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5 Tips for Grabbing Last Minute Holiday Shopping Deals

2008-12-29T15:00:00.001-08:00

The stockings may be hung and the tree decorated, but not everyone is ready to sit back and enjoy the eggnog. Some of us still need to hit the malls and buy presents. But shopping procrastinators are in luck this year—retailers are offering mega-discounts and sales to those who still have money to spend.

Money Saving Tips
To make sure you're getting the best deal possible, here are five tips to keep in mind, as well as a list of stores with some of the most tempting offers:

Retailers are desperate. With the retail sales forecast weak—TNS Retail Forward estimates sluggish growth of around 2 percent—stores are doing whatever they can to get consumers to open their wallets, and that usually means offering big discounts. Hefty markdowns for Black Friday spurred a short-term jump in spending, and many of those discounts have lingered throughout the entire month of December.

That means you have the upper-hand. With retailers willing to do almost anything to win your business, you have room to do a bit of negotiating. Before setting foot in a store, compare prices through websites such as PriceGrabber.com so you know where to go to get the best deal. If you're visiting a boutique or craft market, then you likely have some leeway to ask for a lower price. A simple request, such as, "Can you give me a discount on that?" can lead to $5 off or more. As for the big box stores, Brad Wilson, editor of BradsDeals.com, says more retailers are willing to match their competitors' prices this season. That means consumers who see better deals elsewhere can point out the discrepancy to a store manager and ask for a price match.

Don't forget about last minute online deals. For those who prefer to shop from the comfort of their own homes, a few online retailers are still offering deals for delivery by Christmas. According to DealNews.com, 1-800-FLOWERS.COM and Teleflora can deliver by Christmas Eve if you order by 2 p.m. local time on Christmas Eve—so basically, you can order your bouquet and have it delivered within hours.

Last minute travel gifts are another option; websites such as Travelocity, LastMinuteTravel.com and Expedia feature last minute deals with bigger than usual discounts, so procrastinators can benefit.

But be careful as you click. Fraudsters are prowling websites for credit card numbers and other personal information, so be sure to enter information only on trustworthy websites. Never click on a link embedded in an E-mail or send credit card information over E-mail. When your January credit card statement arrives, check it carefully for any discrepancies. Credit card companies offer protections against fraud as long as it's reported in a timely manner.

For the best deals, check out these retailers:

J. Crew is offering 20 percent off through December 24, but it applies to in-store purchases only. That means the stores will be crowded, but you can snag some great deals on J. Crew's colorful winter collection.
If you like Lacoste's pastel colors, then you can take advantage of the mark downs on select Polo shirts for men and women. While the classic colors like yellow and blue carry their original $79.50 price tag, Wisteria purple, Storm Cloud blue, and others are on sale for $58.99.
The Gap is offering up to 40 percent off, while its sister stores Old Navy and Banana Republic are holding their own sales of up to a whopping 60 percent off.
At Target, shoppers can get visit stores to get up to 30 percent discounts—just make sure you check Target's weekly ad in advance.
Wal-Mart has put together its list of last-minute gift suggestions with some incredible discounts, including a Garmin GPS device with an mp3 player for $246, marked down from $498.
If you end up running out of time before Christmas, then you can still take advantage of the post-holiday sales through January. And next year, try to plan your shopping list in advance to prevent a crunch as Christmas approaches.

According to Greg Hintz, general manager of Yahoo Shopping, consumers tend to spend more when they wait until the last minute. Plus, he adds, making a shopping list ahead of time reduces the chances of impulse purchases—so that's another goal to add to the 2009 New Year's resolutions list.

5 Tips for Grabbing Last Minute Holiday Shopping Deals

2008-12-29T15:00:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS DEALS

2008-12-23T13:36:00.000-08:00

Looking for some deals this Christmas? Understanding the strategy behind retailer’s sales can help you save twice as much!

Retail Strategies
The reason retailers have sales is to convince us to buy from them. The promotions they run have two main goals:

1) Get us into the store

2) Convince us to spend the most money once we’re there

The first goal is more difficult to accomplish than the second. Once we’re in the store, it is easier to sell to us. This means that the promotions they offer to get us into the store must be more enticing than the in-store sales.

Choosing the Right Offer
If we can take advantage of the more lucrative offers, then we can save more money. A common way retailers try and get us into the store is by sending us coupons by mail or email. These coupons frequently offer better savings than the sales you find in the store.

I Doubled My Savings
We got a coupon in the mail for a buy one get one free deal. I stopped into the store today to do some Christmas shopping and left with the best deal.

The items I wanted to buy were $9.50 each. They had an in-store offer, buy 3 get 1 free. Instead I used two of my buy one, get one free coupons that I had brought along.

I left the store with 4 items, having paid $19. Had I used the in-store offer I would have gotten 4 items for $28.50.

Full price would have been $38. By using the coupons I was mailed I saved 50%, if I would have gone with the in-store sale I would have only saved 25%. I doubled my savings! Not only that, I saved a little more by paying sales tax on a smaller purchase price.

Shop Smart this Christmas
Of course my example was only one purchase. But these savings can add up with all the gifts we buy at Christmas time. The key here, as it is with most personal finance success, is doing your research and planning ahead.

If you can’t score a great coupon the best place I’ve found for getting Christmas deals is eBay. Happy Shopping!

source:moneysmartlife.com

CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATING TIPS

2008-12-23T13:32:00.000-08:00

You've chosen your perfect Christmas tree, but now what?
Our tips on the next pages will give you ideas for setting up your tree, lighting it, keeping it fresh, and decorating it to be beautiful.

Keep Your Tree Fresh and Green
Cut the stump of the tree with a fresh cut and set it in water immediately. A fresh-cut tree will absorb several quarts of water right from the start. So it's important to check and refill the water level several times a day for the first week. You can cut down on frequency later. Be sure to place you Christmas tree in a stand that has a large water reservoir and keep it filled.

Christmas Tree Preservative
You can prolong the life of your Christmas tree by mixing up a concoction of 1 quart water, 1/2 cup light corn syrup, and 1 teaspoon liquid bleach. You can also read information on caring for Christmas trees.

Putting Lights and Decorations on the Tree
When decorating your Christmas tree, put lights on first, then garlands, then the ornaments.

Work From the Inside Out
Start arranging Christmas tree lights on the branches near the base of the tree. Weave strings of lights along the branches "inside," then move to the outer edges of the branches.

Placement of Ornaments
Don't hang all your ornament on the tips of the branches. Place ornaments and other decorations 'inside' your tree to add depth and interest.

Basic Ornaments for Fill
Start by arranging the "filler ornaments" evenly spaced around the tree. This would include basic solid color balls that are easily found at discount stores in a wide range of colors to coordinate and enhance your decorating scheme. You'll need about 20 "filler ornaments" for every 2 feet of Christmas tree.

Special Themed, Collectible Ornaments
Mix one-of-a-kind special ornaments between the basic ornaments. Plan to use at least 10 special themed ornaments for every 2 feet of tree. As your collection grows, put the special ornaments closer together.

source:interiordec.about.com

GIFT IDEAS

2008-12-22T14:11:00.000-08:00

63 Gift Ideas for Under $10 - For Any Occasion of the Year!

Stop! Before you go out and spend hundreds of dollars (or thousands!) on Christmas presents, read through our favorite list of inexpensive gift ideas. This column has been a favorite among our readers since it was first published in 2001. We hope it will help you find that perfect gift for everyone on your list, while spending less! More...

These frugal gifts are great for any occasion all throughout the year, including Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, end-of-school teacher gifts and more. They also make great hostess gifts during the holidays.

There are hundreds of great gifts that can be purchased or made by hand for under $10, gifts that are both thoughtful and frugal at the same time. Put them in an inexpensive basket or wrap them with a pretty ribbon and you'll truly have a beautiful gift--without breaking the bank!

I know you've probably heard it before but it's really true that you don't have to spend a lot of money to find that perfect gift for someone. Just be sure to put some time and thought into it and your gift will be well received...

Our loved ones probably appreciate our time and love more than anything.

Here's a few of my favorite inexpensive gift ideas...

1. Gourmet coffees with a personal coffee cup
2. Pound of pistachios
3. Child's artwork, framed
4. Journal with special inscription inside
5. Teacup with box of herbal tea
6. Deck of cards and book of card game rules
7. Homemade cocoa mix in a pretty jar
8. Collage of special photos
9. Gel pens and pretty stationary
10. Bottle of sparkling cider
11. Home baked bread, include recipe
12. Disposable camera or rolls of film
13. Basket filled with deli cheese and fruit
14. Craft supplies
15. Holiday serving bowl or platter
16. Pretty basket filled with special jams or mustards
17. Decorative napkins and napkin rings
18. Fancy chocolate bars tied with a ribbon
19. Gardening gloves with a plant or flower seeds
20. Photo album, hand decorated is even better
21. Makeup tote
22. Prepaid photo developing envelopes
23. Homemade cookie mix with instructions for baking
24. Variety of bread mixes
25. Special coffee cup filled with candy
26. Fancy magazines tied together with a pretty ribbon
27. Gourmet popcorn and flavored oil
28. Locally made barbeque or steak sauce with basting brush
29. Pancake or waffle mix and a bottle of real maple syrup
30. Movie theater gift certificates
31. Board games
32. Jar of sourwood or pure honey with biscuit mix
33. Note cards and book of stamps
34. Picture frames, buy them on sale!
35. Specialty cookbook
36. Pretty glass jar filled with candy
37. Collectible sports cards
38. Muffin mixes with muffin pan
39. Books, there are still a few for under $10
40. Set of dish towels and dish cloths
41. Nail polish kit
42. Pretty night shirt
43. Basket filled with kitchen gadgets
44. Video rental gift certificates
45. Pepper mill and fresh peppercorns
46. Handwritten copies of your favorite recipes
47. For the pets, gourmet dog biscuits or cat treats
48. Baking pans and supplies
49. Prepaid long distance phone cards
50. Small clock or radio
51. Pretty box for keepsakes
52. Colorful Post-It notepads
53. Address book
54. Christmas ornaments
55. Puzzles
56. Blank video or cassette tapes
57. Sewing supplies
58. Flashlight with batteries
59. Favorite quote embroidered on a nice handkerchief
60. Makeup brush set
61. Expensive socks, still under $10
62. Special soaps and bath puff
63. and don't forget my absolute favorite... home baked cookies!

I hope you will be inspired by this list, after all, it's not the amount of money you spend for a gift that matters the most, but that you cared enough to give something special.

source:betterbudgeting.com

CHRISTMAS CAKE DECORATING IDEAS

2008-12-19T13:44:00.000-08:00

Christmas cake decorating ideas are plentiful in book, online and all over the place. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a celebration of life. What better way to celebrate it than by baking a cake? All most all our celebrations are closely related to food that we consume on the occasion. Baking a Christmas cake is an integral part of the celebrations.

As the season is associated with lots of happiness you can come up with innovative Christmas cake decorating ideas.

When you think about Christmas the first thing you associate with it is the Santa. You can make a Santa figure with sugar paste and put it on your cake. With white icing you can create the snow that is generally around that time of the year. If you are not the part of 'white' Christmas you can recreate it on your Christmas cake decoration.

You can come up with Christmas cake decorating ideas from the three predominant colors you find around that time. Traditionally the Christmas tree is decorated with lots of glitter, the gifts packed with shiny gift papers. There is white snow around the house. The Santa is supposed to be wearing a red coat and riding a sleigh pulled by the red nosed reindeer. While decorating your Christmas cake if you use red, white and green colors you will have a beautiful looking Christmas cake.

Christmas cake decorating ideas are bound to bring out the artist in you. If you like to play with your food and enjoy it then you could use edible fresh flowers as Christmas cake decoration. You can use rose petals, honeysuckle and calendulas to decorate your plain Christmas cake.

If you prefer fruits to flowers you can use kiwis, oranges, strawberries and grapes can be arranged on the top of the Christmas cake. You can glaze it with shiny syrup. Or you can get some whipped cream put it on the sliced fresh figs and arrange it to make a border for your cake.

You can not go wrong with chocolate. For Christmas cake decorating you can use chocolate curls. Just use your vegetable peeler to peel the chocolate bar. You can mold marzipan into different shapes. Make animals or flowers or vegetables out of that and decorate your Christmas cake.

You can use lace paper dollies as a Christmas cake decorating idea. You can place it over the cake before dusting. You will get wonderful lacy patterns. You can cut some very lovely patterns from parchment paper such as flowers, polka dots, diamonds, stars or vines and give your delectable cake equally delicious look.

You can make use of royal icing on the cake or get some icing that can be rolled out to give a smooth finish to your Christmas cake.

You can come up with your own Christmas cake decorating ideas of your own if you just let your imagination run wild. Most of the things are very easily available in the stores. You can just buy the things and decorate your Christmas cake to delight your family and friends and make their Christmas a truly an unforgettable event

source:scribd.com

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING TIPS

2008-12-18T14:35:00.000-08:00

'Tis the season to fight the crowds and do your Christmas shopping. If you're like most people, just the thought of this will probably make you cringe in fear. If you're not looking forward to hectic holiday shopping, relax, here are some practical tips to help you avoid common hassles.

Don't Wait Until the Last Minute

Are you one of those people who adds to your own stress level by doing last minute Christmas shopping? Do you know better, but it seems to happen anyway?

Look at it this way... When you shop on Christmas Eve you're going to have to fight the crowds, choose from limited merchandise, and wait in long lines. Buy your gifts little by little, beginning in November, and you can avoid last-minute shopping fiascos.

Shop in Off-Peak Hours

Most stores aren't very busy early in the morning or late at night. Shop at slow times and you can forgo the crowds and long lines. Better yet, find some stores that are open 24 hours.

My brother does his Christmas shopping into the wee hours of the night. He can often get most of his shopping done in a single trip because the aisles aren't blocked and there's much less stress involved.

Take a List

Start your Christmas list early in the season. When the holidays near, keep a pen and paper handy to write down all of your gift ideas. Always take that checklist with you when you go shopping This way, you'll know exactly what you need to buy and you'll be less likely to forget anything.

Set a Budget

Are you still paying for Christmas gifts in January and February? Work out a budget and stick to it. Buy only affordable gifts and you'll find it much easier to pay off your holiday credit card debt.

Look for Sales

Watch store ads and be on the lookout for holiday sales. You can save a pretty good chunk of money because almost anything you may want to buy eventually goes on sale.

If you're up to it, consider taking advantage of "After Christmas Sales" to get supplies and gifts for next year. You'll have to put up with the crowds, but it may be worth the money you'll be saving and the satisfying feeling it gives.

Buy Extra Gifts

Find some "generic" items on sale that can be for a man or a woman, and purchase a couple of extras. Wrap them up and put a sticky note on the box stating what the item is. This way you'll always be prepared if someone unexpectedly gives you a gift, and you can avoid any embarrassment or hurt feelings by returning the favor.

Shop Online

Every year, more and more people shop from the comfort of their own home. All of your favorite stores are here online, so get your list and buy your Christmas presents at a leisurely pace to avoid the stress. Most online stores offer simple navigation and secure shopping.

The benefits to online shopping are additional security using your credit card and no sales tax if the company doesn't have a store in your state. Look for special deals that allow free shipping or discounts that will offset the shipping fees. (Usually the sales tax savings alone will do this.) When you shop online, you can find out instantly if an item is in stock, and you'll find a receipt right in your email inbox after the transaction.

Save Receipts

Be prepared for broken items, wrong sizes and duplicate gifts. Always save shopping receipts for 90 days after your purchase. This is about how long stores will allow a returns for unwanted items.

Reward Yourself

Finally, treat yourself to a special lunch or buy a small token for a job well-done. Christmas shopping isn't near so bad if you acknowledge your accomplishment and reward yourself with something inexpensive and fun.

source:christmas-celebrations.com

10 CHRISTMAS SHOPPING DO'S AND DON'TS

2008-12-13T16:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas shopping do’s:
1. Brand matters
Shop at good quality stores. Christmas is a time to buy gifts for others, so you don’t want to buy cheap goods that will last only a few months. Look for durable items that will remind your recipient of your love throughout the coming year.

2. Stay safe
If you’re buying online; be sure that the website has SSL technology. You definitely want your credit card information to stay secure. Further, if you don’t receive your purchased item, you can contest the charge.

3. Make a list
One way to save money this Christmas would be to prepare a list well in advance. Don’t head out to the store only with your credit card in hand. Impulse shopping can keep you up at night worrying about bills!

4. Special wrapping
Christmas gifts are more than just gifts. They reflect the sentiments of the giver. So save a little money to wrap up your gift in a special way. You can even add a customized note to each family member.

5. Discounts
They can be found at almost every store. Make best use of them! Keep your eyes open for a good bargain. However, don’t compromise on quality!

Christmas shopping don’ts:
1. Avoid weekends
If you want to avoid bumping shoulders with every other shopper then go shopping on a weekday - preferably in the morning. Salespeople are a lot friendlier when they don’t have a crowd to handle.

2. Don’t limit your choice
So you’ve made a list of items to be bought, but you can’t find one or two. What do you do? Plan for this in advance by writing a back up gift option on your list. This will save you a lot of time especially if you’re shopping for a large number of people.

3. Don’t lose receipts
Save all the receipts from your Christmas shopping expedition. You may need it later, when your gift turns out to be faulty or has a missing part. Your gift recipient will be glad you can get a replacement.

4. Don’t wrap right away
Check your item thoroughly before you thrown on the fancy wrapping paper. Also remember to remove the price tag and other purchase particulars.

5. Don’t wait
Christmas shopping doesn’t need to be restricted to December. Shop when something catches your fancy. You can store it away for Christmas day!

source:allwomenstalk.com

CHRISTMAS DECORATION IDEAS

2008-12-12T14:26:00.000-08:00

Would you like to add that special little touch to your Christmas tree that will make your guests’ eyes light up and their lips utter that breathless “Wow!”?

Then you might want to try this little trick that I use every year. When decorating my Christmas tree, I never neglect the final touch.

I always hang doves from the ceiling with strings of beads in their mouths as though they were flying in and decorating the tree. I use white thread to suspend the birds and pushpins to secure them to the ceiling. You can attach the beads to the birds’ beaks with hot glue or with straight pins. They can also be attached to the feet. The string of beads should be long enough to drape the end over a limb of the tree. Place the doves at different distances from the Christmas tree.

The end result should look like the doves are decorating the tree with beads. I also like to have one or two of the doves carrying Christmas ornaments attached to their feet. Of course the Christmas tree is already decorated with several well-placed doves among the other Christmas ornaments.

In addition to hanging birds from the ceiling and placed throughout the tree, I place bird nests filled with tiny decorative eggs. Naturally I also put a little mama bird in the nest as well, to keep the little eggs warm and comfy.

Children love seeing the doves "decorating" the tree. Every Christmas it’s a special treat searching for the little bird’s nest with all the tiny little eggs.

And of course, it’s a special treat for me just watching the children expore the tree, rearranging the eggs, rearranging the birds and trying to make the doves really fly.

What you will need for hanging your birds:

White thread
Two pushpins for each bird
Two straight pins for each bird
Optional hot glue
Bird Hanging Tips

Hanging the birds in a manner that looks natural and graceful can be tricky. Here are some quick tips:

Use thread that is the least visible when hanging from the ceiling. I use white cotton thread.
Attach two strings of thread to the bird’s back.
Cut the strings long enough to reach from the ceiling to the level you want your bird to hang. Cut twice as much thread as you think you’ll need. It’s easy to cut off extra, but it can be frustrating to have to start over.
Wrap the first thread around a straight pin with a white ball head. Insert the pin at an angle near the head of the bird. The white head of the pin should be toward the head of the dove and inserted toward the tail. The angle is important in preventing the thread from slipping out when the bird is hung.
Wrap thread around a second pin and insert at an angle, but this time the white head will be near the tail and inserted toward the head.
You now have two threads inserted in the back of the dove. Wrap the end of each thread around a clear pushpin to be inserted in the ceiling. You can adjust the distance of the dove from the ceiling by adjusting the number of turns around the pushpin.
When your threads and pins are in place and the birds are ready for hanging, you can temporarily insert the ceiling pushpins in the back of the birds. When you’re at the top of your ladder and you’re ready to hang your doves, just remove one pushpin at a time and insert in the ceiling.
After hanging your birds to the ceiling, if they are not hanging in the direction you intended, you can control the direction by repositioning one of the strings.
Occasionally, repositioning the beads they carry in their mouths or feet, to a different limb on the tree can also help to control the direction.
Hanging birds & beads from the ceiling can be an added dimension to your Christmas tree decorating. Just remember to not over do it, be safe and have fun.

Where to Get the Doves, Birds and Beads
When I first started using this decorating theme (about 20 years ago) I purchased the doves and cardinals at a decorators supply house.

But in 2005 I replaced the doves with some I found on an eBay store called Floraltrims. At the moment, I know of no other merchant that sells these.

The doves come in different sizes — I personally use the largest size (11″ beak to tail and 8 1/2″ wing span). They’re only a few dollars more and they have a much stronger visual impact.

You can find a great selection of beads here. I personally use beads like these.

source:amazing-christmas-ideas.com

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS

2008-11-25T14:26:00.000-08:00

Black Friday (shopping)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Black Friday
Observed by United States
Date Friday after Thanksgiving
2008 date November 28
2009 date November 27
Celebrations Shopping
Related to Thanksgiving and Christmas
Black Friday is the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States, where it is the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season. Since Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November in the United States, Black Friday may be as early as the 23rd and as late as the 29th of November.

Black Friday is not an official holiday, but many employees take the day off, which increases the number of potential shoppers. Retailers often decorate for the Christmas season weeks beforehand. Many retailers open very early (typically 5 am or even earlier) and offer doorbuster deals and loss leaders to draw people to their stores. Although Black Friday, as the first shopping day after Thanksgiving, has served as the unofficial beginning of the Christmas season at least since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the term "Black Friday" has been traced back only to the 1960s.

The term "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia in reference to the heavy traffic on that day. More recently, merchants and the media have used it instead to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers are in the black (i.e., turning a profit).

The news media frequently refer to Black Friday as the busiest retail shopping day of the year, but this is not always accurate. While it has been one of the busiest days in terms of customer traffic,[1][2] in terms of actual sales volume, from 1993 through 2001 Black Friday was usually the fifth to tenth busiest day.[3] In 2002 and 2004, however, Black Friday ranked second place,[4] and in 2003 and 2005, Black Friday actually did reach first place.[5] The busiest retail shopping day of the year in the United States (in terms of both sales and customer traffic) usually has been the Saturday before Christmas.[6]

In many cities it is not uncommon to see shoppers lined up hours before stores with big sales open. Once inside, the stores shoppers often rush and grab, as many stores have only a few of the big draw items. Electronics and popular toys are often the most sought-after items and may be sharply discounted. Because of the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, many choose to stay home and avoid the hectic shopping experience. The local media often will cover the event, mentioning how early the shoppers began lining up at various stores and providing video of the shoppers standing in line and later leaving with their purchased items. Traditionally Black Friday sales were intended for those shopping for Christmas gifts. For some particularly popular items, some people shop at these sales in order to get deep discounts on items they can then resell, typically online.

Origin of the name "Black Friday"
The earliest uses of "Black Friday" come from or reference Philadelphia and refer to the heavy traffic on that day, an implicit comparison to the extremely stressful and chaotic experience of Black Tuesday (the 1929 stock-market crash). The earliest known reference to "Black Friday" (in this sense), found by Bonnie Taylor-Blake of the American Dialect Society, refers to Black Friday 1965 and makes the Philadelphia origin explicit:

JANUARY 1966 -- "Black Friday" is the name which the Philadelphia Police Department has given to the Friday following Thanksgiving Day. It is not a term of endearment to them. "Black Friday" officially opens the Christmas shopping season in center city, and it usually brings massive traffic jams and over-crowded sidewalks as the downtown stores are mobbed from opening to closing.[7]

The term Black Friday began to get wider exposure around 1975, as shown by two newspaper articles from November 29, 1975, both datelined Philadelphia. The first reference is in an article entitled "Army vs. Navy: A Dimming Splendor," in The New York Times:

Philadelphia police and bus drivers call it "Black Friday" - that day each year between Thanksgiving Day and the Army-Navy game. It is the busiest shopping and traffic day of the year in the Bicentennial City as the Christmas list is checked off and the Eastern college football season nears conclusion.

The derivation is also clear in an Associated Press article entitled "Folks on Buying Spree Despite Down Economy," which ran in the Titusville Herald on the same day:

Store aisles were jammed. Escalators were nonstop people. It was the first day of the Christmas shopping season and despite the economy, folks here went on a buying spree. ... "That's why the bus drivers and cab drivers call today 'Black Friday,'" a sales manager at Gimbels said as she watched a traffic cop trying to control a crowd of jaywalkers. "They think in terms of headaches it gives them."

HAIR AND NAIL CARE

2008-11-24T14:29:00.000-08:00

If you use beer as a hair rinse and styling lotion, it could be causing your dandruff. The alcohol dries your scalp.

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Cold Weather Hair and Nail Care
The hair and nails need as much hydration as the rest of you. Cold weather can turn both brittle. It’s very important to condition the hair and scalp at least two or three times a week to prevent hair breakage.
Alcohol will dry your skin and nails. Use hand lotion for your hands and cuticle oil to keep nails healthy.

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Dandruff Shampoo Tip
You can improve the effectiveness of your dandruff shampoo by lathering your hair, then putting on a shower cap for 15-20 minutes. Remove it and rinse as usual.

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Ease Mild Dandruff
Wash hair daily with a mild shampoo. Lather your hair as soon as you get into the shower, leave it on until you’re nearly finished with your shower. Then rinse, follow with a light second lather and rinse thoroughly.

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Hair and Scalp Care
Add a bit of baking soda to your favorite shampoo to help remove residue left from other hair care products. In your hand, mix hair shampoo with a small amount of baking soda and shampoo as usual.
If your hair turns green from chlorine in swimming pools, wash it with 1/4 cup baking soda added to your shampoo.

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Sun Away Your Dandruff
Ultraviolet rays help ease dandruff. Expose your scalp to the sun for about 30 minutes per day.

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Thyme-ly Treatment for Dandruff
A thyme rinse can help alleviate dandruff. Boil 4 heaping tablespoons of dried thyme in 2 cups of boiling water for 10 minutes. Strain and allow to cool.
Pour half of the mixture over clean damp hair and massage into scalp. Do not rinse. Refrigerate what’s left to use with your next shampoo.

COLD WEATHER COMFORT & SAFETY

2008-11-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

COLD WEATHER COMFORT & SAFETY

Cold weather camping as defined by BSA is "camping in weather where the average daily temperature is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit and conditions are cold, wet or windy."

The most important thing to remember about cold weather camping is to KEEP DRY. Moisture will reduce the insulating properties of almost everything. To keep yourself warm, remember the word COLD.

C keep yourself and your clothes Clean.
O avoid Overheating.
L wear clothes loose and in Layers.
D keep Dry.
The hints listed below are in a random manner. There is no order of importance to the list, just some suggestions that have proven true for me over the years.

CLOTHING

Layer your clothing. Wear several layers of lighter clothing instead of one heavy layer. This way you can better regulate the amount of insulation. If you get warm you can take layers off and add some more clothing layers if you get cold.
Keep yourself dry, both from the weather and perspiration.
Wear loose fitting clothing, to optimize insulation.
Remember when buying clothes for cold weather that wool retains most of its insulation properties when wet, while cotton loose most of its.
There are also excellent manmade fibers and insulation that retain their insulation properties as good as or better than wool. Other benefits include light-weight, wide design options & wind-blocking.
Remember your rain gear is water proof and will not allow perspiration to exit. During rainy weather change your clothing several times a day.
Athletic shoes and nylon hiking boots do not provide enough insulation. You should wear either mukluks, water-proofed leather hiking boots, rubber overshoes or rubberized boots.
Waterproof your leather hiking boots with the appropriate commercial treatment. Be sure to use only silicon-based products on leathers which require it. Check the care tag that came with the boots.
If you choose to wear rubberized boots, remember they do not allow for ventilation, therefore you will need to change your socks several times a day. Also you may want to get some felt inserts for insulation.
Wear a pair of cotton and a pair of wool socks to increase insulation and take the perspiration way from your feet.
Pull trouser legs over top of shoes to keep out snow. You may want to use nylon gaiters (leggings), or tie or tape them to make sure of the seal.
Wear mittens instead of fingered gloves when you do not need independent use of your fingers. This will allow the fingers to help keep each other warm.
Use a pair of socks to cover hands if mittens get wet.
Wear a stocking cap or other warm hat. One that covers the ears and neck area is particularly effective. Remember, most heat loss is through the head. Wearing a warm hat warms the rest of your body, too.
Wear a scarf to reduce heat loss around the neck. Use a "ski mask" or scarf over your face for protection from the cold and wind.
In an emergency use your neckerchief to cover your ears.
If you need a fire to keep you warm you are not dressed properly. If the heat can get to your body, so can the cold.
Paper is a good insulator and can be wrapped around the body (under your clothes) to add insulation.
BEDDING DOWN

Natural fiber sleeping bags do not maintain their insulation properties when damp, down bags also fit here. A 3 to 4 pound synthetic bag will take care of most of your needs.
A mummy style bag is warmer than a rectangular, as there is less space for your body to heat. Also, most mummy bags have a hood to help protect your head.
If you only have a rectangular sleeping bag, bring an extra blanket to pack around your shoulders in the opening to keep air from getting in.
Do not sleep with your head under the covers. Doing so will increase the humidity in the bag that will reduce the insulation properties of the bag and increase dampness.
Remember to air out your sleeping bag and tent, when weather permits. Perspiration and breath condense in the tent at night and the water will reduce insulating properties of your bag.
Wear a stocking cap to bed in order to reduce heat loss.
Wear a loose fitting hooded pull over type sweatshirt to sleep in.
Make a loose fitting bag from an old blanket or carpet padding to put both feet in when in your sleeping bag.
A bag liner made from an old blanket, preferably wool, will greatly enhance the bags warmth.
Insulate yourself from the ground as much as possible to avoid cold spots at the shoulders and hips.
Use a sleeping pad of closed cell foam instead of an air mattress.
A good rule of thumb is that you want 2 to 3 times the insulation below you as you have over you.
Use a ground cloth to keep ground moisture from your bag. Your body will warm up frozen ground to a point were moisture can become important.
Space blankets, if used as a ground cloth, will not reflect the body heat. Instead it will conduct the cold from the ground to your body.
Cold air will be above and below you if you sleep on a cot.
Put a hand warmer (in a sock) at the foot of your sleeping bag before getting into it.
Fill a canteen with hot water (not boiling) and place at foot of bag to keep warm. Be careful with plastic canteens.
Exercise before bedding down to increase body heat. This will help to warm your bag quicker. Be careful not to start perspiring.
Remove the clothes you are wearing before bedding down if they are damp with perspiration. Put on dry clothing or pajamas before entering the sleeping bag.
Build a wind break outside your tent by piling up snow or leaves to a height sufficient to protect you when laying down.
Hang your sleeping bag up or just lay it out, between trips, so the filling will not compress and lose its insulating properties.
Before you get out of bed bring the clothes you plan to wear inside your bag and warm them up some before dressing.
Place an empty capped plastic bottle outside your tent door for "night calls." This will reduce your exposure when you have to answer that call. Think twice before using it inside the tent, you do have a tent mate. Remember to empty the bottle away from the camp in the morning.
ODDS AND ENDS

If at night you get cold, let the adult leadership know so action can be taken before injury from cold weather health problems occur. In other words it's better to be kidded about forgetting your sleeping bag than risking hypothermia.
Organization and proper preparation is very important in cold weather camping. Good meals, proper shelter and comfortable sleeping arrangements make for an enjoyable outing.
Drink 2 quarts of fluids per day besides what you drink at meals.
Learn to recognize and treat cold weather health problems. These include frostbite, hypothermia, dehydration, chilblains, trench foot, snow blindness and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Use the buddy system to check each other for cold weather health problems. Notify the adult leadership if symptoms do occur.
If you feel cold gather some wood or do some other type of work. Working will help warm you.
Eating ice or snow can reduce your body temperature and it is not pure. Don't eat it.
Snow and ice can be used for drinking water but only after boiling.
No open flames (candles, matches, etc.) inside the tents. Wiggling your toes inside your boots will help keep feet warm. If your feet get cold put on a stocking cap.
Take and wear dark sunglasses if snow is in the forecast. The glare of the sun off the snow could lead to snow blindness. The sunglasses will reduce the glare.
Use the solid fuel hand warmers. They are cheaper and you can light them yourself. Adult leaders must handle all liquid fuel.
The solid fuel hand warmers tend to have a flair up of heat after burning for a while and then they start to cool down. Placing them in an old sock will help to protect you from this "hot spot".
Keep off ice on streams, lakes and ponds.
It takes longer to cook food in cold weather, so plan accordingly. Before going to bed pour enough water for breakfast into a pot. It is easier to heat the pot than a plastic water can.
Keep your matches in a metal match safe as plastic can freeze and break if dropped.
Gather twice as much fuel as you think you'll need for fires.
Carry tinder from home. It may be hard to find in snow or wet conditions.
Gather your wood and tinder for the morning fire in the evening so that you will be able to start the fire quickly in the morning.
Space blankets make good wind shields only. The metallic properties take over the insulation properties in cold weather and become cold conductors.
Carry extra plastic bags in cold weather. They can be used as personal wind shields and ponchos by slitting a hole in the top for your head to go through.
Carry extra matches because the more you need a fire to warm up the less likely you will be able to start one easily.
Flashlight batteries are effected by cold. You can revive a dead battery by warming it up near the fire.
You may want to take a bottle of propane into your tent with you at night. This will keep it warmer and make it easier to light your stove for breakfast.
Heaters inside your tent can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

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2008-08-14T16:02:00.000-07:00

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LIP CARE

2007-12-23T04:11:00.000-08:00

Lips Too Large or Too Small? Let's Make Some Adjustments

Lips too Large- Use deeper colors and avoid shiny glosses. Deep colors help make the lips look smaller.

Lips too Small- Apply a small amount of lip gloss to middle of the bottom lip. Vaseline or a petroleum base product will also work in this case.

Tips for Luscious Lips

We all want luscious kissable lips. Here are a few tricks to help you achieve those beautiful lips.

For longer lip color wear, apply lip color and blot off the excess, this will help set your color. Then apply a thin layer of pressed powder and apply color again. This will give your color something to cling on to.
A thin layer of chapstick will also hold your lip color in addition to healing dry, chap lips.
For fuller, poutier lips, apply lip gloss in the center of your lips.
Lip lacquers give lips a high glossy look . This can be used alone or in conjunction with lip color.
For those evenings out on the town, use a lip gloss with a little glitter or an iridescent shade over your color.
If you like the matte look, use a lip primer before your apply lip color to keep your lips from drying out.

WINTER SKIN CARE TIPS

2007-12-18T22:27:00.002-08:00

Be aware of dryness in the environment and you'll be halfway to solving winter skin problems. Your skin is in tune with its environment.

• Indoors – The average humidity of a centrally heated home or office is as low as 10%. Dry indoor air robs moisture from your skin, causing fine lines and irritation.

• Outdoors – Fierce winds and zero temperatures can cause the barrier function of the skin to break down and lose some of its shielding capabilities. The surface layers shrink, become rigid, and crack. How much moisture evaporates from the skin's surface is partly determined by the condition and health of the skin, and how well you protect it.

Although you cannot control your outdoor environment, you can create an indoor atmosphere that is supportive and nurturing to skin and will help reverse the effects of the outside elements.

To protect the skin, keep baths and showers short and the water temperature warm – not hot.

After the bath, seal in precious body moisture. Pat yourself dry (don't rub), and while skin is still warm and slightly damp, apply Botanical Body Oil.

Follow immediately with body moisturiser to maximise the skin's ability to hold moisture.

2007-12-18T22:27:00.001-08:00

FLYING TIPS

2007-12-13T21:48:00.000-08:00

Before booking your flights
Low price versus location
When you are tempted by a crazily low flight price, check to see where the destination airport is. You might find that it's a long and costly journey from the airport to where you really want to be, and that you'd be better off paying a little more and getting closer to your destination
Planning on carrying a lot of luggage?
While carrying a lot of luggage is not recommendable, sometimes it is necessary in the case of relocations and so on. If you have the possibility, fly via the US as airlines will allow you 64kg (two 32kg bags) instead of the 20kg in the rest of the world. Even if it is just a stopover in the US, you will be allowed to carry the extra weight. Check with your local travel agent for the details
Packing Tips See Packing List here
Split up your valuables
Split up your bank cards, cash, travellers' cheques and credit cards as much as possible in different pockets, your bags and wallet when packing. In case you do get robbed, at least you won't be strapped for cash (unless you have all your bags AND your wallet stolen of course!)
Film Cases
Use your left over film cases to pack toiletries and other small items. Sturdy and (very nearly) waterproof. Digital camera users; nalgene bottles will do the same trick
Pack with plastic
Pack items such as suntan lotion, moisturiser and perfume into individual bags, just in case the packaging gets smashed or the contents leak. Plastic or paper tissue can also help prevent creases, so fold around delicate clothes too
It is always handy to have a few plastic bags around certain items, especially toiletries. Not only does it counter any leaking, the bags can also come in useful to keep dirty clothes in, as garbage bags or even as a makeshift umbrella. Ziplock or other airtight plastic bags are the best.
Backpack Tips
When you are packing things into a backpack, place the lighter items at the bottom and the heavier ones on top. Your bag will feel lighter this way as the pack rests on your lower back. It is also smart to place the things you use the most on top. Dirty clothes are perfect to pack at the bottom of a backpack
Separate Beach Bag
When packing to head to the beach consider pre-packing whatever you might need at the beach into a beachbag inside your backpack or suitcase. Especially if travelling with kids, this will prove a timesaver!
Suitcase lovers
For those using suitcases without a divider. A piece of cardboard makes an excellent divider and helps keep your clothes organized and neat as you are able to lay them out flat on the cardboard. It also makes airport inspections a lot less of a hassle as you can lift out your divider with clothes on top easily
Gifts
While it is a good idea to take some small gifts with you while travelling, pre-wrapping them can be a waste of time if you are flying and your bags are opened
Flashlights or Torches
When packing a flashlight or torch (or any other item with batteries for that matter), turn the batteries around so that if the item is accidentally turned on, you won't empty the batteries. Don't forget to turn the batteries back around when using the flashlight
Diaper Bag
If you are travelling with babies, then the diaper bag is an excellent place to hide your valuables. This most likely will not be the first thing to be stolen
Shoes
If you want to make sure everything else in your bags stays clean and odor free, place the shoes inside old socks and then inside airtight plastic bags (ziplock)
Clothes
Pack only what you know you will use and if you are travelling for more than three weeks, plan to wash on the road
Minimize on toiletries
Take only half a tube of toothpaste rolled up tight, store shampoo in small containers, only take half a roll of toilet paper (for emergencies only) and crush it so the middle is folded
Roll Technique
Somehow it seems that bags will hold more if the clothes are rolled rather than folded. If you roll in tissue paper, the clothes will also get less wrinkled
Stow your stuff
With strict security checks in place, items such as razors, penknives, hypodermic needles must be packed into your hold baggage, NOT your cabin baggage
Mark your bags
As well as tying luggage tags to the exterior of your bags, stick or tie some inside as well, as an extra precaution
Carry-On baggage
Keep any medication and important papers in your carry-on bag. On long flights with multiple stopovers (especially if flying via London, L.A. or other major airports), packing a fresh change of clothes is a good idea as bags tend to get delayed or lost on long haul, multiple stop flights. You don't want to end up stuck without medication, clothes or your important papers even if it is just for a few days
Dress smart
It's always a good idea to look presentable when you fly. You'll feel much better when you arrive at your destination and, if you feel brave enough to ask for an upgrade, you're more likely to get one if you're dressed smartly
Check-in and before boarding
Check in early
Get the seats you want by checking in at the earliest time given by the airline. Remember that you can sometimes check in online or at train stations which serve major airports. If you're meeting a friend at check-in, go ahead and check yourself in, then reserve a seat for your travel partner to make sure you can sit next to each other
Long legs
Tall? Get a seat by one of the emergency exits. Try asking in good time, but you probably won't be allocated the seat until check-in, as staff there have to see for themselves that you are able-bodied, and capable of opening the door should an emergency situation arise
Leave phone numbers at the boarding gate
Write full name and phone numbers (incl.country code) of relatives/friends NOT travelling with you on that part of your boarding pass which airline staff take from you at the boarding gate. It makes it easier for airlines to contact your relatives in case something happens!
In-flight
Pops away
Chewing gum or sucking a mint can really help prevent your ears popping during take-off and descent. You can also check out chemists for devices that you put into your ears, which are designed to help prevent the pain caused by changes in cabin pressure
Do not disturb
For less chance of getting disturbed by a chatty neighbour or by cabin staff, take an eye mask - and wear it
In-flight comfort
Walk or move around as much as you can on your flight to help prevent deep vein thrombosis. Drink plenty of clear fluids (water, not gin or vodka...), to help make sure you keep hydrated on your flight, as cabin air is very dehydrating. Avoid alcohol at all costs - it's more intoxicating at altitude and you're likely to have a stinking hangover when you land - not the best start to a holiday
Avoid jet lag
The most important factor in jet lag is how many time zones you cross, and travelling east seems to be worst for most people. Jet lag occurs when you cross over a number of time zones and disrupt the normal 'circadian' rhythms which help you wake up in the morning and go to sleep at night - your 'bodyclock'. Try these suggestions to help counteract jet lag next time you fly:

Change your watch as soon as you get on the flight, the quicker you adapt to the time zone the lower level of jet lag is likely to be
When you arrive in the new time zone spend some time outside during daylight hours. Natural light can help cue your body clock try to adjust your bedtime and mealtimes to the new, local timetable as soon as possible
Schedule commitments at times when you are likely to have maximum energy: in the evenings, after flying east, or in the mornings, after flying west
The impact of alcohol on the body can be two to three times more potent when you're flying, so one glass of wine in-flight has the effect of two to three glasses on the ground. Avoid feeling even worse with a hangover by reducing alcohol intake before and during your flight
Get as much exercise as you can. Walking up and down the aisle, rotating your ankles and doing gentle stretching exercises in your seat can help to reduce discomfort, and allow you to have a more relaxed flight
During extended stopovers on a long-haul flight, try to grab a shower: it can really wake up your circulation and get things moving

TO BE CONTD........

