Pleasure Page

Top 10 bathroom Spring Cleaning Tips

2023-11-29T22:30:00.001+05:30

Much like the predictable patterns of migratory birds, humans too feel the urge to engage in a form of seasonal renewal when the familiar cadence of changing seasons takes hold. The correlation between these seasonal transitions and our inclination toward spring cleaning remains somewhat elusive, yet undeniably influential. It's as if we only become acutely aware of the dirt, dust, clutter, and debris that accumulate within our living spaces at certain junctures in the year.

Recently, a visit to my brother-in-law's home underscored the value of any motivation that prompts the cleansing of a particularly unsightly bathroom. [Smile]

Regular bathroom maintenance is imperative in controlling the proliferation of germs. While some cleaning tasks can be deferred beyond the weekly routine, certain areas demand attention.

1. Begin beneath the bathroom sink, likely housing an assortment of partially used personal hygiene products. Assess each item's utility and decide whether it warrants retention. While medicated shampoos and sun lotions may prove indispensable, that eccentric strawberry-mint shampoo, promising allure but delivering only a rash, might find its rightful place in the garbage bin.

2. Scrutinize the organization of paper goods within the bathroom. Ensure that boxes of facial tissue and rolls of toilet paper are readily accessible when needed. Consider allocating them a designated space.

3. Evaluate the collection of washcloths and towels, a category often overlooked for discard. Pare down the stockpile, reserving only the essentials, and consign the surplus to the rag box.

4. For cabinets with drawers, likely harboring an array of miscellaneous hair accessories, bands, and pins, conduct a two-year usage review. Anything untouched during this period deserves expulsion.

5. Vacuum the interior of the vanity cabinet and drawers to eliminate hair and loose dirt. Opt for a thorough cleaning using a damp washcloth.

6. Address the hygiene of the liquid soap container or soap dish, areas prone to unsightliness, especially in households with children.

7. Employ a vinegar solution or a commercial product like CLR to eradicate bathroom scum and hard water deposits from bathtub or shower enclosures. Launder any fabric shower curtains.

8. Tackle mold buildup in the tub area with a 10% bleach solution in a spray bottle.

9. Conduct a comprehensive review of the medicine cabinet, discarding any prescription or over-the-counter drugs that have surpassed their expiration date.

10. Bid farewell to the worn-out toilet brush, replacing it with a fresh one.

By adhering to this succinct checklist, you can transform your bathroom into a more organized and clutter-free space. For additional insights on leveraging your vacuum cleaner for efficient household cleaning, visit the provided site, where you'll discover more quick tips for maintaining a tidy home.

About Us

2017-12-02T15:15:00.007+05:30

Hi Eve Manje here. As a mother of a naughty child, I'm eager to delve into the realm of parenting. In my blog, I aim to impart helpful advice on parenting, showcase delightful recipes, offer beauty tips, and share home remedies for everyday challenges. Feel free to share my posts if you find them helpful, and don't hesitate to leave your valuable suggestions or questions in the comment section

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2017-12-02T15:10:00.001+05:30

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How to Get Rid of Upper Thigh Fat quickly

2017-11-19T06:00:00.001+05:30

Are you frustrated by the sight of your thighs? Do they jiggle uncomfortably as you walk, or perhaps you're dealing with stubborn saddlebags and inner thighs that rub together?

Many individuals struggle with excess fat in their upper thighs, a concern that not only affects appearance but can also lead to wardrobe challenges and hinder the confidence to wear shorts. This type of fat, however, can be particularly resistant to change, making the journey to trimmer thighs seem like a daunting task.

The good news is that there are effective ways to address and reduce upper thigh fat. Here's a guide to help you overcome this challenge:

1. Focus on Decreasing Overall Body Fat Percentage

Spot reduction, the idea of targeting fat loss in a specific area, is a fitness myth. Unless opting for invasive procedures like liposuction, there's no shortcut to removing fat solely from the upper thighs. The key is to decrease your overall body fat percentage.

The classic approach remains the most effective: Eat fewer calories and increase physical activity. Incorporate a combination of cardio and strength training exercises into your routine to promote overall fat loss. Consider seeking guidance from a nutritionist, personal trainer, or healthcare provider to track your progress and adjust your strategy if needed.

2. Engage in Thigh-Targeting Exercises

Once you've begun shedding excess fat, sculpting your thighs with targeted exercises becomes essential. Include exercises that focus on your thigh muscles in your routine. Squats, wall sits, lunges, and stair climbing are effective options that require minimal equipment.

3. Utilize Gym Machines for Thigh Toning

If you have access to a gym, take advantage of machines designed specifically for toning the thighs. Leg presses, leg curls, and machines targeting the abductor and adductor muscles contribute to a well-rounded thigh workout.

4. Incorporate Everyday Activities for Continuous Toning

Toning your thighs doesn't have to be limited to the gym. Integrate thigh-clenching exercises into your daily routine, such as contracting your thighs and glutes while standing or sitting. Opt for longer walks, choose stairs over elevators, and run errands on foot to enhance the impact of everyday activities.

5. Seamless Thigh Toning Anywhere

Don't let a busy schedule be an obstacle to thigh toning. Consider portable exercise devices like the ThighMaster or explore compact exercise bikes that fit under your desk, allowing you to multitask and work on losing upper leg fat simultaneously.

Remember, consistency is key. Whether you're at the gym or incorporating exercises into your daily life, stay committed to your routine, and you'll begin to notice positive changes in the appearance and tone of your upper thighs.

4 Homemade Acne Natural Remedies

2015-11-22T20:03:00.003+05:30

Natural Solutions for Banishing Blackheads and Achieving Clear, Healthy Skin

Dealing with persistent blackheads can be a frustrating challenge, especially for those grappling with acne. A whopping 75 percent of people experience the struggle with blackheads at some point in their lives, often finding these stubborn blemishes particularly prevalent around the nose area. Rather than investing in expensive acne products claiming miraculous results, explore the effectiveness of natural remedies that address the root cause of blackheads – clogged pores.

Understanding the Cause: Blackheads form when the pores of the skin become congested due to an excess production of oil by the sebaceous glands. This common issue can create the impression that blackheads are a permanent fixture on your face, but with the right natural remedies, you can bid them farewell.

Four Natural Homemade Remedies:

Almond Powder, Fuller's Earth, and Glycerin Soap Paste:

Combine almond powder, fuller's earth, and glycerin soap in a 4:1:2 ratio.
Mix with hot water to form a paste.
Once cooled, apply the mixture to blackheads.

Epsom Salt, Iodine, and Hot Water Paste:

Mix 1 tsp. of Epsom salt, 3 drops of iodine, and ¼ cup of hot water.
Let the mixture cool and apply to affected areas.
Allow the paste to dry and remove with a wet, warm washcloth.

Pomegranate Skin and Lime Juice Paste:

Combine powdered pomegranate skin with lime juice to form a paste.
Apply to affected areas, let it dry, and remove with a wet washcloth.

Fenugreek Leaves Paste:

Use fresh fenugreek leaves and water to create a paste.
Apply to the face and leave it on overnight.
Remove in the morning with a warm washcloth.

Additional Acne Home Treatments: For a comprehensive adult acne home treatment, consider incorporating nonprescription lotions, creams, and soaps into your skincare routine. Effective ingredients include alpha-hydroxy acids, salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and benzoyl peroxide. These products contribute not only to the treatment of acne and blackheads but also to the overall health and clarity of your skin.

By incorporating these four natural remedies into your skincare routine, you can effectively eliminate blackheads and bid farewell to the perpetual question of how to get rid of them. Embracing natural acne treatment products not only addresses the symptoms but also promotes the healing of your skin, leaving you with a clear and healthy complexion.

Natural remedy for Cystic Acne

2015-11-22T19:53:00.000+05:30

Acne can really ruin your day! Imagine waking up one day to discover that you have this massive pimple on your cheek - how are you supposed to walk around with confidence when your pimple is all you can think about. It stands out like a sore thumb and you are sure that everyone is looking straight at it.

Cystic acne is one of the severe forms of acne and contains a whitish/yellow pus. If you search the internet you will find 100's of ways to get rid of acne but not so many suggestions for a cystic acne natural remedy!

A cystic acne natural remedy plan that works!

There are 3 things that you can be doing that will dramatically improve your skin - naturally!

1. Clean Your Digestive System

Your bowel needs to be clean regularly and there are many options available to do this from your natural food store. If you would prefer, your doctor is also able to help you with this.

2. Healthy Lifestyle

This includes your eating, sleeping and exercise. How can you expect your skin to clear if you are not giving it the best environment to do so. When it comes to eating, try to stick with as much non processed, natural food as possible. The more processed it is the harder your body finds to digest.

Your skins rejuvenation's and repair time is when you sleep. If you are not getting 8 or more hours sleep each night you are not allowing your skin enough time to heal itself and you will find that your skin will probably continue to get worse.

