Pimple, Pimple Go Away, Never Show On My Face Again

In my adolescent years, the most common question that was hurled at me at all our family functions was ‘Why are you so dark skinned’ or ‘ Wish you had inherited your mother’s fair skin rather than your dad’s dark, oily complexion’. I was bombarded with unsolicited advice from garrulous aunties about mud packs or facials that would lighten my complexion, all with the guise of concern about finding a suitable match for me.

Because of my oily complexion I was an easy target for the ugly monstrous pimples. As I grew up, I spent a small fortune on skin lightening creams and parlor treatments to get me a clear, fair skin. Going to college was disastrous because I was introduced to an environment where every girl was highly conscious of what she was wearing or how she was looking. Every day when I got up, the first thing that I did was check my face in the mirror and find out if any new pimples had broken out or if the existing one’s had reduced.

Source-istockphoto.com

There were days when my acnes were so bad that I wanted to skip going to college. If there was no policy of requiring minimum attendance, I guess my full time course of graduation would have turned into a correspondence one. I did learn a few tricks to cover the ugly pimples, like applying too much makeup or covering the part of pimple affected area with a funky hairstyle. But of course, I couldn’t go through an entire day in college looking like a ghost with bad makeup from a B-grade horror movie, could I?

So eventually someone would notice the zits and comment on it, or even worse, they would make conversation while eyeing the acne on my face. How I wished that I had the power of invisibility during such moments. I would listen to any advice on how to cure myself of pimples and then follow them devotedly at home. From applying toothpaste and keeping it overnight, to crushing garlic on the zit, to squeezing the pimples, to applying lemon juice on it- I have tried it all. The most unbelievably gross advice that I received on how to get rid of pimple is- to apply my spit on the zit as soon as I get up in the morning.

Source-istockphoto.com

While a pimple may be just a physical problem it takes a huge emotional toll on the person suffering from them. Loss of self confidence and self esteem are the most important psychological effect of pimples.  I used to be shy and I avoided talking to my classmates because of my appearance. Apart from my circle of friends I never tried to make new friends or participate in the college activities because of my lack of confidence. Withdrawal from social life, depression and anxiety are also symptoms of psychological effects of pimples. I avoided going to family functions because I knew the conversation with my relatives would eventually end up on my appearance and how my mother would have a tough time finding a suitable boy for me.

Although my acne problem reduced (no thanks to the expensive treatments) as I aged, the scars on my face are still present as a souvenir from my teenage days. Few weeks back I had another attack of acne and the dark spots on my left cheek are painful memories of the dreadful days.

Black spots that are reminders of ugly acne

There are a number of factors causing acne. Stress, hormonal changes, oily complexion, unhealthy lifestyle, too much use of makeup, exposure to dust and pollution are the main culprits causing pimples.

Source- istockphoto.com

Over the years I realized pimples cannot be avoided completely but I can prevent their occurrences by following some simple rules.

Wash your face regularly and use a face wash to keep your face clean and to keep those pores dirt-free. Use herbal or Neem face wash like Garnier Pure Active Face Wash that washes away the excess oil on face and keeps the skin pores free from impurities.

Always, always wash away your makeup before going to bed. Use makeup sparingly and avoid application of excessive cream that clogs the skin pores and does not allow it to breathe.

Keep your hair dandruff free and wash your hair regularly, especially if you have long hair or if you have oily hair.

Avoid going out in harsh sunlight and if you must, then make sure you have generously applied a good sunscreen lotion on your face, neck and hands.

Avoid binging on junk food. Some say what you eat shows on your face. I don’t know how much of that is true but I avoid eating fried food. I eat fresh fruits and vegetables regularly and I try to have one day in a week where I avoid all the sinful stuff like chocolates, chips, and ice-cream and consume only fruits, soups and steamed vegetables. This is not only good for the skin but also detoxifies the body.

Drink plenty of water. I cannot stress on the importance of water in our daily diet. I have recently developed a habit of consuming a glass of warm water with lemon juice and honey as soon as I get up in the morning. This not only gives you clear skin but also aids in better digestion.

Avoid stress in life. Remember that some things are just out of our control and no matter what we do they do tend to happen. Just blame fate and accept them calmly. Have at least 8 hours of sleep and do indulge in rejuvenating and relaxing massages.

Exercise! Get plenty of fresh air. Exercise helps in reducing stress and it gives you a glowing skin. Exercise makes you feel good about yourself and blesses you with a glowing face and a fit body.

