{dip-tea.com}

Stripes Galore

2012-09-25T00:00:00.000-04:00

A Brunch party with my favorite girls, that serves drinks like Mimosas and Pink Panty Pulldowns deserve a laid back comfortable maxi dress. And you do not stop there, you go overboard with more stripes with even brighter colors. Who says primary colors and neon in stripes do not go together?

{Chevron Top via Marshalls (under $20)

Neon Stripe Maxi via TJ Maxx (under $25)

Nine West Clutch via DSW ($15)

American Eagle Studded Flats via Payless (under $15)

Wayfarers via Charming Charlie ($9)}

Spreading Smiles

2012-09-23T00:00:00.000-04:00

Something insanely amazing happened. An epiphany if you may.

Most of you know that I am in Minneapolis right now.

Over the weekend, Shil, the little one and I, we went to Sam's Club. While Shil was shopping, me and the little guy roamed around, eating free samples and talking about the various benefits of drinking water. Suffice to say the little guy wanted to use the restroom after our intense water based conversation.

As soon as we reached the restroom, the little guy turned to me and said, "DT aunty, you stay right here, while I do my business." So like an obedient aunt that I was, I stayed where he told me to. I tapped my leopard print loafer clad right feet and waited impatiently. Five minutes passed and I realized he was most definitely not doing number one.

After some time, I noticed something strange. All the snobby/crabby people (they wouldn't return my smile!) who walked in to the restroom, came out grinning. Happier. Could emptying your bladder really make you this happy? It could. I feel happy, more relaxed after I do my deed. I dismissed the thought. For the time being.

A Sam's Club employee who had been in the men's room for a couple of minutes walked out, looked at me, smiled and said, "Someone is singing a happy song in there!" It all clicked right then. The annoyed people coming out of the restroom, not so annoyed anymore. I started laughing out loud (LOL in layman terms) and replied, "He does love to sing in the John!"

I felt proud of my nephew then. He has this amazing ability to suck the negative out of you. And he does it without trying. He spreads smiles.

This got me thinking, okay, he has an upper hand, because well, he is a 6 year old who is insanely cute. People will respond to him differently. They wouldn't want a 25 something girl (there, I said it) singing out loud, while she is doing her business, now will they? I don't think people will appreciate that. But we can try. We can spread smiles too, in grown up ways. Pay for the next person's coffee. Appreciate. Compliment. Flash a big toothy grin. Be contagious with your good deeds. If you think you are having a bad day, silence is golden. Do not, I repeat, do not spew your venom on unsuspecting victims, they have done no wrong to you.

After Shil paid the bill and we were pushing the cart towards the exit, one of the female Sam's Club employees (who I had seen at the rest-room earlier) looked at me and then at the little guy, and asked, "Is this the hot stuff who was singing in the rest-room?" Little one blushed and me and Shil burst out laughing. His voice had traveled from the men's rest-room to the women's rest-room next door.

Among Hops and Grapes

2012-09-21T00:00:00.000-04:00

A perfect 70 degree day to try beer, wine, big fat turkey legs, ribbon fries, fresh maple syrup, Gyros and a blue dress with gold details.

{Dress~Lauren Conrad

Micheal Kors Belt

BCBGeneration Shoes ($40)

Wayfarers from Charming Charlie ($9)

Steven Madden Bag ($20)}

I REALISED...

2012-09-19T02:00:00.000-04:00

Lunch at CRAVE

2012-09-17T14:02:00.000-04:00

Since I have been in Minneapolis, incredible things have been happening to me. Case in point, my lunch date with Shil at CRAVE.

Most weekdays I am hanging out at Starbucks in Downtown Minneapolis. On one such day, I tweeted about being here and immediately received a tweet from @CRAVEevents telling me that they are giving away FREE LUNCHES in their downtown location. Being a food lover that I am, I immediately registered.

I had heard a lot about CRAVE since I got here. Most friends have spoken highly of this place and even though I have been to their rooftop lounge before, I have not had their food then. FYI, their lounge is ten kinds of cool. That's where we hung out on our girl's night out last Friday before we hit the clubs.

Late in the evening, I get this:

And I jumped and skipped and tumbled. I swear, I tumbled. Here is this restaurant which I wanted to desperately visit on this trip, and they invite me for a FREE lunch! How cool is that!

