Spotlight Archives - Wedding Times Magazine

23 Apr

Before you break into your nightly performance of All by Myself by Eric Carmen, sample the digital blessing that is...

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21 Apr

5 amazing online classes that you can take with your partner

by Alinda Gupta

Spotlight, Wellness

Looking for new ways to bond with your partner? Choose from our list of five fun online classes that you and your partner can enjoy together

The lockdown has allowed us to spend more time with our significant other without the barrage of work calls, long meetings, and late hours at the office. Yet, with only the company of each other, discussions may eventually reduce to what to eat and whose turn it is to do the laundry. After having exhausted all topics of conversation, you may even end up re-watching your favourite TV shows. But, if you are looking to use this time to learn something new or try something you have always wanted to as a couple, we’ve curated a list of five classes for you to join and enjoy!

The food life

If date night is approaching, tune into a live cooking session for couples on Instagram or YouTube or join an online class. Many chefs and home cooks are posting videos of themselves cooking with their partner using simple ingredients available at home. Keep an eye out for their live session announcements, and with your beau, have a gala time preparing a fun meal that you can devour with some good music and mood lighting. Some great free online options to learn cooking include TheKitchn, Skillshare and Dinner Tonight.

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16 Apr

5 romantic shows to binge-watch with your partner

by Gayatri S

Spotlight, Wellness

Put your feet up after a tiring day and watch these tales of love with your partner

Modern Love

Based on The New York Times popular weekly column by the same name, Modern Love is a compilation of eight episodes or stories that explore the many facets and nuances of love. Brought to life by a stellar cast that includes the likes of Anne Hathaway, Tina Fey and Dev Patel among others, the series will evoke a mixed bag of bittersweet emotions. Get ready to laugh, cry and feel a whole lotta love for the partner sitting beside you.

Available on: Amazon Prime

Lovesick

With an interesting premise—a guy, Dylan, detected with a sexually transmitted disease who attempts to inform every woman he’s been with about his condition—the British series is an aberration from the usual rom-coms we’re treated to. Originally titled Scrotal Recall, every episode is dedicated to each of Dylan’s failed romantic pursuits that he reminisces in the form of flashbacks with his friends Evie and Luke. Humorous, clever and emotional, it’s also a story of friendship, one that you will enjoy from the word go.

Available on: Netflix

Grey’s Anatomy

If you haven’t watched it already, you really should now. With a whopping 16 seasons to its credit (a clear testament to its popularity), this medical drama series is laced with enough romance to keep you hooked. With an ensemble cast led by Ellen Pompeo who plays Dr Meredith Grey, the series explores the professional and personal lives of surgical interns as they journey toward becoming seasoned doctors even as they manoeuvre through blossoming relationships and heartbreaks. And if you’re still not convinced, the show also features plenty of eye candy—for instance, the hugely popular character, Derek Shepherd a.k.a. McDreamy played by Patrick Dempsey.

Available on: Amazon Prime

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15 Apr

How to grow your own kitchen garden

by Gayatri S

Spotlight, Wellness

With a limited supply of vegetables and fruits available, the time is ripe to cultivate your own kitchen garden at home. Here’s how experts suggest you can get started

We’ve all struggled with procuring essentials in the last few weeks. In such a situation, wouldn’t it be so much easier if we had a few key ingredients growing in our own homes? Well, even if you’re a serial plant killer, there’s no harm in trying your hand at kitchen or urban gardening. And it really is easier than it seems. Here’s what a few gardening enthusiasts had to say:

Get Started

Pick a location that receives a minimum of 4-5 hours of sunlight.
Grow seeds that are easily available at home.
If you don’t have pots, use old paint cans, plastic bottles, takeaway containers, buckets, mugs etc (preferably 10 inches high), and drill holes in them for drainage.
Use a potting mix or strain the soil that you have at home and enrich it with homemade compost (or blended banana peels) and coconut husk (instead of coco peat).
Don’t overwater your plants; the soil must remain moist but not soggy.
Regularly mulch your plants by adding dried and fallen leaves to them.

