Christmas cookies available in Santa tins

     Wishing all my readers a very Merry Christmas! May this new year bring a lot of joy, good health and success your way :) As I was thinking about how I should begin this post for you I heard a very loud "Ho, Ho, Ho" coming from outside (I kid you not) (this happened late last night while I was writing this post). I guess tis that season that brings out the inner Santa of everyone ;) Well for me I actually hope that it was the real deal and hopefully I can see some of my wishes coming true soon....a girl can dream...But whether I can mange to spot the real Santa or not I sure got an eyeful of his workshop, elves and reindeer at Mrs. Magpie's window display :D If you read my earlier post on their Durga Puja menu you will know that they are the only cafe in town which does the whole window dressing thing and with aplomb. This time was no different with a beautiful winter wonderland laid out :)

Kokobites November Box

     I was a total subscription box addict at one point and still give in to the temptation from time to time. I think that I have mentioned this before that the biggest draw for me when it comes to getting one of these is the whole surprise factor. There is just something about the whole anticipation thing...what kind of products will I get my hands on...what surprises are in store for me...that just drives one giddy with excitement (yes I have the mentality of a 5 year old :P ). I recently came across someone posting about a new subscription box from Korea in one of the groups on Facebook that I'm a part off and I decided to take a quick look. They had a couple of options available but what really drew me in was the Kokobites box aka the snack box :D I have so been wanting to lay my hands on some Korean snacks that this one was a no brainer for me...I actually had my "shut up and take my money" moment ;)

Cold Pressed Juices, Inspirit Cleanse, Kolkata

      You know my biggest problem with dieting, apart from being able to stick to it, is the whole process you have to go through of acquiring the produce. Whether it is some specialized diet that you want to do or even the current trend of juicing/detoxing that is doing the rounds...getting the raw materials, prepping, processing and finally consumption...and then to keep repeating it over and over! Such a pain and a half!!! I know it sounds absolutely moronic but hear me out. Even though I work from home my considerable time goes into it simply for the fact that I can put in more hours = more money. After that what time I do get I like to relax and enjoy myself. Really dont feel like putting any effort in anything else so I end up taking the easy way out. The thing that is most common with most diets is the complete rehaul of your fridge which is usually stocked with the more convenient albeit fattening food options. I'm such a huge fan of the whole on-delivery-diet-meal concept...too bad we don't have such options out here yet. 

Dry Skin range from Janssen Cosmetics

     After the horrible dry skin phase I went through last year during winters I wanted to get an early head start year this time around. I have been on the lookout for something that can act as a preventive measure before the winter sets in. Luckily I came across some samples from Janssen Cosmetics. I have tried one product from their range earlier on and was very happy with its results. So it goes without saying that I had high hopes from my recent acquisitions. You can check out the review of what I had tried out earlier here. This time I around I tried out their Melafadin Cleansing Powder, Day Vitalizer and Night Replenisher (last two belong to their dry skin range).

Awadhi Food Festival, K19 Restaurant, Park Plaza Hotel, Kolkata

     When Mr. Ashish Chopra, Culinary Historian, asked me what my fondest memories of food were I remembered all the times when I was traveling with my folks when I was a kid and the strange experiences that I had which I remember cause they were not very pleasant. But I think my fondest memories come from my school days. We had this tiny canteen aka store that would sell things like chowmein, fried rice, moghlai parantha with aloo or lucchi and channa dal (only one of this dish per day) with the omnipresent veg chop. All the girls from the senior and junior block would crowd around and literally fight tooth and nail to buy food worth 10 bucks! But I haven't had food that tastes like that even remotely. Not that it was anything exceptional but I guess the memories make it special...or was it the "survival of the fittest' appeal of it :P Isn't it strange how many memories/emotions food can evoke?

