5 years

This year I completed 5 years of writing here....
I started this blog in the second half of 2010, in south delhi.

p.s.: Aam ka chunda/launjee aaj finish ho gaye. Looking forward for more next season. Love u Ma.

Happy 31st Dec... Thank u God...

Happy 31st December 2015, last day of the year...
Thank u God for everything... May I remember & be grateful for all the lessons I learned...
Love! Hope! Joy!

SCW Saket Mall Christmas decoration 14.12.15

Smartphone: Android (operating) System Update

Updated Marshmallow to version 6.0.1.

Guests

Shanu, Meenu, Bua, Phuphaji n Papa are here. They came here yesterday. Shanu ke rishtey ke liye meeting karne.

Winter : Cheeku (Sapota)

Ate an absolutely sweet cheeku today. Thank u God :)

IDE Update: Android Studio

Updated Android Studio to version 1.5.1

Sister's Birthday

Belated Happy Birthday to dear sis!!!

God bless her...

Went to Delhi yesterday... We all had dinner together...
We gave her a card, bouquet, (sister)mug.

Market work

We (husband n me) bought a beautiful coat (red) for me from UCB, SCW mall.
We bought the book 'the secret' and 2016 planner.
We bought a birthday card for my sister from Hallmark, GIP mall.
Thank u husband for being with me the whole day n supporting me...

Winter : Orange

Ate an absolutely sweet, soft, juicy orange today... Thank u God...

Fruits color

Color of fruits after cutting:
1. Green - Kiwi, Green grapes
2. Red - Strawberry, Pomegranate, Watermelon, Cherry
3. Yellow - Mango, Pappaya
4. Orange - Orange, Cantaloupe, Persimmon
5. Purple - Jaamun
6. Brown - Cheeku
7. Black - Black Grapes
8. White - Banana, Apple, Pear, Guava, Lychee

MUSIC

One of the best things in the whole wide world is: MUSIC
It can lift me up... calm me down... and so on....................
(at least temporarily)
It certainly has magical powers...

Weekend -- Movie

Saw 'Dil Dhadakne Do' with husband on &tv yesterday :)

Life - Experiences

Its your experiences that make your life (beautiful). Choose them wisely.

Winter : Vegetables & Fruits List

Vegetables:
1. Cauliflower
2. Cabbage
3. Beans
4. Shimla mirch
5. Carrots-peas
6. Baigan (bada)
7. Methi

Fruits:
1. Orange
2. Guava
3. Cheeku
4. Grapes
5. Ramphal
6. Pomegranate
7. Apple

One day...

Mobile Application Development Lifecycle

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140701081211-287928457-mobile-application-development-lifecycle-a-bird-s-eye-view-from-discovery-to-launch

http://istqbexamcertification.com/what-are-the-software-development-life-cycle-sdlc-phases/

Create...

Short-term Goal (what, how, when)

Goal: To build the Android App 'IroningTracker'.
Deliverable: A printed report of the App 'IroningTracker'.
Steps/Plan:
1. Iterate
{
1. Prepare a basic design on paper.
2. Develop/Code the front-end.
3. Develop/Code the back-end (to save data).
4. Test/improvize the units.
}
5. Full system testing.
6. Beta run by a set of users.
7. Trouble shoot (if req.)
8. Prepare a report.
9. Roll out the app.

Deadline: 24th January 2016

p.s.: Review your Goal daily. Visualise the completed goal, each morning when you wake up and each night right before you go to bed. This process will start both your subconscious and conscious mind on working towards the goal.

Long-term Goals:

1. To be healthy, live a healthy lifestyle.
2. To love and Be loved.
3. To maintain/manage my home.
4. To create softwares professionally. To learn new things.
5. To pursue my hobbies, to have fun, to relax.
6. To be a good person in my eyes n those of God. (A child of God.)

p.s.: Review your Goals daily.
p.s1.: Be firm yet flexible.

Winters -- Dec.

Went outside for a walk at 7:30pm. It is sooo cold. My fingers have become numb. Will have to wear gloves from now...

Take time to do...

Just Awesome

Ate three awesomely tasty food items today evening:
1. Dry fruits + khajur mithai (aligarh marriage)
2. Nachos
3. Aam papad (banswara)

p.s.: if this isn't nice, i don't know what is.

Brother-in-law

Munmun bhaiya came today for picking up Ansh's gift. He had some other work also in Noida.

Remember how far you've...

Poha

Auntie was absent today... Prepared poha in the morning...

When you say yes...

If you find yourself...

