A large population on our Planet prefers pets for a variety of reasons. Centuries ago, we were told, people kept pets for hunting. Dogs, mostly, were preferred companions for the way they picked up scents and their steadfast loyalty. But then, animals were kept as pets for a variety of reasons in the coming times.

One of them was, of course, loneliness. Animals give a company, are more loyal than humans, more loving, and in plenty of cases, adorable. From Dogs to Parrots to Cats, several animals have been domesticated by humans over the years.

Desk Plants can't be compared to pet animals, but they are slowly taking up that same space. By desk plants here, I mean house plants, which are easily accommodated at a side table, dining table, or any other platform. Unlike outdoor plants or bushes, they are easier to care for.

They are filling in the void for humans, especially new age millennials who like to have someone around. Someone who loves back and cheers them up at the sight of them. As far as visual optics are concerned, they are weaning people off the screens just for that look and beauty. 

Brands like Nature's Kart are filling into this need with their offerings of table plants. Nature's Kart is focused on low maintenance plants as not every house planter is an avid gardener. Many people lack that green thumb or only the knowledge to grow or propagate plants on their own. Nature's Kart further adds to the aesthetics by curating handmade ceramic pots with a glazed finish. 

Like Pet Animals, Plants also covet love, nourishment, and care. They grow more, flourish more, and give a sense of pride to the owner. While some pets are costly to maintain ( sad, I know, but at times cost has deterred pet owners), house plants are cheaper and shower a similar sense of belonging. 

Big things are bound to happen when industry stalwarts come together to create something spectacular, something impactful.

“Make me Up”, India's biggest platform for Indian Beauty Professionals celebrating 'Everyone Beautiful', will be held from 21st to 22nd December 2019, at A-DOT, Gurugram, Haryana. Organised by Vibgyor Brand Services & Touchwood Group, “Make me Up” is going to be a one stop showcase for everything beauty and make-up. This never seen before experiential journey of 2 days will cater to both professionals and consumers alike.

Kanika Bablani, Associate Director ,Touchwood Group and brainchild behind Make me Up, said, “Make me Up has been conceptualised and designed to be an experiential space wherein everyone associated with the beauty space gets to explore, engage and have a long lasting relationship with newer opportunities every day. Sky is the limit and we will keep adding value to make it bigger and better every year because as we say and believe #Everyone beautiful.”

The festival will be a beauty and make up galore for brands, professionals and consumers under one roof. In addition to the brands and make-up artists showcase there will be special knowledge sessions by industry experts sharing their knowledge about Indian & International practices for skill enhancement. With an expected footfall of 5000+, “Make me Up” will also witness presence of 200 Brides-to-be on both days of the event helping them to connect with the right brands and Beauty professionals.

Giving his view point on the intellectual property, Ankur Kalra, MD, Vibgyor Brand Services and Co-promoter of Make me up quoted “With the Indian Beauty Industry expected to reach USD 20 BN by the year 2025, we thought this would be an apt time to create a platform that not just brings all related to this industry under one platform, but will also be a move at organising the overall industry.”

The organisers have ensured that quality of content around the event is top notch and have taken well thought and planned efforts to offer Master classes by renowned Indian beauty experts Ojas Rajani, Chandini Singh, Gomit Chopra, Niti Luthra & Mansi Lakhwani and “Make meUp”icons Harshdeep Kaur, Rudrani Chettri, Claudia Ciesla & Actress Neha Dhupia , to name a few.

This beauty community event will not only offer exchange of knowledge on international practices, skills and share insights on the emerging trends in the beauty market but will also touch sensitive issues through Runway Walks to highlight social causes.

The show will finally conclude with the awards conferring ceremony promoting the local talent and motivating the home grown Artists.

About Touchwood Group:

Touchwood Group is an enterprise with more than 2 decades of services in the experiential, entertainment & wedding domain. 

About Vibgyor Brand Services:

Vibgyor Brand Services is an experiential agency that walks the talk, creating opportunities for brands to connect with their customers and giving them amazing experiences that touch, move and inspire. 

About a decade ago, Yum Yum Tree, a Sushi restaurant in South Delhi, became the talk of the town for its innovative Sushi service. The Sushi would roll down a conveyor belt and added delight to the dining experience for its patrons. 

Restaurateur Varun Tuli has come a  long way since. He opened the first Yum Yum Cha eatery at the bustling City Walk Mall in Saket, way back in 2014. The origami themed Pan Asian restaurant with vibrant colors, served a variety of Sushi, Stone Bowls, and desserts, which are a specialty in themselves. 

