ICynosure: 2017

Anyone who knows me would definitely vouch for the fact that I’m super addicted to reading and television is actually last on my list of priorities. In fact, I even restrict our cable TV subscription to the basic version because we hardly ever use it. But I guess all of this is going to change! Last month, I was invited by Netflix India to be part of an exclusive global community - the Netflix #StreamTeam to experience everything that the network has to offer. After much deliberation and a humungous push from DH who practically lives on Netflix, I excited moved into #StreamTeamIndia.

I'm sure you all know that Netflix is the world’s leading Internet Television Network with over 109 million members in over 190 countries enjoying more than 125 million hours of shows and films each day including original series, documentaries and feature film. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere on nearly all Internet-connected screens. members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. Netflix also makes finding content that you might like really easy, through their best-in-class recommendation engine.

It really intrigued me that DH made the most of his gruelling hours to and fro work in the crazy Mumbai traffic watching series after series on Netflix and I cannot wait to make a list of shows that I would want to catch. Another factor that I’m looking to explore is the Kids entertainment on Netflix. As most kids, #PrincessHeer is glued to television and online media, without much parental control which is a constant worry for me at work. Netflix promises some great options from educational cartoons to heartwarming dramas and even classic comedies, of which many have multiple seasons available, and absolutely no exposure to adult content. It sure is a good idea for me to establish some screen-time rules for Princess and chalk out the content that would be right for her to watch.

Just on Christmas Eve, I received my Netflix Stream Team Welcome Kit. And what a welcome it is!

Thank you, Netflix for the 32GB iPad that will help me remain glued to the network on the go!!

Apart from the iPad, I also received a compact backpack, a notebook, a universal adapter, a portable speaker, a tumbler, a mug, a hoodie, a pillow and a year-long Netflix Subscription Pass.

For the very first time, I'm eager to WATCH, DOWNLOAD and BINGE, ANY TIME - ANY WHERE with as part of #StreamTeamIndia with Netflix. If you are keen on trying Netflix, you can avail of a free one month trial here.

Until next time,
- Heena

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Your bedroom is the place where you come to rest and sleep after a long day, so it’s no surprise that the ‘cozy’ factor is something that ranks high for many people when it comes to putting their perfect bedroom together. Whether you’re redesigning your current bedroom or have recently moved home and want to make your new place cozy and welcoming, there are several things that you can do to create a more comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. Here are some of our top tips for putting together a cozier bedroom space.

Hang the Right Artwork

When it comes to choosing artwork for the walls in your bedroom, the type of pictures and designs that you go for can have a big effect on how cozy and comfortable your room turns out overall. For example, paintings using darker colors can add to the ‘coziness’ of a room, whilst abstract designs tend to add a relaxing aspect. If you have a lot of open, unused space on the walls in your bedroom, then adding wall art such as paintings, posters, and photographs are one good way to fill and use up the space and make your room look cozier and more compact.

Get the Lighting Right

If the lighting in your bedroom is too bright, then it’s not going to look as cozy as you probably want it to. The use of lamps or adjustable spotlights in your room is a much better choice than just one big main light since you can turn the brightness up or down depending on the mood. For example, have the lights bright in the morning when it’s time to wake up and leave them on lower during the evening as you’re relaxing and winding down. Fairy lights or string lights above your bed can add a nice touch, too.

Use Blankets and Pillows

The more softer furnishings that you have in your room, the cozier it will look and feel. So, don’t be afraid to go to town on your bed when it comes to decorating it with blankets, pillows, throws and other soft furnishings. Even if you don’t use them all at night when you’re asleep, this can surely add a very cozy feel to your room and it’s always nice to know that you have extra blankets there if you need them.

Get the Color Scheme Right

Lastly, if you’re currently redecorating your bedroom, then getting the color scheme right can add to the cozy factor. Dark colors, such as red, purple, dark blue or even black will make your room look and feel smaller, which can be great for a cozy and compact vibe. Or, if you’re hoping to open your room up but still want it to look comfortable, pastel colors such as light blues, pinks, cream and even yellow can all create an airy yet cozy effect.

