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The Pretty City Girl | Indian Travel & Lifestyle Blog

I'm happy that it's a month end and a Sunday. I always get more time to write on holidays than on a work-day. I had planned on writing the monthly 'Favourites' post, which I write on the month's end, but then settled on this one.
I want to share with you all the things I do and would do from this month onwards for a productive new month.


WRITE DOWN BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES
This is the first thing I do on a month end. I write as many birthdays and anniversaries as I remember, and then go to Facebook and write down the remaining birthdays from it. I write the birthdays of my best friends, family, current college mates, and few other close people. In my agenda, I've stuck cupcake stickers for birthdays, so that they stand up from other events.
Check out my cute blog stickers here: http://goo.gl/LqePB9

PLAN ON BLOG POSTS
This one is for bloggers, or for that matter, for YouTubers as well. Write down all the compulsory blog posts in a notebook. For February, I would write on Valentine's Day, excessively. I would write all the possible topics that come under this theme. This way I know to always be updated with what's going on, that is, which festival is coming up or what's the general theme of a month.
I've compiled monthly blog post ideas for 2016, and you can see them here: http://goo.gl/AKmDQu
Download the blog promotional free printable sheet, right here: http://goo.gl/ebZvBo

GROCERY SHOPPING
I've written this for those who run the house on their own. I don't have to do this as my mom takes care of it. But if you're single or not dependant on anybody, this one's for you. I suggest going to the departmental stores on month-ends rather than the first days of the month. You'll get lesser crowd. Shop all that the house needs--from fruits, veggies, snacks, and other munchies to liquid soap, shampoos, etc.

PUTTING MONEY ASIDE 
I guess I might start doing this from today onwards. Keep all the money from your wallet aside as 'savings'. No matter if it's one rupee coin or a 1000 rupees note, keep everything aside. Apart from what you save, this little trick will be an add-on. Start the new month with newly withdrawn money and keep a limit, just like the teenagers have a 'pocket-money' system.
Here's another trick to save money: http://goo.gl/OAEmw0

CHANGING THE CALENDAR PAGE
If you don't use the wall calendar for writing important tasks, you might ignore which month is displayed on it. So go ahead and flip the pages of all the wall calendars of the house!
Don't have a wall calendar yet? This DIY calendar is just what you need: http://goo.gl/VtvbZ4

FINISHING OFF TASKS
Ah! The same old thing! But you gotta do it, sweetie. Finish all the pending tasks and start the new month anew!

SETTING GOALS/RESOLUTIONS
This means setting up seasonal goals. For example, February means planning out a surprise for your better half, cooking a valentine-themed meal, etc. Summer months could include swimming classes, joining gym, counting glasses of water you drink per day, taking up new hobbies, etc.

BUYING ONE FASHION ITEM (FOR FUN)
As I'm 21 and not earning, I am still in that phase where I want my whole wardrobe to be 'renovated'. I can start off by buying one fashion item per month, and by the end of the year, I'll have 12 pieces plus those I would buy in huge hauls. This method will give me 12 extra items other than those shopping sprees I go to.

PLANNING A STUDY-SCHEDULE
If your exam lies in the next month, you can plan a study-schedule. Mark down when you will study which subject or the numbers of chapters/topics under each.

THINKING OF BIRTHDAY SURPRISES
I have a closed one's birthday almost every month. If at all I'm planning a surprise, gift or a meetup, I think of it in the previous month's end. I write down in my agenda so that I don't forget in my busy schedule, like 'Buy a gift', 'Call Friends for Surprise', 'Make a Card', etc.


What do you do on month-ends for a productive new month?
xoxo

January 31, 2016 No comments

I cannot write an in-depth review on the brushes as they are not from a well known company. It'll be pointless if I write about these two.
These are the first brushes of my life. I do use a mini blush brush and an eye shadow brush, but not a full length one. I'm glad to have purchased these.

I was initially thinking of buying a pack of five brushes, which had a blush brush, eye applicator, eye shadow, lip liner, and a lip filler brush. Buying this set of five was a good deal, and I was almost about to purchase the pack too.
However, when I went to the Crawford Market, I changed my mind. I thought of buying brushes that were really useful to me. I wanted two brushes that I thought I would need the most--blush/powder brush and foundation brush.

