January Cravings

Hello Friends!

Before I dive into my post I wanted to give a little background on the reason why I chose to direct my post in the direction of "January Cravings." I became fascinated with the beauty community on Youtube around October of last year. There  is a lot of things I learned from them the past couple of months and continue too learn today. The one thing I love that a lot of these ladies do is a monthly "favorites" video where they discuss: music, movies, beauty products, fashion trends etc. I thought what a brilliant idea for a blog post. It's a way to appreciate the little things I love in each month. So without further delay I bring you "January Cravings"

Let's begin with Beauty:

Favorite moisturizer: It's the Aveeno Positively radiant daily moisturizer with spf 30. I have to actually thank my amazing college roommate, Rekha, for introducing me to this. It works so well with any skin type. Especially, since I have sensitive skin this product is perfection!

http://www.aveeno.com/product/aveeno-+positively+radiant-+daily+moisturizer+broad+spectrum+spf+30.do?sortby=ourPicks&from=fn

Favorite foundation: For me make up has to be affordable because honestly I just learned 2 months ago that foundation and canceler were two different things. Really these videos changed my life and also I realized how much of a boy I was/am (No shame). So for me I would say the top drug store foundation has to be Cover girl Outlast 3 in 1 foundation. First of all, its not heavy or cakey. I tend to have dry skin, so layering the moisturize and this foundation on top gives me full coverage. From day to night, you rarely ever need a touch up. The main part I would say is to set it with powder.

The only negative thing I have to say with this foundation brand is that the choices of skin tone matching is a little limited. I have a yellow undertone to my skin so none of the colors are perfect so  I mix "Buff Beige" and "Natural Beige" to get the color closest to my skin tone. It looks amazing once I mix it  and the best part is with this foundation you can also use it as a canceler. So If I'm running late I usually just use the lighter tone "Natural Beige" to act as my canceler. In this case, foundation and canceler are the same thing (so who's actually been doing it the right way all along?)

             
Favorite concealer: When I began to learn about makeup, I started with a cheap brand and used e.l.f. Studio Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter. Although its super cheap, I would not recommend it if you have the basics down. It works well to practice with but if I really need the coverage and long wear that a concealer should provide then this wouldn't be on my list. You get what you pay for with e.l.f. So if I have to suggest a canceler then I would choose NYX:Hi Definition Photo Concealer Wand in Beige. It's only 4.99!!! And it doesn't cake up or crease under the eyes. It is inexpensive but it does the trick for the time being.

(Beginners: Buy this. Only $3.00 on http://www.eyeslipsface.com)

Favorite Highlighter/Bronzer: (second time writing this because my images decided to delete my content..blahhh) I have to say I really couldn't find highlighters in my price range so if any of you guys have suggestion I will take it. I experimented with the e.l.f  one from above and it works ok but its not long lasting so I guess its just fun to practice with.

Finding a bronzer in a beginner make up learning phase is hard. A lot of the bronzers are like 30.00. I just can't justify that as my student loans role in. So my favorite inexpensive bronzer has to be from Ulta. It is their very own "baked bronzer." I don't know why I was drawn to the texture of it. It's very plush ( i don't know how to describe it). With this product a little goes a long way. Another plus is that it gives me the summer glow that is usually missing from my skin during the winter months. The best pro of all is its price. 

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod3570071

Favorite nail color: Ok, weather definitely dictates my nail color and mood. I am already feeling the spring nail colors because I am over  the cold weather/polar vortex. So my favorite is actually a 4 way tie from Essie's new collection "Resort fling." Its perfection. I haven't had a chance to pick up the colors but I know my next trip to the store this will be a must buy!

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Usually people mention favorite lip colors and such but I really don't have any because I never wear any lip products other then Burt's Bees' chapstick. Its out of my comfort zone so maybe I will learn to experiment in the future with lip colors.

So now we covered the basic beauty basics lets cover other favorites:

Favorite book: Without a doubt my favorite book of this month has to be Divergent. I always like to read books before they are adapted into movies. When I read I picture the characters a certain way. Then watching it come alive through a movie really allows me to analyze what I liked and what I didm't from how I imagined it. I finished this book in 2 days. I literally couldn't put it down. So please add it to your book list if you have time and looking for suggestions.

Favorite song: So its not a pop song or anything but its an entire soundtrack…from a movie! I would say Frozen hands down has the best songs and "do you want a build a snowman" is just so catchy to me.  It should come as no surprise that my Favorite Movie this month is Frozen. Please, if you want a movie suggestion then watch this. It's pure genius and its a change on the persona of Disney characters is pure genius. I know I'm sounding redundant but for real….We can discuss it once you are done watching the movie.

