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[icarol87]

How to Place an Order On Doordash

If you want to order food from the comforts of your home, you can now do so with just a few taps on your smartphone. DoorDash is a food delivery service that can be accessed through a smartphone application available on Android and iOS devices. This food delivery app has partnered with top restaurants in your city so you can choose from a wide range of cuisines to satisfy your cravings.

Source: Software Engineering Daily

Below is an example of an order placed through the DoorDash smartphone application:

Downloading & Installing

Download the DoorDash app on your smartphone by visiting the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.

Sign up for a new account with a username and a secure password. You can also sign up using your Google or Facebook account.

Upon signing up, DoorDash will send you a verification code via SMS or email to verify your identity.

Open the DoorDash app and enter the verification code to complete sign up.

Add your delivery address in the accounts tab to view nearby restaurant recommendations in the food tab.

Tip: You can refer a friend and get $20 in credits when someone signs up and places an order over $10.

Order Placement

‘Let’s assume that “Chaat Bhavan” is your favorite local restaurant and has partnered with DoorDash. Follow the steps below to place an order from “Chaat Bhavan.”

Select the Food tab on your home screen.

Search for “Chaat Bhavan” and tap to view its menu.

The menu consists of categories such as popular items, mouth-watering snacks, desserts and exotic refreshments.

Each category has a set of items. You can add multiple items from the categories to your cart.

Pick an item and select the quantity. For example, select ‘Garlic Naan’ and add quantity.

Add instructions such as spice level, and extra toppings.

Tap add to order. The item will appear below in your screen under view cart.

Tap ← arrow on the top left corner of your screen to go back to the menu.

Tap view cart to see the items added to your cart. The subtotal, tax and fees, and delivery charges will appear at the bottom. 

Tap continue to place your order. This will take you to the final step of checkout.

The checkout screen will show you a map, your address, delivery instructions, and the estimate time of arrival.

Select an amount for the dasher tip. Dasher is the person who will deliver your food.

Tap payment  and add your credit card details to proceed with payment.

A submitting order screen will appear with your address, name of the restaurant, and items you ordered. If you wish to cancel your order, you have a few seconds to do so by clicking cancel order.

Your order is confirmed and you will receive an order confirmation email and text message from DoorDash.

Tap track your order to check where your order is on a map in real time. The dasher details will appear below.

Once your order is ready to be picked, you will receive another text message that your order has been picked up from “Chaat Bhavan” and your dasher is on the way.

You will receive a final text message to inform you that your dasher is approaching with your order. 

Note:

You can click on any individual item at any point to remove the item from the cart.

You can select Apple Pay, if you wish to proceed to payment using this method.

[icarol87]

How To Use an Instagram Application

Social media applications are popular among smartphone users of different age groups. Instagram is an example of one such app. You can use it to sell your product or show your followers what you are passionate about.

Use the following instructions to get started on how to use this app.

Download the Instagram app on your Android or iOS device from Google Play or the App Store.

Create your account with a username and password. You can also login with your Facebook account.

Once you have registered, you may provide a bio to let your followers know about yourself. You can also provide a profile photo and a link to your website.

Tap confirm to approve follow requests.

Tap follow to view images of your friends, family, celebrities, and brands.

Tap like, comment, or share using the icons provided below a post.

Swipe right to send instant messages to your followers.

To post pictures or videos, tap the + icon at the bottom of your screen and select photos from your phone library or simply swipe left.

Tap next and select a filter to enhance your photos and videos before posting. Tap share to post. You may also tag the persons in the picture.

You may post your story, which is displayed on the top left corner of your screen for twenty-four hours. You may create highlights for different categories of photos and videos.

Note: You may select filters, or use GIFs, music, location, date, poll, questions and such to post your story.

[icarol87]

How To Use a Bottle Sterilizer

Most babies start drinking milk from feeding bottles at an early age. Sterilizing feeding bottles after a feed can help prevent bacteria from contaminating the milk you feed your baby.

There are a few different ways to sterilize feeding bottles, such as boiling or steam (electric or microwave). This article explains the process of using an electric bottle sterilizer which uses steam. The target audience that would be interested in using this product are parents, single mothers or fathers, grandparents, and caregivers.

What is a Bottle Sterilizer?

A bottle sterilizer is an apparatus that uses steam to disinfect bottles, and kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria within a few minutes. It can even be used to disinfect breast pump parts, plastic teethers, and pacifiers. A bottle sterilizer is comprised of a base with a heating plate, bottles bin, accessories basket, and a cover.

