Bir, You beauty!!!
It was the time of October with the Sun and the clouds playing pee-ka-boo all day long. The view of the floating Clouds, blanketing up the peaks around gladdened up my days over there.

Well, Bir is much, much, much more than this adventure junkie's place. You can witness the most amazing red fireball sunsets, picturesque landscapes, clear skies, waterfalls hidden beneath the blanket of misty clouds and last but not the least its AMAZINGGG FOOOODDD.


Every town of Himachal has its own charm.

If you have visited McLeodganj you will know how modernized it is. It has everything a metropolitan city in India has. With the passage of time, it has turned into a major tourist spot and that is where Bir earns an extra point. It still has maintained a low key profile instead of being the world's second highest paragliding site.

Why I mentioned McLeodganj is for the love of the food it offered to me when I was there. If you have read my earlier blogs you will know it  And now it is, Bir that won my heart in terms of its cafes and their food.

Steamed momos from the lil roadside shop

I am not a food blogger, I didn't try every other cafe but I did try a few. I loved the experience and felt it was worthwhile to pen it down and let the world also know about it.

I hope these cafes won't let you down (Fingers crossed😋) Click on the name to go straight to their insta page!

5. Pindi Kitchen

Now coming to other vital things i.e., food 😋 We were starving, we hadn't had our dinner properly last night. We tried something different- parantha, maggi, and tea. ( please don't close the tab, I love you. It's just I try to be funny at times). The food at Pindi kitchen tasted amazing and they don't even charge you for the best view that they offer.

The Fireball

No filter view

Food ★★★⍣
Ambiance★★★★
Service★★★★

4. The Northern Cafe

Laughing evenings with the unknown friends :)

I am a connoisseur of herbs and natural products. I ordered rose petal infused tea. Although we didn't taste any proper food. But the tea made me its fan. Generally things good for our health doesn't taste good but it was nice.

Food ★★★★
Ambiance ★★★★
Service ★★★

3. Breakfast at Karyashala (Bir Canteen)

Cold nights made us lazy. But what better than hot scrumptious dinner ready to eat, on our lap!

Starting with the mushroom-cheese sandwiches, aloo-pyaaz parantha (feels like 'maa' has prepared em) and a cup of hot tea in the breakfast to the peri-peri fries, made whole-heartedly by Anisha herself  and, the garlic fried rice, dal makhni, and dum-aloo in the dinner. All you get is love served, which you can enjoy at the big stump tree table in the center.

Yumm...yumm morning saga

Food ★★★★
Ambiance ★★★
Service ★★★★

2. The Silver Lining

Utterly butterly serene verandah surrounded with 6 ft. tall maize fields

Akhri Paassttaaa with lemon ginger honey.

Since it was the navratra time, I ordered for pasta and my favorite honey lemon ginger drink. My नास्तिक friends settled for an omelette with tea. Omelette looked so succulent that without even tasting it I would have given it 5 stars.

Yaar ye omelette ne mera dil jeet liya. Itna cheessy!! just awesome...

Bread omelette dipped in honey with fruits- A perfect English breakfast

The food is made fresh so can suffice for the slow delivery. Also it was raining outside and we were sitting and chatting and gazing at the huge maize field in front of us. The outdoor setting gave me a very peaceful and serene vibes. It seemed like country side location with no people around, just us friends. Overall this place gets a big big thumbs up from me!!!

I could have walked 100 times back n forth. I liked this particular area so very much 💙

Food ★★★★
Ambiance ★★★★
Service ★★★

1. June 16 cafe

Me enjoying my desert along with a fake Candid!

Good Vibes only!

'Self-love' is the term used more often in this generation than ever before. It means feeling good about oneself, being in a state where you are aware of yourself. If you are not aware of your own self, how can you be aware of your surroundings? We can't spread the joy if we ourselves have meddled inside our heads.

Self-love is an art of purifying your body, mind, and soul. It is a cleansing process inside out. Before starting your self-love regime:

1. It is good to go through all the 30 days steps at once.

2. At any point, you can change the daily target as per your need.

Most people start a plan and end up quitting. EXCEPT YOU.

NOT THIS TIME.

Day 0: Sleep early maybe 9-10 PM. Seems weird? Yes, we should know how it feels to be before (maybe 'on') time.

