Do Gift Vouchers And Gift Cards Embarrass You?

April 16, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

I was at a wedding a few days back, privy to an interesting chat on gifting. For a blogger every thing that one sees around and hears is food for thought. One of the other plusses is that it pushes you to think, think and think and then write, write and write. I am reminded of Nihar Pradhan’s recent post about bloggers whose thinking caps are ever on.

So yeah Gifting. The chat commenced with how difficult it is getting to choose gifts for family and friends. Everyone has almost everything they need and sometimes dont need! It then veered towards how gifts and the one gifting get judged on certain occasions. Sad I thought! Gift vouchers and gift cards were discussed and so were their merits and the ‘not so real’ demerits. But, why do we even create this gift connected Frankenstein in our heads ? I mean, lets grow up!

Gifting has to come from the heart, we all agree on that. But sometimes it doesn’t. The thought is there, but one could be stressed for time, ideas or sometimes constrained by a budget. Then lets look at gifting differently. The need for gifting when it first started had a noble cause behind it, that of equipping the near and dear ones with some things they didn’t possess or have access to. But over the years when peoples’ monthly incomes now are handsome enough, there is no apparent need left! So what are our options for gifting then?

With lifestyles scaling higher by the day, gifting is getting to be expensive if one has to match the style of the one being gifted. But really, do we have to do that? Let gifting remain a pleasure and not be heavy on your pockets. Gift as much as you can and want to. Quantifying…..is it difficult? Is it embarrassing? I think this all about mindsets.

Set your mind to give and receive with an open heart and we will then be wont to relish that very act of giving and taking.

So are we then talking of gifting cash or gift cards and gift vouchers? Both are fine by me personally. I’d let them pick and choose what THEY want rather than duplicating or gifting something that does not fit their lifestyle. Even if it means my gift voucher/gift card amount being only a part of the value of their ‘purchase’. I have in a way led them to buying something that they had probably put off for a long time, something that their heart really longed for!

But yes, the downside of gift vouchers and gift cards is that people forget they have one. You have tucked it in your wallet and it remains there, sometimes innocuously till after the validity has expired.

So why don’t you pin it up somewhere above your dresser or on a reminder pinboard?

Another scenario. You have received far too many gift vouchers/gift cards but you don’t have plans to shop at the moment. Your friend or family have put in thought and money into them, don’t let them go unused. Did you know some 30% of gift voucher money across the world goes down the drain? We don’t have to add our bit to it.

You could in turn gift them to someone or just sell them online or even exchange them for brands that you like.

A few online gift voucher and gift card resellers that make the job easy for you, check out which one suits you best. I have listed just a few, you can find many more such sites.

Zeek

https://www.zeek.me/

Cash4Vouchers

http://www.cash4vouchers.com/ – these guys accept even credit notes, how cool is that?

VoucherCart

https://vouchercart.com/

Today, every business worth its salt offers gift vouchers, so does The Sandalwood Room and here is a sample of it.

The Sandalwood Room Gift Voucher

The Sandalwood Room on Tras Street, close to Tanjong Pagar, Singapore is an exclusive boutique with gifts and collectibles, ethnic fashion, jewelry, home decor and art, an eclectic mix of merchandise and an art gallery that hosts periodic exhibitions by international artists.For those with a penchant for contemporary arts and traditional crafts…this is the place to be!

If you wish to check out their products, click here and if you wish to place an order email them and The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier your order to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.
Give them a Facebook like here.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Phone : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Spinach Powder, The King of Super Foods

April 6, 2016April 28, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 6 Comments

Hablis Hotel is close to the heart of the city, yet is a mere 10 minutes away from the airport. Is that the best of both worlds?

The hotel recently played host to about 20 ‘connoisseurs of food and fashion’ at their poolside-rooftop restaurant called HabLife Novella. The mention of any rooftop space raises expectations, but this one can really surprise you with its ambience of quiet beauty and warm décor.

Hablife Novella, the rooftop poolside restaurant at Hotel Hablis, my thought lane

Hablife Novella, the rooftop restaurant at Hotel Hablis

A quick tour of the sprawling open space of the restaurant was probably on the cards, but I refused to be rushed through. The place was far too magical to miss out on anything and as I traced my steps indulgently, the strong cool breeze ruffled my carefully styled hair completely, but I couldn’t care less. As the beauty of the place sunk into me, I knew why I had slipped into that feeling of peace and calm. The Five Elements were all there around me, earth, wind, water, space and fire. Ok, I must credit the kitchen too for contributing to the fire part along with the rustic wrought iron lamps on the tables, emanating a certain earthiness to the place.

Rooftop poolside fine dining restaurant HabLife Novella

Far from the madding crowd, under the starlit sky with water from the pool gently lapping against its sides and the city lights gleaming in the distance, HabLife Novella seemed like a haven. Add to it the soothing soft music. In fact, the ideal getaway for hard-core romantics. I shall reserve another slot for their food, it deserves a post dedicated to it. The Aqua-gym seen in the picture above is the first of its kind in the city. More about it another time after I try it out.

Well fed and satiated as we got up to leave, a bag of goodies came as a takeaway. Beautifully packaged, four little jar-boxes nestled against each other in a compact carton. Caraway Seeds, Spinach Powder, Dehydrated Blueberries and Melon seeds, fresh and organic I was told. Two aesthetically designed spice cards told the story of each ‘super-food’.

Spinach Powder and other super foods in a HabLife gift pack and stories about the goodies, my thought lane

HabLife giftpack , spinach powder, caraway seeds, melon seeds and dehydrated blueberries

I set out to tell the stories of all four, but clearly Spinach Powder emerged champion. There is oodles to write about the versatile spinach and so here we go…..

Do any of you think the cartoon sailor Popeye overdid it every time he ate spinach and gained super-human strength? You will not when you see how much of a nutrition-packed ‘power green’ spinach is. We are in a dynamic period of reinventing ourselves and by products like spinach powder are the gems that emerge out of hours of research and invention. All along we have been eating delicacies made of spinach leaves, we now have powdered spinach so that we have the ‘goodness of green’ handy all the time.

