The Smart Life!

Technology – it is the buzzword going around for the past two or three decades. Once considered a luxury, it has ambled its way into our lives making it a necessity one just cannot do without. I remember the time when tech and gadgetry were terms associated solely with our male counterparts. Well not anymore! While statistics show women are far more active in using social media platforms particularly Facebook and YouTube, it is not untrue to say that we have yet to tap into its immense potential.

But before that, let’s investigate the great pull of the World Wide Web for us ladies and specifically mums. I remember the time when my young cousin became pregnant for the very first time. Trigger fingers, we used to teasingly call her. Was there anything she didn’t google. Forget about reading the day to day details in “What to expect when you’re expecting,” from Baby Center to many others, she was a member of them all. Why? “I just want to know what’s going on. I feel awkward asking my mom the minute details and honestly don’t want to wait till the doctor’s next appointment,” she would quip and it really made sense. Surfing the net and googling did not only help her getting to know what her pregnancy was all about; it also helped her relax.

Yes being a mum is hard. I definitely don’t agree with it being a thankless job, but sure it has its ups and downs. And during those down moments, the internet plays the part of a good Samaritan. It’s where we can snack information while doing the mundane or a place to spew and spit fire, vent and let it all out – anonymously or otherwise. And boy does it feel good! For many of us, it is a platform from where we can reach out to others like us, help them with stories of our own or find solace in others’ life’s works. It is definitely a place to learn, evolve and to a great extent, be entertained, via shopping, playing games, listening and watching videos and so much more.

Make PTMs Work For You

Ah PTMs- I've been at both ends of the table, and while parents may feel nervous speaking to their child's teacher, it's equally tense for the teacher as well. Parents feel anxious not only about the report card that would be handed to them but also about the other possible complaints the teacher might make. Similarly, the teacher is not sure what to expect from the parents, as some of them become pretty aggressive when it comes to their child whilst others just listen with no comprehension of what the teacher is saying.

I guess what I'm saying is that a parent teacher meeting is a wonderful opportunity for the chief caregivers in your child's life to come together and team up for a mutual goal that is the child's progress and success, but it has to be done right. No matter how many I attend, till this day I have this little knot in my stomach even when I know my child has fared well. The reality is that we parents will always have a bias in favor of our kids, it's just nature. So how can you maximize the little time you have to best discuss the issues that are in your mind during parent teacher meetings?

CYBER MARRIAGE

So you are going to Marry via facebook
We will be online on your wedding day!
Our gifts will be "Likes"
We wait to see your kids-
When are you Downloading??


BEWARE- "TRUE STORY" :
Every girl dreams to marry a "Perfect Husband". Bollywood movies have created a strong impact portraying the cinematic love story, having the Cupid play its game causing a  girl to imagine and picture herself years down the lane. Her husband and kids come into view. Sometimes life offers you the unexpected and you start to wonder what destiny holds for you. Cyber marriage a term that most of us are familiar with. But what exactly happens in a cyber marriage? More and people in todays world are meeting via the internet and friendships developing over long distances, its not unusual for love to blossom over the internet and then develop into marriage. Are cyber relationships trustworthy. Can you trust someone blindly via internet and agree to MARRY that person??

Sania Imaan age 25, born and brought up in Hyderabad "The City of nawabs also known as the City of Pearls". In the midst of all the hustle bustle of this busy city lived a happy family with 3 daughters and a hard-working mother. The father passed away in a road accident since then the mother took over the responsibility and worked towards the well being of her daughters. It was not an easy task to take care of 3 young girls and to fulfill all their needs and she had to save money for their alliance. Sania was the eldest daughter who use to work at a parlour from 10am-8am, after a busy days work she use to rush back home avoiding her family to get peace "Over the internet".

Painting to Relieve Stress. Yes you got that Right!

Stressed about something? Having anxiety or nervousness? These are all severe mental health conditions. Notice how when you want to calm your hyperactive children, and if you give them some task, or paper and colors they are submerged in it for a couple of hours at least before they start with their tantrums again. Or moreover, they don't even remember what they were complaining about. 

Have you tried anything of this sort for yourself, as we all have something to complain about, yet we don't know who to approach or where to take the anger out. Most of us land up gossiping, which to me is a total WASTE of time and energy. I believe in being constructive and productive. Today many therapists are using art therapy to encourage self-expression and improve communication. Do we need therapists? I would say "NO". Just a small investment in some brushes, paints and canvas.

