Wow your guests with a holiday cocktail December 20, 2013 18:36
This is a time - time to make the most of the holiday season. For all those who love to entertain and wow guests at home, here is a cocktail recipe that offer a tasty mix of flavors with the perfect dash of alcohol. To stir things up for a fun-filled evening, the cocktail will take you a long way as you host a spontaneous get-together. With the goodness of strawberries and the twist of vodka, this strawberry and coriander martini will surely do the trick. Ingredients: ¼ cup strawberry crush fresh coriander 15 ml lime juice 45 ml vodka Sprite Method: Mix the strawberry crush, lime juice, vodka and coriander leaves together. Shake all the ingredients well along with ice. Double strain the mixture in a martini or fancy glass. (AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury)
Read More
Pay heed to these danger signs December 17, 2013 19:19
While you may pass of your everyday fatigue as nothing serious, experts warn that as soon as you notice any major changes in the way your body functions or feels, see a doctor. You never know you could be developing cancer within. So act fast. Here are some of the signs you should pay heed to: Unexplained weight loss Persistent fever Persistent aches and pains A nagging cough Lumps in the body Unusual bleeding Changes in bladder function Sores that never heal Changes on your skin Feel tired all the time AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury
Read More
Grow your own kitchen garden December 13, 2013 19:09
With vegetable prices hitting the roof and quality hitting the ground, this is the right time to start your own kitchen garden. Never mind if you don't have a sprawling backyard or terrace, you can easily plant veggies, fruits and herbs right on your windowsill and balcony. Here is how you can get started. Choose your site Settle for the sunniest spot in your house where your plants can soak in at least six hours of sunlight daily. You can also choose a spot that is nearest to your kitchen. Pick your veggies For starters, it is best to go for fruits and vegetables that you like to eat and that are easy to grow and take care of and don't require much space. Think of options like lettuce, radish and other greens that warrant little care and grow fast. You can also plans herbs like thyme, rosemary and basil too. Opt for right containers While earthen pots is a definitive choice, you can also recycle and reuse plastic bottles, buckets or bathtubs to grow vegetables. Plant carefully Once you buy the seedlings from nurseries, take care to plant them carefully, without damaging the tender roots. You can also choose to grow seeds that you might have scooped out of gourds and beans. Take care Water your garden and try to prevent breeding of insects. Go for 'companion gardening', like, planting garlic between two tomato plants. That way you will have more variety in less space. AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury
Read More
Is frozen yogurt really healthy? December 12, 2013 21:20
Yogurt is a daily staple for us Indians who often prefer the 'healthy' and 'homemade' one over store-bought ones. Flavored and frozen yogurts might be big thing in the West, but they are relatively new in India, and is yet to catch the craze. However, with yogurt parlors like Cocoberry, Fro Yo, Yogurtbay, and Pinkberry cropping up in some of the major Indian cities, this frozen dessert is gaining popularity now, especially with the younger crowd. But the big question is if frozen yogurt is really as healthy as it claims to be? Is it better than ice cream? Well, the key difference between ice-cream and frozen yogurt is that ice-cream is made of heavy cream, while frozen yogurt is made with either non-fat or low-fat milk or plain yogurt. So far the fat content goes, this does make frozen yogurt a healthier option than ice-cream. But, then, yogurt is very high in sugar as compared to plain yogurt, which shows that even though it is fat-free or made with low fat milk, the high amount of sugar greatly increases the calorific value of frozen yogurt. Therefore, it is fattening than normal yoghurt. In other words, frozen yogurt may be a healthier dessert, but it is by no means “guilt-free”. AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury
Read More
Never miss your breakfast for anything! November 23, 2013 18:29
No matter what big rush you are in, never make the mistake of skipping your breakfast ever. You might be hearing this for the nth time, but the question is - are you paying any heed to it? Breakfast kick starts your body and gets it up and going for the rest of the day. Missing breakfast is like running a car in less/no fuel. You know it won't get far. So every morning ensure to take off 15 minutes of your schedule to enjoy a breakfast. You don't even need to toil hard to make yourself one. Just grab some fruit and protein shake, and you will be good to go. For those who can afford time, opting for a full-fledged breakfast of tea, porridge, eggs and milks will be great. Remember, it's important to eat, at the sane time, east healthy in the morning so that you stay up on your energy all along the day. AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury
Read More
Cozy up your home in winter November 21, 2013 18:52
As the winter chill hits the air, it's time to turn the fireplace on. Never mind if you don't have one at your home, you can still do things to cozy up your homes for the winter. If you are planning to redecorate your home and have a budget to spend, then starting with repainting your rooms with neutral or earthy tone of white, beige or light blue would be great. Next, get out all your plush throws and rich quilts and deck up your sofas and couches for extra wintery comfort. For a change, you can reverse the sides of your curtain. This will make your room look different in an instant. Lastly, add some dramatic pieces and beautiful candles into your décor. Nothing speaks winter more than warm, comforting rays of candles. You can go for scented candles in woody scents for more appeal. AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury
Read More
Are you dressing to impress enough? November 20, 2013 18:01
Whether you wish to excel at work or eyeing the next-level, you need to 'tie' up to the occasion. An interesting research has revealed that those wanting to do well at work should wear read and purple ties while those wanting a promotion should try dressing up in light blue shirt and dark blue tie. Apparently, dressing down is deemed as one of the most popular causes of a slumped career. It's proven! You don't just dress to impress your opposite sex or get a job, but also to excel and outdo others at work. The study found that eight in ten men (82 per cent) do not prefer to wear suit and tie anymore. More than half (58 per cent) said their work outfit was motivated by a desire to be smart and to impress their boss and clients (13 per cent). Meanwhile, five per cent want to dress smart to find romance. What is your reason of dressing smart? AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury
Read More
Kick up your mornings! November 19, 2013 18:11
As they say, "Early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise". Well, there is no denying that a great morning is a great way to kick start a day. Blame it on our hectic lifestyle, most of us are compelled to rush through mornings. Don't let work or stress kill your morning joy. Here is how you can make the best of your 7 a.m. Wake up 15 minutes earlier than your usual time. That way you won't have to rush through your day and will be in a calmer state of mind. Make a to do list even before you start your day. That way you will stay organized and well-armored for the rest of the day. Spend some time stretching those limbs, neck and back. Not will it jump start your body's engine, but also perk you up. Lastly, never miss your breakfast for anything. It's the fuel that starts up your body. So grab a bite a guzzle a glass of smoothie before you hit the gas. AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury
Read More
Victoria Beckham's wedding tiara goes under hammer November 18, 2013 17:12
For Spice Girl Victoria Adams and her football star hubby David Beckham, it wasn't less than a fairytale wedding, complete with His and Hers throne. But that wasn't all. The lavish nuptials also saw the bride wear a crown worth millions. And 14 years after their royal-themed wedding, the crown is all set to go under the hammer now for a whopping £25,000. The gold and diamond crown tiara designed by none other than Slim Barrett, is to be sold in the Fine Jewellery sale at Bonhams auction house in London. The tiara, called as the East of Paris, is valued at £18,000 - £25,000. Made from 18-carat latticed yellow gold and set with large brilliant-cut diamonds and suspended diamond drops, this one's sure to go into the hands of a superfan, we believe. (AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury)
Read More
Wanna try a disco bath? November 13, 2013 17:25
Wanna party but don't feel like stepping out? Bring the party to your bathroom with a disco bath. Invest in an Underwater Disco Lightshow, a floating light that projects myriad of colors from the bottom and sides of your bathtub. What's more, this funky device comes with button that can be used to change light patterns - from subdued to dynamic to constant. This cool battery-operated gizmo is waterproof. And now, the best part, it comes with nightclub music too. So what are you waiting for. Now disco at the tub! (AW: Suchorita Dutta Choudhury)
Read More
Be Your Own Accountant For A Hassle Free Life November 08, 2013 14:18
Corporate offices keep meticulous accounting system and budgetary controls for sustaining in the competitive commercial world. But individuals usually do not plan properly. As all activities depend on the monetary base one has, it is not improper to have a thorough plan of finances to lead a successful life. You cannot replace money with anything else. Only Money has to be used where money is to be paid. Because of the present day trend financial discipline pays more rewards than any other. So remember that money saved is equivalent to money earned. It is necessary to working class to spend at least 15 minutes to maintain an account at the end of the day. You need not be a trained account to jot down your expenses of the day. After a month you can review the total expenses under different heads. You can categorize them in to two. Fixed expenses and floating. One cannot change the fixed expenses like rent and other monthly commitments. But the floating expenses can be minimized so that the amount can be saved for future use. After starting maintenance of personal accounting for 3 to 4 months one can surely come to an understanding of where to save expenses. The object should be that the savings should not be less than 10% of the earnings. Keeping the inflation in mind and increasing expenses as the family grows a minimum savings of 10% will work as a cushion at the time of emergencies. What to do with the money after saving? If you just keep the money in the bank it will be of no use. The saved money also can grow with wise investments. Otherwise, the value of the money will shrink due to inflation and raising prices. You can opt for the best plan available in your bank to get maximum interest rate. Invest in Fixed Deposit account for the minimum period that gives maximum interest. NSCs and Bonds are safe bet if you don’t have thorough knowledge of shares and other types of investments. Do not get lured by the attract offers of returns promised by the private finance houses. A divorcee working woman says that she avoids friends, relatives and neighbors who drain her money. To address unforeseen expenses: Whatever meticulous one may be there can be some unforeseen financial crisis. There can be a recession in the work or there can be illness for a long period. If the savings are spent on the occasions then the financial position will again come to square one. There are insurance companies to come to the rescue. Choose a suitable insurance coverage for contingencies and medical reimbursements. As money is the basic commodity that buys everything, a financial discipline makes a man or woman to lead a hassle free life. -SriJa
Read More
Complaining Nature Gets You nowhere November 06, 2013 16:22
If you are a working man or woman, complaining about your colleague when you meet your boss alone will be making the best enemy out of your boss instead of a best friend. Making a boss your friend may not be that easy because there always is a line between you two that has to be maintained. But making your boss an enemy is very easy. If the boss is smart enough to catch, it will be clear that you may be trying to cover your mistake with that of a thing done by others. Even if it is not so it may give the same impression. More over you have no right to make changes in the opinion already made by the boss. It is the duty of the boss to have an opinion on the subordinates that too in the best interests of the organization so that work distribution to extract right work from them will go smoothly. If your opinion poisons the mind of the boss, it may reflect on the total set up but not only on the person on whom the complaint is made. A TV producer says, “I handle a competitive team, so there’s bound to be friction. All of them have complained to me about the other. I have told them it reflects poorly on them and not the person they’re complaining about. And that they should stick to doing their job, not mine.” It is a general tendency to blame someone or other for one’s failures. If no one is found suitable then the fate or God will be blamed for it. One cannot improve as long as one has the nature of complaining. Owning a mistake and assuming the responsibility only gives a chance to correct, improve and develop. -SriJa
Read More