Book Review - The Ladies Compartment

 Hello readers!

Sorry for being MIA for a long time..work was a little taxing these last few days.

Anyways,coming back..bought the e-book The Ladies Compartment this week.Penned by Parminder Kaur Sharma,it revolves around the lives of 5 women Vaidehi,Tarini,Bhavya,Ramma and Bhaumi.Ordinary women,extraordinary fights.Their stories encompass the struggles many women face unknown to the world.The stories are seen through the eyes of the ladies compartment they travel in every day hence the name.How they discover their power and their true purposes and break the social norms that try to clip their dreams is what this book is all about.

Overall,an okayish enjoying read for short  stories lovers.There is one thing though that actually touched my heart- The Introduction.The words actually motivate you to turn the pages.

"Har Nar Me Narayan 

Har Nari Me Lakshmi".

That's all folks!! Let me know what you are reading this week or any recommendations.Happy reading.

Birthday Ruminations !

Hi there! I love birthdays more than any other celebrations especially when it is mine..😂.

I had made a resolution to myself from the date I actually started celebrating my birthday : Cake or no cake, every year I would celebrate and enjoy this day whatever may be the circumstances and however old I may be. I will pull myself out of my bed that day and acknowledge every happiness I have been bestowed with. My close ones can vouch for this.

I learnt a lot this year, some beautiful life lessons.

• Life is not always a bed of roses. We all have our own share of ups and downs. The important point here is how you approach it.

• Do not judge people. They may be having their own troubles and asking them the same stupid questions only makes it harder for them.

• Do not fall into the "log kya kahenge" (what will society say") trap. Enjoy your days because they anyways do not have anything else in their extremely boring low life. Stay away from people who spread negativity.

• It is perfectly okay to be human and feel emotions. Do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Cry if you want to, feel happy at your own time.

• Life is not a race and it is completely okay if your wishes/goals/dreams do not match your planned timelines. Universe has its own plans , just keep up the hard work and efforts will bear fruits.

• The only thing standing between you and your goal is your will power. Running away from your obstacles will not make them disappear.

• Be grateful for all the good things you have. There are people around you in far worse situations. Reinspire yourself !

That's all folks. Here's to another year older with people who have always been there for me and never let me down!! Thank you for putting a smile to my lips every single day. Also, some shots of my lockdown birthday 😎

Love for Mangoes

 

                    

My Nani's Kheer(rice pudding)

Doi Kaatla(Fish made with curd)-My favourite

Clicking photos to remember this day

Me being me!!

Anger or forgiveness - Which one do you pick?

"The best revenge is to be unlike him who performed the injury" - Marcus Aurelius

Anger, a very important emotion felt by every single one of us. Anyone who says he/she has never felt anger is definitely delusional. There is nothing to be guilty about, people around you will hurt you and anger is a very natural emotion to be felt during those times. In fact, emotions are what make us human. 

The only point to be kept in mind here is to not let the emotion get the better of you. Anger gives birth to some very wrong actions which you will regret later. Being angry is easier, I know. You want to teach them a lesson but then the cycle keeps repeating. They hurt you, you hurt them and the loop becomes endless.

So what to you do? Do you pick anger or forgiveness? The correct answer : You forgive. It is never easy and will never be.  You may not feel right about being the vulnerable one. But remember you are the bigger person here. Deep down you want to treat them as they did to you, but you don't. You do the opposite, you be the correct person here. Forgiving someone does not mean that the wrong doing was ok, but that you will not do the same mistake. It is even ok if you do not want to relate to the person in the same way as before. Redirect your anger into activities you are passionate about. It is more about finding your inner peace and letting go of all that hatred and resentment. The more idle you are, the more your conflicting thoughts will come back and the more difficult it will be to cope with your anger.

Let your actions denote your goodness and let karma do its work here. Forgiving someone may not be a very quick process and may take a toll on your patience and your self control. It is completely fine if you do not feel ready yet because the hurt and pain is just too unbearable. Take it one day, one step at a time.

P.S - This is not in any way a personal post, it is just one of my random thoughts.

My Small Nykaa Summer Haul!!

