BACK TO SCHOOL WITH LEE JEANS & KCFW

I love my Denim. You can see me in my Denims 6 days of 7 in the week. Over the years, my love for denims, saw no sign of dwindling. So when it came to a major life change, it made sense to dress up in Denims.

Well, after almost two decades of getting my Masters in Sociology, I decided to go back to Grad School and get a Second Masters. From St. Xavier's College, to University of Calcutta to now being a Jawhawk- KU J-School ! First day of being Back to School was a special occasion, and I needed something special to dress up in.

Hint Hint - Its a Global brand with its headquarters in KC !

As a Lifestyle Blogger and Social Media Influencer, I honor and appreciate my association with Kansas City Fashion Week, as their Official Media, for the last few years. It made sense to bring in a touch of my work, with me getting back to school. A few months back, I had attended the KCFW FW'17 and Lee Jeans was one of their sponsors. We had the opportunity to pick out our choice of Jeans from the Lee Jeans Dream Jean Collection.

I opted for the Lee Jeans Platinum Dream Ava Skinny Jeans in Petite. My choice of color was "Lovely Blue."

When I say I love my Denims, did I mention that I am extremely choosy about what I love in my Denim. I am a Skinny Jeans kinda gal and I wear my Denims low. I think, I have been wearing low rise denims for so many years, that it had almost become a mental block, to try for a different rise. So it was a challenge to wear something which wasn't low rise.

These Jeans are not your regular jeans. What if I told you that they are as comfy as Yoga Pants, but they look and feel like Jeans. They have a unique soft knit lined waist band, which stretches but doesnt lose shape. The Mid Rise was a blessing in disguise for my pear shaped mom bod. they are not low to reveal my muffin top, or not high rise, to look odd. They just cut the flab in between, and tuck everything in place. I have been living in them for the last few months.

I know how difficult it is to find the right fit in your Jeans. If you are in the market for a new pair, I would suggest that you check out - Dream collection of Lee Jeans.  

The brand new season of Kansas City Fashion Week, is less than two months away . Click HERE to get your tickets as they are back at the Union Station.

SHOP THE DENIM : 
LEE PLATINUM LABEL DREAM JEANS

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BUTTER CHICKEN

Saffron, White and Green make up the three colors of the Indian National Flag. As a tribute to the Indian Independence Day, which was a few weeks, I thought of creating a dinner plate, which had the tricolor. Butter Chicken with a dash of cream, and garnished with some Kasoori Methi sealed the deal. A culinary tribute to the Indian Independence day made for a vibrant weekday dinner.

Butter Chicken is a favorite in our household. It packs the biggest punch in the taste department, it makes for a colorful plate, and the best part is that the picky toddler enjoys it too. Every other Indian restaurant has Butter Chicken in its menu. But I am often appalled at how often the Indian Restaurants in Kansas City, make an massive massacarre when they re-create iconic Indian dishes. Adding tons of food color and curry leaves to even North Indian preparations, is not representing a proper pan Indian plate. So whenever I have cravings for any particular Indian preparation, I make it at home. At least I know, I am not compromising in the taste department.

While Mire Poix is the Holy Trinity of French Cooking, Onion-Ginger-Garlic paste is the holy trinity of Indian cooking. Its used widely in different curries, or as a marination for kebabs. Butter Chicken is no exception to this trend. I use my Le Creuset Dutch Oven for my Mutton Curries and also my Butter Chicken.

Indian Cooking is a lot about adaptations and recipes will often vary in terms of details from kitchens to kitchen, and family to family. So its difficult  to say that there is one sacrosanct way of making things. This is my adaptation of Butter Chicken and I love it. I am always looking at ways to make Indian cooking simpler, and using hacks without compromising on the taste. I have a step by step guide , if you wanted to make Butter Chicken at home. Goa head and give it a try. If you like it, then don't forget to let me know.

BUTTER CHICKEN : 

Ingredients : 

Grilled Chicken : 
Chicken : Boneless and Skinless : 1 lb
Onion : 1/2 large
Ginger : 2 inch
Garlic : 3 to 4 large cloves
Tandoori Masala : 2 tbsp ( I used SWAD Tandoori Masala)
Salt : to taste

Curry/Gravy : 
Onion: 1/2 large
Ginger : 1 inch
Garlic : 3 - 4 large cloves
Butter : 1/2 to 1 stick (Cold)
Fire Roasted Tomatoes - 1 can - 14 oz
Fresh Roma Tomato : 1 large (fineky chopped)
Paprika : 1 tbsp
Salt : to taste
Sugar : 1 tsp
Garam Masala: 1/2 tsp
Kasoori Methi (optional) : 1/2 to 1 tsp
Heavy Cream
Cashews : Raw - 1/4 cup (soak in water for an hour prior to cooking)

Procedure: 
Cut the chicken in 1 to 1 1/2 inch cubes. Make sure you are using skinless chicken. Make a marinade of yogurt, salt, Tandoori Powder and onion-ginger-garlic paste. Or you could also use dried onion, garlic and ginger powder for marination. Marinate in the refrigerator overnight for best results, or for at least two hours if you are in a rush.

