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A bag for your memories on your next trip!
By Sheba Siddiqui
Follow Sheba on twitter @shebasid and online at: www.shebasiddiqui.com
As a young child, I remember the feeling of knowing I was about to go on an airplane. I would be up all night, giddy with excitement. I’d have my own little backpack packed with all the things I deemed necessary and important for the flight. And I would imagine all of the adventures I would go on in the coming days and weeks. I recently wrote about my memories of traveling to India here.
I now see that same excitement in my own children. They giggle and whisper about our upcoming trip for days. They pack everything they can stuff into their backpacks and are practically skipping through the airport on the way to our check-in gate.
One name I can always trust when we fly is British Airways. They have never let me down. Whether it’s extra baggage allowance, catering to my food restrictions or even another pair of hands helping out with the babies in-flight, British Airways is always there. Plus it’s always nice to cozy up with a blanket and watch a Bollywood movie when the kids are (finally) fast asleep in their seats! You can learn more about the British Airways travel experience to and from India on their website.
As I mentioned in my last post, British Airways recently launched their #WelcomeOfHome campaign with this heartfelt video. It excited me for my own trip back to India with my newest little one!
In preparation, British Airways has been kind enough to send me off with a carry-on full of essentials including a Longchamp bag, that is both stylish and practical, because I can fit diapers, snacks and all kinds of books, toys and crayons in it to keep my little ones busy. For the book lovers like me, there is a Kindle Paperwhite and the foodies can enjoy the tiffin box and the spice kit.
The good news is that YOU can win a British Airways carry-on as well with the following items:
*A gorgeous Longchamp carry-on bag
*Kindle Paperwhite E-reader
*Tiffin Box
*Indian spice box
*Mehndi Henna Kit
*Incense Box and Sticks
*Indian Spices and Recipes
*Calling Cards
I’ve come a long way in terms of packing from my first child to my third. We used to pack the whole house every time we traveled with my eldest son ‘just in case’. Over time, I’ve learned to scale it down (packing a humidifier is NOT necessary!) and bring only the essentials. With British Airways baggage allowance, I know we are in good hands and with this carry-on, you will be too!
To enter, leave a comment below telling me in five words or less, what going back home means to you or how it makes you feel!
*Contest closes at 8:59pm EST on December 14, 2014. Winner will be chosen at random and will be notified by email and have 24 hours to respond. If winner does not reply within 24 hours, another winner will be randomly selected. Winner must live in Canada or the United States to qualify. Only 1 entree per individual. Winner will be drawn randomly through random.org and will be contacted Dec 14! You must be 21 years of age or older to participate. A selected entrant may be required to provide proof that he/she is the authorized account holder of the email address associated with the selected entry. Former and current staff of masalamommas.com are not eligible to enter.
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Fresh air, fruits and vegetables.
Laughing, sharing stories and hugs!
Traditions, Spiritual, Aromatic and Bollywood!
Family, love, culture and traditions.
Travelling home means a full heart for me – happiness, excitement and content – to be with my family! It’s amazing how much you truly value “home” once you live away from there!
Peace of heart ♡
Being pampered and hearing stories.
Love and compassion at its best!
Rediscovery from whence I came
“Going home” means traveling, whether for minutes or days, to be with family members. It doesn’t matter if it’s to a house or a resort or a deserted island – if my family is with me, then I am “home”. The feelings of comfort, security and acceptance come from the people, not the location.
Experiencing my history!
Spirit, vibe, energy, humanity and life
Laughing, family, eating and chai!
Culture, family, food, warmth, jalebis!
Family, food, laughter, ocean breeze.
Late night chai sessions, laughing and catching up.
Great times and new memories!
Family, roots, relaxing, exciting, food
family, old friends, yummy food.
Celebrate memories old and new
Traveling home, is Family, love, fun and most importantly mom!!
Family, fun, and delcious food!
Family, Love, Laughter & memories
Memories and updated family photos 🙂
With newborn, it’s the best!
Going home means rediscovering my roots and heritage
Smells, sights, sounds soothe soul
Family, love, culture, traditions, and of course delicious food!!
Memories that never fade
Togetherness, fun, loved, nostalgia, mom
Hugs from parents is home!
Celebrating heritage, learning traditions, eating!
Colourful, cultural and historical.
Childhood memories, traditions, love, bittersweet.
My heritage come alive
Culture, Family and my roots
Connection, heritage, food, traditions, fun
Parents accepting my biracial family!
