The Classic Monopoly Board Game is now specially made for your little one’s favorite cartoon character – Peppa Pig! Same classic board, easier rules. Find out what’s different in this in-depth Monopoly Board Game Review of the Junior Edition!
Who is Peppa Pig?
Peppa Pig is a cute British animation series centered on an anthropomorphic pig family. The show is named after the main character who is roughly 4 years old and revolves around the life of a 4-year-old girl and her interactions with family and society. From visiting grandparents, taking part in playgroups, and playing in muddy puddles (Peppa’s favorite thing to do), we witness a typical 4-year-old girl go through life lessons from acts of kindness to friendship.
Who will like Peppa Pig?
Young children ages 4 & up
What’s included in Monopoly Junior – Peppa Pig Edition box?
1 game board
1 die
Chance Cards
Game Money (Paper)
Character Figurines
Peppa Pig Tokens
What are the rules/instructions for Monopoly Junior?
The instructions for Monopoly Junior are fairly simple. At the start of the game, each player picks a character. Like classic Monopoly, we throw the die, take the given number of steps, and perform the action. Unlike the classic Monopoly where you are given Location cards, the Monopoly Junior eliminates location cards and replaces them with Peppa Pig token cards that you will simply place on your location as per your character. Jail is referred to as “Time Out” here. Another difference is the rent for each location is the same as the purchase price mentioned on the location. The game ends when a player goes bankrupt and the person with the most money wins!
Monopoly Board Game Review Peppa Pig Edition
Being someone who grew up playing Monopoly in my childhood, I definitely took it as a personal responsibility to introduce my daughter to the world of Monopoly. Obviously, things like rent and the lack of location cards are a bummer. There were definitely some missed moments that I personally enjoyed in classic Monopoly like holding the location cards made of thicker cardboard with me on purchasing a location or the ability to build houses and hotels. That said, this is the JUNIOR edition and is made for younger kids. And I can definitely say that my 5-year-old enjoyed this game thoroughly.
There are quite a few skills that your kids will learn with this board game. Here are some of the things that I believe kids can learn from this game.
How to count
How to buy stuff
How to handle money and keep it safe
How to pay up for expenses
And finally last but not the least… How to deal with the mean spirit the game evokes in all of us when losing money!
Figurines Of The Peppa Family
My daughter loved this game mainly for the Peppa Pig theme. I was initially unsure if she would grasp the game with ease. But navigating Monopoly Junior is a breeze and I highly recommend it for kids aged 5 and up! She loved owning a piece of Peppa’s world and quietly enjoyed the independence she gained from managing the game money. On the whole, I would say Monopoly Junior was a super hit in our home!
My Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
While you’re still here, do check out my book review for “Meet Yasmin” by Saadia Faruqi – another gem recommendation for younger kids! You can buy this incredible must-read book for your preschooler/kindergartener here!
Are you on Team No-Soap or Team Soap when it comes to your Moka Pot? I am Team Soap, and I say you can clean a Moka Pot with soap.
Can you clean the Moka Pot?
Before we even get into the discussion of whether to use soap to clean a Moka Pot, let’s first look at Bialetti’s cleaning instructions for the Moka Pot. Bialetti recommends cleaning the Moka Pot with only water. No Soap. You read that right. NO SOAP.
When cool, separate the top section from the base, wash in warm water, and dry thoroughly.
It’s best not to use detergent when washing the aluminum models as it can taint the aluminum and, therefore, the coffee. However, a mild detergent can be used to clean the stainless steel models if you prefer, and a liquid chrome polish can be used to keep the stainless steel looking new.
Do not use steel wools or abrasive products, as these will discolor or damage the surface of the pot and its parts.
Now that the official instructions are made clear, I read this old discussion on a Reddit forum a few days ago. This discussion is exactly what spurred me to write a post about this very topic. Just the thought of not cleaning anything, let alone a Moka Pot without soap, was blasphemy to my ears. I am by no means Flylady or Marie Kondo. But the least I will do is clean my dishes with soap.
