I am a princess

I may not wear a crown but from deep within i always feel like a princess. Yes, there are moments when i am not so sure of myself but that feeling never last. I think this belief is because i really understand, appreciate and celebrate myself for who i am and what i am. I could be fat/thin/ broke/ on my period/ starved/ crying, anything but i always have this feeling that i am unique and special. I always feel that i have lived a fantastic life despite a lot of ups and downs. I have been loved, appreciated and accepted and i have given my love as well. I believe life is beautiful and try my best to make it beautiful for the people around me. Everything i do is an extension of this personality and belief. I walk, talk, love, stargaze, cook, clean, write , read like a princess and will continue to live that way:):)

Doe Eyed

There is something so ethereal about long and thick eyelashes that they can instantly transform a regular jean and tee look to something dramatic and fabulous. Mascara can open up your eyes but faux lashes can truly make your eyes pop.There’s a reason that exaggerated eyelashes are the beauty signature of icons like Twiggy and Diana Ross and modern girls like Cara Delevingne and Lindsey Wixson. Wear them with fresh skin and a smudge of eyeliner through this holiday season.

HOW TO APPLY: Preparation before putting them on (optional): If you would like your faux lashes to look more natural, curl your natural eyelashes with an eyelash curler before applying them on. After the lashes are on, you can apply mascara to both your real and falsies to blend the two of them in together. 1. Gently peel the falsies off the package from outer lashes to inner lashes. 2. Cut the lash band to make it shorter if needed. (Just in case it is too long for your eye shape.) 3. If you’re using brush on glue, twist off the cap and run a thin line through the lash band with the brush. If you’re using a tube with glue, squeeze a small amount onto your finger, then run the lash band through the drop of glue on your finger. You want the line to be thin and not get messy and EVERYWHERE. That is a pain. This is why I recommend a brush on glue. Perfect for beginners. 4. Once you have your line of glue on the lashes, wait 10-15 seconds for the glue to become “tacky”, then place them on top of your real lashes as closely to them as possible. What I do is gently place them on top of my natural lash line (no pressure or anything). Once they’re on top of my lashes, I slowly secure parts of the lash band onto my lid with my fingers. Some people use tweezers. Either works.

Dance Like a Woman

Borrowing from classical, modern, and jazz styles, contemporary dance incorporates elements from many styles of dance, but it most often perceived as being closely related to modern dance, ballet and other classical concert dance styles. For Preethi Athreya who needs no introduction it is a critical lens - a sensibility, rather than a form. Words from the dancer on how she draws inspiration from Bharatnatyam and her much talked about performance at Alliance Francaise Your thoughts on being one of the few contemporary dancers in Chennai… I may be one of the few, but the movement for contemporary dance in Chennai is strong and deep-rooted in reclaiming the body and its dignity. How does your day begin? My day begins with training usually, then it goes on to a series of experiments sometimes and at other times, just reading and reflection. What is the creative process behind the creation of a piece of contemporary dance? This differs with each practitioner. For me it is in allowing the concept of a work to clarify itself over time with questions, trials and discussions. How do you draw inspiration from Bharatnatyam? Bharatanatyam is a good foundation. Sometimes it allows play, especially if you understand the principles and keep your sense of curiosity. Would you like to educate people on the merits of contemporary dance and how? No ... I think people are educated enough to make their own individual points of entry into the contemporary. How was the overall response to your performance at Alliance Francaise? Extremely energetic and enthusiastic. Words of advice to aspiring contemporary dancers… Take time to understand why you want to be one, before you think of how to be one. On your working with Magic lantern in the production of Ponniyin Selvan… I am a volunteer who is aspiring to participate and enjoy a process with Magic Lantern. It is a space that allows great sharing between disciplines like dance, music, theatre and visual arts.

