My Everest Movie Experience

If you are one of my regular visitors, you may think for why is here a movie review which didn't appear earlier ! Well, my inner self urged me to write what I felt about watching the latest Baltasar Kormákur flick Everest. It's a 2015 disaster adventure film directed by Baltasar Kormákur and written by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy. The film stars Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, and Jake Gyllenhaal. The movie I watched was in 3D and the experience was quite interesting as for many times I felt like snow was about to hit me !!

Here I want to make clear for the views are just mine and it may differ from that of others. In my perspective, the cinematography, camera angles (specially those shot to show heights) are quite impressive for viewer like me who gets lost in nature. One can feel the enormosity, grandeur and aura of such a pristine and the grandest place of earth; and getting there is not just a matter of preparation actually. The movie is successful to show it. As there is one dialogue "It's now or Never". Movie is also brilliant at making an ignorant viewer like me understand as what it takes to step on the death zone as the Everest. Its all about attitude and not Altitude. It embarks on the journey so as to compelling us believe that yes, the Everest is one of the most dangerous place and one can not predict nature.

The point where the movie loses its grip at audience's mind is unclear reasoning of the climbers shown. It doesn't tells us why are they 'there' actually, just to view the 'view' not many have seen !! What is the driving force that makes them go towards the snowy foot trails from different parts of the world !!

I was so desperate to watch scene like this from top of the world.

There is no point I was hooked from beginning to the end credits while watching Everest as I am an avid mountain and nature lover and I know there is hardly any chance of me standing even at the base camp of the Everest in real, let alone conquering it !! I hopped into the cinema to satiate myself and the thirst of watching grandeur of Nepal, the Everest in such a wide screen. Till the end of the movie, I was craving for one wide shot of the panoramic view from top of the world. Sorry to say, I was disappointed for the very reason. Everest should have been a great landscape film as the crew was 'there' to shoot the grandeur of the place.

However, the movie does justice to present enormosity and grandeur of the place and hardship and threats of getting there. But the movie hugely lacks some expected shots which could have been shot from such a pious place on earth.

There are some moments of chills and wow worthy scenes well in the movie. One of them are the helicopter rescue scene by our very own Captain Mr. Bijay Lama. Its a proud moment for him and us as well to be seen there in such terrific shots. The scene lingers in audiences' mind after the movie is over. Kudos. 

I dont know how many of us have thought of this but i felt the initial scenes in Nepal could have been made without Indian movie song in the background. Also, how many of you have noticed the empty packets of wai wai noodles stranded at the base camp?? A serious matter of concern. 

Because it's there" is also a mountaineering philosophy which is repeatedly quoted in the film and movie can settle for that. One has to be 'there' actually to feel all it's frozen enormosity. Everest's chill will never quite make the leap from the screen into one's bones. But I must say I was in tears from the emotional scenes and felt broken with the characters. I enjoyed the movie with all its so little flaws as I was at cinema to feel what it feels like to stand in 'there' and even at the base camp. :-)

NEON in Home decor

While it's been quite a time I have posted something related to home. Now this post is all towards creating bright and cheerful moods in home which can be done incorporating splash of colors here and there. No, don't even think about big budget requiring projects. I am seriously not into them :-). 

While you all must have been heard about 'Neons'; Neon is the brightest shade of color which have been popular and quite a trend in outfits and accessories mostly the Fuchsia Pink, Bright Orange, Purple, Parrot and Lime Green colors. 

But have you ever thought how Neon color makes a room or any corner beam with brightness! The sparkly trend is quite a scene nowadays and in Spring and Summer ? Just go, get it done. How to make Neon color work in home decor? Stay with this post. Here are some ways to make the Neon color work in our home.  

# Have Plain and White walls ? Spruce the room up with Neon accessories.

The accessories can be simply done by changing the covers of the cushions, bed linens, painting, lights and/or rugs. Options are unlimited.

Splash of Neon via chair in a normal looking Entryway

# Balance is the key.

While making splash of some color, you don't need to overdo them, Just make sure you are not creating whole riot of colors in one place, keep as simple as sprucing up one corner at a time, or one area or only accessories at a time.

