Housewife's Utopia

Make Rosewater at Home

utopian — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:36:46 +0000

Today I am going to share with you an easy homemade rosewater recipe. As the name implies rosewater is made of roses. Rose is one of the most beautiful flowers with luscious scent and rosewater is a natural astringent.

I am a big fan of DIY and homemade and I’m always on the lookout for ways to make things at home. It gives me a feeling of accomplishing something and it also helps me maintain green, healthy and organic lifestyle.

There are many uses of rose water.

Cooking/Baking

You can use it in cooking/baking, baths. Check out this great recipe of rosewater cupcakes and Kheer/Rice Pudding recipe. Both of these recipes require rosewater.

Body and Bath

It is great toner for your skin. In Summers spray it on your face to keep your skin moisturized and fresh. For winters you can make a great hand and body lotion which can also serve as a natural facial cleanser. I have been using this lotion for several years now. Here is my tried and tested recipe for making this lotion.

Glycerin, Lemon and Rosewater Lotion

Pour it in water while taking a bath to be fresh and scented all day.

Now that I have told you many benefits and uses of rosewater, I am going to share with you an easy method to make your own rosewater at home.

You should choose home grown roses to make your rosewater for maximum benefits.

You will need;

Rose Petals 2 handfuls
Distilled Water 2 cups
A Glass Jar

Method

Take fresh or dried rose petals and put them in a glass jar.
Cover it with boiling water.
Seal the jar with lid.
Let it set overnight.

See how easy it is! Now you can use it in your food and beauty recipes.

Rainy days are best! Inexpensive Indoor Activities for Kids

utopian — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:30:50 +0000

Of course, everything sails along smoothly under clear, sunny skies; but rainy days create special opportunities for family fun and games. Next time the rain falls from morning until night, carpe diem!

As you plan rainy day activities, keep in mind developmental psychologists forcefully deliver one unforgettable message: You are your children’s favorite plaything and companion, and rainy days will be far more fun for your children and you when you share activities. The experts stress you have only a couple of years between the time your child starts walking and talking and the time she starts school. Every minute is precious, because you prepare your child for her solo ventures into the world, and you create priceless memories for both of you. Similarly, with older children, you have only a couple of good years before they go off to college and get real lives of their own.

• Go on outdoor adventures. Devoted fans of Winnie the Pooh remember that Christopher Robin didn’t care what kind of weather it was so long as he could be out in it. Most kids share Christopher Robin’s opinion. In a slow, steady all-day rain, nothing—absolutely nothing—is better than making a mess in some good clean mud. For health-conscious moms, allergists reassure that children who get good and dirty have fewer allergies and fewer allergy attacks than children who stay perfectly clean and tidy all the time. For moms with light-colored carpets and beautiful hardwood floors, the veterans point out that the kids are already wet; just hose them off, and then get them straight into a hot bath.

• Cook and bake. Always fun, cooking and baking are extra fun on rainy days, when beefy chili or a hearty soup and biscuits or muffins are extra appealing. Experienced, strategic moms encourage the kids to make a mess in the kitchen while they’re preparing their favorite recipes, because a good mess enhances the fun factor; but, more importantly, getting the kids to an added bonus: After a long morning of cooking and cleaning, kids eat well at lunch and then take good, long naps.clean-up their mess assures that both they and the kitchen end-up cleaner and neater than when they began. Mom’s point out

• Break-out the butcher paper. A 1000-foot roll of butcher paper costs about $17 at a restaurant supply store, and kid-savvy moms agree that $17 investment pays dividends for years. Of course, the butcher paper gives you an inexhaustible source of art and craft paper, and it encourages kids to draw big pictures, so they have a lot to color. Butcher paper also is great for making big books and ginormous cross-words; it works especially well for making story boards or scroll stories. In fact, most moms recommend you simply set-out the roll, some scissors, crayons, and other basic art goods, allowing the kids’ imaginations to guide them to all kinds of unexpected fantasy destinations.