If you found these tips helpful for decorating your bedroom, we’d love to hear your feedback in the comments below.

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Embracing motherhood 7 years ago for me was more about welcoming the unknown rather than giving up on the known. The frustration, the joy, the fear, the anxiety, the nervousness and a million other emotions were playing havoc with my already super active – raging hormones, and add to that numerous unanswered questions that popped into my head every second, I was a certified pregzilla. But once #PrincessHeer arrived, my life changed from a crazed roller coaster ride to a luxurious relaxed drive.

Sometimes I sit and ponder what would have put me at ease during those crucial months and the one thing that surely makes way to my mind is a more approachable maternity team. Most traditional hospitals, including the one I was consulting with, treated me as a patient and I now know that being pregnant is not an ailment or an illness but a time for joyful celebration. Hence the most important thing that would put most pregnant ladies at ease would be a comfortable environment, attentive staff, and medical expertise.

There has been a huge shift in the mindset of expectant mothers, who are now looking at pregnancy as a celebratory experience from the moment they test positive to the moment they have their babies in their arms. This thought process has put the industry too is regrouping and recognising this gap to cater to the ladies with world-class services and facilities. One of the pioneers in the segment who recognised this need early on, have gone on to set up Cloudnine, India’s leading chain of out-of-hospital, specialty maternity clinics. Since 2007, the team has launched its numerous clinics across India with the latest one being inaugurated by actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra and renowned neonatologist Dr. R. Kishore Kumar in Navi Mumbai, #NaviMumbaiOnCloudnine.

At #CloudnineHospitals, the team believes that a child is life’s greatest gift and pregnancy is one of the most magical experiences nature can offer. This gift deserves to be nurtured and cared for, not just at birth, but for the entire duration of your pregnancy. Which is why they ensure each expectant mother the three C’s essential for embracing motherhood…. Clinical Expertise offered by the best in class technology and facilities, Celebration of the joyous occasion and Customer Satisfaction by constantly being available and attentive pre, during and post childbirth. Since inception the chain of specialty clinics have delivered more than 50,000 babies across India, emerging as a torch-bearer in managing pregnancy from conception to delivery. Apart from the regular pregnancy, gynaecological, neonatal, paediatric care they also offer advanced infertility care and numbers other workshops that will help prospective parents take a step closer to embracing their bundle of joy.

To know more about Cloudnine's facilities and services, click here.

Until next time,
- Heena

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The world’s major fashion weeks are behind us and from the offering on the major runways, there are a few trends that have emerged to dominate the next year. While browsing renowned designer dresses online I’ve observed that they are sticking to their individual aesthetics whilst integrating the symphony of similarity in their collections that will hit the spring/summer season next year. A lot many would argue about the absolute inability to transcending runway pieces into actual street style, especially in a country like India; but there is always a way to twist the trends into compatible options to flaunt them, irrespective of where you are.

Stylist have literally put on the party hats early with sparkles, tassels, sheer and elaborate accessories while underplaying the solids, fabric washes, and embellishments. I cannot wait to try the dose of newness that will dominate the season with a mild energy and optimism. I’ve picked the trends that may rule my wardrobe for a major portion of the next year, which you can easily find during your online shopping expeditions.

Ice Cream Colors

Whether it is about a trend or not, you must add pastels to your wardrobe as they are here to stay. The Pastel trend is definitely not the most ground-breaking trend as it has been around forever, but it definitely is a gorgeous simple one to flaunt. I’m going to dig into my wardrobe to unearth the beautiful lavenders, lints, lemons, lilacs, blushes, powder blues, and more; that are part of my classic timeless collection. Though there are loads of ways to style these, I’d prefer to stick to the color palette to make the look well put together and classy.

Rainbow Steaks

The most surprising element of the trend alert for the next season is the Rainbow trend. The brights are surprisingly going very strong with an altogether new palette of vibrant colors that ooze confidence and vibrancy. To be honest, I’ve never styled rainbow pieces and it sure will be a challenge to wear the trend in a manner that the style looks mature as well as chic. I’d prefer to stick to basic rainbows and then graduate to eye-popping combinations that will certainly look irresistible.

