Has it really been 9 years since i've been on here?

I recently decided to revisit my old blogs, this being the oldest. I was taken back to a time when social media hadn't consumed all of our lives into nothingness. I was taken back to a time when I did things like write a blog. I think I will start writing here again. I like this. 

Backity Back..

Oh wow, I really do ignore this place. I feel bad that over the last one year I have lost touch with myself. With work and facebook, who has time for blogs right? lol. I was reading this thing past few days ago, and I was so happy to see its and bits of my life recorded in here neatly, with pictures in some cases. I mean now, this one whole year (and more) that has passed away, I am going to have to close my eyes real tight and dig deep into my mind to recall memories, good and bad. Oh well.

Its been a year and two months since I started my job as a research assistant. It has been a wonderful experience so far, with warm supportive staff and super supervisors. I couldn't have asked for a better place to work at. Moving on to next update: health: I have gained a lot lot loottttt of weight since this past one year. I blame on the lack of activity and my horrendously slow thryoid. My blood work did show that my thyroid function was slow/less, compared to the normal average. I look at my old jeans and lets just say they stop before i even reach my thighs. Ugh. I must mention that I used to be 10 times more active when I was in Buffalo. I used to WALK to college, WALK to buy groceries, WALK to the laundry, etc. All that walking got cut down drastically. I mean as of now, I am taking guarana and green tea extract, I am getting a whole bout of energy in me upon taking these tabs but to no avail. I am not losing an inch. I stood on the weighing scale today, nothing. Gained more if anything. Its been two weeks since I cut down rice, carbs but to no results! I must thank god for my skin and hair behaving well though.

I have turned to almost 80% natural skin and hair products. Even to wash my hair, I have been using gram flour and limiting to shampoo once a week or only when theres like a special need for heat styling. Anywaaays, so thats all for now, a bit of boring update really.

Its been too long

Oh wow, I didn't realize it has been so long since I wrote in here. I was reading my previous entries, and I just saw how writing, even a few words, every day, really helps you reflect back and recall memories. So here I am, 4 months later. Lets see if I can reflect back on what happened these past four months.

March: This was when I had just got back from my trip to Dhaka and so I was just getting into the swing of things at work, slowly but surely.

April: Hanifa gives me vanilla beans her husband bought at Zanzibar. I obssess with the smell for days. Baba leaves for Dhaka to do some renovation work for our apartment.

May: I am taking it easy, semesters coming to an end. I go with Ma to Yeti (kind of interior) and spend the evening there. Love it there:) Took pictures of the fabulous scenery there.


June: Cyclone Phet hits Oman. Thanks to Allah, it wasn't as badly affected as during Cyclone Gonu. Ma works overnight shift the day of and I get upset but pray for her through the night. We made delicious no-bake orange cheesecake.

Too much salt

A few more days and I would have forgotten the address to my own blog! So how have you been world! I must say that now, I take back all those things I said about people not keeping their blogs up to date. If you are working and that too full time, these things start to get annoying (unless your work involves updating blogs and such). Okay, rambling apart, I have been good. Fat, but good. Will get to that in a bit. Work's been going well but I am still in holiday mood. Holiday from where you ask? Bangladesh. I was there for 3 weeks and what an enjoyable 3 weeks it was. I think, its us non-residential bangladeshis, who enjoy our homeland the most because we go there with no strings attached (as in to the humdrum of daily living there), we go shopping, go sight-seeing, picture-taking, belly-filling, etc. to our hearts content. So yes, Bangladesh was fun but now its back to work. I am a little backed up now since spring semester is in full swing but no worries, will get there soon. I have gained soooo much weight. Omg, today I met up with an old high-school friend for ice-cream (whadayaknow) and he goes like ' so you working too hard and not working-out at all'. I was soooo embarassed. I promised myself then (like every week) that from today, I will start my 'healthy' lifestyle routine. I even made a healthy chicken salad sandwich (using yogurt+apple cider vinegar as dressing for ma and me to take to work tomorrow. Healthy beginnings await. Okay, I will be back soon--night world

A present from Hanifa

Sooo I have been totally missing in action forever. Work and lazing around has gotten the best of me. Hanifa had gone to the UK for a short trip during the Eid Holidays and she got me this cute snow-globe like candle. The scent is fig and spice ( I love seasonal candles!) and it holds one tea-light candle. Hanifa is one of those painfully thoughtful people. Its such a nice gesture--shes has much appreciatoin for old-world charm, hand-written letters and hand-embroidered handkerchiefs. That kind.

