MBD Zine

The MBD Zine December 2015

A rendezvous

with Lataa

Celebrity, Nutritionist, Image Consultant & a Mother.

Perfect Imperfection A story to be told‌

Shalini Mehta The Fashion Stylist

Looks this season

Big Question is it Apple or Samsung???

MBD

Box

A box carefully designed and handpicked by our Image Consultant & Stylist Sonal KS, specifically keeping in mind your curves, body shape, occasion and fashion trends.

Get a look delivered to your doorstep every month without making the effort to hunt for one.

A look good surprise, that you can gift yourself or your loved one.

Exclusively available on www.mybridaldrama.com

Inside Pg 6 - Shalini Mehta (The Fashion Stylist and a Cool Blogger) Pg 20 - MBD Shape Stylist Pg 22 - Inteview with Lataa Saberwal Seth Pg 27 - Trending Looks with Neha Chugh Khatri Pg 30 - Runway Look Pg 31 - Celebrity Look Pg 32 - Coee conversations with Puja Mohan Pg 38 - Apple vs Samsung (Tech corner by Karan Khatri) Pg 42 - Yoga is therapy - By Sheetal Chugh Pg 44 - 4 Essential Makeup Must-Haves by Rashmi Rawat Pg 46 - Travel Desk by Gaurav Madan Pg 49 - MERAKI Fine Jewellery

Editor’s

Note

MBD Zine is a magazine for the modern women of today who wants to lead a FASHIONABLE and BEAUTIFUL life. She cares about the LATEST TRENDS and fulfils the DUTIES of the multiple roles in her life seriously.

New products in the market or fancy Beauty treatments, what to wear or what not to wear, buying a phone to show off her selfies or just wanting to invest somewhere, taking care of herself or wanting to take that “time off, a faraway vacation” SHE wants to know them all and she wants to do it all.

MBD Zine is her perfect escape to get in touch with all her inner feelings. A STYLISH SAVVY guide for our INTELLIGENT & GORGEOUS readers.

Time to give and time to care….Merry Christmas & Happy New Year…..

Grab a cuppa coffee girls and let the ME time begin…

U can write to us on weloveyou@mybridaldrama.com With Love

Sonal KS Founder, MBD

Shalini Mehta

The Fashion Stylist & a Cool Blogger After graduating from one of the finest design schools of India, National Institute of Design (Ahmedabad), Shalini moved to Mumbai to pursue a career in styling. She has worked with big names like Shahrukh Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Saif Ali Khan, Anushka Sharma and many more while working with the best in the industry including Anaita Shroff Adajania and Manish Malhotra. She has styled a number of prestigious assignments including feature films, adverts, photo shoots and also worked with Star TV as their in-house style editor. In time, She started exploring writing and started her own fashion, beauty & lifestyle website www.shalinimehta.com She is currently Heading Content & Communications at Shopper's Stop where she has got the opportunity to combine her love for both fashion & writing. No doubt she is enjoying every bit of her life to the fullest.

Style Shoot

by Shalini Mehta Ok, So I recently got to style the sultry Vasuki Sunkavalli in one of the most fabulous clothes by designer duo Alpa & Reena (fb.com/Alpa.Reena)

The collection had extremely

Originally labelled as Shivangi,

beautiful ethnic and fusion

Alpa & Reena represent

wear as well as casual wear.

multicultural, multi faceted life style of women today,

We played around with drapes

who use their style to

and statement accessories and

enhance and express their

with the help of our highly

beauty, personality and add

talented photographer Gaurav

to their mystique female

Sawn, we've managed some

form.

really cool results.

Having worked in the industry for a good 9 years, I have met thousands of people and worked with all kinds of teams on countless styling assignments.

But there was something very special about this one.

Right from designers and their team to make-up, hair, photographer, model, my styling team....everyone seemed to fit in perfectly.

Vasuki was a dream to work with. A lawyer by profession, she represented India at the Miss Universe 2011 pagent.

Great body with great height and such a warm personality.

She exactly knew how to carry shorts to heavy bridal.

Awesome shoot. Awesome team.

Awesome results :) - Article by Shalini Mehta

Image credits - Alpa & Reena

off each outfit right from casual

THE

Shape Stylist Love your curves as YOU are beautiful

Only at

www.MyBridalDrama.com

Thinking???

Got nothing to wear???

Well not any more girliesssssss!

Our special offering for all the gorgeous women out there; Shape Stylist. An exclusive feature that helps you understand your body shape and then recommends you products best suited for your body type. Use the opportunity to buy what suits you the BEST. “Love your curves women coz your BEAUTIFUL."

