Hubby's birthday surprises

His first birthday post wedding. I wasn't with him. Just left for a training a couple days before. So I planned a surprise! He still calls it the best one. It was a well planned out surprise. I set out "x" number of gifts and notes along with them tracing to the next for his "x" years old birthday! Well yes! It was a treasure hunt! I called him up on his birthday and after I wished him.. Sent him to the pooja room and asked him to ask God for his gift. Lol! Of course you don't get it right? Obviously he too didn't get it! So ya told him check behind the God frame. And from there he took an hour around the house to find all the gifts. Some in the car too. 

Last year I travelled New York! Gifts were simple that time. A couple of gift cards. 

This year- I baked a chocolate chips and pecans vanilla cake! 

I made his believe there was no gift! And then this happened. 

Surprised! And then this happened... 

I just packed gift boxes inside gift boxes inside gift boxes. And filled with water bottles and nutribars for weight. Gifts was money checks. Haha. 

He wants more surprises next year too. I am starting to plan bigger and better for next year! Stay tuned! 

India away from India

India is a developing country. I live in a city in USA that it the developed version of India. I call it "little India". Any town that is full of Indians and gives the feeling you are living India, I name that "little India". 

Here I am, in little India. Never have I been in such a city- there's nothing (no thing) I can miss from being in India. 

Wanna know how Indian this place is? 

1. The row of apartments in my street are filled with Indians. I know 15 families personally in my apartment complex. (just been here for 4 months now) 

2. There's 4+ Indian grocery stores in less than 2 miles.

3. There's plenty of Indian restaurants and chaat places so close by. 

Tandoori chicken pizza 

4. There's so many Indian communities divided by languages. And more than one for each language. 

5. Plenty of temples. Again these are divided by languages too. 

6. There's clothes shops selling Indian wear. 

7. Kids are learning Bharatnatiyam dance, Carnatic music, karate and chess. 

8. One can find people for stitching Indian clothes and for alternations. 

9. Food! Home cooked food. No kidding! People are selling home cooked food. 

10. Indians selling jewelry and home decor stuff. 

11. Indian event planners and photographers for all occasions! 

12. Indian folks for baby sitting. 

13. There's language classes with exams being conducted. 

14. Indian beauty parlors and specialists for bridal make up. 

15. Indian movies are screened in theatres here. And you get Indian snacks at the theatre. 

16. Festivals are celebrated here. Holi and diwali for example. 

17. Indians baking customized cakes. Especially eggless options available. 

18. There's a desi radio station. 

19. Enter Walmart or Costco and don't be surprised to find desi ghee, kulfi, rotis, parathas, ready to eat Indian curries. 

20. There's 4+ Indian groups of fb, so active with everyday businesses blooming and doubts/ questions asked by newbies in the city to the local Indian population. 

New to the states? You surely don't wanna live here. But gonna settle here? I guess it's a great place! I won't miss India as much anymore. How many of you are jealous of me? And how many of you think it's the worst place to be? 

Comments welcome!!