In Defense of a Slower Life

I read a lot of books and blogs and websites and articles and research papers. I love learning new things. I don't always apply/implement those things in my life. Isn't knowledge enough, sometimes? The world is getting faster every day. It's about doing and moving and hustling. I don't want to hustle. I want to live my life.

I want to do the things I enjoy, not things that people say you're supposed to do. Yes, I want success. I want financial independence. But more than anything I want to be happy; to give myself permission to be happy.


I don't see why the world is about doing more and running, running, running, just running. Slow down. Breathe. Love yourself a little. Give yourself some credit. Give yourself some time to just be.

There's no set path in life. I think we 20-somethings are at the stage in our life where we're kinda starting to figure that out now. Everything is uncertain and unstable. And we're young, let's give ourselves a break. Let's understand that we don't have to know everything right now. We're allowed to make mistakes. We're allowed to take time off if we have to. We're allowed to have off days. We're allowed whatever we want to do.

If you want to hustle, sure go ahead. But you don't have to just because everyone around you supposedly is. It's not a competition. It's your life and your path and your time.

Take your time.  I don't think we should feel guilty for wanting to spend an evening curled up in bed with some hot chocolate, just reading a book. We don't have to work on our side hustle all the time. If you do want to stay in and work on your side gig, you don't have to feel guilty about not going out to hang out with your friends.

It's about what we want - at the end of the day, what's going to make us feel content. It's not about what I say or your friends say or what anyone else says.

It's about what your heart says. If that's doing 20 things off your to-do list, good. If it's doing absolutely nothing all day, good. It should be good according to what your heart says is good, not what you think you're supposed to feel.

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Four Ways to Make Your Summer Better

It's getting​ hotter by the day, and God knows we start worrying about our skin, amongst other things, even more during these times. Here are some tips to make sure your skin is glowing and you are comfortable even through the hot, dehydrating summer days!

Aloe Vera Gel

A very versatile product, you can leave it on for a few hours after a grueling day in the heat, or even overnight. It acts as a cooling agent and it also moisturizes skin very well. It plumps up your skin, and helps regain the softer and smoother skin you love.

Drinking more water

Water keeps you hydrated and fresh. It is much more important in summer because there's a higher chance of dehydration, so you gotta be much more careful. Always carry a water bottle so you can keep track of your water intake. Oh and fruit water works wonders too! You could also carry a small spray bottle to mist your face once in a while to refresh yourself or simply carry a pack of wet wipes!

SPF Sunscreen

This is actually a prerequisite for all seasons but it's always good to pay extra attention in summer. Always look for an SPF sunscreen with a factor of at least 15, irrespective of skin type and ethnicity. Damaging UV rays can penetrate all types of skin. However, the lower the melanin content of your skin, the higher the SPF you require, because melanin is like a natural UV filter of sorts.This Kaya sunscreen is my personal favorite and I absolutely recommend it! Find it here.

Loose clothes

Loose clothes allows your skin to breathe easily and light colors does not trap heat as much as dark ones. Think soft colors, flowy fabric, and airy silhouettes. An extra tee shirt in the backpack will always come in handy.
An added bonus: These clothes are super comfy!

Would you like to see me talk more about specific skincare products? Let me know on Instagram/Twitter!

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Picture Credits:

express.co.uk

ayurtimes.com

pinterest,com

nykaa.com

pinterest.co.uk 

Review: Izu Brasserie and Bakery, City Walk

Food: 5/5
VFM: 4/5
Ambience: 5/5
Service: 5/5
Veg Friendly: 4/5

An extremely delightful restaurant that I was glad to have experienced. Everything here was so delicious, I can't wait to tell you about it!

Mocha Coffee - It was so cute, with teddy bear latte art. It tasted pretty good too - strong and not too sweet, just the way I like it. Great to laze over, sitting in the shade, on slow afternoons.

Raspberry Iced Tea - With bits of fresh raspberry, this was uniquely refreshing. I love trying out different kinds of iced tea and trust me this was one of the better ones. Writing this is making me think about it again.

Burrata with Peppers and Pesto Sauce - This was served with a generous drizzle of olive oil over the whole dish, and freshly baked bread on the side. The fresh greens made it better, as did the pesto sauce. And the burrata. So creamy and delish. I think I will always fall in love with burrata a little more, everytime I try it.