Image source: Wikihow

Follow these steps for cleaning and sterilizing your baby’s feeding bottles:

1. Use a bottle brush to clean any milk residue from bottles, nipples, rings, and caps.

2. Wash and rinse the bottles well in warm soapy water.

3. Remove the bottles bin and the cover of the sterilizer.

4. Fill the heating plate with two ounces of clean drinking water.

5. Place the washed bottles with openings facing down in the bottles bin.

6. Place the nipples, rings, and caps in the accessories basket.

7. Place the bottles bin and the accessories basket on the base and place cover on top.

8. Plug in the sterilizer.

9. Press the power switch to turn it on. A light will indicate that the sterilization process has begun.

10. The sterilizer produces a beep sound when the sterilization is complete.

After the sterilization process is complete, place all bottles and its parts on a clean cloth to air-dry for sometime. The bottles are ready to be used.

Important Tips:

*Let the sterilizer cool down before you open the cover to avoid any steam-related injuries.

*Wash hands thoroughly with antibacterial soap before handling sterilized equipment.

[icarol87]

How to Use Google Express

Google Express is a shopping service that offers customers fast home delivery from existing stores and warehouses, through Google’s website or the Google Express app on Android or iOS devices. Customers can purchase products from their favorite retailers from one place.  Customers can also place orders in the form of voice orders through Google’s interactive speaker, the Google Assistant.

This article explains how a customer can purchase from multiple vendors using Google Express. The target audience for this article are potential vendors who want to showcase their items on Google Express and improve their sales. Readers may be familiar with online shopping experience and the method in which payments work.

Source: Google

How the Process Works

Google Express allows online shoppers to see and purchase products from the vendor’s store or warehouse) via the Google Express mobile or desktop app. The app contains the company’s logo, including the most up-to-date pricing and availability information of their listed products.

The Google Express order process works as follows:

Order Placement: A Google Express customer places an order from a wide range of products on the mobile or desktop app. Customer can add multiple products to the cart from multiple vendors, using Paypal or Credit Card. The customer can also re-order products using the Quick Reorder feature.

Shipping Method: The Google Express representative receives a notification on their mobile device when a new order is ready for fulfillment. The representative then picks the various products from the shelves of the store or warehouse.

Packaging: The Google Express representative pays for the selected items and prepares them for packaging with a Google Express shipping label. Depending on customer’s order fulfillment model, selected items are paid at the point of sale in (stores) or via the Google Orders API integration (warehouses).

Pickup and Delivery: A courier or carrier receives a notification that a package is ready for pickup. The package is collected from the store or warehouse and delivered to the customer.

Google Express is funded partly through commissions on retailers' sales. As a Google Express retailer, Google will send the vendor a commission invoice on a monthly basis. To learn more about commission rates, vendors may complete the Google Express interest form.

Delivery

Orders must be packaged, labeled, staged and delivered to customers using Google Express designated supplies and equipment in a timely manner.

Google Express works with various delivery services to ensure same-day, overnight, or two-day delivery, once orders are processed. Google Express members receive free delivery on eligible orders.

Benefits

Getting Discovered on Google Express: Vendors can showcase their wide range of  products, including store information to Google Express customers. They can set pricing on products which may be different from in-store purchases. In most cases, customers will be able to get in-store discounts and promotions on Google Express.

Great User Experience: Google guides customers through online or app checkout in as little as two clicks. This eases the shopping experience and makes it user-friendly and seamless.

Promoting Customer Loyalty: Vendors can let customers know that they can get items quickly and directly from their store or warehouse, without any shipping delays.

Conclusion

Google Express is a convenient method of online shopping experience for customers who wish to purchase products from the comfort of their home. For a vendor it is an easy path to improving their sales due to Google’s reach and popularity among millions of users. Vendors have the choice to customize shipping rates and have Google handle customer service, shipping and order fulfilment. Vendors can also offer promotions and discounts on their range of products.

Works Cited

https://express.google.com/u/0/

[icarol87]

Game of Death

This is the story of Matt Fisher, a hitman in his mid thirties from Sacramento, California who meets a beautiful young lady in her twenties, Delilah Stewart, at a bar in Louisville, Kentucky. Matt is in town to kill one of his associates, José Martinez who he thinks may try to sabotage one of his missions by leaking information to the police. As handsome as he is himself, Matt, dressed in blue jeans and a black leather jacket approaches Delilah with a drink in his hand and tries to charm her with his macho persona.

Matt: Hi, looks like your drink is about to be over.

Delilah: Hi, (smiles) thanks. Are you from Louisville?

Matt: No, I’m originally from California. I’m here for a few days to meet a friend.

Delilah: California huh? That sounds awesome. I have a friend who lives in LA.

Matt: Oh yeah?! Well, I’m from the other end, I live in Sacramento. So do you visit this friend of yours who lives in LA?

Delilah: Sometimes, yeah… I just visited her a couple of months back for the holidays.

Matt: Next time may be come to Sacramento. I could show you around. It’s an underrated city, but there’s lots to do.

Delilah: May be I will.

Matt: So do you know a good place for dinner cuz I’m kinda hungry?

Delilah: Are you asking me out? (smiles)

Matt: Well, I hate eating alone.

(Matt and Delilah hop into her car and drive to a nearby place open till midnight.)

