Remember December 4 with - That Radiant Face...!!!

We've talked about Hair-Care. Now let's take up Skin Care.

This is the recipe for a face pack which can be used for all skin types, and as regularly as you want.

Take a cup of oats, add 2 cloves in it and grind it into a powder. Take 2 spoons of this flour, 1 spoon of milk   or curd, few drops of honey, few drops of rose water, some aloe vera gel and make a nice smooth paste. You can adjust the quantity of milk or curd as per the consistency required. Clean your face and apply this paste evenly on face and neck. Let it dry. Then with gentle circular motion of your hands, scrub it off and clean with water, preferably lukewarm. If you feel some dryness after washing your face, which may happen because winters have gloriously knocked already, or may be because of your skin type, apply your moisturizer.

With every use, you can feel the results. Since this is a very good scrub, you can feel it working on the black and white-heads (if any), specially in the T-zone. The oats particles do a gentle cleansing of the oil and dirt in the pores while honey takes care of the moisturizing. The cloves we added will make you feel instantly cool and fresh, and they also work medicinally well on probable or prior skin eruptions. The combination of Milk/Curd with Rose Water takes care of lightening and brightening the complexion. Rose water is also one of the best natural skin toners. Aloe-vera soothes and repairs the skin from the damages caused  by sun and pollution. The best thing about this face-pack is that since all the ingredients are totally natural, there will be no side-effects. Only skin care.

So there you are! Pretty much all of the skin care routine required (cleansing, toning, moisturizing, exfoliating, lightening, brightening ) in one single step. Easy, quick and rewarding. (Just the way I like it!)
This has worked for me, and therefore, I recommend this. But as I always say, try it to believe it. Wish you a Happy Skin in this Happy December, and always.

Lots of love. Stay tuned for more...!!!

Remember December 3 with - 7 ways to bust that stress instantly...!!!

Lets get straight to the point. We all deal with a whole deal of stress. Everyday. And we are forever looking for ways to bust it. Here are 7 of the ways that work for me, not particularly in the same order.

1. One deep breath and one Smile to Myself. Just this much!
Yes, this may sound crazy, and even the thought of doing it, may make you feel you are crazy. Or that I am suggesting this may make you think that I am crazy. Either way, this is it! Whenever I find myself overladen with emotions, in situations where I don't know what to do and how, when I am real angry, or may be mad at someone, I just step aside, take a deep breath and smile to myself. Now, this does not provide me with any quick-fix solutions, but here is what it does. It instantly releases happy hormones or Endorphins in my body, which switch my mood and bring in some clarity of thought, which in turn, eventually helps me think of a solution.

2. Half a lemon with some seasoning!
If I happen to be in a place where I have access to a fresh lime and some salt, I just slice it into 2 halves, take one, sprinkle some salt on it, and squeeze the juice out of it by pressing it between my teeth. Then I wash it down with have half a glass of water and there! Even if it is for half a minute, it makes me feel better, instantly.

3. Move. Just move!
Whenever I feel overwhelmed by thoughts which are bogging me down, or I find myself losing my cool, or if things start getting really out of hand, I just move from that place. Preferably into the open, where I can get some fresh air. And then, I breathe deeply. I close my eyes, and for a couple of minutes, just focus on the rhythm of my heartbeat. This again tends to increase the supply of oxygen to my head and heart and helps me look at things more rationally. All the reasoning and objectivity can then follow.

4. Green green tea!
I get myself  a cuppa of this wonder potion. I add honey or sugar, feel its warmth and take in its aroma as I hold my cup and have it slowly, one sip at a time, in solitude. I let the time lag and temporary detachment work in my favor, while the anti-oxidants work their way in my body and try to supply that clarity of thought again.

5. Dark dark chocolate!
Cliche, but true. If I can find it in my handbag or in the office canteen or anywhere right then, I just go and get a bite of dark chocolate. The bitter-sweet taste really feels magical in those flustered moments, and the whole rush to get it and savor it, simply adds to the soothing effect once the chocolate starts melting in my mouth. Here also, the deal is to detach myself from the ongoing trouble for a bit, so that the anti-oxidants of the chocolate assist my brain to think of a probable solution.

6. Eat something. Anything!
So the point is to just feed the body, so that it sends some energy to the brain. Now, I really am not so sure about the exact bio-mechanics at play here, but this really works for me. A cookie, a biscuit, fruit, any quick snack works equally well for me. 

7. Shifting focus in a flash!
I have a mental list of things that I am absolutely very fond of. And this list has become handy because I have seen it flash in my head so many times now. But yes, I keep adding new items to this list every day, or whenever I can. So, if in distress, I totally cut myself off from the scene for a bit, even if that means retiring to the washroom for my break, and do a quick mental recap of this favorite list - which reminds of some fun childhood memories, some jokes my nephews n nieces told me, those moments I had on stage, as a Compere or a performer or an Awardee etc. And 10 times out of 10, my mood gets an instant lift! And then, I am back!