Sweat releases toxins from your body and is a great cystic acne natural remedy. Make sure you are exercising once a day whether that be jobbing, swimming or even a nice brisk walk.

PLUS... drink plenty of water! Water help flush toxins out of your body.

3. Stay Happy

Stress causes acne, so the more you think about it, most likely the more you will get. Look at the positives, focus on improving your style and appearance so that people focus on that instead of your skin. Learn to love yourself and let your body be its own cystic acne natural remedy! Thomas Sinfield

3 Simple Home Remedies for Thrush

2015-11-22T19:44:00.000+05:30

More and more thrush victims are discovering the benefits of using natural remedies for thrush instead of drug-based medications. Here, you'll discover why this is, plus, three simple home remedies for thrush that are very popular and effective. First though, let's look at the cause of thrush...

Thrush symptoms are caused by the 'overgrowth' of the Candida albicans fungus that naturally occurs in our bodies. Luckily our good bacteria normally keeps the nasty Candida fungus under control so that it doesn't usually do us any harm.

But there are underlying issues that can change all that and allow the fungus to grow into an infection. It's these that are the root causes of thrush (yeast infection). The major root causes are; depletion of your friendly bacteria, a lowered immune system, hormonal imbalance, drugs, and high blood sugar levels.

Mainstream Thrush Remedies

Usually women and men go to the pharmacy and buy over-the-counter drug-based medications in the form of creams, etc. You can also get prescription-based drugs too. And these can work quite well in getting rid of the thrush symptoms.

But they don't address the root cause(s) so that what many sufferers find is that their thrush can return. This happens to about 50% of thrush sufferers. So people are increasingly using natural remedies for thrush.

Natural Remedies for Thrush

Here are 3 simple home remedies for thrush that you can try...

Natural Remedy #1

Use raw garlic which has great antifungal properties. Eating garlic every day helps to address the Candida in your gut. For the local symptoms crush a peeled clove into a smooth paste and apply over the area. Internally, you can make a garlic tampon by wrapping a peeled clove in muslin or similar cloth. Leave it in overnight.

Natural Remedy #2

Natural yogurt is very popular. Unsweetened yogurt with no additives like fruit or coloring contains beneficial bacteria that can help to keep the Candida fungus under control. So eat a tub every day to add good bacteria into your gut. And, as with garlic, you can use it locally too. Just coat the local area. You can also coat a regular tampon with the yogurt and insert overnight.

Natural Remedy #3

Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic. Bathe in a warm, low bath that has two or three drops of tea tree oil mixed in it. Some people find that it can sting a bit. If it stings too much then just rinse the area with cold water until the stinging goes away. Don't continue with this particular natural remedy. John Cielo

Natural Remedies for Bad Breath

2015-11-22T19:19:00.000+05:30

A person is said to be suffering from bad breath when his breath gives a disagreeable odor. It can occur frequently and may be long lasting, depending on the cause. The culprits that give rise to this problem are the millions of bacteria that live inside the mouth or chiefly on the back of the tongue. The scientific reason given is that they are caused by the breakdown of proteins caused by the bacteria inside the mouth. There are many natural remedies to fight bad breath.

The easiest and simplest remedy is to scrape your tongue or clean your tongue through debridement. This can be done by a tongue scraper. Care should be taken that the tongue scraper used is flexible to follow the contours of the mouth yet has rippled or ridges to do an efficient job. Doing it twice a day will definitely remove the majority of evil- smelling debris, food and also the bacterial residue formed in the mouth.

The mint leaves is an effective and inexpensive natural remedy for the problem of bad breath. Chewing a few mint leaves will soon help to clean up the breath and help to create a good odor in the mouth. Most of the mouth fresheners have mint in them as they are known for their medicinal properties.

Gargling with baking soda dissolved in warm water is also a good natural remedy and it can also be used for cleaning the tongue. In olden days, people who were suffering from bad breath were given a hot cup of unsweetened tea and it is still famous as an effective natural remedy for bad breath.

Chewing sunflower seeds is considered as a good remedy as it has medicinal properties to kill the bacteria breeding inside the mouth. After a meal, chewing some sunflower seeds and drinking a glass of water has proved to be a good natural remedy for bad breath time and again.

Yogurt which is a storehouse of goodness is also considered to be a good natural remedy for bad breath. Continuous intake of yogurt for six weeks has proved to give good results in decreasing the bad odor produced in the mouth and in some cases have helped to eliminate the problem completely from its root.

In conclusion, there are some simple and natural remedies that are very effective and inexpensive. A tea made from fenugreek is given for people who are suffering from bad breath. The kitchen queen, cloves also have properties to eliminate this problem. A diplomatic way followed by people for letting a victim of bad breath know his problem is by offering mints or sugarless gums! Chris Cornell

How to Unclog Pores the Naturally?

2015-10-16T20:52:00.002+05:30

Our pores become clogged easily because of the dirt and pollution that we have to face every day. This is also aggravated when we are fond of using makeup and when we just leave it on while sleeping or when we don't remove it completely.

When our pores are clogged by these things, it's important that we learn how to unclog them; it's even better if we learn how to unclog them the natural way. So how do you unclog pores naturally?

1. Do not ever forget to wash your face...

Washing your face twice a day, especially before going to bed is one of the natural ways to unclog your pores. Washing your face is obviously important since it will remove the dirt, oils, makeup, and even bacteria that, if left alone on your face, can surely cause a lot of problems that are worse than having clogged pores.

2. But don't wash too much.

However, washing too much is another matter. Over-washing and frequently scrubbing and rubbing your face with a washcloth should never be included on your list of ways to keep your pores unclogged. Instead of washing away dirt and bacteria, over-washing will just rupture your clogged pores and damage the delicate lining of your skin. It can also strip your skin from its natural moisture, making it dry.

3. Steam at home

Steaming is probably one of the best methods. You can do this at home (no need to go to the spa) by soaking a towel in hot or lukewarm water and then pressing it on your face, washing your face with lukewarm water, or you can also boil water and keep your face a foot from the steam (just be careful!). The hot water will allow the pores to open, so that it's easier to unclog them by using a gentle cleanser. Afterward, wash your face with cold water or even place some ice cubes gently along your face; the cold water or the ice will close your pores back up.

4. Have a citrus rub

Rub an orange peel or fresh lemon juice on your face. Orange and lemon contains acidic properties that are found to have cleaning properties good for removing blackheads. It also contains ascorbic acid, which clears the oils, bacteria, and pollutants on the face, making both these citrus fruits one of the cheapest and most natural methods.

5. Apply your homemade mask/paste

Another method is to apply a flour mask by taking a gram of flour and mixing it with rose water and a few drops of lemon. This can minimize your enlarged pores and even get rid of open pores. You can also use some whipped egg whites with a few drops of lemon, a mashed avocado, or papaya paste as another pore minimizer option.

Having clean and unclogged pores is one of the secrets to smooth and pimple-free skin. When our pores are clogged, skin problems, such as blackheads, whiteheads, and follicle irritation resulting in pimples and acne, can happen. This is exactly the reason why women have to know how to unclog pores so that they'll maintain the smoothness and flawlessness of their face. Jacqueline P.

Top Three Home Remedies for Upper Back Pain

2015-08-09T21:56:00.000+05:30

Back pain is a fairly uncommon type of spinal problem, but it can be one of the most painful. There are many causes of this type of pain, including a specific injury, such as falling down or tripping; trauma, such as involvement in a car wreck; or years of bad posture, often accumulated from working at a desk all day.

These triggers cause muscle irritation or joint problems in the upper region of the back which lead to severe pain. In some cases, the pain can become so severe that the sufferer must miss work or opt out of normal everyday activities because the pain has limited their mobility to the point that they cannot get out of bed or leave their home.

Unfortunately, because less people suffer from upper back pain than other types of back pain, medical treatment for the problem is often inefficient and overly expensive. Fortunately, there are several natural home remedies that are proven to provide upper back pain relief quickly and conveniently without costing a fortune.

Move Around

When you are struck with severe back pain that hurts when you try to get out of bed, the obvious solution seems to be to stay immobile. However, while taking it easy is important when you are in pain, taking a week off to lay in bed attempting to avoid the pain can actually be counterproductive.

Remaining in bed or generally immobile for an extended period of time may prevent you from feeling as much pain, but it does not speed up the healing process and it can make the problem worse in the long run by stiffening the joints and weakening the muscles in your upper back.

Moving around, on the other hand, keeps your joints and muscles constantly moving and working so they do not get stiff or weak. You shouldn't try to run a marathon or participate in other vigorous activities when you're suffering from severe upper back pain, but even a quick walk around the block or some easy yoga poses can help stretch and strengthen your upper back and help it heal more quickly and permanently.

Use a Tennis Ball

Press a tennis ball between your back and the wall or floor so it is held in place. Next, continuously raise and lower one or both of your arms above your head. These movements combined with the pressure from the tennis ball force the tightened muscles in your upper back to function normally while under pressure, causing the muscles to release and providing immediate upper back pain relief.