Gia Bath and Body Works October Subscription Box

     I'm a huge fan of subscription boxes as most of you would know by now. The anticipation of what little treasures are waiting to be discovered each time I open one is extremely thrilling and addictive of sorts for me. I went through a whole Memebox craze phase and suffered some major withdrawals when I couldn't get them anymore (well my wallet did a whole booty shaking happy dance at that :P). In recent times some Indian brands have adopted this concept which I feel is a brilliant move. Though I prefer multi-brand boxes as it gives me a wider range of choice but single brand boxes allow me to try out products which I might have been hesitant about investing in. I have been eyeing Gia Bath and Body Works for the longest time especially since I heard a lot about their soaps. And this October my wish got fulfilled :)

Halloween Makeup Look - Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

     Ola! Another year...another Halloween look. This year just whizzed by super fast! Cant believe its November already. Ah well...this year I wanted to do a full face look as opposed to the half masks I have been doing so far. Plus I wanted to break away from the pretty and do something a little more grungy. I actually created the whole look just around the lens I'm wearing :D They are called Innocent White and are from Desio Lens. Ooo I so love their lens...this is my second pair from them. They give you full coverage yet look so natural. Well this doesn't on me but on really fair skinned people this looks super gorgeous! To celebrate the duality of everyone's nature aka the grayness I played with the iconic "wolf in sheep's clothing" concept. Well I think I'm more of a wolf than a sheep any day ;) Hope you guys like the look -

Orange cake with chocolate drizzle

     These days I am drifting through a Korean drama (& music) haze...or riding the Hallyu wave as it better known as (cowabunga!!). The aspect that has caught my attention the most...well after the eye candy of course...is the mouthwatering food! Oh sweet lord the food!!! I'm dying to try some black bean noodles like right now. My intake of Chinese food (that is all that I can get my hands on) has increased exponentially since I started watching the dramas. I think the saddest part is that even if I can make the dream trip to Seoul I will not be able to enjoy the food that I have become familiar with...why you ask? Sigh! Coz I'm a vegetarian. Am I forever destined to not be able to enjoy world cuisine due to my preference??? Hmm maybe not. Not if the ladies of Eat Out @ Home have something to say about it :)

Mrs. Magpie Kolkata Puja Special 2015

     When it comes to desserts one of my absolute favorite, well after chocolate of course, is marzipan! It is a flavor that I associate with special moments from my childhood. Whenever me or my younger sisters would have our birthdays approaching going to one of the most famous bakeries in town way back then was an event in its self. They used to make the best marzipan themed cakes that I have had till date! Usually the cake would be a complete surprise for the birthday girl so the grand unveiling on D-day was a cause for an even bigger excitement than the presents. When that bakery shut down it was heart wrenching...very corny but I will say it....end of a beautiful era! Cut to the present there is a distinct lack of places in Kolkata which serve up "proper" marzipan...yes true blue one not the royal icing masquerading as one.

Asche Bocchor Abar Hobe

     This is something I have said a number of times now but it is still not enough to express the magic that happens during this time of the year. Kolkata transforms itself to welcome the great goddess and even the air carries a special buzz of energy or rather anticipation. Truly one of the best times that one should be visiting the city (well the jams and blockages aside). Among all that is going around (twinkling of bright fairy lights at every nook, the pandals in their different stages of creation, the sweet smell in the air, the slight change in the weather...) getting to sample the new Puja Special Menu at Bon Appetit was the cherry on top...hmm or in this case the rose petal on top?!?

Wella Professionals Illumina Colour

     When it comes to coloring my hair I have been very experimental with it throughout my life. A good part of it my hair has spent in being all possible shades of red out there in the universe. Ideally it would have been a candy floss pink but alas such extravagance was not available to me at the time :D I remember a time when my hair looked like it had been lit up in flames (burst of red and orange shades) when I stepped out in the sun...ah!! the memories of youth :P The biggest problem one faces (well apart from a coloring job gone wrong which makes you into a biology lab specimen that is) is the awkward fading of color along with a loss of shine. The bright shade that you fell in love with fades down to straw looking hair...within a few months (sometimes even weeks) all you are left with is a mess and a half.

