10 Reasons Why You Should Not Get Married

The Wedding Season or “The Fifth Season” in Pakistan is on its peak and I am sure most of you must have attended some dozens of weddings by now. I have no intention of bashing the institution of marriage, I just want you to all to make informed and well thought decisions because for me marriage is the most important decision of one’s life and it has the power of making you soar in the sky or drowning you in depths of despair.

1- Don’t get married if you’re looking for financial stability. It’s 21st century and though it’s nice if someone pays your bills don’t get dependent on anyone. Do it full time, half time or anyway you like but DO something.

2- Don’t get married because you’re of an age. There’s no perfect age for marriage. Marry only when you’re mentally prepared and ready for it.

3- Don’t get married because everyone else is. I know it looks lucrative and tempting but you have to stand up to this peer pressure. If you don’t, things can go from bad to worse.

4- Don’t get married if you don’t have compatibility with your partner to be even if you’re engaged or your wedding date is set. The lack of compatibility can lead to disharmony and arguments. You can’t live a happy life if you’re not compatible.

5- You shouldn’t get married if you cannot take your own responsibility. Firstly you have to be self sufficient. If you cannot take care of your own self how can you take care of your spouse. It applies to both girls and boys. We often 

6- You shouldn’t get married because your parents are forcing you. It’s your life and should be the one steering it’s course. Only you know what makes you happy and whether it’s right time or not.

7- Getting married because you think it’s an obligation and be done with it is the worst mistake you can ever make. It can make or break your life and you. All people are not meant to be married and yes they exist and don’t deserve to experience it and regret it.

8- Don’t get married if you take it as an escape from your life. It will only disappoint you because marriage comes with its own set of challenges.

9- Don’t get married if you’re attracted to someone based on their physical appearance only. Your desired trait may fade away with time and would bring you only disappointment and disillusionment.

10- You should not get married because it’s an achievement and since everyone is getting married and having babies you feel left out. You don’t have relatable gossip material, when your friends are talking about #couplegoals and #loveisintheair you sit there staring. Do it when you are ready for it. You want to cherish it and not turn it in some sort of competition.

Daraz Successful Black Friday Venture

Daraz has created history with its first BFS (Black Friday Sale) in Pakistan. There was something for everyone. All deals were tempting enough to try the patience of even a miser :P The website was stuck for sometime due to heavy traffic. The response was enormous but not unexpected as everyone loves a good bargain. Below is their infographic which will make you await their next sale.

Black Friday in Pakistan for First Ever Time

Bonjour! A few days ago I received an email stating a black friday event. I was about to delete it as I have subscribed to international websites and assumed it was from one of those websites when my eyes spotted Daraz name. I became alert at once. I had a previous shopping experience which is still the best online experience yet. They announced that they are introducing Black Friday sale in Pakistan. Now those of you who are unaware of its "significance" Black Friday is the biggest shopping event held every year where all the shopaholics and junkies shop till they drop. This shopping marathon gives you great discounts and ensure budget buys. Never heard it before? Well in Pakistan we usually celebrate all the festivals by sudden inflation but this Daraz has come forward and brought in its wake "First Ever Black Friday in Pakistan".

What Daraz has to say about it:

                             "Wednesday, November 25, 2015. Leading e-commerce platform Daraz.pk announces the launch of Black Friday, the biggest sale event around the globe, on November 27 at www.daraz.pk/black-friday.

The Black Friday concept has been incredibly popular around the world with massive discounts and unbelievable deals, making it the shopping event of the year. And now, in partnership with Easypay, Ponds, PTCL, InnJoo & Mediatek, Daraz.pk is introducing the concept in Pakistan with discounts up to 70% across categories for the fastest fingers. This is the first time Pakistani shoppers will enjoy a sale of such a scale – it will be a 24-hour marathon of incredible deals and crazy discounts on original and genuine products giving shoppers the best experience they can imagine."

And the best thing is that it is HAPPENING tonight. How amazing is that? You can have your pick of desired products without getting into the hassle of standing queues, rubbing shoulders with strangers and suffocating with crowd. Your bucket list fulfillment is just a click away. I would suggest you to avail this amazing offer to its fullest as they have further discounts. Take a nap and be ready before the event and have a merry-go-round. 

