Karva Chauth For The Unconventional Indian Wife

Happy Karva Chauth to all the married Indian ladies! How are you holding up? It's still afternoon here (UK), so I'm not feeling famished yet....just slightly dizzy.

Let me explain what Karva Chauth is to non-Indian readers: It's is an auspicious day when Indian/Hindu wives fast for the long life & prosperity of their husbands. They don't eat & drink from sunrise until the moon rises.

I didn't know it's Karva Chauth today until yesterday evening. I've told you before that I was born Christian, and I didn't grow up with this tradition. But I married a Hindu guy, so I do it mainly to honor & respect the tradition he grew up with. My mom-in-law allows tells me to have fruits, milk, water...but I'll just have my tea, and maybe water if I feel like fainting =D

What I'm having all day: Tea & mints. When you don't eat, you get Halitosis (in simple words: bad breath) so. 

LOTD ~ Modern Cleopatra

[Letter body taken from TV series 'ROME'. Antony was so devastated, he killed himself after reading it. Truth was, Cleopatra was lying in the letter.]

Some believe that Cleopatra was the original Samantha Jones (Sex And The City). A while back, I took a Facebook quiz- 'Which Shakespearean woman/character are you?' - and I got Cleopatra (hoped for Juliet or Portia, dreaded the Lady Macbeth). That's how I know that. My old favorite tv series 'Rome' portrayed her as an insatiable pharaoh. She had short cropped hair & was addicted to opium. So, I guess the Facebook quiz was right. I'm kidding! My guilty pleasures are way too..... modern.

I guess you know what she used to kill herself? Ya, we won't go there *shudders*

My Jewelry Holder/Stand Photos

This is the jewelry holder I posted a sneak peek of 2 weeks ago. Boy, hasn't it really been that long? I'm scared this year will end too soon! I'm not ready.

Okay, this thing has made my life so easy...so easy. No more tangled/knotted necklace....no more searching for earrings....no more! This is basically all the jewelry I took with me to England, apart from 2-3 necklaces that are too long to hang. I just hung them very randomly, so I hope it doesn't look too messy to some OCD people here. Yes, you over there! ;)

Nicki Minaj Inspired Makeup Look

Did you miss the OTT, crazy & fun make-up looks on here? I really missed doing them, and I'm aware they're the reason some people come here. I know, I know... even my Bollywood Babes series is hanging in limbo, just give me some time with that. Right now, I'm in the mood for spontaneity & quirk, maybe coz it's Halloween month! More make-up looks coming up.....very excited about one in particular (I just received some jewelry from Ebay, but I still need a few more items & bangs for my hair to complete the look.) No, two actually. I'm excited about 2 crazy OTT looks! =)

I didn't give this one much thought, and I think I should have polished the eyes a little. Oh-kay, enough babbling. Hope you like!

Instagram: My Jewelry Holder

Here's a sneak peek of my new jewelry holder that I'm so in ♥ with.

Exclusive pics only on Instagram: @czloves.

♥ Cynthia Z *.*

Mint Sunglasses, Gold Hoops & A Cheap Heart

Hi! If you're wondering where I disappeared to, I'm in my hometown! So obviously posting is gonna be a bit irregular. I've got that MTS thingy for internet, which is very slow! =[  

Anyways, let me tell you about the story when I almost missed my flight for a simple Accessorize heart pendant. Mr.CZ, whose call I ignored at the time, doesn't know this story, and I will get an earful when he reads this, but....eh, I get an earful from him all the time, anyways ;p

So, after security check, 20 minutes before boarding, I saw 70% OFF stickers at Accessorize, and immediately went in. I got lost there ('Should I buy this? Should I buy that? Is this cheap enough?' situation.) 

" So-and-So flight number xxxx to Guwahati is now boarding at Gate number xxB" 

Yeah, yeah. I tried a long gold necklace with 8 keys hanging in the center. 300 bucks. Hmm, must buy it. Oh, letters I-L-O-V-E-Y-O-U at the end of each key. Uff, like I don't wear my heart on my sleeve enough, now I gotta wear it on my neck? No!

