Sunday 27 September 2015

#PaintFinder Finds Me Anew!

क्या करेंगे? 

कौन करेगा? 

कैसे करेंगे? 

Time कहाँ है? 

चलो छोड़ो। 

कभी और देख लेंगे। 

~~~ 

These are the commonplace excuses that come to the fore whenever the herculean tasking of re-painting one's abode is to be considered. There is always a sense of procrastination  associated with this task. 

After all, it isn't a task to be taken lightly and the entire house is to be taken to the limelight. Each and every room, wall, nook and corner are to be covered. 

Even when the leap from procrastination and dream-mode to materialization and practicality is taken, the time factor poses a constraint. 

As a working woman, I bet there won't be anybody better to testify by the power of time. 
As for myself, I could tell you that I go in for revamping my space, once in a blue moon. 

~~~ 

Also, I prefer to scout through brick and mortar shops rather than online portals. But, change is good, once in a while. 

I chanced upon the Bed, Bath and More website and was greeted by being spoilt for choice, thanks to their variety of hues, shades and themes. 


Dusky Lavender | Dusted Pink | Lemon Cooler 

Lighter hues, soothing colors, elegant shades - all define my sense of style for my sacred space. 

I was impressed by these three and wanted to have the best of ALL worlds and not just one! :) 

When I headed to the #PaintFinder, its scale of options on offer startled me. 


The fact which I liked was that the colors had been segregated according to allocated Code Numbers and the company which offered them, for ease of choice and favoriting. 


Sample the revamp of the bedroom above. 

Another feature of insight was the Paint Calculator and the Product Comparison was also extensive. 


~~~ 

'Find A Local Professional' also seemed nice for people exploring and experimenting with this avenue afresh. 

Moreover, the option to order specific shade cards add to the Try and Buy factor which is a must for reassurance in the e-commerce arena. 

Given a chance, I would like to go ahead and click on Buy to witness my chosen hues and shades in action, just in time for Diwali this year! 

#PaintFinder has my vote this festive season. :) 


Would you like to try out Bed Bath& More's Paint Finder too? Head here and let the splurge in the world of colors begin! 

 ~~~ 

I am participating in the #PaintFinder activity in association with BlogAdda & Bed Bath & More

Premium Care Pampers Your Child...

What?

Launch of Pampers Premium Care Pants, in association with BlogAdda.

When?

Tuesday, September 22.

Where?

Vivanta By Taj, New Delhi.

The bygone Tuesday afternoon was set to be all happy, bubbly and cheerful thanks to joyful babies welcoming Parent Bloggers to the #SoftestForBabySkin event.

Well, who could possibly deny being present to witness such a cute setup for themselves?


Probably none. Not me atleast. That's why you would have found me attending the launch that day and are now busy reading about the same here. :)

I keep highlighting my punctual self every now and then, because you see even Team BlogAdda cannot refrain themselves from praising the punctuality which I abide by.

They tweeted to me, this picture, saying:

"These beautiful ladies have already arrived for @pampersindia meet #SoftestForBabySkin meet @VivantabyTaj"


 ~~~ 

It was not long before we welcomed the ladies who led the discussion for the afternoon. 

Stepping up on the dais to focus our attention to the '5 Star Skin Protection' being provided by Pampers' latest offering were: 

  • Actress & Celebrity Mum, Tara Sharma 
  • Child Sleep Specialist, Ajita Gopal Seethepalli 
  • Pampers R&D Expert - Europe, Middle East, Africa - Dr. Wei Sing Long 
  • Actress & TV Presenter, Mandira Bedi 

Being keen and curious Mommy Bloggers in a majority in the house, we were led on to the hands-on demonstrations to witness the genuineness of Pampers Care. 

Ajita shared her view on the importance of a good diaper as thus:

“The importance of a good diaper (in terms of softness, dryness and fit) should not be underestimated. Babies have to be physically interacting with their environment in order to learn and understand it. Diapering baby in soft and dry pants like Pampers Premium Care can be a great way to help enable undistracted exploration, giving him the giggling feeling of freedom you both love.”



Tara and Mandira, both being devoted mums to their kids, shared anecdotes from their learning experiences as mothers. 

Dr. Long highlighted the five-star Skin Protection factors which lent uniqueness to Premium Care Pants. 

The five-star Skin Protection being emphasised was: 

  • All Around Fit
  • All Around Softness with waistband and cuffs, for a comfortable, snug fit, minimizing leakage
  • Breathable Materials, specially chosen with delicate little bottoms in mind 
  • Up To 12 Hours Of Dryness - Pampers core quickly absorbs helping keep wetness away from the skin to help skin protection
  • Baby Lotion, to help protect the baby’s precious skin
In addition to these, Pampers Premium Care Pants also possess a Wetness Indicator that turns from yellow to blue when in contact with the fluid to help parents know when it might be time to change. 



Tara was quick to demonstrate the Baby Lotion which protected the delicate baby bottom, keeping it rash and irritation-free.

The blue patches indicated the areas which would develop a rash owing to the fact that the lotion was absent in those localities.


Dr. Long demonstrated the Gel-Lock Technology being put to the test in Pampers' newest product and left all us Mommy Bloggers amazed too. 


The last feature to be demonstrated was that of the provision for easy and hassle-free disposal. 


