Beyond Cookies

Very often, the response that comes back from other parents (not all) about Girl Scouts is – “Is it the one where kids sell cookies? We don’t like how the kids knock on doors and ask us to buy cookies”. To believe that Girl Scouts and cookies are synonyms is a myth.  Is this lack of awareness about Girl Scouts predominantly exists within my community? I am not sure about it.

I agree that there are some Girl Scout parents and troop leaders out there who are very aggressive and take it very personal on selling cookies so as to out beat others or just to get more revenue for their troop. I know how the people get in a spot when someone asks them to buy Girl Scout Cookies, when they are not interested to buy.  Occasionally these become an awkward situation to face either with the family, friends or at workplace. But, denying buying (if not interested for any reason) might be the best bet than to buy them out of social obligation. It would be a valuable lesson to the scout as how to deal with denial.

It is not a sensible decision not to enroll one’s kid into Girl Scouts just because they have to sell cookies. Selling cookies is just one aspect of numerous activities that the organization undertakes. Yes, Girl Scouts does talk or advertise a lot about their delicious cookies, because that is the cash cow for this voluntary, non-profit organization.

Girl scouts teaches girls to be strong, to lead, to help, to consider, to give back, to have fun and to be responsible – some or all of the basic traits a girl needs. In short, it makes the girls to learn how to be socially and environmentally survive in this competing world. It is much more beyond just selling cookies.

Tickled in Pink

Tuesday, July 30th, 2013.

A day to remember all the sacrifices...
A day to blow trumpets....
A day to smile.

 Telangana Tickled in PINK!!!

Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K. Chandrasekhara Rao garlanding the statue of Father of Telangana Agitation late Prof. K. Jayashankar in Hyderabad on Tuesday. Photo: Mohammed Yousuf
Source:The Hindu

Congratulations to the people of Telangana on endorsement for declaration of State of Telangana.

Luau for Birthday

Choosing a theme for the party and coming up with ideas for constructing the event around it is one interesting hobby for craft ardent people like me.  

I always admire those people for their creativity and their patience to document their skill with pictures and step by step detailed instructions.

So, here I am all set to document the event that has passed by with lots of compliments from guests who were  4 -8 years. old This post is to say thank you for all those bloggers out there for taking time from their mundane chores and sharing their creativity.

Theme of the party – Luau / Hawaii

The party setting at a glance

Party food on the table

Getting outdoors inside

Now in close up…

Helpful Tools:

• 81/2 X 11 inches white paper
• crayons
• paper streamers
• 3M Magic Tape - this is a real magic tape which is easy to take it off after the event and it does not peel the paint.
• Black Sharpie
• Scissors
• Raffia and Ribbon from Michaels
• Favors from Oriental Trading
• Paper Goods from local dollar store

Lei garlands - made from straws and streamer paper were nice accents. 

Palm Trees - Trunk of palm tree was made attaching 4 81/2 X 11 inches paper. Drew parallel lines and colored with brown crayon. Leaves were drawn on paper again and colored with green. Outlines with black sharpie has completed the effect.

Grass was green tissue paper torn by hand into long strips. 

Birds - Printed out some coloring designs from web and colored with pencils

Fringe Streamers 

Hula Skirts - These were the highlight of the party and kids really liked them. The time spent on them was totally worthwhile to see those bright smiles. Idea from Budget101

Music - Hawaiian music gave that true feeling of pleasant, and serene atmosphere. These were picked from local library. Thanks to BirthdayPartyIdeas for this tip. Kids did a freeze hula dance too other than playing these tracks in the background through out the party

Snacks and Treats
     going clock-wise -
        * popcorn served in cups decorated as hula skirt with tissue paper
        * carrots dipped in ranch served in ketchup cups
        * mixed fresh fruit with fruit forks
        * lucky to find theme related paper goods at dollar store :)

Party Favors
Pineapple cups, lei, hibiscus clips, color yourself visors and hula skirt

Games and Activities:
Limbo, freeze dance, coloring visors and free dance to pop music

and there was a blast of fun...

Celebrations and Gatherings

Thanks giving to New year is fun and festive. Here goes the list of things that were fun to do and cool to cherish...

* Paper Flower Center Pieces - Inspired from Zakka Life. They were elegant and adorable on the tables for a family party.

A couple of twigs, a little paper folding, a bud vase and TADAA...!

*  Finger Sandwiches - Recipe from Manjula's Kitchen (Picture is from her blog). Best thing about the recipe is easy to make... and were easy to carry for a pot luck at work...and were delicious...and got to hear nice compliments. :)

Personal Favorite - Pineapple and Pepperoncini.

*  Idli and Peanut Chutney for another potluck

*  Fruit Kebab for Girl Scout Holiday Party - Colorful, Healthy and Fun!

