Devjani's Corner: The Many Uses Of Tea Cups

Hello!

The time spent with my dear friend Indu is always enriching.


She has taught me the real meaning of the word gratitude ...a God fearing person, there is always "shukar"(Thank you) on her lips.


Her house is a treat to the eyes and as an artist she manages to change the decor by moving just a few objects....


One of the lessons I have learnt is to always place your things  at different levels... Be it curios, plants in the balcony or even laying out food on the table.


Bored with my flower vases , this week I decided to use tea cups as containers. To give them a height I placed them on ice cream cups... Any other height enhancer will do.


Place the oasis foam in them and arrange the flowers... Don't forget to put in ample of greens.. I used carnations with golden rod.


The compliments just poured in... All I can say is "shukar ".

Devjani is a wife, mother, teacher, social worker, a gardening and cooking enthusiast, a globe trotter, a bundle of boundless energy and an extremely creative person. She loves to share easy recipes, ideas to keep kids creatively occupied, and a host of other tips and tricks around the home and beyond.

Devjani's Corner: DIY: Colourful Kettles

Hello!!

Some time back saw these cheerful kettles hanging in the stairs on way to a restaurant... The plants just added that extra cheer. They were for sale and at an exorbitant price!!


Yet, these are so doable at home..



You will need

1. Aluminum kettles ... They are available in various sizes
2. A small piece of sand paper
3. Acrylic colors
4. A plant of your choice and some light soil... Not to make the pot heavy if you want to hang it.

Method

1. Lightly rub the kettle with the sand paper... The rough surface always acts a good base for colour.
2. Drill a hole at the bottom of the kettle... Or else use another small pot of plant to put inside .
3. Spray /paint the kettle lightly... Use a double coat... Do not forget to paint the underside too.
4. Put in your favorite plant and enjoy.

PS:the kettle covers are lying idle... Any suggestions?




Devjani is a wife, mother, teacher, social worker, a gardening and cooking enthusiast, a globe trotter, a bundle of boundless energy and an extremely creative person. She loves to share easy recipes, ideas to keep kids creatively occupied, and a host of other tips and tricks around the home and beyond.

NOTD: Cute Little Cows

Today's NOTD is perfect for tweens when they pester you to let them get some nail art. So don't burn a hole in your pocket and have some fun with your little girls!

What I Used:

1. Maybelline New York Colorshow Nail Polish in Coral  (Buy Here) or any other pure pink colour
2. Maybelline New York Colorshow Nail Polish in Porcelain Party (Buy Here) or any other white colour.
3. Maybelline New York Colorama Nail Polish in Noite deGala, a very dark purple, or black nail polish.
4. A slip of paper
5. A toothpick

Steps:
 Step 1: Apply a coat of white nail polish and let it dry

Step 2: Cover the bottom 2/3rds of your nail with a sheet of paper and now apply a coat of the Coral/Pink Nail polish on the upper tip of the nail.

Step 3: Use the toothpick to make two big dots, with the deep purple/black nailpolish, on the white section for the eyes of the cow and two dots on the pink section for the muzzle.

Step 4: Add a couple of irregular shaped patches to represent the markings on you cow.











VOILA!!

A little family of cute cows on your finger tips!!  MOOOOOOOO!!!!

 

Show some love to these cuties..... tell me what you think!

Cook with Me: Aam ka Panna Recipe – Raw Mango Cooler

A yummy cooler for the terribly hot summers.... My favourite drink!

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 10 mins

Total time: 25 mins

Serves: 2 bottles

Ingredients

1. 4 medium sized raw mangoes

                          

2. 5-6 green cardamoms, crushed or powdered

 

3. 4-5 black pepper, crushed or powdered (optional)

 

4. 2 tsp black salt

5. 2 tsp regular, table salt

6. powdered sugar 3/4th cup, add more for more sweetness

 

7. Roasted Cumin powder

8. Mint Leaves washed, dried and chopped very fine or put through a blender

.

Instructions

1. Rinse the raw mangoes in water.
2. Steam the raw mangoes in pressure cooker for 3-4 whistles or 10 minutes,  till they become completely soft and pulpy.

3. Remove the peel and take out the mango pulp.

4. Mix the cardamom powder, salt, cumin powder, mint leaves and sugar to the mango pulp.

5. Mix the ingredients or blend to make it smooth.

6. Store aam ka panna in an air tight jar or bottle.
7. While serving aam ka panna, add 1 tbsp of the preserve to one glass of water.
8. Stir and add ice cubes. Serve aam ka panna chilled!

 

P.S. You may add jaggery/gur intead of sugar. It will give a more golden colour to the preserve.

Try it and let me know how you liked it!

DIY: Green Tea Face Toner

I have been using this green tea face toner for a week now and I love it!

What you need:

1.

 

















 2.


 


3.
 


4. After cooling, pour into :

        



OR

 
 5.

 

OR

 

Disclaimer: None of the photographs are mine. All downloaded from the net.

How does green tea help?

Green tea contains a cocktail of potent antioxidants called catechins, which help fight damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals can form in your skin for a variety of reasons, including exposure to toxins. However, the most common cause of free radicals in skin cells is UV radiation from sunlight, which causes up to 90% of all signs of premature aging. Since exposure to sunlight is a major factor that ages the skin, it is reasonable to assume that products with green tea extract could help prevent premature aging.

 Green tea also contains tannins, which act as an astringent.

Its a great refreshing drink too with a long list of health benefits. Drink it hot in winters and chilled in summers with a dash of honey and lemon, and be beautiful from within!