Understanding my energy cycles

http://www.lisamontanaro.com/2011/10/understanding-your-energy-cycles/

Mango Lassi Ice-cream

Our beautiful bedroom (from the archives)

Ma-Papa Anniversary

Today is my parents marriage anniversary.

God bless them with health n joy.

Our Anniversary

Yesterday was our 3rd anniversary.
We had dinner in Saket.
Thank u God.
I gifted Husband a graphic novel of his choice(V for vendetta). He gifted me a cosmetic of my choice(Clarins gentle peel).

Market work

We (mom n me) bought a beautiful shawl (earthy orange) for me from Fabindia N-block on 24th Nov.
We bought an oil dispenser, cereal bowls (home centre) and makeup remover (maybelline, lifestyle) on 25th Nov.
She brought for me the aloe-vera gel we bought from Munnar.

I gave suits, t-shirts, sweater to Sudha Auntie (cook), those which I no longer need.

Pitta

http://www.foodpyramid.com/ayurveda/pitta-dosha/

Sadhaka pitta
https://vataworld.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/emotional-health-and-the-sadhaka-pitta/

To balance pitta:
1. Diet
2. Lifestyle

Fruits - Ayurveda

http://www.mapi.com/ayurvedic-knowledge/ayurvedic-diet/ayurvedic-super-fruits.html#gsc.tab=0

Winter sun...

Such a lovely dhoop after many days :)
Few mothers & children are sitting in a group in the park.

p.s.: Sis is in doha for work. She will come back tomorrow night.

happy cold months (nov to mar)!

Happy Winter of 2015-16!!!

New shops in club house

In past few months, new shops have opened in our club house:
1. Dry-cleaners
2. Village veggies
3. Apollo Pharmacy

Also a mother dairy has opened up in MIG.

House cleaning

Maid (cleaning) has not been coming since Sunday, no news, nothing. She had taken leave for 2 days saying her son is not well and now its nearly 1 week. Don't know what happened. God bless us all.
Sudha auntie (cook) is cleaning utensils.

Tamil Nadu flood

God bless the people affected by flood in Tamil Nadu.
And give strength to people involved in the rescue process.

read on tinybuddha

"Taking the steps to make your dreams come true is a dream coming true in itself."

Skin

Skin pe pink-red itchy spots ho gaye hain... Maybe due to winter-wear... not sure though...
Also, need to follow-up with doctor for hair & nail.

TV - cable

Finally the cable started working yesterday, at the new location. Thank u God. The new setting is spacious. Eating meals at dining table is convenient. Its a dream come true. Thanks to Husband for getting it done from the electrician and cable person. Thanks to Ma too for helping me in getting things done.

Ramphal / Persimmon

While returning back from in-laws place on 22nd, saw 2-4 ramphal thelas on the way. By the time we remembered what it was, we were past it. Maybe some other time :)
http://foodblogga.blogspot.in/2008/11/what-is-persimmon.html

Winter : Fruits

Fruits in my home as of now:
(brought by ma-papa)
1. Apple
2. Banana
3. Pear (babbugosha)
4. Orange
5. Guava
6. Grapes
Yesterday we ate custard-apple (sitaphal/sharifa).

Ma-Papa

Ma-Papa came here yesterday evening after collecting their reports from Max. Pappu bhaiya (sister's driver) dropped them here.
We had dinner at the dining table with everything set and working in the new setting for the first time. Thank u God.
They took off from here today, by taxi. They have to attend Amul chacha's son's marriage.
God bless us.

Just be - Meenu didi

Meenu didi, one of my biggest inspirations. She teaches me that 'you don't have to be this or be that to give and receive love'. You just need to be. Being is enough. 

Be

Just 'Be yourself'. Just be.

Family Sunday Lunch

Parents treated us (Husband, Sister, Brother-in-law & me) at Fio, Delhi... Thank u God for family, love, food, health.

I love myself...

Love yourself because you are, because you exist.

Please yourself. (read this in a book in Haridwar)

My basic makeup

Thank u God.

Zodiac / Star signs

http://www.ganeshaspeaks.com/libra/libra-description.action

http://www.astrologycom.com/masc.html

http://www.starslikeyou.com.au/moon-in-leo/

Dhaniya Chatney

In the morning, Ma prepared dhaniya ki chatney. It is awesome :)

Sister's place

Husband and me went to drop Ma at sister's place. Kaafi traffic tha. Papa has arrived today. He came directly to sister's place. Pappu bhaiya (their driver) went to pick him up. They have a doctor's appointment at Max today evening.

