You might have seen some really cute nail paint designs that you wanted to replicate while scrolling through Pinterest. But you couldn’t because you didn’t know where to begin and were too intimidated to seek an expert’s help. The Week is here to help you make your nails look beautiful. We talked to Junu Lama from Jung Strong Nail Art in Durbar Marg and bring you simple, hassle free designs that you can try at home. These don’t take up much time and won’t make you run around, looking for items you may not have. You can use basic items you have at home and make do with them till you find yourself engrossed in nail art and wanting to be better at it.

Nepali cuisine is rich in carbohydrate with most of us consuming rice twice a day along with fried oily vegetables.  Not only does this kind of diet take its toll on our health in the long term, it also makes it harder for us to lose weight and maintain our figures. The tire around the waist just seems to grow bigger with each passing day. The Week talked to Sumeru Yog Kendra’s Sarita Dangol to find out some Yoga aasans you can do at home to target the stubborn belly fat. These basic exercises don’t  need much preparation or equipment but since they are done while lying down you will need a special yoga mat.  You can easily get it at fitness stores or even department stores around town.

There are always a set of maladies we have that seem very basic but trouble us ever so often. Although we face it on a regular basis, we don’t know what causes it and how to keep it at bay. The Week talked to Dr Anushree Adhikary, medical officer at Grande International Hospital, to know more about these illnesses. Although she talks about how to take care of these discomforts, she also advises you to see a doctor if any of these ailments get severe or don’t seem to have a discernable cause.

Most of us make use of the myriad of technology available for entertainment or convenience purposes but then there are some like Prashanna Shakya, VJ, Vlogger (video blogger), who carve a life out of it. Reya Shreya Rai speaks to the founder of Buzz Nepal about his aspirations, his journey as a media personality, and the person he is behind that professional mask.

With many kinds of tea available in the market, The Week attempted to better understand tea and all its myriad benefits and met up with Twistina Subba, of Kathmandu Tea Room in Jawalakhel, who helped shed light on the matter and also taught us how to correctly brew a good cuppa.

Nobody said looking your best would be easy. It takes effort and some dedication to present the best version of yourself. But contrary to popular belief, you don’t always have to shell out a fortune to achieve that. Whether you are suffering from sensitive, oily, acne-prone, aging, wrinkling or dry skin, chances are the remedies are at your own home.

Good Reads

Many writers have written their own versions of the boy meets girl story and broken several sale records with it as well. But if the inevitable attraction, romance and tension between the two almost never fail to tempt certain readers, there are also those who can’t stop themselves from rolling their eyes. So as the Valentine month comes to an end, The Week asked its readers for their opinion. What would make for a good romantic novel?

He began his musical career in 1997 when he sang “Jindagi ko k bharosa” in a music competition when he was in the first grade. Rohit John Chettri has since launched his own solo career and released an album with 1974 AD and has been on a US tour. With his new album coming out in a few months, The Week’s Isha Upadhyay caught up with him to talk about his musical journey and, of course, his playlist.

Packing can be a chore. It’s perhaps the worst part of traveling. Many people confess to absolutely dreading it, and often let it be till the last minute and then hurriedly toss in things without giving it much thought. This way they are not only likely to over pack but also miss out on some essential travel buddies. The Week lists a few items that you must have on you when you travel as well as things you can/should do to make your next trip relatively hassle free. Of course, you can live by the mantra that what you don’t pack, you buy – many travelers just take the bare essentials, buying everything they need when they need it – but it’s much easier when you don’t have to run around to find a local store selling what you want the minute you reach your destination.

Be on the lookout for a Viren Khanna party on Saturdays. They have a Facebook page which keeps you up to date with their latest parties and these usually take place in hotels like JW Marriott, The Lalit Ashok hotel and Vivianta by Taj to name a few.

With the spring right on our doorsteps, it is time to banish the bulky winter wardrobe and bring out the colorful and patterned clothes to welcome the warmer months. But this time of the year, you will want to make sure you have light layers on if you are planning to stay out for the evening.

If you need a break or want to have an adventurous weekend, then camping around the valley might be exactly what you are looking for. There are a few spots really close by that you might want to head to for that. Himalayan Worldwide Treks and Expeditions have packages that are complete with guides, sherpas (porters) and a cook.

There are always two ways of traveling and discovering a place: There is the tourist’s route and then there is the local way. Even when you are trying to navigate your way through the same location, you will be surprised at the disparity in the things that these two routes have to reveal.

Good Reads

When we read books we submerge ourselves into the fantasy land so completely that some of us never really leave that place. In our daydreams we are always there, living a life that is full of magic and possibilities. The Week talked to a few avid readers to find out what catches their fantasy and what they would like to do when in their dream place.

Her friends and relatives often tell her that they don’t know what to feed her when they invite her for dinner. Her answer is always the same: I’ll eat anything and everything that grows in the fields and isn’t sourced from animals. Shristi Shrestha, animal rights activist, freelance writer, and fitness instructor, has been vegan for five years now and says that it isn’t a difficult lifestyle, despite what many might think, if you educate yourself and realize how your choices affect every living being. Here, she joins The Week to talk about her vegan lifestyle and how those who are interested can join her in this noble path. ​

Having grown dreadlocks herself once, Sanju Lama can’t think of any reasonable explanation as to why anyone would choose to have them. She remembers the pain of maintaining it. But she also recalls exactly how cool and confident they made her feel. Apparently, she enjoyed every moment of it and, these days, she enjoys hooking her clients with them. A large number of Lama’s clientele at the Asylum Salon in Thamel include foreigners but, over the years, she has also seen the trend gain an immense of popularity among Nepalis. Here the hairstylist shares her tips on maintaining dreadlocks.

We all love flowers around the house. The effect a bunch of roses has on our mood as well as the ambience is tremendous. However, buying them every day or even every week isn’t a very financially viable option. We at The Week visited a few flower shops around town to find out simple ways to arrange flowers to liven up your living space as well as tricks to make them stay fresh longer.

Kathmanduities love their food. We have already established that fact. Whether it is hanging out with friends or going out for a business meeting, as city dwellers, we find that most of our activities revolve around restaurants and cafes. So, perhaps, it was only about time that our love for food spilled over Instagram as well. Nepali ‘foodgrammers’ are experiencing a steady rise in their popularity these days.