Give up now!

This is the story of Maggie, a 36-year-old public relations professional with a zest for life. Day in and out working her  a** off to meet client deadlines, work on campaigns, attend board meetings and all this while looking pretty and fresh as a daisy.  She manages to do it all. Right! ‘Manages’, that’s the key word.  So there’s a hitch. She drags herself out of bed every day, wanders around in the kitchen dreading another high pressure, unchallenging as hell a job. Brushes her teeth expecting it to brush her stress and negativity too... Surprised? Well don’t be as most of you reading this go through it every day. Heck what, I’ve been guilty too.

Maggie always wanted to be a drama teacher. She loved decking herself up, standing in front of the mirror and reciting movie lines which a normal brain wouldn't even remember. After high school, she completed her education in Public Relations and never for once looked back. Now the problem was she always desired to look back and change things but didn't...

We can’t undo what has happened but we can always start afresh. “Changing careers at 36 is like taking 30 forks and stabbing yourself possibly to death or worse to an incapacitation,” she had said. Today, at 47 she is a famous drama teacher. So what happened in 11 years? She enrolled into a theatre teaching course and worked her way into the career. Simple! No, it didn’t work as planned.  Maggie put in her papers and picked up a casual job at a cafe all this while wondering what the hell she’s got herself into. She lost the cafe job because she clearly couldn’t give a rat’s a** to cleaning dishes and making coffees. She was always served coffee not the other way round. A few months down the line, she picked up a weekend job at a hotel’s front desk and started going for her classes – drama teaching! The money had started to deplete, friends had started to make fun of her, she lost her confidence quite a number of times but what she didn’t lose was her focus. Maggie did have self doubts, lapses of depression, but she only understood one thing – “If at 37 I am already finding it a chore to go to work and look forward to Friday evenings, I am not far away from an early retirement, which is great but it would be a retirement without any money and with lots of relinquished dreams.” Most of us would pass it as mid-life crisis, crazy brain, lunatic thoughts; but that’s because most of us don't have the guts to do something like this.

Source: Figandthistle.blogspot.com

Should we work at a job that we don’t like much just because that suits our qualifications and it’s the one that will pay our bills? You might debate with “I want to change my career but it isn't the time right now. I need to save up money and then think of taking a risk OR I have to feed my kids first or I have a mortgage to pay.” All valid excuses!  I say excuses because many of us want to make that change but we keep waiting for the conditions to be “right.” Let’s get this clear, the conditions would never be right. You will need to find the courage to make that change regardless.

I urge you to get a pen and paper and draw a picture of you doing what you love the most.  Below it write a timeline of a perfect day. (Well, don’t include holiday itinerary). Does it even match 20 per cent? If it doesn’t, time to zoom in and stop performing your work on autopilot. 

Why so negative?

By now, most of you would have seen Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra's new single - 'I can't make you love me.' For those who haven't here you go,



What appalled me were spiteful comments on youtube page about how bad a singer she is or "she is just trying to be western", or something like "she should stick to her bad acting" and one even called her the "Indian Rebecca Black". Now, I didn't go gaga over the song but c'mon it's much better than a lot of trash we like and popularize. She's trying to do something out of the ordinary, not a lot of actresses would even dare think about breaking into the American pop scene. We are all creatures of habit and if something new hits us, our first reaction is negative. Why, I ask?
Kudos to her for breaking out of the mould. I might not be in love with the act, but I appreciate the thought. Watch this interview of Priyanka's on the American show, Nightline. Priyanka says, "I am just taking a chance." Well, since when has taking a chance become a reason to be ridiculed. Don't we all do so?

Priyanka Chopra, Guess Photoshoot

Un-bag-ability

Boys, have you noticed girls will almost want to put a child in their clutch. No don't get me wrong, I am in no way hinting at kidnapping kids but just ever so slightly hinting at the capacity a woman would like to ideally have in her tiny clutch.
Let's look at the things we women usually take around in our pretty little clutch or handbags.

