Want some retail therapy?

Or just a little extra pinch of inspiration? I just stumbled across Vast Interiors, which serves the Australian continent. If you live in Australia (@KG?), this is one store you should definitely check out!! For those of us scattered elsewhere in the world...there's loads of eye candy and decorating inspiration for the taking....

In addition, they have a "man-shops-globe"-style travel blog, where their buyers recount their tales; as well as  a trends and design section that is a must see.

All pictures & copyright: Vast Interiors



PS: A new home tour coming up tomorrow!!.....

Monochrome!

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Today I'm loving the happy design camaraderie on display in the picture above!!! You know me by now--I'm not much of a monochrome person--I like my color!! However, the image above had me clicking back to it....what drew me there I wonder?....the organic beauty? the rich mingling of patterns? not sure, but I really really loved it!

Some other monochromatic palettes...

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Do you see what I see?

Let's call the dholi now....

I've been meaning to do a post on the great Indian wedding for a while now, especially since Kamini shared the news of her son's upcoming nuptials. There's color, there's food, there's gaiety, there's tomfoolery,there's tradition and culture, there's music, and clothes and jewelry...there truly IS no other spectacle quite like it!!!! Of course there's the ambiance too...

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Cafe Awtash.

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I think the post may be a little late in the making for Kamini's event (--can't wait for the pictures!), but for all those pretty young 'uns out there...there's tons of inspiration in blogland!! Don't feel compelled to go with saturated hues though. There are plenty of other color palettes out there, and using muted hues doesn't detract from their Indian-ness one bit!!! Here are some awesome blogs that cover South-East Asian weddings:

1. Marigolds &Mithai.
2. Cupcakes &Curry.
3. Little Brown Bride.
4. Big Fat Indian Wedding.
5. The Asian Wedding Editor's Guide.
6. The Sari Clad Bride.
7. Digitology.

Hope this comes in handy for someone out there........ I had fun putting it together, kind of brought back some really sweet memories (I really need to dig out those old photographs now!).

This post is for you Kamini! :)

After-school snack...wholesome kulfi!!!

A couple of weeks back, I spotted this recipe here. As Shayma recounted the stories of how her mom used to make these for her as an afternoon snack, my eyes glazed over and I teleported to mommy-super-stardom heaven!! So last week I whipped up this treat for the kid (and other innocent bystanders)...

My treat. Photographed as an afterthought, before it disappeared into the bottomless pit!!!

It was really simple to make, and though it doesn't look as glamorous as the pictures on spice spoon, it was delish!!! What I changed in the recipe: I omitted the cream altogether and used 2% milk instead of whole milk. It came out just-fine. What would I change next time?....I might reduce the amount of condensed milk in it as well--since I was eyeballin' the whole thing, I have no reference point!!! (note to self: measure and jot down the details, dummy!!! ). Also, since I didn't have any unsalted pistachios on hand, I just went with almonds. All in all? Delish and wholesome....must. make. again.

One man's mission to save Dilli's soul...

..that's right Dilli, not Delhi....the part that gives it its unique character....read all about it here. There's a Monsoon festival in the making and it sure sounds like fun. Fellow Delhi-ites, will you be there?

image from here. Linked via.

The monsoon Genda (marigold) concert sounds like so much fun!! Send me pictures if you go................ :)

Happy Monday and colorful beginnings.........

 .....to a brand new week!! this week I'm really loving photographer Debi Treloar's work. Here are some pretty pictures to start your week off right...

Ummm....... tumblers and roses. {love}

Love that tea-flask vase!! what a neat idea.

DIY idea: every anniversary, my sweetheart gives me a bunch of delicious roses. I let them dry on the stems and save the dried blooms in a glass vase, so I can enjoy their beauty throughout the year (my crop this year got mouldy and had to be discarded, so be sure to dry them out very well).

Lovely, gauzy colors of summer. Reminds me of India!!!

I've mentioned rambling rose earlier haven't I? This is sooo my idea of bliss!!! :)

So what are your plans for the week ahead my lovelies??? I have a new friend---she's a fabulous, creative DIY-er and we get to visit her home!!! squeeeeeeeeee. Are you up to it? Great! I thought so!!! stay tuned...we'll be dropping in for chai and biscoot (biscuits) later this week. And there's tons more design inspiration brewing at P&P central, so don't forget to check in!!

All images: Debi Treloar Photography.

Wishing....

.........the world's largest democracy a happy birthday. Happy Fifteenth folks...

I leave you with the song that has the power to give me goosebumps......





Happy 63rd, sweet land of mine!!

Introspection.........

