LOTD: M I G R A I N E

12:07 am:

I swallow the tiny orange pill. Migraine, the neurologist had named the bastard on the

 right side of my head, after probing me with questions about my personal life & lifestyle. He had his hand under his chin & made eye contact. I had my hand on my Michael Kors 'Cynthia' satchel & made up some lies about my daily routine. 

What a dull suburban existence I painted for him. If he only knew....

1:45 am:

I'm staring at a meme of a cat clawing at a donut from 

a distance & then withdrawing, like it's an explosive. 

[Caption: 'Me on a diet']

I imagine myself at ZARA doing the same when I see another winter jacket I don't really need. 

The pill should make me drowsy by now. My head throbs & my right eye twitches. 

I shut my eyes. 

2:20 am:

I'm running my fingers on a thick vein that's popped up on my forehead.

It feels like a worm, eww! Was Monica's Thanksgiving vein like this? 

Arghh! Useless pill! 1 week & nothing!

 I'll call the Doctor tomorrow.....

*Oh, c'mon! You don't need a CT Scan! Don't treat me like your fucking enemy! 

I'm your friend & I'm here to tell you something 

that's already in your head. You know something. 

What is it? I will not leave until you see it! 

OPEN YOUR EYES! OPEN YOUR EYES, GODDAMNIT!!!*

3:43 am:

I'm sweating. My eyes & pillow are wet. I can't move. 

I saw. On the ceiling. Faces...images....answers.

Like iron on quicksand, I sink into slumber in seconds. 

11:16 am:

I toss 7 tiny orange pills I no longer need in the bin. Tricyclic Antidepressants, Google informs. 

For treatment of Migraines, Depression & Bedwetting. 

10-year-old CZ finally gets an explanation for the humiliating recurrent bedwetting. 

What child can link susu on the bed to depression? I forgive her now.

Past & Present mysteries. Unraveled.

Follow your heart, they say. But your head.... your head will always 

give you more than you bargained for - if you'd only listen to what it has to say. 

*************

Top: ZARA

Jeans: Aeropostle

Hairband: Forever 21

Lipstick: Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paint in Uncensored.

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Cute Decor Pieces ~ HOME

The Wishing Chair Pink Car Vase, Rs.350 ~ Available on their website HERE

(Wild Flowers Bouquet bought separately. Available HERE)

Forever 21 Smiling Cat Soap Dish, Rs.399 ~ Available on their website HERE

The Wishing Chair 2 Tier Jewelry Stand, Rs.600 ~ HERE but Out Of Stock

Forever 21 Faux Fur Heart Pillow, Rs.899 ~ Available HERE

This one's just a prop, but if you're interested....

Daiso Japan Princess Rose Stand Mirror ~  Got it from Bangkok 2 years ago. Found it on a website HERE

 ♥

Happy Saturday! :)

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Before I Turn 37......

Hey you all! Hope you're doing good. Me, I'm doing great, but I just can't deal with the fact that it's  already my birthday month again! How does time move so fast??! I haven't even finished writing my birthday wishlist from last year!

How do I feel about turning 37 in 2.5 weeks? Almost the same as when I turned 36, to be honest. I feel like it's like a filler age of the late 30's. Like I'm in the middle of a see-saw, and I'm.....umm, I can't complete that analogy articulately. That's how dull & irrelevant it feels like.

So....as you can see, I'm still in the gingham phase, and although I bought 2 other gingham clothing  items, I promise this is the last one I'll be posting here. I shall control myself & my 60's fixation.

But right now, please at least appreciate the matching earrings & shorts. 

Falling into 37 like..... 

(Ohhh! That's me in the middle of that see-saw.)

Jeans-Sweater Outfit

The Best Inexpensive Foundation Brush!

Beauty Blender Sponge: Rs.1900

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush: Rs.850-1100

Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki Brush: Rs.1615

Facial Cleansing Brush: Rs.399

That's right, it's a Forever 21 Facial Cleansing Brush!