Matt: So what places are open at this time?

Delilah: I know a great fall-of-the-bone ribs kinda place. Let’s go there.

Matt: Excellent!

Delilah: So what do you do for a living?

Matt: I am a tax analyst. I work for a company called Presto. Been there for like eight years now. What do you do?

Delilah: I am a freelance writer for both print and online publications. Been writing for over 4 years now. Started writing right after grad school.

(Matt and Delilah enter the restaurant)

Matt: Please suggest what’s most popular here. Man, it's been a while since I had good ribs.

Delilah: Sure, I’ll order for both of us.

Matt: So, what do you love writing about the most?

Delilah: Mostly experiences of tasting food and wine at different places. (chuckles)

Matt: That’s awesome. You must be loving your job.

Delilah: Yeah I do, but some days are super busy and tiring. Gotta submit the assignments before the deadline is due and sometimes I don’t even have enough time to gather all the information.

Matt: Yeah, it’s the same for me too. Some days I gotta stay up late and finish up those taxation reports due the next day.

Delilah: Hmm, do you like your job?

Matt: I do like it.

Delilah: (looks at her watch) That’s great. Hey, it's getting late and I’ve gotta finish up an assignment. Do you want me to drop you to your hotel or some place else?

Matt: Hey, don’t worry about it, I will take an Uber. It was lovely meeting you.

Delilah: Yeah, we should catch up for a coffee or something before you leave.

Matt: Yeah, sure. What’s your number?

(They exchange numbers.)

Matt: Thanks, I’ll call you.

(Delilah gets into her car and drives off.)

(Matt stays a little longer, checks messages from his phone and leaves shortly thereafter.)

(Matt goes to his hotel and starts planning the murder. He decides to kill José with a sniper, after closely observing him for the next few days.)

(The next morning, Matt hires a car from a car dealership and drives to the place he thinks José resides. While parked a few feet away, he pulls out his camera and starts taking pictures of the building.)

(He waits for an hour or so and meanwhile, lights up a cigarette while he continues to wait for some signs of his victim.)

(After a while, he drives to a nearby diner to get some breakfast.)

Server: Hi, what can I get you this fine morning?

Matt: I’d like a sunnyside up with a side of hashbrowns, biscuits and gravy. Some coffee of course! Thanks!

Server: Coming up right away.

(Meanwhile, Matt confirms with his boss over phone the address where José could possibly be.)

(After breakfast, he drives off to 17 Blacow Rd, where José is currently living. He parks his car at the same spot as he did earlier and bends over to light a cigarette. As he looks up, he catches a good glimpse of José and a woman in front of him in their patio. Matt couldn’t have a good look at the woman since her back was facing him.)

(Matt pulls out his camera and tries to click a picture but suddenly his phone rings. He ignores the call and looks back, but the couple goes back inside the living room. He smokes another cigarette while browsing through his contacts and comes across Delilah’s number. He decides to call her up to set up a date for coffee, while he waits on José.)

(Phone rings…)

Delilah: Hello

Matt: Hi, Delilah?

Delilah: Yes, Hi Matt? How are you?

Matt: Been good, and you?

Delilah: Been pretty good.

Matt: Awesome. Just thought I could take you out sometime for a cup of coffee.

Delilah: Yeah, coffee sounds good.

Matt: 5 PM tomorrow at Peet’s sound okay?

Delilah: Yeah I might be able to squeeze in some time for coffee tomorrow.

Matt: Cool. See you tomorrow then.

Delilah: Yeah! See you. Bye.

Matt: Okay, Bye-bye.

(The next few days, Matt continues to keep a close watch on his victim. He gathers all information on the people José meets and goes out with.)

(By this time, he has also gotten to know Delilah well. They go out on a few more dates and they both seem to like each other.)

(Matt is finally nearing the day he feels he is ready to pull the trigger on José and is watching him closely from outside his home, when he gets a call from Delilah one day.)

Delilah:  Hey, are you busy?

Matt: No, I was just hanging out with my friend at his place.

Delilah: Well, do you wanna come over at my apartment and watch a movie together?

Matt: (Pauses) uh… sure, give me 15 minutes.

(Matt shoves his camera in his glovebox and drives off to Delilah’s apartment.)

(He reaches over at her place and knocks on the door. Delilah opens the door with a big smile and lets him in.)

(They watch a movie snuggled up on her couch while drinking wine. One thing leads to another and they end up in bed.)

(The next morning they have breakfast together, after which Matt heads over to his hotel to prepare for the day of the murder.)

(It is a bright sunny day and Matt is geared up to kill the guy that might ruin all his future missions. He dresses in casual clothing and carries with him his backpack in which he has a pair of black leather gloves, his camera, some cash and extra clothing.)

(He heads over to what looks like a deserted building right across the street from José’s hideout and sets up a spot to shoot. As he looks through his sniper to aim in the direction of his victim, he spots a familiar face on the floor right above José’s apartment.)

