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Friday Foto Fiction Prompt
Fiction & Writing#FridayFotoFiction

The Piano – Flash Fiction Writing #FridayFotoFiction Sep 1-6

by tinabasu September 1, 2017
written by tinabasu

Hello beautiful people, welcome to yet another week of #FridayFOtoFiction where we are celebrating the budding writers in all of us who love reading and writing a good piece of fiction. The art of story telling is a powerful medium, I believe. Flash FIction Writing is the tiny steps you take towards the dream of being an author. I myself started my journey of being a published author with tonnes of 5 sentence Fictions, 55 Fictions, 100-word stories and what not.

And if you are anything like a fiction lover you must be enjoying our #FridayFotoFiction Challenge where we are giving out photo prompts and you have to write a 100-150 word tiny fiction around it. It can be anything. Think out of the box and grab our attention. Every week we pick up a Featured Blogger from the participants of the week and at the end of the month we pick up a monthly winner who gets Cash prize! So isn’t #FridayFotoFIction a lot of fun?

Lot’s of announcements coming up later in the post, stay hooked.

Edit: This is Top-Post on Indiblogger Sep 1


Indian Bloggers

#FridayFotoFiction Sep 1-6 Photo Prompt

Friday Foto Fiction Prompt

The Piano – #FridayFotoFiction Sep 1-6 Flash Fiction Writing

What would you do if you lost everything that ever mattered to you?

What if someone tried to take what is yours?

You rebel, you try to save it for yourself.

Is it wrong to save your most prized possession?

No.

We have been together since high school and now I will be with her until the day I live. No one can come in between us.

***

When the police broke open the front door of the tiny apartment stench greeted them. The half decomposed body of a 50 something man laid on the floor. They noticed a portrait of Julia Tate hanging on the wall – the famous singer in the city who went missing several years ago. While combing through the apartment the forensic team was stunned to find out severed human bones inside the piano lid.

The DNA test of the bones matched with Julia Tate.

©Tina Basu

Word count – 150

Last week my story The Teacher featured as the Top Post on Indiblogger. Did you read it?

#FridayFotoFiction Aug 25-30 Featured Blogger

Last week we received a list of 12 wonderful flash fiction writing. We loved reading through all your stories. Every week we are going to pick up a featured blogger among the list. Both your hosts have read all your stories and have picked one whose story moved us the most. Our #FridayFotoFiction Aug 25-30 Featured Blogger is Gayatri who writes at Be-Explorer Gayatri is an explorer at heart and believes life is the sum of all the experiences we collect and wisdom we gain out of them. Gayatri also hold a weekly tiny fiction challenge on Twitter #Tiniature. Read her featured post, Her Path here.

Congratulations Gayatri, flaunt your certificate on your blog and social media.

friday-foto-fiction-featured-blogger-august25-30

#FridayFotoFiction August 2017 Winner

We told you we are cool, and we love writers. End of the month brings happiness and also some Lakshmi! Every month we will pick up a winner who gets Amazon Gift Vouchers! Isn’t that cool?

The only rule to be in this list – Must have participated in all the #FridayFotoFIction Flash Fiction Writing challenge on all 4 weeks of the month – i.e. all the photo prompts of the month.

P.S. In August we gave out only 3 prompts for #FridayFotoFiction

For August our Monthly Winner is Anagha Yatin from Mocktail Mommies. Read her posts below.

1. A new Lease of Life   2. Shimmering Spirit    3. I chose Light

Congratulations Anagha, Your voucher will reach your inbox soon.

friday-foto-fiction-featured-blogger-august

How to participate in #FridayFotoFiction Flash Fiction Challenge

  1. Every Thursday evening we’ll give you a photo prompt
  2. Follow @twinklingtina & @Mayuri6 on twitter and wait for the prompt, Thursdays at 8pm
  3. Write a 100 Word story on the photo prompt. You can go upto max 150 words.
  4. Use the badge at the end of your posts
  5. Link up with Tina or Mayuri
  6. Linky is open from Friday to Wednesday midnight. So you have 6 days to link up.
  7. Read, comment, share on host and co-hosts posts and at least two more posts linked in the party Pro Tip – Networking and commenting is good for your blog’s health and ranks.
  8. Use #FridayFotoFiction in your post and share on social media using the same hashtag.
  9. Every week we will have one featured blogger who is the best reflection of this community spirit
  10. And every month a winner for most active participation

Grab the Badge

Tina Basu

September 1, 2017 11 comments
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Friday Foto FIction Prompt
Fiction & Writing#FridayFotoFiction100 Word Fiction

The Teacher – Flash Fiction Writing #FridayFotoFiction Aug 25-30

by tinabasu August 26, 2017
written by tinabasu

Hola, welcome to another week of #FridayFotoFiction 2.0 where we celebrate flash fiction writing. What is #FridayFotoFiction did you ask? We give out a photo prompt and you need to write a 100-150 word flash fiction on the prompt and link with us. Simple? This week we have an interesting prompt. So join the #FridayFotoFiction blog hop and let’s celebrate flash fiction writing.