Apply Heat and/or Ice

Applying heat to an injury increases blood flow in that area to decrease stiffness while also reducing pain. Because the majority of upper back pain is caused by stiffness in the joints, regularly using a heating pad on the area can help it heal faster while also causing you to feel less pain.

While it is often less effective, an ice pack can also help alleviate upper back pain in some cases, as it is known to decrease swelling as well as pain. Neither a heating pad nor an ice pack is going to make the pain worse or further harm your back, so you can try out both to see what helps or consult your doctor for his advice on which would be most efficient in your specific situation.

By using these home remedies for upper back pain, you can achieve upper back pain relief quickly, efficiently, and permanently from the comfort of your home without the hassle or expense of disappointingly ineffective medical treatments.

Feel free to visit our blog and learn even more about how to relief back pain, we update the blog with posts from time to time so if you suffer from this type of pain, or, you know anybody that does please let them know- Imogen Dawson

The Benefits of Using Sheer Curtains and DIY Tips

2015-08-07T20:58:00.004+05:30

Embracing Elegance: The Benefits of Using Sheer Curtains and DIY Tips

As the seasons change and we usher in a new era of interior design, one timeless element that continues to captivate homeowners is the sheer curtain. These delicate, translucent drapes have been a staple in home decor for decades, and their popularity only seems to grow with time. In this blog post, we'll explore the myriad benefits of using sheer curtains and provide you with some handy do-it-yourself (DIY) tips to enhance your home decor.

1. Softening Natural Light: Sheer curtains are renowned for their ability to diffuse natural light, creating a soft and ethereal ambiance in any room. Unlike heavy drapes that can darken a space, sheer curtains allow sunlight to gently filter through, illuminating the room without compromising privacy. This benefit is especially valuable in spaces like living rooms and bedrooms, where a cozy atmosphere is desired.

2. Enhancing Privacy: Contrary to popular belief, sheer curtains can offer a surprising level of privacy. While they may not completely block the view from outside, they add a layer of discretion by blurring the scenery. This makes them an excellent choice for rooms that require both natural light and a sense of seclusion.

3. Visual Appeal and Versatility: Sheer curtains are incredibly versatile in terms of design, making them suitable for various interior styles. Whether your home boasts a modern, minimalist aesthetic or a classic, traditional charm, sheer curtains seamlessly integrate into any decor scheme. Their lightweight and flowing nature add a touch of elegance to windows, elevating the overall look of the room.

4. Temperature Control: Unlike heavy drapes that can trap heat, sheer curtains contribute to better temperature control. They allow for optimal ventilation, making them an ideal choice for warmer seasons. In winter, combining sheer curtains with heavier drapes can create a layered effect, providing insulation and retaining warmth.

DIY Tips for Sheer Curtain Installation and Maintenance:

Now that we've explored the benefits, let's delve into some DIY tips to make the most of your sheer curtains:

1. Proper Measurement: Accurate measurements are crucial for achieving a polished look. Measure your windows carefully and choose sheer curtains that are slightly longer than the window frame to create an illusion of height and grandeur.

2. Layering for Style and Function: Experiment with layering sheer curtains with heavier drapes or blinds. This not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also allows for greater flexibility in controlling light and privacy.

3. Creative Tiebacks and Accessories: Add a personal touch to your sheer curtains by using creative tiebacks or accessories. Consider using decorative hooks, ribbons, or even pieces of jewelry to tie back your curtains and create a stylish focal point.

4. Regular Maintenance: Sheer curtains require regular maintenance to keep them looking pristine. Check the care instructions provided by the manufacturer and follow them diligently. Gentle washing and proper handling will ensure the longevity of your sheer curtains.

In conclusion, the benefits of using sheer curtains extend beyond their aesthetic appeal. From softening natural light to providing a versatile design element, sheer curtains are a timeless addition to any home. By embracing these delicate drapes and incorporating our DIY tips, you can transform your living spaces into havens of elegance and style. So, let the sheer beauty of these curtains grace your windows and illuminate your home with a touch of sophistication.

How to Conceal Pitted Acne Scars with Make up ? - Useful tips

2015-07-08T11:04:00.000+05:30

Acne scars are a lasting reminder of acne, whether recent or from years ago. While there are different surgical procedures for reducing or eliminating these scars, most people rely on some form of concealer makeup to cover them up. Depending on the type of acne scar you want to cover, you will need to use different techniques and makeup.

There are several different types of acne scars, including pitted, raised, and post inflammatory hyper pigmentation (which is not technically a scar). The methods discussed in this article address the ways to cover pitted scars, such as icepick, boxcar, or other depressed scars. These types of scars present a challenge to conceal since they are not even with the rest of the skin.

In order to best conceal pitted acne scars, you will first need to use a filler to raise the scar as much as possible to the same level as the rest of your skin. Two ways you can do this are with:

    Wrinkle fillers. If they can fill wrinkles, then they can do the same with pitted scars. While these are unlikely to raise the scar significantly and are only temporary, they can reduce the amount of concealer you need to fill the scar.
    Thick, creamy concealers. A thick concealer that is the same color as your skin can be applied with a very small concealer brush. Apply a small amount of concealer to the pitted portion of the scar. Dab and blend carefully so that the concealer stays in the scar and the edges blend with the rest of your skin. A couple good concealers for scars are Kat Von D's Tattoo Concealer and Smashbox High Definition Concealer. Cover FX also has a very wide range of colors for concealing scars on the face or body.

Tips for the best coverage:

    Always look for a concealer that is as close to your skin tone as possible. If anything, use a slightly lighter tone, since a depressed scar can cast a slight shadow, making it look darker.
    If the scar is discolored, use a corrector first in green (for red scars) or yellow (for bluish scars). Peach colors can also work with scars that have a blue tint. Use concealer after the corrector, if necessary, to even out the color to match the rest of your skin.
    If applying foundation, put it on after using any wrinkle filler but before your concealer. If you apply foundation after concealer, you risk wiping off the concealer that you just worked so hard to apply. Also, you may need less concealer after applying foundation.

Always set your concealer with a loose powder. This will set it and keep your makeup from smearing during the day. This applies to both face and body makeup.

While it is possible to conceal your acne scars, it is still best to prevent them in the first place. Any time you get acne, whether it is just one pimple or many, treat it right away and keep your hands away from your face. Be particularly careful of any inflamed areas since these are the blemishes that are most likely to result in scars. There is no real substitute for the advice of a dermatologist when you have moderate to severe acne. However, do not wait until your acne is bad to start treating it. Sharyn Sheldon

Six Innovative Ideas For Bathroom Remodeling

2015-06-20T19:49:00.000+05:30

If you think following design norms is boring, try incorporating some fresh design ideas into your bathroom remodeling project. With a little imagination and courage, you can create a new bathroom space you'll want to spend time in!

Lighting

Have you ever imagined installing a classy ornate chandelier over your whirlpool tub? What luxury! If your room is small, lighting installed under cabinets and vanities can be an effective way to give the illusion of space and depth.

Fireplace

Although a fireplace might seem commonplace in a living room or family room, it can also give a homey feeling to your powder room. Imagine the cozy atmosphere you can create by adding a fireplace to your bathroom remodeling project. As you soak in a big tub, dancing flames can help you relax by creating an elegant and luxurious experience.

Sinks and Vanities

There's a world of options when choosing a sink or vanity. You can even choose an antique bureau or sideboard for a vanity if you like that style. Sink basins come in virtually every shape and size. Choose an unusual color, finish, size, or shape to add an element of unexpected design to the room. Materials include glass, wood, porcelain, stainless steel, cast iron, enamel, and solid surface.

Tile Options

Exciting innovations in tiles have created a wealth of bathroom remodeling options. Cover horizontal surfaces with exciting colors and textures in a variety of sizes and shapes. The tile can also continue vertically up the walls, extending colors and textures throughout the room. Use a variety of tile sizes in a coordinating color palette to create a surprising room.

Innovative Shower Ideas

Take your shower to a new level by designing a walk-in area that's not separated by glass. Even if you don't have an expansive space, you can add a walk-in shower. It might be easy to forget about seating when you're considering tubs and toilets, but it's an important element. If your bathroom remodeling plans include a steam room or large shower, you can add a built-in chase to enable you to recline as you steam or shower. Imagine the sense of comfort and restfulness as you lie back in luxury.

Incorporating Electronics

If audio and visual technology appeals to you, don't let the old norms stop you. It's possible to add a wall-mounted waterproof television, visible from the shower or tub, which enables you to watch as you bathe. You can also choose from a variety of mirror TVs, which are actually mirrors with the added capability of functioning as a television! These televisions have added features such as lighting, radio, and waterproof remote controls. Another gadget to consider is a shower head that doubles as a speaker, enabling you to connect to any device via Bluetooth.

