Cupid Games 2015: The Flirty Face-Off #CupidGames

Dare : Ask your crush out on a Valentine's date by getting creative with your Facebook profile pic and cover photo. The quirkier your pic, the bolder your move!

So this campaign is by far the most innovative and exciting one I have come across. Valentine's Day is almost 2 weeks away and I am thrilled that Indiblogger & Close Up have given me a chance to do something different for my love this year!

I am a social media manager by profession, so obviously, Facebook and twitter are my weapons. :P Fortunately, my guy also is active on Facebook and is always checking notifications when free. Otherwise this dare would have probably been a flop show. Now the interesting part is, he is not much into public display of affection aka PDA. So I am very sure he is going to be very very surprised at what I am about to do!

Guys usually have ask out girls for proms, dates or to be their Valentine, at-least that is how it commonly is in our country. So I think its quite zany and unconventional when a girl, openly publicly on a platform like Facebook, where friends, friends of friends, relatives and everyone are present; asks out her guy to be her valentine! Check the video:

Do something unique, innovative, creative even crazy for your love this Valentine's Day and don't commercialize it!

Also check out my other blog for #CupidGames here.

Disclaimer: This blog post is a part of Indiblogger & Close Up's #CupidGames 2015. 

Use Your & (And)

When I was in school, they said I could either be good at studies OR at extra curricular activities. I proved them wrong by being a bright student AND good at other activities like arts, crafts, singing, elocution and debates. By being the teacher's pet AND playing pranks too.

When I was in college, they said I could either pursue BA in psychology, which I was interested in OR I could pursue a degree in graphics and animation, which I was equally keen on learning. I showed them that it is possible to do both. I did my three year BA with a six paper n psychology in the final year AND a complete course in graphics and animation.

When I graduated, they said I could either get married or pursue a career. Why? Do men have to choose any one? Do married men don't work? Or men who work don't marry? I proved them wrong by being happily married, an obedient daughter in law AND pursuing my career in digital marketing.

They said I could either work for someone OR work independently. Wrong, I did work for an agency AND continued to write blogs, articles, content and the sort.

They said I could either be a good mother OR keep working and climbing on my ambitions. Today, I am a mother of an infant AND I am doing freelance work during my maternity leave post which I will resume work, mainly so that I can be a good mother and provide my child with the best of everything.

Who made these society rules may I ask? Why is a woman always seen in the role of a daughter, wife or mother? Why can't she be all this AND someone she wants to be? I am really grateful to my parents who let me fly like a free bird, follow my heart, make my own mistakes, learn from my own experiences.

My elders tell me how they wanted to do something but were forced to get married. How there was a time when Indian women were not ALLOWED to work, or to follow their heart or do what they want. I'm glad times are changing. I'm glad we get to USE OUR AND.


Disclaimer: This post is a part of #UseYourAnd activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette Venus

Postpartum blues and how I overcame it.

About three months ago, on the auspicious day of Dhanteras, I was blessed with a baby boy. The journey the 9 months of pregnancy was an absolute joy and I was totally excited about this new addition to my life and family.

Little did I know that things would not be as merry as I thought. I was told I would have a normal delivery, but because the baby passed meconium inside the womb, am emergency c-section had to be done. I had done all my research on normal and had hardly any clue what to expect in a surgery, and I had never ever been admitted to the hospital ever before this, in the 25 years of my life. So this came as quite a shock and was the most traumatic event of my life.

By God's grace the baby was born healthy. I did have blood loss during the surgery and hence had low hemoglobin levels and weakness, in addition to the pain & discomfort due to the operation.

Everyone was thrilled at the arrival of the baby. Some because they were now great-grandparents, some because it was a boy (Its India after all), some because he was born on an auspicious day and some simply because they already loved this li'l munchkin. Everyone was elated, except me.

I hated myself from day 1. I just could not get myself to be thrilled and completely filled with joy the way any new mother is supposed to be. I passed fake smiles to everyone; when asked how do I feel I would start counting a list of my discomforts.

I would actually be relieved when the nurse would take the baby away for bathing, changing nappies etc. I thought it was the hospital environment that was causing the blues & things would get better once I was back home. On the 8th day we got discharge and I was home, but instead of getting better things got worse.

It annoyed me that people just asked about the baby & not me. I who could not sleep with the lights on was suddenly afraid of darkness, who enjoyed solitude could not bear being left alone in the room. I saw myself in the mirror and could not recognize myself. My eyes reflected back a hollow emptiness. I knew something was wrong with me.

