Wedding shopping sneak peek...

OK so many of you reading my blog know I have been blabbing about a wedding..yes, my son in DC is getting married to his partner Andy on the 5th of Sept. Even though it is not a traditional wedding...it is still a WEDDING...and I have to do my share of shopping :-) I cannot obviously let too many details cos then it wouldn't be fun for those attending AND reading this (even tho that may be a very small number)..but I have been buying bangles up the wazoo. Bangles are great - they are colorful, the metal ones are beautiful, unbreakable and travel worthy, all girls big and small love bangles, they come in a gazillion varieties and sizes and colors, they make for great gifts ....so naturally I have gone a bit bangle berserk and living in a city like Hyderabad where even your local paan wallah (street vendor) or mochi (cobbler) sells bangles, its easy to go berserk! I also have been buying gifts...for relatives, cousins, nieces, nephews etc! So all you inquiring minds that want to know - and I want to share - here are some pics of my purchases. For the same reason mentioned above.... can only show a few, but you will get the general idea!

Bangles for the big girls.....this is about a tenth of what I bought!

Bling bling for the little girls.....

Saris for moi! Just simple silk ones with little mirrors on them. I am not at all into grand heavy saris so this is about as dressy as I will get! The shopkeeper was aghast that I would wear something so simple for MY SON"S WEDDING! Kept shaking his head sadly and my mother shook her head along with him in commiseration!

Of course Jaipuri jutis to go along with them!

Fab India shirts for the young nephews!

A lovely turquoise blue/orange half sari for my 17 yr old niece!

Silver and stonework jewellry for the young nieces and female relatives...

Toe rings...

And there you have it....a sneak peek of all the shopping I have been doing! I get more fun shopping for others than for myself, and when you find that perfect gift for a person, its really very rewarding! My mother has been my partner in crime...!

Bangle-sellers

I'm taking a sort of blogging break here.....not a complete break but I'm taking the easy way out and just posting a favorite poem of mine. I seem to be in a "bangles" state of mind. Last Monday I did a post on bangles.....and then last week I came across the poem in a book, and felt I must share it.....!

BANGLE-SELLERS by Sarojini Naidu

Bangle-sellers are we who bear

Our shining loads to the temple fair......

Who will buy these delicate, bright

Rainbow-tinted circles of light?

Lustrous tokens of radiant lives,

For happy daughters and happy wives.

Some are meet for a maiden's wrist,

Silver and blue as the mountain-mist,

Some are flushed like the buds that dream

On the tranquil brow of a woodland stream;

Some are aglow with the bloom that cleaves

To the limpid glory of new-born leaves.

Some are like fields of sunlit corn,

Meet for a bride on her bridal morn.

Some, like the flame of her marriage fire,

Or rich with the hue of her heart's desire,

Tinking, luminous, tender and clear,

Like her bridal laughter and bridal tear.

Some are purple and gold-flecked grey,

For her who has journeyed throguh life midway,

Whose hands have cherished, whose love has blest

And cradled fair sons on her faithful breast,

Who serves her household in fruitful pride,

And worships the gods at her husband's side.