What does your sleeping position tell about you? #WorldSleepDay

What does your sleeping position tell about you?

There are thousands of ways to tell a personality type. From the blood type to face contour to colors and even -Sleeping Position. 

Yes, the way you sleep talks about your personality, your daily ordeal, and your nature type. Sleeping like a log has become an old idiom. The way a lot of women sleep, you can easily term them as sleeping ninjas, sleeping blossom, timelapse turbines, and more. Irrespective, women are sleeping beauty and you could decode from their sleep positions as in what is going in their mind.

Here's decoding Five popular sleeping positions that different women exhibit and their state of mind.

1) The Fetus

It shows the reserve and the sensitive side of your personality. It signifies that you are holding a dream that is worth snuggling of and that you do not want to let go of. When someone is sleeping in a Fetal position, it means they feel they need to be understood, protected, and empathized with. It was my primitive sleeping position and I found my outlet through the way of blogging and writing. Some women may find it via painting or dancing too

2) Starfish

If you sleep on your back, with your hands and legs spread across in a drag of a starfish, then it suggests the openness of your nature, your good listening skill. A lot of time this position reflects the strength and positive outlook. This suggests that you are not worried about anything but feel free to love, laugh, and live.

3) Freefall

WHEN YOU SLEEP ON YOUR STOMACH WITH YOUR HANDS THROWN NEAR YOUR ears and your legs folded towards your left, it signifies the vulnerable side of your nature. This position signifies your vulnerabilities, your sensitiveness nature. However, this position is very beneficial for digestion. Try it.

4) Heron

Sleeping on the side with one leg raised means that you are adventurous, unpredictable, and extremely moody. This position signifies that you love peace over conflict and would not take things lying low.

5) Soldier

If you are sleeping on your back with your legs in attention and both hands straights on the side, that means you are very disciplined and reserved. When you sleep with your nose pointing to the ceiling, it may lead to snoring but it also denotes a common stigma that we all women undergo every month- TROUBLED BY PERIOD STAINS!!!

Yes, this is a position that I find myself and many other women resorting to during those 3 happy days of the month. The fear of a bunched up napkin, a wild strain or the mere napkin discomfort makes women sleep like a soldier, a warrior fighting the menstrual inconvenience even in their sleep. Sometimes it is pure muscle contractions that make you sleep in a particular way- like hands under the body.

They say- the best way to sleep, is to sleep on your sides[mostly left], with a small beneath your knees. Hands should be near your chest but not touching them as it could disturb the heartbeat while you sleep and could abruptly wake you up in the middle of nap time. 

Whatever is your sleeping position, always remember- a good sleep ensures a fresh feeling when you wake up the next day. So irrespective of your sleep positions, you must take at least 7 hours nap. After all, beauty sleep is really vital to survive another day. 

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Here's a small poem to all women

Women, you are an epitome of beauty, grace, 

and elegance.

 sophistication is thy second name. 

Charisma is your tame.

You walk like an elephant, 

indulging in your own gait. 

You dance like a peacock, 

through the puddles of rain. 

You pout like a diva, 

you sing like a nightingale

My warrior princess,

my sweet September

You are the loveliest dame.

Let me kiss you goodnight,

so you sleep 

without any fear or shame

Toss, turn, snore or yawn

Sleep Well till the break of dawn!

Banana Powder and Try Sugar Banana Compact Powder - Feel cheated

In the previous blog, we shared our review and impression of Try Sugar drop the base serum foundation.

In this blog, we will share our review and opinion of their other makeup base product- Banana Compact powder.

What is Banana Powder: It is an ultra-fine, yellow-toned powder that you apply to your face. It ideally sets your concealer, color correct any redness of the skin. Essentially a great tool for baking. 

Normally it comes in a powdered form and needs to be applied with the help of a brush or a beauty sponge. 

Does it contain a banana? No

The name derives from the yellow-toned color of this powder. 

I normally find using banana powder messy to use so when I heard that Try Sugar, an Indian brand has a compact version of it, I could not help but bought one. There were so many exhilarating videos on Instagram where some bloggers also recommended it.

