Buying a bridal dress which you instantly fall in love with is by far the toughest part of the whole wedding shopping. So don’t fret, we have you covered with our tips to keep in mind when ordering a bridal dress:

Keep in mind your body type

Every women’s body has a different shape to it. Some women are petite, some are plus size, some have a pear shaped body and so on and so forth. The wedding day is the most important event of your life and all eyes are going to be on you, so picking the wedding dress should be given utmost attention to detail. If you’re petite, a lehnga choli would work best for you as it would show off your figure in the best possible manner. On the other hand, a slightly pear shaped woman should avoid the lehnga choli and opt for an anarkali style bridal instead. Someone with sassy collar bones could opt for a halter neck style or off shoulder style bridal to show off their upper half.

Keep in mind your height

A person’s height is another important factor to consider when on the hunt for a bridal dress. Someone who is about 6 feet would look amazing in a long farshi dress but what about someone who is short? The dress would only drag them down. Now anyone would think women can always opt for wearing heels, but being a bride it’s extremely difficult to wear too long a pair of heels. If you still wish to have a trail with your dress, you can always ask your designer to make you a long dupatta to accompany your outfit. This gives the illusion of a trail without being one.

Consider your skin tone

The third aspect to consider when choosing a bridal is one’s skin tone. Many people unknowingly opt for red just because it is the bridal color, but it should be noted that there are various shades of red you can go for. There’s maroon, there’s rustic red, burnt umber and a plethora of shades to choose from which would suit well with different skin tones. If one is of a wheatish skin tone, they can go for almost all colors albeit if one is fairer, they need to choose rather carefully.

Buy your jewellery first

It is a common myth that you need to buy your bridal dress after your jewellery so it can match. Designers advice women to buy their jewellery beforehand and bring it to them for suggestions regarding their dress. Once you have bought your jewellery, it make things a lot more easier in terms of getting the dress made. If one is wearing one or two long necklaces, the designer can keep the shirt slightly plain so that the jewels can stand out more and not be lost somewhere.

Know your personality

Last but not the least, it is pertinent to know yourself and your personality well. Don’t just follow the fashion trend and decide that you will wear what’s in. Rather, stick to making your own trend and buy what you’re comfortable in and what makes you look good. After all, it’s your big day and should be all about your choices.

Many people work from home so they would need to set up an office which would allow them to work in privacy. Here’s a few tips on how to set up a home office:

What things do you need in the office?

Make a list of all the things you need in the office. You might need a computer or laptop, a desk, office chairs, cabinets, printers or scanners or photocopiers, landline. If you’re an fashion designer, you might need a mannequin for practicing draping, sewing machine and so on. It all depends on what your profession is. Figure out what all you need first and foremost and then move on to other things.

Choose your space for the office or studio

Once you’re done with the first step, you will need to determine your space where you would be setting up your office or studio. It may sound easy to choose just about any space to convert into an office or studio but one needs privacy and peace when working from home. The amount of space you’ll need also depends on the essentials you require. Accordingly, you can choose a spare room in the house to convert into your home office or studio.

Choose the right furniture

Choosing the right furniture will not only give you functionality but also comfort. You don’t want to get a backache or such while you’re working thus choosing the right furniture is crucial. Choose a comfortable office chair with wheels that has multiple functions to adjust as per your comfort. Additionally, choose a desk with an adjustable height or one you’re comfortable with. If you’re a designer, you might need a sofa seating so you can relax while sketching your ideas. Again, It all comes down to your profession.

Choose adequate lighting in your office

Your new office needs enough lighting for you to work properly. Low lighting can cause headaches, concentration problems and so on. If you have access to natural light, that would be a plus as well as it can help you be more productive. One should opt for warm yellow lighting instead of white lighting. Keep lamps on your desk as well if you need extra lighting for working.

Create storage space

Create storage space in your new office or studio to keep your files, stationary items or sketchbooks and other things. A messy, cluttered workspace will only make you nervous and hinder productivity levels. Install wall shelving to keep files and books etc. You can also label shelves so you know what is placed where.