 Hello readers. Who here does not love online shopping? I am guilty, I do(Beauty products more than clothes). Nykaa had a summer sale and I got some things for myself. Lets check them out :

1) TRESemme Keratin Smooth Shampoo : Somehow I am not very consistent at my choice of shampoos. I mean I do not follow one for a very long time, and that way I know which suits me better. I got this shampoo after reading some very good reviews. I have just started using it and I am happy.(Actual Price : 245 INR , Sale Price : 196 INR)

 

2) TRESemme Keratin Smooth Deep Smoothing Mask : Ok, so I was using the Matrix hair spa tub before this and it was good. The only problem was that it was too big and I could not finish it before it expired. This time I wanted something else and this one too had good reviews and it was at a good price and the quantity was reasonable. I must say this is really good and my hair feels extremely smooth after use ,Not sure because I am using the same brand shampoo or not.(Actual Price : 600 INR , Sale Price : 420 INR)

 

3)MCaffeine Coffee Body Scrub : This is a long wanted buy, reason being every time I thought of buying this I would wonder what would I do with a body scrub? Shower gels are enough. This time though I could not resist , and I got one. Surprisingly Nykaa decided to thank me by sending me a free gift or rather 3 small ones.  I got sample sized packs of  the coffee face mask, coffee face wash and coffee face scrub. Talk about coffee overdose.😆😇

  Now on the products, the body scrub is heavenly (there is just no other word to describe the smell).I use it once a week and it does its job very well. There is a small wooden spoon for scooping the product so that you don't get your wet hands in the bottle.I used the mask also, but other than the smell, I did not like it much. It felt sticky and also was not spreading quite well like masks do. I did not use the facewash and face scrub yet.

(Actual Price : 449 INR , Sale Price : 395 INR)

 

4) Lux Velvet Touch Shower Gel : Lux was the first shower gel I was into when the shower gel craze started. It slowly got replaced by Nivea, Fiama and Palmolive later. This summer, I wanted to go back to Lux and must say it still is good. It smells nice ,does not dry out , has a decent price tag and comes with a free loofah.(Actual Price : 99 INR , Sale Price : 99 INR)

That's all folks! Did you buy any thing this summer? I would love to know more, please let me know in the comments.

7 Favourite Book Series From My Childhood!

I was a complete bookworm in my childhood. I read lots and read fast and read whenever I could. I would sometimes read in low light and thanks to that I became a proud owner of an extra pair of eyes aka my spectacles. My father got me a membership in the nearest library and it was like I got my hands on a whole new world. Nowadays, although Netflix has also taken up some of my attention but in no way can it replace my love for the paperbacks and eBooks. I have earlier reviewed some of my Netflix favourites and you can check that out here.

Sharing with you, 7 of the most loved book collections/series I read while growing up :

    

• The Nancy Drew Series(by Carolyn Keene) : An amazing teenage sleuth living in River Heights with her father Carson Drew and assisted in solving mysteries by her cousins Bess and George and her boyfriend Ned Nickerson.

• The Hardy Boys Series (by Franklin W. Dixon) : Two brothers Frank and Joe Hardy who also solve mysteries sometimes assisted by their friends.

• The Famous Five Series (by Enid Blyton) : The books revolve around the adventures of a group of 4 children and their dog.

• The Faraway Tree Series (by Enid Blyton) : The adventures of three children and an enchanted tree in a wood which takes them to magical lands.

• The Malory Towers Series (by Enid Blyton) : A series of stories on a girl's boarding school and the experiences of Darrell Rivers and later her sister Felicity Rivers.

• The St. Clare's series (by Enid Blyton) : Same as The Malory Towers, this series is on two sisters Pat and Isabel O Sullivan and their years in the boarding school of St. Clare's.

• The Wishing Chair Series (by Enid Blyton) : The flying adventures of siblings Peter and Mollie on their wishing chair which takes them to different magical lands.

Ah, so many happy memories came rushing back while writing this post. So, which one of these was your favourite? Do let me know in the comments below.

P.S The pictures are here are only one of the books in the collection and have been used only for reference. 

The Importance Of A "Thank You" !

 

        

Hello readers!! I watched a Bollywood movie this weekend "RamPrasad Ki Tehrvi" and some words of this beautiful movie struck me hard - Say your Thank you' s before it is too late.

