DIY/ Craft, Parenthood, Product reviews

XPLORABOX- FUN & EDUCATIONAL KIT

Gayatri

Xplorabox is a educational activity subscription box for kids 2 to 8 years old.
This is a theme based box with fun, exciting and easy to do projects, diy’s and a story book.

✅The various activities aim at developing the motor, social and cognitive skills of the child.

👉We received a box for the age group 6 to 8 years old and the theme was SPACE ADVENTURE.

👉The activities in our box are-
1. Aliens face race (2 player game)
2. Space ball (2 player game)
3. Space path game (DIY activity)
4. Create your telescope (DIY activity)
5. Story book- A space adventure

✅The instructions for each game and activity is super easy to understand. So much so that the other day my almost 7 year old (4 months to go) did the space path activity on her own the other day.

✅Each activity helps in learning various things. For example, the space path activity taught her the names of the planets and that Saturn has rings and also about magnets.

🤗The product quality is good as well.

🤗These activities keep the child engaged for quite some time. So lesser screen time.

🤗We really loved the space ball game. Infact I was more interested in tossing the ball into the holes. And mind you its not easy.

🤗The alien face game is another favourite. It helps develop observation skills, hand eye coordination, motor and cognitive skills. All you need is good observation skills and quick eyes to win the game.

🤗The telescope did need a little help from our side, but mostly she did it on her own.

Overall I loved the box.

Ever since I have had my younger one, I haven’t been able to prepare DIY’s for my elder one. And whenever I do, giving her the needed time becomes difficult sometimes. This box is a savior in these situations. No prepping plus she can do it on her own.
I have found this to be a great way to keep her busy.
Good work xplorabox !!

To get yours click on this 👇 link

https://www.xplorabox.com/

#xplorabox #learnthroughplay

HEALTH, self care, Uncategorized

Exercising Gratitude

Gayatri

In this fast paced and stressful lives of ours, we often forget to be thankful for the things we have. We tend to take these things for granted. Gratitude is from a Latin word gratus. It is a feeling of appreciation felt by and/ or similar positive response shown by the recipient of kindness, gifts, helps, favors, or other types of generosity, towards the giver of such gifts.

The thing is, that we aren’t hardwired to be grateful. And like any other skill, gratitude needs practice. It takes only 8 weeks of gratitude practice for people to start showing changed brain patterns that lead to greater empathy and happiness. We usually show gratitude only when we are benefitted from someone’s actions.

Gratitude helps us to differentiate the good from the bad. It helps us realize what we have. In all, it strengthens our relationships, reduces stress, and makes us even more happier. Some studies even show that feeling grateful makes people less likely to turn aggressive when provoked.

Ways to practice gratitude:

Gratitude journal/ Jar: It is as simple as noting down one or two things daily, which you are grateful for. You can note it down in a fancy notebook or even a simple one, or maybe makes notes and put them in a glass jar. The idea is to think back on the past few days and remember things we are extremely grateful for. This helps us to change our perception to various situations by adjusting what we focus on. Also, if you are unable to do it everyday, start by doing it once a week or maybe every alternate day, any which way suits you. You can make it fun by taking pictures of things you are grateful for and pasting them in.

Compliment: Give at least one compliment to someone. Or maybe to yourself. Tell someone you love them and how much you appreciate them. Practice self love.

Gratitude walk in Nature: Interact with nature. Take a walk in your nearby park or go trekking or sky diving. Notice the natural beauty around you and compliment it. Be aware of the nature, the colour of the trees & leaves, the various flowers you see, the sounds of birds and such .

Act of kindness: Do one act of kindness everyday. Feeding the stray dog, or helping an old man to cross the road. Or even work for a social cause. When you give something, you automatically feel grateful.

Quality time: Spend quality time with your friends, family, spouse, kids, or even pets.

Positivity: Surround yourself with positivity. Cut out negative people, negative media from your lives. Even if you are in a negative situation, try to focus on the good that it will bring, what you will learn from it.

Complaint less: Try and be satisfied and happy with what you have. Stop running after everything. If your friend has a particular thing doesn’t mean you should also. Learn to differentiate between ‘want’ and ‘need’. Enjoy the little things.

