tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-164380082024-03-07T22:34:29.168-05:00Indigo BubblesBlowing bubbles is said to be therapeutic.
You must take a deep breath and release it slowly in order to create a flawless bubble, so delicate and perfectly round. You hold your breath as it floats away. And then it pops. Now you take a deep breath and make another bubble.Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.comBlogger392125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-18687699971875226812023-04-24T11:56:00.004-04:002023-04-24T11:56:35.005-04:00Portugal - Lisboa e Porto - Travel (Memories and Tips from November 2022)There was no reason to even think about Portugal this year, although we have been pining for a European vacation. We haven't traveled outside of the US for a few years (global pandemics do that every time). It was when one of those travel ads popped up on Facebook that I decided to dig a little deeper. Sure why not? We dug in more - checking flights, hotels and rentals. Where exactly are we goingAshinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-1130726304302325802021-11-07T15:12:00.001-05:002021-11-07T15:12:34.717-05:00Diwali at Home - Laddoos & CookiesHappy Diwali!!
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year!
Here are some links on Diwali and the background. Growing up, Diwali did not make much sense. It was inconsistent, no one else celebrated it and it could not compare with Halloween and Christmas. Mom would make a special dinner, turn on lights around the house and have special pujas/ceremonies. Everyone would call to Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-33279384354537069912021-06-08T21:30:00.014-04:002021-06-22T16:39:36.986-04:00San Juan Puerto Rico Tips and Recap - May 2021This was my 3rd vacation to San Juan, Puerto Rico, but my first travel blog about it. My first trip was in 1995 as a girls trip, staying at the La Concha hotel in Condado, while my husband and I stayed on our trip 2004 at an Isla Verde hotel. This time we stayed at a house in Dorado. Over the years, we've been to resorts in Mexico, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, but Puerto Rico is the one place Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-18959880326053111582021-04-13T16:57:00.005-04:002021-04-13T17:17:19.755-04:00Anne of Green Gables and The Railway ChildrenI'm finally reading Anne of Green Gables thanks to the series "Anne with an E." Somehow, even though this book is exactly in my preferred genre of books when I was young, but I never read it. How did I miss it?It's not that "Anne of Green Gables" wasn't available. I saw it on every spinning book rack at the library. I did read "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," "Pollyanna" and "Heidi" - as they fit Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-25839346828502008552021-03-25T16:03:00.003-04:002021-03-25T16:07:52.042-04:00Movie Review - Bombay Rose <!--[if gte mso 9]>
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Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-48783595303269606032020-01-14T22:56:00.001-05:002020-01-14T23:24:57.847-05:00It's Time for Jeopardy!
“Oh! Oh! It’s 7 pm. I need to go now,” he would excitedly say, abruptly
cutting our phone conversation short.
“Wait, I didn’t finish. I have to tell you something.”
“OK, tell me quick. It’s time for Jeopardy!”
So that’s how the conversations would end. If you needed to
call my father, you’d have to call before or after he finished Jeopardy! If you
called after, you would get a Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-56969505989690357292019-12-08T18:10:00.001-05:002019-12-08T18:25:06.019-05:00Self-Care with Netflix
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Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-79109177351875986672018-12-31T08:44:00.000-05:002018-12-31T08:44:12.341-05:00Packing Away 2018
I need to fold this year
like a blanket that's been loved,
roughed up, spit upon, shat upon,
soaked in tears and green bile.
It's wrapped me up and warmed me with hugs
and spotlight moments where the light shined
through the holes, where it was yanked.
It's the blanket that's been pulled out from under around me
in the middle of the night,
leaving my legs and feet to Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-8450726334710676122017-04-27T23:31:00.000-04:002017-04-30T09:46:37.643-04:00Review of "The Kindness Diaries" - Netflix Series, The Book, and Not-So-Random Thoughts
If there is a travel show, we are watching it. From our comfy
reclining sofa and easy access to snacks, we can freely explore the globe. Generally,
a good travel show will have a goal. It may be to eat the slimiest critter in
the ocean, go to the best massage in Sweden, or find the lost bones of a
forgotten civilization. On Netflix, I came across “The Kindness Diaries,” which
boldly claims the Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-82924847822044492017-01-01T10:32:00.004-05:002017-01-01T10:36:37.704-05:00That's a wrap, 2016!
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Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-59725699930177756132016-12-21T12:52:00.000-05:002016-12-21T12:52:08.732-05:00My Other Blog Site
Just letting readers know that I have my other blog site to check out: Laptop Prophet
Both blogs are active, in addition to Dancing Leaves.
Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-72686059570408692402016-02-11T23:20:00.002-05:002016-02-11T23:20:57.409-05:00Hieronymus Bosch "Garden of Earthly Delights" Interpretation
Hieronymus Bosch, a Dutch painter from the Middle Ages, had painted the "Garden of Earthly Delights". I came across this interactive exhibit of the painting and am obsessed. Why couldn't every painting of significance have an interactive narration like this? They have two options - a narrated tour through 15 key sections, or Freely Explore numerous hot spots on the painting where audio notes areAshinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-1601128540559215692016-01-24T22:50:00.000-05:002016-01-24T22:54:20.130-05:00Portland Visit Reviews
I'm returning from a week in Portland, OR for a business trip and did get to explore around a bit. Here's a recap for future reference.