French Toast - with fresh berries, berry compote and chocolate cream. Hands down the most delicious French toast I've had the pleasure of trying. On some days, it still comes back to me in my dreams.This was delightfully soft, enchantingly chocolatey, and all round delicious.

Eggs Benedict with Spinach - Beautiful runny yolk, which we mopped up with aforementioned fresh bread. The presentation was delightful as well, and I love that they added spinach so generously. Adding greens and herbs to any dish will always do the trick for me.

Izu Burger -An amazing, meaty burger that was delicious and filling and the only thing on the table I refrained from, being a vegetarian. But I am told it was absolutely amazing with great sauces, too.

Rigatoni with Cream Sauce and Truffle Paste - Rigatoni isn't my favorite type of pasta (hello, Tagliatelle!) but it worked here because it had so much space for sauce - and the sauce was kickass. The sauce was super creamy, and the truffle was just right.

Tiramisu - Soft, creamy, melt-in-your-mouth tiramisu! They made this fresh too! The ladyfingers were soaked in very strong coffee, and the combination was just beautiful.

VFM: The ingredients were so good and fresh that I believe it was absolutely worth the price.

Ambience: A beautiful place with great decor and cozy, homely elements. We didn't even realize how we spent so much time there!

Service: Attentive staff, and very helpful with suggestions and recommendations.

Veg Friendly: More than enough vegetarian and vegan options, I did not find it lacking in the slightest.

In this world of processed food and fake ingredients, Izu stands out by their commitment to real food, made fresh.

*This review was on invite, and the meal on the house. However, all views are unbiased.*

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The Reason to Start Over New

and the reason is you...

Well, in this case, me. I just thought of the song and wanted to be cheesy.

I want to start over. I know better than anyone how many ups and downs this blog has had. Sputtering starts. False turns. An unplanned hiatus or two.

It isn't like I cannot write. I contribute regularly to other online platforms. I am a pretty devoted food blogger and love experimenting with different foods - yes, I'm vegetarian; come at me. I read so much and write book reviews for another blog. I write freelance as well.

I hereby commit, to myself and whoever chances upon this page, that I am going to try again. Yet again. Maybe this time it'll stick.

I'm doing it for me. Nobody else. This is something I have found difficult to explain to myself in the past. And present. Writing is a solitary activity. It stands to reason that you will, for extended stretches of time, be alone with yourself and your words. This is a space I enjoy occupying.

Why is it, then, that I work well on other platforms - any platform but this. Any platform but the one that is solely mine?

Is it because I know exactly what to say at those sites? Write about books. Write about food. Write a home page for our new startup. Write evocative descriptions.

I have no particular thing here that I have to write. No constraints I have to follow. Somehow, that should be more freeing. Clearly, it isn't.

I propose to write whatever pops into my head, here, atleast once a week. I'm sure I have enough thoughts in a week that atleast one would be worth penning down and turning into a blogpost.

I would like to take a moment to say thank you to the people who keep coming back to this blog ever so often and just read old posts of mine because I am fairly irregular, optimistically speaking. I am very grateful to all of you, you wonderful people. I come back to the blog after a while, and see you as numbers and locations and the fact that each of those things symbolize wonderful people behind those Google Analytics markings, and there's a sharp pang in that moment. I've let you all down.

I really intend to try. What's the worst that could happen?

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Why You Should Never Save Money

Yes, you read correctly. I don't think one should be saving money at all. But, you say, what else are we supposed to do? Haven't we grown up hearing that it is most sensible to squirrel away funds, a little every month, and save it up? That it is the only way you can get rich.

Yes, we've heard that. But it's wrong.

 

You shouldn't save. You should invest.

A lot of people save money, putting it into their bank accounts or fixed deposits. How much interest do you get from a bank account? Four percent? Six percent, at max? And that comes at conditions of a minimum balance to boot.

What about fixed deposits, you say? Even the best FD interest rates do not go beyond 7% in India. And they have a mandatory lock in period.

Does this equate to making money? No. It does not. Because it does not really make you any money at all. Over the long term, interest rates balance out the inflation rates that are rising every single year. What this essentially means is that while you are making money on paper, and you do get to see interest added in your account, the overall gain does nothing but bring you at par with the rising inflation.