Rendezvous Lataa Saberwal Seth In a rendezvous with the beautiful Lataa Saberwal Seth fondly known as RAJSHRI BEN of Yeh Rishta kya Kehlata hai is not only a power packed performer on television and in movies but also a QualiďŹ ed Nutritionist. Not all know of the fact that she is also a CertiďŹ ed Image Consultant.

Classic example of woman of today adorning varied roles in life.

MY BRIDAL DRAMA is a great concept! The idea of making every woman/girl feel special like a bride every day in itself is unique. ~ Lataa Saberwal Seth

with

Q1

Q3

How and when did you start acting or enter the industry?

What inspired you to become an image consultant?

I started acting 14 years back when I was offered a mythological show ‘Geeta Rahasya’.

That is when I entered in the industry full time. Television then was very very different than what it is today. It has progressed a lot.

Though I love my career as an actress very much, but I can say I am an explorer.

Learning never ends for me.

So when I was well set in my acting profession I wanted to explore new areas of interest. So first I studied to become a nutritionist [I am a qualified nutritionist]. I am a food lover and a fitness freak so I wanted to know the science behind food . That how can we stay fit and slim without starving. Finally I am able to achieve that [that is a long topic, we can talk about it some other time]. These days becoming a nutritionist sounded very common so I was looking for something which I could add to it and one day while going through BT I discovered ICBI. That very moment I knew that I wanted to become an Image Consultant.

Q2 As a woman how has acting changed your life?

As a woman definitely it has changed my life for good. I was a simple girl from Lucknow, brought up in a conservative Punjabi family and today I am an independent woman. My profession as an actress has given me lots of exposure to the world and also gave me a chance to explore my creative side and made me an independent woman, self-reliant, I can say.

So I moved ahead with it.

Being an actress I was already aware of the fashion industry but was not aware of the ‘WHY’ behind the art of dressing up. The moment I came to know the ‘why’ I became much more confidant of myself and my looks and became sure that I can never go wrong in dressing up[ which is an integral part of being an actress]. Also it has become my passion now as I am able to help people with good looks and good food both. It gives me a lot happiness and satisfaction when I am able to help people look and feel good about themselves.

Q4 What is your take on My Bridal Drama?

How do you find it different from other website?

MY BRIDAL DRAMA is a great concept! The idea of making every woman/girl feel special like a bride every day in itself is unique. Every woman has a right to feel good and special every day or anytime she wants to so why just wait for the ‘D’ day. After all we all want to feel good about ourselves which in turn gives us more confidence which in turn gives the happiness we strive for. I also like the name of your website ‘My Bridal Drama’. aware

Being an actress I was already of the fashion industry but was not aware of the ‘WHY’ behind the art of dressing up. The moment I came to know the ‘why’ I became much more confidant of myself and my looks and became sure that I can never go wrong in dressing up

Q5 How do you balance being an actor and an image consultant and a mother? Ur advice to women juggling between work and home.

Being an actress, an image consultant, a nutritionist and a ‘mother’ on top off all is not very easy, but, is not impossible either. You have to set your priorities and decide at that very moment that where you are required the most.

My schedule changes every day depending on what is most important and where I am needed the most. Also one needs to divide time.

When one thing is most important others take a back seat and vice versa. I read a lot of inspirational stuff to keep me motivated. Anyone who is juggling between work and home should be determined and prepared to juggle every day, because each day is a new day and

you don't know where you will be needed the most.

Family support is a must for working women.

Q6 Your biggest support?

Before marriage it was my mother and after marriage my husband. No doubt my mother in law also plays a pivotal role.

Q7 Your ideal day with family?

Cooking, eating and cooking.

I love to cook healthy and tasty food, feed my family and eat myself as well.

Family support is a must for working women.

Q8 Your favourite holiday destination? Why? Goa…. Goa is where I love to spend my holidays and something about the air of Goa [ hawa me kuch hai] that you fall in love with the place.

Q9 We really want to know how do you maintain yourself and look as gorgeous as you are ?

Ha ha ha…..Hard work, consistency…. these two words are my mantra whether following some fitness regime or my daily food timings . Yes you need to work out [exercise] to look and feel good also follow a food discipline.

