Shocks and Shoes

Fashion

It’s raining, it’s pouring, and the old man is snoring. I know, I should welcome the rains, considering the monsoons are so late and all, and I am grateful for them, I really am. But it makes getting out of the house a messy and tiresome affair, doubled when you also consider a preschooler and all the illnesses spreading around.

Anyway, there is something to be said for the joy of sitting indoors watching the rain or curling up with a good book and a fluffy blanket, or sitting in front of your computer with a steaming cup of tea and reading some great blog posts!!

So, here’s some linking fun for all of you, with a bunch of the best posts around!!

1. Some beautiful summer braid inspiration from Rachel at Lines Across.

2. This is a must read: Fajr at Stylish Thought lists out 33 Tips on Finding Your Passion today.

3. Have you been considering chopping off your locks but can’t take the plunge? Sally McGraw posts at Stylelist about re-evaluating your hairstyle.

4. Do you wonder how some bloggers seem to live in little vintage towns and have perfectly set tables and lovely DIY wreaths?? Sadie Stein shares her fun thoughts at Jezebel.

5. The inspiring Jill Chivers guest posts at Inside Out Style about her shopping journey and how she began My Year Without Clothes Shopping.

6. Nahida at The Fatal Feminist lists out some of the hilarious reviews people have given for the new BIC Cristal For Her pens.

7. You’ve probably read a lot about the right undergarments, but Imogen at Inside Out Style minces no words as she tells you how underthings should appear (or rather disappear) beneath clothes.

8. If you find yourself kicking your own butt a little too much, you’re in need of some self love. Henrik Edberg at The Positivity Blog lists 9 ways to be kind to yourself.

9. We all know that covering yourself from head to toe in brands isn’t all that cool. But what about the other end of the spectrum? J from J’s Everyday Fashion gives you tips on how not to look cheap.

10. If like me, you love hot dogs, then you’ll drool at this recipe – Pretzel dogs by Michelle at Brown Eyed Baker.

11. Finally, Neil describes the awesomest way to settle any dispute, big or small – Rock-Paper-Scissors, only at 1000 Awesome Things.

It’s really cold here with all the rain, and I can’t wait to snuggle up with Cub under my soft blanket. So hope you guys enjoy reading the links, and those of you who have monsoons, enjoy the rains as well!

Social Issues

How Intimate should ‘Intimate’ be?

11:07:00 am

“The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance.” - Nathaniel Branden

Awareness – ‘having knowledge of’. True, you need to know enough about something before you start to do something about it.

But consider this – You are not in the least bit aware of the strange things that are happening to your body right now. You are scared, and you’re not sure how to seek comfort. You are even embarrassed, since ‘good girls’ don’t talk about what happens ‘down there’. You’re a woman; shut up and deal with it.

And there ends the first step towards change. Change towards a healthy, confident and self respecting life.

Image Source: here

Is this what protecting the privacy of women’s intimate health is supposed to do? Submerge them under the dark sea of ‘embarrassment’? Of course, I don’t think it is necessary to announce your period from the rooftops but I do consider it vital to have an open discussion of these things, especially when the health of half the population is at stake. In my opinion, women’s intimate health issues need to be given priority at the governing levels and at all institutions, and we desperately need to get rid of myths of the kind that regard menstruation as dirty or impure.

Women’s intimate health could cover a variety of topics: from the onset of puberty to birth control and reproductive health all the way to menopause. At every step of the way, a woman is haunted by lack of knowledge, support and the tools required to take control of her own body.

A number of studies, conducted by UNICEF, WHO and the Indian government have shown the lack of toilets to be the main reason for girls dropping out of school. Those who do stay back cut classes for about a week every month, leading to lower academic performance.

Obviously, there are people who think talking about girls’ having periods in public is way too blasphemous, so then talking about building them functioning toilets? Shush, shush.

These people need to be informed that periods aren’t exactly a curse sent from above. It is a normal part of a woman’s reproductive life and something that just needs extra care.

Now, girls tend to run to their mothers/other females for advice or support regarding intimate issues. This doesn’t necessarily have to be seen as regressive and there are a number of reasons this works:

a. Children are generally closer to their Moms

b. This is 100% a female experience

c. Talking to other men about personal matters might open up doors to potentially dangerous situations

Check out this excerpt from UNICEF’s India statistics about HIV awareness among males and females in the age group 15-19:

Image Source: here

See the figures for females? Nearly half of that of males. From the looks of it, this intimacy thing isn’t helping our daughters.

Then we have the whole saga of birth control and antenatal/postnatal care. This, at least, gets a lot of press and there is much more awareness now and it is not as much a taboo topic today as in the past. One reason could be because two lives are involved – the mother’s and the child’s. Somehow in our country, people seem more comfortable discussing birth and pregnancy than menstrual or vaginal care. Maybe this has something to do with how Indians think of the ‘Mother’ as a goddess and the ‘Woman’ as dirt. Double standards, anyone??