Very true words, aren't they? The power of a simple thank you should never be underestimated. People very commonly will tell you "No thank you no sorry in a friendship" but it is ok to sometimes be grateful for what your friends and colleagues do for you even though small. Maybe I say it a lot more because a convent school imbibes that in you from the beginning but here too I am thankful for the learning.

Some actions automatically call for a Thank you..a present, a birthday wish, a compliment but some actions remain uncounted for. 

When you are down and need someone to listen to your woes, say Thank you to the listener.

When a customer care executive helps you out, say Thank you

When a sales person helps you shop, say Thank you.

When your waiter/waitress serves your food say Thank you.

Say Thank you to your delivery person, your mail man or any other person who makes an effort.

Most importantly say Thank you to your parents, to your family members. We all know they do not need it, but it does not take much of our time to acknowledge their efforts now and then. A sincere and heartfelt Thank you goes a long way. Material returns can never work the same magic as these two words of gratitude can do.

So, here I end with a thank you to all who take the time to go through my blog, and hope you have a great week ahead!!

10 shows you definitely must 'Netflix And Chill' !

Hello readers!! As truly written in my blogger profile details, I am an avid Netflix fan. There were months when I spent 800 INR because I could not find people to share with, but when I found like minded people there was no looking back.

I realize I am also a fan of lists so here is another one.10 Netflix shows/movies I recommend you should definitely watch if not yet seen.

1.The Queen's Gambit :The Story of chess prodigy Beth Harmon played by Anya Taylor Joy, and how she overcame her struggles and rose to become the queen in a game dominated by men in that era.(Seasons : 1)

2. Dead To Me : This tragedy cum comedy show marks the return of Christina Applegate , playing the angry yet grieving widow and her grief is marked with hints of sarcasm. Opposite to this is Linda Cardellini playing her sweet and always positive friend. A fun show of their friendship and a murder mystery.(Seasons : 2)

3.13 Reasons Why : A teenager, Hannah Baker, takes her life and leaves behind 13 tapes each pointing to individuals responsible. Heavy content, real life topics, yet emotionally unnerving as the seasons unfold.(Seasons : 4)

4. Ginny And Georgia : Smart and irresistible Georgia Miller, desperately wants to give her rebellious 15 year old daughter Virginia Miller a normal life in New England. But it is not all roses and very soon her past catches up and Georgia will go to any extent to save her family.(Seasons : 1)

5. Bridgerton : A superb period drama from the talented Shonda Rhimes ( producer of Grey's Anatomy and How To Get Away With Murder).Romance, drama, scandal all come together to make this a one of a kind show.(Seasons : 1)

6.Black Mirror : A sci-fi anthology series showing the dark side of modern day technologies and how our obsession with it is warping our sense of right and wrong. A thought provoking series with lingering after effects on what is the future turning out to be.(Seasons : 5)

7. Enola Holmes : A story on the teenage sister of Sherlock Holmes and her adventures on her mission to find her mother. Millie Bobby Brown is a delight o watch as she plays Enola Holmes whose sleuthing skills are almost at par with that of her brother Sherlock. Personally, I can never see anyone else as Sherlock but Benedict Cumberbatch , and the casting of Henry Cavill seemed quite different than what Sherlock Holmes is supposed to be. The star of course here is Millie.(Seasons : 0 , It is a movie)

8.The Irregulars : Again related to Sherlock Holmes, this is a British crime drama series on a group of teenagers known as The Irregulars who work or rather are manipulated to work for John Watson. The group lives together on the streets of London and encounter some supernatural occurrences on their search for Sherlock Holmes ultimately realize that all the happenings are related to him.(Seasons : 1)

9.Atypical : An amazing and refreshingly woven comedy drama on Sam Gardner, an autistic teen and his search for love, friendship and independence. It also brings forth the lives of each of his family member and how they grapple with all the changes in their lives along with Sam's. A feel good  family show  and quite different from the ones I normally watch.(Seasons : 3)

10.Pagglait : A hindi social drama movie, on the life of a recently widowed Sandhya and her discoveries on her late husband , Astik. Breaking down patriarchy, she turns this tragedy into an empowering beginning for her. Highlight of this movie is the music composed by Arijit Singh.(Seasons : 0 , It is a movie)

That's all folks!! My list may differ from yours so would love to know your choices and suggestions. The more to watch the better.

