Sunday, January 31, 2016

Winter Blues { n Reds & Whites }

After a fairly pleasant December and the new year, winter woes hit us and hit really hard around the second week of Jan. The temperatures dipped to 11-12 degrees in the day and dived down to  single digit in the night #Dillikisardi ......

        All one wants in this time of the year, is to snuggle in the cosy bed with lots of books and cups of coffee #Blissful. And that's what I really did....

I haven't done an outfit post in the longest time and was missing the fun. I decided to do a shoot inspite of the chilly winds. Generally, we associated winters with dark hues and wear shades of black, navy, grey but for me winters is #RedandWhite. I love wearing white and those who have been following my blog knows my penchant for this exotic shade.

I wore a midi sweater dress in white which had a delicate pearl work with red stockings and my statement pumps in red, white and blue worn HERE earlier.  Also I accessorised it with the multi coloured neck piece and polka dotted bag worn HERE

Photo credits : Mehak











Monday, January 25, 2016

Review - The Jan Fab Bag

I have been a rather late entrant in the list of  The Fab Bag lovers. Yes! I got my first fab bag around six months back but I have been an ardent fan since then. The best part about a #thefabbag is that month after month they relentlessly come up with amazing products and offers. This month ie January fab bag is a fine example of that. Plus, the Jan pouch is just too cute....have a look and judge for yourself.

How cute it is !!! Isn't it ?

WHAT'S IN THE FAB BAG

The contents of the JAN FAB BAG


VOTRE FACE SERUM : Face serum is supposed to be this magnificent product which when applied helps brighten your face, adds glow and reduces the appearance of fine lines. VOTRE face serum is a concoction of jojoba oil, olive oil, almond oil with lemon and licorice extract among others. It comes in a dark coloured bottle with a dropper reminiscent of medicine bottle ..hehe... It has a mild fragrance and instantly renders your skin a smooth texture. Absolutely love it. We get a 12ml bottle worth Rs 1670.

Votre Face Serum

 NATURALS BATH AND BODY
RED CLAY MASK : Red clay mask comes in a tube and has goodness of sandalwood. Most of the ingredients are natural and organic and is suitable for normal to oily skin. I used it the same day and my skin felt squeaky clean and soft. It comes in a 20 gm pack worth Rs 90 (full pack is Rs 450 for 100 gm).


Red clay mask



VIT E WHIPPED CREAM : Loaded with the goodness of Vit E and a combo of coconut oil, argan oil and sweet almond oil, this cream has a fluffy texture. It has a pleasant smell and is easily absorbable. Comes in a 15 gm pack for 85 (full pack is Rs 275 for 50 gm).


Light and fluffy whipped cream




LA ROCHE POSAY SENSI WHITE ESSENCE : This product is especially meant for Asian skin and is indicated to reduce pigmentation, dull or uneven skin and dark spots. It comes from the stable of L'Oreal making it credible. It is in a 3 ml tube (Rs 2650 for 30 ml).

Whitening Essence



ITAL VELOCE FINE FRAGRANCE : Mist - Chii town blushes. A 12 ml pack of mist is a part of the Jan fab bag. It is like any regular mist, having a flowery smell (full pack is Rs 499 for 210 ml).

Blush coloured Mist




BE A BOMBSHELL - THE ONE STICK :THE HOTTNESS : I opted for this thick lipstick from a range of products given. It comes in bright red and has smooth gliding texture. The only flaw is its too thick to be applied as it is and a brush would be required for perfect application. It comes in full size and is priced at Rs 1300.

The thick lipstick 
 


All in all, the bag is a winner. The best part about #thefabbag is that you can try new products at nominal cost. 
All in all, a great buy.



Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Book Review - Ramayana The Game Of Life : Stolen Hope

                      "Real beauty awakens love in every heart and envy in none" *

Ramayana The Game of Life : Stolen Hope is the third book of the six book series by author Shubha Vilas.  I must confess I haven't read the first two titles of the series namely "The Rise Of Sun Prince" and "Shattered Dreams". But, it doesn't forbid me from savouring this literary masterpiece

                         
               "when hope is the launch pad, even a blind man can soar to the moon. Transcending personal defects become a cinch when hope is in vicinity" *

Ramayana is the greatest Epic in the world and has been written infinite times. It  had been my favourite bed time story, which my grand mother sincerely narrated every day for years. Though, I loved listening to it as a child but to be honest it's still the same old story. Why did the author think there was a need for it to be retold again? 

