Of Weddings and My Ramblings: Part I

Only 8 days are left before my cousin becomes a husband of a blushing bride officially. And only 5 days to go for my 3^rd wedding anniversary. Yay!

Yeah I cannot stop rejoicing and you guessed right. It’s marriage season and hence today I’ll talk about how I prepared myself for my special day, about 3.5 years ago.

Gaachkouto, name of the red item in the Bride's hands here.
Symbolically, it is supposed to be held in the hands of Goddess Lakshmi.  

To begin with, this post will be divided into two parts. So part 1, will focus on my preparation 6 months before my wedding date was finalised. And part 2 will discuss my beauty regime and tips 2 weeks before the Big Day. Here you go!

Part I

6 months to go: My Ramblings

·         My wedding date was finalised in Aug 2009. This gave me 6 months to rejuvenate myself for the D Day. By the way, I am a Bengali, and I did deck up as typical Bengali bride.

·         As soon as the news was broken to me, I felt goose bumps. Why? Because I was overwhelmed to know that my life would be changing 6 months down the line.

·         I would not be able to plan my life for myself. Instead my plans and life henceforth would revolve around my husband and his family.

A typical Bengali Bride

Plus Points:

·         I knew my husband for quite a long time, before I wed him. And we got along very well and are great friends to this day! So the fear of getting married to an unknown man was thankfully not there.

·         My friends and seniors and my aunts were very helpful in bolstering me. They advised me that though a wedding changes a woman’s life in many ways, yet it’s not an earth-shattering event. So all will be well in due course of time.

·         This frank tête-à-tête gave me a lot of confidence.  

A Bengali Bride and Groom

The Basic Problems:

·         Body Weight: My mum reminded me of this problem that I was always happy to ignore previously. But now I could not, since I knew I would be scrutinised keenly by a lot of people on the D Day.

·         My strategy: My work timings and my long commute did not allow me to go to a gym for a workout. Plus, I was living on my own, which compounded the problem manifold. A very good friend G (who’s very senior) came to my help. She suggested me to alter my diet. I ate less of rice and more of chapattis. Green vegetables and fruits became part of my diet. I opted for plain ghar ka khana and seldom ate at restaurants.

·         Beauty Regimen: I always followed a beauty regime before. So I just made slight alterations to this. My skin is combination type with a fair complexion, and by God’s grace, I am blessed with a smooth and glowing complexion. But my only problem was acne. And of course, as a would be bride, I wanted my skin to glow more.

·         My Strategy: To tackle the acne problem and to add more glow to my skin, I resorted to internal care. That is, I took the help of a skin purifying tonic. Many people, including my roommate, recommended Safi, which is extremely bitter. So I bought Baidyanath Surakta. Being sweet, I drank 1 tbsp of this tonic every night. And I did see results. Often I also drank Triphala soaked in water, when my tonic would finish and I could not buy another bottle due to lack of time etc. J

·         Natural skin care: I began using natural herbs like fresh Aloe Vera gel to moisturise my skin and to reduce acne and acne scars. I applied a solution of honey and lemon juice all over my face for 30 mins at times. At times, I made a paste of mint leaves and left it for 20 mins on my face. The results were great I must say.

·         As advised by a lot of people, I adopted natural skin care and did not get facials done until before my wedding.

·         Hair Care: I have always used Ritha, shikakai and awla to wash my hair. And I continued that. The addition here was head massage! I went in for a head massage every fortnight and boy, how relieving it was!

And lastly, I would just relax and enjoy the last few days (read months) of my spinsterhood, read books, laze away and think Positive! 

That’s it for today ladies... And as I leave, here's a sneak preview of how I looked during the Haldi ceremony.

In the next part, I will discuss what I did 2 weeks before I got married. And you will get to see a few more of my wedding pics in that post itself. So wait and watch! Until then Tada! :)

What did you do as part of your preparation for your Wedding Day? Pls share

Review: Jac Olivol Body Oil

During my vacation in Kolkata in October, I thankfuly managed to curb my splurging habit. However, I had to buy a few useful things such as a bottle of Suthol and a bottle of Jac Olivol. 
The last product I just mentioned is the topic of discussion today. Not everyone has heard about this body oil, so I'l begin with a little description of the product.

