Srishti Rana wins Miss Asia Pacific World 2013

21-year-old Srishti Rana has made the country proud by winning the coveted Miss Asia Pacific 2013 title outclassing 49 other contestants in Korea on Oct 30. 

Srishti looked gorgeous in a Falguni & Shane gown as she was crowned by reigning Miss Asia Pacific World 2012 Himangini Singh Yadu from India. 

Miss Asia Pacific is the oldest international beauty pageant which is judged by an eminent panel of jury - making the selection process tougher for the contestants.


Srishti Rana also won the Best National Costume Award depicting the national Bird of India-Peacock. Dia Mirza had won the title the last from India in year 2000.

Stores to try this Diwali....

When you're thinking about which festive outfits not to repeat this year, it's always good news to hear your favourite designers of Indianwear are expanding their retail empires.

With 2013 being such a busy year for the fashion industry (seven fashion weeks!), here's your master list of top fashion spaces to ease the Diwali shopping madness for you (and your mother).

Karwa Chauth 2013

Hi Everyone.
How was your Karwa Chaut, for those who doesnt know what it is here i explain....
Karwa Chauth is an one-day festival celebrated by Hindu women in North India and the Indian state of Gujarat in which married women fast from sunrise to moonrise for the safety and longevity of their husbands. The fast is observed in the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, western Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. The festival falls on the fourth day after the full moon, in the Hindu lunisolar calendar month of Kartik. Sometimes, unmarried women observe the fast for their fiances or desired husbands.

This is how it went.....

Geting ready for pooja.

selfclick...

listening to khatha

 my grand mom and mom

my jewelry

mom offering water to moon.

love,

Aaisha..

Armani's new nail polish, inspired by car paint....

What would the perfect nail polish be like? That's easy. Superbly glossy. A silky formula that's easy to apply. One that doesn't need multiple applications, touch ups or top coats to keep it chip-free.

It seems Giorgio Armani, the latest luxury brand cashing in on the booming business of beauty, might just have created it. That's what they're promising, anyway.

The formula is designed to prevent dripping, so you don't need to rush through a manicure and make mistakes. The gel-fluid technology is inspired by car paint to deliver the highest level of gloss. High shine and long lasting hold mean that you could skip the top coat.

You're sure to find something you like in the 18 available shades. They cover all the basics -- nudes, reds, Gray's, blacks, iridescent metallic and a range of blues.

The pièce de résistance is the custom-made brush. Flat and wide, it promises to make application incredibly easy. It curves around the shape of the nail so you can cover it in one smooth stroke, without leaving air bubbles or streaks to mess up the finish.

How you can get the perfect pout .........

Red lips look simply stunning, especially when you are going out for an evening party or a night out. They make you look classy yet sexy no matter what kind of dress your are wearing. So, if you are heading out this night, don’t stop yourself from picking up this smouldering hot shade. But, it is true that it is not everybody’s cup of tea to create the perfect red pout and carry it off with elan. So, here is a quick guide explaining how you can get the perfect pout to increase your glam quotient.

Sheer Korma recipe ...

Eid special Sheer Korma recipe tastes yummy and is easy to make.

Ingredients:

1 packet Vermicelli
1 gallon Whole Milk
1 cup Sugar
20 cloves Whole Cardamom Pods
1/2 teaspoon Cardamom Powder
1 cup Almond, Cashews and Pistachios, slivered
1/2 cup Fresh Cream
1/2 tsp Saffron Strands
3 tbsp Charoli Nuts
1/2 cup Light Brown Raisins
1/2 tsp Rose Water
1 tbsp Butter


Procedure:

Fry the vermicelli in the butter, until well browned, but not burnt. By the time it gets cooked, all the butter will get dried. 

Add in 1/4 cup sugar and mix well. Cook for a few seconds and then add in the whole milk, cup by cup, stirring constantly. Bring it to a boil. 

Now, add raisins, whole cardamom, and 1/2 cup almonds, cashews and pistachios, along with the remaining sugar.

Reduce the heat and thicken the sheer korma to three-strand consistency, letting the milk boil until it is halved. 

