Winter Hot Chocolate recipe!

(My Christmas Hot Chocolate Muggo and my Christmas swatch!)

We don't have winter in Mumbai, rather our winter is 30 degrees but a nice HOT cuppa Hot cocoa is always good at any time. The nights in Mumbai have started to get a little chilly so I CRAVE for a nice mug of Hot Cocoa. I'm gonna share my heavenly and cheat's way of making hot chocolate, so if you ever feel like making a cup here's all you need. 

HEAVENLY WAY:-

For one cup-
1) A handful of pure dark chocolate and milk chocolate pieces. I use Hershey's milk and dark.
2) 3/4 Cup of Whole Milk. I use Nestle A+ Milk.
3) 2 Table spoons of Heavy Cream. I use Nestle table cream or amul heavy cream.
4) Sugar (as much or as little as you want. I go without because it is sweet already.)
5) A pinch of espresso powder (optional)

Heat Cream and milk in a sauce bowl below boiling point, then take it off the heat. Add your chocolate pieces, sugar and espresso powder. Let it settle for about a minute. Then take a whisk and whisk it all together. 

Pour your heavenly drink into your Christmas muggo! And you can top it off with whipped cream or marshmallows; you can get marshmallows from Alpha in Irla or at Natures Basket. And there you have your Heavenly way of making an amazing cup of Hot Chocolate.

Now, if you get lazy and want to try the cheat's way.

CHEAT'S WAY:-

 For one cup-
1) Dark Chocolate powder. I use Hintz Cocoa fine dark chocolate powder (above). I get mine from Nature's Basket.
2) Whole Milk- I use Nestle A+ Milk.
3) Sugar

Fill your cup with this amazing dark chocolate powder. Add a generous amount of sugar as it is pure cocoa powder, hence bitter and mix it well till its all nicely incorporated. Finally pop your mug into your microwave for a minute (told you it's a cheat's way) and there you have a nice cup of Cheat's but amazing Hot Chocolate.

-A Hot chocolate a day keeps nightmares away.

Christmas 2012 gift ideas for HIM & HER!

Thinking of gift ideas for all my him and her is the MOST NERVE WRECKING thing ever!!! I love it but it takes me forever to decide what, where, when to get it etc.

So I made a very straight forward list of things you can get a HIM/HER for Christmas (or any other occasion really) here in Mumbai.

HER:-

1. Make-up/Skin care gift hampers. My favourite would be Kiehl's who are currently doing a do it yourself gift hamper where you get to pick and chose your products and they wrap it for you in pretty wrapping paper! Kiehl's would be an ideal gift for your Mom/Aunt/Grand-ma/wife those who would love to pamper their skin in their luscious products. Lush is also a great hamper idea! You can't go wrong with Lush and you can also possibly get something for a guy too!When it comes to make-up MAC India still awaits their Christmas collection. Once it's out it would be a perfect gift for your friend/sister/cousin. You can also DIY a make-up hamper by collecting products from Lakme, Revlon, Chambor etc and wrapping it in pretty paper!
2. Debenhams- You NEED to go to the store (there's one at the Phoenix Market City, Kurla) and I'd be surprised if you came out without a bag in your hand. The household items ALWAYS catches my eye. Their tea sets/baking materials are the cutest things ever! It would be a perfect gift for your mother/wife to spice up their kitchen if that's their thing. Debenhams also has clothes, shoes, bags, bathroom linens, dining items and so much more! If you don't have the time to go from one shop to another, pick Debenhams and you will find something for everyone in your house...including your pet!
3. Handbags/Clutches/Wallets/Bags and more bags - Every girl loves her a nice bag! Esbeda's current collection is TO DIE FOR! Esbeda's collection is more on the 'high-fashion' side so if you want to gift your girlfriend/sister this would be a brilliant idea.
4. Dress Materials - It is a very Indian but amazing thing to buy dress materials for a lady. You will be surprised with the smiles it brings you. My mommy absolutely loves it, maybe because she is a fashion designer. If your looking at ethnic seven east has PRETTY dress materials for saris/salwar suits. For evening dresses Bandra market opposite Globus on Hill Road Bandra (W) have a large variety of materials to choose from. You can end up at Cheap Jack on Hill Road in Bandra (W) for added jazzy accessories to go with the dress! Now my sister would love that as a gift!