Autism- Living It

As I was waiting for my order at the fast food place, I noticed a father tenderly asking his six year old what he would like. The child kept fiddling around with his fingers not even looking at his dad. Immediately, I knew something was different about him. In a second the boy ran away, but the father just kept calm with one eye on his son. The boy came back in a couple of minutes. Again his father asked him something so gently in his ear, yet the boy was lost in his own little world. As the couple went off, I looked at them with wonder and as a tear trickled down my cheek, I had nothing but total admiration for the patience and compassion this father had displayed. I realized that this must be a case of autism.

In view of this highly misunderstood condition and it being World Autism Awareness Day on the 2nd of April, Mrs. Amina Asad, who is a member of UAE Mums Group  and whose child has Autism, has kindly accepted to lend her insights on what it encompasses and the impact it has had on her and her family. I appreciate and thank her for coming out on such a personal issue for the sole purpose of enlightening us.

How to Increase Trust in a Relationship

Before we begin, let me get one fact straight. The base of any relationship, old or new, is TRUST. If you don't have that ingredient, then your relationship is definitely incomplete. 

Now What does trust exactly mean? Some may define it as living with the same person day by day and believing that he will never leave you for anyone else. Another definition of trust is knowing that the person who you share your deepest secrets with, will never pass it on to another person no matter what.

Now ask yourself this. Who is the person closest to your heart right now? Your mom? Husband? Best friend? Then comes the hardest question. Do you trust that person so completely enough to hand over your heart and soul to them? If you said yes, then you are the few lucky ones. If not, well you definitely need some tweeking in order to feel more secure.

In today's world, trust comes hard. It has become easier for humans to lie their way through a situation rather than facing it with the truth. Morals have changed, ethics are ignored. But we still have to live our lives on this planet. A couple of strategies I came up with that we can pay attention to In order to bring some trust within our lives.

Breastfeeding 101

Breastfeeding is one of the most controversial topics in ‘Mama Land’. When asked if I breastfeed, I get constipated and disgusted faces at times and delighted faces with a “Bravo” other times.Abhorred by many and cherished by others, like myself. According to The World Health Organization, globally less than 40% of infants under six months of age are exclusively breastfed.

Breastfeeding is recommended by both the WHO and the American Academy of Pediatrics for the first six months of a baby’s life. Away from the health organizations' recommendations and from one breastfeeding mother to you. Breastfeeding is the only natural and best method to nurture your little one.

Yes it will be hard at first, I have to admit, it might hurt, irritate and drive you crazy at times. That's why it's important to know that breastfeeding is learnt and isn’t an easy practice, especially in the first two months that will be quite challenging in fact.However as soon as the baby masters his latching skills and a rough routine is established, it WILL get much much easier. 

Dandruff - Causes & Remedies

Dandruff is a common scalp disorder distressing almost everyone at some point of their lives. It often causes an itchy , red & greasy scalp with white flakes putting off even the best hairstyle !

Fortunately, dandruff can be controlled. In mild cases, one only needs to find a suitable shampoo which contains a gentle cleanser. When the dandruff is severe, a medicated shampoo is required.

20 Parenting Tips l'd Have Given Myself 10 Years Ago

Fourteen years and God knows how many diapers and tears after I first became a mother, I can honestly look back and can imagine my current self scolding my past self about things I did wrong, or could have done differently, things I could have done better.

Life teaches you lessons, but even when brilliant advice is handed to you free of cost, it still takes a few stumbles before you really learn the lesson. Then you kick yourself thinking if only I had listened.

This post is about my own stumbles and bumps on the road that has led me up to this moment. No doubt there will be countless more along the way and the path is yet very long. So without further ado let's just get started...

THE LOST PLANE

“ALRIGHT, GOODNIGHT”- little did the co-pilot Fariq Hamid knew that the night is not as good as he imagined and those would be his last words from the cockpit.The whole world is waiting to hear from him. If any second there is a hello from him, the shaken world will be at peace!

Tips for fostering creativity for your child

When we think of all the skills a child needs to learn to be able to succeed academically, we often think of reading, writing, concentration, math and so on. However, one of the most important skills children need to develop is their creativity. Creativity is what children use to write stories, solve problems, play music, make arts and crafts and even perform complex math operations.

