I Won Jiya's Giveaway!!!!!!

I should have posted this a few weeks back. But I'm lazy and I thought I'd post when I actually receive the package. Which I did, about 2 days back, but I'm just now getting the time to post.

So, I won Jiya's ASOS giveaway a few weeks back, along with Anshita. Unfortunately, due to Christmas mail traffic and bad weather (I think), it took a little longer than anticipated to get here.

A BIG thank you to Jiya for the lovely giveaway and giving me a chance to win. And since it arrived around my birthday, it's a double bonus.

The giveaway gift was anything from ASOS for $15. Since I'd been coveting the OWL pendant for a while, I asked for that. Here are the pics.

P.S. I saw this exact same necklace on Deepika Padukone in Break ke Baad. The only difference is the colors on Deepika's owl.

Coastal Scents Discount

Yet Another Year Passed By

First of all, I want to apologise for the lack of posts. I've been super busy recently and haven't been near a computer in a while. Thankfully my mobile internet saved my life, else I would have been showing some serious withdrawal symptoms. Second, I will announce the giveaway winner in a few days, as soon as I can work the excel sheet.

Every year on my birthday, I spend a relatively large amount of time pondering about where my life is taking me, have I done anything even remotely worth mentioning in the past year, and other such profound things. None of these thoughts take me anywhere. I still end up extremely lost afterwards. But one thing I've learnt in the past few years from all my pondering is not to worry about what you have done, or are going to do. Live in the present, be happy in what you're doing right now and don't worry about the past or the future. I spent a substantial amount of my life planning out my future, and then letting my past experiences shadow my present.

I spent a huge amount of this year trying to meet upto people's expectations of me, and at the end of the day, I was miserable. What's the point of making others happy, if you aren't happy yourself. And it might have still felt like it was worth it if those people gave a crap. At times, I wonder why I still try to hold on to friendships that are far past their expiry dates. I think it's time to bring a change in my life, to discard what's not helping the moving on process.

There are friends that you'll have your entire life. Then there are those friends that are like seasons. They come, they go, and you have no control over it. Then there are those people who you think are your friends, but wish nothing good for you. Should I feel guilty for wanting to cut out the latter from my life? Isn't part of growing up moving on, and learning to leave certain things behind? But there's a part of me thats scared of this change. There's this voice inside my head telling me to just let things be.

I had a relatively good year. Not all of it was good, but not all of it was bad either. I finally settled some past accounts. I finally decided to flush some things out of my life, and I feel good about the future, even if its sprinkled with a tiny tinge of guilt.

I met some really good people this year, made new friends, rekindled a few old friendships, and I'm on the right track finally.

But, like always, there are some things in life that never change, and I'm glad they don't because I don't know what I'd do without those few constants in my life.

Also, I heard 22 is the marriageable age. My mom and I had a good laugh at that. Both of us know that's not happening any time soon. I personally do not plan on marrying before 30. But my mom's more reasonable and predicted 27. Lets see. But 3 of my dad's friend's daughters are getting married the coming year. They are all 22-23. Sigh.

I might be MIA for a while. So a Merry Chirstmas!! to all of you in advance.

ASOS 50% Off

50 Random Things About Me

I read this somewhere a few weeks back and it really made me want to do it. I can't remember which blog, but if it was yours, please let me know. Since I'm a super lazy person, I've just gotten around to doing it.

1. I hate chocolates.

2. I love icecream. But I hate chocolate icecream.

3. I make really good butter chicken.

4. I have an extremely sweet tooth. So much so, I sneak around at night when my mom is asleep and steal sweets from the fridge.

5. I watch a LOT of tv shows. I think I might need an intervention.

6. I'm not a morning person. Wake me up earlier than I'm used to and I'll make a face at you all day.

7. My dad and I disagree on everything under the sun.

8. I love action films, especially those based on superheroes and video games.

9. I have a vampire fetish.

10. I want to go backpacking through europe.

11. I'm incapable of living outside a city. I get bored out of my mind.

12. I'm really scared of heights.

13. I have an irrational fear of being stuck in an elevator with a stranger, similar to Aunt Josephine's fear of realtors in the Lemony Snicket movie.

14. I was once mistaken for a lesbian.

15. I've never been able to watch Casablanca in its entirety.

16. I've watched Hum Aapke Hain Kaun and The Notebook more times than I can count on both hands.

17. I buy notebooks just because they look cute and never use them.

18. I have a collection of 400 books, and I'm currently in the process of making an inventory.

19. My all time favourite movie is Roman Holiday.

20. I have an unending capacity for junk food.

21. My favourite place to go when I need to feel better is a Bookstore.

22. I never swear. Never use bad language. I used to. But i made a conscious effort not to and now it feels weird coming out of my mouth.

23. I am geographically challenged. I get lost quite often.

24. I hate drinking tea. It's coffee for me all the way.

25. When I was a kid, I used to think that tv shows were real people being filmed, and I wondered if I was secretly being filmed.

25. I get annoyed by bad spellings.

26. I cried like a baby when Sirius Black died.

27. I also cried like a baby when Heath Ledger died. I thought he was the best thing that ever happened to Hollywood. I still watch 10 Things I Hate About You when I miss him. Though, I think Joker was his best character.

28. When i was younger, I used to frequently have dreams that I was falling off a building, and subsequently ended up falling off my bed. One time, i fell on the other end of the bed, and my mom didn't see me and thought I'd gone missing.

29. I used to play the flute.

30. I once crashed my dad's car into a tree while parking. He still doesn't know about it.

31. I love kids. I would do anything for them.

32. I never say no to kfc and chinese food.

33. I think Fight Club and The Incredible Hulk were awesome movies.

34. I love watching movie trailers.

35. I have the world's worst neighbors.

36. My IQ says I'm above average intelligence.

37. I hate italian cuisine.

38. I have a giant crush on Jude Law.

39. I have a thing for British and Scottish accents.

40. Ever since I got hit while crossing the road, I am mortally scared of crossing roads.

41. I once dated a guy who already had a girlfriend, though I knew nothing about it then. I found out years later.

42. The day after I saw The Ring with my best friend, the newspaper had a giant ad saying '7 Days To Go'. On the 7th day, I called up my bff to make sure she was alive, couldn't get hold of her, and had a mini panic attack.