HIM:-

1. Video games- I know it's so cliche but video gifts for a Play station/Wii/X Box is honestly a very good idea for your brother/boyfriend/guy friend/cousin/husband. There is so many things to choose from and there is this store in Phoenix Market city Kurla on the lower level where you can buy and exchange the games in case they have it or get bored of the game later.
2. Formal Shirts- Since Christmas and New Year means new clothes for the occasion, a nice shirt would be the perfect choice for the many men who refuse to go out shopping. Zara's current winter collection has so many great shirts to choose from, all you need to know is their size. You can also pick a nice tie if you find one that suits the shirt!
3. Earphones / Coffee Maker- A good earphone is also a great gift to get a guy. Bose makes AMAZING ones but if you don't want to splurge then Croma has some cheaper but good quality brand options. Another very nice gift idea would be a coffee machine! I know so many guys who love a good coffee machine so if your him is a coffee drinker, a coffee machine would be a super gift idea! My brother would love this, if he didn't have one already!
4. PIMP His Car/Bike- If he owns a car/bike, make him take you to a car accessories dealer (so many in Lokhandwala & Khar/Bandra) and get new rims for the wheels or new speakers for the car or even a full service! It could be a little pricey but it would definitely make leave you with a VERY HAPPY MAN.

-Plan well, cause Christmas is just around the corner :)

Year End Christmas list in Mumbai 2012!!

Obviously I have been MIA for over a month; that's because I have been preparing for my FAVOURITE season of the year! December a.k.a Christmas time is here my friends <3 and I'm over the moon. (Doing a jingle dance)

You know how they have New Year resolutions, I plan to do a year end Christmas List. So basically I am going to publicly jot down 10 things I would want to do before the year ends....here goes!

1. Walk on marine lines and take pictures as a tourist. Eat at Pizza by the bay.
2. Have dinner at 'Peshawari' at the ITC Grand Maratha. (I have been wanting to go there for 2 years now, it's about time I put an end to the wait!)
3. Bake cupcakes for over 20 family members for Christmas.
4. Drink hot chocolate till the year ends...(and possibly get FAT)
5. Meet 5 friends I haven't kept in touch with for a long time.
6. Blog twice a week....I can see myself slacking so there!
7. Walk by the Christmas market in Bandra. I hear its BEAUTIFUL! 
8. Do something new every single day!
9. Plan an international & national trip for 2013.
10. Pray and give thanks every day.

Most of the things are kind of hard to do as I might just lose track so I'm gonna print it out and read it everyday in the morning to remind myself :)

It may seem crazy; but it's a small way of capturing every single moment of every single day.

- Carpe Diem

MAYBELLINE winter picks & review 2012

I swear by Maybelline mascaras! My first mascara was the Great lash from maybelline and I fell in love! 4 years later I still rave about their mascaras, my current favourite is the Falsies as it just lenghtens my eyelids to great extends. I don't care for false lashes and find it too tedious to put them on, so a good mascara is kind of a BIG deal for me. Since we're on the mascara topic you must know I went mascara bonkers last month. I online shopped for atleast 6 different mascaras whose arrival I wait at my doorstep; more about that later.

After having full trust and confidence in the Maybelline mascaras I decided to try other products by Maybelline and believe it on not, I LOVE EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM!

Above in order from L to R;

1.  Maybelline Baby Lips in 'Rose Addict'. It is the perfect pick me up lip balm that every girl must have in their bag when their lips go dry, especially in winter! 4/5
2. Maybelline Color Tattoo- A dupe for MAC's paintpots but in limited colours. The one I got (insert) is 'Pomegranate Punk' and it is such a flattering colour on Indian skin. They have plenty of colours however this is more wearable. Why I love this the most is because being a cream based eyeshadow it DOESN'T crease! It stays put for a very long time. And it's so easy to use, I use my fingers and it takes me 10 seconds to do my eyes and still love fabulous! 4/5
3. Maybelline's Lasting Drama Gel Eye-Liner in black. For the value it is a super gel-liner to use and the black is so pigmented and intense it makes pencil eye-liners look bad. 5/5

Added Tip:- The look that I have been using for the past month is a dark eyes nude lip look. With a good base, all you need is black gel-liner on your eye lids and some lip balm (as Maybelline baby lips has a tint of colour) and loads of mascara (below) and it's a chic look to pull off, without too much work!