The Yellow Straw Kolkata

     When I was doing my MBA in Poona, it was a part of our evening routine to head on down to the juice center near our hostel and chill with our glasses of juice along with fruit salad after a long hot day. Poona was damn hot during those months and the only thing that bought a semblance of relief was either hiding in the computer room pretending to work on the terminals (even though we had our laptops all the time with us) so that we got to stay in an air-conditioned room for a bit or guzzling down glasses of cold juice to cool ourselves. You get the most awesome fruits in that city and it was the first place where I saw the fig fruit :) Since I came back to Kolkata that little activity has long become a thing of the past as I didn't find a good juice place close to house and out here (at least back then) juice house would have very limited options aka orange, pineapple, apple and grapes. 

Product Empties - July Edition

     Hello Divas! Well I went back to the post format for my empties as I had a lot of products to cover and doing a vid was not cutting it for me. The whole time constraint and editing part still gets to me :P Any-hoo I have a couple of hair-care, body and even weight loss aids for you this time around. So lets get down with it to see what makes it into my repurchase list and what didn't make the cut. Hopefully the list will help you to make some purchase choices of your own next time around :)

Day 2 for Rahul Mishra by Sonic Sarwate, Global Senior Artist, 

M.A.C India at Amazon India Couture Week 2015

Day 2 for Gaurav Gupta by Mickey Contractor, Director of Makeup Artistry, 

M.A.C India at Amazon India Couture Week 2015

     Gaurav Gupta presented his collection titled "Silt and Cipher" on Day 2 in partnership with Outhouse. This bridal collection was showcased among a fairytale backdrop. Mickey Contractor, Director of Makeup Artistry, M.A.C India, designed a shimmery gold look to complement the theme. Here is a step-by-step guide for you to recreate this look for yourself:-

Day 1 for Sabyasachi by Mickey Contractor, Director of Makeup Artistry, 

M.A.C India at Amazon India Couture Week 2015

     Sabyasachi showcased his "Bater Couture" collection on Day 1 of the Amazon India Couture Week where his collab with Christian Louboutin was the talk of the town. The collection had a very dark and Gothic theme to it. To complement the theme Mickey Contractor, Director of Makeup Artistry, M.A.C India created this look and here is a step-by-step guide to help you recreate this look for yourself - 

The Body Shop Drops of Youth Bouncy Sleeping Mask

     I first came across the concept of a sleeping mask when I discovered Korean products. The idea seemed strange at first coz since a young age we are drilled with the admonitions of our mothers to not talk while having a mask on as it would result in wrinkles. How does one sleep in something which essentially hardens up on your skin? How does it work? Is it safe? Well turns out that all my apprehensions were baseless as these masks are specially formulated to be gel like and though they do dry down (well most of them do) they don't form a hard layer of the standard packs. Most form a light film on the skin while some even stay wet all through. But they are mainly meant to deliver moisture to the skin and do that job to a T. 

Bombay Brasserie

     It is amazing to see how much the Kolkata scene has changed in a matter of 2 years especially where food is concerned. Earlier when my friends who lived outside of the city asked me about the places to go and see I would draw a complete blank after giving them the mandatory tourist spots. The question - "so like where do you hang out man? Where do you chill?" drew a face marked with question marks all over it from me. Not saying there weren't any but seriously I couldn't point out some that who please a wide range of tastes. But now I can proudly throw the names around of a couple of them without hesitation and sounding like a complete snobbish pro :D The establishment of Quest Mall bought in quite a few places to us and among them is Bombay Brasserie. 

Product Empties - June Edition

     Hello chicas! Back with another vid for you guys with a quick run through of the products that I was able to finish. I actually have quite a bit that I wanted to share with you guys but the time constraint of keeping the vids in an acceptable viewing range is a huge problem. I end up recording 30-40 min long ones and then I have to brutally cut them to fit 10-15 minutes. Its insane I tell you :P Put a person in front of a cam...namely me...and they will blab their heads off. What is funny is probably I wont be speaking much if you put me in a group. I guess I like the sound of my own voice and the "gyan" I can churn up. Hmm...I'm detecting some major issues here that I probably need to address :D

Essence Color & Go Nail Polishes - L to R - L.O.L, Space Queen and Its Raining Men!