WINTER TIPS FOR YOUR PET

2007-12-10T00:10:00.000-08:00

These tips can help to ensure a healthy winter for your dog."

Don't leave your dog outside for too long in the cold; like you, your dog can get hypothermia and even frostbite. The air pockets in their coats insulate them nicely but if they are wet, the air gets compressed out and they may get cold.

Rinse off your dog's feet after walking on rock salt because it can irritate his foot pads. Also, snow balls in their pads should be removed manually. Keep the hair clipped short too. And dry after the rinsing.

If your dog gets wet from snow or sleet, dry him thoroughly with a towel or blow dry (set on warm, not hot, air). Lawrie dogs stand in line to be dried off!
Be careful if you walk your pet near frozen lakes and ponds; he could slip and become seriously injured or drown. If you can't skate on it, your dog probably shouldn't go on it either.

Never leave your dog in a vehicle because the cold air could become dangerous. On the other hand, sometimes even winter sun can overheat a car.
Your dog will need a little extra food in colder months for more energy production and to keep the body temperature regulated. (The dogs will resist this notion, of course!)

Be aware of poisonous substances, such as antifreeze, which may smell good and taste sweet to your dog - but is lethal. 1/2 teaspoon of Antifreeze per pound is enough to cause problems for your dog. Early detection and treatment is a must! There is no known truly safe antifreeze product on the market.

Don't forget that chocolate is also a bad substance for dogs (ref: Holiday Pet tips of the last newsletter). Theobromine in the chocolate is the culprit and there is more in dark chocolate than milk or light chocolate. 1/2 oz per pound of dog is enough to be fatal!

If you have a fireplace, make sure you put up a screen because your dog could get severly burned.

Dogs can become dehydrated in the winter, as well as in the summer, so always give them plenty of fresh water.
Finally, young dogs, debilitated dogs, and older dogs are probably the least tolerant of the colder weather. They may not be able to keep themselves warm.

COLD WEATHER TIPS-III

2007-11-27T00:06:00.000-08:00

ODDS AND ENDS

If at night you get cold, let the adult leadership know so action can be taken before injury from cold weather health problems occur. In other words it's better to be kidded about forgetting your sleeping bag than risking hypothermia.
Organization and proper preparation is very important in cold weather camping. Good meals, proper shelter and comfortable sleeping arrangements make for an enjoyable outing.
Drink 2 quarts of fluids per day besides what you drink at meals.
Learn to recognize and treat cold weather health problems. These include frostbite, hypothermia, dehydration, chilblains, trench foot, snow blindness and carbon monoxide poisoning.
Use the buddy system to check each other for cold weather health problems. Notify the adult leadership if symptoms do occur.
If you feel cold gather some wood or do some other type of work. Working will help warm you.

To be contd......
Eating ice or snow can reduce your body temperature and it is not pure. Don't eat it.
Snow and ice can be used for drinking water but only after boiling.
No open flames (candles, matches, etc.) inside the tents. Wiggling your toes inside your boots will help keep feet warm. If your feet get cold put on a stocking cap.
Take and wear dark sunglasses if snow is in the forecast. The glare of the sun off the snow could lead to snow blindness. The sunglasses will reduce the glare.
Use the solid fuel hand warmers. They are cheaper and you can light them yourself. Adult leaders must handle all liquid fuel.
The solid fuel hand warmers tend to have a flair up of heat after burning for a while and then they start to cool down. Placing them in an old sock will help to protect you from this "hot spot".
Keep off ice on streams, lakes and ponds.
It takes longer to cook food in cold weather, so plan accordingly. Before going to bed pour enough water for breakfast into a pot. It is easier to heat the pot than a plastic water can.
Keep your matches in a metal match safe as plastic can freeze and break if dropped.
Gather twice as much fuel as you think you'll need for fires.
Carry tinder from home. It may be hard to find in snow or wet conditions.
Gather your wood and tinder for the morning fire in the evening so that you will be able to start the fire quickly in the morning.
Space blankets make good wind shields only. The metallic properties take over the insulation properties in cold weather and become cold conductors.
Carry extra plastic bags in cold weather. They can be used as personal wind shields and ponchos by slitting a hole in the top for your head to go through.
Carry extra matches because the more you need a fire to warm up the less likely you will be able to start one easily.
Flashlight batteries are effected by cold. You can revive a dead battery by warming it up near the fire.
You may want to take a bottle of propane into your tent with you at night. This will keep it warmer and make it easier to light your stove for breakfast.
Heaters inside your tent can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

LAYERED CLOTHING SYSTEM

Select the proper type and amount of clothing. Regulate your clothing according to your activity rate. This is the most effective way to ensure comfort. Pay attention to your bodies' signals. Don't wait until you are cold to put on more clothing. Act when you first begin to feel cooler.

Clothing layers

Long, thermal underwear. polypropylene
Shirt or inner layer
Sweater, light jacket
Wind or rain gear
Long, thermal underwear. polypropylene
Inner pants wool, wool blend
Wind or rain pants
Wicking inner socks polypropylene
Insulating socks wool or wool blend
Boot liners insulated insoles
Footwear, boots waterproof, loose-fitting, mukluks or snow boots
Head coverings
Gloves and mittens
TYPES OF COLD

Wet cold: 50º F to 14º F The most dangerous. Wide temperature variations from melting during the day to freezing at night makes proper dressing difficult, and important. Damp conditions from melting snow or rain makes keeping dry difficult.
Dry cold: 14º F to -20º F Ground is frozen and snow is dry and crystallized. Strong winds cause the most concern with keeping warm. Extra clothing layers and wind-proof outer garments should be added.
Arctic cold: below -20º F Requires the most insulation and wind-proofing. Many materials change physical properties, becoming brittle. Only for the most experienced campers

COLD WEATHER TIPS-II

2007-11-21T00:03:00.000-08:00

BEDDING DOWN

Natural fiber sleeping bags do not maintain their insulation properties when damp, down bags also fit here. A 3 to 4 pound synthetic bag will take care of most of your needs.
A mummy style bag is warmer than a rectangular, as there is less space for your body to heat. Also, most mummy bags have a hood to help protect your head.
If you only have a rectangular sleeping bag, bring an extra blanket to pack around your shoulders in the opening to keep air from getting in.
Do not sleep with your head under the covers. Doing so will increase the humidity in the bag that will reduce the insulation properties of the bag and increase dampness.
Remember to air out your sleeping bag and tent, when weather permits. Perspiration and breath condense in the tent at night and the water will reduce insulating properties of your bag.
Wear a stocking cap to bed in order to reduce heat loss.
Wear a loose fitting hooded pull over type sweatshirt to sleep in.
Make a loose fitting bag from an old blanket or carpet padding to put both feet in when in your sleeping bag.
A bag liner made from an old blanket, preferably wool, will greatly enhance the bags warmth.
Insulate yourself from the ground as much as possible to avoid cold spots at the shoulders and hips.
Use a sleeping pad of closed cell foam instead of an air mattress.
A good rule of thumb is that you want 2 to 3 times the insulation below you as you have over you.
Use a ground cloth to keep ground moisture from your bag. Your body will warm up frozen ground to a point were moisture can become important.
Space blankets, if used as a ground cloth, will not reflect the body heat. Instead it will conduct the cold from the ground to your body.
Cold air will be above and below you if you sleep on a cot.
Put a hand warmer (in a sock) at the foot of your sleeping bag before getting into it.
Fill a canteen with hot water (not boiling) and place at foot of bag to keep warm. Be careful with plastic canteens.
Exercise before bedding down to increase body heat. This will help to warm your bag quicker. Be careful not to start perspiring.
Remove the clothes you are wearing before bedding down if they are damp with perspiration. Put on dry clothing or pajamas before entering the sleeping bag.
Build a wind break outside your tent by piling up snow or leaves to a height sufficient to protect you when laying down.
Hang your sleeping bag up or just lay it out, between trips, so the filling will not compress and lose its insulating properties.
Before you get out of bed bring the clothes you plan to wear inside your bag and warm them up some before dressing.
Place an empty capped plastic bottle outside your tent door for "night calls." This will reduce your exposure when you have to answer that call. Think twice before using it inside the tent, you do have a tent mate. Remember to empty the bottle away from the camp in the morning.

To be contd.......

COLD WEATHER TIPS-I

2007-11-18T00:44:00.000-08:00

The most important thing to remember about cold weather camping is to KEEP DRY. Moisture will reduce the insulating properties of almost everything. To keep yourself warm, remember the word COLD.

C keep yourself and your clothes Clean.
O avoid Overheating.
L wear clothes loose and in Layers.
D keep Dry.
The hints listed below are in a random manner. There is no order of importance to the list, just some suggestions that have proven true for me over the years.

CLOTHING

Layer your clothing. Wear several layers of lighter clothing instead of one heavy layer. This way you can better regulate the amount of insulation. If you get warm you can take layers off and add some more clothing layers if you get cold.
Keep yourself dry, both from the weather and perspiration.
Wear loose fitting clothing, to optimize insulation.
Remember when buying clothes for cold weather that wool retains most of its insulation properties when wet, while cotton loose most of its.
There are also excellent manmade fibers and insulation that retain their insulation properties as good as or better than wool. Other benefits include light-weight, wide design options & wind-blocking.
Remember your rain gear is water proof and will not allow perspiration to exit. During rainy weather change your clothing several times a day.
Athletic shoes and nylon hiking boots do not provide enough insulation. You should wear either mukluks, water-proofed leather hiking boots, rubber overshoes or rubberized boots.
Waterproof your leather hiking boots with the appropriate commercial treatment. Be sure to use only silicon-based products on leathers which require it. Check the care tag that came with the boots.
If you choose to wear rubberized boots, remember they do not allow for ventilation, therefore you will need to change your socks several times a day. Also you may want to get some felt inserts for insulation.
Wear a pair of cotton and a pair of wool socks to increase insulation and take the perspiration way from your feet.
Pull trouser legs over top of shoes to keep out snow. You may want to use nylon gaiters (leggings), or tie or tape them to make sure of the seal.
Wear mittens instead of fingered gloves when you do not need independent use of your fingers. This will allow the fingers to help keep each other warm.
Use a pair of socks to cover hands if mittens get wet.
Wear a stocking cap or other warm hat. One that covers the ears and neck area is particularly effective. Remember, most heat loss is through the head. Wearing a warm hat warms the rest of your body, too.
Wear a scarf to reduce heat loss around the neck. Use a "ski mask" or scarf over your face for protection from the cold and wind.
In an emergency use your neckerchief to cover your ears.
If you need a fire to keep you warm you are not dressed properly. If the heat can get to your body, so can the cold.
Paper is a good insulator and can be wrapped around the body (under your clothes) to add insulation.

To be contd....

TIPS TO BE HAPPY

2007-11-11T01:30:00.000-08:00

Seven tips to be happy

You can make yourself happier – and this doesn’t have to be a long-term ambition. You can start right now. In the next hour, check off as many of the following items as possible. Each of these accomplishments will lift your mood, as will the mere fact that you’ve tackled and achieved some concrete goals.

1. Boost your energy: stand up and pace while you talk on the phone or, even better, take a brisk ten-minute walk outside. Research shows that when people move faster, their metabolism speeds up, and the activity and sunlight are good for your focus, your mood, and the retention of information. Plus, because of “emotional contagion,” if you act energetic, you’ll help the people around you feel energetic, too.

2. Reach out to friends: make a lunch date or send an email to a friend you haven’t seen in a while. Having warm, close bonds with other people is one of the keys to happiness, so take the time to stay in touch. Somewhat surprisingly, it turns out that socializing boosts the moods not only of extroverts, but also of introverts.

3. Rid yourself of a nagging task: answer a difficult email, purchase something you need, or call to make that dentist’s appointment. Crossing an irksome chore off your to-do list will give you a big rush of energy and cheer, and you’ll be surprised that you procrastinated for so long.

4. Create a calmer environment: clear some physical and mental space around your desk by sorting papers, pitching junk, stowing supplies, sending out quick responses, filing, or even just making your piles neater. A large stack of little tasks can feel overwhelming, but often just a few minutes of work can make a sizeable dent. Try to get in the habit of using the “one minute rule”—i.e., never postpone any task that can be completed in less than one minute. An uncluttered environment will contribute to a more serene mood.

5. Lay the groundwork for some future fun: order a book you’ve been wanting to read (not something you think you should read) or plan a weekend excursion to a museum, hiking trail, sporting event, gardening store, movie theater—whatever sounds like fun. Studies show that having fun on a regular basis is a pillar of happiness, and anticipation is an important part of that pleasure. Try to involve friends or family, as well; people enjoy almost all activities more when they’re with other people than when they’re alone.

6. Do a good deed: make an email introduction of two people who could help each other, or set up a blind date, or shoot someone a piece of useful information or gratifying praise. Do good, feel good—this really works. Also, although we often believe that we act because of the way we feel, in fact, we often feel because of the way we act. When you act in a friendly way, you’ll strengthen your feelings of friendliness for other people.

7. Act happy: put a smile on your face right now, and keep smiling. Research shows that even an artificially induced smile has a positive influence on your emotions—turns out that just going through the motion of happiness brightens your mood. And if you’re smiling, other people will perceive you as being friendlier and more approachable.

Some people worry that wanting to be happier is a selfish goal. To the contrary. Studies show that happier people are more sociable, likeable, healthy, and productive—and they’re more inclined to help other people. So in working to boost your own happiness, you’re benefiting others as well.

FIRE SAFETY TIPS FOR DIWALI

2007-11-08T01:05:00.000-08:00

Known also as the festival of lights, the event, celebrated by Sikh, Hindu and Jain communities sees an increased use of candles, divas and fireworks.

"It is not only Diwali, we also see an increase in fires in the home during other festive occasons - often safety comes second to celebration.

"By taking just a few simple precautions you can greatly reduce the risks of death and injury for yourself and your family."

Extra precautions include:

Use only enough ghee for a Diva to last your Puja and make sure that it rests securely on a heat resistant surface.

Never leave burning candles or divas unattended in the home. Never leave unattended when retiring to bed or while attending the Gurdwara/temple for Diwali prayers.

At all times, keep the flame at a safe distance from curtains, furniture and decorations. Long hair and clothing (especially saris, chunris/chunis and dupattas) are also very flammable.

Keep the flame out of reach of children and animals. Children should be supervised at all times near flames.

Only buy fireworks marked with British Safety Standard 7114 and always read the instructions. For more information on both fireworks safety and new laws on their use, see dti.gov.uk/consumers/Safety/fireworks-policy/index.html.

Although it is now illegal to use fireworks after 11pm, on the night of Diwali this is extended to 1am.

Remember - it is also illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess fireworks in a public place.

Fit smoke alarms on each floor level in your home. Consider buying a ten year alarm - and test the alarm weekly and the change the batteries every year.

When cooking deep-fry food, dry it before you put it in the hot oil.

If the oil starts to smoke, turn off the heat and leave the pan to cool.

Never fill the pan more than one third full of oil.

Never throw water over the pan.

TIPS TO LOOK BEAUTIFUL

2007-11-05T06:38:00.000-08:00

Are you paying attention to your physical appearance? Since, I may not learn the answer to this question; I will simply hope that you are. Believe it or not your outside appearance has a direct impact on the way others perceive you. In fact, a recent study showed that even babies would glance for a longer period of time at attractive people. But, that it's not the most important thing to me and I hope is not for you either. You should spend sometime taking care of yourself because it will make YOU feel better. If you do not believe me then go ahead and spend some time pampering and fixing yourself up. I am pretty sure you are feeling better already. Below are some simple beauty tips that will leave you glowing.

* Water glow; drink at least eight glasses of water to keep skin hydrated, and glowing. I am sure you will see the results.

* Beauty rest; when a person is tired they will most likely feel irritated, and tired, less likely to look attractive. Get plenty of rest!

*Clothing; avoid wearing oversize clothing, and keep it well pressed.

*Accessorize; There are so many wonderful accessories that you can wear. You can wear a great necklace and earrings set, a nice belt and shoes, a handbag, a great pin, nice rings, a hat etc. Use your imagination. Just make sure you do not over accessorize

* Stand straight; it will help you look confident, slimmer and a couple of inches taller.

* Wear make up; but do not over do it.

* Healthy hair gloss; wash, and condition hair regularly; use anti- frizz hair products for instant luster.

* Maintain eye contact; look more confident and give others your undivided attention.

* Smile; "smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks."

RECEPTION CAKE TABLE AND CAKE DECORATIONS

2007-11-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Skirt the table to the floor with rented linens and decorate the front of the cake table with items that reflect your theme.
Place real flowers on the cake and use a beautiful cake topper.
For Christmas, put small colored Christmas ball ornaments (edible) on your wedding cake instead of flowers. The entire top tier could be shaped to look like a Christmas tree. Try lots of edible clear glitter to make a "snowy" cake.
Ask your bridesmaids to place their bouquets on the cake table.
Silver or crystal punch bowls remain a popular item for weddings.
Use colorful paper or china plates and monogrammed napkins.
Scatter rose petals or faux crystal diamonds around the bottom of the cake. Add a few votive candles for an evening reception.
Circle the base of the cake with shimmering chiffon or tulle fabric or use a pretty beaded garland to add sparkle.
Purchase beautiful toasting goblets to share your first champagne as a married couple. Serving ware can be simple or ornate and dressed up with ribbons, flowers, or beads.

Reception Decorating - Special Touches

Create a collage (picture board) of the two of you growing up and meeting. Choose formal as well as candid photos and create captions for each one.
Display wedding gowns from family members on walls or rented dress forms. Include a wedding photo of the bride next to the dress.
A table filled with family or photos of the two of you will add a personal touch to your wedding.
Christmas weddings call for decorated Christmas trees.
If trees or bushes surround you, string tiny white lights through them to add drama and romance.
Tie a big white bow to the collar of the family dog or cat.
Hang colorful piñatas and ask folks try to break them with a stick while blindfolded.
Dove releases are romantic and memorable.
If you have a wedding theme, ask your guests to dress the part. Western gear, black and white for contemporary settings or 50’s attire are popular.
Have a friend or family member take a Polaroid of your guests as they arrive at your reception. The photos are pinned to a silk tree (photo tree) and are given as favors when the guests leave.
White Greek pedestals are great for formal weddings. Spiral white tulle around each one and place large potted plants on them. Consider renting one of the many styles available.

BUFFET TABLE DECORATION

2007-10-29T01:08:00.000-07:00

Reception Buffet Table Decorations

Place silk or real trees on either side or behind the buffet table. Add tiny white lights for a romantic look.
Rent a fountain to place in the center of the buffet table. The sound of the water is soothing & elegant. This is especially good for formal outdoor weddings.
Vases of flowers or candelabras dress up any table elegantly.
Use a large gingerbread house or ice sculpture as a focal point on the table. Consider bowls made of ice to hold food or bottles of champagne.
Rent a champagne or chocolate fountain to add pizzazz to the table.
For a nautical look, use white or natural rope amongst the food platters and hang white life preservers on the front of the table.
Skirt the buffet table to the floor if possible.
Swag garlands, ribbon or lengths of tulle around the edges of the table. Attach with safety pins. Cover the safety pins with bows, flowers or paper bells.
Elevate your food platters up as much as possible. Place bricks, books, or shoeboxes on the table surface where you want the platters to rest. Then cover the whole table with a beautiful solid color fabric. Now place your platters on the bricks. For extra elegance, position votive candles, wide ribbon, greenery and champagne bottles in and amongst the food. Tiny white lights also work well.

Reception Floor Decorations

Rent a dance floor and DJ for the evening.
Rent or borrow large rugs to add warmth to the room.

RECEPTION WALL,CHAIR,CEILING DECORATION IDEAS

2007-10-26T00:01:00.000-07:00

Reception Wall Decorations

Blow-up pool toys make inexpensive wall decorations for pool-side weddings. Be sure to have a couple floating in the pool!
Borrow family quilts or artwork to decorate plain walls or choose artwork from your native country.
Purchase straw hats or wreaths and fill them with flowers or decorate with colorful ribbons.
Choose a reception site with a functioning fireplace. How romantic to have a roaring fire during your reception.

Reception Chair Decorations

Tie a helium balloon to the back of each chair. Your guests can take them as favors.
Rent chair covers in white or ivory to cover basic metal folding chairs.
Create a pretty chair swag out of inexpensive tulle and silk flowers.
Attach a small swag of flowers, ribbon or ivy to the back of each chair. Small wreaths also work well.
Use hay bales instead of chairs for outdoor or western theme weddings.

Reception Ceiling Decorations

Hanging topiaries are fun and easy to make. Cover 5-10 inch foam balls with hot glue and add your choice of flower heads and ribbon. Hang them from ribbons or fishing line at varied heights over tables or the entire reception area.
Use shiny white paper to create paper snowflakes in various sizes. Hang each one from a piece of fishing line in a staggering pattern over tables or the entire reception area. Place an electric fan in each corner of the room and direct them toward the ceiling. The snowflakes will blow around creating a stormy effect.
Swag 54-inch wide white tulle from the corners to the center of the room. Rest white lights in the tulle. This idea creates a big impact at night and can be used almost anywhere. For daytime weddings, use long strands of green ivy instead of lights. Be sure to secure the tulle very well!
Balloon arches add big impact to any setting.
Balloon drops are also fun and consist of a rented net attached to the ceiling and filled with balloons. Time the drop to occur after the cake cutting or just prior to your departure.

WEDDING DECORATION IDEAS

2007-10-23T01:33:00.000-07:00

Reception Gift Table Decorations

Your gifts will probably add plenty of color to this table. Stack them up to add extra height. Use a decorated box for collecting cards. Place large flowering plants in front of the gift tables.
If you have a wedding theme, choose a large object that represents the theme and place it in the center of the table.
The gift table does not have to be a table. Consider using a large cart, stacked hay bales, picnic blanket, a hammock or a pick-up for a country wedding. For a more formal affair, use a large upholstered chair (place gifts on and around the chair and add colorful potted plants).

Reception Centerpiece Ideas:
Edible centerpieces! Instead of a buffet table, arrange colorful foods on platters and place at the center of the tables. Incorporate flowers or greenery amongst the food.
Place a balloon cluster at the center of each table. Make sure it's high enough so guests can still see each other.
When in doubt, a beautiful vase of flowers (real or silk) will do the trick.
Suspend groupings of paper bells from the ceiling directly over each table. Again, position them just high enough for guests to see one another, but low enough so they appear to be part of the table decorations.
Purchase straw hats, or cowboy hats and fill with flowers.
Take 1.5-foot wide flat terracotta pots and place one in the center of each table. Fill the pots with green moss and put a variety of white or ivory pillar candles into the moss. Use 8-10 flower heads for decoration around the base of the candles. This idea is stunning for an evening or garden wedding.
If you have long rectangular tables for your reception, place bows of evergreens, green foliage, rose petals, or votive cups down the centers of the tables. Work in a few pretty flowers or ribbon here and there.
Purchase large bowls made of clear plastic or glass. Place one bowl at each table and surround it with flowers. Fill each bowl with water and put in three to five floating candles. Light them just before the reception begins.
Take 40 inch wide bolts of white or colorful tulle and gather it down the center of each rectangular table. Nestle votive candles in glass holders at various locations in the tulle. Make sure the tulle does not contact the flame.
Place 1 or 2 gallon fish bowls on small-framed mirrors or mirror tiles. Fill with water and add live fish or shells. This one is great for a nautical theme wedding.
A large bowl of fresh fruit and flowers is simple and elegant.
Place pretty bowls of fragrant potpourri at each table.
Rent large candelabras with pillar candles for the center of each table. Some can be very formal and hold flowers amongst the candles. Check with your florist and rental shop to discuss these options.
How about a gingerbread house or miniature Christmas tree for a holiday wedding?
Freestanding topiaries make wonderful centerpieces by adding height and drama. Decorate them with flowers, fruits, ivy or ribbons.
Use a wicker basket as the centerpiece. Fill with raffia or other filler material and place your wedding favors on top. Decorate the basket with ribbon or flowers in your wedding colors or use white ribbons and let colorful favors take center stage.
Balloons can be incorporated into a variety of flower arrangements or unique centerpieces. Check with your florist.
Add white taper candles to your floral centerpieces.
Buy rolls of pretty metallic wrapping paper and bows in your wedding colors and wrap some empty boxes (Wedding or Christmas paper). These make very inexpensive centerpieces in any size and color you like.
Borrow cowboy boots or buy from a thrift store. Fill them with flowers and use them as centerpieces.
Place 3 large pillar candles of the same width but different heights onto a framed mirror. Put flowers or shells around the bases of the candles. The mirror will reflect the centerpiece and make it appear twice as large.
Hang large Christmas ornaments from the ceiling with ribbon or fishing line. Tie a bow at the top of each ornament. Hang in a staggered pattern directly above the tables.

General Ideas:
Scatter a unique confetti that coordinates with your reception theme, season or colors.
Beautifully folded and pressed napkins add an elegant touch to the table. This site shows you how to create many popular napkin designs.
Make or purchase napkin rings to match the formality of your event. Wrap a single silk rose around a napkin or use small cookie cutters or decorative beads as the ring. The ideas are endless on this one.
Place a small vase with a single rose at each place setting. Give them as favors.
Cover reception tables with white or colored butcher paper then lay inexpensive curtain lace over the top.
Wedding favors add that final touch to your tables and can be created in endless shapes, colors and themes. A simple, yet elegant, favor is to take 5 sugared Jordan almonds and wrap them in tulle circles. Tie with a beautiful ribbon and put one at each place setting.
Skirt your tables to the floor for an elegant effect. Rented white or ivory table linens work best and show off the table accessories and centerpieces.
Place small bowls of colorful confections such as chocolate, hard candies or mints on each table.
Decorate picnic tables with red checked tablecloths and baskets of blossoms (sunflowers work well). Use hay bales for seating.
Picture frame place card holders are popular, functional and can be given as wedding favors.
Place card holders can also be as simple as a pear or apple slit to hold the place card. Decorate each one with ribbon or natural materials. This idea is great for outdoor garden-themed weddings.
Design Note: Candles can be adapted to almost any setting and are perfect for sites where the walls or surroundings are somewhat drab. Be sure to check with your site representatives to make sure the use of candles is accepted. Faux tealight candles are a good substitution.

To be contd.....

WEDDING DECORATION IDEAS

2007-10-06T01:51:00.000-07:00

Altar Decorations

Purchase dozens of large, potted plants and cluster them around the altar. Afterwards, give them as favors to guests or as a "thank you" to people who helped with your wedding.
A white lattice arch decorated with lots of white or ivory tulle (veil netting) and greenery makes a beautiful place to stand while exchanging your vows. Rent or purchase them at garden stores.
Purchase a beautiful unity candle set and decorate the base with flowers.
A beautiful view of a lake, ocean or cityscape are ultimate outdoor decorations.
A gazebo is wonderful for outdoor weddings. Decorate it with volumes of white tulle or garlands of flowers.
Rent two candelabras to place on either side of the altar. Decorate with flowers, ribbon or tulle. Add long taper candles and light them prior to or as part of the ceremony.
Two large 4 to 6-foot green topiaries will look stunning on either side of the altar area. Decorate them with satin ribon, tulle bows, steamers or flowers (silk or real). Rent topiaries for the day.
Choose a ceremony site with a large stain glass window or interesting architecture at the altar area. These items become your primary decorations.
Christmas weddings call for a decorated Christmas tree near the altar.
If you have several members in your wedding party, keep in mind that their attire will dominate the altar area once the ceremony begins (especially if their attire is in a bold color). Few additional decorations would be needed.
Light numerous votive or tea light candles and place them all around the altar area on tables and floor. This idea is great for an evening wedding and provides lots of romance for little money and effort.

Ceremony Special Touches

Hire vocalists or musicians and section off the area where they will perform with tulle or ribbon.
Miltary weddings: The bride and groom, or the bride, and the wedding party will be in uniform. A saber arch is usually formed for the couple to depart the church or chapel. It offers a beautiful chance for pictures. Also, a saber is used to cut the cake, rather than a knife.
Place a fragrant vase or basket of flowers in each guest bathroom and dressing area.
For Christmas, mistletoe hung in strategic places and tied with a nice bow looks festive and elegant.
Have your ring bearer carry a beautiful ring pillow or teddy bear ("ring bearer").

To be contd..........

2007-10-02T23:30:00.000-07:00

Wedding Decoration Ideas

Beautiful wedding decorations add style, fun, and drama to your wedding day. If you love a particular mood, or simply want to create a gorgeous and memorable setting,just go through this.

Ceremony Entrance Decorations

Place the guest book, signing pen and beautiful fresh flowers or topiaries on a small table.
Put a large framed engagement picture or other picture of the two of you on an easel. Guests can sign the matting instead of a guest book.
Have guests sign a wedding scroll rather then a guest book.
Are you getting married at Christmas time? Instead of a guest book, ask your guests to sign a Christmas tree skirt.
Rent torches to place at the entrance. This idea is best for outdoor weddings held in the evening and adds wonderful drama.
Decorate tree branches with small white lights (best for evenings).
If you have steps leading up to the site, place inexpensive pots of flowers to the sides of each (or every other) step.
If you are using a theme, find a large item that fits with your theme to place at the entrance. This gives your guests an idea of what's ahead.
Have your immediate family (who are not in the wedding party) stand at the entrance and welcome each guest as they enter.
Place potted trees (real or silk) on either side of the entrance. Decorate each one with small white lights. Some nusuries will rent plants to you.
Make colorful wedding programs explaining what will take place during your wedding ceremony. Present them to guests as they arrive or fan them out on a table. You may also include things like words of thanks, bridal party participants, love poems, a story of how the two of you met, and pictures, etc. A map to the reception site may also be included.
Decorate any banisters, railings or columns with ivy garlands, swags of flowers, tulle and/or white lights.
Two large clusters of colorful balloons will also create a striking entrance. These clusters can be placed into large potted plants or set in any corner. Tie a 6 - 8 foot length of curling ribbon to helium-filled balloons. Gather several balloons together & tie to a can of food. Cover the can of food with fabric & add a colorful bow.

Design Note: The most elegant colors for wedding balloons are combinations of white, ivory, clear or gold. For more drama, add a few balloons in your primary wedding color. Clear balloons can hold confetti or other balloons inside of them. Choose only three or four balloon ideas for the reception so as not to block anyone’s view. Fill balloons with helium as close to the ceremony time as possible so they do not end up on the floor during all the festivities!

Ceremony Aisle, Pew, & Chair Decorations

Tie a helium balloon arch to every third row of pews or aisle chairs. Walk under them as you head toward the altar.
Swag three-inch wide velvet ribbon along the rows of pews or aisle chairs. Place a bow made out of the same ribbon where the ribbon is attached to the pews or chairs.
Take several strands of small white lights (the smaller the better) and swag them across the ceiling in a random pattern. When you dim the lights, they will look like a star filled night sky.
Instead of pew bows, place beautiful potted plants on the floor at the end of each pew or aisle chair.
Have your flower girl sprinkle rose petals down the aisle as she walks.
Use an aisle runner in a white or ivory color.
Purchase tulle by the bolt (tulle is basically inexpensive veil netting) in any light pastel color (white works well for most weddings). Swag the tulle to each or every other pew/chair starting at the front and working down the aisles (both sides) to the back of the church or last row of chairs. At each pew, gather the tulle & tie it with a small rubber band. Add flowers & ribbon as desired.
Design Note: Simple balloon arches are relatively easy to make and create a lot of impact. Directions: Take a strong piece of string and cut it to the length you want your arch to be, plus 2 feet. Then tie a 6-inch piece of string to the bottom of each helium-filled balloon. Begin tying the balloons tightly to the long piece of string until you can no longer see the string (leave 1-foot of string at each end for tying onto things). Another option is to swag tulle between clusters of balloons (see figures below).
To be continued.....

WEDDING DRESS TIPS

2007-09-30T02:36:00.000-07:00

I am full-figured and loving it! what's the best wedding dress for me?

You know your body best. If you have a full figure, here are a few suggestions for finding the perfect wedding dress for you.

The key to finding your ideal wedding gown will be one that highlights your best features. This of course, applies to all brides!

Depending on your frame and silhouette, different necklines may work for you. For some full figured women, strapless or off-the-shoulder wedding gowns may be very flattering as they help to create more of an hourglass silhouette. For other full figured brides, a V-neck or other open neckline may work wonders. Play around and see what works best for you.

Likewise, depending on your taste, you may want to opt for beading or other details around the neckline to draw attention upward.

A ball gown style wedding dress will help de-emphasize the lower torso. Combined with a fitted V-neck bodice and dropped V or basque waistline and you may have a winning combo as they help to create a slimming effect.

An A-line wedding gown, of course, will look equally fabulous!

Depending on the weather and your personal preference, long or ¾ sleeves may also be an option as they will help to slenderize arms.

Here is a short list of details to avoid:
Fabric and wedding gown styles that hug the body (e.g. mermaid or sheath)
Spaghetti straps or puffy sleeves may overemphasize your upper body.
Ruffles or elaborately billowing skirts may overemphasize your lower body.
Be wary of the empire silhouette as it may make you seem disproportioned.

Keep in mind: Love your body because we are all unique. Use these suggestions as guidelines since many wedding dress designers have full liberty to create, invent, and mix and match styles.

have an hourglass figure. what's the best wedding dress for me?

You know your body best. If you have an hourglass figure, you have a smaller waist accentuated by curvaceous hips and a proportionate chest area, thus creating the hourglass silhouette.
Note: the hourglass figure looks at the proportions of your chest, waist, and hip area. Therefore, women of many different sizes may be blessed with an hourglass figure!

Here are a few suggestions for finding the perfect wedding dress for you.

With an hourglass figure, there are many different options for the ideal wedding gown which will be determined by your comfort level and your personality.

Want to emphasize your curvaceous body? Then opt for gowns with clean, elegant lines that will focus on your figure. Avoid excessive beading and detailing in the bodice or skirt area as they may make you appear heavier than you are (because the adornments will focus additional attention in that area). Thus, you may also want to avoid wedding gowns with very full skirts or exaggerated sleeves (e.g. the pouf).

An A-line wedding dress or a wedding gown with a dropped waist will accentuate your waist area.

Wedding gown silhouettes that will accentuate your hourglass figure: sheath, mermaid (due to their body hugging designs)

You may also want to choose a neckline that showcases your shoulders. Following necklines to consider: portrait, off-the-shoulder, strapless (why not?), V-neck, sweetheart.

Avoid high necklines as they will de-emphasize your upper chest area, creating a disproportionate silhouette. Likewise, you may want to avoid the empire silhouette.
Keep in mind: Love your body because we are all unique. Use these suggestions as guidelines since many wedding dress designers have full liberty to create, invent, and mix and match styles.

WEDDING MANICURE TIPS

2007-09-27T01:10:00.000-07:00

You have to take better care of your hands for your wedding day because they are in the spotlight on your wedding day. On this day everyone would want to see “the ring,” and you would also want them to look at nice well done nails and pretty hands. So planning ahead is very important so that your hands look dazzling on your big day.

The classic Look:

First of all your nails should be very clean and shaped perfectly. The classic way nails are painted for a wedding is using white and then the entire nail is painted with a soft, clear pink or eggshell color. The other classic colors include plum, red, wine, pink, coral and soft lilac, which are all good choices for your wedding day.

Manicure - Amazing Acrylics:

If you for some reason not able to grow your own nails, an acrylic set of artificial nails is the way to go. The acrylic tips should be filled in almost every two weeks. Acrylic is often thought to damage the nail beneath. This is just a quick fix and not a real solution to the problem nails. The other advantage of acrylic nails is that they come with certain innovative designs and shapes that can catch people’s attention.

Get a Professional Manicure:

In case you want to keep the nails natural, you should schedule a professional manicure a few months before your wedding. Setting aside an hour once or twice a month to pamper your hands will give you a good feel about yourself. This kind of treatment of the nails will help them grow stronger and look nicer.

If you don’t know a good manicurist ask your friends for references. And while looking for a good salon, don’t forget to inquire about their health and safety practices. Make sure you go to a salon where tools are disinfected after each use, and all manicurists should be licensed ones. If you still doubt the salon, don’t go there. And if you are not able to get answers to all your questions, then bring your own set of tools for the manicurist to use.

Quick solutions for Manicure on the big day

The French method of manicure is a classic wedding look and cannot beat another in sophistication. Many collections also have a wide variety of French manicure false nails to choose from. The following are the various kinds of French manicure looks.

Slim fingers (French arc nails)

The tips of these fingers have a well-curved arc shape. These kinds of nails make your hands look very beautiful.

Beautiful shimmer (opalectric French nails)

This is a French manicure with a high shine finish, which is not usually possible with ordinary nail varnishes or polishes.

Eye-catching detail (dimensional French nails)

This kind of nails combines the stylish French manicure white tips with a three-dimensional white flower or gem embellishment. These nails are very stylish.

