5 Ways To Keep A Baby's Sensitive & Soft Skin Safe.

We often hear how some people work extra hard to maintain their skin's smoothness & claim their skin is as soft as a baby's bum, but babies don't have it easy either, they have to be taken good care of so their skin retains it's softness.

Here's 5 ways to keep a baby's soft skin safe -

1. Oil Massage.
You should be wary of using oils containing harsh chemicals & parabens but an oil massage post bath & before going to sleep is mandatory to keep a baby's skin soft. According to me it's best to use easily available natural oils such as mustard, almond & olive oil. 

2. Diaper Rash = Sleepless Nights.
Sleep is the main factor that contributes in maintaining soft skin as skin is able to repair itself & recover moisture. Growth hormones are only released when the baby's in deep sleep, so if the baby is up crying all night it can be due to diaper rash. I suggest everyone to switch to 100% breathable cotton cloth diapers to calm the aggravated rash and/or use a trusted company's product that's safe & common in every household, for eg - Pampers.

3. Grandmother's Advice & Tips.
I believe grandma's are the best people to ask for advice, they have a plethora of tips up their sleeves when it comes to home remedies. One tip my grandma gave my mum was to apply 9-10 drops of desi ghee in the winters & massaging it all over my body to achieve the softest skin.

4. Trust your doctor.
Use mild bath cleansers/shampoos, scent free baby wipes, diapers, rash creams & other creams recommended by your doctor. Do not use any scrubbers or loofah's. Always clean the baby's private areas thoroughly & read product labels for ph-balance to keep your baby's skin safe.

5. Sun Protection.
Sunlight is harsh & UV rays can harm the baby's skin especially if they're 6-7 months or under. To keep it safe use mild sunscreen specially made for children, always carry a hat, umbrella, full sleeved clothes, stick car window shades on the back windows, buy stroller with a sun protection cover & at home, keep the crib away from direct sunlight.

Pampers brings you the softest ever Pampers Premium Care Pants. It's cotton-like softness is #SoftestForBabySkin and allows it to breathe thus keeping baby's skin soft and healthy, and your baby happy.

Zest Is The Spice Of Life.

Sometimes, life can be utterly boring considering the same monotonous routines, exams, college, 9-5 jobs etc. There needs to be a spark, a zest, to spice up life.
I feel like a vegetable sometimes, just sitting there and vegetating. So I've written down 5 things that zest up my life.

1. PETS
In the pet category, dogs give me immense happiness & sadly my busy weekdays don't allow me to own one but I'm always up for visiting my cousin as she has the cutest puppy ever named Astro. I love taking Astro for walks, playing fetch at the park, petting & feeding him. The best part is that I immediately feel happy after a long stressful day! Dogs are considered to be stress busters & help curb depression & loneliness. I usually feel depressed because I keep high expectations from people but no one lives up to it, whereas dogs reciprocate triple the amount of love you give to them & they definitely add zest to my life.

At 4 months

One year old

2. VACATIONS
I rarely get to go on vacations, but when I do, it feels great. It's in fact a refreshing change from the same old daily routine. Vacations add such zest to life & always keep one on their toes. I love beach holidays, they're my favourite. I love playing beach volleyball, boating, swimming, paragliding, jet skiing & soaking up the sun. It gives me a chance to spend quality time with my family & relatives. I love to get to know them better!

3. SECRET DIARY
I'm not much of a stories & poems kind of writer, but I have a secret diary locked up in my drawer. There are some things about some people, events or incidences that I cannot share with anyone, it bothers me as I can't keep it in, hence I write whatever I feel, no matter how good, bad or terrible. I read it whenever I need a reality check. It's super exciting to pen down whatever I feel. It adds a zest to my life by letting out my bottled emotions & not getting in trouble for it!

4. ONLINE SHOPPING
Online shopping can be a simple thing for some, it's super exciting for me as I don't contemplate or obsess over fast delivery. Physically going shopping can be tiring, draining & claustrophobic for me at times. I order stuff I need from different websites at once since they take weeks to deliver. Packages unexpectedly arriving can uplift my mood instantly, it's like a gift from me to myself.

