PCs Act Like On-demand Tutors-Interviewed by Dell India

Dell Aarambh hosted a PAN India initiative for thought leaders in the parenting space with an objective of showcasing PC as a viable study tool and to equip teachers & parents with essential PC skills for learning. My interview has been published on their official website. Do give it a read-

https://www.dellaarambh.com/post/pcs-act-like-on-demand-tutors

Raksha Bandhan Gifting Options for Your Fashionable Sibling

We all have that special person in our lives... a brat who grew up snatching your favourite tees or probably a cool dude who comes up with excellent style tips on how to be a street star; a protective bestie who saves you from scoldings when you're mistaken or a possessive friend who would keep an eye on you all the time, but won't admit.

Well! this 'someone' is none other than your irritable yet so affectionate 'sibling' who is your companion for lifetime. Who else can you be screaming at one minute and hugging the next moment? But somewhere deep inside your heart, you know that your brothers and sisters will always have your back.

For a brother or sister with whom you share such a prolific relationship, an exclusive gift on Raksha Bandhan is almost inescapable. I know it's hard to come up with a great gift for your siblings, but while searching for an ultimate 'gift of utility' in honour of my most favoured festival, I stumbled on Shor Sharaba and there I found something exactly what I wanted ;)

Before I show you what I ordered, let me make some 'shor' ;)
Shor Sharaba is an entrepreneurial venture of two sisters who believe in the theory of  'doing something you love'. The duo began with designing cushions and coasters in classy colours and fabrics that ruled the roost in home décor. Later they extended their collection with new categories of products including bags, gadget accessories, iPad cases, laptop bags, passport covers, wallets that were way beyond usual and spelled beautiful vibrancy. The enthusiastic girls keep on adding up something or the other in their existing merchandise regularly for their own creative satisfaction that pleases their clients and make them keep coming back.

Do they deserve all this Shor Sharaba?

Here's a truth, whether you choose to believe it or not: I assess a brand from different aspects. When I explored Shor Sharaba, I was really impressed to see their noisy collection and innocently smiling kiddo models ;) I was curious to find if the brand has got something for brothers and sisters both & to my sheer joy, I found many options that were in-line with my liking. I ordered two jackets - Shlokas Jacket for Girls and Mustaches Jacket for boys. My order was dispatched the same day and a properly packed parcel was delivered to me in expected number of working days.

These jackets perfectly balance being cool and practical. When you hand one over to your bro or sis, it gives you a feeling that you're giving them a touch of inherent trendiness. Such gifts make the receiver realise how closely you understand their fine taste. Just throw on these quirky jackets and spice up your boring outfit.

Boys jackets can be worn as part of an ensemble with an ethnic kurta / with a casual tee or as a statement piece by themselves!

Girls certainly have many more creative way to style these jackets. Team it up with a slip dress, long kurti, over a crop top or a basic LBD; it's gonna add the perfect amount of glam quotient to your dressing sense.

The best part? these jackets are reversible, so for the days when you like to dress a little sporty, flip these jackets inside out and give your weekend look an subtle yet edgy twist. I highly recommend to take your pick and layer up this season while making a bold statement with these jackets!

Other than these jackets that I ordered, Shor Sharaba offers delightful kids clothing items like printed & embroidered, Kurta Pyjama Sets, Sherwanis, Girly Capes, cute Denim Dresses and much more. And these are available in sizes suited to age group starting 6 months onwards. Imagine how adorable your little bro or sis will look in these happy dresses :)

For those who are sceptical to got for a clothing item, a handbag with indie pop of colour can be the best pick for your sis. Truly crushing over their sling bags that would add the perfect finishing touch to your outfit.

Summing up, I would say Shor Sharaba unquestionably deserves all the applauds for being a perfect place for presenting extensive products at budget friendly prices without compromising in quality. Must visit them if your sibling has an unusual taste to clothing and accessories that are funky, rare, strange, loud, and unexpected. Hurry!! It's time to shop for that handpicked token of love for your near and dear ones that will bring a broad smile on their faces.

