Knick n knack

Instagram Reels: How to Use Them for Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 08:53:00 +0000

Instagram Reels are a great way to market the brand, product, or service. Here are some ways to use Instagram Reels for marketing:

· Showcase product: Create short, engaging videos showcasing the product's features and benefits

· Share customer testimonials: Encourage satisfied customers to share their experiences with the brand

· Give Industry Insights: Share helpful tutorials, tips, and hacks related to the industry

· Give a sneak peek: Give the audience a behind-the-scenes look at new products, services, or events

· Utilize hashtags: Use relevant hashtags to increase the Reels' visibility and reach a broader audience

· Collaborate with influencers: Partner with influencers in the brand’s niche to expand reach

· Run contests and giveaways: Host contests and giveaways to engage with the audience and increase brand awareness

· Utilize Instagram's shopping feature: Tag products in the Reels to enable customers to purchase from the brand directly

· Share user-generated content: Encourage the audience to share the reels featuring the brand, and re-share them on the business’s social media pages

· Follow Trends: Check for trends and create content following them. This will enhance engagement and followers

· Monitor Analytics: Keep track of the Reels' performance using Instagram Insights and adjust strategy accordingly

Remember, the key to successful Instagram Reels marketing is to create engaging, high-quality content that resonates with the target audience

Image Optimization in SEO: How to Rank Higher with Images

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 11:50:00 +0000

What is Image Optimization?

Image Optimization in SEO involves practices to ensure that images on the website are both visually
appealing and attract traffic on the website. They are optimized to improve their search engine ranking, visibility, and loading speed.

It involves reducing the file size of images without compromising their quality, adding relevant keywords and metadata, and ensuring that images are displayed in a way that is user-friendly and accessible.

Optimized images can improve page load times, enhance user experience, and contribute to better search engine visibility.

Benefits of Image Optimization

Improved Page Load Speed: Faster loading times improve user experience and reduce bounce rates.
Better User Experience: High-quality, fast-loading images make the website more engaging.
Enhanced SEO: Optimized images can rank in image search results and contribute to overall page SEO.
Key Aspects of Image Optimization
The ready reckoner for how Image Optimization can be done on the website:

1. Choosing the Right File Format
JPEG: Best for photographs and images with many colors.
PNG: Ideal for images that require transparency.
GIF: Suitable for simple graphics with limited colors and for animations.

2. Image Compression

Compressing images reduces file size without significantly compromising quality. This helps in faster page load times, crucial for user experience and SEO.

Tools: TinyPNG, JPEG Optimizer, and ImageOptim.

3. Descriptive File Names

Using descriptive, keyword-rich file names helps search engines understand the content of the image. For example, instead of IMG_1234.jpg, use golden-retriever-puppy.jpg.

4. Alt Text (Alternative Text)

Alt text provides a text alternative to images when they cannot be displayed. It is also used by screen readers for accessibility and helps search engines understand the image content.

Example: <img src="golden-retriever-puppy.jpg" alt="Golden Retriever puppy playing in the grass">

5. Image Sitemaps

Including images in an XML sitemap helps search engines discover and index images on your site.

6. Responsive Images

Using responsive images ensures they display correctly on various devices and screen sizes. HTML5's srcset attribute can be used to specify different image versions for different screen resolutions.

7. Lazy Loading

Lazy loading delays loading images until they are in or near the viewport. This improves page load speed, which can positively impact SEO.

8. Image Dimensions

Specify image dimensions to reduce page layout shifts as the page loads. This also helps browsers allocate space while loading the images.

9. Structured Data

Use structured data (schema markup) to provide additional information about images, enhancing search engines' understanding.

10. Captions and Context

Adding captions and placing images near relevant text can help search engines understand the context of the images.

By implementing these practices, the visibility and performance of images on search engine results can significantly increase, contributing to overall SEO for the website

Resources

Moz on Image Optimization: https://moz.com/learn/seo/image-seo
Google's Guide to Image SEO: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/google-images

Yoast on Image SEO: https://yoast.com/image-seo/

Long-Tail Keywords: Unlocking Hidden SEO Potential

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 09:53:00 +0000

What are Long-Tail Keywords?

Long-tail keywords in SEO are search phrases comprising three to five words. These keywords allow to target niche demographics. These keywords have high conversion rates, low search volume, and are searched by audiences with strong intent to act. These are different from one or two-worded keywords, which are called Short-tail keywords and are generic.

For example

Running shoes - This short-tail keyword will produce generic results when searched on Google.

Puma running shoes budget friendly - This is a long-tail keyword that is highly targeted. It will produce the result only for affordable Puma shoes.

Benefits of using long-tail keywords in SEO

Long-tail keywords are easier to rank for and have high conversion rates. When a consumer searches by using long phrases, it depicts the clarity of intent and helps to create targeted content with clear CTAs.

