Bridal Perfume

Thank you all for helping me out!!

 I know I am guilty of asking for advice and not following it yet, Still have to go and smell all these out but atleast I know some names now!

For other girls who are as confused as me, check the list below :

Pictures have been taken off the internet apologies to anyone who is offended by it, don't mean to take any credit. I did learn product photography in college and the thing that I learnt the most was how bad I am at it. So no I do not claim the pictures below to be mine.

1. Green Tea- Elizabeth Arden

2. Clinique Happy

3. Romance-Ralph Lauren 

4. Cool Water (Men & Women)- Davidoff

5. Boss Woman- Hugo Boss

6. Tommy Girl -Tommy Hilfiger

7. Calvin Klein Euphoria

8. Deep Red by Hugo Boss 

9. Burberry Summer

10. Tresor by Lancome

11. Issay Miyake

12. Premier Jour by Nina Ricci 

All the bottles are so super pretty *sigh*

To people who know me, buy me some of these *puppy dog face*

Bridal Slam Book Coming soon!

Watch this space....more later...

UPDATE : A few months Before the wedding

I had the weirdist  dream ever, I was organizing 2 troops of ants (Yes troops!, there were around 100 in each troop) to do some work for me and only 1 troop was getting organised properly the other troop was just running around. And I wanted them out of my house but had the feeling if I tell them to get out they will take over my whole home and never leave!

Thank God I woke up and realized that my house is ant-free and ant invasion is the last thing I have to worry about.

A dream interpretation website claims that such a dreams occurs when your obsessing and worried about tiny details. No surprise there.

There are so many tiny stuff that involve the wedding that its exhausting :

1. Finding the perfect Nailpaints that will go well with each of your function outfits is an equal pain. You don't want to be too matchy-matchy in this world of contrast and you certainly don't want your nails screaming for attention.

Leaving it to your Makeup Artist is the safest bet, but if your a control freak (like me) this becomes an important issue. Plus you'll be buying nailpaints anyways might as well get a couple that match with the dresses, no?!

2. Hairstyle : I have recently realized I have 3 functions and absolutely no idea what hairstyle I want on them.

 I had the classic half-up half-down soft curls look on my engagement and am in no mood to repeat.

 I want to do a choti on one function, I have long hair so wont need any extensions, but not sure if I want it on the Mehendi or tilak........and if I do choti on one what do I do on the other?

 I have long voluminousness wavy hair which are totally unmanageable if left full open so that is not an option. Plus I am doing the Mehendi makeup and hair on my own so it has to be simple and nice.I can do a french braid very nicely and know a few bun styles.

But if I do a choti on Mehendi, what do I do on tilak?!

Can't do a bun on tilak since the same people will be at the wedding and the look remains same, plus its almost like a pre-wedding reception so the hair has to frame the face. Function is in an open area so cant open my hair, wind makes my hair look like a scarecrow cant take risks.

Dont want to do a bun at mehendi, I have to dance and there is a risk it will open since I am doing it on my own.
.....you see why I am so confused..

Although in the process I have learnt a few good buns...

This one is actually quite simple, you make a french braid and just tuck the end part.
I know its a bit messy and frizzy and all over the place, that always happens on the day I wash my hair.

I kind off like this bun a lot, but have absolutely no idea how I made it, it just kind of happened on its own. I was trying to make something else.

3. Makeup, Thanks to the SA at the MAC counter I now posses the knowledge to make my eyes look bigger and my face look high-cheekbony.

Although I was still confused bout how to do the winged eye liner thingy, I found this really easily tutorial :

I tried it on the full eye unlike the tutorial where she does it till mid eye lid

still need to practice how to do the middle correctly

4. Cooking
I know bits and parts of basic Indian cooking and can pretty much make things for people. Although I can make amazing dum aloo and shahi panner I have no idea how much time it takes for a dal to cook....must ask mom...

As far as experimenting with food goes, I love playing around in the kitchen but as my brother says either I come up with something amazing or something so bad it makes you want to vomit, I don't do anything thats the middle ground.....so actually its all about luck that day.

I do make pretty good sandwiches, pizza's and cakes.

Thats a pink cake with cream and chocolate shavings

I eat something like this in a cafe and really wanted to see if I could replicate it....tasted pretty good

This was born out of the fact that mom forgot to cook lunch for the both of us and we had buns lying around 

5. Exercise and Diet

Most of you who have been following the blog would know that I have been doing power yoga from a few months now. It was all going along so well, lately the classes have been all mixed up and I have been too tired or too lazy to go. So no I am no longer regular in my exercise ..must get back on track!

Diet control is a bit more difficult...

