How To Pamper Yourself : Self Love Time!

Harro Wuvlies!
It doesn't matter if you're 15 or 30, every girl needs time off from her hectic work/college/school schedule, her relationships and personal commitments to spend some me time, or as we call it - "Self Love" time.
After some intense pinning sessions on Pinterest (yes, intense), I've come up with the top 6 things you should be doing when you're sick of the people you're dealing with and just want to get into "Il dolce far niente" mode.

Kirsten Dunst as Marie Antoinette

1. Cut off communication.
I'm not asking you to deactivate your instagram account,But for the length of your SL time, switch off your phone. You don't need to keep people updated with what you're up to on whatsapp or have directionless conversations with annoying people on Facebook when you're not in the mood to talk. 

 Disconnect with the world and reconnect with your self :)

Sleep in during a weekend

Instead, start using pinterest ,polyvore ,
goodreads or instagram to inspire yourself, find some good book reviews, or just have that little moment of elation when people like and comment on your post! 

Solitude is Bliss
Basically avoid any conversation which puts you in an obligatory "she saw my message, she needs to reply asap" situation.You've got no idea how much these little things can affect your happiness.

2. Find your source of entertainment.
A good movie, book or TV show which can make you forget all of your problems is just what you need, once in a while.

Take your laptop in, during your bubble bath and watch gossip girl or game of thrones or whatever it is that makes you go "OMG asdfghjkl this show is amaze balls!" or watch some super amazing youtubers like Tyler Oakley do their thing.

Adventure Time is always a good option,regardless of your age.

Cute wollen socks according to me :P

Snuggle up with super cute woollen socks, hot cocoa and read yourself a really good book, try breaking the scene by reading something that none of your friends have, a not-so-famous-but-it-totally-should-be kinda book.

You can also go alone to a mall, book yourself a royal seat for more than to movies in a row and watch them one after the other in your pyjamas. WHO CARES. you only SL once in a while.

3. Give yourself some spa treatments.

Whether you can afford it or not, having a spa day at home or at a proper spa is très très très essential for those of you (all of you) who have cracked heels, un-manicured nails and dark spots under your eyes.

If thats the case, you really need some SL time.

Hit the superstores and buy yourself some face masks and mani/pedi kits,take a nice bubble bath, order some sushi, chinese or italiano for dinner, buy some scented candles and put on some really good music.

Wear a red romper for spa day, easy to put on and easy to take off :)

Tanning at the beach is always a good idea :)

Dance around your house, Dye your hair a different colour! (l'oreal casting creme gloss is absolutely amazing!)

Pamper yourself, you need that break! 

Sometimes when you look good on the outside, you feel good on the inside.

Note : Don't forget to watch/read Eat,Pray,Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, it is the epitome of self love and discovery.

4. Do something that you think is completely absurd.
Ok, first off. Do this yourself or only with your best friend (someone you can trust).

• Have Ice cream for breakfast in bed.
  
  
  
• Plan an impromptu trip to a place you've never been before (Walter Mitty style) . Pack your bag, go to the airport, buy a plane ticket to wherever the next flight takes you.Midnight flights and sunset flights are the best.
• Dye your hair a crazy new colour, use hair chalk, or whichever colour you wouldn't dare having!
  
• Go on a crazy shopping spree, buy all the things you've always wanted to wear.
• Book tickets to a music festival.
  

The list is endless. Basically try to do something that according to you is completely absurd, something you would never imagine yourself doing!

5. Have a girls night out.
This. We all know.
Wear your best cocktail dress, put on those glitter Steve Maddens. 

Go to a sushi bar or a cocktail party with your best girlfriends, dressed to nines , ready to take over the world. One heel at a time.

Gift your girlfriends something really special, have your sisterhood of travelling pants moment.
Or dress it down and have a legit Pajama party mmm! 

Everyone loves a good chick flick and some junk food.

Have a happy hour at your place, switch on those disco lights, put some fun 80's music and do some pop rock kamikaze shots. 

Like they say in SATC, no one understands you better than your girlfriends.

6. Take some time off to truly LOVE yourself.
People speak.Everybody talks, Everybody criticises, Everyone think they know who you are but honestly, they don't.
You know who you are. And during your SL time you need to start truly appreciating yourself and how far you've gotten in life.
You're a person of power, a strong and independent woman.

GET FLOWERS.

Buy yourself some pink/orange roses, some red carnations or violet peonies.

Peonies and Roses

Pink/Orange Roses

Red Carnations

Nothing can make you feel better than some beautiful flowers.

Make yourself a flower crown!

Kirsten Dunst in a flower crown, from the movie Marie Antoinette

Add some velvet into your wardrobe,the deep colour describes your strength and magnificence, richness.And the soft feel of it describes your warm heart and loveable personality.

Crushed velvet leggins

Buy yourself some donuts or cupcakes,switch on your fairy lights. 

Watch your favourite Audrey Hepburn movie, Buy yourself some cute lingerie.Cook yourself some gourmet italiano.
Read yourself some poetry, Dress up and take some super cute pictures.

I highly recommend The Brightest Star In The Sky by Marian Keyes

Wear a bow. Bows are beautiful. And they make you happy.

                     

Treat yourself like a queen.
And others will too.

Princess Margaret just lounging the the tub with the Poltimore tiara

And Always wear your invisible crown!

For any Queries, Questions,Advice,etc feel free to contact me on my email ID : thepinklemonadediaries@gmail.com
Follow me on my Instagram : @ruchrao
Comment and like this post, if it helped you :)

Lots of Love,
Ruchika Rao

Beach Bag Essentials

Hi, I'm holidaying in goa right now.So I'll be really quick with this post.

