Mad at Media

Yesterday, I went to the library to return my books, I just happened to chat with the librarian, he asked me a question that made me really sad & angry. When I told him that I was going on a vacation to India, he asked me if it was ok to take my daughter there & how did I feel about having a daughter. I didn't really understand his questions at first. So I said I am really happy to have a daughter & am looking forward to take her with me. He then told me the reason for asking those questions. He thought that girls were not wished for & many were killed on birth or aborted in India. My colleagues at work have already asked me similar questions and also if there are monkeys in the streets & beggars pulling at your legs in India. Yes there are monkeys & beggars & female infanticide etc etc in India, but it is just like in every other part of the world. There are human beings living everywhere, so things like these bound to happen, but it doesn't mean that in India this is an everyday happening. I'm not angry at these people for asking these questions. They have heard/seen/ read about it somewhere & they just want to know if it's true. I would've done the same thing. But you know what irks me, what makes me really mad, it is the damn media. They always exaggerate on these human interest stories & portray India as a poor, needy country full of monkeys & beggars. Why don't they instead focus on the education level, simplicity of the people, the rich cultural heritage, the warm-hearted, friendly, hospitable people etc etc. Ok, I think I've vented enough, lol.

This sunday we took Maanasa to the playground. She just loves to swing, she was giggling all the time, it was so cute. I was so happy because I'm not very fond of swings but I wanted her to enjoy it. Can't wait to take her to the playground more often. The only problem is she wants to get down from the stroller & crawl around:)
I have to start packing for India trip today. I don't want to leave it till the last minute.

Julie tagged me. Here are the answers to her questions:
Four Jobs I’ve Had :
1) Scientist
2) Research Assistant
3) Teacher
4) Mom

Four Movies I Can Watch Over And Over :
1) Sound of Music
I don't watch much of movies
I'll name 4 of my favorite authors instead
1) John Grisham
2) Robin Cook
3) Donna Leon
4) Maeve Binchy

Four TV Shows I Love To Watch :
I don't watch TV much. Moreover we don't get English channels here.

Four Important things to me :
1) Family
2) Friends
3) Books
4) Scrapbooking:)

Four Tunes That Play In My Head :
1) Jesus Take The Wheel (Carrie Underwood)
2) No Never (Texas Lightning)

Four Favorite Food Dishes :
1) Anything Hot & spicy:)


Four Websites I Visit Daily :
1) Rakscraps
2) Email
3) Blogs
4) samachar.com

Four Digi Designers I like :
Too many, can't name just four:)

Four Favorite Colors :
1) Yellow
2) Purple
3) Pink
4) Black

Four Favorite Kits you want to Scrap with over and over
Many kits of Dani Mogstad, most of Carrie Stephens stuff.

I'm not tagging anyone, if you are reading this, feel free to answer these:)
Before I go, I want to share some more layouts with you all.

Credit:
'Sun Showers' kit by Tania Cordova, available at Scrapdish

Credit:
'Beautiful you' kit by Jen Wilson. TFL.

Credit:
'Baby's first Food' kit by Bella Gypsy designs, available at ACOT. TFL.

Credit:
'Pink Perfection' kit by Tracy Blankenship, soon to be available at Scrappindigikreations and Digital Freebies. The inked edges by Robin Cabana, stitches by Dani Mogstad.

Credit:
This is a scraplift of a paper layout by 24/7 at 2 peas.
'Lotus' mini kit by Becky Vosburg, the flower is from her 'Happy Daisies' kit, available at digishoppe.

Credit:
'Berry Sweet' kit by Jeanine Baechtold, Correen Silke, Rachel Dickson & Robin Cabana, available at Scrapdish.

Credit:
'A Pixie's Poesies Collection' by Becky Vosburg, available at Digishoppe. The poem is by Linda Weisman.
I love this photo of Maanasa. She looks so pretty & grown up, don't you think?

Credit:
I used the 'Berry Sweet' kit by Jeanine Baechtold, Correen Silke, Rachel Dickson & Robin Cabana, available at Scrapdish.

Ok I think I will get on with my packing now.
Have a wonderful day.

If you're happy & you know it, clap your hands.

