#XmasMakeup With Plum Contest (Closed)

Hey beauties...

Here is a quick festive giveaway in association with Plum Goodness ..the Christmas eve has already begun and many of you might be celebrating with family n friends as I'm about to finalize the post ;) So here are the contest rules--

1.Follow Plum on Facebook.
2.Follow Alive n Kicking on Facebook.
3.Post a picture that shows your beautifully done Christmas makeup on my FB page here. The pics posted in the comment section won’t be accepted.
4. A maximum of 3 entries per person are allowed.
5.Use #XmasMakeup in all your entries and tag both the pages properly to be eligible.
6. The contest starts on 25^th December,14 and ends on 28^th December,14.

7. Three lucky winners will get an Angel Eyes Kohl Kajal (worth Rs. 425/- each), one of the most popular product from Plum range.

8. The winners will be declared by me in sync with the brand as soon as I get an acknowledgement from the brand.

P.S. This is a sponsored giveaway. So I'm only responsible to forward the winners details to brand who will be sending the prizes of winners directly.

So, no more waiting and start posting your beautiful pics :)

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas !!

Makai Palak Patties Recipe

Makai Palak Patties

Ingredients 

1 bowl boiled spinach,1/2 cups sweet corns (crushed), 1 tbsp finely chopped onion, 5-6 slices bread crumbs, ½ cup besan, 1 tsp ginger garic paste,1 pinch black pepper, 1 pinch turmeric powder, 1 tsp red chilli powder, Chaat Masala, Salt according to taste, ½ semolina (Sooji), Oil for frying

Method

Mix the besan, bread crumbs, crushed sweet corns, spinach, onion and all spices in a bowl and knead into dough. Take the dough and make balls out of it. Roll the tikkis on the semolina and coat them evenly from all the sides. Press them between your plams to flatten them as patties. Take oil in a deep bottom pan and heat it up. Deep fry the patties till they turn golden brown in colour from all the sides. Serve the goodness of palak n makai with sauce or green chutney. 

Shaving : Manliness Decoded

Writing in response to acknowledgement of the tag for #WillYouShave activity by one of my blogger friend Prerana Ranjan in her post here.

I am not the kind who gets all fuzzy over personality or looks of others whom I'm not concerned with. But yes, I'm extremely definite n distinct when it comes to my loved ones. This has been in my genes probably that no one in my family compromises in groomed looks. Specially my dad used to point out it takes lifelong practice to hone your manly skills. As a small child, I never got to understand what he exactly wanted to convey, but now as a wifey to my man I better learnt that manliness is not only being particular about your outfits & accessories, but needs a careful n conscious effort to look presentable.

Here is one of the memorable incidents from the diary of the first man in my life i.e. my dad, that speaks aloud about impact of this male ritual of DAILY SHAVING at different times and places ...

Dad enjoys a professional career of Law practitioner of great repute since years and is a style icon to most colleagues and youngsters. For all of us family members, there is nothing new or unusual when we see him getting up timely even on holidays and trimming his facial hair with same fervor every morning.

Nobody ever thought of asking him whether there is any special reason to shave off his beard everyday without a miss.  It was when dad's distant cousin visited us from Canada and stayed with us for few days. He observed dad being too particular in his shaving routine and could not resist giving my dad a compliment for the same saying "Bhai Sahab, Itne saalon me bhi aapki aadat nahi badli, ab to umar ho gayi hai. Kya fark padta hai agar ek din shave nahi ki..." ;)

Uncle's statement had triggered an involuntary reaction from dad, when he responded with a soul-stirring story of his life. Everyone knew dad had been a scholar students throughout his study time. Inspite of cash crunch that the family was going through as well as other hardships (like being eldest son responsible for managing whole family due to my grandpa's physical disability to walk) at home, he kept on bringing laurels year by year making his parents feel pride. The courageous boy (my dad) had the iron determination to excel in studies so as to be capable of earning a comfortable yet reputed lifestyle for himself and family. When he got himself enrolled for LLB in Kurukshetra University, he owned no better means to commute to the college than to walk for a distance of many kilometres early morning and reach college. He very well earned his Law degree and started practicing in year 1976 at Session Courts.

