Happiness is discovering a new beauty box. Lujo Box is such a surprise, delightful dose of beauty products. It is a brand new subscription box in India that attracts all the eyeballs.
I couldn't resist the Lujobox wave and got myself one. And yes, their Instagram page told me that it is pronounced as "Luho box".
Those who are following me on Instagram would have seen the sneak peak. Also, I have run a poll asking if you want to see an IGTV video or a YouTube Video. A majority of you voted for the "YouTube Video".
Do check out my unboxing video to know more.
The Unboxing Video
How is it possible that we get a box and do not unbox it for our subscribers? Well, the temptation is irresistible. If you excuse the tiny delay due to bad health, the video is finally live on my YouTube Channel. You can watch this video here or watch it onmy YouTube Channel
Watch the unboxing video-
I hope you liked the video. Do Subscribe Me on YouTube.
What's Inside my First every Lujo Box
This box contains around 5-6 products. Viz-
1) A Bonus Tshirt @ Rs 1650 Free Size
3) Elenblu Liquid Eyeliner - Full Size
2) Lavender Hair Mask- Full Size
5) Wild Earth Body Cream- Delux Size
4) Elenblu Emerald Green Gel Crayon pencil - Full Size6) La Cure Facial Mud Mask- Full Size
Haute Kutir Verdict: The Lujobox is indeed a lovely monthly beauty diet. I loved the simple box with good branding and qualitative packaging. The products range is good and useful. It is a lovely subscription box and if you check their website, you may get some interesting discounts as well on monthly/quarterly/annual subscription.
Protein is an important nutrient for Human Body. They are building blocks for the human body and also, an essential source of fuel.
Dietary source of protein is found in both -animal and plant. [Also including Dairy products].
Vegetarians, across the world, are often challenged for not getting enough protein in their food as compared to the non-vegetarian food. To say there is not enough protein in the plant-based diet as compared to animal-based diet is not true.
Protein varies from source to source and more importantly, depends upon the individual in terms of overall energy/carbohydrate consumption, body weight and composition, physical activity level, body's need for essential nitrogen and amino acids, and the presence of illness/injury, among other factors.
Accordingly, your dietary recommendation may vary from your age to some of the above-mentioned factors.
So next time when someone tells you that as a vegetarian or a vegan, you lose your chance of acquiring enough proteins, you know it is not true unless your current food is not meeting your required intake of proteins.
Sources of Vegetarian Protein
Vegetarians get their protein from plant and dairy like- Legumes, Milk and other dairy products.
If you are a vegan then dairy is not an option for you. However, if you are a woman, you can try Soy protein to meet your daily protein intake requirements.
Soy Protein as Vegan Source of Protein
Soy protein is known as a complete form of protein as it allegedly contains all 9 essential Amino Acids. It is also known to have low saturated fat and high Vitamin C and Folate. Soy is also a good source of-
1) Fiber
2) Calcium
3) Iron
4) Magnesium
5) Phosphorus
6) Potassium
7) Thiamin
Health Benefits-
1) Obesity Control and Weight Management
2) Decreases Serum Cholesterol, LDPL
3) Prevents heart disease
4) Prevents Sarcopenia in Elderly
Sources of Soya Protein
While the best knowns are- Soy Milk, Edamame and Tofu. The widely known sources are-
1)Soy Milk: Great option for people who are lactose intolerant or switched to vegan.
2) Textured Soya Bean like Nutrela: It is a textured soy protein made via a Food extrusion process. The extrusion may dimish flavor but also reduces fat and cholesterol. Boil and mix it in your favorite food to build a habit.
3) Tofu: Very popular in Asian cuisine and has other health benefits too
4) Edamame: Another favorite green from the Chinese cuisine which can be eaten as stir-fried or a salad.
5) Soy Flour: Mix a small portion of it in your regular flour, say 1:10 ratio.
6) Soy Oil: Ease to use via Cooking oil.
