Moms Times | Online magazine for women

Say YES to Yoga

2016-12-05T23:59:00.000+08:00

Yoga is an ancient spiritual, physical and mental discipline that has been practiced in India for thousands of years and its benefits have been innumerable.

The simplest form of yoga is NAMASKAR. Put your hands together and unite the polarities within and without - ~ Sadhguru

Yoga can be practised to stretch, breathe, meditate, or simply to stay fit. While there are different kinds of Yoga, ranging from the gentler to the more strenuous, every form of yoga can improve your health in one way or the other. The aim of yoga positions or asanas is to make you more aware of your body, mind and environment thereby helping you become fitter both mentally and physically.

William Dalrymple writes, “Yoga: The Art of Transformation explores the visual culture of yoga in all its rich variety, aiming, according to its curator Debra Diamond, to show ‘yoga’s rich, protean diversity—its varied meanings for both practitioners and those who encountered and interacted with them—over the last 2,500 years.’ ~ The New york Review of Books, May 24, 2014

This post heads to brings you information on various asanas in episodes so as to improve your lifestyle by practising yoga.

Tips to follow when practising Yoga poses

Choose poses that seem appropriate to your mood and energy level
Begin with gentler poses and work up to stronger ones
Breathe evenly through the nose throughout the postures
Never rush into and out of a pose
Never strain in a pose - if it hurts, stop
Don't habitually practise in front of a mirror. Focus on how the pose feels, not what it looks like
The postures should be both steady and soft

~Physical Benefits of Yoga in next episode

Strange food beliefs

2016-12-03T18:14:00.000+08:00

It is thought that rice is lighter than wheat and doesn't give enough energy. But 100gms of rice or wheat give equal amount if calories i.e., 350 calories.
In many areas, especially in Southern India, pregnant women are not allowed to eat papaya.This belief has no scientific basis. In fact papaya provides many important nutrients.
No food is hot or cold and so it is wrong to think that egg is harmful in summers and curd is cold in winters.
It is considered wrong to have milk or curd with milk which is a false belief.
People demand for farm eggs. But there is no difference in nutritive value of farm eggs or ordinary eggs.
Consuming spinach for dinner is considered to reduce life span among some. Its true if gone to bed immediately once consumed as no time is given for digestion.

Tips to keep your card safe

2016-11-28T15:26:00.000+08:00

While the demonetisation tightens, encouraging more utilisation of ATM cards, its crucial to understand the fraudulence involved in usage if ATM cards and the importance to protect yourself from being a victim. AT the first point, ask your card issuer to change your magnetic strip card to one that is chip-based.

Checks for card protection

Protect your card and Pin

Protect your ATM and debit cards as if it were cash.
Report lost or stolen cards immediately.
Do not write your Personal Identification Number (PIN) on your card.
Do not give the PIN number
Do not reveal PIN on phone to anyone
Avoid using numbers that are easily identified

Transact privately

Use ATM in private.
Use the ATM quickly and efficiently.
Make sure nobody watches you key in your PIN number.
Use your body and free hand to shield the ATM keypad during the transaction.
Do not visit an isolated or secluded ATM.

Be careful for skimmers

Do not swipe a card on machines that claim to clean the magnetic strip.
Do not transact on PoS or ATM that looks tampered with.

Carry the receipt

Never leave the receipt behind at the ATM.
Discarded ATM receipts can lead to identity theft and account hijacking.

Check your account frequently

For any irregularities in your statement, e.g., charges made for items that you did not order, cash withdrawals that you did not make.
Contact your bank immediately to report such incidents.

Source: Outlook Money

Liked among read - Interesting happenings around us

2016-11-28T14:16:00.000+08:00

Ten New York City students were rushed to a hospital for emergency checkup after they witnessed a noxious smell. The emergency crew quickly diagnosed and discovered the cause that someone had showered Axe body spray in the classroom

Source: Daily News (New York)

Human hair to produce cathodes for solar cells, is now possible by Kolkatta researchers at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER). The cleaned and dry human hair treated with sulphuric acid at 165 degrees C for 25 minutes achieve precarbonisation. It was then heated to different temperatures in the presence of an inert gas for six hours to carbonise and bring better electrical conductivity for efficient charge transfer yielding easy conversion of solar energy to electrical energy and also replacing the existing metal cathodes.. No wonder these ‘green’ cathodes have the potential to bring down the cost of solar cells.

