I spent the weekend at a leisurely pace getting settled in.After a month of not having to do any cleaning,laundry or grocery shopping there is part of me which has gotten lazy about chores but I am slowly getting back into the swing of things.My fridge is stocked, the laundry basket is semi-empty,the suitcases have been put away and my room now has some semblance of order.

This weeks “Finds” is going to be an Indian edition where I share with you a newly discovered patisserie, a  brand of dinnerware which is modern but with an Indian twist and a bookstore which has me thoroughly impressed with their incredible customer serivce.

Le 15 Pâtisserie

While the Paris inspired Tiffany blue packaging was enough to get me to like Le 15 Pâtisserie, it was the incredible taste of their chocolate cupcakes which made me a fan. If you are someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy cupcakes they also have a wide selection of tarts ,cakes and macaroons. While I didn’t try the macaroons  (I don’t eat eggs) my friends did and they loved them; They come in a dozen flavours from the usual ones like rose,lavender,pistachio to flavors which are highly unusual and typically Indian like paan. If you are in Mumbai and want to savor the sweet taste of a Paris patisserie I would highly recommend Le15.

In fact during my next trip I want to try and attend one of their cooking classes.You can also follow Pooja Dhingra who is the founder of Le15 through her blog here. I am looking forward to going through her recipe index and trying my hand at a dessert or two.

Noritake

I really enjoy tea and have been on the lookout for a simple but elegant tea set. While I was in India I picked up a a few items from Noritake.Their designs are clean,crisp and classic-simple white mugs and glassware with beautiful lines and artistic patterns.If you are looking for dinner-wear which is modern but has an Indian design philosophy, I would highly recommend Noritake.

Flipkart

E-commerce and online shopping is a relatively new concept in India.One of the first companies to get the online shopping model right was flipkart and they did it through their innovative model of cash on delivery (You order merchandise online and pay in cash when the order is delivered). The Indian consumer till date still remains wary of using their credit cards. The cash on delivery model has since been adopted by almost all online Indian retailers.It is an incredibly innovative solution which caters perfectly to the Indian consumer.

While I was in India I placed my very first online order through flipkart and was amazed by their level of service.I had placed my order at 2 pm and received it the very next day at 11 am (my order came with free bookmarks which is another way to impress the Indian consumer who always like a freebie).When Indian business get it right they are incredible.If you are looking to do some online shopping in India, I would highly recommend flipkart.

Hope you had a great start to the week!

-Ash.

Photo Of The Day

Reading List I One of my favorite things in this world I Inspiration from Phelps-You know its going to be good I The view .

The weekend started early as I and a friend celebrated her birthday over lunch.We sat outside on sun-warmed wood benches and enjoyed creamy pasta and a simple but delectable tomato mozzarella panini, which I am planning on  replicating in my kitchen this weekend. I hope you too get time this weekend to step into the kitchen and whip up some delicious fare. This week’s finds include a book which I cant wait to read,a blogger whose weight loss story and methodology resonated strongly with me and a purse accessory which not only looks chic but is also extremely functional.

Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success By Adam Grant.

Adam Grant is the youngest-tenured and one of the highest-rated professor at Wharton. He is a leader in the field of organizational psychology and his research provides insight into why we do what we do.His book-”Give and Take”, talks about how being selfless in one’s professional and personal life can help out in the long run.

One of the most interesting things about him,  is his standing commitment to introduce his students to anyone he knows or has met and given his popularity with everyone from Google to The United Nations to Citigroup, his students are one lucky bunch.You can read more about Adam Grant here. His book releases on 9th April and I can’t wait to get my hands on it-Its a must read. (You can see the other books which are on my reading list here).

Stay For Dinner-Andie Mitchell

While GMAT has pushed my goal of getting fit on the back burner, I am very cognizant of how important it is to maintain a healthy weight and lead an active lifestyle.In stark contrast to a lot of fitness blogger’s who focus on intense workouts and hours spend slaving over the rowing machine at the gym, Andie Mitchell’s weight loss story talks about how she shed over 135 pounds by eating in moderation and walking…a lot (She did run when she was in the process of losing weight but since achieving her target weight, she maintains it by walking).She lost over 60 pounds during her trip to Rome by focusing on meals which were centered around fresh locally grown produce but were healthy and hearty. Hers is a blog which I have bookmarked and plan to re-visit regularly to get fitness and meal planning inspiration.

