pink rickshaw

valentine's day cards

"You can't blame gravity for falling in love."-Albert Einstein

Valentine's Day is less than a week away, so it's time to find that perfect card whether its for your bae or your girlfriends. (There are so many cute Galentine's cards here and some of these classroom cards for kids would also be great for your gal pals. This Leslie Knope one has got to be by favorite.). With the growing number of independent artists on Etsy and small stationary shops available online, there is such a great selection of simple yet beautifully designed, cute cards. Here are a few of my favorites:

1. Diamond Donatello: Give your Valentine a greeting with the zeal of Ms. Winfrey herself.
2. Julie Ann Art: I'm pretty sure this card is the one I'll be getting from my husband. Like 40% of couples, it is a topic of discussion in our household:)
3. Paper Source (letterpress): Netflix and...
4. Odd Daughter Paper: I love you more than tacos, is like the nicest thing you can say to someone.
5. Emily McDowell: For your bae. (Emily McDowell also sells this very honest card that I love and used last year)
6. Southern Pest Prints: For your favorite Charles Darwin enthusiast.
7. Julie Ann Art: Who hasn't been in this situation? 
8. Emily McDowell Studio: Pie chart love.

-SD

fashion friday

Believe in your inner Beyonce -Rachel Corcoran

For being the shortest month of the year, February is jam packed with a lot to get excited about (birthdays, Valentine's Day, Super Bowl Sunday). It is also a fashion-filled month. Fashion Week in New York starts next week, awards season is in full swing with red carpet fashion to ogle at and all the spring lines are hitting retail stores. So it only seemed fitting to be sure to feature a few fashion happenings weekly. Since most of the month will be focused on Western fashion with upcoming Fashion Week and the Oscars, I wanted to start off the series with some whimsical, fantasy fashion from India.

Fashion Flashback--Sabyasachi does shoes: India is gearing up for their own fashion weeks later in spring, so to get excited I was looking back at some of my favorite looks from last year. At the top of the list has to be the insane Sabyasachi Mukherjee and Christian Louboutin collaboration used for Sabyasachi's Autumn/Winter '15 Couture show. Eighty pairs were made for the "Bater" collection in August and Sabyasachi described the collaboration in interviews as “extremely Parisian footwear with an Indian baroque sensibility.” The line featured Christian Louboutin’s Devibroda and Victoria styles, with Sabyasachi’s "signature acid-dyed burned-sequin embroidery and tea-dyed cotton threads" on the heels. I'm personally feeling the tasseled pair. Unattainable eye candy in its sweetest form. 

Fashion Now--Beyonce does Bollywood: Have you seen the Coldplay/Beyonce Hymn for the Weekend video? It casually dropped last weekend and quickly stirred up the cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation debate. Honestly, I am on the fence on how I feel about it. It's so complicated, it makes my head hurt. The video is no doubt stunning visually and seems earnest about capturing the beauty and spirit of India. But, does it play up to stereotypes? (aka fire breathing, Holi playing street children..is it always Holi in India in music videos? I'm confused. And my personal favorite, the levitating swami) Yes, it does. So, I definitely do not want to make light of the debate since it is a serious topic but I did want to briefly move away from the heavy stuff to remark on the incredible fashion in the video. Beyonce stuns in her Indian designer gear. (Note: Her looks in the video are also a significant part of the controversy but there is no denying how amazing she looks. I don't care where you stand on the issue. Bow down to Queen Rani B and the team that created her gorgeous look. It should also be noted that Beyonce was dressed by some of India's finest fashion designers which in my opinion, should be appreciated for being collaborative and inclusive.) 
Beyonce is in a custom design from famed Indian designers Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla. In most of her scenes, she is wearing the duo's plunging gown embellished in gold sequins and crystals and is also wearing a gorgeous floor length cape over the dress. The coat/cape according to Khosla's Instagram is hand embroidered in Gota, beads and multicoloured resham and appliqué work. Bollywood starlet Sonam Kapoor also makes a brief cameo in the video and is seen wearing Indian designer Mayyur Girotra and jewelry from Amrapali and Apala by Sumit. Beyonce and Coldplay, of course, are performing in the half time show this Super Bowl Sunday and so it is very likely we will hear the song then. However, I'm pretty sure in light of the controversy, Bey's going to leave the face chain and heavy dupatta at home.  