More interested for taking his profession graph upwards, dad attempted for judicial services exam when he was well settled in the arena. There were few other bright guys who were competing for selection in Judiciary Exams. The chances of a member for the judiciary making his way all the way up the ladder were rather remote. But the competitive spirit & in-depth knowledge helped dad sail through the tough competition in the written exam with flying colors. Half the battle was already won and now the formal interview was the last step to take for significantly hasten the promotional prospects. Dad was damn confident to hit the hammer on the nail as he occupied his seat in front of the panel all dressed up like a gentleman for the final interview. One of the panelists whispered something in the ear of co-panelist giving a dirty look to dad as he was fluently answering the questionnaire & then interrupted him in between saying "Mr. Bindlish, we are elated with your performance n self-confidence, but the harsh reality is that we would like to appoint a smooth chinned man for this post who looks a little more sophisticated..."

Something inside dad's heart was shattered forever :( He had never imagined that the facial hair that he flaunted as a sign of manliness was the only reason of his unrealized dreams... Those moments were irreversible, but he had committed to himself to keep his face clean-shaven n silky smooth always blended together in true perfection. All of us were heartbroken by dad's loss & the story created a saddened atmosphere that moment. But dad concluded by saying now my face feels completely chic without a puff of furry love at the bottom and I have grown to appreciate my new found chin liberation since that day.  Its never too late to adapt to new things in our lives to be happier n smarter in life ;) 

This post is a part of #WillYouShave activity at BlogAdda in association with Gillette

Premarital Sex - Bad or Not So Bad

Ms. Poonam Uppal recently got her book A Passionaate Gospel of True Love : A Mystical True Love Story released (available for order on Flipkart here)and offered an opportunity to explore a wide range of opinions on the burning question to discuss "Premarital Sex - Yes or No".

Oh, don't take me wrong that I'm indulging everyone in a taboo subject openly. Infact, this is a real life question that is discussed behind the closed doors among majority of teens (or even adults) these days who may or may not be in its favour. But my intentions are to bring my personal beliefs on surface (whether anybody seconds me or not).

Many a times close friends, colleagues or mere strangers involve themselves physically to experience thrill, lust or just for the matter of timely satisfaction. There are occasions when these recurring relationships are advocated with the statements like "my partner is in deep love with me for 'n' number of years and we see ourselves together for lifetime, so how does it matter to have intercourse before or after marriage if we trust each other?"  

Sexuality goes hand in hand with emotions, and I'm sure getting married can never guarantee a stronger emotional bonding with our partner... but the practices like dating & live-in relationships have sadly pushed the virtue of  Chastity go out of fashion :( 

Most teens justify physical intimacy as an easy way to relate to each other; but trust, loyalty and purity occupy a secondary or inferior position as an outcome. 

I won't confer about the possibilities what can really go wrong to the BODY of a person actively participating in premarital sex, but just will be compartmentalize my so called "conservative" thinking that defy physical adjacency of unmarried couples with cent-percent conviction.

Sex is not just a matter of casual recreation when we have uncountable choices for pleasure. The people vouching for premarital sex have their own philosophy to defend their view point until they are unmarried and suddenly they start expressing their "altogether different" viewpoint on the same topic just because they expect a VIRGIN spouse for themselves. How idiotic dual-standards they possess :/

Another alarming aspect is how many of such people honestly share their past history with their fiancé/fiancee and take it large-heartedly as they claimed while being entertained in their "romantic relationship". The most likely scenario is to see people move through number of sexual relationships seeking lasting satisfaction. No end of lust & no guilt of heart-breaking relationships -- is this what broadmindedness asks for?? 

