Folic Acid - All that's to know...

#AllAboutHealth  #FolicAcid

I am not sure about you but I have been hearing about Folic acid all my life. The first time I heard was when a doctor said 'to avoid blisters in mouth she should take Folic Acid'. I don't even remember how old I was back then but given I was seriously troubled with this issue the two words stuck with me.

Folic acid doesn't just benefit in mouth blister (aka ulcers or मुँह के छाले ) but also in a lot of other ways. I don't want to go into gory details of what Folic acid is but for people who are really interested, "Folic acid or folate is a B vitamin. It is also referred to as vitamin M, vitamin B9, vitamin Bc (or folacin), pteroyl-L-glutamic acid, and pteroyl-L-glutamate ~ Source Wikipedia."

The key benefits of Folic acid are:

• It help promote health of heart as Folic acid helps keep an amino acid called homocysteine in check. This amino acid, if way above the normal levels, can result in severe heart conditions
• Helps avoid Alzeimer's. As for the same reason for heart's health, high levels of homocysteine can cause dementia and Alzeimer's as well. And given Folic acid keep it in check, we are good to go
• Helps reduce depression because it has a big role to play in mood regulation. And we all know, if the mood is off and things go South a person can land up in depression
• It helps prevent cancer. Folic acid has a major property of making and repairing DNA in new cells. If Folic acid is low in body, it may affect how it manages cells which may lead to cancer
• Helps prevent diabetes - Folic acid helps breakdown triglycerides, a fat used for energy. The enhanced break down of this fat helps prevent type - 2 diabetes risk
• Health of mouth and gum protection: Given it is rich in folate and B Vitamin it helps prevent mouth infections like ulcers etc.
• Promotes hair growth and healthy skin: Given it's nature to make and repair cells, it aids in growth of hair and skin problems. Deficiency of Folic acid can lead to severe hair fall, premature greying or bad skin conditions

Above are very important benefits that we should take note of but above all these there is one more benefit for folic acid. Folic acid is a "must have" vitamin for mother's to be. It helps with development of neural system of the baby and it should not be taken lightly. For more information of Folic acid & pregnancy, please read my detailed post here.

How to take Folic Acid?

PC - dailyhealthpost.com

Ideal amount of folic acid is 400 micrograms a day. Folic acid is available in a lot of natural food sources. A few examples are lentils, beans, green leafy vegetables like spinach, citrus fruits like oranges, corn, carrots etc. If your diet is rich in above mentioned foods and you have healthy and continuous intake of them then there should be no need to take supplements. However, if you are like me, way too picky and choosy on foods you eat, then you can discuss with your doctor to get a supplement. Pregnant women should definitely have a discussion with their doctors for the same - despite what their diet is

Overdose of Folic Acid?

Ideally avoid doing overdose of it, or maybe don't overdose on anything. However, if you face any issues, you should immediately contact your doctor and seek professional health. 

Having said that, the first tell tale sign of overdose of Folic acid is your stool starts to turn black (it is not a sign if you are on iron supplement as well). Black colour signifies that there is certain amount of folic acid that is not being absorbed in your body - hence overdose. 

I guess I have mostly covered everything we need to know about this super-effective vitamin. So hey, what are waiting for - analyse yourself and see if your body needs Folic acid. Yes? Hey - tring - tring, call your doctor.

Hope this helps.

Love and Cheers

Airlift Movie: A tragedy well portrayed

#Airlift  #MovieReviews

The movie of the year (so far) is Airlift. Given it is inspired by real incidences from Kuwait-Iraq war, the plot is not a surprise however having said that, it has been portrayed amazingly covering gory details and one can feel it was a terrible time for everyone (well except Iraqis).

The movie revolves around how the Indians, stuck in Kuwait at the time, suffered and survived the attack, The Iraqis armies invaded their homes and they resisted and managed. It also demonstrates the level of politics that has seeped in everywhere and how a government cares so less of its citizens (talking about both countries here, Kuwait and India). Yes, in the end all Indians do come back but you can see the struggle and pain of a common man to make that happen. What surprises me is that Air India did such a noble and commendable job in 1990s and no one mentions it or remembers it. It is a shame!

