Book Reviews. 2017. 2

Reviewing books that I read in 2017.

6. Death by black hole - Neil deGrasse Tyson

This book is a collection of essays that Tyson wrote for Natural History magazine over a ten year period, on a variety of subjects related to science and scientific inquiry. Tyson's perspective and his voice always make his books stand out from the crowd. 4/5.

7. Origins: Fourteen Billion Years of cosmic evolution  - Neil deGrasse Tyson

This book covers an enormous period of time, fourteen billion years, and even provides some interesting thoughts concerning the future of our planet and galaxy. The theme of the book is clear, it deals with the origin of the universe, the various types of galaxies, the formation of the clusters, all the types of stars, the origin of the planets and life in general. It concerns itself with vague topics like dark matter and dark energy and black holes, all the mysteries of the universe. 5/5.

8. Astrophysics for People in a hurry - Neil deGrasse Tyson

. The book is for people in a hurry and I am not in a hurry
. Astrophysics is not Sophie Kinsella's book story that can be told in three lines (just being a hypocrite, I read all her books).
. People in a hurry should not make an attempt at astrophysics, to begin with ;-)
. The book left me wanting to know more, high time Tyson writes a book for people at leisure!

3/5.

9. Belles on their toes - Frank B. Gilbreth Jr.

Cheaper by the dozen is one of my most favorite stories of all times so I had to read it's the second part and I was beyond disappointed. 1/5.

10. A little life - Naya Yanagihara

This is a very well rated and a famous book, unfortunately, I did not enjoy it at all, first of all, it is huge and second of all I had to drag myself every day to read it. 1/5.

Dress: don't remember, 15 years old, Shoes: DSW, Jacket: J Crew

Fashion 1 0 1: Part 14

Start to think about your clothes like they were made to last. Head fashion designers keep saying that fashion should not be disposable. So, start to clean your clothes the right way: it's different for polyester and cotton and wool. Tags will help you decide what to do and then there is the internet to dig through for detailed instructions. I always use the handwash mode on the machine for washing all my clothes and also I never put them in the dryer - the result is I use the same clothes for more than 15 years. If you own a piece for so long that it got damaged over time, then remember that you can shave the pilling on a sweater, patch a hole on the elbow and if you lost weight then all your clothes can be adjusted for the new measurements. Some things you can do on your own while it is better to have others done by a professional. A lot of skirts that you see on this blog were a size or two bigger, they have been adjusted to fit my new measurements. Why is this important? You're caring for the environment because you're limiting trash production. You're also supporting local artisans and so, helping people whose jobs are going extinct. For example, I always go to a cobbler to get my broken shoes fixed but many people choose to throw away things in the excitement of buying new stuff.

Don't get me wrong, I do not condemn shopping, it builds and nourishes the economy. But here is a thought, in the good old days people got their clothes mended from tailors, shoes fixed from the cobbler, got small little parts of a blender and stuff from the dingy little stores located in some tiny alleys - this all paid the small local businesses. Now the mentality is we are looking for something to go wrong with our stuff so that we can buy new stuff and throw away the old stuff.

I do not condemn shopping but I condemn the stigma attached to repeating clothes, needing something new to wear to every party, having things in the closet with their price tag on and yet complaining about having nothing to wear, throwing away stuff without even trying to get it fixed first and just mindless shopping for self-gratification or shopping for the sake of having-everything-everyone-else has.

The clothes that live with you for a long time, get a lot of stories ingrained in them. One of my childhood friends wore skirts that her mother used to wear when she was in college. Those skirts were a different fashion altogether, they were unique because they were not in the market at that time and she got a lot of compliments on her clothes and a lot of surprised reactions when she said this is my mother's skirt. So if you've ever been given a garment worn by your grandmother or your grandfather in their youth, you know what I am talking about. Also, it is good for the pocket - you can save money and rather spend it on some good things like real estate and health!

'The true cost' is a very good documentary on this topic. I highly recommend it.

