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Best Exercises To Get Rid of Love Handles/Muffin Tops, Indian Fitness Blog, Lifestyle Blog

Best Exercises To Get Rid of Love Handles/Muffin Tops

Best Exercises To Get Rid of Love Handles/Muffin Tops

By Nidhal

Flaunting a flat and chiseled tummy not only looks winsome but also manifests one’s dedication, assiduousness and attention towards one’s health. And it is tacit that such a frame complements almost all types of apparel be it ethnic or Western. However, thanks to our fast-paced lives, we cross paths with insalubrious food items, commonly known as junk food, and ingestion of which leaves us with myriad health woes.

Love handles/muffin tops are excess abdominal fat that accumulate near the waist and without any iota of doubt look unprepossessing but wait, do not fret. There are easy ways which help you get rid of them. So, jot down these points and bid farewell to those pesky love handles that are holding you back from flaunting a figure-hugging outfit!


1. KNEE DROP EXERCISE- Lie flat on the ground, abs pulled in tight to your spine, back flat on the floor. Lift legs off the floor and into a table-top position. Squeeze a ball between your legs, engaging the inner thigh muscles and lower abs the entire time. Drop your knees over to the right. Continue for 15 minutes in a set.

2. BICYCLE CRUNCH EXERCISE- Bicycle crunches utilize all of your major abdominal muscles more than any other ab exercise. This all-inclusive exercise helps tone up one’s belly and love handle areas. To do a bicycle crunch, lie on the floor and clasp your hands behind your head. Slightly raise your legs a few inches off the floor. Bend your knees at a 45-degree angle. Direct your legs in a bicycle motion while bringing your left elbow to right knee, then right elbow to left knee.

3. RUSSIAN TWIST EXERCISE- Sit on your bottom with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground. You should be leaning back at 45 degrees angle. You can hold a weight in your hands, or you can choose not to. That is your discretion. You have legroom to do so! Lift your feet off the ground and cross them at the ankles. Twist to the right and touch the ground next to your hip with the weight or your hand. Twist back to the left and do the same.

4. BURPEES- Stand with your feet shoulder width apart, squat down putting your weight in your butt and reach your hands towards the floor. Jump with your legs and extend your feet to one side, land with both feet while keeping your core tight and one leg stacked on top of the other, jump back to centre, and then jump straight up bringing your hands overhead. With this exercise, kiss goodbye to those pesky and abashing love handles in no time.

5. THE SUPERMAN EXERCISE- The most frolicsome of all exercise- the superman exercise helps you unleash the superman (or should I say superwomen?) in you. How? All you need to do is stretch yourself on the ground by keeping your hands and legs straight. You need to lift your chest and thighs of the ground at the same time by balancing yourself on your stomach. Maintain the posture for 30 seconds and relax. That’s one rep! And you have aced it.

6. SKIPPING- Not only does skipping improves one’s agility, but also it kicks excess fat off one’s body. All you need to do is invest in a skipping rope and get started. There’s no ‘tutorial’ per se on how to skip. The key is to keep an eye on the rope and jump as it approaches your feet. 20 jumps for a beginner is fine starting point. So, go and grab a skipping rope.

7. LUNGES- Lunges not only tone and strengthen legs, but also develop muscles of the abdomen. Stand straight with your right leg placed forward. Now, bend both the knees to lower your body to a lunge pose. It is as cushy as that! Incorporate it in your daily fitness regimen and you’ll have not only toned legs to flaunt but also zero love handles.

Editor’s Note: I think we all need this 😀 Thanks for this post Nidhal

Do you follow these exercises?

Best Face Tightening Exercises | Get Rid of Double Chin

Best Face Tightening Exercises | Get Rid of Double Chin

By Nidhal

Look around yourself. How do people in your ambit look? Do not get deceived by the heady cocktail of chemicals on their face, camouflaging the dullness, tiredness and stress writ on them. No matter what your profession or field you are in, you do not get a license that enables you to turn a blind eye to the natural lustre of your face. Makeup is fun and creative, I agree but if the base (read: your face’s natural texture) is not well-maintained, no amount of makeup will elicit spectacular results.