Thankfulness: Thank others. Not for something big they Did, but for the small things people around do for us, that we often forget to notice or appreciate. Say thank you when your colleague offers you a glass of water, or when some unknown person helps you at the store.

Catching up: Spend some quality time with family and friends. With ourbusy schedules, we hardly get any time to catchup with our loved ones. Make an conscious effort to meet your parents, relatives and friends once a month or every 3 months, whatever suits. The number of times you meet is not important. Meeting once in 6 months and spending quality loved time with them is what matters. When you give love and happiness, it will automatically come back to you .

Meditation: Gratitude mediation is a little different from normal meditation. During normal meditation we focus on our breath, keep our mind clear and focus on a particular thing. Gratitude meditation is visualizing things in our life that we are grateful for. Show gratitude for things we take for granted like having a house to live in, three meals a day, physical ability and such. There can be hundreds of reasons to meditate. Take stock of such things that you are grateful for and you will feel much better afterward.

As I read somewhere “ Developing an attitude of gratitude isn’t just a pop psychology trend. It has been linked to an overall better quality of life.”In this overly negative world, we all could use a little more TLC. Feeling gratitude is one of the easiest ways to feel inner peace. What happens around us is not in our control, but reacting to it is. People who practice gratitude are more easy going, happier and secure.

There are numerous ways of practicing gratitude. Choose what works best for you. And after sometime if you feel that it has lost its freshness or you are bored of that particular way, make a change in how, when and how often you express yourself.

baby care, Parenthood, Product reviews

Mamaearth bamboo based wipes

Gayatri

🎈India’s first organic bamboo based cloth wipes, unlike the other polyester ones. certified by the Made Safe Organization.

🎈 Thicker, stronger and better absorbing.

🎈It has the goodness of almond oil, shea butter, aloe vera and lavender oil which we all know is so good and soothing for the skin.

🎈Hypoallergenic, pH balanced and clinically tested.

🎈Easy dispensing method. Open the lid, remove wipes as required and then close the lid. This lid is a big plus point for me, as my 20 month old can easily remove and throw the hygienic seal. He has done that for all the other wipes we have had. So now firstly he cant open the seal himself and still if he does, the lid will prevent the moisture loss.

🎈Be it dirty hands and feet, chocolate covered mouth or a soiled bum, Wipes are an essential for every mother. Infact we are best friends. These wipes are super soft on the lil ones skin, doesnt cause any rashes and provide moisturization as well.

🎈And they smell great.

🎈 Priced at 249 Rs. for a pack of 72 wipes.

Thank you @mamaearth.in for these amazingly good wipes.

self care, Skincare, Uncategorized

Simple ayurvedic tips for glowing skin & healthy hair

Gayatri

We all wish for a smooth & glowing skin and shiny, thick, soft hair. But more often we find that weather changes, physical & mental stress cause many skin and hair problems, stress being one of the major causes. We tend to use different types of creams, lotions and what not to deal with these issues. But most of the times, the results last only till the usage of those products. So todays post is about a much deeper approach to solving these problems- AYURVEDA.

AYURVEDA is not just a science. It is a way of life. It is following a lifestyle that benefits in the long run, making you the best version of yourself. It believes that beauty comes from within.

SKIN is our body’s protective outer shell has to put up with a lot. Things like chemicals, sunlight, heat, harsh cold, sweaty gym sessions, diets, mental stress etc., keep it under constant assault. And as we know every action has an equal and opposite reaction, our skin reacts by giving us acne, blackheads, dry skin, dark circles, etc.

Ayurveda believes that skin problems aren’t superficial, but they are the reflections of the hidden realities of our body. And so, Ayurvedic skin care aims at targeting the underlying causes. This approach definitely takes more time but gives real and sustained results. And the best part is, that the improvements we see are not just limited to the skin surface, but will improve our bodily functions in general.

Ayurveda suggests the following simple measures to curb these issues.

Schedule: Stick to a daily schedule that keeps your mind and body cool and in rhythm.

Breathing exercises: mental stress plays a very important role in skin and hair problems. Controlled breathing exercises are a great way to calm the mind and reduce stress. You can practice these before bedtime or any other time of the day.