Make your space aesthetically pleasing

Make your home office or studio aesthetically pleasing. You don’t want to be working in a dull space as this will only lower your mood and productivity levels. Decorate your home office with plants or paintings for inspiration or freshness and keep color themes neutral and welcoming.

Lastly, when you’ve decided everything, set up your space with all the equipment you’ll need. Don’t forget a wall clock so you know when you’ve started working and when you’re going to stop working. This will help you maintain a proper work life balance.

There is no denying that everyone loves travelling but a lot of people don’t like flights at all. That is the one thing they dread because flights leave your body tired and stressed for days at end. Here’s a few tips on how to relax after flights:

Sleep

When you’ve reached your destination from travelling, all you want to do is sleep to get rid of the tiredness.

Take a shower

Another way to relax and unwind is to take a shower or relaxing bath. You never know how much bacteria you’ve gathered along the way from the plane. A relaxing bath/shower will get rid of that and also your tiredness for a fresh start to your day. It can also help you sleep better.

Visit a spa

Sitting for hours at end in long flights can give you backaches and muscle pains. In case, you feel this way, book yourself an appointment at a spa and get those cramps out of the way. Nothing like a rejuvenating massage after a long flight.

Hydrate your body

Drink lots of fluids which can help you get energized after those dehydrating long flights. Flying also dehydrates the skin which is why you need to moisturize and use oils on the skin to get it hydrated and breathing again.

Have a heathy meal

Some people don’t usually like to eat in flight meals. Once you’ve landed into the comfort of your home or hotel, order yourself a hearty meal which would help your body to relax. Enjoying a meal you’ve been craving for can also help you sleep better and get on with your day.

Exercise

Try exercising for at least half an hour. This can keep your body fit and energized for most of the day. You can try meditation and yoga which can help relax after a flight. Do relaxation exercises before bed, including mindful breathing and progressive muscle relaxation.

Take a walk

Getting some fresh air for a few minutes is not only relaxing but also gives you a chance to explore your surroundings. Additionally, you can try stretching your muscles to get the cramps out of the way.

Listen to music

Soothing music can help your body relax and unwind after a flight. Tune into sounds which would help ease your body or even help you get to sleep.

Light candles

Scented candles add freshness and make the environment inside your home smell nicer. Wouldn’t you like your home to be smelling of vanilla or lavender? Scented candles even help you sleep better and relax after a long flight.

Have a hot beverage

Nothing like a hot cup of tea or coffee to soothe your body after a tiring, long flight. Drinking warm drinks allows the body to relax, calm down, and cool itself down while also helping to digest food better.

In recent times blogging has seen a rise as a serious profession. If you have a knack for creating content which is unique, you can talk about issues and keep people engaged on topics you feel strongly about, then blogging is the place for you. Here’s a few tips on how to become a blogger:

Choose a theme that you love

Blogging is all about what you love to do and want to share with the world through your eyes. By sticking to one personal style and aesthetic you will be able to catch people’s attention and stand out in the crowd. This way the content you create will come off as genuine and more people would relate to it. You won’t be the one of the same thousands of so called bloggers out there.

Have your focus on a certain topic

Target a niche topic that you have a strong opinion on and focus on it. Do you want to blog about fashion or makeup or is there a social issue you feel strongly about? This will help you create content in an organized manner and relate able brands and companies will find it easier to approach you by knowing what ideas you’re selling. Thus, once your focus is set, you can be clear on your marketing strategy as well.

Money should not be the primary focus

It is pertinent to establish yourself as a blogger first before thinking about raking in any money. Be passionate and creative about what you’re doing. Once you churn out great content, brands will start approaching you themselves. Be sure to still focus on giving your blog and them the best content. Also remember to not work for free or devalue yourself, your services are not free of cost as they require time, effort and skill from your side. If you agree to work for free, you would only be disrespecting yourself.

Promote yourself to brands and fellow bloggers

Since you’re just starting out, you’ll have to advertise your blog a little more by promoting yourself to brands and fellow bloggers. You can just introduce yourself, tell them what your blog is about thus gaining exposure and maybe even help from considerate bloggers. Most of the bloggers become friends really quick, you never know you might even get invited to events and meetups for more exposure into the social world. This will help you reach a larger number of people and establish your blog.