Where we ate:
Swagath
The first night, we hit Indian food. I was excited since I had been traveling the whole day and just arrived to a rainy and chilly Portland. For me, Indian food is comfort food. Get me some naan and dal, and I'm good to go!
We Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-91342523923144805352016-01-24T10:55:00.002-05:002016-01-24T10:57:21.582-05:00Bowie - Being a Hero Forever and Ever
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Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-56314573324844912252015-02-25T23:18:00.000-05:002016-05-08T10:14:37.011-04:00Impressions of Barcelona (Memories, Travel Tips and Links!)
So life brought us back to Spain two years after our trip to Madrid. I had written about my experiences with Madrid and recommendations for Madrid. We were actually considering a number of vacation destinations such as Caribbean islands and alternately Germany and Czech Republic since it matched work obligations. However, we really wanted to go back to Spain and see Barcelona, which we always Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-91710059286372182812014-11-27T10:05:00.002-05:002014-11-27T10:05:51.506-05:00Postcards from San Francisco 2013
I had last gone and wrote about my trip to San Francisco in 2006. Even though I’ve been to San Francisco two other times, this
visit was much different because my daughter came along. We did more of the
touristy things this time. But, that's ok – we’re tourists and this is fun!
What We Saw
Alcatraz – ok, we did not get tickets. You need to book 3
weeks out at least. I know on Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-3380641316695072212014-01-12T09:01:00.001-05:002014-01-12T09:01:09.716-05:002013 Transforms
Looking back at 2013, it's a year of transformations.
For myself, I started in one place with a specific mindset, but somewhere tracks changed and I ended up in a different place. It's definitely better, but not what I imagined in January.
It hasn't been easy since there were lots of dark moments during the year, and one was especially painful as it was related to a young person close Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-31536356297861350892013-12-29T10:15:00.003-05:002013-12-29T10:18:03.718-05:00Echoes from The Sound of Music
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Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-54264585845974265682013-06-18T23:21:00.004-04:002014-11-27T10:06:08.887-05:00Adventures in Roller Blading and Parenting
She got a pair for Christmas and after few exchanges for sizes and styles, we were all set. We strapped on all the protective gear to knees, elbows and wrists. We figured out how to adjust the skates. We're ready to roll!
At first, she didn't know what to do and asked me to walk in front and be pulled along.
I said, "No way. Move your feet. Push off and glide." Why would we get blades -- so IAshinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-45449015450423814152013-05-27T23:04:00.000-04:002013-06-15T09:49:33.568-04:00"The Great Gatsby" Review
As a fan of Baz Lurhmann's "Moulin Rouge," "Romeo + Juliet" and "Strictly Ballroom," I was excited to see this movie. As someone who's been obsessed with F. Scott Fitzgerald short stories and the 20's and 30's for the past year (reading Anais Nin & Henry Miller right now), I was thrilled to step into this era and writing.
I have to make the disclaimer that I Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-88144288822752017172013-03-03T10:14:00.003-05:002013-06-15T09:50:01.662-04:00The F Word - Feminism
This week we watched the documentary on PBS "Makers: Women Who Make America" and the videos can be found online. It's about 3 hours and I think I only caught part of it, so I'm excited the rest are online. My daughter did not watch it with me, but I'll have her watch this.
For me, I had a feminist awakening in college with my women's studies classes, which clearly defined situations. Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-60778642528056980592013-02-28T21:44:00.000-05:002013-06-15T09:50:14.259-04:00Name It
With Quvenzhane Wallis coming into the spotlight, she brought her complex name into the media spotlight. There's been some discussions about media dubbing her "Little Q" to her directly. This shouldn't be a big thing when Jennifer Lawrence is now J Law, and you have Brangelina. On the other hand, here's one article about the importance of your name and owning it.The author brings forth this Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-12123649653450601112013-02-10T10:15:00.000-05:002013-02-10T10:17:45.165-05:00Lyrics Gone Wild
I started blogging when my daughter was 4 and I captured all those delightful moments of being 5 and a princess. Now, she's on the brink of 12. We're entering a new phase of everything!
She's into the boy band One Direction. I don't mind them - cute British boys with fun haircuts and their lyrics are inspiring for young girls.
One Direction: "What Makes You Beautiful":
You're insecure,
Don'tAshinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-89599725937793388962013-02-10T09:41:00.001-05:002013-02-10T09:42:01.100-05:00Dignity Lost - Addendum
I forgot to add to my other post. There's a great quote by Gold Meir that's been coming to mind a lot recently.
“Once in cabinet we had to deal with the fact that there had been an outbreak of assaults on women at night. One minister …suggested a curfew; women should stay home after dark. I said, “But it’s the men who are attacking the women. If there’s to be a curfew, let the men stay at Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16438008.post-71159408563594356922013-02-02T08:57:00.001-05:002013-02-28T22:16:56.195-05:00Dignity Lost
There have been so many different news stories and issues that I wanted to address, I've been keeping drafts of blogs until I had time to write. This one seems "old" to me already, though it's less than 2 weeks old.
It's been heartbreaking to read the traumatic story of young woman in Delhi who was brutally assaulted and died from her injuries. This experience is what we don't wish on another Ashinihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17634270926867263175noreply@blogger.com8