It seems like all I've been doing for the past two weeks is consuming and imbibing calorie-laden foods and drinks without a care in the world. I figured that if the world ends on December 21 as predicted by the Mayans, I will have at least died happy and well-fed. But alas, the world did not end and like it or not, I will soon have to deal with the consequences of my over-eating. But until Jan 1 rolls around and I have to start training for the Empire State Building Run-Up (more on that soon!), I will continue to indulge myself.

Hi everyone! Guess it’s been a while since you heard from us. Admittedly, we’ve been a bit sporadic with blogging lately. With a hectic work schedule, busy holiday season, and our recent travels, blogging has taken a backseat. No worries, right? These are all part of the blogging ups and downs. Sometimes life gets in the way, sometimes you worry about not posting often enough, sometimes you want a break from it, and sometimes you wonder what the point of your blog is at all. But at the end of the day, we started this blog not for anyone else but for us. So even if the blog has no point, no theme, or no consistency, we’re okay with it…or learning to be okay with it. Do any of you feel that way?

Well, after that random rant...here’s a review of a play I attended last weekend: On a gloomy and rainy Sunday afternoon, my husband and I made our way into Clurman Theatre where “Bumbug: The Musical” was set to play. We weren’t sure what to expect – we’d only heard that this was a holiday-themed musical produced by Indians with mainly Indian actors. Once the show got going, it took little time to realize that this is a “desi” version of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol". In this story, the central character is an Indian immigrant aptly named Scroogewala who runs a convenience store in New York City, all lonely and jaded. There’s the love interest of Scroogewala, Sunita, who opens her heart to him despite her own fears and misgivings. And finally, there’s the ghost who shows Scroogewala his past, present, and future and teaches him to let go of his hang-ups and freakin’ accept love in his life already! The storyline was familiar, of course, but there was a parallel narrative about the homesickness, isolationism, and loneliness faced by immigrants in the United States and how they learn to deal with these difficulties. While there were no surprises with how the story ended, the 1.5 hour-long show was certainly entertaining with a cast of talented actors/singers and musicians. My absolute favorite part of the show? A hilarious performance by Sunita's mother on how to seduce a boy! I thought the whole musical was a good mix of comedy and emotional depth. Go watch it while the show is still running!

The stage setup...notice the many, many boxes of Indian Kingfisher beer!

Most women have a love/hate relationship with makeup. With the appropriate time and chosen fabulous venue, wearing makeup and getting ready can be quite enjoyable. But the feelings of disgust normally occur around 7:15am on a Tuesday morning, when sleep has managed to evade you the night before and an outlook calendar filled with meeting lies ahead. Makeup then becomes the bane of your existence. Where the heck is your makeup morning fairy godmother when you need her? Fret not ladies – there is a basic beauty roadmap that you can follow that can meet your daily professional needs. Below is a collage of products curated by yours truly (next stop the Guggenheim ya’ll), that could easily create a polished, chic look each morning even if applied pre-caffeine.

One Saturday morning, the Urban Mantra sisters and a couple of friends decided to get brunch at the Lower East side. With so many options, we struggled to pick a place. We eventually settled on Beauty & Essex and…hallelujah! We were able to get reservations just a day in advance! Considering that dinner reservations at Beauty & Essex are next to impossible to get (you have to call a month in advance or be prepared to accept a dinner rez at 5pm), we got pretty lucky with a spot for brunch. If you’ve never been, Beauty & Essex has an interesting set-up. Upon entering, you appear to be in what looks like a pawn shop with charming, old-fashioned trinkets and collectibles. But don’t let that fool you into thinking you’re in the wrong place…

After admiring the pretty brooches and rings on display in the pawn shop, we made our way past a set of double doors which led into a strikingly different setting. Warm, glowing lights, a spiral staircase, and a lavish décor greeted us inside the main restaurant. The menu offerings were just as unexpected and enjoyable. Though prices were a little steep and the portions for some dishes on the smaller side, these limitations were quickly made up by the taste of the food. We HIGHLY recommend the warm, melt-in-your-mouth blueberry scones (we ordered two rounds of these!) and the kale and apple salad. As for drinks, nothing says summery and refreshing like the Platinum Peacock made from cucumbers, apples, and mint! Check out some pictures from our sumptuous meal there.