As per Backlinko’s Analysis of 306 million keywords, 91.8% of all search queries are long-tail keywords. (Reference: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/keyword-research/long-tail-keywords/)

(1) Less Competition

Long tail keywords are business-specific and highly targeted phrases, as a result, the search volume is low. They are less commonly searched than short tail keywords, making it easier to rank in Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs).

(2) High Conversion Rates

Long tail keywords have more specific search intent; hence the chances of conversion are higher. Using long-tail keywords in SEO strategy will get high-quality leads in the sales funnel, which can be nurtured with content marketing efforts and converted.

(3) Enables optimization for Semantic, Conversational & Voice Search

Long tail keywords play a key role in optimizing for semantic search. These days many users use voice search daily. These searches are long tail phrases such as questions or phrases and search with focussed intent. Long tail keywords align well with the way people speak, making them imperative for voice search.

(4) Enhanced Content Strategy

Using long-tail keywords encourages creating targeted content that resonates with specific audiences. These keywords can guide content creation strategy.

Learn more on Optimizing Images in SEO

How to Research Long-Tail Keywords

Here are some tools and techniques for finding long-tail keywords:

Tools

Google Keyword Planner (free): A popular tool for finding long-tail keywords.

Ahrefs (paid): Offers a comprehensive keyword research tool.
SEMrush (paid): Provides a keyword magic tool for finding long-tail keywords.
Moz Keyword Explorer (paid): A tool for finding and prioritizing long-tail keywords.
Long Tail Pro (paid): A tool specifically designed for finding long-tail keywords.
Keyword Tool (free): A tool that generates long-tail keywords based on a seed keyword.
Ubersuggest (free): A tool that provides long-tail keyword suggestions.
Google Trends (free): Helps identify trending long-tail keywords.
Google Autosuggest (free): Provides long-tail keyword suggestions as you type.
AnswerThePublic (free): A tool that generates long-tail keywords based on questions.
Google Search Console: Provides data on the actual search queries that bring traffic to your site.
KeywordTool.io: Generates long-tail keyword suggestions based on various search engines like Google, YouTube, Bing, and Amazon.

Techniques

By combining these tools and techniques, you can find relevant long-tail keywords that will help improve your SEO and content marketing efforts.

Brainstorming: Think about niche and related topics, understand your target audience, determine trends, and dive deeper into understanding intent
Google search: Use Google to find related long-tail keywords
Competitor analysis: Analyze competitors' websites and content
Keyword research: Use tools to find long-tail keywords related to niche
Survey and polls: Ask the audience about their interests and needs
Social media listening: Monitor social media conversations related to niche
Forum and discussion boards: Participate in forums and discussion boards related to niche
Customer feedback: Analyze customer feedback and reviews
Product reviews: Research product reviews and ratings
Analytics tools: Analyze the website's analytics data to find long-tail keywords

Optimizing Content for Long-Tail Keywords

Optimizing content for long-tail keywords involves strategically incorporating them into content to improve search engine rankings and relevance. Here's how to do it:

Keyword Research - Research and decide the relevant long-tail keywords using tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush.
Content Creation – Write high-quality content that entails long-tail keywords. The content should be engaging and lead to desired action. It can be a mix of video, text, images, and infographics. It is important to note that keywords should be used in the context of the content and avoid overstuffing of keywords.
Keyword Placement – While placing the keywords in the content, include the title tag. Include the primary long-tail keywords in the title tags. Use keywords in the meta tag and heading (H1, H2, H3, etc.). Also, the images should be optimized by using keywords in image file names, alt tags, and descriptions.
Content Optimization – Aim for a keyword density of 0.5 to 1.5%. For placing the keywords in different contexts, use related synonyms and variations to avoid repetition. There should be contextual relevance and keywords must be used in context and make sense to readers.
Content Quality – Stuffing content with keywords will not help. The content should be engaging, informative, and valuable to readers. The piece should be well-researched. Use the list of credible sources to create trust. Avoid duplicate or plagiarized content
Content Format – Apart from creating quality content, the content format plays an important role in the optimization of content. Use a mix of blog posts, articles, product descriptions, and other formats as per the business domain.
Content Promotion: After creating high-quality content, it is imperative to promote it and get engagement. Share the content on social media platforms, build high-quality backlinks to content, and share content with email list.

By following these steps, the content will be effectively optimized for long-tail keywords, improving search engine rankings and driving more targeted traffic to the business website.

