Be positive and don't give up! - Zyra banez

 

   Zyra Bañez, the queen of art on YouTube has impressed thousands of art and fashion-sketching admirers with her beautiful sketches and perfect drawing skills. With more than 90,000 subscribers on YouTube and much more on her blog loveTheart, she has awoken interest for sketching in many people like me. On behalf of all her fans who wanted to know much more about her interesting life, I decided to interview her. Excerpts from a chat-

Q-      How do you manage a balance between your studies and sketching?

 Whenever the new school year starts, I start to draw less and less because school makes me really tired and by the time I have free time to do anything, I’m either sleeping or lazing around and drawing just involves too much energy and it becomes off-putting so I don’t end up doing it. However, I am trying to discipline myself to draw something every weekend. A simple sketch or an elaborate drawing for YouTube. The fact that I draw for YouTube also becomes an initiative for me to draw. To balance the time, it’s really just organising yourself and pushing yourself to do it.

Q-           What are your hobbies apart from art?

                 I really like singing and crafts which means making do-it-yourself projects.

Q-       Are you a risk taker or a micro planner?

                I’d say I’m a micro planner even though nothing ever goes as planned.        

 

Q-       You have been associated with sketching different fashion trends of all  time. So, how do you define fashion?

        Fashion is a form of expression and it’s a tool used to project who we are to   the rest of the world in a creative way.

Q-             What do you do in times of crisis?

        Let the emotion out either by talking to someone, doing something crazy like  scream my lungs out, write about it or turn it into a drawing. Whatever happens, always try to find the brighter side of things.

Q-            Define yourself

        Zyra Bañez. A girl who likes to consider herself to be artistic because there’s nothing else that fits.

 Q-          When do you celebrate your birthday? In which year were you born?
         20th July, 1995

Q-            Do you have a pet? If not which one would you like to have?

         No, not anymore. However, I would like to have a dog again.

Q-           Is there any book you’ve read that inspires you?

         If it’s a novel, the Hunger Games. So far, there’s nothing that I have read has inspired me the way the trilogy has.

Q-         Tell us about a movie that moved you

        The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 maybe since it’s one of the most recent movies I’ve watched and really liked.

Q-         A colour that pleases your eyes

          Red.

Q-         Fashion designers you admire

          I personally like John Galliano and Raf Simon’s works for the Dior house. I’ve also been recently loving Dolce & Gabbana.

Q-        A fashion fad you’re crazy about-

       I'm not really sure unless the oversized denim jacket has become a fad, then that would be it.

Q-          A fashion trend you can’t stand

      Once again, not sure if this is even still in trend, but I disliked the neon trend for clothing. For accessories, not so much.

Q-        Describe your biggest achievement in life until now

I suppose graduating high school.. so far ^_^

Q-      Is there anything you’re planning to do in near future?

Well I don’t like to look way too far ahead into the future, but the current plan is to finish my degree in architecture. As for what follows after that, I don’t want to give it much thought yet

Q-          What is one thing that you feel lucky to have?

I’m not sure if this counts, but I’d like to say my art materials. I don’t think I can narrow it down to one brand or one item from my art material collection, but I do feel incredibly lucky to have been able to accumulate so much art materials over the course of many years.

Q-        Can you give some tips for the beginners in art?

Just keep on practicing. Be consistent with your art, because the more you draw, the faster you improve your skills.

Q-        Would you like to convey any message to your followers?

Be positive. Accept criticism. Don’t compare. Keep doing what you love. And make sure to remember why you love doing it, because when you encounter bad days, just remembering the reason why you love drawing can get you through. Don’t give up!