Apparently, cleaning a Moka Pot with soap is as big a discussion as pineapples on pizza! Who knew?!
Can you clean a Moka Pot with soap?
Yes! Even if Bialetti or the entire nation of Italy says NO, please clean your moka pot with soap. I don’t care if you are called sacrilegious for going against the holy rules of Moka-Pottery, but you need to clean that Moka Pot for three main reasons:
Old Grounds – Residual coffee grounds stuck in hard-to-reach crevices of the Moka Pot can turn rancid within hours of use. Not cleaning with soap allows the oils from the rancid coffee to mix with your fresh coffee. That would be a big NO in Coffeepedia.
Oxidization – Moka Pots tend to oxidize over time. I do not want anything but coffee to make it into my mouth. The coffee from an oxidized pot tastes different and makes your coffee turn bitter faster. As it is, Moka pots over-extract. The last thing I want is strong and bitter!
SOAP – This is a personal preference. I like the thought of brewing espressos out of a clean Moka Pot that has been washed with soap. Purists can argue and say I’m ruining the flavors. That may be true. Regardless, I will never drink coffee out of a Moka Pot that has been rinsed only with warm water and a rag!
How do I clean discoloration on the Moka Pot?
Purists! Leave this page NOW!
Discoloration of the Moka Pot happens, and it is totally normal to see spots and oxidization over time. Also, if you happen to have hard water, you will notice this sooner than a few weeks. This oxidization is harmless, and your Moka Pot is safe to use with discoloration.
Can you use vinegar to clean a Moka Pot?
There isn’t anything in this world that cannot be cleaned by the magic of plain old distilled vinegar. I like making a solution – 50% vinegar, 49% water, and 1% soap. All you need is a drop or two of soap in warm water and vinegar. Fill this solution in the bottom chamber. And let it sit for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the oxidization. Scrub with a mild scrub brush or sponge. No SOS or Brillo pads. Rinse. Dry immediately.
What Not To Do When Cleaning A Moka Pot
Italians and coffee purists might consider my entire article as a “Do Not”. However, this is one instance where I ignore tradition and choose science. Nothing will happen to your Moka Pot if you use some soap. Just make sure to rinse thoroughly with water and dry the pot thoroughly immediately. Make sure the parts are dry completely before reassembling. Keep in mind there are some things you should NEVER do with your Moka Pot. Here are a few main ones.
DO NOT put your Moka Pot in the dishwasher – The machines will strip your Moka Pot and corrode the material to the point of no return.
DO NOT use metal scrubbers – While I want to keep my Moka Pot squeaky clean, I do not recommend using metal scrubbers as they not only scratch your pot but also alter the flavor of your coffee.
DO NOT descale often. It’s okay to have oxidization for some time. Do not use vinegar on your Moka pot unnecessarily. Once a month is acceptable.
DO NOT use heavy-duty soap. Just regular Dawn or a mild detergent will do!
DO NOT use more than a drop or two of soap. Just a small drop will get the job done.
DO NOT let your moka pot dry naturally. Always DRY immediately.
In Conclusion…
I use my Brikka every day, the best Moka Pot to date. I am a coffee fanatic – meaning I own quite a few coffee devices, and I welcome your suggestions to try new coffee or a new device! Read my article on which Moka Pot makes better espresso – Brikka or Classic Moka Pot here. I like to clean my moka pots with soap before every use. It puts my mind at rest, knowing my pot is not harboring mold and other fun stuff. A drop of soap will not hurt you or your coffee. Also, I love pineapples on pizza!
Are you stuck between Brikka vs Moka Pot? Which Moka Pot should you buy? I’m breaking it down for all newbies of Moka Pots in this blog post!Here’s my in-depth Moka Pot review in comparison to the Brikka!
Moka Pot is a simple stovetop brewing device invented by Italian engineer Alfonso Bialetti who named the Moka Pot after the Yemeni city Mocha. The Italians have cherished this device, and owning a Moka Pot is a time-honored tradition and staple of the Italian household.
