Kaajrare Nain

Vixens super cool find… Kaajal/ Kohl pencil that’s stays on and on and on. Like all Indian girls, or at least the ones with dark circles that definitely need kaajal pencil to rescue from racoon eyes, I am constantly looking out for that one Kaajal pencil that stays put.

I have been there and tried it ALL…from Lakme Kaajal to MAC to Clinique. Some just fade away in an hour’s time, others are not good for lenses, while some spread across your face like soot. What is a woman supposed to do?!! I have tried my best to find a decent kohl pencil that stays put on a working day…doesn’t need constant retouch and doesn’t spread across the face.

I have even tried Soorma bought from a lovely quaint little shop in Jaiselmer. My rickshaw driver was wearing soorma. Gorgeous dark colour in his eyes. I persuaded him to take me to ths shop he bought his supply from. Hmmm...that didn't last long once I got back to the city. I loved the minty feshness but my contact lenses just hated the soorma.

If I don’t wear Kaajal even for a day to work then for sure half the office will walk up to me asking me if I have cried my racoon eyes out?! Some will politely inquire I am not well and should ideally rest as swine flu is really not something to share with the office lot!! So for a person like me wearing a Kaajal is NOT an OPTION!!!

Try Color Bar Midnight black 007. Yep, who would have ever though that the best Kaajal pencil would actually be from this brand. I didn’t …for sure!! A dear friend suggested it to me and after much persuasion I actually tried it and LOVED IT. Its smudge proof, dark black in color and EASY ON THE POCKET!! The Recessionista in me LOVES the combination.

So ladies go ahead and try it. Vixen thinks its brilliant!

Happy Period!

This is an actual letter from an Austin woman sent to American company Proctor and Gamble, regarding their feminine products. It's PC Magazine's 2007 editors' choice for best web mail-award-winning letter.

Dear Mr. Thatcher,

I have been a loyal user of your 'Always' maxi pads for over 20 years and I appreciate many of their features. Why, without the Leak Guard Core or Dri-Weave absorbency, I'd probably never go horseback riding or salsa dancing, and I'd certainly steer clear of running up and down the beach in tight, white shorts. But my favourite feature has to be your revolutionary Flexi-Wings. Kudos on being the only company smart enough to realize how crucial it is that maxi pads be aerodynamic. I can't tell you how safe and secure I feel each month knowing there's a little F-16 in my pants

Have you ever had a menstrual period, Mr. Thatcher? Ever suffered from the 'curse'? I am guessing you have not. Well, my time of the month is starting right now. As I type, I can already feel hormonal forces violently surging through my body. Just a few minutes from now, my body will adjust and I'll be transformed into what my husband likes to call 'an inbred hillbilly with knife skills.’ Isn't the human body amazing? As Brand Manager in the Feminine-Hygiene Division, you've no doubt seen quite a bit of research on what exactly happens during your customers monthly visits from ‘Aunt Flo'. Therefore, you must know about the bloating, puffiness, and cramping we endure, and about our intense mood swings, crying, jags, and out-of-control behaviour. You surely realize it is a tough time for most women. In fact, only last week, my friend Jennifer fought the violent urge to shove her boyfriend's testicles into a George Foreman Grill just because he told her he thought Grey's Anatomy was written by drunken chimps. Crazy! The point is, sir, you of all people must realize that America is just crawling with homicidal maniacs in Capri pants... Which brings me to the reason for my letter. Last month, while in the throes of cramping so painful I wanted to reach inside my body and yank out my uterus, I opened an Always alisamaxi-pad, and there, printed on the adhesive backing, were these words: 'Have a Happy Period.'

Are you f\&*ing kidding me? What I mean is, does any part of your tiny middle-manager brain really think happiness - actual smiling, laughing happiness is possible during a menstrual period? Did anything mentioned above sound the least bit pleasurable? Well, did it, James? FYI, unless you're some kind of sick S&M freak girl, there will never be anything 'happy' about a day in which you have to jack yourself up on Motrin and Kahlua and lock yourself in your house just so you don't march down to the local Walgreen's armed with a hunting rifle and a sketchy plan to end your life in a blaze of glory. For the love of God, pull your head out, man! If you just have to slap a moronic message on a maxi pad, wouldn't it make more sense to say something that's actually pertinent, like 'Put down the Hammer' or 'Vehicular Manslaughter is Wrong', or are you just picking on us?

