- They have been our escape from boredom. They have been our excuse to get together with friends and family. They have entertained us for generations. Here’s a once-over, at some of the greatest board games, ever!
- Lets start with Scrabble. Here is a quintessentially board game that was conceived during the Great Depression of the 1930’s (in the USA) by Alfred Mosher Butts, a New York architect who had lost his job. His idea was to offer Americans some relief from the economic gloom. A classic, and fun, word game, in Scrabble, each player starts with 7 letters (alphabet tiles) that are used to create words, by placing each tile on a square on the board. New words are created ‘organically’, ie, by building on words already formed on the board. Words may be ‘challenged’, and if found ‘unacceptable’ as per the dictionary, is removed. And if you use up all your words in a single turn, they get an additional 50 points. While becoming a world class scrabble player can take years of practice, there’s nothing that prevents you from indulging in the joys of this historically and culturally significant game as an ‘amateur’ – at home, at work or on the move (yes, digital versions of Scrabble are available online).Our next game, Monopoly, is another American classic. Originally published by the Parker Brothers, this is a game where players (between 2 and 8 ) move along the game-board buying, selling or renting property (house, hotels, railroads, public utilities, etc) - developing assets, boosting bank-balance and collecting rent from opponents. In the eventuality of a player acquiring ‘monopoly’ - that is, ownership over all properties—the player may purchase improvements for those properties (which will add to the latter’s worth). Each player begins with a fixed amount of money, and thereon, fortunes change with each roll of the dice. The idea is to remain solvent, while making your opponents go bankrupt. An exhilarating brew of both luck and strategic business acumen, Monopoly – a cult ‘phenomenon’ that has featured in several movies - remains the best-selling privately patented board game in history, and a perpetual favorite of the young and old alike.Battleship, our next game, is where players (two can play the game) try to guess the location of opponent ships and drown them with firepower. Each player has two grids to work out of – one that contains his or her own ships, and the other, which represents the opponent’s grid to which the shots (missiles, torpedoes, call it what you will) will be directed- either hitting or missing the target. As you call out a row and column, your opponent will respond by saying ‘Hit’ (or, specifically, ‘You’ve hit my ship’), or ‘Miss’. First player to sink all opponent’s ships, wins.It’s not everyday that you stumble upon a game based on the intricate, often inscrutable, London mass transit system, but that’s exactly what the award winning game of ‘Scotland Yard’ is all about. The concept is simple, yet compelling. Two players (detectives) have to track down and capture Mr. X, the ‘criminal’ who’s trying to escape from London. Players can use any of the three types of transport (limited tickets to each of which are provided) – bus, taxi or underground tube / subway – to catch the elusive target. Every third move, Mr. X (ie, the player representing Mr. X) reveals his location, which lets his pursuers reassess their own position and strategy. What makes this game unique, and fun, is the high degree of collaboration and understanding needed between the two detectives to pull off their chase successfully.A bit like the All-American Hula Hoop, Twister became a craze with both children and adults during the second half of the 20th century. A game that calls for a certain degree of physical ability, Twister is played on a plastic mat featuring four rows of differently colored circles. A spinner carries four labels (right foot, left foot, right hand and left hand). After spinning, players must place their hands or foot - as per the combination or call (for instance, “Left hand green”). As they arch and bend to match limb with circle, players are often forced into funny positions (which is part of the game’s draw!). If you fall, or, if your elbow or knee touches the mat, you’re out.Scattergories is something we’ve all played, though under different names in different homes and cultures. A fast paced and engaging game, here, you are given 12 categories (vastly different from each other, like, say, cocktails, cricket fast bowlers, furniture, carnivorous animals, etc) and a specific letter. You are expected to write down a name that fits each category, beginning with that letter - and you will get only 3 minutes to do so! If it sounds like a cakewalk, try it (and don’t say we didn’t warn you!). A perennial favourite.Our next game is Connect Four, where two players drop discs (each has discs of a specific colour) into a vertical grid. The idea is to make four of one’s own disc (ie, discs of the same color) sit next to each other either to complete either a vertical line (ie, along a column), a horizontal line (along a row) or a diagonal line – before the opponent does! Connect Four is a game that engages both participants strongly. It’s a great excuse to recharge yourself, and have some fun while you’re at it.A classic that goes all the way back to 1860, The Game of Life is a board game created by Milton Bradley, and was originally called The Checkered Game of Life. The game traces the participant’s journeys through life, from college to job to marriage to having kids to retirement. The game can be played by two to six players.UNO is an American card game (invented in 1971) with a specially designed deck comprising 108 cards. Each player is dealt 7 cards, and the remaining (the ‘draw pile’) kept face down in the middle. The top card of the draw pile is upturned and kept next to it as the discard pile. Each player places a card on the discard pile (which must be the same number, colour or wording as the top card on the discard pile - unless, of course, he or she has a wild card). If you don’t have a ‘discardable’ card, draw one. If you still can’t discard, it’s the next player’s turn. When you have one card left in your hand, say ‘UNO’! The game ends when someone runs out of cards. UNO is a game that grows on you, so be careful, or you’ll get addicted, for good.Mancala (meaning, literally, to ‘move’) refers to an entire genre of board games that are played in different forms and avatars around the world (indeed, more than 800 varies of Mancala are known).Typically, players place seeds (or stones) in each of the pits on a board. When it’s your turn, you remove all seeds from a pit, ‘sow’ them in the following pits in sequence, and capture (based on the state of board) – one reason why it’s also called a ‘Count and capture’ or ‘sowing’ game. While the various kinds of Mancala may vary at some level, this fundamental rule stays the same.Anytime is a good time to play these supercool and evergreen board games? Which one do you want to try today?
