ICynosure: February 2016

No travel dreams are complete without an extensive road trip in the USA. With numerous must-visit places, it becomes difficult on which states to pick and which to skip. However, the state of Utah should always make the cut as a reason to visit the Great Salt Lake City.

Temple Square in Salt Lake City by Fatima Nawabi via Trover

Salt Lake City offers a fantastic winter wonderland as well as the opportunity to partake in some unique activities: ski down the mountain bowl, sample the local ethnic cuisine, guzzle beers at award-winning breweries and visit the Temple Square. In short, the city has everything you need.

Here are a select few of Salt Lake City's top boutique hotels:

Hyatt Place
The Hyatt Place Gateway is perfect for every traveller because of its central location, amenities, and personalized packages. With the Hyatt Group guarantee on pricing, quality, and customer service, the Gateway downtown is a perfect location to relax, play, and explore. The boutique hotel is within walking distance of all major city attractions including the Salt Palace Convention Center, the City Creek, the Temple Square, the Gateway Mall, and the International Center.

Monaco Hotel
The Monaco Hotel is what you call staying in the lap of Mother Nature. Salt Lake City’s sassiest downtown hotel is touted as an urban playground among high peaks. The Monaco is placed in the epicentre of the tourist location, ensuring that travelling around the city becomes a child’s play with special convenient access to the Capitol Theater, Off Broadway Theater, and Salt Palace.

Royal Garden Inn
Staying at the Royal Garden Inn is like being transported into the Victorian era. Old-world charm is exuded through the wooden furnishings and quilted coverlets. Though it is upgraded to offer all modern facilities and amenities, this boutique hotel has maintained its former formats that takes one back in time. A definite win is the price, which is the most valuable for budget travellers who look more at being outdoors than indoors.

Peery Hotel
The Peery Hotel stands tall with a deep historical influence that dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Built by David and Joseph Peery in a prominent Prairie-style of classical revival motifs, the hotel was a one-stop destination for influential people in 1910. Recently the hotel was remodelled to suit the taste of modern-travellers keeping its historical essence intact. So if you are looking for a little bit of drama, head straight to the Peery.

Anniversary Inn
The Anniversary Inn is for the forever romantics who want a total escape from everything and want a little adventure. With amazing stay options like the Hawaiian Hideaway, Jungle Safari, Mysteries of Egypt, Sultan’s Palace, and Biker Roadhouse suites, the experience is so much more enriching. There are some perfect honeymoon suites as well, including the English Countryside, Bridal Veil Falls, Venice, Romeo’s Retreat, and Juliet Suites. This will definitely impress your partner and enrich your experience.

The city has varied stay options for whatever type of traveller you are, so get packing and head to explore this amazing city today.

- Heena

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When we remodelled our home last year, it was a chaotic mess. We started with a stack of magazines, inspiration boards, referrals from friends, site visit of professionals, etc etc; I’m sure you get the idea. However with all the stress, over a year and half of planning, having a precise floor plan and 3D renditions our efforts failed to make it to our dream home. We realised that the big decisions were the easy ones to make but the smaller ones which seemed insignificant and those which were the more crucial ones were more difficult and needed some expert information and loads of research. For many home owners like us who aren’t experts in home decor and renovation these small yet crucial details seem such a mammoth tasks. One wrong decisions and the dream comes down like a pack of cards.

Very few brands are aware of the gap between product and information and choose to bridge this gap not only for the benefit of the brand itself but also to ensures quality and comfort for the customer. One such brand is Pidilite Industries Limited that has just taken a really innovative initiative that brings insights that will help people make the transition from a Home to a ‘Happy Home’ by way of their #TheHappyHomesBlog.

For the launch of the blog the brand left no stone unturned to bring the best of the industry to speak about various aspects of home-making. An eminent panel of experts including Dr. Alpa Dalal, Pulmonologist & Sleep Specialist, Mr. Omkar Thakur, Vastu Shastra Consultant, Mr. C.A.Ramesh Prabhu, Chairman of Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association and Ms. Shilpi Kakkar Madan, Contributing Editor Better Homes spoke about various aspects of making a home strong, beautiful and long-lasting and happy.

