Monday, 9 January 2017

Few lessons learnt from latest wedding shopping








Few days back was my cousin brother wedding. The usual excited me had so many things in mind. I already had made a superficial list for shopping as soon as we got the news of him being engaged. The happy sister in me wanted to buy and wear the best since he is the only brother I have in my entire family clad.
But while shopping when I had to actually purchase things, I learnt few important lessons:

1.       It’s important to first check your wardrobe. Believe me the more you have is actually the less you have. Check all clothes & accessories including jewellery, bags & shoes. If you feel the clothes can be repeated, reprise them. Don’t worry about the crowd. If the crowd is different you can repeat clothes.


2.       Match the outfits with the wedding theme. One can always team up top or bottom with different combinations to make outfit look different. For. E.g. I was not having a chanya choli in my wardrobe. So I bought such an outfit that can be teamed up with a different choli and duppata to make it look different this saving on my cost.
3.       Make a list of what you have and what you don’t need. Never make a list of what you want to buy....i feel that is never ending!


4.       Find out about outlets which have sale. Opt for shopping during seasonal sale. If you have time for groundwork, don’t miss out on this opportunity.
5.       Do not forget to include your family members in shopping list too. Make a combined budget.
6.       Try using cash rather than Cards to avoid over spending. 7
7.       Never buy clothes which are one time wear. What’s he point in spending thousands when you can’t wear it anywhere else.
8.       If you are wearing full length gown, lehenga or skirt, do not spend much on shoes. They are as it is hidden.
9.       Try purchasing different colour outfits so that you have various looks in the event.

10.   Since I have a 3 year old brat with whom shopping is an impossible task. I tried to cut short my tailor or shop visits. I visited 2 or 3 places and bought whatever I could. The more you indulge in visiting shops and then deciding on what to buy. The more time and money is spent, especially when you are a compulsive shopper. Usually we don’t want to upset anyone so we buy from every shop we visit. It’s like ‘aye hain toh kuch leke jayenge’.

11.   Outfits which are in trend will become out of trend after sometime.  Own outfits which are all time wear.

A genuine planning and being realistic for shopping can help one curb down on budget.
Share your own experiences and tips if you have any.


Picture courtesy https://www.google.co.in/search?q=wedding+shopping&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiBrKvmi7fRAhUJrI8KHQFnA_sQ_AUICCgB&biw=1366&bih=662



Tuesday, 3 January 2017

24 things which one must do daily


1. After waking up thank the Lord for granting you a lovely morning. Run your palm and place it on your face. Open your eyes for a fresh start.
2. Have one glass of water before brushing.
3. Greet everyone you meet with a smile.
4. Help atleast one person everyday.
5. Have your breakfast. Do  not Skip this first meal of morning. Since our stomach is empty entire night, it should be treated with a fruit and heavy breakfast. Eat healthy food. Avoid junk food.
6. Have 8 glasses of water daily.
7. Serve a plate of fruits not only to yourself but also  entire family.
8. Spend the least possible time on your phone, Tab or laptop.
9. Fill water in your mouth and splash water on each of your eyes one by one atleast 10 times. Once the water in your mouth becomes warm, throw it and repeat the same again.
10. Eat salad daily.
11. Have one glass of milk if it suits you before retiring to bed.
12. List your daily expenses to track your budget.
13. Walk for atleast half hour daily.
14. Moisturize your skin at bed time.
15. Eat food before 8pm. Have light dinner.
16. Have one meal with entire family.
17. Talk with your spouse and children everyday before sleeping. Let them know you care.
18. Talk to atleast one friend daily.
19. Meditate for 10 mins. This can also be done in office. All you have to do is close your eyes and breath in & out by changing ‘OM’ or any word you like. Simple breathing will also do.
20. Read atleast one page of a book, newspaper or listen to good music.Be aware of what is going around.
21. Repeat this ‘Everything is good and tomorrow will be the best'.
22.Thank God for an awesome day. Say sorry if you have done anything wrong. Pray for a better tomorrow.
23. Whisper positive notes in your children’s ears while they are sleeping.
24. End your day with a smile

Monday, 2 January 2017

Because I care! My review on #mamaearth baby products

 



