Lifestyle

4 Things I’ll Never Buy | Blogmas 11

/ Srishty / Leave a comment

Remember this post? I talked about things I love collecting. An antithesis of this post is here now, primarily due to the motivation to consume less and not collect stuff. I don’t know which of the two posts i thought of first but here it is for you to enjoy:

Well, never say never but you get the gist, right? I am vary of buying these things:

1. Vases: i do buy other things that serve as vases. Like ceramic pots that can also serve as water jugs? You know what i mean? However, I desperately steer clear of buying actual vases from a shop. In my head, that’s just too basic a decor item. Why not use unexpected things as vases that set your house part? I love the idea of using alcohol bottles as is for home decor too.

2. Balloons: i have loved balloons for as long as I can remember. My mom tells me I used to be scared of them as a toddler, that’s why I said for as long as I remember. 🙂 But, but, they are non biodegradable and create a lot of unnecessary waste. Just beware if you were to put me in charge of planning a party, i can assure you though that I’ll get a mean party setup without them!

3. Dusting clothes: i dont understand why people feel the need to buy these. Maybe i am missing something here? How come people don’t have clothes that are discarded and can be used as dusting clothes? Or its not good to use them?

4. Storage boxes: unless they are furniture. I don’t like the idea of ‘buying’ boxes that you would use for storage. In all likeliness, I’ll figure something out from existing boxes like delivery packages. But this may lead to piling up a lot of stuff, again something i truly despise. But it’s just lesser of the two evils. I cannot even begin to tell you just how hard I cringe when movers & packers come over and insist on using their own fresh new boxes, instead of the boxes you already have handy.

So I colored my hair blue | Blogmas 6

/ Srishty / 4 Comments

I have been wanting to do this for a while now. And it had to be blue. I love seeing blue colored hair on people. So much so that I don’t know which color to go for if I do this again. Because I don’t feel that attracted to any color on hair other than blue.

It’s a bit more special to me because I have never colored my hair. I haven’t done many hair treatments either, a keratin once and a couple of hair spas ( does that even count as treatment? I think treatment yes, but definitely not experimental stuff). I have had many hairstyles over the years and I would still say that I have experimented with hairstyles compared to many other people but hair color i haven’t. And I know this color is out of comfort zone for many people. I was clear, though, this is the color I wanted. In fact, the fact that I wanted this color on my hair made me do it.

A little about how I went about it. I had a vague idea that I wanted to color my hair blue. There’s this salon called Neu Salonz in Gurgaon whom I have seen doing beautiful colors on many influencers. I had kind of already thought seeing many pictures that I’ll get my hair done from them. Then, as luck would have it, I also came across this below picture from them.

This was it. This is exactly what I wanted.

One day I finally called up the salon, took an idea of how much time it takes etc. I kind of knew that this salon is overcharging since they spend a lot on marketing etc, something confirmed by a friend who was also getting her hair colored at the same time for way cheaper. I still wanted to get my first time hair color by this salon only, because I was convinced a bit too much seeing the pictures online.

As some of you may know, it’s wedding season in India right now and I decided to go to the salon right before a friend’s wedding. it seemed like a very time taking process at the salon and we were running a bit late so I was in dilemma about whether to come again some day. My husband, who strictly hates any sort of hair colors by the way, convinced me to go for it right away so that at least I have newly styled hair for the wedding. 😀 Before you all go awww, he was irritated by my to and fro to the core.

I have to say, it is a boring process to sit in a salon while they wash and re-wash your hair and keep putting various stuffs on it. But the end result delighted me. I am so happy that I did this. I am going to share some pictures below and it’s totally okay if you think you don’t like it, do share that feedback too. I, for one, love it. I also in general like the idea of experimenting with hair (even though i dont end up doing it because of laziness). I’ll tell you why i like it though – 1) i am fairly confident in my skin if someone judges my hair experiments, sure it bothers me when people stare but its not that much. i make my peace with it, 2) i have really bad quality hair so i am not scared of what may come 😀 i think the only badass thing i do in life is be okay with my hair doing whatever the f*ck they want.

