My New Year's Resolution

It is the most wonderful time of the year.  The spirit of good karma culminates as I sit and look back at the year almost gone by.  It all begins at this time of the year when we re-do our family and personal resolutions and goals. With resolutions I like to keep it short (5 things) and have a daily visual reminder.

For 2016 my resolution are:

1.  Do More Yoga

Recently a very special friend visited after a year and was amazed with how I am getting into shape. My experience with yoga has been illuminating.  30 minutes of yoga gives enough energy to glide past the day. Some of the blogs and site can be helpful and my favorite has been Daily Cup of Yoga

Yoga Mat Bags And Yoga Pillows

2.  Rock the Kitchen

My family loves my cooking and I have been guilty of finding all sorts of short cuts to it.  The smile on their faces to see my cooking has rekindled my passion for creating rocking stuff.

Cooking And Baking Aprons

3.  Go Organic

Just like organic food, organic bedding is made from fibers without chemicals and its not overly treated with chemicals to keep it wrinkle free. On an average we spend 35-45 hours/week in bed and I choose to stay free of chemicals.

4.  Call Mom

My mom is my greatest anchor.  Yet she is the one who gets the least amount of my time.  A simple call or message gives her a world of happiness.  I am going to send her flowers on her birthday and send her a message.

Gifts For Mom

5.  Love More 

Over the years I have come to realize that loving is the elixir of life.  This is a reminder to myself to love more. 

Heart Pillows

I will share my progress with you along the way.  

Long Distance Relationship - Distance Gives Reason To Love More

A few weeks ago my 10 year old wanted to know how her mommy and daddy met.  While I was narrating my favorite love story to her she wondered if its possible to be in love with thousands of miles in between (we lived in different continents). 

It got me thinking.  Distance gave us all the reason to love harder and truer. It was wonderful and tough, exciting and frustrating.  For sure I would never have it differently. But the hardest part was being away during the holiday season.  

We found our way of keeping our love strong. 

Little gifts

We would send little gifts each month.  These gifts were inexpensive but meaningful.  This thought inspired me to create Long Distance Relationship pillow covers at Amore Beauté. I was delighted to see LDR Magazine shared these pillows in their edition on LDR gift guide.

Amore Beaute Pillows For Long Distance Relationship

Watch a show or movie together

You Got Mail - was a special movie for us.  It was the first movie to show the use of internet in maintaining a long distance relationship and it was fun to watch it.  We watched this movie together just like we would on a date.

5 Must Haves For Christmas Decor

Every home has their traditions that especially come alive during the holiday season.  Here are the 5 must haves in my home and I will be happy to share with you.

1.  Fresh flowers and green

Absolutely love it when my husband comes home with flowers and when he doesn't, I just go get my favorite flowers and greens.  Its a great way to bring the holiday spirit without a big fuss. You can team the green with a Amore Beaute felt flower pillow that is cozy and fun.

Amore Beaute Felt Flower Pillow

2. Sparkle With Candles And Pillows 

Some shimmer and sparkle is always festive and welcomes the holidays into your home.  You can choose scented candles to enhance the festive mood.  I usually go for non scented and let the wine and food set the mood for good time with family and friends.

Pillows, Wall Art and Curtains by Amore Beaute

3.  A Natural Christmas Tree

As I live in the tropical area by the sea its hard to locally find a real Christmas tree.  But my family has kept the tradition and we bring ours from the hills in the Himalayas.  A real tree brings in the warmth and an aroma that is unmatched by another holiday decor.  

Burlap Tree Skirt

4.  Holiday Music

An ideal evening is to sit by the fire, accompanied by family, friends and music.  In the next 2 weeks my in-laws will be arriving and I am busy putting together the small details and music for all.  

5.  A warm heart and an attitude to share happiness - that is what the holidays are all about.  Isn't it!

AmoreBeaute October Giveaway Gift

I have regular giveaways on my Facebook page.  It is a fun way to connect with friends and also to get to know new ones.  I have a different gift each time.  This time it was a custom monogrammed wall hanging:

It is a pleasure to announce the gift.  And the gift goes to...