In the end, I bought only the gold heart necklace. I left the store and ran towards the boarding gate, which was f-a-r, coz it's the big international airport. Then....then....I remembered what was missing- my laptop bag! I had put it on the floor next to the counter in Accessorize! Oh-my-godzilla! I ran back to the store - in heels - and it was still there. Hauled it, and ran again.....boy, the gate was so far! I remembered one of my niece's/nephew's small scooter thingie- you know the low type without pedals or anything- you just sit, twist the handle & it starts rolling? Ya, that would have come in real handy that day. But it's okay, I reached my plane- last passenger, but reached.

Aldo Jewelry & Bangles Haul ~ Products Of The Week

This is the jewelry haul I mentioned. I look at them every night before sleeping.... let out a sigh of contentment..... show the rings to Mr.CZ- "Look! Sho cute!", for the 10th time!..... put them away in the Aldo bag..... place it beside my nightstand.... and finally.... finally..... put my head on my pillow. Then it's Mr.CZ's turn to sigh aloud =D

Enjoy the pics! 

Stacked Gold Bangles ~  From Shimla. I combined 2 types of bangles there. The thick/designed ones were for Rs.150 for 4 pieces, and the thin beaded ones were for Rs.50 for a dozen. I like that they don't look too traditional, and you can still wear them with western outfits. Something like these would probably cost so much more from Accessorize & Aldo.

Weekend Getaway Snapshots ~ Shimla

Weather ~ Pleasantly chilly. Saw big chunky rains after a long long time.

Shopping ~ Quite okay. Since it's sale time, I got a lot of tops. Thanks to Shimla, now I know I can shop at Benetton Kids heehee....I bought a tank top with cherries print. Liked a pair of bow ballet shoes, but my size (33) wasn't available.

Momos (dim sums) ~ HORRIBLE. Worse than the ones I make myself. Seriously.

Jewelry Haul Preview

View from Mall Road

LOVING these muffins my sis-in-law made. the same s-i-l who made my Shoe & Make-up Birthday Cake

Look With L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows

I'm so infatuated with L'oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in 'All Night Blue', and wanted to show you how it looks. The blue is so striking & glam, that it makes my eyes look brighter. I'd wear these eyes with a black dress, jeans/white shirt combo & royal blue Indian wear (not that I have one). If it's too loud for you, you can apply it only on your lower lash line, like a colored liner.

You know me by now, I just had to hang something on my head, and this time a giant earring =D

I used the L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows from L'or Electric Collection (swatches here)-used All Night Blue all over my lid & Forever Pink on the inner corners.

Confessions Of A Beauty Blogger ~ #1 When We Feel Uninspired To Blog

Her fingers hover over the keyboard, a forlorn expression on her face. Substantial ideas seem to have evaded her. Either that, or she over-thinks more than she sleeps.

Something forms in her mind....but before she can grasp it, it disperses into a puff of nothingness. She utters a word that's thrown around like a vowel, it doesn't sound like a bad word anymore.

Frustrated, she decides to entertain you (hopefully) with the following randomness:

• The LOTD/OOTD she never posted. Minted.

• The Forever 21 Haul she never showed you. She'll just show you the earrings. (L-R): Filigree Teardrop Earrings- Rs.349, Mint Lace Earrings- Rs.199, Tiered Filigree Flower Earrings (made up name), Rs.249.

• She created an album in our Facebook Page called "Love Lipstick Like A love Song" - while listening to the song with the same title. What? She's not lovesick....just bizarre.

Accessorize BOW Necklace

Saturday, 9th June '12, 15:50 PM: 

That's when I laid eyes on it. A dull gold bow hung stiffly on a string of mini pearls. Oh-my-bows! I gasped. I reached out to feel the grosgrain texture & the pronounced curves on the metal. My fingers slid behind it & lifted it to feel it's weight. I was dispassionately relieved that it's only as heavy as a two-rupee coin. I stood there and stared at it, transfixed.

