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Jan 29, 2020

Planet Earth, Sustainable Living, My Indoor Garden and more!

I ❤️ Mother Nature!


There ain't anything as beautiful and as versatile as Nature Earth!

Living inside our heavily concrete jungles, we have forgotten the debt of nature. The love, support, and nurture that planet earth gives us, is unsurmountable.

We, humans, are selfishly cutting trees, breaking mountains, polluting rivers and harming the natural fauna and flora.

I just wonder where is the end to it? Animal cruelty is so wide and absolutely disgusting. It is like we human, in spite of our strengths and intelligence, we have become so selfish that we do nix a thought before we pick up an ax. An ax to destroy or abuse natural resources.

I feel very saddened, and I feel restricted. I hope I can do more for the cause. In my limited ability to live my debt towards nature, I aim to practice kindness and inclusive living. I try and avoid products that are animal tested. I am a vegetarian who is trying hard to go vegan i.e. limit the usage of milk products. I also aim to spread awareness. If you know a way I can stand up more effectively for these values, let me know.

While you read this blog, try and commit to coming for the cause of nature and animals.

The wildfire in Australia broke my heart, seeing the animals on the street brings me to pain. I wonder what they eat, how they drink esp in summers and what happens to them when it rains?

The amount of AC and refrigerators we use is increasing the CFC content and global warming every day. Which means more heat and aggression in the outdoor, the external environment. More heat for the flora and fauna to bear with painfully. Why are we not doing anything about it? Oh yes, we are now creating homes with central AC. How inclusive and thoughtful of our lech mentality. We are desperately taking away rights of everything else that God created, to make our lives more luxurious. But is it sustainable? Think thoroughly about it.

CLIMATE CHANGE IS REAL!

Moving from my outbursts to back to the blog. While we all try and figure out, how we can give back to mother Earth, give back meaningfully and extensively. There are small-small things we can also do to prove our capabilities.

I am trying to find mine, if you are reading this post, you too please do something about it. I welcome all your thoughts and if you want to pen an article on the same, you are most welcome to guest blog here and on www.numerounity.com

A Little Green Thumb Approach in My House


The indoor air is quite polluted. And I am refraining to buy another electrical device to combat it. It is like burning more coal or water to produce electricity and planting another electronic device at the home. Naah!

In my previous blog/vlog, I have spoken about a natural air-purifier that a brand sent me. I am actually greedy for a more natural thing, I am greedy for plants and am greedy to spread plantation drive across the world.

I love plants. However, given my out of suitcase living [hostel life throughout education days], hectic work lifestyle, frequent travel and smaller size of my apartment [with barely any space for plants], and my lack of gardening skills, I always stayed away from doing so.

When I was staying in my Malad- Kandivali apartment, my mum had helped pot some plants in the name-sake window grill we had in that house. But due to shifting into a plant un-friendly hi-fi building and a very mean old neighbor [Mrs. Shah] who stole my plants during the transit and lied openly about it, I lost almost all my plant pots.

Heartbroken, I donated almost all the pots to my new building garden, keeping 2-3 for the new home. Alas! that also did not work.

The new building did not have ample space or sunlight for the plants. So I kept a few near my door [corner house] near a window for sunlight. While I was regularly taking care of the cleaning part, the old members of the building committee were too rude to throw them away including the holy Tulsi. I requested them a lot but in vain. Politics always wins over sustainability ;)

As a result, I have to move those plants inside the house and due to lack of sunlight, they could not sustain. I still have not given up. Again with the help of my mom, I planted Aloe Vera and other plants that could grow in less sunlight. Only a few could sustain.

The ALOE VERA and Ajwain died cause someone pulled it out of the root and filled the pot with excess water [well if you have plants at home and you delegate tending it when you are away, this can happen]. In spite of two well-blooming pothos, a loaded tulsi, two aloe vera, and an indoor leafy plant, I shifted to my new house [another rental apartment in Ahmedabad] with just one Pothos and that leafy plant.

This time, however, I selected a house with a gallery [balcony] that opens in the front. My first step was to revive my Pothos and the other leafy indoor plant, which I successfully did. My first attempt to propagate the Pothos wasn't successful so I decided to get ones from the nursery.

This time, I do not want anything to limit me from extending my love for indoor plants. So I am trying to learn a lot about plants, gardening, etc. Come join in this journey of mine.

Do not feel limited. Let not limits as an excuse for not doing a thing ruin your drive. I have seen an extreme desert kind of a country - UAE trying to develop their own green patch. Yes, I have traveled once from Abu Dhabi to Dubai on a bus and have seen the entire stretch being cropped with plants and a smart irrigation system. I am talking about that route, if you travel there, do take a bus from Abu Dhabi to Dubai [It is Luxurious, cost-effective, convenient and clean unlike Buses in India], you will amaze yourself. Kudos to those who planned and worked on that idea!

