My Fantastico Mother is my Rock of Gibraltar

Everybody says that their mother is the most fantastic and inspirational person they meet and everybody is right. After all, mothers were made by God to be there for us when God couldn't be present! Every person has a different story related to their mother and I do too for saying thanks to my fantastic mother. 

My mother is a teacher by profession, primary school teacher to be exact. We are a simple middle class family in a small town in north India where society is conservative and attitudes are more or less set in everyone's minds. Everybody has their own way of dealing with situations and mostly they are dictated by traditions. A long time, we used to have a maid who had a 10 year old daughter. One day, she asked my mom for holiday leave for 5 days as her daughter was getting married! My mother was shocked as to how could she marry off her kid like that? She went with her maid to the groom's house and made them understand that not only is it illegal, it is also detrimental to their health in later life and by health she means both physical as well as mental and emotional health. A big fracas was created where some people even started abusing my mother for interfering with their traditions but she stood her ground and offered our maid to send her daughter to our house for free education till the age of 18 at least. With the help of my dad who also was present there, she managed to convince them to call off the wedding for some time and took both the children to her school and got them admitted under a scholarship for poor scheme. Today, they are both completing their education in college as they turned out to be quite bright students who got scholarships all their life, marriage is far from their minds as they have eyes set on good careers and our erstwhile maid still keeps in touch with my mother to take advice related to her family and life!

Having such an amazing mother is the best thing a child can hope for. With her actions,she time and again proved the importance of having courage, the spirit of nothing is impossible and the conviction to stand on one's principles in life,come what may. Being a teacher herself,she understands the importance of education foremost and never let anything come in the way of me and my education. When I became the first in my family to leave our home and city for a new job,she was the first one to get me brochures related to the new city I was coming to and all important information related to living,eating and roaming around here. In fact,my dad was quite adamant on me getting a job in that small town only but my mom stood her ground that I be allowed to live my life the way I want to, make my own path in life and follow it without any interference. I am lucky to have found my rock,my biggest support group in my mother who is always ready with a caring hug or a shoulder to lean on. A fantastico life needs someone like her to flourish!

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Music is no less than a mode of therapy

Music is often considered the food of soul and it is said that it touches the heart without any words. I have seen the same happening in my family too.

Some years ago my dad's elder brother had a horrible accident in which he fractured his leg and a major impact on his spine made it difficult for him to walk. While he was going to the physiotherapists, one of the doctors told him to inculcate a love for music and spend some time listening to various kinds of music to recuperate faster. It was strange for him to hear something like this from a doctor to which the doctor replied that music is nothing short of a miracle and medical miracles happen all the time. My uncle was always very interested in classical music from all over the world and in his youth he even used to play the cello. He reinvigorated his love for music and spent some hours every morning listening to masters of classical music in his room. His huge collection of music came to his rescue. He also started listening to his favorite songs by Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Lionel Richie and so on. Soon thereafter,my dad found out his cello dumped in the attic of our home and brought it for him to play again. We could see the peace and happiness in his face when he was surrounded by his favorite music.

It has been said often that children who are exposed to classical music in early life often turn out to be geniuses. Classical music helps us focus and cope with harder tasks easily. It seems that music establishes a link between different parts of our brains which helps them smoothen out tasks easier. My uncle is no genius but with the help of music,he said that it became easier for him to cope with pain. He really felt lighter, happier, more jovial. His physiotheraphy sessions did not make him nervous or sad anymore and he could feel a rejuvenating force through his body. It could be said that these are more psychological reactions without any hard proof but when it comes to human body and medical science, our brain still remains a mystery. If surrounded by music, our brain finds it easier to cope with harder aspects of life, which in my uncle's case, was an accident, then we must encourage it as therapy just like my uncle's doctor did. In fact soon he allowed uncle to bring his music collection to the office and they used to play all his favorite tunes while he exercised. This proved to be highly effective too as he felt his pain diminish more and more each day. Today he is fit and healthy and still spends a good amount of time every morning playing his favorite tunes on cello and listening to music from all over the world. There is always an air of happiness in the home and I have a firm belief that music is a mode of therapy for our bodies and souls. 

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Impact of Social Media on our real life

Trrrrrrring..

Woke up in the morning listening to this ghastly noise from my roommate's phone, it was just her boyfriend whatsapping her at 5 in the morning, in the process disturbing everyone in the home. Whatspp is an amazing tool but can't people have common sense on when to use and when not to use it? This gets even more annoying when 2 people in the same room are sending whatsapp messages to each other,something else my roommate and her boyfriend excel at doing...

Take another scenario. I went out for lunch with my office colleagues. On the lunch table in the restaurant,every single one of them was busy looking at their mobile screens, checking their facebook, twitter, whatsapp, hike messenger status etc. Nobody had the time to comment on food or enjoy it. On top of it,the only time they were interested in food is to take pictures of it to post on instagram...

