All posts filed under: ETC.

rose made of clay in pottery class

Exploring Hyderabad’s Rich Tapestry: A Guide to Hobbies and Activities for Every Passion

Hyderabad offers a diverse range of activities and experiences for children to enjoy throughout the year, catering to their varied interests and preferences. There’s no shortage of opportunities for children to learn, grow, and create lasting memories in this dynamic metropolis. So, switch off your screens and head for some quality bonding time with your family and friends in the city.

Handmade mother's day card with butterflies

Celebrating Motherhood: Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

Oh, mothers! Mother’s Day is a special day dedicated to celebrating the women who have raised and nurtured us. Mother’s Day is celebrated worldwide, typically on the second Sunday of May. Mother’s Day is a time to appreciate the hard work, dedication, and love that mothers put into their families every day.
When it comes to gift-giving, mothers typically appreciate sentimental and thoughtful gifts that show how much they are loved and appreciated.

hand holding a sparkling sparkler stick against a black background

Celebrating the Festival of Lights: Diwali

Diwali is for India what Christmas is for most of the Western world. The lights, gifts, food, and the fun family times are the highlights of this festive season. Diwali gifts are usually in the form of food or something for the entire family, instead of individual gifts. Even if you don’t pray or celebrate the traditional way, it’s easy to be swept up in the fervour of the festival in your own style. Afterall, who can refuse a day filled with food and festivities with loved ones?
As a kid, I remember our whole joint family lending a hand to get ready for the festivities. In those simpler times, birthdays and Diwali would be the only times in the year we would get new clothes. Sweets and savouries would be made at home since there were limited choices in the stores. These would be gifted to friends and neighbours and the rest devoured by all of us at home.
How has the festival changed over the years? Also, things you can do to make your celebrations even more brighter.

Art installation of several circular pieces of carved wood and paintings set against a dark blue wall

The Power of Affirmations: How to Manifest the Life You Want

Positive Affirmations and Manifesting your Reality are terms that are thrown around casually in most conversations and interviews these days. At first glance, it seems like wishful thinking or something happening in your life just because you really wanted it to.
However, each of us has at least one thing we really want, but it doesn’t always manifest in our lives. What makes the power of manifestation work for some and not others?
Affirmations become more than wishful thinking when we consciously remember and visualise our goals throughout the day.
If you are new to the concept of manifesting your reality, here are a few simple things to get you started.

hand holding a red lipstick writing Bye on a mirror with the lipstick

How to declutter your life: 6 kinds of people you need to let go of

Do you feel like your life is filled with clutter? Maybe you have too many material things, perhaps the number of responsibilities has encroached on your free time, or possibly you just have a lot of people in your life who drain your energy and stress you out. In any case, it’s natural to want to declutter your life and simplify things.
Often, our mental space is taken up by relationships that ‘do not spark joy’. So what do you do when you realise that a relationship is toxic and it’s time to let go?
If you want to know how to declutter your life, keep reading!

hand painted valentine's day greeting card with love

Unique Gift Ideas For Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. We can all agree that the cliches, flowers and cute teddy bears that usually make up the bulk of Valentine’s Day gifts are passé. What are your options to stand out from the commercialised gifting options? I’ve listed some great ideas that are sure to impress. Whether you’re celebrating the day with your partner, a friend, or showing yourself some self-love, these will surely bring a smile.
There are many ways to make the day memorable for someone you love. If you focus on their joy, not just pricey gifts, you might be surprised at what you come up with. It can be as simple as making breakfast in bed or as adventurous as taking a day trip to a town afar—the most important thing is to show your partner that you care.

Top 10 Things I’m Excited About in 2022

New year, new you. At least, that’s what we always tell ourselves at the beginning of a new year. Despite our best intentions, we all tend to fall back into our old routines and habits by mid-January. Still, I believe it’s worth starting each year with fresh optimism about all that could be — so in that spirit, here are ten things I’m looking forward to in 2022.

art installation at the Louvre paris of a woman with a large pile of clothes

What a Waste: How to be a Conscious Consumer

Do you think twice about the stuff you buy? I’m not just talking about the price factor, but also the value of the product in how it will enrich your life and the product’s life cycle. Do the resources utilised in the making then disposing of it justify its use? Conscious consumerism in India and the world is on the rise. As festive sales are being heavily advertised, it’s a good time to reflect on how you can be a more conscious consumer. Conscious Consumption Definition What is conscious consumerism? As the name suggests, any consumer of products who, along with price and quality, also considers these products’ social and environmental impact. A product’s life cycle, from production to disposal, is as strong an influence on consumers’ purchasing decisions as to its need. The Rise of Conscious Consumerism The consumer model is slowly shifting. Many customers want to focus on conscious consumerism—a buying practice driven by a commitment to making purchasing decisions with a positive environmental, economic, and social impact.  More people want to buy …

Ganesha idol made with flour and cloves for eyes. Eco-friendly Ganesha

How do you talk about Religion with your Child?

I remember, as a child, I truly believed Gods exist because of the stories my grandmother told of them and the movies we watched based on them. Even as a child, I looked upon them more as historical figures rather than mystical ones. As a parent, I wouldn’t want to force my opinions and beliefs on my child. He’s free to explore and enjoy all aspects of various religious customs. He’s too young to understand the philosophy behind the meaning of God, but he’ll figure that out eventually. Growing up with religion I grew up in a house that practised many religious customs but was not strictly religious.  Practicality (and convenience) usually won over the rituals. As I grew older, I became more of a realist and stopped believing in mythological stories. I still enjoy them, though.  I was never interested in praying. I am disappointed by people who claim to be devout, but their actions are diametrically opposite of religious teachings of all kinds. I am yet to find a religion that accepts and …