Love is big business! Last we checked, the beauty industry generated $160 billion with no signs of slowing down. To add value and smarts—and money—back into your life, try these simple changes from Shift Your Habit author Elizabeth Rogers. These shifts are designed to show you how to look good, feel good and live better for less. Here's to love and happiness!
Smell Better
Buy fragrance made from organic essential oils instead of name-brand perfume made from synthetic fragrance. You'll save $30 or more per ounce.
Essential oils made from organically grown herbs or flowers are free from the harmful chemicals used on conventionally raised flora, as well as from phthalates, which are associated with synthetic perfumes and fragrances. Certain phthalates are suspected carcinogens and can lead to hormonal and reproductive system disorders.
Kill the Dye
Buy an at-home haircolor kit instead of heading to the salon to get your hair dyed, and save $1,500 or more per year.
Not only will you save gas driving to the salon—assuming you buy your haircolor kit when you're already at the drug store—but most salons use chemically laden hair dyes that are potentially harmful to human health. One recent study reported that women who used permanent hair dye were twice as likely to contract bladder cancer as those who didn't color. When you do it yourself, you have the option of purchasing a haircolor kit made with plant-based, nontoxic ingredients.
Laser Sharp
Invest in laser hair removal instead of waxing and save $1,500 to $2,500 for 10 years of hair removal treatment.
The paraffin wax used for hair removal is derived from petroleum, which is a nonrenewable resource, while the electricity used during laser treatment is roughly equivalent to that of a standard light bulb. And it's a change that lasts. Laser treatment can achieve permanent hair removal, whereas waxing must be done every five to six weeks.
Makeup Shakeup
Instead of hauling around a makeup bag brimming with pencils and tubes, invest in some multiuse products. Why use a separate eyeshadow, lipcolor and blush when you can get all three in one skinny stick?
You'll save $100 or more per year compared to buying individual makeup products and use half as many products—meaning consuming half as much packaging. Many multiuse compacts are also refillable, which means even less waste!
Feed Each Other
Share a meal with your date and save $25 or more each time out. You will either prevent food from being wasted or avoid the burden of carting home an oversize foam to-go box that will inevitably be crammed into an undersize trashcan.
It's not only about being good. You'll also save room for dessert! Plus, what's less romantic than the car stinking of garlic the next morning because you forgot to take in the leftovers?
Surprise, surprise: The food you ate at 18 (hot dog and a Coke, please!) no longer gives you an 18-year-old's body. Dietitian Ashley Koff explains what to focus on for weight management in every decade.
In your 20s: Build good habits—and bone density—by opting for nutrient-rich whole foods instead of refined varieties (an apple instead of apple juice, whole grains instead of white flour).
In your 30s: Rather than cutting out certain foods or reducing calories, eat smaller, more frequent meals that include a balanced mix of carbohydrates, protein, and fat.
In your 40s: To minimize hormone-level changes that may cause weight fluctuations, replace animal protein and fat with vegetarian sources, like nuts, seeds, beans, avocado, and quinoa.
In your 50s: To fight abdominal fat, focus on making exchanges. Skip coffee and diet soda in favor of green tea, or ditch high-sugar sweets and have a portion of dark chocolate instead.
In your 60s: As your body loses lean muscle, your metabolism naturally slows, putting you at risk for weight gain. Choosing high-quality proteins can help maintain muscle and your body's calorie-burning ability.
I heard about Bespoke Cafe over one casual lunch at TGIF. I was convinced that no such cafe existed in Palladium mall because I am aware of every nook and corner of that shopping haven. Yet she insisted that such a cafe exists because she had read about on a website and was keen to try it out. So we cancelled our order at TGIF and went looking out for this so called cafe. Thankfully, the legend was true and we found this tiny cafe tucked inside the store, The Collectives. A first glance the cafe reminded me of a library. Massive sofas with massive chairs which looked very comfortable and but turned out to be sort of hard to sit on. The wooden menu is limited with hardly twenty items and consists mainly of sandwiches, teas, pastas, wine and couple of desserts. I ordered the spaghetti with creamy Cajun sauce and chicken and turned out to be excellent. Spicy Cajun gravy with succulent chicken pieces made the dish a filling and gratifying meal. The side order was of Cajun French fries which were good too considering it was nice change from the regular French fries. Their chicken sandwich is big and filling and comes with the option of brown, whole wheat or white bread. The waiters are friendly but it took forever for the bill to arrive even when the place was almost empty. It’s easy to find a seat in Bespoke because of its anonymous stature. Most shoppers don’t know that such an eatery exists and even if they catch a glance of it, most regular fold are too intimidated to enter the super sleek and not to forget expensive looking store of The Collectives. Overall, it’s a great place to catch a quite meal or a cup of coffee. Hopefully, it won’t become a popular hangout spot and maintain its quaint seclusion.
