Penguin syndrome: To the moon and back

To feel* (not just read) this post you have to first imagine yourself as the most snooty Miss Penguin chilling on the Antarctica Coast with her friends.

Scene 1: A goofy & handsome Penguin wearing a Tuxedo (they are naturally born with one) waddles to you, looks into your yellow ringed eyes and in his deep voice whispers “Hello Miss, will you be mine”

Scene 2: You turn, scan him top to bottom and suddenly notice his feet.

Scene 3: He is holding a beautiful pebble between his feet. Please note, in Antarctica pebbles are scarce, with only ice around they are as precious as diamonds.

Scene 4: And now, you are thinking of your own “Penguin” moment.

#Life Hack A male penguin hunts for months, hides from friends and finally decides on charming his beloved with the perfect proposal pebble. If she picks it up she is his, if not she is declining his offer, no fuss. ADORABLE

All of us secretly wish for, our Penguin. Some have already found theirs, some are still looking out for one. Love is beautiful, I am not a romantic at heart but there’s something magical about two souls accepting each-other to the moon and back.

Few fun facts about Penguin’s:

• Emperor penguin males incubate their eggs for two months in the winter without eating while the females are at sea. During that time, they live off their fat reserves.
• Penguins have an organ above their eye that turns seawater into fresh water
• Penguins’ eyes work better underwater than they do in the air.
• 14 out of 18 species of Penguins, stay with the same partner throughout life
• Penguins are highly social, if away from the group they go into depression and could die

Penguins are very similar to humans yet they seem more in sync with their partner. Their happy feet are worth following, may be it will lead us to that rare pebble.

Did you mean SpEXY?

#Life hack : Woman in a tuxedo is brilliantly intimidating. Half the battle is won when she look's into his eyes and throws an open challenge.

Why do most girls look up to their mothers? Because she is the epitome of love, strength, empathy, courage and a survivor at heart. We have seen them trade off their smile for ours.There is a lesson here, she has also transferred her positive vibe to you.

The feminist in me wants to scream, "I will conquer the world", but deep down I know it will take a lot of me.We are still fighting for our individuality and a world that does not judge a woman.  

We deal with this in our day to day work life. As you go higher in the corporate world, the ratio of male to female in senior positions gets unreal. There seems to be a need to prove ourselves more than them.Companies world over are making an effort to discourage glass ceiling, making progressive policies and keeping a check on the overall organisational behavior. We need to do our bit and not think any less of what we deserve.

 The Geek Screams, take me seriously

• No means No. Wherever we go whatever we do, please remember this.
• When you take a break to be a Mom, you come back like a superhero who survived all the pain and glory.
• You grow the day you learn to laugh at yourself, not everything means something.Sometimes just order a latte and shop online instead of fuming on a moron.
• You ain't telling me who am I. "I am telling you who I am".
• If you want a career, pick the right partner.
• Wave your geek flag high. Wear that bright red dress and if men lose concentration, that’s their problem.

To be fair there a lot of men who believe in us, one step at a time. Till then we women will hold our fort, smile as often and react, "only if required".

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Mumbai is my Gangsta state of mind.

• ·         7:45  AM – Rickshaw to Metro
• ·         8:00  AM – Metro to Andheri Station
• ·         8:25  AM – Local train to Churchgate station
• ·         9: 30 AM – My grand entry into Churchgate Station
• ·         9:40  AM – Cab to Office
• ·         10:00 AM- Finally Office

Total Calories Burnt– 600 plus depending on the level of humidity and lechers that burn your blood

Mode of Transport - Everything that exists in Mumbai

And still, I love this city. You know why? Because this city gives me the strength of character that no other place can. I have my “Mumbai, you suck days” but still Mumbai Patao’s me (Mumbai lingo*).

#Life Hack: Mumbai adjusts with everyone for everything.

I spend almost 4 hours commuting from the Suburbs to Town daily, it’s like travelling from one spectrum to another. I go from rags to riches and back within 24 hours.

Sometimes the day starts with my rickshaw screeching next to Hritik Roshan's car casually waving out to his fan at the signal and sometimes it starts with jumping open manholes, dodging street dogs.

Mumbai is built on irony, you will experience the best and the worst within 30 minutes. You will love it and hate it with the same intensity but you will never relive Mumbai in another city. Guarantee!!

Cheap thrills of a Mumbaikar

• When you enter office and it starts pouring on the next colleague, feels like a gold medal in Asian Games.You out performed the clouds. Mission accomplished.
• Your Cabby screeches’ through the Red light, you know its risky but don’t stop him because, Mumbai never stops.
• I LOVE Salman Khan, I watch all his movies, and cheer every time he hosts Big Boss but if I ever stood next to him (hypothetical) I wouldn't even acknowledge him. Its too North Indian you know’.
• No matter which city I visit in this whole wide world, I talk about Mumbai as the city of dreams. " Oh my god, you haven't been to Mumbai
• Mumbai’s favorite lingo is "Boss".Applicable everywhere, Boss thoda shift na (Request) Boss kya Karr raha hai (Frustration), Tu toh Boss hai yaar (Appreciation), Baby you are the Boss of my life (Romantic)
• Beating up a mawali on the road is your kick boxing induction, now you are a certified Ninja girl.