**Why is Spinach Powder a Super Food?**

An extremely potent source for antioxidants, chlorophyll, vitamins A, C, E, K, B2 and B6, magnesium, manganese, folate, iron, calcium, potassium, folic acid, phosphorus, zinc, niacin, selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, and the list goes on and on! Practically the most nutrient dense food product on the planet!

Its Health Benefits

The antioxidants and plant-derived omega-3 fatty acids in spinach powder help reduce inflammation in the body, lower the risks of certain types of cancer and heart disease, preserve and strengthen vision and boost the immune system. It is known to alleviate Irritable Bowel Syndrome effectively.

**You Can Use Spinach Powder Deliciousness In**

Homemade Spinach Pasta Noodles
Homemade Spinach Tortillas
Spinach Pizza Crust
Falafel
Hummus
Green Egg Scrambles
Green Pesto Mashed Potatoes
Green Smoothies
Spinach and Garlic Dip
Popcorn Seasoning
Veggie CasserolesQuiche Florentine
White Bean Soup

You can even add a dash of Spinach Powder to your Bloody Mary! Try it at home or carry some along the next time you go partying.

✅Tips And Tricks To Slip In Goodness Into Everyday Meals

Replace ¼ cup of flour with dried spinach powder in your breads.
Use it as a natural colour additive to your soups.
Use it in equal parts with kelp powder to get a nourishing face mask. Beauty specialists swear by its power to reduce puffiness and redness. Keep it handy for an after-party treatment!
You have a picky eater at home? Sneak in some green leafy goodness into their meals and they wont know.

✅Storage Tips

Shelf life : 3 months. Buy in suitable quantities as per consumption at your homes.
Store in a cool and dry place. It does not require refrigeration.

✅Choose A Good Source For Your Spinach Powder Stock

Spinach is a widely consumed veggie and one of those crops that is generously sprayed with pesticides. This is a bane in our present days of crop cultivation, but there is a way of ensuring you are spared of the harmful toxins. Choose where you buy your Spinach Powder from, get it from a certified organic source.

If you are in Chennai, you can head to Hablis Hotel to buy dried Spinach Powder. Procured from a certified organic supplier, hygiene is guaranteed without losing out on nutrition. You will find many, many other goodies at the hotel like spices, gluten-free nuts, dehydrated fruits, seed mixes, jams, pickles and more, all giving a richness in taste and the goodness of organic food.

hablife merchandise, organic available at Hablis Hotel, my thought lane

HabLife organic merchandise

Address

Hablis Hotels, 19 GST Road, Guindy, Chennai 600032, India, Tel : 91 44 4023 5555. Ask to be connected to SPICE restaurant to buy their merchandise.

This post to be continued with Spinach Powder recipes and applications soon. Till then, wishing you Wellness!

Shopping, Food And Fun on Tras Street

February 28, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

Tras Street can be a fun place to hang out either way I found out. With your friends, or if you are in a mood for ‘me time’. I would try out both on different days of course!

A friend from Istanbul came sojourning to Singapore and obviously looked to us for suggestions on spending her four days in the magical city. We set out early in the day and took a walk down Tras Street and around while she earmarked outlets she would like to visit after she was done with her eclectic shopping at The Sandalwood Room. I made a note too of the establishments neighbouring The Sandalwood Room and here I am putting them together to say how complete and indulgent your day can be on Tras Street.

A day out on Tras Street

This is the entrance to The Sandalwood Room. Lets take a look around the insides of the lifestyle boutique and then you will find a list of things (later in the post) that you can do to chill out and pamper yourself on Tras Street.

Entrance of The Sandalwood Room on Tras Street

Transport

Transport is every shopper’s first concern. No worries, Tanjong Pagar MRT Station (EW15) is about 1 km from The Sandalwood Room. So hop over.

Facade of Tanjong Pagar

Parking

You can get lucky with street parking. Then there are the Orchid Hotel, Oasis Hotel and the Ritz Carlton who will lend you their parking spaces.

Having reached Tras Street, if you are looking to satiate your taste buds, here are a few restaurants you could do with.

Gastronomic Delights

Violet Herbs housed in the Acclaim House is a new age semi-formal and spacious fine dining restaurant serving modern European cuisines with Asian influences. True to its moniker, they spice their food and cocktails with an extensive use of exotic and eclectic herbs.

May May , the sister establishment of Blue Ginger restaurant is inspired by the smells and flavours from around the region and combines the best elements of Asian cuisine ranging from the Japanese and Korean cuisine to Thai flavours. Illuminated by natural light from the skylight during the day and lit by chic intimate lighting in the evenings, it pays tribute to Singapore’s identity as the garden city.

Terra is an interesting restaurant on Tras Street termed as Tokyo-Italian, yet the cuisine not to be interpreted as ‘Japanese-Italian’. They call it a dining experience, claiming remaining faithful to authentic Italian cuisine without using any Japanese cooking techniques. However, they revel in using the celebrated fresh ingredients native to Japan.

Conclave Bistro is a Western-Chinese Fusion Restaurant and Bistro that serves great food and wine at affordable prices in a cozy environment with a Singaporean touch. And makes it a perfect venue to host private and corporate functions. Whats unique about them is their interiors, handmade using old wood and transforming them into art pieces. And that includes their chairs and tables, cups and coasters, wall decorations and menus.

Gattopardo Ristorante di Mare is a contemporary Italian and Mediterranean restaurant that recognizes seafood as being the soul and life of South Italy and uses only sustainable seafood at Gattopardo.

Chef’s Table by Chef Stephan Zoisl is all about showcasing great produce, be it food ingredients, wine or whisky from their producers. Good food, fine wine and spirits served in casual ambience that reminds of home is their USP.

Fleur De Sel, a charming shophouse on Tras astreet, serves fine French cuisine. With a sophisticated, yet functional kitchen, you can choose to dine at the counter seating enjoying watching the chef whip up delectable dishes, or in an intimate private space with carefully curated food and wine.

House of Dandy (H.O.D), a cocktail bar with vintage charm decked in hues of purple and gold exudes luxury combined with comfort. Dimly lit and soft jazz playing in the background, it conjures up a mood of romance.

M Hotel is a business hotel where contemporary chic meets stylish sophistication. A unique urban getaway in a central location to mix business and pleasure.