India please take a lesson. We are blessed with Flora and Fauna and we must respect it.


New in 2020

So, I am trying to extend my love for the plants and gardening by incorporating a small green patch in my rented apartment.
And by the time this blog will be published, I have already had it quite set at my home. Of course, I took help from an expert gardener who is so good with her gardening skills [inspite of no agriculture or horticulture degree] that her small garden that was once laden with boulders and infertile soil, became the best home garden in the entire township. It also won the "best garden" award for 2 consecutive years, so much to the chagrin of other participants who refused to participate from the next time ๐Ÿ˜ [People and their insecurities]. Anyways, the idea is to not brag but appreciate which I did not during that time. Today I realize the hard work and dedication that goes behind and I truly appreciate, on all my four and a half!

So circa 2020, I am gonna extend the green thumb from thought to action, and from action to some more content. I am gonna bring you a lot of new content on this blog and my YouTube Channel. Here, pl have a glimpse-



I really hope that you will like this video. Do share your suggestions and feedback. I try to keep my videos as natural and real as possible. So it could make sense to even a layman and women too ๐Ÿ˜„

You can also follow me on YouTube if you like my content. And do give a good thought to green and sustainable living. Cause what we spend is what we earn. so if you want to earn well, earn sustainably, invest and spend appropriately. This rule works as good in Finance as in Sustainable living.

Go ahead and say yes to sustainable living and do share your feedback, experiences and if any questions with me.


Ciao!
Ekta


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Jan 15, 2020

Punjabi Makeup Tutorial With Hairstyle and How I Celebrated Makar Sakranti in Ahmedabad

My Makeup Look for Lohri


เค เคฒो เคœी, เคฒो เค† เค—เคฏी  Lohri. เค†เคช เคธเคญी เคจु เคฒोเคนเคฐी เคฆी เคฒเค– เคฒเค– เคตเคงाเคˆเคฏां! เคฒोเคนเคฐी เค•े เคธंเค— เคฎเค•เคฐ เคธंเค•्เคฐाเคจ्เคค, เคชोंเค—เคฒ เคเคตं เคฌिเคนू เค•ी เคญी เคธुเคญเค•ाเคฎเคจाเคฏे। 

เคฎैं เค•เคนा เคœी เคฒोเคนเคฐी เคตिเคš เค•ुเค› เคธ्เคชेเคถเคฒ เค•เคฐเคจा เคšाเคนीเคฆा। เคตैเคธे เคคो เค‡เคธ เคŸाเค‡เคฎ เคธเคฌ เค•ुเค› เคธ्เคชेเคถเคฒ เคนी เคนोเคคा เคนै เค•्เคฏूंเค•ि เคจเคฏी เคซैเคธเคฒे เค•เคŸเคคी  เคนै, เคธूเคฐ्เคฏ เคงเคจु เคฐाเคถि เคธे เคฎเค•เคฐ เคฐाเคถि เคฎें เคช्เคฐเคตेเคถ เค•เคฐเคคा เคนै เค”เคฐ เคฒเคฎ्เคฌे เคฆिเคจों เค•ी เคถुเคฐुเค†เคค เคนोเคคी เคนै. เคฌเฅœे เค…เคš्เค›े เคฆिเคจ เคนोเคคे เคนै เคฏเคน. เค เคฃ्เคก เคฅोเฅœी เค•ाเคฎ เคนोเคคी เคนै เค”เคฐ เคฎौเคธเคฎ เคธुเคนाเคจा เคนो เคœाเคคा เคนै. 

เคฏเคน เคค्เคฏौเคนाเคฐ เคธिเคฐ्เคซ เคญाเคฐเคค เคฎें เคนी เคจเคนीं, เค•เคˆ เค…เคจेเค• เคฆेเคถो เคฎें เคญी เคฎเคจाเคฏा เคœाเคคा เคนै เคœैเคธे เค•ी เคฅाเคˆเคฒैंเคก เคฎें songkaran, เคฎ्เคฏांเคฎाเคฐ เคฎें เคฅिเคจเคฏเคจं เค”เคฐ เคจेเคชाเคฒ เคฎें เคฎाเค˜े เคธंเค•्เคฐांเคคि เค•े เคฐूเคช เคฎें. 

How I celebrated My Makar Sankrant and Lohri in 2020


This year, I was in Ahmedabad where the festival is celebrated as "Uttarayan" with lots of kites and sweet dishes. 

We also bought lots of traditional sweets like Gazak, Til Papdi, Khakhra [Gujarati special] and Savories. 

