Hey! I couldn't write for two days as my cousin brother was home. My parents were out of town, and so I had invited my brother over. We spent most of the days in watching movies. In the last three days, I've downloaded Annabelle, John Tucker Must Die, Tanu Weds Manu, Tanu Weds Manu Returns, Gangs of Wasseypur, The Intouchables, and Gabbar is Back. As we were engrossed in movies, we also ordered food--Ragda Pattice, Misal Pav, and Punjabi meal (that consisted of butter rotis and two bhaajis) throughout the second day. In all, the two days were lovely.

Time's flying by; May is over, and with that the heat, the fun, the vacations. May was full of trips and enjoyment for me. Now, tougher life would begin, as in mid-June, my masters would start.
Anyway, without much talks, let's get straight to my May favourites:

1. Pinterest // I did tell you about my Pinterest addiction in my last post, right? Pinterest is my latest go-to time-pass. If I don't have anything to do in this world, I switch to Pinterest; and after hours, you'd still find me surfing excitingly on it.
2. 500 Facebook Likes // TPCG's Facebook Page received 500+ likes in this month! It required so many months to get 100 likes after the 400.
   
3. 500 Instagram Followers // My TPCG's Instagram account got 500 followers. Though I don't regularly update photos there, I am glad people and companies are following me. The main reason why I don't upload photos is because I have maintained my account as a very different one; there are hardly any selfies. There is my another account, which is a personal one; in that account, there are lots of selfies and personal photographs. (It's a secured account.)
4. Recipes // I loved searching for recipes on Pinterest, and then making them.
5. Recipe Journal // Remember I'd told you about the Recipe Journal? Well, there are just two recipes inside it, and so I've not posted about it here. But as soon as it gets at least 4, I'll write on TPCG ASAP.
6. White Sauce // I'm happy to have been discovered the secret behind the white sauce you get with most Italian dishes. I'm going to make it henceforth, as it is super-easy, and the ingredients required to make it are available at home, most of the time.
7. Kolhapur/Pune Trip // My cousins are a very important part of my life. Spending holidays with them is one of my favourite things. We've watched lot of movies this May; and ouch! My eyes hurt.
8. New House // I'm in love with the second house, and I had a jolly time staying there!
9. Workout // I exercised in the first half of the month, but later as I travelled to Kolhapur and Pune, followed by periods, I had to pause them. But from tomorrow onwards, the routine would begin again.
10. Fab Bag // I love April's Fab Bag that got delivered to me in this month. Sure, I loved the products, but the best part was the pouch! The zebra print is classy, and it is a perfect little pouch to carry toiletries or makeup products while you're on the go.
11.  Haircut // Okay, I'm sorry to tell this so late, but I've had a haircut, a week back. And it is not one of those same-length-but-new-shape type of haircuts, but...it is a long BOB. Nope! I'm not kidding. I actually gathered guts to cut half of my long hair. Now they're a bit longer than my shoulder. (Look at the post's blog graphic!) The important thing is that I simply liked this haircut, and it is unbelievable how different I look now. 
12. Movies // I've watched A Cinderella Story, Khel Khel Mein, Princess Charm School, Wild Child, The Clique, Gabbar is Back, Cheaper by the Dozen, and few of the movies mentioned above. I must have watched around 15 movies in this month.

These were the moments and things I loved the most about May.
Sorry for not writing clearly, as I am a little out of the writing-mood.

What are your May favourites?
xoxo

 1. Take two large potatoes, and peel them.


2. Cut thin slices of the potatoes.



3. On the stove, keep a pan on low flame. Put butter.
4. After the butter melts, put flour. Immediately stir.
5. Pour cold milk, and stir. Let it rest.
6. Add salt and pepper to the pan.
7. Grate half cheese cube and put inside. Stir. In case you find the mixture (sauce) too thick, pour in some more milk, and add other ingredients, if needed.