Sheer Surprise

After dominating the celebrity scene across the world, the haute trend is finally filtering down to the commons, but the question remains, how realistically can a ‘skin revealing-leaving nothing to imagination’ fabric be styled for everyday use. I’d simply opt for pieces that have sections of sheer, or try layering sheer to create a more street style version of the trend. On a day I feel a bit too adventurous, I shall flaunt a sheer piece with sophisticated cuts to flaunt the censored version of me.

Go clear this season with what works best for you.

Until next time,
- Heena

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Travel has undergone a tremendous change over the last few years, and this change has opened unexplored doors of the world to the common man. From a single annual holiday to multiple short trips, from touristy vacations to local experiences, holidays are now more than just accommodation and food. All travellers, whether seasoned or first-time demand curated experiences with cultural, historical, natural and culinary discoveries.

As avid travellers, we think we absolutely wasted all the long weekends 2017 had to offer. So this time around we are checking well in advance when the national holidays overlap with the standard weekends to offer some really great travel opportunities that shall fill our year with new adventures. At iCynosure we have identified a few offbeat destinations that we would like to explore and identified Sterling Holidays to put together one-of-a-kind experiences that will fuel our souls with the joy of discovering new destinations. As Sterling Holidays revamped their holiday offerings for both their consumer bases, time-share membership and ad-hoc, they aim to make consumers the Cynosure of their business. They plan to put us in the center of everything, making us the third most important pillar to form their new corporate identity that resembles a pinwheel symbolising people, experiences, and places.

The most inspiring type of travel for us is the one that would leave us speechless and then make us great storytellers. With that thought in mind, we are keen too explore the hidden treasures that Sterling has to offer…

Houseboat Cruising at Sterling Dindi, Andhra Pradesh
Live on a houseboat that offers all the modern amenities in the backdrop of the intriguing backwaters of Dindi for the ideal blend of adventure and luxury.

River Rafting at Gangtok, Sikkim
Raft through the two main rivers of Gangtok, Teesta, and Rangit to awaken the rafting enthusiast in you and dive into a quest of unparalleled thrill.

Night Safari at Anaikatti, Kerala
Witness the nightlife of the nocturnal wildlife through a carefully chosen path of the tribal villages and forests of Anaikatti, in an adventurous night out.

Nature Walks at Karwar
Stride confidently through the landscapes of Karwar to inhale the visual allure before heading to salivate your food buds at the roadside joints.

Star Gazing at Corbett, Uttarakhand
Lie down on a beautiful clear Corbett night to gaze at the stars, identify planets and popular constellations while having a picnic dinner.

Yes, these are the experiences that are parallel to none. We are sure to experience them, are you?

Until next time,
- Heena

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With the rapid innovation and advancement in technology, every aspect of the human life has been impacted. The digital revolution, one of the biggest success stories of the 20th century has restructured the life of a common man in a way that no one has imagined. Today, I see eager internet users across various age-groups trying to capitalize their personal, professional, social and global growth via the medium. The manner in which mobile devices have provided the ease and accessibility, every company, every service provider wants to reach out to their customer through the internet. The opportunities created, the products and services offered are endless and available at the click of a button.

The way the internet has made everyday tasks faster and more convenient, like shopping and banking, it has simultaneously given rise to an entire frontier of fraudsters and scammers to trick and loot the common man. The magnitude of cybercrime has been increasing considerably on a daily basis and as per the latest reports, one in every ten people are falling victim to internet fraud. A recent survey showed that the most common type of online frauds that people are gullible to are identity theft frauds, purchase scams, business investment opportunities, phishing, and pharming. However, the most repetitive kind of fraud that I have come across is the beneficiary scheme and lottery winner scam.