5. LEARNING
Learning can be anything to a new language, a sport, or even a party trick. I'm always hungry for learning. It's something I can add to my personality. I remember doing a party trick & people were amazed. The words of appreciation & the ability to keep myself occupied & entertained adds zest to my life & make me want to learn more. I learnt Spanish & spoke to a fellow foreign exchange student at college & every one was suddenly taking interest in our conversation. It feels great to be appreciated every now & then.

This post is a part of the #ZestUpYourLife activity in association with TATA Zest and Blogadda.com

Orange is NOT the new black ;)

The colour black is my absolute favourite. It mainly dominates my wardrobe & makeup choices. It doesn't stop there, it includes gadgets, shoes, bed linen, bath accessories, home-ware etc. I prefer to own everything in black. My friends think I'm a wannabe emo, but hey, I just love black. It makes me look good. It's a universally accepted colour, besides, it's mysteriously classy & goes with anything & everything.

Imagine if your dog was green, or what if famous cola beverages were yellow.

Anyway, here are the 5 black things I adore & wish to call my own.

1. Black Lamborghini Gallardo.
My dream car since the time I set my eyes on it. Not only is it so sleek, so suave, so gorgeous, so expensive but it's transmission is unimaginably powerful. I saw one outside a night club one time, it literally made me stop in my tracks for a good 15 minutes.
Drools all over. #Cargasm

2. Black Christian Louboutin Pumps.
One day you'll be mine, you stunning black Louboutin's, you.
These classic pumps are the Aphrodite of shoes. These beauties add a charm to boring outfits & make wardrobe basics look good.

3. Chanel Black Caviar Leather Bag.
It's as awesome as it sounds & costs a bomb (about a year's salary to be precise.) It's the perfect bag to take everywhere & it lasts a lifetime. I'm infuriatingly jealous of my cousin who owns it.

4. Black Diamond.
Diamonds are my a girls best friend. And what's better than a classic diamond? A black one. It looks breathtakingly stunning & I'm pretty sure natural black diamonds are extremely rare.

5. Black iPad.
I don't own a black iPad, and no, I don't own a white one either. Although I have a strong desire to own this brilliant gadget that not only adults but little kids rave about too.
Apple products never fail to amuse me. I've heard that they last very long even after using it daily for about half the time one's awake. My friends usually tell me how iPad's have been triumphant in curbing their & their children's boredom.

This contest is a part of #WhatTheBlack activity on Blogadda.com

My Smart Suraksha Tips!

Thanks to BlogAdda, today I get an opportunity to share 10 safety tips I personally follow & have learnt over the years after getting into uncontrollable scary situations. My luck, karma, quick thinking & the sermons my parents have given me helped me make wise decisions & save my life.

Tip number 1:
Pepper spray.

Whenever you go out, even on vacations; always carry pepper spray. Carry a can in your purse or pocket. Spray it 2-3 times right in your attackers face. It'll work like a charm & he'll bawl his eyes out. (Thank me later!) And, if you don't have pepper spray, deodorant or moov/volini spray works just fine. (But use it only during an utmost case of emergency where your attacker can potentially harm you & be a threat to your life.)


Tip number 2:
Social networking.

It's a tip I'd describe as 'been there done that' & I'm writing on the basis of personal experience.
Don't ever make friends on Facebook/Twitter or any social networking site if you're not familiar with them or don't have a decent amount of mutual friends. Networking & keeping in touch is great but since technology has become highly advanced, it's easy to access all websites & download plenty of chat apps via your phone/tablet which in turn makes it easier to communicate with anyone in the world. I'd suggest you to highly refrain from speaking or replying to the 'good looking guy' who randomly sent you a friend request or the 'ultra sweet sugar coated beautiful girl' who messaged you out of the blue or a so called 'casting agent' who's sudden aim in life is to make you a movie star/model. These people will claim they know your friends, know someone in your neighborhood or just thought you were someone else & cheekily start a conversation. Don't give in & eventually become friends. Don't wait for the worse to happen & do not fall prey to anyone's sweet talk trap. Going out of your way to meet an unknown person you've just met "online" is a big no-no. Most of such individuals are either jobless or sick minded creepy online predators.