And Guess What? This post is Top Post on IndiBlogger – 26th Aug 2017. So Read on.

Indian Bloggers

#FridayFotoFiction Aug 25-30 Prompt

Friday Foto FIction Prompt

The Teacher – Flash Fiction Writing

When her first son was born everyone celebrated. Her mother-in-law couldn’t contain her happiness over the grandson. Mridula herself got the special treatment which she had never experienced earlier.

Two more sons later, she thought their family looked complete – a happy family. Relatives always had said – “Your future is secured, you have three sons to look after you”. There wasn’t anyone who didn’t pamper her sons.

Life is a game of light and dark. Dark clouds hovered over her life twenty years later when the old couple found themselves out in the streets without a roof on their heads. The sons had thrown them out from their own property.

Today this tiny room in the slum is their home and she’s the ‘teacherji’ for the slum’s children and their mothers. She encouraged the mothers to be independent so that no one had to depend on their children later in life.

©Tina Basu

Word Count – 150

#FridayFotoFiction Aug 18-23 Featured Blogger

Last week we received a list of 9 wonderful flash fiction writing. We loved reading through all your stories. Every week we are going to pick up a featured blogger among the list. Both your hosts have read all your stories and have picked one whose story moved us the most. Our #FridayFotoFiction Aug 18-23 Featured Blogger is Akshata who writes at Akswrites.com. She is a Chartered Accountant by profession and a writer by passion and also a doting mom to a toddler. Read her featured post, Ballerino here.

Congratulations AKSHATA, go ahead and show off your #FridayFotoFiction Featured Blogger Certificate.

Friday Foto Fiction Certificate Akshata

How to participate in #FridayFotoFiction Flash Fiction Challenge

  1. Every Thursday evening we’ll give you a photo prompt
  2. Follow @twinklingtina & @Mayuri6 on twitter and wait for the prompt, Thursdays at 8pm
  3. Write a 100 Word story on the photo prompt. You can go upto max 150 words.
  4. Use the badge at the end of your posts
  5. Link up with Tina or Mayuri
  6. Linky is open from Friday to Wednesday midnight. So you have 6 days to link up.
  7. Read, comment, share on host and co-hosts posts and at least two more posts linked in the party Pro Tip – Networking and commenting is good for your blog’s health and ranks.
  8. Use #FridayFotoFiction in your post and share on social media using the same hashtag.
  9. Every week we will have one featured blogger who is the best reflection of this community spirit
  10. And every month a winner for most active participation

Grab the Badge

 

Tina Basu

Add your links in the linky below

Linky open until Wednesday 30th midnight.

August 26, 2017 11 comments
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Friday Foto Fiction - Flash fiction writing challenge. Write a 150 word fiction and link with us. Join the Blog hop!
Fiction & Writing#FridayFotoFiction100 Word FictionMicro FictionShort Stories

The Star – Flash Fiction Writing #FridayFotoFiction Aug 18-23

by tinabasu August 17, 2017
written by tinabasu

Hola fiction lovers, how are you doing this week? Last week we had a lot of fun on #FridayFotoFiction which we re-launched after a little break and saw some wonderful flash fiction. I always maintain sometimes you need to give credit to the authors for teleporting you to a different world altogether with their magic of words. I have come across people who are of the opinion, “I’ll not read this novel – too much work, I’ll wait for the movie!” Duh! Will that be all? Fiction Writing isn’t easy people, it requires imagination and the ability of story-telling.

Film adaptations are fine, and some movies are even better than the novels they are based on, but if you like reading you will agree with me there’s a lot of fun in making these mental images and scenes while you are reading a novel! It gives you entertainment, million moments to ponder upon things, fall in love with characters, imagine the way you want! All that brings us to this week’s prompt.

#FridayFotoFiction Aug 18-23 Prompt

Friday Foto Fiction - Flash fiction writing challenge. Write a 150 word fiction and link with us. Join the Blog hop!

The Star #FridayFotoFiction Flash Fiction

When I landed in this big city, I was starry-eyed. This is the city of dreams, the city of fortune. The 15 year old in me wanted to catch the moon with my hands. The modelling days were tiring. But I never deterred from my focus – the star in the movie world!