So M.I.A

I was just reading some of my older posts and realized that it's been a while since I actually wrote in-depth about my life. I think I am becoming more of an objective person with time. My life is so much different from when I used to be in Buffalo. But then again its the same in some ways too.For example, my activities are pretty much the same---I watch a lot of TV when I am free, I browse the web a lot and I am constantly getting up to brew some green tea. But its different because I live with my parents and my sister but I don't mind it so much. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and think I am back in Buffalo, on my always-cold futon mattress, with a sliver of a view of the snow-spackled window. Then I'll spend some minutes in bed (on weekends, of course), eyes closed, thinking of the streets, the food, the grocery stores of Buffalo. Some people might want to come beat me with a stick because I speak of Buffalo in such light. I know Buffalo has the reputation of being a ramshackle city. To me though, it has the reputation of being a homely, rather cold town with friendly people. I made some great friends while I was there and I know that some are friends for life (you know who you are!). Anyways, so thats my nostalgia portion for the night. Last week was the first week after ramadan and Eid so it was (still is) back to the regular schedule of 9-4. Work's been a bit hectic so I can't make time for much exercise and the pounds seem to be piling on. I need motivation to lose weight...I might be going to Bangladesh in December or January, so I might step up by game around then.

I've been eating a lot of chutneys lately. Mint or coriander are my favorites! I mix yogurt, garlic, fresh coriander, lemon juice, cumin powder, salt and pepper and eat it with some rice and beans. Its so zesty and fresh, I love it! Well, I better get going and make some teaaa :)

What Dreams May Come...

Sooo, last night, I saw a dream. A real detailed one and I am going to write about it as much as I can remember. Before I begin, let me tell you that I watched parts of Wolverine: X-men Origins yesterday evening. I say that because I read somewhere that dreams we see are results of the thoughts of that particular day.

It is a bright sunny day. We are in front of a house getting ready to go somewhere. I and some other people are going in a car, a beat up buick type car and there's a blue Colemans lunch box packed with food. We are going to Sydney, Australia. I saw glimpses of some relatives. Then I fall in love with some random person whose face resembled Tom Hanks. We are sooo in love. Then, all of a sudden, all the people who were in the car including mr. tom hanks lookalike and me are in a japanese facility in Japan. The background is now ashen and sombre. Everyone looks naked...everyone has brusies and a scratches on their faces. We are all being biologically altered for future weaponry. I walk around, look at the lines of people, they are waiting for something, blank stares on their faces. I am then informed that everyone's memories has been erased. Until now I am not too sad because I am aware of everything around me and also that my memory is intact, in fact I am happy. Soon, in that line, I see my lover. He too is erased off his memory.I feel immense pain after seeing how blank he looked. I then go to get my memory erased too.


Then, I wake up because its time to go to someone's house for Eid lunch.

Earringss

So I went to Aldo's on Tuesday and bought these earrings!!

More food pics

So for those of you don't know, according to the Islamic Calendar, it is the holy month of ramadan now. It started August 22nd, and will end on September 20th or 21st, I am not too sure. I have been trying my hands at something new almost everyday, depending on my level of energy after coming back from work. Yesterday, I whipped up a pizza and some sticky buns. I used the same dough for both lol. They turned out pretty good, except I like my pizza toppings a little more undercooked.

Soft cheesy garlic buns

So this blog is turning more and more into a food blog. Well, I will definitely write updates about my life but I am a foodies, so all things food tend to dominate.
Okay..so I once attempted to make buns maybe 3 years ago. It turned out harder than hockey pucks and just was wrong wrong wrong.
However, since the last 3 years...my interest to delve into culinary escapades coupled with copious amounts of watching Food Network, has heightened my ability to cook. However, I seriously lack baking skills...its all about luck when it comes to baking for me. Sometimes its good, sometimes its bad. So yesterday, I stumbled upon this blog which had this recipe for pull-apart garlic bread. I was instantly attracted to how soft and buttery the buns looked. I followed the exact same recipe except I added a generous amount of grated mozarella cheese atop of mine along with a sprinkle of oregano and pepper and voila! I have buns! I took pics after everyone finished eating half of it. It looks like a big piece of bread but its actually little buns tightly placed next to each other. Seee....