- A perfume isn’t just a personal choice, it’s also a deeply physical ‘attribute’. Pared down to its elements, it is simply a matter of chemistry. After all, it’s only after reacting with your body’s chemicals that a perfume truly blossoms, achieving its natural fragrance.Coco Chanel once said that “A woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future”. What she left unsaid, was that neither does a woman who wears the wrong perfume. It took Christian Dior, another fashion legend, to put things in perspective, when she said, “You can tell more about a woman by her perfume than her handwriting”. So there. For those who dab on the aromatic stuff to simply to keep BO (body odour!) at bay, there’s news. Your perfume can be much more than that.As a fashion accessory, for instance. This is where perfumes fulfil a bigger, more exciting role. As you tweak, mix and match it to our wardrobe and accessories, you add a layer to your persona that goes well beyond mere visual appeal, and let the world discover a whole ‘new you’.However, it is as a non-verbal tool of communication, that the power of your perfume is truly revealed. Daub on the right stuff, and you can make a statement without uttering a word. The operative word, you guess it, is ‘right’. And the trick, is to find out what’s right for you.So let’s see what the various types of perfumes are, and what they say about the wearer’s personality.A perfume is typically made of three notes – base, middle and top. Of these, the base note is the most pronounced and lasting, and the top the lightest (that evaporates the fastest.If you love floral fragrance, you are vivacious and playful. Outdoor brunches, shopping binges and casual dates are your ‘thing’ (incidentally, you’re also a hopeless romantic). You’re best off with feminine peonies, jasmine, orchid, roses, freesia, and fruity varieties like (blushing plumps, juicy apricots, ripe berries or sugary lychee). That’s when you come into your own. That’s also when the party gets going, for you can be quite the social butterfly. Perfumes you will be happy checking out are Sheer Stella by Stella McCartney, Covet Pure Bloom by Sarah Jessica Parker, Flower Princess by Vera Wang, Romance Eau Fraiche by Ralph Lauren, Jasmin Noir by Bulgari, Couture by Juicy Couture and Code Pour Femme by Armani.If they whisper ‘queen of cool’ whenever you are within earshot, your perfume personality is ‘fresh’ – in other words, citrus, water and green. You like to live it up, have a sense of humor and have an outdoorsy streak. You hate being bogged down (with say, your hair-do or nail polish), possess plenty of energy and want to accomplish the morning’s ‘to-do’ list well before sundown. Whiffs you enjoy are those of lemon, dew, mandarin, lime, herbs, coconut, green tea, grass and seawater. Some perfumes for you : Go for Summer by L’Eau d’Issey, Island Capri by Michael Kors, My Voyage for Her by Nautica, Fruits & Passion by Tamanu, Island Palm Beach by Michael Kors, L’Eau d’Issey by Issey Miyake and Le Bateleur by D&G.Does an oriental fragrance bring out the best in you? Congratulations, you’re a rare breed (this is one genre, after all, that not everybody call pull off). You’re elegant, mysterious and sensual (oh, and you have a dangerous streak about you!). A day at the spa, a candlelit dinner and champagne define you perfectly. Oriental perfumes are inviting, sensual and rich, and evocative of amber, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove and musk (these days, even lush chocolate or rousing coffee are available). Perfumes for you can be Classique Summer by Jean-Paul Gaultier, Sensuous by Estee Lauder, Elle Summer by Yves St. Laurent, Eau de Shalimar by Guerlain, Life Threads Ruby by La Prairie, Euphoria by Calvin Klein, Midnight Poison by Dior and Hot by Ralph Lauren.A perfume genre growing up the popularity charts in recent times is food. Go ahead and try it if the aroma of food gets your juices flowing. Ranging from the intensely sweet to the mildly sour, gourmand perfumes, as they are called, can have a strong sexual dimension, too. People who choose them are quirky, independent and interesting personalities, and connect with fragrances of berries, orange, melon, apple, grapefruit, caramel, passion fruit and chocolate. Perfumes to reach out for are Innocent Rock by Thierry Mugler, Ralph Wild by Ralph Lauren, Be Delicious: Charmingly Delicious by Donna Karan, Aqua Allegoria Figue-Iris by Guerlain and Wild Fig by Henri Bendel.Notice that devil-may-care bohemian Goddess sipping a cocktail beside the book-case? That’s an earthy woman given to the elements, one who is sensuous and compassionate (if a little stubborn!). The perfume that comes with her type is wood – warm, individualistic and resolute, as she is. Indeed, some of the more masculine wood aromas (like cedar, leather and tobacco for instance) can add a precious layer to her persona, making it more and provocative. Perfumes you can expect to find in her handbag are Café Rose Eau de Parfum by Tom Ford, Saffron Eau de Parfum by Byredo Black, Youth-Dew Eau de Parfum by Estée Lauder, Eau de Toilette by Diptyque Volutes and Woman Eau de Parfum by Donna Karan.Everyone has a signature scent – one that most closely fits the personality. No matter how much you like a brand, if it’s not your signature style (or somewhere close to it), you won’t be at peace with it. On the other hand, knowing your note and type can help you home in to your signature scent, one that embodies your uniqueness, and exudes your inner beauty.Ready to smell like a million bucks?