With improper, insalubrious and untimely eating habits, we are aggravating the situation. How? You are what you eat! It’s time to take back a few steps and incorporate some easy-to- do exercises in your fitness regimen to allay premature aging and drive away dullness.

These exercises will help you tighten your facial muscles and also get rid of that nasty double chin..

1. THE BALLOON FACE- One of the popular selfie poses, the balloon face targets the muscles in your cheeks. All you need to do is inhale deeply through your mouth. Before exhaling, fill your cheeks with air. Your cheeks should resemble a balloon. Hold for a few seconds and release the breath.

2. THE FISH FACE- Another famed selfie pose is here! You do not need any tutorial on how to ace this, do you Ms. Selfie Queen? However, to those who aren’t fond of clicking selfies, here’s how you need to ace this- Suck in your cheeks and purse your lips. Hold for 30 seconds and then relax.

3. THE HULK- Unleash in the inherent Hulk in you by performing the “Hulk Exercise”. This exercise targets the loose skin drooping from one’s neck. To perform it, tilt your head backwards, purse your lips out and place your fingers at the bottom of your neck. Hold for 30 seconds and then revert to your former position. Continue for 5 minutes.

4. THE ‘SMOOTH THE FOREHEAD’ EXERCISE- To target the fine lines that develop on one’s forehead with time, the ‘smooth the forehead’ exercise proves to be fruitful. Place your fingers on the forehead, both facing each other. Spread the remaining fingers likewise and gently swipe the forehead while applying a light pressure to ‘smoothen’ the lines. Continue for 5 minutes.

5. THE ‘TONGUE OUT’ EXERCISE- This exercise may look as if you are teasing someone. So if you intend to and are confronted by them, tell them that it’s a face tightening exercise and walk away slyly! To perform this exercise, raise your eyebrows as high as you can and open your eyes as wide as possible. Hold them for five seconds. Stick your tongue out as far as you can and hold for a few seconds.

6. MASSAGING THE PHILTRUM- The grove between your nose and upper portion of the lip is called the philtrum. Massaging it will sort out smoker’s lines. Doing so is easy too. All you need to do is make inward circular movements using your index finger for 5 minutes. That’s all, you’re done. Incorporate it in your “daily” regimen. It doesn’t need any sophisticated equipment or state of body too.

7. KAPAALBHAATI PRANAYAAM- Kapaal stands for “skull” while bhaati means “shine”. Translated literally, Kapaalbhaati Pranayaam means the “skull shining” exercise. Regular practice will impart an enviable lustre to your face. Doing it is also cushy. Simply sit in a cross-legged position. Let your left hand rest on your left thigh and knee. Now, close the right opening of your nose using your right hand. Inhale deeply. Hold for 15 seconds. Close the left opening of your nose and exhale slowly. That’s Kapaalbhaati Pranayaam andyou have aced it! Do it at least 15 times a day and increase the frequency as you get accustomed to it.

Editor’s Note: These are some interesting exercises, much needed. Will definitely be trying.

Have you tried any of these exercises for tightening your face?

Onion Juice For Hair – 5 Benefits & Ways to Use

Onion Juice For Hair – 5 Benefits & Ways to Use

By Nidhal

The list of hair woes is endless. However, there is one wonder ingredient in your pantry that can rescue your mane from all the trouble. It’s none other than the good Ol’ onion. Don’t believe? Have a look at its benefits for your mane. Jot down these benefits of onion for hair so that the next time you suffer from any hair woe that can be combated by use of onion juice, you have something to refer to which will bring you back to me, hopefully thanking me.

1. ARRESTS HAIR FALL- Tried every possible product and home remedy to somehow arrest your crowning glory’s strands fall like wilted leaves off your head? Dissatisfied still? Give a shot to onion juice. Onion is a rich source of sulphur, which is extremely beneficial for healthy hair growth. It prevents hair breakage and accelerates regrowth of hair.

PROCEDURE- Gently massaging the fresh juice of an onion or two onto the scalp helps increase blood circulation, thereby strengthening the hair follicles. Be patient and persistent as I always say. I understand that saying this is a cakewalk and being in the shoes of the person suffering is a Herculean task but stressing will aggravate the situation all the more. Follow the regimen for at least two months twitch a week.