43. I'm in the category of obsessive people. When something interests me, I get obsessed about it.

44. I want to be a teacher someday. I have an unexplained love for teaching. And for kids.

45. I listen to Arctic Monkey's Cornerstone on repeat when I'm sad.

46. I've never had a fracture my entire life.

47. I find Craig Ferguson extremely funny.

48. My favourite cartoon strip is Calvin and Hobbes.

49. When I was 18, my favourite author was Danielle Steel. I own over 20 of her books.

50. I want to live in NYC someday, even if it's temporary.

ASOS Free Shipping Ends Soon

Giveaway Reminder!!

Hi Everyone, 

First of all, a big thank you to everyone who's participated in my giveaway. Its truly overwhelming.

For those of you who haven't yet participated, today is the last day. So, head on over HERE, if you haven't already.

Good luck to all of you.

NYX 10 Color Eyeshadow Palette in 'Champagne & Caviar'

I don't own a lot of palettes. I have mostly singles, a few duos and quads. I never end up liking all the colors in a palette and find singles a better option. But, I love NYX and everyone raves about this palette. So, I decided I should try it out. Its a pretty decent palette for the price. Not the best, but I honestly don't mind. So, here's the review. I'm going to keep this short.

Price: $8 / Rs. 360, for 14g (0.49 oz)

You can buy it here: 
1. http://www.cherryculture.com/cosmetics/makeup/nyx-cosmetics/nyx-the-runway-collection-10-color-eyeshadow-palette/17206&cat=0&page=1
2. http://stores.ebay.com/JOYs-cosmetics/10-color-eyeshadow-palette-/_i.html?_fsub=1090826016&_sid=91711236&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

For the price they sell at, I think the palette is a real steal. I have the neutral palette. The color selection is decent. But nothing impressive. Like if you noticed, #1 and #4 kind of look alike. But all the colors (except the white one) are quite wearable. They're pretty well pigmented (not as much as the singles though). They're really soft, and apply smoothly on the lids. Because they are so soft, they kind of crumble a little. Not enough to worry about. They don't crease and fades a little by the end of the day (after maybe 7-8 hours), but not much. With a primer, they look even better. Since a lot of the colors are quite close to my skintone, I need to use a primer to make them show, which is not a problem for me since I use a primer all the time anyways.

They have a good collection of palettes. There are, I think, about 12. I've seen swatches of the other palettes and I actually like the other ones. The Velvet Rose, Secret World, Versus, Casting Call all look quite nice. But I've noticed that some of the neutrals are repeated in most of the palettes. So, if you have a few of these palettes, you'll end up with a few copies.

The packaging is very sleek and quite sturdy. It has a good size mirror inside which is quite useful. If I were travelling, this is the palette I'd carry. It has all the colors I'd need, unless of course I have parties or functions to attend. Then, maybe the Haute Model one would help. Two of these and you're ready.

Overall, I think this is a great buy and I don't regret buying it. My only crib is that I wish there were more matte shades. Only the #6,  #8 and #10 are matte, and the glitter from the others kind of transfers to the mattes. Not a good thing. I would definitely buy a few more of these. I think it's a great investment, especially for those just starting out and looking to experiment.

© Your_Blog

© ladylavendersays

Do you own any of these palettes? What was your experience?

NYX Round Lip Gloss Review

Ever since I was introduced to cherryculture.com, I've become a big fan of NYX. I love their products, from their concealers to lipsticks to glosses to eyeliners to their palettes. I love them all. None are without fault, but for their incredibly good prices, they're the best quality out there.

I have 3 of these. Real Nude, Kiss and Cafe Latte.

EOS Lip Balm Sphere Review

This beauty here I won at FunnyFace Beauty’s extremely generous EOS giveaway for all those who had no access to it.  A big thank you to her.

If there is one thing that annoys the hell out of me, its my lips that are as dry as a desert. I’m constantly on the lookout for the perfect lip balm that will leave my lips moisturized without feeling greasy.

Alicia sent me the one called ‘Lemon Drop’. The first thing you’ll notice about it is the egg shape. I think its adorable and the best thing about the shape, it’s super-easy to find in my handbag.

The smell is a nice sweet lemony scent, not at all overpowering. The taste is the same. Its super creamy, moisturizes my lips, and doesn’t feel like i have anything on my lips. I don’t think its moisturizing enough for cold weather, but for summer, it’s a great buy. Since bangalore rarely sees winter, not much of a problem for me.

School Life

I’m not sure, but i think i saw this on tanvi’s blog. It reminded me of my school days and I really wanted to do it. So here goes:

What was your favorite back to school item to buy?
Stationery. I loved buying new books, pens, pencils, the whole shebang. I still have a habit of collecting fancy stationery.


What was your favorite subject in school?
Without a doubt, math. I was always a logic person. I loved applying theorems, or proving them, or deriving something. Math fascinated me to no end.  History comes a close second. History, to me, was like a story book, only none of it was fiction.


Did you ride the bus or get a ride from Mom/Carpool?
Rode the bus for most of the years. Though the initial years, when dad was still in the army and we were living at cantonments, i used to ride in those army one-tons. Used to be a lot of fun.

Did you have a sack lunch or cafeteria food?
Till about 8th, i carried lunch every single day. But after that, i would occasionally eat at the cafeteria. My mom’s food was better than the cafeteria one any day. So, i carried lunch as much as I could. It was another story that I barely got to eat much of it.


What is your favorite memory from your school days?
I can’t think of a single one in particular. But i loved school activities, hanging out with friends, having fun. Especially, school choir used to be a riot. It was a miracle if we went through an entire rehearsal with a straight face. And our music teacher was the most fun teacher I ever had.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lip Gloss

I got these first when they launched a few months back. But then I lost it. And I was too lazy to buy it again. But a few weeks back, I was shopping and couldn’t resist when I saw the Maybelline counter. This is one of my favourite glosses. And I know I’m late, but I thought I’d review it anyway since I love them so much.

I have two of them: Sugared Honey and Hooked on Pink.

Price: Rs. 250/- or $5.50

The Good:
1. All of the colors in the range are wearable and quite amazing
2. Lasting power is excellent. They last about 3-4 hours which, for me is really long. Most glosses last barely 2 hours on me.
3. Super creamy and pigmented. It feels like I’m applying liquid lipstick. And I love the lustrous shine it gives.
4. I like the smell. Its nice citrusy smell which I quite like. Even the taste is kinda nice and fruity.
6. I like that its not too sticky.
7. Price is good for the quantity.

