I cook. And when I cook, there are the inevitable cuttings and trimmings. Every time I chucked them into the bin, I thought back to my parents’ place, where all organic household waste goes into a compost pit. But how on earth was I to compost in my minuscule apartment?

Enter Daily Dump, a company that encourages everyone to do their bit for the world. Their latest innovation, they told me, would help me make my own compost — yes, right here in my flat. In alliance with local potters, they have created a whole range of earthenware composting units, from tiny ones in a basin surrounded by lush plants, to tall, three-tiered khambas (poles).

For my single-person household, a small unit works just fine. For over a month now, I’ve been feeding the terracotta unit in my sunshiney balcony with vegetable and fruit peels, tea leaves and crumpled newspaper sheets (to keep things aerated). Now, I have rich, crumbly dark earth that smells nothing like garbage. In fact, it’s my instant monsoon-shower fix: it’s got that same, wet earth aroma.

So, in one go, I take care of my garbage, green my routine and give my plants a dose of TLC. And now, I’m painting a couple of units for my closest friends — I think they’ll make perfect gifts.

Season’s greetings!

Composting units from Daily Dump, 2992, 12A Main, HAL IInd stage, Bangalore 8. Tel: 41152288, 99164 26661. Website: www.dailydump.org. Prices: Rs 100-600.

After all the terror and trauma, it’s now time to hope and pray for a new tomorrow. And I’ve always found that keeping positive is much easier when I’ve bonded with friends and shared some of life’s edible pleasures. Which is why I’m working overtime like Santa’s li’l elf to find out how to make this festive season extra special. I’ve narrowed down my options to just the best of the best. And since you’ve been a good girl all year, I thought I’d let you sneak a peek at this list too.

CHRISTMAS EVE TAKEAWAY
Theobroma: Christmas pudding, Stollen (a German cake made with marzipan and fruits), plum cake and lots of toothsome treats to put a carol in your heart.
Cusrow Baug, Shop No 24, Colaba Causeway, Mumbai; Tel: 67305363. Cost: Plum cake Rs 385, Stollen Rs 280 for 500 gms.

Mangalore Stores: Everything that you’d need for a cozy Christmas bring-in with your nearest and dearest. Pick up kalkals, neuris, rose cookies, marzipan and coconut sweets to your heart’s content.
Mohammed Eidu Manzil, Shop 8, Opp Paradise Cinema, Mahim; Tel: 24457542; and at Kalina, Near Air India Colony, Santa Cruz (E); Tel: 26041093; Cost. Starts at Rs 160 per kg for kalkals and goes on to about Rs 600 a kg for specials like marzipan and milk-creams.

CHRISTMAS DAY SIT-DOWN
Blue Frog Christmas Lunch: Pre-book a pod and enjoy all the Xmassy treats like mulled wine, egg nog, ham, turkey and more as you listen to the Student’s Choir of the Happy Home & School for the Blind and Christmas Jazz by Junckt.
D/2 Mathuradas Mills Compound, NM Joshi Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai; Tel: 40332300; Timing: 11am to 5pm; Cost: Rs 2,000 per head.

Indigo Christmas Specials: Visit Indigo, Indigo Delicatessen or Indigo Cafe between December 24-26 to sample the special all-day Christmas menu. The lavish brunch has a wide range of tapas, salads and antipasti apart from a specially prepared Roast Turkey Roulade with Apple Sausage Stuffing, Orange and Cognac Gravy (which has to be ordered in advance). There’s also Roast Ham with Mustard and Maple Glaze and desserts such as Plum Pudding with Brandy Sauce and Chocolate Amaretto Truffles with Honey Toasted Almonds.
Indigo: 66368980, Indigo Deli: 66551010, Indigo Cafe: 26336262; Cost: A meal for two with drinks and dessert would be approximately Rs 1,500-Rs 2,000.

The end of the year is the best time to get away from it all. And this year, I suggest you romance Rajasthan. Away from the touristy tat of Jaipur streets, into spots you’ve never ventured: choose from any three that I’ve been to, for the most magical New Year eve ever!

Shikarbadi, Udaipur: This former hunting lodge of the Maharanas of Mewar has a rugged environment (complete with all the amenities a Trendy girl likes!) with a timeless appeal. Nestling in the foothills of the Aravallis, this sanctuary-resort, dotted by peacock and deer, just lets you be. Sit by the poolside, nurse your Tequila Sunrise, as you watch the sun rise. A new dawn, a new year.
Shikarbadi Hotel, Goverdhan Vilas, Udaipur; Tel: 0294-2583201-3, Tariff: Rs 5,000-Rs 7,500, Email: crs@udaipur.hrhindia.com.