Source: The Hindu

Lost in Translation - American TV shows get screened all over the world but not always with their original titles intact. Here's what some of those foreign titles look like when they are translated back to English:

Mad Men = "People in Manhattan" (Serbia)
Curb your Enthusiasm = "Swim Quietly, Larry" (Sweden)
Frasier = "The Gossip Machine" (Hungary)
Six Feet Under = "The Customer is always Dead" (Russia)

Source: New York Post

When proposal ends up in tragedy - A dutch man endeavoured to woo and surprise his girlfriend, hired a crane so he could rise to her bedroom window and propose to his love from up high. Before he could start his melody, however, the crane crashed down into the roof of his next-door neighbour's house. To further exacerbate the situation, in an attempt to right the crane, it crashed back down into the roof. Following the evacuation of six apartments and the immediate area, she said YES. Indeed a story for the grandchildren. Hahaha.....

Source: mirror.co.uk

Tricks for Firmer and smoother skin

2014-05-13T14:46:00.000+08:00

Aishwarya Rai - still the brand ambassador of LONGINES, Kalyan Jewellers

Beauty comes from nature. But still beauty can be made up with motherly care and sincere determination towards beauty. Here are some tricks to get firmer, and smoother skin through constant exercise, diet and routines.

Move - Like any other part of the body, our face needs exercise. Toned facial muscles help to tighten the top layers of our skin, eliminating fine lines and wrinkles.

Eat - For that healthy glow,a good mix of vitamins and minerals will help to improve your skin from the inside. Citrus fruits that are full of vitamins C are effective in reducing free radicals(which cause wrinkles and premature ageing!) from your skin while Vitamin A promotes skin restoration and healing. And if you are suffering from Acne, zinc does wonders in controlling the production of oil in skin.

Apply - It is possible to clean, tone and moisturize your skin with ingredients found in your refrigerator. Milk containing lactic acid is used in many skincare products are good to cleanse the dead skin cells, stimulate collagen production and prevent ageing.

As a natural alternative to moisturizers, try a mixture of oatmeal, honey and aloe Vera. This concoction makes an extremely effective and soothing moisturizer.

Food thoughts for Breakfast

2013-10-16T16:32:00.000+08:00

Proteins and fats

Monday mornings are really hard for moms in getting up kids for schools. While today's kids are too smart and is hard to answer them why moms stick to healthy breakfast and snacks rather than the crunchy favorites of kids and answering them is the too crucial part of all. Here are some useful tips for moms to help them in breakfast and snack preparation for kids to school. It not only aids for kids also for adults.

Eating a certain amount of protein with every meal and snack will enhance your body's ability to burn fat and will satisfy your appetite far better than carbohydrates alone.

For breakfast, yogurt or cottage cheese will boost your metabolism and the protein they contain will stimulate glucagon production.
Nuts and seeds provide both protein and healthy fats, so they are a great choice for a snack along with a piece of fruit.
Beans, lentils and chickpeas provide both protein and healthy carbohydrates; soya beans and foods made from soya, such as tofu, are particularly high in protein.

Office Politics - 3 productive things to do at your lunch hour

2013-09-06T11:39:00.000+08:00

While being busy in office , ample time is left in your lunch hour to do 3 productive things to make you fit and relaxed. Here you go...

Get fit: -Let's face it. Exercising after work is the last thing you would want to do after a day of meetings. Head to the nearest gym or go for a brisk walk during your break.
Smarter Shopping:- Write a list of the people who have birthdays in the next coming months and use your lunch hour to get all of their presents sorted.
Admin time:- Set a meeting with a bank to talk about a new savings. Plan and settle all of your bills during your lunch time.

Doing such productive things at your lunch hour not only diverts you off from your office work but also lessens your monthly responsibilities and eventually increases your valuable family time.

Simple tips to refresh and renew your home

2013-06-02T19:47:00.001+08:00

Blended family takes on a whole new meaning in refreshing and renewing our home. Here are some simple tips that one can follow to give new exquisite look to each room.

