The Brunette Diaries

Eternal Platinum As A Gift To Cherish

At some point in her life, every girl dreams of having that special man who takes care of her and pampers her. As soon as that happens, she knows she has someone to call her own for a lifetime. Love is a special journey that two people embark on and promise to walk together for eternity. It is a feeling out of this world that actually makes you learn what butterflies in stomach and violins in the air are! However, with hectic work schedules and busy lifestyles, your love life is sure to take a backseat and work becomes priority. Walk that extra kilometre to bring in some sunshine and celebrate the man you are head-over-heels in love with, starting right away. Try and make a usual day into an extraordinary one with a meaningful gesture, a cute promise or a valuable and memorable gift that marks the beginning of a journey of a lifetime. So how do you plan to celebrate your day of love? What we opine is that it shouldn’t as dry and cold as every other day you spend with your beloved. That won’t help you discover what everlasting love is like. A candle-lit dinner or a surprise getaway are too old school and may sound like fantastic ideas, but hold on… they are nothing what most people do now. Dinners and visits to unusual places is very common. Do something that sweeps her off her feet. We say go out of your way by investing in a gift for that special person in your life as the amount you would splurge in for a lavish dinner, with same you can bring a smile onto her face that would always stay affixed. A gift that will remind you of your day of love and probably last lifelong. Be it the day of your proposal, your engagement ceremony or a wedding anniversary, there’s no better way to celebrate these very special days than with a valuable gift like eternal platinum jewellery. As eternal love deserves something that is unforgettable and stays with you forever hence, what could be better than platinum. Platinum jewellery has always been a favourite pick for the ones who enjoy flaunting the very best. And we believe as a rare and precious white metal, platinum has lived up to its stature in every way. Right from top notch celebrities from Bollywood to Hollywood, all have brick-walled their life-long relationships with this wonder metal. Be it love bands or pendants and even neck pieces and bracelets; pamper your love with something that will be eternally precious – platinum jewellery. After all, what better way to commemorate your timeless love than with an enduring and everlasting metal that promises to always take you back on the journey of your relationship and make you live your memories whenever you want to. The essence of your love will always linger with between you two and will never decay.

How Lust Stories Highlighted Taboo Topics!

ORGASM, there I said it! What is so taboo about it? Wait, is it that we aren’t allowed to talk about women orgasm or that it isn’t so important and hence it’s fading. What is so wrong if a woman wants to pleasure herself? Are only men allowed to be happy and their satisfaction is of utmost importance? Women-centric four short stories that makeup ‘Lust Stories‘, talk about subjects people usually avoid. What women are neglected and how they need to accept whatever that’s served on the plate.

Anurag Kashyap showed us how a woman becomes obsessive and possessive if she’s void of love or lonely. She enters into this clandestine affair with her eyes open, speaking of Amrita Pritam and Draupadi, and soon finds herself consumed by it, stalking the young man and wanting more, more, more. We are indeed watching a woman unravel, but we are also watching a woman lose control to possessiveness, reduced to behaving the way a man would.

Zoya Akhtar’s story may just be love without words. A sexual relationship between a bachelor and a maid who works for him. Until his parents arrive and find him a girl to marry. It is a minimal, beautiful film with Akhtar gradually and lovingly fetishising the very act of cleaning a house even as the maid begins to grow wistful. She enjoys screwing the master but it cannot lead anywhere. She knows she has no right to expect more, something she is reminded when she sees a fellow maid thrilled with discarded finery, and yet her hands tremble. For she can only dream but can never achieve it!

Banerjee showed us where actually a woman stands in most marriages, with her husband and her children. How she can be made so guilty for finding happiness in her life. For a woman to ask for a divorce is a sin. And how complicated things become, it is not okay to cheat on your spouse, but what if you are dead being with that person? You can’t leave your partner either, so what choice is she left with?

Karan Johar left us all with laughs but created a huge AF impact on many mindsets as well! To not be guilty to love yourself, and be proud of it. Being a woman, giving birth to children isn’t your only happiness. A shy young bride, having considered her entire life right upto the wedding-night as foreplay, quickly tires of the five-second intercourse her husband loves so much. Love is something that is still a taboo in our culture. Sadly, we still don’t have that many love marriages, we are not allowed to date, and our parents still decide who you are going to spend your life with.