2. BID ADIEU TO PREMATURE GREYING OF HAIR- Does your face pucker on seeing those hideous white strands making a peak-a- boo out of nowhere from your scalp as you stroke your mane with your fingers or spruce it up? Head to the pantry and raid it for an onion. Premature greying of hair is caused as a natural antioxidant- catalase reduces. Onion helps control this problem by increasing catalase. Simply chop an onion (Devdas alert!)

PROCEDURE- Strain it well to remove all the chunks and using a cotton ball dipped wholly into the juice of the onion, slather it generously all over your scalp focussing a little more on the area where you have white hair strands. Wash off your hair after half an hour and shampoo as usual. Since onion juice is entirely liquid, it will be a messy affair. Repeat twice a week for two months and anticipate positive results with bated breath.

3. BID FAREWELL TO SCALP INFECTIONS AND PARASITES- Remember class 8 th science which introduced you to the world of parasites and hosts? Let me save you the hassle of recalling it. Parasites are creatures that ‘live off’ hosts. They derive everything from shelter to nutrition from the host without giving anything positive in return. In other words, the parasite gets to be a free-loader! And we do not entertain such creatures especially if they are on our scalp. To do away with such parasites inhabiting our scalp, this time we will rely upon ‘onions’.

PROCEDURE- Simply grind and sieve them to extract their juice. Mix it with amla powder (which has a rich content of Vitamin C). Apply using a cotton swab and then, wash your hair with plenty water. Onions have anti-bacterial properties which is useful in getting rid of scalp infections and parasites while amla will strengthen the locks.

4. IMPARTS SHINE TO YOUR TRESSES- I tried it once and was thrilled to see how lustrous my locks looked after washing off the juice. The first use itself threw results, however, this point is subjective but there is no denying that onion juice imparts a winsome glow to your mane. Onion belongs to the Allium family and is enriched with sulphur-containing compounds that are responsible for its pungent taste and odour.

PROCEDURE- Simply mix adequate onion juice with reetha powder and curd. Keep it on your hair for about half an hour and then wash off using a mild shampoo and conditioner. Repeat twice a week to acclimatize your hair and scalp to these ingredients. If you wish to add/subtract any ingredient that you think suits your hair, you are welcome to do so.

5. STRENGTHENS YOU MANE- Onion juice is very rich in Sulphur content. Application of the juice to the scalp stimulates and improves blood circulation. Hair grows from the follicles in the scalp. The next time you feel your hair is losing its strength, head no further than your very own pantry.

PROCEDURE- To use, simply chop and strain the juice of an onion. Mix with shikakai powder. Apply on your scalp and rinse thoroughly after half an hour. Shampoo and condition as usual. Repeat twice a week for at least two months.

Editor’s Note: These are some interesting DIY’s Nidhal, I will surely try

Have you tried using onion juice for your hair?

7 Exercises To Get a Flat Tummy

7 Exercises To Get a Flat Tummy

By Nidhal

Having a flat and taut tummy is one such accessory that grabs eyeballs instantly. Be it a figure-hugging one-piece or the graceful 9-yards (read: saree), a flat tummy is the ideal finishing touch to any attire. Not only does it manifest that one takes her body and its appearance seriously but also is a mark of proper upkeep. Keeping in mind that life these days is fraught with stress and unhealthy diet (envisage as many insalubrious food items you stoked in to your system right now… Yes, I know guilt would be knocking you down now), here is a brief rundown of 7 easy exercises that you can incorporate in your daily fitness regimen to kick that flab off your body!

1. CRUNCHES– Crunches help one tone and tighten the muscles in the stomach and you do not need any sophisticated equipment to get going too! Just flat on the ground and wake up- it is as simple as that. However, the key is to wake up while keeping your entire body (from your head to the waist) straight (as if in a line) and focus on an object (say the ceiling). DO NOT bend your head/neck. It will undermine your entire posture. 15 reps is a good enough number for a novice.

2. SIDE PLANKS- Planks are one of the best exercises for a flat, toned stomach because they work on all the muscles in your core. To do so, all you need to do is, lie on your left side with your knees straight. Raise your body up on your left elbow and forearm, feet stacked. Raise your hips until your body forms a straight line from your ankles to your shoulders. Hold this position for half a minute. That’s one rep. 10 reps are good for a beginner. Increase the frequency and duration as you get habituated with it.

