I Want Your Face!

So yesterday, Debbie is sitting on my lap, and sucking her thumb, cuddling her favorite teddy bear, and watching cartoons (yeah, she's a multi-tasker, that one!). And please ignore the part where she sucks her thumb... She WILL grow out of it soon, when she is 5 or 10...or whenever, I promise...

Anyway, there she was, and at any given time of day, my daughter's hair is all wild curls and sticking straight up or to a side...usually, I'm like, "Baby girl, what is the deal with your hair?!?!?!"

Her hair is actually quite tame in this one picture above! When things get out of hand, we just plop on a hat!

So, I just curl my fingers around some locks of hair, look at them wonderingly, and ask her, "Debbie, how come you got so much hair, babyyyyy....wow! you have nice haaaaiiiiiiirrrrr, baby".

She looks at me with a very somber expression, and then says, "Amma, I want to have your face and your hair..." I said, "No Baby, you have nice hair..."

And she said, "Don't you like my face and hair??" And I was thinking, "OHMYGODOHMYGOD.....Whoever gave her that idea?!??! WHOWHOWHO...? Wait...did I do that?

And then, I went, "baby, you have the prettiest hair and the prettiest face in the whole world, and you are really pretty, and you are the prettiest little girl I have ever seen...." and gave her a big kiss on each cheek.

She thought for a while, and my heart was pounding.

After a moment a slow shy smile spread across her face, she looked at me, and said a very nonchalant, "Seri" (Tamil for "Okay") I love you, Amma!, and walked off to play with her toys...

All I could think was, "What was THAT all about?" So, turns out, she wants long hair and a pretty face (like a typical 3 yr old girl!)...!!! That was the best thing that happened to me....all week! And that's why I am so happy today...my little girl wants to be like me...she adores me!!!!

My sister summed it all up wonderfully when she said, "Give her time, when she's 15 and comes to you for fashion advice, I'll believe that story!!"

Can't blame her.... (wait, maybe she gets unruly hair from me!)

.....eeeeehhhhh...I've seen better!

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Do you have something making your day today? A favorite moment, child (no, don't write on that!), food, favorite anything this Friday? Go on and join the Friday Favorite linky party over at The Other Mama. Have fun, and happy hair!

Top 10 Moments of Vanity!

So, Vanity...we all have a bit of it, right? I mean, it is not so much a 'nose in the cloud, I'm too awesome for the world' kind as the 'I am precious in my own way, and I KNOW IT!' garden-variety!!!

This type of vanity is not obnoxious in any way, and mostly it's rather endearing! Still, it's a moment of self-love that can't be ignored. I am guilty of some of these myself, and I'm sooo not going to tell you which ones! heheh!

1. Making sure that you hold your new purse 'best side out'! You know, no matter what tearing hurry you are in, you make sure that the snazzy side of your purse is turned outwards - the side with the obvious designer logo, or the gorgeous buckle, or the pretty flap!

2. Strutting! You walk into a room, and everyone is seated, and well, you know that everyone is watching, and you know that you are no beauty queen, still, you know you are dressed at your best, and your hair is shiny, and people are oggling you, even if it is briefly...and you strut...just a little...but it's a strut nevertheless.

3. Exhibition of Good Parenting Skills! Your daughter is about to make a fuss, and other people are present. You keep your cool, talk to your child, calm her down, solve the problem - basically do just what a good parent ought to. And you ARE a good parent... Everyone is watching, and you know you rock! And then you flash your neighbor a smile like 'Hi, I am a good parent, and I do this sort of thing all the time...it's nothing!'. No, you are not haughty or anything, just proud that you did good!

4. Telling a Joke, and Loving It! Your sense of humor is popular with all your friends, you are sweet yet ROFL funny! And you say a joke, and everyone is doubling over, rolling on the aisles, and loving you! You are thinking, "Boy, I'm pretty funny, huh?!"

5. My Family is Awesome too! This is probably the sweetest kind of vanity, and I'm sure most women are guilty of it...personally, there exists enough evidence to prove that I am so guilty of this little vanity!  Your husband is addressing a crowd and the audience is spell bound! Your child just sang a song in the most wonderful voice, or said the most clever thing a child has ever said, and everyone is Oooh-ing and Aaah-ing at him or her! And you're thinking, "yeah, I know, they are wonderful...and they're mine...Booyah!!"