- We've shuddered at the spine-chilling barritone of the Godfather, experienced young love at its best during Harry met Sally, and shed tears for Jack and Rose, as our hearts sank with the Titanic. The 90s have, no doubt, been a defining decade for cinema, bringing us some gems that we will remember for a lifetime!Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) is relegated to the Shawshank State Prison in Maine for charges of double murder, where corrupt warden Norton (Bob Gunton), sadistic guards led by Capt. Byron Hadley (Clancy Brown) and savage inmates perpetrate unspeakable brutality on everyone. Ellis Red Redding (Morgan Freeman), another inmate, believes it's just a matter of time till Andy cracks. However, Andy not only thrives, but a daring attempt, literally tries to dig himself out of the hell hole. Does he succeed? Shawshank Redemption (1994) is a movie that'll stay with you for a long, long time.In Quentin Tarantino’s cult movie, Reservoir Dogs (1992), you are introduced to a genre redefining storytelling metaphor where flash-back and pull-forward bring alive a compellingly complex and violent gangster drama. At the heart lies a motley crew of thugs who botch up a jewelry store heist.An MIT maths professor offers a prize to any student who can crack a boner of a problem. The next morning, the answer is scribbled on the class blackboard. Whodunit? Will Hunting, the institute janitor, as it turns out. A working genius with a chip on his shoulder, Will has a heartrending inability to recognize his own genius. Sensitive direction and star performances (Matt Damon, Robin Willams, Ben Affleck) make Goodwill Hunting (1997) a must-watch.Psychological thriller and cult classic 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991) revolves around the hauntingly absorbing interactions between a bright young FBI officer (Clarice Starling, played by Jodie Foster) and Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a convicted psychopath who holds the clue to the serial killer case that Clarice is pursuing. Lecter will help, but only if Clarice agrees to talk about the sensitive scars from her past. Will she break down? Or will the obsession to get Buffalo Bill help Clarice grit it out?In Hitler's Germany during the height of the holocaust, influential Nazi officer Oskar Schindler is an aberration. Hiring Jews at cheap rates for his munitions factory, Schindler is, towards the end of the film, trying his best to save them. The lengths to which he goes in order to do so, and the maturity with which the subject is handled by director Steven Spielberg, makes Schindler's List (1993) a masterpiece, one nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won seven.There may be many words to describe 'Forrest Gump' (1994) – humorous, heart-warming, humorous, even sad - but 'magical' fits the bill best. 'Forrest Gump', played to perfection by Tom Hanks, is a man with a low IQ who somehow gets involved with great moments of USA's history - be it teaching Elvis how to swivel his hips, appearing on the Dick Cavett show with John Lennon, addressing a Vietnam peace rally or meeting president Nixon. Forrest makes us both smile and cry, before stealing our hearts.Disney's 'Lion King' (1994) traces the journey of a cute lion cub (Simba) from birth to adolescence to adulthood to the time he becomes king by avenging his father’s death (brought about by a scheming uncle). Drawing its inspiration from Hamlet, mythology and African folk tales, the 'Lion King' (1994) blends gorgeous visual imagery with foot tapping music to create a tale that delights at many levels.Three brothers from the Ryan family have died in quick succession fighting for the US in WW II, and the government wants the fourth one back – a mission that will endanger the ‘innocent’ soldiers assigned on the task. Forced to toe the official order, yet torn apart by the moral paradox of sacrificing lives to save a single solder, Tom Hanks essays the role of a lifetime in Steven Spielberg’s'Saving Private Ryan' (1998) – amongst the finest war movies ever made.Lack of a sense of achievement in professional life fuels Edward Norton’s sense of alienation, till he meets Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), whose refreshingly different way of looking at the world (“It's only after you've lost everything that you're free to do anything.”) connects instantly with Norton. As a cathartic escape from reality, the two indulge in a bare-knuckle fight that, Norton discovers, makes him feel more alive than he has in years. Fight Club (1999) is born, a closely guarded secret, as other like-minded people join in. Not one to be missed.12 year old Mathilda (Natalie Portman) decides to become a protégée to her tough guy neighbour Leon (Jean Reno) to avenge the death of her brother killed by corrupt DEA agent Stansfield (Gary Oldman). In a twist of events, the two develop a mutual affection. Good direction and robust acting make Léon: The Professional (1994) a great movie to catch up on.When an enormous explosion rips apart a ship causing 91 million dollars' worth of cocaine to go mysteriously missing, police detective Dave Kujan (Chazz Palminteri) is forced to interrogate his only witness and key suspect, "Verbal" Kint. Five days earlier, a truckload of gun parts had been hijacked, and five men identified as suspects. But are they merely fronting for the sinister criminal mastermind Soze? Watch Kevin Spacey’s Oscar winning performance in The Usual Suspects (1995).A kid has the unenvious task of finding a guy to