OCTOBER 2015 Volume 1 Issue 6
MUMBAI RNI No . MAHENG/2015/6304
SPARKLE & SHINE
Complimentary Copy
For FREE Distribution
THIS FESTIVE SEASON
MITTY
POTTERY CLASSES & SCULPTURE STUDIO
SMILES FOREVER Dr. SUHAS LELE
What’s Happening
in Your Hood
MAKING HIGH FASHION AFFORDABLE
PARTY IN THE PINK OF HEALTH GO BIRYAN!
SIRF NAAM HI KAAFI HAI
THE VIP SALE
MOM @ 30ISH
DISCOUNT COUPPg O58NS October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
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October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
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October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
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content October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | wwww.livinglocalmag.com
10 24 10 The Chocolate Health Spa
Recently opened, ‘The Chocolate Health Spa’ is a unique concept which provides various signature chocolate based ...
On the 30ish Slope
24 Love Fats ? Its not your Fault!!!
16 Mom @ 30ish, Congratulations you are warrior!
We love fat! We simply cannot keep our hands away from all the fried, cheesy, buttery stuff if it happens to be around...
Every mother is fighting a silent battle. I am very attached to one of my projects #PhotoblogHER, where I narrate the story of her...
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28 Dignity in Mental Health
We often make a healthy choice for our body by caring about its weight, and making it look...
28 Advertise with Living Local Mumbai 6
+91 9769302244 / +919930233137 advertise@livinglocalmag.com www.livinglocalmag.com
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
Scan QR Code
Visit Us Online
42 36 Food Around The Corner
36 GO BIRYAN !
Biryani! As the saying goes, “sirf naam hi kaafi hai”. The delectable dish we all love. GO!biryan, which has it’s outlets...O!biryan, to know more.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
42 SWAR SAGARIKA CRAZY4MUSIC (SINGERS CLUB)CLUB)
Singers and wanna - be singers come and join us for a scintillating concert of KARAOKE SINGING on 31st October, 6pm onwards at Andheri West. melodies or latest
INSPIRE
44 Making High Fashion Affordable
Bringing Couture on Sale, we caught up with Teena Ahuja Kapoor, the woman behind ‘The VIP Sale’, an upcoming portal for affordable designer wear....
52 Positive Parents: The Secret Ingredient for your Child’s Successful Future
I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief...
49 CHRONICLES OF THE HOOD
49 MITTY - Pottery Class & Sculpture StudioLUB)
Mitty pottery classes and sculpture studio is a popular shop located inside Jewel Shop-ping Centre at Seven Bungalows, Versova. Mitty has been around for eighteen to twenty years...
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Disclaimer: The acceptance of advertising in this publication does not constitute or imply endorsement by the Publisher of any product or service. The Publisher accepts no responsibility for any claims made in any advertisement. The Publisher reserves the right to refuse to accept any advertisement. Publisher’s acceptance of an advertisement for publication in the Magazine does not constitute an endorsement of the product or service advertised.
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
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Contributors Let your voice be heard whether it is on the topic of health and wellness, local news, or an event you want to share in your Hood. Write to us at: articles@livinglocalmag.com
SIDHARTH SODHI Actor Writer
POOJA KOCHAR Founder of 30ishblogging. Blogger, Speaker and Photographer. 30ishblogging.blogspot.in
DR. SHARMILA NAYAK Celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist Skin / Hair Like they say… “A stitch in time saves nine” likewise “Proper skin care in time will prevent wrinkles and lines”.
VISHAL DHAWAN Vishal Dhawan is a financial planner by profession and founder of Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors Pvt. Ltd. vishal.dhawan@planahead.in KARISHMA PINAK Dancer by Heart. Entrepreneur by Profession. Teacher by Choice.
DR LILY KISWANI, MD,DGO Integrative Medicine, A4MI Nutritional Therapeutics e-mail: drlk.integrative@gmail.com
SHERENE AFTAB Is a Marketing and HR lecturer by profession. Passionate about blogging, painting, people and travel.
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October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
TRIPTI GUPTA Lifestyle Nutrition Consultant Health / Beauty / Wellness Founder- iPink The Color Of Health www.triptigupta.com BHAVNA KAPOOR Holistic Health Coach, Iyengar Yoga Practitioner, Founder of The Health Nut!
MOHINI Mohini is a Tarot Card reader, Hypnotherapist and a Life Coach. She also teaches reading Tarot Cards and various self-healing techniques. DIVYA PANDAY Lives in her own world. Wants to travel and explore little-big things in the world ZEBA AKHTAR Foodie, Ambitious, Theory Digger. Loves Bombay, Coffee and the Sea
SUBHASHINI SHEOPURI An Andheri West resident.A freelance journalist for past 15 years.
SANJAY HINGORANI I am foodie who lives to eat. I may write a cook book someday but at the moment I am just enjoying my passion, cooking great food be it Indian, Italian, Thai, Arabic.
MUMBAI
October 2015 Volume 1 Issue 6
Management Neeraj Vasudeva Content Zeba Akhtar (Assistant Content Manager) Sidharth Sodhi Graphic Designer Rishav Kumar Photographer Manali Jain Sales & Marketing Ali Ansari (Andheri West) (ali.ansari@livinglocalmag.com) Prajesh Podikalam (Bandra-Khar) (prajesh@livinglocalmag.com) Cover Photo By Manali Jain
MY HOOD
N
o games. No marketing gimmicks. No play. I am going to be honest and straight forward. I am plugging in the word “Hood”, right from the heading to the rest of this read. But you need to trust me that there is more to this very important word than just the in-the-face plugin up until this line. I remember growing up with the phrase “the world is shrinking”. What was explained was that people from different parts of the world are being connected in the simplest possible ways. Great! Thanks to that shrinking world I am in constant touch with my childhood friend who moved to Vancouver and other friends and relatives all over the world. Every time my childhood friend Prabhjeet and I connect on any online platform or meet in person, the one thing that always comes up is our childhood colony in Delhi where we grew up, the local market, the area we lived in. The nostalgia sends a shot of adrenaline rush to the brain.
Editor-in-chief Anubhav Anand Twitter- @anubhavanand
Today, even though most of the selfie memories are made over foreign trips and new places, there is an entirely different sense of “apnapan” in the following: clicking the beautiful monsoon rains through our home window, feeding that stray dog below the society building, walking out in your chappals to the closest kirana store, catching up with friends in a close by paanwaala shop, and the list goes on. If you catch my drift and think deep for a moment, a lot of your memories are build around your area where you live – your HOOD. So while the world has really shrunk for all the human needs, the sense of belonging always comes true within the confines of our Hood. We pride to be Humans of the World, citizens of a Country, belong to a City and at the very base level, Live in our Hood. That’s where we reach out to our fellow Hooders for most of our day-to-day needs. That’s where we come back after a foreign trip or a days work. Where we live. Where we belong. Our Hood.
Owned, Published, Printed and Edited by Anubhav Anand. Printed at SWASTIK PRINTS, Gabriel Joseph Compound, Kajuwadi, Cardinal Gracious Rd., Chakala, Andheri (East), Mumbai- 400099 and Published from G-701, Sky Anchorage Co-Op Hsg Society Ltd., Panch Marg, Off Yari Road, Scan QR Code Versova, Andheri West, Mumbai - 400061. Editor: editor@livinglocalmag.com
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Disclaimer: The views expressed by contributors and advertisers in our publication and on our website do not necessarily reflect those of the editors or publishers. The Publisher shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential or punitive damages or losses arising out of the use or inability to use the magazine, any errors on pages, misrepresentations or omissions in the content, advertisements or products and services offered and take no responsibility for any issues arising from the use of suppliers who have advertised.
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
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LL | lifestyle
The TIME to RELAX is when you DON’T have TIME for it…
Asia’s 1st chocolate based wellness centre, is now in Mumbai
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ecently opened, ‘The Chocolate Health Spa’ is a unique concept which provides various signature chocolate based therapies which makes them Asia’s 1st fully dedicated chocolate based wellness centre. Unlike other spas where you will find all conventional treatments; the chocolate health spa offers you 24 different chocolate based body massages, 11 different chocolate based facials; 7 different prenatal & post natal massages & 9 medical skin care treatments all of which are specifically designed for a particular health concern. Their treatments target the following health concerns of an individual:-
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• Tension type headache (TTH) • Low mood or mild depression • Stress & anxiety • Cold & mild fever • Insomnia (Sleeplessness) • Joint pain • Low back pain • Muscle fatigue & strain • Low energy • High BP (Hypertension) • Treatments for dry, sensitive & oily skin
• Skin firming & toning treatments • Detoxification treatments • Instant glowing treatments • Skin softening exfoliation • Treatments for flawless soothing skin • Nonsurgical jaw lift • Antiaging treatments • Acne & wrinkle correction treatments • Medical skin care
The chocolate health spa is also the 1st spa in India providing special chocolate based massage treatment for pregnant ladies; specially designed to comfort expecting women right from the 2nd trimester till expected delivery date. These prenatal massages are focussed on various concerns of pregnancy. The chocolate health spa also provides various postnatal treatments such as treatments to remove stretch marks, treatments for tummy toning & treatments for skin firming after pregnancy. Besides this, the chocolate health spa has in-house doctor who will help you to choose the best therapy based on your life style and health concern so as to maximize the outcome.
So come and join us in our cause of creating a healthy world by indulging yourself into chocolaty wellness.
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
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LL | lifestyle
Bambooo Tree All Day
Spaa
YES IT IS NOT A SPELLING MISTAKE, OR A LOOSE VOWEL SYNDROME BY ANY CHANCE. THE NAME HAS AN EXTRA “O” IN BAMBOOO AND AN “A” IN SPAA. ALL THE BLAME FOR THE SPELLING MUTILATION GOES TO FAAROOQ AND ZEHRA MERCHANT, HUSBAND AND WIFE DUO WHO STARTED THE BAMBOOO TREE ALL DAY SPAA WHICH IS NESTLED IN THE BEAUTY OF BANDRA IN THE PALI HILL NEIGHBOURHOOD. IT IS ALSO THE FIRST OF ITS KIND AND ONLY DAY SPA THAT OFFERS THE DR. FISH THERAPY AND BAMBOO MASSAGE IN MUMBAI.