Common Mistakes and Pitfalls

While optimizing content, the following mistakes should be avoided:

Over-Optimization of Content: Avoid over-optimization of content with keyword stuffing. Using too many long-tail keywords in a single piece of content leads to keyword stuffing.
Irrelevant Keywords: Avoid targeting keywords that aren’t relevant to content or audience.
Low search volume: Targeting keywords with extremely low search volume, making it difficult to drive significant traffic.
Not using variations: Only using exact match keywords and not incorporating variations, synonyms, or related phrases.
Not considering search intent: Targeting keywords without considering the search intent behind them (informational, navigational, transactional).
Not using long-tail keywords in context: Using keywords in an unnatural or forced way, rather than incorporating them naturally into content.
Not optimizing for user experience: Prioritizing keywords over user experience, leading to poor content quality and readability.
Not regularly updating and refining keywords: Failing to regularly review and update keywords to reflect changes in search trends and audience needs.
Not using tools and data: Not leveraging tools and data to inform keyword research and optimization decisions.
Overemphasizing keyword density: Focusing too much on keyword density rather than content quality and relevance.
Not considering keyword cannibalization: Targeting multiple pages on your website for the same long-tail keyword leads to cannibalization of search engine rankings.

The best way to utilize the long-tail keywords is in conjunction with other SEO strategies and continuously monitoring and refining the targeting of keywords. Long-tail keywords if utilized effectively can become a strong pillar in the organic growth of the business website, thus enhancing the quality of the sales funnel.

Six Christmas Movies to watch on Netflix

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 09:29:00 +0000

Christmas is around the corner, and it's the time of the year when you slow down, holiday, relax, and enjoy the family's festivities. Lights, decorations, hot chocolates, Christmas Tree, brings in the feeling of warmth and joy of Christmas. Pandemic has restricted us from being in our homes, yet no one stops us from enjoying being 'Christmasy'.

It cannot get better if you do not watch Christmas movies with your family. ' Netflix brings you a series of Christmas movies which you can watch with family, relax and enjoy at the same time.

1. Christmas made to order

2. Christmas Inheritance

3. A California Christmas

4. Christmas Wonderland

5. My Christmas Inn

6 Christmas with a View

These movies will make you feel happy about your surroundings, value your relationships, and most importantly, will leave you with a thought to learn to be happy in little things of life.

Adult Coloring: A way to relax and rejuvenate!

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 10:45:00 +0000

Away from all the chaos and hullabaloo of our lifestyles, we all want something to look forward to relaxing, rejuvenate and calm down ourselves. One of the most interesting techniques that I have found to relax is coloring. It takes me to my childhood memories where I was free to paint my world of imagination.

Adult Coloring books give you such escape, making you traverse into your sphere of creativity, happiness and gives you the freedom to paint and explore the hues and tones of your likings.


Dreamland Rejuvenate Yourself - Colouring Book for Adults (Nature)

This one is based on 'Nature' and contains abstracts. A few patterns in this book which I have colored:

This was my very first one through which I expressed myself with colors. Here, the colors are dark and in polychrome.

This one was much more complex than the earlier one. I tried to color the peacock with a set of the family of colors and create a sense of harmony in the picture.

This picture is close to my heart, as I tried my hands in creating shades and tones of similar colors. It is a mix of shades, hues, and tones, trying to take it to more close to life.

In this pattern, again I tried to use similar color palette and making it look more interesting with the help of shades and tones.

To color such designs, one must invest in good quality color sets and sketch pens.


My happiness set!

I ordered all these online and within no time I could mix and match my color palette.

This activity encourages you to express yourself through colors and find tranquility and ease which we miss in the hustle-bustle of our life!

Courtesy:
Colour Pencil Box 1: Yalong Color Sets
Colour Pencil Box 2: Color'peps color sets
Sketch Pens: Wish Wing Color Pens
Colour Book: Dreamland Rejuvenate Yourself

#HappyColoring

7 things to do while on Maternity Leave before baby arrives

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 10:40:00 +0000

So, you have availed your maternity leave 15 or 20 days or maybe a month before your EDD and you are at home waiting for your little bub to arrive. The wait will be over and these days will be, so my advise will be to enjoy, relax and make as much as you can of this well deserved leave. Here is how you can spend your days in the most effective ways:

1. Maintain Routine
Try and maintain the same routine as you were while going to the office. This would give you a sense of achievement and satisfaction that you are active and not lazing around the whole day. Also, it will keep you physically and mentally active. You will be free to do anything you wish to in between your 9 to 5 hours, while you know your colleagues are working in the office (wink).

2.Pursue a hobby
Try and pursue a hobby that you could not because of your busy schedule. Be it reading or writing or cooking or listening to music or watching movies, go ahead and do it right away, as you won't get any time after a few days!

3. Walking & Deep Breathing
Since you are in your final days of pregnancy, staying active is of utmost importance. Make sure you walk at least 30 minutes every morning and evening. It will help you to keep your vitals in place and is a healthy practice for baby's growth. You can combine this with Deep Breathing for atleast 15 minutes. This will help provide oxygen to your tiny one inside.

4. Take Rest
Make sure you take sound sleep which will not only help to up your mood but also your baby's growth. As the days will pass, sleep in the night will be less sound and you have to make up for this. Make it a habit to sleep in the afternoon after taking lunch.