6. Doing a Personality Test/Quiz and Posting it on Facebook! Okay, you know you are a nice person, and a Facebook quiz just told you you're right! You answered honestly, and still got told that you are a wonderful team worker, mom, friend, lover etc etc. Facebook asks you, "Publish this Quiz" or "Skip this Step"! You picture your friends seeing this, and all the comments  you'll get, and then everyone, and I mean at least everyone, clicks over to take the quiz. So, you hit "Publish"! Then Facebook sends you a message that you are an awesome user! Win and win, all around!

7. You go up to Your Spouse and ask them, "I was wonderful out there, right", just after you have done something awesome!!!! And you know they will say 'Yes'! (I don't do this all that often, but a significant other person does it all the time...and I kind of find that endearing in him...!!!!) No, you don't brag about yourself to anyone else, but you do fish for compliments from your spouse, because seriously, who loves you more? Of course, you are open to constructive criticism, and you do get a lot of it (!), but sometimes, you know your significant other thinks you're wonderful, and YOU JUST WANT TO HEAR IT! Sweet!

8.  You start a blog. (you link shamelessly...here's my twitter feed for good measure! @janehamilton !!!! shame on me...) And then, another one. Even though you know quite well that the both could have easily been combined into one blog, and it wouldn't be such a big deal! Because really, the stuff here is not that earth-shattering! (Okay, this vanity moment? I think I'm the only one here guilty of it! Still, in the name of being honest, and all...)

9. You write a post about Your Moments of Vanity!

10. You link it to OhAmanda's Top 10 Tuesday, so that you can see your name along with some wonderfully awesome, enviable bloggers out there, and tell yourself, "Hey, my name appears on a blog other than mine! Yaaay!".

I'm hopeless, I rest my case! So, what I really want to say is - even though we all have these little moments of vanity, it is what makes us human, and endearing, and loveable.... and also, reminds us that Humility is important too!

Food Blogs, and Why I Hate Them!... a.k.a Okay, I Actually Love Them Too Much!

Okay, I have an obsession (this blog just got dangerously personal...)...staring at food...there I said it! People make food, eat food, sell food, buy food, design food, sculpt food...I just stare at it. At the lovely colors, the lovely food photography, the chocolate cake that I can almost taste off the book or computer screen, the roasted chicken I can almost smell in that scrumptiously lighted photograph...

And the best place to appease the hunger pangs coming out of my eyes? Food blogs!! I don't know why I had to say that with double exclamation points, since food blogs are a dime a dozen these days...! exclamation point! (I seem to use a lot of these nowadays, probably because I can't believe myself half the time?? Question marks?

Okay, help me out people...don't tell me no one else in the entire blogosphere has this obsession??...come on!!! Okay, I hear you back there...thanks for the support.

Anyway, I have, like, tons of them subscribed on my reader, and bookmarked left and right, that it takes me hours, every night, to finish oggling at the food. Some recipes, like a few, ...okay, maybe 1 or 2 in the entire time I've been reading these food blogs... I have tried to make. Others, I simply look at, and wish someone would make them for me...not make by myself, mind you...but that someone would bake me that cake, roast me that chicken, saute that asparagus, get me that doughnut, give me that cookie, brew me that coffee...you get the idea .....  siiiiiiiiiighghghghgh! I am really sad now...

But WHY? Why do you obsess over food blogs? Why do you do it? My answer, (channeling Isla Fisher here), "Because when I obsess over food blogs, the world is a better place". Camera zooming in on dreamy eyes (mine), shocked expression on face (yours), violin playing a slow tune, rising to a crescendo (orchestra...Hey, who invited them?!?!)... surreality follows...

So, maybe I am no expert when it comes to blogging (I totally wrote 'globbing' just now...probably delirium from staring at all that sugar!), but these are some of the best food blogs out there...take a peek, and hope you can never look away...and Hey! if you cook some of the food you see here, be nice and send me a sampler, or a big package...I'm not picky that way!

Bakerella You have got to be from some other galaxy, if you are a foodie and haven't heard about this lovely lady. She stands for all that is sweet and cute...lotsa sweet, but the cuteness...ooohhhh, I feel faint already!!

The Pioneer Woman I wish I was one of her kids, no seriously...Ree, will you adopt me...like, not for always, or anything...but only for meal times...please...Pretty PLLLLeeaaaassssse?!?!?  Could I have your Cinnamon Rolls just once, please? Then I can die peacefully... Reader, go to her website, click on the 'Cooking' link, and stay there!

SmittenKitchen The only food blog whose name is a warning of your fate once you start reading the posts! I am smitten, absolutely smitten! There is always a jaw-dropping picture smack in the middle of the page, and...well, that's usually as far as I get! Her recipes list is so long, you could put on weight just by reading it! And I am smitten...but I already said that... Go get smitten, people! You know you want to...after this picture....

