Chiconomical: Random Thoughts

Myntra Goes Mobile! Good? Bad? Stressful?

Sunday mornings shouldn't induce stress right? Well, waking up to a full page ad in the newspaper saying that one of your favorite online shopping sites goes Mobile certainly is! I mean, wait? What? I can't use the laptop to buy things from there anymore? Are you serious?! No, wait, they're just going to be on the app from now on! Certainly that isn't so bad? No wait, I don't trust my phone to make major payments! Or do I? Well, that's all the questions I thought of the instant I saw that ad. I even let out a small scream prompting mom to tell me, its only a store my dear, (little do you know mom, little do you know).

Well, after a mini fret session, I decided to tackle the bull by its horns and download the app. Few seconds later, HELLO shopping mall on phone! Okay, lets take a quick poll, how many of you spend all your free time on the phone? I'm guessing quite a few! Every time I hop onto the train to travel home, I see everyone scrolling through somebody's feed, or reading somebody's status or texts. Well, I'm guessing, while we may not realise it, this was a rather smart idea by the good folks at Myntra!
Here's what the App says in its very own words via screenshots.

Hello, there's not way I'm spending my coffee break sitting in front of the laptop finding last minute presents for the friend's birthday party. Instead, its much more enjoyable to tap and scroll through the app while I enjoy that latte I've been craving since morning! Yep, it may have taken me sometime, but I definitely see the benefits of the App!

Oh, and that time when you just boarded a train to Goa to realise your good friend's getting engaged in two days? Of course you aren't lugging your laptop around on a holiday! Oh wait, you've got your phone to the rescue! I've had so many of these scenarios run through my head since downloading the app! The sleek and easy to use interface doesn't hurt either! I love the little fashion quotes that pop up while you wait for the pages to load! (Fun and knowledge people! Isn't that what life's supposed to be!)

Overall, my verdict? It's GREAT that Myntra's going to be Mobile now! Its definitely a more intimate experience somehow when you're using the app on the phone. Probably because we have a much more intimate relation with our phones. Stress? I think it's a way to get rid of stress instead of adding it! A quick little app that solves your shopping on the go needs? Well, that's not stressful at all! Its rather exciting!

Get the App Today! Try it out! And tell me how you like it!

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, by The Quirky Engineer

In #EkNayiLeague, Indian Blogger

What is the #EkNayiLeague?

How many of your have been following the IPL recently? I’ll be honest, I’m not really a big fan of cricket. Somehow I feel that lately, there’s been too much of cricket over the last few years. At any point of time, there’s a cricket match being played somewhere. While this is all pretty good in the monetary and entertainment sense, I feel we lose the excitement and passion that was present in the good old days. One of the most well known cricket Gods from those days is Kapil Dev. I remember reading about him, hearing about him while I was growing up. He’s been one of those people that I've always seen smiling and somehow, when I think of gentlemen in cricket, I always think of Kapil Dev and Rahul Dravid in the same breath. Maybe its just me, but that’s how I've always seen them.

Now, I came across some rather peculiar videos of him, talking about something called #EkNayiLeague. He’s basically shot a set of rather cryptic, but still endearing (in his own charming way) videos that tease the audience and ask them to guess what he’s talking about. And guess what? If you manage to guess it right, you can go meet the man himself when he launches his “New League”. This whole exercise has certainly gotten me interested in solving the puzzle. Wanna join in? You can enter the contest on their site here and stand a chance to win Rs. 1 Lakh! Frankly, he says that celebrities would fail even if they played the #EkNayiLeague with all their hearts! Well, what do you think it is?

So, I got my thinking cap on, and decided to take a crack at what it could be. Well, for starters I think that, its highly likely that the #EkNayiLeague is some kind of a New Game show, being hosted by Mr. Kapil Dev. Well, if that’s true, I’d think a lot of people will be really happy to participate. Another thing that crossed my mind, if only briefly was it could be some kind of a sports club. However, his little hints that even celebrities would fail, made me think otherwise. The underlying thought is that this definitely a new television show or a game. I'm not very sure if I'm even close, but then it’s still full to guess and discuss isn't it?

