Gift Ideas for Family to Carry from USA

Three years ago I wrote a blog post on gifts from USA for family back home and shared ideas on what to buy from America for family members in your home country.

I traveled to Bangkok and India again few months back and this time, I have some more ideas on what to carry for families.  And this time, I have divided the gift suggestions into categories and some quick notes.

The day I prepared dinner for my family - for the first time

It had been a month and half since I came to Bangkok and had not cooked anything special for my family except baking cakes a couple of times.  So yesterday I cooked the entire dinner from appetizer to dessert for my family for the first time.  I had major butterflies in my stomach if they'd like my food as much as others always did, but the dinner turned out great.

Rajasthani Sattu | Badi Teej Sattu

I have observed people from my Marwari community here in the US celebrate our Rajasthani festivals like Teej and Gangaur with so much zeal.  Last year for Badi Teej Sinjaara about 90 women had a get-together at an event hall, we had potluck menu that was pre-decided and selected from (I took Pav Bhaji), a henna artist was called to apply henna on hands, some of my friends planned a game for everyone to play together, they performed a group dance, and we all had so much fun in those 4 hours of our Teej Sinjaara event!

Make Paneer at Home in Various Shapes

I have rarely bought paneer from the store ever since I started making paneer at home three years ago, buying only if I do not have sufficient time.  And the many people who make paneer at home, I have seen them mostly make their paneer and cut into cubes to use in their recipe.

But guess what?  The benefit of making paneer at home is that you can actually shape them any way you want, not just cubes!  I totally make use of that to my advantage and make paneer in various shapes to use in the different paneer recipes.

Basic Bakeware Needs for Beginners | Baking Tools and Essentials

Someone who was looking to start baking recently asked a question in a group what the best bakeware is, where to buy from, and whether to opt for a hand mixer or the stand mixer?

That made me go back in time and ask myself, "how did I start baking?"  And when I asked readers on my Facebook page if they'd like a post on the basic baking tools and they responded affirmative, here is a post that I hope will help other beginners.

In this post am going to share a little background of how I began baking, things I learned over time, pictures of baking tools I have, a list of basic things you need (and do not need), and some suggestions.  My aim is to give you valuable information under one roof, so I will be editing this post often as I think of more tips, ideas, answers to questions, and some more pictures as I stock up on more things.

Scavenger Hunt Idea | How to Plan a Treasure Hunt for Birthday, Anniversary, Valentine's

After I shared the treasure hunt surprise on Alok's birthday, I thought of following up with a post on how to plan a treasure hunt but never got to it.  Over the past year, I received several queries from readers for birthday scavenger hunt ideas and asking how to plan scavenger hunt clues.  While I replied to some individually, a recent email by a reader Dhiya finally encouraged me to write a post and make it easier for everyone.  This is going to be a long, LONG post but a helpful one for sure.

Scavenger hunt (aka treasure hunt) is so enjoyable, that you can plan this fun game for various occasions.  While I played the scavenger hunt on my husband's birthday, you can most definitely plan one for your anniversary or for Valentine's.  If you have kids, you can play a treasure hunt on your kid's birthday, either with only your child or along with your child's friends if you throw a party as such.

failed attempt: chocolate chip cookie batter - what to do?

I have made chocolate chip cookies more number of times than I can remember.  But some days, I still screw it up.  Every other ingredient would be measured correctly, but some days in order to experiment the eggless chocolate chip cookie, I add more egg substitute than required.

One day, I added more liquid to my chocolate chip cookie dough than necessary.  Instead of a thick dropping consistency kind of dough, my chocolate chip cookie dough became thin and runny.

Uh-oh.  I have got chocolate chips and walnuts too in the cookie-dough-turned-batter.  What should I do now?

make your own cake board - easy, quick, cheap, yet presentable

Just thought of sharing a simple how-to: to make your own cake board at home.  These pictures are from February 2012.  When I baked a cake for a couple that was moving to another place, I wondered how I would take it for them that evening.  I did not want to carry it on a plate and cause extra work for them to rinse and send the next day.  I did not have a cake box, a cake carrier, and had no intentions of investing in one ... so I came up with cake board that will also be easily disposable.

effortless, cheap, simple, and quick cake board

gifts from USA for family back home

Booked my tickets first from California to Indonesia, and left the rest of the flights and dates to Thailand and India for later.  Now it was time to go shopping.  Last time, several readers gave great ideas for gifts to carry from USA for families and friends back home.

{{{ UPDATE - March 2016 {new post} Gifts for family to carry from USA }}}

Alas, I'm a "last-minute expert", so most of the shopping was pending until the last day, which always turns out hectic and more expensive.  It is smart to start shopping and collecting items to gift over the year - whenever you find a good deal, a useful coupon, or during the main sale days (Thanksgiving, Labor Day, etc).

Anyway, here are some gift ideas I am sharing with you (stuff I really took) in case you are looking for ideas and things to take from America for your families and friends.

Birthday Surprise for Husband | Scavenger Hunt Idea for Husband's Birthday, Father's Day, Anniversary

Alok liked the fortune cookie idea on Valentine’s earlier this year.  Something told me men like mystery.

He likes giving me (unnecessary and unasked for) solutions to problems I don’t even have.  Something told me men like solving issues.

Put those together – you get treasure hunt (scavenger hunt).  And men love it.  And that’s what I planned for his birthday.

While I was explaining to him in our room that I would give him his birthday gifts in the form of treasure hunt, suddenly the timer on oven started beeping.  I asked him to quickly go check on the cookies I had put to bake, hoping they did not burn.

He opened the oven and there were no cookies.  Because his first gift and clue to the next was inside the oven and I had intentionally set the timer.

