Tomorrow I have a very tough exam. We had a holiday today. I studied from morning 11:00 to 2:00, and since then I was busy making picture for this post. I'll post it and resume the studies. I still have to study more than 50% of the portion. I hope I get done with all of it.

I am tired right now. But I always have these tips that charge me up any time!




I seriously wished I could explain them to you. I have no time. I have left the books since 2:00, and it is 5:45 now!



What are your tricks to charge your mood?
xoxo

The supervisor distributed question papers. I got mine and I read the first question. I smiled. The first question was Write a feature of not less than 500 words for a youth magazine. WOW! I smiled because I knew what I was about to write.




Blogging has helped me a lot. I realized today how crucial writing blog is. Today while writing the first answer, I was feeling as though I am writing a blog post.

Guess what did I write on? 'How to Get Good Marks'. Right from stationary and self-notes to attending the lectures and staying hydrated...I wrote it all. Just imagine how nice I must have felt while writing this.

And not just this question; I feel like I am advising always. Whenever I write theory papers (BMM is all about theory papers), I feel as if I am giving tips--how to write a headline, how to select visuals, how to crop images, etc.

Blogging really helps you to generate long answers. You read a general knowledge question and you know you can exaggerate. Blogging makes you to not study all these general knowledge type questions. It feels really good. My classmates text me and ask if I got the answer for a GK type question; all I answer is, "No; I am going to write it on my own." It is a moment of pride. I wonder why people have to get the notes. Can't they just make notes themselves? I don't even make notes for these GK types; I orally speak about ten points, and I know I don't need to do anything further.

Trust me; blogging helps. More than blogging, writing helps. If you write a lot, you know you won't be stuck anywhere during a theory paper. It doesn't matter if you write on a piece of paper or type on computer, it will help you.
(And don't ask me about practical papers; I have lost the touch of maths three years ago, and I pray I shouldn't get it any time in my future!)



Has writing/blogging ever helped you with answers?
xoxo

Well, I've recently got two tips while I was giving my prelims. These are some basic, yet helpful tips.




I have two of 'em:

Well, sometimes, the question is so tricky, that you tend to miss out on a part of the question. For example, when they ask a question like 'Edit this paragraph thus checking its grammar, spelling, and punctuation marks; suggest a headline in six words', we usually start writing the answer, and when we reach towards the end, we sigh as we are happy that we finished the whole answer. In that happiness, we totally forget that we had to write the 'headline' too. We start with the next question, and after submitting the answer books we realize that we forgot to answer the whole question. Though this would just mean you lose a mark or two, but as you know, when you count the total marks, even a half-mark is important.




SOLUTION: While reading the question, underline the important parts. In my question above, I underlined the words rewrite, spelling, punctuations, grammatical and factual mistakes, and headlines.
After solving the question, I have a habit of ticking the question, which states that it is solved. So while ticking, I noticed today that I had underlined few words in the question. I solved them, and then ticked them, and only after that I ticked the question.
This trick enables you to exactly be sure that you have solved everything.









Often you get confused if you have solved all the questions. The 'options' are always helpful in creating more havoc. In the end, when only few minutes are left for the bell to go, you are already tensed and are begging for extra time. And in that if you are not sure whether you have attempted all the questions, it is really sick.

Ha ha! My best friend is crazy. The other day, she literally coloured her hostel's switchboard because she was bored.





She is really crazy. I saw this on Facebook, and thought to upload here right away. Oh, BTW, you can use this pass time and customize switchboards at your place too! ;)

xoxo

Okay, when I had got up from the studies a while ago, I really needed some refreshment. But after I got up, my mom gave me dinner, and I am refreshed already. So currently I am feeling like I am wasting time by writing blog.

Nevertheless, I will give a short write-up for this post.




Our university exams are beginning from tomorrow, and so I made a quick checklist to make sure I carry all the important things to the exam hall. Luckily, I got my exam centre in my city itself; that too, it is ten minutes away by an auto. I am feeling too lucky. Your list would differ a bit from mine, if you are travelling by any other means of transport, like if by train then a train pass, if by car, then license, etc.

