Ultimate Guide to Skincare

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There are several small trivial things we tend to do that affect our skins more than we think. Our faces have such sensitive skin, yet we tend to not treat it the way it deserves to be treated!

I’ve combined this little list of a few things you can do, to make sure you love and care for your skin while you’re home, waiting for things to become better so you can resume work or studies. Think of it as a little break for your skin to rejuvenate before it’s time for you to leave the house again!

  • Microfiber towels – the BIGGEST mistake almost everyone (including me, till about a year ago) makes is using the same towel for your face and body. Bath towels have abrasive, hard fibers to soak up water easily and quickly, which are very harmful for the soft skin on the face. ALWAYS use a separate, soft towel for your face.
  • Only pat dry, no rubbing! – always pat dry your face with a soft towel. When you rub your face to dry it, you pull your skin more than you realize or even intend to! This leads to aging the skin easily and creating damage.
  • Skincare routine – if you haven’t already, incorporate a skincare routine in your life ASAP! Morning or night, whichever suits you, both are fine as well. This will make sure your skin stays healthy and beautiful! (there’s no thing such as too much skincare!)
  • Masks – sheet masks, peel off masks, magnetic masks – there’s so much to choose from! Use one that suits your skin type the most. Using them once a week is the most common way, but it also depends of the type of mask you use. Once you find your holy grail and you’re good to go!
  • STAY AWAY FROM HARSH SCRUBS – yes, those walnut and apricot scrubs are very attractive and popular to use, and they leave your skin SO smooth after just one use. The truth is that they are not helping you. The shells in them cause micro tears in your skin (aka making it feel soft because it exposes under layers of the skin) and cause great damage. Make sure you always use gentle scrubs and exfoliators.
  • Moisturize!! – there are several skin textures and types and there are double the number of moisturizers for every type! It is very important for you to determine your skin type before you choose any product. ALWAYS choose a moisturizer according to your skin type!

DIY Face Masks

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Breakouts and dull lifeless skin is something that bothers everyone time to time. Now it’s true that we can’t go out and buy ourselves our favorite clay or sheet masks to get ride of these, or go get a good treatment for our skin. But its ALSO true that we have more than enough things at home in our kitchens and refrigerators to help us!

Natural ingredients catch our attention when they are in products, right? So why don’t we make simple masks for our faces at home with these ingredients?!

Cleansing Mask

In a bowl mix together yogurt (dahi), turmeric powder (haldi) and honey. Apply the mixture to you face and let it dry. Wash off with lukewarm water, using circular motions.

Moisturizing Mask

One word – mayonnaise. Your favorite condiment will also turn into you favorite mask! Just apply it all over your face and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Rinse it off with cool water.

Brightening and Anti-wrinkle Mask

Mash up 2-3 strawberries in a bowl and add some honey. Apply on the face and leave for 15-20 minutes, or until its dry. Wipe away gently with a damp towel.

Scrubbing Mask

Mix together in a bowl some granulated sugar, lemon juice and water until its a thick paste. Scrub the face gently for smooth soft skin and rinse off with lukewarm water.

The Power of Statement Jewelry

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Jewelry is an essential part that has the power to make or break an outfit. It is easy to go over board with it sometimes, but the other side to it is wear what you love if three bracelets and four rings is your jam, do you!

If you are not a stacking all pieces person, or not a LOT of jewelry person, then statement jewelry is the next best thing for you! There are so many stunning pieces out there that can elevate an outfit all alone. A big chunky necklace or a pair of chandelier earrings alone will tie your whole look together.

Statement Necklaces –

They tend to be colorful, with vibrant hues and lots of attention to detail, they sit on your neck well and grab all the attention. You can style a plain outfit with these in a great way.

Here are a few of my own statement necklaces –

More options you can shop for –

Shop on Pipa Bella at – https://www.pipabella.com/product/default/2086

Statement Earrings –

If you’re an earring person, then you can choose statement earrings for your outfits. Pulling your hair back in a sleek do is an option, this way you can bring more attention to your earrings.

Here are some of my statement earrings –

More options you can shop for –

Shop on Pipa Bella at – https://www.pipabella.com/product/default/4517
Shop on Pipa Bella at – https://www.pipabella.com/product/default/4648

Check out my Instagram page on how to style Statement Jewelry! @tbb.blog – https://www.instagram.com/tbb.blog/

Ways to Spice Up Your Room

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Being home 24*7, not knowing when you’ll be able to set foot outside? You can redecorate your room! I don’t know about you, but being in my room had DEFINITELY made me dislike my room and be a bit bored of it. You can always add or replace small things in your room to freshen it up a little when a full-fledged paint job and makeover is not possible! Our rooms are where we spend most of the time and still they end up being ignored more often than not!

