Asin Thottumkal

Asin Thottumkal (born 26 October 1985), known mononymously as Asin is an Indian film actress from the state of Kerala.

Making her acting debut in Sathyan Anthikkad's Narendra Makan Jayakanthan Vaka (2001), Asin had her first commercial success with Amma Nanna O Tamila Ammayi in 2003, and won a Filmfare Award for the Best Telugu Actress for the film.

After a number of films, she received her second South Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance in her second Tamil film, Ghajini (2005). She played the lead female roles in hits, the thriller Ghajini (2005) and the action comedy Varalaru (2006).

More recently, Asin made her début in Bollywood, with Ghajini, the remake of its Tamil namesake, subsequently winning the Filmfare Best Female Debut Award.

Asin was born into a Syrian Catholic family in Kochi, Kerala. Her father, Joseph Thottumkal originally from Thodupuzha, managed several businesses before he decided to manage his daughter's acting career instead where he accompanies her to all her foreign shoots. Her mother, Seline Thottumkal, remains a surgeon who moved settlements from Cochin to Chennai to Mumbai to live with her daughter. Asin has quoted that her name "means pure and without blemish". She claims that "the 'A' in her name is from Sanskrit meaning "without", and 'Sin' from English".

Trims & Treasures

So I came across this UK store Dee Puddy recently, and I have to say, I'm a bit obsessed. Every item in this store is so thoughtfully curated, it will make you yearn for it to be down the street from you. As I go through each section I am inspired. How gorgeous is this ribbon and gift bags? And I love the idea of putting candlesticks in sand in a steel bucket, so simple, but elegant. Ahh. Tis' the season!


{via home shopping spy}

Delicate & Dreamy

I came across Pilosale's site recently, and I have to admit I'm simply in love with her products. And you can tell each item was made with a lot of love and care. Her eye for detail is really beautiful. Everything is just so soft and gorgeous. Although I am only highlighting a few of her creations, I adore absolutely everything in her shop.

{via small magazine}

'Tis the Season...

My friend Brittany was part of a group that recently decorated the Danish Embassy in DC. The décor is gorgeous and I couldn't resist posting a few of my favorite photos. 'Tis the Season!

Check out all of the photos here. You will be very inspired I promise - gorgeous paper cut swans, coffee filter rose petals, recycled glass jars with LED lights, and oh so much more!

photos by Chris Svetlik

Curious Goodness

Happy Monday everyone! I think Mondays are a great day to celebrate with a little sweetness. How amazingly awesome are these chocolates by British chocolatier Curious Chocolates? Aren't they fantastic? The colors, the type, and designs are so modern and fun. I love love love these! And even better, some letterpress love is involved in the process. Wouldn't any of these products make the best little stocking stuffers?

Many Thanks

Pretty little details from across the blogosphere that would surely show thankfulness to your loved ones.

I hope you all have a gorgeously splendid Thanksgiving and celebrate it with your most favorite family and friends and food. We are off to MN to spend the next week with our family, which will be nice and relaxing, oh so much to be thankful for, I could just pinch myself.

top to bottom

~ lovely little flower arrangements in salt & pepper shakers from sunday suppers
~ a gorgeous gussied up pear place setting by 100 layer cake
~ donna hay always gorgeous, yet simple ideas ~ how sweet is the placement of the leaf?
~ a beautiful tablescape by real simple full of gorgeous colors, materials and textures
~ an insanely amazing tablescape collaboration by 100 layer cake & lots of other talented ladies

Warm & Sweet

Could a baby capelet get much cuter than this? I think not. How adorable is this!?!

{via nicole hill}

Modern Victorian

The jewelry of Sarah Kang is absolutely breathtaking; a perfect balance of modern & vintage. As I browsed through her site Marquis & Camus, each piece manages to be more beautiful than the previous one. Which is a difficult feat considering how perfect and gorgeous each piece is.

{photos from marquis & camus}

Cute & Round

I have a serious obsession with cake toppers (see here) and these are just pure adorableness to top off your cake!

{cake toppers from red light studio via amanda fuller designs}

Mini Love

I am absolutely loving these sweet little illustrations by illustrator Anne Leguern. Her work is simply precious and would be a lovely gift to any married couple.

{illustrations from mini frenchie}

Layered Pattern

I just love the mix of layered patterns & textures on these fabric corsages. What a cute little accessory and they are reasonably priced!

{photos from kelly hanson handmade}

Jiah Khan

Jiah Khan ( born 20 February 1988, is a British-born Indian actress who appears in Bollywood movies. Raised in Chelsea, London, Jiah Khan is the daughter of Ali Rizvi Khan, an Indian American, and Rabiya Amin, a Hindi film actress in the 1980s from Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India and most remembered in Tahir Hussain's Dulha Bikta Hai.

Jiah Khan completed her A levels in film studies and literature in London. She also studied at the Lee Strasberg Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, though she quit upon receiving a movie offer from Mumbai.

A sixteen-year-old Khan was to debut in Mukesh Bhatt's Tumsa Nahin Dekha, but backed out when she felt the role was too mature for her and was immediately replaced by Dia Mirza. Two years later in 2006, she debuted in the controversial Nishabd, where she acted opposite Amitabh Bachchan.

The film was released in March 2007 to mixed reviews, though Khan was noted for her confidence, attitude, and sex appeal. She also got a "Filmfare Best Debutant" Nomination for her Acting skills.

She appeared alongside Aamir Khan in A.R. Murugadoss's Ghajini, the Hindi remake of its Tamil namesake. She shot for a significant portion of the Ken Ghosh directed film Chance Pe Dance opposite Shahid Kapoor, but was replaced by Genelia D'souza. Despite this, UTV Motion Pictures (who are backing Chance Pe Dance) subsequently signed the actress for a two-film deal; Ghajini producer Madhu Mantena signed her for a 3-film deal shortly after.

Khan also appeared as a supporting actress in the Sajid Khan's Housefull as Devika, a woman who cheats on her husband with the boyfriend she wanted to get married to but could not because her father would not approve of a non-Indian son-in-law. She was seen as a child artiste in Dil Se, portraying Manisha Koirala's childhood role.