Living with CURVES.

I am not SIZE 0 but, I'm the curvy one!

It's definitely the new trend being the curvy one, but is everyone really happy?

Dumping your curves and going in for the size zero might not be the next wise option!

Being the curvy one is definitely not a healthy option, however being the healthy one is! Opting for a size zero not only affects your health but in turn also affects your lifestyle and attitudes.

A new research done by a foreign university restates your guesses made before. Every girl dieting to achieve a size zero could be risking their bone troubles to long-term problems such as osteoporosis. The research conducted on 4,000 young girls, shows that fat mass plays an important role in building bones, In India, Bollywood's hottie Kareena Kapoor Sparked the craze for size zero after she reportedly lost 8kgs to acquire a bikini body for the movie Tashan(2007).

Fats are essential for a healthy body. There are as we know two types of fats, the good fats that our body need and the unused fats which get stored in unwanted parts for the curvy ones. 

I take full pleasure in introducing #LoveThoseCurves all you readers. This is a campaign which tries to aim at those who are ashamed of their body. While both, men and woman are shy to accept their true self.  We need to understand where we stand in the world.  

If you can't live with yourself then simply try to change that for yourself. #LoveThoseCurves will speak for all those who love each curve in their body and still living a healthy lifestyle.  

I will publish articles every week on the same. Do follow this page for more updates. 

Have an amazing weekend! 

#marianonajourney #LoveThoseCurves #healthywomen #healthymen #healthychoice #health #loveyourself 

Memories that never fade!

We have aged in years & maybe size. Memories & moments fade and so does our finance. People in our lives may come and go. But something that stays forever are those innocent and carefree days, we spent as a child.

                Our mothers would be alarm clocks, calmly waking us up from our deep slumber - our only ever most difficult task in the morning. The morning chaos at home would mean our multi-tasking mothers preparing and sending her children and husband out of the house to face a new day.

                School days were fun where we raced against each other to see who would reach class first. Never the first benchers, always the last benchers only to be pulled up by our teacher to be made to sit in front, right under her nose!

Our teacher’s instructions were like Bible truth to us. Their scolding at times rock music to our ears! Post school was another racing event to see to would reach the school gates first and head home.

                The only worry in the world would be whether we would be on time to play with friends in the evening. No technology and yet we were always connected with our friends. So much so that we would know where they would be even if they were not around us. And it would freak us out if any friend could not come to play for more than 2 days. Hopscotch or one-legged race, badminton or football; We fell, we cried, we laughed, we shared… those were the days we never cared.

Why are these childhood memories so precious? Why do they bring that million dollar smile when we think of them?

That’s because these memories were created with the most innocent minds. It was a phase of life where only school, classmates, family and playground meant the world to us

Those were the days when the pleasures of life did not mean much. Those were the days we loved without constraints.

                Yes, my friends, those were the best days of our lives!

- Janet Chris Martin

"A Travel Beggar"

Here is a new writer I would like to introduce to you, Janet Chris Martin. Do let us know if you like our articles. We shall aim to post more often! 

It is a bliss getting a seat in an almost empty train

And my eyes fall upon a beggar standing without much worry upon his face

In the midst of this earth’s race, I wonder what he must think

He is blind by eyes but not by heart

For he has earned his bit to make his day

And his smile says it all

Contentment comes not from things but from one’s soul

And as he stares into nothingness

Waiting to alight at the next station

He stands there, calm & composed

Without much worry upon his face

And In the midst of this earth’s race, I wonder what he must think

A ray of light he sees I hope

Does he have family or friends I wonder?

Or maybe a roof upon his head?

Would he have enough money to buy himself food or goods to meet his needs?

As I sit contemplating my thoughts

The station arrives and the blind beggar alights without a bother

And thus a lesson learnt in life

You need to be independent & self-content

For no matter how difficult it maybe, what matters is your soul and not worldly desires.

- Janet Chris Martin

The True Meaning of Easter!