P.S. If you read the Taxi Fabric post last summer, you'll notice in the video that Chris Martin is actually riding around Mumbai in a Taxi Fabric cab featuring the work of artist Samya Arif. Congrats to the artist and the project for the major international exposure.

image source: Christian Louboutin, Elle India, stills from Hymn for the Weekend by Coldplay featuring Beyonce 

-SD

oh my blog: state of the blog

"We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams." -Jeremy Irons

A very (belated!) happy 2016 and February to you. February is my favorite month and I am really excited about this year as well. I hope you are too. I started Pink Rickshaw back in 2008 which seems like a lifetime ago. Blogging was just taking off and like most people who start a blog, I was just looking for a creative outlet from my day job. Eight years later, blogging is a huge industry with millionaire bloggers, the expected backlash against the "perfect" world of lifestyle blogging* and such an over saturation of sites, that frankly I can't even keep up with my own blogroll. Also, like most of you, I get so much of my content from social media than from websites, that the future of blogging is a mystery. But before you think this is the all-too-common farewell letter, it's not. Call me old school, but I still love making Pink Rickshaw. And even with the overwhelming amount of content out on the web today, I still hope that Pink Rickshaw can bring an unique perspective on mainstream and South Asian topics. So, I'm really excited to give the site some much needed TLC and see how it continues to evolve this year. The quantity of posts last year was fewer than years past but I have to admit that some of them are amongst my all time favorites. In fact, the Indian inspired cheese plate post was the most read and shared post ever. (Cheese lovers unite.)
So, as we start this year, I thank you for coming on this journey with me so far and am super excited to continue to share more fun stuff with you. And, speaking of posts, in case you missed them, here are some of my favorites from last year:

Food: Recipes for some delicious frozen treats like peach ice cream, vietnamese coffee ice cream and kulfi popsicles and how to make small bites like healthy quinoa apps, assemble an unique Indian inspired cheese plate and make homemade ricotta cheese

Art: The Dallas Art Fair, Decorating with globes, the Dallas South Asian Film Festival and the amazing Taxi Fabric project

Fashion: India Fashion Week Part 1 and Part 2 and gladiator sandals that I'm so excited to wear when it gets warm again

P.S. If you followed me on Instagram (@pinkrickshaw) last year, you may have noticed I fulfilled my not so secret desire to start a "style blog" by starting a new Instagram feed for my outfit posts @pinkrickshawfashion. Hope you will follow it (even if it is to see if I ever master the art of taking a flat outfit picture. I'm okay with that.)

(*GOMI is not for the lighthearted. It definitely gave me a new perspective on the world of blogging and how disingenuous it has gotten over the years. While some of the forum activity is very raw and honest feedback, a lot of it is quite mean. So, if you don't want to read harsh criticism and even borderline trolling, I suggest to pass on checking out the site. Here is a great article from a few years ago about the fascinating world of blogger hate.)

-SD

4 minutes: he named me malala

"I don't want to be remembered as the girl who got shot. I want to remembered as the girl who stood up."-Malala Yousafzai

Most everyone knows some aspect of teen activist Malala Yousafzai's amazing story. Whether it is the headlines regarding the horrific attempt on her life and her remarkable recovery, or her outspoken activism for girls' education around the world or perhaps, how she is the youngest Noble Peace Prize winner. In fact most of her story is so well documented in the media, I was very curious what fresh perspective the new documentary, He Named Me Malala would present. David Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, Waiting For Superman) definitely does not disappoint. His film is a lovely but powerful portrait of Malala that definitely covers all the aforementioned headlines (including a goose bump inducing recount of the assassination attempt) but also feels  very intimate by focusing on her family and her everyday life. Malala struggles in Physics class, picks on her brothers, likes looking at Roger Federer online. In a nutshell, "Superheroes: They're just like us!" These small moments of reminding the audience that despite her icon status, Malala is a still a regular teenage girl who was forced to leave her native home and adjust to life in London are touching and the strength of the film. Those moments are beautifully contrasted with footage of her admirable passion, eloquence and dedication when traveling around the world advocating for education for girls.

art: meet the patels

"They say love hides behind every corner, I must be walking in circles."-Unknown

I have to be honest, I was a bit skeptical about if I would like the new documentary, Meet The Patels. After seeing the funny trailer, I wanted it to be enjoyable in support of the  young, Indian-Americans who created it and in hopes there was truth to all the positive buzz surrounding the film. But the cynical and critical side of me curbed my enthusiasm. (Spoiler alert: I did like it and like most reviews you will read, highly recommend it). So, why the hesitation?