The chain at present has four outlets, three in South Delhi ( Khan Market, Saket, and Vasant Kunj) and one in Gurugram ( DLF Cyberhub).  The success of Yum Yum Cha has led to a specialized catering unit (Foodinc, originally started way back in 2012) and a delivery brand Noshi ( currently operational in South Delhi).

Ingredients to Success

There is no doubt that Yum Yum Cha has turned out to be a hugely successful brand. In the past five years, they have opened multiple outlets, garnered immense customer loyalty and plenty of accolades from the industry.

So what sets them apart from their peers? One, I believe, is the origami-based theme. The vibrant colors almost distinguish them from any other Chinese, Thai, or Pan Asian restaurant (where interiors are more formal, more red, more classic). They have this whole casual, relaxed vibe to the place, with the food matching up to the mood. The only other place which has managed to do a similar thing is Mamagoto.

Service is not just a benchmark to note the success of an eatery. It is also key to its survival. Yum Yum Cha has managed to do it well and do it consistently. On my last visit, I informed the staff, I wish to switch tables as the air from an overhead AC duct was causing discomfort. 

Now you cant move AC ducts, and the best you can do is to switch tables. But the guy replied that he would make sure that the particular section of AC is switched off. Within minutes the draught from the vent stopped. Instead of making his customer move, the guy made the customer comfortable in the present seat. That is what means to go the extra mile for a better service. And it is consistent.  I have heard many accounts of excellent service from this place.

Another thing that scores for them is their Menu.  There is something for everyone. For Sushi lovers, there are a plethora of options, although I don't like their idea of charging 100 bucks extra if you order two half plates of Sushi together. (one plate has eight pieces. You can pay extra and order two Sushis, 4+4). They also have an excellent looking Sushi Boat and a lavish Sushi Tree for those looking for platters for a group.

I am not a Sushi person, so there are a variety of other options, including Baos, Dimsums(Prawns one are fantastic), cold pizzas, and Stone Bowls.

In fact, I love their stone bowls, which can be customized according to your taste. They also make some excellent starters and Japanese Dumplings. It is through Yum Yum Cha that I was introduced to Octopus. The Takayuki is absolutely soft, and the Octopus does taste good.

I have a sweet tooth, and these guys have really worked hard on the Sugar rush. The Mochi ice creams are something unique, and the way they present the  Chocolate Mud Pot in a small earthen pot is quite impressive. The Mochi ice cream comes in plenty of flavors, mango being my favorite.

Unlike several of its peers like PaPaYa, YYC does not have a full-service bar. Instead, you get their own curated soft drinks, most of them based on fresh fruits like Orange, Mango, Pomegranate, etc. These complement the food just well. They are called Fun Bottles and served in glass bottles.

Rates wise, they have priced the food reasonably and at par with other brands in the market.

This is not a fine dining place if that's what you are looking for.  A casual, chilled hangout spot for daily Pan Asian fix served well and proper.

It is a windy day, with plenty of clouds and no sun. I make my way to the Kairali Ayurvedic Centre located just a few kilometers away from the Huda City Centre Metro Station in Gurugram. 

The Kerala Ayurvedic treatment system is now infamous around the globe. Thousands of tourists throng the God's own Country for treatment to various ailments based on the time tested tenants of Ayurveda. That it is nature-based and has a very slight chance of backfiring in the form of side effects (like allopathy) is a plus.

Kairali Ayurvedic Centre, in its present form, founded way back in 1989 and offered authentic Keralite therapies here in Delhi NCR. As one of the staff members told me, many people can't afford to take out time or spend resources to go all the way to Kerala for a week-long ( or more) therapies. Hence, the group is providing localized, day-long treatments for its patrons.

Suits well for me, like Kerala, for me, is far, and a nearby location sounds much better. At the center, the first thing you notice is wooden swings inspired seating area with an array of products lined up for sale near the reception. 

I have an appointment, and the person in charge is courteous and waiting. I ask her about the products for sale, and she tells me that Kairali manufactures and sells a host of Ayurvedic soaps, cosmetics, and other wellness products. 

Abhyangam is the name of the massage therapy, which has been suggested to me. At INR 2500 for a 50-minute massage, it sounds a little expensive, but it was worth the experience.

This massage therapy helps stimulate your senses and relieves stress. It also helps with pain management, as many of our routine aches are due to lifestyle-related issues. They also have many other therapies, in various customisation, to choose from. 

The secret, however, lies with the medicated oils they use. What differentiates a Kerala Ayurvedic and other Massage therapies is the oil. They use special herbs and have their own secret recipes (like KFC & Coca Cola), which are ancient and in use for centuries now. This gives me some confidence as I enter the room to see a  large wooden bed (called a Droni) where I am to lie down for the next 40 minutes.

