The time I flew to India with a 10 month old.. it took us 30 hours to get to our destination!

I live in the Pacific Northwest, getting anywhere from this remote part of the country often involves flying. But when I told my co-workers and friends that I was going to India (read 30 hours journey) with my 10 month old in November, I could see them thanking the stars that they were not going to be traveling with us.

Lets rewind to when I was not a mom, my heart would drop when I saw a parent with a baby heading towards my seat on a plane. I am sure I made that face - you know the one I mean and I am certain I even used to sigh out loud.

Fast forward to last November when me and my husband and my little baby were making our way to our seats on the first flights on a series of flights that would eventually get us to India. I was scowling and staring down every face that made me feel like I was being a bad human being for bringing my baby onto the flight. What was I meant to do?? Well if only they would get a move on inventing teleporting.

As I walked through the aisles, I was cringing on the inside at the person I used to be, and wishing I could go back and apologize to all those parents.

Thankfully, for us at least, this potential nightmare had a fabulous end. My daughter was so well behaved, she made less noise than many of the adults on the flight and many of the co-passengers came up to us and congratulated us on a successful mission. Houston we had done it!

I don't claim to have brought into this world an unusually quiet baby. Ila (my daughter) is as boisterous as you'd expect any baby to be. She is curious about the world around her and in November she was crawling so didn't appreciate being restricted for hours on end. Unfortunately for us, she was too big for the bassinets that they provide on these flights and let's be real, she was never going to sleep in those things with all the pilot announcements and the lights around us.

But we made it work with a bit of team work and being prepared for the worst :) I will be sharing my tips and tricks to surviving long flights with a baby in my next post. Don't forget to subscribe to my blog if you want to know more :)

The non-resolution resolution for 2016

It's late in January, we are already almost one twelfth of the way into 2016. Everyone I know has new years resolutions, even the ones who claim not to have them, do. It's human nature to want to challenge yourself and then to fail.

I have had the same new years resolution since I was 10 and could spell the word weight. I wanted to lose weight. You would think that now that I am 33, I might have made a dent in that goal, but no, I am 20 pounds heavier than I was last year. In addition to my resolution some of the common ones are - eat more veggies, drink more water, walk / run 5 miles a day, the list is endless and boring.

I think what we all want to do is indulge in change that is both measurable (so we can check the box / pat our backs) but life long. This year I will be focusing on changing my mindset towards the way I use my time.

There is a famous story about daily management. "Rocks, Pebbles, Sand - The Important Things in Life" is a story that explains in plain words, that in order to be happy we need to pay attention to the important things in life first and then deal with the lesser stuff later. It is a story about recognizing what’s important and prioritizing. "Rocks, Pebbles, Sand - The Important Things in Life" assures us that we may have time to do everything that we want to do, only if we prioritize and manage our time wisely. That would lead to happiness indeed.

So the story goes, a professor showed an empty jar to his students and filled it with big rocks. He then asked his class, is the jar full? They replied - Yes. The professor said no, wrong answer. He then poured some gravel into the jar. He asked the students, is the jar full. They replied - Yes. He said no, that's wrong too. He then emptied a bag of sand into the jar. He then asked his students, is the jar full. Now, the students had wised up and they replied - No it's not. He agreed and proceeded to empty a pitcher of water into the jar. He said, NOW the jar is full.

The idea is that we fill our days with a lot of sand (small, inconsequential tasks which we think are quick wins) but in fact we should go after the big rocks first. The large measurable and impact-ful tasks that might take longer. I took another thing away from this story though, that it's important to identify small gaps (wasted time) in our day. If we can consolidate this time or even spend it knowingly and with a gain in mind, we will be a lot happier and more successful. 24 hours are quite enough if you are efficient.

So today, I am gathering up the sand and gravel in my day and writing this post. How will you spend the sand and gravel in your day? Let me know!!

Project - USE IT UP #1

It's the new year and as usually happens I have bought quite a few goodies during the holiday sales. Although stoked about my purchases, I am running out of room.