Managing work-life balance

Many of us have a tendency to heavily outweigh the significance of work (or maybe enjoying more of ourselves) by giving in ourselves to do what we love sometimes even at crucial hours of work. This leads to accumulation of burden leading to stress later on. Instead one should plan a time-table which has some work and some small breaks for leisure. Never consider to keep working on consistently. This will ultimately lead to retarding concentration along with a feeling of boredom. Rather one should work for short time periods with frequent breaks so that he can refresh and prepare himself for his next task.
Also never think of enjoying leisure activities as a time waste or contain guilt as a study has shown that after our brain leaps into an enjoyment mode from a hectic schedule it automatically starts working much sharper. You can listen to some music or watch some television(if its available) and delve in it.(I prefer to walk around the house and make myself some scrumptious snacks;-D)
Keep track of time of whatever you are doing in your free time so that you exceed beyond limits. Keep a certain restriction for yourself. And most importantly follow it. For example- earlier while studying I very often went out of my room and stayed there out lazing without ant track of time. As soon as I found that this habit was minimizing my time to study and I couldn't help it, I started maintaining an in-and-out-time register like those in offices. This helped me a lot and cut down my wasted time by half. 
Rather than crying for your silly habits, analyse your problems and find a solution that best suits you. Don't fool yourself. punish,reward and motivate yourself. And for heaven's sake stop comparing yourself with others.
 

10 must-haves for your summer wardrobe

 

Summers can be really awesome and fun if you possess the perfect trend-attentive skills to show off the fashionista side of you. But not everyone can figure out what to shop for at the store. Time for a wardrobe makeover! Here are the 10 must-haves that every girl should stack up in her wardrobe to get a casual chic look this summer-

• Ruffle dresses-  Ruffles can give you a flattering look if used the right colours. They are the perfect pick for an office event(choose one with less ruffles in pastel shades) or a girly look with hair let down loose. Also, they help to hide tummy bulges. 
• Jumpsuits- Jumpsuits are the definite garments to have in your wardrobe. Buy gorgeous printed ones(Remember- florals are the new vogue) and team them up with hats or obi belts. They can give a casual vibe when out with friends at daytime or a hot party look with some chunky jewellery, high heels and a dash of kohl.
• Lace dresses- Let lace dresses flaunt the flirty, feminine side of you this season. They are damn elegant. If you are not very confident with wearing lace dresses, you can also opt for a crop top or a skirt with sheer lace panels.
  
  
• Nautical stripes- For the upcoming season there is an abundance of seafaring navy, red and white stripes. Go for a striped shirt or a tank top. It  works well tucked into trousers or skirts. You can also prefer striped dresses with a jacket or a neckpiece to get the ultimate youthful look.        

• Printed scarves- Choose bright colours to instantly pep up your outfit. They help to add a hint of coolness to the most boring dresses. if you aren't a big fan of scarves, go for light-coloured sunglasses.
•  Neutral/nude pumps- They look very classy and complement most of the outfits that one needs to wear in the season. From a formal tuxedo to a cocktail dresses, they make the perfect match with everything.
• Bold jewellery- I am a hard-core fan of these. try to minimize the number of accessories to a bold neckpiece or a statement ring or even some chunky big earrings. keep jewellery minimal but funky to get a boho look.
• Crop tops- Oh la la! How on earth could we forget the most popular trend going on nowadays? Crop tops boast your curvy waistline well when paired up with ripped denims/shorts or a pencil skirt. Casual yet cool!
• Leather jackets-The most casual and simple. Teamed with any outfit they bring with them an air of glamour. Not necessary that you should wear black. Experiment with different shades like ombre, turquoise and maroon red.

 

 Tips
#1 Be comfortable in whatever you wear. It is comfort that brings out the confidence to carry any outfit gracefully.
#2 Make sure that the attire suits your body. You can surf the internet to know more about the dressing styles required for each body type.
#3 When in confusion for the colour, opt for black. It lets you play safe.
#4 Never try to clash two contrast prints together. They look quirky only when put in a right combo.

 

A unique way to learn

Last week as I was surfing Google play aimlessly, I stumbled upon a commendable e-book app. It led to a website- zap2app.com . It is quite different from all other websites I have seen till now and I just felt like sharing my discovery with you all.
This website has a treasure to offer for not only the short stories- readers but also the language improvers. My first instinct was to click and download on my mobile an e-story by an author called Vini (it was for free;-D) the story  'a strange encounter' was so beautifully expressed that I couldn't help myself from drawing into a new buy. I bought another e-book later that week.
It is now that I have realised that the website is more than just selling books. They provide a platform to all the children and teenagers who write. They buy their stories and publicise them.(I am really looking forward to writing some in my vacations) Not only it is an interesting way of inculcating reading habits among youngsters and let their impressible minds explore a wonderful world of fantasy, adventures and mysteries but also it helps to expand vocabulary and the knowledge of usage of words.