My husband, of course, doesn’t like colored hair, so he keeps noticing people around him who are staring at me. Something that happens a lot more in wedding season.

Do share your thoughts as well. 😀

Posts I worked hard for but didn’t get the love | Blogmas 3

/ Srishty / 2 Comments

I have been meaning to do this post since a long time because there are some old posts on this blog which have a common theme – they are long and very word heavy, took me a long time to write but they barely got any love. Now I understand that I haven’t been getting any traction since the recent past because I post very inconsistently and, in such scenarios, not getting any traction is sort of anticipated. However, the posts I am mentioning are from the time when I expected traction.

I have decided to link them here today in the hope that you would be considerate enough to read them. 🙂

The Tale of the most ornate blouse: you know what, I would love to write more posts like this as I love restyling clothes. Loved the concept of reuse and reduce before it became cool.

Blogmas Day 5 | My 2020 Favorites! The year that was!: Why did this post not get the love it deserves? Who doesn’t want to know other people’s favorites? 😀

My 2 year long relationship with Earth Rhythm: A recent post which is detailed on a skin care brand My Hair Story & the entry of a recent miracle

My Hair Story & the entry of a recent miracle: this is a very, very old post and my hair care routine (or the lack of one – it’s just oil and shampoo) has seen many new things since then. Recent addition – a blue hair color. Seems like a good idea to document that. 😀 That aside though, this post may still be relevant for someone with similar hair, so, go read maybe?

5 Indian things I appreciated after living abroad | Blogmas 2

/ Srishty / 2 Comments

I clearly remember how much I used to hate my mom’s habit of putting excessive coriander in everything. And then I went to Europe for around 10 months and I missed it’s presence in regular food terribly. I came back and became equally or more obsessed with coriander.

So, i dedicate this post to 5 such Indian things that I have only appreciated either when living abroad or with age. I am sure Indians who moved abroad to settle can add a lot to this list. If you are reading this, please do consider adding yours in comments!

1. Amla: Indian gooseberry is a superfood that doesn’t get the credit it deserves. I know you will say that it’s way more popular than many other superfoods but my point is just how versatile and tasty it is in so many dishes. Why people don’t eat it more often? Maybe because they don’t know how easy it is to incorporate in so many dishes! Apart from amla candy & murabba (preserve), nothing else seems to be super popular. I think I’ll do a post on some easy peasy recipes with amla.

2. Coriander: of course. No brainer . Chop and put it in any Indian dish and see its magic happen.

3. Spice box: just why do people elsewhere not use a spice box? Just why? If you are reading this and don’t know what this is, please Google. You will know its importance in a South Asian’s life. This point can also be extended to pressure cooker actually. Why are people buying canned legumes and not using a pressure cooker?

4. Fresh mangoes need i say more?

So this is my list but i am sure many others can be added to this list. Please do let me know in comments. Mine are a lot around food but yours don’t have to be. 😀

3 home workout channels I am loving | Blogmas 1

/ Srishty / 1 Comment

very impulsive decision to try Blogmas again this year. Please hype me up so that i stick to it.

I have often mentioned in passing in my blogs just how far I am from working out regularly. I almost never have a fitness plan and that truly sucks. There is nothing more important than health and this is something that all of us have come to appreciate more over this pandemic period. I am still far away from a rigorous workout routine, but a step in the right direction should always be appreciated. I did a stretch of complete one month of home workouts right before Diwali after which I slacked and now with winters stepping in I have become all the more lazy.

But one happy realisation out of all this is just how much more motivated I am for home workouts compared to gyms and all. Therefore, I am going to list down 3 home workout channels I ended up discovering and enjoying. Of course, please bear in mind that these are very popular channels and if you are even a tiny bit into working out, you would already know them, but maybe someone like me will be helped. 🙂 More importantly, please, please do leave your recommendations on home workout YouTube channels in the comments for me!

