My idea of a "perfect" love story

I recently caught up with a friend and we were talking about life. How things had turned out differently than we had thought when we were growing up. How happiness isn't what we thought it would be. And then we started talking about happiness and defining it for ourselves, our children and perhaps what our parents thought it was. From happiness we went on to love. Now that was an interesting turn of conversation.

It got me thinking about what a good love story is. I have read so many books over the years. It is funny how what used to make me swoon and giggle, now comes across as childish and unrealistic. 

Classic Bollywood and Hollywood movies with a  good love story were the thing to make my heart race and daydream about my future love life. Boy meets girl, girl flirts, boy pursues and girl finally relents and then they live happily ever after. Sure some stories had some twists but at the end of the day; all is well! 

With time, wisdom and a little maturity, my definition of love and a good love story has changed. 

"Wiser" definition of a good love story:

• A good love story has flaws. The characters are not perfect though, they may come across as such initially. But we soon learn the characters are dealing with some internal struggles too ugly to express. I am watching a really wonderful Urdu drama serial these days called "Humsafar" (Companion) and this story started very innocently and had all the makings of a sweet story. A story about two people who reluctantly entered into a relationship and though they tried not to like each other, they realized with time that they had more in common than previously thought. And after a few episodes of romance galore(which  I relished and ate it all up), the story is now taking a turn for worse and bot parties are now showing their flaws and their ugliness. I kind of know how the story ends up (don't worry NO SPOILERS HERE), but I am really enjoying the ugliness of their love story. because they both still love each other and they both are hanging on to their flaws. Love it! (For updates and more on this really good love story check out their Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/HumsafarHumTV)

• A good love story is imperfect. There are nasty trials and turbulations. nothing is easy and nothing has a solution. But despite that they are together. Even if they can't be with each other physically in the same space, they are together. "The Gargoyle" by Andrew Davidson is such story. I won't go into great details about this book. It is DEFINITELY a must-read. (Here is a short synopsis of the book, http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Gargoyle-Andrew-Davidson/9780307356789-item.html?ikwid=gargoyle&ikwsec=Home) In this book, there is a story of a love which comes from respect and is experienced from afar. Though, they know they can never be together, the one character is content with the fact that he has enough love for them both.

• A good story is about being content. It isn't about being "blissfully" happy all the time. That pink fluffy ever-eluding "happiness" cloud is sappy and unrealistic. No one lives happily ever after but we all find a place of contentment and peace where we can live with out our imperfect love stories. Case in point " The Time Traveller's Wife". She knows what she has and it is beautiful even with all its flaws. http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Time-Travelers-Wife-Audrey-Niffenegger/9780676976335-item.html?ikwid=time+travellers+wife&ikwsec=Home 

I would love to hear what your thoughts are on this. Do you enjoy a perfect love story? Do you like a tragic love story? what rocks your boat???

Thanks again for reading my ranting and raving.

This is how I am stylin' it

I know I haven't been present or accounted for lately! I have had such a nasty cold and things have been going on at home. I have so much to share; just not enough time to get everything to work out.

I did a tiny video on one of my favourite Stella & Dot pieces, the Riviera Mixed Coin Necklace. I love the look and feel of this piece and most of how it sounds...:-) 

Take a look and let me know what your thoughts are. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBxMt1GLZXw

I have so much more to tell and watch this space!

Fantastic Final Thursday Thoughts!

I know I haven't been good about posting recently. I honestly have so much I want to share and talk about. I even have videos lined up. It's just a matter of finding the time t get everything to fall into its right place. I don't want to stress about this blog either, I want it to be a pleasure to read and an absolute pleasure to write.

My Thursday today was like most Thursdays in my life. Fairly routine and fairly calm. But Calm and Routine don't get any mentions or medals. So I am dedicating this post to Calm and Routine.

Here are my Fantastic Thursday Thoughts:

1. Seat warmers are God's gift to all mankind!! It was cold tonight and those seat warmers were a life saver!




2. A pin-drop-silent home was nice today. I got a few things done before running around.

3. Getting some things accomplished and projects finished that had been waiting for a while. FANTASTIC!

4. A really great BodyFlow class at GoodLife Fitness! My goodness, I love it when I can bend to touch my toes.

(here is a great link to what BodyFlow is exactly and honestly it is GREAT! http://blog.goodlifefitness.com/?p=1674)

5. And as always my boys! They are truly a blessing and a blast. I have so much fun with them and I some times forget to stop and really enjoy them and take them in. Life is too short not to enjoy the little things.