Day 1: You are in no hurry. Stretch it out and go slow. Drink detox water first thing in the morning. Eat your breakfast before 9 today. Also, buy some fruits for the next day.

Day 2: Soak 10 almonds and eat all the tasty fruits you bought the previous day.

Day 3: A perfect day to do steaming & a face mask. You need that extra glow on your face.

Day 4: Add new positive affirmations sticky notes to your wall. I will start doing this...I will not compare myself to strangers on the Internet...

Day 5: No junk food for the day. No chips and fried foods.

Dear Myself,

Day 6: Hair spa day. Pamper your hair at home

Day 7: Take a walk and enjoy the little things you see while walking. Notice minute details that you have never realized before. Absorb yourself into the moment.

Day 8: Drink 8 glasses of water.

Day 9: Clean your wardrobe. Cleaning your surroundings makes you think clearly and increases your focus.

Day 10: Take a bath with a bath bomb and flower petals. Boys! Nature didn't create flowers just for women. Embrace the feminine power inside you. Take a hot shower and relax.

Goal Digger!

Day 11: Make a sugar scrub and exfoliate your lips.

Day 12: Spray your bed and pillows with 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil.

Day 13: After you reach home, do not call anybody. Be with yourself and read a book that you always wanted to read but never got enough time for it.

Day 14: Do some breathing exercise for 5 mins 3 times today ( morning, afternoon and before bed)

Day 15: Give some love to your home (earth) today. Use zero single-use plastic today and thank trees, air, sky, and soil around you. Be grateful for what you have been given. Spread positivity and absorb the same.

"Create yourself"

Day 16: You have been doing great so far. Treat yourself your favorite dessert maybe.

Day 17: Write your thoughts down. Why are you feeling what you are feeling, your ambitions, your plans to achieve them?

Day 18: Call your loved ones and tell them you love them and missed them. If you live with your parents. Hug them for no reason. Spread love. Also, there is no harm in giving them a head or a foot massage.

Day 19: Work out for 1 hour.

Day 20: You're killing it. So keep going!! Exfoliate your hands and legs. Get a manicure and pedicure done. You can do it yourself and then put on fuzzy socks overnight.

You are the storm

Day 21: Take out your sketchbooks and start coloring. Go as wild as you can.

Day 22: Tell yourself in the mirror that you are a strong, confident beautiful woman. And men be like You are strong, confident handsome man.

Day 23: I can't believe it, we made till day 23. Wow! such perseverance. We love ourselves.
Today is a rest day. Water your plants.

Day 24: Buy yourself what you always wanted to buy. Keep everything in your cart and wish list some of the things so that you can buy them later if not now.

Day 25: Go out on a weekend & take some beautiful photos.

I am selfish, so what? who ain't?

Day 26: Dance on one complete song.

Day 27: Wake up early and watch the sunrise.

Day 28: Get yourself some popcorn, and chilled juice and enjoy a movie.

Day 29: Put some of the rose water in an ice cube tray and put the ice cubes under your eyes.

Day 30: You are a champ! You made it...These 30 days were like the best days of my life. Buy yourself a flowery plant.

😘

 I hope this post helps you somewhere at some point in time. Comment below your thoughts and what you do to enjoy your own company?

Love,
Shon'gruff
-A Glow of Happiness

Eyes are the mirrors to your soul. They reflect your deepest emotions- If you are happy your eyes will say it, you are angry, so will be your eyes! In the same way, if you are not eating good, sleeping well, and are tired, first signs of the problem will appear on the bottom of your eyes.

The skin underneath your eyes is the softest part of the organ on your body. You need to handle it with utmost care such as we should never rub it harshly. We should hydrate it properly at night. But considering our hectic schedules, we tend to forget to take it easy on our eyes at times.

Tried & Tested on my favorite Ginni pig ' Me'

Today I bring to you 3 such eye masks that will brighten up your eyes. These are self tried masks and hence assure you the effectiveness.

1. Masoor daal & Honey Pack🍯:

Masoor dal pack is used to exfoliate the skin, tighten the pores, brighten your skin and also remove tan. It has been mentioned in Ayurveda too that it is an efficient ingredient to cure dark circles. In ancient Ayurveda, honey is used for improving eyesight, curing glaucoma and cataract, and preventing the formation of cataract. In our pack, it adds hydration and suppleness to the dull, sunken eyes.

