A new kind of post: Best Buy/Buys, updated monthly.

I don't shop much, especially not the clothes. It's always during Diwali or Ganpati, and when the Flat-40%s or Flat-50%s hit the malls, not otherwise.

I'm kind of happy with stationery shopping, chocolate-cookies shopping, or sometimes, a shampoo or a face-wash shopping.



Best-buys can be those which I get in less price, and make me happy 10 times more! So here's a list, or maybe just ONE product of the month- October.

October slipped really very fast. I hardly could get a chance to jot down the things I really loved in this month. October is almost over, so here's my most favorite post: Writing about all those lovey-dovey things of this month.

1. Instagram/6 Tag | With the discovery of an app called 6 Tag on my Lumia, I could put photos on Instagram account. Earlier my friends used to access my account, so it was a pretty inactive one. I just don't know how, but I thought of downloading 6 Tag. I thought it was just like other photo editing apps. But to my surprise, the photo that I uploaded went straight to the Instagram account! Since then, I upload 5 photos per day, on an average. I just cannot stop this Instagram-uploading activity of mine. Love it, like crazy. 
2. 200 Likes on Facebook | I got 200 Likes on my blog's Facebook page. The initial days, you get quick likes for your page, but the toughest part is to increase likes, after you're done sending invites to your friend-list. I'm happy that 200 + people are a part of my Facebook page. And many of them are unknown to me. 
3. Dad's Birthday | No matter if it was just a birthday of one of my favorite people in the world, but I really enjoyed it. Nothing special, no cakes, no balloons and no parties. Just a dine-out with my parents to a nearby restaurant, following with a street-ice-cream. I loved the day because my dad was going to go the next day to Shanghai, and I loved how perfectly his departure was marked a day AFTER his birthday! 
4. Blog's 1 Month Anniversary | I did not celebrate the 1 month of my blog, but am glad, that I could maintain my blog for a month, without any hassles. The anniversary was on the 15th of October. 
5. Presentation Competition | I was avoiding sir's eye-contact, because I was avoiding this competition. I was a total sucker at presenting in front of people. Not due to lack of confidence, but because of lack of English-speaking practice. Since I've grown in a Marathi background and with Marathi friends, I did not get the chance of speaking English (though my medium was English). I just spoke English while conversing with my teachers in school. Slowly, since my First Year, I can say, my English speaking skills have pretty much been good. Maybe my blog helped, or maybe I just don't know the reason, but yeah, getting a prize for PRESENTATION competition, was totally a dream to me. And I got it, so, perhaps I would be better next time. But this little prize is going to be the reason for the successes, in future, and I thank the judges for it!
6. Realization | Realization about the things and people around me. Well, people aren't really a bin full of garbage, but yes, those people are for me. They might be jewels for someone else. Who knows?
7. Planner 2014 | The planner that I bought new, of the year 2014, is already been used by me! I have already marked down the special dates (including birthdays and anniversaries). I am in love with my planner. Just cannot wait for the year to end! 
8. DRESS | How can I not mention my lovely traditional dress that I bought for Diwali? It's out for alteration now, so once I get it back from the tailor, I'm gonna flaunt it on Diwali's first day (Stay tuned on my Instagram account for the photos. Check it out on the 2nd of November)! It's a parrot green with bold and beautiful design in dark blue. Pretty! 
9. Six Subject Notebook | Well, I guess you know how dear it is to me. 
10. 100 Followers on Instagram | Finally, after removing my security from the Instagram account, I have 100 followers. 
11. Cleanliness | I'm loving how my blog inspires me to clean and organize things around me. Applying moisturizer on feet, was not at all my thing.

I knew the trick for clean and soft feet, since a long time. But never really felt interested in trying it. I always suggested it to my mom, and other girls who asked me.
But today, I did that trick myself, and to my surprise, it really worked!




My mom loves my feet, and says that she used to keep staring at them when I was a new-born. But, except for the shape, my feet sucked, nowadays.

Today I had a traditional event at my college, so for the support, our student coordinators had asked us to go traditional today. So I had worn a pretty off white kurta with red, black and golden print on it, with black leggings and Kolhapuri Chappals, and a handbag with small mirrors all over it (check out my Instagram account for the photos).