Let me tell you, I loved both of them. The powder brush was for Rs.100 and the foundation one for Rs.50. I saved a lot of money by purchasing two needful brushes instead of five useless ones.
The application is good and the bristles are soft.

Do comment below if you want the location of the store and any other details!


How many brushes do you own?
xoxo


January 30, 2016 No comments

I'm in love with this blog graphic and the little pot to store jewellery.

We are always in search of some fun organization ideas to store all our favourite things. This is one of those. We often go out in the market to find cute bowls and stands to store things.
I find this idea the easiest and the cutest.

By using a pot like this, you can not only store jewellery, but also protect it from dust particles. The fact that it is pretty, floral one is just a cherry on top of the cake.

My cousin granny had given this to my mom and I'm so much in love with it. I have used this pot to store mom's stuff. My mom used to keep her everyday, basic jewellery in the kitchen. So I thought of surprising her and stashed all her stuff in this pot. She becomes terribly happy every time she sees it, and says that it definitely brings joy to the kitchen.

I use this cute polka-dotted tin box to store my medium sized earrings, finger rings, pearl necklaces, and bracelets. I keep this box inside my closet.


Here are some more storage ideas that you might like:
Jewellery Storage #1
Jewellery Storage #2
U-Pins Storage
Bedside Junk Storage Idea
Little Boxes for Storage
Exam Supplies Storage Idea
Easy Cotton Balls Storage
Storage Hack to Hold Memories Together


How do you store jewellery?
xoxo

January 28, 2016 No comments

Crawford Market is a place in Mumbai where you get stuff in wholesale rate. You get almost everything there--from beauty products to craft supplies.

I purchased these items from stores called Beauty Centre and Beauty Solution. In these stores, you get makeup and beauty products at discounted rates. You get original products of brands like Lakme, Maybelline, Loreal Paris, Chambor, Faces, Lotus, Revlon, etc.

Apart from the makeup brands, you also get local products. One cannot call them 'fake' as such, but they're definitely of bad quality. We also get skin care, hair care, brushes, combs, etc. We basically get all the beauty related products in these stores. It's like walking in a dreamland.

Nevertheless, I purchased these items from the market:

JUICE NAIL POLISHES x 4
I'm gonna write a review on these as soon as I'm done trying all the four shades. I've tried pink and light brown till now. I purchased them for Rs.200, i.e., I got one for Rs.50.

STREETWEAR NAIL POLISH x 1
I got this shade for Rs. 55. I might write a review on Streetwear nail polishes, as I already own one more in the shade Saucy Orange.

MAYBELLINE COLOSSAL VOLUM' EXPRESS MASCARA x 1
I've spoken in details about it a couple of days back; you can check it out here: http://goo.gl/NaaBck

MAKEUP BRUSHES x 2
I'm gonna write a review about these brushes too and tell how exactly I use them. I'll also tell if I found them useful or no. I got the smaller one for Rs.50 and the bigger one for Rs.100. All I can reveal for now is that both the brushes are good and I don't regret buying them at all.


Have you purchased makeup at wholesale rate before?
xoxo


January 27, 2016 No comments

Republic Day and Independence Day always take me back to my school-time memories. Like my classmate had posted on Facebook, "...the purest form of Republic Day celebrations is the early morning parade and flag hoisting by school kids..."

I have tons of memories from these two days, which revolve around dance and parade, and so many things in between. I might write few of those memories in today's post, and maybe the remaining few in the 'Independence Day Memories' post, if ever I write one.

Unlike today, Republic Day and Independence Day would be 'working' for us. We had to wake up at the same time as our school timing, i.e., early morning, and get dressed in the white PT (Physical Training) uniform. My school had four uniforms--the everyday one, the Scout and Guide one, PT uniform, and the Sports uniform. On these special days, we had to wear our PT uniform, which was white, with white canvas shoes, white ribbons, and white socks. Though I used to not really like this uniform, it always made me feel refreshed. Especially, the morning vibes on these two days...

I used to feel very lively and cheerful in the mornings where we assembled on school ground, sang patriotic songs and the National Anthem, watched the flag being hoisted by one of the 'main' persons of the school, and saluted, with tears in our eyes. The seeds of patriotism were sown in those days. Thanks to our marvellous school for giving us the chance to love the country, right since the childhood.

