Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lifestyle. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Cleaning Home is Hassle Free This Monsoon !


One of the greatest challenges that humans have faced, right from the earliest days, was plumbing and sanitation. Getting water where it needs to go, and drawing away waste, has been one of the biggest logistical nightmares we have ever faced. 


Gone are the days of open gutters filled with human waste. As civilization began to develop itself, our prowess in handling these issues improved vastly. Today, we live in a world where you won't have to think twice about Sanitation, thanks to the wonderful people who make our plumbing systems work.


However, like anything else, there are several natural factors that hinder these systems. Even with impeccable planning during construction, the process of building a home is complicated. For example, let’s talk about corrosion over time.


Water is one of the two integral components in the creation of rust. Rust can damage even a well-built system, by weakening its base material and causing it to be ineffective. It always starts off as something as innocent as a tiny little leak, which we often ignore. This leads to water damage over time, especially to bathroom tiling and stone walls. 


One way to prevent all of this, is to find a waterproofing solution, and apply it early. As the famous saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! And one such cure that I recently found is Dr. Fixit  


Dr. Fixit helps provide an easy and affordable waterproofing solution, and can help you avoid a damp home during the monsoon seasons. By providing a good layer of insulation against water damage, it contains leaks and prevents them from damaging other parts of the structure. This gives us enough time to find and plug the source of the leak itself.


While construction related issues serve as a problem for house owners and builders alike, they are rarely a concern for tenants who stay in a rented space. What they do have to face, however, is keeping their homes clean.


Cleaning your own personal space on earth is a duty that falls on you, and you alone. Hiring help is possible of course, but still the person who is impacted by an unclean home at the end of the day, is only you. This is why we expend so much of our precious time and energy (and money!) in making sure our homes are clean.


Dust and loose dirt are easy to clean, all it takes is a broom and a few minutes of your time (depending on the size of your home, of course!). But the 80-20 rule applies here too, as we spend 80% of our time cleaning 20% of the dirt. And why is this you ask? Well, anyone who asks that has clearly never tried to clean a stain before!


Stains are the bane of your existence, if your goal is to have a spotless home. They are such a hassle to deal with, that many just choose to ignore them instead. While they rarely cause problems with the structure's integrity, they are an eyesore. Even when showing guests around, there is always an apologetic nod towards these stains.


There exist many "solutions" in the market to deal with these. A few of these work, many take down the intensity of the stain, and most do not work at all. These stains are not ordinary dirt, they are stains that are cause by long term exposure to chemicals (remember, even water is a chemical, and is a part of several corrosive reactions that occur in the environment).



I tried out Roff's ‘Cera Clean’, which turned out to be among the few that work. I was pretty surprised when the stains disappeared with light application and scrubbing, rather than the hour of scrubbing that I was mentally preparing myself for. Unlike many cleaning solutions that use abrasiveness and brute force to muscle the stain out, Cera Clean uses components that break down and reverse these chemical processes, and eliminates the bond that holds the stains so firmly.



I used a very small portion of their standard sized bottle, and managed to remove nearly every tough stain I could find, in a single Sunday afternoon! Tile stains from leaky faucets, those annoying "rings" that form under buckets, and even grease stains in the kitchen, were eradicated with, what still feels like, unreasonably little effort.


I'm very happy that I managed to find this solution before the monsoon hits, because the monsoon season is the worst time when it comes to cleaning. The constant rains and moisture in the air leads to a whole world of pain, with moulds, rust, and water seepage. So finding this solution, which is strong enough to be used for industrial purposes, is as important taking Winterfell before winter arrives!(apologies to all my Non-GoT-Watching readers!)

Happy reading, and more importantly, here's to a dry home this monsoon!

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

British Paints- Deewaron Se Dil Tak!