     Essence has finally made its way to Kolkata and if you are looking to pick some pieces from this brand then head on down to Bridget Jones parlor near Maddox Square. They have a huge kiosk setup inside which carries most of their range (I think). The products are very reasonably priced and you are spoiled for choices especially in the nail polish range. I picked up 3 shades from them - Its Raining Men!, L.O.L and Space Queen. I have tried only one other product from this brand which is mascara gifted to me by Dolon of Pout Pretty. This was my first experience with the nail paints so lets just see how they performed...

Moroccanoil Hydrating Hair Spa Salon Treatment Kolkata

     Ever since I first tried out the Hydrating Cream from Moroccanoil I have been a fan of this brand. Not only does it give me super soft hair when all else fails but makes them smell wonderful too. I have been meaning to get their intensive conditioner mask and am waiting to get rid some of the stuff that I have in my stock right now. I don't know if you are aware of this but you can get their intensive treatment aka hair spa done from their partner salons as well. They have 2 kinds of treatment for your scalp issues and 2 types for your hair. So you can make combinations out of them and get a treatment done as per your needs. The price varies upon the length of your hair and in accordance to the place you are getting it done from. I got it done last year when I was feeling especially low and after a good half hour of pampering I was tossing my hair about and feeling like a princess :D

Outfit of the day - Ethnic Fusion Ensenble: Black Kurta paired with Lungi

     Hey there! I have some news that I would like to share with you :) Recently I launched a brand new website/blog and I'm very excited about it. Though the main purpose for it was to document my professional work as an upcoming artist but I wanted to integrate that with my love for blogging. Hence you will find Fashion & Lifestyle related content there from now on. There will be some overlap with Sorelle Grapevine till that site takes off on its own but eventually SG will be all about the beauty. I hope you guys will show your love and support for this new venture as SG has grown steadily over the years due to you. There are some new ideas in the pipeline and a new fashion post is already up so use the link given below and head on down there!

Summer Glam Makeup Tutorial

     Hey! I'm doing a tutorial after ages and I must say I feel so out of touch. My new camera is putting me through the paces and kicking the sh*t out of me :P This was my 3rd attempt at recording this look. I know I still have a long way to go to make it just right so I would appreciate feedback and suggestions from you to improve your viewing experience. This is a look that I wore in my last vid ie Jewelry Haul from Aliexpress and I was at a loss of finding the right name for it. Well all thanks to Dolon this has an apt name now :D I made a talk through vid this time around just coz I wanted it to be easy for even beginners to follow and be able to replicate it. If you would like short tuts then do let me know that as well. Personally I don't like the ones that zoom through the look in a couple of minutes coz they sometimes become hard to understand especially if you don't have a technique down...

Maybelline Rebel Bouquet REB05 Lipstick

     Maybelline recently launched their Rebel Bouquet collection (known as Rebel Bloom in the US) which is their Spring-Summer collection made up of "bold" pastel colors. The collection in India includes 6 lipsticks and 9 nail paints. They have included some face and eye makeup products too but these 2 categories are the main focus of it. I was sent over some products from the range to try out and I will be reviewing the REB05 lipstick for you here first. Btw they have launched some really interesting nail paints in this collection under the Color Show Go Graffiti umbrella for just Rs. 145/-.

Sohum Spa, Kenilworth Hotel, Kolkata

     I used to be quite the spa junkie back in the day. My monthly trips were pretty much on schedule...seriously nothing can beat a well done massage in wiping all the strains of pain and tiredness from you. I have been to a couple of spas across the metro cities of the country from some very basic ones to some really good high end ones. While some left me a happy bunny after the experience the others were sadly lacking. And it is not just the treatment...lets keep it to the side. I believe that the ambiance is of the foremost importance especially as it sets the mood when you step into the place. The lighting, the music and the smell (yes you read me right) plays as big role in how calm and relaxed you feel. They are the necessary add-ons which complete a spa experience.