For me, Mumbai is my pulse. Always alive and kicking.

Sky was the limit, now I am bored

After spending 7-10 years working most of us come to a point when we start re-evaluating our career. The first couple of years are spent being the youngest in the team and taking things as they come. Towards the 5^th year you are comfortable and confident about the profile, by the 7^th year you get directly or indirectly involved in office politics, ego clashes, lack of learning something new and self-doubt. After the 8th year in the same office, you are furniture.

A drastic step will only ruin the situation further, thus a more gradual and subtle approach might help you tackle your mid-career-confusion better.

#Life Hack: There are days when you feel the best part of my job is that the chair spins, huh! It happens to all, just relax.

Few ideas you could consider

• Taking a study break might be a good option. Work experience will give a different perspective to the way you demystify the problem. 
• Chase your passion. If you manage to find a way to work on something you like and make money it’s the best career combination.
• Change jobs! It’s the most obvious but, make sure you have invested a good amount of time and effort on self-evaluation.Your ambitions and goals change, it’s a good sign. Means you are constantly evolving as a person.

I had the opportunity to attend a course at the Indian School of Business (ISB, Hyderabad) and it wasn't the class that inspired me but my class mates. Learning and sharing of experiences is something you always remember.

An ex student, very proudly stated “ISB is all about arguments” It’s the best way to break a problem and thrash every possible way to solve it. If you ever decide to take a break and study, ISB is my choice. Here are a few reasons.

• ISB has academic alliances with the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.This offers a good mix of professors and students with exposure to different economies and geographies.They also offer a student exchange program. 
• ISB is a very progressive institute, and respect your individuality.
• You can stay on campus with your family or your significant other.
• Class participation is given more importance than class attendance.
• At ISB, the environment plays a vital role in enhancing your learning experience. The facility is spread over 260 acres and offers a swimming pool, squash court, football ground, tennis court, billiards, gym, yoga, kids play garden, running track. 
• ISB has a very strong Alumini connect.

Don’t obsesses about what you should be doing based on your age, work experience or others triumphs because every person follows a different path. If you enjoy your journey you will find a way to work it .

The day you feel the sky is over rated, change your angle.

I suffer from Eleutheromania

Ask yourself this question, If you were not afraid of anything where would you want to go? The answer, is your eleutheromania

For me eleutheromania is when I experience "myself" without any filters or judgement. Every time someone asked me what’s your life goal, I only thought of a huge globe with travel stories.

I love travelling alone, It’s the best investment. No degree will ever teach you equivalent of what you pick up while wandering aimlessly. Whoever said diamonds are a girls best friend, obviously never explored herself. I would easily trade-off my labels for a trip worth remembering.

The reason I work is purely to save enough money to explore the world. My motivation to work is the next travel blog I am obsessed with.

#Life Hack - Its not the trip, it’s a TRIP. Very addictive

Observing fellow travelers is lot of fun, you can peep into their lives by just noticing their mannerisms. Each one has a different story, a different destination and my wanderlust keeps pushing me to dig deeper. 

Read my version of your travel personality based on your packing style.

The Over Packer – Believes in options

What if I go horse riding? What if I have to go for 3 fancy dinners? What if I plan to go running? They are constantly making hypothetical situations and end up packing almost their entire wardrobe.

The Back Packer – Always has a contingency plan 

They pack everything rolled neatly and no matter what the situation always have a knife, scarf, rope, band aids to sort it. I completely envy their precision.

Go Empty Bag Packer – No hangups, go with the flow

This special breed believes in shopping at the destination. Just carry basics, wear the heavy jackets and boots on the flight and shop without any stress.

The Hack Packer – The geek chic who has an answer to everything

Their suitcases are like an engineering assignment, where each and every item has its own place. They have mastered the art of reading and applying every packing trick online. You have to be a genius to travel lighter than them.

Travelling is like flirting, you say I would stay and love but I got to see the next city and move on. Please tell me this blog post got you unsettled and thinking about your next trip...

*Eleutheromania: A great desire for freedom

30ish & Mommy

The moment I open my FB page it goes "boom" with baby pictures, baby shower updates, baby-moon check-in’s, how to loose baby weight video shares. Being a mother is a 24x7, 365-day, full-time, no pay, no hike, no bonus kind of a job. 

Women today want to balance their career and family with an ace up their sleeve, its tough but they manage. I caught up with a few close friends who are dealing with mommywood on a daily basis. Their responses are very candid and endearing, hope you like them.