So this is the list of my Super Seven. And I invite you all to try any or all of these. Please let me know how they work for you. And You must be surely having your own ways to bust that stress. If you feel like, do share them with me. 

Lots of love. Stay tuned for more...!!!

Remember December 2 with - Healthy Hair (1)...!!!

First thing first. If you are wondering what that "(1)" in the title stands for, it is simply to tell that there will be more posts coming for Healthy Hair. :)

Now with the Tip.

Healthy Hair begin with clean, happy hair. And DANDRUFF is one of the biggest nuisances. It affects dry scalps all right, which have not been oiled for a long long time, as the surface of the scalp becomes flaky and starts to shed off. But it equally affects oily skin as well, making the condition only worse. The flakes tend to stick onto the scalp, thereby blocking the pores and not letting the skin breathe. And the problem self-propagates.

So here's one solution that I believe to be sure-shot. I have tried this personally (though I had to do this just twice till now, and I give some credits to this tip! :) ) and hands down, I vouch for it.

Sour Curd and lemon. That's it!

Take some sour curd -the more sour the better - its quantity depending on the length of your hair. Just make sure it is not too watery. Squeeze in a lemon's juice in it. Mix well and apply to the roots of your hair in a gentle massaging manner. You may even comb your hair with a really wide-toothed comb, to make sure it is all over the scalp. Let it stay for about 30-45 minutes, and then wash off with your shampoo.

Now, quite obviously, this concoction will not smell that great, so you will need a good rinse with your shampoo and conditioner. The good thing is that the smell is tolerable and easily washes away. Just make sure to not overdo the lemon, as it is a really strong bleaching agent.

You will see visible results after your first attempt. That is one of the major reasons I stand by this tip. I really don't have a lot of patience, and I need instant results for my efforts. But if your dandruff is chronic, you may need a few attempts. Repeating this exercise at an interval of 2-3 days is good enough.

But apart from this, there are a few other things that need to be taken care of :
1. Keep the scalp clean. Very clean. Very very clean. This pretty much solves a lot of the problems in one go.
2. Go for regular oiling. But with the climate and pollution around, it is only advisable to keep it an overnight affair. More oil will attract more grease and dirt, all of which are dandruff's friendly cousins.
3. Eat healthy. An inclusion of sprouts and curd in your lunch daily is good enough to ensure healthy tresses. And healthy hair is happy, beautiful hair.

Hair is our crowning glory, and it deserves all our love and care. Let us give what it takes, because both our hair, and we, are worth it!

Lots of love. Stay tuned for more...!!!

Remember December 1 with - The 3 'C's of Health...!!!

Here's the first tip. Actually there are 3. 

For an instant mouth freshener, instead of those white synthetic chewables, try any of these - a clove bud, a cardamaom bud or a half-inch piece of Cinnamon. Keep any of these in your mouth and let them play around for a while. They have a lot of other benefits as well. 

Cloves - have antioxidants,  are antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-fungal, antiseptic, antiviral, carminative, and are known to have aphrodisiac and stimulating properties.

Cardamoms - also have antioxidants, detoxify the body, improve blood circulation and complexion (Isn't this one really cool!), help in getting rid of hiccups, and even prevent and relieve cold and flu symptoms.

Cinnamon - reduces Bad Cholesterol levels, regulates Blood Sugar, helps prevent neuro-degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, and is also a great tranquilizer in case of agitated mood or disturbed sleep. Just add a quarter tsp of Cinnamon powder in a glass of warm milk and have it before bedtime, you are most likely going to sleep like a baby!

So there you are. What begins as a mouth freshener goes a long way inside your body and in your healthy life! 

But just like I said, try it to beieve it!

Lots of Love. Stay tuned for more...!!! 

A December to Remember...!!!

Once again, it is that time of the year, when making party plans, decorating our homes for the Holiday season and getting the best gifts for Family and Friends is so happening. As far as I remember, I have spent most of the Decembers of my life under layers of clothing and with biting cold waves. But since last year, December has become a sort of favorite month for me - because of the amazing climate and of course, amazing company.

So I wanted to do a payback, which translates my gratitude.

And I want to do it here, on my blog. One post, everyday.

This whole month, I shall be posting bits on cooking, health, books, beauty, time management, stress management, DIY projects, my latest endeavors and the like. Now, I don't claim to be an authority in any of these, but everything I shall share is what I have learnt from experience. I have personally tried and tested all the tips that I shall be posting. 

And I invite you all to try them yourself, before believing in anything, said or written.

Since today is the 3rd, I shall be posting 3 articles in a row. And going forward, I shall be posting one article daily. 
(This is also a run-up for my New Year's Resolution that I want to make in 2015. More on it in the posts to come..!)

So stay tuned everyone, I am really hopeful that all this will make for a good read, and some good learning or experience.