I have never been particular about my skin tone or skin type. I always had a carefree attitude.  However, this changed when I started working, since one has to be groomed well when you are at a corporate setup and represent your company. After becoming a mother, the first and the foremost priority has been my daughter. Again ‘Me Myself’ has taken a back seat. It’s not that I don’t take care of my skin but not the way I do for my daughter. My skin has always been sensitive. That’s why I always left it product free & make up free. I like to keep it as natural as I can. Same thing goes with my baby. I take extra precaution and I am very choosy while picking skin products for her. I only choose the trusted and the best brands in the market. I received #mamaearth products which are claimed to be made of natural ingredients, are 100% safe for your babies skin and only Toxin Free MadeSafe certified brand in India. I received the soothing kit including gentle cleansing shampoo, natural insect repellent which is DEET free, soothing massage oil, moisturizing daily lotion, deeply nourishing body wash for babies packaged in a durable and easy to carry bag.
The first product I used was the Gentle Cleansing shampoo for babies from #mamaearth which is tear free, made with Coconut based cleansers.


The hair really feels smooth and nourished after every wash and doesn’t contain artificial fragrance.
I feel like caressing my daughter’s hair again and again.
The other product which we used is moisturizing daily lotion for babies that contain Shea butter, Aloe, Vitamin E and Jojaba oil. What I observed was that it has a calming effect on the babies’ skin. I just adore the way her skin feels after application; fresh, soft and smooth.


I have a compulsive disorder of putting up mosquito repellent cream or Mosquito repellent roll-on when I take my baby out. After the outburst of dengue and malaria in Mumbai and other regions, I always fear of this disease and take lot of precaution to save us from mosquitoes. Even if I find one mosquito I just get into panic mode and don’t relax till the time it is out of the house or state of stillness. I am definitely going to use #mamaearth’s Natural Insect repellent containing citronella, lemon and eucalyptus oil, which is DEET free and hope it will help keep not only mosquitoes but also other insects away too from my darling.

They also have wide range of products like diaper rash cream, body wash and mineral based sunscreen. I am definitely going to order the sunscreen for my munchkin since she loves to travel along with me.
All products are decently priced and highly affordable.
Why is it so important to take care of babies’ skin?  Because:-
1.      There skin is very delicate. Any product which is strong or has chemicals can cause their skin to dry and damage it in the long run.
2.      Care taken now will help them to have a beautiful skin in their adulthood.
3.      Since they have a skin which is still immature it is more prone to skin allergies, rashes, etc.
4.      Along with keeping their body hydrated it is important to even hydrate the skin externally.

Babies’ products are specially designed to suit babies’ skin. The products which we use cannot be applied on them.
Mamaearth’s has taken steps to ensure that their products are well researched, meet international standards, mum-baby friendly and toxin free.
Let me share with you a secret, their moisturizing daily lotion is simply amazing, even I tried on my skin and it feels fantastic. Who knows, one day they might be a complete family product.

Visit their website:  www.mamaearth.in
twitter: +MamaEarth 
              @mamaearthindia
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Mamaearthindia/


Monday, 19 December 2016

6 simple ways to engage a toddler-It’s not that difficult




Is your toddler the adventurous or curious type? They can’t just settle at one place for long. Well most of the toddlers are very twitchy to sit at one place and just don’t sojourn. They love to explore different things at the same time. They want many toys and games at one go. 
Many a times you see them playing with one toy for 10 min and will soon get distracted with the other.
But there are many such activities which we as a parent can make our fervent toddlers do. 
Toddlers are always open to new ideas, concepts, language and activities. Whatever new you present in front of them, their face will light up like a bulb.


Let’s explore few:
1.      Hidden treasures:
I love to see my daughters expression whenever we give her a new toy, "Thank u mumma papa for the surprise", she says so innocently, this is because I never give her toys at one go.  Whenever she gets toys as gifts on birthday or any other occasion I keep all of them aside and remove them one by one, say a new toy every month. This way she never gets bored. Similarly we can do even with the existing toys. Do not keep all toys
in one place for their easy access. For e.g. remove blocks for one week then kitchen set, then rings for consecutive weeks. So every week they have a new toy to play. Same can be done with clothes, because children now a day have a big fetish for clothes, accessories and shoes.
2.      Books: Children love to see colourful pictures. 
Reading habit encouraged from an early age makes a lot of difference in the vocabulary and intellectual of the child. Many children do not like reading. But they love when their parents read out stories to them with full actions. They like drama and being dramatic.