I never have issues finishing skincare, bodycare and haircare products but makeup products linger in my collection for years because I love trying new things and changing up my makeup routine. This time round though I want to choose products that are either soon going to dry out or expire (cream products) or products that are nearly done and just need to be used up. I will then try and use them up as part of my daily makeup, at the end of every month I will give you guys a low down on how I fared and if we do finish up something, I will replace it with another product.

Here are my picks -

a. Maybelline Color Tattoos ($6.99) in (Barely Branded, Bad to the Bronze, Pomegranate Punk) and also 2 other cream shadows, one is Calvin Klein eyeshadow in Cashmere Plum and Benefit's Busy Signal (discontinued). I love using cream shadows on their own for a quick and easy eye look but I think they also make great eye primers. I think I can use one of these up in the next 6 months.

Swatches from left to right - Barely Branded, Bad to the Bronze, CK cream eye shadow in Cashmere Plum, Pomegranate Punk and Benefit's Busy Signal

b. Stila Convertible Colors ($25) in Lillium and Gladiola - Again products that I have had for over a year and these creams are really good quality so I don't want them to go bad before I can use them up. I reckon I can finish both of these by the end of the year. I know technically these are 2 products but I am going to club them together.

c. Clinique Blush in Sunset Glow ($21) - Another gift with purchase and I was so pleasantly surprised that I love the blush color and the eyeshadows are nice too. I think I can finish this within 6 months.

d. Clinique Highlight in Pink Sugar (discontinued) - I think it's one of the gifts with purchase that I received when I bought a Clinique Lipstick 5 years ago!! It's still in good shape but I really need to finish this product off. It's one of my favorite cream highlighters and I am going to enjoy using this every day. I think I can finish this by the end of this year.

e. Benefit Dandelion Face Powder ($28) - I have owned this powder for 5 years and it's a great brightening powder. Even though powder products do not go bad for a long time, I hit pan on this last year and then forgot to use it up. So I reckon I can finish this product within 4 months.

f. Stila Countless Pigments in Finale (discontinued) - another blush, one that I have been wearing almost non-stop for the last 6 months. There are 3 distinct pigments that when you mix gives just the most gorgeous pink shade to the cheeks. There is about half the product left, I think I can finish this product by the end of the year.

Top to bottom - Stila Convertible Color in Lillum and Gladiola, Clinique Sunset Glow, Stila Countless Pigments in Finale and Benefit Dandelion

g. Clinique Different Lipstick in Spiced Apple ($16) - An old lipstick, think I stole this from my mom. I have used it quite a bit but still have a ton left. But the lipstick has started sweating a little which makes me nervous and I want to use this up in the next 6 months.

Clinique Different Lipstick in Spiced Apple

h. Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Pink Toffee ($16) - one of my favorite my lips but better lipsticks and I adore the formula too. Clinique really does some great lipsticks that are great value too. I have half a stick left in this bullet, I am going to use it up with the next few months I reckon.

Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in Pink Toffee

i. Three lip glosses - Revlon Super Lustrous lip glosses in Firecracker (now discontinued) , Estee Lauder Pure Color Gloss in Pink Orchid and Ginger Shimmer (both limited editions). I love all three of these glosses and I have used them a lot, only have a little bit in each of them so I reckon I can finish these this quarter.

Swatches left to right - Estee Lauder Lip Gloss in Ginger Shimmer and Pink Orchid, Revlon Super Lustrous gloss in Firecracker, Clinique Butter Shine lipstick in Pink Toffee and Clinique Different lipstick in Spiced Apple.

Those are my picks for Project - USE IT UP! Have you started your new year with a similar resolution? What were your product picks?

December Favorites

The month of December has been a successful one in terms of beauty. I am not working so I have had time to experiment and try new products and rediscover some old gems in my collection.

Firstly this is the Hair and Body Oil from Landeva Organics ($25.99 for 125 ml). It contains Argan Oil, Camellia Seed Oil, jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, castor seed oil, Vitamin E, lavender, fractionated coconut oil, safflower seed oil and is one of the most luxurious body products that I have ever come across. Pricey but completely worth it in my opinion if you can afford it. I use this oil every day to moisturize my dry winter skin. The 125 ml will only last me about 6 weeks as I use it liberally but if you use it sparingly it can last longer. This is my holy grail body oil, which I will definitely use next winter.

