Hoops, The Ultimate Accessory!

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The fact that I’m writing a whole blog post solely dedicated to hoops most likely tells you how I feel about them! I personally believe hoops have enough power to transform any outfit. Casual t-shirt and jeans? Throw on a pair of gold hoops and you’re ready for the day! Boring black dress? Throw on a pair of embellished hoops and you’re ready to party! There are enough styles of hoops that there is one for everyone (in my case, every style is my style!!). Here’s a few types so you can choose which one is your favorite-

Regular Casual Hoops

These are good for everyday use, for college or for work depending on what size of hoops you prefer. You could wear really small ones or a medium size that are practical for every day use. A great option to make your regular hoops NOT SO REGULAR is to opt for a neon color if you’re willing to add a pop of color.

Geometric Hoops

These are the type that have started to get a lot of attention of late. For everyone wants to stand out through fashion, hence the love these get. You can get hoops shaped like a square, triangular and even hexagons or octagons!

Embellished Hoops

Hoops with pearls, shells and other things have been becoming a new favorite. These can be used for traditional outfits or to add an oomph that regular plain hoops won’t be able to.

Statement Hoops

These hoops tend to look out of the box and at times are the only accessory your outfit needs! Teardrop or heart shaped hoops, half crescent moon like hoops can be a part of this category.

Bigger than usual Hoops

I will be honest here, I consider these to be a REGULAR size hoop for myself! Yes, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but they elevate any outfit by TEN TIMES! They add a different touch to your whole look, gives you the look of someone who’s daring with their fashion.

Drop Hoops

A dangly style of hoop, the hoop is formed below the ear unlike normal hoops. This elongates the face and adds a different touch to the normal life hoops!

I feel like you’re living, and then you put on a pair of hoops and you’re ready to TAKE ON THE WORLD! Hope your find your favorite hoops if you haven’t already!

Make 2020 Your Best Year Yet

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With almost two months of the year gone, does it feel like your New Years’ resolutions aren’t shaping up? Does it feel exactly like it did when 2019 began? If your answer is yes then it’s time to CHANGE ALL OF THIS! It’s difficult feeling like you started the year with the highest spirits and a few months down, it’s now feeling just like the last year, and the one before that. Here’s a few things you can do to change that up.

Do a Digital Detox

Quitting social media or all digital platforms is an impractical idea, sure. But taking time off of digital platforms and social media will help you a lot in the long run. It helps reduce stress, both mental and physical. It helps to increase your focus and concentration on other things in life that need your attention. So it’s time you put that tablet or phone away and enjoy some time away from the digital world, in the real world.

Start journaling

In life we tend to dwell a lot on the sad things that happen and not think enough about the happy things we experience. The best way to learn to appreciate the good things in life a little longer than the sad ones is to start journaling. No need for a beautiful bullet journal concept, just write what your day was like at the end of your day every day. If you are someone who appreciates looking back on the ways you’ve grown, big or small, then journaling is a must. Doodling while you sort your thoughts out is also an option.

Donate

Not everyone is born with everything, some people have more in life to sustain them and some have less. The first thing everyone’s parents teach them is ‘sharing is caring’. The clothes you didn’t wear the food you might tend to waste, things that you receive that you are most likely to not use can be a source of great happiness for someone else. It’s always better to donate than to waste.

Be kinder to the planet – this is the only one we have!

With it being a very important thing for years, now it’s even MORE important. With the planet and the environment degrading more and more, it’s more important than ever to wake up and take a step ASAP! It is true that an individual’s carbon footprint is very smaller than that of bigger industries, but every step counts. So, if you haven’t yet, do your part for the planet now!

Learn/master a hobby

Hobbies are not just a way to kill time. You learn new things about yourself and discover more areas you can achieve more in. Your hobbies tend to give you mental peace as well as provide a rest from your daily life’s tasks and routines.