              

Deepavali Donthulu

An allude to Bommala Koluvu on Deepavali to friends and acquaintances always gets me a surprise expressions in response. Bommala Koluvu in most of the times is remembered as an event which is part of either Dasara or Sankranthi. And most of the times I go saying.... "Yes, in our region of country (Telangana) we have Koluvu (or Golu) for Deepavali".
Interestingly "Namasthe Telanagana" paper has published an article this year as how Deepavali is celebrated in this region. Here is the snippet from it which describes the significance of Bommala Koluvu during this festive season.

దొంతుల పర్వం..

ఉత్సవం జరుపుకునే విధానంలోనూ ఒక్కో ప్రాంతంలో.. ఒక్కో విధంగా జరుపుకుంటారు. దీపావళి రోజున తెలంగాణ ప్రాంతంలో దొంతుల పర్వం ప్రత్యేకంగా కనిపిస్తుంది. కుటుంబంలోని కూతుళ్లు, ఆడపడుచులకు అమ్మమ్మలు దొంతులను (చిన్న మట్టి కుండల వరుస) ప్రదానం చేస్తారు. అలా స్వీకరించిన దొంతులకు తోడు తమకు నచ్చిన, ఆకర్షణీయమైన బొమ్మలు సేకరించి ఆడబిడ్డలంతా తమ ఇళ్లల్లో అందంగా బొమ్మల కొలువును తీర్చిదిద్దుతారు. ధన త్రయోదశిగా పేర్కొనే ఆశ్వీయుజ త్రయోదశి నుంచి 5 రోజుల పాటు దొంతుల మధ్య పసుపు గౌరమ్మను లక్ష్మీదేవిగా ప్రతిష్ఠించి ప్రత్యేక పూజలు చేస్తారు. ప్రతి రాత్రి బాణాసంచా కాల్చి.. పిల్లా పాపలతో సంతోషాన్నివ్యక్త పరచడం తెలంగాణ సంస్కృతీ సంప్రదాయాల్లో భాగం.

My snapshots of this year...

         

Say NO to commercial idols

"Go Green or Recycling” - it is a the buzz that’s been going around in schools in the USA and in the world. I don’t think there would be a person from Indian origin in this country who is from Indian origin and unaware of it.

Have we not wondered and marveled about the recycling system that USA has in place? Have we not thought that why in India there is so much litter on highways and park

Being in this country at least we should have learned about how offensive is littering. Yet, its sad that our people are becoming overwhelmed with consumerism and are buying commercial Plaster-of-Paris Ganesha idols for Vinayaka Chavitihi, which are later immersed in streams at parks.

Have we not learned about how polluted Tank Bund (in Hyderabad) has come to? It might not be due to Vinayaka Nimmajjanam alone.But yes, Nimmajjanam certainly contributes a considerable share to it.

Why people are preferring to buy the idol in USA from Indian Grocery Stores, rather than making one from Clay, haldi or flour at home? I don’t 

think that people are buying them because they cannot make it at home. In this era, internet has all the answers and yes, it also has the information on how to make ‘Ganesha from Flour or Haldi’. So what is it driving to buy commercial idols? It might be a tendency of us for consumerism. Just getting or buying the things more than we ever required.

Its the time we learn something from past mistakes and protect the nature from hazardous material if we can. Just to think of it, how could we justify that age old religion as Hinduism encourages pollution.

Its a time to STOP buying plaster of paris idols with hazardous paint.Spirituality is not in offending mother nature.

Acquaintance with today’s Chanakya

I have got an opportunity to meet Dr. Subramanian Swamy over the past weekend. It was much awaited event. As many, I googled and read wikipedia on Dr.Swamy after reading the case of 2G Spectrum.  Ever since I keep following his news and news about him.

There might be very few who would not be mesmerized by his intelligence, charm and knowledge. As Chanakya,  he is an Economics Professor , he is working towards the Unity of Hindus, he is fighting for Corruption which is prevailing at the highest ranks of the Government as Chanakya once did for the betterment of his country.

There are articles and conspiracies challenging for Dr.Swamy’s reasons for his vendetta against today’s ruling party of India. One of them is his disappointment on Congress for depriving him from becoming Prime Minister. Even if it was true, does those reasons really matter? As Dr.Swamy puts it, we need to decipher the fact in his message rather than finding the rational behind his motives.

And the fact is that a mistake has been made which incurred huge loss to the people of India. Dr.Swamy is the reason for today’s awakening among people of India towards that loss. Facts that need to be justified:

• The loss that Indian Government incurred on 2G Spectrum surpasses the deficit declared in the budget.
• The loss that Indian Government incurred on 2G Spectrum if much less than what it has incurred in Coal and Oil resources auction.
• How the Indian Government has passed an amendment and law about Personal Note securities and Tax exemption of revenue from Mauritius investors for their self interested profits
• How the supreme officials of India are making money laundering

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwnZZlt7C_M


All in all it was a privilege to meet such an intellectual. To listen to him in person will always be an enlightening memoir