SLIDER

Are These The Best Stuffed Potatoes In Islamabad?

12.10.2016


For some reason every time I try to eat clean, or go on some sort of a diet - a food company gets in touch and wants to send over some delicious snacks! Haha - this time around it was SPUDS - a relatively new food service in Islamabad. So a little about Spuds, it is basically a home delivery service where they serve you premium stuffed potatoes, with their signature mouth watering variants of stuffings and dressings along with breaded wings and steamed vegetables! Let me just tell you, this was soo worth ditching my losing weight efforts haha!


So I went for the fire starter with creamy spinach variant and it was so so filling! Seriously - if you order this, make sure you have someone you can share it with - it's surprisingly quite filling. I loved the sauce, how it was still wonderfully hot when served and the complimenting veggies to help you feel better about gorging on this luxurious cheesy sauce haha! 

I would definitely recommend everyone to try it out at least once - it really is something different but please don't think of it as a snack, since its ALOT more filling! 

Price - Starts from PKR 470

How to order - Click HERE!

Since I lack finesse when it comes to describing food - here's what they have to say about what their wonderful service actually is - 

Think about the ultimate food. Juicy, tender and meaty stuffed potato that melts in your mouth. Oozing and dripping with cheesy sauces. Pure heavenly indulgence. A comforting, piping hot dish right out of your grandmother’s oven. A unique and delicious experience. A filling and wholesome meal. Keeping that in view, we came up with - Spuds "The Premium Stuffed Potato!"

Our potatoes are carefully selected, filled with delicious stuffing and topped with an array of delightful dressings using the finest ingredients in our signature recipe. What’s more? We deliver it right to your doorstep.

Make your platter by choosing from 2 premium stuffings and 3 premium dressings. All platters are served with a complimentary sideline of Fiery crumb fried chicken wings and sautéed vegetables. Now that’s what we call great value!

Years ago we laid frozen in time, our existence marked as scribbles of recipes on pieces of paper in an attic in Rio. We worked every now and then to bring extraordinaire in religious festivities or at family occasions. This had to change!

Inspired by the beautiful beaches of South America, the fun and frolic of the Brazilian Carnival, crazy football fever, South American dance and absolute party, Spuds unveils its signature range of Premium Stuffed Potatoes. Unique, wholesome, hygienic, convenient and Super delicious.



Call at 03-1111-778-37 to order!

Affordable Skin & Body Care - Herbion Naturals

12.04.2016


Hey guys! Super quick post today. So a while back a got a huge package, full to the brim of tons of body and skin care goodies from Herbion Naturals. Now this was a brand that I hadn't heard of before, but upon researching more I found out that they're super reasonable and easily available as well. So, now that you know they're budget friendly, the question arises - are they even worth it?


I'd say, majority of the products yes! My absolute favorites are the hand creams and the facial wash - they're really good! Been using them everyday since I got them and I've nearly finished them haha.

Seaweed Whitening Face Wash - PKR 275 



This is a great face wash for people like me who wear mascara and some concealer on an everyday basis. All I do when I come home on lazy days and don't want to get too fancy with my skin care routine is to just use this - it takes of the basic makeup I have on my face without drying out my skin and I'm good to go.

Moisturizing Hand Cream - PKR 225



I have one of these in my hand bag and the other on my work desk - with the Islamabad winters being super dry and no sign of rain - my hands have been cracking like anything. This hand cream is super moisturizing and the best part is that it sinks into the skin completely so you aren't left with that greasy feeling - thumbs up from my side!

Seaweed Mud Mask - PKR 600



Now I'll be honest, I've only used this one - I'm saving it for the summer time when my skin is oily and needs a good mud mask to soak up all the extra oil. For winters, using mud masks when my skin is already so dry isn't really a good idea! Nevertheless, it's a good handy mask to have around.

Seaweed Whitening Cream - PKR 250


I'm not a person who believes that whitening creams and potions can really alter our skin color so I just used this as a normal moisturizers and it works well. It's not ground breaking or life changing, but I''m using up what I have without any complains.

Check out Herbion Naturals on Facebook HERE!

You can purchase the products HERE!