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13 Apr

5 apps to learn or master art at home

by Alinda Gupta

Spotlight, Wellness

Lately, due to the nationwide lockdown, guitars and baking tins are finding their way out of storage. So, there’s no better time than now to brush up on your rusty art skills; in fact, here are some of the best apps for those who wish to explore their creative calling

Our Instagram feeds are flooded with the likes of intricate charcoal sketches and rough illustrations. If this has inspired you to pick up your brush or pencil and get creative, then here are a few apps to help you out. Learn a variety of techniques—from illustrations to crafts and 3D drawings. Whether you draw a self-portrait or make your own jewellery, you don’t need to be a professional to ace these activities! Also, it doesn’t matter if you don’t have any material at home since some of these apps allow you to practise your skills digitally.

How to Draw – Easy Lessons

We swear by this app, which is available on both Android and iOS. Whether you are an amateur or a professional, the app offers an easy step-by-step process, which teaches you how to draw and paint animals, cartoons and even animé. Perfect for kids too, you can either draw on the screen itself or lay down sheets of paper and go for it. The app is free and easy to use. In fact, Play Store has many apps in the ‘How to Draw’ series allowing you to diversify your drawing experience. You can learn how to draw and sketch people, cars or even 3D sculptures for free.

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11 Apr

Romantic ideas to celebrate a special occasion during lockdown

by Lynn Lobo

Relationships, Spotlight

Scheduled to hit a relationship milestone in the midst of the lockdown period? Fret not! When it comes to celebrating...

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9 Apr

Free wellness apps to download during this lockdown

by Irene Fernandes

Spotlight, Wellness

From meditation techniques to sleep pattern analysis, these wellness apps are designed to help you find your calm in the chaos

The uncertainty of the lockdown has triggered a range of anxieties. This isolated lifestyle is proving to be a challenge for some, therefore, making it imperative for everyone to take care of their health and well-being. In fact, several wellness apps have made their premium services available for free for users to stay mentally fit while homebound.

Down Dog

Touted as one of the best yoga apps, Down Dog allows you to explore the various forms of yoga practice in the comfort of your home. Unlike other yoga apps that have pre-recorded videos, Down Dog boasts of over 60,000 configurations that will ensure your sessions are not repeated. Users can choose from 6 different yoga teachers and a voice of their preference; moreover, it’s also available in 9 languages and various English-speaking accents. To help people stay active during the outbreak, Down Dog has decided to make the app free for all its users until May 1 and for students, teachers and healthcare professionals until July 1.

Available on: iOS and Android

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9 Apr

How to stay connected with the outside world from home

by Alinda Gupta

Spotlight, Wellness

Owing to social distancing to control the spread of COVID-19, we are physically cut off from the outside world. With travel plans and brunch dates with friends abandoned indefinitely, here’s a list of ways in which you can still replicate the joys of socialising, at home

At present, we are deluged with information on COVID-19 from around the world. The pandemic has forced us all indoors till things get better. Although for homebodies this may seem almost comforting, staying cooped up at home can slowly wear you out. However, thanks to the suite of communication technology at our service, we do not have to be completely disconnected from the outside world. Between the exploration of your newfound culinary talents and bingeing on shows, throw a virtual dinner party or attend a live yoga session to stay connected with the community.

What’s your game?

The classics (think: UNO and Monopoly) are making a comeback stronger than ever before. Friends and families are now engaging in virtual altercations over being dealt an unfair hand. Newer games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons are the new rage among millennials, especially in Japan. As the name suggests, this Nintendo Switch series allows you to build and live in a whole new world devoid of any infections. Some say it might be the ideal quarantine game, and we couldn’t agree more. Look to virtual games and get your friends to join in for game nights!

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8 Apr