No matter when I wore a traditional pair of slippers/shoes, my feet looked ugly, always. So this time, I made it a point, to use my TRICK, before getting into my Kolhapuris.

And finally the trick is: Applying Moisturizer on the feet.
Applying it really makes your feet look soft, like babies'. Plus, the moist on your feet prevent the dust accumulation. Sometimes while you travel by a local train, or by a crowded bus, people tend to stamp your feet. This is the main reason for the uncleanliness that you see on your feet. Moisturizer is the only way out. I tried it today, and I might just apply it daily (if I remember it in the mornings!).

A small trick, but so much to write. Ha!

What do you do to prevent feet-darkening?  

I started using a Six Subject Notebook since my 11th Grade! It wasn't a fad, then! But later, as the years passed on, girls started buying these notebooks, which made me, one of them (or them like me, whatever). And I like being Unique (that must be the reason why I select t-shirts from the men's section!)
After almost every girl started having such books, I decided to discontinue my love towards them. And I started maintaining ONE book for all the 6 subjects that I had.

Oh! I just remembered a sweet memory from my 12th Grade. Me and my two bench partners had similar 6 subject notebooks. Mine was Pink, Shraddha's was a red, and Nishka's a light green. So we kept nicknames to each other (and to the notebooks) like Strawberry, Apple and Mishti, respectively. Our books used to be neatly decorated and written in beautiful handwriting (and of course, with complete notes!) Life was fun, then.

Now, every girl has such book. But I can't use a single subject book for 6 subjects, anymore. I used it for a year, and I'm not favoring it, now! THAT'S IT.
Single subject book is a heck of a task during exams. I had to turn pages to find that particular subject, which I have an exam on. My mom used to yell at me for turning pages so loudly and ask, "Are you just turning pages, or studying too?"

I loved a Single subject book for my First and Second semester, but hated it since my Third semester began.

So finally, I made it a point: Purchase a 6 subject notebook, no matter how common it is.





I found this book with Shrenika, my classmate, and fell in love with it. I asked her immediately about the store she purchased it from (though the professor was in the class and had seen me whispering). She named it, however I was too stupid to think that I might get a better book than this.
I searched stores after stores, roam wildly in malls, still couldn't find a great 6 subject notebook.
So finally I came to the conclusion that, my FIRST LOVE was the only option left, and I must buy it, before any other girl does.



Today, the lecture got cancelled, so happily I headed towards the store, and found this gorgeous book.
The leopard print, with a Pink on it, is something no girl can resist. The book is from Sundaram, a local books manufacturing company.




The best thing about it is that it costs just Rs 99. YES!
The subject partitions are in baby pink, which gives the book a cuter look.




And there are 300 pages in total.

Things to look before buying a 6 subject notebook:

1. Cover page
2. Prize
3. Pages
4. Partition Design/Colour 

I shared one of my secrets on how I manage my blog, or publicize it, back then. So I just thought of getting deeper into this, and show you a peek inside my books that I use exclusively for my blog.

                     (In the Photo // Dubai. T-shirt from Splash and cap from Nike)

I've got this crazy obsession. Whenever I step out of my house, and it's sunny, I remove a cap from my bag, and wear it!

Previous night, I choose what t-shirt I am wearing the next day, and accordingly put a cap in my bag. If it's a sporty t-shirt, I keep my white Nike cap (the one I am wearing in the photo) in my bag. If it's black, maybe my grey Woodland's, and so on.

Caps are better than sunglasses, I feel. They cover your 3/4th of the face, just leaving behind the chin area. (Plus, you can hide your face while you're randomly laughing while walking alone. I sometimes observe some funny things that are common in the people that walk pass by me, and laugh real, real hard. So caps can hide your face while you are laughing stupidly on roads!)

What do you prefer? Caps or Sunglasses? Also, what are you obsessed with? 

It must be soo ancient here, in India. Whenever winters turn in, we all rush to buy a lip balm. However in India, our parents are like, why don't you just make up yourself by putting something homemade on your lips?




