The From the Heart Award – and a Thankful Heart

Straight from the heart !!

I was away for some time taking a break from blogging to sort my headspace. But now that it’s sorted I am ready and all set to pop back. So starting right from where I had left, the very talented and sweet Mel Finch from Crushed Caramel had nominated me for the “From the Heart Award”. Isn’t that amazing when such a wonderful blogger as she notices and appreciates your work? I am super elated. I wholeheartedly thank Mel for giving me recognition and finding my blog worthy of the nomination. Do give her a visit for some light-hearted humour hand in hand with some thought-provoking words of wisdom.

“No matter how big or small it is I like to see myself accomplishing things.”

To me, every little accomplishment is a reason to celebrate and rejoice. And this nomination is just as great as any other. The “From the Heart Award” goes to bloggers who primarily focus on personal writing. Their posts are often from the writer to the world at large or from the writer to the writer themselves and they just allow us access to their mind. Their posts are so personal as they have put out a piece of their heart in front of the readers, and thus the name of the award.

The From the Heart Award Logo

I am thankful to Mel for considering my blog for the award. I find it extremely difficult to cook up imaginary stories which are not even remotely related to a true incident or a real person. My posts are mostly inspired by my life – both people and experiences form the basis of my posts. And I believe, that is the reason why I am able to pour my heart into them, strike a chord and connect with my readers. As Mel very correctly stated that creating posts that can touch people’s heart doesn’t need to be very emotional all the time; but to be able to write in a manner that people can relate to and be inspired, and that which can make a difference in their lives is what I feel makes my writing straight from the heart. And as asked this post titled “Motherhood might be my religion, but I am more than just a mother” is one of my very favourite posts. Do pay it a visit. (If you want to know more about me visit my “About page.)

Just so as we are speaking from the heart, before I proceed with my nominations, I want to take this opportunity to thank all my followers who have been so kind to keep me motivated by loving and appreciating my work. My sincere gratitude to all my followers who have helped my blog grow and flourish, giving me abundant confidence and reason to keep me going. Each like and comment that I get on my posts, feel so rewarding and go a long, long way.

Heartfelt Thanks for all the encouragement!

Ever since I started it, this blog has been like a second home to me because the kind of love and support that I get from you all makes me feel so at home. I am incredibly humbled to all my loyal readers who have been making my journey worthwhile. Keep showering me with your love so that I remember to be thankful and in gratitude every single day.

Proceeding to my nominations for the “From the Heart Award”, though I didn’t get any questions attached to it, I would like to add some of my own to spice it up a little.

5 questions I would like you to answer

1) What makes you passionate about blog posting?

2) What is the story behind your blog?

3) What is the one learning or experience from your blogging journey which has helped you the most?

4) What is your vision about your blog in about 10 years from now?

5) If you were asked to provide one constructive feedback to me, what would it be?

Remember guys it should be straight from the heart.

My nominations for the “From the Heart Award”

1. J Blaide from Wit and Whimsy

2. Missterioso Das from Head Full of Dreams

3. Millennial Hygge Wife from Millennial Hygge

4. Natalie Williams from Searching For My Inner Zen

5. Jena Pendarvis

If you choose to accept the nomination create a post telling us more about you, answer my questions, remember to tag me and inform me about your post by leaving a comment here or creating a pingback for me to have a look at your answers. Hope you enjoy answering my questions. And don’t forget to nominate other bloggers who you think blog about their personal accounts to discover, connect and support the blogging community.

Let’s spread the love and joy of blogging!

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

Visits: 345

Celebrating sibling love through the festival of Rakshabandhan

Plantable Eco-friendly Rakhi!

We went eco-friendly this Rakshabandhan celebrating the festival with a 100% biodegradable Rakhi. This plantable Rakhi is made from hand-made paper, natural colours and, seeds which can be planted in the soil after the festival is over to grow plants of Tulsi and marigold. This is just a small gesture towards the Mother Nature, which also gives me a reason to share a beautiful little story of the festival which is very close to my heart.

We are four sisters and a brother. My youngest sibling (my baby brother) is twelve years younger to me. For very long I didn’t have a brother. Twelve years is really a long time, don’t you think? The sister immediately younger to me is just two years younger. So for a few years not having a brother didn’t make much of a difference. It didn’t really matter if I had a brother or not until I was seven years old. In our craft class at the school, we were being taught how to make Rakhi using silk threads and a brush and were being told the story and the significance of the Rakshabandhan festival. I, as a kid, was so intrigued and fascinated by it that I terribly wanted to have a brother of my own. Moreover, looking at other girls with brothers and listening to their plans for the festival was making me long for a brother even more.

That day, when I returned home, I was particularly sad and my mother sensed it immediately. When asked, I narrated her the entire incident that happened at the school. She laughed it away and helped me with my art & craft homework, which was to prepare Rakhis for display at the exhibition. The Rakhis that we prepared turned out really beautiful and I was very proud of that.

But Rakshabandhan being just 2 days away, I was still whining for a brother, and more so when my prepared Rakhis won the best Rakhi in the whole class. But, on the day of Rakshabandhan what my mother did for me was super duper extraordinary and will definitely blow away your mind (Well, it did mine!). My mother dressed my baby sister, who was 1.5 years at the time, as a boy and asked us to tie her the same Rakhis that we had prepared for the exhibition (My mother had converted Bably to Bablu for the day just for me). And the cherry on top of the cake was I even got a present for the Rakhi as a custom. And my happiness knew no bounds. Life is so simple when we are kids, isn’t it? And little happiness means so much. I wish life could be so much simpler now.

For 3 more years, I continued to tie Rakhi to our Bablu and later to Dably turned to Dablu. It was 1.5 years later that I got my actual brother. And the first Rakhi I celebrated with him was when he was just 5 months old and could barely sit. He just kept staring and drooling all the time unaware of what was happening with him. But that one Rakhi is still the second most memorable of all Rakhi I’ve ever had so far, the first will always be the one with my Bablu! Nothing can ever beat that one!

Rakshabandhan celebrations with my brother.

Traditionally started as a way of brothers swearing to protect the sisters as they tied the Rakhis on their bothers’ wrists, I am so glad that modern day Rakshabandhan has evolved so much. It doesn’t need to be just a brother and sister festival anymore according to its modern version. And why do we need a brother to protect a sister when a sister can do the job equally well, and sometimes even better. It is only sensible that way don’t you think?

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

Visits: 224