 

 

Above in order from Top to Bottom;

1. Maybelline ClearGlow BB Cream- It's a good beginner BB cream however, the market is coming up with plenty affordable BB Creams so this could easily be replaced by a better one. I use it on days when I want to even out my skin tone and not put any more make-up. 3/5
2. Maybelline Great Lash in Blackest black- I LOVE THIS! Honestly it's not the greatest mascara, I have had better but the pigmentation of this mascara is OMG! Tip-You get the best results when you mix 2 mascaras, so I always top my eyes with this one because the black is so intense. A down-side would be you don't get these in India, so you would need to buy them on-line from an international website 5/5
3. Maybelline the Falsies Volum' Express mascara in very black- I honestly didn't like this at first but then I figured it out...you need to put on 2-3 coats for a false lash look. You have to work with this mascara for a few days to figure out the formula and brush. 4/5
4. Maybelline the Colossal Volum'Espress mascara in glam black. I've been through 3 tubes already since it launched in India and will never stop buying this. I love it, it works well on the first go and with one coat. It gives my lashes so much volume and depth, it's a great mascara! 5/5
5. Maybelline Master Smoky shadow pencil in Smoky Grey- This is a new range of eye-liner/shadow from Maybelline. It comes in different colours (I remember seeing violet, blue &black) but the grey sold me! It's PERFECT for a smokey eye. It comes with a smudger on the other end of the pencil and it takes you 1 minute with this super duo to get a quick smoky eye.  The downside would be that the smudger is a little hard so it hurts the eye lids. However you still have your fingers to smudge with. The formula is smooth and bendable.Again this is not available in India yet but when it does arrive, GO BUY THEM! 4.5/5

I put Maybelline to the test and it passed with flying colours!

 

 

Quiznos Mumbai: Review

QUIZNOS has landed into Mumbai my friends! And I had to give it a try and see if it matches the subs I had in the U.S.
I ordered for the Classic Italian and my sister got the Chicken Carbonara. Valued for INR 175/- each (their daily specials were at INR 110/- for a non-veg and I don't remember the veg price, sorry) you get a fresh subway with an aerated drink of your choice.
To sum up my experience and I will compare it to Subway (but of course), the place was nice and clean and colourful, I am guessing it is fairly 3 months new. Hence 10 points for that.
The Veg and Non-veg choices are plenty to choose from. They also have pizza yaay! 9 points
The Bread, meat and veggies were 'OH SO FRESH' every bite was so crunchy and delish!Nom Nom 10 points
The staff were friendly and suggestive as well. 8 points
Good choice of dessert. 8 points

Give it a try, Quiznos is located near our very own 'Janta' in Bandra, right next to the Costa Coffee there.

My overall rating 9/10.

Let's just hope they keep up to the franchise promise. :)

Skin Food goodies!!

Look what my brother got me from Singapore!! Yaay yaay! I heart Skin Food. I swear by their 'Milk Shake Point Make up Remover'. It was the  first product I had picked up from Skin Food and it is by far the best make up remover I've used. It gently cleans off all make-up (even waterproof make-up comes off easy) and leaves your skin feeling soft and a lil oily, but that's ok. I have stocked up at least 7 bottles of these babies so you can see how much I love them.

I currently use more of BB creams than foundation because the weather in Mumbai is hot as f...ondue and BB creams has the coverage needed and feels super light to wear. So I am pretty thrilled to try the Aloe Sun BB Cream from Skin Food. Besides these he got me some masks (their masks are ok but I wouldn't go out and buy them).

Yaay! I love when I get goodies especially when they are make-up and skin related!

Check out Skin Food's website to browse through all their amazing products http://eng.theskinfood.com/

'Food that is good for your health, is also good for your skin'-Skin Food

Me, Kash and Cruise: Play Review

I am a big sucker for movies and a bigger sucker for stand-up comedy and plays. I recently went to Mumbai's most famous Prithvi Theatre to watch Me, Kash and Cruise a lovely play directed by Rahul Da Cunha.

It's a very well designed concept about the city Mumbai where 3 theatre friends Pooja Thomas, Rajesh Kashyap and Cruise Khan start their journey back in 1984 and pass through different phases in Mumbai from the unforgettable riots in the 1992, to a nightclub interrupted by a corrupt policeman, and they touch on different topics we complain/love/hate about in this very city of ours. My favourite scene was about the chaos created in the city when a religious festival takes place, just because I could relate it to an hour before getting to the theatre my boyfriend and I were fuming about the road blocks and traffic created by the current festival in the city.

However as the play continues you can't help but be amazed by the different cameos played by Rajit Kapur in different scenarios of the play. He was just too damn good and definitely my personal favourite to watch all along, even though he would come and go...like a tease haha.

The play is a bittersweet reminder about 'Amchi Mumbai' and it's workings. It teaches us that even with all the possible flaws and pandemonium the city creates we still develop a love-hate relationship and eventually come to terms with it. You need to watch it at least once with an open-heart and mind and you will love the humour, characterisation, reality Me, Kash and Cruise has to offer.

I would give this an 8.5/10

Soap & Glory!!!

My adventure continues to find the best bath/skin care/make-up products and while walking around in Thailand looking for some cool Japanese/Korean cosmetics I bumped into Soap & Glory having a cup of English tea at Boots (if you don't get it, don't bother). Anyhow, I have to admit, I AM IN LOVE!
I purchased 3 products and I use them so sparsely cause I never want it to get over coz we have NO Soap & Glory in India!!! boohoo

The 2nd best body wash I have experience so far...first being the Watermelon Exfoliating Body Wash by Nature's Co, which is so fresh and awesome that I've been lovin' it since day 1 and haven't found any body wash to replace it yet (http://www.thenaturesco.com/products/Watermelon-Exfoliating-Body-Wash.aspx?prodid=174&catId=13) and not to forget available all over India! Score!

Clean,Girls comes a close second and it's filled with vanilla loveliness and is extremely moisturizing (helps when I get lazy to moisturize after a bath) and it has a typical English scent. I'm not too sure how to explain that but if you know what I am talking about, you'll get what a typical English scent is. A little body wash goes a long way as it latters up a lot and the bottle is HUMONGOUS so it will last you for a long time. Remember, less is more.

Glad Hair Day Shampoo and Conditioner is the perfect match to give you shiny and amazing smelling hair!! I was sold on the scent of both products and you know how fussy I get with my hair smelling nice! So this was love at first sniff <3 ahhh

Super happy with the products give them a rating of 4/5, it is $$$ but it's fine to splurge every time  now and then :)

If you get your hands on these babies, BUY THEM! They won't disappoint!

- I can't think of any sorrow in the world that a hot bath wouldn't help, just a little bit- Susan Glasee

My body type is...HAPPY :)

Yellow sunshine! I know I have been MIA but I have a good explanation. I now have a job and I am working again. Yaay and I do love my job.

Well anyway so the other day, I was just going through my tickets, tours, hotel bookings (for the 20th time) for my up-coming vacay to Koh Samui in August (15th-20th to be exact) and I did the most scariest thing, try my swim suit. And OMG! Where are my gym shoes??? haha I kid. I always believed in cooking and eating your heart out, because you live once right.

So, I'm 15 days away from my vacay and there's a lot of activities I plan to do like deep sea diving (High five Mujeer!), Some treks, elephant rides and of course a lot of eating, drinking and dancing (those are activities too). And honestly I did freak out a lil. I mean come on, when you go on vacation and you go to a beach or you go to all these fun treks and you rarely find any unhealthy person. And when I say unhealthy I mean unfit to walk/run/climb/ for at least an hour. I find it hard to play with my dog for 15 minutes without panting!

Which brings me to the point, I am unfit and I need to build my stamina (and maybe work on my bootay as well haha). I would be lying to you if I said I didn't care about how I looked in a swim-suit. I am a little terrified but it's not that big of a deal. I still will be strutting my stuff in all the pictures even if I look like a lil blob of jell-o. After all I am going there to have a good time and not for a bikini shoot.

So NO, I am not going to stop eating but YES I do plan to do a little exercise for the next few days because I do not want to be a party pooper and say 'Oh my god I'm too tired to do that'. And there's a lot that we're doing in 5 days trust me.

So if your wondering, my routine is done at home, I run for a bit, play with my dog, do some yoga stretches, and some stomach and legs/butt exercise which includes squats, crunches and a whole lotta more squats. All in 45 minutes only. Am I expecting to see any changes in 15 days..not really! But at least that should build my stamina and make me look a little nicer in my swimsuit :)

(One of the islands at Koh Samui...can't wait!)

Last weekend I went for this lovely workshop for ladies hosted by Bombay Times called 'Born Glamorous' where Sameera Reddy spoke about women and their body type problems. Everyone complained that they were too thin or too fat or too tall or too short. Honestly at one point of time it got a little annoying to hear so many complains! But Sameera said something really beautiful to all of us. She mentioned that whatever your body type is learn to love it and work on it. So if your fat, work out a little more and maintain it; if your thin no matter how much you eat, that's just the way your body works, so try dressing accordingly like avoid skinny jeans; if your tall, walk with your shoulders pushed back and if your short walk with your head up like you own the world. Everyone's going to judge you no matter how good you look. Everyone has a right to having their opinions and we all do it (I do too).

At the end of the day people prefer to be around you not because your slim and hot and all that, but it's your personality that draws attention to you. Oh and she also mentioned, which I was totally intrigued about, is that there is this sub-conscious energy that revolves around us. I plan to read about it more, so once I am convinced I will blog about it.

So till then, stay beautiful...it's your personality that counts! So if anybody says your too fat or thin..show them the fin....ok you could probably do that in your head, but don't let it get to you. Key is to stay healthy.

-Dedicated to my first blog follower Satwik Shastri. Who lived everyday like it was his last. R.I.P

A gift called Gratitude.

GRATITUDE

This is a slightly different blog however it is something I truly & deeply believe in.

It’s all about giving thanks and being grateful every single day of your life for the opportunity to live another day, for waking up with shelter, food, a family/loved one to come home to, for money to travel to work/school, money to travel the world, for hanging out with friends, for learning to do something new and exciting, to be able to hear the beautiful sounds of music or people talk and laugh, to be able to see. I know I’m starting to sound a little cocky however once you believe in it too, I PROMISE you, your days and nights will be much happier.

I am a BIG believer in Karma. I believe whatever you do (good or bad) comes back...eventually. And I can say that through examples; it has happened to me in a materialistic and non-materialistic way.

I try real hard every single day to make the most of it, staying at home for a couple of days now I have come to realize the “behind the scenes” of what really happens at home when all of us are at work.

My Mom is the greatest person in the whole wide world. She is my super-woman. Who knew that the cleaning, cooking, chores, grocery shopping (and it’s not fancy doing that in this city!) paying bills, watching the dog, walking the dog, dinner, cleaning up after dinner etc. was all done without me even noticing. And I had imagined it to happen just like that....boy was I wrong! And the energy at night after a whole day of physical & mental work is unbelievable...like she spent all day at the spa getting a Swedish massage! Kudos to all the mommies out there. I don’t know how you do it.

If we’re happy & grateful about the little things around us, we learn to appreciate the good and the bad and it eventually makes us better human beings.

I have had so many arguments and fights and I have kept grudges. I have also had major stress issues and sleepless nights. Funny how both of them relate to each other.  I promised myself that I will make a conscious effort to not keep any grudges as I’ve lost too many people and cannot afford to lose anymore. I always believe that if it was my last day, the last thing I would want is to have a grudge with a loved one or a friend and leave without making things right. I’ve even told people close to me about this...when shit goes down during an argument...sometimes they believe it’s best to “not talk”.

A famous author once mentioned, “the things that take the longest to build are often the easiest to be destroyed.” This quote cannot be any more straight forward and I’m sure everyone of us can relate to it in some way.

Well here’s the BEST part of all of this, if your aura is good there’s rarely going to be any bad that will follow you, just because you won’t let it. Like I said do good and good will come back to you...eventually. That’s when the circle is complete. :)

I’m no perfect person, I have my so called “gossip-girl” moments with all the drama and bitching, but I am learning and I have come a long way. Remember....Baby-steps. :)

When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength. Give thanks for your food and the joy of living. If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself. - Tecumseh

Let’s do this old school!

Ok time to share a little secret. I am only sharing this because I believe it works, otherwise I wouldn’t bother blogging about it.

So at the beginning of the year, somewhere towards mid January I was reading one of my inspirational books. One of the chapters mentioned that I had to write down everything I want to achieve or receive in my career, health, wealth, love, other wishes that you may have. The author did mention to set a timeline and write down figures like how much of it or where in specific do you want to be in your career path, or what do you want to do to enhance your relationship, or any material things that you may want like a car or an expensive get-away etc.

So I picked an old yellow notebook (I.S.M written on it yaay ISMITES!) and started writing and writing my 3 year plan, and I went a little overboard but that’s ok, I believe that nothing is impossible. :)

Reality check, with work being so hectic I barely got to go back to the book and read through everything I penned down. I did go back to the book 2 months later and smiled at myself for how cheesy I was with the wishes and wants; then stored the book back in my secret place just because I was a little embarrassed and did not want anyone to see it.

Anyway, this weekend when I was making space for my new make-up brushes (YAAY more to come on that in my next blog), I found the book and read through what I had written and this time I decided to strike off what has already been achieved and believe it or not, I got 3 out of 10! BIG YAAY YUHH!! And I didn’t even realize it!! I could also see myself getting closer to the other things on the list and unconsciously working towards them. And trust me when I say that I am a little girl with BIG wishes and BIGGER dreams. I was super kicked and now I am hoping to strike some more off. Whatever happened, I do not know. But it is true when they say ‘write your dreams down’.

