From a Princess....to being a Bride...

New found obsession: Cheese and Food

2012-09-11T05:44:00.001-07:00

I was never obsessed with food the way I am right now..

All the channels I love on TV are on "food", apart from my Art and crafts interest, food is the next Big thing in line.

And I almost look forward to cooking and trying something new!!!

Like the other night I made these Double baked potatoes. If you are vegetarian, just "skip" the non-veg part. Rest follow!!! And follow I say...everyone was like hypnotised by this dish..

Oh yeah...I made it in a large dish, which was mostly FINISHED by three...I say three people.
OMG...I was so delighted to see them eat, I myself couldn't eat it...

Got any good recipes for me...I'd love to try them!!!
:)

You can also visit my Art studio website
http://niharika-art-studio.blogspot.in/

Cheers!

Demi More is following "me" on Pinterest

2012-04-05T05:20:00.002-07:00

How cool is that!!!
Guys...just opened my email to find that "Demi More" (yes...the same one") is following me on Pinterest..
Wow!!!
I'm thrilled...

Niharika on Pinterest!!

Click the above to check out my pins..especially the Oil paintings...

My current project - "Indian monuments"
(Pics coming soon....)

Love,
Niharika :)

Getting the story right!!

2012-03-24T02:46:00.001-07:00

Its been more than month now, since our First anniversary vacation, and I wasn't even able to put the pictures together. I had already decided that these pics would definitely come on the Wall...
No, not the Facebook or Pinterest wall, but the real wall...our bedroom wall.

So, I picked the best ones out on my laptop (one hell of a task, if you know what I mean!) . And here's what has come out. I'm inspired by my sister to make a scrapbook for that particular vacation, or even the whole First year.As a "Marriage cum love" project.
She has a Life project going on currently, which you can check out the following link Avinash&Nandini

And here's what I made:

Both of em are collages, though I'm a little skeptical on the idea of getting a collage done and framed. Maybe coz I havn't really seen good ones around.

Well...I'm gonna get these printed and framed for our room today. But any better ideas are also welcome.
Also, I was thinking of adding some letter hangings to frame "First Anniversary" or something like that...how does that sound?!

Why??

2012-03-12T09:41:00.001-07:00

Why do Pinterest and Facebook work?? Someone created these two things in "(our lives to give us the most awesome platforms ever.
Someone had the vision, someone got the "hint" that what would work and what wouldn't.
And even though many of us have the hints, not all of us have the courage to use it.

Sometimes, its right before us but we fail to see it, its only a matter of time, and maybe luck, that we stumble upon it and wonder..oh, so that's what I was suppose to to do. It was so simple, yet....yet I wasn't even looking at it all this time!!

With all this yappling, I only mean to convey, that how I myself am searching for that one thing, one stumble, while I may not even realise that with so much search outside that thing may be within.
("Here comes my spiritual line again...")
No..No..its true. Its like something inside tells me to start yoga and meditation again. As if all my answers lie there. And I dont even need to put myself or others through all this.

Its like a struggle everyday. How much easier would it be, if everything was clear. "How", "when", "where"!! And definitely the word "what"!

(A)What should I do
(B) How should it be done
(C) Where and when
(D) Why - doesn't really matter, as long as you know that you want to...thats why!!

Love for the creatives...

2012-02-26T04:49:00.002-08:00

It all started with ART...which is growing stronger everyday, but then it gave me the wisdom of trying newer creative things...
As I reflect back, in the past one year, apart from painting, I've cooked and experimented so many new dishes, made crochet flowers and learned different types of chocolate and gifted them too :)

Wow!! This is someone more than me: my husband says, looking at me, "I can do anything!!"
Really...awww.. I'm so lucky to have you darling...

And with that spirit and strength, I am proceeding forward to carry out a challenge for myself. I know "thoda filmi hai" (its a little movie story like) but I wanna put this up for myself..
Let me also, for the sake of making it clear to myself as well, make this clear that I am not a person who is unable to stick to one thing, I am...till that thing challenges me or helps me grow as a person. If whatever I do, doesn't help me I give it up. It seems difficult to put in words, but if that thing, makes me a dreamer, someone who really doesn't care what others would think if I did it and yet something which I know deep down would be good...I don't know...maybe I'm thinking too much..thinking how other would interpret it...
Okay...let's put it this way..I connect with those "things" that give me a reason, a purpose in life. A famous line from the movie "P.S. I love you: My job is to create...." and that is what I will do. That is what I want to do. To create...