~~~ 

Before wrapping up with my attendance at the lovely event, I made sure to step on to the dais too. With those chubby babies of course! 

And, I ended up being filmed, speaking succinctly, of my experience with #SoftestForBabySkin too. 


~~~ 

Not to forget also, the indulgent Goodie Bag offered to me by RewardMe and P&G and the all-smiles snaps with the members of the Panel, as a cherry on the cake. :) 



 ~~~ 

All's well that ends well, but this isn't the end. Read my review of the Pampers Premium Care Pants presented to me here. :) 

~~~ 

This blog post is written for the Pampers #SoftestForBabySkin activity in association with BlogAdda

Tuesday 15 September 2015

Deafening Silence...

यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवता: |
यत्र एता: न पूज्यन्ते सर्वास्तत्राफला: क्रिया: || 

 ~~~ 

I am a Woman. 

I have been a silent spectator to the passage of time and the occurrence of events. 

Being the bearer of the virtues and the vices, I stand here to recount my fate. 

Would you like to embark with me on an overwhelming sojourn commencing at the outset of the fourth dimension? 

 ~~~ 

Just as a seed is sown into and sprouts from the soil, so too does one's perspective of societal norms shape up from the root school of  thought. 

Just as it is futile to expect the infertile soil to yield to fertility, so too is it in vain to anticipate the inception of radical sentiment to pave the path to a liberal viewpoint. 

Etched in their minds was that deep-rooted societal norm, which strangled their daughters, who yielded to demise. 

Time and tide wait for none. For them, the time had whizzed past and the tide had turned disastrously. 

~~~

The equivalence of status during the Vedic times had been negated and the balance had been tipped off. Her longing for her right to life, to make it worthwhile, albeit suppressed, made its presence known. 

They were stone-hearted to have posed deaf ears and blind eyes to her innocent wish to embark on a journey of knowledge. For they considered her aspirations to be as inconsequential as her existence. 

She had been ripped off her dignity and reduced to that which they addressed as an object. Oppression and obsession clouded the feminine and masculine divide. 

They had their way by means of force - nipping her in the bud and equating her to an agency of wealth and fortune. 

What they did not realize was that she learned to walk a shackled crawl. The thorns that were strewn in her path were transformed to roses upon her gentle touch. 

They set her to limited means but failed to acknowledge the fact that her goals were infinitive and so was her perseverance to achieve them. 

The strength in her will and the power in her ability were realized when her contributions elevated their social standing. 

 ~~~ 

For, when is it that you see the oppressed aid the oppressor through their innumerable efforts which often go unacknowledged, unseen, unheard? 

They do not realize their folly of having created an unscalable mound of sand, which would take away with itself, their existence as well. For it is in peaceful co-existence that any collaboration is able to strive and thrive for the time to come. 

 ~~~ 

Desirous of an equal footing in terms of societal norms, she does not realize that her true victory would be when the disparity of a discriminative patriarchy and matriarchy are done away with. 

By being special and by feeling so, for her own self, she would be able to equate her existence with freedom, which would reign supreme. 

For, it is in unison that the ultimate is reached and in disparity that the thought is left wandering. 

Thus, it is not a question of want. It is a question of erasing the boundaries which limit our horizons. 

It is in discovering the identity of the being, that you would carve your niche, Dear... 