     Hey guys! So I recently went a little nuts at Aliexpress and ended up hauling some jewelry! If you guys follow me on Instagram then you know how much I love my statement jewelry. I have shopped a couple of times from this site so far and have bought a wide range of products - clothes, jewelry, photography lights, led bulbs for photography. If you have been wondering whether or not you should take the plunge and try them out then check out my vid and find out 5 reasons why should be considering Aliexpress for your next purchase. 

Uttam Bhoj at ITC Sonar, Kolkata part of Dinner Buffet Price Rs. 2250/- plus taxes

Kolkata Street Food Festival at K19 Restaurant, Park Plaza Hotel, Kolkata

     Kolkata has one of the best street food...period! You have not lived if you have not tried the pucchka (pani-puri aka golgappa) with the spicy aloo mix and the sour lip smacking water. Though Delhi comes in a close second and is often head to head in a lot of things but for me my vote will always go to Kolkata. Taste aside the entire experience of standing by the road with the plate made of leaves and trying to gobble up the pieces faster than the pucchka dude can serve them up is a hoot and a half. My friend recently dropped in from Mumbai and he really wanted to try out the infamous pucchka but he ended up having it from some restaurant and was very disappointed with it. He told me that he didn't like it one bit and I literally went nuclear on him saying that he better not be saying anything bad about it since he didn't really experience the real deal in the first place :P 

Ganier Pure Active Neem+Tulsi High Foaming Face Wash

     Ah! The heat is terrible!!! That plus the humidity just saps all the strength you have and before you know it has knocked you out completely. To say that I hate this heat with a passion is an understatement. All those in agreement please raise your hands :D Not only does the heat renders one incapable of functioning like a normal human being but the problems that it brings in on top it is enough to drive one insane. Whereas in the winters my skin was like a greedy dessert drinking up whatever moisture it could find now it is turned into a literal oil well which can fulfill the demand of certain small sized countries! I kid you not :P Oiliness, rash, pimples....you name it....ugh! How is one to survive such odds?

Raaga Professional Gold Facial Kit

     Who doesn't love a good facial? An hour or so of pampering can do one's soul a hell lot of good :) I used to be quite regular with them back when I was in college. I wouldn't get the whole enchilada done ie to say I took the lighter version (aka sans the vigorous massage) since I was young. But fruit facials with the added benefit of a galvanic treatment were a must for me and probably one of the factors I have good skin. Unfortunately as life got busier my trips became lesser and now I would be lucky to do one in 6 months. So when I got an opportunity to review a facial kit from Raaga a brand belonging to Cavin Kare I was all gung-ho! Granted that the true bliss of a facial is all the wonderful massage that someone else does on you but I needed the power boost of sorts that only a facial can provide. I would like to mention that I have stopped using the Michael Todd cream, that I reviewed recently, sometime back so the results you see are the true indication of the kit being used.

Lakme Absolute Studio Sculpt Lipstick Plum Spell

     Lakme recently launched a whole new range of matte lippies called Lakme Absolute Studio Sculpt Lipstick which had the blogsphere buzzing. Few Kolkata bloggers got invited to an exclusive preview of their launch at the Anamika Khanna store before their grand debut at Lakme Fashion Week. I consider myself to be a matte lover in-transition as it is still difficult for me to embrace a true matte formula. Did you know that by design matte products are supposed to suck the moisture from your skin so that they can adhere to it properly and last longer? Well Lakme apparently came out with a new formula that gave you the benefits of a matte lipstick (deep long lasting color) sans its shortcomings (aka drying) and at the same time giving your lips a sculpted effect!

     Amrapali has always been synonymous with unique and eye catching silver jewelry. Best known for the tribal/traditional kind of pieces I personally love them for the Victorian and semi-precious stone jewelry that they do. They have been a favorite of the Bollywood brigade since quite a while and now even the Hollywood starlets can be seen walking down the red carpet in their pieces. I don't know about you but hearing that makes me feel very proud. Did you know that it is the first and only Indian jewelry brand that is available at Harrods? They have recently added to their product line by introducing gold jewelry. Some of us got invited to the opening of their new boutique which is adjacent to their store in Forum Courtyard, Kolkata.

