Berry which makes you merry is CRANBERRY!!

The Fruit: Cranberry

A glossy, scarlet red, very tart berry, CRANBERRY. The color red, color of energy, passion, warmth and positivity; very strong, powerful and full of excitement. Well, even the description is so yummy, when it comes to Breezer Cranberry.

The Breezer: Cranberry

The word Breezer itself is very refreshing, and the combo of Cranberry juice, rum and the sparkly water, umm... great indeed.  It has a quite rich flavor but not very strong that you will feel drunk since it has only 4.8% alcohol content in it. Courtesy: Internet Research, since I have never tried it ;)

I would love to taste and experience its goodness and richness :D

Richness and Goodness: Cranberry

Cranberries have long been valued for their ability to help prevent and treat urinary tract infections. And as per recent studies, may also promote gastrointestinal and oral health, lower LDL and raise HDL (good) cholesterol, aid in recovery from stroke, and even help prevent cancer.

The Tasty: Cranberry

The tangy, the sweet – the bittersweet is what which describes Cranberry's taste. So why not have something which not only refreshes you but is also full of flavor and as exciting as color red.

Have: Cranberry

Have Bacardi, Have Cranberry!! 

I have decided to take one and be Merry with Cranberry!!!

Live Life in Colors...!!

P.S. This post is specially written to Catch the Flavor for http://breezerindia.com/

The YOGIC Power

Everyday, every hour; its all about MM ..no no not Malad's Mithaiwala but Multi Media. Our dependence on technology is just growing day by day. And today's generation new love is Tablets. It is like the heartbeat, blood running through veins and oxygen for our survival.

I love gadgets and when it comes to my tab, I sleep with it and also wake up to the alarm set only on my Tablet.

I believe, wherever I am, and whatever my mood is, my tablet is there to rescue me, I can use it to suit my mood; to create art, browse on internet, read e-book, listen to some cool music, play games, watch movie and yeah most importantly to keep in touch with my near and dear ones.

In today's fast life of Mumbai, it is kinda hard to give time to myself. Leave home at 7, come back by 9; most of my life is going in travelling so I can make time for myself the most while travelling. My tablet has become my best friend. Morning i prefer listening to music and eves I either read or watch movies.

But sometimes I feel my tab is l'il heavy and that it's lacking something, don't know what. It was that uneasiness which incepted me to go on a search for a new tablet. Just to add, I did that search also on my tab. My search went on and on till I came across the Yogic, the super cool and very new tablet by Lenovo; the YOGA TABLET.

"Why" YOGA TABLET?

1. Appeal - What first caught my eye was its super slim, unique and stylish design, because I know then I won't loose grip and it'll my hands just perfect.
2. Multimode Design - It houses a battery in its cylindrical portion with a kickstand on its side which gives it different viewing angles the way you wanna see and what you wanna see. You hold it, tilt or keep it in stand position; it'll serve your need the best. Also won't stress your fingers. This is something I have never seen in any tablet before. Innovation is the mother of creativity.
3. Battery - Videos and games eat up the battery to max. Also I am a travel freak so would need my tab to work all the time. I would need it for navigation and searching for good restaurants even, since I am a foodie. And GPS just gulps the battery life. Yoga Tab 10 works for around 18 hours and I thus know, it won't ever give up on me.
4. Angles and Views - It won't just entertain me but also my companions by giving a wide view. We can enjoy a movie together.
5. Music - I can't imagine my life without music. It keeps me going and what can give me more satisfaction then the speakers combined with Dolby® Digital Plus enhancements.
6. Wireless Keyboard - Though I am comfortable with virtual keyboard, my mum is not. And whenever I lend it to her she can use it to best with the wireless keyboard it gets along; making her life much easier.
7. Click on the Go and Walk & Talk - When Lenovo is their I don't have to worry about taking pictures. Its 5M is just enough to click and upload, at that very moment; because Life is all about sharing. Also I can talk and keep in touch with all my near and dear ones, face to face with its 1.6M front camera. This justifies, its a small world.
8. Enjoy the storage - It has a life with a good memory of 16 GB and can go upto a very strong 64 GB. Do whatever you wanna test its strength with; videos, audios, games or anything; choice is yours.

