Chutki Maach and Ambi Pur Room Freshener

Ever ate Chutki maach?  ……I am sure most of you have not even heard about it, no matter if you are veg or non vegetarian…… Ofcourse, some must have got the smell sometime somewhere….

These are dry fishes. Yes! These are too smelly…..some may feel like vomiting even. But you know what….these are my favorites…. If you give me one Chutki maach item, I can finish even a big thali of rice at one go…. You will not understand the taste until you savor it in proper way.

These dry fishes are cultivated mostly in some tribal area of Manipur, Nagaland, Assam or imported from Bangladesh. Whenever I visit Assam, I hunt them in the markets like precious treasures, bring them with great care and keep them in fridge as if some diamonds in my locker…

I feel like cooking them everyday, but I don’t. Why? For two reasons….one, the whole house smells extremely bad for many hours after cooking, whether I use chimney or not, and another reason is, don’t feel like giving this smelly smell to neighbors in frequent intervals. No risk of getting threatenings from landlord as this is my own house, but why to develop bad feelings in the neighbours’ hearts?

I have a long history of getting complaints from the hostelmates, neighbors, guests, and landlords, but still I can not leave Chutki maach….I tried incense, dhup, agarbatti, so many scented stuff, but nothing can remove the smell from the rooms easily. While I cook it, I cook like a thief….and looking at my schedule properly if any guest is coming to my house next couple of hours.

Recently, I was watching one commercial of Ambi Pur Room Freshner which says, “Does not just cover. Truly removes odours.” I thought of buying this product and do some experiment.

Last Sunday, my belly and mouth wanted to have this special delicacy. I closed the doors, windows, put on the chimney…..opened the door of fridge, and took out my diamonds….yes…my well preserved Chutki maach. I prepared the delicious Chutki chutney. And, after making it, I sprinkled Ambi Pur in all the rooms. After 10 minutes, I opened the doors and windows. In few minutes, my husband came home from the market and entered with a question mark in his face and asked me what was the smell…..He got a mix smell of Jasmin and some other fresh flowers…. I quickly went to see the Jasmin flower pot in the verandah. But only three small flowers the plant had….I looked at the label of Ambi Pur room freshener……And….I got the answer!!!!

 

A celestial winning smile came to charm my face automatically…… “Yes! I got the product for which I was in search for so many years….not even years, ‘Decades’!!!” Thanks Ambi Pur!!! Now I can eat my favorite Chutki whenever I want!!!!

Disclaimer:  Vegetarian and Eggetarian…Plz don’t hesitate to enter my house as I am now using Ambi Pur.

• I am blogging for #SmellyToSmiley activity at BlogAdda.com in association with Ambi Pur

Top Ten Entertaining, Engaging, Educational Cartoon Shows in India

Which parents will not be happy if the kid shouts out the answers to the questions the cartoon characters ask in the show, or  if the show does wonders in your child’s colour or shape recognition?

Many shows in the Cartoon channels are engaging, but in different ways…While some are very entertaining like Tom and Jerry, Oggy and Cockroaches, Chota Bheem, Motu Patlu, Ben10, Doramon, some shows are truly smart, funny, educational, and can hold the attention.

Then, which are the good cartoon shows? ........ In my opinion - those which engage your child and teach him or her something positive, along the way. And, if you can join your child to watch, that's an added bonus.

This is the list of shows which I believe are not only Entertaining and Engaging, but also very Educational :  

1.    Umi Zoomi

This is a delightful series for preschoolers, which reinforces math skills like counting, measuring, and spatial relations. The show’s interactive format keeps kids engaged and excited about helping the characters solve the problems they encounter, and they will sharpen other skills like shape recognition and color identification along the way.

2.    Mister Maker

Mister Maker  is a preschool television series commissioned by  Michael Carrington at the BBC for CBeebies. The series launched in 2007 and also airs on BBC One and BBC Two.

Mister Maker does something interesting and that gives him an idea of what to make. He collects the required things from the Doodle drawers or an art and craft shop and makes it. Then he wakes up the shapes and they do a song and dance, followed by a randomly selected shape (circle, triangle, square or rectangle) to form a picture or to find how many (particular shape) are there. 

3.    Dora the Explorer

Dora the Explorer is an American educational animated TV series created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh, and Eric Weiner. Dora the Explorer became a regular series in 2000. The show is carried on the Nickelodeon cable television network, including the associated Nick Jr. channel.

Dora the Explorer features the adventures of little Dora, her monkey Boots, Backpack and other animated friends. In each episode, viewers join Dora on an adventure in an animated world set inside a computer. The titular character seeks viewers' help in solving a puzzle or mystery she faces in each episode.

4.    Blue Clues

Blue's Clues is an American children's television series that premiered on Nickelodeon in 1996. Producers Angela Santomero,Todd Kessler and Traci Paige Johnson combined concepts from child development and early-childhood education with innovative animation and production techniques that helped their viewers learn.

It is about an animated puppy that helps its human master by revealing the clues to solving everyday problems.

