Project 26 - accomplished !

Can you believe it , I have been blogging for a over a year now ? I didn't realize it, until I was reading some of my old posts , that I completed a year of blogging in March .. so this is dawning on me a bit late !

You can do it ! via helendardik

Alright I admit , I was pathetic last year keeping up with my blog . I even wrote an apology to my blog ! Yep, I was that bad.

This year, I made a resolution to blog often - Project 26 - approximately 2 posts a month  for 2011. A modest goal . But, I had to take baby steps. I am proud to say that I have already accomplished that goal . This is my 27th post for this year. Not bad , huh ? For someone who was aiming for 26 posts in all of 2011 , this is not bad - if I may say so myself.

For that I have to thank you ! All those who read my posts and comment . I love comments. Who doesn't ?!
5 reasons why I love comments  and why I am still blogging after a sad display last year :

- Its always nice to hear what others think or add to what I have had to say. I mean it . It adds so much more value to the post. Its nice to know that there is someone out there who has something meaningful to say about it.

- It  keeps me inspired to keep at it  ! It keeps me motivated to keep writing . It makes me want to keep this blog fresh and interesting.

- It has been such an instrumental tool in forming relationships . Don't you agree, my friends ? :)

- It has helped me to discover new blogs . Wow, there is a ton of talented and exceptionally unique blogs out   there. I don't think I would have discovered them, if it weren't for the comments section . Thank you for letting me discover your blogs !

-Most of all, its reassuring that someone actually reads it and I'm not out there all by myself ! Now, that would be kinda lonely, wouldn't it ? Thanks for keeping me company :)

Now , what should my next goal be ....?

Happy Mother's Day !

I've finally won the battle against my allergies and asthma. I wasn't completely down and out. But it was enough to wear me out during the day and the end of the day. I honestly couldn't bring myself to blog , draw , communicate , breathe .. yeah, the last one kind of was the most difficult !

Anyway, now that I'm feeling better, Happy Mother's Day everyone !

via OMHG

My husband made me breakfast and now he's making dinner for me. Kids were very behaved. The weather was gorgeous today . I managed to squeeze in a workout . Life is good for this mom :)

On that note, I'd like to share a few interesting posts with you . In the spirit of Mother's Day , some of the posts are related to moms and running a business , of course :)

On OMHG -    The Fine Art of Mothering & Business  &   A Manifesto for Motherhood

On The Mogul Mom -     Blogging your Brand

On The Merriweather Council   - 5 Things That Make a Big Difference to Your Shop

Happy Reading and Happy Mother's Day  !

End of the week reads

I scour the web and read a lot of blog posts often .  I subscribe to some of  the blogs and get their newsletters. I bookmark these articles/ posts a lot . A LOT .
It got me thinking, that I should probably just share some of my favorites with all you interested . These are posts from this week . They range from advice on business to advice on blogs. You pick your favorites :)

Imagination via dazeychic

 smaller box - 4 reasons to get free publicity

Design Sponge - Understanding your competition

The Guardian  - Why writers must embrace the social media, no matter the genre
(Although this was published April 14th, I think its a good read )

The Merriweather Council  - 4 little things that will make a big difference for your blog

Back from Easter Holiday Getaway

I'd like you to join me on a mental vacation to a beautiful coastal town called Port Macquarie . North of Sydney away from the hustle bustle, away from our routine and we basked in glorious weather for 4 days during the long weekend for Easter and  Anzac Day.

We spent most of Saturday - Earth Day under this grand old tree .. isn't it simply breathtaking ?

No more talking ... Pictures do speak a thousand words...

MMMM..mmmm..Macaroons

I mentioned recently, about how much my son enjoyed macaroons for an after school snack . So did his mother and sister. My, they melt in the mouth .They really do ... sigh !

We had chocolate flavored macaroons. ..With its crisp/soft outer shell and delicious creamy filling inside, it tasted like a soft cloud in the mouth . As you can tell, we relished them very much .

This delicious trap is also a bit expensive ..tsk tsk tsk ..so I have to learn to make them . I think I might try this recipe one of these days. But, in the meantime, I enjoyed drawing macaroons -and in different colors/ flavors too .  That's something that doesn't cost me a lot of money :)

Macaroons via Doodle Kreations 

All good things must come to an end..

I am excited and a bit sad about this week. This is the week of the finals of My Kitchen Rules. This is the first time that I have followed a reality show this far and stuck to it . I am rooting for Sammy and Bella - the sisters from New South Wales (go N.S.W!) .. but I think Kane and Lee will win - simply because they are so innovative and create amazing recipes.

It also means, the show comes to an end . I'll have to wait until next year to see it again. I will miss the pleasant judges - Pete and Manu . I have been so inspired to draw up foodie illustrations just because of this show. I couldn't stop myself . It really got another side of me going, that I never knew existed.

Printable Recipe Cards by DoodleKreations 

I have painted still  life with fruits and vegetables long ago .  I remember the excitement of getting the colors , shade and other details. I just love painting BUT- I don't remember being so excited about painting produce! Maybe, when you are 15 and painting fruits and vegetables, it isn't so exciting !

Anyway, after that brief trip down memory lane, back to the future ... what will happen once the show is over ? Will I continue to draw food or will it be something else ? I have always been influenced by color and what goes on around me ..so I know there will always be inspiration . But what will it be ?

I hear MasterChef is starting soon ... :) 

Chocolates & Easter

My name is Lakshmi and I am a chocoholic. There, its out in the open and I am dealing with it. How so , you ask ?

By combining my love for chocolates with Easter, I am venting all of the craving into my illustrations . Its the best way to avoid over eating them . Its non fattening, its a good place to imagine all the chocolate in different forms , it doesn't make its way to my waistline .

(Confession : Having said all of the above, Sunday morning , we had Chocolate pancakes with chocolates syrup- made from scratch, by yours truly. )

Since I love chocolates so much, I love drawing them up . I am not limited to chocolates , mind you . I love sweet stuff . So, this post is all about sweetness .

The chocolate hot cross bun greeting is already in the shop, by the way . The others will be joining the hot cross bun real soon. 

I drew up the Easter bunny on the weekend ..and by the way, the bunny is a chocolate bunny . Would I have it any other way ?

The macaroons or macarons have manifested here simply because we had them a few weeks ago. It was the first time my son ate them . He declared they were yummy . ( Junior chocoholic in the making ) This one deserves a post by itself , I think ..but here is a sneak peek . There's more where that came from ...

And so continues, my love for food and drawing up food .. so help me god !