Right Accessories – Make a Good Impression

Two of my favorite fashion quotes revolve around accessorizing and they are good guidelines to follow:

“When accessorizing, always take off the last thing you put on.” –Coco Chanel.

“Last thing on, first thing noticed.” Carson Kressley

Dressing for success includes your outfit, personal grooming, and accessories. Clients and business associates pay attention to details, and so should you. Even the ring you wear says something about who you are.

Pulling together an overall corporate image is especially important for work-at-home mom bloggers, and business women who work from home. To get big contracts, you need to appear successful. Looking ill-groomed or like you just came from the grocery store, conveys a message that you may not take business meetings seriously.

Following tips for adding accessories to your business or blogger wardrobe will help you look your very best.

Jewelry

Rings, bracelets, and necklaces can make or break an outfit. The most important thing to know about jewelry is to not mix your metal colors. If you are going to wear silver-colored jewelry then wear all silver-colored. Note that this doesn’t mean that your metals must all be the same. If you are wearing a white gold ring but it matches your silver pieces this is perfectly all right.

When first exploring the world of accessories, you will tend to over-do it and wear too many. For the fashion initiate here is my rule: you may wear one ring, one bracelet or watch, and one necklace at the same time. Either buy the most expensive pieces you can afford in your budget or pieces that are extremely inexpensive but meaningful.

Scarves

It is fine to wear tasteful scarves in the business or blogger events; just make sure they are accessory scarves and not winter wear. Tie your scarf in an infinity knot or go with a simple knot — resist the urge to be trendy and tuck it into your belt.

Choose colors that complement your overall look and not that compete with it. If you wear a chunky scarf, size down your jewelry (and skip wearing a necklace).

Watches

The world of watches can be profoundly confusing and expensive if you don’t know what to buy. I am no watch expert but I suggest if you can afford an expensive watch you can’t go wrong with any well-known brand.

Purses

Purse colors should coordinate with your shoe color.

A good purse should be small or medium, but easy to open in case you need to find an item inside.

Accessories like makeup, jewelry, and even your journal and pen should not be overlooked. They are tools that you can use to convey a positive and winning message about yourself and your ability to succeed.

Not everyone is this calculating in their decisions, but everyone looks at outward appearances and makes quick judgments about what the little things say about a person. When developing your personal sense of style and fashion, you should not overlook the value of accessories. These are the last items you should be putting on when dressing, ACCESSORIES.

Lancome Bi-Facil – Remove traces of the day

Lifestyle

Reviewing this pretty light blue bottle of a product – Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover called Lancome Bi-Facil.

What it is formulated to do: removes mascara and every single bit of waterproof makeup really well. As a long time user of this product, I would like to highlight some of the benefits. It removes eye makeup fairly well. The added oil leaves your eye area moisturized and not feeling dry.

Added BENEFIT: you can use such a small amount and it removes everything leaving nothing behind, one or two swipes with this #remover on a cotton ball and your eyes are clear of all applied makeup from the day.

VERDICT: Highly recommend!! Buy it larger size so you don’t have to buy very often!

Beauty Blogging with Gosh Arabia

Lifestyle

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English Breakfast Tea

Lifestyle

5 reasons why drinking breakfast tea is scientifically good for you

Tea has been around for yonks, but it can do much more than just perk up your morning commute. So if tea is the only thing that will perk you up in the morning, throughout the day and well into the night, worry not – because here are five great reasons to drink more of it.

1. IT CAN DE-STRESS YOU (AND KEEP YOU LOOKING YOUNG AND TRIM)

A recent study by UCL suggested tea may make your cortisol levels – the stress hormone that contributes to belly fat and makes your skin age quicker – spike less. The study, published in the journal Psychopharmacology, found that people who drank tea were able to de-stress more quickly than those who drank a fake tea substitute. Furthermore, the study participants – who drank a black tea concoction four times a day for six weeks – were found to have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood after a stressful event, compared with a control group who drank the fake or placebo tea for the same period of time.

2. IT CAN REDUCE THE RISK OF HEART ATTACK AND STROKE

A researcher at the Boston University School of Medicine conducted a study of 70 people with coronary arteries that were at least 70 percent blocked. After drinking black tea (English breakfast tea is a black tea blend) instead of other beverages for four weeks, blood vessel functioning improved by nearly 50 percent, leading Dr. Vita to conclude that drinking tea can prevent or reverse some types of artery diseases and reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. They concluded that this is because tea’s concentration of flavonoids, plant compounds that behave as antioxidants, prevent the formation of plaque in artery walls.

