+& Everybody lies.
Haven't you had a jaw-drop moment when people do things that just throw you off the chair, and you think- how in the world could he do it, or how in the big blue whale could she say that? Someone, please put them all in a facility until common sense prevails!
I have had so many of these head-scratching encounters recently that I cannot help but vent here-
1. Can I use your comb?
No! You do not share combs like you do not share your toothbrush.
2. Giving back borrowed earphones without cleaning them
Should I go make candles with your ear wax?
3. How much do you earn?
Why, are you planning to give me a raise? Oh, wait! I know you are going to compare my salary with every girl's in the neighbourhood and will write a blog about it. Mind your own business. Period.
4. Peeking into people's phones over their shoulders
This happens so often in elevators, metros and basically everywhere. These people do not even know you to take interest in your personal life. Why do they do it?!
5. Talking loudly or continuing an outside conversation in the elevator
Shhhh... ...like in the library!
6. Chewing with an open mouth and talking with the mouth full
You might have shiny white and sparkling teeth but please if you cannot wait until you finish chewing, at least cover your mouth.
7. Standing too close in the queue
I have embarrassed many (probably) well-meaning men in front of their wives for constantly touching my feet, bag or shoulders. I guess people do it also because these same people have a tendency to cut the line and fear that others might do this to them. Wait for your turn, man and keep an arm's distance, please.
8. Barging in through closed doors
Knock knock. Who's there? Not your brain.
9. Not making introductions
It is so awkward standing through that moment until your friend introduces you or until this person that they just met leaves.
10. Online trolling
Saying things online that you would never say in person needs no balls. I have no words for you if you do this.
Now, these are not etiquette but manners. You see, the difference between etiquette and manners is that the former rules are relevant to a certain place or society while manners are BASIC ground rules for the world.
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Share your peeves too in comments below.
When you only have 1 to 2 hours at max to shop here then you need to know the best shops so you don't miss out on the best stuff. Here's a map to help you with precisely that:
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| Sarojini Nagar market, Delhi | Map |
- Starting point- Whether you reach here by the metro (INA is the closest station) or by cab, walk up to the shop Kins or Just Lady.
- Kins- This shop has the most trendy footwear and bags at very reasonable prices.
- Export gully #1- As you walk past Kins (along the pink lane as in the map), and reach the junction at which a left lane starts; here, to your right will be a lane full of amazing clothes from Zara, Vero Moda and who knows what you might find!
- Export gully #2- As you reach the yellow lane as in the map (take left at the junction), in front of Abrol Sons, you have the next export lane. This is my most favourite part.
- Graffiti lane- At the end of Lane E, you have the very famous Grafitti Lane. This also is home to awesome clothes. After this, you can take a turn along the orange lane as in the map towards ICICI Bank to get out of this para-para-p-a-r-a-d-i-s-e.
- Where to find junk jewelry? Scattered stalls along lane E
Here's how it looks on Google maps-
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| Kins store is marked with a pink heart. Start here and then follow the lane to the right of it. |
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The market is closed on Monday and new stock arrives on Tuesdays. Plan your visit on a weekday morning to avoid the crowds and get your hands on the best stuff.
If you are a fan of floral fragrances and are on the lookout to try a new one or to buy your first one then you have reached the right place. Here’s a list of classics and newly launched bottles, one of which is surely made for you:
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| From top left in the clockwise direction: 1) Flowerbomb by Victor & Rolf 2) Daisy by Marc Jacobs 3) Midnight Poison by Dior 4) Stella by Stella McCartney 5) Bloom by Gucci 6) J'adore by Dior |
1. Pick the frame shape by your face type- Oval face- Think Jessica Alba, Kate Middleton, or Jennifer Anniston. You can pull off just about any look. Rectangle frames balance an oval face’s vertical and cat-eye are good for complimenting high cheekbones.
- Heart shaped face- Think Scarlet Johansson. Pick light-colored frames, frames with thin temples, or frames with exaggerated bottoms. Shapes like cat-eye, aviator, and large round glasses will suit you.
- Round face- Think Jennifer Lawrence. Pick horizontal frames, wayfarers, and rectangle shapes.
- Square face- Think Angelina Jolie. Go for curvier frames like round, oval, cat eye, butterfly, and semi-rimless.
2. Pick the frame colour by your skin undertone
- Warm undertones (red lipstick looks great on you): Pick sunglasses in neutral, or dark colors like brown and gold.
- Cool undertones (pink lipstick looks great on you): Go with dark blue or rich pinks.
- Neutral undertones (red and pink lipsticks both look great on you): All colours suit you.