I'm standing up for no support to any religious constraints on the issue, but for my conscience. Sex is the way for individuals to bind themselves in a total relationship that ultimately turns two people become a single loving unit for the rest of their lives. The inner contentment of not cohabiting is something that I feel proud upon, and I won't try being diplomatic at all to support pre-marital sex because being "one-flesh" with my legally n socially acceptable partner is my ONLY SUPREME choice forever.

Though its a matter of individual choice, the image above expresses my fair opinion to this debate exactly..

Fondest Vacation Memories From The Eyes of A Kid

 I can't agree more with the quote that goes like --
'Families that take time to travel together will have stories to share for years to come.' 

The fondest memories of my golden childhood are of those trips with my family that we took during summer vacations every year. Every trip had felt so far away when we counted days to leave for a new location every time and then every trip used to come and go so quickly. Every moment of those trips was like living a dream that met every expectations I had :)

Even now as a parent, when I go for the family trips; its an opportunity to relive the juncture that gave me immense pleasure in my olden days :)

 

Vacations teach kids important life lessons while spending quality time with their family. There is no arguments that kids bond with their family everyday, but do we realize how passionately we all sit together and have relaxed hearty chat !! The parents burdened-up for meeting their professional deadlines and the kids caught up with their curricular activities hardly get to convey their feelings to each other in normal routine ...

On the other hand, when we luxuriate on a trip with kids, there’s a touch of magic because there’s nothing more special that the kids cherish than One-to-One time with relaxed parents bcz they rarely get to see elders unwinding completely :)

Ask any kids n they will tell you how they feel unbelievably grateful for the family trips bcz it taught them some amazing things that they never expected to discover. It won't be hyperbolic if I say that the learning that goes in a short vacation is much more lasting than that they got in one whole academic session while schooling.

A fun moment captured at Tungabhadra dam during our Hampi Trip

Being one of the influential decision makers of the family, I hope n ensure to see every trip to fruition for my child specially. Bcz this is when he actually comes out of his shell, learns to share, being empathic and responsible overall.

My child has a special fantasy to jot down cute n humorous anecdotes of our trips in his scrap book or even draw incidents that took place on a specific day and then embellish those with our lovely pics to show to his classmates, friends and teachers. Its nothing less than a treasure for the innocent soul that gives him a sense of belonging.

Just like I cherish reading my child's expressions in his Memory Book, I think you would also love to read what other cute kids have to say when it comes to 'Vacation'. Follow the link & enjoy the heartwarming stories of Club Mahindra's Teddy Travelogue 

 Walking away for today, I couldn't be more thankful for each trip that brought the family members together for a reason and got us feel the warmth of a closely-knit family.

 This post is written exclusively for HappyHour activity about #TravelWithKids organized by Indiblogger in association with Club Mahindra. 

Ethiglo Face Wash Review

Face wash is one of the most essential routine face care product for many of us. Since we tend to use it once or twice everyday, the quality of a facewash is worth a considerable point. I have used many facewashes for varied reasons...some suitable to my skin type, some have been picked in specific season of the year, some due to their effective ingredients and at times due to the available deals also ;) But its not always that I find a product so promising to repurchase or recommend.

Today's product that I'm reviewing is the Ethiglo Face Wash from Ethinext Pharma. 

Product Claims:
Ethiglo Creamy Skin Whitening Face Wash, with its deep cleansing & special actives helps to reduce blemishes and lightens skin tone. You would love to indulge yourself in creamy feel and foam of Ethiglo while its special formula with mili globules cleanses and works on improving your complexion and skin tone. Regular use of Ethiglo Creamy Skin Whitening Face Wash will help to achieve the skin complexion most people desire only.