Basically, even with the increased money in your account, you have pretty much the same purchasing power with the increased amount of money. This is an oversimplification of the fundamental theory, but you can read a little more about it here at Investopedia.

The point I am trying to make is - the money you manage to save every month? Don't just leave it in your bank account. Invest it in more viable options where you can build assets with that money.

That is the trick to building a large corpus of funds - building assets. Assets will bring you even more money in the long run. As they say, make your money work for you.

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This is the very first post of a new series I am starting about how to manage your finances. This was something I'd been wanting to do for a long time but I never really got around to it. I felt like maybe it was time to let people know about everything I've learnt over time. I am still in the process of learning everyday and I hope you can also benefit from the same.

Join me on my Facebook page to stay updated with my posts or follow me on Instagram for posts about my life + blog post updates!

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Photo Credit:
ohmconnect.com

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Nine Healthy Foods for Sugar Cravings

Who doesn't love sugar? It's a very common craving and a lot of us deal with it on a pretty regular basis.

However, as we are well aware, sugar isn't good for our bodies. It's okay to give in sometimes (we are human, after all) but if you're going overboard with your sugar intake, it's wise to look for healthy substitutes that will satiate your need for the white stuff without affecting your health too badly.

Here's a list of nine healthy foods that'll help you beat your sugar cravings!



1. Dark Chocolate

This is one of my favorite options so I've put it at the top of the list! It's naturally delicious (it is chocolate after all!) and is full of antioxidants. Dark chocolate does get slightly bitter for some people, and some find love at first bite. If you are in the first group, I'd suggest starting at a lower percentage and work your way up. Choose a bar that's at least 70 percent cacao, eventually. That is your best bet of optimum nutritional value. Raw, dark chocolate provides magnesium, vitamin B, and essential fibers.
We've all read about the studies showing chocolate is good for you. So go on, indulge in a square or two! Just don't eat the whole bar.

2. Fruits
Self explanatory, really! Fruits are a great source of natural sugar. But honestly, fruits today are very much sweeter and lower in fiber because the fruits have been domesticated so much. Check out this article about what fruits really were like in their wild forms. So, too much fruit isn't great for you, either. This is not to say you shouldn't eat fruits. Just to say you mustn't binge. Snack on them with nut butters or add them to a fruit-and-vegetable smoothie.

3. Dates
Plant based and high in fiber, there's no way you can go wrong with this. Dates are also a good source of potassium - which can prevent osteoporosis, stroke, kidney stones and high blood pressure. Dates also contain high levels of soluble fiber, which helps fight off sugar cravings and even stimulates the growth of friendly bacteria in the intestines.
You can add it to a smoothie, have them with some nut butters, or much on them straight out of the bag.
An old Indian snack that a lot of Indian kids have been having for a long long time - dates with a dollop of plain ghee on top. It tastes wonderful and it's great for your health. Something we have gotten used to eating in winters. I don't know if this is something that people around the world also do, but I'm sure Indians know of it.

4. Bliss Balls
A quick healthy snack made of dates as a base - to which you can add any combination of things such as pecans, tahini, cimmanon, flax seeds, chia seeds, cinnamon, maca, spirulina, cacao powder, cacao nibs, turmeric. Add coconut oil for a creamy consistency. You can switch up the ingredients and make it suited to your cravings at the time. This is a great on the go snack and stays firm when refrigerated.
You can find my favorite recipe here.

5. Nut Butters
Nut butter provide proteins + healthy fats. You should make sure you're buying healthy nut butters because some nut butters are available with added sugar. Make sure you buy the ones without any added sugar! Your body does require healthy fats. And proteins are a great way to reduce sugar cravings. Nut butters also contain sulfur - a mineral found throughout your body - muscles, bones, skin - you name it. It contributes to keeping your skin, muscles and joints healthy. A lack of sulfur can lead to stiff joints and sagging skin.
Combine nut butters with bananas, toast, berries, celery sticks, apples, etc. Get creative with the dipping!
 
6. Organic Honey

 Honey is a natural sweetener and makes for an excellent sugar substitute. It is packed with health benefits - from supporting the immune system to treating everything from a hangover to a sore throat. You can add it to tea, drizzle it onto smoothies, yogurt, nice cream, or toast. Or just eat a spoonful!

