How I start loving the earth and myself..

Recently most of us became earth conscious..!

I wanted to reduce my plastic usage / paper usage / water usage for a decade. But I felt hard to follow it.. I think of two main reasons:

1. I, Me and Myself

2. Things around me

Most of us say you are the reason.. nothing else.. But I want to add a 2nd reason here..

When I say "things around me", I really mean bad things which are easily available everywhere around me and people around me are already using it.. so when I volunteer myself 

for a change I pushed back by someone / something saying "come on.. we are all doing the same.. why are you worried?".. directly or indirectly..

We need a environment where if the 1st reason fails we should get a good slap by someone / something saying "come on.. it is written everywhere in the shop that you need to bring your own bag" and "the government is making all the efforts to reduce the plastic bags usage".. That's it.. This is what all I mean..

I got an opportunity to participate in a short film competition hosted by Singapore Environment Council. My movie is not bad to me.. :) Here is the link..

What I wonder is others have done a great art. Most of the participated videos says "how we are treating our earth!" and "what we can do to stop doing that".. After this event I have became bit serious on earth conscious..

Cloth bags for shopping

I used to go for shopping without much plan. Just note down the things in my smartphone or remember everything in mind. That's it. But how I am going to bring back the purchased items home? No plans. Collect the items in a basket, go to counter and they will have plastic bags to cover for you.

Here we both failed: 

1. I failed to bring my own bag

2. Shop owners are ready to provide plastic bags with extra price.. the extra price for plastic bags is so cheap so I never worried..

I cannot think of much on the 2nd point.. it is up to the shop and government regulations to reduce the plastic usage.. So I started concentrating on 1st point.. bought a shopping cloth bag..

Compostable trash bags

Even after buying cloth bags I sometimes think super market plastic bags are required to put my every day trash.. so I never worried for forgetting my cloth bag for shopping..

Later I come across this compostable trash bags..

Unfortunately good things never advertized..

Stainless steel water bottles

Plastic bottles are reaching the ocean.. we know this.. but we don't know exactly what happens next.. see the video link below..

After watching this video I searched for plastic alternatives so that I feel I am contributing something to save the earth.. found glass, silicone and stainless steel .. I need something good for my health too..

While browsing I read this catchy word "food grade stainless steel".. then found klean kanteen is available in Singapore..

I kept all my plastic bottles in a bag and gave it for recycling.. that's the best I can do now.. and bought stainless steel bottles.. Here are some pics..

Hand kerchief instead of toilet tissue papers

I do this at my home / my office / shopping malls / public toilets. Tearing the toilet tissue papers. Fast.. really fast.. OMG! I don't believe.. I kill a tree per year..

I started using my hand kerchief instead of toilet tissue papers..

Reduced washing machine usage

I clean my cloths thrice a week or twice a week. Smells good!

But the chemical water reaches the earth's bed.. I am doing it.. intentionally or unintentionally..

When I realized this I started using washing machine weekly once..

Unfortunately detergent companies never mention this..

Reduced Shower Time

I clean my body twice a day. Hygienic.. but the soap water reaches the earth's bed! Any ways I have to do this to feel myself good..

What can be done is lesser shower time.. I am trying..

Arjun's 1st Birthday Party - Krishna Radha Arjun Themed - Hotel Cennys Gateway, Salem

We decided to celebrate Arjun's 1st birthday grand and memorable for 2 basic reasons.
1.To arrange a family get together at my home town since we felt alone outside India
2. When my son grows up he will have some memorable pics/vids to look for and cheer

The theme we planned was Krishna theme later we combined Radha and Arjun as well since his name is "Arjun". We planned this theme early and took a photo shoot when my son was 9 months old.

We googled after deciding the theme. We were inspired by the information provided at the blog below:
http://500daysto30s.blogspot.sg/2015/05/bal-krishna-theme-first-birthday-party.html
We felt so good that someone already did like this and we got more idea then.

We booked a Ball Room at Hotel Cennys Gateway.

Hotel Cennys Gateway Front View

This is the entrance of the Hall

Decoration theme was given to Unique Decors

Outside the hall
Ballon Arch is the 1st thing noticeable. They have done it very well. We mentioned the balloon combination should be in White and Blue to match with our costumes ;)

Reception Area
We wanted 2 things at reception table.
1. Peacock Feather - for girls
2. Crown (Silver Color) - for Boys

Inside the hall
We booked a Ball Room at Hotel Cenneys Gateway. It accommodates 250+ people and we requested to put the seats in Theatre Style / Row Style.

We planned the Krishna standee with my son's actual picture. It came well.



Stage Decoration
Many things to mention here..
1. We requested it should look like Krishna/Radha/Arjun theme.
2. You can see balloon standee came well. Especially the White/Blue color combination
3. The Krishna/Radha pictures mixed well in the background screen
4. The Bow and Arrow catches all the eyes



Events
Circulated his photo album to the guests before the event starts so that they wont get bored until the event. Hotel served welcome drinks at the same time which help them getting refreshed.



After that we screened Arjun's age progress video for the guests.



Game Show
We planned it simple and interactive
A child holds a bow and arrow and hits the pyramid of cups
Parents can help them
3 attempts
Winners will get a prize

It came very well. Happy faces all around the room.



Things to note
1. Amenities provided by the hotel was 2 mics and a projector screen
2. We had to arrange a projector separately
3. Lighting equipments was arranged by Unique Decors

Special thanks note
We feel lucky on that day and want to thank in person for below reasons..
1. The peacock feather and crown request was a last minute call to Unique Decors. They have done it very well
2. We requested for gift bags from Unique Decors. But didn't tell much. They them self customized with my son's pictures and packed all our gifts        
3. We forgot the lotus birthday candle. Everyone are looking at the stage. A person working in hotel immediately run outside and bought it from a nearby fancy store



Highlight
Food was excellent. The invitees were thanking us for it.  
I want to share the customized menu here. We had lot of calls with Hotel Management to decide and finalize the menu. It took almost 2 weeks :)

Welcome drinks.

·         Strawberry Milkshake.

Dinner.

 Soup.

·         Lemon Corriander

Salad and condiments.

·         Russian Salad

·         Oil fried Pappad [Home style]

·         Raitha [Onion, Cucumber]

·         Mango Pickle

Starters.                      

·         Chicken 65

·         Mutton Kola

·         Fish Tikka

·         Mixed Veg Roll

Main course.

·         Podi Idly

·         Romali Roti / Tandoori Roti

·         Vegetable Chettinaad  [Karaikudi style]

·         Channa masala (Panneer Masala)

·         Veg Dum Briyani

·         Chicken Varutha Curry (Gravy)

·         Chicken sukka

·         Fish Egg Pepper Tandoori Egg

·         Idiappam with  Coconut Milk

·         Sambar and chutney [Two flavours]

·         Steamed Rice

·         Tomato and Pepper Rasam.

·         Curd rice.

·         Onion Uthappam

Desserts

·         Kala jamoon.

·         Carrot Halwa.

·         Mini Pastries.

Ice cream with sauce and nuts.





Proud to say
1. We were determined not to give chocolates or other pastries as a welcoming / departing gift. 
So we gave new year calenders for adults and piggy bank / pencil box for kids. 

2. We were determined not to buy cloths outside India. So we ordered all our cloths at Indian online site and delivered it to home address.