I like the idea of their '45 Minute Power Lunch'. Sometimes on weekdays, all we want to do is have a sit-down lunch instead of a to-go lunch and not subject our poor tongues with food court food or settle for a measly piece of sandwich. Okay, we are crushed for time on work days. This is where a 45 Minute Power Lunch comes to our rescue. And trust me, when I tell you this, you do not have to sacrifice on taste or portion size at CRAVE.

Shil's Caprese Flatbread

Our cute as a button server, Nikki.

Tenderloin French Dip Sandwich for me.

Me and TJ McLeod (Director of Social Media for CRAVE), the man who made this wonderful lunch happen.

The 45 Minute Power Lunch Menu.

The Caprese Flatbread, was thin, crispy and the flavor was perfect. My tenderloin sandwich was so good, I got rid of the bread and started dunking the juicy beef in the French dipping sauce. My manners around amazing food is like your next door neighbor's slobbering bull mastiff on a regular day.

All in all our experience at CRAVE was incredible. Shil couldn't stop saying 'awesome' repeatedly. I couldn't stop taking pictures, the staff were helpful, sweet and Misty Saxton, the General Manager of CRAVE spent some time talking with us.

We will definitely be visiting this place again!

A Lot To Be Thankful For

2012-09-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

"She is not me!" This was the first reaction I had when I saw these pictures taken by my very talented sis-in-law Shil. She picked out the dress and the location and wa-pow! ka-bam! This happened.

{Ann Taylor Cardigan

Skirt/Dress via Marshalls

Ellen Tracy color-block heels via DSW

Bag via TJ Maxx

Antique Stone and Bead necklace~dip-tea.com shop(coming soon!)}

It is important to have someone in your life to push you in to doing things that you wouldn't ordinarily do. I found them in both my husband and his sister. They have both made me look at myself differently. They have both in their own way pushed me to do stuff that I wouldn't ordinarily do. Shil has been a sister to me that I have never had. More than a sister at times. I thank my lucky stars that I have been blessed with the best people in my family. My parents who bought me up with strong values and philosophies, my level headed husband who has kept me grounded at times when lightning struck, my in-laws who support me no matter what, a sister with whom I can talk about anything and everything under the star and my handsome brother whose unconditional love speaks volumes. What more can a girl ask for? A gorgeous pair of metallic gold pumps perhaps?

ANNOUNCING THE CRAZY&CO. GIVEAWAY WINNER!
*drum-roll*

THE WINNER IS: Michelle Wong!
Yay, Hoorah, Woot-woot!
CONGRATULATIONS MICHELLE! EXPECT A MAIL IN YOUR INBOX SOON!

On Being Called An American

2012-09-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

a Hindu, Christian, Moslem, Jew, Buddhist and Confucian

— Mahatma Gandhi

I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

— Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.

I love being called an American. I also love being called French, Hispanic and Indian.

When I lived in India, I loved being called Gujarati, Bengali, Maharashtran, Punjabi or a Delhi-ite. (These are sub-cultures in India based on languages or cities.)

Being called all these different cultures, states and cities makes me feel like I belong in this world of amazing differences. It makes me feel that I can live in any part of the world and truly belong there.

I truly believe that when we are exposed to more than one culture we should integrate it in our life and make it work with the existing culture that we are born with. All cultures have their positives and negatives. Why not incorporate the positives of the cultures that we are exposed to and make our life fulfilling and multi-faceted for ourselves and our future generations?

One too many times I have been called an American in a derogatory way. Which I do not appreciate. American culture is an amazing culture and no one has the right to insult it. If you think that cutting my hair short (FYI: I have had short hair most of my life) or my love of fashion makes me an American, so be it. I am proud to be called an American. The same way that I am proud to be called French, Hispanic or an Indian.

I would like to request you to see me as a person. See me as ME. The clothes I wear, the hair-style, makes me, ME! It does not make me a country, a state or a language. In this span of 27 years, I haven't changed my philosophies of life, my love and affection for my friends and family or my core values. I still speak my mind, have strong opinions and I am not scared to take a stand. I have grown and matured without changing what essentially makes me, ME.

If you want to insult me, insult ME for being ME. Do not insult me because of where I live or where I have come from. A western super-power should not be held accountable for something that I may or may not have done.

This post is not only about me. It's about how people find it easier to generalize and blame others because of their religion, ethnicity or country. No matter what your status in life is, which country you have come from, everyone should be held accountable for their OWN mistakes. Once when a friend of mine parallel parked into a spot, a lady yelled at him for it. Her exact words were, "I am not surprised you did this, all you Muslims oppress women in your country." Lady, you had no right to insult a man who follows a religion as old as time just because it will take you ten minutes more to find another parking spot. Also, my friend is not a Muslim. See what I mean when I say generalization?

There was a time when I envied the adults. I looked forward to becoming one myself. As I grew older, I realized that bigger/taller body does not equal bigger mind or an open mind. It crushed me to see, so many grown men and women say and do incredibly immature/irresponsible things.

Setting examples is important. So lets start with this. I want everyone to see past the differences and look at the similarities. All of us are essentially the same. Our skin color, clothes, hair and languages are just superficial differences. What matters in the end, is what is in the inside.

As I end this post, I would like to leave you with the lyrics of this song:

Imagine by John Lennon.

Imagine there's no heaven, it's easy if you try

No hell below us, above it's only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today

Imagine there's no countries, it isn't hard to do

No need to kill or die for and no religions too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger a brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing for the world

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

Kudi Punjab Di

2012-09-13T00:00:00.000-04:00

Took the traditional route with today's outfit shoot. Wore a Patiala Salwar and in true Bollywood style pranced and danced through a field of sugarcane.

Photography by Shil

{Patiala Salwar from New Look ($40)

Earrings from TJ Maxx ($12)

Leopard loafers from Target ($20)}

The Day I Got The Screen All To Myself

2012-09-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

I had an afternoon all to myself and decided that I needed to watch a movie. Alone.

It was the my second best idea ever. The first being, me getting married to The Dude.

After walking up and down the mall for a couple of hours, in my high heels, I decided it was time for me to take a breather. I got myself a ticket to watch Brave.

I stepped into the screening area and found that I was all alone.

There was no other soul in sight. Unless they were invisible.

It was the most exciting feeling to have the screen all to myself, no distractions, no heads poking in front of me, no whispered comments to listen to other than my own.

I loved the movie, it was a real tearjerker. Happy tears, not the sad kind. It was about fate, family, relationships, immaturity, wrong choices, unspoken feelings, rebellion and happy endings. It was a movie not based on grey areas, the constant struggle to live a fulfilling life, reality, sadness and death. It was about a red-headed princess with an untamed mane of hair who makes mistakes and emerges a hero. Fantasy! How would I have survived without you?!

I yelled, I cried, I sobbed, I threw stuff in the air to catch them again. I even did a dance when the scary bear was defeated in the end, whose soul thanked the red-headed rebellious princess on it's way to the light. I cooed at the triplets and made coochie-coo sounds that they couldn't hear. I sat inappropriately, slurped my slushie loudly and laughed as if my life depended on it. I even cat-called, booed and chanted at appropriate times.

It was just what the doctor ordered.

I stepped out of the place with half a dozen used tissues and feeling as happy as my neighbor's dog Tara on the day she gets her favorite munchies.

**This is not a movie review. The picture is borrowed from imdb.com, I did not take a picture of me watching the movie in the theater all alone as proof, because I do not want to get arrested. Not yet.

Polka Polka

2012-09-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

What I wore to FNO in Minneapolis.

{Top~Marshalls ($20)

Tank dress~American Apparel ($12) via GILT

Madden Girl lace-up booties ($30) via Marshalls

Accessories- H&M and gift

Bag ($25) via TJ Maxx}

I have fallen in love with downtown Minneapolis.

THE END

Chi-town

2012-09-07T07:47:00.000-04:00

#dipteaclicks

I did not win this Clutch.

2012-09-05T02:00:00.000-04:00

DSW hosted a giveaway with Urban Expressions Handbags called SEVEN DAYS OF STYLE on Facebook a couple of months ago. They challenged their fans to create an outfit around their tan Hadley clutch and I sent this Polyvore set which includes a summery, chic and classy outfit that incorporated really cool trends like polka dots, high-low/waterfall dress, ombre and pastels. I really liked my entry and I thought I should share. What do you think?

Urban Expressions via DSW by diptea featuring a cream blazer

#diptearecommends

Click on thumbnails to view where you can buy the items

Which one is better?

