NEW YEAR EVE SPARKLE TO FASHION WEEK SHINE

Hello everyone. Hope all of you are having a great Holiday season so far. I had been missing for some time, from my Blog. The reason was totally unintentional. I had planned to finish two posts of mine which were half done and were lying in my drafts. And with the flying hours to my Holiday, it seemed like the perfect time to work on them. But I left my laptop behind in all the rush to get to the airport. Missed the Christmas Post but let me not miss the NYE post.

This year flashed by so fast. Professionally this year, was a year more of Highs than Lows. It was so good to be Front Row as Official Media of Kansas City Fashion Week, for two of their seasons. I am usually prompt with my posts, from Fashion Week, but there was one post, which I wanted to post at the end of the year. It was my Outfit Post from the Finale of KCFW SS'17. While it was an awesome Fashion Week outfit, I knew it would be a great NYE party outfit.

New Year Eve always screams Shine and Sparkle in my fashion lovin soul. This outfit brought forth the front row Shine of Fashion Week, to the Sparkle of Midnight Hour of New Year Eve. The pictures I am afraid dont do justice to how beautiful the entire ensemble turned out.

Rose Gold sequins and Leather were the main elements. The top comes across as a basic flowy sleevless sequin top. But what I loved about it was the interesting back of it. Business in the front and Party at the back.

The sequins have a lovely sheen to them. They catch the light beautifully when you attend a party indoors. But as you can see from the photographs, that in sunlight, they are very subtle. Rose Gold is an eternal favorite of mine, and this top clearly carries that love story forward.

I paired a Leather Pencil Skirt with it. It was a play of volume with the Top so I wanted to balance it with a more form fitting skirt. Rather than a regular black pencil skirt, I decided to opt for Leather(Faux , of course). The Leather helped to carry forward the them of sheen I was playing with. A Black Pencil Skirt is an investment piece for any closet,and a leather one, just pumps up the party factor of the outfits, its in.

Now for shoes. With so much happening with the Sequins and Leather, I wanted to keep the shows to a neutral. And Leopard is always a great Neutral, without being boring. It is pointy toed, which always is a great choice and just the right amount of heel.

For the accessories and my make up, I wanted to play up with Red. A Classic Red Lip (MAC Ruby Woo) , to give it that Old School Pin Up touch, combined with the Curls I am blessed with. A sparkly Watch with a bold Red Band (Emporio Armani) and my Red Ralph Lauren Tote.

Hoping all of you can find some inspiration while you are planning your outfit for your New Year Eve Party. I shall be bringing in another edition of Gold , for my NYE Party Outfit this year. Stay tuned to the Blog for some more sparkle and shine coming your way.

Have a great end of the year !

SHOP MY LOOK : 

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FESTIVE FUR

A White Christmas is always special ! Who doesn't love to be in a Winter Wonderland in one of the most special days of the year ! I Know I do. In dreaming about a White Christmas, we had snow in our city last weekend, and it gave me an idea for Festive Outfitting.

A touch of wine was on my mind, and Festive Fur seemed to be the perfect accent piece needed to bring the outfit idea together. Fur and Snow, can it get any more iconic. And by Fur, I mean Faux Fur of course. Fur always gives off that old school luxe vibe, and a Vest somehow, adds that morn touch to it. Faux Fur Vests have been in vogue for the last few years. And they are clearly here to stay. They are a great layering pice. They will take you through Fall, Winter , and Spring when layered properly. The options are endless on how you can style them. I had been wanting to pick one out for myself, but was not getting the right one, flattering my style. As my birthday was near, I kept dropping hints. Its always good tpo drop hints, as it helps your family plan out your birthday gifts. So among the gifts picked out by my hubsnad and daughter, when i saw a peek of fur sneaking, I had to try it out the first. Mine is textured with square bits of fabric sewn together to give a very rustic woodsy feel.

I wanted to style it with a wine sweater, as I wanted to infuse some Holiday colors in the ensemble. A peek of white lace, my Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace, a shinny gold clutch and brown boots. Some burgundy lips and a flawless glowy base. Not to forget my black shearling lined gloves and gold hoops. I loved the outfit so much that I repeated it over consecutive weekends.