• Play your favorite board games. The Parker Brothers surely had rainy days in mind when they invented “Clue” and “Monopoly.” Among fiercely competitive ‘tweens and young teens, a hotly contested game of “Monopoly” can continue all day, especially when accompanied by good snacks and their favorite Disney Channel shows in the background. Card games have similar appeal. Uno, of course, is a perennial favorite, but you may want to prepare the kids for summer sleep-over camp by teaching them the basics of Texas Hold ‘Em.

• Books! Read them, write them, illustrate them. Of course, left to their own devices, kids gleefully will spend entire days glued to the television set—easy, but neither healthy nor genuinely fun. You can, of course, help the kids make imaginary movies in their minds’ eyes by reading to them. No one ever met a child who did not love having an adult read to him or her. Harry Potter is a rainy-day natural; so are the Lemony Snicket Series of Unfortunate Events . Really to engage kids’ imaginations and get them writing their own amazing, adventure-filled stories, look for Chris VanAllsburg’s The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, a brilliantly illustrated collection of provocative story starters.

If your children are a little older, you may want to borrow a page from the Mary Poppins playbook: “In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.” Seize the opportunity to clean-out the closets and toy boxes, collecting items for donation; or take the day to deep-clean floors and walls and rearrange furniture in the kids’ bedrooms. Add music and a little competition, and these terrible tasks can become fun and games.

Photo credits: Sky Arts Interactive Masterpiece by futureshape/flickr; Reading is fun by John-Morgan/flickr; Life by Will Folsom/flickr

Author Thomas Hathaway is a financial consultant and suggests there are times when instant payday loans may come in handy while waiting for your regular paycheck date.

Your Parenting Style?

utopian — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 04:58:25 +0000

I have read about leadership styles before and the term, “Parenting Style” also passed through my eyes sometimes ago. I was itching to write on this topic for a long time but I have not found a good reason to write about it till yet. I found this interesting and eye appealing image on betterparenting.com. In this image you can find 4 types of parenting styles.

Two of them are demanding and rest of the two are undemanding. More interesting to read are the results your parenting style can yield.

At the end of the image you can also find some helpful tips to make your relationship with your child more meaningful.

So what kind of a parent are you?

Take a look at the image and find out your parenting style. It will help you identify your parenting approach towards your child(ren).

Parenting Styles Info From BetterParenting.com

Tips for Throwing a Happy 1st Birthday Party

utopian — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:47:21 +0000

While throwing your child a first birthday party may seem like a silly idea to some as he or she will probably have no memory of it in the future, it’s not about that. Your child is the most important part of your life and you simply want to celebrate his or her first year of life in the presence of your family and friends. Having said that, here are some tips for throwing a fun and memorable 1st birthday party:

1. Keep it simple. While it is natural to want to bring out the big guns and make the party as lavish as possible, understand that it is a children’s party you are throwing and that children and babies can get overwhelmed very easily. If you are planning a program, remember that you don’t have to make everything happen all at once and be sure to tell the entertainers (if any) to be gentle with the kids when it comes to the fun and games.

2. Serve child friendly food. These include potato salad, mini burgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, French fries, Russian salad, ice cream sundaes, root beer floats and finger sandwiches. If there are going to be babies present at the party, be considerate enough to serve jarred baby food. Organic is always a good choice. If you have enough time, you can even prepare the food yourself. You can also find out beforehand if any of your guests have any allergies or special dietary needs and make adjustments accordingly.

3. Keep the guest list small. Throwing parties can get very stressful at times and one way to avoid this is by limiting the number of guests that you invite. You don’t have to invite every single person that you know. A medium sized group composed of close family members and friend should suffice. An intimate set up also makes it easier for everyone to get to know one another.

4. Secure the venue. If you are planning to throw the party in a place that requires renting or reservations, be sure to make the reservation well beforehand. This will save you the trouble of panicking over where to throw the party should you find that the date that you want has already been booked by somebody else.

5. Decide whether you want to hire a caterer or prepare the food yourself. It is necessary to decide on this well before the date of the party as if you are going to prepare the food yourself, you need to pick out what food you want to serve and pick up the necessary ingredients. On the other hand, if you choose to hire a caterer, you also need to sit down with him or her and let them know what your preferences are.

