Liebster Love!

I have been awarded the Liebster Award by thrice by my co-bloggers, Bushra, Richa & Sakshi, in this month and before I get more lazy and forgetful ... here I am to acknowledge it, talk about myself, answer the questions and pass it on to other bloggers. Woo-hoo! :D

Golden Liebster Trophy by Bushra

To being with, I thank all the three talented ladies to show their love and appreciation towards Coffee Beans.
And a special thanks to Bushra, for taking the pain in explaining about it to a complete novice like me.


About Liebster in brief:
The Liebster Award is given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. So, what is a Liebster?  The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome. 

The terms:

1. Each blogger should post 11 random facts about themselves.
2. Answer the questions the tagger has set for you, then create 11 new questions for the bloggers you pass the award to.
3. Choose 11 new bloggers (with less than 200 followers) to pass the award to and link them in your post.
4. Go to their page and tell them about the award.
5. No tag backs.

Pink Liebster Badge by Richa and Sakshi

Here are the 11 random somethings about me :

1)   I am very wordy.
2)   I am a die hard F.R.I.E.N.D.S & Harry Potter fan.
3)   I love DIYs.
4)   Cooking is stress buster for me.
5)   Spring and Monsoon are my favorite seasons.
6)   One of my loves, sweet corn, gives me tummy aches.
7)   I absolutely love green tea sans milk and sugar.
8)   One of my dreams is to own a library like the one featured in "The beauty and the Beast".
9)   I am both a morning person and a nocturnal owl... I keep switching between the two.
10) I can sketch really well.
11) Books & Movies fascinate me.

Questions & Answers:
Answers to Bushra's questions.. (she had only two besides the "11 something about me")

1) Why do you love blogging? What is writing to you?

= Blogging gives me the pleasure of being read by others. The criticism pushes me to improve whereas the appreciation tells me I am doing the right thing.

= Writing to me is a way to introduce my thoughts to others through words, and not just in anyway but in an ornamental way. I love weaving words creatively, to put forward my views & my feelings. Writing gives me peace and happiness.

2) Have you made any blogging friends? Who are they?
= I have met some wonderful people; Bushra, Richa, Jack, Indrani and many others, through blogging and though, I don't know whether the mutual admiration can be termed as friendship yet... but, I am sure I can safely say, we are somewhere around that zone.


Answers to Richas's questions..

1. If given a chance what would you let go off your behavior and why?
= Procrastination. Many times it keeps me behind my schedule and I end up multitasking at a jet speed at the last moment.

2. An incident that changed your mind or life in some way.
= There are many. Mentioning any one of them would be injustice to the rest.

3. If not what you are today, then who?
= As a person I would have been the same. By profession I might have been a Fashion Designer or a Journalist.

4. Would you say you can earn money without your degree and how?
= Yes, I can.. through my writing.

5. Your favorite book and why?
= Pride and Prejudice. I am in love with the characters and the plot. Specially the characters, one can relate to them even today. Its a beautiful love story written in pure literature form. This book is the reason why Jane Austen became my favorite author.

6. What is the one thing you judge people on?
= Usually I try not to judge people, as the saying goes, never a judge a book by its cover, however, somewhere in my mind I do judge people on how they behave with others.

7. A quality that defines who you are.
= Awesome *smug look*

8. A person who means the most.
= There are two…My parents.

9. Why blog?
= I have answered this above in the first set of questions.. kindly scroll up :) 

10. Is this your first leibster? If yes then how do you feel if not who did you the first time?
= Yours is my second. Bushra awarded me my first Liebster. :) 

11. What is it that you think about my writing?
= Your writing has wittiness which strikes the right cord with me as a reader :D


Answers to Sakshi's questions..

1. Simple living and high thinking, or high living and simple thinking? Which do your prefer?
= High living and simple thinking.

2. What intimidates you about the opposite sex the most?
= Nothing. I might get little shy in presence of a man with a striking personality, but not intimidated.

3. Do you believe in God?
= Yes I do… however I am not religious.

4. Who/what would you like to be reborn as?
= I would like to be reborn as myself. I love being me. :D

5. What came first – the chicken or the egg?
= The egg. Now, don’t ask me how; I will have to time travel million years in the past to prove myself and that can be a daunting task.

6. When not writing, what keeps you busy in your free time?
= I have many interests and hobbies to occupy myself in free time..Reading, Movies, Cooking, DIYs, blah-blahing with Mom…etc etc.

7. Your idea of feminism.
= To say and act for the betterment of women in the society.

8. The most difficult thing for you to give-up forever would be?
= My wisdom.

9. Spare the rod and spoil the child. You think so?
= No. A mind as tender as of a child’s, needs love, patience and understanding.

10. One thing you try doing to keep healthy and fit?
= I am a fitness conscious person so, I do many things to keep myself healthy and fit.

11. What do you think of my writing? 

= Your writing is very lucid and hence enjoyable :)


Now by the terms of the Liebster Award, here I name my 11 fellow bloggers followed by the 11 questions for them.

My Chosen 11 Bloggers: (Technically I need to give away 33 names but I am sticking to the randomly chosen 11)
Anupam : http://www.anupamtimes.com/ 
Purnendu : http://www.mutinousindian.in/
Jack : http://mysay.in/
Panchali : http://panchalibolchi.blogspot.in/ 
Chaitanya : http://chaitanyavs.wordpress.com/
Titli : http://titli15081977.blogspot.in/ 
Mehroo : http://www.frommissindiatomotherhood.blogspot.hk/
Shweta : http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.in/ 
Niranjan : http://truethoughts-niranjan.blogspot.it/
Brendan : http://brendanantondabhi.blogspot.in/
Jiggyasa : http://shrimaan-shrimati.blogspot.in/


Questions From me:

1)   When did you start blogging and why?
2)   What inspires you to write?
3)   When you become a world renowned writer, would you give up blogging?

4)   How would you describe yourself in one sentence?
5)   Which is your most cherished memory till now?

6)   Something that you learned recently...

7)   What is your pet peeve?
8)   Did you ever have an imaginary friend? If yes, tell us something about him/her.

9)   What is your idea of heaven?
10) Which fictional character from a book would you like to be and why?
11) Whom would you like to play you, in a movie on your life and why?

Congratulations & Enjoy :D

Top Five Most Loved Fictional Female Crime Solvers!

This is a Guest article from www.glad2bawoman.com. Glad2bawoman is an online media company for women with over 77,000 members. The articles on their site encompass various topics around Health, Empowerment, Relationships, Fashion and Leisure.

I thank Glad2bawoman for choosing my blog as their platform for this wonderful article and also letting me to write on their site.

***

Gone are the days of stereotypical "womanly" female characters in books and movies! The introduction of the female detective or crime solver has given rise to a wave of girl power, albeit in the fictional world; from young George Kirrin in Enid Blyton's "Famous Five" children's series, to the gritty, no-nonsense Dr.Kay Scarpetta from Patricia Cornwell's best-selling crime series, to the lovable but very astute old Miss Marple by Agatha Christie. It seems that every generation has had its favorite female detective, and exploring them brings out a number of interesting facts.

One of the most popular female detectives of all time is Miss Jane Marple, known as Miss Marple. She was created by Agatha Christie in the 1920's, and made her first appearance in a short story which was featured in "The Sketch" magazine. She made her debut in a full-length novel in 1930 with "The Murder in the Vicarage". Miss Marple's character has been based on Christie's step-grandmother, Margaret West, whose social circle of gossiping old ladies greatly influenced the other characters in the novel. Miss Marple herself is described as a deceptively harmless little old lady who uses gentle humor and her keen observational skills to solve murders which baffle the police. Miss Marple’s onscreen character in various television series has been portrayed by actresses such as Margaret Rutherford and Geraldine McEwen.

A detective who has been hailed as a cultural icon by the likes of Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush, Nancy Drew was created in 1930 by publisher Edward Stratemeyer, who employed a series of ghost writers to write the series of detective novels under the collective pseudonym, "Carolyn Keene". The character of Nancy Drew changes with time, that is to say, she evolves from an initially strong, steel-willed young woman into a somewhat flawed and confused person. It is noted that the nature of Nancy Drew books have undergone great changes over the decades, catering to both feminist and anti-feminist sentiments. The Nancy Drew fan club lives on and video games and films in her name continue to sell worldwide.