Any queries or suggestions are more than welcome,and your feedback is eagerly awaited! Please leave a comment below, and I shall get back to you ASAP!

Happy December...!!!

My Tryst With WARLI...!!!

A couple of days back, I was upcycling some glass bottles into vases, late in the night and as I completed each one, I would share its image with my friend online. Just then, she mentioned WARLI and that got us into discussing some ideas about our next long-distance art project together.

Now, WARLI Art is a cultural intellectual property of a Marathi tribal community. The monosyllabic depictions in the paintings use the very basic graphic vocabulary of circles, triangles, squares and lines to express everyday life and activities, dance, music, hunting-gathering, farming, festivals, trees and animals, recreation and so on. Having spent some 3 years in Maharashtra, I have had my encounters with this art, and it never really engaged me. But somehow, this time, it did.

So the next day, I found myself combing through web-pages about WARLI and I decided to surprize my friend by making my renditions of some paintings I really liked. Since this was my first time with this endeavor, I needed some inspiration and guidance to create my own versions of the paintings.

But very honestly, once I started, it got me hooked. In a straight go, I made 3 paintings in 2 hours, and reveled in the liberation that "painting" as an activity always offers me. Here is what I made - in order of completion:

1. WARLI SUNSET:

P.S:   I love the "Oye! Its Friday!!" feel that I can visualize within each of these 6 folks.

2. WARLI PEACOCK:

3. WARLI RAAS:

 I am still learning this art and I have begun working on the new idea that was brewing up in our heads (My and My Friend's) a while ago.

I really hope the new idea takes shape the way we want it to, and when that happens, I shall post about that too.

Till then, if you are wondering what I do for the remaining part of the day, when I am not WARLI-ing, I allow you the pleasure of unadulterated guesswork...!!! :)

LIFE Comes A Full CIRCLE...!!!

About a month ago, I had my sister-in-law and her husband come over to our place for a night hold. We are almost the same age, and together with them, we were 4 software professionals under one roof. 

The gist is, it was effortless to connect, have fun, and just talk, with an undercurrent of  commonality running through almost all topics of conversation - work, home, travel, relationship-dynamics, every day experiences, et al. Life, in general.

Food was a key participant in this reunion. As it is, "Cook to Love and Love to Cook" has somehow become the ruling philosophy of my life in the last 7 months. Both me and my Kitchen were in top form.

Every time I went inside the Kitchen, my sister-in-law would follow me and ask how she could help. Outside, the full-bodied laughter of both the guys filled the air.

Now, on any usual day, I am alone for 11-12 hours. And as the person I am, I love company. So this was a very welcome treat for me.

My house filled up on a Saturday afternoon, and emptied half of its 'human' innards on the following Sunday afternoon. The rest of the holiday was spent relaxing and sharing the experiences with our folks over phone calls.

The next day was when the strike occurred. After my husband left for office, I was left all to myself, and every corner of my house was oozing with memories and the resounding banter and laughter. Especially, in the kitchen, every time I went, I felt Shruti saying, "Bhabhi, how should I help?" 

I could not help staying amazed at this experience. It was just 48 hours that I had spent time bonding with both of them. And THIS was how I was feeling. I could only imagine what parents feel when they put us in hostels for college. Or when we are out, super-excited about our jobs and the new life, and they see us off at the airports or railway stations. Or, as in the case of daughters, when they finally do the 'Kanyadaan' and hand them to their life partners.

I simply shuddered at the thought of what things would be like when I would be on the other side as a parent. I don't have words, even now.

*****

About an hour ago, I  was talking to a college-friend who was sharing her experience of today morning.

She and her family had gone to register her mother-in-law in a residential Art of Living camp which would go on for 3 days, starting today. "The room allotted to Mummyji so reminded me of my hostel room in BITS Goa" she said. "And after settling the luggage, we went out to get the other necessary stuff which we missed taking from home, like mosquito repellant etc. for her from the nearest general store outside. It so felt like we were leaving her there for some graduation program. This was the first time I realized how our parents would have felt when they checked us into our hostels. So much so, that I could not bring myself to look back at her while leaving, else I'd have cried..." she went on.

Well, I felt THIS in just 48 hours, she has been with her mother-in-law for more than 2 years! I have to give this one to her!!

We then talked about the turn of events which occurred when we would go home for vacations, when our parents saw us off for college or jobs and of incidents from our marriages. It felt as if only the characters were changing in her and my narratives, the underlying story, and the story's heartbeat, was just the same.

Probably this is why we say that 'Life comes a full CIRCLE', and not a Square, or Rhombus or Pentagon or Hexagon. There are no sharp edges. There is no break in the flow. 

Just continuity. Seamlessness. Of values, emotions, feelings. Of LIFE.

Goose bumps were my loyal partner throughout while composing this post.

The big solace - that there is still a lot of time in being on the other side.