1. Mady Morrison My favorite on this list and probably the least popular among the ones listed. I am so lucky that she was the first suggestion in my searches, I had just randomly searched for a stretching video because of a back pain. The worst thing though? Apart from this particular stretching video and a few others, almost all of her content is in German. I have enjoyed her vibe the most while working out and her videos instantly bring me calm. I think I would just become okay with subtitles eventually, that’s how much I like her videos.

2. Growwithjo I don’t know anyone who makes workout seem as fun as Jo does. Honestly, i was a little skeptical to consider her videos as ‘proper workouts’ as they are just so chill but she keeps posting about these people who have benefited from her workout programs and it’s just motivating.

3. Madfit to be honest, despite it being so popular, it wasn’t the best for me. It felt a little too stern for my liking (and less calm), but the good thing is that they have a lot of content to choose from, and she gives quite some breaks in between the workouts which maybe a good thing for many beginners. I stuck it out with this one for sometime because Mady is not in English, but I am looking out for more options. So, do leave suggestions in comments please.

Aside from these, i also keep seeing Pamela Reif and Dhruvi Shah being mentioned by a lot of Indian instagrammers but I yet don’t have a strong good or bad opinion on those.

6 C’s that I love collecting

/ Srishty / 3 Comments

I have shouted from the top of my lungs just how much I am against hoarding. Most of it has to do with the need of not wanting to increase my carbon footprint and nothing more which is why I am window shopping clothes etc anyway because I do find it fun nonetheless.

However, there are certain things that I never feel guilty hoarding because – one, I can easily justify more the merrier in their case, second, they are not that unfriendly to the environment.

6 of such things that I don’t feel guilty hoarding on actually start with the alphabet C. A happy coincidence! The moment I realized this I thought of blogging this some day. So here they are:

1. Cushions: I love the idea of filling up one’s home with cushions! Though if you see mine, there are hardly any that can qualify me as a hoarder. Instagram ads do keep suggesting pretty ones on a daily basis but, really, what is up with all these indie stores selling cushion covers at such exorbitant prices? Can anyone explain?

2. Candles: Now someone I follow since long on social media repeatedly talks about how fragrances of any sort are not good for our health. But a candle is a candle is a candle. Candles make me infinitely happier. When I went to my in-laws place on my current trip, I consciously didn’t carry any from my stash as all were bulky. I finally had to buy one there as I really wanted to light it. Best decision ever made because whenever I was in a stressful office call, I’ll just light the candle up and feel so much better.

3. Coasters: of course, this is more of a necessity. Then why not have pretty ones around the house? Again, I want to point out that I have super basic ones and really can do with some pretty or quirky ones. I just say that I like hoarding them buf I never actually end up hoarding. 😀 a coaster is something that I use a lot as well, I am very conscious of placing my tea cups or a drink on the rocks on a coaster, so much so that now I feel slightly cringe when others don’t do it! Total Monica from friends vibe here!

4. Ceramics: oh man! One of the most beautiful things in the world. I just need a little bit of more research to be super sure just how bad ceramics are for usage, or environment. For e.g., my dad says that this trend of using ceramic planters is absolutely worthless because plants don’t get enough breathing space in ceramics as it’s not porous. Need to validate these kind of things, but otherwise love, love, love ceramics.

5. Chips: of course. Shouldn’t have put it in a list of things that I love but are also environment friendly. A habit I truly should change because these come in single use plastic packs. I wish there was a way to go get your chips box filled at a lays station or something like that! Here, I am throwing a startup idea for anyone who wants to catch.

6. Coffee & teas: again something whose hoarding I would love but don’t actually end up doing because in the past 2 years, Rahul and I have lived so much like nomads, sometimes at my parents, other times at his and then some trips, that hoarding on any type of food that you expect to last for a long time is just pointless. But totally digging the idea of a well-stocked coffee station at home just like a well-stocked bar!

Any things that you would want to add to this list? What are some things you don’t mind collecting?