#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.

How to #StartANewLife with confidence

The moment I decided to take up my new job,I knew this was the start of a new life as everyone talks about that big moment when one's life changes. My life has been quite normal so far. Normal parents, normal middle class household, normal education, normal everything. My mother is a teacher so in my house,education came first over everything else. I always knew I would do a job as I could not even think of just staying at home whole day for any reason. I love housework and help my mom in cleaning, cooking whenever possible but I cannot imagine spending my whole time doing just that. And growing up,we always talked about Kiran Bedi and Indira Gandhi as role models in our home,so if they could balance their personal and professional life,then any woman could and so would I. It is just that I had never stayed outside home with anybody else, always my own family members and cousins during vacations. But I was pretty excited about the prospect too.

When I came to Mumbai,I got a rented accommodation with a very nice lady in Andheri East. She is a widow with two sons both of whom are settled in USA,so she has this big house with 3 bedrooms which she rents out to single working girls. There are 4 girls staying in 2 rooms, so the first day I came here,I met my roommate and was very excited to stay with her. She seemed like a very nice girl and we bonded over music and movies. Her parents lived in Hyderabad and she had grown up in quite a different home than mine. A few nights later,I found her tip-toeing back into our room at 4 AM in morning,which was strictly prohibited by our landlady. She told me that she had been out with a few friends and it got late. She had made a copy of the main door and did this now and then. I felt bad as she was cheating our nice landlady but she made me swear that I would not tell on her. However, a few nights later this again happened and this time I could also smell a lot of alcohol. I did not tell on her but I told her that this was not a good thing, she should at least respect the rules of the house as we are living in. Also,the neighbors might notice and say something. Mostly,I was just scared of the kind of people she was being friends with and if they were really nice people or if they were also into drugs etc. Finally about a month later,she did not come home all night and in the morning, the landlady aunty asked me about her whereabouts. I told her what she knew and also apologized for not telling her about this earlier. She was sad but did not scold me at all. I felt very bad and called my parents on what had happened and my mom said that I should again apologize to her. When my roommate came home at about 9 in the morning, I told her what had happened and asked her on the landlady aunty's behalf to leave the home as this was not the conduct of a good person from a good house. The landlady aunty also asked her to do the same.

Looking back at this,I remember being all new in the city and also a little bit shy but I learnt something very important-honesty is the foundation of everything. I could not start my new life on the basis of cheating or lying as my roommate was, it was not something I was taught by my parents and it was not the right thing to do. It taught me to be confident enough to do what was right without worrying about what anyone else was thinking. I used to care about my roommate enough to lie for her but then I realized it was my own lack of self-confidence that stopped me from doing the right thing. Today I live in a different house but I am still in touch with the landlady aunty and she always reminds me to remember the start of my new life here in Mumbai. Remember this as you browse through Housing website and see this video.

 

How to Lookup in life

As I got ready to start my new job in an all new city,my mind was filled with a thousand questions and will I be able to make it to the top on my own. Then there came the moment of meeting my grandparents and saying goodbye to them. We have a big joint family who have always been together and this was the first time I was going to be away. When I met my aaji (grandmother) and told her about my fears,whether my boss would be nice, whether my colleagues would be nice, how would I be able to remember to pay all my bills on time, she started laughing loudly and told me that I would do everything nicely as she had done all of that such a long time ago.Then she told me her story.

Well,my grandmother was born in modern day Pakistan,Lahore to be exact. When partition of India happened,her parents decided to move to India along with a lot of other hindu families living in their little colony. Many of their friends and neighbours were Muslims,some of whom helped in getting them safely onboard the trains coming to India but many also turned violent as it was a turbulent time when friends turned foes overnight. One of my grandmother's childhood friends was Muslim and even her family decided to come to India too. These 2 families came to Delhi together,thankfully (as my grandmother says) the train they came in was not looted and they came in safely as this was a big thing back then as many trains were completely looted and all people butchered in them. Well, they all reached Delhi and were herded into refugee camps with nowhere to go. The officials there told them that surely they will find some alternate accommodation,jobs etc. but they will have to be patient as the whole partition process had rendered a lot of loss on both sides and the economies of both the countries were not enough to give a good life to each and every person. So they had to wait. Meanwhile, my grandmother's mom got very ill as she had pneumonia for some time now and it was not possible for her to bear all the stress and those ill-living quarters and stay healthy! My grandmother and her friend then decided to start some work on their own to save some money as they couldn't live in those camps forever. They started to do some stitching work for other refugee ladies and slowly for some residential quarters near the camps in Delhi itself. Soon they branched out in embroidery work as my grandmotheer's friend-Saraa,her name was-really good in embroidery work while my aaji was good at math. Together,these friends saved enough money to start a kind of shop doing such work for many ladies on a permanent basis. Unfortunately my aaji's mother died of pneumonia complications soon after but my aaji and Saraa soon got both families out of desperation. They moved on to own a big shop in Delhi selling all kinds of dress material, sarees, bags, doing embroidery work on the same. This is how my aaji started her life after a tragedy like partition. 

After telling me this story,she asked me, how could I not succeed when she had under such difficult conditions?And listening to her made me feel a surge of hope and optimism like nothing else. Today,whenever I feel down or scared,I just remember her words and am able to smile and look forward to future with happiness,just like the feeling one might get as one browses through Housing website.

Okay Purchase- Lotus Herbals Whiteglow Skin Brightening Whitening Serum Review

Having heard from all my friends and neighbors on how important it is to have a serum in everyday beauty routine,I went ahead and bought 3 different serums and today I will review the first one that I used for 1 month regularly.It comes from the famous herbal brand of Lotus Herbals and has really good reviews too.

It claims, ' Enriched with Grape, Mulberry, Saxifraga extracts and Milk enzymes that are known fairness agents A proprietary formula that distributes via an advanced delivery system It visibly refines large pores, eliminates blackheads and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles'

On application,it simply seeps in my skin without making any kind of effect,it is not a cream so it does not leave any kind of sheen behind,it however gave a little matte effect on my skin after 2-3 minutes which I like.On top of it,I put sunscreen before going out and it held together very well. After regular use,I think I can see tighter pores and a little permanent glow which is a good thing. This is the first time I have used a serum and I think I was expecting a little more,but I think a very oily skin like me needs something more potent because I want oil control,blackheads control,squeaky clean yet hydrated skin and this serum only gives hydration and little matte effect for 5-6 hours. Apart from that,I think even if I use other products without using a serum,I would get same effect of glow and tighter pores! Also,it is expensive for the little quantity,I think just because it is called a serum,the brands charge more for it!

My rating-2.5/5