2012-09-03T22:26:00.000-04:00

Finally! First outfit post in my new haircut! *cue applause*

{Tank top, borrowed from my SIL,

LOFT Skirt ($15)

Audrey Brooke color-block heels via DSW ($30)

Leopard print loafers from Target ($20)

Rainbow arm bangles c/o Crazy&Co.}

As you can see, my middle name is dance-y. Big surprise there. I have been temporarily off the blogging scene since I have had my hands full with my two hyper-active nephews and been involved in lots of road-trips and insane travels with my sis-in-law and the boys! I wore these amazing heels (remember them from the poll I conducted a couple of months ago?) for the outfit post and changed into my flats on our day out at Chicago. My question for you is, which outfit did you like better? The one with the match-y heels or the one where I am wearing leopard print loafers?

Which outfit do you like better?

REMINDER: Two more days till the awesome Crazy&Co. giveaway closes! Have you entered yet?

**I am blogging from Minnesota right now, my sis-in-law is my photographer for the next couple of weeks. And as you can see, she is as talented as her brother when taking my outfit pictures!

Guest Post by Amena

2012-08-31T09:35:00.001-04:00

For those of you who do not know, we have our favorite nephews visiting us and therefore we are ten kinds of busy-ness right now. I haven't had time to open my laptop, let alone touch it this past fortnight. Since blogging for me right now is a no-go, for the interim period, I have the greatest of friends blogging for me, temporarily of course.

Introducing Miss Amena of Fashionopolis. I absolutely love this woman's flippant, funny, sarcastic and humor-heavy writing style. Her post ideas being equally funny and entertaining. Here she is talking about one of those many things that happen to bloggers. Like their five friends. Enjoy!

FIVE FRIENDS OF A FASHION BLOGGER

I have a friend who keeps referring to this guy from her office as her ‘work husband’. For a girl who can’t seem to meet a nice guy in real life, she has had 3 different ‘work husbands’ so far. Never having one myself-work or otherwise-for the life of me I really did not understand what the heck was a ‘work husband’. When I asked her about it, she gave me this huge explanation as to what it really is but the end meaning is some who acts and performs the duties of a spouse at the work place, most of the times without conjugal rights.

This got me thinking- do fashion bloggers have work husband/wife? Most of the times, blogging is a one man/woman’s show. The real question to ask is, in the blogging world who is that one person performing the duty of a metaphorical spouse?

And as I looked around for my ‘blogging husband’, it dawned on me we bloggers really can’t have one spouse. We just can’t! So, short of committing blogging polygamy I realized instead of spouses we bloggers have friends. They are like your real life friend, but not always bound to you by any code of friendship or anything.

1. The Bestie: Just like Sheldon has his Leonard, we bloggers too have our bestie aka our trusted photographer. Any fashion blogger worth it’s salt will tell you what an important role a photographer plays. They bear with our diva attitude, or drama queen moments and literally put on a brave face and endure the dirty looks given by passerby as they continue to happily click our photos. Make that 200-300 photos.

Bestie is someone who knows and understands you as much as you understand yourself, even more so most of the time. In that sense your blogging bestie can be anyone- your real life best friend, your mom, your husband, your cousin etc. Only someone who completely understands you will have the potential to make you look like a cover girl even when you are channeling your inner ugly ducking.

2. The Frenemy: We all have one such person who acts as a friend and an enemy at the same time. One has to just look at the equation between Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte to understand the love and hate dynamics of a frenemy. In the fashion blogging world, the frenemies are P.R people. We need them and they need us, but both hate to admit it. They send us offensive mails with incorrect names and holier than thou attitude and we give them the metaphorical figure by ignoring their request. But, as much as we hate to acknowledge it, without them it would be far more difficult to make our mark. So, we continue to carry on with this twisted friendship for the peace and betterment of the fashion world.

3. The 3 A.M Friend: Bloggers, especially fashion bloggers by nature are dramatic people. We are! And like every drama queen we have our major moments- ‘I can’t write anymore’. ‘This outfit makes me look so fat’. ‘God, I have the worlds worst hair!’ ‘How come she got invited to that event and not me?’ ‘That bitch stole my idea’. Sounds familiar? And you know who has heard it all? The same person to whom you said the golden words for the very first time- ‘I think I will start a fashion blog’. That one friend, who is your strongest believer and supporter and on whom you can rely on at all times, your loyalist, most bestest friend.