5.    Gali Gali Sim Sim

Galli Galli Sim Sim (Devanagari: गली गली सिम सिम) is the Hindi language adaptation of the American children's television seriesSesame Street (famous for its Muppets), for India.

This classic educational series sometimes deals with strong emotions -- such as missing a friend, suffering from low self-esteem, and being worried about a new sibling's arrival -- but the messages for kids are always positive and self-affirming. The show's superb educational content supports early skills in literacy, math, and science and exposes kids to a variety of cultures through music, dance, and language.

About 157 million children in India are watching the show on Indian children's TV channels, Turner's Cartoon Network, POGO and Doordarshan.

6.    MAD

A Pogo original production by Turner, the Music Art and Dance show "M.A.D.", is a do-it-yourself show. 

Rob, the favourite anchor of kids' TV takes you on a fun-filled, interactive, creative journey, transforming ordinary materials into stimulating works of art with his MAD twist. Every single time you discover new styles, that are easy, and exciting, and for everyone to try and enjoy.

Armed with simple art tools like a pencil, paintbrush, colours and paper, Rob will take you on a creative joyride, and help you explore the world of possibilities through art. From new and easy painting techniques, to fun and exciting paper crafts. Playing with shadows and silhouettes, recycled boxes and bottles, was never so much fun! And to make the MAD experience even bigger and better, Rob allows his imagination and creativity to run wild, and gives us the most spectacular, most magnificent, most gigantic BIG Picture. So hop on board and get set for an art adventure like no other. Because MAD hai, toh sab cool hai!

7.    Little Einstein

Little Einsteins is an American animated television series on Disney Junior. The educational preschool series was developed for television by Douglas Wood who created the concept and characters, and a subsequent team headed by Emmy Award-winning director Olexa Hewryk and JoJo's Circus co-creator Eric Weiner, and produced by Curious Pictures and The Baby Einstein Company.

Little Einsteins takes us on an adventure with four children: Leo, June, Annie and Quincy. Each of these four children have their own specialization, Leo loves to conduct, Annie loves to sing, Quincy loves to play instruments while June loves to dance. This show never leaves its primary focus of helping children learn to explore and introduce new concepts into their minds, though it certainly attempts to expand the viewer's curiosity.

8.    Octonauts:

The Octonauts is a British children's television series, produced by Silvergate Media for the BBC channel Cbeebies. The series is animated in Ireland by Brown Bag Films but uses British voice actors. The TV series is based on American-Canadian children's books written by Vicki Wong and Michael C. Murphy of Meomi Design Inc.

The Octonauts follows an underwater exploring crew made up of stylized anthropomorphic animals, a team of eight adventurers who live in an undersea base, the Octopod, from where they go on undersea adventures with the help of a fleet of aquatic vehicles.

9.    Micky Mouse

Mickey Mouse is a funny animal cartoon character and the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company. He was created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks at the Walt Disney Studios in 1928. An anthropomorphic mouse who typically wears red shorts, large yellow shoes, and white gloves, Mickey has become one of the most recognizable cartoon characters in the world.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, with morals and lessons teaches about helping others in a fun and energetic way.

10. Akbar and Birbal

Discovery Kids lights up the television screen with the humorous stories in its new animation series Akbar & Birbal. The tales of famous Emperor Akbar and his trusted adviser Birbal have been passed on from generation to generation, enthralling young and old listeners alike. The series will take its viewers to the era of Mughals where they will witness amusing exchanges between Akbar and Birbal. Discovery Kids will offer children an experience to cherish for a lifetime.

Doing a bit on the Occasion at least

                             Elder say, in the morning, firstly see Green Trees,

                             Open the window to feel the breeze..

                             To soothe your eyes, To soothe your mind.

                             Walk with bare foot on the green grass,

                             Smell some flowers before you rush to do your routine tasks.

                             But now, what surround us?

                             Broken bottles, broken pieces of glass,

                             Pieces of burnt cigarettes and polythene on the grass

                             Jungle of trees lost its true implication,

                             Jungle of concrete is the new connotation    

                             Woods are mostly gone, who give you clean air to breathe

                             All healthy trees are gone because of greed…

                             Inorganics are sprayed on your food,

                             Dry air play with your mood...

                             There still many things to do,

                             But do you really care with the things around you?

                             It’s the time to usher

                             To get a toxic free future

                             Otherwise, when the last tree is cut,

                             You will realize that money can’t save your earth.

Happy Environment Day!!!!

Post your Farewell Saree pic to Mirraw and win fabulous prizes

Remember borrowing that ‪#‎saree from your mom? Exactly! Here's your chance to relive that moment. Simply post your ‪#‎Farewellsaree pic onhttp://bit.ly/1Kc3eYQ & WIN a 1k voucher!!

“I have always worn a saree when I want to put my best foot forward. The elegance, grace and sex appeal that the sari has to offer is unparalleled.” What Mandira Bedi thinks.