Joy the Baker Can't argue with that! What an appropriate name! What joy at looking at all those good eats, and that fabulous personality! I love the little bees buzzing around on her blog...I mean, who can resist food like that, right?

Two Boos Who Eat A lovely couple who love good food, how simple yet yummy can it get?! And they like to stay healthy...important if you have all this yummy-ness going on!

Love and Olive Oil And while we are on the 'couples' thing, these guys are pretty cool, too! Love and Olive Oil, two very healthy, very 'good for you' things...I can't complain about this visual either!

Multiply Delicious Really huge, mouthwatering pictures of food, and this Heath Bar Chocolate Trifle pretty much did it for me! I'm a a fan for life! Mommy Heather and her family of 4, cute family picture, adorable babies, yummy color-scheme,  - win, win, win!!

Fancy That...Fancy This Ameena Din's awesome humor, her cute little baby girl, her humor, her interesting food choices, equally interesting rants about the furniture, and humor! She has some good recipes too! But best of all, she has visited my blog..Yaaay! I have 1 reader that other people recognize!!!!

And, finally, Dad~Baker & Chef Super Dad who makes the best Chocolate Mousse in the whole world, on short-order? Bakes awesome birthday cakes? Cooks delicious Indian cuisine? Takes on a Daring Baker Challenge? Check, check, check, and check...Guilty on ALL counts of Awesomeness! Sheesh, I envy the kids!

Okay, now that I am sufficiently miserable knowing what I'm missing, I will proceed to share the miserableness with my family through dinner...Actually, I am not that bad a cook, just not 'Food Blog' material...so, I wrote this post to get some of that awesomeness onto my blog!!

Enjoy... But first, tell me, do you know of any good food blogs out there? Or do you have one of your own?...Tell me in your comments; I would love to visit!

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I have entered this post in "Things I Love Thursday" over at TheDiaperDiaries. Go on over, and join the party!

Pop-Ups, Choo-Choo Trains, and Silly Soup

The good man brought back some lovely children's books from his week-long trip to the USofA, along with some other cool stuff. I have always been a sucker for kiddies books...my mom loves to tell the tale of how I used to station myself near the book stand whenever we went to the department store, and would finish reading a couple of books while my parents went grocery shopping!! Parents are really proud of what their kids can do, aren't they, including reading an entire book without having to pay for it!! (This is soooo off the record, Okay???)

Anyhoo, I was 8 years old then, and now...well, I am a little older, okay...STOP counting...no, don't do that...

Okay, suffice to say, I still love kiddies books, and so does my Debbie, and we read together all the time...and she recognizes every story we have ever looked at... and I will now stop myself from going into an "I have a genius for a kid" rant...By the way, did I tell you that, this morning, Debbie got up on a chair, opened the CD drive of the computer (which was on), removed the boring music CD inside, opened up a Mickey Mouse Education Game CD box, inserted the CD, and sat down coolly to watch it!! My husband and I just stared for a whole 2 minutes, and then went to pick our jaws off the floor! She is 2.8 yrs old...!!!!!

So, these are the books that have kept her quiet, and out of our hair for the past week...

These were all gifts for Debbie from a good friend...

Everyone's Sleepy by Ed Vere - This is about how this little bear sees all the creatures around falling asleep, and finally goes to sleep himself. The repetitive nature of the words add a lulling effect that any energetic kid needs to settle down at bed time.

Richard Scarry's Pop-Up Numbers - Pop-ups are fun! End of story. Better if they are about numbers, and perfect for a little girl soon to start Pre-school.

Barney's Alphabet Soup by Mary Ann Dudko - Some silliness that every little kid needs, even when learning the alphabets (because the alphabet is serious business, people!). However, no points for guessing how ice cream, quiche, carrots, radishes, doughnuts, and all that taste in a soup! Silly, I guess!

In the Garden with Van Gogh by Julie Merberg & Suzanne Bober - I am still pleasantly surprised at a book whose sole purpose is to let little kindergartners gaze at classic paintings! This is a total Win!

Bake Sale - I could not find a link for this...so, my four readers (really, there are only about 4), if you find a link, please let me know...in your comments...not at work or at home, when you see me...that doesn't count as readership...please people, give me a leg up here!

The AtoZ book by Sandra Bounton - which was absolutely funny, but with really weird animals that I have not heard about at all...for goodness sake, what is an aardvark?!?!?