date the meanest girl in school (Katarina, played by Julia Stiles). The reason? Until Katarina dates, her family rule will forbid her younger sister (Bianca Stratford, played by Larisa Oleynik) from dating, and Bianca is the one he (amongst many others!) really has a crush on. All he can find, however, is Patrick (Heath Ledger), the school outlaw (who has to be bribed for the task). Patrick, though, falls for Kat. Yes, 10 Things I hate about you (1999) is a charming teenage movie you’ll love.Few finer films have been made about organized crime than Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas (1990).The story follows Hill, a New York kid who becomes an apprentice to the ‘wise guys’ of the underworld (whom he idolizes) – before joining them. He rises through the ranks, but his ethnicity will not allow him to become a real member of ‘the family’. Ultimately, he is hounded from both ends - the police and the mobsters. Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci turn in stellar performances.In Pulp Fiction (1994), Quentin Tarantino indulges in his love for violence, humour and language. He does it with such abandon, that the result is an iconic movie that affords us a delightfully incisive look at the underworld. Terrific screenplay and a compelling cast (Samuel L. Jackson, John Travolta, Bruce Willis, Christopher Walken, Eric Stoltz and Uma Thurman) make for an eminently memorable watch.This list of specially handpicked movies, however, are simply the tip of the iceberg. Because at the end of the day, movies from the 90s are not just about a great viewing experience, they're about revisiting a part of your past, From the Disney films you'd watched as a kid, to the spine chilling horror films you saw, huddled up in your room during sleepovers, these movies are as brilliant, as they are personal, nostalgic and every bit, unforgettable.
- Be it the sheer variety of sights, sounds and colors that invade their senses, the curious sight of ‘other babies’, or simply the rush of motion, babies love outdoors. And despite the fact that it can’t walk or even get up by itself, your baby will be ‘on the move’ quite a bit. And that makes choosing the right stroller a critical exercise for parents. The sheer variety of them available in the market, coupled with a general lack of awareness of features & capabilities, can make it a bigger challenge than most dad and moms expect.There will be several questions to answer before you get a stroller that will provide endless hours of enjoyment and fun to our baby, not to mention you. A basic stroller, or something fancier? Standard make, or one with special features? Will you use it only for short afternoon strolls to the greengrocers’, or more adventurous sorties off the road? Does more expensive necessarily mean more safe? What are latest innovations available, and how indispensible are they?Let’s dive right in to take a look at the broad options available to parents.First up are ‘traditional strollers’. These are available in various avatars : From hi-end designs to lightweight ones to inexpensive ones to upright ones to convertibles. Folding without difficulty and lightweight, they are portable and a breeze to use.Then, of course, there are the ‘prams’ (also called ‘full size stollers’ or ‘carriages’). Essentially a crib orbassinet on wheels, they are great if you want to take a hike without waking your baby up (of course, this also means that once your baby is old enough to sit upright, you’ll have to get yourself a more age-appropriate stroller). Prams are favored by moms for infants because of their elegant & sturdy design and safety (for example, their large wheels ensure smoother ride over potholes).For parents willing to turn their walks into something more adventurous, Jogger Strollers – perfect for ‘off the road detours’ - offer a practical alternative. On the flip side, they won’t fit in your car, and are meant for babies at least six months old.Umbrella strollers, the next model under our spotlight, are so called for their curved, umbrella-like handles and easy, single-handed foldability. If you’re looking for a stroller that’s hi quality, durable and perfect for getting in and out of your vehicle frequently, an umbrella stoller is perfect during the toddler stage.Parents on the move need Travel Systems – a combo of an infant car seat carrier and a stroller. Here, you should decide upon the car seat first, and ensure that it is sturdy, has a five-point harness system and can be attached and detached easily. Remember that once your baby crosses the 10 kg mark, you may have to buy another one.The area you live in, the stretch of zone over which you will be pushing the stroller (if, for example, you restrict yourself to urban spaces, there’ll be plenty of kerb’s to maneuver, aisles to ‘squeeze’ yourself through and potholes to tide over), your baby’s developmental stage, your travel needs and the budget you have for it, will all influence your purchase decision.Design (Does it recline? Are the handlebars reclinable? Is the basket too high or low? Is it big enough? Is it easy to steer? Is the seat position adjustable?), sturdiness, safety, foldability, portability, value additions (cup-holders & organizers, head support, covers & shades, mirrors, trays, fans, waterproof liners, mosquito netting, etc), storage, washability, material used in construction (it should be non-toxic), brakes and cost are important considerations before settling on a stroller that gets the nod from experts.And meets your baby’s approval.
