Revlon Colorstay Matte Lip Balm (Audacious)

I actually wanted to purchase the new Lakme absolute pout matte balm, but ended up buying this one. Honestly the packaging, design and size is the same.


Price- MRP 800 INR, I got it for 690 INR

So these are the cutest crayon looking lip sticks ever! It's retractable, so no sharpening which avoids wastage of product and is fat like an actual crayon. The outer cover matches the color of the stick itself, so it's easy to pick the colour you want. They have 6-8 shades in varying shades of pink, red and voilet. I picked the color Audacious which is a bright but not overly dramatic orange.

The lippie is so good! It has a matte look but the texture is creamy, so it has no gloss but spreads well. The color is good, it's well pigmented so 1-2 swipes builds enough colour. It stays for about 4-5 hours beyong which a touch up will be needed. It does spread off though if you touch it, so it's not smudge proof. But the colour is good and goes well with my skin tone.

Overall, I do really like the product. The colour does clump a little so a transparent balm will come in handy. But it's a good product and I will probably buy it again.

Buy someone happiness

I was at a local juice center, having the one healthy thing I have in a day. I ordered the usual juice and stood there waiting it. Behind me came a lady. She wore a saree, frail and slim, wrinkled with black and silver hair tied up in a bun. She asked for a small vanilla cup and stood there next to me. Then she asked the shopkeeper how much a mosambi juice was for, he said "40 ka hai.". She said "Acha.", had her ice cream and left. I realised she didn't have the juice because she didn't have enough money for it.

We take the smallest of things for granted, so many times. It was just juice right? Everyday, we are trying to raise out standard of living, the more money we have, the more expensive our taste gets. But there are so many out there, not being able to afford the most basic necessities. I did realise that she was a maid. They work hard too. Sometimes they work at 3-4 houses, everyday. But it's still not enough.

Everyone always says that money can't buy happiness, money isn't everything. True, it isn't everything. But it is a lot of things. It's being able to buy textbooks and uniforms. It's being able to afford the luxury of a taxi instead of a train, or walk to places. It's the happiness of a gas stove instead of a chulha. The comfort of a sweater in winter and a blanket while sleeping. Money buys a lot of things and no one can deny that, but we forget about it.

I would like to say at this point, that the next time you have some money and don't have anything you need urgently, instead of buying something that you can probably do without, use it for a random act of kindness for someone else. Charity or no charity, we have people all around us who could use some happiness and you can always do with some blessings. Keep a little money aside and when you spend it on someone else and see that smile on their face, it will mean way more than buying something else.

Learning to let go

I was going through a bad phase. A lot of things were really affecting me badly and it's been almost  2 years but I still could not let it go. I failed an exam. Twice. Everyone else passed. They moved on with their lives, working, studying, earning, living. And I was right here. I could've had that. But I didn't.

Don't get me wrong. Leaving that career was the right decision for me. But the pressure, that feeling of not fitting, not belonging, not having that was getting to me. Jealousy, insecurity, anger and humiliation were friends that I lived with everyday.

I only made things even worse b not being able to get it over. It would keep coming back, messing with my confidence, my relationships, my ego. I tried to let go but didn't know how.

Till I realised, You cannot learn how to let go. There is no standard procedure laid out for you. Nor can anyone help you with it. The only person who can do anything about it is you. There will come a day, it may be earth shattering or not so earth shattering but you will know. You will feel that anger leave your body for good. Feel that negativity fade. The worries, the fears, they will all loose that hold on you, loosen their grip and that is when you will let go. and the only person who decided what pace that goes on at, is you.

Vanilla Chocolate chip Pancakes

So for the first time EVER I made a proper pancake!!

Normally pancakes are kind of thick and heavy which I don't like. Mine were soft, light and on the inside they were like sponge cake <3 The sugar was light so that can be adjusted accordingly.

So, Vanilla and Chocolatechip Pancakes with Butter and Jam syrup and sliced Apples

Ingredients: (Makes 1)

1 egg
4 tablespoon Maida
1 and 1/2 tablespoon Sugar
3 tablespoon Milk
1 tablespoon Butter
1 teaspoon Vanilla essence
1 teaspoon Baking Soda

For the syrup, I cheat :P
1 tablespoon Butter
1 tablespoon Jam
A little Honey

and 1 Apple

Method

• Melt the butter and add it to the milk, keep aside.
• Mix all dry ingredients.
• Mix the butter, milk, egg and essence and beat with a spoon for a minute till the sugar dissolves.
• Spread a little butter on the pan and pour the batter. Scatter chocolate chips in the centre of the pancake. Turn the pancake when you see bubbles (It won't be a lot of bubbles, 5-7 bubbles will be visible)
• After turning, switch the gas off and allow it to cook.