So that’s some gyan that I shared from my own experiences. Do add to the list if I have missed out on any more tips.

A good physical appearance can boost your self confidence and give you that much needed to push to achieve your dreams.

Source- garnier.in

This post was written for Garnier Pure Active Face Wash Contest hosted by Indiblogger. Click here to find out more about how Garnier can help you in your fight against pimples.

Asus- Style Combined With Power

My laptop has been with me for more than 3 years now and although it has been my precious ally allowing me to jot down my thoughts into words and let my creativity flow, it is time for me to put it to rest and bring in a new, sleek laptop with a much speedier processor than my current i3.

While buying a computer, the important question to ask yourself is what would you use your computer for? I use my laptop primarily for writing, browsing, checking my emails and to some extent for work purposes. Sometimes I would have to connect to a remote system using my laptop, so I would definitely need a fast processor.  Additionally I transfer lot of data from my system to my mobile, tab and my I-Pod. I download music and movies using my laptop and then transfer it to multiple devices, so that whenever I am free, I can hear/watch them. So I would like my system to have multiple USB drives for connecting my devices as well as ample data memory where I can store my photos, music and movies.

I am connected to Internet all throughout the day. I use Wi-Fi connectivity for all my devices but I forget to disconnect after using my system. So when I power on, I want my laptop to instantly connect to Internet. 

I do a lot of writing on my laptop- I hate smart phones for typing (in fact I still prefer the qwerty keyboard for typing) and I hate autocorrect. I would definitely like a spacious keyboard and responsive touchpad (I never connect a mouse on my laptop). I have had lots of problems with touchpad on my office laptop and I know how irritating it can be when you are scrolling in one direction and the cursor on your monitor moves in a completely different direction.

And finally I'm a mother with a 2 year old, trying to work on my laptop, trying to get my daughter off my back and cooking in the kitchen all at the same time. Yes, I multitask and I have to use my computer in the living room, kitchen, bedroom and sometimes even in the toilet (because that’s the only place where I can have uninterrupted time for myself).

So I need my system to be portable and durable and since I cannot charge my computer all the time, I would also require it to have a good battery life.  Phew! That’s quite a list, isn’t it? But I am not quite finished yet. I want my laptop to have a sleek, stylish design, after all what good a laptop is, if you cannot sit, in between your writing, and admire its smooth, glossy surface J

Now, I have 2 systems in mind, both from Asus- the first is the sleek and powerful ASUS EeeBook X205TA and the second one is the ultra-portable desktop ASUS All In One PC ET2040.

After going through the requirements and features I have decided that Asus EeeBook X205TA meets my needs more because-

1. Full size keyboard and large touchpad means that I can type and write comfortably and since I spend a lot of time writing on my laptop, this definitely is a handy feature to have.
2. Full compatibility with a wide range of USB devices means I don’t have to worry about transferring data between different gadgets.
3. Ultra-portability with the laptop weighing less than 1 KG is a plus point for me because it is useful when I have to carry the laptop around my home, doing multi-tasking. It’s a useful feature to have because I also travel a lot and I have to carry my laptop all the time. You never know when the muse comes calling, do you?
4. Long battery life with 12+ hours of battery life means I don’t have to worry about the laptop shutting down due to low battery.
5. The Intel Quad Core processor is built for multitasking which is very useful for working women like me who have to juggle work and home together.
6. The sleek ultra-thin design and glossy cover will surely make me a proud owner and I can flaunt it to my friends.
7. Although the Asus X205    comes loaded with features it doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket. This awesome laptop is priced at 15,000/-

source- http://www.flipkart.com/

This doesn’t mean that I did not like the other computer. The desktop ET2040 has some enviable features like backup power which ensures that even when there is a power failure and there is risk of losing your unsaved work, the system provides built-in backup power allowing you to work on your files for an additional one hour without the main power supply.

It is a system that is designed for families and I would have definitely opted for it, had my daughter been a little older and I needed a desktop for researching/printing material for her school projects. 

source- http://www.amazon.in/

One feature of ET2040 that I wished that Asus EeeBook X205TA had was Innovative Gesture Control. How many times you were cozily cuddled on the sofa and were watching a movie on your system and you wanted to increase/decrease the volume or pause/play the movie but you were too lazy to get up from your comfortable position. Didn’t you wish for a remote control for your laptop? Well that’s what ET2040 offers with Innovative Gesture Control which allows you to play songs or videos, adjust player settings or zoom or rotate photos all with a simple gesture of your hand. Isn’t that pretty awesome?