Trending Looks with Neha Chugh Khatri

3 must haves for every woman Blue denims

that perfectly fit and accentuate your body type

A piece of statement jewellery (Necklace, earrings)

1 The Classic LBD (little black dress)

3

2

Trending Look Shorts - Forever 21 Top - Forever 21 Shoes - Forever 21 Sunglasses - Aldo Backpack - Stylist’s own

Trending Look

Pink top - Stylist’s own Black Palazzo - La Celebratio Clothing Black neckpiece - ZARA Black heels - ZARA Sling Bag - Accessorize

Runway look

Designer - Sonaakshi Raaj Price on request Image credit : www.sonaakshiraaj.in

Celebrity Look

Image credit:

www.biscoot.com

On Neha Culottes - ZARA White crop top - LA celebratio clothing White jacket - ZARA Bag - Accessorize

Coffee, Conversations & More...

Miss goodytwoshoes, an ambitious writer, a generous person PUJA MOHAN. Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Bokaro Steel City.

My formative years were spent in a boarding school tucked away in the Sahyadri mountains. (Ya! I literally got to live the Enid Blyton’s St Clare series, only my school was called St. Joseph’s; it was the best).

I attended Ness Wadia College of Commerce in Pune for an undergraduate degree in Advertising and MIT School of Business in Pune for MBA in Marketing and Human Resource Management. And I work in finance. Yup...I had no clue what I was doing. I still don’t most of the time.

I live in Mumbai with my husband and inlaws, work with an American company as a senior project coordinator and pursuing my hobbies (writing being one of them).

What were you like at school?

I was a completegoodytwoshoes, well most of the time. I think I still am. But I have had my crazy, wild moments.

Were you good at English?

I thought so until my manuscript came back from my editor. I had serious doubts if I’d ever learnt the language. I’d say Corporate India ruined my English. (Hey, that would be an interesting topic to blog about! Making notes. ;) ) What are your ambitions for your writing career?

I want to be able to write in more than one genre. Especially something like paranormal. I feel that’s completely out of my comfort zone. Wouldn’t that be a pleasant challenge?

Which writers inspire you?

I am really impressed by some of the current writers. Catherine McKenzie is one of my favourites.

So, what have you written?

Well, my debut novel is called Perfect Imperfections. It is women's fiction / coming of age / young adult novel.

Simple, clean and a quick read.

Why the title “Perfect Imperfections” What’s it about?

Does it have any relevance in your life?

I (in my small span of life) have understood this one thing no one you meet is a bad person, like out right mean (baring the psychos).

We all have good and bad and sometimes we, especially we women, over think and complicate our lives.

This book is about such a girl who has complicated her life to the point of ruining every relationship she has. If we were all so perfect, how boring would life be. It’s our quirks, our messy hair days, our bad days, our bad judgments that give us depth. Don’t you think? It’s the way we are perfectly imperfect that make us who we are. And that’s how the title came about.

Relevance to my life...hmmm.. not really. I think my protagonist is a very strong individual, very courageous. I don’t think I am like that at all. I have too many safety nets to call myself courageous.

What draws you to this genre?

I love women’s fiction / coming of age. I love to read them, I love to write them and I love to talk about them. (I fear I might be a feminist underneath all of it.) There are so many amazing women characters we have in literature. And given that we live in a man’s world, it’s nice to escape into a world that has so much of girl power.

It’s our quirks, our messy hair days, our bad days, our bad judgments that give us depth.

Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your book?

Oh....wow...Deepika Padukone as Kim and Abhay Deol as Jake.

Dave....hmmmmm...I can’t think of anyone. (Still thinking...)

Randeep Hooda maybe...but he may have to put on some weight and loose some hair.

When did you decide to become a writer? /what were your thoughts behind becoming a writer?

I have always been inclined towards creative stuff. Art, craft and the likes. I use to write back in school. Short stories mostly. But never really thought of it more than that and then life happened.

happened. Recently, (recent being about two and a half years back) when I was in a little soup personally and professionally I took to reconnecting with my creative side. And that’s when I came across NaNoWriMo.Org which opened a whole new world to me. I met some amazing people who have full time jobs, family, kids, and a fiery passion for books, writing and reading.

Two and a half years later, here I am talking to you about my debut novel.

Do you intend to write fulltime or parttime?

I write every day. I read every day. I think there is nothing like parttime or fulltime when you want to see something finished.

I do have a day job or what some people say a full time job. But my writing is also a full time job.

Where do the your ideas come from? What’s your inspiration?

I have realized that when I write I have a tendency to pick a topic I have very little knowledge about.

That way I get to explore, learn and not have a bias or preconceived opinion about it. I think that’s a blessing for a writer.

What are your thoughts on writing a book series?

I do have an idea that will work well as a series. I am sure in the near future there will be one coming soon.

Do you read much, and if so who are your favourite authors?

I think I have a reading disorder, by that I mean I read a lot (if a disorder like that really does exists). Paperbacks ebooks and audio books everything.

Currently I am loving Darynda Jones’ and Catherine McKenzie’s work. Two completely different genres, former being a paranormal series and later is contemporary romance.

There is nothing like parttime or fulltime when you want to see something finished.

For your own reading, do you prefer ebooks or traditional paper/hard back books?

I am a book sniffer. I love paperback. But ebooks are my saviour. It has allowed me to read anywhere. I enjoy audio books too. Ever since I discovered them I don’t mind household chores and mundane work.

A writer should read a lot to better their craft.

little, one travels far.” By J.R.R. Tolkien What is your favourite book and why?

To tell you the truth, I don’t have a favourite. I know, I know that sounds weird because all writers have favourites. I love all books. Well, almost all books. I still have to read something that is more than captivating. (Does that make sense?)

Where can you see yourself in 5 years time?

In 5 years? Hmmm...At a book signing with some of the authors whose work that I read growing up. Won’t that be cool?!

What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

How do you relax?

I usually read. I binge read when I am stressed.

What is your favourite motivational phrase or any quote that inspires?

“If you truly apply your mind, you can achieve anything.” Not sure who said this. And another one I often tell myself is “Little by

Advice right after my first book?

Hmmm...

I don’t think I am quite there yet.

But I feel a writer should read a lot to better their craft.

Is there anything else you would like to add that I haven’t included?

I have a monthly newsletter that brings to you a month worth of reading details,

deal, new releases and even techish stuff. You can signup on my website or click http://pujamohan.com/#newslet tersignup (I like to keep things private. Don't worry your details are will be safe. And we definitely don’t spam.)

How can readers discover more about you and you work?

Website: http://pujamohan.com Blog: http://pujamohan.com/blog Facebook: http://facebook.com/pujamohan Twitter: http://twitter.com/mohanpuja Twitter Handle @MohanPuja Linkedin: https://in.linkedin.com/pub/pujamo han/14/590/988 Pinterest: https://in.pinterest.com/pujamohan Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/PujaMoha n/e/B016ZMJJ1W/ref=dp_byline_cont _book_1

Book Links: Ebook on Amazon.in http://www.amazon.in/PerfectImperf ectionsPujaMohan-ebook/dp/B016Y L2KEM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=144 6109112&sr=81&keywords=perfect+ imperfections Paperback & Ebook on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/PerfectImp erfectionsPuja-Mohan/dp/15121384 79/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encodin g=UTF8&qid=1446109112&sr=81 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author show/128

TECH CORNER

BY KARAN KHATRI

iPhone 6S vs Samsung Galaxy S6: Which is best?

Galaxy S6 or iPhone 6S? Does the new Apple iPhone have enough to take on Samsung's best smartphone yet?

Samsung's new Galaxy S6 launched earlier in the year, to take on the iPhone 6 with its premium build and impressive performance.

Now that the iPhone 6S is oďŹƒcially here, lets see how well these two devices stack up against each other?

DESIGN iPhone 6S: 7.1mm thick, Series 7000 anodized aluminum back Galaxy S6: 6.9mm thick, aluminum unibody and glass panel By now you know the story of the Apple's S-range phones. They look and feel almost identical to their non-S predecessors.

Going by this, the iPhone 6S feels almost the same as the iPhone 6 but is not entirely identical.

For one thing, the iPhone 6S is marginally thicker (only 2mm) than the iPhone 6.

Another dierence to the iPhone 6S design won't be readily visible. Apple has switched to the Series 7000 aluminum it uses for the Apple Watch. This has made device stronger.

Apple is determined to avoid a repeat of the 'bendgate' controversy.

However, Samsung has gone with a shimmery glass back and a distinctively moulded metallic edge with Galaxy S6. For pure eye-catching looks, then, the S6 phone wins. Although to me it looks and feels a little too plasticky.

In terms of practical day-to-day usage and ruggedness, we have to give the iPhone 6S and its all-metal construction, a thumbs up.

The iPhone 6S is also the easier phone to hold, thanks to its smaller size and metal back. The Galaxy S6, in comparison, is a little

slippery thanks to its glass back.

SCREEN iPhone 6S: 4.7-inch, 1334 x 750 IPS LCD, 3D Touch Galaxy S6: 5.1-inch, 2440 x 1560 'QHD' Super AMOLED The iPhone 6S display is very similar indeed to the iPhone 6's. That means a 4.7-inch IPS LCD display and no gorgeous QHD display that's currently packed into the S6.

I loved this display in the iPhone 6, and i still love it in the iPhone 6S. It's perfectly sized for one-handed usage, without being restrictive like previous 4-inch iPhones. At that size, too, the iPhone's 1334 x 750 resolution is just sharp enough. It's also extremely bright and vivid.