Like, share and tag AmoreBeaute on Facebook to get a chance to win some interesting gifts.  Our next giveaway is coming soon...See you on my facebook page!

Organic Food And Fabrics For My Home

Protect our planet and ourselves 

 

I feel great by going the organic way with food and now fabrics.  Exactly a year back I visited a local farm produce festival and made the switch.



My greatest fear was the hole it would burn in my wallet. But a year later the facts are pretty different - the organic way did up my budget by a small percent but the returns are phenomenal.  My 10 years old girl has almost 100% attendance at school, gold medal at national level Taekwondo Championship and she visited her pediatrician only once.  In the last 6-9 months I have been working at least 14 hours a day and feel great energy with organic food and early morning yoga by the beach.

On seeing the benefits of organic food my family also decided to switch from regular fabrics to organic.  Here are some of the products recently launched in organic cotton.

Organic Cotton With Taupe Grain Sack Stripes

Organic Cotton Bedding With Chippendale Embroidery

Organic Cotton Curtain With Gray Greek Key Embroidery

The touch of these fabrics on my skin or the soft breeze flowing through the curtains energizes me for the entire day.  Most of all I fall in love each day with what I do and with each corner of my home.

Spike Stud Embellished Decorative Pillows And Gifts

With the holiday season just round the corner my shopping list for gifts is close to complete. When I started out with this list, I wanted to get friends and family gifts that are chic, fun and unique. The iridescent metal spikes caught my eye and my girlfriends, mom and my 10 year old daughter immediately fell in love with the idea. Surprisingly, the spike studs got my preppy husband's vote as well. 

Viola! this inspired me to create my line of spike studded home decor products. I collected a range of different stud samples for the new line. First and foremost the studs needed to be smooth and with just the right sparkle to balance style and glamour. 

Each stud is hand picked and stitched on to the fabric with a special needle.  Each pillow cover goes through eighteen, yes 18, quality checks to ensure the pillow cover will become a part of ones heirloom.  

For shipping these chic stud embellished pillow cover there is a special packaging that ensures the studs stay exactly as intended.  The package design has withstood extreme testing over a three week period. My office team even replaced it with our beach volleyball at a recent game.

Here are the pillow covers with spike studded sequin

Spike Studded Monogram Silver Sequin - Available in silver and gold studs for all alphabets.

My daughter wants hers monogrammed in gold and on pink velvet.  

Carrot Cake Recipe

During my ten wonderful years in Japan, I had the chance to live in a small village near Kyoto.  My Japanese language skills always stayed limited.  However, my love for baking and friends transcended all boundaries. I was one of seven members of a group that met weekly to cook and bake.  It was my go to place after a full week of working at a consulting firm. Oh yes! we were a diverse group of women - grand moms, stay home moms and working women.

Here is one of my all-time favorite cake recipes -carrot cake taught by one of the Oba-san in the our lovely group.  The cake is light, moist and stays fresh for a long time, especially if stored in an airtight container.


Ingredients

1. 6.5 ounces flour 
2. 1 teaspoon cinnamon 
3. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4. 1 teaspoon sodium bicarbonate
5. 1/4 teaspoon salt
6. 4.9 ounces brown sugar
7. 4.9 ounces carrot
8. 2 large eggs
9. 1/2 cup (100 cc) vegetable oil

Directions

1. Beat 2 eggs and then add 1/2 cup oil. Beat again.
2. Add sugar and beat.
3. Set the oven at 320 degree  Fahrenheit
4. Mix the grated carrots to the batter
5. Then mix the flour (add gradually) by cutting and not stirring
6. Mix well and then put in the baking dish

Before baking gently tap the dish 2-3 times on a soft towel to remove any air bubbles. Bake at 320 degrees for 35-40 min.

Baking is even more fun with my new monogram apron! 