My decision is made though. ASUS EeeBook X205TA  is the next gadget that I am going to invest in. Which one of these laptops you would buy?

This post was written for Asus Contest introducing ASUS EeeBook X205TA and ASUS All In One PC ET2040 hosted by Indiblogger.

The Love Proposal with Closeup Cupid Games

So Valentine Day is just around the corner and all single men and women with special someone in their life must be planning to look their best and make the day memorable for their loved ones. And if you are planning to propose to your crush, then you need to read this post. Because I’m giving out ideas for ways of proposing to your lady love or your handsome hunk.

If you are uncertain about how successful these ideas will be when they are put into practice then fear not. Because I am an ardent Bollywood movie lover and everybody knows that Bollywood, over the years, has given some crazy and quirky ideas for proclaiming your love to your beloved. For example, I really loved the way SRK proposed to Anushka Sharma in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi. You know, how SRK takes Anushka on a date and at the end of the date, he proposed by turning off the city lights and then a few lights turned on in random order to form the words-“I Love You”. So romantic! If you don’t know what I am talking about then go ahead and watch this video.

                                                   Source-youtube.com

                                               

Of course you would need the co-operation of other people to make this idea work. 

In college there are so many opportunities to propose to your crush. On Valentine day the cultural team, quite thoughtfully, organizes Rose Days where guys and girls having a crush on the members of the opposite sex can send roses and make their feelings known. It’s all ordinary and even if a heart gets broken on this day, then it is taken not too seriously. There is always the next Rose day in the coming year where you can try your luck again J

But as we grow older and become more serious about the matters of heart, a proposal is do-or-die situation. If a proposal is rejected then we mope for months and try to bury our sorrow in a bottle of alcohol. So the proposal has to be impressive enough to make an impact and make your girlfriend/boyfriend say yes.

The classic way of proposing never goes out of fashion. A ring in the glass of champagne during a dinner date or a long and blissful getaway where you can serenade your Valentine with music and dance is always a safe bet. Make sure you pamper your girlfriend and say all the right things because what you say matters more than your gift or your actions. Speak straight from the heart and see your beloved’s eyes light up with love!

Think of more unique and zany ways to propose. You can go on air and send a special message confessing your love on radio but make sure that your valentine is tuned in to listen to your proposal.  You can also send lots of red roses with singing telegrams that gives a personal touch and your love is sure to be impressed. Surprise her and woo her by taking her out to the beach side on a moonlit night and, if you have a good voice, then sing to her.  

If you are more sporty types, you can also propose to your girlfriend during a football or cricket match by using the score board to pop out the big question. It is a good idea if you don’t mind a little bit of public drama along with your proposal J

I asked myself how I would like to be proposed and instantly this thought rushed into my mind. Underwater! Yes, I am a Piscean so I am a water-body. I love beaches and it has been my dream to snorkel and explore the underwater world in pristine waters. Wouldn’t it be romantic? This would require lot of preparation and pre-planning but I think it’s worth it. And if you think there won’t be much scope to talk while doing the proposal then you can always use the below idea of holding up a sign.

Source- http://blog.theheartbandits.com/

So hope I have been able to help you out by my suggestions on how to propose this Valentine Day. However you do the proposal, remember to speak straight from the heart and keep it quirky. J

 This post was written for Closeup Cupid Games contest hosted by Indiblogger.

The Great Indian Litterbug

A few weeks back I attended my cousin’s wedding in Bangalore. Although I hate going to weddings where there is an unnecessary need to make small talk with strangers, I couldn’t think of an excuse that would get me out of going to this wedding. During lunch time, after much jostling and elbowing and few minor bruises, I finally found myself at the front of the buffet queue, when an elder lady nudged me aside and took my place. I was about to complain when she gave me a look, a look that clearly said that her age and her girth would be no match for my words. I controlled my anger, after all this was not the first Indian marriage I had been to and I knew how old women played the seniority card to embarrass the younger girls, badgering them with questions about marriage and kids.

As I sat down to eat along with my daughter, I saw people piling up their plates in one corner of the room. Even though it was a buffet, where people had a choice to select only the dishes that they wanted to eat, most of the plates were full with uneaten food. Obviously, the guests believed that it was their right to waste food that the bride’s parents had painstakingly paid for. But what perplexed me more was the complete nonchalance among people. Although there was a huge basket to throw the dirty plates and glasses, people kept piling the food laden plates on the floor. Within a few minutes the dinning hall’s corner turned messy and the same people who had strewn on the floor complained about the filth. Talk about short term memory loss!