On most of the Republic and Independence Days, I have danced on aerobics or been a leader of my parade. Yes! I had a stunning voice and could really shout at the top of the lungs. I used to feel really proud in giving orders like, "Parade! Dahine Dekh! (Parade! Look at your left side!)," while saluting the principal, trustees, and other important persons of the school. I felt as proud as those soldiers in the Republic Day and Independence Day parades at the Raj Path, New Delhi.

After the celebrations, we used to walk to our homes, instead of taking the school-van, and really have fun on our way back home. After reaching, the joy of watching the Republic Day and Independence Day parade on Doordarshan with parents used to be a delight.

Just so that I could feel this energy and the good vibes all over again, I messaged my friends if they could accompany me for a morning walk today. We did go and I must tell you, it was brilliant!


What are your Republic Day/Independence Day memories?
xoxo


January 26, 2016 No comments
I wanted a mascara that would bring volume to my lashes. So I was hunting for one that would boost my lashes and not that would 'curl them up'.

I purchased this mascara from Crawford Market at around Rs. 325 (I don't remember the price correctly).


PACKAGING
Most of the mascaras come in this shape and such packaging. So there's no much to tell. I liked the colour combination, which is yellow and aqua blue. I guess the 'Colossal' range comes in yellow colour.


APPLICATION
The application is smooth and the wand comes in the shape shown above. It does clump a bit on the eyelashes, but it can be easily cleaned with finger-tips. As the wand is thick, we cannot apply it properly in the inner corners of the eyes.

EFFECT
The mascara is smooth and we don't need to push the lashes hard. Just one light stroke and they're curled upwards. Some mascaras need to be given heavy strokes in order to curl the lashes. But this one is pretty good at it, and there are no regrets.
The mascara really is waterproof, as it claims. Even after removing makeup, your eyelashes still look curled and pretty. I don't think the mascara smudges on contact with water. I guess it's a good buy for monsoon.


ADVANTAGES
- Curls up
- Smooth application
- Waterproof
- Jet black

DISADVANTAGES
- Doesn't really bring volume
- A bit pricey

CONCLUSION
I really liked the mascara as it is easy to use and does not need heavy strokes. The best thing is that the eyelashes look really pretty after this. I would recommend it to others; but as always, if there's a better deal, go for it.


 (Check out other pictures here: http://goo.gl/Ow9E07)


Which mascara are you using?
xoxo


January 25, 2016 No comments

Since a lot of bloggers are approaching my blog, I thought of designing a cute printable for all the bloggers out there! Lately, I've been focussing a lot on the blog promotional activities, and it was tough to keep a track of the social media sites where I promote my blog. So, I thought of designing a printable to keep me organized and not worry about remembering where all I have posted!


I'll quickly write about the specifications of this sheet. I printed it on an A4 size paper, and the printer setting was 'normal'.


I have put icons of the top 4 social media sites bloggers use. However, if you use any other, I've provided an extra column for that.
I have also provided a 'Day' column, a 'Posts' column, and a space to write which month it is.
The rows are 31, that is, you can write about 31 posts from one month.


 

Click Here to Download and Print


Do let me know if you want any customized printables! Lots of love.

January 24, 2016 No comments

In this post, I'm gonna write about the things I do after 10:30 pm. I have mentioned 'winter' here because I do few of the things only on winter nights. This post consists of genuine things I do, and nothing is made up to 'look' cool.


BLOG PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES
By 10:30 pm, I'm usually done with writing blog. I start with the promotional activities on various social media sites. It takes quite some time to promote and then reply to the commentators. I also follow or comment on my fellow bloggers' accounts. I switch off the PC after this.

PICKING OUT OUTFIT FOR NEXT DAY
I pick outfit for the next day, including undergarments, and keep them on the chair inside my room. 

PICKING UP BAG
I also transfer all the stuff from one bag to another, depending on the outfit. I go through my agenda and see if there's anything due tomorrow. According to the lectures, I remove a book outside and keep inside the one that I'll need for the next day's class. I also take out the lunchbox and wash it. Then, I take out the bottle and keep it in the kitchen. After the bag is packed, I keep it on the same chair where I've kept my next day's outfit.

PUTTING MOSQUITO REPELLENT
Lately, the number of mosquitoes in my area has increased. I used to boast earlier saying how clean my area is and how there's no one mosquito. But suddenly, they've started coming in. So to tackle this, I burn Good Knight Fast Card and switch on the Good Knight. (Just yesterday, my mom purchased a low smoke coil, and it was marvellous!)