The grammar is not really good, but I made it in a hurry. By the way, H.T. means the Hall Ticket.

I will go through this checklist before going to every paper in this exam. You can definitely ask me if you have any doubt in any point. (You can also draw more squares according to the exams, and tick them before every paper.)

That's it. If you have exams coming in few days, then all the best. Do well, and yes, don't forget to read the exam tips and essentials you need to carry to the exam advised by me.
xoxo

For Bhaubeej, my schoolmate got a Jewellery Box as a gift from her brother. She texted me and sent the photos of it as soon as she received it. She said she remembered me after seeing the box. Wasn't it too cute of her?




Isn't the box lovely? The box has three drawers and a large compartment with a mirror stuck on it. You can keep earrings, rings, necklaces, watches, safety pins, bobby pins, and what not. The colours are so fresh that the box would surely light up your mood.
I like that there's a mirror on it too. You can try your earrings from the place where the box is, and choose another pair if the current one isn't suiting your dress. No need to get up to your cupboard's mirror and look at the earrings.

The drawers are cute. You can keep lot of similar stuff together. For example, if you have lot of earrings, you can keep them in one drawer. If you have bit of rings and bit of safety pins, then you can put them in one of the drawers which would act like a 'miscellaneous' drawer. The drawers are too large for the little stuff, which acts like a plus point.
Also, the holders of the drawers are way too sweet.

The material of the box seems sturdy, which means the box would last long. You can place this box on your dressing table, and keep daily stuff like makeup, powder, combs, etc.




This is the top of the box. Her brother gifted this to her especially because it has a 'little elephant' printed on it; he calls her a 'baby elephant'.
I'm sure there might be many colours, sizes, and patterns available in such boxes.


Did you like the box? What did your brother gift you this Bhaubeej?
xoxo

I thought for long time for a blog topic, but failed every time. At last after referring to the blog ideas that I had jotted down as and when I remembered, I came to this idea. It took lot of efforts to edit this image.




I have jot down the five products I use almost daily. Deodorants, Perfumes, and Kohls I use only when I have to go out. But Shower Gels and Face Wash are daily products that I use.

During Diwali, Indian Hindu homes are lit up during night-time. You would definitely find few of these items at their places:



1. Lanterns




2. Lighting & 3. Small Lanterns




4. Diyas (Floating)




5. Diyas





6. Rangoli







7. Diya related stuff





8. Diwali Faraal





9. Marigold Flowers




Do you have them at your place?
xoxo

I was gonna give the title of this post as the First Day; but then thought that Narak Chaturdashi would be better. Today was amazing. A day well spent with best friends and family.




Before starting with today's fun, let me wish you a very happy Diwali!


I woke up at 5:45, followed with wishing the family, tea, faral, etc. I had an amazing bath for twenty minutes. The reason why today's bath was a special one because it was the Abhyang Snaan. My mom applied oil and utna on my body. Later I had a soothing bath with a festive soap. Unfortunately, I had taken a hair spa yesterday, so I did not wash my hair. But if I would've washed it, then I would be seriously happier.

I scrubbed all the otherwise ignored parts like feet, hands, elbow joints, etc. I don't like bathing for long; I usually bath for five minutes and come out of the shower. I hate to bath slowly. But today it was different.

After the bath, I wore my pretty dress.




I bought this from Vanity store for Rs. 4,000. This is my most expensive dress till now. I would say such dresses cost above Rs. 1,500, and you cannot help.




I applied a bit makeup and went down to meet friends. We later went to the street I was talking about yesterday.




This year, surprisingly, I met very less people. Though there were hundreds of people on the street, I did not meet my acquaintances. It was maybe because I did not search for anybody, and also that we were seeking for a peaceful place to spend quality time with each other.





Pink and white coloured lantern.




Cherry red lightings.

I have this habit of making a checklist whenever I have to go somewhere, or shop, or when there is lot of work to do. This habit is actually useful and helps me in many ways.




So tomorrow, I will again be going to one of the streets of my city to celebrate and meet old friends. For that, I needed some good things on me. I have purchased the dress and other stuff.
I made a quick checklist to make sure that everything is ready for tomorrow. I haven't done this just today; but I do this regularly. Checklists are my savior!

