A Tiny Break with Great State Voucher

A few weeks ago, I won the @southaustralia’s Great State Voucher to be availed in Adelaide City. We were not too excited to be honest, because we live quite close to the city and visit it every month for shopping. Half-heartedly we booked a hotel choosing a rainy day because all we intended to do was to spend a day off at the hotel and the weather did not matter much. 

Birthday

I grew up in Rawalpindi, a small town of Pakistan. The biggest recreation in my childhood was trip to the nearest hill station, Murree. I remember the thrill and excitement we felt as our car drove through the winding roads lined with pine trees. A walk on the Mall Road, cherishing poorly made cup of roadside coffee, enjoying the soft ice cream cones and candy floss. In that age this was the height of joy, complete happiness and in those blissful moments, I romanticized that all my perfect and best days in the future would be made of these ingredients. 

The Parcel

 

There is nothing better than the joy of getting ‘the parcel’ from Pakistan. Love letters as I like to call them, are these beautiful clothes that my mother and bhabi pick for me. A lot of thought and care goes into the selection... mostly I get to see what is coming but, there is always a small surprise that my mum adds .... a surprise that she also struggles to keep 😅.... 

Once sent.. the tracking of parcel starts... and finally ultimate joy of receiving these love notes followed by a trial parade and detailed discussion on every piece from every aspect. For me, it becomes almost impossible to wait for an occasion to put them on... 

This year my parcel had this additional ‘Perfect Eid’ jora from @khaadi as a surprise gift and it ‘surprisingly’ matched perfectly with my @merakidesignhouse khussas that @shehzeen.r designed. 

....Because I am not the best at styling clothes, this divine intervention has saved the day 💙

Eid Mubarak my Insta Fam
.

Food Review: MK Burger, Adelaide

 

I am always in search of places with a casual feel where I can fully enjoy my food. One place that has become a frequent spot to visit for us is @mkburgerjoint. A casual, well designed burger place that is ideal for hanging out with family and friends. It is not only our ‘Go to’ place but also our ‘Take to’ place whenever we need to treat someone. 

Feeling Blessed Moment

When I moved to Adelaide, I was granted a conditional visa that required me to work one year full-time to get permanent resident status. At that time, it seemed like the most daunting task. And those with similar visa conditions would agree. I was told that landing a full-time job is not easy especially without any Australian experience. I had just left a job that I absolutely loved and to imagine myself working in any difficult environment was petrifying. Even though, we made this migration decision keeping in mind our finances, the job still was a big requirement.

Product Review: Philips Electric Pressure Cooker

The hissing sound of a pressure cooker, the rattling of the weight or wobbler on its lid and the much anticipated whistle is quite nostalgia inducing because it reminds me of the long meals and their preps that used to take place in my childhood especially when I lived in my grandparent’s house. But, I have always been scared of using a conventional one. Once I was inches away from where the pot landed when it exploded and once I witnessed the aftermath in my neighbor’s house with ingredients all over the walls and roof. Cleaning nightmare!

Before I got this, I avoided making anything that needed pressure cooking. But

Philips

Electric pressure cooker really made my life easy, safe and it works almost silently. Model no. HD2178

This is only a pressure cooker. Advanced multi cookers have both slow & pressure cooking options where you can cook complete meals in one pot. I use mine only to tenderise beef or certain lentils and beans which serves me just fine. My blogger friend

MirchiTales

has done a post on the need of multi-cooker in our households. Give that a read if you are interested in getting one.

It is easily one of my favourite gadgets in my kitchen. Tell me what is yours?

Heart Talk: My Journey ....

Whenever I visit a new place I am filled with gratitude. It reminds me of how incredibly blessed I am to be able to walk on this piece of earth so far away from where I was born.

10 Life Goals for 2021 and beyond...

It is hard to pen down in a single post what 2020 felt like. A whirlwind of events and emotions... where every day presented a new challenge. 

I am scared to make any resolutions for I don’t know what 2021 holds. 

Product Review: Robot Vacuum Cleaner (Philips FC8776)

This little helper has made some appearances on my stories and I got a series of questions that I will answer in this post...

Heart Talk: What is Happiness?

During my Master’s course once we had a discussion on how there are no definite opposites of words. Like for the word love, hate is not a definite opposite.. it could also be loathe or detest or indifference or apathy… it depends on the situation and feelings. 

DIY Project: Garden Shed

We have done it!

Yes! 

Heart Talk: It has been a while....

 

It has been a while..... 

Pakistan's Independence Day 2020

Happy Independence day to the country that will always be my identity no matter where I live 

Review: Goat Karahi at Da Darbar

I am quite experimental when it comes to food and I never hesitate to different cuisines. I have got many favourites but, Pakistani food still remains the most favourite! ...And I have this special ‘kind of craving’ that can only be satisfied with naan and something very traditional. One such evening last week we decided to go to  Da Darbar to fix this craving. In South Australia the Covid-19 restrictions have eased considerably and restaurants are functioning within the eased guidelines. 

Reconnecting Through Ramadan: Our Story

I was invited by City of Adelaide to share my story for a feature Reconnecting Through Ramadan. 

Introducing Foodie & Mrs.

“In a time of anger or despair, even if we feel overwhelmed, our love is still there.

Our capacity to communicate, to forgive, to be compassionate is still there.

You have to believe this.

We are more than our anger, we are more than our suffering.

We must recognize that we do have within us the capacity to love, to understand, to be compassionate, always.”

~ Thich Nhat Hanh

And there is also food... food made and shared with love... 

Please check out our new venture Foodie & Mrs.

Heart Talk: A Tribute to my Mother in Law

Do you ever miss a time that you have not even seen? 

I do. 

Heart Talk: My Work Life

I posted this image in stories yesterday and my inbox got flooded with messages and questions… so I thought I will put it here and also leave some thoughts … 

Heart Talk: Choices

A few years ago Ahsan and I were at a very low point in our lives… both of us were jobless and we wanted to live in a country where having a job was the only way to secure a visa. With a friend, we sat down to see our options. The easiest option at that point required both of us to live in different countries. We both went silent on it. Our friend insisted on reasons and I couldn’t come up with any solid reason until he said, as if reading my mind, that I was allowed to say that I do not want to live away from my husband. But, he said that this ‘choice’ comes with responsibility and a price that we may have to pay. I was willing to choose a riskier path of trying my luck for jobs in limited time or going for another degree as an international student. Finding a job was very tough and getting a degree was costing us all our savings. But, it was a risk worth taking - for it was allowing us to follow our dream together. 

Southern Flinders Ranges - Exploring South Australia

The amazing group at Smith's Farmstay Accommodation's 

There is a long story of how I ended up taking this amazing photography and light painting masterclass that was a part of the Southern Flinders Ranges Photography Festival. A festival aimed at promoting the regional beauty of South Australia and by also providing a platform for photographers to display their work, meet fellow photographers, be a part of the photographers' community and learn from each other.