An indoor tree soften the hard lines of a room and adds a welcome shot of green. Tuck a fiddle head fig in a corner and watch your room come alive.
Elements of worn wood instantly relax a room. A chunk of wood framed mirror, or a weathered side table is an easy addition
White paint or an ivory coat on any furniture give a lighter and more modern look highlighting its shape.
In kitchen, trading the upper cabinets for open shelves costs less giving a high look. Paint the shelves and brackets the same color as the wall.
Mixing of textures such as rattan, sisal, wood, wrought iron and other metals and a couple of well placed hits of black give the creamy tones of the dinning room, opposite a little punch.
Concealing the washer and dryer behind a panelled door in the living room will yield a clean look.
Leftover whitewashed pine planks can be used for the ceiling of downstairs to make a simple headboard for the guest bedroom.
Swap out your bed sheets to give a custom look. Difference in colors to sham and sheets will be great.

Courtesy

Images: www.ikea.com/sg/en/

Job politics

2013-05-31T11:57:00.000+08:00

Even if you have done well throughout the interview, it is the quality of the questions you ask that could set you apart from a sea of candidates with dqually impressive
resumes. Sadly, most candidates waste this opportunity by asking questions which are self-centered for instance, salary and employee benefits. Such questions are to be avoided at the first round of interviews or you risk leaving a bad impression on your interviewers. To conclude an interview effectively here are the five questions that can help you clinch that covered job.

How does the position I am applying for support the organisation's goals.?
What do you thin are the key challenges of this position?
What does it take to be successful in this company?- no employer want a job hopper, not after investing time and money in training an employee. So when you raise this question, you let the interviewer know that you are looking for a long term working relationship with the company.
Why did you choose to work here?
What can I do to follow up?- this is a question to show your enthusiasm in working for the company. Also, this question will help you decide your next move- when to expect an answer and the proper tome to follow and move on. If the interviewer says she will be making a decision within the week, you will know it is time to touch base should you receive not a call after a week. This could save you a lot of time wasted on waiting for calls.

" Being well planned, punctual and perfection will sure bring success. God luck"

Quotes for career

2013-05-24T21:32:00.000+08:00

Self-confidence is an attitude and attitudes are more important than facts.

~Brian Tracy

All excellence involves discipline and tenacity of purpose.

Average people have wishes and hopes. Confident people have goals and plans.

~ Brain Tracy

The empires of the future are empires of the mind.

~ Winston Churchill

Don't let life discourage you; everyone who got where he is had to begin where he was.

~ Richard L. Evans

Leaders are to be in touch with employees and to communicate with them daily.

A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.

~ Frank Capra

We cannot become what we need to be by remaining what we are.

~ John Maxwell

Man was designed for accomplishment, engineered for success and endowed with seeds of greatness.

~ Zig Ziglar

Quality service is spending quality time with your customers.

~ Someone

Leadership is not a right, it is a responsibility.~ John Maxwell

It is not so much where we are, but in which direction we are moving.

~ O. W. Holmes, Sir

It is always with the best intentions that the worst work is done.

~ Oscar Wilde

Success comes from good judgement. Good judgement comes from good experience.

~ Arthur Jones

A goal casually set and lightly taken is freely abandoned at the first obstacle.

~ Zig Zaglar

The grat man is he that does not lose his child's heart.

~ Mercius

If you want success, your should strike out on new paths, rather than travel the worn path of accepted success.

~ Rocketfellar

Every change in human attitude must come through internal understanding and acceptance.

~ John Maxwell

7 rules to keep your handbags clear of clutters

2013-05-02T16:33:00.000+08:00

KATE SPADE CHESTNUT HILL ALDA...

A girl should be two things: Classy & Fabulous ~ Coco Channel

PRADA TOTE handbags

Dejunking unwanted stuff from your life to enhance the space around you is incomplete without also clearing the junk that lies under the pile of stuff in your bags and purses.

A woman's handbag is the ultimate source of junk such as receipts, credit card slips, odd pieces of paper, lipstick, business cards, pens, notebook and heaps of personal effects. Within one week a handbag can bulge with a truly amazing collection of assorted clutter.

New collections of Balenciaga

Madison Leather Annabelle - COACH

Here are the rules framed that might help you keep your purses and handbags free of clutters.

Empty your personal handbag once a week to get rid of unwanted rubbish.
Place the items nicely in an organised manner to allow energy low in.
Clean out your bag regularly. A clean purse is very auspicious.
Get rid of soiled money and do not let the amount of coins you carry become too heavy.
Separate the receipts, credit card slips and odd pieces of paper in another wallet. It is worth carrying a separate pouch in your handbag for this.
If you have belief in Fengshui, it is best to use a red color which keeps it constantly energized.
Change your wallet when it is spoiled or tarnished.