I wrote down a couple of things that I have to pack or keep ready by tonight. I'm done with hair spa and face mask. I have to finish applying nailpolish on the other hand's nails and also on my toe nails. Then I just have to keep makeup stuff, earrings, clutch and shoes ready. I bought a clutch just few days back. It has the most capacity to fill in stuff. That is why I am so excited to pack the clutch. I'm thinking of putting money, cellphone, tissues, perfume, and maybe a lipstick inside the new purchase.



Do you make such lists?
xoxo


P.S. My fingers aren't fat.

The most annoying thing ever could be exams right after an important festival. If the exams would have been conducted by the college it was agreeable; I mean I would have compromised on few marks here and there. But we have our university exams beginning right after three days of Diwali, i.e. on 28th of October.




It sucks big time. I don't know what to do. Though the first three papers of Prelims were easy and good, I'm scared for the remaining two. The Indian Regional Journalism and Journalism and Public Opinion subjects are going to kill. Unfortunately I was unwell during these two most important subjects during Prelims, so I had not studied or attempted the papers well. I had attempted JPO question paper of only 30 marks out of 75. 

I am not even in 5% mood to study. Who would be in a mood to study? Diwali is going on, and it is so tough to study. Mumbai University hasn't planned BMM's exam schedule properly. All my friends from other fields like B.Sc., B.Com., B.A.F., B.B.I., etc., have their exams in November. It is only we BMM students who have to suffer. Come on...three days gap only? You guys have to be kidding us.

We are in a mental dilemma: whether to enjoy or to study. If we enjoy, we would get less marks in exam, and if we study, we would be missing all the fun.
We constantly check the MU site to know if there is any news of exam postponement. Anyway, there is no news yet, which means, the timetable remains intact.

Now whatever I study for fifteen minutes or so, I only read once from the subjects JPO or IRJ; that too I study on tab. IRJ is tougher. Only students of Journalism would know my pain.

---

Anyway, I have collected the dress for the first morning of Diwali, which is on 22nd October. I am in love with the dress. I cannot wait to show it to you guys!

Goodnight; take care!

I was just listening to the 'Damlelya Babachi Kahani' by Salil Kulkarni and Sandeep Khare, and it made me cry, which wasn't unusual. The duo has sung such an amazing song. I love the lyrics, and it is special for every daughter and every father. Truly superb song.

This Diwali my dad wouldn't be in India to celebrate it with us. He is in China, and couldn't get a leave. I miss him so much. For the non-Marathi speaking readers, I would like to explain the song in few words: The title's direct translation is 'A Story of a Tired Father'. In this, the singers sing how a father is sorry for not being there with his daughter due to workload. He hates it that he couldn't spend much time with his daughter in her childhood, and that he misses her when out for work. He also asks her if she would remember him forever, and that have tears in her eyes after marrying and leaving the house.

Such a heart-touching song this is. Even my father cries listening to it. You know how stern fathers are; they hardly cry. So you should understand how strong this song is.




This Diwali, not just my father, but even my cousins and family wouldn't be with me. This year I'll be with mom, brother, and friends. I miss my cousins. Spending festivals without them is so tough. After Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali is what we look forward to in order to meet each other and have a splendid family time.

Diwali's most memorable time is the morning's utna and oil ritual. Though on Diwali's first day, our moms apply utna and oil on our bodies, it is even more fun during Bhaubeej. On Bhaubeej morning, if the brother is with you, you have to apply him utna, oil, and later bathe him with yummy shampoo, and aromatic soaps. (You even give him tips about getting smooth hair! My brothers always ask us about tips, and we make sure we help them. We also scrub their bodies so that they look the best brothers in the whole world; well they are the best.) After the ritual, the brother bathes himself, which is very rude of him. (God knows why they have to bath after sisters bathe them so nicely!)

I love Diwali, and I love all the colours and lights around. The atmosphere is crazy. I wish I was spending Diwali with all the family members. I will definitely miss them.