The Bad:
1. I don’t like the packaging. Its pretty standard. And no labels or even the brand name on the tube. There’s a tiny little sticker at the bottom with the shade name, which is quite unreadable.
2. Limited number of shades. I wish they had more variety in shades. I think there are only 9-10 of them.
3. Dries out my lips after an hour or so. But nothing a lip balm can’t fix.

Sorry about the bad pics. Couldn’t find my camera, so had to use my phone.

Final Verdict: I’d definitely like to try out the other shades

The Cooking Bug

I've mentioned somewhere in an earlier post how much I hate cooking. It's true. Atleast it used to be. My mom's an amazing cook. Especially, since dad used to be in the army, mom used to look up all kinds of recipes for all the parties that were hosted by us. Back then, you had to rely on TV, magazines and cookery books. No internet to make life easier for you. My mom has this giant diary which has all the recipes chronicled by her in the last 25 years. And it has these awesome recipes in it. My mom is the main reason I'm such a big foodie. Back when I was in school, my mom used to make something different for me every single day. No same old fare everyday for me. My friends used to literally beg me to invite them home for lunch/dinner. Continued all the way till college.

My mom's the kind of person who's always looking for new recipes to try out. She herself gets bored of eating the same thing too many times. And my mom has tried almost all kinds of cuisines that there are. But recently, my mom's been quite busy with work and seems less and less inclined to cook, unless it's for guests. Then she gets all excited. Now, this is not good news for a foodie like me who ends up with a different craving every day. My mom's solution: if you feel like eating something, learn to cook it yourself.  Initially, i wasn't very impressed with the idea. But, as time passed, and I was eating my favourites less and less, I thought I might as well give it a try.

I refused to cook the things my mom usually makes at home. Instead, I wanted to try all the interesting recipes in her diary. And that's what I did. I've learnt quite a bit in the last month or two. And at the cost of sounding narcissistic, I think I'm quite a decent cook (credit goes mostly to my mom's recipes). I haven't yet messed up a dish, which I'm quite proud of.

Soups are a favourite for me. Not the horrible Knorr or Maggi ones in the market. I like soup that's been cooked from scratch. Today, I made Cheesy Cauliflower soup. Found it in mom's diary and it's super tasty.

Ingredients:
1 medium cauliflower
1 medium onion sliced
15 gms butter
1 soup cube
3 cloves
1 bayleaf
Salt, to taste
1 tsp black pepper
1 tbsp corn flour
1 cup milk
1 cube cheese, grated
20 gms paneer, crumbled

Method:
Fry the onion in the butter till pink. Add the cauliflower florets, cloves, bayleaf, soup cube, salt and pepper and bring to a boil. (I normally just leave it in a pressure cooker for about 2-3 whistles)
Remove the cloves and the bayleaf, and let it cool. (I wrapped the cloves and bayleaf in a tiny piece of cloth and put in the pressure cooker. Makes it easier to remove it. Mom's idea :P)
Blend it in a mixer till smooth.
Let it boil in a pan again.
Mix the cornflour in the milk.
Add the cornflour mix to the pan while stirring constantly. You can add a little water if its too thick.
Let it cook for about 5 minutes.
Take it off the flame and add the cheese and paneer.
Garnish with coriander.

Serves 4.

I'm too lazy to get up and find the diary. So, I've just written it in my own words, as I remember it.

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

A few months back, I read about this on one of the blogs, and then the reviews started pouring in and everyone was raving about it. And I really do love gel liners. Since my Coastal scents order which also had the gel liners went missing, I really was looking for a good budget friendly option here. 

But then, as was my luck, I couldn't find it anywhere. Either it's out of stock, or they haven't even received stock, or according to the dumb SAs, the product just doesn't exist. I looked for it for months. Nowhere was it found. I'd almost given up on finding it. Then, last week, I was shopping on commercial street, and wanted to have a look at the new colorbar counter at Empire Stores. And while I was checking out their lippies, i just randomly asked about the gel liner. And guess what, she had one last piece in stock. I couldn't believe my luck. But I really wish they'd introduced the other shades as well. I would love to get my hands on the eggplant one. 

Price: Rs. 375/- for the tub and the brush. Pretty good deal I think.


The Good: 

1. I like the cute tub. Its quite classy.

2. It glides on like velvet. I just love the texture of this liner, not too hard, not too liquidy.

3. The color pay-off is really good. For daily wear, I prefer matte liners instead of glossy ones. And this gives a very nice matte natural look.

4. It doesn't smudge at all.

5. Staying Power. I've worn it for over 8 hours, and it doesn't fade, feather or smudge.

6. It hasn't been recommended for the waterline. But I've used it on my waterline, and it works absolutely fine. And I do have sensitive eyes.

7. It's waterproof.

8. The brush really is good. But I still prefer my angled liner brush from Coastal Scents. So, I've been using this one as a lip brush.

9. Removes easily with makeup remover.

The Bad:

1. The quantity is quite less. But it looks like it will last a decent while since a little goes a long way.

Final Verdict: This is a great budget friendly option and I'd recommend it to everyone. I hope they come out with the other shades as well. I would love to try those as well.

Another Blog Award!!!

Two awards in a week. And that too from the same person. I feel so lucky and appreciated. Thank you so much Jiya. It really means a lot to me. I've already said so much about her. But i want all of you to check out her other blog Luxarian Fashion. She has some really good DIY pieces and you get a glimpse of her excellent fashion sense.

And I'd like to pass this award on to:
1. Jiya from Confessions of a Shoppaholic (if you hadn't passed it to me, I'd have passed it to you anyways:P)
2. Anju from indianmakeupways (she always graces my posts with a lovely comment and I love the gorgeous makeup looks she does)
3. Sonali of bollywoodstylediaries (not just because we have a lot in common, but i love her witty and quirky posts)
4. Poohkie from Poohkie's Place. (i love her posts and she's always been so supportive with her comments)
5. Sandhya from 5 Wall. (i just love her creative looks)

Jiya's ASOS Giveaway

The lovely and extremely sweet Jiya from Shoppingaholic is having a giveaway on her blog. I absolutely adore her and I think she has great style. She's sweet and witty and her posts are always fun to read. I thought I was a shopaholic. She puts me to shame. She's a true blue shoppaholic. And to top it all, she's having this awesome giveaway and just about at the right time. You know what i'm talking about, Jiya. So, head on over to her blog right now. The giveaway ends on December 6th.

