Real Girl - Page 4 of 15 - Unfiltered Lifestyle Blog By Smriti Notani

May Favourites: The Time I Tried To Act Fancy AF

June 7, 2017 By: RealGirl4 Comments

The year is flying by, we are already on month 6 of 12. What is this sorcery? I need a minute to digest this. Actually screw that, I need a drink to digest this! Where’s my cocktail?!

While I’m (clearly) flying off the handle and acting deranged, there are still things I’ve loved using/having/buying/experiencing during the month of May. Check ’em out as I calm my nerves. *Gulps drink*

Forest Essentials

It was recently mother’s day and my mom’s birthday (God clearly intended her to be a mother) so I really wanted to get her a nice, pretty present. I’ve spoken about Forest Essentials on my social media before, but I *love* that store. It always smells divine and really gives you that premium feeling. I bought my mom this nice box of FE goodies and I’m so happy with it. It’s a box filled with sunscreen, toner, lip scrub, etc – total of 6 products, it’s part of their skincare edition if I’m not wrong. The packaging is lovely, the colours are soothing, and the products look awesome. I know I can’t review them exactly because I haven’t used them (yet :P) but in general, I love whatever I have used from this brand and think this is a nice gifting option for anyone. (PS: Sorry mom, I gave it to you and took it back to click it! #BloggerProblems)

2. Choko la

When the boy was feeling generous or in love with me (shy face) he bought home this pretty orange bag from Choko la. Inside it is the cutest looking pink tin box – yeah, you already know it; the kind I’ll keep forever! And inside the box is the yummiest cinnamon flavour hot chocolate powder that has straight up changed the game! All you have to do is mix it with milk and then let your taste buds celebrate. Now I didn’t know much about this brand before, I think it’s Delhi based but their tagline reads ‘deeply divine chocolates’ and I agree! The box also came with a little leaflet that talks about the other flavours that it comes in – white, hazelnut, dark, etc. I can’t wait to try all because this may just be the perfect hot chocolate ever! Also correct me if I’m wrong, but anything cinnamon flavoured is always tricky right? Well, tried and tested now, I can tell you Choko la gets it right and I’m in love with my steaming mug of hot chocolate goodness.

3. Laptop sleeve

I’ve been needing a laptop sleeve ever since I got the new laptop back in November. Finally got down to ordering one online. PS: Propshop24 is the place to be if you’re in the market for quirky products. Love their stuff; plus the quality never disappoints. There was a wide variety but I went with this one because of the funky colours at the back (which incidentally match my blog theme – pink and orange) and this very caricaturish girl in the front who I like to think looks like me! Her sweatshirt says ‘go away’ and she’s sipping on coffee. Also, her body language screams ‘so done with it’ – very me! 🙂

4. Weekly planner

I’ve wanted a desk planner that shows me the whole week ahead for quite a while now. It really helps me plan out and schedule my posts + other tasks. Very happy with the quality and design of this one; incidentally, also from Propshop24.

5. Live Stream

I absolutely cannot leave out my favourite experience from May. So Dhruvi, from Alice Wandering (go check her blog out) invited me to join her on a Facebook Live stream. She often collaborates with and profiles interesting people on her page, and I was stoked when she asked me to! We had a fun and easy breezy chat about all things blogging, growing up, being single, being married, being Indian, etc. It was very informal and very fun to do. The best part of it all for me was how many people reached out after! I got messages and calls saying they watched the live stream and loved it. Do check it out if you haven’t yet and get to know us a little better, perhaps? 🙂

Dhruvi (Alice) and me!

6. Fancy AF Phone Cover

Now as you know I got a new phone, and that comes with the ultimate temptation of buying new covers. I found this marble one at a brand called Case Factory at the Lil Flea and started using it last month. I think the marble finish looks fancy AF. I’m pretty sure it’s on trend. Have you seen these anywhere? Or wait – are they too common already?! What do you think?