So many books, too little time? You're not alone. Here's a list of great books you can read in 3 days or less!Pared down to its essence, iconic Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara’s The Motorcycle Diaries is somewhere between an autobiography and a travel diary. It deals with a trip experience that changed Che’s perspective on life, and one that led to his experiencing an awakening. The lyrical writing, peppered with both cheeky and passionate streaks, gives us a peek into cult guerrilla leader’s intense thirst for knowledge, his insatiable appetite for adventure, his ability for deep introspection, his great gift of both giving & loving, and his resolute determination for social change – not to mention a talent for vivid storytelling.A pilot, stranded on a desert, meets a young price who’s stumbled upon Earth from a distant asteroid. Over the next eight days, as the pilot repairs his plane, the little prince shares with him the learnings and experiences he has picked up on his voyages and adventures all over the galaxy – including his short stay on planet Earth. They add up to a refreshingly rich wisdom on adult life (and gems, like the fact that it is actually with the heart, and not the eye, that we ‘see’ what is truly essential to us). The Little Prince, by author and illustrator Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is, at once, profound, charming and thoroughly unputdownable.Jonathan Livingston Seagull, written by Richard Bach, is really a parable about our quest for perfection – one which traces the inspiring story of Jonathan Livingston Seagull, a seagull disillusioned by the ‘meaningless-ness’ of the daily routine of life, and who yearns for a bigger sky, to fly. Disowned by his flock because of his non-conformity, Jonathan doesn’t give up. Not only does he learn to fly, but meets other gulls who introduce him to higher realms of existence. Jonathan returns to Earth to share his experiences with other gulls and teaches them to fly as well.The Catcher in the Rye (J.D.Stalinger) is about the angst and alienation that every teenager feels. Sixteen year old protagonist Holden Caulfeld has been expelled from prep school. During the break that this has afforded him, Holden lets out his discontent with a cathartic and caustic (some of the language sounds edgy even today, despite the fact that the book was published in 1951!) pen that turns this book a classic. For teenagers who will readily identify with it, the book also dishes out subtle learnings.A man is held hostage in a room by abductors who simply demand to be told a story. The man tries to fool them by conjuring the story of a man held hostage in a room where abductors demand to be told a story! Does he succeed? Or does he get ‘caught’? If there’s a smile on your lips already, you can’t lose with Suddenly a Knock the Door, because the other stories (touching on topics like lying to the boss, talking animals and placing an order in a fast food joint, amongst others) won’t let you down, either. This is arguably the most mature work of Edgar Keret - described as a ‘genius’ by the New York Times, and as Kafkaesque by admiring critics.Gregor Samsa wakes up one morning to find that he has changed into a gigantic insect. That’s right - armor-plated back, tiny head, dome-like belly, thin legs – the works. And there’s no point pinching himself, either, because it’s all for real. How does Gregor reconcile with his terrible transformation? How does he deal with his family members, who are repulsed with this nightmare in broad daylight? Gregor’s alienation in The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (regarded a seminal work of the 20thcentury) becomes a medium through which we gain a perspective into our own place in society, and our own subjective identity in a grander scheme of things.Jay Gatsby, wealthy playboy with a shady past, is really a man looking to win back his love from a past life. It is in the way that he attempts to do so, that forms the essence of The Great Gatsby, a true American classic by author F. Scott Fitzgerald. Jay creates a world of wealth and popularity and his relentless desire eventually cuts him down. In that way, the book is a caution against the limits the Great American Dream constantly tempts us to cross.Mrs. Dalloway, by Virginia Woolf, is about a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, a woman of high-society preparing for a party she will host that evening. The other character is Septimus Warren Smith, a shell-shocked veteran of World War I. By narrating their inner feelings, author Virginia Woolf uses her famous technique of ‘Stream of consciousness’ to paint an intricate tapestry of emotions and a telling commentary on social structure (Clarissa – repression of women; Septimus – treatment and attitude of social towards the ‘insane’) of the time. The book was on TIME magazine's list of the 100 best English-language novels written since 1923.Animal Farm, by dystopian author George Orwell, is a delightfully engaging story about a farm of animals that overthrow their human owner in a ‘revolution’, and take over the farm. A charter that establishes that ‘All animals are equal’ is created as a foundation of a society where they can all live happily ever after. However, convincing the others about the need for a more ‘structured system of living’ (one that promises greater comforts), the pigs soon assume the position of ‘rulers’. In a bid to hold on to power and quell rebel voices, they soon unleash a reign of terror. In time, they begin to resemble their original human master more and more (the very reason they had revolted in the first place), and the cycle of irony is complete.Now, you can spend your weekend lazing around with friends and family, and still satisfy the bookworm within you! You're welcome.- "If I had to teach someone just one thing about lip color it would be this: Find a lipstick that looks good on your face when you are wearing absolutely no makeup." -- Bobbi Brown, "Beauty"Just like the Bermuda Triangle where ships & planes keep disappearing mysteriously, or Anil Kapoor’s ‘ageless face’, choosing the perfect lipstick shade can be one life’s eternal conundrums. Lined up against the glass counter, they start off looking like soccer stars – each cuter than the other, making it hard to choose one. So you decide to take the easy way out and blindly dab on what that ravishing Hollywood star in the poster is wearing. Wonder of wonders - when it put the same shade on yourself, it simply doesn’t work. The reason? The lipstick hue doesn’t ‘agree’ with your skin tone.So are you eternally cursed to lipstick–skin mismatch hell? Nope. There’s hope.Let’s begin at, well, the beginning. The 411 for zeroing-in on a lipstick that goes with your complexion like a dream, is to understand your skin undertone first. Skin undertones come in either pink or yellow. Pink is cooler - yellow, warmer. How to figure this one out? Look down - the answer lies in your wrist. Those with green veins have a warm undertone, while a cool undertone is the result of blue veins. If your vein color is a bit of both, pinch yourself, for you are one of the rare, lucky ones with a ‘neutral’ skin tone – one that can pull off any color.Along with undertone, it’s equally important to know what your skin tone is. Fair, wheatish or dusky, you possess one of the three. Figure out which.If you have fair skin, the thumb rule to remember while picking a lipstick is to stay away from brown, orange and, in general, dark hues. Medium shades can make you look ravishing, you’ll carry off pale berry and hot pink with equal aplomb, while apricots and corals can be distinctly flattering. Just remember that anything too light, or with a predominant yellow undertone, will make you look washed out. Those with warm undertones are on solid ground with peach and coral colors, while those with cool undertones can’t go wrong with shades of mauve and mocha.Blessed with a wheatish or olive complexion? Lucky you! Close your eyes and pick a lipstick shade – Yes, nearly everything looks good on you! For best results, go for neutrals, apricot and beige, or pick anything from light brown to light maroon. Pink and orange are you friends, too. Nude is probably the only zone where you need to be a little careful with, because it can make you look a pale. Those with warm undertones are good with bronze, cinnamon and copper colours, while those with cool undertones will come out winner with pink, red (not tomato red, though) and cranberry.What when you’re dark skinned? Compliment yourself with deep plums, berries, burgundies, bold reds and browns. No-No’s? Bright orange and pinkish reds. Those with warm undertones must favor copper, walnut, bronze and honey, while if you have a cool undertone, try ruby / brick red, caramel and wine.As a lipstick color, red is evergreen. No matter what your complexion and undertone, there’s always be an occasion or a moment where nothing else will do. The good news is, being a little alert to the ‘ground rules’ will mean you can flaunt your right to red with abandon. It’s simple, really. Fair skinned ladies will need their red to slant a bit towards coral, those with wheatish complexion must reach out for true red and cranberry, while if you’re dark skinned, you’re good-to-go with darker shades such as burgundy.Cool tip : When checking out a lipstick color at the store, don’t try it out on the back of your hand. Try your fingertips, instead, where the texture and color of the skin is the closest to your lips!Go ahead. Try it on, turn it on!
