iPhone Tips

  

Tips for iPhone-ers: Do you want to sync your iPhone address book with photos and information of your friends from facebook?

Easy!

1. Go to your friends list on your facebook app and tap on the arrow for more options.
2. Tapping the arrow will give you a pop-up with two options. Tap on Sync Contacts. 
3. Tap to change 'Syncing' from 'off' to 'on'; and the same with 'Replace Photos'.
4. It'll ask you to confirm. Say Yes. It doesn't overwrite anything! 

That's all you need to do :)

P.S.: It even updates all your whatsapp contacts' profile pictures since all the contacts on your iPhone now have their profile photos as the ones synced from Facebook!

Photo Credits and Copyright: All photos have been taken by Gayatri Kumar and belong to Look who's Wearing (LwW)

Christmas Special: Mulled Wine and Mince Pies

{For the Mulled Wine}

Happy Christmas everyone! 

Its not really christmas until you have a cup full of mulled wine in one hand and a mince pie in the other. I've been missing both terribly. And since I'm not that professional a baker, I decided to make the mulled wine also known as Gluhwein, and buy the mince pies. (More pictures below!)

Though there a number of bakeries in New Delhi, not many kept mince pies. After some research I found out that the bakery, 'Angel's In My Kitchen', had mince pies. So, very excitedly I popped over to the Defence Colony bakery and walked in to find satisfactory looking mince pies. I got three, one for each family member. They were pies, and had mincemeat, so technically, they were mince pies. But, were they any good? I wouldn't put my money on it, again. The pie tasted like gooey raisin filling in a croissant. Because, that's what the pastry tasted like, it was flaky and bread-like rather than sweet pastry for a pie. The mincemeat had everything but the mincemeat. Lacking the essential currants and sultanas deeply soaked in rum and the Christmassy flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg. 

I did enjoy the Gluhwein and while I took a bite of the pie I imagined myself tucking into the lovely Waitrose mini mince pies and clementines. Oh well, can't have my cake and eat it too, now can I? This saying must really change. Its really not fair.

{Mince Pies and Mulled Wine}

I packed some of the cinnamony-organgey mulled wine into a glass bottle to gift to my lovely friends Piya and Kirin from funkanatomy.com for Christmas. I wrapped the neck of the lid with some baker's twine and made a homemade label for some homemade wine. I've cut some tags out of some thick decorative paper to label 'To's and 'From's. 

{Packed Mulled Wine as Christmas Gifts}

For the Mulled Wine, I would take an inexpensive cherry based wine, as its already got the sour flavor going for it. I picked the Grover's La Reserve red which, at least to me, has a strong hint of cherry. Must mention though, different families (and European countries) have slightly different recipes for the wine. Recipe below.

{Mulled Wine}

What you'll need:

• A big saucepan (for an entire bottle of wine)
• A bottle of inexpensive red wine (cherry hints, if possible)
• A large orange (or two small clementines)
• 10-12 cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks (or 2 teaspoons of cinnamon powder)
• 150 g Honey (I used Bhutanese organic honey)
• 180 ml water

To make the wine:

• Cut the orange in half and stick the cloves into one half of the orange as in Picture #1. 
• Pour the water, honey, juice from the non-clove half of the orange and grate some orange zest into the pan. 
• Add the cinnamon sticks and the clove ridden orange to the pot and bring to a boil. Let the mixture boil for 10 minutes to extract the flavor from the ingredients. 
• Lower the heat and let the mixture simmer for a minute before adding the bottle of red wine. Keep stirring, not allowing the mixture to boil but slowly heat up and slightly simmer. Boiling the mixture with the wine in it will evaporate the alcohol entirely. 
• Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes or so. Its important to keep tasting. On tasting, if the wine tastes a little sour and leaves an aftertaste of orange and cinnamon in your mouth, shut the heat. You're done. 
• Pour into mugs, garnish with a cinnamon stick and enjoy!

This is the easiest recipe you can use for mulled wine. You can even add a teaspoon of nutmeg powder or a dash of rum to give it more potency.

Do you have a particular mulled wine recipe that you use? It'll be great if you could share yours in the comments as well! 

