Business Casual For Workplace And A story Of Little Act Of Kindness

In my last post I shared with you the little story from my childhood and my dad's staunch belief that kindness and sweet words can conquer all! You can make someone's day a little better, brighter and happier by just being kind! What you get in return is a better world! Really, it sounds so ridiculously incredible, but one act of kindness can lift the spirits of hundreds and can spread cheer! In July 2009, when we all were struggling with a sliding economy, fear of deep recession and an overall uncertainty, one morning in a small coffee shop drive-through in Missouri, a customer paid for her coffee and decided to pay for the coffee for the next customer! When the next customer was told that their coffee was already paid by the customer before them, they decided to pass it along to the next customer who'd come to the drive through window! In that week more than 1,000 customers  followed her example by accepting drinks paid for by the person in front of them and paying it forward! Local TV channel reported that customers even started a fund and raised $160 to continue the pay-it-forward scheme in case someone breaks the chain! Now, the cost of coffee was not much, but the act of little kindness by a woman inspired thousands of others to 'help' someone they didn't even know! I can imagine a little girl or boy sitting in the back seat and getting inspired to do good, to serve a cause greater than oneself just by witnessing this little act! That is the power of kindness - it doesn't require grand gestures, huge amount of money or a lot of time - all it takes is your good intentions and a generous heart, but it can impact our world and future generations in unimaginable ways!

Now for today's outfit, I am wearing what I'd like to wear in the workplace if and when I decide to work outside the home! Simple, polished and with a little bling!

Jacket - LOFT

Pants, Blouse, Necklace - Ann Taylor

Shoes - Nine West

If you like this look, get it here -

Amen to the little deeds of kindness and sweet gestures! We all have the gift, we all have the power!

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Wearing Cropped Cargo Pants, Floral Top & Remembering The Power Of Kindness

I remember growing up we had a little picture in our living room of a garden full of flowers that had these words printed on top -"Little deeds of  kindness, little words of love, Make our Earth an Eden like the heaven above". I don't remember who put that picture there (probably mom), but I remember my dad pointing to the picture and reading the lines aloud when my siblings (I have a brother and a sister BTW) used to have a fight over insignificant things (which all sibling fights usually are). Dad would come to us, make us sit and tell us how kindness can make us 'bigger person' when we have a disagreement or a quarrel! He used to say our smiles, sweet words and generosity are God's gift to us and we have the power to use our 'gift' to solve any problem and resolve any fight! And believe me I have experienced (many times) how a smile and soft gentle words can calm the situation and you can make other person listen to you and understand what you have to say! As my dad says, people are usually good, they want to avoid conflict, they want to be happy - if you can give them a chance to do that, they grab onto it without hesitation! I am not suggesting that you 'fake' it, but when you start with a smile and kindness, you lay the ground rules of the conversation! The other person has no choice but to start from where you are! Happy and with a smile!! It sounds too simple to be effective, but usually the best solution is the simplest one!

Now about today's outfit - it is a simple and happy! Some flowers, some color and a cheerful attitude! Can you feel my smile greeting you? How can you argue with this face??;-)

Top - Macy's (2009)

Cropped Cargo Pants - From India (2004) (yep, that old!!)

Shoes - Target (2011)

If you like my happy look, you can get it here -

In next post, I'd like to share an example when one little deed of kindness touched so many people! Have you experienced a situation where a smile and few gentle words influenced, calmed or improved the environment?

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Mixing Floral Prints And Polka Dots And Lots of Pearls!

Sometimes, more is more and more actually is merrier! This season when you wear color - more is the norm - be it neon, bright hues, pastels or deep jewel tones! Or when you mix the prints and patterns - florals, prints, polka dots, stripes - everything goes! Or when you accessorize - if the fashion magazines are any indicator of the current trend - more rings, more bracelets and layers of necklaces is the way to go! Today, I mixed a polka dot frilly cotton dress with floral cardigan, layered grandma's my pearls and played dress up on a gorgeous Spring day! 

