Sorting out Sid - Beer and Blogger Contest

Why would I like to read Sorting Out Sid?

• I am a sucker for wit and humour. Yashodhara managed to give a heady dose of amusement and laughter in her first book and the trailer of her latest offering  promises to tickle our funny bones.

• Sid - Whenever I hear the name, I vivdly imagine a carefree,breezy guy stuck in a rut and of how he manages to give it a spin and be back with a bang. OK, honestly it's the Ranbir (Wake up Sid) Kapoor effect. Hmmm, the name of the hero is a reason as to why I would want to read this book.

• There's something about having a good laugh or two bemoaning the absolute morons our boss(es) can be. Reading about colourful characters in a corporate background = booting out gloom.

• Hectic Work schedule, Stressful relations, backbiting colleagues, where do I go from here moments? Don't we face all these in our day-to-day life. I am interested in knowing how this dude sorts out all these. 

• The adventures of Sid promises a twist in his life with the entry of a spunky and vivacious female - how will the story turn? I am intrigued! 

• And yes, the cover surely screams ' Grab me'

Yashodhara is back with a bang. Her latest offering' Sorting out Sid' promises to be a rollicking affair. My very last minute entry is for the Beer and Blogger Contest in her blog.  Find the book on Flipkart.

Healthy India, Happy India

"Every human being is the author of his own health or disease"

This quote by Buddha has never made more sense than the times we live in today. After all taking care of our body is the most essential thing for happiness. And why not ? Health is Wealth indeed ! All the trials and tribulations of our day-to-day existence and our endeavors to live a better life will have no meaning if the foundation i.e our body is not in a good shape. Our kids, the shining beacons of a happy tomorrow need to have a healthy environment, so that they can grow and sparkle with a flourish. Though the health awareness quotient is at an all time high, there is is still a lot to be desired for. Children of today are increasingly becoming prone to various illness and the reasons are not difficult to guess.

• Digging in to junk food and carbonated drinks
• less physical activity
• long hours before computer
• less hygiene standards
• No balanced diet

The above reasons + a host of environmental factors = stab on the kids immunity

So, What does it take to build a healthy and strong India ? Health and strength is possible only if there is a thick cloak of immunity.Immunity in essence is is protection from harmful germs and disease causing germs. Remember the A B C of your body

Always Be in Control

How do we make the kids be in control of their body ? It is not an impossible task altogether. It requires a devoted mindset to be healthy and stay healthy. It pays to remember that all talk of health is not the stylish fad of today but a life long investment that will only yield happy returns. Let me list a couple of must-do's to ensure a healthy and strong YOU

• Eat foods that boost your immune system - say yes to the reds, greens & the yellows . Say yes to the beets, strawberries,tomatoes and spinach. Include them more.

• Exercise those lazy muscles - Indulge in physical activity and as often as possible. It is a pity that many kids don't have the time to play or if they do have time, they would rather prefer to be neck deep in iPad/computer. But it is imperative to be active always. It boosts metabolism and boots out obesity.

• Reduce risk of infection by maintaining good hygiene . To make the environment and our surroundings  totally infection free is not possible but we can definitely take steps to reduce infection. Washing hands thoroughly before and after eating is a sure deterrent to all those disease causing germs. Besides disinfecting with antiseptic liquids is also a sure immunity booster.

• Sleep Well - Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise. A well rested body means a fresh and energetic mind. 

• Stay Hydrated - Often, not drinking enough water is a window to impending disease entry. Access to clean potable water is essential and it can be ensured by drinking boiled or filtered water.

• Say NO to processed food and carbonated drinks - Piling on those crappy foods is not cool.   

• Laughter is indeed the best medicine - Boot out the stress and find reasons to be happy. Life is short and it does not pay to stock regrets and gloom. 

And one sure way of boosting immunity is Dabur Chyawanprash. It contains the natural ayurvedic ingredients and is a sure shot to shoo away virus, flu and other infections.