Image: Realsimple.com

Car keys (obviously how am I gonna go home!), lipstick (no need to explain), mascara (You know it might FADE and we may not look like the goddess we intended to be when we stepped out of the house), kajal/eye pencil (You know it might SMUDGE and we may not look like the goddess we intended to be when we stepped out of the house), compact/mineral powder (we want our make up to stay in place, not reach our stomachs...), lip balm (C'mon, there could be a possibility of a kiss), Chewies (I told ya, possibilities are endless) a few debit cards (what if the guy is a stingy head!), wads of notes (we are always attracted to knick-knacks at the malls -"Oh, how cute these earrings, Oh what a beautiful book holder, Oh I can't leave without buying this teddy warmer, Look at that artistic diary, Awww so pretty these flower napkin rings... and the list goes on. And my statistical observation concludes that 80% of these knick knacks, once bought from the store, are not even looked at again). I know, I know, boys and men I understand the pain and I empathise with you.
So where were we? Oh yeah, it doesn't stop here. There's much more to fit into our pint-sized clutch - phone, huge sunglasses (I can't see in the sun without my Prada sunnies), huge case for sunglasses (I can't just dump them in the bag, God, I can't have scratches on them), perfume (everybody stinks around me!), eye drops/medication/head blam (we are always fighting some or the other disease), green tea bags, a small dog and a small child.

Image: purseblog.com

I am kidding about the last two but seriously someone needs to make a bag where we can jam everything in it and be happy souls. Till such a time, I'd like to call this problem 'UNBAGABILITY'.
What do you think guys? Boys, Did I miss out on anything that you chanced upon in a lady's bag?

Pretty in Military?

Spotted Gwen Stefani wearing a ruffled camouflage jumper. Ruffles are usually associated with tops and blouses. Pretty and military don't go hand in hand. But is this going to be a new trend? What do you think?

Gwen Stefani

The jumper has been designed by American designer Jeremy Scott in collaboration with Adidas. He is the same designer who courted a lot of controversy when he designed  in 2012, these (see pic below) shoes for Adidas. Called JS Roundhouse Mids, the shoes were ridiculed for the orange 'shackles' around the ankles. Many believed the 'shackles' resembled bracelets worn by black slaves in the 19th century America.
Adidas finally shelved the release of these shoes.

The controversial JS Roundhouse Mids by Adidas 

Loofah-ed!

Disclaimer: Don't bother pronouncing the headline! Even I can't :)

Shower routine in the mornings is a battle with the loofah. I don't know how many of you go through this but I have a war zone going on in there. After I've finished my shower, the last bit or the major part of the shower time is spent squeezing out the bubbly, frothy residue from the loofah. The drill goes something like this: Loofah under the shower and squeeze. Again loofah under the shower, wiggle (not me silly, the loofah) and squeeze again. ONCE AGAIN loofah under the shower and a tight squeeze. Still some milky bubbly residue. Once again loofah under the shower and ... To hell with it! Just hang it up like a dead man and let its blood (residue) fall drop by drop on the shower tub squeezing the life out of it.

Did you know in ancient times, people used to use loofah made of real plants to clean their body and that's how the concept of loofahs came along. Now, when you go bathing, spare a minute or two admiring the bath wonder. Am just kidding, let it die, drop by drop... ha ha ha!

BTW for hygiene purposes, you should be changing your loofah every 2 months. Unless you wanna bathe with bacteria sliding (up and down) happily on your body!

Is leather sexy?

Leather dress is a tricky item to wear. Much safer bets are leather pants, skirts and boleros but a dress can be very unflattering, if not worn the right way. Recently spotted was 45 year-old American actress Jane Krakowsky flaunting a leather number. 

Jane Krakowsky in an Alexander Mc Queen outfit

Usually celebs tend to go for black when it comes to leather but some have dared to do colour. Last year the trend was really big and most of the Hollywood fraternity figured how to flaunt it. Here are a few who rocked it and then there are some...well, you know what I mean. Our Bollywood celebs weren't behind and found their calling, even if for just one odd appearance.