The Best Hair Products I've Tried In 2016

11.11.2016


Now before I get into the review part of this post, let me tell you about my dandruff issue that I've been facing for about 4-5 months now. As a person with oily hair, the appearance of dandruff baffled me (I now know the science behind it) and I really didn't know how to deal with it. I used the crap out of Head & Shoulders (didn't work), tried desi totkas to yougurt masks (didn't work), tried oiling the crap out of my hair (didn't work) - I'm not the most patient person in the world when it comes to beauty treatments so I just gave up eventually.


A few weeks ago, I got this huge package from Keune with hair products from their Care Line range, particularly for dry hair. As the weather in Islamabad gets colder, my hair ahs been getting dryer so one fine day I just decided to try it out. As you do when washing your hair, I started with the shampoo first, then the conditioner and after drying my hair just a bit I used the oil at the very ends. I went about my day, my hair felt 'fluffier' and more 'voluminous' and I really liked that effect. As a person with thin hair, I'm all for 'fluffy-ing' hair products. It wasn't until I came back from work and really looked at my hair that I noticed something I hadn't for the past 4-5 months - my dandruff has all but dissapered! I was shocked! Now a bit about my dandruff issue, its only limited to the front of my scalp so if you look closely enough, you will see it. I tried and I tried and I could barely notice it, just after one wash with a shampp that doesn't even claim to be dandruff removing or anything!


Since this was too good to be true, before announcing to the world about the magical hair care range, I decided to test it futher AND BOY, OH BOY, the results amaze me every time. My dandruff has all but dissappeared, my har feels healthies given this range doesn't have any nasty sulfates and parabens and I couldn't be happier with it.

Would I buy this range again? YES!
Do I recommed this to people with dandruff? YES!
Do I recommed this to people who don't have dandruff? YES!

To know more about Keune products, head over to their Facebook page - HERE! 

#keunesatinoil
#shinebright

Would You Try This Pumpkin (Kadu) Mask?!

11.04.2016


Ask anyone who knows me well and they'll attest to the fact that I don't like pumpkins - period! So when this Brightening Pumpkin Honey Glycolic mask was sent my way by Andalou Naturals - I was apprehensive about trying it. First things first, it doesn't smell nice so if you're looking for a flowery smelling face mask, this is not the one for you - but if you are looking for a brightening mask that really does work, you might wanna keep reading.



So, I'll keep this short and sweet. Once you get over the strong scent that this mask gives off, you'll notice the texture. It has minuscule middle abrasive particles in it that really exfoliate your skin as you're washing the mask off. I've tried this mask a handful of times up till now, and slowly but steadily, there has been a difference in my skin. I'm going crazy with work and shady preps these days so while I may not look like a glowing bride after using this, I'm starting to look less and less tired after every use and that's always a great thing. You obviously have to keep using the mask for the results to stay longer, this isn't a one time and you're fixed forever kinda product (do those even exist?!)



I apply the mask for about 10 minutes, during which it does start to sting so if you're someone who doesn't like that, be warned. After that just wash off with warm water and you're done. Easy peasy!

Price - PKR 1, 355
Availability - HERE!
Andalou Naturals Facebook page - HERE!

Salon Review - Glam Street Islamabad

11.02.2016


It's not often that I come across a salon that I love - there's always something or the other that I wish that could be changed - be it someone from the management, the workers, quality of the services, or anything really. This is definitely not the case with the Glam Street - I fell in love with this place! From the decor, to the lovely ladies managing it, to the wonderful and courteous staff who are giving amazing services, to the strong kick-ass coffee served, there's not a fault I can find.

Other than all of this, the most exciting discovery for me here was that they offer 1-Hour-GlamGlow facials! I mean, what?!? How amazing is that! I haven't tried any of the GlamGlow masks so will definitely be getting a GlamGlow facial from them in the near future so I can decide which one I want to splurge on!

The team of Glam Street has invited me along with a few other bloggers to come and try out some of their services, i opted for a pedicure because in all honesty, my feet are always in need of some TLC haha! The lovely lady who did my pedicure did a fantastic job, and an impromptu head massage at the same time nearly made me doze off. I'm like a headless chicken these days, going crazy with shade preps, so this was more than a welcome treat!

