Munni of all Trades

Award winning Lifestyle and Travel Blog by Khushboo Motihar

Review

Dr. Internet at your Service

We, millennials, are an odd breed indeed; we are constantly caught up in the middle of two warring generations. We know what it was like to live without technology and we fondly remember the days when we ran to our encyclopedias for reference. At the same time we were the first ones to master the Internet, help Mario find his princess, fall in love with Orkut and later embrace Facebook enthusiastically.
We understand the Internet and its limitations as well as appreciate what an invaluable resource it is. The Internet has taught us a lot, but is it always a trust worthy source of information? I think not. Especially when it comes to health. I am a self confessed hypochondriac and the teeniest of symptoms can make me run to the hundreds of medical websites offering free advice. Once, after consulting an unauthorized medical website, I was convinced that I was dying of a rare lung disease only to have my physician chortle with amusement as she informed me that all I had was a bad cough.

There have been numerous instances when my imagination has gone on a rampage, thanks to the “helpful” medical websites and has me convinced that I have a few weeks to live.
But does that mean I give up my trust on Dr. Internet and run for physical consultations every time I sneeze? I don’t think so. Thankfully, we don’t live in an age where we have to wait for hours for our turn to meet the only harried doctor available in the neighbourhood. We can easily opt for online doctor consultation in the comfort of our homes and have our medical problems solved easily.
Dieticians, neurologists, cardiac specialists, clinical psychologists, general family physicians and others are all available in few single clicks. You can log on to a website, take Ask Apollo for example and follow simple steps to get your online consultation.
Say, I want to talk to a cardiologist in Hyderabad today. I can select for a list of doctors available, view their work experience and go through their profile. Once you select a doctor of your choice, you can opt for a telephonic or a video consultation, select your date and time slot, make payment and you are all set! Ask Apollo also gives you the unique service of choosing doctors that speak your mother tongue so that you feel comfortable interacting with them.
The entire process is transparent, you get to know your doctor before hand, the fees are pre decided and you have the opportunity to consult with doctors across India easily. This is something a local hospital will not be able to provide and often in hospitals one ends up visiting doctors who they know nothing about.
Sure, it was difficult to convince its benefits to my parents who were its staunch opponents but after their amazing interactions with doctors on the Internet, they have been forced to change their opinion. Online medical consultations are a boon for us all and I have found it very useful for my family and myself.

Indiagift.in : Review

Diwali is just around the corner, along with the birthdays of my aunt and sister. This will be followed by Christmas and New Year. Do you know what this means? It means that I will end up spending every weekend hunting for the perfect present for my loved ones. I will have to run to the florist to place an order for a bouquet to be delivered at my aunt’s house and then to the local bakery to place an order for a fabulous fruitcake. All the remaining time will be spent worrying about the gift, which will bring a smile to her face. Phew…celebrating birthdays, anniversaries and everything in between can be tiring.  
To add a sense of calm to my frenzied gift buying, I decided to try out an online shopping website that is a solution to all the gift buying woes. Let’s explore the website together.

Indiagifts.inhas all that we generally love to give as presents. From beautiful flowers to delectable chocolates and even fluffy soft toys. But they have not restricted themselves to just that; they have a wide array of personalized gifts like laptop sleeves, key chains and mugs along with bespoke combo hampers which will delight anyone.

I love the fact that they have gifting options for new borns! I always have trouble trying to figure out what to gift new moms with cuddly little ones. One of the gifts that caught my eye in the section was monogrammed towel set. I loved it; it is practical and useful yet has the hint of personalization.

India-gift.in requires delivers to all major cities and towns across the world. Yep, you read that right. So, I don’t have to fret about how will I send something beautiful to my cousin who studies in the USA. I can simply choose something wonderful from the website and India-gift will ensure that it reaches her.
If you are forgetful like me, their same day delivery service will ensure that your guilt over forgetting a special day is reduced. Place an order before 11 and they will deliver a scrumptious cake and flowers to your loved ones doorstep right in time.
For Diwali and other Indian festivals, they deliver sweets, too. You can choose between motichoor ladoos, barfis, kaju katri and a host of other sweets. You can also send dry fruit hampers with personalized messages. What I appreciate about this website that they haven’t forgotten any gifting occasion. They have gifts for Christmas, Easter, Guru Parab, Onam and so many others.


India-gift.in is truly a useful website and it definitely has put an end to my gifting woes. It gives you a wide array of options and also allows you to choose the time you want the gift to be delivered. It is a thoughtfully designed shopping paradise for one and all. 

Freedom from Dampness

“Tip Tip barse pani” may be a romantic song but you feel nothing but anger when that drop of water falls on you the moment you are about to fall asleep. Water dripping from the ceiling can be a major source of embarrassment while entertaining guests and it can also be the cause of frequent illnesses in your house.
Water leakages at home are not just confined to the monsoons. You can experience them throughout the year and they can be anything from a minor annoyance to a major concern. Dripping ceilings, mold infested damp walls and peeling paint are three signs that scream that all is not well in your house.
We Indians love jugaad and sometimes in order to save money, we end up fixing our houses partially thinking that we will invest in waterproofing in the near future. Sadly, this near future never comes.  That is why; it is essential to know why we need Freedom from Dampness right away.

