What I’ve learned so far in life is that all you can do to make your life beautiful while keeping your inner self in harmony with the outer self is making a list of what you do and what you actually wanna do. Who you pretend to be and who you really are. What are you doing and what you actually should be doing. What you see and what it actually means to you. At least don’t lie to yourself. Don’t deceive your yourself. Be real… with yourself!
Adios xx
If we have one motto for summer dressing, it’s the less fuss, the better. Give us a pair of denim shorts, a vintage tee, and some comfy sandals, and we’re set. A sundress and sneakers? Sign us up. Overalls, jumpsuits, and rompers also pass muster for their ability to get us out the door and straight to a friend’s backyard faster than you can say rosé.
Light pastel colors like lime, peach, aqua, skin, white, beige, and lighter tones of pink go really well in summers. Here are some elegant as well as chic outfits for you to try this summers.
Pair pretty folded-sleeve top with a printed pencil skirt for a look at once feminine and sleek. White peep-toes are a summary finishing touch.
Layered cream jacket over a bright white dress from the brand. Pencil heel and a trendy bag give the unstructured pieces a ladylike finish.
Get dressed up in one step with a jumpsuit finishing the look with trendy specs and a major statement necklace.
So fun! Dressed up in basic black skinnies and button-down shirt with a colorful necklace and pumps. Here’s how you do work-day! Cropped jeans with a studded tunic. A structured top-handle bag and pointy-toe pumps are sophisticated add-ons.
The floral shorts add fun to the dark top and the white sneakers make this outfit wonderful for the outdoor time. Plus, hat and sunglasses are what you should not miss during the scorching summer days. For those who don’t wear shorts could replace them with floral skirts or trousers.
Take out your striped shirt and wear flip-flops in contrast with them. Then pick up some accessories in the pastel shades and combine them together. Thus, you will get a stylish look without any efforts.
Whether completely exposed or veiled with floral lace, off-the-shoulder tops are still having a moment. Team yours with a pencil skirt or cropped trousers for a grown-up vibe and with jeans for the perfect bloom.
Wedding bells are ringing as the wedding season is about to come. In Asian countries, weddings usually take place during the fall as the weather is ideal for the arrangements. In Asian countries like India and Pakistan, wedding trends vary from time to time but festivities remain the same. In this post, I will be featuring my cousin’s wedding which took place just two days ago. I was so excited to share the pictures and experiences with you guys especially my non-Asian followers. I would love to read what they think about the traditional Asian weddings in the comments down below. First of all, we will talk about the basic functions of a Pakistani Wedding.
The day of marigolds, Mehndi is the first and foremost function of the Asian weddings. In this festival, family and friends of the groom prepare a thaal (tray) comprising of bangles, mehndi (henna), clothes, floral jewelry, shoes, candles, hair accessories, ubtan (turmeric paste) and oil in cute compartments. When the thaal is prepared, they take it to the bride’s home. The bride wears floral accessories and the minimal makeup on the day of mehndi. The whole place is decorated with marigold flowers and candles. Yellow is the color code of the day and everyone is supposed to follow the theme. After the bride comes, all the guests give her gifts and money while rubbing oil in her hair and ubtan on her face. Groom’s family also decorate the bride’s hands and feet with henna. After this compulsion, they all dance and sing songs with dholki. (two-sided drum)
The day of roses! Baraat is the major and the prime function when it comes to marriages in Pakistan. This function is arranged by the family of the bride while groom’s family are the guests. They are welcomed by the rose petals and fancy medals by the bride’s family. This is the function with most hustle-bustle. Bride and groom wear heavy clothes and jewelry on this day. In baraat, the bride and groom officially declare themselves as a married couple in the presence of witnesses; three each from both the side of the bride and groom. After signing the petetion of nikaah, all the guests pray to God for a happily ever after of the bride and groom. This is called Nikaah. After the compulsion of nikaah, the bride enters the room in a very royal and traditional way. Women are considered as vulnerable and delicate part of our society that needs protection from evil eye due to which the bride enters the room in some kind of carriage or under the shade of flowers. Groom receives her at the stage and then they have the dinner with their guests. If we talk about the Baraat’s decor, the setup is much grandeur and gigantic as compared to other functions. Roses are used in the bulks especially. After the dinner, there is another custom where the sisters of the bride hide the groom’s shoe and ask for the money in return. This is a playful festival and is celebrated with the exchange of laughter and lovely moments. In the end, the bride says goodbye to her family under the blessings of Holy Quran held over her head. Baraat always ends with the tears of joy.