5. Educate yourself
This is the best time to learn and educate yourself. You are free and on paid leave, so you can make the most of this time. Read books, watch videos about anything that interests you be it politics, history, or parenting. However, parenting is something which most of us would learn on the go and no amount of learning will be helpful.

6. Have fun
Go out on dinner dates with your loved ones and enjoy this phase of pregnancy. This is the time to bond and plan for the life ahead! You can also start preparing for your little one's arrival. Trust me, shopping for your newborn is an overwhelming experience. Do not leave it for others to do!

7. Pray
Praying is powerful. Pray every night before going to sleep. It will help to create a positive aura around yourself and your baby.

Every #pregnancy is different and every mommy experience is different. Wishing all the new mommies and to-be-mommies all the very best for their experience, wait and patience!

Hope we all enjoy #healthypregnancy

Come & lighten my life!

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 07:13:00 +0000

I don't know how you will look like,
I don't know how it will feel like,
I am blank and in wait,
For you to come & lighten my life!

Your feel, your touch,
your smile, your love,
your look, your snuggles,
your warmth, your muffles,
I know that you are taking your time
I am waiting for you to come & lighten my life!

All I want is to pamper & love you,
To protect & grow you,
To take you in my arms & feel the smell of your breath,
To hold those tiny hands with inkling little touch,
Amidst my crazy days & long nights,
I want to live your cries and smiles!

My reflection, my mirror you will be,
My love & cuddles you will be!
I know this journey will be new but dime,
Darling, mum is waiting for you to come and lighten her life!

*a heartfelt letter to my lil bub who is yet to arrive in this crazy world!

Book Review: Dylan's Cosydoze

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 09:39:00 +0000

Dylan's Cosydoze by Elsa Joseph

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This illustrated children’s book by Elsa Joseph has a simple, beautiful, and relatable story. Every parent and kids can relate to Dylan as a kid, the way he sulks when his favorite Cozydose goes missing. Less of a story and more of a narration of an incident, these 31 pager is enjoyable and heart-warming read.

The narration is a simple rhythmic style and easy to understand by the young readers. The story is accompanied by illustrations for further ease in comprehension and help them to dive in their world of colourful imagination.

The book also touches the importance of parenting and needs to inculcate good habits and mannerisms in young kids. For children, the book is a pleasant read while for parents, it also subtly teaches a valuable lesson.

View all my reviews

Book Review: Saving Forest Farm

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 07:41:00 +0000

Saving Forest Farm by Jack Purser

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Saving Forest Farm is a children’s book touching on the topic which needs the highest attention in the current times, i.e. saving environment. The story is set in a jungle where the inhabitants are eagerly waiting for the rains to come. As the title suggests, the rain would save the ‘forest farm,’ which has animals thirsty and longing for rain as mother nature is on vacation. They rely on a turtle who has magical powers to bring rain.

The book very subtly explains the children the need and importance of rains for mother earth. It is not only crucial for human beings but also for innocent animals in our forests that require rains for survival. The book has one-pager illustrations which support the narration and maintains the interest of the kids till the end.

All in all, a good read!

View all my reviews

Book Review: Little Bit Big Byte, Go Green

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Sun, 03 Mar 2019 09:31:00 +0000

Little Bit Big Byte, Go Green by Craig Feigh

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The new book by Craig T. Feigh is a fresh addition in the ‘Little Bit & Big Byte’ series and this time with a relevant and an important message which is imperative for children of today’s day and age to understand.

The book opens with an innocent pictorial riddle, asking the reader to find the recycle logo and then moves onto weave a story around the importance of environment and energy conservation by saving our natural resources.

The author takes examples from the real-life scenarios and immediately provides the ways by which one can contribute towards saving the environment while doing the daily chores. ‘Go Green’, very effectively captures the imagination of a child and help him/her connect the cause with the impact.

The language is conversational, and the characters are relatable. A short 33-page story is beautifully illustrated read with attractive colors and nice-looking characters. The illustrator, ‘Patrick Carlson’, has done a commendable job in creating eye-catching sketches and complementing them with his startling color palette. The illustrations are the backbone of the story and keep the reader hooked and looking out for more.

It’s an excellent read not only for the kids but also for the adults, which very effectively first instill the importance of saving the planet and then lists down the ways in which one can contribute.

The book ends with an uncolored sketch of the characters to kindle the creative side of the reader and gives them an opportunity to paint their world of imagination.

View all my reviews

Book Review - The Rainbow Crystal

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 18:19:00 +0000

Rainbow Crystal: A Children's Fantasy Book by Samantha Caprio-Negret

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rainbow Crystal narrates a journey of a 10-year-old girl, Sepharina, and her expedition with good, bad, and evils of the world. The 22-chapter book is weaved around the message of spreading peace, and love. Two young school girls are destined to change the world, not on this earth, but within a rainbow, where a magical world exists.