So, Is the product worth the hype?

Let's Find out

Try Sugar Banana Compact powder

Do check out my Trial Tuesday video here, featuring the same product with on-screen usage and more to give you a better real-life scenario.

The review and impression is absolutely personal and based on usage so far. While I bought this product under the Instagram influence, one thing I learned is that I should never go chasing popular endorsements and instead try. The store inventories are generally quite unhygienic, hence I just checked it from external appearance. And what I swatched, I liked. 

Here's a detail opinion about this product.

What I Liked

1) Easy to use

2) Form Factor- square box

3) Inclusion of a sweet powder puff which is very convenient and good

4) Matte effect

5) Travel-friendly

What I did not like

1) Fake Mirror: It's not a mirror but plastic with no reflection. Big thumbs down.

2) Pricing: The product is not worth the price. 

3) Does not set concealer as well as expected- creasing is an issue

4) Does not color correct either

Haute Kutir Verdict

If you could ignore the dummy mirror, [feels cheated] the product is a darling, little dry when you apply, so better to use less quantity and allow to settle.

However, because of the fake mirror, the whole impression of the product goes down. Makes you wonder even if their claim for cruelty-free is authentic or not. It is not that the product is price effective. No. There was no requirement to include a mirror if the brand cannot ensure the mirror is not authentic. I have ordered from the brand website so you cannot complain about counterfeit products.

The product has the tendency to dry up your skin so be minimal while applying it. Coverage is decent and not too impressive or competition cutting either. 

Pricing could have been better too. 

Overall Rating 1/5

Do I recommend it? No!

I would rather suggest you pick Oriflame's normal compact powder or Lakme's any compact powder over this product unless the brand comes up a changed and better version of it. 

Stay Haute, Stay Happy

Haute Kutir

Drop the Base Serum Foundation by Try Sugar- Video Review and Impressions

Hi Everybody

I am back with a brand new makeup trial. Yes, I have a Trial Tuesday/ Thursday segment on my YouTube channel where we pick a makeup/beauty care product, try it on the camera, and share the first impression, experience, and overall review.

The products featured in such trial videos are largely makeup products, essentially for the makeup base. Why the makeup base? Well, as we all know the right makeup starts and ends with the right base. And having the right base completes at least 50% of the makeup activity. 

Often the base is where a lot of us err or feel restricted. While we talk about the art later or you can watch a few of the makeup tutorials on the channel, we are focusing a lot on makeup base products like foundation, primer, and compacts. The series so far has few and notable brands in the same category. Today we are talking about another very popular brand in India- Sugar cosmetics. 

We have featured the brand's flagship- stick foundation on the channel and also compared it to another stick foundation from another brand- Colorbar. Here are the links that can help you locate the above-mentioned videos.

Sugar Foundation Stick

Sugar V/S Colorbar

There are more, for that do visit my YouTube channel.

Try Sugar Drop the Serum foundation

Watch the full Trial Video here or below

Here are a few things that I liked about this product and what did not.

What I Liked

1) Clean, natural finish

2) easy to apply n buff

3) long-lasting natural wear up to 4 hours smoothly

4) minimal oxidization

5) Cruelty-Free

What went wrong/ Did not like much

1) Very medium coverage

2) Dry deposits

3) Bottle form looks fragile, hygiene risk and accessibility issues suppose the foundation reaches the bottom level or dropper is broken, how will you pick?

4) Non travel Friendly: Due to glass form factor.

5) Serum is negligible, looks more watery based

6) Transfers easily. Need to be set.

7) Product quantity is not satisfactory

Haute Kutir Verdict: While I liked the product and found it a good match for skin tone [it has a large variety of shades for different skin types], I found the pricing could be better and so does the form factor with wide mouth opening. The brand has unnecessarily spent money on the foam packaging that may not be conducive for the user to keep and carry all the time. The pricing could have been more competitive if that could have been avoided. 