(Suddenly there is a loud sound... BOOM… and before anyone knew it, a body falls on the ground with a loud thud.)

(It was Matt lying there in a pool of blood with a bullet that hit right through his head.)

(Delilah had aimed well and pulled the trigger on him without wasting much time. She knew all along that Matt was going to come to Louisville to kill her stepdad, José. But she was not going to let that happen and how could she? She was raised by José and sent to school when her drug addict mother had died out of a drug overdose and she was left to look after herself. José was all she had and when she grew up, he taught her the trade well. She was always surrounded by guns. He told her one day, ‘finish the enemy before the enemy tries to finish you.’)

[icarol87]

Reviews of Comparable Websites

Within the vertical of online shopping:

Baublebar.com

BaubleBar has a very clear and crisp home page with definite segments on purchasing all kinds of jewelry. The home page is pleasing to the eye and the user knows exactly where to shop what. Also, when you sign up for the website, you get a flat 15% discount on any purchase.

Another fun aspect of the website is that, it has a S.W.A.T (Service With Accessorizing Talent) page, which answers styling questions or gives shopping assistance. This makes it easier for customers to decide on what kind of jewelry they ought to buy for different occasions. The website offers free shipping on every purchase of $25 and has easy return policies, which makes the shopping experience extremely easy.

The jewelry on the website is priced anywhere between $10 to $120. BaubleBar often comes up with offers such as, ‘the buried bauble,’ for a limited time when they sell jewelry at $10, $15 or $20. The attention to detail in packaging makes the buyer feel truly special. Every jewelry is wrapped in layers of bubble wraps and carefully placed in a pocket jewelry bag (complimentary earlier), along with a neon thank you envelope placed inside a box. The thank you envelope carries the return label and bill of purchase.

Charmingcharlie.com

CharmingCharlie does not have a user-friendly interface, the homepage seems a little cluttered although they recently relaunched their website with a few changes. 

As a first time customer when you login, the website displays a popup which says that new customers get a $10 discount, but you don’t see that information anywhere on the website after the popup gets dismissed. The shopping experience is average, since the jewelry showcased on the website is not displayed on a model.

Also, when you hover the mouse over the different categories of products, there is an immediate drop down effect which is very distracting.  

The website is popular for its jewelry, clothing, handbags and accessories, along with some new additions of beauty, home and kids’ products. Prices range from $10 to $44 and shipping is free on purchases of $59 or more. The website often comes up with deals on clothing and jewelry, such as ‘2 for $12′ and ‘50% off’ for limited time. Items get delivered in a simple packaging of bubble wraps and a box, which is sometimes sloppy and ineffective in protecting the product from damage. 

Within the vertical of travel:  

Expedia.com

Besides its bundle deals, and deals on hotels, cars, flights and cruises, Expedia offers a lot more options on travel to its customers via ‘vacation rentals,’ ‘today’s travel deals,’ and its rewards program for all its members.

To increase ease of booking, its popups like, ‘this place is a popular location on your dates,’ helps make reservations and save up significantly.

Its amazing display of pictures of hotels and the reviews on the page helps decide whether the hotel is a great choice for stay. The information on booking the number of beds on the same page, without having to go to another page a is systematic approach. The checkout page of the website provides information on where to eat and things to do nearby.

Expedia also offers better discount deals than Priceline does, with an average discount of $10 to $15.

Priceline.com

Priceline.com is a very simple and user friendly website. When selecting packages, it provides all information on hotel and flight together, unlike Expedia, where you have to first select the hotel in order to go to the next step. It also immediately offers car deals below in case the customer wishes to rent a car during his stay.

However, it does not provide additional details which helps in the ease of booking such as information about the destination, places to visit nearby etc.

Also, the pictures displayed on the website about selecting the hotel or the rooms are not so great and definitely do not help with booking.

[icarol87]

Tech Building Kits For Children Are the Future

Building a robot, solving a science puzzle, or learning the basics of coding now sounds like fun to children, thanks to toys that inspire critical thinking. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) toys encourage children to engage in creative experiences combined with play, whilst becoming acquainted with concepts of science and engineering.

STEM programs are offered at summer camps, learning centers, children’s libraries and museums in the United States with the purpose of self-expression and innovation. This means less screen time and fostering lifelong learning among children with a thirst for curiosity.

STEM programs are also a part of school curriculums to help children excel in subjects like mathematics and science. Teachers are expanding their STEM content knowledge and teaching skills to apply best STEM practices in classrooms.

“When people think about STEM learning, their instinct is to ask what children will come to know. They’ll learn their multiplication tables, the lifecycle of the butterfly, or the role of force and friction in moving a car from place to place. This kind of content knowledge is important. But for young children, what’s even more important is the way that children learn how to think when they do a STEM program or other learning experience,” said Elizabeth Rood, Vice President, Education Strategy at the Bay Area Discovery Museum (BADM).