Start by getting on Pinterest or Tumblr or any other app for some décor inspo, pin things, write down what you want to do, create the theme you want in your room.

Here’s what you should do next –

  • Play with the layout of furniture – Shifting you bed to a different place, moving your dresser or table and other furniture will instantly make your room feel a little different, a little new. It changes the layout of the room, therefore makes it feel fresh and new!
  • Add paintings or pictures – everyone has a bit of an artist in them, make paintings and put them on your wall as a collage. Maybe you’re not one for paintings, find old pictures from albums, or pictures that inspire you from magazines and create a masterpiece on your wall. This is a great way to personalize and make your room truly YOUR OWN!
  • Fairy Lights – lighting definitely does make all the difference. I personally LOVE having fairy lights in my room. You can string them around furniture, or even on your wall in a shape.
  • DIY Canopy – canopies tend to make rooms look 100 times dreamier and softer! I used old net curtains and a string of led lights to make one above the headboard of my bed! Another option is using colorful bedsheets for a more vibrant canopy with string lights.
  • Books as décor – clean and color coordinate your books and arrange them on your shelves. You have an aesthetic display and somewhere to keep your books! 2 in 1 décor and organization idea!
  • Picture collage – this idea can be incorporated anywhere you want. A wall, the doors of your closet, or as in my case – my room’s door itself! String a bunch of twine on your door with push pins and clip on some pictures with some of your most favorite memories!
  • Greenery – add some plants, fake or real depends on your choice! Plants elevate a room ten times more and I can guarantee that. My mother has little plants ALL over the house! You can add a bunch of fake flowers in a beautiful vase and set it on a shelf. A very easy way to adding real plants is through a money plant. Every household tends to have atleast one money plant. Cut up a little sapling from near the root of the plant and put it in a vase or bottle filled up with water and you’re done!

1 Skirt, 11 Outfits

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Shopping sounds like a great idea always, but does shopping sound as fun when you realize you’re damaging the environment with every purchase? Here’s how you can get the absolute most out of one skirt by wearing it in 11 different ways and never being bored of it! P.S. – and looking ON POINT every time your wear it!

Outfit One

Details – graphic t-shirt (knotted up), black skirt, beige lace up shoes, black quilted handbag

Outfit Two

Details – Graphic t-shirt (knotted up), denim jacket, black skirt, beige lace up shoes, black backpack

Outfit Three

Details – white cropped t-shirt, black skirt, black ballet flats

Outfit Four

Details – white button-up blouse, black skirt, black high heels, checkered sling, silver watch

Outfit Five

Details – casual button-up blouse (knotted at the bottom), black skirt, black ballet flats, checkered sling looped around the arm and held in hand

Outfit Six

Details – peplum top, black skirt, black block heels, gold clutch

Outfit Seven

Details – black turtleneck, black and white checkered shrug/long jacket, black skirt, black high heels

Outfit Eight

Details – black turtleneck, blazer, black skirt, black block heels, black quilted handbag

Outfit Nine

Details – black turtleneck, dressy jacket, black skirt, black block heels, brown sling bag

Outfit Ten

Details – statement sweater, black skirt, brown heeled boots, black backpack

Outfit Eleven

Details – sequin top, black skirt, black block heels, gold sling

Here’s to buying clothes WISELY so you don’t waste resources or make the state of landfills worse!

Figure Out your Style

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Every morning when I opened my wardrobe to dress up, I would be hit with a mix of monochromatic, 90s college style, glam girl, minimalist and every other style under the sky! Figuring out your style has got to be the most difficult task a fashion enthusiast can think of. There are so many trends to dabble in, so many things to experiment with! There are so many things that catch your eye, it is impossible to choose one!

Style is as much about knowing about yourself as it is knowing what you want to portray with your outfits. Once you are sure of what YOU like, other peoples’ opinions don’t matter one bit.

