Make a 'Good Times List' as the year ends #UnwrapChristmas

‘I am celebrating the spirit of Christmas with the #UnwrapChristmas blogpost chain.

I am thankful to Kala Ravi for passing on the baton of spreading Christmas joy and spirit to me.’

One of the unique aspects of the concept of Santa Claus is how he keeps track of whether you've been naughty or nice. The idea behind the tale is obvious - to motivate (trick?) the young ones into being nice little boys and girls if they want to be in Santa's good books. As the year winds down, kids write letters to Santa asking for what they want while also sending a 'good times list', reminding him of the good stuff they've done and why they deserve gifts. That habit ends once we stop believing in Santa and grow up which is sad in many ways.

For me, it has been a long year. Emotionally, professionally, personally - at all levels, it has been tiring. I have had to try hard to motivate myself to keep going on many an occasion. As it always is, during the bad times, you tend to downplay the good things that happen around you as your eyes focus exclusively on all the things burning around you.

In this scenario, I feel making a "good times list" like we used to for Santa as a child can make a significant difference in our outlook. Instead of the good deeds, we look back on the good moments that brought us joy this year - a reminder to ourselves instead of Santa that good has touched us.

I look back this year and see that there are moments that really brought a smile to my face too, many of which I did not even gloat about on the blog (as I would normally do, considering my elephantine ego). Pain does that. But there is a time when you need to enjoy the gifts that you receive. And Christmas is that time every year.

For me, the gifts that 2017 gave me included:

Trips across the country and unwinding with friends.
My Heroes of Kindness and Compassion blog series, which gave me hope that there are still plenty of good humans around, even during these dark times.
My first houseboat experience was truly memorable - fun, games, food, drink and merry.
I got to speak in front of a huge audience of young minds at Chat Jaipur youth summit and talk of thinking beyond the normal ways of life, one of the guest speakers alongside actress Raveena Tandon, politician Sachin Pilot, magicians, dancers et al.

Christmas may be ending but it is never too late to take stock of your year. So make a list - what were your best memories of this year? Someday when you are feeling low, look back upon this list and remind yourself that there is good too in your life.

I pretty much willed this into happening - Having been a winner of Write India Season 1, I really wanted to be a part of Season 2 as well to prove it was not just a fluke. After trying and missing for the first few months of the competition, I finally succeeded last month, being the runner up for judge Sudha Murthy.
I rekindled friendships I had lost along the way.
I attended my fifth book launch as an author - this time for Have a Safe Journey, the world's first anthology on road safety.

Christmas may be ending but it is never too late to take stock of your year. Make this list every year and save it somewhere safe, a present/reminder to yourself during your worst moments that there is good in your life too.

Take a moment and tell me in the comments section your 'Good Times List' of 2017 - what were your best memories of this year? You will find just writing about it brings a smile on your face.

I now invite Anagha Yatin to carry forth the Christmas cheer.

Have a wonderful end to this year and a beautiful 2018.

An InLinkz Link-up

December 25, 2017
18 Comments

VLCC DNA Wellness – a revolutionary weight loss concept

medical

C, G, A, T.

What if I told you these four alphabets played a major role in why you are tall or short, bald or hairy and yes, even thin or fat? Would you believe me? Here's the thing. You don't have to believe me. Believe in science.

The two purines (Adenine and Guanine) and pyrimidines (Thymine and Cytosine) in constant sequences of strands linked together form the most famous double helix of the world - your DNA.

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the molecule that holds the genetic information for all living organisms in this world. It is the ultimate minuscule storehouse of knowledge for why your body is the way it is. When you say 'it is in his/her genes' referring to certain characteristics in an individual or a family, you are referring to the piece of DNA that holds that information.

It is less than 70 years since mankind first identified DNA and yet, in those seven decades, we have progressed in leaps and bounds thanks to the knowledge we received from studying it. We are now able to pinpoint defects in those sequences that cause various illnesses and also pre-dispose us to many chronic diseases ourselves.

Not content with traditional indicators like Body Mass Index (BMI) or Waist-to-Hip ratio, VLCC has now incorporated your own DNA into the process to help give you a weight loss plan that is personalized specially and scientifically for you.

VLCC has been global pioneers when it came to the field of weight loss and promoting a healthy lifestyle for over 28 years now. VLCC has been at the forefront when it came to creating awareness about the pandemic of obesity and promoting November 26 as Anti-Obesity day annually.

So it is perhaps apt that they are not sitting on their laurels but actively taking the battle to the dreaded enemy called obesity via the multiple options in their 'Ánti-Obesity Army' arsenal.

