Diwali Luxe with JMA Makeup & Fashion

Hello, you gorgeous people out there! Happy Diwali to one and all! Hope it's going great so far. At my place, I've just got done with the morning rituals and now prepping up for the 'maha pujan' for evening. 

As you know, diwali has always been my favorite festival, so I make sure I do something special so that every year it becomes a fruitful memory for everyone! This time I've got you guys a gala post showcasing one out-of-the-box festive outfit from JMA MAKEUP & FASHION STUDIO, where JMA stands for Jyotika Mirpuri Aroura, who is a bollywood celebrity makeup artist and fashion stylist.

Like always, I was on a search spree for a perfect Diwali attire, and reached out to JMA for some cool options. Interestingly, she not only pulled out a sexy outfit for me from her newly designed collection, but also gave me a complete beauty makeover that I surely want you all to check out! Guys, scroll down now..

lehenga pants, crop top : JMA Fashion Studio

heels : Factoryrush.com | maang tika : Aetee Designs | handcuff, ring, earrings : Myntra

makeup & hair : JMA Makeup Studio

When it comes to getting dressed for a festival, you will agree with me that it does become stressful because you have to take care while deciding what to throw upon yourself which will be comfortable throughout, as well as looks pretty enough to woo people around! With so many different styles to choose from, this year I rushed to JMA to pick my perfect festive outfit and got my hands on a set of beautiful crop top and lehenga pants! It looked breathtakingly stylish, giving a complete indo-western feel with the cold shoulder top made in raw silk, paired with the lehenga pants in silk and brocade. I loved the concept of the bottom wear with half lehenga and half pants, like quite quirky it appeared!

The design of the lehenga pants seem complex, but its the easiest to wear. Guess it took me a few seconds to pull up the elasticated pants and a few more to zip up the crop top, and I was all set. Coming to what actually takes time for females to get ready is the makeup and I witnessed it myself when Jyotika started painting my face with some MAC ad Kryolan products, giving me smokey eyes, elegant fresh face and dark pink lips. With my hair, the JMA team did something miraculous that looks like a messy bun on the side and raised pouf attaching a bold maang tika in the front. To complete the look, I wore a pair of brass earrings, a ring and handcuff that matched superbly with the outfit! 

For me, fashion is not what I see and take inspiration from on a regular basis. I mostly mix match clothes from wardrobe and get ready in minutes! Thus, it was surprising to see myself getting dressed for Diwali by JMA and that too 'flawless'! Jyotika Mirpuri Aroura is one of the country's best makeup artist and undoubtedly a terrific fashion stylist. Make sure you visit JMA Makeup & Fashion Studio in Lucknow at least once, to experience the excellent work Jyotika and her team does and trust me, you'll look stunning like you've never looked before!

Find JMA on : facebook & instagram  |  Book appointments HERE

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If you liked viewing this post, do share it across for more fashionistas to take a look! #Share&Care ;)

Photographed by : Zeeshan Khan  |  Location Courtesy : Renaissance Lucknow Hotel

~xoxo~

Harippa Flavoured Seeds by True Elements

Hi everyone, hope y'all are all set for Diwali! There's so much to prep still, and I'm on my toes for past few days due to all the festive hullabaloo at my place, and I don't even want to imagine the scenes at your place, because tbh, I feel y'all!

Well, having said that, I must also mention that I have lost around 3 kgs already in the past 2 weeks, and all thanks to my irregular food habits, with one good addition being the consumption of some flavourful seeds that happen to be my on-the-go snack! Yes guys, I'm talking about the edible seed packs I recently received from HARIPPA which is a sub brand of TRUE ELEMENTS.

For so many years, you'd never seen me trying seeds and I'm totally an unhealthy eater I swear, but since I was sent across a few Harippa packs for trial, I ofcourse did chew a little portion from each of the flavours, and just couldn't resist having another serving! The story behind the name Harippa is one major attraction, which says "Harippa is the fusion of Harappa and Hadippa, symbolising one of the oldest civilizations on this planet, and a true emotion of fun." And well, that's exactly what True Elements has attempted in their new range of snacks, bringing together ingredients from the oldest civilization, but seasoned with modern taste!

The seeds used in Harippa are hand-picked and seasoned with Babylonian-inspired spices and herbs such as rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, cinnamon, and cumin, amongst others, to give the product a unique taste. I have three flavors from Harippa for you to check out that I did too, and choose for yourself which one you'd like to try..

ROASTED FLAX SEEDS - TANGY CIDER

These tiny black seeds come from flax, one of the oldest fiber crops in the world known to have been cultivated in ancient Egypt and China. Among all 127 world's healthiest foods, flax seed comes out number one as a source of omega-3s. It protects our blood vessels from inflammatory damage which is also provided by the lignans in flaxseeds, and with that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits of flaxseeds also make them a logical candidate for cancer prevention! PS : Finding creative ways to add flaxseeds to your meals can be a challenge, but one popular technique is to incorporate ground flaxseeds into your muffin, cookie, or bread recipes, or just eat it as the sea salted flavor by Harippa! 