AND THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURE- it has e-books for just-beginning learners of foreign languages like French, German, and Spanish. The fables that we have heard from our grandmas and nannies since childhood are now available in foreign languages. There is proper line to line translation in English (if you want to learn like that) or you can also switch to all-text-in-foreign-language mode according to your own convenience.
 And the best part for young kids- it has hand-drawn illustrations as well. Well, illustrations were something I would always ransack the books at home during my early reading days.So I feel (and contain in myself the prejudice) that reading is kind of gloomy with that elaborate text all over the page.(sometimes, I feel I am studying for school )
Yeah, so that's all I know about it now. And if you guys are interested, definitely check these links below-
http://zap2app.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=www.zap2app.com

Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light.

–Vera Nazarian

 

HOW TO WASTE TIME- 12 super ways

Hi there!
As you might have read my 'ABOUT ME' description already, you might have known by now that I am a really big procrastinator. And these winter hols,(they were simply awesome) I spent my time literally lazing around and wasting the so called 'precious hours' of my life. I was being taunted and nagged by my parents a lot (like many of you might have experienced it)  Well, nevertheless,I decided to pen down how I spent my holiday but at the end of the day, 'ways to waste time' looked a rather suitable title;-D .SO HERE ARE SOME OF THEM TO HELP YOU-

1. Sleeping till late morning-  It is quite relaxing and you can surely waste the most vital time when your parents will ask you to do something fruitful. Believe me, I used to wake up at noon!
2. Play pranks- Playing pranks can be a really good task. here are some ideas that you can try-

Call your friends and talk to them in silly voices, tell them that they have won a lottery ticket or they haven't paid their mobile bill and are eligible to be jailed.
Wear a scary mask and frighten the kindergarteners of your building.
Fool your elder sister/brother by telling them that a boy/girl called for them.
 keep mewing like a cat or bark like a dog

1. Daydream- 'Daydreaming' or making castles in the air is the best way to kill some valuable time. Fantasize your life and think how you would be if life would be a little different. Conjure up old memories, they really matter, don't they?
2. Design a scene- Just think, what if there was a zombie attack in your city? you couldn't really sit like that. Make a list of what would you do, which of the friends would you save if they didn't slow you down, and what precautions would you take?
3. Staring at the wall- Glare at the wall in front of you. You can also try staring at the ceiling (at least you can observe the fan moving) if the wall colour bores you or maybe if you just don't like looking at it.
4. Mirror, mirror on the wall- Stand in front of the mirror and boast and exaggerate about your good qualities, try some expressions or just watch yourself. It will surely help you.
5. Loiter around the house- Insert your hand in your pockets and roam around the house like a cool dude or in your room (if its big enough or until if your parents don't send you there) and just imbibe the pleasure of nil responsibilities at your shoulders.
6. Check on others-  If you are really bored, then you can always go around and check on what your family members are up to. Visit your brother/sister's room and pester them until they shoo you off.
7. T.V praise the lord!- Oh! how can we not count on television, the idiot box, just the right company for any person to idle time away. Glue your eyes to the screen while gorging on some yummy snack, potato chips for instance. You can keep watching for hours that is, if you wont get scolded!
8. Scribble fun- Just pick up a pencil or a pen and a rough sheet, and lo! you have the best ever formula to waste time. Doodle and doodle till every part of the sheet is finished. It was my favourite and most enjoyable chore during the holidays. Who knows, you might become a famous doodle artist some day!
9. Annoy everyone- Try to do something which annoys your brothers and sisters or maybe your neighbours (if they aren't pretty kind) For instance, let the music blare on loud volume for hours or take your scream test. You can also make some ugly/funny faces to the kid next doors if he/she isn't sensible enough. 
10. Friends forever- Company matters a lot. So it is advised that you make friends who are idlers like you and would always welcome you when you feel like doing nothing. Anyway, it is always better to waste time with someone rather than squandering all of it  yourself!