Apple has added 3D Touch to its smartphone range after successful iterations in the Apple Watch and New MacBook. This new technology recognizes the amount of pressure you place on the display, literally enabling an extra layer of depth to touch

inputs. It feels like a haptic feedback.

I found this technology to be much more than just a feature gimmick, such as the ability to preview emails and websites, or jump straight to the selďŹ e cam. It's only going to get more useful as more and more developers add 3D Touch support, too.

The Samsung Galaxy S6 has no such pressure-sensing technology, but as a pure display, it's touch is yet not hands down up to the mark with iPhone 6S's.

Its QHD resolution is much sharper than the iPhone's.

Samsung's supreme grip on Super AMOLED technology means it's more vibrant, with deeper blacks and higher contrast.

Put simply, the iPhone 6S display is smarter, but the Samsung Galaxy S6 screen is better looking.

Power iPhone 6S: Apple A9 64-bit dual-core CPU, 2GB RAM Galaxy S6: Exynos 7420 64-bit octa-core, 3GB RAM Lets cut this short and give you a conclusive comparison. The Galaxy S6 came along with Samsung's own Exynos 7420, an octa-core chip that put the iPhone 6 chip to shame on multi-core performance.

The iPhone 6S runs on the A9 chip, which is significantly faster than the A8 (on iPhone 6) in both CPU and GPU departments. We're talking around 70 percent faster on the CPU front, and 90 percent faster on the GPU front. It gives the Galaxy S6's Exynos chip a serious run for its money.

Talking about RAM. The Galaxy S6 has a generous 3GB, while the iPhone 6S has 2GB of RAM. The S6 does have a higher RAM count, but iOS is renowned for being much easier on the RAM than Android. In fact, the iPhone 6S doubles up on the memory of previous iPhones, making for a dramatic performance increase.

It's also worth mentioning that the iPhone 6S comes with a new and improved version of Touch ID, which loads up much faster than before. We can even say that it feels faster than the Galaxy S6 equivalent.

CAMERA iPhone 6S: 12-megapixel rear camera, dual LED flash, 4K video recording Galaxy S6: 16-megapixel rear camera, single LED flash, OIS, 4K video recording Apple has had the smartphone camera market all to it self- until the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S6. For the first time Samsung provided a camera that topped its

great rival's effort in many people's estimations.

Apple bumped up the megapixel count for the first time since the iPhone 4S, with a new 12-megapixel image sensor. Up front is a 5-megapixel Retina HD with Retina flash t hat uses the entire phone screen to capture your selfies.

The rear camera technically is still lower than its counterpart. (16-megapixel on Galaxy S6), but honestly higher megapixel count is not all that matters.

One disappointment with the new iPhone 6S camera is the lack of OIS (optical image stabilization).

The S6 has a lot going for it beyond more megapixels and OIS, of course. It's very fast to take a shot, which is helped by its splendid home button-based camera shortcut. It also has an excellent Pro manual mode, which Apple's iPhone still lacks.

Overall, we can't call which camera is better.

The iPhone remains the best phone for just pointing and shooting, and you'll get more consistent results from it. But the Galaxy S6 offers greater manual control and superior low-light shots.

Software iPhone 6S: iOS 9 Galaxy S6: Android 5.1 Lollipop with TouchWiz UI The iPhone 6S continues Apple's dominance of Samsung on the software front. I am a fan of Android only and only in its unadulterated form, but Samsung does insist on fidgeting with it. iOS 9 feels a tad bit smoother in daily use but not much of a difference really in the

iOS 9 feels a tad bit smoother in daily use but not much of a difference really in the interface except for a few cosmetic changes.

Android and Samsung’s TouchWiz is trying to get better and has got faster and smoother but nothing close to the simplicity of its rival.

The whole app thing is less of an issue than it's ever been, but it's still undeniable that the App Store is a more vibrant, higher quality offering than the Google Play Store.

Samsung does have its own voice assistant to try and take on Siri. It's called S Voice, and there's plenty the voice assistant is capable of doing. From simple things like calling a number or adding events to calendars, it can update your social networks and even write a memo.

You do of course have the benefit of Google Now as well, which is soon to be upgraded with Google Now on Tap. Indeed, Google Now is a far better rival to Siri than S Voice.

In fact, we'd argue that Android's assistant has been better than Apple's for some time now.

Apple has improved Siri considerably in iOS 9, though, and it now achieves something approaching parity. A swipe right from the main home screen takes you to a new Siri screen, providing frequently used contacts and apps, and relevant news stories.

