"A VERY HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN's DAY!"

A woman has strength that amazes the world. She can handle trouble & carry heavy burdens. She holds happiness, love & opinions. She smiles when she feels like screaming. 
She sings when she feels like crying  cries when she's happy & laughs when she's afraid. Her love is unconditional ! There's only one thing wrong with her she sometimes forgets what she is worth.
Pass this on to every beautiful woman you 
                            Know!!!

"Hi Handsome! My name is Rose"

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.
I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being..
She said, 'Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?' I laughed and enthusiastically responded, 'Of course you may!' and she gave me a giant squeeze..'Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?' I asked.
She jokingly replied...


To read what happens next in this inspiring story visit 'Star Weekly' section or log on to: http://kidscreativezone.blogspot.com/p/stories-by-kids.html

And Yet...

  It  was time for my class XI exams and I didn't know what to do. I remember the trouble that had been caused in my life when my previous year's results were out. The shouting, the screaming and the tears of agony; only my friend had understood me then.  Lavanya and I have been best  friends right from the beginning of our life and through all these years we proved to be inseparable from each other. She was a very bubbly girl who made me forget all my worries about the exams and had always helped me to escape trouble. Lavanya had not particularly been a very good and introvert girl but there was something about her that assured that she'd never do anything wrong. I was so sure of this fact that the call I received that evening struck me with despair.
    "Just don't say anything right now, I've done something wrong. I need to meet you now, come over to my place... " I heard an urgent voice speak through the receiver. Before I could even place the words in my mind to understand what my friend had meant, I heard Lavanya shut me out from  her secret world with a bang. I quickly rushed out of the house, making some fowl excuses about having the need of getting some extra notes from Lavanya.
   Lavanya was alone at home that day and let me in through the back door, least something went wrong. there was a change in her usual calm and composed manner today. She hurried over to shut all the windows and lock both the entrances and pulled up a chair to sit beside me. She seemed to be hesitant to speak  the whole truth and yet wanted to share it with someone. Lavanya had been staying back after school for tennis team selections till five o'clock in the evening and had spotted ma'am.Sengupta, our  class teacher working in the staff room. She made out that she must have been making the last corrections in the papers before handing it over to the Principal. Lavanya had been watching her for a while and when the teacher went out and made for the Principal's office, she ceased her chance. My friend broke down at that point and refused to let out any more information about the evening. But I could very well imagine what must have happened next. Lavanya handed me a piece of paper where she had copied down some of the important questions when our class teacher had left the room for a while. 
    I stared at the piece of paper with disbelief and could feel anger rising inside me. But how could I leave my friend when she needed me the most? I looked into her eyes and commanded her to just destroy the paper but was interrupted by her sharp straight forward rejection to my suggestion.  Lavanya had lost all her senses of thinking and now seemed to have a new plan taking form in her mind. At hearing her proposal to team up in this I looked at her to assure if this was my friend Lavanya I was talking to and not just another crook I was talking to.  I got up and left the deadly house, sick of the hideous things that were in store for someone in there. 
    On reaching home, I shifted my mind from the evening's events and concentrated on my exams, aiming to prove Lavanya that cheating was not the ultimate way to achieve success.
Days passed as swiftly as the winds and I found myself seated in the hall along with my batch mates. Lavanya sat a few rows ahead me avoiding my gaze. Our friendship had come to an end with the beginning our exams. In a few moments the results for our exams would be announced together with some announcements about special awards being awarded to some girls. Our Principal's heavy voice cut in through my thoughts and brought me back to reality. The results were soon announced and surprisingly my name was announced for being awarded the all rounder. As I walked off the stage with my award I stole a look at Lavanya,  who had narrowly escaped the misery of failing. The look on her face moistened my eyes. Walking back to my seat through the heavy applause I should have been feeling on top of the world but something made me want to rewind back to that day and shield my friend from the trouble. The award in my hand made me feel elated, successful at being to emerge out of a cocoon and make a mark as a butterfly. Yet my heart ached to cry out aloud, feeling sad and unsuccessful at being able to prove as a true friend and to help my friend out of the wrong done.
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By
Shruti Chakraborty




http://www.facebook.com/closeupindia

The Close Up "Fire-Freeze" Challenge - what's your story?