Yes, you read it right. GHEE. It can turn your dry and chapped lips into some really good pair of pout-able lips.
Last night, though it is VERY hot in India, my lips were still lacking some moisture. They went super-super dry. As I'm not a lip balm user, I had to do something. Moisturizer was far away from me, and I was too lazy to actually go and get it from my cupboard. That time my mom said, why don't you just apply ghee? And I was thankful to her for reminding me about GHEE- the new lip balm.
All you need to do is take a bit on your fingertips, and move it over your lips, and there you go! It looks like lip gloss and acts like a lip balm.

There is another alternative to it, you can apply Malai/Sai or milk cream, if you don't know what Ghee is (for my non-Indian readers).

What do you apply when your lips go super-dry? Or which lip balm/ lip butter do you use?

October heat is here, and with that, THOSE tips showering on you. Experts tell you to apply sunscreen, however don't tell you how it is supposed to be applied.
I'm not a sunscreen/sunblock applier. I apply it once in two weeks or whenever I remember and have time.
I don't really believe that it has any quality in it, to protect us from the harmful sun-rays. But, we need to believe the proven facts.




Anyway, I have a proper way by which sunscreens are supposed to be applied. I came to know this from a beautician in a beauty salon. It was the month of May, and she was telling me how damaged my skin was. (This is a trick of every beautician in a salon. They think we gonna really get fooled by that, and actually, follow ourselves with a cleanse-up or a facial, and so they can earn profits!)
I told her that I just cannot apply sunscreen as it makes my skin more oily. So then she told me how it was supposed to be applied, which would not make my skin oily.

STEPS//

1. Take pea-size amount of suitable sunscreen on your palm. 
2. Rub your palm, lightly.
3. DAB it on your face. 

I never knew u-pins could be so great. What did I do, since like 15 years? I bought a box of u-pins, just a  month back, and I'm finding its weird uses, already!






I'm seriously loving this multi-coloured box of u-pins. It can be a tip: Always buy the multi-coloured box, and not the boring grey one. 

Apart from using u-pins to club the papers together, they can be used in a different way, which I discovered, few days back, while cleaning my closet.

Sometimes, I'm forced to write such articles. Because, that's how my mentality is, at that time. Nobody has betrayed me, as such. But, the line is true- People do Change.




After moving further in life, you feel you have started gaining the things, the goals and the objectives that you had once set. But when you look back, you see, the people that meant most to you, are not the same, anymore. Yes, they do love you, they still consider you as someone special and dear to them. But the question is, really?
I repeat, once again. Nobody has betrayed me. I still have all those special people with me, yeah, except for one or two.
The point is, we have two options left...either to slap them hard and forgive them, or just forget that they ever existed in our lives.
I've been facing this people-change-they're-not-the-same-anymore problems since a year, now. But I've tried to move on. I've started finding jewels, out from a garbage bin. And these jewels are shiny and special. We all have to face such people in life. But don't worry. Do you believe in Karma? I do. I do believe in 'What goes around, comes around' thing.
So, all that is must, is to keep quiet and find worthy people, and stick to them, yes, STICK to them.


Now, I'm residing with jewels, and have forgotten all the garbage that once meant something to me.

You love your jeans, but do you know how to take care of it, properly?

1. Don't be too harsh on it. I know your jeans is super rough and tough, and nothing's gonna happen to it. But, who knows? Be gentle with it. Even Levi's jeans are delicate. (I accidentally trip over a luggage in train, and my jeans tore near my knees. And yes, it was Levi's!) So see to it that you don't use it anyhow.
2. Turn it inside out, before throwing it in washing-machine.
3. Use your torn jeans, as fashion! (It's in trend, anyway!)
4. Before altering, DO NOT wash it. As washing makes it shrink, you might end up cutting shorter.
5. If you wish to iron your jeans, it's a great idea. The fabric softens on ironing. However, more ironing will only lead to the loss of colour.
6. Washing jeans at a regular basis, keeps it clean. But, it should not be washed heavily, or frequently, as it shrinks, plus the material also worsens. Even the jeans can get a wash (that is, a tone lighter). 