Damp, non waterproofed houses can make your home unhygienic and uninhabitable. Water not only spoils ambience of the place, can also be harmful for wooden furniture and electronic appliances. Peeled paint and water seepage marks can make your house look cringe worthy and the odour of dampness can become unbearable after a point of time.
Damp walls lead to increase microbial activity, which are harmful pollutants and can severely affect the family’s health.  Allergic reactions, asthma, irritations in the nose eyes and throat, sinus indication and other respiratory ailments like bronchitis are all caused by dampness in the walls. Black mold in particular is very dangerous and certain species of black molds produce mycotoxins which have severe impacts on the human system.
All these factors make waterproofing absolutely essential.
Surface coating is important as it serves as a barrier against water and strengthens the walls. Dr. Fixit Raincoat, an elastomeric exterior waterproofing coating which is composed of high quality acrylic emulsion polymers and weather durable pigments, is something that you should consider opting for. This can be used in all the exterior surfaces of the house.

Bathrooms in my house are the biggest cause for concern and we always have some or the other leakage issues. Off late, I have been recommended to use Dr. Fixit Bathseal Kit which is a combination of products like Pidicrete URP, tape, mesh, grout and WPC. I hope it soon puts an end to my water woes.

Waterproofing in the long run can work out to be very cheap if you consider its many benefits. To know more about Dr Fixit, do watch this video here:

Think about getting your renovated or re-designing ideas, do drop by and check out The Happy Homes Blog.

4 Simple Steps to File Tax Returns with H&R Block

We live in a day and age where everything seems to be accessible and available all at one place. Yes, the E world in our laptops and our smart phones has made life much easier than in the past. Communication technology has made it possible to place door step delivery orders for products in a matter of minutes. Better still, it only takes a few seconds to access and use several services.


The newest ‘e-novative’ thing in our smart world today is the e-filing of taxes. But many of us feel averse to using the internet for monetary activities believing that we might get cheated any moment. A better understanding of things could help clear such confusion and facilitate a simpler process of filing tax returns.

 E-filing your taxes is as simple as sending an email. With e-filing making the complicated process of filing one’s taxes possible online you end up saving a lot of time, money, and effort which would otherwise go in finding a good auditor to accurately file your tax returns.


While e-filing of one’s tax returns has been made compulsory for those with an income above 5,00,000 , it is only wise that all people who are eligible to pay taxes use the e-filing route. There are many advantages to e-filing one’s taxes. For one, the processing speed is quick making it a time saving activity, accuracy is assured given that it is computerized, this enhances your financial portfolio making you more credit worthy.
All of this is made possible for no extra charge by H&R Block which is a 100% free gateway for e-filing your taxes.
What H&R Block promises?

·      Satisfaction Guarantee : Pay only when satisfied!
·      Tax Vault : They  keep your documents secure.
·      100% Accuracy Guarantee : If they make an error, they fix it.
·      Year-Round Access: They are open all year to assist you!
So let us use the convenience of e-filing to pay our taxes on time. It makes us more responsible citizens who are helping to serve the future of India.

Stylish new products from Deco Window

When I was little, I remember buying new curtains or new sofa covers was an annual affair. New things were bought every Diwali and then they would be used continuously for the next one year till they were completely worn out. My family never experimented with colours; we always went for the browns or the beiges that would look neutral against the walls. Things, however, have drastically changed in the last decade. Your house is your style statement and it is essential to keep up with the ever changing trends in interiors.
Nowadays, one does not have to rely on the same old things that are available in the local markets. With online shopping, it becomes so much easier to explore newer designs and buy something truly gorgeous for your house. When I got an opportunity to visit Deco Window at HGH India, I was really excited. What did I see? What did I do? I will tell you in a bit. Before that, let me introduce you to Deco Window.
About Deco Window

Deco Window is a window solutions brand from the house of one of the largest exporters in India –Jayanita Exports Private Limited. Launched in 2008 Deco Window offers complete window solutions for your window apart from cushions, trimmings, door seals, garden torches and much more. Products are great in quality with good value for money. You can choose from a variety of products available online as well as a display in their offline partnered stores.
Now that we are better acquainted with them, let me tell you all about Deco Window’s latest collection.


This season, they have come up with products in 6 different categories. They have introduced a new range of roller blinds, customized curtains, customized blinds, curtain tracks, wooden curtain rods, premium automated curtain tracks, modern shelves and a whole new range of tiebacks. 


I had the lovely representative at Deco Window run me past the entire collection and I must say I was very impressed. They have chosen modern colours, classical designs and they offer a wide array of customizations when it comes to interiors. For the, the customer is truly the queen!

With Curtains starting from 1699-2799 INR (Set of 2), Tieback from 199-1299 INR, Shelving brackets at Rs 499 , Curtain Rods from 1399 to 2999 INR, Deco Window is truly value for money.

For all of you who love the concept of automated curtains, they have the 19mm Track system in Charcoal, Brown Oil Rubbed, and Champagne Anodize. For the first time, Deco Window will also introduce manual track 19mm, 50mm Track, Automatic Roman blind, Roller blind and trim books. I had the opportunity to use the remote control to test out how it works and I must say that it was impressive.
Deco Window is all set to revolutionize the world of interiors and I am so glad that I got to see their entire collection first hand under one roof. Do visit their website to have a look at their product range.