Weaving one's own silhouette in hues of havoc, 
Observing blueprints to rid oneself of all panic. 
Maintaining rigorous stances in times of crisis, 
Adapting to ever-varying spatial circumstances 
Nestling carefully in oneself, inception of roots 

 ~~~ 

That is how graceful she is. 

Carving Her Nation, INDIA,

The Woman Of Today. :)

 ~~~ 

I’m blogging for the India Today Woman Summit 2015 #WomenPower activity at BlogAdda.

Thursday 10 September 2015

On #PizzaiolosFavourites Golden Jubilee Feast!

PizzaExpress Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato


What?

Tasting of an exclusive #PizzaiolosFavourites menu, curated to celebrate the Golden Jubilee Year of PizzaExpress

When? 

Friday, August 28. 

Where? 

PizzaExpress, Ambience Mall, Gurgaon. 

Celebrations are always special. For they commemorate momentous occasions. 

What if I tell you that an exclusive preview invitation had been extended to Yours Truly by the brand that knows casual dining at its finest? 

PizzaExpress wanted me to give them company at the novel Chef's Table which had been curated in the form of a new Menu, #PizzaiolosFavourites - to earmark #50YearsOfPizzaExpress. 

Early Friday evening, I found myself facing the facade of Ambience Mall, Gurgaon. The place was not new at all. I made a beeline for my most favorite Italian Dining Restaurant in the entirety of the complex. 

The said outlet - PizzaExpress - emanated a different glow that day. The excitement of hosting a Milestone Birthday Party, eh Pizzaiolos? ;) 


~~~ 

Well, be it any restaurant, you take your pick by scanning the menu, right? This time, it was a bit different for me. Since this menu had been specifically curated for the evening, the entire spread was on offer. 


There are some key points to PizzaExpress's popularity and its impressive functioning. 

  • Delicious, Fresh Food, Handmade To Order. They take their ingredients seriously, with many of them, especially their signature Tomato Passata, all sourced from Italy. 
  • Local Influence. Their restaurants are designed to feel unique and culturally engaged in the community, not being a 'cookie-cutter' chain. 
  • Inspired By Italy. They have used the same Passata, sourced from the Greci Family in Italy since 1965 and proudly showcase 'Authentic Italian' in their restaurants. 
  • Pizzaiolos Are Their Heroes. Their Pizza Chefs are trained in the art of dough-flaring in their open kitchen, a glimpse of which, Yours Truly was fortunate enough to catch Find it towards the closing of this post, though. :)  


~~~ 

The evening thus began with a myriad-hued Mocktails Spread, which impressed the teetotaller in me. More so, as those had all fruity and nutritive ingredients. 

Those are Tropical (Watermelon, Mint, Lemon), Zenzero Fresca (Carrot, Orange Juice, Ginger, Lemon Juice) and Ginger Fresca (Fresh Ginger, Mint, Green Lime, Ginger Ale) for you. 


To take the meal forward, I had the Intro Platter, comprising of an assorted mix of salted cashew nuts, smoked almonds and BBQ beans and the Antipasto Starters (Veg/Non-Veg variants). 

All of them had been carefully cooked to perfection. 


~~~ 

The surprise element for the evening was yet to come in. After all, what's a celebration sans any surprises? 

The Pizzaiolo in action, Pizza Chef Rahul made sure that we were divided into five separate teams and experienced being a Pizzaiolo at PizzaExpress the same evening. 

We were greeted by a hands-on Pizza Making session from the A to the Z. 

Chef Rahul was quick to demonstrate the tricks of the trade. 



And that jar, in the bottom, is the Tomato Passata Sauce being utilized at the outlet. :) 

Would you like to see how Yours Truly and Team made their Romana Pizza at #PizzaiolosFavourites? 


Roll your Dough, Layer the Passata, Top it over generously, 
That's my perfect guide to Pizza Delight, All Heavenly! :) 

Here's presenting to you, All Heaven's Delight, comprising of Chicken chunks, Olives, Mushrooms, Pepperoni, Mozzarella, and Bell Peppers, that earned me the 'Professional' tag at the Chef's Table. I was humbled. :) 


~~~ 

The only art left to ace, was that of dough-flaring. 

Well, I'd leave that to the Pizzaiolos as that is also one of #PizzaiolosFavourites. ;) 


~~~ 

Thanks for all the Pizza Love, Team PizzaExpress. 

I had a lot of moments to 'cheese' and to frame in the 'Cheese Your Moment' #PizzaiolosFavourites Photo Magnet. :) 


~~~