 8. Boil the slices slightly.
 9. In a micro-pan, add a single layer of potato slices.
10. Pour cheese-sauce.
11. Put slices of potatoes again. Pour sauce on top of it. Repeat until all the slices are used.
12. Grate remaining half of the cheese cube on top.
13. Garnish with chilli flakes, and other spices, according to you.
14. Set the microwave oven on 180 degree for 45 minutes, and grill.
15. Serve with hot and spicy ketchup.

NOTE:

• I had not boiled the potatoes, so they were tough while eating.
• I did not put chilli flakes as I didn't have them. 
• I had kept the dish for 30 minutes; but you keep it for 45 minutes. In the original recipe, they say to keep for 1 whole hour.

I am glad that I finally disclosed the secret behind that white cheesy sauce. I had had the sauce from one of the sizzlers at Poptates, and was wondering how they make this delicacy. I am thankful for my curiosity and my cravings that led me to this wonderful white sauce, and the recipe, of course.
Do let me know your experience. You can add more spices and more taste to these scalloped potatoes. The best thing I liked about this recipe is that we required just one cheese cube; one cheese cube divided by 3, which means we consume hardly any cheese.

Write below asking any queries or let me know after you make it.
Here's the link to the original recipe: http://southern.food.com/recipe/scalloped-potatoes-85629 (Read the first recipe from the link!)

xoxo

Hello there, bakers! I made this recipe before going to Kolhapur. I would have posted this there itself, but I couldn't, due to the problem in my cousin's computer. So here I am, with this recipe, today.

I learnt it under the Baking for Beginners section of the YouTube Channel Sanjeev Kapoor Khazana. I made a list of the ingredients required, and went down to purchase them.

I had made this recipe in the late-noon, after the lunch. I was pretty excited to taste it. After the 20 minutes, I brought it in the bedroom, where I served it to my parents, along with a cup of hot tea; they cherished it as well. My brother was more than happy, as the recipe has eggs in it! Proteins, you know?

(I've made a little bit of changes in the original recipe, and you guys can alter my recipe as well.)
So, here's the formula for the delicious bread pudding:

Ingredients:

• 10-12 White Bread Slices
• 5 Eggs
• 1 Tablespoon Vanilla Essence
• 90g Sugar
• 500ml Milk
• Butter
• Chocolate Powder
• Almonds (Crushed)
• Cashew Nuts (Crushed)

Special Utensils Required: 

• Egg Beater 
• Baking Pan
• Baking Tray
• Aluminum Foil 

 

 Steps:

1. In a small bowl, beat eggs, vanilla essence, and sugar together.
2. Add warm milk in the bowl, and beat it together as soon as possible. (If you take much of time, the egg yolk can get cooked! I am sure you don't want to make an omelet there!)
3. Pre-heat microwave oven on 150 degree. 
4. While the pre-heat process is on, take the bread slices, and apply butter to only ONE side.
5. Place the bread slices, with the butter side on the top, in a baking pan, in one single layer. 
6. Pour the egg-mixture on them. Place the slices again, and pour the mixture again. Do it until all the slices are used. 
7. Pierce through bread with a knife, so that the mixture goes deep in. Pour more mixture, in case it is needed. 
8. Sprinkle choco powder, and decorate with crushed almonds and cashew nuts.
9. Cover the baking pan with an aluminum foil. 
10. In a baking tray, put water.
11. Place the baking pan in the baking tray.
12. Put the arrangement in the microwave oven, after you hear the beep, which marks the end of the pre-heat process.
13. Keep the arrangement inside the oven for 20 minutes.
14. Serve with a spoon and a knife!

NOTE:

• Please try using a square-shaped baking pan to avoid a bread-mountain like it happened with me.
• You might get an unpleasant smell of the eggs.
• I used a microwave-safe dish as the baking tray.

It's not a hard DIY; but just a random thought that occurred after I emptied the hot chocolate container. I transferred all the powder from this plastic container to a glass jar. Though the container is a bit wobbly, it still would be a great tumbler for a quick OJ in summers, or hot chocolate in winters. And the fact that the container is cute, is an added bonus.