Its light, portable, fast and fun. 

I can walk with it, talk with it and sleep with it.

I can write on it, capture on it and blog on it.

In short  A #BETTERWAY IS HERE; now, just gotta grab it :)

Have a look and you will also not be able to resist this  ultimate YOGIC POWER. Smitten by It.

P.S. This entry is for the very new and interesting technology by Lenovo - For Those Who Do in association with IndiBlogger and facebook.com/LenovoIndia.

Respect. Love. Care.

Easiest way is to make yourself the focal point and then start the process of seeing outside. The world will then be much better place to live. Look inside and grow things within yourself first. Be the Change you wish to see in this world.

What we all need and want is to be recognized by someone else and not criticized or being let down. Recognizing and acknowledging another person can do more for you than them. That’s how we grow and comes evolution.

A few days back I read somewhere that now corporate firms are shying away from recruiting female employees. Reason - Law favours only women in sexual harassment cases at the workplace. Employers are scared anyone could face such allegations by women. What a shame.

Increase in crime against women is forcing women to sit at home. People comment on their attire, the way they talk, whom they talk to and what they do. People don’t realize how much a women is sacrificing and on top of everything, ever increasing crimes.

The one who comment and criticize about women are not ready to change themselves, their approach. They need to learn that we live in a free country and we have the right to participate equally.

Men and women both are required to be taught from their early childhood to respect women. The atmosphere of the house should be so kept that no bad influence fall upon them i.e. they shall grow up seeing and learning mutual respect, love and care.

One can’t keep blaming other; one has to start from their house first.

Along with these moral changes we also need to bring some tangible changes too in our present surrounding, so that women can breathe carefree.

The first thing to be kept in mind most of the crimes happen at secluded places or in dark. So following things are required to be considered –

1. Transport – There shall be 1-2 constable in ladies coach and in public buses
2. Toilets – There shall be enough sanitary options in any locality, for cleanliness purposes and women’s safety both. These shall be open 24*7; also one attendant shall always be there who is recruited after proper inquiry.
3. Public parks / recreational areas – Security shall be there 24*7.
4. Bus Stops and Stations – Enough lighting and also required is security like presence of constable.
5. Laws – There shall be stringent laws for women’s safety. Although government has started taking initiative but the process is slow. Also sometimes cases and files go missing, thanks to corruption. Law shall be equal for everyone, no status, caste or creed shall come in between. People who misuse their power and the one who help them in such illegal activities shall be punished too also they shall remember that they have women at their house too. And by saving criminals now they are just helping triggering the ruthlessness on mother earth. Also care shall be taken that no law is misused; neither by men or women. Once proved guilty, the culprit shall be punished with immediate effect
6. Stop criticizing others. Pehle apne girevaan mein jhaank kar dekho. Try and change self and then nothing can go wrong.
7. Last but not the least; women also have to stand for themselves. Because You are responsible for your own happiness.

Give Respect. Love. Care.

Teach and Learn. 

“Bring the Change because you are the past, the present and the future of thy society.”

Dream. Chase. Live.

P.S. This post is to spark a change in and around Us. StayFree, StayHealthy!!

Importance of Color play in the bedroom

Everyday you get up in the morning, you see light and colors around you. You perceive them your way. You head start your day with certain things in your mind, leaving that comfortable and most important place your house i.e. your Bedroom.

Bedroom is a place which gives you comfort, solace and calm after a whole day of hush hush. Bedroom needs to be treated well for what it does for you. It needs your love, tender touch and care in the form of colors and lights. It not only will make your room look appealing but also will have effect on your psyche. The perception, the thoughts and how we react are influenced by the colors around us. Our mood, emotions and even physical feelings have a great deal to do with colors. That is why it is very important how we choose the colors of our bedroom, which mostly depends upon personal choice and then the appeal.

Colors can be categorized in to Warm and Cold. Depending upon personal taste a person can choose the color to paint the bedroom. Also getting the right kind of furniture and accessories plays an important role. Since both things need to compliment each other, else the place may end up looking weird. One need to be cautious.