Founded in 1919, British Paints is long established brand in the paint manufacturing industry. They entered India in 1947, and have been industry leaders ever since. Their span across India is also very impressive, with over 12,000 channel partners that are tied up with 48 branch offices across the nation. Their manufacturing centers in UP and J&K, produce high quality coatings, ranging from simple residential use, to proper industrial grade material. British Paints endeavors to serve its customers with top of the line coating solutions, backed by committed teams of professionals across all functions. It is one of the most preferred names in the paints industry and their experts provide guidelines and tips for beautiful home interiors through their website.

Recently, they also ran a very successful campaign to push their newest innovations into the limelight. The campaign, dubbed as "Missed Calls" (#MissedCalls on twitter), saw a wide array of participants from all corners of the twittersphere, summing up various funny, confusing, (and often insane!) reasons that people give, then they leave someone the infamous "Missed Call". Some of the most outrageous ones were "Just checking if your number works...", "Called by mistake... but now that you're here...", and of course "Oops! Signal issues!". Needless to say, we had a good long laugh when doing this campaign.

They also released a commercial to go with the campaign , which was further thrown into public view as the video spread like wildfire over social media channels, throughout the day.  The “JAAN KI DAS” TVC is quite fun and exciting. It revolves around having beautiful dream house with mesmerizing walls. 3 modern day women giving missed called to an unknown person “Jaan”. Know why and who is Jaan by watching this ad.



P.s- Sponsored Post

Monday, September 28, 2015

Chi Asian Cookhouse - Food & Restaurant Review

Chi Asian Cookhouse, invited me to taste their special menu for review.

India is well known for its spices, and when we talk about Indian street food, Indo-chinese is something which never fails to grab my attention.
Well, but today I'm not talking chinese food, I'm talking about a restaurant that brings an authentic taste to the Asian platter - Chi Asian Cookhouse!
Located opposite to the famous street shopping market of Janpath, it is found on the first floor. The positivity starts building up right at the entrance, the ambience giving you a breath of fresh air.
Ambience:




The restaurant is very lively, with a summery-bright look to it. There is a large bar area and still there is plenty of space for dining.
It has a subtle classy look to it, and the interiors have been artfully colors with bright splashes of color. Something that really caught my attention there was the decoration on the wall, using crockery. Quite a unique way to use your own wares for decor!
The place itself is quiet and peaceful, making it perfect for a family dining experience.
Food:
Coming to the most exciting thing.. food! I was greeted with a hard core Pan Asian menu, my attention was mainly going to their wide choice of seafood. We were also pleasantly surprised by a customized menu, offering us an epic list of specials, as well as new and upcoming items!







If you are anything like me, and have a thing for Mughalai cuisine (especialli Biriyanis!), this place will rock your socks off. The staff are also very helpful and knowledgeable about the dishes they are serving you, going so far as to name off individual ingredients and spices!
We started our meal with Soups. The Chiang hai glass noodle soup came in a large bowl, filled to the brim with vegetables, boiled chicken, and the famous glass noodles. I greatly enjoyed the texture of the noodles in contrast to the richness of the clear soup. A must try for Soup and Noodle aficionados.
The Dim-Sums came next, firstly the Prawn Cheung Fun, followed by the soupy pork dumplings. I expected the soup to mess with the texture of the filling, but it was prepared in such a way so as to keep its structure. Very nicely done! The Prawn Cheung Fun is essentially a prawn, rolled inside steamed rice and served with soy sauce. Loved this one too!
We were pretty confused when we saw a bunch of crumpled up banana leaves on the plate when we realized they were dumplings made with sticky rice, wrapped and cooked in the leaf to give it a very subtle pinch of flavor. Needless to say we enjoyed it immensely.



As we tried to convince ourselves we weren't full, a plate of Jasmine Rice came by. The aroma hit us well before the plate came into our sights. Combined with Kimchi spiced vegetables and cheating chilli prawns (The name really fascinated me :P). I was not really a fan of the vegetables, but the chilli prawns more than made up for it!
The Drinks
I think that one of the biggest highlights of that hot day, was the out-of-this-world mocktails.