Mindful Yoga

Picture credit:http://www.andme.in

Diet: Eat healthy & whole foods; eat light & cooling foods; have pitta pacifying tea (cumin, coriander & fennel). Include high water content vegetables in your diet like cucumbers, lettuce and carrots. Also include nuts & seeds in your daily diet. These contain Omega- 3’s.

All of these are very simple day to day adjustments and changes that we all can actually follow. So go ahead and bring about this change for ourselves. Then there will no looking back.

Check out their blog for more such posts.

https://andme.in/blogs/all-blogs/simple-ayurvedic-tips-for-glowing-skin-and-healthy-hair

kids fashion, Uncategorized

Kids winter fashion- Part 2

Gayatri

Presenting THE SPORTY HELMET SWEATSHIRT by @cherrycrumblecalifornia 👼Elegant + Comfortable 👼Supersoft fleece fabric 👼Attractive and colourful Helmet Graphic Applique 👼Sherpa lined hood, perfect for this changing weather and the upcoming winters 👼Pullover types. A plus point for me as my brat can unzip his other jackets. So definitely a win win for me. 👼Standard and perfect hemming

My lil one just loves this particular garment. Especially because of the colour and the comfortable soft feeling on the skin. We have worn this multiple times till now and everytime our love for it keeps growing. It is perfect for this present #puneweather and can be used for layering in severe winters as well. Easy to wash and dry.

Check out their full collection on amazon, flipkart, myntra and jabong
They have some pretty pieces for girls as well.

Head over to their page @cherrycrumblecalifornia Now.

#MummaSayHi
#productreview #kidsclothing #kidsfashion #kidsofinstagram #fashionablekids #winterfashion #winterclothes #mumswithcameras #momblogger #bloggermail #punemombloggerby

fashion, Product reviews, Uncategorized

Kids winter fashion- Part 1

Gayatri

Slay it in this super cute @cherrycrumblecalifornia Coat.

Just when mom was looking for winter fashion for me, we received this beautiful coat from @cherrycrumblecalifornia

😻 First and formost, the feel is great. So soft and so comfortable as well. I feel so cozy wearing this coat.

😻 The colour is beautiful. Perfect for the rainy weather. I love styling fluoroscent colours during the rains.

😻 It has a proper lining on the inside, so it is soft on the skin. It isnt itchy like many others i have tried on before. Mom had to convince me to remove it before my lunch so as to avoid any spilling.

😻 The coat is perfect for this slightly changing and chilly weather. And I have already decided what to layer it on coming winters. It has a hood as well which fits pretty well. I love hooded jackets.

😻 It has 3 zipper pockets which adds on the classic look. Plus lots of space to stuff things without mommy knowing about it.

😻 Would look great on denims and trousers and leggings as well. But since I have bruised my knees in the school yesterday, i was a little reluctant to wear my jeans and so mom let me choose this dress.

😻 Thank you @cherrycrumblecalifornia For this beautiful addition to my coat and jacket collection.

😻 You all can also get your hands on many such amazing pieces. Check out their instagram page.

https://instagram.com/cherrycrumblecalifornia?utm_source=ig_profile_share&igshid=t1tgoyy3otd2

Plus they have also launched their Winter 2018 collection on Amazon, Flipkart, Jabong and Myntra.

So what are you waiting for, go now!!! #productreview #kidsfashion #kidsofinstagram #fashionablekids #kidsclothing #winter2018 #musthaves

baby care, Parenthood, Product reviews

Nap nap mat- putting your baby to sleep made easy.

Gayatri

There is one thing that every mother dreams about. “Someone putting her baby to sleep while she catches up on her sleep as well”. It takes us at least half an hour to feed the baby and then another half an hour to put then to sleep and by the time We think of relaxing a bit, its wake up time for the little one. Motherhood is beautiful, but at the same time its tiring and exhausting. March 2018 I had my younger one and I don’t remember sleeping for 6 hours straight since then. How we wish if we could put the little ones to sleep in a jiffy.

This is when THE NAP NAP MAT comes to our rescue.
It can be used for newborns to kids 2 years old.

A super soft outer cover made up of Egyptian cotton for your baby to nap.