Robinson Card Case-Tory Burch

When I head out for grocery runs, I don’t like carrying a purse.I often just take my credit card,keys and a reusable tote which I use to bring back my groceries.After one such trip I lost my credit card-its so easy to misplace it when its not safely encased in my wallet.A quick call to the bank to cancel the card ensured that my card wasn’t misused but ever since then I have been on the lookout for a stylish credit-card and key holder which I can use when I need to run a few quick errands. I finally decided to go with the Robinson Card Case by Tory Burch.I love how stylish and compact the card case is. I plan on hooking my keys to the metal loop so that all my valuable are safe and in one place.

Happy Easter Weekend!

Photo Of The Day

Stylish bookmarks which make reading even more fun I A delectable dessert-Check back next week for the recipe I

Image Credit- 1. 2. 3.

This week got off to a shaky start when thunderstorms and heavy rains resulted in a power outage on Monday evening, but the warm weather and the ample of sunshine which followed since, more than made up for the fickle weather at the start of the week.I am very fortunate to live less than 2 miles away from work and I took advantage of the spring weather and walked home from work on a most days this week, which was a great way to get a workout without trying to

My plans for the weekend include long walks to celebrate the sweet spring weather, quality time in bed with the weekend paper, a long skype date with a girlfriend who is in India and just got married and kicking off my yearly bout of spring cleaning.This year I have decided to spread out my cleaning schedule over many weekends rather than doing it all in one go, but I do see a clean fridge and an organized freezer in my near future, which is always a good thing.

Skin Love-Sibu

I have always had a solid morning and night skincare routine, but I have never exclusively used only one brand of skincare products,that is, until now.One of my favourite you-tubers-Michele1218 swears by the Sibu line and has been using it for over 4 years.She has incredible skin and you can see her videos on the Sibu line here,here and here.

Based on her glowing reviews,I decided to order a few products from this line during last year’s black friday sale and I am so glad I did.Their products are amazing-I can’t say enough good things about this line.My skin looks clear and feels smooth not to mention I break out a lot less which is a big plus.

Sale Alert-If you buy any Sibu product I would recommend checking out Amazon before going to Sibu’s website.For some reason Sibu products are cheaper on Amazon.

Get Some Shut Eye: Erin Cute As A Button Bed

Vidhya is a fellow Indian blogger who blogs at The Daily Sequin.She is super fit and is an incredibly smart shopper.Her most recent home purchase had me mentally re-decorating my bedroom to accommodate the tufted gorgeousness that is “Erin Cute As A Button Bed”.While I absolutely love the tufted headboard, what I like even more is the bargain $319 price.If you have been looking for a bed I would recommend stopping by World Market to have a look at this one-Its available online here and you can see Vidhya’s post on the bed here.

Kitchen Investments-Le creuset dutch oven

As I had mentioned in my “organized pantry” post I have been slowly upgrading my cookware and kitchen tools.I have a list of kitchen essentials which I want to purchase and at the very top of my list was a Le creuset dutch oven.I took advantage of a recent sale and purchased the classic cherry 5 1/2 quart round french oven.Its perfect for making Indian gravy sauces, soups and even popping an extra large batch of popcorn.It goes directly from the stove to the oven which is another big plus.I would highly recommend saving up and investing in a Le creuset dutch oven.I am already contemplating purchasing the smaller sized 3 1/2 quart dutch oven-It would work well when I want to cook smaller portions.

Tip It Up-Online Entertainment for Free

Katherine Boehret of WSJ has come up with a cheat sheet for getting online entertainment for free from top retailers like Amazon,Barnes & Noble and Google’s Play Store.Read the entire article here.

Photo Of The Day

The evocative smell of home I  New Tea & Tried and Tested Polish I A good way to end the day I Eating Healthy  I A good old drugstore haul I A preview of an upcoming post.

Happy Happy Weekend!

-Ash.

Image Credit - 1. 2. 3.

After a hectic week at work, I am eagerly anticipating the weekend.My plans include afternoon naps to recuperate from the lack of sleep of the past week,a quick grocery run in my new boots so that I can combat the chilly weather and some major study time.Its going to be a relaxed weekend.

 Quote of the week:

Be not afraid of growing slowly; be afraid only of standing still. —Chinese Proverb

TV: Call its post med school hangover or a way of staying connected to medicine but I obsessively watch medical drama’s-from House M.D. to Emily Owens to Greys Anatomy-I watch them all.The only medical Tv show I haven’t watched is Scrubs and that is on my To-Watch list of shows-I just need to find time.

I have recently gotten hooked to NBC’s new medical drama- Do no harm. Its the story of a super gifted neuro-surgeon who harbors a dark secret.If you are looking for something to watch this weekend, I would highly recommend Do No Harm (Only two episodes have aired so far-You can easily catch up).