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or a respite from the daily grind and to wash off the workday tensions that besiege us, and to store up as many pleasant vibes and warm memories until the next escapade, that’s what the Bambooo Tree All Day Spaa, is all about. With its womenoriented spa treatments ranging from a delightful soy candle to an intense pressure massage using a ‘Bamboo’, till the sensitive PMS pains and mood swings, the Khar-based Bambooo Tree All Day Spa is a perfect destination for all those stressed out 9-5 workaholic women longing for some pampering. The spa re-launched itself with its signature treatments at a plush new place at Khar, with the perfect ambience to suit its dedicated clientele. Be it the famous Dr Fish Therapy, or the unique one-of-its-kind Bamboo massage or the soothing Candle massage – everything you always loved is all here as before! The spa offers a host of immaculate relaxation and beautifying therapies that will pamper your every mood and let you unwind. The spa also offers an array of indulgent treatments including Swedish massage, Deep Tissue Massage, Hot Stone Therapy (For Spondylitis and Stiff Back), Lymphatic drainage massage & other body treatments, facials such
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as marine facial, different kinds of manicures and pedicures, reflexology & Oriental scalp massage and PMS Massage (premenstrual syndrome) to renew, replenish, and relax you completely in a space where you can find your own inner tranquillity.
How it all started: Mr. Farooq Merchant, Founder, Bambooo Tree All Day Spaa talks of how while on a peaceful vacation in Malaysia and Singapore years before, he was impressed by the exclusive treatments offered there. It immediately struck Zehra, the co-founder that Mumbai lacks these kinds of services and treatments and we should bring in a similar feel and experience of Malaysia and Singapore for everyone in Mumbai. Thus, was born the idea of Bambooo Tree All Day Spaa, which was the first in India to introduce the celebrated Doctor Fish therapy in 2009. Co-Founder Mrs. Zehra Merchant says, “Today’s
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
women play so many roles; from being a homemaker, to a mother, to a business woman, or a full day working woman. She is an all rounder and every person around her is somehow or the other dependent on her which is exhausting. Handling so many responsibilities is both overwhelming and exhausting and hence she deserves a day of relaxing and rejuvenating spa treatments. Our spa treatments like PMS massages, Cranial massages, Dr. Fish Pedicures and many other women centric treatments that we offer will help these women relieve their tensions and stress and enjoy a day of absolute pampering.”
The Therapies at the Spaa: Dr.Fish Therapy
The therapy starts with you soaking your tired feet in a tub full of garrarufa, a species of fish originating from Turkey. Scared? You need not be! As your feet sink slowly into the tank, these tiny creatures immediately make their way towards your feet and start nibbling at the dead skin on your feet. Have no fears that your feet will end up as fish food or that your treatment may be more painful than pleasurable. These fish are toothless and their nibbling merely generates a tingling sensation on your feet. After being thus invigorated, your feet next get to enjoy a pedicure and foot massage that completes the exfoliation. The foot massage is heavenly to say the least, because the masseur at the Bambooo Tree All Day Spaa knows
just the right points and kneads away with enchanting ease. The procedure culminates in a regular nail cleanser and polish, after which, you get to rest your feet in a brass bowl full of warm, salty water. The hygiene of the pond is maintained with special UV filters that keep it germ free and clean.
Candle Massage
Farooq Merchant explains, “When candles made only of soy butter and containing jojoba oil are melted, they secrete butter oil and not wax. Soya wax is the only wax which gets to room temperature immediately. Further, aroma oils are added for a soothing fragrance. This is a creative combination of body massage oil and fragrant spa candles. A delightful soy candle that has the potent scent of a candle with the comfort of essential massage oils melts into a wonderful body lotion suitable for skin care or as a soothing massage lotion.”
Bamboo Fusion Massage
Bamboo Massage is a 2000 years old treatment practiced in Egypt. A few decades ago a woman from the USA reintroduced this technique. It is an innovative style of massage therapy and bodywork that works on 5 elements of the body i.e. fire, earth, wood, water and metal.
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Bamboo Massage is a 2000 years old treatment practiced in Egypt
Perk your day up with a pleasant spa experience at The Bambooo Tree All Day Spaa at 1st floor, Behind Shivanjali Apartment, Near Beauty Furnishings, Dr Ambedkar Road, Khar(W), Mumbai:-400052 Contact: 022-65656649/65657749 www.bamboootreespaa.com email:contact@bamboootreespaa.com
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LL | lifestyle
Krishz DIY Home Decor by Karishma Pinak
G
anpati Bappa has just returned back after his stay on earth only to make way for the nine-day colourful festival of Navratri. The city will very soon start buzzing with all the Garba and Dandiya songs, people will come back home early and get into traditional outfits and dance to their heart’s content. A nine day extravaganza to host the divine goddess Durga... Krish brings you some more colourful Home décor ideas...
you want. • Apply a coat of varnish on it and let it dry for 24 hours. • Place a T- light inside it and light it. 2. Welcome Home: Welcome your guests with this vibrant Rangoli… • Select a design and get it printed on a paper. • Place a thin transparent acrylic sheet on the design. • Using a marker trace the design on
1. Autumn Lights: Beautiful side table décor emitting a soft glow… • Take a glass bottle with a large mouth. • Collect dried leaves in various colours. • Apply diluted Fevicol (1 part Fevicol1.5 parts water) to the leaves and paste them on the bottle in a random manner overlapping each other is also fine. • Let it dry for about 2-3 hours.
• You can add some glitter outlines if
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the acrylic sheet. • Using Fevicol and stick multi coloured stones and pearls along the outline of the design. • Let it dry for about 2-3 hours. • Using a scissor or a paper cutter cut out the parts of the design. • You can place it on tables, outside the door, inside the house etc. • You can use diyas or T-lights to add to the décor. • You can also choose a long design to
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
put along your door threshold. • You can place it in a large crystal bowl filled with water and add fresh flower petals for added effect. 3. Marble Mugs: • Get plain white or plain coloured mugs. • Fill water in a small tub or a glass bowl. • Select nail polish of your choice and pour drops of it in the water. • Repeat with two three colours. • As they are immiscible, the nail polish will remain on the water surface. • With a tooth pick mix the colours a bit and create an abstract pattern. • Hold the mug with its handle and dip it in the water. • The nail colour will stick on the mug, creating an abstract pattern of marbling effect. • Let it dry completely before using. 4. Colourful Pooja: A cheaper and an attractive alternative for the high maintenance silver ware. • Use an old plate or tray. • Select a design for decorating the rim and base of the plate or tray. • Using various decorative materials like coloured stones, laces, fabrics, dried flowers etc paste these on the rim of the tray. • Place two or three small bowls inside it decorated and coloured in the same
theme for keeping Haldi, Kumkum and the Rice grains. • While offering Pooja, place the diya in the plate. • You can also use a piece of mirror as the base, but make sure the edges are not sharp.
• Cut and paste the pictures on the base. • Arrange these pieces along the walls or add a piece of Mount Board at the back like a stand and place them like frames on tables, desks or in the show cases.
5. Multipurpose Newspaper: Using this technique you can create a lot of Home décor items a. Newspaper/Magazine /Post Holder:
• Take newspaper and spread it open. • Pick one side and start rolling while simultaneously applying diluted Fevicol (1 part Fevicol- 1.5 parts water) so that the roll is tight and stiff. • Make many such rolls. • Take an empty box ( reference: box in which mangoes are sold) • Apply Fevicol to the side of the box and start sticking the paper rolls close to each other. • Cut them according to the height of the box. • Keep the length of the rolls higher along one length of the box. • Let it dry over night. • You may then color it, using the colors of your choice.
Krish brings you some more colourful Home décor ideas
b. Picture Collage: • Make the Paper rolls as mentioned above. • Select pictures that you want to put up and get them printed. • Take a Mount Board and cut it in a desired shape and size according to the pictures you have selected. • Stick the rolls along the border of Mount Board. • Let it dry overnight. • Colour it as per your choice and let it dry.
Use these colourful ideas to decorate your home. May the divine Goddess spread colours in your lives and may each of its shade be Happiness !
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LL | lifestyle On the 30ish Slope
Mom @ 30ish, Congratulations you are warrior! Pooja Kochar: Founder of 30ishblogging and PhotoblogHER Blogger, Photographer and Speaker
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very mother is fighting a silent battle. I am very attached to one of my projects #PhotoblogHER, where I narrate the story of her motherhood through photographs. Moments of her holding the baby, telling them stories, building their dreams is what stays back as a priceless memory. This post is a reflection of my interactions with all the mothers in the past 6 months.
It’s a very difficult space; food, career, relationships and social pressure are always playing hide and seek. The only way to fight back is to accept it. Your beauty is beyond your insecurities and the texture of your skin. As a woman, I love your stretch marks, dark circles, love handles and cellulite, because that’s life. Motherhood is a constant transformation of body, mind and soul. Bloggers are supposed to be influencers. This power should be used to tell women across the globe that their body type does not need a stamp from the society. You are not a fruit basket, apples and pears are for the farmers market. Our hood is full of talented, succesful and progressive people, we should spread the word about positive body image.
#Life Hack: Imperfections make us unforgettable, they remind us of our struggles and our victory. Ask a mother to define her stretch marks and she will say, ‘a beautiful battle’ where I won. New mom’s apology: “Sorry I am not in the best shape, can you make me look slimmer, prettier, fitter”. My reply: “Sure, we can work on the lighting and angles”. But the fact is that no photoshop will hide her battle lines. They are her identity.
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Gorgeousness knows no boundaries and is completely unique to each and every one of us. A mother will always choose strength, that’s your reality.
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
www.shutterstock.com/Gladskikh Tatiana
ASK THE
Hair Expert
Dr Snehal Sriram is a renowned dermatologist, specializing in Cosmetic Dermatology. She has won many academic and research accolades including a gold medal at Dr Snehal Sriram (MD) Mumbai University. Now Medical Director, she is leading the medical Trica Hair Clinic team at Trica Hair Clinic, a chain specializing in result oriented solutions for all hair problems. You can reach her at snehal@ trica.in.
I have a dandruff problem, it worsens at times and becomes better at times, but I am never totally free from dandruff. My scalp always feels itchy and irritated. What is the best treatment for this? - Jeet, 35 years Dear Jeet, Persistent dandruff has two primary reasons - overgrowth of yeast (a type of fungus) and excess inflammation of scalp skin. Use a good antifungal solution like climbazole or sertaconazole, preferably overnight. If you are using an anti-fungal shampoo (eg Ketoconazole), ensure that you keep it on scalp for at least 5-10 minutes before rinsing off. Use it at least every alternate day. Controlling scalp inflammation requires modification in your diet and stress levels along with use of antiinflammatory lotion. Cutting down on oils and refined carbohydrates will help, along with adding omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and antioxidants in your diet. Hence chew your almonds and eat your pomegranates. Scalp exfoliation and regenerative treatments go a long way in achieving long-lasting control of dandruff.