But it’s not the first time and definitely not the last time we Indians show a complete disregard to rules and proper conduct. Recently Bangalore Municipal came out with a guideline about segregating dry and wet waste which would help in better waste management. Our apartment, following BBMP rules set up large garbage bins, labeled dry, wet, garden and hazardous waste. There were meetings held, warnings about other apartments being fined for neglecting to follow waste segregation, circulars posted on notice boards on how to separate waste. And the result? Plastics bags strewn around the waste bins, sanitary pads and dirty diapers thrown in the hazardous waste, scraps from kitchen thrown in garden bins. Complete mayhem and disagreement amongst the residents on which waste should go where. Apparently men are intelligent enough to travel to moon and back but they are totally clueless when it comes to litter management.

source-istockphotos.com

We want to etch and leave the symbol of our individualism on everything that we see, that’s why we like to take a leak on walls with notices such as “Urinating here is strictly prohibited”. The lovey-dovey couples cannot romance in public places, lest they are dragged by a gruff policeman and fined for exchanging couple of kisses behind the bushes. So what do they do? They proclaim their love for each other to the whole world by engraving their names inside a heart on historical monuments using stones. Their love may not last forever but their carving will be forever imprinted on history, see? So don’t be too surprised if you see the same name carved with multiple partners on the walls of Red Fort.

source- thehindu.com

“Raju ♥ Sheela” “Raju ♥ Nisha” “Raju ♥ Meena”. Poor Raju! What a hard time he has had with all the etching he was forced to do for his lovers.

We strive hard to keep our house clean and then throw the garbage outside our home. Of course, we don’t own the road, the government does and it’s the government’s job to keep the road clean, isn’t it?

We spit, throw junk out of moving vehicles and if our trash drops on people driving behind us, then tough luck. They should know better! Perhaps along with a helmet the man riding a two-wheeler also needs a full body armor to protect him from the junk being thrown by the vehicles surrounding him.

And although a public toilet is available within ten feet distance we would prefer our children to pee on the roadside. Public toilet? Ugh! They are so unhygienic! And why suffer in a filthy toilet when we can make use of the abundant nature and the greenery of the bushes to make our Chunnu/Munnu take a leak. Anyway once the boy grows up, he would mark the territories of the walls of this great nation with his holy water! So we are just doing our bit in his early education, no?

source- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/

We look down upon the cultures of the western nation but when we visit their countries we look at the clean, spotless roads and wonder why India is so dirty and polluted. Maybe we could take a leaf out of their book and learn to pick up our crap and filth from public roads.

This is OUR country, these are OUR rivers, these are OUR monuments and these are OUR roads. WE have a responsibility of maintaining them and keeping them clean.

 This post was written for "The Great Indian Litterbug" contest by Times Of India hosted by Indiblogger.

Settle Down Quicker in Bangalore With Quikr

When I came to Bangalore more than 5 years back, I was anxious and apprehensive even though I knew that my fiancé who worked in Bangalore would be there to look after me and I wouldn’t be lonely. To be honest I had never been out of my hometown, Mangalore, for long durations and my immediate concern when I moved to Bangalore was a decent PG for accommodation. My work location was in Koramangala but my then fiancé, and now husband, stayed in Basavanagudi. So I wanted a place somewhere in between these two localities. Fortunately for me, my uncle-in-law ran a PG for girls in Banashankari and he agreed to accommodate me for the few months that I would be in Bangalore before marriage.

But for anyone moving to Bangalore, my advice would be to sort out the residency issue first, because as is the case with any metro city, finding a decent and affordable accommodation is a headache in Bangalore. And if you work in an IT company, then the rent gets doubled automatically. After all you can afford it no? That’s what your landlord will say. How I wished that I had a website where I could arrange for a place to stay, a vehicle to move to and fro between my office and home, a service that provides home cooked food and other necessities. It would save me time, energy, money and make my shifting much more efficient and smooth.   

Here’s where a website like Quikr comes into picture and makes your life easier. When I moved to Bangalore, I had a tough time finding places to stay. And the PGs were so far, that just commuting to these houses, checking them out, talking to the owners took all of my weekends.  But with a website like Quikr which offers different types of real Estate- Houses for rent/sale one can just filter out the options before even visiting them and talk to the verified owners over phone. It surely does save lots of time.