My First Blog Award

This is my first blog award and this is from Jiya of Confessions of a Shoppaholic fame. I'm really happy to have gotten this award from her. Jiya is a beautiful and stylish blogger. And her posts are always a delight to read. She truly is a shoppaholic and her hauls are always interesting. Head on over to her blog right now.

So, to accept this award, I have to

1. thank the person who gave you this award. Thank you so much, Jiya.

2. tell 7 facts about yourself.

3. pay it forward to 7 bloggers you adore and contact them to let them know they've been chosen.

So, 7 facts about me

1. I am an extremely clumsy person. I can literally trip on flat surfaces. And I can't remember the last time I got out of bed without hurting myself. Everytime I see a great pair of heels in a store and want to buy it, my mom jokes about having to hire someone just to keep me from falling flat on my face. 

2. I used to play rugby in school. And i'm not ashamed to say I loved being rough on the field.

3. I'm an engineering graduate and will soon be an employee of one of my dream companies. 

4. I have a mortal fear of public speaking. 

5. My mom is my best friend. I can tell her absolutely anything. 

6. I wear glasses all the time. I've been wearing them for 10 years now. I tried wearing contact lenses. But every time I buy a new pair, I lose them in about a week. 

7. I own over 400 books that I've been collecting since I was 13. 

If you want to know more about me, go here.

And the 7 bloggers I tag are:

Classy&Fabulous of Fashion Ph.D

Sandhya of 5 Wall

Deeptima of Beauty Unleashed With Deeptima

Bhumika of New Love

Poohkie of Poohkie's Place

Mehak of Peaches and Blush

Srishti of Style Fashion Etc

Thank you again for the award Jiya.

Online Shopping – I (CherryCulture, CoastalScents, ShopCraze)

I have been doing a lot of online shopping recently. And Anamika suggested I do a post on the sites I’ve been using. So, here goes.

1. CHERRYCULTURE.COM

This was the first online store I shopped from. I had heard so much about NYX that I really wanted to try it out. But the prices in India were so ridiculously high, I just couldn’t bring myself to do so. So, I checked a few online options, and came across this site. I’ve ordered from them twice now. And I’m really impressed.


Good:

1. Website Navigation is great. You can shop brand wise, category wise. It’s extremely easy to find what you want.

2. Apart from NYX, they have a whole lot of other brands available. I personally have shopped only NYX, Jordana and Wild n Crazy.

3. They have year long discounts running on almost all products. During holidays, they have additional discounts too. Recently, they had halloween & thanksgiving 20% off over existing discounts. Christmas is coming, so I’m sure they’ll have on for that too.

4. Returns policy (subject to terms and conditions).

5. Packaging is good. Each of the individual products were separately bubble wrapped and packed in a cardboard box.

6. They have a variety of shipping options.

7. Customer service is prompt.


Bad:

1. I find the shipping cost a little high. Especially when you buy nail colors and palettes, the shipping costs sky rocket.

2. The swatches on their site are definitely not reliable.

3. They took over a week to ship the order. Its annoying.

4. I wasn’t very satisfied with their direct credit card payment. They only asked for card no and validity. No CVV no. Cashiers at stores I visit could have that information. I trust only Paypal.


2. COASTAL SCENTS

I have ordered from Coastal Scents thrice now. One order never arrived. But they said they’d shipped it some 3 days after I placed my order. So, I think its mostly the fault of Indian Postal Service.


Good:

1. They have a decent collection of products. And the prices are pretty good too. The brushes are the cheapest I’ve seen and the quality is pretty good for the price.

2. Well packaged in bubble wrap and pink paper.

3. Delivery time was pretty good. It reached me in about 10-14 days.

4. They have links to other websites (only for certain products) which have actual swatches which is quite helpful.

5. They have some discount or the other at all times.

6. The customer service was prompt.

7. Shipping costs are pretty decent.

8. They give a free eyeshadow sample with every purchase.

9. Returns policy (for false or broken items)


Bad:

1. When I informed them about my missing package 20 days from payment, they just told me to wait for it and no other response. But its mostly the Indian post’s fault. But their site says that they will reship missing orders (if not received within 42 days). I just mailed them. Yet to hear from them. Will update when I hear back.

Overall, except for the missing package (not their fault), it was a good shopping experience. I’ve been dying to buy their new Eyelash Curler.

UPDATE: I just got a mail from Coastal Scents and they said that if my package doesn't arrive by Dec 6, they'll either reship or refund the item. Now, I don't how long they'll take for that. But this is the first time an online store has taken responsibility for a missing package. I'm really impressed.

3. SHOPCRAZE.COM


I’ve only ordered from them once. But I was quite satisfied. This was actually started by a YouTube makeup guru MakeupSquare.


GOOD:

1. The prices are the cheapest I’ve seen anywhere.

2. They have fixed shipping costs for specific price ranges. And the shipping costs are quite low.

3. They ship it out in about 2-3 days and delivery was quite fast. Reached me in a week.

4. Packaging is very good. Comes in a bubble wrap envelope wrapped in those foam packets.

5. Safe checkout through Paypal.


BAD:

1. They currently only have MAC pigment samples, NYX and TrueFace and LA Colors Nail Art products.

2. The site design is quite basic.

3. No returns policy.

4. They don’t have all the shades available for a given product.

5. Unreliable swatches.

I would personally have preferred ShopCraze over CherryCulture. But the lack of brands and shades makes me gravitate more towards CherryCulture.

Since this post is already getting too long, I’ll continue this in the next post. Hope this information helped.

NYX Slim Eye Pencil

I’ve always been more of a liquid liner person, the main reason being I’m a dud at applying pencil ones. I can never get a decent line, and if the pencil is not soft enough, all the tugging irritates my eye. Hence, for me liquid eyeliners have always been a safer bet.

But, I decided to experiment a little, and bought these NYX ones. And am I glad I did. These are the best eye pencils I’ve ever had.

So, here’s the review. And I’m going to keep it small.