A tour through choosing the right colors for your most personal place -

• Things to keep in mind before opting for the colors:
• Interior Design
• The Room Size
• Existing Furniture
• Lighting - Artificial and Natural
• Psyche of person(s), whose bedroom it is.
• Shades of color - Warm vs Cool - Warm colors are known for stimulation and excitement while cool colors have far more relaxing and chilling effect.
• Warm colors like red, orange, yellow are known for activity based rooms. Also they make the room look small, while the use of Cool colors like Blue, White, Purple makes the room look large.
• But you can use combinations, like use of light colors of your choice with pastel color of same shade or any other contrasting color.
• You can also paint the whole room in one color while painting only one wall in contrasting dark color where you can put photographs of couple if its the room of a couple or children in case of its a child's bedroom. 

Example - 

If you choose white color for your bedroom, you can have one wall painted red / maroon with couple's photographs of happy moments or other pictures as per your mood or style with solid color base frames hanging on them. In this kind of color combination you can also go for same shade (red / maroon) bed set and curtains. And yeah tiles also play an important role. If walls are white, tiles better be white or wooden.

For the furniture other then master bed, you can either go for typical wooden furniture or even colorful ones.

You can accessorize your room with decorative pillows, vase, side lamps, small shelves and even some funky showpieces to enhance the beauty of your room.

Accessories for Bedroom

The main thing to keep in mind is that color of your bedroom shall compliment both your personality and the furniture & other accessories kept in the room.

A few bedroom samples from pastel to solid, light to dark and simple to creative are here below for your reference.

Because, its all about the right balance and harmony. Creativity is great but play it the way you don't spoil it. After all it gonna represent you, your identity and personality.

Hope I was of some help and you enjoyed reading it!!

Have a colorful day ahead.

Cheers!!!

P.S. This post is a part of the Fab Blogger contest by FabFurnish.com, India's largest online home store. Get the best deals for bedroom furniture, wall clocks and bed sheets online.

An Unforgettable Meet with MasterChefAustralia: Rishi Desai

I watch Master Chef Australia rigorously. 
Naah!! I am not fond of cooking, instead a foodie. I just love food. Different kind of cuisines, their texture, smell and of course the taste; after all variety is the spice of life and I believe in eating with all five senses, sometimes sixth too :D

Back to MasterChefAustralia, well, I love watching contestants cook, followed by their nervousness and judges’ comments, followed by smiles on contestant’s faces. It is like a magical world fomme. I always wished, that somehow the ready dishes pop out of television and yeah one more thing as I casually used to tell mum that how I wish, I get an opportunity to meet Rishi (Hrishikesh) Desai, the indi-heartthrob of MasterChefAustralia with great sense of humor & food.

Rishi Desai's, visit home has made at least one wish come true. I just couldn't believe, that yesterday I saw this guy on TV at 9 and today he was in front of me. Thanks to Godrej Natures Basket's workshop which opened door for many to come and interact with Rishi, like real chit chat about food, his life etc. He is a real chatter box and he knows how to keep the show going with his talk and his charm of course.

As he entered, the whole aura changed, everyone welcomed him with loud applause. He unveiled the ‘Celebrate Australia’ fest in association with Tourism Australia at Godrej Natures Basket. Camera started rolling and he got started with cooking.

A complete "house full" watching him cook his first dish of the day - the Greek Salad

First he showed us Greek Salad followed by lamb steak, which he cooked in some delicious Australian BBQ sauce and last Halloumi cheese dish and everything looked so delicious. We watched Rishi with all smiles while he kept cooking and telling us stories about his son, his life at Australia, work, future plans and the show. He kept cracking jokes and enlightening us with his cooking techniques or “engineering” techniques of cooking. After all he is a scientist and is inclined towards innovation.

We Mesmerized, Rishi cooking and laughing with us & finally Greek Salad with Lamb Steak tossed up in plate

As he said, cooking is also a science, and that we shall try to break conventions when it comes to cooking too. We shall know why we are doing something and shall not continue doing so just because it has been practiced the same way since ages. Something he has been doing and planning to get in his cook book too which is in progress, that is he wanna turn Indian food upside down with his creativity.