I have made my list and I am about to take nap so I may later stay awake :P come on we all love sales and "the biggest sale of the year" is indeed interesting. So i'll bid you all adieu.

Stay Blessed

Reappearance

Bonjour! You guys might be thinking where have I disappeared. Have I already achieved the status of someone whose disappearance is missed or I have given up blogging altogether. Well the answer is I have been so unmotivated for past sometimes. I have literally become a couchpotato. I still have not figured out what happened to me but I am thankful for the wakeup call :) I hope to blog more and stay active in my personal life as well. I have made a little note of to do list this month and blogging is on top :P I really missed it and I hope that I remain steadfast and continuous.

This absence has given me a lot of time to think about new ideas and I am really excited to execute those ideas. There will be definitely something for everyone. As, I have always mentioned that I created this space as a medium of expression for myself and my city.

Okay enough of this rant. I'll be back with an amazing news in my next blogpost.

Stay blessed

#ReviewTime Eye Studio® Color Tattoo® 24HR Cream Gel Shadow - Permanent Taupe

Bonjour! Today I am very excited as I am going to post my first makeup review ^-^ I have slightly hooded eyes and oily eyelids and trust me it’s a nightmare for eye makeup lovers. My eye makeup always ends up creased and smudged. In my quest to find an eye shadow which stays put on my eyes I stumbled across  Eye Studio® Color Tattoo® 24HR Cream Gel Shadow and saw Maybelline claims of “Cream gel smooths on for vibrant color that does not fade”  instantly I decided to buy it. I bought it in shade “Permanent Taupe” as I am more into neutral colors. It won me over after first use. It’s easy to apply and stays put for 13 hours (it’s the longest I wore it). It does not need a primer as its quite opaque on its own. It is applied evenly unlike powder shadows where I am always afraid of uneven application. I have swatched it below:

Good Points:

Its staying power is commendable.

It is budget friendly.

It is easy to use even for beginners.

It is locally available.

It can be used as a stand-alone eyeshade.

Not So Good Points:

                It is a little difficult to remove.

                It offers only a limited range of colors.

                It can dry up pretty soon due to its gel formula.

Honestly, I am so in love with this eye shade that I cannot think of anything negative about. With upcoming wedding season it’s going to be my best friend.  Next I am planning to get “Bad to the Bronze”.  Thank you for reading my blog. Do share your experience if you have tried it :)

Stay Blessed.

Eid-ul-Adha 2015

A scene from animal market

Bonjour! Eid-ul-Adha is one of the two most important religious celebrations of Muslims. It is celebrated to honor the memory of Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S) who passed the test of Allah (S.W.T). Allah wanted to test his faith so He asked Ibrahim to sacrifice his son in the name of Allah. Ibrahim agreed and his agreement won him not only the love of Allah but that of all the Muslims who seek inspiration from him. Since then Muslims all over the world slaughter the animals (lamb, goat, cow, camel) to revive

                Eid in Pakistan is celebrated with pomp and show. Children wait for this occasion throughout the year because they not only get a chance to celebrate but they get  a chance to flaunt their sacrifice (animal) in front of their friends so one get to see a lot of groomed cows and goats. Butchers are the guest of honor of this Eid as they are booked in advance. If I say that a butcher is the most coveted of the men on Eid it won’t be wrong. People conspire, plot and bribe to get the butcher earlier :P It’s all part of Eid fun which everyone enjoy.

                Tend your sacrifice well as the real reason of this sacrifice is not the slaughtering of animals but the sacrifice of your beloved thing in the name of your Creator. I know goats turn rogue before Eid but still do your part ;) Types of (bakra) goats:

1-      Angry young bakra – who pushes everyone who comes closer

2-      Run away bakra – who is prone to leave you without warning and you spend half the time searching him

3-      Naïve bakra – who is exploited by the little ones in your family who not only make him run in goat races but try to ride him :P

4-      Subdued bakra – who looks and bleats so weak that you are afraid that he might die a natural death and won’t give you a chance to sacrifice him

                Coming to the Eid day preparation I would suggest you to keep the snacks light for guests as everyone will be consuming lots of fat and cholesterol rich food later in the day. You may serve Spanish Margarita, fresh fruit juice, fruit salad, vegetable pasta and cupcakes. Roasted liver can also be presented to the guests as it’s prepared for the fasting people.