Tip Number 3:
Beware of intruders.

The crime rate in Mumbai concerning home burglaries has alarmingly increased hence we should be careful of thieves & criminals that try to invade the house by trickery or false claims of being a courier boy, electronics repair technician, a door to door salesman etc. by dressing up as one. The primary way to prevent a home invasion is to simply never, ever open your door unless you're certain you know who's on the other side or can verify that they have a legitimate reason to be there. If you unknowingly open the door to inquire or let them in & they appear shady tell them to leave or you'll call security. If the person tries to attack, run into your "kitchen" because that's the place you know where all the knives, forks & heavy objects are kept so you can counter attack the person. Also scream for 'HELP' in order to alert the neighbors. Most importantly, don't leave maids/servants alone to look after your house. Ask friends/cousins instead.

Tip Number 4:
Emergency speed dial.

This is a tip I follow without fail. In Mumbai taking trains is like getting packed in a can of sardines, it's very crowded. Easiest way to commute is obviously by cabs & rickshaws. So, if you're traveling alone late night in a cab/rickshaw or walking alone in a fairly deserted area, hold your phone in a way where your thumb is lightly placed near the green/call key to be ready to make an emergency call to your parents, friend or the police. Better preset the button to speed dial of the people you'd want to contact during emergencies, beforehand. You know there's an amazing app for android, namely - Smart Suraksha App. I highly suggest you to click on it to go check it out in detail & download it. It's a MUST HAVE APP.

Tip Number 5:
Traveling/vacations.

We all love going on vacations, right? But we have to beware of people looking for an opportunity to hurt us or steal our belongings. Use your phone to Google nearby places, use Google Maps or buy a book to get some knowledge of the place you're at BUT DON'T CARRY A MAP! It's a dead giveaway that you're a tourist & know nothing. If you're clueless about the locations share your queries with families around you. Don't wear expensive jewelry & count your cash in public. Do not flaunt your credit/debit cards & most importantly don't get too adventurous & wander off in unknown territories whether you're alone or with family. Always trust a registered tour guide with his ID proof in tow.


Tip Number 6:
Make sure someone knows where you are.

I won't deny, I've lied to my parents in the past & learnt the hard way. Always let your parents, friends or relatives know where you're going. Don't sneak out of the house or tell a lie in order to party with friends late at night or go on date at a far away or deserted/unknown location. It's not a clever thing to do because if you get in trouble, your car breaks down, you get mugged or kidnapped; no one will know your whereabouts which will make it difficult for your family & the police to track you down & your chances of survival may be little to nil.
                                                                       

Tip Number 7:
Trust your gut instinct.

The cardinal safety rule I follow is to trust my gut instinct. At first I used to go with the flow, take unneeded risks, say yes to people easily, ignore my gut feeling. I used to be quite adventurous when it came down to traveling alone & somehow meeting online friends wasn't strange to me. But after a few unfortunate incidents I realized how dangerous it is & how my gut feeling is almost always right that now to me it's like a super power. So always avoid a person you know you're not going to feel comfortable with & don't go a place that sounds shady or 'just not right' to you.

Tip Number 8:
Self defense.

If you have no time to attend self defense classes, look up video tutorials & articles online as to how to tackle an attacker in different ways & practice at home. Also try wearing spiked rings & fashion jewelry. Always carry a multi-utility tool that contains a pair of scissors, mini knife, nail filer in your purse. Don't walk timidly & have a lost look on your face. Professional criminals & wrong doers always recognize vulnerable people. While walking alone don't be engrossed in texting, looking at pictures or listening to music, be aware of your surroundings!

Tip Number 9:
Directions please?