The main aim of the blog is to invite industry experts and decision makers to contribute articles for the benefit of novice like us. Not only will there be tips and tricks in maintenance, waterproofing solutions, interior ideas, decor themes, and the latest trends but also resolutions to reader queries and solutions to renovation-related problems. They are currently inviting writers and bloggers to associate with #TheHappyHomes blog to build a platform for design and execution for a unique online community.

Although still in very early days, The Happy Homes Blog promises to provide readers with the best experiences. Hope over to the blog and send them some valuable suggestions on what you would like to know about, things that may put redeveloping at a pause and how you would like to see them evolve in the near future.

- Heena

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The moment one hears the word food, one automatically begins to conjure images of yummy dishes and starts salivating flavours in the mouth. Yes, this happens to me all the time. When I read about food, hear about food and most when I see food, my mind does a thing of its own and travels far and beyond to experience things itself. Whenever I have a few precious seconds, I browse the internet to read interesting and more importantly unique content about food; learn through tips from renowned chefs and food connoisseurs. Some of the most fun reads have been from fellow food bloggers and home-chefs who go all out experimenting with food and dish out interesting food-tales.

2015 has seen a lot of freaky food trends that a lot of people are now warming up to including the Monstrous Black Burgers, Charcoal in Food and even Deep Fried Milkshakes. One of my crazy #Foodventures that I must share with you is Inhalable Drinks that I tried during my recent trip to Sri Lanka. The mixologist at the Tea Heritance Factory in Nuwara Eliya took my tea experience to an entirely new level when he converted my flavoured tea into fogs that I could savour through my eyes and lungs, tantalise my tastebuds in more ways than one.

Recently at the India Food Bloggers Awards, a dear friend Monish Chandan got hooked onto Liquid Nitrogen filled Caramel Popcorn. The popcorn is popped with liquid nitrogen which is at -196C and feels weightless due to the Leidenfrost Effect and makes popcorn super cold without making it damp or soggy. Am sure it was a great food venture experience; Monish just couldn’t stop popping the popcorn.

With all these new food experiments and my interest in food adventures, I landed on #Foodventures a fun initiative by Star Chef Vikas Khanna and Food Critic Vir Sanghvi. Axis Bank’s Dining Delights combines all things food for the food lover in me from combining the unexpected while exploring the world of food, exploring and chasing cultural experiences through food.

Do you have any such fun unique food experiences to share? Whatever is your answer to that, you must #foodventure into the anecdotes, tips and recipes by Vikas & Vir and be motivated to create your own #foodventures to share on the digital world of food that connects us together.
- Heena

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Last weekend I met up with my college friends for brunch and the conversations were like lava emerging from a volcano; ranging from unpredictable and phenomenal to mysterious and explosive. At one point in the conversation, I realised that Neha was exceptionally quiet and on prodding further I saw the slight trace of moistness in her eyes. I held on to her hand and we strode into the tea-leaf garden of the hotel.

No sooner did we get a few private moments, a dam broke like she was reaching out to a rescue team in a storm. Childhood sweethearts they were, but the marriage didn't work for them; tiffs prolonged into arguments and arguments lead to physical abuse. She said, "Everything she had dreamt about, felt like a distant dream and the man she loved was not the man she was married to." In spite of being well educated, a high-ranking profession and being a go-getter I wondered why she stayed in the relationship. She continued, "I'm in such an uncertain space right now, still living with an abuser afraid to go back home because my parents didn't approve of my relationship with him. A slap on the face doesn't hurt as much as a torn piece of clothing."

There was nothing I could relate to in our conversation or even empathise with. The feeling was unsettling and it felt pointless as there was nothing I could do to help. I wished that I could help my friend formulate a plan to get out and have a happy life.

That’s when it struck me, considering all the efforts we put in to accomplish our educational goals, it is rather unfortunate that women hardly receive any support after taking a break for having a baby. Extended maternity leave, crèche facilities and flexible hours are a rarity in India which force women to drop out of corporate life. I've had thoughts of starting my own design agency but the uncertainty of business looms high and mighty but this is something I know I can overcome with smart investments and planning.