Not content with the traditional generic indicators of health like Body Mass Index (BMI) or Waist-to-Hip ratio, VLCC has now incorporated your own DNA into the process to help give you a healthcare plan that is personalized specially and scientifically for you.

With VLCC DNA Wellness, the team assigned to you get to plan out the perfect diet regimen and fitness training options for you, based on your genetic makeup.

There are various Wellness Panels here to choose from:

Basic weight loss scan,
Stubborn Weight loss scan,
Health Scan for Medical problems,
Nutrient scan,
Skin Scan and
Hair Scan.

Based on your specific need, the relevant panels are selected and the DNA test performed. Rest assured, the DNA test is not a scary process involving sharp, pointy needles but just a mere swab of your cheek which takes less than a second. And that one second can make all the difference in your life. It sounds like an exaggeration but the truth is knowing your genetic make-up will help identify why you have not been losing weight despite following the same fitness programs as others.

Many of us have been able to lose weight for a short period but then find ourselves gaining it back again. VLCC DNA Wellness is a revolutionary concept and a boon since your DNA can now tell the experts exactly why you struggle to lose weight and also what plan - fitness, diet and health choices - offers the absolute best solution for a sustained weight loss with a marked improvement in your health.

December 11, 2017
28 Comments

It’s truly God's Own Country down in Kerala!

Kerala

Today's guest post is by travel blogger Shalini Baisiwala and her experiences traveling alone in Kerala. Over to Shalini.

***

In March 2017 I planned a Birthday getaway trip to God’s own country- Kerala for two reasons.

1) I wanted to visit the Kochi Biennale which is this huge art collaboration with artists all over the world that’s hosted in varied locations all over Fort Kochi and

2) I simply love Kerala for its cuisine, natural beauty and cleanliness.

I have earlier tripped across the Northern part of Kerala and this was my first time in its southern region – but I must say it felt the same when it came to people, culture, food and the organised manner of things set up all around.

Fort Kochi is quite a vibrant seaside town with a great buzz in the air, thanks to the Biennale that attracted folks from all over. What amazed me was the seamless management of an event of this scale, handling the influx of tourists and yet the city was calm, clean and organised. I guess I will harp on the Biennale in another post and will just tell you about all the amazing things I saw, did, and ate and the folks I met in this beautiful state of Kerala.

The Fort Kochi beach is quite clean and it’s quite an ordinary thing to see dolphins frolicking in the sea – yup you read that right! I couldn’t get enough of watching these gorgeous sea creatures leap around and was up at the crack of dawn on almost every day to spy on them. The local fishermen were a friendly bunch and helped me up on the gigantic contraption which is the famous Chinese fishing nets. One gentleman proceeded to enlighten me with gusto about the history and working of them.

the famous Chinese fishing nets of Fort Kochi

Cleanliness is a way of life in Kerala and I was delighted to see clean streets with no garbage mounds or stench of any kinds as I roamed the streets daily. The shops and road side stalls are stacked up neatly with no filth lying around. I loved these cookie jars in most baker shops – just see how beautifully they have been arranged.

Love these cookie jars in most Kerala bakery shops – just see how beautifully they have been arranged.

Same is the case with the fruit and vegetable stalls. And this was the case in most shops that I saw around.

While walking down one alley, this shop window with its array of glass bottles caught my fancy. Stepping in, I realised it’s a perfumery. The smells emanating from this shop were just mind blowing. I got chatting with the proprietor who delighted in making me sniff out some delish vapours and proceeded to explain the fragrance notes in them and what they would be best combined with. I ended up buying quite a few vials of rub-ons and spritzers from him which are still being used by me!

a perfumery in Kochi. The smells emanating from this shop were just mind blowing.

Another street was full of bags of spices; some that I have never seen or heard of in my life. I had to then start pestering the shopkeepers to enlighten me on all of them. I couldn’t stop clicking them either. One such person directed me to a women’s co-op that sold them at a much reasonable price and boy did I have fun shopping there. I have been gifting them to all and sundry as I did manage to buy quite a lot of it. Nutmegs, cinnamon, mace, peppercorns, dates, jaggery – you name it and I got it all!

bags of spices in kerala markets - Nutmegs, cinnamon, mace, peppercorns, date jaggery

I travelled in the local buses and ferry to get around as I feel that’s the best way to imbue the local flavour. I met such nice and friendly folks on these rides. What was amazing was the way men occupied only the last 2-3 rows of the buses, leaving the rest for the women who by the way are out in droves in Kerala. Even if there were empty seats, men preferred to stand – I cannot imagine this in Delhi. What an amazing culture this place has.

