Eccentricity amidst the Ban

 

So I have, like many others, joined a month long shopping ban. I am a self confessed shopaholic. A recent listing of count of shoes and bags amounted to a number that would put any sane person to shame. It is my first time ever, that I have put a ban on myself for shopping, and as anyone in the same boat would agree, the weekends are the most testing. Some thoughts that I have encountered and successfully battled since the last two days. You may blame it on the lack of planning, but it made little sense for me to plan and hoard stuff, and then start a shopping ban. Let the ban come, we shall learn along. 

• Learning #1 - My kohl is finished, on the first morning of the ban. Now if you live in India or are Indian, you know it is one of the most basic things you rely on as far as make-up goes. How am I supposed to survive without it for the next 28 days? As they say, where there is  a will, there must be a way. Middle-school lessons come handy, I make up a ghee flame, and get myself some pure, home-made kajal. Who knows? I might get into a life-long habit which would save me some money for the rest of my living existence. Such high hopes, I have with myself.

• Learning #2 - My brother's birthday is next week, and I have still not decided on a gift! A workaround - I will give him cash, requesting him to get whatever he wishes. In case he refuses, I will sponsor his birthday dinner. Both the options sound good. I am so glad I picked the birthday card last week. :D

• Learning #3 - How is the idea of getting a nose-piercing? This is the level of random thoughts that make way when the mind is unoccupied from not shopping and thus not planning for shopping trips. Counter thought. If I get my nose-pierced amidst the ban, I would need to shop for a nose pin/ring too. Idea postponed. If the thought continues to float longer, shall comply once the ban is over. For now, the confusion stands sorted. 

• Learning #4 - One of my best friends of all times is getting married next week. Sudden thought of wearing my red chiffon saree with a gold blouse. Inner self supersedes - No. No. No. Save the saree for your own self. That's what it was originally purchased for. Heart sobs a silent sob. Inner voice, even stronger now - Wear the new anarkali mom gifted. Since you have to drive to and fro from the venue yourself, anyways wearing a saree is not the best of ideas. Practicality wins over style. Anyways, practical style is the best style, said the wise one.

• Learning #5 - How about the external drive which you have been postponing since forever? This is one of the perils of today's generation. Other than the usual things which anyways everyone buys, we have a compelling urge of electronics and related stuff. I am reminded of a bluetooth keyboard I had bought last year to go with my tablet, it is a definite winner when it comes to non utilized things in the kitty. Anyhow, when the external drive has waited this long, how much could one more month hurt?! Depend on the available free cloud storage for now. 

• Learning #6 - Valentine's without shopping? Are you kidding me, really. I have planned something nice to do that does not include shopping. But more on that in a different post. Of course, I have red to wear for the day. It may not be new, but I do maintain my clothes well. Smiles smugly to self. 

In times like these, do the monsters of temptation hula-dance around you as well?

Striking a Balance within the Mad Rush

This year has been a great year for me in sixx aspects.

• Great Show at work and climbing up the ladder kind of stuff.
• My first 21K.
• More quality Time with my family.
• Enjoying doing up my new home.
• Lucky enough to make a few quality relationships.
• And a perfect weekly routine coming together.

Boy, believe me that is a LOT of hard work, especially if you have a demanding job like mine and a growing son. But I have constantly believed that you can have the cake and eat it, as long as you learn to time-box the whole thing. :-) 

So without wasting much time.., presenting here are the sixx learning’s of my life about work-life balance.

• Time box every activity. 

Never do anything beyond one hour. Whether it’s cooking or doing a presentation for your boss or fixing a P1 issue at work. And most important, time-box Facebook - not more than 15 minutes in a day.

• Plan, Plan and Plan

Especially the cooking schedule. I love to cook for my family. Hence I put together an excel clearly stating what type of food we eat every day for a week. Once I had this template, it was easy for me to make sure every meal was healthy and well balanced. At work -Always have a weekly plan and weekly milestones, Never start work without a plan or a tangible target.

• Innovate,Problem Solve and Improve

Whatever you do, constantly innovate and problem solve and help others. The quality of our work goes a long way in making up for the fact that we as working mothers are available only for about 8-9 hours in a day. Always try and make a home at work. A woman can make a big difference when it comes to building great teams. Humility and a nice smile should be the ingredients to make our days brighter at work.

• Delegate and Outsource

Keep only the core with you and outsource the rest. Get a maid to completely take care of the house, and have a set routine for her. Focus only on key activites like cooking and planning.

• Fitness Routine both Mental and Physical

Running works the best for me. It clears my head and makes me more productive. Choose whatever suits you the best. But 45 minutes of physical activity in a day should be no-compromise area. Read 30 minutes a day and meditate fifteen minutes daily.

• Socializing

Limit it to 5 minutes a day at work. :-) Believe me it works.The lesser you talk, the more you work and the more people respect you. Look for quality relationships and not quantity.

Well, I am still not there yet. I still need to look at my perfect plan for the week. And I am hoping the list above will serve as a time tested tool for one and all, specially the many gorgeous women out there. So just go for it..!!