Over the past few days I've noticed a raging quiet debate doing the rounds in the blogosphere...it concerns the "good life" that is being portrayed in lifestyle blogs. I have to admit that it stopped me in my tracks. Does my blog too pander to the "buy this and you'll be happy" diktat? I certainly hope not! My sole purpose in posting things here is to have an inspiration folder of stuff I like, maybe a few DIY projects that I can sink my teeth into, and generally ogle at all kinds of pretty things that make my head turn. Will I be tackling every  project I post? I doubt it..my home would look like a mish-mash of unrelated stuff (not to mention the time and money I would waste trying to get everything done). Ditto for the gorgeous stuff I find and post...again If I bought everything I talk about, my home would start to look like a warehouse- neither would I have the time, space or money to actually "use" all that stuff in this lifetime. When I post pictures of stuff that caught my eye, I'm in no way telling you to go out there and buy them ( though if you do love something very much and it manages to support an artist or artisan, go for it, babe!!!)


So why do I do it?....its strange, but looking at all this pretty stuff has made me lose the need to shop as often....it's akin to a virtual window shopping expedition with my best  friend. I have you along to chatter with, we're looking in at the shop windows, exclaiming at pretty stuff and then we move along. Did you ever have these outings with your best friend (our fave haunts were Sarojini Nagar and CP), where you did just that--- wandered around, talking your heads off, looking at "stuff", stopped for a quick bite at golden bakery or Wenger's (are they still around??? I really hope so!) or the chaat-wala around the corner. Yes, sometimes we bought stuff, but on a limited budget, it was usually a well-planned purchase--something we'd been hankering after for ages. But most important, we had fun and enjoyed each other's company. And that is what I wish to recreate here.....

Is it materialistic? yes, I guess. But the ride wouldn't be fun without a buddy. That's where you come in, and that's why I blog. Sometimes it is to look at and exclaim at gorgeousness. At times it is to "bookmark" an idea for future reference. Sometimes I feel like going over to a friend's for a virtual tea party (home tours). Sometimes I just want to marvel at their talent as they create. Some things, I just want to lust after....and that's okay with me too. I have my budget and I really, really do stick to it, so please don't feel pressured in any way to look a certain way, do up your home a certain way. These things will not really change your life. Only you can change your life with your own attitude and outlook. (I'm actually reacting to this post here in the last couple of sentences).

Wow. that was a very wordy post. but now I can sleep at night.  :D thanks for listening!!!

Have a good night my darlings. Remember, you're amazing, just the way you are. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!!

Dog days of summer!!

Now that school has started, my mind is set on auto-mode for fall. Yes, even as we reel under the current heat wave, I'm silently rooting for fall, which, to my mind is the most pleasant time of year in this hemisphere. However, as summer is not done yet, here are a few random summer-y pictures celebrating summer's last hurrah...........

My view from P&P central!! Herbal tea cup...with, (what else?) herbal tea!!

This large hand-painted and hand-glazed mug with the patina-ed lid was a thrift store find. It now cradles a solitary stem of pothos and sits next to the window to take in the afternoon sun in my home-office. The book is by Thrity Umrigar, my most recent author-crush. (Sadly, I couldn't get past the first page of this one (the weight of heaven). Some themes are too graphic for me since I became a mom....) I would highly recommend "the space between us", though...I love her fluid style of writing. I don't need to wrestle with sentences packed with ornate words...some times I'm just not in the mood to!!! Also, she doesn't subscribe to the "we all live cra99y lives and then we all die" book club. No stomach for doom and gloom books anymore!! Have you read her? What did you feel? write in, I'd love to hear more....

DIY coasters. My bit of indulgence in kitsch. (photoshop+modge-podge+discarded CDs).. :)

What did your summer entail? talk to me.....

Lonny: My picks from the fall issue!!!

This is turning into another picture -heavy post..please let me know if this is too much!

Still lovin' colorful collections.

Coral accents + a neat idea to tie back those curtains. I find tasseled curtain ties so fussy and stuffy--this avtar, I could live with (I'm still not sold on the huge florals tho').

Mirrored drumstools? how glam!--not necessarily for my own space but what a nice way to add oomph to your pad!

 

Houndstooth!! don't know what it is about this stool, but the image is captivating! Very do-able (got any old skirts/jackets lying around? re-covering a stool top is a snap!...hmmm, loving this idea (you may see it implemented on my blog....)

 

Such a bold room. May be OTT but am in love with the cushion front and center!

And, an element that always catches my eye...

Sunflowers!!!!

 

why? because I love them so..........

My living room. On a happy sunday not too long ago!

All images except the last one: Lonny Mag.

Last image: mine.

Have you read the latest issue of Lonny yet? What did you like (I know. the cover is stunning, isn't it?). Will you be experimenting with any of the ideas? which ones...let me know!!