Household tips

2013-04-18T10:45:00.001+08:00

Recycle a kid's toothbrush as a Whiteboard Eraser

Rinse clean any used kid's toothbrush for your children to use as a whiteboard eraser anytime they write or draw on the board.

~ Wong Yu Ting, Edgefield Plains

Recycle newspapers to keep vegetables fresh

Wrap vegetables in newspaper before storing them in the refrigerator. Doing so will help keep them fresh for many days.

~ Choo wee Jiang, Lorong Sarhad

Keep bugs away with bay leaves

Put a couple of bay leaves in areas such as drawers, behind the refrigerator or in dark corners where bugs often hide. The bay leaves will keep them away.

~ Dutt Ekta, River Valley Close

Get rid of a smoky odour

Place a bowl of vinegar in a room if you wish to get rid of a smoky odour.

~Narinder Kaur, Eunos Crescent

No more ants

To get rid of ants, sprinkle some turmeric powder in the areas where they usually are. The powder will get rid of the ants immediately.

~Rupa Kumar, River valley road.

Keep Fat Away

If the soup, sauce or casserole that you are making is turning out too greasy - oily, drop an ice cube into it. The ice cube will attract the grease, which you can then easily scoop out.

~Erene Reano, Pasir ris Drive 6

Don't be an Angry Bird

2013-03-15T06:00:00.000+08:00

This week Lesson

In matters of Social media, it seems that these days our fingers are doing most of the talking. And most of them from politicians to celebrities have got their fingers burnt as their words went viral and end up with angry bird face.

Here is the lesson learnt how to manage anger without turning angry bird......

Manage your anger by counting to 100 first before posting something you might regret.
If that doesn't work, picture what your loved ones will think of you if they read your post.
If you feel the urge to respond to an offensive comment, consider sending a private message to the one who posted the comment to explain why you think it is wrong.
Direct your arguments at the comment and not at the person making it
Report the comment to the site administrators or forum moderators.

Courtesy,

Mr.Christopher Ong

The NTU magazine

5 yoga poses to build stamina

2013-03-11T13:53:00.000+08:00

Yoga has not only therapeutic value. Actually, yoga was designed to build stamina so that spiritual seekers did not waver from their goal. So, though the initial value of yoga in your life may be therapeutic, as you advance in your practice it will contribute immensely to your physical, mental and emotional stamina.

The ability to hold your pose without wavering and with steadiness is called asana jaya (victory over the pose). Such steadiness requires strong muscular and respiratory support. This steadiness also arises from the yogic mental ability to analyse pain and understand whether it may be borne or is dangerous. This special ability is peculiar to yoga, which is why it is regarded a perfect pain management tool.

In yogic therapy, on the other hand, the poses are gentle. Even when 'difficult' poses are learnt, they are not held for too long. But when you use yoga for toning your body, and as a more effective substitute for gym-based exercises you must gradually build up stamina in each pose. Only then will muscles become toned and taut and your respiratory capacity leap-frog. Physical stamina and vigour will be assured and emotional stability, the original intent of such exercise, is a given.

Shameem Akthar, yoga acharya trained with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Center, guides your through five yoga poses that guarantee all this.

Urdhvamukha svanasana (Upward-facing dog pose)

This is an advanced version of the bhujangasana (cobra pose). Lie on your stomach and place your chin on the floor. Place your feet close to each other with your palms flat on ground, on either side of your chest. Inhale and hoist yourself off the floor, with the body supported only by palms and toes. The knees and stomach should be lifted off the floor.

Continue breathing normally while making the following adjustments. Arms should be straight; this deepens the arch at the lower back. Head tilts back, further deepening the arch. Hold this pose as long as comfortably possible, breathing normally. Release and relax to the starting position with while exhaling.

Avoid: If having weak wrists or lower back pain.

Benefits: It is a powerful stamina-builder. It tones the arms, spinal nerves (elevating mood and mental control) and legs superbly. Removes wrinkles from neck and face. Improves voice and balances thyroid hormone flow. Boosts respiratory capacity and is therapeutic in digestive problems (like constipation, sluggish metabolism), diabetes and uro-genital problems.

Adhomukha svanasana (Downward-facing dog)

This pose is also referred to as the parvatasana or mountain pose. Kneel down and lean forward placing palms flat on ground in front. Exhale and hoist hips off the floor, pushing down shoulders as you continue breathing, making the following adjustments.