Sir, please inform your Accounting Department that, effective immediately, there will be an $8 drop in monthly profits, for I have chosen to take my maxi-pad business elsewhere. And though I will certainly miss your Flexi-Wings, I will not for one minute miss your brand of condescending bull sh*t. And that's a promise I will keep. Always.

Best Regards,

Wendi Aarons

Summer Rain

Its raining…its raining…its raining in dry, dead (ly) hot Delhi. It’s been a HOT summer…unkind, unrelenting, severely dry summer. The soul of the city has been battered this summer. All of us leaving for work in the morning, when the temperature is already 30 degrees Celsius. By the time one reaches work, its exhaustion and tiredness. People are snappy and angry at the world…. heated arguments instead of morning cuppa tea. So a full day of rain brings in so much of respite.

I woke up with the raindrops on my windowsill…lovely droplets of water just winding their way down on the glass…beautiful. My bamboo chime slowly swaying and making a deep melodic sound…hmmmm…if this is not peaceful and loving then what is?

I sat in my bed for what felt like an eternity, looking out at the beautiful rain. Just the sound of falling rain can have a hypnotic effect. I can listen to it for hours… it just me, my soul and rain. Nothing else and none else matters. I made my self a hot steaming cuppa cardamom tea put off the aircon …with the chants of Gayatri mantra in the background…I experienced of the most beautiful mornings of this summer.

Some how I managed to pull my self out of this trance like feeling and called in a cab. The vixen couldn’t dream of driving today…today I need to feel mellow.

Every girl needs a day like this. When you wake up feeling beautiful from inside. Beautiful and peaceful! A day, when you just want to love your self. Be good to your heart. Once you do that…you will find a big fountain of love to share with the world. It’s a never-ending fountain…

Don’t threaten me with love, baby. Lets just go walking in the rain!

Skin Sin

It’s all about the skin isn’t it? Today my lovelies I am going to talk about my favorite skin cleanser. It’s awesome. It’s Noxzema. This miracle skin cleanser comes in a beautiful blue jar. One of the typical old-fashioned jars full of magic potion. It’s a classic. I discovered this cleanser 10 yrs back in USA. What got my attention was this striking blue colour of the jar. It was available at CVS and at a pretty affordable price.

I am a big sucker for trying out products. Usually if they are affordable…then chances are I have tried it. Especially cleansers and face creams. I love the cleaning ritual in the night, before I turn in. Even if I was pissed drunk…I will go to the loo and splash water on my face and sleep. Yep, that does nothing for the vixen, just a habit.

In the evening I got home and opened the jar and refreshing fragrance hit. It was amazing. I felt cleansed even before the cleaning process had started! The jar had this white liquid cream. I dug in with my fingers and spread it on my face. After slathering it on for a few minutes….splash of water to wash it off. What a refreshing cleansing wash it was. My skin felt tingly and alive.

I loved what it did to my skin. Though like a typical non-loyal customer I went on to try new things, new routines and new products. Many years and many many products later…I saw Noxzema again. This time I found it at the most unexpected of all shops. The shopkeeper (who happens to be a friend) started selling the brand to me. I don’t know why and how but a wave of affection came over me and I bought it in an instant.

After years I took home the blue jar of Noxzema cleanser. I met this brilliant product in my 20’s and it was wonderful for me. Will it be able to weave its magic all over again?! So here I am, many beauty regimes later, back with the familiar jar of goodness.

I am happy to announce, my skin still loves it. I can’t remember why I stopped using it but I do remember the tingly freshness it brings to my face. I love it!!

Isn’t it amazing how sometimes just these small joys can brighten up ones day.A cleanser for heavens sake! ; )

Being happy in your skin that's what it's all about.