3. IT CAN PREVENT CANCER

Drinking English breakfast tea might also keep cancer at bay. Researchers at Rutgers University identified a compound in black tea known as theaflavin-3′-monogallate, or TF-2, that caused colorectal cancer cells to destroy themselves without harming normal cells. In addition, they found that TF-2 suppressed Cox 2, a gene that is often associated with colon cancer.

4. IT CAN INCREASE YOUR MEMORY, FOCUS AND CONCENTRATION

Got a big presentation coming up? Drink a cup of tea before you head into the boardroom. Extensive research has shown that the combination of caffeine and L-Theanine, a naturally-occurring amino acid found in tea, improves reaction time and memory, while increasing focus and concentration.

5. IT CAN LOWER YOUR CHOLESTEROL

Want to lower your cholesterol? Drink tea. A study in the Journal of Nutrition found that black tea consumption may help lower cholesterol levels in high-cholesterol adults. The study, conducted on 15 people over the course of three weeks, found that five servings of black tea per day lowered total cholesterol levels by 6.5 percent.

Article from standard.co.uk/lifestyle

Her First Grain of Rice

Events & Experiences, Lifestyle

Stressing out on what you should prepare for baby’s Annaprashan? Don’t sweat it, mum. From the ceremony to the menu, my tips will help get you through.

The Annaprashan Menu

In Bengal it is a tradition to feed a baby his/her first grain of rice around 6 months before the tooth shows..it is an initiation into solid foods. There is however a rule, it is performed during the even months for boys, generally in the child’s sixth or the eighth month. For girls, it is performed during the odd months, usually fifth or the seventh month, so we performed our daughter Aarvi’s on her fifth month. I have been curious why this is followed in different months..do the food pipes differ for girls and boys..anyways it doesn’t matter..the rice eating ceremony is just a custom and is quite cute.

The Annaprashan cake

The rice eating ceremony is called “Annaprashan” or “Mukhebhaat” in Bangla meaning “entry of grain” and “rice in mouth” respectively.

Paa feeding Aarvi her first grain of rice

Traditionally this ceremony is carried out in the child’s paternal home where the maternal uncle is invited to feed the child his/her first grain of rice. In our case, we were living abroad, so we had to do it without the uncle and her father had to play the role of her uncle in feeding her.

The morning Puja

The morning started off with Puja to seek the blessings of God and to mark the beginning of the auspicious day.

The spa bath included milk, rose petals, leaves and cucumber

We had also arranged a spa bath for her. She had an awesome first spa bath experience, she seemed to have enjoyed the process very much.

All decked out for the vidhi

Followed by the spa bath, she was dressed in traditional attire which was followed by the symbolic feeding of the rice pudding (kheer/payash) that was prepared by her father. This vidhi was then followed by a grand feast and cake cutting ceremony.

The Annaprashan feast may include a variety of items, but the sweetened rice pudding (payash/kheer) is the star dish.

The mandatory rice pudding (payash/kheer)

Apart from the kheer, salad, fried vegetables (potato, brinjal, bitter guard), dals, curries and flavored rice were some of the food items served. I included chicken, prawns, raaita (yoghurt mixed with spices and fruits), tomato sweet and sour chutney, sweets, dates, dry fruits, Belgian chocolates on the menu.

The religious feast was then followed by a fun game where a number of symbolic objects were placed on a plate which she had to pick up. The objects included:

1. Books symbolizing learning.

2. A pen symbolizing wisdom.

3. Money/Jewels symbolizing wealth.

4. Clay symbolizing land/property.

5. Knife symbolizing dignity of a king.

The Annaprashan game plate

It is believed that the object a baby picks up from the plate represents his/her area of interest in future. In our case, she picked the book and pen at the same time with both her hands.

With so much to arrange and a little baby to take care of, here are some handy and delightful tips for a hassle-free event:

-Send a colourful, well-worded invite with your baby’s picture to all the guests.

-Plan ahead of the event. Select your child’s traditional outfit, call the priest and arrange for the puja articles much in advance.

-Arrange for adequate space and decorations in your house or at the banquet hall for the guests.

-Make sure your baby is well rested before the ceremony. Carry a stocked up diaper bag if the venue of the event is not home.

-Keep few familiar toys handy to distract the baby if he gets overwhelmed by the crowd.

-Ensure the fabric of your baby’s outfit does not discomfort her. If you are planning to use any jewellery on your baby, make sure it doesn’t hurt him/her.

-Share your plans in detail with your spouse or a family member. In case you disappear to feed your baby or calm her down, someone can take over the show!

-Hire a photographer or take charge to capture all the precious moments of your baby’s big day.

Maa and Aarvi’s precious and memorable moment

Whether conducted on a big or small scale, any parent would love to make their child’s Annaprashan ceremony memorable. So go ahead, make this occasion of your baby’s life, a momentous one.

