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Confessions of a Shoeholic

This article was published in +977 (a Nepalese Lifestyle Magazine in Australia) in June – July 2013 issue.

Confessions of a Shoeholic blogI am sure most women are crazy about shoes and I am not an exception. I am crazy about shoes or should I say addicted to buying them. Owning countless pairs of shoes has not stopped me from looking for more. You always find a nice pair of shoes and how can a girl walk past the shops.

If there were a group call “Shoeholic Anonymous”, I am sure I would need to attend one of their meetings. This is how I would be introducing myself.

Hi, I am M and I am a Shoeholic. I love shoes more than anything in this world and when I see shoes in a shop’s window, I feel like they are calling me with soft voices saying “Wear me”. I am 4 weeks sober because I have promised my husband that I will not buy another pair of shoes for three months if I was allowed to buy a Prabal Gurung shoes from the USA. I am doing OK so far but it is getting very hard. The worst part is that I can purchase shoes without feeling any guilt.

Or I can be in denial and never attend these meetings :).

I justify myself that my collection of shoes didn’t happen overnight as I don’t have money like Tamara Ecclestone. It is my collection of over a decade now. And they are from all over the world. Wherever I travel; I try to get at least a pair to add to my collection. I was quite surprised that when we were in Europe, the shoes were cheaper there than in Australian so I had to buy a few pairs for sure. And how can I not mention America where everything is so cheap especially the shoes. I bought so many shoes there because,  when bought one pair, another was just a penny. Can you imagine my reaction when I learned that I was getting the second pair literally for nothing?

Buying a pair of shoes has always had some supernatural effects on me, making me super happy and super confident when I wear them. I believe that shoes also tell a story about the kind of person you are. Feet are our feelings and a good pair of shoes that are well-made, attractive to look at, and comfortable to wear tell the world what you think of yourself all day long.

I might be highly inspired by characters like Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City or Rebecca Bloomwood from Confessions of a Shopaholic but I know I live in the real world. I don’t have 100s of pairs of Jimmy Choos or Manolo-Blahniks. Neither will I buy the latest issue of Vogue instead of buying dinner, max out my credit card while shopping or become a shoe lady. But I just love shoes.

I have to tell you a funny incident regarding my shoes. A while ago I was lunching with my friend in a café. That day I was wearing my favourite suede shoes as there was no sign of rain when I left home.

But while we were having lunch, it started to rain cats and dogs. We waited for a while for the rain to stop but it didn’t let up and there was no sign that it was going to stop anytime soon. We were less than 10 minutes away from work and we were getting late so we decided to run from the café to work.

Instead of saving myself from getting wet, I took my jacket out and put it on my head to save my hair and took off my shoes and hide it under the jacket. Then we both ran all the way to work. I was really hoping that no one I knew would recognise me in the street. It was quite embarrassing to run shoeless on the streets but my brand new shoes were made out of suede. If they got wet, I was not sure what would happen to them. When I finally got to the office, my dress was wet but my shoes were dry, not a drop of water on them. I was really happy with myself.

If you really want to start a shoes collection just remember quality over quantity. A quality shoes with quality maintenance should last for years and that is how you build your big shoes collection. As an adult, if you look after your shoes, you can keep them for years.

I am hoping to keep adding new and lovely shoes to my collection and one day will have this lovely collection which I can pass on to my daughter.

If you have watched the movie Sex and the City and remember the scene where Mr Big takes Carrie to their new penthouse and shows her the new walk-in wardrobe, that’s the moment my heart nearly stopped because that is exactly what I want; a walk-in wardrobe with one whole wall just for my lovely shoes.

 I hope one day my dream will come true.

Till then – “If the shoe fits… buy it in every colour.”

P.S: I wrote this article few months ago when I had no idea that I will own my walk in wardrobe soon 🙂

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Lace in Fashion

This article was published in +977 (a Nepalese Lifestyle Magazine in Australia) in May-June 2013 issue.

977 Lace in Fashion

Lace detailing is absolutely beautiful and undeniably feminine and it has always had a particular allure in fashion and now it’s sexy, skin-tight & best worn with ample attitude. It was a textile that signified all that was luxurious, highly desirable and new.

