The Price of Invulnerability

My dad's favorite teaching to me as a child was that knowledge is power. As a kid, I always assumed it was one of those proverbs that I had to learn to get good grades. As a teenager, I suspected that it was a psychological measure to get me to read and study. It is as an adult I am now seeing how much weight these words hold.

As a 20-something who has seen more than her share of life's downs, I now look back to see what are the techniques I used to help me get through them and I realized that when faced with a challenge, I had put all my energy into gathering all information I possibly could about the problem itself and people like me who had faced them and survived them. Needless to say, this helped me immensely. 

We all go through experiences that hurt and change us. It is through these that we become who we are. On these lines, check out this wonderful TED talk by researcher professor Brené Brown about vulnerability and happiness. Hopefully it will help you with your

struggles as much as it helped me at a point in time.

DIY : Rope Wrapped Baskets

As someone who is new to the idea of "neat", and housekeeping in general, the enormity of cute homey-stuff is pleasantly overwhelming. I feel I need just about three lifetimes to get the loot that's officially on my house wishlist! Even though I'd rather spend that money on my friendly neighborhood Death By Chocolate sundae (swoon).

When all's a lost cause - pretty rope baskets that I've been eyeing on retail for a long time now - DIY comes to rescue. I don't think most rope baskets tend to hold their shape and I wanted ones that are both pretty and practical.

Here's how you can DIY your personalized rope basket to beautify your home (more importantly - hide the mess)

What you'll need:

• Plastic storage boxes 
• Cotton or Jute Rope (lots of it)
• Fevicol (or any strong craft glue)
• Super-glue (or E6000)
• Scotch Tape
• Varnish
• Scissors

Here's how to do it:

Step 1: Line up the sides of the box vertically with thin strips of scotch tape - about 10mm width should be ideal.

Step 2: Start by putting a line of craft glue along the length of the box, leaving aside the scotch tape. On the scotch-taped bits, put in a drop of super glue. Place the rope on the glue, pressing down on the scotch tape with the super glue on it. Once, the rope is firmly glued here, press it down onto the plastic with craft glue. Wrap on all four sides of the box like this, once.

Step 3: For round two of the wrap, add a layer of craft glue on the top portion of rope that is already glued. Add in drops of super glue onto the scotch tape. Press the rope down on the glue as done in round one.

Step 4: Continue to do the same around the box up till you reach the top. This might be a bit tougher to do with jute rope than the cotton one, but its worth it.

Leave to dry overnight.

Step 5: If you're using jute rope, you can add wood stain to the box for a beautiful rustic look.

Step 6: Cover with a layer of varnish to seal and give a neater finish.

Ta-da! 

Good luck making unique and interesting storage baskets to style up your home!

DIY Jewelry Recycle Series : Part 2 - Mini Brooches

Bringing you Part 2 of Jewelry Recycle series (Did I mention I hate throwing away stuff?) 

I have been eyeing teeny-tiny brooches and pins appearing everywhere for a long time now. Somehow, when I get around to buying the ones I like, they're (long) gone! So a couple of days ago, when I found myself with leftover jewelry gems and tiny brooch pins, it was a godsend opportunity (<drama/>).

Here's what you'll need to make your quick and unique versions:

• Jewelry gems or rhinestones
• Brooch pins, 10mm
• Instant Super Glue (available here)

Here's what you need to do:

Step 1: Put a drop of glue on the backside of the gem. With a toothpick, spread the glue

Step 2: Attach the brooch blank to the gem and leave to dry

Step 3: Pin your mini brooches to anything and everything and enjoy the upgrade :)

- Cheers!



Manish Malhotra Autumn Winter 2013

Some of my favorites from the collection:

3/4 blouses, embellished sleeves, long flow-y skirts - definitely on my list!

DIY Jewelry Recycle Series : Part 1

Always a lover of beautiful jewelry, I can't resist when i come across great deals for it. Just as I can't throw it away, when I inadvertently lose or break stuff (:()

These earrings, for example, were shiny, new, beautiful and most importantly, two, when I got them! Enter traveling and sale season and an ongoing day job, the lords of fate eventually played their cards and miraculously, one if the earrings disappeared without a trace! (I never could figure out how that happens.)

Finally, Courtney Cox and Jennifer Mayer came to my rescue! Check out her look in Cougar Town in collaboration with the designer here.

Now here's what you need to convert your forsaken chandelier earrings to jewels à la Monica!:

• Old earring
• jump rings 4mm
• Any chain of choice (can be taken off other unused jewelry)
• Lobster clasp

Here's what you need to do:

Step 1: Take apart your earring (or whatever is left of it) for its findings

Step 2: Attach 2 jump rings through both holes of the discs. Attach about 5 cm of chain of either side of the disc

Step 3: Continue extending your necklace up till you get the desired length.

Step 4: Attach a lobster clasp and 5-7 consecutive jump rings on the ends of the chain

Ta-da!! Guess you don't need $3200 after all!! (For now :))

- Cheers!

Inspiration: Pearl Love

"A woman needs ropes and ropes of pearls" - Coco Chanel. 

'Nuff Said!!

Oppressed Majority

The topic of this post should rather be "I came across this video recently and it blew my mind."

The idea of feminism is always a touchy topic for many people. When a girl chooses to dress as she feels, do what she wants, go where she wants and in general, is assertive about her needs and career, she is usually branded with the famous F-word (the other one) - Feminist!

But its hard to understand why the word Feminist is so bad after all. In a world where were fight for the rights of minorities' and we have laws banning the use of certain language on grounds of racism, we still use 'feminist' with thinly disguised contempt in our minds for women who are viewed as too "aggressive" or "modern", whether we choose of acknowledge this to ourselves or not. It doesn't have to be about who is greater, rather equality in every sense. 

Now I'm not pointing fingers at any gender or culture - I've come across nice guys who (truly) respect women and their choices, just as I've met women who are perfectly happy placing the trust of their decisions on their other halves. It is after all, a personal choice. It is the right to make that very personal choice that is taken away in certain situations - and the sufferers usually end up being women.

This hitting short film, created by French director Éléonore Pourriat is all about that - to bring a point across what it feels to be a woman who is subjected to sexism and violence. 

To give you a heads-up, it can get disturbing (not recommended for all ages)

Watch it here:

Or check it out here : http://www.buzzfeed.com/marietelling/this-powerful-video-shows-men-what-it-feels-like-to-be-subje

It changed me a little bit.