Q. I have been blessed with a baby girl 3 months ago. I had perfect hair through my pregnancy and now suddenly I see my hair falling like anything, in the bathroom, on the pillows, in the comb. The minute I touch my hair, bundles and bundles of hair come in my hands. I am afraid to wash my hair now. Please help. – Bhavana, 27 years Dear Bhavana, Firstly, Congratulations on the arrival of your bundle of joy. It is common to experience hair fall 2-4 months after delivery. As the body goes through metabolic stress of pregnancy and delivery, nutrition to the baby and vital organs take precedence over nutrition to hair roots. Lack of nourishment makes the hair enter premature shedding stage. This shows up as hair fall 2-3 months after the delivery. Deficiency of iron and sleepless nights increase the hair fall even more. Don’t worry, your hair fall can be reversed. Take nutritional supplements especially those containing Biotin, Calcium pantothenate, Zinc and amino acids. If you have low haemoglobin, taking
citrus fruits or vitamin C tablets along with your iron tablets will ensure good absorption of iron in your blood. Visit your dermatologist or hair consultant who may give you treatment to revive your hair. And follow the age old remedy - try and nap whenever and as soon as your baby naps. Got a question about your hair and didn’t know whom to ask? Please write in to snehal@trica.in and Dr Snehal Sriram would be happy to answer your queries.
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www.shutterstock.com/Vladimir Gjorgiev
Q.
LL | lifestyle
Applying
www.shutterstock.com/Liljam
Steve Jobs’ Rules of Success to your
Investment Portfolio W
ith the Iphone 6 and Iphone 6S starting to make headlines, combined with a whole lot of additional new offerings from Apple, the team at Apple has done an amazing job in terms of continuing the legacy of Steve Jobs. With the shadow of Steve Jobs still looming over Apple, I have been thinking about how Steve’s investment portfolio would have looked and behaved if he managed it just like he managed everything else. Whilst he was known to be an extremely private person and I profess to have no idea about his personal investment strategy, I believe that a lot of his thoughts could have done wonders to an investment portfolio and to everyone who wishes to add meaning to their finances, and their life. A few of his principles that I strongly believe investors and investment portfolios should try and incorporate, include the following: Spend maximum time on the portfolio design – Steve said “Design is a funny word. Some people think design means how it looks. If you dig deeper, you realize its how it works.” A significant amount of time tends to get spent on
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identifying the best product in the portfolio, looking at past performances over multiple time frames and trying to identify the best time to enter the market. However, empirical evidence indicates that portfolio returns are dictated most by your asset allocation strategy i.e. your portfolio design and only marginally by security selection and timing of entry. Thus, as an investor, a significant amount of time on your investment portfolio should be spent on the portfolio design rather than which manager/stock and when to enter.
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
Understand what you are investing in – Steve said “It takes a passionate commitment to really thoroughly understand something, chew it up, not just quickly swallow it. Most people don’t take the time to do that.” Investments can be fairly dull and filled with jargon getting thrown at you by investment advisors. Don’t be in a hurry just because you are approaching a last day for the offering to close. Only buy what you completely understand and ask as many questions as you wish to before you sign the dotted line. If you don’t understand what is being offered, stay away. If it sounds like it is too good to be true, it probably is. For example, if you are investing for tax savings purposes, don’t wait till March
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to complete your tax planning investments and neither should you buy the first thing available because you don’t have the time to understand it. Simple can be harder than complex – Steve said, “You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple”. A large number of investors tend to believe that complex, new, and innovative investment products will outperform simple investment offerings. This may not always hold true. For example, term insurance for most investors is the most efficient and economical way to cover their lives in spite of multiple variants of insurance policies available from multiple providers.
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Build your own life and financial plan - And last but not the least, one of my favorites from Steve. “Your time is limited. Don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” As an investor, define your own life goals, and integrate your money and investment strategies to deliver to your own life goals. Don’t invest in something just because your neighbor or colleague is doing that. If you need help with defining your financial goals, consult a financial planner.
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Vishal Dhawan is a certified financial planner by profession and founder of Plan Ahead Wealth Advisors Pvt. Ltd. He can be reached at vishal.dhawan@planahead.in. Vishal’s rich experience of 15 years in the financial services industry has led him to frequently write columns in various business and general media both domestically and internationally, and appears on television including CNBC and Bloomberg UTV.
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LL | health & beauty
Party in the pink of health Lifestyle Nutrition Consultant -Tripti Gupta
“T
o eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art”-La Rochefoucauld Festive season is synonymous to celebrations, sweets, snacks, parties, meeting friends, family and enjoying together, hence making it difficult to maintain complete diet control. But while we indulge in celebrations, we need to stay healthy too. Hence, we bring to you the guide of eating smart while you enjoy. Follow some tips to stay in shape even with sweets and savouries flowing around us. Sounds impossible? iPink makes it possible.
Prepare healthy Healthy cooking is indeed the first preventive measure. Let’s replace healthy with unhealthy ingredients. • Choose carrot halwa over suji halwa • Choose wheat flour over maida • Choose dates/ raisins/honey for natural sweetness over white sugar • Choose roasted or steamed over fried • Choose skim milk over whole milk • Choose nuts over candies.
Party Smart All of us love to eat and entertain but why lose your hard earned waistline so easily. Prepare smart for the party.. • A light lunch– If you are going to eat out in the evening, make sure you opt for a light lunch like soup or salad. This will limit the overall calorie intake for that day. • Eat before you step out -Do not go out empty stomach, a quick soup/ salad / fruit bowl is do able, for the voracious eaters have a proper dinner and leave. Such a practice will prevent you from over indulging with higher calorie
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snacks. • Snack on the go – Roasted chana or diet khakra work as quick emergency snacks on the go when we are commuting and may have forgotten to eat our smart meals. • Choose wise- Make wise choices such as grills, steamed, fibrous options over fried, creamy and oily foods, • Water breaks- With food and drinks flowing at the party don’t forget to take frequent water breaks. This will keep your stomach full and your body well hydrated, leaving you fresh and light throughout the evening. • Desserts- If we must cheat then might as well taste your favourite dessert and limit the portions rather than trying to taste all the desserts which were never your first choice. • Water on the Go- Always have a bottle stacked away in the car for the journey. It is usually on the way back that we tend to feel dehydrated and fatigued. Hydration will keep the charge in you till we are back feeling light and guilt free.
Save your waistline • Green Tea- Sip on green tea post meals for digestion and keep your metabolism high. • Spiced water – Drinking warm water infused with cinnamon, pepper corn, cloves and lime is a sure shot fat burner post a heavy meal • Stay Active- Avoid plonking yourself on a couch, instead walk around or dance away to burn the excess calories. • Dilute your alcohol- Always sip on water before, in between and post your drinks to dilute the effect and limit the intake.
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• Learn to Say No- It’s not necessary that you always say yes while being served, it’s ok to say no is an assertive manner.
Distribute health Choose healthy give away gifts/ goodies instead of sweets and chocolates. An assortment of exotic organic green tea is more appreciated today than a bottle of alcohol. Similarly, nuts over sweets, crystal ware over a wine set etc are thoughtful giveaways. If you have received high calorie sweets it is not compulsory for you to eat them all. Learn to SHARE. Giving away to the needy is also a part of the celebration.
Dare to Bare… Write down what you have eaten during the day and be true to yourself. This is the most successful tool to create awareness and works like magic as it brings subtle subconscious warnings to make simple corrections on our own. Being vigilant in what you eat is your first step towards a fit body.
Party Smart ....Stay Healthy
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 21
LL | health & beauty
R
enu & Pragya gave up their lucrative job and started Vanity Cube, an on demand beauty and wellness company. Thirteen months later they are operational in Delhi NCR & Mumbai and have big plans for the next 12 months. If you are a busy professional, a busy mom, or someone who looks out for convenience all the time then there is a good news for you. Vanity Cube is now in Mumbai and provides beauty services at home. We got an opportunity to interact with the founders and here’s what they had to say!
Q.
When and how did you start – from the idea, to your first outlet, to today? VanityCube started last year with a personal need of not being able to make it to the salon for our monthly rituals due to hectic work schedule, long queues during weekend and by the time you step out to a salon they would close down. Spending 3-4 hours in salon for basic facials and waxing was quite taxing.
OYO rooms and others. We do regular express services in corporate premise of Jabong, Knowlarity, Sprinklr , Hike and many others.
Q. What is your service range and which are your most popular services at VanityCube? Currently we provide service to all women in Delhi NCR and Mumbai with service like makeup, facial, waxing, manicure, pedicure, hairstyling etc. Our most popular services are party makeup, facial, waxing and pedicure. Q. How you are different in this space? We bring convenience and affordability right to your doorstep, and who wouldn’t love that?
Q. And how has the journey been so far? It is a roller coaster ride. We started with a team of 4 people and today with a team size of almost 100 people. We not only have happy home clients but we provide regular services in office premise, hotels and wedding venue. We have recently come up with a Salon inside SNAPDEAL office in Gurgaon and tied up with budget hotels like 22
Q. How does one book an appointment? Our android customers can book through our mobile app and others can book via mobile friendly site or through our central customer support line 8010801091. Q. What has the feedback been like?
Home salons is not a new concept, but people today want clean, hygienic and professional services, which is exactly what we provide them with.
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
Q. What are your expansion plans?
Currently, we are operational from Borivali till Bandra and uptil Powai and plan to expand all over Mumbai in the next 2 months. We all plan to grow in 5 more cities in next 12 months. We are trying to change the perception that frequent salon and makeup services are not just for the elites and it should be a part of your monthly ritual at affordable price and convenience.
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LL | health & beauty
Love Fats ? Its not your
Fault!!! by Bhavna Kapoor Holistic Health Coach
W
e love fat! We simply cannot keep our hands away from all the fried, cheesy, buttery stuff if it happens to be around. A popular potato crisps jingle is so true to the times ‘ No one can eat just one.’ Well.. What we do not love so much is the after effects – the love handles, the unsightly bulges, the cellulite. Fact is we love fat because we need it for the most basic functions of our body. Our brain is 60% fat. Each cell has a fat component. Many vitamins and minerals are only absorbable only in the presence of fat. And our hormones have base in fats. The body has an intrinsic need to store at least some fat for the rainy day.
