Knick n knack

Away from all the chaos and hullabaloo of our lifestyles, we all want something to look forward to relaxing, rejuvenate and calm down ourselves. One of the most interesting techniques that I have found to relax is coloring. It takes me to my childhood memories where I was free to paint my world of imagination. Adult Coloring books give you such escape, making you traverse into your sphere of creativity, happiness and gives you the freedom to paint and explore the hues and tones of your likings. Dreamland Rejuvenate Yourself - Colouring Book for Adults (Nature) This one is based on 'Nature' and contains abstracts. A few patterns in this book which I have colored: This was my very first one through which I expressed myself with colors. Here, the colors are dark and in polychrome. This one was much more complex than the earlier one. I tried to color the peacock with a set of the family of colors and create a sense of harmony in the picture. This picture is c...

So, you have availed your maternity leave 15 or 20 days or maybe a month before your EDD and you are at home waiting for your little bub to arrive. The wait will be over and these days will be, so my advise will be to enjoy, relax and make as much as you can of this well deserved leave. Here is how you can spend your days in the most effective ways: 1. Maintain Routine Try and maintain the same routine as you were while going to the office. This would give you a sense of achievement and satisfaction that you are active and not lazing around the whole day. Also, it will keep you physically and mentally active. You will be free to do anything you wish to in between your 9 to 5 hours, while you know your colleagues are working in the office (wink). 2.Pursue a hobby Try and pursue a hobby that you could not because of your busy schedule. Be it reading or writing or cooking or listening to music or watching movies, go ahead and do it right away, as you won't get any time after ...

I don't know how you will look like, I don't know how it will feel like, I am blank and in wait, For you to come & lighten my life! Your feel, your touch, your smile, your love, your look, your snuggles, your warmth, your muffles, I know that you are taking your time I am waiting for you to come & lighten my life! All I want is to pamper & love you, To protect & grow you, To take you in my arms & feel the smell of your breath, To hold those tiny hands with inkling little touch, Amidst my crazy days & long nights, I want to live your cries and smiles! My reflection, my mirror you will be, My love & cuddles you will be! I know this journey will be new but dime, Darling, mum is waiting for you to come and lighten her life! *a heartfelt letter to my lil bub who is yet to arrive in this crazy world!

Dylan's Cosydoze by Elsa   Joseph My rating: 4 of 5 stars This illustrated children’s book by Elsa Joseph has a simple, beautiful, and relatable story. Every parent and kids can relate to Dylan as a kid, the way he sulks when his favorite Cozydose goes missing. Less of a story and more of a narration of an incident, these 31 pager is enjoyable and heart-warming read. The narration is a simple rhythmic style and easy to understand by the young readers. The story is accompanied by illustrations for further ease in comprehension and help them to dive in their world of colourful imagination. The book also touches the importance of parenting and needs to inculcate good habits and mannerisms in young kids. For children, the book is a pleasant read while for parents, it also subtly teaches a valuable lesson. View all my reviews

Saving Forest Farm by Jack Purser My rating: 3 of 5 stars Saving Forest Farm is a children’s book touching on the topic which needs the highest attention in the current times, i.e. saving environment. The story is set in a jungle where the inhabitants are eagerly waiting for the rains to come. As the title suggests, the rain would save the ‘forest farm,’ which has animals thirsty and longing for rain as mother nature is on vacation. They rely on a turtle who has magical powers to bring rain. The book very subtly explains the children the need and importance of rains for mother earth. It is not only crucial for human beings but also for innocent animals in our forests that require rains for survival. The book has one-pager illustrations which support the narration and maintains the interest of the kids till the end. All in all, a good read! View all my reviews

Little Bit  Big Byte, Go Green by Craig Feigh My rating: 5 of 5 stars  The new book by Craig T. Feigh is a fresh addition in the ‘Little Bit & Big Byte’ series and this time with a relevant and an important message which is imperative for children of today’s day and age to understand. The book opens with an innocent pictorial riddle, asking the reader to find the recycle logo and then moves onto weave a story around the importance of environment and energy conservation by saving our natural resources. The author takes examples from the real-life scenarios and immediately provides the ways by which one can contribute towards saving the environment while doing the daily chores. ‘Go Green’, very effectively captures the imagination of a child and help him/her connect the cause with the impact. The language is conversational, and the characters are relatable. A short 33-page story is beautifully illustrated read with attractive colors and nice-looking characters. The illustr...