7. Dream Tee

I just saved the best for last!

So last month a very cool surprise reached my door step. There’s this awesome brand called PrintOctopus which incidentally I have seen online before. They sent me a gift; a t-shirt with my hashtag #keepingitreal. I am still so excited about this! What a cool thing to own. Besides, the quality is great and the material is really soft. I’m (for real) ordering more stuff from them. I’ll show you when it arrives. For now, I’m #keepingitreal in style. DONOT be alarmed if you see me wear this t-shirt every other day. Oh and btw, you can order the same thing if you like! I’m leaving the links below:

Available on PrintOctopus

On Men’s t-shirt, Women’s T-shirt,Phone covers, Posters, Canvas Prints & Mousepads

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Real Girl MakeUp Hacks (Summer Special)

June 3, 2017 By: RealGirlcomment

Heyaaaa,

As some of you may already know, makeup artist and youtuber Minelli is my go to person for all things makeup and beauty.

I am super interested but relatively new to the world of beauty products and tutorials so I’m really not an expert!

Love it when she comes in and shows us some super useful hacks for normal people (basically realistic, doable things)

You can check our previous collaborations here and here

I’d love it if you could let me know if you find this useful at all?! Or if you have any beauty questions you’d like for us to cover!

PS: Do not miss my ridiculous expression on touching the beauty sponge and also if you pay close attention, you can watch me zone out at some points. (Sorry Minelli) 😛

Just keeping it way-too-real guys *facepalm*

Real Girl Make Up Hacks! (Summer Special)

Heyaaaa :)Here's the full video of 100% tried and tested makeup hacks by Minelli (makeup artist and youtuber). These should sort us out for the summer (and monsoon). Thanks Loca MiCo – Minelli Coelho for spilling your secrets here! <3To check out our #RealGirlMakeUpHacks post on the blog, click here: http://bit.ly/2rOAYdp

Posted by Real Girl on Saturday, June 3, 2017

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#RealGirlsRock: In Conversation With Savi From Bruised Passports

May 28, 2017 By: RealGirl2 Comments

A little note before I begin this interview.

Savi is one of my favourite bloggers, so this interview was very exciting for me. I am mesmerised by Bruised Passports and the high quality of content they put out consistently. It is a sad reality today that most bloggers are not in the least concerned about what they actually write on their blog. But then there are people like Savi and Vid who question that paradigm and leave hope for bloggers like me, who in fact, would love to focus on the writing. I had the pleasure of meeting Savi and Vid at their recent meet up in Mumbai. They were both absolute troopers and handled the million questions hurled at them with a sense of humour, and oodles of candour; thus cementing their position in my Favourites list. (Dear Savi and Vid, although it may not seem like much, this is a great honour and I suggest you bask in the glory of this award at least for a whole three minutes!) 😛

Alright, without much further ado, I present to you – ‘The time I asked Savi too many questions!’ Enjoy 🙂

If you weren’t this awesome-traveller-blogger-lady, what would you be?

A lecturer of English Literature or a professional dreamer (if there be such a thing!)

Tell us one thing about yourself that no one knows.

I cry really easily in front of people I love.

What’s your favourite brand?

To be honest, I don’t really have one. My suitcase is a mélange of things from dozens of countries. But I really love Free People’s aesthetic.

One thing you would never endorse?

There’s a long list but at the top are fairness creams and any brand or product that goes against the grain of gender equality.

YASSSS GIRL!

Any advice for those who want to become bloggers?

Be consistent, celebrate your individuality, and produce high quality content.

What’s the toughest part of this profession?

I will admit that the fact that you have to style, conceptualise, execute, photograph, articulate, and critique all your own shoots is one of the toughest parts of being a blogger! But it’s also the most REWARDING and fun because it involves constantly challenging yourself – that’s because as a travel blogger, one doesn’t have access to controlled studio lighting or large wardrobes. Instead you have to contend with clothes that come out of a suitcase, shoot in real environments, surrounded by real people and dominated by the vagaries of weather. That makes it challenging but I love EVERY bit of it – it’s an amazing feeling to see your vision come to life in photographs that tell a story about your way of seeing the world.