Dr. Christiane Northup, one of America’s leading health and wellness experts says, its not our fault at all that we love fatty foods “You are
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programmed to put on fat, whenever there is food available. But now there is a lot of food available, but it’s the wrong kind.’ Lets rewind a 12,000 years ago, to the time when humans were hunter gatherers. They basically lived off gathering fruits, berries and vegetables, and when these were not available, they hunted to survive. This was a time of extreme uncertainty, no one knew where his next meal was coming from. Periods of plenty were interspersed with periods of no food. Refrigerators, preservation and cold storage were still thousands of years away, and hence the body itself became like one, storing food in the form of FAT, to help the body survive when nothing would be available. Storing fat is our body’s survival mechanism, and remains to this day. Hence our love for fat!!! The problem now is that we now live in an endless period of bounty. If you are sitting and reading this, and excess fat happens to be your concern, you definitely belong to that percentage of the world’s population, for whom droughts and winters of food do not exist. Our stored fat never gets a chance to get used up!
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
The second problem, the much bigger one – is not so much the quantity of fats – but the kinds of fats we end up eating these days. The highly processed fat extracts, are unlike natural fats available in nature. Our body is simply not designed to process them. It does the best it can, and then throws its hands up and it shows up in the form of obesity, diabetes, cholesterol or heart disease.
“
You are programmed to put on fat, whenever there is food available
We’ve all heard of good fats and bad fats. Lets decode these. Good fats are, simply put - whole Fats, available in nuts and seeds, such as almonds, cashew nuts, walnuts, sesame, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and watermelon seeds. They are wholesome, full of fiber and also packed with other nutrients, and contrary to popular perception do not contain any Cholesterol ! Can we ever eat more than a handful of nuts and not feel so full? Hardly. Whole nuts and our body have this relationship of understanding,
hence overeating is nearly impossible. What are bad fats ? The ones we should we avoid ? 1. Animal Fats (that are contained in meat and dairy products), as they contain cholesterol and apart from lots of other hazards, can be responsible for clogging up our arteries. The hunter gatherer was hunting only when nothing else was available. It was definitely not for health, but more for survival. And he had to exert to get it (So if anyone tells you meat should be staple in your diet, think again). Dairy was non existent in his life. Yes, generations of our ancestors survived without a daily glass of milk, and they did fine. 2. Oils – oils are extracts of whole nuts, seeds or vegetables, with all their fiber removed, hence really dense in calories and very difficult for the body. Plus they have gone through some serious processing and refinement, which changes their molecular structure and even makes them carcinogenic. 3. Trans fats – this is a special category and deserves special mention. They are basically vegetable oils, that have gone through a process, so that they can be solidified at room temperature and be used for cooking at low temperatures. This is done purely to improve their commercial viability and therefore most commercial and packaged food producers love them ( your packaged chips, farsaans, fries, cakes etc)
Hence it is best to stick to whole healthy fats in the form of nuts, and seeds. If you have an active lifestyle, you can reach out freely for as much as your stomach can handle. If your lifestyle is more sedentary, a handful a day would still be good.
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LL | health & beauty
ww w.s hu tt
SPARKLE AND SHINE
THIS FESTIVE SEASON by Dr. Sharmila Nayak Sakhiya Skin Clinic (Celebrity Cosmetic Dermatologist)
W
e are all busy with preparations for the coming festive season. Many of us are busy shopping for the perfect clothes and accessories, spending time with family and friends and socialising. With all this running around, it is more than easy to forget and neglect our skin. During this period, good skin care is all the more important for a radiant glowing skin. With the festive celebration, comes indulgence in food, drinks, lack of sleep and stress. The end result: Just when you want to look the best, your skin starts looking dull, patchy and common issues like dark circles and acne come up. START AHEAD OF TIME! Start preparing for the coming season in advance with some basic things like cleansing, toning with an alcohol free toner and moisturising, followed by sunscreen on a daily basis. Once a week, exfoliate the dead cells on your skin with a gentle scrub. In case you have skin issues like acne, acne scars or pigmentation, start treating the skin well in advance because it will take a month or two to show the desired result. The better shape your skin is in before the season starts, the better you will look throughout the season. But because of lack of time, we opt for quick fixes which gives a temporary glow and within a couple of days our skin comes back to normal. In such situations, Dr. Sharmila Nayak
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recommends some quick fixes listed below which can come to our rescue. Not only do they help us give the desired glow but also control acne, restore youth, and reduce the pigment patches or marks on skin, thus giving a long lasting, healthier. and radiant skin. MEDI CLEANUPS Brightening treatments or Medi cleanups also give an instant boost to the skin . In these treatments, natural brightening agents like Vitamin C, fruit enzyme extracts and alpha hydroxy acids are infused into the skin. This works well for dull, patchy skin and even acne prone skin.
www.shutterstock.com/Vladimir Gjorgiev
SKIN POLISHING AND PEELS With Dussehera and Navratri coming up this month, ladies are very particular about having upper back and arms polished so that they look their best . Skin polishing and fruit peels are very
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
good options for skin rejuvenation for face as well as back. This helps in removing the layer of dead skin and any product used thereafter gets absorbed better. PHOTOFACIALS Photofacial or photo rejuvenation is one of the most popular and effective treatment for skin rejuvenation and for younger and healthier skin. It smoothens your skin texture and tone, lifts off the tan, resulting in visibly radiant skin. It even calms down sensitive skin. LASER TONING & LASER FACIAL Laser skin rejuvenation is one of the latest, highly safe and effective treatment. It is a quick, safe, and perfect procedure for those looking to rejuvenate and revitalize the skin.. It specially targets pigmented patches or dark spots thereby lightening skin, giving it a bright. Flawless, and radiant complexion and even tone. And finally, remember to exercise, take adequate rest and drink lots of water to keep the skin hydrated. Welcome the festive season with a clear and radiant skin, and sparkle and shine like the festive lights this Diwali.
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www.shutterstock.com/Karramba Production
LL | health & beauty
DIGNITY in MENTAL HEALTH
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e often make a healthy choice for our body by caring about its weight, and making it look beautiful, but what about our mind? Our mind too needs to be healthy. We often ignore our mental health for our physical health which would do nothing but harm us in any possible way. Mental health includes emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It comprises of our ability to think, behave and feel. Thus what will happen if all these abilities are hampered?? Our society as a whole is facing certain types of stress in some or the other way. The amount and the reason of stress differ with the level of mental health which gets affected. Every individual has a different capacity when it comes to handling issues, stress, and thus will behave in a different way. The problem with our mental health starts when it becomes difficult to lead our normal life, rise in the loss of pleasure in our daily activities and problem with our wellbeing. These slowly take form of disorders; if not treated at the right time, which affects both our mind and body. Some of the disorders are: anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorders, eating disorder etc. Mostly some people often render problem related to mental health as ‘madness’ which is not true. The myths attached towards mental health are as follows:
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“
Simrita A. Basrur (M.A. in Clinical Psychology) Psychologist and therapist at Omni Health Services
• Problems in mental health occurs when individual has done some kind of sin which is not true • Once disorder takes place it lasts for lifetime: this is not true with all disorders • Remedy for these disorders is only through a shock treatment
THE EARLY THE HEALING, THE BETTER THE LIFE
• Psychiatrists only prescribe medicines: psychiatrist often understand the case and give medicines if required. • Counselling is mere talking: there is a therapy and treatment plan thoroughly done as per the client’s case history. There is a saying “The early the healing, the better the life”, therefore seeking professional help at the initial stage often helps. Let us have a look on the physical symptoms of mental health which are fatigue, loss of appetite, vomiting, backaches, cancer, and hypertension. When there are physical symptoms,
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
there will also be emotional symptoms which are: mood changes, chronic anxiety, concentration and attention problems, etc. To check the different disorders there are different scales available which are: Anxiety, Depression, Claustrophobia, Obsessive compulsive scale etc. So, what’s the treatment for these problems?? • Seek professional help at the earliest • Learn more on mental health • Medication • Psychotherapy Some tips for the care givers of such individuals:• Your love and support will make them feel wanted • Show motivation and faith towards them • Understand their mood swings and act accordingly • Take help from the counsellor There is a mental health week from 5th-10th October which will follow the theme of ‘dignity in mental health’ (WHO). Individuals with mental health problems have to be treated with respect and empathy rather than a subject of ridicule or sympathy. This way it’s dignity for one and all.
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LL | health & beauty
Dr. Aasavari A. Tawde (PT) Consulting Physiotherapist, Karman Pain Care
BODY AWARENESS PRE NATAL CARE A women’s body is constantly changing from the moment of conception. Hormonal and physical changes affect not only the stresses placed on her body, but the way she moves as well. As the abdomen grows and weight is gained, increasing stress is placed on the spine and lower extremities. Any deficit in strength, stability, or range of motion will be exacerbated throughout pregnancy. The earlier the problem is addressed (by the 20th week), the greater the chances of success in eliminating the condition. Although it is still effective to address these conditions in the later stages of pregnancy, the goal becomes primarily one of pain relief and maintenance of current function. During pregnancy the pelvic floor muscles are subject to the effects of the hormone ‘Relaxin’ which assists the journey of the baby through the birth canal . This softening hormone will facilitate birth but may weaken the pelvic floor as a supporter of your pelvic and abdominal organs. When these muscles are weakened, they can lead to disorders such as incontinence,
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constipation, hemorrhoids and uterine prolapse Often, pain develops due to a muscle imbalance that was present prior to pregnancy and only now presents itself with the increasing stress of weight gain and postural changes of a growing abdomen. Once the mechanical stress of the injury is addressed, increased pain relief and greater ability for successful function in daily activities and work requirements can be obtained. Patient education is important for injury prevention through proper body mechanics with typical daily activities such as sitting, bending, squatting, and walking. Common Prenatal conditions that can be addressed in physical therapy: Sciatica Low Back Pain Mid and Upper Back Pain Plantar Fasciitis Knee Pain Early Stress Incontinence (prior to 8th month)
A women’s body is constantly changing from the moment of conception
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
BODY AWARENESS POST NATAL CARE Many changes occur to your body while your baby is growing in your belly. Post deliver, attention is shifted to your newborn (and survival), while your body and any aches or pains get pushed aside. The key to being able to take care of your new born and your family is to take care of yourself. Common Post natal conditions that can be treated in physical therapy Cervical Pain Low and Mid Back pain Sciatica Stress Incontinence - urinary leakage with coughing, sneezing, laughing, or lifting. Urge Incontinence - having the urge to urinate immediately with feeling of the inability to control or to hold urine for any length of time. Post C-Section Rehabilitation - scar restriction that inhibits the ability for abdominal recruitment Episiotomy Scar Pain
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LL | health & beauty
“PCO’s: P
COS, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, is becoming increasingly common, with as many as 30 – 40% of women in child bearing age, exhibiting symptoms to varying degrees. Apart from the acne and excessive facial hair, women with PCOS are also at higher risk for the following conditions: • Diabetes • Hypertension • High cholesterol • Fatty liver disease • Sleep apnea • Endometrial cancer What is the conventional treatment? Conventional treatment of PCOS is aimed at suppressing symptoms. Treatments include: • Medications to regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle. These are chemical, synthetic hormones and can cause various side effects. • Medications that block excessive androgen, such as the drug spironolactone (Aldactone). • Fertility drugs (if pregnancy is desired) that trigger ovulation, such as Clomid. • The drug Metformin (glucophage), to avoid diabetes. For some women with PCOS who have difficulty getting pregnant, we actually used to perform a type of surgery called laparoscopic ovarian drilling to stimulate ovulation! Modern approach to treatment through Integrative Medicine PCOS is a metabolic disorder, and the treatment involves identification of the root cause and its reversal through gentle, natural means. These include balancing of the hormones, personalised nutrition advice, exercise, and treatment of an underlying gut disorder. What this does is actually reverse the condition, not just suppress it. For more cutting edge information on health, visit my blog, BeHealthy StayHealthy, URL: drlilykiswani.com. Also, I will be delighted to hear from you what topics interest you. Drop a mail at drlk.integrative@gmail.com.and I’ll try to oblige.