This is the last part of the series.

Jeans: American Eagle, Shoes: DSW, Jacket: Zara

Fashion 1 0 1: Part 11

1. Buy sensibly - from a lot to good. It is better to buy something that you are positive about: something that will match the rest of your wardrobe made well and out of quality materials. Something that will last for many years. It's a smart thing to do for the environment and society. Every year we dump millions of tonnes of clothes and only a small part of them reach the second hand/thrift stores. We spill a massive amount on developing countries, destroying the local and traditional workplaces at clothes making. The largest part goes to garbage dumps where it will decompose for hundreds of years, harming the environment (clothes are not bio-degradable).

This top is 10 years old.

Jeans: American Eagle, Top: Lifestyle (India), Shoes: DSW

Fashion 1 0 1: Part 4

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Why do we buy so much?

Because we associate happiness with owning more. They call it ‘the retail therapy’. However therapy is something that fixes us for life, therapy is treatment - therapy cannot be something that gives momentary pleasure, so chocolates or retail cannot be termed as therapy. If retail is a therapy then it is so only for the shop owners, not for you and I. If you think following the latest trends is making you look trendy or how many clothes you buy is showcasing you as rich then no - you are getting poorer and the only person getting richer is the owner of brands.

I have said this before on this blog - I am just reiterating myself - contrary to popular belief food, watching TV and shopping cannot be hobbies. Owning more stuff and materialistic attitude is not going to make us happy. The way to solve the problems in our life does not go through consumption.

Initially, I thought it is quite ironical to start a personal style blog because I don't buy much, in fact, I hate to shop, but then I thought maybe there are people like me who hate to shop, hate to have too much stuff and yet want to get ideas on how to reuse the same items in their closet in many ways. I might have a personal style blog but I am averse to mindless consumption and materialistic attitude.

My greatest joys in life haven't been through clothes, shoes or cars... but through experiences... through traveling... through learning new things - from musical instruments to languages... through reading books by the great minds... by being in the company of the ones I love and through creation... from painting or be it even creating and writing on this blog.

*** I highly recommend you read a book called The Happiness Project.

To be continued...

Jeans: 7 for all mankind, Sweater: J crew factory, Top: Calvin Klein, Shoes: DSW

Also worn here - http://lifestyleandallthatjazz.com/body/

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Women: 4. The Mom

This is the fourth part of the series. Earlier parts - Part 1. Part 2. Part 3.

The Mom

The ones who leave their jobs to take care of their kids. ***Every case is different, there are situations in some families when the best solution is not to have both parents working full time, in that case, ignore my further comments.

I have a problem with the assumption that only moms have to leave their job for taking care of kids, it could be men too, why not? Only moms go on six-month maternity leave. Why? All companies need to revise their paternity leave policy. It HAS to be equal. From what I hear Microsoft and Amazon do have (about) equal maternity and paternity leaves.

One of the most important things parents strive for is to model for kids the adults we hope they will become. Parents with daughters tell them to work hard in school and strive for a meaningful career. Sons are told the same, the girls who sit beside them in the classroom are their equals in every way. But if you are a housewife then what happens when that does not square with what your kids see at home? When speaking to your daughters about the importance of focusing on a career and striving for professional success, does a credibility gap open up?

You could tell yourself that your kids will be better off cared for only by you, but there is no research that bears that out, and while there are times that intense parental engagement is needed, working parents are able to achieve that, too. It is a myth that only stay-at-home moms take the best care of their kids or have the time to instill the right values. I have seen brilliant achievers even though they have had both their parents working. Although one may think that for any individual woman staying at home might lead to less stress, more happiness, and a better situation for her family, studies confirm that there is more boredom and depression.

When kids go to daycare, they learn social skills and they also get an early start in learning alphabets, being independent, eating with their own hands and whatnot. And the kids of working women develop a respect for the women kind - again my opinion.  Also remember, women working for pay makes it easier for families to live more comfortably. The sooner women realize that they don't need to sacrifice, they can always get help and make the men own up to their share of equal responsibility, the faster our society will progress.