Read and educate yourself

Read books, search topics. Educate yourself about the world and your city and everything else. Being unaware of your surroundings is one of the most ignorant habits for humans. Learn about several causes that affect people and animals and make sure you do the right thing for everyone. Awareness and knowledge are the best things to equip yourself with.

Value health – physical AND MENTAL

It’s time we start valuing health, not just ours but also everyone else’s. Today we spend more time criticizing others in several ways instead of uplifting them or even ourselves in that time. This habit not only hampers your mental peace but also others’. A mentally stressed person has a hampered physical health as well. So take care of yourself and everyone else.

5 Things to Pick You Up on a Dull Day

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There’s always that one day when you don’t feel like doing anything or being productive. As much as staying in bed like a dull cloud seems like a good idea on such a day, you shouldn’t, because let’s face it, it tends to make you even more GLOOMIER! Doing just a couple of things to ease the mind can actually transform your bad day into a great one.

  • Read a book – just pick up a book, or a kindle if that’s what you prefer. Any genre and any author. Maybe your all time favorite book will help you feel a bit better or maybe trying a new genre, something out of the blue.
  • Take a long walk (if it’s not too cold!) – walk around, look at the wonderful things that exist. Yes, this sounds like something out of a meditation book, but trust me it works. Watch birds fly and the different flowers be at their fullest of bloom. It gives a sense of satisfaction nothing else can give you.
  • Paint or draw – I am one of those people who can paint somewhat okay when they’re sad! By no means am I saying be sad, paint, but it does help some people! You definitely don’t need to be an artist to draw or paint, take it as a hobby. Put on paper what you’re feeling or thinking.
  • Buy yourself a plant (a fake one like me if you don’t have a green thumb!) – I can’t stress enough on how good looking at a green element of the nature makes you feel when you wake up every day. Water your plant, take care of it and watch it grow because YOU look after it. (P.S. as a bonus, it also makes your room look cuter!)
  • Eat – probably the most important thing in this list can be food, who doesn’t love to eat! Everyone has that one thing they can eat all their life if they don’t get anything else. You can even choose to try something new, something you’ve never had. You can appreciate your all time favorite a more, or maybe you can find a new favorite!

Different things make different people feel better. This is just a small list of things that make me feel a little better, and I hope it helps atleast some of you!

How to be Your Own Valentine!

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Loving and appreciating yourself has become severely underrated. Valentine’s is not just about having a date and going out with them and making someone else feel special. It’s the day of love, so why not be your own ‘special person’ and love YOURSELF this Valentine’s? The more you love yourself, the more you’re full of love and happiness to shower your close ones with. So here’s a few things you can do for yourself this Valentine’s –

  • Bake a cake for yourself – or any dessert of your choice. Nothing better than pampering that sweet tooth to make yourself happy! Chocolate dipped strawberries are also a classic and easy-peasy option.
  • Go on a date with your mother – or both your parents! Nothing better than going out for a fancy meal with the people you’ve loved for all the time you’ve been on earth. It’s the one love that will never end or make you feel low.
  • Have a movie marathon – whip out those comfy fuzzy socks and pajamas. Grab as many snacks as you want and watch rom-coms, what better way to remind yourself how beautiful the feeling of love really is. You can watch any other genre you prefer as well. Two of my most favorites have got to be the horror genre and rom-coms.
  • Dress up! Wear your fanciest dress, do your hair and makeup and look your best, for YOU! Go out to a fancy place, or something else you like. Buy yourself a nice meal and treat you, YOU DESERVE IT GIRL!
  •  A short solo trip – pack a small bag and go out for a day or two. Explore a new place a little and click LOTS of pictures, so when you look back at them you remember everything you’ve done to make yourself happy. You don’t need no one else to make you happy!
  • Buy a bunch of flowers – make yourself a custom bouquet that no one else will have but you! Use it to decorate your home, or send it over to your parents or someone you love, nothing makes you feel warm on the inside quite like fresh fragrant flowers!
  • At home pamper sesh – stay in, sleep for a little longer, be dressed in the comfiest of clothes. Do face masks, take a long bath (less often ofc, we need the water!), do your nails and hair. Eat your favorite meal, read a good book. Do what makes you feel happy and full on the inside.
  • Celebrate Galentine’s Day! It’s the day before Valentine’s, so the 13th of February. It’s the day you make your gal pals feel loved and appreciated. You can have a girls’ day out or even an at home spa/pamper day with your girl besties!
  • Lastly, LOVE YOURSELF. Love yourself like no other, reward yourself with happiness because you deserve it!