And here, the treasure hunt begins.

Rajasthani Teej Sattu Decoration Ideas

The Marwari festival of Chhoti Teej just went by yesterday and Badi Teej is coming up on 4th August 2012.  Lots of preparations begin early, starting from teej saatu decoration planning to Teej dinner menu planning.  I know hundreds of people out there must have started searching ideas for teej pinda decoration and decorations of teej ka sattu.

Two weeks back one of my sisters-in-law surprised me with her e-mail sending me all Teej sattu designs she made in the past.  Since there's still time for me to make my saatu for this Teej 2012 (my saatu decorations for teej 2011 are here), today I thought of sharing her photos here so that those who are going to make saatu and celebrate Teej get a headstart.

Food Photography: Makeshift Props on a Budget – By a Beginner, For the Beginner, Part 2

Another food photography post, as promised after the previous (Food Photography: Light), was long overdue.  But a comment today triggered me to write one.  Because while all the “great clicks” and “looks tempting” type of comments blinds your eyes, there comes a person who opens them, pushing you to do better.

With all due respect to the realistic commenter who gave her constructive criticism (about my photos not being as good as another blogger's), there are some things about comparing one blogger’s food photography with another, that as an amateur food photographer I’d like to share.  I know it’s normal to compare, but there are several factors that make a difference.  Props collection and creative vision, for starters.

Valentine’s, Birthday, Anniversary Gifts and Celebration Ideas & More

Last week my husband arranged a surprise for my birthday. Last month we celebrated our first anniversary. And two months ago one of my brothers-in-law asked me to suggest some ideas for Valentine’s Day to surprise his wife. Yes, I wondered if he started planning two months ago for Valentine’s – how much more special would he make his anniversary celebration!?

Unlike my husband & I – we only think & plan for future events, but usually get to actually working on it just a week before the D-day!  How many of us Google up for gift & celebration ideas for Valentine's, Anniversary, Birthdays, and other such significant events?

Basic Kitchen Items to Bring from India

“What all kitchen items should I bring from India?” my friend, who is getting married next month and moving from India to US, asked me.  I said everything ‘Indian’ is available in US, just twice or thrice the price, but while I gave her some options, I thought there may be more people having questions on what kitchen items to take from india to usa.

Especially those moving to a new place after marriage, especially those who weren’t bothered about kitchen before, especially those starting out fresh, and/or especially those having to go live independently.

After all, I was ALL of those once upon a time.

Sangeet Dance (Bollywood / Hindi) Song Ideas

After I searched over months for some good sangeet songs for dance performances for my wedding, I decided it was high time to compile them in a single file for future reference (and to save a large amount of time!).  Below are various kinds of Bollywood and Hindi songs suggested for Sangeet Sandhya.

Some are emotional ones, some are romantic.  Some of the songs are item numbers; some are happy-to-get-married songs.  Some songs are for the bride to perform on, some apt for the groom.  Some are solo, some are duets.  Some of the songs are for friends to perform on, some are for family members.  Some are for couples, some are for bride/groom's relatives.

Some of the songs can be combined to make a story, some can be put together as a theme.  Some can be used as a background for slideshow presentation, some for a group dance.  Some fast numbers for youngsters to perform on, some make for a good comedy or parody.  Some old gold songs for the elder couples, some ....  the choice is yours :-)

Update (1 Feb 2013):  I appreciate your comments and questions, but if you ask me to go through the 180 songs to help select some for you, it is not possible.  The list of songs below is for you to choose a suitable song on your own.  Please make good use of the list; a lot of my time and effort has gone into compiling it.  Thanks for understanding!

Update (10 June 2013): Looking for some song ideas to tease the bride or groom at sangeet? 

Update (17 July 2013): Dear Readers, while I am regularly updating this table of sangeet songs that I have been compiling since 3 years (ever since my wedding) - I have noticed several blogs copying this list of songs and using it on their blog.  Pasting only the link to this post is better than copying the entire post.  When information shared by someone's effort is sufficient on one blog - the SAME content NEED NOT be copied on other blogs.  And to those who bring such copied blogs/posts to my notice - thank you.

Creative Ideas to Reuse, Recycle & Repurpose

I have always strongly believed in the 3R's - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.  And now the fourth R: 'Repurpose'.  Here are interesting and multiple uses of old things, substitutes for unavailable materials, 2-in-1 usage of an item, and creative ideas of using stuff - all from your home and kitchen - that's what this page is all about.  Let me see how many of you go, "Oh yeah, I never thought about that!"


Note:  These photos and ideas are NOT mine!
Source:  www.realsimple.com

                    

Minute To Win It Ideas | Fun One Minute Game Ideas

Image from MS Clip art

Want to have some interesting contests for a birthday party?  


Need some games to play at your kitty party?


Organized a picnic and now looking for some game ideas?

Minute to Win It is a party pleaser!


Pick any of these fun one minute games for your next event!

Pass The Parcel Game | Passing The Parcel Game Forfeit Cards

(Image from MS Clip Art)

Pass the parcel is a fun game to play when having an afternoon tea-party, evening dinner get-together with family, children's birthday party, on any occasion such as New Years, outdoors at a weekend picnic, or a casual meetup with friends and family. Adding forfeits is a great idea to make it challenging and interesting for people of all ages.

Dumb Charades Game Ideas

image courtesy MS Word Clipart

Who doesn't love the very popular game of Dumb Charades!?  Whether it's the immense effort in performing or racking brains out to understand someone else's actions, both are just as much fun - a game that's easy to organize, requires almost no props, and a favorite of most!

Movies are the most popular for Dumb Charades.  Acting out a song is very challenging.

For now, here's a variation to this game.