ROASTED SUNFLOWER SEEDS - CHILLI GARLIC

Well, the name already suggests the seeds come from the very vibrant sunflower. Since these seeds have a very high oil content, they are one of the main sources of polyunsaturated oil. Sunflower seeds are an excellent source of vitamin E and magnesium. Numerous studies have demonstrated that magnesium helps reduce the severity of asthma, lower high blood pressure, and prevent migraine headaches, as well as reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. I have been consuming these seeds on a regular basis since the time I researched upon them and tbh I have started feeling the difference already. Thanks to Harippa for adding the yummy chilli garlic flavor to it, which makes it even easier to devour!

ROASTED WATERMELON SEEDS - TANGY OREGANO

I am a watermelon lover, and when I think of the health benefits of the fruit, the seeds probably never came to my mind. Like you probably think about the sweet, juicy pulp, with the seeds an afterthought and maybe good only for spitting contests, right? Well, the fact is, watermelon seeds make a great snack when they have been dried and roasted. They are a great source of Vitamin B and highly rich in protein. Its health benefits include regulating blood pressure and treating coronary heart disease, which is obviously the best part! Also, when late night hunger pangs strike, my current choice is a pack of Harippa watermelon seeds in tangy oregano flavor, because its uber delicious and so light in texture!

Many of us have been enculturated to think about the nutritional dimension of our food intake in terms of the government’s RDAs, focusing on getting the 'right' amounts of carbohydrate, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. However, I believe this focus on the quantifiable dimensions of food versus the qualitative elements has profoundly lead us astray. We bear witness to this in the fact that Indians are some of the most overfed yet simultaneously malnourished people on the planet. It is no wonder that we are dying by the droves, with heart disease and cancer representing the most common causes of premature death.

So, now that I've told you about a nutrient-packed super-food which costs just Rs.99 and can greatly reduce the risk of dying and not only this, but dozens of other life-threatening conditions, would you take it? True Elements is a health foods brand aiming to be the most trusted health brand in the country and I highly recommend its products to each one of you and your families because the best part is you can add these seeds conceptually in salad, oatmeal, burger buns, health bars, soup, crackers, parfait, or even laddoos for breakfast, lunch or dinner! Go guys, grab your favorites from True Elements - Harippa now, and pledge to stay fit forever!

True Elements seed packs available at : Flipkart, Amazon, HealthKart, Giskaa, Snapdeal

~xoxo~

Safar - The Journey Of Flavours From Then Till Now at Sepia, by Renaissance Lucknow

Aadaab janaab aur mohtaram! I am surely ruling by this style of greeting, eh? Anyway, that just simply means 'hi everyone!'

Being a Lucknowite by birth and have lived in the city of Nawabs all my life till now, I have a great great attachment with Lucknow and everything that's associated with it. May it be the culture, fashion, its people or most importantly its food. As you might know, Lucknow is known well worldwide due to its unmatchable Awadhi cuisine which is an indigenous part of the city. The dishes and cooking style of the people here is inspired and influenced by the Mughals, and I'm one die hard fan of it too!

Recently I attended the on-going Awadhi food festival, SAFAR - THE JOURNEY OF FLAVOURS FROM THEN TILL NOW, along with my friend Azman Khan at Sepia restaurant at Renaissance Lucknow Hotel, and it became a must share story for me with you all!  

The richness of Awadhi cuisine lies not only in the variety of the cuisine but also in the ingredients used like mutton, paneer (cottage cheese), and rich spices. The need for such a cuisine arose in Lucknow as the emperors, the Nawabs of Awadh, being inhabitants of Persia were used to a certain type of diet which comprised of grains, dry fruits, fruits and vegetables available in that part of the country apart from various forms of meat. This style of cooking was further polished by the Nawabs by adding exotic flavors of saffron and other Indian spices.

The bawarchis (chefs) and rakabdars (gourmet cooks) of Awadh invented the dum style of cooking or the art of cooking over a slow fire, which became popular and synonymous with Lucknow. Their spreads consisted of elaborate dishes such as kebabs, kormas, biryanis, kaliyas, nahari-kulchas, zarda, sheermal, roomali rotis, and warqi parathas. 

Today, years later with SAFAR, Chef Mohsin Qureshi - the Chef De Cuisine along with his team at Sepia, took ques from the original recipes of some popular Nawabs of the city, and has reinvented its glorious flavours while recreating an extravagant menu for all of us to relish and feel the modernised twists in the age old recipes! 