Purse:Given my propensity to carry my world in my purse, large totes are a great choice for me when it comes to handbags.The new Michael Kors Large Selma Top-Zip Satchel in emerald green would make a great addition to my spring wardrobe.On a side note emerald green is pantone’s color of the year which means we will be seeing it everywhere this year.

Shopping Destination:C.Wonder-Tory Burch’s ex-husband, J. Christopher Burch, started a chain of stores called C.Wonder.During a recent trip to the mall I made my very first purchase at C.Wonder and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of their merchandise especially their jewelry-I picked up two pieces of jewelry.

A lot of the merchandise at the store reminded me of similar items I had seen at Henri Bendel,J.Crew,Kate Spade and Tory Burch and as it turns out I am not the only one who thinks so -A recent article published in the WSJ talks about the same.Similarities aside if you are looking for quality jewelry which is classy but still on trend I would definitely recommend stopping by C.Wonder especially their sale section.

Sales Of Note-C.Wonder-Take an additional 50% all sale items in stores and online.

Picture Of The Day-Here.

Happy Happy Weekend!

-Ash.

All Images-Via.

Other than studying,my plans for the weekend include two dinners-one to catch up with a girlfriends over Mediterranean food and the other to celebrate the Indian republic day, which is on 26th January.This weekend is going to be fun.

Incredible India-How I miss you!

TV-I love history especially ancient civilizations and their heroes.Ulysses,Alexander the great,Helen of troy,Ashoka,Julius Caesar-If its a historical drama, I have probably watched it (more than one time ).One of my all time favorite historical-dramas,Spartacus comes back today,for its last season.If you liked Gladiator,Troy (The Brad Pitt version) and 300 you will probably love Spartacus-Just be warned, its pretty violent and graphic but it does have an an incredible plot and storyline.

Food-During my recent trip to Asheville to visit the J.Crew warehouse sale I stopped by The Chocolate fetish.What initially lured me into their store was their display of edible chocolate shoes.While I didn’t give in to the temptation of bringing home a chocolate shoe, I did try their Dark Pecan Frog and their Hazelnut Ecstasy Truffle and I have to say I am throughly impressed.If you are looking to spoil yourself or someone special for Valentine’s day, I would highly recommend The Chocolate Fetish-They ship throughout the United States.

Pictures-Coffee pearls and poetry-A tumblr blog which showcases a beautiful selection of well curated images.I couldn’t help but add many of them to my pinterest boards.

App-It-Up- In a bid to try and centralize all my calendars and to-do-lists, I have been testing a couple of different organization apps.After trying quite a few, I decided to go with Springpad and I absolutely love it-Its simple,its easy and it makes being organized on the go, a breeze.

What are you doing this weekend?Do you have any “Finds” you would like to recommend?

-Ash.

All Images-Via.

In a course of two days, we have gone from 70 degree spring weather to ice flurries and chilly cold winds.Other than a quick outing planned on Saturday, I intend to spend the weekend at home bundled up and warm.

My plans for my stay-at-home weekend include a fun read and bowls of creamy roasted-bell-pepper-tomato-soup topped with crusty garlic bread.

Office Decor-A relaxing,uncluttered,inspiring office space is something we all strive towards.Dawn Guarriello’s “Office Envy“ pinterest board showcases the quintessential must-haves for classic feminine office space-flowers to help bring nature inside,soft textures,Parisian inspired decor in the form of an eiffel tower lamp-base and billowing soft pink curtains.Be sure to check out her pinterest board for some inspiration and don’t forget to take a peek at the Zar’s boards as well.

Get Financially Fit: I am currently reading Smart Women Finish Rich: 9 Steps to Achieving Financial Security and Funding Your Dreams.Whether your single or married,divorced or widowed,young or old, taking charge of your financial future is a must.This book in a step wise fashion lists out how to understand your current financial situation and how to start planning for a safe secure tomorrow.Its a must read for all women.

50 Shades of Mint: My love for J.Crew’s No 2 pencil skirt has been documented in full glory at Zar’s.J.Crew recently upgraded their inventory and added quite a few spring items.My top pick is the No. 2 pencil skirt in double-serge cotton in the color spearmint.Both the color and the cut make it a timeless classic for spring and summer seasons.

List It: Whether you are 5,10 or 15 years away from the 30 year mark here is a fun list of 30 Things Every Woman Should Have and Should Know by the Time She’s 30.

Happy Weekend Folks!

Feel free to recommend a must read article or book in the comments below.I am looking for new book suggestions.

-Ash.