The longevity is decent and this foundation is good for general use, no-makeup makeup look,s or natural finish. Flash photography is not an issue and the product scores there well. 

The foundation is very thick and the watery consistency might ruin your mojo. Yeah if you notice the bottle, you will find the watery liquid separating from the foundation making you really suspicious about the quantity. That would be a big minus 1 from me. 

Overall rating: 3/5

Kesh in point with Kesh King Oil

Celebrating Beauty; Women's Crowing Glory

Asian or European, tall or skinny, wheatish or fair, hair is the crowning glory of all women across the world. Black, blonde, brunette, salt, and pepper, or long, shoulder-length, or the fancy mohawk cut, every woman loves their hair. And why not, it is after all accredited as a woman's jewel ever since ancient times. 

This post celebrates beauty, celebrates women's love for their tresses, and aims to make them look beautiful, bounce with good health, ever and forever. 

Caring for the Crowning Glory

We all are born with naturally beautiful hair. Growing age, lifestyle habits, stress, and often environmental pollution hurts and damages our naturally lush hair. There are different ways we follow since childhood to keep our hair strong and shiny. One such most prevalent, most effective hair care regime is- oiling!

Hair Oiling is the key

In childhood, we never faced hair fall or such an issue cause our mother or grandmothers would often wash our hair and apply a good coat of oil and tie them in interesting buns. The weekly oil ritual especially at those winter mornings at the sunlit verandah was one of the fondest memories we grew up with. Today when I look back and re-imagine my lovely tresses, I would often hear myself saying- Thank You, Nani. And my Nani would tell me to thanks the hair oil that works deep inside my hair to keep them healthy. So true.

As we grow up, and with the change of lifestyle, oiling took a backseat, and too many chemical treatments came forth. From straightening to curling to the spa to coloring, we have always kept our hair in the spot. Surprisingly, most of these techniques will make us avoid using hair oil. Avoid using hair oil? How? I cannot imagine my life when I have hair and I could avoid using hair oil. Cause no matter how good these temporary chemical treatments can make my hair look good, one thing that will pamper them forever is the- hair oil.

Selecting the right hair oil and following a right oiling regime can sail you through many bad hair days and will also keep your hair troubles at bay. 

How? read more to know more... 

The Art of Hair Oiling and Kesh king

No matter how much modern hair spa may come to fore, one thing that would never go out of the shelf is- Oil head massage or champi as we fondly call it. While there are different hair oil in the market offering different blends, there is one brand that stands out and is literally holding its position in the sun for many years is- Kesh King.

About kesh-King: Kesh King Oil is the market leader in the Ayurvedic hair oil category. (Highest market share consistently for years). It is a problem-solution brand, clinical studies have proven it is 2 times more effective in reducing hair fall and growing new hair as compared to other oils.

Kesh King is a Problem Solution brand that offers products like Ayurvedic Hair Oil, Ayurvedic Shampoo, Conditioner and Ayurvedic Capsule for various Hair Problems but majorly Hair Fall. Kesh King Ayurvedic Oil is the Category Leader in Ayurvedic Hair Oil Category and other key players are Indulekha, Sesa, & Kesh Kanti Nationally and Aswini & Parachute Ayurvedic in the South Zone.

So you not just need an anti-hair loss shampoo also but the best ayurvedic shampoo for hair fall and dry hair.

Kesh King shampoo the only Ayurvedic shampoo that solves hair fall problem as well as gives shiny, silky, soft hair.

More About the product:

●Science of Ayurveda: Kesh King Oil is an Ayurvedic and 100% safe product.

● 2X More effective: Clinically proven to be 2x more effective in reducing hair fall and growing new hair

● Herbal Formulation; Made with 21 herbs using Tel Pak Vidhi. The Shampoo Contains Aloe Vera [Grihtakumari] a miraculous herbal plant for skin and body

● Post Pregnancy Haircare: It promises to have no side effects, safe to be used for post-pregnancy hair fall in new mothers as well

Also, Kesh King is the only brand that has a doctor on call [helpline] to solve your different hair problems. The oil claims not just to reduce your hair fall but it also helps in promoting new hair growth. Isn't that amazing? Indeed! A lot of women across the decades have been trying this product.