I remember, when I used to live in Pune, my uncle used to work in Oman. He was the only close family member, in those days, to live abroad. Whenever he used to return, he would bring along a ton of chocolates and really amazing stationary and other supplies. He used to bring Tang and Kinder Joy chocolates back then, some 15 years ago. It used to be like a treat for all of us.
I also remember him buying hot chocolate packets that had those extremely soft marshmallows; I remember drinking it in the cold winter nights of Pune.
It would be an enjoyable experience to drink that hot chocolate from this self-made tumbler.

 Remember that terribly huge Reliance Fresh haul? During that haul, I'd also put this Cabdury's Hot Chocolate container inside the trolley. After drinking it for the first time, I'd emptied it into a different glass jar, as I did not trust its lid. If the cocoa powder spills, it's going to be a nastier business cleaning it, than if the chocolate drink spills.


So here's how to get a lovely tumbler without spending a rupee:



1 ~ Take Cadbury Hot Chocolate, and empty its content in another jar.



2 ~ On its lid, make a hole, big enough for a straw to go in. My dad did it with a blade.
3 ~ Make your favourite drink and pour it inside.
4 ~ Put the lid back to the tumbler.



5 ~  Insert the straw.
6 ~ And then drink from it, like a boss!



Make it and let me know how it went, in the comments below.
Lots of love.

Day 5

Out for bhel (photo from the previous day)

We had a bus of 1:15 from the Dabholkar Corner.

We got up as usual. We had tea and upma for breakfast. After breakfast and bath, Ishan and I went to the famous Mahalaxmi Temple, by the Activa. I had worn a gorgeous red kurta with blue jeans.

We took the darshan of the Goddess and came back at 12:10. We hurriedly had lunch, which was idli sambar. We got ready, packed our bags, and went down. Padmanabh accompanied me and Ishan till the rickshaw stand. We got in, hugged Padmanabh, and bade him goodbye.

We reached, and the bus was standing there already. We got it, and finally the bus left at 1:30.

It was indeed a lovely stay at Kolhapur.

--


The Kolhapur Diaries end here.

xoxo

Hey guys! I know, I haven't written in a while. I'm back home, finally. At Kolhapur, we had given the motherboard of the computer to repair, and so I couldn't write. I did go to cyber cafe two days, but it was not possible to go every day.


Day 3

Out to have bhel

It was just like any other day. I got up, did the morning chores, had tea, and had breakfast.

In the evening, Janhavi, Ishan, and I went to the Mahavir Garden to have bhel there. The bhel in Kolhapur is different; but yes, it was yummy!
We came home, and it was movie time. We watch so many movies in vacation, that our eyes hurt!

After much discussion, we finally decided to watch a horror movie. We concluded to The Conjuring, as I hadn't watched it. We were watching it, and surprisingly, I wasn't as scared as I'd thought to be. We also had dinner side by side, and in all, the evening was terrific.

After the movie, to lighten our moods, until 12:15, we watched Student of the Year movie. We watched it half, that too in bits. At 12:15, we switched back to the TV mode from the hard disk mode, to watch Arsenal v Sunderland match.

The match ended with 0-0 score, and after that we slept. I was glad that I had totally forgotten watching a horror movie that night!

Day 4

Pizza before the cheese melted

It was obvious that we get up late the next day, but we didn't. I got up at 9:00, after my daily alarm went off. I went to the kitchen, and my aunt was preparing ice cream. She was making bases.

In a while, others got up too.

We passed on the afternoon by watching movies like Princess Charm School and Wild Child. (Yes! Ishan went inside to take a nap!)
After watching two movies back to back, our eyes were tired.

To take a break, we went in the balcony, and experienced the blissful cool winds. This new apartment of my sister is a cool and airy space. In spite of summer, we never felt like it was summer indoors; it was always pleasant.