Behind the lens

He started off by shooting roses and he says that of the32 photographs he shot he got only 2 right. It’s difficult to believe when popular celebrity photographer Karthik Srinivasan talks about his humble beginnings. He was born in a small town called Cumbam near Madurai and started shooting while he was in the 10th standard itself. With no formal education in photography or mentors the man has made it big all on his own purely on the basis of skill and talent. It is not without reason that SONY has chosen him from South India as brand ambassador for their Professional Alpha Camera Series. Karthik shares his happiness about being associated with an international giant like SONY and elaborates on his passion for photography. What got you interested in photography? I started shooting while I was in my 10th standard. My father used to get a lot of magazines like Stardust, Filmfare etc and I used to look at the pictures of celebrities in it. I tried out for DFtech at the film institute and Vis Comm in Loyola but didn’t get in. However I got the chance to model because of my height and frame. For seven years I was into modeling after which I turned to photography again. After this there was no turning back. Can you tell us the true basis of your inspiration? I’m always hungry for work. If I’m taking up a job I want to be the best at it. I didn’t learn photography from anyone, I didn’t go to any school. I wanted to prove myself. I wanted to work and show who I was and this made me very aggressive. What is your state of mind before every shoot? I’ve been shooting for many years but even now I will be nervous. That makes me driven. The moment you lose your fear things will go wrong. I take all shoots, big or small, very seriously. How would you describe your style? When I started photography I wanted to create an image that was on par with those of other established photographers. I started working on the saturation, contrasts, framing etc. I studied the style of all other photographers and created my own style. What type of camera do you shoot with? I now shoot with a Sony Alpha 99 with a Carl Zeiss. I tested this camera for two months, compared it with a lot of other cameras and found that the technology in this is superior to that used in other cameras. What is your favorite accessory other than your camera? It depends on what im shooting. I always have my laptop, Ipad, mobile phone etc with me. What kind of lighting equipment do you take on a shoot? Again it depends on what im shooting. I always carry my broncolar lighting. There are also lots of light modifiers that I carry. What is your favorite editing accessory? There are a lot of softwares coming in mobile phones for professional shoots but I generally don’t believe in using editing softwares or filters. I don’t even know how to use these filters. If you take my laptop I only have my light processing softwares. 90-95% of the image is created while shooting. It is only for the remaining 5 % that you should depend on photoshop. If your shooting someone against the sky and you want to change the color of the sky you can use photoshop. For things that are not under your control you can use photoshop. Everything else you create during the shoot. Are you a MAC or a PC lover? Any photographer loves MAC because it gives exact saturation. Even for amateurs I would recommend MAC. Any new equipment that you have your eyes on? I always wanted to do underwater photography. I wanted to buy a RIG for underwater. It will fit into the camera and it also has underwater lighting. What gives you ideas and inspires you to create such awesome imagery? You can take inspiration from everything. For eg I was sitting in Bangkok on the streets having a drink and a couple were sitting near the water. I took a picture of the couple and later took models to the same place and shot photographs. When I travel I notice every single detail. How do you educate yourself to take better photographs? I constantly innovate. What I was doing two years back I don’t do it anymore. The only way a skilled person can compete with a well educated well informed youth in his 20s is by using their knowledge and experience. Tell us something about your association with SONY Generally for a photographer a brand like SONY associating with him is big recognition. Im proud to be selected along with some of the biggest photographers of the country. It also puts a lot of pressure on me because from now on the world will be watching. I am happy and proud to be one among the very popular photographers from the country who have been chosen and I am the brand ambassador for their Professional Alpha Camera Series

