Spa Night

With all of the stress, work, and everything going on in our busy lives, it is important for us to occasionally RELAX. I mean put down our phones , turn off its notifications,and spend a couple of hours devoting some time to doing what we love and DE-STRESSING ourselves both mentally and physically.

To me a spa night consists of my best friends , some yoga,  a luxurious Bubble bath, some baking , and tons of LAUGHTER and a good Old Hollywood movie to watch at night ( Breakfast at Tiffany’s and How to Steal a Million are some of my favs ) .And thats what I did this past Sunday. It truly made all the difference and has helped me clear my head and gave me amazing vibes. I swear vibes are everything.

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Bubble Bath Essentials:

A good bubble bath NEEDS

  • dark chocolate ( Godiva has the best)
  • Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
  • Pink Grapefruit Italian Soda Cocktail ( its virgin) with a splash of orange juice, ginger ale, Pink grapefruit Italian soda,  and fresh fruit (sliced strawberries and tangerines)  + mint & plenty of ICE
  • A good body scrub
  • Candles
  • Classical or Relaxing Spa music (pandora has some good stations)

 

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The ultimate comforting dessert is PECAN PIE and since baking is like the most therapeutic thing EVER to me, I had a lot of fun making it and devouring it with tons of whipped cream

 

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This is the opening scene from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Your Fifth Avenue outfit cannot get any cuter than this ? It can if Hubert de Givenchy was your designer and stylist. 

 

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A little yoga with a watermelon lemonade candle from Bath & Body Works burning on the side, is the perfect duo and the best way to get some relaxing exercise into your Spa Night. I love the after feeling of yoga, my body and mind feel rejuvenated. 

 

I hope my version of a Spa Night has inspired you to have your own. Good vibes only.

XOXO,

SHIZA

New Year, Healthier Me

Although I believe that New Year’s Resolutions do not EVER work, I do believe that it is a good time for self- reflections and perhaps a new mindset. I am not saying that your resolutions won’t work, I am just saying you would rather use it to contemplate on where you are at your life and find ways to make achievable, positive changes. Nothing too crazy or dramatic, because just because the calendar year changes, that doesn’t mean you have too, too. With that being said, I am going to share with you guys some healthy breakfast and drink ideas which will have you feeling great both inside and out. I have been enjoying eating healthier since the start of this New Year because with my cousin’s Big Fat Indian Wedding this past December, I was tired of eating rich and spicy Indian food.

Breakfast- Smoothie Bowl

Smoothie Bowls are all the rage right now and what’s great about them is that they are an easy to make breakfast for your busy mornings. You can even make the smoothie the night before and top it right before eating. It makes for a refreshing and satisfying breakfast that will give you the energy boost that you need to kickstart your day!

You can literally use any fruits that you want in the smoothie bowl, blend the fruits (ex: strawberries , blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, mango, kiwi) up with about a 1/4 cup of greek yogurt, a splash of orange juice, and a drizzle of agave nectar or honey for some sweetness and you have yourself a delicious smoothie. Make sure you put in more yogurt than juice so that the smoothie is thick and can be eaten with a spoon. I literally eyeball it. No need to be really specific , the possibilities are endless. Each smoothie that I make has its own unique flavor and taste.

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A very berry smoothie

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A mango, strawberry, & raspberry smoothie

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The mango, strawberry, raspberry one blended.

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Toppings:

  • Pomegranate Seeds
  • Blueberries
  • Strawberries
  • Chia Seeds
  • Sliced Almonds
  • Granola
  • Dates
  • Drizzle of Honey or Agave Nectar
  • Coconut Shavings
  • Kiwi
  • Chocolate Chips

Hydrate- Coconut Water

I absolutely adore coconut water , especially from a fresh coconut. Although, I do enjoy vita coconut water or the Taste Nirvana Real Thai coconut water with pulp that come in green bottles from the store year-round when I can’t find Thai Coconuts. Coconut water has more potassium than a 4 bananas and is packed with electrolytes and tons of other health benefits.

 

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Hydrate-Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice

I love to drink pressed orange juice throughout the day. Orange juice is an excellent source of Vitamin C and a great thing to drink as a snack that keeps you refreshed and satisfied. I go through several bottles of these a week. If you own a juicer you can juice your own oranges and make freshly squeezed orange juice at home. You can even make your own fresh oj blends using other citrus such as blood oranges, grapefruit, or tangerines. It will take a few extra minutes but it is definitely worth it and can easily spruce up breakfast on the weekends.

 

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  Eat – Salads

Salads are a great way to stay in shape especially when they are packed with wholesome ingredients and fruits and vegetables that you enjoy to it and are served with light, homeade dressings that are not packed with calories and fat because store bought dressings can LITERALLY KILL your salad. I shared a scrumptious salad recipe on another blog post titled “Summer Salad Recipe” so check it out if you are interested in making a healthy homemade salad packed with flavor .

