Positive People Army

Have you heard of the Positive People Army? Maybe seen their founder, Heidi Allen on Global News? Well, she’s a friend of mine and she began a journey a couple of years ago to make the world better and not only better but full of better, positive people.

You’re probably wondering what the Positive People Army is and why I’m suddenly writing about it. This Army is a group of people working to positively support one another and bring positivity back into the world.

“The PPA is a positive group, providing positive posts to uplift our daily lives. The Positive People Army’s goal is simple: to bring positive voices, stories, quotes and videos to a growing army community.”

I’m writing about it today because I believe through Heidi’s vision of a positive world, I too can make a difference in people’s lives by introducing them to this Army.

I’m not shy of admitting I’ve dealt with enough negativity in my life and have taken bits of people’s positivity and guidance to help deal with my issues. And although I am not fully involved in the Army as much as I’d like to be, I wanted to share it with all of you with the hope that the Army’s positivity and support might assist you during a rough patch in your life or inspire you to become a leader in positivity.

“The EMPPACT leadership program is an extraordinary course designed to help you discover yourself and truly learn what it takes to become a positive leader. The program is geared to coach and prepare leaders to successfully run their very own Positivity in Practice Workshops within their community and worldwide. It’s an opportunity to make spreading positivity a new and exciting job or career! The journey begins as a two-day program packed with remarkable leadership tools, powerful exercises, astonishing self-discovery experiences, as well as many “A-HA” moments that will change your life!”

Click the link below to read more about the leadership program and/or join the group on Facebook and gain an Army of support!

Positive People Army Empact Leadership Program

Advertisements

Recipe Of The Month: Aloo Ki Tahari (Potato Rice)

I was recently searching for a potato-rice recipe and stumbled upon an Awadhi recipe called aloo ki tahari (can also be spelled tehri, tayari, or tehari). Awadhi cuisine is a native cuisine of Lucknow, India. I’m from Delhi, so I don’t know much about preparing dishes from Lucknow, but as many of you may know that Lucknow is famous for their biryani, kabobs and cuisines overall.

Of course, I had to try the recipe and of course I had to share it with all of you (lucky you) and this time I even managed to take photos as I was preparing the rice. You’d think after blogging for 9 years, I’d get the hang of photographing or recording my recipes on video. This time I did and I must say I’ve done a good job at it (😂).

Here’s the recipe. Try it out and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

• 1 large onion sliced
• 2-3 tbsp finely chopped ginger and garlic
• 1-2 green chillies finely chopped
• 1 large tomato diced into small cubes
• 1-2 medium sized potatoes diced into cubes
• 2 cups basmati rice rinsed and pre-soaked in warm water
• 2-3 tbsp oil
• 1 tbsp turmeric (haldi)
• 1 tsp red chilli powder (add more for a spicier taste)
• 2 tsp salt
• 4 cloves
• 4 cardamoms
• 1 stock of cinnamon
• 1/2 tbsp garam masala
• 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander
• 4 cups water

Here’s what you do:

1. Chop ingredients, rinse and soak rice in warm water
2. On medium flame, heat oil in a wok (karahi), add cloves, cardamom, cinnamon and allow to sizzle
3. Add onions and cook until golden-brown
4. Add ginger, garlic and green chillies and allow to cook for 2-3 minutes
5. Add tomatoes and cook until slightly mashed
6. Add turmeric, salt, red chilli powder and sauté until oil begins to separate from mixture
7. Add potatoes and sauté until they are about halfway cooked
8. Add water and once it begins to boil, add rice
9. Turn flame down to minimum and cover
10. Allow to cook covered for 10-15 minutes or until water has completely evaporated and rice and potatoes are fully cooked
11. Garnish with fresh coriander and serve with yogurt or mint chutney (need a mint chutney recipe? Check out this one!)
12. Enjoy!

Recipe Of The Month: Varth Wale Aloo Chaat (Potato Chaat For Fasting Days)

Happy Navratri to all celebrating. For those of you that don’t know what Navratri is, you can read about it HERE.

During these nine days of Navratri it’s hard to find and make recipes that are suitable for your fast, plus quick enough to make during weekdays; so here’s one I picked up from my mother. It’s my most favourable recipe and dish to eat during Navratri; although, I don’t fast and just enjoy these potatoes whenever I’m craving something savoury.

Here’s the recipe:

Ingredients:

• 3-4 large potatoes
• 1 tbsp jeera (cumin seeds)
• 3-4 tbsp oil
• 1-2 tsp hing (asafetida)
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 tbsp red chilli powder
• 1-3 tbsp kala masala (burnt cumin powder)
• 1-2 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp chaat masala
• 1-2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves

Directions:

1. Half boil potatoes just enough to be able to poke a knife through it
2. Peel and cut potatoes into medium-small cubes
3. Heat oil in kardai (wok) on medium flame and add jeera and hing
4. Cook jeera until it begins to sizzle
5. Add potatoes and cook until they turn golden brown and are easily mashable
6. Add salt, red chilli powder and kala masala and mix well
7. Lower heat to minimum, cover and cook for 5 minutes or until potatoes are completely cooked
8. Remove from heat, allow to cool for 1-2 minutes, in a mixing bowl, drizzle lemon juice and chaat masala and toss
9. Garnish with fresh chopped coriander leaves
10. Serve hot with raita or on its own
11. Enjoy!