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October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
The new rampant phenomenon amongst women” By Lily Keswani
C
AMBRIDGE
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LL | health & beauty
Cosmetic Dentistry / Esthetic Dentisry Q.
What is difference between Cosmetic Dentistry and Esthetic Dentistry ? Cosmetic and Esthetic Dentistry are two sides of a coin! Cosmetic dentistry deals with more aggresive work pattern, resulting in over all uplift of Appearance for a particular person. It is want based and may demand touch up to the surrounding features like upper lips / nasal folds/ nose etc. Esthetic dentistry deals with subtle approach towards teeth and generally is need based. Results of both disciplines are quite satisfactory.
Q. Is it advisable to consider touch
ups to upper /lower lips and nose cartilage to enhance Dental treatment? Yes very much! In today’s world of personification, we do recommend soft tissue touch ups. These procedures are now well within the alms of any members of Society, being much predictable and reasonably affordable!!We refer the person to a soft tissue consultant for such supporting work in tandom. See pic (before1 and after 1) for common efforts in shortening of upper lip resulting in sizeble exposure of upper teeth with laminates.
Today many options are available for getting a sparkling smile. The easiest way to get that is bleaching. Although there are many over the counter products to choose from professional dentist supervised treatment is safer and more predictable resulting in satisfactory results. Both in office and home treatment options are available. Tooth sensitivity is the only side effect of bleaching, however with a proper pre planning this issue can be handled carefully. The patients need to undergo professional teeth scaling prior to the bleaching session. Any cavities, failing restorations and gum problems need to be addressed first. Following a professional whitening patients can enjoy a brighter smile and a tremendous boot in self confidence.
Q. What is Zoom Effect ?
Zoom whitening as the name goes is the most sought after name when it comes to bleaching teeth. With adjustable settings of low, medium and high the customised settings help ensure each patient receives a comfortable desirable whitening experience. 25% hydrogen peroxide along with the blue light help patients achieve brighter smiles.
Before 2
After 2
Q.
Can Ceramic laminates change the overall appearance of smile to any bright shade? Yes with tremendous technological advances in dental material sciences, it is possible to impart any bright shade with help of ceramic laminate see pic before 3 and after 3, before 4 and after 4
Before 3
After 3
Before 1 Before 4
Q.
After 1
Q.
Please give some clarification of office bleach / power bleach procedures on teeth. How far they are predictable and safe?
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Are Dental Implants parts of Cosmetic / Esthetic dentistry ? Yes. Now it has become a need than luxury! In upper and lower jaw with certain areas, without teeth , can be considered for Implant / veneers/ crown option. (before 2 and after 2)
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
After 4
website: www.smilesbydrlele.com email: smilesforeverinfo@gmail.com facebook, twitter, instagram: smiles forever, Dr. Suhas Lele
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LL | food
GO! biryan
Food Around The Corner
BIRyanis with DUM by Sidharth Sodhi
B
iryani! As the saying goes, “sirf naam hi kaafi hai”. The delectable dish we all love. GO!biryan, which has it’s outlets in Andheri and Bandra, specialises in this fingerlicking fare. We spoke to Far-hat Navlakhi Saxena, co-owner of GO!biryan, to know more. Farhat : Around a year and a half ago Shehzaad Lokhandwala (co-owner of GO!biryan), who is my nephew, decided to do something related to food. So in early 2014 we opened Le Berian here in Andheri. With the opening of our second outlet in Bandra-Khar in June this year, we did a re-branding, changing the name from Le Berian to GO!biryan. I am a pharmacist and health care specialist with twenty eight years of corporate experience. For five years I was also the CEO of RRO, which is a leading Indian FMCG company. We did a lot of work with food in the retail space in India. My years of experience gave me valuable insights in to the Indian market and consumer preferences. I was running the company for them and helping in building and expanding the brand. My managerial experience will now come in handy here at GO!biryan. 36
Q&A with
GO! biryan Q. Tell us about GO!biryan.
Firstly, just let me say our biryanis are to die for. Let me explain how. Our recipe is completely weight driven. So we cook every batch with an electronic weighing scale. Even the salt put in is on the basis of weight. The recipe gets followed day in and day out so the taste does not change at all. Also our biryani’s are layered. The layers are separated and put in to individual pans. Then we re-layer the biryani every time someone places an order. This is critical and we have got it down to a science. The boxes
in which we pack the order look like a biryani handi. Also after opening the lid these boxes can be put directly in the microwave for heating. We have eleven different kinds of biryani.
Q.
Are you doing anything special for the festival season? The special thing we will do is more party-menu’s. We have something called Bulk-e-Biryan, or Biryani by the kilo. It brings down the price for a single dish by twenty five to thirty percent. We do a lot of catering for homes and offices.
In Andheri people are more inclined towards the main course. Also in Bandra there are more party (bulk) orders.
Q.
You may be traveling global but you are always living local. What does this mean to you? “International khaana khaate raho but in the end you will always come back to ghar ki biryani”.
Q.
What are Super Loaded Naan Pockets? I see them on the menu. The naan’s are basically stuffed with cheese. Every naan has around seventy grams of cheese. Then it is put in the tandoor. The naan fluffs up. Then we slice the naan and stuff it with butter chicken, mutton kheema, vegetable lahori etc. It is divine. We also serve kebabs, curries, rolls, desserts.
Q. What is the difference between
the Bandra and Andheri outlets? Firstly, both our outlets are takeaway outlets. In the Andheri outlet we have a little seating space on the terrace. Secondly, Bandra finds our rates very competitive, as in they are not used to such low prices (smiles). Thirdly, Bandra has more of a demand for the mutton dishes in comparison to Andheri where the chicken dishes sell more. Our starters are more in demand in Bandra. October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 37
LL | food
R E C I P ES
Ingredients: 1 cup basmati rice, half cooked n cooled 1 cup each chopped boiled carrots and beans 2 cups boiled noodles, fried till crispy brown 3 tbsp schezwan sauce 3 tbsp oyster sauce 3 tbsp rice wine vinegar 3 tbsp of dark soy sauce 3 tbsp ketchup 3 tbsp red chili sauce 3 stalks of spring onion with greens, chopped 2 tbsp sugar 1 tbsp of garlic paste 1 tbsp of schewan peppers 1-2 star anise 2-3 tbsp corn flour 2-3 green chillies chopped
by Sanjay Hingorani
Triple Schezwan Fried Rice Method:
Fried rice - on high flame, fry the garlic in some oil, add the veggies n spring onions, add the schezwan sauce and some soya n oyster sauce. Drop in a star anise here. Here if you like break an egg or two directly onto the veggies and scramble it. Now add rice and mix everything together. Add some vinegar on top as well. Garnish with spring onions with greens. Done. To make balls - here we either make chicken or veggie balls. Chicken balls we take 250gms mince, 1tsp garlic paste, 1 green chillies, 2 tsp spring onion greens and a tbsp corn flour. Knead together. Make them into small balls and fry till golden brown. Same with veggie balls. Take 250gms grated cabbage, squeeze out as much water you can, add corn flour it will help absorb the water. Add same ingredients above. Make small balls fry till golden brown. Gravy - Fry 1 tsp garlic paste, add 1 star anise, a few schezwan peppercorns, 2 tsp sugar, add the remaining sauces, soy, oyster sauce, ketchup, red chili sauce, rice wine vinegar. Add enough water to make more or less gravy. Bring to boil add 1 tbsp corn flour mixed with little water to thicken the gravy. Add the balls here. Garnish with spring onion with greens. Done. Bring the dish together. First plate the rice, pour the gravy with balls. Top it with crispy fried noodles.
Ingredients: 2 cups rice flour batter - 3/4 rice + 1/4 tur dal (same as idli batter) 1 tsp ginger paste 1/2 cup curds 1 tbsp sugar 1/2 tsp salt 2-3 green chillies slit 1 packet Eno 10gms 3 tbsp shredded coconut Fresh coriander chopped
Rice Dhoklas
Tadka: 2 tsp black mustard seeds cracked in hot oil (or ghee) with 4-5 curry leaves and 2-3 green chillies Garnish: Grated fresh coconut Fresh coriander 1 tsp sugar mixed in 2 tbsp water
Method: Thoroughly, mix the rice flour batter, ginger paste, salt, curds and then add 1 packet eno and mix well. Pour the mix in a square or rectangle metal container. Grease the container well like you would a cake mould. Ghee would be nice. In the cooker keep the container on top of at least 2 inches of water. Use a metal stand below to raise it. Put the lid on. Without the whistle, steam the dhokla for 10-12 mins on medium heat. Done. Let it cool for 10 mins. Remove dhokla from the container. Pour sugar water mix over it evenly, then garnish with the mustard seeds curry leaves tadka, sprinkle grated coconut and coriander leaves generously. Cut into small pieces and serve. I sprinkled red chilli powder before the tadka. Yumm. Note: Soak the rice and dal for 3-4 hours. Grind them to a batter. Cover and keep in a warm place for 12-14 hours to ferment.