The Product

The oil comes inside a beautiful transparent green bottle with a comb applicator. Yes a comb applicator that will not just help you to apply the oil directly into the root, it will also help the oil in reaching the hair shaft and subsequent penetration to the roots. Keeping your hands clean and devoid of any based residue. 

Here are the key benefits that the product promises to offer-

1. Enables New Hair Growth

2. Helps in Reducing Dandruff 

3. Ayurveda based oil with natural ingredients

4. Helps in reducing Hair fall even for new mothers.

A COMPLETE SOLUTION

Haircare does not end at mere oiling. A lot depends on what are the other hair products you are using and also your body essential nutrition level. Using the right oil is not a complete assurance. And you need to be mindful of the other products that you are using. To help that Kesh King also has an Ayurvedic Shampoo and conditioner, and an Ayurvedic capsule for hair issues- mainly hair fall. It may not be very effective on dandruff so if your main problem is dandruff then you must consult the brand helpline before trying this product. 

So, do check for this beforehand and also the list of ingredients.

Also, a lot of factors involved wrt oiling your hair. One is how and when to oil? Contrary to the popular myth, our suggestion is the best time to oil your hair would be post washing. It is the perfect time when the root and pores are cleansed of all gunk and natural oil secretion. Take a few pumps of oil [with the applicator of course] and gently apply in your hair, leaving some gap for the roots to breathe in. keep the oil for a day, and then you can wash with a mild shampoo. Do try this and let us know if you feel any difference.

For more info, do visit Kesh King.

Stay Haute

Haute Kutir

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Corona – Precaution, Symptoms, Parameters to track and Treatment – A complete guide

As they say, the experience is learning. The same has happened with me & my family in relation to the ongoing pandemic and the same has given us some insight regarding the disease. Believe that it is my responsibility to share my learnings and hence, this blog.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical practitioner, nor have medical knowledge; Information shared here is purely based on personal experience and the same may vary person to person (In no way we intend to play with anyone’s health)

A. Precautions (in a nutshell as we have been hearing about it for months now):

1. Regular precaution regarding continuous washing of hands, wearing masks, minimize going out, social distancing, not touching anything, do not touch the mask, etc.

2. While coming back from outside: Footwear worn outside should be kept outside and if possible, spray with a disinfectant. Leave mobile, wallet, keys everything in a dedicated place near the house entrance (inside the house), and walk directly to the bathroom. Wash hands thoroughly with soap and thereafter remove the mask. Remove every cloth and dip in a pre-filled bucket with soap water (fill the bucket before leaving the house). Take a good long shower and thereafter one can take care of wallet, mobile, keys using a spray disinfectant, or using cotton. Thereafter wash hands thoroughly and sanitize. Not just clothes, but towels used should also be washed separately from another laundry.

Daily precautions:

3. Do gargle daily twice - morning and evening (betadine or salt + turmeric powder) – also whenever one comes from outside

4. Take steam 3-4 times daily [non-expensive steam machines are available in the market such as this and this. 

5. Daily breathing exercises for 30 mins such as Pranayam etc.

6. Daily take one Zincovit tablet & multi-vitamin supplement (please consult your family doctor)

7. Take vitamin C tables 2-3 times daily

8. Drink only lukewarm water 

9. Drink one lemon with honey in warm water daily 

10. Take warm milk twice with turmeric powder 

11. In addition to the above, one can take other care such as Kadha [concoction], organic medicines, natural herbs as per one’s wish and comfort

B. Symptoms (symptomatic patients only):

This section is key where 90% of Indians are faltering:

1. Day one of the symptom: Can be mild fever (say 99 deg.), slight cough, diarrhea

2. Fever continues the second day (still mild fever)

3. Third & fourth-day fever disappears and we dismiss the same claiming it to be flu – this is where the problem starts

4. Fifth day onwards fever comes back, slight cough persists and we feel it's fine

5. Sixth and seventh day slightly higher fever (100-101 deg.) and cough – We are still evaluating to get the COVID test done