4. Frame size should be smaller for smaller faces and bigger for bigger faces. Find frames that span the width of your face, center your eyes, and mirror the arch of your brows.
5. Most importantly, do not worry too much about buying guides and wear the ones that make you feel beautiful!
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Happy shopping!
Who does not love the big fat Indian weddings but when it came upon me a year back, I wanted a lean one. All the shopping was so tempting but I wanted to save money for setting up our house and the other things that we would so love to do together. It is really about making a choice between 'few hours of a day' versus 'the rest of your life'.
It might sound funny coming from a [husband-proclaimed] materialist and shopaholic like me but I really believe that the things most brides pack up in their trousseau are unnecessary.
So what to splurge on and where to save? Here we go-
1. Pre-bridal endless beauty treatments- SAVE. I really do not believe in them and did not get anything at all done except waxing. Your make-up will cover everything on the day and after. If you want to feel relaxed though, buy those Rs. 150 worth Innisfree face mask sheets. Use them on the day of each function. Get a full body massage at a nice spa. You will feel great in around 1,500 bucks!
Also, no need to buy additional skin care stuff as your skin is not going to change. Stick to your time-tested products as this is not the time to experiment.
2. What is this culture of discarding old clothes? SAVE. This was a discovery for me that girls are supposed to throw away all their clothes and buy an entirely new wardrobe for after the wedding. Really? I love my clothes and they are all 'finds' for me. Do you really need to tell people (esp. MIL) if your clothes are old?
3. Sarees, gold nath and all the things you will never reuse- SAVE. Need I say more? OK maybe, you will need some 5 to 6 sarees but do not buy a box full just to please others.
4. Lingerie...sexy lingerie...shhh!- SAVE & SPLURGE. Get what your heart is on but again, you do not need a box-full. & yeah, ditch that lacy body suit.
5. Bridal lehenga- SAVE & SPLURGE. Unless you are broke, I would not say that rent it. In any case, do not get a cheap flareless, fake-velvet or any stiff fabric lehenga from Chandni Chowk. Why don't you pick a beautiful (designer or not) lehenga design online, give it a personal touch and get it stitched for much less at a boutique? You can make further customisations to bring down the cost to suit your budget.
Keep time for this, girls. Give it to the tailor at least 2 months before the wedding.
6. Footwear- SAVE & SPLURGE. I know a girl cannot have enough of them. Nevertheless, you will need one to go with your lehenga (opt for something that you could wear again; pick a heel height that you are comfortable with else go for platforms), embellished juttis (to go with suits), golden heels (go with practically everything) and a couple pair of flats.
7. SPLURGE on a nice fragrance, a handbag for after the wedding, and a vanity box (to give you those wedding feels).
8. Makeup- SAVE & SPLURGE. If you do not know how to use it then stick to the basics but buy good quality stuff as it always shows. It does come with an expiration date. If you know your way around it, you are anyways going to splurge so go get that highlighter that you have been eyeing.
The truth is you will be too tired and too busy after the wedding to put it all on.
Trousseau aside, what is the point of a pre-wedding shoot? SAVE. If it is not an arranged marriage, then I am sure that the pictures you two already have are way more special. Put them on the invitations and video invites. Put them up at the venue, if you like, because I am sure you would not have a problem giving your guests a peek into your personal life. After all, we all invite only those 700 people to the wedding who matter most in our lives, don't we?
At the end of it, I would say buy what you
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Look your best & enjoy every bit of it- the day will be gone before you know it. <3
I could not help but wonder that this might be something hormonal. I am in my late twenties so this must be a natural thing. So I was told by people around. It is funny how everyone turns doctor without a degree at such times. I was fed with a multitude of ideas like thyroid issues and that it will correct itself naturally. I would imagine my parents' hair in juxtaposition- mom does not have dense hair but dad never lost a strand. This was depressing. I even spent 13 grand at a salon on Kérastase hair treatment and products. This helped a teeny bit but for a couple days only. Then I decided to turn a doctor without a degree myself and fix the heck out of it.
- First off I got my general body check up done that included thyroid as well as hormonal test. It was normal.
- I listed down all the life changes and travels that happened around when the problem started. Yes, I was traveling a lot around that time but I was not convinced with this as the cause.
- I listed the common causes of hair fall and wrote them off one by one until none was left.
Many people around me have had dengue but nobody mentioned hair fall ever. That is why I always say that good information does not spread as much. This kind of illness puts a large chunk of hair under heavy stress and accelerates its aging. As a result, it falls out together in chunks. You will not go bald with this but the volume loss is quite noticeable. Your hair does not need a treatment for this and will eventually grow back.
My brain was finally at rest.
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A few months later today, I have a lot of baby hair on my head. :)