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October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 39
LL | community Entrepreneur Of The Hood Aneesh Bhasin
ANEESH BHASIN, FO U N D ER A N D CEO O F TH E W I N E PA I R I N G A PP,
H I PCASK!
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October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
by Sidharth Sodhi
A
neesh Bhasin is an internationally renowned, multi award winning lifestyle photographer and writer. He is also the co-founder and CEO of Hipcask. Hipcask , formerly Indian Wine List is India’s first and only wine and spirits focused smart phone app and consumer platform. We talk to Aneesh about his journey and find out more about Hipcask. Aneesh: My dad was in the army. So I got to travel a lot. Initially photography was a hobby of mine. But by class
Q.
Why should one download the Hipcask app? Hipcask is an easy way to discover wines, beers and whiskies. It helps you to figure out what to buy. People get especially confused when it comes to wines. The app also helps users pair their food with the right drink. For instance on the app if you say, ‘I am having tandoori chicken. What should I drink with it’? Then the app will give the user suggestions from amongst the wines, beers, whiskies, that are available in the city. So it is not just a generic
Q.
A lot of vineyards have come up in the last few years. Which ones are your favourite? The average quality of Indian wines has definitely improved in the last few years. My favourites right now are Charosa. Their wines are really good. York does good wines. Some Sula wines are really good. They do a wine called Riesling. It is a fabulous wine for the Indian palate. There is a winery from Hampi called Krsma wines. They make the best wines in the country right now.
Q.
What are the changes you would like to see in Andheri west ? We need better footpaths. That aside, Andheri is becoming an excellent food and beverage hub.
Q.
Your favourite hangout spots in Andheri west? Woodside Inn, Brewbot. For food, Indigo Deli is fabulous. For coffee there is Starbucks at Infiniti.
Q.
twelfth I knew I wanted to take it up as a profession. I was in Bareilly at the time. After finishing school, instead of going to college, I chose to assist a photographer. I learnt a lot there. In 2003 I came to Mumbai to do a course in photography. I also started to teach photography. That is how the ball got rolling and my journey began. It was a hobby that turned into a profession. A lot of my photography was travel related so that took me to several places abroad and in India. Once I was commissioned to shoot for a book on the alcohol industry. That assignment took me to all of the vineyards in India. That is when I started tasting wine with a lot of wine makers. I started paying more attention to wines, spirits. Then, I went to Hong Kong for a wine fair and attended several workshops. I learnt a lot about wines, beers, whiskies. Me and my cofounder Shiladitya Mukhopadhyaya, both of us love wines. We are also heavy app users. We always wanted to make an app, do something in tech. We realised there was no resource for wine drinkers to go to. So we decided to build one.
suggestion. The app also recommends drinks in accordance with the occasion. For instance if one is looking to buy a wine for a date, the app makes it very easy to figure out what to buy. Very soon the app will solve the ‘where to buy’ issue as well. Eventually the user will be able to order the drink from the app. Also when it comes to alcohol retail, barring a handful of outlets, one does not feel like going to an alcohol/ wine shop. We want to change the whole experience in terms of alcohol retail.
Q.
Tell us about the Hipcask website. The website is about content relating to F&B (food and beverage). We do articles and reviews on wines, beers, whiskies. We are producing a lot of content related to food. We do maps as well. We did a map recently specifically for Andheri, about where to eat and drink in Andheri. We have done food trails in Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Delhi etc.
You were a photographer for over seven years. Now you are an entrepreneur. Is the pressure of being an entrepreneur on a completely different level. It is! Now there are people involved, investors involved. It is a bigger team. And I am responsible for everything. So the pressure is on a totally different level. But it is a really cool feeling to build something with the team. It is exciting. I do miss out on my sleep though. Too much work happening. (smiles)
“
We realised there was no resource for wine drinkers to go to. So we decided to build one.
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 41
LL | community WHAT’S HAPPENING
MAHAAN KIRTAN DARBAAR
Hosted By Gurpreet Kaur Chadha
SWAR SAGARIKA CRAZY4MUSIC (SINGERS CLUB) Singers and wanna - be singers come and join us for a scintillating concert of KARAOKE SINGING on 31st October, 6pm onwards at Andheri West. Bring your tracks or sing to our music. Prizes and refreshments and loads of happiness. Vintage melodies or latest Bollywood numbers. For Registration and Auditions: Call - Subhashini Sheopuri - 9833297956 Greenview CHS,17/601,MHADA APTS,Lane opp SHREEJI hotel
MAMI Film Festival When? : October 29th to November 5th Where? : The 17th Jio MAMI Film Festival is back with a bang. This cinematic extravaganza is all set to attract patrons from all across the globe along with some magnificent films. Apart from showcasing a hoard of independent cinema, the festival also showcases a great deal of Hollywood as well as Bollywood movies. It is a space for the celebration of cinema and gathers massive footfall. The festival will take place simultaneously at four different venues across the city. PVR Lower Parel, Regal Cinemas Colaba, PVR Versova, and PVR CitiMall are the four venues for Jio Mami this year. Chaired by film maker Kiran Rao, the festival has the stalwarts of the film industry as trustees, some of whom include Farhan Akhtar, Anupama Chopra, Karan Johar, Deepika Padukone, Vikramaditya Motwane, Riteish Deshmukh among others.
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Contemporary Dance WorkShop By Amit Neekhar When? : October 17th, 12:00pm. Where?: Link Road, Andheri West Get ready to swing to the lyrics and express your feelings via dance. Contemporary dance form is an eclectic mix of jazz, modern as well as ballet, and is highly popular in current times. Pay Rs. 700 and be a part of this session and polish your moves.
Dreams - Your Gateway to Healing with Neelam & Paul Hinsberger When? : October 17th, 9:00 am onwards. Where? : Link Road, Andheri West We have always been taught to never pay much heed to dreams as they are mostly figments of our imagination, but in reality dreams do hold a lot of value. In this two day long workshop, you will learn how to leverage the power of your dreams and use it to your benefit rather than letting your dreams remain a long lost phenomenon.
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
An ardent devotee of God, Gurpreet Kaur Chadha -President of Punjabi Global hosted a Mahaan Kirtan Darbaar by Bhai Sarabjit Singh (Hazoori Ragi-Darbar Sahib) at Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha on 19th September, 2015. The initiative was undertaken by Sr. G.S. Bawa, Sr. Ajay Singh Rathor, Sr. Parbinder Singh Chandok, Sr. Kanwar Singh Kochhar. The Mahaan Kirtan Darbaar witnessed the presence of who’s who of Bollywood and Television who came to seek the blessings of God. Shweta Khanduri ,Ajaz khan, Niharicka Raiszada, Ankit Gera, Mansi Pritam, Tushaar Kapoor, Jeetendra, Prabhu Deva and Ashvini Yardi, graced the event. Bhai Sarabjit Singh (Hazoori Raagi-Darbar Sahib) captured the essence of the holy moment and drowned the attendees in the devotion of Waheguru making the ambience holy and pure. It was an evening of grace, and serenity.
WHAT’S HAPPENING UNQUOTE THE QUOTES Talking about your problems is our greatest addiction, Break The habit. Talk about your joys - Rita Schiano If one counts, you will see a lot of people falling under this category i.e. those who only talk about their problems. Often we fail to remember the things that God has gifted us and we talk about the things which we do not posses. Such people are never happy and satisfied. One day just try thanking God for the things He has showered you with, one day talk about the things that make you feel happy and give you joy and you will feel the difference. Break the habit just for once and feel the change. Comparison is the thief of Joy - Theodore Roosevelt
When? : October 25th , 11:00 am onwards Where? : Link Road, Andheri West Conceptualized by D.S Research Centre, this shopping feast will be in tune with breast cancer awareness month, which is October, and hence adds value to the cause. To register or participate, contact: +91 9819871006/ +91 7738454770.
FREE REHABILITAION DO YOU HAVE MEDICAL CONDITIONS SUCH AS: LOWER BACK PAIN, SHOULDER, NECK, KNEE PAIN ETC? OR ANY OTHER MEDICAL PROBLEM FOR WHICH DOCTOR SUGGESTED REHABILITATION EXERCISES? WE ARE CONDUCTING FREE REHABILITAION FOR SUCH PATIENTS. IT IS A SOCIAL CAUSE SO PLEASE INFORM YOUR RELATIVES, NEIGHBOURS AND FRIENDS. FOR MALE CONTACT ON: 9820157445 ASIF SHAIKH (CELEBRITY FITNESS CONSULTANT AND CERTIFIED NUTRITIONIST) FOR FEMALE CONTACT ON: 9619170338 ASMA LOHAR (FITNESS CONSULTANT)
GOT EVENT?
Share with us & we will share it with everyone. articles@livinglocalmag.com
If you want to be happy all your life, follow one thing in your lifeNever compare yourself and many of the world’s problem would end the minute you stop comparing yourself with others. A very simple reason to stop comparing is that you have come on this earth to have a different journey and the others around you are on a different journey altogether. Now when the journey is different then why would you need something which they have? Stop comparing because all the things that you are worth, will eventually find a way to reach you. Joy is not in the things, it is in us - Benjamin Franklin The mind blowing theatre that you have set up in your living area, the high end luxurious automobile that you possess, the branded clothes from head to toe and all the other things that make your status higher in the society remain on this earth when your soul leaves your body. In some cases, despite having all the riches, people are still not happy. Why? Because the joy is not in these things, joy lies within us. To make a small moment into a big momentthat power is with us. Make use of it. You should be your own driving force. by Divya Panday
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 43
LL | community INSPIRE
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MAKING HIGH FASHION AFFORDABLE by Zeba Akhtar
BRINGING COUTURE ON SALE, WE CAUGHT UP WITH TEENA AHUJA KAPOOR, THE WOMAN BEHIND ‘THE VIP SALE’, AN UPCOMING PORTAL FOR AFFORDABLE DESIGNER WEAR. HERE’S WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY TO OUR QUESTIONS:
Q. What made you come up with the idea of ‘The VIP sale’? Being truly passionate about fashion and styling, I wanted every girl to own at least one great designer piece and get a true feel of what our country’s best makers have to offer. Thus, VIP Sale was born.