6. Hereinafter, the situation varies for different patients, some get critical and some get cured on their own or with some assistance

7. If one has other symptoms like loss of taste/loss of smell then don’t wait for a single day and given the current circumstances can assume it is COVID

Important tip: Early testing is the key!! Breathlessness may not come in some patients and shall NOT wait for the same to act (as it may never come or it may be too late to act)

C. What do I do when I see symptoms (initial care):

1. Isolate self

2. Assuming one is already taking the above-mentioned precautions i.e. Zincovit, Vitamin Supplements, and Vitamin C then only need to add Azithromycin 500 mg & Paracetamol (please consult your family doctor)

3. Buy Oximeter (most important) and measure Oxygen level regularly

4. If fever or any other symptoms persist, go for testing and DON’T delay

5. Furthermore, if the Oxygen level drops below 93% then its alarming:

a. Go for Corona rapid test and if positive get yourself admitted to a good hospital (beds are difficult to get and hence, may take time)

b. Also, rush for X-Ray / CT Scan to check for any patches in the lungs

c. If Rapid Test is negative (does not mean you are Corona negative as it is known for giving false negatives) and if symptoms persist go for RT-PCR [recommended Rapid test first as it gives instant result]

Important tip: Be in touch with your relatives, friends, acquaintances for the availability of hospital beds from the onset of symptoms – this will save time during critical hours

D. If Corona is detected:

Key Parameters to observe are:

1. Oxygen saturation - should go up towards 100%

2. C‐reactive protein (cRP) - marker to predict risk for severity of COVID‐19 - should be below 0.5

3. Cytokine level (especially IL 6) - shows inflammation - it should be in the range 0 - 16.4 pg/mL. It shoots up high in COVID patients. It should come down with treatment.

4. D-Dimer - indicates blood clots - normal value is lower than <500 ng/mL.

5. Ferritin - indicates your body's iron stores are low and you have an iron deficiency. Good levels are less than 200 ng/mL in women and 300 ng/mL in men. However, a large percentage of the general population has a serum ferritin level between 200 and 1,000 ng/mL.

6. Cycle Threshold (CT) value - calculates viral load - ideal value is >34. Lower value than 27 means you are spreading disease. So this value should go up above 34 to show no viruses.

7. TLC - determines the number of WBCs in our body. WBCs determine the body's ability to fight diseases. Any deviation in the number of WBCs in the body implies a disease process. The normal range is 4000-11000.

The typical line of medication/treatment being followed (in sequence) in India for patients having aggravated condition: 

1. Favipiravir / Fabiflu

2. Remdesivir

3. Tocilizumab/ Actemra

4. Plasma therapy

Important tip: Corona also (or mostly) impacts the blood and leads to clots, hence one should be careful towards that

Hope the above helps. Take precautions, be pro-active, and be safe!!

Together Let's fight this Pandemic and restore Balance. 

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Anti Ageing Products Worth Trying Ft Lujo Box

Anti-Aging Skin Care 

With an ever-changing modern lifestyle, our skincare needs are also changing. The casual ways we use to treat our skin earlier is becoming redundant and calling for a more specific and dedicated regime. Unlike our ancestors, our generation is facing more skin problems like- acne, dehydration, and dull skin. The CTM has become a non-negotiable regime with different kinds of new face care products, slowly shifting from general usage to targeting specific needs of the skin. The anti-aging regime is one of them. A major shift in the anti-aging regime is the shift in the "minimum age" to start this regime. Yes, earlier the minimum age of starting the anti-aging regime was coined as 40-45 years, men and women alike. Now the slab has shifted to 30-35 years. What differs is the intensity of the treatment/ solution. 

30 has been earmarked to start the anti-aging regime as that's the time when our skin reportedly starts aging. The reasons could be varied from lifestyle, genes, eating disorders, stress, pregnancy, or others. The effect, however, could be skin discoloration, dullness, sagging, wrinkles, spots, and more. 