Connaught House, Mount Abu: There’s something about Mount Abu. And this delightful English cottage — formerly the official summer residence of the chief minister of the princely state of Mewar — is a gem. Set amidst beautiful gardens, the cottage keeps me at walking distance from Nakki Lake. When in Rajasthan’s only hill station, don’t forget to ask the staff to arrange for a picnic a ways up, somewhere secluded. And don’t dare miss the delish dal-baati and churma!
WelcomHeritage Connaught House,Rajendra Marg, Mount Abu; Tel: 02974-238560, 243439, Tariff: Rs 3,900-Rs 5,000, Email: holidays@welcomheritagehotels.com.

Ajit Bhawan, Jodhpur: This heritage palace resort used to be a home to the Jodhpur royal family, and the hospitality shows every sign of it. Get set to be indulged like never before. The suites, rooms and luxury tents have a gorgeous old-world feel to them. I like soaking up the winter sun as I sit in the beautiful garden, and having all my meals on the patio (the buffet’s great!). At night, head for a drive on the sand dunes! Moonlight, old friends and good wine, what else do you need?
Ajit Bhawan, Circuit House Road, Jodhpur; Tel: 0291-2513333, 2510410, Tariff: Rs 9,000-Rs 30,000, E-mail: crs@ajitbhawan.com.

We wish all our Trendy readers a very happy holiday! We’ll be back with our next newsletter on January 6, 2009.

During one of my seek-the-truth moments last week, my tarot card reader told me to junk the old, and embrace the new. And you know what, she’s right — I have the most boring make-up palette you can think of — pink lips, blue eye shadow, brown nails.

With the party week looming, (I’m out every single night this week, sweets, all the way till the new year!), I’ve decided to switch to gold, which my make-up artist friend says is totally THE hue this season.

Just don’t dust gold on all your features, she warned, only on the area you want to highlight. Think bright sparkling yellows for the lids, burnished gold for the cheeks, and sheer gold on the lips — though not all at once!

So this is what I’m getting — a dazzling range of gold — burnished, matte, sparkling, bright.

Shiseido Perfect Smoothing Compact Foundation, Rs 1,900: the smoothest, sheerest base for my all-gold look

YSL Ombres 5 Lumieres in Tawny, Rs 1,750: eye-shadow set that blends glinting brown, bronze and gold, part girly, part mature chic

The Body Shop Sparkle Eye Palette in 01, Rs 1,495: classic set of five smooth colours, which mix gold with brown, with a lovely gold-y-green in-between

Chanel Facettes D’Or Joues Contraste Gold Fever, Rs 2,300: love the way the blush vanishes into my skin, to give my complexion a radiant glow

The Body Shop Sparkle Eye liner in Golden Sun, Rs 795: wear it by itself in a thin line on the upper lid, and watch your eyes light up

L’Oreal Glam Shine 6 H in Goldy Lip, Rs 650: sheer gold lipper that stays on and on, perfect for those do-s when there’s no chance to reapply

Lakme Enrich Metallics Lipcolor in shade 660, Rs 195: creamy lipstick in bright gold, just right for the golden girl look

Welcome to the all new, all shiny me!

Available at all leading cosmetic stores.

I was busy filling out my baby sister’s high school slam book and this is how it went. Favourite colour: brown; favourite dessert: hot fudge sundae; favourite movie: Willy Wonka and his Chocolate Factory. Hmm, anybody notice a pattern here?

So, when I heard about the world-famous Amedei chocolates hitting town, I cancelled my Saturday morning shopping trip and headed towards chocolate heaven. Cited as being the best amongst the best by none other than the Academy of Chocolates in UK (I want a job there!), their offerings range from the dark to the very dark, with a dash of fruits and nuts thrown in between.

Toscano Black (upto 70 per cent cocoa), Toscano Brown (milk chocolate), Toscano Red (cocoa plus strawberries, raspberries and cherries) — which colour do I choose? I finally went for the intense Black bar and was left licking my lips over its subtle flowery flavour and aromatic overtones of hazelnut. Next, I went for the simply titled ‘9′. Made out of cocoa beans from nine different plantations, this extra dark chocolate with 75 per cent cocoa left my senses reeling with its wickedness.

Just to jazz things up, I tried the Frutti, an extra-dark concoction that redefines temptation with its unique blend of hazelnut, almond and pistachios.