Thanks to my 'parlor wali didi' for introducing me to this mask

• Take 1 cup of lentils.
• Grind them in a mixer to make it into a powdered form.
• Store it in an air-tight jar to make sure it does not come in contact with moisture.
• Put 1 spoon on your palm and add 1 spoon honey, whenever you need to make this mask.
• Apply it for 15 mins.

Frequency of this mask should 2-3 times a week. 
Pro tip 💡: Keep honey in the refrigerator and then use it.

2. Rose Water & Green Tea Extract Pack🍀:

After having your cup of hot green tea. Do not throw the super beneficial tea bags away but keep them dipped in rose water and enjoy them more.

Best mask ever💚

• Put the tea bags in a bowl and add rosewater to it.
• Store it in the refrigerator to enjoy your pack chilled.

3. Turmeric & Milk Pack🥛:

Indians cannot do without turmeric whether it's food or beauty.
Turmeric has got healing properties and the antioxidant properties of turmeric help in removing dark circles. The hydration properties of milk reduce fine lines and delay the arrival of wrinkles and crow's feet around eyes. It keeps the skin baby soft and nourished.

Try it today & thank me later

• Take 2 spoons of milk and add a pinch of turmeric ( because turmeric stains easily).
• Again keep the mix in a refrigerator
• Cut the cotton in round shapes.
• Dip the cotton pads in the mixture when you want to use the pack.

• Keep the chilled milk packs on your eyes for 15 mins.
• Enjoy and relax with some soothing background music.

On Tuesdays, We put eye masks!

A few other pro tips for keeping your eyes in great shape are:

1. Apply castor oil to your lashes before bed.
2. Drink pomegranate juice on a regular basis.
3. Apply pure aloe vera gel on your eyes.

If this article was useful to you in any way or if you have any other eye mask suggestions for our readers. Do let us know and comment below!

Till then keep masking!
Love🧡
Shongruff
-A Glow of Happiness

Have you ever been through that embarrassing moment when someone told you "Your nose is full of blackheads"? Yeah happens with me every time I visit a salon. The beautician over there is like " When was the last time you had a cleanup?" It seems as if I am the dirtiest, filthiest and unhygienic person who has ever visited her. So much of self-loathing and humiliation.

Well, these days dermatologists have come up with a term to address the obsession with one’s facial pores- 'porexia'.  One of the biggest complaints estheticians hear from their clients is that the client wants to minimize the appearance of their facial pores. It’s not just women who are concerned about large, clogged pores but men also a lot. 

Large pores are a serious problem like acne and spots

This post caters to the people like me who are laid back, don't go to parlor often and still want to have awesome skin. Trust me it was not at all difficult. A simple understanding of the easy science behind how your skin actually functions and then treating it accordingly. 
Your skin is specific to you. You cannot treat it like how that Instagrammer, YouTuber or your friend is treating his or hers.

Starting with the basics:

WHAT ARE PORES?

Pores are the tiny openings on the surface of the skin that allow sweat and sebum to leave the body. They help our body in eliminating oils & toxins.

SOME FACTS & MYTHS:

1. Pores do not open and close regularly: MYTH

Warm water does soften the skin, making it easier to clean the pores.

2. The Oilier the skin, the larger the Pores: FACT

If you find your skin more oily, automatically your pore size too will be increasing. It will soon appear as if an orange peel.

Our skin is always creating new skin cells and shedding old ones. The sebaceous glands create natural oils (sebum) that are meant to nourish your skin. In a perfect world, sebum would simply keep skin soft and hydrated. However, there are times when sebaceous glands can become overactive. During these periods, your sebaceous glands can actually create too much oil, which can cause dead skin cells to stick together instead of shed off. In clogged pores, the sebum from the oil glands can't move out. As a result, stretches the pores. Even after the clog is gone, the pore may remain stretched and visible.

OILY SKIN = OPEN, LARGE PORES

3. Your pores belong to your parents: FACT

Yes, genetics decide the size of your pores. Your skin is decided according to the skin of your parents.

4. Blackheads & whiteheads cause open pores: MYTH

It is instead the opposite! They are the result of large pores and oily skin.

5. Pore size can be changed: MYTH

It is not something to do once and it will be gone forever. You have to take care of it every 3 days or once every week at least. Regular exfoliation help return the pore to its original size. Pores cannot be shrunk permanently. But with the right products they can be made look smaller temporarily. Keeping pores cleaned out is going to make them look a lot smaller
6. With age, pore size increases: FACT

Sun exposure and the aging process gradually decreases the production of collagen and elastin, responsible for the elasticity of our skin. Hence, pores become stretched downwards, look saggy and appear bigger in size.

