Free health and beauty tips

Candlelight is the perfect accent to decorate your home this Christmas. Set our floating snowflake candles adrift in your favorite bowl or cylinder for an icy, refreshing décor solution. This classic symbol of wither is dusted with glitter for maximum sparkle. Turn your home into an oasis of relaxing candlelight. Use sleek, sinuous ranches, aglow with the flickering luminosity of ten candles. Suspend sparkling glass cups that capture every dance of the flame. There are a wide array of candle holders and candles to choose from. Placed on a hearth or mantel, they become an eye-catching focal point. Usher in the holidays with the timeless charm of a candlelit tree. The small tree creates an enchanting dining table centerpiece. Enjoy the serene beauty of a fresh snowfall ambience, backlit by flickering candlelight. White porcelain lanterns, richly detailed with snowflakes silhouetted with snowflakes silhouetted against a warm glow, lend a look of wintry magic to your surroundings. Group several as a radiant centerpiece for the table or as a mantel display. Silver reindeer candleholders too add character to the home. You could also opt for the shimmering optic glass and fill it with water to place floating scented candles. The slightly scalloped texture of the bowl captures every flicker of candlelight. A glowing centerpiece for the table, the bowl can also serve as an elegant fruit or serving dish.

Cushions, drapes, & upholstery are the fundamentals of a stylish interior. The way you put together the three elements of cushions, drapes & upholstery can make or mar your living space. Here are a few pointers to help you choose the right ones foe your home.

CUSHIONS:-

Don’t get carried away by oversized floor cushions. Stick to the conventional 16/16 or 18/18 & mix them around with smaller sized cushions to create a visual design. You can also mix conventional square with round ones, kept singly on chairs etc. Cushion covers can be in neutral shades with any décor theme. Just make sure the bold element in the neutral shade is also complementary & not contrasting. Look out for interesting designs, thread-work, appliqué, velvet, & embroidered cushion covers. Floral, paisley, & pastel hues are also very popular.

Handcrafted designs have more value than machine-made ones. You can have cushions on your sofa, divan, chaise lounge, love seat, or even on a large ottoman. But make sure you store the pillows in a chest. When used in a cluster, cushions create an impact & make the space look contemporary.

DRAPES:-

There’s an overwhelming variety when buying drapes. Most people select the fabric & have it stitched & patterned to their doors & windows. Textured, woven, & linen drapes, & those that have yarn, wool, Lycra, or silk woven into them, are sturdy. Drapes in lace, satin, & ikkat prints give your room a charming feel. Fabrics that have classic & pleasing motifs, but don’t look too crowded, also work well. You can have two sets-one that is thick & textured for the winter & another that is in organza, mul with block prints, or kadi work, for the summer. Ideally, drapes are used over windows & door entrances.

You can even use them in your kitchen & balcony depending on how stylish you want to make the space look. The ones for your living room can be rich, patterned, & pleated in a classic style, while those that are meant for the kitchen & the balcony or event the children’s room can have a frill on the edges or a valance on the top, giving it a European touch. You can have two drapes overlapping each other – one sheer & the other textured, using the lighter one during the day, & the darker one at night or when you need privacy.

 Condemning feminine qualities is the root cause of all wars in the world. It provokes aggressiveness in men. Our history books are full of appreciation of the ‘heroic’ deeds of Alexander, Napoleon and others. We want our sons to be brave heroes like them. German philosopher Nietzsche condemned Gautama Buddha because of his feminine grace and beauty. His idea of a real man was to be strong and to be made of steel. Buddha was the most compassionate and cultured of men, the most graceful man this world has ever known. But his compassion, grace and beauty are essentially feminine qualities, worshipped in the East. Nietzsche condemned Buddha’s teachings too. He said that he could not appreciate his teachings as they harmed humanity. He warned that if people believed in Buddha’s teachings, the world would turn feminine. Nietzsche appreciated the warrior always ready to kill or get killed. The rhythm of an army marching into war was music to his ears. It is this philosophy that gave birth to Hitler. Nietzsche was a genius but if we follow his philosophy was a genius but if we follow his philosophy, we will have more world wars and so peace. If we want peace in the world, we will have to nurture feminine qualities to bring about balance.