Well, for most first generation Indian-Americans, the subject matter of the modern, Indian matchmaking process is familiar, typical and frequently discussed, usually ad nauseam. If you are the child of Indian immigrants and have reached “marriageable age”, probabilities are high that in some form or another, you have been exposed to the process that the documentary explores. You have undoubtedly felt the pressure from your parents to wed (preferably to someone from your regional background).  You know what a biodata is, have deflected relatives' questions regarding marriage prospects, have been asked to attend matrimonial matchmaking conventions, and have definitely been gently reminded about the world's most popular dating/matrimonial website, shaadi.com.  And, if you are part of this special group, you have also commiserated and joked with friends about the complexities and discomfort of the entire process. So having heard countless funny anecdotes on the subject, I had low expectations, anticipating the film to be a documentary-style dive into the matchmaking process sprinkled with the same tired jokes. (I also had no doubt that it would be far more interesting and eye-opening to those not familiar with the process, hence the great reviews). However, after seeing the documentary this weekend, the cynic in me was pleasantly surprised. I absolutely enjoyed Meet The Patels.

4 minutes: taxi fabric

"The fabric of existence weaves itself whole."-Charles Ives

Words that never (or maybe rarely) get spoken entering a taxicab in most countries: "Wow, the interior of this taxi looks amazing!" In fact, boring taxi interiors are just yet another mundane, unnoticed detail of a city dwellers's life. Which is why I was so intrigued by the creativity of designer Sanket Avlani's Taxi Fabric project in India. I first read about Taxi Fabric when it was recently featured in this Good article.  At that time the effort was still seeking support through its Kickstarter page but has since exceeded its fundraising goal and has outfitted ten taxis in Mumbai.

Here's how Taxi Fabric works. The interiors of old (and new) Mumbai taxis are reupholstered with original textile designs created by up and coming designers. It really is an unique way to give exposure to beautiful design in a practical way.  According to Good, "Taxi Fabric acts as the matchmaker between the designers and cab owners, offering to fund the collaboration and set the wheels in motion." Taxi Fabric describes the match beautifully: "The designs that cover the taxi seats are often functional and forgettable and with the outstanding design talent Mumbai has to offer, this shouldn’t be the case. Design, as a job or even simply something studied at school, is unfortunately not widely recognized in India. Older generations don't understand it- design to them, just performs a function. Many people don't know that design can create a real impact. With so few spaces for young people to show off their skills, it's hard to change that perception."

bites: empanadas

"The belly rules the mind."-Spanish proverb

Ok, pop quiz. Name a cuisine that does not have it's own version of a dumpling or stuffed pastry. It's tough, right? There's the Chinese dumpling, jiaozi (of course), ravioli, samosas, gyozas, momos, empanadas, pierogies and at least thirty other kinds. Which makes you think.. are stuffed things in various forms, really the great unifier of humanity? No matter who or where you are, we globally seem to unanimously agree that if you take some filling, wrap it in dough, fry/steam/boil it, that it will likely be delicious.

One of my all time favorite bites is Latin cuisine's version of the stuffed pastry: the empanada. Usually when I have had an empanada in the past, the dough was usually wheat flour based. However on a recent trip to Costa Rica, I noticed their delicious versions were made with a sweet, corn dough. So, when I got back to Dallas, in order to get a similar empanada fix, I headed over to a local Latin cafe, Zaguan. Zaguan is a well-known, casual spot in Dallas for Latin pastries, meals and coffee. The cafe is best known for it's arepa, which if you are not familiar with the dish, is a corn flour dough "turnover" that is grilled and filled with cheese and/or meat. The empanadas are equally as scrumptious, especially the Venezuelan (and Columbian) varieties. You have the option to fill them with cheese, savory beef or chicken and the outside is a sweet, fried golden corn flour dough. For some variety, try their Argentinian version, where the dough is made of wheat flour. While empanadas are customarily eaten for breakfast, they work perfect as mid-afternoon snack or light lunch.