Sound scary? Well, do not be scared, it is a natural process and while we should love the skin we are in, at any age, we must also take good care of it. One good way is to use the right products. 

How to find the right products? Well, it starts from identifying your skin type and opting for less chemical-induced products that are preferably low on parabens, sulfate, mineral oils or others that may damage your skin just to increase the product's shelf life and fund the over-budgeted marketing/branding costs. 

And if you really want to do more good to your skin, go for products that are- cruelty-free!

These are the few parameters to find the right products for your skin, body, and hair. 

Among the different options available in the market, let me suggest a quick, helpful, and easy on the pocket option that will get you started on an anti-aging regime without having to toss a lot of chemicals on your face and body.

Affordable Anti-Ageing Skin Care in a Box

Why go scouting around when you can find the solution in a box. A box that contains-

1) Five Face and Body care products in full size

2) Products made from natural extracts like Goji berry, Tea Tree oil, Lavender and Argan Oil

3) Products that are cruelty-free that means not tested on animals and save you from a heinous act

4) Products free from Sulfate, Silicon and Paraben

5) Original, freshly manufactured products at a price lower than MRP

6) Products worth Rs 4000 in just Rs 1800 packed beautifully inside a reusable gift box made of sturdy cardboard.

7) Product Ordered at Online and delivered at your doorstep

Yes, you can get all this a box called Lujo Box. And you can order it from here- www.lujobox.com

Lujobox Anti-aging Edition

It is one of a kind beauty subscription box in India that has a solution to your anti-aging skincare needs, and all from one brand- Seer Secret/ Sage Apothecary. Normally the beauty subscription boxes in India send you different range of products from different brands, and mostly in smaller sizes. Lujo Box I feel has gravitated more towards serious skincare buyers who like specific solutions from a luxurious yet affordable brand rather than having a bunch of random products in colorful packaging. Remember the most important packaging for you should be your skin. And instead of spoiling it with random products from altogether different brands- isn't to better to opt for something that is more focussed and serious towards your most important concern. After all, good skin is the best makeup. If your skin is healthy, radiant, and nourished, it will look better, with or without makeup!

So, what's inside Lujo Box Anti-aging Skincare box?

Well, I have put that all in a video, do watch it dear to know more.

You can also watch this video on my YouTube Channel- Ekta Khetan

Another reason that I liked this box is- they have not just included products for the face but a shower gel [unisex] for the body also. And the box has not 1 or 2 but 3 different serums. Oil as we know has great hydrating and rejuvenating properties. Oily skin tends to get wrinkle later than dry skin. A serum comes quite handy to give your face some oil boost without making it look oily or soaked. You can also use the serums to give yourself a light face and neck massage. And they are great to use beneath your makeup base as well. Isn't it a multi-purpose product? 

I hope that you will find this video useful. Do check it out and let me know your feedback. I am currently using the Argan Oil Face serum with Gold Flakes and loving it. 

If you liked this special edition box, do buy it directly from here. No commission, nothing, all straight deal!

In case, if you want to buy an individual product then you can either buy them directly from the Lujobox website or try my Amazon shopping list. I am an avid shopper at Amazon and even opened "my store page" on Amazon. Yeah if you buy from these sources, I may get a paltry commission. And I would be happy to pass that benefit to you in some way if the idea kicks in :) So do not waste time and check out-

My Amazon Store Front:https://www.amazon.in/shop/ektakhetan

Products links 

Face Serum 1: https://amzn.to/2PlCbmc 

Face Pack: https://amzn.to/3fohReP 

Face Serum 2: https://amzn.to/30oipNz 

Body wash: https://amzn.to/3hZ10AP 

Serum 3: https://amzn.to/2XfnOV9

You can check their website for discounts if any. 

At Haute Kutir and Ekta Khetan YouTube Channel, I always try to highlight good products with our readers, viewers. Sponsored or non-sponsored, we try and showcase only those products/services that we deem fit to talk about. You can also follow me on Instagram.

