Chiconomical

With one day to go for New Years, I thought I'd share my New Year's Eve outfit with you guys. I usually am a fairly casual dressing type of girl. I don't like to wear very "party" outfits and if I must I almost always fall back to the LBD. However, 2016 demands that I try something different. That's exactly how this outfit came up.



A quick pinterest search will tell you, you can't have a new year outfit without sequins and if you're feeling extra girly, lace. So I decided since its new year, I'll combine both these things to get my outfit. Hey, gotta go big or go home right?

Since my experience with last month's Fab Bag, I decided to try out the various beauty boxes that are available in India. My second subscription (yes, I have around three for this month) was the My Envy Box. Basically, this is just another beauty box where you get 4-5 trial sized beauty products from luxury brands delivered each month. Read on to know what all I got.



As its the time for all those pretty red and white things, this month's box is aptly red and has some lovely party pieces. The December box was called the Be Your Own Santa, and I think they've sent some pretty decent pieces. Here's what I got....

Ananda Light Moisturiser for Normal to Dry Skin: Rs. 270 for 10g


I don't think anyone can have enough of moisturisers in December. This one for normal to dry skin is a decent sized sample and while I'm yet to try it, I think this is a handy little thing that I'll be carrying in my purse over the next few weeks.

O3+ Reinvent your skin whitening mask: Rs. 400 for 10 ml

This is a brank I've never heard about. While I'm not into whitening masks, I think this will come in handy on those days when you've spent the day running around in polluted cities. I couldn't find it on the My Envy Box website though, so that was a little disappointing.

Bioderma Matifiying Fluid for Combination/Oily Skin: Rs. 350 for 10 ml


I got this in two little tubes. Its paraben free and has SPF 30 which are two things that always make me happy. I have used it once but didn't see any visible effect. I shall post a review once I've exhuasted both my sample tubes.

Catrice Crushed Crystals Nail Laquer in Stardust: Rs. 445 for 10 ml


This is one of my favorite things in the box. A gorgeous shade that is perfect for parties yet muted so as not to be too loud and overpower your outfit. This is a full sized sample and I couldn't have been happier. Its gonna find a lot of use come New Years Eve.

Catrice UltraFine Ink Eyeliner (Black On Track): Rs. 660 for 6 ml


Yet another full sized product, I have to say I quite like this liner. I wore it to work on a particularly stressful work day (read incessant eye rubbing) and it managed to last quite nicely. Yet again, couldn't find it on the My Envy Box site, so was disappointed. Stay tuned for a proper review.


All in all, I was very happy with this month's My Envy Box. It does keep with the theme for the month and I love the makeup products. The box itself has already been put to good use as a december gift helper and I think everything in this month's box is going to be liberally used through the month.

Ravi Subramanian is one of those Indian writers who has impressed me. I have read two books by him and enjoyed both immensely. In The Bestseller She Wrote, he ventures into a slightly different territory where he explores relationships and offers a story of Love, Revenge and Deception... or so the cover states. Oh, and its also going to be a major motion picture soon. And that's where a lot of the problem lies, but we'll come back to that later.

The bestseller she wrote is the story of a best-selling Indian author, Aditya, who is also a banker and somehow manages to churn out bestsellers while excelling at his high end job. The story focuses on his life and his sometimes questionable decisions and essentially how he come out of the mess that he creates for himself. The other lead character is a budding writer, Shreya, who is ruthless when it comes to achieving her dream. Unimaginatively, we already know that Aditya will fall for Shreya and that's essentially the crux of the book. Of course, this wouldn't be a proper story of love without a love triangle and the last side of this particular triangle is made by the Aditya's wife Maya, who was actually the most realistic character in all of the book for me.

The book starts with Aditya meeting Shreya in predictably sensational circumstances. There's the initial dislike that turns into lust/love over time. For the first half of the book, Maya is always lurking in the background, being the dutiful wife and is still level headed and has her own goals. The romance between Aditya and Shreya didn't feel as passionate as it was supposed to. They have a relationship while they both know its wrong and its quite clear from the start that Shreya is simply using him for her gain. The book that she's supposedly written is always there in all their conversations. I kept reading the book, hoping something interesting would happen, but somehow the book was predictable. I did like the little nod to Blogadda and a few other tricks that writers use in the current day and age. The part where the wife finds out (big surprise) and disowns her husband is yet again, predictable. The circumstances that lead to it seem contrived and while there is an effort, I wish the writing was more crisp. With a little tweaking the twists that come at the end (yes there are a couple of them) would have had a much great impact. For a reader used to crime fiction and thrillers, the twist was extremely predictable and hence, lost its potency.