All you need is to have a book & pen, and mark a heading for each page like, CAREER, HEALTH, WEALTH, LOVE/REALATIONSHIP, FAMILY PLANS, TRAVEL & MATERIALISTIC NEEDS. Then you write down a year/2 or 5 plan about what you want to achieve, where do you want to be, how much money you want to earn, what car/bike you want to buy, all the countries or places you want to visit, what do you want to do for the betterment of your health etc. And unlike me, keep reading it every chance you get as it will remind you of your plans & goals and how far or how I would like to think of it; how close you are to it. 

And we’re only human to have more needs, so keep updating it as you go.

Give it a shot (only if you want to). It could take time, heck a planner that I am; I have even drawn a retirement plan in my book of dreams :)

When you really want something to happen, the whole world conspires to help you achieve it. - Paulo Coelho

Esho Funi

I believe there is so much talent around us if we only took the time to admire it.
 Esho Funi, created by my high school seniors in Muscat, the incredibly talented Zohran Miranda and Aparna Dauria.

Talking to Zohran after years, I asked him what and why Esho Funi?
Esho Funi is a Japanese word that means 'oneness of self and environment'. It means you are a direct and equal reflection of your environment and if you give love to it, love is what you will receive. And they believe this to be the roots of creating their music; self and environment, the most simple fundamental of life.

The style of music is 'Organica' which is a mix of organic and electronic elements. It's undeniably one of a kind as I've never heard of anything like it before.

My personal opinion, I was FLOORED after I heard Esho Funi - Dragon Gate. It is my favourite and currently on repeat. The music is so soothing and no matter how bad your day goes, I promise you it will leave you feeling blissful. I'd wake up to this track everyday if I could :)

You have to listen to them to love them, so here's the link to Esho Funi http://soundcloud.com/eshofuniofficial

Good luck Zohran & Aparna! I look forward to you guys bringing more of your wonderful talent out for us to love!

-it is a pity that the only contribution I have to music is appreciation. 

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Today, I have exactly 1009 Facebook friends from all over the world; most I've gathered through my university and overseas internship days.

Ironically enough today, I always complain about not having enough friends around me. My best friend is over-worked running around in Dubai; my other best friend is going to be a mother of 2 very soon out in Minnesota; another best friend is hibernating in some cold land so far away and my other best friend in this city; we’re probably not in talking terms for our own reasons; but time should/would heal everything. Most of the people I’m ridiculously close too are not in this country and sometimes “even a plane ride away” can seem tough.

Anyway, lately I’ve been the main argument in conversations about no friends, not enough friends, hardly any time for friends etc. And I was happy (in a selfish way; Bad girl Jolene) to see that I am not the only one complaining.

So I found a solution for myself that will probably shut me up when I am on the verge of throwing a fit. I have a handful of people I can count on AT ANY TIME! If I am sick, they’ll accompany me to the doctor (a lot of that has been happening lately), if I am in the mood for a coffee/cupcake they’ll make time to grab one at a coffee shop, if I am in the mood for some gossip they’ll make time to call; and if I am pmsing they make sure to keep far-far away from me J

And so what if they’re only a handful, they’re super special and super supportive and at the end of the day that’s what matters. I’d rather be surrounded by 6 people who love me than 20 people who have mixed feelings, talk and take me for granted. Throw the drama out of the window! We have more important things to worry about...like global warming...haha

And if that’s not enough, thank your stars you’re born in the year where technology is at its prime. Three people I talk to ALL THE TIME over Skype/whatsapp/BBM are right there every-time I need them that sometimes I don’t feel they’re so far away at all. I still wish you guys were here though L

But with that said, I am so blessed to have people who love me for who I am and in some way I hope I have a special place in your heart too. I can be tough, but give me some-time; I am only human.

-i get by with a little help from my friends..

Maximum City no more?

Last evening I was watching the news on a debate over “Dhoble going too far” with his raids in the Mumbai social outlook and the entire 40 minutes was just “unbelievable”.

What has happened to a once “city that never sleeps” is now shaping to be the next middle-eastern turf (Not including Dubai, they’re far better). These cops are probably doing their jobs and abiding -the law, but they have crossed the line in doing right. Why is the media always there when a raid has taken place? Why men cops are assisting the ladies/girls to the police van? Why are the foreign women not given a reason for being taken into further questioning? It is so sad and upsetting to hear people during the debate talk and quote that foreign women are ‘probable’ sex workers ; Indian women in short dresses are not carrying the Indian culture and are not supposed to be drinking out till late; every club has intoxicating substances being used and EVERYONE must take a test to decide so at whatever hour of the night.