"It is far more important to know what person the disease has than what disease the person has" - HIPPOCRATES

One thing is to be remembered anything in excess is also bad. A friend of mine is a cleanliness freak. She carries more than one hand sanitizer in her packet and uses them at an alarming rate.I often chide her that it also means a weakened immune system. Being healthy and safe is important but it also means not to over do things. Ensuring a healthy and clean lifestyle goes a long way in building a strong India. A healthy body is a happy body.

This post goes to Indiblogger's An Immune India Contest in association with Dabur Chyawanprash

The many joys of e-shopping

Whoever said money can't buy happiness simply didn't know where to go shopping. ~ Bo Derek

Who doesn't like shopping, the sheer adrenaline rush of looking at the goodies, lingering at the varieties and finally making a choice gives a rush that is very satisfying.  It is another matter that when the credit card bill comes home, the heart beats a different story :D

And when the shopping is virtual, the thrill is a different high. 

I still remember the first time I shopped online a few years back. I was a mix of nervous anticipation and apprehension. The item in question was a personalized CD featuring a mix of all time romantic songs for hubby. Gotta say, the gift came on time and was  thoroughly enjoyed.

And ever since, I have been hooked to the online shopping bug. Be it 

 cards, books,dresses, handicrafts , practically anything and everything. There has seldom been any hassle with regard the purchase. Any any glitch that made its presence felt was sorted out comfortably. So I am an e-shopping aficionado and why not ?  Sitting in the cool confines of home and flexing a few muscles brings products at the door step. NO traffic rush, no haggling with the auto wallah and definitely no hyper kids to run behind while struggling with trying out clothes in the trial room ! What a bliss !  And with a lot of options and the innumerable portals around, the online shopping experience is only getting better. 

Mostly the products I e-shop are only for personal use.Recently I made 2 separate purchases on Jabong.com & Hutk.com for clothes to be directly shipped as gifts to my dear ones. That I was fraught with nervous anticipation is saying the least. Gifting clothes without seeing them face-to-face is not something that I was comfortable with but the end result was spectacular.

For my mom’s 60th birthday I wanted to gift her a lovely elegant saree. Typing sarees in google search landed me in Jabong.com.I was blown by the number of varieties of sarees in the portal. A whopping 1969 vied for my attention. Not only are they segregated with respect to colour but also with regards to under the same price tag, and also by brand names. Besides they are also grouped by means of party wear, ethnic wear, and the material used. After a few shortlisting, I eyed the one that caught my eye and knew instinctively that it would appeal to my mom. I added it to the shopping cart and made a virtual check out paying it with a credit card. Immediately, the details of the purchase with order number, product id and delivery time flashed on my mobile and the email alerted me of the confirmation from the Jabong team. While the delivery said 2-5 days, what surprised me was, the saree reached my mom the same evening. I was surprised to get an elated call from my mom telling me that she simply swooned over  the saree and also marveled at the leap in technology. She was never a huge fan of e-shopping, but gotta say, she became a convert !

Recently, I wanted to send something to my sister-in-law for Rakhi. I was thoroughly apprehensive as it was the first time  I was online shopping for something to be sent abroad. A few searches on the google landed me to the site of hutk.com. The portal powered by the Times of India group was a pleasure for virtual shopping as the portal is dedicated to online shopping from India for Sarees, Lehengas, Handbags, Footwear, Jewelry, Religious items, paintings and many more for any postal address in the world. I loved the shots of the images that gave a clear idea of the product in question and the order was placed without a hitch. Besides, the immediate email with the purchase details assured me of the product reaching the recipent within a week. Also, I could track the status of my order through the DHL express with the order number given. And the designer salwar kameez reached before time. A very happy call from my SIL is something I will treasure forever.

Shopping virtually is fun and no sweat. Be it shoes, dress, books or any handicraft item,  the great deals, exquisite varieties, cutting edge technology, sensitive customer care , at the door step delivery and superior buying experience gets my thumbs up. 

With more personal physical experience of virtual shopping , the trend of anytime e-splurging is here to stay.