- Manhattan Mango is my first printed work of fiction. Its debut has received a very heartening response and generated some curious questions as well! Questions like, you’re a woman, how easy was it to write about three guys? Are your characters from real life? Was Friends — the TV serial — the inspiration for the story? Why the title Manhattan Mango?All these questions made me think. And re-visit my creative process. Let me start at the beginning. What really inspired me to write Manhattan Mango was not a story I’d read, or a TV serial I’d watched. It was Manhattan itself. Living in Manhattan, I found the buzz of the city uplifting, infectious; it was one place in the world where you felt anything is possible. So I felt writing a 75000-word novel was possible— and write it I did.Manhattan Mango has been compared to Friends, the famous TV serial. One reviewer mentioned that the book reminded him of Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara. Another felt it was like Ye Jawaani Hai Deewani. Yet another brought up Dil Chahta Hai. It was great to know my characters seemed to have modelled themselves along such iconic prototypes!I’d describe Manhattan Mango as a slice-of-life bromance. Three young Mumbaikars — Neel, Shanks and Shri— are busy morphing into New Yorkers, getting some hard knocks along the way. I had to factor in their volatile love lives, feature their crazy parental pressures, and feel their pain! The ensemble of characters, particularly their group dynamic, required some mental jugglery because their overlapping stories got quite complex as the narrative unfolded.Manhattan Mango is about intense friendships, romantic relationships, and hardships too. It’s about the crazy, emotional, rollercoaster lifestyle choices that three guys make. Writing them was super fun. I presented a situation, then sat back and marvelled at how my characters took on a life of their own! They kept surprising me, page after page. So basically, I just gave the characters a free run, allowed them to work their way through the plot, and found, to my astonishment, that the book pretty much wrote itself. (The editing was another story altogether, it was tough!)I confess, Manhattan Mango is meant to be a fun, frothy, and feel-good read. But beneath the ‘packaging’ I’ve tried to convey some social and cultural messages. About racial intermarriage. Gay rights. The seductive power of alcohol. These are all real, hot-button issues that the younger generation deals with these days. So highlighting some of this layered the narrative, and gave the story more depth.The title was actually the hardest part. I finally came up with Manhattan Mango, as an Indian parallel for the Big Apple concept. Manhattan Mango encompasses the story of young urban Indian guys, living out a slice of their lives in the city that never sleeps.Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. I hope my readers enjoy reading Manhattan Mango as much as I enjoyed writing it. I welcome comments and feedback from all my readers. A special thanks to my publisher, Fingerprint! for making Manhattan Mango possible.Enjoy the book people!Thank you Madhuri Iyer for a delightful blog!You can connect with the author at: www.facebook.com/madhuriiyer.author
- Samsung’s Galaxy series was born to giveApple’s iPad a run for its moolah. That now seems a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far way. Because that fledgling, if remarkable, species is today a super evolved, sensitive and intelligent creature. The Galaxy series has been consistently delivering hits over the years. However, theTab 3 had left connoisseurs wanting for more (literally – since some of them complained that it wasn’t ‘up to their expectations’), so Samsung just had to make up. And with the Galaxy Tab 4, it has done so in style! This spanking new, next-gen scion of the Tab family – targeted at the quality-conscious, mid-range market - carries the family baton forward gallantly. For you and your family, that means hours and hours of solid entertainment. At a price tag that gives equal joy.The Tab 4 arrives in three variants - Tab4 7.0, Tab4 8.0 and Tab4 10.1 - And each of them has something or the other going for it. Less oblong than its Android peers, boasting moderate bezels, light in weight and sporting faux leather textured plastic that snugly reaches around the sides, picking up the Tab 4 isn’t just easy (yes, great grip), but a tactile pleasure. Which is a good thing, because it’ll get picked up a lot. And not just by you, for the Tab 4’s Multi-User Mode lets each member of the family create their own personalized, entertainment universe around the Tab4 - brought to life on the 1280×800 resolution HD screen.While it’ll be easy to lose yourself with all the gaming and video, fret not, for you’ll always know your way around on the Tab 4, what with the comfort zone of your familiar Samsung interface – uncluttered, user-friendly, and legible. Additionally, in the Tab4, it is delightfully responsive, and effortlessly fluent, as well.Revamped in line with the Android 4.4. KitKat guidelines – the multi-window feature (a hit from previous versions) is just what the doctor ordered if you relish the buzz of multitasking, while avid gamers (including kids, thanks to the ‘Kids Mode’, which has been adapted to the ‘big screen’ on the 4!) will keep busy, thanks to the 1.2GHz quad-core processor (not the most powerful, but not many have complained so far!). Making sure the tempo doesn’t drop is a battery that is known to last upto – hold your breath – 4 DAYS (at reasonable usage levels)! And while KitKat power expresses itself through several features (such as Smart Stay and Power Saving Mode), one does wonder why such a versatile processor isn’t better utilized. Maybe Tab 5? We’ll stay tuned.The camera (1.3-megapixel front-facing and 3.1-megapixel back camera) isn’t one of the Tab 4’s strengths, though the user interface, again, will be familiar to users of Galaxy TabPRO and Galaxy S4/Note (Don’t flip to check the reverse, there’s no rear flash). Be a sport - you can’t have it all.The Wi-Fi enabled Tab 4 comes with all the usual Galaxy privileges comprising the best of social, cloud and more, like The Netflix, Sirius XM, Dropbox, Audible.com, Google Play and WatchOn (yes, you can use it as a remote to work your Samsung TV), helping you play hard, and making work easy.Looking to dovetail versatility with value? The Tab4 ticks both the boxes.