We first ordered a Beijing Martini, and a Watermelon Cooler. The Beijing martini is perfect for pepper lovers like I, with cranberry juice providing a perfect base for mixing the pepper and balsamic vinegar.
We didn't quite enjoy the watermelon cooler, so we decided to try another round. This time we also called for the Tokyo Cobbler - A lychee based drink, served in a tall glass with rose essence.

This drink was the hero of the day. One of us found it very close to too sweet (while the other has no taste buds and is wrong :P), but it was super refreshing, and looked SO BEAUTIFUL.
Finally the dessert arrived. Coconut pancakes served with vannila ice-cream and various sprinkles.
I was so full that I decided to pass on this, but my partner decided to try a small bit. He ended up eating nearly the entire thing, raving on an on about it to every staff member who would listen.
This place surely is among my go to places around Central Delhi, for a nice family meal.
Ratings -
Ambience - 4/5
Staff & Service - 4/5
Food & Drinks - 3.5/5
Value for Money - 3/5
Overall Rating - 3/5

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Tried and tested - PepperTap.com; An Online Grocery Shopping App


These days online grocery shopping is total in trend and why not?
It is hassle free and you don’t have to leave the comfort of your home to get the daily needs. In lieu to try the latest trend, I got my hands on the latest online grocery shopping app – PepperTap.com



I learnt about this app, just before the SoDelhi confluence, they were one of the main sponsors for the grand event.

Keep on reading to know how my grocery shopping experience with them was.

Friday, June 19, 2015

The Colony Bistro, Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar IV- Chillax and Quirky


The Colony Bistro 
Smack in the middle of the busy market of Amar Colony where street food rules, you’ll find a breath of freshness and quirkiness. The Colony Bistro in their own words is the place to “kick-back, relax and indulge in some mouth-watering treat “.  

The Ambience

Quirky, Fun Cozy Decor!

Beautiful wall art and complimenting Cushions!

As I saw the place from outside, I was sold to try it out as the ambience looked kickass.  It has a very refreshing, young and lively yet cosy feel. When I walked in the beautiful street art on the wall caught my sight and it was beautiful. To go with it the furniture and the cushions are perfectly matched. I have to say the extra soft huge colourful cushions say nothing but “kick-back and relax”. Overall the place has a very chilled out and lively ambience.

The Food

They offer a nice range of cuisines like Chinese, Italian, Continental and Indian. They have amazing twists to the appetizers and drinks. To begin, I ordered a refreshing pint of beer and along with that came a cocktail glass filled with salted peanuts.


It was a hot and humid evening so my friend and I decided to refresh ourselves over the beer pints only but I must tell you, the cocktails and mocktails on the tables next us looked quite drool-worthy. Next time I’m sure to give them a try.

They have a huge variety for non-veg lovers, from sea-food to chicken and from lamb chops to bacon. Not that they lack in options for vegetarians but with beer my friend I wanted to get a taste of their non-veg platter. My friend, who has previously been here also suggested me to try their dish-to-fame the Lemon Grilled Fish with Sautéed Vegetables.

Scrumptious and Filling Non-Veg Platter 
The platter consists of chicken steak, chicken wings, chicken nuggets, spaghetti, buttered mashed potatoes, garlic bread, wedges and sautéed vegetables. All the platters they offer are well thought. The chicken wings were nicely done, however, I am not a fan of steak but my friend thought it was cooked just fine. The mashed potatoes, spaghetti and vegetables were perfect to go with all that chicken. However, the quantity of spaghetti was minimal. I loved the chicken nuggets the most in the platter.

Mouth watering - Lemon Grilled Fish!

The Lemon Grilled Fish was mouth-watering. It didn’t smell of fish and it was cooked perfectly. I love the fish which just melts away and this was one such occasion. I recommend the lemon grilled fish to everyone. Even if you are not a fish lover, just give this one a try and you won’t regret it.