 Osho says: ‘It is true that all great qualities are feminine love compassion, sympathy, kindness. All these qualities have a flavor of the feminine. We have been giving too much emphasis to the head and ignoring the heart. We are living utterly miserable lives because we’ve got stuck in our heads and bypassed our heart. The head has dried our poetry of emotions, the sentiments, the smiles, the tears, the laughter & mad life boring. Friendship has disappeared from the world because our head calculates too much. This is the head that has created such monstrous concrete that has created such monstrous concrete jungles that man has no time to look at the sky and dance with the clouds and rejoice in the rains. The heart wants to sing, but the head thinks about society and worries about what others will say. The head has made us much too serious in the name of sanity. We need some amount of ‘feminine’ insanity of love and emotions to bring some balance to our miserable lives. This feminine madness is far better than Nietzsche’s male madness.”

 Give women a chance, and non-violence will effortlessly be the religion of the new millennium. The new millennium should have a totally new vision and ethic of life, in which women make a significant contribution of their feminine qualities to men, and use their feminine power for peace. Let the head and heart unite in meditation and create a new being in the world. Says Osho in A Sudden Clash of Thunder: “God is more a mother than a father. God is more a womb than anything else. Out of God we are born, & back into God we dissolve. He is our birth and death. He is compassion and He is love. All His qualities are feminine.”  

A good electrical system should incorporate a good grounding system as well. Modern homes need a well-designed grounding system. Even though it leads to earth pits, a proper electrical system has separate schemes for ground and neutral originating from your electrical system.

Today, a variety of digital signals are invading our homes and work places, increasing year after year. This gives rise to another dimension to the design of grounding systems for homes. The digital signals and other inadequacies in the design of the electronic boards for electromagnetic compatibility would lead to noticeable noise in other electronic gadgets. You would notice a flat, irritating noise on your phone when the person at the other end receives a call on his cell phone. A flickering fluorescent light causes disturbance to the images on your television. These are some of the results of poor grounding of your electrical system and, bonds and shields into digital devices including cellular phones. The result is the generation and propagation of broadband noise.

Ground and neutral connections:-

You may have either a single phase or three phase supply from your utility company. Most electrical gadgets need single phase power connection. The following need three phase power connection. Air conditioners, which have, typically, a three ton capacity or more. Deep bore well motors with capacities exceeding one horse power. With a single phase supply, you get two wires from the distribution point, maybe a pole, to the power panel board with a consumer power metre into your premises. A separate thick copper wire runs along the exterior wall and terminates in a pipe pegged into the earth pit. Three phase power connection has three live wires and a neutral wire. Ground line runs directly from the control panel into the earth pit.

Separate grounding scheme:-

You will notice that the neutral wire of your electrical system is connected to the earth connection near your local transformer that the utility company has installed. You may wonder as to why your home should have a different grounding arrangement for your electrical system. There are many reasons for this. The most important reason is safety of gadgets and inmates of the house. When there are separate wires for neutral and ground, the risk of electrical shocks or fire resulting from a problem in electrical wiring, is reduced. If there is a common wire for both neutral and ground, then if wire is cut anywhere in the electrical system, it will cause the shield or protective system to be raised to the potential of the phase wire. This scenario is more dangerous than not having a protective ground in your electrical system.

Different wires for ground and neutral:-

When the wires for ground and neutral are separate, then a cut neutral wire causes only the equipment to stop working and doesn’t create dangerous situation. If the ground wire gets cut by accident, there is no danger caused before some equipment gets damaged. Thus, when there are separate wires for neutral and ground, a single wire fault, which is the most frequent problem, keeps the inmates of the house as well as the gadgets in the electrical systems safe. A single wire fault, cut or coming in contact with any other wire, could cause no immediate danger to the user of the equipment in the electrical system. When the live wire (phase wire or hot wire) comes in contact with the ground or neutral wire, the fuse blows or the circuit breaker trips immediately.

With the fuse blown or circuit breaker tripped, posed by this defective condition, the dangers of electrical hazards are nil. When a neutral wire comes in contact with a ground wire, it poses no immediate danger, just nasty ground loop problems start to occur. If your have a GFCI or other ground leakage detector installed in the electrical system, it will cut the power to the outlet.