The book opens with a tragic incident, wherein Sepharina loses her best friend, her soul sister to an accident. The story then beautifully flows between a series of present and past events describing how Sepharina gets emotional for her lost friend, Josie Lee on the one hand, and on the other, explains how she becomes the ‘chosen one,’ to save the rainbow world of Raiven and Earth.

The narration and description of the minutest details make the reader imagine the world beyond reality, which is magical and mesmerizing at the same time. The author through the descriptive narration will take the children into the world which is filled with gorgeous colors, mysterious creatures, and picturesque sceneries of an imaginary world inside the rainbow where live fairies, elves, unicorn, and a witch.

The way messages are conceived and conveyed are strong and effectively strikes the chord. When Queen Ivy explains the map of Raiven, she tells it through a colorful map. For children to understand and learn, the author uses the color theory to help children understand the association between colors and messages it conveys.

All in all, it is a good read for children above ten years of age, who understand the dialogue, can imagine, and most importantly comprehend the message!

View all my reviews

The Love Story!

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 16:32:00 +0000

It was a usual summer morning, but for the passing out batch of St. George School, it is a time when they had to bid goodbye to their childhood friends and safe mushy environment of the school. Outside the world is cruel and competitive; this is what Riya learned from her friends. Riya was a polite young girl, with dreams to make it big in the real world. In her thoughts of parting from Madhav, little she knew of the day ahead.

Half an hour to eleven, and principal Mr. Anthony addressed the class 12^th students with mixed emotions. Madhav was standing with his friends; friend zoned while eyeing on Riya secretly. He loved her but was scared to express. All his friends knew about his liking for Riya and used to tease him.

Riya, on the other hand, loved him secretly and was smart enough to let anyone knew. She used to find ways to talk to him, but Madhav was always surrounded with his friends, wanna be girlfriends and so-called sisters, which made her feel uncomfortable and unwanted.

It is the last day today, and I must express, else she will be lost, thought Madhav. Scared of the rejection, he gathered the courage to talk to her. With raised heartbeats, sweat on the forehead and fear of ‘no’ he reached out to her. Standing amongst her friends, Riya knew he was coming to say those beautiful words which she was dying to hear.

It is the last day; I must not let him go. I can’t lose him to the world, Riya thought while smiling. With that, she feared the big bad world outside.

‘Riya’, he said. She turned, and it was him! Madhav! Her world, everything she ever wanted, everything she ever wanted to hear is there! Right there! Riya could not control her smile and look in his eyes.

“Riya, ever since the day I looked at you, it is only you about whom I have ever thought. My friends say that I am crazy. Yes, I am..iam crazy for you…for your love. Riya, would you be my valentine forever and ever!” expressed Madhav.

Riya was numb, her heart was pounding, she smiled which she wanted to hide from the world. They both were standing looking at each other, while others gazing and watching. She wanted to say, ‘I love you Madhav’, but was too scared to get into any relationship. She scared the world, she scared her so-called useless friends, she scared people talking, she scared his friends, she scared her parents, she was scared!

She was quiet and allowed the moment to let by. Inside, she was crying, she was dying, her heart as aching, his heart was aching. Life is going to change; their worlds were going to change. Life would be bitter and bad, the thoughts were making her crazy.

She had no answer to what he was saying, she was still, while world was moving around her, giggling, making fun, laughing and talking. He was hopeless, looking into her eyes, for a cue for an answer, which he was unable to find. Heartbroken, he decided to let it go. He passed her and suddenly felt the softness of her hand and fingers mingling with his.

‘Where are you going Madhav, won’t you take me along’, she whispered. ‘Riya, wow!...what you just said, is it a yes, is it a yes!?! He was jumping with joy and excitement. ‘Yes, Madhav, it is a yes’!, she confirmed.

‘Is it? Is It? I can’t believe my ears!’, hopping with joy and unable to understand how to express.

With tears and smile, Riya hugged him while others watched. Their worlds came together, stars aligned and conneced them till infinity.

It was the end of their school and start of a beautiful life ahead. Together they fought the entire big dangerous world, keeping the love and innocence of their pure childhood love intact.

Struggling through PCOS

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 15:07:00 +0000

It starts with a missed period and anticipation that you are pregnant!

Days pass and you come disappointed out of the washroom with negative test in hand to people waiting in anticipation of a double line on that device. Apart from dealing with your disappointments, worries, anxiety and sadness, yes all mixed up in mind, you have to put up a brave face, as if nothing has happened. Deep inside you are just gloomy!

Next start trips to gynacs! Finding a good one is a task. Meddling through the countless advice, comments and suggestions, you zero down on one, hoping that she would be a solution to all your questions.

Gynac trips are not always the pleasant ones! Especially when you are a PCOS patient (well, no gynac will tell you this, except you spending countless nights googling your symptoms and zeroing down the name of your problems!) Yes, there are many self help groups and articles on internet for PCOS, but none will provide a solution.

They will put you through numerous tests, some of it might make sense and some not! But initially, you will go through all with a pleassant smile, aleast for others!