Moka pots are made up of 3 main components – the top chamber for the brew, a perforated funnel basket for the grounds, and a bottom chamber to hold the water.
The base of the top chamber holds a safety gasket that ensures that the unit is tightly closed to allow pressure to build up in the lower section. A little nut inside the bottom chamber acts as an indicator for the amount of water to be filled.
The steam produced in the bottom chamber makes it into the basket, where it combines with the coffee grounds and is released into the top chamber due to the built-up pressure.
Moka Pot Review – How I got into Moka Pots
As a coffee enthusiast, I switch my coffee routine from time to time. We were doing the pour-over three months ago. 2 months ago, we rotated over to an espresso machine. Last month, we were back to brewing on stovetops.
When I bought my Moka pot a couple of years ago, my mind wavered between buying the Brikka or the Classic Moka!
The Moka is an affordable choice, while the Brikka looks incredibly better and claims to offer better crema. Purists everywhere didn’t write about the pitfalls of the classic Moka pot. They would much rather mock the brewing capabilities of the person making the coffee than bash their beloved Moka Pot!
Moka Pot Review – What I like about the Moka Pot
As someone who loves tradition but also loves to switch up gears when modern mechanisms prove to be simply better, I decided to invest in both for a complete experience. The coffee lover in me would not have it otherwise! Without further ado, let’s dig in and find out which one is better!
Economical – Firstly, Moka pots usually run anywhere between $20-$30, making it an affordable option as far as brew devices go.
Space-saving – I like that you can wash it and put it away once you are done with the Moka pot without taking up significant kitchen real estate.
Aluminum – The Moka pots are made up of an aluminum body that conduct heat very well! Although, this is also a reason for bitter cups if over-extracted than the given recipe!
Design – When the Moka pot was designed, it was way ahead of its time and still stands as a uniquely designed object to ever make it into the kitchen!
Portion – Because of its size, you can produce even and portioned out cups of coffee.
What I don’t like about the Moka Pot
Steps – As much as I personally enjoy brewing on the Moka pot, the number of small steps to brew some coffee in a Moka pot may not be something a regular coffee drinker might enjoy.
Ease of Use – There have been times when I have wanted to put the bottom chamber on medium heat and then go about filling the coffee basket with grounds to save time. Of course, screwing on the top chamber after this would be next to impossible because the bottom chamber would become extremely hot, making it challenging to handle, thereby not allowing an option to cut down on brew time!
Over-Extract – Moka pots have always been known to over-extract. Over-extraction is not for everyone as it can lend a very strong and sometimes bitter brew. While I thoroughly enjoy the more potent brews, drinkers of French press and Kalita Waves may not be a fan of over-extracted coffee! This is how the Italians have designed their devices to brew and is a rather personal choice!
Cleaning – If you’re a coffee enthusiast and don’t mind some extra cleaning steps, you might enjoy using the Moka pot or Brikka. Of course, this is not something everyone wants. So if cleaning is a deal-breaker, the Moka Pot may not be for you! Also, cleaning with soap is a topic for discussion another day!
Brikka features a dual-pressure valve system that regulates the water pressure to produce a thicker, rich espresso. The Brikka also has a small opening on the lid, allowing air to incorporate into the brew, producing better results.
Speed – Brikka brews significantly faster than a classic Moka. The Brikka makes a cup in under 4 minutes which is a good and comfortable time for making coffee.
Design – I own the Brikka in Matte Black. It looks terrific on my stovetop. Moka pots tend to have a classic look, but the Brikka means serious business when it comes to design.
Texture – The Brikka brews a thicker and stronger brew than a classic pot. Also, I love the amount of crema that forms on top. There is only one second between the first large bubble that forms after the crema and the coffee getting burnt. You must stop before that first bubble for the best tasting brew! How you manage to stop before the first bubble is something you will figure out in time! The residual heat in the pot will continue to form a foamier crema, which we want when making lattes.