6. Send out Save the Dates early. Whether you are planning to send invites the traditional way, via email or what have you, the point is to let you guests know about the party at least one month before the date. This is proper etiquette as your guests may need time to clear out their schedules, pick up a present or set an appointment at the salon.

7. Map out the program/activities. If you are planning to contract the services of a clown, a magician or a puppeteer, you will need sufficient time to call and make a booking. Understand that these guys are busy and your child’s birthday party may not be the only one being thrown that day. You can also rent a trampoline, an inflatable jumping castle or whatever you think the kids might enjoy.

8. Decide on the theme and the favors. Seeing as your child is still too young to think of the theme that he or she wants for the birthday party, the choice will be yours to make. Teddy bears, balloons, or baby blocks are all cute themes for children’s parties. Get as creative as possible and don’t be afraid to be unorthodox. After all, your child will only turn one once.

9. Create a gift registry. This is always a good idea as it is a win-win situation for both you and your guests. You get to pick out the gifts that you know will be useful or enjoyable for your child and your guests will be spared the hassle of deciding what to give. Everybody wins. Just be sure to be considerate with regard to budget and pick out a variety of items that fall within different price ranges.

10. Hire a photographer and/or a videographer. The main reason you are throwing your child a birthday party on his or her first birthday party is to commemorate that special day. All this is meaningless if it isn’t captured on film or on video. If you are concerned about the budget, ask a close relative or a friend to do it for you. Another idea is to have some professional shots taken before the birthday party. The pictures of your little one can then be displayed during the party. Not only would this be a great addition to the birthday party, but these pictures are a treasured keepsake capturing your child at the 1 year mark!

The tips mentioned above are only a few of many you can take into account to ensure that your child’s first birthday party will be a happy one. Feel free to add your own or to customize the tips to make it more personal and meaningful for your child. Lastly, don’t forget to have fun. After all, it’s a celebration of your child and your family!

Citations:

Photo Credit

Olivia Nicholas is a writer and busy mom. She is always happy to share experiences through her work, and in her spare time works as a freelance writer for Storkie.

No Related Posts

Making Resolutions for 2012

utopian — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 08:46:40 +0000

Happy new year everyone!

Welcome to 2012 and new resolutions for this year. Last year I made a resolution to take a blog dare to blog every day of the year. Though I was not able to do that but the blog saw a great increase in traffic due to the content I added to the blog. It made me take the blogging business more seriously.

By making resolutions you may or may not achieve all that you have planned but It helps you to be on a right track towards the right direction. It also let you realize about your abilities and unexpected circumstances you may face in the future and which may hinder your progress towards achieving your goals.

But first I want to mention some of the posts that grab most of your attention and gained popularity.

My Goals for 2012

This year I want to go slow. Don’t want to set goals that I cannot reach. In the excitement don’t rush yourself as slow and steady always wins the race.

I love to read blogs and last year I discovered some great blogs that inspired and motivated me to blog even in times it was impossible for me to write.

With the soon to be newest addition to my family, I expect things to get more complex. But I am determined to be more organized to keep things simple and peaceful at home and at the blog . Last year I wrote mostly on the topics of toddlerhood. This year I want to expand my parenting approaches from babyhood to preschooler and beyond.

I’ll be adding a book list that I’ll be reading this year. Last year I had the chance to read one book only and that was Women and the Weight Loss Tamasha. This year I also intend to read the Holy Quran more closely and try to understand the meanings of the verses and message of Allah.

I hope this year brings hope, joy and beautiful Moments to your life.

If there is a topic you wish me to write on, please feel free to contact me.

Housewife's Utopia

Make Rosewater at Home

Cooking/Baking

Body and Bath

Method

Related Posts:

Rainy days are best! Inexpensive Indoor Activities for Kids

Related Posts:

Your Parenting Style?

Related Posts:

Tips for Throwing a Happy 1st Birthday Party

Citations:

Related Posts:

Making Resolutions for 2012

Top content of the last year

My Goals for 2012

Related Posts: