First Aid Kit - Travel

Kids are always getting into scrapes and scratches and specially when we are far away from home.Over  a few posts I am going to detail how I travel with my toddler and include information about things to carry in a diaper bag and these are the essential ones.I will not travel without these .I also make sure to keep a small first aid kit for boo-boo's and believe me they have come in handy. I have made use of my first aid kit when my toddler fell and scraped her knee in a zoo among other things.

I received this kit courtesy a children's hospital so I know that it is pretty comprehensive.You can add or subtract as your heart desires.I think the prerequisite is a small bag as we have a mentality of stuffing everything but the kitchen sink in it.Its important to emphasize on the word "travel" hence the need for concise yet comprehensive.

Here are the things you need

1. A small bag - I use the small zippered bag that I received.It has a hook .It is conveniently red and transparent so I don't spend all my time digging for it. Zip-lock bags work in a pinch 
2. Band Aids- This is a no-brainer. Make sure to have 5-6 band-aids  preferably water proof and replenish at least once a month.You can get cute character themed ones like Dora and spongebob .It eases pain...trust me 
3. Hand Sanitizer Towlettes - Its only for hands and not to clean the wound
4. Antispectic Ointments Singles / Small tube of Antiseptic Ointment .To cleal a wound or scrape an antiseptic / cleansing wipe may be used 
5. Soothing Moisturizer like tube of Aquaphor or Aloe Vera Gel for relief from sunburn and minor skin irritations.A small vial of Lacto Calamine may be used. Lacto Calamine is also helpful for relief from insect bites 

All individuals have different needs and this is by no means a complete list.Remember travel lite and stay safe.If all else fails a lot of hugs and kisses will also seal the deal.Leaving you with Barney's Anthem.It sure makes me feel good and the toddler adores it.Make sure you also check the expiration dates for all the items .You can also purchase ready made kits .

In the Summer time - the weather is fine

Ya Baby!!!! When the weather is fine its time for summer friendly footwear and pedicures.Trust me summer is the time when clothes and shoes start coming off and we all appear out of our chrysalis.We also hope that the summer makes us more active and we end up lighter  figuratively and literally . On that note here is another video that I am hooked on.My daughter is so acquainted with these videos that whenever I put it on ,she will exclaim "Jillian Michael" and enter into that same more .I swear my daughter is a punishing trainer and she has her routine down pat. We start off with a warm-up for 2 minutes and then she goes around inspecting me and my hubs forms.Watch out Jillian Micheal's you have competition

Anyhooo. I scored these awesome flip - flops cause hey summer is the time for flip-flops and its all about flip- flopping everywhere.Check it out

This really called to me it says sunshine... Warm buttery sunshine .The colors are so vibrant that they call for a special pedicure . I used a Revlon Colorstay Longwear Nail Enamel Marmalade 110. Before you say boo!!!! its orange.Ill let you into a small secret that minime picked it up for me and it looks for bright for summers.

If I buy for me how can I forget my Baby so she also got some summer sandals - Drool Drool

And Finally the finished product - Ta da !!!!! Let the summer games begin....

Trial sized products pack a punch

I've always wanted to live like a kid in a candy shop. Sample this ,sample that etc etc.We do it for food among other things but we usually never do it for cosmetics and beauty products.Over the course of the year I've received and brought many trial sized products. These are our same old products but miniaturized. I've always been fascinated by miniatures.Dolls bring them on , miniature tea sets and cooking utensils send me salivating and don't even get me started on dogs and other animals( teacup pig anyone).Just the thought of something tiny makes me go gaga and mushy with lots of oohs and aahs... Ask my Mini -me .


I started exploring beauty products and I have been hooked ever since. The cute packaging and sized - ooooooohhhh baby .The best part of trial sized products is Variety.You had me at trial sized.Here's a fun look at how to use trial sized items 

1. Travelling - Be it to a hotel or mid flight emergencies
2. Purses/ Diaper Bags- No need to take add /remove things just use duplicates .Especially good for date night emergencies. Food stuck between your teeth( next time go easy on spinach) ,use your handy dandy travel size floss
3. Gyms/ Schools- Mini wipes and hand sanitisers .
4. College /Hostels- You never know when that mini deodorant will come handy 
5. Guest Bathrooms - Leave a little something for your guest and they will thank you 
6. Car - Hey a little mini gloss never hurt anyone
7. Emergency / First Aid Kits -I will do a more in depth post for first aid kits for kids. Yes but bandages and trial sized antibiotic creams do the trick 

You can buy the trial sized items for anything and yes I heart beauty products.Here is some stuff I have been using.Sometimes its the little things that matter most in life...