Possibly the most beloved tomboy in a children's series, Georgina "George" Kirrin, from Enid Blyton's "Famous Five" series, is an outspoken and intelligent 11-year-old. She solves mysteries with her cousins, Julian, Dick, and Anne, and is devoted to her dog, Timmy, whom she is fiercely protective of. George first appears in "Famous Five on Treasure Island", which was published in 1942 and is the first of the 21 books in the series. George prefers being called "Master George" rather than "Miss Georgina". She has most recently been portrayed in a more feminine light in 2008's "Famous Five on the Case", where she is said to be married to an Indian mechanic, the tomboyish streak persists as symbolized by the purple streak in her hair.

Kay Scarpetta, the Chief Medical Examiner for Richmond, Virginia, made her first appearance in 1990, with the novel, "Postmortem" by crime novelist, Patricia Cornwell, and has since, gone on to feature in over 15 books. She is described as a beautiful, intelligent blonde who is "a sharp dresser, but professional", a lover of home made Italian food, vintage wine and classic architecture. Her character is based on the life of a real-life Chief Medical Examiner by the name of Marcella Fierro, MD. With her matter-of-fact manner which offends those not accustomed to no-nonsense behavior, Scarpetta consistently ruffles the feathers of the administration, and is even targeted by serial killers who are afraid of her.

Created by Kathy Reichs in 1997, Temperance "Bones" Brennan makes her first appearance in the novel, "Deja Dead", where she is introduced as a brilliant forensic anthropologist, much like her creator. Known for her [similar to Kay Scarpetta] no-nonsense attitude and professionalism, "Tempe" examines the bones of murder, and her assessments pertaining to their bone structure and size allows forensic teams to identify them. One of only fifty certified forensic anthropologists in the world; she belongs to a highly-specialized field. In the television series, "Bones", she is portrayed in the light of her creator and not the character from the book series. Actress Emily DeChanel plays the role to perfection, and the television series is as successful as the 15-book franchise.

Female detectives in both book and television series are mostly strong and intelligent, an embodiment of the modern women. In context with the characters from the pre-women's rights era, characters like Miss Marple and George Kirrin all represent rebels from their respective eras. From a little old lady who does the unexpected without imbibing an ounce of malice or negativity in her nature, to a tomboy who embodies male characteristics not expected of a young girl, the ladies are fictional superheroes. Characters like Scarpetta and Brennan do their bit to deglamourize [to an extent], the stereotypical representation of women as intellectually inferior, and hold their own against their male counterparts.

These women are not only entertaining to watch and read, but also serve as inspirations to their female readers, who knows, some might even take on the roles of crusaders for justice in real life!

***

  

Taming the fur to take on the world!

Invitation comes by where you are needed to discipline your mane to look like you are ready to take on the world. Your long untamed locks which flew, with no leash attached to it, now needs to be fashioned to make heads turn again and again.

Wondering now which hairstyle to choose from, you sit in front of your best friend and ask: Mirror Mirror on the wall, which is the best hairdo of them all?

The Mirror with all it's non-living traits conjures, well, nothing and you turn to your other best friend, the fashion magazine. Without any disappointment you are treated with five beautiful ways of trending your fur. 

Option 1

Option 1: You have a spectacular way of letting your tresses dangle around your shoulders. The soft twists with highlighted strands frame your face elegantly giving you a million dollar classy look.

Option 2

Option 2: You decide to get casual yet trendy and what grabs your attention is a insouciance ponytail, with a few loose strands placed in front. The messy volume of your hair in the back tied up into a pony tail in the middle makes you the diva ready for any event.

Option 3

Option 3: The refined retro style looks oh-so-elegant for any evening occasion. The option at three gives you this old-world-styled waves with hair charmingly swept up behind in a low updo and a deep partition on a side. You definitely have a winner here.

Option 4

Option 4: You tread on the messy looks again and you are intrigued by the bouffant hairstyle with a messy bun and a center part. The little swell at the crown and strand falling casually on both sides of cheeks gives a warm chic appearance.

Option 5

Option 5: Its ponytail again. However, your fur is twirled and tied on one side at the nape with a long strand of hair left to dangle playfully at the side of your captivating face. And the look is again a messy one making you appear a fashion diva all set to walk a ramp.

You toss your copy of the magazine aside and you begin to get ready to allure and rule the world with your ravishing hairstyle which you picked for the evening. 

***

This post is an entry for TRESemme Ramp Ready Hair! 