Jac Olivol is maufactured by the Hannemann Laboratories of Kolkata. The company predominantly develops and sells homeopathic medicines and herbal products across West Bengal. I got a chance to use Jac Olivol, when my mum gifted me a bottle of this oil last year. I tried it and liked it because it was non-sticky, but being a chhotu, it finished bottle long back. So I bought a large one for the ensuing winter season this time.

It is a light yellow colored oil with a smell that may remind you of baby oil. As the name suggests it consists of oilve oil, coupled with neem oil and badam oil. Other ingredients are also mostly herbal which include daruhidra, manjistha etc. 

Price & Quantity: A 500 ml bottle of Jac Olivol cost me INR 140. 
The MRP is INR 165, but I paid less as I bought from a wholesale shop. 

Likes:

• It is a very light oil with sandalwood odour, that seems like baby oil. 
• Because its light, my skin absorbs it very fast. 
• It leaves my skin smooth and glowing. You can use it as a massage oil too. 
• The moisturized or oiled effect lasts for 3 hours. 
• My skin becomes soft after I apply it. 
• I apply 3-4 drops of this oil on my hands and feet and I'm done. 
• It nourished my skin so well, that I can skip applying body lotion completely. 
• It is made up of ayurvedic ingredients. 
• It is quite pocket-friendly and lasts for 4-5 months. (I use it once a day that's why!)
• It does not leave any color stain etc. 

·           Dislikes: Only one and that's the odor. I don't want to smell like a baby now!

 Points: 4.5/5. I deduct points for the odor.

 Will I buy? I have already bought and I'll continue to do so.

        Final Verdict: A good product at a very reasonable price.

   Pretty ladies pls give this body oil a try. Its a must during winters and I use it during summers too, as it gets really dry during summer in Pune. 

Watch what you Eat

Ah Yes....I AM A MOM!!! That makes me an alarm clock, cook, maid, waitress, teacher, nurse, handyman, security officer, photographer, counselor, chauffeur, event planner, personal assistant, ATM, & I scare away the boogie man. I don't get Holidays, Sick pay or Days off!! I work through the DAY & NIGHT!!! I am on call 24/7 for the rest of my life. And that's just my First JOB.....Being A MOM!!!!

One of my friend has posted this as her FB status. At once, I was reminded of my Mum and I began wondering ‘OMG, how could she do all this with a smile all the time for me!” This is such a daunting task! 

I was also reminded of the working mothers in my organization, who juggle work and home with such great ease. Talking to such working mothers, makes me realize that they are the pillars of their homes. (The housewives are no less, though!) 

So today I’ll write for such women who are always juggling between their homes and work/business/household chores.  

Being the pillar of your home means you must support your spouse, kids, in laws and parents all at the same time, and manage your maids and work too. 

And doing so much in 24 hours and non-stop means you get little time to take care of your skin, hair and overall health. Right? However, there’s some solution still. 

Follow the simple and quick tips below, to look like a yummy mummy and wife like Lara Dutta, Juhi Chawla and Sridevi etc.



A Modern Indian Woman



Thumb Rule for Busy Women:

 

i.  It’s a given that you’ll not get more than 24 hours for yourself. So despite your busy schedule, you will need to ensure that you look attractive and healthy.

ii The easiest way to achieve this is manage your skin, hair and health through your diet.

iii  Watch what you eat and eat what’s best for your overall health as proper diet will address common skin and hair problems like acne, dandruff and ageing relate problems as well.

·  Replace oily and junk food with salads made with cucumber, tomato, sprouts and lettuce. You can have salads for breakfast or with lunch.

·  Take two pods of garlic with lunch each day. This takes care of all blood impurities.

·  Eat 2 fruits each day. Add a banana to your breakfast and eat oranges or any other seasonal fruit for snacks in the evening.

