Spend less, Live well

I live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. And to tell you the truth it is not that difficult to save and score some good deals. It is not a secret that cost of living in NYC is high but being a little penny-wise surely helps. And I can thank my mom and dad for being great money role models. I was raised by parents who had grown up in a third world country post a liberation war. The values they instilled in me and my siblings were those of living within our means.

For me living large on less is a matter of choice more than anything. I make my choices by thinking about what matters the most to me and why I want what I want. I believe anyone can live large on less. It may not mean the same for everyone but it surely is possible for everyone.

Eleven

Today my little brother is 11 years old. I still remember the day he was born. I was 14 years old, sitting lazily in my last period science class when the monitor showed up with the  little blue slip stating my father's arrival to pick me up. I instantly knew what had happened. I remember the first time I held him, the way his small body snuggled close to my heart and he peeked at me sleepily. From that moment on, I knew that my life has changed for the better. 

Sick

I am sick and its the third time this year! The day I felt a little sore throat come one, I quickly guzzled down a small bottle of OJ and tried to chase it away with with some vitamin C packs. Sadly, neither worked! To add to my misery the weather has been gorgeous lately. And instead of enjoying the sun, I have locked myself in the bedroom to spare the rest of the family from this nasty cold. Hope you are staying healthy.

Earth Day

Since warm weather is finally inching towards NYC, I am spending a lot of time outdoors. Spending time more time outdoors in nature makes me feel more energetic as opposed to remaining inside the house. Luckily, NYC has lots of beautiful parks and botanical gardens to enjoy and explore and one of my favorite is none other than Central Park.

This past Saturday Central Park hosted its annual Family Volunteer Day in honor of Earth Day and I was there along with my family to celebrate Earth Day and beautify the park. We had a great time helping prepare the grounds for the summer season with a mulching project. Even though it was a small effort on our part to give back to the earth, I am sure every little bit helps.

Paley Park

One of my favorite spots in New York City is Paley park. Paley park is a lovely pocket park located between 5th Ave and Madison Ave. It is a little sanctuary that drowns out all the noise of the concrete jungle. Whenever I need a moment to myself or things are overwhelming, I find myself visiting this park to rejuvenate. The beautiful waterfall, ivy covered walls and a serene atmosphere transports me to an oasis away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. If you ever find yourself in Midtown Manhattan and need a place to relax, stop by this park. I promise, you won't be disappointed!

Spring

“You expected to be sad in the fall. Part of you died each year when the leaves fell from the trees and their branches were bare against the wind and the cold, wintry light. But you knew there would always be the spring, as you knew the river would flow again after it was frozen.”

-Ernest Hemingway

                                                ^^My heart and prayers are with those in Boston.^^

Pohela Boishak

Today is the Bengali New Year or "Pohela Boishak". For every Bengali, Pohela Boishakh is an occasion without any equal. It is a colorful festival that not only celebrates the new year but a cultural history of a thousand years. 

Every year on the occasion of Pohela Boishakh my family organizes a big gathering to welcome the new year. All the ladies drape their traditional red and white saree and everyone rejoices with mouth-watering traditional Bengali dishes, colorful fun activities and lots of singing and dancing. A few photos from last year's celebrations.

Start Over

On Monday, I met up with two of my closest friends for bubble tea in my neighborhood.The bubble tea was delicious, the company was great and the weather was beautiful. We talked about our recent life happenings and I told them how the remnants of a horrible 2012 is still haunting me. Over the course of the evening, my friends also brought up their awful 2012 and how 2013 didn't seem to bring any luck.

I came back home and wondered how I vowed to make my life better this year yet I didn't make any big plans or resolutions. I pondered for a while and a thought popped into my head. Why not start over right now? Right this instant! I realized I don't have to wait for January 1st to start over. As I got ready for bed that night, I mentally made a list of things I would like to accomplish and wished myself a wonderful year ahead.

Beggarly Heart

When the heart is hard and parched up, 

come upon me with a shower of mercy. 

When grace is lost from life, 

come with a burst of song. 

When tumultuous work raises its din on all sides shutting me out from 

beyond, come to me, my lord of silence, with thy peace and rest. 

When my beggarly heart sits crouched, shut up in a corner, 

break open the door, my king, and come with the ceremony of a king. 

When desire blinds the mind with delusion and dust, O thou holy one, 

thou wakeful, come with thy light and thy thunder

Rabindranath Tagore

One of my favorite poems by one of my favorite poets. 

Welcoming April

Ahh I can't believe April has snuck upon us quickly! Winter is putting up a really good fight this year so we have yet to experience warmer days. Just to welcome Spring anyway, I've decided to do the impossible. No, I am not going jump off my third floor fire escape and see if I can actually pull a daring Cat Woman stunt. I am going to do some SPRING CLEANING today!  No matter how long it takes, I will scrub every inch of my room, fold every single piece of clothing and throw out all unnecessary bits of junk. A good way to welcome April, indeed.