What do you guys think about these teasers? Would't it be great if there is some game show where people are tested on their athletic abilities? I think that would be a new and interesting area to explore. Lots of people can start being fitter, if only for a chance to be on the show! Well, these are my random ideas. I'm sure we’ll find out soon enough! Till then, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

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, by The Quirky Engineer

In Housing.com, Indian Fashion Blog

A Memorable Day #Together with Friends

Stress follows us everywhere. As we grow old, we stop enjoying those little moments in life. We end up in the perpetual race called life. While I love the fast pace of life and it is exciting to go work everyday, sometimes, its just too hard. For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been feeling exceedingly depressed thanks to work pressures. Now Housing.com asked a question today, they wanted to know about my most memorable day. Well, turns out while I’ve been running around like a crazy person, I still managed to have a memorable day wedged in between. And the best part? I didn’t realize I was making memories while I was living it.

Anyone who reads my blog knows that I have recently found a new photographer. As my schedule is usually packed through the week, I plan shoots on the weekend. Last weekend, we made plans to shoot on location. Now, as I don’t have a car, we decided to ask my friend if he would take us to the shoot location, primarily so that I can change in the car. He agreed and we planned to leave well early in the morning. The previous night, I worked till around 1 and then woke up around 5.30 to get ready for the shoot. Well, just as I was about to leave, I get a text from my photographer saying she isn’t feeling well and will not be able to make it. Well, of course I immediately cancelled but I couldn’t help but feel a little dejected. I find that scheduling shoots while working on my thesis full time is hard. My friend called me around the same time saying he’s ready to leave and I should come down. Well, I couldn’t really disappoint him and we decided it would be best if we go have some early breakfast. After a little heated debate (I was feeling quite annoyed by that time thanks to the messed up plans) we settled on Aromas Café in Powai. Let me tell you, a day that started off with a lot of dejection, turned into one of the most amazing mornings this month. We managed to get there well early, talked, joked, ordered lots of good food.

After the most heavenly breakfast there, we then went to see a movie. Now mind you, I’m the person who will usually say no to a movie because even when we catch a movie, I can’t help but worry about work. Intervals are where you’ll find me scrolling through my mailbox or frantically trying to see if something I’ve come up with during the movie works. Well, I admit I did it this time too, but somehow, during the movie, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. My friend actually saw the movie for a second time with me, because he wanted to make my day. A long drive back home, with me being the self-appointed car DJ, and that, was one of the best days ever. I guess all you need is someone to be there, and #together, you can change the way you feel. All you need is a little help from your loved ones!

Have you had a good day recently? Tell me about it in the comments below! I’d love to hear from you guys!!

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, by The Quirky Engineer

In Blogadda, Fashion Blogger

Pause, Destress, Resume - 5 ways to De-stress!

Its World Sleep Day today! Honestly, I didn't even know such a thing existed till the came across the #SlowDownZindagi activity on BlogAdda. How I wish I could properly celebrate this by sleeping the whole day today! Oh well, while I type this, I’m at work, trying to figure out some seriously nasty bits of my thesis, I can’t help but imagine all the ways I could be de-stressing right now.

Since I started working on my thesis, it seems I spend a shocking amount of time running around and doing a million things at once. Almost any free time I have left, is spent working on the blog, or with the few friends who have stuck around inspite of my atrocious working hours.

So what do I do to de-stress? Here are my top five things, that always work to relax and de-stress me and remind me that life isn’t so bad after all!

Food:

Hands down, food can solve almost everything in my world. I’m the girl who will be screaming at you like there’s no tomorrow and the moment I see food, I’d get distracted. Yes, you wouldn’t realize this when you look at me, but I truly love to eat! A friend asked me once, what is dating to you? And I answered that dating was basically eating, and if you couldn’t have good food on a date, there probably won’t be a second one! How many of you agree with me??