According to Rood, some important thinking skills that children develop are learning how to develop, articulate, and test their theories about how the world works.

“This kind of theory testing is what researchers call ‘causal thinking,’ the ability to understand cause and effect, and it is wired into our development—starting with infants. But STEM programming creates opportunities for children to experiment with cause and effect, advancing their development in this critical life skill.”

Children also develop the ability to reason abstractly, or to make sense of things that they cannot directly see. Concepts such as gravity, lift, and air pressure are all highly abstract, and until recently developmental psychologists questioned whether children were capable of such abstract thinking.

“What we now know is that they can make sense of these kinds of challenging ideas when adults create experiences that help them connect these big ideas to phenomena they already understand,” she added.

The addition of Arts to STEM and creation of STEAM is another form of expression and supports cognitive development and increases self-esteem.

San Francisco based STEMful, offers a wide range of STEAM classes and camp programs to children from one to ten years of age. “Children learn best when they are doing hands-on projects. We integrate various apps on tablets, art and craft materials, science lab wares, LEGO bricks, household and recycle materials, and tinkering objects to form the objects that best help them understand an idea or concept,” said Kim Nguyen-Ehrenreich, Founder and Managing Director.

She added, “Kids learn coding through a junior scratch program or circuitry using LEDs and wires. They also perform hands-on science experiments by developing hypotheses to test out their theories and perform tests through a series of trials and errors.”

But unless children are encouraged to indulge in STEAM activities at home, they may not  actively participate in school or may lose interest after a while. Activities as simple as baking a cake, coding a lego maze, or building block structures with the idea that failures are critical for success, are imperative for a child’s bright future.

Subscription-based delivery projects from companies such as KiwiCo, Little Passports and Goldie Blox cater to children of all age groups. They offer children’s favorite mix of science, engineering or math knick knacks to create something unique.

“Children solve real life scientific mysteries every month through fun science experiments like building a solar powered car or constructing their very own rocket,” said Amy Norman, CEO of Little Passports in Oakland.

Los Altos based KiwiCo creates “low threshold, high ceiling” projects, which are accessible and fun for all types of learners. KiwiCo also has a program for age groups nine to 16, called “Doodle” which focuses on art and design. They also have special projects available only at their store with a focus on STEAM for the same age group.

As the awareness surrounding STEM toys and STEM programs grows continuously, what we also know now is that there were nearly 8.6 million STEM jobs in May 2015, representing 6.2 percent of U.S. employment. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, computer occupations made up nearly 45 percent of STEM employment, and engineers made up an additional 19 percent.

Children develop important skills of problem-solving and confidence building at an early age, and STEM or STEAM programs prepare them to tackle real-life problems. We can give them exposure to materials and provide an environment for them to follow-up on their curiosity. 

[icarol87]

Donuts for Days

My husband and I travelled to Portland, Oregon recently, to enjoy some much needed vacation. I had heard of so many great places to visit in Portland, including, some of the most breathtaking falls and flower exhibits that United States has to offer. It is a nature lover’s dream and being a nature lover myself, I was so looking forward to this mini vacation. Also, it is close to California, where I live, so this happened to be the perfect destination for a long weekend.

Portland is famous for its dessert shops and restaurants that serve up some amazing cuisine. We were lucky enough to get in line at the famous donut shop everyone raves about, called Voodoo Donuts. We decided to go to this artsy donut place on our last day as it was recommended by a friend and because who does not love soft, melt in your mouth, sugary sweet donuts. This place has some of the most unique donut flavors and is a complete treat to the eyes. Their obsession with the color pink is evident in the interiors as well as exteriors of the shop and of course in their tagline which says, ‘Good things come in pink boxes.’

This instagram worthy store is visited by so many faithful patrons from even outside of Portland who patiently wait in line for their turn to arrive. Donuts such as ‘Oh Captain, My Captain,’ ‘Dirt,’ ‘Mango Tango,’ ‘Sprinkle Cake,’ ‘Blueberry Cake’ and ‘Toasted Coconut’ are some of the classics that Voodoo Donuts is most proud of. Also, what is interesting is that it offers donuts in the form of raised yeast, cake and vegan so everyone with a sweet tooth can relish them. The prices are affordable at anywhere between $5 to $7. A food allergy warning specifying contents lets the patrons know what to order for themselves.

I would recommend this place to every donut lover, simply to get a taste of the super creative designs and passion that goes into making each and every donut every single day.

[icarol87]

I love the lyrics. Enjoy!

[icarol87]

2016: A Year Gone By

Last year went by so quickly and before I knew it, it was 2017. The year began with positive news about my husband being able to move to a new and well-known company, for better job prospects. It was such a relief, since now he was able to do the kind of work he loved doing in a better environment. I couldn’t be more proud of him. 