The taste and texture reminded me a lot of Domino's cheesy bread (this picture can be found at Dan Bruno's photostream on Flickr!)

A fun tuesday :)

Yesterday mommy drove me to work. Yes, I don't have a license (yet) and my mommy and daddy drive me around...still. It's a shame and its a disgrace but trust me, I have this fear of being behind the wheel. I feel like I won't have control. I know those are petty excuses...I will get on the bandwagon soon. I won't say that I've never 'driven' before. I did drive Atanu's car one time from the a grocery alley parking lot (Wegmans)to the school gym (Alumni Arena). I did pretty well. Atanu was and I am sure still is one of those few people who will probably throw a grand pary the day I get my license! Let Ramadan pass, then I'll take my road test. So okay, I totally got sidetracked. Mommy drove me to work yesterday and I kinda finished early so after that we went to the mall where they have Marks and Spencer. I bought a whole bunch of goodies:

1) All Butter Shortbread cookies. See the ingredients

Moving on, a little packet of buttery macadamia nuts. I love these gems. I might save some to put in a cake I bake one of these days.

And then mommy was intrigued by this organic new zealand honey. It has natural looking bubbles at the brim. Organicy.

To end the spulrge, I got this pepper mill. We had one of those mcormick ones that I got from Buffalo but it wasn't refillable, hence this monster.

Total spulrge: $30 (12 Rials).

Discoveries

8/11 was my dear sister, Naima's birthday. Daddy bought cake from our favorite cake shop (since we were 4), the Intercontinental hotel delicatessen. They make the most fabulous cakes and after having tasted a lot of cakes from different countries, I can safely say that, none of them come close to this place. They use the freshest whipped cream and crispy golden roasted almonds to decorate their cakes, not to mention fresh marzipan, hazelnut creme, edible flowers, etc. It's all too good. Why the two cakes? Because this year, we didn't have cake for my bday so my dad wanted to make up for that lol. Like I am 5!! Anyhoo, we had a quiet family dinner at home (we got take out from a continental place!).
So I discovered that some very special people read this blog *blushes*. I have been slacking in updating this blog because I have been so bogged down with work. I am trying very hard to get out the monotonous humdrum of work-eat-sleep-work schedule. And now with Ramadan coming up, I hope to channelize my inner karma and bring it all together well and good. Summer session just ended at the university (where I work) so the campus is all quiet again. Speaking of quiet, the sudden outbreak of H1N1 flu in Oman has struck everyone with severe panic. I read in today's newspaper that it has triggered what health officials have referred to as 'panic absenteeism' among students (and parents of students I am guessing)--- which essentially means they are afraid to to go to school in fear of contracting the flu. My thoughts on this: if you are going to get, you are going to get it...there's nothing you can do about it. Its not going to be pretty but you have to take it in stride. Recently, I've been thanking God so much for things such as a long streak of good health, continuous electricity, abundant supply of water and food and other things that sometimes we start taking for granted. Moving on, Hanifa returned from Zanzibar 2 weeks ago and brought me some lemon pickle and chilli pickle (zanzibari style). They are both delicious, with rice, bread or even biryani. Here's pic:

Stir-fried Mung Bean Noodles

So last night, mom and dad went out for dinner with two friends and as much as I wanted to go, I had a lot of work to do, so instead stayed home! I made a quick stir-fried mung bean noodles. You know the cellophane noodles I talked about once, sometime ago. They just need a little prior soaking in warm water and you're good to go. This time, I flash steamed all my veggies to keep them crisp and crunchy and then sauteed some of the other veggies as a base.


On another note, check out the kitchen counter (or tea counter) in our kitchen, there's enough types of herbal teas to make a Teavana. There's Cardamom green tea (I lurveee this now!), Lavender green tea (thank you Julie!), Jasmine green tea, Green tea with mint, Green tea with lemon, Morocco tea, etc. I have one particular Strawberry Chocolate tea (Its black tea infused with strawberry dipped chocolate flavor). I am not a big fan just because its weird...I mean you want strawberry dipped chocolate instead, right when you get a whiff of it.

In other news, not much has been happening. Work, food, sleep, tv...etc. I have become this crazy sleep lover. I just want to doze off all the time. I dont know it is because I started drinking a bottle of water mixed with one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in it, which I learnt about here. It's supposed to be a body cleanser/detoxifier/metabolism rever-upper/ph balancing wonder food. So far...nothing much has happened other than me feeling reallyyyy sleep right after drinking a lot of it.

