7 Key Reflections from 2015

New Year's Eve 2015 is upon us and the homemade pizza tradition is complete, this year's being one of the best I've ever made (if I do say so myself). We're taking a quick work break before reconvening to watch a Mortal Kombat movie. Last year it was Van Damme's Hard Target - we seem to enjoy watching martial arts movie to bring in the new year with a KICK!

Anyway, we don't believe in New Year's Resolutions because the Good Parsi Hubby is of the strong opinion that improvements to your life should be made immediately, not just on the 1st of Jan. So, I'd like to share a little bit about what I've learned from the year that was 2015:

1. I never thought I'd be able to manage two boys by myself, but I have, and now things can only get easier (I hear my friends with older kids saying - HA!).

2. 'Is it too late now to say sorry' to Justin Bieber for bagging his music in the past? I LOVE his new songs, and the kids and I can't stop singing and dancing to his 2015 tunes - never thought that would happen in a million years.

3. You can't maintain meaningful relationships with people you can't relate to - it's as simple as that.

4. My patience has increased tenfold after experiencing terrible twos with GPKid#1 - having to reason with an irrational almost 3 year old about why we have to take the detour and can't go the normal way home while he wails loudly will do that to you.

5. I always say I have no time, but I can proudly say that I've managed the kids, built my webpage myself, created and edited videos by myself, and managed to get my garden underway. Sometimes the more you have to do, the more efficient you become.

6. My body can function well on an average of 4.5 hours a night - over a period of more than 9 months (please #2, please learn to sleep through the night).

7. I never understood people's 'need' for morning coffee Now I do, along with my need for afternoon and evening coffees, too.

I wish all my followers a rocking 2016, and may this be the best year ever!

GPW

Besna, Pedas and new Video!

Parsis love any excuse to celebrate (mainly to eat and drink), and one of the cutest and earliest ceremonies conducted is called the 'Besna', which means 'to sit'.  When the child starts to sit unaided (around 6-8 months) they are made to sit on some Pedas (milky Indian sweet) on a 'Paatlo' (little stool) to celebrate reaching this milestone, and to give a nice solid (and sticky) grounding for their little lives!

Firstly, 'Chawlk' (pretty designs with chalk powder) are done near the front door of the house, and on the Paatlo - this is for good luck and is a Parsi tradition on 'good' days. The Pedas are placed in the centre of the Paatlo where the child will sit (I always put baking paper on top to protect the baby's new clothes from getting spoiled), and having showered and wearing new clothes,  the child is placed on the Paatlo to squash the Pedas!

The mother places a 'tili' on his forehead and makes him wears a flower garland and a little flower bouquet (which I both make at home).

The child is then presented with gifts and 'peramni' (cash gifts) by family attending, and the ceremony is complete! Food is then served after and traditionally biryani or dal and rice is served. I went with more of a high tea spread for brunch and this was loved by the entire family. 

We'll be doing this all again in a few months when he starts walking, too!

Click here to view my video and recipe for Parsi Style Saffron Pedas.

Houston, I have a webpage!

It's taken me a fair few weeks (well, I'm lucky if I get a full hour each day to work on my GPW work), but I am thrilled to announce that I have FINALLY put together the official Good Parsi Wife Webpage! I haven't been able to upload all my recipes and a few other bits and bobs, but I have a few of my favourite and most popular recipes uploaded and ready to roll!

Thank you to everyone for your patience, and I hope you like the layout, formatting and simplicity of the webpage and recipes. If you have any comments or feedback, please don't hesitate to send me a message, but clicking on the little envelope in the top right corner. If you happen to find any dud links or web errors, please let me know!

Thank you to the few who secretly review this work in progress and provided feedback, and a big thank you to the GPHubby for doing the technical domain mumbo jumbo behind the scenes.

You can also follow me via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or Youtube by clicking the 'Follow' in each page's footer.

Cheers! GPW :-)