Mom-In-Training: Busy Mom

I haven’t been writing much lately; partially due to being obsessed with playing games on my phone and partially due to being busy with home, work and a major project to redecorate Nid’s bedroom. She’s growing up so fast and I’m just trying to keep up with her.

She had a lot of baby/toddler toys and furniture lying around collecting dust, so I decided to sell whatever I could and buy her some new stuff. She has one of those cute loft beds but it’s currently in the bottom position and I would like her to start sleeping on the top so that I can create a cute, cosy desk area and reading nook for her.

I found some great ideas on Pinterest for her room but there is one particular one that caught my eye. Here’s a pic of it. Sorry I don’t have credits from what website it was on, so if you know who originally posted this picture let me know and I’ll give them credit for it.

Nid’s bedroom walls are a similar colour and so, I’m recreating this room with a few of mine and Nid’s ideas.

I’ve been looking for a purple shag rug for the past few weeks and can not find any that are budget-friendly; so I’m making her one! I found a great video on Instagram showing how to make mats, I’ve decided to take it up a notch and am creating 5×6 rug. It is a lot of effort and is taking quite some time, however, it’s costing me a fraction of the price to make and with being home most of the week, I can afford to take my time to make it for her. Here’s how far I’ve gotten:

I will post pictures of it when it’s a bit further along and maybe even a how-to tutorial.

We have a $250 budget with most of the funds coming from selling her old toys, clothes and accessories. I’m keeping a very tight lock on my wallet because it’s so easy for me to get carried away with buying accessories and decorations. Stay tuned for more updates on her room!

Have a fantastic week and stay blessed.

Xoxo ~ Tamana

6 Years and Going Strong (Amen)

Thank you for being my rock during these years. I look forward to spending the rest of my life with you and making more beautiful memories as we have done so far.

Thank you for being that special person I get to annoy for the rest of my life.

Love you ~ Xoxo

~Tamana

Happy Birthday Hubby

Happy 36 to my darling hubby; my partner in crime, the best father Nid could ever have, my best friend and my support system.

I wish you all the world has to offer and then some. I wish you love beyond you can handle and happiness that never dulls. You are what makes me feel so great about myself and I am ever so thankful to be sharing this life with you.

🎈🎊Happy Birthday, darling! 🎊🎈

Cake and a special card from his munchkin

Munchkin with her dad early this morning blowing candles, cutting the cake and giving him her special card she picked out all by herself.

I Got A Job

As you all know, I’ve been job hunting over the past couple of months. But I’ve also been very picky with where I apply and where I work. I didn’t want to just work anywhere and for the sake of money; I wanted to find an employer where I could be happy, where there was ample room for growth and where I could build a career.

After my clinical training in a long-term care facility, I was definite that I didn’t want to work in that environment. The caregiver to patient ratio is absolutely devastating. I understand that many people or their family’s cannot afford private care, but it depresses me to see one PSW working with 10, 11 or 12, 13, etc. patients.; its unfair to the patients and to the caregivers/PSWs. It’s physically draining for the PSW and the patient doesn’t get all the time, affection or compassion they need and deserve.

Don’t get me wrong, many of the PSW’s that work in long-term care are extremely compassionate and loving but when you have 10 or 11 patients that require you to do nearly everything for them and you’re on time restrictions to get everything done in time for breakfast, lunch, dinner or activities; it makes it hard to spend the time time comfort or reassure the patients.

Long-term care homes break my heart and when I think about why I got into this profession, I cannot make myself want to work like that, even if the money is better than in other places.

So, I searched for retirement homes that were hiring and reached out to friends in the industry to see if they knew anywhere that was hiring and hold behold, a friend came through and submitted my resume at his workplace.

I began interviewing before the holidays at this luxurious retirement home; I call it luxurious because it is so beautifully built and kept, it looks better than many five-star hotels. As the new year began, I was losing hope because I hadn’t heard back from the hiring manager; which was strange because the interviews went so well. Even one of my former office managers whom I used as a referral told me the hiring manager was thrilled by the feedback she gave her. So, why wasn’t the call coming?

The holidays and busyness leading up to them got her schedule completely full and she wasn’t able to get back to me until after the break. Thankfully though, I got the call and was hired as a permanent part-time resident care partner (RCP), it’s a fancier word for Personal Support Worker. But I’m happy with the title and position.

I started working a couple of weeks ago picking up causal shifts here and there and will officially start on my permanent shift starting this Sunday. I’m a little nervous but have faith that I will excel and be one of the best care providers that I can be.

Wish me luck and send me your blessings so that I may provide the best compassionate care to my residents and succeed in the vision I have of myself doing this job.

Xoxo ~ Tamana