I'd like to share an incident.
One morning my friend was on her way to the bus stop at 7am. Since not many people take the bus at that time she found herself to be the only one walking since her friend wasn't accompanying her that day. Suddenly a car honked at her from behind, a man shouted 'excuse me, directions please?' whilst holding up a piece of paper. She walked towards the car & explained the address. The man was with 2 other male accomplices & pretended to not understand, one of them slyly got out the back door, grabbed her hand & tried to pull her in. She managed to run & escaped with a few scratches.
So if you're walking alone & someone yells out "excuse me" to ask for directions or anything else, look at them from the corner of your eye but don't look directly, turn a deaf ear to them & start walking briskly till you reach the nearest shop, salon, school or anything you think would be safe. Remember, you're not obligated to help as unfortunate incidents can occur in broad daylight too, so you have to be extra careful. Besides, your name isn't hello or excuse me. :)

Tip Number 10:
Wear proper footwear/clothing.

Some feel wearing high heels is an added bonus if you're on the verge of being attacked as you can use it to counter attack. I strongly disagree. Firstly I'm a girl & know how painfully difficult it is to walk on Mumbai's uneven pothole prone roads with heels. The first thing in mind would be to run from the assailant who's probably armed with knives/guns rather than take off one shoe, be off balance, then try to attack. You won't have time & in most cases, the assaulter will try to catch you off guard. So heels are a big NO-NO. Me being a girl believes that no outfit is an 'invitation for rape' but you have to be careful of perverts; so try to be covered & comfortable when you go out, even to run errands.

Always be safe. Your suraksha is in your hands.
Take care.









I am sharing my Smart Suraksha tips at BlogAdda.com in association with Smart Suraksha App.

My Sumptuous & Easy Doodle Recipe.

I was tired of always reaching for pizzas, burgers, chips & junk food for the purpose of snacking in the evening with my garam chai. It was fairly easy but was affecting my health! A little motivation to improve my health made me devise this awesome recipe which is healthy as well as tasty and can be had with a hot cup of tea, like I prefer ;) or just before dinner, as starters :)

It's easy to make and it requires just 45 mins.

Here's MY recipe for sumptuous Paneer Tikka.

A Good Deed.

Surprisingly the most important things I've learnt in life aren't from the things I've studied. They don't come from books or the internet. They come from my life's experiences.

I'm going to share one such experience.

This story dates to last year of June, 2012. My family and I moved into our new residence, the house was quite huge, the way we wanted it to be. A few weeks later, we decided to throw a house warming party for our family friends and my friends. The preparations started. The 'catering' part was my responsibility.. Oh how I hated responsibilities.
     Anyway, I ordered lots. From pizzas to burgers to all types of snacks, Indian food and desserts. On the day of the party everybody arrived, had a jolly good time and the party was a success. But there was a lot of food that was left uneaten or rather untouched. It would obviously get stale the next day and me being a picky eater, I wouldn't eat it anyway. So without giving it a second thought, I threw all of it away. Also, I'm a drama queen when it comes to eating. I usually waste so much food that my parents occasionally tell me that "Jyoti dear, the birds eat more than you, no wonder you're so skinny. You shouldn't waste so much food, some people do not even have food to eat." I always shrugged it off & never took them seriously.

The Next Day:
You know how after party scenes are right, especially when it's a house party. The house is a big mess. 
As we were new residents, we didn't have a servant/maid. My mum told me to go inquire with the security personnel so that they could guide me into finding a house help. The watchman said "there's a small village 5 mins from here, you'll have to go there." I thought to myself - damn it, I'll have go to a village now. As it was heavily raining I called up my sister and asked her to accompany me. So with our umbrellas we tread along the potholed pathway in hopes to reach that 'small village.' After, 15 and not 5 mins of walking in the rain, we reached one dimly lit makeshift hut that had a plastic sheet for a door, we asked "anybody there?" A frail woman with a baby in hand came out & angrily said "what do you want?" We explained we stay close by and need house help, she said "come inside, it's raining heavily."