Caffeine – Because the Brikka tends to over-extract, you are looking at higher amounts of caffeine than the classic. If you prefer more caffeine, this is perfect!
What I don’t like about the Brikka
Parts – The classic is still the more popular and widely bought model of the Moka Pots. The parts for replacement are readily available for the classic over the Brikka.
Pressure Valve – The newer model of Brikka does not have the round safety valve of the older model, which was considered faulty and prone to explosions as is expected of a classic Moka pot too! This is more of a fear than a limitation that any device with pressure is prone to explosion and is something you must use with caution.
Which one should I buy?
Both the Brikka and Moka have their limitations and advantages. However, the ultimate decision lies with how you like to drink your coffee. If you are looking for strong espressos with rich crema, it is hands down the Brikka!
I am also personally biased to the Brikka as it produces rich crema, is stronger, and creates the perfect shot for making lattes and cappuccinos!
In terms of design, they are both nearly identical. They are also both functional and space-saving devices that have a similar brew process. One makes an authentic espresso, and the other is the founding father of Italian coffee. Choose the one that makes every brew worth waking up for!
PS: If you love reading about coffee, I strongly recommend this post on coffee slang.
Meet Yasmin Book Review – Authentic and Refreshing!
I couldn’t tell the last time I was this excited about a book from the children’s aisle. Welcome to my blog, where I’ll be sharing my thoughts and insights on the popular children’s book “Meet Yasmin” by Saadia Faruqi. “Meet Yasmin” is a heartwarming and empowering book that follows the adventures of a young Pakistani American girl named Yasmin as she navigates her way through everyday life. From exploring her neighborhood to solving problems and using her creativity, Yasmin’s character inspires young readers to be confident, brave, and curious. In this blog, you will read my Meet Yasmin book review and why I think this book is a must-read for children of all ages, as well as for parents, educators, and anyone interested in promoting diversity and inclusivity in children’s literature. So sit back, grab a cup of tea, and let’s dive into the world of Yasmin!
Inclusivity In Reading
As we strolled through Target a few weeks ago, I headed to the book section to find a book for Aadya to read over the weekend. There was nothing new – just the usual superhero and rambunctious little kids in school type of storybooks.
As I walked to the farther end of the aisle, I noticed a blue book for early readers. A gem in the haystack. A gem I recognized as my own. I felt an immense sense of pride in seeing a book with a picture of a little girl that looked like my very own daughter.
What’s the book about?
Say hello to Yasmin! Meet Yasmin by Saadia Faruqi is a book about a curious, spirited American-Pakistani second-grader who goes on little adventures and solves her life’s little problems. The series of books take emerging, early readers through various aspects of Yasmin’s life in four parts – explorer, painter, builder, and fashionista. In addition, we all get to learn Urdu words and other Pakistani things in bite-sized morsels!
Art – This is what struck me the most about the book. Hatem Aly’s art transcends the typical glitter and pink – stereotypical of books featuring a little girl protagonist. The art features bold colors and is in sync with the transitioning emotions of younger children.
Story – Straightforward storylines that take inspiration from simple adventures and explore the various emotions of an elementary school kid in 4 parts of the book. Each part is split into 3 small chapters that are easy and fulfilling for those dipping their fingertips into the world of reading! Full marks for relatability and language!
Language – The reading level of this book is perfect for early readers that are able to read 8-10 word sentences and comfortable with punctuation. The sizing of the font and the spacing of art is perfect for transitioning readers to go from picture books (reference: level 2 or 3 of first little readers) to regular book reading. The text is just the right amount to push your child to the next level.
Final Verdict for the Meet Yasmin Book Review
On the whole, my verdict for Meet Yasmin is a MUST READ for all elementary school kids – boys and girls – to explore emotions, to feel a sense of relatability in terms of problems, and a fun way to learn about Pakistan!