Check out some of my pictures from the day below :)


Doing what I love most, Instagramming and eating! Haha


After the one-hour Pedicure! I've never had feet this clean! Haha


Overview of the salon :) 


The coffee and tea station. 


Manicure/Pedicure area.


Nail Bar


The most delicious coffee! Yum!



In massage heaven! Haha :)


The lovely team! <3 

Overall, if you can't tell by now, I had an amazing experience, so much so that I've decided to come here right before my wedding to get some facials, messages and mani/pedis done - if that's not a testament to how much I love this place, don't know what else would be! Haha <3 


You can check out their rates over at the Facebook page HERE!

Location - Hall # 1, 1st Floor, Al Memar Tower, Plot # 1415 E-11/2 Markaz Islamabad.

Contact 0316 7678188

OOTD - Arora By Roma

10.04.2016


I'll be honest, orange isn't a color I would ever choose to buy for myself so I was a bit hesitant to wear what I had been sent by the lovely team of Arora (you might remember me talking about them from a while back, here's the post). From a personalized hand written card, to some delicious Lindtt that was gobbled up immediately.. the package had everything to make a blogger feel special.

Anyways, like I said - orange was a color I had avoided for as long as I can remember, but this sequined glitter kurt by Arora has changed my mind completely. I have never, ever gotten as many compliments at my work place as I did when I wore this to work. From hearing that I look fresh, to I look a lot slimmer (yay!) - praises were pouring in from everywhere and I couldn't be happier.

Usually when brands send me stuff, they usually send foundation 10 shades lighter, or shirts two sizes too big - but everything about this was perfection. From the sizing, to a color that flattered my skin-tone  and a cut that slimmed me down - everything was, as they say in Instagram lingo, on point! I love the contrasting yet subtle print on it, the perfectly aligned pleats on one side on top, and the super snazzy glitter collar and pocket on the other.

I'm a big fan of Arora quality in general - I was gifted a gorgeous evening clutch by them ages ago, and it still as good as it was back then. I recently wore it to my Nikkah as well, if that isn't a testament  to how much I adore it, dunno what is! Check out the clutch HERE!

Here's a quick OOTD from when I wore this - hope you enjoy :) 

Kurta - Arora
Pants - Outfitters
Bag - Aldo
Shoes - Can't even remember, they're that old!

Details - 

Arora Facebook page - HERE!
Arora Location - 3rd Floor, Centaurus Mall. 


Psst.. there's a End of Season Sale there right now, with price slashed upto 50% off! 


Eid Ul Azha Outfit 2016

9.13.2016

Hey hey ladies! Happy Eid Mubarak :) I think this is the first time I'm wishing you guys on the day of Eid. This is just a quick OOTD post of what I wore on Eid - excuse the non professional vibe of the images - I was posing in the middle of the street since it was such a beautiful day, and well, posing with people looking on isn't easy haha. The day started off super hot, so as soon as the clouds rolled in, I ran outside to get some outfit shots for you guys! Hope you guys like the outfit, it was a gift from my in-laws :)

Kurta - Deepak Perwani 
Pants - Outfitters
Kundan Khussas - Shoes By Uzi (Facebook page here!

Don't eat too much meat, guys! :)

Bridal Diary - Nikkah Outfit

9.09.2016

Hello ladies! First off, thank you for the over-whelming love and wishes that you guys sent my way on my Nikkah! My snapchat (username - nayabnajam) literally crashed because there were so many messages from all of you and that has never happened before haha! I'm so glad I decided to share my big day with you guys because I was till the very last minute umm-ing and ahh-ing about whether to just do a blog post or let everyone know on Snapchat as its happening. I'm so glad I went with the latter option - the love was truly over whelming.

Now coming on to the Nikkah itself - I'm doing a separate Nikkah post about the day itself, how I managed everything so this post is mainly for the outfit pictures that everyone has been asking me about! I looked through all of the photographers images and the ones guests took and no one seems to have a full length one :(



My Outfit 

My dress was basically a lehenga cholla thingi with a deeper neck at the back that was tied with some lovely gold tassels and a be-dazzled net duppata! The lehenga cholli combination is one that I would have never, ever chosen for my self since I always feel like it would make me look heavier but it was really slimming! I looked super slim and that's always a good thing, for me atleast haha.