How about you?What products do you use 

Palmer's Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil Review

Pregnancy is filled with joy and trepidation.Joy about the new life you are nurturing and yes trepidation about it also, but more trepidation about the changes to your burgeoning body. While I was pregnant I gained the ubiquitous 20 pounds. I ate nutritiously , yes I sneaked in golgappas and all and yes I exercised as well but I was still stretching and growing. When the skin tears and stretches to accommodate the growing baby it results in scarring or stretch marks .They are silvery grayish and white and can occur due to weight gain. They start off as reddish and purplish and fade over time though not completely.I had done all my research and realised that you can't prevent them but you can try and reduce their appearance and hence I turned to one of the most famous pregnancy products called “Palmers “.They manufacture a whole line of products but I used the “ Palmer's Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil”

I used it throughout my pregnancy and also post it. I used to massage it onto the more prone areas at least twice a day. A little goes a long way .It is safe for pregnancy .It contains vitamins and ensures fast absorption.I have stretch marks but using it as a mode of moisturising ensured that my skin was soft and supple and slowly and surely it is also lightening the stretchmarks. See , its not a miracle oil but applied religiously will at least make some difference .The best part is that its not limited to stretch marks and is actually a skin therapy oil with vitamin e , so it can be used for old scars, stretch marks , wrinkles , uneven skin tone and its even anti aging. So its a all in one product. Adding it to your beauty regime provides multiple benefits and makes away with many products. It's also reasonably priced .

Pros

1. Non - greasy and gets easily absorbed into the skin
2. Convenient dispenser means no more messes or splatters
3. Lovely chocolate like smell - yes its made out of cocoa butter.Trust me this is a huge plus . A jolt of chocolate aromatherapy never did anyone any harm
4. Makes the skin soft and supple.I've been  noticing a difference in my hands when I massage
5. Does make the skin more elastic and also improves the appearance of scars

Cons

1. The fragrance may not be as agreeable to everyone
2. Results will vary based upon the mode and frequency of application

I was mostly satisfied and I will give it 3.5 stars out of 5 specially for the chocolate like aroma and how it makes my skin supple and soft

Summer summer - Strappy Sandals

Hey Summer ,where are you ? When will I be free of the winters bulk and the boots ....? I salivate about short and wispy clothes .I drool about summer manicures , pedicures and strappy sandals.Please come as soon as you receive this
xoxo
Jiya

Thats my letter to summer and dang it , it had better come soon..or else .....
Well summer seems to be in a fickle mind but meanwhile we enjoy some good days.. Days that call for these ..my new summer sandals

Well to wear such cute sandals your feet need to be prepped.So for this I tried this pedicure routine.I used these products to prepare .

1. Epsom Salt - Soak your feet in warm water .Add Dr Teal's Epsom salt (As required) and soak .This is the relaxation phase of your feet makeover.Say Om!!!!Soaking your feet in a tepid bath makes you feel refreshed .All the tension seems to seep out of your feet and you feel fresh.Bonus if your feet are tired and sore after hitting the sales ,this soak will revitalize you for round 2.God save the Husband.

2. Exfoliater/ Scrub -Use any that handy.I had a St. Ives apricot scrub that I use for my face.Just a gob and scrub away after drying your feet with a towel.This helps to slough off the dead skin and brightens the skin tone.This scrub will also remove rough skin around the heels .

3. Moisturizer Cream- After Rinsing and toweling off your feet show your feet some more love by massaging in a cream.I used Eucerin Every Day Protective Moisturizing Body Lotion, SPF 15, Makes your skin soft and dewy and extra marks for the SPF.Every little bit counts and reduces the exposure to sun

4.Nail Polish- Now we have come to the heart of all this primping.A nail polish can make or break this look.Heaven Forbid!!! I chose a nice pastel color from NYC.Cashmere Mist No 184 .This link is just for reference .The color sells for about a dollar. Add a bit of nail art.I added flowers and butterflies to symbolize spring and layer with a clear top coat 

5.Strappy Sandals - Drum-roll for the show stopper.You need killer sandals to complete the look.Slip them on and let the word sigh with envy and say whose that girl (ahem who do these feet belong to at-least)

Tada....