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My homemade Summer Salad from the blog 

 

These are a few ideas on healthy eating, stay fit and well both on the inside and out. SO sorry this post is a month late (I drafted it but never go to actually completing and posting it) , but i hope the New Years Resolutions you made in January apply to your life today .

XOXO

Shiza

 

 

January Favs!

As January comes to an end, here are a couple of my favorites from this weird and hectic (for me, anyway) month!

Food: 

My first try of Paradise Bowls acai in Manhattan Beach! Really refreshing and pseudo-healthy but quite $$. Will def try the other flavors in the future.

Jams: 

Finals week = chillaxing music to study to, aka John Mayer. I listened to probably all his albums which had me reminiscing, but Room for Squares definitely caught my attention. Specifically,

No Such Thing – John Mayer

Why Georgia – John Mayer

83 – John Mayer

Neon – John Mayer

Style:

Copped these new periwinkle blue Converse in like November but decided to finally try them out for the new semester. A nice dash of spring during these chilly winter months.

Places:

I went by the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles for the Japanese new year. It’s such an informative and interesting; it digs deep into the Japanese internment camps on the West coast and the dark side of American history. It also has some super cool Japanese art!

 A total must if you’re in the area.

Reads:

See How They Run, the sequel of All Fall Down by Ally Carter came out recently! It’s about a teenage girl named Grace who lives in an American embassy in a small coastal European country filled with scandalous secrets, which is also the place where her mother was targeted and killed. I read some of it at the bookstore but forgot my money but I’m definitely going back to buy it! It was so gripping and had incredible imagery; I can’t wait to finish it.

Miscellaneous:

We got new moon jellies at the aquarium and they look absolutely incredible when the lights are off that I had to share!! Visit your local aquarium if you’re bored one weekend.

Another thing I’ve started in January was a social media cleanse. I deleted my Instagram and Twitter apps from my phone last week. It’s been kind of lonely and you have a crazy amount of time to think, but I think it has helped me focus on me more than what some people did over the weekend. I encourage you all to test it out even for a day.

Hope you enjoyed all my favorites for January and try them out in February!

Always,
Firda

Alfred’s Coffee☕️

Who said something couldn’t beat Starbucks or Coffee Bean. Well today I went to a coffee shop on Melrose called Alfred’s Coffee. Located on 8428 Melrose Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90069. The Carmel Latté stole my heart. It was rich iced coffee with Carmel drizzled on top of it, iced coffee is an art to me getting it to taste right is the beauty of a good coffee shop. The ambiance of the place was quite chic. There’s a chocolate store inside and a designer boutique neighboring the coffee shop. It’s so modern and exciting! I definitely think it’s a perfect spot for coffee lovers to go there with friends for a nice chat! The shop has more than just coffee. They serve pressed juices, pastries, salads, and artisanal sandwiches. My favorite thing at the shop was their “but first coffee” mugs. Alfred’s Coffee is featured as one of the top 10 coffee shops in LA according to Timeout. 

  

      Caramel Latté  
      Inside the chocolate store   
        
      Waiting in the line.   
      My favs   
     

    Summer Diaries : Kolkata , India

    This summer I visited the majestic city of Kolkata ( prev// Calcutta) . It wasnt my first time , I have visited this once british-raj capital city since I was young . However , I had more fun this summer than visits before because I got to experience the culture through the food. 

     I had an unforgettable experience sampling Calcutta’s multicultural cusine which melds Mughlai , Chinese , Bengali , and British-Raj cuisines forming a diverse food background.

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    Chai (indian tea with milk) is a must to start a Calcuttans day. This is a breakfast/afternoon staple for indians. This particular chai is served in an earthen clay pot , which adds depth to its flavor. It is also garnished with fresh kesar (saffron) which adds a floral aroma to a simply delicious chai!

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    Lunch// Rumali Roti ( thin indian flatbreads cooked on the stove ) served with the rich curry of Chicken Kassa, a Bengali speacialy. This is from the casual and famous restaurant , Shiraz.

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    Peter Cat Restaurant’s famous Chelo Kebab dish features two types of kebabs : one succulent chicken skewer with vegetables and two mutton seekh kebabs seasoned with Persian spices , the dish also comes with a side of rice and a poached egg on top. It is a classic Calcutta dish that survives the test of time! I love the blend of Persian and Indian cuisines in this dish. It is definitely a must try!

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    A classic british breakfast of beans on toast at the legendary Flurys in Park Street , Kolkata. This restaurant was founded in 1927 during the British Raj and it still retains its old world charm and offers one of the best European confections and breakfasts in the city.
    P.S: I have a blogpost on the recipe for Beans on Toast…..