Mostly belonging to the outside world, but staying with you know exactly what ‘mustard’ and ‘lime’ mean in your world. Sometimes performing the role of a photographer, confidante, plus one, cheerleader and more often than not the voice of sanity.

4.The Buddy: Blogging on most days is a solitary business. While your friends and family support you they honestly don’t get your anxiety over things like ‘traffic’ and ‘followers’. And while you rant to the world at large about your blogging woes there is only one other person who will completely understand and sympathize with you. It is someone who faces the same issues on a day-to-day basis. Say hello to your ‘Blogger Buddy’, a friend from the world of blogging who like you is trying to make its presence felt in the blogosphere. From Pinterest addiction to lack of inspiration, they too have been there, done that and completely understand you. Whether you know him/her personally or it’s just a virtual connection a blogger is incomplete with its blogging buddy.

5. Friend With Benefit: We all have certain urges that need to be fulfilled. And when you can’t do it yourself you need to call ‘that friend’ to help you out. Us bloggers have these urges once a year, commonly know was the blog makeover. That is when we call upon the benefits of our web designer friends. Yep, that’s exactly the best way to describe a blogger’s relationship with a web designer. We annually meet up to update and redesign the blog. While that is happening we indulge in mindless chitchat about the weather and current events say let’s meet-up for a drink someday and as soon as the update is over we forget about the web designer and the drink date. Until the update urge strikes again. And then the same story starts over! Sometimes we are ecstatic with our web designer’s performance other times we hate how they would not follow instructions but most of the times it is mutually satisfying equation.

Tennessee Williams wisely said: “Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose.” While we fashion bloggers may not get the pleasure of having a ‘work husband’ or ‘office spouse’ we sure do have the privilege of a dependable friend circle.

Crazy&Co. Giveaway

2012-08-22T21:17:00.001-04:00

GIVEAWAY CLOSED

Hello all! I am back from my mini-vacation at the Catskills. And I have come back fat, loved and generous. In the spirit of my happiness and well-rounded-ness I am hosting a giveaway. Why be selfish, eh?

Crazy&Co. is founded by my most favorite person Tanvi. I love her shop, because it truly reflects her own eclectic and unique style.

In her own words,

Crazy & Co. is an attempt to curate unique, statement-making pieces from all over the world and make them accessible to everyone. Each item in the boutique has been carefully handpicked and selected to savor to the taste buds of people who appreciate eclectic and kitsch style and design. Most pieces in the boutique are one-of-a-kind, scouted from international travels, flea markets, independent designers and local exhibitions.

My current favorite from her shop is the Crazy Color Crush Necklace and the Crazy Candy Love Bracelet. They are both all kinds of fabulous!

Here is what you have got to do:

MANDATORY ENTRY

Follow dip-tea.com via GFC

Visit Crazy&Co. website and tell us which item you will purchase when you win your $20 gift-card

EXTRA ENTRIES

Like Crazy&Co. Facebook page

Like dip-tea.com Facebook page

Follow @diptea on Twitter

Follow @CrazyandCo on Twitter

Tweet about the giveaway:

'Enter for a chance to win a $20 gift-card to spend at @crazyandco via @diptea "http://bit.ly/PevKtR" #giveaway'

**Mention extra entries in separate comments

**Giveaway open for US residents only
**Giveaway open till 05 Sept' 2012.

GOOD LUCK!

Lucky number 4

2012-08-19T00:00:00.000-04:00

picture circa 2007

This is not your regularly scheduled program. This in fact, is a scheduled post.

While you are reading this, I am somewhere in the mountains of The Catskills taking a mini-vacay with my loved ones, devouring on grilled pineapples and sloshing copious amounts of alcohol. We are celebrating our 4th wedding anniversary and it's time for me to go all nostalgic on my anniversary's ass.

It has been an adventure, a fun adventure. A four year long adventure that feels like one. It's amazing how comfortable we have gotten with each other, given up on each other about things that we both know we cannot outgrow and how we still manage to finish each other's sentences.