‘Lace’ is a category that includes a number of detailed techniques, from embroidery, macramé, knitting, knotting and crochet, to guipure, Chantilly, Valenciennes and Venetian.

The LBD gets an even sexier tilt when you add a little lace. And don’t forget all the sexy accessories you can get in lace like stocking, bags, belts, shoes, scarfs, headbands, gloves and even umbrellas.

How to wear lace dress?

Colourful Lace

Colour is always good mood enhancer and it is same with a colourful lace dress.  Colours such as bright red or pink will give a sufficient statement to your appearance. Make sure you accessorise in neutral colours .

Casual Lace

For a casual look, you can choose to wear a longer dress with neutral colours. Choose minimal accessories to keep it simple, fun yet elegant.

Metallic lace

If you want something a little more contemporary, choose metallic lace for parties or formal occasions. Metallic lace goes best with black accessories.

Lace for evening

Lace goes perfectly for evening wear or formal events. From long gowns to elegant short dresses, lace will definitely make you look more feminine. Match the accessories and keep it minimal to highlight the dress.

Do you like lace?

Till next post, take care.

M from nepaliaustralian

XOXO

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Loving Nepali Culture and traditions

This article was published in +977 (a Nepalese Lifestyle Magazine in Australia) in June 2013 issue.

plus977

I have lived in Australian for over a decade and I have to admit, I love Nepal, its culture and traditions more than the day I left her.

It is funny to remember how relived I was when I received the visa to come here. It was like; finally, I was going to be out of Nepal, far from all the stupid traditions and cultures to a new land where I could start all over again. Even though I was very sad leaving my family behind, I was really excited for the possible future. The preparation to leave the country was done with high spirit and positive attitude.

Finally the big day came. Before I left the house, in a traditional manner, my grand ma put a red tika on my forehead, and blessed me with sagun. I still remember the time I spent at the airport in Kathmandu. I was a bit teary eyed while bidding good bye to all the people who came to see me off. I realised that day that I had so many people around me who loved me. I had my parents, my brother, my relatives, my cousins, my school friends and my college friends, more than 30 people there wishing me well and saying their good byes.

Travelling in a plane to Sydney for the first time, I knew I was blessed with loved one but still at the back of my mind, I was happy about my decision about leaving Nepal and coming here.

The first few weeks in Sydney were really exciting as it was a new place, so much to see and explore. I got my first mobile phone and it surely felt like my dream country. But then reality hit me. For the first time in life, I needed to find a job. It was quite an effort to work, to cook meals and study at the same time. I was missing Nepal and home a lot. I convinced myself that the hardship was just temporary and once I got settled, things would change.

Things did change for the better after I got a job and started making friends but I still missed my family and Nepal a lot. I was surprised that I was missing my morning ritual in Nepal, going to the temples with my dad. I was missing my mum’s puja in the morning, the noise of the chaotic traffic of Kathmandu, the vegetables and fruits vendors’ calls selling their stuffs door to door, the sound of temple bells, and missing all the festivals. Being far from home, I realised and slowly started to value the culture and tradition of Nepal which I used not to like.

The first Dashain and Tihar away from home were really hard ones. Even though holidays were the best part of Dashain and Tihar in Nepal, I missed the tika and other religious aspects of these festivals. I also missed celebrating my birthday in a traditional way, tika with sagun in the morning and visiting many temples during the day.

As time passed by, I started embracing Nepali culture and tradition and started following it as much as possible. I started taking down notes of what happens in our culture and it was a joy to explain to people from other countries the different aspects of Nepali tradition. It felt so good to see their reaction when I explained what we do during our festivals, wedding, birth and death. I realise that our culture is so unique and old that it is worth all the effort to preserve it

I started celebrating Dashain and Tihar in full swing and having more family and friends here definitely helped to make it better. Even though I am from a Newar background, I joined my friends when they celebrate Teej and love every minute of it. Living abroad definitely has made me appreciate Nepal and its culture lot more than before.

I went to Nepal and had a very traditional wedding and I was happy to participate in a very elaborate ceremony over many days. Recently, my brother and sister in law were blessed with a baby boy and we made sure we followed all the traditional rituals here even though we are so far away from home. He had his Chhaithi and Nwaran here and we all went to Nepal to celebrate his Pasni with our loved ones.