Imported straight from Tuscany, Italy, these rich creamy offerings are shoo-ins as gifts for the serious chocolate lovers among my friends. Aren’t I glad Christmas is nearly here.

Amedei Chocolates. Not in shops yet, they are distributed by Divine Foods, 53 Sham Singh Complex, 1st floor, Gandhi Bazar Main Road, Basavangudi, Bangalore 560004. Tel: 26604924. Email: info@divinefoods.in. Website: www.amedei.it. Minimum orders of 100gm will be delivered within Bangalore for Rs7/km. Single pieces cost Rs 85, 100 gms cost Rs 700.

Mumbai winters may not be as finger-numbingly cold as those in Delhi. But you know how it is with us Mumbaikars — we don’t want to miss a thing. So, it’s not surprising that even though the temperature’s well into the mid-30s, we’re already in a Shimla state of mind.

And just like everyone else, along with the exquisite Jamavar shawls and the funky, stripey mufflers, I’ve also been scouting around for home accessories that’ll keep me toasty. And just yesterday, I found the motherlode at Whites of London, the badshahs of bed linen from the UK. Just in at the Mumbai store, is the latest range of quilts and duvets, right on cue for our coolish December nights.

I binged on the luxe feel of long-staple Egyptian cotton under my fingertips. The splash of colours and prints were a feast for the eyes. And I was delighted to see that the range not only had solids and stripes in the old-Brit classic style, but also a vast array of dyed and embroidered designs that would suit my boho-chic bachelorette pad to a tee. I especially loved the double-coloured reversible quilts in ethnic Indian hues.

After almost an hour of enjoying the eye candy, I finally chose a fabulous floral comforter in brick and white with pillow covers to match. And since tis the season of sharing, I also bought the pale blue and eggshell Oxford set that goes so well with the significant other’s pin-striped persona.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. Or not. I’m ready anyway.

Whites of London: Splendour, 10 Dharam Palace, Hughes Road, Mumbai; E-mail: whitesoflondon@gmail.com; Prices: Rs 1,000 to Rs 50,000.

I’m a long-time fan of the true blue British brand Burberry. I still remember the first time I got my own taste of Burberry plaid, with its signature check pattern. It was an umbrella (my stash in the bank allowed me only that much).

And now it’s here, at my doorstep — the latest Burberry outlet in the fashion hot spot Emporio in Vasant Kunj. This is the second store for the brand — they’ve had one in Mumbai since 2005 (how I envied my Mumbai gal pals). Spread over five rooms, with interconnected doors, there are rows upon rows of perfectly sculpted handbags, shoes, heavenly jackets, and that Burberry classic — the trench coat. As well as accessories and fragrances.

But the best bit about this store is that it’s the first time in India it is going to sell key pieces from its couture range Burberry Prorsum! One room is dedicated to this collection, where you will find goodies from the the Prorsum Autumn/Winter 2009 collection — bootleg pants, ruched waist dresses, tulip dresses, and skirts, trench coats — tiered, panelled, quilted. In emerald, amber, purple, amethyst, smoky brown, cigar, ash, charcoal grey, gold, and dark nickel.

I’ve fallen for the copper ruched trench coat that could easily double up as an evening dress when paired with solid black tights or leggings. And I’d definitely wear the metallic purple bootleg trousers paired with an unstructured top for a night out with the girls. The black platform peeptoes, and the stunning necklace with amber glass crystals, would complete my look.

And how could I forget the quintessential Burberry bag? Called the Lowry Bag (inspired by the popular British painter LS Lowry), it’s a stand-out piece — timeless beige, pleated and ruched leather with metal stitches, and functional pockets for my wallet, mobile phone, and MP3 player.

Need I say more?

Burberry, Emporio Mall, Nelson Mandela Road, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, Ph: 46529850. Prices from Rs 5,000 on, up to Rs 1, 20,000.

I’ve been reading. And I’ve just come out of the trance that a new fiction novel, Back Seat, put me into.

The spirit of Mumbai, an out-of-work bar dancer with roots in Ratnagiri, a scrawny Bihari boy who lands on his feet in the City of Dreams — they’re all convenient cliches. And yet, first-time author Aditya Kriplani has woven them into an intricate and gripping tale whose warp and weft conveys stark realism and dark urban romance.

Perhaps it’s his Film Institute background and screenplay structuring skills that make this an evocative book. Back Seat is much more intense than your average chick-lit, even though there are liberal doses of bittersweet female bonding and the pointing out of male foibles.