Please comment, follow and share if you like.

3 Things I would go back in time and redo !!

 

Hi readers!!

Have you ever wished you could travel back in  time and redo somethings.I know if time travel was an option we all would like to change quite a few things😋 but this is not a post on  things I regret  but rather  some things you wish you could have done better.

I confess I have thought about it many times, so listing 3 things I could have changed. Let us have some fun!

I wish I would have been little more involved in sports I have always been involved in activities that did not involve much movement.😀😀.The only sports I am good at is badminton. My passion was reading, writing and I do not wish to change that at all. In fact I am proud to say I am a good elocutionist and won accolades too. I wish I had got into some more games like Basketball, Volleyball or even Table tennis.

I wish I had studied further Once I got a job I forgot all about wanting to study further. The fear of waiting some more years before I get a job and maybe not getting a job later crept in. I thought I  can surely study for my higher exams even if I get into this job, but I was wrong. Time passed and I did not even try further. The only pro to this is that I am proficient at coding now and actually love it, something I always hated in college and school. Strange, right?? Maybe the phrase "Everything is going to be fine in the end" by Oscar Wilde is true to some extent.

I wish I was more fluent in my mother tongue My mother tongue is bengali but as I was born and brought up in Jharkhand, I did not learn reading and writing Bengali much as it was not my first or second language. I can read Bengali (all efforts my mother) but I take double the time it normally takes. That is the reason why I miss out on the amazing bengali novels.I wish I was skilled in the language and could explore the beautiful literature here.

That is all folks!! Let me know your 3 things which you wish you could redo/relearn in the comments. Nevertheless always remember life is too short to dwell on the past, and worry about the future so let us enjoy every moment of our present.

My Night Pamper Routine

Hello readers!! Who does not love to unwind at the end of a day and what better way than a skin pampering routine before you hit the bed. I know its work from home for most of us now still it is good to give our skin the nourishment it needs. Keep reading to know my basic CTM(Cleansing-Toning-Moisturizing) routine.

Step 1: Clean like you mean !! 

On days when I have make up on I first clean my face with a make up remover and then go for a facewash if I need that deep clean feel. I use the  Wow Skin Science Charcoal Facewash. It has small charcoal beads and gel consistency.It cleans effectively without drying out my skin at all.

Price 249 INR/100 ml

Step 2: Tone and groove into the zone !!

I use the WOW Coconut Super Rich Facial Toner. This has no chemical smell that toners usually have rather  a sweet coconut fragrance that I love . Winning points also for the no stinging sensation and affordability. I spray the toner directly on my face and then pat it with a cotton pad. I feel this toner enhances the effectivity of my moisturizer.

Price : 349 INR/200 ml

 

 

Step 3: Moisturize and let your skin rise!!

After around a minute, I use my moisturizer - Fabindia Vitamin E Night Cream. This also has a very sweet smell and is super hydrating yet does not feel heavy on my skin. Every morning my skin feels a lot softer and brighter.

Price : 450 INR/100 ml

 

That's all folks on my short and sweet night skin care. Let me know on the products you use and comment for details on any of the above.

 

Good night and sweet dreams to all..👩😴

Travel diaries : Nainital-Ranikhet-Corbett Part 2

 In continuation with the first part of my Uttarakhand travel, bringing part 2 for you. If you have not yet read the first part, please find the link here

Nainital-Ranikhet : Late morning we started for Ranikhet and decided to do the local sightseeing on that day itself. 

Places Visited-Chaubatia Gardens-famous for its orchards of apples, peaches and many more, Haidakhan Temple-Built by Haidakhan who was believed to be the incarnation of Shiva, Jhula Devi Temple-You can see a huge number of bells here as devotees offer a bell when their wishes are fulfilled, Upat Golf Course-A beautifully maintained golf course believed to be one of the highest in Asia.

Our stay in Ranikhet is my best stay till date. Bay Berry By One Earth is till date the most exquisite and unique place I have stayed in. The rooms are in the form of a luxury tent  with an excellent view of the mountains amidst the pine trees. The only drawback is that it is situated after a good walk downhill , and naturally uphill when you leave the place so maybe a problem for some but the stay makes the efforts worthwhile. 