3.      Children enjoy playing with colours and clays. Best is to give them blank book and let them explore their creativity. There are many drawing and colouring books available in the market.
You can draw and tell them to paint. It is so much fun canvasing together. Similarly making different shapes from clay is so much exciting. It is easy to teach alphabets and numbers through clay moulds.
4.      Learn while playing: Playing and Learning go handy. If you constantly nag and lecture them, it will be wasted as they are too small to understand. Instruction manuals are not for toddlers. For them, experiencing activity itself drives learning. Make it amusing. Do role plays.
 Concepts like a house, tree, animals, and fruits can be thought while doing some craft activities. E.g. If u want to teach them what is a house, form it with candy sticks. You can let them colour candy sticks and stick it on paper by making a house.



Making them aware of community helpers like doctors, fireman, postman, etc. can be done through role play. Preschools have lots of such activities. Use the same method at home.
5.      Children learn well when they indulge in singing. Teaching concepts through singing is a fantastic way to retain it in their memory. They learn while reciting it frequently.
6.      Free play: No method, no games, no colours, no puzzles. Just giving them free time to do whatever they want to, will explore their logical and artistic abilities. Playing with utensils, plastic dabbas, rolling flour, making chapatis in their own shapes, cycling, playing with friends, at home or park, etc., will give them space to think beyond their imagination. They will develop cognitive and emotional skills.

Every child and every parent is different. But the requirement to learn while playing for every child is the same. Children do not need One time lesson. Learning has to be interactive and immersive too.

I am sure each mum must have tried something new daily to engage your toddler. Do share your ideas.
My inkling: Give them 3 different kind of pulses and let them segregate. My dd gets engaged for an hour with this.However, this should be done when your toddler doesn’t have the habit of eating anything found.


Saturday, 3 December 2016

Healthy Happy Hands: Chalk it Up!






Dirty hands, filthy clothes, cuddling puppies, playing with cats, exploring mud, art with colours, moulding with clay, scribbling with chalk, are some of the endearing and grimiest activities which kids do. We cannot stop them since all these help in development of skills.

Getting dirty is a part of growing up. But maintaining hygiene is equally important. My daughter loves playing with cats and dogs. She would caress and embrace the lovable street animal. The moment she does this I have to rush her to a nearby washroom and clean her hands with soap and water. Since children as young as my daughter who is 3, still do not understand the importance of maintaining clean hands. Putting their fingers in the mouth, eating immediately after playing, throwing tantrums to wash hands are some of the annoying habits they display. We have to show extra care, as majority of illness pass through hands and can make the entire family sick. It is imperative to set hygiene standards for the entire family.

Toddlers love to play and write with chalk on slates. They get attracted with the different shades of chalks and the best part is they can easily rub the scribbled with their hands. Imagine your child doing the same and not washing hands with soap and starts eating with the chalked hands!

There are many primary schools in India which still use chalk and slate for writing. Children in their breaks merely wash hands with water and don’t even use soaps.

Savlon in their new CSR activity came up with the brilliant Idea of infusing chalk sticks with cleanser like soap.  How? Watch the video which was launched on Children’s Day 2016: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVWUlWEfJ1k

This gives an advantage to children and parents since they now feel their kids are also secured by germs. Washing hands acts like a natural self-vaccination and medication. It is the best precautionary measure that can be taken to avoid getting attacked by any kind of infections.