 

Packed in a pearly white sleek tube, the Ethiglo Face Wash contains 70g. of creamy foam at a price of Rs. 220. The tube is encased in cardboard carton of the same color. The flip open cap of the tube is sealed with silver tape bearing the brand logo on it, that speaks out authenticity of the product. The shelf life of the face wash is 3 yrs.

Key Ingredients:

Kojic Acid, Vitamin C, Liquorice, Nicotinamide, Blend of AHA & BHA, Triclosan, Vit E, D-Penthenol. The Kojic Acid is used for mainly skin lightening and to treat hyper-pigmentation. It basically stops melanin production in the upper layers of our skin, resulting in a lighter looking skin. Licorice has a mild smoothening and brightening action and it is useful in treating dangerous skin diseases like eczema. 

How did I like Ethiglo Face Wash

Ethiglo face wash is a rich creamy formulation as the name suggests. The pearly white creamy solution shows minute crimson color granules. The face wash smells simply heavenly and the fragrance lingers on for quite some time. In single usage, the quantity of even less than a pea-size is sufficient for properly cleanse the face as it lathers very generously.

Just few splashes of water take off the face wash from your face unlike most soapy face washes that demand extra effort to rub off the skin. Ethiglo performs its 3-in-1 tasks really well as the pack reads. As I've been using the face wash since last 15+ days regularly twice a day, I got acknowledgement for glowing complexion from my friends and colleagues.

The active ingredients present in the Ethiglo face wash are much capable of battling with environmental toxins entering our skin due to exposure through out the day and washes away the impurities very gently.

The only post-application requirement for my skin type is a thin layer of moisturizer as usual, though beauties with normal to dry skin might not need it.

Pros:

• Lightens the skin tone.
• Suitable for most skin types.
• Smells very nice n refreshing.
• Needs very less quantity for one use.
• Creamy texture.
• Deeply cleanses the skin.

Cons:

• A bit higher on Price (but if I consider the single usage quantity, one tube would last more than a month. So the price can be justified.)
• People with sensitive noses might feel the smell a bit overpowering (but I loved it)
• Needs moisturization for overly dry skin type.

Final Verdict:
Overall I'm definitely "IN" for Ethiglo facewash. The thick consistency, creamy touch to my skin and no side-effects on skin make it a perfect face wash for daily use.

Goodbye Road Race, Goodbye Road Rage.

Life is traveled only once...Yes! I agree, but does it really call for making our journey an life-threatening adventure ??

Everyday while driving to n fro my way to work, willingly or unwillingly I become a silent spectator for the high drama being enacted at busy road intersections of traffic lights in absence of traffic cops... with drivers yelling and honking at their loudest; whizzing past each other opening the throttle fully through jam packed squares. This endemic disorder road race ends up in smashes on the center dividers, runovers, collisions and leaves the drivers as well as innocent commuters with multiple incurable injuries or even causes loss of lives :(

Is there a way out?? Yes. There always is one if we show willingness to act the way it is desired. 

Nissan Safety Driving Forum (NSDF), an annual road safety program by The Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. is all dedicated to promote safe driving behaviour in India. This year NSDF has expanded its overall reach and engagement levels and now would reach 8 new cities viz. Jalandhar, Jaipur, Vadodara, Nagpur, Chennai, Mangalore, Kochi and my very own The City Beautiful Chandigarh.

NSDF 2014 covers more cities in India

NSDF encourages drivers and passengers to wear seatbelts, and participants learn the importance of wearing seatbelts through interactive activities. The live simulated experiences are also conducted to make the safety features functioning understood through a simulated car crash. 

Car Crash Simulation Activity at Nissan

Nissan India's commitment to safety is based on great conviction about the need for caution and safety while on road. In hope to bring the much needed change in the mindset of the masses, Nissan publicize the campaign for you all to participate.