Walima is the terminating function of the Pakistani weddings. This function is arranged by the Groom’s side while the bride’s family is the guest. Bride and groom welcome their guests together and have a hearty dinner with them. Walima is a soft function when the bride wears lighter hues both in wardrobe and makeup. Soft and pastel colors in pink, blue and grey hues are preferred by the maximum women.
Mehndi, Baraat, and Walima are the three main functions of a Pakistani wedding whereas people have also introduced other functions like Mayun (a function in which family and friends sing songs and dance) and Bridal shower as well. Now I will talk about some customs, traditions, and trends of the Pakistani marriages.
The bride proceeds for her new home with the Holy Quran (Holy book of Muslims) over her head. This gesture shows that the bride is being sent to her new home under the blessings of God. Holy Quran is usually held by the elder male members of the bride’s family.
Pakistani weddings are incomplete without firecrackers and lanterns. Boys and kids enjoy a good deal of fun with fresh explosives. Fireworks and crackers are usually used at the moment when the bride and groom arrive at Baraat.
As compared to western brides, Asian brides wear heavy makeup and jewelry. They are very generous with the amount of makeup on their face. Sometimes, the face of the bride really transforms into someone else after the bridal makeup that is not very appealing but yes, for some girls, it is a lifesaving trend. The brides wear heavy dresses full of embroidery and diamonds plus, the tradition of gold jewelry could never terminate.
Another custom that Asian people literally can’t ignore at marriages is an expensive car decor. My cousin got his car decorated for about 8000 pkr. This custom has no logical existence but yes people do it habitually at the marriages.
Dinners are in the form of a buffet where we have a variety of food starting from Bbq items to the main course, from types of lush salads to the cold splash of drinks, from delicious appetizers to mouthwatering desserts. Most popular appetizers or entree in Pakistan are crackers, chicken corn soup, pina colada and the mint margarita. In bbq items usually, there are finely roasted chicken breasts, chicken tikka, grilled kebabs, hunter beef, roasted meat or lamb chops. While in the main course, there are dishes of rice either a spicy biryani or Chinese rice. Curries including white chicken, namkeen gosht (salted beef), chicken curry, beef curry, Haleem (a curry made from boiling different lentils), and any kind of vegetable are served in the main course as well. Side dishes like sauteed vegetables, pasta, and cheesy nachos are also there. Salads include bean salads, Russian salad, Chickpea salad, salsa and fresh vegetables. In the end, dessert/pudding is served which could be a traditional sweet called Gulab jamun or any cold treat like kulfi-falooda. (A frozen ice cream scoop served with vermicelli made of rose syrup, sweet basil seeds and pieces of jelly with milk at the top)
As compared to the west, big wedding arenas or marquees replace lawns, gardens, farmhouse, and halls. Asian weddings have a grandeur setting which I think is the major imitation of the Mughal empire in our culture and traditions. Loads and loads of people are invited to the wedding both from the side of the bride and the groom. There are grand halls or marquees, prominent decor, and floral shower whereas weddings in the west are more sophisticated and have a unique delicacy in their nature.