Ranikhet-Corbett : We did not want to leave the place as everything was just so beautiful and we were regretting staying there only for one night. Anyways, we left after a superb lunch for our last destination : Jim Corbett. The weather in Corbett was opposite of what we got in Nainital and Ranikhet and good for us, the hotel had a swimming pool. 

We had our safari next day early morning. There are different zones for safari in the reserve- Bijrani, Jhirna, Dhela, Durga Devi, Garjia, Sitabani, Dhikala. We had chosen the Bijrani zone as this was the second best after Dhikala and had already got our entry permit with the help of our guide. Unfortunately, we could not spot any tigers but we did see some deers and elephants and the safari felt quite adventurous. 

Corbett-Delhi-Kolkata : Next day we started for Delhi and then back home Kolkata taking with us some amazing memories and stories.

Ending this diary here with some captured moments. Please comment,
follow and share if you like.

Travel diaries : Nainital-Ranikhet-Corbett Part 1

Hi friends!! With the last year being a "no travel year" recalling the old memories is the only way to satisfaction. I am sharing with you some glimpses of my favourite trip till date-Nainital Ranikhet Corbett (2018).

Kolkata-Delhi : We boarded the Howrah -New Delhi Rajdhani express. On reaching Delhi we stayed there for one night at the Hari Piorko Inn located very near to the station. We had a lot of time in hand that day so did some sightseeing also.We visited India Gate and Akshardham Temple.

Delhi -Nainital : Next day morning ,we started our road trip to Nainital.7 hours later we knew we had reached our destination when we felt the drop in temperature. According to mythology,Nainital is named so because this is the place where Goddess Parvati's eyes (Nain in hindi) fell.

Nainital simply oozes beauty. Our stay was at The Hotel Himalaya,a 3 to 4 minute walk from the Naini Lake. We had rooms with a view one can only dream of-the beautiful Naini Lake nestled within the hills. As we had reached early, we visited one of the 7 Taals - Sariyatal after lunch.

The evening was spent strolling and shopping around in the famous Mall road. Nainital is known for its pretty candles and I just could not keep my hands off them.

Nainital local : The day was fully packed till late afternoon. We completed the rest of the Taals Sattal,Khurpatal,Naukuchiatal,Bhimtal,Gadudtal,Kamaltal.Woodland falls, Ecocave Gardens, Mukteswar Temple, Lands End, Tiffin Top were next in queue. A leisurely boat ride in the Nainital Lake and the beautiful Naina Devi temple were the perfect end to the day.

Ending Part 1 here as all the goodness just would not fit in one post.☺️.Please do follow my blog as I promise it just gets better.

Sharing some moments of the first part with you. Please comment,follow and share if you like.

Wedding Invitation Makeup Look

Hello friends!! It is not often I wear sarees as I am convinced I do not look good in them   but this is one of those exceptional ones😊😊. Sorry for not having very good shots as I did not plan to share them  but will remember to take more ootd shots in the future.

This is the look I created for a wedding invitation. I paired a grey body pink bordered saree with a pink boat neck blouse. The saree is a gift from my in- laws and I love the colour combination.

For my makeup I used my basic Lakme Peach milk moisturizer and Lakme foundation Shade Natural Marble . For the eyes I used the Coloressence blue eyeliner and Colorbar Mesmereyes Kajal Shade Black 001 .

The blue eyeliner and highlighter used here have been shared by me earlier here. This is my first time using a highlighter and I think I have done a pretty decent job. What do you think?😉

The lipstick used here is a  matte pink one by Sugar, shade - 02 Brink Of Pink. I like to just keep my hair down as I am not a big fan of buns.

So, that's it. Please comment and let me know if you need any review or details on any of the products mentioned above.