3. MOGUL JUMP- Mogul jumps give one’s hips, abs and back muscles a strenuous workout which helps one kick fat promptly. To perform the Mogul jump, raise your knees a few inches off the floor while keeping your hands and feet in their position. Make a jumping movement, shifting your feet to the left. Then, similarly jump them to the right. During this ensure that your feet stay together.

4. BURPEES- Burpees set a lot of muscles to work in our body which helps one lose fat from the belly swiftly. To do this exercise, stand up straight with your legs apart about shoulder-width. Start lowering your body till your palms lie flat on the floor, the same width apart as your legs. Kick your legs out from under you in backward direction so you are in a position to perform push-ups. Do a single push up and pull your legs back. Then, stand back up with a jump, and repeat the whole exercise. That’s it, wasn’t it cushy?

5. ELBOW PLANK- The elbow plank is a slight variation of the simple plank. All you need to do is now balance on the part of your hand extending from the elbows to the fingers. Do not let your hips or abdomen droop. Hold the position for half a minute and there goes one rep!

6. THE V-HOLD- The simplest of all the exercises so far- the V-Hold requires you to lie down on your back while placing your hands under your butt for leverage. Lift back and legs off ground. Hold “V” position for 15 to 30 seconds.

7. THE WINDMILL EXERCISE- The windmill exercise targets the oblique(meaning side) abs. To perform it, stand with your feet hip-width apart. Hold a kettle-bell (any bearable weight) in your left hand. bring the weight onto your left shoulder and press it overhead. While you rotate your chest to the left, you need to look at your kettle-bell (or any weight that you may have opted for) as you reach your right foot with your right hand. Pause for half a minute and revert to your former self. You have perfected the exercise, lady!

Image Sources: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7

Editor’s Note: Again a fabulous and useful compilation Nidhal

Do you do these exercises? Have any to add, do let us know in the comments below

Top 10 Most Good Looking Pakistani Men: Part 2

Top 10 Most Good Looking Pakistani Men: Part 2

By Nidhal

Sometimes, a part two becomes indispensable say- in case of your favourite flick that left you wanting for more after it ended and the same can be extended to admiring the looks of men across our border 🙂 With Top 10 most good looking Pakistani men, I brought to you the most famed, easily-identifiable and unquestionably charismatic Pakistani men- a great many of whom you would have feasted your eyes to on TV or in flicks. With Top 10 Most Good-Looking Pakistani Men: Part 2, here’s to those heartthrobs who are just as good as the previous ones though not as easily identifiable to an average Indian “yet”. Shall we begin pampering our eyes then?

1. EMMAD IRFANI- *Drool *Sigh *Slobber that’s what this 36 year old model from Peshwar is desirability-personified. With features chiselled to perfection and piercing gaze that sets one motionless, here is to this hot property who is every inch a Greek God.

2. MOHSIN ABBAS HAIDER- A gifted singer who’s foraying into Lollywood (Pakistan’s film industry) with “Teri Meri Love Story”, Mohsin is the classic example of the adage- Where there is a will, there is a way. Faced with countless obstacles in the inception of his journey in the field of professional arts, he persevered and how! Thankfully, he did else we wouldn’t have treated our ears to his soulful a capellas. ‘Zameen-O- Zaman” and “Wo Su-e- lalazar’ being my earworms. Not to forget, doesn’t have typical chocolate boy looks? He’s married so, kindly do not set on hypothetical voyages

3. SAMI KHAN- A thorough gentleman at first sight, Sami Khan set his foot in the Pakistani entertainment industry in the year 2004 but it was in 2011 that he bagged his first Best Actor award at the 16 th PTV Awards. Doesn’t he look devastatingly good-looking?

4. ADEEL HUSSAIN- There’s a glint of mischief in the eyes of this innocent-looking 38 year old Pakistani actor- Adeel Hussain who is best known for his roles in Daam, Mata-e- Jaan Hai Tu, Mohabat Subh Ka Sitara Hai and Mera Naseeb. His performance in the recent Pakistani flick “Ho Mann Jahan” earned him a lot of fanfare and rightly so.