If either a live wire or a neutral wire is cut, power to the equipment is shut off. When the ground wire is disconnected or cut, it continues to work well unless there is a fault inside the equipment. It is potentially as dangerous as using an ungrounded outlet in the same place. But there is no immediate danger. So any single failure does not cause great danger in this scheme.

A rented property should be used for the purpose for which it was rented. It cannot be used for a purpose other than what has been agreed to between the lessor and the lessee. Usually, these terms and conditions are agreed upon in advance and embodied in the lease agreement entered into between the parties. In case there is any breach of the terms and the lessee uses the premises for a purpose other than what was agreed upon, the lessor has a right to get the lessee evicted. This view has been made clear by the Supreme Court in various judgments. The change of use of property is a valid ground for eviction under most of the Rent Control Acts as well. In a recent case, the Supreme Court has ruled that a tenant of a residential or business property can be evicted if he change4s the natural of tenancy without the written consent of the landlord. A Division Bench of the Supreme Court said,”….where the premises were put to a use for a purpose other than for which it was let out, then written consent of the landlord was a must”.
The tenant can be asked to vacate the premises for having changed the use without the written consent of the landlord. In the present case, the landlord, who had let out three rooms to sell copies and books, sought the tenant’s eviction as the tenant started manufacturing copies and then installed a printing machine there without his written consent. The court held that the tenant was liable to be evicted for having changed the use from business to manufacturing. The apex court held that without the written consent of the landlord the tenant could neither use the building nor do any act which was inconsistent with the purpose for which the premises was let out, and accordingly ordered evict ion of the tenant.
A written consent form the landlord is a must in case the tenant wants to change the use of the premises. Preferably, the permission should be taken prior to effecting the change of use of premises. The Rent Control Acts of various States also contain similar provisions to this effect. The rented premises cannot be used for a purpose other than the one agreed upon between the parties. The lessee cannot breach the contract and then take advantage of it as well.
Most lease agreements specify the purpose for which the premises may be use. In fact, some are specific to the extent that they also specify the persons who will stay in the premises (this is applicable in case of leases with companies – for companies that provide leased accommodation to their employees). In case the employee leaves the employment of the company, the lessor can terminate the lease with the company. In case the lessee wants to change the purpose for which the property has been leased, then he must take the consent of the lessor. It is advisable that a no objection certificate be taken in writing rather than just an oral consent.

Wintry weathers pronounce the bone rattling chills of a freshly dawned morning; breakfast sessions of warm served tea with butter dipped bread and the comforts of your very own portico, verandah, or penthouse lawns. Talking of awnings which are now a popular element of outdoor decks and patios that provide shade for you to rest and to enjoy your outdoor time. Sunny days can be turned pleasant if you have awnings to provide shade so that you can enjoy some lemonade and chat with family and friends. In the West, awnings are commonly used over outdoor street-side restaurants and over entrances to hotels and over driveways, giving them a perfect and attractive front view. Beach-side bistros and kiosks lining busy promenades also have compact awnings that can be stowed away when not in use or easily moved to another location depending on the ware, say cold lemonade or hot dogs, which the tiny store offers.

Coming back to our cosy townscape of Baroda, the city does not embrace the concrete skylines of tall scrapers and congested living of a Metro. This creates the burgeoning of larger homes wherein awnings can be attached to the exterior wall of the building in an area where you would like to have shade like a deck or patio. Sometimes, house owners prefer to install awnings above windows to have less light and also to give an attractive umbrella like look. Awnings work well in keeping your indoors cool, clean, and comfortable.

Sunshades can be also be created in your garden area, above your vegetable patch, along your driveway path, and even over your cars that are parked in the porch area, providing shade and an aesthetic sense to the house. When used above windows, it cools the area and allows you to keep a few potted plants on the sill. It’s an added cover or and outside overcoat that you can be used decoratively and usefully to protect you from excessive wind, rain and harsh sunlight.

It’s cool to be hands on in the kitchen even if you have staff to do the work. Whether for your own pleasure or to entertain, cooking for family and friends is an intimate touch, which is greatly appreciated. This is no longer a chore what with the slew of hi-tech gadgets available today. Health is also an issue and one wants safer, better products to ensure a healthier lifestyle.

Ovens, cook-tops and grills

You can cook in style, and comfort. Induction cook tops are the way to go. Not only are they safer and faster but they are also easier to clean and more energy efficient. There are self cleaning ovens and what could be smarter than that.