Girl Power

Inspired by the likes of Maya Jane Coles and DJ Pearl an increasing number of women are calling the shots in the profession of DJing all over the country. In Chennai it’s DJ Iris, Senchu and Rabeqqa who have carved a niche for themselves in what has been a male domain. They believe that the city finally has enough nightclubs though they wish there were more standalone bars. They had a lot to say about how their families still have issues with the fact that they are DJs and how women DJs are hired and paid more for their looks than for the music they play. All three girls for some reason are currently freelancing and not restricted to playing at any specific club and choose to keep low profile. Finding them was not very easy. While this conservative city has warmed up to the idea of having female DJs some segments of the society are yet to get used to the idea and give these girls a tough time which is possibly the reason why we have so few of them behind the console. There is still a majority of the crowd that comes in at most of the clubs looking for Bollywood or Kollywood music, get drunk and sometimes and get too involved in the music (local Tamil songs) and misbehave they complain. Having a high profile crowd means being more comfortable and these girls believe that Library Blu at the Leela Palace, Q Bar at Hilton Hotel, Dublin at Park Sheraton, Blend at Taj Mount Road, Flying elephant at Park Hyatt and 10 Downing Street are some of the most secure clubs in the city. They say that a very high profile and decent crowd is guaranteed at these places. Private parties are not always secure they say and it’s difficult not to agree. They are very selective when it comes to playing at private parties they say and it is mostly for friends or friends of friends that they restrict themselves to play for. The location also matters they say. DJ Manny, DJ Mazhar, DJ Kave and DJ Brown Brothwick are the names that come up when asked about male counterparts who have been truly supportive and genuinely respect them for the music they play. Men still have an advantage over women in the profession they say because they can travel alone and travel to wherever they want to and play. They all agree that it’s important to be accompanied by either a group of girl pals or a male friend every time you go out to play. The best thing about the job is that you get to play music that everyone is passionate about. You get to do something that you really enjoy and that makes you really happy. When compared to other professions this is a lot of fun and you get paid well too. So what’s not to like about the profession they say.

Cupid Calling

Sweaty palms, a lump in the throat and the fear of rejection making things a little more difficult, we’ve all been there some time or the other. We are living in the age of touch screens and facebooking but cupid still strikes and when he does we are sometimes clueless on how to take the first step and ask the other person out. Its February and with Valentine’s Day just weeks away if there is someone who makes your heart flutter you cannot really make excuses. We had our city’s celebs give us a few pointers on how to do it right whether it is getting a date or accepting rejection gracefully. Dr. Mini Rao You can find out the persons number through a common friend. Texting is a really nice informal way of asking a woman out. If you’re really shy try leaving a massage on facebook. If you’re the bold type just give her a call. It is best to make it a group thing especially if its on valentine’s day and ask her if she wants to hang out with you and a couple of friends. Ask her out for coffee because it is the least intimidating. For a woman to ask a man out it is quite a bold move though you find it happening these days. You can leave a msg or call depending on how bold or shy you are. It is okay for a woman to ask a man out alone. Karun Raman Try making it loud. Get a huge cake and have a pre Valentine’s Day party just for the two of us and asking the person out on the next day. Get to the point. Don’t be indirect. Don’t be boring be full of energy. Paloma Rao The best way to ask someone out is to become their friend and then take it from there. You shouldn’t feel pressurised to ask someone out just because its valentine’s day. Vivek Karunakaran I think the best way would be to surprise the person. It would be good to bring a fair amount of surprise into the proposal. Don’t be cheesy. Most important be yourself and do it in your style Gibran I think the best way to ask someone out is to ask them directly and straight up, but to make it memorable and special one should put a little thought and effort into it. A few lines on what he/she feel about the person. A small poem or sonnet or it could even be a well thought out line or message. At the end of the day its got to look like you have put a little effort into it. Don’t assume the answer/response this most often messes up your approach. Don’t be nervous, once you look back at the moment you will laugh. Don’t Copy dialogues from movies/internet- they don’t belong to you/therefore not yours/not original. Be honest. Add some chocolates (Great aphrodisiac) be natural and be yourself not someone you’re not.