Baking is fun with this handcrafted monogrammed apron

Spook up your home

Halloween is fun, isn't it?  Get ready to decorate your home with all the ghosts, goblins, skeletons and other bone chilling props.  Here are a few things that you can use during the frightfully fun nights of tricks and treats:

Natural burlap table runner

Handcrafted Boo throw pillow

Cute owl decorative pillow

Beautiful Morning

As the morning light streamed through my window, I just couldn't keep myself in the bed any longer. No, springing out of the bed is not my idea of a morning exercise routine.  I just wanted to look out of my window.  I wanted to soak in every bit of the morning air.  I stood up near my bedroom window and I felt a deep surge of gratefulness.  I have so many things to be grateful for -- my parents (who are visiting me these days), my senses, my daughter...  And I am grateful for the beautiful morning!

Here is a picture that I quickly captured with my phone this morning:

Talking about morning routines, it is a good idea to make yoga a part of your life.  I am still learning yoga from my mother and I am loving it!

I Love Christmas

I love Christmas.  I love the spirit of celebration, decoration, gifting and receiving.  I just love decorating my home with decor that captures the magic of the holiday season with rich colors, glitter and elegance.

This year, you can get a head-start on your holiday preparations and check out my Chirstmas collection at AmoreBeaute for some great decorative pillows, stockings, tree skirts, sacks and table mats to get your home ready for the festivities.

Before you visit, here are a few picture of my craft. Enjoy...

This black burlap decorative pillow with gold sequin accentuates the stag's majestic grandeur

Christmas tree skirt in burlap hand embroidered for Christmas and Holiday Decoration

With this handmade gold beaded Christmas stocking add a little extra sparkle to this year's Christmas decor

Bring home old world charm with these personalized Christmas sacks

Throw Pillows for Smarter Babies

What can a decorative pillow do?  Decorate. Refresh. Renew.  But educate?  When designing this new pattern, I wanted to add one more "skill" to pillow's resume.

Early years in a child's brain development do matter.  Early experiences help change and reorganize a child's brain.  This design with multi-color US map in baby-safe print attempts to provide the right stimuli to your child and the child within you!

Here is a decorative throw pillow that does more than just decorate.  Let me know what you think.

Ivory white throw pillow covers in art silk with exquisite and detailed silver sequin and thread work in a wave form. Inspired by sashiko pattern that depicts swirling sea waves, this handmade white and silver pillow has intricately embellished glass beads and thread work in a wave pattern. It is said that this pattern first appeared in costume of "Seigaiha", a well know Japanese court music and dance piece. 

Colors of life - Posted by our Guest

Seasons affect the way we look at life.  They play a very big role in all our perceptions.  Summer tends to be associated with practicality.  Winter makes us crave for warmth; both physical and emotional.  We enjoy company more than solitary existence.  Rains...ahh!  At least in my part of the world, rain brings us closest to surreal.  Drops of water hitting the earth's surface makes a music so soothing to the ears that one goes in a delirium.

Each season brings with itself a bundle of associated memories.  In this assortment, there are some that make us laugh.  Sometimes a past feeling of embarrassment is metamorphosed into something comical.  Then there are some memories that make us smile.  And some that make us cry.  Not because they remind us of something bad but because they are too good to be forgotten.  Through the seasons of life, we continue collecting experiences, so that we can look back and then laugh, smile or cry.  Probably, this is the whole meaning of living- in all its different hues and colors!

Fuchsia and gold to drive away the weekend blues

I am in the mood to make something bold and beautiful.  This is not my usual color palette.  But sometimes, I do let my wild side come through.  Especially if it is end of the day Sunday.. Created with bright fuchsia and gold, this throw pillow is designed to brighten any space:

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/239108993/decorative-pillow-cover-black-hot-pink

The truth of who you are!

Somebody said "Yoga is the way to experience the truth of who you are!" Is it that profound?  Maybe.  I am yet to achieve stratospheric meanings out of my daily dose of yoga.  I still love yoga-- not for its profoundness but because it makes my everyday life a little better.  Burdened with inexplicable pain, Yoga has helped me be me again.  Here is a way to share my enthusiasm for yoga:

Who am I?

A tough question.  I wondered myself.  Having grown up in different places, having studied in different places, having worked in different companies...different roles...I guess I am closer to the elusive answer.  Closer than ever before.  Is this a dream?  Or a surreal reality?  Do I really care?  The truth is, I am living my dream.  This is me.  This is my passion.