The local ferry is a fun way to get around in Kochi

In fact most folks I met greeted me with a smile and if I initiated a conversation, they were not shy or reluctant to talk to me. I got chatting with a young girl of 24 who turned out to be an electrical engineer. When I asked her what work she did, she pointed out to these huge container cranes that are always working on the harbour and said she along with a crew of 5-6 ensures they run without any hassle. Oh Womaniya!!You made my day – my India certainly has progressed way more than I could have ever imagined and I felt so proud of that girl who blushed when I complimented her on her feat and shrugged it off as an everyday thing. I don’t think I will ever forget her.

Eating out alone in restaurants (road side or fine dining) was so pleasant with amazing service (read attention) from the servers and management alike. I lazed at each mealtime and there was no push from the waiters to vacate the table despite people waiting. No one rushed me to place orders and I could just sit for hours. Needless to say the food was amazing and yes I tried out the local flavours mostly.

Kerala restaurants offer a wide range and array of dishes, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian

I happened to take a water tour of the Kochi Heritage trail and loved the folks in that tour who without any hesitation took me under their wing since I was the only non-Malayalam speaking there. They prompted the guide to attend to me first, decoded out each dish at the lunch ensuring I had 2-3 helpings and made me feel like one of their own. Turned out they were from the department of archaeology, the head is a woman who was so motherly to me and invited me to come visit her at her office and take a tour of it too. I did do that and she loaded me with so many gorgeous books and catalogues on art that I was just rendered speechless. There are such nice human beings in the world, most are found in Kerala.

I met several solo women travellers on this trip, each was happy to bond and spend some time together in a café; yes I made loads of friends on this trip. What amazed me was the ease with which I could travel on my own in India – a country notorious to be unsafe for women. Maybe it was the thing about being in God’s own country that made it so.

I was delighted to note how well educated the people in Kerala are and how much pride they take in their country. As a tourist I was thrilled to bits with the infrastructure, cleanliness and ease of travel in this land. I would recommend a trip to Kerala to be undertaken at least once in lifetime and I can't wait to be back here as there is still loads for me to explore.

About Shalzmojo

An interior designer by profession, writing is a passion which coupled with travel love blossomed into this blog where I love to just “do my thing”! Be it recipes, food events, travel jaunts, fiction dreaming or even meditative musings; all of it’s taken up quite passionately on my blog. I am a serious wine guzzler and love to chase butterflies in my free time. Please do check out my post on my experience with Kathakali in Fort Kochi

This post is written for the December bloghop #mymojo with Shalzmojo

Linking up for #wordsante with Namysaysso for every post deserves some love.

You can find her on social media here: | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram |

You can also check out my guest post at Shalini's site about the airports I consider the best in India and those that could use some improvement.

December 06, 2017
37 Comments

Should OnePlus3 owners upgrade to the OnePlus 5T?

mobile

Yes, the upgraded OnePlus 5T is indeed out barely five months after OnePlus launched their flagship OnePlus 5. Understandably, that left a few OnePlus 5 users miffed since the new phone offered better features at exactly the same price.

While it makes no sense for OnePlus 5 users to upgrade, things aren't that simple when it comes to OnePlus 3 owners now.

I, having resisted the first two flash sales finally succumbed to the temptation and did indeed buy the OnePlus 5T which arrived (as its predecessor had) a day ahead of schedule.

I've had the luxury of using it for a few days and using both 64GB/6GB versions of OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 5, can offer an objective view on the all-important question plaguing OnePlus 3 users:

Should OnePlus3 owners upgrade to the OnePlus 5T?

There is no denying the OnePlus3 was a huge hit when it released. Even in an avalanche of new companies, both Indian and foreign, the OnePlus3 was a class apart from the start, right from build quality to the amazing Dash charging that most of us had never experienced before to the mobile speed and quality of pictures and music (good & great, respectively). Did I forget anything about the mobile? Oh yes, call quality was pretty good too!

I was among the first wave of users who bought the OnePlus3 in mid-2016 (after my flagship Sony Z5 had become extremely slow and heated up quickly a year after purchase, not allowing me to use the camera at all) and today, as 2017 ends, I and fellow OnePlus3 users can vouch that the phone remains as fast as ever with no lag at all. The battery is a tad weaker after constant abuse by me but again, nothing to worry about as I just need 20 minutes of charging at any point of time to return a low 30 % to a high 80 %.

what changes do I find in the OnePlus 5T that would make me recommend upgrading from the OnePlus 3 and OnePlus 3T?

