Wordless Wednesday #71

The above picture reminds me of, "Fifty Shades of Grey."

Nah, not that movie!

The different dimensions of life that we encounter on a daily basis.

We could define it as challenges, disputes, dares that lead to a forced ultimatum during the day. But, we survive the day and go on to see the sunrise next morning.
Phew!

The various shades of clouds in the above picture reminded me of those dares, and how we overcome it by dusk.

Speaks volumes about us!

Mantra for today: Man is strong, man is firm to be able to see the sunrise and sunset!



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Review of Matches Made in Heaven by Sundari Venkatraman

MATCHES MADE IN HEAVEN

by

Sundari Venkatraman

Sneak Peek

A collection of 13 romantic short stories based in India; a culture rich country steeped in tradition. Inspiration struck me from newspaper articles, TV shows and hearing people talk. The short stories are based on that fact that arranged marriages thrive right alongside love matches in India.

1. Groomnapped is Ameya-Surekha’s story as a light romantic take on the serious issue of groom kidnappings. 

2. Dark skin on a woman puts off men in general or so says the society. Beauty Is But Skin Deep is Nitin-Simran’s story that proves it wrong!

3. Ritu is twenty-five and wants to wait for her Prince Charming but her parents are desperate to arrange her wedding. Does she find her prince in An Arranged Match?

4. Dating Agencies are doing their best to get young people together to tie the knot. My friend Diti runs an informal one; inspiring the Red Rose Dating Agency. 

5. A guy’s complaint about his fiancée of a few years dumping him after becoming successful in her film career felt like a rant to me. Chahti Hoon Tumhe is an ode to the successful actress. 

6. Soumya actually lives life like Soul Mates but how many have the guts to? This, incidentally, is the first short story that I ever wrote.

7. Does Madeinheaven.com help bring Menka & Jeetu together with technology driven Matchmaking website? 

8. I originally wrote Rahat Mili for an anthology; Rahat means ‘relief’ and is a name too. Read the story with the word in mind and it will fall in place.  

9.  Reema’s Matchmakers brings Arjun and Prisha together at a get-together through a matchmaking network. But will they get married?

10. Nikita wants Krish for a friend and not her husband. As The Reluctant Bride she manages to have her cake and eat it too.

11. Shweta Ka Swayamvar is inspired by the practice of Swayamwar in ancient India of choosing a husband, from among a list of suitors, by a girl of marriageable age. 

12. Pappa’s Girl is about daughters of Industrialists taking over fathers’ businesses.  

13.  Mythology romances intrigue me; Love Match For Velan is my take on Lord Murugan falling in love with his consort Valli. 

My Review

Matches Made in Heaven is a collection of short romantic stories by Sundari Venkataraman. Each of them is unique trying to cover the different ethnics of the continent, yet surprisingly all were speaking the same language of compassion, lust, fondness and friendship when it came to expressing love.

The story that caught my attention was, "Soul Mates" It is the story of today, a tale that every household will be experiencing eventually since we are going global in all aspects. The statement that made me agree in unison with the character, Soumya, "You allow Chinese noodles and Italian pizzas into your kitchen. You grow and adapt your palate to different cuisines. You dress differently and use imported lipsticks and perfumes. You listen to rock music, and you dance western style. These are but physical expressions of globalization. The true spirit of globalization is Universal love."

Loved it!

Although each story had its unique touch, I would have appreciated if the font, spacing in the e-book would have been large and spaced out for better reading.


Love is not just a noun, but when used can become an armor and help man of any color unite. It is a dialect spoken by all living creatures, and it, when embraced, can only give a happily ever after! Thus recommending all to read it.

Buy @

Amazon.com | Amazon.in | Amazon.co.uk | 

Amazon.ca | Amazon.com.au

The Story told in visual

Meet the Author

Sundari Venkatraman has authored four novels and a short story anthology till now, Matches Made In Heaven (anthology) being the latest. The Malhotra Bride; Meghna; The Runaway Bridegroom; Flaming Sun Collection 1: Happily Ever Afters From India (Box Set) andMatches Made In Heaven have all been self-published on Amazon under the banner of Flaming Sun. The three novels are regularly seen on Amazon’s Top 100 Bestsellers’ Contemporary Romances list. The Box Set and Anthology are bound to catch up soon. 