Yesterday was a fun, yet a very, very busy day. I went over my BFF, Pournami's house, as she was leaving the town today. We had loads of fun. The main reason why I enjoy at her place is that she is a makeup-addict. She doesn't apply much makeup on herself, but has lot of different makeup products with herself, at home. She also loves playing with different hairstyles. And I love it when people play with my hair, try out hairstyles or even try their makeup on me.
So we both make a perfect pair. She loves doing, and I love to be the person she's doing on.
I must appreciate her makeup skills and her interest in all this. She is pursuing her engineering, but she says that she would definitely give her makeup skills, a chance.
And the best part is, my other BFFs from school (we form a group), don't like her applying makeup on them. So her main focus is ONLY me (Ha ha!).
And then, we click pictures, lots and lots of them. She's got her dad's DSLR.



Snacked on some chips and 'Kojagiri-special' Masala milk. (Oh! And Naralachya Vadya. How delicious!)

I saw an amazing bag at her place, which she bought recently, and I would love to show it to you guys.




This black leather bag from Oriflame is a must-buy. It's for Rs. 2500, but she got it for Rs. 1000, after a discount. I don't know why Oriflame has such a policy as not to advertise their products. They've got some very good collection, or rather, almost every product of them, is simply great.
Pournami is a big fan of Oriflame. She hardly has any cosmetic product other than that of Oriflame.




I like this bag, mostly because of its tassel. Tassels add beauty to the bag (or any other thing).




I loved the bag's interior, as it a silky golden, giving the bag a rich look.

Such bags are good for casual as well as, formal days. Notebooks, notepads, Laptops, Water, makeup, etc. can easily fit inside.

A post about a similar bag, coming soon.

P.S. I won the Second price for a Presentation Competition, which was held today morning. Because of the slides preparation, and hanging out the whole day with friends, I couldn't give myself to the blog, yesterday.

Do you have such huge handbags? And do you love those pretty tassels? 

As I'm an Indian, Yoga was something that was taught to us in schools, right from the start. I used to be too bored in doing it, because I'm so not patient. I just couldn't wait till the counts were over. I never realized what the benefits were after doing it.





Vajrasana, known as the Diamond Pose in English, is one of my favorite Aasans. The simple reason behind it is that we don't have to do much handwork, just sit upright, in a pose (which is definitely not difficult).
I'm not being a Yoga-teacher here, so let me come straight to the point.
This great Aasan is said to have many proven benefits, but there's one, that I know, which isn't related to the stress factor.
I read it in a renowned newspaper that sitting in Vajrasana can help in reduction of fats in the thigh. The main reason behind me telling this point is, that you can reduce your thigh-fats by just sitting in a place.
I sit in Vajrasana while I bath. In this way, I reduce my thigh-fats by merely sitting in one place, and thus finishing up my task of bathing, too.


Do you do Yoga? What benefits have you derived from doing it?

Always thought of the right things that need to be kept on your desk/worktop?

My desk was always a mess, until I thought hard about it, and made it better. Desk should be clean, so that we have a proper place to write and keep our things on. Now that you are organizing yourself, you must know what things you'll need on the desk. I shortlisted few things that I have on my desk, plus few more additional things, summing up the list.

• Notepads/Notebooks // We always search some or the other thing on the net. We usually jot points on computer's notepad/wordpad/word document/sticky-notes. But you can't move your computer to college or office. What then? So what I thought was, keeping a notepad ready near your computer would be definitely a great idea. I keep my self-customized notepad plus a Blog Planner and a Blog Book (books where I keep my blog's records) near the computer. (You can see them near my computer.)
• Pens/Markers // Pens, markers, sketch-pens and pencils are must, because then you need something to write your points with! I have a pencil-holder which unites together all of these pencils.
• Stick Notes // Stick-notes are pretty essential. Not a whole box of 'em, like I do, but definitely one pack of it. Stick-notes are great to write short messages, mostly To-Do items, whenever they just strike you. I have stuck four notes on the desktop's rim. That way, you don't have to remember things. 
• U-Pins/Staplers/Glue // You need these things to stick together different papers in a jiffy. No need to run the entire house to search a stapler. I keep all of these on my desk.
• Index Cards// Index cards are great to add additional things while taking notes. I keep a box of them.
• Scissors/Rulers // They're needed too. If you wanna cut a quick photo from a magazine for your presentation, a pair of scissors come pretty handy. Rulers to measure lengths of things. Like one day, I was cutting a photograph to fit in my frame. I used my ruler then. 
• Novel // The current novel that you're reading can be kept there. 
• Sweets // Small sweet candies can be kept in a small box to just munch on while studying. 