These are a few things that helped me figure out where I wanted my style to go-

  • Find fashion inspiration – check out celebrities, fashion icons and other people who’s overall style and outfits inspire you. You don’t need to embark on this ‘style finding’ journey alone! Browse things on Instagram, Google, Pinterest or anywhere else you can find something you like!
  • Pin it! – don’t forget to save EVERYTHING you like! An outfit, a single piece that inspires you or fits your personality, anything! This way you know where to go when you need inspiration to form an outfit when in need.
  • See which colors attract you the most – color palettes are the most important part of any project! Knowing which colors are your favorite to wear and suit you best will help you identify which style resonates with your personality the most.
  • See what fits your idea of ‘my style’ and what LITERALLY fits you! – always only go for pieces that fit! BOTH your style and your body! It is important to feel comfortable in what you wear, your style is how you portray many characteristics of your personality and so comfort is key.
  • Accentuate your favorite features of yourself – everyone has a feature about themselves that they absolutely love! It is a great idea to incorporate that feature in your style every day. This way you learn to and put yourself in the habit to love yourself even more!
  • Go on a purge through your closet! – attack your closet as soon as you figure out where you want to go with your style. Try on every piece you like and fits your style, donate what you’re not going to use and appreciate again. This way you will make space for your new pieces and make sure you ONLY own what you absolutely love!
  • Always keep your wardrobe decluttered – its easier to choose what to wear when you don’t have an overcrowded closet! You will be able to sift through and wear every item if you don’t have 50 things to choose from. This also makes sure you create less waste and live a more sustainable life in the fashion area.

Lastly, I just want to say DRESS HOWEVER YOU WANT TO, THERE IS NO CORRECT WAY TO STYLE YOURSELF, YOUR STYLE IS WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE! You don’t have to limit to one, club two together, or three, or however many you like. Be unapologetically YOU!

15 Things to do When You’re Stuck Home Amid the Corona Outbreak!

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‘I’m bored!’ How many times have you felt and thought this in the last 3 days? I have lost count for myself! With being home to ensure safety and good health, comes the unlimited amount of time you have on your hands now. Here’s a few things you can do to NOT waste all this time you have!

  • Learn new recipes – cooking is as fun as it is time consuming. Take out that recipe that’s forgotten on a shelf and put it to its right use!
  • Complete that task you have procrastinated for SO LONG – yes, you know what I’m talking about! Do it, right now, you would not even realize how quickly it will be done!
  • Start an in-depth cleaning spree! – you’ve been looking at how cluttered and messy everything is, but you have put it off because you have more important tasks outside of home, right? Well now that you’re home bound, buckle up and start cleaning space by space!
  • Take an online class – do a short course, or learn a skill online. Maybe an instrument or drawing, or even calligraphy.
  • Host a themed movie night – call in all your friends, or family and take out all the cozy blankets and pillows. Set up fairy lights and watch your all-time favorite movies.
  • Self-care night (or a whole day if that’s your jam!) – whip up the face masks and massager and hair care products. Give your body the full pamper sesh that it so deserves!
  • Have an indoor picnic – set up your living room as a picnic spot, spread a sheet have some juice and make a whole tiffin you can carry from your kitchen to your indoor picnic spot! Change it up so you don’t feel gloomy about being home.
  • Start a project (big or small, doesn’t matter) – maybe a DIY project or maybe just a passion task you couldn’t take out the time for before is EXACTLY what you should be doing right now!
  • Host an English tea party for fun – who hasn’t dreamt of having a fancy tea party in their childhood! Well now is your time to live that cute little dream.
  • Have a sleepover that you couldn’t otherwise because of your busy schedules – all your friends are now doing exactly what you are – being bored at home! Make plans for a good old sleep over, play board games and have a fun karaoke and everything else you love to do at sleepovers!
  • Make a fancy meal, set the table and go the extra mile JUST FOR YOURSELF! – set out your nicest cutlery and serve up a great home cooked meal (includes microwaveable pasta if you’re lazy :p ). Light a candle put on your favorite music and enjoy your me time.
  • Plant seedlings – planting little seedlings and watching them grow every day is one satisfaction nothing else can give you. Create a little garden if you may, or just a few plants, everything you give back to the nature is what it gives right back to you!
  • Declutter and clean your closet (ah, finally enough time to do all of the closet!) – tired of being able to clean just one shelf at a time and messing it up by the time you reach the second one? Well now you have all the time in the world to do a full-fledged clean!
  • Create a scrapbook – scrapbooks are a lot of fun to make, you revisit all your memories and look at all your pictures. Make one so you have something lovely to look back at every time you think of your past years!
  • Redecorate your room, give your room a 360 makeover! – being home 24*7 is going to start hating your room or make you sick of it! (NGL that’s what I’m feeling right now!) Shift your furniture a little, add décor pieces and spice up your room if you don’t want to do a full-fledged room transformation.

