Posts in category: Life Style

The internet’s current obsession? Protein. Starting the day off with protein for breakfast—AKA a meal with around 30 grams—can have a dramatically positive effect on your day. Studies show that having protein for breakfast can help one have a clearer mind, fewer PMS symptoms, more energy, and better concentration. Here’s how I was able to up my protein consumption, getting between 28 and 32 grams every morning. And after doing it for a month, spoiler alert: I have no plans to stop.

Why protein is so important

Most people have already internalised the importance of a protein-rich diet: Protein supports the body in building and repairing muscles, skin, and organs and helps in the production of enzymes and hormones that control our metabolism and immune system.

Protein is especially important for women because it helps regulate hormones like estrogen and progesterone, as well as plays a role in mood and sleep. A lack of protein can also lead to hormonal imbalances.

damircudic

How to get 30 grams of protein at breakfast

I used to eat a single boiled egg in the morning, which I now know is only 7 grams of protein. Here’s how I revamped my breakfast to make it bigger, better, and filled with lots of healthy, filling foods. I currently switch between three dishes to get enough protein for breakfast:

• An omelette made with three eggs, a cup of cottage cheese, and a side of cucumbers, avocado, and tomatoes
• 8 ounces of full-fat Greek yogurt topped with flaxseeds, organic berries, and a tablespoon of almond butter
• A recipe by Seline Pettersen that I stumbled across by chance: Boil 50 grams of rolled oats in unsweetened almond milk, add half a banana and mash with a fork, mix in cinnamon and berries (frozen organic berry mix), and finish with 8 ounces of cottage cheese. Yes, the cottage cheese sounds out of place, and I was also reluctant at first. But the combination of sweet and salty is heavenly—and everyone who’s tried it so far confirms this!

All three breakfast alternatives can be varied using spices or by changing their preparation, and they keep me full for several hours.

How a protein-filled breakfast has changed my life

Eating such a protein-rich meal first thing in the morning or mid-morning definitely gives me more energy throughout the day, something I noticed on day one. I also realised I’m never distracted by snacks at work, and I feel full until lunch. Consuming a higher amount of protein in the morning has brought much more calm into my day.

This story first appeared on Vogue.com

Also read:

Are you getting enough protein? Here’s how to tell, according to an expert

The secret to gaining more muscle may lie in a high-protein, healthy breakfast

The best time to eat breakfast, according to a nutritional expert

Meeting a potential partner should be exciting, but the nerves and pressure can easily make things… uncomfortable and intimidating. That’s where prepping a few questions for a first date can come in handy: A good one will prevent much-dreaded silence and maybe even spark some real chemistry.

“We ideally want conversations to flow organically,” says Payal Patel, a marriage and family therapist. But let’s be honest: You’re with a person you don’t know in an unfamiliar yet intimate setting, and the stress can be intense—especially when you’re worried about making a solid first impression or anticipating yet another dating horror story. Awkward silences are bound to happen, but Patel says the right questions for a first date can ease some of that initial tension and in a perfect world, eventually lead to smooth, engaging chats that feel organic, not scripted.

So if you’re hoping to skip the cliché small talk (Where do you live? What do you do for work? Tell me your life story?) and build a real connection, here are a few expert-approved options to help you break the ice and see if there’s potential for a second date.

First, what makes a “good” conversation starter?

No matter the topic, what’s important is that your conversation starters actually start conversations. For that reason, Rachel Zar, PhD, LMFT, AASECT-certified sex therapist at Avid Intimacy in Chicago, tells SELF that it’s best to stick with open-ended questions that’ll invite more than just a one-word response. Instead of saying, “Do you want kids?” for instance, try, “How do you feel about having kids?” The latter opens the door to a real discussion rather than a potential dead end.

It also helps to lean into things you know they are into, Dr. Zar adds. Depending on how you connected, you probably already have a little background like the job they’ve had for five years, say, or their pets all over their dating profile. “People love talking about themselves, and they’ll light up when you mention things they’re passionate about,” she says.

