Thursday, February 28, 2013

From Frizzy to Beautiful Straight Hair

Frizzy hair is difficult to manage. What you will do, if you are born with it? I have tried all the different shampoos, conditioners and serums to tame my frizzy hair. I have even gone for straightening and that too not for once but thrice. Although with time and after so much efforts my hair has become less frizzy. But so much chemical treatment has resulted in other problems like hair fall. Finally I have given up my dream of having beautiful straight hair and have learned to live with my curly hair

Then one day I saw the new Indiblogger contest from Sunsilk for the newly launched Sunsilk Perfect Straight Range to get Beautiful Straight Hair Every day. Applying for a free sample, a glimmer of hope rose in my heart that this product just might be the solution to my problem!


About the product
Sunsilk with Yuko Yamashita (A hair stylist, salon owner and entrepreneur from Japan) has co-created Sunsilk Perfect Straight, the ideal hair products range for straight hair every day. The range includes Sunsilk Straight Shampoo, Sunsilk Straight Conditioner and a Sunsilk Straight Detangling Mist.
How it works?
The breakthrough Straight-Lock technology actively controls and holds every strand perfectly aligned as the hair dries. It penetrates deep within the hair fibre, reducing frizz and straightening strands, keeping them fully aligned as they dry.
My Experience
I received the package from Sunsilk a week back consisting of 80ml Perfect Straight Shampoo and 90ml Perfect Straight Conditioner bottles, priced Rs 56 each. The smell of the product was really good.
I tried both the shampoo and conditioner twice, with a gap of 5 days. The shampoo cleaned my hair and gave them a volume. The conditioner reduced the frizz. Together the combined outcome after drying was worth. My usually wavy hair was pretty straight! And I was really happy.
Although I felt, this shampoo and conditioner was not quite nourishing enough for my dry frizzy curly hair. But that isn’t what this product is for and I think it does exactly as it says, it detangles and straightens your hair as it dries and with great results! (Do not expect perfect straight like straightening gives.) For a quick, no expense party look, it’s a great product.
I would continue to use this product and would like to recommend it to others too.
Some Tips for using this product and getting the desired result of Perfect Straight Hair
Shampooing your hair once or twice a week is good enough
Try using a comb to spread the conditioner and your hair will be conditioned till the ends.
After washing, never comb your hair when it is wet. Combing frizzy hair when it is wet will save a lot of damage like split ends and broken hair.
Do oil your hair before shampooing. A simple warm oil massage followed by a hair wash after an hour will improve your hair texture.
Get a good haircut every 3 months.
And remember it is always important to love what you have.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Books, Books, Books

The day I read that my post was selected for the Blueprint for Change conest on Blogadda, I was very excited. My excitement was more on the fact that I have won not one but three books and less on winning.  I really love reading books and the more books I get to read the more happy I am.

Thank you Blogadda for sending me these fabulous books. I will write a review for each of the book, after reading.


By Nilanjana Roy
 
In the labyrinthine alleys and ruins of Nizamuddin, an old neighbourhood in Delhi, lives a small band of cats. Unfettered and wild, they fear no one, go where they will, and do as they please. Until, one day, a terrified orange-coloured kitten with monsoon green eyes and remarkable powers, lands in their midst—the first in a series of extraordinary events that threatens to annihilate them and everything they hold dear.


By Musharraf Ali Farooqi
In an old ruined city, emptied of most of its inhabitants, Ustad Ramzi, a famous wrestler past his prime, and Gohar Jan, a well-known courtesan whose kotha once attracted the wealthy and the eminent, contemplate the former splendour of their lives and the ruthless currents of time and history that have swept them into oblivion.