Szechuan Dumplings with Caramel
Soy Sauce and Chinese Tea

He has experimented and has brought Indian touch in Master Chef Australia (MCA) too while preparing his dishes, he also spoke about Heston's episode when we all praised him for the Szechuan Dumplings (inspired by Indian modak) with Caramel Soy Sauce and the Chinese tea, he did in that episode which was praised by MCA judges too. We teased him for his snowman dessert too ;)

He told us that his cookery book will be out by 2014 and will comprise of Indian dishes with whole new touch and will in fact comprise of many Kolhapuri dishes which are his roots.

The session ended with CEO & MD of Godrej Natures Basket handing out a token of appreciation to Rishi,  as we all waited to go and meet him personally. Thanks to the event organizers, they organized the whole one on one meet with Rishi for us post workshop. We could meet, talk and get clicked and yeah autographs too. Hats off to Rishi's patience that he greeted and spoke to each and everyone with all smiles and posed with each of us coming one by one for the camera.

My best moment of the day was, when I got my snap shot with him :) 

Me with Rishi

It was a indeed a QUINTESSENTIAL event and a non-stop grinning day fomme :D

Truly mind-boggling and mesmerizing. Thanks Rishi Desai, for coming to India. It was pleasure meeting you, an unforgettable meet.

A sneak peek @Rishi Desai -

A 35 yr old scientist from Canberra, who is basically from Kolhapur, India. 

Has been fond of cooking since he was 5 and gives the credit for all the cooking he has learnt to his mum.

Studied in India and worked here for sometime till he moved to New York for further studies and then to Australia in 2008 with his wife Mitra, to whom he gives credit for his Master Chef journey. He has a son named Sharang. 

He also has his pop up restaurant in Canberra and wanna do something great in the field of food.

For food lovers, Rishi's own cookbook will release in 2014. So, ab dilli door nahi!!

Guys dont' forget to watch him come in top 4 of MasterChefAustralia 5 on Star World, next week. 

Time to bid Adios!!

Boulevard of Culture and Attractions: BANGKOK

Wish we could teleport ourselves at the blink of the eyes, wish we had the superpower to kiss the lands of any place, to watch sun kissing oceans or hiding behind mountains or we could just wander like clouds from one place to another all the time and drop like rains to touch the grounds wherever we wished.

But we are humans, with no superpowers but only great imaginations. We have no time in today’s busy life to fill our appetite of travelling. But I make it a point to travel, go explore and do my bit of photography by leaving Mumbai atleast for a week once a year.

I have seen a lot of places in India, but have never been abroad. I believe it is better to take baby steps. So as a first timer, I wanna go to a nearby place i.e. Bangkok, capital of Thailand. One of the most sought after destination and traveler’s & shopper’s paradise and truly amazing place as per what I have researched.

As per modern definition Bangkok means City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Visvakarman at Indra's behest.

Bangkok appeals to me for its multifaceted sights, heritage, attractions and modern city life; royal palaces and temples as well as several museums and of course the nightlife. In short, it is a treasure house standing strong on four pillars viz. spirituality, culture, freshness and charm.

I like to keep my travel list ready before visiting any place, like what are its must do’s, must visits and must eats (since i am also a foodie) etc. to avoid last minute hustle and bustle. And here is what I have prepared for my soon to be Bangkok visit.

FROM - TO:

Bombay to Bangkok via Air Asia. As it gives a good opportunity to save on my pockets, the saving aka extra money I can splurge on me at Bangkok.