Favorite show: Uhm I have a tie. Comedy wise The Mindy Project owned it this month. Like DID YOU WATCH THIS SEASON? killin it. For Drama, I will go with Revenge. The writers seriously amped up the crazy. Its hard to wait till April for this show to see what happens next.

Favorite candle:  I am in transition between winter to spring scents. I think the perfect transition candle has to be Bergamot Woods from Bath and body works. It has a winter scent to it with the wood plus also a freshness of spring in its lavender. I highly recommend it! Puts you in a relaxed mood.

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I hope you enjoyed this post! It is long and different but its just a way to appreciate the little things in my life each month. I might do more life related favorites in the following months and not so much beauty but I wanted to start of with that. I honestly never knew much about make up before so I figured it would be fun to share some new knowledge I have gathered and hope others can benefit from my experimentation.

Until next time…

Disclaimer: this post is not sponsored. I am not a professional beauty expert and the opinions shared above are strictly mine. The images have been borrowed from the respective stores and have either been linked or mentioned. 

Warmth in One Serving

Hello bloggers!

It's been a while since I posted. Truthfully I was not neglecting my blog. I just didn't like any of the ideas I had for my posts. I think posts just have to come to you naturally. My post below is inspired by my month long craving to noodles and co.'s Penne Rosa. I have tried restaurant imitations in the past with a lot of trial and error. But I have to say this recipe is the easiest and fastest. In 20 minutes flat I had the exact replica. Its important to note that the recipe for Penne Rosa has been released by the company itself. I just experimented and tried to substitute certain ingredients with things I had around the house to see if I got similar results. Let me say: I did. So with out further rambling, I bring you "Warmth in one Serving."

Before I write what you need, I wanted to note that I made it just for myself and I had a box of left overs. So adjust it accordingly. 

Things you need:

1/2  box Penne pasta (I had a box of the Great value Penne- honestly any brand will do.)

1/2 bottle of marinara sauce (I used Prego)

1/2 Tablespoon of white cooking wine

So this is one of the spots I experimented. I did not have white cooking wine. Thankful to my friend and (http://www.thekitchn.com) I found that a good substitute would be: vegetable broth, chicken broth, white grape juice, apple juice, and ginger ale. Luckily, I had Apple juice and used that as my substitute. 

1 Tablespoon of EVOO 

I used Bertolli. My pan was a little smaller and so was my serving size so I adjusted it accordingly. If you used a whole box of pasta then I'd suggest 2 Tbsp. The main rule is to have enough oil to coat the pan so you can use less/more depending your pan size, as well.  

crushed red pepper flakes 

So I Love spicy food. So I didn't really measure this if I'm honest. i just poured enough for me. I think if you don't like spicy food then add 2 pinches. I think it adds more flavor. If you are unsure then my tip would be to pour some in and taste it and if you still want more then do it!!! Cooking is fun so don't get scared if things aren't exact. Just experiment for your taste. 

1/4 cup sliced mushrooms 
1/4 cup baby spinach 
1 Roma Tomato 

I got mine pre sliced so my prep time was less. If you need to cut yours take into consideration your cook time might be a bit more. 

I used fresh Express. I LOVE spinach so I personally would put a bigger serving. I can't choose to be picky being vegetarian. If you want it to be more proportionate you can adjust it accordingly to your taste. Like I said cooking is fun and personal so make it fit you.

So many imitation recipes I found after I made my recipe suggest 1/2 can of italian diced tomatoes. For me I really didn't want that much tomato and I wanted it to be fresh. So I opted for 1 Roma Tomato. It honestly depends on taste. I loved my options…and plus it was cheaper and something I already had in my fridge.

1/8 cup heavy whipping cream 

So another substitute. I did not have heavy whipping cream (If you have this in your house then I want to be part of your kitchen). But back to the recipe. There are two possible options for that. Half and Half is option one. I also didn't have that so I opted for milk+butter. My milk was skim. so to make it a little thicker I also added butter.  I added 1/2 cup milk+ 1/6 cup butter. First, Melt the butter using the microwave for 30 seconds. Then slowly pour the butter into the milk while mixing.

Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for topping. 

I didn't have this so I used mozzarella. I would actually suggest using Parmesan or feta cheese to keep it more authentic. 

Recipe:

First, boil your pasta in a pot. I added salt to my water so it doesn't stick. My pasta took a while so i suggest doing this while you prep the rest of your material. 

Then in a large skillet or wok, pour the EVOO. First, put the mushrooms. then add the tomatoes. After mixing add the white wine/substitue, marina and red pepper flakes. Mix it and let it sit for about 4 minute.

By this time your pasta should be done. So drain the pasta and add it to the above mixture. Add the cream and continue string. Add the spinach last.

Last step ENJOY!!! 

