The Express Tribune hi five - November 22

Ms NOVEMBER 22, 2015

ISSUE NO. 179

Caught in between Life is not just about high or low maintenance

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The at-home spa guide

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inside En vogue — An appliqué affair

Domestic goddess —

Spicy one-pan pasta

Section In-Charge: Dilaira Dubash Sub-Editors: Amna Hashmi Nisma Chauhan Designer: Umar Waqas Feedback: women@tribune.com.pk

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The drama queen Fayezah Ansari

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The buzz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 22, 2015

Let’s give your daily routine a swift review. Is it peppered with exasperating moments of deciding what to wear, which hairstyle to make and which pair of shoes to slip into to best suit your plans for the day? Most of you are probably nodding your heads in agreement as you read this and if you are not, then congratulation, you have been diagnosed with low-maintenance syndrome. Although that is not a real syndrome or anything, we’re just trying to make things a tad clearer.

All over the world, women are classified into two categories: high or low maintenance. As dictated by certain social norms, a woman who is high maintenance is characterised as having a demanding disposition.

Consequently, these women are rumoured to spend a considerable amount of time primping themselves and their surroundings, lest they appear lazy. Men often dub high maintenance women as ‘difficult to keep up with’ for they are believed to expect more out of others than

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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 22, 2015

they should. At the other end of the spectrum lies the low maintenance woman who advances through life with her signature laid-back style. She is believed to be less concerned with how she is perceived by society and more authentic in nature, making her appeal to the male ego better. In fact, the ‘cool’ girl seems to have dethroned the former as the new, idyllic profile of the 21st Century. Popular online portals like BuzzFeed and Elite Daily lend credence to this by encouraging women to break away from social norms and embrace their natural selves.

Either way, women generally subscribe to which ever label they feel will be approved by society.

Consciously or subconsciously, most modify themselves to fit the bill for the afore-mentioned categories, depending on the one which appeals to them more. Unfortunately, in this entire hullabaloo, we forget the psychological discomfort that comes with trying to adhere to a label. Zara Israr, a clinical psychologist at the Institute of Clinical Psychology Karachi believes that the adherence gives way to an unhealthy coping strategy that involves pursuing the concept of an ideal self. “This could include altering your appearance which isn’t always achievable, considering biological and financial limitations,” says Zara. “As a result, women forget to accept their individualistic perspectives and conform to the prevalent social norms, thereby creating an environment of rejection and vulnerability for themselves.”

Both high maintenance and low maintenance are but a direct extension of the expectations that are attached to the female being. “High maintenance starts with setting high standards as a result of high expectations,” says Sarwat Gillani, one of the leading actors of the Pakistani film industry. According to Sarwat, these expectations can serve as a positive influence when they are aimed at oneself. However, placing them on others often results in over-dependency and disappointment.

“Intelligent women, however, know that this [expecting themselves to be better] will help them grow, both personally and professionally.”

Often one doesn’t have a choice in the matter. Many women are employed in jobs that make unfair demands of their female employees to ‘look presentable’ at all times. “Hair, nails, make-up and clothing are critical for women in the

corporate world,” explains Fauzia Kerai, a Human Resource Development and Management officer. “The outfit should be professional without being too trendy. The hair must be neat and clean and nails clipped short with subtle colours only,” adds Fauzia.

But the real question is why propagate an idyllic female profile in the first place? As per research conducted by the Institute of Clinical Psychology, a positive view of oneself is often considered ideal and comprises of various aspects such as thoughts, uniqueness and achievements. For supermodel and entrepreneur Nadia Hussain, the findings of the research are spot on. “Our focus should not be on who is high maintenance and who is low maintenance,” she says. “Instead,

we should question whether or not our girls are growing,” says Nadia. For her, real achievements include anything from having a great friend to travelling the world. “The idea is to believe in and accept yourself just the way you are, free from internalised stigmas and standards,” she adds.

Times are changing and so is womanhood, albeit gradually. Just like everything else, it is evolving. Shunning labels will free the modern woman from do’s and don’ts forever, enabling her to be confident and free. So if you wish to sport sneakers under your favourite flowery sundress, then so be it! Those who don’t approve will just have to get used to it.

Ramsha Jahangir is a freelance writer and is currently pursuing a Bachelors in social sciences at SZABIST.