Also, I was able to visit my home country India in July on a month long vacation, after two and half years. It was a bitter-sweet trip, and one that I was looking forward to, for a long time. I was able to catch up with most of my old friends, some of whom I grew up with; and others who I met professionally and shared common interests. But most of all, I was delighted to meet my near and dear ones. It was so fulfilling to be able to spend time with my family and relive the old days and feel so comfortable and relaxed in my own home. I was so ecstatic to be able to meet my 3-year old nephew and spend quality time with him. He is the best kid ever with the brightest mind and a generous heart and, as you can tell, I love him heaps. I also met my extended family- uncles, aunts, cousins etc. I traveled across four states in India, and literally had the best time experiencing the authentic food and culture of the places I missed, living in another country. When the trip ended, I was extremely sad as I sat in the lounge chair of the international departures at the Delhi International Airport, pondering upon the lovely time that had passed by so quickly. My family and friends had showered me with so much love and pampered me to an unimaginable level. 

I was definitely homesick upon my return and after about a month, my husband was put in-charge of an important project in his team. I had also enrolled myself for a Spanish class at a community college nearby, and was having fun studying a new language and experiencing the excitement of preparing for exams all over again. But since I was not working, it was a tough situation to not have my husband, my best friend around to share in my excitement. I was also not doing so well health wise, and reduced communication between the two of us, pushed me to a somewhat dark place, where I felt lonely and depressed. But, we communicated with each other about how the silence affected me and we decided to go on a vacation on my birthday.  

In October, we traveled to San Diego, since it is an easy 7 hour drive from the place we live. We got ample opportunity to talk while enjoying the scenic views. San Diego is truly a romantic place and offers a lot to do in the summer or winter. I was almost over my depression and enjoying life once again and grateful for everything. My husband’s work load was also over by then and it was time to soak in some much needed San Diego sun. We visited the historic Cabrillo Monument, and the magnificent tide pools. We also managed to squeeze in a trip to the Balboa park which is home to many museums of great significance. We were not able to cover all of them due to shortage of time, but we definitely went to the Museum of Art and caught a glimpse of the great paintings made by genius artists. It was one of the most enjoyable vacations and definitely one I will cherish for years. 

Soon enough, I was done with my Spanish course and it was now time to welcome Christmas and the New Year. The holidays, this year were a refreshing change for us. We just kicked back and relaxed, and cherished every moment of the holidays, unlike the past years, when we have been only traveling. I decorated our home in a very traditional way, and together my husband and I, cooked a delicious feast together at our home on Christmas eve. I also prepared traditional Christmas sugar cookies in different shapes and sizes, with a delicate Christmas themed decoration. 

Overall, 2016 was a year of learning for me more than anything else. I learnt a lot about relationships and life and I simply cannot wait for 2017 and its adventures. 

[icarol87]

My current favorite. This song has got a melodious tune and the singer’s voice is amazing. 

[icarol87]

A Weekend in Santa Barbara

Golden hills cascading into shimmering seas, sweet smell of the wind, and miles of scenic coastline welcomes you to stunning Santa Barbara. Located between the rolling mountains of Santa Ynez and the Pacific Ocean, this city is sometimes called the American Riviera.

Inspired by Spanish colonial heritage, the city’s landscape is dotted with Mediterranean-style white buildings with red tile roofs, the Spanish-Moorish palace now known as the County Courthouse; and Mission Santa Barbara founded in 1786, known as the Queen of all Missions, which is still a functioning church and museum.

Some of Hollywood’s silent movies were shot in the city back in the day, at a time when Santa Barbara was rivaled only by Hollywood, and legends including Charlie Chaplin frequented the place.

I visited Santa Barbara with a few of my friends during a thanksgiving weekend and we stayed at the East Beach. Some of the famous hotels face East Beach, hence this beach attracts a lot of visitors all year round. It is most preferred for evening strolls, bike rides, a nice and relaxed picnic, or just for lazing on the beach while enjoying splendid ocean views. This beach is not very far from most of Santa Barbara’s attractions, hence if visiting for a limited number of days or thinking of a relaxed vacation, it is the recommended place to stay.

Getting to Santa Barbara is easy if you are a local resident of California and are driving from San Francisco. You can choose the scenic Pacific Coast Highway which is an easy five hour drive with beautiful vista points leading all the way up to Santa Barbara. If you are an international traveller, there is an airport conveniently located near the downtown area.

Places to Explore

Exploring State Street is a must, due to its interesting line of restaurants and bars serving up amazing gastronomical delights. Open-air European style restaurants, offer great lunch and dinner options paired well with classic red and white wines, at every corner on State Street. You will also find edgy shopping stores and outdoor activities, making this a fun extension of downtown Santa Barbara. Stroll down further on the side streets, and you will also notice a fabulous block of antique shops which just makes the place all the more appealing and lively.