SHOP MY LOOK : 
Faux Fur Vest : Marshalls
WIne Cable Knit Sweater : American Eagle(Old)
Brown Combat Boots : Steve Madden
Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace
MAC Viva Glam 1 
Jeans  : American Eagle Low Rise Jegging
Gold Clutch : Aldo

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SEPHORA PLAY - OCTOBER 2016 - REVIEW

As I type away , sipping my steaming cup of coffee, a fresh round of snow starts. It happens to be my niece's birthday today, and I raise my cup of coffee for her joyous life ahead. Very soon my neighborhood will resemble a Winter wonderland. I am super late in writing about my Sephora Play boxes. I love this subscription, and I know I must be more regular in sharing my experiences with them. So in December, I bring for you my thoughts about the October Play box.

For those of you who are not aware, the Play By Sephora is a monthly subscription service , priced at $10 without taxes.

The October Play box came with a few variations in October. The boxes are sent out according to your preferences and also according to your skin type, on some months. Every months, the products are curated around a theme. "Lipstix and Chill" seemed to be was October was all about.

Speaking of lipsticks, which are an addiction of mine, if I might claim so, there were two lip products. First of all Smashbox Always on Matte Liquid Lipstick in Driver's Seat . Its an orangey tone and looked pretty warm. For someone who loves lipsticks, the sample was so small. But then its a sample subscription box after all. The product claims 8 hours of wear, but I would say it doesn't last that long. The formula is a bit drying, as often matte lipsticks tend to. I loved the color payoff and it was a nice shade. A very wearable version of the orange family. I would recommend lining your lips , before applying this, to prevent it from feathering.

The next product was the Estee Edit Flash Photo Gloss. I havent used any products from the Estee Edit line, and was curious. If you see the tbe closely, then you can see an iridiscence in the formula. Its a Blue toned Lip Gloss, which can be worn on his own or over any lipstick . I am huge fan of blue toned lipsticks(read - MAC Ruby Woo). This product claims to make your teeth look whiter. Thats what all blue toned lip products claim to do. While with MAC Ruby Woo, I can instantly see the difference, I could not quite understand it with this product in question. The formula is a bit gloppy and thick. I would not purchase this product full size. As a gloss in itself, it does  a good job.

I have extremely dry skin, so skin mists are my best friend, especially in the drier months. I tend to use them on their own, or under and over make up. Farmacy Skin Dew Mist, would be best used, as a moisturising mist on its own, and not over make up. It comes off pretty heavy with a single pump, and can melt away parts of your make up, if you are too close to your face. I could be guilty of the day, when I wasnt using waterproof mascara. Wasnt a pretty sight to quickly clean up and re do my make up.

As a moisturizing mist, its quite refreshing. I used it on my face a few times during the day, when I am home. Its very relaxing and definitely has that cooling effect, courtesy of its ingredients. It could be a great product to keep your skin hydrated in the recycled cabin air during long flights.

Drunk Elephant T.L.C Framboos Glycolic Night Serum was my favorite product in the box. I have dry skin, so I have to be cautious about products which dry me out further. A single pump dispenses enough product for a full face application. I used it after I had washed my face, at night. I let the product sit in, before I topped it off with my moisturizer. It claims to resurface your skin by getting rid of dead skin. I noticed a visible difference after I used it. Its like a mini glycolic peel in serum form. However I only use this product twice a week, as it has a tendency to dry out my already dry skin.

Having grown up in India, I am aware of the benefits of Coconut Oil, before it became the new IT thing. Weekends meant a hot oil massage with coconut oil. the pain was the shampoo it off as its too heavy for my fine yet frizzy curly hair. Receiving Madam C J Walker Scent and Shine Coconut Oil was almost like a trip down memory lane. Its coconut oil with a touch of vanilla scent thrown in the mix. Its great to use to tame your flyways and frizz. A little goes a long way with this product.