Premature greying of hair can be a nuisance and add years to your age. There are many external factors that contribute to it like everyday pollution, use of harsh chemicals on your hair, and obviously stress. But have you ever thought why stress causes white hair?

It is not just white hair that is the visible outcome of stress. Stress affects our whole body. We become weak, frustrated and we age faster 10 times. It affects our eating habits, we either start eating junk or less. Vitamin B12 deficiency, production of hydrogen peroxide by our hair cells, and other medical conditions like thyroid and anemia. If we do not take the proper nutrition, our skin loses its glow, our hair starts falling and this is the main cause of hair greying.

We try to cover our white hair with coloring whereas some prefer to use henna because not just it covers the grey hair, it conditions our hair shafts naturally and cools down our scalp, unlike the artificial coloring.


Home curated beauty processes may seem a lot of work but in fact, are easy on your pockets and close to nature and more satisfying.

The Receipe:-

My mix is two parts henna, one part shikakai, and one part egg.

Take water from RO

Add henna powder as desired

Add shikakai powder for black hair

The egg makes the paste an excellent conditioner and provides protein to your hair

or,

In the second method:-

1. You can combine henna in mustard oil and curry leaves.

Both mustard oil and curry leaves help in strengthing our roots and providing nourishment

2. Boil 1/2 tsp tea in 2 cups of water until 1 cup left. Keep it aside to cool down and further use that black water to soak the henna overnight.

A tea concoction for grey hair

The perfect henna paste looks something like this!

Extra tip💡:-

If you like burgundy shade, crush beetroot in the grinder and mix its juice into henna to make a paste.

3. For a more reddish-brown color, mix henna with some lemon juice and curd the next morning.

It also helps reducing dandruff and itchy scalp

4. You can also add egg, olive oil, or yogurt to henna for conditioning the extra dry hair.

Yogurt is full of protein. It cleanses the scalp and removes dead skin cells to help hair follicles grow.

How To Apply?

It is better if you start from the midsection, make a roll of this section on the top of your head and then move towards the sides. If you start from the sides, chances are you will stain more and it is difficult to keep it on the head.

Start the application from the center by pulling a few strands together

Never let it get dry as then it becomes difficult to take it out of the hair and it leads to hair breakage during the wash. Also, it is said that dry henna does not impart rich color.

Cover your head with a shower cap or like this :P

The time we hit puberty, we become vampires. With our feelings heightened, we are brimming with energy and emotions. What to do! where to go! If we are happy, we dance and jump, whereas if sad, it seems like the end of the world.

Everything we are doing seems to be right and everything else wrong.
Have these feelings occurred to you too, when you were a teenager? or are still there...

Well, I was into studies kinda meritorious student and have never put me into trouble that much. The 'trouble' I am talking about might seem nothing today but when we are young, dumb and broke, I remember crying about those petty things.

I consider myself privileged enough that I was strong headed, no bad thought ever came to my mind. And today also, when there are many things to bother me and kill my mind's peace, I think through it and try to do anything that will help me out to be in a better situation. But some don't.

They are depressed and desolate about being bullied, fat-shamed, not scoring well in the exams, tired being a loser!

I could have never connected with this mindset, why can't a person get out of his sadness?
Why does a person feel like a loser? until recently...

I was the so-called intelligent student, secured above 90 % all the time. Even though I did not do that well in my competitive exams after 12th. But I knew there is something great stored in God's kitty for me- "I am meant to be great".
With time, everything falling into place perfectly, you get a good job, life is comfortable, I grew mediocre, I felt like I was not made for something big.

I started many small ventures and left them midway. I start things and leave them. Similarly, I used to think that I am a good dancer. I joined professional classes. After 1 year of training, I learned that I have a lotttttttt to learn. Recently, We had a competition where hundreds of the students from our academy participate against each other and seeing myself not only losing but performing bad, broke my heart. I felt embarrassed. They are kids, people who joined the course with me doing better than me. It might seem like a first world problem, but I was deeply unhappy about my incompetence in general.

Sometimes in life, even a tiny incident adds to the problem and we need a little motivation.