 My wild-haired child is frowning with interest (yes, we're Indians and we frown with interest) at a Princess Book to Color (again, no link, help please..)

This, here, is a train that doubles as a toy and a book. James the Red Engine by Rev. W. Awdry was lotsa fun. Debbie loved it (so did I!)

That's all folks, till next time...!

March Madness - The Good Man Goes Shopping!

This is what was special about last month...this man....

went on a business trip, to this place....

And, the month was nothing but March Madness! Well, long story short, it was a business trip that lasted a week. He also got to do some sightseeing, and shopping, went to Harvard University, and also met some of the nicest people he knows (more on that later).

So, I was saying...shopping...well, we all know how important that is, right?...right?...RIGHT.

So, it was a whole new experience for my husband, and, as with everything else in the country - the culture, the people, the food & the size of each portion (!), the number of choices for even a simple cup of coffee! - shopping too, had him flummoxed (does any one even use that word nowadays!).

Anyway, he did have to buy another huge bag to stuff in all of his shopping...and here are some of the things I loved... (Okay, I know this is purely 'showoff'..but this is my blog...and the only place I won't be boo-ed off the stage), so...

This lovely silver necklace that he surprised me with...

Notice the beautiful pendant on this one...totally love the little plant thingy...

and my photography... :P

My husband did something else that is so unlike him... he bought me this...

and IT. WAS. GOOD! Black, by Kenneth Cole (I don't know who he is...but God bless him!) - Eau de Parfum for Her (simply means, 'smells like a girl'.) and I love it!

My husband also got these...

'Jacob' is my crazy sweet brother, and 'Captain Debbie' is my husband pushing his hidden agenda at my 2-yr-old!!

He also got this for my lovely sister Jone...

It says "Sung...Alfred Sung"...and I can see why...it smells so lovely, I would sing too!

Oh, and my wonderful husband also went and got li'l Debbie this book...

At this point, I would like to add that Debbie actually got a lot of other cool stuff from equally cool people...

For instance, this coloring book (which, as you can see from her expression [you can??], Debbie reeealllly loved!)...

and they came with these pretty coloring pens...

and these were a gift from the lovely, absolutely friendly, and warm Deborah Lee Hill, who is the mom of two adorable little girls...and shares the same cool name with my daughter...

[caption id="attachment_263" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="from left- the hubby, Kylee Hill, Deborah Hill, Ernest (works with us, went along with the hubby on the trip), Kianna Hill, and Eric Hill."][/caption]

She also sent Debbie these books that her daughters used to read...

These are totally Kiddies-Approved!

And those are Debbie's little hands owning them..."Amma, these are MINE...don't photograph them...Nooo, what are you dooooinnggg???" Yeah...we like to make everything dramatic around here...!

I reviewed these books here...if you are looking for good reads for your li'l 'un, these are pretty much up there...

Also, these cute clothes from Old Navy were nice to receive...cute summer clothes are in, anytime... :)

And Debbie wearing one with really pretty colors (we're really going with the summer look here), although I couldn't get her to stand still long enough to get the dress in full...and don't even ask about the constipated (for want of a better word!) expression...she is kinda cute even with the expression, though...incurable mom-pride kicking in!

The good man brought some interesting eats, too...lotsa candy...for the little tike in the picture...some chocolate chip cookies, a weird, packaged steak, and other stuff I cannot recollect....What I really liked was this...

Planters DayBreak Blend Berry Almond Trail Mix (okay, you can totally read that from the picture!) This was the first time I tasted granola, and I had no idea the stuff was so good. I don't think anyone at home was all that crazy about it (more for me!), and I would simply grab a handful everytime I walked past the tuck-box (yeah, we have that) and munch away...and my mom will give me a glare that means, "Like you need all those extra calories, HUMPH"!!

I also took a picture of this bag of crisps ('potato chips' is what we call it), not because they were the best I've eaten, but because I liked the package (that happens, right?)

The granola makes another appearance there, because I like it so much!

Anyway, final item on the list of things  I liked, this book on Boston's history. I enjoyed reading it!

Disclaimer: No cameras were hurt in the making of this post, although they were 'borrowed' from their rightful owner i.e. the husband of this blogger. Shaky photographs are so because a certain 2-yr-old couldn't leave well alone, over exposure is due to the human-melting hot sun that we have to tolerate nowadays (Yaay for global warming, people), pretty backgrounds are silk sarees and churidar shawls that have been put to better use, and total awesomeness of the blog is all MINE!! hee hee!