Some of my past reads

I have already shared with you my love for books. I can talk for hours about books; good books, bad books, funny books, ALL books!

I happened to be standing at my favourite book place (Costco - not quaint but cheap) and there were some ladies there talking about books. I have this horrible habit; if I have read a good book I have to tell people! (Consider yourselves warned!). Anyways, these ladies were debating whether to get "Girl with the dragon tatoo" or not...(FYI...GET IT!!) and we started talking. 45 minutes later we are still going on and on about recent reads, best reads, reading habits.

This conversation got me thinking about my next blog post. I have been wanting to share some of my best reads here but just not sure about the format. So I figured the best way to do that, was to just start typing and hope that you catch on how deeply I felt about these books and how much they have moved me.

The first one I want to tell you about is "Room" by Emma Donoghue. http://www.amazon.ca/Room-Emma-Donoghue/dp/1554688310 (make sure to watch the video) . I read this over the summer in one sitting! It is a beautiful story that takes place in the most awful of situations. It reminded me again of how innocent children truly are and how it doesn't really take much to take that innocence away.
"Room" is about a boy who has just turned 5. He lives in Room, sleeps in Wardrobe and Lamp is his friend. Ma is in Room with him and has been here for 7 years. Ma wants to leave Room and live in the Outside but he knows that all he needs is Ma. Do what you have to do...but read this one. It is a beautiful story!!

The next book I want to tell you about is "The Time Traveller's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger http://www.amazon.ca/Time-Travelers-Wife-Audrey-Niffenegger/dp/0676976336 . I read this one a few years ago and honestly it appealed to my inner romantic. It is such a beautiful love story about a man and how he does what he has to, to be with the woman he loves. The story stretches across time and we catch glimpses of this couple over time.
I know it was made as a movie as well but didn't get the best of reviews so I never did watch it. The book was so beautiful that I don't need it to be visual. It's all in my head. :-)




The last book I want to recommend today is  my favourite "easy reads". It's the Shopaholic series! These are amazing! The books are funny, sweet, endearing and pretty much shopping logic 101 for most women out there. They are written by Sophie Kinsella and "Confessions of a Shopaholic" is the first one out of six. It is about Rebecca Bloomwood who has a problem and it is that no one seems to understand how her shopping is not a problem at all. Her logic is gravity defying and honestly doesn't make sense...really...well, it does make sense to any woman who has EVER justified those shoes she has been dreaming about..that go with the bracelet that she she has wished for ALL her life...that obviously ties in with the decor in her kitchen...which was justified by the new frame she bought! (true story!) . The six books span over major events in Rebecca's life. She goes to Manhattan Book two) and gets a dream job as a personal shopper at a major department store and meets the love of her life. She later plans a wedding (book three) and all the shopping that brings along. She meets her diametrical opposite who happens to be her sister (book four) and finds out that pregnancy does not have to get in the way of a good sale (book five). And latest addition is about Rebecca's addition, her daughter who needs to curb some budding shopping ordeals.

Honestly, she is endearing and though we may not always be able to justify our own purchases, we can always justify hers!

 I am reading a really good one right and I can't wait to share all the details of this one as soon as I am done!

Happy Reading!

Stella & Dot'ing it!

I know!! two posts in one day...must be everyone's lucky day!! :-)

As I said, I had made different videos, just didn't have time to edit them.

Here is another one that I did on which Stella & Dot pieces I wore to the grocery store. You can shop for these beauties and many more on www.stelladot.com/ayisha. Also I have a Facebook page where I post what I am into on a particular day or what I am obsessing over, www.facebook.com/stelladot.ayisha

Take a look at the video and as always looking forward to hearing what your thoughts are: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-yllHigIN4



Have a great rest-of-the-week!

Impromptu recipe inspired by good old times.

I know it's been a while but with the regular routines and Halloween, I have been swamped with pumpkins and paperwork.

I made this video a while back just didn't have a chance to put it together until now. It has been one my favourite recipes for years. My friend Fauzia used to put it together at a moment's notice and I love the convenience of it. There is no specific recipe for it. But if you have any questions please do let me know.

Click here to watch the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP_W5rZUE7c

Thanks as always for watching and listening. I promise to be more regular on the blog. I have plenty to tell but just not plenty of time. :-)