Photo Credits and Copyright: All photos have been taken by Gayatri Kumar and belong to Look who's Wearing (LwW)

The Week That Was

{Latest Obsession: Longchamp Le Pliage Small Bag}

Its been a great week! Mostly because I've been obsessing over my new bag. I have the large Le Pliage Shopping Sac. But, since I finished with University, I no longer need a big book bag (of sorts) for everyday. And, in my line of work, a big red bag isn't always welcome. Ahem. 

Moving on, I very apprehensively completed Task #1 on last week's list. I got bangs or a fringe, whatever you'd like to call it. I was apprehensive because I'm always scared walking into a Salon, even if it's the same guy I've been going to for ages. Because! They're creative and can blow their top at any point and cut your hair into teeny-tiny spikes. Which is sort of what happened with my bangs. I even had a photo of what I wanted and he said, "Yes, Yes, very well." 

I got spikey bangs. 

But, I still love them! They make my face look narrow. However, I am going to grow them out and let them look like little chunks of my hair in a month or so. You'll also be happy to know, I have increased the speed of my laps while at the pool.

We have also made use of a mirror-effect terracotta bowl in our garden as a bird bath. Looks pretty, shimmers in the sun (thereby drawing attention to itself) and quenches the thirst of all those squirrels and birds. 

Right, now for next week:

- Gluhwein (mulled wine) and mince pies post especially for Christmas 

- Romantic chignon for all those amazing parties and weddings coming up. 

- What you can wear to keep you warm at Indian-winter-weddings. 

{Mirror Effect Terracotta Bowl as a Bird Bath in the Garden}

{Last Week's Task #1 Completed. Got Bangs}

Photo Credits and Copyright: All photos have been taken by Gayatri Kumar and belong to Look who's Wearing (LwW)

Best Foot Forward

A little early in my calendar, but I'm so excited! Because, I would like to present to you...drumroll, please! 

*cricket chirps* 

Ahem. Yes, I present to you my link round-up for 2011 and IFB Project #26. Initially, I thought I'd bring in the LwW Birthday by rounding up the links I am most proud of from its first year. However, like myself, the Bloggy Birthday is very close to the start of the year. And, if you've known me a while, you're probably tired of listening to me recite one of the most famous couplets (a Hindi proverb now) by Kabir (translated by me as I currently don't have access to Authors like Bly or Tagore):

'Do today, that you would rather do tomorrow, and do now, that you would do today; 

Who knows what uncertain event may take place, and you may never get your way'

Right. The Best of 2011:

1. An Oxon Room
   My room and how it did it up while at Oxford for my Masters.
2. Budget Room Makeover 2011
   My room at home (Delhi) and how I fixed it up on a shoe-string budget.
3. Fitness Regime
   My daily swimming routine and essential do's and don'ts.
4. Fashion's Night Out 2011: India
   One of the most popular events around the world.
5. London Fashion Weekend (and in case you liked that, there is Part II and III as well)
   Need I say more?
6. The Week That Was
   Snippets from the previous week.
7. LwW Loves: Ikkat Notebook
   My current 'To Do' notebook and other Ikkat treasures.
8. Fashion for a Cause: Pinktober
   A Fashion show held by the Cancer Society of India for survivors, winners and supporters of the cause against breast cancer.
9. Brow Tutorial
   Your guide to well-groomed eye-brows.
10. Foodie Fridays: Breakfast in London
    Reviews of some great breakfast places in London.

Hope you enjoyed the round-up! 

Photo Credits and Copyright: All photos have been taken by Gayatri Kumar and belong to Look who's Wearing (LwW)

The Week That Was

{Hot Cup of Cocoa}

New trick. At the end of every work week, review the week and see what makes you happy, what tasks you've completed and what tasks need completion. It helps reviewing your efficiency (or inefficiency) and improving it. It'll also make you happy and more content. 

Its been a nice relaxed week for me. I spent some time moving things around, pampering myself with hot Cocoa and digging up old memories. I am looking forward to seeing my Dad tomorrow, who comes bearing gifts! Also, setting up a few projects for the coming week:

- Get a haircut and bangs

- Faster and more laps at the pool

- Convince mom and dad to let me adopt the cutest pups you've ever seen (Unless you'd like to adopt one - contact me if you do!)

Enjoy your weekend! 