#Life Hack :There's no way to be a perfect mother but millions to be a good one

Name:  Ami Trivedi

Son:  Ayansh 

Profession: Television actor

Passion: Acting and dancing

• Your first reaction when you got to know you are expecting – I experienced shock, happiness, and panic in one capsule. It took me time to accept that it was time to move to the next stage in life, but I am glad I did.
• Your last day at work, before delivery –Television being a visual medium does not allow you the luxury of working till the very end. In fact when I got to know about my pregnancy, I was about to start work on a brilliant new project but had to give up as my commitment as a mother is most important.
• What’s your support system at home when you go to work – My Mom
• Do you feel guilty for not being able to spend as much time with him? – If you are a working mom, guilt is inevitable. I deal with it by trying to work on a schedule that allows me to stay home when he is awake and spend quality time. 
• Your favorite activity with Ayansh – We dance together, he knows most of the latest bollywood songs..Its the best stress buster and a terrific workout too :)
• What does he call you – Mimmya Ami, I don’t know what it means but it sounds very cute
• How do you keep yourself sane /cheat code for new moms: I just take each day as it comes, no planning. Enjoy the moment.
• Being 30ish is – It doesn’t even occur to me that I am 30ish, there are so many people in their 40’s and 50’s who are achieving much more. I don’t want to be content, I don’t want to limit my aspirations.. 30ish to me means that there’s lots more to explore and enjoy in life
• What is success to you now – For me the definition of success is to be a great mom and a good performer. Don’t want to give up on either one, it’s tough but if I manage to do that then I will consider myself successful.
• What do you do in your me time – I have NO time.. but still I am loving it. For actors a lot of socialising takes place on the sets, so when you are home and enter the second shift of being a mom you are not stressed, its balanced.
• The life hack you follow – Take it slow and have patience
• Ayansh to you is – Ayu is my identity, I can’t imagine life without him.. 
• One Super power you would want as a mommy – I want a day with 48 hours, its insane managing time with a baby and a job.

Name : Sneha Poddar
Son : Kanha-Kiaan
Profession: Finance and Transaction planning specialist

Passion: Following fashion trends

• Your first reaction when you got to know you are expecting – Very Very Happy, 
• Your last day at work, before delivery – I was working till the 8th Month
• What’s your support system at home when you go to work – My Mother in-law i
• Do you feel guilty for not being able to spend as much time with him? – I feel very guilty to leave him alone but eventually I have to. I try not thinking about it, it’s a phase will pass.
• Your favorite activity with Kanha – I love being playful with him, his reactions are adorable
• What does he call you – He just looks at me like a rabbit
• How do you keep yourself sane /cheat code for new moms- I miss my freedom, I miss my me time…but I dont hesitate to ask for help from family. Sometimes you have to let go.
• Being 30ish is – Being 30ish gives me the freedom to take my own decisions and be responsible for them. Even if I make mistakes I still have time to rectify .Emotionally I am in a happy space. 
• What is success for you now- My definition of success has changed to be happy, if you are happy within then you are mentally and physically strong to deal with everything.
• What do you do in your me time – Hit the gym, follow my passion, stay updated with latest fashion trends
• The life hack you follow -Tough times don’t last forever but tough people do
• Kanha to you is – Is ME.. I can’t see beyond him, he is a part of my existence (and she has a happy tear)
• One Super power you would want as a mommy – I need a clone of myself

Name: Farha

Profession: Works with CVS in Florida

Son : Zayan 

Passion : Food and watching horror films, love Halloween

• Your first reaction when you got to know you are expecting your baby–There goes my gym figure, phew!
• Your last day at work, before delivery – Worked till 4 days before I delivered
• What’s your support system at home when you go to work – My parents and baby sitter
• Do you feel guilty for not being able to spend as much time with him? – Not all, I have a life too and want to be able to be a happy mom, for that it’s important I have a healthy space for my mind.
• Your fitness tip post pregnancy- could be eating...or lifestyle change – Hit the Gym, have a good trainer, no rice, no chocolates.
• Your favorite activity with Zayan – I love going to the park with him, jumping all over the place and chasing him instead of sitting with my cell in a corner.
• What does he call you– Momma,actually most of the times he just looks at me and starts screaming, lol
• How do you keep yourself sane /cheat code for new moms- I go to the gym, meet friends, basically have a life without him as well. Its important to not loose your identity. There will be lot of people giving you advice, but do what feels right.
• Being 30ish is ---- Being 30ish is the new 20, you can have a career, family, baby peace, fun all in one go.. I love being 30ish, no regrets.
• Any tip for new moms – Take each day as it comes, not all days are good but it’s all balanced in the end. Enjoy being with your child, these years will never come back.
• One Super power you would want as a mommy – To have nonstop energy and entertain my son 24/7

Can you apply economics to shopping?

I went to buy a formal dress, fell in love with a beach bag and happily swiped my card for skinny jeans..story of my life

Every time the shopper in me cribs for that extra expensive shoe I apply a very simple equation in my brain, it’s called the cost per wear theory

A cheap outfit is sometimes too cheap to be worn more than a couple of times and the expensive one if not used just ends up being a star in your wardrobe so here a few tips for you to evaluate the right worth of any item.

#Life Hack : The quickest way to know a woman is to go shopping with her

No matter what you wear, Walk like you have three men walking behind you, it just multiplies the worth of that dress
Quote by Oscar De la Renta, RIP.