As we all know, Akshay Kumar is lead of the movie and after his deadly Singh is Bling movie he was due for a good one. His acting is exceptional and no one could have done a better job than him. Don't want to talk about the female lead, it was kind of a weird role. The acting of other people is also good & worth praising. The one actor who really stands out is Prakash Belawadi, he played the role of a cynical old man who is nothing but a complainer. His acting is up to such perfection that you yourself feel like slapping him for all his nuisance - it is commendable.

In terms of cinematography it is fine. Given the plot and motto of movie nothing great was expected.

Overall movie was too good however I am bit disappointed with the ending. The evacuation - the actual 'airlift' happened in a flick. The ending is very disrupt and could have been made much better.

My rating to the movie is 4/5

I thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope you enjoy it too.

Cheers and Take Care

Sense8: One hell of a show

#TVSeries   #Sense8

PS: The post contain some spoilers... not many but yes, a few :)

Sense8 is a science fiction drama web television series aired directly on Netflix and it is one hell of show.

The show revolves around eight strangers from across the globe and are connected in their minds, mentally and emotionally. They are referred to as 'sensates' in the show, hence the name Sense8. Imagine that one fine day you are not alone in your head and there is not just one but seven other people sharing your thoughts and feelings - sounds kind of creepy isn't it? But in the show it has been beautifully depicted. 

The places to which these eight strangers belong to are Nairobi, Seoul, San Francisco, Chicago, New Mexico, Berlin, London and our beloved Mumbai. These are total strangers who suddenly start to live together in each other heads. The way they start having visions, the way  they start to accept each other and even get closer is wonderful. In some places you can actually feel what these sensates feel. Well, I don't want to dwell into it, you should watch it to know more.

The actors especially the sensates have done a fabulous job, my personal favourites are Max Riemelt (the Berlin guy) and Miguel Ángel Silvestre (the New Mexico guy). The girl from Mumbai is played by Tina Desai and she has done fine job as well. In recurrence we have Anupan Kher and Purab Kohli from India and they add a nice touch. Don't want to add too many spoilers but in a scene Purab Kohli dances on "tujhme rub dikhta hai" Indian song and it is hilarious... All Indians should watch that... 

The cinematography is amazing and I guess it is one of only shows which is set across eight countries and they all marvellously distributed. The script writing is good too - the dialogues suit each of the country's cultures.

All in all, if you get a chance to watch it, do give it a try. But be careful, do not watch it with kids for it has some serious adult content in it.

I hope you enjoy the show as well.

Till then

Take Care

That 'Saved by GPS' moment in South Africa

#Experience  #Navigation

It happened sometime last year. We were in South Africa and it was a saved by the 'GPS moment'.

PC - Wikipedia

First thing to know about South Africa is that it is a super beautiful country but I will not call it 'safe'. It is a combination of developed and under-developed places. Developed are the areas where most white people stay and under-developed are the areas where mainly black people stay. Hey, I am not the racist here but it is a very discriminated country, it just does not have a 'middle class' - only super rich and super poor.

The incidence took place in Johannesburg, the crime capital of the country. My husband and I were off to movies and on a recommendation of a colleague I booked tickets in a new mall i.e. the one we have never been to before. Due to some awful reasons we were late, I don't remember them now but my hubby blames me for it and I know he must be right. Anyway, we turned on the GPS and in haste I selected the quickest route. Much to my despair I didn't realise but we entered Alexandra - the worst place to be in. If rest of the country was crime prone, this area was the source. My boss once explained me - "stay out of that area, if you enter it after dark - they will even steal your underwear"

Now you can imagine my horror when we realised where were we. As we entered I started to yell "turn around, turn around" but my law and rules abiding husband wanted to find a proper exit, you see unlike India, you just don't take a U-turn on roads in South Africa. Despite of all my yelling we entered and I almost had a heart-attack.