Hope that you will like this video and the post. See you soon, with a new post/video on Blog, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter. Right now am in process of editing a new video- Top Indian Makeup Brands. 

Stay tuned for more.

Stay Haute, Think Higher

Ekta Khetan

Chief Editor/ Blogger

Haute Kutir 

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Top 5 Favorite Facewash from My Archive

Holla

I just thought of sharing with you, an old video from my archive. The video may be old but the content is still relevant. And it is also useful in our day to day life- makeup or no makeup, home or outdoor. 

Yes, this is about my top 5 facewash that I compiled and shared with you all. I am sure you will find it useful.

The range starts from budget to somewhat expensive. I have tried to cover different ranges here. So that you can select and choose as per your preference.

Do watch them all the video here. Alternatively, you can also watch them directly on my YouTube Channel. The URLs are

1) Top Facewash Video URL

2) YouTube Channel URL

Video Language: Hindi

My Most Favorite of all the 5 was- Innisfree Green Tea Cleaning pack. It served as a great makeup remover also. 

The texture was creamy yet not sticky and I loved that it did not hurt my eyes either. The tube lasted me long. The second favorite was the one from Patanjali.  

A Collage of All Products mentioned in this Video

 

Do Subscribe to my YouTube Channel.

Stay Haute With,

Haute Kutir

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Plant Nursery Visit and Home Plant Shopping

Dear Readers,

In this video, I have blogged about my trip to a local nursery wherein I went to pick up a few home indoor/balcony plants. I have been meaning to buy/plant indoor as well as herbs at my home from ages.

Green Thumb In Rental Apartment

One thing other than time and limited knowledge that came as a hindrance between me and my green thumb is the banjara life I lived in, primarily in rental apartments. Thankfully I did not do as I used to travel a lot and maintaining plants in your absence could be a big pain, making you feel guilty eating anything, thinking the plant must be hungry or craving water back home.

Another factor could be the lack of open air space or ample sunlight for the plants. I faced this at my Andheri Apartment a lot.

So when we shifted to Ahmedabad, we ensured that our apartment should have ample sunlight and have at least one balcony for the plants.

Since this is my rental apartment, I was a little apprehensive initially but I could not stop myself from extending my green thumb to my home and hence the decision. By God's grace, my current apartment has more space than my Andheri House.

Initially, I planned to pick only 3-6 plants but I ended up picking quite some of them. And am so glad that I did so.

Do watch this video to know more about my overall experience.

I hope you liked watching this video. 

Do Subscribe me on YouTube

Here are a few of the pictures that I shot at the nursery. Look at them as I feel therapeutic looking at them. How about you? 

Thank you for watching and do share your feedback.

Ciao!

Ekta

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Beginner's Gardening: Grow Ajwain & Aloe Vera in Home

Love plants but dunno how to start gardening at home? 

Want to keep home plants but do not know where to begin? 

Well, as promised, here I am with a new video on "Beginner's Gardening". 

Want to know how to plant Aloe Vera and Ajwain at home? Watch this video to know/learn more-

I hope you will like this video. You can also watch it on my YouTube Channel Here

Do Subscribe to my channel, for more such videos. 

About These Plants

I have planted two lovely plants that need no introduction

1) Ajwain: Ajwain, ajowan or Trachyspermum ammi—also known as ajowan caraway, bishop's weed or carom. It belongs to the same family of Caraway, Fennel, and Cumin. The plant is not just a beautiful looking green herb but also has many health benefits. We often use Ajwain seeds in Indian Cooking. However, I am not sure if breast-0feeding mothers should consume them or not. 

2) Aloe Vera: Also known as "Grhitkumari" in Hindi, Aloe Vera is a succulent considered as nectar. It does not just purify the air but has great medicinal use also.

While these plants come with great consumption benefits, I like to keep them intact unless urgent. 