I searched for the symptoms of postpartum anxiety & depression and seemed to have the worst symptoms. It said that the blues are common & go away on its own after a couple of weeks. If they don't, you might need professional help.

Things got worse. I started having horrid thoughts of my baby getting injured or something happening to him. I even used to day dream and imagine my life before his arrival, how comfortable and great everything was. I feel ashamed and I only know how much I hate and loathe myself for these thoughts that I had no control on and whatever I do could not push out of my mind.

I prayed to God, I tried to divert my mind by keeping myself busy. I talked to my loved ones - mom, dad, husband, relatives. They sympathized with me, told me that a woman's heart gets weak post delivery and it will be okay. In a few days my mom saw that nothing was getting better, she saw me cry and be upset all the time. She asked me if I wanted to visit a doctor (she herself is a depression patient). I wanted to fight it, I definitely did not want to take any kind of pains. Because studying psychology in college and looking at my mom, I know that once you are on pills, it is a lifetime thing. I did not want to be a living zombie. I thought of ending my life too, but then who would care for my baby? Also, the surgery experience had a left a phobia of pain and death in my head. 

Along with all this I got fever, urine infection, nasty cough, sore nipples and stuff. This definitely did not help my mental situation. Overall, I was one damn frustrated lady. And the whole Indian thing of not going out till 40 days kept me from venturing outside too.

 I had a couple of friends and acquaintances who were new mom themselves and were thoroughly enjoying it. I felt so jealous. I read other new mom experiences online. I was surprised, even relieved to see that I am not the only one who had such pathetic thoughts for their child. There were other woman who were suffering just like me and who confessed openly. They also said that it eventually went away. For some it was when their baby smiled or caught their finger, for others it was after many months even years.

For me it was the day I left my baby at home and went out. Two instances actually. The first one was on our anniversary (baby was a little over 1 month old). I had left him with my mom and me and my husband went to a nearby lounge to chill for a bit. I thought I would be happy to be away from him for sometime. For the first 30 minutes it was good. But then I started feeling weird. You may call it withdrawal symptoms. I called my mom to check on him, he was playing all was fine. So we stayed. Then after another 45 minutes my mom called to say he is crying a lot and I should come back. My heart starting beating very fast and we rushed home. I was so glad to see my baby. This, was a first for me. 

The blues went away completely when on another instance I left him for 4 hours when I had to go attend my best friend's wedding. I did not want to take him because it would be way too noisy for his delicate ears. The minute I reached the venue, I could not stop thinking about him all the time I was there. What must he be doing, is he crying, is he searching for his mother, is he sad? I called my mom who was babysitting him again every half hour. Finally, I apologized to my friend and left. 

I hugged my baby the minute I got home. I told him I loved him. I knew that he is a piece of my heart and soul I simply cannot do without. I thanked God for helping me overcome the blues. He's a happy and healthy 3 months now and babbles and coos and smiles and laughs and I just simply cannot get enough of him.

If you've had postpartum troubles too, do share your experience with me, I would love to hear and talk to you. And please do not judge me for what happened, if you did not go through it, you will never understand it.

Eggless Chocolate Strawberry Cake Recipe

Hi guys!

So on demand (because if all the images I keep posting on social media) I have been asked to share the recipe for chocolate strawberry cake (eggless). What I love about this recipe is how easy it is to bake and the ingredients are stuff that you will usually find in your kitchen. Yes, it does not involve milkmaid or eggs etc.

Makes 1 small cake

Ingredients:

For Cake:
1 cup plain flour (maida)
1/4 cup cocoa powder
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon soda-bi-carb (meetha soda)
6 tablespoon curd (dahi)
5 tablespoon milk
5 tablespoon melted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 box strawberries (cut 3/4 quantity into small pcs for filling and use 1/4 for decoration)

For Truffle Icing:
1 cup fresh cream
1 cup chocolate (dark or plain as per your liking)
Instructions- Heat the fresh cream in a pan till it starts to boil and immediately pour over cut chocolate pieces. Mix well.

For Butter Cream Icing:
1/2 cup icing sugar
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoon cocoa powder
3 tablespoon water
Instructions- Mix all of this well.

