Ready to Move on..!

I am super busy in packing my bags. It is one hell of a task, I tell you. What to pack and what not to pack is one question with thousands of answers. Well, I am trying to stuff all possible things in my 2 bags (which are allowed). These airline people don't understand the importance of our girly things for which even 2 big bags are not enough!!

A proper post would be up soon - once I reach Phoenix, my final destination. So I am travelling tomorrow night and it's going to be a long and tiring journey.

Till then, enjoy the weather and stay healthy!

Cheers

Ritika

Big News Neon-ized

We were out to celebrate my birthday, as one more year is added to my age now. I bought a Zara bag and a Mango dress as my birthday gift (sponsored by my lovely husband). I have big news to reveal today.. We are moving to United States next week.. for good. My husband got a job there and hence, we decided to move to Phoenix, Arizona. I plan to take up a job there. 

So we would be going there together, selecting a new house, buying things for home, in short - setting up a new life for ourselves. It would be challenging but fun! And I am eagerly looking forward to it.

This time next week my bags would have been completely packed and the clock would be ticking!

Well, these pictures were taken before a week as my husband took me out for a candle-light dinner on my birthday. We went to this nice romantic place called 'Ardor' in Connaught Place, New Delhi.

The food was delicious and the night was superb. We enjoyed a nice walk post our food and clicked some pictures too.

My last post got amazingly positives reviews and I am thankful to everoyne for dropping your lovely comments.

On my outfit - 

I am wearing my new skinny denims and a neon top with flats. Though I am a heels person, I chose wearing flats as we had plans to take a nice long walk post dinner at Connaught Place, and the flats saved me from all the pain of walking..

The Neon trend is growing up lately. And it looks elegant and casual at the same time. Dress it up or dress it down as you wish. These colors are the latest trend and are termed as the hottest colors out there. I suggest you try them out and you will not regret.

Some style tips on neon -

1. Pick your neon shade. There are hundreds of different shades, hence, it's better to narrow down your favourite colors and look for a color which brings out your features.

2. If you can't dare to wear a big neon piece, buy neon accessories. Put on a tangy orange or a vibrant pink nail paint, carry a bright yellow bag, or wear a lime color belt.

3. Black looks very good with neon as it gives a dark base for the neon color to brighten up more.

4. Avoid going neon in clothes, make-up and accessories all together! Our aim is to look stylish and not clownish!

5. Feel it - Neon colors are fluorescent. If you are wearing neon, feel bright, energetic and happy. Be confident and most importantly, wear your smile :)

P.S. The last picture is of my birthday cake :)

Cheers
Ritika

Neon blouse: Mango
Jeans: Zara
Shoes: Old Navy
Bag: Rosetti
Watch: Invicta
Metal bangles: From Kanpur
Belt: Fashion & You

Commit to be FIT

A lot of people are afraid of heights. Not me, I'm afraid of widths. ~ Steven Wright

I thought of sharing my fitness story with you all today. Like how I became so aware of my body and fitness. I was never on the skinny side though was slim in my school and college days (I was staying in Kanpur then, with my family and relishing mom-cooked food). Then my life took a turning point, I completed my studies and I decided to move out of Kanpur and shift to New Delhi in order to pursue my career in the aviation industry. I worked for Kingfisher Airlines for few months (which happened to be a tiring 12 hours job, by the way), and also faced the sad side-effects of staying away from home à Weight Gain. Yes, I gained weight, very rapidly, all because of the junk and outside food I was relying upon. And the bad part, I did not even realize it. Everything in my life was happening so fast that I did not get time to sit and think of what am I eating and what is its impact on my body.

I did not use to cook back then, hence eating out all 3 meals was part of my daily routine. After a year and half, I started realizing the negative changes in my body. I had love handles, a waist with a round tyre, sagging arms and fat thighs. All the charm was gone. My previous clothes did not fit me now. Nothing was looking good. I thought to myself “How can I neglect myself so much! I look so different now. This was not my motive when I came to a different city and decided to live all by myself.”

Our health always seems much more valuable after we lose it. Then I took a decision to stop abusing my body and do something (good) for myself, but did not know where to start from. That was the time when Kareena Kapoor’s (an Indian actress) size zero was in the news all over. Though I was not at all influenced by that kind of a figure, but that particular news hi-jacked everything from News channels to newspapers to fashion magazines and what not.

