I am back to this blog, after a long long break. I have been ignoring it for quiet a while but it kept on calling me louder each day. Its been 4 months already that we all are dealing with the most weirdest times in our lives. The usual things are not usual any more. The stuffs that we took for granted are now luxury. Emotionally am at a wreck and in a place where I break down more often than I want. Scare, panic and disappointments have overshadowed my hope and plans. But can I let those engulf who I am? Can I let go of myself in these difficult times? No am trying hard not to. I always believe that happiness is not without problems but it is a way to deal with them. 

So here’s sending you all my good wishes, stay positive and may you find your happiness in little things that are all around. 

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So today I just pulled myself up, draped my power suit and asked the better half to click some pics...wearing the simplest handloom saree for its brightest color and pairing with an easy peasy off shoulder crop to.  Oh Man! How I refreshed felt after those 30 minutes. I felt so rejuvenated and positive that I finally decided to post these on my blog for you all.

 

People say Bengalis have বারো মাসে তেরো পার্বণ simply meaning no dearth of festivities in a year. We love to enjoy be it in Durga Puja or Christmas. So as the Fall or Autumn as we call it in different poles of the world is upon us lets wish all of you a Happy Fall season. It’s that time of the year when the temperature is not soaring nor you’re freezing to death. Everyone loves to go out enjoy the soft sun and spend good time. This season has it’s own color and magic. Guess what it’s the perfect time to dress up with family and click good memories. So we thought for a SURPRISE post this week, a Fall outfit and photo tips blog. Anyhow people keep asking me how do i manage to click our baby with perfect timing (follow him on Instagram ). Although there's no secret behind it but I'll elaborate on what helps me to catch him in his best mood. Actually this is the first Fall li’l K will actually be getting to enjoy by himself,  he was too tiny to get it last time. So if you have tiny tot like mine and want to take some good fall pics with the family, this would be a helpful read for you. Let’s get started!

Get outdoors

For fall pics the first thing you have to do is to get out in the open and pick a location. We picked our yearly visit to pumpkin patch for photographing this fall. It gives the quintessential fall vibes and pumpkins presents vibrant backdrop. It was a wonderful afternoon with us enjoying to our best soaking in the little warmth the season has left to us. 

Pick a color or theme for outfit

If you want a good group or family pic, coordinating the outfits is so much fun and synchronizes the pics together well. It may be a specific color or print or material like leather or fur etc. Me and li’l K chose the classic plaids for the theme. It gives a warm cozy fall vibe. For a tip I prefer outfit colors anything but orange to avoid clash with the background. 

Be comfortable in your outfit 

When you choose your outfits for yourself and your tot make sure you make note of the weather and comfort too. They look season appropriate as wearing a summer dress in a pumpkin patch won't look that good. Wear comfy shoes as you might have to run around your little, carry them or march through the field. I wore my maternity plaid shirt with a black mid length skirt and brown suede boots. K wore a matching white and blue plaid shirt with denims and brown boots. So our outfits looked bright enough for the pics and was extremely comfy. For people in warmer weather can wear appropriate cotton shirt and ones in colder areas can pair up a black pea coat with a stylish hat. 

Pick a convenient time of the day

Pick a time according to your little one's schedule so that they are well fed and had good naps. Also if you want perfect natural lighting usually pro's suggest that sunlight around 4 PM is the best for outdoor photography. So well plan your day accordingly.

Carry a snack 

Its difficult to shoot with kids and all the more when they are "hangry" so carry some snacks and water with you

Hire a Photographer or Ask Your Helpful Husband 

Candid pics of kids don't come well with selfies or tripods. So ask your husband or a friend to take some pics or yif you want some professional photos to keep you can hire a photographer. As in my case my husband is very happy to click pics of us than to pose 😶😶 so he took these cute pics of us at the farm.

Let the kid be on his own

Kids won't know how to pose so let them be on their own and let them enjoy their time. Its more important for them to have fun outside. They need not necessarily look at the camera every time. So relax, they are the cutest anyway.

Outfit Details

Mommy shirt: Old Navy Maternity section

Mommy Skirt: Kohl's

Son Shirt: Carters

Son Denim : Carters

Heartiest greetings of Bijoya Dashami and Dussera to everyone who's celebrating the auspicious festival. In bengali mythology Bijoya Dashami marks the last  day of magnanimous Durga Puja celebration, Ma Durga's win over Mahisasur and the triumph of good over evil. Its the send off day when we our daughter Uma returns from her maiden home to be with husband Shiva. As we bid farewell, we wish her happiness by smearing sindoor or vermillon, feeding her sweet and water and wiping her face with our anchal. Its such a beautiful tradition where the Goddess is our daughter and we happily dance and celebrate her farewell to wait for another year for her homecoming.

Sindoor khela is thus a beautiful tradition where ladies of all cast, creed, color bond with each other in a festive mood and smear vermilion on each other. Here's a sneak peak into ours at Washington Kali Temple this evening. Although it is a Prabashi Pujo we try our best to stay close to our roots thus all the rituals are carried with utmost sincerity and excitement. 