The concoction will keep in the fridge for a few days. Try it and let me know how it goes for you!

DIY: Chocolate Wrap at Home!!

Today, I'll share with you an quick pick-me-up home facial. I love to this whenever I'm not in the mood for using commercial products.

I do this quick facial wrap as a short cut to glowy skin within half an hour. Whenever I have treated myself to this face wrap, I've always received a lot of compliments!


So what do we need?
1. 


Pure Cocoa Powder, unsweetened

2. Regular curd or yogurt (unsweetened)

OR
If you feel yogurt would be too oily, go for milk instead


3. Honey

Mix the three ingredients till you have a smooth consistency. Make sure its not runny or else it will get quite messy!

On Application

After cleaning and scrubbing your face and neck, apply on your face and neck with either your fingers or an old foundation brush.
Leave for about 15-20 mins, till the wrap dries. 
Then wash off with regular water.

After Cleansing n Scubbing

After Washing off Wrap, bare skin, no make-up!

You can see the difference?
If you look carefully, you will see a pretty large pimple on the top left of my lips, this pimple shrunk in size and began drying up by the same evening that I had applied the wrap. Magic!


































So how does this wrap work? Let us look at the properties of the 3 ingredients we used:
1. Cocoa benefits for skin:

• High antioxidant content The level of antioxidant compounds in cocoa is higher than that of green tea, black tea or red wine, according to a study conducted by the Department of Food Science and Technology, Seoul National University.
  High antioxidant chocolate facial benefits include cell repair and cell damage prevention. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent them from damaging cells.
• Increased blood flow Consumption of high-flavanol cocoa can help improve the appearance of skin by improving the function of blood vessels, increasing blood flow, increasing hydration, decreasing skin roughness, and helping to increase defense against UV damage.
  Topically, this increased hydration calms and soothes skin
• Vitamin Content Dark chocolate contains Vitamins A, B12, B-complex, D and E, great for absorption of calcium, tissue growth, and releasing energy.
• Mineral Content Chocolate contains copper, iron, manganese, magnesium and zinc for the promotion of cell growth, the repair of tissue and the absorption of nutrients. Cocoa is also a rich source of sulfur, also known as the beauty mineral, necessary for healthy skin.
  
  Great to eat too. But you will get maximum benefit only from the dark variety of chocolate.

2. Yogurt:
specific nutrients in yogurt are responsible for rejuvenating and promoting healthy skin. Here are the major nutrients that are contained in yogurt for skin:
Zinc
Zinc not only contains anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce red swellings caused by acne or rashes but also have mild anti-astringent properties that help tighten tissues. Also necessary for cell reproduction and growth of tissues, zinc reduces the size of acne and pimples. Additionally, zinc in yogurt helps regulate oil production in the sebaceous glands thereby preventing oily skin and frequent acne breakouts.
Lactic Acid
Highly used in many skin care products, lactic acid is one of the key ingredients in yogurt. It helps smoothen rough skin, exfoliate skin and moisturize dry skin, among others. Besides that, lactic acid is also very beneficial in helping steer away wrinkles and reducing any already existing wrinkles.

Calcium
Much of the epidermal layer of the skin consists of calcium! It is not only necessary for strong bones and teeth but also skin regeneration. Being a derivative of milk, yogurt is jam packed with calcium, which has great anti-oxidant power. The anti-oxidants provided by calcium help prevent and also heal dry scaly skin. Calcium in yogurt also facilitates skin renewal.
B-vitamins
Yogurt is rich in vitamin B2 (riboflavin), vitamin B12 and vitamin B5. One serving cup of yogurt contains 30.5% riboflavin which is a beneficial vitamin in yoghurt for skin that is glowing and hydrated. Riboflavin is necessary for cell growth and regeneration and also protects skin cells from oxidative damage by free radicals. Vitamin B5 is responsible for facilitating manufacture of healthy fats in cells.

Ingesting Yogurt on a regular basis will also help your overall health and ultimately improve your skin from within.

3. Honey: 

• Acne: Honey is naturally antibacterial, so it's great for acne treatment and prevention.
• Aging: Full of antioxidants, it is great for slowing down aging.
• Complexion boost: It is extremely moisturizing and soothing, so it helps create a glow.
• Pores: Honey is clarifying because it opens up pores making them easy to unclog.

DIY: Banish Persisitent Dandruff!!

Sometimes, all it takes is a couple of ingredients from our kitchen to treat yourself to brilliant solutions to persistent problems.
Let us look at one of the most widespread hair related problem people over the world suffer from. DANDRUFF!!
I wonder how many treatments, shampoos, lotions etc we have all tried to keep this menace at bay. But how often have we failed when Dandruff has come right back with a vengeance?
So I'm going to share with you a brilliant tip my hair dresser gave me some time ago. And when I say brilliant, I mean BRILLIANT!!
Here Goes......
All you need is:

AND

Yes, reallyy!!
Only these two!
How to go about it?
Step 1:
   
Step 2:
 
Step 3:
Mix the two together in equal quantities.
(No need to put in ice, though..)
Step 4:
Apply all over scalp with cotton. Leave for about Half an hour and...
Step 5:
Wash off with water, or shampoo if  you want.
Do this as often as you can, daily,if you can manage and see the difference. It definitely helped me!
Remember, lemon can dry the skin, and it is not meant for coloured hair.

Discalimer:
None of the above photos are mine. They have all been sourced from the net.