Indo Western Style Fusion

 Fashion is fun when there are no boundaries, no specific rules, and no defined theories. A complete freedom, where you can create possibilities and new styles by mixing different fashion staples and styles. Do you wish to rock the styles; where you can experiment with different outfit ideas and can create a "new look" for your personality?

There are so many cool ways to wear Indian ethnic styles whilst mixing it with the western magic. I have had been a huge fan of both cultures: "so much to create by blending it together!"

Below I want to share few of my observations in creating a beautiful ensemble of Indo Western outfits. Hope you will find some outfit inspirations for your New Year's eve party!

Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/488851734528431591/

"Inspiration is everywhere." All you need is a vision that can show you possibilities; and an enthusiastic heart- that is restless to find more, create more and show more varieties. You can always dress cute and feel beautiful with what you wear and how you wear! Experiment with different cuts, styles, patterns, shapes, brands and cultures. Fashion should have no limits or boundaries.

Follow those basic styling tips if you want; or create "new style rules" for yourself. As long as you think, it is appropriate for you (your age and personality), go ahead! Fashion gets it's definition from a very simple understanding; "a sense of wanting to express yourself." And clothes are your best expressions of- who you are! So it's time you give wings to your "personality" and fly into the world of creative possibilities.

1. Indian Kurta/Tunic with wide legged pants and palazzo pants

Image Source: styllog.com

Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/338755203198439216/

One staple or basic outfit in your closet, can be worn in various ways: Try to find and rock the look. Whether you are a fashion enthusiast, or a fashion blogger, or just any ordinary woman who lives fashion; "you should not stop experimenting!"

2. Indian Lehenga/Skirt with button down shirt and a heavy statement necklace

Image Source: desi-stylebook.com

Image Source: www.elanthemag.com

3. Indian Lehenga/Skirt with a crop top

Image Source: archanakochhar.com

Image Source: indiaemporium.com

4. Indian Kurta with ankle pants

Image Source: www.indianroots.com

5. Indian Kurta with long skirt

Image Source: stylishbazaar.com

6. Indian Kurta with Tulle Skirt

Image Source: www.stylearrest.com

7.  Indian jewelry and accessories with any Western outfits

Image Source: www.ezyshine.com

Image Source: https://www.pinterest.com/samirahlatib/bollywood/

It will be such a pop of color, when you mix vintage style with a modern touch. The key is to be selective in choosing that right something that can go well with your outfit. New color combinations can add innovation to the outfit. So try and mix clothes with accessories and the right jewelry and make heads turn.

So which one is your favorite? Have you ever tried creating any Indo Western styles? Do leave me your comments. 

My Top 10 Posts Of 2015

2015 was the time when I created this website-  "The Positive Window." And now that the year is coming to end; I felt like doing a round-up post to share (with all my old and new blogger friends as well as with all the amazing readers) my most-liked and most shared posts of this year.  It was a year full of opportunities as well as some missed opportunities. But I feel blessed to have those "new responsibilities/contributions" added to my success book this year. Thank you for believing in me!

Doing a round-up like this makes one a little bit thoughtful, I suppose.

Today I want to let you all know that; you have made me so special and "someone" whom many knows now- by spending your time here; reading my posts, commenting, sharing and re-sharing. So thanks again from the bottom of my heart for making my first year of blogging/writing on my personal website- so very memorable. Was a wonderful journey of writing 47 posts so far (in one full year). Wish to make it 50 by the end of December.

1. Feeling Depressed Today- Try Doing This!!

I found a very good way of defeating the feeling of depression and loneliness. 

Try ‘song chatting’ with your good friend, who has a similar choice in music. This will help you overcome your anger and stress. ‘Music is always a healthy way to reduce your stress levels’- I have always read this. When I actually applied this rule to my life, I learned that this is the easiest way to combat frustration

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Tone of your thoughts: what it looks like!

Have you ever tried to understand your thoughts? Where do they come from and why? What drives them to us? Why even we should care about them?

'Knowing' what we are thinking and why; can help us- realize the kind of thoughts we have in our mind; most of the times! Next time when similar circumstances develop; we can be careful and stop thinking 'negative' right there!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Everyday Inspiration: Living with Words

"No study is required; or the knowledge of any defined theory. Just a little change in the focus of things we see everyday- from things that make us feel miserable, unhappy; to things that make us feel blessed and unconditionally happy- like 'happy for no reason'."

 Use "positive affirmations." Read and write them in a notebook or journal; and try to refer it everyday by repeating to yourself. You can also use stick notes to write them and and put them on walls or places you can see it everyday.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Everyday Inspiration#2: Feeling Happy All-Day and Everyday

 Believe me! nobody can make you a 'happier you;' if you don't take the first step.

"Staying happy is necessary to continue living."

If you are one among many; who badly wants. Yes! badly wants to feel & stay happy; then come out of your 'current zone' (present state of mind), and take a look around you for the things that can give you comfort and protection. Make a choice, and continue walking towards it- who you think can bring you a smile- may it be a person or an activity. At this time; nothing is more important than 'feeling happy and peaceful.' So go for it, and give a try. 