Shortly thereafter, it was almost the dinner-preparation time. My aunt wasn't home yet from her freelance beauty work, and so my sister and I started chopping vegetables. The menu was Vegetable Cheese Pizza with Cookies and Cream Ice Cream!
(Cravings, yeah?)

Janhavi and I made the pizza, and served it to our hungry brothers. After their tummies were contented, we served uncle and aunt. And after that, we had ourselves!
 We were so full, that I literally had to push the ice cream in. Thanks to my love for ice cream, that I could have it.

The whole of the evening was spent consoling Padmanabh, in the parallel world. He didn't want me to go back. It was hard to explain him. I even cried convincing him, and wondering how much he loves me!


As it was our last night in Kolhapur, all the four of us (my cousins and I) slept in the living room. We watched Mean Girls. After the movie, I helped my sister to make posters for Sunburn music and dance festival, which was to be held on 23rd in Kolhapur.

We finished making the four posters at 3:30 in the night! Tired, we slept.

I remember, back in 2008, we had gone to Goa, this time of the year, with my extended family.

Day 2

My aunt's birthday is on the 19th of May. So when it was 11:58, Padmanabh arranged a table, a knife, and went down to get the cake. At 12:00 exact, he ran towards his mom, who was asleep, to wish her.
She cut the cake, and we sang a birthday song for her. After that, we went inside to sleep.

I was supposed to sleep in between the two brothers, but an unfortunate incident happened, which made me sleep in between the other brother--Ishan--and Janhavi. The incidence is a bit funny. The two siblings--Janhavi and Padmanabh--were fighting, and then while Padmanabh was entering the room where we were to sleep, he slipped down over the water of the cooler. He got hurt too badly, and so crying, he went to sleep next to his mom. That's how my sister came besides me.

I got such a blissful sleep. I woke up at 9:15, and found the house to be quiet. I was surprised, as Padmanabh always happens to get up first and then trouble everybody who is still asleep. I noticed that Janhavi was missing, and that Ishan was still asleep, with the blanket all over his face.

I got up and saw that Padmanabh was still asleep, and that Janhavi had gone to meet her friend who was to leave for Bangalore tomorrow. I quietly folded the blanket, brushed my teeth, washed my face, and drank a glass of water. I spoke with my aunt and uncle, while the house was still quiet. I had tea with biscuits, and then both of my cousin brothers woke up too. After everybody's breakfast, my uncle bought Kolhapuri vada pav. Vada pav here has a thicker coat and is eaten along with bread-slices, and not pav.

After the food, Padmanabh switched on the TV. We watched Main Tera Hero movie. At 1:00 finally, I had bath. I wanted to wash my hair today, and I was waiting for the movie to finish. After a good shower, we had our lunch. Janhavi wasn't home yet.

Then, after Janhavi was home, Padmanabh, Janhavi, and I came to a cyber-cafe nearby. I wrote blog. After an hour or so, we went back home. We had tea, and were watching TV. Soon, it was 8:00, and we started watching Mumbai Indians (MI) v Chennai Super Kings IPL match. Shortly, we girls went inside to cook dinner.

Janhavi made vegetable cutlets; whereas I made schezwan rice. Both of the dishes were yummy. We were still watching match while having dinner. MI won, and they're in the finals now!

While watching the match, my aunt massaged our hair with coconut oil. After this, we had cold coffee, which was yummy too.

Finally, we went to our beds.
x

Day 1

We got up at around 9:00 in the morning, at Pune. We had to leave for Kolhapur today. We got up, had breakfast, and went to my cousin's new flat. We came back, had lunch, had bath, and started getting ready.
I'd worn a navy blue Forever 21 crop top, my mom's pink salwar, golden flats, and a black handbag. I also had a small sized stroller.

We left for Pune's bus station--Swargate--to catch a bus for Kolhapur. We did not reserve the seats before, and did it at Swargate itself. My uncle dropped us at Swargate. We took four tickets, which were right behind the driver's seat. We were four: me, my two younger brothers, and a younger cousin sister, who people say looked like me when we were kids.