Awadhi cuisine is native to the city of Lucknow. The cooking patterns of are similar to those of Central Asia, the Middle East, and Northern India with the cuisine comprising both vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes prepared with exotic spices, herbs and garnished with dry fruits. I, along with Azman gorged upon some of the finest Awadhi delicacies prepared exclusively for us by Chef Qureshi and below is an array displayed for you to have a look and drool!

Oh JK! This food festival is running up till 2nd November so you can actually go and taste the entire menu yourself!

STARTERS (VEG)

Kebabs are the integral part of Awadh. There are several varieties of popular kebabs in Awadhi cuisine like Kakori Kebabs, Galawat ke Kebabs, Shami Kebabs, Boti Kebabs, Patili-ke-Kebabs, Ghutwa Kebabs and Seekh Kebabs are among the known varieties. So, we were served lots of kebabs in the starters and I was so happy to see that they had some unique vegetarian recipes incorporated!

Til Bhindi ke Kebab (Sesame + Lady Finger)

My favorite out all, so that's no.1!

Doodhi Dahi Gilawti Kebab (Bottle Guord + Curd)

This is one of the most unbelievable kebabs I ever tasted.

Tara Arbi

For most of you who don't like colocasia, this is a must try!

We also tried 'Gobhi (Cauliflower) ke Shaami Kebab' which were super tender and tasteful!

STARTERS (NON-VEG)

Machhi Masala (Fish fried in herbs and spices)

Soft, delectable, yummy!

Jeera Dhaniya Murgh 

(Cumin Seed + Coriander in Chicken filled with Mozerella Cheese)

Very innovative dish, and Cheesy AF. A junk non-vegetarian's paradise!

Gosht Gilawti (Mutton Kebabs with Garlic Bread)

Love the unique display and it did taste awesome as well!

MAIN COURSE (VEG)

Curries and Kormas originated in the lavish Mughal cuisine wherein lamb or chicken was braised in velvety, spiced sauces, enriched with ground nuts, cream and butter. The main course menu of Safar include lots of revamped vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties and you must take a look below at what all we tasted the other day!

Bhindi Nain Tara (Spicy Ladyfinger)

I was drooled by the name already, and also its my favorite vegetable so it was yum indeed!

Dal Dhungar (Black Lentil with Mixed Spices)

Khumani Kofta (Apricot Stuffed Koftas)

Melts in mouth, amazingly thought of and well put together with a blend of spices and innovation!

MAIN COURSE (NON-VEG)

Turai Gosht (Ridge Gourd + Mutton)

Succulent enough to pop your taste buds and delight for the fans of fusion dishes!

Lagan Dum Ka Murgh

Completely swayed by the juicy chicken and Awadhi flavored gravy. A complete gourmet delight!

Awadhi breads are very significant. A few varieties are of the raised breads and improvisations are of different types and made in various ways that include the rumaali roti, tandoori roti, naan, kulcha, warqi paratha, lachha paratha, sheermaal and baqarkhani. We preferred tasting Plain naan and one of our favorite breads at Sepia, the Warqi Paratha. I'm not too sure, but if you remember in my previous post for Sepia during the Kakori food fest, I did mention how luscious this bread was, and still is indeed!

I am a vegetarian survivor, but my friends keep forcing me to try non vegetarian food too. Well, its just not my cup of tea and I am glad that vegetarian food combinations are innumerable for people like me to taste some real good food without compromising on taste. Well, Azman says the same for non vegetarian food served to him!

PS : I had a wonderful time during the Awadhi dinner and it was an helluva experience rediscovering flavors from the times of my great grand parents (or even earlier I'm not sure) but the twists added by the chef at Sepia restaurant truly won my heart! I personally and highly recommend all of you to at least visit SEPIA once, also because the ambience is so authentic and soulful, and like I say you can always thank me later! ;)

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I can never really dress up to impress, but dressing up for a theme could be in my 'I-Like-To-Do-Stuff' list! This time I wore a long indo-western kurta from Saatchi Fashion with a pair of maroon churidaar pajama from Jabong, and styled it with a crystal necklace from Accessorize, a brass handcuff from Myntra and beige-gold heels from Steve Madden. Suited well I guess! 

If you liked reading this post, don't forget to share it across! Until next time, lots of love and virtual hugs.

Photographed by : Azman Khan

~xoxo~

Tulip Inn, Mussoorie - An idyllic wedding destination

Bonjour people! What's up? 

I hope y'all are gearing up for the festivities that are round the corner and also the wedding season that's approaching! For many of you who are planning to get married in the coming months, this post should help you land at a beautiful wedding location, if you're fond of hills and cool breeze!

So, if you're following me on social media, you must remember I went for a weekend getaway to Mussoorie last month, with a group of other bloggers from Delhi and Chandigarh! Since it was my first blogger's trip, its kinda special and you already saw how amazing my stay was with them at TULIP INN GREEN N BREEZE. This is a resort situated in the Barlowganj area just 5 kms away from Mall road, Mussoorie and is a really cool property to check into!