So what exactly is creativity?

The Day I got Married.

Hello weekend morning everyone! Okay, here's a question. What are the few special days that you look forward to celebrating with your husband? We've got birthdays, religious festivals and family weddings, but none of them bring a husband and wife closer than celebrating the day when you swore to be together 'through life or death'.

Wedding anniversaries bring back the romance in every couple. They reminisces over the day when they first got stuck with each other. *wink* But we all love that one day when hubby spoils us to bits and showers us with presents and compliments!

So I caught up with some of our own members on how they spent their wedding anniversary this year.

Tahera Rizvi of our own UAE mums had her anniversary on March 12. Little did she know that she had a surprise waiting for her when she got home the day before.

Say No to Fried Food

Where, on one hand food is important for living, the same food can take our very life, if not consumed in a healthy manner. This happens because of unhealthy ways of cooking and oversized servings. Frying food, is one of the unhealthier ways of cooking food.

Frying is an ancient method of cooking. In the past, people ate fried food only on special occasions. Now fried food (especially fast foods) is a huge part of our daily diet.

Why should we avoid fried food?

We already take enough fat from different food sources like milk, nuts, cheese, yogurt etc. Adding more fat to our food through frying is like asking for health problems that can lead to an early death. Moreover, in our sedentary lifestyles consumption of fatty food will increase the risk of health problems.

Beauty Tips - Eyelashes

Eyelashes grow at the edge of the eyelid & they protect the eye from debris or dust.
Long eyelashes are considered a sign of beauty & many women seek to enhance their eyelashes artificially, using eyelash extensions or fake eyelashes.

Fake eyelashes are added above natural lashes. A pair of lashes when chosen can also be trimmed according to preference. Eye lash glue is used on tip of lash and using tweezers they are picked up and placed above natural lashes. If done carefully & with practice they look natural. In case there is some space left between natural and artificial ones then it can be covered by using eyeliner. When using fake eyelashes it should be made sure to remove them before going to bed as in sleep they can damage the natural eyelashes. Removing these lashes is also simple & can be done by using makeup remover or olive oil with a cotton swab & then carefully separated from the eyelid using tweezers.

Overparenting

Parents all have a primal need to protect their children from all vices, physical and emotional. It is a system that is on 24/7 and more often than not, it is on autopilot. We strive to provide the best we possibly can for as long as we have breath. But when the silent vice called overparenting creeps in, it actually becomes counterproductive and we ourselves become our own obstacle in the positive development of our children. In essence, we deprive them of getting an edge in the battlefield that is life.

As you read further I'll briefly touch on the areas where we generally tend to over think and over parent our kids. Prevention or at least keeping an open mind in these areas can lead to a more hassle free life, not to mention less stress on both sides of the equation. We may not all be guilty of these factors, but I certainly was/am, and it is a constant struggle to balance things out each and every day. But know that all parents have the purest of motives, all we require is a little distance and clarity and of course experience.

DUBAI: “THE GLOBAL HOTSPOT OF FASHION-ABAYA AND HIJAB”

Oh! Beauty in black,

Your face is hidden

Oh! Beauty in black,

My gaze is forbidden

You carry with you an aura

Your confidence I adore

I cover myself in your attire

And today I feel secure

Abaya is a long black garment worn by the most of the Muslims covering the full body except face, hands and feet.  Muslims in all parts of the world follow this dress code, commandment of this dates backs during the time of the last prophet in Islam, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) when he got revelation from Allah in the holy Quran verse 33:59 ordering him to inform his wives, daughters and believing women to cover. Since then this culture among different parts of the world has spread and mostly all Muslim women cover. The common places where Muslim women wear Abaya are the Arab states, Saudi Arabia and Dubai.

Space and Freedom

Kids need to get their hands dirty -- to paint, sculpt, create -- in order to express themselves. As adults we're told we need to color inside the lines, but I don't think you should ever tell a child that. Let them scribble-scrabble like crazy and see what comes out. What looks like a scribble to you is actually very fulfilling for a child

Abida Irtaza's daughters scribble

Marital relationship (Scenario 1) - The Inlaws Effect

Hello ladies! Today we will be doing something different. This time I won't be give out advices, it's YOU who is going to solve a problem and show off your expertise. 

Confused? Here is how we will do it.