Always put out good, fun and engaging content

Your blog is all about the content you put out there especially the visual and written section. Some people relate to visual appeal while some people prefer words as a means of connection. If your content is engaging, your audience is automatically going to be drawn towards your blog. It has to come from a genuine place, which will make people connect with you and cannot ignore things important in today’s time. People should be able to relate to you and feel inspired from your blog. And don’t run after numbers, if the content delivers, the numbers will follow. As a blogger you should be passionate and willing to work every day. It is hard work and requires time, mostly around the clock. If you stop, people are most likely going to forget about your blog.

It is important to have a good relationship with your children in the early stages they are growing up. This fosters good behavior, emotional stability and the ability to be headstrong in the future. Here’s a list of parenting tips which can help you:

Let your kid be independent

Don’t try and dictate everything your child does. This will only result in them being rebellious and cranky which will continue to wind you up everytime you tell them what to do. Teach them things like clearing their plates, putting the toys away, etc. Giving a child responsibility is good for their self-esteem and will make them proud of themselves.

Don’t try to fix everything

Let your kids find solutions to their problems or things they do wrong. This helps in their brain development, self sufficient and resilient.

Don’t punish them harshly

Don’t use physical force on your child. It only makes them traumatized and is not the solution to making something right. Instead teach kids how to behave by helping them to become competent, caring, and in control.

Don’t yell at them

If you’re frustrated, take deep breaths instead of immediately yelling at your children. They will become scared of you and this will further drive them away from you. Instead be kind in your tone and tell them why something is not right and how to make it right. This will boost their confidence and strengthen their relationship with you.

Read books with them

Read books together every day. Books are a great source of knowledge especially when learning new words. Kids catch up on a word when they keep listening to it over and over again. It’s also essentially important to teach kids a few words here and there before they start school. Books are also a great bonding experience that will set them up for a lifetime of reading.

Bond with them

Choose a special activity for every day which your child loves. They’ll remember these special moments when they grow up. There’s no better way for you to show your love to them.

Be the role model your children deserve

Kids learn by watching their parents actions and interactions. Show them appropriate, respectful, good behavior which will work much better than telling them what to do.

Parenting is a two way job

Parenting is both a mothers and fathers job, not just the woman. Kids need to be as close as possible to both their parents so they can cope better with whatever life throws at them.

Give praise where the kids deserve it

Praise your children regularly when they do something nice or help you with something. This will not only make them feel special but also motivate them to continue doing good things.

Don’t accept disrespect from your child

Never allow them to be rude or say hurtful things to you or anyone else. If they do, tell them firmly that you will not tolerate any form of disrespect because this will reflect upon your upbringing of them.

When we think of makeup, there is one product which isn’t restricted to one area and that is a highlighter. It can be used almost anywhere on the body. A good highlighter used in the right amount and in the right places can give your face a smooth, younger looking luminous look with a subtle gleam. Here is a guide and tips for you to know how and where to apply highlighter:

Textures and finish

Before we start talking about the tips on how to do highlighter, it is important to know that there are three common textures that these are available in which include cream, powder, and liquid highlighters, all of which provide a slightly different finish. Cream and liquid highlighters often have a softer, more natural finish compared to a powder, which tends to be more dramatic and glowy.

Mix and match

If you want lots of glow, you can layer cream or liquid highlighters with the powder highlighter for intensity. You can apply the product using either a fan brush, beauty blender or powder brush.

How to choose highlighter

It is essential to choose a highlighter that compliments your skin tone. If you have fair skin, a pink-hued highlighter gives a rosy and pretty glow. For olive and deeper skin tones, golden and bronze shades look divine.

Mix highlighter into your foundation

To take your foundation from a matte to dewy finish, mix in a little cream or liquid highlighter. This makes your skin look fresh and radiant. For this tip, you just have to add a few drops of liquid or cream highlighter and then blend it in with your foundation. Once it’s blended completely, apply your foundation as usual. The look this gives feels like a natural skin glow.