11 Winter Wardrobe Essentials

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It is the season where all you want to do is be wrapped in your blanket. But let’s face it, that’s not exactly the ideal “cute look” you want for your winter outfits! It can be a little tricky to feel and look good and stay warm at the same time. As winter takes it’s goodbye this time, here’s a list of some of the things I make sure I have in my wardrobe before I take on the winter season –

  • Turtle neck – I prefer a black one because it’s basic, can go with many outfits and because it is great for layering. You can go with any color of your choice.
  • Skinny jeans – since winters are about heavy warm clothes, having bottoms that are a little more fitted gives shape to you. You don’t wanna look like you’re drowning in your clothes!
  • Ankle boots – a staple, according to me. They keep your feet warm and are super versatile so they go with regular or dressy glam looks. Heels or flats is your personal choice, I like to have a pair of both. Again, I prefer black boots because they go with anything and everything, but if you want you can DEFINITELY experiment with colors.
  • Oversized or chunky sweater – warm and fuzzy, but cute is what I define an oversized sweater as. They’re great to throw over a pair of jeans and a turtle neck and you won’t be freezing into a popsicle in the cold.
  • Full sleeve top/ fitted sweater top – another great option to have for layering below jackets and chunky sweaters. They’re also great for months or places that aren’t too cold but require a little warmth. This is where you can experiment with colors. Layer colorful tops under jackets and you have a new outfit every day!
  • Denim jacket – oversized, fitted, lined with a soft teddy material, colorful, ripped, there are unlimited options for denim jackets and there’s one for everyone to love! It adds an edge to your look and also keeps you warm.
  • Sweatshirt – sweatshirts deserve more attention than they get. They are warm, soft, comfy and look good. You can dress them up or dress them down. Oversized or fitted, its your choice. Another look much appreciated is the short-cropped sweatshirt/hoodie layered over a plain top.
  • Dressy jacket – now this can be any type of jacket you prefer, for your evenings out, for fancy events. Two options I really like are faux suede jackets or leather jackets. Even the plainest of your outfits can be amped up by a nice jacket thrown over.
  • Blanket wrap scarf or any thick scarf – no one wants to feel the piercing cold wind on their neck! Having a thick knit scarf or a blanket wrap scarf can help you not just add an extra layer of warmth to your outfit but also make it that extra bit nice.
  • Beanie – beanies are not just for bad hair days in the winters now! Yes, you heard that right! They have now been promoted to the position of ‘making your outfit ten times cuter’.
  • Blazer – now this is one not everyone will be comfortable with, for the longest time, I haven’t been either. But having a classy yes casual blazer is a must if you have times you need to dress formal or classy but warm. My personal favorite is a checkered blazer because it has the perfect balance of classy and casual.

BONUS- Over the knee boots are one item that has and always will be in trend for the winters, and dare I say, sometimes even the summers for the brave ones (read – ME!). Personally, I believe this is an optional pair of shoes. You don’t need a pair of thigh high boots just because it’s cool to have one. But if you really do want one, an alternative is the Sock boot. They essentially look the same, but have a sock like material that is tight around your leg and doesn’t sag like some over the knee boots tend to do.

Hope you have all these pieces before the next winter cold hits you!