From being possessive, not being able to dream big and make amends with your life, from having to be in a marriage that sucks the life out of you to be ashamed of loving yourself, women go through these phases and nobody wants to talk about it! Sex, marriage, divorce, affair, orgasm and lust, something that shouldn’t be taboo anymore and people need to speak up about it.

One Direction Star Liam Payne And Girlfriend Cheryl SPILT After Two Years Of Dating

The former One Direction member Liam Payne and singer/judge Cheryl took to Twitter to announce their breakup after having a relationship of two years and a baby named ‘Bear’ together.

Liam wrote to his fans, “Cheryl and I are sad to announce that we are going our separate ways. It’s been a tough decision for us to make. We still have so much love for each other as a family. Bear is our world and we ask that you respect his privacy as we navigate our way through this together.”

Meanwhile, Cheryl too tweeted about the same and quite roughly wrote the exact same statement. The two began dating all the way back in 2015, and their son Bear, 1, was born just last year on March 22, 2017. In announcing his birth, Liam wrote on Instagram, “I’m incredibly lucky to welcome our new baby boy into the world. It’s a moment that I will never forget for the rest of my life and my favorite memory I have so far.”

Check out their tweets here:

Cheryl’s relationship with Payne began after her divorce from French restaurateur Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini. She was previously married to the former England footballer Ashley Cole. Payne, originally from Wolverhampton, has gone on to forge a successful solo career after One Direction decided to take a break in 2015, with his song ‘Strip That Down’ being streamed globally more than a billion times. In March, Payne admitted he and Cheryl had relationship “struggles“, amid tabloid press reports about their life together.

Here are some adorable pictures of the former couple that’ll make you even more so sad about their breakup!

Signs Your Partner Is Negging You And How Toxic It Is In A Relationship!

First off, Negging isn’t cool and no one should put up with a person’s negging. It is done purely to put a person down so much against their will to get what they want out of you. It can also be said as a form of manipulation and that is very toxic in any relationship!

What exactly is negging?

Negging is an act of emotional manipulation whereby a person makes a deliberate backhanded compliment or otherwise flirtatious remark to another person to undermine their confidence and increase their need of the manipulator’s approval.

Why Negging is an Actual Form of Abuse in Relationships?

Abuse comes in many shapes and forms, sometimes it’s not easy to spot, and sometimes it might not even come across as abuse, but all abuse, no matter the form, takes an emotional toll. One form of verbal abuse is known as negging. It occurs when an individual makes a backhanded compliment or insult that is designed to undermine that person’s confidence while simultaneously giving the insulter attention as they strive for their approval. In other words, one partner is constantly putting down the other one to get attention.

So now we know what negging is and many of us, who are in a relationship might’ve remembered many things their partners have said, which may be negging, if not so sure yet, read these few signs which will tell you whether you are in a toxic relationship or not!

1) They’re Narcissist

People who are never wrong while they put everyone down and talk themselves UP, are infact, NARCISSIST. A narcissist might seem ‘open‘ with you but in reality, they just love to talk about themselves, and aren’t actually interested in what’s going on in your life. If there is… a lack of vulnerability or sharing of true feelings or interests, not only can this start to paint the picture of what may be a narcissist, but you (might be) being negged.

2) Their compliments are always backhanded

“Wow, you’re actually pretty smart!” or “You can be so beautiful when you have makeup on!” By pointing out a negative, the (one being negged) focuses on the flaw and starts trying to fix it and gain their partner’s approval. If your partner seems to exclusively give you backhanded compliments that leave you feeling hurt and puzzled instead of bolstered and happy, that could mean they’re negging you.

3) They compare you to their exes

Occasionally mentioning an ex when it’s relevant is totally normal in a relationship. But if you’re being constantly compared to an ex by your partner, it’s probably because they’re trying to make you feel insecure and second-best as a way to make you want to ‘prove yourself‘ by sticking around. Not only they are feeding negative thoughts about your ownself into your mind but also manipulating you to be in a way your partner wants you to be.

4) They’re always so busy

“Sorry babe I’m busy doing work”, “Hey I can’t meet I’m too busy” Obviously, sometimes people are just genuinely too busy to hang out. But if you’re seeing someone who is always too busy for you and makes no real effort to meet up or plan dates, that’s a red flag. Claiming to be busy all the time is a desperate attempt to show their pseudo-importance.