----

So today, after an irritating sleep and annoying sweat, I got up and mom and I went out for some Diwali shopping. Streets here in my city (at least in my area) are crazily lit and are chaotic and are amazing. You should definitely visit India (if you're not an Indian) in Diwali, or a week before Diwali. I feel so good to stay in such a popular area of my city, that all the people from the city gather here, all dolled up, parking their cars, and shopping.




Surprisingly, this year I wasn't in my dad's loose capri and a loose t-shirt, but in tunic, watch (!), and ballets! Diwali shopping doesn't necessarily mean clothes and accessories. There's so much to Diwali shopping than only this. You have to buy lamps, lanterns, body oil, utna, festive soaps, lights, rangoli, rangoli colors, clothes, gifts, accessories, crackers, etc. People even buy expensive things like cars, furniture, houses, etc. in Diwali.

We bought the basic Diwali stuff, and I purchased a pretty dress just today! It's a maroon colored anarkali, with golden heavy work over it. I just have to buy shoes and maroon nailpolish, and I'm good to go. The dress is still in the shop as they had to alter it from the waist. I just cannot wait to wear it and style around! (I'll post the photos on TPCG after I wear the dress.)

After reaching home, I took out all the stuff from the bags, and showed it to dad. I wish I had some time to post photos of the stuff. Anyway, this is what we bought: floating diyas, regular diyas, utna, aromatic oil, big lantern, two small lanterns, bulb, extra rangoli, dress for me, clutch for me, (golden coloured nailpolish for me), festive soap, and stickers.


---

So this is it for today. Finally I submitted the final copies of broadsheet and tabloid newspapers and the fashion magazine in college today. Yesterday I was busy with that, so couldn't write.

Goodnight, people!
Love y'all!
xoxo

Finally I am free. Our professor had called me in the morning to tell that tomorrow is the (semi) final submission of the magazine and newspapers. Though after that I didn't start with the work, I had put an alarm of 4:00. As soon as the alarm was on, I snoozed it until it was 5:00, and then ultimately I sat on PC to do some minor changes in them, and went down for printing.
I tell you, my house is a chaos currently. Diwali is here, and we all are sick. My mom, my brother, and I...all of us are coughing and have cold. I just came out of fever, and now my mom's temperature is rising. I am so frustrated with us being sick. I haven't shopped a dress for Diwali yet, and that is sooo not good.




 This festive season, along with your houses, sparkle up your browsers as well. I know, even on festivals you have to sit on PC for some work or the other, and there wouldn't be a better way than changing your browser's theme/skin to make you feel good. Plus, if you're living abroad, you can feel at home simply by keeping a Diwali related theme. Sounds great?

 I added few themes on Mozilla Firefox browser to show you guys.

Sorry for not writing yesterday; I had fever, cold, and a bad sore throat. Even right now, though the fever is down, I still have soreness in my throat, and that sucks.




Anyway, this Diwali, lighten up your homes by using floating candles. Last to last year we had used two candles, and they looked pretty. All you need is a bowl full of water and the floating candles, which are readily available in the market as Diwali approaches.

They look amazing and exotic. They look the best on Bhaubeej evening when your brothers come at your place, or you go at his/their place.

You can even decorate the bowl like in the photo by putting flowers or other fancy, light-weighed things. And yes, don't forget to use an ethnic, fashionable bowl instead of a boring, steel bowl that you normally have at home.
A good looking bowl with fancy candles and aromatic flowers, Diwali lights hanging in the balcony, coldness in the atmosphere, and crackers bursting everywhere, don't miss the chance of adding up fun on Diwali evenings.


Have you used floating candles, or you prefer the regular ones?
xoxo

At last the prelim is over. It was a long (though just of 7 days) struggle. Some of the subjects are so boring, and their syllabuses are so wide, that studying them in lesser time is not possible. Today's Indian Regional Journalism paper was good, though tough. I attempted all the questions (needless to say). Even though whatever I have written is not good in terms of names and other important details, I can say the paper is filled. The best part of having large handwriting is that the paper looks full of answers, and as if the girl/boy knows everything. (I know quality of the answer matters more.)