I will put down a scenario between our pretend fake couple Aisha and Ali, and you guys will comment with the solution to the issue, that you believe us right. At the end of the day, I will add the final section of the solution to the problem to the end of this post. Ready?

         

Scenario 1:

Ayesha has her inlaws over from Pakistan for one whole week, including the weekend. She has hardly ever had a chance to get to know them better because of her quick love marriage, and because she flew back to Dubai the next day of her wedding. But the truth is, Ayesha prefers not to have them over because of all the hassle and pain they might cause her with the extra work, and because she can't watch Ali sharing his love with someone else. She would rath,er have him completely to herself. And she has heard her friends talk about the way inlaws always try to cause problems between their son and daughter inlaw so they can kick her out of the house. So she was very aggressive and in a bad mood. 

Energy Drink or Energy Drain?

“Energy drinks may give you wings…but you crash and burn instead of flying”

There have been various different trends for food and drink that we have seen over the years. Nowadays energy drinks are being considered power- inducing beverages, which are becoming increasingly popular among teens as well as adults. According to Gulf News, the UAE alone consumes 12 million liters of energy drinks every year. It would seem that consumers are totally unaware of the hazards associated with their consumption. Energy Drinks: The Silent Health Hazard Considering the high consumption, it might be fair to assume that consumers in the UAE may consider these caffeine bombs to be simple beverages that contain vitamins and chemicals, which will boost up their energy level instantly. However, although Red bull, Monster Drink, Power Horse and most other energy drinks contain more or less the same ingredients, the predominant ones are sugar in excessive amounts and caffeine.

Review - Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

Here is my first ever review of a product I can’t live without lately, so I thought why not share my experience !

I was gifted this last year on my birthday & was reluctant to try it first. Being always concerned about my skin I thought of giving it an attempt as well making my friend happy who gifted me.

Mastering Phonetics

Imagine the process of reading for a child, first he visualizes the letter, then he associates it with it's respective sound, that message is then relayed to the tongue and then he utters the sound. This process is the first skill. Now imagine blending the sounds in. This is the second skill.  It means to mix in the first sound with the next sound and it is not as easy as it looks for a young child. You try picking up a foreign language, even at this stage and let us see how well you manage.

So the first rule when dealing with children in their reading development years, lots of patience and then some more. The second rule is not quantification of practice. It's more consistency and quality. But we'll come to that shortly. The third rule is creativity while doing the above.

In this article I'll be giving a crash course on how to jump start your child's reading skills. Keep in mind, every kid picks up at his own pace. Don't force and expect magical results. It's a skill set that develops slowly so pride yourself and the child on every achievement. Try to make it enjoyable and fun.

Shisha Mania

Pipiti,Pipiti it’s a Waterpipe!

Inhale-exhale

Let the coal burn

Let me try once, let me learn

The taste hit my tongue,

Tobacco consumed my lung.

But my mind is at peace,

Beautiful mind with happiness did seize.

Pipiti, Pitpiti it’s a waterpipe

So what’s the fuss about it?

Why is it so hyped?

Sometimes I wonder, what’s all the fuss about this beautiful invention.One puff makes you at ease, calms you and comforts you.Blow after blow leads you to a state of trance, it makes your senses high, so electrifying makes you dance.

Hookah,Shisha,waterpipe it has many names.Many years ago this mini Waterpipe was created dated back to the age of Mughals. Since then this tiny creation has spread like epidemic and in the Mediterranean culture it has created its niche. In Dubai its common to find Shisha cafes and lounges to sit and relax, you find people of all age groups sitting with either family or friends. In Many countries it’s become a pleasant pastime to watch football games, play cards and do many more activities “over a Shisha”. Its not surprising to see a 13-year-old child smoking Shisha and chilling with his friend, but who knew that this pastime which is so beautifully disguised poses threat to human life.

7 Effective ways to WIN over your Inlaws

Dealing with inlaws is the toughest part of any marriage. And the most talked about. Thinking about it from their point of view, it is a very tough venture to accept a pretty little package into a otherwise perfect family, who turns out to be the greatest competition where her boys attention is concerned. So try to fit into a family perfectly, without posing any threats. Flash your do goods, and happily ever after is all yours.