 Outfit details

I tried to keep it as simple and traditional as I could. Paired my mother's red and white dhakai jamdani with this kantha frilled blouse and gold jewelries. There's nothing much to this look except very simple makeup with a big red bindi or tip which is quintessentially BONG.

Lots of Best Wishes from our home to yours and may Ma Durga bless with all her blessings and liht up your lives with happiness, smiles, dreams and hopes

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India is known for its marvelous legacy of a variety of heritages and cultures that have resulted in countless traditional crafts and art forms in each and every nook and corner of this massive country. It has put forward the finest collection of silk, handloom saris that are accessible in an extensive assortment of colors and prints, appropriate for festivals and any special occasions. Among many arts that have put Bengal (including East and West) in the world map of excellence, predominant is Muslin Saree. The beautiful handwoven sarees are known for the unique and intricate design and craftsmanship. The palette of colors and broad range that these Saris employ are the ultimate testaments to their mesmerizing allure and power.  These sarees are absolutely perfect to flaunt on any festive, wedding ceremony or even traditional celebratory occasion. 

The Saree of the Day

This particular Muslin saree is very special weave. It is out of the box and doesn't have the usual floral weave. Rather its based on a famous Sukumar Ray poem starting as "Bidye Bojhai Babumoshai". The words of the poem are literally woven in Bengali script in the pallu and the whole story is pictorially told throughout the body. Thus it has motifs of trees, river, boat, sailor and passenger, birds etc.The intricate weave and the storytelling through the six yards is jaw-dropping. I can't imagine how strenuous the process has been to weave those minute details in the saree. It was a last minute buy and was shipped to me couple of days before the Durga Puja from a well known Kolkata based boutique named Anchal. I was obsessed the minute i saw a show of theirs on TV and called them right away to ship it to me. 

The day I got the saree I was confused on how to style it as the saree itself has got a lot of personality and I didn't want to distract the limelight it deserves. Thus opted for a tone on tone green blouse instead of the contrast yellow. The blouse which perfectly matched was an old one with the widest back and uplifted the style quotient of the traditional saree. 

Now for accessories, wanted to intensify the earthy look with dual silver and gold tones. So I paired it up with my most favorite mango necklace and giant ear stud and stacked a lot of bangles of silver and matte gold tones. Sanchita suggested a flower for te special occasion and thus it was added to the hair. Had my go to kohl eyes with maroon lipstick and big green bindi or tip to complete the whole look. 

Tips on Buying and Wearing Handwoven Muslin

• The fineness of the fabric and the intricacies of the woven patterns determine the final price of a muslin saree, which can vary from six thousand rupees to over a lakh (about USD 100 to over 1500). Beware of powerloom or semi-muslins being sold as genuine handwoven one.
• Don't forget to properly put fall and pico in your saree. The fabric is delicate and should be used with care
• Keep draping it often or at least re-fold it often so that they don't tear along the folds.
• Avoid home cleaning and always dry clean your muslins if at all necessary. 

Outfit Details

Saree: Anchal Boutique, Kolkata, India

Jewelry: Gariahat Hawkers Market, Kolkata, India

Potli Bag: Gift from dear brother from Hyderabad

Fake Flower: Dollar Tree

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Hey Ma Durga grant us the beauty of yours....the beauty of your soul with which we can purify ours, overcome darkness and negativity. Hey Ma, make our heart so pious that we can see the goodness in people around us and not surrender to age old norms of judgement. Lets all pray to Ma Durga not for fair skin, sharp features or good height but a beauteous mind which can embrace every one with love.

 I sometimes wonder how one festival can bring so much excitement and joy to so many people's lives. But there are several families who might not able to celebrate as us, so lets me empathetic towards them and be mindful of their reasons. Have a blessed Navratri and Shubho Sharodiya from the team of Bong Mania Overloaded.

Outfit of the Day

As we Bengalis save ur new clothes for Durga Puja, so did I. This gorgeous peachy orange pure Chanderi Silk saree was send by Ma Baba from Kolkata. The color is very soothing and has antique gold pearl drop motif weaved all over its body. This saree reminded me of my childhood. Have seen my Ma and Dida dressing up in soft sober sarees for the morning pushpanjali in the local pandal. Just wee bit kajal, light gold jewelries, talcum powder and a tip or bindi. They never experimented as we do but their fashion was and is timeless as they didn't try hard to be trendy. As I felt the soft chanderi silk in hand all I wanted was to have a very pleasant and traditional look with a very classic softness to it.

The saree came with a contrast blue blouse which would have made the look more bright. SO I toned it down with a bird motif off white blouse. The birds on the blouse has been hand embroidered by me inspired by a Sabyasachi label blouse 😀😀😀😀. As I mentioned before I wanted a very classic soft look. So opted for kaan pasha or over sized studs, a simple gold moff chain. chur and an over sized ring. My go to kajal smokey eyes and peachy lips with a small tip or bindi was all I needed to complete the look.
Please scroll down for details on the outfit.

Outfit Details

Saree: Adi Dhakeshwari Bastralaya, Triangular Park, Kolkata

Blouse: Self Embroidered on a plain silk blouse

Earrings and ring: Amazon link here

Chur or Bangle: Chique Fashion, South City Mall, Kolkata

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