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Check out my beauty blog at :

Bangla Makeup

Hello Hello

When life throws papers and research work at you, you make papereserachade?

Okay, not funny. I am losing 'funny' for some reason. Anyways, work has been good. I have been getting sunburnt though going to and coming back from work. Its so hot here, I can't say it enough. All the world's aloe juice, rose water and milk and yada can't beat the burn. I am currently using Neutrogena's dry touch sunblock in 55. If I put a full squirt on, I look purple. Like a duochrome purple lol. So I apply it sparingly to my face and then slather it on my hands and neck. I don't care for getting tan but of course I don't want to get any wrinkles! I see so many people at work not caring enough to apply sunscreen lotion! They say whats the point, would you believe it? Ummm...so what else has been happening? I have to start my 'toning' event soon. I have completely stopped doing all kinds of weight exercises, possibly thats why I gained some weight that I had lost 3 months ago! I am stripped off all energy once I come home. The sun tires you out if not anything else! I am thinking of buying a cross-trainer. Our home treadmill has reached its limit, its been 11 years now since we've had it! I need to get on this soon!!! If anyone has some really effective exercises they know (especially for lower body) do share! Ummm the pic is of me in the car with my mom, we just came back from a lunch at an aunt's place. It was nice :) I have a MAC haul post coming up soon, watch this space xoxoxoxox

I bought a baby TV

So...I have been totally totally MIA. Oh I watched the entire memorial service for Michael Jackson. It was really well put together and most of the people who spoke said some touching things. My favorite performance of the night was 'Smile' by Jermain Jackson. That song and 'childhood' are like two of my favorite slow songs of MJ. Ah, what a loss. Anyways, I bought a TV last week. We already have two TVs in the house and I know its crazy that there is a 3rd one now but everyone is watching different channels all the time! So.Its a Sanyo 21 inches, 'Amazing Slim' TV. Its good for my room since my room is kinda small and I didn't want a huge obnoxious thing overlooking me as I sleep. Yes I have 'big-tv-in-room-so-can't-sleep' phobia. Go figure. Anyways, its a cute tv and doesnt occupy much space at all. I saw a movie on this channel two days ago, called Lonesome Jim, it was nice. Ummmm....so yeah, I have to work now :-/ Ttyl peeps.

Busy bee

Yes very busy. Too busy. No time to even watch TV.
Gah. Its so hot now. I am like getting basted in 'blood orange' shade everyday. Yes, I saw Bride Wars. Love Kate Hudson in it. Her makeup was so fabulous in it! I loved it!

Birthday time!

Sooooo, my bday came and went. I didn't do much.
It has been more of a non-event ever since I was 13! And that's fine by me...
However, yesterday, Hanifa bought me this beautiful earrings for me in a the most cutest scented gift box ever! Okay, this women is a darling. She works here and shes 64 but shes my buddy! I love her to bits already! So thats the picture of the earrings, I can't wait to wear them!
And that tea bag is from one of Lipton's new line of 'real' exotic teas. This one is called Morocco infusion and Hanifa gave it to me as well :)
Can you see the ginormous pieces in the tea bag? There's actual pieces of rosemary, chicory, cinnamon, mint and orange peel and other amazing stuff, I totally have to go and buy me a box of these tea bags! I totally underestimated them when I browsed the tea section at the grocery store. I thought 'meh, lipton and exotic herbal tea? nah' I was sooo wrong. Uhm, Okay enough blabber about tea. I love my tea.
Back to work now...

My new work bag!

Bought this bag this past weekend at Steve Madden. Its spacious, roomy, glossy, beautiful and has a zip-top that I love!
I love it to bits!

Playing-with-the-webcam-at-work

Yes, I do silly things at work. Don't you.
So here are updates:

-I started two different antibiotics for tonsillitis (yuck)
-I hate HATE hate being sick!
-There's these mega HUGE sales at all these stores and I can't go!
-Kuwait had 18 cases of swine flu from US soldiers, now that's sad.
-I had this Omani dessert 'Um Ali' (bread pudding-esque) for the first time at lunch yesterday and I bought some for home too :)
-I am going to dye my hair natural black because now my hair is doing that golden straw thing and I don't dig that look.
-Someone sweet calls me everyday and it keeps me going.