Fashion Trends to Lookout for in 2020

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Trends have always been one thing most loved about the fashion industry. Following them or not is a personal choice, but it’s always interesting to be aware of what tends are going around. I’ve compiled a list of some trends expected to be loved all year round –

  • Polka dots –

Making their entry in the early 20s, polka dots never really left! You sure need some serious fashion sense to be able to pull this pattern off. A polka dotted top in an all-black outfit to add an edge or an over-all polka dotted dress, choose what makes you happy!

  • Puffy sleeves –

This is one trend that entered in the late months of 2019, and it sure is here to stay for a while! Elegant translucent puffy sleeves or a thicker material that gives shape to any outfit, they’re both classy and badass.

  • Pleats –

Be it skirts or dresses or even trousers, pleats add depth to the outfit. Small pleats add volume whereas box pleats give a fuller look.

  • Tweed –

A woolen fabric, usually worn in the winters, tweed has made it’s much awaited entry in the fashion world with a bang. Pant suits, two-piece sets, jackets and dresses are famous for looking very classy in the tweed fabric. From being the cloth of privileged women in the 1840s to now being a vital part of the fashion world, tweed has come a long way. Tweed skirts are one of the most loved pieces to add to your wardrobe.

  • Blazers –

From the formal wardrobes to the everyday comfortable wardrobe, blazers have taken the fashion enthusiast by storm! Soft flowy blazers are all the rage over monochromatic looks. Experiment as much as you can!

  • Neon –

Now this one has been on several lists for the longest time and it is very easy to go overboard on some trends, neon being one. Neon seems to be taking its exit but it remains to be seen how far this one goes!

Simple Pancakes

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Personally, I’ve never considered pancakes a breakfast food. I can have pancakes any time of the day! Yes, box pancake mix sounds so much easier, but trust me, once you make pancakes and the smell of pancakes cooking hits your nose, you won’t go back to box mix! I like to think of making these an extremely therapeutic activity.  

A super quick method is not getting in the hassle of mixing dry and wet ingredients separately. This way things are quick and lesser dishes to do after! I like to keep a tight hand on sugar because you’re going to add sweet toppings and a heavy hand on baking powder because I LOVE me some fluffy pancakes!

Below is my favorite, go to pancake recipe. I’ve tweaked this recipe for years now and I finally have the quantity and taste how i like it!

Ingredients –

  1. ½ cup all-purpose flour (maida, as we mostly recognize it)
  2. 1½ tsp baking powder
  3. 1 tbsp sugar (granulated or powdered is up to you)
  4. A pinch of salt to bring the sweetness out a tad bit better
  5. 4 tbsp milk
  6. 1 large egg
  7. 2 tbsp vegetable oil (can be substituted with melted butter)
  8. Vanilla essence/extract (optional)

Toppings –

Maple syrup is the most loved topping, but you can choose whatever you like. I like to use different toppings like chocolate syrup, diced apples or other sweet fruits, whipped cream and ice cream.

A College Look Book

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Dressing up for college is something not everyone likes super early in the morning. Who would choose getting ready over extra minutes of sleep! I personally love dressing up, be it generally or for college but I also love my sleep too much, so I figured out a way to get a little of both!
Creating outfits that eliminate the need to dress up and work hard to look good is what I do. I prepare my outfits the night before college so I can get as much sleep as I want and still look like I want to!
I’ve collected five looks from the past week of college here so you can get an idea.

Monday –

I wore simple high waisted jean and a striped cropped top and a belt. I chose this particular outfit because I didn’t feel like dressing up (or waking up) on a Monday, the week was starting and who likes Mondays anyway. Not me! I added some geometric hoops to compliment the striping on the top and completed the look with beige faux suede shoes. I let my hair loose for a simple yet cute look.

Tuesday –

I wore an Indian outfit. I like to balance out my outfits so I wear Indian once or twice a week. I wore a teal kurti with black leggings and bedazzled slippers. I braided the fronts of my hair to add to the look and left the rest of it down.