Haute Kutir Takeaway
Every food item has its own merit and demerit which often gets combined with other factors like right sources, right portion size, body requirements, climatic conditions. There will always be controversy surrounding different food esp the processed ones. In addition to the production values, a lot depends upon the further processing and consumption process. A moderate, dietician based consumption is always a good idea.
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The author of this article is just suggesting Soy protein as a dietary source basis her understanding of this form of protein. She is also aware of the controversies against Soy protein and does not stand/defy it in any form. The blog post is purely informative and subjected to individual prescription/acceptance.
There are some places that are made for pure taste bud enlightenment and some for the overall experience and having a good time. The Tanjore Tiffin Room belongs to the latter category.
It was a discovery by an accident and I loved this discovery. Discovered Tanjore Tiffin while looking for another option after WTF veg food left us unsatiated with the menu and the taste.
The Place
It is next door to WTF, marked by beautiful lamps on the wall and an equally beautiful ambiance inside. TTR offers two sitting offers- AC and opens seating. I totally loved their open seating. It looks very unique and had a character of its own.
The place is beautifully dim lit and also has its own bar. I totally loved the name, as it reminds me of all the beautiful time spent in down south. Being a south Indian cuisine fan, I decided to try this place.
The Food
The menu is simple and clear. They offer both veg and non-veg food. Some of the dishes like mini idlis in gunpowder, katrrika sent me down the memory lane.
There is one remarkable thing about this place is - the tasting platter. Once you are seated, they offer you a platter which had a sample of different curries [chettinad, korma, and others] and rice flavors [from Pulliogra, Takali Sadam [Tomato rice], Lemon rice, Coconut rice] to choose from. You can try the samples and accordingly select the dishes. Since we already had some pasta, bhurji down our throat from WTF, we chose some subtle dishes like Rasam with Applam, Mini idlis, Plain Dosa among others.
The Service
One thing that I did not like about the place was an endless wait to get a table. It was a busy Sunday we know and we were willing to wait. However, the person in charge was way too slow in accommodating in spite of few tables getting vacated and new walk-ins getting escorted without reservations. We were told a wait time for max 30 minutes but we waited for almost an hour before we insisted and reminded politely for a table [given that we were ok to share]
Service was a sour point at this place. The service was pretty slow [the place was over packed] and the food was decent. The quantity is something they need to recheck given the pricing.
Would I revisit them? yes of course.
However, this time will check for a reservation to save those hassles of waiting unnecessarily.
Overall, I liked the place, the concept, and the ambiance. Food was ok.
Stay Haute, Eat Haute,
Haute Kutir
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For more food reviews, click the "food" tab in my blog or visit my Zomato profile.
I am a Cancerian, and well, that explains my love of water. Not just the watersport, Shower time is my favorite ritual.
After all, the best way to wash away a bad day or remorse feelings is to take a good head bath and feel rejuvenated. You may like to watch my video on how to do a good spa at home or read that post here. Watch: DIY Home Spa
Coming back to shower, your shower is incomplete without appropriate in-shower products. No wonder, I keep reviewing loads of shampoo, conditioner and of late shower gels in my Youtube videos.
One such video you may like to watch is- August Favorites from my archives.
Of late, I am doing more reviews on my Instagram than the blog. I have been trying new products and have accumulated quite a few empties.
Well, they are not just hair care - Shampoo and conditioner varietal but also includes some interesting body wash and face wash among others.
To know more about them, check out this video-
I hope you liked that video. In case, if you have any viewing difficulties, you may like to watch this video directly on my YouTube. Also, do not forget to subscribe my channel if you liked my video. I am planning some awesome videos soon.
Here are the pictorial references for all the products shown in the video. Do you see a common product here?
Would you have any question about any of these products, do let me know.