The prep time for this is only 20 minutes. I didn't take pictures today because I was busy measuring/experimenting during each step. But I am sure this will be a constant favorite in my kitchen so next time I will add pictures. 

If you wonder how I knew what was in this recipe here is the youtube video I watched:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r3uJFPsK3g

There are many imitations out there so I am sure a fellow blogger has their own twist with it. My suggestion is it measure/experiment with your flavors and taste in mind. Food is personal. Don't forget that. Please share your pictures or comments if you try it! If you have other suggestions or measurements please let me know. 

Step into the Weekend

Good evening fellow Bloggers/friends/ family!

I'm sure after this cold tundra of a week, many of us could not wait for this weekend (Mainly me). So I decided it would be great to have a "spa" weekend to recover from the madness that was outside. As part of my "spa" weekend I really wanted to have a pedicure. During the fall/winter time I totally just wear boots 24/7. I am sure every girl can attest to that. Even my slippers are boots. Plus I began my work out sessions recently and that has been taking its toll on my feet, as well.

So below I just have pictures/products and tips I use to keep my feet happy and my toes fancy during the cold months. Disclaimer: I am in no way a professional in painting my toes or giving pedicures. I just wanted to show you guys what works best for me at home. Its a budget friendly alternative for a pedicure at a fancy spa. All the products used are not sponsored and they are my opinions alone.

If you got this far you know the post is about a pedicure..if you have a feet fetish please feel free to exit out of the blog now because there will be pictures of feet below (SHOCKING, I know)

To begin I usually remove nail polish from my toes. Then I fill up my amazing Brookstone foot spa. I tried finding the exact replica online but I have had mine for over 6 years now so they don't make it anymore. However, I am attaching a link below to one on their website that is very similar with some extra gadgets.

http://www.brookstone.com/aqua-jet-foot-spa?bkiid=SubCategory_Bath___Spa_At_Home_Spa_Foot_Baths|SubCategoryWidget|728219p&catId=L3_FootBath|L2_HomeSpa|L1_BathSpa

I love this product because they have 3 amazing settings along with three push in brushes in the center that help clean up your feet even more. This product was a little on the pricey end but its really an investment especially for me because I honestly wear flip flops as soon as it hits 50. I don't want my feet to be neglected just because its cold. Plus being in college and school doesn't allow me to have extra money to spend on pedicures. So, this  product has a longevity that I think is another plus to owning it. It's easy to maintain/clean and plus very easy to store.

I know Many of you might not have this at home and might wonder whats the point of reading on. Well I have tried also doing this similar routine by actually filling up a flat bucket or tub with warm water/massage liquid and letting your feet soak in it for several minutes. Although it doesn't have the massage qualities, it still cleans and addresses the neglected feet issues.

Following that I usually fill up the foot spa with warm water and let my feet soak in for about 5-10 minutes before cutting my toe nails. I won't show you a picture of that because by now you should know how to do the basic. But I just attached a picture below of my feet in the foot spa. I like to use it on the heat/bubbles setting if you do happen to have a Brookstone. Its very relaxing…it also tickles a little.

Then I use the center attachment that removes dead skin from your feet and just focus on the ends of my feet and toes. I usually spend about 5-7 minutes on one side. 

So for those of you at home without the Brookstone you can achieve similar results by doing this by hand. I got this leg scrubber attachment for dead skin from Costco. It came in this Burt's bees' gift basket. I am sure you can find them at walmart and other stores. I attached a picture below of me just showing you how to scrub your feet and focusing on the ends of my feet. 

Then after doing that I usually Re-soak my feet for another 5-10 minutes depending on how much time I have and how much my feet need it and repeat the process. Once I am done with that I dry my feet .

Then I apply a lotion that is good for your feet. I have recently been addicted to the Burt's Bees' peppermint foot lotion. I attached a picture below of what it looks like. If you google it you can find the product online. Another option I have used in the past is the Body Shop's Peppermint foot lotion. Both leave your feet happy. Happy feet (i want to watch the movie now). Side note a dime size portion of this lotion is good for both feet. I attached a picture of how much I used of it as well for comparison. If you have really cracked and tired feet, feel free to apply the lotion on a daily basis to see results without the pedicure process. 

Then once thats done I usually pick a color to paint my toes and use separators to keep it as clean as possible. I went with the NYC "Big apple Red" option. Not a fancy or well known nail polish brand but it definitely has sentimental value. My friend was pledging for his Frat junior year of undergrad and got this nail polish in his gift bag when he was required to guess his BIG. The color was their frat color. Lucky for me he gave it to me because he had no use for it. I felt happy wearing it reminding myself of the undergrad days..can we go back to college?

Then once you are done painting your toes you are done!!!