By Cyrus Mistry
A harrowing and indelible tale of star-crossed love that takes place in the little-known community of Parsi corpse-bearers in Bombay, Cyrus Mistry’s new novel is a moving account of tragic love that, at the same time, brings to vivid and unforgettable life the degradation experienced by those who inhabit the unforgiving margins of history.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Instant Bread Tikkis

This new year began a new journey for me and my husband after shifting to a new city, a new home and a new life. For me it was a totally new experience being at home. After settling in my quest to keep busy and on the same time to do something worthwhile also started. The first thing which I started doing was trying new recipes which were quick to make and healthy to eat. Bread Tikkis definitely come into this category.
 
Bread is almost a staple food in every home. Be it for breakfast or for evening brunch. For those who want to make something quick for snacks and are bored by eating bread butter or a bread sandwich, Instant Bread Tikkis are a boon. The method for making them is really supereasy.

 
Ingredients -
 
For 2 persons (Makes 4-5 Tikkis)
4 Bread slices
1 Small onion chopped
2 Tablespoon Curd
1 Tablespoon Cornflour
Coriander leave chopped
Red chilly powder as per taste
Salt as per taste
1 Tablespoon Oil for shallow frying
 
Method -
 
In a bowl crumble the bread slices, add chopped onion, chopped coriander leaves, curd, cornflour, chilly powder and salt to taste.
Leave the mixture for 5 minutes and after that knead into a dough.
Divide the dough into small balls and give the shape you want. I made them round.
Heat oil in a non stick frying pan and add the tikkis. Shallow fry them on medium heat till golden brown in color.
Servethem hot with Green coriander chutney and a hot cup of tea.
 
Note ** No need to remove corners of the bread slices. You can make the tikkis from either white or brown bread. And donot add water. If the dough is too dry, add a little more curd.


Sunday, February 3, 2013

Blueprint for Change for Today's India

This post is a contest winner in the Blueprint for Change - Weekend Contest at Blogadda


"Nevertheless, the past is over and it is the future that beckons to us now.
That future is not one of ease or resting but of incessant striving so that we might fulfill the pledges we have so often taken and the one we shall take today. The service of India means the service of the millions who suffer. It means the ending of poverty and ignorance and disease and inequality of opportunity. The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us but so long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over.
And so we have to labor and to work, and work hard, to give reality to our dreams."


From the historic speech delivered by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, on the eve of India's Independence (15 August, 1947).

We have completed 65 years since then. But the problems faced by today's India remain more or less the same. Poverty is widespread.  The Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) published a report in 2010 stating that 8 Indian states have more poor people than 26 poorest African nations combined which totals to more than 410 million poor in the poorest African countries. Corruption is another major issue which is also affecting India's Economy. If corrupton levels are reduced then India's GDP growth rate could increase to 12 to 13 per cent each year. Then there are other problems of Illiteracy, Gender Inequality, Unemployement, Population and Pollution in today's India.

Although there has been progress. We have built number of bridges and dams. We have sent satellites and rockets into space. We have increased the number of doctors, engineers, scientists tenfold. We have increased life expectancy from 32 years to 65 years. We have built about 1.25 million miles of new roads; we have multiplied our steel production by over 50 times and cement production by almost 20 times. We have increased our exports from a few million dollars at the time of independence to more than $125 billion now, with about $150 billion of imports.

Inspite of all this, we are a developing country and the problems India is facing today are grave. They are affecting the growth of our country. From being a developing country to become a developed nation, these problems have to to be overcome. And for this to happen, each citizen has to make some efforts.

"Be the change you want to see in the world" - Mahatma Gandhi

Being a firm believer in this quote. I will share those 5 problems as a part of the weekend contest on Blogadda - Blueprint for Change, about which I can myself do something to solve them.

Problem 1 - Shortage of Resources
Living in urban cities, most of us have faced or are facing problems of shortage of water and electricity in our every day lives. In the cities of NCR region, long hours of power cuts is a usual phenomenon. There is a huge gap in demand and supply. In 2012 only 20 states faced major power crisis when 3 electricity grids failed.