Yes, we were in the heart of the township and we were scared.

PC: delimma.net

I tried navigating on GPS but every exit was blocked with  big rocks. We roamed around searching for exits for almost an hour and the darkness started to fall. As the sky grew dark, so did my thoughts and fears. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I recalled last week's news of gang rape and theft in the area. 

My hands trembled as I again tried my hands on my useless GPS device. I could see men gathering around, drinking, laughing and pointing at us. While we were contemplating the situation, I heard a tap on my glass... a man was smiling. He could see how scared we were, slowly I rolled down the window.

"I see you are lost" he asked politely

I nodded as I wiped my cheeks

"You don't want to be here after dark. It will not be safe"

"We know, but GPS is not helping us. We can't find a way out" my husband hastily responded

Understanding what we meant he took our GPS and adjusted it to the right route. I thanked him for his gesture as he handed it back to me.

As we took off, first thing I checked was the reliability of the navigation he pulled up. It looked fine and quickly but carefully we navigated out of our soul-grinding nightmare.

Of course, we missed the movies but hey no complains there. Who cares about a stupid movie when you have lived a horror one yourself. And not to mention, in our stress, on our way back we almost entered 'Hilbrow' another "no entry zone"of Johannesburg, but it is story for another day.

Cheers and Love.

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

5 Steps to Healthy Living

#HealthyLiving  #Impact

We all have our unique ways of living but the question is, are we living healthy or up to fullest? There are so many things that we can do to improve our health and daily life and below is the quick list of five things that will make your day happy and bright:

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• Drink a glass of warm water first thing in the morning: Yes, I mean it - first thing, even before you brush your teeth. Drinking a glass of warm water has many benefits like it helps you with your everyday motion, it cleanse your skin, it aids in weight loss and much more. Personally I have seen radiance in my skin ever since I have started drinking it

• Introduce at least one organic/ayurvedic thing in your daily schedule: Adding one natural/organic thing in your routine will give added boost to your health and immune system. you can do drinks like Amla juice (Indian Gooseberry), Aloe vera juice, Lauki juice (Gourd), Alsi (flaxseeds) or even my personal favourite Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. Each of these have their unique properties and given they are organic and natural they don't have any side effects 

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• Brush your teeth twice a day: No one can stress more on this fact. Brushing your teeth in morning not just gives you clean mouth but also gives your a freshness boost. Personally it helps me wake up. Brushing teeth before bed is equally important. It keeps cavities away plus it aids in sound sleep. I have a mild paste for my bed time so that it does not wake me up completely like I it does in the morning

• Go to bed at the same time: Going to bed at the same time every day trains your body to fall sleep at same time, yes it includes weekends. Our body needs rest and sleeping & waking up at different times does not just make you restless but also it upsets the whole body's internal clock. There are so many more reasons why you should have a good sleep schedule, you can read them more on this link.

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• Wash your feet and massage them before bed: Especially between fingers. Our feet go through a lot during whole day. If you think about it, those poor things have to bear our total weight for more than 15 hours. Washing them and massaging them (with some thing like petroleum jelly) helps you relax and feel fresh. Once you start doing on a regular basis you will realise how deep you have started to sleep

I hope my post helps and following these every day will have a good postive impact on your day to day life

Till then

Take Care

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Book Review: My 200 Pound Diary

#BookReviews

Title: My 200 Pound Diary

Author: Sreya Vaidyan

Publisher: Write India

Pages: 200

Price: Rs. 125

My Rating: 3/5

Blurb:

'My 200 Pound Diary' is a collection of anecdotes that have inspired the author in the course of her life. Humorous, engaging, and touching; the book takes you through 35 real-life incidents. It gives you a fun outlook at some of life's complicated issues, without trivializing them. The funny and touching stories end with observations that make you smile, realizing that it's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary

Review:

I won this book in a give away hosted on Goodreads and I am not disappointed. The book is a non-fiction and it highlights some key moments of author's life.