Today's guest post is brought to you by my friend Saambavi who I have known since September 2010. Extremely diligent with her work, she is one of the most productive working mom that I have (and probably will) ever met. She loves what she does, does it better than the rest, all with a smile, exceeding expectations on all fronts - personal, professional, social.

Every Sunday, the forum is open for you all to share your views to the rest of the world through this blog. The arena is unlimited, the theme similar - anything that touches you, and can help someone else, in six points should make up a post. 

I will look forward to your emails to keep the guest series going.

Love affair with a Saree

Known as the longest piece of clothing that can be worn without a single stitch, a Saree has become a symbol of Indian woman across the globe. In today's fast blending culture, as Indians move towards more practical every day wear, Saree still remains a go-to attire for all events formal and semi-formal.

Every woman in India, has a basic plain Saree with a simple border. In case you do not, ask your mom.mom-in-law. I am 100% sure they would own one. I shall style such a Saree today, and make it stand out for a variety of occasions.

Look One

Depending on the color of your saree, pick any other color to go with it. I picked hot pink to go with peach because this is my favorite combination of all times. Blue and Green (like the peacock), Turquoise and Brown, Yellow and Purple are some alternative color combos you could experiment with. Basically, pick a color different from your saree as a theme, and use it in everything - your jewellery, accessories, nail paint.

Look Two

The most important piece of this look is One Statement piece. It could be a necklace, a waist belt, or like I have picked a clutch. Style all other jewellery around this main item and you are sure to make heads turn.

Look Three

In case it is an occasion you wish to play safe on, the conventional look can never disappoint. Pick either gold or silver (depending  on whether any of these two hues are present in the saree). In case there is neither, pick the one which looks more in tune with your saree's base color. Use different pieces in same (or similar) color. The one-set look with same earrings-necklace-ring is extinct with the dino's, and is a total No.

 Look Four

Best for day events, this is an easy-breezy look when you wish to stand out, by blending in colors in one look. No piece is big enough to attract attention, and the look is minimalistic, yet classy.

Look Five

If drama is what you like, this is your look. Big chunky pieces in contrast colors, each breathing a life of its own. Word of caution - This look may need a lot of panache to carry.

Look Sixx

 Best for those who love to experiment, this look may need some thought to create from your existing jewellery. Pick the pieces you like and connect them in color or style. For example, here, both the cuff and the clutch have hues of peach or orange (which goes with the saree). The blues in each of these pieces are connected to other jewellery (ring, earrings).

Someone, Somewhere - Really?!

About a month ago, my first ever published work went online for DW's blog Women Talk Online.
 

Because birthdays are a perfect time to recall of experiences and lessons that life brings along, what could be a better time than today to re-post this on my blog. A first in its history, the blog is going to post written out of experiences of a purely personal kind.
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As I pick my tablet, the glass surface reflects back a familiar face. A “been there, seen that” expression has crept in. Wisdom has arrived, a little each day.

I am completing my last year in the twenties next month, and if I were to ask everyone for their reactions, they’d see me as unsettled- unsettled in a womanly way, without marriage or children. Having a job for which I had slogged from my kindergarten days until around my twenty first birthday is a side-dish: good to have, but not all that important.

Over time, I have realized that marriage in India is not seen as a choice you make, or a chance that you stumble upon. It is a rule you have to live by, whether you believe in it or not.

Today, I shall tell you about the lessons I learnt during my encounters with six potential husbands.

Candidate One - was at a time which now seems like ages ago. I was still a junior at work, struggling to find my feet in an industry steeped in recession. I met him when both our families were present. I was in traditional attire holding a tea tray (yes, it is difficult to believe that it indeed was me) and as you may have guessed, there was hardly any time to talk or get to know or for that matter, even get comfortable. Forced to give an answer based on the brief five-minute encounter, a “No” from my end seemed like the easiest escape. No one involved, including my mother, was amused. 

Lesson: I need more time than five straight minutes to decide on my life partner. 

Candidate Two - was at the oh-so-right-age of 25. Everything seemed right at the surface, the background, the education, the flair. Only the guy was a suffering from commitment phobia and it took too many meetings to figure it out. 

Lesson: Just because someone is meeting potential partners, does not mean they really are ready for marriage. Spot the phobic ones early. 

Candidate Three - met him through our familiar circle- very sharp and sophisticated, but totally self-obsessed. Thankfully, did not take long for me to figure this one out. I think it was our second meeting, when he ordered a dessert, only for himself, totally forgetting he was not dining alone. 

Lesson: While a knight in shining armor is what we may really want, compassion is what takes life through, especially when two people are not in love. 

 

Candidate Four - never met him in person. This is how the phone call went:

He – When can we meet?
I – Saturday?
He – I was wondering if we can meet on a weekday, en-route to work.
I – (Really!) Hmm, sure.
I suggest a place.
He – Oh, that place is off-route.
I – Ok, then you tell me where we should meet.
Suggests a place near the Metro station.
I (deflated) – Ok, I ‘ll see you there at 7.
He – Can’t make it before 8 30.
I – Silence (already made up my mind against him)
He – Hello, you there?
I – I don’t think this will work out. 