Push down your heels. Focus your attention on your stomach while applying pressure from your shoulder blades. Move your head as close to the ground as possible. Hold the pose as long as you can. Do several times initially. Later, build up the stamina to hold the pose for a minute or so.

Benefits: This pose is a powerful stamina-builder. It boosts calmness due to blood flow to brain. Balances blood pressure, both low and high. Alleviates all spinal problems. Tones arms and legs, giving the entire body a work-out. It also removes wrinkles.

Ardhabaddha padmottanasana (Half lotus forward bend pose)

Stand up straight, bend the right leg at the knee. Place right foot on left thigh; resting the back of your right foot high on the left thigh. Inhaling, raise both your hands above your head. Exhale and lower your hands to floor, bringing head as close to the left thigh as possible. Hold the pose, breathing normally. Release and return to normal. Repeat for the other side.

Avoid: If having lower back problems, heart problems or high blood pressure, vertigo, or if you cannot balance on a single leg for long.

Benefits: This pose is a stamina builder. It provides super traction to the spine. Increases respiration building capacity. It tends to make the mond more extroverted due to impact on the cerebellum.

Dandasana (Stick pose)

Lie on your stomach. Inhaling, push yourself up, into the classic push-up position so body is rested on palms and toes. Exhaling, lower yourself by bending elbows, but ensure your body remains off the ground, though very close to it. This is an extreme push-up position. Hold for a few seconds. Lower yourself back to the ground and repeat thrice. Later, build up stamina to hold the pose for 15 seconds to one minute.

Avoid: If having any spinal problem, weak wrists, heart ailment or high blood pressure.

Benefits: One of the most challenging poses; it is used in military-style training to build muscle, stamina and mental focus. It strengthens the entire body superbly since it is a powerful resistance-training pose.

Uttitahasta merudandasana (Raised hands spinal column pose)

Sit with your legs out in front of you. Hold each big toe with either hand firmly. Bend your legs at the knees as you pull up the legs, exhaling. Continue normal breathing as you bring your legs together, still holding the toes. Hold the pose firmly, focusing on your toes.

Release to relax legs back to the original position. Initially, you may have trouble balancing. But gradually build stamina in the pose, to hold it for a minute or more.

Avoid: If having heart problems, extremely high blood pressure or lower back problems.

Benefits: It ejects worms. Firms the abdomen and builds stamina, through improved muscular strength, respiratory capacity and mental focus. Helps control diabetes and works on the entire spine powerfully, preventing problems.

Women's day Quotes and greetings

2013-03-08T08:28:00.000+08:00

Women's day - A day to salute great women of the world who made history with their iron like heart and also the day to cheer up women who have snowy heart.

A great salute to women of yesterday and enormous cheers to women of tomorrow. Here are some inspirational quotes that brushed me this morning as I surfed through net.

A woman’s guess is much more accurate than a man’s certainty.
Rudyard Kipling

Women are leaders everywhere you look–from the CEO who runs a Fortune 500 company to the housewife who raises her children and heads her household. Our country was built by strong women and we will continue to break down walls and defy stereotypes.
Nancy Pelosi

Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacity.
Mahatma Gandhi

Women are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the tree. The men don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they just get the rotten apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy.

So the apples at the top think something is wrong with them, when in reality, THEY'RE amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who's brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

- Shuna Holmes

All of us, no matter how big or how small, whether male or female, we all owe our lives to a woman. While Mother's Day may not be till May, let's celebrate all the women of the world with these inspirational quotes during International Women's Day and Women's History Month.

We are cute daughters,

we are sweet sisters,

we are lovely love,

we are darling wives,

we are adorable mothers,

we are source of strength,

we are WOMEN,

Happy Women's Day!

15 tips to overcome Forgetting to Remember

2013-02-13T15:57:00.000+08:00

If you are tired of forgetting to remember, then give your memory a serious boost with these tips and be more productive of your skills.