Siri's voice-activated element has also grown more sophisticated, with room for naturalistic requests like 'show me pictures taken in Australia,' while Spotlight also pulls in search results from third party apps.

The Verdict If I pitch the Samsung Galaxy S6edge against the iPhone 6, the Samsung just about comes on top (speaking strictly on technical basis).

It's a phenomenally good smartphone.

Now that the iPhone 6S is here, things have

evened out.

Having used both these phones, I’d still go with the iPhone 6s. Apple has made improvements to the iPhone 6S's build quality at the right time keeping in mind with the high use of glass by Samsung. It's also improved the camera considerably, mainly the front camera as that is what we regular photographers use most in our daily lives. It is the best point and shoot camera with least complications to bring out the best photographer in each of us. (though the Galaxy S6 camera has its own strengths).

I am very surprised with the performance gains made by the iPhone 6S. Everything from getting into the phone with Touch ID to juggling multiple web tabs and apps just feels quicker and more fluid than before. On the other hand, galaxy s6’s software is too heavy and its putting down a very capable hardware. So the iPhone wins again.

Apple has done all it can to make the screen better on the iPhone 6s but yet Samsung wins this battle in each and every way.

The real deal here is the iPhone 6S's 3D Touch functionality. This bold new pressure-sensitive screen technology looks set to create an influence on the future of smartphone interfaces. Right now, it makes the iPhone 6S even more simple to use. iOS in each and every way is still the best platform to be on even if it misses out on some advanced features available on androids because ease of use is more important than having it all with complications.

Yoga

by Sheetal Chugh

is therapy

Have you ever seen a bunch of people walking out of a yoga class? If not, have a look once. Those taut and toned yoga bodies on display, the peaceful and zen-like faces , the sweaty bodies leaving their so called sanctuary ( yoga class) are enough inspiration to get you started on the path of yoga.

If you are looking to relieve stress , stretch Ghose muscles which you haven't been working other than to lie on your favourite spot on the couch, also if you want to bend and twist your body like a pretzel, the answer is Yoga . If you claim inflexibility as your excuse , then you should definitely stop reading this article, grab a mat, put on those shapely yoga pants and head out to the nearest yoga studio.

Because when you say that your body is stiff, it is not the body that is stiff. Your mind is.

Coming back to those hot yogi bodies.

No, a hot yogi body is not obtained from a regular yoga routine (as many would have you believe). It is obtained at the price of constant work, a lot of effort to burn calories, a bucket full of sweat and a saintly denial of carbs.

Yoga is not just about looking good. It is about feeling good. It is not a work out. It is a work in. Yoga literally means Union of

body, mind and soul. It is not just a fitness routine. It is a prayerful discipline. If you come to the practice of yoga looking only for pleasure, yoga will eventually disappoint you. It is not for everyone. You should have the willingness to commit to the practice for a long time . And by practice we mean , both on and off the mat . A Shirshasna , a solid bakasana or a steady handstand are just the perks of yoga. It will definitely give you some attention , but yoga doesn't teach you just to achieve the superficial benefits . Those asanas not just make you bendy and flexible , but they also help you cope with emotional pain.

We are trapped in repetitive thought patterns which lead to emotional turmoil. Every experience in the mind is accompanied by shifts in the body's chemistry . Through yoga , you can release the emotional blockages . As you stretch those muscles , you shift the bodily patterns that trap emotional pain . If something is bothering you emotionally , it is likely to show up in your body . This is the reason why emotional breakthroughs often occur during a yoga class , when you release those long held feelings of sadness , grief or any other strong emotion that you have carried unconsciously throughout your life . The nature of yoga is to shine the light of awareness in the darkest corners of the body . Yoga does not change the way we see things . It transforms the person that sees.

You can start with a gentle practice like Hatha or Vinyasa flow or try a restorative class and then move onto a more disciplined and serious practice like Ashtanga or Iyengar, when your body feels ready . Go and experience a yoga class and know for yourself . Words cannot convey the value of yoga . It has to be experienced.

"Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured" - BKS Iyengar

4 Essential

p u e k a M es v a H t Mus

BY RASHMI RAWAT

"Give a woman the right lipstick and she can conquer the world." -Anonymous Whoever said this, was so right. I mean my life was incomplete till I found that perfect red lip color that I had been looking all over.

And we are sure, you too must have looked for that oh-so-perfect lipstick color without which your vanity is incomplete. Speaking of which, do you know what other products are absolutely must to have in your vanity?

Read on to find out.

synthetic fibres both in it. The synthetic fibre puts the foundation and natural fibre blends it and takes away any excess product.