Glass bottles :)

Mom and me made 4 glass bottles colorful... She taught me... Thank u God...

p.s.: If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.

Affirm

Dining n Drawing Room

Today we (Ma, Husband, me) changed the setting of our hall (dining n drawing room). Shifted the television, sofa set, book shelf, dining table set, dining almira, one tube-light. Thank u God.
p.s.: The cable work needs to be done. God bless us.

Dinner

Had South Indian food (Shree Rathnam) for dinner (on 25th).

Ma

Ma attended Swati's marriage on 22nd & came to Delhi on 23rd night. Sis picked her up from the station as Ma had some market work.
She came at our place yesterday. We ate South Indian food (Southern treat) for dinner.
Sudha auntie (our helper/cook) was absent yesterday n today.
Today, Mom cooked poha for breakfast and cauliflower & dal for lunch.

Persevere

Reached Noida

Reached Noida... Did unpacking...

Haridwar: plan change

We were supposed to leave tomorrow 21st. But due to Ma's health and other issues husband decided that its better to leave on 22nd.

Things we can do only in (Indian) winter (nov to mar):

1. Sit in dhoop / Read in dhoop <3
2. Eat lunch outside (in open, in dhoop).

3. Eat gajar halwa.

4. Drink hot soup / hot milk.

5. Eat guavas, oranges, cheeku, grapes, anaar.
6. Eat boiled hara chana (with chopped onion, tomatoes & lemon juice) or as dal or with bread.
7. Light a candle.
8. Put string lights.
9. Go n see decoration in select citywalk mall.

10. Celebrate new year (31st dec).
11. Watch Republic Day parade (26th jan).
12. Go to the World book fair in jan/feb.
13. Can go to Dilli haat.

(Winter : Food)

Things we can do only in (Indian) summer (apr to oct):
1. Eat mangoes.
2. Prepare n eat Aam ka chunda/laungee.
3. Eat shrikhand.
4. Eat ice-cream/kulfi.
5. Drink juices/panaa.
6. Go to a water park.
7. Wake up early just to see/watch sunrise from balcony.
8. Learn n play dandiya, garba (autumn).
9. Celebrate Diwali (autumn).

Went out with husband (Haridwar)

Went for threading today.
Bought guavas... Ate the first guava of this winter season...

Dry moong dal recipe

For 2 people:
- take 1 katori dal.
  wash it.
  soak it for 1/2 hr or 45 mins in 1.75 katori paani.

- in a cooker, add oil, jeera, saute onion, add haldi, salt, lal mirch.
- 1 or 2 whistle.

- serve with chopped onion and lemon juice.

Breakfast Haridwar

Today, I made breakfast (dahi ke sandwich) on my own for the first time in Haridwar... Sabne mujhe shagun diya...
Thank u so much God!

Saree - Seedha pallu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxn6Xd8Bp4o

Children's Day - 14th Nov.

Happy Children's Day :) God bless us all!!!

Things I like doing on my own

1. Coding

2. Clothes, Skin care...

3. Reading

4. Listening to music
5. Watching comedy n laughing (whenever possible)
______________________________
with others:
1. Being with / talking to loved ones

Simple pleasures of life

1. Blue sky

2. Yellow sun
3. Green grass

4. Clean drinking water
5. Chatpata or sweet food, snacks

6. Warm bath

7. Soft little loose clothes

8. Soft warm bed
9. Hugs
10. Healthy body n mind

11. Walking outside
12. Chirping of birds

God

Bhai-dooj

Happy Bhai-dooj :) God guide & bless us!!!

Diwali 11.11.15

Happy Diwali!!! God guide us & bless us!!!

In Haridwar

We reached Haridwar yesterday evening. We are here for Diwali and Saayaansh's 1st Birthday cum function.

God's love

I receive God's love now. I believe I'm loved.

Packing time

Travel Haridwar

1. Clothes:
..., day clothes, night clothes, woollens, socks, 2 towels, a hand-towel
(poly for used ..., poly for wearing churidaar)
2. Footwear:
slippers, casual (wear n go), occasion-wear
3. Handbag(carry), Clutch
4. Toiletries pouch
(including toothbrush, hair acc., safety pins)
5. Makeup pouch
(including nail...)
6. Medicines (keep pudin hara in purse)
7. Accessories
(including bangles)
8. Electronics
9. Mag. for reading, earphones for songs
10. Gift(s)

Dhan Teras

Happy Dhan Teras :)

p.s.: Yesterday there were dance performances (professional) in LB's Diwali-mela.