Little curds are shy. They make their first peek in the first week of June. A little late to bloom but here nevertheless. Will this tiny bloom make it through the raging temperatures of July and August?
cheddar curds of cauliflower – a glimmer of hope in trying times
This is our Cheddar Cauliflower a.k.a Orange Cauliflower. We planted 4 of them in April. This specific plant is growing to win. The orange cauliflower resembles cheddar cheese curds and grows bountifully in spring and fall. The sweetness of spring makes them cozy up in their leafy green and lends to a rounded, sweeter cauliflower. The hotter months make them bolt to the sun.
This particular variety is not as common as its whiter cousin. The orange hue is caused by the presence of beta-carotene and renders a creamy, cheesy touch to any dish without the lactose effects of actual cheese. Cauliflower plants (white, orange, and green) are great for making soups and roasts. These orange varietals are an absolute element of surprise than the rather usual white cauliflower.
This cauliflower is my positive ray of hope in a world shrouded with pain and suffering at the moment. Every time I walk by my garden, I talk to my plants. But particularly this one. She makes me believe that there is always hope. And hope is a good thing.
Now I wait to see this seedling grow into a burst of sunshine from my home garden.
In this post, I go over my own experiences with my child when we first began reading and how I overcame roadblocks along the way. Check out my toptips on how to encourage your preschooler to read in their beginning stages!
Tip #1: Talk To Your Child
As a first-time mother and someone who had never spent a lot of time around kids before I had my child, one of the biggest challenges I faced was just how to talk to babies. There are plenty of parenting classes offered by medical professionals and companies. But not one of them tells you how to talk to a baby.
They will tell you generic things that don’t necessarily teach you how to do it. They are simply tips like spending time with the baby, talking closer to their face, etc. But nothing on what exactly to say to a baby. Something as simple as that can be daunting for someone who has never had this experience before.
Tip #2: Use Visuals Over Words
When my daughter started reading 2+ years ago, I felt confident in teaching her to read. What I learned eventually is that children guide us and not the other way around. For some reason, I thought those simpler baby books were not good enough for my daughter. My expectations for her were high and I assumed books with text and minimal images were enough. No need to focus on visuals and use over-the-top expressions. Wrong. Focus on visuals and use over-the-top expressions. Obviously, this was something I would learn eventually.
Tip #3: Buy Simple, Age-Appropriate Books, Not Pulitzer Winners!
How do you even get a toddler to sit through a book? While I tried to force Pulitzer-winners on her, she veered towards “Where is Baby’s belly button?”. She picked up books I detested with a passion. The ones that literally have no story and are only describing things – “These are baby’s eyes”, “This is a house”.
A phrase I like to use quite often about my daughter is “Oh, you’re a brand new model. Only 4 years old on this planet!” The reason I say this here is because children are fairly new to existing on this planet. Their understanding of things is still in the rudimentary stage. They do not have years of training and sculpting as we do. Those over-the-top expressions and fewer words help them grasp information in their still-forming brains! As simple as that!
Tip #4: It’s About What Your Child Wants. Not What You Want!
We all know by now how my Pulitzer plan worked. Simply put, my goals had to change. It was much more than engaging her with award-winning books. I had to figure out what she wanted. I lured her with the belly button book. She returned. I picked books with simpler language. She stayed. I let her explore pictures instead of reading and pointing out letters. She interacted. Simple. The message was loud and clear. She wanted to read the things she liked. Not the other way around. My daughter was interested in exploring together. She had taught me how to talk to her. Her reading books was an organic eventuality waiting to happen.
Tip #5: Allow Your Child To Pick Their Books
I spent time with her allowing her to pick books she liked. She picked the same books over and over again. Kids love repetition and being in charge. They feel a great sense of pride in making their choice and that’s the only way it should be! At least for the most part!