There is this useless yet compulsory trend of the photoshoot by a professional photographer at home first and then at some outdoor place and finally at the wedding hall. Plus, there is a solo shoot of the bride and groom as well. This is quite funny and I would never like to have such a prolonged photo shoot because your face cannot change with the destination. Just go for any scenic area and capture some memories with your partner that’s it! 😀
Room of the bride and groom is decorated with flowers, scented candles, fairy lights, incense diffusers, bouquets, polished furniture, floral wreath and garlands and beautiful curtains. It cost my aunt around 10,000 pkr for this room decor for my cousin’s wedding.
Wedding night’s gift, also known as moo dikhai (face showing gift when groom takes off his bride’s veil), is also a historical trend where the groom gives an expensive gift (usually) to his bride. Popular wedding night gifts in Pakistan are gold jewelry sets, any gold or platinum accessory, diamond ring, earrings etc. This is a love token and a gift from the groom to the bride to welcome her in his life and home.
While writing this post I had this idea of writing a post on variations in the brown wedding and the white weddings 😀 It would be huge fun because I have this steep fascination of doing research on western weddings 🙂 For today, I wish all the Asian followers who are getting married sooner or have already married a very very happily everafter <3
Adios,
Zarbakht Bilal xx
Hello, my gilly flowers! Hope you are having lovely days and magical nights. Want to know about traditional weddings in Pakistan? Have a handful of pictures covering from interior decor to food, heavy dresses to sparkling jewellery and much more.
Stay tuned!
Much love,
Zarbakht Bilal xx
A happy hello to all of my Sugarcakes and cotton candies out there. I hope you are having lovely days and magical nights 🙂
You guys never fail to amaze me with your continuous love and support. You are more like a family to me ♡ Thankyou so much for making this platform a utopia for me in a very short span of time. You guys are very important to me. I love you all and owe you every good thing.😍😍😍
You are the shadow to my light!
Thankyou so much once again sugar pops. Take good care of yourself and keep spreading this warmth of your sunshine and light packets of love and affection in my life and in this world as you are very important. ♡
Much love,
Zarbakht Bilal xx
We are all obsessed with these fairy tales. This is a modern fairy tale where there are no happy endings is the common phrase which we have been listening since we grew up.
Fairies and evil spirits, noble kings and queens, beautiful princesses and brave princes, mysterious castles and abandoned huts somewhere in a thick a wood… This is all about fairy tales.
Fairy tales are always associated with childhood which always reminds us that love rules the world and the Goodwill always defeat the Evil.
I was raised to believe in magic, fairy tales, and true love. These stories were the influences that were intended to mold my mind; the things that were created to stir my imagination. Granted, most of the dragons in my life were people with bad intentions, but each story helped to build a stronger version of myself; even if it was just while I was reading.
But the only apples I grew up with lacked any trace of coma-inducing poisons. The only people who helped me cook or clean were my family. The only beasts in my life resided in my own head. There was no magic, just illusions. There were no fairies, no evil villains. The only “tales” in my life were on animals; tails. True love became a thing people only talked about and was quickly replaced by desperation, lust, and infatuation; coupled with dating apps and friend requests. It was no longer something that would happen naturally or over time. I grew up with magic, but once I matured, the only magic I knew was left behind in the books of my youth. As the time passed by life became monotonous until I met the love of my life. That day I came to know that a real life could be a fairytale if we want it to be. The real prince is not only tempting in his looks but the one who can protect you, whose mere presence is more powerful than a fort. All of a sudden, I started to feel magic in all the once boring places where my beasts previously nested. My dim corners and vacant spaces were suddenly vivified and occupied with thoughts of him. The warmth of his touch, a feeling of his kiss, the colors I once saw as faded and dull suddenly turned into glistening and exotic hues. The people I once viewed as mundane are suddenly more stimulating. My dreary and monotonous outlook on life has become more optimistic and spirited. My world has become more beautiful. The books always cautioned about tragedy and complications. That, I think, is the only part that I’ve found incorrect. With him, the man I never thought I would ever find, there is no tragedy that awaits me; no life-altering complications are in the distance either. I truly do feel that all of the tragedies and villains that have been a part of my life are now conquered: that maybe this is what “happily ever after” looks like.