Couture

Ted Wu has come to be reckoned as one of the finest bridal labels in Singapore, both for men and women. Their customers tell me that this is one outfitter where compromise on quality has no place and where design meets elegance.

My Dream Wedding is another option for wedding gowns and pre-wedding photography.

Imanuel B Couture is a boutique that offers comfort and coziness like a home. Added to it is the soft music that soothes you while you get measured and fitted with customized gowns and dresses for all occasions. You can also find customized jewellery, hair styling and makeup to match the outfits. They undertake car rentals and decoration along with photography, outdoor and indoor. Seems like an oasis for party planning.

Tired feet and weary hands from all the shopping can be soothed at the following wellness houses.

Beauty and Wellness

Discover Chiropractic is a wellness center where you can indulge in discovering ways of enjoying life physically, mentally and socially, where you can learn preventive measures for a higher state of wellness.

Morinda : A company that has dedicated itself to create age awareness and help people look younger and live longer. They are on a mission to discover earth’s best ingredients and transform them into supplements and products that enhance the quality of life.

Bella Luna is a modern contemporary day spa. They believe that perfecting beauty begins with wellness and hence use ancient therapeutic formulas to foster in overall wellness. They offer facials and body massages by certified therapists towards rejuvenate and restoration of beauty and energies.

If you are spending a few days in Singapore and want that quiet away from the hustle and bustle of the throbbing city, try this.

Singapore School of Meditation and Yoga : A school that strives to improve on the wellness of body, mind and soul is open to all people of all ages, gender and fitness levels. Their classes are available for hospitals and corporates too.

Then some for beauty treatments:

Pure Tincture Organic Beauty : If you are looking for organic facials and organic skin care products, this is the place. Their products are claimed to have helped maintain very sensitive skin affected by Eczema, Rosacea, Acne etc.

Sanctuary Beauty specializes in facials, slimming and spa services, combining the best of technology and gentle caring hands.

And if you or any of your folks are working at R3 Business Management and Consultancy or Guggenheim Assets, then you have the luxury of availing all the pampering whenever you wish to break free from the daily grind.

A view of the beautiful archway at Tras Street that some houses the above and so many more businesses.

Beautiful archway at Tras Street

The Sandalwood Room prides itself on being the only one of its kind in Singapore with most of the products handmade and sourced from all over the world giving it a global feel. It is a boutique for those who love the finer things of life.

If you wish to browse for their products, check out their website and Facebook page with the links given below. If you like any of the products , walk in to shop and if you wish to place an order email them and The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier your order to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.
Give them a Facebook like here.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Phone : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

This Sumptuous Pongal Feast at The Raintree cannot be missed.

January 15, 2016January 23, 2016 / mythoughtlane / Leave a comment

Vanakkam! If you are eating out this Pongal, its got to be at the ‘Colony’ restaurant in The Raintree on St Mary’s Road

In our part of the world in India we are not done with the festivities yet. It is Pongal time. The festival of harvesting is called by different names in different regions of the country, but the spirit is the same.

Most of the harvesting is done and it is time to cook up delicious meals with the fresh produce from the fields. There is a jubilant air in villages and cities alike. It is shopping time and feasting time. Above all else, it is worship time. To send up prayers of gratitude to the Sun God, the primary source of all life on earth. To acknowledge the supremacy of Mother Nature for our very existence. Not to forget the cattle that have ploughed our fields and carried our grains.

‘Harvest Feast’ welcome board

Food prepared during Pongal certainly tastes different, more delicious, from the freshness of it all. So here I was at The Raintree on St Mary’s Road to sample a few of their Pongal dishes. “Colony”, the restaurant that beckons you to its ‘Harvest’ feast delicacies is designed to give you that feel of comfort at home and towards that their arrangement of crockery drew home the point. This is just like we would stack up our plates and dishes in our dining rooms.

crockery display home style at colony, the raintree

Crockery displayed home style

Customised wall decor and bronze tiffin carriers and vessels

This décor on the walls and the shelves is not to be missed either.We sit down to pamper our palettes as the veg clear soup with tofu and noodles is served. It has its share of sliced carrots and baby corn. Yummy it is but can also be a weight watcher’s delight. Chef Umapathy explains each dish as it is brought to the table.

Two kinds of starters arrive next. Vazhaipoo Vadai (batter fried fritters made from the flower of the banana plant) with fresh coconut chutney to die for and a plate of ‘variety Kuzhi Paniyarams’. Regular plain, mint paniyaram and oats paniyaram accompanied by two kinds of chutneys – coconut and tomato types. Mouth-watering is an understatement. There 6 Kuzhi Paniyarams, two of each variety in the platter, but I have to be content with tasting only one of each. There is so much more to eat!

Vazhai poo vadas , variety Paniyaram platter

Life feels good when you sip on water after the delectables.

I ask them to pause a bit before the main course of Ven Pongal, Ezhukari Kootu and Seppankizhangu roast is served.

Ezhukari kootu

The traditional Ven Pongal is made from rice and lentils with yummy seasoning. The Ezhukari Kootu is made from seven types of vegetables freshly harvested – yam, raw banana, chayote, broad beans, green tender bean seeds ,pumpkin and colocasia. Seppankizhangu roast is of course the colocasia roasted, tempered and seasoned with spices.

Now dessert cannot be far behind. Arrives a pot of Sakkarai Pongal replete with ghee and roasted nuts topping the delicious sweet. I remember closing my eyes in an euphoria of appreciation at the very first spoonful! My Pongal lunch is done but the festival lasts for a few days and I know I can look forward to sumptuous feasts in the coming days too. Their menu listed below is exhaustive, but I have chosen to taste only so much

The ‘Harvest’ festival at Colony restaurant in Raintree Hotel is on for the weekend, from 15^th to 17^th January. Lunch timings 12 noon up to 3.30 on all the three days and dinner from 7 pm to 11 pm. All the three days will see different menus, in keeping with Pongal though, alongside their regular menu.

Colony restaurant has these Fusion Fridays where as the name suggests, a fusion of cuisines is served at dinner. Their Pickled Thayir Sadam Veg Sushi that has become the most favoured is just a sample.

Pickled thayir sadam veg sushi, colony, the raintree

Fusion style Sushi, Chef Umapathy’s recipe

This Pongal Friday however, a flavor of Pongal is going to be added to the Friday Fusion fare.