VISITING THE LOO
It's already 10:50 pm by this time, and then I visit the loo. 

BRUSHING MY TEETH
Frankly, I do this 5 out of 30 nights. 

WASHING FACE WITH A FACEWASH
Immediately, I wash my face with Clean and Clear facewash. I tap it dry using a hand towel.

DRINK WATER
I drink a glass of water, and if I feel my throat is itchy, I microwave water in a mug and drink it.

SPRAY TONER
Once I'm done with water, I switch off all the lights and come to my bedroom. I spray the Votre Pore Shrink Toner and let it dry.

APPLY MOISTURISER
I used to apply a moisturiser a week back, you can say. Nowadays I don't feel my skin itchy or dry, and so I don't apply.

PIMPLE ATTACK
If I have a pimple on my face, I apply the Garnier Pimple Control Pen or Soframycin Skin Cream. I don't really know if it has any effect on the pimples. Lately, I've been testing and so I thought I shouldn't apply any sort of medicine on my pimples to check how quickly the pimples reduced in size. I was shocked to see it vanished more quickly. I don't usually apply anything on pimples, but some nights I do.

LIE DOWN AND BE ON PHONE
At about 11:15 pm, I'm done with all the nightly chores and switch off the lights of all the rooms. I lie down with my glasses on. I connect my phone with a charger and be on it till 12:00. I either chat with my friends or surf on Pinterest or Facebook. If at all I'm sleepy or there's nobody to chat, I keep the phone before 12:00.

SET ALARM
The alarm is on repeat. But before sleeping, I make sure the time and date is right.

SWITCH OFF MOBILE DATA & TURN OFF WIFI
Lastly, if my mobile data is on, I turn it off. Later, I switch off the WiFi as everybody is asleep and nobody needs it any longer. Sometimes, my brother is awake with his laptop, either on YouTube or watching a TV show. No matter what he's watching or even if he is on his cellphone, surfing, I do not switch it off, unless he's asleep.

PLAN SCENARIOS
This is the best thing about nights. I lie down and think of scenarios that will never happen. It's fun to 'make dreams', I swear.

SLEEP
I don't realize when I fall asleep while 'planning scenarios and making dreams', but I love it when I do.


What's your 'real' winter night routine?
xoxo

January 23, 2016 No comments
This is a small trick, and I find it extremely useful. The card reader of my desktop is not functioning and so to access photos of my camera, I have to use the USB cord. I keep the cord inside the Random Access Shelf. It is so tough to search it, that I have to take out all the cords and then distinguish the one I need. Finally, I gave it a thought--


I took two ribbons and tied them towards both ends of the camera cord. Now, I'll just have to search the ribbons and I know where my cord is!

You can use same coloured ribbon for one cord if you want to distinguish multiple cords. For example, baby pink for cellphone charger, purple for camera cord, white for brother's cords, etc.
As I had to make only the camera cord stand out from the rest, I used different ribbons.

This becomes a great organization hack, plus also looks unbelievably pretty!


How do you organize cords?
xoxo

January 22, 2016 No comments
I'm thankful to my aunt to introduce me to this toner. I have large pores on the cheeks near my nose. My aunt, who is a beautician, recommended me to try this product. She asked me to use it in the morning.
Here's how she'd asked me to use it:

  1. After waking up, wash face with a facewash immediately after you brush your teeth.
  2. When you have bath later in the morning, do not apply a facewash, but just wash your face with plain water.
  3. After the bath, spray the toner on a cotton pad and dab on your face.
I, however, use this twice--in the morning and at night before sleeping. 


I had purchased this 100ml toner for Rs. 380 from an online shopping site. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name. There are different types available, and I have exactly the one in the picture, and I'm reviewing the same.

PACKAGING
I liked the packaging. The toner comes with a spray nozzle and a transparent cap to protect it. The cap is pretty tight and does not come out while travelling. Also, I really found the bottle very stylish. 

APPLICATION
Earlier I used to use cotton to apply, but now I spray directly on my face. I concentrate on the areas where I know I need a toner. I spray it on my forehead, on the cheeks, near the nose, and on my chin. 
I discontinued using cotton because I could not trust cotton with my opened pores. 
I like the application as it is hassle-free. You just have to spray, wait for it to dry, and you're done!

