Hey lovely readers!

Another weekend is here again, and while its raining heavily in Mumbai, Delhi and other parts of North India are really looking up for the weather to cool down a little bit.
And in this hot weather, I really don't feel like stepping out for a bit - even if it involves unavoidable work like the monthly parlour appointments or Yoga sessions.

I am sure even you won't be feeling like stepping out for daily chores and just wished you could just relax at home in your air-conditioned room and get the services done indoors. Well, I guess God has really listened to us poor souls in the form of Technology.

While so far we could only shop online for Apparel, footwear and other necessary daily items, with new Digital apps in the market, we can also book various Services online.
One such very cool app that is here to help us make our lives easier is UrbanClap !

" UrbanClap.com is  an online platform that  helps you find the right  service professionals for  activities important to you. Whether you are looking to decorate your home, get candid pictures on your wedding day, plan your kid’s birthday party or get healthier, UrbanClap is the ultimate destination for all your service needs. "


So, when I had to recently get my house cleaned properly and I really was in no mood to search out for the best people in this weather, I decided to try looking for a Professional service through UrbanClap.

I downloaded the app through my Android device and entered my requirements to look for the best service provider.


While searching for Home Cleaning services, I was asked few simple questions like how big was my house and as I had to get just the first floor of my house cleaned which has been closed since many months, I chose for the 1BHK option.
Then I had an option to choose any additional service if required and enter the Date and time when the service was required.



The best part of the App is that the interface is really user-friendly and fast, which allows you to search and book a service quite smoothly.

Within a couple of hours, the team from Broomberg India which had received my booking for Home Cleaning service called me up to confirm my booking and address details.

On the service date, their team comprising 4 members reached my house right on time dressed properly in a uniform which showed their professional approach.

The Broomber team who visited my house for Home Cleaning

The team took 5 hours to complete the entire house from the scratch including tiny details like dust accumulated at the window panels, washrooms and much more. Meanwhile I just relaxed as I was assured of their services after reading quite many positive reviews at the App.

Finally, when I went upstairs to check the outcome, I was really delighted as my house was shining and clean like never before. And when I say it wasn't cleaned and had been closed since last 6months - I mean it! I even dreaded going upstairs, but the Broomberg team did a real amazing job.

Overall, I was absolutely delighted with my first experience with the UrbanClap app as they helped me connect with the best Home Cleaning professional with just one touch and made sure I had a great experience. 
If you also looking for getting Professional Services at home like Makeup, Yoga or any other, you must try UrbanClap first and try their hassle-free hiring services at your fingertips. 

Download UrbanClap right away to experience their fabulous services : https://goo.gl/ybG5mL !

Love
Nitika

Hey lovelies!

With the increasing competition in the Smartphone market, new brands are launching phones at attractive price points to attract the Indian market.
In today's post I am reviewing one of the amazing entrants in the Indian Smartphone industry - Passion 660 by PHICOMM.

Launched by PHICOMM, China’s leading provider of telecommunication equipment, terminals, and services, their flagship LTE Android smartphone - PHICOMM Passion 660, is a versatile and easy-to-use smartphone, loaded with exciting features.

This sleek and smart mobile is priced at INR 10,999 and is here to give a tough competition to various other brands offering phones under the range of INR 15,000.

Read on to know if this is just another Smartphone in the market or is yet another remarkable phone which is here to stay and rule the market :


Features : 

Passion 660 is truly one of the most sleek and slim smartphones with a thickness of only 7.3mm and weighing only 110 grams. It features a metal body with seamless back cover and sharp edges, which make it really attractive and trendy. It sure is a welcome change from the plastic body phones that are available in this range.

It features a 5-inch full-HD IPS display with a 1920x1080 pixels resolution that roughly translates to 441ppi. It has an amazing brightness which makes visibility in sunlight also stronger.

P660 is powered by a Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 615 processor with 4G LTE and runs on an Android 4.4.4 KitKat.  Qualcomm Snapdragon with 4G LTE offers high-speed connectivity that will allow you to browse and share content with ease.

Overall, considering a budget price point, the phone does feature an amazing design and powerful technology.


Camera Quality :
Now, Camera is a key-decision making factor which makes one's decision to purchase a particular smartphone stronger these days. After all, in this Selfie-crazy time, who wouldn't want a phone with a high quality camera.

You will surely not be disappointed with Passion 660 if you love clicking Selfies, as it boasts of a 13 MP rear camera, armed with IMX 214 sensor from Sony and a 5 MP BSI front camera with super wide view angle (84 degrees) which allows you to take really amazing selfies.

Look at a couple of shots I took from its front camera :



Battery Life : 
PHICOMM Passion 660 is powered by a 1.65GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor coupled with Adreno 405 and 2GB RAM.

If you are a person who loves taking atleast 10-15 pictures everyday, does heavy duty browsing, listens to music and chats a lot on Whatsapp; the battery would last for 5-6 hours which I think is really generous considering that the last phone I used (Apple iPhone 5) used to finish its battery well within 3-4 hours.