I used to be the same way. When I had just entered college,facebook had just entered India and everyone was going crazy over it. Over like, shares, friendship requests and status updates. Soon I realized there is a world of twitter out there too and I got hooked to it. I found some of my old school friends there and we used to chat for hours. I also used to play candy crush for hours. In the process,I completely neglected my studies and even bunked many important lectures in my 2nd semester at college. The worst part was that I used to obsess over how many liked each of my pictures got or how many friends of mine shared a post I made and then I used to fight my friends as to why they did not like my posts! It turned into a disorder and my family had to disconnect the internet for a month to get me out of this state.

Today, when I see people obsessing over social media,I just wish that they would understand how important real life relationships are and not to ignore them at the cost of various apps or status updates..Not to mention, many lives are being lost foolishly in the selfie craze where people are taking selfies in the most dangerous situations. It is just another form of addiction if not managed correctly.

Special attention must also be paid to children and teenagers who are so lost in this game of social media that they are becoming unsocial in real life. They do not have developed social grace and manners, their health is affected by spending long hours staring at the social screen, posture is affected, body metabolism rate is affected and many psychological disorders like-early onset depression can make them a perfect target. I have learnt from my mistakes but we as a society must come together to accept the impact of social media on our real lives.

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

#FlipkartKids and the changing face of shopping for kids in India

Flipkart is now a household name. At least,in my household, we have been using Flipkart as our go-to shopping destination for everything from gadgets to cosmetics and everything in between. Speedy delivery, discounts, comfort to shop from home are just some of its positives. The very news of Flipkart launching an online shopping destination exclusively for kids was enough for me to get uber excited for this #FlipkartKids Indiblogger meet.

So there I was, at The Blue Frog in Lower Parel,Mumbai on 19th Dec 2015 at 2 PM,ready for this exciting adventure to begin. It was the grand occasion of launch of ‘Flipkart Li’l Stars – India’s Biggest Online Kids Store’ after all.

After a breezy registration, we were ushered in the huge dreamy Blue Frog where amazing cocktails and lunch spread waited to entice us all. Pretty soon, bloggers (mommy, daddy in the majority!) started streaming in and then began the selfie session that lasted till the end. The proceedings of the afternoon were started with a lively introductory speech by Kalpana Behara who talked about how she fell in love with blogging as a mommy, her struggle with writer's block and her ongoing journey. Then came the highlight-we had Chhota Bheem walking around the venue! He was waving and dancing and taking pictures with everyone, setting the tone perfectly for the next item-a panel discussion with executives from Flipkart, Disney, Mattel and Chhota Bheem. The most illuminating discussion of the afternoon, it opened our eyes to many facts-

• The parents and kids today are very aware of what is happening in the world,especially the kids, who are in tune with worldly trends
• Technology has changed the way we shop and kids are no different
• Chhota Bheem is exceptional as it has made its own mark among the Disney, Mattel toys. While Barbie is still extremely popular, Chhota Bheem is a mark of Indian excellence as kids are crazy about it!It is turning into a sensation everywhere!
• Kids are so advanced these days,they want what they want and they want it then & there. This is a challenge for the sellers to improve their logistics
• Flipkart is also bringing thousands of toys for special needs kids from international arena which will take some time to be shipped,but it is a big step forward.
• The best part is that the e-commerce arena has brought the magic of shopping for whatever we want,right from the comfort of our own home.

Pondering over these points in themselves was a big brainer, then came some light entertainment in the form of Indiblogger's own music band and the amazing Ad Mad game where we all chipped in teams on 10-11 each trying to sell Flipkart kids' toys. The event ended on a high note when we were each presented with a Chhota Bheem souvenir by Flipkart. I am positive that #FlipkartKids is going to be a huge success too!

Survival of the greatest #madeofgreat

Looking at Tata Motors' #madeofgreat campaign, I started thinking of a truly person whom I consider inspirational and great and the answer propped up, none other than Steve Jobs!

I don't have any Apple products, they are too expensive for me. But the fact that everyone yearns to own an Apple product, looks longingly at iphone, ipads and macbooks everywhere is an inspiration. And then looking at Steve Jobs' life, it becomes enchanting to see what makes him great. 

He was always a visionary, and a major risk taker who decided to drop out of college and start the path of turning his dreams into reality. He was the one who dreamt of user-friendly computers and brought about a revolution in tech industry,all while he started working in his home garage! A lot of people would think that he was arrogant but he was just very sure of what he wanted, and always had his hand on the pulse of the people. He foresaw the way technology would revolutionize every person's life and I think that was his greatest contribution to humanity. He brought computers on our desks instead of them sitting in offices alone! He brought music to our fingertips with ipods instead of bulky music players! He always thought from the viewpoint of the end user and that was his biggest victory back in the days when it was really difficult to find such attitudes prevalent anywhere else. That is what made him and Apple stand out from the competitors!