When one is poised at the door of uncertainties there is always a greater fear; however, on the other hand, it’s possible that the moment you decide to march ahead thriving with positivity and passion you achieve the inevitable. Just like the way this dad countered uncertainty with smart planning, never let uncertainty hinder your goals, move ahead fearlessly with a battle cry of #KhudKoKarBuland and remember a financial plan that secures your family’s future is your best defence against uncertainty.

- Heena

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Fashion trends are a big story, and the latest Gujarati news live tells us that traditional styles are being updated to include more contemporary touches. Divya Bhaskar is sharing the latest style news, which will allow ladies to indulge in updating their wardrobes so their clothing will be on-trend in the new year.

Contemporary Changes to Traditional Dress Welcomed
Gujarati fashion has an elegant reputation to uphold since its textile industry is known for its rich history. It seems, however, that the industry is not immune to trends, and slowly but surely, they are being welcomed into the new designs we’ve been seeing as the latest fashions are revealed.

Meticulously woven Patolas and Kutch crafts are staples in the Gujarati wardrobe, and Bandhani designs are becoming more common. The traditional fabrics are being jazzed up with double Ikats in bold, beautiful colours, as well as mirrors and more elaborate embroidery that add visual interest as well as sparkle to everyday clothing.

Who Is Responsible For the Trend?
Well-known fashion icon Sonam Kapoor is credited with starting the contemporary trend when she embarked on a promotional tour in Ahmedabad in 2015. She wore ensembles that were of a more modern cut, complete with colour blocks and mirrors, along with rich Bharat work.

While every woman might not be able to duplicate Kapoor’s style exactly, there are many things she can do to emulate it, and add her own personal touches.

Gujarati Women Can Embrace This New Style
Women looking to take a break from the traditional styles can accomplish that feat with a few simple additions to their wardrobes.

Kutch-work jackets are a good place to start since they lean more towards traditional dress, but allow the wearer to make a statement. Fashion experts say these jackets can be paired with a simple long kurta, instantly making it appropriate for more formal occasions. Moreover, the jackets are tailored for the feminine shape, making them less menswear-inspired, and easier to wear.

Don’t forget to keep shawls handy to ward off winter chills. Shawls over jackets are a huge trend and add an additional layer of colour and visual appeal whether they are worn on formal or more casual occasions.

Clutch handbags are another easy style update. The bags should be big enough to tote all your essentials, but small enough so they are not difficult to carry. Many women choose multipurpose mobile phone cases that house your phone credit cards, cash and other small essentials in a small compartment.

Mixing and matching patterns and colours is encouraged. Even if you are fine with traditional wardrobe staples, indulge in a few bold patterns and mix it up. India is well-known for its strongly saturated and boldly-patterned textiles. Almost every woman can pull off those patterns and should proudly do so whenever possible.

Indulge in Patolas – they are no longer limited to just sarees, and not just for Bollywood stars or society’s elite. The patola is being redefined, and can be found as dupattas and even custom-made kurtas.

The thing to remember is to celebrate your sense of style and feel good about yourself no matter where you go, and what you do.

Get more such latest Gujarati news live only at Divya Bhaskar website.

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Shopping online has become the most convenient aspect of our lifestyle today, and I am one who vouches for its highs that add positives to life. The convince of shopping from the comforts your home, no queues for trial rooms and amazing offers & discounts, is just the beginning of all things super. However sometimes inspite of checking size charts and exchange procedures, I am faced with the issue that doesn’t make the experience worthwhile and at times I have had to take to social media to get the issues resolved. Worst is the endless waiting time for the entire transaction to be facilitated, including pick-up, quality check, reissue credits and finally re-purchasing a size up, which would normally be an activity that takes less than 5 minutes over the counter.

I am sure there was someone who felt the same way and thus they conceptualised the app; GoFynd, that is set apart with the mantra of Find-a-Fit from popular fashion brands where you can request for 2 sizes of the same product and finally buy the one that fits perfectly. Apart from this niche concept the app also tries to ensure the same day delivery along with some great discounts.

