Age Gracefully

Life is like climbing a hill. At one point or the other, we reach the peak and from there onward we either continue walking straight on the plateau for a long time or else we are on your way down the hill.

Exercise every day, make an effort, put in some hard work today, eat simple food, give some priority to your health and then one will reach that plateau.

Age gracefully.

Freedom

“Freedom is not the absence of commitments, but the ability to choose - and commit myself to - what is best for me.”

-Paulo Coelho.

None of my business...

What other people think of me is none of my business. ~Wayne Dyer

2 combos:

Skirt: Gap, Top: Jones New York, Shoes: Kensie

Skirt : Gap, Top: White House Black Market, Shoes: Steve Madden

Perception ...

Perception - not from our point of view, but from what other's view of you and/or your life is. Whenever you hear people talk about you, your work or your personality, you can distinctly differentiate between what is the truth and what is their perception. Good or bad is irrelevant here.

I do not try to change anyone's perception. If it is true, then I say, "Good, I am keeping it real!" and if it is bad then think, "I am not responsible for how their brain interprets!" ;-)

From where we stand, it is none of our business either way. Perception means nothing... it is pure entertainment if anything.

Skirt: Gap

Shirt: American Eagle

Shoes: Kensie

What the health: Part 9 - More reasons you are not losing weight...

This is part 9 of 'What the health' series. You can find earlier parts here - part1, part2, part3, part4,  part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8

6. Same old routine

You do not switch your workouts and rely on the same routine day-in-day-out. Your body gets accustomed to your workout and is not challenging it enough to make a difference. It is good to mix things up and try and do a different activity every day, or at least every week.

7. Inconsistency

If you don't work out regularly, you do not see results. Consistency is the key! There is no way around hard work.

8. Sedentary Lifestyle

Just working out might not be enough, if your remaining of the day is stationary or is spent on a chair. Try and take a walking break. Experts recommend setting a timer on the computer to remind you to move every hour. Take the stairs instead of the elevator, park far away from the mall, run with your kids and whatnot.

Skirt: Gap

Top: Guess

Shoes: Mix No. 6

What the health: Part 7 - Reasons you are not losing weight

This is part 7 of 'What the health' series. You can find earlier parts here - part1, part2, part3, part4,  part 5, part 6

1 - You are in denial

One day I went on a hike with a hiker friend, this was the year when I weighed a lot - 170 pounds to be specific. After finishing the excruciating hike we stopped at a restaurant for dinner. She ordered a plate of idli sambhar and I ordered a dosa, which is the longest dosa I have ever seen, I could eat only 25% of it.

During dinner, the hiker said "people are lucky to have good genetics and metabolism - they eat anything and still don't put on weight. I hardly eat anything, I do these strenuous hikes and still put on weight".

While she said this she finished the food that she had ordered and the 75% of dosa that was left on my plate.

We think we are doing everything right - we are eating right, exercising - even if it is one excruciating hike once in a while, and everyone who is in shape is just lucky. Do not conveniently ignore and forget that 75% extra that we are consuming.

From this incident I learned, I was in denial too.  I sat - analyzed and found so many things that I needed to change (mid-night snacking anyone?). I needed to take control of my health than it controlling me.

If today I am in shape or feeling light and right - it is not because of luck- it is because I came out of denial - I changed my entire lifestyle (from diet, exercise, sleep, habits, organization-prioritization skills to managing stress) - and obviously I had to put in efforts to do so. Do not be in denial and say that you are doing everything right, take an objective look at what you are doing wrong and try to fix it.

2. You are finding lame excuses

Do not blame being fat or unhealthy on genetics, metabolism or horoscopes!

A list of lame excuses is covered in earlier parts. or you can find it here

to be continued ...

Skirt: Gap (12 years old)

Top: Loft (8 years old)

Shoes: Impo (4 years old)

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)

My grandmother asked me to tell you she is sorry

Skirt: Gap 

Top: White House Black Market

Shoes: Indigo

My new post 'my grandmother asked me to tell you she is sorry' is available here

Truly Madly Guilty

Shoes: Etienne Aigner

Skirt: Gap

Top: Old Navy (also worn here)

My new post Truly Madly Guilty is available here

Animal print + White

Animal prints look great with whites. The denim that I have is off-white in color, I do want to buy white jeans this year, something like this.