Need to avoid things like chocolate pizza while out shopping...

And certainly need to ask the in-laws to stop sending such yummy mangoes!!

6. Gift Wrapping 

An Indian wedding involves gift giving to every single person invited to the wedding.

If your not an Indian or have no idea about an Indian wedding, please note we love to (when I say love to I mean socially obligated too) give gifts when we send wedding invites, when there is any festival (which are too many to count), on all wedding functions (any Indian wedding would have a minimum of 3 functions with 100+ guest), when we go to chit-chat, and the basis birthdays and more!

Giving a gift is not the end of the journey, it should be properly packed and presented.

I did most of the gift packing on my own for the engagement...got trays, decorative flowers, dry flowers, thermocol balls from chandani chowk and looads of double sided tape!

Ignore the tiny white papers, thats just the mess. The picture is before cleanup.

The peacock feathers where a last minute impulsive buy by my mother, and I ended up using them on all!! 

Each packing was meant to be a little different but kind of looked a bit similar,, its just tiny details were different..color of the flowers, the kind of dry flowers (pot purri) put inside, etc. So it was similar and yet not same.

7. Stiching

The most un-exciting part of the wedding is going to the tailor aunty and explaining to her that no you DO NOT want your beautiful suit to be converted into a pakistani style kurta just because its in 'fashion'. What will you do with it once fashion changes.

Plus going every few days just to get the fitting right is not something you would want to do.

In the end I have stopped buying anything else just because I am too tired and irritated to get it stitched. Which in a way is a good thing I have got way too much stuff anyways..


8. Storage

The best part of wedding shopping is that nobody says no, you can buy to satisfy your every whim and fancy. The trouble comes when you have to store them properly till the wedding and then send them across to your new home.


9. Jewelry

Most of my major jewelry trousseau was done way before we started thinking about the wedding. Infact I owned my first piece of my bridal jewelry when I was 5.

This hasn't been much of an issue, only thing is I am quite confused what to wear on the tilak....Hate artificial jewelry of any kind and finding my looks to be quite repetitive now...still have to think it through...


10. Family and Friends

Its always better to have everything organised before hand and I know things will fall into place in the end. Never the less, quite worried that none of my parents or my brother have got anything to wear on all 3 days. Busy trying to figure what everyone will wear.

Most of my friends live outside Delhi, so have to insure I know when they are arriving. Need to remind some of the lazy ones to book tickets!


*Phew* There is sooo much more going on! will keep you updated!

Obsession : Journey to finding a perfect Bindi

Bindi : To Wear post-wedding or not to.. (specially if your living with inlaws)

The last time I gave the 'journey' topic was I guess to find the perfect lehenga. And now its comes down to finding the perfect Bindi. 

"Traditionally, the area between the eyebrows (where the bindi is placed) is said to be the sixth chakra, the seat of "concealed wisdom". According to followers of Hinduism, this chakra is the exit point for kundalini energy. The bindi is said to retain energy and strengthen concentration. It is also said to protect against demons or bad luck. The bindi also represents the third eye."
- Shamelessly copied via Wikipedia

There are actually web pages dedicated to what kind of bindi suits your face type http://moderntraditional.com/magazine/tips/bindiright4u.html

Although I recommend full on experimentation with it!

You will be wearing a Bindi on your wedding day ( yes you will! it completes your look, even if you wear a tiny one, wear it! ) But this topic isn't about that!

If your looking for my views on Bridal Bindi, see this post, have rambled about it somewhere in the middle : http://www.crazyindianwedding.com/2012/08/modern-brides-16-singar.html


This post is entirely about the initial few days post-marriage when your meant to look like a bride every single day.

Since you cant really experiment then its better to know what looks good on you before hand.



We have the new favorite : STUD BINDI

Its like a swarovski stud, and looks extremely pretty on every face.
Unfortunettly for me my nose pin looks like this too, so when I put this on it looks like I have put one on the head and the other on my nose.
(Which reminds me of the Greenlam laminates ad Zamaane ko sajaaney chala, Mr. Beautyman
For those who are bored here is the ad http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EElXQcYLsVE )

The other alternative I have found is a neutral colored stud like this one, doesn't look like my nose pin and still looks pretty.

Then there is the TYPICAL MARRIED WOMEN BINDI

Pretty Famous in our mums generation, but does anyone in our  generation wear this?!?!

Ofcourse if its a family requirement to wear a round red bindi we can still find alternatives :

PS : These red bindi's come in various sizes, even as small as the stud bindi. So if family obligations require you to wear a red bindi you can experiment with sizes and see what looks good and yet modern.