Design by Hira Fareed

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En vogue

Samina Shahjani showcases her stylish new collection Coordination: Umer Mushtaq Hair and make-up: Sephorah Salon Designer: Samina Shahjani Photography: Rohail Khaled Model: Misbah Mumtaz

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 22, 2015

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 22, 2015

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Lifestyle

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 22, 2015

Let’s face it: Women have a knack for finding creative solutions around every hurdle and making the best of everything. And so, they have developed ingenious ways to bring the spa home for days when they simply cannot make it there. You can whip up amazing treatments with things that are available in the kitchen. So if you need to recharge after a stressful day at work or simply catch a break from your everyday struggles, these seven ideas can help you through.

Ironically, this soothing paste takes barely any time or effort to make. Simply mix one-third cup of cocoa, three tablespoons of cream, two tablespoons of cottage cheese, one teaspoon of oatmeal powder and one-fourth of a cup of honey together and apply. For best results, leave the mask on for at least 10 minutes before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. You’ll notice the changes immediately! The chocolate works best with normal skin and leaves it feeling soft, shiny and supple.

There are more ways to exercise your coffee addiction than simply drinking it! Apart from boosting energy levels, coffee beans have been proven to be excellent exfoliators. To make the scrub, grind two cups of coffee with half a cup of salt or sugar and two tablespoons of sunflower oil. Be sure to wet your face a tad before putting on the paste as the skin must be moist for the scrub to work. Once applied, simply massage your face in circles and rinse with plain water.

Just one tablespoon of white sugar and raw honey, mixed with one teaspoon of raw cocoa powder will renew your pout like magic! Make sure you rub the scrub in for about 10 minutes for the best results though.

Hopping between daily chores from one end of the city to another, takes a serious toll on our feet. And what’s more, few of us realise that the flat chappals we love are extremely detrimental for feet and backs in the long run. Therefore, it is important to give them just as much care as any other part of your body.

The easiest way to do this at home is by submerging them in a hot tub of water for 15 minutes and adding some lemon juice to the tub. Not only will this relax and soften the tired skin around your heels, it will also keep the feet clean and clear.

As it turns out, an apple a day really does keep the doctor away. Apples are loaded with essential exfoliating enzymes called malic acid which are notorious for eradicating dead cells. To make this miraculous mixture, you will need two tablespoons of brown and granulated sugar each, one tablespoon of apple sauce and a pinch of cinnamon. Mix the ingredients in a bowl, apply and gently scrub it onto your skin in slow, circular motions. Keep at this and over time, you will discover a healthier, glowing complexion.

If dark, tired-looking eyes have become the bane of your existence, green tea sachets are ideal for you. Soak them in some water and place them in the freezer to cool. Once the leaves are cold, apply them to your eyes for about fifteen minutes every night and wake up with fresh, healthy eyes. How this works is that the caffeine helps shrink the appearance of blood vessels around the eye area and the antioxidants found in green tea eliminate inflammation. Raw potatoes, chilled from the refrigerator, also reap the same results, acting as natural astringents to reduce puffiness.

Did you know you can create an entire steam bath for yourself within the walls of your own bathroom?

Run the water on high heat and add some essential, aromatic oil on a spare shower cloth. Place the cloth on the shower and bask in the relaxing scent that emanates from it. If you prefer long baths, there is nothing like a tub full of warm water and scintillating bath salts to ease those tense muscles out.

Natasha Khalid is a doctor. She likes to write about fashion and social affairs. She tweets @natashakhalidxs

Domestic goddess 7

THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 22, 2015

By Omar Mansoor

Spicy onepan pasta

Eat pasta without weight gain A tantalising homemade treat for you to indulge in

Ingredients

PHOTO: OMAR MANSOOR

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Penne pasta 300 grammes Plum tomatoes (with juice) 1 can Chicken broth 1 and 1/2 cup Onion (large and finely chopped) 1 Green chili paste 1 tbsp Garlic paste 1 tbsp Jalapeno sausages 300 grammes Cream (mixed with 150ml of milk) 150 ml Chili cheese (shredded) 1 cup Black pepper 1 tsp Salt to taste Olive oil 2 tbsp

Method • Heat olive oil in a pan and fry the sausages until they become crispy on both sides.

• Add the chopped onions and garlic paste to the pan and fry on medium heat until they become translucent.

• Add the salt, pepper, tomatoes, green chili paste, chicken broth and cream in gradually, stirring well on low heat. Continue stirring until a creamy tomato gravy is formed.