So I decided to come up with a couple of important tips in order to help you get there. Afcourse every inlaw family is different and all have their strong and weak points. So these points are generalized. Let's get started, shall we;

1. Cook their favourite food, EXACTLY the way they like it. If they like it spicy, pile on the chilies and if they like it sweet, heap it up with sugar (or honey. Don't wanna get them diabetic now, do we? ;)) The way to anyone's heart is through the stomach. Trust me on that.

Never wake up to tea or coffee

The 4 principles of eating right

Standing in front of the mirror every morning, first thing on rising, Saba notices a small pimple in her T zone .Hmm  just PMS, she assures herself. Her eyes now start wondering and observing beyond her face. The chin is slightly double. She changes the angle that she is standing at and now faces the mirror again. ’My chin looks double from the side not from the front. She faces the mirror again. My boobs sag. My stomach is ok though. She takes a deep breath and tucks her tummy in; it looks dramatically better. Saba half smiles and pinches her stomach. She can feel the flesh in her palms. Not wanting to look down, she still does and says , ‘Yuck, its easily more than 3 inches of fat ‘.She now looks at her lower abs: this looks like a ring around my stomach, and now the hips ( squeezing her hips she thinks): this is how they should look even normally.

‘ I wish I had no stretch marks ‘.Goes down to the thighs, the outsides are ok ,the inside is just so…just so jiggly wiggly. ’Oh no I am so depressed!’

Osteoporosis- The Silent Thief

Osteoporosis, which literally means "porous bone," is a disease in which the bones become weak, less dense, and compressible - kind of like a sponge. When somebody has osteoporosis, the risk of fracture is greatly increased. It can occur in both men and women and at any age, but it is most common in women.
Be aware!

Osteoporosis increases the risk for broken bones. The most common ones include the hip, spine, and wrist.

The bones become weak "silently" and progressively, meaning you may not know that you have osteoporosis until a strain, bump, or fall causes a bone to break.

What Causes Osteoporosis?

A number of factors can increase the likelihood of you developing osteoporosis — some you have control over, while others you do not.

Beauty with Cinnamon Powder & Honey

Home remedies are always the best & long lasting solution. They are considered to be the most excellent way out when one gets tired of spending money & fail to get the desired results. Lets check out some very well known benefits - 

Skin - A mixture of little cinnamon powder & lemon juice is very effective for acne & blackheads. Also if mixed with honey its immensely effective for acne & pimples. This mixture can also be used for healing wounds and skin itches. Mix cinnamon , honey & olive oil for a gentle scrub & say goodbye to rough skin. Applying honey to bruises reduces redness, pain & swelling.

Hair – Using cinnamon powder & honey in food helps improve blood circulation, thus making hair strong and healthy. With improved blood circulation in the body, the hair roots and the scalp get stimulated enabling growth of strong & beautiful hair. A mask of honey & olive oil nourishes dry hair.

Lips – Many women love a plump pout / fuller lips. A concoction of cinnamon in lip gloss or Vaseline will plump up lips. Dont worry when you feel a tingling sensation, its just the spice working up. Applying honey helps cracked lips & also lightens dark lips.

Potty Training

A phase in your life that's frustrating, and very very messy at the same time, all parents (and by parents I mean moms) go through this period in a hit and miss sort of way. In this article I'll attempt to give tips and small suggestions that helped me through this period five times and in fact I am currently going through this phase for a sixth time.

First off, you have to know all children are different and each develops individually, however I believe that you can have a child potty trained in about a week's time if not less. The road can be paved a lot before the actual time comes by pointing out how the elder siblings go to the toilet and teaching them the associated words used in your home for waste matter. This is just laying the foundation. This can in fact, motivate your child and he may show interest himself. It also gets rid of the fear of toilets that many children develop.

Housewife in Dubai or a working woman

“A woman should be called a homemaker and not a housewife, for logically a woman manages a house and not married to it. As they say; English is a funny language and this word always cracks me up.
For centuries,a woman has been associated with household chores. But times have changed, gone are the days when a lady in red saree runs to the door screaming “Woh agaye, woh agaye”. Gone are the days when the lady would look at her window longingly, waiting for her husband to return, denying the evening tea for herself in his wait. Today a woman is likely labelled as a “modern housewife”. A current trend is that she is at par with men across many platforms.
Initially women made inroads at work in the field of teaching and nursing. Over the years, with their determination and prowess, they have progressed and created their own niche in areas like banking, finance, administration, advertising and the service sector to name a few.