This post is part of the blogadda in association with snapdeal.com

Myriad Melbourne

I often day dream and conjure up adventures like Alice in Wonderland. Many a times my fantasying lands me in exotic places. The other day after watching a rerun of Masterchef Australia, I fell into one of my reveries. I dreamt of getting selected by the people of Masterchef for a sneak peek behind the filming of Season 5. I accepted and was flown to Melbourne with kids and hubby in tow. I  was surprised and asked the production team "Why Melbourne?" and to my delight I learnt that the show has moved its production from Sydney to Melbourne.

On reaching the lively city, we were greeted by the team of Masterchef Australia. This highly popular cookery show has a huge fan in me. The contest showcases the culinary skills of amateur chefs across Australia and is a right mix of  action & drama. Laced with humor, warmth and camaraderie, the show tugs the heart. The team of Gary, George and Matt *2  are a riot. My daughter was delighted to meet them and was busy collecting autographs and posing for pictures. Looking at the larger than life Masterchef Kitchen as well as the pantry to die for, the adrenaline buzz in me was mighty high. I itched for whipping out something for the crew and dished out yummy Mysore Pak. The judges and the crew enjoyed the dish so much and we chatted & pottered around for some time and bid an emotional goodbye. 

(Pic Courtesy: Masterchef Australia.com)

Before leaving, we got an insiders view of the city and proceeded to enjoy the city thoroughly.

(Pic credit: Wiki)

Before going any further, the foodie in me was compelled to look at the food and wine scene of Melbourne . And why not? Melbourne is the home of the Australian food culture.  With an eclectic choice of fine dining options, the city is a potpourri of global cuisine. Dotted with restaurants, bistros, bars and cafes, the food and wine teases the palate like nothing else. What is it you crave for - Thai or Mexican? How about Indian or do you yearn for some middle eastern magic? This city is just the right place to indulge in your food fantasies. What I also loved is the mobile food van culture that treats you to the most dizzying varieties of street food. Having pigged out heartily, we tapped into the Melbourne Café culture. The city is indeed the coffee capital of Australia and is strewn with cafes from which emanates aromas divine. Sipping an espresso, I let out a hearty and happy sigh of contentment.

With the rumbling tummy satiated it was time to explore the vibrant city. This bustling metropolis, the second most populated city, is the capital of the state of Victoria. Brimming with energy the city oozes a sophisticated lifestyle and an exciting blend of modern as well as ancient heritage. There is no doubt that the city is a melting pot of cultures. Boutiques, galleries and spacious parks give the city the stylish edge.

The kids hankered for visiting the koalas and so we landed up in Heallesville Sanctuary. Watching the wildlife in their natural habitat was a different high and we had an up & close view of the enchanting wildlife including wombats, koalas, dingoes and various exotic varieties of birds. Also on our agenda was the Melbourne Aquarium housing giant sharks and stingrays. It was so much fun and what is not to be missed is the live feeding presentation that is held twice a day.

We took a break for the day and ended up in a hotel rejuvenating ourselves for the next day. And the second day was action packed with a whole lot of sight seeing. We began with the Melbourne Museum, this is a must visit for experiencing Melbourne's rich history. The museum showcases the indigenous culture, art and architecture and was a visual treat. The children has great fun in the children's gallery while hubby and me had a refreshing walk in the forest gallery.

Next on the agenda was the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Hubby dearest was looking forward to standing on the mecca of cricket. MCG as it is popularly called was a fun trip. Taking a tour of the sacred ground we relived the great sporting memories associated with the grounds and savoured all the memories for reliving later.

(Pic Courtesy:Visit Melbourne.com)

We also packed in the Melbourne Planetarium and finished the day with a flourish by  enjoying the Docklands.

The third day was equally frenetic. Visiting a place without shopping- you got to be kidding right? We were headed to Melbourne's shopping mecca - Queen Victoria Market. Enamored by the various market precincts we shopped till we dropped. Souvenirs, clothing and toys made our wallets lighter whilst we ogled at all the fresh local produce. 