Price: Rs. 100/ $1.99 (on cherryculture.com).
Buy in bulk here: http://stores.ebay.com/JOYs-cosmetics/slim-eye-pencil-/_i.html?_fsub=1160936016&_sid=91711236&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322. They have some amazing prices.
Also available at Hypercity and Empire Stores in Bangalore (Rs. 295/$6.50)





  

It doesn’t look as vibrant because I’m using it over the NYX jumbo pencil in iced mocha which kind of dilutes the color. But used over a matte base, looks as vibrant as in the swatch.


The Good:

1. Super pigmented. Applies without any effort. Glides like a dream.
   
2. Great price. Cheaper than so many of the other drugstore eye pencils.
   
3. Amazing range of colors. I think they have about 40 shades. And I love how vibrant the colors are.
   
4. Great staying power.  I’ve had it on the whole day with just a tiny amount of fading. But they’re quite creamy. So, I’m not sure how they’ll fare on oily lids. But nothing a primer can’t fix.
   
5. You can smudge it to create a smoky look.
   
6. It actually stays on my waterline. Something no other color eye pencil has ever done.

The Bad:

1. The size of the pencil is quite small. And since they are so creamy, you need to sharpen more often. But for the price, I think its hardly a complaint.
   
2. I don’t have a habit of rubbing my eyes. But if you do, its going to smudge like crazy.

 Final Verdict: I currently have it in Emarald City and Sapphire. I definitely want to buy more shades. I’m in love with these pencils.

Another Book Tag

I saw this tag at Ginger & Cardomom,  Weaving the Web and Someplace Else and I couldn’t resist, so I picked it up.

Have you read more than 6 of these books? The BBC believes most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books listed here.

Instructions: Copy this into your NOTES. Bold those books you’ve read in their entirety, italicize the ones you started but didn’t finish or read an excerpt. Tag other book nerds. Tag me as well so I can see your responses!

1. Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
2. The Lord of the Rings – JRR Tolkien
3. Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
4. Harry Potter series – JK Rowling
5. To Kill a Mockingbird – Harper Lee
6. The Bible
7. Wuthering Heights – Emily Bronte
8. Nineteen Eighty Four – George Orwell
9. His Dark Materials – Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations – Charles Dickens
11. Little Women – Louisa M Alcott
12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles – Thomas Hardy
13. Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare
15. Rebecca – Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
17. Birdsong – Sebastian Faulk
18. Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
19. The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch – George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind – Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald
23. Bleak House – Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
26. Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
27. Grapes of Wrath – John Steinbeck
28. Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll
29. The Wind in the Willows – Kenneth Grahame
30. Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
31. David Copperfield – Charles Dickens
32. Chronicles of Narnia – CS Lewis
33. Emma -Jane Austen
34. Persuasion – Jane Austen
35. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe – CS Lewis
36. The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
37. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin – Louis De Bernieres
38. Memoirs of a Geisha – Arthur Golden
39. Winnie the Pooh – A.A. Milne
40. Animal Farm – George Orwell
41. The Da Vinci Code – Dan Brown
42. One Hundred Years of Solitude – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
43. A Prayer for Owen Meaney – John Irving
44. The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins
45. Anne of Green Gables – LM Montgomery
46. Far From The Madding Crowd – Thomas Hardy
47. The Handmaid’s Tale – Margaret Atwood
48. Lord of the Flies – William Golding
49. Atonement – Ian McEwan
50. Life of Pi – Yann Martel
51. Dune – Frank Herbert
52. Cold Comfort Farm – Stella Gibbons
53. Sense and Sensibility – Jane Austen
54. A Suitable Boy – Vikram Seth (I’ve been wanting to read this, but always skips my mind)
55. The Shadow of the Wind – Carlos Ruiz Zafon
56. A Tale Of Two Cities – Charles Dickens
57. Brave New World – Aldous Huxley
58. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time – Mark Haddon
59. Love In The Time Of Cholera – Gabriel Garcia Marquez
60. Of Mice and Men – John Steinbeck
61. Lolita – Vladimir Nabokov
62. The Secret History – Donna Tartt
63. The Lovely Bones – Alice Sebold
64. Count of Monte Cristo – Alexandre Dumas
65. On The Road – Jack Kerouac
66. Jude the Obscure – Thomas Hardy
67. Bridget Jones’s Diary – Helen Fielding
68. Midnight’s Children – Salman Rushdie
69. Moby Dick – Herman Melville
70. Oliver Twist – Charles Dickens
71. Dracula – Bram Stoker
72. The Secret Garden – Frances Hodgson Burnett
73. Notes From A Small Island – Bill Bryson
74. Ulysses – James Joyce
75. The Inferno – Dante
76. Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
77. Germinal – Emile Zola
78. Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
79. Possession – AS Byatt
80. A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
81. Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
82. The Color Purple – Alice Walker
83. The Remains of the Day – Kazuo Ishiguro
84. Madame Bovary – Gustave Flaubert
85. A Fine Balance – Rohinton Mistry
86. Charlotte’s Web – E.B. White
87. The Five People You Meet In Heaven – Mitch Albom
88. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
89. The Faraway Tree Collection – Enid Blyton
90. Heart of Darkness – Joseph Conrad
91. The Little Prince – Antoine De Saint-Exupery
92. The Wasp Factory – Iain Banks
93. Watership Down – Richard Adams
94. A Confederacy of Dunces – John Kennedy Toole
95. A Town Like Alice – Nevil Shute
96. The Three Musketeers – Alexandre Dumas
97. Hamlet – William Shakespeare
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables – Victor Hugo

Score 23/100

For someone who prides herself on reading a lot, that’s a terrible score. I guess I have a lot of catching up to do.

Sony Ericsson Giveaway

The lovely Shreya of 'For the love of fashion and other things' is having a Sony Ericsson giveaway at her blog. Do check it out.

Lakme Black Satin Kajal

I’ve been using Himalaya Kajal for years now, and I was pretty content with it. Unlike what everyone else said, it didn’t really smudge on me. But when I saw everyone raving about the lakme satin kajal, I was tempted to try it.

Price: Rs. 150/-


What Lakme Claims:
Jet black kajal for the blackest black delivery in just one stroke. Draw a sharp, intense line or smudge for a smoky finish. The easy-to-use pencil glides on super soft and smooth, with a glossy finish only satin can provide! Create bold and beautiful eyes with this water resistant formula that keeps color and shine in place without spreading.


My Experience:


The Good:

1. I love the packaging. The gold floral design is really pretty.

2. It is jet black.

3. It really is soft and smooth.

4. Great staying power. Lasted over 9 hours on me on my waterline.

5. I like that it can be sharpened. I used to end up wasting more than half of my Himalaya kajal. Plus, the pencil is more hygienic.