The "He"- Men in our lives

 A few days ago I  had published a post on women. If you have not read it yet please check it out at https://musingsofasilentmindpurbali.blogspot.com/2021/03/she-always-smiled.html

 Interestingly I got a feedback from one of my friends, that the above could be applicable for both women and men and then I thought sure why not. Why did only the "She" come to my mind and not the "he"?. Why did I not think about this earlier?. Pfff!! The woes of being an amateur.😔

Anyways, this brings me to the most important man in my life, my father. I proudly declare that I am still my daddy's girl. Pre-retirement years, I saw him disappearing in the morning for work and coming back at night but still making time to help me study. I remember being angry sometimes for not going on vacations, not splurging, but soon realized that he was keeping up to the age old adage - Saving up for my future. All my queries, my needs were fulfilled by him.

After marriage, things have changed a little . I do not trouble my dad with everything, dear husband is there for that and I am grateful for that, he is a boon to me. I fall back on him for my tax filing, finance advices because however hard I try, I still do not seem to  completely understand these.(Please do not laugh at me.. I am still learning but sometimes it just goes swoosh ..over my head 😕😅).

On an ending note, to all the men , even though we prioritize the women around us sometimes, you will always be loved and respected. Look after yourselves, take care of your health and we appreciate you being there always for us.

She always smiled...

 She had failed , she had lost.

She had mourned, she had brooded.

She still smiled ..

She was bitter, she was angry.

She had lost faith, She had fallen.

She still smiled ..

She did not give up, She stood up

She toiled, She succeeded

She believed, she persevered

She stood tall, and this time she laughed..

This is for all the women who have faced difficulties but still came out as winners.Let no one tell you we are weak, Let no one tell you what you can be.Keep smiling , stand tall and do  not forget to laugh. 

Haul Happiness!

Hi there!! Let me share with you all my latest mixed haul.

The first one is a Myglamm lipstick, shade name Boo. I got this from the survey links doing the rounds recently. I completed the survey and got this lipstick originally priced at 395 INR at 99 INR. It is a rose coloured nude. Lippies and discounts make me happy.😍 You can also try the same from the below link.

Myglamm Link

The 2nd one is a highlighter. I got this from a shop so will not be able to provide any online link. I am a newbie to the concept of highlighting but always wanted to try one, so went for a basic one first. This is priced at 200 INR and a gives a decent sheen to my face.

The 3rd one is my current favourite - a blue liquid eye liner from coloressence,shade name Duke Blue. I also bought this offline but you can easily find this on nykaa or amazon. This is priced at 199 INR and is really pretty blue and settles to a matte finish.

The 4th one is a collection of short stories by different authors (genre : horror) selected and compiled by Ruskin Bond along with some of his too. They include Andrew Long, Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Allan Poe and Bram Stoker. This is a buy from amazon and priced at 295 INR.I am still midway through this, so can share more when I finish.

That's all folks !! 

The "Why me?!" dilemma

 Have you ever gone through the phase in your life when you felt just lost and called out to the power above - 'Oh God, Why me'.

We all have sometime or the other , in the losses or failures in our life put forth the question above. Everything seemed unfair and you think what possibly could you have done to deserve this. Exams, heartbreaks, careers, any hardship and this is the most basic and first question that comes to our mind.

However, during one such personal experience, I thought that if this question can be asked in times of tragedy, why not in times of happiness also. When I looked outside, and realized I have always had a roof over my head, a family, food, job, an opportunity to complete my education, I never asked then 'Why me?' .Life sure is tough, and what one goes through can never be understood by anyone else but is there really any gain in comparing the sufferings and resenting people. This does not in any way mean that your pain is immaterial but that someone out there is worse off than you are. Pain is relative.

Lets not ask the "Why me" question and give up hope. Let us harbor empathy for one another and cherish every moment we have. Let us all be strong and winners. Every ending holds a new beginning.

Let me know your comments on the above and share your views on how to be positive during tough times.

My "About Me" Blog!!

Hey there!! My first blog and what better than to know more about the author. For those who know me already this will not be new but for the rest of you, let me give you a sneak peek into me.

I like to call myself an ambivert, chatty with people who match my thinking and vibe, but may seem unavailable to others. I can interact but also pull back myself when I need a break. This also leads to the fact that I have a very small but close group of friends but I am thankful for having them nevertheless. To be very honest I  possess very little creativity in arts and crafts. A software engineer by day and an avid Netflix watcher or a keen book reader by night.

I have had zero experience in expressing feelings through a blog with an audience so suggestions on any improvements are welcome.