As we step in New Year, we generally
have expectations of what new year will bring for us. But it is also necessary
to rewind to the past year and see what we learnt from our experiences.
2016 was an eventful year for me.
Many happy and unhappy instances occured and each taught me a lesson of its
own. Someone had said ‘we learn from our mistakes’, but I prefer to say we
learn from each incidence which leaves an impact on our mind; be it a happy
successful one or be it a mistake.
Flashback 2016
January 2016 started with a bang
with me being announced as one of the winners for HT Brunch
#BrunchBookChallenge 2015. It was my first year of participation, wherein we
had to read 34 books in a year and I had managed to read 36.
 |
| My prize for winning #BrunchBookChallenge |
February and March saw lots of
health issues regarding me and Prerna as she was admitted in hospital for high
fever and vomiting. Same day evening I had a great fall in the hospital and I,
being me, ignored the pain as a sprain, which after 3 weeks of neglect turned
out to be two hairline fractures. (1st time I was in plaster… 2016
was a year of many firsts for me.)
With Prerna’s health and my
fracture, my baking and chocolate making took a back seat due to which had to
give away some of the materials and incur loses. L As this continued for next couple of
months it led me to the dreaded D-word – depression. Had a tough time in those
months dealing with things and becoming normal.
April end did bring some respite as
I got to visit me birth place Dombivali where I met couple of my school mates
and my school bestie after may be a decade. Visiting school and the area where
I resided was like childhood revisited.
 |
| Childhood Revisted |
Around the same time a blogger friend called up to say she needs a video of mine with Prerna for a mother’s day campaign. I was a nervous wreck. I have never faced a camera before and Prerna was camera conscious. Finally with help and encouragement of couple of friends I got the video ready and sent it to her. 2 days later again she called to say the brand liked the video snippet and now they want me in a video shoot for the social media along with couple of other mommy bloggers…Me in a video…UNBELIEVABLE!!! I have a really big big big phobia of being in front of camera and so I was unsure of this. When I spoke to my parents, they said “God is giving you an opportunity, grab it with both hands. Go for it."
So on the D-day I set out with
butterflies in stomach and head buzzing with excitement. When I reached the studio
I met Kim and Kejal, mommy bloggers and my soul sister Janaki. The whole day
passed uneventful with loads of masti and bonding. Finally when the shoot
wrapped up in evening, though we were exhausted but we were happy.
After 3 days when we saw the video I
had tears in my eyes as it was so emotional. Thank you, Anusree and Ronald, for
making this day a memorable day of my life.
Next couple of months were bit hectic, dealing with Prerna’s changing hormones, mood swings and me getting used to her tantrums and all. In June received another setback with my health as continuous back and shoulder pain along with migraine and dizziness was diagnosed as slip disc. What followed next were sessions of physiotherapy and no stress and strain. Felt so dependent and handicap as for some time I was advised not to lift even Prerna. But I also met some awesome people in June. These personalities, with whom I had always interacted online, have read their books, their articles, their reviews but never had a chance to meet them in person. Who are they you may ask??? Well they are the awesome admins, authors and reviewers of The Book Club; Rubina, Nilima, Paromita, Sundari, Ashwini, Sunita and many more amongst others. Meeting them all in person and interacting with them was an awesome experience.
 |
| The Book Club Team |
In July, I got my 1st big
win… won a kindle for reviewing Nilesh Rathod’s The Shattered Dreams. Also in July
attended a workshop conducted by Allure Chocolates on coverture chocolates or
Belgian chocolates. It was an informative workshop which gave me lots of ideas and
knowledge.
 |
| Workshop by Allure Chocolates |
Come September, (as nothing worth mentioning happened in August, I skip that month), the birthday month of my not-so-little princess. Prerna completed 12 years. (Why do girls grow up so soon???)Since it was her 12th birthday I wanted to bake something special for her. Also wanted to try a couple of things which was on my to-do list. So made a doll cake with chocolate sponge and strawberry buttercream with edible chocolate candles filled with kesar pista filling (slurp) and for her friends at clinic made a checkerboard cake with coverture dark chocolate ganache. I did try leopard print on 2nd cake but it didn’t turn out that well but happy that I tried something new and it was well appreciated and it tasted yummy.
 |
| My 1st Doll Cake |
October is Diwali time. After
attending the workshop in July tried my hands on Belgian chocolate for 1st
time with three different soft center fillings and it was a hit… yipeeee…..