- As the summer vacation draws to an end, children across India prepare themselves for the new academic year. Complete with new uniforms, shiny shoes and sparkling smiles, few of us can forget what it feels like to return to the happy chatter of school after two months of summer.Earlier this month, Amazon India brought smiles to the faces of 15 children of the Care and Love Orphanage by supporting them to go to school! Most of these children are orphans, and were found begging on the streets before they were rescued by the orphanage. Our CS Hyderabad team conducted a Food Fete in the month of May & June, where employees cooked and served fresh food in the office cafeteria to garner funds for the education of these underprivileged children. Our team collected a whopping Rs. 3,27,567 that helped enable 15 children go to school at the beginning of this academic year! Apart from raising funds for a great cause, this event resulted in great team work and engagement with employees across 12 teams. Approximately 300 of our dedicated employees were involved in this effort!Additionally, we brought 12 children from the orphanage (Std VIII, IX and X) to our office for a month, where 40 of our CS employees volunteered to teach them English and basic computer skills. These children now have their own Gmail account, have learnt how to use Google Search and pull out information from internet, know how to use excel & power point and have started to string sentences in English. We have also donated 5 laptops to the orphanage, so that the children can continue to hone their skills in the future!All in all, it was a great learning experience for both the children and the employees at Amazon India this June, as our employees discovered the joys of teaching, sharing and empowering. Once again, staying true to our motto, work hard, have fun, make history.
- There’s a baby on the way; and it’s the right time to set up a nursery in your home to make sure your little visitor is comfortable, safe, and happy. Be it furniture, decor, bedding, storage, items of safety or games & toys, there’ll be a lot to plan, so the earlier you get started, the better. Up first – the cradle or the bassinet.When it comes to a Cradle – the primary ‘nest’ for the baby from day 1 up to 6 months or beyond – it’s good to start with the location. Place it away from the door, so that you can crack it ajar every now and then to check on the baby while it sleeps. Sporting solid wood or slats, cradles come in a variety of shapes and styles. Bassinets, on the other hand, are self-contained ‘habitat’s that keep the baby higher off the ground, and are more portable than cradles. Remember, though, that neither should be retained once the baby can pull itself up. We bring you a range of cribs and bassinets that cater to the need of the hour – from hammock-style to compact to portable (with or without wheels) to folding to ones with attached mosquito netting to ones with adjustable height. While choosing one, make sure that it’s lightweight, with rounded (safe) edges, is easy-to-assemble, washable and made from non-toxic material.It’s when your baby graduates to solid food that you have to look for your next furniture piece, theHigh Chair. With the baby perched securely at a higher level (than, say, the bassinet), it’s that much safer for it to experiment and ‘play’ with new dishes and textures, and that much easier for you to supervise, too. Choose an ergonomically designed, compact highchair that come with specially padded seats, is made of a high-quality material such as soft-touch PVC, and ticks all the important feature check-boxes such as soft backseat support, comfortable footrest, foldability and easily-removable tray, lock-ability (for security), spill resistance and easy washability, portability and height adjustability.Playmats and Floor-Gyms will not only keep your young one active, but, as fun activity centres, they will ensure all-round development for your child during the critical growing years, stimulating both motor skills and cognitive (brain) growth. Choose from a variety of products on Amazon.in, that come in interesting and exotic themes, engage the curious mind via a plethora of attachments like balls, swings, mirrors and climbing sets, can be set at distinct modes, and even play music.Babies find a gentle to-and-fro motion relaxing, and hence the importance of a ‘rocker’ in your nursery. These days, of course, they come in a variety of styles, colours, innovations (like vibrations) and have attached toys to engage the infant and promote hand-eye co-ordination.Storage is the unsung hero of your nursery. It’s where you stack up on the diapers, bibs, mats, clothes, lotions, medicines, books and toys - and save space in the room, to boot. When choosing one, make sure it’s lightweight, stain resistant, and spacious. On Amazon.in, you get to pick from a delightful range that come in joyful colours and shapes (including animal shapes), are collapsible or foldable, and even varieties that you can hang on the wall (thus economizing on space even more).The one thing your nursery shouldn’t be is ‘boring’. Amp up the fun quotient of your nursery with themed wall stickers and decals (peel & use), picture frames, wall art, growth charts, toy hammocks, magic lanterns, lamps, memory books and soft toys. You will, of course, find all that and more on Amazon.in, and the more time you spend on our website, the more interesting trinkets you’ll stumble upon.Picking the right bedding items is something that will demand a fair bit of your time and attention. Thanks to our carefully selected offerings that cover all possible needs and scenarios, though, it can be a breeze. Check out mattresses that are designed around the baby’s body contours, water-proof and quick-dry bed protectors , crib and cot bedding sheets that come in a gazillion shapes & themes, cotton crib bedding sets with prints and security blankets – both in prints or black & white.Even beyond the confines of the nursery, one of the biggest responsibilities of parenthood is to ensure the safety of the child when on the road. That’s where Booster Seats come in. The age and size of your infant, as well as the model of the vehicle you drive, will influence your choice of Booster Seat. Pick from a range of foldable, portable and sturdy booster seats that can be adjusted for seating comfort, with height adjustable trays and harnesses at our Baby Products store, to ensure maximum safety for your child.The stork’s delivered the baby. Is your perfect nursery ready?
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