Recently a famous sportsperson Saniya Mirza gave birth and said it to be the biggest achievement of her life. How can it be her biggest achievement?  How many women from India have made it big in sports? Also, have you seen the population of the world? Childbirth is the most natural, common and rampant thing and her calling it the biggest achievement of her life sounds bizarre to me. 

Coming up in the next post 'The Royals', which is an interesting category of women, the extreme cases are called 'golddiggers'. 

To be continued...

Skirt and Sweater: Modcloth, Tights: DSW, Shoes: Steve Madden, Tee: Loft

Truly Patriotic

Is 'patriotism' a byproduct of all the wars and battles which had been fought by tribes, clans, cults, religious groups to survive? Is it soon becoming an obsolete emotion? Because this generation is born and brought up in comparatively calmer surroundings (than the world wars and British Raj) and also this generation lives all over the place. We are born in one country, a study in another, work in the third country and then retire in a new country altogether. So which country are we going to be 'patriotic' about? And I do not mean for a sports game, I mean in the time of war.

Is 'patriotism' one of the hurdles in the path to world peace? If there was no patriotism, but only general regard and respect for mankind, no matter where they were born or bred, wouldn't the need to own, capture, secure and protect a manmade boundary disappear? It is wonderful to be proud of one's heritage but if that converts into thinking that we are superior to the other cultures, then it is not really a noble concept.

From what we know Earth could be the only planet with life ... found anywhere nearby or probably found anywhere in the billions of galaxies, it would be great if we are patriotic for the Earth in its entirety and save its environment, life, and beauty!

Skirt: Banana republic, Top: Macys, Tights: DSW, Shoes: Don't remember, but I should have worn something else.

Same dress...

Do you find it weird to wear the same dress to every party? I never found it unnatural to repeat party clothes. In last 12-13 years I have worn the same ethnic dress to every other Indian get together, and the same western dress to every other holiday party that I made to. It’s okay with me, trust me nobody remembers! And if anyone happens to then you should be happy that they notice your hard work - that you are able to fit in the same dress for so many years ;-).

2 combos:

Dress: Ann Taylor Factory (10 years old), Shoes: Etienne Aigner (8 years old)

Short: American Eagle, Top: Tommy Hilfiger, Shoes: Tommy Hilfiger

When you go shopping -

• Quality. Look for the quality of the fabrics, good fabrics feel good on the skin and also last a long time.


• Fitting. Nothing looks good if it does not fit your body. We try to fit into clothes from decades back and then get frustrated about our closets and bodies and then completely give up on our style. Accept your body and dress accordingly. This simple change in mindset will make you realize that a little fluctuation in your body weight has absolutely nothing to do with your style and looking good. (I would recommend to not give up efforts to lose weight or stay in shape).


• Color. When it comes to color I have unintentionally made the same mistake over and over again - I have 4 black tops (with varying sleeve lengths), 3 black skirts and such repetitive colors. I wish instead  I had bought tops in all colors - red, pink, brown, yellow, green and whatnot. When you go shopping decide on the colors that you want to buy, something that will go with at least a few items in your closet and avoid colors that you already have.


• Design. There are too many complicated designs out there lately, like frills, belts that you need to tie and stuff, there are other styles like off-shoulder, spaghetti tops, low necklines, no doubt that they make a statement but that is not my style, it doesn’t make me feel comfortable. So yes I do look for a match for the design too. Then the last thing I make sure is it is easy on and off, i.e. doesn't involve wrapping, multiple buttons and complicated stitching/folds, belts. Keep it simple is my style mantra.


• Trends. Be careful on the path of following trends or someone else’s style which you can not relate to. Not all trends/styles are for all body types, and some of them are not even worth trying. Some styles look great only in pictures but in reality, they are the most uncomfortable things.