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees celcius
2. Grease baking tray and keep aside
3. Mix all the ingredients for the cake well. Make sure there are no lumps. An electric hand blender will give the best results, but you can mix using your hands too.
4. Put this batter into greased baking tray and bake for 20-25 minutes or until done. (Do the toothpick test to see if it's done).
5. Cool the cake and then cut it into half (be careful while cutting as the cake is really soft moist and dense so it can be tricky).
6. Apply a little icing on both halves of the cake.
7. Put the cut strawberries on one half and cover it with the other half.
8. Decorate top with leftover icing and strawberries, get creative!

Suggestion: You can turn this recipe into a chocolate walnut cake by skipping the strawberries. Instead, cut walnuts (1/2 cup) and put into the batter mix and bake.

Please feel free to ask any questions and even share your experience with me if you try this out! I would absolutely love to read them! Bon apetite! 

Casual & Winter looks from Zovi! #BlogForZovi

I am a Zovi elite member and have shopped from the website since it's initial days! I did stop purchasing from there in between because their stuff was also available on Flipkart. But I recently came back to shop from the website and here is my experience -

The website:

It is one of the most user-friendly e-commerce websites I have come across. Sign up or log in via Facebook for a hassle free checkout. You can shop by categories/looks/what's new or offers.

When you go to a product, you can instantly see how many people viewed/purchased/loved/commented on it. So if there is any hesitation it can be overcome.

One thing that I did not find in any other e-commerce competitors is their size chart. In a few categories, you can find your size according to a t-shirt you own from another brand. For eg. if you own a Garfeild t-shirt, you can enter the size you wear, Zovi will suggest which Zovi size you should buy accordingly.

They have this unique feature to search for items via voice command, how cool is that!

I also love the look of their checkout page, where you can see discounts instantly:

The service:

Ordering and paying was hassle free. Got sms and email updates when order got processed, shipped and out for delivery. After sales service is very good too, got emailers with suggestions based on my recent purchase as well as asking for a feedback on my experience. My order was delivered in 3-4 working days which is fair enough. Maybe they can add a priority shipping at an additional cost if someone would like something delivered the next day.

The products:

1. Ombre Pink Pullover Rs. 1599/-

I simply loved this ombre pullover, perfect to make winters bright! Though it looks nice with blue/black denims too, I loved how the model on their website pairs it with white! Hence I did the same. I also had a pink tote bag to pair it with. The pullover is a bit over-sized but I guess that is how it is supposed to be so that you can layer it with a t-shirt. It is comfortable and cute, a combination hard to find. Here is how I styled it:

 (Love the colourful background here, though the white is too bright. :P)

(Mandatory selfie, or should I say zelfie?)

(Love the cute floral hairband!)

Pullover: Zovi, Tote Bag: Victoria's Secret, Skinny Jeans: Jealous 21

2. Grey & Teal Printed Palazzo Pants Rs. 999/-

These palazzo pants are absolutely comfortable, so light and airy! Perfect for the approaching spring/summer days! I think it would go well with solid white or solid black. The button on it though felt a little weak in stitching, could come out soon. Also am not sure if I am too comfortable in the crepe material, I would constantly feel it will tear.

Overall experience:

Zovi also has a Facebook group called "Be the buyer" where you can vote for products they put up that you would like to see on the site and even buy. You can even make suggestions as to what you want! I loved being a part of #BlogForZovi and hope I win so that I can shop some more! Maybe create a menswear look this time!

#CupidGames 2015

Move over Hunger Games and Game of Thrones, Valentine's day is around the corner and it is time for Cupid Games! <3

A girl proposing a guy is already zany and unconventional enough in our country. What I really would do is something that he least expects!

I mean, who made the rule that a guy always has to ask out a girl, get her gifts and flowers, take her out to fancy places et cetera. If we girls demand gender equality in other areas, there should be the same here too I believe.

So here's what I would do:

Very luckily, 14th Feb is on a Saturday this year! Yay weekend! I would act throughout January and till 13th February as if I have forgotten it is Valentine's Day or that I have no mood to celebrate it. If at all he asks what I want to do, or asks what I want as a gift; I would give a very cold boring reply like "We could watch a movie", "I don't want anything." and the sort.

In the meanwhile, I'll have a weekend getaway planned for us. Obviously not somewhere too far that consumes a lot of time only in travelling. Maybe I would book one of those new sea-plane rides from Mumbai to Lonavala! That should be exciting.

And book a nice overnight package at a cozy resort/hotel. I would also order a personalized set of t-shirts for us that would say something like Mr. Right & Mrs. Always Right or something else of that sort.