Visiting 12 Apostles was our next agenda . Driving  along the Great Ocean Road we looked forward to watching the  magnificent rock stacks that rise up from the Ocean. And we were thrilled. It was a sight to behold. A very cherished visit.

 (Pic courtesy : Visit Melbourne.com)

The last day we explored the Yarra Valley Wine region Melbourne. As we sipped and sniffed wines we learnt a thing or two about wine making. We also made the best use  of the city being cycle friendly and savoured the thrill of losing ourselves in the cobbled laneways and marveled at the infrastructure. I have also to tell you about the rather temperamental weather. All the four seasons at varying times of the year shapes the city to a traveler's delight. We so did not want the moment to go away and savoured every moment of it, promising ourselves to come back to the place again. 

And while reliving our experience back in the hotel we ruminated as to why the city is so happening? It has to be attributed to the diverse yet harmonious communities living in it.  The people of the city are very warm, welcoming and very generous too. Their lively spirits rubs on you and the city almost becomes a home away from home. With so much happening it is no doubt that Melbourne has been ranked as the world’s most livable city for the 2nd year in row.

As I was lost in my dreamy holidays, I was snapped back from my reverie by my hubby who had come for lunch. Lunch was the last thing on my mind as I was abuzz with the Melbourne magic.I narrated my dream as vividly as possible and he remarked that it's your time to visit Melbourne NOW!

Just then my daughter pitched an innocent yet poignant question - Mom, 'What if you don't win'?

Hubby reassured her with "We are Melbourne bound anyways sweety !"

This post is for Indiblogger - Visit Melbourne contest

The 'Just Married Please Excuse' Contest

I follow Yashodara Lal's musings on Y on Earth Not regularly and am looking forward to read her debut book - 'Just Married,Please Excuse'.This super cool mom has a contest for reliving the hilarious moments of married life and here's my entry.

 

The moment I read about this contest, one incident which still tickles my funny bones came back to me though hubby dearest does not find it amusing. 10 years back, my hubby was working in a call center and was doing the graveyard shift. He used to come back home by 4 AM. I was a shy and demure newly married bride back then and used to wait patiently  for his missed call upon which I would open the door.  After a few weeks when the nervousness and awkwardness of new surroundings started to vanish I started missing my dear sleep and hence used to lock the door from inside. Hubby dearest who had another key would slide in without waking me up. This arrangement continued for a few days until one night when I had in all absent-mindedness bolted the padlock from inside. After the shift when he could not open the door as usual he gently knocked the door a few times. Seeing no response he made a dozen missed calls before I jolted and woke up with a start. Seeing me all teary eyed he felt sorry and rather blamed himself for causing me pain and anguish.

Cut back to today. Hubby now in the hospitality industry comes at all odd hours and we still follow the lock from inside routine. However, the other day I had unknowingly bolted the padlock from inside (or was it my daughter ?) and slept soundly. Hubby dearest as usual  came around 12.30 pm and tried opening the door. When the door did not budge open, he called the land-line a dozen times. My mobile which unfortunately was lying in the living room also got saddled with frantic calls and the  door-bell was  also at the receiving end of his incessant ring. Finally seeing no hope of me opening the door he went bck to the apartment lobby and started dozing in the car. At about 2 AM I awoke with a start and realised hubby was not by my side. Panicking slightly, I came to the living room and then noticed the 33 missed calls in my mobile. A call to him and I was rushing out to the lobby. There, I saw my hubby inside the car, trying to doze and totally freaking out. And all I could do was laugh out loud much to his chagrin. I know seeing him in such a state I should have generously profused  sweet nothings and apologised for the inconvenience but the hilarity of the situation got the better of me and I was simply writhing in glee :P As we came back to our floor, I hugged him and gently suggested that he could have gone back to the hotel instead of dozing in the car. That sort of freaked him more and guess what he did. He went to the almirah holding his tool kit and at 3.15 in the morning patiently unscrewed the padlock making sure this situation never surfaces again.Once bitten twice shy  :D Till date , he chides me saying even Kumbhakarna (the demon from the Ramayana Epic) would have woken up after all the bellowing.