2 Ingredient Recipes for Quick Snacking!

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Let’s be real, odd time snacking is something we’re all guilty of. Now who wants to make a whole meal when all they want is a quick yummy filling snack!? So, here are a few very fast and easy to make recipes for those sudden weird bursts of hunger!!

Oreo Cake/Brownie

Who said cake isn’t for one!? Blend a pack of Oreos in a blender and add milk according to what you’re looking to make (more milk if you want a cake and less if you want a brownie). Pour it in a buttered container and chuck it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and VOILA, you have a quick dessert! (I garnished mine with a bunch of watermelon seeds for some extra health!)

Chocolate Souffle

Image courtesy – Tasty https://tasty.co/recipe/2-ingredient-chocolate-souffle

Finally, a recipe that involves something everyone loves, Nutella! In a bowl, mix eggs and Nutella and put it in a buttered ramekin and pour this mix and put into a microwave till it’s risen.

Banana Pancakes

Mash up a banana and whisk in an egg into it. Cook on medium heat on a non-stick pan and garnish with your favorite toppings!

Banana Oatmeal/Muesli Cookies

For these cookies, all you need is a banana and half a cup of oats or muesli, whichever you prefer! Mash up the bananas and add the oats/muesli and make small balls out of the mixture and bake in the microwave. Breakfast cookies or an on the way snack is ready!

Strawberry Sorbet

Image Courtesy – Tasty https://tasty.co/recipe/strawberry-2-ingredient-sorbet

Remove the stems of a pint of strawberries, mash them up or put in a blender, stir in honey according to how much you prefer. put in a tin and chuck it in the freezer. Serve up scooped and cold.

9 Ways to Style your Scarves

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Scarves have got to be one clothing item that adds to the looks of an outfit without taking away anything from it! Being styled in the countless ways of tucking, tying, draping and folding, this one piece of fabric can be worn in several ways without ever looking boring. It is so versatile, you won’t have to worry about your scarf ever starting to look monotonous. Here are a few ways to wear your scarves a few more times than once!

Knotted Basic Loop

Double loop a scarf around your neck and make a knot on the side and that’s the look.

European Way

Fold a scarf into half, put it around your neck, pull the ends through the loop and you’re done!

Belted Jacket

Draped the scarf over your shoulder or neck, cinch it with a belt around the waist to give it more shape and you have a coverup for cooler days, or even a beach look!

Faux Infinity

Tie the two ends of the scarf in a knot and loop it around your neck in an infinity style for a quick casual look.

Figure 8 Knot

Fold the scarf in half, put it around your neck, next, pull one end through the loop, now twist the loop and pull other end through the loop. This is a quick yet fancy way to style your scarf.

Pretzel

Fold the scarf in half, put around your neck and pull one end through the loop, now pull other end over and then through the loop, above the first end. Pull it taught or loosen it up, according to your choice.

The Rose

SO THIS IS SOMETHING I RANDOMLY CAM UP WITH WHILE TIEING MY SCARF IN SEVERAL WAYS FOR THIS POST! Make a basic double loop around your neck, next, pull half of one end through the loops, pull the other end through the half loop to make it like a knotted rose-like shape.

Waterfall

Double loop the scarf around your neck like normal, keeping one end short, tuck one edge of the other end near the shorter end and let the rest of it drape naturally like its ‘falling/flowing’ like water.

Casual Swing/Reverse Pretzel

Fold the scarf in half, put it around your neck, pull one end through the loop, bring the other end over the loop and finally pull it through the loop.

Refer to our Instagram page for video tutorials!! https://www.instagram.com/tbb.blog/

SUPER SIMPLE CRÊPES FOR ONE

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Sometimes you just crave something sweet, don’t you? But who would want to make a cake, or even a muffin, it’s all just too much work, right?! And sometimes chocolate is too simple, or just not what you’re craving. Here’s a super quick and easy recipe you can whip up in less than 15 minutes. You can top these EASY PEASY CRÊPES with whichever ingredients you wish, there’s endless possibilities for toppings!

Ingredients –

  • 2 tbsp flour (all purpose flour/maida)
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • A dash of salt (to balance and increase the sweetness of the sugar a little)
  • 1 egg
  • 1 ½ tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence (can be substituted with lemon, orange or any other essence of your choice)

Options for toppings –

  • Fruits (I prefer strawberries with mine)
  • Maple syrup
  • Chocolate syrup
  • Powdered sugar
  • Whipped cream
  • Jams/concentrates
  • Chocolate chips

P.S. can be eaten for breakfast or even dessert! My favorite toppings are maple syrup, strawberries and a generous sprinkling of powdered sugar.