Guest Blog Series - In Pursuit of Myself

One of the bloggers that can be aptly defined as 'beauty with brains' is Maneet Gupta from In Pursuit of Myself. Maneet is an ex-corporate who is now based in the US and follows her passion for writing, travelling, cooking, and yes knitting as well (she makes exquisite woollen accessories). Maneet was one of the few people I have met through blogs and connected like good friends. Thank you so much Maneet for doing a guest post on this blog! 

Do visit her amazing page for wonderful anecdotes and words of wisdom! 

It takes a lot

How many times have you heard that ‘There is no shortcut to success’ and then gone on to believe at the first chance you get that ‘He/she has got it easy’? How many times have you thought they are just plain lucky and have it all served to them on a plate. That is because it is easier to take something at face value and not think about the hard work that went into it. It is easier to see the end result and not all the failed attempts and preparation that happened behind the scenes. 

Well, today I am here to break that little bubble and reinforce the age old wisdom by way of this funny pictorial representation.

What do you think first when you look at this!? Looks awesome. Maybe put you in awe and say ‘Oh my god! How cool! I wish I could do it too!’

But always remember that what you see does not often happen with magic. It takes sweat, determination and hard work.

There could have been a few or many failed attempts. Maybe they could have gone in a totally opposite direction than what they set out for.

There could have been some discomforts; physical, mental, emotional...some other state of mind!

But they persisted. They had faith. They did not deter after the first failure. Or many after!

Everybody has their own path to tread. It may be easy or it may be hard. You will never know! 

So, the next time you begin to take something or someone for granted, please know that you did not walk in their shoes. Maybe their shoes hit so many stones that by the end they were not worth showing. Maybe their shoes gave up on them midway. Or maybe they did not wear shoes at all, and just ran all the way to the end!

‘There are no shortcuts to any place worth going’ - Beverly Sills 

Guest Blog Series - The Zars

Presenting you the next blogger in the guest blog series one of my fave bloggers and my namesake- Ash from The Zars. From the day I landed on her blog I have been hooked on to it completely; I was mesmerized and truly impressed by Ash's lucid writing, her way to organize posts (her kitchen and of course her closet too), absolutely stunning pictures and pictorials, recipes and gifting guides. Like me she is from good ol' Mumbai but based in the US now. 

I am so happy she agreed to do a guest post for the blog..thank you so much Ash! Visit her fab blog for tips on lifestyle, cooking, photography, books, travels, fitness, closet organization and everything in between!

Travel In Style

Given that I just got back from almost a month long trip to India and Ashy is in India even as type this up, I though it was only appropriate to write a post which was somehow travel related.

Today I wanted to share with you 3 travel tips that allow you to travel in style without compromising on comfort.

Keep your outfit neutral and comfortable

• For bottoms Jeans are the way to go. They don't wrinkle or crease as you travel and are very comfortable. A breathable cotton tee is another must have. I like to stay away from bulky sweatshirts cause invariably you have to take them off during the security check. A full sleeve cardigan or a sweatshirt with a front zipper are a few of my favorite layering pieces.
• Black and navy are perfect colors for travel. In case you spill something on yourself like coffee or juice, its harder to spot when you are wearing something dark.
• Travel Outfit Idea-Black jeans,black t-shirt, a comfortable cardigan and a warm scarf .
• Great Scarf Option- A leopard print scarf. It will add a pop to what is otherwise a neutral outfit.

 One of my favorite purchases from last season-A large warm leopard print scarf.

Wear comfortable shoes

• When it comes to shoes comfort definitely take precedence over looks and style, especially for long haul flights. I personally prefer slip-on shoes to sports shoes or ballet flats. Sports shoes are bulky and it takes time to take them off during the security check, while with ballet flats you cant wear sock, which means having to walk the airport security lounge barefoot- The germaphobe in me finds this slightly icky. Slip on shoes are a happy medium-they are comfy,light weight, easy to slip off and allow you to wear socks .
• Shoe Options-
  • Slip Ons-Sperry Topsiders or Slip Ons
  • Flats- Classic Ballet flats in bright colors.

1.Classic Ballet Flats 2.Steve madden slip ons (my personal favorite) 3. Animal print in small doses.

Travel Bag

• A large travel bag is definitely the way to go. Ideally you want something which will comfortably fit all your travel essentials and will zip shut. Having a bag which zip shuts prevent airport mishaps. You are less likely to lose or drop something if your bag is zipped shut.
• Bag options-Longchamp bags are perfect for travel-they hold a lot,are compact and the bag itself is very light and weights next to nothing. Another great option is the Landsend tote.

A few of my travel essentials 1.Reading Material 2.& 3. Must have makeup and skincare 4. Little in flight luxuries-Candy and Hand Cream.

-Ash.

Guest blog post: Florals for Spring

Every single time I read that floral print is so in for spring, “Florals, for spring? Groundbreaking!” are the exact words that pass through my mind a’ la Miranda Priestly (aka the evil boss from ‘The Devil Wear Prada’). Nevertheless it is a fact that, floral is ‘the’ fashion trend for spring. And why shouldn’t it be; after all, no other print expresses the joy of a welcoming weather-change as floral does!

As times have changed, so have the ways to dress-up in this fun print. For this season, I see a lot of floral print on shoes, scarves as well as florals on blazers, pants/denims/shorts. So, let’s get on with the different ways you can style this vibrant print.

Florals on black makes you look uber chic. A simple white bustier and blue jeans pair great with the floral print jacket. Go for color-blocked heels if you are in a mood for a bold look or go easy with the black peep-toe heels. The mantra here is to keep the accessories to the minimum. This is a perfect outfit for the Easter brunch with the family.

Similar floral jacket here & here

Floral denims are one daring style; but heck one rewarding one. Pair it with a neutral-colored top (black/white) and you are ready to rock-and-roll! For an extra zing, add a pop of pink with your bag (or glasses, for the nerdy ones). Go light on the lips, make-up and accessories in general.

Similar floral jeans here & here

Who said fashion is just for the weekends? With a 9-5 job, I have learnt to style the trendy prints to be more work-appropriate. Pair a monochrome dress with floral heels and you are all set to rock the mundane office life. Additionally, an exquisite pearl set and a statement watch speak volumes for boardroom dressing.

Oh and is it ladies-night out today? No worries! You can take this outfit from desk-to-dinner; just swap the plain office bag for a sleek clutch, hook in a pair dangly-earrings, touch-up with that gloss and mascara and voila! You are ready in minutes for a lovely dinner with your girlfriends.

Similar floral pumps here & here

Ultimately, styling floral print is all about picking the right accessories without looking OTT (Over The Top). For the not-so-daring, my advice would be to try floral in small doses, like a floral hairband, shoes or scarf. Add a little femininity to your work wear with a floral cardigan or a scarf. It’s the perfect spring-print that can you can never go wrong with; so wear florals this season and bring on spring with style!

What are the different ways you would wear florals for spring? Do share your thoughts in the comments below. 

P.S.: I have shared this article as a guest blogger on the blog at Shop InOnIt. Shop InOnIt is an online shopping website based in India with a wide range of products from home decor to jewelry to beauty products. To read the complete article, please click here.