Photo Diary : Au Natural in Vancouver + Victoria , British Columbia

September 20, 20151 Comment

This is a memoir on my trip to Canada a few summers ago. The charming natural beauty of Vancouver and Victoria left me breathless and in love. Hope you enjoy. Xx

The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park of Vancouver has by far the most breathtaking nature hike I have ever been on. Yes, it is better than those sunset hikes in Zuma Beach. The park is basically enormous canopies of tall, evergreen trees interconnected through beautiful suspension bridges and cliff walks. All of which overlook a gushing waterfall and river giving off a sweet mist. Adventuring through the park, I literally felt like a frog 100 feet up into the trees.

: Capilano Suspension Bridge covered in fog

We took a mini cruise over from Vancouver to Victoria. Here are pictures of the Butchart Gardens, they are truly one of my favorite gardens. There is a vast array of mini gardens throughout this massive garden and a cute tea house where we did a traditional British Tea with delicious scones and clotted cream. This is definitely a must go place.

Xoxo,

Shiza

Summer Diaries : Kolkata , India

August 16, 2015July 1, 2016Leave a comment

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.

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!

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.

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!

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…..

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.

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.

Image of The Corner Courtyard

Xoxo,
Shiza

5 Things to do on a Sunday @ Home

April 21, 2015April 22, 2015Leave a comment

1) Bake. Nothing is more aesthetically pleasing than baking something delectable that you can devour afterward. I find baking to be relaxing and stress-relieving. I can be having the most chaotic week, but when I put on that apron, I forget everything and drift into a world of sugary dreams.

I made my favorite crispy chocolate chip cookies ( I have a blogpost on the recipe) along with a lovely darjeeling chai.

2) Read or Watch a Good Movie
Most of us have busy schedules and our fridays and saturdays are packed with parties and fun. We often don’t have time to do things as simple as watch a movie or catch up on reading. I believe that Sundays were made to do the things you love and most of all relax. Curl up with a good book or put on an old hollywood movie on netflix and have fun!

This is an excerpt from one of the cutest books on style by Nina Garcia, “The Little Black Book of Style”. This is one of my favorite quotes❤️.

3) Go for a long walk
Long walks are always fun. I love going on a walk and taking pictures of the beauty of nature and perhaps doing a mini-photoshoot while I am walking… It depends on my outfit / mood. But it is honestly so fun and adveturous.

Here are some flowers , I picked up from my front yard after the walk. I love fresh flowers. It looks so rustic and crisp. Placing flowers in a mason jar or cute bottle makes your floral arrangement look vintage and unique.

4) Take a bubble bath
A hot bath with some good music, “spa water” or tea , and a fizzing bath bomb or bubble solution is all you need for a pleasant bath. Baths are calming to the body and often require alot of time. That is why I prefer to take long bubble baths on Sundays. I love addig some essential oils to my bath for a calming aroma and some bath salts.

This is my all time favorite bubble solution. I have been using it ever since I was a little kid and still love it! You can find in the baby section of Target. It smells like berries and last forever. I also love using this lemon sugar scrub. Its exfoliating and has a lovely citrus scent that lingers on your skin throughout the day. I am not exactly sure where its from, but bath & body works sells great scrubs. A combination of these two make for a luxurious and relaxing bath.

5) Exercise
This means do anything athletic. It can be anything from yoga to playing dance games on the x-box or just going for a run. My definition of a workout is jumping on the trampoline. It is a great workout for the lymphatic system. I also love doing yoga. It relaxes me. I think sunday’s are a perfect day to do fun workouts if you get lazy during the week! Make sure your playing some of your favorite music while doing so. Music radiates energy and motivating vibes during workouts.

Xoxo,
Shiza

DIY Dressing Table Decór

March 1, 2015March 1, 2015Leave a comment

Aloha💓 Today I am going to be sharing with you guys my dressing table and give you guys cute diy ideas on how to glam your dressing table.

So this is my dressing table. It is a dark mahogany color and I have an enormous circular mirror above it , which I adore. I am not particularly sure where its from , my parents bought it when I re-decorated my room. Anways, alot of the stuff on my dressing table are diys, art pieces, or random things such as my polaroid that just add a dimension to my dresser. I recommend adding vintage/memorable pieces or things you love to your dresser. It seriously makes it vibrant and really fun. Items such as statement accesories can be put on display on your dresser. These add a whimsical vibe to your dresser.

This is a cute idea for storing your perfumes and mists. I keep mine on a white cake stand. You can find cake stands like these at stores that sell home goods such as Crate & Barrel, Target, or TJ-Maxx . I think it looks so pretty and is a good way to keep all of your fragrances in one place.

This is an inexpensive yet chic way to store your jewelry. All you need is two small plates that are printed/fun, and a thin candle to put in between them. I recommend buying the plates from a vintage/thrift shop or getting them from the kitchen. Voilà you have a tiered jewelry stand!

This is a piece of artwork that I painted. I placed it behind the jewelry as a backsplash. It adds a pop of color.

These are the three diys. The rest of the stuff were all purchased by shops. My black dress form necklace stand is from forever 21. The glass bottle on the far right has decorative colorful crystals on the bottom of it , and stores my hair brushes. I don’t know where he pink lamp is from because I got it as a gift.