It's soft.

It's dense.

It's flat.

It works like a charm!

Tough Like Leather ~ Delicate Like Lace

{ 20.05.2017 }

As the plane wobbled like it's flirting with a free fall, and the fluffy cotton out the window turned to masses of ash,

Mom's voice echoed in my head: 

"But that's what they say. People often die close to their birthdays.", 

she'd tell me like it's an urban myth proven true after one too many obituaries.

This must be it. I'm gonna die today.

Haven't I always thought this is one way I'd go?

Okay, maybe that has a lot to do with LOST.

"Please remain seated, and keep your seat belts...."

I was staring at my palm.

"You won't live a very long life. 30-35, maybe. See?", 

an amateur palmist had pointed to my life line that's about an inch point something too short - according to her book.

A few successively jerks, and the eerie sound of metal creaking underneath made me grab both armrests.

I feel cold! I need a blanket!

Coffee. No, tea! No, coffee!

I need a hand to hold!

This. This is why you shouldn't fly solo!

Why is everyone so quiet??!!

Okay. 

It's okay.

Lean back. Close eyes. 

....................

....................

~ Little hands, cupping my face. ~

....................

....................

~ An old over-read text message. ~

....................

....................

~ Watching my Grandfather write letters  at 5 am. ~

....................

....................

~  A stranger walking towards me. ~

....................

....................

~  Meredith Grey shouting, "But what about HER?! " ~

....................

....................

~ A relieved face over my coffin. ~

....................

Just when my emotions started queuing behind my eyes.....

..... the sunlight hit my face.

*******

Inexpensive Jewelry Haul

So I see my last Jewelry Haul post is from August 2014 (Post here)!

I'd stopped buying jewelry, except for a few stud sets & hoops from H&M every once in a while. 

And now, I'm kinda obsessed with big statement earrings. I want to wear a nath (big nose ring) too!

Btw, this is a collective haul. I bought these in a span of 4-5 months, not all at once.

1st Untold Story & The Last Adored,,,,,,

"

Her: I'm leaving. Bye, have a nice life.

Him: Why would you do that? If that's what you want, I won't stop you. You looney!

Her: Ya, that's what I want! You're a horrible, horrible person!

Him: Why are you doing this?

Her: Because I can. Now just say 'Bye' to me.

Him: Hahaha....no I won't! I won't say it!

Her: Fine! If that's how you want it. 

Him: Over my dead body. Make me say it!

Her: Argh! Don't say it then!

Him: Why should I say it? You say it, since you're the one running. 

Her: I said it already! It's your turn now. 

Him: I will not say it. Can you stop doing this?

Her: Okay. Fine. I'll just leave then.

Him: ...............

Her: ................

Him: Come with me to Jaipur. I'm driving there tomorrow. You should come. But obviously you won't.

Her: I can't. Maybe some other time.

Him: Yeah, right. Just the way I'll ever get to know your name.

"

*** (To be or not to be continued.) ***

These are some of the things that were my favorites at the end of '16:

Zara Black Leather Jacket

Forever 21 Beige Tie-up Bodysuit

Forever 21 Caged Mesh Bralette

Too Faced Chocolate Bon Bons Eyeshadow Palette

Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick Bellissima

Victoria's Secret Bombshell Rollerball Perfume

Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder 4-in-1 Harmony #3 Organza Caramel

Colorbar Luxe Nail Lacquer 'Baby'

4U2 Celebrity Shade & Highlight Powder

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all of you! =)

I hope your 2017 will fulfill all the wishes that 2016 couldn't, or wasn't kind enough to even try.

I know, for some of us, 2016 was flaky af.....sometimes dangling a cookie we don't even want until we thought, 'Okay, why not?!'

..... and then finding out you can't eat the damn cookie - because it's made of stone!

You say bad analogy, I say 2016 hangover.

Talk again soon! :* :*

Most Favorite Song '16

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Too Pretty To Use.....

Started from beautifully designed makeup, now we're here! 

