What: Espresso bar party catering, retro coffee machines and beans by Beans Unlimited, visitwww.beansunlimited.com or call 24712610, Rs 1,400 for a 25 pod box of Cafes Richard Columbian coffee.

Why: It’s Friday and you’re still being a grouch potato. It’s probably because the coffee in your office sucks. Here’s a little something for your HR department – Beans Unlimited, a coffee solution company that sells everything from retro-looking coffee machines to pods from Illy, Cafes Richard and Lavazza, and even sets up an Espresso bar at your dinner party. Keeping A-list clients like Blue Frog, Indigo and Sula Wines hopped up on caffeine, we think they might be a good way to get on the bean’s list.

When: You want a new brew crew.

Bunches of red roses, beautiful and bright, sat at the Aurus bar this past Valentine's Day. Single stemmed lovers, intoxicated by their scent, realised just how lonely and in love they were.

This floral arrangement was courtesy Zina Mody, a Malabar Hill resident who under the brand Flowers by Zina, does custom-made bouquets and centre pieces  for individuals, restaurants, corporates and even lawyers' offices. Yes, sharks like flowers too!

On the Cover of a Maga-Zina

The story is as cliched as red roses: girl makes floral arrangement for fun, friends like it, start giving her orders and it blooms into a business. Since then, Zina has been doing some super creative bouquets working with importers who can get everything from bundles of tulips to red orchids and green colour carnations. "But my favourite flower to work with is hydrangeas. And twigs. Also, pretty fruit," she tells us. Thankfully, that does not translate into those ugly fruit bouquets we hate at bpb.  What Zina does is intersperses fruit with flowers for aesthetic reasons. "So for instance, karvanda berries are used to make chutney. But I just use a stem in a bouquet because they look amazing in arrangements," says Zina. Besides these, apples, oranges and lemons have also featured quite frequently in her work. Strings of pearls, ribbons and fabric complete the look. Besides bouquets, Zina also wraps individual gifts and has them deliverd to your destination. For me? You shouldn't have.

Get on the Flora

Besides the bar at Aurus, Zina's flowers and packaging have also been spotted at Nature's Basket outlets, Rudra Spa and probably your home if you have generous friends. Zina's customised arrangements start at Rs 1,000, and while she prefers that you place your order in advance, she can also throw something together for you at the last minute. This florist can serve as your human reminder system too. Send her a list of important occasions you need to remember, and she'll call you before each of them to see if you need to send out flowers. Don't hit snooze.

Get It Together

While Zina started out by learning the art of floral arrangement all on her own, she did recently take a few short courses in London with Jane Packer, an internationally renowned florist. It helped her get a whiff of global trends, and this she combined with her own style. "Floral arrangements can be super therapeutic. Unless it's a crazy occasion like Valentine's Day." Starting in March, this florist is conducting short weekly arrangement courses at her Malabar Hill kingdom, so prepare for pretty petals but also thorns.

Zina, the Warrior Princess?

Getting there: Flowers by Zina, for bouquets and class inquiries call 09819109760 or view the Facebook page here,  bouquets starts at Rs 1,000.

“Brighten up, remain my true and only treasure, my all, as I to you.” – Beethoven to unknown girlfriend

“But the ring of fire still burns around you and I, keeping our love hotter than a pepper sprout.” – Johnny Cash to June Cash

“You seem to be a woman who has been loved in her childhood.” –Marlon Brando hitting on a stewardess.

Just today, in an email from a friend, we learned he was going to the post office—the actual post office—to mail a book within the pages of which he had inserted a note of admiration to the one he admired. We looked around at our email filled world, and were filled with a strange kind of wistful envy. The art of letter writing is lost. The art of good speeches has gone the way of text messages: “Congrats!” replaces “I wish you so much happiness and love on your wedding day.” Dealing in words ourselves sometimes we mourn the loss of a good sentence in our inbox, something that makes us pause, and laugh, that evokes so much more than a Whatsapp message could.

Always Wear Sunscreen

You couldn’t have Marlon Brando write that letter to your lover or Johnny Cash apologise prettily for an indiscretion to a friend, but with the help of Mumbai-based website Words For You, you don’t have to stumble to find the right sentence anymore, just outsource it to their team of freelance writers with a list of points about what you want to convey and they’ll do the rest for you. Ingenious? We thought so.