What keeps you motivated?

I strive to keep my loved ones close to me – so their affection and support really keeps me motivated. Hearing from readers also really eggs me on. I love interacting with our virtual family all around the world.

Someone you look up to?

I don’t really have role models but I really look upto people who question convention and stereotypes in daily life. They’re the true heroes.

Best piece of advice you ever got…

It’s impossible to please everyone. I didn’t realise the profundity of the statement till I made a career in the digital world!

Describe your personal style in one line…

Bohemian and laid-back.

What would you tell a young girl who’s not too sure what career path she wants to take?

Experiment. Don’t get taken in by what you see on social media and choose the most fashionable or glamorous profession. Dabble in a host of things and choose the one that makes your heart sing.

What’s your idea of unwinding?

A cabin in the woods, good music, and coffee with Vid – my perpetual partner in crime (of course)

What feeds your soul? (Silly question, but I’ll ask any way!)

Poetry, mountains, music.

How addicted are you to social media?

I work in social media, so I’m perpetually checking my phone and curating photographs or memoirs . But I do try to take a step back every once in a while because I don’t like the idea of being addicted to social media.

What’s your take on feminism?

I am a staunch feminist. Nobody should be afraid of the word feminist. I think both men and women should be proud to call themselves feminists because feminism, to me, is just another word for true equality (which, in turn, breeds true happiness)

One misconception people have about entrepreneurs…
That it’s a glamorous job and everything comes easy to them. Truth is, that is as far from reality as is possible. You have to work very hard and sacrifice a lot to follow your dreams and translate them into reality.

One thing that “growing up” has taught you…

Not to take anything for granted.

One thing that travelling has taught you…

Human emotions are the same world over – teenagers feel heart breaks the same, families feel grief the same, and couples feel love the same.

What does being a Real Girl mean to you?

Someone who celebrates her individuality, questions patriarchy, asserts her ideological opinions, and spreads love (for what would the world be without it!)

*Sigh* I honestly couldn’t have put it better myself! 🙂

Thank you so much, Savi!

All photographs are taken from their blog: http://www.bruisedpassports.com/

You can also follow their travels on their envy inducing Instagram feed.

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April Favourites: The Time There Were Too Many!

May 7, 2017 By: RealGirlcomment

April has always been a special month to me! While most people loathe this irksome heat, I alter my diet to beer and salads (balance is key, right?) while planning summer getaways and swimming in my spare time. What can I say? I’m a summer baby! This April involved quite a lot of consumerism for me, by that I mean SHOPPING!!! Here are a few of things that made it to my list of April Favourites!

New Phone, Who Dis?

Is there a non-douchebag way to say you bought an iPhone? Umm, there really isn’t! So yes, after years of being loyal to my trusty Nexus 5, I finally bit into the juicy Apple. What attracted me to the Iphone SE was the size and the price. It’s the same size as the 5 series which means it fits in my hand (yay!) and I got it for under 30k (64gb). I’ve never owned a rose gold phone so that part was pretty exciting too!

There is no denying a couple of things – it is a very different experience from using an Android based device. There are things I miss about my Nexus and there are things I’ve never experienced which I’m excited to figure out. The design of an Apple product is unparalleled. The unboxing of my device brought me so much joy. Just the neat, clean design elements and lack of clutter are pretty commendable. I highly recommend this phone if any of you are in the market for a new one.

Board? Never!

So I was at the Lil Flea last month, and ended up buying some knickknacks for the house and desk, etc. I chanced upon this brand called Decography and loved this bright board on which you can write with a whiteboard marker. Totally reusable and what a fun concept! I keep changing what it says and love the way my Instagram handle looks on it (that subtle plug though!)