For the syrup,

• Melt the butter in a small pan. add the jam and honey and mix till jam somewhat melts into the butter and a liquid is formed.

Place the pancake on the plate, slices of apple on it and pour the syrup over it.
Enjoy this easy yet fancy pancake dish with a glass of milk on the side!

Sale 2015

I wasn't much of a brand person honestly. I was the I-don't-care-where-I-get-it-from person, Hill road, malls, brands, shops I checked out everything. Till one day for no real reason (maybe just influence by a certain someone since 3 years),I just became one. Took me a year to build my wardrobe and on a part time job, it isn't easy. So sales are important, crucial, necessary.

I also started shopping online and have been unstoppable eversince *sigh*
So here goes, brand haul :P

I always make it a point to check which staples I'm missing out on. This time it was shoes for the monsoon and layers. I've always kind of underestimated the power of layering outfits. I've been so wrong. I have been looking for a casual dress and after hunting and hunting, finally found one.

What I didn't find was a gold statement necklace. Sadness. The search is still on.

 This is the half printed shorts from Only, found then at a 50% off on Myntra, Rs. 1295. I love these shorts, gives you the comfort of denim and the edge of the print.

 One can never have enough black dresses (I should know, I have 5). Black dress with gold, from Vero Moda at 40% off, INR 1599.

 One of my favourites <3
Navy blue 'Supergirl' top from Vero Moda (INR695), Vero Moda jacket (INR 890) from Amazon.

These are separately featured too because they are awesome :P
Holographic shoes from Miss Bennett London, Jabong for INR 1199

After much search, navy blue dress from Only, Jabong (INR890) and Floral jacket from Vero Moda, Myntra (INR 1295). I adore that print, simply adore it <3

Got these pieces at great prices and really good quality! Love sales <3 <3

Holographic shoe trend

So I did do a spread on silver shoes but I think the holographic shoe trend is a bigger thing and deserves an entire individual spread.

Recently I had a few Jabong Credits left which would expire soon, so I made a purchase of these silver shoes that I had seen from Miss Bennett London. The shoes had been on my mind ever since I saw them on instagram on AlphonsoSharon's page.

Oh My God you guys....
These beautiful shoes, call them iridescent beauties, rainbow shoes, glitzy loafers, they are absolute LOVE. Theyre synthetic so they are rain proof and are light on the feet. Size measures in UK standard. Love at first sight. Don't believe me? Here look:

These are available exclusively on Jabong so Pick them up before they get sold out. Price- INR 1119 (may change)

Colorbar Emphaseyes Eyeshadow Blender Brush

I had been checking out eyeshadow tutorials and everyone used blending brushes and I wondered what the hype was all about.I don't do professional make up, just the normal everyday basics.  I have one set of brushes from Forever21 but they have just one standard eye shadow brush which was ok, a little too soft to pick enough colour and forget blending. So I decided to buy one.


Emphasyees Eyeshadow Brush is a blending fluffy brush with an orange tip and white body with branding on the side.

When I used it, I was like OMG.
It's so good! The brush is almond shaped so it picks colour well and applies it where you want it to go, like the crease. Then with the back and forth motion you can spread it and blend it with other colours. The fluffiness allows you to cover more area and gets the work done fast. It's sturdier than my F21 brush and I love it.


If you are looking for an eyeshadow make up brush, by all means go for this one.
Price- ₹250 (INR)

Cinderella's silver shoes

Okay her's were made of glass but we don't want those. The best trends are coming and I'm so excited for this particular one. Because normally if someone wears shiny silver shoes people look at you like 'what is she wearing' while secretly wishing they had it in them to wear those. The silver shoes trend is the latest in thing. Go and adorn your feet in all things shiny!


But it's very very easy to go wrong. There is a very fine line between classy and tacky so you need to watchout for those.


Shiny comes in variants, the mains are listed below:

1. Silver sequins


You have seen the typical platformss with that sequinned top. You also get sequined heels, stilletoes and peeptoes. Do not take big sequins. The smaller the size of thesequins, the better it will look. These should be saved for parties or outings.