I listen to music occasionally. So you wont find me at rock concerts or quietly standing in the corridor off my office listening to a nirvana track. But when I do listen, I have some favorites to which I like to stick to. I don't experiment with music and like my favoraite comfort meal of french fries, I listen to a couple of band's only.
So below are a list of my favorite music groups. Why am I posting it on my blog like a celebrity? I have no clue but its good to share. Or so I have heard.
U2
This Irish band rates highest on our list as one of
the most consistent and popular acts over the past three decades. U2 is loved,
not only for their soul-searching lyrics and music, but for their contributions
in the field of humanitarianism and the fight against poverty. Of course, with
great power comes great responsibility and sometimes… stupidity! One tries to
blank out the Boyzone link. Reaching a level of mega-stardom with their 1987
release, The Joshua Tree, compiling great numbers such as ‘with or without you’
and ‘where the streets have no name’. U2 has developed a reputation of pursuing
new musical paths with each new album, making them all the more worth while.
The Rolling Stones
Although our next favourite
band, is nothing to look at, they are legends in the rock and roll business.
Referred to as one of the ‘the greatest rock and roll band in the world’, the
Stones have released a total number of 29 albums and 37 singles. Formed in
London in 1962, with a song writing partnership between singer Mick Jagger and
guitarist Keith Richards, the group began playing American blues, R&B, Rock
n’ Roll, reggae and disco. Prancing and wiggling through their sexual guises,
relishing their role with their leader singer, Mick Jagger, known as a white
guy singing black, an English guy singing American and a young guy singing old.
The Stones rock!
Led Zeppelin
Commended as
‘rock gods’, Led Zeppelin continues to be held in high regard for their
artistic achievements, commercial success, broad influence and their classical
injection of mythological and spiritual themes into rock music. Commercially,
this group has sold more than 300 million albums worldwide. They are also known
for their gross offstage outtakes, like the much debated ‘shark episode’ involving
a shark, a woman and hotel, the details of which we would rather not get into.
That aside, recognised as pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal, this rock
group, drew inspiration from many other musical genres, including clues, soul,
funk, jazz, classical, folk, Latin and Indian. Known for their elaborate
wardrobe, hairstyles, and flamboyant onstage gestures, its no wonder that this
band rates high on our list as one of the most definitive archetypes of rock
and roll.
Guns N’ Roses
Having sold an estimated 90
million albums world-wide, they are one of America’s most successful rock
bands. Their 1987 major label debut, Appetite for Destruction, went on to sell
20 million copies world-wide. The 80s and 90s saw the band’s musical style and
onstage presence usher in a new era within the dominant hard rock and heavy
metal scene, offering a grittier, more traditionalist take on rock music, which
paved the way for ‘sleaze’ rock. However, on account of petty disputes and
Axl’s fowl temper the rock band of yesterday no longer exists. Maybe GNR’s new
manager, who ever the poor soul is, should think about issuing a warning sign
on their merchandise — heroin and botox don’t jive well.
Coldplay
Coldplay’s early material
was often compared to the likes of Jeff Buckley and Radiohead, while also
drawing comparisons to U2. What’s more, this band is not only loved for their
rhythmic, easy listening melody and powerful lyrics, but for their contribution
to society. In fact, rumour has it that in their early years, Coldplay were
also widely noted for their claim to give 10% of their band’s profits to
charity. Apart from
that, Coldplay have managed to draw a number of influences from different
sources for each of their albums, such as Echo and the Bunnymen for Parachutes
and George Harrison Coldplay have also drawn influence from other sources,
including and George Harrison and Johnny Cash for A Rush of Blood to the Head.
So, listen in on some of our favourites, like Yellow, Trouble, Shiver and The
scientist.
Aerosmith
Known as the ‘the bad boys
from Boston’ this band, produced a string of groundbreaking hard rock albums
and enjoyed major popularity throughout the 1970s. Unfortunately, as with most
rock bands, their serious substance abuse and drug addictions contributed to their
decline, and almost relegated them to the chronicles of history. But, with a
little help from their manager, Tim Collins, the band regrouped five years
later to become on one of the major innovators in American hard rock, heavy
metal, blues and R&B, and has continued to inspired legions of rock artists
that came after them. But no matter how old and ugly they grow, even when
wheelchairs and walkers will be required on stage, this band still knows how to
get you rockin!
Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Commended for their unique
lyrical themes such as love, friendship, teenage angst, romance, drugs,
loneliness, alcohol, political annotations and dealing with death, this rock
group reaches new heights with every passing year. The Peppers have sold over
60 million records world-wide, and have taken the 10th position on
the Billboard Modern Rock Chart for the most number one singles. Rumour has it
that their earlier shows were composed almost entirely of improvisations.
Reputed for their shocking and rather crass sense of style, the Peppers
endeavour to keep us completely entertained, both acoustically and visually.
Queen
Have a mad ‘bawa’ who’s fan
base includes Liza Minnelli sing, “I want to break free (2), I want to break
free from your lies, You’re so self satisfied I don’t need you, I’ve got to
break free, God knows (2), I want to break free” and you might have a die hard
queen fan. Queen were an English rock band formed by Brian May, Freddie Mercury
and Roger Taylor in London, England in 1970. Known as Britain’s most successful
band of over the past three decades, the band became popular during the
mid-to-late 1970s and still remains an extremely large international fan base.
Noted for having made significant contributions to genres such as arena rock,
glam rock, hard rock, pop rock and progressive rock, Queen are remembered for
their original blend of theatrics, showmanship, kitsch and extravagance. And we
love them for that.
Nirvana
My next
favourite rock band is a must have for any grunge junkie. Hailed as the
“flagship band” of Generation X, Nirvana exploded into mainstream rock,
shedding new light on alternative subgenere of alternative rock. Other Seattle
rock bands such as Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden also gained wide
scale popularity and as a result, alternative rock became a dominant genre on
radio and television. Identified for both offstage sexual theatrics which tag
well with their powerful lyrics, personifying their dark interior with hit
singles such as smells like teen sprit, lithium, come as your are and
heart-shaped box, its no surprise that this band ‘rocks’!
Pink
Floyd
Known as pioneers of
progressive rock with philosophical lyrics, classic rock song writing, sonic
experimentation, innovative covert art and elaborate live shows, its no wonder
that this band has been respected over decades amongst fans and those in the
billboard world as one of the greatest rock bands ever! Nearly as famous as
Floyd’s music was the artwork that they portrayed on their album covers. Over
time, most of the artwork has acquired fame in its own right. Most notably the
cover depicting a man shaking the hand of his burning alter–ego for the ‘Wish
You Were Here’ album. Floyd surprised us all in 1985, with the departure of
Roger Waters. Putting their issues aside for the greater good, the band
regrouped for one last concert, 24 years later, at the London Live 8 concert.
I am waiting for the Sex and the City 2. Even though I think that characters of the show are sightly stunted emotionally, I love their fashion sense. While I was snooping around to find their release date in India, I came across one more style statement which I love. Only Carrie Bradshaw could pair a J'adore Dior T-shirt with a ball gown skirt and make it work!
So the movie is set in Abu Dhabi. I think the cast looks ridiculous in their over the top comic style dressing. But I like looking at them anyways. Yes. I am guilty of double standards.
Check out Samanthas earrings! They are loud, over the top and totally cool. Never in a zillion years would I have the courage to try such a pair on. But again I am not a part of the casts where budget for clothes itself is 10 million dollars.
So Miranda is not my favoraiet characters amongst the four. For uptight lawyer, her low neckline sequined dress has left me gaping in shock! The good shock by the way.
Aaah! Only if we mortals could get to hang out in a desert with our Gucci, Prada and Manolos. I am all over outrageous, but this princess style colour overdose is not my favorite.
Its a new start. When I say that, what I actually mean is that I am starting over again. And this time with a mission. Lots of interesting things have happened over the last few months. Most of them I didnt expect and so I wasn't prepared for. And like every jackass who is unprepared in life and likes to 'go with the flow', I am left with only my thoughts, this blog and lots of anger. All rightfully justified.
So this blog makeover happened. Over the years, I used this platform to upload my published articles. But now it will be different. From today onwards, this blog is dedicated to me. What I like, detest and what is great. This blog will contain reviews and articles of everything and anything which is remotely interesting. It will contain swear words (because I no longer care for the journalistic ethos of my own morals) and when needed, words of praise. Its nothing objective but solely personal.
The prudes stay away.
The selfish and morally twisted, you are at the right place.
This online magazine is an endeavor to express what I hate, like, love and what you should check out. From reviews of latest eateries to movies to stores, its no bullshit and no gyan approach.