• Footwear. Never purchase a shoe without trying. If you buy them online make sure that return shipping is offered and is free. Walk around in the pair for at least two minutes and if they are not comfortable then that means they are not about to get comfortable later. I don't buy high heels anymore, I do not feel comfortable in them - does not matter even if the rest of the world is using ladders to walk I am going to buy just flats henceforth. You will always find exciting options within your comfort zone.

I hope you find these tips helpful.

2 combos:

Vegan leather jacket: Blank NYC, Stripes Tee: J crew factory, Jegging: American Eagle, Shoes: Vaneli

What the health: part 18 - How to stay healthy continued ...

This is part 18 of ‘What the health’ series. You can find earlier parts here – part1, part2, part3, part4,  part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8,  part 9, part 10, part 11, part12, part13, part14, part15, part16, part 17

3. Sleep (3)

How do you ensure a good night’s sleep -

• Shutdown your computer, cell phone, and TV at least an hour before you go to bed. No gadgets on the bedside.


• Save your bedroom for sleep, rather than work, dining or entertainment.


• Create a bedtime ritual. It's not the time to tackle big issues. Instead, take a warm bath, meditate, or read.


• Stick to a schedule, waking up and retiring at the same time every day, even on weekends.


• Avoid eating heavy meals and alcohol close to bedtime, which may cause heartburn and make it hard to fall asleep. And steer clear of soda, tea, coffee, and chocolate after 2 p.m. Caffeine can stay in your system for 5 to 6 hours. I stopped drinking coffee completely for the last 2 years.


• Turn out the lights. Darkness cues your body to release the natural sleep hormone melatonin, while light suppresses it.

I do have sleep issues - I am oversensitive to sounds, any small sound wakes me up and if I wake up in the middle of the night I have a hard time going back to sleep again (mostly thoughts keep in awake). So the thing that helped me the most with my sleep issues is the app InsightTimer - it has loads of guided sleep meditations/ hypnosis. I absolutely love it, Glenn Harrold’s meditations are my most favorite. Whenever I am having trouble sleeping I play his sleep hypnosis and sleep like a baby… no more sleeping pills for me.

to be continued...

Dress: Esprit

Sweater: Nordstrom Rack

Tights: DSW

Shoes: Steve Madden

What the health! Part 14 - How to lose weight and stay healthycontinued...

This is part 14 of ‘What the health’ series. You can find earlier parts here – part1, part2, part3, part4,  part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8,  part 9, part 10, part 11, part12, part13

Diet (3)

8. Use of medication - I popped in loads of pills for all my health troubles. As evolved beings, it is our way of dealing with health. Who has the time and patience to decipher the cause of an ailment and make minor changes to bring the body back to equilibrium when it is so much simpler to just pop a pill and banish your symptoms while the disease surreptitiously festers away? I did not want to spend time being sick, who does? So antihistamines, antibiotics, painkillers, sleep medication, cold medications and such were my constant companions. But remember... medicines cause bad side effects, it is as bad as junk food and alcohol. I should have fixed the troubles by taking a step back, by giving my body some rest, and with natural remedies, by fixing my diet, stress levels, routine, sleep pattern, etc., instead I relied on medicines. But the thing that I used to fix my health issues turned out to be the cause of my biggest problems later on. I would say avoid medicines as much as you can. Try herbal medicines (Ayurveda) if you have to.

to be continued...

Jeans: Abercrombie and Fitch

Sweater: Modcloth

Shoes: Steve Madden

What the health: Part 6 - Lame excuses continued

This is part 6 of 'What the health' series. You can find earlier parts here - part1, part2, part3, part4,  part 5

15. It hurts my body

If you have never worked out then yes, it would hurt for the first few days. But go past that and then you would get addicted to that 'good' pain. Stretch before and after a workout, get a massage once in a while, soak in warm water with Epsom salt.