With all these possibilities, there's no reason not to have fun designing your bathroom remodeling project! See where your imagination and innovation can take you. Antoinette Ayana

How to Lose Beer Belly Fat Fast and Safely

2015-04-19T22:23:00.001+05:30

I was embarrassed by my beer belly fat for years until I found out how to lose beer belly fat fast and safely without any stress and complications. At a time, friends suggested I go for a tummy tuck operation but thank God I refused.

How to lose beer belly fat fast and safely; requires that you first detoxify your body and start a healthy weight loss diet. A healthy weight loss diet and a complete detoxification program can help you to lose your beer belly fat fast and safely.

Detoxification enables you to cleanse your body of excess toxins trapped in your belly which is stored as fat cell resulting in a larger belly.

One way to detoxify your body is to have a simple colon cleansing. By cleansing your colon, you will eliminate the harmful toxins in your intestines, as well as the bloated and fat feeling in your belly. By doing so, you will be able to lose your beer belly fat healthily and safely.

There are a few ways that you can cleanse your colon. You can cleanse your colon by eating fruits and vegetables with every meal. Addition of water, fruits and vegetables to your diet can dramatically help cleanse your colon, making you healthier and leaner. Try to cut down on red meat and diary products as these foods are not healthy and they congest the digestive tract.

You should build these weight loss foods into your daily diet: Vegetables such as cayenne pepper, broccoli, squash, cauliflower and beans; fruits such as apples, berries, oranges, peaches, plums, and watermelon; whole grains such as whole-wheat bread, rye bread and brown rice. This diet will help you lose your beer belly fat fast.

One other way to detoxify your body and lose beer belly fat is to eat more protein-rich foods such as beans and nuts. These foods will help cleanse your body and get rid of those unwanted toxin.

Detoxification and colon cleansing are very important if you want to lose beer belly fat fast and successfully.

To lose your beer belly fat fast, you must avoid the following foods; eggs, wheat, diary products, food with added sugar, chocolate, rice pudding, processed foods, salted nuts, marmalade, jam, pasta, cakes, biscuits, ice cream, crisps and ready-meals. Coffee, tea, cocoa, alcohol, fizzy drinks and packet soups must also be avoided.

Develop the habit of drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water every day so as to help flush out unwanted toxins from your body.

You can also learn to sip organic apple cider vinegar with the "mother" in it.
It will help you to lose your beer belly fat fast. It also cleanses the blood, helps with hormone regulation, helps to regulate your pH and high blood pressure. You should take 1 teaspoon of vinegar per glass of water sipped over a period of hours.

A combination of apple cider vinegar, vitamin B-6, kelp, and lecithin increases your body's metabolism to burn fat faster than it would normally have.

To be free from the embarrassing look of your ugly beer belly fat, just learn how to lose beer belly fat fast and safely by applying the secrets highlighted here.

You can apply a more advanced program we have professionally selected for you to lose beer belly fat fast and safely when you visit here. Take steps to become free of the health problems of ugly beer belly fat today. If you say you do not have the time to lose your beer belly fat today, you may have enough time to stay in the hospital. God forbid!- Flaviu Serban

Useful Tips to Lose Arm Fat

2015-03-01T17:01:00.001+05:30

If you happen to be like many people, you may discover that even when you drop some weight, you nonetheless keep some excess fat in your arms. Finding a method to lose arm fat isn't an easy job. You can do intensive workout routines at the health club or you can go to a cosmetic surgeon and find more effective solutions for arm problems.

Cosmetic surgery is normally expensive considering that you will be undergoing a medical procedure. Exactly what the physician will do is apply the most current technology such as liposuction which in essence just sucks the extra fat from your arm. It is not a good idea to undergo this route if you are overweight because losing the weight will probably take care of any extra fat in the arms.

People with excellent arms are normally those who are involved in a much more physical activity such as jobs in construction or any work that normally demands using the arms for carrying and lifting. Others who lift heavy weights and exercise on a regular basis likewise generally don't have this challenge. There are actually some who have developed unattractive arm problems due to weight gain. There are others in addition who are overweight because of genetic issues or specific medical problems. If you are in a family get together and you notice your relatives are as heavy as you are then it is actually a good indication that weight issues are hereditary.

There are numerous ways to lose arm fat. It is possible to choose a balanced diet. Many would recommend that consuming more vegetables than foods filled with fat and empty carbohydrates is much more beneficial. It might demand lots of willpower to do this, particularly after you first get going. A lot of individuals have a difficult time staying away from snacks and fast foods. Burgers are even regarded by some experts to be junk food as well, mostly because of all of the additional fat and calories involved in the usual fast food hamburger.

Another method to lose arm fat will be to exercise. Jogging is one of the very best and least expensive exercises. It burns far more calories and you just have to wear comfortable sneakers to run. Just be sure that the shoes you happen to be wearing have sufficient cushion in the sole to make sure that your feet are protected. It is possible to in addition take part in what a number of people do - weight training. You are going to notice that making use of your arms a great deal will make them firmer, especially for those who have already dropped the excess body fat. You'll be able to engage yourself in weight lifting and ask your trainer to focus on the arm area. Dumb bell curls are an excellent way to get quick results.

Taking care of your body isn't just something you do to look good. It is great to have a firm body however the more vital part is getting healthy. There is no substitute to becoming physically fit. Your health is your most precious asset. Take away the excess fat and you will have far more fun and be more fit at the same time.Sandy Rutherforde

How To Lose Hip Fat With Minimal Effort

2015-02-23T19:06:00.001+05:30

Need to lose hip fat?

In this article I'm going to share with you an unusual secret that many have used to transform their fatty hips very quickly.

It is so powerful that virtually everyone gets results.

And these results can be dramatic. So much so that others will notice the transformation. And your jeans?... well you just may need to buy a smaller size. Much smaller. So start saving now!

The best part is... this fool-proof fat loss secret is so easy to use a fifth grader could do it.

Which surprises the hell out of me because it's almost never mentioned.

In fact, this article alone is most likely one of the few places you will read about this amazing fatty hips treatment.

So if you want to lose hip fat fast pay close attention.

Let's begin...

Your body has three kinds of fat.

The first is structural fat. It surrounds your organs and gives your skin a sleek smooth appearance. This type of fat is vital for your survival.

The second kind of fat is normal fat reserves. This fat is used by your body in cases of nutritional and calorie insufficiencies.

Structural and normal fat reserves are very important and needed for good health. And they are also needed for a curvy, sexy looking figure. When you exercise or do any type of dieting regimen designed to lose weight, it is these two types of fat that are burned first... followed by muscle.

Now the third type of fat is "abnormal", secure reserves of fat.

This is the grotesque "problem area" fat that people struggle with.

Men and women store this type of fat in different areas. For men it tends to be on the belly. Specifically that "below belly button" area we call the "spare-tire". And for women, the most problem area tends to be the hips, thighs and butt.

The strange thing is...

... This abnormal fat is different from the other two types because it is only released in instances of extreme nutritional emergencies, like when the body is on the edge of starvation.

And this certainly does not mean a starvation type diet is the answer.

The problem is, while starving yourself can make this abnormal fat get used up, it also makes it come back far worse. This is why so many obsessive "yo-yo dieters" have grotesque looking fat deposits all over their bodies.

No my friend, the real secret to losing your fatty hips and other abnormal fat is to understand WHY it is there.

Once you know the REAL reason for it, you can lose it quickly. With minimal effort.

The cause of abnormal fat is a hormonal imbalance in your body.

Your body uses hormones to carry out its many functions. They are like messengers that carry important instructions to the cells. If these hormones are "out of whack", then the messages get distorted and the cells perform strange commands. Commands like... "store more fat on the hips."

There are two main causes of this hormonal imbalance...

1. Medication.

The bottom line is that ALL prescription medication you are taking has unhealthy side effects. While it can help treat symptoms... It will also mess-up your body in other unintended ways.

2. Food.

Food is the building block of every living cell in your body. If the food is chemically distorted by additives, preservatives, growth hormones and other harmful chemicals... then it is virtually guaranteed that over time you will develop a hormonal imbalance.

So those are the two main causes of your fatty hips.

From what I've seen, the ones who are able to eliminate those causes get amazing benefits.

This means eliminating the prescription medications and eating and organic based diet. (Of course, be sure to consult your doctor before you do this.)

In fact, the body-transformations experienced by these people can be dramatic. They tend to lose hip fat much easier than the rest. And generally, they experience amazing body reshaping.

And the results can show up very quick.

Even within a matter of seven days or so you can begin to lose hip fat!-Jason Clemens

How to get perfectly shaped eyebrows

2014-12-17T20:04:00.002+05:30

Perfectly shaped eyebrows can accentuate the beauty of your eyes, so it's important to spend that extra time to get them properly trimmed.