PCOS or PCOD is a lifestyle problem. Stress, pressures, anxieties all combined are the root cause of this modern day disease! Most of the docs will say to have a healthy lifestyle, go for evening walks, have a healthy diet etc. Well frankly speaking, its easier said than done!

To tell you my story, I am a PCOS patient since last 5 years. Have had numerous hormone medicines which did crazy things to my moods, and body. Having such medicines day in and day out is nothing more than torturing yourself.

Along with this, that endless wait for periods! Its crazy!..for all those who do not suffer from it understand... Life is not easy. A girl might look healthy on the face, with that beautiful smile, but inside she is fighting a different war..physically and emotionally!

You don't know what she is suffering from...it might be heavy bloating (making her feel ugly while she is sitting with her colleagues), mood swings, hair loss (seeing those beautiful tresses going the down the drain is extremely painful), hunger pangs, unexpected hair growth on different parts of body, the list can be endless.

I appeal to all the friends, and relatives to be supportive and not ask/comment unnecessarily. We all know that this might cause problem while conceiving, but that's not the end of the road. She is as complete a woman as her counterparts are!

Please be empathetic and respect! Show support and keep reminding her that she is beautiful and strong!

Book Review: Children's book: A Fun Day at the Countryside

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 08:56:00 +0000

Children's book: A Fun Day at the Countryside by N.S. Esther

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A cute tale of friends going for a picnic in the countryside. The story of little boys and girls who love playing around with water, running behind butterflies and looking at colors of nature fondly.

It is more like a slice of life fairy tale which will make your kids dive into an imaginary world. Will force them to create colors and scenarios in their minds.

It starts like a normal story then take a prose route for some time. The book is full of bright colors and angelic faces. All in all a good pass time read. Ideal as a night time read for a feel-good factor!

View all my reviews

Book Review: Dog's Advice

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Thu, 31 Jan 2019 16:44:00 +0000

Dog's Advice by Sean Stroud

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This children book by Sean Stroud is an ideal read not only for kids but also for adults of all ages. The book is fascinating with pictorial representations and prose form of storytelling. It successfully generates and maintains interest till the end.

Dog's Advice, very quietly and humbly makes the reader understand the importance of doing good to others. Something which as adults we all know and teach to our kids, but somehow in our daily lives miss doing it precisely the way it should be done! This 54 pager read very accurately reinforces the power of doing good in our minds, in a straightforward and understandable manner. No complexities, no beating around the bush, just straight to the point!

Interest to understand how Kaleb will get on his foot and the identity of the old man is maintained till the last page.

'Don't follow this crowd, you are sure to fail. You be the light, so good can prevail' – motivation for the kids to think out of the box and not to follow the herd blindly.

'Your environment needn't dictate the person you become' - such a powerful lesson explained so seamlessly.

Another beauty of the read is the vocabulary it adds into the child's kitty. The book is a perfect mix of good read, language, and life lessons along with an interesting and eye-catching narrative.

Kids are surely going to love the book, and adults too!

View all my reviews

Book Review: Little Bit and Big Byte: A Day at the Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 17:12:00 +0000

Little Bit & Big Byte: A Day at the Beach by Craig T. Feigh

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This Children's Book unlike others in the same genre belongs to 'today', the new world. The fairy tales and supermans are a passe and capture the fantasy of kids, but this one tweaks the real things into imagination plus makes them learn on the go!

The world inside computers, the names of characters, their descriptions are all so relatable for the kids. Somethings which they listen and see day in and day out. All characters are described to make kids learn about their features and uses.

Parents can very well use this book to impart the basic knowledge of the technology. This book very cautiously and carefully creates and places itself in this new genre of Children Book/Literature. The story is basic but weaves the imagination without making it feel awkward to relate to the real world.

As an adult, I loved reading it and would definitely recommend!

View all my reviews

Things to do when nobody supports

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 11:54:00 +0000

In life, there would come many moments when you will feel low and inferior. When people would look down on you. When you will feel out of place and left out even amongst your own friends and family, that is the time of struggle, the time to stand up and dust yourself off after life throws you down. Though it is easier said than done, but that is what the need of the hour would be.

Though everybody has their own ways of handling things, a few tips might help you see the light at the end of the tunnel.

1. Choose not to react
People will throw a lot of uncanny comments on you, sarcasm and actions. You might feel they have ganged up against you. The only way to show them your worth is by not reacting to their low life actions.

2. Concentrate on yourself
Don't keep on pondering on what others are thinking about you and your actions. Concentrate on yourself, your work and your life. Focus on how to improve things for yourself.

3. Stay Calm
Life is throwing its worst phases at you. It is harsh and cruel. You want to cry yourself out, and vent it out. Accept it and try to stay calm. A calm mind always finds best of solutions. Take the help of somebody whom you trust when nobody is with you. Discuss the matters which trouble you and keep your cool. Sometimes its best to go with the flow.