16. Exercise make me more hungry

Yes! That happens. The best solution to that is to have a protein shake right after your workout and have a lot of healthy snacks - fruits, salads, nuts. Munch on them every 2 hours even if you are NOT hungry.

17. I don't know where to start

That's fine. Just start with walking for 30 mins, do yoga at home, what helps the most is joining classes - you pay for it so you show up and then it is easier to work out in a group of people...the atmosphere keeps you motivated.

18. I am already skinny (thin)

A lot of people are skinny on the outside and have unhealthy fat reserves inside, some are skinny and have no energy to do anything, you can be thin but chances are you are not fit … so exercise and eat healthy home-cooked food!

I hope this helps and gives you a kick in the butt... exercise today if you haven’t already.

Skirt : Gap (12 years old)

Top: Old Navy (7 years old)

Shoes: Nine West (4 years old)

Mint Denims

I love mint-colored denim, the ones that I have are light mint, I feel darker shades look the best.

Denim - J crew

Top - Michael Kors

Shoes - DSW

109 degree F

Dress: 109 degree F. (from Lifestyle mall, Pune)

Sandals: Kensie

This dress is around 12 years old so I do not know if the 109 degrees F brand is still sold in Lifestyle mall, I have a couple of dresses by this brand and I love them. It's length, sleeves, neckline everything is what I look for in a dress, very simple and very comfy.

The war of art

Shoes: Tommy Hilfiger

Pant: American Eagle

Top: Charter's Club

Necklace: Nordstrom Rack

My new post 'the war of art' is available here.

Modern Romance

My new post 'Modern Romance' is available here

Jeans : American Eagle

Stripes top : tjmaxx

Sweater : J crew factory

Shoes : Vaneli

Belt : Target

Goodreads Challenge

Denim: American Eagle

Shoes: Tommy Hilfiger

Top: Charter's Club

My new post Goodreads Challenge is available HERE

The Stripes Trick

Denim: American Eagle

Top: Banana Republic

Sandals: Tommy Hilfiger

Vertical stripes - make you look thinner, the closer they are placed the slimmer you will look.

Horizontal stripes - Makes you look wider, however, they can be used in your favor if placed properly.


The boxes on far left and right look the slimmest and the one in the middle widest. That is why tucking the shirt can make one look wider and shorter.

Diagonal stripes - are slimming and no matter where you place them on your body they will slim that area.

I am a stripes sucker and love horizontal stripes. Here are some more ways I wore stripes - STRIPES

Endless possibilities

What I want to provide on this blog are the endless possibilities of recipes that can be put together with just a few ingredients in the closet.

Dress: Promod, India

cardigan: nordstrom rack

shoes: Ellen Tracy

tights: loft

Yoga

Do you know any Yogis - someone who practices Yoga every single day for many years? I am sure you do. 

How many of of them are fat? I do not know any yogis who are fat some look a little overweight but they have toned bodies. Even if you know one or two 'fat yogis' then I would say it is an exception that proves the rule. 

Yogis also have some unique characteristics to their personality because Yoga doesn't just help with weight loss but each and every single yoga posture is beneficial for mental health from feeling calm, reducing stress, increasing concentration to feeling confident. 

Yoga is doable and beneficial for all age groups and even for people with various ailments. You do not need to join gym to do it. There are innumerable yoga videos available on the internet (UNLESS you are attempting headstands).

Dress: Ann taylor factory store ( I was wearing a jacket but by the time I got to taking pics it was hot. that is Seattle weather for you)

Tights: Hue

Shoes: dsw

Scarf: don't remember ;-)

Taking a pic

How does taking a pic each day help me? 

Everyone knows the disadvantages of being overweight but the pictures I took everyday made me realize the superficial aspect of losing weight. Everything looks great on fit bodies, even torn clothes. The pictures I took each day motivated me to lose weight and they still do.

Top: Loft

Jeans: 7 for all mankind

shoes: Ellen Tracy

sweater: Nordstrom Rack

Belt: Style & Co. from Macys