Stay Hydrated: Instead of drinking carbonated drinks, drink water, fresh lime, fresh fruit juices, aam panna (green mango drink) or coconut water to stay hydrated. It’s also best to minimise the intake of diuretics like alcohol and caffeine as they reduce the water from your system. Drink a lot of water and liquids and your skin will stay soft and moisturised as well. Buy books for preparing smoothies at home.
Sun protection: Try and stay indoors between 11am and 3pm. That’s when the sun’s rays are the strongest and can have an adverse effect on your skin. Apply sunscreen with high SPF at least 15 while going out.
Moisturiser: Use a water based moisturiser if your skin is too dry.Cleanse your face at least twice a day.
Use a toner: Try rose water as its natural cooling properties make it an excellent toner for the hot season.
Healing: Application of moisturizer containing aloe extracts or for that matter application of aloe gel serves to be an effective summer healing option.
Exfoliate: It’s really important to exfoliate your skin in the summer to remove dead skin and improve blood circulation to the face.
Sun tan: In order to get rid of uneven summer tanning, go for a blend of gram flour, yogurt and lemon juice, to apply the same on parts affected. There are sun tan removers available in the market which can be used to remove the tan.
Wash: Wash your face gently with water a number of times in a day. You can splash as many as 20 times but don't use very hot or cold water on your skin.
Jakhoo Hill: Jakhoo Hill is the highest peak in the entire hill station offers scenic view of the city and snow capped Himalayan Mountains. It is home to the ancient Jakhoo Temple, which has a large statue of Hanuman, its chief deity.
The Ridge: The Ridge is a spacious open space that runs from east to west along the Mall, which is yet another famous tourist destination. The mountains apart, you get to view Christ Church, and Tudor Library.
The Shimla State Museum: The colonial style building amidst marvellous lawns in itself is an inspiring sight. It gives an in depth view of the city’s glorious past. It has a stunning collection of various objects relating to art, cultural anthropology and archaeology. The sculptures, paintings, handicrafts and coins are some of the classic collections found here.
Summer Hill: Summer Hill is also called as Potter’s Hill. The hill is a part of a cluster of seven hills, which form Shimla and hence the tourists can have a breathtaking sights from the top.
Daranghati Sanctuary: This is one of the most important tourist attractions. Some of the common animals found here are Musk deer, Goral andThar. Forest staff posted at Dofda and Sarahan is there for advice and guidance.
Annandale: also referred to as Annadale, is one of the star attractions of Shimla. It is around 4 kms from the Ridge. This flat terrain was once the playground for the British, who played cricket and polo here. Racing was also a popular sport conducted here. Now, the racecourse is converted into a small golf course, which is also used as a heli-pad.
Chadwick falls: The waterfalls look captivating with dense green forests, deodar and pine trees around it. It is the source of water to the forest area in Shimla. The water flows with amazing speed. After monsoon season, the water level increases and the falls look stunningly sparkling.
Kufri: It is a small hill station. Kufri has a Himalayan Wild Life Zoo which hosts rare Antelopes, Felines and Birds including Himalayan Monal.
Mall Road: The Mall is situated in the main street of Shimla. All colonial structures are located on the Mall Road. The Mall Road also has all major hotels, restaurants and recreation centers of Shimla. The Mall road is full of shops that sell woolen clothes, branded clothes, handicraft items, pottery items, jewellery, books, etc. The Mall Road is also famous for its wooden furniture shops that sell exquisite wooden articles, which look like antiques.
Summer is nearing & we need to take good care of our eyes. Follow the eye care tips below to keep your eyes healthy during the hot summer months:
Ten eye care tips for Summer:
Make sure your glasses provide 100% protection from UV rays. Wear glasses with lenses which provide 100% protection from UV rays.
Wear large shades. Make sure to choose shades with wraparound frames and wide lenses.
Wear a broad protective hat . A wide brimmed hat will block the sun before it gets to your eyes.
Wear sunglasses on cloudy days. UV can still reach your eyes in cloudy summer days and cause damage. So, wear sunglasses in cloudy days too.
Drink enough water. Drink at least 8 cups of water a day to keep yourself properly hydrated. This will keep your skin and eyes moist as well.
Stay indoors during the middle of the day. Stay indoors as much as possible particularly in the late morning and afternoon when the sun is at its strongest and the highest levels of UV are in the atmosphere.
Consider polarized lenses. Since they reduce glare from reflective surfaces, polarized lenses are great for water-based activities and driving.
Wear swimming goggles to protect your eyes from water-borne bacteria or chemicals and from UV rays.