4. Let it pass
Let the phase pass. The best way to solve which seems impossible is to let it pass. Time is the best healer. Think and solve your problems the way you want to. Always remember - there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. There is always sunshine after the dark gloomy night. Things get better one day or the other. Think of solutions - best advise is to implement on the right time.

5. Pamper yourself & show it off
Yes! it is something which might show you as snobby, but sometimes the best revenge is to stay happy. Your happiness and your comfort in the conditions will put the envious people off and they will shut themselves off.

Always believe in yourself. You are brave and confident. This is your life and nobody has control over it. Don't allow yourself to get used and exploited. The only difference is how you choose to react to the situation or towards people.

Remember you can't change them, you can just change the way you react!

Sweet memories from 90s!

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 07:57:00 +0000

Lets confess, we all loved those colourful sweet balls called toffees and candies. Every kid's prized possession, one look at them now will take you to back down the memory lane.

For those born in mid 80s, these toffees were permament attractions and now are the fondest memories. For people like us, they are also the symbol of simple and less complicated life back then.

Lets take some time to feel the way we used to feel back then and live a part of our childhood, a feeling so special and full of nostalgia:

Still catch on one of those!

The Dollar Bite!

A family treat after dinners

Melody hai choclaty...dekho kaisi choclaty!

our very own..white choclate!

Coffee ya Toffee!?!

Baratiyon ka swagat tto pan pasand se hoga!


The orange candies! The tranparent ones made them look so attractive Just a glimpse of these and our mind wanders through the times we used to play on streets & backlanes carefree. The days where we used to wait for evenings, where afternoon sleep was must, where playboxes were those parks in our backyards, where parents encouraged evening play activities.Those days are gone but memories still remain intact. These are not just the toffees but our childhood wrapped in colourful papers!

Postcards from Cherapunji!

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 07:45:00 +0000

Cherapunji!

One of the most beautiful places in India, the land of rainfalls, greenry and beauty. You cannot stop but falling in love with that place. Bringing you with a few postcard pictures which i clicked while traveling:

On the way to Cherapunji!

At Cherapunji

The board says it all

Nohkalikai Falls

The falls amongst the clouds

Somewhere around India Bangladesh border

The other side of border

While travelling...the stop by!

As Gustave Flaubert quoted, 'Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world!

5 essential tips to be happy!

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 11:08:00 +0000

Happiness is subjective. There will never be an ideal time or perfect scenario where you decide to be happy! For most of our lives, we keep on searching for the right timings to find happiness. We create mental scenarios of ideal time when happiness should "come to us"....after graduation, when i will land up with a good job..that will be perfect happy scenario, or after settling down (the other word for getting married) I will stay happy or when I will have a house/car of my own..those will be perfect times to stay happy!

My friends, coming from experience, i would love to pull you out of this bubble and help you face the realities of life.

THERE IS NO PERFECT TIME TO BE HAPPY! Yes...you read right, there is no perfect time!

The right time is right now! This moment...when you decide to be happy in the middle of chaos, when you decide to smile in the middle of all your problems, when you decide to let go off things that you have hung up to for so many years!

Problems are constant; life is dynamic, happiness is a choice and life is right now!

In the days when you are just following the day's routine mechanically, just stop yourself and think of how you can find happiness in little things in life. Buy that little girl on the roadside an ice-cream, to those bunch of kids some balloons, pay a visit to your grandparents, take your parents out for dinner, go for unplanned outing with friends...trust me the smiles that you will are priceless!

All you have to do is inculcate the habit of following these rules in life.

1. Stay in present

Don't plan the future, don't regret the past, everything is here and now. Today and tonight! Yesterday is gone and tomorrow has to come. What is in hand is today, so live your days and make memories with loved ones. Have fun, eat, go out for movies, listen to music, laugh, take pictures, make memories.

2. Pursue your hobbies

Start a hobby, anything whatever you like! My personal pastime is coloring! Yes... coloring adult color books. It makes me feel like a kid again, and I start to see the world as beautiful! It makes me happy. We all are busy, we all are corporate slaves, we all have bosses and nagging colleagues, but we must take out time for ourselves, for our peace of mind, for our happiness!

3. Pamper yourself

Pick up your bag and go on a shopping frenzy or get a good spa, a relaxing massage, or a rejunivating swimming session. Anything! Just go out and pamper yourself the way you want to. Feel beautiful!

4. Give yourself priority

Give yourself the well-deserved importance. Stop pleasing everybody; nobody will give you a certificate on your dying day! In your mind, you should be the most important person. Have your favorites, likes, dislikes, fav food, my kind of music, and go for it. Have it and enjoy.

5. Stay healthy

Join a gym or a yoga class or Zumba sessions or go for evening walks. Take out time and give your health some attention.

We all know this, understand its importance, what we lack is the effort to put into doing these things. Life is too short to worry, to have qualms and to get bogged down because of politics at work. Stop yourself and start to live...live again!