But I'm also scared...what if I just end up being a bored housewife with no job or meaning. What if all this is a bad/wrong step, taken in haste. What if...
I feel like crying at such times you know, coz I feel lonely and scared. I feel how tangled I am by so many things, thinking of which we only tend to be more unhappy.
Oh Gosh...right now, there are so many thoughts running in my mind, stopping me from thinking all this. One says "Why don't you keep your life simple", another says "remember your childhood, when playing life roles, like a shop owner or a wife was not such a sad thing, then why now...why not just go ahead and play this role of whatever you do and enjoy your life as well, why take so much burden about it...is it really that bad!!?"

Hmmm...maybe not. Isn't it all about our attitude. See, my point is only that I wanna learn more and grow more, which right now is not happening with my job. So, I wanna switch to all the creative things I do. Make more art, create things...I was like just born, I'm only 2years old in this and wanna excel like anything. Because deep down it really makes me happy.
But then can't I just carry on my work and do this as well...
See..this is how it always goes, in my head. Don't know when I'll be able to resolve this, coz it really affects every other thing. Maybe someday. I'm just waiting when...

First anniversar celebrations

2012-02-19T04:41:00.000-08:00

Has it been an year...already!!!!
wow..time does fly by..though I do admit, there have been a lot many things, in this one year, which remind me that life does not run like a straight line...but ehh! who cares..when you look back, you feel it was a just a glitch and you move on.

You learn, you move on, you unlearn and yet you have to move on. You can't stop...you just can't. Its a sin they say.
But a sin worth it, otherwise you'd never know what great things are there...
you can't see it, or even guess its on its way..
Wow..I feel overwhelmed at that thought.
I had never thought I'd be going to Dubai on our first Anniversary, actually we'd thought of Kashmir, which is another amazing yet-to-visit place, then it was Kerala...but then as if fate had meant it to be..it was DUBAI!!

I couldn't have asked for anything more, except a Valentine's and Anniversary gift...which is ofcourse still pending... (am I being selfish to ask)...Anyways, life has a whole new story to tell, you just need the patience to keep moving to hear and see it!!
Gawdd...am I getting philosophical again...me and my dreamy eyes
:)

I know its every girl's dream...to look in those eyes and forget everything...past, present, future...who cares..when all you ever wanted is right there in front of you..

I love you Sameer :))

Fire of Emotions...

2012-01-29T01:49:00.000-08:00

ORIGINAL@NIHARIKA

OIL AND ACRYLIC BASED PAINTING (ON CANVAS)

SIZE: 60X30

PRICE: ON REQUEST

Interested, please mail me at niharika_g85@yahoo.co.in

Waterfall of dreams...

2012-01-29T01:30:00.000-08:00

All of us dream, and some of us make it come true, but how much we all wish, that there were a magical land, where it would all be true...
I see, I dream, this is a waterfall of dreams...

ORIGINAL@NIHARIKA

OIL BASED PAINTING (ON CANVAS)

PRICE: ON REQUEST

If interested: Please mail me at niharika_g85@yahoo.co.in

Life after marriage

2011-09-07T00:27:00.000-07:00

Its already more than 6months, since we tied the knot.
Unbelievable...time just flies by..and something which completely changed my life...

Created something for my hubby on our "Semiversary"

--------

So to say, its been a very love-full journey ;)
And also a time which taught me so many things on the way...so much has happened since then, that it feels that many years have passed. I'm working in Gurgaon, commuting from Noida, via Metro. I love metro. Its not easy but then, after the day's work, I look forward to meeting everyone...
Sometimes, I feel that time is just not enough, so I could do more, in the day. So, I could paint more, create more, cook more...yes, I'm loving to cook..haha or one can say...dedicating to it.
So, when I feel like eating or trying something new (yummy ofcourse), I browse through different recipes in metro. Its also a good time-pass you see..and I've eventually learnt to remember them too :D
Like the other day, I tried making a cake using "buttermilk"...I'd seriously never heard using it, but the recipe that buttermilk makes your cake very very soft. It was more of a breakfast receipe and so I made it on a Saturday morning. Not only was it filling and heavy...it was just yummy!

Made this today, one of the ways of expressing my feelings...

Another depiction of us..huh!

He's my lifeline you can say..."The One"

Anyways, while going over to my parents home once, I remembered keeping my mirror hanging, locked up in a room and decided to take them back with me..
Mirror Hangings

I've redecorated them in a new way...we put them up in our bathroom, instead of the bathroom curtains. And they just look awesome!!

Check it out.........

------------

And...apart from all this fun and frolic...I finally...finally got his guitar repaired!! Yipee!!!
I wanna see how he reacts after he comes home...I'm so so so very excited!!