The first time we met, we did just that. Finish each other's sentences. I did fake some things though. The first time we met, I was so smitten by him that I told him that I loved chocolate. Just because he did. These hormones makes you silly, I tell ya. And then we kept on meeting, he found me charming (I assume. Well he did marry me) and I found him irresistible. And the rest was history.

We do complain, crib and fight. We love finding faults in each other all the time. It's not always hunky-dory (well he is hunky and I don't mind being dory) But the good times outweigh the bad, big time. We balance each other perfectly, he is the Cinderella to my Prince Charming, he is the mango to my milk-shake (okay, that did not come out right), he is definitely the sugar to this dip-tea. (cue: awwwww)

I love you sweetheart, more than ever. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for you.

Here's wishing us the greatest fourth year anniversary and I cannot wait to celebrate many more that are yet to come. Kisses.

15 days of dipstagr.am

2012-08-17T09:14:00.000-04:00

For your viewing pleasure, my life through my phone lens and instagr.am, from this past fortnight. All the things I love including food, cute kids, the color of the traffic cone and shoes.

Quote and Follow

2012-08-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

FOLLOW ME ON:

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

GOOGLE FRIEND'S CONNECT

Egg Curry

2012-08-13T14:38:00.000-04:00

I love eggs. Period.

What you need:

4 Hard-boiled eggs

1 small red onion

2 medium sized tomatoes

3 garlic cloves

1 inch ginger

4 green chilly

pinch of turmeric powder

1 tsp red chilli powder

1/2 tsp garam masala powder

1/2 tsp dried mango powder

1 tbsp olive oil

Salt to taste

Chopped cilantro to garnish

What you do:

Blend tomato, garlic, ginger and green chilly together to form puree and keep aside.
Chop onion finely and fry in 1tbsp of olive oil.
When the onion starts to brown, stir in all the spices for about 30 seconds and then add the tomato puree. Stir and then stir some more. Be careful though, the gravy is going to splatter. So put a tight lid on it and keep stirring it every couple of minutes.
Let the gravy simmer for about ten minutes on a low flame.
Pour one cup of water and stir it in the mixture.
Cut the hard-boiled eggs in half and slide them into the gravy, yolk side up.
Bring the gravy to a boil.
Switch of the gas, transfer the egg curry to a different dish and garnish with chopped cilantro.

You can have this curry as is (which is the way I like!) or eat it with almost anything including warm pita, tortilla, rotis, parathas, rice etc.

Happy Cooking!

A Modest way to wear Sheer

2012-08-11T02:00:00.000-04:00

We all love sheer. Sheer is beautiful, has the most amazing texture, is light-weight and glamorous. But not all of us are comfortable wearing sheer. Modesty is an issue that I have with this unbelievably gorgeous fabric, but I found the most amazing layered tank that solves the problem. You can wear a tank under a over-sized sheer blouse to achieve a similar look! I carried the colors from the shorts (Yes, my obsession with tribal prints continues) to the accessories to keep things interested. We don't want the outfit to be boring now, do we?

Modest Sheer by diptea featuring chain jewelry

#diptearecommends

click on the thumbnails to see where you can buy the items

Guest Post by Arathi

2012-08-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

Arathi is an amazing writer. Some of my favorite bookmarked articles are written by her, both for her blog and a couple of online magazines that she freelances for. Arathi was an obvious choice as a guest blogger for the month of August. And I am very excited to have her over at my space, to write about things that are getting on her nerves right now.

Introducing, Arathi, of 'Love, Miffalicious' for 'dip-tea'!

Pet peeves, ahoy!

Written by: Arathi Devandran of Love, Miffalicious.

So, my lovely friend Dip-tea, has asked me to write a guest post on her blog, and it took me a long while to figure out what exactly I wanted to share with you guys here. But before that, a big thank you to Miss D for giving me this chance; much, much love to her!

After much thought, I’ve decided to share with you guys some of my biggest pet peeves with regards to blogging. I’ve been an avid blog reader for as long as I have been a blogger (for more than five years now) and there have been several things that I’ve seen in blogs, which really rub me the wrong way.

And here we have it, the top five pet peeves!

via GoodJoe.com

#5 – Clutter : a blog layout with too many colours, too many icons, too many itsy bitsy things flying around in the name of web accessories…thank you, but no thank you. Clutter takes away focus from the actual blog content, and sometimes can be quite the eyesore. Simplicity is key, ladies and gents!