As educated people, we are cautious and are able to identify fraudsters on the basis of how they tackle the entire situation from fishing for sensitive information to asking for monetary transfers. However, not everyone is vigilant and the total number of cyber offenses in 2017 have exceeded 11.8 million cases of which 3.6 million were identity thefts while 2 million were device related misuse. Fraud examiners have analyzed billions of transactions and revealed that credit card fraud, identity theft, and account takeover or hijacking attempts are the leading cybercrime schemes over the years. Even with these huge numbers, experts believe that over thirty percent of the offenses each year go unreported due to the stigma attached to being a victim or distrust in the system.

While some organizations pin the blame on the customer, some take onus of the situation and educate the customers. State Bank of India has taken your safety as their prime responsibility and shared some pro-tips for your internet safety on the #SBIComputerSecurityDay.

Do’s

§ Use licensed versions of computer software only.

§ Update the antivirus software and antispyware programs.

§ Turn on the two-step authentication.

Don’ts

§ Share sensitive information with ANYONE.

§ Use similar passwords for multiple accounts.

§ Click on links or attachments in unsolicited email.

Your safety and security is as much the company’s responsibility as your own; so it's most important to be safe and responsible online. For more details on how to remain safe online, click here.

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With over a 120-year lineage, Godrej Group began its journey as a part of India's Swadeshi movement - the original 'Make in India' revolution. After a few unsuccessful ventures, Founder Ardeshir Godrej, set up the first Godrej company manufacturing locks, to secure everything that is of value for the consumers. Over the years, the company diversified into various areas including Aerospace. The Group set up Godrej Aerospace, the hi-tech aerospace manufacturing facility in a humble way in the late 1900s to develop into critical, high precision spacecraft components and beyond.

Early this week the company handed over it’s 100th set of airframe assemblies to BrahMos Aerospace for use in its missile systems while bagging an additional order of 100 more sets. The BrahMos missile, a stealth universal supersonic cruise missile can be launched from ships, submarines, aircraft and land-based platforms and can be used for a precision strike to destroy targets on land and sea.

During the announcement, Jamshyd N. Godrej, CMD, Godrej & Boyce said, "Godrej and BrahMos have been partners for 17 momentous years. Over that time, we have taken great pride in doing our bit for nation-building through our contribution to bolstering India's defence capabilities.Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to hand over the completion document for the 100th set of airframe assemblies to Dr. Sudhir Mishra. This is a proud moment for Godrej, Brahmos and India, and an assertion of our commitment to serve our country through technologically driven solutions and indigenous manufacturing."

Dr. Sudhir Mishra, Director General, CEO & MD, BrahMos Aerospace DS said, "Godrej over the years has made an immense contribution to BrahMos and Indian defence sector. The delivery of the 100th set of combat worthy missile airframes marks another milestone in our long relationship. Going forward, I am confident our partnership will continue to set new benchmarks and serve as inspirational role model for indigenous development and production of sophisticated weapon systems."

It was an absolute pleasure being part of the narrative of this spectacular journey and witness how Godrej assists in #SecuringTheNation.

Until next time,
- Heena

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The winter break is around the corner and the house is already buzzing with travel options that are to be explored to bid adieu to this year and ring in the next year. Being a sordid beach person, my simple travel plan would be to take one of the many flights available and head to Goa for a week away from the maddening Mumbai crowd. But those plans are no longer valid as there is a voice in the house that has a more vocal opinion on everything including travel destinations. #PrincessHeer has announced that she would like to visit a place that is a winter destination, meaning a snow place.

Gosh, and that has put us, parents to work. And we have come up with a few options the little one can choose from… btw I never realised that India has some amazing picturesque places and it was tough to bring it down to this number.

Shimla

Fondly known as the Queen of Hills, Shimla with its gorgeous landscape, colonial architecture, historical sites and also hotels in Shimla are well-maintained hotels which makes it a preferred getaway for everyone. The enjoyable weather throughout the year draws tourists to the hill station, especially during the winters when the city is covered in layers of snow. Famous for its Mall road, the Ridge, and the Toy Train, Shimla must be on everyone’s travel wish list.