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the Annaprashan ceremony, please share them in the Comment box below.

3 Secrets Of People Whose Houses Are ALWAYS Clean

Lifestyle, Menu

Everyone knows someone whose house is always flawlessly clean. It doesn’t matter if you show up there for an event or unannounced, it looks immaculate and polished every single time.

How do these people do it? Is there a secret society of the super clean freaks that we don’t know about?

Do not worry. You too can be a part of the super clean freaks society by following the 3 secrets of people whose houses are always clean.

1. They don’t hoard

The more stuff you have, the more you will have to clean. The more things you have on your table top, the more things that have to be dusted. This does not mean you need to live in an empty house, it just means you should only keep what’s necessary and not hoard.

Trust us, it’ll make your life so much easier.

2. They don’t leave cleaning for the very last minute

Think about it – is it easier to simply make your bed cause everything else is in its place or clean a room that hasn’t been swept/mopped in weeks and has clothes, books and other things strewn around all over?

It might be tempting in the moment to leave the dishes until tomorrow or put your clothes in a hamper, but too many “I’ll do it tomorrow” moments turn your house into an unmanageable mess. Clean as you go – it’ll take much less time and you’ll enjoy a cleaner house for a longer period of time.

3. They know where to focus their energy

You know what they say…fake it till you make it. We all know that cleaning is not exactly a fun task and there will be weeks when you just can’t find time to clean. So learn to fake it!

Pros know what areas to focus on and make it seem like their space is spotless, even if it’s not.

Article from: ewmoda

Shop Till You Drop

Events & Experiences, Hotel, Lifestyle

Get in on the fun of the Dubai Shopping Festival. The Dubai Shopping Festival takes place each year in the city, lasting a month and bringing millions of eager bargain hunters to the city. In total, the event has attracted 35 million visitors to Dubai since 1996. Dubai is renowned for being a beautiful harmony of tradition and modernity, and nowhere is this more evident than in its shopping scene. On top of taking advantage of Dubai’s famous luxury malls and typical souks for some unique retail therapy, visitors will be able to experience Dubai as a family-friendly tourist destination. Take a look at the specially designed Shopping Festival 2016 package “‘Shop Till You Drop’’ launched by the award-winning five-star hotel in opulent Dubai and plan your trip to the pearl of the Gulf. Add more style to your Dubai experience by staying at The Oberoi, Dubai. Located in the downtown area the hotel is just minutes away from the Dubai Mall and the Mall of Emirates.

Available from January 02, 2016 the ‘’Shop Till You Drop’’ package at The Oberoi, Dubai, offers a stunning five-star stay next to Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. Bigger is always better, or at least that’s what you’ll be thinking when staring up at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, during your stay at The Oberoi, Dubai. Ideally located 5 minutes’ drive from The Dubai Mall, this 5-star hotel offers an Olympic-sized outdoor pool – we told you size was important – and extensive spa menu to soothe post-shopping muscles after a visit to the nearby Dubai Mall.

Designed keeping in mind the astute taste of the guests, the ‘’Shop Till You Drop’’ package incorporates complimentary hourly shuttle service to the festival venues, that will ensure guests are never far away from the action. Guests can even send their shopping bags back to their room while they continue to shop, dine or simply soak in the entertainment. A dedicated concierge desk will guide the guests to the best bargains of the day. All this while you stay at the most elegant accommodations in the city, with a choice of the finest world cuisine and savour the legendary and award winning hospitality of Oberoi Hotels.

Package Overview:

The Shop Till You Drop Package at the Oberoi Dubai includes:

Luxury Accommodation in Deluxe Room.
24-hour butler service, to assist with every last detail, such as the packing of purchases, the booking of personal stylist consultants or arranging private viewings in exclusive boutiques.
Daily buffet breakfast for two at the World Cuisine Restaurant – Nine7One
Hotel credit of AED 200 per room per day for redemption across all three signature restaurants and at The Oberoi Spa.
Scheduled shuttle service to Dubai Mall
Shopping bags collection service, three times a day from the malls, while you continue shopping

Package Price:

The ‘’Shop Till You Drop’’ Experience at The Oberoi, Dubai is priced at AED 1,400 / £243 GBP (approx.) per night and is subject to 10% municipality fees, 10% service charge and tourism dirham fee of AED 20, per bedroom, per night.

Note:

The ‘‘Shop Till You Drop’’ package at The Oberoi Dubai, is available from 2nd January to 2nd February 2016.