All these come with range hoods, which reduce kitchen odors. Tandoori dishes are a big part of Indian cuisine. Traditional tandoors emit a lot of smoke and such cooking is usually done outdoors. The smokeless grills available today enable healthier cooking in a smokeless environment and so can be done indoors as well. Those harmful carcinogens are eliminated, not to mention the fumes and tears.

Fridges and freezers

Refrigerators are bigger and better and come with several add-ons all at the touch of a button. Food preservation is top priority but cooling mechanisms are graded for different functions. The Chardonnay or Merlot to accompany your meal can be stored in the wine cooler section. Ice water and ice cube dispensers on the fridge door are nothing new but snazzier options are now on offer. How about a high definition LCD television screen fitted on the front door of the fridge. A built-in radio with accompanying speakers is also part of the deal. You won’t miss your favorite programmed. In fact, you could still follow the cookery show and turn out the specials.

Waste disposers

It is smart dispose of waste efficiently. Waste disposers attached below the sink, grind and treat organic food waste, enabling it to be discharged without clogging the drainage system. Food stored overnight and then thrown in garbage cans give rise to odor and encourage rodents. With waste disposers, each household can treat garbage in a safe, hygienic manner. The result is a germ free, odorless kitchen. These are only some of the innovations you can use for a more convenient kitchen. Every facet of the kitchen from tiles to taps, pots to purifiers and hobs to humidifiers comes in a smart option. These hi-tech appliances are exclusive but more importantly, promote a healthier lifestyle.

Coffee-makers

Be it the breakfast brew. After dinner coffee or anytime coffee going by current lifestyles, there are machines available that make coffee brewing smart and hassle free. Starting from scratch. Integrated grinder units grind fresh coffee beans for your espresso. For those who prefer decaf, there are models, which feature a pre-ground coffee chute. If cappuccino is your choice, it’s there at the touch of a button. The Cappuccinatore comes with a frothing nozzle to instantly deliver creamy cups of coffee.

Family heirlooms speak volumes of the rich legacy. Giving them a special place in the home, can keep those memories alive. Create a special alcove in your living room to display your family treasures. Though some artifacts may not be significant in terms of commercial value, they are priceless for their sheer historical eminence.

A triangular corner stand with glass shelves can look vividly enchanting. Place tiny bulbs under the shelves to light up the heirlooms from below. The glass will seem like it’s floating in midair. Arrange tiny marble figurines depicting classical Indian mythology. If you place marble statues on one shelf, display terracotta ware on the next one for a contrasting visually appeal. Have about three shelves at least to display a variety of artifacts. A large trunk or wood chest with bronze handles is another perfect display platform. Since the trunk cannot fit into the corner aptly, arrange it across the corner and place an antique urn or bronze statue to fill up the corner. Then, place tiny brass or bronze curios on the chest as large ones could hide the corner display. Once you have chosen the kind of artifacts or heirlooms to display, settle for a different theme each week. If you begin with bronze statues one week, change over to marble or glass the next. The following week go in for family photographs in antique or ornamental photo frames.

The week after that, you can display ancient yet dainty kitchenware. The whole idea is to make the corner look not only interesting each week, but also to create a nostalgic feeling for family members and visitors. Family photographs, most often, never fail to become conversation pieces and lead people down memory lane. If you have ancient sundials or pedestals, they are sure-fire stands to display the most cherished family gems. However, for safety’s sake, never position your treasure alcove near the windows. Subdued or muted lighting, that creates a halo over your treasure display, can have the most surreal effect and can cast a mysterious spell over the room. So, if you have those marvelous family curios stashed away in that dark safe, bring them out to enrich your interiors.

Imagine a picturesque array of Euro-style chateaus lined up all the way on the ever-growing peripheral outskirts of Baroda, with the archaic look on Indian home fronts. Now with the tech-savvy modern mindsets of city based civil engineers and architects, and the ready to experiment consumers, the western ambience will be created locally. Natural elements in décor breathe fresh life into home interiors, which has seen an overdose of concrete and glass. These vernacular materials are getting popular as homeowners acknowledge their beauty and utility.