These days instead of getting annoyed by the tradition and culture in Nepal, I feel inquisitive. I always want to know more why we do Ihi, Gufa , Bartamanda, Saradha, Pasni, Nwaran or any other ritual. I want to learn the legends behind our every festival and one day wish to pass this knowledge on to my kids. I want them to be proud of Nepal and Nepali culture. Even though I am not in Nepal, Nepal and its culture and tradition will always be in me and I hope to spread this love to the next generation so they can be proud of our heritage, tradition and culture.

Do you still follow your cultures and traditions?

Till next post, take care.

M from nepaliaustralia

XOXO

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Autumn Trend Alert: “Dot On”

This article was published in +977 (a Nepalese Lifestyle Magazine in Australia) in April 2013 issue.

polka dots for blog kkkk

Polka dots have been in fashion for a long time and it is here to stay as polka dot pieces are guaranteed to cheer up any outfit. Remember the red and white outfit of Minnie mouse? Whether you prefer to be girly, casual uber-feminine, sophisticated or retro, just adding polka dots will definitely add a whole new level to your look making it perfect for work or the weekend.

There’s certainly no shortage of polka dot items to choose from like pants, dresses, coats, tops, stockings, shoes, bags, accessories, scarfs, umbrella etc.

How to wear Polka dot

  • Mix them with a sheer material or a skin-baring silhouette.
  • Wear neutral pieces with polka dot.
  • Wear cinched-waist polka dot dress to get an hourglass figure.
  • Wear a polka dot jean with a solid sweater or blouse in a corresponding colour
  • Pair with stripes or tiny floral for fresh look.
  • Wear polka patent belt to break the bold print.
  • Wear darker shades polka dots to get slimmer look.
  • If you’re not one to wear lots of prints, start with accessories.
  • If you are not comfortable with big dots, get small dots in stockings and under layer.
  • Wear polka-dot scarf or headband to add a new dimension to your everyday look.
  • Wear a light spring scarf to casual chic outfit.
  • Try also polka dot handbags, pumps, umbrellas and mobile phone cases.

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Recycling and reusing in Nepal

This article was published in +977 (a Nepalese Lifestyle Magazine in Australia) in April 2013 issue.

recycling post blog

My recent visit to Nepal has given me inside to many things and one of them is recycling and using anything and everything possible.

Recycling is very important, but even better is reusing. I was really impressed on reusing skill on people from Nepal. From old metal cans, plastic bags, old newspapers, packing containers and old clothes, Nepali housewives especially found ways to give second life for simple items around their home by reusing them.

I really think people living in west are spoiled and they really need to learn how to reuse and recycle than buying things that are use and throw. I have to admit, even though I am conscious about recycling and reusing, I have a long way to go to be anywhere near these housewives. I am going to remember from now on that not everything is destined for the rubbish bin. I need to think before I throw.

No matter how rich or how poor people are, most Nepali people reuse lots of thing and this is what I observe.

  • Plastic grocery bags used as small trash can bags.
  • Ziplock bags washed and reused.
  • Worn out clothes used as rags to clean floors and windows.
  • Margarine and butter tubs used as takeaway containers.
  • Everyone unwrap their gifts very careful so they can reuse the wrapping paper.
  • Shoe boxes used as storage containers for small items.
  • Old toothbrush used to clean hard to reach areas like around the sink, your drains, faucets and grout.
  • Newspaper used for cleaning windows and mirrors. Also it is used to clean up after pets.
  • Old glass bottles from tomato sauce or honey used as storage container for herbs and spices in the kitchen.It can be also be used as a stationary organiser.

  • Small jars from jams used as candle holders.
  • Old saucers used as soap dishes.
  • Mugs are used as utensil holders.

  •  Leftovers are put in freeze and used in fried rice the next day.
  • Any kind of boxes used as storage containers or organisers.
  •  Plastic milk jugs, juice containers, big coke bottles used to store water.
  •  Small plastic water or soda bottles used to take water with you while out and about.

If you are interested in any of the ideas, please Google and you will find heaps of ideas on how to turn your trash into treasure and you will be surprised how good they look. Also it will help you save some money and you are doing your bit to save the environment.

Do you recycle?

Till next post, take care.

M from nepaliaustralia

XOXO

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*Forever Blackout 
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