After a quick breakfast at your hotel, head straight to the historic Mission Santa Barbara, which will completely leave you spellbound with all its architectural details and intricate paintings and statues. The church is so rich in its culture and heritage and you can witness it in the colonial art collection carefully preserved and revered. Literally stop and smell the roses in the lovely little rose garden just outside the main entrance. The museum depicts the historic timeline of the construction of the church from start to finish and provides trivia on the Spanish friars both past and present. The whole experience is extremely humbling and will surely take you back to a time when the first friars arrived from Spain and built this beautiful church with the help of the native Chumash Indians.

Further on your trip, be sure to take a tour of the County Courthouse on Anacapa Street. This historic landmark is a treat to the eyes with all its grandeur and eye for detail. As you enter the building, you notice the colorful tiles adorning the walls of the staircase and walls, wrought iron grillwork, chandeliers, and hand painted ceilings giving you a true taste of Spain. Above the building is the magnificent clock tower which provides a spectacular panoramic view of the entire city, palm trees, and mountains. Entry is free and the best time to visit is in the morning when the weather is pleasant, cool and calm.  

You may also take a half day tour of the El Presidio de Santa Barbara, State Historic Park which is the site of an active archeological dig. This building has on display many artifacts from the archeological digs surrounding the park. The building had been restored after a series of earthquakes hit and destroyed most of the original form.

Apart from its scenic beaches, Santa Barbara is famous as a wine country and attracts wine connoisseurs from around the world. The weather conditions and the perfect terroir required for a well-balanced wine make it a suitable region for grape-growing.

Santa Barbara truly has it all- a scenic coastline, amazing food and wine and a rich history. Spend a weekend here and you’ll never want to go home!

[icarol87]

A Dose of Humility Goes a Long Way in Life And Politics.

Ron Fournier

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A Wine Country State of Mind

Few people associate India with drinking wine, but the country has in fact been producing wine and spirits since ages.

According to the Wikipedia, Portuguese in the 16th century planted vineyards in Goa. Around the same time, the Persians planted Syrah (Shiraz), which attracted the British into entering the viticultural scene there. Under the British rule starting in the 1850s, more Indian wines were produced, and even showcased at international competitions. But the Phylloxera epidemic hit India, as it did to the other parts of the world and destroyed most of the vineyards.

However, with the beginning of the 1980s’ modern grape growing innovations, the global demand for wine, and international investments once again created a rapid rise in the Indian wine industry.

Climatic Conditions

The tropical conditions throughout parts of India make it suitable for wine production. In regions such as Maharashtra and Karnataka in the south-western region of the country, due to the elevated landscape, favorable soil mix and vast difference between day and night temperatures, it is extremely suitable to produce good wine.  

International winemakers working with local wine producers ensure quality control measures essential to wine production such as trellising methods, low yields, improved grape varietals and investigating pest control. Numerous international varieties are grown alongside indigenous ones and the styles range from dry to sweet to sparkling and fortified.

Rise and Popularity

Around the 1980s, when the contemporary history of Indian wine started, well-known wineries such as Chateau Indage, Grover Vineyards and Sula Vineyards started experimenting with commercially grown vines in India. An investor from Bombay (now Mumbai), Sham Chougule sought to produce sparkling wines, mainly for export. His wine brand, Chateau Indage is generally credited with starting the quality wine industry in India in the 1980s and was until recently India’s largest wine producer, offering two sparkling wines, a pair of reds and two white wines.

Then came Grover vineyards, which was a collaboration between Kanwal Grover and George Vesselle, the then technical director of French wine company, Champagne Mumm. With the goal to bring Bordeaux to Bangalore, Grover vineyards successfully achieved its ambitious vision through its premium quality wines. Grover’s flagship wine, La Reservé has today gained immense international reputation and is receiving accolades at international forums. Following its recent merger with Nashik wine company, Vallée de Vin, it also ventured into the business of sparkling wines and super-premium wine varietals.

In the 1990s, Sula Vineyards, a project of Rajeev Samant put Nashik on the global wine map. A Stanford-trained engineer who quit his Silicon Valley job to return to India to follow an entrepreneurial path, Samant established Nashik’s first winery in 1999. The winery emerged as India’s largest wine producer after completing a decade in 2010 with 3 million bottles sold. Sula is today popular for its eco-friendly winemaking practices and excellent quality wines.

International Footing

Cut to 2013, world-famous champagne company, Moët Hennessy started producing its famous ‘Chandon’ from grapes grown in the Nashik region. Chandon is the first offering from Moët Hennessy Estates & Wines to be produced in and especially for India.

While, most experts in the early 21st century observed that not all wineries could produce remarkable wine, a handful of dedicated boutique wineries focussed on building a brand based merely on quality.

Popular Wines

A few names dominating the Indian wine industry presently with their exceptional quality of wines are- Grover Zampa, Fratelli Wines, Reveilo Wines, Alpine Wineries, Vallonne Vineyards, Krsma Estates, and Sula Vineyards.