I'm hurt to see the roads becoming a theatre of maddening public behaviour with drivers becoming more n more reckless n intolerant. Don't you think that all it takes to turn road rage into driving pleasure is well understood facts n good knowledge of traffic rules...I would like people to show more mature attitude towards driving to save people become victims of road fatalities... wondering how?? here is what I suggest everyone on the road to follow for one's own self as well as for the lives of other motorists and pedestrians---

• Change the Behavioral Patterns: Its really shocking to see people shedding their work and family related stress n anger on their steering wheels. The faces of drivers are quite a sight to study the stress written large on them. I believe that a courteous behavior to fellow drivers with a warm smile can help the mad rush reflect calming effect. I have myself experienced that just showing respectful gestures has practically de-escalated the alarming situations and reduced the risk of physical and verbal assaults that might occur while encountering harassing n difficult co-drivers on road.

Warm Smile to Calm down the tough situation.

• Formal Driving Training: Most of the times we have seen that the victims of road mishaps are young people... We usually acclaim them to be irresponsible rash drivers. But when deeply introspected, the fact is that youth is not going wrong on roads but they lack the awareness n proper training of safe driving. I strongly recommend every novice driver to undergo formal training at driving schools that give the opportunity to practice the driving etiquettes in a variety of real-life situations & impart technical in-depth tips of know-how about driving safe.

Get yourself trained under experienced staff

• Vital Vehicle Check Ups: Don't be a miser to get your vehicle inspected by a certified mechanic at an agency that ensures avoiding serious implications of not listening to your vehicle. I simply mean to say leaving little problems unrepaired can lead to increased damage to your vehicle and ofcourse for your and others' lives. It may pinch you when you pay a hefty amount over the regular vehicle maintenance, but you will realize later that its always better not to pay that amount to your doc when hurt.

Vehicle Maintenance Areas

• Complete 'NO' to all Distractions: Though cell phones are one of the major causes of distractions, but in reality everything that takes off your mind from main task is distraction. Even with your eyes on road and hands on steering wheel, mental distractions can dangerously affect the driver. My advice is not to eat / drink, operate music system frequently, text/talk on phone and turn your head off the road to talk to friend/family member sitting along for showing off your casual attitude.

No Distractions Please

• Safety Cushion Driving: Many of us argue of not being at fault when caught in a road accident. But give it a second thought, whether we followed basic safety norms during our so-called 'confident' driving. I have learnt one of the most effective defensive driving technique while sitting on the navigator's seat with my hubby and observing him driving closely i.e. cushioning between vehicles around to avoid collisions. We should maintain 3-seconds safe distance on all sides of our vehicle that will allow us time to react when another driver makes a mistake. One should select a road sign, tree or a building as a fixed point and slowly start counting "one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand." If you reach that same fixed point before you can count to three, then you are driving too close to the car in front of you and you need to slow down a bit.

Cover Yourself Up within Safety Cushion

• Headlights On 24x7: By driving with your headlights on at all times even on bright sunny days makes your vehicle visible to oncoming traffic and take appropriate action. In India, you would be considered as an amateur (or might be unlearned) driver if you are on-the-go with '24-hour use of regular low-beam headlights', but it can drastically reduce the frequency of crashes.

Headlights On All The Time

• Avoid Lap Driving: I happen to see people driving car with their little kid in their laps. But as a conscientious parent, I would never think of driving with my child sitting in my lap steering my car for fun sake. Playing with the child during driving, the driver is not only endangering his life but also those of other commuters and the child. So all the parents like me are advised to avoid such practices to eventually trigger off unprecedented damages.

No Lap Driving

There are many more pages to flip from the diary of a petrol-head... but while on the road, keep to the left, follow traffic rules, stay alert & of-course make your presence feel in a positive manner to bid Goodbye to Road Race as well as to Road Rage.

Wishing All Happy & Safe Driving Always!!


This post is written for Indiblogger's Nissan Safety Driving Forum initiative in association with Nissan India.