Guess..life after marriage is, to bring smile on that one person, and definitely yourself too..else how would you make other happy!!

Ahhh...I'm Happy :)

Creative Designs...(Part - I)

2010-10-13T04:22:00.000-07:00

The making of my "Makeup Palette"

2010-10-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

In technical words... a palette is a palette..haha..just kidding! Its a mix/variety of things put together under one roof..haha...(wats up with me!!)

Okay, getting to the fun business..I've created a palette which consists of eye-shadows (matt,shimmer, powder based and cream based), blushes and lipsticks.

If you've read my former blogs, I usually have "hidden" treasures, which come out from time to time!!
So..I found this palette which I had..but never explored!

To save space, I took out the pieces from the plastic base and put them all together side by side. Since the box has quiet a depth, I could easily put other items in the same and customise it for easy use later.
Which also makes me realise that I wouldn't have to buy more..haha

Aaaaahhhh...Space, money and time..everything saved!!!
:D
Huge smiles..

Looks lovely too :)

As if its screaming... UsE Me! UsE Me!

The above is my MAC palette, and below is the newly adjusted-for-space palette. Now, I don't need to fill any empty spaces in the MAC one till I use up all of the above...which ofcourse will be after a really long time (considering I don't put on makeup very often!), hopefully.

It has many beautiful colors in there...even the coral one..which has become the color of Fall season.

Aww..I'm soooooooooo happy!!!! Can't wait to play around with em!!

So...what have you discovered today?
Any favourite color?

What's IN "Rose"

2010-10-06T04:32:00.000-07:00

CG - rose quartz

Continuous color - 3in1

What color are you wearing this week?

A small Lush haul!

2010-10-03T23:43:00.000-07:00

Lush is a company that manufactures and markets hand-made, I repeat, HAND MADE bath products - which not only includes yummy soaps (they smell so nice you literally wanna eat them!) but also stuff like scrubs, moisturisers, bath and shower products, etc, etc, etc.

you can visit their site here to know more..

Lush India

So, recently a friend of mine posted about these products on her website. I knew about them but what I did not know was, they existed in India. I mean I never tried finding out either..you know!
But since I got to know..I had to explore and try some products to see what the craze is all about!!
The first thing is..I have NEVER heard of "hand-made" soaps..and the second..they look so cuteeeee..and the third best thing is...they smell like puddings and cakes and...ahhhh!! I'm lost in their world..
hahaha..

Now..this is what I ordered:
Porridge soap, sultana of soaps and Noubar soap (from L-R)

My order arrived today itself..I was so excited to open it and see the things for the first time!!
Since I'm trying them for the first time, I ordered only 100gm each.
But they smell awesome...
:)

Porridge soap: Start the day the Goldilocks way with a helping or three of porridge oats. Ideal for sensitive skin; irresistible to everyone else. Oats are soothing for the skin, while orange juice is refreshing. Rise and shine with some delicious porridge.

Sultana of Soap: The creamy fruity one. Can we help it if our soap looks like a big cake of tasty Italian nougat? Well, I suppose we can. If we make it soft and creamy, fill it full of chopped apricots and currants and scent it with spicy olibanum, it's hardly surprising that it looks tempting enough to take a lick. You know better than that, though, don't you? Smooth a slice of our fruit encrusted, creamy dessert of a soap all over your body and enjoy smelling like a sweet shop.

Noubar Soap: Inspired by nougat, this soap is a deliciously fragrant and thoroughly cleansing. We've added smoky vetivert oil and Turkish rose absolute to keep you sweet every time you wash. Chopped peanuts, walnuts and almonds add texture and exfoliate the skin. You'd be nuts to miss out on Noubar.

Don't get it wrong..they actually use organic and sometimes even preservative free things in there..the sultana soap seemed like it will melt in my hands!!
Haha..

Now, I'm not sure how long they will last..but I definitely had to...had to...try these gorgeous goodies!!!
I may repurchase for my wedding :P

Have you bought any Lush product? If yes, which ones are your favourites?

Kesariya Balam Padharo Maaro Des....

2010-10-03T09:05:00.000-07:00

Yay! to people who performed at CommonWealth Games ceremony

Was watching the inaugration ceremony of Commonwealth games on DD, which was ofcourse great..and Hariharan sang this song..

This song has become very close to my heart...as if touches my very soul!!
There are so many good versions of the same..
check em out
:)

Wow!!

Here's another one... from the movie "dor"

Do you love any such song?

Playing Around some new and old stuff!

2010-09-30T10:20:00.000-07:00

Okay..so I was trying this look by Bobbi Brown that I saw the other day on their facebook promo..
(she gives out awesome new try-ons!)