Why washing of hands is of prime importance:
1. Germs are everywhere and can cause major illness outbreaks
2. They reside in unknown areas and common ones like the handle of the toilet. In my house, I have made it compulsory to wash hands even if you just touch the handle of the door.
3. When one shakes hands with others, it becomes convenient for the germs to travel. Suppose if you have cold and you do not use a napkin while coughing or sneezing. And you happen to shake hands with a kid. The child unknowingly becomes carrier of virus and might use his hands for eating or playing with his toys which becomes further breeding ground for germs. The viral gets passed on to him and might continue with others.
4. It protects one against viral infections, diarrhea and respiratory illness.
Washing of hands should be encouraged after visiting washroom, before eating, after playing and after sneezing or coughing. I am always behind my daughter to wash hands after playing even if she is at home with toys which are cleaned often. I myself have an OCD of keeping house and ourselves clean. I wash my hands frequently. But mere washing hands with water shall not do away with germs. One needs to wash hands with soap and water. Rubbing hands with soap, in front and back of hands, in between fingers, nails by making enough lather is the right way to wash hands.
Drilling the habit of hand hygiene requires behavioral change. Savlon Swasth India’s ‘Healthy Hands Chalk Sticks’ has highlighted this concept in a unique and innovative way.



Children are the bright future of our nation. They have to be cared and nourished. Inculcating good hygiene habits from childhood will help them shape a healthy & positive personality and will lead to a foundation of healthy society.



Attachments area

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Enthusiastic Learners: Article for the curious youth





We as kids were all keen on learning novel things and trying out different activities. Everything was new for us. Our hearts were filled with inquisitiveness ad zeal to try out something innovative. We were fervent kids but less intensive, since our minds needed only fraction of second to get distracted.
Once kids become teenagers, there is less focus and the curiosity to learn also diminishes. As compared to small children who do not have control over their mind and emotions, teenagers have a strong ability to rheostat their cognizance and concentration, if they want to!  But at that age, the mind gets exposed to a lot of social and environmental distractions that it becomes difficult to hold our feelings and thought processes.

Today’s enthusiastic teenagers are always finding different ways to learn important concepts and lessons for a successful life. Let’s look at few tips which will help them to not only be good academic apprentices but also positive individuals:

1. Success mantra - There is no unique successful mantra.  

Our new generation wants to earn success in a short span of time. It is not bad to achieve triumph swiftly. But success earned in the right way not only last for a lifetime but also comes with lots of appreciation, respect, trust and dignity.

There are 2 important beliefs one must have:-
-Believe in yourself: One must believe in his/her capabilities. We always say things move as per destiny and gods wish. But the almighty also helps those who help themselves. Put your best and things will work in a positive way.
-Never undermine anyone- Though one becomes successful and powerful, one should not suppress the weak. Remember you were also feeble someday or can become in future. Fate has its own plans. Always remain down to earth. Help the needy and support the society. Keep people around you and with you happy.

2.  It is good to make friends, but? - Friends are one of the best gifts from god. Friendship is for life. They are always there when we need to share our secrets, have a shoulder to cry on, share our happiness or even gossip.
It’s imperative to choose the right type of friends. We were always told to be in the company of class toppers so that we get the right influence. But that doesn’t means you will become a topper. Choosing the right friend means having friends of similar age group, to avoid clashes in the way of thinking. Friends with bad habits like smoking, drinking or any other form of bad addiction might not make you addicted but can influence your behavior too.

When you are in your 30s friends won’t affect  your behavior much because you are matured enough to decide what is right or wrong for you. But same thing does not apply with teenagers. They  easily get influenced as their mind is very fragile.
Here comes the role of parent to monitor and be aware of whom your children are friends with. If you feel something is not just right about a person, talk to your kids.

3. Trust your parents - They have given us birth, seen us cry, laugh, succeed, fail and have always supported and been there for us. They are the only ones whom we can trust. They will never appreciate for the wrongs you do, correct you, criticize you, praise you, provide shoulders to cry on, will tap you for your success, and give you all their blessings. They will never share your secrets with anyone; they will also hide your flaws and help you in amending them. They will be the ones who will not be envious of your success. So trust them. If they stop you, they have a reason. Accept their suggestions. And if you don’t want to fall in trouble, share with them everything you do.