At the end of it all....Kal ho na ho!!

For all those in love with writing....

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Wed, 08 Aug 2018 10:18:00 +0000

While surfing through the web, we come across many posts and quotes that define writing, how some people feel peaceful while putting their feelings and emotions on paper, how writing is the only ventilation. Not many know how satisfying it feels when you pen down a beautiful poem or an essay which sums up your feelings. How gratifying it feels to explore yourself in writing.

I define my writings as – My life & learning through my rants & roaring

A few other quotes which I am sure you would love:

As Anne Lamott quoted, “Almost all good writings begin with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere".

So, if you have not given a thought...start writing..anything that you feel like...anything which comes to your mind...there is no mindless writing...just creative opportunities!

Colours on the monsoon sky...

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Sat, 14 Jul 2018 09:43:00 +0000

Was passing through and saw the most beautiful canvas of nature...Tranquility!
Couldn't resist myself from capturing it and here iam sharing with the world!

Old gold hues of setting sun painting silhouettes of rain!

God's own painting!!

I have found you!

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 18:27:00 +0000

For our love to stay young and alive

For those beautiful days and sleepless nights

For you and me and both of 'us'
I have found you!

To love you for

what you are to me,

To love you for

what you have done to me,

To feel the love

you have for me,
I have found you!

To live happy days

and see you smile,

To fulfill our dreams

and walk a mile,

I have found you!

To make you feel

how special you are,

can spend nights and days

wrapped in your arms,

I love the way you care for me

I love you with every part of me,

For i love you with every breath in me....

Coffee at CAARA!

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 10:19:00 +0000

Taking up a cozy corner of CAARA, with Cafe Latte, a hot chocolate brownie and a book/or a lapy when i feel to write....is how i love spending time on chilly December days! This is one of my favorite places where i can be myself!

A quiet cafe on the ground floor of British Council Library at Kasturba Gandhi Marg, is dream place for people like me who want to run away from bustling madness of the city and spend quality time of their own!

Unlike other normal cafes which would rather make your conversations meaningless with non stop music running in the background, the place has an unsaid rule of being calm and polite.

You won't see flocks of lovers/friends/corporate haunches here, rather genuine book lovers, art lovers, English teachers and a few expats are more to be found grabbing a corner and immersed in their works. Such is a beauty of Cafe CAARA!

For me CAARA is ambiance which it serves to me! Though it has generous space to itself, the seating is not conjusted, with ample of space to breathe.

After IHC, CAARA is my personal favorite where usually i like to visit alone...just to be with myself. Soulfully peaceful and serene!

Book Review: Dollar Bahu

noreply@blogger.com (Setu) — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 19:11:00 +0000

Author: Sudha Murty
Publisher: Penguin Books
ISBN: 978-0-14310-376-9
Pages: 142

Dollar Bahu - The title says it all! A story with foreseeable twists and turns in an Indian household, when money, to be precise Dollar becomes an important part of their lives.

A predictable tale of the way money hampers warmth in relationships and wreck lives of people involved, if the sudden riches are not handled with maturity.

Author does not elaborate on the characters, rather makes Dollar a hero and then a villain by the end of story. Indian American Dream of a lower middle class family living in Bangalore comes true when the eldest son travels to US for a company project. It is at this stage, Dollar enters in their lives and starts to change relationships only to turn sour.

The story revolves around how the eldest son of Gouramma, Chandu, manages to reach US, and through his passion, dedication and hard work creates a dream home in US for himself. Soon he becomes a favorite son as dollars sent by him pulls the family from rags to riches.

Vinuta, a simple girl from small town of Karnataka, marries Girish, second son of Gouramma, and moves into live with her new family. Living through the ways of her new life and adjusting to the tunes of her greedy mother-in-law, Vinuta is put to constant comparisons with Jamuna,Chandu's wife and the Dollar Bahu!

Blinded by the shine of Dollar, Gouramma and her daughter, Surabhi treats Vinuta in worst of ways during her pregnancy and send her off at her native place for the delivery. Vinuta takes all the nasty comments and insults quietly in her stride and removes herself from the scene. The unfair comparisons goes on till Gouramma gets the chance to visit US for delivery of Jamuna and closely witness the American way of life.

She learns that while Dollar can earn you easy life, a life full of liberation and privacy but at the same time loneliness and homelessness. She realizes that dollars cannot buy love and respect which she gets at her place in India. She wishes to go back to her home in Bangalore and Vinuta, but by the time she reaches home, it gets too late.

Its only the end of story which is less predictable and more practical. Characters in the story are simple and easy to judge. Author do not focus on their private lives, rather demonstrates the incidents and behaviors of family members as a whole and towards each other. Circumstances and reactions to incidents constitutes this story. By the end, it becomes a short collection of experiences of Indians living in America, narrating their good and bad experiences of living in land away from home.

One can finish it in one go. All in all, it is a pleasant one time read.