Two masseurs awaited me and had they were not wearing a Kairali logo, Kurta; you would have assumed them to be bouncers at a Club. They are tall, and they are huge, like wrestlers. But very self spoken and helpful.

During the therapy, they kept asking if the pressure was okay if I needed them to go slow, etc. We even chatted a bit, and these guys were just great.

I am not exaggerating when I say that after I came out, the body did feel light. I was not expecting much. I assumed, there will be slightly better blood flow in my veins, and my muscles would feel relaxed. But I didn't expect such lightness as if the body had suddenly become nimble.

Anyways, back to Droni. They helped me up after 40 minutes and led me to the steam area. The person told me to expect to sweat from the skin. I told him that this was my first such experience, and it was great to have someone do it right. He helps me set the steam level right. Not too hot, just the right temp to sweat it out as he explained.

After a shower, I get ready, and I am told the doctor is expecting me. I meet this intelligent young doctor, glad that they have a qualified Ayurvedic doctor on board, in case of need arises for specialized therapy. I got an opportunity to discuss with him the benefits of Ayurveda and how they locate the problem and just work on it. Like, they don't cure your illness alone, but go to the root cause and work on it. It is natural so advantageous and in sync with nature.

I discussed more about the lifestyle choices we indulge in and how some of the harm is unavoidable. He explains to me how Ayurvedic fundamentals can aid in a healthy lifestyle.

I finish my herbal tea, which the staff has handed me and head back home, a little lighter, more agile definitely, and loaded with wisdom of Ayurvedic therapies. 

Nelson Wang's China Garden defines the evolution of Indo Chinese Cuisine in India. Spread across India, the restaurant chain as two outlets in the National Capital, Delhi. Recently they opened up their doors at Trillium Mall, Gurugram, a short distance from the City's district center and the famed Gymkhana Club. 

In fact, Mainland China used to be located a couple of miles down at the famous Sector 29 market before it shut down. The locality also used to boast of Unlimited by Golden Dragon, which has also been shut down since. 

Rising amidst the demand for Chinese Food in Gurugram, the place does impress. It has been beautifully decorated in shades of gray and blue. I visited it recently for a Duck and Dimsums fest curated by Plates2Miles, a community of food lovers with an active Facebook group. They organize a variety of food events across Delhi NCR, and this was the first time I was invited to attend.

The best part of the evening apart from the great company of P2M family was the service. It was like choreographed to perfection. We had five tables to ourselves, and each dish was served on all 5, at the same time in the order listed. The service was swift, with no goof-ups, and they paid good attention to allergies a person might have. That level of attention is what differentiates a place. 

The team also made sure to compliment the dishes with a wide range of drinks.

The principal offering here was the Duck, done crisp, and tasted delicious. This was followed by a variety of different dim sums, uniquely flavored, out of which I just loved the Baked Cantonese Chicken Puffs.  Other Dim Sum and food I sampled were

The final course was China Garden Clay Pot Rice. I am more of a Noodles than a rice person, but the clay pot was done really well.

In the desserts, they had Nutella Chocolate Baos, which were like WOW! I could have eaten a dozen if I was not already filled up with the yummy food. They also had a Mango Pudding, which tasted great. The Cantonese Egg Tart was something I hadn't tasted before and I liked the taste.

Simply loved the food, and the great company of the P2M community only made it better. The people running this community, Mohit Mahajan, P.S. Bedi, Sharmishta Mukherjee Cheema, Vanit Taneja, and Sahil Mahajan, really put up a lot of effort to make sure that the event is a real success.

The event got all the better for me, as an opportunity came up to meet Mr. Henry Wang himself, the owner who is excited about this outlet and the food at China Garden. Considering my experience, the decades old brand still rules the game. Looking forward now to visit again to try the other parts of the Menu. I am sure, they got some good surprises their as well. 

Venita Coelho scripts a gripping thriller in this book based in Goa. Jamshed Fali Irani hails from a rich background and travels from Mumbai to Goa in hopes to achieve his dreams of becoming a famed  writer. He rents a crumbling, ill maintained Bungalow,  all set  to  prove his mettle.

Things go off track when he  meets Alice who requests him to find her sister Sara. The trouble is that Sara has been missing five years and no one it seems wants her found. Young Jamshed soon  crossed path with Constania  who helps him unravel the mystery. Much  clues are to be found in a Diary they find in the house, which presumingly belongs to Sara. Her closeness to her friend Nina leaves an impact on the reader.

This is  a Gothic Mystery Thriller and Venita Coelho's storytelling really impresses. The way she has brought out the setting of a Goan village of yesteryear is vivid and inspiring. 