Take notes by hand:- Writing things down by hand will help you retain the information better. Your brain's reticular activating system is triggered so the time to pay attention is informed to brain.
Do mental sums:- Give your brain a workout by crunching the numbers in your head instead of whipping your Iphone or Ipad...Human brain is an organ that improves through stimulation like muscles. So try some mini workouts for your brain with mental sums. It might be a play with your kid also. this practice will not only improve your brain power, it aids your kid as well us you might have had a valuable family binding time.
Associate things:- When you have to remember to do a bunch of random tasks, weave them together and create a story. In case, you need to pay your utility bill by 21st of that month and attend the PTA meeting on 22nd, then link them like this : " I am out of pay phone on 21st and PTA on 22nd " and sing it or hum it often. It might be nonsense but that is going to work precisely. According to research, the brain tend to retain information better if it is funny rather being detailed.
Moderate drinking:- Columbia's sollege of Physicians and Surgeons have found that moderate drinkers performed better on memory tests compared to non-drinkers and heavy drinkers.
Take the stairs:- Doing exercise is extremely beneficial to your brain. It is more than just a way to get you tuned in your routines. A good workout will give your brain a surge of oxygen, improving its ability to concentrate. A research says that intense aerobic activity actually grows new brain cells in the part of the brain that is responsible for memory.
Limit sitting with Television:- Watching TV is a largely passive activity that only minimally stimulates your cognitive capacities. Experts have warned that watching TV programmes especially mega serials for several hours a day does nothing for your brain and is even detrimental to brain health over time as it pressurizes and also increases agony and anxiety.
Practice Chunking:- . A chunk means pieces of information that hang together in a meaningful way. Our working memory has a limited capacity. It can usually hold between 5 and 10 chunks of information at a time. This number appears too long to remember, doesn’t it? 8 0 7 3 9 3 8 2 3 0 When you put into telephone-number format, like this 807-393-8230, it’s now easier to remember!
Memorise things:- It is one of the great way to improve the memory power. The more things you commit to memory, the more you stimulate the release of chemical acetycholine that influences your memory. To try out put the words to be memorised in a song of your favourite tune and practice it.
Eye exercise:- Move your eyes from side to side for 30 seconds if you want to recall something important. As proven by Manchester Metropolitican University , this little exercise helps to unite the two hemispheres of your brain. When two hemispheres communicate well, you are better able to retrieve certain types of memories.
Repeated thoughts:- I have a bad habit of forgetting the name of people I meet. I improved by this practice of repeating the information. Say if you meet somebody named Pamela, a simple say like this, "Nice to meet you Pamela, will help you remember it as you have repeated as soon as you have heard the name.
Breathe Deep:- When it is time to remember a new piece of information, take deeper and slower breaths. Doing this will cause your brain's electrical impulses to switch to the same waves that normally occur in your brain during deep sleep. It turns out that being in this state can aid memory. Also it relieves stress.
Sleep well: - According to a study conducted by Harvard Medical schoo, getting at least seven hours of sleep at night may improve your short-term and long-term memory.
Talk as you do to yourself:- If you are of type to leave things behind or you are used to leave lights on then try verbally articulating instructions to yourself like, "Turn off the gas" whenever you leave the kitchen.
Socialise:- University of Michigan university for Social research has found that just talking to someone else for 10 minutes a day improves memory and test scores. Socializing is a form of mental exercise that keeps you sharp. why not try it.
Feed your brain:- 50 to 60% of the brain's overall weight is pure fat, which is used to insulate your nerve cells. Be sure to load up on healthy fats from nuts, fatty fish like salmon, spinach, broccoli, blueberries, egg, flax seeds, mixed nuts, chocolate of course and multi grains.

How to consume the health benefits of Lotus?

2012-12-29T23:22:00.000+08:00

Lotus

Lotus the symbol of beauty, sensuality, and religious possess lots of health benefits. Different cultures adapt different way to cook lotus.Herewith I have listed out some of the Granny way and Ayurveda way of consuming lotus that are beneficial to overcome different sorts of illness.

Soak white lotus in hot water. Consume it with a spoon of honey to regulate blood pressure.
It is very effective in healing Piles if its paste is taken along with cow's butter. Will also strengthen the body when honey is added to the mixture.
Equal proportion of ginger extract with lotus extract heals severe cough.
One table spoon of lotus extract provides such a immune power that it can fight Cholera also. It kicks of normal fever when taken thrice.
Boil the leaves of one lotus in two glass of water. Once consumed can overcome depression and tiredness.
The lotus water is very good for women during post maternity periods to control the menstrual problems.
Highly effective when the white lotus paste along with pepper is consumed during the insect(like bee and scorpion) bite periods. It rapidly eliminates the poison from the body. The paste can also be applied on the insect bite portion.