Tip #6: Finally, You Can’t Force Them To Read
Now and then, I pick a book I like. Books that will spark a conversation. If it’s glitter and unicorn and pink splat that gets her attention, that’s what we’re reading. If it’s rockets and ninjas and cops that get her attention, then that’s what we’re reading. At the end of the day, the only thing I want in return is the book’s ability to get my child excited and eager to talk about it!
To conclude — It doesn’t matter if your child reads at ages 2 or 8. What matters is that you can never get your child to do anything they don’t want to do. Nor do you have to! Provide the necessary resources and allow for things to naturally happen.
A book that I highly recommend. Check out my review!
Books that my daughter loves in order of reading level.
Sight Word Readers – Believe it or not, my daughter started to read these at age 2.5. She could easily connect words by looking at pictures. The Sight Word Readers invited her to the world of reading. Until then, she loved read-alongs with me. But these truly graduated her into a reader.
First Little Comics – As a little kid, I remember being attracted to comics over novels. The cartoonish illustrations and tiny blurbs helped my little mind grasp the information easily. First Little Comics has super cute pictures and delves into concepts such as opposites, emotions, etc. Excellent for true beginners!
Bob Books Set 1 – These books have high reviews among parents of beginner readers for a reason. Bob books are simple books that have an actual little story unlike others that pretty much describe a picture. Each page has 2-3 words max. Each word is mostly 3-letters long. They also have a great rhyme scheme. This helps in engaging the reader. If you are looking for beginner reading books with a story to them, these are pretty good!
Step into Reading Level 1– Any book from Step into Reading has a nice story. They are typically 32 pages long and introduce different concepts with each book. They also indulge your little reader with rhyming sentences. Captivating illustrations and catchy phrases make these an awesome addition to your little one’s collection!
First Little Readers Level A – Anything from the “First Little” series is a win in my opinion. This set comes in 25 little books with short 2-word sentences. They introduce and use repetition to help children learn a new word with each book. These books are great for little ones that are already starting to read! Reading is a lot of fun and should be more about exploration in their beginning years. It should be about less about what your child is capable of and more about what they want to do. If your child wants to read, load them up with books! It is important to provide them with a positive experience as the beginning years will be a foundation for their reading habit in the coming years. The last thing we want to do is traumatize our child with our over-the-top enthusiasm!
Hope these tips help you as you embark on your child’s journey into reading! Happy Reading!
The holiday season is great for a couple of reasons. One is definitely putting up the tree and decor. And the other is the countdown to the next year! Last year, my daughter brought home a gingerbread man cookie she decorated in her preschool. I loved it and instantly knew I wanted to start a new family tradition (one that is an old tradition though). I wanted to decorate cookies every year with her.
I am not a serious baker. I am the occasional home baker who can bake decent breads, mean chocolate chip cookies, cobblers and cakes. But I’ve never been one for decorating mainly because it requires a lot of patience and takes time. Decorating cookies for Christmas is great though because you do it once a year and then go back to baking your favorite cookies that don’t require the fancy decoration. So this year I started a whole new tradition of decorating cookies for Christmas with my daughter. And I can promise you it is a lot of fun.
Here are some pictures of the cookies I made. We also decided to throw in some princess-y cookies because my daughter is obsessed with fairies and princesses now. And the totally random plane and rainbow with a very July 4th vibe!
Oh did I mention this is my first time decorating cookies ever?!
On a side note, I really wanted to finish this post by adding a few thoughts about holiday waste. Celebrating holidays are fun and important! But grandeur is not necessary to get the most of out of your holiday.
Gingerbread house – First of all, this is my opinion. They don’t taste very good. They are also super wasteful. I have never met anyone who actually loves to eat the gingerbread house with a passion. Yes, they are cute and can add to the christmas-y vibe. But the same can be achieved by placing a fake gingerbread house in your home.
Live trees – Just why?! I am someone who loves traditions that have a purpose and also don’t disturb the environment. Why people will go through the hassle of hacking live trees every year is beyond me. I’m assuming they had this tradition back in the day when towns/villages were less populated and they genuinely needed a reason to hack trees and make more space to develop the towns. I’m not sure this makes sense anymore.