We went in and what I saw was mind boggling, for me at least. It changed my whole perception, not only about my habits, but life.

What I saw was.. There were 2 little girls and 1 boy all aged around 4-9 y/o, they had mud on their bodies due to the rainwater and sludge seeping into their hut, wearing torn ripped clothes, sitting on the damp floor, flies buzzing around them. They were eating nothing but bread. Those 3 kids were sharing 2 pieces of bread. Just 2 pieces, I was stunned, I couldn't take my eyes off of them for a good 5 minutes. Not because they were eating bread or there were only 2 pieces but because maybe, MAYBE it's their LAST MEAL. They have almost nothing to eat today, what's the guarantee that they will tomorrow? I was shell shocked.
   
The woman understood my glances. She exclaimed "we're so poor, we have nothing to eat and not much money left. My husband was a drunkard, he beat me everyday, I could have easily committed suicide but who would take care of my kids? I've run away from him but I've realized I cant take care of them anymore, I can't arrange for food, I'm weak and tired. If I work who will take care of my children?" Tears rolled down as she spoke, i could see the pain and agony in her eyes. I tried comforting her with kind words, but she screamed "I haven't eaten in 2 days" 

Actual image of the location. Picture taken in June, 2012.

I stood quietly thinking to myself and having flashbacks of what I did last night. Then I realized, I had wasted so much food, just because... I could. Where as here, just 10 mins away from me, some one is suffering. Seeing the less fortunate suffer with my own eyes made me curse myself in angst. I was furious with myself.

I told the woman, "I will help you."
Those were like golden words for her.

Her eyes brightly lit up, wiping away her tears she asked "how?" I told her to wait, I told my sister to be with her whilst I go back to get something.

Anxious and repenting all the way back, I got home and narrated the incident to my parents, then they gave me a little lecture on how I'm so fortunate to have the good things in life, a house, loving parents, most importantly - food to eat that I used to abundantly waste. I was literally about to burst out crying.

I suggested them to buy off one of the servant quarters near our building so she could have a permanent house and also work for us. It's not an easy or inexpensive thing to do, as the quarters are allotted only to employees working for the building, by the builder. But, they somehow found a loophole and agreed.

With a huge smile on my face I went back to her with a box filled with goodies to eat, some clothes and good news that has changed her life forever. 

I want to say how mad I am that I didn't realize how important these things were earlier, but I'm grateful that today I can make the necessary changes in my endeavors.

Oh and one more thing, today it has been one whole year that she has been working with us and her children are enrolled in a government school. :)

How to manage to be fashionable while working out!

So, today I'm going to write about unveiling the fashion secrets for today's style conscious fitness freaks!

Your workout clothes should be comfortable, breathable and easy to move in but nowhere does it say they have to be unflattering or baggy. Wearing great clothes and having fun with fashion while working out is a fantastic motivator, encouraging you to exercise and keeping energy levels high while you work out. Gyms and other public exercise spaces encourage us to dress well and look our best even if we’re getting a little sweaty. In fact exercising can be quite sexy so showing off your body in some stylish pieces is appropriate.

Racer back tops are really comfortable and easy to wear during exercise because the straps never fall down unlike tank tops that are prone to slipping over your shoulders. They’re also quite sexy, showing off your back in a way that it isn't usually displayed, presenting your shoulder blades and curving down your spine in an elegant line. Specially engineered polyester absorbs away the sweat from your body keeping you looking dry throughout your workout and fresh-looking on your way home from the gym ensuring under-arm stains never spoil your look.

Also, working out with a friend presents a lot of benefits for all types of gym-goers. Whether you’re a heavy lifter, a treadmill junkie, or a hardcore fitness expert, you can count on a friend to make your workouts more effective, as well as more interesting.

Running shoes may not seem the most fashionable footwear but high tech trainers with features you can boast about are very cool. What’s not cool is getting blisters, back trouble or pulled muscles from inappropriate or worn about shoes. A fresh looking pair of runners will finish off any workout outfit perfectly.