For know more of simple and yet gorgeous DIY hairdos visit TRESemme.

Image Courtesy : 

www.google.com

www.cosmopiltan.co.uk

oscar.go.com

Mom knows everything, Mom knows the Best!

Image : Inmagine

The bright little diamonds twinkling in the sky,

She taught me to wonder- What they are?

I looked up from the book, she knew why,

Tapping my little nose she said, "that's a star".

Mom knows everything, Mom knows the Best,

Certainly she was made for me, 

Certainly she is above the rest.

Running on the road, I fell, I bruised

She cried for my pain, she cleaned my knee.

I looked at her with eyes full confused,

Her warmth worked wonders, the ointment it couldn't be.

Mom knows everything, Mom knows the best,

Certainly she was made for me, 

Certainly She is above the rest.

"I am hungry", I shouted; She cooked my favorite,

She fed me first, She didn't mind her empty tummy.

I, with glee, savored and I ate,

My tiffins were a hit, friends cued its yummy.

Mom knows everything, Mom knows the best,

Certainly she was made for me, 

Certainly She is above the rest.

Now, I am a grown up, yet she knows the best,

We laugh, we cry, we hug, we fight.

She is a Friend, a mother; with her, life is a fest,

Its always lit, its always sunny; oh so bright.

Mom knows everything, Mom knows the best,

Certainly she was made for me, 

Certainly she is above the rest.

Everything seems right, everything seems so new

With you around me, life is perfect; Mom I love you.

Happy Mother's Day!

Coffee Beans turns one today!

A year ago, this day, I created a space for me in the blog world. 2008, was the year when I registered with blogger, but it was May 10, 2012, that I began my blog journey. Back then I called it, "A girl and her Incredible Life". It was about me talking about the life I am blessed with … Never had I thought it would sustain more than a few months, the reasons being very obvious; procrastination and writer's block. However, fortunately Coffee Beans, just like me, rose from ashes all the time like a phoenix defying adversities of all kinds.

My family and my friends have been there with me, encouraging me, motivating me with innumerable ways to write. My co-bloggers have been a great support as well, and here I stand today… completing one year of blogging with a few hiccups here and there.

My baby also went on to have a few more names till "Coffee Beans" was zeroed in. I was told that there was no need to rechristen her, but, I just knew she needed a name that reflected her nature and it had to be the brown aromatic beans for my blog. Here is Why. 


There were times all I cared for was about the traffic. Perhaps, that's why some of my initial posts were dry and irrelevant to what I wanted my Coffee Beans to be. But now, with more mature mind, my focus has shifted to the better thing, which is writing…and traffic... well... it will swell up with time. 

Image : Pinterest

Here Is Wishing A Very Happy Birthday To My Baby :


*sings*
Happy Birthday To you...

Happy Birthday To you...

Happy Birthday To Dear Coffee Beans...

Happy Birthday To you.

*claps*

xoxo

A Few Blocks Away!

Image: Google

Fingers halting after punching a few words… brain seeking for thoughts… eyes searching for cues, are symptoms indicating I am in the "B" zone; the Block.

Writer's Block is nightmarish for every writer with me as no exception. The terrifying part of it is the duration. Some are lucky enough to have it for a few days; I can have long spells of it. Yes, really long.

Self help books on the topic advise to keep writing and reading, as a result, updating yourself on topics of your interest. And I do…I do exactly that, however, the "keep writing" part is little less easy with people like me who are not full time writers. Amid zillion things to attend to, writing at times- sigh- isn't effortless as compared to the moments when you have bouts of thoughts to pen down, and you just can not stop.

Advice and suggestions push me to write anything that comes to my mind or to put down an amusing anecdote or even better, an embarrassing one, at my cost. It works, it definitely does, although, only when I want to write about it. It's like this; no one can make me write, but me, on anything, if "I" don't want to. That makes me a stubborn-moody writer. I will be motivated or inspired, simply when I welcome it openly. (I definitely need to change that)

"A Clouded minds sees nothing" (The Shadow)

Image : Google

So, when I am not quite receptive of others' motivations, this is what always works for me; a walk in the evening. It always opens up my mind and my brain cells churn out ideas, squeeze out words to weave in together to create- what I call- a neat piece of work. Thus, ending my dry spell I walk across the blocks and return home to get back to my writing.