Needless to say, we had a lovely experience at Beauty & Essex and are now trying to get reservations to check out the night scene there. Unless of course, we settle for the night scene at 5pm…


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Why is it that weekends fly so fast and weekdays seem to last forever? To stay upbeat through a long work week, I often like to indulge in something that's just for me - whether it's rocking out at my Bollywood dance class, zen-ing out at yoga, or starting my day off right at my favorite coffee shop...

I get inexplicable joy out of the simple act of enjoying a wholesome cup of coffee paired with some carbs - whether it's a bagel, croissant, scone, muffin, or cupcake (I think I get it from my mother)! Today, with a sinfully soft apricot-thyme scone and a frothy cappuccino in hand, I could do no wrong. Hey, it's the little things that get you through the day, right? Thank you, Stumptown Coffee!

Readers, what are things you like to do to get through the week?

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There are not many things that scare me, but among the few horror-inducing things in my life is "wine in a can" (cue horror flick music). Don't get me wrong, I'm not a wine snob by any means. I like to think that I have a somewhat discerning taste but for the most part, I appreciate wine in all shapes and sizes. Except in a can. The idea itself is brilliant - cans are convenient to carry around, especially in outdoorsy places, and they allow you to enjoy small portions if you don't want to open a whole bottle. However, I've generally found wine in a can to be a disappointing experience. Even with fancy packaging and marketing gimmicks of "premium quality" labeling, I've found the flavor of canned wine to be mediocre at best. There's always something not-quite-right about the taste. Stale, flat, or lacklustre, you might say.

Enter the Sofia Blanc de Blancs Mini. It's sparkling wine in a can which, I dare say, is a game-changer. This product has been around since 2004 but clearly I got the memo a few years too late. I just discovered it recently at a wine store when searching for a bottle of chilled white wine. Something about the color of the can and its fancy lettering appealed to me, and I decided to try it (who says you need an occasion to pop open a small can of bubbly?). Turns out, I quite enjoyed it. There was definitely something right about the taste. Crisp, zesty, or effervescent, I would say.

According to an article I read, the Sofia Blanc de Blancs Mini targets a female crowd with an image of being a breezy clubgoer's drink. Well, whether you enjoy it at a bar or in the comfort of your home, whether it's for an occasion or not, I would recommend trying it. Perhaps a way to start off the weekend on a bubbly note?


What about you readers? What do you think of boxed or canned wine?

With spring finally here, I’m so excited to shed off the bulky coats and jackets from the winter. Which means it is now time to fish into the depths of my closet for clothes better suited for the warmer temperatures coming our way. It’s also a grrrreat excuse for some spring shopping (do some spring cleaning to get rid of the old, make way for the new!).

      As someone who has had a mixed experience with online shopping, I’m generally a little wary of the whole process. But not too long ago, I learned about this unique online retailer called Stitch Fix. It took me a while to actually try it out from the time I first discovered it but now, I’m hooked. Stitch Fix is a service that offers customers their “fix” of 5 items of apparel and/or accessories in their mailbox upon request. It works like this:

1.  You start off by taking a detailed personal style survey on the Stitch Fix website. 
2. Soon after, a package is sent to you with 5 goodies based on your aforementioned size and style preferences. 
3. You try the items out in the privacy of your home and keep what you like, return what you don’t.

What’s fun about this service is the element of surprise associated with it. I get quite excited when I receive my Stitch Fix box because I don’t quite know what I’ll find in there! But I do know that I will find on-trend apparel and accessories customized to me and within my specified budget. In my experience, their selections have generally been pretty spot-on. Sometimes I’ll receive an item which forces me to give it a second look even though I wouldn’t normally consider wearing it. I also love the tags that are provided with ideas on how to pair each article of clothing to achieve different looks. Talk about an affordable online personal stylist!