Q. Why the name ‘The VIP Sale’?
It’s impactful and self-explanatory. We all are someone’s “very important person” (VIP), be it in the form of a mother, a daughter, a wife or a sister and who doesn’t love a great sale at the end of the day to feel like a VIP or make your loved one’s feel the same.
Q. How easy/difficult was it for you to set up ‘The VIP sale’? It was a tedious task. I had no knowledge about how a website works or what are the logistics involved, but today I’m more aware about it that I could have ever been.
Q. What was the initial response like?
After the initial month, today we successfully have 15,000+ unique visitors since we went live. The response keeps picking up!
Q. How was it like to work with major stars of the film
industry? The day I got a chance to style Priyanka Chopra, that’s what changed my life upside down for the best. I am what I am today totally because of her patience and my love for fashion andstyling. I am lucky to have worked with some of the biggest names in the industry who are humble and hardworking, be it Priyanka Chopra or Shraddha Kapoor.
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October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
Q. What’s your vision for the brand for the future? I want TheVIPsale website to be known globally, where every girl doesn’t have to think twice before purchasing her dream designer outfit because of the great deals we offer.
Q. In your hood,
Andheri, what’s your favorite go to place fora. Food? Mainland China b. Fitness? The strip at the end of the market also known as the backroad... I either go cycling or walking there. Also, I’m lucky to have a pool in my building so I could just go for a quick dip anytime.
c. Shopping? The Main Street is the best place for some great buys, you just need to have an eye for it.
Q. Who’s your all time
favorite designer? My ultimate favourites always will be: Tarun Tahiliani Falguni and Shane peacock Chanel
Q. If there’s one celebrity you’d
want to dress up, who would it be and why? It would most definitely be, Lady Gaga. I just want to know what goes on in her head when she chooses a look and she’s someone I feel I can expand my creative horizons with.
Q.
You may be traveling global, but you’re always living local – what does the phrase mean to you? It means you can’t escape the love for butter chicken!!
THE HOODERS EXPRESS
I
do celebrate Ganesh Chartuthi, but I belong to a class that works each day to bring home money to sustain my family’s needs. If I stayed at home today to celebrate my festival my family won’t see the day’s wage. So I have left my family behind to celebrate the festival while I am at work today, secure in the knowledge that when they see me in the night today, their eyes will gleam because I could get them their favorite Mithai.
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 45
LL | community WOMEN - Making a Difference Rojita Tiwari
Changing the Way You Think About
WINE! by Zeba Akhtar
“IN INDIA, MOST PEOPLE DRINK ALCOHOL TO GET DRUNK, THEIR MAIN AIM BEING TO FLOOD THEMSELVES WITH LIQUOR AND PASS OUT. BUT THAT’S NOT THE TRUE USE AND PURPOSE OF ALCOHOL. IT IS MEANT TO BE SAVOURED, AND IT IS THIS VERY STEREOTYPE WHICH I WANT TO BREAK.” She chuckles as she says this. Meet Rojita Tiwari, our woman of the hood, who is all set to change the way you think about wine and spirits. With a career in the alcohol industry for over 13 years, she now organizes wine tasting sessions, and reviews spirit competitions in India and abroad. On being asked about her journey, she elucidates saying: “My first job was that of a website content writer followed by news reporting, both of which I never liked. I always wanted to be a part of a niche publication, and eventually ended up working for a magazine that focused on bilateral trade between India and Australia, and it was during this job that I got acquainted to the world of wine. I got to try a variety of Australian wines and it always lured me. However, the major break came in after my marriage, when I began working for a magazine dedicated exclusively towards alcohol and luxury, where I got to taste and review different spirits and visit a variety of vineyards.” These experiences furthered her curiosity into the world of bubblies and she decided to take it a step further, by acquiring accreditation from WCET and is currently amongst the top 10 women for wine in India. “I want to educate and inform more and more people about the apt usage of wine. Most people do not even know about the varieties of wine, leave alone being able to pair their wine with the right kind of food. When I started off in 2006, the alcohol industry was a very
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nascent one. People hardly knew much, and neither did many talk about it. To venture into such an unexplored arena, was risky indeed. Moreover, there were hardly any women associated with the industry, which also made many people question my decision behind taking it up as a career. Most people thought it was not even a real job. But my idea to work towards expanding the niche kept me going, and today there is considerable awareness regarding wine and spirits, and people are trying to inform themselves and make effort to know better.” “I think as a woman, it was all the more challenging, but the whole excitement of it always keeps me going. It was with this passion for wine, that I decided to devote myself full time to a career in wine tasting and consultancy and ended up quitting my regular job. Today, I hold various sessions and write for numerous alcohol and luxury based portals, and host my
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
own blog on wines called Drinks and Destinations.” Rojita hopes to take her fervor for wines a step further with the establishment of her own firm which would be dedicated towards changing and evolving the wine and spirit scene in India. She also firmly believes, that given the right leverage, even Indian wines can be at par with foreign wines and hopes to bring this feature to the forefront.
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 47
LL | community
ANDHERI Serves Up Music with your Meal! by Zeba Akhtar
T
ime off from work brings both relief and a gargantuan dilemma - what would be the best way to use your free time? Unless you’re the kind to kick back and nap, the trend tends to be a meal and a movie, sometimes a live show. Restaurants in Andheri West have taken to incorporating the live band experience with your meal, allowing you to get the most of your valuable time. Nothing sounds better than getting a drink or two with your friends before jamming out with a local band in your favorite neighborhood joint, except maybe getting some food after. Living Local has provided, for your convenience, the best restaurants and bars to meet your live music needs! HE SAID SHE SAID Known for its young crowd and fun decor, this bar also hosts the occasional live show for its patrons. While you’re there, try something from their extensive and unusual shots menu and if you’re particularly brave, you could experiment with their Balls of Steel range! The appetizers come well recommended, and they even have a small quirk shop for knick-knacks. For the Instagramfaithfuls, there’s a selfie booth equipped with props, making this venue one of the more popular options for your weekends. When?: Sundays are their live music days, but it’s recommended you call ahead to confirm! Address: Remi Bizcourt, Veera Desai Industrial Area, Veera Desai Road, Off Link Road, Behind Fun Republic & Yash Studio, Andheri West Contact: 91 9022480780 HARD ROCK CAFE Practically synonymous with the idea of great music and live shows, the HRC in Andheri West is located opposite the Yash Raj Studios, making it impossible to miss. The excellence of the location, plus the delectable menu and happy hours make it the perfect spot to chill with friends.
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When?: Thursdays Address: Sharyans Audeus, Ground Floor, Opposite Yashraj Studios, Andheri Lokhandwala, Andheri West Contact: 022 26743901 BOVEDA A music oriented venue, Boveda certainly delivers with their live music shows. They also have karaoke nights on Wednesday and DJs that frequent the place to help cement their music based ambience. The food is a definite draw, and you should not miss their cottage cheese and spinach croquette, along with other appetizers and pizzas. The happy hours and huge space make it a good place for large group hangouts. When?: Friday/ Saturday Address: G04, Morya Landmark One, Plot B-25, Off New Link Road, Oshiwara Village, Andheri Lokhandwala, Andheri West Contact: 022 33715962 HARRY’S BAR AND CAFE Andheri can boast of its own branch of the well known Singaporean chain. They bring you live bands every week, at 8 pm and people flock in huge numbers all the time. While you’re there, don’t forget to try their Singaporean Sling cocktails, or even the East Asian starters
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
that pay homage to their origin! When?: Tuesdays Address: 1st Floor, Fun Republic, Veera Desai Road, Shah Industrial Estate, Andheri Lokhandwala, Andheri West Contact: 022 30151125
BARBEQUE NATION Besides grilling a mean kebab, Barbeque Nation is one of the only restaurants that has live music everyday. Their buffet lunches are also equally excellent, making the experience fairly satisfying. For discounts, grab a table between 7 to 7:30 pm! When?: Every day during dinner, and during lunch hours on Saturday and Sunday Address: Ground Floor, Dreams Square, Andheri West, Mumbai - 400053, Near Fun Republic Mall Contact: (91)-22-60600001, 60600000
CHRONICLES OF THE HOOD
MITTY Pottery Classes and Sculpture Studio by Sidharth Sodhi
M
itty pottery classes and sculpture studio is a popular shop located inside Jewel Shop-ping Centre at Seven Bungalows, Versova. Mitty has been around for eighteen to twenty years. It is a one of a kind shop. Not only can one purchase exclusive handmade pottery pieces there, one can also learn the art of pottery at the hands of a very accomplished teacher, Mr. Vinod Dubey. Mr. Dubey tells us that initially Mitty had started out as a very small shop that made pots (for plants) and also maintained a plant nursery. He spent many years learning pottery under well known masters of the craft. He was then advised by one of his gurus to start teaching pottery as well. “Pottery is like meditation, it is therapeutic”, he says. Over the years Mitty has developed a strong, loyal clientele. They offer quality products at affordable prices. Be it mugs, frames, bowls, pen holders, serving dishes, jugs etc. They even make eco-friendly Ganesha’s, on order. Mitty also conducts workshops. Mr. Dubey signs off by saying, “currently we are facing competition from e-businesses. But Mitty will always be there! Because we have something exclusive”. Touché.
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 49
LL | kids & parenting
ARE YOU READY TO HAVE KIDS? by Sherene Aftab
In our previous issue we spoke about a few parameters to keep in mind before planning on bringing a child into the world. However, there still remain a variety of other aspects that too need to be covered and thought of before one takes the major leap.
Q. Are are willing to put the child’s needs before yours most of the times? There are going to be many sleepless nights, changing nappies, feeding an uncooperative child, dealing with crying spells and many other challenging and annoying experiences of being parents to a newly born. And unless you are well off you may also have to forego many of your own needs which could be an exotic vacation, a better automobile or a better mobile etc. over your child needs which could be putting him into a better school, sponsoring his birthday party, new clothes, braces, a trip to Disney world etc. Part of the being a good parent “deal” may sometimes sum up to putting the needs of your child before yours, are you willing to do that? Q. Are you willing to give up on your current lifestyle? Your current lifestyle may include late night partying with friends on weekends, spontaneously planning a trek or a vacation, eating out most of the times instead of putting together home cooked meals, full time work etc. The two of you might just have to bid your goodbyes to this lifestyle because babies need a predictable schedule and they have an insatiable need for fulltime care, attention, and love. Are the two of you willing to reschedule your priorities to nurturing your baby? Are you willing to compromise on full time work or going to a party because your baby needs your attention and not regret about the shift in your priorities. 50
Q. Do you think your relationship is ready to handle the next level of commitment i.e. parenthood? You may share a loving relationship with your spouse but it could take a toll on your marriage. Great levels of patience and understanding need to be harnessed between a couple when children begin to make their presence felt. Do you think your spouse can handle the shift of your attention from them to the baby, because every relationship is hit by a fair amount of neglect when raising children which is normal but if the two of you do not have strong communication and if you both do not work as a team this could be a cause of stress in your relationship as a couple.