You have to carry your important documents, plus you don't wish to give up on your favorite sling bag, which is barely big to fit these documents in. So you have to carry a bag, a plastic one? Of course NOT.




When you shop from your favorite store, I hope you don't throw away the bags that you get. Well these bags can be great to carry important docs for admissions and interviews, or carry your presentation papers inside. That way, you don't have to look gross and your work is easy too. Most importantly, you don't have to compromise your favorite bag!
I always carry one of my bags to college or for interviews. I hate to wear MATCHING-MATCHING stuff. So I see to it that the bag is perfectly opposite to my t-shirt, and is of perfect size.

Also, do you know those paper bags that we get in gift shops? You always wondered to whom will you gift such bags, and who in the world will use them? I agree to it that they're brilliantly colorful and have amazing designs on them, but what's the need? (OK, some of you must be using these bags, and also must be knowing their importance. But most of you, especially the boys, must not be knowing them. I myself didn't know their use, until and unless and I used them in my way.)

These gift-shop-paper-bags are great to carry tiffin-boxes. No, seriously. I carry a lunch box to college, almost everyday. So sometimes, I put my box inside these bags and carry it. It's so simple, isn't it? Now you must be wondering what if the lunch box leaks and ruins all of your pretty bag. Then the answer is simple- It is better to use and ruin your bag, than keep it lying in a corner, thus ruining it with the dust, even more! After all, utility is more important than the beauty of it. (Am I sounding too philosophical? Ha!)

You can gift these bags to your girly-friends. Much-utilization?

--xoxo

How do you use your paper bags? 

I've read a LOT about different tips to take care for my skin. As my skin is somewhat oily, I seriously need to choose products wisely, as my skin tends to pop yucky zits on my face. In short, I have an almost oily and acne-prone skin. I try various easy tips at home- mixing different products together. Only few of the homemade solutions were really good to me.
I have been reading this Cleansing-Toning-Moisturizing ritual, in every, mark my words, in every skin-care tip that I've read. And let me tell you, CTM is really magical. It acts like an anti-ageing agent.



CLEANSING // Cleansing means washing your face, just like you do with a  face-wash, but with better clarity of the skin. Cleansing helps in removing makeup, oils, dust, dirt and all the tiny particles that are stuck on your face. Cleanser comes in cream or gel formula. I use gel as it is perfect for my skin. This cleanser from Biotique is a wonderful gel-based cleanser. I cannot think of replacing it with any other brand. Oily skinned people can go with gel-based cleansers and dry skin with cream-based ones. Cleansing opens the pores to cleanse perfectly.

STEPS //

1. Take a 50-Paise amount of cleanser on your palm.
2. Put few drops of water on it.
3. Rub your palms together to make a foam out of it.
4. Apply on your face, with circular movements, specially to those areas where you can see oil more, or where you had applied a makeup product. 
5. Wash with normal water and towel dry. 

I'm not really a person who follows rituals every night, but would love to do all of these things, one fine night, and make it a habit, after that. But due to exams, projects and various other things, sleep is something which is forced to, and certainly not which is opted by me. My parents scold me to keep away my cellphone at 11, and then I get angry, and the whole night is disturbed.



ONE // Cleansing, Toning and Moisturizing (CTM as I call it), is what is supposed to be done every night, without fail. Cleansing removes dirt, dust and makeup (also oils) from your face. It clears your face, magically. Toning helps to block the pores that get open while cleansing process. It, ideally, should be done with a cotton ball. Moisturizing, experts say, should be done by every person, before hitting the bed. It hydrates the skin. Though I never follow this CTM ritual, I had tried this for a month, but couldn't continue as I had taken a vacation and failed to do there.