Neon flash

Sonam Kapoor rocked the trend at the fashion week in Delhi with a sari from Masaba Gupta’s first collection for sari label Satya Paul. During the recent promotions for Chennai Express Deepika Padukone was spotted in an acid green Arpita Mehta sari Priyanka Chopra dazzled everyone with her neon Manish Malhotra sari paired with a subtle grey choli

Eye Spy

Glasses have come a long way and are n0w even acceptab1e 0n the red carpet with ce1ebs 1ike Deepika Paduk0ne and S0nakshi Sinha r0cking the trend, Whi1e 0pti0ns are avai1ab1e in every p0ssib1e sty1e, shape and c010ur 0ne fashi0n ru1e carefu11y 0bserved is the bigger the better. Y0u can a1s0 ch00se c1assic s1im frames 1ike Kiran Ra0 wh0 prefers functi0n 0ver fashi0n, D0s and D0nts 1. Wear smaller frames if you suffer from puffiness under the eyes, the bottom of the rim will cover dark circles and fine lines. 2. Lenses can magnify the eye area and draw attention s0 make sure y0ur eye make up is f1aw1ess 3. Wear simple frames with bold eyes and vice versa. 4. Experts say that thick rims with thick eyebrows is too much going on

Fancy Pants

We as a species have favoured covering our nethers and over the years we have learnt to do it fashionably. There is an excellent bit of trivia about the history or concept of pants that the term is derived from a certain Saint Panteleon and a buffoonish character named Pantaloon. History has it that Peter the Great, the tsar of Russia who became the emperor of all Russia in the early 1700s declared that "the upper dress shall be of French or Saxon cut, and the lower dress and underwear—waistcoat, trousers, boots, shoes, and hats—shall be of the German type." The name which was used to refer specifically to the flouncy breeches has been shortened to “pants” by new Americans, eager to save a syllable.

For 2013 ordinary pants won’t do so it is printed pants now. Cropped trousers add height, skinnies enhance curves, tailored ones give structure and wide legs maximise comfort. Wear them bold, colourful with doodles or in your face artwork this season.

Aromatherapy

Eau De Dough by Pizza Hut 1. Perfumes or fragrances fall into family groups e.g. Floral, Woody, Spicy and Fresh etc. Generally people tend to stick to a certain smell family mostly because it recreates happy memories. To choose the right fragrance it is best to look at what you already have and find something from the same family group. 2. 3. Perfumes are specifically designed for different parts of the day. People usually prefer lighter scents for the day and more intense ones for the night. 4. 5. Before trying different scents always be clear how much you want to spend. Do not try more than three scents at any one time; your nose may become de-sensitized... Smelling coffee beans in between is supposedly the best way to take a smell break. 6. 7. Fragrance reacts uniquely on different skin types or under different conditions. If you like the smell of a perfume or aftershave on someone else it may not smell the same on you

Tummy tuck

To a very great extent your waistline decides whether or not you are obese. It is a myth that bloating in the stomach is from fluid accumulation. Fluids do not accumulate in this part of the body. Here are some stomach slimming tips Avoid Constipation Too little fiber, fluids, and physical activity can lead to constipation. To avoid bloating eat a diet high in fiber (25 grams per day for women and 38 for men) from whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Drink plenty of fluids (aim for 6-8 glasses a day) and aim for physical activity for at least 30 minutes, five times a week. For better tolerance increase fiber intake and drink plenty of water. Rule out wheat allergies or Lactose Intolerance Food allergies and intolerances can cause gas and bloating. However do not self-diagnose these conditions and eliminate healthy dairy and whole grains from their diets. You can choose aged cheeses and yogurts, which are lower in lactose. Eat slow Eating quickly and not chewing your food well can cause air swallowing that leads to bloating.Your snack or meal becomes more satisfying when you eat slow. Chewing Gum Chewing gum can also lead to swallowing air, which can cause bloating.Alternate chewing gum with sucking on a piece of hard candy or eating a healthy, high-fiber snack like fruit, vegetables, or lower-fat popcorn. Sugarfree foods Artificially sweetened foods and drinks contain too much sugar alcohol and can lead to bloating.Experts recommend consuming no more than 2 or 3 servings of artificially sweetened foods and drinks per day. Limit Sodium Highly processed foods tend to be high in sodium and low in fiber, both of which can contribute to that bloated feeling, Jensen says. Get in the habit of reading food labels, Blatner advises. When buying processed, canned, or frozen foods, shoot for no more than 500 mg of sodium per serving in any product -- or a total of 1,500 to 2,300 mg of sodium per day. Look for labels that say "sodium free," "low sodium," or "very low sodium." Beans and Gassy Vegetables Eating beans and vegetables, such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower can cause bloating. Eat small meals often Instead of three big meals per day eat smaller meals more often. This can keep you free of the bloated feeling that often follows large meals. Anti bloating food and drink Studies suggest that peppermint tea, ginger, pineapple, parsley, and yogurts containing probiotics ("good" bacteria) that may help reduce bloating. Remember