We would watch the sun go down together on 14th evening from Tiger point, Lonavala. Right there, then in that moment I would propose my love to him! Maybe even bake a special cupcake for this very occasion that has a ring inside it and go all "Monica" (from F.R.I.E.N.D.S) and get down on one knee.

Oh and I would make sure to talk to someone around to capture a pic of this moment, which I would want to preserve forever!

Followed by a nice dinner, some ballroom dancing in the hotel room maybe. :P Yeah, I am a die-hard romantic like that. Next day could have a long drive, celebrating us all the way back. And hence celebrating a valentine weekend and not just day!

I would also go old-school and make a mixed tape (read: USB) for him with all our favorite romantic love songs! Believe me, going old-school is zany, after all people are all about clubs, gifts and status updates these days! Oh and most important of all, will make sure I don't smell and have a fresh breath so that our first kiss is not awkward! LOL!

I'll let you guys know how it all went, hope you have a lovely V-Day too!

Disclaimer: This blog is a part of Indiblogger's #CupidGames 2015 : http://cupidgames.closeup.in/.

Things that define me #UseYourAnd

I am a daughter, a sister, a wife and recently also a mother; but most important of all, I am me, a woman. I am one person, but I have a multitude of roles.

To define what I am is one difficult task, because there is so much I love! I guess that is why I call myself the "Jill" of all trades.

I love my family. I love my child. But I love myself too, because if I can't love myself, there is no way I can love anyone else.

I am a workaholic. I am a multi-tasker. I tend to over-think. My mind is constantly thinking "What next?" I love to plan things ahead, to be organized. 24 hours a day is less for me. I don't say NO to anything, if there is something that looks difficult, I take it up as a challenge. I debate, I can be sarcastic. I may be wrong at times, but if I am right, I make sure to prove my point.

Sometimes I'm seen as rude, but that is because I have a frank, honest opinion. But once you get to know me, I am someone you can trust with your deepest darkest secrets.

I love to write. Maintain a diary since teenage days. I also love to read, it lets me get lost in some other world and forget everything else. I love watching movies too, but can be picky with what to see. I love music, and am a bathroom singer.

I love surprises, but I love giving one all the more. I love cakes, but I love baking one for others even more.

I believe in Karma, do good and get the same. I don't like interfering in others' lives, I don't like others interfering in mine.

I am a hopeless romantic, also a devoted daughter. I prefer being my brother's friend rather than sister. My baby's the new love of my life. But having him does not mean I stop living mine.

I live to eat. I believe in praying. Nothing makes me happier than a good nap, or a perfect cup of tea/coffee or pleasant weather.

I collect stationery. Pretty pens and notebooks thrill me. I love clothes, my wardrobe does not have an inch of more space to hold any more, but that does not stop me.

I am there when someone needs my help. But can also hold a grudge for long. I hate working out, even though I know it's for my best. I can be pretty lazy at times too.

I am far from being perfect, but I keep working on it and am satisfied with the results. I am me, and I love myself.

Disclaimer: This post is a part of #UseYourAnd activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette Venus.

10 things no one probably told you about pregnancy and delivery!

Please Note: This is from my personal experience, and the situation obviously differs from person to person.

Whoever came up with the dialogue 'maine tumhe 9 mahine kokh mein rakha hai', probably had a bad prenatal time. For me, those 9 months went by in a flash. Maybe because I was unaware of my pregnancy for the first two months and working till the 8th month.

Here are things that no one told you:

1. You might be all set for a normal delivery but have an emergency c-section.

Yes, till the very last day all might look good. But if your baby is extra naughty and decides to poop in the womb, or plays around with the umbilical cord and ties it around his neck; you are in for an surgery ladies! (It was the former with me).

2. A month long bleeding marathon after the 9 blissful months.

9 months no menstruation is probably one of the best things about a pregnancy. No sanitary napkins, no tampons, no staining, no cramping. But what they forgot to tell you is that once you deliver, whether normal of c-section; you will bleed for about 4-6 weeks non-stop. Get ready for rashes. (I myself got to know of this from a friend when I was around 6-7 months pregnant, and it came as a shock). Some good news, after your baby is born, as long as you breastfeed, your periods will be postponed for at-least 6 months approx.

3. You might not be allowed to eat sweet/spicy or both!

Yes, usually pregnancy is that guilt-free time when you can gorge on whatever you crave for. But if someone in the family has diabetes, or you're gaining weight rapidly and excessively, or have thyroid issues, or suffer from massive acid reflux; your doctor will tell you to completely stop having sweets and/ or spicy food. For me, in the last 2-3 months, it was both. :(

4. Don't go by what they show in the movies/sitcoms.

It is not necessary that you vomit or have morning sickness to know that you're knocked up! I did not puke once throughout. It's a difference experience for each and every woman. See the movie "What to expect when you're expecting" to know what I mean, the only one true movie I came across.