Great investment.

1. Face Primer A face primer is the first step of putting makeup on. The reason we use a primer is because it forms a barrier between your face and makeup. Some primers in the market also have optical diffusers in it which helps to blur open pores and textured skin. And if you have a flawless skin, then there are primers that give you a radiance while protecting the skin. Another added advantage of a primer is that it helps the makeup to stay on longer.

So the next time you go out makeup shopping invest in the right primer for your face.

2. Foundation Brush Although you require the whole brush kit but lets not forget these brushes can burn a hole in your pocket so the one absolute must have brush would be the foundation brush.

There are two kinds of foundation brushes: flat top brush and a stifling brush. Now if your are confused which is for you then consider this, if you need a lot of coverage then get a flat foundation brush. It looks like a paintbrush but bigger. The idea is to just pat the foundation in moderate quantity all over the face and blend lightly. A Stifling brush is for light coverage and an almost no makeup look. This brush has natural and

3. Mascara Remember how every disney movie belle has fluttering eyelashes! Thats the effect of a jet black mascara and a volumising wand.

Mascara is still used by a very few women but it is an absolute must have in your vanity.

There are so many kinds of mascaras for every lashes that you can pick out the one that is just perfect for you. It will give volume to your lashes and make your eyes look big and beautiful. Every eye makeup is incomplete without a mascara. Try going for that false lashes effect or just add definition to your lashes, the choice is yours.

4. Compact One compact which is closest to your skin color is essential if you are a working women or a college girl. It is important to carry it with you for a quick touch up on the go and to blot your face if it is oily. There are many kinds of compacts available in the market which will suit your skin type and give you instant freshness. That presentation meeting you forgot about? Just dab you compact all over, put on loads of mascara and lip gloss and you are done.

TRAVEL DESK The islands of Phillippines - Part 1

BY GAURAV MADAN

The Philippines, oďŹƒcially known as the Republic of the Philippines, is a sovereign island country in Southeast Asia situated in the western PaciďŹ c Ocean. It consists of 7,107 islands that are broadly categorized under Luzon, Visayas, Palawan, Mindanao and Batanes. The capital city of the Philippines is Manila.

Many wonderful beaches are just part of one of the world's longest coastlines and it takes about 20 years to spend a day on every island. Since Spanish colonial times, the country has been Asia's largest Catholic country.

REACHING HERE: Although the Philippines is an archipelago, most visitors arrive by plane. International airports are located in Cebu, Clark Freeport Zone, Angeles, Davao, Kalibo, Laoag, Manila and Zamboanga.

Flights from India to Manila Airport are cheaper & take less time as compared to other airports. Also according to the new agreement (BI Memorandum Circular No. RADJR-12-008) Indian Nationals arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila are granted a 14-day visa free entry

which may be extended for an additional 7 days for a maximum stay of 21 days.

VISA REQUIREMENTS: Since May 1, 2012, Indian nationals with a valid U.S., Japanese, Australian, Canadian, Schengen, Singapore, or United Kingdom visa are granted a 14-day visa free entry which may be extended for an additional 7 days for a maximum stay of 21 days. (BI Memorandum Circular No. RADJR-12-008) The policy only applies to Indian Nationals arriving at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA 1-3) who have the following: (1) National Passport valid at least 6 months, beyond the contemplated stays (2) Return or Onward ticket (3) No derogatory record in BI, NICA, or INTERPOL For trips more than 21 days, Indian nationals are required to apply for a tourist visa in New Delhi or any Foreign Service Post where they are valid residents.

CLIMATE: The climate is tropical, with March to May (summer) being the hottest months. The rainy season starts in June and extends through October with strong typhoons

possible. The coolest months are from November to February, with mid-January to end of February considered the best for cooler and dryer weather.

The average temperatures range from 78°F / 25°C to 90°F / 32°C and humidity is around 77 percent.

During summer, the country experience droughts, sometimes at extreme conditions.

HIGH/LOW SEASON: Most areas have a dry season (stretching from January to June) and a wet season (July to December), and, generally speaking, the dry season is probably the best time to be in the country. Between December and May is when you should aim to visit the Philippines.

The Philippines has about 15 typhoons each year. High season is June–October, with the peak in July–September, coinciding with the height of the southwest monsoon.

CURRENCY: Philippine Peso (PHP) 1 PHP = 1.41 INR Peso bills come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000. One peso is equivalent to 100 centavos and coins come in 5, 10 and 25 centavo variants in addition to the 1, 5 and 10 peso coins.