Procedure for a home manicure

You can always pamper your hands with a home manicure. A home manicure can be really comfortable. But a professional manicure is advisable just before the wedding. A home manicure includes these basic steps:

Remove the old polish on your nails with the help of cotton balls dabbed on with polish remover.
An emery board should be used to shape your nails.
Soaking your palms in warm, soapy water softens your cuticles.
Push and trim your cuticles gently.
Wash your hands with a mild soap and water.
Applying lotion superficially will not help massage and rub it in.
Clean the nails once more with a nail polish remover to eliminate the residual lotion.
Apply a first base coat of nail enamel. Let it dry. Then apply another thin coat of polish.
Apply a second thin coat of polish. Allow it to dry thoroughly.
If required, then apply a layer of topcoat

Gilchrist In Awe Of Yuvraj

2007-09-24T02:40:00.000-07:00

Adam Gilchrist has every sympathy for Pakistan later today as they attempt to restrict the power hitting of Yuvraj Singh and beat India in the ICC World Twenty20 final.

Australia's stand-in skipper, who filled in for hamstring victim Ricky Ponting during Saturday's semi-final against India, believed they had the plans to stop the man who hit six sixes in an over in his previous match against England.

But despite meticulous research and planning, Yuvraj hit a stunning 70 off 30 balls including five sixes - one of them the biggest of the tournament, measuring 119 metres - to set up today's fiercely-contested final against Pakistan.

Both sides will enter the final equally confident, but Gilchrist believes Pakistan may have the bigger dilemma as they seek a formula to stop Yuvraj.

"He's in a great mindset, he's confident and he's seeing the ball well and just trusting himself," enthused Gilchrist. "He sliced a couple against us, one in particular out to deep point that just cleared the hands.

"Those little things we hoped would go our way but the next ball he hit 20 rows back so he's playing with great confidence. I think that's the exciting thing about this game - crowds are going to love players like him walking out and playing without fear.

"We spoke about it beforehand and tried to bowl it in the right areas to him but he hits a short ball for six and then you pitch that up and he hits that one for six."

Pakistan have already admitted their pre-match tactical meeting would be dominated by thoughts of stopping Yuvraj with captain Shoaib Malik revealing: "We'll have a meeting and decide where we're going to bowl to him.

"We must try and stop him because he's playing superbly at the moment, but hopefully we'll find some kind of plan which will work.

"At the moment he's playing brilliantly - I don't think I've ever seen him play as well as he is now. He's in very good form and we'll sit and discuss how we're going to stop him."

India captain Mahendra Dhoni, a very clean hitter of the ball himself, believes Yuvraj's current form is as good as he has seen him play.

"I've not seen anyone hit the ball as sweetly as him - whatever shot he plays it goes over the rope," enthused Dhoni.

"I think he's in really good form and that's because of his determination and his will to do well on this stage.

"He didn't start well in the tournament and after that he has become the main batsman of the team. He has the experience of more than 180 one-day matches and that really helps."

Pakistan are expected to name the same line-up that romped past New Zealand in the semi-final while India will give late fitness tests to both Yuvraj and explosive opener Virender Sehwag.

Yuvraj is still struggling with the tendinitis in his elbow, which forced him to miss the victory over South Africa last Thursday, but is expected to feature while Sehwag struggled with groin problems during the semi-final against Australia.

SKIN CARE

2007-09-22T01:13:00.000-07:00

For Glowing skin

A facemask of egg white and honey gently removes the tan from your face.
Mix oats with honey, yogurt and ground almonds. Apply this in your face, leave it for five minutes and wash with lukewarm water.
Cucumber is a natural cleanser. Mix cucumber juice with milk and use it instead of a cleanser.
Take 1/3-cup cocoa, three teaspoons of heavy cream, 1/3-cup ripe papaya, 1/4-cup honey and three teaspoons of oatmeal powder. Mix it all together. Apply on your face. After 10 minutes, wash your face with warm water. This is best for oily skin
For oily skin, apply a mixture of grapes, lemon and egg white. Leave it for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water. While lemon acts as a natural cleanser, grapes will soften your skin and egg whites will tighten it. Don’t be alarmed if your skin tingles.
Cut the lemon and rub the wedge all over your face. Leave it for about 20 minutes, then rinse off with cold water. This will refresh your face. Avoid doing this if you have dry skin.
Mix honey, lemon and vegetable oil .This mixture is a good moisturiser for dry skin. Apply this mask for 10 minutes.
Apply the mixture of honey and milk on the face . This will make your skin glow.
Prepare a mask by mixing a slice of pumpkin with egg yolk and milk. Let this mask set on your face for 30 minutes for a glowing skin.
Mix half-a-cup honey to your bath water for soft and smooth skin.
For a soothing body pack, prepare a paste of mint leaves and almonds. Mix it with warm water and apply all over your body. Leave it till it dries and rinse with warm water.
Buttermilk dabbed on skin for 15 minutes will soak up oil from your skin without drying it.
Carrot juice applied daily fades blemishes.
For dark underarms and neck apply lemon juice mixed with cucumber juice and a pinch of turmeric daily. Leave this on for 20 minutes.
For removing facial hair.. Apply a sticky paste of egg white blended with sugar and corn flour. When it dries, gently peel it off. Repeat this three to four times a week.
Thin apple slices rubbed onto oily skin will help in controlling oily shine.
For supple skin, apply a ripe smashed banana on your face for 20 minutes daily.
Cauliflower juice applied on warts regularly will make them fall.
For a fair skin, try this natural bleach. Mix orange peels (sun dried and powdered) with milk. Apply this paste for 25 minutes and wash off.
Mix half teaspoon dried curry leaf powder with multani mitti (fullers earth) and apply on the face. Wash it after it gets dry.
Apply the mixture of tomato juice and honey on the face and neck , wash it after 15 minutes.
Apply the mixture of carrot juice and basin. Leave it till it dries and wash the face.
Add two teaspoon of tomato juice with 4 teaspoon of curd and apply on the face.
Add a pinch of yeast with 2 teaspoon of cabbage juice and apply.
Mix 1 table spoon of barley powder with half teaspoon of lime juice and 1 teaspoon of honey. Apply it on the face and wash after 20 minutes.
Mix pineapple juice and carrot juice together and apply it on the face and wash it after 15 minutes.
Mix vinegar and rose water in equal quantities and apply.
Mix curd and cucumber juice and apply it on the face.
Apply the mixture of coconut water and thick pineapple juice.
Make a paste with 1/2 teaspoon of milk powder, 1/4 teaspoon of egg white and 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice and apply on the face.
For dry skin, Make a paste with egg yolk, olive oil and lemon juice. Apply it on the neck and face, wash it out after 10 minutes.
For oily skin, take a mixture of oatmeal and egg white and apply it on the neck and face
For glowing skin, use basin or green gram powder mixed with milk instead of soap.
Apply the mixture of raw turmeric and cream of milk on the face and wash it after 20 minutes. It will make your skin fair.
Apply the mixture of honey, basin, cream of milk and olive oil as a face pack.
Apply the paste of fenugreek with milk on the face and let it dry. Wash off with luke warm water.
Make a paste of red sandal wood and apply it on the face every day for glowing skin.

Make a paste with red sandal powder and coconut milk and apply on the face for soft skin.

For Black Spots

Make a paste with mehndi and oil and apply on the face
Make a mixture of 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice and glycerin and apply it on the spots
Apply the paste of turmeric and curry leaves on the face and wash it after 15 minutes.
Apply a mixture of mehndi and turmeric. For a piece of turmeric, 2-3 leaves of mehndi are used
Grind dried basil leaf, neem and mint (100 gm each). Add some turmeric powder and rose water to make it in a paste form and apply it on the spots.
Grind betel leaf and add a little coconut oil and apply it on the spots
Soak a chappathi in milk overnight . Make it into a paste and apply it on black heads. Repeat for several days

Make a paste of saffron and add some honey , apply it on the face to remove black spots.

To remove black spots... apply a paste of turmeric and basil.

To remove wrinkles on the face, apply a mixture of sandalwood powder, rosewater and glycerin. Wash with cold water after some time

For pimples

Apply a mixture of turmeric and neem on the face .
A mixture of crushed mint leaves and oats will reduce pimples. Leave this for 20 minutes and wash it with warm water.
Mix thick curd, turmeric and two drops of oil. Apply on the face.
Crush garlic and take the juice and apply it on the face daily to reduce pimples
Make a paste with sandal wood and turmeric and apply it on the face.

FACE CARE TIPS

2007-09-19T23:52:00.000-07:00

What you need to know about Face Care

Never forget to cleanse your make-up off thoroughly before going to bed, so that your skin can breathe freely at night.

An occasional face pack of ice is a good tonic for the complexion.

A teaspoonful of tumeric powder mixed with cream, sandal powder, Bengal gram flour, made a paste and applied once a day about half an hour before bath is an excellent beauty aid to keep face fresh and soft.

Rub a rind of lemon over your face, this will lessen grease and whiten your complexion.

Take a teaspoon of lime-juice and stir in half a teaspoon of honey and few drops of milk. Mix well and apply over your face and neck fifteen minutes before you take your bath. This lotion will have a mild bleaching effect on a greasy skin, because of its excessive oil may be rather sallow.

If you have oily skin, apply a paste of gram flour and lemon juice on your face and wash it off after 20 minutes.

For Facial Lines, try Retin-A. Fades marks in as little as 3-6 months. Alpha Hydroxy also seems to help.

Tomato is a new discovery that is supposed to be excellent for face and skin care. New products are on the market with tomato derived active ingredients.

Old fashioned mud packs and their commercial versions are tried and true face care enhancements.

HOME DECOR TIPS

2007-09-15T02:31:00.000-07:00

Counter tops with scuffs, burn marks and knife wounds aren’t pretty. Replacing the worn counter tops isn’t cheap. What to do? Forego the standard counter top replacement techniques for something a little more crafty.

Chances are if there’s a burn mark from a pot on your counter top, that’s a good place to put a built-in, heat-proof section for setting pots. Ceramic tiles are the perfect solution. Use contact cement or tile adhesive to place four squares of the tiles together on the counter top for setting hot pans.

Leftover linoleum makes a pretty counter top for a bathroom or kitchen. It’s not heat-proof, though, so never set hot pans on it. Glue the linoleum on to the counter top. To do the front edge of the counter top, glue the linoleum onto the front, then on the top, then place narrow molding over the joining sections.

In the bathroom, spread a thick layer of plaster of Paris, concrete, cement or grout on the counter. Now arrange shells, marbles, stones, river rock, glass pieces or broken China. Make sure any sharp edges are covered with the grout. Seal with clear sealant.

Clear shelf paper with adhesive backing provides a way to cover up ugly counter tops. Arrange flat objects, like fabric or pictures from magazines, onto the counter top. Now cover the entire thing with clear shelf paper. A different way to achieve the same results is to laminate the photos, fabric or pictures and then glue the laminated items to the counter top. You can also use regular printed shelf paper to stick to the counter tops for coverage.

Fabric that hasn’t been laminated can easily be attached to the counter top with decoupage glue. Apply a thin coat of the glue, making sure entire counter top is covered. Place the fabric, cutting around the sink. Spread a thin layer of decoupage on top of the fabric, too. After the glue is dry, use a very lightweight steel wool to slightly sand the counter. Spray or brush on clear varnish or lacquer. The fabric doesn’t have to be all one piece. You can cut squares, triangles and other shapes and arrange them on the counter top.

Thin, colored foam, which comes on a roll, can be glued onto bathroom counters. Although the foam is washable, it’s easily marred. Be careful with scissors, hot blow dryers or curling irons. Never lay hot items on this type of foam.

Dimension paint, found at a craft or department store, is a great way to make counter tops beautiful again. The paint, which is spread on, makes any surface look like stone. After giving the counter tops a couple of coats, seal with spray-on sealant. You can also find spray-on, granite-look paint that usually includes the sealant. One can doesn’t do a very large area, and it’s a little expensive if you’re doing a large area, but the results are nice.

Combine techniques, like laying linoleum on the counter tops, or laminated pictures, then setting the four square ceramic tiles for hot pots. Or, use the dimensional paint and then lay the ceramic tiles. Whichever you choose, you’ll be very happy with your new counter tops.

KITCHEN TIPS 2

2007-09-11T01:36:00.000-07:00

1. Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar cone to prevent ice cream drips.

2. Use a meat baster to "squeeze" your pancake batter onto the hot griddle - perfect shaped pancakes every time.

3. To keep potatoes from budding, place an apple in the bag with the potatoes.

4. To prevent egg shells from cracking, add a pinch of salt to the water before hard-boiling.

5. To get the most juice out of fresh lemons, bring them to room temperature & roll them under your palm against the kitchen counter before squeezing.

6. To easily remove burnt-on food from your skillet, simply add a drop or two of dish soap and enough water to cover bottom of pan, and bring to a boil on stovetop-skillet will be much easier to clean.

7. When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use a bit of the dry cake mix instead-no white mess on the outside of the cake.

8. If you accidentally over-salt a dish while it's still cooking, drop in a peeled potato-it absorbs the excess salt for an instant "fix me up."

9. Brush beaten egg white over pie crust before baking to yield a beautiful glossy finish.

10. Place a slice of apple in hardened brown sugar to soften it back up.

11. When boiling corn on the cob, add a pinch of sugar to help bring out the corn's natural sweetness. (ah, an old 1940’s Fannie Farmer trick!)

12. To determine whether an egg is fresh, immerse it in a pan of cool, salted water. If it sinks, it is fresh-if it rises to the surface, throw it away.

13. Cure for headaches: Take a lime, cut it in half and rub it on your forehead. The throbbing will go away.

14. Don't throw out all that leftover wine: Freeze into ice cubes for future use in casseroles and sauces.

15. If you have a problem opening jars: Try using latex dishwashing gloves. They give a non-slip grip that makes opening jars easy.

16. Potatoes will take food stains off your fingers. Just slice and rub raw potato on the stains and rinse with water.

17. To get rid of itch from mosquito bite: try applying soap on the area, instant relief.

18. Ants, ants, ants everywhere ... Well, they are said to never cross a chalk line. So get your chalk out and draw a line on the floor or wherever ants tend to march-see for yourself.

19. When you get a splinter, reach for the scotch tape before resorting to tweezers or a needle. Simply put the scotch tape over the splinter, then pull it off. Scotch tape removes most splinters painlessly and easily.

20. NOW Look what you can do with Alka-Seltzer:

Clean a toilet-drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush, and flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous china.
Clean a vase-to remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets.
Polish jewelry-drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the jewelry for two minutes.
Clean a thermos bottle-fill the bottle with water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or longer, if necessary).
Unclog a drain-clear the sink drain by dropping three Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain followed by a cup of Heinz White Vinegar. Wait a few minutes, then run the hot water.

KITCHEN TIPS 1

2007-09-08T01:02:00.000-07:00

For soft Dosas, add some boiled rice to white gram and rice, while grinding.
Put some neem and turmeric pieces or garlic flakes in the container where you store rice or grains, in order to keep away insects.

To adjust salt in curries add roasted rice powder.

If the curd is too sour, add 4 cups of water to it. After half an hour, remove the water collected on top.

When you cook dal add some refined oil or garlic. It will reduce gas trouble.

Keep rice flour and basin in a polythene cover in refrigerator when you want tem stored for a long time.

Add some vinegar in the boiling water before steaming potato.

For crispy dosas, add a teaspoon of tur dal gram) and some fenugreek seeds while soaking rice

Add a pinch of corn flour to the jar of salt to prevent it from getting damp.

While chopping raw bananas and potatoes, put the pieces in a bowl of water to avoid it from turning black.

A bay leaf added to the flour container will keep the flour free from moisture.

To peel garlic flakes easily, wash and soak them in cold water for about an hour.

Green peas will retain their original colour, if you add a pinch of sugar while boiling.

Leafy vegetables will remain fresh longer, if wrapped in news papers when you are storing.

If you don't have any cream to add in the soup or gravy, add a mixture of butter and milk.

Apply some oil on the sides of the vessel in which you boil milk, in order to avoid it from overflowing.

After extracting butter from milk cream, add a little milk or curd to the residue and boil. You will get soft 'Paneer'.

For thick cream, cover the milk vessel with a thin muslin cloth and refrigerate over night.

Barley powder will increase the taste of meat and vegetable curries.

You can make tasty chappathi by mixing equal proportion of wheat flour and barley.

While boiling eggs, put a hole with a pin on the rounded portion of the egg so that the shell won't break when boiling.

Keep boiled eggs in cold water for 5 minutes, this will make removal of the shell easier.

Cut boiled eggs with a knife dipped in hot water to avoid breaking.

Boiled eggs will last longer, if you store the shelled eggs in a bowl of cold water in a refrigerator.

If the bread is too soft to cut into pieces, hold the knife close to a flame and then slice the bread with it.

If you need only the egg white, for storing the remaining yolk, cover the yolk with water or milk and keep in a cool dark place. Just drain off the liquid before using the yolk.

Add a little powdered lemon rind to puddings or deserts to avoid the smell of egg.

If you want to make crispy potatoes or banana chips, sprinkle salt water over them while frying.

Soak almonds in warm water for a minute, if you need to peel them quickly.

If a curry turns out too salty, garnish it with some grated coconut mix with cumin powder.

Add a pinch of sugar while cooking spinach, it will retain its green colour.

Dal will cook well, if you add a little sesame oil while cooking.

To make the 'poori' more tastier, add one tablespoon semoline for each 100g wheat flour.

Add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda while mixing the dough for 'chappathi' to make it soft.

For making soft sauce, add some paneer.

Adding turmeric will help pickles from getting spoilt.

HOME MAKING TIPS

2007-09-04T23:39:00.000-07:00

Homemaking tips for the kitchen:

To get the stains off of cookie sheets, pie pans and other cookware, soak them in a solution of borax and water.

If your jars or glasses look cloudy fill them with warm water and add a few drops of ammonia. Wait about an hour - then wash and rinse in hot water. My mother-in-law soaks them in a solution of 2 cups vinegar to a sink full of hot water.

Silver that has dulled can be shined up again by rubbing a potato dipped in baking soda. Or when you boil potatoes, save the water to soak your silver in.

Never drain grease down the sink! It will clog up your sinks over time. If you forget and do it anyway, be sure to run some hot water with dish soap. Dawn is good for degreasing. If your sink does become clogged up pour 1/4 cup of baking soda down the drain followed by 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Wait few minutes and then pour a pot of boiling water down the drain.

To clean off the oven window, make a paste of baking soda and water. Rub onto the window and let sit for about 15 minutes. Wipe clean with a paper towel and clear water.

Homemaking tips for laundry:

To make sure your clothes are fresh and your washing machine is free of bacteria and soap scum - occasionally run a cycle of bleach water.

To remove grease stains on fabric - dab a solution of thick salt water (more salt than water) on the stain and remove salt with a clean paper towel. My mother in law uses Dawn dish soap and it works good too.

To remove mildew on white fabrics - soak several hours in a wash tub with 1/2 vinegar and 1/4 cup bleach. You can also put lemon juice on a stain and set in sun to remove light stains on white clothing.

Add 3 teaspoons of epsom salts to wash water to prevent colored fabrics from fading and to help keep the colors from running.

If you spill something, wash the fabric in cold water. Hot water will set the stain.

Homemaking tips throughout the house:

Once a month flush some yogurt into your septic system to prevent buildup.

If you drip some paint on something while painting - rub with a paper towel soaked in Skin so Soft by Avon.

If you drop something into a tight corner or down the sink, try reaching it with a crochet hook.

Let the kids help with dusting! Take an old sock and let them use it as a dusting mitt - their little hands can easily get into places like chair railing, wood molding, etc. Plus they have fun doing it.

FRUIT & FRUIT DRINK TIPS

2007-09-03T01:45:00.000-07:00

Apple and Pear tips

Whenever possible, buy local apples and pears in season. Ask your supermarket to stock traditional local varieties, sourced locally and not sent via distant distribution centres.
Buy fruit direct from the producer. The Soil Association (tel 0044 117 929 0661) has a directory of local food schemes such as organic food boxes and farm shops. Find out if your area has a farmers' market - contact the Environment Co-ordinator at your local authority.

Celebrate Apple Day on October 21st

Plant your own apple or pear tree(s). Look for a traditional variety from your area.

Choosing and preparing fruit tips

To see if a pineapple is ripe, see if you can pull out one of the leaves at the top. The pineapple will also have a golden tone to it.
For a great tasting watermelon, hold the melon to your ear and knock on it. The more hallow it sounds, the better it will taste. You may get some strange looks.
Strawberries seem to spoil very quickly. Here is an old tip my mother taught me... Remove the leaves and stem of the berries. Wash and place them in a colander. Pour BOILING water over the strawberries. This will kill the bacteria that molds the berries. Place the strawberries in a plastic container in the refrigerator. They will last twice as long.
Keep scissors from sticking to dried fruit when you cut it by spraying the scissors with cooking spray.
To ripen fruit quickly (such as pears which take a long time to ripen) place the unripe fruit in a paper lunch sack along with a banana. Fold sack closed and check next day or two & fruit will be ripe & ready to eat! Works great.
To see if cherries have worms in them... place them in water. If they float they have worms in them.
Buy fruit in season and jar or can for use in the winter. Buy it before it is ripe and ripen at home in a bowl or bag.
Slightly bumped or bruised fruit shouldn't be wasted. Put the fruit in a blender with some vanilla yogurt or low fat ice cream, skim milk, crushed ice and a pinch of sugar.
To pick a sweet cantaloupe, look for the one with small, tight netting on the skin and it should smell sweet. If the seeds rattle, it may be overripe.
To get more juice from lemons first soak them in hot water for a few seconds. Then roll them before squeezing.

CAR WASHING TIPS

2007-09-01T01:47:00.000-07:00

It’s simple to wash your car, but you want to do it right. Here are a few tips to protect your car and get it clean.

* Don’t use dish soap. Many people think that this is an acceptable cleaning agent for cars--it’s not. Go to an auto store and look for soaps made specifically for vehicles.

* Use a bucket to mix the soap with water and wash using a big mitt or large sponge. Remember to rinse the sponge/mitt it often to avoid scrubbing dirt and grime back into your car’s finish.

* Wash your car in the shade so that the car itself is cool and you won’t have the sun drying it faster than you can work, leaving spots.

* Start with the wheels, one at a time. Hose down one wheel and then spray on a wheel cleaner on the wheel AND rim. Using a brush scrub down all the dirt and mud. Rinse, and then move on to the next wheel. You’ll be surprised at how nice they look!

* Use a trigger nozzle on the end of the hose. If conserves water and will give a nice, even spray.

* Hose down the car, from top to bottom.

* Using your mitt or sponge, scrub the roof, in straight lines, from the innermost part out to the edges. Using a circular motion is not recommended. Rinse the hood.

* Next, do the sides in the same manner, using straight strokes from top to bottom. Remember to rinse the sponge or mitt frequently!

* After rinsing the sides, do the hood and the trunk.

* Be sure to pay special attention to the bumpers and fenders, especially in the front where bugs tend to accumulate. You’ll probably need extra elbow grease here!

* After these surface areas are finished, spray down the undercarriage to remove the dirt and mud buildup.

* Once the car is completely rinsed, you’ll want to use a clean, soft cloth to dry it. You’ll want to run it lightly over the surface of the car to smooth out the water droplets. Don’t try to rub out the water. You might need to use more than one cloth, depending on its size and the size of your vehicle.

* Waxing should be done according to the wax product’s dircetions, only after your car is completely dry. You should try to wax your car 3 or 4 times per year.

* For the interior, no vacuum works better than one at the do-it-your-self car wash, but if you don’t have access to one, start by shaking out all removable rugs and mats. Vacuum those outside the car and then move in to get what remins. Check our the auto store for cleansers to wash the dash and interior. Like the no-no on the dish soap, you’ll want to find something that works best on your specific interior. Be sure to read all labels and follow instructions exactly. Remember that the better you care for your car, the better you’ll feel driving it, and your resale value will be tremendously higher if you pay attention to cleaning.