5. NIGHT sickness.

Yeah, I got that in the last i.e. third trimester. I had massive acid reflux and nausea at nights when I went to sleep. Digene and cold milk were my best buddies. Apparently there is a myth that if your baby is hairy you'll have acidity. I'm not sure about others, but in my case it was pretty accurate; my baby turned out to be so!

6. You might not SHOW until the last trimester!

I was visibly and obviously pregnant only in the 8th month. Till the 7th month I just looked like a plump woman with a food/beer belly. As a result no one offered me seats anywhere unless I mentioned that I am carrying. Embarrassing! 

7. Stretch marks are hard to get rid of.

I used ample of lotions and body butters etc meant for the same, but the stretch marks are still very much there.

8. C-sections are hell!

Yes the removing baby out of you part is very easy, you don't feel anything since you're on anesthesia and morphine. But once the medicine starts wearing off, you can feel the pain. Be prepared for - 

a) IV drips - You will be on those for the first two days.

b) Blood clots - Due to the IV, I had nasty bruises and blood clots on my forearms, wrists.

c) Catheter - They will insert this prior to the surgery and remove only once you're able to walk to the loo.

d) You can't eat till you pass gas. And no, that does not include burping. If you are unable to pass gas, it will keep roaming around inside you which is painful as hell. They might even insert a pipe inside you to aid the passing of the gas.

e) You won't be allowed to get discharge till you've passed motion. Yes.

f) If your newborn is detected with jaundice, you shall have to spend another 2-3 days in the hospital, and suffer the trauma and pain of seeing your baby in the incubator.

9. You might come out of the labour room looking as pregnant!

We think that now the baby is out the tummy will instantly shrink, but that's not the case. It's a slow process and will require wearing a belt or tying a cloth tightly etc. In a c-section there will be a numb portion of the lower tummy being flabby for a long time.

10. Certain bans in c-sections.

In case of a c-section you will not be allowed to walk much, life anything heavy etc in the first month, and exercise can be started only post 3 months. And not sure if you can ever do ab crunches? And if you think of having a second child, chances are good that it would be a c-section too.

Hope my experience is useful for you guys. I shall soon write a blog on breastfeeding too, which has been a completely different challenge for me. Do comment with your own experiences, and ask me any question you have!

The Great Indian Litterbug

The Indian Pledge:

India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters.
I love my country and I am proud of its rich and varied heritage.
I shall always strive to be worthy of it.
I shall give respect to my parents, teachers and all elders and treat everyone with courtesy.
To my country and my people, I pledge my devotion. In their well-being and prosperity alone lies my happiness.

Hold it right there. Something does not feel right about our pledge. What rich and varied heritage? The holy ganga river where recently human bodies that people cremate were found? Strive to be worthy of it, by dumping thrash all over as if "baap ka road hai?".

Today if someone finds a currency note lying around, he will excitedly run to go pick it up and pocket it, even if it is slightly dirty. But doing the same thing to pick up thrash and put it in a dustbin? No chance!

And if you ask people who can't they put litter in dustbins, one common answer will be, there was no dustbin around, or else, what does it matter to you? It's true that situation is so pathetic that there are actually cases of dustbins being stolen.

Take a look at this image taken at Kharghar station, Navi Mumbai; where the dustbin had to be locked and tied to a chain!

Image Source: @tania_rana 's tweet.

I once asked this young educated guy at VT station when he dumped his chips wrapper on the tracks that why did he do so. His reply was "you can pick it up and throw it if you want." And I thought the issue was only with uneducated people.

We hate our country for its corruption, pollution, population. But we are the ones who are making it that way, no? First litter around and that pinch nose while walking due to stench.

Does anyone remember and recall this nursery rhyme we learnt as kids?

Bits of paper,
Bits of paper;
Lying on the floor,
Lying on the floor;

Makes the place untidy,
Makes the place untidy;
Pick them up,
Pick them up.

What went wrong when we grew up? Isn't it something as simple as that? When I use "we" I don't mean myself, who will keep wrappers and litter in bag/purse/hand till a dustbin is found. But I use "we" representing the aam aadmi.