# While with Neon, Keep it simple. 

You need not have to add new furniture and accessories with whole lot of your money. As simple as a vase, light stand, a bright frame or a cushion can play to your Neon rhythm.

#Make the complementary colors work.  

Grey colors work wonder with Fuchsia pink, Limes and yellow. So does Green with white. So, while decorating with Neon, make most of those complementary colors. 

# If painting is your choice this summer, designate a wall, or a cabinet, or a whole kitchen to your choice of color. 

Hope you come up with some great idea to share with me. So, will you give some color to your home this year? Or this post doesn't help you in any way .....I will love to know. Have a great time ahead.

Earthquake Fear, Cesarean & Birth of my 2nd child

Here I am sitting with my 22nd day old baby girl and having some remarkable luxuries of absolute Nepali household via post natal care, I still am in fear of impending aftershocks of previous earthquakes that has been hitting hard upon Nepal last month. Yes, it did affect me as well as a 38 weeks pregnant !! The unpreparedness beforehand was the major cause as we had never ever faced such level of earthquake ever since we existed !

After exact 1 month of the major earthquake, I was admitted in the hospital which we selected for its amazing services before. But here I was diagnosed in the tents, thanks to the effects of earthquake. Fear jolted inside me for impending Cesarean operation to be carried on the next day, will I be capable to deal with it in the tents ? Luckily, I was privileged again to get operated in the ground floor of the 14th floored hospital and they were prepared for the obvious fear of their patients. 

The point here I want to highlight is life simultaneously gives us many reasons to rejoice even amidst fear and trauma and we get sanity if we acknowledge those reasons and learn to move on.  I was still one of the few lucky ones in our country with hospital facilities and care of family members. As I write this, there are still many women and children deprived of major sanitation, care and other post natal services required in those districts which are severely affected from the Earthquake.

In some selfish way, I still fear of the upcoming shocks (if any) as a new  mother. I fear of the situation where there will be no food around, no sanitation for needy people in such natural disasters. Such situation largely affects pregnant women, those who have recently delivered, children and aged people. We can only hope for the best days and be prepared for any worse scenarios.

What I've learnt from these earthquakes is life is such a precious gift and being alive to experience different facets of it should be the greatest achievements. We may not have the best of everything but we still can rise from whatever we have. Having instant faith in our strength and capabilities and working on them are the greatest assets. We will definitely bounce back. Thanks for reading me after a hiatus. I wish I could update you regularly and as a new mother again, I can only WISH so at least for some time. :-)

Basics of French Style (Easy and Chic)

I asked myself what do I know about French style? The words classic, sophisticated, feminine, minimalistic, simple, Chic and confident instantly came to mind. 

No need to wonder that the French have been showing such an immaculate and iconic style as the home of amazing design houses, like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Dior, Louboutin, etc. While it is odd to generalize an entire culture of women and their fashion, (after all, not everyone is impeccably dressed in France as well); what truly makes French style one of a kind is their philosophy behind it.

Here, I am no expert on all things French, but have noticed some underlying themes after lusting over French styling sense which is easy and chic at the same time. Whether or not you love French style as much as I along with many other in this planet do; there are a few things to be learned from these fashionistas. 

Their secret behind the immaculate easy style sense are:

1. Focus on the basics:

Yes, French don’t ignore trends, but almost always they tend to focus on buying quality pieces that are timeless. Usually this means that they are more basic, such as dark skinny jeans, white button-downs, and solid-colored tees. Many times, we have seen them wearing many kinds of Black and white, that means they are versatile.

Investing in key pieces is also ideal for us with tight budget, because we won’t get as tempted to spend money on items that will only be wearable for a short time. Focus on versatility rather than trendiness when you shop.

Also, french women opt for flats rather than heels (sometimes even when partying !!). Why? You can have more fun in flats and best of all, they make dancing so much easier.

2. Dark colors are Evergreen:

While wearing dark colors many times, we tend to think they are boring, but hold on!! There’s a reason black is always in style. It looks good on everyone, matches almost with anything, and is dominantly stylish. Other neutrals, like camel, brown, gray, and navy blue, are also great and they do complement each other.