Second is the No.28 Primer Serum from Hourglass ($65 for 1 oz), is one of the pricier makeup products that I have tried. However, for my winter face this is more than a primer. It's a real serum. So for a product that does double duty, I think it might be worth the splurge. I have been using the 5 ml deluxe sample from Sephora every day for the past 2 weeks and I have maybe used 1 ml worth of product, it's a thick gel that you need very little of. So 1 oz (30 ml) will last for months!! Might be an idea to ask for a sample at Sephora the next time you are in there or wait for a good GWP (gift with purchase) or a sale to purchase this. Also, just as a note, I use this without using a moisturiser underneath as I find this gives me enough hydration on it's own.

After all these splurge worthy products, the next product is thankfully an affordable drugstore find. It's the Garnier Fructis Hydra Recharge Moisture Whip Leave-in Conditioner ($4.99 for 5 oz). I essentially use this after I wash my hair when my hair is damp. I use 2 pumps of this and distribute it throughout my hair. I find that it makes my hair soft and protects it from heat.

If you read my blog regularly, you may have noticed a post about my favorite lightweight base for the holidays. I use the Bourjois Bronzing Primer ($11.31 for 18 ml) first and then use the YSL Matte and Radiant Pressed Powder ($47 for 10 g) on top. You can read all about my experience with both these products in my blog post here.

And we are back to hair care, these last few months I have discovered dry shampoo and have tried a couple of different brands but the best so far has been Batiste ($7.99 for 200 ml). Currently I am using the cool & crisp fresh scent, but I also love the original version. The way I use dry shampoos is that I use them from the days when my hair is feeling greasy but when I still have a couple of days before I can wash it. I shake the can well and then spray into my roots and then using my fingers distribute the white residue all over my head so that it disappears. I then brush and style my hair and suddenly I have so much more volume and find that my hair looks a lot better than it did before.

My favored lightweight base for the holiday - Bourjois Bronzing Primer & YSL Matt & Radiant Pressed Powder

I love a good simple hydrating base for the holidays and anytime I am feeling stressed. It's a great way to give my skin some space and a little R&R. I have yet to find my perfect light weight base, but for now, I am really happy with this combo that I have come up with.

This is what I do, I open this lovely smelling tub of deliciously chocolatey goo. It's called the Bourjois Bronzing Primer, for my NC42 skintone, this bronzing primer is the perfect shade as an all over base. The longevity is wonderful, I don't feel like the base breaks down on my face for about 8 hours or so. The primer gives me a lovely soft finish with all the hydration that I need during the winter months. The primer is all matte, and can be blended out as much as you like, so if you are paler, just use less. I use the Real Techniques Buffing Brush to do the job.

Another lovely selling feature is that it's very affordable at $11.31 for 18 ml on lifeandlooks.com

Once I have blended out the Bourjois Bronzing Primer I feel like I still need a little more coverage, a little more a barrier to make sure that the finish I want lasts. So to that end, I decided to whip out my trusty and luxurious YSL Matt & Radiant Pressed Powder which is an expensive foundation powder at $47 for 10 grams but I think it's truly worth it. It is made in France, talk about fancy. These come in 6 shades, although they are not all easy to find. I managed to get my hand on the shade 5 which is a tinge dark for me, but since you only need a small dusting, it works for me. The powder is so finely milled that if you run a finger over the surface, you will feel that you are touching silk. There is no noticeable shimmer to it, but amazingly it does light up my face when I dust it all over using a skunk brush or a light and fluffy powder brush. I have owned this powder for 3 years and have managed to hit pan big time.

This is look and finish that I end up with. It's a simple base, far from full coverage, but it makes my skin sing. What are your hydrating, skin nourishing bases?

Don't forget to enter my Kyoku for men skincare giveaway here. Only 6 days left!!

Pregnancy update

This post is going to be a departure from my usual posts, I just wanted to give you all an update on how I have fared through my pregnancy. I am in week 32 right now, and I thought maybe if I wrote down my personal experiences it might help people if you are trying to get pregnant or are already newly pregnant.