I missed attending the kites festival and my Punjabi friends with the bonfire set but I enjoyed the festival at home with loads of good food [like Makke ki Roti, sweets, etc] and creating a new makeup tutorial for all my lovely viewers/ followers. 

This time Makar Sankrant was on 15th January. We give the Siddha [ a plateful of raw one-time sattvic meal ingredients] to a brahmin/ pundit and 14 identical items to married women or poor people. We call it "Bana". We also mark some "Bana" for the mother in law in the form of money. [After all, she is the one who blessed us with our groom]. 

All the Bana and Siddha need to be accompanied by Til Gud [a traditional sweet made of Jaggery and Sesame seeds] and some money. Haha, there is nothing for the bahu except for the good wishes that you may receive by donating meaningful stuff to poor or needy that day. [Lolz some time I wonder if there is any Indian festival that believes in honoring the Bahu, just kidding. You can buy new clothes and jewelry for yourself]

Coming back to Bana, I earlier used to bring 14 different items other married women but given the constraint of finding the quorum and a bigger motivation to help the needy, this year I decided to donate to poor.

Given the increased chill in the weather [yeah blame global warming], we thought of giving them some good woolen like a blanket/shawls for protection in winters. In a bid to find right stuff, we landed at the "teen Darwaza" market in Ahmedabad and after hours of search in the dusty, crowded lanes we could not find a good quality blanket. We tossed from tiffin boxes to clean bath towels but given the low availability and lack of time, we finally settled for some good quality plates for them. 

Maybe next time we should plan and execute better. If you have any ideas, do share it with me.

Well, that's a lot about how I celebrated my festival this year. Now let's talk about the Lohri special makeup

My Lohri Special Makeup

To earmark this special occasion, I have created a special makeup look for all my viewers. It is traditional and easy to do a makeup look. You can do with the minimal cosmetics available at your disposal. 

Watch the Video to watch the complete easy tutorial


You can also watch this video on my YouTube Channel and pl do subscribe My Channel on YouTube

Acknowledgment 
So well, my dearies. This was my Lohri/Makar Sankrant special vlog/blog. I hope you all will like it. Do let me know your comments/feedback/suggestions on the same. 

A special thanks to my ailing mother who had been a great support throughout and helped me to prep up for my festival and bring together this look. It took us inhuman hours and immense strength to go around the places in search of items for donation including multiple discussions with vendors reg quality supplies and availability. She went pillar to post to help me even on the video despite her bad health and patiently supported me throughout the video shoot, look assembling. lighting and editing. 

So do share your support and follow me on my social media channel as well.

I have shared another glimpse of this look on my Instagram page too. Do check it out there!

Stay Haute, Celebrate India

Ekta Khetan

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For Collaboration, mail me at hautekutir@gmail.com

Jan 8, 2020

The New LOFA Store Launch in Ahmedabad

My love for Arcade took me to LOFA. The name that says it all!

LOFA is a Chinese Brand that opened a new store in Ahmedabad, India. It is a consumer-facing retail merchandising shop that offers a lot of interesting daily use Kitchen products like mugs, water bottles. Fancy items like bags, purses, keychains, soft toys, wall clocks, travel bags, basket, stationery and more.

When they opened their first outlet in Ahmedabad, they invited us for the grand launch and the preview. 

The grand launch saw celebrity comedian Krishna as chief guest who cut the ribbon and gave interesting bytes to bloggers. He was quite grounded, warm and was such a joy to meet at the launch. He picked few items for his own home especially for his wife Kashmira and their twin children.

I spoke to the actor about his experience and we shared a live video of direct interaction with him on Instagram for all his fans and followers.



The store is at CG Road, Ahmedabad. 

If you are following me on Instagram [ektakhetan] you would have seen the live launch and other footage from the event]. In case, if you are not following me yet, do follow me today for interesting updates and such launches. 




When a new retail store from another country opens in your city, it brings some refreshing change in terms of new merchandise, quality, decor and more. Welcome to India @lofaindia , happy to visit your new store in Ahmedabad and attend the launch ceremony with comedy heartthrob @krushna30. Check out Lofa stores for some cute, quirky home ware, knick knacks, bags, soft toys, fancy sunglasses and lots more. The store is at CH Road Ahmedabad! Here are few snippets from the store launch. Haul video will be coming soon. .... .... .... .... ..... ..... #pamperyourself #swag #whatiwore #ootd #outfitoftheday #storelaunch #ahemdabad #lofa #lofalovee #lofainahmedabad #voguemagazine #bloggerslife #funatwork #chinesepopup #love #instalove #instalike #inyourcity #girlinthecity #fun #tflers #womencrushwednesday #vogue
A post shared by Ekta Khetan♥️Lifestyle Blogger (@ektakhetan) on

Here are a few snapshots of different items in the LOFA store during the launch.