Use highlighter to make your eyes look bigger

To instantly make your eye look bigger and more awake, apply a bright highlighter powder onto the inner corners of your eyes to open them up. You can use a golden or white shade for this. You can also add a little on the very center of the lid to make your eyes pop. Finally, apply highlighter to your brow bone, directly under the tail end of your brows to create the illusion of a lifted brow. Bright and shiny!

Use highlighter on your Cupid’s bow

To make your lips look fuller, add a little shimmer to your cupid’s bow. You can also add a little shimmer to your lower lip to make it appear pouty and fuller. It’s all about having fun with highlighter.

Highlight your nose

Yes you can use highlighter on your nose too. This makes your nose appear longer and thinner. Make sure to use only a small amount though!

Highlight other parts of the body

Highlighter is just have to have fun with. You can use it anywhere you desire. While some women wear dresses and off shoulder tops, they add highlighter in their moisturizers and wear it on their legs. Additionally, you can add highlighter to your collarbone and shoulders to bring attention to these areas.

Dental and oral health is an essential part of your overall health and well-being. Maintaining healthy teeth and gums is a lifelong commitment. The earlier you learn proper oral hygiene habits, the easier it’ll be to avoid costly dental procedures and long-term health issues. Here’s a list to help you with your oral dental hygiene:

Brush twice a day

It is essential to brush your teeth twice a day. Brush once in the morning after you have had your breakfast (not before). This is because it can clean your mouth of all the food you have eaten. Secondly, brush your teeth before you go to bed. While many of us forget this practice, it is crucial to do so as brushing before going to bed gets rid of all the plaque and germs that accumulate throughout the day.

Don’t neglect your tongue

Another thing many people forget to do is brushing their tongue. Yes the tongue can also become a breeding ground for germs and plaque to build up on. It can lead to bad mouth odor and other oral health problems. So be sure to brush your tongue every time you brush your teeth.

Use a mouth wash

A mouth wash can be essential to reduce the amount of acid in the mouth, clean areas which are hard to reach with the help of a tooth brush. It can also easily get around the gums while re-mineralizing the teeth. It can also give a nice, cool mint-y breath.

Don’t forget to floss

People usually think flossing is to pick out any food which gets stuck in your teeth. Flossing essentially stimulates the gums, reduces inflammation and helps get rid of plaque. While flossing, one must be gentle so as not to hurt themselves in the process. Being too hard on your teeth and gums can cause them to bleed.

Use a fluoride toothpaste

A fluoride toothpaste fights germs and bacteria which lead to tooth decay. It also acts as a protective barrier for your teeth. Colgate, Oral B, Aquafresh are all types of fluoride toothpaste you can purchase for your dental care.

Avoid sugar based foods

Sugar based foods such as tea, coffee, sodas and candies turn to acid inside the mouth which continue to eat away the enamel of your teeth. Enamel protects teeth against decays and if that is harmed , it is near to impossible to restore it. While it may be hard to completely cut off sugary foods, you should minimize the consumption of them to protect your teeth.

Drink enough water

Apart from drinking eight glasses of water to stay hydrated throughout the day, water can also help wash out some of the negative effects of sticky and acidic foods and beverages in between brushes.

Visit your dentist twice a year

A routine checkup with your dental twice a year should be a crucial element in your life. Your dentist can check for any cavities or foresee any incurring problems and suggest treatment issues.

Get scaling done

Scaling is a deep cleaning process for your teeth. It removes all the deposits from your teeth which your toothbrush may find hard to reach.

Travelling provides us with a chance to explore beautiful, exotic locations while allowing us time to relax and unwind. It gives us an opportunity to spend time with our loved ones, take pictures and make beautiful memories. While all of this sounds like a dream come true, the worst thing about travelling is packing your luggage. Once you decide to embark on a trip, you really want to travel light without a tonne of baggage. There are many reasons for this such as weight restrictions on flights if you are travelling abroad or maybe you want to shop and fill your luggage with new items so you need empty space. If you don’t want to panic and forget anything before your trip be organized while travelling. Here is a list to help you through your packing qualms:

Use a smaller bag

Once you have a smaller sized bag, you’ll have less space to fill. This would help you become organized and only pack what you absolutely need, not what you want. Smaller sized bags are also easy to carry around especially if you’ll be city hopping through your trip.