What is really interesting is that he was kicked out of the company he himself started,but his never-die-spirit and unparalleled tech vision made him do even better and greater things than before. Eventually,he was called back and he did go back to gift the world everything that we associate with Apple today. He was relentless in his pursuit of the next big thing,something to amaze everyone as well as make our lives easier. He invested in companies like Pixar which have made the most amazing movies of all time when it comes to animation! He made the impossible possible and that is why he will always be regarded as one of the greatest persons and inspirational figures who ever lived. 

It is the same attitude of excellence, dedication, never say die spirit that is evident in Tata Motors' association with Lionel Messi as their Global Brand Amabassador. 

So, What do you think of Tata Motors' Association with Lionel Messi? The best answer will win an Amazon voucher worth Rs. 750. Contest ends on 26th Nov. 2015, so comment soon!

Great Purchase - Forest Essentials Mysore Sandalwood & Nagkesar Facial Treatment Masque Review

I have a oily combination skin and always on lookout for good facemasks. This luxurious maque claims 'Nourishing Facial Pack is made with pure Sandalwood, Rosewater, Black Himalayan Clay and Potent Ayurvedic Herbs like Nagkesar to permeate the tissues and nourish and rejuvenate the skin. It *lightens * adds glow * rejuvenates.' 

It smells heavenly, just like sandalwood and really gives a luxurious feel. On applying it, I feel soothed and my skin feels so smooth and soft. It deep cleanses my skin, also gives such a cooling effect and since it is completely natural, it does not cause any pimples or break-outs which is always my biggest fear. After listening to so many people rave about Forest Essentials products,I am happy to use this and have become a fan of this brand myself. I will be trying out other FE products soon. 

My rating- 4.5 on 5

Sweeter and Better,that is my life,with Honey

The other day, my mother was talking to me about one of her friend's daughter who is very picky about what she eats, so much so that her mother is going crazy trying to figure out what to feed her. But like all of us have a tendency to look at the brighter spots in life, her mother said that at least she will grow up to be a size zero model as she hardly ever eats anything! For some reason, it made everyone laugh and even my mother was recounting this incident as a hilarious episode.

We all come across such incidents now and then. For all the talk of 'inner beauty', we still consider looks and figure as the most important criteria to 'judge' someone the moment we meet them. Not that there is anything very wrong in that. Because a person takes a lot of time and energy in looking good, so it is natural that we appreciate that aspect too. But it is harmful when taken to extremes. Such as -Size Zero modelling. We have all seen those stick thin models walking on ramps during London or Paris fashion week, and let us not forget the size zero craze that happened in our own India with Kareena Kapoor during the movie Tashan! A craze to look so thin that one might get confused if a person is starving! How is that considered healthy?

Let us remember what we were taught in school-Carbohydrates, Proteins, Vitamins, Minerals, Fats-all are essential to our body and life. Our body is made up of so many components that they need a mix of everything to derive energy and keep us in A-1 shape. But unfortunately, due to this 'dieting' craze,we have all forgotten the basic. Any wonder then that most of our modern society is plagued with so many lifestyle diseases and people are popping more pills than real food?

I have been a part of this craze too! I am lucky that I have never been overweight but still, not blessed with a figure that can be a part of the modelling world. And in college, I wanted so bad to be a model that I was ready to do whatever it took to reach that 'ideal weight'. I spent most of my pocketmoney in buying powders and pills that promised to banish all the fat and make me svelte like those Hollywood starlets. I tried Atkins, Herbalife shakes, Detox diet and some really un-pronounceable ones too! I exercised for hours, took some protein shakes and even though I felt weak, I would carry on thinking that this is what my body needs to go through in order for me to be a supermodel. Everything was perfect,until one week before my graduation final exams, I was diagnosed with Jaundice! Turns out that all the miracle weight loss pills and powders had weakened my liver to a dangerous extent and I had to be bed-ridden for nearly a month. Never mind that I lost one complete year of my studies, I also found the biggest lesson of my life. That is, these 'miracle diets' are nothing but death traps.

It was during this time that my doctor planned an entire diet chart for me,which took care of all my nutritional requirements without adding on the unnecessary calories or empty calories. Starting right from using Honey instead of normal white sugar. This one change made the biggest difference in my life. I have been able to crave all my food cravings without piling on bad calories as well as maintain a healthy weight and BMI. Not only this, I am also always energetic and ready to go for whatever task awaits me. I am not a model but working for a agency that works with celebrities and I can vouch for honey diet being the reason behind my glowing skin and hair too,I never use makeup! I look, feel and work better and I credit all this to my trusty friend Dabur Honey.