Final Verdict :
Having used high-end phones like Apple iPhone5 to mid-range phones like Samsing Galaxy, I found Passion 660 to be delivering really well in terms of Performance and Camera quality.

If you are looking for a sleek and stylish budget smartphone, Passion 660 is really a great buy and wouldn't disappoint you at any cost. 
PS : For further information contact Media Moments Insights Pvt. Ltd.

Love
Nitika

Hey everyone!
Here's another one of my Outfits which I recently wore as I went for a movie date with my friends. This summer, I have been really loving skirts as they are so breezy and comfortable.

And, I have purchased 5 new skirts (I think I am Skirt-Obsessed) from Forever 21, Marks & Spencer and ZARA, which I just can't wait to show you all on the blog.
While I was obsessing over beautiful skirts, I took out this lovely layered midi skirt by ZARA from my wardrobe which I have also styled in a previous post with a crop top.

To add a summery vibe, this time I styled this black net skirt with a white graphic print top from MAX Fashion which says - Fashion Freak - which you'll all agree I am. :D

While I kept the accessorizing minimal with just my Daniel Wellington watch, spiked bracelet from ALDO and bow flats from Accessorize, I decided to break the monochrome monotony with a cute leopard print mini-bag I recently shopped from Romwe.com.

Well earlier I was skeptical to post these pictures, as these are not my favorite, but still, here you go :

Top : MAX Fashion Skirt : ZARA Bag : Romwe.com Flats : Accessorize Neckpiece : Pero by Aneeth Arora Bracelet : ALDO Watch : Daniel Wellington

You can also style a similar layered skirt with either a fitted crop top or a printed tee in patterns like florals, graphics or stripes. Make sure you go for a length that suits your figure and height.

If you are petite, go for a skirt which ends just above your knees and if you have a tall stature, go for a midi-skirt like me or an ankle-length skirt. Go for kitten heels or wedges to add height to your look and have a toned down look.


Mini-bags are all the rage this season, and these bags in shapes like round, square or rectangular box, are perfect to style your dressy look for a chic vibe.

Hey lovely people!
Its been a while since we last had a Giveaway, right? Well then get excited, as we are back with not 1 but a series of Giveaways our 4th Blogiversary!

Yes, that's right! With your love and immense support, The Shopaholic Diaries has turned 4 and we are spreading the love back in form of superb GIVEAWAYS.

And the first Giveaway in the series is with association with CHEVERA - a stylish Accessories brand. Chevera is a new Eyewear brand in town, that will transform your AQ (Accessorizing Quotient) to a more awesome level, with designs inspired from European Sunnies!


Now you have a chance to win the hottest Sunglasses from their collection by entering this Giveaway and following some simple steps as given in the Rafflecopter widget.


As we have become a really huge family, we are making this Giveaway bigger with 5 winners who will win a cool pair each!

Don't forget to complete the COMPULSORY steps to Enter to win :

• Like Chevera on Facebook 

• Like The Shopaholic Diaries on Facebook

• Follow me on my Google+ Profile

• Comment below this post with you e-mail, Share with us a link of your favorite pair from Chevera collection and how would you Style that pair. You can check their entire collection from their Online Store - HERE. 

The Giveaway starts from today ie. 14th June and would end on 5th July! 5 Winners will be announced within a week after the Giveaway ends.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also get Extra entries by Inviting your friends to participate through Tweets and Facebook shares (Refer to the Rafflecopter widget).

A new Giveaway will be announced on my Instagram account tomorrow! So make sure you follow me on Instagram at @theshopaholicdiaries.

Love
Nitika

Hey everyone!

As I have received amazing response to my last 2 posts covering my favorite Clothing and Beauty brands at Select CITYWALK, Delhi - I have decided to do a couple of more posts covering more brands that I love shopping at my favorite Shopping Destination in Delhi.

Select CITYWALK boasts of so many popular and great brands, that they can't be covered in just 1 post. So, in today's post I will be writing about my favorite Footwear brands that are present in this Shoppers' Haven.

• STEVE MADDEN - Knowing my love for STEVE MADDEN shoes, I really can't begin this list without mentioning this iconic brand. Steve Madden is an international brand that is known for its designs that are innovative, fun, sometimes wild and always spot-on-chic. 

• ALDO : Although, I own only 2 pairs from Aldo, it still remains one of the most popular shoe brands at Select CITYWALK. Located at the Ground Floor, just opposite Sephora, ALDO offers high-quality fashion footwear, leather goods and accessories.

• CHARLES & KEITH : This is another brand which I love after Steve Madden, for their high quality and comfortable heels. 

• ROSSO BRUNELLO : The high-end footwear brand Rosso Brunello is brought to India by Da Milano, the hub of exquisite italian leather accessories. 

• Dune LONDON : I have previously reviewed the Select CITYWALK store of Dune London on the blog and really liked their trendy collection of Shoes for Men & Women.

Hey lovelies!
Gone are the days when we picked a phone based purely on its technology and storage specs. Well, I don't say that we look over these factors entirely, but with all the phones coming up with a similar technology, we as users are looking for something more.