International creative director of Paul & Joe Beaute, Craig-Ryan French shares his top tips for beautiful brows, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

Follow these tips for beautiful brows:

- Nobody's eyebrows are totally symmetrical. A mentor once explained - Think of eyebrows as sisters - not twins. They will resemble one another - but they will never be identical.

- To balance wider set eyes, start brows a little closer together. For closer set eyes, begin slightly farther apart.

- The ending tip of the eyebrow should never drop below the level of the beginning of the brow. Brows should sit on the same horizon line or the slightly higher, but never lower.

- Beware of too-thin brows as it can actually make you look older.

- Use an eyebrow pencil, or powder that matches the colour of your own eyebrows.

- Exception: If you have pale or blonde eyebrows, use a colour that's one or two shades deeper than your natural brow colour - this prevents blonde brows from looking washed out, especially when other eye make-up is worn- Times of India

4 Most Effective Home remedies to get rid of Saggy Pouches and Dark Circles Under Eyes

2014-12-08T20:38:00.003+05:30

Getting older is quite natural. Likewise, it is very unfortunate that, as we get older our faces reveal some unwanted signs of aging that we would like to see disappear if possible. While there are surgical treatments that may help to reduce loose sagging skin and wrinkles under eyes, not everyone wants to follow, there are also some effective natural, non surgical methods that can be applied to tighten sagging skin and wrinkles under the effectively .

However, if you are looking for a simple cost effective way to get rid of those saggy eye bags and a dark circles under eyes treatment, then this is post is especially for you. Here are some easy natural remedies you can follow in the comfort of your own home. In fact you will probably find you already have most of the ingredients already in your cupboard.

So forget about the cost of expensive top rated eye creams and cosmetic surgery or painful injections why not try some of these more natural and equally effective solutions. All you need is a couple of hours and some basic ingredients to prepare your dark circles under eyes treatment eye mask.

Lemon and Egg White

Blend a few drop of pure lemon juice with one egg white then apply to your face, taking care to avoid the area round your eyes. Leave this on for 10-15 minutes to achieve the maximum benefit of tightening the skin and minimizing pores.

Parsley and Potato Mask

Try a combination of parsley and raw potato which works in much the same way and also has the added benefit of brightening your skin and saturating it with vitamin C.

Ginger and Zucchini Mask

Combine equal amounts of ginger root and zucchini together by mashing them to a fine paste and then apply under your eyes and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. The mask works on removing those dark circles under your eyes and reducing those puffy eye bags to give you a virtually instant non surgical eye lift.

Green Tea Bag Revival

Another method to try is placing used green tea bags under your eyes. For the best results it is suggested you place the tea bags in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before using them. The caffeine from the tea goes to work on tightening your sagging skin whilst the cold reduces inflammation and swelling from under the eyes.

Unusual Home Remedy For Neck Wrinkles

2014-10-23T11:27:00.000+05:30

We are ready to take all kinds of special measures to get rid of those. We apply anti-aging creams and lotion, take dermatologists' help and read all kinds of beauty advice columns to get rid of wrinkles and reduce their appearance. But what we forget is that wrinkles appear on other parts of our body as well especially on our neck! So what happens is that we manage to reduce wrinkles in our face but the wrinkles in our neck remain in place making us look older than we actually are. But it can be avoided some very basic home remedies for wrinkled neck. Do them diligently and you will have not only a youthful face but a plain wrinkle free neck as well.

Exfoliation Scrub Made Of Sugar

When you exfoliate your skin, you remove surface layers of the skin where dead skin cells, dirt, impurities and excess oil accumulate. The same happens to your neck. If you don't apply any home remedies for wrinkled neck in time, these dead skin cells will make the neck look much wrinkled and dry than it actually is. But do the exfoliation as gently as possible so that you don't scrape or hurt the skin. The best scrub you can get in your home is sugar. The granules in sugar are small and rounded making them perfect to buff off dead skin cells but without harming your skin. To make the sugar glide easily on your neck, combine it with other substances like honey and massage in onto your skin with slow circular motion. Keep it for five minutes and then rinse off with warm water. Do this exfoliation only once a week and not more.

Acidic Compresses

One of the great home remedies for wrinkled neck is acidic compresses. By applying products that are rich in vitamin C to your neck, you will not only tighten and tone the neck skin, but will also boost the skin there to produce new skin cells. Look into citric juices like lime or lemon juice to get hold of a source of Vitamin C. After exfoliation the skin, apply this citric juice with a small washcloth to your neck. Keep the juice-soaked cloth on the neck for the next 10 to 15 minutes by which time, the skin around the neck will be rejuvenated by the acids and vitamin C in the juice. You can do this up to three times a day.

Neck Mask Of Olive Oil

The next step to your home remedies for wrinkled skin involves a mask made of olive oil. After you have sufficiently exfoliated your neck skin and applied the acidic compress to it, now hydrate your neck with an emollient oil to make sure you skin is soft but not with clogged pores. Since the times of ancient Greek and Romans, olive oil has been the moisturizing agent for us and is still best to play this role. It will keep you neck skin supple and moist and just a dime-size is enough for that. All you have to do is massage this oil deeply onto your neck and let it be absorbed by the skin. As the nutritional value of olive oil is quite high, use it as many times as you want on your skin depending on your need.John Socratous shared this article.

Best Cooking tips and Techniques for new cookers

2014-10-18T12:54:00.001+05:30

Cooking Tips, Recipes & Techniques:

    Grocery Shopping :Try to shop for staples once a month (i.e. canned goods, pastas, rice, etc), while purchasing fresh ingredients as needed (i.e. fruits, meats, vegetables, etc. Plan what meals you want to make for the week in advance. This will help you plan your grocery list better Keep a constant shopping list in your kitchen, jotting down items when you run low.
    Freezing:To save money on food cost, freeze any ingredients you do not use within 1-2 days. You can microwave to defrost items or thaw them in the refrigerator overnight.Meat and poultry that is partly frozen are easier to cut for soups, stir-fries and scaloppine.If you have a lot of leftovers, you can store them in the freezer in labeled and dated containers/ziplock bags.
    Fresh and Refrigerated Goods:

    Selecting quality produce is crucial to cooking. A rotten fruit/vegetable is never a tasty thing! When picking fruit, always go with aroma, lack of bruises, and bright in color.To extract the juice from limes and lemons, roll them firmly on a hard surface. This helps extract the water content nestled within the membranes. Save the peels in a ziplock bag for later usage. You can add them to water to prevent browning of peeled apples or potatoes, or preserve the rind for flavorings dishes, or household uses such as cleaning tough stains off kitchen counters and freshening up your food disposal.

    When selecting melons, smell at the stem end for a sweet aroma– it should yield slightly to pressure. Berries should also have a fragrant aroma as well and should not be washed until just before use.To keep herbs from wilting, keep them stored in a tall container of water in the fridge. Trim the stems as you would flowers.
    Store mushrooms in a paper bag so they are able to breathe, or else they become slimy and browned by condensation from the plastic bag.When selecting chili peppers, red ones will be sweeter than green because they are more ripe. The bigger the pepper the less hot it is. (Kind of like scorpions! Random?
    To test the doneness of a hard boiled egg, simply just give it a spin. If it does not spin and wobbles, it is underdone, when it continues to spin it is ready to eat. Also to quickly peel hard-boiled eggs, roll the egg lightly until the entire shell is cracked all over. Peel from the end with the air pocket and remove the shell in a spiral formation.

    Dry Goods:If a recipe calls for herbs and spices to be removed before serving, simply put them in a cheesecloth and tie it with a string or if readily available, a wire meshed tea ball. This will make extracting the herbs easier.Store commonly used dry goods like flour, sugar, grains, legumes and pasta in large half-gallon, wide-mouth, vacuum-sealed containers. These jars will allow you to easily measure out your ingredients as well as keep the moisture out.to shorten the boiling time for water, start with hot tap water. This will cut your time by almost half. Thin pastas such as vermicelli and angel hair will call for a much quicker cooking time than a thicker pasta like fettuccine or penne.

You start by prepping the meat or chicken. Cut the meat into thin bite-size slices and marinate to protect it from overcooking. The marinade can be made with a variety of liquids depending on the flavor you are trying to obtain. Typical marinade ingredients include chicken stock or beef stock, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, chili sauce, corn starch, brown sugar, rice wine or dry sherry. Marinate for a least one hour, longer is better.Prepare an aromatic mixture consisting of finely chopped herbs and spices that will add flavor and aroma to the stir-fry. Typical aromatics include garlic, scallions, red pepper flakes, shallots, and chili peppers to name a few. Next prepare your vegetables by cutting them into small pieces and separating according to their cooking times. Slower cooking vegetables like asparagus and green beans will be added before faster cooking vegetables like pea pods and tomatoes. Now you're ready to stir-fry-Kashif

Glass wins out over canned or plastic: while it does use more energy to manufacture and recycle, it doesn't contain the harmful chemicals that plastics and metals have. Be sure to reuse the glass containers over and over again to lessen the carbon footprint.canned produce wins out over frozen.That being said, most cans and many frozen containers are lined with a material containing BPA. There are brands, though, such as Eden, that are BPA-free. Paperboard wins out over canned, plastic or frozen options.