Best Selling Photo Gifts for this Festive Season

If you just glance at the festival calender for this month and for next few, you'll be filled with the joy to realise that people in different regions of the country observe such unique festivals almost every day that if we start celebrating all those special ocassions, our life will be a never-ending merrymaking. And with the festivals, comes the thought of finding gifts and presents with which we would like to surprise our loved ones. 🎁 Gifts symbolize our love, affection and emotions. And this year I wanted to give gifts that are little more heartfelt and personal. After spending a couple of hours searching for nice gifts online, I finally zeroed on the idea of getting some Photo Gifts printed for upcoming Raksha Bandhan festival that could make my siblings not just smile but remind them how much I care for them. Once my idea of Photo Gifts was approved by Mr. hubby, I decided to order some nice gift items from Canvas Champ because I had a satisfactory experience with them earlier in two instances when I got myself Buddha on Canvas and Square Pillow prints 'done to perfection' by their dedicated team of experts.

About Canvas Champ
Canvas Champ is an online portal with a combined experience of well over 25 years in graphic designing. The materials they use for their prints are up to the industry standards. They assure you quality product at pocket-friendly prices. Their design wizards are up to any task that the customer has for them and there is no request they cannot fulfill. Their prices can get even better, if you are ordering in bulk quantities. Even the business owners are choosing Canvas Prints as their preferred corporate gifting option.

Speciality Photos Products I Ordered as per liking of my family members are:

Canvas Print:

The most popular photo prints that I have ever come across are the canvas prints. And the versatility and economical prices of these definitely make them candidate of popularity amongst masses. Canvas Champ offers different types of canvas prints. A Rolled Canvas comes in the form of a stretchable tube which gives an ease to expand so you can display it in different ways. Single Panel Canvas is the most unadulterated & conventional form of Canvas Prints where the photo is printed on a single flat panel of high quality wood. Split Canvas Print basically splits the canvas into parts that transforms an ordinary picture into blocks of trendy art pieces. There are wide customization choices in terms of border colour, image wrap, hanging hooks, liquid lamination and much more. One can spend really good time uniting excellent features before placing a final order. Pricing starts at just Rs. 299.

Metal Print:

Metal is something I tried for the first time as a photo base. It's a frameless photo with thin base that can be fixed on the wall or wood easily. The metal used is of premium quality aluminium which ensures that there is minimum glare and the picture looks beautiful even from a distance. Metalic prints look stand out whether you showcase them at home or office. Fix them anywhere and make your interiors look striking. Photos printed on metal are not only eye-catchy, but these are waterproof, UV resistant and quite durable. These prints are available in various sizes as per the requirement of the customer with a starting price apprx. 900/-.

Acrylic Print:

For those who love adapting to new trends, Acrylic Glass Print is one such creative segment to explore. Getting your photos on acrylic glass is a sure shot way to add a new style statement to your home decor. Acylic prints are light weight, easily portable and ready-to-mount. They commendably portray the true effects and colors without losing the essence of originality. Isn't it a cool way to express and impress at the same time? You can choose the size, thickness, framing, hanging etc. that best fit your need and can get this classy gift printed at a starting price of apprx. 1500/-

Wood Print:

Just like the other two Specialty Prints in metal and glass, the Wood Print is also a distinct printing base on which the picture is directly printed by expert artisans instead of photo mounting and dye sublimation. They use high-quality Chromaluxe Wood Panels of 1.0" thickness which is durable enough and maintains the weight of the panel. The wood frame is adorned with protective lamination to keep your print dirt-free and any harm from alien objects. The wood prints come with a groove at its rear side, so all you need is to hang it on the screw directly. The wood prints can be done in single piece, three piece set or four piece set depending on the space availability. Starts at Rs. 1299/-

USP of Canvas Champ:

• Unlike most photo print portals that I've order on in the past, Canvas Champ has a vast variety of product choices including canvas prints, framed prints, photo gifts, wall displays etc.
• The print quality has always been impressive. I've been admiring their high-quality work since my first order. 
• Special attention is paid towards excellent packaging to deliver the product safely to the customer. For this particular order, they had packed the products in wooden cases that were sealed with nails very carefully. 
• The price has been fairly quoted for all the products. And the icing on the cake is that you will find lucrative discount deals going on the website most of the times to save your hard-earned money. Not to forget, greater offers on prices can be worked out for bulk orders.
• If you're unsure of what to buy as the best gift for your loved ones, you may get a CC Gift Voucher delivered to them that suits your budget and gives the receiver the freedom of selecting their own gift.

