base for me and would tell me to put it on my entire body as it would exfoliate my skin. I finally found out what her secret was. It was called- Uptan.


Uptan is as follows:

whole wheat flour
sugar cane (sugar crystals)
turmeric
milk ( or you can use rose water)
sandlewood powder
 (Many people have different ways of mixing the paste together, but the main ingredients needed are turmeric, sandalwood powder, milk or rose water)

Step #1: Add Flour, Sugar and Turmeric

Step #2: Add Milk

MIX

MIX

MIX until it becomes like a paste

APPLY TO THE ENTIRE FACE AND BODY AS DESIRED 

In Indian weddings, it is common for the groom and bride to have a separate Uptan ceremony. It is said that Uptan cleanses the body and soul. It leaves the skin feeling cool and fresh.

for the LADIES.

This is HILARIOUS!!! MUST WATCH IT LADIES :) Let me know what you think!

Diwali.Festival of Lights.

Wednesday October 26, 2011 was Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights. It's a holiday celebrating and welcoming the goddess Lakshmi (goddess of wealth, prosperity, purity, generosity, charm, grace and embodiment of beauty) into your home.

My mother religiously celebrates Diwali every year. She cooks a bunch of YUMMY treats the night before and spends the day lighting our entire house with candles and decorating our floor with little Lakshmi footsteps (as if the goddess is ACTUALLY walking around our house). Oh, she of course cleans our house spick and span before the prayers begin.

To be honest, I love celebrating Diwali. The best part is spending time with family, friends and enjoying drinking, eating and lighting firecrackers! This year I took it upon myself to move my guy cousins aside and light the firecrackers one after the other without their help (well, they put it in place) but it was phenomenal !!!!

Diwali is a wonderful time to CELEBRATE. Celebrate your life, family, friends and welcome all good things in your life. Remove all negativity and be forever positive! 

Candles, also known as Diya that we light around the house

Firecrackers I lite outside in the country side (St.Andrews)

Look! It even says Happy Diwali :)

Goddess of Lakshmi

tweet and travel.

Though this is a school post, I've wanted to write about this topic for quite sometime.



My first tweet was back in 2009 when my cousin, Joey, told me to start using it. Her exact words were "Have you heard of Twitter? It's SO much fun!"

 

I did hear of it, but didn't care for it at that time. I think it's because I thought it was plain silly. Why would someone want to write about them eating? going for a number 2? and to top it off share it with the WORLD. So I tweeted two times and stopped.

It wasn't until I went to Vancouver in 2010 that I saw how Twitter ACTUALLY works. Joey would be on it 24/7 and finally I asked her "what's the deal with this Twitter business". She told me how majority of users don't write that kind of 'personal' stuff but rather market themselves on who they are, what they do, and what's going on around them in a total of 140 words. I thought that was pretty cool. But the coolest part was when it was put into ACTION. 

Joey woke me up one morning, SUPER EARLY (thought I would add that in) and told me we have to go take the train to go watch The Colbert Report LIVE!!! I was pretty stoked! I asked her how she found that out and lo and behold she said TWITTER!!!!!!!

That is when my appreciation for Twitter began. Twitter is more than a website. It's a way of life. It allows you to connect to  different types of people, experience things that you wouldn't on a daily basis and be part of everyone's world. Twitter is travelling in my eyes. Travelling into people's lives.

 

The only unfortunate thing is I write less, probably less then 140 words on a daily basis. BUT if used in a way that gets your point across then every word is POWERFUL.

Let me try a few sentences on how I feel about Twitter in less than

140 words and let me know what you guys think.

Try #1: Twitter is like travelling. Watch the fascination unfold tweet by tweet.

Try #2: Twitter is like several short stories. Those who don't read them are missing out on the whole experience.

Joey and I

I'm looking forward to what you guys think of Twitter! Please comment in less than 140 words.

@priyatandon