                In all this hustle and bustle do not forget yourself. As fall has approached, you have finally got the reason to wear dark colors. Wear a statement lipstick and rock it this Eid. As the weather is cooling down you can let your hair loose instead of braids and buns. A nice blow dry would go well with any look.

                At the end, I would urge you to celebrate this day as our religion has instructed us i.e. do not forget the poor and needy in your happiness as sharing increases the happiness. This would not only give you a self satisfaction but it would also please your Maker who in return would bestow His blessings on you in this world and hereafter.

Stay Blessed.

NOTE : These are all google images.

BEFORE

AFTER

To Buy Online or Not To Buy Online - DARAZ

Ecommerce is a relatively unknown and new genre in Pakistan specially in smaller cities. Its the most convenient and hassle-free shopping option. WHY? Because you don't have to go to markets and bargain with the sellers, you get your desired products delivered to your doorsteps. Besides the pros its cons are: you have to trust the seller, he can sell you a counterfeit product claiming to be genuine, delivery can be delayed sometimes, your order can be misplaced and so on and so forth. So I decided to bring to my lovely readers an overview and introduction to online companies. Today, I am beginning with DARAZ.

 (1) How was Daraz conceptualized?

Daraz.pk is a venture of the world's largest internet incubator, Rocket Internet. After successfully establishing Jumia, which has the same model as eBay, in 9 countries, Rocket Internet saw potential in Pakistan and introduced the concept here - creating the largest ecommerce portal in the country. Daraz has now transcended in Bangladesh and Myanmar as well. 

(2) How old is Daraz?

Daraz.pk came to existence about 3 years ago - it started off as a fashion company and then soon started selling a wide assortment of general merchandise as well. Daraz has the widest product assortment - currently it has over 1000 brands and 50,000 products.  

(3) Tell us something about the founder/founders of Daraz.

Rocket Internet approached Muneeb Maayr and Farees Shah with the concept and the two, together, cofounded the company, making it the leading ecommerce store in Pakistan, today. 

(4) What prompted them to launch such a service? Is it a legally established online brand in country? (Just to clarify to our readers: People usually comment whether your products you sell are original or otherwise.)

We are a massive multinational company and not just some small scale website that started selling products. We have official partnerships with brands who create their webstores on Daraz.pk. Our products are 100% original we are a marketplace for all brands who use us as their official online retailers.

(5) How many products do you offer to people to choose from?

Over 50,000 products.

(6) How does the team function i.e. the process to get the goods to the consumer? 

We have a team of 400 people working for us, every department has its own designated responsibilities to ensure smooth sailing, we have proper warehousing and a strong logistics system - everything is very systematic and under control. 

(7) Are you satisfied with the customers’ response to your business?

More than 200,000 to 250,000 people visit Daraz daily that is more than 10 times the footfall at the busiest mall in the country - that goes to show how we have a massive customer base. 

(8) How do you think social media helps one have a successful business?

Social media is absolutely incredible. The thing with traditional marketing such as TV, radio or billboards is that its not targeted, everybody sees everything; however with social media you can do targeted marketing, which means you can make only people who are your target audience view your products. Social Media channels are also a great way to gauge how much your brand is loved - we have over 2.4 million fans on Facebook at this point, that's pretty amazing. 

(9) What's the scope of online business in Pakistan?

E-commerce in Pakistan is at a turning point, it has seen a massive boom. The current size of $30 million is expected to go up to $600 million in the next two years.  

(10) A piece of advice for the buyers.

If you haven't shopped on Daraz yet, it's time you do. We are your complete lifestyle solution. We have made everything according to your convenience, offering all modes of payment, free delivery, customer service and a 7-day return policy if you don't like what you've bought. It's definitely worth a try.