4. Accept failure - The way one embraces success, one must also learn to accept failure. Rise & fall is part of our life. One has to be strong willed in either of the cases. Getting sulked in failure will only lead to misery. And flying high in success without being humble can lead to self-destruction. A balance has to be maintained.
Remember after every downfall, there is victory. It is important to choose the ethical way and be determined.
Youngsters get very disheartened when they lose a competition, receive less marks or even when they do not get the right job. No matter there is a tough competition in this era of economic & social development. But one has to stay grounded, calm and patiently move on in life. Everybody gets their share of opportunities, some early some late.
Here the role of parent is the most important. When a child succeeds at any point of time, he/she will declare it to the whole world. Even we as parents, share it with our family, friends & society. But when a child fails, he has that guilt, anger & frustration. He/she will not even utter a word about it to anyone. The only ones whom they will confide in are their parents. So we as parents have to build that trust and confidence in them, that they can share everything with us and we will support them. Let them believe that with our support they can conquer the toughest and achieve the best.


5. Virtual world -Earlier the virtual world was just a small part of our lives and restricted to only work. But now it has become our life. Whether it is an adult, teenager or child everyone is on the internet.  The technology revolution has made our lives easier and better. But we have lost touch with our real world. Status updates, stylish clicks, happening statements and easy chats have drawn us apart, from our original personality.
Children and youngsters have to understand that what they see on the social media pages about their friends & family or even celebrities might not be real. Some who cannot afford a lavish lifestyle start comparing themselves with their friends who keep on updating images of them enjoying and having fun at an early age. The feeling of insecurity creeps in.  One also starts desiring to do the same. Rather than living 2 different lives, one has to understand that right now it is more important to focus on your studies and career rather than getting trapped into this simulated world.

Life is neither too short that one has no second chance to prove and neither too long that we have a laid back attitude.  Focus and determination can lead one to their dream path. Patience and endeavor will support your goal.



     


Wednesday, 9 November 2016

Change your life: Stop expecting




How many times it happened that you were expecting a yes and received a no? How many times it happened that you are not well and expect people to call you up and enquire about your health. You expect them to be supportive and show that love & concern. Or you are expecting an appreciation for all the efforts which you have put in your work?  We just keep waiting and waiting.  Throughout our lives we expect so much from our friends, family, partners, school, college, company & society that we forget what prospects we have from ourselves. And when we do not get the anticipated we tend to get sad, depressed and demotivated. We decide that henceforth there are going to be no expectations from anyone but again the cycle of hope is vicious and never-ending.

Why do we expect?

1.   Because the one whom we love is expected to give that love and respect in return
2.       Because the amount of effort we put in to do our job deserves appreciation
3.       Because the pain and agony we go through at some point of life deserves happiness and contentment in return.
4.       Because we feel we are being good to everyone so nature has to be good to us.
5.       Because the law of karma says so.
6.       Because we are the best and deserve the best.
7.       Because we are humble & kind and expect people to be the same.
8.       Because you want everyone around you to be just perfect.
9.       Because you want your loved ones to know, your unspoken words.
10.   Because we desire.
11.   Because you expect positive results.

People say relationships fail due to lot of expectations one has from his/her partner. Family feuds are caused as one is not able to withstand the pressure of expectations. Friends feel suffocated if another friend is expecting you to be present on every moment in their lives. You are not satisfied with your work since your management has some expectations and you have a different perspective.
If you want life to give you what you deserve in every walk of life stop expecting. Have control over your desires.  Come out of your fairy-tale zone. Expect only from yourself. If you are ill, go to a doctor and take medication, if you cannot go call the doc home but don’t expect or keep waiting for someone to take you. If you want a particular dress, don’t expect anyone to gift you. Save money and buy. If you are sad and want a shoulder to cry on, just pray in front of god and bow your head. Do not get disappointed by disagreements. Each individual and situation is different. What you might consider right, others presume it as wrong.

When one stops excepting:

1.       Life becomes easy and less complicated
2.       Your attitude & behavior towards everything and everyone changes.
3.       You feel calmer and less frustrated.
4.       Situations and people don’t trigger you anymore.
5.       You start doing well in life and get astonished by unexpected results,
6.       You understand yourself and others better.
7.       There comes more focus and concentration.
8.       There is flow of positivity all around you.
9.       You stop reacting and become more proactive.
10.   You feel more connected to yourself.

Relationships become more complex when there are lot of unrealistic expectations and causes behavioral issues like distress, resentment and frustration.
Start taking life easily and let go all the expectations we have. Life will give you pleasant surprises.