Grill the chicken till its cooked through. If you want to use your oven, then put an aluminum foil on your turkey roaster with rack. Use a knife to poke holes through out the foil. Place your marinated chicken pieces, on the foil. The liquid which is released from the chicken while its baked , collects in the roasting pan below. Bake at 350F , till its cooked through. Broil it for the last 5 mins.

If you don't want to either Bake or Grill it, then sear the marinated chicken in a pan. Once the chicken pieces are seared on both sides, then transfer them to a plate and keep aside. De-glaze the pan in which you seared the chicken, with some hot water and a dash of apple cider vinegar, and reserve the deglazed fluid. You can add it to teh curry whilst its cooking, and it will lend to the flavor profile. Remember to cook the chicken longer in the gravy, if you are searing it, so that you don't risk uncooked chicken .

Make a paste of onion-ginger-garlic for the Curry.

In a deep pan, or a Dutch Oven, heat some oil. Add in the whole cumin seeds and bay leaves, and let them crackle.

I used a mix of Fire Roasted Tomatoes , and fresh tomatoes for a balanced taste.

Lightly brown the onion-ginger-garlic paste. Then add a can of fire roasted tomatoes. one fresh tomato(finely chopped), sugar ,salt and paprika. Mix well.

Once you see oil leaving the sides of the pan, then add in your soaked cashews. Cook for around 10 minutes.

Then carefully remove the bay leaves and discard them. Blend the rest of the curry and its ingredients in a blender till smooth. Transfer back to the same pan, and add in your grilled tandoori chicken, garam masala, and fresh cream.

Let it cook for 5 to 7 minutes, covered. Then turn the heat off. Add in half a stick of Cold Butter, and mix it in.

Garnish with dried Fenugreek leaves (Kasoori Methi) and a dash of heavy cream.

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WHITE OFF THE SHOULDER TOP & DENIM SKIRT - SUMMER SWAG

How can Summer be complete without its share of crisp Whites? Its timeless, its a classic and no one usually goes wrong with it. While a White Button Down is a must have for everyone's closet, and last year, I had styled it in one of my Summer Outfit Posts. This Summer, I carried on with my love for the Off the Shoulder Trend. Yes, its been here for the last few years, and it doesn't look like, its in a rush to get extinct. A White Button Down and a Blue Denim is a Fool Proof Outfit Idea. Something you can wear year after year. This year. I decided to spin that idea around. yes, you guessed it right. The Denims gave away to a Denim Skirt and the Button Down was replaced by an Off the Shoulder Top.

It plays off the newly acquired tan pretty well. A few touches of Gold and carrying the blue theme forward with a Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace in Royal Blue.

I loved how comfortable the outfit was. I was lounging in it, in Galveston Pier with my toddler and my husband. The block heels, added just the right height, without compromising on comfort, as we were walking all afternoon.

Does it get more Summer perfect than this? Not for me, at least not this weekend


SHOP THIS LOOK :

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MAKE UP FOR EVER ARTIST FACE COLOR - FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Contouring is fun. The Holy trinity of Highlight, Blush and Contour. If you remember, I have a very detailed post, on Contouring,which I had done with Anastasia Beverly Hills, a few years back. If you want to read about it, and learn about the Basics of Contouring, then Click Here. 

It was really exciting to receiving a brand new contouring kit to try out. Make Up For Ever is a brand which I use almost every day . I love their Make Up Forever Ultra HD Foundation . Make Up Forever and Influenster sent me their brand new MUFE Artist Face Color . You can see all three colors on my Face, in the photographs below. 

 I have a warm undertone, and am terribly tanned at the moment. For instance, the foundation that I am using , is my Summer shade- two shades darker than my usual shade. Blame the sea beaches and the triple digit heat index for it. 

Make Up For Ever Artist Face Color is a customizable contour palette. They are pretty similar to MAC Pro Eyeshadow Palettes which you can fill with the colors of your choice. The MUFE Palettes, come in three sizes - Mono , Duo and Trio. I was sent the Tro Palette.

Secondly, you pick out your choice of Highlight, Sculpting Powder(Contour), and Blush refills, to fill and complete your palette. It claims to be an unique pressed powder formula , providing intense color pay off. The colors are available in three Finishes - Matte, Shimmer and Pearl.