The beautiful black-and-white cover of a rain-splattered car window at Marine Drive with a sunshine yellow shoe tossed carelessly to the back of the car brings alive the magic of the Mumbai monsoon that’s an integral part of the author’s landscape. I can almost hear the swish of the windshield wipers and the patter of raindrops as the story unfolds. The little girl on the beach turns into a savvy call girl only to regain her innocence as love blooms in the backseat of a car, right in the midst of her misery and the calm-chaotic Mumbai rains.

Kripalani’s insights into individual dreams, intense loneliness, passionate romance and soul-searching bring the protagonists truly alive. His observations on life in different parts of India as well as all the asides about the various people in the city are true to life. I found that the action (and there’s lots of it!) is like a masala movie mix of friendship, love, sex, angst, anger, frustration, pathos, adventure, fights and even a makeover of sorts.

And surprisingly, I loved his story-telling and thoughts so much that I was even able to discount the atrocious spellings and grammar in the book, and look deep into its sensitive soul.

Back Seat by Aditya Kripalani; published by Neurotic Ink, 2008; Pages: 320; Available at all leading bookstores.

I just needed a few dinner-table candles for the party at home. An UB City mall tout (my best friend, actually!) suggested I check out Good Earth at the mall, fresh in the city after raising the lifestyle bars in Delhi and Mumbai. Apparently, their candles are to die for. Die I did, when I walked into the store. Forget the candles, I wanted to loot the store.

Divided into distinct sections, from spa and bath collectibles to linen, Good Earth is a feast for all senses. The spa collection comprises candles, essential oils, incense sticks, handmade natural soaps, moisturisers, shampoos, all of which I wanted immediately. The hand-painted crockery, glassware and cutlery were enough to make me picture an entirely new kitchen. But I settled for kitschy tea-cups for Sunday morning brekker with the girls. And a cheese platter and wine glasses for more stylish evenings.

The linen shelves are stacked with a vast range of woven and hand-printed textiles and decor accessories. Besides a set of table linen, I picked up a handmade razai — after all, winter’s here.

Good Earth also does a furniture line. While the entire collection — all in solid oak — is not on display, the catalogue is a good guide to help me choose what I want.

Even more than the products, I loved the fact that everything can be picked up in singles. So, whether it’s seven pasta plates from the ‘Chilli’ range or the five cups and saucers from the Japanese tea collection, it’s mine if I want it.

I came back home happy and spent, literally. And realized I’d forgotten the candles. Hmm. That means another trip.

Good Earth. The Collection, UB City Mall, 24 Vittal Mallya Road, Bangalore 1. Tel: 41738870 / 71 / 22112878. Prices range from Rs 80 to Rs 80,000.

Sometimes life works in reverse. Cinderella wore the right glass slipper and then found her Prince Charming. I’ve found Mr Right and am now looking for that perfect pair of shoes to wear on my wedding day. But luckily, I don’t have to hunt around the entire city for them.

Rinaldi, the signature store by shoe couturiere Rina Shah, has just turned 10. And to celebrate, Rina’s turned out a line of bridal accessories that would make a bride blush. I enjoyed the display in its entirety. A glittering array of handbags, stilettos, kitten heels, wedges and more. I liked how they’re different from the mass-produced footwear that I see in most of the other shoe stores. These are painted with the brush of individualism, set apart from the ordinary with unusual trimmings like antique tapestry, animal prints, shimmering Swarovski and semi-precious stones. I bask in the knowledge that each pair is designed by Rina, handcut and individually crafted and embellished so beautifully that even the ready stock appears custom made (which is also an option for those who belong to Nitpickers Anonymous as I do!).

But even I found the crystal-encrusted delicate spike heels eye-catching. Almost like a diamond set for the feet, these also have a matching solid square clutch which I couldn’t help coveting. Other dazzlers with classic kundan work on gold and silver, crystal clasps, metal-frame embroidery and bejewelled brooches, all follow this season’s trend of intricately embellished footwear. And even though I’m hardly likely to wear those plush thigh-high embroidered boots at any of my wedding functions, I picked up a pair for a special honeymoon evening. You’d probably like them for your New Year’s Eve celebrations — hot enough to keep you warm in the chilly weather and haute enough to keep the beau’s temperature up.

Rinaldi Design, Ground Floor, 67/69 Sea View Terrace, 118 B Wodehouse Road, Opposite Charagh Din, Colaba, Mumbai; Tel: 67300600; Price: Ranges between Rs 3,500 and Rs 15,000.