How to reduce packaging:Always bring your own reusable grocery bags. For a host of brands,Bring reusable bags and containers for produce and bulk items.Never buy bottled water.Consider powdered mixes rather than liquid drinks or frozen concentrates.Buy meats and cheeses from the deli rather than purchasing them in foam and plastic containers.

How to reuse containers:Use glass jars, such as pasta sauce jars, for food storage. They make a great alternative to plastic containers. They can also be microwaved without leaching toxins into your food.Instead of buying salad dressing containers, mix or make your own and store it in glass jars.Buy in bulk, making sure you use your own bags for transport and glass jars or other reusable containers for storage. Cooking can be a fantastic hobby for people of all ages. The articles listed below cover cooking hints and tips, including food handling safety, and preparing great meals at home.Although our articles will be of use to anyone seeking information regarding various cooking methods and food types, our primary focus is to provide information regarding kitchen skills and cooking for persons with disabilities and mobility problems, be it cooking for yourself, or preparing meals for seniors, or someone with a disability or health condition.You will also find information regarding cooking and eating utensils, including products and aids that assist persons with disabilities preparing and cooking food in the kitchen and for ease and independence when dining. Never be afraid to fail when cooking the first few times.Cooking is an art, and any art always takes a process ad of course, determination. As long as you have the passion for cooking, you can whip your way to culinary heaven and impress anyone with willing taste buds.Tip: When beginning cooking you should choose recipes that are not too complicated. Too difficult recipe steps can sometimes be a little overwhelming for the new cook. Be aware of how many resources you can acquire and how much time you can invest on the cooking process.

15 Basic Cooking Tips To Make Your Life Easier:

There are some basic cooking tips that anyone could learn and use to help out in the kitchen. With todays' busy lifestyles becoming more prevalent, learning and using these basic cooking tips will save you time and headache.

Bacon: Reduce shrinkage by running cold water over it before frying.

Beans: Stop gas attacks by adding a tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda in a big pot of beans while they are soaking.

Boiled Eggs: Add some vinegar or a little salt to the boiling water when boiling eggs. This basic cooking tips will keep the egg in the shell if it cracks.

Ripening Fruits and Vegetables: Put your unripe fruit and vegetables in a brown paper bag and place the bag in a dark cupboard for few day. Using this basic cooking tips is an excellent way to save money on fruits and vegetables that has to be ripened.

Salads: Cut your iceberg lettuce into wedges instead of tearing salad greens to save some time making a salad.

Spaghetti Sauce: Add a small pinch of bicarbonate of soda to your spaghetti sauce to lower the acid taste from the tomatoes.

Corn: Place the corn directly into boiling water, and do not add salt. Do not boil corn for more than three minutes. Overcooking reduces the taste level.

Frozen Vegetables: When they are stuck together, simply run boiling water over them.

Pancakes: Use a small amount of sugar in the batter and they will brown more quickly.

Pie Pastry: Substitute one teaspoon of vinegar for one teaspoon of the cold water called for in the recipe and the pastry will be much flakier.

Quick Sauces: Use condensed cream soups such as cream of mushroom, cream of chicken, cream of tomato, cream of celery, to make fast and easy sauces.

Quick Tenderizer: Use vinegar as a meat tenderizer. Add a tablespoon to water when boiling meat or ribs for stews. This basic cooking tips will help tenderizer even the toughest meat.

Wilted vegetables: Soak wilted veggies in two cups water, one tablespoon vinegar to help bring them back to life.

Wooden Skewers: Soak all your wooden skewers in cold water for twenty minutes to prevent them from burning.

Inspiration could be considered to be one of the key ingredients to writing. Only if one is inspired, can one get to writing on any subject especially like cooking.

COOKING TECHNIQUES:

"It's my belief that the best way to become a good cook is to learn these basic cooking techniques."

Once you learn how to handle these fundamental techniques, you will be able to handle most recipes. Cooking is not just about recipes....it is about how to take ingredients and make them taste as good as possible.Recipes are great road maps to show us how someone else got there, but one of the joys of cooking is to find your own paths. Knowing these techniques is like taking the car out for a spin in a new location. You're not sure where you are going to end up, but getting there will be fun.

How to Stir Fry in Your Own Kitchen:

Every week or so I get a craving for Chinese food. There's something about those crunchy vegetables, tender meats, and incredible flavors that forces me to dig out a menu buried in a kitchen drawer and order from a local restaurant. The Chinese have a way of manipulating food that I wanted to learn about so I dug out the wok that I inherited when I got married and started reading up and experimenting.The Chinese have a way of manipulating food that I wanted to learn about so I dug out the wok that I inherited when I got married and started reading up and experimenting. Often I talk about prepping ingredients before you start cooking, but this is a must when doing stir-fry. In fact prepping the ingredients will take longer than the actual cooking. Once you get your pan hot. Stir-frying will also give you some practice with your cutting skills since each ingredient will be bite size (Have you ever seen a knife in a Chinese restaurant?) and have different cuts. Once prepped, I like to put the ingredients in individual bowls separated by cooking times.The technique is to quickly fry the ingredients in a large pan over high heat while constantly stirring to preserve flavor, color and texture of the food and keep the vegetables crisp. Easy enough. Other than a few specialty ingredients, you can use whatever you have on hand to make a stir-fry. It's a great way to clean out the vegetable drawer. Because you'll be cooking at very high heat, you want to use a high smoking point oil like peanut, safflower, corn, or canola. Some of the specialty ingredients that you should be able to find at your local supermarket are soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and chili sauce. Short or medium grained rice is best for accompanying your stir-fry.

Preparation cum Cooking Tips For Chicken Recipes

2014-10-18T11:30:00.000+05:30

What's not to like about the dinner time favorite? Yes, the versatile, inexpensive and protein- rich chicken. Here are some basic cooking and preparation tips for your sumptuous chicken recipes.

Freezing

Keep the chicken cold after buying from the supermarket. Store it in the freezer, or the coldest part of your fridge. Don't let it stay long in your cold cabinet, though. Don't store it for more than 2 days, but instead cook it within that time period. It's not a good idea to leave the chicken raw or unfrozen at room temperature. It encourages the rapid growth of Listella and Salmonella bacteria that causes spoiling. Otherwise, if you intend to keep the chicken for weeks to months, place it inside the store packaging and then freeze. Months of storage needs you to wrap the poultry meat in heavy duty aluminum foil and thick freezer bag. Properly stored, chicken meat can stay for as long as one year and still keep its quality.

Thawing

Time to take the chicken out of the freezer. Thaw it safely and slowly. A whole chicken may need 1 to 2 days to thaw in the fridge. If the chicken has been cut in pieces and boneless, they'll thaw faster in 2- 9 hours. A faster way to thaw chicken is by placing it in the microwave oven and setting it at the "defrost cycle" mode. Again, never leave chicken to thaw in room temperature, or you'll get spoiled meat. A cold water bath also thaws chicken faster.

Cleaning

Inside and out, rinse the chicken with water. Use paper towels to pat the meat dry before preparing. Make sure to clean all surfaces and utensils you use to prevent cross- contamination. A separate chopping board should be used for chicken.

Cooking

Use a meat thermometer because it's the only way to tell if chicken has been properly cooked. It's not enough to see the juices running clear. Insert the thermometer in the chicken thigh to check the internal temperature. See to it that you don't touch the bone. Properly cooked chicken should reach 165°F (75°C).

When you remove the chicken from the heat, it will continue to cook. So if the temperature is a few notches low, keep the thermometer inserted. The temperature could climb up to a safe heat.

What's next is marinating or brining the chicken, however you want to add flavor and savor and garnishing to it. Enjoy your favorite chicken recipes! - Stephen G John

Easy Chinese Food Recipe

2014-10-12T22:24:00.000+05:30

Chinese foods because of their mouthwatering flavors have been reigning across the food markets of the globe. Chinese restaurants and road side eateries are a common site in countries like India.

Easy Chinese Food Recipes are the hot favorites of the chef's as well. Though the dishes have originated from China, the easy availability of Chinese vegetables like capsicum, carrots, spring onions etc. brings them within the easy reach of food lovers spread around the globe.

A typical Chinese meal can be comprised of:-

1)    Appetizer like soups. Chinese menu has a wide range of soups like man chow soup, hot and sour soups, talumein soup etc.

2)    Starters like Manchurian and chilies. Chinese recipes like chicken chilies and Manchurians are ideal starters.

3)    Main course: - the main course can include the fried rice or noodles etc.

4)    Deserts: - There are no typical Chinese deserts as such. So the meal can be complimented with any desert of your choice.

Any Chinese dish like noodles or fried rice can be made using many different ingredients and there is a lot of scope to experiment and explore. So every cook can provide an add on to the typical Chinese recipes and blend them as per the tastes of their family and friends.