• Add the uncooked pasta and fold it into the gravy, bringing the mix to a boil. Cover the pan and let the ingredients cook on low heat for 15 minutes.

• Once the pasta is ready, dish it out in a pan and cover it with the shredded chili cheese. Place the pan in the oven and heat it for another three to five minutes, until the cheese melts.

• Sprinkle the pasta with dried parsley or oregano and serve warm.

Note: If you feel like the gravy is too little, simply mix two tablespoons of tomato paste with 1/2 glass of water and add it to the pan while cooking.

When you are trying to eat healthy, carbs become your ultimate enemy.

All we really want to do is cast that salad aside and rip into the heavenly goodness that is displayed at the bakery window.

However, everything is best when in moderation. Carbs, too, have essential benefits that we must reap. So what now? Is it alright for us to indulge in our favourite comfort foods without guilt? Unfortunately no, but there is a way to enjoy carbs. Pasta, for instance, is one dish that almost all of us can’t live without. So here are five simple ways to enjoy it without packing on the pounds: Don’t deprive to survive: Most of us don’t quite understand how the human body works. We fail to realise that when we eliminate a certain food from our system, we only crave it more. Therefore, if you are crazy for noodles, avoiding them will eventually prove futile. Experts recommend that you treat yourself to a small portion of your favourite pasta every now and then to keep the love alive. This way, you will stay both healthy and happy!

Go for whole grain: Not all carbs are equal; some of them are more detrimental than others. Therefore, nutritionists all around the world prescribe consuming at least 40% of calories from carbs and that too, preferably, whole foods. Local grocery stores are laden with countless options for us to choose from, such as alternative noodles, brown rice and brown pasta. They taste the same with virtually half the calories.

Flavour focus: If every bite we eat is satisfying in terms of taste, we are less likely to overeat. Ironic, isn’t it? The concept seems rather strange as one would expect to eat more when what we are eating tastes good but our body reacts in the opposite way. Why not take advantage of it then? Try some new pasta mix or toss in your favourite protein to make your dish go a long way. The more the flavour, the less weight you will gain.

Veg your way to weight-loss: Since starchy carbs are already on the menu tonight, why not flood them with as many nutrients as you can?

Pasta always tastes better with roasted or sautéed vegetables and the best part is that they cook down so much that you will hardly notice they are there. Mushrooms, peppers and olives are just some of the items you could include.

Keep the pasta aside: No matter how much we love our pasta, it should never be the prime focus of our plate. Proteins and vegetables should be given the most attention and the pasta should ideally not exceed more than a fist-size helping. The pasta should be there to complement the other items there — not be the main item itself.

SOURCE: WWW.SHAPE.COM

Woman of the week 8

Being Fayeza h.

Posing for a shoot.

Model

At an art exhibiti on.

Most of us, at some point or the other, have to undergo the much dreaded rishta process. If you are single, chances are that your parents are busy trying to find you a good suitor. When he comes, you will have a multitude of questions to ask of him so as to gauge his personality. Unfortunately, there is no set formula to really figure out the stranger sitting before you. After all, how can you decide whether he can be your future husband in just a meeting? To help expedite the process, however, we have some guidelines you can follow lest you make an incorrect judgement.

We have all heard of this phrase millions of times, and yet, do not act upon it.

For instance, a suitor may be very well put together or sporting run-in sneakers with torn jeans but there is much more to him than just his appearance. You must remember that he is probably just as nervous as you and might have missed out tiny details such as cleaning his shoes.

Try not to be too pompous and reject him based on the way he looks.

The idea of getting hitched to someone from an Ivy League school might feel very flattering but his degree does not depict his personality.

Let’s not get too caught up with his credentials. Education is important, but so are his beliefs, morals, behaviour and priorities.

Many families immediately approve of a suitor upon hearing that he lives abroad. He or his family might be in a different country but that does not necessarily mean that they are making a good living there. Be sure you have done enough research before accepting the proposal. Also, bear in mind that once you are married, you will have to settle down into a foreign country and that too, away from your own friends and family. If you are unwilling to give that kind of commitment, we suggest you search for suitors residing in Pakistan only.

All too often, we merge the fine line between being picky and being materialistic. You have every right to ask for the same, if not more, than what your parents have provided you with but that does not mean you should make a decision based on the suitor’s wealth.

Remember that money cannot get happiness but people can.

Design by Maryam Rashid