Perfectly enthralled with the concept I downloaded the app and went ahead browsing around. The main point that came across was that the search was customised as per user location, when I moved from one place to another the store options as well as the terms and conditions changed. The app also has shopping options via inspiration boards that follow specific themes and are put together rather well.

Naturally, as I would, I placed an order when in office and it was delivered the same day to my home address. Unfortunately, since the products were on sale, the Find-a-Fit option was not available on any of the three products I received, two were a tad small in size. The problem of the routine no-exchange of products on sale policy made it impossible for me to request for an exchange for a size up from the Small they had sent to me via the app. After a few phone calls to customer service and the brand outlet, the brand agreed to the exchange however only if facilitated through the app. An email and a couple of calls later, the exchange was approved and I was rather pleased with the efforts all across. And I was happy with my purchases too.

Considering the app is still in its initial stages, I would love to see how they upgrade in the next few months especially the niche concept that first drew me to it, Find-a-Fit. Without which, the app is really just any other shopping portal. While that happens, download the app here and shop with a initial joining bonus of INR 500.

- Heena

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Every blogger needs the right ammunition in her armour to make a striking impact on every campaign she undertakes. And though different bloggers swear by different things, I’ve banked on two major aspects that have made a difference in my blogging initiatives. One is an inborn talent of putting one word ahead of another and stringing them into sentences that express the intended message. The other is a great camera to capture moments as pictures that stand the test of time. Be it a DSLR or a point-and-shoot or a mobile handset, for me, it needs to be top-notch.

After numerous experiments across a zillion brands last year I zeroed in on MotoG and for a long time, it worked wonders for all my blogging needs. However late last year I upgraded to an iPhone 6s and it proved to be one of the best decisions I had made. With its battery life, high-quality pictures and the brand warranty the IPhone6s became my go-to tool for blog posts, images and social media updates. Until OPPO introduced me to their Art to Living Life #OPPOF1 where they push customers to expect more from their smartphones than a run-of-the-mill experience.

The moment the brand handed me a handset from their latest collection at the launch, the first thought that crossed my mind was the enigmatic name F1 that sparks up images of jet-setting Formula One cars, full of potential, accelerated quality and above all astonishing performances. What attracted me to the handset more was the #SelfieExpert tagline that preceded the launch emphasising the 8MP front-facing camera with an aperture of f/2.0. The key points that made the iPhone my go-to handset were as good if not better in the OPPOF1. Being a mid-ranger OPPO F1 will not be a benchmark breaker but it can definitely hold its own against the competition like Xiaomi Redmi 3 or the Samsung Galaxy A5.

Clicked with iPhone 6s Clicked with OPPO F1

Clicked with OPPO F1 Clicked with OPPO F1

Coming to the most important feature that I look into a phone, I’m quite enamoured with the 13MP main camera of f/2.2 aperture and phase detection autofocus. The brand has definitely put a lot of effort into the camera experience of the F1 and it definitely shows. The camera app looks fairly simplistic on the surface, with a hassle-free default auto interface, but hidden away is a vast array of powerful advanced features which by quick taps reveals interesting modes, like filters and video gifs. Apart from routine affects the one feature that I’m experimenting a lot with is the slow shutter option which helps manually control the shutter speed along with Ultra HD mode that enables to produce photos with a resolution of 51MP. Yes, you read it correct a whopping 51MP.

You can explore more options for downloading the Double Exposure, Super Macro, RAW and Expert Shooting Modes. And for those who are photography experts these are so many additions like Manual and Automatic Focus, Dual Exposure and White Balance Controls. However phone cameras are so very dependant on the software as well as the hardware; and Apple has time and again proved to customers that it can achieve a lot. In the same wavelength the OPPO F1 produced surprisingly good shots even during trying times which you can see below in various modes; and imagine when the conditions are perfect what this little wonder shall be able to achieve.

I love the fact that in my routines too the phone comes extremely handy to shoot, click and capture. Here is a video I captured during a store launch for which I used multiple shutter speed and focus options.