For e.g. Noodles can be made out of the vegetables, meat using chicken or ham, mushrooms, eggs and so on.

If you opt for a vegetarian course then also the Chinese recipes have a lot for you to explore. Potatoes, cheese, mushrooms or even cabbages can be easily supplemented in place of eggs and meat in all the Chinese dishes including the soups and starters.

These offers even the veggies numerous options to try from. The spicy flavors, the tangy colors, and the moth watering aroma make the Chinese cuisines a hot favorite for any meal.

There are certain ingredients which are common in every Chinese food and they are must to provide the Chinese food their original flavor and texture. These ingredients include:-

    Sauces:-They play a very significant role in providing the base for many Chinese recipes. The typical ones include soya sauce, tomato sauce, chilly sauce etc.
    Vinegar, corn flour and Chinese salt called aginomotto
    Chinese vegetables which include Chinese broccoli, bamboo shoots, bitter melon, Bok Choy, Chinese dried mushroom, Chinese eggplant, Chinese garlic cheves etc.
    Spices like garlic, onion, ginger and green chilly plays an important role in giving the Chinese recipes their authentic flavor-Food Recipe Guide

Low Fat Delicious Vegetarian Recipes

2014-10-12T22:17:00.002+05:30

Today, people are willing to do anything to achieve weight loss. There are so many new diets added on to the market everyday . The result is that in their quest to become thin, people are starting to take such drastic measures that it ends up harming their health. The weight loss effects of such fad diets or products, which claim to be "miracle diets", have short term results and have many side effects. This makes it extremely important that we choose ways of weight loss methods which are healthy.

The vegetarian diet includes many low fat recipes which are used by many people in the world for various reasons. Depending on what kind of vegetarian they are people are trying to create different low fat vegetarian recipes. People are turning towards these low fat vegetarian recipes because they are nutritional, help reduce cholesterol and also help people mentally concentrate better.

A good way of staying perfectly in shape is eating organic food. Vegetables and fruits are the best examples of natural and completely healthy food. What's even better is that you can cook them easily at home and add a personal touch. Since you prepare the meal yourself, there is absolutely no chance that an artificial additive or chemical might enter it and affect your health. Vegetarian recipes are generally low fat, low calorie and high fiber. The low cal and low fat part makes them a perfect meal when a person is what to achieve weight loss. The high fiber part increases metabolism and hence again, helps in weight loss by burning more calories. Remember that it is a combination of healthy eating, exercise and resisting tempting foods that leads to healthy and permanent weight loss.

This is perhaps the very reason why more and more people are adopting Vegetarianism as a lifestyle. Below are one low cal delicious vegetarian and fruit juice recipes. The amount of salt, sugar and spices has not been mentioned as these can easily be altered in any vegetarian recipe according to one's taste.

1. Sweet Potato Fries: A perfect complex carbohydrate lunch. It isn't like your traditional French fries. It is much healthier and vegetarian.

Ingredients:

Sweet potato

Onion powder

Garlic powder

Oregano

Paprika

Preparations:

Firstly, pre heat the oven to 450 degrees. Now take a non stick dish and cover it with aluminum foil . Now, slice the sweet potatoes into fine strips and lay them neatly on the dish. Next, sprinkle olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano and paprika on the sliced sweet potatoes. Lastly, heat them in the oven at the same temp for about thirty minutes and your delicious vegetarian low cal recipe is ready. The spices should be added according to your own taste.

Apple and Blackberry Twist Fruit Juice: This is a sweet fruit juice you can make for breakfast

Ingredients

1 Apple

1 cup of Blackberries

Frozen ice cubes

Equipment

Blender

Knife

How To Prepare

Chop the apple into four pieces. Pour into the blender the chopped apple pieces and a cup of washed blackberries. Add the frozen ice cubes and blend for 2-3 minutes until smooth. Enjoy!

The best thing with Vegetarian meals is they are very easy to cook. Even if you don't agree with a particular recipe, you can always add a new taste to it by adding a personal touch. Trying to cook new vegetarian recipes is equally easy. Try the above mentioned low cal delicious vegetarian recipes and even if you are a non- vegetarian, you will certainly feel a stronger drift to being all time vegetarian-My Vegetarian Recipe Guide

DIY Home Remedies for Dry Hair

2014-10-12T22:07:00.000+05:30

There are many culprits that can cause dry hair - pollution, sun exposure, stress, and even hair care products are some of them. However, you don't need to worry because quick fixes for your thirsty tresses are right at home and in your fridge or your pantry.

Mayonnaise

This tasty condiment doesn't just work on sandwiches - it can totally pamper and condition tired, parched hair. Mayonnaise is full of three important ingredients that do wonders for the hair: protein, oil, and L-cysteine.

Protein and oil are the building blocks of hair - the protein rebuilds and strengthens hair structure while the oil coats the follicles and moisturizes the strands. L-cysteine is a powerful antioxidant and a major component of hair, and reintroduction of L-cysteine to dry hair will give strength, hydration, and shine. Obviously when it comes to hair treatments, mayonnaise works miracles!

To make your very own DIY home remedy using mayonnaise, start by picking out full-fat or real mayonnaise so that you get the true ingredients and full benefits. Get half a cup and allow it to warm up to room temperature.

Wet your hair with warm water so that the follicles will open up and absorb the nutrients better. Slather on the half cup of mayonnaise with a comb and ensure that all strands are coated. Put on a shower cap or a warm, damp towel, and leave on for a minimum of fifteen minutes. (If your hair is super dry, leave it on overnight!)

When you've let your hair marinade in the mayonnaise for as long as you need, rinse it off with warm water. If you're staying in, don't shampoo for another 24 hours so that the oils remaining in your hair will continue to condition and repair your locks. However, if you need to head out the door, give your hair a quick lather with a mild shampoo.

Your hair should be smooth, shiny, and moisturized when you're done!

Coconut Oil

In recent years, the health, cooking, and beauty industries have been going nuts for coconuts! Among its many benefits is that it works great as a hair conditioner. Studies have shown that among common oils used for hair care (such as sunflower oil and mineral oil), coconut oil has the ability to actually penetrate hair. This means that it nourishes hair from the inside and its conditioning benefits won't be washed away during your next shampoo!

To make a DIY home mask for dry hair using coconut oil, grab some coconut oil from the Asian section of your grocery. Coconut oil tends to solidify during colder temperatures, so don't be surprised if it looks like it's glazed over.

There are two ways of using coconut oil as a hair mask: you can use it either before or after shampooing. Coconut oil works best with dry hair, so keep that in mind when you plan to use it.

Start by getting a dime-sized amount of coconut oil and warming it gently in the microwave. Be sure that it isn't too hot so that you don't burn your scalp!

Now, if you're going to slather it on before shampooing, have your shower cap and your hair drier ready. Comb it through your hair, ensuring that you get it on every strand from roots to tips. Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave the oil on for 30 minutes. Afterward, remove the shower cap and expose your hair to gentle heat from your hair drier for 5 - 15 minutes. This will help the oil penetrate your hair, ensuring that you get a deep conditioning!

When you're done blow drying your hair, shampoo and condition as usual.

If you plan to use this mask after your bath, make sure that your hair is completely dry before putting it on. This time, prepare a smaller amount that's also warmed so that the oil is in its liquid form. Comb it through your hair with focus on the tips to prevent split ends.

When you're done, you'll have deeply conditioned and happy hair! - Ochena Bikel

Role of parents in bringing up their kids

2014-10-09T08:20:00.000+05:30

Being a parent is one of the most challenging but rewarding jobs anyone could ever adopt. It is the longest task and responsibility that an individual will ever perform. Parenting is an active process that demands that individuals use their skills and knowledge plan, give birth, raise, and provide for children. The parenting process includes protecting, nourishing, and guiding the child. It involves a series of interaction between the parent and the child through the life span.

Just as children go through the stages of development, parents also go through the stages of parenthood that require appropriate parenting stage responsibilities. These stages involve changing task and roles of both parents and children.

1. Image building (conception to birth of the baby)

The young parents dream and build images of ideal parenting and of what they want to become before the baby is born. Parents are reminded of their past and how they were parented, to prepare for the financial needs care and upbringing.

2. Nurturing (Birth – 18 months)

Each child has specific wants and needs that require nurturing. By meeting the needs of the child, a positive relationship can be built, which consistently sends messages of love and support. Expressions of love and affection, listening to the child's ideas, feelings, problems and difficulties, kindness and sympathy, help the child to feel connected to the family and society. Parents build an attachment with the child and identify themselves as a parent, assess and understand what kind of parents they really are. Grand parents, parents in law, friends, and relatives find out how the parents handle this new role. This stage is critical in building trust, bond and close attachment between the parent and the child. Trust emerges as the child's basic needs for warmth, food, dryness of nappy, safety, eye contact, and touch are satisfied. The child's belief and trust of the parent as a dependable source forms the basis and establishes a firm foundation for all future relationships for the rest of the life. Numerous personal adjustments must be made by the mother to meet demands of the baby in terms of resting period, feeding schedule, managing the soiled clothes, maintaining contact, giving personal attention when the baby is at play and shows initiation to become mobile.