With the quality of wines being produced by winemakers in India today, many international wine companies have started setting up shops and are in talks with top-notch retailers to make their wines available. Wine consumption in the local markets shot up substantially in the past few years with ever growing awareness and demand for the drink according to various studies reported.

So the next time you are headed to India for a vacation or to see a friend, do not hesitate to try out some of the great batch of wines produced every year. You may be pleasantly surprised!

[icarol87]

Christmas Holiday Destination: Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe is a beautiful holiday destination located on the border between California and Nevada. It is perfect for a vacation anytime of the year, but wait until winter and it’s more gorgeous than ever.

This massive freshwater lake is the largest Alpine lake in North America, and the second deepest lake in the United States. Home for a lot of adventure activities- summertime and winter, shopping, nightlife, culture and heritage; the town of Tahoe is adored by frequent visitors and locals alike. 

Winter has this place transform into a beautiful paradise with snow covered mountains, gorgeous white christmas trees dotting the landscape of the region, semi frozen beaches, and the place is buzzing with activity. Temperatures drop to a minimum of 18℉.

A must visit for me is during the winter months of December- March, if you simply love skiing or snow boarding, and want to experience some of the deepest adrenaline rushes that come with it. 

The magnificent lake for most part of it remains frozen, and offers limited access for visit during the cold winter months, but offers the magnificent cruise journey to the gorgeous emerald bay. If you are visiting Lake Tahoe from Northern California, it is an easy 6 hour drive and very easily accessible.

My husband and I witnessed snowfall for the first time ever during our trip to Tahoe. It was a truly magical experience and we were so glad we could experience it here. We stayed in South Lake Tahoe and decided to explore this part of Tahoe a bit during our stay.

Accomodation

South Lake Tahoe has every kind of stay option from casino hotels, to motels and even private homes or condos. It is best to book ahead and go through reviews of many of these hotels in order to enjoy your holiday to the fullest. 

You might want to book your stay at one of the casino hotels for a few days to enjoy the best in night life. Mont Bleu, Harrah’s, Hard Rock and Lakeview offer great stay options and have good spas and casinos. 

Other hotels such as Holiday Inn Express, Fantasy Inn, Fireside Lodge etc, not very far from Heavenly’s Gondola Rides offer a relaxed and comfortable stay.

Food

South Lake Tahoe offers some amazing dining options at both big and small restaurants. A tiny quaint cafe may also surprise you at times, with its catchy title and great breakfast/lunch options. There are some restaurants that have a unique European touch, and offer cuisines that fully satisfy the gastronomical quests of both meat lovers and vegetarians. The impeccable guest services and the ambience of these restaurants make the experience worth cherishing forever.

In a place like Tahoe, if you still crave for a slice of pizza for dinner, go to Base Camp Pizza, a rugged restaurant at the base of Heavenly’s Gondola rides. This place offers amazing Italian pizzas with the luxury of a live band performance.

You could also enjoy a romantic dinner at Edgewood restaurant which provides a beautiful ambience and a great dining experience.

Things to do

Book a cruise through Lake Tahoe Cruises and take home some great memories. The best time to visit is preferably during summers, to witness the beautiful green and blue Emerald Bay and Zephyr Cove, and the snow clad mountains. The ship also offers a beautiful fine dining experience, against the background of soft and soothing music.

Skiing/Snow Boarding

You just cannot do Tahoe without doing it’s skiing activities. While Heavenly offers some amazing ski facilities, and larger than life views of the Lake from its slopes, it is a little expensive. Other resorts such as Sierra at Tahoe Resort, Mount Rose Ski Resort and Kirkwood Mountain Resort located in Kirkwood are great options as well. These resorts offer great learning as well advanced programs for kids, adults, private and women. The challenging and adventurous terrains do provide a rewarding experience.

Snowmobiling

At about 8, 000 feet above sea level, this experience is totally worth every penny. It is a winter wonderland. As beginners, riding over thick surface of snow, can be a little challenging, but as you gradually make way through the thick layers of snow, it is fun and enjoyable. 

Snow Tubing/Sledding

Snow tubing and sledding are great snow activities for those adventure lovers. Once you get on the snow tub, you would not want to get off, since the thrill of sliding off the smooth surface of snow makes you want to try it repeatedly.

Sledding is also fun, but can be a little tricky, since the sled more often than not, lands on a thick pile of snow.

Gondola Rides

Heavenly’s scenic Gondola Rides are a 2.4 mile ride up the Heavenly Mountain and are a must try. The journey is breathtaking and offers panoramic views of the snow covered mountains and the picturesque lake in the background.

The ride stops at the observation deck which is located at 9,000 feet, before it finally reaches to the top of the mountain.

Once you are there, Heavenly offers thrilling ski adventure programs for an entire day on its challenging slopes.

Lake Tahoe is truly an excellent place to visit and experience the beautiful transformations of summer to winter. 

[icarol87]

Skiing on Mount Rose