KEY INGREDIENTS
The Key Ingredients are unbelievable! All of them are natural--tea tree oil, grape seed, aloe-vera, rose extract, strawberry extract, and watermelon extract. I was taken aback after reading the ingredients and was definitely happy and trusted it on my face as it is herbal.

EFFECT
It has shrunk my pores, at least that's what I believe. After scrubbing my face, I use this toner, and I feel good. I scrub my face with a mild scrub everyday. I can't really say how toners work, and nobody can say so. It hydrates and refreshes my skin, and so it's really great in summer.

ADVANTAGES
- Stylish
-  Comes with a spray nozzle
- Feels refreshing
- Herbal
- Light-weight
- Travel-friendly
- Bottle lasts for more than a month

DISADVANTAGES
- A bit expensive
- Cannot really tell if it works or no

CONCLUSION
As this is light and hydrates skin, I would recommend it. I would at least suggest you to try this once before jumping onto conclusion. I know it's a bit pricey, but it would not disappoint you. I will repurchase it, if there's no new product in the market. 


Which toner do you use?
xoxo



January 21, 2016 No comments

I'm back from my Graduation Ceremony! It was wonderful and was organized really well. Like I told yesterday, I was in white kurta, black leggings, pink bindi, golden jhumke (earrings), and black heels. After the ceremony, I went out with my friends. 

I had made this smoothie today morning for breakfast. The quantity of ingredients is for 1 1/2 glasses (1 glass for me and 1/2 for mom). Let's get into the recipe!


INGREDIENTS:
  • Milk - 1 large glass
  • Strawberries - 6-7
  • Banana - 1
  • Almonds - 4
  • Hot Chocolate Powder - 1.5 tbsp
  • Sugar - 1.5 tbsp
  • Saffron Strands
SPECIAL UTENSILS REQUIRED:
  • Mixer/Blender
STEPS:


1. Chop banana into slices. The thickness doesn't really matter. Keep few slices aside for garnishing.



2. Cut strawberries into half. Keep 2-3 pieces aside. If you want a thin consistency, you can chop down the strawberries. I wanted my smoothie to have strawberries a bit crushed only.
3. Chop almonds into little pieces. Keep few pieces aside.



4. Put all the ingredients inside the mixer/blender and blend!



5. Pour the smoothie into a glass and garnish it with strawberries, banana slices, and almonds.


Do you like smoothies? How often do you make them?
xoxo


January 20, 2016 No comments
Keep Up The Flame is a Red coloured nailpolish and not Pink

This is a requested post. Instead of individually reviewing the nailpolish, I thought of going on with a review of the Lakme remover along. Just today, I applied a pink coat on my nails, as tomorrow it's my graduation day!
The dress-code is white upper and black lower, where pencil skirts are not allowed. I'm gonna wear a white kurta, black leggings, pink bindi, golden jhumke (earrings), black heels, and pinkish makeup. For all the 'pink' here, I thought of applying a pink nailpolish too.

Without further due, let's get into the reviews.


MAYBELLINE KEEP UP THE FLAME 215
This 'Color Show' range of Maybelline is in the market since a long time. I was unfortunate to not have purchased it earlier. I'm doing this particular review as it was requested. I've tried other Color Show nailpolishes as well, and they have all those qualities I will mention below.
The bottle is a cylindrical shaped and holds 6ml. The price is Rs. 100, but I purchased it for Rs. 85 from Snapdeal.com. At first, I'd thought that 85 was too much for a 6ml bottle. But, after owning it, I'm happy that I purchased it.

COLOUR
The colour is the typical bright red that was once in trend. It's a lovely, fresh colour, and is perfect for summer. I love how it looks with a pair of flip-flops and well pedicured feet. 

CONSISTENCY & APPLICATION
The consistency is not very thick and not very thin. I would say it is quite ideal for perfect nails. One coat is pretty enough to go for some time. If the shade is lighter like baby pink or light blue, two coats are suggested.
As the consistency is neither thick nor thin, the application is as smooth as butter. I loved how I could apply the polish easily on my nails.  

LASTING POWER
I had tried just one coat to see how long it can go without chipping. The nailpolish was chip-free for around 4-5 days. If you apply a top coat over it, the polish might last for one good week. I used my fingers too much, and so I can comment on the lasting power.