5) You’re the butt of the joke

Having to be able to joke around your partner and sharing laughs is great for a healthy relationship but constantly being the topic to be joked about, whether your insecurities or your habits and appearance can put your self-confidence down under the bus. If your partner often uses you as the butt of the joke that could be their way of trying to subtly put you down while passing it off as ‘humor’.

What to do if you are being negged?

If you have come to notice about your partner’s backhand compliments or jokes, or how busy their schedule is, the best you can do is to have a one-on-one conversation with them about this. You need to address the elephant in the room or it’ll damage you mentally.

Your partner’s reaction will say it all: if they’re shocked, upset, and willing to work on their behavior, then it might be worthwhile to give them a chance. But if your partner dismisses your feelings and refuses to take any blame, that’s your cue to GTFO of the relationship before their controlling, manipulative behavior escalates.

We hope this article helped you, share it with your friends, you never what really goes on inside any happy looking relationship, right?

Books Which Will Help You Overcome ‘Breakup Phase’

Breaking up can be worse for those who invested emotionally in a relationship. Whatever may be the reason, lack of trust, time issues, long distance, toxicity, unpreparedness etc. One can never be happy after breakup exception being: you were cheating on your significant other. But if you know mentally that its ‘finally over’ & it’s time to move on with your life, then its time you should really do! I know it is tad bit hard, but not impossible. Drinking & acting like a heartbroken soul won’t help nor will self-harm.

So what to do? This is the time when your soul needs you more than anyone else! Self-love is crucial. Then why not read about it? Here at The Brunette Diaries, we have a made a list of best books which will make you feel good about being with yourself again!

1. The Pisces – Melissa Broder
It is a fantastic breakup book, The Pisces is a must-read for anyone going through love addiction withdrawal. The book starts with a breakup, and while there is an erotic romantic plot with her merman rebound (just go with it), this book is definitely anything but saccharine. It’s the perfect escape for those who like to question the need to escape itself.

2. Communion : The Female Search For Love – Bell Hooks
Post-breakup, you might realize the degree to which you were holding on to the relationship because of a story you were telling yourself. If you’re ready to examine that story and the role of narratives around romantic love in your choices, bell hooks’ book (from her all-around masterful “Love Trilogy”) is for you.

My favourite quote is :

“As females in a patriarchal culture, we were not slaves of love; most of us were and are slaves of longing — yearning for a master who will set us free and claim us because we cannot claim ourselves.”

3. Milk & Honey – Rupi Kaur
Anything said about this book of poems will fall short. Let this quote say about the book itself.

“How cruel I was to myself. Giving you credit for my warmth simply because you had felt it. Thinking it was you who gave me strength. Wit. Beauty. Simply because you recognized it. As if I was already not these things before I met you. As if I did not remain all these things after you left.” The book cannot be missed!

4. Self Help – Lorrie Moore
Moore’s nine stories — touching on infidelity, trust, passion, and mortality — range from vaguely optimistic to downright depressing while maintaining the thoughtful, personal, and often funny tone that makes you feel like you’re just commiserating with a friend who’s had it worse than you.

5. Him, Her, Him Again, The End Of Him – Patricia Marx
This book which is a satirical story about a girl who has spent 10 years trying to attract a pretentious PhD student just to understand how wrong she was and how much time she wasted as a result. The story is based on the author’s own experience, and shows that your breakup might be a blessing rather than a curse.

See, getting to terms with breakup will take time, but make sure that time makes you stronger, & you make a shield over your heart so that no other person can break it thaaattttt easily! Next time, don’t fall so quickly. Because, whenever something falls, it breaks!

5 Common Lies A Guy Uses If He Is Cheating

Relationship are always beautiful. When people fall in love, the relationship always starts good but the same cannot be said about the final days. Today, very few relations last longer than a year. In the 21st century, it is easy to hate but not that easy to fall in love with someone. People are becoming liberal about relationships. It’s becoming hard to find true love in today’s fast-paced and selfish world.

There are many cases where guys have been caught cheating on their girlfriend while in a relationship. There are many bare excuses that you get to hear if your partner is cheating on you. He may try to defend himself and make you feel guilty for doubting him. But, you don’t have to feel so because you have all the right to give him a kick on his ass.