However, conversations are a two-way street—even if you come up with the most thought-provoking questions, it doesn’t mean much if you’re not actively contributing. Chances are, they’ll probably ask a few predictable basics—how your day was, what your hobbies include, etc. In that case, Dr. Zar says “it can take the edge off to have a story or two ready about something that happened to you this week, or a personal interest you’re excited to talk about.” That way, you’re not left drawing a blank and adding to any awkward vibes.

In 2023, ‘bed rotting’ was touted as a revolutionary form of self-care against a culture that incentivises productivity. By 2024, ‘sleepmaxxing’—the pursuit of perfect sleep—was trending on TikTok. Research has identified Gen Z as the most stressed-out demographic, with an alarming increase in mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Perhaps sleeping well is their way of reclaiming some control in a world where the odds are stacked against them. Hotels are rushing to get a slice of the pie too, marketing sleep programmes that promise elevated energy levels, a stronger immune system, improved memory, and, as per Six Senses Vana, even ‘a youthful glint in your eye’. At The Ananta Udaipur, ‘hush pillows’ made from duck feathers shape themselves to the contours of the guest’s head to facilitate better-quality sleep. Ananda in the Himalayas offers a 21-night sleep enhancement programme that combines lifestyle changes, dietary corrections, Ayurveda therapies and traditional Chinese medicine. Last year, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group appointed Malminder Gill as its inhouse ‘sleep concierge’, with each consultation followed by a bespoke sleep-inducing hypnosis session.

For my part, I’ve thankfully never had any trouble dozing off. Every late night I’ve spent awake in bed has been of my own volition. Mumbai-based Dr Nupur Jhunjhunwala warns me that this will be my undoing as I grow older. “How long does it take you to fall asleep?” she asks during our consultation at Somniawise Sleep Clinic in Kemps Corner. “Barely two minutes, once I’ve finished whatever I’m watching at 3am,” I say with a smirk. “That’s not good,” she chides. “Sleep latency is the time it takes for us to doze off once we get into bed.” Apparently, our bodies need to enter the various sleep stages—N1, N2, N3 and REM—gently and in the correct proportions for quality slumber. “Falling asleep immediately after looking at a screen or reading online is almost like numbing your mind into unconsciousness rather than lulling it to sleep,” Dr Jhunjhunwala continues. Thankfully, she shows clemency in her attempt to rewire my brain.

My first task? Sleeping at 1am instead of 3am. I was willing to try. The non-negotiable was winding down by 11.30pm—the time when my creative console starts to glow brightest—to reduce my sleep latency. On my first attempt, I was so wired that my partner had to tell me a bedtime story. On night two, I tried visualising a monster at the foot of my bed, in the hope that the fear would force me to sleep. Strangely, it worked. I relapsed on my third and fourth attempts, however, and self-soothed with my Kindle.

On day eight, I woke up without the trill of my alarm clock. On the weekend, I shocked my oldest friends by suggesting that we meet for breakfast at 7am. It felt like a fever dream to see their faces lit by the soft morning sun rather than the strobe lights of a bar. All this is not to say that I’ve transformed from a night owl into a morning lark. The moon has bewitched writers and poets for centuries but I’m beginning to see the shared charm of waking up with the rest of the world, ready to take on the day together. You know what? Let me sleep on it.

Also read:

8 simple tips to help you sleep better on a warm night

You can feel refreshed even after a sleepless night, according to experts

I tried this surprising hack and finally fixed my insomnia

Back in 2016, a fragrance went viral as Rihanna’s favourite—an almost dessert-like warm vanilla-marshmallow scent called Love Don’t Be Shy by Kilian Paris. For founder and perfumer, Kilian Hennessy, every one of his brews is rooted in a personal story or memory. “Angel’s Share, for example, was my olfactory memory of the Hennessy Cognac Cellars. I have a story for every scent.” Paris’ fragrances, all unisex, are designed around moods and moments rather than specific wearers.