At the time of desserts, we decided to go with the blueberry cheese cake. It was good and gooey like any other cheesecake but nothing special. Next time I will try something different, so will let you how that went.

Overall Experience

The music is nice and soft in the day which as the evening progressed got little bit loud as the crowd starts to come in at that time, but it was never too loud to interfere in a conversation. It is the perfect place to gossip, have a meeting or even a first date. They have justified their claim of being a place to kick back and relax.

The Colony Bistro also provides home delivery, online orders and pick-up’s. The online orders can be placed on their own site. Its easy and simple. If you are lucky you might get an on-going offer too and nothing makes my day more than discounts, offers and deals.

Suggestions

Even though the food was delectable and the ambience was warm & vibrant, the service however, seemed a little slow. We had to wait more than the usual time for not just food but the drinks too. Their staff is polite and welcoming, they only need to buck up on their service.

Ambience – 4/5
Food – 4/5 (extra .5 for the lemon grilled fish)
Service – 3/5
Value for Money- 3.5/5

Cost for two= Rs 1000/- (without Alcohol)

So, if you are in the vicinity or visiting Lajpat Nagar IV for some shopping time with your girls, head to The Colony Bistro for chillax soulful evening.

Until next time!

Keep Rocking

Minal*

Editor’s Note- I had a gala evening at this restaurant, next in my foodie wishlist from this place is lamb bacon burger and blueberry mojito. I loved the feel of this place and I will surely pay my visit super soon


*edited by Prachi

Monday, May 18, 2015

April MSM Express Box - Unboxing, Price & Review.

Apologies in advance, as I couldn’t post this earlier. Somehow, this post was in drafts and I totally forgot about it. But hey, it’s better late than never right?

Currently there are many beauty subscription boxes available in the market. These subscription plans are a great way to checkout new brands and products available in the market.


MSM- My Style Mile is also one of such. Their moto is “A lot in A Little”
MSM has 2 subscription plans.

MSM Select Box- Premium Brands
MSM Express Box – Normal drugstore brands.

It was an impulsive decision to go for MSM Express Box and to my surprise; they delivered the box within 3 hours of placing the order. Super impressive delivery. Woohoo!

Box contains- Beauty and Lifestyle products which are carefully curated after looking into your needs.

Express box is Pink/Magenta in colour whereas the Select box is in yellow.

Price – Rs 495/month (Express box)

Unboxing-



It’s a compact box, which is quite sturdy and can be used to store makeup or jewelry. Let’s see what April Express Box contained –

·        Makeover Lipstick
·        Tiens Nail Paint ( Brand- Makeover)
·        Kronokare Mediterrean Citrus Body Lotion. (deluxe size sample)
·        Innisfree Facemask Sheet {I love these sheets)
·        And a small aromatic candle from Naina
·        All Good Scents Lolette Vial
·        Also, there are certain discount vouchers and coupons (pretty impressive)



It is certainly one box worth investing my money in. Still, the cosmetic brand which is included in this box is unknown to me and I couldn’t even find much information about the same online, so I’m quite skeptical about it. Packaging of the lipstick looks quite sturdy and promising though. (Will review about it soon)

I’m a fan of Kronokare and Innisfree products, so for me this box was a catch.

Rating-                Value for money- 4/5
                                         Contents- 4/5
                Packaging and Delivery- 5/5
                            Personalization – 3/5
( They don’t really personalize according to each skin type)

Overall Rating – 4/5

Verdict- It is one of the best subscription boxes/bags out there yet I couldn’t somehow, connect with it the way I did with the Fab Bag. I will give it one more try in the month of July. I hope then it impresses me more and connects with me better.

Have you subscribed to any beauty sample plans? Which one is your favorite? And what are your views about. Write it to us in the comments below.

Until then Stay beautiful!

Take Care
Prachi

Disclaimer: I am not being sponsored/paid to write this review and all opinions are absolutely my own.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Stay Healthy with the Help of Dieticians

In my last post, I mentioned about the dieticians that are experts in their field for the very happening city, Pune. Today, in this post, you will see a similar discussion but that mean especially for our Kolkata readers.