Relax, homecooking, plan next trip
Family, food, traditions, heritage, culture
Family, halal food, and shopping!!!
Coming home is going to mommys, so all love, home cooking, and total relaxation!
Home is where I belong!
Music & colours, friends & family
Love, Happiness, Comfort and Relaxation
Family , childhood friends and moms delicious food.
Family, Love, Traditions, Food & Happy Time
A beautiful chaos! 🙂
humbled, happy, spicy, proud, chai
Journey to Culture and Beauty!
A warmth not found elsewhere!
Going back home is like getting back close to nature, rain, warmth, cuddles and pampering from mom n dad, the smell of my room , the dress I used to wear , the amazing finger licking dishes I loved and many more …
A journey full of surprises.
Being with my loved ones.
Family, tradition, love & peace!
Great food, better people, warmth.
Acceptance, nostalgic, loved.
No place like home.. HEART.
Reconnecting with culture and heritage!
An overwhelming sense of belonging
Family, love, smiles, food, fun!
Delicious Home made fresh Food
Being with my true love!
Comfort, unconditional love, a hot cup of chai in my pj’s and late night laughs.
Warm weather and good food!
Memories, Traditions, Love, Family, Friends
Unconditional love
Comfort, love, laughter, serene, happy
Kindness, Family, Aroma, Spices
Quenching memories from the past
bonding, laughing, love and happiness
Crowded. Spiritual. Family. Appetizing. Soul-Lifting
It’s home, away from home.
Family, food, fun and shopping 🙂
Going home is planting both feet firmly on the ground in that place of sunshine and endless memories.
Laughter, friendship, family, love, food!
Love, joy, peace, trinquality, excitement
Culture, Family, Love and Adventure
Mothers Love, quality family time, Delicious food, & lots of shopping 😉
Food yummy fresh food
Going to see my family.
Mommy, daddy, brother, laughter, tickle fight
Meeting family n friends, yummy food, lots of love n laughter, fresh air n lots of shopping!!!
Family, friends, sunshine, smiles, spices.
Comfort, love, happiness and belonging!
Relishing in family time and food!
Appreciating my roots and everlasting memories!
Home cooking, relaxing, fun and friends!
To love and be loved.
Being with my family.
Remembering my childhood, grandparents, and cousins… all the amazing cherished relating to our heritage and culture and ofcourse the yummy food 🙂
Family, friends, food, fun, fellowship.
Love, laughter, madness, stillness, whole.
family, love, shopping, rikshas, great food
Nostalgia, shopping, quality time with loved ones!
Excitement, love, happiness, memories, & beautiful-chaos!
🙂
Moms cooking, childhood and freedom
Grounded, happy, and familiar
Going back home means A warm hug. It’s like being in your mother’s arms
home makes me feel alive
Laughter, love, memories, warmth, family.
Going home is eating that ice cream cone.
Going home means …..having a smile on my face with an overwhelming feeling of happiness in my heart.
Family, best friends and relaxation
Family, friends, love and laughter:)
Being pampered by family
Weddings, Jalebi-vala’s”, Bisleri, Family, Beauty
Energy that touches my soul..
Engulfed by love and laughter
Childhood grandparent memories, belonging, enrichment
Warmth, tradition , family & childhood .
Hi Sheba, as always great read. Home is family for me, cant wait to be planning many trips home, hopefully that includes some time with your family as well. Hope you are well. :).
Chai, marigolds, silk saris, autorickshaws
History, family, love, humbleness… HOME.
Finally feeling pampered!
Family friends fun food
Nostalgia, childhood, laughter and family
Excitement, adventure, family,love and food
comfort, coffee, snow, clementines, music
Going to India makes me feel like “that is where I belong”.
#WelcomeOfHome
Tons of family fun time!
Seeing where mom grew up
Balance, purity, spirituality, love, support
unconditional love, warmth, laughter and lots of memories.
Home’s where the heart is.
mirrors to my past and memories for my future family of generations
Knowing where I come from.
Family, food and good laughs
Peace, tradition , food and heritage.
Surround by my siblings #welcomeofhome
Rest and relaxation
Friends and family loving me<3 #WelcomeOfHome 🙂
Laughter, happiness, peace, contentment and great food!
Going home means comfort, familiarity, and love.
Comfort; warmth; love; laughs; content.
Family, great food and memories 🙂
sea air, peaceful, rejuvenation
Happiness, family, dreAm come true
adventure, discovery, flexibility, and memories
Good food, friends and family
Love, laughter and sharing food