I could finally prove to myself that love is something that sometimes “just happens.” He came at a time I wasn’t looking for anything, and I’ve happily stumbled upon something that could be everything. I convinced myself of the thing I thought would never find. Love doesn’t always come in our happiest times; it sometimes comes after years of struggle and despair. Love isn’t just a few pretty words in some old books. Love can be an amazing feeling that, if you work for it, could change you forever. I think that’s what they meant by “happily ever after.”
Hello there, hope you all are having lovely days and magical nights. This post is just for you so that next time you encounter any difficulty, just make sure to keep these difficulty codes in mind which might make your life equivalent to the miserable life of Cinderella or the magical luck of the Beast that earned him a beautiful princess, despite being ugly. Never lose hope and always remember that you are the real prince or princess of your life’s story. Fairytales themselves tell us that life is the name of uncertainty and if there is no pain, there will be no gain. They tell us how we have to wait and be patient with life in order to extract all the positivity out of this world. Life never plays easy on anyone. We all have to go through them tricky trials and failures at times. Fruit can never be reaped without love, patience, kindness, hope, positivity, sharing and generosity. If we take an example here, Cinderella had to face all the miseries and sufferings like domestic violence, poor status, body shaming, and lower self-esteem from her stepmother as well as stepsisters but she survived all these thorns and rose beautifully. We all have a savior of our life as the fairy Godmother rescued Cinderella. This magical imagination will not only make your life worth it but also will help you in being brave and courageous. Relate your life with the fairytales and if you don’t feel like your life is the imitation of any, make your own fairytale. Have your own dream princess, your own difficulties, and villans. If I talk about my life, I think I am Queen Elsa from Frozen as my life is full of tricky promises and hard trials. I am extremely strong but at times harmful to my loved ones. Isolation is my ultimate refuge. I am Queen Elsa. Who are you?
Adios xx
New post on its way!
Hello, magical lovey-doveys! Hope you are having lovely days and magical nights. Thank you so so much for all the warm love and kind appreciation. It is just to tell you that I love you all a lot and you all are very very important to me. I am what I am today all because of you. ♡ Keep loving and inspiring me. Loads and loads of hugs and kisses for you all.
Stay tuned 😙
Elections of 2018 were more like a festival that was celebrated by all of the Pakistani Nation. In order to tempt people for casting vote, specially for the lower class society who have no clue about the power of casting vote, many cafes and restaurants introduced free items and discounted deals. All we had to do was to go and show our inky thumbs to claim our free food 🙂
Free Brownie and coffee at Beef| Lettuce|Tomato:
Brownies at BLT was a great delight for both because it was creamy rich and free 😉 Luckily, we got there on time to claim this offer. To our surprise, there werent much people in the cafe as we expected it to be dripping with people from roof to floor. We claimed our offer of free brownie with a coffee. Those brownies were divine.
Mushroom cream and Tomato puree soups:
Savoury tomato base soup and creamy mushroom soup were a perfect balance of salt and pepper.
Perri Perri Bites:
Perri Perri Bites were one heck of a treat. They were savoury and sour at the same time that gave me a stomach on fire feeling 😀
This was all about elections 2018. Such a hearty and foodie election I have ever witnessed in my whole life 😁😀
Let’s have a lovely breakfast tomorrow, Drink my happiness and I will eat your sores ♡
Hey munchkins how are you all doing? I am very busy with my volunteer teaching at a nearby charity school due to which I am unable to write much. I will get back to you soon with more positivity. Take loads and loads of care of yourselves and don’t forget to love, smile and share the sunshine. ♡
Where is the fall?
Savoury pumpkins and echoing halls.
Crispy leaves crumble on the roads,
Toasting peanuts and hopping toads.
Sunshine warm and drifting clouds,
Where is thy fall my heart speaks so loud.