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    Street side Sutha ( Thread) Kebabs are flavorful and moist kebabs with an extraordinary texture caused by it being wrapped in a thread while cooking. After cooking , the thread is opened and the kebab opens up into small pieces of meat packed with spice and garnished with lime wedges and chopped onions.

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    Thai Chicken Curry served with burnt garlic rice is a must try at the whimsical 111 year old Bengali Bungalow turned into a restaurant , The Corner Courtyard. This curry is rich in thai spices and the coconut milk in the curry adds a depth and body to it . The Corner Courtyard has become one of my favorite restaurants for global cuisine and the menu offers a wide range of Asian and Western offerings.

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    Image of The Corner Courtyard

    Xoxo,
    Shiza

    Cleo @ SLS Las Vegas

    Aloha❤️
    This past weekend I went to Las Vegas for a mini-vacation. Las Vegas is known for its flamboyant restaurants and culinary acclaimed cuisine. At my stay , I dined at several amazing restaurants but none compared to the Cleo . This restaurant truly captivated me from the minute I walked in. I felt as though I had walked into an ancient wonderland. The ambiance had a rustic look with a book shelf lining the walls which was filled with an array of vintage images in black and white and numerous books stacked almost messily. To make things feel even more picturesque, there was a massive wood fire oven and open kitchen in the center of the restaurant . It felt as though I was dining with Cleopatra herself.

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    Aside from the ambiance, the food was divine . Cleo is known for its Mediterranean inspired cuisine, and it lives up to that. All of the dishes have a sublime flavor from the use of traditional spices and cooking techniques . My favorite dish was the Branzino Tagine , which is cooked in a ceramic dish in the wood oven . A tagine is a Morrocan layered pilaf with a meat and rice or cous cous and cooked in spices. I requested the chef to make it with fish instead of meat or chicken ( fish tagine is not on the menu but they were kind to make it for me) but my parents ordered the chicken tagine and that too was spectacular.

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    This is the branzino tagine.

    We also ordered a grilled haloumi salad with heirloom kale, hazeulnuts, tarragon, and citrus. This salad had a refreshing flavor and the grilled haloumi was perfect. Halloumi cheese has bedouin roots from the middle east and is semi-hard and has a high melting point which allows it to hold its shape when grilled.

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    We also ordered a shrimp and salmon kabob . Both were well seasoned and had an earthy flavor from the dill. The kabobs were served with a spicy chilli sauce that complemented the kabobs well.

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    I recommend this restaurant to any one visiting Las Vegas.

    Xoxo,
    Shiza

    Summer Salad Recipe

    Aloha ❤️Today I am sharing with you guys a mouthwatering summer salad recipe. This recipe is super healthy and flavorful. It is like eating California in a bite. With local ingredients and lovely flavors, you will forget that you are eating a salad!!

    Ingredients:
    – 1 Box of Spring Mix Greens
    – 1 Tomato , thinly slices
    – 1 Persian Cucumber, sliced
    – 1 Lime
    – 1 Avacado, sliced
    – Handful of Blackberries
    – 1 Fuji Apple , thinly sliced with a squirt of lime juice to prevent it from browning
    – Handful of fresh mint and basil
    – Pinch of Red Chilli Flakes
    – 1 tsp. Red Chilli Powder (optional)
    – Handful of Walnuts, chopped
    – 1 clove of fresh Garlic, minced
    – dash of lemon pepper
    – dash of Italian Seasoning
    – dash of Mediterranean seasoning salt
    – Salt & Pepper, to taste
    – drizzle of Olive Oil, for sautée
    – leftover roasted/baked chicken

    Directions:
    Part 1: Cook Chicken
    Drizzle some olive oil into a pan on medium high heat. Add minced garlic. Allow the garlic to infuse into the oil for a minute. Then, add the chicken.
    Allow the chicken to warm through and get slightly browned. This adds flavor. After, add the spices ( lemon pepper, seasoned salt, chilli powder & flakes, italian seasoning) . Stir the chicken on low heat. In the end, add a handful of chopped basil ( about 1/4 cup or so). The basil adds an earthy and fragrant flavor to the chicken. Voilà , your chicken is ready! Set aside.

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    Part 2:
    Wash all of the fruits and vegetables needed for the salad. In two bowls add some of the spring mix. This is the base layer of the salad. Next, add the sliced avacado on both salads. Squeeze a bit of lime on the avacado so that it doesn’t go brown. Sprinkle some salt and pepper to flavor it. Next, neatly arrange the cucumbers, tomatoes, blackberries, apples, and mint on top of the salad. Afterwards, add the chopped walnuts. Lastly, place the chicken on to the salad.

    Tips:
    Add the same amounts of fruit/vegetables to both salads. Arrange in a pattern for a pretty presentation.