6. Great for tightlining.

7. Perfect for a smoky eye.


The Bad:

1. Smudges on my upper lash line, unless set with a black eyeshadow. Surprisingly, doesn’t smudge much on my waterline.


Overall: I really love this kajal. Even more than my Himalaya one. Will continue with this till I find a better one.

Bibliophilic Tendencies

I grew up in a family of voracious readers. And both my parents made sure I cultivated the same habit. They tried that on my brother too, but failed miserably. Anywho, I’ve been reading since the time I can remember. When I was younger, my second cousin had this huge library at home. She had every single book by Enid Blyton, Nancy Drew series, Hardy Boys, Mallory Towers, and several others. And every weekend, I would force my dad to take me to their house so that I could borrow a few more books. Then there was the school library. I checked out a book every single day. At one point, the librarian didn’t have any more books for me. The only gift I wanted as a kid was a book. When I started getting pocket money, I spent it all on books. Today, its reached a point where I can’t leave a bookstore without a book in hand.

So, when I saw this post at Swayambhu’s blog, I couldn’t resist doing it myself.

Here goes:


Favourite childhood book?
The Secret Seven books. I loved reading them. Every time I finished one, I’d get restless till I could get my hands on the next one.


What are you reading right now?
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. I’m on a mission to finish all of Austen’s book. 2 down, 4 to go.


Bad book habit?
Letting my reading take over everything else, even my studies.


Do you have an e-reader?
No. And I don’t really want one. I enjoy the feel of a book. Its not the same on a machine.


Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once?
I can never read more than one book at a time. I feel like I’m cheating on the book.


Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog?
I’m a fairly new blogger. So, no, not really.


Least favourite book you read this year (so far)?
Roller Coaster Ride by Saumil Srivastava. I’m just so tired of all these indian authors writing about IITians.


Favourite book you’ve read this year?
The Millenium trilogy by Stieg Larsson. I know it’s not one book, but I loved all three of them.

How often do you read out of your comfort zone?
I don’t have a comfort zone. I’ll read anything that catches my fancy.


What is your reading comfort zone?
Same as above


Can you read on the bus?
Honestly, I can’t. I get sick and nauseous. But I can’t resist and end up doing it anyways.


Favourite place to read?
I love reading outdoors. In a park, under a tree, at a bus stop. Anywhere and everywhere.


What is your policy on book lending?
That I don’t lend my books. I have OCD when it comes to my books. I can’t stand to not have them with me. My brother lended MY book to a friend of his once. I got so pissed I refused to let even my brother touch my books.


Do you ever dog-ear books?
Never. I have a hundred million bookmarks for the purpose.


Do you ever write in the margins of your books?
Nope. I like my books to look like they’ve never been touched.


Not even with text books?
I was one of those people whose books looked brand new even at the end of the school year, and not because I didn’t study. If I absolutely had to, I used post-its.


What is your favourite language to read in?
English. That’s the only language I read in. Never ended up reading hindi, except for school. And I read my mother tongue, malayalam so slow, that I'll be 60 by the time I finish a book.


What makes you love a book?
The characters. More often than not, I find myself becoming one of the characters from the book I’m reading. Of course, the plot, pace, and all matter. But the characters are what reel me in.


What will inspire you to recommend a book?
If the book really impresses me, I will. I don’t have a lot of friends who read, so it’s not something that I do much.


Favourite genre?
Crime. I like coming up with my own theories about the culprit, and then finally finding out who it was at the end of the book.


Genre you rarely read (but wish you did?)
Biography/autobiographies.


Favourite biography/autobiography?
I haven’t read that many, so can’t say.


Have you ever read a self-help book?
That is the one genre I stay away from.


Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?
I really can’t think of one.


Favourite reading snack?
Potato chips.


Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience
None really.


How often do you agree with critics about a book?
I never read reviews of a book before reading it. I find that it corrupts my judgment.


How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews?
If a book is bad, it’s bad.


If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?
German. I’ve always wanted to read books by Goethe, Franz Kafka, Schiller, Lessing etc, in their original versions. And I also want to read ‘Dead Souls’ in the original Russian version.


Most intimidating book you’ve ever read?
How can a book be intimidating, maybe except in size. But as far as I’m concerned, the longer the book, the better.


Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin?
Like I said, no book can be intimidating.


Favourite Poet(s)?
Lord Byron, Wordsworth, Keats, Shelley, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, Prem Chand, are just some of them. And I also love Shakespeare’s sonnets. I’m not much of poetry person, but I like reading them from time to time.


Favourite fictional character(s)?
Sherlock Holmes, Lisbeth Salander, Garfield, Calvin (from Calvin & Hobbes)

Favourite fictional villain?
Professor Moriarty


Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?
Chick Lits. They’re light reading. And I’m normally able to put them down in order to enjoy my vacation.


The longest I’ve gone without reading
A couple of months during college. Studies got in the way.


Name a book that you could/would not finish-
Quite a few actually. Mostly when I was in college. I'd start reading a book, but would then get burdened with college work, and completely forget about it. I'm currently in the process of finishing those book.


What distracts you easily when you’re reading?
Internet, phone, sleep.


Favourite film adaptation of a novel?
I personally loved the Sherlock Holmes movie, but that had more to do with Robert Downey Jr., than the movie (which actually was equally good). The movie does take a lot of liberties with Holmes’ character, but it was a delight nonetheless. And plus I loved all the quotes they took from the books (“Data, data, data — I cannot make bricks without clay”)
Another movie I liked was the swedish adaptation of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”.

Most disappointing film adaptation?
Harry Potter series. The movies skip so many scenes from the books, I feel like I’m skipping chapters and reading.


The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time?
Not much really. At the most, I’ll buy maybe 2 or 3 books at a time.


How often do you skim a book before reading it?
There are times I get really curious and skim a few pages ahead.


What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?
If its extremely slow paced. I hate having to read 10 chapters before anything substantial happens.


Do you like to keep your books organized?
Yes. I have 4 bookshelves in my tiny room, and I keep all my books well organized.


Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them?
I love collecting books. I’ve never given away books, except for text books maybe.


Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?
Not that I can remember.
UPDATE: I just remembered. 'The Agony and the Ecstasy' by Irving Stone. I got it as a prize. I've had it for years, but haven't been able to bring myself to read it. I'm not really sure why.


Name a book that made you angry –
Circle of Light by Kiranjit Ahluwalia. Domestic violence is something that I cannot tolerate. Just hearing about it makes me furious. And Kiranjit Ahluwalia’s story literally brought me to tears, and made me angry at the same time.

A book you didn’t expect to like but did?
5 Point Someone


A book that you expected to like but didn’t?
Sleeping with the Enemy  by Nancy Price


Favourite guilt-free, pleasure reading?
Chick Lits


Books I love or “the ones I can read again and again and again and…..”
I normally never read a book a second time so as to not ruin my image of a book. But I have read the Harry Potter books 3-4 times. and Calvin n Hobbes.


Books I love to hate:
Books about IITians. Same old love stories.
UPDATE: Also the twilight series. Loved reading the books, inspite of the spineless female lead. Totally against my feminist principles. But the writing is good. Plus I love vampires. I've been dying to order the Vampire Diaries books and the Southern Vampire Mysteries.


Books that left me underwhelmed:
Above Average by Amitabha Bagchi. It wasn’t bad, but I was expecting more.


I encourage all you bibliophiles to do this tag. If you do, let me know in the comments.

9 Makeup Must Haves

Most of us have the same problem: a makeup bag thats overflowing with items we probably don’t need on us all the time. For me, the biggest problem is deciding what to take when travelling. I can’t possibly carry all my makeup. And on top of all the additional clothes and shoes I just HAVE to carry, I don’t have a lot of place to carry all the makeup that I want to. Thats when you end up having to go back to the basics: just the essentials.
Here are a list of 9 items that are absolutely essential for me. This is just my list. You may not need as many items, or you might need more.


1. Foundation/Tinted Moisturizer
The foundation is the base for good makeup. It is absolutely essential. 3 factors to be considered when buying foundation: skin type, skin tone, and coverage.
Now, not everyone likes to apply foundation on a daily basis (such as me). I normally just do with tinted moisturizers. Foundations are only for special occasions.

I use: Ponds tinted moisturizer.

2. Concealer
A concealer is a must have for me. I have terrible dark circles, and scars from previous breakouts. The only way to hide them is use a concealer.
When applying concealers on dark circles, never forget to apply an eye cream first. And the key to good concealing is blend, blend, blend. Don’t rub too hard though, the product might rub off.

I use: Coastal Scents Camo Quad/NYX Concealer jar

3. Eyelash Curler/Mascara
Most people don’t have eyelashes that grow upwards. So, always curl your lashes so that the mascara can give the right effect.
Never curl your lashes after applying mascara. The product sticks to the curler, and sometimes may get yanked off.

On days that I have  no time for makeup, mascara is my best friend. It opens up your eyes, and makes you look wide awake, even if you probably aren’t.

I use: Maybelline Volum’ Express Waterproof mascara/Oriflame eyelash curler

4. Eyeliner
For me, my eyes are always my main focus. An eyeliner is always a quick fix. Use a pencil, or liquid or gel. Its your preference. Find a go-to color and always carry it with you. Make sure your eyeliner glides easily without tugging or pressure. Your eyes don’t take nicely to being ill-treated. Since eyeliner don't stay on my waterline, i prefer kajal. I'm currently using the Lakme Black Satin Kajal.

I use: Lakme 9 to 5 defining eyeliner/Maybelline liquid liner


5. Basic Eyeshadow
A lot of  people might skip this, but I like to use eyeshadows. For an everyday look, I use neutral colors that’ll hide my terribly pigmented eyelids.
The best option is to have a neutral palette that’ll fit into your bag, and can be used on the go.

I use: NYX Runway Collection 10 colors palette in ‘Champagne & Caviar’




6. The Perfect Nude Lipstick
Everyone has that one lipstick that is a staple for them. Some go for browns, some for pinks. It all depends on your skin tone.
The perfect everyday lipstick is matte, but those can be drying. So, always keep a lip balm handy.

I use: an Oriflame one. The label’s missing. So, I don’t what shade it is.

7. Good Brushes
All of the above products are useless if you don’t have good brushes. The perfect brushes can do miracles. So, invest in a good set.

I use: an assortment of brushes from Vega, Coastal Scents, Oriflame and Sinful Colors

8. Blush
I’m not much of a blush person, but on days when my skin looks extremely dull, a light sweep of blush makes me look fresh. For daily wear, pick a nice matte natural shade. The best blush is the kind people can’t make out you’re wearing.

I use: Jordana Powder Blush in sandalwood

9. Loose/Pressed Powder
All that makeup you’ve done needs to be set. It also allows the makeup to stay for longer. A must have especially for oily skin.

I use: Lakme Perfect Radiance/Maybelline Whitestay UV






What are your makeup must-haves?