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

Words For You began when Suneet Kumbhat, a new engineering graduate had to give a speech at his sister’s wedding. He knew what he wanted to say, but he didn’t know how to say it. In contrast, his father came up with an excellent speech which was well received by all the guests. Suneet realized there were many more people like him who could use a little help and got in touch with his friend Abhijeet Agarwal, described by Suneet as an “amazing writer.” Together, they put together Words For You, where products include the usual corporate/marriage speeches but also the more eclectic: the apology note, the love letter, the marriage proposal and the resignation letter. Most of the writing is done by Abhijeet, but they also take on freelance writers, mostly college students, to craft some words for them.

I Still Have A Dream

You give them a brief, with your emotions and key points to be mentioned, which helps, but if you can’t think of what to say, they also have a questionnaire prepared which you can answer and will help them to write.  While there are a list of suggested products on the page, you can pretty much get them to write anything—from a blog post to a start up email. Plus, discretion is guaranteed, so you don’t have to be worried that your fiancé will find out your beautifully worded proposal wasn’t you after all.  At the moment, the website has a bit of a clunky ‘contact’ page, but they’re quite swift in getting back to you, and also provide writing samples on request. Sealed with a wish?

Getting there: Contact Words For You (www.wordsforyou.co.in), Rs 700 for 350 words, send in your request one week in advance.

Review: Khali Seat

Is your day bookended by fights with cabbies? A new website wants to help you “save your anger and frustration for someone else”.

This is Khali Seat, a new online platform for people looking to share a ride with fellow commuters on the same route. Be it carpooling, bikepooling or even sharing a radio taxi, Khali Seat is trying to make your commute cheap and pollution-free. The concept is simple:  find a ride that’s already listed on the website, or create your own ride and wait for people to join.

Roadblock

The user interface doesn’t seem like much of a jam either. There is a scroller on the right that has all the recently added share-a-ride options, as well as a search bar to find a ride that suits you.  The details you have to feed in are your time and date of journey, the beginning point and end point and a landmark on the way where you can pick or be picked up from.

If you wish to create your own ride, just tweak the gears a bit, add your type of vehicle and number plate info, along with number of vacant seats.

Pot Hole

If your worry is sharing car space with a serial killer, there are a few safety measures in place: option to pick gender preference for your choice of travel companion and a Facebook meet before accepting or sending the ride invite.

One seat request from Ted Bundy? I'll take the mean old cabbie, thanks very much.

Getting there: www.khaliseat.in, free platform.

bpb’s monthly listing of the hottest work opportunities in Mumbai. Know of a cool job opening? Send us an email on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we'll list it for free!

Jack In The Box World Wide, the content strategy group, is looking for people for their art and copy team. Candidates must have two to four years experience in digital media. Email CVs to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

MediaNama, the digital news website is looking to hire associate editors and journalists. Candidates must have a background knowledge of media, internet, social media and technology and excellent command of the English language. Email CVs, cover letters and sample stories to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Trial Of Errors Mahesh Bhatt’s upcoming theatre production Trial Of Errors is looking for part time/freelance assistant directors, male and female actors, costume designers, set designers, music director and production manager. View the Facebook page for the play here and email CVs and relevant information to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

OpportuneJobs.com, a recruitment portal, is looking to hire a freelance consultant to work for a couple of months on a renewable energy project. Email CVs to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Marriott Hotels is looking for a PR professional with one year experience Email your CV to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

OnCourse Global, an education consulting firm is looking to hire 'mentors' to help students with study abroad applications. Applicants must have strong writing and communication skills and a basic understanding of study abroad opportunities. Email your CV to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Global Kitchens, the hospitality company that brought restaurant Serafina to India, is looking for a graphic design Intern who must be creative with a strong technical knowledge. Email your CV to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Dhoop, the Indian craft and design store is looking for a store manager who would be responsible for day to day sales, billing, inventory management and marketing and sales manager for their website and store, as well as to organise events. Email your resume to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Aradhana at 9833860282.

GOODEARTH is looking for a full-time  graphic designer, preferably with a BA in fine art or commercial art and with experience in advertising and/or marketing. The candidate should be interested in lifestyle product design, be familiar with basic graphic design programs and be comfortable in making print-ready artworks. Send your resume and portfolio with the subject line ‘Graphic Designer’ to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

What: Clipped app for iPhone and Android + plug in, download on http://clipped.me, free.
Why: This new app + plug in by US based child genius (don’t you just hate them!) 15 year-old Tanay Tandon, uses an algorithm that can convert web pages and documents into bullet points. bpb found that while this works great on news stories, they haven’t quite figured out the key word system in feature stories yet. Still, it’s super useful for when you’re on the go with lots to read and little time to spare. Don’t believe us? See testimonials on Tanay’s website, including one from “that kid in my Spanish class”. Study hall of fame!
When: You want to byte the bullet. 