The Nikkah dress itself was a gift from my in-laws so I didn't have to worry about anything. I just went to their place 2-3 days before the Nikkah, tried on the dress and fell in love!

Here are some images from when I was trying on the dress :)



My Jewelry 

For the jewelry, the set i wore is super duper special. Once again, my in-laws gave this to me to wear so I literally had nothing to worry about when it came to clothes and jewels haha. This particular set was given to my mother-in-law by her mother-in-law and now she's passing it down to me - how cool is that! I'm a bit of a history buff so I love that there's a backstory to what I was wearing.

I wasn't sure how the choker would look on me since I have a bit of a double-chin problem, but I'm happy to report, that it look so good! Everyone said that it gave off a very royal vibe - which I loved! The coolest part about this set is that it's double sided - the front (which I wore) has multi colored stones and beads and the back is pure white- can use this on so many occasions!


My Henna 

Okay, so I've had my share of misfortunes when it comes to henna because no matter what type I use, it stings that crap out of me. Knowing that, I really did not want to spend thousands on henna application which I would wipe off immediately. Also, my Nikkah was decided in less than a week so everyone was charging like crazy for last minute bookings. My savior in all this was my cousins daughter, who is only 14 and applied henna not only for me, but my sister and my childhood bestie as well. I loved, loved, loved it and so did you guys (judging from the screenshots of the henna application on my Snapchat) The design I chose was super simple with prime focus on the fingers only.

I did not get henna on the palms of my hand, only ooper se because my hands started stinging really bad and I had to wash it off within 20 minutes. Only one hand was done, and for the other hand only the fingers were done but I couldn't bear the sting anymore so decided to just let that be lol.

I wanted to introduce the groom as well in this post, but it's gotten super long already so you guys will just have to wait a day more for that one. I will also be answering all questions you guys sent via Snapchat/Facebook/Instagram in that post. 


Sale Shopping - Ethnic By Outfitters

9.07.2016


I love this time of the year, it's sale season everywhere. I really don't have much from Ethnic by Outfitters in my closet, although the kurtas that I do have have lasted me super well. Since it was announec that there was going to be flat 50% off at Ethnic outlets - I was ready to pounce and do some serious shopping. Unfortunately, the sale was on casual stuff, not the karhai type kurtas I wanted but there was still a lot of variety. Problem is that all the kurtas I like only had XS and S sizes remaining - Lord knows I haven't fit into a S size in years haha. I did manage to pick up these too and I'm super happy with them. Love the zipper detailing on the dragonfly kurta. 

Fun fact - the blue kurta has squirrels on it and some random aunty told me I shouldn't wear haram clothes - I was like whattt in the world?!? Anyways, check out the kurtas below and let me know if you plan on getting something from the sale. 

Blue Kurta - PKR 1300 (approx)
Red Kurta - PKR 900 (approx)

Check out Ethnic by Outfitter on Facebook HERE!


Lavender Oil - The Best Hair Growth Secret!

8.26.2016


I know Lavender Oil is more synonymous with its soothing and relaxing properties but I'm here to enlighten you guys today on how it is the best kept secret to getting amazing hair. I'm talking crazy hair growth here (at least in my case). It was a while back when I was sent a box full of natural oils and serums to try out and I wanted to make the most of everything given, so I started Google-ing and that is where I came across the links between Lavender Oil and hair growth.

The benefits are unlimited - following are some that I've experinced myself - 

1. Moisturizes your hair
2. Visible decrease in hair fall
3. Visible decrease in dandruff
4. Enhanced new hair growth

Now you have to be a bit careful when using essential oils. From my research I read that it is always best to use a 'carrier' oil when putting essential oils directly on to the skin which basically means you have to mix your essential oil (any) with a regular oil (olive, coconut etc) and then use it.


I use 100% natural coconut oil and mix anywhere from 4-7 drops in it and apply directly to scalp. Let it sit and shampoo as you normally would, and repeat continously for a good month to see results!