Lifestyle problems are a major concern and shouldn’t be taken lightly by anyone, anywhere. Maintaining proper health and fitness is entirely upon us. Taking such concerns lightly can take us to the road which no one wants to travel.
I always feel, look good and eat healthy for yourself, not because a certain magazine or a celebrity is endorsing a special outfit, in which you want to get fit into… Just because it is in trend. Good health and wealth is always in trend and one shouldn’t compromise even a bit on it.

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Stay Away From The Lifestyle Problems!

Hello Everyone!!!

Does the world move as per our command? No right! But we still take few things for granted… especially our health and the health problems. We always neglect these issues. Its high time that we start paying attention to these concerns. Now is the time to fight these lifestyle problems and bring back our health on right track. For all you Pune people, you should always consult Best Dietician in Pune.


Lifestyle Diseases
Lifestyle diseases are those diseases that show up in people because of choices that make in their lives. They are also known as longetivity diseases. These diseases occur in countries that are more modernized.
What are these Lifestyle Diseases?
  • Obesity
  • Type II Diabetes
  • Arteriosclerosis
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Swimmer’s Ear

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Rite Bite Protein Bars- Review and Price.


Well, honestly speaking, I'm like Adele, no-no not an amazing singer (though I would love to presume that) but quite round in shape. And just like her, I hate exercising too :P. Sitting in front of the computer screen for 10-12 hours a day, doesn't help in getting in shape either.

Yes girl, its true, till the time you wont move your butt, the results won't show up.

I can a make a million excuses to not workout, and then I’m not fooling anyone but myself. So after recovering from sudden hormonal imbalance that my body went through in the month of Feb & March. I decided to take a leap of faith and start working out little bit.

All these years of being plus size has taught me that starving me to death is a permanent solution; our body requires certain nutrition and to remain healthy and in good shape, one needs to follow a balanced diet.

Recently, I received protein bars from Nuturell which gave me another reason to stick to decision of starting the workout. In past, I have tried granola snack bars and nut breakfast bars from different brands and they gave pretty good results and kept me full for long hours. Protein bar was entirely a new experience.


I received 4 Protein bars; 3 are Maxx Protein Bar and 1 is Herbal Protein Bar.

Easy Slim Herbal Bar.- Easy slim is a weight management protein bar (I really needed it). It has been formulated with herbs which are known to support metabolism and digestion. Main ingredients of this herbal bar are green tea, guggul, yerba mate and garcinia. All the ingredients are rich in antioxidants, boosts metabolism and supports fat burning)


Up on opening the bar, it smells and looks like any other chocolate bar but the taste is quite unique. Not exactly an exciting taste but regular consumption of this bar will change the way it feels. It’s a quick meal snack.

Other 3 variants- Maxx Protein Bars




Each bar is around 65-70 gms; it might not look much but its quite filling. The make me feel so full that I can easily replace my one time meal with one bar.

All these bars are nutty and granulated. Lemon and honey has a different kind of savory taste which choco fudge and choco slim has a unique chocolate taste, more on the side of dark chocolates.

These bars are great energy boosters and are great pre/post workout meal as well. These bars are rich in nutrition and proteins. My favorite among all is RiteBite Choco Fudge Maxx Protein Bar- sole reason for that is, taste!!

PRICE- Rs 100/ bar
Available on Amazon

RATING-      Effect and Nutrition – 4.75/5

                                            Taste – 3.5/5

                                        Availability – 4/5

Overall Rating- 4/5

Verdict
These bars are the great source of protein. If you are working out or you are girl on move, who doesn’t get time to maintain a balanced diet, then you must give these little bars a shot. There are many more flavours and variants available, I’m going to try them all.

Have you tried protein bars before? How was the experience? Also, do write it to us about your experience with Rite Bite.

Disclaimer- Product sent by brand. Reviews are honest.

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