2. The sparkle

Sparkle fever setting in! Ballerinas, heels, pumps and some types of flats come with sparkle. Depending on the amount and type of sparkle, these can be worn everyday or at parties. But again, the smaller the size of spakles the better. The bigger ones look tacky so be careful when you buy them.





3. The shine

These are shiny and glossy with no spark. A personal favourite, these can be worn everywhere. This is by far the chic-est of the lot. They may either have a metallic look or an opalescent look, both of which are very pretty. Sneakers and strappy sandals are making their mark with this style.





4. The print

These are the cutest of the lot. A solid colour or printed shoe, topped with shiny silver prints or embellishments are the best way to look casual but yet stand out of the crowd. These are available with sneakers and shoes.





5. The combination

Shiny with sparky, shiny with sequins or prints with sparkle are the combinations currently available in the market right now. Depending on how loud they are, they can range from casual to fancy so it's upto you.


A few brands to watch for these styles are Miss Bennet, Aldo and Carlton London. If you don't mind the absence of labels, you can parade through the Bandra markets and Cuffe Parade to find quirky and unusual silver shoes but you will have to hunt, though when the final destination is shoes like these who will mind a few blissful hours of hunting? So go on and take your pick of silver shoes and spread the sparkle everywhere you go.

Making pancakes

This is not the first time that Im making pancakes. I'e made the amateur found-on-google pancakes before but somehow I didn't like them much. So I tried to follow it instruction by instruction. Instructions called for vanilla pancakes with butter. Sounded pretty good. With my sister on a nutritionist-informed diet and the house practically empty of tasty food, I decided on these.




I altered the recipe so that I'd only make one pancake, and it went okay. I melted like half a tablespoon butter, mixed it with the half teaspoon vanilla, added the single egg. Whisked in the 2 and a half tablespoon of maida, 1 tablespoon sugar and 1 tablespoon milk. Put it on the tawa and waited.




The instructions said wait for bubbles and then turn. I saw like 3 tiny bubbles and waited for more. They didn't come. I normally flip them by this time but the instruction said bubbles. I waited a bit more. Then giving up as most the batter looked cooked, I turned to see the backside layer starting to burn....




Anyway I cooked it and scraped off the burnt part, wasn't that bad. But reminds me that even though you are reading instructions, never leave your own judgement out. Till another time that I try doing this. Maybe I'll go back to chocolate pancakes. *sigh*

Basic Make up Guide

Every girl has grown seeing her mother get ready while going out. The careful liner, the full pale pink lipstick and the dust of compact powder- and we've atleast once thought ,"I can't wait to fancy myself like that."

Now that we are grown up and ready, we face the one problem- what to buy and how much is enough? It's easy to get carried away with the huge array of colours and choices and brands and prices. So this is a guide to a beginner's make up kit.

It's very important to know how much is too much. Make up should'nt look made up and people should not be able to smell the cake of foundation off of you from a kilometer away.

1. The first most important advice is- NEVER BUY UNBRANDED MAKE UP. The facial skin is very delicate and sensitive and quality must never be compromised.

1. BB cream- Leave the foundation away for special occasions and invest in a BB cream. It covers spots, evens the skin tone and provides SPF, and you can use a small quantity, it still does the job. BB creams also help repair the skin.

i recommend- Garnier BB cream MRP. 100  for a small tube.

2. Kajal/ liner- an absolute must for your everyday. Defining your eyes gets attention to your face and adds more precision. Apply a line over the lashes and below if you like it, for an Indian look.

I recommend- lakme iconic or maybelline colossal kajal. MRP Rs. 175

3. Lipstick- This is also a very important step. Lipstick adds colour to your face and choosing the right colour is very important. For your everyday- pick shades called bare, nude or light coral shades.

I recommend- Colorbar lipsticks. MRP Rs. 270

4. Mascara- This is optional but it does give a pretty amazing effect. Just apply 2 coats of mascara for a natural look. For seasons other than monsoon, you can use a non waterproof one, it's easier to wash it out.

I recommend- Maybelline colossal mascara. MRP Rs. 350

5. Eye shadow- Perfect for a date or a movie with friends. Apply a darker shade on the outside and lighter shades on the inside. Pastel colours are in this season but do invest in a classic light golden shade, it never goes out of fashion.