ATM’s & CREDIT/DEBIT CARDS: Visitors can also use the 6,000 ATMs nationwide to withdraw funds or ask for cash advances. The three major local ATM consortia are BancNet, MegaLink and Expressnet.

International networks, like PLUS and Cirrus, are accessible with many ATMs, however Cirrus is more predominant than PLUS; however, withdrawals are often limited to

5,000 pesos. Citibank and HSBC ATMs in Manila and Cebu let you take out

REGIONS: The Philippines has 80 provinces categorized into 17 regions containing over 120 cities. We have divided it into 5 major island groups.

1. Luzon Region: Manila Vigan & Ilocos Bicol – Legaspi & Donsol Puerto Galera 2. The Visayas: The Eastern Visayas – Cebu, Bohol, Panglao Island The Central Visayas – Negros, Bacolod, Boracay 3. Palawan: Puerto Princesa & El Nido Calamian Islands 4. Batanes Islands Batan, Sabtang & Itbayat 5. The South – Mindanao: Davao & Samal Island

P25, 000 to P40, 000 per transaction. Visitors who have a MasterCard/Maestro/Cirrus cards can withdraw funds or ask for cash advances at ATMs that display their logos.

The most prominent MasterCard ATMs are the Express Tellers by BPI (Bank of the Philippine Islands) and the Smartellers by Banco de Oro. Credit (and debit) card holders can use VISA, MasterCard, American Express and JCB cards in many commercial locations in the Philippines but merchants would usually require a minimum purchase amount before you can use your card.

[NOTE: In 2010, Philippine banks started to charge 200 per transaction for using foreign cards in their ATM machines, in addition to cash withdrawal and exchange fees already imposed by your bank. Notable exception is HSBC, which does not charge (January 2014) this fee; however, their ATMs are available only in a few larger cities, and even there don't count you'll stumble upon one of them - there's only one HSBC ATM in the entire Cebu City.]

SHOPPING: Living in the Philippines is cheap, shopping here is also cheap. Sales tend to happen during pay day and last for 3 days and also during the Christmas season (in the Philippines Christmas season extends from September to the first week of January) in Department stores like SM Department Store.

Cheaper items are sold at flea markets and open markets where you can bargain the price like Divisoria, Market!Market!, Greenhills in Metro Manila. Ayala Centre is often compared to Singapore's Orchard Rd, from Entertainment to shopping; they have it all there, located in the financial district of Makati.

Not far from Makati is Serendra, a Piazza that offers lifestyle and luxury shops and often called the Luxury lifestyle center of Metro Manila. The piazza features modern architecture that will make you think you're somewhere near the world of Star Wars, stare, drool and be amazed at the public art displayed there. Coffee shops and tea shops are found around this area, as well as furniture and clothing stores are located in Fort Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. The 4 largest mall operators are SM, Gaisano, Ayala and Robinson's with branches around the archipelago.

CUISINE: Filipinos usually serve at least one main course accompanied by rice for lunch and dinner. At times you would have two with a vegetable dish accompanying a meat dish.

On special occasions such as fiestas, several main dishes would be served; a Filipino party or a Fiesta wouldn't be complete without Spaghetti, Pasta, Fruit Salad, Ice Cream, Rice, spring rolls, cake or rice cakes and soda. Soups are also often the main course apart from being a starter. It is not uncommon for Filipinos to douse their rice with the soup and eat the meat that came with the soup alongside.

To experience how the Filipinos eat in a budget way, Carenderias (food stalls) and Turo-turo (meaning Point-point, which actually means you point at the food you want to eat in the buffet table) are some of the options. Mains cost less than $1.

MERAKI

FINE JEWELLERY Fine jewellery brand by GAURIE PANDIT for women of ďŹ ne taste.

Meraki essentially means when one leaves a piece of their own soul, (creativity, or love) in their work.

When you love doing something, anything, so much that you put something of yourself into it..

Gaurie has always been a creative person, and for her creativity is synonymous with passion!

She was introduced to the world of jewellery by a close family member who had a keen eye and a reďŹ ned taste for precious stones especially diamonds and there on her own interest and passion began to develop. This of course was then followed by a formal training and a professional course in jewellery designing.

Thus began her journey.

Her source of inspiration is anything absorbed from her surroundings. From nature to art or beauty in any form..

Meraki attempt and endeavour is to use diamonds of ďŹ nest quality at all times but still strive to make it cost eective for their valuable clients.

Making High Quality Bespoke jewellery accessible to all jewellery lovers and not letting it remain conďŹ ned to only a privileged few is what they are striving for!!

Available exclusively on

www.mybridaldrama.com

For Gaurie, creativity is synonymous with passion.