The book comprises of many stories that make up author as she is now. Each story is written in smart and witty fashion. You can actually feel what she felt in each story - some are hilarious and some are real touchy. And they are quick reads which makes it even more fun. The message that author has beautifully stated through her book is that 'life is precious and we should not take it way too seriously'. Everything happens at its own pace and we should give it  time.

Another thing I really enjoyed was the relation that author has with her family. It so much reminded me of my own time :)

Things that I didn't like are just a few. It is a little too feminine and I felt it was slightly harsh at few points. Also, the flow could have been better. I could not understand why, all of a sudden, there was a mention of her friend's divorce? It took me off track.

And also, there were some grammatical mistakes, which I am sure author will correct in her next edition.

All in all, I enjoyed reading the book and by the end of it I felt kind of empowered.

If you have not grabbed a copy, you can grab one from this link.

Hope my review helps :)

Cheers

Manufacture More Time In One Day @ Work

#Time  #Impact

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"Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose." – Thomas Edison

Sitting around & wasting time results in nothing but failure. And most people these days wish for more than 24hrs a day? Or they feel they could have done extra or more if they had additional time. But it doesn't work that way, time is one constant that is fixed for everyone and it should always be used optimally.

If asked, how will you differentiate between people who are successful from people who usually hold this wishful thinking? The answer is very simple, successful people strategize; they utilize their time perfectly which makes them more efficient and successful. The struggle of inefficiency and unavailability of time is very common these days.  However, overcoming them is not as hard as climbing Mount Everest. Below are some words of the wise, and following them will have a good impact on your professional life. 

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1. Make a to-do list every day & avoid multitasking

“One of the secrets of getting more done is to make a to-do list every day, keep it visible, and use it as a guide to action as you go through the day.” ~ Jean De La Fontaine

It is scientifically proven that people with to-do list are more effective and efficient than those who don’t have one. The reason is very simple; to-do list helps you prioritize and keeps you focused. A person’s mind can work only in certain capacity and juggling between tasks reduces efficiency. With a to-do list in hand, you won’t jump from one topic to another within seconds; instead you finish one, mark it off the list and move to the next. Also, ticking off things from the to-do list provides a great sense of accomplishment and achievement

2. Prioritize

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“You need to prioritize. If you can't get to everything or do everything, that's okay.” ~ Julie Chen

Learning to prioritize is crucial; juggling between multiple tasks results in completion of none. There will always be important and urgent things in your list but know that, all urgent things are not important. Starting your day with prioritization of to-do list is equivalent to winning half the battle.

Also, in everyday working you will face circumstances when more than one task is urgent and important. In such cases don’t spread yourself too thin, instead take the tough call and prioritize, and if need be, loop your seniors for support and assistance

PC: clipartof.com

3. Start with the most complicated task first

“Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best.” ~ Theodore Isaac Rubin

There are people with opinion that starting off with easy tasks keeps you motivated throughout the day. Though it is true in some cases, it is not recommended. Anyone who desires to accomplish more in the designated 24 hours have a golden rule: Always start with the most complicated tasks in the morning. There are many good reasons to do that, just to state a few: you are fresh, calm and active in the mornings in comparison to the afternoons. Afternoons are usually surrounded with lethargy, stress and anxiousness to go home. Also it should be noted that working on complicated tasks with calm mind results in quick and better solutions. And once such tasks are ticked-off the remaining day opens up for other options.

PC: winningstack.com

4. Learn to say ‘No’

“Half of the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon enough.” ~Josh Billings

You will always be required to do additional tasks, but whether you have band-width to accept them, depends on you. The art of being successful starts with the art of saying ‘No’.  Saying ‘yes’ is easy and it keeps everyone happy; everyone except you. Work that falls beyond a person’s capacity is always error-prone, stressful and less efficient. Also, it doesn’t let you honour the commitment to your existing tasks as well. Hence, learn to say no, and witness the fruitful outputs.