Q. Are you physically fit to bear a child? It is crucial to be aware that the mother to be needs to be physically fit and free of any medical complications, lifestyle diseases, or any nutritional deficiencies. A check with your GP should determine that. Giving your
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
baby the best start in life means getting your own health sorted first. It is worth making adjustments to your lifestyle like eating a well balanced meal, stress management, exercising, cutting down on drinking or smoking for the benefit of your health and the health of your baby.
Q. Have you turned to parenthood because you have realistic reasons? Realistic reasons mean, you are not in it because you want to pass on your genes for heredity reasons. You are fully aware that the little infant you have been idolizing about is going to grow into an unreasonable teenager someday and when they are adults you may have to deal with the empty nest syndrome. You have turned to parenting because you have unconditional love to pass on to your children, and under no circumstances would you see them as tools to support your old age, not that it is wrong to want your children to be there for you when you are old but it’s important to not see them an investment for your old age.
So before you take that plunge, re read these questions and look for answers within. Parenting is definitely a joy ride, yet at the same time it can go horribly wrong if not approached in an appropriate manner.
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 51
LL | kids & parenting
Positive Parents: The Secret Ingredient for your Child’s Successful Future
“Man often becomes what he believes himself to be. If I keep on saying to myself that I cannot do a certain thing, it is possible that I may end by really becoming incapable of doing it. On the contrary, if I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it even if I may not have it at the beginning.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Your approach towards the situations of your life has a great influence on your children’s attitude towards you and their own life. Simply put, what you sow is what you are going to reap. Plant muskmelon seeds, you will get muskmelons, not watermelons no matter how much you try. Scream, dance, or pray; you are still going to get a muskmelon. Similarly if you are pessimistic, it affects your children just the same way. It is imperative that children know that there will always be a mixed bag of situations in life, but, an optimistic
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Your positivity will help you and your children in very many ways: Children’s Approach to Life: What do you tend to focus on: the positive or the negative? That’s what your child will also learn. So if you live by the maxim that if life throws you a lemon you will make lemonade, then they will do just the same. As a result you will have nurtured one ‘happy in life’ child Better Interpersonal Relationships: If you tend to focus on the strengths of others and not their flaws, you will be able to foster better interpersonal relations as it will make you more practical, patient and peaceful. And the bonus, your child will learn to do the same too. Sadly, the inverse is also true. Higher Emotional Quotient: Positive people are happier people. So when all is well within you, your tolerance to situations and people is higher. This means you will not be easily intimidated and internal peace will prevail. A high emotional quotient in your child is an important factor for success in today’s crackling times. Better Health: Positivity increases our immunity. Mayo Clinic reports a number of health benefits associated with optimism,
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
including a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular problems, less depression, and an increased lifespan. Therefore, by incorporating positive thinking in your and your children’s day to day to life, you will be giving them the most important treasure of life: Good Health. www.shutterstock.com/ Dmytro Zinkevych
approach will help take the sting out of the bite.
Self Belief: Stress and setbacks are an inherent part of life. Positive people have an internal locus of control and have a healthy self esteem. Children who adopt positivity are more in control of the situations in their life. These are the advantages of positivity; in the next edition we will discuss the techniques for being positive. Until then, Happy Parenting. Nivedita Mataliya is a counseling psychologist specializing in children, relationship and family counseling. Her initiative, ‘Little Tornados’, is a child empowerment centre in Lokhandwala. You can contact her on 9821207635 or littletornados@rediffmail.com.
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LL | kids & parenting
Early Childhood Development and the Montessori Method
E
arly Childhood Development and the Montessori Method Dr. Maria Montessori, developed her theories on early childhood development after spending twenty years observing children at work and play, across socio-economic classes and cultures. She introduced the revolutionary concept of The Absorbent Mind and The Sensitive Periods. Traditional child psychology did not recognise that children in the early
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years of their life were aware of their environment and therefore education was not developed to cater towards this all-absorbent Mind. The child from birth to three years of age is born helpless and dependent on the adults around him, and has to develop the basic human functions of expression, purposeful movement and conscious will. He develops this through the power of his Absorbent Mind – the ability to unconsciously absorb everything in the environment around him, which enables him to construct himself. From the age of three to six years, the child is in the conscious stage of the Absorbent Mind. His fundamental need during this phase is independence. His mantra is “Let Me Do It Myself!” Another of Dr. Montessori’s contributions was the discovery of the Sensitive Periods. Every child from birth to six years of age passes through a special time, where his desire to develop a life skill is so strong, that he needs to practice it exhaustively till it becomes a core part of his being. This along with his Absorbent Mind
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
allows him to develop the skill with an innate ease, which he can never replicate after the period has passed. The child, if not allowed to develop his life skills at this age becomes cranky and frustrated. Her prescient understanding of these critical periods is now confirmed by scientists and even popular culture affirms of it, with Time magazine calling it “Windows of Opportunity”. There are three significant Sensitive Periods in every child. The Sensitive Period for Order – Here, every child needs spatial, social, sensorial and temporal order in his external environment. These routines provide him internal security and help him orient himself. The Sensitive Period for Movement: This is the most intense during the first year of life. Nobody can teach a child to walk, yet the child develops these abilities independently, gaining control over his limbs through the Absorbent Mind and his sensitivity towards movement. He wants to perfect large motor movements like jumping and running and fine motor skills to refine his eye/hand coordination so that his hand truly becomes an instrument of his mind. The Sensitive Period for language: This is so strong that the human child will effortlessly learn the languages in his environment and express himself in full syntax and correct speech by the age of three without being taught. Based on this insight into child psychology, the Montessori environment was developed to allow the child full and free development of his will, movement and language. The Montessori Method is thus education for life, allowing for joyful selfdevelopment of the child.
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CALL NOW for special rates October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 55
TAROTSCOPE
YOUR FORECAST FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2015
THE YEAR AHEAD FOR LIBRA Happy Birth Anniversary! Your year ahead will allow you now to define your stability for yourself, particularly in matters of relationships. So, singles who have met a special one, you may consider marriage. For those already committed, you are looking at growing your togetherness! Finance will demand attention, in a nice way. Health will appreciate routine workouts. (Please note: The guide uses Zodiac Signs according to date of birth, and not according to your Sun Sign, Moon Sign or Ascendant. There is no cusp.) ARIES (March 21st-April 20th) Your dynamic outlook will carry the day. You may have to sometimes practise a bit of prudence, but you can notch it down to building your leadership skills. You will find admirable traits in others, if you look. Health will be generally good, but be alert and take care towards the end of the month. TAURUS (April 21st-May 20th): Much of your wisdom will receive appreciation from people who matter to you. It will be favourable for your cohorts and family to have you around. You will be very pleased with this month, overall, even if nothing major happens. Health will generally be good and will benefit from loving relationships. GEMINI (May 21st-June 20th): While the month gets off into an exciting start for you, do keep all your antennae tuned into shifting gears down to match the pace of the world, through the weeks. It would be better for your mood if you just decide to observe others who are rather unlike you, this month. Health will benefit from traditional care. CANCER (June 21st-July 21st): A lot of things will make sense to you, this month, even when you are not the initiator, and you may even find treasures worth your while amongst the more hard-nosed folks. But the real surprise is at the end of the month, when you can become a beacon for all concerned. Health will be good with dietary care.
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LEO (July 22nd-August 22nd): You will certainly be appreciative of the way the month unfolds for you, even though it won’t be the way you would have planned. You will benefit from others’ good decisions and the world will be a warm, happy place. Health would benefit from playing safe, especially with old issues. VIRGO (August 23rd-September 22nd): Perhaps, this month’s energies were coded with you in mind, though you are not the one to brag! Whether people around you realise it or not, you are the perfect go-to person, this month. The way you are inclined to handle things will be absolutely the only way to success, for these weeks. Health will be good, and could be better by following your own wisdom. LIBRA
(September 23rd-October 22nd):
This will be a month you will be able to appreciate, because even when things are not going your way, they would still be panning out with perfection, visible in the results. You may have to work a tad harder than usual towards the latter half. Health will benefit hugely from sticking to health-routines you particularly like.
MOHINI BASU is a Tarot Card reader, Hypnotherapist and Life Coach. She can be contacted on mohini.tarot@yahoo.com. Her website is theredfoxanddeerlady. wordpress.com.
October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
SCORPIO
(October 23rd November 22nd):
This month will help you feel good and comfortable, even stable, through external agencies. You will not have to work hard at keeping yourself well. You may even benefit from people you look up to, without it being planned. Health will benefit from your regular and familiar workout routines. SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd-December 21st):
This month may ask you to be more like other people than being yourself, but you are going to enjoy the experience. You will gather much more of wisdom that you worship, and eventually, you will be much enriched. It will be like an adventure without the risk! Your health will be good with dietary care. CAPRICORN
(December 22nd–January 19th):
You will have yourself a good time this month, because underlying everything that happens will be ways to show up your own brand of wisdom. You will also get to incorporate a thing or three from other people’s styles, into your own ideating, and for the better. Health will be rather good, and will benefit from your loving relationships. AQUARIUS (January 20th–February 18th): You would do well this month to stick to your general routine of everything. Refrain from putting out your ideas; instead, watch how different people do things differently, and still, the goal is achieved. If things puzzle you, make a note of them, and soon, you will also find the answers. Now is not your time to be proactive. Health will benefit from conventional wisdom. PISCES (February 19th-March 20th): This is a month when you will benefit from and enjoy the company of people you can trust to keep you grounded, stable and together. You would want to keep a low-profile and it is all right. Any activity that shows up in the beginning of the month will soon be successfully over. By the end of the month, you will be more settled and sure of yourself. Good health is in sticking to familiar routine.
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October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 57
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October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)
October 2015 | Volume 1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition) 59
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October 2015 | Volume1 Issue 6 | Living Local Mumbai (Andheri West Edition)