COOKING TIPS

2007-08-30T00:08:00.001-07:00

Watermelons can be slices thinly, to expose high seed areas, from which seeds can easily be dropped down with a fruit fork or knife tip. Or cleverly handling a mixer for a few seconds, can separate seeds from fruit, like watermelon, custardapple, etc. The mixture when sieved will separate the seeds from the pulp.
Do not throw away decorative wrappings and boxes you get from diwali, and other festive occasions. Use the good ones to pack your preparations creatively and attractively, by just adding a few ribbons or flowers.
Never overheat butter if melted is required, or else it will curdle to turn to ghee, and will not give the same taste and texture as required in any recipe.
Dried peels of almonds, can be powdered fine, sieve and mixed with gramflour to use as a scrub. Mix 1 cup gramflour to 1 tbsp. Almond peel powder. Store in airtight container. For one bath, take on heaped tbsp. Mixture with 1 tsp. Curds or cream, scrub over body, instead of soap.
Take a teaspoonful of sesame seeds, just pop into mouth, chew on them, consume. This helps significant reduction in hairfall. But do not expect overnight results.
A good and fast way to skin charred or grilled veggies, is to place them inside a closed polythene bag for a few minutes, then remove and rub skin off easily.
Chop apples, pears, etc. into a bowl of chilled salted water, drain, pat on clean kitchen towel, to keep them from discolouring for a longer period.
Though salads taste best fresh and crunchy, one may prepare dressing ahead of time, and chop nondiscolouring or wasting ingredients, like oranges, sweetlimes, veggies, etc. hours ahead and finish off in a jiffy at the time required.
Chill whole those fruit which discolour, and then cut when required in recipe, so they are chilled yet not discolour.
Any leftover thick kheer may be further boiled to thicken more, oversweeten a bit, cool and set kulfi in kulfi moulds or icecube trays.
Just sprinkling three-four threads of saffron on the kheer,after pouring into individual bowls, makes all the difference, in the kheer looking rich and inviting.
Just bury a sweet potato which has 'eyelike' growths at nodes, in a pot of soil. Water regularly, and you have a lovely bright green creeper growing beautifully in your sill! Below the soil,small potatoes will be taking shape. Don't harvest your sweet potato, until after season is over, and the leaves tend to turn yellow and fall off.
To prevent falling hair - take a thick succulent leaf of the aloe plant. Make a slit on one side, lengthwise, fill the slit with 2 tsp. fenugreek seeds. Tie with twine, keep aside for 24 hours. Grind the leaf, the sprouted fenugreek inside, and 400 ml. coconut oil.together. Apply this mixture on hair and scalp overnight, tie with cloth. Wash off with mild shampoo or shikakai next day. Repeat every week for 6-8 weeks.
If preparation of kheer in advance is desired, then boil milk, add sugar, and complete the time consuming steps a few hours ahead of time. Heat milk, finish off additions and final steps just before serving.
When kheer is served in small earthen teacups available in many parts of India in many shapes, they give add a wonderful earthy preparation to the dish, as also make unique cups to serve in. They are small containers, marked by the absence of handles, since they do not heat due to the hot liquid poured in them.
Leftover kheer may be further boiled and used to make goodies like kulfi, rabdi, etc.Use the liquid part, by spooning out the rice/sago/vermicelli/etc. These may be ground to a paste in the mixie before adding back to the liquid.
For the calori-conscious, you may use lowfat, skimmed milk to make kheers, instead of wholemilk.
If fruit like peaches, apples, pear, pomegranate, etc. turn out to be sour, do not throw them away. Dice, add chaat masala, sugar, salt, pepper and toss, adding cucumber, coriander, if desired. Will transform into a tingling, and interestingly refreshing salad.
Place some camphor in your toolbox, to keep the tools from rusting.
Place a few empty toiled soap wrappers in you wardrobe: will give a pleasant aroma, ward off insects and avoid musty smell.
Add a pinch of salt to hot water, to retain its heat for a longer period.
Remove crayon marks by rubbing cigarette ash over them.
Dip incense sticks in baygon liquid spray and then light, when dried. Will keep away the mosquitoes.
Clean door and window screens with kerosene dipped cloth, to remove rust and even keep mosquitoes from sitting on them.
If making a variety of lebanese dishes, then it would do well to soak and boil a large amount of garbanzo beans. Pressurecook till they are soft to touch. This is approx. 5-6 whistles. Drain and refrigerate. Remove as and when required, washing with fresh water before adding to dish, or following in a recipe.
Coriander, parsley and other such strong smelling herbs must be refrigerated in plastic bags after wrapping in brownpaper or newsprint. This way, they will not get soggy or dry, and their aromas will not permeate into the fridge and other refrigerated items.
Place portable light citrus juicer over a folded hankie or other cloth to prevent from slipping and sliding all over.
Soak new brightly coloured clothes in half a bucket of water, to which half a cup of salt has been added and dissolved. Wring out after half an hour, without rinsing in other water. Dry, iron and use. Next time you wash these clothes, their colour will not fade soon, as also it will not bleed onto other fabrics.
Save a teaspoonful of urad dal while grinding for idli, before adding salt. Rub this dal between palms, apply on face and rub gently. Add a few drops of olive oil if desired. Keep for 5 minutes, wash Off with running tap water, dab dry. Leaves you face clean, and flowerfresh.
To give a spicy indianised taste to any bland (non-cream based) soup, add a dash of either malakapudi or andhrapudi, while it is being cooked.
Flavoured mayonnaise may be made by adding crushed dried desired herbs. Or even fresh, very finely chopped ones will do. But make sure to refrigerate always, and use of some fresh herbs will decrease the life of the mayonnaise.
Thin slices of brinjal, may be rubbed with salt and a dash of turmeric, the water which oozes discarded, and then dried on a mesh in hot direct sunlight till dry and brittle. These may be crushed an used in raithas or salads when brinjals are not in season.
Do not discard water drained from tied curds (whey). Use to either knead chappati dough for softer, tastier chappatis. Or dip an old toothbrush in this liquid and give your blackened silvers, like anklets, chains, rings, etc. After brushing, wash with a milk detergent solution, wipe dry. Your silvers will shine like new.
Try to store dishes like buttermilk, or its variations in ceramic, glass or earthen containers. This will keep them from souring fast, and will not taste rancid so quickly too. Pouring also becomes easier.
Run the inner side of muskmelon skin, over face and neck. Allow to dry and keep for 15-20 minutes. Wash off with cold tap water. It will leave your skin feeling fresh, clean and taut.
Excess tomato puree may be frozen in an icecube tray. Remove frozen cubes and store in a sealable freezer bag, using as and when required.
Always keep a glass of very hot water and a large flat knife ready, if required for finishing touches. When the knife is dipped in hot water, then the icing spreads very evenly and quickly.
When sprinkling coloured sugars, granules, etc., in a partial area of icing, first pipe a rough outline to work as a guide. Highlight outline after the sprinkling is over, by piping again exactly over it. This way your end result will be much more clean and accurate.
To store sugar paste animals/flowers, etc. place carefully in compartmentalised box with fitting lid, and refrigerated till required. This way the pieces won't get damaged due to one another.
Always brush the top and sides of cakes before starting to ice them, with a food brush. This way the crumbs won't get embedded in the icing while
Preferably make the cake previous night, soak with syrup or as per recipe, and ice it the next day, for a smoother, cleaner icing. Never ice a cake which has not cooled thoroughly, through and through.
Never overbeat mixture for muffins, biscuits, cookies, etc. as lumpy batters turn out better textured products. Always handle the batter gently. Make sure to sieve all dry ingredients together 2-3 times for better blending, and even softness.
Deepfried sweet like pineapple triangles, karanjia, choorma ladoo, etc., taste as good as fresh, if placed on a tissue paper in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.
Clean sheets of plastic should not be discarded after use. Soak in warm soap suds, wash with clean warm water, followed by cold water, drain, wipe dry and use as and when required.
If kitchen platform is too small to roll icehalwa, it would be more convenient to use the dining or other large table top for placing the sheets to roll.
To keep the cornflour paste melted, keep it near the stove, so it does not solidify in the process of using, since ghee tends to set very fast.
Fresh drumstick flowers and leaves may be used as an excellent garnish for curries, veggies, and even rices, etc. They can also be boiled in vegetables for vegetable stock to give an unusual flavour to soups, etc.
Veggies, kormas,curries, dals, etc. to which onions and garlic have not been added will keep good for much long hours. Also reheating veggies too many
Dry masala veggies like drumstick aloo sabzi can easily be converted to thin gravy curries, by adding enough water with the ground masalas to make a thinner curry, to be eaten with steamed rice, etc. But make sure to alter salt, and other spices as per resulting taste change.
Cheese will stay fresh longer if wrapped in clingfilm once seal is broken. Take care to refrigerate in the chiller tray section of the fridge, to keep if good for days.
Scrape, cut and store drumsticks in clean ziplock or freezer bags, make a few small holes, and the drumsticks will stay fresh for 8-10 days in the refrigerator.
Drumstick leaves were used for cleaning vessels in earlier days, mixed with very fine dryriverbed sand. The thick roots have medicinal value, and benoil: extracted from the drumstick seeds, is used in cosmetic and cooking purposes.
One may add bundled lemon grass leaves to give the tea a different zest. Make sure to reduce the quantity of ginger used, if adding lemon grass leaves.
Thai food is more authentic, when garnished with small flowers made of fresh chillies, spring onion, scallion flowers and crisp deepfried basil leaves, rather than just chopped coriander or mint leaves. Cheese are generally not used, except for grated tofu, that too sparingly as a garnish.
Lemon grass, peeled and chopped finely may be frozen in clean freezer bags for further use. Make sure to thaw properly, before adding to the dish.
Coat skewered veggies, beancurd chunks etc. with chilli flavoured oil, before roasting on a barbque, to give a better flavour and finish to the chunks and pieces.
A teeny bit of thai pastes of sauces added to regular dips and barbque marinades will enhance their flavours a great deal.
Warm dry spices ever so lightly, over a heated griddle, to lighten them so crushing is much easier and faster. Also the aromas exuded will be much richer.
Wear surgical gloves or use scissors to cut green or fresh chillies, since the oils in them tend to burn the hands long after cutting. So save tears by using scissors and gloves.
If you will be using apples a while after chopping, dip in some water to which salt and lemon juice have been added. Keep for 5 minutes, drain and keep in colander till required, to prevent from discolouring.
To get a smooth cream from top malai of milk, run in a small mixie for just 4-5 seconds, before chilling. This will give a smooth texture cream which may be used exactly like commercial fresh cream.
Mix extra pastry dough, to the breadcrumb stage, and store in airtight container in refrigerator. Use as and when required, for simple and quick results. Same dough may be used in a number of tarts, pies, cookies and puddings.
To get a neat finish of tart or pie moulds, always roll a wider round than the circumference of the mould, so that it will fit right to edge after pressing into the mould. Flute edge by pinching and lifting, to give a wave design if desired. But make sure you work on a cold surface, like marble, granite, etc.
Good apple peels can be included in a salad or eaten as is, since they are storehouses of vitamins and fibre.
Powder vermicelli or sago and roll patties or croquettes in this powder before frying, to get a crisp crunchy cover. At the same time, much less oil will be absorbed while frying.
Have an invigorating bath by finishing off with a bucketful of water to which 3 tbsp. of white vinegar, 2 tbsp. rose water and a few drops of your favourite flowery essence has been added. The vinegar makes skin supple and avoids the dryness and scaliness of skin.
Rub brinjals with a little salted oil after slicing to avoid discolouration.
Wash, grind and apply a mixture of drumstick leaves and jaggery as a poltice over wounds, and add a tsp. or so of turmeric if wound is septic, for quick and gentle healing of wounds.
To brown rice evenly while raw, wash, drain in a colander, keep aside for 10 minutes. Heat some Ghee in a pan, fry rice till it is first dry, then brown gently stirring. Proceed as required for recipe.
Grind a cupful of fried onions (fried to a light brown) to a paste and keep handy to add body and flavour to a dish, when you do not have time to chop onions for one.
Stuffed veggies like bittergourds and potatoes, etc. can be stored in freezer bags, and thawed as required. Make sure to thaw completely before proceeding to cook it. Or else it will crumble easily.
Any pickle will last much more longer if a little care is taken to avoid moisture contact at any stage, and jars, bowls, ingredients used, etc. are wiped dry with a clean dry kitchen cloth, which does not have lint fibres.
Strained fresh bittergourd juice is applied over wounds to heal quickly. Even a poltice of grated Bittergourd tied over the wound works wonders.
Juice extracted from raw grated bittergourd can be mixed with a helping of honey and Salt, and add some plain water. Drink this extract to rid of small home ailments and give A general feeling of goodwill.
Collect clean scrapings of bitter gourd. Tie in a thin clean muslin cloth and use as a facial and body loofah to scrub out dead cells.
Salads can be made very very decorative, by using normally discarded skins of apples, peas, cucumbers,etc.
Never discard nutritious skins of apples, when peeling. Eat them or add them to a chopped salad, raitha.
To get a light and better taste as a variation, dry roast ingredients like rice, dal, on low till aroma exudes. Then proceed as per recipe.
For a tasty nutty sandwich fillingin a hurry, mix together prepared green chutney, some tomato ketchup, mayonnaise, chopped onion and tomato, and a few crushed peanuts or walnuts.Butter slices apply mixture thickly inside, and your sandwich is ready. You cak refrigerate this mixture without onions and tomatoes, for almost a week.
When ginger, garlic, etc. are crushed in a mixie, it gets tedious try to remove all of it, from under the blade, etc. Once crushed and removed, run a little water in the mixie, and pour into the batter, The mixie will get cleaned as well as ingredients will be used economically. In case of fritters, use the cornwater itself.
Always handle messy mixtures like that of fudges, chocolates, etc. with hand dusted with cornflour, it will be much easier to handle.
Making a note of what you are going to make a few minutes before going to bed. That will save a lot of searching and fumbling and thinking and swearing, to begin the next day with.
Make many variations of basic recipes like chutney parathas, by adding ajwain/veggies/mint,etc. One may use red coconut chutney too. Just make sure, no chutney is running, but very stiff.
If one doesn't have an oven, then place a dosa griddle on gas, place a stand (metal) on it, put a metal mesh over stand and keep the dish over this, eg. stuffed potatoes. Cover with an inverted vessel, and allow to brown on slow fire. Or use a gas tandoor instead.
Open and clean the spring and insides of your gas lighter, every month, to make it last doubly longer. Just clean insides with a soft clean cloth and twig or skewer.
One may make pancake and other batter much ahead of time, but take care to add soda bicarb only before making. This way the pancakes will still turn out crisp and light.
Once a month soak all your plastic equipment like cutting board, tea strainers, colanders, etc. in a weak solution (50ml. to a 15 litre bucket of water) of domestic bleach and water for 1 or 2 hours. Then wash with a mild detergent and scrubber to be rid of accumulated dirt, food particles,etc.
One may save batter of dosas, idlis, paddus, etc. and make pankis as a variation from leftovers. Or vice versa. Take care to refrigerate the batter before it becomes sour, and also place a piece of banana leaf in the base of vessel before pouring batter, and on top of it. This will keep it from getting sour.
Usually greens contain some amount of soil and have to be washed thoroughly before cooking. Put chopped leaves in plenty of water, keep for 5 minutes, allowing the mud to settle at the bottom. Then with open palm lift out all the leaves from the top of the water. Gradually pour out leftover greens into a colander, to let the water drain. Take care not to disturb the muddly deposit at the bottom of the vessel.
Leftover fried snacks like kothmir vadi, or moothiyas can be crumbled and used as a thickener. For spicy gravies. 2-3 pieces will suffice to thicken about 3 cups gravy.
If you have boiled spinach etc. in excess water, do not throw away this liquid so full of health.Just stir in some salt or sugar and drink up, to you well being. Make this a habit, and drink up the vitamins and minerals, with a smile!
Leftover spring onion vegetable, can be further cooked to dry out water, or add a tsp. of flour to absorb water. Then place on a piece of bread, cover with another slice, and toast in a sandwich toaster o a griller, to make a sandwich.
Chop stalks of greens like spinach, radish, beetroot, etc. along with leaf, if still tender. They not only add body to the dish, they also have a wonderful additional flavour and lots of fibre.
Whenever adding tempering to any dish, which required chopped/whole green chillies, hold the chillies down with the back of a spoon, or else they may splutter or burst dangerously.
The soft chenna ( or residue of drained freshly curdled milk) can be used as an excellent thickener in many dishes. It can also make milder any extra spicy vegetable of dish.
When using fenugreek leaves raw, try to purchase the small leaves, thinner stalked variety.The hybrid thick stalked and larger leaved, big bunches tend to be more bitter than the former.
Always use citric acid dissolved (1/2 tsp. in 175ml water) in water to add to milk, this will make the paneer softer; if too little water is used the paneer will be hard and rubbery.
Use the drained water in which channa was boiled as stock in soups or instead of water in veggies.
To soak channa better in cold seasons, add 3-4 pinches fruit salt or eno to it, when soaking, to a cup of channa.
Channa can be used as a base for stuffings, instead of potatoes, for those who do not eat, eg.jains.
Place a couple of bayleaves with channa to give it a better flavour after cooking.
Flatten excess boiled channa with a mallet or pestle, sundry till brittle. Store in airtight glass jar. Deepfry in hot oil when required, to use as an accompaniment with soups or salads.
Allowing a kid too many options confuses him. Don't ask him what he likes or doesn't like. Give him something which will catch his attention and taste, in the first place! Keeping the phrase "don't like" out of his food vocabulary is the parents' task, and once achieved will simplify so much of food eating habits and truama in later years.
Hold kiddie surprises: For example tie a chappati into a pouch with a stuffed baby potato half inside. Tie using a stem of spring onion as a string!
Involve the kid in safe jobs like mixing batter, folding paper napkin to be used, etc. so that he/she get a feeling of having made part of the meal and have more interest in it, and is fun too, for both parent and child. Besides the kid is under your eyes, and not in some other part of the house, pulling down an an objectd - art or stuffing from a curious sofa or chair!
Use the hard skins of pistachios to make handicraft items for decoration, like photoframes, tablelamps, facetissue holders, napkin holders, mirror edges, table tops, and many more, with other trinkles like shells, pebbles,etc. Varnish or paint as desired, and they will last a long long time.
If you have some batter of each coloured pancake leftover, you can make a multicoloured pancake too!!
Using a cloth below and above a pile of chappatis, kept in a closed container, will keep them form `sweating' and getting soggy, as well as keep them from becoming too dry, also.
Dry almond peels, grind to a fine powder, include in any homemade facepacks, to rejuvenate skin, and make the pack more effective.
Grind pumpkin seeds and mushy centre to a fine paste in mixie, add curds and some orangepeel powder, make a paste and apply a soothing, refreshing face pack.
To help simplify cleaning jobs on diwali, discard what you have not used in a year, use what you had bought last year, and is still new. Buy only that which is over, but you know you will require soon.Otherwise DONOT shop just for the heck of it, or that its diwali!!!
Soak stained teacups by pouring in some water in which some black vinegar and salt (1/2 cup to a litre, and 1 tsp.) have been dissolved for 30 minutes. Then scrub lightly,wash off with a mild soapy solution and clean water.
Scrub bathroom walls with a scrubber filled in vinegar and soap, then wipe with a cloth dipped in a solution of vinegar and water 100 ml. to 1 litre water.
Hard gulab jamoons will soften by pressure cooking briefly, less than one whistle is fine.
Cover pudding containers kept in freeezer compartments with cling film or pastic sheet, to protect from water, and crystal formation in the dish.
Powdered dry poha may be used for coating cutlets, croquettes, etc. before frying to give a wonderfully crisp crust.
Dump together all leftover pizza gravy, au gratin, with some baked beans, and any adjusted flavouring of garlic, ginger, chillies, salt, as desired. Heat to blend well. Scour insides of plain buns, make crumbs of the insides, mix in mixture. Fill this into hollowbuns, put back top and sprinkle cheese, grill till cheese melts, serve hot.
Pep up salads, by sprinkling some crushed ganthias, sev, golgappa puris or even papdi over the salad just before serving and toss. It will give a crunchiness to the salad.
Crush excess katlis in a dry mixer, and refrigerate crumbs in a tight lidded jar. Add a tablespoonful to gravy vegetables to give a mughlai touch to the vegetable.
Use water in which vegetables are boiled to make soups, doughs, etc. instead of wasting this Nutrient rich liquid.
Making a note of what you are going to make a few minutes before going to bed. That will save a lot of searching and fumbling and thinking and swearing, to begin the next day with.
Make many variations of basic recipes like chutney parathas, by adding ajwain/veggies/mint,etc. One may use red coconut chutney too. Just make sure, no chutney is running, but very stiff.
If one doesn't have an oven, then place a dosa griddle on gas, place a stand (metal) on it, put a metal mesh over stand and keep the dish over this, eg. stuffed potatoes. Cover with an inverted vessel, and allow to brown on slow fire. Or use a gas tandoor instead.
Add a couple of chopped basil leave to your morning cup of tea or milk, for relief from dry or Phlegmatic cough. Regular use is also very good for general well being.
Make crumbs of day old chapathis, dry for 2-3 hours in a wide plate, bottle and refrigerate. Use later like breadcrumbs or as required, will keep for 4-5 days in refrigerator.
Open and clean the spring and insides of your gas lighter, every month, to make it last doubly longer. Just clean insides with a soft clean cloth and twig or skewer.
One may cut and keep vegetables like cabbage, beans, carrots, etc. previous night for an early meal next day. But put them in a bowl, not tightly packed, and slip the bowl into a polythene bag, knotting the mouth loosely. This way the chopped vegetables will stay crisp and fresh till used.
Keep a little powdered cashew handy in a bottle to thicken gravies, milk, etc. in a hurry.
Add leftover of overly old chutneys etc. to vegetable dishes to enhance their flavour, instead of discarding it after waiting for it to get bad.
Instant noodles, when crushed and deepfried, make an excellent topping for soups, salads, etc.
Supplement every meal with a fruit at the end, this will fill up gaps in appetite as well as provide Fibre and nutrition to each meal. Vary fruit as per season, so your body's multiple nutrition requirement will be fulfilled.
Store banana leaves like a roll, wrapped in a moist muslin cloth, then placed in a polythene bag. They will stay fresh for a week, if refrigerated this way.
The peel of unpeeled bananas will turn black on steaming, but the bananas inside will acquire a light honey colour.
Warm cardamom pods very lightly, cool and deseed. These seeds will powder more easily.
Bake any leftover spicy pinapple with alternate layer of noodles, white sauce and pineapple, to make a wonderful baked casserole.
Curry leaves may be liberally added to seasoning of most dishes, since this is a very asian flavour adding an aroma to any dish.
Use old shaving brush to clean out bamboo steamers, but brush in the crevices. Any food particles will come loose easily.
Do not throw away discarded cucumber seeds. Either apply on eyes to sooth tired eyes for 15 minutes, or grind to a fine paste, combine with gramflour, honey and rose water, and apply as a pack.
To clean burnt woks with ease, boil a few onions peels in them. Scrub with a solution of vinegar and salt. Follow with a scouring powder or detergent.
To remove skins of roasted peanuts easily, put into a clean cloth bag, tie the mouth. Rub the nuts in the bag from the top, and jingle the bag a few times, repeating the rubbing. Empty contents in a large plate, blow away the skins. To crush peanuts easily - Roll either a filled glass bottle, or heavy rolling pin, or cylindrical grinding stone over it back and forth, on the nuts in the bag as above.
Rub chopping board and knives with lemon halves dipped in salt, to clean, after chopping large amounts of chillies, to avoid its flavour creeping into other things cut on the board. Follow with a regular washing with scrubber and soap.
Always defrost your fridge and then put the setting to maximum half an hour before placing in the icecream for setting it, to get best results. If it is not a frostfree refrigerator, then wipe out all the defrosted moisture before placing the freezer trays.
Always soften the puddings a bit by removing from freezer to refrigerator 15-20 minutes before serving.
Apply a poltice of sitaphal flesh and some ground leaves of the same plant (if available) over wounds or absesses for quick relief. Tie the poltice in place with a clean cloth bandage.
Always beat cream gently with small upward strokes. Never overbeat, because the damage isIrreversible, the texture will not be the same again. Overbeating will turn it to butter at best.
Use ground sugar to make thick shakes etc. so that the sugar dissolves quickly and completely in The cold milk.
Use glass bowls for chilling fruit rabdis in the fridge, they will not discolour.
Cover freezer trays with a sheet of plastic held in place with a large rubber band to avoid crystal formation in the icecream
Mix flour and salt in leftover chawli or other dry sabzi after mashing it. Knead into dough, and make soft tasty masala rotis of the same.
For those beans requiring soaking overnight, eg. Kidney beans, soya beans, one may add (2-3 pinches to a cup of dry beans) soda bicarb to the beans and water, while pressurecooking. This way they will cook faster and soften to the core.
After boiling moong, matki, chawli, etc. check for any hard ones by straining them into a colander in a rotatory slow motion, wherein the hard, heavy ones will stay at the bottom of your pouring container. These may, if included in the dish, harm you teeth filling and cavities, if inadvertantly bitten.
Use a salt shaker filled with wheat flour to sprinkle over dishes, while cooking. When stirred it won't become lumpy. This is used to thicken watery gravies.
Never mix tea and milk strainers. The residual smell of tea will creep into milk. The strainer will also stain, with tea. To clean stains from plastic nylon strainers, however, dip in a very weak solution (20 ml. to 5 litres ) of water and cleaning acid. Wash with soap and brush after 2 hours. Do not use this method for metal strainer, as the acid will corrode the strainer.
For those who co not mind the calories, and like malai, can top hot milk of any type with a dollop of malai. It enhances the taste of your hot cup of whatever milk, with taste and richness.
Slide clean poybags into jars for storing drinking chocolate, cocoa, icing sugar and such items. Line the jar, keep top edge out of jar. Pour contents from refill pack, twist mouth of polybag, screw lid tightly. This will keep the contents from becoming soggy or lumpy. Also always use very dry spoons while removing.
Rinse milk bags with a small amount of warm water before giving away to recycling. Add this back to the milk, there is no harm. Hang dry the bags, too. This will keep not only your storing space (for the bags) hygenic, it help environment and community eventually. Soiled bags encourage mosquitoes, bad smells, and finally disease.
A recipe to fresh ready to serve rotis is: Roast the Roti, apply a little butter and wrap it in a Bounty Paper. When serving just put it in the microwave for 30 sec. with the wrapping. And the rotis will taste like freshly cooked rotis. - rdewan@hpchaiux.corp.hp.com
To keep sweets especially Burfis as fresh as ever: Store then in a stainless Steel airtight container and put a wet muslin cloth over them. This way the sweets will be fresh for atleast 2 weeks - rdewan@hpchaiux.corp.hp.com
For a hot healing cuppa: Add 1/4 tsp. turmeric powder and 1/2 tsp. sugar to 100 ml. boiling hot milk. Stir till well blended, drink up first thing in the morning and last thing in the night. A great cure for monsoon related fevers, coughs, colds, chest congestion, etc. Take for at least 5-6 days, for full results.
Swirl a few gulps of chilled milk in the mouth, and then swallow, if you have burnt your tongue or mouth while eating something too hot. This will give instant relief from the burning sensation.Repeat a couple of times every 15 minutes of so, if burning persists.
Store milk mixture to be beaten at a later stage, in tall, firm containers, which allow the handblender to move freely inisde. This will reduce the number of containers to be used, as well as the container to be beaten in, is very cold, and the shake won't warm.
If pouring out colours,etc. turns out to be a messy job, use a clean ink dropper, used only for this purpose. Wash clean before changing essence or colour.
Rub a mixture of 1 tsp. each of milk top cream and lemon juice, all over face and neck. Wash off after 10 minutes. Use regularly to rid skin of blemishes, blackheads, and other such problems.
To avoid a layer form on any thick liquid preparation while cooling (for eg. Basundi, tamarind chutney, custard etc.),spinkle some granules of sugar over the surface of the dish.
Lightly roast garlic flakes, rub between the folds of a piece of cloth. The skins will come off easily.
Pine nuts may be roasted prior in large quantity, if used often, and packed in a freezer proof bag. These can be kept in the freezer for months without losing flavour. Do not allow moisture to touch nuts.
One may marinate the vegetables prior in some vinegar, garlic and chilli if desired. This will give a more piquant taste to the stew.
Add a tbsp. of honey to a cup of whipping cream to keep it better in the refrigerator.
Do not discard leftover mojo sauce. Add as a seasoning to clear and tomato or other similar soups.
Add a few drops of lemon juice to rice, while it is cooking. This will keep the grain from breaking easily.
To clean a paellera pan or other nonstick pan easily, without scraping, dump a few onion peels in it, add 1 tsp. vinegar, and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, cover and leave aside for 10 minutes, wash pan all over with this liquid, then wash with a mild detergent and sponge. Wipe clean and dry.
Add lemon peel to a jar of castor sugar and close lid tightly. The sugar will have a beautiful mild lemony taste and smell to be used in pastries, cakes, puddings, etc.
If just a few drops of lemon juice are required do not cut whole lemon. Roll lemon on a hard surface to soften the skin, prick a hole with a cocktail or skewer. Press out required drops. Leave a toothpick in the hole or wrap it in a piece of foil. This will keep it from drying out.
Put lemons in a glass jar, fill it with water, screw lid tight. Refrigerate. Change water every 3rd day. Lemons stored this way will keep good for almost a month.
Soak squeezed lemon peels and some mint leaves in a mug of hot water for at least 1 hour. Squeeze out the peels and leaves, add water to remaining bath water for a refreshing bath.
If the lemon seems to dry out, or the skin is too stiff, either soak in hot water for 10 minutes or microwave for 30 seconds, before cutting. You will be able to extract maximum juice this way.
Peel long strips of lemon with knife, pith and all, hang to dry, use in a bouquet garni.
Squeezed out, lemon can be used to rub the hands, nails, and fingers. Rub till peel and hands turn dry. Wash after 15 minutes. Best done leisurely, while relaxing as in watching TV, etc.
Lemon and orange peels, dried and powdered and mixed with gram flour can be used as an excellent exfoliant. When required add 1 tsp. curds to 1 tbsp. flour mixture. Rub face gently with mixture for 5 minutes, wash with ordinary tap water for a clean, clean, feel. This can also be used as a bath scrub for body, daily.
Lemon juice when added to fruit like apples, bananas after cutting, and tossed lightly will prevent them from turning blackish immediately. This job can be simplified by using a small spray bottle spray the fruit.
A tsp. lemon juice, mixed with 1 tsp. honey, 1 tsp. ginger juice, will reduce phlegmatic cough.
A slice of cut lemon rubbed immediately over a paan stain, and then washed, will leave the fabric free of all traces of the stain.
A glass of warm water, to which the juice of 1 lemon, and a tsp. of honey has been added, help in weight loss if taken first thing in the morning, regularly.
Choose the smaller, flat, thin skinned tomatoes, for making sauces. They will not only give better quality sauce, flavour will also be better. Even the residue to get puree will be much lesser.
To ease the pouring of sauces in narrow necked bottles, use a funnel, holding it just above the top, stem inside, but not resting on the bottle. This way the air inside the bottle will easily pass out, while the suace is flowing in. It will not cause blockages and choking of the funnel. If bottom of funnel stem is so narrow as to block flow, snip off a small portion.
Use a pair of kitchen scissors to chop chillies, etc. fine. It will keep hands from burning, and the job is done much faster too.
Always take care to cover vessel with a loose lid, while boiling chillies, garlic and other such pungent condiments. The smell tends to permeate the house. Keep the kitchen exhaust on and windows wide open, as an added precaution.
People with kidney problems and other digestive system ailments should use products with preservatives, high salt content, and tomatoes sparingly. Such persons can make sauces in small quantities without preservatives and enjoy them too.
If large quantities are prepared, or more varieties are prepared, then sterilise a big batch of jars and keep ready in a large sterilised steel container or sealed (with sticking tape) clean thermocol box.
Always rinse containers in which sauces have been made, with some vinegar and hot water, to alleviate the sauce odours before using for another dish.
Place jam and other preserve jars in cupboards where air can circulate around, as also no moisture leaks into jams. If caps are also screwtight and airtight, there there is no reason you preserves should go bad for months. Also while place them there, line shelf with newspaper under which anti-insect powder has been sprinkled. This way ants,etc. will not find their way to your sweet delights.!
Wash ring bag, with contents intact, under running water to clean out completely. Then add it to your hot tub and bubble bath, run in contents in water, using sachet as a scrubber and letting lemony flavours into you bath water for invigorating and fresh feeling.
Instead of discarding extra roses from bouquets dry them and prepare a bouquet garni, a pot pourri of fragrance in a net sachet. Or dry, grind and mix powder with gramflour, store in a jar. For a refreshing bath scrub, to 1 tsp. mixture, add 1 tsp. curds, 1/2 tsp.honey. Scrub and wash. Use daily for a glowing skin.
An easy way to scrape out pith from the insides of citrus fruit peels, is to use the blunt side of a knife. To peel fruit segments of oranges, etc. easily, pop into hot water and immediately into cold cold water. The skins will come off easily.
Always powder citric acid crystals before adding to any preserve or murabba, etc. It will blend into the recipe much better and faster.
To preserve amla murabba better, tilt jar around each day, to keep all amla coated with syrup. This way the upper ones won't dry out.
Always crush icecubes well before putting under an electrical hand mixer for Blending. Using whole cubes, can result in the mixer head breaking and flying To pieces.
Soak stiff starchy new cottons in a solution of 1/2 cup milk to 7 water. Soak for at least 1 or 2 hours. Wash off with regular detergents. This will soften the cloth removing undesired stiffness of the starch.
Dry almond skins in sun till brittle. Powder, mix with gram flour, turmeric and store. Add curds and honey to a Tablespoonful of mixture and use to rub skin clean while bathing. Making and excellent cleaning agent for the Body and face.
Always store aamras and other such mango dishes in non-metal containers before serving. The ras may discolour in other metal containers.
Try recipes of mangoes with different varieties, to get a variation in flavours, taste as well as colour, since they range from pale yellow (malgoba) to the deep orange (kesari and dusseri) varieties.
Ripen raw mangoes in cardboard boxes lined with old newspapers and layered with dry straw. This way it is easier to pile the fruit without spoiling as well as they will ripen faster and more evenly.
Heat used lemon peels in heavy iron skillets with some water and salt. Cover and allow to stand for an hour, before scouring gently with a soft steel scrubber and some dishwashinh soap. The skillet will come out very clean.
Wrap half cut raw mangoes in clingfilm before storing in refrigerator. The mango will stay fresh longer as also its odour will not permeate other products like milk and desserts.
Boil peelings of raw mango, in containers like pressure cookers, aluminium skillets, etc. to make them come out clean and shiny.
One way to test if the mango is rip enough to cut, is to smell the point where the mango was attached to the tree. Nip off any remaining stalk, smell. If the mango is right, it will exude a luscious sweet fragrant aroma.
If you have excessive stock of green chillies, do not waste them. Boil in hot salted water, till white. Drain and sun dry till brittle. Crush or store whole and use as required in any dish requiring chillies, without Changing the colour of the dish.
To prevent lumps while adding flour to any liquids, eg. Water, buttermilk,etc. first mix the flour in a little bit of the Liquid to form a smooth paste. Add this to the remaining liquid and stir well.
Do not throw away Starch water strained from boiled rice. Use either to starch your dupattas and other clothes, as also to knead dough, in soups, or to make more rice.
Pour a little water (about 1 cup for a 3 litre vessel) in vessel in which you would boil milk. Then, pour in the milk. Heat container and bring milk to boil, without stirring. This way the milk will not scald at the bottom of the Container. Take care to rinse vessel with clean water before using.
Instead of folding and hanging delicate organzas and tissue sarees, request you dhobi to roll them on a textile roll Wooden stick. This way they will not cut or tear at the folded creases for long unused sarees.
Try applying salt on the greased part of the non stick vessels and then try cleaning them it works easier and faster. - Deepa
Avoid cooking sour dishes (like tamirind based dishes) in non stick pans coz the sourness will remove coating faster. - Deepa
If oil is by chance spilt on the non stick vessel while making dosa or chapatti then wipe it immediately using a paper napkin before it can settle on the edges of the non stick pan. - Deepa
Never store pastes in open bowls or jars. The smell will permeate milk, butter, cheese, veggies, Fruit, other dishes and even icecubes, and the damage will be irreversible. This is because of High content of garlic in many pastes.
Never make a paste of raw onions if you want to keep it for any amount of time. It will turn Bitter. Always fry them in a little oil, and then grind.
Grind thick masala pastes on a stone grinder if possible. Since you would be using lesser water. The taste and texture would also be much better.
Chop chillies, etc. either with a steel knife or steel scissors. Do not use iron knives, etc. since the Pastes will tend to turn blackish later on.
Always wear plastic gloves or slip hands into 2 transparent plastic bags while handling and Cutting chillies, to avoid hands from burning sensations.
Tamarind tends to get very thick on grinding. So save some water to add to the last churning, or To run in mixie, after having emptied it by inverting into container. The stuck paste will dilute Easily, when machine is run for a few seconds. Therefore cleaning is simplified and wastage Minimised.
While making dosas or chapattis pour oil 1 inch inside the outer border of the dosa or chapatti so that the oil does not flow out and spoil the non stick coating. - Deepa
To roast large brinjals on an electric stove top, slice vertically into half right through the stem. Make shallow criss-cross cuts on the cut surface, then apply a light film of oil on all surfaces. Roast both halves together on medium heat (turning now and then) for about 20 minutes. Then raise to high heat and roast for a few more minutes, till soft and limp and both sides are black. Cool thoroughly, then carefully peel the skins off both sides.(Wipe over with damp fingers to clean). Mash and use as required. - arunrao@one.net.au
Rub slices of onion on dosa tawa (griddle) before spreading dosas. This will avoid the dosa from stubbornly sticking to the griddle or tawa.
Rub cut onion on insides of a new kadai or saucepan, and heat a little. Then pour oil and proceed. The pan will not burn contents easily. You need not do this for used pans.
To chop onions without tears, slit a clean transparent plastic bag from base, so that both sides are open. Place board, and hands inside this and chop onions with the bag forming a loose out casing.
Peel onions easily by dropping them into boiling water and covering. 3 minutes for small varieties, and 5 minutes for the large varieties. Cut a small cross in the root base for larger ones, to prevent from bursting in the water.
Rub chopping board with a slice of lemon vigorously, after cutting onions, garlic, etc. This will ensure that all odours of such vegetables is rid, then wash thoroughly with washing soap.
To give abetter flavour to pureed onion, pierce onion with a long fork. Roast over direct flame turning all around, till out 2 layers are burnt. Wash burnt layers under running water, chop and puree onion.
To serve piping hot fresh biryani, pulaos, or rices, you can prepare completely, upto the stage when cooker is closed and whistles have to be counted after putting on heat. This stage can be done just a half hour before sitting to a meal, so that the cooker is done, as well as cooled enough to open and serve, in time.
Wherever brinjals are required to be griddled, fried, or burnt, one can butter it up and cook it in the microwave too. Though a little different in texture, it will be equally good in taste.
Keep pan in which any vegetables are cooked, covered, after taking off fire, aside, for a few minutes. This will help the vegetable absorb the juices in. This also allow the hot vessel to blend the flavours slowly, to make the vegtable better, generally.
Place teabags soaked in chilled water over closed eyes to relieve tired and strained eyes. Regular use will bring the sparkle and smile back to your eyes.
Freeze puree of grilled and mashed brinjals, and add to gravy vegetables to add that typical brinjal flavour or even thicken a gravy, in a jiffy. Add a little salt, lemon juice and turmeric to the puree before freezing.
Always keep slit or chopped brinjals in salted water, till required. Remove and use as per recipe, when required. This will keep them from turning black, which happens when they are kept otherwise, in a matter of minutes.
Always garnish a dish just before it is ready to serve. If you are preparing any vegtable few hours ahead, then reheat and refresh before pouring into serving dish. Then garnish to give that attractive just-made look and taste.
Add a lemon and onion to the vessel in which potatoes are boiled, add some water and boil a few minutes. Drain and wash with dishwashing soap. Will keep the vessel from discolouring.
Keep grated potatoes in cold water to keep them from discolouring, till used. When required, drain, press out excess water, and dab on a clean kitchen towel. Use immediately.
Place cotton pads soaked in potato juice (grated and extracted from raw potato) over eyes, to remove puffiness. Regular use will reduce dark circles from under eyes.
Smash half a boiled potato, add a bit of water, and convert to a smooth paste (use a small mixie for convenience) and add to any soup to thicken and add body, if you have run out of cornflour.
Keep silvers immersed in water in which potatoes were boiled. Remove after an hour and wash regularly with soap. Will come out sparkling like new.
Put tiny pieces of nonglossy newpaper into stale smelling bottle with narrow necks. Pour 1/3 full of detergent and water mixture. Soak for 2-3 hours. Shake well and wash clean with a bottle brush. The smell would have vanished!
Use a thick firm bayleaf to spread the batter, instead of the back of a spoon, to give that milk Sweetsmelling flavour of bay leaves.
To refesh old ladoos, place in a microwave for 30 seconds. The ladoo will taste as good and fresh as just made.
Always plan your lunches or dinners, even regular ones ahead. A little time spent on that is worth a lot saved through haphazard planning, searching for ingredients you have and don't have, and even simulating dishes to work on more than one dish. This was you save a lot, lot more time than you spend on planning ahead. It will in the long run, help reduce your stress, keep you enough time and energy for other things and hobbies, and generally keep you smiling.
Always add a teaspoon (at least, if recipe does not call for more) of wheat flour to the fat while popping gum crystals, to ensure their even popping of the crystals. They will also not stick together.
Roast saffron very slightly before crushing into milk or water, for better absorption and colour.
Dip fingers in warm olive oil every alternate day for 7-8 minutes. Remove and rub the oil that stays over till the hands absorb it. Reuse the same oil cup to keep fingers and hands soft and free from winter dryness.
Wash hands and feet before sleeping. Apply petroleum jelly generously. Wear woollen or cotton socks and mittens. This will not only keep you warm and decrease chances of catching colds, it will keep your hands and feet, soft and supple through the winter.
If you are economizing, thoroughly wash used shampoo bottle with lid and pourer to dispense phenyl, detergent, oil and even liquid soap easily and without any waste.
Soak brass or silver items in water drained from curdled milk. Allow to soak in the hot water for 10 minutes. Remove and wash with regular washing soap. They will sparkle like new.
One tsp. soyaflour, with 3-4 pinches salt, 1/2 tsp. cream and 1/2 tsp. olive oil, mixed together and rubbed gently on skin make an excellent exfoliator for skin. Apply on face, rub with slow gentle strokes till you feel the skin tingling. Wash off with running water, and dab dry with soft towel.
Use leftover salads in making a nice hot pulao. Steam rice, add a few spices, masalas, salad, cheese if desired, salt and toss well. Cover and simmer till very hot.
Put tiny pieces of nonglossy newpaper into stale smelling bottle with narrow necks. Pour 1/3 full of detergent and water mixture. Soak for 2-3 hours. Shake well and wash clean with a bottle brush. The smell would have vanished!
Addition of lemon juice to dals and leafy vegetables make them more compatible for absorbing Nutrients by the body.
Never add pineapple as is, to jellies, etc. since it will not set well and taste bitter too. Always Boil in a little sweetened water, and drain, or use canned fruit (if you must).
Use a wooden spatula to stir dishes like halwa, etc. while cooking, to avoid scratching of Utensils, and ease on the hands too.
If you are economizing, thoroughly wash used shampoo bottle with lid and pourer to dispense phenyl, detergent, oil and even liquid soap easily and without any waste.
Soak brass or silver items in water drained from curdled milk. Allow to soak in the hot water for 10 minutes. Remove and wash with regular washing soap. They will sparkle like new.
One tsp. soyaflour, with 3-4 pinches salt, 1/2 tsp. cream and 1/2 tsp. olive oil, mixed together and rubbed gently on skin make an excellent exfoliator for skin. Apply on face, rub with slow gentle strokes till you feel the skin tingling. Wash off with running water, and dab dry with soft towel.
Use leftover salads in making a nice hot pulao. Steam rice, add a few spices, masalas, salad, cheese if desired, salt and toss well. Cover and simmer till very hot.
To crush chillies fine, run in a small electric grinder with a pinch of salt. This will Remove with a rubber spatula. This will save a lot of time on chopping, as also it will Keep the hands safe from handling chillies. Even one or two chillies can be done Easily this way.
To get rid of ants, apply a solution of tobacco and water, to the cracks, holes, and grooves Where the ants are coming from.
Make a smooth paste of fresh tender green gram (1 tsp.), curds (2 tsp.), turmeric (2-3 pinches) spread smoothly over face. Wash after 15-20 minutes for that fresh cool feeling.
Shell very fresh tender green gram, fill into freezer bags, remove trapped air, freeze. The gram will be fresh for 2-3 weeks. Thaw to room temperature before using.
If a grater is not handy, cut ginger or garlic into small bits. Crush with the back of a steel or wooden ladle. It will easily crush.
To quicken the process of making any vegetable where the vegetable needs to be cooked for long, wash, drain sprinkle a little salt, and microwave covered, till done. Simultaneously, proceed on stove, to make the remaining recipe. Add the microwaved vegetable and finish off cooking. This way, the vegetable is cooked with minimum water, in its own juices, and reduces cooking time considerably. But take care to add lesser water to masala, since the vegetable will not be cooked for so long.
To make last minute cooking faster, roast the parathas, without oil, cool a little, then pile, cover with cloth and keep aside. When and as required, heat griddle, proceed with the shallow frying stage, and finish off. Serve them sizzling hot and crisp, yet fast!!!
Rub slices of fresh cut raw potato over mud stains, allow to dry, then wash with detergent to remove effectively.
Scrub iron griddle with a piece of silver warpping sheet of medicines. When rubbed with this along with the regular soap, the burnt and scarred remains will come off easily.
Keep rolled puries in the fridge,for 10 minutes. It will consume less oil,and puries will crisper.Before frying onions soak them in milk for 10 minutes.The onions will fry fast and have a uniform colour and will be more crisper. Store chapathi dough after applying some milk ,it will not turn black. - K Rama S Rau (Trichur, Kerala)
Remove lipstick stains from fabrics, by first rubbing with Vaseline. Then sponge with soap suds and wash with warm water.
Place chopped veggies for salads in a large bowl of icecold water, before preparing salad, to give that fresh, crisp, crunchy feel.
Remove grease stains: Put a few drops of methylated spirit on cottonwool and rub stain. If fresh, keep stained portion between layers of blotting paper, and rub gentlyl with hot iron, so it absorbs the grease. Then wash with warm soapy water.
Sprinkle a couple of pinches of cocoa powder over the frothy top of a cup of Coffee for that extra flavour and garnish
Remove coffee stains from fabrics, sponge stained area with borax solution, And wash off with warm soap suds. If stain is old and dried, loosen first with Glycerine solution.
For fresh ghee take a slab of unsalted butter place in a heavy bottomed pan and mlet on very slow flame. Remove the froth as it forms with a slotted spoon. Dont the let it burn. When the oil is clear and stops frothing add a few methi (fenugreek) seeds to it and switch off the flame. -Anjali
To make soft puris and chappatis, the dough should be mixed properly and rested for atleast 20 minutes. Measure 1 cup atta to 1/2 cup boiling water. In a shallow dish, pour 1/2 cup water and 2-3 drops of oil and salt to taste.. Sprinkle the atta over it, stirring gently with the end of a ladle or serving spoon, till a mass is formed. After a minute, knead with your hand to make a soft ball. Cover for 20 minutes, then use as required. - Arun Rao
Chicken becomes especially tender if you marinate it for and hour in curd (raw yoghurt) mized in with some of whtever spices your recipe calls for and salt. Half teaspoon of sugar is also an excellent tenderiser. -Alison
Dear friends, When many chapatis are left over you can turn it into a very tasty dish.Crumble the chapatis into fine pieces by putting it in the dry grinder.Heat oil as required depending on the no of chapatis left.add mustard seds hing haldipowder and groundnuts.Then add onions thathave been sliced lengthwise.Add the crumbled chapatis, salt and chillipowder to taste.Mi x properly for a few minutes and remove from fire.Sprinkle a few drops of lemon juice and coriander leaves finely chopped./serve hot. - Sanjita Sathe
Use, if possible earthenware vessels to enhance the flavour of Rajasthani dals and curries.
If frying almonds, cashews, etc. at the same time, first fry the cashews, then almonds, as the Almonds will discolour the frying medium.
To fry chillies safely, especially when deep frying, lower them in the oil in slotted spoon, and Hold them down, with the back of another flat wide spoon.
For easier rolling of masala rotis, parathas, etc. which tend to stick to you wooden rolling board, Slip board into a clean smooth plastic bag and pull tight over surface.
Line the bottom of sink with a thin sheet of sponge or thick towel, while washing delicate and Costly glassware and crockery. This will avoid any drastic mishaps of breakage.
To get bushy eye brows, apply hair conditioner to eye brows at night everyday and leave overnight washoff in the morning. The nutrients in the conditioner work wonders. - By Shatish Patel
To cut any rolled rounds in desired shapes use a pizza cutter instead of a knife. You will get A better finish, and the round will not crease or pull with the knife.
Pin a 4" x 4" square plastic near your dresser, or bathroom to hold your bindis while not in use. This way your dresser furniture and bathroom mirror will be free of bindi gum, left behind after Removing bindi from there. Replace plastic after it gets gummy enough!!
If frying oil tends foam, add a small ball of tamarind to it, and the foaming will gradually stop.
Whenever we buy vermicelli or sooji, before storing if we fry them until it turns light brown colour, it can last longer. And whenever we want to cook them, it will be instantly ready to cook and less time cosuming. - By Raji (Singapore)

