FlipKart Kids

A commercial for the all new Funschool Pop up pirate intercepted the Dora and Boots adventure. I knew what coming up next.. Mom I want this! Christmas is around and since he has been such a good boy all year I think he has earned this one. We quickly get the tablet. Firstly check out the reviews online. “It looks fun Ma”, he says. Now for the troubling part. To find out the damage. With the FunSchool label I assumed it was a 1000 upwards. But I was in for a sweet surprise. It was available on Flipkart for a steal at 640. Plus free shipping…  Into the cart it went and we await for the little men in blue to come baring our pirate.

Am a chronic deal hunter.. so shopping online for me is a sheer rush. Especially when it comes to buying toys online. I’ve scored some great knock off’s on Thomas tracks, hot wheel cars, tons of reading material, fun worksheets,  his scooter, a wave board, a minion backpack are only a few of the things from our online shopping haul of 2015. One of it was bought on a full price. Trying getting the same deal on your local store.

I love the comfort of shopping on the go. I not only have a hassle free shopping experience, but return too are a breeze. For the last three years that I’ve been a FlipKart shopper I’ve returned a few products and the pickup is quick and the refunds are efficiently reverted.  Try doing that at the local store.. he will ask you to come again cause the returns are only accepted between 12-4, he announces smugly pointing at a dainty sign. 

You shop at the mall you say.. firstly parking is not only expensive but finding a spot on a weekend is a whole other challenge. As you enter the store with the product you are expected to get a gate pass.. which is a painfully slow process. Then get it checked at the customer service counter on another floor altogether. Where they generate a credit note, make you sign the register. This credit note if not used instantly will most definitely be lost. In this fast paced world id rather spend quality time doing something I love rather than spending time in long checkout ques. 

E-commerce has come a long way and FlipKart has been instrumental in changing the shopping scene of India. I remember its humble  beginnings as an online book store and to growing into one of the largest ecommerce website in the country. It has truly redefined they way be buy.

On 19^th December I was at the Indiblogger & Flipkart Bloggers meet @BlueFrog, where they announced the launch of their official kids store i.e. Flipkart kids. We address a lot of issues from getting more variety to maintain safety standards. Am a true Flipkart shopper and can’t wait to  see what’s in stored for the mommy in me.. 

 

Me rubbing shoulder with the Bheem and the official Bheem and the Himalayan adventure  Movie merchandise was a great surprise for my Son.

The Nutrition overhaul!

Snack menu for school days…

Monday- cheese and carrot parathas.

Tuesday- oats and walnut cupcakes.

Wednesday- mayo broccoli and corn sandwich.

Thursday- Nutella and dates crêpe

Friday-  Mixed sprouts Bhel.

One of the biggest challenges a parent faces is trying to get some nutrition into their little monsters. My child loves his vegetables, said no mom ever. So the only option we are left with is disguising health with a bit of a bait.

It’s a constant struggle.. the dinner table feels like an Arnab debate where we contemplate the future of the multigrain- Dal khichadi on his McQueen racer plate. Negotiations & connotations feel like they go on for an infinity.

Milk, the wonder food is a whole separate challenge.

7.45 am - We are in a race against time. The son needs to be dressed and fed all in time or we miss the bus, which translates into another 40 minutes wasted beating the mad morning rush to school. This morning dash is made worse when my son staring at the glass of Milk un-interestingly announces MILK IS YUCK!

I reckon children are programmed to hate milk or for that matter anything with truckloads of nutrition.  ‘Creative ways to feed a picky eater’ is am sure the most Googled topic by all conscience  parents.

In my conversations with lots of parents I always love to find how they get their kids to love food. Last year I was at a cook off with Rushina, a chef and celebrity food blogger and she shared how she always got her kids involved in cooking. Her 5yr old hated carrots.. So instead of forcing it down her throat, she got creative. Together they made fun carrot carvings, shaving of carrot that were called carrot pasta, baked some carrot cup cakes… the works. She slowly took a liking to carrots.. A hallelujah moment for Rushina!

I took my cues from her and started incorporating the fun back in the food. Milk has been one of my biggest challenges so far.. But I came up with ways of making Milk more fun..

#1One of the house favorite is the milk and fruit popsicle that we make. This time around strawberries are in bloom. So we chop a few and churn the rest with milk and let them freeze away to whole milk popsicle glories… You can substitute this with any fruit of your choice.

#2Another one of my sons favorite treat after football practice is Brown Sugar and Vanilla milk shake. Brown sugar beingl less refined then wihite is s good option, also make sure you only use pure vanilla extract only. I serve it in chic mason jars and add a dollop of ice crème as a special treat.

#3But for days when I just don’t have the luxury of time on me, I safely reach out for Sipahh. All it needs is a glass of cold milk, and he sips away at a flavor wonderland. With zero preservatives, natural flavor and only half a tsp of sugar per serving, I don’t feel guilty when I indulge him in some Okey-Dokey Cookies and crème goodness.  

turning plain milk into Strawsome!

As long of you find ways to make meal time more fun.. The dinner table will be a much more happier place… Got a creative spin on something healthy? 

Share your ideas in the comments below. 

You might just save a mom from her Milk misery.

*the images have been linked to their sources.

The birthday favor with a difference…

Planning birthdays…

It is such a daunting task. Being a creative mamma that I am, I am expected to raise the bar with every passing year. It’s the kinda of pressure I put on myself and I frankly enjoy the appreciation   that follows.

This year we were gripped by the Minion fever and hence the whole party revolved around the minion theme. Instead of a traditional party host or an over kill play zone, we hosted the party at home. The living room was transformed into a carnival. The idea was to get the kids involved. We laid down 15 game stations where kids could come and try their luck out. The activities ranged from coloring minion pictures to counting away candies.. From putting together a minion puzzle to fishing out minion cut outs from the pond.

For every activity they do well, the kids would earn a minion currency. This currency at the end of the day could be exchanged for prizes at the goodies counter. The living room was alive with activity with moms going gaga over the concept and the kids trying to do their best to earn more.. The party was a great success…

But my most favorite part about the party was the return favor each child took home along with the goodies they earned for themselves. Choosing a birthday favor is a different task in itself. A stroll down the Crawford Market and you understand how the Indian economy is being brutally murdered by the giant Dragon.

You are spoilt for choices, take your pick from toxic Tiffin boxes or substandard stationery. Just as I was trying to find the perfect gift in the mere budget of 100 rs. I stumbled upon a store selling pots. Just then I knew what I wanted to give away as a gift to these 5 year olds. I picked those pots up for 25 each, a steal I reckon.  

On my way back I made a quick stop at the local nursery bought, 7 bags of fertile soil, along with two packets of seeds for the cherry tomato plant. I was elated with my decision that in the world of BPA free only, I didn’t invest in some lame toy but instead bought something more valuable for the kids.

each gift bag contained a pot, some soil and tiny Ziploc with some seeds. The pot had the following label:

Vedant plated some seeds of his own on his birthday… Watering his plat is his duty which he gladly does every day after he gets home from school. At times I’ve caught him talking to the pot, asking the seeds to grow fast.  I still remember the day when the first green shoot broke out of the dirt. He practically got the entire 4^th floor to come and check the new member of the Ramani family. Now that’s Real togetherness…

Other moms’ too had similar stories to share… 

Now we are all waiting to see our first batch of cherry tomatoes on out sills. Kissan too has a similar initiative, check it out and be a part of it…