Wednesday –

By the middle of the week I felt like wearing a dress but keeping it casual as well. So I chose a light cream cowl neck dress and threw a black t-shirt on top of it to tone it down. I knotted the t-shirt at the bottom to give it that extra bit and wore square shaped hoops and my beige shoes again. I did a half up half down hairstyle for this look.

Thursday –

I wore an off the shoulder white top with black tight joggers and the beige shoes again. I left my hair loose for this outfit as well to tie the look together and wore big earrings to accessorize.

Friday –

Friday is the last day I go to college and so I’m excited to have two days off at home. I wanted to dress up but also be comfortable. I chose a layered look for the top, wore a white t-shirt and layered it with a black strappy top tucked into a khaki green denim skirt. I wore the largest pair of hoops I own and my beige faux suede shoes again. By this point in the week, my hair is a mess, so I put it into a high pony tail.

I tend to wear the same pair of shoes to college a lot, for several reasons. First, its beige so it goes with all the outfits very easily. Secondly, it’s also very comfortable, so it’s easier to wear for six to seven hours a day than a dressy pair of footwear.

Chocolate Smoothie Bowl

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One thing I ABSOLUTELY love to eat are smoothie bowls. They are super simple to make, tasty and healthy as well. You can choose whichever fruit or flavor you feel like. My all time favorites are mango for summers and chocolate.

If you love smoothies, this twisted take on smoothies will surely make you love it. You can eat it as dessert, for brunch or as a post work-out meal to boost your energy! It will satisfy your craving for something sweet and chocolaty, without being too unhealthy.

The best part about these according to me has to be the toppings. You can use whichever toppings you want, and however much of it you want!

Ingredients –

  • 3 tbs milk
  • 2 frozen bananas
  • 2 tsp cocoa powder
  • Chocolate protein (optional)
  • Honey (optional, to make it sweeter if you wish to)
  • Handful of ice

Toppings –

  • Sliced bananas
  • Sliced apples
  • Chia seeds or any other seeds of your choice
  • Muesli/granola (flavor of choice) I use dark chocolate and cranberry flavor
  • Chopped almonds
  • Dehydrated fruits, I chose cranberries, blueberries and pineapple (optional)
  • Drizzle of chocolate syrup (optional)

Directions –

  • Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend until combined and smooth, pausing whenever necessary to mix.
  • Transfer to a bowl and and top with toppings of your choice and VOILA!

One shirt, Many ways

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There are some wardrobe essentials that suit every outfit and every occasion, a white shirt is one of them! Any weather, any time of the day, the white shirt is OUT TO RESCUE YOU!

A white button down is super versatile – as suitable for an evening look or an indo-western wedding look as it is for a corporate office look. I’ve collected a few of my favorite ways to wear it below. i hope it inspires some of you to add this to your go-to outfits and not consider it formal.

  1. Jeans is the way to go!

There are many ways you can style your button down to suit a pair of jeans. A few are knotting it and turning it into a cropped top style, off the shoulder style, wearing it over a strappy top and tying it at the bottom.

2. Cinched waist

It is true that formal shirts tend to be boxy and eat up your figure, but that’s where belts come in! Wear your shirt buttoned up and untucked with a pair of black leggings and a thick belt to highlight the waistline.

3. Indo-western wedding outfit

A long ethnic skirt or your favorite lehenga will turn into a lovely wedding look and surely get you second looks! It’s your choice you tuck it or knot it or leave it untucked!

4. A twist on the saree – who likes to look boring in a saree? I’ll answer that question for you, NO ONE! Switch up the typical boring blouses for a white crisp shirt and you have a classy different look!

5. Casual dress look

Worn over a casual one-color dress as a coverup/jacket, open or tied up will create an effortless casual look. You can dress it up with heels or dress it down with sneakers like I did here.

6. Layering is key – you can never go wrong with layering when it comes to outfits! Layer your button down with a sweater for a sophisticated look, a slip dress or strappy top for a chic modern look. Jackets are another option.