My mind did it's thing: 'It'll go with almost everything.... with that dress I just ordered from Ebay.... I need gold shoes with a bow..... Oooh, it'll work as a bracelet too.....  How should I photograph it?....  Oh, it looks like a bow tie. Who'd wear a gold bow tie?! Mmm.... Chuck Bass! And that colorful cricket man Sidhu!.... Which earrings should I pair with it?.... So pweety!.... Wha--? It's moving away from me.... WAIT!'

Reverie snapped! Mr.CZ was tugging on my arm to lead me out of the store, while telling me it's better to buy it in July, coz that's when the SALE starts- as informed by the salesman, who was by our side the whole time (like a predator)

Oh okay, I agreed. Makes perfect sense, I thought. Ya, I'll wait. Ooh, maybe half off!

As we drove out of the basement parking, it hit me hard. REGRET. I actually let go of something that doesn't come by easily! Forget July, it'll be gone this week, I just know it! What have I done?! My insides coiled into a knot that made way up to my throat. I couldn't breathe.

I made a pouty-mouth-furrowed-brows face, that can be very persuasive- sometimes. "We are not going back.", he said sternly, reading my mind face. I wanted to say- 'Maybe just stop the car NOW, I'll marathon to the store, and be back in 5. Less than 5! I'll take off my high heels & run barefoot!', but I swallowed the words along with the lump in my throat, and freakishly wondered if Accessorize does 'Home Delivery'.

Anguish clung to me & went home with us. "You know me better than that!", I half yelled at my 'shopping adviser', and dove head first on the couch.....*Melodrama*

I survived 3½ days & 4 nights without it. In all those days, I took a moment to stick my tongue out at myself in the mirror. YOU know YOURSELF better than that.

Retro OOTD

Something you don't know about me, my heart is old. I'm fascinated with 'Olden Times' & 'Vintage'. I like everything black & white, I listen to Madonna almost everyday - Holiday, Vogue, Like A Prayer, Get Together, Get Into The Groove, Papa Don't Preach. When I listen to these songs, I feel....Alive, simply put. I truly feel I will fit better in the 60's- wear long gloves to the airport, wear red lipstick everyday, bake pies, wait desperately for my soldier husband....and maybe be like one of the women in Mad Men. Oh, and I really really want one of those vintage tring-tring telephones, for some reason.

That's why this Retro OOTD was at the top of my to-do list. 

A Vanity Case From Lakmé

It's black, it's leather (faux, I assume), it's bigger than a shoe box, it has a mirror, it's Lovely! It's a Lakmé Vanity Case/Jewelry box....and I needed it! When I first saw it, I squeeealed. Mr.CZ was like: "It's just a box. What can you keep in there, anyways?" Hmm, let's see....

*Claps 3 times*.... Khul Ja Sim Sim....

I keep my small earrings in the middle there- for easy access

You lift that top plate & under it is a big space. I keep my necklaces, mostly. It's quite random right now.

March Haul ~ MAC Posh Paradise & Iris Apfel, Colorbar, Aldo, ZARA

Hope you all had a great weekend. Mine was "legendary-wait for it-dary!" Okay, that was only me copying Randy from HIMYM's funniest episode & my favorite till date. I don't know why it's on my mind at this moment. My weekend was good, but I wouldn't call it Barney Stinson's catch phrase. 

So on Saturday, I went shopping for 2 things- a ZARA jacket & a MAC Paint Pot, but I ended up buying....well, a few more good shhtuff. 

MAC:

• Genuine Treasure Paint Pot from Posh Paradise Collection, Rs.1350 ~ Paint Pot with shimmer...yum! The moment I saw it, I knew it'd be sinful not to own it. I'm so excited to try it out! Will review it in a few days. In case you missed, reviews of other Mac Paint Pots- Constructivist here & Painterly here

• Party Parrot Lipstick (Matte) from Iris Apfel Collection, Rs.990 ~ I don't have any lipstick like that, the color is so unique. It might be similar to Malaika's lipstick in Cosmopolitan here.