Throughout this beautiful journey of lent, preparing for the coming of our risen Lord, I am proud of my self to have abstained from the most important thing that is a part of me "Chocolates"! 

40 days of sacrificing this part of me is more worth than it cud ever get when I took this trip to" Mukta Jeevan Foundation" at Aasangaon. Not only did I connect with those beautiful hearts that the society has disconnected with, but I also learned what it is to be loved and in turn understood the real meaning of acceptance. EASTER could not have been explained any better. 

Maundy Thursday, a day when Jesus washed the feet of his disciples and had his last supper, I got this lucky opportunity of washing the feet of HIV positive girls and women, the old rejected elders and last bt not the least the leprosy cured patients.

The look in their eyes when we kissed their feet was just worth a treasure. The smile on their face of helplessness but joy expressed is something you will never find in a Mumbaikar's life. Their body has given up but not their soul, I'd say! Disfigured hands, yet wiling to bless each one, traumatized minds, yet open to hugs, end of their lives as we would see, yet they want to live out loud.

It brings tears to my eyes to see how much they need to feel accepted,  to see how much they want to feel wanted in the society or just to be able to sit n share their experiences.

I'm glad I found old people with amazing hearts and new people with even more love on this trip. For I strongly believe "everything has to and happens for a reason"

I do have a lot to say but I cannot find the right words to pen them down. So I'd like to conclude by saying a big bang Thank you to Fr. Suren (many wouldn't know if i would just say Suren! )  for this heart touching experience. You are my first hero in this world for all those beautiful deeds you do that we do not even think of.

With this I'd like to wish you all a heart melting Easter! CHANGE LIVES NOT YOUR STYLES!

- Marian Lima.

Perfect Work Environment!

A boss in need is a boss who pleads

But a boss indeed is the one who will lead.

                                      


When I ask people what do you mean by a good work environment, answer I get is; an organization that has a good work culture, an organization that keep me happy in terms of a position and not frowned, a place that pays well...!



True these definitions! However, is that all that matter when we look at working in a perfect work environment? In my 4 years of working as an employee and entrepreneur, I have learned that there are many different factors that contribute to being the perfect work environment, from work balance, communication, culture, ambiance and structure, personal relations and the extracurricular activities that makes or breaks your definition of a “perfect work environment”.

Let's start with Communications at work. You don’t communicate, you don’t work at all! As important as it is for you to breathe well equally important it is for you to be crystal clear when you are fitting in your new place of work. You can make it or break it for yourself at any work place if you do not maintain a good communication level with your colleagues, bosses and mostly everyone.

Work balance has always been THE problem with most. Frustration out of office is one common thing. What I fail to understand is, why merge the two? The moment you start playing cocktail, you have lost it all! When I speak of work balance I would make it really crystal clear that one should not drag office issues and sit and chat over n over again about it at office as well as home. One should not pick an argument only trying to get defensive at home while relating to something that happened in office. Avoid the cocktail and you will have an amazing work life!

Expectations have got many NOWHERE! It’s just another step towards a more complicated work place. When you start to have expectations you start to dream about a perfect job, while the reality is much different that you can imagine. On the other hand, when you are grounded in your thoughts and work with an open mind to fall and get up to learn more, you will find that success follows automatically.

It’s no rocket science to adjust to certain work cultures. Keep a mantra that you could follow. It could be as simple a mantra as “Keep Smiling”, or “Keep calm and work along”, or even “Work with an open mind and learn!” It could be simply anything that could help you grow and move forward rather than backwards in your career.

If you want a perfect work environment, you simply need to create one for yourself! Think positive, stay strong and build blocks. I’d like to contradict myself at this point however I do know what I am writing. There is no such thing as PERFECT, but there is always something as satisfactory or happy. Not only does your attitude depend on how happy and perfect you can make working, but also the love you have towards your work!

So I suggest, you gear up, cheer up and plan your way to a happy work place ASAP!!!

Happy working you guys!!!

Ways To Stay Creative!