The characters are mostly stereotypical. Aditya reminded me a lot of Chetan Bhagat and I wondered multiple time if this was intentional. The book is still and quick and easy read (my friend who doesn't quite like reading also managed to finish it in two days) and I have a feeling will find a lot of love from readers who like Indian authors and romances. The revenge part that the book claims to have, never really came through for me and the redemption was a little one-dimensional. Maybe its just me, I'm not a believer in instant reversal of emotions.

All in all, the book is a quick read and is a good choice for some light reading. Personally, I expected more from Mr. Subramanian who had become one of my favorite Indian authors  with God is a Gamer, which was a great thriller. I wish there was a lot more thrill in this book and it didn't read like a movie script, but then its always good to explore uncharted waters, especially if you're a writer.

I am reviewing ‘The Bestseller She Wrote’ by Ravi Subramanian as a part of the biggest Book Review Program for Indian Bloggers. Participate now to get free books!

Side slits. The current "trendy" thing to wear. Well, technically, we've been wearing side slits for years now in India. No? Don't agree? Think about all those long kurtis and salwar kameez sets. Yep, slits aren't something that's new to us. However, take a long tshirt with slits, and you've got a new trend everyone's currently excited about.


I personally wanted a front slit top, but since I haven't found one that rocks my boat yet, I decided to treat myself to this chic one from Spring Break. Now, as this is a trend piece, I decided I'd try and style it in a few different ways so that you can figure out if it works with your personal style aesthetics.

1. Side Slit Top + Shorts

Probably the most widely seen look at the moment, this is a great idea for all the end of the year music festivals that we've got lined up (yep, I wish I was in Mumbai for a few events).

2. Side Slit Top + Palazzos

Not ready to reveal that much leg at the moment? Why not pair the top with a pair of comfy palazzos for a covered yet trendy look?

3. Side Slit Top + Denims

Yep, another blogger favorite, all you need is a pair of denims and heels. I personally like the idea of cuffing the jeans to add to the laid back vibe

4. Side Slit Top + Prints

Give your denims a break and wear your side slit top with printed floral trousers or a floral skirt. Florals in darker colors and a pair of heels add a fresh new twist to your winter weekends.

So those are my looks using a simple side slit top. It just needs a little imagination and you can wear it for any ocassion. While in its tshirt form, it may not be very work appropriate, you can look for structured side slit tops if you do wish to wear it to work too. I personally think its a great addition to your weekend wardrobe. If you have doubts, you could try a quick cheat. Take an old boyfriend t-shirt and rip the side seams and re hem them separately. While this may not be as long as the conventional ones, you'll still get an idea if this is your style.

Yep!! Me!!! Since I was missing all my music festivals in Mumbai, I styled this look for those...and guess what! Yep, it got featured in Roposo Diva of The Day in the Calcutta Times yesterday!

December is here in all its glory with chillier evenings and crazy parties! It also got me a new city and a new fab bag to match. This month, the December Fab Bag theme is Party All Night. I got a chance to select my bag from the bags sent in the previous months and I decided to go with the golden red carpet bag to keep with the theme.


This month, the fab bag has actually made me a lot more happy than last month. The contents do make sense with the theme and I even have a favorite new makeup item! (Any guesses? You already know this if you follow me on snapchat!) Well, without further ado, here's what I got!

SUGAR Matte As Hell Crayon Lipstick + Sharpener: Rs. 799

My new found love and certainly the best item in this month's fab bag. I have used it once till date and I'm absolutely obsessed! I got the hot pink color which is called Mary Poppins and honestly I'm seriously considering buying the other shades (Yes, I know I'm not supposed to shop...hence the "considering"). It is completely matte, like the name suggets and at the same time, it doesn't dry out my lips. Oh, and the color lasts almost the whole day which is something I'm always looking for in a lipstick! Its absolutely a win win! If you wanna get one makeup thing this Chrismas, get this!

Kronokare The Frizz Kiss Cooling Explosion Lip Balm: Rs. 95

Winters equal chapped lips and that means you can never have enough lip balms. I haven't gotten around to trying this lip balm out just yet so you'll have to wait for a proper review. However, its silicone and paraben free which is always welcome when it comes to skincare. The price isn't heavy on the pocket so I think its a cool pocket friendly balm I'd consider once I'm dont with my current lip balm.