Rainbow Crystal: A Children's Fantasy Book by Samantha Caprio-Negret My rating: 4 of 5 stars Rainbow Crystal narrates a journey of a 10-year-old girl, Sepharina, and her expedition with good, bad, and evils of the world. The 22-chapter book is weaved around the message of spreading peace, and love. Two young school girls are destined to change the world, not on this earth, but within a rainbow , where a magical world exists.  The book opens with a tragic incident, wherein Sepharina loses her best friend, her soul sister to an accident. The story then beautifully flows between a series of present and past events describing how Sepharina gets emotional for her lost friend, Josie Lee on the one hand , and on the other, explains how she becomes the ‘chosen one ,’ to save the rainbow world of Raiven and Earth.  The narration and description of the minutest details make the reader imagine the world beyond reality , which is magical and mesmerizing at the same t...

It was a usual summer morning, but for the passing out batch of St. George School, it is a time when they had to bid goodbye to their childhood friends and safe mushy environment of the school . Outside the world is cruel and competitive; this is what Riya learned from her friends. Riya was a polite young girl, with dreams to make it big in the real world. In her thoughts of parting from Madhav, little she knew of the day ahead.   Half an hour to eleven, and principal Mr. Anthony addressed the class 12 th students with mixed emotions. Madhav was standing with his friends ; friend zoned while eyeing on Riya secretly. He loved her but was scared to express. All his friends knew about his liking for Riya and used to tease him. Riya, on the other hand, loved him secretly and was smart enough to let anyone knew. She used to find ways to talk to him, but Madhav was always surrounded with his friends, wanna be girlfriends and so-called sisters, which made her feel uncomfor...

It starts with a missed period and anticipation that you are pregnant! Days pass and you come disappointed out of the washroom with negative test in hand to people waiting in anticipation of a double line on that device. Apart from dealing with your disappointments, worries, anxiety and sadness, yes all mixed up in mind, you have to put up a brave face, as if nothing has happened. Deep inside you are just gloomy! Next start trips to gynacs! Finding a  good one is a task. Meddling through the countless advice, comments and suggestions, you zero down on one, hoping that she would be a solution to all your questions. Gynac trips are not always the pleasant ones! Especially when you are a PCOS patient (well, no gynac will tell you this, except you spending countless nights googling your symptoms and zeroing down the name of your problems!) Yes, there are many self help groups and articles on internet for PCOS, but none will provide a solution. They will put you through...

Children's book: A Fun Day at the Countryside by N.S. Esther My rating: 3 of 5 stars A cute tale of friends going for a picnic in the countryside. The story of little boys and girls who love playing around with water, running behind butterflies and looking at colors of nature fondly. It is more like a slice of life fairy tale which will make your kids dive into an imaginary world. Will force them to create colors and scenarios in their minds. It starts like a normal story then take a prose route for some time. The book is full of bright colors and angelic faces. All in all a good pass time read. Ideal as a night time read for a feel-good factor! View all my reviews

Dog's Advice by Sean Stroud My rating: 4 of 5 stars This children book by Sean Stroud is an ideal read not only for kids but also for adults of all ages. The book is fascinating with pictorial representations and prose form of storytelling. It successfully generates and maintains interest till the end. Dog's Advice, very quietly and humbly makes the reader understand the importance of doing good to others. Something which as adults we all know and teach to our kids, but somehow in our daily lives miss doing it precisely the way it should be done! This 54 pager read very accurately reinforces the power of doing good in our minds, in a straightforward and understandable manner. No complexities, no beating around the bush, just straight to the point! Interest to understand how Kaleb will get on his foot and the identity of the old man is maintained till the last page. 'Don't follow this crowd, you are sure to fail. You be the light, so good can prevail' ...

Little Bit & Big Byte: A Day at the Beach by Craig T. Feigh My rating: 4 of 5 stars This Children's Book unlike others in the same genre belongs to 'today', the new world. The fairy tales and supermans are a passe and capture the fantasy of kids, but this one tweaks the real things into imagination plus makes them learn on the go! The world inside computers, the names of characters, their descriptions are all so relatable for the kids. Somethings which they listen and see day in and day out. All characters are described to make kids learn about their features and uses. Parents can very well use this book to impart the basic knowledge of the technology. This book very cautiously and carefully creates and places itself in this new genre of Children Book/Literature. The story is basic but weaves the imagination without making it feel awkward to relate to the real world. As an adult, I loved reading it and would definitely recommend! View all my reviews ...