Incase you missed it earlier today shot with my super phone @OppoIndia #OppoF1 the @GapIndia #storelaunch. The ever-so-wonderful @ranveersingh #RanveerSingh greets his fans and dances to the traditional #mumbai beats! #leziumdance #hellomumbai #launch #gap #GapIndia #gapmumbai #dabbawala #Bajirao #fallinlove #baeislife A piece of him is all I need.

A video posted by Heena Shah-Dhedhi (@heenadhedhi) on Feb 20, 2016 at 1:30am PST

So, in a nutshell, OPPO F1 retains the elegance of high-end devices while keeping the costs in the mid-range, striking a fantastic balance between beauty, functionality and price.

- Heena

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With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, finding the perfect gift for the love of your life can be tougher than what you expect. If you are a little bit like me, you will be in two minds what to give him. Personally, I love to give my hubby something that is really expressive and something that he will cherish for a lifetime. My gifts for Valentine's symbolise our love for each other which need not cost a lot and could be those that I can make myself using my creativity, personal expressions and above all that makes an emotional mark.

To get you started, I've thought about a few DIY gifts ideas that will be as precious as our love.

A Basket of Love Notes

Pick a cute soft toy, preferably the one he gifted you years ago and fill it with loads of love messages. You can jot down romantic moments you both have lived together, qualities you love about him, instances he made you feel special and your dreams for the future.

Freeze Heart-Shaped Chocolates

Love and chocolates are the only drug you need on Valentines Day, and you can reach his heart through his stomach with frozen heart-shaped chocolates.

Make A Love Card

The easiest thing is to purchase a card from a gift shop, but the toughest thing is to make one. Give him more reasons to cherish you than what a ready-made card would write as many reasons as you can to tell him how perfect he is for you.

Frame Your Love

Put together a collage of your most adorable pictures and give him your love journey in a single glance. Jazz it up with comments along the border or a symbol only the two of you understand.

Personalised Products

Get personal with gifting him a personalised product, be it twin coffee mugs or pillow covers. Print these, place them in strategic positions so that there is no way he will miss them and be surprised with your thoughtfulness.

I know I know, some of us don't have these skills and prefer to keep it simple. So my only suggestion this Valentine Day is to let your love guide you to pick the right gifts for your man. Don't be swayed by the numerous Gift Guides and Gift Ideas you see (even this one), but go by the way the strings of your heart tug when you see something special.

Until more,
- Heena

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I love change, and this attitude doesn’t restrict to my wardrobe or my shoe-closet, it overflows into everything that I’m associated with. Thankfully on the professional level I’m in the creative field, else I be moving jobs before the HR could breathe a sign of relief. Jokes apart, I love the newness of change which makes the whole experience worth reliving. Up until now the one thing that remained untouched due to the high cost involving the change has been furniture. At best I could change the soft furnishing, rearranging it to make it look different or just playing a bit with the small decor items.

However it all changed with a simple walk down the road to the Asian Paints Signature Store in Bandra, Mumbai which doubles up as a Woodtech Studio. The studio works on the simple principle of looking to craft a new wooden furniture or renew the life of an old one by helping customers like me discover the magic of wood and explore the possibilities of finishes to enhance a piece to make it a #StatementFurniture to spruce up my place. So instead of throwing out the mundane, simple things with the help of Asian Paints Colour on Wood, I can refurbish the pieces and give them a new lease of life.

While at the studio, I loved the manner in which Deepa, the woodtech expert took me through the transitional stages of implementing various concepts and ideas to create a space that I will fall in love with. There were also renditions of some of the more popular concept especially the ones curated by renowned fashion designer Sabyasachi Mukherjee along with bollywood dive Deepika Padukone.

A photo posted by Heena Shah-Dhedhi (@heenadhedhi) on Feb 6, 2016 at 2:07am PST

From the various areas created within the store I loved this living area set up for its amazing vibrancy as well as the undeniable comfort. The #ColourStoreAsianPaints upped the whole look of the space in such a magnificent way that there was hardly a spot out of place. So if you want a fresh feel to your home or just want to jazz up a single piece of furniture you can now reach out to the experts who will not only guide you every step of the way or inspire you with concepts and ideas.