Spa Ceylon Green Mint Cooling Foot Scrub: Rs. 275 for 50 gms

This month we were asked to select one item we'd like to receive in our Fab Bag and since I knew I was going to be in a new city, I decided to get myself this foot scrub. Winters are harsh on my feet and add to that the fact that I'd probably be walking a lot while I explore a new city, this was a thing I thought would inspire me to take care of my feet. It looks and smells divine but yet again, I haven't used it.

Lever Ayush Hair Poshak Oil: Rs. 62.25 for 25 ml

Hair loss is something I've been grappling with for a few months now (thanks life!) and so the chance to try out a hair oil that claims to reduce hairfall in three weeks is welcome. I got a small bottle of 25 ml which is a little sad as I have really long hair and I'd probably finish the whole bottle in one go. Wish they'd given a bigger sample so as to really test the product, but I'm still happy to try this.

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Micelle Solution: Rs. 34.4 for 10 ml

After all the partying, its always important to get rid of the makeup before hitting the bed. So this little bottle of non-rinse, paraben free makeup removal solution was a godsend. I think the sample is going to come in quite handy once the month ends and the party season begins. I've heard good things about this removal solution, so I'm excited to give it a shot.

Another post on stripes? Yes please. I think we all know by now that I'm a sucker for stripes. Vertical stripes are very flattering and I think we all know that. Horizontal stripes? Well, I know a lot of women who wouldn't be caught dead in these! And this is exactly why I decided to write about this seemingly taboo print.




I had bought this little dress a couple of years ago and while I haven't gotten much wear out of it, I still thought it was a great piece to show the versatility of a nautical striped dress. I know horizonal is supposed to add more pounds instantly to your physique but its still something you can wear. Well since I'm skinny I sometimes pick such styles intentionally to look a little bulky (yes, you envy me, I've heard that before but I don't exactly have it easy either). I think this dress can be used for work as well as play. Style it with a satchel and heels for work, or wear it with a sling and flats for a nice evening by the beach.



If you're not exactly on the skinny side and want to wear horizontal stripes, I suggest going for thinner stripes. The material should be flowy so that it doesn't at volume to your look. I personally went for a very structured dress but replace this with a flowy kaftan in stripes and you've got your beach look sorted, no matter how un-skinny you are. Believe me, its all about choosing the right cut and fabric for your body!

Night Creams...hmm...what are they?

Yep. That's been my reaction for almost all my life. However, with the arrival of the Ayorma Fairness & Cell Renew Night Cream in my Fab Bag last month, I've decided to give them a go. First of, I'm most certainly not an expert on beauty and skincare routines but then if you wanted that, you'd shell out to go see said expert. All I can offer is a first hand account of my experience.



Ayorma Fairness & Cell Renew Night cream is first of, and this is my favorite thing about it, paraben free and made from natural ayurvedic ingredients.

Well, open the box and my very first impression was that it smelled herby. I have a tendency to smell all products before I use them. You do it too right? No? Erm...okay then. Next, the texture and the skin feel test (yeah I totally made that name up). The texture is quite smooth and creamy which is what I expected. It glides well on the skin and most importantly, gets absorbed easily. Yep, it doesn't feel oily or heavy on the skin which is a big plus!

So does it stand the test of time? Well, I've been using it for a week now. Do I look like I could play the lead in My Fair Lady? Not really. However, it doesn't clog my pores and while it did tingle when applied to my freshly scrubbed face, its quite possible that's due to my recent breakouts. I frankly haven't seen any major improvements. I do find my skin feeling softer when I wake up every morning so maybe it takes more than a week to see changes.

Finally? Will I spend my hard earned cash on it? Probably not.  Now, I had a trial sized sample and maybe it takes more than that to see some real improvement. Having said that, I wish it didn't smell so herb like. That is one of the main reasons why I don't think I can stand using it forever. My brain instantly thinks its a balm and lets face it, nobody wants to put balm on their whole face.

Pros

• Paraben Free
• All Natural and Ayurvedic Ingredients
• Very Light
• Not at all Oily on the Skin
• Doesn't clog pores

A few of weeks ago, I found myself on the way to The Lil Flea with a couple of friends. Now, mind you, I usually don't like to spend my weekends at events like this as I have to travel and it interferes with sleeping (I like to sleep). But, a couple of invites and a salary deposit later, I decided to go have some fun.