Me at The Lil Flea!

Dukaan Band!

I also picked up this lovely sign from Gift Gaali at the Lil Flea. I already have a sign that says ‘Chill’ in Hindi lettering that hangs above my bed in my room. (FYI, everyone compliments it when they come home.) I also picked up this little sign for my desk since I work from home and sometimes I need to remind and be reminded to shut shop! Love their brand, they have very cool signs. You should check it out.

The Girl With The Lower Back Tattoo

This woman is a goddess and reading her book was an almost soulful experience. There are some women in the west I really look up to for their career choices, personal standpoints, and overall demeanour. Amy Schumer is definitely one of them. Rightly touted as one of the funniest women on the planet, you’ll love her book if you like her brand of comedy. Her writing was exactly the kind that inspires me! So funny, yet so real. She’s tackled some tough topics in the book all the while staying true to her signature style. If I can ever write like that, I’ll consider myself a success story! Pick up her book if you want an insightful read by a real woman who is no holds barred.

Throwin’ Shade!

I bought these pink reflector glasses (from the picture above) from Lenskart and I’ve been wearing them all month. If I had to pick a fashion item I’ve used most in recent times, It would have to be my sunglasses!

Colour me happy!

The boy ordered this book as a present for me and I was so touched! He heard me talk about Mandala pattern adult colouring books to my friend and thought he should buy me one. (I’m lucky and I know it!) The book looks really nice and I’m sure I will be spending many a gainful hours colouring away my woes. Too much excite!

Send Nude!

This was an impulse purchase as I walked into Shoppers Stop and realized I desperately need a new perfume. For those of you looking at a perfume around 1k, this one is worth your bucks. It’s refreshing and it stays on. Perfect for day usage, I’m pretty sure I’ll go in for a re-purchase once the bottle is done. This one is called Nude by Titan Skinn but they have many more variants for you to chose from.

Let there be light!

I used to have a selfie light but that isn’t compatible with my new phone. So I ordered this selfie ring light from Amazon. I thought it’s really cute and may help me up my Instagram and Snapchat game! I haven’t gotten too much use out of it so far but I’ll tell you one thing for sure – it’s one hell of a conversation starter!

13 Reasons Why

I’ve already written about this on my social media – but i’ll reiterate that you should watch it if you can.

• 13 Reasons Why • There's a reason everyone's talking about this show on @netflix_in. Was it difficult to watch? Yes. Was it gripping? Yes. Did it make me terribly uncomfortable at times? Yes. Am I still thinking about it? Yes. I wish there was no need to make an entire series to start a conversation about suicide. But you know as well as I do that it is in fact the need of the hour. It's easy for us to be vociferously vocal about what we think. That suicide doesn't always seem like the necessary option. But there are young (and not so young) people out there legitimately considering it every single day. This conversation needed to begin and we needed to be part of it. It's really not enough anymore to inform students that they shouldn't take things so seriously. It's just not enough. Hopefully this show with a massive reach will start a discussion in many homes and educational institutions and do more good than harm. I'd recommend you watch the show, even if you're like me, and typically like to stay away from drama or anything too serious. The message is the main takeaway and all the actors have done a phenomenal job. @13reasonswhy

A post shared by RealGirl™ | Smriti Notani (@realgirlco) on Apr 24, 2017 at 4:11am PDT

People Vs Oj Simpson

Catch this show on Netflix – it’s a dramatic retelling of the infamous OJ Simpson trial case that shook America back in the day. It was very interesting to watch and has our very own David Schwimmer (Ross) in a key role. If you like courtroom dramas, then you’ll definitely like this show!

Bagged It!

I’m in love with this new beach bag looking tote I picked up from Westside. It is huge and can carry everything including my DSLR. I absolutely love the little neon tassels hanging from it. Perfect for my summer obsession!