ADVANTAGES
- Smooth Application
- Perfect Consistency
- Colour is bright and fun
- Comes under nailpolishes below Rs. 100
- Has many shades in this range
- One coat is sufficient
- Lasts for almost a week

DISADVANTAGES
- A bit pricey for 6ml

CONCLUSION
If you're someone who is crazy about different nailpolishes and would not mind spending few rupees extra, this one's meant for you.

Here are some of the pictures from my Instagram account where my red nails were seen:





>*<


LAKME NAIL COLOR REMOVER
I'm using this remover since years. I don't know when it has come in the market, but I'm sure I've purchased it really soon after its launch. It is the cheapest branded nailpolish remover in the market.
The bottle consists of 27ml and is for Rs. 75. I know that if we take a bottle that has more quantity than this, there might be some options open. But for a small purchase, 27ml is good.

APPLICATION
Here by application I mean the level of easiness while pouring the liquid on a cotton ball. The bottle has a small opening to drizzle a bit of it on cotton, which is not an issue. 
I guess the remover could be a bit problematic, as sometimes when I try to remove the polish, my nails turn dry; it's as if my nails are chipping!

NAILPOLISH REMOVING ABILITY
It does remove the polish nicely, and you can remove the polish from two nails at one go. (I don't use too much of remover.)

PACKAGING
All I'm scared about is the glass bottle. I fear its falling down and breaking into pieces. I guess the bottle should have been a plastic one instead of glass.

ADVANTAGES
- Removes polish easily
- Not a pungent odour
- Comes under removers below Rs. 100
- Easy to apply
- Contains Vitamin E

DISADVANTAGES
- A bit pricey for 27ml
- Glass bottle. Should have been plastic

CONCLUSION
Buy it, or if you want more quantity, search for a cheaper but branded option.



Have you ever tried these two?
xoxo


January 19, 2016 No comments

I am relieved to have a calendar hanging on my room's wall. I made it yesterday, which means for 17 days, I was without a calendar. I felt naked. I had to either check in my cellphone, my agenda, or my mom's room to know which date falls on which day. We purchased a printer yesterday, and for the print-check, I gave a print of January month. I was quite happy with the print and so went forth for printing remaining 11 pages. And as you know me, I cannot keep such lovely papers loose and that I would immediately make the calendar, I actually did. My poor parents had to wait for lunch because of me.

It's a very simple wall calendar, and not like the one I'd made last year. This one involves no stitching and even your kid can make this. (Also, make a note that this calendar is available in peacock blue and red colour combination too.)


THINGS REQUIRED
  • Calendar Printables
  • Hole Punch Machine
  • Pair of Scissors
  • Ribbon
STEPS 


1 | PRINT THE CALENDAR LAYOUT
Print the calendar as per your wish. I printed it on an A4 size paper and the printer settings were 'normal'. As I had to just test the printer, I did not choose a superior quality of printing. You can choose so, and also choose the size. 
Print out the monthly calendar layout from here > http://goo.gl/5y2UgP



2 | ARRANGE THE MONTHS
After printing, you can arrange the months, or you can postpone this step.



3 | CUT THE WHITE SPACE
Cut the 'white' space. Sorry for being such a journalism student here, but that's the best word I could come up with. Cut the extra space and give a shape to your calendar. You can leave a bit of margin in the top to punch a hole, or can do it as I've done.



4 | PUNCH A HOLE
Carefully align the sheets and punch a hole in between. For perfect balance, measure and find out the middle point.



5 | PASS A RIBBON AND TIE A KNOT
Pass a pretty ribbon and tie a knot. The knot can make or break the impression, so tie it in a way that will give you a cute bow. You can also use a lace instead of the ribbon.



6 | HANG ON WALL
Finally, choose a place where you frequently sit, and hang your calendar on the wall. I've hung it in my bedroom, where I just have to tilt my neck in order to get a look at it.


Which calendar are you using this year?
xoxo

January 18, 2016 No comments

If you struggle throughout the week and when weekend arrives, you're all set to make something big out of it – perhaps get organised, plan the week ahead and so on – but in actuality, you procrastinate and then you're back to square one...oh well, if that's the case with you, then this article is just for you. Days pass by so quickly and within seconds, a week is gone. There's no time to sit peacefully, empty your mind, and plan your week. You're so messed up and you're literally dragging yourselves until the weekend.