Well, many dream wedding begins with beautiful landscapes merging with far stretched clear skies, beautiful tree/snow covered hills, a pleasant breeze, surreal surroundings, a flawless mix of daylights and the perfect picture with happy beginnings! And here I show you the Tulip Inn Resort at Mussoorie where your wedding dreams will dance itself into reality creating memories for a lifetime!

Opened in 2007, Tulip Inn Green n Breeze Resorts at Barlowganj provides best of facilities, latest amenities within a stylish and intimate environment. A pretty 3 star hotel spread over 4 floors also has 24x7 hospitality support that takes care of you from the time you check in till you say bye and leave! With that, some of the most attractive facilities include : Kids Corner, Table Tennis and Gym Area, Spa/Massage and Jogging Track.

Entrance

Reception

Hotel view from front

Hotel view from one of the balconies

The building looks even prettier at night..

The best waiting area (outdoor) from where you can see the hills and feel the breeze right into your face.

This was my favorite spot at the hotel which during the weddings is dressed up with carpets and chairs for ceremonies (as in the picture below), with the perfect valley view.

Now that you've seen the exteriors of the resort, its time I tell you how synonymously pleasing the interiors are! Yes, I'm talking about the accommodation and other facilities that are present for all! So, Tulip Inn Green n Breeze offers three types of rooms, categorized as : Standard, Studio and Duplex! All the rooms look lavish with clean, sleek walls and immpressively comfortable beds, a large wardrobe, resting chairs and tables, television, dressing table, and other side tables! The washrooms are facilitated with hot water geysers and other needful stuff. Like a must have add on, I guess all rooms at the resort have a balcony with a striking view that everyone wants at a hill station, so all in all all the rooms are perfect for each one! 

Such a cozy bed that made me fall asleep in seconds..

View from my balcony

This 3 day trip for me was a much needed one, since I'd been longing to relax for a while! Each day spent at the resort was like a blessing. Tension free sleeps, sweet dreams at night, waking up to a pleasant view and cold mornings with hot cup of coffee at the restaurant was all that I longed for! Also, did I tell you about the delicious food they offer at their restaurant and the banquet (that can gather upto 350 people at one time for all your pre-wedding ceremonies like engagement, sangeet, tilak, mehndi, etc..) during parties? From intimate dinner receptions to marriages to meetings, you can enjoy sumptuous barbeque, a-la carte, cocktails and bonfire with multi cuisine menu for an elegant breakfast, a lingering lunch, or even late night dinner. So that's a win win again! 

Restaurant

Banquet Hall

Seating arrangement at the banquet (can be arranged as per your choice)

I was 3 years old when I last visited Mussoorie and I clearly have no memories from then, but this trip gave me a surreal feel of being surrounded by beautiful tree covered hills looking down the Doon valley, the phantasmagorical view of the Himalayas at sunset, and clear skies giving me a brilliant display of twinkling stars of the milky way & the flickering lights in the valley. It’s a great get-away especially for folks who stay in Metros without an access to a nearby hill stations. The wedding can be a refreshing change & quite out-of-the-box!

Also, the city surely has a wonderful romantic air to it. Long pines, canals, prepossessing orchids, waterfalls and exquisite architecture makes it a heaven for pre-wedding pictures. The beautiful sunsets also make sure that you get really awesome ceremony pictures for those early evening functions! Take a look below..

Tulip Inn owners have another property in Mussoorie by the name TULIP INN GREEN CASTLE situated at Mall Road itself which is another perfect holiday destination for you with family or friends! Facilities at this hotel remains similar to those at the resort with just a few more recreations surrounding like the Kempty Falls, Horse Riding, Company Garden, St. George Cottage, Local Shopping Market, Street Food Joints, etc..

PS : It can be a perfect honeymoon destination for the newly married couples as well, and for those who are interested can check out their packages HERE!  

Tulip Inn Green Castle

Conference/Banquet Hall

Restaurant with Pool Table

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I hope you all liked reading this post as much as I enjoyed writing it for you. My trip to Mussoorie with an amazing group of fellow bloggers went fantastic. I had so much fun interacting, learning and exploring places with all of them, and I need not mention it since you've already seen me blabbering about all of it on my social media. And, for those who by any chance missed watching the whole story, click HERE to take a look at the video I made sharing my entire experience. Until next time, lots of love and warm hugs!

L-R : Richa Jaggi, Rishika Kumar, Priya Chauhan, Me, Sudipto De, Ankit Sharma, Himanshi Goel

Malvika Gupta, Rubby Singh, Roma Malhotra, Nalin Sharma, Gurinder Pal Singh

~xoxo~