TWO // Praying. I have never prayed to God before sleeping, but have seen my cousin sister do it. Every night, after sitting on bed, taking her blanket, she closes her eyes, joins her hands, and prays to God. I don't know how much it helps, but I definitely am sure, it must be giving her peaceful sleep.

THREE // Thinking about day's events, and thinking further, about the things you did wrong, and that they shouldn't be done again. Also, thinking about those things that made you smile throughout the day, and what was the cause behind it.

FOUR // Packing bag for the next day's office/college/school. My grandfather and my mom always told me to keep all the things ready for the next day. It includes your bag and clothes. I sometimes follow this, when I have a big day- like a presentation- the next morning. I also see to it that everything is inside my bag during exams (except on those nights I am too sleepy and tired reading textbooks, and marking down notes).

FIVE // Jotting down the next day's goals to be achieved. I don't do this for college, but definitely would do this once I get a job in a desirable firm. However, I follow this while writing down posts that need to be written the next day for the blog.


"If you smile before you sleep, you know that you are successful". Keep in mind, this beautiful quote, and work towards it.

What would you add? And what do you do?

Inspired by the Black and White theme, and a gift wrapper, I'm coming up with free wallpapers.



For Desktop and Laptop. Click the image for a better quality.




For cellphones. Click the image for a better quality.




For Facebook Cover Photo. Click the image for a better quality.



Polka Dots...favorite of almost every girl out there! Did you like the design? And what about the quote? Do you agree to it?

I have this amazing perfume by Versace, which my brother got from UK. He bought it for my parents, actually. So one of them is for my mom, and the other for my dad. Along with the perfumes, came the cases too. So the next thought was, what to do with these cases (apart from carrying them with the perfumes while travelling).



I originally use it to put all the combs inside. As these combs were on the rack, it looked shabby. So, I don't know how the idea struck, but it just did, and I kept them inside.




This case is perfect for combs to fit in, provided that they are thin.



You can use the cases to keep worktop supplies and stationary items. But the only condition is that the supplies should be long enough. If you don't have pencil-holders with you, you can the cases as one.





Okay, I know the brushes look gross; some of them are too old, and others are mysterious. You can keep your brushes and toothpaste inside these cases.  If you're one of those having a different room, with an attached wash-basin, you might require a separate brush-holder of your own. And if you think that buying a brush-holder is an unnecessary expense, you can use this case.



Another use can be for kitchen. You can use the case as a holder for knives, spoons and forks. If you are a newly-wed, and yet to keep the stuff on their places, you can use this simple method to stash away your kitchen supplies.




P.S. We can use other cases, like the ones we get with colour-pencils, too.

These two beautiful colors, look even more beautiful after teaming up together.



It is one of the most decent color combinations that you will see anywhere.

1. Black Heels | Black heels look so stunning. They somehow remind us of the school uniform shoes that we wore. 
2. Aviators | Took right from my display picture, Aviators are a must in every person's wardrobe. 
3. Nails | I have been painting only black color on my nails since 7th grade. I don't know when I will convince myself that others colors would suit on me as well. 
4. Kohl | Black dark kohl is a must for every season (not much for summer, I know, but whatever it is, I apply it every day).
5. Little Black Dress | Not a frequent-party-goer, but if I was, I would've definitely had more LBDs than other types. 
6. Leather Jacket | Ah leather jackets are soo cool, I mean warm! They're stylish, cool, and perfect for my personality.
7. Ponytail Holders | Black ponytail holders look decent. Plus they suit any colored t-shirt/dress. 
8. Bags | Let them be leather, plastic or cotton bags, black color is necessary.
9. Black hair | I have loved the black colored hair of Asians (Mongolians) since forever. They have jet black and straight hair. Definitely looks very cute! 
10. Canvas Shoes | No winter goes without wearing canvas shoes (Cannys as I call them). They look super cool. I had once paired up my green dress with black cannys from Converse. The look was inspired by Avril Lavigne. 
11. And finally, the main thing on which my black-obsession is based on- METAL. I started listening to Rock and Metal songs since 7th. My looks varied since then.