Diwali @ LB

Diwali in our society.

Club House

Gate

Today and tomorrow is Diwali-mela in our society.

Sister-Sister

Went to meet sister at her place. Diwali-time.

Prayer

Pray: "Lord, please help me to change. Show me the root of my problems and how to get over it. I want positive changes in my life."

Indian Actresses

1. Rajshree: Madhuri, Sonam
2. Bhansali: Aishwarya, Deepika
3. Dharma: Kajol, Kareena, Alia
4. Yash Raj: Many, Sridevi, Madhuri, Kajol, Rani, Preity, Anushka, Katrina, Parineeti
5. Imtiaz: Kareena, Deepika, Alia
6. Mani Ratnam: Manisha, Aishwarya
7. Raju Hirani: Vidya, Kareena, Anushka
8. Subhash Ghai: Madhuri, Aishwarya, Kareena
9. R.Balki: Tabu, Vidya, Sridevi
10. Vishal Bhardwaj: Tabu, Priyanka, Vidya, Madhuri
11. Ashutosh Gowarikar: Aishwarya
12. Zoya Akhtar: Katrina, Anushka, Priyanka

Thank you..

Bank ka kaam aaj ho gaya... Thank u God...
We (husband n me) bought Diwali cookies, choclates (bikanerwala) for Haridwar parents, sister respectively and a gift for Ansh's b'day (mom n me, Gip).

Colors / Colours in clothes

http://www.wikihow.com/Coordinate-Colors

Brother

Brother left today at around 11: 00 am for sister's place.
Tomorrow morning he will return back home.

Brother

Brother has come here today morning for a paper exhibition.
Before this he was in Tosh, Himachal Pradesh for trekking for two days.

Husband - Health

Yesterday, went to the doctor (sec-48) with husband.
God bless us!

Well written

I believe this is true for happiness: if you truly want to experience joy or meaning, you need to shift your attention away from joy or meaning, and toward projects and relationships that bring joy and meaning as byproducts. As the great philosopher John Stuart Mill once wrote, “Those only are happy who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness.”

-Adam Grant

Happy Karwachauth!!!

Yesterday was Karwachauth. God guide & bless us!!!

Husband gifted me a beautiful box of chocolates. We gifted my mother-in-law a suit-piece, kade, nail-paint etc. and dry-fruits(baadaam, kaju). She gave me chocolates & envelope in return.

Mehendi

Husband took me to Sec-50 market for mehendi application, as tomorrow is Karwachauth.
Thank u God. Feeling blessed.

Tips:
- Eat banana. U don't need to wash hands for that.
- Market is crowded. Go early.
- Schedule a movie to watch after mehendi.
- Apply oil while or after removing mehendi.
- Apply nail-paint.
- Wear darker clothes.
- Click pics while, on & after mehendi.

Inspiration - tinybuddha

How to Start Dreaming Again When Others Have Discouraged You:

1. Do the five-minute coffee shop ritual.

2. Do the ten-year check.

3. Do some gut-living for twenty-four hours.

But just by following these three core strategies I was finally able to figure out what I loved again, and then have the guts to go for it—no matter what other people said.

It started with me having the courage to dream big again—to live with my intuition (even if only for twenty-four hours to start).

Full article: http://tinybuddha.com/blog/how-to-start-dreaming-again-when-others-have-discouraged-you/

Pictures time

Yesterday husband & me saw pics from our Rameshwaram trip :)

Mangal Baazaar

Husband bought vegetables from Mangal Market. I arranged them in the fridge.

Earthquake

Felt earthquake tremors in Noida... Rushed downstairs...
Came to know centre was in Afghanistan.... The magnitude was 7.5.
God bless the people who r injured or have lost their loved ones...

In Noida

Reached Noida safely yesterday night... Thank u so much God...

SimpleDateFormat : Android Notes

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11629137/how-to-convert-given-date-into-readable-format-in-android
http://www.java2s.com/Code/Android/Date-Type/Getareadablestringdisplayingthetime.htm
http://alvinalexander.com/blog/post/java/simple-way-format-java-date-so-humans-can-read-it
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/1009239/Learn-Date-and-Time-in-Android

Dusshera

Yesterday was Dusshera. After Dusshera Pooja at home, we went to South Avenue Mall. Then to Tauji's place.
Navmi night there was jaagran in the Durgaji temple near our home. Clicked this pic from our terrace.

p.s.: I'm eating Gujiyas made by mom on Ashtami :) If this isn't nice I don't know what is.