Think of this when you are out shopping for a new pair or falling in love again with a slightly older pair. As I always say ,If you have it then flaunt it 

Ready set for Summer - your summer essentials in a bag

Its a beautiful day in the neighborhood so what are you doing sitting at home? Its summertime and the beach , the parks and the outdoors beckon.During the summer its a big whirlwind of activity where you have day trips and sometimes overnight trips where the common thing is that you are away from the hum drum and your home.Do you often feel that you've forgotten something and wish that you had a go to essentials bag to help you in your day trips? Here is the answer.This is my go to bag that I keep in my diaper bag and It has served me well.depending on your needs you can subtract and add  but here is a list of my summer essentials 

1. A pretty bag - Tada... Get a bag which is pretty and fairly roomy.It should be thick enough to absorb any spills or swipes and the zipper can be attached to a hook in your bag.Here is mine .It Looks pretty feminine.

2. Face Cleansing Wipes - These are a must and do double duty for the parents and the kiddos.Make sure that they are alcohol free and relatively gentle for faces.I use "Simple facial  cleansing wipes" in a travel size.I cannot emphasize the convenience of travel sized on such a trip.These wipes are kind to the skin and that's soo true.Gentle enough for me and the kiddo.The lack of frou frou ingredients defines its moniker. It contains added vitamins and helps nourish your skin.The wipes are gentle enough to remove make up from your face and eyes.They are perfect for sticky toddler faces as well.

3. Moisturizing Lotion - This is good for dryness or slight scrapes.Again choose a simple moisturizer without any fancy ingredients.My go to travel sized is the "Nivea Extended Moisturizer ".Its perfect for extra softness and nourishment of the skin

4.Facial Cleanser - A must must must. There are summer days where all the dirt and dust comes to rest on your skin and the toddler seems to have a diaper accident and even rolls in the mud like a pig. This comes to your rescue.Try to use a double duty cleanser for you and the kids. My go to is the "Neutrogena Visibly Bright ".It includes vitamin C and with its special formula dissolves skin- dulling impurities and hence the skin looks brighter and less tired .This is a boon specially after a long day of fun

5.Sun screen -This is the most essential item in your bag so make sure you choose wisely.You cannot forget this and since you need to reapply .Choose wisely and choose ones that are mostly water repellent.I use the "Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen , SPF 70 ".Its water proof, dries to the touch and has SPF 70 .It delivers very high ,very broad and photo stable protection. Like all sunscreens it dries on a little white but it does the job.I like it.

This covers all my essentials and then you can add anything you want .I even added some nail polish remover pads for little manicure related accidents .I recommend the "Cutex one step pads"  mainly cause they are ones I found.I like the fact that they are compact.

So what are you waiting for? pack it up and let the fun begin......

Almay Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover Pads

Eye makeup is such  a guilty pleasure ..You can pile it up like my previous review of almay i intense eyes shadow but its difficult to remove and you often end up with raccoon eyes.This look is as dramatic as the previous one but not as attractive especially to the Hubs..

Enter almay oil free makeup remover pads.They are 80 to a tub and are easily available. In fact cost wise they are comparable to even the store brands hence they are economical

As per the product brief using them Your lashes feel soft and beautifully conditioned, they are perfect for contact lens wearers and they are Hypoallergenic & Ophthalmologist tested.




Pros

1. They do work for contact lens wearers.I wear contacts and they are quite soothing and moist and have never irritated my eyes. To be on the safer side I also wash my eyes after using them
2. They are heavy duty and are able to clean out the gunk of the mascara ,eye shadow and eyeliners 
3. Economical and enough to last you a good time .This makes it easy to rotate as all eye makeup related items should be ideally rotated in around 4 months.