Aren't these cups so cute? Well, I totally loved them. In fact, I found the quality quite decent than a whole of a lot of other stores around. The pricing was ok too. 

I myself picked a few items from the store after great contemplation. The variety was good and I felt like picking at least one item from each genre. 

Do you wanna know what all have I bought from the store? Well, wait for my haul and unboxing video for the same on YouTube. Do follow my YouTube Channel.

Love and XOXO
Haute Kutir
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Jan 6, 2020

Jaipur Travel Vlog Wedding & Shopping



To Travel is to live! And I love living the moment and often travel to places that I am fond of. One such lace is Jaipur. The pink city in Rajasthan hinterland is quite close to my heart. I have spent considerable time in this city yet I have barely been around. 

Besides, Jaipur being a hub for weddings, ensures that I visit this place more often than any other city especially to attend family weddings.

One such wedding is of my dearest younger cousin- Tinnu AKA Saurabh. 

Given my frequent visit to Jaipur during my school days, I have spent considerable time with Saurabh and given his warm and loving nature, he is quite close to my heart. For that matter the entire family who had always been my pillar of support. 

Time flies and little Chimpu [Saurabh] grew from the cutest kid in the block to a fine young man. And it is time for his wedding bells. So if Saurabh is getting married then how could I not attend it? 

I was so excited that I booked wrong flight tickets for Jaipur but thanks to hubby he still found a way and new tickets for Mumbai to Jaipur. After taking 2 flights, we finally reached Jaipur on the cold winter night. And we stayed there for almost 3-4 days. I was quite busy with festivity and as usual, daunting health that I could shoot very little at the venue. But I still could manage to capture some interesting memories from this trip and compiled it into two videos-

1) The Amer trip [Watch Video Here] [Read blog here]

2) The Jaipur Travelogue [YouTubeLink]

In this blog, I will talk about the second vlog which is a fun video on some glimpses from the wedding, my shopping at Pink city and a quick room tour of the 3rd hotel [Radisson blu] where we stayed post the wedding. For the 1st two hotel tours, you would have seen them on my Insta story. In case if you missed it, check out the "Travel" tab in my Instagram Profile to find them.

Right now, check my quick travel log here-

Do check out the second video here and share your feedback/views via comments.


Subscribe my YouTube Channel if you haven't subscribed it yet?

I hope you had liked the video. I have given detailed feedback

Jaipur Hotel Reviews

Owing to our ticketing mishap and meaning to spend an extra day in the city, we shuffled between the three different hotels viz ITC Fortune, Holiday Inn, and Radisson Blu. 

As mentioned above, I have taken through individual room tour on my Instagram stories [ektakhetan], they still sit at the "Travel" tab for those who are interested in a video glimpse.

Here are the few glimpses of the different hotels we stayed in.

Hotel no 3 Radisson Blu



Its wedding season wherein all the hotels in Jaipur were running packed. We needed to leave the Holiday Inn where we stayed during the wedding cause it was fully booked. Since we had an early morning flight, we looked for hotels near the airport. Radisson was pre-booked by hubby but due to some confusion, we needed to re-book the place. Fortunately, we landed ourselves a corner room in business class which is actually meant for one business traveler. Since we had day-long plans at the city, the hotel room was only sued for shower, powder and catching a few winks.

I have featured a fun room tour in my above video, do check if you have not checked it yet.

Overall Rating: 3.75/5

Hotel no 2 Holiday Inn


It is quite a huge property by virtue of the number of rooms. Our room was quiet at the distant end of the floor but was such a beautiful room. I loved the room here most of all the hotels we stayed during this trip to Jaipur. We spent the least of the time here due to the wedding process and functions yet I loved the rooms cause of cozy factor.


The accessibility is good, if you have walking difficulties, ask for a room near elevators.

Rating: 4/5 [sans food]


Hotel No 1 ITC Fortune



We stayed here only for a night, the night when we landed in Jaipur. The room was quite big and the bathroom was even bigger. It was quite a decent stay. We ordered some food at night which was ok-ok.

Overall rating: 4/5 [sans food]

Other Activities in Jaipur

If you have gone to the pink city, you would at least two of these things-

1) Shopping At Bapu Bazaar/ Nehru Bazaar

2) Travel to Amer fort

Well, we did exactly that and covered them in the above vlog. Do check them out!

Overall it was a fun trip and quite a memory.

Do let me know if you like my vlogs and travel stories. I would love to get your feedback on the same.

Stay Haute, Travel Haute
Ekta Khetan
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Jan 1, 2020

Happy New Year 2020




Here's wishing all the readers of Haute Kutir, a very 
Happy New Year 2020!


I have just uploaded a brand new trailer on my YouTube Channel. Do check out the same.

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