Find the health benefits of Lotus here.....

UNLEASH YOUR CHILD'S INNER SUPER HERO WITH THEMED ONLINE GAMES

2012-12-29T14:29:00.000+08:00

Super heroes are always in fashion, who would say no to having super powers and saving the world?

Superheroes are just that, super and heroic. They set good examples demonstrating that good conquers evil. If your kid is going to look up to a fictitious character, a super hero is a top choice. Unleashing your Junior's hero Every budding superhero needs a back-story. We need to know where he or she comes from as well as why they wanted, or had to, become who they did. They need a headquarters or a place to change from everyday Joe to crime fighting crusader such as a telephone box or a bat cave. By tapping into one of the many free online games for kids, your super hero in the making can enter a world of mystery and intrigue where they can let their imaginations be captured and immerse themselves in creative play.

A range of free online games for kids @ http://www.cartoonnetwork.co.uk/games enable our junior super heroes to play out a fantasy world with games that will let them do everything they need to enter a make believe world. Games allowing them to design a costume, adventure games inventing potential weapons, gadgets and art games to maybe draw their own comic strip. So whether they choose to be a ghost, a shape-shifter, a robot or a martial artist, you can use the online world to help your little one unleash their inner superhero.

The costume is a key part in unveiling any hotshot hero; they need to have an inconspicuous daytime get up, a normal job and a life that doesn't interfere with their crime fighting duties. A cape is a familiar symbol of the classic superhero as is a mask, something to help cover their identity. Of course, this needn't be restricted to boys, there are plenty of female super heroines who can help unleash your little girl's inner comic book girl. Maybe yours will work alone, as many super heroes do, or maybe they will have a team, the X-Men and the Avengers are just a couple of super-groups, perfect if your kiddies want to form a superhero group with their own friends.

Who will they be fighting? Super villains are an aspect to think about when chatting about super heroes with your young 'uns. Will there be any rogue baddies that they will need to protect their cities against? Ultimately our super heroes need to be saving mankind and tackling crime, so once they are ready to take on the world, there are a plethora of online action games that will enable them to use their imagination and pretend they are acting the part of their very own superhero.

Playing online games is all about having fun and letting go, super heroes are one small part of that gaming community and I'd encourage you to let your imaginations run wild. Remember that online games can be sociable, encourage team playing and improve hand-eye co-ordination.

About the Author

Mrs Jones writes regular features on video games and online technology with a keen interest in kid's entertainment. Her work has been featured on a large number of websites and blogs and her background in computing further fuels her passion for the industry.

Quotes from VIP diary

2012-10-31T08:30:00.000+08:00

Your life is designed by three designers - circumstances, you and coincidences. Anyone can be the chief designer at any particular moment. ~~ JAVED AKHTAR ~~

I never panic when I get lost. I just change where it is I want to go. ~~ RITA RUDNER ~~

That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you have understood all your life, but in a new way. ~~ DORIS LESSING ~~

Men and Kings are gauged not only by the way they cope with defeat, but also the way they handle the victory. ~~ ANTONIA GALA, The Crimson Manuscript ~~

It is one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it is another thing that yours is the only path. ~~PAULO COELHO ~~

A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory. ~~ ARTHUR GOLDEN, Memoirs of a Geisha ~~

Wisdom is the antidote for all confusions and solace for all fears. ~~ SWAMI CHINMAYANANDA ~~

Value of Time

2012-10-30T09:00:00.000+08:00

Big Ben Clock Tower

Time is irreversible and irreplacable. Time management is a part of self-management. Successful people usually follow the golden rules of time management mentioned below:

Develop a fixed daily routine; do routine things in routine time.
Do the important jobs when you are at your best.
Set the limits and stick to them.
Never put off unpleasant and difficult tasks.
Analyse interruptions, take steps to avoid them.
Do one things at a time.
Whenever possible finish your work first.
Think first and then act.
Do things adequately, without aiming to be perfectionist.
Make a list and have the habit of crossing off the tasks when completed.