5. Delegate

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“Focus On Your Strengths, Delegate Your Weaknesses” ~ Lorraine Pirihi

While you may feel you need to do everything yourself, it is actually not the case. Organisations don’t run based on individual performances; instead they are successful because of team work. Every successful person knows that he/she cannot master everything and because they cannot master it, they hire masters for it. 

Whenever something comes up that either doesn’t fall in your knowledge capacity or in your schedule, delegate it. Where accepting tasks with either no knowledge or bandwidth affects you negatively, delegation works in opposite way. It allows you to focus on task at hand and helps you be more effective in one day…

PC: ourtowntustin.com

6. Stick to your schedule especially during meetings

“Meetings get a bad rap, and deservedly so - most are disorganized and distracted. But they can be a critical tool for getting your team on the same page. ~ Justin Rosenstein”

If you have a schedule, then stick to it. Where meetings are very crucial for the business, they are also considered a waste of time. Following the schedule is very crucial because one diversion can drag your meetings forever. Also, off-topic discussions don’t serve the purpose of the whole exercise. Hence, to be effective, have a schedule for the meeting and always stick to it 

The above points are the holy-grail of being efficient and successful. They don’t just help you in manufacture more time at work but they also help strike appropriate balance between your personal and professional life. 

Reading above may seem easy at first but their application (especially saying ‘no’) gets real challenging in everyday scenario. However always remember Rome was not built in one day and every success requires the first step in the right direction. Following these rules religiously and with due-diligence is your first step towards that thousand mile journey that will only end in your success and happiness

Till Then

Take Care

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Yup... that's my quirky friend

#MyQuirkyFriend

Quirky... yes that is the word that comes to my mind when I think about my oldest, closest and best friend. I still remember when I first met her, it was 15 years ago while I was visiting my aunt - she lived 1200 kms away. We both were 13 at that time and we immediately hit it off. She and I were totally opposite, where she was extrovert and outdoorsy, I was one the who mostly kept to herself. Well, like they say opposites attract and I can vouch that it's not just in case of life partners.

While I was growing up, I grabbed every opportunity I got to visit my aunt. Not because I wanted to meet my family but I wanted to meet her and share all gossip and boys' talks. Sadly we met only 4 times in 10 years but we cherished every single moment of it. 4 times we raised hell in her city, starting from long rides, non-stop chats, first sip of varied drinks to first puff of sticks... we did everything together. And despite of long distance, occasional chats and emails we developed the strongest bond of ever-lasting friendship.

We didn't realise how similar we were until we decided to get married. I remember chatting with her before my wedding day that how similar our lives have been? We have fallen for similar guys, gotten our heart broken in similar ways and not to mention, we are marrying guys who are just alike (in mannerism, personalities and perfection) - yes that is her, recalling and remembering our pasts on the eve of my wedding. 

She is my security blanket, my go-to person, someone whom I can talk to without being judged. She is the one on whom I can rely on at all times.

After 14 years of living in separate cities, we finally settled in one. And Oh Dear God have we not rocked our time. I always thought I knew her, but living apart doesn't gives you the benefit of knowing someone so well. She is funny, intelligent and intriguing. Same age but much more fun. Her non-veg jokes would make me uncomfortable but her following expressions always make me laugh. She rises to the occasion when I am in hospital and then falls down on floor laughing after making a stupid joke. She is compassionate to forgive me for not attending her wedding, but will bitch-slap me for falling sick around the occasion. 

Yes, she is quirky in the weirdest way, but isn't that what you look for in your best friend. Someone who is totally opposite yet so similar. I am glad to have her in my life for she has shown me ways of living that I would not have found on my own.

Love you my friend.

See ya soon.

This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, an initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda.