Trishala, a 17-year-old teen, has been trying to lose her weight. She was an otherwise a healthy kid but of late is struggling with that bulge around her belly that she developed. She is hyper-obsessive about her health and in order to deal with this issue, had completely stopped eating outside her hostel.
However, that is not helping her and she is growingly feeling nauseated, tired and bloated all the time.
Careworn as she became, she consulted many dieticians who detected the root cause of her problem as indigestion and suggested her to try Probiotics among other prescriptions.
Probiotics? asked Trishala, looking very confused. She vaguely remembered having to try a small bottle once and not liking the taste. She wondered if it is the hostel food alone and if Probiotics are the things for her.
She had many questions in her mind, viz-
Are Probiotics Good for us? How Can They Help us in day to day life? Are there any Side Effects from consuming pro-biotics? How do You consume probiotics and in what quantity?
Well, there are numerous curiosities surrounding the usage and benefits of Pro-biotics. Let us start with understanding what probiotics are, foremost.
What Are Probiotics?
Pro [Promoting]+ Biotics [Life Sciences] = Probiotics
Probiotics are live bacteria and yeasts that are good for you, especially your digestive system. They are the live microorganisms when consumed, works towards restoring your gut flora.
The word "Bacteria" almost freaked her out. But you need not to worry. As our body is already full of bacteria, some good and some not so good for us. Probiotics are known to be the good/helpful bacteria that help in keeping our gut healthy. And if your gut is healthy, your resistance increases and strengthens your overall body.
How Probiotics help?
1) It aids in digestion
2) Lowers inflammation
3) Improves overall gut health
4) Promotes bone health
5) Prevents Diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome
6) Protects against vaginal infections or UTI
7) Good for Oral health
8) Prevents skin conditions like Eczema
9) Helpful in Mitigating Allergies and Cold
Well, these are the few of the many benefits that Probiotics offer.
Trishala was pleased with the above benefits and her next question was where to buy it from and how to consume it? Her one adventure with a probiotic misfired and she worried about consuming pills as supplements.
How to Consume Probiotics?
You can consume probiotics in different ways than generally perceived. For this, I took her along with me to the DuPont bloggers meet where some of the industry leaders in Probiotics and a nutritionist came forth to explain about probiotics and answer the queries associated with it.
Probiotics and Antibiotics
Do you know probiotics help in reducing the side effects of antibiotics? Well, it helps to restore the lost flora due to the dosage of antibiotics. Another reason for you to consume Probiotics
The HOWARU Way of Probiotics
Popular belief is that you can consume Probiotic in the curd or the clinical supplements only. However, that is not completely right or fortifying.
The good news is that you can consume probiotics in different form esp as part of one of your favorite food like breakfast cereals, well-cultured yogurt, chocolate bars, and even ice-creams.
Thanks to DuPont and its premium range of probiotic strains- HOWARU for bridging health with taste and accessibility.
DuPont Nutrition & Health is a B2B unit that offers value to the pharmaceuticals, beverage, dietary supplement, and food industries. HOWARU is a range of premium probiotics, by Dupont that is scientifically proven to improve digestive health and immune system.
These probiotics can provide health benefits to beverages, frozen desserts, dairy products, and confectionary.
HOWARU is a clinically-documented probiotic strain that is easy to add into your daily diet. This probiotic will ensure the good bacteria thrives in your body, to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.
When they mentioned ice-cream, Trishala's eyes twinkled in excitement. She could not wait to step out to her nearest supermarket and pick some mouth-watering probiotics.
So, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and try some today. Do not forget to consult your nutritionist or doctor as well.
Probiotics 101: Guide to Select
While buying probiotics, read the label carefully for the following information.
1) Count: Look for 1 billion CFU or more of per serving for an efficacious dose
2) Strain
3) Stability: Guaranteed count of CFU at the end of Shelf life
4) Source: The statement that connects strains to your health concerns
5) Packaging: Go for well-packed in airtight containers as exposure to air degrade them over time.