I'm staying at Costa's Montage, it's just a 1 minute walk away from the beach with direct acces from its backyard.

One Km ahead of the beach,there's Kwality Waal's where there's this super chubby uncle who makes the yummiest Thunderstorm Swirl.

A few km into Madgao, there's a massive booksale. Believe it or not, I bought all these books for 250 bucks xD reader's fairytale.

Goan art shop in panjim, pretty much captures the whole spirit and culture of goa.

The market place in church square is awesome, there's a lot of bargain worthy stuff, my dad hates this place. (Because I spend all his money)

Beautiful view of The Church Of Our Lady Of Immaculate Conception from the market place. A scene from my old favourite movie JOSH was shot here :)

I rented a bike for 100/day. She's got a basket and she's purple.'nuff said.

Rode to the beach,sat there staring at the sea.The sun had just set,it was beautiful.

And finally. Beach essentials :

Pack your -

Rayban wayfarers

That Jason Mraz hat

A ukulele (I'm learning)

Garnier fructis anti-frizz serum

Lakmé sunscreen.

A handsanitizer

Sunproof lip balm

Wallet

And a DSLR,because Goa.

That's all,need to hit the waves now.

Love,

Ruchika

An Audrey Hepburn Post.

Apart from this being the first post on TPLD, it also happens to be my all time role model -Audrey Hepburn's 85th Birthday! 

And to pay tribute to this extraordinary entity of charm and compassion,heres a list of what makes Audrey... well, Audrey.

6. She has left behind a plethora of spellbinding quotes, with which, one could easily sketch out a personality of a beautiful, strong, independent woman - an introvert at the most, but compassionate and endlessly charming.

If you haven't had the privilege of reading any of her quotes, here you go!

5.Her ability to look so flawlessly stylish.

 Audrey has always been the one fashion icon every woman wishes to be. From her signature Breakfast At Tiffany's look, she's set her trademarks with black turtle necks, bold eyebrows, super cropped fringe and timeless grace.

Check out Audrey's top 25 most timeless fashion tips right here.

4. Her acting range.

We all know the whimsical Hepburn everybody loves to love in Tiffany's or the uneducated flower girl taken up as a challenge to be turned into royalty, but it is often forgotten that she has offered such a vast acting range as a performer, from films like Paris When It Sizzles, The Children's Hour, Roman Holiday,My Fair Lady, Wait Until Dark to starring in television shows and her own documentary - Audrey Hepburn : In Her Own Words, To Theatre! where she displayed her vocal abilities as a singer and a broadway star! 

Audrey truly has inspired us by her ability to take up any role and emerge victorious every single time.

3. Her love for Paris!

 "Paris is always a good idea."

                                              -Audrey Hepburn

That quote pretty much sums up every girls dream of walking those French boulevards, Shopping at Dior, Treating yourself to some extremely gastronomic French food - from chocolate croissants to macaroons at Laduree, to Eiffel Illuminations , to La Seine , the Louvre and Paris in the rain! Ooh La La!

Audrey at a photo shoot near the Louvre Museum, Paris

 2. Her effortless charm and grace.

"I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and… I believe in miracles."

Audrey was always known for being herself, expressing her views and doing it with utmost grace. Her personality is reflected in her pictures, underneath all that stardom and glamour, she is, and always will be herself.

I honestly think this is her best quality because she never let go of who she is through the process of her stardom, she never gave in. She was fully expressed,endlessly beautiful, effortlessly charming and teenage girls like yours truly  idolize her modesty, her grace and her personality.

1. "I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it."

 And last, but not least - Her Heart.

During WWII, Audrey spent most of her teen years in Occupied Holland. Giving ballet preformances during the night to help the Dutch Resistance. When the war ended, Audrey was terribly ill. Her recouperation after near death was aided by food parcels from United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration, a forruner to UNICEF. Later in life, she got involved with UNICEF. She was able to bring attention to their cause. She was named a unicef Goodwill Ambassador. She was able to speak on behalf of Turkey, Finland, Holland, Ireland and Australia. The U.S. Congress heard her message and subsequently sent $60,000,000 in funds go to the people of Ethiopia. Her work began to pay off. In Turkey, Audrey started her effort to help prevent the children from getting the six most preventible diseases. The army donated trucks and fishmongers gave their wagons for the vaccines. Once the date was set, it took ten days to vaccinate the whole country.

Source of Excerpt

Audrey, unlike many stars who have the benefit of being noticed in lieu to their stardom, utilized her position and star status when she could in order to help the her fellow human beings. It is very rare, to see such a beautiful person (who could have been mistaken to be an airhead, by people who don't truly know her. *ahem* Emma Thompson) with an urge to take initiative to do something when no one else is/was willing to.

WHICH BRINGS US TO A QUOTE I LIVE BY :

For beautiful eyes,

look for the good in others

for beautiful lips, 

speak only words of kindness 

and for poise, 

walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

All in all, Audrey, this beautiful woman - full of energy,charm and a massive willingness to help the people around her, has taught me so much about myself. And even though she isn't alive, can't celebrate her 85th birthday, she will, forever live in our hearts. 

She taught me to be myself, to be strong when everything seems to be going wrong, to believe in fairytales, to carry off a black outfit without coming off as emotionally unstable,to love Paris and to be happy, no matter what. 

Because Happy Girls Are The Prettiest. 

x

Ruchika Rao