Maanasa is learning new things every day:) She's been babbling non-stop for the past couple of days. Today she clapped for the first time . When I told her to clap for appa(dad), she clapped immediately. I was crying(lol), the first time she clapped. She wants to stand all the time now, I think she wants to practice her new-found skill to perfection. I think another tooth is coming out because she was a little restless & cranky yesterday night & she's been biting everything in sight the whole day today. But she wouldn't allow me to take a look.
I love reading & one thing that I miss sorely here in Switzerland is a library. We do have a library in my town here, but it has a very limited selection of english books. Today I went to the library & to my dismay, found out that I've finished reading about 60% of the books there. I can read German, but its still not the same as reading english books.I think I'm going to start a library here, Sriram says that I have enough books to start a huge library anyway:) I might seriously think about this after I'm back from India.
I'm really excited about my trip to India, but I'm a little scared too, because it is so hot there. It is about 40 deg. Maanasa is not used to so much heat, she sweats here in Switzerland at 24 deg, lol. I'm not sure about what to take with me. I'll probably take some diapers, but I don't think I'm going to use them all day, I'll probably buy some cloth diapers, I think they are the best for the hot weather. I'm planning to start Maanasa with some of our staple food like rice, lentils etc, once we are there. We are taking the travel cot with us, as she's used to sleeping in her own cot here. I'm just overwhelmed to think about how much stuff I've to carry. Maybe I'm going overboard, but it is her first time there & as it is she's going to face a lot of new things, so I'm being a little careful in taking a lot of things with me. But we can carry upto 70kgs, so I think I can manage.
Ok, some more layouts:

Credit:
'Beyond Safari' kit by Bella Gypsy Designs, available at ACOT

I did this for the Journalling inspiration challenge at RAKSCRAPS. The pretty flowers & blings are from the Jeweled Petals set from Mrs.Schmuck, the background paper is from her Periwinkle & more kit.


Credit:
'Doodled Spring' by SaraAmarie, available at 3Scrapateers

Credit:
'Major Bedhead' kit by Becky Vosburg, available at Digishoppe.

It's been a long time....

I've been totally neglecting my blog. There are no specific reasons for not blogging other than plain lazziness.
We went to Locarno, which is in the Italian part of Switzerland for May 1st long weekend. The trip was great. Maanasa enjoyed it very well. The weather was super, not too hot, not too cold, just right. I love the italian side of Switzerland. Somehow it reminds me of India, I think it's the weather(warm), the food (hot) & the people (loud).

I had made lots of plans for the NSD on saturday. I even told dh that I'll be occupied the whole day & he immediately offered to take care of Maanasa, the whole day. I wanted to buy some stuff on awesome sales, but I was so tired & I just slept for 2 hours on saturday afternoon. After that I didn't really feel like using my computer, something was definitely wrong with me, lol.

Maanasa is growing up fast. She has a 2 tooth now, one in the bottom & one in the top. She dances to music. It is so cute to watch her swaying her hips & clapping to music. She is trying to walk, holding on to a support & she just loves to play with the computer, lol. I have a hard time trying to keep her away from it. Do you think I should start training her young:)
We are going to India on a 4 weeks holiday. I'm so excited about it. But I'm a little scared as well, as it's going to be really hot, especially for Maanasa. It is her first visit, We'll be celebrating Maanasa's birthday there. My grandmothers, my brothers, my FIL & other friends have not yet seen Maanasa. So they are excited too. There are 2 more weeks to go & I can't wait.
I've been scrapping like crazy. Here are my layouts:
I'm CT member for Rose Farver. Her designs are awesome. She sells at Digishoppe.This is my AAM page for her.

I used the 'SOTB March Mega kit' by Rose Farver.

I used 'Something Sweet' kit by Rose Farver, available at Digishoppe.

'Baby Your a Star' kit by Rose Farver, available at Digishoppe.


Credits: Eclectic joy kit by SaraAmarie, available at 3 scrapateers.

Credit:
'Real Simple' kit by Becky Vosburg, available at the digishoppe, Stitches are from her 'Sweetsformysweetie' kit, Overlay from her'Antique Chic' kit.

Credit: 'Crayons' kit by Bella Gypsy Designs


Credit: 'Gracie's Garden - Forget Me Nots' kit by Amy Knepper, available at Scrapdish

All Girl kit by Bella Gypsy Designs, available at ACOT.