Then there is the ELONGATED OR PARTY BINDI

Usually seen on the foreheads of Vamps in a Saas-Bahu serials if worn in the right size can actually look good, so say an absolute NO to huge bindi's that end near your forehead, but try on ones that are a few centimeters long.

I was quite reluctant to try one on, but when I did it actually looked way better than the stud or round bindi on my face. ( I have a chubby oval shape face, so I guess the elongated bindi kind of works better)

You get nice simple once in this.

You get smaller versions of these too, and if it works on your face it can actually look good too.

Then there is this :

I have absolutely no idea what people do with these, why are they placed on the hair of that girl?!? and on the eyebrows and the ears?!!? yucky! which company things that actually looks attractive....I am lost for words...

I had a picture even worse than this one, but decided against putting it in the blog, because it might really put you off wearing a bindi.


That's all for now. Any views by you lot on this???

Need help! Perfume advice please!

I am so super confused :(

Need help girls, Need to pick out a good perfume but confused what do to?!

I need one which will be :

1. Feminine yet strong
2. Should have that 'after you leave your fragrance remains' quality.
3. Should not be too strong that people around me start sneezing, it should be like a fresh breeze
4. Will wear it on the D-day, so should be long lasting for sure.
5. Should easily go from day to night


Need help!!!
Suggestions please!

An Indian Bride is also an Interior Designer

If your a bride or a newly wed you would know what the title means. Whether it means shifting in with your in-laws or making a bachelor pad into a happy 'couple' home, its more or less upto the new bride to make herself feel comfortable in her new abode.

A double bed, wardrobe, shoe rack (trust me you need one!) and a dressing table is just a starting point. If its just the two of you shifting in you need the start up sofa kit, a tiny dinning table , those cozy chairs to have coffee on and anything else that will fit in your new home.

Although boys have absolutely no interest in anything 'fashion' and would probably pick up the first thing they see. They do tend to have an opinion in the field of Interiors. Ask them what they want too! Mix both your styles together.

If you are looking at design (more than Quality) would recommend  places like Home Center, Shoppers stop, lifestyles, etc. The stuff looks certainly pretty but in case of beds won't recommend it much. The quality of wood is just so-so. Can try it for dressing tables, dinning tables, central tables, small sofa's and ofcourse all types of tiny interior stuff like flower vases, paintings/pictures, center pieces,etc.

In Delhi, Kirti Nagar is famous for 'wedding' furniture buying. Try the stores that are in the lanes not on the main road, they have similar designs at lesser prices. Best is, if you can find someone to guide you through.

Jail Road, you will defiantly get budget-friendly stuff here but the wood quality is really bad.

Little Tips :

1. Allocate most of your furniture budget into buying good quality bed, tables, dressing, anything which is suppose to last you long.

2. For interiors you can always save up by making a wall into your picture wall, just pictures of you, the boy and family. Have them framed in a simple black or single color frame and hang them all on one wall.

you can get them all to be black and white or all in sepia or colored pictures but with same colored frames

Great way to make your stair case look amazing!
*makes you wish you have a staircase to decorate, no?!*

3. Make the room a little simplistic, remember a clean room looks way better than a cluttered one.

4. Don't buy a 46" TV just because its the 'in' thing to do, get one which compliments the room and not dominates it.

5. Remember you DON"T have to buy everything straight away, a house turns into a home as slowly as the wedding turns into a marriage. It takes time. Let your walls and table tops breath free for a while and then built them up slowly.

Recipe 2 : Apple Crumble Pie

This picture is off the internet

That's the one I baked, don't have a picture of it when it was whole, smelled too nice for me to not taste it and once I tasted it I couldn't stop.
Made it for 2 people so used only 1 apple.
(well actually there was only 1 apple in the house and I didn't want to go out and buy more)

SERVES 4-6

Ingredients

3 medium cooking apples
170g Powdered sugar
170g unsaltedbutter (NOT the normal butter, ask for unsalted butter at your departmental store)
280g Maida
1 tsp Baking Powder


How to Make

Remember to CUT the apple last


1. Sieve maida and baking powder together in a bowl, this is important in order to incorporate air in the mixture this makes the end product soft and fuffly.

2.  Add slightly melted butter to it and mix it with your hand till you get a mixture that looks like bread crumbs.

3. Add 120gms (not 170gms) of sugar in the mixture. Mix well with hands

4. Pre heat oven, 3 min. 180degree

5. Peel and Cut apples into square pieces put it in an oven proof casserol

6. Sprinkle the rest of the sugar on it.

7. Put the maida mixture on top of the apple.

8. Bake for 40 min at 180degree or till medium brown

Let it cool a bit, and enjoy!! Eat it with ice cream if you want!