Stay strong in choosing your happiness; because 'true happiness' matters. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. 4 Beauty and Feel Good Essentials For Any Woman

"I am not a fashion and beauty expert; but I have my own findings and takes- when it comes to style and beauty tricks! I like to dress smart and look attractive in my 'comfortable' way!" After all "fashion is all about feeling comfortable in your skin and body."

Feeling confident in your clothes is the first step towards feeling stylish! There will be days when you would want to look effortlessly stylish and attractive without doing much; but you won't be confident about picking the right dress! In such occasions; trust your instinct and go for it. Have a confident smile on your face and feel good from the inside out. Wear that enchantment aura and be confident! You may be the one 'looked at last' in a party; but people will still feel the confidence and kind vibes-you have left behind you.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Embrace Your Body:You Are Beautiful

Self-evaluation is good, but comparing your physical appearance to that any of your notion of "best attractive body" is never going to make you a happier person; nor it will help you embrace your "body image" in the positive way, any-day! We all have some version of "I am not perfect" from inside. But accepting yourself (your body) more important from within, than from just outside. If you feel satisfied with how you look outside, you will definitely make peace with your inner self-image!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. The Day I Stopped Complaining!

Things looked so different yet peaceful; when I stopped! Stopped looking at the negative happenings; and started focusing on the good things (that was happening at the moment). "I was surprised to find out that my day and life had another side too!;  which we ignore looking at most of the times- the better side!

Realizing our responsibilities rather than comparing and complaining with make things simpler and appreciable in a family. We just need to understand- that we all are doing our part- someway or other. So everyone needs a little space inside the family. We get so busy worrying and making everyone tensed and unhappy (sometimes) that; we forget to live happiness and enjoy life!

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. 7 Tips to Stay True to Yourself: Embracing Imperfections

"From the day I decided to embrace my imperfections; life got easier for me. I am no more afraid of revealing my true-self to anybody; because I have become better while travelling through those imperfections! My talents were dominated by my fears and weaknesses."

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. Cleanse Your Mind By Cleaning Your Closet

"Releasing anything that no longer defines us is the best thing we can do- to create a 'new' meaningful life for ourselves." 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. 21 Things To Do To Make Your Day More Exciting

Take small steps towards improving your life-one-day-at-a-time. The best way to start is- just start! 

Make yourself available for your needs!

Do leave me a comment and let me know which was your favorite post of all. Did any of these resonate with you?

Choices That Can Make You Feel Better Instantly

The art of living a life you love depends on the choices you make: big or small. A person who chooses to be more peaceful in life is way happier than the person who chooses success, wins, accomplishments, fame and popularity. So what would you choose for yourself?

"You have a choice each and every single day. I choose to feel blessed. I choose to feel grateful. I choose to be excited. I choose to be thankful. I choose to be happy."
                                                                                                                       -Amber Housley

In my effort to make peace stay in my life forever; I had to let go many things. Yes! many relationships, opportunities, self care practices and even challenges. But I am glad; I made the right choices for myself and my family. 

You always have a choice. And your choice becomes your attitude. 

In my past maybe I had many choices; but my attitude wasn't so strong that I remember making any strong choices- may be due to fear and mostly because I did not have had much confidence in myself. But with every experience, I developed that "strong person" within me, and the attitude to choose "better" for myself. I decided to rise beyond my constraints to create what I wanted. I decided not to pay heed to people's criticisms and any such acts that would discourage me from pursuing my dreams. 

Image Source: http://seenthis.net/tag/industryterm:food

If you continue thinking you have no choice over your situation, that's exactly how it's going to remain. Choose to take control of your present situation. Don't let your heart accept what is happening to you right now. Choose to see hope and "possible solutions."

Are there areas of your life that you would like to change? 

Choices bring happiness as well as disappointment. So why not make some choices that can make you feel better at that moment? 

www.womenshealthmag.com

I have found few choices that gives me instant relief and makes me feel better, especially when I badly need a quick lift-even if it is for sometime only. Perhaps you'll find something here especially for yourself:

Choose a "good" book over people when you need a quick lift.

Books can be your "true friends." Avoid discussing your problems to anyone even before you think a way out to solve it. Sometimes talking your problems may give you relief; but there are chances- you will end up feeling more confused and stressed. Instead try reading few lines (motivating) from the books you adore or your favorite author; that can give you instant motivation and will make you get up right at that instant and fight. Fight to resolve it at any cost; or at least find a solution!

Choose the life you want over life you had (or have). Choose the bigger life.

Does this sound like a big task? Okay, let me make it simple! 
Proactively pursue a life where you have more laughter, fun and good feelings everyday- even if it for a very short period of time. Choose to focus only on the lighter side of your life; that's in your control at that very moment. Make it more lively and fun filled. Create your "version" of happiness and stick to it. Create a path that leads you to your better version, where you can have more purpose in your everyday living.

Choose to make up your today way better than your yesterday

Let go your yesterday. Doesn't matter how it was. What's important is:" how good you can make your today!" Are you ready to make it better by doing what you couldn't do yesterday?