Tips to deal with pregnancy rules and restrictions -

No caffeine allowed: 

a. It's OK to have a little bit of caffeine but I personally found it easier to lay off tea and coffee completely. That way, I was miserable for a few weeks, but then things were good and dandy :)
b. Much more difficult to give up was chocolate, it has caffeine too! So make sure you consume in limited quantities.

Limit consumption of tuna and shellfish because these fish contain high levels of mercury:

a. Fish contains Omega 3 which is great for the brain development of the fetus, so cutting out fish all together might not be such a great idea. Here's a list of fish that are safe to eat during pregnancy - http://www.nrdc.org/health/effects/mercury/guide.asp

Exercise during pregnancy:

a. My tip is to walk and then walk some more. Don't over do it, as you get bigger it gets harder to move, but during the first two trimesters I tried to walk between 2 - 4 miles a day. Now I walk about a mile a day.

b. Ask you doctor about other exercises that you can help you deal with back pain etc. Especially important in the last trimester.

Acidity, Heart burn and Gastric reflex during pregnancy:

a. As the baby grows, it pushes all your other organs up and everything else gets squished. This leads to regular heart burn. There are a few things I have found that help me deal with heartburn - I avoid acidic foods after 7 pm, that includes carbonated drinks too. I try and have small meals all day instead of a few large ones.

b. If none of these tips work for you, don't suffer in silence, doctors can and do prescribe medicine that can help and is safe for the baby too.

Babies need calcium:

a. I hated drinking milk. HATED it. But now oddly I love it! I have a glass of cold 2% milk most evenings and it really helps settle my tummy too.

b. But if you really dislike milk, make sure you find a way to make it work for. Maybe try adding a tiny bit of sugar and some saffron to it, smells and tastes amazing. I also recommend eating your oats with a lot of milk, that way they flavor the milk and you can enjoy a delicious and nutritious breakfast!

c. If you really dislike milk and other dairy products or simply can't have dairy products, make sure you regularly take prenatal vitamins which include calcium.

Take care of your gums:

a. Pregnancy causes your gums to swell up and get tender. This can lead to bleeding while flossing. But don't let this deter you from following a thorough dental hygiene routine. If you are not thoroughly looking after your teeth and gums, the swollen gums can mean that food particles are caught more easily in the gaps between the gums and the teeth.

Maternity wear:

a. I never did find good quality and decent looking maternity outfits, so I decided to just buy bigger sizes in normal clothes and that worked out really well for me.

b. Breasts change shape and definitely get larger as the pregnancy progresses, so do make sure that you account for the changes when shopping for maternity and nursing bras.

Lifting heavy weights:

a. My doctor told me that it was fine to lift up to 25 pounds and to listen to my body and if it feels too heavy then it probably is.

Lastly it is most important to share the joys and pains of being pregnant with your other half, family and close friends. Sharing helps increase the joy and ease any anxiousness you might be feeling. It's a miracle that is occurring in your body, but for most of us, life goes on while you are pregnant and it can be overwhelming at times. Having a support system can do wonders for both the mother and the father. Remember that your other half is going through some emotional turmoil too, it's only natural and that you have to support each other.

Have a wonderful pregnancy ladies :) Feel free to ask me questions if you need any help at all.

- Shruti

After a break...

I have been away from my blog for months, about 7 months actually! It's a long time, I know that if you were a regular reader you may have wondered when I was going to come back and why I had left my blog alone for so long.

I don't really have a good answer and maybe that's why it's taken me so long to write this post and write my come back. I went off in April on a long holiday and that was all the break that I was going to take from the blog, it can be exhausting to keep a blog going when you are working full time so I figured a break of a few weeks might do me some good, help me recharge.

But just before leaving on holiday, I found out that I was pregnant! We had only been trying for a couple of weeks, so it came as quite a shock (a pleasant surprise) and I felt like I needed more time to spend with the baby, just enjoying my last few months of not being a parent. I didn't feel like wearing makeup, or even thinking about beauty. Getting pregnant and expecting a baby puts life in perspective like nothing else, and I felt like there were more important things I wanted to focus on.

Then as if this wasn't enough change to be getting on with, my husband was offered a really good job offer but it meant that we would be moving away from Chicago to Portland, Oregon. It also meant that I would have to give up my job and we would be down to one salary for a while till I found something. I need a visa to work in the States and add my growing belly to the mix and I figured it would be a while before a job came along.