3. Authority (18 months to age 5years)

The parents become the persons in charge when the baby begins to walk and talk. This

Is the period when the parents set rules for the child's action and behaviour, decides

When to say yes and when to say no and prepares the child for separation that is to be away for schooling. The parents exercise utmost care to discipline, maintaining consistency, and avoiding ambiguity in giving directions helps the child to conceptualize what is expected of him.

4. Interpretation ( Age 5 to puberty)

The child's question from "what" turns to "why" and "how". This requires explaining each of the queries; the number of such queries grows as the child's language skills grow and understanding expands. Parents will have to respond satisfactorily with convincing replies. The child experiments with rules and social norms, examines the quality of treatment he/she receives and the relationship maintained within the family. The type of parenting used in such situations plays a significant role in determining the sort of adult the child will become. Acceptance, appreciation and affection expressed by parents equip the child to develop a positive attitude and approach towards life. It is at this stage children make harsh conclusions and judgements about parental intentions and actions as they struggle to understand relationships, meaning or realise that other people also have feelings. This stage necessitates parents to interact with the child in an age – appropriate manner. They may need to frequently revisit and revise their parental roles as the child continues to mature. The child may show special interest in materialistic possessions, and might experiment with unique clothing and accessories of dress, appearance and behaviours. Parents can attempt to alter adverse behaviours that occur by making rules age appropriate, modifying expectations when necessary, and by serving as a role model for the child to follow.

5. Preparation for independence (Teen years)

The parents of teenagers face challenges over their authority as parents. A teenager fights with parents in making decisions, and on issues considered as personal matters.

Teenagers begin to show that they are "grown up" and are capable of handling difficult situations themselves, that they are different from their parents in many ways, and that their problems and needs are not well understood by the parents. During such times, teenagers need parental guidance to make decisions and to make tough choices. They need careful and sympathetic listening, brief counselling and independence to prove that they are capable of making certain decisions and able to accept the consequences of such decisions.

Children imitate parents and others adults whom they admire and respect. In recent

Years, particularly in metropolitan areas, parent education classes have been initiated in an effort to extend parenting knowledge and skills to new parents who reside mainly in nuclear families.

The relationships maintained between the spouses, with their respective parents, with the other family members and between the siblings bear a strong influence on the parenting. In the Indian context, a first – born boy enjoys better parental care than a girl. Last born is more likely to be pampered in a smaller family and neglected in a larger family. Parents who have exposure to baby and child care during their own childhood and adolescence, such as taking care of younger sibling may find parenting easier than those who have had little or no exposure to child care.

The parents of a child, born with certain gifts or disabilities are more likely to face greater parenting stress, strain and effort than parents of a normal child. Typically, educated parent maintain realistic standards, aspirations, and better relationship with their children, so to strengthen parenting skills, parents need to understand and learn about them and also about child development.

Parents with genuine interest in parenting build healthy relationship with school, neighbourhood, and community groups.

Parenting Styles

The styles of parental responses and interactions with their children can be classified into three types (Baumrind, 1971), the styles followed by parents may not fit into any one -category, as parents combine the styles depending on the situation, age and sex of the child. Further, parenting styles shift as Parents gain knowledge about the parenting process through various sources, relate their own experiences, and receive responses/feedback from the child and from significant other ground client The three parenting styles are permissive, authoritarian and authoritative.

Permissive Parenting

Permissive parent give too much freedom, set no limits or boundaries, and provide no guidelines for the child to follow socially accepted norms. They employ little or no punishment. Often these parents are uninvolved in parenting and spend little time with their children, giving excuses of stress and work such parents allow their children to face difficult situations in which they have little or no experience or skill to manage on heir own and to contend with the consequences. Permissive parenting may result in children who have less self-control, become aggressive and irresponsible, and have low self-esteem,

Authoritarian Parenting

Authoritarian parents are demanding, strict, give punishment, and do not allow choices or the freedom to express various opinions. They dislike questioning of their authority, set very high standards, and demand that their standards be satisfied. These

parents value submission, obedience and tradition, while discouraging independence and individuality. This parenting style may produce a child who lacks self-confidence, curiosity and creativity, self-control and who has low self-esteem. Under such parenting style, the child will exhibit difficulty in making one's own decisions and behaving in a socially approved manner under given circumstance.

Authoritative Parenting

Authoritative parents employ explanations, discussions, reasoning; they balance their parenting style by using punishment and rewards appropriately. Punishment is never harsh or physical. Instead, it is given by way of deprivation of an opportunity or gifts. Moreover, punishment is used only when ample evidence of willful wrongdoing is observed. When children correct their behavior, they are rewarded. Rewards include praise, a pat on the shoulder; a smile or a nod. Generally, the reward is proportionate to the positive behavior that is being reinforced. Such parenting style results in children who have good self-control, high self-esteem, self-confidence, responsibility, independence and control over their emotions.

Practical Suggestions to Understand and Prevent Misbehavior in Children

Effective parenting is often challenged by misbehavior of children. Understanding why children misbehave is important to respond effectively. Children misbehave when they:

• are sleepy, sick, need fresh air, exercise and food,

• are puzzled or unsure about what is expected of them,

• need attention and love, or need to feel secure,

• want to fulfill their curiosity,

• are not physically and mentally ready or able to follow the rules,

• are bored,

• are angry, disappointed and frustrated, and

• want to assert independence.

Suggestions for Positive Parenting

Positive parenting is the loving and supportive care provided by both parents. The parenting role has shifting its paradigm from fear-based to love-based. Positive parenting also can be termed 'conscious parenting', or always seeking the betterment of children in the long run. To achieve the goal of treating or rearing children in a way so that today's children can be tomor¬row's healthy and successful adults, key issues involved are as follows:

— The happiness and harmony between father and mother are important prerequisites for a physically fit and mentally happy child.

— Maintaining harmony between parents and children is essential for positive parenting.

— Children should be allowed to explore and do things themselves to enhance their self-esteem, so that they might experience a happy, gratifying, and purposeful life.

— The parents' own behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, and values affect greatly the child's development. Hence, parents need to recognize their own belief system and how it can impact on the lives of their children. Further, they should attempt to keep in tune with the changing times.

— Children need unconditional love and support from their parents for healthy development. Rationalizing, reasoning, giving adequate time, and answering questions are essential on the part of parents. These childrearing practices promote the same future behaviors in their children.

— Support children emotionally at times when they need it most, so that they do not feel let down or alone. It seems likely that a child who feels emotionally isolated senses a breach of faith and trust on the part of the parents.

— Accept each child as an individual with his or her unique gifts and talents. Each child is different; hence comparison with others is unwarranted.

— Positive requests to children, without forcing them to do something, work wonders.

— Showing positive feelings and appreciation for even the small work done by the child will encourage the devel¬opment of confidence and a secure self-concept (i.e., "I feel good about myself and about my abilities").

— Listen carefully to your children and provide support and guidance.

— The relationship of parents with other members of family, relatives, and neighbors affects the general environment to which children are exposed.

— Parent education, in terms of learning and practicing good parenting skills to rear and manage today's children, is essential. Modern-day children are more world-wise, having been exposed to many more situations than their parents, which may lead to a feeling of incompetence and helplessness on the part of the parents to manage their children.

Conclusion

Parenting is not an easy task. Becoming a parent is the easiest part, whereas, being a conscious and positive parent is a momentous task. Parenting is the most important role one faces in a lifetime. Parents who provide an encouraging environment for their children are rewarded when, as adults, their children realize a successful fit into the culture and society.

Parenting concepts are deeply rooted in Indian families, because of a strong, sustained tradition of educating and training young parents to accept, perform and establish enduring relationships and responsibilities with their children. Generally, the young mother is introduced to the nuances of parenting by way of the 'hands on' method at her parental home, and under the guidance of her mother or an experienced family member. This practice could be the reason why the need for professional parent education usually is not expressed.

Effective parenting enables children to build and develop positive behaviors and good, solid self-concepts that are important to functioning fully as a healthy adult. Parenting, as such, is greatly dependent on intra-familial issues that play a significant role in parental performance. However, parenting skills can be strengthened if parents learn about themselves as a 'parent' and about child development. Learning about the stages of human development helps parents understand about their ever, changing roles in the lives of their children and also what is expected of a parent at each stage. Finally, a father's love and influence is as important as a mother's in the life of a child. Fathers should overcome the internal and external barriers that exist to fulfill the duties of fathering.

The concept of parenting and parenthood varies according to region, and varies within the rural, urban and tribal areas in India.This is one of the analysis made and written by Prof Ajith D'Souza regarding parenting.