5. AFFAN WAHEED- Cuteness is appositely his epithet. Watching him with sheep’s eyes as he recites soul-stirring shayaris in Urdu would melt you without a doubt! 31 year old Affan Waheed is best known for his roles in Main Bushra and Aik Pal.

6. SHEHROZ SABZWARI- The doting father of Noorain and husband of the chirpy Syra Yousuf, Shehroz Sabzwari is your typical high-school crush who’d bring back memories of those days in the twinkling of an eye. Best known for his role in the film Khulay Aasman Ke Neechay directed by Javed Sheikh, he is textbook definition of a chocolate boy.

7. SIKANDER RIZVI- A man’s desirability hits roof top if he happens to concoct lip-smacking cuisines. And if that man is inherently blessed in the looks department, the combo becomes fatal. Sikander Rizvi is a Pakistani film actor and chef, known for playing the lead role in the romantic comedy Dekh Magar Pyar Se along with Humaima Malick. Not only that, he owns a café in Karachi which makes him don another hat besides being an actor!

8. MOHIB MIRZA- It’s by a quirk of fate that this debonair actor forayed into acting. As a student, he ran out of funds to pay the fees for the nest semester, so he along with this friends began a theatre company og their own called “Dramybazz” . They wrote and staged a play “One way ticket”, which ran in PACC for 7 days receiving an overwhelming response. Mohib, as a result earned thrice the amount he needed to fund the next semester. Soon TV followed and recently he was seen as the male protagonist in the Pakistani flick “Bachana” opposite Sanam Saeed which garnered rave reviews.

9. SHAHZAD NOOR- A charismatic Pakistani model and actor- Shahzad Noor won two Best Model Male awards at 10th Lux Style Awards and 14th Lux Style Awards respectively. He received three consecutive nominations at Hum Awards as Best Model Male, winning one.

10. USMAN MUKHTAR- A Pakistani director, producer, and actor rolled into one- Usman Mukhtar is one of the few independent directors based out of Islamabad, Pakistan. Doesn’t he remind you strongly of Johnny Depp from Pirates of the Caribbean? Captain Jack Sparrow, we are swooning already.

Image Source: Google

Editor’s Note: I think I will stick to Part 1 😀 Most of my favourites are in that list

Who is your favourite?

Sofy Bodyfit Overnight Review

Sofy Bodyfit Overnight Review

Hi guys,

We all go through days or rather nights during our periods, where we wake up with stained clothes or bedsheets at times. I know it may get a little embarrassing and night pads like these help us through those nights.

Claims: SOFY Overnight is the longest napkin in India and has a wider hip guard which covers your panty from the back for extra coverage. So you can sleep peacefully all night long.

  • Wider hip guard
  • Shape maintenance system
  • Double absorbent core

MRP: Rs.155/- for a pack of 10 (Buy HERE)

Sofy is Japan’s no. 1 Sanitary Napkin brand and we have it in India since about 2 years now. I am very glad we do, coz there were just 1-2 sanitary napkin brands available widely in India and one being the most famous, had the largest share in the market. Also is very expensive, and leaves rashes and itchy feeling post periods coz of the plastic layer on top. It was not the most comfortable but then there were hardly any options in gel absorbing category.

Sofy has quite a few different variants available but this Overnight one is absolutely perfect for girls with heavy flow at night time because it is quite wide and long. Its wider hip guard covers the panty from the back and there are no chances of leakage or transfer because of the double absorbent core. The wings keep the pad in place and it doesn’t move.

It is the longest napkin in India. They have this super ad called #SleepingUgly which says Sleeping Beauties belong only in fairytales and in reality we sleep best when we sleep ugly 😀 That is so practical and true, that is the real us.

I love the fact that these are super soft and there is no absolutely no itchiness or rashes during or even after the periods. You can check out more about Sofy on www.sofyclub.com/in

Have you tried the Soft Bodyfit Overnight?

OPPO F1s Selfie Expert First Impressions, Specs, Pictures

OPPO F1s Selfie Expert First Impressions, Specs, Pictures

Hi guys,

If you follow my blog, you know I have reviewed the OPPO F1 which was launched in Feb HERE. And then later in April, I went to Delhi for the OPPO F1 Plus Selfie Expert phone launch and also reviewed the F1 Plus HERE, comparing it with Samsung Galaxy A7.