What's Your Story?

Have you ever had a magical moment when you felt two strongly opposite emotions? Love/Hate? Elation/Sadness? Anger/Sympathy? The desire to move forward yet run away at the same time?

The 1st and 2nd prize winners will be chosen by the minty-fresh !!
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Close Up team based on the genuineness of either your story or one posted by a reader as a comment.
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The 3rd prize will be awarded based on the number of votes you get on IndiVine.
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Voting opens on the 1st of February, 2011.
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Contest closes on the 9th of February, 2011.
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Winners will be announced on the 14th of February, 2011.
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THE PRIZES



Rs.40,000/- 1st Prize      So, Hurry up and send usyour
                   story at kidscreativityzone@gmail.com
Rs. 25,000/- 2nd Prize

Rs.10,000/- 3rd Prize

Kites!

Dear Readers,

On the occasion of Makar Sankranti we would like to wish all our readers A Very Happy Makar Sankranti.  May you go higher & higher, to more & more Light and never to Darkness.

On this auspicious day make sure you don't forget to fly colourful kites to mark this joyous day no matter in which part of the world you live!

Keep Smiling and Enjoy Life!!

--The Editor

         _____________________________________________________________________

Here is a recipe for you to enjoy on Makar Sankranti!!! Please send us an feedback, comments or any stories you want to share at kidscreativityzone@gmail.com...

                                                               

                                                                     Suji Pithe Puli

        Ingredients-

1. 500g Samolina
2. 1 Kg Milk
3. 200g Sugar (As of your taste)
4. Jaggery (optional)'
5. Cashews, raisins, pistachios for garnishing
6. Crushed cocunut

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       Method-

1. Put a pan on heat and pour crushed coconut and jaggery or sugar in it. Mix it well and then keep it aside.                                            
2. Now put another pan on heat and pour samolina (suji) and a glass of water into it. Mix them well and keep them in a bowl.
3. While the mixture is hot make a smoothe dough out of it then take a small portion and make a hole in the side. Pour khoya or crushed coconut into it.
4. Pour milk into a vessel and put it on heat to boil till the milk thickens. Now pour all the samolina balls into it after 10 minutes. Boil for 10 minutes and then garnish with cashews, raisins and pistachios.
5. Serve hot in large bowl to all dear ones!

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Thanks to All

Dear Readers,

Today we would like to thank all of you who have contributed to our blog by sending your stories, drawing and letters.

Please keep writing to us and share your creative mind with us and other readers!!

Keep smiling and enjoy...

--The Editor

Festival of Hope

              FESTIVAL OF HOPE

Our life is a series of ups and downs. We never know what life has in store for us the next moment.   Let us now discover what is it that gives us the courage to move on? Why do we take chances in life even when we know that we might fail? This feeling in our heart is nothing but a ray of HOPE, that gives us courage to move on and fulfill our dreams. Untill the ray of hope burns in our hearts, it keeps giving us confidence and assurance to move on and make it to our destination. 

"God helps those who help themselves", we often call GOD to help us but in the busy schedule of life we overlook the small signs that GOD gives us. We must remember GOD helps us by sending us these small signs of hope, now it is our turn to help ourselves and decipher what His signs mean.A word of encouragement from our friends, a pat on the back from someone or a smile from a child gives us hope to DO OUR BEST.
So, we at kids creative zone would like to celebrate the first week of New Year as The festival of Hope for a new beginning filled with love, hope and happiness.

            Here are some wonderful New Year messages from some of our readers. Please send us any special messages you have received this New Year at kidscreativityzone@gmail.com !!