Clothing and shoes

Make a packing list and only pack the essentials. Skim your wardrobe and keep your clothing list minimal. Simplify your color palette by seasons. For example, if you’re going to a cold location, pack blacks and greys (these also absorb heat, keeping you warm). For a summer location, pack light colors like yellows which will keep you feeling cool. Limit hard-to-coordinate colors and patterns to accessories.

Don’t pack shoes for every occasion, try and match a maximum of three pairs to go with almost all items of clothing. If you’re going trekking or some place where it is cold and have to pack heavier clothing and shoes, then try to keep just one big coat and lightweight winter clothing. For shoes, try wearing them en route to your destination so as to minimize the load.

Makeup and jewelry

For makeup and beauty products, keep the essentials and 2-3 good lip colors to change on the go. Forgo any jewelry items or just throw in some classic pieces in your bag. Leave the chunky costume jewelry at home. Pick one or two small items that go with everything or consider buying some local jewelry while you’re away. It’s just like buying a souvenir from your trip.

Toiletries

Don’t buy full sized toiletries, there are travel sized ones available in the market just for trips. They come in really handy and can be used up quickly as well. If you’re travelling with friends, consider sharing your toiletries instead of packing multiple items.

Electronics

Leave the hairdryers and straighteners at home, you really don’t need them. Many hotels have hairdryers in the bathrooms, use them instead. But if you’re going to remote locations, then just relax on these items and enjoy your natural self. Other then that, don’t forget to pack your charger. That’s about all you need.

Enjoy your trip fellas!

As the weather turns cold, our skin tends to get dry. For this purpose, we need to take extra care of our skin while making changes to our skin care routine. Here’s a few tips for you to be extra vigilant and caring for your skin:

Cleanse with cream cleansers instead of gel ones

Gel cleansers will only dry up your skin more so it’s better to replace them with cream ones. In winters, we should be extra careful not to strip our skin of essential oils.

Use sheet masks for extra moisture

Choose sheet masks which contain shea butter or rejuvenating ingredients that would soak into the skin and give it the moisture they need during winter time.

Use store bough or DIY face masks

Store bought or DIY face masks are packed with essentials such as vitamins which combat skin problems effectively. Face masks can get rid of dullness, blackheads, congestion and other skin related problems. These are an absolute must in winters.

Moisturize religiously

Moisturize daily and almost at every interval when your skin starts feeling dry. Invest in richer creams and ditch the light weight creams which are more essential for the summers.

Invest in a moisturizing toner

Switch up liquid based toners to cream ones for hydrating your skin in the colder weather. Cream toners won’t dry up the skin and will work well on pores. Use a clarifying toner for oil skin while a hydrating one for dry or combination skin.

Use a serum daily

Serums are absolutely essential for hydration and combat skin related issues quite effectively. Many serums contain active ingredients to make the skin alive and feeling moisturized, hydrated and fresh in the cold winters.

Replace lipsticks with lip balms

Unlike skin, lips do not produce essential oils which are needed for moisturization. Try replacing lipsticks with lip balms in the colder weather. You can also buy tinted lip balms from the shops which work well as replacements for lipsticks.

Make use of sunscreen

Although we get less sun in the winters, that does not mean we should ditch sunscreens altogether. Sunscreens contain Vitamin E which is essential for repairing and protecting the skin against the harmful rays of the sun. Additionally, it also keeps skin moisturized all day.

Don’t ignore the scalp

During winters, our scalp gets dry and starts to produce dandruff which can look extremely bad and show up on our clothes (since we start wearing more darker colors for keeping warm). As much as we take care of our skin, taking care of the scalp is equally important. Use a DIY hair mask or store bought ones for keeping your scalp moisturized and essential oils intact.