Dalhousie

Named after Lord Dalhousie, Dalhousie with its mesmerizing beauty and old world charm boasts of beautiful snow-capped mountain ranges, Victorian-style mansions and Scottish architecture. With the weather remaining a bit on the cooler side, everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of the place while sipping some traditional ginger tea. A trip to Dalhousie will be incomplete without the Chamba Valley tour, a boat ride at Chamera Lake and a visit to the Rang Mahal.

Gangtok

A beautiful, simple yet alluring destination nested in the cynosure of a mountain and the sky, Gangtok is a mesmerizing prismatic place to visit. Famous for the spectacular view of the majestic Mt. Kanchenjunga, Gangtok is more breathtaking from a cable car that runs across the length of the city. Every corner of Gangtok offers natural experiences including white water rafting in Teesta, trekking to the Nathula pass and stunning views of the Hanuman Tok.

It sure is going to be a difficult pick for us, but we are looking forward to exploring the winter destinations in India over the next few holidays and make the most of our travels.

Until next time,

- Heena

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Today, there are hardly any natural products available in the market and scary as it is these include baby products as well. Every time I’m out picking things for my princess, I spend endless minutes going through the ingredient list; to ensure I get the one product that is in the least bit toxic. But this is without much success. As a ninja mom, I’m committed to using natural products for my little one and all the energies I put into looking for them has yielded some good results. Yes, research helped me find MamaEarth … the brainchild of a couple who wanted to offer mum-baby friendly, toxin-free, ultra-awesome products to all parents.

Of course, when I read so much about a particular brand, I am skeptical at first; because chemicals are everywhere. However I threw caution to the wind and decided to try on one of the most basic product from the brand’s huge portfolio, MamaEarth's Baby Wipes … because believe it or not, only a mom knows how much mess a little one can make on a daily basis that needs to be cleaned up.

The first thing that caught my attention was that the wipes were made from one of the most sustainable bamboo fibers that are not only pH balanced, hypoallergenic and chemical free but also biodegradable and organically produced. Add to that the goodness of Almond Oil, Shea Butter, Lavender Oil, Aloe Vera extract, and the product seems to be a winner right away. Over the last few weeks that I’ve used the product, I’ve loved the fact that there has been no case of skin irritation or rashes for my little one.

Apart from the main job of cleansing, the wipes do an amazing job at nourishing and moisturizing the skin leaving it smooth and silky. Another quality that I liked about the product is the length and thickness of each wipe that enables more absorption. The wipes are made without bleach, don’t contain fragrances, parabens, or any other synthetic ingredients. Everything used to make them is natural!

Hence, I’ve decided for #PrincessHeer this is it, it doesn’t get better than MamaEarth. I’m definitely going to try other products from the brand and keep you informed about my experience with them.

Until next time,

- Heena

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Mumbai, with its terrible weather, in-commutable infrastructure, increasing pollution and unhealthy food habits takes a toll on my overall well being. Club with these factors, a full-time job and unaccountable responsibilities at home, it becomes impossible to find time for myself; and thus ‘me’ takes a backseat. The lack of time affects two most important aspect of skincare and haircare. Over the last few years, I have taken these for granted and am paying a price for my negligence.

When I realized that haircare is a long haul process, I did the next best thing I could think of…. hair treatments. However, the effects remained temporary and my hair continued to deteriorate and the last option was to go back to the old-age formulae of hair oiling and massaging. Unfortunately even with the benefits that oiling brought in, what I absolutely loathed it for the constant tugging at the roots along with the sticky after effect of the product; and thus the application was restricted to weekends or worst only when utmost necessary.

When Pantene announced its new product Pantene Pro-V Oil Replacement, I was excited for a new solution to end the hassle of oiling with a rich and creamy product, that can be used on both damp and dry hair. The product claims to be loaded with the goodness of oils that gives 2X stronger hair.