Here are the three ways I wore animal print top + off-white denim jeans -

Denim - American Eagle

Top - Ann Taylor

Shoes 1 & 3- Ellen Tracy, Shoes 2: Steve Madden

Olive Jacket - Gap

Black Sweater - J crew

Photographs

I take photos in the area around where I live using a timer and tripod. Professionally taken and edited pictures can make the outfits look better than how they actually look. I do not want to fool readers. The photos on this blog will always remain as simple and natural as my style. Also spending too much time on photos feels contradictory to the theme of this blog which is 'one can be well dressed without spending any time or effort on clothes'. Use the time you save to do more interesting or pressing stuff.


Some asked me to provide more variety in photo locations, I will try to add it as time permits but you will see outfits look the same everywhere ;-)

Jeans: American Eagle

Black Tee: Loft

Jacket: Gap

Shoes: Kelly and Katie

Ugly UGG

A few years ago I got these UGGs as a gift, I find them ugly and yet use them every other day.

They are extremely comfortable to walk long distances, they are light and super warm, perfect for the rainy & cold weather in Seattle.

Good looks are seldom directly proportional to usability, reliability and a great performance.

Black Denim: Abercrombie and Fitch

Stripes Top: J crew factory

Olive Jacket: Gap

Shoes: UGG

Magical Side Trips

We make career decisions at an early age then put on blinders and gallop towards our determined destination. Why don’t we just enjoy our journey and explore the magical side trips? 

We cannot know what adventure awaits us or how those side trips affect our lives but are we missing something grand because we decide to stay on the same path?

Denim Shirt: American Eagle

Jeans: American Eagle

Olive Jacket: Gap

Shoes: Blondo

Pale Blue Dot

My new post 'Pale Blue Dot' is available HERE

Jeans: American Eagle

Button down chambray: J crew Factory

Jacket: Gap

Shoes: Unisa

Recap 2

Polka dot top -

The Shoe Story

My new post The Shoe Story is available HERE

Top: J crew factory

Jeans: American Eagle

Jacket: Gap

Shoes: Tom's

Belt: Style & Co.

Muffin Top

Low rise jeans became popular as it makes a woman's torso look longer and possibly thinner. Low rise hip hugger jeans forces the skin and fat around the waist, back and upper buttocks to spill out over the pants. So it is not for anyone with a fat tummy, it simply looks bad. I have made the mistake of buying low rise simply because it is available and popular.

If you own one and are stuck with it now like the one I am wearing in today's picture then try to wear longer and a loose tops on it (In a way it defies the purpose of wearing low rise). The best option would obviously be to lose the belly fat or buying mid/high rise.

When it comes to styling if I had to make a list of what NOT to do then at number one position it would be 'Never sport a muffin top'.

Shirt: Mark and Spencer

Sweater: Gap

Jeans 7 for all mankind

Shoes: Dr. Scholl's

Scarf: esprit

Fun time

Pick out a few items from your closet, mix and match, add some accessories to make it look like a new outfit altogether and then dressing up and getting ready in the morning will no longer remain a chore but a fun creative time.

Top: Gap

Scarf: Target

Jeans: American Eagle

Why Style Blogs?

Have you ever opened the closet door in the morning and stood there for a long time wondering what you want to wear? Then tried a few things on, didn't like it and ended up changing 3-4 times? I have done it many times. I assume many of you have been through this situation. That is exactly where style blogs help to understand what looks good and what doesn't ;-)

Shirt: american eagle

Skirt: gap

Belt: Style & co

Shoes: Kensie

Games People Play

I am not talking about the emotional games that people play ;-). 

I love to play Catan, Ticket to Ride and most of all Chess.

There have been many times when I took the opponent's main pieces (queen, rooks) and was confident to win but some of them still managed to trap my king without the main pieces on their side. I always say chess taught me the biggest lesson in life -

One is given everything that they need to win, some may keep complaining about the sacrificed or lost pieces and some will be busy using what they have left. It is all about winning and if you don't then nothing but you yourself is to be blamed...!

I am on chess.com and my id is rasikamahabal. 

Top: Loft

Camouflage Crop: Gap

Sandal: Tommy Hilfiger (from DSW)