Lastly, the fragrance sample - Dereak Lam 10 Crosby Silent St.  I am always short of words, when it comes to describing fragrances.  It claims to be a mix of white musks and subtle florals. And I am fan of florals over fruity scents. Musks can be heavy, but this was refreshingly light.

SHOP MY BOX :

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LAURA MERCIER SILK CREME MOISTURIZING PHOTO EDITION FOUNDATION & THE SEPHORA COLOR IQ

Who doesnt love Make Up shopping? I know I do. So when my trusty current favorite foundation - Make Up Forever Ultra HD Foundation ran out, I decided to bring in something new to my Foundation roster. I headed to the Sephora on Country Plaza ,as I heading downtown for an early dinner with the fam.

I didnt have an appointment, which I recommend having. My Make Up artist Karla and me got talking on what I was looking forward to in a new foundation. To start off with , my skin was super dry and I dont like flashback in my photos. Being a full time Lifestyle Blogger, I get photographed regularly, often at  events, with flash photography. So any foundation with SPF or Titanium Dioxide is a strict No No for me.

Laura Mercier Silk Creme, as its popularly known, has been a cult favorite for years. Youtube Beauty Gurus and Make Up enthusiasts have been raving about it over the years. But it has undergone some changes. earlier it was only available in a single formula. It was reformulated and brought out in two formulas, to  suit different skin types. Just like the Make Up Forever Ultra HD, this foundation in question, is quite true to its description - Photo Edition . It had been on my mind for a long time, along with Nars Sheer Glow another iconic foundation.

I had my Urban Decay Naked Skin Foundation on that day. Karla recommended that we remove the existing make up and do a mini skin care routine, before we proceeded  to the Color Match with their Color IQ.

She used the Sunday Riley Blu Moon Tranquility Cleansing Balm, Sunday Riley Good Genes All in One Lactic Acid Treament and Sunday Riley Tidal Brightening Enzyme Water Cream. All products are listed at the end of the post.

If you are looking for Mini Makeovers, head to your local Sephora. Its a free service and you learn a lot.

Once the skin was prepped it was time to bring in the cameras. I kid you not. The COLOR IQ is a special device which takes photos of your skin , and matches you with probable matches of make up.
From foundation, to bronzers, to lipsticks, Color IQ has it covered. My Color IQ number is Y408. 

Of all the choices which popped up , we narrowed it down to three to try out : Nars Sheer Glow - Stromboli , Laura Mercier Silk Creme Photo Edition Moisturizing Foundation - Sand Beige  and Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Full Coverage Foundation - Golden Medium 44. 

We tried out all three shades suggested by Color IQ near the jawline and just above the decolletage. Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation seemed to be the best match of three.

Once we had decided on the match, it was time to do the full face. Karla removed the stripes of foundation from the face. Then she used a brightening Primer - Laura Mercier Radiance Primer. I dont use radiance primers on a daily basis so it was good start.

Then she applied the foundation with the Laura Mericer Sponge. A little product went a long way. I have a serious case of under eye circles, so we used Laura Mercier High Coverage Concealer for Under Eye . Added some setting powder under the eyes , and in the T zone - Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder and finished  off with some bronzer - Laura Mercier Bronzing Prssed Powder, to add some color.

FOUNDATION REVIEW : 
Now for the First Impressions of the Foundation - Laura Mercier Silk Creme Photo Edition Moisturizing Foundation. As I have dry skin, I opted for this formula, over their oil free formula. A small squeeze of the tube, dispenses enough product to cover the whole face. I dont have the patented Laura Mercier sponge, recommended to go with it. I apply it first with my Real Techniques Flat Foundation Brush and then use a damp Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge over it. Its a medium to full coverage foundation. It does not cling to my dry patches, as I have very dry skin. This foundation is a long wear one. I have worn it for over 10 hours and been outdoors , and it stays put. The foundation tube needs to be shaken before use, or else the oils can separate. As far as packaging goes, I quite like the black packaging , which makes it very luxe. As its a tube, and not a glass bottle, it makes it a great choice for travel. I have been using it for over a month now, and I am loving it. When used with a radiance primer, it gives off a very dewy finish. Its the dry winter months and I am loving my glowy make up base.