Warning : The apple remains quite hot for a long time so be careful while eating it.

You can see the Video at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H85dulqDOzw&feature=player_embedded


See my last recipe 

Chocolate Cake
 http://www.crazyindianwedding.com/2012/07/recipe-1-chocolate-cake.html

Home Remedies : Taking Care of your Skin : Pre-Bridal

I guess this is my 3rd post on skin care, I might have became a bit obsessed with skin care 

(stop nodding your head)

Here are some Home Remedies I use :

1. UPTAN

Most of us probably know this one, Indian mom's love to rub their kids raw with this Home made scrub from the moment they are born.
For those who have no idea what I am talking about, darling if your having an Indian Wedding this will take place on the morning of your wedding!

Removes Tanning, dirt, dust and gives a great glow.

How to make :

Mix together :
1. Besan 1-2 spoons
2. Haldi half teaspoon
3. Lemon half
4. Honey a little
5. Milk to mix
6. Choker 1spoon
7. a little Rose water ( if you have any)

Basically Besan, Haldi and Milk are the most important components the rest if you have them, then add them otherwise those 3 do the job well.

The mixture should look semi-solid.

What to do with it?

Apply it all over your face, neck, hands, legs where ever you want.

Let it dry (til it gets a little hard)

Then you can either wash it off or scrub it off. I personally prefer scrubbing it off.

For any problems with this one, ask your mom she will most defiantly know.


2. TOMATO

Quickest way to remove tanning.

How to make :

Cut a medium size tomato into 2 parts

What to do with it?

Apply it directly to your face and/or your hands, the inner side on your skin, squeese it a little to get the juice out.

If you find this a little messy you can extract the juice first and then apply it on.

Leave it for 15 min. There might be a slight tingly sensation but thats just the tomato juice working its magic.

Wash it off. Your done!


3. CUCUMBER

My college roommate told me about this one. She has amazing skin and for it she used to put this mask on every week. (Sometimes 2-3 times a week!).

Clears your skins and gives it a great 'glow'. A definite must, specially for the summer months.

How to make and What to do with it?

Can be done in 2 ways :

1. cut slices like the picture above
or
2. Grate the cucumber and then put it on (this is the way my friend prefers it)

Put it on for 15 min and wash!



4. MALAI

Most houses have non-fat milk these days but even after that after boiling you still get some amount of malai, save it up!

Wont recommend it for the face, specially if you have oily skin. But great for arms and legs, leaves the skin feeling softer.

What to do with it?

Put it on for 15 min and wash it off.

5. HONEY

dont really put it on like this! its a mask not a body wash!

Is a great way to moisturize and soften your skin, added advantage it makes a great lip gloss and a lip scrub!!

i) Face Mask

 How to make it?

Buy some Honey :P
I use the normal Dabur honey, they have this easy pour bottle which I like

What to do with it?

Put on Honey evenly all over your face, leave it for 15 min and wash off.

ii) Lip Scrub

How to make it?

Mix honey with small amount of sugar

What to do with it?

Scrub gently on lips using your fingers, use very slight pressure and circular motion. Keep scrub for a couple of minutes, wash it off.


To use it as a LIP GLOSS just apply it as you would apply a normal gloss. Doesn't last very long but gives a nice shine if needed in an emergency, plus tastes great and acts as a great moisturizer.


6. SUGAR AND LIME

Great Scrub.

How to make it?

Cut a lemon in half.
Put a few spoons of sugar in a cup

What to do with it?

Dip the lemon half in the sugar cup so that the sugar sticks onto the lemon, gently scrub it on your face and arms, keep squeezing the lemon a bit so that when you scrub you get both the sugar and lemon juice onto your skin

I don't really recommend a lot of scrubbing with this on the face, it can be a bit rough, but a lot of people do it, so its your personal choice.

Wash it off when tired of scrubbing


7. PAPAYA

A LOT of people recommend this. Both eating it and applying it for great skin. I tried it once didnt quite like it.

How to make it?

Cut a papaya into small pieces, remove the seeds. Mash it a little.

What to do with it?

Apply it on your face , leave for 15 min. Wash it off


8. ICE PACK

Best for avoiding Skin Burn, dark circles and puff eyes

Havn't used it much personally, but have heard great reviews from everyone. Also is a great way to close pores, so if you need your skin to look clearer immediately just rub ice all over it

How to make it?

You get good ice gel packs these days. Available every where. or else just wrap some ice in a Hanky :P (handkerchief).

People recommend freezing rose water for this too.

What to do with it?

Just put it on your face and arms immediately after you return from outside. Use it in the mornings to reduce puffy eyes and dark circles.

Any Other Recommendations guys?