Reading:

How many people out there read to relax? There was a time when I could devour a book a day. Those times were also called school vacations. I’ve always been a bit of a loner and for me, a good book is always better company than most people. I don’t have a lot of close friends anyway, and the ones I do, know I’d almost forget them if they let me loose in a bookstore.

Friends and Family:

And coming almost equal to reading, are friends. There have been so many times when I’ve been frustrated with work, and my friends just become those all absorbing rocks till I’m spent. Of course the family is always there, silently supporting me through thick and thin. I really would be totally lost without them. I remember last year, a few of them would take one look at my face and quietly go get me chocolates, if only to remind me to slow down and enjoy life for a few moments. I never say it, but I couldn’t live without these few special people in my life! Try it, go meet a few good friends and see the stress melt away

Sleep:

Ask any student or working person what they miss the most in life and the answer will probably be sleep. My friends tell me “sleepy” is my normal state of existence. Truly, if I could be a part of the seven dwarfs, I’d be sleepy. Sometimes, all you need to do to feel stress free is sleep. Soundly. Tell me, don’t you wish you could sleep, instead of rushing to work or home or rushing to catch trains and buses?

Massage:

Travel by public transport is physically tiring. Mental stress coupled with physical stress is doubly exhausting. So if I cannot do something about the mental stress, I get a massage. The whole process of working out the kinks in your body is helpful. Also, if you go to a spa to get the massage, the soft music and soothing atmosphere is sure to relax you and slow down your pace for a few hours. And since we’re on the topic of massages, I think you should take a look at video below!

Personally, even if I don’t manage to do anything else today to celebrate #WorldSleepDay, I am going to try a new quick way to De-stress & #SlowDownZindagi using Parachute Advansed Aromatherapy Oil in association with BlogAdda!

What do you do to de-stress?? Take a walk? Dance? Whatever it is, I wanna know! What is your favorite way of de-stressing? Tell me in the comments below!

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, by The Quirky Engineer

In Personal, Random Thoughts

#StartANewLife with Housing.com

Everybody has a dream about the future. You look up to the sky and wish for a million things. Life however, doesn’t exactly give you what you dream of. Now I know you have all seen the last post about #LookUp stories (if you haven’t check it out here). Housing.com is one of those fun, upbeat startups that have a whole new outlook towards life. I got a little insight into their in the video below.

Now they have another campaign where they want to talk about change. Everybody, at some point in their lives has been scared, and has still taken a bold step. You may not have realized that was the case, but your decisions helped you #StartANewLife. Personally, I haven’t yet made a major decision such as moving into a new house, although I do hope I can one day soon accomplish that. However, I did make a single decision about three years ago that set the ball rolling in a million different new directions. I figured this was a good place to talk about a few things that happened.

So about a couple of years ago, I graduated with fairly good grades and a “campus placement” job offer. I was obviously excited about earning but at the same time, I wasn’t happy with just a job. I always knew I wanted to study further and while I was encouraged to pursue education abroad, it didn’t really fit into my goals. A week before the supposed start of the job, I decided to reject it. I decided to take some time to decide what my future should be and prepare for it. Of course it was big, I rejected a paid job. I was told horror stories about how it is almost impossible to find a new job and even more impossible to get into the best institutes for further education. Well, as it turns out, I appeared for the entrance exams for post graduation, and I didn’t get into the college of my choice. I didn’t want to settle for the second best, and hence I decided to work for a little while and prepare for the entrances again. So did it work out the second time?

Me at inside my institute.