Aldo: I had no intention of buying anything when I went in, but....

• Melso Necklace, Rs.600 ~ Impulse buy, but I sort of needed a plain gold chunky necklace.

• Butterfly Drop Earrings, Rs.500 ~ How cute are those fluttery wings?! Yes, I do realize that I buy a lot of butterfly jewelry =D

Colorbar Velvet Matte Lipsticks in Thrilling Pink & Obsessed Orange, Rs.225 each. I was gonna get only Obsessed Orange to show you guys another orange lippie, after the Happy Orange Products post, but Thrilling Pink looked so pretty I couldn't resist, plus it looks like a dupe for Maybelline Color Sensational Pink Please

Lotus Herbals Gorgeous Natural Diva Kit Review, Swatches & Look

'Diva' can mean 2 different things- one good, one bad. Good: a woman who's glamorous/a good singer. Bad: a woman who's a 'prima donna'- a spoiled, high maintenance, temperamental, and demanding woman who throws a fit if she doesn't get her way. Mariah Carey, for one, is known for her outrageous 'diva' demands. I read an article in a magazine a long time ago, but forgotten what demands exactly. Here's what I found on the net:

 "Mariah Carey is known for her diva behavior. Her diva demands include having a huge entourage, having special people to help her sit if her dress is so gorgeous she doesn't want it to get crushed. Mariah even brings her own toilet roll!

At a Christmas lighting event in London in 2008 Mariah insisted on being surrounded by 20 white kittens and 100 white doves for her appearance with butterfly shaped confetti to be showered on her by the end of her performance."

She also keeps an attendant in her dressing room.....to hand her towels! Then I guess she's both. She earned it, so.....why not, eh?

No white kittens, doves, and towel-handlers, for us lesser mortals. We don't want them, anyway... chi! Says the fox-y lady. Okay, now on to topic of the day- Lotus Herbals Gorgeous Natural Diva kit (Are you also thinking why the 'Natural'?)

The kit contains a base stick, a lipstick & a red nail polish- all for only Rs.499. Here I'm wearing all the products from the kit. 

Eyes: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette & demi (half) lashes.

Concealer, Blush & Bronzer: MAC Studio Finish Concealer & Chromagraphic Pencil, Laura Mercier Undercover Pot, MAC Fleur Power, The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder.

Here Comes The Pink Indian Bride.....

I managed to do this Indian bridal look but it got dark in no time so I didn't get to click many good pics. But I'm just glad I did it...woohoo! :)

*I would've picked a different colored bindi (thing between my brows) but this one was the only one I had that kinda matched the pink. 

Key + Crystal Pendant for $1.99 (Rs.98.00)

I've wanted a key pendant since forever, but I'm aiming for a Tiffany and nothing else. I was browsing Ebay and came across this cheap inexpensive little thing. $1.99 + Free Shipping sounds too good to be true, no? Of course we had to purchase it. Tiffany will come in good time (hint hint!)

It reached within 2-3 weeks. Can't complain about customer service here, considering shipping is free.

Forever New Bracelet Set ~ Week's Best Buy

So, I was at Forever New the other day (2nd visit,same day) looking for a clutch. I tried this bracelet half-heartedly and put it back. Then this happened:

Mr.CZ : That looks nice. Take it and let's go *impatiently* (it was almost closing time.)
Me :  Really?! It's cute? Nah...I don't want.... *picks it up again*
Mr.CZ : Take it. Let's see, how much is it? *checks price tag* Not bad for this *nods head approvingly* Hmm....quite reasonable for this.
Me :  Oh, okay. I'll take it. Ya, I'll take it....

....and I'm so glad I did :)

Moral of the story: When a man says the product looks good...the price tag is good, you take it!

Colorbar Jewelry Box

Shop for over Rs.1500 and get this cute read suede jewelry FREE! I think it's a Karwa Chauth offer.  I think it looks adorable! Great for travel too.

Size: 5" width, 3" depth.