And.. I recently got a new eye-liner after a really long time! - so I decided to play around abit and though of trying this look.
Now, my eyes aren't exactly that flat...they are actually curvy..so I ended up giving it a twist up!
But anyways..I loved it a lot :)
Something new to the eye..
And..I added shimmer to my eyes..(who what when where...scroll down to see what I used!)

So..this is how I looked!

And just to see the shimmer, I'm tilting my head! hee hee..

Face: Mix of Estee lauder (double wear light)

& MAC mineralize foundation

(trying to mix 2 foundations to get a better color)

Bronzer: Bronze Booster (medium2light)

Blush: MAC Sheertone (NEW)

(this is like a mix of coral and pink; I had gone to buy coral & ended up buying this..much better I tell you!!)

Eyes: MAC Paintpot - groundwork (NEW)

(Yay! Finally got the paintpot, this is the base color for us Indians; next will be coral, another rare one!)

MAC pigment frozenwhite (NEW)

Eyeliner: Lakme (NEW)

(liquid)

Lips: MAC slimshine BARE (NEW)

(thankGod I bought this..I got the "last" piece)

And I have to mention, I got a my first MAC eye-brush 213!!!! - amazing & even beyond....!!!

Trends Closeup: Saree

2010-09-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

What's IN Papaya/Peach

2010-09-27T02:30:00.000-07:00

CoverGirl - Papaya Shake

Hee hee...what a name!
I have more oranges..will do a post on them later.
Cute!

Routine regime - part1

2010-09-26T22:28:00.000-07:00

hey girls...my skin is finally without any pimple & acne attack...phew! I do not know why..but my skin was breaking out a lot this summer! But now..happy news is...all that is gone and its back to its original glowing self!

Since I'm also practically work-less for now (not jobless)..I have a lot of time in hand to carry out all the fitness-shopping-skincare-etc activities.

I thought of sharing some really good things I discovered over these months. These are some things which working ppl can also accomodate, and I'm sure the results will be as good!
:)

First of all...I joined dance classes (hiphop, jazz, bollywood, salsa, belly dancing - a mix of all this)..but then I felt that it wasn't worth the effort..though it was very enjoyable. But the crammed space got to me.
Somehow I managed to explore the youtube to find some fitness routine videos, and found this..

Belly dance workout

Its a Belly Dance workout!!
Can you believe it...there are workouts, in the form of a dance...so you would not only enjoy doing it...but sweat out and be in shape!!!!
Nice na...

-------------------

Now, my tomato scrub tip got really popular..but you can use lemon too, instead of the tomato, with sugar once a week...to get great results!
And yes using sunscreen everyday is a must!! Blemishes are becoming a major problem, when the temperature easilygoes upto 45 degree Celsius (but anyways its a 365 day regime summer/winter)

Happy Caring!!
:)

Weekend Explorations...

2010-09-25T01:14:00.000-07:00

On my Eyes: Revlon creme shadow from Va Va Va Bloom palette (sadly the colors are not mentioned, but its the left-most one in the pic below)

My Review : I bought this palette as it has mixed shades which are everyday wearable as well as party timers.

The creme does not have a very long lasting staying power (I've not worn other creme shadows before), and may require touch-ups. I wore in alone, without any base or anything on top of it, to test its lasting power.

This is how it looks like after 3-4 hrs..

The quantity is good enough to last for a long time. I will definitely explore other options.

My other purchases includes purses..

Its in the shape of a SeaShell in Dark Grey.

It can very well be used as a clutch and the long chain is just adorable. Fashion keeps coming back..
And this is another one for regular use..

A popular design from Nine West

What was your latest buy(s) ??

What's IN "Shimmer"...

2010-09-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

CoverGirl - "Iced Mauve"

3in1 continuous color

A great weekend wear color..

What are you wearing?

Shopping day for me...up for grabs..

2010-09-22T02:55:00.000-07:00

MAC paint pot (bare study and/or painterly) - "first time buy"

I generally apply powder on my greasy eyelids before application of an eyeshadow. But I've heard a lot about the paint pot and have to try it now..it can be used barely or as a base, depends on what look you are opting for.

Look like this.. when swatched..

These are not the only 4 colors..but I love all of these..
I've always wanted a slight pinkish tone, which would compliment my dark brown eyes.
I feel this is a must in your makeup collection.

I go without makeup almost always..my skin doesn't have any big flaws to hide, nor do I feel the need to wear them.
But eye makeup, which starts out as "kajal" in a girl's life, tends to hold a special place.
Ofcourse..I'm exploring diferent made-up forms...