Here are 5 common lies mostly used by a guy if he is cheating on a girl:

The Interest Game:
In this world full of liking, where one has a crush on others you might face that your guy is getting attracted to another girl. After all we are all humans and can’t deny emotions. On being caught off guard, your boyfriend may shield himself saying, “She is the one who first texted me, she made the first move. She really likes me and is interested in me. I don’t want to hurt her. So, I am just being polite and trying to be a good friend of hers.” In such a situation you have to be alert as it is a sign of being wronged. He might not actually be friend-zoning and there could be a lot of brewing happening between them behind your back.

Busy Load:
If you feel that there is distance in your relationship and your guy is catching up with his other female friends, then something is definitely wrong. And, if he makes an excuse for being questioned about the same saying ‘I just wanted to spend some good time and you were busy – all my friends were too busy in working and she was the only one who was willing, then be very careful. This is a sure indication that he is interested in her. Sometimes it is possible but not every time that you are busy somewhere and she is the only person available for him to hang out with.

Be Open-Minded:
Most men blame women for overthinking and being conservative. This is one of the most common excuses men usually use to shift the blame on their girlfriends. Whenever you put a question about his whereabouts, he avoids answering you and start blaming you that you are being over-possessive and this is blowing out of proportion. He may try to convince you that she is just a friend and nothing more than that. He may ask you to “Stop being so conservative, please!” Please be open-minded but that does not mean letting your partner stray around and let them go with anyone.

Secret Dates:
There might be someone who you will meet for the first time and meeting someone will not matter until your intention is clear. The intentions you have and how honest you are with your partner matters a lot. The next time your boyfriend (whom you suspect is cheating on you) gives you this coffee excuse, or he is meeting with his female colleague late night, or hanging around – you know what to answer. It is not only about hanging out with someone from the opposite sex – it’s about your intentions.

Eye On Social Media:
Social media is good – now a day’s people fall in love with a simple swipe. It’s not always about being a social media influencer for your guy but some time you have to keep an eye on his activity. Your partner might has the nerve to chat (or rather flirt) with the other girl all the time, meet her every second day for no reason and most importantly, lie to you – then he is cheating on you. So, when he tells you that he is not sleeping with her, tell him that infidelity is not merely limited to a physical relationship with a third person but it is more than that.

There are many more tips that we would like to share with you to be in a healthy, safe and beautiful relationship.

Till then stay tuned to The Brunette Diaries.

How To Break Up With Your Partner

Break up can be really tough for the one who never wants to leave. By seeing one in love, it is not easy for the other to take this difficult decision and tell him or her that it’s not working. You don’t want to hurt their feelings. You don’t want to break their heart.

But, if you have decided to move on, then you have to tell them that ‘it’s time to say good bye.’ But how do you do that without being insensitive?

Here are a few tips to help you break up with your partner on a not so bad note:

JUST BE SURE:
Are you sure you want to leave him or her? Have you decided to move on? Write down on a paper all the reasons that have pushed you to break up with him or her. Be clear. Be sure yourself first before telling your decision to your partner. Visualize your life without them.

Are you able to manage? Are you able to walk life’s road alone? Would you not miss them? If you get all the answers clearly, then go ahead and tell them.

FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE:
If you have decided to break up with your partner then you have to focus on the negative moments more. The reason is, if you keep focusing on the positive, you will not be able to leave him or her. There are happy and sad moments in every relationship. People can’t move on when they think of only happy time together.

Remember, that time has gone. It has passed. Today, the situation is different. You have taken a decision for a reason. Stick to it and tell yourself that you have fallen out of love and convey the same to your partner.

BE SENSITIVE:
Breaking up can be really painful, not just for the one who will be left behind but also for the person who is doing the leaving. Be sensitive, be kind. Don’t use harsh words.

Don’t hurt them and don’t give them mixed signals that you might come back. You have to tell them clearly that you have decided to leave and the message should be conveyed to the other person without disrespecting their feelings.

DECIDE THE MAIN REASON:
Now you decide whether you should call them in some restaurant for dinner or a café to tell your decision. Whether you just want to send them a four-letter text or call them up to tell that you are breaking up with them.

This is up to you. Only you know how easy or difficult it is going to be for you to tell this to them.

LIVE IN PRESENT:
Now that you have told them and they have left, you are free. Stop thinking about how he or she is going to feel or if you have done the right thing. It is your life and you have taken this decision for some reason. Think about all of the things you are now free to do.