November, another firsts… took courage and tried making a choco mousse cake and to my surprise it turned out delicious at first attempt. Also received my most awaited prize… My Kindle…
 |
| Mera wala Kindle :) |
 |
| 1st Choco Mousse cake |
Another feather in hat was Chocodisiac became the official favourite choice of authors of The Book Club as the best Giveaway prize for their winners :)
Lastly comes month of December, last month of the year; wherein we all wait for Christmas and the current year to end. I had won the blog tour of Paromita’s Shamsuddin’s Grave and the prize was a guest post for the author’s blog along with a gift voucher. Paromita sent me her questionnaire and lo, my 1st interview, my 1st blog post… what more can I ask. (Read here) What a fantabulous end to the eventful year. Also amongst all this mayhem I did manage to read 37 books for #BrunchBookChallenge this year.
Lastly comes month of December, last month of the year; wherein we all wait for Christmas and the current year to end. I had won the blog tour of Paromita’s Shamsuddin’s Grave and the prize was a guest post for the author’s blog along with a gift voucher. Paromita sent me her questionnaire and lo, my 1st interview, my 1st blog post… what more can I ask. (Read here) What a fantabulous end to the eventful year. Also amongst all this mayhem I did manage to read 37 books for #BrunchBookChallenge this year.
2016 was a mixed year for me; professionally
it was ok and on personal front though health issues were main concern but still
I manage to swim through it.
So what did 2016 teach me? Well I did
learn lots from the past year incidences. Initially I used to get upset
whenever I used to see pictures posted by other bakers of their art. But then
someone did speak out to me, What do you really want to do in life? It actually
set me thinking and was an eye opener for me. I did have an heart-to-heart chat
with….. ME.
And I made peace with myself that
even though I LOVE baking and doing stuff I do have my limitations; with Prerna
and my health issues I can’t be a full time home-baker. So now I don’t feel bad
when for days I don’t get bake orders. Instead I utilize my time for my spoilt
teen and reading and learning new skills and improving my knowledge and admire
works of skilled bakers on guild.
Personally I have to let go my past and
hurt deeply embedded in heart (which is little difficult) and look ahead. Acceptance
plays an important role in bringing up Prerna. Though she is a differently
abled child, her physical development will be normal, it's not going to stop or
slow down. Initially I was scared just by its thought. But then I accepted that
her development is a natural phenomenon, though reluctantly, I did accept it
and then it did become little easy for me to face it.
Previously, people used to say, it's
difficult to raise a girl with special needs, as they grow older. I knew it is
going to, but a recent chat with two of my friends who have boys going through
this difficult stage and also with Prerna’s therapist made me realize; handling
girls is easy than handling boys. Though both have their own and different set
of issues and problems.
Last but not the least; I learnt an
important lesson towards end of the year not all who show as your friends are
what they really show they are. Some are interested to know your issues not because
they care for you or are concerned. They just want to know how much deep you are
in troubled waters so that they can attack you when the time is right to
strike, when you are weak and vulnerable. So choose your friends wisely. Instead
of having hundreds of people whom I call as friends, I prefer to have a select
few who will stand by me against hundreds if time comes.
Goals
for 2017…
Well, foremost top on my list is to
recover from the damage done to my health by taking little care of myself because
health is wealth and if health is good we can even climb Mt. Everest…
To read atleast 40 books this year,
even though target for #BrunchBookChallenge is 36 I am testing myself.
As far as baking is concerned, well
my bucket list for this is very long one… hope to tick off one item every
month. I will keep updating about it on my Chocodisiac page as and when I accomplish
it. {Fingers crossed}.
I hope I have not bitten off more
than I can chew. Time will tel.
Till then folks, have a great
rocking year 2017 and keep reading, commenting, sharing and supporting me as you
have done since past 5 years.
Enjoy… Love you all.