Now OPPO has launched the F1s which is already available for pre-booking. I am trying out the device since about a week now and here are my thoughts on it.

Key Features:

  • 16MP Front camera and 1/3.1 inch Image Sensor
  • Beautify 4.0
  • In built Filters
  • 13MP Rear Camera and 1/3.06 inch sensor
  • 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 4 Screen
  • 0.22s Fingerprint Unlock
  • Customizable Finger print activated app launch
  • 3GB RAM
  • Dual 4G sim 
  • 32GB internal memory, expandable upto 128GB
  • New ColorOS 3.0 based on Android 5.1

Price: INR 17990

Colors Available: Gray & Gold

It’s a 5.5 inch screen normal sized smartphone, it’s not as thin and light as the F1 Plus, but not very heavy too, 160g to be precise. It has 3075mAh battery which is pretty good and lasts through whole day in one full charge!

It comes with earphones, charger, USB cord and a transparent plastic back case.

Of course, the phone does have all the excellent camera features which all OPPO phones come with. From Selfie Panoroma to HDR and Expert Mode.

I have clicked this with the Expert Mode, Ultra HD Mode, HD Mode and the Normal mode. The Expert Mode lets you adjust the white balance, ISO and every other setting. If you are a professional photographer, you can change those every single time before clicking. Ultra HD gives brighter and clearer pictures. HD mode is true to color and will give you super sharp pictures. They are heavy in size and resolution. HD mode is my favourite, and the Normal mode clicks pretty good pictures too. They have an inbuilt editor which lets you quickly edit pictures.

Left-Right: Expert, Ultra HD, HD, Normal

Also my favourite Beautify 4.0 mode, it makes your selfies look flawless! And also natural at the same time. I have taken this picture with the normal mode and the Beautify mode. Mind you, I only have concealer and some powder used here on my skin, and the Beautify mode gives me flawless skin as if I have full makeup on. I love the fact that it brightens and sharpens my eyes.

Front Camera
Left- Normal
Right- Beautify

Both front and rear camera clicks excellent pictures even in low light and night time, compared to all other expensive phones in the segment. I had compared the F1 Plus with Samsung Galaxy A7 in my previous blog post. As you can see in the pictures above, it concentrates light on the subject and dims the background, so the subject is well lit!

0.22s Fingerprint Sensor

Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Ambient light sensor, Accelerometer. The finger print sensor is unbelievably fast! Colours are very bright and sharp and pictures come true to colour.

It has almost all the features of the F1 Plus, and at an attractive price of 17990! If you are looking for a phone that looks stylish, has excellent camera and battery, plus is not very expensive, you do not have to look any further!! OPPO F1s is your answer! Pre book at your nearesr OPPO store.

Monsoon Getaway with American Tourister #PlanATomorrow

Monsoon Getaway with American Tourister #PlanATomorrow

Hi Guys,

So I went for a really fun one day monsoon getaway last to last Saturday with American Tourister. We went to Khambale at Igatpuri which is about 3 hours from Mumbai.

The view on route itself was so beautiful, road trips during monsoons are absolutely amazing and a mesmerizing experience.

We left from Santacruz at around 7.30 am and reached Khambale at 11 am, we even took a break in between for some vada pav and chai, of course! You can’t miss that when travelling across Maharashtra 😀

After reaching Khambale, we hiked about 1-1.5 kms and most of it was pretty easy and smooth, except for one steep slope. But then that was the most fun part! Once we reached on top, the view was mesmerising. We just couldn’t stop clicking loads of pictures.

I took some panorama shots, boomerangs and a lot of Snapchat pictures and videos of course :p If you follow me on Snapchat (bhumika_t) or Instagram, you must have already seen those.

We enjoyed the view and sat there for some time. We even planted some trees. The entire area has tree plantations and there were quite a lot of pot plants kept aside, which you can plant anywhere you like.

I am glad that not only did we enjoy and had a fun trip, we even did something to give back to the nature. While we were coming back, it started raining heavily and we got completely drenched. Now you cannot go for a monsoon getaway and not get drenched, right? 😀 That was fun too, basically I enjoyed every part of the trip and Mother Nature made sure it included every element.