If short of space, wash machine dry curtains and hang them in their place without drying on a clothesline. They will solve your problem of an overcrowded clothesline and will reduce on step of the job. Pull them end to end to spread them fully and let the air dry them.
If you find it hard to make diwali rangoli designs with hand, use a small nozzled funnel, control the flow of the filled rangoli with thumb or middle finger, and make desired designs easily. Do not use pure colours without rangoli in this way because they will not fall through easily.
Grind slightly warmed and cooled cardamom pods in a small dry mixie. Use a fine Sieve to get fine powder, repeat with the coarse residue till maximum powder is got. Store easily in a clean dry bottle, for months. This way even the flavour of the skin is utilized, more powder is obtained and it is Less dark, so the sweet does not get discoloured if white, etc. in colour.
Scrape coconut shells clean with sand paper. Make their surfaces smooth by rubbing Sand paper, and make decorative bowls, ladles, etc. by painting, varnishing and Decorating with beads, shells, etc.
Chill cucumber juice and apply pads soaked in them over tired and strained eyes, to release the tension and bring back freshness and sparkle. Repeat daily.
Soak almonds, pistachios, etc. in water for and hour or two, to ease slicing them. Drain and dab dry with a thick kitchen towel or clean cloth, before cutting.
To make a floral arti dish requirements are:
rose pedals, cunco, adhesive tape, glitters
Take your thali (plate) and border it with rose petals. Draw an "om" with the double side adhesive tape in the middle of thali. Sprinkle glitters on the adhesive tape. Take the cunco and put dots on the rose pedals. - By Neha
To chase away cockroaches from cupboards make the following balls, dry in a dry shaded Place, and keep inside the drawers, cupboards, shelves, etc. Only take care, not to keep them In wet places. Mix together boric powder, wheat flour, and ground sugar in 4:2:1 proportion. Sieve together, add enough cold milk to make a stiff dough. Make small marble sized balls These will stay effective for about 2 ½ to 3 months, after which they should be replaced with Fresh ones.
Whenever boiling and straining tomatoes (eg. Soups), use the residue in any vegetable or Gravy instead of discarding it. Even the insides, when tomatoes are hulled, can be used in The same way.
To skin whole tomatoes easily, put them in boiling water, cover and keep aside for a few Minutes. Remove and peel off the skin easily.
Wipe cane furniture with a cloth soaked in extra warm water, to which salt has been added, to keep the firmness of the cane meshing intact. About 2 tbsp. to a bucket is ideal.
Mix together a big pinch of salt in any cold cream or even plain white petroleum jelly and Apply on face. Scrub smoothly with palms for about 3 minutes, to exfoliate skin, and remove Dead cells. Wash off with mild soap, and warm water, to leave a fresh, clean, tinglin skin.
Try removing ball pen ink stains with nailpolish remover. Dab over it and rub gently with cotton Soaked in remover. Wash after drying, with mild detergent.
To slice vegetables with smooth skins like capsicum, tomatoes, remove a thin sliver of skin Vertically. Place knife over this strip while making the slices. This will cut much easier, neater, And quicker.
For a shortcut method of making stuffed veggies fast, use a small pressure cooker instead of a Pan, proceed by adding oil, and working as you would in the pan. But once all ingredients are Added, and water, then shut cooker and allow one whistle. Usually the vegetable gets done just Right. One may required some trials as to amount of water required. Veggies like gherkins, Stuffed ridge gourds, brinjals, etc. can be made in this manner.
To cut tamarind easily, do not use a knife. Cut with a sharp pair of kitchen scissors. This will Cut fast and to required sizes. Also, there will be not mess.
If you have too many vegetables stocked in the refrigerator and are worried about them getting Bad and wasted, prepare some fillings, stuffings, gravies, as per available vegetables, and freeze In small containers, to use when required much later. This way you can even store up before You leave for a journey. On return, you will have precooked dishes, so meals can be prepared in A jiffy without too much effort.
Soak tamarind in warm water for making fast and smooth paste. - Sunitaathri
Do not discord the water after boiling the vegetables. Collect the water in a container and store in the fridge. During the weekend you can use this as a base stew for any soup - Jaya
Paint brass napkin holders with transparent nailpaint to keep there shine intact for a long Time.
Apply some transparent adhesive liquid over stitching of footwear, with a fine brush, to make Them last longer.
To replant seeds of a good quality ripe papaya, take seeds, add some ashes of coal or wood. Mix Together and keep till completely dried. Now plant seeds in a planter, then transplant seedlings, When about 8-10 inches tall.
Rub inner peel of ripe papaya over face and neck. Wash off with tap water, and wipe with A soft towel after 15 minutes. Apply a mild astringent if desired. This leaves a cool, fresh, Feel on the face for hours. Regular use, will make the skin soft and glowing.
Always set puddings, jellies, etc. till very firm, but do not allow them to freeze hard. They will Lose their original lightness by doing so. Chill till well set in freezer, then transfer to chiller Or lower section of fridge. Return to freezer for just 10 minutes before serving.
Keep rolled puris in the fridge for 5 to 10 minutes before frying them,they will consume less oil,and be more crispy when fried after 10 minutes. -- KSS
If you put more salt in curry (any) or you feel like you have put more salt then cut raw potato slices drop it in the curry dish and wait for half an hour. Potato slices will absorb all the excess salt -- Vanaja Vedati from Pittsburgh
To prevent overboiled milk from spilling out of the vessel,apply ghee or glycerene on the edges of the vessel. -- Tanvi Chhaya
Garnish casseroles after they are ready with decoratively cut vegetables like flowers from tomato skins, carrot curls, onions curls, etc.
Always underboil the spaghetti a wee bit, so that it becomes well done by the time it cools and is baked. Never make it mushy.
Use a soft baby toothbrush to clean nails while bathing. They come out clean And it is not harsh on the nails.
Use a soft nylon cloth to wipe away dirt stains from walls, painted furniture Electronic gadgets like tv sets, computers, etc. Take care to keep the cloth Slightly moist.
Always strain sugar or jaggery syrups before adding to sweets, so that the muddy grains do not Taste like grit in the sweet dishes. Allow the grit to settle below before straining.
Make a savoury hot snack out of leftover or staled khakhras, seasoning as for chappati kava (as in index).
Use, if possible earthenware vessels to enhance the flavour of Rajasthani dals and curries.
Do not discard amchoor water. Use to wash copper vessels, silver, etc. to bring back a sparkle. You may even refrigerate and use as a souring agent in daals, etc.
To sour buttermilk if required for recipe, add about 1/8 tsp. citric acid to a cup of buttermilk.
While cutting onions keep the water tap running to avoid watery eyes. -- Jolanda Van Der Kooij (The Netherlands)
Hari Ganesh
1. To make soft 'idlis' and 'dosas' add a handfull of Puffed rice or Poha
2. To prevent insects like silver fish from creeping into your cupboards and damaging your clothes and books tie few Kalonji seeds in a muslin cloth and keep in the corner of the shelf.
Hi I am Lavanya Bhaskar
I have a quick way to polish ur furniture without buying costly furniture polish from stores.
Just take a tbl sp of vegetable oil in a bowl & add 1 tbl sp of lime juice to it mix them well & with a soft cloth apply it on your furniture & immediately wipe off with a dry soft cloth. your furniture will shine like new
Caked mud should first be scraped off fabric with a blunt knife. Soak in warm soap suds, and Wash with a soft scrubber.
Rub the inner side of a banana peel all over the face and neck. Relax for 15 minutes. Wash With tap water and dab with a soft towel thereafter. An easy instant natural treatment which Makes facial skin feel fresh and rejuvenated.
Use tops of carrots to make fabric prints or prints on handpaper etc. for decorative effect. One may carve seal impressions on them too before pressing them in paint and onto fabric.
Serve tiny helpings of salads on small cracker biscuits (like monaco) or canape thins Topped with some grated cheese, or paneer. They make excellent cocktail pickups. Take care to serve immediately.
Use any of the leftover salads to make a filling for a tasty sandwich. Spread some green Chutney on the slices before putting the filling.
Any leftover batter from dipped bhajias, need not be thrown Away. Hold a perforated (round even holes) large flat spoon, Over hot oil, pour batter through. The pearl shaped fries, can be Fried till crisp, but not browned, drained, and stored to use a `boondi' in boondi raitha. (refer recipe for raitha)
Cover refrigerated bananas, or else its smell will permeate in milk Which may be stored in an open vessel in the same fridge.
Inner peel of bananas can be rubber over skin, and washed off After 15 minutes, for that fresh, cool, glowing feeling.
To get the best textured whipped cream, see that the container, in Which the cream is to be beaten is chilled, the cream itself is well Chilled and the sugar is powdered. Also place the container in a Plate of chilled water or ice, in hot climate.
Put a firm banana for company with still to ripen tomatoes, into a closed basket or a loose Plastic bag. They will ripen very fast.
Use Idly cooker for baking by using little water at the bottom and placing the dish above it.
Whenever lemon slices are added to any tea, make sure to remove every single seed, or the tea Will taste bitter.
While tasting hot decoction, keep very sweet, since after cooling the sweetness reduces, as also The added icecubes will dilute the sweetness.
If not using tea leaves for a long time, pour into clean ziplock bag, remove excess air, seal tight And place in an airtight container, to lock it freshness in. Especially so when you are going to Lock up home for a while.
Rinse washed hair with a dilute decoction of tea in the last mugful, to add a lustre and bounce To your hair.
Add cardamom peels to the tea canister, instead of discarding. It will lend a very subtle flavour Of cardamom to every cup of tea you brew!
Apply decoction, got from boiling tea leaves in plain water and strained, to dark circles under The eyes. Cool the decocotion well before applying, Regular application will lighten them.
Do not discard strained tea leaves. Add them to the soil of rose plants, to act as an excellent Manure. If you have many plants, feed one a day, in rotation.
Warm the mixing bowl slightly, before kneading dough which contains yeast. This will result in A lighter fluffier dough, as the yeast will react better.
Bake unused pizza bases partially and blind, in the oven, cool, cover in cling film or clean Airtight freezer bags, and refrigerate. Use as required, after thawing to room temperature. The base should get a bit stiff, but not browned.
Place clean kitchen napkins above and below a pile of hot chappatis in the box, to keep the from Becoming soggy.
Slip large photocorners on corners of valuable books to preserve them better and minimise their Wear and tear.
Make a savoury hot snack out of leftover or staled khakhras, seasoning as for chappati kava (as in index).
Crumble leftover bread, buns, etc. which may have become too dry or a bit stale, add green Chillies, salt, ginger, garlic, onion chopped, and a bit of water. Mix to form a sticky gooey Batter. Deepfry dumplings in hot oil, till golden and crisp. An excellent alternative to bhajias.
If bread tends to feel too dry or stale, brush with some milk, cover in a foil, warm in a preheated Oven for 5 minutes. It will be fresh and soft again.
Test to check if bread has been done completely. Invert and knock the base lightly with your Knuckles. It is done if the sound is hollow. If base is soggy, then more baking is required.
Never reshape dough once it has been shaped and rested after punching. The risen dough must Not be disturbed or texture of the baked product may not turn out as it should.
Never place breads on uppermost or lowermost racks of the oven, especially the large ones, or the baking will not be even, and the insides might stay underbaked while the crust will become too dark and hard.
Soak all your brass lamps, vases curios etc.. in a bucket of water to which 3 inch diameter ball of tamarind chunk is added, for about 4 to 5 hours. Wash with JEF or any cream bathroom detergent. Dry thourougly and then apply brasso. This way it will retain the shine for more than 2 to 3 weeks!
Wash your Diamonds with Toothpaste on an old toothbrush. Then wash in clean water. They will sparkle!!
Cut off roots of fresh Dhania(coriander)leaves and pack in two to three sheets of news paper and refrigerate. Keeps upto a week or two fresh!
When your shower curtian turns mouldy, soak it in a bucket of water with 1/4 cup of bleach to 10 litres of water overnight. Bingo!! All the mould out! wash as usual. Vasanti(Singapore).

To clean blender, mixer bowls easily, after emptying content, add a cupful of water, run for a few seconds. All clogged particles will easily get flushed out. Use this water to add to gravies, soups, etc.
Soyabean granules are a highly nutritional product, which may be used to thick gravies, soups, Etc. with ease. Soak a little in water beforehand. Crush to make smooth texture. Add as required.
Cover face with fresh clean peels of cucumber, potato, etc. (soaked in a little rosewater), relax For 15 minutes, remove peels and wash off with tap water. Pat dry with soft towel. Gives you a great fresh and rejuvenated feeling. You will almost feel your pores breathing back.
Use old shaving brushes to clean insides of ovens, toaster, etc. to reach the difficult corners, Crevices, etc.
For ease in rolling bhakris, etc. without soiling the rolling board, just slip the board into a Large polythene bag, and tuck the loose sides under the board, before placing it down. To roll other chappatis, just slip out the board from the bag.
Hi I am Eswari Sarma
When you are cooking brinjal add a spoon of milk so that the brinjal retain its colour without becoming black.
You can add same while cooking banana or any other vegetable to retain the colour and taste will remain good.

Before putting the cake batter in the tin sprinkle some castor sugar then put the batter. It will give the cake an unusual sheen. from; -- Ruchika, India

You will get better results with mint pulao if you saute mint leaves in a teaspoon of butter oil before cooking with rice. -- Raghuram

Top a fresh plain buttered toast with a sprinkling of chaat masala, peanut chutney, andhra pudi, Malaga pudi, etc. to added a change in monotony of bread butter jam or chutney.
To reduce bouts of cough, chew on dried pomegranate skins.
Do not sieve wheat flour with a very fine sieve, as all the bran and subsequently the fibre Will be lost.
Drop a capful of your favourite shower or bath gel into the water runnig into the tub or bucket. It will make your bath a pleasure and leave a lingering fragrance on you and in the bathroom For a long time
If instant coffee has set in a bottle due due humidity. Pour some hot water over it, dissolve and Refrigerate. Use in liquid form, and add as desired. Do not keep for too many weeks, as it May ferment.
Store plain flour in clean ziplock bags in refrigerator, to keep insects from attacking it. This way the flour will stay fresh much longer.
While cooking veggies with less water, in their own moisture, cover pan with a deep lid, pour About 150 ml. water in lid. This will quicken the cooking process by returning the steam formed inside back into the vegetable, as also it will retain the nutrients better. Even the flavour of the vegetable is noticeably better.
To ensure that the griddle (tawa) is hot enough before spreading dosa, sprinkle a little water over it. If it sizzles immediately, then the griddle is hot enough. Wipe with a clean rag, proceed. Wherever day old bread is required, and you have only soft fresh slices, put in the toaster for A few seconds, till it is slightly dry, but not browned. Remove and all to cool completely before Using to crumble.
Always use a standard set of measuring instruments for your cooking. This Will save a lot of time on approximations, and additions-deletions. Also it will avoid searching for measuring gadgets at the last moment.
Place a kitchen towel under the legs of a rolling board, while making Chappaties. The board will not slip, and allow faster rolling.
If your oven glove is not protection enough and you hand still feels the heat, or if it is too large to fit you comfortably, line it with a few layers of newpaper.
Wipe rusted needles clean with kerosene or petrol. The rust will come off easily. Secure in a tiny pillow made of soft old material. This way they won t rust or get lost.
The basic pathod can be made at once, and divided into the various forms as desired, to make Variety, as well as reduce time and work.
Keeping a small lump of edible gum in the mouth, will bring relief to mouth boils and blisters.
Roasted wheat flour can be used in small quantities to thicken gravies, etc. Or reduce the Sharpness of extra salt which may have been added.
To pop gum crystals well, add a tsp. of wheat flour to the ghee in which it is popped. This way They pop better as also, they do not stick together or burn.
Dry pomegrante skin, break into small pieces, chew these now and then to reduce coughing Spasms.
Use any of the above leftover sabzis can be used to make masala parathas. Add the sabzi to Some wheat flour, add any other veggies if desired, like grated gourd, or greens, or carrot, Or just dry masalas like chilli powder, salt, dhania powder, turmeric. Add some oil too. Knead To a soft dough, and make parathas or puris as desired.
Cool and pour fenugreek water in any potted or other plant, it is nutritious for them. Do not Discard down the drain.
To get crystal clear icecubes use boiled water to make them.
If curds is too sour, drain for a while in a fine meshed colander to remove the whey. Transfer to A container, add enough milk for desired thickness and beat well. The whey can be used to Knead dough for chappatis, etc. to make them softer.
To avoid handi dishes from burning at the bottom, place a tawa (griddle) on the fire, heat, place Handi on the griddle, put the flame on lowest. This will ensure that the handi does not get any Excess heat, causing the contents to burn. Also choose a handi that has a heavy bottom.
Rub tomato juice on moistened stain on fabric or garment. The stain will eventually disappear. Then wash with soap suds as usual. Hang out to dry.
Use unpeeled potatoes wherever possible, the skin carries a lot of nutrition. Use peeled skins to Rub mirrors, and then wipe with soft moist cloth for a shine. Or place over face for a few minutes Like a pack, remove, wash with tap water for a fresh clean feel.
You will get better results with mint pulao if you saute mint leaves in a teaspoon of butter oil before cooking with rice. -- Raghuram
To season a new earthen handi, pour oily water in it (from cooking, like that rinsed from kadai, Etc.) for some time, rinse with plain water, and keep aside. Repeat process for 2-3 days as many Times as possible. Then use to cook, so the raw smell will go, as well as getting sturdiness.
Before cooking dal,pasta,rice etc.rub the sides of pot or cooker with little oil. This will prevent the water from boiling over in the pot or cooker -- Bharati from Denver
To shine your brass artefacts, apply tamarind paste and scrub well with finely powdered dried mango leaves. Wash in cold water and scrub with soft and thin cotton cloth. For people abroad, you can jolly well carry a stock of dried mango leaf powder. -- Ambuja from Bangalore, India.

Use a dish cloth which has been wetted with rubbing alcohol, to rub away stains caused by water in stainless steel sinks.
Rub cutting boards with 1/2 a lime, cut side down, to rid of garlic, onion and other veggies odours and light discolouration.
Sprinkle some salt over the soapy scrubber before scrubbing greasy and grimy utensils. This will make it easier for the grease to come off.
Cut extra bread into tiny cubes, bake croutons and store in airtight container in the Refrigerator. Crush and add to gravies, icecream servings, or soups as desired.
To clean washbasins and sinks(non-metallic): Line the base and sides thickly with paper towels. Spray household bleach (dissolved in water) all over to wet towels completely. Allow to soak for 30-40 minutes. Remove towels, scrub lightly with some warm soap solution, rinse with water.
Wet the inside of pan before putting milk for boiling. This will keep the pan from scalding the milk at the bottom of the pan. Also use a fairly heavy pan.
Add 1 tbsp. vinegar to a litre of water in a blackened cooker. Cover and boil for a few minutes. Wash regularly. This will remove blackening of the cooker.
After polishing brassware with brasso, apply tamarind paste to the vessel , rub and then wash. This will make the shine last longer.
Soak almonds in warm water if time to soak is limited. That is 4-5 hours instead of overnight. However, very hot water, will discolour the almonds.
To make the ghevar two toned (brown at bottom and light on top) then use more milk in the Batter and less water.
Use a small plastic funnel to make rangoli designs, if you find it hard to do so with hand.
To patch grazing stains on wood polished furniture, apply a similar shaded slightly darker shoe Polish to affected area, brush vigourously with a soft shoe brush. Finish off with polishing Flannel. If the stain is too old or obvious, first scratch the area smooth with fine sand paper.
Always invert items like cakes, jellies, etc. from moulds in the following way, instead of inverting mould over dish, in which case it may break while inverting: Loosen cake from sides by running a knife carefully, or jelly from mould by dipping in hot water for a few seconds. Place serving dish, inverted over mouth of mould. Invert quickly with a swift movement of both hands, holding mould and plate intact. Tap gently if any part is still stuck.
Remove perspiration marks by rubbing with white vinegar, and then washing off.
Dip amul butter wrapping in hot water, dry out. Use as handy butter paper, when out of stock.
To make quick chocolate curls: Melt a plain cadbury's chocolate slab (8 piece one), spread on a smooth, greased surface like marble or wood. Take a sharp knife, scrape out chocolate keeping the knife in an angular position. The resulting scraped chocolate will come out in the form of long curls. Refrigerate carefully till required for use. Makes aprrox. 2 cups curls
Pour milk along inner wall of slightly tilted glass in a thin stream, to avoid its mixing with the lower layers in the glass. Straighten the glass carefully. Also chill glasses well before using.
Hang khus mats over windows, spray water from a spray bottle and keep moist, so that the breeze that comes in is automatically cooled. This is a natural, non-electricity dependent way of cooling room spaces, and cheap too!
Prepare chillies for a garnish on spicy veggies as follows: Slit firm green long chillies. Squeeze some lemon juice over them. Dust a bit of salt too. Rub them a bit to coat properly. Before adding anything to hot oil in the kadai, fry these for a few seconds, holding them down the back of a spoon or spatula. To clean you hands of the sting chillies give, rub them with the skin of squeezed lemon and salt. Wash normally.
To peel tomatoes easily, keep covered in boiling hot water for 5 minutes. Remove, make a careful 'X' at its bottom, peel off skin. Cool and chop as required.
Collect tiny leftover pieces of bath soap. When sufficient quantity is collected, boil in a little water. Stir often, allowing all the bits to melt and form a thick solution. Cool, bottle and use as cleaning liquid.
Add salt to a tsp. of lemon juice to make a paste. Apply all over teeth, brush to give a gentle massage, rinse. Makes teeth white. Repeat weekly for very yellow cases.
Fix two small pieces of fine sandpaper onthe insides of pencilbox lids. This will allow the child to clean erasers in a jiffy.
Dry lemon and orange peels till brittle. Powder them and sieve with a fine mesh. Rub teeth with powder and wash. This mixture acts as an excellent whitener for teeth, with continued use.
Boil clothes soiled in holi colour in water (1/2 cup sugar added to a bucketful water), for a few minutes. Allow to cool, add detergent, continue as for normal wash.
While washing fine and expensive china, place a towel at the bottom of the sink to act as a cushion. This will prevent the many chippings and cracks caused while washing.
To clean dirty copper utensils: Fill a spray bottle with vinegar in which 3 tbsp. of salt has been added. Spray solution on utensil liberally. Set aside for a while. Rub clean with a soft cloth.
Rinse glassware in a solution of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts water after washing with soap. This will make the glassware gleam and clean.
To clean the inside of a mixer or blender throroughly, fill it halfway with water. Add a few drops of detergent. Run machine for a few seconds. Rinse with water. Invert on a cloth till dry.
Try a hot water bath, followed by a cup of warm milk half an hour before going to bed. This will help induce sleep for those having problems going to bed easily.
In case rice tends to have excess water, wrap a thick cotton cloth tightly over the lid, and cover container. The napkin will soak the excess moisture, as the steam rises.
Warm hair oil, before massaging into the hair. This way it will soak better at the roots and is more effective. Alternate hot and cold water soaked towels to turban the head 2-3 times before washing oiled hair.
Place a small clean kitchen towel at the bottom of a pile of hot rotis, moongdis, etc. so that the layer of moisture created with heat, is absorbed by it. Or else the lower ones will become moist and soggy. Remove towel when the rotis have cooled comepletely. For soft rotis, place in a tin, also place a napkin on top of the pile before placing lid. This will soak droplets formed inside the tin.
While cooking vegetables which cook mostly in their own juices, cover with a deep dishlike lid. Pour water in this, and keep adding more as it evaporates. This way the vegetable can be cooked well, adding minimal amount of water.
Apply colourless nail varnish to names on switches, jars, etc. to avoid there rubbing off with repeated use. Take care to apply a very thin even layer.
If you have jasmines growing in your garden, pluck a few fresh flowers, wash well, drop into your pot of drinking water. Strain as and when required to drink, transfer back the flowers to the pot. Change after 8-10 hours. The water gets a light lovely sweet flavour.
Rub surfaces lightly with sandpaper before applying a coat of paint. This will give the paint coat a much better finish.
Polish leather shoes and bags with castor oil or petroleum jelly to prevent drying and cracking.
Immerse nails in hot water for a while before nailing into the wall. This will keep the surrounding plaster from coming off.
Make the life of new paintbrushes much longer, by soaking them in linseed oil for 10-12 hours before using. This will not only make them last longer, but will also ease cleaning later on.
Cover hand with a single layer of thin silk or polyester scarf, before slipping through bangles, if they are tight fitting and there is fear of breaking them. They will slip through very easily. Or use the corner of you sari pallu of the same material.
For a more decorative look frost the glasses as follows: Chill them in the freezer for 30 minutes. Pour some castor sugar in a plate. Dip the rim of each glass in this sugar. A frosty edge will form. Chill again for a few minutes. Pour liquid in carefully while serving. Insert a thin lemon sliced round, on rim for special effect.
To clean a blocked metal tea strainer, heat gently or place in a hot oven. When fully heated, the tea particles between the mesh will burn out. Scrub out particles now, with a stiff toothbrush or a metal bristle brush, and they will fall out easily. Wash with warm soap water and metal scrubber to finish off.
To chill any water based drink (like thandai, juices) use chilled water or crushed icecubes while making, so that chilling time can be drastically reduced.
A regular warm shower just before going to bed, can work wonders for mild insomnia. Avoid late night teas and coffees.
Let mehndi stay on hands for 8-9 hours (or overnight) after applying. Dab with cotton wool soaked in very sweet sugar water, every hour, till you take off the mehndi.
To make mehndi come out brighter, rub a little sesame oil on palms before applying, and dab a swab of cotton soaked in mustard oil after applying. This way the mehndi will not fall off soon after drying up.
To retain the heat of hot water for a longer time, add a pinch or two of salt to it.
Take 1/4 tsp. omum (ajwain, oregano) seeds in a clean hanky. Warm it by rubbing on a warm surface like a griddle, or a switched off iron, or a warm switched off hotplate. Press against sinus points, for relief from headache and cold. Repeat 5-6 times a day for 3-4 days. Use same hanky and seeds.
Crusts removed from bread for making sanwiches, etc. can be sun or oven dried till brittle. Then run in a mixie, to form fine breadcrumbs. Refrigerate and use as required.
One tsp. of plain flour mixed in 1/4 cup water boiled in a stock (2 cups) will lend body and enhance consistency of the soup.
Run a spoonful of any sev, papdi, or farsan made of gram flour in a mixie. Add this powder to thicken gravies which have a watery consistency. Take care to use non-chilli sev for light coloured gravies.
Use a mechanical or electrical chopper for chopping, semipureeing veggies, etc. since it cuts down making time drastically.
Keep mosquitoes at bay by lighting the following: An incense stick dipped in baygon spray and dried.
Rub cigarette ash (that doesn t mean YOU should smoke!!) over crayon stains on smooth surfaces. Wipe off the ash and the stain with it !!
Place empty wrappers of fragrant toilet soaps in wardrobe corners to spread a cool aromatic feeling in the closet and the clothes.
To clean stains from melamine cups and suacers, fill them with liquid bleach, leave aside for 2 hours, rinse with water. If you clean one piece at a time, the same bleach can be poured into all pieces one by one, and very little bleach will be required to clean many pieces of melamineware.
Place sheets of thick papertowels at the bottom of a soiled sink. Pour diluted bleach to soak them. Keep for 3-4 hour. Press out the liquid into the sink, remove towels, add very little detergent and scrub gently. The result will be a sparkling clean sink.
Rub a little sesame oil on palms before applying 'mehendi' and a little mustard oil after applying it. This will bring out a better colour and make the mehendi last longer.
Half fill blender with water, add a few drop of mild detergent, and run the mixie for a few seconds. Rinse with water and wipe. This will clean the mixie of any residual particles stuck under the blades or in the grooves.
Any mashed potato stuffings, etc. tend to have water crystals on thawing after removing from the freezer. After thawing take in a heavy pan, and cook on medium flame, stirring all the time, till the water evaporates. The texture, on cooling a bit will come back to the original.
Dry roast any extra crumbs that are got while scraping buns. These can be used to thick gravies, etc. They can also be added to bhajia batters for making crisper bhajias.
If buns are too soft to be stuffed for any recipe, bake them blind in a hot oven for 4-5 minutes. Cool, and they will be much more easy to handle while proceeding with the recipe.
Do not throw away drained marinade liquid. Refrigerate and use to season stirfried veggies or steamed rice.
Wrap green leafy vegetables in old newspaper before putting in the vegetable bag or tray. This will make them last and keep fresh much longer.
Add a few drops of salt water to banana chips, etc. while frying them, in the hot oil. This will turn out the chips crisper.
To remove lint from coats, trousers, etc. Take strips of wide white medical sticking tape. Place over lint-covered area sticky side down, press evenly. Peel off with a jerk. The lint will stick to the adhesive. Repeat several time with the same tape in other areas, till stickiness is not left.
Do not throw away cucumber peels. Place them in a moist cloth till you have the time. Place them inner peel touching skin, all over your face. Relax with closed eyes for 15 minutes. Splash face with tap water, pat dry, apply moisturiser. The peels should also be placed over eyes.
Boil onion peels with a little water and vinegar in burnt and greasy pans. Simmer covered for 3-4 minutes. Wash with washing powder and scrubber. They will come out clean easily.
Fresh, clean and tender skins of ridge gourd need not be thrown out. Boil for 3-4 minutes in salted water. Drain and wash under cold running water. Wipe on towel, add green chillies, garlic, salt, coriander, tamarind and a little sugar. Grind to a chutney. The skins are full of nutrients.
Add a handful of puffed rice to leftover tomato vegetable. Mix well, heat a little, and serve as a tasty snack, after garnishing with chopped coriander.
Potatoes used with the jackets intact are definitely more nutritious than after peeling. Use a soft steel or plastic scrubber to scrub them before using.
Do not throw away water in which lentils, peas, etc. are cooked. Cool and water indoor or other plants with the same. This water acts as plant food.
To assemble a steamer at home, just take a large deep vessel, a colander which fits on the rim of the vessel and a lid which when used inverted will fit well on the rim of the vessel. Place some water in the vessel, place the colander and add the contents. Cover with inverted lid and place a small weight over it to keep the lid firmly down. Use a metallic colander which has holes punched into it.
Do not throw away the solid residue left after pressing out water from soaked tamarind. Mix in some salt and use to scrub copper and brassware to bring a shine. Follow with a normal soap wash.
Add cardamom skins to the tea-leaves canister. The resulting aroma of the tea will be good and refreshing with a hint of cardamom.
To give a novel taste to tea, add a piece of lemon peel to the water for tea decoction.
Bread ground to a paste with some water, in a mixie, acts as a good thickening agent for soups if cornflour is not available.
Tamarind paste and curd help reduce the burning sensation on the hands by chillies. Just rub the paste or curd onto your palms. -- Hemamalini from Portland, OR.

Make croutons in a jiffy. Cut 2 slices day old bread in small cubes. Heat a tbsp. of butter in a heavy pan, add cubes, and stir fry till they are crisp and golden brown.
To make vegetable stock, boil veggies like carrots, cabbage, celery, potato, etc. in plenty of water. When cooked keep aside till cooled. Drain the water and use as stock, use veggies in dishes like pav bhaji, thick soups, gravies, kababs, etc. Or just a spicy tasty vegetable out them.
Day old bread, blended in a dry mixie, to make fine crumbs, acts as an excellent thickener in gravies, batters, soups, etc.
Apply petroleum jelly all along the hairline, face and neck before applying dye to hair. This will avoid staining of the skin with dye that tends to run down.
Add a pinch of sodabicarb to spinach while boiling to retain its bright green colour. Also never overcook greens as they will lose thier colour taste and vital nutrients too.
Line the bottom of your salt jar with 2 layers of blotting paper before pouring it in. The salt will not become moist even in humid climate.
Simply add water to curds (ratio of curds: water is 1:3 for thick and 1:4 for thin buttermilk. There is no need to buy it from stores, which is not economical at all)
Crush any leftover, broken puris, toss into a salad of chopped onions, cucumbers, tomatoes, Add seasoning of salt, crushed red chilli, crushed cumin, coriander, sugar and a dash of vinegar. Chill salad first, toss in thepuri just before serving.
You can do the cleaning of kitchen and utensils while waiting for boiling, heating and lot of other activities over the stove. This will save lot of time and extra efforts. -- Harish Bhatia Muscat