Dress - Gap

Cardigan - Macy's

Shoes - Dillard's

Jewelry - Miscellaneous

Its all in the details!! Get a purple cluster ring  here to go with any spring outfit!

Wind swept seems to be my new style! Remember this?

I can live in these shoes! So comfortable and unassumingly versatile! Get similar here  

If you like this look, you can get it here -

Do you like to mix patterns or wear print on print?

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How To Turn Off Verification Codes For Comments On Your Blog!

If you are like me who wants to read and comment on interesting blog posts, you may be getting really annoyed about the really hard to read verification codes or CAPTCHA codes for comments on blogger.com
Here are some examples of word verification codes I encountered recently!

This is after the first unsuccessful attempt of typing the verification code. I got work to do people, I ain't got no personal assistant!

And here is another - as if a shorter word couldn't have done the job!!

I'd die of old age by the time I am able to successfully type this nonsense! No need to say I'd not even try!  

According to blogger, this is done to make sure your blog does not get spam comments, but that's why you have spam control blogger! (duh!) I actually try and take pain to put those meaningless words in the box, but my patience is running very low these days, and if you still have the word verification code on your blog, I really urge you to remove them. I'd rather do something more fun with my time when I am on your blog! Not only it will be easy for your readers, you will increase the number of comments on your blog and get the conversation going!
Please check the settings on your blogger dashboard, may be you don't really know that you have comment verification 'ON'. Here is an easy way to turn off that pesky word verification codes on blogger.

Log in blogger.com and go to dashboard, do you see Settings? Click on it. (circled in red below)

Now click on Comments tab (circled in red below)

When you click on comments you will see the question 'Show word verification for comments?' Set it to 'NO' as shown below

Please share/tweet/mail this so that my (and yours) overworked, underpaid blogger eyes don't have to see another annoying verification word  again!

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Quick Celebrity Pregnancy Weight Loss Distorting Our Reality??

Before I say something about celebrity moms' weight gain and weight loss, I want to clear 2 things -

1. I am a fitness enthusiast. I feel good about working out, respect people who exercise and eat right, and maintain a healthy weight (whatever that number is for their body!) So I have nothing against people who focus on keeping fit. I am all for it!

2. This post is not about regular weight loss and the reality of it, it is about new mothers losing pregnancy weight.

Now where was I? Yes, celebrity new-mom weight loss and the reality new-mom weight loss! Before I go any further - just look at these images!

Jessica Alba just months after having a baby

Kate Hudson slim again very soon!

Miranda Kerr mere months after  having her son

Heidi Klum walked the Victoria's secret Runway after only 8 weeks of giving birth!

Beyoncé just after 4 weeks of having her daughter,  Jessica Alba 4 months after having her second baby!

Now I know these women depend on looking a certain way, having to conform to industry requirements of the body image and they have the means and resources to get in shape without sacrificing much. But when we see images like these all around, somehow their weight loss timeline and style becomes the norm! (talk about pressure on sleep deprived, tired and overwhelmed new mothers who may not have personal chefs and trainers!) There are people who can lose weight easily, some have better metabolism, and some really can work out and eat right with military discipline, but in all practicality, it is almost impossible for an average new mother to look like Beyoncé or Miranda Kerr or Jessica Alba mere weeks after having a baby! It took me almost 8 months to lose those 40 extra pounds I had gained during my pregnancy! (You can read my weight loss story here) 

In India, we are not a particularly fitness obsessed society. In fact up until last decade, there was a concept of "being too thin' and curvy body meant you are happy and prosperous in life!! So when Indian media and blogosphere went beserk over the weight gain of one of India's biggest celebrities and Bollywood star, it made me really think!! Indian actress and former Miss world (whom Oprah also believed to one of the most beautiful women on Earth) gave birth in November 2011. She seems to be a non-celebrity and an everyday woman when it comes to losing baby weight and people don't seem to grasp this!!