Then one fine day on TV, I watched Rujuta Diwekar (Kareena’s nutritionist) being interviewed. And only after listening to her, was I convinced to buy her book ‘Don’t Lose Your Mind, Lose Your Weight’.

I immediately ordered that book online and got it delivered on a Saturday (which luckily happened to be my weekly off day). I read that book in flat 2 hours (or may be less). And it would not be a lie to say that the book changed my way of thinking forever. It was that kind of a moment for me – when you badly need help and God sends someone to help you right in the middle of the ocean! I was inspired to the highest level on earth! The very next day I got myself a gym subscription, stopped feeding my mouth with all the junk, processed and unhealthy food. Eventually started cooking healthy and nutritious food at home. In the words of Rujuta (the author), started eating the right thing, in the right quantity and at the right time!

This book is truly an eye-opener. The author connects with the reader so well that one gets addicted to the book. It becomes difficult to keep it down. I then started seeing changes in my body (over a period of 3-5 months), which were the combined results of good diet and work-out sessions. I lost all my extra weight and started to look good and healthy again.

I seriously, whole heatedly thank the super generous lady “Rujuta Diwekar” for writing such an amazing book and sharing her knowledge with the masses.

It’s been close to 4 years since then and my journey towards a fitter body continues. I treat my body as my temple. I love love love working out. I love my gym and my food. I actually wait for those 40 min daily when I get re-charged from within. Though there are days when my energy levels go down and I don’t feel like working out or eating right, then I head back to the book (which, by the way, I have read for at least 100 times by now), and get all my inspiration back in gear.

“Look to your health; and if you have it, praise God and value it next to conscience; for health is the second blessing that we mortals are capable of, a blessing money can't buy.”

“When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no 'I'll start tomorrow.' Tomorrow is disease.” – So friends, let’s get going!!

Cheers to fitness!

Ritika

Monsoon Special

Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky.

Happy Monsoon everyone! So how's it going with the rains..? It feels good. I love the rains. I love the feeling of it on my face. Water pouring down, on and off, creating that amazing romantic scene from our Bollywood movies. Rains always remind me of those sexy romantic songs from our movies which were picturised in the rains.
Well, on one such rainy day I was out, and this is what I wore. Hot-pants are life savers some times. It rained so much that evening.. and I was thanking myself for not wearing jeans or full pants. As it becomes uneasy to walk in wet pants and its not good for the skin too.
I was carrying a water proof bag that day, which deifintely helped.

Things to remember, in monsoons:

1. Make-up: Avoid heavy make-up, keep it to the minimum. The lighter the make-up, the more you will be able to enjoy the weather. If required, use good quality water-proof stuff. Personally, I can't leave home with out my kajal and lip balm. That's the only thing in monsoons that I wear on my face.

2. Hair: The problem with managing hair in monsoons is that the humidity in the atmosphere makes hair frizzy. Hence, the go-to hair styles should be slick ponytails, messy braids or classy buns. Other than that, wearing a scarf or a hat adds up to the glam quotient. I would also recommend using hair protector products depending on your hair texture. Avoid hair-sprays and hair gels.

3. Skin: It's good to use a non-soapy cleanser which can wash away the dirt with out drying the face. Use a toner post face-wash. Exfoliate (I swear by this rule). Never ever EVER step out with out applying a good sunscreen.

4. Footwear: Just slip in to those colorful rain boots, jelly slippers or sandals. Avoid leather in the rains. Anything open toed and water proof works best!

5. Accessories: What could be better than a colorful umbrella! Remember that song from the Bollywood movie 'Chalbaaz' where in Sridevi looks super cute in the raincoats with umbrellas. It's time to create the same magic! And yes, colorful water proof bags are super handy too.

 6. Clothes: Most importantly, wear light fabrics, like cotton, linen etc. Give your jeans some rest and go for capri pants, linen trousers, skirts, hot-pants, the list is too long. Its good to stay way from whites and other very light colors. Wear the most colorful pieces from your collection and enjoy the colors of rainbow.

I like rain. Actually I love it. Do you?

Very well then, let's get wet!

Cheers to the rains!
Ritika

Tank: Espirit
Shirt: Old Navy
Shorts: Promod
Bag: Bought from Florida Airport
Flats: Stilettos
Watch: Titan
Leather Cuff: Random