To de-bloat you shouldn’t skip meals or use laxatives or water pills If you're looking to flatten your belly for the long term you have to understand that when you lose total body fat, your body reduces belly fat. Strengthen abdominal muscles with routines like Pilates and exercise ball workouts and this can make your stomach muscles stronger and can help make your belly appear flatter.

Life of Pi

These days I find myself constantly craving a head rush. It is the feeling you get every time u get ready for a date with someone u love. It is the feeling you crave when all else is mundane and boring. I feel this way when I bite into my favourite foods, whip up a fantastic recipe all by myself in the kitchen or sit in a theatre and watch a new movie begin. Yesterday I made pancakes from Pilsbury’s cake mix and today I booked myself tickets to Ang Lee’s Life of Pi. Something told me I wasn’t going to enjoy the movie. Too bad I didn’t last till the tiger came. I think I expected Slumdog Millionaire part 2 and came back very disappointed. I am a huge fan of Irfhan Khan and Tabu even read ‘The Namesake’ this movie just didn’t do anything to me. My mom is very pissed for having made her leave without watching the movie so I am thinking of getting a CD or DVD but then Pissing Patel is a bad joke.

Makeover

Make up means different things to different people and at an NYE bash it expresses your mood. So put together a look that’s unique but at the same time makes you feel comfortable. Whats hot? Peachy golden dewy skin Tinted moisturiser bronze brown or gold creamy eye shadows peach coral lip stains Loose powder Black kohl Nude or red lips Smoky eye Bronzer Liquid foundation pearl or a gold highlighter black eye shadow blackshimmery eye shadow Mascara False lashes Whats not? Concealer There are some truly terrific skin care products available in the market today. SO there are no excuses for bad skin. Smoking and sun damage are the most important reasons for premature ageing.

Party Rockers

Bright young designers through experimentation and drawing together a mix of textures and influences have created the perfect dress code for the party season this year. According to Drashta Sarvaiya If you have it all colour curves and comfort you are ready to roll. Her clothes are edgy but feminine in appeal to the eclectic non-conformist. Ruchika Sachdeva’s label Bodice has a quirky and sardonic feel that’s a breath of fresh air.The response to her collections says that theres clearly a marketfor her off beat style and unpredictable detailing. Payal Khandewala says she usually just accessorises differently. Pia Pauros says bling dresses with beading and embroidery and colours like Inca gold and piles of jewellery. Anushka Khanna recommends doing away with black for a pop of colour and her ultimate party accessory is a jewelled evening sling bag

My Wishlist for 2013

My Dark Angel Vacation to a place that I haven’t been before

Body butter in festive flavors by Bodyshop

A sexy new phone A professional Camera Well these are a few of my favourite things :D

Bang Bang Bang

I love my features and have nothing to complain about except for the fact that I have an extraordinarily broad forehead. A lot of times I have tried consoling myself with the fact that this way I have something in common with timeless beauties like Hema Malini and Madhuri Dixit but it has never helped. This is when a hair stylist introduced me to the joy of face framing bangs and ever since I have been a huge fan of the trend. Bangs have a multitude of benefits: they camouflage a high forehead, make long, thin faces appear fuller and almost totally nullify the need for Botox. Short bangs are drastic and give you a rock and roll swagger while brow or lash sweeping ones create a sexy peek-a-boo effect. Its the perfect time to get face framing layers because the trend is big and here to stay.