The vermicelli must be very soft by now. Quickly add in the rose water, charoli and fresh cream and let it simmer, covered, for 10 minutes. 

Garnish with the saffron strands and powdered cardamom, and serve immediately.

Let me know what you guys made for eid today..
Eid Mubarak.
Love,
Aaisha.....

Homemade Astringents for Your Skin

The astringent, one of the most important and neglected products in skincare, helps in opening and cleansing our skin pores to protect our face from acne or pimples. This is why people suffering from acne and those looking to natural anti-ageing solutions are often advised to use astringents.

Astringent stimulates blood circulation as well as the entire skin system, reduces oiliness and assists in refining pores of rough, unevenly textured skin. It has many uses in the cosmetic and medicinal field because of its antiseptic and antibacterial properties that help in getting rid of bacteria and excess dirt from the pores and underlying skin.

Individuals who have a combination or oily skin should use astringents daily as an integral part of their beauty regimen. However, when exploring the stores for a good astringent, one comes across many costly options. Learning how to make your own astringent is cost effective and enhances your creativity as well.

DIY FUN BATH JELLIES.......

Hi Everyone!  I wanted to give you all a new and refreshing Do It Yourself project. 
Tired of using  soaps or shower gel for bath, will be showing you how to make Bath Jellies. This is basically a body wash but in jelly form. It makes taking a bath or shower super fun and like playing with jello!  You can also store the jellies into jars and gift them for Diwali or for your BFFs birthday or pretty much any occasion. 

GO BRIGHT WITH THE SKIN TONE TOOOO

Bright and bold hues are big this season. The trick is to choose the one best suited for your complexion...

DIY Newspaper Print Nail Art

Things You'll Need:                                                                      

Piece of newspaper

Base coat

Grey nail polish/or light coloured nail polish

Rubbing alcohol

Cotton swabs

Top coat

Nail polish remover

-Assemble all the items needed for preparing your nails. These are listed above

-Wash your hands before painting your nails with mild soap.

 This will kill any germs or bacteria on your hands and nails while also cleaning off any dirt.

-Apply a solid base coat to protect your nails.

This is optional, but it makes the colour show up better and protects it. Make sure to let it dry thoroughly.

-Paint your nails in a light grey, nude, or light pink nail polish colour. Let it dry thoroughly before doing the next step.

-Pour a bit of rubbing alcohol or water into the cap or into a small jar.

-Dip each nail into the rubbing alcohol for about 5 seconds each.

-Take a small piece of newspaper. Press it firmly on your nail for a few seconds.

-Peel it off carefully. You'll find that the ink from the newspaper will be left behind.

-Get a cotton bud and some nail polish remover to remove any excess nail polish that has gotten onto your fingers. Do not touch your nails with the nail polish remover, or your work will come off.

-Apply a topcoat to your nails. This is needed because without it, the newspaper will rub off. It also gives your nail some extra shine. 

Love,
Aaisha..........

GET GLOWING SKIN THIS FESTIVE SEASON

As the festive season greets you with its excesses and indulgences, it's time to prep up your skin for the season of endless partying and feasting.


Beauty experts suggest going for a cleansing and detoxifying program for the skin just before and after the festive season to save your skin from the abuses you hurl on it during these days of indulgent eating and drinking. Sweet laden snacks, late night parties, smoky ambiance and not to forget an overdose of drinks are the kind of culprits that can sap off the glow from your face. Also frequent night outs can lead to dark under eye circles or a dry, dehydrated skin. A Topsy turfy routine can also result in patchy blotches on the skin surface.

While you spruce up your home and shop till you drop in these hectic days do spend some time on yourself too here are some of the great tips to take care of your skin this festive season at home.....

THE NINE FORMS OF DURGA....

Navratri is celebrated to venerate and pay reverence to the nine forms of Durga, together known as Navdurga. This year, Navratri begins on October 5 and will last till the 13th October.

Each day of Navratri is dedicated to a particular manifestation of Goddess Durga. Read on to know the characteristics associated with the nine forms of Durga.