An idle mind is a devils workshop. 

I'd say "An idle mind can be a devilishly creative workshop" - Marian Lima. 

We all have a tinge of creativity in us but not everyone can put it to use. Imaginations are strong but executions are null. It's true that creativity is inborn, however its up to you to mold and practice those skilled brains or they would simply rust to dust. 

I'm sure you get so stuck in to the complications of life that thinking, visualizing and creative thinking becomes a tad bit difficult. Here are my 15 best ways to help me think effectively. hopefully they could be of use to you as well. 

1. First n fore most; hang out with some crazy nomads who are happy, interesting and sharp. 
2. Write, edit, write, rethink, scream, shout, write, backspace, cut, copy , paste, edit, write write and write more...!
3. Always crave for feedback more than food! Feedback only increases the capacity of your thinking cap! Be an extrovert talk, understand and learn.
4. You need the 3 C's in order to practice your CTC (Creativity thinking cap) by staying Cool, Calm & Collected.
5. Make lists of all your ideas – good, bad, impractical, silly (See #1!)
6. A good listener is a smart thinker, however a loud thinker is a creative bummer.
7. Open your eyes and see, every little details, stay attentive and listen, be alert and experience. 
8. Scribble and scrabble the best way to open your thinking cap and make it function to its fullest.
9. Be the risk take and craze maker. think of all things possible right or wrong and do what you can do best edit, twist and tweak your ideas.
10. You need to be a list-person, it very much does a good job when you need to stay creative.
11. Persevere. It’s okay to walk away once, but giving up is not an option for your CTC.
12. Perfect is absolutely no fun, and it makes creative people so imperfect.
13. Play, work, eat, sleep well.
14. Screw the rules, just explore the world!
15. Finally, Just think and be the creative you!!!

Hope you liked these few trickytips and if you really did ... do share this article! 

Celebrating the awesomeness in food.

"There is no LOVE sincerer than the LOVE of FOOD" – George Bernard Shaw

Whether we die-eating or we go dieting, we cannot survive without food. The love for food has grown tremendously over the years. While there are many pros n cons to the same, it’s been crazy yummy of late at the food industry.  With such flexible taste buds we Mumbaikars have its really hard to satisfy these pallets out here! From Italian to Chinese, from Rajasthani to South Indians, there is room for everything on the buds.

While I went on with #dothedecember hash tag all December I was glad I could make up to posting something crazy the entire December.  From food to art, and more, everything was out in the open. 

You can check out my Instagram profile right here, although you will have to request to follow me: marianonajourney

Food is the closest thing to a person’s life and now it has become a way of living. many take it as a hobby and many as their profession and many more as just a glutton for punishment! Exploring this industry would take anyone forever but the food lovers, they don't care, do they?

We just celebrated the pao wala’s fest namely Christmas and New Year. From the Sannas (idlis) and sorpotel to the yummy Guava cheese, it was all available in plenty. Don’t we just love this season?

Here is a list of some special dishes you have to try during the season.

Savory Dishes:

1. 1.       Sorpotel ( a pork dish made with vinegar and spices)
2. 2.       Chicken curry in coconut juice
3. 3.       Mutton Stew ( made with the broth of mutton)
4. 4.        Beef roast
5. 5.       Stuffed chicken
6. 6.       Pork or chicken Vindaloo ( a sweet n sour dish)

Sweets:

1.       Guava cheese

2.       Rum cake

3.       Christmas pudding

4.       Marzipans

5.       Neureos - a kind of dumpling made of semolina, khoa and nutlet.

6.       Cookies

                                                                   7.       Ginger bread cookies / house

You haven’t celebrated Christmas completely if you haven’t tried these famous and scrumptious dishes in the season.  Well, even if you have not this year there is always a second chance or a pao friend. You could just try your luck. Food definitely makes me happy and I’m sure it does the same to you!

I wish you all a very Happy New Year and welcome 2016. Happy eating you guys!!!

Pic Credits: google.com