Weight Shifters

Eggs Eggs are loaded with choline a compound known to help block fat absorption Kiwi fruit A large Kiwi has more than a day’s quota of Vitramin C Lentils Legumes are rich in resistant starch a carb that encourages fat burning and shrinks fat cells Wild Salmon Omega -3 fatty acids in a fish help you fight flab more effectively Yoghurt Low and non-fat yoghurt contain 20 per cent of your daily calcium needs and also helps lose belly fat Apple I hate apples but then it isn’t without reason that man lost paradise over this forbidden fruit. Apples help ferry out some of the fat that you gain from other foods Quinoa Quinoa has all the essential amino acid needed to build metabolism muscle Sweet Potatoes They contain the same carbs as those found in lentils and also increase production of peptide hormone compounds that signal the brain to stop eating Olive oil Monosaturated fats in olive oil help switch on genes related to fat burning Edamame Green soybeens supply 17g of protein per cup and the body torches more calories digesting protein than it does with carbs and fat

Here Comes the Mom

Ash in an Abu Jani- Sandeep Khosla sari By walking the red carpet at the ‘Cosmopolis’ premiere during the 65th Annual Cannes Film Festival Ash proved that she's still got that sensual presence. However, the lady has been looking plain chubby these days which is ‘cute’ for a regular mommy but totally unacceptable for a beauty contest winner, ex-model and Bollywood actor. Her weight gain which has become an issue of national concern can be forgiven but we do wish the actor paid more attention to her make up and choice of outfits.

The svelte Sanjana (from the Pepsi commercial) and the dream like Nandini from ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ is what we best remember you for. You are the ideal of Indian beauty for most of us and we would never want you to be a ‘real’ woman. We would love to be seeing a lot more of this

What Makes You Beautiful?

There are days when you look in the mirror and love what you see and then there are times when you wish God had spent just a little more time on you. What makes you beautiful? What makes your eyes sparkle and that smile radiate? There hasn’t been a time when people were more aware and conscious of their looks than now. Fact is that there is no face or body that cannot be transformed with some effort or a lot of money. Faces can be lifted and tummies toned or tucked but what about that glow? The experts say eight glasses of water or eight hours a day and yes we have heard about sleep in a bottle but there are people who follow none of these and still manage to radiate like a megawatt bulb. I guess beauty comes from somewhere within. Beauty comes from loving and being loved and then again like most mysteries of the world there are reasons unexplained. No wonder Anatole France thought beauty "more profound than truth itself."

Odd Stuff

20 adorable stuffed pugs(there’s a sequined rock chic Balmain pug and a crystal covered one by Manish Arora) produced by German company Steiff and customised by international luxury labels are to be auctioned on the Luisa Via Rome website in March and all proceeds will go to UNICEF for its project to help educate children in Bangladesh. Check www.vogue.in for more details.

An illustrated iPad case with the quirky designs of Albert Elbaz in durable polycarbonate material that is high impact resistant. Check Net-a-Porter.com for more details.

Irreverant and indefinitely stylish like all of Maison Martin Margiela’s creations this luggage tag inspired iPhone case is perfect for everyday office looks. Check www.net-a-Porter.com for more details.

Ferrari in association with British company Logic3 has introduced a high end range of audio equipment that includes headphones, earphones and dock speakers. Now, if a pair of oversized headphones with the brand’s signature ‘Prancing horse’ isn’t ‘hot’ what else is? Check www.ferrari-by-logic3.com.