It was too tiresome. We had seven bags: two handbags, one stroller, two duffle bags, one food-bag, and one backpack. And on top of that, Pune's scotching heat.

We got into the bus. I initially sat next to my youngest cousin brother--Padmanabh. We had wafers, cakes, and then listened to songs on my cellphone. Our side was, sadly, the sun-side. Sun's rays were falling straight on us, and we regretted booking tickets on this side of the bus. We left Swargate at around 3:30.

Then after two hours or so, we got down for a break. We purchased water bottles, snacks, and drinks. In the second half of the journey, my cousin sister--Janhavi--was next to me. We both have a history of laughing uncontrollably without any sane reason. So this time too, well, we were laughing in the bus. My cousin sister is two years younger to me; but whenever she is with me, I happen to be of her age or even younger.

I  was so desperate to go on a stable land. The journey from Pune to Kolhapur is of 4 and half hours (or more). Finally, we reached the Bus Depot. of Kolhapur at 8:15. My cousin sister's dad had come to receive us. I went home, sitting behind him on his Activa, with a luggage bag. Soon, my cousins, who were going to come there by an auto rickshaw and then buy a cake for my aunt's birthday, came home too. They were exchanging looks as if they had stolen a diamond necklace and had hidden it somewhere.
Confidentially, I asked one of them where they had hidden the cake, and he replied that it was in the storage of the Activa!

We then changed to the comfortable pajamas and tees. At 9:15, we started helping aunt to make sandwiches; the sandwiches were yummy! While having the sandwiches, we were watching an old Bollywood movie--Khel Khel Mein--on the Home Theatre.

Soon, it was 12:00, and you know, it was the cake-cutting time!

In case you're in my Snapchat list or in my Instagram's private account list, you might know how almost everyday I post new pictures, before and after I workout. Many people ask me if I worked at home or in the gym; well, I do it at home. And I do it so seriously! Thanks to this app; I wouldn't be able to do it without this!

So this app is exclusively available in the Windows Store, which means you can not only download it on your Windows phones, but also on Windows 8 (and above) tablets, laptops, and PCs. In Android, you have to download each type of exercises separately; e.g., Abs Workout, Arms Workout, etc.

And yes, this app doesn't have heavy exercises, so it is for those who want to lose weight, tone their bodies, or keep themselves fit.



This is how the screen looks like after opening the app.



Then after the two-seconds buffering time is over, this is the main screen.



These are the different types of exercises that this app provides you with.



Let's get into the first type of exercise, which is Ab, for a better look in the app. All the other routines are locked, as you can see; so if you want to unlock them, you need to purchase them!



Now, you can select for how many minutes you want to work out, under each app. Here, I've selected 5 minutes.



This is the screen after selecting the 5 min and Routine 1 options. As soon as you open, the countdown begins. Initially you get 3 seconds buffer time. As soon as the 3 seconds are over, the timer starts.



Every exercise is for 30 seconds. The video gets played side by side. After every exercise, there's a break of 3 seconds. This continues till the end of all the exercises.



If you want to know at which number you are, you can easily read it here.



Also, if you wish to skip certain exercise, you can always click the arrow marks.



Every exercise has details in the left side. They talk about the target organ(s), and how to do the exercise.



These are the exercises under Ab.



And finally, after you're done with all the exercises under one type, there's a loud applause, and this is how the screen looks like. It feels so good to do all the exercises.


The best thing about this app is that a lady announces the names of the exercise, after every exercise. So if you're busy exercising, you will still know that the 30 seconds are over, and it's time to take the position for the next one.



I hope I inspired you enough to download this app and start working out. x

Hey! If you ask me what my inspiration for working out is, I'm sure to say these quotes are a big source of inspiration to me. I keep them as the wallpaper, and oh my God; they're so good.
Check these pictures out!




























P.S. I apologize as some of the images have dirty words; it is only meant for inspiring you guys, and I don't promote any sort of usage of those words.



Which is your favourite workout quote?
xoxo