And when it comes to the young generation including us Fashionistas, there's nothing better than a Smartphone with amazing Camera. After all, an attractive phone with a great camera is all what we need for that perfect SELFIE. That's why, when I got the opportunity to review the amazing Selfie Phone which has just entered the Indian market, I just couldn't say NO.

So, finally I got the very stylish and sexy OPPO N3 in my hands which my friends, comes with a one-of-its-kind Swivel camera. I mean who would have thought that you could get high quality images and Selfies from one phone camera itself? Well, I sure didn't!


Undoubtedly, one of the best features of Oppo N3 is its swiveling 16-megapixel camera that ensures that you click selfies that are just as good as the rest of your pictures.

Well, I am not a technical person, so I will be sharing my experience with the phone with a very general prospective - Features, Camera and Battery Life.


Camera :
Apart from clicking the perfect Selfies, the camera features various Settings/modes in which you can click a Selfie without having to edit it later.
A special function of the camera is its Auto-Panaroma mode which takes a great panaroma shot while you only have to hold the camera still.

Other notable Camera features which make Oppo N3 special are : Expert mode, a GIF maker and plenty of settings to do photographic tasks like taking RAW images, HDR, Ultra-HD, Slow shutter etc.

These options make this phone your Professional Compact Camera Smartphone with plenty of settings and Customizable options to take high quality pictures. With its motorized camera and PI 2.0+ imaging platform, the OPPO N3 is the perfect device for photography enthusiasts.

One of the many Selfies I clicked from Oppo N3

Picture C/O : Oppo N3

Battery Life :
Lastly, talking about the battery life, Oppo N3 features a 2.3 GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM which are decent enough for the device to run smoothly. It features a 32 GB storage with an option of adding external memory in the form of a microSD Card.

Once fully charged, the battery lasted almost 7-8 hours while I used it to click a dozen of Selfies, browse Internet for hours long, playing music and watching a few Youtube videos.

The phone comes with a high-amperage adapter which is really useful for charging the phone rapidly during times when you need a quick battery-charge before heading out.


Overall, though slightly expensive, Oppo N3 is a perfect pick for Photography enthusiasts who love clicking Selfies and taking pictures on-the-go without having to carry an extra Professional Camera along.


With so many amazing features loaded in just one smartphone, Oppo N3 is a great investment which will turn out to be your best friend.

PS : The OPPO N3 is available in various stores across India and is priced at Rs. 42,990 /- through pre-booking.

Hey lovely readers!
Hope you all are having a great week. The days have become really hot now and I am sure just like me, you would also like spending your time indoors only.

When it comes to managing daily chores or shopping for important occasions, one has to step out to visit the market. But thanks to Online Shopping websites, the task of shopping from grocery to electronics has become really easy.
With so many Apps and websites offering latest apparel, accessories and other items online, one would really not want to step outside even for a bit.

Talking about major online shopping websites in India, there are very few names which come to mind for Ethnic Wear shopping. And when I came across a new Ethnic wear portal in India - EthnicDukaan.com , I was delighted to see a unique portal which offers premium ethnic wear to Indian handlooms.

So, in this post I will be reviewing the website as well as my Shopping Haul with them :

About Ethnic Dukaan :
"From the house of Aashirvad Sarees, EthnicDukaan.com is one of the few e-sellers in the country with an in-house setup of designers and artisans, combined with products sourced directly from weavers and manufacturers across India."



They offer an exclusive range that includes Sarees, Salwar Suits, Kurtis, Bridal Lehengas & accessories but what sets them apart from other E-commerce websites in India is their amazing collection of traditional Hand-crafted and Handloom made products and fabrics in modern trends and styles.

Hey lovely readers!
I am back with the 1st Outfit post of June, which also happens to be my entry for MAX Road to Paris contest in which we bloggers had to style clothes from their latest collection.
While I usually end up picking summery skirts and dresses from MAX Fashion, this time my eyes got stuck on a stylish pair of palazzo pants which is a style I don't own currently.

So, for my contest entry, I picked this pair of aztec print pants and a mint shirt which I styled for a street-smart look perfect for this summer. After all, summer is meant for breezy silhouettes and sleeveless shirts or tops to beat the heat in a stylish manner.
Also, palazzo pants has been a hot trend this season with many celebrities and models wearing them often for their casual avatars.

While many curvy girls shy away from wearing palazzo pants in the fear of the latter making them look heavy, printed pants can infact make you look toned town.
That's why I picked these trendy pants in a multi-colored print which is not too busy and has a vertical pattern that gives a slimming effect. To add a pop of color to my outfit, I paired them with a mint colored sleeveless shirt which I knotted down to give it a look of a cropped top that instantly gave the entire outfit a funky look.

I kept the accessories minimal by just wearing my new Armani sunglasses, Daniel Wellington watch and tan wedges from Forever 21 to add height to my look. Giving my outfit a finishing look was my Holii sling bag in a soothing white and yellow color that has become my recent favorite bag.

Have a look at the pictures :

Top : MAX Pants : MAX Bag : Holii