The recently popular "Swacch Bharat" campaign by Modiji, our PM has seen some change. *Insert applause*. But one funny anecdote. People were cleaning and sweeping in my neighborhood. What they were doing was just hiding the thrash below cars parked. Later when the cars went away one by one, you could see piles of thrash throughout the stretch, definitely not a funny scene,

I won't even talk a lot about the state of local trains in Mumbai, I could write a complete blog only on that. But gutka/paan stains, using the compartments as their personal loo's by drug junkies, and what not makes it probably the most unhygienic means of public transport.

I think, the best way to solve this litter issue is to see to it that there is a minister visiting that city or town frequently. After all, when there are higher authority people visiting, roads are always clean.

Image Source : Dainik Bhaskar

Disclaimer: This blog is a part of #TheGreatIndianLitterbug.

Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition - Phase 1

So I just got my hands on the all new Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition Strengthening Shampoo & Conditioner. When they say Triple Nourishment, they mean it takes care of the Scalp, Lengths and Tips all three. That itself has got my attention.

The yummy smelling products consist of fruit vitamins along with coconut, almond and olive oil. Is there anything left? I doubt! It seems to be a 'all in one' package to take care of every hair issue! Well, almost.

Priced at Rs.135 each for the shampoo as well as conditioner, it is pretty reasonable and in lines with other brands. Maybe a combo offer with a discount guys? The packaging is very attractive with a bright yellow shade and the standard Garnier Fructis lid and upside down conditioner bottle. The products smell just wow, and though I have not used it yet, I am thrilled that soon my tresses will smell that way! It can be used daily and by all hair types.

Now, coming to the condition of my hair at present. Well it is a pretty sad story. I had a c-section three months ago, and post that all the luscious awesomeness my hair was during pregnancy has gone. My hair are now limp, dull, lifeless and have split ends due to a long pending haircut/trim. I do oil my hair at-least once a week, but I wish I could do it every time I wash my hair. Due to the winter dryness, I also have bouts of dandruff, which I try to combat with anti-dandruff shampoos but they keep coming back. My hair are long, but lack volume and a ponytail is very thin. I think they get frizzy very easily and I have to compulsorily wash them at-least every alternate day (Girls with long hair, you know how time-consuming that is). 

Current hair condition image:

Wow even I did not know my tresses had grown so long. Without a proper haircut they look like a garden with overgrown grass longing for a trim. I'm not sure if you can make out the roughness in this picture. I am definitely getting a haircut soon.

What I expect from the Garnier Fructis Triple Nutrition is to have my hair look visibly healthier, softer and happy!

The next phase of my hair review will be after 15 days, once I have used the products at-least 7-8 times. Stay tuned! 

#IsLaundryOnlyAWomansJob ???

My blog is based on the following statistics, especially that 77% of Indian men depend on women for doing their laundry and that 85% of working Indian women feel that they have two jobs, one at work and another at home. Refer to his image for all the stats from a survey conducted by Ariel:

Imagine an Indian man putting clothes to wash in the washing machine, putting them to dry in the veranda and folding them and keeping them in the wardrobe. You just can't picture it, can you? I at-least have not seen any male I know, be it my father, brother, husband, cousins, father in law or friend do this.

Why is laundry a woman's job? Who defined this parameter?

If you see in countries like the USA, men will do their weekly laundry on Sunday or any holiday. They usually have to do it outside at one of the laundry places. They will know that you should not mix whites with colors, or how much and which detergent is required. But most of the Indian men will be clueless about this (sorry guys). But it's not just the men, a lot of working women might also be relying on helping hands for this task (but that again is going to be a woman only).

Men, will you become less manly if you put your own clothes to wash? Why do the wives or mothers have to pick up the dirty undergarments, stained shirts and smelly socks of the men in their families?

 (Image Source: www.motifake.com)

I asked around a few people in my family what to they think about this.

My mom said that if the woman is a housewife and has time, laundry should usually be done by her only. But if the husband can take up the task on holidays and give her a break on weekends, it would definitely take some stress off her back. Also at times when she is not feeling well or has to go out, if she knows that her husband or son etc will take care of it, she won't be constantly thinking about the task all the time.

My grandmother said that it is an Indian mentality that needs to be changed. At most, if the wife or mother is out of town, the men may take care of their own clothes. But they will never touch women's clothes, which is a little backward in thinking. But if they do their own laundry also it is good enough for a place like India.