Please note, this information is provided by the Danisco and Dupont team, and has no personal bearings. Consult your nutritionist for more.
For probiotic capsules, check with your doctor. Avoid taking OTC drugs as the type and dosage vary from person to person. Better Safe than sorry!
CFU= Colony Forming Units
Haute Kutir Trivia: Probiotics help to protect kids, cares for senior’s guts and also help you with postpartum depression #staystrong#probioticsstrength. A study suggests that taking probiotics along with antibiotics helps in reducing side effects of antibiotics [Source: Danisco]
What is your go-to style for a happening Music fest in the city?
Punk or jazzy?
Let me suggest- How about "The Warrior" look?
Yeah, this Sunburn season I went ahead with the jazzy looks [a cut above my last season look].
Let's check more about this look.
The Warrior Look with Tigi Bedhead
I attended the Sunburn City Festival on Sunday evening. To prep up for the show, I went to the Lakme Absolute Salon Bandra.
It was a pleasant October evening.
I was asked to select from 2 different looks. One was a two pony knots look and the second one being the braided hair. Basis my pretty stylist's suggestion, I have gone for the braided one. Here's the inspiration-
It took us 1 plus hour but glad that we did it. Hair has done..now time to go for makeup.
For makeup: We decided the old favorite- Black Smokey eyes with nude pink lips.
The final look.
Tell me, what do you think of this look?
What is your go-to style for Music Fest/ concerts in the town?
Products Used
We have done the hair using 3 Tigi products. Here are the products used for creating the braid
And at the event at Jio BKC, Bandra.
Thank You Team Tigi and Lakme. I had a good evening and loved the experience too.
If Raj Kapoor went around the world in A Dollar, why can't I do so on one Leg?
Technically, I am an orthopedically challenged [PH] person but I love exploring the world. I do not plan but often travel on impulse, last minute. And I love it that way!
My Trip to Sikkim was one such expedition and I cannot tell you what a memorable trip it was! I went with an open heart, all I planned for this trip was to explore lesser-traveled places and take lots of pictures.
So, let me tell you about this trip via some breathtaking pictures we took, no filter, no edit. Truly the way, trips should be.
My Date with Sikkim
It was the month of March. I was back from an exciting and exhausting car launch trip to New Delhi. I had two days to finish my pre-vacation chores and pack my bags for Sikkim from my Mumbai Wardrobe. I went ahead and visited my prosthetic center, asking them to service my leg for the trip and give me a better sock so I can visit all the places including the mountain terrains.
My prosthetician asked me where all I will be visiting? I showed ignorance as I really didn't go through the itinerary, I just wanted to go with the flow, unadulterated. So I said- Mountains, Waterfalls, and Snow kissed world!
It was a trip after a long time and all those impulsive things I did in Goa last December, I was all agog to feel this one. I imagined myself playing in the snow, sitting by the lakes and flower valley.
Here's the two of us, taking our flight to Kolkata and then Baghdogra. We have not slept whole night but dreams serenade us. Can't tell you how we killed the time to be there.
I imagined myself surrounded by the snow. And the first thing I wanted to slurp was some hot piping noodles. Thank God for in-flight services, I grabbed a cup of noodles imagining it is those "mountain wali noodles". Yummmm...
When I sat down on my seat en route to Baghdogra, I closed my eyes and murmured- Here I come Sikkim. Do welcome me with warm hands.
And it did!
It was a magical, mystical journey way beyond my simpler words. It was indeed a trip of the lifetime.
All through the trip, we traveled from hilly terrains of Gangtok to Lachung, Lachen, Namchi and more! The places I have not heard about before but the places that are now embossed in my heart, shining like the most precious gold!
We discovered some world-renowned places, traveled some forbidden paths, braved adventurous mountain journey, eaten from some lesser known shanty, visited some dreamy Tea estates and also had soupy-piping Maggi on top of the mountains at army base camps.