Now, The Lil Flea has been around for a couple of years and its essentially a flea market (and I use that term loosely) which has a little something for everyone. With a couple of successful past editions, they've quickly established themselves as one of the cool things to do in Mumbai and Bandra. What do they offer at The Lil Flea? Shopping, food and music....what else do you need love?

So, lets get down to my experience. They do charge an entry fee for the flea market which is kinda sad as I feel it should be open to all. But, having said that, I think it was worth the entry fee just for the ambience. I loved the rustic and cosy feeling of the place. You could feel the excitement and joy there, I kid you not. Don't belive me? Okay, let me break it down for you into my top favorites things that you can look forward to there! (PS: A new edition is coming up very soon)

Food: Sweet, Savory and everything in between
Okay, no matter what the ocassion, food is always a good idea. And with a whole section dedicated to food stalls, there's something for everyone! I loved the little fruity drinks that everyone was carrying around and frankly they were one of the first things I noticed when I walked into the Lil Flea. While I was too busy hogging on things to bother with pictures, there's lots of finger food. Waffle House had a stall too, in case your dessert pangs strike.




Fashion: Shoes, Bags, Hats and everything in between..all the shopping you'd imagine!
Okay, lets face it, the whole point of a Flea market is the chance to shop for amazing fashion pieces. Let's just say The Lil Flea doesn't disappoint. With kitschy headbands, jewellry, handmade accessories (I'm obsessed with the dreamcatchers, see how I styled mine here) and lets not forget some ultra cool digital images and geeky badges stalls. I stocked up on badges for pretty much every show I love! Oh, and there were also some great designers but I tried to be a good girl and monitor my shopping.



Ambience: Music, lights, relaxation galore!
Finally, the third bit which is all important. The best bit is, (yes, I know said this already) the atmosphere. There's just such an energy around, that I dare you not to relax. The music performances are extremely good (I didn't really expect a great band) and the generous dose of fairy lights all around is just perfect. "We don't need more fairy light," said nobody, ever! Imagine a rustic evening, lit up with twinkling fairy lights as you enjoy a glass of iced coffee and a little bit of soulful music. A Perfect evening? Yes please! Check out the pictures to get a feel for it!

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Fab Bag. Haven't heard about it? Well, you probably don't read many beauty blogs because over the last few months, Fab Bag reviews have become almost a religion. A Fab Bag is essentially a bag (well, its more like a pouch really), filled with full sized and sample sized luxury beauty products that you can try out for a fraction of the cost. Oh, and they're supposedly handpicked for each individual subscription. Sounds good right? Personally, I was never very fascinated with the descriptions of the bags till this month. Turns out, judging a bag by its description is a big mistake!


This month's Fab Bag has a theme of "Up Your Game". Well, you'd think it would have things that can help you improve your beauty regime right (Something that I really do need help with!). Wrong!!! This month's bag is essentially disconnected with what the theme suggests. The contents were random at best and the one (yes, for a beauty bag, I only got one makeup product) concealer I got, wasn't even my skintone. So much for "customised"!

Well, onto what all I received after a rather poor experience with their Customer Care (more on that later):

Lollipops Paris Matte Concealer - Ginger: Rs. 800



The most expensive and most disappointing item for me, this concealer is the wrong shade for me and has almost an orange undertone. The applicator gets stuck everytime I try to remove it which just becomes very frustrating. I shall try and use it soon, but overall I don't have much hope of using this in the future.

Kama Ayurveda Pure Rose Water: Rs. 250

I read that this month, you could choose your full size skincare product. Well, first of all, I wasn't ever asked for a choice and second of all, this wasn't communicated to me at all. However, this bottle is going to come in quite handy for those long days that just call for a little rose water sprayed over my eyes (read ever alternate day these days).

Ayorma Fairness & Cell Renew Night Cream: Rs. 195

I don't have much of a skincare routine (I can just hear the gasps right now) so this little tub is a nudge to start a nightly routine. I like that its natural but I still have no verdict on the results. I shall write my views once I've used it for a week or so.

Seasoul Dead Sea Minerals & Botanicals Massage Candle: Rs. 300

By far the most interesting thing in this month's bag. A massage candle...Erm, confused? Yep. So here's what it is. Basically, its a candle that you light and enjoy aroma associated with those spas we all love...and once the candle melts, you use the oil for a massage for the full spa experience. I like how its almost a whole spa in a tiny glass. I haven't lit it yet, but it smells great (yes, I smelled the box multiple times, just trying to make the most of the scent lingering there cos you know, that's the way the cool kids do it).