(These pictures are outtakes from the shoot I did for my collaboration with 7UP Revive. Have you seen that post yet?)

And that sums up my April Favourites!

If there’s anything you liked from here or own yourself, let me know!

I’m also open to suggestions. Know some place, book, movie, product you love that you want me to try/review? Leave it in the comments below!

Until then, keep it real 🙂

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A Day In The Life Of Real Girl

April 30, 2017 By: RealGirl2 Comments

You know how I like to keep it real with you, right? Well you all know that I hate mornings and I gladly skip them whenever possible. The only time I do actually wake up is when I have to get in some yoga. Yeah, that’s when I go from ‘Nama-stay-in-bed’ to ‘Nama-slay’ mode! I’ve been doing yoga for three years now and I’m pretty darn pleased with myself. I feel like it’s the one healthy thing that I do for my mind and body.

Yoga in the summer though, can leave you winded. After a few simple asanas I’m already like, “can we do Shavasana now?” That is, just lie on my back, relax, and ponder upon the complexities of the universe! But only if I were that lucky; the yoga teacher wants me to sweat it out, as does the weather. How hot is it by the way? Like, why are the temperatures so high? Is Ryan Gosling in the vicinity – because that’s the only plausible explanation! Luckily I reach out to this cool new thing I found – 7UP Revive.

I’m really sweating a lot post my class, and I need to up my energy game. I’m told that this new drink supposedly helps to replenish your body with essential electrolytes! I have a whole day of work ahead, so I’m very grateful for the fact that I do, in fact, feel better after a few sips.

Now as you already know I’m a writer, blogger, and creative consultant. This means I get to often meet some cool people from some cool brands. And when I have a meeting scheduled, I try to bring my A Game. You know – dress the part, look fancy, etc. But please don’t ask me why I chose to wear a black dress in this weather. It was not a smart decision but don’t tell my mom I said that. She only waits for a chance to chide me about having too many black clothes. Now what can I say? I’ll stop wearing black when they invent a darker colour!

Okay, sassy quotes apart, I was exhausted after strutting around in my heat absorbing garb and heels (to add to the slew of poor decisions). Luckily, I had popped the bottle of 7UP Revive in my tote after yoga. I blessed myself for that wise decision. Again, it saved the day and helped me to hydrate myself and get my energy levels back. Side note: It’s really tasty so I make a mental note to stock up on more bottles. God knows I’m going to be needing them all!

I come back from my meeting and get down to writing some blog posts. By the way, may I bust some solid myths here? Blogging is hard work and requires an insane amount of hustle. Not only do you have to be digitally connected 24 x 7, but you need to be producing fresh, innovative content in real time. All of this apart from taking and making phone calls, planning photo shoots, clicking flatlays, and writing quality posts. I’m tired just thinking about the amount of work it takes.

I gingerly place my bottle of 7UP Revive next to the laptop. With a huge assignment due in a few hours, it’s better that it’s right where I need it to be. Fun fact: you can sweat in this weather even if you’re indoors and not actually outside doing manual labour. Oh, and it doesn’t take very long for you to lose fluids and essential electrolytes from your body which can basically leave you tired, drained and exhausted. I feel very geeky-cool for knowing this. *Puts on glasses and strikes her best I’m-so-wise pose*

After working for a couple of hours I head out to meet some friends and have a much deserved relaxed evening after a long, hard day. I think back to how challenging the day has been. I’m more than stoked that I survived it but I need to share credit with 7UP Revive. Would love to pretend it was my will power, but let’s be real – you need a little more than that in the Mumbai summer!

So that was a day in the life of Real Girl with more than a cameo by 7UP Revive.

I do recommend you get your hands on it. It’s as much a summer essential as flip-flops, hot shorts, raybans, sun block, and an impending Goa plan!

PS: I don’t really sweat, I sparkle. #Justsaying

PPS: This post is sponsored by 7UP Revive.

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