Pongal this year falls over a weekend and so a Sunday Pongal Brunch is inevitable. Their regular fare plus Pongal specialities to be savoured, choose yours.

Priced at Rs 1450 plus taxes, here goes the Pongal menu

COLONY BUFFET PONGAL MENU

Non – Vegetarian

Erachi Biryani

Kozhi Sukka

Manga Meen Kozhambhu

Moroccan beef with mash Potato

Kadai Tangri Murgh

Gosht do pyaz

Kung pao Prawn

Vegetarian

Seppakizhangu peratal

Keerai Masiyal

Ennai Kathrikkai

Mundiri paruppu masala

Ezhukari Kootu

Paneer Tikka Kurchan

Achari Bhindi

Masoor Ki Dal

Ara Nellikai Sadam

Singapore Hakka Noodle

Asian green Vegetables

Ratatouille Baked Pie

Potato Skin with Creamy Corn Filling

Soup & Starters

Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Chicken Tom Yam soup

Vazhaipoo Vada

Uppu Urundai

Vada pav

Murgh Mughalai Paratha

Crumb Fried Prawn

Mac N Cheese

At-Site Counter

Paruppu Adai

Variety Pongal / vada

SALADS- 12(VEG/NON VEG)

DESSERTS- 14

3 VARIETY ICE CREAMS

4 VARIETY CUT FRUITS

Reason enough to head to The Raintree on St Mary’s Road to enjoy some authentic cuisines. You will feel pampered by the hospitable team at ‘Colony’.

The Raintree on St Mary’s Road is located at

#120, St Mary’s Road, Alwarpet, Chennai 600018

Tel : 91 44 4225 2525 / 2430 4050 , Mob : 89390 21083

Why You Can Find Convenience, Art and Elegance In Hand-made Drawstring Bags

January 14, 2016January 22, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

A hand made gift elicits a wider and warmer smile almost always. And the recipient feels special. Rightfully so. Because it immediately translates into a lot of thought and care behind the gifting.

I was at the launch of hand-crafted hand bags at The Sandalwood Room and fell into conversation with the invitees. I love hand made products myself, but talking to the men AND women at the launch, got these responses to “why do you prefer ‘hand made’ over ‘mass-produced’”.

One of a kind

Specially designed

Original art

Eco-friendly

Recycled, so environment friendly

Encourage handicrafts

Support artisans

More to a product. There is love, creativity and uniqueness and it shows.

Speaks of your personality through the choice you have made.

True that. In keeping with it, I have featured a few hand crafted draw string bags from The Sandalwood Room. In India they are called Potli bags. All of them tell a tale of labour, finesse and creativity. I find them handy, convenient and elegant. They have enough room for a woman’s must-haves ; whats more important is that they are kind of hands-free. Just sling them around your forearm and you are good to go.

A stunning evening bag in red woven fabric, embellished with white bead work. The cluster of white pearl-beads adds a touch of drama and the draw strings just as pretty as the bag itself with gold coloured beads in its tassels. The inimitable kundan studs amidst the beadwork lending grandeur.

Ethnic handmade ‘Potli’ or drawstring bags

Brocaded at the top in a deep hued velvet fabric, this bag exudes charm with zardosi embroidery work in shades of gold on its base. Tiny white beads enhancing the embroidery even further. Attention to detail is evident in the gold beads in tassels of the draw strings.

Sea green or teal is a head turner colour. So is this bag for its lovely shade and the beautiful embroidered patchwork in white and silver. Teal drawstrings with pretty tassels. Padded and lined with cotton.

The aesthetically strung beads that adorn the drawstrings. Cant miss the delicately carved green beads. A sample to show how much care has gone into the fine detailing of the drawstrings in every bag.

An evening clutch in dull gold silk, embroidered in gold thread called the zardosi work, padded and lined. Magnetic buttons to snap it close and a small inner pouch.

Benares silk is sought after by every lover of silk. An evening bag in Benares silk with raw-silk borders attached. Embroidered with white silk and silver thread, the drawstrings glisten silver. Raw silk and pearl tassels giving it a touch of class. Padded and lined with cotton for better support. The pretty pink peeping out from the insides at the top makes it so much more attractive.

This bag can be both casual as well as formal. Bands of pink and red silk at the top with Tanchoi silk at the bottom. Silver embroidered flowers adding elegance. The drawstrings made of gold shaded fabric with printed silk and beads as tassels. Padded and lined with cotton and a closer look will reveal gold braid edging. Riot of colours yet very appealing.

This bag is made from two kinds of silk, Benares silk in dull gold at the top and raw silk strips underneath. The violetish blue band is embroidered zardosi style and inlaid with ‘Gota‘ gold fabric. The red silk fabric drawstrings end in tassels with gold beads capped in raw silk fabric. Padded and lined with cotton.

For all those lovers of nude shades. An evening bag in dull gold Benares silk. The hand-embroidery with sequins and pearls making it glamorous. Silver hued drawstrings to compliment the white pearl-beads with gold beads at the tassels. Padded and lined with cotton.

The Sandalwood Room prides itself on being the only one of its kind in Singapore. I did a bit of recce around certain shopping areas of Singapore and I discovered that, yes, true to their claims, The Sandalwood Room is a boutique for those who love the finer things of life.

If you have liked any of these products , walk in and if you wish to place an order, The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier it to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Boxes And Photo Frames House Treasures Of A Different Kind

December 26, 2015January 22, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 1 Comment

Decorative square box, the sandalwood room

Decorative square box with zardosi work inlaid

Boxes and photo frames make perfect gifts round the year and there is something strikingly common between them. To me, they are both treasure houses of sorts. Boxes, of treasures that are the ‘touch and feel’ sort – some new acquisitions and some others that bring back to mind fond memories. Photo frames, cherishing within them people and places that have left an indelible mark on our minds and hearts.

Photo frames zardosi on silk, The Sandalwood Room

Photo Frames with zardosi and sequins work on raw silk

A stunning wooden box with zardosi work on deep blue raw silk. A closer look will reveal the impressions of archways intricately carved and bejewelled. Wrap your semi-precious daily wear jewelry, tuck them in the box and let it adorn your dressing table.