FOR:

SEE AND CAPTURE

See 

• Grand Palace, which is huge and within palace grounds is Wat Phra Kaew, the most sacred Buddhist temple of Thailand. And one of the buildings here, houses the Emerald Buddha, which is the most sacred Buddha image of Thailand. (What I also found is that you better not throw away the entry ticket of the Grand Palace, as it gives free entry to the Dusit Palace in Dusit. Free things are always welcome)
• Wat Pho - home to the world's largest reclining Buddha image
• Golden Mount and Wat Saket – Wat Saket is a temple which sits on Golden Mount, an artificial hill, from where one can see all Bangkok
• And many more Wats like Wat Arun - Temple of the Dawn, Wat Ratchanaddaram, Wat Traimit - Temple of the Golden Buddha, Wat Benchamabophit - Marble Temple.
• Ayuthaya - Old City - If Wat Pho in Bangkok has a golden reclining buddha, Ayuthaya has a brick and mortar Reclining Buddha at the Ayuthaya Historical park, located at the Wat Lokayasutha Ayutthaya
• Erawan Shrine is a Hindu shrine that houses a statue of Phra Phrom, the Thai representation of the Hindu creation god Brahma
• Museums – like Jim Thompson's House, Ban Kamthieng, National Museum, Museum of Siam and the King Prajadhipok Museum
• To take a break from the traffic and crowd of Bangkok, Lumphini Park in Silom is a place to relax and chillax.
• Muang Boran - Ancient City - It is like synopsis for whole Bangkok. An open-aired museum, and said to be the largest one, not only in Thailand but in the world which houses all the important highlights of each province in Thailand
• Siam Ocean World a underwater tunnel and a wonderful ocean world

DO AT YOUR ON LIKING

Do

Shop and Buy

• Chatuchak Weekend Market – not to be missed, its a weekend market, housing lotsa stalls setout in separate sections viz clothes, antiques etc.
• Floating Market – there are many, but the name I came across the most is Damnernsaduak Floating Market; best place to visit for family. Here one can take long-tailed speed boats through the many small canals which will lead to the Floating Market. Here one can see boats of various shapes and sizes used by local merchants to ferry their goods, which is mesmerizing.
• Suan Lum Night Bazzar – this bazzar houses 100's and 100's of stalls selling from souvenirs to clothes and shoes. It is cheaper if you know to bargain.
• Khao San Road – is a best place to hang out, it has lots of shops, street buys, local items and gift items, restaurants and bars. A very busy road, especially at night when the lights are on.

Buy – More than malls, better explore street markets for buying clothing. Then there is cheap and locally produced street wear and fancy Thai silk, and all sorts of handicrafts which you can buy as souvenirs’.

Experience -

EXPERIENCE IN MOTION

• Skytrain is convenient and cheap and connects most of the places in Bangkok
• Tuk tuk – much-loathed, much-loved
• River taxi – expensive, so try for short travel if you just wanna experience this ride, try little bargaining
• Bicycle tours - In Bangkok, cyclists are treated as pedestrians, so one can use bicycle to explore parks, temple complexes, markets etc and in more crowded places one can cycle on the pavement.
• Canal tours - Another great way to see the Chao Phraya River and the original canals of the city. Most of these special boat trips start at the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya and head through the backwaters of Thonburi, taking in Wat Arun, the Royal Barges National Museum and a floating market
• Pampering - Thai massage / spa is famous all over the world and if one like can sure experience this.

Gulp

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

• There are lot of restaurants and joints in Bangkok; for not only Thai, but a wide selection of world-class international cuisine too. There are many vegetarian restaurants in the more tourist-friendly parts of town (especially in Khao San Road).
• Since Bangkok is hot and humid, it is better to carry water and juices and yeah have ice cream.
• Street food is among the most delicious food and can be found all over Bangkok.
• Dinner cruise - Dinner cruises on the Chao Phraya River are a touristy (but fun) way of spotting floodlit temples while chewing down on seafood and watching Thai cultural performances.

WHEN: November to February, which is relatively cool.

HOPE: A fabulous experience.

Hope you enjoyed Hopping and Popping...

Cheers!!

P.S.: This post is a part of my Dream as well as Dream Asian Destination Blogger Contest in association with Ripple Links to celebrate “World’s Best Online Travel Fair”.

Image and R & D material source: Internet.

kuch panktiyan is dil ke naam...

Dil ban jaate hain badal
Badal ban jaate hain dil;

Barishon ka kya bharosa..