Conservation of Resources - Save Water, Save Electricity, Save Paper
Switch off the electronic appliances and lights, when not in use. There are number of ways to save water while washing dishes, washing clothes, bathing etc. Apply them. Think before giving Print function. Use email or sms.

Problem 2 - Pollution
With causes like increase in vehicle emissions, lack of organized garbage and waste removal services, diversion of consumer waste into rivers, cutting of trees, there has been an increase in pollution levels leading to breathing problems in individuals

Reduce, Recycling & Reuse is the Key - We can make several efforts towards reusing things. Using paper bags instead of plastic bags. Whenever possible try to take your own bags to market for shopping. Exchange your old clothes to any furniture items in exchange sales. Sell old stationary and newspapers to the local kabadiwalas.There are also programs where you can sell your end-of-life electronic items like - Mobile phones, computers etc. Give away useless toys, clothes and other used items to orphanages or old homes.

Go Green - Plant more trees in your surroundings, park, garden etc.

Problem 3 - Population
India is projected to overtake China as the world's most populous nation by 2030. One should have a small family. Small family leads to less expenses. Today people have more children in expectation of a boy. People are more, education is less, jobs are less and food is less.

Hum Do Humare Do - Every family should apply this. Girl or boy, two children complete the family. There should not be any gender biasness. A girl or a boy, both are equal.We should also teach our children the same. Whatever they will learn in life, they will become in future. After all children are the future of our country.

Problem 4 - Illiteracy
India currently has the largest illiterate population of any nation on earth. Although the literacy rate has grown hightin the past years. But still a lot has to be done. Illiteracy increases unemployement which in turn increases poverty. All this leads to corruption.

Educating - Each one, Teach one. If we take one hour of our day, each day, we might be able to make a difference in somebody's life. That person could be our maid or her children. Even if we dont have time, we can sponsor funds for the schooling of one child. We are educated individual and should share this gift with others who need them.

Problem 5 - Ignorance
This is the generation who has the "Who Cares" attitude. Always blaming the system for the problems happening around us. We blame our political system, our politicians. But do nothing to change all this. When it comes to voting, there are many who dont even have the Voters ID card. Nor they are interested in having one. We our busy in earning and making our lives. When we have enough money, we spend, we go on foreign trips. But we never ever think of utilising that money for helping someone in need.

Becoming aware - Read newspaper, watch news. Be aware about what is happening around you and in the world. Be aware of your rights.

Most of the problems, India is facinf today are inter related. One leadin to the other. Each of us should pledge to do our part well in order to make our country a developed nation.

Resolutions -
I will try to save water, power & paper as much as possible and will also make sure that family does the same.
I will try to walk instead if driving. Will try to sow more seeds, will try to plant more trees.
Girl or boy, one or two kids will complete the family.
I will try to make time and teach kids in my locality.
I will participate in our electoral process.


Vote - For a better political system
Pray - For a healthy life
Love - For everyone
 
This post is a part of Weekend contest at BlogAdda.com in association with Chanakya's New Manifesto

Source: Wikipedia Images; Google

Friday, February 1, 2013

Recycling Egg Cartons

"Sunday ho ya Monday...Roz khao Andey" Eggs make an important part of a healthy diet. Every week we buy atleast dozen eggs in cartons. But have we ever thought about recycling these egg cartons to make beautiful things. If not then check out some of these beautiful craft ideas which are so easy that you can make them yourself.

Artificial flowers for decoration purposes are generally made from cloth or paper. But you can also use egg cartons to make them.
Daffodils
Roses
Wreath
We buy so many lights on Diwali which are simple and inexpensive. You can do a makeover of these simple lights by adding egg carton flowers on them.
Blossom Fairy Lights
If you have kids, then you can make some cute Caterpillars like craft items for them.


 For those who love gardening, this wonderful idea is for those. Grow mini plants in egg shells and cartons. Keep them on your window sills.
 Egg Planter