Go on a holiday, do whatever you want to do. Your partner is no longer your partner now. He/She is your ex, your past. Don’t ruin your present and future by thinking of your past. Breaking up was not easy for you too. Now that you have done it, leave it there and move on.

Valentine’s Week: 5 Places In Mumbai To Celebrate Valentine’s Day

Every year all the people who are in love wait for this day. But if it’s your first Valentine’s with your long time crush and you want it just perfect – we are here to help you.

While you are proposing someone or taking someone out on a date we will give you with some exotic place where you can celebrate your valentine’s day.

Let’s take a look at a few restaurants you can choose from to impress all this Valentine’s Day date.

1. Olive Bar and Kitchen, Khar

USP: Great Valentine’s Day Party, nice music and a treat to match your partner’s foot in a romantic dance.

2. Gostana, Bandra West

USP: Hands down, the best place to relax in peace, enjoy yummy burgers, read together with your favourite book.

3. Pali Village Cafe, Pali Hill

USP: A quiet romantic candlelight dinner with an array of wonderful dishes. The vintage and rustic ambiance is an added plus point.

4. Cafe Mangii, Powai

USP: Guilt-free, yummy pizzas and wine. This particular outlet from the many of the chain, has a beautiful lake facing seats.

5. Bayview, Colaba

USP: The beautiful sea outstretched, Gateway of India view from The Strand Hotel rooftop and cheap alcohol and candle light dinner.

Do let us know what are your plans for this Valentine in the comment section below. For more updates from the world of love stay tuned to the brunette diaries.

10 Natural Aphrodisiac Foods Proven to Spark Romance

For those confused, aphrodisiac means any fruit, drink, etc that produce sexual desire in a person. Many of us active animals don’t need to turn to such measures to spice up our sexual life, but those in need, these food can prove to be really helpful. Well, you can try them yourself with your partner and then you’ll know for sure. 😛

1) Chilli Peppers

Apart from helping a pregnant women from conceiving early, This invigorating spice has an exotic reputation and a bright red color, which could be why it’s considered a natural aphrodisiac and a symbol of love. Chilli peppers stimulate endorphins (the brain’s feel-good chemicals), speed up heart rate and make you sweat, which all mimic how you feel when you’re aroused.

2) Chocolate

A girl’s best friend, chocolate is sensual, from its taste to its aroma, but dark chocolate has also been shown to cause a spike in dopamine, which induces feelings of pleasure.

3) Honey

Food that’s created through pollination, a symbol of procreation has to be the number 1 aphrodisiac item. In fact, the word ‘honeymoon’ originates from mead, an alcoholic beverage made from honey given to the happy new bride and groom. It also contains boron, which helps regulate estrogen and testosterone levels and provides a natural energy boost.

4) Banana

Apart from looking like… well you know, Banana also contains bromelain, an enzyme which triggers testosterone production, and the fruit’s potassium and vitamin B elevate energy levels.

5) Watermelon

As surprised as I am to as why this fruit is in this list, according to scientific research this fruit may have a Viagra-like effect on the body, as it relaxes blood vessels and improves circulation. These are the myths about sex that everyone thinks are true.

6) Coffee

The caffeine in coffee is a stimulant that ups the heart rate and makes the blood flow. Research suggests that coffee could put women in the mood for sex.

7) Strawberry

If you put strawberries on a plate beside a cup of melted chocolate, chances of you getting laid triples, you don’t need any scientific study to tell you that :P. Or maybe just Feed them to each other for a healthy, vitamin C-packed dessert that helps keep blood flowing to all regions of the body.

8) Artichokes

Alright, all you dirty minds calm down, it’s not what you think it is. This veggie’s aphrodisiac reputation comes mostly from legend and the intimacy of eating it with another, pulling off the leaves to reach the center. But it is packed with vitamins and antioxidants, which are critical to proper body function and blood flow.

9) Chai Tea

Skip the coffee after dinner and reach for a cup of chai tea. The typical spices in this brew—ginger, cloves, and cinnamon—will get the blood flowing but the caffeine effect is less, so you’ll still be able to drift off to sleep after your meal.

10) Whipped Cream

Decadent yet light as air, it just isn’t dessert without this rich topping. While there’s no evidence that whipped cream will boost libido, it’s sure to put you in the mood. You can also try and come up with exciting or kinky ways to use this aphrodisiac item to make the mood.

Let us know if this list of item got you excited in any way in the comment section below.