Yes! I managed to get into one of the best institutes in my field. However, that wasn’t the real surprising outcome. In all the time between refusing the job and getting back in to academics, I did a few different things. One of them, was starting this blog. I sometimes wonder what my life would be like if I had taken the regular path. For one, I know I never would have started blogging, I wouldn’t have had the time. So am I happy now? Oh I couldn’t imagine my life without all the people and places I have seen in those years. Yes, I lost a few friends during my “downtime” as I liked to call it, but then, if they couldn’t be there by you, they weren’t your friends anway. And truly, one decision gave me a whole new beginning. I find that blogging and my education, both give me equal joy. One small thought of wanting something different, and I assure you, you will see the most unexpected joys of life.

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, by The Quirky Engineer

In Indiblogger, Personal

#LookUp Stories

The times we live in are not what can be described as optimistic. Everybody is a pessimist these days. I am no exception. There is simply so much despair all around, it is difficult to stay positive and upbeat about life. The fact that every other article in the newspaper talks about stories of death, destruction and ominous threats to a person’s sanity doesn’t help. But then as they always say, it doesn’t take much for a ray of hope to pierce through the darkest of nights. When I came across the IndiBlogger activity in association with Housing, I was instantly interested in the topic and while this isn’t exactly a blog where I talk about such things, I thought everyone can use a story about positivity.

#Optimist: Someone who figures that taking a step backward after taking a step forward is not a disaster, it's more like a cha-cha.

via Pinterest

So my story isn’t about somebody who made it big or somebody who has become famous through their big ideas. Its just a simple incident, that I happened to witness. I believe that the most beautiful life-lessons are always learnt from the simple things.

One of these stories that always fills me with hope and positivity are Ruskin Bond’s short stories, namely ‘A Room on the Roof’, followed by ‘Vagrants of the Valley’ and the story ‘A Handful of Nuts’. A room on the roof is part autobiographical and essentially the story is about a boy who doesn’t belong. An orphan child of British and Indian origin parents each, it starts with how the boy, Rusty, is abused by his caregiver and one day, simply decides to run away. He has dreamt of being a writer. He doesn’t know where the road will lead him, but he doesn’t lose hope. Rusty runs away from home, and that night he sleeps on the streets. He somehow, through his friend’s help, manages to land a job as an English teacher for a school boy and in turn for his services, gains lodging in the room on the roof. He starts living in this now infamous room and works and dreams. His dreams aren’t big, he wants to find his roots, he wants to live in the hills and he wants to be a writer. A few months into this new world, Rusty is yet again uprooted when the patrons he was living with face a tragedy. The wife of the house owner dies and the owner decides to move with his son and hence no longer requiring the services of Rusty. Any person who has faced these upheavals knows how sprit crushing they are. Still, Rusty preservers, he finds comrades and friends and works towards his goal. He lives in the most shocking places, just to fulfil his dream of becoming a writer. What strikes me the most however, is how Rusty manages to help his friends inspite of his circumstances. He starts publishing in certain small publications, doesn’t know when his next cheque will come, but still lends money to his friend for their problems. While this story is set in a much different India, I still find it inspiring, not because of the way the story proceeds, but the spirit that is shown by its characters.

Rusty never really gives up home, in the most hopeless of circumstances. This, is truly what inspires me in these stories. He isn’t something extraordinary, he is just a simple boy, who never loses sight of his goals. This is why they always manage to inspire me, no matter how sad I am. While such a idyllic life may not be possible today, the spirit of optimism still transcends time.

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, by The Quirky Engineer

In Indian Fashion Blog, Indian Fashion Blogger

My Birthday Wishlist

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, by The Quirky Engineer

In Beachwear, Family

This and That

I'm back! I know this looks bad. I disappear for weeks altogether, only to reappear on the blogosphere with a string of new review posts. What have I been upto recently? A lot of this and that. Apart from spending quite a few hours working, I seem to be doing lots of random things thanks to all the cousins who have been dropping by in the past few weeks.