SHOP MY LOOK :

Sunday Riley Good Genes Lactic Acid Treatment
Sunday Riley Tidal brightening enzyme water cream
Sunday Riley bBue moon tranquility cleansing balm

     

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MUTTON ISHTOO

I like a good bowl of chicken or goat stew on a cold and clammy day like this. When I refer to stew, the idea of slow cooked meat and vegatables, in a lipsmacking broth comes to mind. Thats the kind of stew my mom used to whip up at home. But then there's another variety of stew which was around when I grew up, n the city I grew up. It was the same goodness of stew, in a Lucknowi or Awadhi avatar. Served with fluffy proofed Khamiri rotis, it was goodness in every bite. That was the ISHTOO.

Kolkata has a large influence of Awadhi cuisine , as one of the erstwhile Nawabs had moved to the city of joy. And with him had come his royal chefs, who brought with them, the secrets of Awadhi cuisine . Hence the Biriyani in Kolkata, is of the Awadhi gharana.

What is the Ishtoo , you might ask? And how is it different from the Stew? As the legend goes, the Nawabs of Awadh were known for their colorful social life and cuisine. There were also known for their mingling with the British colonial rulers. The Awadhi royal chef, they say, was intrigued by the Stew , which was often cooked up at the British kitchens in colonial India. The idea was the slow cook, meat, vegetables, with a dash of butter and black pepper corns. The Awadhi Royal Chefs, decided to create their own spin on it. Thus was born the now famous ISHTOO. They stuck to the basic Stew Principles. Meat, vegetables slow cooked, in a broth. They added their own brand of Aromatics. Whole Garam Masala and bay leaves went to the pot. And with it went copious amounts of Ghee. Yes , you heard that right. Especially when its a Mutton Ishtoo, the slow cooking releases the oil and natural fat of the goat, to add to the goodness of ghee. What you get , is a bowl full of bliss.

Ishtoo is always paired with proofed flat bread - Khamiri Roti or Shirmal are the most iconic pairings. But for those of us, who cant lay their hands on such local bread, then Naan does a great alternative. Its a scarilege to pair Ishtoo with rice or even Parathas. Its how they are meant to paired, so I opted for some Mini Naan.

Its decadent. Its a complete meal in its self. Almost like a one pot wonder, if you ask me.

If you have loved the pictures so far, and want to know how you want to re-create it in your kitchen, then go ahead and check out the recipe.

MUTTON ISHTOO (AWADHI GOAT STEW ) : 

Ingredients : 
Goat on the Bone : 2 lb . Cut into pieces
Ghee : 4- 5 tbsps
Salt
Star Anise : 2
Cinnamon Stick : 1 inch stick
Whole Peppercorns : 10 - 12
Green Cardamom : 4- 5
Black Cardamom : 1
Fenne Seeds : 1 tsp
Coriander Seeds : 1 tsp
Kashmiri Red Chili Powder/Paprika : 1 tsp
Onion : 1/2 large - Made into a paste
Ginger Paste : 1 tbsp
Garlic paste : 1 tbsp
Vegetables of Choice - I used Carrots and Potatoes

Proecdure: 

Grind the ginegr, onion - galrlic in a food processor or blender. Pre-heat the oven to 350F.

In a deep pan, or a stock pot, add ghee, while on medium flame on your stove top. Once all the ghee is melted, add in your whole aromatics - black pepper corns, fennel seeds, star anise, black and green cardamom, cinnamon stick, coriander seeds,  and let them realease their magic.

Add in the goat pieces, the onion - ginger-garlic paste , potatoes and carrots, salt and red chili powder. Meat on the bone is always tastier. Ishtoo is not supposed to be super hot, but just a slight heat kick. I used Kashmiri Red Chili Powder, which adds more of a color and aroma, and compromises on the actual heat quotient.

Mix everything well. Cover and cook . I baked mine at 350F in a pre-heated oven for around an hour. You can make it on the stove top too.

Check for seasonings.

Dig into a bowl full of goodness.

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