I am sure, most of us think in the similar way too. May be you love wearing gown in some special occasions, dresses in outings or skirts in office, but I think, most of you will agree that Saree has the ‘Wow’ factor, no matter if you wear or not wear regularly. Western culture is engulfing, lifestyle is changing, but ask any woman, at least 90% crowd will answer “Saree” as their favourite attire.

Yes, Saree is one of the most beautiful garments ever created. Does not matter, if you are thin or fat, tall or short, or of black or white complexion, even a simple sari can make you look spectacular depending on how you drap it and carry off.

While most women dress up in sarees for auspicious occasions like weddings, sangeet ceremonies, puja etc., many young women love to wear sarees for other parties or formal occasions like farewell party at school or college, first day and last day in office etc. Again, while there are so many options available to wear in the wedding or puja, it is a little tricky to decide what Saree to wear for a Farewell party or Freshmen Social. Most of the time, along with excitement, we are stuck with the anxiety to pick the right one.  

My office farewells, I had enough in my wardrobe to choose from. But, I still remember, during my college farewell, how I had managed to grab my mom’s blouse and saree. Luckily, my mom hand-stitched her blouse to make a perfect fit for me. 

You too must be having similar experience like me. Why don’t you share your farewell pic with www.mirraw.com, and win fabulous prizes!!! Yes, Mirraw.com is conducting a farewell saree contest in which people will have to upload their pics in sarees taken on their farewell day. The theme is nostalgia as it will remind someone of the good old college or school days. 

Don’t miss the chance, flip your album pages and post the same right away!!!

How to apply ?

The contestant has to simply upload the #Farewellsaree picture on to Mirraw's FB page http://bit.ly/1Kc3eYQ 

Based on the votes, Winners will be decided and announced on 8th June (Monday) 1st prize would be Rs. 1k voucher & the rest 4 winners will get 500 rupee voucher.

The contest is live from Today till Sunday (7th June) 11:59pm.

Ten Reasons to love Bangalore

1.    Good Weather: Pensioner’s paradise’, ‘Garden City’, ‘AC City’ - Though so many pet names Bangalore has, global warming has already build a good relationship with the city to fade away the above referred names. But, still you can be without AC : a small satisfaction towards contributing to the environment at least.... most of the time you need a light blanket to sleep at night throughout the year….lovely breeze touch you even under the scorching sun in the summer, you get an option to have Pakodas and Tea with a cup of Garam Chai even in the Summer too... 

  ‘

2.    Flowers in Spring : While Holi, the festival of colours marks the onset of Spring, colour splendour hits the streets of Bangalore too… An absolute treasure to watch.

3.    Enjoy Radio while stuck in traffic jam

4.    Read books while travelling in Bus : Ubiquitous Red Volvo service with sparse passenger density gives ample space inside to hold a book and increase your knowledge horizon

Courtesy : Google Image

5.    Watch frequently organised Rock/ Pop programs

Courtesy: Partho Baruah through Epica

6.    Plan for frequent outings in the outskirts like Bannerghata National Park, Wonderla, Innovative film city, Mysore, Ooty etc.

7.    Have a quick Tiffin (brunch or lunch) in clean Corner/ roadside Fast Food eateries

8.    Mind refreshing Filter coffee easily available in every nook & corner

9.    Play Badminton or soccer in large no of indoor and outdoor sporting facilities like Power Play, EKam Sports Arena, Gurukul Sports Complex etc.

10.  Plan for a start up, attend start up events frequently, be an Entrepreneur.

At Next Big What

Ten Reasons to love Delhi

1.     Wonderful Markets with Variety of stuff, with reasonable price at Dilli hut, Laajpat Nagar, Sarojani Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Janpath, Palika Bazaar, Atta Market…list goes on....

2.     Dildaar guys to make friendship. Most of the time, anyone is ready to help you any time, even in the midnight if they are close to your heart.  

3.      Places to hang out : New Friends Colony, Khan Market, GK M block, India Gate or Surajkund to name a few.

4.    Places to take your guests : Humayun Tomb, Qutub Minar, Lodhi Garden, Akshar Dham, India Gate, Lotus Temple, Birla Temple, Dilli Hut.

5.     Food for foodies : Grab delicious parantha at Paranthewali gali of old Delhi, scrumptious corn at road side stalls, ice cream at India Gate, chat and paani puri in any market,  regional dishes at Bhawans like Andhra Bhawan, Assam Bhawan, Orissa Bhawan etc.

6.     Drive few kilometers from NCR on the highways to any direction and have the taste of pure Lassi and delicious Punjabi food at chain of Dhabas.

7.       Take the warmth of bonfire in winter: Extreme winter.

8.      Learn some Gaalis to relax : Gaalis help one unwind from tensions, angers….This is a one stop place for all lovely Gaalies like English, Haryanvi, Punjabi, Assamese, Bihari……whats not!!!

9.      Start new business apart from your job : Work as full timer in some corporate, but at the same time, plan some business for extra income.

Courtesy : Google

10.   Start loving antique pieces : Buy antique pieces from various antique shops, may be the from Lajpat Nagar, Janpath or Cannaught Place and decorate your home corners like Mughals or Lodhis.