I was in love, thought he was my prince charming. He promised me the role in his next movie. I was all over Page 3 with him.

The lights, the make-up, the dresses remain same today. I am the star in the eyes of my audience. Only I’m on stage not the silver screen.

Only they are in a bar, not a theater.

He never kept his promise, he backed out from giving his name to our daughter. Who can I blame for this life? Or was it my destiny to be The Star of the Beer Bar?

©Tina Basu

Word Count 150

#FridayFotoFiction Aug 11-16 Featured Blogger

Last week we received a list of 13 wonderfully crafted flash fictions. We loved reading through all your stories. Every week we are going to pick up a featured blogger among the list. Both your hosts have read all your stories and have picked one whose story moved us the most. Our #FridayFotoFiction Aug 11-16 Featured Blogger is Neha who writes at NehaTambe.com. She is a digital marketer, writer, and a mom. Read her #FridayFotoFiction post BRIDE here

Congratulations NEHA, go ahead and show off your #FridayFotoFiction Featured Blogger Certificate.

friday-foto-fiction-featured-blogger-august11-16

How to participate in #FridayFotoFiction Flash Fiction Challenge

  1. Every Thursday evening we’ll give you a photo prompt
  2. Follow @twinklingtina & @Mayuri6 on twitter and wait for the prompt, Thursdays at 8pm
  3. Write a 100 Word story on the photo prompt. You can go upto max 150 words.
  4. Use the badge at the end of your posts
  5. Link up with Tina or Mayuri
  6. Linky is open from Friday to Wednesday midnight. So you have 6 days to link up.
  7. Read, comment, share on host and co-hosts posts and at least two more posts linked in the party Pro Tip – Networking and commenting is good for your blog’s health and ranks.
  8. Use #FridayFotoFiction in your post and share on social media using the same hashtag.
  9. Every week we will have one featured blogger who is the best reflection of this community spirit
  10. And every month a winner for most active participation

Grab the Badge

 

Tina Basu

Liked the Flash Fiction Challenge? Pin it for later.

Add your links in the linky below

Linky open until Wednesday 23rd midnight

Friday Foto Fiction - Flash fiction writing challenge. Write a 150 word fiction and link with us. Join the Blog hop!

August 17, 2017 9 comments
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thankful for freedom
Life, Musing & AnecdotesThankful Thursdays

Are you Thankful for Freedom? #ThankfulThursday Week 35

by tinabasu August 17, 2017
written by tinabasu

What is freedom according to you? Staying in a free country? Having freedom of speech? Are you thankful for freedom in your life? It is a blessing when you are born in a free country. It is a blessing when you are allowed to live your way. I stay in a free country – but is everyone allowed to live the way they want?

Sometimes I am happy I am born in an Independent democratic country and not somewhere in North Korea or in Syria! I am alive, I am leading a life, unlike the unfortunate people who are caught in the political and communal struggle in these places. I am thankful for freedom I have and let me tell you how fortunate I am when compared to many others across the world.

Thankful For Freedom of Education

I am thankful I am born to parents who value education. I have always been encouraged to take up any field of study and not necessarily become a doctor because my dad is one. Imagine if I was born in a family which thought educating the girl child was of no use!

Thankful for Freedom of Culture

I come from a place where history, culture, art everything is celebrated. You can visit any household in Kolkata and you will find the kids are either learning dance (classical or modern), learning to sing (Rabindra Sangeet/ Hindustani classical/western/jazz), are excellent painters, are doing theatrics, drama, recitation – yes we are close to art and culture and we love it. I am thankful I am born in such an environment that allows and celebrates when I am a Kathak dancer.

Thankful for Freedom of Marriage

I am thankful I have not been forced into marrying anyone whose double my age or who doesn’t have a good education just because I am a girl and the parents ‘sole duty’ in life is to get the daughter married off!

Thankful for Freedom of Work

I am thankful that I was working and my elders in family (or the in-laws, for that matter) never said “ghar ki bahu kaam pe hi jayegi” [daughter in law can’t go to work]

Thankful for Freedom to be a stress-free mom

I am thankful I was not in a state that I had to fear about the sex of my unborn child! If you thought that people fretting over the male child happen only in films and episodes of Savdhaan India, think again. I know people who have kept on trying for a son even after the third girl child. Why is it a problem if you have a girl child? I am the one and only girl child of my parents and pampered way more than anybody else in the family!