There are men who will re-use unwashed clothes or get frustrated because their favorite t-shirt or shirt is still lying in the laundry bag. And then there are gentlemen who will do the laundry for their wife without asking. Both are extremes. :)

I personally think it should not be a gender based job. Whoever has the time should do it. Maybe take turns alternately if both are working. And thanks to the technology of fully automatic washing machines, all you need to do is put the clothes in the machine, and put them to dry or fold them and keep inside. I don't think that is difficult for a guy to manage.

Just like guys can cook at times, or take care of the baby; laundry can be done by the men too and there is no shame or embarrassment in that. Maybe they can do the laundry together and have some time spent together doing the same! I think that's a great idea.

Disclaimer: I am writing for #IsLaundryOnlyAWomansJob activity at BlogAdda.com in association with Ariel.

Wrath of the pimples!

This post takes me back about 10 years, during my teenage days. Life is not easy for a teenager with oily acne prone skin. I suffered from acne since I was 15 years old till the age of 22-23. I still get a random break-out here and there a few times in the year; but that is nothing as compared to what I had before.

As a teenage girl, specially once you enter college, you have one great fear: A break-out on an important day - your birthday, a sleepover, picnic, trips, and the sort. If you had a crush on someone at school/college, you dare not show your face to him/her during these nasty breakouts!

I remember trying to hide the majority of my face with my tresses. Or applying concealers and makeup to cover these spots (Which for some reason only seemed to make it worse). My hands were always covering my face when someone looked at me. I never believed when anyone complimented me that I looked beautiful, I felt grotesque!

It's not that I did not try things. A visit to the dermatologist, who prescribed expensive medicines & ointments while also stating that if it is due to hormones or genes or stress, there was little she could do. Duh!

I also took care of my diet, not having too much caffeine or sweet or oily consumption.

Home remedies like applying herbal packs, consuming neem, karela, etc had been tried too. I started getting nose-bleeds due to too much consumption of bitter-gourd juice! And having neem leaves was simply too much, it was too bitter.

I must have tried at-least 4-5 brands of face-washes made for acne prone skin, with hardly any luck. But then google searches even told me not to wash my face too often.

Having to travel in hot and humid climate, pollution, only made things worse for my sensitive skin.

Acne is not only painful physically, it takes a heavy toll on your self-confidence. If I was introvert during those days, it was mainly because of this. And it affects you for the rest of your life. I did not want to have bad memories of myself, I used to actually sit and Photoshop out those horrible spots. Yes. I did that. And felt much better that I at-least looked good virtually.

And if all this trauma was not enough, there were relatives who met you and said "What happened to you!?". I hated social obligations, friends at-least understood and empathized with you.

I wish I had a magic wand to erase the acne like I did on Photoshop. I wish I had a remedy that actually works! From what I have heard, Garnier's Pure Active Neem Face-Wash really works.
It contains real Neem Leaf and Tree Tea Oil extracts:
1) Fights germs: Washes away problem causing germs.
2) Fights Pollution: deep cleans pores to remove impurities caused by pollution.
3) Removes Oil: Washes away excess oil which attracts dirt & germs.

I shall surely suggest this product to my younger brother, who is himself going through the same acne issues now in his teenage. Hopefully he won't have to suffer like I did. It affects you for life, after all.

Disclaimer: This blog is a part of Indiblogger's contest for Garnier Pure Active Neem Face-wash.

Get.Set.Bolt.

What comes to your mind first when you hear the word 'Bolt'?
A bolt of lightning? Fast and powerful?
The bolt (nuts and bolts) that's made out of metal?
Or from the Movie named Bolt starring a canine who has superpowers?

What if I told you that the Bolt I witnessed today has the features of all the three mentioned above, and is way cooler?

I am talking about none other than Tata's new hatchback - BOLT, officially launching on the 22nd January 2015. Take a quick look at this beautiful beast:

                                                    (Image Source: www.tatamotorsbolt.com)

I have always been a hatchback gal. I find sedans too big to drive in metro-cities like Mumbai, and SUVs too manly. Parking woes, narrow lanes etc are best dealt with a cute hatchback! Truth be said, a Mini Cooper is my all time dream car, but it will take me years to own that.

I am a loyal Tata Motors fan, currently owning the Tata Nano LX. I was completely thrilled with the features of the Bolt when I checked it out at Inorbit Mall, Vashi, Navi Mumbai today!