Forest Essentials Store, Forum Mall, Kolkata

     Forest Essentials finally setup shop in Kolkata! I'm going to take a moment here and enjoy this warm fuzzy feeling :) It has been a year of changes for our city and a lot of brands are finally setting up a presence here. The retail scene has been picking up slowly but is getting stronger day by day. It is so good to finally have access to beloved brands in our backyard and not having to travel to other cities just to stock up. Some of us were invited by the PR of the brand to experience the new store and latest launches. I must say that from all the launches that I have attended so far this was among the top most simply coz of the one-on-one attention that they gave us. 

Maybelline The Colossal Liner

Maybelline The Colossal Liner in Black, Price - Rs. 425/-

     Maybelline has bought in a lot of new products in this past year, their recent launch being the Rebel Bouquet collection, and some of them have not only been very affordable but have just nailed it in the performance department. Recently they made some new additions to their very popular Colossal family. Today I will be reviewing the Colossal Liner in Black which is a felt tip liner pen. I really like this type of format as it makes the application process a whole lot easier and gives you more control on the kind of thickness that you want for your liner. 

     Smoke Shack is an open air restaurant located on the rooftop of Park Plaza hotel in the heart of Kolkata. I was very surprised to find such a good hotel and amazing food joint located mere minutes from my residence. They have a gorgeous infinity pool and a lovely view! I can go and sit there for hours just for the view alone...it is very soothing to look over the city line sitting beside the pool. They have special aqua exercise classes scheduled for summers in case any one is interested :) We were called in for lunch and coz it was very hot we had to shift to another restaurant of the hotel so couldn't enjoy the beautiful Smoke Shack in its full splendor. But it would be great spot for a dinner date as towards evening a lovely breeze is blowing and it becomes very pleasant...

Ilex London in Quest Mall, Kolkata

     ILEX London celebrated its first anniversary recently and few of us were invited to attend. They opened their first store here in Kolkata a year back and will soon be opening more across the country. They deal in luxury leather bags and accessories. The brand aims to fill the gap between the mid and high end with prices starting around 5k. They launched their summer collection in the presence of Bengali actress Arpita Chatterjee. Usually summer collections are filled with the predictable bright colors or pastels. But ILEX had a very interesting mix going on. There were some muted as well deep dark tones in the collection...

Michael Todd Ageless Face And Neck Cream

     Skin wise this was one of the toughest winters that I had to face. My face was dessert dry and none of my regular creams were doing me any good. I even switched to oil based serums and skin oils but still didn't get any relief! And to top it off I ended up breaking out!!! Can you even begin to imagine that? Dry painful skin with breakout and rash on it. I mean how does something like that even be possible?!? Even my favorite foundation couldn't give me the dewy looking skin that I loved it for. Thankfully I came across 2 products which helped me get a hold on the situation and return my skin to normal. Just in time too for my first film shoot :) I will review the product that helped me with my breakout/rash situation in another post. Here I will talk about the cream which helped to heal my skin and make it look "ageless"

     Picture this...you get your nails done at the salon...you enjoy a good 45 minutes of pampering where you are rubbed, scrubbed and pack(ed). Then the attendant paints your nails in a sparkling shade. You with me till now? Ok I'm not one of those chicks who gets the multiple layer thing done...base, 2 coats of nail paint and top coat routine. Simple reason...I feel that the more layers you put on the faster the paint ends up chipping. Two coats of the paint and I'm good to go. Have you noticed that the polish tends to look shinier for some reason. And its not like that they are putting something special on. Even if I have the same one back home but somehow the one I got done from the parlor shines brighter and lasts longer for some reason. Does it happen with you too? Or am I only one to feel this way???

     When Dolon of Pout Pretty told me about the Twice As Nice campaign and if I wanted to do it with her, I was so stoked! Since the three of us have gotten together (3rd musketeer being Poorna of Presented by P) we have been thinking of doing a project together. But it never pans out :( Well we are such good friends and share so many characteristics and interests between the three of us so it isn't strange that we are partners in crime when it comes to laziness as well :D But jokes apart I was so glad to be doing this collab with D and hopefully we will break our jinx and bring more such posts for you guys in the future.