When I think about this on a big picture, yes maybe the cops are doing their job but there is a way to go about it. There is no reason for this ‘famous cop’ to enter clubs with a hockey stick and have people exit the premises. What kind of an act is that? There is no reason for the media to get involved and publicize the entire story. There are many innocent people who have gone out to grab a couple of drinks with their friends, all in good fun. How disturbing and annoying would it be to be asked to take a test or questioned when you know you’ve done nothing wrong.

During the debate, they did mention that the laws are extremely obsolete and have to be revised so that things can move on in a systematic and less chaotic way. The people of Mumbai would definitely agree to follow a new set of laws pertaining to permits for consuming liquor than go through this whole escapade of shame! All we need is the state to bring out these new & systematic laws.

Mumbai is a city that never sleeps. It's night life is something that we boast about. Everyone does their thing and mind their business. And I want my city back!

-Mumbai mere Jaan

It MAY feel like Christmas

May has been quite exciting, it actually did feel like Christmas from start to end. So below is a picture of all the stuff I got during this month and I AM TOTALLY KICKED about each and every item I received and bought.

So here's a sneak peak to what my May inspired Style & Make-up looked like.

If you notice I have prepared myself for the beach and rain ha ha ha. Also mint and coral are obviously the colors raved about this season so I got myself a mint umbrella, a coral wallet (which I L.O.V.E), some shorts and mint nail polish.

I also got my first Sigma face/body cleansing brushes & Sigma make up brushes which is probably the most exciting thing as I have been longing for them FOREVER and a very close friend of mine got them for me from the U.S. of A. (They don't have Sigma in India..boo!)
You know what they say about a painter can't paint with his tools, same goes for make-up!
Umm let's see what else, Oh I was on a MAJOR hunt this Easter for the Cadbury creme eggs however two GREAT friends got me LOADS of them. YOU JUST HAVE TO TRY THEM! So yummy I could die! 
My brother got back from Vietnam and Bangkok and got me my first NARS products (a blush/a bronzer and a primer) so yaay I am in heaven already. 
The little blue tub is the Organix Moroccan argan oil hair masque which is AMAZING for softening of your hair. I use it once a week as hair spa treatment at home...WIN! And your hair smells like vanilla cupcake after..ahhhh BLISS <3
The Aldo handbag was gifted to me by a friend as a farewell gift and I L.O.V.E it. Its so feminine with the scarf detailing and just perfect in every way.
I have talked about The Magic book in my previous blog. It is soooo inspiring & awakening, you just can't stop reading it. Great buy for sure. This is where my inspiration comes from.
Lastly, all play and no work makes Jolie a broke lil girl, so since I start my new job in June as a farewell gift, my boyfriend gave me a personal diary which has Jolene Pereira engraved in front and a.k.a Sunshine engraved at the back (sweetest thing EVER), a personal business card holder & a crafted Shamrock for good luck at my new job :)

 

Didn't I tell you it feels like Christmas! <3 

Junior MasterChef Australia!!

If you do not know what I am talking about, MasterChef Australia has started this program called Junior MasterChef Australia that features kids contesting between the ages of 8 – 12. The show has already been aired and the winner is out, but I’m not telling!

I have to admit, before the show began and I came to hear of it, I did pass a remark saying that it was just a television hype and these kids would probably have to deep fry potato smiley’s and nuggets. Boy oh boy was I totally thrown off after a couple of episodes.

Dishes like, shepard’s pie, gnocchi with goat cheese, prawns with chocolate sauce, lemon cupcake with meringue, god damn BAKLAVA! Like seriously this is surreal!

When I was 8, not like I remember much of it but all I did was play with my dolls and other toys. I am pretty sure I did the same till I was 12 maybe even 13!

Come to think of it, now I struggle to make a decent omelette, I wish I had my hands in pots and pans when I was younger. I would be so far ahead in cooking right now.

Kids today are all about the PS games and funky gadgets, all the real fun is thrown out of the window! I am guilty too, besides my dolls and the dress me up games I don’t recall doing anything creative during my childhood and mastering it from there. Yes I did take classes in almost everything but that’s probably because my parents wanted me too.

And to see the contestants’ parents were so proud sitting on the side and watching their kids dish up some 5 star meals well plated et al was heart warming really.