The beauty of travel is not in talking but seeing. So, let me tell you more about this amazing trip via some amazing pictures. Here We Go-
You may like to check this teaser trailer that I created for my trip.
On a Date With Mountains
We landed in Baghdogra and from there we hired an Innova to Gangtok. We landed in the noon and scheduled to reached Gangtok by evening. Not to forget all the beautiful sight-seeing we did en-route. Check the above video for more.
Next morning, an early, cold, foggy morning, we took the same Innova and our happy-go-lucky driver and drove towards the sleepy town of Lachung.
In this blog, I will not tell you about the places we visit but all the explorations we did, how we unraveled an unknown world with our child-like enthusiasm and the big lens.
The Milestone Near The Seven Sister's Fall
The roads in the mountain are actually not roads but a narrow lane, spiraling up. The beauty of a road trip is passing by the locals and seeing the life there. Look at these beautiful people who live in such extreme weather yet brave it so well.
The beautiful journey at the selfie points and clouded valley
We also met these two beautiful kids who gave us a warm smile-
We ignored the hotels or restaurants and instead identified few home-based small joints to have our cup of tea and familiarity.
And those bridges with beautiful, colorful flags, I tell you, transports you into some other world- A world of Zen!
The trip to Lachung was long but beautiful.
And then we reached our beautiful Orange County Resort amid Rains and dark skies in the evening. It got a little difficult for me to climb up the resort but it was worth it. Here I am, kinda rescued, sitting at the resort's cafe, sipping warm tea and waiting for onion bhajiyas...
Have you noticed my Monkey cap?
We had a hale of time there and met another beautiful couple, who we did not know will turn into lifetime friends.
We spent that evening chatting and dining near the fireplace.
Cheers to the essence of travel, going on blind friendship dates to places not everyone visits every day. We discussed and were all set for our blind date with the beautiful Guru Dronmarg Lake the very next morning.
The Blind Date with Guru Dronmarg
It was blind dark at 3 am when we left the resort and drove towards the legendary place. The place we heard has many restrictions. We were two couples [you can say going for a blind date of a sort] having two vehicles, one each. So we decided to all plonk in one [giving us body heat in the stark cold morning], played on good old Bollywood dhinchak music.
There were certain destructions in the path which made us stop for a while and take additional help to push the vehicles but it did not deter our spirit. It was scary but when you are on a good mission, paths appears.
Stopping by the base camp and have some Maggi and tea!
Look at this beautiful, panoramic view of the Lake. Unless you do not visit the place you would not know the experience.
That's me at 18,000 ft above sea level, with one artificial leg, braving the lack of oxygen, chilly winds, standing tall and happy! Bliss.
That's me with Ramya, enjoying my life's first ever snow.
Watch this boomerang video here-
The magic did not stop there. We had several other memoirs.
We played in the snow and then soaked in sunshine, only to get drenched in Gangtok MG road's rain again. The rain-soaked street looked amazing.
An unplanned halt at the temple on the way to Lachen. The stairs were pious and lead to skies as if.
And then, more snow at the Tsangu lake, Gangtok
Eating at the lesser known home cafes-
A visit to the flower exhibition
The Buddha Museum, a click straight from the fairy tales-
The Tea estate and the Gardens where we dropped in unplanned and learned so many good things about tea manufacturing.
The chaar-Dham Temple at the picturesque Naamchi. It has a calmness of its own.
The Guru
Like a rainbow, we experienced different joys associated with a travel- The beautiful places, the kind people, the lovely food, the faith and the culture, the commercial establishments, learnings and more!
It is the experience that counts and this was truly wholesome. Thank you, Mayank for being my soul mate and making my travel dreams possible!
So, do not wait, go romance the world. Travel and visit the world. Let it embrace you.
What's next on my list? Well, another #TheBlindlist!
#SayYesToTheWorld and unravel a new mystery today. You never know what pleasant surprises are waiting there for you.
