Draw Something!

I am glued to an app called Draw something 2 these days. The app is a boon to an artist like to interact with various artist around the world. With the record playback option I learn a lot of techniques from great artist in that community. A strong path for artists to improve and expose the art in digital form. Few of my works for my blog readers and friends.. Find me at draw something 2 and lets draw something..

Ambipur Indiblogger.in Blogger Meet - Chennai

Yeah. Last Wednesday as usual, I woke up to my tablet checking Facebook, twitter and mails. My eyes were caught with the invitation for this Blogger's meet in Chennai. I've been waiting for such a opportunity to attend a community meet for bloggers. I wanted to know how these bundle of unknown stranger gel together. I wanted exposure to know the intensity of growth of blogger community. I ceased that chance. I asked my hubby to be with me for that event since this is my first blogger's meet. I don't want to end up standing alone in a corner. He is always sweet and assured he will give company.

The meet was arranged in Hyatt Regency Hotel, Chennai. It was on Sunday, around noon, we rode to the renovated building which comprises of a shopping mall and the hotel. There were four gates and we entered the four gate to the hotel after trying out all the gate ;) The parking lot was spacious but the sun was punishing us. Damn hot day. After parking our bike, we witnesses how the hotel kitchen had the eggs cleaned at the sideways. There were 30 to 40 grates of eggs. The chef was cleaning them with water busting out of a garden hose pipe. We just smiled to ourselves puzzled if that was the correct method to clean eggs in larger quantities.

As we reached the ground floor , we were directed towards a hall where Indiblogger - Ambipur banners were placed. We grabbed two water bottles and went to the lobby since the event was to start by 1.30PM. The lobby was highly sophisticated with heavy cushioned furniture which had a restaurant and drinks bar. The lobby was lit by the natural sunlight let in by glass roof top. From the lobby one can see all the floors. The floor were decorated. Some decors were weird. But I like the ambience. 

Soon around 12.45 PM to 1 PM, bloggers started pouring into the lobby. To our surprise, people started mingling with each other so quickly. Myself and my hubby got introduced to a fellow blogger called Vaasi who is also an IT guy. At around 1.15 PM, we were asked to assemble int he conference room where we were all provided with lemon/orange juices. We all were asked to register ourselves with our Indiblogger registered email id . As we entered the conference room in a queue ( there were around 200 bloggers), a huge screen flashed who just entered into the room after they got registered. Thus was fun.  

After registration, we sat in the first row. We were given with Wifi access code so that we can tweet with hashtag #Ambipurfreshnhappy about the best road trip till the end of the meet. The best tweet was to get Samsung Galaxy S4. The event started with few funny activities followed by 60 sec of fame for 30 random bloggers. I got a chance to talk about my self and my blog. Nishok also joined to express how important the blog is to me. Thanks to him. Hugs to Nish!

The introduction was followed by a talk/presentation given by an Ambipur Marketing person who gave us an insight about the company and the products. The talk was not boring. It was over in 15 minutes. Lunch time came. We were informed that a surprise was waiting in the the lunch hall covered with curtains. And the best tweet about the surprise element 's expereience will again win Galaxy S4.

Food was awesome. Conversations, intros, spoon hitting the plate sounds filled the hall for the next one hour. I gulped a serving of vegetable pulav and roasted potatoes with basil and dill.  I had a generous serving of mango ice cream. I loved the dessert. Since I was wrist sprain, my hubby helped me get my food to my plates. After the lunch, I and Nishok went inside the curtains with blindfolded. We were made to sit inside a white sedan car. Gush of cold air hit our face with the pleasant aroma of Ambipur car freshener. It made our mind relaxed in minutes. After few seconds we opened our eyes to see rotten food, shoes around us inside the car. I was impressed. I have allergy towards strong fragrances which didn't happen with this car freshener.

I wrote a lot of tweets on this experience but in vain. Priyadharsini a fellow blogger won the S4 for her tweet. Good luck girl.

After lunch, we had group activity. The groups were divided with respect to the flavour of the car fragrance each one got. I was in Lavender Comfort group. Each team was asked to enact a promo for Ambipur Car freshening fragrance. Each team was provided with a theme too. Though the concept our team build was 'ok not very good' type, we enjoyed the session as a team. All the teams enacted their skits it was very comic!

At the end of the group activity, bloggers showcased the causes which would help other who are in need. I am interested in two of the causes. One was 'Dark is beautiful' and the other one was beach cleaning activity by Chennai trekking club.

I was happy and pleased about all the causes and their step to get it to the bloggers. Blog is powerful medium through which good messages can be spread to the whole world. 


The meet ended with group photograph and high tea. I must admit it was really a change from a monotonous life in the weekdays with the freakin computer's hiting keys without any social life.
I was on top of the cloud we people told me that they have read my blogs. 

It was fun to be the part of the meet. I really got exposed to so many bloggers and blogs.
 I promise myself to keep attending such meetings!!!

I not only got my car pleasant smelling after this meet but also got few friends, followers and mentions.

Will try to post more pictures ..

Musical Treat : Sunday with SPB

Last Sunday was a magical one. Myself with my family listened to the legend SPB singing rare Illayaraja numbers. The concert name " Naanum Raajavum" meaning "Myself and Raaja" held at Kamarajar Arangam in Chennai.


The hall was jam packed. Listeners poured  in a chaotic manner. Seats were given to so many people. Lots of confusion and arguments were going on which made first few minutes a really tensed duration. Later the SPB music relaxed every one's mind. The orchestra "Gopal Sapthaswarangal" did a very good job. Each one in the troupe was very talented.

SPB's voice were crystal clear and mesmerizing. He also shared his experiences and musical details plus his learning in between each numbers.