{Fluff is the Stuff, this Winter}

{Re-discovering Old Memories}

Photo Credits and Copyright: All photos have been taken by Gayatri Kumar and belong to Look who's Wearing (LwW)

LwW Loves: Knots and Crosses

{Inspired by Cat from TakeCourageBlog}

Winter! My favourite time of year (in India). You'll hear me say this a lot if I'm writing from here. My favourite thing about winter, jumpers! I love to wear my jumpers with a white or off-white based shirt or blouse underneath. But, an excellent accessory to the jumper and shirt is a black ribbon tie. At other times, I like to use a narrow width scarf and tie a big loose bow.

To get this look, you can do either of two things. If you went to the same Uni as Cat and I, you could probably just use your black neck tie. 

Else, pick up a narrow width black satin ribbon and cut it to your ideal length and tie a double knot, setting both lengths of the ribbon upwards, and you're rocking the look! 

Tying the knot (Just in case!):

• First, tie a simple knot. 
• Then, placing one length over the other, take the length (that naturally comes) at the bottom and face it upwards. 
• Cross the bottom length over the top, then under and through the loop (second simple knot of the double knot).
• Pull the lengths so they make up the knot and yank and set the ribbon so that they sit fancy side up.

Photo and Art Credits and Copyright: All images have been taken/created by Gayatri Kumar and belong to Look who's Wearing (LwW). Images may not be used without prior permission of the Author.

Chanel Pre-Fall 2012

I'm so excited about Chanel's Pre-Fall 2012 collection. Chanel is all out Indian this Pre-Fall. In fact, its giving Indian designers a run for their money, something I'm sure none of the Indian designers are too happy about. One field of fashion they could confidently call their own... well, no more. What's more, such a beautiful and elegant India-inspired collection by Karl Lagerfeld, and apparently he's never even visited India. "Its the Paris version of the idea of India", says Lagerfeld. Modeling the collection you can find Indian models like Lakshmi Menon and Jyothsna Chakravarthy as well. 

Check out Chanel's Pre-Fall India Inspired Collection called Paris-Bombay Métiers d'Arts. And when I say India-inspired, I mean Anarkalis, Churidars to Tikkas and Chappals. 

Also find in the collection, 'Diwali', Chanel's latest nail color. You know what's next on LwW Loves? Yup. You guessed it!

Find the rest of the Pre-Fall Collection here. 

And a video by Chanel of their showcase on the Runway. 

Photo Credits and Copyright: Chanel

Now Playing: Blogger Playlist

Time for an IFB Project! Project #24: Blogger Playlist. Also, don't forget to check out my holiday gift guide for music fans below! (Hint: Its got something to do with the first two photos)

Coming back to the project, I basically get to share with you what I'm listening to, on (perpetual) loop. I'd think twice before I put it all out. Why? Because. I'd like to have left it at that, but they say your playlist says a lot about your personality.

Oh well. 

My playlist usually has pumped up music which keeps me in a happy and active mood at all times (very important!). Occasionally though, you'll find some soul music there, like Adele's stuff that has some great melodies. 

There was a time when I was an alternative-rock-crazy person back in school and still revisit it sometimes. But mostly, I'm dancing to the tunes of 'partay' music! I call my playlist (on my Phone) ...Summer 2011... sigh... memories. 

Okay. I digress. Again. Back to the playlist - Argh! .. huff huff.. here goes:

As I mentioned above, here is my version of a holiday gift guide (partial though) ... for music lubbers! 

1. Gelaskin for iPhone, iPod, or any other device you have. "I like this music" by 'Exploding Dog' $14.95 

2. Panasonic RP HTX7 Old School Monitor Stereo Headphones Very cool. $69.99 

or find it on Amazon for as low as $29.99

Enjoy reading! 

LwW Loves: Oversize Gold Watch

LwW Loves: Oversized Gold Watch! I've been waiting for a bit to do this post and then I just forgot about it. My friend and I were getting our watches around the same time, but her's got lost in transit and I could not bring myself to put this up. 

Until. 

My friend got her watch! *throws confetti* 

Well, its definitely doing the trends. But it looks a-mazing. Try out a good size for yourself. Men's watches may be too big, but most of 'em have come out with dials that look comfortable on a woman's wrist. I wear a Guess Gold Crystal Dial watch. Though I am also loving Michael Kors Golden Oversize Runway watch!

Check out more of this trend:

At Cupcakes and Cashmere.

At Atlantic-Pacific.

On Victoria Beckham.

and on Pinterest!

Photo Credits and Copyright: All photos have been taken by Gayatri Kumar and belong to Look who's Wearing (LwW)