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    Variation: You can leave out the chicken for a vegan salad. It will taste just as good!

    Bon Appetit
    Xx,
    Shiza

    Best Ice Cream Ever…..

    Hey guys , so today I went to a liquid nitrogen ice cream lab and fell in love. I am not exaggerating, it was simply extraordinary. The Ice Cream Lab in Beverly Hills serves up ice cream with a fun and modern twist. The flavors are unique and some of them are seasonal. The flavors most of us ordered were Blue Velvet, Banilla ( Banana + Vanilla) , Salty Caramel Pretzel, Cookies & Cream, and Vanilla . I ordered the Banilla and was in love. It tasted almost like a banana cream pie but in ice cream form. What I particularly love about this place is that the ice cream bases are pre-made , but they mix all the flavorings and liquid nitrogen in front of you. It is a really fun experience to watch them adding the liquid nitrogen and the ice cream base is magically transformed into a delectable concotion. The liquid nitrogen makes the ice cream have a smooth texture. In my opinion , the ice cream had a richer and creamier taste that ordinary ice cream. This is definitely one of the best ice cream places in LA! Here are some pictures of what we got.

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    Thats the Banilla…

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    This is the Salted Caramel Pretzel

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    This is the Blue Velvet

    Xoxo,
    Shiza

    British Breakfast Classic : Beans on Toast

    This breakfast classic is a traditional part of a typical English breakfast and is a recipe that can be made in minutes and is absolutely delectable and gratifying. The recipe I am sharing with you today has an Indian flair to it, because it is inspired by my visits to Calcutta . It is a common breakfast food in Calcutta , because of the mix of Indian and British cultures that were a result of the British Raj.

    Servings: 4
    Ingredients:
    1) 4 slices of toast, toasted well ( it needs to be hard/dry enough to absorb the beans well, if the bread is not well toasted the dish will become too soggy which is not good)
    2) 1 can of Chilli Beans or Heinz Beans
    3) Few dashes of tapatio sauce ( tabasco or any other hot sauce is fine too)
    4) 1/2 red or yellow onion , chopped small ( Indian kick)
    5) 2-3 green chillies , optional (Indian kick)
    6) Butter
    7) Shredded cheddar cheese ( or any other kind , I used a mexican spiced cheese that I had in the fridge)

    Directions:
    1) Toast bread in a toaster.
    2) Open a can of beans and pour the beans with the liquid and all, into a saucepan.
    3) Heat the mixture on medium flame, and cook until some of the liquid has slightly reduced. Lower the heat, add a few dashes of Tapatio for a spicy flavor.
    4) Spread a tbsp of butter onto each slice of toast. Be generous. Don’t care about the fat, the butter makes this dish even more delicious. Besides it really makes ALL the difference. Trust me….
    5) Now its time to assemble. Carefully spoon out enough beans and sauce to entirely cover the surface of your toast.
    6) Top with some shredded cheese. Then, add some of the chopped onions and chillies. This is what makes a Beans on Toast an “Indian Beans on Toast”. It seriously makes the dish taste 100 times better.

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    ( Sorry the plating wasnt the best )

    Xoxo
    Shiza

    How to throw a Tea Party : S&Z’s Tea

    My bestfriend (co-founder of the blog) Zaina and me decided to throw a tea party last winter break. Today, I am going to share with you guys how to throw a tea party and some tips & tricks that will make it fun.

    1) Select a theme. We did Alice in the Wonderland so that it would be more whimsical. Also, choose a dress code. We decided upon a dress & heels code to make it classy. I would recommend throwing the party with your bestfriend. Trust me it makes the experience waaaaay more fun and easy!
    2) Make a guest list, do not invite too many people. It should be a small, intimate gathering with just your closest friends. I would recommend inviting from 6-8 people. Send out invitations about 2-3 weeks before the party. I found a cute invitation printout online and thats what we used!

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    3) Plan out a menu and decide upon a location. We did it in the backyard. Have your bestfriend sleepover the night before the party so that you guys can purchase all of the ingredients and bake all of the baked goods the night before. This way you have more time to get ready and set up the next day.

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    4) Make little whimsical tiered serving dishes using mismatched plates. I stacked different floral plates with a tea cup in between. For the cutlery we did small white appetizer plates and mismatched tea cups and clear wine glasses. Also we used a cheetah printed satin table cloth to add a more wonderland vibe to the table.For an added touch, we placed a white runner and placed rainbow christmas lights alongside. Here are pictures of how it all came together💓.

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    Overall, the party was a success. We drank many cups of tea and my friends and I had an amazing evening. Afterwards, we did a photoshoot and played ping pong. Hope you guys are inspired and host your own tea parties. If you do, leave us a comment about how it went. Goodluck💓
    XOXO
    -Shiza