Thankful for Freedom to quit work

When I became a mom, it was my decision to quit work and enjoy the precious time with my son. I will not trade his childhood with anything (even after him driving me crazy most of the times). I have faced questions from a lot of places – WHY? Now your career will go for a toss. I am thankful to my husband for giving me this freedom – for quiting the day job and starting up on my own work! I can quit my job, enjoy time with my son, do what I like the most and be my own boss and most importantly pay my bills!

Are you still thinking – “I want a better life”, “I am not happy with the way my life is going”, “I can’t have the iPhone 8 on pre-order” my friend first realize what you have and be thankful for it. Be thankful for freedom that you have in your life which you have not given a thought about.

#ThankfulThursdays Week 35 Prompt

Are you feeling thankful for freedom? Share with us on #ThankfulThursday

thankful for freedom

How to Participate in #ThankfulThursdays?

  1. Follow @twinklingtina  & @misra_amrita on Twitter
  2. Prompts will be announced every Wed 20:00 hrs IST
  3. Write the post and Link Up with Tina or Amrita
  4. Read, comment, share on host and co-hosts posts and at least two more posts linked in the party Pro Tip – Networking and commenting is good for your blog’s health and ranks.
  5. Use #ThankfulThursday in your post and share in social media using the same hashtag.
  6. Every week we will have one featured blogger who is the best reflection of this community spirit

 Add your posts in the linky below

August 17, 2017 2 comments
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Friday Foto Fiction - FLash fiction wriing challenge. Write a 150 word fiction and link with us. Join the Blog hop!
Fiction & Writing#FridayFotoFiction100 Word Fiction

The Free Bird – Flash Fiction Writing #FridayPhotoFiction 2.0

by tinabasu August 11, 2017
written by tinabasu

Hola friends, how have you been? If you have forgotten, Friday Foto Fiction is a Weekly Blog Hop where we celebrate fiction writing. We give you a photo prompt every week and you need to write a flash fiction based on the photo. Isn’t that really easy? 100 Words on the photo and let your imagination run wild.

Yours truly and Mayuri from Sirimiri, co-host Friday Foto Fiction every week. We had taken a little break but Friday Foto Fiction 2.0 is here and we are coming back with many exciting stuffs for you.

So why wait anymore? Get your creativity together and write a 100-word flash fiction right away. 100 words are too less? Okay, we are being the angels here, this time around you can write for 150 words!

We’ll select weekly featured blogger and a monthly winner – for being the most active participant. Monthly winners, you are in for a surprise, wait for it! Your flash fiction can make you the hero.

Read the complete rule and guidelines at the end of the post.

#FridayFotoFiction Prompt

Friday Foto Fiction - FLash fiction wriing challenge. Write a 150 word fiction and link with us. Join the Blog hop!

The Free Bird #FridayFotoFiction Flash Fiction

Everything is looking picture perfect.

My couture bridal gown, the orchids, everything is looking impeccable, just how I’ve been dreaming all my life.

I can hear the giggles of my family waiting outside.

In another 15 minutes, I’ll be out and walking the aisle.

I’ll be walking towards a new beginning of life with him, just how I have been wishing for last three years.

But, can I overlook everything that has happened between us? I have forgiven him when he last cheated on me. I have tried to forget when he was being jealous of my successful career. But can I overlook what I saw last night? He has cheated on me, again!

Is everything really perfect?

I can’t do this! The stage is not perfect, the day is not perfect – nothing is!

I will be the Free Bird again, away from all of it.

I have to go.

©Tina Basu

Word Count – 150

How to participate in #FridayFotoFiction Flash Fiction Challenge

  1. Every Thursday evening we’ll give you a photo prompt
  2. Follow @twinklingtina & @Mayuri6 on twitter and wait for the prompt, Thursdays at 8pm
  3. Write a 100 Word story on the photo prompt. You can go upto max 150 words.
  4. Use the badge at the end of your posts
  5. Link up with Tina or Mayuri
  6. Linky is open from Friday to Wednesday midnight. So you have 6 days to link up.
  7. Read, comment, share on host and co-hosts posts and at least two more posts linked in the party Pro Tip – Networking and commenting is good for your blog’s health and ranks.
  8. Use #FridayFotoFiction in your post and share on social media using the same hashtag.
  9. Every week we will have one featured blogger who is the best reflection of this community spirit
  10. And every month a winner for most active participation

Grab the Badge

 

Tina Basu

Liked the Flash Fiction Challenge? Pin it for later.

Friday Foto Fiction - FLash fiction wriing challenge. Write a 150 word fiction and link with us. Join the Blog hop!