It is extremely light, can be folded easily and is travel friendly as well. It comes in a cloth bag making storage easy.

You can place it on the bed, in the crib, carry your baby in it while breast feeding, can use it for air travel as well, can also be placed in a bassinet, stroller, pram, car seat and sling.

It has 6 modes of vibration to soothe your little one. 1 to 4 progressive frequency modes and 2 heartbeat modes. The modes and vibration vary according to the age of the baby. And it has a special mode (mode 4) for expecting moms as well. Especially for moms in their 3rd trimester to relieve their back and leg pain.
The vibrations work for 15 hours straight on a single charge. It has a auto cut off mode as well, wherein the vibrations wont work when charging. Also, the mat stops vibrating after 20 minutes of continuous use. So no chance of any harm to the baby.

It maintains the good posture of the baby, is durable, PUC free, radiation free and cordless.
And if that was not all, it is waterproof as well. So cleaning it is super easy. You just need a moist cloth/ wet wipes.

Wait!!! That’s not all. USE MY SPECIAL PROMO CODE “NAPGAYATRI10” to avail a 10% discount on your purchase.

How I wish I had this during both my pregnancies . Dealing with the back pain and sleepless nights during kids sickness would have been so much better.
So, what are you waiting for, go get your very own nap nap mat now and catch up on some much needed rest and me time.

BECAUSE SLEEP IS IMPORTANT.

HEALTH, self care

Lets stretch and loosen up..

Gayatri

Everybody needs something to wake up in the morning. 10 alarms, a cup of coffee, a cup of tea or a splash of water on their face. We need something to set that kick in to get us started with the day. Similarly our body also needs something to wake up. We often feel lethargic and heavy and stiff after waking up in the morning.

Stretching is known to have many benefits pre and post workout. Similarly it has many benefits when done first thing in the morning. Stretching every part individually may take up a lot of time and since most of us are running late in the mornings, we might avoid it.

So here are few stretching exercises that will give you a full body stretch and will get you ready for the day. Make sure to invest in a good quality comfortable pair of leggings, a full support sports bra and a tank top which moves with your movements and doesnt restrict them.

Standing side bending-

Stand with your feet together. Now slowly take your arms overhead and interlace your fingers, with index fingers pointing towards the ceiling. Inhale deeply while doing so.

Now exhale slowly and bend our upper body to either of the sides. Remember you have to stretch just the upper body, your hips shouldnt sway or twist.

When you feel the stretch, maintain that position for 5 counts and then slowly come back to the centre. While maintaining this stretch, do not hold your breath.

Repeat 5 times on each side.

Forward bending–

Stand with your feet slightly apart and knees slightly bent. Always keep in mind that knees shouldnt be in a fully extended or hyperextended position. You dont have to lock them.

Inhale deeply and extend your arms back with your fingers interlaced behind.

Now, breathe out and start bending forwards, with your arms simultaneously moving towards your head, fingers towards your ceiling. Always maintain your lumbar curve while bending.

Stop where you feel the stretch and hold for 5 counts.

Repeat 5 times.

Inchworm to downward dog-

Stand straight with feet slightly apart. Bend forwards as if trying to touch your toes. Place your hands on the floor and walk forwards with your hands and stop when you attain a plank position.

Exhale and lift your heels away from the floor and lengthen your tailbone/ sitting bone away from the back of your pelvis as if you are lifting it towards the ceiling.

Try and stretch your heels down towards the floor and straighten your knees, but be sure not to lock them.

Keep the head between the upper arms and dont let it hang.

Maintain this position for 5 counts, and then come back to the standing position in the reverse sequence.

Repeat 5 times.

Runner’s stretch-

Stand with your feet hip width apart. Now step your left foot forward and lower yourself into a lunge. Place both the hands on either side of your left foot but shoulder width apart.

Breathe in deeply. Now straighten your left leg. When you feel the stretch, count till 5 while maintaining that position. Slowly return to the lunge position.

Repeat 5 times on each side.

Seated back twist-

Sit on the floor with your legs straight. Bend your left knee and step your left foot over the right leg and place next to your right knee. Place your left hand on the floor for support.