So I took a very extended hiatus from Twitter, Instagram and other blogs. I am sorry if I have missed some important events in your life in the past few months, I have been selfish but I hope you understand.

We have moved to Portland, been here for about a month and settling in OK. I was stressed about finding a good OB/GYN who would take me half way through my pregnancy but I have been blessed to find a good doctor and a good hospital. I have also been incredibly lucky to find a job before I moved here!! I actually interviewed when we came to Portland on our house hunting trip and they offered me the role the next day! With the visa process underway, I hope to be able to start soon. My new employers were lovely when it came to my pregnancy and have offered me 3 months unpaid leave so that I will have time with the baby.

Things are finally settled and my pregnancy has been a delight so far. I feel more like blogging now and maybe will have posts about baby gear and research that I have been doing for the last few months too.

This is getting to be a really long post, I just wanted to explain everything in detail as much as possible. I hope you are not mad at me leaving so abruptly and hopefully will follow my blog as you did before. Tell me about what's going on in your life and I hope we can chat soon.

- Shruti

Celebrity Beauty Tips

Celebrity Beauty Tips 

Who better to take beauty advice from than your favorite celebrities? Check out these tips from some famous leading ladies who are experts at staying fit and looking their best.

Buy Your Hair a Drink

Brunette beauty Catherine Zeta-Jones swears by conditioning her hair with beer. Yes, beer! Using shampoo and conditioner on a frequent basis can cause your hair follicles to develop buildup. Alcohol actually helps to remove that buildup while softening and moisturizing your hair at the same time. After you've washed and dried your hair, simply massage one cup of your favorite beer into your strands, cover with plastic wrap, and rinse!

Use La Bella Donna Mineral-Based Cosmetics

Jennifer Aniston, known for her natural beauty and girl next door appeal, was recently spotted during a shopping trip where she was purchasing compressed mineral blush by La Bella Donna. La Bella Donna's cosmetic line includes only pure minerals derived from rock. Aniston is one of many female stars who are shifting to all natural makeup. Not only is it environmentally friendly and healthier for your skin, but mineral-based make up also draws in moisture and light, giving your face that healthy glow. Jennifer Aniston tends to prefer the natural-looking palettes, but she loves that La Bella Donna offers a wide array of colors that are perfect for every skin type.

Swim Your Way to a Bikini Body

Named 2011's Sexiest Woman Alive, actress and recording artist Rihanna knows exactly what it takes to get that sexy, toned body you're striving towards. She loves to swim and uses the ocean as her own personal workout space. You can easily do the same. Swimming in the ocean or walking back and forth in a pool will help tone and strengthen your legs. You can find a number of water exercises that will also help tighten your abdominal muscles and flatten your stomach. The best part about it is that after you get out and dry off, it'll feel like just another fun summer afternoon instead of a boring workout.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize Stunning actress 

Demi Moore's secret to her youthful appearance is simple. She uses moisturizer not just once but all throughout the day. Moisturizing is key to maintaining soft, vibrant skin. She only uses fragrance-free, all natural products, and no matter how late she gets home, she makes sure to use her favorite face cream. It's a lesson that she learned from her mother and one that has clearly helped her defy the aging process. Make moisturizing a part of your morning and nighttime beauty routines. You should also consider carrying some in your handbag so that you can apply it whenever your skin feels dry.

Drink Water 

Actress America Ferrera manages to look both fresh-faced and glamorous at every event she's photographed at. How does she do it? She swears by the power of water. Ferrera credits water for giving her face its perfect glow and strengthening her hair and nails. She drinks at least eight cups a day now, but that wasn't always the case. It wasn't until increasing her water intake that she noticed how much her skin, nails, and hair flourished. Water flushes out toxins and provides hydration to the body, so it's really no surprise that it's a best-kept beauty secret.

(This is a sponsored post)

8 Ways to Boost Winter Facial Skin Health

This amazing infographic was brought to my attention and you can go to the source website of skinfo to learn more, but I think there is a lot of information in the infographic itself.