2013 is almost here and you're still unemployed, er between jobs. Here's a list of shiny new work opportunities for your shiny new year with bonus posts in Goa. Two resolutions with one stone!

Know of a cool job opening? Email details to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we’ll list it for free.

Architectural Digest is hiring a features editor. Must have good writing skills with interest, knowledge and passion for design, art and architecture. The person should also be interested in social and cultural trends, and must have at least three years of experience in handling a beat/writing/editing. Send your resume to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

ASB Consultancy is looking for a PR professional with one year work experience. Good communication skills and contacts in the F&B/art media are a must. Email your resume to Sneha Mehta at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

bpb Mumbai is looking for a senior features editor with two to three years experience. Email your resume to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it with the subject line 'Senior Editor Mumbai'.

Broken Compass is looking for a full-time junior travel researcher. Email your CV to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Communique PR is looking to hire a PR executive, fresh out of college, with strong communication and writing skills. Email your resume to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Cornerstone Digital requires a full-time social media copywriter with three to four years of relevant work experience in a digital agency. Email your CV to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Festival Sherpa is looking for full-time (or part-time depending on how good your work is) writers, social media junkies and photographers interested in art, music, film, food, literature etc. Interested applicants can email their resume to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

GOODEARTH is looking for a full-time  graphic designer, preferably with a BA in fine art or commercial art and with experience in advertising and/or marketing. The candidate should be interested in lifestyle product design, be familiar with basic graphic design programs and be comfortable in making print-ready artworks. Send your resume and portfolio with the subject line ‘Graphic Designer’ to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

What: Marlene's admin support for small businesses, call 9820198494, price depends on scope of work.

Why: Marlene Ratus only just started her admin service two months ago, but has already bagged clients like Restaurant Week India and soon, The Busride Design Studio. This outsourced support for new and small businesses helps with paperwork, excel, presentations, note typing, releases, client base development, email organisation, data tabulation. Marlene previously worked as an admin and HR representative for a PR firm and on the reservations team at a hotel.
PS: Her husband is Chef Gresham Fernandes of Salt Water Café and Smoke House Grill, so will this service come with kitchen treats? Your guest is as good as yours.

When: You need a new type face.

The day usually starts with a bright, loud rant. For most of us who use public transport to commute to work. A fight with the auto rickshaw driver over a rigged meter, with the person who takes up too many square...er round inches on the train, with the cabbie who refuses to take us to our destination.

A new-ish solution just drove into town, one that we're hoping will take the stress out of our start. It's called Shared Cab and its tag line reads "travel in an AC car @ auto fares". This intrigued us enough to call in. So here's how it works: Shared Cab is essentially a car pool taxi service that does the pooling for you. You can either sign up with two colleagues, or call in with your home and office address and their operations team will pair you up with two other passengers taking a similar route. They charge Rs 8 per kilometre per person if you sign up for a week (this is the required minimum duration) and Rs 7.5 per kilometre for a month. Shared Cab has a fleet of mid-sized air conditioned cars that travel across the city every day.

Hitch(es) A Ride

If you have a crazy job with unpredictable timings, this service is probably not for you because Shared Cab's pick up timings range from 8 am to 11 am, and drop off slot is 6 to 8 pm. If you miss a day because you're ill or are working the graveyard shift, that day cannot be adjusted. And if their operations team can't find other people on your route, you'll have to continue with your morning rants until they do.

Even then, Shared Cab seems like a service that's worth a shot. Take this green line and it could earn you hugs from the tree huggers and new friends to share your favourite traffic music with (see our list here). But most importantly, it'll slow down your ageing process. Fewer morning frown lines and all.

Getting there: Visit http://www.sharedcab.com, call 67139400, Rs 8 per kilometre.

What: Themis Consultancy, financial and HR support services for startups, Saurubh, second floor, Modi Industrial Estate, LBS Marg, Ghatkopar (W), call 67080519, email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , visit the website and the Facebook page here, starting at Rs 5,500 per month.

Why: It would do your lonely start-up good to be in the company of Nibhrant Shah. This investment banker recently started a consultancy called Themis that provides start-ups with everything they need to get up and running — bookkeeping services, taxation advice, drawing MIS reports, hiring resources, managing expenses and cash flow. So far, their happy clientele includes Wishberry.in, adventure sport company Headrush, lifestyle site Pepperfry and over fifty others.

When: You need to get your Company's Act together.