The sales executives were so enthusiastic, explaining all the features etc. There even was the option to book the car on the spot for a meager Rs.5000 to get the BOLT delivered on the day of launch. Oh and test drive the BOLT to stand a chance to win it! Super cool na! They gave this cool wrist band along with the brochure too:

Although the car is a complete package, available in both petrol and diesel variant, here are the fabulous five features of the new TATA BOLT that I absolutely LOVEEE:

1. MULTI-DRIVE (SEC)
So you can opt to choose a speed as per usage. Sport when you need complete power, Eco for excellent fuel efficiency and City for a balance between the two. Isn't that just simply mind-blowing? It is a new feature, not seen in any other car in India yet. I'm sure it will help me save money, as I save on the fuel!

2. GEN-NEXT SAFETY
Dual air-bags, child-lock facility, corner stability control are really important features. I would feel much more secured to know that my family and I are protected in-case some weirdo suddenly changes lanes or I need to suddenly apply brakes or drift in case of an emergency. With a new baby in the house, the child-safety lock is a feature I absolutely need.

3. CONNECTNEXT - Infotainment by HARMAN
Harman & JBL are my absolute fav when it comes to quality of sound. The all new TATA BOLT has partnered with Harman to put in a touchscreen panel that takes care of navigation, music, voice command, sms readouts and much more. It makes the car a smart-car!

4. BONUS features
The sales executive explained awesome features like the steering wheel can be adjusted at three different heights, a small tray beneath the co-passenger seat, a glove compartment so big that it can fit a netbook / small laptop.

5. LOOKS
The BOLT is a majestic looking car, looking just gorgeous in it's red variant. I am eager to know what are the other colours it launches in, but as of now it looks awesome the way it is! It has a new signature front grille and projector headlamps. The interiors are pretty swanky and chic too. Sat in front as well as behind, both were comfortable, seats as well as leg-space; something that is sometimes lacking in hatchbacks.

Take a quick look at the main highlights of TATA BOLT : 

(Image Source: www.tatamotorsbolt.com)

Can't wait test-drive the car (which I registered for at the mall) and hope to get extremely lucky and win it! This new year got even more powerful, all thanks to the TATA BOLT.

Follow the latest updates on @TataBolt or facebook.com/BoltFromTataMotors

Disclaimer: This post is a part of the Get. Set. Bolt. activity at BlogAdda.

Rediscovering my passion with #CanvasTab

Happy New Year everyone!

New year means new year resolutions. Some old one's being renewed, some new one's being made. This year, I have a couple of resolutions myself, one of them being - to rediscover my passion and hobbies.

I used to love art and craft, DIYs and cooking. But in the past 2-3 years with job, marriage and now a baby; I simply lost touch with all of this. It seems like years have passed since I made a handmade greeting, or experimented with a new recipe!

But, I have vowed to give some time to my hobbies again. After all, all work and no play makes Jill a dull girl! And to help me with that, I think the all new Micromax Canvas Tab P666 would be of great help!

A decade ago we used recipe books, magazines etc to look up and re-create. But no-one does that anymore. Thanks to technology life is easier. With the right gadget and internet connection, nothing is impossible.

1. Cooking:
It's so awesome that I can now play video tutorials and cook awesome meals! Imagine all the Sanjeev Kapoor, Vikas Khanna etc shows playing on youtube and you re-creating the meals so hassle free. Or even open the recipe and cook. Saving papers, no hassle of keeping the books and most important- not mixing two recipes if the page flips! Haha!

2. Art & Craft:

Follow DIY instructions and videos from your tablet and why not make a cool homemade cover for your cool Micromax tab! Be it greetings, Christmas decorations, coasters or what not. Knitting or crochet, painting and what not. Follow your passion with the unlimited knowledge you can get right into your hands!

3. Gardening:

Organic gardening is totally in and cool these days. Hence, gardening! Wouldn't it be cool to get all the instructions right in your lawn / verandah / terrace or wherever you choose! I would totally grow herbs, tomatoes, chillies and the sort!

These are just a few things I'd love to do this year. But there is SO much more you can get out of your #CanvasTab. Hardcore gaming, following your favourite sitcoms, writing blogs, reading ebooks, creating documents and presentations, doing your homework and the list goes on! I would even use it to read bedtime stories and recite nursery rhymes to my little one!

With a powerful processor, enigmatic screen, long lasting battery, android OS and 3G data; you can do anything anywhere anytime! It also comes with a few awesome preloaded apps to check out.

Take a look at it's features of the all new Micromax Tab P666 in this video:





Disclaimer: This blog is a part of Indiblogger in assocation with Micromax Canvas Tab P666 with Intel Inside™