So here's a little picture montage, if you will, of all the things I've been upto lately. Two of my adorable sisters were in India last month, and we spent some quality time together over the weekend. We dressed up, we playing in the pool, took loads of selfies and walked on the beach. We even went shopping but somehow, everything that we found was always in my sister's size and not mine. (Boo!!) I even managed to go on a drive with my cousins one evening. Not many pictures from that night. What did we do? Walk and talk on Marine Drive (this was the first time I got a chance to talk to my cousin after 13 years!!), ice cream, pretty lights, firecrackers!

A holiday dress to start the weekend holiday.

A flower I picked up during our walk in the hotel garden

Morning walks on the beach

The view from our room!

Yes, there was food. chinese with the most gorgeous table pieces!

Sunsets at the beach

Tiny spoons make me smile.

And drinks. Watermelon! <3

Little presents.

Extra hot sizzlers.

Drinks with the family!

And ice cream, with fruit!

Sunset from the corridor outside the lab!

A few more drinks with the siblings!

Midnight drives in the city! Marine drive!!

And finally! Shopping! There's gotta be shopping!!

Other than lots of dinners with the family and lots of catching up, I've spent the rest of my time working on my Masters project, travelling to and from all the different labs and catching up on sleep when I get the chance.

Well, I don't make a lot of promises, but I shall try to post more outfit posts soon! Till then, you can catch a couple of new posts via the links below!

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, by The Quirky Engineer

In Indian Fashion Blogger, Mumbai Fashion Blogger

Always Be My Baby

Its my sister's birthday! Woot woot! Happy birthday girl! This girl has been 'The Sister' all my life. Okay, so my friends know her as that girl who always manages to make me worry, smile, go nuts and become mommy like, all at the same time!

Now my sister dearest is going through a pretty tough time this year. Lots of personal things, but I still felt she needed a special post dedicated to her. You see, most of our conversations revolve around how I wish she was more sensible with life choices, and how she wishes she could get me to a party! Of course, clothes, and street shopping always creep into any and every conversation that we have. So I rarely get a chance to say what I think. (This could also be coz we both love talking and get distracted by shiny new things/food quite easily). Honestly, for almost all my childhood, 'sister' always meant her. Yes, we have a love-hate relationship and I still remember fighting with her over toys and then screaming and crying. Only to start talking to each other the very next minute and fussing over whether she's had her dinner. So, this is a bit of a special dedication to all things her.

Over the years, the silly dramas and crazy escapades have given way to a much stronger bond. The thing that hasn't changed though is the constant affection. We have fought, loved and rebelled but that's just made us love each other(well, atleast I love her loads). I still always tell people, 'Ugh! She gets on my nerves!!' but then in the very next breath, if you manage to say anything negative, 'Don't you dare say anything bad about her! She's my sister!'. That's the bond we have. She always tells me she wants my hair, yes, somedays I want yours too. Her crazy obsession with butterflies has rubbed off on me (hey, remember those back to back butterfly posts?). While I doubt our fashion sense will ever be on the same wavelength, I think that's a good thing. Its just another excuse to have variety in our wardrobes (I'm flicking your dress okay! OKAY!?!). Of course it irritates me to no end when we end up having the same thing in the same color (yea, I don't do matchy matchy) but then hey, sisters. And while we're on this subject, can we just acknowledge the fact that she has a keen eye while street shopping! You go girl!

Girl, you may feel you're alone today, but your not. You've only got to open your mind to all the people who care for you. I may be a few thousand miles away, but I still worry about you to no end. Yes, I disapprove of most of your crazy friends (you know how many of them I like right?) and yes I mother you to an annoying level. The big sister in me always comes out whenever you tell me about some of the more risque things that you do. But then, so does my pride. You're a strong, beautiful, independant girl, and while you'll always be my 'baby' sister, I'm so proud of who you are. Yes, sometimes a little vain (I want Micheal Kors remember?) and self-absorbed (who isn't right?) but still such a kind and caring person. You love everyone with a fierce passion and while I may try to tweak a few things from time to time (big sister instincts in full force), I really think you're brilliant the way you are! Keep smiling, and dancing, and talking, n screaming and being you. I love you to bits baby girl! xoxoxo

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, by The Quirky Engineer

In Indian Fashion Blogger, Internal Musings

Life

Hello Blogosphere. I'm really very sorry I've been away for a long time. Life has taken a few crazy turns in last few days, and I simply have been running full speed to keep up. Why have I been away you ask?
Well, it started off with a spell of acute sickness, and ended with a family tragedy. It seems like a lifetime ago that I thought running a temperature of 102 for two days straight was the worst thing that could happen in my life.