My Birthday/Christmas Giveaway

~~~~~GIVEAWAY CLOSED~~~~

As I mentioned in a previous post, I turn 22 in just over a month. Also, Christmas is coming. And I just realized I crossed the 50-followers mark. So, a giveaway is definitely in order. There are also some other things that I'm super ecstatic about, but that's for a different post.

I started blogging as a way to pass time, but it has become an essential part of my life. And the biggest reward are all those readers that I get to share it with. I'm really thankful to all who read my blog and support and encourage me with their comments.

December is usually a tough month for me, with too many birthdays, wedding anniversaries, christmas shopping, etc. So, I'm kind of on a tight budget. Also, since I want the gift to be a surprise, I won't reveal the contents of the giveaway (I hope you guys don't mind that). I may not be able to afford fancy high-end brands, but everything I've bought are items I would buy for myself.

Rules for Entering
1. You MUST be a follower of my blog. As a way of appreciating all those who brought my blog this far, I'm going to give 2 additional entries to all my existing followers (i.e., the first 51).
2. You MUST fill out the form below. ONLY ONCE

For additonal entries:
1. You MAY post a link on your blog sidebar
2. You MAY do a blog post about my giveaway.

This giveaway is open internationally, and will end on 15th December, 11.59 pm IST.

P.S.: If you've entered, please leave a comment letting me know. 



Thank you so much for participating. Hope you have a great day.

Gender Stereotypes: Isn’t it getting old?

The other day, I was going to a classmate’s engagement party, and I was unfortunately forced to hitch a ride from this moron guy who I really really hate. I hated him already, but this particular ride made me loath him. I’m right in the car, and this guy was talking about how he hates this other girl from class only because she speaks her mind in front of guys.

Which century do we live in? Does a girl really have to conform to gender stereotypes in this day and age? If a girl is not docile and soft-spoken, then she’s not a girl. There are plenty of things I do that I supposedly shouldn’t be.

• I’m loud. I can’t be soft-spoken. I’ll say what I want, when I want. And I never back down from a fight.
• When I’m pissed, I’ll either punch you in the guts, or kick you in the shin. I don’t do slaps.
• I hate wearing heels. My converse are my best friend.
• I can’t stand girl bands, or boy bands, or pop, or any of that crap. I love my alternate music.
• I played rugby in school. I’m not scared of getting dirty.
• I’m not a big fan of pink.
• I loathe cooking.
• I prefer men’s colognes.
• My only friends are guys.
• I’m a car-freak. Love them all (mostly)

There are many other things. That doesn’t mean I don’t have my girly moments. This is, after all, a beauty blog, and its proof of that. But I should have the liberty to be the way I am, however I maybe.

I have lost count of the number of times I’ve been told, “Don’t sit with your legs far apart.”, or “Don’t laugh so loudly”, or “Don’t beat up guys” (The last one was only once, and was from a lecturer in college. In my defense, the guy totally deserved it :P). The point is, why is there this pressure to be conform to these gender stereotypes? It’s not just for us girls. Even guys feel the pressure. I have a perfectly heterosexual male friend, who gets a manicure once a month. He gets so much crap for it, its pissing off. Why doesn’t a guy have the liberty to look well groomed? Is it reserved for girls? I personally love guys with clean nails.

I remember, a few years back, a friend of mine took our whole gang to this restaurant for a buffet on his birthday. Now, I’m a healthy eater. I took 3 full plate helpings, and I’m not ashamed of  it. But then the girls in the gang were giving me weird looks and one of them even told me that I’m not very lady-like. A guy can eat like a bloody animal, if he wants to, but if a girl eats more than a salad, it’s a crime.

I have nothing against  the girly-girls or the so called Ubersexuals. What I have a problem with is these gender stereotypes, which are frankly insulting. Every person is different and unique in their own way. Why is there such a need to classify human beings in pre-defined categories? Its about time people came out of their comfort zones and realized that different is good, even interesting.

We might have become more modern in our lifestyles, but most people, even today, stick to their archaic beliefs and think that they’re perfectly right. We, as a society, will never evolve, till we learn to change our mindsets, and accept the change that’s beckoning us.

Okay, i’m done with my rant. Have a lovely weekend, all you guys.

Spreading Cheer, My Way

Every year for the past 5 years, I’ve been gifting one random person every year on my birthday, which falls on the eve of Christmas Eve. I do it as a way of showing how thankful I am for another birthday spent with my family and friends, the people that I love.

It started when I was in grade 12. There was this girl in my language class. We had that one class, 4 times a week, for 2 years and I didn’t even know her name. Then, sometime in December 2005, we got put on an assignment together. And I realized what a wonderful person she was and how I’d missed out on a great friend the past 1 1/2 years.

She lived with a roommate close to college. Her parents were divorced. And every year, her parents would fight over who got her over Christmas break. To avoid all of that, she decided to just stay back and not visit either of her parents.

When I heard her story, I was heartbroken. Her roommate was gone for the holidays. She was all alone during the holidays. Can you imagine not having your loved ones around during Christmas? Or for us Indians, during the 357852 festivals we have every year. Diwali just went by. All of those who live away from their families must know how lonely it feels to not have your family around during festivals.

Anyways, I obviously got her to stay at my place during the break. My parents wedding anniversary  is on 21st, my birthday on 23rd and Christmas on 25th. So it’s a lot of celebration for us. I accidentally got a sneak peek of her college ID and found out her birthday was the day after Christmas. She didn’t even tell me. I felt even worse that her parents weren’t with her on her birthday. So, I threw her a birthday party. It was also half my party. I can’t really afford two parties. I love birthday gifts (who doesn’t?).  But seeing her happy that day made me more happy than all the gifts in the world. And that was the first time I did something so big for someone I barely knew for about 2 weeks. Every year since, I gift someone who really needs the cheer, on my birthday.

This year I’m gifting my best friend’s girlfriend. I don’t know her that well. We must have met barely 4-5 times. But she’s a really sweet girl and I honestly adore her. But she’s going through some really tough times with her family, and I want to be able to cheer her up.

I don’t do it as charity. All the people that I’ve gifted have been people I know. I do it as a friendly gesture. And it’s my way of being thankful. And since Christmas comes right after my birthday, it’s a good excuse for gifting.

This year, I also have a blog. I’m so thankful to all the people that follow my blog. I can’t thank you enough for reading my mindless ramblings. I wish I could send a gift to each one of my followers. But I’m pretty sure I can’t do that without my bank balance going into negative. So, I’m going to go the classic blog way, and hold a giveaway (I honestly didn’t mean for that to rhyme. creepy. lol).

I won’t tell you the contents of the giveaway because I honestly want to surprise the person who gets it. But since this is mostly a beauty blog, the gifts will be beauty-related. I really hope all of you will participate.

I’ll put up the form in about a week or so. I’m currently super-duper busy and haven’t had time to go shopping. I will, hopefully this weekend. And then I’ll put up the official giveaway post.

I’m looking forward to all of you participating.

Anamika's (WiseShe) Giveaway

Wise She was one of the first beauty blogs I started reading. And I've been addicted since. Anamika is having a 200 followers Giveaway and it ends on November 21. 

Click here to enter her giveaway

Beauty Ambition's Giveaway

Check out this amazing 600 followers giveaway by Evelyn from Beauty Ambition

Ends: December 3rd

Juliet Doesn't Live Here Anymore – Sneak Peek

This is what is in store for Gossip Girl viewers next Monday. Who do you like the best?






I, personally, am in love with what Serena’s wearing (Zuhair Murad Fall 2010 RTW Gray Sheer Lace Drape Gown).

And, Venessa doesn’t look too shabby for once.

Also, really liked the Ralph Lauren Floral Silk Gown that Blair’s wearing.

I have no idea what Juliet is wearing, and frankly, I don’t really want to know.

Picture Courtsey: gossipgirlfashion.net