- Heena

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Towards the end of last year while clearing out my closet, I was faced with the problem of plenty. No doubt a lot of people face the same issue and some even love the exercise of additions to the wardrobe, but the subtraction is extremely difficult. But for me it was finally a do-or-die situation with so many products that I hadn’t even used a single time. Clothes, shoes, accessories, bags and much more simply sitting in the wardrobe eating into the much needed usage space.

So finally this time, I ventured into the online world to ask my friends and followers if they face the same problem and if so what is the solution. Numerous ideas flooded through when an online portal PreCared suggested I look at their site to see if I’d like to make some money from the excess products I had. In a matter of a few minutes I signed up and listed the products classifying them as brand new and gently used.

I was surprised when an executive from their team called me to fix a pick up time for the products for further inspection. Once the process was initiated; the pick-up, on-site inspection; off-site sanitation and offer listing on the website took less than a week. There were regular updates all throughout keeping me informed of the stage we are at and what will happen next via the registered communication mode. Once the dashboard was updated with the listed products, I was able to see the offer price as well as the selling price against each product. As a seller I was able to either approve for the product to be sold or recall it depending upon my expectation of prices. Luckily for me out of the 20 odd products I sent, I recalled only 3 of them and approved the rest. Apart from the regular email update the team is always available on online chat to resolve your queries and respond to your questions.

When writing this piece about the portal, a few of my products have already been sold and quite a few are getting numerous views. I plan to let them be there for a few more weeks and check the sales progress. In case I don’t see a product not generating enough interest, I could request recall which will ensure that the product is sent back to me in 3 days.

I really loved the entire concept of trading your unwanted things to make a quick buck. Additionally working with the brand has been hassle free along with knowing what’s happening at every stage is of the way convenient enough to recommend them.

So dig into your closets, pile up the extras, register with the site and earn away. Thank me later.

- Heena

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How many photos of you are on your phone right now?

Photography is catching up really fast with the advent of camera phones, with almost 1 trillion photos a year with a large part of this being selfies. Selfies are a very visual phenomenon and the love for taking photos of ourselves is on the rise. Though selfies are a much recent craze, the oldest known selfie was taken in 1839. Scholars believe selfies are a form of self-representation that allows us to look into the mirror and gauge how others see us.

To me ‘Selfies are Personal’ a reiteration of my creative impulses as well as assessing myself through a looking-glass. Even with the insane amount of selfies I click every day I do not think I’m obsessed with the Selfie Bug. That’s until recently when I attended the launch of the Bright & Beautiful, #SelfieExpert, #OPPOF1 Camera Phone. With a select 25 bloggers from across the country, loads of media personnel and celebrities the launch was nothing short of amazing. Trial kiosks, photography display, professional speak and much more was set up at the event to help me endorse the identity I want to create through my pictures.

As the event came to a close I was gifted a gorgeous #OPPOF1 and I just couldn’t contain my delight and went about experimenting with my new hi-tech hand-candy. Apart from the regular beautification, panorama and HDR features I instantly fell in love with the time lapse, shutter speed variation and multiple exposures that is rarely available in any other mobile phones.

During the last few days, I’ve gotten addicted to experimenting with the different features on the #SelfieExpert and what I absolutely love is that it takes amazing pictures in any lighting, any angle and in any exposure. The F1 includes an 8MP front camera with a wide aperture lens and a 1/4th-inch sensor that catches hand gestures and commands to click stunning selfies. The added is that I don’t have to play with the filters which save so much time in editing and correcting.

As I headed out for a spa day with my bestie over the weekend, we just couldn't contain ourselves and went on a selfie clicking spree.

I’m one of the few people who has had the opportunity to play with the amazing phone that is going to retail via the #F1HotSale from February 4th for INR 15990/-. So if you are a #SelfieExpert or a #SelfieEnthusiast, and your phone is filled with them, you need to go online the OPPO F1 website and check the phone for yourself.

- Heena

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