Short Story - That Nostalgia

#ShortStory  #Music

PC - pleasantwalls.com

He was sitting in his room but he was not alone. The sound of his music surrounded him and gave
him company. As the feeling of nostalgia crept in  his heart, some tunes made him smile and some brought tears.

"What are you doing sweetheart?" she asked as she knocked on his door. 

'Is he crying?' she shocked herself with the question. They had a romantic and crazy night where they cemented the deepest foundation of their relation. 'Was it so bad that I made him cry?' the thought choked her throat. 

While he sat there lost in the depth of his music, she blamed herself with all sorts of weird thoughts. Girls!

"Oh my God!" she exclaimed. Yes, in her thoughts they were already broken up

"What?" he asked surprised. Apparently he didn't notice her coming in

"Okay, I am leaving you" she announced and started to leave but he stopped her. He needed her, more than he himself knew. He might be a big star in music industry but inside he still was little lonely boy

"What are you talking about? I thought we were doing so good" he asked shocked by her announcement

"You are crying, right after we had sex! I can take hints. You don't need to humiliate me" she yelled tears pouring out of her eyes. 

As her words sunk in, his fear-struck face turned into a huge smile. "You crazy woman" he spoke and kissed her.

"What?" she demanded

"It's not that. I am not crying because of you, I love every moment I spent with you and it's not just last night but every day" he spoke and her expressions relaxed

"Then what is it?"

"Well, last night was a bliss for me. I have never felt such love and passion before. I felt inspired so I decided to create a new song but..." his abrupt halt made her ask "but what?"

"It reminded me of my mother" he finished embarrassed and her expressions turned disastrous

"You are missing your mother? Right after you and I...? Oh my God, you are creepy" she vented 

"Oh crap No! How could you even think that?" though he was not amused with her thinking, but he couldn't help smile at her innocence

"Tell me what is it?" she demanded in matter-of-fact tone

"Okay, I anyway was looking for a good time to tell you about my life, never thought it would be right after our first night but what the heck!" he finished and with a deep breath he began

"Do you know why I write music?" he asked seriously and she nodded in denial. She has always wanted to know why he was so closed off and emotionally detached.

"I was only 7 when my whole family died in an earthquake" his words made her shiver to her soul. She knew he was an orphan but never knew the history. The thought tricked a tear out of his eyes, he wiped it quickly and continued. "The only thing that was not destroyed in that disaster was my body and a radio. I survived but losing my happy family - my mother, my father, my sister, grandparents destroyed me from inside. I was sent to an orphanage and no one was willing to adopt me. I once heard a couple say 'he is beautiful but his eyes are dead', and it is true, my eyes are dead. While facing mirror, I can never look  into my eyes - it kills me every time. Till I was 15 I was alone and that radio and its music kept me company. It had a major impact on my life. It's because of the music I was able to sleep. Songs helped me imagine my old life and helped me survive. As I grew older I realised that those songs were not doing justice to my memories so I started writing myself and by sheer luck an old musician took pity on me and made me  his apprentice. And you know the story after that."

"And I accidentally played the first song I ever wrote for my mother and hence I was missing her" he finished.

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It was the first time he had opened up to anyone and it felt like a wave of relief has washed over him.
Many people told him that talking helps and now he knew what they meant. 

If, to him it was a relief, for her it was most precious gift he could ever give. For the first time she saw the real man who always hid under the mask of a musician. Slowly she hugged him, with tears streaming down her cheeks and whispered a promise she never intended to break, "you are not alone any more. I am here and I will always be here. I love you!"

"I love you too and so much more" he hugged her back with a hope they will live happily ever after.


With Lots of Love

This blog post is inspired by the blogging marathon hosted on IndiBlogger for the launch of the #Fantastico Zica from Tata Motors. You can apply for a test drive of the hatchback Zica today.