I recommend- Lakme quartet. MRP Rs. 450

Along with these, buy a perfume for a pleasant and fresh smell. A good addition would be a hair serum to protect your hair against the sun and pollution and also tone down that frizz.

I recommend- Garnier Fructis silky straight serum. MRP Rs. 175.

Back To College

Maybe you just cleared ssc and are going to college for the first time. Or maybe it's a new year at college and you want a new you. What ever the reason, you want to work your wardrobe stylishly with back to college outfits and have a little cash to spend. Then use this guide to turn heads your way as you walk down the campus of your college.

THINGS YOU SHOULD INVEST IN

The first thing you need to invest in are staples. That means one pair each of black jeans and blue jeans (skinny fit), tees in black, white and 3 solid colours of your choice, a pair of shorts, a pair of flats, sneakers and beige or black heels. If you have all or some of these, make them work.

Next invest in experimentation- printed or coloured jeans, graphic tees, an oversized sweater, one or two dresses and layers. If you have or can buy, go for a jacket or two and scarves.

Now we get to the looks.

1.  THE CASUAL

Keep it simple but stylish- Blue skinny fit jeans with a white tee, a plaid or flannel shirt if you have one, a statement necklace and small earrings with flats or sandals.

You can also do shorts (if your college allows them) or leggins/ jeans with an oversized sweater and sneakers with your hair up in a bun. Keep it minimal with a chunky bracelet.

2.  THE CHIC

So maybe today is a little special. On such days, go for a nice dress like a fit and flare and combine that with maybe a contrast jacket, sandals, earrings and open hair.

Another look can be the muscle tee with jeans, half tied hair, sandals and bracelets.

You can also do some printed floral jeans or coloured jeans or the most recent trend palazzo pants with a solid or graphic top, heels and maybe a jacket to finish the look. Hoop earrings would go best with this.

3.  THE PARTY

Getting invited to a party is a big deal when you are in college so if you do get invited, do a nice dress with a big statement necklace, a small bracelet, heels and a small purse and a big smile.

If you are into that sparky stuff, you can do a sequined shorts or sparky shorts with a nice top or over sized sweater and sparky sneakers. Since there is so much spark keep the jewellry minimal.

I would add that do a little make up. Do NOT cake your face please, just a touch of maybe bb cream, a little tinted lip gloss (matt if possible), and liner should do the trick. If liners are too tricky for you, just use the kajal pencil on the upper lash line, it works that way too.

College is for fun time and you are young only once so don't be afraid of trying new things. You can colour your hair or put a few extensions, try some coloured eye shadow, wacky prints or bohemian styles, the campus is your playground. And don't go buying too expensive stuff if it's hard on your pocket, affordable alternatives are always available. Please refer to my beginner's make up guide for the same.


Basic Make up Guide

The Shorts Story

The change from summer to monsoons has already commenced but the wardrobe doesn't need a dramatic change. Shorts save you from sloppy drenched jeans and the chill thereafter. And ofcourse, they're cute. But tired of the same type of shorts? Then try these new trends to be comfortable yet chic this season.

1.   Half print shorts

This new trend is so cute but yet unusual. Half of the denim shorts stitched with a fabric of your choice. If you do not find them in stores (Only jeans have a good collection of these), you can make these. A pretty twist is stitching the fabric on the back pockets.

     2. Tie dyed shorts

A personal favourite, tye dyed shorts are simple 

but so stylish and young. They look better

 than solid coloured shorts and can be dyed in any colour.

      3.   Lace shorts

Either go full lace or lace stitched on the bottom, the pockets, 

or the sides. It adds a bit of class and

 elegance to the otherwise casual look of the shorts.

   4. Studded shorts

These are such lovable shorts, metallic studs on the back or the pockets or the belt hoops, with metallic bracelets and hoop earrings. Perfect for a fun night out or a party.

    5. Distressed shorts

Timeless shorts, either torn and frayed in a scattered 

pattern or frayed ends. Casual yet chic, 

pair this with sneakers and pretty bracelets.

    6. Printed shorts

These are available easily, nautical prints, florals or the 

American flags, maybe a few stars are very in.

 Team this with an oversized sweater and a chic bun.

Lets these shorts be the ticket to comfort and style, so that you can look like a diva and be comfortable doing so.