Outfit of the day. Pic courtesy - Dolon, Pout Pretty

     I admit it is so not the weather to be putting up this post but it has been lying in wait for its time in the sun and I had to put it out there. I got an invite to attend the Blender's Pride Fashion Tour this December. For a change it was quite cold in Kolkata this time around and I got a chance to wear this quilted overcoat I had picked up from the CIMA Art in Life exhibition last year. It set me back 4 grand but I really liked it and since it is reversible I get more bang for my buck that way. I love the over sized wooden buttons on it. These quilted coats (Rajasthan style) became quite a trend for the season and I saw them popping up in a lot of places in different styles and lengths. I loved the soft colors on this one and the floral print had me hooked. Paired with a basic black outfit and a statement necklace I was all set for the night.

Lakme Absolute Sculpt Studio Matte Lipsticks

     Lakme Fashion Week is here and with it Lakme is launching 15 new lip shades! It is all about the sculpted look and after the sculpted face and eyes have created such a storm it is time for sculpted lips to be the next talk of town. In collaboration with Anamika Khanna, who is the grand finale designer, a mini unveiling was organized for bloggers and the media at the designer's store in Kolkata. We got a chance to try out 7 shades from the collection and also see the work-in-progress models of Anamika's collection.

Noticed the pale flowers on the white background? Love the attention to detail

     What happens when a complete saree "noob" meets a master? Since I was very young I have been very averse to the whole saree concept. Let me explain...being a tomboy a garment which was so sensual and womanly was my natural enemy so to speak. As a result I have always rejected it on a principle (childish I know). My friends have asked me many times as to why I don't wear one. But I just cant bring myself around to it. Obviously I have absolutely no clue about them and cant distinguish one from the other even if my life depended on it. I got an invite to meet with Gaurang Shah at his Kolkata store. I wanted to read up on him before I actually met him and see the kind of work he does. I came across some pictures of his LIFW '13 collection and was mesmerized with the bold prints and colors of his collection. There was this gorgeous dupatta gracing a cream ensemble which had me hooked. I was thinking how gorgeous a dress or a jacket would look made out of it.

     Niine by Niine is one of those hidden treasure troves that one stumbles on by chance. There have been many instances when I have passed their store but never really went in. The reason being that from the outside it looked like a boutique catering to Indian occasion wear. I presumed that since it catered to such a specific genre it didn't hold any interest for me. There are so many boutiques scattered around Kolkata that one tends to visit those that they are familiar with already or have heard about from someone. Never judge a book by its cover was a saying that I was reminded of when I stepped into their store recently for a blogger event. Curious to know why I threw in that proverb?

     The mere mention of chocolate will make any chocoholics heart skip a beat and when the word "Belgium chocolate" is uttered then it is enough to make one swoon. When I got a call from the Magnum PR about their launch event in Kolkata with a special masterclass with Chef Kunal Kapoor I was raring to go. Soha Ali was going to be the guest of honor for the event. I have been to a few classes earlier taken by renowned chefs so I was expecting something in similar lines. An afternoon of  learning new dishes made by the chef aka a sedated educational affair. The question that came to mind was if it was going to be strictly chocolate based dishes and how would Magnum fit into it all?

Ravish Kapoor store on Sarat Bose Road, Kolkata

     The first time I heard the saying "Love is in the details" was on the Oprah show. The concepts, products and gift ideas that she would present would all be beautiful down to its minutest part. It would amaze me to no end that how much effort one was willing to put into the smallest of things something a person like me who is always about the big picture would fail to comprehend. But even I will admit that they would make a huge impact aesthetically. Being able to change my outlook and actually notice something like that made me understand what Oprah meant. When it comes to expressing their love people want to shout it from the rooftops and don't want to leave any stone un-turned. How can anyone take a back seat when it comes to their biggest day then aka their wedding! Well good news for all the Kolkata folks, Ravish Kapoor has finally set up shop here to help you express your joy in the grandest of styles.