Be careful not to apply sunscreen too close to the eyes or eyelids as it can enter the eye and cause irritation.
Use allergy relieving eye drops. If you suffer from itchy, watery eyes due to allergies, use eyes drops that contain an antihistamine. Whenever necessary, hit the sink and splash cold water on your eyes to relieve them from the heat.
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 1/3 cups sugar
5 large egg whites, room temperature
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups milk, room temperature
Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple gel food coloring.
Method:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Brush six 9-inch-round cake pans (or as many 9-inch cake pans as you have, reusing them as necessary) with shortening.
Line bottom of each cake pan with parchment paper; brush again and set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.
In the bowl, cream together butter and sugar.
Slowly add egg whites and mix until well combined.
Add vanilla and mix until fully incorporated.
Add flour mixture and milk in two alternating additions and mix until well combined.
Divide batter evenly between six medium bowls. Add enough of each color of food coloring to each bowl, whisking, until desired shade is reached.
Transfer the first colored batter to the cake pan. Transfer to oven and bake for about 15 minutes. Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake & see if comes out clean. Let it cool completely.
Repeat the baking process for the rest of the colored batters one by one.
Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes to make level. Place four strips of parchment paper around perimeter of a serving plate. Place the one of the colored layers on the cake plate. Spread a scant 1 cup buttercream filling over the first layer with a small offset spatula so it extends just beyond edges. Repeat process with the other layers.
Gently sweep away any loose crumbs with a pastry brush. Using an offset spatula, cover the top and sides with a thin layer of frosting. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.
Your rainbow cake is ready...Enjoy!!
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Satin flowers (like the one in the picture below), can be used for decorating almost anything. You can make bouquets with them and place them in a flower vase, you can use them for decorating hair bands, hair clips, belts, bracelets and in dresses.
Watch the full video tutorial below and then read the step by step guide.
Make cute little flowers out of satin ribbons by following the steps below.
Things you will need:
Satin ribbons of colors of your choice
Scissors
Glue
Scale
Forceps
Method:
1. Cut out several strips of same length from the ribbon according to the size of flower you want to make.
2. Now, fold each piece at right angles as shown below.
3. Fold the piece as shown in the picture.
4. Fold the corners to make a petal shape and fix them with glue.
5. Make as many petals you need.
6. Now cut out some satin circles and it should be of the same number as the number of flowers you are making.
7. Now paste the petals around the circles as shown below.
8. Fill up the gaps with more petals and continue sticking them in layers as shown below. Let each layer dry up before pasting the new layer of petals.
9. Your flowers should look like these. (picture below)
1. Botanical Gardens: the Botanical Gardens is located at the slopes of the Doddabetta peak. The terraced garden covers an area of 22 hectares. You can visit this place any time except the monsoons.
2. Doddabetta Peak: This place stands at a height of around 8,650 feet and makes it the highest peaks in south India. It offers amazing trek spots and plenty of quiet and picturesque locations.
3. Avalanche Lake: The place derives its name from a landslide that occurred sometime in the early 1800’s. It is a very beautiful spot with mesmerizing landscape. You can also go for fishing in the lake.
4. The Rose Gardens: The Largest rose gardens in India, the Government Rose Gardens lie on the slopes of the Elk Hill at an elevation of 2200 meters above sea level. It also has one of the largest collections of roses with more than 20,000 different varieties.
5. Ooty Lake: Covering an area of around 65 acres, the Ooty Lake is a manmade lake. It features a boathouse which offers boating facilities to the visitors and is famous for hosting boat races during the summer months.
6. Pykara River: Known as a sacred place for the Toda people, Pykara River flows through the plateau and form several cascades and waterfalls. The Pykara falls are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Ooty and are famous for the shola trees, Toda settlements and wildlife.
7. Wax World: The Wax museum is housed inside a 142 year old bungalow in Ooty. The sculptures display a brief insight on the people and culture of Ooty and surrounding areas.
8. Tribal Museum: The Tribal Museum is a must visit for people visiting Ooty. It houses some rare artifacts and houses that belonged to the various tribes in the Nilgiris and provides insights about the culture and the inhabitants of Tamil Nadu and the Andaman and Nicobar islands.
9. Deer Park: Located by the Ooty Lake, the deer park is one of the few high altitude zoos in India. The visitors get to view a variety of different deer species along with other rare animals and birds.
10. Mudumalai National Park: The Mudumalai National Park is a home to several animal and bird species. The Bengal Tiger, Leopards, Indian Bison, Asiatic Elephants and several other rare species of birds and animals can be found here.