Seated in a sunlit room, Hennessy is relaxed when he explains in a matter-of-fact way that perfume is as much about seduction as it is about protection. “When you go on a date, you want to make yourself attractive. You wear clothes that look good, and similarly, you want a scent that flatters. But it’s not that when you go to work in the morning.” For him, fragrance is deeply personal. “When I apply perfume before leaving the house, it feels that I am creating a bubble, a shield between my body, my intimacy and the outside world.” This duality—between attraction and self-preservation—defines Kilian’s approach to perfume-making.

Vogue spoke to the founder ahead of his launch in India.

Vogue India: The perfume bottles have an interesting design. How involved are you in designing them?

Kilian Hennessy: I like beautiful objects, so I design what I think I would love to own myself. For example, the bottle of Angel’s Share is meant to look like a cognac glass—that’s an olfactory family we call the liquors in the bottle. What was most important to me is that all the bottles I create had to be refillable because I believe that true luxury should not be disposable.

VI: You’ve talked a lot about the concept of a “wardrobe of scents.” What does this mean to you?

KH: Imagine me lying on the couch reading a book on a Sunday afternoon by the fire in winter; I want a scent that would be cosy and warm. In summer, I probably want a cologne that’s very sparkly and fresh. You know, I have scents that correspond to different moments in the year.

VI: With advancements in technology like AI, how do you see the crafting of scents evolving?

Bon Manush, Bangladeshi artist Shikh Sabbir Alam’s first solo show in India, explores the interconnected relationship of man and nature, with the title in Bangla also alluding to a man being detached from the pleasures of urban life. Through his freehand drawings and deeply evocative paintings, Alam explores how shapes, colours and patterns form in our minds while offering a sense of how we perceive the natural world around us with our sense of sight immediately evoking different experiences of smell, taste and touch.

On view at Experimenter, 45, Ballygunge Place, Ballygunge, Kolkata, until 29^th March 2025

Eckart Muthesius and Manik Bagh – Pioneering Modernism in India at MAP, Bengaluru

Eckart Muthesius and Trude Rein. Interior view of a planned reception hall, Indore, 1935

Rarely do history, art, architecture and culture converge so well. Manik Bagh, the home of Maharaja Yashwant Rao Holkar II of Indore, was one such place, brought to life through the visions of young German architect Eckart Muthesius. This exhibition, curated by Raffael Dedo Gadebusch and hosted in partnership with the Museum of Asian Art, Berlin and the German Consulate General, Bengaluru, traces the creation and magnificence of Manik Bagh while exploring the relationship the royal shared with his architect. Featuring rare vintage photographs, portraits, watercolours and design studies by Muthesius himself, the showcase promises a glimpse into the intricacies of a symbol of architectural excellence as well as the creative genius of its makers.

The seedha pallu sari comes with the designer’s signature cording technique born over two decades ago. As for the glam, Pednekar stuck to her tried and tested combination of kohl and wing with gentle sweeps of soft-pink blush. A nude-lip enthusiast, Pednekar’s lips exuded a washed, barely-there look. For the jewels, Pednekar opted for a string of sapphire-laden pieces which included a geometric choker, shoulder-grazing danglers, and a cuff from Mahesh Notandass.

For Pednekar, the classic drape of the sari has always opened generous scopes of experimentation. Her previous outing with Vaishali S saw her clad in an apsara-like creation crafted out of Maheshwari silk with silver metallic French-knots, bud-like embroidery worn with an angelic blouse and an encompassing pallu with the same cording technique.