Clean all your Silverware with toothpaste (You can use cotton for rubbing). They will sparkle like they were bought yesterday ! -- Deepti
Always keep a couple of boiled potatoes, in their jackets, stocked in the refrigerator. They come in handy to make dishes in a jiffy, be a vegetable, chaat, pulao, or paratha. They keep good for 4-5 days if properly stored. Peel when required.
Wrap hands in either plastic kitchen gloves or just plain plastic bags while handling chillies. These will keep the hands from the burning sensation later on. Rub ghee on palms if chillies cause burning hands. After the sensation cools, rub the peel of a used lemon for 2-3 minutes and wash off.
Use tender stems of cauliflower leaves at its base to give body to vegetable stock. Or chop very fine. Stirfry and add to any soup. Give a distinct beautiful flavour.
Any vada mixture should be beaten well with hand prior to frying, to incorporate air in the batter and make it light, as also soft on frying.
Always store kitchen ingredients in see through containers of either clear glass or plastic, for ease in locating, cleaning and keeping track of whats required to be refilled.
If puffed rice is not crisp and crunchy, dry roast in a large heavy pan, stirring continuously, till quite hot. Cool back to room temperature. It will get back its crunchiness.
While cutting onions, soak them in cold water for half hour and then cut. Your eyes will not water. Better still if you keep it in the fridge overnight before cutting, eyes will not water. -- Ram Nathan
Soak dirty jogging shoes overnight, drain out dirty water and run in the washing machine for a gentle wash using detergent. They will come out very clean.
Keep a large black cardamom in the mouth, for relief from persistent cough.When it eventually softens, chew and swallow.
Keep boondi unseasoned, just plain fried and use in boondi raita as required (refer raitas)
Cover jar labels, etc. with transparent scotchtape, to keep its ink from fading, running, etc. and the label from tearing with use.
Air out the sago seeds in hot sun for half an hour before frying, to get very well-fried sago. Sometimes the centres which stay hard, can be avoided by doing this.
When frying a variety of things at a time, plan the order, keeping the lighter coloured ones first ones with chillies or darker ones towards the last. Since the oil will get coloured by frying the chillied things, then the lighter ones will discolour.
Keep a good foodie kiddie chart for your kid in the dining room. Every time he eats well, add a colourful star or sticker of his/her favourite screen star, to give him a feeling of achievement. Works like magic with many kids.
Removed side crusts of breadcan be dried in oven till crisp, cooled and ground to use as bread bread crumbs. Use for rolling in patties, etc. before deep frying or as a thickener for gravies.
Use a woodhandled rubber kitchen spatula to scrape or empty any cooked dish or chutneys. This way, the vessels comes clean and washing is eased, and saving of soaps etc. is quite a bit.
1 tiny boiled potato given to the child at least 2-3 times a week is nutritious. Add seasoning or curds, but do not fry. Do a lot more good than fries.
Use old soft bedspreads to make soft sleepons for infants (the filling being layers of the bedspread and not polycotton or heavy cotton which has to be lined with plastic to keep dry.) Hygienic, easy to machine wash, safe and soft, and economical too.
To save time, dry ground powders can be made ahead, and stored in tight containers when you have more free time. Use when required. Masala powder that use coconut must be kept in the refrigerator.
When coring whole jackfruit, handle with kitchen gloves or grease palms to avoid the resulting discolouration.
Always keep cut or slit brinjals soaking in salt water, to avoid their becoming discoloured.
Cut bhindi an hour before frying or stuff to make stuffed okra and refrigerate at least for half an hour before making, to cook it fast and blend the taste well too.
Wipe fungus covered leather garments and footwear with a clean wad of cloth soaked in kerosene.
Soak petals of lots of roses in water overnight. Add water after passing through a colander, to the bath water. Makes and excellent luxury bath and puts all those bouquets you are stuck with after a function, to good use!! Add a handful of tulsi leaves too if you wish.
Help puris to puff better by applying light pressure of the back of your perforated spatula or flat spoon, and heat ghee very well.
In US Tomato Juice is available in large cans. This is very convenient for making rasam and other dishes which require the usage of tomato. I normally buy a large can pour it in the Ice cube containers in the freezer (normally used to make ice). I store these cubes in a ziplock bag and use them. They are very convenient and rasam and other dishes taste very good with these too. -- Lakshmi Chicago
Boil neem leaves and tender stalks in lots of water, till a dark decoction is obtained. Cover keep overnight. Next day, strain and use decoction as a plant spray to keep them healthy and fit.
Always iron hand painted fabrics from the wrong side. The paint will not spoil and will look brighter.
To remove grease stains from fabrics. Soak stain in pure petrol. Allow to dry. Wash with soap and water as usual. Do not soak in soap.
Make a paste of gramflour and honey, with a few drops of lime. Wash face, rub the used lemon vigorously all over face and neck. Apply paste. Keep for 10 minutes. Wash off with tap water. Feel your skin glowing and fresh.
Use the silver foil wrappings of used medicines to scrub greasy utensils like tawas, pans, etc. Embed them at the base of plastic scrubbers for easy use and grip.
Never take your cookbook to the kistchen. Always make a rough note of your recipe on a piece of paper, pin/magnetically stick it over your workplace at eye level. This way: You preserve you cookbooks better and your recipe is bang in front of your eyes so reference is easier with less chances of mistakes. Also, you've automatically gone through you recipe once before proceeding to make it.
Wrap woollens in newspaper while storing, since the ink in the newprint acts as an insect repellent.
Do not throw away the drained water in which dal is boiled. Use it as stock for soup, dal or even a gravy vegetable.
If curds is too sour tie for 10 minutes in a muslin cloth, to remove the sour whey. Use the residual curds to proceed after adding a little milk. Do not throw away the whey. Use to knead dough for paratbas, or soak silver trinkets and brush with soap water to clean them. Or scrub copper of copper bottom vessels to make them sparkling clean.
While sieving maize flour do not throw away the upper rough husk. Use this mixed with gram or urad or masoor dal flour as a scrub, by making a paste with some curds and rose water. Your face will feel clean, fresh and healthy.
Rub soap cake over food stains on fabric. Dry in sun for 2-3 hours. Wash with regular detergent and see the stain clear or lighten to almost invisible.
When garden saplings of palak, chilli, are attacked by sparrows cover with an old door or window mesh or spike up a tent of an old nylon mosquito net.
Always warm dry spices like cuminseeds, cardamom, cloves, etc. on a griddle before powdering. The grinding will be done faster and powder will be finer.
To invert casseroles in a plate, you must line the casserole with greaseproof paper, with the edge jutting just above the rim of the container. To invert, fold down the edge over rim of the container. Place the plate upsidedown on the container. The paper should jut out. In a swift movement, invert the whole combination of plate, paper and container. Now the plate is right side up, the container upside down and the paper jutting out. Hole the paper down and carefully lift the casserole. Carefully remove paper.
Never scrape burnt leftovers from casseroles. Soak in a weak solution of vinegar, salt and soapy warm water for an hour or so. The stuck particles will come off very easily, without scratching the dish.
To soften the taste of any extra sharp vegetable eg. fenugreek leaves, radish leaves, etc., Chop them, sprinkle some salt all over and keep aside for 10 minutes. Press out all the water and wash well 2-3 times in a colander.
To make things easier, prepare enough to to make some tacos, some enchiladas, and even nacho chips. Store separately as shown in recipes and use as desired.
Always buy transparent (see through) containers for refrigerators, freezers, etc. These being see-through allow easy visibility of contents and eliminates searching, opening & checking or labelling of containers.
When removing rind of oranges or lemons take care not to include the white pithy part, or the rind will taste bitter. To store, either air dry or dry in a microwave after cutting or grating. Store in an airtight jar.
Always keep dough covered with a moist cloth to avoid a dry crust from forming on it. Keep the cloth moist by rinsing in water every time it begins to feel dry.
To remove tomato skin easily, blanch them in very hot water for 8-10 minutes. Remove, peel and chop or mash as required.
To make the task less tedious prepare the taco shells and salsa dip a day or two in advance, since the shells will stay fresh for even over a week if stored in an airtight container.
To unmould chilled dishes quickly, dip container halfway into hot water for a few seconds and then unmould.
For best effects of your decorative icecreams, sundaes, floats, etc., use plain transparent glasses with interesting shapes, like conical, balloon, stemmed, slender, etc. Opaque glasses will hide the essential decorative feature of these yummies.
Always chill glasses before preparing the icecream in it. This way it will stay stiff longer.
Use aluminium containers instead of steel to set the icecream faster. Also, place a thick plactic sheet or spread some salt under the container to keep it from sticking to the floor of the freezer.
Never try to refreeze icecream which has melted completely due to reasons like electricity breakdown. The result will taste disastrous. Instead, add you favourite flavour or fruit and run in a mixie to make delicious milk shake.
For simple but extravagant looking topping, take 2-3 healthy strawberries. Make incisions vertically from tip to base, to form slices. But do not cut fully. Stop just below the base. Now press sideways gently, to form a fan shaped strawberry. Use as topping decor for cakes, icecreams, puddings, etc.
It is best to defrost the fridge before making icecream, so that the base of the container is not jammed, as also the icecream will set faster and better.
Do not throw away the green tender stalks of cauliflower base. Chop fine and use in soups like other vegetables. You will be adding fibre to your soup.
Store leftover dough and filling in freezer (properly packed) to make fresh parathas when required. Take care to thaw the ingredients before using.
Clean stains from electronic items like tvs, computers, etc. with some cotton douzed in spirit. Follow with a soft clean moist cloth, and finally a dry flannel cloth.
Microwave fresh mint till dry and crisp. Crush coarsely, mix some salt and chilli powder and chaat masala. Sprinkle over freshly fried papads for that extra tang.
Leftover parathas eaten cold with hot tea taste good.
Wear an old sock while doing dirty scrubbing and cleaning jobs to protect your hands from abrasions.
Always mash potatoes when they are still quite hot. They mash more easily and can be finely mashed too.
Grease the grated on both sides with oil before grating sticky items like cheese or boiled potatoes, to allow for smoother grating.
Add a tiny piece of crushed ginger to tea, while boiling, for the extra zing especially during the winter.
Warm garlic flakes a little either in a microwave or on griddle before peeling, to make the skin come off easily.
Sprinkle salt in tamarind before storing, to keep away the worms. Dry well in sun till a little stiff, cool indoors for few hours and then add salt. 1 fistful to a kilogram of tamarind. Store in airtight plastic or glass container.
To keep chappatis warm longer, cover the pile with two piece of clean cloth above and below in a tight steel container. Leave on a griddle that has been warmed first.
To clean the surface of vegetables like potato, radish, sweetpotato, carrots, etc. use a separate plastic scrubber or toothbrush kept for the purpose. Hold under running water and scrub.
When very finely chopped greens or chillies etc. are required in a recipe, use a pair of sharp Scissors instead of a knife. The job will be made faster, more efficient and safe to cut.
Add a pinch of soda bicarb to green vegetables while steaming or boiling or cooking in the microwave to retain the fresh green colour.
Use thick short grained rice for dosa and idli batter where ordinary rice is asked for. This will give a netter texture than using long grained basmati rice.
Spend 10 minutes each morning (even if it is in the bathroom), to make a list of work to be done with approx. time required. Pin it on your refrigerator door. Your work will get much more organised and you will find a lot of time saved at the end. Beside none of it will be left behind due to forgetting.
Rub mirrors with first wet and then dry newpaper. Cursh into a loose ball and rub vigorously. The mirror will sparkle without leaving any wipe lines.
If the idli sagoo tends to get too watery, add a tbsp. of fine breadcrumbs or 1 tsp. cornflour mixed in 1/4 cup water. Stir well till gravy thickens.
Excess batter may be stored in the fridge for 2-3 days without turning sour. Do not add salt to that batter beforehand, and cover with a plaintain leaf. Add salt and mix a few hours before using.
Add a handful of rice flour to bhajia batter for crisper and less oily bhajias.
Never beat idli batter too much just before spooning into moulds. Just spoon as is. The air already incorporated while rising is lost and idlis may not be as soft as they should be.
Grate excess fresh coconut, fill in clean freezer bags, and freeze. After thawing for use, wash with water 2-3 times, for coconut as good as fresh.
Mix in some mashed rice in the thick starch water. Blend to a thick batter. Add salt and chat masala for taste. Spoon out thin small papads on a greased plastic sheet. Use the backof a ladle. Sun-dry till brittle. Store in airtight container. Deep fry as a tasty snack.
Water plants with the water from cleaning rice, instead of throwing away. This water is like a diluted food for the plants.
Dehydrate leftover rice in an oven or sundry, till brittle. Puff up some by deep frying as required, add to soups as rice crispies.
Use starch water from rice to give a light starch to your cotton or silk scarves, dupattas, or sarees. Dilute before using.
Pressurecook lots of tomatoes, with adding water to them. Make puree in blender. Strain, cool, freeze in icetrays. When set, remove and fill in freezer polybags. Use cubes as required in recipes.
Grate cucumber before soiling your hands with any other ingredients, like chillies. Save the extracted water and apply on face with a clean cotton ball. Wash off after 30-40 minutes for a clean, cool, feel.
Throw in a handful of soaked beans or sprouts to give the added nourishment, as a combination in any raitha.
Stitch oval muslin bags with a loop to hang curds, paneer, etc. easily. Do not use them for other purposes to keep them clean and odourless.
Use the residue of tamarind to wash brass vessels to bring back the shine. Add in a dash of salt and soap powder.
To make creamier raithas, add half a cup of fresh cream to one recipe of raitha. Makes the dish much more rich, though.
Roast cumin seeds on a warm griddle before dry grinding. They will give a better flavour and grind faster.
Dip silver ornaments like toerings, payals, etc., in the curd whey got from hanging sour curds. Wash with soap after an hour or two, for a clean sparkling look.
Add a few tsps. of milk to cauliflower while boiling to rid it of the raw smell. Drain and wash before adding to the recipe.
Always hold fresh vegetables under running water for a minute, after boiling and draining, to enhance their colour, eg. carrots, greens, peas, etc. Hold in a colander or strainer so that the water passes through.
To keep salt from becoming lumpy in moist climate, add a dash of rice flour to it. Add a few rice grains in the salt shaker.
To access bindis easily, put them in a small photo album, like photographs. They will be not fall about and can be located very fast.
To save time, boil extra channa drain, freeze in freezable polybags, thaw to room temperature before using. Proceed as for freshly boiled channa. Add a bayleaf or two while boiling lentils, gives a better flavour.
For use of green like sarson ki bhaji out of season, microwave to dehydrate till crisp. Soak in hot water for half an hour, before proceeding as for fresh bhaji.
Always hold silver foil with edges, invert over the dish. Never attempt to hold with hand. It will stick to the fingers. If small bits are required, cut folded in paper and then apply as above. Smoothen out with the paper itself.
A shortcut method is to use cashew powder, soaked for 10 minutes in some milk. Then proceed as above. But the result may not be as smooth as the original recipe.
Toast a few slices of bread till crisp. Grind into fine bread crumbs. Store in a tight glass jar. Use as a handy thickener for gravies, soups, etc., if they feel too watery.
Save a tsp. of mashed dal from above. Mix in a tsp. each of fine oatmeal, rosewater and cream. Apply on face. Wash off after 15-20 minutes. Makes an effective and refreshing pack.
To make an easy muslin pouch: Take 2 consecutive corners of a rectangular piece of cloth and knot together tightly. Repeat for other 2 ends. Hold like a hammock shape, pour in the curd and use the knots to hang the pouch. Halfway, close the opening with a plain clothesline clip. Hand on a hook or tap easily.
Colour code similar keys around the house (set of cabinets, etc) by using 2 sets of of plain multicoloured bindis. Stick one on the key head and the other of the same colour on the door of the corresponding closet. Use for fevicol or glue for lasting effect.
Drain and keep any extra channa dal aside after cooking. Chill and then add chopped onions, chutneys, coriander, salt, chopped cucumber and tomatoes. Serve chilled as bhel with cups of steaming hot tea.
Wipe clean, glass of showcases, cars, windows etc. with a soft cloth dipped in the following: A strong solution of salt made by dissolving 2 tbsp. salt in 1 cup warm water.
To bring a sparkle to metal fittings in bathrooms, taps, etc., apply a thin vim paste all over, keep for 1 hour and wash off with warm soapy water and scrubber. Finally wash with plain water and wipe dry with a clean absorbent cloth.
If batter of any bhajias tends to become too thin, wet a slice or two of bread, press out all excess water, and mash it into the batter. This will help greatly in thickening the batter.
Do not dry wet leather shoes by putting in a warm place (like, before a fire) since they may dry faster but will become stiff and wear fast. Instead, stuff them with old absorbent cloth (cotton ) and allow to dry .
To make bhakris of flours like maize, bajra (millet), jowar etc. always make dough as required. Making too much hours ahead with make the dough gooey and impossible to roll or pat.
Use a plastic scrubber (round ball type) to scrub potatoes, beets, carrots etc. of mud, dirt, etc. from the crevices and curves easily. Keep the scrubber exclusively for this purpose only, for obvious reasons of hygiene.
Paneer crumbs, bread crumbs and some melted butter, tossed together form an excellent topping if you run short of cheese, for any baked dishes.
Use a mixture of lemon juice and glycerine in equal parts to dip nails which are brittle and bruised to make them stronger and shinier. Repeat process regularly if the case is extreme.
Store chopped vegetables in airtight plastic containers in the fridge to keep from browning and drying up.
Add some salt or vinegar drops while washing vegetables and greens to make them clean and germ free, eg. cauliflower, spinach, etc.
If curds have become too sour to eat as is, tie as above for 3-4 hours, add milk and use in raitas, curd rice, etc.
Blow out dirt from crevices of electronic gadgets, carved furniture, etc., by blowing air in the following way. Use an empty soft-plastic sauce dispenser bottle with a nozzle. Press so that the air blowing out will blow the dirt away.
Place some soda bicarb open in a small shallow dish in the fridge. This will disallow odours of one dish mixing into another. Eg. milk and guavas.
Place a folded cloth under any vessel which you have to whip in. You will have a better grip of the vessel since it will not slip over the worksurface. This holds good while mixing cake batter, icings, whipping, etc.
Rest assured that honey can never be adulterated. If warm water is added, it will ferment. If any type of sugar syrup is added it will solidify. Also, the older the better.
Fix candle in a container. Fill half the container with water before lighting the candle. This way, the candle lasts longer and the overflowed wax is easier to remove from the water. The container becomes easy to clean too.
Add contents of a capsule of b complex to the water in your vase to make the flowers last longer.
To freeze stock of your choice, eg., tomato, mixed vegetable as above, spinach, etc., prepare thick stock and cool to room temperature. Transfer to icecube trays and freeze to make solid cubes. Remove cubes and transfer to a freezable polythene bag, with an airseal. Remove excess air, seal tight. Store in freezer and use cubes as required.
Make a concentrated solution of bleaching powder and water. Apply on stained surfaces and wash basins in a bathroom (tiles, etc., not metallic), leave overnight. Wash clean with water next day. Will keep the bathroom sparkling.
Clean unreachable places and crevices in ovens and waffle trays etc. by using old tootbrushes dipped in soda bi carb. Then wipe clean with a soft cloth.
Blend all ingredients together and keep overnight in a cool place. Use with any savoury dishes like pastas, minestrones, bakes, etc.
Place tomatoes in hot water for 5-7 minutes, before using for easier peeling and better taste in any recipe where tomatoes are required to be cooked.
If pizza sauce (or gravies) has become very thin, thicken by adding 2 slices of dayold bread, run in a mixie to make very fine crumbs. Using too much cornflour may make the sauce taste pasty.
Pour a capful of liquid bleach in a stained commode. Keep for 1/2 hour. Add soap powder and brush, for a sparkle.
If gloves are inconvenient wear 2 old washed socks while doing chores which are rude on the hands, like carwashing, dish-washing, scrubbing, etc.
Save old toothbrushes for quick cleaning of those corner and grooves which are difficult to clean with larger brushes. eg. bottles, bathroom corners, tile joints, engraving on metals, etc.
Place a tsp. of soda bicarb in a corner of the fridge in a small crucible. This will keep smells of foods in the fridge from permeating each other.
Use the water drained from curdle milk to knead chappati dough. They will turn out softer and whiter.
Soak jewellery (eg. silver, copper, gold) in the water drained from curdled milk for 15 mins. wash them with soap afterwards. Get back the sparkle in them to look new.
Apply tamarind paste and salt for greasy, or copped bottomed or brass vessels, and wash. They come out much cleaner, and more easily.
Dissolve a 1/2 tsp. of turmeric powder in hald a cup of hot sweetened milk and drink for relief from cough and cold. Repeat morning and night for a week.
Make a decoction of tea leaves, mint, a bit of ginger. Mix in a dash of honey, sip hot to give relief from chest congestion.
Rub the point of a bee-bite with soft mud and salt made into a paste. The swelling will subside soon, as also the poison will not spread further.
A tsp. each of ginger juice and honey to be warmed and taken just before sleeping, to bring relief from severe cough. Repeat every night for a week.
Sprinkle a mixture of powdered cardomom and rock sugar (misri) over the tongue, gums and inner cheeks to get relief from mouth sores and ulcers. Repeat 3-4 times a day.
A clove and a cardamom kept in the mouth while travelling, brings relief to those suffering from motion sickness.
A drop or two of eucalyptus oil add to water for steam inhalation gives excellent relief in common colds.
If curd has turned sour, tie in cloth for a while (1/2-1 hour) remove in bowl add enough milk to get required consistency, beat well. The sourness will be gone. Use in raithas, rices, etc.
Rub mustard oil on palms and soles to bring warmth to a shivering body. Also use as massage oil for aching joints and muscles. However, the smell may be a bit repulsive, so add a few drops of perfume if desired.
Add a pinch of turmeric powder to the oil before adding green vegetables. The vegetables will retain their greenness better even after cooking.
Rub used lemon halves dipped in salt over greasy pans, and wipe clean with an old newspaper before washing. This will remove all the extra grease and make the washing easier. You may even rub some flour instead.
When carrying many food packets while travelling, use either transparent polythene bags or put a name sticker on each foil pack etc. so that guessing, opening and searching is avoided. When food is used up, use these bags to collect your litter on the way.
Crush chikki coarsely and use as nougat over cakes and icecreams. Use nuts of your choice.
Blanch green leafy vegetables ( fenugreek, spinach, etc.) in boiling water for 2 minutes. Hold under cold running water, press out excess water, store in freezer for about 2 weeks without spoiling.
Use the whey (water) from tied curds to make softer chappati, paratha and naans. Use this water instead of plain water to knead the dough.
Always use a clean pair of kitchen scissors to trim edges of bread. Much neater and less messy edges as compared to those trimmed with a knife.
Use a large semiboiled potato to make a quick flower arrangement if a flower holder is not available. Push sturdy stalks of flowers into the potato at the required angles. Do not keep for more than 2 days. Immerse in water to which an aspirin is added.
Use the water strained from the curdled milk (paneer) to soak your dull silvers for 15-20 minutes. Wash well. They will shine like new.
Use clean skins of boiled potatoes to place as a soothing pack over eyes to refresh and reduce their puffiness.
If there is a lot of leftover paneer crumbs, dry in a warm oven. Fry till crisp and store in the fridge. Soften in boiling water, drain and add to thicken gravies of any vegetables and curries.
Make tomato puree in bulk. Transfer to ice cube trays and freeze. Put the frozen cubes in a thick polythene bag. Store in the freezer and use reddy puree cubes as required. Will keep for over 3 weeks in the freezer.
Give a nice big bright star on your kiddies' room calender every day that he cleans out his lunch box fully!! See his enthusiasm soar.
Use minimal of wrappers, foils, etc. which they may litter or make messy if wrongly handled.
Replace sweets and candy with a few dry fruits like almonds, etc. for after lunch munching. So much healthier.
Try substituting kids' lunch bag with lemonade instead of water once or twice a week. They'll be thrilled.
Rub a piece of lime (used) inside the lunch box to get rid of strong odours (like garlic) before rinsing off.
If a lunch box tends of leak from cover, seal with scotch tape. Teach kid to remove tape before eating.
Grated paneer, carrot, beetroot etc. is a good accompaniment in a lunch box instead of biscuits, junk food like fries, etc.
Shake the vegetables loose in the plastic bag before thawing, to distribute the heat evenly.
Use tissue papers for reheating fried snacks. Eg. samosa, vada, kachori, bhajji, etc. The paper will absorb the excess oil and moisture and keep the snack crisp. Reheat on high for 1-1 1/2 minute.
Place a large bowl half full of water, microwave on high till it comes to a boil. Remove and clean oven with a moist cloth, to remove grime and grease. Clean then as usual with warm soapy water dipped cloth.
Round or oval containers will spread heat more evenly in a microwave oven than square, rectangular or odd shaped ones.
To get the best out of saffron: Warm saffron before crushing (you may use microwave: 10 secs on maxi.). Add 1 tsp. warm milk and stir well.
Make a lovely potpourri by drying your favourite flowers, herbs and leaves between layers of paper napkins. Make sure not do burn them. This may not last as long as the ones made by the long traditional process.
For apt usage of a microwave, compliment microwave cooking with traditional forms. Do the boiling, frying and seasoning part on a gas stove. While leaving the baking, sauteeing, cooking, melting, etc. to a microwave.
Sometimes oil begins to foam on heating to deepfry and rises dangerously in the pan. To dissipate the foam add a marble sized ball of tamarind to the oil.
To get rid of dandruff apply the following mixture of once or twice a week. Keep for 20-25 minutes before washing off with a mild soap or shampoo. Warm together, 1 tbsp. curds, 2 tsp. oil and 1 tsp. lemon juice.
Soak burnt pans with a weak solution of domestic ammonia and water. After an hour rub with used lemon peels dipped in salt. Wash with soap for a clean, clean pan.
If karanjias are used after too many days and feel stale, warm them for 1/2 to 1 minute in the microwave oven before serving. They will taste freshly fried.
If you cannot get hold of diwali diyas (lamps), make your own by mould out of ordinary wheat flour dough, about a week ahead, dry well and paint.
Don't throw away old toothbrushes. They form excellent scrubbers for so many places, eg. crevices in tiles, inlaid furniture, grooves in vessels, sieves, meshes, waffle irons, etc.
Sun dry lemon peels till brittle. Powder and use for scrubbing the face clean.
Feel like gorging on chocolates and cannot resist. Pick a nice firm ripe tomato, and just sink your teeth into it. Allow the juice to overtake the cravings. Once into the habit, you will love munching tomatoes instead of chips!!! Juicy tomatoes eaten just as they are, are great tasters.
For a cool clean feeling, rub the inner side of papaya peel all over face. Wash off with water after 15-20 minutes.
Add a leaf or two of fresh chopped mint to a glass of any mocktail to liven it up and add the minty zing to it.
Preboiling fruit like grapes, tomato, before making the juice, will keep the juice and water separating in the glass after pouring. The colour is also enhanced.
Quickest way to extract pure ginger juice, is to either pound or grate fresh ginger, sprinkle a wee bit of water, and put in a clean muslin cloth. Press out juice with thumb and fingers till only fibre remains.
Make a pack of raw potato peels, by folding in a wet gauze. Place two such packs over eyes for 15-20 minutes. Regularly used, this helps in reducing puffiness under the eyes and dark circles.
To get crystal clear ice cubes boil the water before pouring in icecubes. Those made with plain water are usually foggy or opaque
Always use the back of a perforated spoon to make the frying puris puff up. Use the non-puffed ones to make chaat, bhel, etc.
Wet burnt pans/vessels with water till burnt portion if fully moist and place the pan/vessel upside down for 10-15 minutes - tilt and clean normally. Sowmya Nataraj
Lot of Housewives complain about the time taken in the kitchen as they are chased by the clock. The Tip is you can do the cleaning of kitchen and utensils while waiting for boiling, heating and lot of other activities over the stove. This will save lot of time and extra efforts.
Add some citric acid to cleaning powder for cleaning brass and copper ware. They will come out much cleaner.
When your perfume bottle gets used up, place open bottle in wardrobe. A light whiff of your favourite perfume will envelope your clothes and cupboard for quite some time.
Wipe the blades of greasy knives with a peeled lemon . Wash under running water. The greasiness will disappear.
Make small quantities of many types of butters, so that with very little extra effort, you can provide yourself or family with a wide choice and variety to cater to many tastes.
Always rinse greasy vessels in hot water before hand washing or putting in a dish washer. They come out cleaner and leave dishes grimeless.
Pour some diluted liquid bleach into tea stained cups. Keep aside for 2-3 hours. Wash with soap. The tea stains will come off easily.
A traditional Gujarati way of keeping teeth strong and shipshape. Chew on a twig of the neem tree daily, before brushing!! In gujarati villages this is still the main form of a teeth cleanser.
To pep leftover farsan which is not getting over, add finely chopped onions, coriander, green chilli and salt, lemon juice, chaat masala. Toss and serve with afternoon tea as a spicy muchy.
Save the stems of colocasia leaves. Peel outer skin and chop fine. Add as garnish to a salad or stirfry and add to clear soup.
Rub the peel of ripe papaya, (inner side) on skin of face and hands, after peeing fruit. Keep for 15 minutes and wash off with cool water, for a fresh clean feel.
To get crystal clear ice cubes boil the water before pouring in icecubes. Those made with plain water are usually foggy or opaque.
Repeatedly rub wax on the insides of new shoes or sandals, for the first few days of wearing, to avoid shoe bites.
Use a pair of scissors instead of a knife for cutting hot vegetables like chillies and also leafy greens like spinach, celery, coriander, etc. Your work will get done much faster. Take care to use a clean, non-rusty pair used only for kitchen purposes.
Wrap potatoes etc. which you may want to bake in the coals, in foil, to retain moisture and also to avoid becoming sooty black.
Use day old slices of bread to hold better in the skewer. If the still slip, fasten with toothpick vertically inserted along the sides, to support the skewer.
When a large serving is required use the julien recipe ( veggies cut into inch long thin strips) since more can be sizzled in one round. Or supplement this dish with the patties, etc. of the veg. sizzler.
Line the bottom of the charcoal bowl with a foil, shining side down, to heat coals better and ease in emptying out the bowl.
Run the sizzler tray with a piece of lemon peel dipped in salt to remove the grime easily. Continue with regular wash.
Colour code similar keys around the house (set of cabinets, etc) by using 2 sets of of plain multicoloured bindis. Stick one on the key head and the other of the same colour on the door of the corresponding closet. Use for fevicol or glue for lasting effect.
Drain and keep any extra channa dal aside after cooking. Chill and then add chopped onions, chutneys, coriander, salt, chopped cucumber and tomatoes. Serve chilled as bhel with cups of steaming hot tea.
Wipe clean, glass of showcases, cars, windows etc. with a soft cloth dipped in the following: A strong solution of salt made by dissolving 2 tbsp. salt in 1 cup warm water.
To bring a sparkle to metal fittings in bathrooms, taps, etc., apply a thin vim paste all over, keep for 1 hour and wash off with warm soapy water and scrubber. Finally wash with plain water and wipe dry with a clean absorbent cloth.
If batter of any bhajias tends to become too thin, wet a slice or two of bread, press out all excess water, and mash it into the batter. This will help greatly in thickening the batter.
Do not dry wet leather shoes by putting in a warm place (like, before a fire) since they may dry faster but will become stiff and wear fast. Instead, stuff them with old absorbent cloth (cotton ) and allow to dry .
To make bhakris of flours like maize, bajra (millet), jowar etc. always make dough as required. Making too much hours ahead with make the dough gooey and impossible to roll or pat.
Use a plastic scrubber (round ball type) to scrub potatoes, beets, carrots etc. of mud, dirt, etc. from the crevices and curves easily. Keep the scrubber exclusively for this purpose only, for obvious reasons of hygiene.
Paneer crumbs, bread crumbs and some melted butter, tossed together form an excellent topping if you run short of cheese, for any baked dishes.
Rub face with the peel of papaya, (inner side) keep for fifteen minutes. Wash with cool water, for a fresh clean feel.
To keep the green colour of peas bright, put in boiling water and boil on high till done. Drain, pour very cold water over them, drain again. Use as required.
Always wipe dry steel bathroom taps after using to keep the shine intact. Water left to dry on metal taps leave stains which over a period become difficult to remove.
Add a handful of well soaked dal to any salad to throw in that extra requirement of protien in your diet.
Grind cardamom along with skins to make powder. Pass through sieve. While getting more quantity and becoming economical the flavour is also enhanced. Mix the residue in tea leave or tea masala for beautifully aromatic tea.
Rub outside of halved coconut shells with sandpaper to smoothen surface. Apply varnish. Use as containers to grow small cactii and other plants for decorative effect.
To get crystal clear ice cubes boil the water before pouring in icecubes. Those made with plain water are usually foggy or opaque
Always use the back of a perforated spoon to make the frying puris puff up. Use the non-puffed ones to make chaat, bhel, etc.
Add some citric acid to cleaning powder for cleaning brass and copper ware. They will come out much cleaner.
When your perfume bottle gets used up, place open bottle in wardrobe. A light whiff of your favourite perfume will envelope your clothes and cupboard for quite some time.
Wipe the blades of greasy knives with a peeled lemon . Wash under running water. The greasiness will disappear.
Make small quantities of many types of butters, so that with very little extra effort, you can provide yourself or family with a wide choice and variety to cater to many tastes.
Always rinse greasy vessels in hot water before hand washing or putting in a dish washer. They come out cleaner and leave dishes grimeless.
Do not throw away almond peels. Sun dry and drygrind fine. Mix with gramflour, curd and use as a face wash.
Add a few pinches of salt to cauliflower while boiling. Add a small blob of butter to the drained cauliflower and mix. This will enhance the flavour of the cauliflower in your recipe.
Soak almonds in water overnight if you want to remove skin. The skin will come off much faster than that soaked in hot water for a short time. The almonds will not discolour also. Any extras may be sundried till crisp and stored for months in airtight jars.
If gum dries up, add a little vinegar and stir.
Store nail polish bottles in the refrigerator to prevent the polish from drying up.
To get a dry sketch pen working again, pour three or four drops of hot water into the sponge tube inside and wait a while.
If grilled doors or windows start getting rusty, scrape off the rust carefully and paint the area immediately. You can also use a metal primer instead of paint.
To remove mud stains from clothes, soak and wash them in water collected after boiling potatoes.
To make aluminium vessels look good again, rub them with emery paper. Mere washing can't remove the black stains.
If an onion is too sharp in taste, wash, drain and toss into some beaten curd. Add a dash of salt and pepper, it becomes a tasty raitha.
To bake potatoes crisp and brown, soak the peeled potatoes in hot water for a while, pat dry and pierce all over with a fork before placing them in hot fat along with the roast.
If fish is to be stored for more than a day, clean it, rub with salt, turmeric and if liked, a dash of vinegar before freezing.
If dried herbs are used in a recipe, crush them first to release their fragrance.
Save the peel of apples, cucumbers and peaches. Grind them and add to the ingredients of a green chutney (coriander leaves, green chillies, ginger, coconut, salt and sugar). It makes a tasty and nutritious chutney and when mixed with curd makes an unusual raita.
Never scrape burnt leftovers from casseroles. Soak in a weak solution of vinegar, salt and soapy warm water for an hour or so. The stuck particles will come off very easily, without scratching the dish.
Always soak cauliflower in warm salted water for some time to get rid of the tiny insects sometimes present deep inside the florets and not visible to the eye.
Adding a little dry rice to sugar while grinding it, will keep it from becoming lumpy.
Easiest way to chop raisins. Sprinkle some flour over them so they don't stick. Cut with a small kitchen scissors as required.
Add a few pinches of turmeric, a small spoon of ghee, to dal before pressure cooking. This will impart a better flavour to the dal.
Rub the soles of new footwear (leather soled) with some sandpaper to keep from slipping on polished floors.
Cut a small piece of the base of flower stalks each day, and add a capsule contents of B complex to the vase water, to make cut flowers last longer.
Use a knife dipped in hot water to smoothen the icing surface and sides. Repeat the action till the whole icing is smoothened.
Use varied coloured doughs like green one above, to make shapes (leaves, cherries, braids, etc.) and deep fry on low till done. Decorate a variety of festive dishes like baked casseroles, au gratins, pulaos, etc. with them. Store in airtight containers for 2-3 days.
Add a pinch of soda bicarb to the water to boil peas etc. faster and also to retain their bright green colour.
Use a mixture of lemon juice and glycerine in equal parts to dip nails which are brittle and bruised to make them stronger and shinier. Repeat process regularly if the case is extreme.
Store chopped vegetables in airtight plastic containers in the fridge to keep from browning and drying up.
Add some salt or vinegar drops while washing vegetables and greens to make them clean and germ free, eg. cauliflower, spinach, etc.
If curds have become too sour to eat as is, tie as above for 3-4 hours, add milk and use in raitas, curd rice, etc.
Blow out dirt from devices of electronic gadgets, carved furniture, etc., by blowing air in the following way. Use an empty soft-plastic sauce dispenser bottle with a nozzle. Press so that the air blowing out will blow the dirt away.
Place some soda bicarb open in a small shallow dish in the fridge. This will disallow odours of one dish mixing into another. Eg. milk and guavas.
Place a folded cloth under any vessel which you have to whip in. You will have a better grip of the vessel since it will not slip over the worksurface. This holds good while mixing cake batter, icings, whipping, etc.
Rest assured that honey can never be adulterated. If warm water is added, it will ferment. If any type of sugar syrup is added it will solidify. Also, the older the better.
Fix candle in a container. Fill half the container with water before lighting the candle. This way, the candle lasts longer and the overflowed wax is easier to remove from the water. The container becomes easy to clean too.
Add contents of a capsule of b complex to the water in your vase to make the flowers last longer.
To freeze stock of your choice, eg., tomato, mixed vegetable as above, spinach, etc., prepare thick stock and cool to room temperature. Transfer to icecube trays and freeze to make solid cubes. Remove cubes and transfer to a freezable polythene bag, with an airseal. Remove excess air, seal tight. Store in freezer and use cubes as required.
Make a concentrated solution of bleaching powder and water. Apply on stained surfaces and wash basins in a bathroom (tiles, etc., not metallic), leave overnight. Wash clean with water next day. Will keep the bathroom sparkling.
Clean unreachable places and crevices in ovens and waffle trays etc. by using old tootbrushes dipped in soda bi carb. Then wipe clean with a soft cloth.
Place tomatoes in hot water for 5-7 minutes, before using for easier peeling and better taste in any recipe where tomatoes are required to be cooked.
If pizza sauce (or gravies) has become very thin, thicken by adding 2 slices of dayold bread, run in a mixie to make very fine crumbs. Using too much cornflour may make the sauce taste pasty.
If curd has turned sour, tie in cloth for a while (1/2-1 hour) remove in bowl add enough milk to get required consistency, beat well. The sourness will be gone. Use in raithas, rices, etc.
Rub mustard oil on palms and soles to bring warmth to a shivering body. Also use as massage oil for aching joints and muscles. However, the smell may be a bit repulsive, so add a few drops of perfume if desired.
Add a pinch of turmeric powder to the oil before adding green vegetables. The vegetables will retain their greenness better even after cooking.
Rub used lemon halves dipped in salt over greasy pans, and wipe clean with an old newspaper before washing. This will remove all the extra grease and make the washing easier. You may even rub some flour instead.
When carrying many food packets while travelling, use either transparent polythene bags or put a name sticker on each foil pack etc. so that guessing, opening and searching is avoided. When food is used up, use these bags to collect your litter on the way.
Crush chikki coarsely and use as nougat over cakes and icecreams. Use nuts of your choice.
Blanch green leafy vegetables ( fenugreek, spinach, etc.) in boiling water for 2 minutes. Hold under cold running water, press out excess water, store in freezer for about 2 weeks without spoiling.
Shake the vegetables loose in the plastic bag before thawing, to distribute the heat evenly.
Use tissue papers for reheating fried snacks. Eg. samosa, vada, kachori, bhajji, etc. The paper will absorb the excess oil and moisture and keep the snack crisp. Reheat on high for 1-1 1/2 minute.
Place a large bowl half full of water, microwave on high till it comes to a boil. Remove and clean oven with a moist cloth, to remove grime and grease. Clean then as usual with warm soapy water dipped cloth.
Round or oval containers will spread heat more evenly in a microwave oven than square, rectangular or odd shaped ones.
To get the best out of saffron: Warm saffron before crushing (you may use microwave: 10 secs on maxi.). Add 1 tsp. warm milk and stir well.
Make a lovely potpourri by drying your favourite flowers, herbs and leaves between layers of paper napkins. Make sure not do burn them. This may not last as long as the ones made by the long traditional process.
For apt usage of a microwave, compliment microwave cooking with traditional forms. Do the boiling, frying and seasoning part on a gas stove. While leaving the baking, sauteeing, cooking, melting, etc. to a microwave.
Sometimes oil begins to foam on heating to deepfry and rises dangerously in the pan. To dissipate the foam add a marble sized ball of tamarind to the oil.
To get rid of dandruff apply the following mixture of once or twice a week. Keep for 20-25 minutes before washing off with a mild soap or shampoo. Warm together, 1 tbsp. curds, 2 tsp. oil and 1 tsp. lemon juice.
Soak burnt pans with a weak solution of domestic ammonia and water. After an hour rub with used lemon peels dipped in salt. Wash with soap for a clean, clean pan.
If karanjias are used after too many days and feel stale, warm them for 1/2 to 1 minute in the microwave oven before serving. They will taste freshly fried.
If you cannot get hold of diwali diyas (lamps), make your own by mould out of ordinary wheat flour dough, about a week ahead, dry well and paint.
Don't throw away old toothbrushes. They form excellent scrubbers for so many places, eg. crevices in tiles, inlaid furniture, grooves in vessels, sieves, meshes, waffle irons, etc.
Do not throw away unused chillies in vinegar while making a chinese course. Blend, bottle and use to spice up soups, rices, etc.
Wipe mirrors first with pieces of moist newspaper and then with dry newpaper toget a clean, spotless mirror.
Keep is whole cardamom or clove in the mouth to subside the sensation of vomitting.
To remove cellotape stuck on walls, etc ( eg. for posters) without removing the paint, hold a warm iron over it for a few seconds, then peel off slowly.
Put a handful of salt in the rinsing water for glass and crockery for a cleaner, crystal clear wash.
Add a cupful of soaked poha to 5 cupfuls of rice soaked for idlis and grind with the rice for softer and lighter idlis.
Make bread crumbs from toasts and store some in the fridge. They come in very hand for thickening gravies, especially if you've landed up making them extra watery!!!
Always keep some readymade gingerpaste and garlic paste in the freezer. Comes in handy and enhances the flavor of most dishes in a jiffy.
This may sound funny, but when cutting lots of onions, to avoid burning of the eyes, if you have swimming goggles then wear them and cut. This will prevent the eyes from watering. Subbu Balakrishnan
Keep an extra potato or two handy. Boil in their jacket, drain dry and keep in the fridge. Use in a jiffy when you to tired to make tedious things. Either season with salt and pepper or put slices in bread sandwiches or fry and season or make a quick stir fried vegetable. The potatoes will stay good in a refrigerator for 2-3 days.
When cutting hard vegetables like potatoes, beetroots or carrots, put them in the microwave oven before cutting them into slices. They will be much easier to cut. Subbu Balakrishnan
Using earthen or stone ware for setting curds will result in firmer and better quality curd. Since they are porous they absorb the excess moisture.
Just dip a small clean rag in a teeny bit of any oil (edible too) and rub on creaky hinges. You will experience quiet doors and windows in a jiffy!!!
To break open the coconuts easily (the brown ones..), place them in the refrigerator for 30-60 minutes. This would seperate the shell easily. Ami B Shah
Rinse white clothes in water to which some alum powder is added, for better whites.
To allow free flow of sauce from a sauce bottle to a pourer, insert a drinking straw half way, into the bottle and hold it there lightly with one hand while pouring with the other.
Always add a tbsp. of oil to plenty of water while boiling pasta of any kind. It will keep them from sticking to each other.
Line the bottoms of your kitchen cabinet shelves with old newspapers. Instead of tedious cleaning, just dicard and replace with fresh ones. Cheap and quick.
Pour a capful of liquid bleach in a stained commode. Keep for 1/2 hour. Add soap powder and brush, for a sparkle.
If gloves are inconvenient wear 2 old washed socks while doing chores which are rude on the hands, like carwashing, dish-washing, scrubbing, etc.
Save old toothbrushes for quick cleaning of those corner and grooves which are difficult to clean with larger brushes. eg. bottles, bathroom corners, tile joints, engraving on metals, etc.
Place a tsp. of soda bicarb in a corner of the fridge in a small crucible. This will keep smells of foods in the fridge from permeating each other.
Use the water drained from curdle milk to knead chappati dough. They will turn out softer and whiter.
Soak jewellery (eg. silver, copper, gold) in the water drained from curdled milk for 15 mins. wash them with soap afterwards. Get back the sparkle in them to look new.
Apply tamarind paste and salt for greasy, or copped bottomed or brass vessels, and wash. They come out much cleaner, and more easily.
Dissolve a 1/2 tsp. of turmeric powder in hald a cup of hot sweetened milk and drink for relief from cough and cold. Repeat morning and night for a week.
Make a decoction of tea leaves, mint, a bit of ginger. Mix in a dash of honey, sip hot to give relief from chest congestion.
Rub the point of a bee-bite with soft mud and salt made into a paste. The swelling will subside soon, as also the poison will not spread further.
A tsp. each of ginger juice and honey to be warmed and taken just before sleeping, to bring relief from severe cough. Repeat every night for a week.
Sprinkle a mixture of powdered cardomom and rock sugar (misri) over the tongue, gums and inner cheeks to get relief from mouth sores and ulcers. Repeat 3-4 times a day.
A clove and a cardamom kept in the mouth while travelling, brings relief to those suffering from motion sickness.
A drop or two of eucalyptus oil add to water for steam inhalation gives excellent relief in common colds.
Use the whey (water) from tied curds to make softer chappati, paratha and naans. Use this water instead of plain water to knead the dough.
Always use a clean pair of kitchen scissors to trim edges of bread. Much neater and less messy edges as compared to those trimmed with a knife.
Use a large semiboiled potato to make a quick flower arrangement if a flower holder is not available. Push sturdy stalks of flowers into the potato at the required angles. Do not keep for more than 2 days. Immerse in water to which an aspirin is added.
Use the water strained from the curdled milk (paneer) to soak your dull silvers for 15-20 minutes. Wash well. They will shine like new.
Use clean skins of boiled potatoes to place as a soothing pack over eyes to refresh and reduce their puffiness.
If there is a lot of leftover paneer crumbs, dry in a warm oven. Fry till crisp and store in the fridge. Soften in boiling water, drain and add to thicken gravies of any vegetables and curries.
Make tomato puree in bulk. Transfer to ice cube trays and freeze. Put the frozen cubes in a thick polythene bag. Store in the freezer and use reddy puree cubes as required. Will keep for over 3 weeks in the freezer.
Give a nice big bright star on your kiddies' room calender every day that he cleans out his lunch box fully!! See his enthusiasm soar.
Use minimal of wrappers, foils, etc. which they may litter or make messy if wrongly handled.
Replace sweets and candy with a few dry fruits like almonds, etc. for after lunch munching. So much healthier.
Try substituting kids' lunch bag with lemonade instead of water once or twice a week. They'll be thrilled.
Rub a piece of lime (used) inside the lunch box to get rid of strong odours (like garlic) before rinsing off.
If a lunch box tends of leak from cover, seal with scotch tape. Teach kid to remove tape before eating.
Grated paneer, carrot, beetroot etc. is a good accompaniment in a lunch box instead of biscuits, junk food like fries, etc.
If bhajias, fritters, pakodas are soaking too much oil, or are not as crisp as should be, add some hot oil to the batter. (3/4 tbsp. to a cup of batter). Their texture will improve remarkably.
Pour a capful of liquid bleach in a stained commode. Keep for 1/2 hour. Add soap powder and brush, for a sparkle.
If gloves are inconvenient wear 2 old washed socks while doing chores which are rude on the hands, like carwashing, dish-washing, scrubbing, etc.
Save old toothbrushes for quick cleaning of those corner and grooves which are difficult to clean with larger brushes. eg. bottles, bathroom corners, tile joints, engraving on metals, etc.
Place a tsp. of soda bicarb in a corner of the fridge in a small crucible. This will keep smells of foods in the fridge from permeating each other.
Use the water drained from curdle milk to knead chappati dough. They will turn out softer and whiter.
Soak jewellery (eg. silver, copper, gold) in the water drained from curdled milk for 15 mins. wash them with soap afterwards. Get back the sparkle in them to look new.
Apply tamarind paste and salt for greasy, or copped bottomed or brass vessels, and wash. They come out much cleaner, and more easily.
Dissolve a 1/2 tsp. of turmeric powder in hald a cup of hot sweetened milk and drink for relief from cough and cold. Repeat morning and night for a week.
Make a decoction of tea leaves, mint, a bit of ginger. Mix in a dash of honey, sip hot to give relief from chest congestion.
Rub the point of a bee-bite with soft mud and salt made into a paste. The swelling will subside soon, as also the poison will not spread further.
A tsp. each of ginger juice and honey to be warmed and taken just before sleeping, to bring relief from severe cough. Repeat every night for a week.
Sprinkle a mixture of powdered cardomom and rock sugar (misri) over the tongue, gums and inner cheeks to get relief from mouth sores and ulcers. Repeat 3-4 times a day.
A clove and a cardamom kept in the mouth while travelling, brings relief to those suffering from motion sickness.
A drop or two of eucalyptus oil add to water for steam inhalation gives excellent relief in common colds.
Use the whey (water) from tied curds to make softer chappati, paratha and naans. Use this water instead of plain water to knead the dough.
Always use a clean pair of kitchen scissors to trim edges of bread. Much neater and less messy edges as compared to those trimmed with a knife.
Use a large semiboiled potato to make a quick flower arrangement if a flower holder is not available. Push sturdy stalks of flowers into the potato at the required angles. Do not keep for more than 2 days. Immerse in water to which an aspirin is added.
Use the water strained from the curdled milk (paneer) to soak your dull silvers for 15-20 minutes. Wash well. They will shine like new.
Use clean skins of boiled potatoes to place as a soothing pack over eyes to refresh and reduce their puffiness.
If there is a lot of leftover paneer crummbs, dry in a warm oven. Fry till crisp and store in the fridge. Soften in boiling water, drain and add to thicken gravies of any vegetables and curries.
Make tomato puree in bulk. Transfer to ice cube trays and freeze. Put the frozen cubes in a thick polythene bag. Store in the freezer and use reddy puree cubes as required. Will keep for over 3 weeks in the freezer.
Give a nice big bright star on your kiddies' room calender every day that he cleans out his lunch box fully!! See his enthusiasm soar.
Use minimal of wrappers, foils, etc. which they may litter or make messy if wrongly handled.
Replace sweets and candy with a few dry fruits like almonds, etc. for after lunch munching. So much healthier.
Try substituting kids' lunch bag with lemonade instead of water once or twice a week. They'll be thrilled.
Rub a piece of lime (used) inside the lunch box to get rid of strong odours (like garlic) before rinsing off.
If a lunch box tends of leak from cover, seal with scotch tape. Teach kid to remove tape before eating.
Grated paneer, carrot, beetroot etc. is a good accompaniment in a lunch box instead of biscuits, junk food like fries, etc.
Always keep a couple of boiled potatoes (skins intact) handy in the fridge. They are very useful when in a hurry. Either bake them, or make a quick curry, or fry them. Eat them in a sandwich, or just plain with salt and pepper. Stir fry and add spices or make a quick paratha.
Use a pizza cutter to cut rounds into strips for fried noodles, instead of a knife. It is faster and less messy.
Use chilli oil ( given in tips and hints) instead of the ordinary oil, if you want to make the dish spicier.
When grinding udad dal for dosas, keep aside 2 tsp. for applying to hair. Keep on for 15 minutes, wash with shampoo as normally. Gives body and lustre to hair.
If your griddle is large enough make many teeny weeny dosas instead of one big one. Top them with a bit of chutney and sandwich them. Kids enjoy these and eat them much less messily.
Make dosas a little less crisp. Roll in any desired filling like a frankie. Add chutney or jam if desired. Make very tasty rolls for your kids' lunch box, with change from the routine sandwich too!!
Add some soaked and ground poha to the leftover dosa batter to make tasty uthappams. Top with chopped onions, tomatoes and green chillies.
Keep a piece of chalk with your daughter's costume jewellery. It will not get tarnished but look new even after months!
Stick a strip of medicated plaster under the sole of your child's new shoes. He will not slip on a slippery floor.
Apply a little furniture wax onto the inside of ash-trays. In this way, the trays can be washed easily.
If you happen to put excess salt in the curry, cut a raw potato into about 10 pieces and drop them into the curry & leave for 15 min. They will absorb the excess salt. Remove the pieces before serving.
To make thick gravy for mutton, chicken or vegetables, grate the onions, squeeze out their juice and brown the onions and the masala. Add the juice as stock, after the onions are brown. The onion flavour is not lost and you don't have to add water to make the gravy.
To avoid stains and smudges on costly cookbooks while following recipes, slip them, open page up, into a transparent plastic bag.
Sour buttermilk obtained after churning cream into butter can be used for preparing instant dosas. Warm a little fine semolina and maida and add to the buttermilk and prepare dosa batter. Keep it aside for half an hour and fry the dosas. You can add salt, chopped onions, green chillies and coriander leaves.
While cutting tomatoes into slices, use a bread sknife instead of an ordinary knife. The skin remains intact - also the task is executed faster.
If insects like scorpions or centipedes enter the house, don't panic. Pour some kerosene on their faces as they advance. They will be immobilised, then kill. This technique can even immobilise a reptile.
Shoes often lose their shine when old. Rub with slices of raw potato and polish. They will look almost as good as new.
To charge a used pencil battery, place its negative end near a candle flame and warm for five minutes. The battery will be as good new.
Black and blue cloured clothes which have faded, look new if dipped in concentrated aquamarine blue solution.
Smear your hands with a little tamarind juice while collecting butter from churned cream. The butter will not stick to the hands.
While cooking onions or garlic, place an open bowl of vinegar by the stove. The smell will not pervade the house or kitchen.
For a quick chaat, fry leftover pieces of bread in ghee till crisp. Arrange the pieces in a plate. Pour curds, salt, red chilli and cumin powders, coriander leaves and green chillies on them. Top with tamarind and jaggery chutney.
To remove the stains of citrous fruit juices, especially of lemons from the floor, smear the stain with coconut oil and rub well. The stain will vanish within a few days.
For a children's party, make coloured ice-cubes by adding food colour to the water. Children love ice-crem, but it's quite expensive bought from the parlour. Instead, buy cones and make creamy inexpensive ice-cream at home (do not freeze fully). Fill in the cones and top with a cherry or grated chocolate.
Try to stick to one style of cooking during any party. Many people mix Indian food with Chinese or continental dishes which spoil individual taste. For example, Russian salad and pulao or chow-mein and chicken korma do not go together.
If fried snacks or titbits are served with the drinks, preceding dinner, arrange small paper napkins along with the tray. Messy fingers are embarrasing for both the guests and the hostess.
Once the menu is decided for any party, write down the ingredients needed, next to each recipe. It avoids a lot of last minute shopping and running around.
When there is party, prepare a menu well in advance. Introduce a new recipe only if tried, at least, once.
To keep your sesame oil fresh for a few months without being spoilt, add a lump of jaggery to the oil.
During the rainly season, apply mustered oil on the inner side of your shoes. No fungus will form.
Do not throw away the skin of ripe lemons after extracting their juice. Dry in the sun and use as insect repellants in cupboards, etc.
Do not throw away cucumber peels. Place in drawers and strategic corners to keep cockroaches away.
Combs can be cleaned by dipping them for a while in a solution of washing soda and warm water.
Immerse rusty curtain rings in hot vinegar for two hours. Wash off with water and wipe dry. The rings will look new.
Pot-plants - The next time you boil eggs, use the cooled water, which is now filled with minerals from the eggs, to give your pot-plants a good, nourishing drink.
Garden hint - When sowing carrots, mix the seeds with two tablespoons of Epsom salts before placing them in the ground. The carrots will grow free from blight as a result.
Better rhubarb - Add flavour to rhubarb by cooking it with left over juice syrup from canned fruit, such as peaches, pears, and apricots.
Cleaning inside an iron - Turn the iron on, pour vinegar in the water hole, and fill it up. Once the iron is hot, push the stream button four or five times. All built-up grit and grime will then be removed. Finally, empty the vinegar from the iron and rinse well with water.
Oil substitute - If you don't have any oil at hand when doors and hinges begin to squeak, you will find that a smear of butter or margarine is a good substitute.
Dirty collars - Brush shampoo into a dirty shirt-collar before running it through the washing machine. Well worth the extra effort.
If you write your own labels for kitchen or storage containers, cover the lables with transparent cellotape so that do not smudge.
When cleaning the yard, gather sticks, twigs and leaves into paper bags. When you need kindling for a fire one bag will do the trick.
Small cracks in plastic can be repaired by running a hot (not red-hot) scresdriver lightly along the crack.
To remove rain spots from suede shoes, rub with an emery board.
Stains can be removed from brown leather shoes by rubbing them with the inner side of a banana skin. Then wipe with a clean cloth and polish.
Do not use soap when cleaning a mirror because it streaks the glass. All you need to do in cleaning a mirror is to wipt it with a cloth moistened with water in which a little vinegar or ammonia has been added, and then wipe the mirror dry with a soft cloth that is lint free.
Do not wash eggs when you store them. There is a "coating" on eggs that helps in keeping odours and bacteria from entering.
For a painful scald, try this home-made remedy. Place a crushed onion on the affected part, with a bandage over it. It really works and brings relief. Another good remedy for burns and scalds, is to smear the parts immediately with the white of an egg. In half an hour there will be no sign of the burn, and no soreness. Works like magic!
To improve the colour of brown shoes, rub with the inside of a banana skin, then dry and polish with a soft cloth.
For those who do not care for a spicy taste, you can sprinkle some grated cheese on the dosa while shallowfrying. Eat with sauce instead of chutney. This will suit the taste of those who are used to bland foods.
Dehydrate the residue of coconut used for coconut milk by drying the sun. This dried flaked coconut can be used in dry chutneys, sweets, masalas, etc.
Add a few drops of lemon juice and 1/2 tsp. ghee while steaming long grain rice (basmati) to make the it whiter and keep the grain unbroken.
Mix in 15-20 cloves to a kilogram of dal, while storing. This will keep the dal from getting attacked by insects. The same cloves can be reused.
To a cupful of leftover dal,add 2 leftover chappaties and a dash of leftover rice if desired, and further add some water, coriander leaves, and boil in a saucepan. Add any spices and salt if required. Garnish with a tsp. of fresh ghee. You have a tasty hot wholesome breakfast.
To get rid of dandruff, add one part water to one part vinegar and apply to scalp. Wash after half an hour. Repeat this weekly for good results.
Mix spirit and milk in equal quantities, and wipe paint or ball pen stains from foam leather, like sofas, purses, etc., with ease.
Put the container for setting curds in a large hot case to make the curds set faster and better.
Make a potpourri of dried roses, lavender, jasmine, mintleaves, oatmeal and a handful of coarse gram flour. Tie in a strong but not too thick cloth. Soak for 10 minutes in bathwater and rub youaelf with the pouch while bathing for a fresh, fragrant and clean, clean bath.
Clean embedded dirt from gold or silver jewellery by giving them a brisk brushing with some toothpaste and an old toothbrush.Then wash with water. Just like you brush your teeth! The effect is sparkling!
Place dried neem leaves (folded between two pieces of newspaper) in stored grains, eg. wheat to avoid from being attacked by worms and insects.
Add a tsp. each, of salt and vinegar to soap water for washing crystals and crockery to make them crystal clean and sparkling.
Bring the shine back on jari work of a saree by rubbing alum powder on the work with a small soft brush. Dust off and wipe.
To make whiter and crisper potato wafers add some alum crystals and salt to the water in which you drop the wafers for soaking.
To clean musty insides of a thermosflask kept closed for long, put in some tiny shreds of old newspaper and fill with warm water. Wash with soap water after 8-10 hours. The flask will sparkle as new and have no stale odours left.
Use the water used for washing dals and rice to water the plants. This water is very rich in nutrients and acts as a fertilizer.
Remove yellow food stains from tablemats, etc. by applying a paste of detergent and water to the stained areas and keep in the sun for an hour. Wash like your other laundry.
Apply transparent nailpolish to your trinkets and junk jewellery to make their lustre last much longer, and also protect them from moisture and sweat.
To get rid of dandruff, mix juice of 1 lime in 1 tbsp. curd (yoghurt) and 1 tsp. coconut oil. Apply to the scalp and hair 1 hour before shampooing. Do this at least once a week for dandruff-free hair
Any extra water in which vegetables have been boiled can be saved and used as stock for soups. Stock prepared in large quantities can be frozen in icecube trays and stored in a plastic bag as cubes. Use as required.
Add a few drops of limejuice and a tsp. of ghee to rice before boiling to separate each grain.
When the sewing machine gets stuck on a thick, coarse cloth, rub the area on which you wish to run the machine with a candle.
Rub powdered borax on fruit stains, then pour boiling water through the fabric before washing it.
Synthetic fibres stick to the bottom of the iron. Cool the iron, then rub the affected surface with nail polish remover to get rid of the stickly matter
To make samosas crisper add some cornflour to the maida for dough.
Rain spots on satin, felt or similar fabrics will disappear if you brush them in a circular motion, using a soft ball of tissue paper.
Soak a few (4-5) tablets of camphor in your hairoil (coconut) to keep away dandruff and lice.
Do not throw away any excess water used in boiling dal. Just keep it in the fridge and use as stock for soups, when required. Will keep in fridge for a day.
Soak used lime peels (20-25 at a time) in hot water for an hour or two. Squeeze peels inside the water. Strain. Mix 2-3 tsp of rose water. Mix this water in the last part of you bath water, for the tangy lemony-fresh luxury bath. At no extra cost !!.
Rub your windscreen with a cut potato or apple to prevent misting or icing.
Dip your silvers (jewellery, cutlery, etc. ) in water used for boiling potatoes. Wash with soap after an hour. This will bring back the sparkle. If you are busy just let them be soaked till you can wash them at your leisure. No harm.
Apply toothpaste on both sides of an ink-stain on cloth. Wash after dry.
Add a little alum to the last rinse water for cleaner, whiter white clothes.
Mix spirit and milk to wipe away ballpen stains from foam leather.
If your cutlery is discoloured by egg stains, crumble a sheet of silver paper and one teaspoon of salt in a glass of water. Put the spoons and forks in this and they will come out looking clean and shining in a few minutes.
A little lime juice added to beetroot will make them a brilliant red colour.
A tsp. of ghee add to the dal before pressure cooking, will keep it from overflowing out of the container into the cooker.
To loosen a rusted bolt, apply a few drops of household ammonia or brake fluid.
Rub brassware with tamarind and salt before washing with soap. It will sparkle like new.
Use cornflakes as a substitute for sev or papdis. It is available everywhere and give the same crunchiness to a dish, eg. bhel.
Add a few methi (fenugreek) seeds to toor dal while pressure cooking. This makes the dal easier to digest.
To avoid fingernails getting grimy and gritty during messy work, apply some petroleum jelly or vaseline generously all over the hands.
Place candles in a dish of water while burning. They will last longer.
Lime peels dipped in salt can be used to make coppers-bottoms sparkle. Rub with salt dipped peel. Leave for a minute. Scub with soap and wash.