Weekends too go in such a haste – from waking up late, watching movies, cooking something, catching up old friends – that you have no time for being productive whatsoever.

I suggest you make Saturdays as the only weekends and assign Sundays for relaxation, family time, and being totally productive. Consider Sundays as the first day of the week, instead of the last. 

Here are a few things you can do on Sundays, which will rock your following week:


CLEAN YOUR ROOM & DESK
Before anything else, I would ask you to clean the room. A messy room will always demotivate you to be productive. You'll tend to procrastinate all the tasks, which will make your upcoming week sucky. So, set just five minutes on the clock and clean the room until the time's up. Trust me, you'll have such a clean room in just five minutes.
If you work from home, clean your desk area. The cleaner the desk, the better your mind works. You can also keep a lovely flower vase along with candle to soothe your mind and begin afresh.


PLAN AND SCHEDULE
Sit down with an agenda, turn on relaxing/stress relief music, and plan down all the things you have to do in the upcoming week. If your best friend's birthday lies in this week, you can plan a surprise, and start working towards it.


MAKE A TO-DO LIST
While planning, you'll come across tasks that you have to do on that Sunday or in the upcoming week. Quickly, take your to-do list, and jot down all the tasks. Don't forget to put checkboxes before each task so that your work gets simpler and funner!


RE-ORGANIZE YOUR CLOSET
Throughout the previous week, if you had to rush anywhere, you might have just thrown clothes and disturbed your closet. Reorganize your closet before it gets too messy. You'll just have to organize clothes and accessories in their assigned piles and see that everything is back on its place.


FINISH ALL THE PENDING TASKS
There might be tons of tasks pending. I myself have lot of such. You have sudden plans and you have to postpone your work. If that's the case, you can do all the pending tasks on Sunday. Clear off any backlog and start the next week anew.


PAINT NAILS
Remember I'd mentioned about my classmate? She used to paint her nails every weekend and had fabulous nails throughout the week. I suggest you to remove the previous chipped nailpolish and paint a new coat of awesomeness.


PAMPER YOUR HAIR
If you always wanted to deep-condition your hair but did not have time, Sundays are the best days to do so. Try a hair mask or massage your hair with oil. Pamper them so that you have a great week ahead, or rather, won't suffer with Monday blues, as, good hair = good day!


PAMPER YOUR SKIN
Similarly, pamper your skin with exfoliator, face mask, face serum, or anything that you do to pamper your skin!


PACK BAG & PICK OUTFIT FOR MONDAY
Yes! Don't forget to do this nightly task, which you do on weekdays. Pick up outfit and bag for work/college for Monday. I change my bag with every outfit and so I have to transfer all my stuff from one bag to the other every day. I have absolutely no time in the morning to change my bag or pick an outfit. The day I do that, I'm sure of getting late. So to avoid being late, I pick outfit the night before and pack bag along with it. Or, mentally choose an outfit that can go with the handbag I had used the day before.


PLAN BREAKFAST & LUNCHBOX
As I have to leave the house early morning for college, I don't have the time to think about breakfast. So, I am thinking of planning out what breakfast to eat as I get very hungry at 9:00 am, when the lecture is still going on. Also, my mom cooks and packs a lunchbox for me early morning. I told her that we both will decide what I will carry in lunchbox  as she has to think a lot on what to give me!
I am thinking of buying one pack of bread and using it for the breakfast for about three days. For the remaining days, I can have eggs or cereals.


RELAX
Finally, don't forget to relax. Like I said, Sundays are for family, being productive, and relaxing. 

What do you do on Sundays to have a productive week ahead?
January 17, 2016 No comments
The credit goes to my best friend. When I had gone to Pune on the 30th for the New Year's eve, I learnt quite a few life hacks. After we were back from clubbing, we had to remove our makeup. The eyes are the most annoying parts of the body to remove makeup, I feel. Currently, I own no makeup removers.
My makeup is removed nicely with the facewash I use. However, my eyes still remain with smudged eyeliner all over.

My best friend told me this little trick and it works wonders!


I will write about the simple routine I follow in order to ensure all the makeup is gone, which also includes the trick! (I would like to say it again: I don't own a bottle of makeup remover.)