By,

R. Ramya,

Lecturer in Physics

Titbits:

Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower, officially named Elizabeth Tower, as well. Elizabeth Tower holds the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world and is the third-tallest free-standing clock tower. It celebrated its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. The tower was completed in 1858 and has become one of the most prominent symbols of both London and England, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city. - ~ Wikipedia

Vocabulary bits

2012-10-28T17:49:00.000+08:00

sententious - Given to or using pithy sayings or maxims: a sententious poet.
elegiac - of, relating to, or comprising elegy or an elegy; especially : expressing sorrow often for something now past
palter - To talk or act insincerely or deceitfully; lie or use trickery.
dearth - scarcity that makes dear; specifically : famine
strepitous - boisterous; noisy
disapprobation - the act or state of disapproving : the state of being disapproved : condemnation
quail - to recoil in dread or terror
ecru - Very light brown in color, as raw silk, unbleached linen
celadon - A pale gray-green
piceous - Inflammable; combustible

Half-moons in nails

2012-10-15T15:25:00.001+08:00

While there are so many superstitious and ironical stories about these half moons, Science gives the exact story of why are they in nail. If you are surprised with the white half-moons on the bases of our fingernails and toenails, then this article will help you know the purpose of the half-moons and also why don't they grow out with nails.

Half-moon in nails

Those white moons are called lunalae. The lunala is the only visible portion of the nail matrix which produces the nail itself. The matrix (and the lunalae) never moves, but new nails continually push forward, away from the matrix.

Why does lunala appear white?

Dermatologist Harry Arnold explains, that the nail bed of the lunala look pink because capillaries with blood in them immediately underlie the nail plate. The lunalae look white because the thin, modified epidermis of the nail bed is 3/4 ti,es thicker there, being the busy factory of manufacturing nail plates. and moreover the lunala is a vascular (no blood vessel), so it looks white.

1 Why & 2 How?

2012-10-03T09:22:00.000+08:00

How does a petrol pump know when to shut off when the fuel tank is full?

A sensory device, located a couple of centimeters from the end of the nozzle, does nothing while petrol is flowing into the tank, but is tripped as soon as fuel backs up into the nozzle. The sensing device tells the nozzle to shut off. Because of the location of sensing device and the relatively deep position of the nozzle, a petrol tank is never totally filled unless the customer or attendant tops off the tank. Topping off the tank is illegal in most places and is dangerous practice anywhere.

How did Levis 501 get its name?

Levi Strauss was a dry goods merchant in California. He sold a wide range of products. The original Levi Jean was the 501 and this number was simply its arbitrary stock number according to Levi Strauss and Co. Spokesperson Ban Williams, Strauss disliked applying the term 'Jeans' to his garment, so he promoted the 501 as 'waist-high' overalls.

Why do we close our eyes when we sneeze?

Dr. Pat Barelli, Rhinologist explains that the sneeze reflex is a protectective phenomenon. The sneeze clears the nose and head and injects oxygen into the cells of the body, provoking much the same physiological effect as sniffing snuff. When a person sneezes, all body functions cease. Tremendous stress is put on the body by the sneeze especially the eyes.

Quotes by great people

2012-08-14T19:33:00.000+08:00

Your life is designed by three designers - Circumstances, you and coincidences. Anyone can be the chief designer at any particular moment.
~ Javed Akthar, Lyricist

I neverpanic when I get lost. I just change where it is I want to go.
~ Rita Rudner

That is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you have understood all your life, but in a new way.
~ Doris Lessing

Men and Kings are gauged not only by the way they cope with defeat, but also by the way they handle victory.
~ Antonia Gala, The Crimson Manuscript

It is one thing to feel that you are on the right path, but it is another to think that yours is the only path.
~ Paulo Welho

A mind troubled by doubt cannot focus on the course to victory.
~ Arthur Golden, Memoirs of a Geisha

Eyebrow care with tweezer

2012-06-26T09:12:00.000+08:00

Well-groomed eyebrows help draw attention to the eyes and make them look bigger. If necessary, pluck away any loose, straggly hairs with a pair of tweezers. Always pluck from underneath the brow and pull hairs in the direction that they are growing with a swift, sharp movement.

Pluck one hair at a time and remember it is better to pluck too few than too many. For best results, use after a hot shower or apply hot towel to the eyebrow area. This will help loosen the hair follicle resulting in a less painful tweeze.

How to curl eyelash?

Curling your eyelash helps define the eye even further. Curl eyelashes will enhance the eye even without make-up. To use: Place the eyelash curler over the clean, mascara free eyelash and gently press. Hold for 30 seconds before repeating the other eye. Do not try to curl eyelashes that have already been covered with mascara as they tend to be sticky and cause lashes to break or pull out.