Decorative wooden square box, the sandalwood room

Decorative wooden square box with zardosi and sequins work inlaid

I found another similarity between boxes and photo frames. Boxes have always had an element of curiosity for most of us, right? Every time I see a box any place, I feel ‘that irresistible urge’ to unclasp it, open in anticipation of exciting, nostalgic and precious little somethings staring at me. And I, for some reason am wont to imagine that those treasures are as happy to see me as I am to set eyes upon them.

Decorative Rectangular box, the sandalwood room

Docorative rectangular box in tones of mustard with zardosi work

And that goes for photo frames too. Pop a question. Just ask ‘a who and a where’ and people and places come alive in fond narrations and discussions. So that brings to my mind another similarity. Boxes and photo frames are conversation builders, because most often they have a story to tell.

A loved one looking at you out of a photo frame is sort of romantic and enhances your mood. Add to it the decorative motifs in zardosi on raw silk and you have a work of art on your table.

Decorative photo frame, the sandalwood room

Decorative photo frames with zardosiwork on blue raw silk

Christmas has just been round the corner and so I thought it an apt time to write about boxes and photo frames. This blog post was supposed to be published before Christmas, but it’s now the after-party kind of stuff! I am sure in most homes, boxes of gifts have been exchanged and opened gleefully, frames have either been gifted or new ones placed on mantelpieces and side tables.

I couldn’t help penning down a few thoughts when I was shown these beautiful boxes and photo frames at The Sandalwood Room. I hear they are great hits in Singapore. I bought two of each, to store my gleaming cutlery and jewelry. And the photo frames as gifts, one to my daughter and the other to a friend from my college days with whom I have reconnected recently. Helping preserve memories. Its fun when you have tons of pictures that can add more life to your living spaces.

More boxes to choose from at The Sandalwood Room

Decorative square box with zardosi embroidery on purple raw silk inlaid

Decorative rectangular box with zardosi on red raw silk

Decorative rectangular box with zardosi motif on green raw silk

Decorative square box with zardosi and sequins work on red raw silk inlaid

Browsing and shopping at The Sandalwood Room is balmy and therapeutic. There is a certain warmth emanating from its decor. It’s probably the colours in the hand crafted goods, brights juxtaposed gently with the subtle, that play on the mind, in a way connect you to nature.

If you loved these products and wish to place an order, The Sandalwood Room will be happy to courier it to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.

Nearly everything in The Sandalwood Room is exclusive and hand crafted. In fact, it’s the only one of it’s kind in Singapore.

The Sandalwood Room wishes you all exciting countdown to the New Year. We are so glad to be a part of spreading cheer to your near and dear ones.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 6221 2654 / +65 9786 5896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Looking For Unique Christmas Gifting Ideas? Go The Hancrafted, Creative Way

December 19, 2015January 23, 2016 / mythoughtlane / 3 Comments

This Christmas, pick up simple and sweet handcrafted gifts. Lend Singapore a hand in making it eco-friendly.

Christmas is round the corner and here are some great shopping and gifting ideas. The smile that a gift brings to face of the gifted is worth a million dollars! And if you wish to make your gifts special, then go for the handmade range. Let your folks know that a lot of thought has gone into choosing some exclusive stuff that may not be seen around too often.

Stroll into The Sandalwood Room‘s lovely and cozy ambience for your shopping. You will find something for everyone. Every item on their shelves is well curated to pamper to global tastes, each one telling you the tale of an art and its artisan from that corner of the world you so want to visit. Earthy, unique and global.

Begin with writing out a card for your loved one.

Hand stitched notebooks from Anokhi. Jot down shopping lists and to-do notes. Will fit snugly into the smallest of handbags.

Colourful palmyra leaf baskets, trays and boxes that will brighten up your living spaces

This ceramic jar could be ideal for packing Christmas cookies, home-made chocolates and cakes.

Tuck in your trinkets and baubles. Even a set of plain white paper napkins will look jazzed up inside these wooden boxes topped with a metal mesh lid painted to add elegance.

Chinese lanterns just right to light up homes at Christmas time. You will love the play of light as they add a dimension to the space

Trays and coasters with zardosi work on silk and encased within glass. Bright!

Trays and boxes embroidered on silk with zari, encased within glass.

Hand-knotted thread jewelry embellished with metal strands and danglers. This is an exclusive line of jewelry from Mayabazar. Traditional artisans create exquisite jewellery by hand-knotting silk and cotton yarn with metal, wooden, hand-blown glass beads and semi-precious stones using a charak or a wooden spindle.

These are hand-embroidered silk and cotton sling bags. Look ethnic or boho as you team them with western or Indian wear.

It’s now time to dress up the little angels at home. Kids-wear is as adorable as the tiny tots are. Pamper them with these pretty block-printed frocks , pick-me-up booties and bibs, all in comfortable cotton.

Give them soft stuffed toys to cuddle with, while you are busy getting your cakes and bakes ready.

And finally ethnic gift bags that add a touch of class to your gifting.

If you loved these products and wish to place an order, TSR will be happy to courier it to you.
Price on request. Email them at the ID below.
Payments are routed through PayPal.
All products subject to availability.

Everything in The Sandalwood Room is exclusive and hand crafted. In fact, it’s the only one of it’s kind in Singapore.

The Sandalwood Room wishes you all a very Happy & Merry Christmas. We are so glad to be a part of spreading cheer to your near and dear ones.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 62212654 / +65 97865896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook : Visit The Sandalwood Room

Bhoomika Trust Helping Flooded Chennai To It’s Feet. Do You Want To Too?

December 8, 2015 / mythoughtlane / Leave a comment

Rain has abated, waters are receding, power and cellular networks are being restored in most parts of the city. What stares us now in the face is the magnitude of destruction of life and property in the aftermath of days of unrelenting rain. The death toll has crossed 269. We still haven’t been able to assess the extent of loss of property. The number of flood affected people taking refuge in railway and bus stations and other public places is enough to make your heart sink. Over 3 lakh people of Chennai and its surrounding towns. Our relief work has begun.

Flood affected citizens in a queue for relief materials

How will we rehabilitate such huge numbers? How will we provide them home and work all over again? Belongings all gone, they now are dependent on being fed, clothed and sheltered. Do you want to help? You can contribute to Bhoomika Trust, details at the end of the blog.