If you cannot make it to Zaguan's, here's a few empanada recipes to try at home.

In case you missed them, some past bites:
"The Jack" Cupcake at Trailer Cakes (Dallas, TX)
Chai Pie at Pondicheri (Houston, TX)
Thai pastries at Bhan Kanom Thai (Los Angeles, CA)
Bread Pudding Whoopie Pies at Society Bakery (Dallas, TX)

image source: SD
(Bamboo utensils from Sur La Table; patterned napkin from World Market)

-SD

oh my blog: podcast round-up (part I)

"I'm trying to make perfect moments. And those generate meaning. If you go deep enough in how to make a moment, very quickly you come to how narrative works - to what we are as a species, how we've come up with telling stories in scenes and images."-Ira Glass 

On Monday, Sarah Koenig was in town as part of the #thinkspeak series and hearing her familiar voice (and that chilling Serial theme music) definitely brought back all those old feels of listening to her fascinating podcast. It also got me really interested in what the the second (and third!) seasons of Serial have in store for us listeners. (Some tidbits from her talk: Yes, she still does talk to Adnan occasionally, she has not listened to Rabia Chaudry's podcast Undisclosed or watched the The Jinx, Serial was actually recorded in her basement, she thought this interview with Jay was super fascinating and she does admit hindsight that there was some flirting between her and Adnan). Since Serial ended, I have been getting my daily podcast fix from the usual weekly NPR staples like This American Life, Radio Lab and Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! but I also tried branching out and found a few others that I thought would be fun to share. I also asked friends and family for some of their go-to podcasts to round out my list.  Some are extremely popular and others are a little bit more niche, but they each can make the daily routine a little bit more interesting. 

Podcast: Start-Up
Soundbyte: The refreshingly sincere deets of building a start-up (Trough of Sorrow and all)
If you listen to podcasts, you have probably seen Alex Bloomberg's Start-Up in the top charts (It was also teased on This American Life, which got many listeners hooked). The podcast which finished up season 2 earlier this summer is one of my personal favorites. Season 1 is the story of Bloomberg's own start-up Gimlet Media and season 2 focuses on the journey of Dating Ring, a dating website started by two women. Both seasons give unique insight into the trials and tribulations of starting your own company told in a chronological, endearing narrative. In today's start-up centric world, you usually hear about someone having a brilliant idea followed by uber (sorry, couldn't help it) success. But what happens in between? This is all that in-between, non-glamorous stuff that no one really talks candidly about. If you're an aspiring entrepreneur or not, it is fascinating to follow (and root for) these people on their mission.

Podcast: StarTalk
Soundbyte: Humorous science, space and pop culture talk from the lovable Neil deGrasse Tyson
This is one of my husband's favorites and his recommendation. And after listening to one episode you will probably agree how funny host Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson (of the Hayden Planetarium and Cosmos fame) is. So even if you're not that into science, you will likely thoroughly enjoy Tyson's banter with co-hosts like John Oliver and Kristen Schall (love her!!) and learn a few things along the way.

Podcast: The Moth
Soundbyte: Beautiful personal stories from regular people (and the occasional actor or writer) like this one
If there's anything we have learned from the enormous success of Serial, is that as humans we long to hear a gripping story. The Moth podcast is quite popular and I was late to the game, but once I found it I was hooked. The podcast features recordings of real people sharing their memorable stories on-stage at Moth storytelling events. Even the podcast description is beautiful: "Moth storytellers stand alone, under a spotlight, with only a microphone and a roomful of strangers. The storyteller and the audience embark on a high-wire act of shared experience which is both terrifying and exhilarating." If that just gave you chills, listen to an episode and you will be hooked too.

kulfi popsicles

"When he sings, it makes me melt like a popsicle on the fourth of July." - Darla in The Little Rascals