SQLite Date and Time Functions : Android Notes

http://www.sqlite.org/lang_datefunc.html
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5669473/sqlite-select-date-for-a-specific-month
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/650480/get-month-from-datetime-in-sqlite
http://tips.androidhive.info/2013/10/android-insert-datetime-value-in-sqlite-database/
http://www.mysamplecode.com/2011/10/android-sqlite-query-example-selection.html

Navmi - Navratri

Aaj ghar mein Durgaji ki pooja aur havan hua...
Jai Mata di! Goddess bless us...
Yesterday night we went around to see Durgaji jhankiyan and lighting...

Happy Ashtami !

Happy Ashtami!!!

Jai Mata Di!!!

Using NumberPicker : AndroidNotes

http://android--examples.blogspot.in/2015/05/how-to-use-numberpicker-in-android.html
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/18464571/getting-float-double-from-numberpicker

Ma - Health

Went to the doctor (Bombay Hospital) with Ma.

God bless us!

God bless me... I need you...

Ma - Health

Mom is feeling weakness.... She has not been keeping well since she came frm Bhopal on 10th Oct... She had high fever, cough & cold... Other symptoms have reduced but weakness is still there... May God bless her with good health n happiness...

To get Day of week from DatePicker : Android Notes

Thank u so much for this:
http://kodejava.org/how-do-i-get-day-of-week/

Testing : Android Notes

Best practices for testing:-
https://developer.android.com/training/testing.html

weightSum & layout_weight attributes : Android Notes

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7452741/what-is-androidweightsum-in-android-and-how-does-it-work

Drawable resource for Button : Android Notes

Android button selector-
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14023886/android-button-selector

http://tips.androidhive.info/2013/09/android-layout-rounded-corner-border/

Drawables in general:
https://guides.codepath.com/android/Drawables

Android app : IroningTracker

Just ran the app IroningTracker on my smartphone for the very first time. Its in a very basic form. Just one screen, partly done. Feeling joyous.
Thank u Durgaji.

p.s: if this isn't nice, i don't know what is.

Today, a baby bird came in our garden. I think it recently learnt to fly. Her mother was around. Mom n I were so happy to see it.

CalendarView : Android Notes

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11949183/calendarview-clickable-android

Styling : Android Notes

Amazing link:
http://chiuki.github.io/advanced-android-textview/#/

Styling checkbox:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3965484/custom-checkbox-image-android
http://www.learn-android-easily.com/2013/05/customizing-checkboxes-in-android.html
http://androidexample.com/Custom_Checkbox_With_The_Use_Of_Selectors_And_Shapes/index.php?view=article_discription&aid=80&aaid=104
https://navaneethant.wordpress.com/2013/10/05/change-the-default-checkbox-style-in-android/

Color Palette : Android Notes

https://www.google.co.in/design/spec/style/color.html#color-color-palette

Gravity attribute : Android Notes

The gravity attribute:
Use the gravity attribute to position objects within a larger container. This will only work if the container is larger than the object it contains.

For example: We set the gravity attribute within the LinearLayout container to center. This pushes all its child views into the vertical and horizontal center of the screen.

This and more at:

http://www.101apps.co.za/index.php/articles/android-s-gravity-layout-gravity-padding-and-layout-margin-attributes.html
and at:
http://alvinalexander.com/android/how-to-center-android-linearlayout-components-gravity

Thank you

Today papa called me in office.
Mr. Sachin Diwan had come from bank.
They gave me a letter and two forms.
Looking forward to bank work being done.
Thank u God.

Update : Android Plugin for Gradle

Updated Android Plugin for Gradle to version 1.3.0.

The Android build system uses the Android Plugin for Gradle to support building Android applications with the Gradle build toolkit. The plugin runs independent of Android Studio so the plugin and the Gradle build system can be updated independently of Android Studio. Note: When you update Android Studio or open a project in a previous version of Android Studio, Android Studio prompts you to automatically update the plugin and Gradle to the latest available versions.

To determine what revision of the plugin you are using, check the version declaration in the project-level build.gradle file.

IDE Update : Android Studio version 1.4

Updated Android Studio to 1.4

Android Development Book

Accomplishment (Creativity/Learning):
Completed 14 Chapters of the Android Big Nerd Ranch Guide today :) :)

p.s.: if this isn't nice, i don't know what is.

Happy Navratri! (13-22 Oct)

May Goddess Durga give us strength, courage. May she empower us. May she bless us.

Jai Mata di!

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