A wardrobe built from these colors (with some pops of color in between) makes it easy to create outfits because everything already matches. So, French know how to create fuss free and less time consuming wardrobe.

3. While dressing, Less is more:

Choosing Minimal accessories, fewer patterns (like Classic stripes) and colors often works wonder.

Their key is never look overdone or overly styled. Same is for Make up. Think subtle eye makeup and natural looking foundation and lip colors. 

 

 Also, they know how to make a statement with their Red Lipstick. Many times, Makeup isn't essential but colour-popping lipstick is French girl for "I'm making a statement".

Similarly, simple outfits can be amazingly stylish. For example, a black knit turtleneck and a leather skirt are both basic items, but the play with texture would create a chic outfit.

4. Choose Quality over quantity:

Because closet space is more limited (and expensive) in France, French woman often invests in fewer pieces of quality clothing that will last far longer than many cheap pieces of clothing.

5. Play with accessories:

A French woman’s closet may consist of more simple basics; their creativity lies in how they accessorize their outfits. Since accessories are usually cheaper than buying an entirely new outfit, this is especially handy for a tight budget as well.

 As a key ingredient in French girl style, scarves can take a boring outfit from blah to fashion-forward.

6. Invest in at least one Leather jacket:

French women can give us ample reasons for why every girl should own at least one leather jacket ! 

They’re incredibly versatile and can be dressed up or down. They’re also super easy to clean, they are warm without being bulky… The list goes on.

So Investing in one, definitely wont make us regret later.

7. Show Confidence!

There is reason French women have such an enviable style because they wear their clothes with confidence.. 

French designer Yves Saint Laurent, is famously quoted as saying:

“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.”

It’s not what you’re wearing, but how you’re wearing it. So, ladies, exude confidence and ooze style in what you have worn. Have a thoughtful day ahead and choose your thoughts just like you choose your clothes. Stay blessed. :-)

Image courtesy: web 

Pantone has announced the Color for 2015

Remember the Color of the year 2014 declared by Pantone last year? Radiant Orchid ! The results of Pantone's annual poll of esigners, retailers and manufacturers is out now, and 2015's Color of the Year is: Marsala, the wine color.

Every year since 1990, the Pantone Color Institute has announced its pick for the Color of the Year, which involves a surprisingly exhaustive selection process. While past picks have ranged from fuchsia-rose to emerald, it looks like 2015 is going to be filled with marsala, an earthy, reddish-brown hue.

 The color is more subdued than its aggressively pink predecessor, Marsala is a red that Pantone describes in the following ways:

"Enriches our mind, body and soul," "exuding confidence and stability." "Like a fortified wine," "tasteful," "the satisfying richness of a fulfilling meal," "grounding," "sophisticated, natural earthiness." "Hearty yet stylish," "burnished undertones," "versatile," "complex and full-bodied," "welcoming," "plush."

Comparing with last year's Radiant Orchid, Marsala is going to be a lot easier to wear on your face and person. No matter your skin tone, the sophisticated hue is an excellent choice for those looking to spice up their look. Add just a touch of color with a pair of shoes or turn heads in a vibrant coat. We also love how well Marsala plays with other colors. Look for items that are color-blocked with similar red-brown hues. In the winter, pair the color with jewel tones for an even bigger statement. Come spring, opt for marsala with icy pastels. It's also going to work well against rich fabrics.

Décor wise, the Marsala color is so rich which works along almost many earthy hues and even pastel colors. So, comprising the color in home décor has already been widely accepted.

The only thing I didn’t get is why did Pantone call the Wine color ‘Marsala’, not Oxblood or simply ‘Wine’ ? It seems like Pantone also like to make their own range of colors ! Anyway, acceptance of any color in our wardrobe, designs etc largely depends upon indivisual perception, and Marsala is already wearable one. Come on, you have got quite a hint for this New year’s gift shopping, haven’t you ?

Wishing you a hopeful New year ahead ….