                               "Within every big lie is hidden a small truth. Unlocking the many mysteries locked within our hearts require the key of compassion or hammer of troubles" *

You read the book and you get a the answer "yes", there was a need to rewrite it to suit the taste of this generation. This new series of book, takes you through the life of Lord Rama in the forest of Dandakaranya, during his years of exile. It reveals the tale of love between Rama and Sita, the bond of trust and respect between Ram and Lakshmana and Ravana's eternal quest for power. It also entails  captivating stories about sage Agastya.

                                          "Responsibility is not a choice it's an honor"*

The book gives a synopsis of the life of the trio in the forest. It covers their life in exile, well almost (13years). From the time the set their foot in the forest of Dandakaranya to Sita's abduction in Janasthana. Also, not only does it gives an insight about Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana but also about Ravana, his brothers Khara - Dushana and sister Suprankha. It reveals so many little known facts that most of us may never have known. Like how attractive Ravana looked or him being a connoisseur of beauty or women being his weakness. All most of us knew was Ravana was a powerful rakshasha king of Lanka and a great devotee of Lord Shiva.

 Another noteworthy thing was the character of Bharata, for living a life of atrocities and devoid of luxuries to be at par with Rama, who was living a austere life in exile. 

              "What inspired Bharata to not allow his self discipline to change into self pity was that instead of focussing on his inconveniences, he chose to empathize with Rama's miseries"*

Contrary to what we think, Sita is happy about her life in Dandakaranya as it gave her an opportunity to be in close proximity to Rama which would not have been the case, had they been in Ayodhya because of his administrative responsiblity. Rama showered Sita with love, care and abundant time.

                         "The best Experiences of love are obtained not by waiting to express it on the right day but by making routine expressions of love daily "*

The book takes inspiration from Valmiki's Ramayana and stays true to it. For example Lakshmana Rekha was not a part of Valmiki's Ramayana and the author has refrained from writing it here. This concept was a part of  the latter versions of Ramayana.

      "when latent power changes into active power latent desires to control turn into active ones" *

The narrative is enticing and fascinating. The moment you lay your hands on the book, you are hooked. It was like watching a blockbuster.....each event is described wonderfully and remains etched in your memory. Rama's rendezvous with Surpanakha and the war with Rakshasas Khara and Dushana is intriguing. Each character is written beautifully and importance is given to minute details.
The author has taken great pains to present the book in such a manner as to appeal to all age groups.The writing is simple and lucid and easily understandable.The cover page of "Stolen Hope" is extremely appealing with a gorgeous looking Lord Rama arching his Bow and a Giant Jatayu.

And the highlight of the book were the footnotes!  These were little pieces written at the end of each page that offered detailed view of the above said lines. They were like pearls of wisdom .

                                     "Life often leaves you with limited options. Often the choice is between limited happiness and limitless void" *

This book is definitely a food for thought and leaves you yearning for more. This book is one such book which you would want to read again and each time you learn something new from it. A collectors delight.
It is a must read.....double thumbs up!!!
Star rating - 4.5/5

         "Excellence is a by products of persistently choosing quality over quantity" *

* refers to footnotes from the book.

    This review is a part of the biggest  book review program  for Indian blogger. Participate now to get free books.                                                                                                                                       

Monday, January 4, 2016

Happy New Year !

Hey!! A very Happy New Year to all my lovely readers ! How did you guys ushered in 2016....... I Celebrated with my family.

2015 had been a real "special" year for me, a life changer of sorts. I did a lot of stuff, I had been wanting to do since ages. Being regular with my blogging being the first. Last year around April, I restarted my blog and it has been the best decision of my life. Writing is therapeutic to me, like meditation. I wrote a whopping 74 Blogpost in 2015, which is a big personal achievement for me. Being regular with my writing has not only improved my ranking on various blogging platforms, But I have even been nominated as one of the top bloggers of the country. Touchwood.

I attended quite a few bloggers meets and events and met some really fun loving, talented and passsionate bloggers. It was a privilege to have met such stupendous bunch of people. This has helped me broaden my horizon.

I entered the unexplored foray of "Event Management", and hosted a Christmas carnival named "Santa comes to town". It has been a great learning experience for me though very frustrating and tiring at times. After a successful first attempt, I am planning to take it forward in a big way.

Also, I attended a party sometime back where I experimented yet again. I draped my Saree in Maharashtrian style and added a head band to give it a Retro edge. I call this look "Disco Lavani", Lavani being the traditional folk dance of Maharashtra.

Have a look and let me know, what you feel about it.......I am all ears!!!








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