Munni of all Trades

Award winning Lifestyle and Travel Blog by Khushboo Motihar

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Reaching for the sky

“You fear a swing? That fun harmless activity that children enjoy?”, Asked my friends and burst into raucous laughter. Little did they know the reason behind it.
 

I was a child, I used to love running around in the park as much as any other kid. I could swing for hours and other parents had to literally intervene so that their kids could have a go at it too. I would push myself to go higher and higher, hoping that one day I would reach the sky and play with the clouds. Swinging used to be the highlight of my life till that fateful day.

I was on my beloved swing, as usual, aiming to go higher and higher when I lost control. I don’t what happened but one moment I was calling out my mom to help me stop the swing and in the other, I was on the ground groaning in pain. I had fallen off the swing and the doctor told my mom that I was lucky that I did not end up fracturing my both legs. The wounds were deep and took their own sweet time to heal.

Once I was fit enough to walk, I rushed to the nearest park to get on my swing again. My friends were so glad to see me that they let me have their turns. I sat on the swing and started off slowly, but instead of exhilaration, I could feel a clutch of fear in my heart. I avoided the swings from that day onwards. In hindsight, it was really silly but I wasn’t really a smart eight year old.

I never thought about my fear of swinging as I grew up. After all which teenager would like to walk in a park of little boys and girls and attempt to swing. So uncool, right? And it certainly wasn’t a priority in my 20’s.

I came face to face with my fear just a few months back. I  was out for a fieldwork in a village called Apsinga in Osmanabad district, Maharashtra and I saw a swing tied to a tree. I faced the familiar sensation of fear in my heart. How was it possible I thought to myself? Was I just a kid then? Why do I still fear it?

I resolved to get on the swing right away. But once I sat on it, I just couldn’t bring myself to move. That’s when my friends decided to intervene. They had heard my story and thought it was too silly of me never swing again. One of them forced me to sit and started pushing me, a big task in itself, seeing how much I weigh 🙂

And as I went higher and I higher, I realized that I wanted to touch the sky again. And that day, the children of Apsinga laughed and giggled as they saw a didi go crazy after a swing.

Kya Cheez Hai: Review

I personally have a huge collection of funky stationery but because it is so cute looking, I just don’t have the heart to use them. I have put them in a box and once in a while, I pick them out, exclaim how cool they are and put them back again. But today, I am going to tell you about a website that has quirky and fun products that can not only brighten up anybody’s day but they are functional as well. Isn’t it a match made in heaven? 

So drumrolls for…

Kya Cheez Hai?
Our products not only serve usage purpose but also tell you stories 🙂 Our products are absolute value for money – fun,durable,tasteful and original! They make ideal gifts for any occasion for anybody and everybody, be its kids or grown-ups.
Here are the products I received.

Switty Comb

Location: Wherever I can make the largest group of girls jealous

Me: (Nonchalantly) I need to comb my hair
Rummages in the bag, finds Switty and start combing my hair
Friend: Where did you get THAT from? I love it! I want one! Please!

I give a long monologue about its features and with a flourish tell them that I have brought it from Kya Cheez Hai and then…
I repeat my performance all over again 😀 Oh yes, this is what I am up to these days. 
Coming back to my review; I am sure you will agree that Vibrant, beautifully designed and durable are the words that can describe this gorgeous comb the best.
 
It comes in a cute pouch so that you can protect it from dust or chuck them into your bag safely when in a hurry. The comb quality is good which is a big plus for me. Like I mentioned before, often quirky products are not useful and they end up in my box. But I have been carrying Switty in my bag all the time.
 

 

USB
Aha! This is perfect for people like me whose pendrives are lost in the big black holes of their handbags. I have lost count of the number of times I have to dig deep into my Tote and finally empty it in frustration to retrieve my pesky Pendrive.
I love the quality of the band and it fits my wrist perfectly well. It also makes a cool accessory for regular jeans and tee. The best part is the admiring glances I get when I flaunt my wrist band USB.

 

 

Bendable Magnet
 
Hmm…I am not sure of why exactly it is a bendable magnet, but it sure looks great. I was a little unsure initially, whether it will be able to take the weight of the keys because the ends of the moochies were really thin, but surprisingly, it does handle it well.

Shipping and Packaging
The products were sent to me in a recycled box (which is always appreciated) and each of the products had their own individual packaging. The product reached me in 5 days because I had specifically requested the team to send it to me via speed post. I am glad that my request was fulfilled because most of the times, people tend to ignore these requests and I have to travel a long distance to pick up my packages from the offices of courier companies.
Product Selection
Though they have a good variety of products, some of them maybe out of stock. So you will have to wait for sometime to get your order processed. The products are pocket friendly, too. 
Currently their website is not functional but I have been told that the team is working really hard to revamp it. Till then, you can buy their products from their Facebook page and also on other online shopping websites.
Overall verdict: Good quality products coupled with a dedicated support team that takes care of your request will sum up Kya Cheez Hai the best. Loved your products guys 😀
 
*Products were a PR sample, the review is honest as always

Maybelline Colossal Kohl- Turquoise : Review

When it comes to make up, I am the least experimental person you will ever come across. I stick to safe colours and God forbid if I ever venture out with smoky eyes or red lipstick. But when I came across Maybelline Colossal Kohl Kajal I was both intrigued and apprehensive. I decided to throw caution to the winds and try it out. Before I show you the results of my experiments, let’s get to know the product better.