#4 – Outfit pictures without head-shots : I can completely understand the whole ‘camera shy’ thing going on with outfit bloggers. But at the same time, it can get very frustrating when you see pictures without the face of the outfit blogger, over and over. Not to mention the fact that it affects the whole aesthetic appeal of the blog as well.

#3 – Spam-bam: Right so this is not directly relevant to blogs, but to the social media pages that bloggers set up to promote their work. Promotion is all fine and dandy, until it becomes spam. There is absolutely no need for you to post your latest post link on every single medium that you have, five times an hour. Please calm down. You’d be surprised how effective strategic promotion can be.

#2 – Where’s your About page? : If I don’t see an about page when I first visit a blog, my enthusiasm to check out the blog drops by several notches. And this is not a gross exaggeration. For me, blogging is a personal experience, and one I like to share with my readers. Although there’s no need for the whole BFF vibe to be going down on your blog, it would be nice to see a short and sweet introduction.

#1 – Grammar: Probably my biggest pet peeve of all time. I will never understand how bloggers do not see the need to do a quick spell check before they publish posts. It also takes about a minute to read through what you’ve written and to see if a sentence makes sense, or whether basic grammar rules have been adhered to. You can have the most beautiful pictures in the world, people, but if you’re writing in a language only you understand, very few readers are going to appreciate your posts.

And there you have it. 5 things which ruffle my feathers like no other. What are some of YOUR pet peeves when it comes to blogging? And how do you deal with ‘em? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

5 Summer Recipes I Love

2012-08-07T04:00:00.000-04:00

Being a Pinstalker that I am, I have been pinning delicious, easy to make food recipes since summer arrived. I do not enjoy cooking HOT foods in summers. I prefer slow cookers, cool desserts and recipes with fresh ingredients that are not hot on the palate. In this post I am sharing FIVE of my favorite food recipes that I am absolutely in love with right now. And rightly so. These recipes are not only gorgeous to look at, they are incredibly easy to make and quite exquisite to taste.

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Lillet Rose Spring Cocktail by Martha Stewart : This gin based cocktail is perfect for summer evenings with close friends and amazing music. Preferably outdoors.

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Hummus and Avacado toasts with Roasted Tomatoes (via eat, live, run) : Lisa of, With Style and Grace, guest blogged this recipe for eat, live, run. I love this recipe, because:

It is bite size, party recipe
It has avacado and tomatos in it
They are incredibly easy to make

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Fruits Years in Lemon Sauce via Moje Wypieki : This is the perfect summer fruit dessert and it can be made with fruits of your choice. It is a two step dessert, takes only 5 minutes to prepare and is perfect if unannounced guests arrive.

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Greek Chicken Pita Folds via LDS Living Magazine : The best part about slow-cooker recipes is that you can mix all the ingredient and leave it in the slow cooker to cook for 4-6 hours. You are not sweating away in front of the hot stove. The slow-cooker, preserves all nutrients while it incorporates all the flavors of the spices in the food. Spend time on presentation as opposed to cooking. You can never go wrong with Mediterranean fare. Tasty, healthy and easy to prepare!

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Frangelico & chocolate mousse with Baileys cream via Ichigo Shortcake : A dessert does not feel like a dessert until it has chocolate in it. Trust me when I say that this recipe is worth the work. Delicious!

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Short shots

2012-08-05T00:00:00.000-04:00

Please excuse the post Friday night 'all you can eat' potluck pudge in these pictures. I just couldn't resist all the amazing food that our friends cooked and I had to try each and every one of them. Twice.

{F21 tee ($3)

LOFT shorts ($10)

Converse ($25)

Pendants (gift from SIL and Kamikazi)

H&M/Express Bracelets (under $5)

Perlina handbag via Marshalls(splurge)}

How awesome are these shorts! CANNOT. STOP. WEARING. THEM.

Lust Board

2012-08-03T00:00:00.000-04:00

Who is lusting over metallic statement making pieces right now? ME! This is my "DUDE ROLLS EYES" Anniversary wish-list. A girl can certainly dream and sigh. Not necessarily in that order.

Lust Board by diptea featuring platform heels

#diptealusts

Mantra of the Month

2012-08-01T09:21:00.000-04:00

via Bubbles on my Planet