 I usually clean and put away stuff right away because I have OCD but you can always get back to it later.

This post was much longer then I planned. It is my first time doing something like this "tutorial" based. I hope it helped and left you inspired to treat yo self. Enjoy your week and remember to begin each dawn onwards with a positive outlook and happy feet!

The Plague of Inspiration

Hello fellow bloggers! I hope you have a beverage of your choice ready for this long post..Sip along and enjoy my post "The Plague of Inspiration."

So to those who are near and dear to me know that I was recently struck by the stomach flu…or Plague as I like to call it. During my sickness I tried to carry out my positivity by creating the hashtag  "#influenzaandme." I really tried to make that hashtag happen but like Gretchen Weiner trying to make "Fetch" happen….it didn't.

Anyways due to this plague, I was unable to write a blog post for the past week. I finally feel much better and trying to get back into my blogging game. So here is the much awaited second post about things that have been inspiring me lately or more so the person who has inspired me.

During my quarantine in my bedroom for the past 4 days, I came across this amazing video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c62Aqdlzvqk

Everyone has 13 minutes to spare to watch this. This girl just completely changed my out look on life in just 13 minutes. 13!!!! As many of my friends know I have a severe eye issue and recently found out that it affects a lot of my cognitive abilities. I was told that I need to begin therapy this month with the possibility of surgery in the future. During my diagnosis I was thinking "why me??" "Haven't my hardships this past year been enough of an issue?" But then as soon as I watched this video I literally thought to myself (in all caps)…"REALLY DO I HAVE IT THAT BAD?"

so I paused and really thought about the question at the end of the video that Lizzie mentioned "how do you define yourself?" or what do I want people to remember me for. I think that at the end of the day what defines me is my ability to always be there for others. I want my picture next to the word "reliable" in a dictionary. I really want people to say "Sindhu is the type of person who will always care for me and be there for me, no matter what" I want that to define me. I want people to come to me when they have a crisis so I can help them or just come to me when they want to talk. I want to define myself in the manner that I see myself.  Maybe thats where my passion for being a doctor comes from? Although that is just an occupation..How I want to define myself is the attitude I wish to portray. And that attitude can only be shown when I believe it myself.

Often times we get sucked into this concept that life is harsh and there is a lot of negative things and not enough positive. We let materialistic things define our happiness. I realized until we define ourselves in a positive manner, we can't possibly be happy ourself. After my vision appointment my results showed that my academic success itself is an achievement for someone with such an eye sight. I should feel proud that I have come this far in my education game. I am a Baller.

I don't have it that bad..I am blessed! I have family, friends, and my health. I am successful. I will continue to be successful. The hurdles that are there now may disappear. Different hurdles may arise. But through it all I don't want these "hurdles" to define me. Hell nah. I am going to define myself as the person I always am and will always continue to be. When I am said and done my legacy should be the person I was, not what I overcame. My situation is not worse then others.

I guess my overall point of this rambling is that: there are so many amazing things that define every one of us. It's so unique. Let that be how you see yourself and how others see you. Don't focus on the negativity or the difficulties that surround you. Let it go. Trust me..You will feel so much better. You don't control that..But you do control how you portray yourself. A positive attitude through struggles speaks volumes. Lead each Dawn onwards with that quality that is unique to you and I am sure you will be successful.

And Next time I will clearly mention if you need a VENTI from Starbucks for reading a post.
Sorry for a variety of a grammar mistakes..I am a grammar hippie. Going with the flow.

I just came to say hello: 2014

I began writing this blog post and then had to take a break to go shovel my driveway (htuahiaeorapeadi….cold weather…blehhh). As soon as I finished shoveling, guess what happened? It snowed. AGAIN. To say that it snowed on my parade would be cliche but totally applicable. 

Given the state of my emotions the past couple of months, I would expect myself to be angry and pissed that things aren't going in my favor (because everyone knows I control everything, even the weather gods).   

But I've been trying very hard to change my mind set. As the saying goes "It's a new year and its a new me"…haha well no its still the old me but just on the path to becoming the best me that I can be (Rhyme and all).  I don't know why I waited till the new year to get this mind set of positivity. Any day is a great day to begin fresh. We often don't take the time to appreciate that with a new dawn comes new opportunities.  For me this lesson has been SO hard. I am growing and trying to learn this lesson. My success and failures are mine. Just mine. And thats the best part.  I should't be hard on myself because I often harp on the failures and discount the successes. I wouldn't be me if I had just the successes. And frankly..wouldn't my life be so boring?

So here is my third attempt at starting and writing a blog that chronicles my life through the next year. Good or bad--I will be here. 

Grab a drink and join me as we cheers to the New Year. New me. New you. New us. Life is what we make it so let's make it the best one we possibly can.