My expectations from the product were the goodness of oil with the benefits of a leave-in-conditioner. With the number of treatments that I put my hair through in the recent times, it became essential that I take steps to ensure its strength, moisture, softness and shine. After about a month of using Pantene, my experience with Pantene Pro-V Oil Replacement has been multi-dimensional with effects such as reduced frizziness, increased strength, and decreased breakage along with a protective layer all along the hair shaft. Apart from the oblivious benefits, the creamy form of the product ensured absorption into the hair while ensuring a non-greasy, non-sticky look and feel. Additionally, the massaging technique helped stimulate the blood circulation which I believe nourishes the hair and smoothens the scalp whilst being a stress buster.

Since I’ve started using Pantene Pro-V Oil Replacement, my hair has got a new lease of life; with its perfect modern day blanket solution for lifeless hair, damaged ends to even as a stress reliever. I would most definitely advocate the use of Pantene Pro-V Oil Replacement as opposed to regular oil as it enables styling without having to wash or rinse off the product; so lets say #TelKoTelLagao.

Here’s how you make the most of Pantene Pro-V Oil Replacement:

§ Rub a small amount of the product between the palms.

§ Apply the product on the hair starting from the top, along the length.

§ Style hair as usual.

§ For best results use on wet hair.

Have you used Pantene haircare products? Let me know your haircare routine in the comments below. Follow Pantene on Facebook to stay updated on the products and offers.

Until next time,
- Heena

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One of the most common types of cancer among men - “Prostate Cancer”, begins in the prostate gland. Though its progress is slow, prostate cancer cells may spread up to other areas of the body leading to various other complications.

If the detection of prostate cancer happens at an early stage, then it can be easily cured by different treatments recommended by doctors. However, prostate cancer, show no symptoms at the initial stage. It is after some stages that patients start suffering from symptoms like:

· § Difficulty in urination

· § Pain in the pelvis

· § Blood in urine

After the diagnosis, doctors decide whether a treatment is necessary for prostate cancer in old people as it grows slowly among them. Treatment of aggressive cancers can vary from surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy among others. Over the years, laparoscopic surgery has emerged as a popular treatment for prostate cancer. If you or a loved one are going through the trouble of deciding whether to get this treatment or not, it is better that you take the advice of a skilled surgeon. However, to give you a brief about this type of surgery, we have chalked out an outline of the procedure and its benefits. Read further to get a better understanding.

What is Laparoscopic Surgery?

Also known as keyhole surgery, laparoscopic surgery has a reduced incision size as compared to traditional surgery. The surgeon inserts a long flexible tube with a video camera, which is called laparoscope, through a small incision in the abdominal wall. With the help of the video camera, the surgeon then reaches the affected area and performs the surgery using specialized instruments. After surgery, the incisions are easily but carefully covered with small band-aids. Here are some of the reasons why laparoscopic surgery is best for prostate cancer. Read ahead and make the best decision.

Short Stay at Hospital

After the surgery, the patient need not stay at the hospital for an extended period of time of time. Instead, he can get discharged in a day or two, as the healing rate is faster in laparoscopic surgery.

Less Bleeding

As the surgeon performs the laparoscopic surgery through a small incision, the amount of blood loss is significantly less. This, in turn, reduces the need for transfusion of blood after the operation.

Scarcely Need Painkillers

Another benefit of laparoscopic surgery is that the patient barely needs painkillers after the surgery. This is because of the small size of the incision made during the operation. The small incision not only reduces the risk of bleeding but also reduces the pain post-surgery.

Fast Recovery

Co-connected to the above-discussed benefits, quick recovery also comes as one of the primary reasons why laparoscopic surgery is best for prostate cancer. The small surgical wound heals faster enabling the patient to return to his normal routine earlier as compared to the open surgery procedure.

Reduced Infection Rate

The smaller incision also decreases the risk of infection in the patient. Its size does not expose the internal organs to external contaminants which reduce the infection rate.

Thanks to all these advantages, Laparoscopic surgery has become one of the most preferred methods for performing many general procedures. If you or anyone close to you is looking forward to laparoscopic surgery, then it is advised that you must choose a renowned cancer hospital like Max Healthcare to get the best treatment and specialised care. Surgeons at such hospitals have the expertise and exceptional knowledge that can help patients in leading a healthy life ahead.

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