A look inside a luxury escape to Koh Samui (or Ko Samui). It was actually a bachelorette party for which we rented a beautiful villa overlooking the ocean and set on top of a mountain, with its own infinity pool making it the perfect luxury retreat. We were so lucky to have rented a private villa place instead of staying in a hotel because this beautiful ocean-view villa made all the difference in making this bachelorette party vacation a blast. We arrived at Koh Samui by flight and rented a car for travel within the island. Although arriving by a private jet would have added the whole luxury experience to this trip! For next time, it could be worth looking into this and asking how much does a private jet cost to buy , to know whether it's worth it. The villa was located in the quiet Bophut area, and driving to this place was quite a thrill - it was located on a steep mountain and you had to drive downhill to reach the place. The villa's infinity pool and the ma

 A good quinoa salad is one of my go-to meals and I often experiment with different variations to have this superfood (if you didn't know quinoa is a nutrition powerhouse and super rich in protein too). I've fallen in love with quinoa for its versatility and simplicity. Just recently I tried quinoa salad with a Mediterranean twist and was totally surprised how well it turned out. The olives and tahini sauce give the salad a new dimension and flavor ... the combination with basic veggies turns it into a simply amazing wholesome meal. What I like most about a good quinoa salad is that not only does it not take long to get ready, but that it is also quite filling too. I N G R E D I E N T S  2 small cups organic quinoa 15-20 cherry tomatoes halved 1 cucumber diced 4-5 black olives 10 spinach leaves finely chopped Half small bowl toasted nuts (pine nuts, cashews and almonds) Dressing: Lime juice and Himalayan salt as per taste 2 tablespoons tahini sauce Black pe

We're a matcha made in heaven. When I want a quick boost of energy and stay wide awake, I have my matcha latte (prefer it iced) and never with plastic straws (you can find my perfect matcha latte recipe here ). Did you notice the bamboo straw in the picture above? I'm so glad I could finally get my hands on the reusable bamboo straws. My pledge at Faeth Sustainable & Positive Change event in March was to ditch plastic straws and I am 80% there. Why no straws? I've seen heartbreaking videos of rescuers taking out plastic straws from the nose of sea turtles and read about being stuck inside penguins and others animals, killing them. Plus, the straws can't be recycled so they end up in landfill breaking down and releasing toxins. Too put things into perspective, let me share some statistics and facts {I am after all a former economics and finance student and wealth manager - I understand it better with numbers}. Plastic takes over 200 years to decompose - but

Discovering upcoming vegan brands and new hi-tech leather alternatives  has  become my passion lately. I am always on the lookout for eco-conscious and cruelty-free brands for my wardrobe and am glad to share my current favorite vegan handbags with you.  Melie Bianco This PETA approved accessories brand from LA has become one of the most known vegan brands. Their handbags are high on style and ethics, and the best part is they aren't too heavy on the wallet either (unlike most ethical vegan brands). What I love most about Melie Bianco is their wide collection, which is always on-trend and super stylish. I got this stylish boxy crossbody from them recently and it has become my favorite go-to bag. It instantly upgrades even the simplest of outfit with its buckle and stud detailing and is roomy enough to stow in all the essentials. How eco-conscious is Melie Bianco? It isn't the most eco-friendly alternative out there, although it is vegan and sweatshop free. The material

Matcha is arguably enjoying it's fad status right now, and the world seems to be obsessed by it. The most popular of it's uses is undoubtedly the famous matcha latte but matcha chefs are turning it into everything from soups to brownies and even ice-creams. These Japanese green tea has become a must-have ingredient of the wellness freaks {like me}. What is matcha?  Matcha is a stone-ground powdered green tea used in traditional Japanese tea ceremonies for its medicinal properties and earthy taste. It's made from the nutrient-rich young leaves picked from the tips of shade-grown Camellia sinensis plants. The leaves are steamed, stemmed, and de-vined before being stone-ground into very fine powder. Why matcha latte is good for you? Matcha powder is considered a nutritional powerhouse. It contains a unique, potent class of antioxidant known as catechins, which aren't found in other foods. Let's say, among antioxidants, catechins are the most potent and benefic

A weekend at Qasr Al Sarab located in the middle of Liwa desert was more than I'd hoped for. An oasis in the middle-of-the-desert that allows you to disconnect from the muddied mind of modern lives and experience the luxury of pristine nature in the beautiful desert setting, where there is only the beauty of golden sands for as far as you can see, and beyond, beautiful sunset and sunrise to marvel at the nature yet understand the fragile nature of our existence and reflect about our life and its journey, and evenings under the beauty of stars. Our escape to this beautiful and majestic desert resort was one that definitely left me enchanted and an amazing service that made it a holiday worth its while!

Kat Von D Shade + Light Contouring Palette Choosing the perfect contouring palette can be a daunting task, especially if you're not a contouring pro {like me}. In the world of contouring, Kat Von D's Shade + Light Palette is the most popular - and I must tell you it's totally worth the hype. I recently got this vegan and cruelty-free palette and am totally in love with it. It has three highlighting shades and three contouring shades to complement most skin tone. I have a medium skin (Indian complexion) and it looks perfect on me. I am not much into contouring, but even for me, it wasn't that difficult to use. The creamy matte powders are easy to use and blendable and the best part is - it doesn't leave any ashiness {problem with most powder palettes}. The black packaging is quite beautiful too. Totally recommended! Free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates and animal ingredients. It's available at Sephora. Anastasia Sugar Glow Kit My 2018 goal is

This has become my go-to smoothie as I am trying to eat healthily, shed some weight and also need to do something about my hair (it's thinning and the hair fall is bad). It's also a great smoothie for those times when we are deprived of raw green food and need a lot of nutrition with minimum fuss. It has detoxifying benefits (excellent after travel fix) and perfect  when we need to balance an earlier indulgent meal. This smoothie is alkalizing, hydrating, helps in cleansing, aids in weight-loss, antioxidant-rich and easy to digest - all this with minimal prep time. I've moved to a new office and have very little time sometimes when I am running around for meetings. This green smoothie makes a convenient meal on days when I don't have much time to sit and chew and have to work long hours. It gives me all the nutrients I need and is packed with immunity boosting ingredients like ginger. Green veggies are packed with chlorophyll and are much needed to give you all