Cons

1. They are thin hence I require at least 2-3 to remove heavy duty makeup .For lighter runs maybe 1 can do
2. The pads create some sensation but that abates in 5-30 seconds

Overall I like them and will rate them as 3.5 out of 5 namely as they are hypoallergenic and safe for contact lens wearers.They get the job done quickly.Good bye Raccoon eyes and Hello bright eyes...

Its an Ice cream Day - Homemade Strawberry ice-cream

Wowza.... Thats what I thought when I managed to snag this amazing ice cream maker at this amazing price. All the features and details are in the link so please have a look.The link also provides a small video.Ok so lets get the facts straight , I bought this cause

1. Ive been dying to get my hands on an ice cream maker and let loose creatively for my sweet toothed duo - The hubs and the baby 
2. Wow... Organic ice-cream , Rose , Kulfi and did anyone say low fat and gelato - I'm sold
3. Cuisinart - Do I say more..Its the creme de la creme 
4. It works ...Ice-cream in less than half an hour
5. Soft serve consistency right away and firmer consistency after ripening an hour or two in the freezer
6. Its soooo simple to use..... Even the baby can do it 
7. Its fun to watch.. Hubby had too much fun.. A kid in an ice-cream shop
8. Easy to clean as well

Cons...

1. Just a bit noisy but hey leave it on and forget about it for 20-25 minutes

So I was fully satisfied with it and for the price and convenience I'll give it 4.5 stars out of 5

Enough said ...so lets put our money where our mouths are ie lets start with the fresh strawberry or any other berry ice cream. I have the recipe booklet and this is straight off from there.For a 1.5 quart ice cream lot here's the recipe courtesy Cuisinart 

1½ cups fresh strawberries, hulled
¾ cup whole milk
²∕³ cup granulated sugar
pinch salt
1½ cups heavy cream
1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Put the strawberries into the bowl of a food processor fitted with the chopping blade. Pulse strawberries until rough/finely chopped (depending on preference). Reserve in bowl. In a medium bowl, use a hand mixer on low speed or whisk to combine the milk, sugar and salt until the sugar is dissolved. Stir in the heavy cream and vanilla. Stir in reserved strawberries with all juices. Cover and refrigerate 1 to 2 hours, or overnight. Turn on the Cuisinart® ice cream maker; pour the mixture into the frozen freezer bowl and let mix until thickened, about 15 to 20 minutes. The ice cream will have a soft, creamy texture. If a firmer consistency is desired, transfer the ice cream to an airtight container and place in freezer for about 2 hours. Remove from freezer about 15 minutes before serving.

Its too easy - Make sure ur freezer bowl is chilled atleast overnight and so are all your ingredients. Place bowl on base and add paddle (it doesnt lock) .Finally cover with the lid and pour through spout .I churned it for extra 5 minutes ,It came out much more creamy 

 - Buy and Try .... Its too good 

Book Roll

So these past weeks have gone by planning , planning and planning for Sanskriti's birthday and I thought that enough is enough and I need my literary fix like yesterday.. So here's an update of what I and Minime have been Reading....

The new adventures of curious George (Image courtesy Amazon.com) -Margaret and H.A.Rey

You know I never used to like the concept of curious George - A monkey making mayhem (Egads) and then the poor man with the yellow hat dealing with the consequences .Thanks to the minime's fascination with curious george I have actually revised my opinion. I don't like his messes though but having given birth to his twin i can surely empathise with the "Man in the yellow hat" .By the way what is his name?

This is a nice collection of stories specially one where george tours a chocolate factory. We always eat miniatures chocolates when we read this story.Here george almost annihilates the chocolate factory but saves the day. There is a super cute story with missing puppies.I love the story where george makes pancakes.I think one should make pancakes to accompany this story .Then there are some more nice ones about george going to the zoo , movies etc.Ill give the book 4 stars out of 5 for variety, content and specially almost all of them feature a visit to someplace- I like that .Enjoy the book.....