Bhoomika Trust volunteers packing food for the flood ravaged

In my blog of yesterday, I requested all of you to pray for us, along with us for the rains to stop and the sun to shine upon us. Our prayers were heard. Today I write with a request to all those that can help us rebuild our peoples’ lives. I recount portions of my prayer post of yesterday.

“Rains have lashed cruelly, wiped away peoples’ homes and belongings, forcing inmates to move to higher floors of apartments and some on to the terraces. Rich nor poor, young nor old have been spared. Open terraces, wet and cold have been the only shelter to some, till being rescued by The National Disaster Rescue Force, the Army, the Navy and citizens alike.

As citizens rescue an elderly couple on a raft

NDRF rescuing people caught in floods

Chennai: Army personnel carry children on their shoulders as they wade through flood waters in rain-hit Chennai on Thursday. PTI Photo(PTI12_3_2015_000387B)

Reservoirs have brimmed over and rivers have swelled. There are no roads left in some parts of the city, they have been converted to waterways.

Chennai streets turn into waterways. None spared

We taxied our people to safety in boats.

Army personnel rescue people and pets alike from flooded houses as they clutch on to their belongings

This is how much our airport and railway tracks were submerged till a few hours ago.

But we are resilient. Our people have risen to the occasion with single minded focus of rehabilitating those who have lost a roof over their heads. Our shopping malls and cinema halls suspended their shows for a while and made room for the cold and shivering to spend the night. So did the places of worship of every faith. Our citizens have strengthened the hands of the state machinery in relief work like nowhere else. The rains have been truly merciless, a situation no government can probably deal with single-handedly. No government, no state could have been equipped to handle a calamity of this magnitude. Our volunteers for relief work round the clock are our warriors, they are young, very young, they are old, very old, but have come out in numbers that are overwhelming. Relief materials have poured in generously, from neighbouring states too, but is it enough? The task ahead is herculean”.

Bhoomika Trust nasdaq new york Times Square

In New York’s Times Square, NASDAQ Joins The Campaign To Help Chennai

It is relief centres like Bhoomika Trust that have in a huge measure come to the rescue of flood torn Chennai. Providing relief during times of disaster. Hundreds of volunteers cooking, packing food for the homeless, collecting and distributing fresh sets of clothes to young and old alike, providing rations and stoves to those that have lost their belongings, but have a bare home. Reaching out medical supplies to the sick. Clean drinking water is the need of the hour and Bhoomika Trust is doing their best to distribute the same. Babies and little children are languishing without milk in these flood torn areas. There is a huge need to not just feed, clothe and shelter the homeless for the next few days, but the task of providing long term relief is a daunting task. The Trust is bending backwards to meet such needs. It will need as much aid and support as can be given.

Bhoomika Trust volunteers at work

Here are their goals in their own words.

Our Goals

•	Channel efforts into meaningful interventions that focus on under-privileged individuals
•	During times of disaster, work with experts in the field of relief and rehabilitation, foster a spirit of public – private partnership and avoid duplication of efforts.

Focus areas

•

Providing/ coordinating relief and rehabilitation support during times of disaster

•

Providing educational assistance to under-privileged students

•

Providing support to other NGOs

Bhoomika Trust was set up in February 2001 and primarily works towards providing disaster relief and rehabilitation. The Trust has worked extensively with victims of natural disasters like the earthquake in Gujarat and the tsunami in South India

To view Bhoomika Trust’s fact sheet, click here

To view Bhoomika Trust’s organizational structure, click here

Disaster Relief Donations:

Contributions in Indian rupees can be made towards Bhoomika Trust

(A/c no: 006010100609760 at Axis Bank, Radhakrishnan Salai, Chennai)

IFSC Code: UTIB0000006, MICR Code: 600211002

Online contributions in INR can be made through (www.truegiftsindia.org)

Foreign Contributions can be made towards Bhoomika Trust FCRA A/c

(A/c no: 006010100611060 at Axis Bank, Radhakrishnan Salai,Chennai)

IFSC Code: UTIB0000006, MICR Code: 600211002

Please mention disaster relief in your mail to bhoomikaindia@yahoo.co.in regarding donations

Do leave a comment behind to show us your solidarity or if you intend to lend a helping hand. Thank you!

Looking For Fine Dinnerware That Lasts, Singapore ?

November 25, 2015November 25, 2015 / mythoughtlane / 2 Comments

The Sandalwood Room from Singapore brings Nishita Fine Dinnerware, resistant to chipping and scratching. With handcrafted embellishments for their discerning customers.

Representative dinner set The Sandalwood Room

Components representative of their dinner sets

Do you remember how fiercely your mother and grandmother guarded their fine china, from the clumsy men and the careless brats of the house? And from the hands of the maids, who thought the dinnerware was merely plates and bowls to eat from?

You are likely to do the same. When you become the proud owners of Nishita Fine Dinnerware. I can already picture some of you running your hands fondly over your dinner plates, as you unpack your purchase. Anything so fine deserves a celebration and I can’t think of a better way than having people over. Conversations, aperitif wine, canapés, your favourite music and a lot of laughter. Sounds like perfect accompaniment to a dining table, so well laid.

So what first draws us all while shopping are the looks. With Nishita Fine Dinnerware, the elegant and unique designs arrest your eyes. I cannot but notice the exquisite artistry and workmanship, that gives a touch of class to their porcelain. Attention to detail is so evident and a closer look tells me the motifs are handcrafted. Making them timeless. Little wonder then I thought, that The Sandalwood Room displays them so proudly.

Fine detailing in crimson and gold

There is another buyer by my side now, one of those that leaves nothing to chance. I listen, as this smart staff of The Sandalwood Room explains how the use of Japanese technology gives the dinnerware a smooth, flawless glaze and refined translucency. The Japanese are masters at giving porcelain ware strength, hardness and toughness, which also explains for the dinnerware being resistant to chipping and scratching.

I hear the girl quoting Nishita Thakurdas, “An uncompromising attention to detail, quality and craftsmanship is the cornerstone of my dinnerware,”. Nishita Thakurdas is the founder of Nishita Fine Dinnerware. “Every individual piece has been handcrafted creating a harmony of elegance, artistry and impeccable quality”.