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Jennifer Aniston in a Christian Dior skater dress, 2013

Actress Gwyneth Paltrow in a leather dress by Hugo Boss, 2013

Actress Priyanka Chopra in a Falguni and Shane Peacock creation

Katie Holmes styles her bottle green number beutifully

Kristen Stewart rocks an A.L.C. creation

Of all the above mentioned, I particularly like how Kristen Stewart gets the rock-chic look perfect. The booties and the make up take the look a notch higher. So if you are planning to wear a leather dress sometime soon, keep it in mind that it could be tricky. Don't believe me, have a look at the goddess of fashion getting it wrong 

Kate Moss

PS: Kate Moss looks like she's going to be sucked by the leather wrapped around her body. Its clearly not working!

While on the topic of leather outfits, found this gem by somebody called 'Jeffboy' on one of the yahoo forums:

"Do you know that when a woman wears a leather dress, a man's heart beats quicker, his throat gets dry, he gets weak in the knees, and he begins to think irrationally??? Ever wonder why?

It's because she smells like a new Truck.

JB

Disclaimer: All photographs have been given due credit. No watermarks have been removed.

I am friends with the Monster

You are all dolled up, looking sexy as hell. Your guy has also dressed to impress. Perfect! He slides on his business shoes, you slide into a pair of heels. So what's wrong? 5 inch killer heels!!

Well, from then on your life is just a long road to balance. You tip toe all the way up to the car, from the car park to the restaurant, from the restaurant to the restroom, back to the table... and then the whole grind in reverse once again. And heaven forbid if there are other plans in between - "Lets walk to the beach, it's beautiful" or you hear him say, "How about we go to a club for a while?" Sweet but what about the killer monsters on our feet. I wonder if they even realize how difficult it is to walk in a slant all along, ankles flying against gravity, toes squished in a baby bangle-sized front - and all this while we put our best foot forward. Well, literally! 

This year, actress Emma Thompson walked to the Golden Globes awards stage with her Christian Louboutin heels in hand. She joked that her trademark red soles (For the uninitiated: Loubs, as they are called, always have a patented red sole) were stained with her blood. 

Actress Emma Thompson with her Loubs in her hand

As with a lot of other things, our triumphant tall walk is taken for granted. Do we really need to be so uncomfortable, do we need to go through all this pain, can't we just wear a pair of flats to a classy function, to a high tea, to a pub or a club? Hell NO! We love our heels, even if they are 'killer'.
We women, it's just us!

So what has been your heel story? Would love to hear.

Pretty little nasty things

Next in my series of things that women have to deal with is BRAS!!

Whats going on here? It's like our bras have a life of their own. You are sitting in an office meeting wearing a pretty pastel blouse when suddenly your boobs are "front-stabbed", literally. The underwire of your lacy pink cross-strapped brassiere has suddenly realized the need to be accepted or acknowledged in this world. It usually happens to be the very same moment when you are on a first date, in a meeting with the boss or facing the toughest job interview question. It pokes you like no facebook stalwart can.
And then we fantasize about a time and place - Sitting in our room, in our bed, in our PJs when the world is not watching us. And these nasty monsters are sidelined to either under the pillow or on the side table or just thrown on the floor, their intentions imprisoned and their prestigious under wires rendered useless.. he he ha ha! I get a sense of revenge, do u feel the same? Would love to hear...

Tan Map Jeans: The new trend, if you may please!

So this is what I'd like to call a 'tan map jeans'!
Kim went to Levis. Levis talk of torn jeans. Kim wants a tan. Levis and Kim discuss the tan map. She explains, "Two inch below the thigh, wide enough to fit a surgical tape. Covered for another inch then tan space big enough for a brick." Levis makes notes. And finally, the diva walks out wearing this.

Kim Kardarshian spotted wearing Levis jeans