So what changes do I find in the OnePlus 5T that would make me recommend it over its older brother?

Bigger screen for the same mobile size!

I hesitated when I heard the OnePlus 5T had a 6 inch screen because I personally felt 5.5 inches was the apt size for a mobile phone and dreaded having an even longer phone jutting out my shirt pocket. I was wrong, of course.

OnePlus 5T has given you a phone which is almost exactly the same size and instead chosen to do away with the bezels on the edges to such an extent that you have a rich, 6 inch AMOLED display that is truly vibrant.

OnePlus 3 vs OnePlus 5T.
The difference in mobile size is minimal even though the screen is clearly larger in the OnePlus 5T.

OnePlus has given you a phone which is almost exactly the same size and instead chosen to do away with the bezels on the edges to such an extent that you have a rich, 6 inch AMOLED display that is truly vibrant.

Amazing battery life

For me, this is the clinching factor above all else. I expected a larger display to suck up the battery and the OnePlus 5T offers 3300 mAh vs the 3000 mAh on the OnePlus 3. I had a chance to try it out right on day one, when I took part in a houseboat event in Kannur. As the day progressed, I took well over a 100 shots on the camera in a nice hot and humid day. I attended calls, took videos and yes, checked the internet too alongside GPS navigation. Never charged it in between.

When all was said and done and it was time to head home in the evening, I looked at the battery life at 5 pm - 68% still remaining even after such a long active day! If you are one of the OnePlus 3 family, you know the battery is a tad weak by now. Can you imagine doing all this and using just 32 % at the end of it all?

Camera is da bomb!

Well, another major thing in favour of OnePlus 5T is the dual camera. While I love the OnePlus 3, I am the first to admit that my 2 year old Sony Z5 had a far superior camera when it came to photos. The OnePlus 3 had a tendency to be a bit unsteady especially where auto-focusing was concerned. In comparison, the OnePlus 5T has a superb camera and yes, the depth feature is beautiful.

Without and with the 'Profile' effect of the OnePlus5T camera.
Image has been cropped to size.

OnePlus has acknowledged they can do even better and are still looking to improve the OnePlus 5T camera with future updates. For now, this camera offers better low light performance than even the OnePlus 5 while sacrificing a bit in (optical) zoom features. It does come with refined Electronic Image Stability (EIS) for better video / image stabilisation.

Other features:

Face Unlock is insanely fast. I honestly did not realize it was doing it at times. Of course, the minus point is that it does not fare that well in low light conditions so do set up the Pattern Unlock as well as Fingerprint Sensor. I thought I would not like the latter placed on the back of the mobile but to be honest, I don't even notice it now. Like the OnePlus 3, this is a super-quick sensor, unlocking in barely a fraction of a second.

The changes between the OnePlus 3 and the OnePlus 5T are more obvious in the back - the dual camera and the FingerPrint Sensor make the latter stand apart.

Performance is snappier than the OnePlus 3, thanks to the new Snapdragon 835 chipset. But then the OnePlus 3 was hardly ever slow, was it?

Oxygen Operating System remains minimalistic and is a blessing with minimal bloatware.

Single metal chassis, better ergonomics alongside more familiar aspects like a 3.5 mm audio jack and the trusty Alert Slider (from which you can set the mobile to SILENT/RING from the comfort of your pocket) round up this premium product.

And that price? For a premium phone, (with discounts using certain banks and Amazon Kindle credit bundled in), the company surprised everyone by pricing the OnePlus 5T exactly the same as the OnePlus 5.

So what's the verdict?

Moment of truth. If you are a OnePlus 3 user, chances are you love your phone. And you are as conflicted as I was, watching the OnePlus 3T, the OnePlus 5 and now the OnePlus 5T arrive. You wonder if it is worth the upgrade when your phone is doing as well as it is, especially with talks already on for a possible OnePlus 6 coming soon.

(The company certainly knows what it is talking about when it says 'Never Settle.' )

the OnePlus 5T makes a wonderful premium phone and yes, it is indeed worth upgrading even for OnePlus 3 users. Feature-rich and a delight at all levels, the OnePlus 5T is well worth the money it quotes.

Well, I personally feel the OnePlus 5T makes a wonderful premium phone and yes, it is indeed worth upgrading even for OnePlus 3 users. Feature-rich and a delight at all levels, the OnePlus 5T is well worth the money it quotes.

December 05, 2017
33 Comments

Spiced Whole Wheat Carrot Cake

Foodgasm

For my guest post today, I have Tina Basu showcasing her version of a healthy Spiced whole wheat carrot cake.