TIE HAIR PROPERLY
It may sound obvious, but I would still like to mention it here. I tie my hair nicely and see to it that no tresses are anywhere on my face. If you have bangs or short flicks, I would suggest you to use a headband too. 

WET FACE
I wet my face with water and try to remove whatever makeup is possible by it. Usually, any light coloured lipstick is gone by just rubbing my lips with plain water.

REMOVE EYE MAKEUP (THE TRICK)
Take any kind of oil on your palm and use it to remove the makeup. No matter how stubborn your eyeliner is, it's gonna wipe off. I use the Bajaj Almond Drops oil (30ml), which is meant for hair. We have kept this little bottle near the wash basin and so it's easy to grab it. You can use any kind of oil you want. I frankly love this little bottle and I'm using it currently. 
Apply oil on your eyelids and massage your eyes. Remove all the eye makeup, even the mascara from your eyelashes or the kohl from the waterline. As far as I know, I had had no irritation or burning sensation by using oil near my eyes. If you have smudge-proof or waterproof makeup products like this one, the area near your eyes might darken as the products might spread while wiping. Do not worry! 
Take cotton and try to wipe as much makeup as possible. I am too lazy to use cotton, so I skip this step. But as this trick belongs to my best friend, she'd told me that she uses cotton to wipe the makeup off!

WASH FACE WITH A FACEWASH
Even if you still find your face oily, due to the oil, do not worry! Wash your entire face with a facewash or a cleanser. I use the Clean and Clear facewash. Use a mild facewash, as you don't want to damage your skin! 

PAT DRY
After my face is as naked as a baby's face, I take a hand towel and pat dry. If you harshly dry your face, the towel might irritate your facial skin!

SOOTHE/PAMPER
This is an add-on. If you feel like you've been too harsh with your skin, you can apply moisturiser, or any cream that you use to relax your muscles. 


Which makeup remover(s) do you use?
xoxo

January 16, 2016 No comments

My mom makes such delicious tilgul vadis, you have no idea. You just cannot eat one, as after finishing the first, you'll feel like having more. 
For all those who don't know what a Tilgul Vadi is, I'll explain, don't worry.
Til (pronounced as Teel) are the sesame seeds. And Vadi is a type of sweet made out of these seeds,  with jaggery (gul). Some communities in India, including mine, make these sweets today, that is, on Makar Sankranti. As the consumption of sesame seeds generates heat in the body, it is an extremely 'hot' sweet. It is, therefore, made on this day, which lies in January--one of the winter-months in India.
Makar Sankranti usually falls on 14th January, but when it is a leap year, it is on the 15th January, like it is this year.
In Maharashtra, we exchange sweets made out of tilgul and wish each other, "Tilgul ghya, ani god god bola." It translates in English saying, "Take tilgul (sweets) and speak sweetly."
We also make other sweets on this day, including the delicious gul-poli, which my mom made this morning.
Now, let's dig into the recipe of Tilgul Vadis.



Preparation Time: 20 mins
Cooking Time: 10-12 mins
Makes: 30 approx
Veg/Non-Veg: Veg

Ingredients:
  • Sesame Seeds (Grounded) - 2 Cups
  • Groundnut (Crushed) - 1 Cup
  • Jaggery - 2 Cups
  • Ghee (Unsalted Butter) - 1 tbsp
  • Cardamom Powder - 1 tbsp
  • Desiccated Coconut - 1 1/2 tbsp
Special Utensils Required:
  • Baking Tray
  • Vessel
Steps:

1. Roast sesame seeds in a vessel.
2. After they cool down, grind them. The grounded sesame seeds should account to 2 cups.
3. Roast groundnuts. After they cool, crush them. The crushed groundnuts should equal 1 cup.
4. Grate/chop jaggery until it measures 2 cups.
5. Grind cardamom into a powder.
6. Grate dried coconut.




7. In a vessel, put ghee. Melt jaggery in it, but don't let it boil!
8. As soon as it melts, put grounded sesame seeds and crushed groundnuts. Mix.
9. Immediately after mixing, pour the mixture in a greased baking tray.
10. Spread the mixture evenly (like you do while making granola bars).
11. Immediately, garnish it with desiccated coconut (dried grated coconut) and cardamom powder. 


12. After it cools/dries, cut the whole mixture into squares. Enjoy; and Tilgul ghya; god god bola! 

January 15, 2016 No comments
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