San Francisco is a wonderful city with its picturesque oceans, colorful architecture, crazily steep hills and trend-setting culture. Despite being home to the world's best start-up hub, the mighty Silicon Valley that makes and breaks trends on-the-go, San Francisco has become a city focused on slow living, where minimalist and conscious lifestyle is thriving. Did you know that SFO has committed to going waste-free by the year 2020? San Francisco is also well-known for setting many food trends and its innovative eateries top the list of best restaurants in the world. It has been beckoned by people who love to eat for decades. So naturally, the vegan food scene of the city is also top-class (my favorite vegan restaurants in San Francisco are listed below too). If you're a newbie on the turf, a word of caution. SFO is also home to many homeless people with plenty dodgy neighborhoods. I found myself unearthing some pretty ghastly locales on my last trip, and was almost mugge

Stepping into New Year, believing in myself and the power of good. All sparkle and shine. I choose to compete with my ego, procrastination, anger, not with other people I choose to think outside the box I choose to create new paths, not always follow them I choose to never let vanity take over my ethics I choose to buy less, choose well and make it last I choose to give back to society, not just keep taking from it I choose to be a better version of myself everyday Wearing Tamara Jarmon Top, River Island Skirt, Prada Handbag, Sissi London Shoes Some old, some new - the bag I am wearing has been in my wardrobe for over 8 years now. Everything I buy, I've committed to wearing it atleast a 25-times. I am making a conscious effort to choose ethical brands over fast fashion, and while I am not even close to keeping up to this commitment, I am not giving up on this. Ethical brands in Dubai can be harder to find, not always fitting the pocket and shopping online can s

Upma-style quinoa is a delicious and nutritious twist to the classic upma that can be eaten hot (as I like it) or cold and is perfect for breakfast or a light (early) dinner. While I love my quinoa salads , a change is always good. In case you didn't know, upma is a South Indian recipe made with semolina and spices, sometimes perked up with veggies. Some of the best quinoa recipes are cold, but when it comes to dinner I prefer a hot meal that's light yet filling and, of course, nutritious. So when I need something easy and nutritious for dinner, this is my go-to recipe. Quinoa is a nutrition powerhouse, its gluten-free and low in calories. It is a complete protein containing all 9 amino acids (a great vegan protein source), high in fiber, and also iron. This simple quinoa recipe (I call it quinoa upma) is my go-to for dinner and sometimes breakfast. What I like the most is it requires minimum chopping and prep time. Its ready in no time and is yet incredibly healthy a

Sometimes you need a breakfast that doesn't only taste good and is packed with nutrition but also looks beautiful. A bright colorful Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl completely meets the job description and is the perfect quick-and-easy breakfast. I was lucky to find pink dragon fruit at the supermarket and I had to get it for making my own delicious pitaya smoothie bowl. Lots of Pitaya Smoothie Bowl recipes on the internet use the frozen pink dragon fruit, but I don't use any packaged frozen fruits or veggies ever. If I am planning a creamy smoothie bowl in the morning, I freeze fresh fruit overnight. My recommendation for preparing your smoothies is to only use fresh and seasonal fruits. They are the best kind and deliver the most nutrition and health benefits! Dragon fruit on its own doesn't have any flavor or taste but it is packed with vitamins (high in Vitamin C), minerals and is high in protein. It also gives a gorgeous pink hue to the smoothie. A delicious flavorf

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