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Portronics Konnect X 3A Unbreakable Nylon Braided USB to Type C Fast Charging Cable 2M Long, Supports All Type C Smartphones and Devices(Black)

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Samsung Galaxy M06 5G (Sage Green, 6GB RAM, 128 GB Storage) | MediaTek Dimensity 6300 | AnTuTu Score 422K+ | 12 5G Bands| 25W Fast Charging | 4 Gen of OS Upgrades | Without Charger

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OnePlus 15 | 16GB+512GB | Infinite Black | India's First Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 | 7300mAh Battery | Personalised AI | Game-Changing 165Hz Display | Triple 50MP Camera with 4K 120fps Dolby Vision

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Portronics Clamp M4 Car Phone Holder Stand with 360 Degree Rotation, Strong Grip, Suction Cup Mount, Single Hand Use, Shockproof Build, Mobile Stand for Car (Black)

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SKYCELL Phone Sticky Grip for Hands-Free Mobile Accessory Holder Grip, Video Phone Accessory Compatible Mirror, Shower-White (Pack of-1)

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Lava Bold N1 5G (Champagne Gold, 4GB RAM, 64GB Storage) |Bigger 6.75" HD+ Notch Display | Octacore 5G Processor | 13 MP AI Camera |5000 mAh Battery| IP54 Rated Dust & Water Splash Proof

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YATWIN Silicone Case for iPhone 17 Pro Max, Soft-Touch, Shockproof, DustProof, Antiskid Phone Cover for Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max - Orange

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Now retrieving the price.

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The Bookshop Inc.’s newest enterprise builds on this promise of creating a space where chance encounters, not only with books but also with writers, bookmakers and readers become inevitable. “Over the years, so many readers have asked us if we have a book club and if not, could we start one?” says Chaturvedi. Taking heed, the independent bookstore launched three quarterly book clubs, one each for backlist titles (a publisher’s books that are still in print but have been on the market for at least a year), food writing and fiction in translation. “Each book club is a way for us to highlight books that may otherwise go unnoticed and let people discover something they wouldn’t normally pick up.”

The inaugural club gathered in the bookstore’s back garden one overcast Sunday afternoon this February. “We weren’t meeting as strangers,” Swati Daftuar, an editor and organiser of the Annual Book and Bake Sale, who moderates the book clubs, tells me. Members had spent the last month reading in companionable silence and following each other’s progress on a WhatsApp group. “The idea is to create an old-school book club where readers are the main stakeholders,” she explains. Daftuar’s own relationship with the bookstore is especially intimate—she would frequent the shop in Jor Bagh when she started working in publishing and it was here that her now-husband proposed to her one evening after hours.

Though reading is principally solitary, we rarely read by ourselves. Beyond the universe of Bookstagram, there are invisible networks of readers all around us, reading privately in their homes, on the train, in coffee shops, in public parks—“Secretly, they formed circles,” in Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges’s words. In recent years, book clubs, which gained new momentum during the pandemic, seemed to have grown in celebrity and number, drawing readers into communities of varied sizes. Chaturvedi notes reading together can be a great way to make a difficult book seem rewarding. The draw is simple, one member of the book club tells me: it is the pleasure of looking up from a particularly moving passage and finding someone to share it with. “It doubles the joy of reading alone.”

Millie Bobby Brown is not letting anyone tear her down. On March 3, 2025, the Stranger Things star took to Instagram to address several articles and comments criticising her appearance. “I want to take a moment to address something that I think is bigger than just me; something that affects every young woman who grows up under public scrutiny,” Brown starts her video, adding that this is a “very necessary” topic to tackle.

“I started in the [entertainment] industry when I was 10 years old,” Brown continues. “I grew up in front of the world, and for some reason, people can’t seem to grow up with me. Instead, they act like I’m supposed to stay frozen in time, like I should still look the way I did on Stranger Things season 1. And because I don’t, I’m now a target.”

Brown, who’s currently on a press tour promoting her new Netflix film The Electric State, goes on to namecheck a few articles and writers, claiming they perpetuate harmful narratives that only aim “to tear young women down.”

“Amplifying an insult rather than questioning why a grown man is mocking a young woman’s appearance. This isn’t journalism. This is bullying,” Brown continues. “The fact that adult writers are spending their time dissecting my face, my body, my choices, is disturbing. And the fact that some of these articles are written by women makes it even worse. We always talk about supporting and uplifting young women, but when it comes down to it, it seems a lot easier to just tear them down for clicks.”