Why a Healthy Cake

Cakes are heavenly – admit it or not but a sinful cake always uplifts your mood. That however, not necessarily is great for your waistline or your got. Ever since I started baking for my son – who is two at this moment, I have been looking to make the cakes healthier. I try to avoid refined flower as much as possible because too much refined flour doesn’t help your gut. You can bake absolutely amazing stuffs by replacing refined flour with whole wheat flour, oats flour, almond flour or even semolina. Don’t believe me? Check these semolina and oats breakfast muffins – which turned out absolutely great. So here I am sharing a healthier version of this classic English Carrot Cake recipe.

What are the spices used?

The carrot cake is perfect for your evening tea time. You can enjoy it just like it without any frosting with your tea or coffee because it has all the nice flavours of aromatic spices. This recipe calls for cinnamon powder and clove powder. If you don’t have them, you can dry roast an inch of cinnamon bark and 5-6 cloves and dry grind in a mixer – that works perfectly well with it.

Why is the Spiced Whole wheat carrot cake healthy?

No refined flour – that has been replaced with whole wheat flour which we call atta - yes you can bake with atta!
No butter – I am using regular vegetable oil.
Has loads of nuts – I am using toasted walnuts and almonds.
Carrots of course.
You can replace sugar with honey – if you want.

Ingredients

1. Eggs – 2 whole

2. Vanilla essence – 1 teaspoon

3. Vegetable oil / canola oil – 180 ml

4. White sugar – 3/4^th cup powdered

5. Brown sugar – 1/4^th cup

6. Whole wheat four – 112 g

7. Baking soda – 1 teaspoon

8. Baking powder – 3/4^th teaspoon

9. Salt – a pinch

10. Ground cinnamon – 1 teaspoon

11. Ground cloves – 1/4^th teaspoon

12. Finely grated carrots – 1 and 1/4^th cup

13. Walnuts and almonds – ½ cup toasted and crushed

14. Butter/oil – for greasing the baking tin

Method

Pre-heat oven at 180C/ 356F
Sieve together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a bowl and set aside.
In a mixing bowl break the eggs and add vanilla essence.
Add vegetable oil to the eggs and beat with a hand mixer for 30 seconds on slow speed. If you are mixing with a whisk, beat till the mixer becomes frothy and dense.
Add white and brown sugar gradually and mix again with a hand mixer for 30 seconds. Try not to dump all of the powdered sugar at one go or you will have a cloud of sugar all over you!
Add the whole wheat flour mix in two parts and fold with a spatula.

Pro Tip: Don’t over beat cake batter when you are adding flour. Over beating will result in a tough and hard cake. I always switch to a spatula and fold batter when I am adding flour.

Once the flour is folded add shredded carrots, spices and crushed nuts and fold again till everything is incorporated.
Let this batter rest for 10 minutes while you grease and line a baking tin with baking paper or a parchment paper. You can simply grease with butter and pour the batter, but I prefer using a baking paper – it makes un-moulding very easy and saves a lot of effort on washing up!

Pour the batter in the lined tin. I am using a square tin – it gives good chunky portions, you can use any shape or size.
Bake it for 40 minutes at 180C/365F
I use the convection mode in my microwave for baking. If you are using a stand-alone oven, at 20 minutes mark take the tin out and turn it to the other side to ensure even baking and coloring.
Let is cool for 15 minutes on a wire rack before slicing.
Dust some confectioners’ sugar or icing sugar and garnish with chopped walnuts.
You can also enjoy the spiced whole wheat carrot cake with some cream cheese frosting. But I prefer it just like this.

I hope you enjoyed this simple healthy classic recipe. Sometimes, a slice of cake, a hot piping cup of coffee and a novel makes life easier – if not for ever, for few hours for sure!

Let me know how you enjoyed once you have baked this rustic earthy carrot cake.

About Tina Basu

Tina is a self-confessed food obsessed girl and all her love for food is reflected in her food blog Twinkling Tina Cooks. She is a dessert lover and shares a variety of recipes on her food blog. She shares family recipes, classic renditions and innovative functional recipes on her blog. Tina Basu is also a freelance writer, author, blogger and a graphic designer and a food enthusiast. When she is not running around a little hyper active munchkin she blogs at Tina Basu – Being Real Not Perfect where she writes, fictions, lifestyle pep talks girly stuffs and hosts link parties and tutorials. Tina has been in the FMCG industry for over seven years working as a trade marketing and branding expert before quitting her job and becoming the lady boss in her own venture.

This post is written for the December bloghop #mymojo with Shalzmojo

Linking up for #wordsante with Namysaysso for every post deserves some love