XOXO,
Shiza
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Valentine’s Day Cards ❤️

February 12, 2015February 12, 2015Leave a comment

With Valentine’s just around the corner, Iove is in the air! Personally, I don’t celebrate it, but I love the concept of spreading love and good vibes all around. This past weekend I was blessed to participate in a community service event by One Incredible Family, Inc. where we made Valentine’s Day cards for kids who were abused, in foster care, homeless, living in shelters, runaways, abandoned, and under privileged. It was a great feeling knowing these cards will make someone’s day. It was so much fun coloring, decorating, and drawing on cards for the children. I felt like a little kid again. I especially liked thinking of cute and funny sayings for each card. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and will definitely join again next year. Here are some of my creations below.

Xoxo,
Firda

PS. Wanna make someone’s day on Valentine’s? Send cards to the Do Something organization which will send your personalized cards to the elderly. It’ll make you eligible in earning a $10,000 scholarship! Check it out here: https://www.dosomething.org/campaigns/love-letters

Mexican inspired Egg White Frittata

February 11, 2015February 11, 2015Leave a comment

This is a healthy and scrumptious recipe that will satisfy your taste buds and your new years resolution to eat healthier. Its also a great way to use up leftover egg whites, thats what I did. I made creme brulee yesterday and was left with 8 egg whites, so I decided to make use of them for breakfast today! This recipe was made up on the spot with the ingredients I had at hand. If you do not like egg whites you can do whole eggs. Alot of the ingredients CAN be substituted with other flavors & ingredients. It will still taste great, trust me…….So have fun with it and alter it to your taste.

Servings: 5-6
Ingredients:
-8 egg whites
-1/2 red onion, diced small
-1/4 bell pepper, diced small
-1/2 jalapeño, finely diced seeds & all because we like the heat
-1 ripe tomatoe, diced small
– a handful of cilantro, chopped
– a handful of mint, chopped
( you can sub basil if you do not have these herbs)
-few dashes of lemon pepper
– 1 Tbsp Sriracha sauce (Tabasco or Tapatio Sauce are substitutable)
– Mexican style Cheddar Cheese, shredded ( pepper jack or simple monterey jack would work too)
-Salt , to taste
– A drizzle of olive oil

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
2) Chop all of the vegetables. Whisk egg whites. Add all of the vegetables and herbs. Mix well and add the spices and sriracha sauce.
3) Heat a large skillet with a drizzle of olive oil. Carefully pour egg mixture into the pan. Cook on the stove for 4-5 minutes on medium high heat to get the bottom of the frittata set.
4) Once the eggs are set, place skillet
into the oven . Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the eggs have thouroughly cooked. Generously sprinkle the shredded cheese onto the eggs in the last few minutes of baking.
5) Cool frittata for a few minutes. Then, slice and serve. Serve with a side of toast and jam . A homeade juice compliments well with this dish. I drank some homeade pineapple juice. Bon Appetit❤️

*Cooking time varies each time. Keep an eye on your eggs to ensure that they do not burn. They will be done when the center is set and completely cooked. Baking them in 350 degrees will reduce the bake time. I used a lower heat to ensure the eggs would be thoroughly cooked.

XOXO,
Shiza

Candles ✨

February 4, 2015February 6, 2015Leave a comment

Hey dolls,
I wanted to keep it simple today so I’ll be talking about one of my current obsessions! Lately I’ve been over buying candles. I will be telling you about my candles and a cute DIY that is very simple to recreate!
Candle DIY:
Step 1- Find or buy a cute candle stand that goes with the color of the candle you choose. You can buy affordable candle stands at Target, World Market, or Pier one imports
Step 2- Next, get a small candle that will fit in your candle stand. You can easily find them at anywhere, I got mine from ikea.
Step 3- After, get some plant decor fillers. I bought mine from ikea as well. Btw they have a lot of cute things for decor!!
Step 4- Finally time to assemble the candle!
Fill the candle stand with the plant filler and place the candle on top.

All about my candles: ✨
I use these candles to brighten up my room and bathroom. I have bought tons but the ones I’m telling you guys about are the best according to me. Stress Relief; got this one from bath&body works ($22.50) . Aloha Orchid; got that from Anthropology smells incredible ya’ll! ( $11.50) The two tiny ones are honestly the best quality small candles I’ve received, it was a present not sure where there from. I’ve lit them more than 10 times and they still haven’t run out! Magnolia Fresh linen, that’s from target.($20.00) All the tall candles are from target. Those are scented candle sticks. The white stands are from target, the red stands are from UlTRAS holiday gift set.
That’s just a few of my favs and recently used ones!

XOXO
-Zaina

How to throw a Tea Party : S&Z’s Tea

February 4, 2015February 4, 2015Leave a comment

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!

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.

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💓.

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

Weekend Getaway: Las Vegas

February 2, 2015February 2, 2015Leave a comment

This past weekend I took a vacation to Las Vegas, Nevada. Even though I’ve been going to Vegas since I was two, every time I go it’s a new experience.
This time I went to go visit one of my childhood friends. I stayed at the Vdara hotel. Vdara is one of my favorite hotels. Although it doesn’t have a casino at the lobby they have several other things. The Crystal mall is waking distance to the hotel, which honestly is amazing! Down stairs they have a convenient restaurant called the Market Place, I had breakfast there too. While I was there I went to go see KÀ by cirque du soleli, at the MGM Grand. The show was astonishing! The production is about the up rising of young men and women and how they encounter love and conflicts and the difference between good and bad. I definitely recommend you all to watch it! I dined at a very welcoming Cafè called Sunrise Cafè. The Cafè is located on 8975 South Eastern Avenue #6, Las Vegas NV 89123. I had brunch there and it satisfied my taste buds! The food and service was impeccable. The rest of my trip consisted of hanging out with my sister and our childhood friend. We all spent quality time with one another, swimming, shopping, and eating. Here are some pictures of my vacation!