Choose to pick your good mood over bad and stick to it for sometime.

Don't spend your whole one day of your life in a foul mood. Relax. Cheer up and Smile. A day spent without smiling and living it mindfully is a total waste of one more day in your life. Life is unpredictable. Live it the "best" way possible. Do what you couldn't do; and be what you couldn't be. Remember the incidents that lately gave you the best feelings. 

Choose to  remember your good qualities over bad.

Try to switch over to the "good you." We all have certain "good" qualities that differentiates us from others. I am sure you know about yours.' Start thinking about any recent incident (s) that gave you inner peace and satisfaction- a sense of feeling that told you- "you are so good and kind as a person!" 

Nothing is as satisfying as to know that; "no matter how people and circumstances have had treated you, you haven't given up being your true best. I definitely cannot change people; but I can always choose the way I react to them by taking control of my life.

I know I am posting after a long gap. I hope you all are still with me? Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart for your continued love and support. Lately I  got too busy being a mother, care taker and a homemaker; fighting cold and viral infections and trying my best to make things normal whilst bringing  everything back on track.  I hope to continue writing and posting regularly.

But you do not forget to tell me about your "quick choices" that you usually make when you require a quick lift in the comment below.

5 Essential Daily Self-Care Habits

"Today I promise, I will just take care of the "me" self. I will listen to my every needs and demands that require attention-on a daily basis. I will take that first step today, towards making myself better in every way possible."

Image Source: http://www.inc.com/sims-wyeth/10-reasons-why-eye-contact-can-change-peoples-perception-of-you.html



When was the last time you recall making such "power promises" to yourself?
The "best thing"I did for myself- lately!
I made a conscious choice! I slowed down and tried to understand what was going on with me. It's hard to slow down when you are trying to do zillion of things. 

When life gets really "heavy" on you, just slow your rhythm and start paying attention to your much needed areas in life. Pay attention to your every day small requirements. How about making a routine with very simple yet essential self-care habits? These are no big sacrifices like; going to a spa or salon, or often going out with friends (leaving the kids and family behind at home); but very basic care activities that we often overlook!

So here's a list of 5 basic self-care habits that you can start with and create a stronger foundation routine for your "better" being:

1. Sleep

The most essential habit for leading a healthy and stress free life: "getting enough sleep." We often compromise on this to make sure we are "perfectly" doing everything; we are supposed to do. But sleep deprivation is the most common cause of many illness. A peaceful goodnight sleep can take away half of your worries, by giving you a clear mind, a healthy heart, and lots of "positive energy" to deal with your every day challenges. 

How to start: Next time when you start feeling restless and impatient in dealing with even small matters; slow down and listen to the hint of your body and mind. They are asking you to leave everything and get plenty of rest. Let's call it a "power rest." Go get recharged and create a good 8 hours of sleep routine for a week- to begin with!

2. Play

There's no better way to recharge than engaging yourself in some physical activities. Make time for some fun and relaxation with your friends, family and kids every day. Choose to play your favorite sport or any kind of game that can help you de-stress!

How to start: Include your family. Your kids are your "best" partners. Find ways to indulge in some physical activities or in any video games, puzzles or in any indoor or outdoor fun time with them- each day. Make a daily routine to have more fun while giving your body a good muscle stretch.  

3. Meditate 

As life is a busy deal, we must have some "quiet " time for ourselves every day. Our brain can get really tired with the noise around us, so give yourself some silent moments: sit quietly with your eyes and ears closed at least for some time every day. If you can; then go for meditation and feel more relaxed.

“Silence is a source of great strength.” ~Lao Tzu

How to start: Try to spend some time outside everyday in nature. And if the weather is not favorable, try practicing some "silent time" inside. Find a good place to feel that silence around you and try to feel your body and soul (try to connect with your inner self totally). Feel each of your senses and free your mind of any kind of thoughts.

4. Smile

"A smile a day is such a good way to stay away from all persistent worries and to think clearly!" Practice laughing, giggling or just smiling every day. Find reasons (people or activities) that can bring a smile on your face; at least once in a day. You can instantly feel that peace and relief, when you smile. Try it!

How to start: if you are really finding it hard to smile amidst all changes and challenges; try watching some funny videos- to start and continue for a week to make it a self-care habit.

5. Relax 

We often end up doing more than we can, and the result is: frustration and health problems. Over doing may be rewarding at times; but personally the results can be dissatisfying and unhappiness. Try not to overstrain, and learn to say "no". Let go certain things; that you feel you cannot do at-the-same-time. Practice taking small breaks before you jump over to any kind of physical or mental activities.  Give some rest to your mind, body and soul once in a day.

How to start: try taking small breaks in between doing all the household chores. Sit or take a quick nap before you feel the urge of doing the next work on your to-do-list. Relax; by watching television, or going for a small walk, or even by reading few pages of your favorite book.

Self-care may sound like a big task to do; but if you really wish to take care of everyone in your life, you must first practice taking care of your essential basic needs. Start by creating a routine for a week and then continue for a month, to make it your lifestyle.