The highlights of 2011-
      The first day is 1.1.11
              The eleventh day is 11.1.11
                    The 305th day is 1.11.11
                        The 315th day is 11.11.11

WISHING ALL MY FRIENDS A VERY HAPPY NEW 2011!! MAY IT BRING NEW HOPES, DREAMS AND A FRESH BEGINNING!
               ________________________________________
"New day"
"New Morning"
"New Hopes"
"New Plans"
"New Efforts"
"New Success"
"New Feelings"
I pray to God to give everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR of 2011!
                                   _________________________________________

May this year of 2011 be
A year of Health and Happiness
A year of Wealth and Wisdom
A year of peace and Prosperity
A year of Glee and  Glow &
A year of Love and laughter

May everyone have a wonderful year ahead and a Happy New Year!
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Keep Smiling and giving Hope to others!

---The Editor

WELCOME 2011!!

Dear Readers,

As you know that we are soon going to end a fun filled year and make a new begining with 2011! So why don't we forget all our troubles and look forward to doing things that we have forgotten to do this year? This New Year, we at Kids Friendly have decided that our resoloution for 2011 is to "Be Happy and Make others Happy! 
So, what about you? We are sure that you too have made some resolutions to begin this new adventurous year... We'd love to know what you plan to do this year, so please do send us your love and don't forget to share your resolutions with us!

Wishing all our readers Best wishes & A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

---The Editor

Pet Power

Pets form a great part of our daily life. Although they cannot speak to us but they are often responsible for our happiness, endless hours of joy and heal our hearts in hours of sadness. Have you ever noticed that whenever we are sad they are the ones who bring a smile on our faces? Or, when they are hurt they do not scream in pain like us or run to the hospital but lick themselves till their wounds are recovered. Every animal has its own language but they all have something in common : THE POWER TO HEAL, which is what makes them the most special beings in our lives.

Here are some real life incidents that some of our readers that experienced where they were mesmerised by their pets love and think that they do really have the power to heal...


 

"My dog is named Tasha. She is a staffy boxer cross and we rescued her from a pound when she was a puppy. She is scared of thunderstorms and fireworks and goes to hide in any small dark space she can find. She likes to get under my bed or behind the lounge and one day she got into mums wardrobe.

We are fostering a calico cat at the moment. She is 1 year old and was resued from a pound. She likes to play with the crickets that get out of the breaded dragons tank. She also likes to watch the birds. Sometimes she does this too closely and knocks the cage over which scares everyone."

Love,
Dakota, Australia
(This Story was shared by Dakota, a member of http://www.epals.com/)

 ""My guinea-pig was called Pip-Squeak and we had him for about 18 months.We got him from a friend.It was mine and  my brother Shai's and we had a rabbit which was my sister Lilee's, but  he died one  night of old age .So Lilee asked to look after pip-squeak so we let her.After that my brother Keihan came round for 3 nights(Keihan lives with his dad).Keihan put him in his run but left the lid off and later we found him dead in the corner of the garden because one of our cats got him.

I felt really sad and felt sorry for pip-squeak because it's such a horrible way to die.""

--Love,
Daisy from England
(This story was shared by Daisy, from http://www.epals.com/)

SARAH & LUCY



  ""Shanti, my cat, recently gave birth to two baby kittens named Lucy and Sarah. She made the veranda her home and took shelter there with her babies. She'd often come meowing to us for food and milk for herself and for a long time hid the kittens from us. After a few days when the kittens had learnt how to walk she took them out of the hiding and let them play around. She would come and ask for fish and milk more than often and carry whatever she got for herself back to her kittens.I'd spy on them a lot of times from the window watching as Shanti sat on a mat while her kittens ate and drank, then when they had finished she would lick the leftovers on the ground.

One evening while we were enjoying tea and snacks we heard Shanti's loud shrilling voice call; she had just finished a bowl of fresh milk and so we suspected that she was just calling  the kittens.