We left Khambale and had a proper Maharashtrian thali for lunch at a nearby restaurant. We were so hungry after the hike that the hot, yummy food seemed perfectly appetizing!

It was a fun day and I so needed a break, thank you American Tourister for this fun getaway. American Tourister also has a #MonsoonTourister contest going on, where you have to just send in your monsoon getaway pictures and you can win American Tourister merchandise! Join the contest on their Instagram (@amtouristerin) or twitter (@amtouristerin)

Where have you been to this monsoon?

The Long Road to Trust

The Long Road to Trust

When we first shifted times were tough. There were issues running the household and I needed to find a solution and find one fast. Then one day, by pure chance, Kalpana Didi came to our lives and our world changed for the better. From cooking amazing dishes every day to keeping the house spick and span, she does it all fabulously and with a smile on her face.

It’s not easy to trust people these days, but her honesty is one of her most valuable features. From checking the vegetables and groceries to reminding me of the shopping list, she is my right-hand woman. And that’s not all, she goes out of her way to do extra work, whenever she has free time.

Through the years, we know that she is someone who we can trust to get the job done. It started with simple, small tasks and then they were built on and our mutual trust has grown with every passing instance, and she has become family to us.

Often when I watch her work, I am pleasantly surprised to see how she goes about her tasks. Each one gets her complete attention and if I am home or not, it gets done diligently. We can completely count on her and appreciate her presence in our lives.

The world can be a scary place until you carve your own space and fill it with those you can trust. They are the backbone in your lives- the people who enable you to take flight. While you might not meet these people every day, it is important to recognise and value them when you do meet them. Through interactions with them through the years, you will find your place in the world and build multiple relationships that you can depend on in the long run.

With the longevity of trust at the forefront, Exide Life Insurance has partnered with MS Dhoni and have launched a campaign #DhoniKaSaath around Lamba saath, bharose ki baat. Watch this beautiful video to know more…

Who is the person in your life you can count on?

Top 10 Most Good Looking Pakistani Men

Top 10 Most Good Looking Pakistani Men

By Nidhal

There are some words in English whose meaning is best explained by the Oxford English dictionary. And then, there are some words which are best explained by the men from across the border. For instance, dashing, debonair, hunky, charismatic, alluring… Phew! I can go on and on with this. The point is our neighbours are blessed really well in the looks department and it doesn’t hurt to admire them overtly once, does it? 🙂

If the women set hearts aflutter thanks to their piercing eyes, captivating smile, lustrous mane and striking features, the men make our hearts skip a beat thanks to the visual service they do to us. Thank you, Zee Zindagi for treating our minds to dramas with rock solid plots (with a few exceptions here too) and people who are ridiculously good-looking. So, on that note, why not feast our eyes to those very men from the other side of the border who leave us drooling? 😀

WARNING- DO NOT FAINT AS YOU PROCEED.

ISSUED IN THE INTEREST OF WOMEN THE WORLD OVER.

1. Osman Khalid Butt- A comedian, YouTuber, script writer, poet, secret dancer(or shall I say ‘Dancer in the dark’?) and an actor rolled into one, Osman Khalid Butt- Obi for short, is one of the A-Listers of Pakistan’s drama industry. With a chiselled jawline, piercing eyes and witty one-liners thrown on the spur of the moment by the man, he surely ranks high on the desirability meter. Spare me a minute for I am swooning  By the way, his performance in the subtly nuanced comedy drama Aunn Zara remains my favourite so far.

2. Mikaal Zulfiqaar- You saw him umpteen times scorch the screen with his regal looks on Zee Zindagi. In fact, you even saw him in the 2015 Hindi film – Baby play the role of an undercover Indian agent. Mikal Zulfiqaar is a London-born Pakistani actor and model who too features as an A-Lister in Pakistan’s drama industry. He won Best Actor title in Hum TV Awards held in Dubai in April, 2015, for his role in the drama serial ‘Muhabbat subah kaa sitara hai’

3. IMRAN ABBAS NAQVI- Born in the city of lights- Karachi, Imran Abbas Naqvi catapulted to instant fame with the success of his drama- Dil-E- Muztar in 2013. His chemistry opposite Pakistani actress Sanam Jung was the talk of the town. His features are the textbook definition of ‘well-defined’. Intense eyes, a mesmerizing voice and brooding looks make him a complete package.