MONEYMAKING TIPS-The Amazing 11 BEST Money Ideas Of All Time

2007-08-28T00:20:00.000-07:00

Some things never change, and certain truths are universal. As it
happens, this applies to the age old topic of money, as well.

At any time in history, no matter what the current state of the economy,
no matter what the current trends, no matter what the unemployment rate is
or where interest rates lurk, some money-making truths are set in stone,
and remain true across time in all different kinds of economies.

Some of you may have heard of these ideas before, others may be entirely
new to you. But whether you are familiar with these super secrets or not,
it will be well worth your while to put them into effect in your own life.
The magic they will work on your financial life is guaranteed. These
money-making ideas are just waiting for you to bring them to life. We urge
you to put them to work for you - any one of these could change your life!
Let's get started!

Amazing Money Tip #1:

The great scientist Albert Einstein once said, "It takes a genius to see
the obvious." What he meant by that is that sometimes the simplest things
in life are the most powerful ... but because they are so simple, we tend
to ignore them, and not let them work for us.

One of the simplest but most powerful money making ideas is this: Keep a
daily log of everything you spend. Go to the dime store and buy a little
notebook. Carry it with you wherever you go. Write down every penny -
every single penny - you spend every day. It's as simple as that.

If you do this, you will find something magic happening in your financial
life in just a few weeks.

There is something incredibly powerful about writing down all your
expenditures. It makes the flow of money through your life more real and
exact. It shows you simply and clearly just where you are spending your
money, on what and why. Once you know that, it becomes much easier to
control your spending.

Many people who have taken up this practice have not only learned
something about themselves which they never knew before, but they are often
astounded.

For example, one woman realized through examining her notebook that she
actually spent nearly $2,000 per year on diet soft drinks, snacks and candy
bars! Since her job as a office clerk brought her a scant $12,000 per
year, she realized that one-sixth of her entire income was being frittered
away on something entirely frivolous. The woman gave up the snacks and
drinks, and found she had enough money to afford health insurance - plus
has $400 left over. If you could choose snacks or health insurance, which
would you choose?

The point is, it was her daily expense log that helped her achieve the
insight and clarity she needed to get control of her finances. That's what
a simple spending record will do for you - it will give you control over
your spending, and thus your financial life. There may be nothing but a
75-cent notebook and a ballpoint pen between your life of financial
struggle and financial freedom.

Amazing Money Tip #2:

Stop deficit spending! We all know how much trouble Uncle Sam has been
creating spending more money than our country takes in. It's called
deficit spending. Well, don't fool yourself. The same rules apply to you.
Using those evil little plastic cards may be the "American Way," but it's
a poor way.

Today, the average credit card holder is carrying $7,000 in plastic debt!

Spending yourself into debt with a credit card is unbelievably easy, as
many of you already know. The reason is psychological. When you give that
clerk a credit card, it's just not the same as handing over a stack of
green dollar bills. Would you as readily hand over a fistful of ten dollar
bills as flip a credit card across a counter? Probably not.

Credit cards put you in the hole and keep you there. Even for people with
good incomes, paying your credit card debt down to zero is amazingly
difficult. And make no bones about it, credit card debt will sap your
financial strength just as readily as an open vein will deplete your physical
body of its very life force. Using a credit card by choice can quickly
turn to using it for need. Once you get to that point, you are already in
trouble.

There is no secret to freeing yourself from the credit card game. You
must take out a pair of scissors TODAY, cut your cards in half, and begin
paying them back, slowly but surely. Once you stop adding to the debt,
even small payment will eventually add up. You can get out of debt if you
are patient and disciplined. Once your cards are history, you must adopt a
strict pay-as-you go policy. Instead of buying now and paying later, save
now and buy when you have the full amount.

Once again, this is not rocket science, but stopping credit-oriented
consuming is one of the most powerful financial tools available to anyone
today. Why not pick up this tool and use it?

Amazing Tip #3:

Sell your junk. That's right, it's high past time for a major garage
sale. If you don't have a garage, it's time to search through your house
or apartment for every single item you don't need, and could convert
quickly to cash at a flea market or garage sale.

Take an inventory. The truth is, most people are astounded by what they
own - and how much money they have tied up in useless stuff. Why let it
collect dust in your attic while it could collect interest in a savings
account.

You could easily be $500, $1,000 ... even $3,000 richer by the end of the
week. As an added bonus, you'd have your place cleaned up, and you will
have a fresh feeling of starting over. A garage sale is an excellent way
to not only clean out your house, but it often gives a psychological boost
that helps people get control of their life and money.

Amazing Tip #4:

Ben Franklin said it long ago: "A penny saved is a penny earned." Yes,
it's still true, and still one of the most powerful money-making tips in
all history.

Implied within Franklin's famous statement is the difficulty of saving.
It's tough to save and easy to spend! You know that! That's why every penny
saved truly is earned - because it takes so much effort to hold on to that
cash! But if you can do it, it will work magic in your life. Having a
savings account will de-stress your life. Imagine being ahead of your
bills, rather than behind. When you are ahead of your bills, you entire
life comes under your control. You sleep better at night. Your mind is
freer to come up with new ways to make more money and save more. Saving is
contagious - once you let it get started!

Here are some tips to help you save:

* Don't settle for interest checking. Have a separate savings account
that can't be as easily accessed as a checking account.
* Keep your savings in another bank - one that's off your regular route,
or perhaps even in another town. That way you won't be tempted to dip into
it every time you visit the bank to make a checking deposit.
* Buy short-term savings bonds, which have 6-month to one-year maturity
dates. That way you will get a higher rate, while at the same time keeping
your money close in case of real emergencies.
* If you can, open the account under two names and require that both
signatures be required to make a withdrawal. Two people can debate each
withdrawal and keep each other in line.

Amazing Tip #5:

Visualize wealth and abundance everyday. What we are actually
suggesting is that you practice some sort of airy-fairy mysticism that will
make you into a "money magnet"?

Maybe yes, maybe no. Call it what you will - a mind game, mysticism, New
Age ga-ga -- but the solid fact is that behind every wealthy man and woman
is a positive attitude toward money. Here's a quick demonstration:
(1) Person One with a negative money attitude has daily thoughts which go
this way:

"Jeez! $20 bucks is hard to come by! I seem to work so hard and get so
little for it. Money just slips through my fingers. It's amazing how much
money you have to earn to just get by these days. I'm never going to be
able to afford that new car on my limited salary, but this job is still the
best thing going for me right now. It's easy for some people to make a lot
of money, but I'm not one of those people ..." and on and on.

(2) Person Two with a positive money attitude has daily thoughts which go
this way:

"You know, I bet if I work my butt off I can get a raise next month, and
then I'll take half of the extra money I make and toss it in a savings
account. There must be a 100 other ways I can bring in some extra cash.
Money is not all that hard to earn if you work hard, watch your spending
and save a little at a time. There's enough wealth for everybody in this
country, and I can easily get my share, and more ..." and on and on.

Okay. Which person do you think will have a better chance of success?
You don't need to be a Rhodes Scholar to see how Person One is dragging
himself down with his thoughts, and how Person Two is giving himself a
fighting chance.

Look at it this way: It costs nothing one way or the
other to have either negative or positive thoughts. So why not have
positive thoughts?

There has been many studies done on the thought patterns and the frames
of mind of some of the richest most successful people in the world. The
one thing they all had in common was a positive attitude toward money and
their ability to earn it.

So we strongly recommend you begin shaping your thoughts TODAY toward
positive thoughts about money. Then step back and watch the money miracle
happen.

Amazing Tip #6:

Do what you love and the money will follow. I think there's a book by
that title. At any rate, it's true. One of the primary reasons that many
people live paycheck to paycheck and are broke despite working very hard at
their jobs is the fact that they hate what they do.

If you hate your job, you will not have a positive attitude toward money.
You will associate money with that dreadful sound of the alarm clock every
morning. Once you tie up your source of wealth and income with slavery,
that's truly what you will become: a slave.

Starting today, you should begin planning your escape. The first thing
you should ask yourself is: "If money were no object, what would I be
doing? What do I like to do most for fun, and is it possible that I could
get paid for it?

Sound ludicrous? It's not. In fact, if your work is not also your play,
you are fighting against yourself. You will eventually burn out and hate
the world. On the other hand, if you get up every day being exciting,
positive and looking forward to what you are going to be doing - and making
money at it - you will automatically move toward doing more and more of
what you love, and making more and more money at it.

Amazing Tip #7:

You must get organized. Being a tidy, efficient person has more influence
on how much money you make more than you can ever imagine. A lot of us are
accustomed to associate a messy desk with genius because we have seen so
many photos of great scientists sitting behind stacks and stacks of junk.
But guess what? Great scientists don't get paid squat! They are not
worried about making money. Their university or the government takes care
of them.

You, however, want to have a lot of money, so you can't afford to be a
slob. Think about it. Let's say you are at your desk trying to get some
work done. You need to find the stapler, but because your office is such a
pit, you spend 15 minutes looking for it. You've just spent 15
unproductive minutes. Next you may need to locate a file, and that takes
you 20 minutes of sifting through paper. Another 20 minutes down the tube.
By the end of the day, you may easily burn up two or three hours doing
something as trivial as looking for things. The same goes for any kind of
job you might have. If you are an auto mechanic, how much time do you
spend trying to find a nine-sixteenth wrench, when you could have it at
your fingertips.

It's disorganized people who are always saying at the end of the day: "I
seem to work so hard but get very little done!" Of course! You spent the
entire day looking for the Scotch tape!
The fact is, time is money. The more time you spend unproductively, the
less time you are earning money. Clean up your office. Organize
your tool shed. Get your bookwork organized. Think of every minute saved
as a buck in your pocket.

Amazing Money Tip #8:

Make your own daily top 10 list. Speaking of getting organized, you
should sit down every morning with your cup of coffee and list the top 10
things you would like to get done that day. Then organize them in priority
of importance. Start at item No. 1 and go down the list as fast as you
can.

Make no doubt about it - this is a powerful way to get work done. It will
put hoards of cash in your pocket. The reason is that making money is all
about movement - forward movement. As the famous novelist Ayn Rand told
us, in a capitalist society the most important things a person can do is
move forward every day!

Having a top ten list will ensure that you accomplish something every day.
You may not get through the whole list every day, nor should you
necessarily try. Just do your best. At the end of the day, you should be
able to look at your list with pride, examine the scratched off items and
say: "That's what I got done today! I did something to better my life and
create wealth!"

Again, this method has been used by a majority of the most wealthy and
successful people in history. Shouldn't you join the club?

Amazing Money Tip #9:

You must set short-term goals and long-term goals. If you don't know
where you are going, how do you expect to get there? It's simple but
powerful logic. When you have a target sitting out there somewhere in the
future, a target which is your goal, it can almost act like a magnet that
pulls you toward it.

Setting solid, reachable goals which are attainable, yet a challenge, have
proved time and time again to be one of THE most powerful methods of
achieving wealth and success ever developed. This has even been
demonstrated in psychology laboratories with small furry animals. It has
been demonstrated in corporate training schemes. It has been used
successfully again and again by countless individuals.
Setting both short term goals and long-term goals has the effect of
focusing your mind like a laser beam. It pulls you along toward higher and
better things. It gives solidity to what you are trying to accomplish, and
thus makes that which you want more real and likely to come into your life.

As you have probably heard, it is best to write your short-term and
long-term goals down on paper and then post them somewhere in your
workplace and home. The first thing you should do every morning is look
over your goal list, and then put together your Top 10 to do list which
will move you toward your goal. The last thing you should do every evening
is review your short-term and long-term goals, and tell yourself as you go
to sleep that you are going to do everything in your power to make those
goals a reality in your life.

Amazing Money Tip # 10:

Invest your money and make it work at multiplying itself. Saving money in
a savings account is important as we said above, but the 2.3 percent
interest rates most banks give you is not even enough to keep pace with
inflation.

You must do more than save your money -- you must invest it. That means
financial vehicles with super-high rates of return, such as mutual funds
and stocks, or the more risky commodity markets. A $5,000 investment in
commodities can return you 10 times that amount -- $50,000 --in just a few
weeks, although you could easily lose it as well. The bottom line is, you
should also take a portion of your savings and put them in high interest or
high risk investment plans. That's the way to really get ahead fast.

Amazing Money Tip #11:

Have fun! Yes, this tip easily makes our Top Ten list because it is so
essential to your success. The great writer Ray Bradbury once said in an
interview: "If you are not having fun, you might as well forget it. Do
everything you do with joy and you'll be successful."

You need to be having fun to stay positive, and you need to stay positive
to make money. So come on! Get out their: laugh, clap your hands, live!
Have a blast and rake in the cash! The world is waiting for you!

CAR DRIVING TIPS

2007-08-26T02:31:00.000-07:00

Drive to save fuel
hether you are an occasional or an every day driver, you can decrease the amount of fuel you use by taking the energy saving steps described in this pamphlet

Driving Skills
The driving technique of the person behind the wheel is the most important single factor in determining the fuel economy of a particular car. A fuel economy conscious driver can achieve 30 to 50% better mileage than most other drivers by practising the following instructions:

The Driver Attitude
Always think about fuel economy while you drive.
Always drive for fuel economy.
Avoid driving when you are angry or upset.
Consider using public transportation when ever possible.

The 30 Seconds Warm Up
Idle your engine during its initial start no more than 30 seconds. Car engines warm up faster when they are in motion.
Idling more than 30 seconds not only wastes fuel but also does harm to your engine, since oil can't do its best lubricating job unless the car is in motion.
Depress the accelerator just once as added pumping wastes fuel.
Do not rev up the engine before turning it off. This dumps raw fuel on the cylinder walls; washing away the protective lubricating oil film and increasing engine wear at the next start. This also wastes fuel.

Avoid Screeching Starts
Jerky acceleration or screeching starts can increase fuel consumption by reducing approximately one kilometer per litre in city driving.
Accelerate briskly, but smoothly, upto 50 kmph. . Then moderately up to 65 kmph... then keep a steady pressure on the accelerator... just enough to maintain speed.

Drive at Moderate Speeds
Always rely on the feather foot pressure approach on the accelerator; this will result in even better fuel savings.
Observing 80 kmph speed limit saves fuel and money.
Driving below speed limits on highways produces even greater fuel savings

Avoid Low Gears... Get Up To Speed Quickly
Keep your car's speed up and over 35 kmph mark when you can.
Skip a gear (go from 1st to 3rd or 4th) if you are on a flat road or slope.
Run through all gears quickly and gently if going up hill.
With automatic transmission, get the car rolling, then let up the accelerator, easing into high range quickly.

Hill Climbing Techniques
Driving on hill consumes more fuel than driving on flat roads. The following tips will help in fuel economy:

Build up speed before approaching a hill, to avoid fuel wasting hard acceleration.
The momentum developed will carry the vehicle over the crest, and gravity will help the vehicle go down the other side.

Keep Tyre Pressure Up
Under inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption significantly. Please refer to Driver Energy Tips No. 2 "Wheel Alignment and Tyre Maintenance" for more information.

Avoid Short Trips...
Travel distances of 1 to 8 kilometers are considered as short trips.
Short trips impose heavy fuel penalties on fuel economy due to cold vehicle parts, cold tyres and improper engine lubrication.
It takes approximately 25 kilometers drive for fuel efficient operation of a vehicle.
Avoid starting the engine until you are actually ready.
Plan ahead. Combine your shopping errands into one trip.
Include shopping trips into normal commuting trip.
Travel during off peak hours when there is less traffic congestion.
Operating air conditioner in city traffic reduces fuel economy by approximately 9%.
Park in the first reasonable parking space available.

ROMANTIC GIFTS

2007-08-23T02:18:00.000-07:00

Wondering whether to buy your beloved a diamond ring or a bottle of French perfume. Check out these romantic gift ideas for the person you love the most so you don't make a mess of the fine art of gift giving. Before you select the perfect present you should know certain tips. Romantic gifts should be always intimate and close to heart. It should be special because you are giving it to someone special. It is not necessary that your gift have to be expensive and exclusive. It can be simple but it should convey your feelings. It should be close to your heart. There are various ways you can be romantic but gifts are the easiest way to express your emotions. Here are some of the gift ideas you cam opt for as romantic gifts for the person you love the most.
You can gift a diamond ring in a beautiful red velvet box. More than the gift the way you present is important. Gifts have to be well packed. Never give an unwrapped present. If you can't do it yourself, get it done in the shop. You can also put your gift in decorative bags available in the market.
Gifts like lingerie can be really romantic. It is a very intimate gift, which can be gifted only to your beloved.
A bottle of wine or Champaign can also be opted for as romantic gifts. It can be an ideal gift to make a romantic ambience.
A box of chocolates and a bottle of wine can be fine.
No gifts can be as romantic as flowers. You can go for flower bouquets of different flowers. But red roses are considered the most romantic flowers. Other than that you can opt for orchids, carnations and lilies.
Both men and women like perfumes and it is considered really romantic. You can opt for a bottle of French perfume. It will be a perfect present, as it will create the perfect ambience of love by its seductive and exotic fragrance.
Jewelry are liked by all women so you can go for contemporary jewelry items like garnet jewelry, pearl, sapphire, amethyst, blue topaz and citrine jewelry. It will be a truly romantic gift.
You can go for a candle light dinner to a restaurant. It will be a really romantic gift for your lover. As both of you can spend time together in a perfect romantic ambience.
Even cassettes and CD's of all time hits romantic numbers can be a wonderful gift. There is no other alternative than good songs so collection of romantic songs will be an ideal present.
Romantic novels can be another present to opt for, as books are all time favorite gift items. So you can go for good classic romantic novels.
So these are some of the presents for the ultimate romantic experience in your life.

PARTY TIPS

2007-08-21T00:20:00.000-07:00

Having a Holiday party, Birthday party, Going away party, Anniversary Bash, Solstice or New Years Party Celebration? Here are a few party tips and party ideas to help make your party a smashing success!
Party Planning
Plan ahead, it's attention to detail that makes the difference. Allow plenty of time to prepare for your party, make a list and shop smart. Things are hectic when party-time approaches so stay organized.

Party Hors D'oeuvres
Choose your finger snacks carefully. Choose foods that complement each other. Try setting a theme for the food in each room or on each table. Allow 4 to 6 hot hors d'oeurves per person. Don't serve gooey, drippy sauces near expensive rugs or furniture. Keep some carpet cleaner on hand, just in case.

Party Invitation Ideas
Written invites are a great idea. Try to make them fun and different. Use your personality but don't forget the basics like: hours. Tell your guests when the party starts and when it will end. Specify the hour in advance to avoid confusion. Let your guests know what kind of attire is appropriate. If your anticipating a semi-formal gathering let them know.

Liquor
If your guests are expected to bring their own booze, let them know in the invitation. If your serving alcohol don't forget the ice. You can never have too much ice at a party. Use quality ice for the best tasting mixed drinks. Add fresh fruit to your shopping list. Limes, lemons and oranges should be sliced in advance. Consider making two punch bowls; one with booze and one without for your non-imbibing guests. Remember, you are responsible for the safety of your guests so do not encourage excessive drinking.

Smoking

If your party is being held in a non-smoking household try to make accommodations for smokers. A room with a fan blowing out is a nice thought. If you do not have a place for smokers let them know in advance that the party is held in a non-smoking household.

Guest Books
Providing a guest book can be much fun and help make the party memorable. Don't be afraid to put out a guest book and invite your partiers to sign-in as they arrive.

Party Atmosphere
Create a festive party atmosphere with decorations, scents and music. Use scented candles or simmer a pot of water with cinnamon and citrus fruit to fill the house with a delightful aroma. Choose your favorite music and have it playing softly in the background when guests arrive. Consider unplugging or removing your television if it's located in the party area. Nothing spoils the interaction of guests quicker than a group of people huddled around a television set. Kill your TV! (at least for the party).

Party Lighting
Creative lighting will contribute much to the atmosphere. Try replacing some bulbs with colored lamps or low wattage bulbs. Strobe lights and black lamps can add to the fun.

Party Music

Music is an important element of most parties. If pre-recorded music is to be used, consider the musical preferences of your guests. Have a variety of music available. Put your depressing music selections away, keep the music upbeat and "mass appeal" for best results. Music helps set mood, so use with discretion. Find a tremendous assortment of music on sale including free music cds, by visiting the Music Department at Free World Mall. The best music web sites selling cds, cassettes, and DVDs may be found there.

Party Parking
Try to make provisions for parking in advance. If you will be allowing guests to park on the lawn or in the back yard, let them know in your invitation. Ask your neighbors about parking options or warn them that guests will be parking on the street. If your attending a party why not arrive in style? Rent a Limo and you won't have to worry about parking or driving yourself home after.

Seating
Consider removing all the chairs from the party area. This will create more room for people to mingle.

Party Extras
A scented candle in the bathroom is a nice touch. Leave an extra roll of toilet tissue in easy view.

Accidents and Spills
Accidents are part of life. Don't let an accident or spill ruin the party. Have some spot remover on hand just in case. You may want to remove extremely valuable items and/or furnishings. Move that rare Persian carpet to a safe place until the party is over.

Party Gifts
It's always a good idea to bring a small gift to a party even if the host or hostess instructs you not to in the invitation. Bring along a bottle of wine, some flowers, or chocolates to show your appreciation. Find some great gift ideas by visiting the Gift Department of Free World Mall.

Coffee & Party Snacks
You can never have too much food at a party. Be sure to have plenty of hot coffee and snacks on hand for late in the evening.

Now that the work is done, relax! Let your guests enjoy themselves. With the proper ingredients in place everyone should have a great time. With good food, good cheer and good friends you can't miss! Party hearty and have fun. Make room for guests who have had too much to eat or drink. Don't let a guest who over drinks drive, it could save a life and it could save YOU from a lawsuit. As the host, you are responsible for the safety of your guests.

Party Jokes

If you (or one of your guests) are skilled at joke telling, try some tasteful jokes and invite your guests to participate. This exercise can often "break the ice" and get your guests sharing jokes and humorous stories. You'll find a nice selection of jokes by clicking here.

The Law

Sometimes even the quietest of parties will precipitate a visit from the local law enforcement agency. If the police arrive be courteous. They may have been called to your party by an irate or concerned neighbor (who may not have been invited!). Try to answer the concerns of the police officer outside your front door. Stay calm and respond to reasonable requests ("keep the noise down, move vehicles that may be blocking the roadway, etc.") If you are intoxicated, don't attempt to negotiate with the police, send your spouse or trusted friend to the door, an intoxicated host gives the police a valid reason for concern (and possibly further action).Never get out of control, especially at your own party

TABLE MANNERS--PART 3

2007-08-19T02:26:00.000-07:00

your environment

You have hopefully already learned how to hold the utensils throughout different courses of a formal dinner. Proper etiquette is more than knowing when and how to use utensils. A good start is to develop the habit of observing people around the table on the dining methods they use in the course of the evening. Learning from your surrounding environment can be very useful in many situations, including at a formal dinner. Here are more tools you could use to achieve a solid basic knowledge of proper table manners.

when to begin eating

At a small event, someone should wait until everybody gets served before starting the meal. At larger events, the host will usually urge his guests to start eating upon reception of the food. This will not allow the food to get cold. In this case, wait until one or two of the other guests are ready to begin as well, so that you are not the only person at the table eating.

proper posture

Proper posture at the table is very important. Make sure to sit up straight, with your arms held near your body. Never, I repeat never, hang your elbows heavily on the table when at a formal dinner. It is permissible to lean forward slightly every now and then and press elbows very lightly against the edge of the table, if it is obvious that you are using them for support.

how to use a napkin

The formal use of a napkin is a delicate affair. The napkin is meant to be dabbed at the lips and should not be dirtied in the process. Because every step of the proper etiquette is to preserve cleanliness and proper appearance, if everything goes well during the dinner, it is only normal that the napkin will not get used. At the beginning of dinner, unfold the napkin and put it on your lap, as this gesture will be acceptable anywhere. A little tip; if you're at an extremely formal dinner and your napkin drops to the floor, signal a staff member so that he can pick it up and bring a fresh one. Finally, when leaving the table after the meal, the napkin should be loosely placed beside the plate. Simply leave your napkin loose on the table without folding, crumbling or twisting it.

how to eat your soup?

Always move the soupspoon away from your body and fill it up two-thirds of its capacity. Then, sip the liquid sideways without inserting the whole bowl of the spoon in the mouth. Slurping is probably the worst thing someone can do when eating soup. A question always comes up when eating soup. Is it proper to tilt the plate? It is appropriate to tilt the bowl, away from the body, to get the last spoonful or two of soup.

how to eat your soup?

Here is a perfect example that points out that etiquette is not about efficiency. When someone asks you for the salt, simply pick up both the salt and the pepper and place them within reach of the person next to you, who will do the same until they reach the person who asked for it. Salt and pepper should not be passed hand-to-hand, nor should anyone other than the original requester sprinkle the food with it.

inedible food?

Food should come out of the mouth the same way it came in. Therefore, if for example, you take an olive with your hand, when removing the pit from your mouth, use your hand as well. When eating meat with a fork, you have to use that fork to remove the unwanted fatty piece. An exception to this rule is fish. It is fine to remove tiny bones with your fingers, because it would be difficult to drop them on a fork. When a piece of fat is too big to be removed with the fork, use a napkin discretely to discard the meat, so you can keep it out of sight.

how to eat your soup?

Artichokes- Eat the leafs until you see the heart, then use a fork and knife to cut it

Asparagus- They may be eaten with your fingers as long as they are not covered with sauce

Bread- Must always be broken and never cut with a knife

Cookies

Chips, French fries, fried chicken, and hamburgers

Hors d'oeuvres, canaps, crudits

Sandwiches

Small fruits and berries on the stem

There is a lot to be learned in order to become an expert on formal etiquette, but these basic tips are enough to offer you ease and comfort when attending a formal dinner. A little suggestion would be to practice these formal etiquette tips when dining at home. With practice, table manners will become a routine and will be a reflection on your social presence.

TABLE MANNERS--PART 2

2007-08-18T03:13:00.000-07:00

Remember that these are etiquette techniques designed for a formal setting, such as a high-end restaurant, and do not apply to all situations of consuming food.

how to hold utensils

Before we begin, remember that these tips are for general use; more sophisticated techniques can be acquired, with time and experience. First, it is important to hold the spoon and fork horizontally by balancing them between the first knuckle of the middle finger and the tip of the index finger while the thumb steadies the handle. The knife on the other hand is used with the tip of the index finger leaning on the blade of the knife.

Do not apply too much pressure; simply use it as leverage and guidance, as you cut your food. Pretty simple up to now, just remember to look around if you forget what to do in a particular situation. Just stay calm and enjoy the meal. The following are two styles of using utensils, the Zigzag method (North American Style) and the European Style . I would suggest going with the European Style , it's more effective.

The North American Style

Normally, a utensil should be used with the same hand that you use to write. If you are right-handed, place the fork in your right hand. You should be able to eat and cut your food with the fork only (assuming you are at a fine restaurant where portions are usually small and the texture is soft). It might be very difficult to cut some types of foods, such as a big steak, so use your judgment when it comes to using a knife. This can lead to heavy maneuvering when foods, such as meats, require the use of both a knife and fork to obtain a bite of a manageable size. Simply take the fork in your left hand and turn the tines so that they point downwards. This will allow you to better hold the meat in place while the right hand operates the knife.

Once a bite-sized piece has been cut, set the knife down on the plate and transfer the fork to the right hand. Pick up the freshly cut piece of meat and carry it to your mouth. Indulge . Remember this method is strict; you cannot even use the knife for hard to mount foods such as peas, and the fork must pick up everything on its own. As you can see, this style is slightly difficult to master.

The European Style

You can call it the European Style or the Continental Style . This method of using utensils is simply more efficient and less formal. Use common sense; if the occasion calls for a more formal technique use the American Style . According to the European Style , the fork will remain in the left hand and the knife in the right. When food is cut, the fork is used exactly as in the American Style , except that once a portion has been separated from the whole, it is conveyed directly to the mouth on the down-facing fork.

You don't have to put down the knife every time and transfer the fork over to the right hand. As you can see, the European method is more forgiving and allows you to use your knife in more situations. With the European technique, it is also permitted to use a little piece of bread to ease a stubborn item onto the fork. Here's a quick tip; whether you use the American Style or European Style , it's important to never cut more than one or two bites at a time.

used utensil placement

Again many rules could be applied on the proper placement of utensils once in use. In order to simplify these rules, here are the basics. Essentially, used flatware should never touch the surface of the table. You wouldn't want to dirty the tablecloth, or get other material on the utensil. Make sure your fork and knife are well balanced on the plate when pausing for a drink. If the pause should last longer, make sure you place the fork on the left and the knife on the right, so that they crossover the center of the plate.