Well, turns out I was wrong. I lost my uncle this month, and it has been an extremely rough time for the family. My sisters have been crazy strong through the whole thing (I'm so proud of you girls!). Its crazy how so many lives can change in an instant. We have been running all over trying to get the legal formalities done, and now that we have a little time to breath, its started to sink in. My uncle has always been something like a slightly different version of my dad. He's always been there, always helping out everyone who asked for it ( I doubt I've ever heard him deny a request from anyone he was close to), always ready with a joke and a smile, worrying about his daughters and treating me like one. I know I cannot do much but share his wife and daughters' pain, but I hope I can help them whenever they need me.

via here

I believe this has taught me to value my family. I've realized that all the anger, resentment and strife that we create is just a waste of our precious lives. The important thing is just that, life. We need to be grateful that we are living, that we have the opportunity to talk to one another and treasure each and every person who shares our life. All the fights that I've ever had with my sisters and brothers, pale in comparison with the magnitude of this truth. Why waste time being angry? Life is ever so fickle and can change in an instant. Yes, we need to be tough and face it. But then, isn't it easier when you have the people you love standing by you? I've realized its necessary to tell the people you love that you love them...before its too late. Treasure your family, friends and share the love, because that's what is going to get you through all the tough times.

I know this may not mean a lot, but I'm extremely grateful for every person who has been a part of my life. I may not say this everyday, I may not express it, but I do love each and every one of you. I hope that you pray for my Uncle and his family and may God show them the way to get through this.

via here

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, by The Quirky Engineer

In Classic Work looks, Everyday fashion

The Rage

I see you wearing those pretty crop tops. I see you wearing your printed trousers and flaunting your Malono Blahniks and I rage. I see all those pretty young girls with their designer handbags, bad mouthing the lives that 'common' people lead, and I rage. I'm not a rich girl. I do all my shopping on the streets and I'm proud of it. I may not be able to afford half the things that you do, but I still have a better outlet for my rage. You may spend your time talking about all those glitzy soirees and fancy people with cardboard lives but I spend my time indulging my rage. I rage, but in a different way.

I vent my rage when I let that kid from the trains who spends his day selling knick-knacks play a couple of games on my cellphone. He smiles and tries to offer me a prayer card from the church he attends. I decline, " You keep it." He smiles back and says, 'Nahi?' (No) and I nod. He says that he has to get down now, flashes another smile, and leaves. I'm sitting there a little happy,a little dumbstruck and a lady next to me asks, "Do you know that boy?" I say no, he asked if he could play and I said yes. She gives a shocked and slightly disgusted expression that clearly says, what if he had stolen your phone and run out of the train with it? I'm surprised. I never even thought about that part. Do we really have to believe the bad things about everybody first? Can we not try to be so cynical and judge people without even knowing about their lives?

I may trust easily, I may not have the same mistrust of little kids who sell things in the trains, but I can't feel guilty about it. Am I gullible? Maybe. Am I slightly out of sync with the world? Most certainly. Am I still hopeful that everybody just needs a little kindness and they'll walk the right path? Definitely. Naive as that maybe, I think kindness can change the world. All you need is a little bit of faith.

PS: I know that was slightly heavy as compared to my usual posts, but I felt the need to to vent. I rarely use my blog to express my emotions but I felt I needed to say it. Anyway, here's a few pictures from my Uni's 'Tie Day' from a couple of weeks ago.