Kabhi dhoop se bachate hain
Toh kabhi dhoop ki garmahat jhelte hain ye Dil!!

5 Things you should know about your Best Friend

It’s never about the time period, but about the moments spent together which make that relation, the relation of lifetime. One such beautiful togetherness is Friendship.

You may have been best friends since childhood as we call it chaddi buddies or may have known each other from just past a few years, but always feel a bond of forever and for always as BFF (Best Friend Forever). Well, yeah it does feel like you are together since your previous lives; whether you were human, monkey, elephant or alien :P

“Best Friendship” sounds so soulful; it is about Celebration “kuch meetha ho jaye” every time you think about each other when you are apart, while swimming in the Chocolate Cake when you are together.

People say Best Friend is one who may forget your birthday but will never your side during your bad times. WRONG!! Their presence equally matters during good times. Best friend is one who not only be helping you move a dead body but will also be there having jalsa together. Making each other feel special is part of the game. Good Friendships aren’t always easy. But it’s worth the effort to have that one person you can always be stupid with.

Different people, different views. There’s friends then there’s best friends. There’s a difference. What makes that difference? Let’s check it out –

-          Whom you can rely on, your confidante

-          The one who keeps blackmailing you for your dark secrets but will never harm you with them

-          Who not only understands the hurt behind your smile but will also be ready with the shovel to ground the murderer of that grin

-          One who share the madness you live with and call that hysteria the fun state of mind.

But there are five basic things which if you don’t know about your “partner in crime”, you don’t qualify being called BFF.

1. What’s in the name?
• What is your BFF’s full name
• What’s is your BFF’s parents and siblings name
2. Who’s who?
• Their crushes\
• The big thick journal of their dark secrets
3. I’m hungry
• Their favourite ice cream and the flavour
• They food they love
4. It’s all about entertainment
• Their favourite movie and music
• Their hobbies / interests
• Favourite sport
5. You & your Best Friend Forever
• According to your BFF, what would be their favourite quality in you and in them
• What would your BFF admire the most in you & in themselves

It’s knowing all about your best friend and loving them anyway. They say time changes and best friends may move apart; but never let your best friend become a stranger. The biggest mistake ever you can make is to drift from someone you once had the time of your life with.

Know it now, feel it and cherish it forever; because there is nothing more valuable than having someone in your life that reminds you of who you are the half cracked egg!! :D

Cheers to friendship!!

"I Love Blogging" - A true love story of two beings, Me and Blogspot.com

Here goes the story...

The silence was deep as ocean, except for my mind which was diving deeper and deeper. I had not traveled for long and my legs were aching to take a long jump to some nice place to chill out. Yeah I love travelling and i am an amateur photographer too and this combo led me to blogging.

I was thinking that Khali dimag shaitan ka ghar hota hai, so why not utilize this khali time in penning down my previous travel experiences and why not share it with the people, until my next trip. But more then that it was for my own satisfaction since I am charmed by travelling, exploring and clicking the world.

Then I met blogspot.com on internet. I felt real happy when I started with my 1st love letter aka blog and written it as stutishrimali.blogspot.in, displaying my ultimate love for travel.
Later I started with another blog junkkdna.blogspot.in which showcases my domain coz mind is a sea of thoughts and this blog reflects the same. As they say Pen is mightier than sword.

Nonetheless just a few more important lovey dovey reasons to add-
1. You are your own boss --> Self satisfaction
2. No specific genre need to be followed --> FREEDOM
3. Blogging is free ofcourse --> No downpayment, no EMI
4. You learn and earn experience as you progress in blogging --> Nurturing Creative side
5. Networking --> Across the World
6. Its like a gym for mind --> Always on the run
7. Change is constant --> Blog and you'll know.

Ultimately through it I can spread Awareness and Laughter. I can Breathe through it and Live to bring about the Change. After all, that's what love is about - Life and Laughter!!

I just Love Blogging coz  #BloggingIsMyCalling -- the love "forever and for always"
Because, A True Love story never Ends...

Written for MEGA Haul landing page --> http://www.missmalini.com/mega-haul

Cheers... :)