Now coming on to the Lavender Oil itself - there are many in the market, some super cheap (that make me doubt their natural-ness) and some super expensive, which obviously can't be purchased by everyone. That is where Dr Kureshi comes in - offering natural and beneficial products in a price range that everyone can afford. Also a bonus is the quanitity you get, I've been usng mine for over a onth and it doesn't even look like I've used much at all!

To know more about Dr Kureshi, their story and check out the extensive range of products they have, please click HERE!

Website - HERE!

The Perfect Kundan Khussas For Weddings

8.23.2016


All I kept on wondering during Choti Eid was if society would accept me if I went out without wearing Kundan Khussas that were all the rage and beyond haha. Thanks to a few celebs and the actual pretty-ness of the product - these are selling like hot cakes everywhere, mostly online through Facebook pages though. I did a fair bit of research and found one of the original concept creator of these Khussas and decided to order them in time for Barri Eid - lucky for me, there was a 14th August discount going on so I definetly pounced on the oppurtunity.

What I got in the deal were these stunning Kundan khussas, a pair of payals (anklets) and free delivery for PKR 3000 - which I think is a fair deal since these usually alone sell around the 2500-3000 PKR mark.

The shop I ordered from was Shoes By Uzi (Facebook page HERE!) Dealing with her was super easy and super quick. She asked for my size and told me that with khussas you generally go half a size bigger. I was very unsure of ordering khussas online since they aren't the same as your typical shoe size, BUT the ones I got fit me super perfectly! Couldn't have chosen any better if I tired. The delivery was super quick and I loved the packaging, everything came in pretty green wrap net and then bubble wrapped for extra measure. I will definetly be ordering some more color combination from the shop since the variety is crazy! It's hard to just get one haha.





Falling In Love With Chocolate

8.22.2016

Falling in love .. with chocolate, all over again thanks to 401 - I mean, go have a look at their page and their jaw-dropping creations before coming back to read this! They're stunning, taste great and are super affordable too - talk about a triple threat haha.

401 is the home-based bakery in Islamabad that will cater to any and all your baking whims and wishes, run by Umair Chaudhry. Over the years, they've built quite the name for themselves and even before I was sent these by the team, I had ordered cakes for my friends bridal shower a while back. Safe to say, I was very pleased!

They're not as frequent updaters on Facebook as they are on Instagram and Snapchat (especially Snapchat) so follow them on these two social media platforms for some drool-worthy cakes all day!

InstagramHERE!
Snapchat - umair1029 (trust me ladies, be ready to be left in awe of these creations)

A little posing never hurt anyone and I wasn't sure how I could show you guys how pretty this delecious gold glittered cake was so I thought I'd pose a bit with it - it's very Bollywood so please scrool down at your own descretion haha. Funny enough - my posing with the cake on my Instagram (view HERE! ) is my most liked Instagram photo of 2016 - guess we desi's do love our posing haha!



What To Gift The Man In Your Life

8.12.2016

So it was a week or so ago that I came home to a stunning black and gold package that had me intrigued at first glance! I opened it up to find some mens shirt by Brumano - a menswear brand that aims to revolutionize and change the concept of online shopping in Pakistan. Indecent times Khaadi, Generation etc have really stepped up their game when it comes to online shopping, but the options for men were sadly still limited. This is where Brumano steps in - not only is their website super easy to navigate and user friendly, their packaging and customer service is on point! If you're ordering for a friend, the back and gold package will definetly be met with appreciation.



After receiving these two amazing dress shirts, I wanted to ensure that they're of great quality before I recommend them to you guys - since I'm a girl and don't really fancy modeling mens wear - I ask a friend to help out and review these for me. His verdict - THESE ARE GREAT! According to him, he loves the material, it has the perfect amount of stiffness but isn't rough at all. These wear great and he loves the designs - said they could be dressed up or down given the occasion! Check out some of the modeling that I forced him to do below haha. He loves the crisp and tailored look and said this was a great gift for any one!



Check out some of the amazing stuff they have on sale HERE! You won't be disappointed. I'd say if you're looking for a present for any male in your life - give this website a chance, I wasn't disappointed at all and you won't be either! You can choose anything - from belts to trousers to shirts - the options are ample! A big thumbs up from my end!



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