I don’t know about you guys but whenever I do have a kid, he/she is going to learn to make a mean pie or a stew! It’s not about the kitchen or cooking, it is about what you teach to your younger ones when their little and when their creativity and willingness to learn is all over the place. I think to figure out what you’re passionate about when you’re little rather than being told to do something really makes a difference. After you master that little thing, it should be a smooth sailing.

And with that said, I think I am ready to make babies....NOT.

Anyway if you can try, get a hold of at least one episode of Junior MasterChef Australia and it will AWE you & you will be addicted. Those kids are all so adorable you just want to eat them all up. And their talent is spectacular. They all come from different ethnic backgrounds so you get to see some traditional dishes in every episode.

I wished all of them get to the top however my money is on the Twins (Isabella & Sophia) and Lucy (The pie and dessert princess) and Sam (The cool creative kid!).

"I was 32 when I started cooking; up until then, I just ate." -- Julia Child, celebrity chef and cookbook author

All about good ol' fashioned Networking.

Hope everyone is doing great!(Big hug through the laptop) 

So, I'm not sure if your aware but there is this super awesome networking community called 'InterNations'. Have to admit a good friend invited me to it and its quite fascinating to see how BIG the community is in Mumbai.

So InterNations is a global networking site for expats who can connect with compatriots and ask for advice on everyday life in their host country & the local members can provide other members with useful tips and share information. In lay man terms its a great place to connect with people from all over and advice on your know about of the city and also connecting with them and understanding their cultures and other fun stuff.

InterNations also organizes frequent events around the city for members like sports events or cocktail parties to enjoy a couple of drinks, grab some starters and meet other members!! 

I'm a huge networking person, cause I always believe that we live in a very small world. (Trust me I have crazy stories to make you believe it too!) 

I've not lived in Mumbai for too long however in my 4 years of living here I have gathered enough information on good eat-outs, best places to shop, events in the city and...I think that's about it..haha

So here's the sad part, you can only be part of the InterNations if you get invited by a friend or an InterNations member. I see it as a good thing cause you won't have people who can't contribute part of this wonderful community. So if your already a member YAAY. I'll probably meet you at some event. And if your not...just ask around and hope that someone sends you an invite soon.

Till then...

- The way of the world is meeting people through other people.

Hello Monday! Its my WEEKEND!!!

So I quit my job today and I am so excited to finally indulge in some ME time. So, I've got my list ready for what's to come...

1) Watch 21 Jump Street and see what the fuss is all about. For some reason in Mumbai, an English movie lasts only 1 week (that's if its not TITANIC in 3D of course! sheesh) with enough show timings in the evenings. So now cause I was too busy working I have to settle for an afternoon show...oh what the hell. I did catch AVENGERS and if only 3 hour Hindi movies could be that awesome!

2) Aldo has a SALE!!! enough said.

3) Catch up with some friends for Lunch at some new restaurant in Bandra. Any suggestions? I'm a sucker for cheeseburgers.

4) Read through this AWESOME book The Magic - Rhonda Byrne which is my new buy and am totally loving every chapter. It just makes life seem so much more worth living and turns you into this happy-happy person! You have to get your hands on this book, if your into the whole inspirational book kinda things :)

5) Check out some deals on ovens so that I can start baking my cuppy-cakes!! Yum Yum

 P.S- Theobroma in Bandra has 'the best cupcakes in the city'!

6) Study for my MBA exams due this Friday...boo!

And this is just a peek of what my Monday weekend looks like..ohh so excited!

Happiest girls are the prettiest girls - Audrey Hepburn.

Paris is always a good idea - Audrey Hepburn

Even though I live far away from the Eiffel Tower the quote always makes me smile and makes me realize that all I need to do is book that ticket and fly to Paris.

Coming to more basic things...its Saturday and the weekend is here! It's time to get me out and about for all the sweat and hard work I've put in during the week.

Mumbai is a great city when it comes to nightlife. You just have to pick a place, get into a cab and pray that your not caught in traffic, oh and how can I forget 'Get drinking' & bust your favorite move!

Living in this crazy, crowded city makes you want to push things to tomorrow. 'Oh lets do it tomorrow or Oh lets do it next month, or Oh I'm not feeling it today' .I am so good at throwing these lines that it's become an unconscious habit! So from this moment, as much as I can...I'm gonna do things today! And I'd start with getting my heels on, pucker my lips with my favorite lipstick and head out to meet the people that bring happiness into my life.

On this note, I hope everyone has a great fun-filled weekend. Get out and get going!

Dedicated to Bunny.