I was very happy for my mom and dad because they were very relaxed and enjoying the pleasant music. Actually my parents are rarely found relaxed and without work. They love music.  My brother was helping my uncle know the movie name for each song. Hope my brother also enjoyed it as I did.

Nishok's first concert ever. He was not comfortable. He said he spend nice time with me after ages. Totally a jolly family outing with such a musical treat.

I am listing out the songs he sang and I am downloading all the songs. The songs were rare and the numbers had more job involved for each one in the orchestra than the singer. The amount of effort they had put in was clearly evident.

Songs which I loved were Sundari (Thalapathy), Kaatu Kuyilu (Thalapathy) , Vizhiyille (100 vathu Naal)

List of songs:

1. Mahaganapathim
2. Akkarai Cheemai 
3. Nee padhi Naan Paathi
4. Mounama Geetham (SPB's first song in the concert)
5. Poonthalir Aada
6. Paatu Thalaivan
7. Pon Maalai Paneer Thoorum
8. Oh.. Vasantha Raaja
9. Kanmaniye kadhal enbathu 
10. Hey Roja 
11. Kodai kaala kaatre
12. Roja onnundru mutham ketkum neram
13. Meendum Meendum vaa - Vikram
14. Andhi Varum Neram
15. Kanne Kalai mane
16. Kadhal Kavithai padithidum
17. Rojavai Thaalatum Thendral
18. Sundari Kannal Oru Sedhi
19. Isai Thodanguthama
20. Vizhiyile (100th naal)
21. Adhi kaalai neram
22. Kaatukuyil
23. Minminuku kannil oru minnal
24. Thoongatha vizhigal rendu
25. Poongathave

Memorable Painting

Last weekend, my mind kept telling me to rekindle my interest in water colour paintings. So I decided to paint and made space in my room for the painting process.

I chose one picture and started painting. I felt I lost my touch in painting and brushes. Soon I gained a confidence that I can excel with practice.

I completed and showed my painting to my husband. The painting was still wet. He grabbed it and asked " shall I do some strokes in that?". I said no. but he insisted. I let go disappointed. I disliked when he made some changes on the painting. I told him that too. He said " I thought I want to contribute something what u have done." It made me smile.

I adored the painting though. We did it together. Letting go of few small petty thing can build get relationship. I will treasure the painting throughout my life. 

I have asked him to laminate it and he promised to that :)

 

Project 365: A lonely girl

After ages, I am posting one of my pencil sketches in my blog.

Lonely girl and her melancholy eyes.

This is art helps me drifting away from deep thoughts and worries.

You can find my other posts on pencil sketches or art work from the following links

Jackie Chan

mywork

more of my works

Shot with my Galaxy Fit

Enrolled for Blogadda's Book Review

         I am a voracious reader. While reading, my commitment to it is to the fullest. I have made few book reviews also in my blog which is not a full fledged one. I have a small library in my house. My hubby really loves my habit of reading books.

        Few weeks back, while surfing through the pages of blogadda.com, I found oppurtunities for reviewing books. I was like Aww! I quickly enrolled to two such oppurtunities. I waited till I got a mail from blogadda admin saying two book are available for Valentines Day special. I chose one of the books and filled the registration.

        Within a week, I got a well packed parcel of the book. The system and process for this book review is really awesome. I opened the pack to find the book I chose. Inside the book I found a letter hand signatured. I also found a book mark. Wow!

        I should say this. The people from bloggadda are doing a great job. You may now ask, "How about you job of reviewing it?" I am in the process of reading this book.

        You can find my review on this book on Friday. I am loving this book review idea. Hope I do a good job and keep reviewing books and products.


Thanks to blogadda.com

Project 365 : Origami Tulip

Learnt to make Origami Tulip. I am loving the art of  Origami.

Few folds of paper makes beautiful replicas!

Lovely art

This tulip flower decorates my office desk.

Priyaa's Faluda Cake - Step by Step Recipe

This is my second attempt on cakes after the chocolate cake with plain whipped cream icing. In this new year, I tried making multiple flavour cake. I grabbed the recipe from allrecipes.com.au. The Cake I did, had three flavours like vanilla, pine apple and mashed bananas. The icing had lemon and chocolate powder in it.

I did this with my whole family. My dad and mom were helping me in getting ingredients. They really enjoyed me doing things with creativity.

I am very happy about the output. But the cake is yet to be tasted. Only reason being, I did the cake late in the evening which would make us feel heavy. The flavour of lemon and aroma was awesome.

Step by Step Pictorial Tutorial for this cake making is as follows..

Mash two medium sized bananas

Mix the mashed banana with the cake powder mix

Add 2 tbsp of oil, 2 tbsp vannila essesence, 2 tbsp of pine apple essesence

Add milk and stir well till u get the following consistency of the flour

Apply oil and sprinkle maida flour and pour the batter into the vessel to make the cake.

Add Butterscotch,cashewnuts and Dried grapes

Place the vessel in electri cooker with 1 inch water. Keep the batter on power for nearly 40 minutes.

Meanwhile steps for preparing icing:

Mix Icing Sugar and 2 lemon's juice + 1 spoon of complan to form a icing of following consistency

The aroma is really awesome. The consistency is important.

After 35 minutes, the cake is made and placed on the cake dish. Leave it for 10 minutes so that the cake is set

Cover the cake with the icing!

Cake is decorated with silver pellets , butterscotch, jelly, gems.

Lemon are placed on the cake dish to give a cool look =)

Keep the cake in a warm place for a night and slice to enjoy the delicacy. I kept it in our microwave oven.


Yummy Faluda Cake Ready!