I highly recommend you all to give Canvas Champ a shot to turn your photos into masterpieces and I'm absolutely sure you'll have nothing but a wonderful shopping experience. 

P.S. My clicks haven't done justice with the real print quality. The prints are really better than seen here. 

The Best Remedy To Unblock Your Baby’s Nose

It dreads every mom when all the viruses and bacteria out there are aiming for her little one. During the first year after birth, the babies are more prone to common ailments as their immune system is still developing.

My son, a preemie, used to easily falling prey to respiratory infections despite taking good care of hygiene and takes longer to recover from severe nasal congestion. Though my mom would always console me that certain childhood illnesses like cold has predictable life span and his nose mucus build-up would clear up by itself within a week or so, but seeing the baby so uncomfortable with laboured breathing has been very distressing for me as a first time mom. I would always be discussing and consulting with experienced moms around of the probable remedies that may outgrow this phase.

There were barely any intervals between his illness and wellness. During climatic changes like at the arrival of wet months in monsoon, when the air has elevated humidity and rains entitle respiratory viruses and pollutants to circulate in the air; his respiratory problems would complicate to a higher degree and his nose would block triggering some sort of allergic reaction. He would struggle breathing and nursing at the same time and would have only shorter feeds. Even while sleeping, he would breathe noisily, often keeping his mouth opened. I had read in some parenting literature that the babies up to one year of age are 'obligatory nose breathers' and they breathe exclusively through their nose. The frequent issue of a stuffy little nose had become one of the toughest challenge for me as a mom with noticeable effects on my child's health, energy level, ability to function and quality of life in general. It was heart breaking to hear him cry with a distinct sound of discomfort and behave cranky all the time. I was worried that if left untreated, this long-term nasal congestion can interfere with his ability to hear and talk as he grows up and may even adversely affect his mental health.

Like every other young mom, initially I relied only upon practical advice of elders in the family as I was deeply committed to raise my child on the principles of attachment parenting. After trying number of home remedies including saline drops, vapour bath and trying baby wearing frequently that comforted him occasionally; I finally decided to consult the paediatrician for my child's physical ENT examination to alleviate his stuffy nose and to put an end to this not-so-normal congestion nuisance.

The doctor directed me to use Nasivion Mini 0.01, a nasal decongestant specially formulated for our little ones of upto one year and instructed me regarding it's safe usage. For my child who was a few months old, I was advised to gently pour in 1-2 drops into each nostril in lying down posture 2-3 times a day. But for a baby up to the age of one month, the parent should instill only one drop of the solution into each nostril 2-3 times per day. With high hopes in my heart for the efficacy of the medication, I followed doctor's instructions and gradually noticed some relief after a day or two. The Oxymetazoline infused solution had been well-tolerated by his little nose and cleared his nasal passage within five days of continuous usage. Encouraged naps, sufficient food intake and normal lung function helped him soothe and heal in coming days. It seemed that life has taken a hopeful turn for all good.

I would recommend all parents whose babies are affected with similar ailment to consider Nasivion. But be sure to consult your paediatrician first. Because a sick baby is never a happy baby and at times, you're just one step away from happiness.

What If You Get Nature's Care In Your Baby's Wipes

Hey mommies

It's the time for 'mom to mom' advice and sharing something of great concern from my motherhood experience with you all :)

When I was an expectant mom and was staying for some time with my parents prior to my delivery, my mom not only took best care of me, but planned everything so well for the arrival of her first grandchild much ahead of his/her birth. The preparations for baby's arrival not just involved hauling around for best quality baby essentials from the market, but she put lot more effort to pack all kinds of 'comfort items' for me and the newborn in my hospital bag.

While she got me an ultimate maternity kit ready, I wasn't pleased to find her cutting her old, used premium cotton sarees and bedsheets into pieces and stacking those cloth pieces in my hospital bag. Collecting my courage as much as possible, I asked her why and she patiently explained me the logic that the newborn's delicate skin would demand mildest care and the key principle is to 'be genlte'. After my son was born, we would use one of those soft pieces of cotton cloth to wipe him clean and would dispose it after use.