A great fan of Mills & Boon romances over the past four decades, Sundari has always believed in ‘Happily Ever Afters’ and all her books promise happy endings. 

Matches Made In Heaven is a compilation of thirteen short stories – all romantic – based on many situations anyone can come upon in their day-to-day lives. The stories revolve around the different ways a couple can get to meet and tie the knot in a culture rich country like India. Those reading the stories will definitely be able to connect realising that one of the situations has definitely been a part of their lives. 

You can stalk her @

               

           

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Prom around the corner--Stay stylish with Promtimes

With Prom around the corner, wanted to highlight a site that offers good deals and great designs for all those girls wanting to look their best on their special day!

 Promtimes.co.uk

Prom is a popular culture and is an important event for high school students. 

Prior to that D-day, girls usually schedule tanning sessions and appointments for manicures and pedicures. While they browse through magazine and window shop for dresses and the accessories. 

Now, all of these preparations costs money, and time. 

There is a site that can save both!

This site offers prom dresses, that are not only beautiful, yet reasonable, and with just one click, it will be delivered to your doorstep.

Check out this awesome website 

 Promtimes.co.uk

About Promtimes:

promtimes.co.uk offers a broad range of prom dresses at affordable prices.

What to like about this website:

www.promtimes.co.uk offers a unique collection of dresses.

Some tips on selecting the prom dress: 

Pick at least a size larger than the usual.

Prom dresses run at least one size smaller, just like wedding gowns.

Keep an open mind. Look for lots of different styles of dresses online.You might love clothes you never thought you'd wear. Give it a try!

Think of the styles and colors that look good on you and then search for them on this site and order them, accordingly.

Try to order dresses according to your body type, don't order something just because you liked it.

Attempt to order the prom dresses in the fabric that will enhance your beauty, if you are a bit overweight don't order skinny styles rather order something a bit loose.

Do check this website for beautiful dresses and make your selection, today!

promtimes.co.uk 

Mantra for today: The present has all the action, live it, and make ravishing memories!

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Disclaimer: 'have been compensated for the above!

Awareness of PACS1

Ever heard of PACS1?

Neither did I until I heard from my blogger friend, Kerri, who was trying to spread awareness about it cause her kid; Bridget was recently diagnosed with it. 

She is "just" the 20th child in the whole wide world to be diagnosed with it. 

Kerri's maternal instincts knew that Bridget had an unknown syndrome. Her blog name was "undiagnosed but okay!"

But she was unwilling to just “wait for science to catch up”. Thus, one beautiful day, Kerri and her husband went to a geneticist to review their history, family history and tested out for 3-5 genes that could be the potential of the problem. 

Bridget had multiple tests. It wasn’t until they took a leap of faith and went to a private MD where her DNA (called Exome sequencing) was viewed strand by strand. That testing showed that the PACS1 gene was mutated. The mutant PACS1 mRNA in zebrafish embryos induces craniofacial defects most likely in a dominant-negative fashion. 

Until her daughter was "finally" diagnosed. After which she changed her blog name to, "diagnosed and still okay!"

What a brave soul. I commend her!

Upon searching the database, they found 19 other children suffering from this syndrome. 

Thus, making this awareness worldwide crucial. More so for the doctors to be aware of this syndrome so that they test for PACS1 as part of their array and avoid parents of these kids to undergo the trauma of going through the lengthy measures of the insurance company and wait up for approval of the many scientific boards!

Today, as Bridget joins the 19 other children on the road of hope for recovery as the flaw has been recognized.  

Let's join hands with these 20 families to spread awareness so that no parents are left anxious and in the dark when their child is showing symptoms that a doc cannot identify.

It is a prayer and wish of every mom when she talks to her baby in her womb to go and conquer the world, no matter what!

Today, as Bridget and her 19 friends from different parts of the world walk along hand in hand. Let's back them with just a mere support, while appreciating their existence and striving to make a better, and safer (fingers crossed!) haven for them. 

Mantra for today: Nothing is impossible when humans unite under one front!

Reversal of roles..

On 14th of February,  St. Valentine is commemorated in the name of courtly love. Little did the Romans realize that the world will celebrate that date with grandeur and glory.

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.

Charles M. Schulz

This day observes second biggest celebration after Christmas where sales of greeting cards reach a record height since couples express their affection, fondness, and yearning for each other.

Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone - we find it with another.

Thomas Merton

Love, compassion is at its peak on this particular day. 

The minute I heard my first love story, I started looking for you, not knowing how blind that was. Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along.

Rumi

How did it happen that their lips came together? How does it happen that birds sing, that snow melts, that the rose unfolds, that the dawn whitens behind the stark shapes of trees on the quivering summit of the hill? A kiss, and all was said.

Victor Hugo

In order to make it a special day, couples either choose to dine out, find the most exquisite spots or ideas to romance just to make it unique.

 I think a role reversal can also help create a magnificent evening. He cooks, cleans, and serves while she gets the bouquet, the booze, light the fragrant candles, select the background music, and then after dinner swirl on the dance floor hand in hand while taking him down memory lane with pictures clicked over the years or just everyday incidents.

Let's be frank, we are living in a male dominant society, and giving charge to your spouse/better half/ mate/ partner for one day to make the choice for an evening that she would desire could tell a lot about you! While you get to plan the meals and know how to execute it on the table. Voila! Impression and memories are made.

“It takes four men to dress a salad: a wise man for the salt, a madman for the pepper, a miser for the vinegar, and a spendthrift for the oil.”

anonymous

As it takes two to tango, the Valentina and Valentino can continue to enjoy this date that is centuries old thus helping them highlight their gray strands, which could be fifty or more cause of the stress a relationship could endeavor. The above action could bring a particular closeness when trying to wear each other's shoes thus leading to enjoying the actual fifty shades of grey in unison!

An ordinary evening that started with humble understanding, just to make it a memorable day, can make the couple touch or reach many avenues in their relationship. Understanding, Longanimity are some of the nouns that get into the grey cells of the couple, as they reminisce about their past while promising to make a bright future for themselves.

Mantra for today: Love is a gift that requires a barter of caring, affection. 

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This post has been written for Baggout Blogging Contest on Valentine's day. Baggout provides awesome deals on Flipkart, Myntra, Jabong, Snapdeal, Amazon, and 100+ other online stores.

Do Memories haunt you?

I have been breathing oxygen for about forty plus years, and that little sponge material on my north floor has captured, saved, seized many incidents of my life that I have experienced so far...

The falling from my two wheeler in front of some teen boys and not only tearing a muscle, but those jeers that followed. The drive with my dad to a store, and being hit by a truck, which lead to our car stand in a vertical position and then being pulled out before it caught fire. The break of a glass window in a moving car where the shattered glass was all over me. The bitterness, anguish feeling when I could not get a perfect score that I had anticipated in my academics. The loss of a friendship when she backbit. The scene of my dad laying still, and me coming to terms with his death.


Alas! Memories!

These flashbacks whether sad or evil will continue to ache my heart and make me weep when I come across similar objects in my day to day life. But, I will not stick to any memory that allow it to haunt me! 


“There is enough strength within you to overcome anything in life.” 
― Lailah Gifty Akita, Think Great: Be Great: Beautiful Quotes


Honestly speaking who has the time for it?

A proverb, "Laugh and the world will laugh with you. Weep, then you weep alone!"
Since we are social animals, we need the company of humans, thus might as well continue to tread the path that life unfolds rather than brood over our losses or griefs.


“I am more than my scars.” 
― Andrew Davidson, The Gargoyle

Sure, grieving helps, but it also helps us stay grounded. Thus, next time when you get distressed over an incident, count your blessings. While you momentarily grieve over that agony, apply balm over your pain to help soothe it, and carry on!



Mantra for today: Man is an intelligent being, and should not hold himself back over a hurdle. 

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FTSF is here. There sentence for today is: "The Memory that haunts me"
Join in the fun!

Wordless Wednesday #70

This appetizing plate made my bile juices secrete in abundance. However, when I went to bite into it, all the layers came falling down.

Obviously! The human mouth can open only up to two inches. How could I possibly ingest it without pulling it apart?

This multi-layer burger allowed me to ponder over life and the many comforts it gives. But, ultimately, man just needs the necessities that could be translated as a mere burger patty, a slice of cheese; tomato; and onion. That could be deciphered as food, shelter, water, clothing.

Mantra for today: Abundance is enchanting, but ultimately the man can still survive with the necessities.

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