Not many Indian authors have been able to accomplish this genre to my mind and Venita it seems has  found her niche here.  

Publisher - Westland

Pages - 290

A poignant tale of love, author Krishna Chhetri's book revolves around Karma, Ghazal and Diana. They are three very different people enveloped with mystic, deep emotional love.

The book is peppered with plenty of poems and shayaris making it almost a poetic narrative with each turn of page reflecting deep emotions of the characters.

A Drop of You explores loves in its bare and soulistic form.

Karma loves Ghazal, and Diana loves Karma, who is her best friend.

Organic produce is the food that is made by using as much as natural products as possible. This is done to keep any chemical trances even though said safe is not all-natural, which will cause the food to grow to lose some of its natural nutrients. This type of growing produce is called inorganic produce.

This is done by adding some chemical fertilizers and pesticide during the growth for making a high-breed or to make it look more vibrant and have shine to it on the outside.

This adding of chemicals will also cause for the food to grow to lose some of its taste due to the faster growth process. Especially with animal products, they are fed with hormones, drugs, etc., for further growth of the tier body and increase the quality of the meat. Non-organic food items are usually cheaper compared to the organic counterpart because farming and growing methods yield more food per acre. There is minimal loss due to insect damage, and shelf life is often longer.

According to The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), organic produce carries significantly fewer pesticide residues than does conventional food. Organic farming practices are designed to benefit the environment by reducing pollution and conserving water, soil quality. Organic produce often costs more than non-organic.

Though they are costly when compared, they are so much better in quality-wise and also, by avoiding any chemicals, we avoid GMO, more nutrients, better taste, reduce pollution of soil and water, organic produce is also certified, which means Certified natural means products have no prohibited pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. By eating organic products, you are minimizing your risk for exposure to environmental toxins and severe health issues that are found in non-organic meat and produce. In addition to it, organic foods are the cleanest available.

Organic food producers apply natural fertilizers, such as manure or compost, to feed soil and plants. They use insects and birds, mating disruption, or traps to reduce pests and some diseases. To avoid weed growth, they rotate crops, till, hand weed or mulch. They also give animals organic feed and allow access to the outdoors. By using preventive methods such as rotational grazing, they minimize diseases.

There are different levels of certification for the food they are: -

100% Organic: - Made entirely from organic materials.

Organic: - At least 95% of organic materials are used, with remaining ingredients that are approved by the USDA or the certified govt facility.

Made with Organic Ingredients: - At least 70% of organic ingredients and can display three organic ingredients on the label. Cannot use the organic seal on it.

Non-Organic: - If less than 70% organic ingredients, cannot be label as organic or use the USDA organic seal.

Though people have their doubts regarding the cost and others with organic products, they are still better and safer for you and to try and save some of the the environment we live in.

The most debated question doing rounds is Design or Culture, what makes a smart workspace? The answer to this question can not be a single word. Design and culture are interdependent and integrated. They are not two independent topics that we can segregate them and evaluate

which one contributes to a smarter workspace. It is to be understood that design and culture

equally influence a workspace, whether towards a smarter one or not can only be answered if you read till the end.

For us to determine which one is the more significant influencer, let us be clear with what is a smart and modern workspace. Gone are the days where cubicles marked the spaces of employees, cabinets used to be full of snacks, and there was only black coffee available in the office kitchen. Those are days we left behind not too long ago. Now it is all about large windows, natural light coming in that energize employees, large spaces so that you don’t feel confined and open spaces to refresh your mind and break the monotony.

As estimated, workers of 2018-19 have a workspace of about 60 to 150sq.ft, but just a few years ago it was measured about 225sq.ft per employee. This is where design becomes a determining factor, the design of a modern workspace is ever evolving companies are trying to fit in more employees in a less amount of space to increase productivity. It is because the big MNCs are more concerned about profit than actually looking after the employees. The design here is a determining factor of the welfare of the employees.

We often come across the term ‘corporate culture’. This refers to the culture of the corporate sector, and yes, it also a huge determining factor for a smarter workspace. Millennial are not very comfortable with the 9 to 5 culture as they feel suffocated, and this reduces their productivity. This culture is not suitable for them as they can be more productive working from a coffee shop or in their home. This not only gives them their desired environment, but also the company gets its desired outcome. Another cultural aspect is collaboration. Everyone can perform well individually, but working in a team needs certain skill sets. This way, partnerships are made by various departments so that there are intermixing of office culture.

Both design and culture play an equal roll in making a smarter workspace as they are complementary to each other. Hence, it is not about Design Vs. Culture is all about blending in the right amount of Design and Culture.