(pic courtesy: reliancemotordriving.com, www.dailymail.co.uk, www.dot.gov.nt.ca, www.carsonnissan.com)

Ethinext Epiclin Cleansing Lotion Review

Remember I had reviewed two awesome products from Ethicare Remedies. The LIPZ one that provides wholesome nourishment for lips and Hydrofil Lotion that leaves skin soft n moisturized. Both these products convinced me about the finest quality of the products and my heart felt really voracious to try some more.

Today's review is dedicated to Epiclin Cleansing Lotion from the Cleansing range of Ethinext Pharma.

About the Brand/Company:

Ethinext Pharma is the Pharma division of Ethicare Remedies and is the cosmeceutical company truly dedicated to dermatology and cosmetology. The ethical approach to promote innovative products to public in consultation with renowned dermatologists, cosmetologists and plastic surgeons has brought ETHINEXT PHARMA into existence.
  

About Epiclin Cleansing Lotion:
Epiclin lotion is a gentle cleansing formula specially designed for sensitive skin that can complete our daily skin care regimen.

The Epiclin comes bottled in very simple looking sturdy plastic packing and contains the liquified lotion of apprx. 125 ml being offered at a price of Rs 139. The shelf life is 3 years from the date of manufacture. The bottle is encased in cardboard packing which prints every possible details regarding ingredients, its proportions, usage instructions, storage instructions etc.

Ingredients:
The active ingredients in the lotion are Cetyl alchohol and Steryl alchohol. Two of these work as excellent emollient or emulsifier as well as performs like a thickening agent in the formulation. Other than these active ingredients, few more have been used as inactive ingredients including glycerine, olive oil, Deionized Water (Aqua) etc. that will maintain mildness of the lotion on the
skin.

Look & Feel of the Lotion:
The first thing as I opened the flip cap of the bottle with my thumbs was to sniff to check what kind of fragrance does it has... failing to smell anything, I got it cross-checked with my hubby if he could smell anything... But no, the lotion has been created not only for sensitive skin but also for sensitive noses ;) I mean the Epiclin is a fragrance-free lotion that is a boon for people who avoid having aromatic skin care products due to various reasons.

Next curiosity was to see the lotion color so I pressed the bottle and took out few drops on my palm. Oops, the runny lotion of thin consistency has no artificial colors, but just translucent white shade.

How I used the Epiclin Lotion?
Following the usage instructions on the pack, I made the body wet and started rubbing with soft hands by applying required quantity on the wet parts. Even after few seconds, I noticed no foaming at all. Oh Gosh!! I felt blessed.. I had been genuinely wishing a cleansing lotion that is foam-free and comes off easily. And I had got one suitable one for me. Infact, there is no need to rinse off the lotion by splashes of water, just wiping the body with soft damp cloth tissue can do the needful.

Those who feel that being soap-free formula won't be able to cleanse the impurities, I tell you this lotion has properties to remove all the dust n grime that weather, surroundings leave on your skin. The lotion can even double up as a great makeup remover if it is used to wipe of eye n lip makeup with a cotton swab. I can safely recommend to apply it before going to the bed as night cleanser.

My skin felt no tightening, stretching or inflammation. It didn't leave my skin as stripped as foam washes do, rather a smooth touch could be experienced after the usage. In short, this is a "kind-on-skin" product you can fault about.

Pros:

• suitable for all skin types spl. sensitive skin.
• as mild as ideal for baby skin.
• can treat epidermis or other skin problems.
• fragrance free.
• soap-free / foam free.
• colorless formulation.  
• retains essential oils within skin
•  freshen up the skin by deep cleansing capabilities.
• pocket friendly price
• sturdy packing

Cons:
I personally wish to have some sort of natural fragrance that can soothe the senses for some time when one applies it.

Overall Opinion:
Epiclin Lotion will refresh, deep cleanse and disinfects skin’s surface to give you thoroughly clean skin and will prevent future skin problems too. People with overly dry skin type can  follow it with a layer of moisturizer or night cream for best result.