7. Green/Herbal/Fruit Teas
Green tea has widely touted benefits, but herbal and fruit teas are no less! A lot of them have specific effects on the body and can really be used to provide situational benefits. In this case, to curb sugar cravings. For example, hibiscus tea is naturally sweet. Take it up a notch with some cinnamon. Chocolate teas are great because they're sweet but also full of antioxidants and nutrients. Licorice tea is another oft recommended tea because it's naturally sweet - plus it fills you up, and satiates thirst as well. Check out this link for more tea options.

8. Yogurt
Sometimes  a sugar craving is often actually your bod requesting other vital minerals that it lacks. Yogurt is a great way to provide your body with phosphorus, calcium, and probiotics. And this is just from plain yogurt. You can add berries, granola, or (healthy) trail mix for a creamy satisfying dessert. Alternatively, you can also blend it into a smoothie.

9. Cinnamon
Yes, a spice can help too! Cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar levels, which in turn reduces sugar cravings. Cinnamon minimizes insulin spikes after you’ve eaten, which means your blood sugar stays relatively stable, keeping the sugar cravings at bay.

I must say, this list is in no way comprehensive and there are a lot of other different combinations of foods you can try. Plus, I am also a major sugar craver, and you know what? Sometimes it's okay to give in. We're only human. Sometimes we want that doughnut or cupcake. Don't beat yourself up if you give in once in a while. It just shouldn't be on a daily/regular basis.
In those cases, pick one of the substitutes above. I promise you will not be disappointed.

Photo Credits:
shape.com
glamour.com
womenshealthmag.com

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4 Things that Ensure your Morning Productivity

I previously wrote a post about how you can slow down a little in the mornings and give yourself some love and self care. Till date it remains one of my most read articles.

So I decided to follow up with the next step. After you do takeout some time for yourself -- and don't let anyone tell you self-care isn't important because that's the most important thing there is.

Once you've taken care of yourself and your sanity, it's time to get down to business!


Whether you're a student, run your own business, work somewhere, or you're hard at work at anything really, this works for everyone!

1. Gratitude

Write down 3 things you are grateful for. Every single day. This will put you in a positive mindset. Even on the days when you are feeling really low, do this activity. Just three things. Not more, not less.

I know that this works. It makes you count your blessings. Often, we don't realize how blessed we really are. We have a roof over our heads, goof food, clean water. We have been given so much, and now we have to make ourselves better. Writing down what you're grateful for will put you in a positive mindset, ready to take on the day!

2. Visualization

Once you're down with writing down three things you're grateful for, you'll be in a positive mindset. This segues into the next step, which is visualization. Patiently, without being too hard on yourself, think of what your goals and intentions are.
Think of your short term and long term goals. Create a mindmap.
See yourself in the future, having accomplished those things. It could be anything -- writing a book, creating good artwork, becoming a good cook, being a successful entrepreneur -- whatever it is that drives you. Once you see yourself, having accomplished all those things, it really boosts your confidence and faith in yourself.
This is a good way to change your psyche to a growth mindset. It ensures that you will always have the courage and strength to go for it!

3. Write

Here, it doesn't matter if you're a writer or not. Just pen down whatever comes to mind basis the visualizations you made above. Writing down your intentions has a twofold benefit.

The act of writing it down makes it 'real' --  it makes it tangible. It's your way of telling the universe that this is what you want. Intentions work in mysterious ways.

Secondly, the fact that you've written it down and put it out there, ensures that you have brought it to the forefront of your mind and day. Often, we push back our goals, or we don't accept them because we are scared to admit it (even to ourselves) that this is what we want. Writing it down makes you accept it, face yourself and face your fears. Facing your fears is a big part of the next step - doing.

You're going to succeed at everything you've written down on that piece of paper. No two ways about it.

4. Proceed!

 Go for it! Start small, because there is no other way to start. Begin somewhere, because that's the only place to begin. Word hard, because that is the basis of success. Luck plays a part -- I won't deny it. But the people who get lucky are people who have been trying for a long time and then when an opportunity came up, they were ready to take it. That's what luck is. Being ready for opportunities. That's what makes you lucky. Go for it. Get lucky.

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I hope this helped! If you want any other specific guidelines, feel free to comment below, and I'll write a post on it!

Photo Credit: pinterest

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