Exposed bricks giving an 80’s look:-

Exposed bricks bring incomparable color into the ambience. Chamber bricks have a rustic texture that offers various décor opportunities. For example, a wall can be effortlessly brought into focus or the décor of an atrium or courtyard can be made to blend with the environment. This rugged texture can be used exclusively in wall niches to offer relief and contrast to an otherwise bare wall. A wall or column of exposed bricks can be stylized with wooden beading in a contemporary or traditional set up. This means that the wooden beading can be either straight lines for a contemporary look or can be ornately designed to look traditional. The warm color of wood will actually highlight the texture of the bricks. Other places where exposed bricks look good are as borders for arches, doors and window frames.

Stony Physique to carve a European Feel:-

The use of stone within home interiors conveys an old world charm. Its cool look provides an interesting relief to the décor. Stone masonry and random rubble masonry can easily become the highlight of a room. Either can be used for walls, fireplaces or outdoors in the verandah or courtyard. Generally, colored stones offer a customized look to the masonry. Undressed granite stones can also be used for this purpose. Coming to other possibilities, unpolished Cuddapah stones are used in areas like patios, interior courtyards and atriums. They effectively demarcate spaces while offering an alternative texture. Granite is another resourceful stone that can be used polished or otherwise in floorings along with sandstone and slate. Interior columns of stone offer much versatility by incorporating niches, moldings, ornate carvings or just a broad plinth that can double up as a seating area. Inbuilt seating areas can be created with stone, the typical granite bench being one charming example. These are good since they can multitask as alternative worktops or display areas. Other innovative use of stone is in the form of tiles, which are then laid on the floor or walls. Stone tiles are particularly attractive for the uniqueness as no two tiles are same. There is an amazing variety available including pebble tiles where pebbles are embedded on the tile. Imaginative use of stone renders a rugged, ‘back to nature’ look.

Options Otherwise:-

Other natural elements that can be used within home interiors are the traditional burnt clay tiles, terracotta tiles and handmade customized tiles like the Chettinad tiles and Attangudi tiles, both famous for their vibrant colors and originality. Natural building materials have inherent appeal that has withstood the vagaries of trend and fashion. By using them in home interiors, you will merge beauty and functionality to create a timeless appeal.

With dressy wrist-watches and fancy wall clocks being quite the range, watches have become more than time-telling devices. A timepiece, especially on your wall, adds style to your room and makes a nice addition to the decor.

From antique pieces to funky modern designs, wall clocks come in a variety of avatars. An antique wall clock not only has great monetary value but also makes for wall decoration and the best specimens are actually each a great piece of art. There are different materials to choose from like teakwood, rosewood, oak, different kinds of metal, glass, and plastic. Some clocks use a combination of materials. Appearances too can vary from the elaborate, ornate specimens to the sleek, minimalist ones. Moreover, there are plenty of unusual-looking varieties in store today.

If you inherit an antique wall clock, then it adds a traditional look to your house. If you don’t have one, then are there are certified antique shops, which can provide you one. If budget is a constraint, then you can have antique look-alikes. There are plenty of clocks with retro designs and even a finish and polish, which make them, look like antiques. Among the mire popular styles are the classic grandfather clock, the aviation clock, and the cuckoo clock.

Among the modern ones are those styled to resemble human faces, animals, birds, fruits, cartoon characters, famous monuments or other objects like wristwatches, ladles, quills, etc. sometimes, the clock is in a standard and staid design and there are different motifs engraved or painted on the dial. Geometric designs are also popular with some. Modern-art inspired designs and abstract forms are also popular with those who like a distinctly different look to their wall clocks. There are lots of pieces, which come in bright colours and are ideal for children’s rooms or even the family room.

In fact, it is the function and décor scheme of the room, which will decide the kind of wall clock that is ideal for each space. A spacious drawing room, which reflects old world elegance, is the perfect place for that large, wood, classic-style clock or an antique specimen. A children’s room on the other hand, could do with a fun design like a clock, which resembles a giant wristwatch, has cartoon characters or animals painted on its dial. For the kitchen, a utilitarian specimen where the dial clearly shows the second, minute, and hour needles is ideal. The wall at the end of a corridor should have a striking clock as this is the focal point of this area and immediately attracts the attention of anybody entering and walking down the corridor. Today, as we look at the clocks on our cell phones and PCs, some of us might have sidelined the wall-clock but it is good to re-look its utility and its value as an object of decor.