* Terms and conditions apply

Offer applicable for a minimum of a two nights stay. Offer excludes 24th – 28th January 2016
Hotel credit not applicable at Lindo Beauty Spa and Iris Restaurant & Bar Lounge. Hotel credit to be used towards charges at the hotel restaurants and spa only (does not include room charges). Credit must be used during the stay and cannot be combined with any other offer
Extension of stay on the same rate is subject to availability of rooms

Plan your visit to Dubai to experience this unique Package first-hand, Indulge in lavishness and enjoy the pleasures of premium exclusive services.

Need more information about the Package? Got some pre-stay queries? Want to request a quote or make a reservation? Please call +971 4 444 1 444 or e-mail Reservations.TODB@oberoihotels.com and quote ‘Shop Till you Drop’.

Let the coming year be the harbinger of more HAPPINESS and better HEALTH & harvest promising HOPE and positive HAPPENINGS for all of us.

Wishing you Great Bliss 2016!

Xoxo

~Sanchali

The Arabian Diaries-Day 22-My Happy Place

Lifestyle

InstagramCapture_762943f0-2e6d-4647-971d-d186a669457f

My Happy Place-The Lagoon Park

I know that when you take the time for a few minutes every day to notice the positive, it does make a difference in your whole attitude. It does not make the problems go away but it can give you the confidence to be able to handle them a little better.

We all need a “happy place”. Whether it’s a physical space or a place within ourselves, we need somewhere where we can recharge, rejuvenate, reflect and grow as individuals. I am happy just by visiting The Lagoon Park, I can’t help the smile appear on my face 🙂 Fresh air and cool breeze on my skin makes for a very happy place. Getting outdoors and leaving the craziness behind is extremely therapeutic, sometimes I just walk round the park on my own and it brings me back to a nicer reality. xx

fotor_(288) fotor_(285) fotor_(283) fotor_(289) fotor_(291) fotor_(300) fotor_(301) IMG-20151120-WA0013 I have to say that “My Happy Place” is really making me stop and really appreciate the ‘moments’ in each day that make me smile 😊

The challenge is to make your space beautiful. Make it feel like home. Most importantly, make it yours. Put your thumbprint on it. Then, take a deep breath, let it out and feel how good it is to be in your happy place! 🙂

Xoxo

Sanchali

Change is Around the Corner

Artist, Décor, Lifestyle

Here’s what the bible says,” Call those things that are not as if they are and they shall be.”

Good Happy Wednesday Evening! I just find myself always drawn to colors, and when I see a bit of turquoise in there as well, my heart always skips a beat. I get this feeling that a change is just around the corner, all I have to do is turn it!I’m sharing a little something that was in my heart this morning, if it’s for you great if not, pass it on maybe we’ll help someone together today! 🙂 I know there’s a lot of people out there looking for change. If you need to make a change, make it, if you are thinking about making a change, solidify that decision. The worst decision you can ever make is indecision. Make a point this week to really make an effort to must figure it out.

I am planning on adding a little turquoise to my life! ❤

Stay Fired Up, Stay Focused, Stay Free………..

XOXO

~Sanchali

Unexpected Visitors Pop In

Lifestyle

With all the things needed to properly stock your urban kitchen, selecting the right ones can seem overwhelming, you may be overwhelmed in picking out the right kind that reflects your unique personality. Make your unexpected visitors pop in at home event awesome with some of the beautiful kitchenware hand-picked by us.

A little peek at some of our beautiful kitchenware, drink-ware, serve-ware and chic-storage glass decanters for your home and kitchen-

Beautiful Palm Ivory Wine Glasses, with a sophisticated vintage feel. Great finishing and detail! { Rs. 4,300 } free shipping ❤

Code No. SAN405 Height: 21 centimetres ( Set Of 6 )

Code No. SAN404

Multi purpose glass decanter with Height: 10 inches, Diameter: 3.5 inches. Versatility incarnate, this clear glass Beaker holds water, sparkling wine, fresh fruit juice or irresistible cocktails.

Code No. SAN403 { Rs. 550 }

This is how you say Goodbye to a dull milk carton! Transform storage into elegance with this straightforward, no nonsense glass sealed bottle.

Code No. SAN402 { Rs. 750 }

How about serving some magical potion of fragrant tea and honey, or a refreshing cup of healthy green tea in this lovely ceramic mug!!

Code No. SAN407{ Rs. 2100, Set Of 6 }

Get creative! What better gift than a set of glassware for your special occasion.

I am so happy to finally give you a little peek at these beautiful range of collection. I’m hoping to be back soon with another range of kitchenware. You can purchase them by simply popping me a PM or leaving your comments below.

Thanks y’all for dropping by my blog. Any and all feedback on it is welcome. Until my next post take care everyone.

XOXO

~Sanchali