Source- Quikr.com

The different categories to shop/buy in Quikr,

If you are single and have moved to the city with no furniture to decorate your new abode, then you can also have a look at the wide array of Home & Lifestyle products where one can buy sofa sets, dining tables, mattresses/ cots and wardrobes.

During the span of 5 years that I have lived in Bangalore, I have realized that most of my time is spent in commuting. I use public transport and although they are comfortable they do take their own sweet time. Commuting by your own vehicle or using a car pool with your co-workers is much more advisable. And if you are worried about finding reliable sources to buy a car, then you need not look further. Quikr provides buying/selling solutions for cars and two wheeler and you can also check out used cars in affordable prices that are in good condition.

Bangalore is a Mecca for foodies like me. There is something for every palate. There are South Indian Darshini hotels, Chinese restaurants, Italian diners, places selling street foods, North Indian style dhabas and upscale restaurants to titillate the more opulent and refined taste buds. But one food that is surely everyone’s favorite is home cooked food. After I relocated to Bangalore, I longed for Mangalorean style dishes and I missed my mom’s cooking a lot. But with Quikr you get to select the cuisine and you can also order yummy home cooked food by going to the Services->Catering options. There are also services that offer babysitting, plumbers, electricians, maids, housekeeping, doctors and many more.

Quikr recently launched a new feature, Quikr Nxt that allows you to message a seller without a phone number. So if you are selling a product on Quikr you needn't be bothered with numerous phone calls at inappropriate times by buyers. You can just chat with them at a convenient time and it also allows you to keep your phone number private. This is definitely a handy feature to have.

Gone are the days when shifting from one city to another was difficult and cumbersome. When you move to a new city, the initial days can be tough. Adjusting to the new language, finding a place by asking directions from people who don’t speak the same language as you, commuting between different places, finding a decent place to stay or finding a good school for your children; there are so many hurdles. But with Quikr some of these problems are solved. It’s like making a new friend in an unknown city J

So if you are moving to Bangalore, then welcome, because it is truly a lovely place to stay and hope that your experience with Quikr makes your relocating hassle free.

This post was written for Quikr Happy Hour contest at Indiblogger.

Book Review 2015- Jemima J by Jane Green

Jemima J by Jane Green

Jemima Jones is overweight. About one hundred pounds overweight. Treated like a maid by her thin and social-climbing roommates, and lorded over by the beautiful Geraldine (less talented but better paid) at the Kilburn Herald, Jemima finds that her only consolation is food. Add to this her passion for her charming, sexy, and unobtainable colleague Ben, and Jemima knows her life is in need of a serious change. When she meets Brad, an eligible California hunk, over the Internet, she has the perfect opportunity to reinvent herself–as JJ, the slim, beautiful, gym-obsessed glamour girl. But when her long-distance Romeo demands that they meet, she must conquer her food addiction to become the bone-thin model of her e-mails–no small feat. 

With a fast-paced plot that never quits and a surprise ending no reader will see coming, Jemima J is the chronicle of one woman's quest to become the woman she's always wanted to be, learning along the way a host of lessons about attraction, addiction, the meaning of true love, and, ultimately, who she really is.

Review-

I love lists, especially if it’s a list of books- list of books written by women, list of best books of 2014 and it is through one such list (list of best chick lit) that I came across Jemima J written by Jane Green.

The blurb sounded interesting and being labeled as chubby right from my childhood, I could definitely identify with the character of Jemima. Jemima, who tries to drown her loneliness in the comfort of food. Jemima, who despite being witty and intelligent works in the most boring newspaper office and is overlooked by her boss and colleagues.

But when Jemima meets a new man through Internet dating her life changes in a way she never thought possible. She loses all her weight and almost, overnight, turns into a slim, svelte girl who is approached by men and film producers with offers she is not interested in. Now, all though I read through this part of the book of Jemima’s makeover I could not resist rolling my eye more than once. The author made it seem too easy to shed one hundred pounds in few months. Maybe she should have given us more information on how Jemima actually did it.

 I liked the unusual narration style that switched between first person from Jemima’s POV and third person from author’s POV. I guess this gives more flexibility for author to give a peek into other character’s thoughts. Though it was difficult to follow the constant switch in the narration, after few pages I quite liked it.

Overall a light-read book that kept me entertained. Not the best chick lit that I have read but not the worst too.

Rating – 3 Star