Lights – This is a touchy subject for many. Although I have never had a massive display of lights, I’m also equally guilty of putting up lights myself. The amount of electricity we waste every year just to make our homes look pretty in the holidays is wasteful. If you really must have lights, Amazon has some great solar lights that add the same cheer minus the energy waste. There is also no need for timers and reminders to turn on the lights.
Christmas Cards/New Year Greetings – I used to think seasons greetings were the best thing ever. As an adult, I love making cards myself because it gives me a chance to do some artwork. But the amount of paper and unnecessary use of postal (both local and global) services we go through during the holiday season just to send out 7 words “Merry Christmas and a happy New Year” to people we don’t visit often seems like a terrible idea.
Christmas sweaters and PJs – First of all, sweaters are used for a maximum for 1 or 2 months here in California. Unless you live in the North Pole or anywhere that gets extremely cold, it seems like a crime to buy new sweaters every year. Also, don’t get me started on the cute family PJs just to open presents and click family pictures on Christmas Day!
I could go on and on with what is wasteful. But the point I’m trying to make here is “let’s be mindful of our choices”. If there is anything we have all learned and experienced this year from the pandemic, it’s that we have to assess our choices every single time. You can still have the best decor and display in town. Just make sure it’s reusable and less wasteful.
Note: My favorite Christmas tradition is solving a jigsaw puzzle on Christmas Day with my family. What’s yours? Leave them in a comment!
A decade ago, I received a clock from an old employer/colleague/friend as a gift for my wedding. A simple clock in a rustic distressed wooden frame with a madhubani-esque design. Little did I know at the time that it was inspired by Madhubani art. Of all the expensive gifts I might have received during my wedding, this simple clock remains one of my prized possessions.
Tracing the art’s origin to Mithila (now Bihar), the Madhubani art form has remained relevant through the years all the way back from the times of Ramayana. With prominent eyes, pointy noses and the use of natural elements such as lotuses, fishes, peacocks and other animals, the characteristic Madhubani art is used to put forth powerful messages or stories with these intricate designs and bold depictions of gods and goddesses. The women of Mithila typically decorated their homes and walls using natural materials such as twigs, sandalwood, kumkum, dyes from flowers such as indigo and turmeric to create their works of art. Thanks to modern technology, we are now able to practice this art form using any art medium we want.
This pandemic has been a horrendous place so far. And we could all do with some wellness therapy to deal with the lows of this period. Art is a great way to get just that right in your very own home. I love turning to art to channel some of the bottled up anxiety, anger and frustrations. It has not only soothed me and helped me move to a better place. It always rewards me with the greatest gift in the end – an amazing piece of art to adorn my walls just like the women from Mithila.
Here are some of my baby steps in Madhubani. I have drawn inspiration for my art from various other artists.
Maa KaliGoddess SaraswatiRadha KrishnaGoddess Lakshmi
Deepavali/Diwali is India’s biggest festival. It is our Christmas. It is the festival we wait for all year long. People all over the country and abroad save up to spend lavishly on Diwali every year. Be it on sweets, clothes or fireworks. This is a festival that is grand in every respect. The name literally means Deepa for lamp and Oli for light. It is a festival that dispels evil and brings in joy. This year, especially, has been shrouded in darkness and we could all definitely do with a festival that brings in light and dispels darkness.
Diwali in India is a time when calories are at an all time high. The amount of food we eat during this period is so much that we even have an herbal remedy called “Deepavali marundhu” that is made on this special day to combat the after effects of eating such high caloric foods. One of the biggest reasons I I love this festival besides the lights is because it gives me a chance to not only have good food but an opportunity to make certain recipes that I wouldn’t make on a regular basis otherwise. No Diwali is complete without fried snacks and sweets in my home. Here are some of the amazing Diwali snacks and sweets I made this year!
Mul thenkuzhalThenkuzhalDoodh and Chocolate pedasKaju pista roll