There are 34 shades to choose from. The Colors I had received were : Highlighter - H102(Shimmery Pink Alabaster), Blush - B204(Cold Pink) and Sculpting Powder - S310(Praline).

We all have our Make Up preferences, and we sually tend to stick to them. Personally, since I have warm undertone to my complexion I prefer peachy blushes, to pinks, or warm golden tones in my highlighter and cooler tones in my sculpting or contouring powder. This particular Make Up Forever Palette, surely had me stepping out of my comfort zone, when it came to tones. The Blush and Highlight were cool and the Sculpting Powder was warm.

In terms of Packaging, I loved the sturdy black metal box, with the large mirror. Its quite sturdy and compact. Surely great for travel.

When it comes to color pay off and pigmentation, I feel the Blush and Highlight were not as pigmented as the Sculpting Powder. I always use a light hand when it comes to contouring, so I had to try a few times, for the Blush to pick up color on my cheeks. Or maybe for my tan, the Blush wasn't the right shade . I want to try it again, once I have lost my tan.

Speaking of Blendability, the colors blend very well. I didn't have to try hard at all. The colors layer well too and can be built up, to your choice . I opted for a very subtle contouring, as that's more my style.

I had worn the colors for a few events, over a full coverage Foundation, and they stayed put for quite a few hours, without being set by a Make Up Setting Spray. I like products which are long staying, and I don't have to touch every frequently.




DISCLAIMER : I received these products complimentary for testing purposes, but the opinions are those of my own.

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SEPHORA PLAY JUNE'17 - REVIEW

Summer is winding down and I am starting to write about my Summer Sephora Play boxes. Better late than never. I am just back from a beach holiday , so it just seemed the perfect time to pen down my thoughts. I always like using the products for some time, before I start writing about them.

The theme of June'17 was " YOUR SUMMER STARTERS ." Very apt and very beautifully illustrated on the customary monthly drawstring back. I hoard these bags as they are too cute pieces of art, to just throw away.  The best part of the Box was that it had too many favorite products of mine. I almost felt like a kid in a candy store, when I had first gone through the stash.

Let me start with my favorite product of the stash - Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Lovesick. I love lip products. I love it more, when Sephora sends me a color, I actually love. Thats not always the case, I warn you. Everyone loves Kat Von D ELL . I do too, and have a few colors. I love how creamy it is and glides on, without being patcy. It dries to a matte finish, but doesnt dry out your lips. If you are going for lunch an dinner, when you are wearing this lip color, then it fades away, leaving a tint, rather than looking weird and patchy after a meal.  The color is a dusty rose, and one of my personal favorites. A lighter version of MAC MEHR. Its just a Summer perfect color, and would also transition beautifully to Fall.

My second favorite product is also something I reviewed in a Post on my Blog recently. The wonder product of current times - SuperGoop Defense Refresh Setting Mist  with SPF 50. If you haven't yet tried the product, run and get it. You wont regret it. If you want a deatailed review , then Click HERE.

I have curly, frizzy ,dry and also chemically treated hair. While I do go through the pains of straightening my bangs, I dont usually straighten the length of my hair. I try using products, which enhance my curls and are great for air drying. I have been using Deva Curl products for a few years now, so it was nice to receive a sample size. The trick of working with Deva Curl products is working in sections of the hair. This was a tip given to me by my hair stylist, who had introduced me to Deva Curl . Devacurl Coconut Supercream Coconut Curl Styler is a coconut infused styling cream, that claims to deliver moisture and shine for smooth, polished and defined curls. I love it !

The fourth product is an iconic product - Benefit POREfessional Face Primer. As I have noted in several other Spehora Play Posts of mine, that I don't usually use primers in my beauty routine. But courtesy this subscription service, I have a stash of primers, which I usllay use when I am travelling, or when I am covering events. Its a silicone based primer and has a cult fan following.


I had used Madam C J Walker's Coconut Scent and Shine in my October'16 Play Box. It seemed repetitive that the same box would have two similar products. I know I have curly hair, but if you had to send two similar products, I would have preferred two lip colors. Madam C J Walker Beauty Culture Curl Whip Styling Souffle is a curl styling cream, which has to be used on damp hair. The idea is to use it on your damp hair and scrunch up your hair, in sections, and either let it air dry or use the diffuser attachment in your blow drier.

Last but not the least, is the fragrance sample of the month - Versace Bright Crystal. Its a fresh , floral fragrance , featuring a sparkling blend of yuzu, magnolia , and lotus plus a hint of amber and musk .

SHOP THE BOX :

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