4. SHEHRYAR MUNAWAR SIDDIQUI- Just have a look at that melting smile and cute eyes. Swoon… Okay, come back now. You saw him perhaps the first time as the unassuming, obliging and sweet as saccharine Usama in Zindagi Gulzar Hai and were left wondering,“Who is that guy?” 😀 An actor by profession, Sheheryar Munawar Siddiqui is notable for his role in Hum TV serial Meray Dard Ko Jo Zuban Miley, for which he won Hum Award for Best New Sensation Television. Here’s to this chocolate boy who strikes a chord with his honest performances 🙂

5. AHSAN KHAN- A thorough gentleman… that’s what bursts in my mind the moment I look at him. Prim and proper, courteous, dignified and inexplicably good-looking, it is as if the word gentleman was coined after him! Ahsan Khan is a Pakistani film and television actor, host and performer. The fact that he bagged the Hum Award for Best Actor Critics for his show Mausam speaks volumes about his acting chops.

6. ALI ZAFAR- Cute face? Check. Soulful voice? Check. Acting skills? Check. Desirable? Double check. That’s Ali Zafar for you. A Pakistani actor, singer-songwriter, musician and painter, Ali is the first to establish a career in the Hindi cinema and his success led many Pakistani actors to venture into Bollywood films. He made his acting debut with a leading role in the 2010 Bollywood satire film Tere Bin Laden which I find one of the most sensible comedy movies in recent times churned by the Hindi film industry. His performance in the film garnered critical appreciation and earned him several nominations in the Best Male Debut category, including Filmfare.

7. DANYAL ZAFAR- Closely following the footsteps of his elder brother Ali Zafar, the 22 year old Danyal is exceptionally good-looking. Need evidence? Scroll up and come back within 15 minutes. I bet you can’t 😛 All of 22 and Danyal gained recognition with his first appearance on the screen in the short film The Time Machine, released in 2014. A singer and a guitarist by passion, Danyal who has keen interest in blue and rock music genre jams with his brother Ali and also accompanies him in stage performances. We know where the influence is coming from now 🙂 One thing is for sure, great genes run in the Zafar family.

8. DANISH TAIMOOR- ‘Heart break alert’… He’s married and that too, to none other than the alluring Ayeza Khan. They have a daughter named Hoorain and look picture perfect together. Doesn’t that speak volumes about the charm of Mr. Taimoor? Danish Taimoor is a Pakistani actor and model. He began his career in 2005 and his notable work includes Meri Behen Maya, Mannchalay, Jab we Wed , Shert, Sari Bhool Humari thi, Aik Pal and Mehreen Jabbar’s Rehai.

9. ADNAN MALIK– A Pakistani television actor, model, documentary filmmaker, video and music video producer, commercial and music video director, Visual storyteller and former VJ all rolled into one, Adnan Malik is the new sensation of Pakistani entertainment industry at the moment. Born in Islamabad, Adnan made his television debut as an actor in Sadqay Tumhare which earned him a Hum Award for Best Actor Popular nomination at 3rd Hum Awards.Not to forget, he looks the notorious, suave and charming funny man who has the ladies swooning over him as much as they are laughing their hearts out on his witty one-liners.

10. FAWAD KHAN- They say ‘Save the best for the last’. I followed suit. He needs no introduction. Look at those deep, intense, piercing eyes as if staring straight into one’s soul. Melt. That smirk which turns one’s cheeks into all shades of red needs no elaboration. Melt again. His voice that strikes all the chords. The tehzeeb with which he speaks… I can go on and on but eventually nothing will do justice to the man who is the textbook definition of desirability – Fawad Afzal Khan. All I have to say is- You sir, are incredibly good-looking. I am staring at you SHAMELESSLY :p

Image Sources: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8

Editor’s Note: Fawad Khan was a little skinny earlier, then he put on some weight and I saw him in person at an event, needless to say, I am a fan now! Also love Ali Zafar. Imran Abbas Naqvi is going to be a new favourite, I guess 😀

Who is your favourite?