About Maybelline Colossal Kohl- Turquoise

12 hours of smudge free turquoise intensity
Color doesn’t smudge or fade
Enriched with nourishing ingredients and Vitamin E to soothe the eye
Features a unique tip that glides smoothly for an even application

100% suitable for your eyes

Price: Rs.249
Shelf life: 24 months
Ingredients: Not mentioned! L


My review and experience

Maybelline Colossal Kohl- Turquoise has great texture, very similar to the black Colossal Kajal. It has a good staying power and even after four hours, the colour had not daded much. I must admit that I love this colour, it is bright and cheery and instantly glams up my face. In fact, you can just apply some gloss and you are good to go for a casual evening.

Now, in order to get the perfect colour, you have to apply the kohl at least three or four times.  I love the fact that it is waterproof and smudge proof and I think it will be a great addition to my makeup kitty. I now to fond of its packaging though. The cap is too tight and I have managed to almost break the tip a couple of times.  
Pros
It is a nice shimmery shade that I love
Smudge proof and waterproof
Smooth application
Works like an eyeliner or kohl
Long staying power
Cons
You need to apply it at least three times to get the perfect shade
I am not fond of the packaging
No ingredients list
Overall: It is a nice cool shade that can really uplift your face and add that little dash of glamour. Love it J
*PR sample

Bhopal A Prayer for Rain: Movie Review

I was invited by Indiblogger and the makers of Bhopal: A Prayer for Rain to attend the preview of the movie on Tuesday. I must admit that I had high expectations from the docu-drama, as it describes itself. It had a stellar cast and a compelling issue, basically two of the most important ingredients for the success of any movie. But did it live up to the hype? Well, the answer is yes and no.

The movie begins with Dilip (played by Rajpal Yadav) trying to pull his auto with great difficulty to take his overweight passenger home. As expected, the rickshaw cannot bear his weight and it collapses. While he helps the man get on to his weight, a bunch of children decide to steal his broken wheel, leaving him with no other asset to fall back on. His life takes a turn for better, when he is employed by Union Carbide as an odd jobs man. When one of the workers in the factory dies, Dilip is picked up as his replacement and is given a uniform that he wears with great pride.
Motwani, a local journalist, who is on the lookout for the next sensational stories, runs into the doctor who had treated the factory worker to know his cause of death. The doctor’s answer convinces him that that there is something very wrong with the factory.
The movie then shifts focus to Warren Anderson who is interested in sales figures and not safety protocols, both of which that Union Carbide factory in Bhopal lacks. He comes over to India and is interviewed by student reporter (Mischa Barton) on Motwani’s insistence.
 Up to this point the movie has been beautifully made and the plot keeps you engaged. I did not see the point of Mischa’s character as it does not add much to the story line and I found the part unnecessary. Anderson decides to bribe a local politician to merge three tanks full of poisonous chemicals to increase production, even though the company already has a huge surplus of pesticides and other chemicals because of lack of demand by the farmers who are still awaiting the monsoon.
Everything falls apart after this decision and the film shows what exactly went wrong on that fateful night. However, here is when the movie loses its steam. The scenes that could be intense and could move a person to tears are lackluster. I could not connect with the emotions that were playing in front of me as they seemed to be overtly dramatized. The story, which initially had started with Dilip’s struggle suddenly shifts focus to the Bhopal Gas tragedy and the transition is not all that smooth.
The movie has its heart in the right place; it tries to show both the perspectives of the tragedy, but it fails to evoke the emotions that tragedy of this magnitude generally would. I particularly enjoyed Rajpal Yadav’s performance as well as that of Martin Sheen. You should watch this movie for their performances alone. 
Rating: 3 out of 5

Image source has been linked to the picture

Clean shaven

“He is so juvenile!” she seethed in anger. “I hate you, you idiot. I really do!” she screamed and threw the Jack in the box on the bed. They had been dating for the past three years and today, on her birthday, he was going to propose, at least that’s what she thought when he said that he was planning something special. She was over the moon and spent many weekends shopping for the perfect dress and now, instead of a cute little ring box, he had gifted her a Jack in the box! A Jack in the box for a grown up lady? And she started swearing again.
I am going to end this relationship. Oh yes, that is what I am going to do she mentally resolved. There was a knock at the door. Who would come here so late? And then it hit her; her idiot of a boyfriend of course
She walked to the door to open it when she remembered his birthday present. She was about to walk back when Karan spoke up, “Meena, baby, please open the door. Let me explain”
She stopped but then started walking determinedly into her room.
“Meena, please there is an explanation. I love you. I know you are upset. Please give me a chance to explain.”
“You have a minute,” came her muffled reply
“Baby, that Jack in the box was meant to contain a surprise and a message. But the person I got it made from screwed it up. I was going to fix it myself but I had something urgent to do and that idiot Raj thought it was all ready and he put it along with the rest of the gifts. I am sorry baby”
“What was more urgent than my birthday party Karan. Agreed, that there may have been some sort of a mix up but where were you? You did not even turn up at the party you threw for me!”, her voice had risen several notches and tears were threatening to flow out of her eyes again.
“Open the door and you will know”, Karan said, praying feverishly that she would. There was silence for two whole minutes and just when he thought that he had lost her, the door opened and out she came. Her eyes were red as if she had been recently crying but she was looking beautiful nonetheless. Her eyes went up to his face and they widened.
And before he knew it she was hugging him and crying again.
“You shaved? For me?” she asked hiccupping.
“Yes,” he replied “And I hope you remember that conversation that we had back then”
She did. He had once told her as a gawky who was incredibly proud of his beard, “The day I start sporting a clean shaven look, you will know that I am ready to get married”.