“I refuse to apologise for growing up. I refuse to make myself smaller to fit the unrealistic expectations of people who can’t handle seeing a girl become a woman,” the star adds. “I will not be shamed for how I look, how I dress or how I present myself. We have become a society where it’s so much easier to criticise than it is to pay a compliment. Why is the knee-jerk reaction to say something horrible rather than to say something nice?”

Brown finished off the video, saying: “Let’s do better. Not just for me, but for every young girl who deserves to grow up without fear of being torn apart for simply existing.”

As Eid approaches, men’s Eid attire has advanced stylishly by fusing traditional and contemporary styles. Men’s ethnic clothing for Eid is very important since it expresses individual style and cultural heritage. With dresses that combine the festive atmosphere with modern fashion, we present to you an exclusive collection that celebrates the spirit of Eid.

Men should think about combining traditional and modern elements in their Eid attire. Choosing an elegant men’s kurta pyjama are great options that capture the festive mood. In addition to respecting the cultural significance of the event, these ensembles guarantee that you look your best while adding a dash of contemporary style.

Discover the Top 5 Men’s Eid Outfits to Enhance Your Festive Look With Our Special Selection

In preparation for your holy occasion, the Lucknowi kurta is designed to make you feel as though you are a Nawab. One of the most famous alternatives for males has usually been the heavy thread woven kurta with full sleeves, that’s generally worn with slacks, cover pants, or churidars below it. This silk kurta set in a darkish mustard color offers you a one-of-a-type appearance even as additionally permitting you to sense comfort throughout the Eid season. It is one of the most original and astute outfit choices for males, as it is embellished with Lucknowi thread work and flowery jaal.

A Nehru jacket is the perfect approach to get the celebrations started off on the most spectacular note and to be set to have a good time. The golden resham and mirror embroidered geometric design not only adds a spark to your personality but also plays a significant part in making the guys feel like they are already dressed up. At the Eid party, the costume is the focal point of attention because it is paired with a kurta made of silk in a pastel blue color. Choosing this ethnic wear is the most prudent option if you want people to remember your sense of style for the rest of their lives.

The Pathani attire is widely regarded as the most suitable Eid attire for males. In addition, by adding some brilliant mirror work, it transforms into a design that pushes the boundaries. To add insult to injury, it is the most comfortable dress for the entire day party. Choose this black Pathani suit made of cotton, which features buttis embroidered with thread and mirrors, and you will look unlike anyone else and like a prince.

Prepare yourself to be the center of attention by wearing this textured kurta set in mirror work that is a shade of green with a textured pattern. Not only does the jazzy and overall mirror embroidered work on the delicate pastel hued kurta appear eye-catching, but it also smashes the preconceived belief that glitter is not for males. No matter if you are attending an office function or a family Eid event, this outfit will always be your best friend because it contains aspects of surprise and experimentation.

The navy-blue sherwani is an alternative that is both undying and classic, and it’s also an excellent opportunity in case you need to keep away from the standard desire of a kurta. An elegant sherwani set is a regal fashion in and of itself, and it seems to be becoming for the event of Eid as it features thick thread paintings and reflects embroidery. Raw silk is used in the construction of the garment, which features delicate flower design. Putting on this sherwani appears to be an opportunity for you to look spiffy when you attend an event.

Read more – Men’s Wear: 5 Key Fashion Inspirations to Ace Your Festive Wardrobe

Celebration, self-reflection and putting on your best self through the Indian clothes you wear are all appropriate activities during Eid. In the year 2025, our latest Eid series for men is supposed to cater to the cutting-edge men who place an excessively high price on each fashion and tradition. No matter in case you are seeking out the timeless splendor of a kurta pajama or the cutting-edge attraction of a designer kurta set, there may be an extensive form of alternatives to be had for you.