This past holiday weekend was ideal for making and enjoying homemade popsicles. And while the options for popsicle recipes are endless, I always gravitate towards this family favorite: kulfi. I have seen my Mom make this easy, modern version of the frozen, dense Indian dessert my whole life. In fact, I had just assumed that was how kulfi must be made without actually knowing the ancient and fascinating process to make authentic kulfi. While making the simplified version (recipe below) this weekend, she described the traditional (and quite tedious) kulfi-making process which made me even more grateful for how delicious the modern version is. The popular Indian street food when prepared traditionally requires slow cooking sweet and evaporated milk for several hours until it is reduced almost in half and gains a very distinct caramelized flavor. Then the mixture is put into tight, enclosed molds that are submerged into an ice-salt mixture in an insulated, earthen pot (matka) and slow frozen. And since this method pre-dates modern freezers,  this is all done without a freezer, people.  While most street vendors in India these days sell mass-produced kulfis, you can still spot some vendors carrying the earthen pots selling the frozen treats made in that method that dates all the way back to the 16th century. 

Easy Kulfi popsicles (Makes about 16 popsicles depending on your mold size)
15 oz. (about 2 cups) ricotta cheese
120z. can evaporated milk
14 oz. condensed milk
Handful of crushed pistachios
(Optional) splash of kewra water or rose water

1. Blend ricotta cheese, evaporated milk, condensed milk until smooth. 
2. Add crushed pistachios and a splash of kewra or rose water (if desired). Stir. 
3. Pour into molds (I used these vintage style popsicle molds) and freeze for at least 8 hours in your freezer or matka;)

If you want to be more authentic, instead of stirring in the pistachios, you can just add them to the bottom (or top) of each mold, before/after pouring the mixture. There are also tons of variations including garnishing with ground cardamom or saffron. Another traditional way to serve kulfi is in a bowl topped with boiled vermicelli (falooda) and rose syrup.

Can't get enough kulfi? Here are some other popular varieties:
Simple kulfi (with cardamom)
Mango kulfi
Falooda kulfi

image source: SD and my Dad

-SD

trend: gladiator sandals

"You don't get to run. You're a gladiator. Gladiators don't run. They fight. They slay dragons. They wipe off the blood and they stitch up their wounds and they fight to live another day. You don't get to run."-Olivia Pope, Scandal

Is a melodramatic Olivia Pope quote on gladiators enough to get your attention on this summer footwear trend? Good. Gladiator sandals, like Ms. Pope, are high drama and need your full attention this season. So heed Olivia's advice when you're donning a pair of these stylish sandals. Remember, gladiators (err..gladiator sandal wearers) don't run. (They leisurely stroll through farmers markets' looking effortlessly chic) They fight. (Usually for a table at brunch) So, before I stretch this any further and start discussing slaying dragons, here are nine reasons to give these chic leg-wrappers a try.

9. The style is (NBD) thousands of years old. How can you not love footwear with a history like this?
8. If like me, you bypassed this trend last summer (or years past because it just seemed like a music festival fad), try them now. I regretted not getting a tall pair last summer (opting instead for ankle length Sam Edelman ones) and was thrilled that high sandals were back this season and wear a pair almost every weekend. The style is at the height of popularity which means that there are tons of variations and materials to choose from (at all price points) and there is a style that is flattering for every leg type. I promise. (If your legs are thinner, try something a little chunkier or with buckles. If you're shorter, try the thinner strapped ones which will create the illusion of longer legs.) If last year was all about practical sandals like Birkenstocks, this summer is definitely being ruled by various forms of the gladiator sandal. The tan sandals I am wearing in the picture (inset) are Steve Madden.
7. Two words: warrior princess

6. Gladiator sandals elevate the simplest dress or outfit. They work best with a flowing, simple dress (midi or mini) and for an edgier look, pair them with denim shorts.
5.  The footwear trend ruled Spring 2015 runways but was also spotted on Fall 2015 runways as well, indicating lasting power into autumn
4. Two more words: shin protection
3. Feel as powerful as you would wearing heels (but with the comfort of flats)
2. No matter how tall you are, they will make your legs look about 12 times longer
1. No one will think twice when you introduce yourself like this

A few favorite sandals (shown above):
Top row: Stuart Weitzman / Steve Madden / Schutz / Stuart Weitzman
Bottom row: Valentino /  J. Crew* / Schutz* / Rebecca Minkoff 
(*A few shorties if you're not quite ready to go knee-high)

image source: outfit images (left to right) Pinterest, Atlantic-Pacific (in the very popular Stuart Weitzman pair), Vanessa Hudgens and Kourtney Kardashian (Wire images)

-SD