Bend your right elbow and turn to the left. Place the back of your right arm against the left knee. Inhale and sit tall.

Exhale as you twist, pressing your right arm onto the left knee and look over the left shoulder. Stop when you feel the stretch, hold for 5 counts. Do not hold your breath. Slowly come back to the centre and repeat on the other side.

Repeat 5 times on each side.

Foetal/ baby pose- this stretch also acts as a cool down.

Kneel down on the floor and touch your big toes to each other as you sit on your heels. Place your hands on your thighs. Inhale.

Exhale and bend forwards with your palms sliding on the floor. Lay your torso between your thighs as you do so.

Stretch the tail bone away from the back of the pelvis as you lift the back of your head slightly away from the back of your neck. Stretch your arms forwards and place them in front in line with your knees.

Since this is also a resting pose, you can stay in it for a few minutes.

Benefits–

1. Increases the blood flow and gives a boost of energy throughout the day. It prevents lethargy and feeling of tiredness.

2. Increases oxygen flow to the brain for improved morning alertness.

3. It helps to calm your mind.

4. Increases flexibility and range of motion and thus fewer aches and pains throughout the day.

5. Improved posture- for people who have desk jobs at work or work in front of the computers for longer periods of time. These people often develop poor posture due to overstretched back muscles and tight chest muscles. These stretches when done before starting your day will loosen up those muscles and if done regularly will improve the posture over a period of time.

6. And of course, you will burn some calories as well.

“If you stretch correctly and regularly, you will find that every movement you make becomes easier”.

Parenthood

The 3 magical words..

Gayatri

As parents, it is our responsibility to teach them about good manners, so as to make them respectful individuals. Today’s post is about the three 3 magic words that we need to teach our kids so as to raise helpful and grateful individuals.

We as parents do everything in our power to fulfill our child’s needs & wants, no matter big or small. Our parents did the same for us. But wouldnt it be nice to express a polite and grateful attitude in return. They do everything to make our life happy, content & comfortable. However, sometimes uternknowingly, kids fail to acknowledge their efforts. Especially kids this generation. They get everything even before asking for it. We often overlook their mistakes saying its Ok, he/ she is a child. But somewhere all of this is leading them to ignore/ not know the importance of these magic words. The best any person can show gratitude towards someone’s efforts is by using these 3 words- SORRY, PLEASE AND THANK YOU.

Now, why really is it necessary to learn these mannerisms.

  • For better interaction/ communication with peers and everyone else. So better social inclusion.
  • They change the perception people have about us/ positive reaction.
  • Increases level of socializatio and hence helps in better adapting to environment and surroundings.

Teaching these values requires patience, efforts and preseverance. You need to repeat them again & again for it to become a habit. It is important that we teach them that all relationships work by the give & take policy. And that this is the best way to give in return. To begin with we need to teach them the meaning of these words. Why and where are they to be used.


THANK YOU– Shows gratitude towards generosity. It is a hallmark of civility. It will teach them to be grateful and will help them value other’s efforts.
PLEASE– teaches respect. We have to tell them that they need to use PLEASE whenever they need a favor. That they can get something only if asked respectfully. Let them understand that others have the right to share or not. It expresses both respect & consideration, changing a command into a request.
SORRY– To teach them to recognize their mistakes and work towards correcting them. It is an act of courtsey and maturity. It is one of the simplest way to end volatile fights. One should take responsibility for their actions. Also, it is one of the simpleast way to express sympathy & regret.

Now comes the how to..?

  1. Lead by example– this is the best way to teach. We all know children learn more by observing. Use them in your daily conversations with your children, friends & family.
  2. Learn with fun– device a fun way to teach them the relationship between good manners and positive outcomes. Teach them through games, stories, songs or role play.
  3. Make them feel– I kow some of you might not agree with this. But kids learn a lot of things through practical demonstrations. So once in a while let them feel how not using these words develops hurt and negativity.

There is a chapter in my daughter’s english textbook called “The Magic Tree’ which talks about a boy and a tree and these words. At the end of the lesson there is this beautiful quote, which actually inspired me to write this post. It goes-

“It is often said that a man’s true character/ worth is measured by how he makes use of these three words.”