Cut her some slack! She looks beautiful still!

Before - Movie start; After - A woman who gave birth mere 4 months ago. I say,  images are about right!

For them the incredible, almost magical time line of re-gaining the pre-baby body of most celebrities has become so normal that when they see Aishwarya unable to don a bikini after 4 weeks of birth, they are confused!! She is being commented on, even ridiculed and taunted for being 'fat' now! I want her to be fit again and may be go back to her pre-baby weight but I'd give her at least 8 months (that I took) before I offer her a subscription to Jenny Craig!

Do you think the magical weight loss of celebrity moms sometimes distorts our perception of fitness and pregnancy weight loss?

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The Swing Jacket, White Jeans, Red Shoes And A SAHM* Smile!

*Stay At Home Mom (SAHM)

"So, do you work?" 

"Ummm..yes."

 "Where?" 

"At Home!"

"Ah..OK!"  

I had this conversation recently with a 'working' mother (is there any other kind?)! I know working mothers are superwomen, they handle work, home, kids, spouse and family so well.  But it does not mean that stay at home moms have it any easier! 3 years ago I was one of those working women! After much deliberation, I decided to stay at home with my kid. I admit, I miss working in a structured work-place, having adult conversations for the large part of my day and most of all I miss getting dressed up every morning!  But this was a conscious decision. I chose to stay at home! And believe me - challenging doesn't even start to cover this profession!  But it feels odd and somewhat infuriating when people think if you are stay at home mom, you just kick your legs up on the coffee table and watch soaps all day! We just don't 'stay' at home people! We run errands, cook, clean, teach, sing, dance, play, drive, blog, take kids to places, set up play -dates, bake for school, read to their class, and watch our hard work translate into something! In a way we are 24/7 working professionals with no sick days and dental! Holla to the SAHM!! (I told ya I was eloquent!)

Coming to the outfit - this Ann Taylor swing jacket was my work wardrobe staple - with pencil skirts, trousers, slim fit pants and even with bootcut jeans on casual days! I am not working in an office but this jacket still gets the attention it deserves - if only from the the cute little ones!
BTW, I am linking this post to Fashion Friday and Monday Mingle See you there!

Seeing double! I really need a clone to handle all the work I have as SAHM!

Jacket - Ann Taylor

Jeans - Forever 21

Shoes - Target

Get this look here (on any budget!) -

I salute working mothers for all they do and respect stay at home moms for their hard work! BTW, what's your verdict on this jacket?

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White Cotton Dress, Neon Accents And A Fine Spring Day!

In my opinion, there are two kinds of outfits- some that need a 'night-before' think-over and others that just don't! You pick 'em up and whatever other piece/accessories you pair it with just works!! For me, that piece of clothing is a cotton white dress! As clichéd as it sounds, I can just dress it up or dress it down according to the occasion, warm it up or cool it down depending on the weather! Spring outdoor parties, Easter egg hunt events, summer barbecues, lunch, brunch, dinner, even an outdoor wedding - a white cotton dress comes in handy for most occasions. 

Dress - Tailored for me in India (Ain't I Fancy!)

Cardigan - Ann Taylor

Necklace, earrings - Charlotte Russe

Ring - Manhattan street vendor For $2.99 (I ❤ NY)

Sandals - Dillard's

What is your go-to piece of clothing? How do you style it usually?

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Star Style For Less - Victoria Justice in Preppy Jacket

A tailored jacket or blazer always gives the Jeans-Shirt look an instant sophistication! Look at the Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice in the striped jacket and blue jeans! The peach pink shirt and snake skin pumps add more color and pattern to  the outfit!

Here is how I will recreate her look! I do not know the brand details of her outfit, but found the exact look of her striped jacket on Bloomingdale's (and suspect she is wearing the very same herself!)

Get Victoria Justice's style for less here-

Would you pair a funky blazer/jacket with your denim like Victoria did? Would love to hear your thoughts on this re-creation of her style!

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