August 11, 2017 15 comments
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smart uses of salt
LifestyleHome & GardenLife & Style

15 Smart Uses of Salt You Never Thought of #SaltHacks

by tinabasu August 9, 2017
written by tinabasu

Salt is such a universal ingredient in the kitchen. No food is complete without a dash of salt. But do you use salt only for food? Did you know you could use salt in thousands of way?. Remember how your grandma used salt in preserving food, or in pickles? This non-metallic mineral is not just a magic ingredient for food but can be used as a key ingredient for several things in daily life. Today I am sharing 15 such smart uses of salt that can do wonders in your daily life. Read on for the #SaltHacks.

15 Smart Uses of Salt – #SaltHacks

smart uses of salt you never thought of

Prevent Fruits from browning

Apples, pears are notorious for oxidizing when they are cut. I always suggest in my food posts that you use a teaspoon of lemon or vinegar on chopped fruits to prevent the browning. But if you have run out of a lemon or don’t have vinegar in your kitchen. Drop the sliced fruits in lightly salted water and voila, your word is done. The fruits won’t brown up.

Stiff Peaks while Whipping

whipped egg white

Getting stiff peaks while whipping cream for a whipped cream cupcake frosting or egg whites for a meringue is a goal for every chef. Add a pinch of salt while beatings egg whites or whipping cream to get quicker and higher peaks easily.

Remove water Rings from wooden Surface

Had guests at home who didn’t use the coasters? Result = ugly water ring marks on your wooden center table! Worry not, why else do you have the smart uses of salt? Rub a thin paste of salt and vegetable oil on the marks and your problem is solved.

Remove Wine Stain

Did you get tipsy and spill red wine on your expensive top? Blot up the wine first with paper towels. Then pour salt over the stain. The salt will drain out the wine from the fabric. Soak the top in cold water for half an hour and wash normally.

Remove Sweat Stains

Sweating too much in the summer? All your favorite clothes now have sweat stains? Add 4 tablespoons of salt in a liter of water and dab the clothes with this solute till the stains fade.

Set Fabric Color

Got a new garment that isn’t colorfast? Use salt to fix it. Salt is used in the textile industry for years to set color.  Fill up 4 liters of water in a bucket, add ½ a cup of salt and ½ a cup of vinegar in it. Soak the garment in it for at least an hour. Then rinse. If the rinse water has color in it, repeat the step. Use only on single-colored fabric.

Keep Flowers Fresh in Vase

smart uses of salt keep flowers fresh in vase with salt

Got favorite flowers for the vase? Keep the fresh till the guests arrive. Add a dash of salt in the water in the vase and keep cut flowers fresh for longer.

Tame Barbeque Flames

Does your barbeque flame turn wild and you have to splash water to calm it down? Sprinkle some salt on the flames in your barbeque grill to calm down the smoke. The salt won’t cool down the coal like water.

Clean Teeth and deodorize Mouth

Mix one part fine table salt to two parts baking soda. Dip your toothbrush in this mix and brush as usual for whiter teeth. Similarly, mix equal parts salt and baking soda in water, use this as a mouth rinse for a fresh deodorized mouth.

Treat Bee Sting

Ouch? Bee stings are terrible, I have faced it and I know it. Dampen the sting area and press some salt to reduce pain and swelling. You can also use plain vinegar to treat the swelling.

Have a Throat Pain?

A good gargle with salt and warm water helps to relieve a sore throat.

Exfoliating Salt Scrub

Use a teaspoon of sea salt with a few drops of coconut oil as an exfoliating scrub for body, feet, and face.

Keep Cheese Fresh

Noticed how molds grow on cheese if you have stored it for long. Yes, it grows in the refrigerator too. Prevent these molds on cheese with salt. Dip a muslin cloth in saltwater and wrap it around cheese and refrigerate.

Clean Toothbrush

Dip your toothbrush in salt water and clean it. This will remove any residue and your toothbrush will last longer.

Drain Cleaner

The kitchen sink drain is clogging up? Pour a handful of salt down the drain followed by hot water. It reduces grease build up and deodorizes the pipes.

There you go, you have #Salthacks for your home and kitchen using the most humble ingredient in your kitchen. I personally use salt for many things in daily life – it’s seriously a good scrub. Do give these a try and let me know if you liked these smart uses of salt.

Liked the Smart Uses of Salt List? Pin it for later.

15 smart uses of salt - Salt Hacks that you can use around the house in your daily life

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August 9, 2017 44 comments
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Welcome! I’m Tina Basu, a parenting author and lifestyle blogger dedicated to making family life simpler, healthier, and more creative. Dive in for practical parenting guides, self-care routines, and fun DIY inspiration. Let's make everyday life beautiful - click my photo to learn more!

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