Be prepared not to leave any utensils in a non-flat dish when the busboy comes around to clear the table. The soup bowl, the shrimp cocktail, or the teacups are all presented with a plate underneath; therefore use them to place the used flatware. For those of you who want a second serving, place the knife and fork on the right side of the plate, so that there is room for the food. Finally, when you are finished, pair up the knife and the fork horizontally or diagonally in the plate. The cutting edge of the blade should be pointing towards you. As for the fork, it can be placed upwards or downwards.

Enjoy your dining experience and remember to always project a confident image, as it is one of the keys to success.

Find out what you can eat with your fingers, and how to pass the salt.

WATCH OUT FOR MORE.......

TABLE MANNERS--PART 1

2007-08-16T00:10:00.000-07:00

Learning table manners can be a huge struggle, especially the difficult handling of the various utensils involved. Every move you make, from proper placement to the use of napkins, should be done confidently and elegantly. This crash course will be divided into four parts. First, we will see the formal place settings. Next we will see how to use the fork, knife and spoon. We will finish off with a few tips, pitfalls and what type of food can be eaten with your fingers.

You have probably faced a situation where you see an arsenal of cutlery and don't know how to use it. You should only receive as much silverware as you need. They will be arranged in precisely the right order. A simple tip is to watch people around you, and let them make the first move. The silverware will also be used in proper order, as the meal progresses. A little rule of thumb is to start off with the outer utensils and gradually use the utensils in the direction towards your plate.

proceed with the appetizers

Oysters
A small fork should be angled into the soupspoon at the right. This is the only fork to the left of the plate.

Soup
It is the biggest spoon on the table, usually pretty obvious. It is also commonly the only spoon provided for the initial place setting.

Salad
The salad fork should be the one with the thicker tine on the left. Try not to use a knife, even for larger salad greens.

now for the main plates

Fish
Both a fork and a knife are provided for fish. The fish fork is shorter than the meat fork, usually the one placed between the salad fork and the meat fork. The knife is usually shaped with a slight bend.

Meat
The innermost fork and knife are provided for the meat course of the meal. If you order a steak or filet mignon, a sharper knife is usually added to the setting.

finally the desserts
The dessert utensils are usually brought along with the dessert. If already on the table, they would be placed horizontally over the plate and parallel to each other. The bowl of the spoon should be pointing to the left and the tines of the fork pointing right. When coffee and tea are served, a teaspoon will be provided; it is brought in with the saucer.

WATCH OUT FOR MORE .......TOMORROW....

Prosperity Consciousness - Tips For Attracting More Wealth Into Your Life

2007-08-15T00:17:00.001-07:00

We all want more wealth and prosperity in our lives, right?

We all want to be financially free, right?

The problem most people have is that they spend too much time in a place of lack and limitation instead of being focused on what they really want, which is prosperity and abundance. People are constantly worrying about what they don’t want, such as debt and bills and we all know that the law of attraction is going to give them more of that in return. In order to have more money flowing into our lives, we need to start focusing on just that - more money, prosperity abundance.

So how do we go from a mindset of lack and limitation to prosperity consciousness?

Fortunately, there are a few simple things we can do today that can assist us in doing that – so here are some prosperity tips that if you apply in your life, you will begin to change the way you feel about money...

1. Always Valet Park - you deserve it and it really doesn't cost that much extra, however so many people spend extra time and effort finding a parking space and sometimes one that is blocks away just do save a few bucks. In fact, sometimes people go out of their way to garage park and spend more than what it might cost to valet park and tip, simply because they don’t feel they deserve to valet park. That’s nonsense – you absolutely deserve it. Treat yourself right and ALWAYS Valet Park.

2. Have fresh flowers in the house - there is something to be said for continually having fresh flowers in the house. It makes for a pleasant environment and creates a wonderful feeling and a mood. You can also buy flowers for someone else, for no reason. Don’t buy it for a birthday, or anniversary or any other reason that you might be expected – simply buy them just because.

3. Carry a $100 bill in your wallet - the key to this is to never spend it. Just have that $100 bill in your wallet all the time. What happens is that every time you open your wallet – whether it is to buy something or to show someone a picture of your family, you will see that $100 bill and simply put - it will make you feel good. It will make you feel prosperous, abundant, and it will definitely raise your vibration about money.

4. Leave bigger tips - if you go out to a restaurant and get great service, don't just leave the typical 15%, but go ahead and up it to 25% or more. It will feel great to reward the person who is working hard to please you and it also creates a prosperity vibration, because what you give comes back to you tenfold.

5. Test drive something - so what kind of car do you want? Great - now find your nearest dealer and go test drive that car. Seriously. It will feel great to be in a prosperous space while driving that car. When you pull back into the lot go back up to the dealer and tell him you'll be back to buy the car. And if you really want to get serious about it - give him a date!

You may be thinking that these things may seem too simple and are wondering if they really can change your mindset and have a profound impact on the amount of wealth and prosperity you are experiencing in your life and the answer is a resounding YES.

Now that I have provided these tips for you, I challenge you to start applying them into your life today. Seriously. If you do, I guarantee you'll start to feel different about money and when you raise your money vibration and get yourself into a prosperity consciousness, the more prosperity you will experience in your life.

Simply put, if you want more wealth and prosperity flowing into your life, you need to always be the person that has prosperity and abundance flowing into their life.

Five tips on buying furniture

2007-08-14T00:16:00.000-07:00

To avoid overpaying for furniture, ask the right questions and brush up on some furniture knowledge. Here's what to look for:

Inspect the sofa's frame and cushions

When you approach the piece ask yourself if it will fit your home. Is it comfortable? "The more expensive the sofa, the better built it better be," Bartkowski says. He says there are four components to sofas: the frame, the spring system, the cushions and the tailoring.

If the frame is hardwood, ask if it's kiln-dried, which takes the moisture content out of the board. Bartkowski says kiln-dried boards last longer because changes in humidity don't cause them to warp, weaken and crack.

He says if you're paying more than $1,000, the sofa should have a five-legged frame. There should be a fifth leg under the center of the piece. He adds that legs built into the frame are sturdier than legs screwed into the frame. To check the quality of the frame, he recommends feeling the thickness of the board on the side of the sofa at the bottom. It should be 1¼-inches thick, anything less and it could squeak when people move around on the couch.

Pick up the seat cushion. "There is a correlation between weight and the quality. The heavier the seat cushion, the higher the quality," Bartkowski says. When it comes to the sofa's spring system, he says sinuous wire, or S-type springs, are the standard and should run from front to back. You should feel the springs when you push down on the sofa.

"The salesperson should be able to explain the springing system. That's the first question you should ask," he says.

Eye the tailoring

Also look at how well the sofa's fabric is tailored. To do this, he says check to see if the seams are even and if the piping (the tube-shaped edging) lines up.

For printed sofas that cost no more than $600, the pattern should match from one piece to another well enough on the sides and the front. But if your sofa costs more, expect more. An $800 sofa should come with fabric that matches in the back, on both sides and the front.

When you've found the ultimate in quality, the fabric pattern flows. Like wallpaper, it should wrap over the entire piece, including the back skirt. The pattern should start on one segment and continue on to the next, and there will be a seam in the center of the sofa's back. This piece of furniture will cost more than $800.

Ask if it's top-grain leather

When buying leather, it's important to listen to the sales person. If he presents it as a leather match or says it is leather-like, then it's not leather. The only way you can tell the difference is by looking at the base of the sofa to see if it's dyed all the way through, Bartkowski says. If you see white gauze backing, it's vinyl. He says leather-match sofas should cost no more than $800.

"There are unscrupulous retailers who will try to sell it for more and will get away with it," he warns.

Next, find out if the leather is top-grain. "Top grain is the absolute best level," Bartkowski says. Top grain leather sofas start at $1,000. A non-top-grain leather piece could be splits, which means the hide is split and another part of the hide, such as fatty tissue, is compressed and used. He says splits don't wear as well, and they need to be kept moisturized and out of the sun.

He also warns against leather furniture supported by lawn-chair strapping; they can sag over time. "You're sitting on a lawn chair with leather on it," he says.

Check the drawers and veneering

With bedroom sets, dining room sets, tables and the like, look at how all the pieces are proportioned in relation to each other. If you're spending more than $400 for a table, Bartkowski recommends looking underneath to see the quality of the wood.

On pieces with drawers, notice how they are hung. "If they are tilted, that indicates the quality of the manufacturer very quickly," he says.

Take out the top drawer and check to see if the inside feels rough. He says rough drawer interiors indicate a lower quality. And a better piece of furniture will have dust panels that stop you from looking through from one drawer to another.

Look at the corner of the drawer, and see how well the veneers match on the corners. Veneering is a synthetic process in which decorative woods are applied on top of solid cores of material such as, plywood, particle board or medium-density fiber board.

Bartkowski says most of the quality drawers are made with wood binders -- cheaper drawers use rollers. Looking in the upper left-hand drawer where the name of the manufacturer is stamped may give you a feel for the furniture's quality.

Even brand-name manufacturers sometimes use fiberboard or match board and cover it with paper printed with a photograph of a real wood finish. If you don't know what you're looking for, you can easily be fooled.

Find out who's the backing the warranty

Manufacturer's warranties on wood furniture typically cover splitting and cracking for one year. On upholstered furniture, the warranty covers the frame. He says better quality furniture will have warranties of up to five years on the spring system and cushions.

Bartkowski says consumers should look to see if they have a manufacturer's warranty or a retailer's warranty. If it says, "Only to the original address" in very small print at the bottom of the sales contract, your warranty will be void if you move.

Pregnancy Dos and Don'ts - The Dont's

2007-08-13T01:19:00.001-07:00

Help your spouse steer clear of these pregnancy no-nos to help keep her and the baby safe and healthy:

Avoid fish with lots of mercury in her diet. Get correct information from your dietician on what fish to eat and what fish to avoid when she is pregnant.
Don't disregard food borne illness. Eat, cook, handle and clean food safely! According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, food borne illness can cause serious health problems - or even death for both mother and baby.
Protect her from using chemicals. Products including herbicides, pesticides, paint, stains, and some cleaning solutions may be harmful to your baby. If she must use these things, make sure she wears gloves, a mask, and keeps the room well-ventilated.
Don't let her clean or change a cat's litter box. This could put her at risk for an infection called toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite that cats can carry in their feces. Toxoplasmosis can harm a fetus.

Don't let her take very hot baths, hot tubs, or saunas. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, high temperatures can be harmful to the fetus, or causing the mother-to-be to faint.
Discourage her from using scented feminine hygiene products. Pregnant women should avoid scented sprays, sanitary napkins, and bubble bath. These products might irritate your spouse’s vaginal area, and increase her risk of a urinary tract infection or yeast infection.
Don't let her douche. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, douching can irritate the vagina, force air into the birth canal and increase the increase the risk of infection
Avoid optional x-rays. X-rays are a form of radiation that is linked to a very small risk of cancer for an unborn baby. But x-rays are usually safe during pregnancy. So if your doctor says your spouse needs x-rays for a health problem you should follow her advice. But sometimes doctors can use other tests in place of x-rays. And other times, x-rays can wait until after the baby is born.
Don't let her smoke tobacco. Tell your doctor if your spouse smokes. Quitting is hard, but she can do it. Ask your doctor for help. Smoking during pregnancy passes nicotine and cancer-causing drugs to your baby. Smoke also keeps your baby from getting needed nourishment and raises the risk of stillbirth and premature birth (a small baby born too early).
Discourage her from drinking alcohol. Your spouse should stop drinking alcohol if she drinks it regularly. Experts are still unsure of the exact amount of alcohol needed to cause problems in your baby. But, both drinking every day and drinking a lot of alcohol once in a while during pregnancy can harm the baby.
Don't let her use illegal drugs. Tell your doctor if your spouse is using drugs. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, speed (amphetamines), barbiturates, and LSD are very dangerous for your spouse and the baby.

Menopause and Mood Swings

2007-08-12T07:55:00.000-07:00

Menopause equals mood swings. You know, where the slightest request from your husband can cause you to go off. Or perhaps the cries of your child for a new Playstation game makes you lose it. Mood swings, which can trigger the sudden onset of crying, play a significant role in the menopause game and are often one of the first things women notices that causes her to suspect perimenopause. Characteristics of menopausal mood changes include extreme irritability, concentrated anxiety, depression, indifference (neutral feeling to both good and bad situations), and nervousness.

Menopause and mood swings work together because changes in hormonal levels (most notably, progesterone and estrogen levels) take place. For one, hormone levels may affect the level of serotonin (the ¨emotional chemical¨) in the brain, causing depressive symptoms. Women often times feel insecure and irrelevant about themselves and their current roles, contributing more to feelings of worthlessness.

Other factors that trigger mood swings in menopause sufferers are the symptoms they face. Tinnitus (whooshing and ringing sensations in the ear due to nerve damage as a result of aging & hearing loss), incontinence (abnormal bladder behavior), and hot flashes also add on to the overall crankiness a menopausal woman can face. And of course, low levels of serotonin, and lack of progesterone production that relieve stress levels, can lead to the sudden onset of crying – a definite disadvantage to any woman under this condition.

Mood swings can be drastically reduced by following a course of action such as a weekly exercise regimen. Exercise, specifically meditation and yoga, has been proven to relieve mood swings. Besides, it is the ultimate anti-aging activity – women who exercise well into their sixties report looking and feeling younger. Another objective is to have a steady social support group to turn to. Menopause sufferers will find soothing words by their family and friends a positive contributor to their overall well-being.

The third course of action is to follow the right diet. Caffeine loaded drinks like coffee and soda will not work for you: it will only excite you leading to restless sleep making you cranky throughout the night. Drink certain teas that increase serotonin levels in the brain, like passionflower and chamomile, will also relax and provide for blissful sleep.

Grab the milk bottle in the refrigerator and warm it up – tryptophan, a component found in warm milk, is known to increase serotonin in the brain as well. A multivitamin and mineral supplement may also help load your body with the right nutrients, balancing things out. So, avoid menopause mayhem and eliminate mood swings and the sudden onset of crying by following the above advice – feel refreshed mentally and emotionally for a better day.

BLOGGING INFO

2007-08-10T04:46:00.001-07:00

BLOG

Definition
A frequent, chronological publication of personal thoughts and Web links.

Information
A blog is often a mixture of what is happening in a person's life and what is happening on the Web, a kind of hybrid diary/guide site, although there are as many unique types of blogs as there are people.

People maintained blogs long before the term was coined, but the trend gained momentum with the introduction of automated published systems, most notably Blogger at blogger.com. Thousands of people use services such as Blogger to simplify and accelerate the publishing process.

Blogs are alternatively called web logs or weblogs. However, "blog" seems less likely to cause confusion, as "web log" can also mean a server's log files.

The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art (artlog), photographs (photoblog), sketchblog, videos (vlog), music (MP3 blog), audio (podcasting) or sexual topics (Adult blog), and are part of a wider network of social media.

In May 2007, blog search engine Technorati was tracking more than 71 million blogs.

TOP TEN FINANCE TIPS

2007-08-09T01:41:00.000-07:00

Understand the basics

Financial services often seem really complicated, but it's not hard for you to understand the basics for all financial services that you buy. Otherwise, you could get a nasty surprise if something goes wrong.

Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure you understand the basics of:

What you have promised to do (eg make regular payments).
What the company has promised to do (eg provide a loan, or cover a loss).
Whether there are any exceptions or qualifications to these promises (eg an insurer may not have to pay your car insurance claim if you had been drinking when the accident occurred).
What you should do if something goes wrong.

Don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions. Sometimes it can be awkward, but a good salesperson should give you enough time and information so that you can understand the product. You can also ask to take the documents away, so that you have time to read them and get advice.
Don't be pressured into signing something that you don't understand. You could regret it later.

2. Hold onto your paperwork

Anything to do with money often involves lots of paperwork - account statements, contracts, policy documents, terms and conditions and more.

If you're tempted to throw all this paperwork in the bin - stop! Even if you don't read it all straight away, get into the habit of keeping the important paperwork in a special file that's easily accessible. It will come in handy if you have a question or problem about your financial affairs.

You should also get into the habit of keeping notes from any important telephone calls you have with your finance institution. Again, they might help if you have a complaint.

Your notes don't need to be fancy, but it's important to record basic information such as the name of the person you spoke to, the date and time, and an outline of what was said. Keep this with all your other paperwork.

Banking and deposit-taking - managing your money

3. Reduce your costs

Some form of savings or transaction account is almost a necessity these days. But don't be complacent about your account - there are ways that you can reduce the costs.

For example, if you are a student or a recent graduate, you may be able to get a fee-free account. Ask your institution if they have one.

But what if you are not eligible for a fee-free account? You can still reduce your costs by changing how you bank. For example, it's often cheaper to use Internet banking than to visit a branch. But first, you'll need to understand how and when fees are charged on your account. Ask your institution to tell you about the main fees and charges, and whether you are entitled to a certain number of free transactions. You can use this information to help you develop cheaper banking habits.

And don't forget FID and BAD! These are government taxes that can be imposed on transaction accounts. Get your institution to explain how these taxes operate, and whether you can reduce their impact (for example, by not having a cheque facility).

4. Minimise the risk of unauthorised transactions - keep your PIN secret

Many complaints about unauthorised transactions are made each year. The best way to protect yourself from someone accessing the money in your account is to keep your PIN and/or password secret! Don't tell anyone your PIN or password - this includes your friends and family. Also, don't keep a copy of your PIN or password near your card, or on your computer (unless it's password protected).

Many institutions will let you choose your own PIN or password, and this can help you remember it. But, be careful with what you choose - don't make it so easy to remember that it will also be easy for a thief to guess.

5. Be very careful with direct debits

Direct debits can be a great way of making sure that the necessities of life - like your bills and rent - are paid on time. But make sure you know how to cancel a direct debit if you need to. For example, if you change your phone company.

To cancel a direct debit, you should tell both your institution and the company making the direct debit (eg the phone or electricity company). Writing a short letter is often best. Keep a copy of the letter, and if problems arise, contact your institution straight away.

Also, make sure you have enough money in your account to cover a direct debit. If there is not enough, you might have to pay an expensive overdraw fee.

Insurance - protecting what you've got

6. Shop around for insurance like you shop around for a car or plan a holiday

When you're buying a car, planning a holiday, or taking out a loan, insurance is probably the last thing you want to think about. But you may need it, and it's important to spend a little bit of time shopping around.

Having a good insurance policy can make all the difference to your pocket - both now and if the worst happens and you need to make a claim.

So don't just accept the insurance policy that is offered by the car yard, or the travel agent, or the credit provider. Remember, the agent may be getting a commission for selling you a particular policy, even though it may not be the best one for you.

Shop around. The Internet and telephone call centres make this easy. Even if you make just three or four quick telephone calls to different companies, you'll find that the price might vary by $100 or $200 or more. And that's even before you look at the coverage and exceptions on the policy.

And before you sign a policy, make sure you understand what the insurer will and will not cover. For example, some travel insurance policies might not cover you if you are injured when bungy-jumping or white water rafting. If you don't choose a policy with the right coverage for you and your circumstances, you could end up with hefty expenses to pay.

7. Tell it like it is

When you apply for insurance, you'll have to provide lots of details to the insurance company. For example, if you are getting car insurance, you may be asked about your driving record, whether the car has been modified, and other things. Your answers will help the insurance company decide how risky it will be to insure you, and therefore how much your policy will cost.

Don't be tempted to massage the facts! If the worst happens, and you need to make a claim on your policy - your insurer may have grounds for refusing to pay your claim.

And this goes for renewals as well. You must tell the insurance company about any changes in your circumstances each time you renew your policy. The type of questions that were asked in the original policy application will be a good guide to the information you might need to disclose when you renew. And if you have any doubts - ask your insurer! (And keep a written record of what they told you.)

8. Think about insurance before you choose your car

If you are buying a car, its good to think about insurance before you choose the type of car that you want.

You might think that, if two cars cost the same amount to buy, they would cost about the same amount to insure. But the cost of insurance often depends as much on the type of car, as it does on the cost of the car.

For example, a sporty car might look great, and impress your friends, but it might cost you $200 or $300 more to insure than a basic car. And if your dream car has got modifications, like mag wheels, or has a bigger engine, insurance might cost you more again. It's better to be prepared for these extra costs than to get an unpleasant surprise after you have bought the car.

Also, remember that a finance company can require you to take out comprehensive insurance to cover the car, but you don't have to take out other types of insurance. For example, insurance to pay the loan if you become sick or unemployed may be too expensive or sold just because of the commissions. This type of insurance is not compulsory. You don't have to buy it even if the salesperson suggests you must have it.

Savings and investing - achieving your goals

9. Take things slowly and watch out for scams

If you're like most people, its easier to spend your money than to save it. But saving and investing are often the only way to achieve your big goals - buying a new stereo system, buying a car, going overseas.

Often it's easiest to save small amounts frequently - maybe by directly transferring some of your pay each fortnight to a special savings or investing account.

If you're thinking about investments - managed funds, shares, and others - you need to think about what level of risk you are prepared to take. The higher the return, the higher the risk that you will lose all your money.

Remember that there are no easy ways to "get rich quick". Stay away from investments that promise incredibly high returns for low risk and little work. They are usually scams.
Other warning signs for scams are:

lots of exclamation marks and capital letters in the advertisements
no 'real life' address - just an email address, or post office box and
lots of assurances that the scheme is legal.

Be cautious. If you think an investment opportunity looks a bit dodgy, make some enquiries before you commit your money. Check out Fido, our consumer website, or talk to a licensed financial adviser.
Superannuation - investing for the future

10. Keep track of your superannuation accounts
If you are just starting your working life, retirement will probably be the last thing on your mind. But you should check to make sure you are getting any superannuation you are entitled to. In addition to paying you your wages, your employer is required to contribute an amount equal to 9% of your earnings to your super fund, unless:

you earn less than $450 a month; OR
you are under 18 and you are working less than 30 hours per week.
If you change jobs frequently, or have more than one job at a time, it can be hard to keep track of your super. Keeping all your statements in one place should help.
You may also be able minimise the number of funds you have by asking to 'roll over' your accounts from your previous employment into your current fund. Ask your current fund for help with this.

PERSONAL FINANCE TIPS

2007-08-01T06:33:00.000-07:00

Everyone wants to know how to hold onto their hard-earned dollars. Unfortunately, most Americans aren’t very good at it. The United States has one of the lowest savings rates in the world. Meanwhile, American households carry some of the biggest debts, primarily on credit cards.

These 10 rules of personal finance are intended to help.

1. Pay yourself first. Whether it’s through your employer-sponsored 401(k), an individual retirement account, or passbook savings account, sock away at least 10 percent of your income for you. After all, you don’t work just to pay bills; it just feels that way a lot of the time.

2. Save three to six months of worth of income for emergencies. And don’t touch it unless it’s really an emergency. Saving for a vacation or new wardrobe do not constitute emergencies. You never know when you could lose your job, become disabled or sick, or have a major medical or family emergency.

3. Take advantage of your employer-sponsored 401(k) plan. Contribute at least as much as your employer will match, which is typically between 3 and 10 percent. Consult your the human resources department at your work for details on how that particular 401(k) plan works.

4. Pay off credit cards with the highest interest rate first. Obviously, there’s no sense in paying off a 12 percent card before a 15 percent card. Make minimum payments on the 12 percent card until the one with the 15 percent rate is paid off.

5. Come up with a budget and stick to it. You can use a computer program or just pen and paper. But do it. Figure out your income and expenses and what you have left over to spend as you wish.

6. If you have trouble determining where your money goes, particularly cash, then keep a spending journal. Document every expenditure for at least a two-week period. This will help you in coming up with a budget as well.

7. Don’t borrow from your 401(k) or retirement plans. This money, after all, is for your retirement. Plus, the tax implications and early withdrawal penalties are so hefty that you really are giving up a lot for a short-term cash infusion. You should have a separate savings account for your current needs.

8. Pay in cash when and as often as you can. It’s amazing how good that feels.

9. Shop around for the best credit card deals and banking programs. By shaving off a few percentage points on your credit card or avoiding bank fees, you can save hundreds of dollars a year.

10. Avoid peer pressure. Your friend might be able to afford five new pairs of leather boots, but that doesn’t mean you can. Who even knows if your friend can and who cares. Take care of yourself first and don’t try to keep up with the Joneses. There will always be people better off and worse off than you are.

BEAUTY TIPS - HAIR CARE

2007-07-25T23:57:00.000-07:00

Is your hair dry and brittle? Is the color dull and lackluster? Forget expensive commercial products that can do more damage than good to your hair; treat your hair yourself, using all-natural ingredients found in your own kitchen.

DO-IT-YOURSELF CHOLESTEROL TREATMENT

Would you believe that most commercially bought cholesterol hair conditioners contain alcohol– the very thing that dries out hair? Instead, grab a cup full of mayonnaise, some plastic food wrap and throw a couple of towels in the drier on high.

Work the mayonnaise into your hair, starting by massaging it into the scalp and roots. Then draw it through to your ends until your hair is thoroughly coated. Pile the hair on top of your head. Take a couple of feet of saran wrap and wrap it around the top of your head to contain the mayo.

Take a pre-heated towel from the dryer and wrap it around your head over the saran wrap. The heat will aid with deep conditioning. After about 10 minutes, change to another heated towel and leave that on for another 10 minutes.

Remove the towel and plastic wrap and shampoo your hair as usual. Done once a month, this cholesterol treatment will keep your hair soft and shiny.

* Tip: if your hair ends are very damaged from chemical treatment, you can do this once a week. If your scalp is naturally oily, you might want to only add mayo to the hair ends for weekly treatments.

QUICK SOLUTION FOR OILY HAIR

If your scalp is naturally oil, you probably have to shampoo your hair daily to keep it from looking greasy or stringy. If, however, you are running short on time or need a quick lift in the middle of the day, grab a box of cornstarch and a large, clean blush brush.

Pour some cornstarch out onto a dish and dip the brush into it. Then, with a comb, part your hair in the center and brush the cornstarch onto your scalp and roots. Make another part 1/4 to ½ inch off-center and repeat. Continue this method down one side of your head, then from the center and down the other side.

Go about your business for about 10 minutes while the cornstarch soaks up the excess oils in your hair. Then, take a brush and brush out your hair, ridding it of the cornstarch flakes.

FOR A COLOR ENHANCER:

If your own natural color, or your color treated hair, begins to look drab, all you need are a few ingredients from your garden or local produce store to brighten it up.

Begin by boiling one quart of water. In a piece of doubled cheesecloth, add the following:

for brunettes– a handful fresh rosemary sprigs (bruise by crumpling in your hand)
for blondes– a handful of dried chamomile
for "orange tone" redheads– a chopped-up carrot
for "berry tone" redheads– a chopped up beet
Tie up the ingredient in the cheesecloth and toss into the boiling water, removing it from heat. Let steep for 10 minutes.

Remove and discard the cheesecloth bag. Shampoo and rinse your hair as usual. Then, pour the warm (not hot) color-enhancing rinse over your hair. As a final rinse, use a quart of cold water. Once a month treatments will keep your hair color vibrant.

BUILD-UP REMOVER

Often the culprits of drab coloring and lackluster hair are all the styling products that we regularly use. They begin to build up and dull the shine and tone of our hair.

Get rid of the build up by mixing 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar with 1 gallon of distilled water. This can be stored in a cabinet or the refrigerator and used every couple of weeks to keep hair squeaky clean. To use it, wet hair with warm water, or shampoo and rinse as usual. Then pour 2 cups over the scalp and let mixture saturate the hair. Finish up with a cold-water rinse.

How to Manage Anger

2007-07-24T00:39:00.000-07:00

Yelling, throwing things, and generally blowing your top aren't the only signs of anger. Sulking, nagging, and crying are also common expressions of anger.

Besides alienating others, chronic anger can contribute to a variety of unpleasant ills, including headaches, skin rashes, stomach upsets--even high blood pressure.

If you tend to get angry easily and often, take these steps to help you control this negative reaction.

Count to ten at the first twinge of anger, and take three or four slow, deep breaths. The angry
impulse may pass.
If it's convenient and you feel a major outburst coming on, take a short walk until you calm down.
Don't resort to nagging or door slamming. If someone says or does something that bothers you,
discuss it calmly.
Distract yourself. If you're stuck in traffic, for example, try to accept the delay and recognize that it's
beyond your control. Pounding the horn and cursing at other drivers only prolongs your agitation.
Instead of sounding off, play pleasant music on the radio or listen to an interesting program.

MIND YOUR THOUGHTS

2007-07-19T02:02:00.000-07:00

Have you ever thought about the fact that there is never a moment when you are not thinking—that whatever happens in this world begins with a thought? Here are five simple steps to help you manage your thoughts and achieve success and happiness in life

BE AWARE OF YOUR THOUGHTS
Start watching your thoughts, without identifying with them. Watch them as a detached observer.

You may even get carried away by your thoughts. Never mind. It is natural—especially for a beginner. What you need to do, whenever you detect this, is to take yourself out of your thoughts immediately and get back to the process of thought-watching once again as a detached observer.

Do not get perturbed by your thoughts. Don't condemn or justify them. Don't try to control them. Just watch them. After some time, you will come to know what your negative thoughts are about. Now concentrate on all the positive thoughts that you can replace these thoughts with, in order to switch over to a more positive attitude towards them. Our attempt should be to cut down the quantity of unnecessary thoughts and to improve the quality of the necessary ones. Keep yourself busy. Simple food, deep breathing and relaxation exercises also help manage your thoughts easily. Expect less from others.

IDENTIFY NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
Keep a logbook. Jot down your thoughts. Write down happenings of the day. Were they positive, appropriate and adequate or were they confused, superfluous and negative? Could you notice the interval between the happening and your response? If yes, could your foresee your negative thoughts? If not, what can, you do to notice this interval? Was there any discrepancy between words and thoughts? If yes, was it justified—could you find a better way of harmonizing your words and thoughts? Was the verbal response necessary, appropriate and adequate?

Sometimes we talk to others, or simply to ourselves, or think about something just like that. Ask yourself what provoked you to take the initiative to start a conversation. Was it essential? What was the purpose? Did it serve the purpose? If no, then why not? Did it use any unnecessary and emotionally charged negative words? Were the words used in thinking, inner dialogue or in talking to the other person, precise, appropriate, adequate and positive? Did you feel happy or satisfied after the interaction with the other person or with your inner self? Can you find ways of improving your performance as a thinker or a speaker?

Keep in mind that logbooks are meant to get you started and make you aware of your negative thoughts. It is far more important, however, to be aware of these thoughts when they are just taking birth, rather than leave them for later analysis.

Be conscious of the interval that separates the event from thoughts with which you respond to the event.

NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
Imagine a strong sun radiating a powerful light. Use this mental sunshine to kill your negative, undesirable thoughts, emotions and images as and when these are detected. Take this sun as a mighty weapon which is always on the alert and which automatically chases any negative thought and kills it with a flash and then withdraws. Don't forget to imagine that this sun is your faithful friend and is extremely kind to you.

Keep a note of how many times you need to call the sun for its services. There will be a gradual increase, followed by a drastic fall. This is so because initially the number of times you call on your mental sunshine increases gradually as your awareness of your thoughts grows.

The drastic fall is because what we do not use (the negative thoughts, in this case), we tend to lose.

REPLACE WlTH POSITIVE THOUGHTS
A vital step in this process is the immediate replacement of all negative thoughts by the positive ones. The shorter the interval between the disinfecting and the replacing stage, the better it is. Longer intervals between these two events weaken the impact of the positive thoughts. Our success and happiness depend on identifying our goals precisely and chasing them effectively, both of which, in turn, depend on how well we manage our thoughts. The quality of our thoughts decides the quality of the outcomes we land up with. Thoughts have the power to materialize themselves because they are instrumental in channeling energy towards the physical or mental condition they are about.

External situations and the remarks of others can harm us through our thoughts—but only to the extent our thoughts allow them to. So think positive. Talk positive. Read positive quotable quotes of great people. Surround yourself with posters and cards bearing positive messages. Keep them on your table. Hang them on the walls. Paste them near the bathroom mirror and on the doors. Stick them on your watchstrap. Keep them on the refrigerator. Have them on the dashboard of the car. Slip them under the glass of the table in front of you. Slide them in the inner side of the briefcase you carry. Find other suitable places where you are bound to look at them every day.

Remember that these messages will stale with prolonged use. So keep changing their position and contents. Do not let the momentum of these thoughts get weaker.

Use them appropriately in response to specific negative thoughts. The replacing thought must be positive in every sense. Apart from being inspiring and assuring, it should also be suggestive. For example, if you confront a negative thought, "I can never succeed", it will not suffice if you replace it with "Sun! Attack! I can succeed". This kind of replacement may not be effective, for it sounds like wishful thinking and lacks assurance, depth and penetrating certainty. It is better to break your replacing thought down into more definite and specific steps or instructions.

The replacing thought in this case may be: "I can succeed. By earlier failures I have become rich in experience and have come to know specific areas that require special attention. I will jot them down and systematically think of the ways in which I can improve. I shall plan. And then stick to it. There is absolutely no reason why I should not succeed. I will assess, plan, execute, monitor, modify and carryon with the plan, and finally succeed. In fact, I think that success has already been achieved and only time separates my thought of success and its transformation into reality. I am committing myself to all that is required to achieve success. I am a river that knows no obstacles. I shall find my way anyhow—and if there is none I shall make one."

REINFORCE
Thoughts like these can be further reinforced with emotions and images. All this may take longer than one single replacing thought, but these are far more effective since they allow you to divide the desired target into workable units. Focus on a pleasant event that took place in the past. This way your thoughts will turn positive and your emotions and images will reinforce each other, resulting in an overall positive attitude.

TRAVEL TIPS

2007-07-17T00:18:00.000-07:00

It's always important to take care of your health, whether you're at home or on the road, but there are some additional concerns that are important to keep in mind when you're traveling.

Whether you're taking a trip with your family or plan to live abroad for several months for a study program, it's easier to get sick when you're in a new place because your body hasn't had a chance to adjust to the food, water, and air in a new environment. Traveling can bring you in contact with things that your body isn't used to. Continue reading for tips on keeping your travel experience as healthy as possible.

Don't Take a Vacation From Health
The stress and excitement of travel can make you more likely to get sick, but if you follow a few simple tips, you're more likely to stay healthy throughout your trip - and your trip will definitely be more enjoyable. The good news is that as a teen, your immune system is as strong as an adult's, but lack of sleep and a poor diet can make it easier for you to become sick.

The first thing you should do if you're heading overseas is to find out what kinds of vaccinations you'll need in advance because different countries have different requirements. In the United States, contact your doctor or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a list of necessary vaccinations. You'll want to allow plenty of time for this step in case you need to get vaccines that require more than one dose.

Common Travel Troubles
Three of the most common health problems that you may experience when traveling are jet lag, altitude sickness, and diarrhea. When you fly across time zones, the differing amounts of light can change your internal body clock, resulting in a condition known as jet lag. Jet lag may cause some symptoms that are bummers on a fun trip, including upset stomach, insomnia, and tiredness.

There are some things you can do to combat jet lag; for example, if you're traveling from west to east, you should stay out of the sun until the day after your arrival. If you're flying from east to west, go for a brisk walk as soon as possible after you arrive.

Altitude sickness is caused by dry air, a decrease in oxygen, and low barometric pressure when you travel to a higher altitude than you're used to. As a result, you may have problems, such as headaches, dehydration, and shortness of breath. Some people are affected at 5,000 feet (1,524 meters), but others aren't affected until they reach altitudes of 10,000 feet (3,048 meters) or more. Find out what altitude you're traveling to before you go to see if altitude sickness could be a problem.

The best prevention for altitude sickness is to gradually increase your altitude every day to get used to it. If that isn't possible, a drug known as acetazolamide can help relieve and even prevent symptoms of altitude sickness. If you think that you might get altitude sickness, talk with your doctor before you leave home.

The topic of diarrhea may seem gross, but it can be a serious problem. Traveler's diarrhea, known as turista, often occurs when a foreign type of bacteria enters your digestive tract, usually when you eat contaminated food or water. The best way to prevent turista is to be very careful of the food you eat and the water you drink on the road.

Safe Eats and Drinks
So what foods are safe to eat? Any foods that have been boiled are generally safe, as well as fruits and vegetables that have to be peeled before eating. Avoid eating uncooked or undercooked meat or meat that is not cooked just prior to serving.

Stay away from foods that require a lot of handling before serving. Here's an example: Nine friends ate at a restaurant when on a school trip overseas; eight had diarrhea the next day. The one who didn't get sick was the only one who had ordered a dish that didn't need to be touched by human hands right before serving.

One of your favorite foods at home is on the safe list on the road - pizza! Pizza dough, sauce, and cheese are foods that are less likely to spoil than others, and the high heat of a pizza oven tends to kill any harmful bacteria in the food.

You've probably heard that you shouldn't drink the water in some countries overseas, but did you know why? Water supplies in many developing countries are not treated in the same way as water supplies in developed countries; various bacteria, viruses, and parasites are commonly found in the water. Many experts suggest you drink only bottled water when traveling. If you need to use tap water, you should boil it first or purify it with an iodine tablet. Even if you're brushing your teeth, rinsing contact lenses, drinking a small glass of water to wash down pills, or adding ice to your drink, first take precautions to ensure the water is safe.

You Can Take It With You
When you're packing, you'll want to include any medications and other medical supplies you use on a daily basis because they may be hard to find in another country if you run out. Even if you can find them, there's a good chance the formulations will be stronger or weaker than the ones you're used to. These may include any prescriptions you already take, such as inhalers, allergy medication, and insulin, as well as contact lens cleaners and vitamins.

Packing an over-the-counter pain medication like acetaminophen and diarrhea medication is also a good idea. It's a good idea to pack some over-the-counter allergy medication even if you don't take it at home. People sometimes unexpectedly develop allergic reactions to the pollens and other allergens found in a new environment. Those with asthma or other allergies can unexpectedly react to these new substances.

Write It All Down
Even if you watch what you eat and drink and get enough rest while you're traveling, you may still get sick. The good news is that you'll probably be able to find competent medical care. The key is knowing where to go. Most travel guides suggest you go to a hospital where English is spoken or U.S.-trained doctors can be found. For this reason, it's a good idea to always carry a written copy of your medical history with you.

Having such important information available in one place can help health care workers make appropriate decisions, and you won't have to worry about forgetting important information at a time when you're likely to be upset and not thinking clearly.

Before you leave your home sweet home, create a medical history form that includes the following information:

your name, address, and home phone number as well as a parent's daytime phone number
your blood type
immunizations
your doctor's name, address, and office and emergency phone numbers
the name, address, and phone number of your health insurance carrier, including your policy number
a list of any ongoing health problems, such as heart disease, diabetes, or AIDS
a list of current medications you are taking and pharmacy name and phone number
a list of allergies to medications, food, insects, and animals
a prescription for glasses or contact lenses
the name, address, and phone number of a relative other than your parent
It also helps if you have some basic emergency medical knowledge, not only for yourself but for helping others you may be traveling with. A great way to prepare for your trip is to take a first-aid or basic life support course before you go; if you're traveling with a group, you should know where the first-aid kit is and what's in it.

Basic Safety
It's easy to let your guard down when you travel. After all, you're more relaxed and there are so many new sights to focus on. In addition to paying attention to your personal safety (avoiding secluded places and not walking alone after dark), you'll need to reset your thinking when it comes to traffic safety, too. The rules of the road aren't the same overseas as they are at home. In some countries, people drive on the opposite side of the road and you'll need to be aware of this before you cross the street - look in the opposite direction from the one you're used to. Pedestrians don't always have the right of way overseas, either. Be sure there are no cars coming when you step into the street: If there are, they may not stop for you!

If you practice these healthy hints you can focus on the scenery - not medical emergencies - and return home with nothing more troubling than some tacky souvenirs!