Quick Titbits - Granny's Prescriptions #4

#QuickTitbits #BloodSugar

Dadi Maa ke Nuskhe ~ Blood Sugar

In order to control blood sugar naturally

Soak Fenugreek seeds (मेथी के दाने ) in warm water 

Keep them overnight

Next morning strain the water

And drink it empty stomach (i.e. first thing in morning)

It will help reduce high levels of blood sugar

and will control blood sugar of those who are at risk of diabetes

Till Then

Take Care

The Shannara Chronicles: An undecidable show...

#TVReviews   #Shannara

I am a big fan of Teen Wolf, an MTV show and 'The Shannara Chronicles' was on constant promo loop with its new season premier - hence yes, I had to watch it :)

To start with, the show is based on "The Sword of Shannara Trilogy" by Terry Brooks. 

It was a 2 hour premier and honestly I don't know if I am intrigued by it. The story line is good and fast-paced but it doesn't present with any wow theme.The setting of the show looks post-apocalyptic but no where in show has anything being mentioned. I guess it is just left to guess like what happened or how various races are ruling the Earth and etc.

The key races in show are - Elves (the most powerful ones), Druids (the magical ones), Trolls (the ugly ones), Demons (the not-so scary ones) and Humans (no comments there). What strikes me most about the show is it's resemblance to Lord of the Rings movies. Well, LOTR is one of its kind movie but the show looks like a loose adaptation in terms of background, theme, characters etc.  

Talking about characters, the show has some popular cast which allows it a default fan base

(like Manu Bennett from Arrow, Hobbit etc., John Rhys-Davies aka Gimli in LOTR). The other characters are decent too and in terms of acting they all do a fine job. No where you feel they are not upto mark.

There are certain things which I found pretty disappointing in the show, to start with the main demon. It looked like a low rank, poor Orc. After watching so many shows it didn't do any magic on screen. Secondly, the jokes about elves-ears. If they were intended as a joke, they honestly didn't come across that way. And lastly, the fact men-will-be-men when it comes to a woman came across so easily (although it is a big fact but still)

The cinematography of the show is good and the scenic beauty it offers is amazing. Although on

certain instances I was reminded of movies like Avatar. Some scenes had striking resemblance. The effects in the show are good too

Overall, I can say it is light fantasy drama with no heavy stuff. If you wish to watch it I would recommend keep the critic side of your brain away and you should enjoy the show.

I would rate it 2.5/5. 

If I decide to watch further and it improves, I will definitely  update my post :)

Till then

Take Care

Bye Bye 2015 & Welcome 2016... Let's make some resolutions

#HappyNewYear   #RandomThoughts

Wow, another good long year passed and for some it was good and for some maybe bad. Well for me, it was a mix of good and bad... not able to decide which side I am more inclined... umm lets be positive and say it was good :)

Couple of good things happened to me last year... to start with I became a published author under my own name... Yay... it is one of the best accomplishments... Also, I started and managed to keep up with my blog (mostly). On other front, came back to India, got promoted, spent awesome time with my family and so on - and so forth...

On bad things, yes some pretty bad stuff happened too... mmm, I would rather forget it instead of writing here...

I hope you too are doing the same thing. What ever happened in 2015 - happened. Let's just forget it and move on... Well if we will not do so and keep on dangling on them then their reflections will affect all good things in 2016 as well. And we don't want to ruin our 2016 now, do we?

So, come now. Join me... and make a resolution... Only remember good things from 2015 and take them on and make a beautiful 2016. 

I am not sure about others but I also have one more personal resolution, which I hope I would be able to achieve... to fix up my schedule and wake up and sleep on time... Yeah yeah, it is very important to have a schedule and I myself have written a post dictating importance of sleep schedule but once it is ruined it is very difficult to maintain - especially when you have a demanding job. It is easier said that done, but I do hope to achieve it. Well my hubby achieved it in 2010 by making a resolution, I hope I can match up his strong will.

Anyway, enough about me. Why don't you share some of your resolutions? Maybe we all can achieve them together :)

Wishing you a very happy new year.

Take Good Care

Cheers