A new mantra..going natural is not the only way, sometimes you should look made up as well....feels exciting!!

2. New flats/sandals.....whatever!
To be honest, I'm too bored with flats...its been decades since I wore anything else. But anyways..I'm not keeping that option closed either. This time it'll be shopping these for my wedding, ofcourse! haha..

Another mantra.. golden, silver and bronze (and black too), goes with nearly everything. BUT..again "I" am bored with these colors...I want COLORS!!!!!
Phew!
Did you know...there's a site which is actually called "heels.com"
haha..that shudnt be such a surprise..anyways...even if you type heels on google images...you'll see hideous things!!!

oh gawd!!

its as if I stepped down on something! :P

And then there are things...

Ofcourse more sensible things like...

Good option hmm..
Hmmmmmm...

That is all for now I guess..lets keep it minimal at a time..yeah! Anyways..I wanna enjoy it...not labor it!

Love,
Niharika

Innocent Fashion!!

2010-09-21T05:01:00.000-07:00

I love kids clothing..so vibrant with different colors, which we would normally not even think of wearing, such different styles and designs (although now days even the designs are inspired by adult clothing) but yet, I'm very very fond of kid's clothings!!
But, I had never thought that I would find a model so close ;)

She's not only mod, she's an individualist! Chooses her own clothes, has a thought process which is very very difficult to alter..and an attitude which can give us elders a shock to our ego!

Check out "her" sense of fashion...there's lots to learn!!!

Do you see her mix of colors..she loves that "pink" band of hers...
Her wardrobe has pink in excess...and she wears something pink EVERYDAY!!

And she's wayyyyyyy too naughty... you dont believe me??

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA...
Naughty grin/smile/laugh!!!

Love you bachha...shona...
:D

P.S. All the above poses are her own!!

Shopper's Craving!!!

2010-09-19T09:27:00.000-07:00

Hoop Earing

Clip Earing - oh so beautiful!!!

Wearing now: Casuals

2010-09-19T00:46:00.000-07:00

Yay! I got my camera back...time for some fun!!

Tee: genuine Yahoo! tee

Jeans: Diesel

Belt: In silver (locally made)

I don't like wearing anything on my wrists, at the most a watch..in a casual wear! my curls are looking awesome today..(getting compliments :) )

Face: No makeup!

Lips: MAC Viva Glam Cyndi

Hair: Kerastase products

Ohh..my hair look very dry..its only coz of the EXTRA flash, to capture the exact curl (see how bright my face is).

Thanks for stopping by, have a fun weekend!

Love,

Niharika

What's IN "nude"...

2010-09-17T23:59:00.000-07:00

Its everywhere...nude colors have casted a shadow this year, even though turquoise was forecasted the color of the year by Pantone (Pantone Inc., World's color authority since 45 years), nudes are ruling the closets!!

This is what fashion & beauty are all about...discovery!

It always happens to me that whatever stuff I have or own (gifted or bought), comes to use some or the other time & fits in so perfectly that its shocking!!

Oh yeah...I had this color since so many years, and lo! all of a sudden its become a hidden treasure. Yes, thats the right word - "Hidden Treasures"

I have lots of them, which I do not like at the moment, but in some future time, they will fit piece by piece in my life, as if they were meant to be!

I'm not exaggerating...its so true.

Now..have a look..

The company is Lumene, and I have two shades, maybe of the same clan (505 and 504). The one I'm wearing is 505 (left in the pic below) - 8ml, 0.28 FL.OZ.

Its a nude, lightly peachy with silvery shimmer which is so fine that it doesn't look like shimmer or sparkle. True to its shade in the bottle..

See...how that shines!

And yet...its very very skin color like..

This is night time pic, while the ones above are day times..the polish changes color by day & night!! - Nice!

This is the color after two coats and the color remains the same. I compared this by putting two coats on my left hand and one only on my right. They look the same.

Even after all these years, the polish is still very new in condition, it was so smooth and soft to apply! On one hand, I thought the consistency to be light/thin, while on the other its staying quality (non-chipping thing) is great!

Now, another thing to ponder on, I'm not sure if "Lumene" as a brand is available in India, but I'm sure there are other nudes out there which you guys can explore! Also, whether these shades are still available with Lumene I do not know..

You can check out about Lumene here!

Love,
Niharika

Tip: Never wear a nail polish for more than 3days, bad for your nails, give them some air to breathe!!

Do you own anything in "nude color"?!!

Sorry for the pics, tried my best to take better ones, these have been clicked by a phone camera..