Things That You Would Need-

There are alternate ways to plant as well. However, I will enlist the products that I used-

1) A mid/large size pot

2) Potting mix

3) Plant cuttings [with roots]

4) A small Khurpi [Garden Tool] or a spoon to till the soil

5) Water [of course] 

The video was shot in December but uploaded recently. I am not sure if summer is the right time to 

You can see the current status of the plants on my latest video here

Well, for the above and many related queries, do check this video to know more. Any questions? 

Write it here or DM on my Social media [details below].

How to Care for these Plants

I follow the right watering and sunshine regime. While I have kept Aloe Vera inside the house, close to the gallery, I water it only when the soil becomes dry. Wherein I have kept Ajwain on the stand in the gallery [direct exposure to the sun], and I try to water it once in a day [during non-peak sun hours] or twice in summers [Ahmedabad has very dry weather and if your gallery is west facing, you need extra care and if possible some time to time shades for the plants] 

Why Grow Plants at Home?

1) Being a plant parent not just nurture your personality but adds to your overall well-being

2) Fresh and real produce without contaminations

3) Adds to the overall aesthetic of the house esp when the plants have medicinal/ air-purifying values.

4) Most Importantly- for the love of plants!

If you are a plant parent, do let me know your experiences. 

Stay Haute, Stay Environment Friendly.

Ekta Khetan

Haute Kutir 

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Easy Haircut at Home 3 Steps Cut For All Hair Type | Straight Or layers | Covid Lockdown

The LockDown Hairy Tales

Women are born beautiful. So what if you miss going to parlor and miss that little indulgence you did on body/hair? You can still stay groomed while at home, without spending a penny!

So if I were to ask you, the top 3 beauty services that you missed getting during the lockdown, what would be they? I know a sweeping majority would be about waxing and threading, following which would be a facial and then maybe- a hair cut!

I will get to waxing and threading later [on your request unless you got that set] and facial is something we have done a DIY Facial at Home Video in the past. Let me know if you that is not working for you and you need an alternative [given the fact the video was primarily focused on a branded set of product, and if you are unable/not so confident about finding an appropriate replacement in your kitchen, let me know] 

Hence, we are left to the hair! [If any hair on the head is left post lockdown, Bazinga!] 

So, let's find a simple and easy way to address that as well. 

DIY Haircut in the Lockdown

Good news, you can indeed cut/trim/style your hair at home. Here's a quick and simple, easy-peasy tip to cut your hair at home with a video demonstration, 

In this video, I am sharing a simple 3 steps trick to cut your own hair at home. This is a DIY- Do it Yourself, a haircut that you can do on any length of hair, wavy/ straight, Wavy/ straight/layers.

All you need is 

1) A comb/hairbrush 

2) Scissors 

3) Hair ties/bands/Clips 

You can use this technique to not just trim your hair but can remove unwanted split-ends and narrow tailing at the end. Watch this video to know more. 

♥ Show your love and do watch/ share this one 

♥ Do Subscribe to my YouTube Channel 

Note: I have not styled [used blow drier etc to style my hair post the cut as the parlors generally do. That may make the result look different but and lesser appealing. So you can iron/blowdry your hair post the cut to create feel-good effect] 

Points to Remember

1) It works best on clean, shampooed and wet hair

2) Use sharp scissors to knock off the extra hair

3) Avoid wearing any heavy/long ear jewelry while chopping your tresses.

4) Use an old cloth or a newspaper to avoid hair fly-ins on the floor. 

5) When trying for the first time, go for a shorter length.

Hope this video is useful for you. Do share your feedback/experience/queries with me on the comments box below. I would love to feature you too. 

Stay Home, Stay Safe! 

Haute Kutir

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♥ You Can Also Find Me At 

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ektakhetan/ 

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/NumeroUnity 

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HauteKutir/ 

• TikTok: MissUnity

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Other DIY Videos 

DIY Pot Painting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8HapoRtPFQ 

DIY Multi- Mask Kit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga5yOWqqqpM&t=11s 

DIY Home-Spa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5GZ_S5uMCc&t=17s 

Home Plants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYL4oVm3bVw&t=24s