In the present times, when we have access to anything and everything needed for newborns readily available in the stores and many of us don't trust such age-old practises, I'm really glad that the notion for baby care are still the same i.e. 'gentle, harmless care for the baby'. I know those pieces of cotton cloth have been replaced with easy-to-use moist towelettes or wet wipes that is one the most desirable items in a baby's diaper bag, but can all these wipes pass the quality-checks that ONLY a mom can impose? I personally used and tested a number of 'supposedly good' baby wipes, but wasn't convinced until I laid my hands on Mother Sparsh wipes.

Let's explore some key factors that influenced my opinion while picking Mother Sparsh Wipes over ordinary wipes-

The delicate baby skin demands for purest ingredients that are gonna be absorbed by their skin when any product comes into contact with the largest organ of their body. The thoughtful design of these wipes with 100% Plant-based Fabric & 98% of Water actually brought back memories of my mom's style of baby cleaning with only pure water using soft cleaning fabric. Since these wipes are as good as Cotton & Pure Water, it proves to be a skin-friendly product even in the early months after baby's birth.
After hygiene, finding the right amount of softness, moisture and fragrance in the wipes has to be a priority for every mom. The Mother Sparsh Wipes infused with purest Ayurvedic Actives would gain your trust when using these to clean your baby's dirty face, hands, eyes, ears, bottom won't cause him any allergic reaction or diaper rash. And the goodness of Vitamin E and Aloe Vera extract is the additional perks of relying on a A-grade product to won't compromise in hydrating the skin of little one.
I bet you're worried of preservatives in the wipes that are the most common allergens and lead to itchy skin. So procuring a cleaning item absolutely free from all harmful chemicals like Alcohol & Parabens is definitely a win-win situation for me and my fellow mommies.
For the reasons too good to be true, the mommies and babies ought to love Mother Sparsh wipes. Can't wait to get your little one a gift of good health, order your pack here and end your hunt for baby safe wipes today!

COLOURBOX Nail Polish & THE ONE Nail Polish Remover Review

The Colourbox Nail Polish has 10 fun shades and comes in a cute little bottle that is easy to pop into your handbag. With so many fab colours and such great value, now everyday can be a Colourbox day!

Ingedients:
BUTYL ACETATE, ETHYL ACETATE, NITROCELLULOSE, ACETYL TRIBUTYL CITRATE, ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL, ADIPIC ACID/NEOPENTYL GLYCOL/ TRIMELLITIC ANHYDRIDE COPOLYMER, STEARALKONIUM BENTONITE, STYRENE/ACRYLATES COPOLYMER, MICA, BENZOPHENONE-1, N-BUTYL ALCOHOL, SILICA, DIACETONE ALCOHOL, PROPYLENE CARBONATE, CI 77891, CI 15850, CI 77742, CI 15880, CI 77491, CI 77007, CI 77266 (NANO), CI 19140, CI 77510, CI 77499

Shades Available:

Soft Lavender - 33257
Bright Red - 33262
Soft Red - 33263
Bright Raspberry - 33264
Soft Berry - 33265
Soft Plum - 33266

Chic Pink - 34620

Brick Burgundy - 34621

Rich Pink - 34622

Coral Pop- 34623

Price: Rs. 189 for 5 ml. 

The colourbox nailpolishes come in tiny glass bottles that are pretty handy to carry around.  I like the wide, flat brush that just takes two strokes to completely cover the nail. The colour on the nail is true to the colour in the bottle. Some of the nailpaints give opaque result in one stroke while others need two. This colloection has bright shades of the family of reds and pinks mostly with a berry, plum etc. These are quite refreshing shades that anyone would love to flaunt in any season and for any reason. All the nail paints give lovely shiny finish after two coats of it even without meticulous process of applying a base coat and a glossy top coat which is definitely a plus point. They dry quite fast and satiates the need of instant gratification that most of us expect from a good quality nail paint. For me, the nail paint lasts upto 5-6 days with minimal chipping surviving all the household chores. I would consider it long-lasting. I liked the ColourBox Nail Polishes overall but wanted the array of colours to be more extensive to include varied shades. Soft lavender is one of my favourite amongst all the shades :)

For a girl who changes her nail paint so frequently, a good nail paint remover is a must too. I've been using THE ONE Nail Polish Remover for quite some time. It's a regular liquid remover that comes in a tall plastic bottle and need to be used with a cotton pad to clear off your nail paint. The product doesn't moisturizes the nails, but does its job well.

Which shade did you like the most?