Getting ready with spring colors - items from a recent Stitch Fix package

Stitch Fix tags that come with the clothes

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Katrina Lake, CEO of Stitch Fix. As co-founder of this startup along with Erin Flynn, Katrina is an admirable example of female entrepreneurs. Over a delicious lunch in SoHo, a small group of Stitch Fix consumers like me met with Katrina and had a lively conservation about the business. Katrina was keen on speaking to consumers and learning about their experience with Stitch Fix and how to improve it. From my end, I enjoyed learning the concept behind Stitch Fix, how it works behind the scenes, and the challenges of expanding a startup. It was also interesting to learn about the wide customer base, from a scientist in NASA to a writer for the TV show 30 Rock! Well, they can now add me, a medical writer, to their list!

If you’re curious to try out Stitch Fix, here’s the link to get you started: http://stitchfix.com/users/signup/?referrer_id=3004821. Happy Spring Shopping!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone! In the spirit of the day of all things sweet, I thought I’d share my thoughts on the latest food fad: cupcakes! As a self-proclaimed cupcake connoisseur who has lived in cupcake-crazed cities like NYC and DC, I’ve been around the so-called cupcake block a few times! And while all cupcakes may seem cute and enticing, I’m sad to say that not all cupcakes are made equal.

You meet all sorts of snobs in big cities like NYC and DC – there are wine snobs, culinary snobs, cupcake snobs, etc... According to my friends, I am what you call a “massage snob”. Why, you ask? Well, there is nothing quite like the pampered feeling from a massage and having all the worries and stresses of the day pushed out of your body.  But over time, I find that I have developed a discerning taste when it comes to massages. Early on, I used to typically go for a Swedish massage, the classic massage treatment offered at spas and that most people are probably familiar with. For those receiving a massage for the first time, the Swedish is an excellent place to start as it reduces stress without pressing too deeply into your muscles.

While I can appreciate the candles, nature music, and serene environment during a Swedish massage, it often feels too "frou frou" for me (the snob comes out, ha!)….and sometimes a girl’s just gotta get a massage with some elbow grease put into it! Coming from Asia, I’m partial to the acupressure treatments and Thai massages. Acupressure, also known as Tui Na massage, is a traditional Chinese technique derived from acupuncture. Instead of needles, the masseuse applies some mean pressure to different parts of your body (the energy-carrying meridian points) to improve blood circulation and reduce stress. I didn’t really know what to expect in my first Tui Na massage, and let me tell you, it certainly isn’t for the faint-hearted! My masseuse really kneaded deep into muscles I didn’t even know existed! I eventually got used to the pressure and found it immensely relaxing! Tui Na definitely feels like a deep tissue massage, and there is a science behind it which makes me blissfully feel like I’m doing something beneficial for my body.

Similarly, my experiences in Bangkok have made me a believer in the healing powers of the traditional Thai massage technique. Thai massages apply firm pressure alongside yoga-like stretches to relieve muscle pressure and improve flexibility. To me, Thai massages feel like a personal yoga training session, where the masseuse pulls your body in different directions and angles you didn’t know you could turn! Don’t be surprised if you hear yourself gasp or try to catch your breath as the masseuse yanks your torso crazily from left to right. While I’ve probably sufficiently scared you away from trying a Thai massage, I would highly recommend trying one! New York City has a couple places with Thai massage treatments that come pretty close to the ones you’ll get in Bangkok (e.g. Dusnee Thai Spa).

While it may be fun to get a massage, they can easily start pinching your budget. I’m always on the lookout for good spa and massage deals. I’ve found Lifebooker to be helpful in NYC, and LivingSocial and Groupon to be occasionally helpful in DC. There is also a National Spa Week, where local spas offer MAJOR discounts for spa therapies. Check out http://www.spaweek.com to receive alerts and discounts!

What are your favorite massages?