I accompany the buyer and we are both mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the Nishita Collection. ‘The Lotus at Fatehpur’ and ‘Jodhpur Evenings’.

The Lotus At Fatehpur

The Sandalwood Room Nishita Lotus at Fatehpur

Lotus At Fatehpur complete dinner set laid out

I am sure your guests will spend time admiring this splendid collection, before they help themselves to your delicacies. Reflecting the grandeur and richness of the Moghul era of ancient India, the collection seems like an homage to the majestic abode of emperor Akbar, in Fatehpur Sikri. Your guests may want to ask you more about the glory of Akbar – you can send them this link.

Each piece of the dinner set is handcrafted and embellished with 24k gold and luxurious crimson against pristine white porcelain, telling the tale of the Mughuls’ love for everything resplendent. The city of Fatehpur Sikri has most of its buildings in red stone and so is the symbolic use of red in this collection.

The complete dinner set comprises of 27 pieces – 6 dinner plates, 6 side plates, 6 bowls, 6 napkin rings, 2 serving bowls, and 1 platter

Jodhpur Evenings

Jodhpur Evenings laid out

The regal power of royal blue is timeless across all regions of the world. A romantic dinner for two, or a gala soiree, food certainly may taste better when eaten out of such a stylized collection. Intricate platinum edges crowning deep blue fit for royalty. Undertones of pure platinum making it perfect.

Watch your guests delight in the deep blue, the delicate arcs, the hidden hearts and the sweetly whispering birds. The Jodhpur Evenings series brings together strength and softness. Just like the Blue City , Jodhpur in Rajasthan, after which the collection has been named.

The complete dinner set comprises of 27 pieces – 6 dinner plates, 6 side plates, 6 bowls, 6 napkin rings, 2 serving bowls, and 1 platter.

We are surprised to hear that Nishita Fine Dinnerware is long-lasting. But then, so much care and detailing has gone into turning out such irresistible pieces, why would they not make them sturdy?

We are then told by The Sandalwood Room that this fine dinnerware, like all things fine, needs tender care. Sturdy it is, yet cannot be microwaved and dishwashed due to the gold and platinum ornamentation in it. We thought we should tell you this. After all, you are going cherish Nishita Fine Dinnerware. Click here for complete care instructions.

The Sandalwood Room, popular in Singapore for all that is handcrafted yet global, has now moved to Tras Street. A new location, but the same beautiful ambience. For Couture, Jewelry, Art, Home-décor, Gifts & Collectibles.

New Address:

The Sandalwood Room, 78 Tras Street, Singapore 079017

Landline : +65 62212655 / +65 97865896

Email: thesandalwoodroom@gmail.com ,

Website: http://www.thesandalwoodroom.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesandalwoodroom/?fref=ts

Has Facebook made you a better person ?

October 24, 2015October 31, 2015 / mythoughtlane / 2 Comments

I love Facebook and I am on Facebook because I love to share.

So cute

( all picture credits : Internet )

I was recently complimented by a friend, who thought many of my posts were useful and informative, along with updates of events and people in my life. So finally, here was one person who was not like ‘you-are-always-on-Facebook’ types. I have heard that so often. Thank you friend !

Those typified types, tell me this : So how do you know I am on Facebook all the time, if you aren’t too ? And the difference being, that I count (read matter) on Facebook and you don’t ! Because all you do is snoop into peoples’ lives willingly and then whine about it. And you either have nothing worth sharing, or are a private person or not sociable enough. Ha ! I finally said it and it makes me feel good !!

This positive comment by my friend egged me on taking up my pen, oops, the keyboard! Not that I had not given it a thought earlier, but this was the prompt probably I was waiting for.

Facebook has certainly improved the quality of life for many of us. Those that use Facebook judiciously – those that don’t let it consume their waking and sleeping hours that is.

And please , please lets leave out exceptions in this forum – those that have misunderstood this platform. Hope they learn the ropes some day.

Facebook has made some us of better writers than we used to be. There is a writer, be it of prose, or poetry latent in most of us. Isn’t that very evident everyday as you see scores of updates, film-reviews , sports-discussions and debates flying across Facebook? Who else would have given us this platform to be as articulate as we are now? I am sure language skills have heightened along the way too! Some are still not there, but they will be, given time I guess.

Dont agree, depends on how you use it

About 1 billion people used Facebook on a single day going by the stats provided by Facebook as on August 24, 2015. More than 1.49 billion active users access Facebook worldwide on a monthly basis and they are counting. So, a change coming into so many lives.

Has Facebook made us better thinkers ? It’s important that you keep good company even on Facebook !! But yes, I think it has made us better thinkers. To all those who post opinions, inspirational photos , start debates on sociopolitical issues that affect or torment all, or most of us, kudos to you! You want to make a difference and bring in a change by motivating people to think. A sweeping change is a far-fetched dream, but even if a percentage of the population or authorities take cognizance of it, we have risen by a few notches. We are in the process, just look at the stats:

Every 60 seconds , 510 comments are posted, 293,000 statuses are updated, and 136,000 photos are uploaded.

Facebook has made us better photographers. There are apparently 300 million photo uploads everyday. Isnt that mind-boggling? Where was this love of photography universally prior to the spring of 2004, when Mark Zuckerberg along with his college room-mates launched Facebook ? I am sure the first few hundred postings were merely photographs and nothing else. We have become more creative , more aware of camera angles, of creative lighting and of editing.

Wondering what to do about the driver’s licence part!

I can hear someone from the side-wings hiss “but you have all become narcissists”. I was expecting this ! But come with me, lets open this door and see whats inside.

Facebook has opened the doors of awareness. Made us more aware of ourselves and our surroundings. Aren’t we all better groomed today, thanks to Facebook in part? Now admit it, as you step out of your rooms, all dressed , be it for work or an outing, whats the first thing that comes to mind? Your phone camera ! So, isn’t a lot more effort going into making yourself more presentable ? That’s not being narcissistic, that’s being more careful about one-self.

Ha ha !

We are becoming our own stylists and who is motivating us ? Like-minded fellow beings posting their pictures in various attires. A thumbs up to that.

There is another hiss this time even meaner ‘but you are all a group of attention-seekers’ !!!!!!!