What I'm reading this week

Cupcake , cakes and sweet confections are on my mind - what with all the parties and the birthdays...But lets mix it up with something exciting and TADA -I have sweet frothy reads with a tough of murder thrown in. I ordered this mix from the library and as usual when it rains it pours from our Library. I went to the library and asked the librarian that I had some holds and could I please pick them and the librarian responded with a grin that I had a lot to pick up - Guess what 23 in all.... I love this about the USA and will definitely miss them when I set sail for our Homeland....
Here are some of the books that I got

1. Sinister Sprinkles by Jessica Beck ( A Donut Shop Mystery )

Aside from the fact that this country is awash with donuts and a dunkin in every corner... hell the WAWA next door is open 24 hours ,this book made me want to eat more.... The tag line is some crimes cant be sugar coated.Image courtesy Amazon.com. I give the book 3.5 stars out of 5.I like that this mystery is set in a winter carnival setting.Staying in the east coast these 5 years..I can feel the chill brr brr hence I love her donut recipes and can actually imagine making some. The entire mystery is surrounded by chaos during a snowstorm and I love the camaraderie between the protagonist and her friends. All in all it is a cozy mystery perfect for winters and cups of coffee.

2. Book, Line, and Sinker (A Library Lover's Mystery) by Jess Mckinlay( Image courtesy good reads)

This is such a nice book .I actually like the whole setup behind the book. The author takes pains to set up characterizations and the bon homie is so palpable. I love the whole small town library setup. Ever since ive started frequenting the libraries here I have had an urge to understand the nittie grittie and actually the behind the scenes -"I am actually a part of the library" feeling that this book gives. The mystery is mildly gripping and so is the romance going on. A murder is committed and a known person is a suspect.There is enough red herrings to keep you hooked.There is pirate lore and hidden treasures as well as an old murder mystery is solved and a hint of a serial killer.You actually feel like you are living in the same town and all the characters become so dear to you that I have already ordered and devoured the other books in the series. 3 out of 5 not just for the mystery but the layout and the premise of a small town library.

Read these books and you wont be sorry . A very pleasant way of passing the time.

There's Party on my Mind

Spring is around the corner and there's party on my minds.. Ok ok not like a party party but a birthday party for a two year old. Hey..I never claimed to be uber cool.With a toddler under two your social life does revolve around toddlers. Nevertheless I intend to be well coiffed (thanks to my hair straightener) and well made up.For this recipe you need

1. Almay Intense i-color 402 smoky i for blues .The kit contains a dark blue, golden and silver trio.

2. 5 Minutes 

Apply and you're done...What ???You're saying it cant be done for a day birthday party...Well lets just see...Almay Intense i -color comes in a trio of colors with its own shadow brush.The Back contain instructions to apply the shadow.

Directions

1. Apply darkest shade (bottom) from lash line to crease blending upwards. 

2. Apply medium shade (center) just above the crease and blend well for a smoldering effect. 

3. Apply lightest shade (top) to the brow bone and/or corners of eyes to highlight.

This eye-shadow works perfectly for brown eyes as well.The best part is that the colors are not on the too intense side and can be easily worn indoors , outdoors ,in the day time as well as night time.Just add another swipe to make it pop more.The shadows are soft and easily blend with fingers too. I specially love to highlight my eyes with more blue. Its compact and easy to use and the colors can also stand in for a swipe as an eyeliner in a hurry. 

Here are the shades against my hand as an illustration for skin tone.

Here is the final product

So definitely this is a keeper .It is also available as a trio for hazels and browns.Try it ......

Baby Shower Cake

Aaahhh the pitter patter of little feet is approaching and thankfully not yet for me but for my Neighhbor. I attended my first baby Shower with all its traditions. For us north Indians its called "Reetein" or rituals where its a merry group of women wishing all the best to the soon to be mom and the incubating Baby. I was given the honor of making the Shower cake and the Soon to be Mom's reaction was worth it all.

This is a freehand style of cake but it needs lots of time to ripen. The cake was a simple cake mix topped by butter-cream icing. Two coats of icing later we were ready to roll. Make sure u chill the cake and add the cake topper at the last

Best part home made marshmallow fondant can be used but make the toppers and cure for atleast 2 days. Stuff the shoes with crumpled paper towels to keep its shape.Make the Baby Rattle and decorate it with strips of fondant and sprinkles. I also had hubby draw some onesies and then help me cut them out.

Here's the cake in all its glory...Wish you both (New mom and Baby ) All the best

Heres the template and link I used...It was excellent
Shoes Template and guide