*insert see-no-evil monkey emoji*

Alright, we will not talk about those useless but pretty outer boxes we don't have the heart to throw away. 

(When I left the UK back then, I actually flattened a lot of them and tied them together nicely with a rubber band, so I could bring them back here. I have no idea where they are now!)

~ Cath Kidston Notebook, Rs.695

~ Cath Kidston Travel Cup, Rs.945

*Cath Kidston is now opened in Ambience Mall, Gurgaon.

~ H&M Socks in a Christmas Bauble, Rs.399.

~ Victoria's Secret xo, Victoria Rollerball Perfume, Rs.1600 

(approx, as part of 2 for 3 offer.)

~ Forever 21 Pink Bunny-Shaped Slippers, Rs.799

If I know you long-time readers, I'd say you like them all =)

But which one would you keep in a drawer, unused forever?

Me, most probably the notebook. 

I wanna say the bunny slippers, but Ziizayne is always wearing them these days, haha!

Have a great weekend everyone!

*To all you fellow horror movie freaks, have you watched Lights Out? I might watch that tonight ;)

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THE LAST TIME.....

You know what I absolutely love doing? Picking tomato seeds from tomato fried rice, which I make for Ziizayne. If I could, I'd make a whole bucket of tomato rice (with extra tomatoes, of course) and be at it all day. I'm serious! I enjoy picking little odd things out of little things.

You know what I absolutely hate doing? Packing & house moving. Today is the last day I'll be in this house. We're moving to a hotel tomorrow, and will be there until the work at our new place is done. Right now all I want is a back/head/leg massage.....and to sleep for a week.

Since I did a 'First Time' in this apartment post, I thought I'd do a 'Last Time' in it, as well.

If you read my First Time post, you will realize that we were greeted by a monkey & were also chased out by a (bigger) monkey =D (Read here)

Monkey menace aside, we decided to move to a smaller place. Until now, we were living in a 4BHK with 5 bathrooms (6 if we count the helper's quarter), and not only was it hard to maintain, it never felt cosy, and...I don't know, something or the other kept going wrong.

So we are moving to a 3BHK with only 3 bathrooms, where the rooms are much more compact.

New Year Haul & Life Update

Hi, Everyone! Happy happy New Year to each and everyone of you! Hugs & kisses xx <3 p="">

So late, I know, but I was rarely home these last few weeks. My brother and his family were staying over, and we were always out and about.

 I am so very happy 2015 is gone, because it was the worst year of my life. I went through some things that weren't good for me, and I had somehow lost myself. Okay, enough of that. Closed book.

This year feels different already. Another chance to start over, and live the life I want to live.

But it started off with a weird, life-threatening, surreal incident.....

OOTD ~ Varsity Sweater Dress

Thoughts:

~ Why didn't I apply a black nail polish? Or black & white stripes...haha... who are you kidding?!

~ When will the skin on my hands be smooth again? Moist.

~ What if that aggressive father monkey that was living on our balcony when we were out of town comes back & attacks me? I'll use backpack as a shield. 

~ Hmm...I feel like watching that movie 'The Craft' again.

 ~ Tiesto. Playing. In Gurgaon. Can't go. Life of a Mommy, sigh. (He's playing tonight, btw)

~ My baby. Can't wait for bedtime cuddles & tickles.

~  ♪ ♫ My heart is a ghost town...toodoo...doodoodoo.... ♪ ♫

LOTD: Wintry Dark Lips

Hi, everyone! :)

It feels so good to be posting a LOTD after so long! I have so much to say, but I have to do a bunch of stuff and head out, so I'm just going to say what's important for now & save the rest for other posts to come.

I missed you. I hope all readers from Chennai are safe & sound. Lots of love to everyone who wrote to me & checked my blog regularly when I was away for so long! <3

So this look was inspired by this dark lippie & of course the headband I'm am absolutely in love with! Somebody invite me to a big fat Indian wedding so I can wear it with a matching lehenga I don't have! ;p

When September Ends.....