Cats normally don't require bathing, but if your cat does need a bath, don't try to do it alone, get someone to help you. A cat gets panicky on a slippery surface, so place a towel or rug over the side of the tub or basin for the cat to cling to. Hold the cat with one hand and lather quickly with the other.
Make certain the water is lukewarm.
Use a hand-held spray hose to thoroughly wet your pet, taking care not to spray directly in her ears, eyes and nose. If you don’t have a spray hose, a plastic pitcher or unbreakable cup.
Always use shampoo for cats, buy them from pet stores & follow proper instructions.
Wash the head, ears, and neck first. If you don't, any fleas that are on the animal will take refuge there while you clean the rest of its body. Be careful not to get shampoo in the eyes.
To avoid colds, keep your cat inside for several hours after a bath.
Wrap your cat in a large towel and dry her with it in a warm place, away from drafts.
Do not keep your cat in the water for too long.
Grooming Cats
When your cat starts to shed hair, usually after the cold-weather months, massage its coat with your hands, then stroke the animal from head to tail with your palms.
If you encounter tangled fur when combing a long-haired cat, use your fingers, not a comb, to separate the tangles.
When brushing short-haired cats, be sure to brush between the shoulders where the cat can't reach to groom itself.
Your cat's claws will be easier to trim if you press the paw to expose the nails. Use special clippers from the pet supply store - never use human nail clippers on a cat.
Clean only that part of the ear canal that you can see, using a cotton swab soaked in mineral oil or alcohol. This should be done monthly.
Feeding Cats
Never offer bones to your cat, they may catch in your pet's throat.
If moist pet food is not eaten within two hours, refrigerate it. Dry food and biscuits are the only foods that can be left out for any length of time.
Do not feed dog food to a cat. Buy only cat food.
If you're going to change your pet's diet, do it gradually. A sudden change may be a shock to the animal's system.
Don't worry if your cat eats grass; many animals actually graze.
On a hot day, fill your pet's bowl with cold tap water and freshen it often.
You can always get some good tips and tricks about taking care of your kitty by reading a good book about raising cats.
6 to 8 - dried hot red chillies, soaked in warm water for 10 mins
1 tsp - kewra water
For the marinade:
3 inch - Ginger
Garlic - 8 to 9 Cloves
1.5 cups - lightly beaten Curd
1 cup - Milk
3 to 4 - Bay Leaves
8 to 10 - Cardamom pods
8 to 10 - Cloves
1 tsp - ground Mace
1/2 tsp - ground Nutmeg
Method:
1. Chop and grind, the ginger and garlic together, to make a fine paste.
2. Add the remaining marinade ingredients, along with mutton and mix well. Leave it, to stand unrefrigerated, for 3-4 hours or overnight in fridge(bring to room temp before cooking).
3. Remove the meat from the marinade and put the marinade aside.
4. Heat oil and ghee in a pan, over high heat. When hot, add the meat, salt and sugar. Stir and fry for 8-10 minutes, until the meat is lightly browned.
5. Reduce the heat to very low. Add the marinade.
6. Cover and cook for 1 hour or until the meat is tender.
7. Add the green and red chillies. Cook for a further 5-10 minutes.
Hope you guys enjoyed a lot this Holi. But now you must be trying to get rid of the colours on your skin and hair. We are here to help you. Follow the tips below:
Do not exfoliate your skin, rubbing your skin will only inflame it further. Instead, apply a cleansing gel or baby oil on to your face. Massage it in a circular motion for about a minute. Wash it off with cold water (hot water will make the colour stick).
Shower off all the dye from your body with a soothing showergel or body wash with a loofah. But be gentle and don't rub too vigorously as it may cause rashes over your skin.
As soon as you step out of the shower, apply a moisturiser on your face and body. This will keep the skin hydrated and cool.
Also strictly avoid bleaching, waxing or facial for a week before and after Holi.
If you want you can also rub some lemon wedges over your skin. The natural bleaching agent in lemons helps remove the sturdy stains which otherwise doesn't go away easily. Rub it on for some time and then wash it off. After washing it off, make sure to apply ample moisturiser to prevent the skin from dryness.
Don't ignore the nails, they need caring too. Use a nail polish remover to get off as much colour as you can from your nails. Every few hours, pamper your tips with a nail cream.
Hair care: Wash off as much colour as you can from your hair with cold water. Then, use a protein based shampoo followed by a nourishing conditioner.
Don't expect to be squeaky clean after the first wash, so be gentle on your skin and hair. Follow this skin and hair care regime daily and the colours will come off eventually.