After a few minutes when the cries still did not stop I decided to open the door to check what had happened...I got the shock of my life to see the kittens clinging from the strong netted door. They must have tried to climb it but now couldn't come down! I slowly picked each of them and put them down beside Shanti. Sarah and

 Lucy were panic stricken and at once ran back to the veranda but the love and thankfulness in Shanti's eyes filled my eyes with tears. ""

---Shruti Chakraborty

    India
   

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"""I had been promised a pet for a gift by my mother on my ninth birth day and was very excited. I had expected to see a small puppy when I returned from school that day...I looked everywhere but when I saw none I finally asked my mum about my promised gift.

She smiled at me and told me he was waiting in my room. I rushed to my room only to find  a big cage placed on the side table with a small mouse waiting in it. Seeing me he started squeaking loudly as if he was told that I was his new friend or master. As for me, I was highly disappointed... A few days passed and when I still didn't name my pet mouse, my mum named him Bink. Day after day as I came home from school Bink would
welcome me with a few high squeaks. He was a clever mouse and had managed to figure out how to get out of the cage and often sat on the table watching me.  I finally gave up and decided that we could make friends after all. That was the beginning of our friendship and sadly it had to end just two weeks after. Two weeks later a pet show was to be held in my school and all boys and girls with pets were allowed to compete. I had trained Bink to do few tricks, hand stands, flips and some funny poses. And guess what? He won the 1st prize and the prize for the most unusual pet!  We walked back home with a glow in our faces.  That night I heard Bink growling as he slept, I didn't much of it and went to sleep too, only to find him dead the next day....
I really miss Bink and did not ask my mum for anymore pets. Bink was the most special being in my life and a great companion. He brought smiles on my face when I was sad and we had lots of fun playing together..."""

--Henry
Ghana
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""My parents had just got divorced and my mum, sister and I moved to a new apartment in Houston. My dad had moved to New York and I hardly had any conversations with him. He did write a few mails and letters sometimes but that was not enough! I longed to get my parents back together and could picture ourselves living peacefully in our old house.  Just after the separation, my mum had sold the house and we moved to a cramped up apartment while dad moved back to New York. Natalie, my sister was miserable too and missed our old life...

That evening, bored and sad, Natalie and I went for a walk in the nearby park, wandering along the place. When we came back home we found mum standing over a huge package with big air holes with a note in her hand. "It's a package for us but it doesn't say who has sent it." she said puzzled. I quickly opened the  package, only to get the biggest surprise of my life! A big bouncy puppy jumped out of the package and started hopping around. Natalie ran after him and I followed her behind. As for mum, she looked sick and tired as if about to cry out with frustration. We pleaded mum if we could keep it and after a lot of arguments she finally agreed!  We debated between the name Francs and Dollar for our little pet. After a lot of thinking mum decided that Francs was a better name for the little retriver. Francs was a little mischievous puppy always landing himself in trouble. He would often get into trouble with our neighbour Mrs. Gardner, who complained about the amount of noise he made. But she loved him all the same, giving him little treats sometimes. The toughest period of our life was made easy and fun by Francs. I secretly sometimes called him my magic dog, after all, he had appeared by magic...

Today is Francs' eighth birthday and dad has come to celebrate with us. Even though several years have passed, Francs still remains the magic dog in my life, who had healed all my sorrows in my time of need.""


---Benjamin
U.S.A

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Escape to Chalsa!

As it was festive time for India during Diwali  Durga Puja,  we at kids creative zone decided to explore a new place and have some fun. Now, what better place could offer us luxury and some adventure at the same time other than  the Sinclairs Retreat at Chalsa, Bagdogra? The mesmerising scenery at Chalsa took our breath away, leaving us awed at the beauty of nature. We had a wonderful stay at the Sinclairs retreat, enjoying some of their great facilities like- outdoor games, a great swimming pool, the luxurious rooms and spas.We had a lot of fun visiting the Champamari Wildlife sanctuary and spotted some rhinos and elephants touring around with their herd.Birds like peacocks and peahens were also seen .

We were also very lucky to have spotted a cheetah hiding behind a tree. The next destination on our list was Lava and Loleygaon where we toured round Buddhist monasteries and saw tea gardens. We visited various Buddhist temples and learnt a lot about the culture and daily life of the inhabitants of

the town.