So I was listening to Radio One (94.3 FM) in the car one evening,

Male RJ.

Topic: Contest-type. Listeners (People?) had to call and say....

"Whenever I see you, I just want to pick my nose."

'Pick My Nose'! I swear I'm not making this up!

They had to say it in the most seductive way.

They had to make it sound sexy.

Oh, and the winner was gonna win some prize I can't remember.

Movie tickets? Restaurant meal?

Okay, I really can't recall!

Must have been a very unappealing prize. 

The callers really really.....tried their best.

I got to listen to about 3 callers.

 The RJ listened - I wondered if he was trying hard not to LOL - and politely gave each of them a pat on their backs for trying their (*cough* orno) best.

"That's really good."

"Oh, wow!"

And then the one memorable tickler.....

Woman: "Whenever I see you *moans*.... I just....mmm....*groans* want to....mmmmm.....pick my nose...... rawwwrrr!"

(In my head: This woman is standing in her kitchen, in black yoga pants, cup of tea in hand, looking out the window, waiting for the vegetable wala to deliver the fresh gobhi/cauliflower. Kids will be back from tuition in 20, and hubby in 60.)

RJ: "That was very good. I'm really turned on right now." 

(In my head: He's bored, thinking about Jack Daniel's.... and before he could stop himself, puts his index finger up one nostril.)

I'm sorry to say that we'll never know what happened next, because I had to get out of the car.

That's life.  

Short Journeys = Interesting/Funny radio programs, New Releases, Top-something/HIT songs.

Long Journeys = MmmBop, Ads, Queen, Ads, Chefs, Education, Kejriwal.

............

Speaking of nose-related things, whenever I wear sunglasses, my eyes always notice my nose first. Especially in photos. I don't know, even my nostrils seem bigger than usual.

Which means: Sunnies can hide careless in-a-rush eye makeup application, but not a dirty nose. Don't make 'em want to pick your nose! =D

Okay, now I'll stop saying "NOSE" now.

This is an end-of-summer look that I meant to post, like, a week ago......

Sunglasses: Forever 21

Lipstick: I was obsessed with orange-y lippies for a while. Here, I'm wearing Colorbar Definer Lip Liner in Peach Cocktail....

New Hair Feat. Things I Love

I fell sick one week,

Baby CZii fell sick the next week,

I fell sick again that same week,

In the middle of last week....

 I made an impromptu trip to my hometown,

Slow Wi-fi. Doesn't even work at night!

Now I'm sitting in the living room while Baby CZii is sleeping upstairs,

Wi-fi comes and goes,

I'm hoping I'll be able to publish this post successfully.....

(Prove me wrong you Reliance dongle you!)

Before he wakes up & cries for milk  biscuits.

10 mins later:

Shucks! I can hear him already!

Oh, it's just my 1.5-year-old nephew.

Uh-oh, now he's next to me trying to grab my laptop!

Now if we were in a relationship, you wouldn't still think about breaking up with me because I did not keep in touch, would you? 

I've got issues, and it's not Apple Tree Yard*

............

Okay, about new hair: I got it cut & colored last month. I wanted side swept bangs,coz one day my forehead just looked so LARGE! Does it increase with age & childbirth?, I wondered. 

I asked for shoulder-length with lots of volume at the top, and I got, you could say, "The Rachel" (FRIENDS) haircut.

Color was achieved after a lot of stripping - meaning: bleaching & stripping away all of the orange in my hair. They used L'Oreal Majirel Lightest Ash Blonde.

These shoes! I got them from my hometown in January. Available in 2 colors. I got both. Not at the same time, I went for these another time - because, you know, I was losing sleep ;p. I wore them for the very first time last month, and was so pleasantly surprised that they're sooo comfortable for pencil heels.