Lesson: Being liberal in “bigger” aspects like education, work and responsibilities is the easier part. It is the smaller, everyday things which matter. 

Candidate Five - was three hours away by flight from where I stay, he was good, but not good enough to leave my whole life behind. 

Lesson: Just because I am a woman, does not mean I am really ready to leave my life behind. 

Candidate Sixx - knew him since our days at school. There was hardly anything to think about, or doubt. Only, our horoscopes did not match.

Lesson: No one wants to take a risk, when it is about a lifetime. If the stars call it a bad match, it is for the best to believe so. 

The last lesson surprises me, as much as it makes me smile. Like the famous Indian actress Shabana Azmi says in her movie, Fire,”We’re so bound by customs and rituals. Somebody just has to press my button, this button marked tradition, and I start responding like a trained monkey.”

The latest I hear is that it will happen when it has to.

I wonder who has asked the world assume that it matters. May be deep within, it doesn’t.

Styling Tips for Women

• Ribbons in varying widths make excellent head bands and add a feminine touch to any outfit
• Scarves can be used with dresses and pants as belts
• Top worn over a dress will make it a new top and skirt dress
• Short sleeved cardigans are a great investment to utilize tank tops in office
• Old jewellery can be used embellish bags
• Boring fabric can be recycled into interesting scarves by adding pom poms/lace on the edges

Hello, Fall! Hdy?

Women type things to not forget

• Accessorize, even if it is just a tad bit 
• Brighten herself up using makeup alone 
• Keep her hands clean and fragrant during the day
• Know one hairdo to fix a bad hair day when frizz is all over 
• Wet tissues for quick fixing the day in case of sudden evening plans
• Lip balm for your lips (it'd double up as an eye highlighter too!) 

Friday Outfit in Sixx Things

Blunders to avoid during sale

• Not trying things on because of rush. Even at half price, fit is what matters the most in the outfit.

• Buying too many things from the same store. In my experience, at least half of it will remain forever folded (or hung)

• Picking fashion items which may not be in trend the next season. You of course cannot wear those animal print tights to the gym too. 

• Hoarding stuff you would not otherwise buy. Trust me, with the rising real estate prices, space is of essence.

• Not checking the item for defects. Many stores will try and sell away their junk in Sale baskets.

• Buying stuff which may fit you someday. The only day to know is today.

Organize your Closet

• Section out your wardrobe by categories like tops, bottoms and dresses or color coded from light colors to dark ones.

•  Place those clothing categories in order by the season. Now for the fall, put your cardigans and pullovers to the front and your shorts and rompers in the back.

• Make good use of any shelf space by  keeping your shoe boxes and labeling each box with the image of the shoe inside. This way, you can see what's inside each box, and boxes are much more easiy to stack than shoes by themselves.

• Take your bags and purses off the shelves (or floor) and hang them on the closet walls to utilize the space in the best way.

• Use a small dresser or Ikea type storage for clothes that don't need to be hanged, like undergarments, socks, etc.

• Donate or throw out any clothing items that you haven't worn in the past six months to clear out the closet clutter.

Today is the guest post day, and today's was brought to you by Cheryl of Oh to Be a Muse, a fashion and style blogger who focuses on inspiring style.

A very warm welcome to you, Cheryl. You are my first friend from the blogosphere. 

Ain't a new blog world friend the most wonderful gift I could have got on the first month birthday of AllThingsSixx. :)

Shrink your Salon Spend

• Follow the 90 day rule - yes, a gap of 45 days between two haircuts is considered the best, but you will be glad to know that our hair can manage without crying out loud for up to 90 days. 

• Scrub your own back - smash about three walnuts into fine powder, and mix it up in leftover cream. Add to it few drops of rose water (for your nasal delight), some honey and whip up a home made body scrub. 

• Curate your limbs - with that bottle of shampoo you bought to try but did not turn out so great. If you do not have that, cut up two sachets of shampoo in tub full of warm-to-your-taste water and dip your limbs in. You can get rid of the dead skin and mend those cuticles while enjoying your favorite television show in the comfort of your home. Use cold cream from last winter for massage, and finish off with nail paint. Some great choices are listed here.

• Bleach yourself - while it is way easier to get yourself bleached amidst other rituals, getting the same brand of bleach home from your pharmacist, and doing it yourself is about one fifth the cost, may be lesser. We must not ignore that four out of five parts as application fees is a pretty large chunk. 

• Soothe your eyes - with the changing lifestyles, most parlors have come up with eye soothing packs. You can handle your own eyes effortlessly yourself. Read more about it in another post.

Nailpaints you shouldn't (can't for many) live without

• Deep red for the evening look - does not seem odd with anything ever 

• French nail paint (the basic nude and white) when you want to give the I-know-what-works impression in a new professional tryst 

• Nude metallic work well for the office in case French nail paint fails to satiate you

• Bright colors that make you happy for weekends and vacations. I have bright hues in the peach and pink family because you cannot go wrong with them. Someone more more experimental could go with chirpy neon.

• Brown&Beige family when you know what you have ahead is a busy work week that won't allow you to mend your paint

• Transparent shimmer to depend on when you wish to ready your toes for a party