 

how I start my day

Some of the most important moments of our life involve the time of morning. It is the time when the mind is fresh and quite free from all the stress of life. We should wake up carrying a little of joy when we yawn and leave all our stress and tension with the peaceful sleep. We should be grateful to god that we wake up to the rays of sunlight to start a day afresh and full of surprises as there aren't many people who are lucky enough to see sunshine every day. 
I usually spend my first few moments by chanting the name of holy one and taking his blessings for the day ahead (that is before I press the alarm clock off ;D) I open my eyes and stretch my body to tell it that its high time I leave comfort and spend time on doing something fruitful. I arrange the bed and then I usually stand near my window to wish good morning to the little world outside and receive back the warmth. The beautiful mother nature makes me smile to start my day. Then I get ready for work and binge on a light but healthy breakfast (usually cereal, milk or fruits). I make a mental to-do list afterwards and prioritise the jobs at hand. I do not recommend to prepare a mental checklist of work when you take a shower or freshen up, as the word itself suggest these things helps us to begin the day with a relaxed and calm mood. So make sure you do not panic-stricken yourself with loads of work thoughts during the first moments. Some people prefer to go through a newspaper or a magazine for they feel it is the best time to utilise the energy of brain. But I rather prefer you should work towards your mental health than working mentally. Do a bit of yoga or take a small stroll to check if everything's alright with nature. Spend quality time with your family. If you suffer from stress then do take out five minutes to read a motivational quote each day (Google it) to help build yourself or peek into the mirror and introspect yourself.
 Sip your favourite cappuccino while playing with your pets. But make sure you keep away from any of the electronic gizmos. Since you are going to keep yourself glued to them in the later part of the day, its always good to avoid them for now. 
          
Remember to keep fit and healthy and always stay happy! 

5 fun ways to spend christmas

Christmas is a festival of rejoicing to the Christians all over the globe. This festival of love, joy and kindness is celebrated with great pomp and fanfare for it is the birthday of holy Jesus Christ. But for any other non-Christian (like me-I am a Hindu) Christmas can be more than texting and gossiping with your friends all day long. There are many ways to basically utilise your day with a festive spirit.

 

(image courtesy- www.inarkansas.com)
 

 

Decorate your own Christmas tree
 

The most fun part of the Christmas celebration is decorating your very own Christmas tree. You can buy a petite X-mas tree and use it as a room decoration later. Get beautiful and glittery embellishments, wrap sparkle buntings and experiment with colourful fairy lights. Hang sweets and hurl waste cotton bales to give an effect of snowfall over your tree. you can create your own decorations using thermocol and sparkle pens. It is an interesting activity that is surely going to keep you engrossed till the very end.



Bake some scrumptious meals

Many people do baking as their pastime hobby. Now its time you switch on your oven and explore some cooking. Sweets are a great way to celebrate any fete. Surf the internet for some delicious cakes,cookies and cupcake recipes. Delve yourself into easy dishes that are not elaborate. Treat all your family members to your home made baking as they relish every bite with satisfaction and appreciate your cooking skills.
here I found some websites which offer some fabulous Christmas cooking-
www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/category/christmas
www.jamieoliver.com/christmas/

 

Christmas greetings

Preparing Christmas greeting cards and distributing among friends and relatives is a very creative craft that requires execution of basic hand skills. Let your creativity flow on paper through the medium of art. Keep your cards simple and sober, and you can write some Christmas quotes inside to greet the sender with a warm heart. You can take reference from various art books, internet or simply impress an image from your mind.

 

 

 

 

Throw Christmas themed parties

 

Depending upon your budget and location, the best way to celebrate Christmas is the company of your much loved friends and family. Let the invitations,decorations and dress code be Christmas themed if it is a kids' party. Otherwise for social gatherings, opt for a formal Christmas celebration with a tree and fairy lights in the background. Picnic and barbeque are also a good way to spend your way.

 

(image courtesy www.punchthrow.com)

 

The joy of giving

 

Christmas is all about sharing and giving love. This season help some poor or needy Christian to celebrate Christmas with his family by donating some gifts, clothes or even a buche de noel. They will bless you for your good deed. I remember an old friend who wasn't well off but had saved enough to buy a Christmas cake for herself and a poor beggar near her house. Now she is rich and each year she donates some of her wealth to NGOs and orphanage. 

 

Take an oath to rejoice with your family and friends (for neither of them are eternal) and most importantly, listen to your heart. May all the magic of Christmas conspire to gladden your hearts and fulfil every desire. Wish you all a very happy and merry Christmas!

 

" The season of love, peace and joy is here to stay, celebrate forever this season and not just today! "