Winter is a challenging time for our face. We usually cover the rest of our bodies so that the covered area is protected from the freezing cold and severe wind but most of the time our faces are exposed. So it follows logically that the skin on our face needs more TLC than in good weather. Skinfo.com (a specialty skincare boutique) have done a great job in helping us find the best products for our facial skin during the long (this year has just been ridiculous, right?) winter months.

Hope you find this useful! x

Stand up for goodness sake!

I work in an office. I wish I had chosen a different profession that meant that I would not spend my entire work day sitting down at my desk and staring at the screen (tip - if you are a teenager reading this, you should know that working in an office is rather dull).

Since it's too late for me to change what I do for a living I figured I would do something about my work environment instead. I have modified my sitting down desk into a standing desk! I must say that I do have an office to myself so this might not work for you if you work in a cubicle but you might pick up some helpful tips anyway.

Shruti's DIY standing desk!

The Notes - Samples to use up in September

I love receiving samples. They are a fun and cheap way to try out new skin care. They are also a great marketing tool for cosmetic companies so don't be afraid to ask for them when you are in Sephora, Ulta or any makeup counter. I have a few here that I want to use up during September.

The Notes - Disappointing products

I love reading rave reviews about great working products but sometimes we all come across products that just don't do live up to expectations. I always research quite a bit before making purchases but I have found a few products that I own that I am really disappointed with. All of these products are quite pricey as I believe if you spend $5 on something that doesn't work, it's an easier pill to swallow than say if you spent $30 on something that is disappointing.

As with all beauty purchases, some things that work for me might not work for you and vice versa, so please don't be offended if some of these are you holy grail products, they just don't work for me.

The Notes - My nail care routine

I was requested by a lovely reader to write a post about my nail care routine in one of my NOTD post here and I apologise for taking a month to actually publish the post.

Nail care collection

The Notes - Perilious journey through Macys

Drawing courtesy of Tami T-N

Shopping for makeup makes me feel a little sick. Sounds strange doesn't it? I love makeup, I enjoy buying it, but then why am I not jumping for joy at the prospect of walking in to a departmental store and shopping for it?

The Notes - Cleaning makeup brushes

Makeup brushes tend to be some of the most expensive things in my collection so it's super important to look after them. Cleaning makeup brushes is a chore, no one likes doing it but if you do it right, it can be quick and will save you a lot of money in the long run.

When I bought my first makeup brush (my Dior Blush Brush .. love), I used it a few times and of course it got grimy and then I trolled through the internet trying to find the best way to clean it. There are many different techniques and opinions out there, but this is what works for me and what I thought want the most logical way to clean brushes.

I clean my brushes using the same products I would use to clean my hair! Voila.. easy. Well there is just a little more to it, lets see shall we?

 

The Notes - Egg on your face? Kudos!

Today is National Egg Day in the States! 

 

Eggs are a terrific source of protein and vitamin D, which makes them one of the healthiest breakfast foods.
But eggs are so much more than a terrific ingredient, eggs have lots of uses in skincare too.

The Notes - Homemade lip scrub

My first actual post on this blog was about a Lip Exfoliator (Scrub) and I had mentioned that I will be doing a post on how you can make your own lip scrub. Lip scrubs can be very expensive (at the end of the post, I will link a few store bought ones that I like) and they are so easy to make at home!

The first thing to note is that I try and use natural and organic ingredients wherever possible. However, I realise that it may not be possible to find these easily in various parts of the world, so this is not a requirement at all. You can also make whatever substitutions or additions you like, this is just a recipe that I used and it works wonderfully.

The Notes - Sunday morning skincare routine

Thought I'd scare you all with my 'mask face'. Yep that's my face slathered in a mask. So now that I have you full attention, lets proceed to the very important matter of masks and why we should pay more attention to what we put on our skin.

Sunday mornings are nice and relaxed in our house, we like to not make any plans or not start any chores until after noon on Sunday. So it's the time I use to attend to my skin. This is my current routine, but I am not totally happy with it, you will see why in a bit.

Me with the Avene soothing mask on.

The Notes - A bit of a departure

This blog post is going to be a bit of a departure from the usual posts around products and looks. We are going to discuss how your health affects our face and much more importantly our confidence. I recently came across the poster below which made me smile and I thought I'd share it with you.