·  Banana ensures smooth skin and fabulous hair and is a great energy resource as well.

·  For healthy hair, add fish, chicken, dairy products and curd to your diet.

·  Curd again is a cure for many health problems. So do not forget to eat a bowl full of curd every day after lunch.  

·  Spinach and leafy vegetables are a must for your body. They are beneficial for your skin, hair and digestive system.

·  Take nuts such as almonds. You can soak 4-5 almonds in the night and eat them the next morning, with a cup of milk etc.

·  Pulses provide proteins and is must for everyone.

·  Lastly, think positive. Believe that the glass is always half-full and Whatever happens happens for the Best. J

Adopting a balanced diet can help women to address their beauty and body needs effectively and easily.  Remember, whatever you eat shows on your skin. So lifestyle change in terms of a proper and balanced diet is essential. Just make a few of these alterations to your diet and see the difference! You'll achieve beautiful skin and hair with very less effort. JJ


PS: Images have been sourced from Google.

Rose Water and It’s Wonders



Rose Water Sprinkler

Rose water has been used as a perfume, and to add a distinctive flavor in cuisine in some parts of the world. It has a huge significance in ceremonies such as a marriage among the Muslims and Zoroastrians. Aeons ago, rose water was generously used in Hindu weddings as well, when room fresheners and deodorants were completely unknown.

However, apart from its socio-religious significance, rose water has numerous other uses too. Today I’ll tell you about the ways you can use rose water for your regular beauty care regime.  

Rose water works like magic on your skin as it is loaded with Vitamin A and C, and antioxidants that rejuvenates the skin and imparts a glow. It is a natural astringent and acts as an excellent anti-inflammatory product.

Here’s how you can use it:

·         Treat dry or oily skin: Rose water balances the pH level of your skin. So you can use it if your skin is too dry or oily. Wipe your face twice a day with cold rose water to see the results.

·         Make – Up Remover: Dampen a cotton ball with some rose water and wipe your face clean. It’s gentle around the eye areas and hence is very effective.

·       Acne & Black Heads: If you have acne and black heads prone skin, then your magic potion is right here!

·      The anti-bacterial properties of rose water help you to fight acne and black heads easily. If you have dry skin with some pimples, use only rose water. Oily skinned women can add lemon juice to cold rose water and apply this on the pimples daily for best results. Store this mixture in the fridge.

·      Facial Cleanser: Rose water cleanses the skin gently and leaves behind a wonderful fragrance too!  You can either dip a cotton ball in rose water to clean your face. Alternately, you can add rose water, 2 teaspoons of glycerin and 10 drops of rose essential oil and use this mixture to clean your face.

·      Toner & Anti-Inflammatory Agent: Rose water is a natural astringent and tones your skin, leaving it smooth as butter. Store a bottle of rose water in the fridge. Dip a cotton ball in the cold rose water and use this to clean your face. You can use rose water cubes for an instant glow.

·       Also, you can use rose water ice cubes after you eyebrow or upper lips have been threaded. It will heal the skin and prevent the damage due to the pull and strain.

·       Anti-Wrinkle Agent: Age leaves its impression on our faces as early as the age of 30. Wipe your face with rose water twice a day to tighten pores and prevent wrinkles. Rose water prevents the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles on your face and also adds a glow, leaving your skin squeaky clean.

·      For your eyes only: Makeup and prolonged exposure to TV or computer leaves your eyes dry. This can lead to irrigation redness and inflammation of the eye as well. Apply 2-3 drops of rose water to your eyes to combat these problems.

·      Itchy Scalp & Induce Hair Growth: For dry and itchy scalp, use rosewater mixed in water as a last rinse. It also nourishes the hair and induces hair growth by increasing the blood flow and leaves a wonderful fragrance too.

·      Headaches: Apply rose water around the eye area and on the temples to soothe your nagging headache.

So do you find these tips useful and have you ever used rose water for your skin care etc.? Do let me know in the comments section below.

Keep glowing like a rose always. J

Love,

N

PS: Images have been sourced from Google.