Of all issues, I think menopause is the one that gets the least attention, partly because the women involved, the 40-50 age group, are the most reluctant to discuss their intimate matters. Menopausal women go through a lot of uncomfortable changes and they need all the support and care they can get from their husbands, children and others. But how will the family even know that the woman in their life is suffering if she herself is too embarrassed to talk about it?

Image Source: here

So I iterate: while I do not think the whole extended family needs to sit at the table brainstorming ways to ease their teenager’s painful periods, she needs to know what is normal and what is not, and whom to turn to in the latter case. She needs to know that her body is a most wonderful thing and everything it does has a rhyme and reason and nothing about it needs to evoke shame or embarrassment.

“there's nothing more intimate in life than simply being understood. And understanding someone else.” ― Brad Meltzer, The Inner Circle

This post is a part of the weekend blogging contest at BlogAdda.com in association with 18again.com

Personal

The ‘Versatile Blogger’ Award!

3:18:00 pm

Reviews

Toy Review: My Toy Factory by MadRat Games

5:46:00 pm

You know how everyone says that kids are more interested in the box the new toy came in rather than the toy itself? And about how they have more fun breaking toys than playing with them?

Kids, here is the answer to your toy needs. A young company has come to your rescue - MadRat Games, which has become quite popular for developing ‘Aksharit’, a Hindi board game that has been adopted in several schools across various Indian states.

The nice folks at MadRat Games were kind enough to send me a copy of ‘My Toy Factory’, an eco friendly toy kit that helps kids make simple toys out of regular household stuff like newspaper and straws. Additional stickers and paper are provided within the kit along with all the pieces necessary to build the little city of Toyoka. These toys aren’t just for fun; they also help teach kids about basic scientific concepts.

The toy arrived well packed and just in time for Eid. Perfect Eid gift for Cub!!

The box appears sturdy and was received well wrapped. Cub couldn’t wait to open and see what was inside!!

The concept goes something like this: Kids are supposed to become workers in a Toy Factory. This is a serious process complete with an appointment letter, a custom made Factory Hat and ID Card!! Kids are sure to love these little details and it made Cub feel very involved in the whole process!

Cub really enjoyed making the hat, with a little assistance from me. The pictorial instructions are very clear with fun little characters who help along the way. He loved announcing, “I’m a Toy Factory worker!”

The best part of this toy is that it really brings out a child’s imagination. Take the fictional city of Toyoka; play mats are provided along with several other pieces which the children can assemble and arrange to their liking. All you need are basic craft supplies like scissors and glue. Cub even put his diecast cars on the roads of Toyoka!!

This toy really encourages kids to think of waste material in a new way. It provides an opportunity to explain about the need to reuse and recycle. No child is too young for that.

Speaking of age, though the official website says that this toy is for the 5+ age group, the toy’s packaging puts the target age group at 8+. However, in my opinion, the toy is suitable from 4 years onwards, since Cub really seemed to enjoy it. Of course, some of the scientific concepts would be a bit much at this age, but they can definitely start building the toys and get involved in the Toy Factory concept. Some adult assistance would be required, but what’s better than some bonding time!!

Cub also enjoyed playing with the puppets we made from the kit.

There is even a little journal for kids to record their toy making experience. Of course, this is better suited to the abilities of older kids.

In a nutshell,

Pros:

1. Reasonably priced – Rs. 299.00

2. Easily available online with Cash on Delivery

3. Toy Factory concept makes kids feel involved

4. Good quality paper and tools used

5. Eco friendly, good opportunity to explain what it means to kids

6. Encourages reuse and recycling

7. The city of Toyoka can be played with again and again, in different settings

8. Guarantees zero boredom. You can get a lot of playtime out of one kit.

9. Gender neutral – perfect for boys and girls

10. Good across a wide age group

11. Makes a great gift for a child who is overwhelmed with a sea of bright plastic toys.

12. Also good for playing with siblings or friends. More than one toy means no fighting!

There are hardly any negatives to this toy, but a few minor issues.

Cons:

1. The play mat would have been sturdier if there was some way to hold the different parts in place; probably a foldable mat would have been better.

2. The stickers’ edges are not visible, so one would need to cut them out first before peeling them off the paper. This is a bit of a chore for young children.

3. The age group mention is inconsistent on the website and the package.

My suggestion would be to release the toy in two versions – a Junior (easier) version for younger kids, and a more complicated version for the older ones.

Overall, this is a must buy – it is a toy, craft kit, role play kit all in one!!

This toy is available on Aksharit.com, Flipkart.com, Hoopos.com and onAmazon.com for US customers.

My Toy Factory has become a top seller at Flipkart & they are providing a 25% discount on it till the 30th of August!

Disclosure: The company sent me the product for review purposes, but all opinions mentioned are my own.