I will post the other ones on my shoe blog www.cz-loves.com

LOTD: MAC Relentlessly Red Retro Matte Lipstick

I was making breakfast one morning.
Eggs, bread, stir-fried mushrooms, chai-style tea (by chai-style, I just mean more milk, 2 types of tea leaves & boiled in a saucepan.)
Multitasked by making 3 of them at once on our 3 burner stove.
Left Burner - Bread (I like to fry it lightly in olive oil & pretend it's homemade garlic bread.)
Middle Burner - Onions, garlic & green chillies (For the mushrooms I'd be adding afterwards.)
Right Burner - The chai-style tea.
Oh, I forgot to mention the eggs were already boiled- not too runny, not too hard. Perfect.
Things were going well. I just had to add the mushrooms & finish making the tea.
I'll be able to sit down, and my son would squeal ecstatically while he watched me eat. That's what he does these days.
Then it happened!
I added the first scoop of tea leaves to the onion/garlic/green chillies pan instead!
I can't even.......
Yes, I chopped & made a fresh batch after the accident, coz the mushrooms weren't added yet.
But still, I haven't forgiven myself. Such an idiot!

Later that same day, I put a big bow on my head to make myself feel better.

And a brand new red lipstick.....

MAC Relentlessly Red from the Retro Matte Collection.

It got this lippie last year, but didn't start wearing it until last month. I'm loving it like all the other Retro Matte Lipsticks I have. At first, I thought it'd be too similar to MAC All Fired Up, but they're completely different.

Price ~ Rs.990 - Rs.1450 (Old price - New price)

 

Floral Print Mirror Compact & Eyelash Curler

Handbag, 

Luggage, 

Wallet,

Shoes,

Head Band,

Dress,

Lingerie,

 Bedding, 

Curtains, 

Chair,

Cushion covers.....

I want all of those in this same exact print, please!

September Darling....Tied Up In A Neat Little Bow

Meet this September Darling.

It's called a Posh Bow Necklace.

It's so Beautiful!

It's so Cheap!

Makeup When You Look DRAB

You know that "Pregnancy Glow" you keep hearing about? Well, not every knocked up woman gets to wear it like a halo. Most days, I feel like a lazy kangaroo with lacklustre waist-length hair. I'm too tired to prettify myself, and I've developed a habit of doing my makeup halfway too - BB cream, powder, a bit of brown eyeshadow on the crease....okay, that's it.

On this particular day, I made an effort to brighten myself (and mood) up. I'll jot down a few mini tips, and I hope my 'baby brain' will still translate my thoughts into words that make sense.

Jewelry/Accessories Haul ~ Forever 21, Accessorize, Claire's, Forever New, Etc

It's SALE time.

You find something you really like at 50% OFF.

It fits perfectly and/or it's looks very very nice.

You feel so lucky!

Just like when you find money you'd forgotten about in your jeans pocket.

As you're standing in the queue to the cash counter,

Not only are you grinning (creepily, if you're being watched),

You're also thinking: 'I could win a award for Best Bargain Shopper! Ooh....maybe I should turn it into a career! Ya, lazy people will pay me to go shoppi.....Oh, my turn!'

You take out your wallet to pay for the greatness that, at this point, you'd scratch people for if they tried to snatch it from you! (Meow!)

The cashier says a number that's not the same one in your head.

A smaller number.

Waitaminute....huh? 

It's actually 70% OFF! 

They must've forgotten to change the sticker on the tag.

Now you're shaking a little bit,

 and all of your teeth want to come out and ogle at the cashier.

But you warn yourself.....

'Be cool.' 

*****

That, ladies & gentlemen, has happened to me twice.  

First time: At Lipsy in Glasgow last December - I thought I had to pay £20 (Rs.2000) for a top, but the price was £12 (Rs.1200)

 Second time: At Claire's recently with a not-so-expensive hairband, but still.

On to the haul.....

Forever 21 Chandelier Earrings, Rs.409 ~ Why 2 pairs? One pair is for the winner of the "What's In The Box" Contest =)

Forever 21 Romantic Duster Earrings, 539.