Saturday 26 October 2013

This Festive Season Bring Mother Nature Home

Diwali is still almost a week away but lets face it, India has already started celebrating. Not necessarily by bursting patakas but by lighting up the house, buying new clothes, dusting up the house, calling friends and family over for the yearly reunion and so on. The streets in my colony are filled with vendors selling diyas of different shapes, sizes and colours. More than the festival itself, its the "getting-ready" phase of a festival that invokes a very exciting feeling in me :D.
But this year, the monsoons have decided to stay till october and this pro-longed guest is the cause for a very damp house that smells stale. Atleast mine does :/ . So I took up my mom's advice and planted some in-house plants. She gave me names of a list of plants of which I am gonna share some with you here.
Lets get ready for a fresh Diwali !! ;)
We all have heard about the benefits of Aloevera. There are many ayurvedic company even selling its juice. But aloe vera plant not only helps with skin burns and issues but also with filtering various gas emission from dangerously toxic materials and it claims to possess tons of medicinal properties as well.
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No one can ignore the beauty of Marginata, a plant that has glossy thin leaves with red edges. It is a slow-growing flowering houseplant with very few growing requirements. It also not only removes formaldehyde(found in cigarettes, wooden furnishings,  and benzene(found in glue, paints, plastics, etc) from the air, but some other toxins present as well. But the plant can be poisonous to dogs so do place is carefully.
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The Gerber daisy, a bright flowering plant, is effective at removing trichloroethylene(comes from dry-cleaning) and benzene. Place it in your laundry room or bedroom but make sure it gets a lot of light.
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The colourful Chrysanthemums have always fascinated me, especially after I read a very touching short story revolving around this flower. Its colourful flowers protect you from benzene and also brightens up your homes. Place it in a place where it will get ample sunlight.
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Last but not the least - the Lucky Bamboo! The best part about this plant is that it can be placed even in your cars. Its small in size, needs indirect sunlight, can grow only in water and does not need soil, and then, its supposedly lucky! Need anymore reasons? Just change the water (soft or filtered water) every 2 weeks to keep it glowing green always.
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And for those very lazy ones (like me), freshen up your homes with the new godrej aer series.
#ChangeTheAir
Try the new festive range of Godrej Aer Home and Car fragrances to headstart your celebration with all things fragrant. Also, do let me know which fragrance you like best.

Love N Luck
P.S. - This post is a part of Godrej Aer promotion campaign

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Festive season DIY Gifts


In my previous post, I shared with you guys the most exciting reason I look forward to festivals. But is one reason enough? Tch tch! Not for me :D 

There are many more reasons the country celebrates all these festivals for throughout the year. New clothes, matching jewellery and shoes, vacations, cousin get-togethers, pandal hopping, happy faces all around and lovely gifts!What really excites me are gifts, simply because they are unexpected. You never know what you might just get. Dont you love that excitement filled feeling just before you open a gift pack from your loved one? 

And so, the other day I was wondering what could I gift my friends and family this Diwali to make things more special. And after hopping through numerous shops, I thought why not gift something hand-made? Not only does it make your folks feel loved, it is also lighter on your pockets. And the biggest benefit, its interesting! Don't believe me? 
Try these simple DIYs I found online and I bet you will want to do more such interesting stuff.

Scented candles are undoubtedly the perfect gift for your loved ones. Simple and refreshing, learn how to make Cinnamon Candles here.

Laddoos wrapped in colorful crepe paper and ends tied with ribbons. Gifting these will make you the kid's favourite ;) .
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Last but not the least - Hand made soaps! No it isnt as tough as you may think if you follow these simple steps to make this Herbs and Citrus Soap

All said and one, did you notice anything similar between the above 3 DIYs? Yes ofcourse, the fragrance! Some way or the other Indian festivals have been  closely associated with fragrances. 
#ChangeTheAir
Try the new festive range of Godrej Aer Home and Car fragrances to headstart your celebration with all things fragrant. Also, do let me know which fragrance you like best.

Love N Luck
P.S. - This post is a part of Godrej Aer promotion campaign

Friday 18 October 2013

Fragrant Festivals with Godrej Aer

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India is always a festive country. Small occasions like "Ghar ka Puja", big occasions like Holi and Diwali, personal occasions like Birthdays and Weddings, self-made occasions like promotion and graduation - we find endless reasons to celebrate! And what is that first thing that comes to your mind whenever you go to a festival or are invited to an occasion almost equal to a festival?
Yes of course! I am talking about FOOD! The festival air is laden with the smell of food whether at the streets or at homes. Sharing with you my favourite festivals based on "food value" :D :D. 

Eid-ul-fitr or Meethi Eid - The whiff of condensed milk and raisins, Heaven!
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Christmas - I am a die-hard non vegetarian. I look forward to Christmas for all different kinds of meat preparation, right from roasted turkey to duck meat to pork ribs. (Damn, my mouth's already watering :/ ) . After that, the array of desserts. Its like every house in the colony smells like the town's best bakery.
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Diwali - This is one time of the year when I can survive on sweetdishes throughout the day. Balushahis for breakfast, Puri with Shrikhand for lunch and Halwa and Barfi for dinner. Ghee is the essence/flavour/smell of the season, no kidding.
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Onam - I dislike coconuts to the core, but then there's something in Onam Sadhya dishes that I love inspite of it being soaked in coconut oil. From crispy fried banana chips to tangy rasam, its coconutty-tangy (my word) :p
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Durga Puja - No bengali will ever not list down "Bhoger Khichudi" as their utmost favourite. The aromatic gobindobhog rice mixed with roasted moong dal - your mouth's already watering?
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But tadaaaa!!! Reality check - festivals dont last forever and neither does the aroma in the air. So does that mean "end to good smelling homes"? Hell no! You should always keep your lovely homes smelling equally good so why not invest in a good air freshener?

#ChangeTheAir
Try the new festive range of Godrej Aer Home and Car fragrances to headstart your celebration with all things fragrant. Also, do let me know which fragrance you like best.

Love N Luck

P.S. - This post is a part of Godrej Aer promotion campaign

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