Oh come on, give me a break!

Lets go back a bit in time. Youngsters stay where you are, you may not understand this journey. Those whose childhoods were spent in the 20^th century – do you remember those moments of excitement, when you donned new clothes for festivals and the like and you ran around to members of your family showing off your attire ? Why even to neighbours sometimes !! What would you do if you had a social media platform then?

Gotcha ! As homo-sapiens we crave for appreciation, it’s a trait typical to our species.

We share our thoughts and photographs on Facebook because we want to. Your prerogative to like them or not. But do look at the stats again here. On an average, the Like and Share buttons are used and viewed across almost 10 million websites daily, as of 10/2/2014. It must have grown by leaps – we are coming to the close of 2015.

So yes, it makes us feel good to be recognised and appreciated

Facebook has turned some of us into social activists of sorts. There is a streak of goodness in most of us humans. Mind you, we are not taking pictures of ourselves all the time. We bring out our phone cameras when we want to right a wrong too – on the streets, at work, at home, at cinema halls et al. And we post them on Facebook – to create awareness and bring about a change in our attitudes and behaviour, to become more responsible. It has worked many a time, bringing about a paradigm shift in the way we conduct ourselves and in the way our politicians and bureaucrats have risen up to occasions.

Now this is a happening of this afternoon. Driving back home after lunch, we saw a few metal road dividers that had toppled on a busy stretch of road in Adyar in Chennai. My son who is an actor, pulled over, crossed the street and struggled to put them back in place. I could see that they were not only heavy but chained to one another and he was struggling to get them up. Another Samaritan came lent a hand and the road dividers were back in place. Proud mom that I was, attempted to videograph it, but in my excitement forgot to click the start button on my phone-camera. I would have loved to post it on Facebook, but missed a golden opportunity of conveying a sense of responsibility in civic life.

Another occasion where I was able to get a needy student funds for her education through Facebook. A note of thank you to my lovely friends – Ramesh Kalghatgi, Sateesh Jadhav and Richa Kapoor.

There is a bit of a leader in all of us. Todays generations are richer in terms of life-experiences than the previous ones and the lessons gained from it are manifold. I am not sure if we have become better people, but we certainly have gained an angle of ‘smartness’ if you know what I mean. So our heads are teeming with ideas and concepts for change in ourselves, fellow-beings and the SYSTEM. We want to share them, collect opinions and start a campaign perhaps. So we hit Facebook. Be honest, don’t tell me you haven’t re-looked at your personality* and made a few changes in the way you think and live, after reading some sensible posts!

*Personality as in the sum-total of the physical, mental, emotional and social characteristics of an individual (defn. in psychology)

Golden key and puzzle pieces - 3d render illustration

Pic courtesy : Corporate Alliance

Above all else, Facebook has reconnected us to family and friends of far and near. How else would we be updated of family trees; of additions to and exits from families? Of achievements and events of those that we care about ?

Facebook has made us better shoppers. It has changed our life-styles for the better. Through exchange of ideas on lifestyle pages and Google analytics. Facebook and Google are actually working on our behalf to up our style-quotient, for home and fashion ! I like it. I like shopping suggestions being splashed across my page. To open the purse-strings or not is my choice, though most often I give in to the temptation !!

Facebook has boosted businesses. Right ? I can see several nods from all those that have utilised Facebook for promoting and building their businesses. Ad-spend on Facebook is fast catching up. Revenue from advertising on Facebook totalled a cool $3.54 billion in the first quarter of 2015 !! Facebook is too big to ignore. And 42% of marketers the world over have reported that Facebook is critical to their business.

Talking of business, there is something I wouldn’t do – I wouldn’t post negative reviews or comments about a business, a movie or a sportsperson. This of-course is my personal preference. A mountain of an effort would have gone into starting or building a business, hundreds would have slogged for the making of a movie – I am not going to gainsay them, even if I feel let down. While I do understand the corrective powers of social media over man and his handiwork, I have till date not been able to take up cudgels on social media. I could be wrong, but I am in doubt and so I stay away.

Facebook in a way is the step sister of e-commerce. Selling on Facebook incorporating some of the disciplines of etailing has turned heads of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) into better strategists, better negotiators, has fostered better employer-employee relations and brought together better logistics partners.

Facebook has made many of us tech-savvy.

Don’t we all have at least one person in our immediate or extended families, that has embraced technology by the sheer lure of Facebook ? Good enough.

On a lighter note, why even our domestic help have started updating statuses on Facebook. The downside of this being, it takes some education to make sensible use of the platform.

Following close on its heels are various apps being downloaded to make better use of Facebook for personal gains or business. And that means more business opportunities for tech people like app developers and advertisers.

Gosh! I am finding it really hard to compartmentalize , one benefit permeating into the other. That’s how much Facebook has occupied our space.

Facebook has created job-opportunities. Out of the several, I can think of Social Media Managers as the biggest beneficiaries. Those that manage celebrity pages, business pages, content writers, graphic designers, illustrators, online advertising and marketing strategists and so many more. Let me tell you, this is an exciting field that I am personally kicked about.

Pic courtesy : Business 2 Community

16 million local business pages were created by May 2013. I don’t have the current stats though.

Facebook has made us better home-makers. Given a choice I would like to devour every bit of information on the net, and specifically Facebook. But that would mean ‘only reading, no time for implementation’ !! Home décor ideas, cooking tips, fitness trends, nutrition plans, options in appliances, party and wedding planning, travel destinations……how much can we digest ? But all for the good. I stand better equipped today because I am better informed. Agree ?

Is Facebook secure ? Oh please, this is quite clichéd ! It is as secure as you can make it to be. Any gap that you leave in matters of security online or offline, be sure of it being invaded upon.

I have not been on the receiving end of anything unpleasant on Facebook. Or am I saying it too soon ??? The only exception being a fake profile was once created with my name and display picture which was soon thwarted by Facebook on my reporting it.

I could have left out some other plusses of Facebook, please add them in your comments if I have. This is an attempt to bringing out the positives of Facebook, because that’s the way I see it and use it. Nothing is perfect and some could see a few accompanying minuses of the platform, but then again, you can’t have the cake and eat it too! Use Facebook as you please, use it wisely.

I would love to hear your comments !