This post is a reminder for all those who have been feeling like a loser, sad or down in life.

To redeem yourself if you are in a bad place and cannot see any way out especially when you are 18, you are just out of school. You now have the 'partial' freedom ( The complete comes once you stand on your feet and start earning obviously 😆), like me some of you move out of your hometowns. You are a free bird. You can sleep, roam, and get addicted to bad things as much as you want.  There are a few things I would like to telepath somehow and tell to the 18-year old me:

1.Travel as much as you can:

Travel is getting to know- Who the person inside you really is!

One thing I am disappointed about that during my college days, we traveled zero. We used to eat, sleep and repeat.
Traveling makes you a better version of yourself. You grow faster than ever. While traveling, I cannot afford the company of blood-sucking people.
When we are young, we are friendly and everyone is our friend. Choose your buddies wisely. True friends are not hard to find but it is harder to know who is not :)

Traveling with your buddies makes the bond even stronger

Travel solo- You learn how to take care of yourself and connect with nature but yourself first.

Travel but don't trash

2. Relationships:

You are in this lovey-dovey relationship. But let me warn you- The relationships are very fragile when you are in that age. I am not saying it is anybody's fault. It is just we (both parties) are not mature enough to handle things. The boy you like, may mean nothing to you in a few years time. I am not saying all relationships suck. You can either have a long-lasting friend or a lesson learned. Just choose someone who respects the people who don't even matter to them.

Love is literally in the air

3. Love:

Family forever <3

As a teenager, I was a rebel with 'why this, why that' kinda attitude to my parents. At times stubborn too. But doesn't mean I cared any less for them. It is just the phase of life when we are the kings, and queens, and the stars of the story. Until reality strikes! But your parents love you like anything.

"My parents don't understand anything"

"They are too strict"

Yes, it can be true. But I will give you one suggestion here. What worse can a parent do, beat you? Yes, the worst nightmare of a kid. Indian parents do not think much when it comes to beat the shit out of their kid. But it is just how they have brought up too. You have been brought up in the internet era, you have access to the motivational sessions, quotes, and wisdom. They didn't! They had the most conventional methods of making a kid understand. If they are not understanding you, you try and understand their side. Why are they behaving like that and try to help yourself by attacking at the right spot. Bang on!

4. Time:

For me, it is dancing, But I got into it late. I wish I has joined early :)

10 years later, as you will grow. You will understand the fact that life is short and you have so many aspirations to fulfill. Focus on building skills.

Make a bucket list for yourself and a diary of what 'new' you have learned in this month, or year. This will help you keep track of your growth. If you want to learn swimming, learn it this month. Be it dancing, any musical instrument, any new language or software. Enhance your skills and thank me later.

5. It Won't Be The Same Tomorrow!

I had braces when I was in school. That time it was not cool. But luckily, My classmates making fun of me was taken by me on a lighter note. I won't call it bullying but normal fun-making.

It didn't bother me much. But as I entered the 16-17 age group. My concern about how my hair looked, why am I so thin enhanced. Other girls look so hot! I started spending too much time bothering about my looks, which definitely took my precious time which I should have focussed more on the things that mattered.

Believe me, Nobody is perfect!

Nobody has perfect skin, hair, or the body. It is the confidence which makes one. And the confidence comes when you are skillful. Don't be a shallow person.

6. It is okay to be selfish.

Selfish, Bitch #$6@!

Don't do anything to please your friends or to show something off.
Learn to say NO. I know how difficult it can be. Well, It was for me. I have been with people, won't call them friends though. I used to think that everyone we talk to, 'call' as friend hai and in return they will try to suck the little pocket money you get.

Are you? :D

Even with your best buddies, being selfish at times is not bad. But honesty about it, is what it takes.
Do not keep anything in your heart. Say what is on your mind with good intentions and not to hurt other person's sentiment too.
Remember not everyone is your friend, friends are special. You don't choose them, friendship happens. The ones where it just happened to me are still with me until today.

On the ending note, Our fathers play a very important role in the formation of our minds. Whatever your father must have told or guided you at some point in time. You remember that when you grow old. I remember him saying, teens are the most crucial part of a person's life. It can either make or break his future. Though he used to tell me this in respect to the studies. and which is true also.

I hope you liked the article, in case you want to share your story comment below :) Happy to read.

Bye-bye!
-Team Shongruff
A glow of happiness🌟