IN STEP

For something so elementary, the stairway plays a major role in how your house or apartment looks; especially if u has a duplex. So don’t just let it stand all bare and square. Dress it up in colors and materials to match the rest of your living space. There is a dramatic china mosaic facelift to what would have otherwise been an ordinary stairwell in the home. Toning it down with polished wood (in a shade similar to the furniture and wood work) and “painting” the wall of the lounge (on the floor above) to echo the patterns, make the steps even more striking.

CUTE AS A BUTTON

Sometimes, little things can make a big difference. Doll up your girl with this tiny clover pin for her friend’s party. You will need three green buttons and some black ribbon, super strong glue and a large safety pin. Glue one inch of ribbon on the pin, stick the buttons to make leaves on a triangular cardboard; paste it on the safety pin. Let dry for a hour. After an hour it will look gorgeous. You can use various color of buttons according to your shirt color. But green is more suited color as it looks exactly like a tree. This will make u feel rich.

A LIVELY FAVOUR

Think green. Plant a beautiful just- like –that gift hamper at your best friend’s door in the morning, and ring the bell…pick a cane bucket. A small potted plant (low maintenance ones such as marigold, ficus aloe vera work well) in a pretty ceramic planter and a bunch of the freshest fruit you can find. Team them with cotton napkins and a runner for her table... As she puts the kettle on the stove, core the apples for breakfast and indulge in some fresh, absolutely lively conversation. It will attract your girl friend, mom and even your young daughter. Make it special during the women’s day.

TREATMENT FOR MENSTURAL CYCLE

There are some treatment for menstrual cramps which make women feel some relief they are as follows Reduce caffeine and stress: processed food, sugar and “designer” coffee are often to blame. We also turn to stimulants such as caffeine that act as “triggers” for the central nervous system when we are stressed. Take supplements: take a good multivitamins or mineral supplement and lower sugar, salt, alcohol, and caffeine intake Exercise: regular aerobic exercise can help ease premenstrual symptoms. During the second half of the menstrual cycle, endorphin level in the blood drop. Regular exercise increases the production of endorphins by increasing heart rate and oxygen exchange.

COCKTAIL WITH RUM

Carafe of cuba libre this ones for the rum loyalists. Squeeze the juice out of 8-9 limes the night before, make enough ice cubes and chill a few cola bottles. Next morning, cut a lime into thin slices. Fill a crafe or a jug9 to serve about 7-8 guests) with lots of ice cubes, slip in the lime slices and pour the lime juice into it. Tip in a cup of dark rum, stir and top with 3 ½ cups of the cola of your choice. Crowd- pleasing mojito just put 30-35 pudina patta, 18-20tsp sugar and 4-5 cups of soda in a jug (enough for five people.) stir to blend; make sure the sugar dissolves and crush the pudina as much as possible with the stirrer. Now squeeze 3-4 limes, put in plenty of ice cubes and slices of lime, and pour 1 ½ cubs of white rum. Stir and serve.

COCKTAIL WITH WINE

Refreshing spritzer if you have a girlfriend or two who’d rather sip their wine or nothing at all, tries this. Just half-fill a glass with ice, pour 3 measures of dry white wine and 4 measure of soda and you’re ready to go. To add a touch of whimsy, garnish with strawberries, chopped or halved. (But it’s okay to skip the strawberries, if you don’t have any.) Crimean cocktail just stir together 1 cup white wine, 1/2 cup soda and 4-5 cubes of ice. Now add a dash of lemon juice and serve. It will attract more and more for everyone.

COCKTAILS WITH VODKA

Lemony vodka squeezes juice out of 10-12 large lemons (enough for 10 people). Stir in1½ cup sugar and mix until it dissolves completely. Strain the concoction and pour it into a bottle. Empty a cup of vodka into the bottle and shake well to blend. Now put it away in the fridge. Next morning on holi, when guests start trickling in, fill their glasses with ice, pour some of the lemony mixture and top with chilled soda. Garnish with a wedge or slice of lemon and springs of pudina.if your friends prefer to do shots, just build the drink differently: fill shot glasses with ice, pour the refreshing blend over it and garnish with slices of lime or lemon.

SABUT DHANIA (coriander seeds)

Used as a remedy for dyspeptic (digestive) disorders, dhania is also said to lower blood sugar levels. Its antibacterial properties help in combating salmonella microbes. Dhania also prevent urinary tract infections. Loaded with nutrition’s such a magnesium and iron, it’s rich in dietary fibre as well. A brew of the seeds is said to relieve migraines and isomnia. The presence of vitamin C in dhania seeds makes the brew an ideal preventive for the common cold. A paste made of dhania acts as an anti-inflammatory and helps reduce arthritic swelling and muscle strain. It is presenting some laxatives and is used to cure whooping cough.

LAUNG (cloves)

Laung is the dentist’s best friend- known for its analgesic properties, it gives relief from toothaches and freshens breathe. Besides, it plays an important role in indigenous medicine- kaarha (medical drink) for a sore throat and cold, for instance, invariably contains cloves. Chinese herbalists use laung to stop hiccups and cure herpes, skin disease such as ringworm, and other fungal infections. In ayurveda, the application of laung’s essential oil on the stomach is used to treat digestive disorder and improve the lung function. Laung is also said to relieve indigestion worms. Apart from this, a few drops of clove oil in water can relieve nausea, fatigue, rheumatic aches and even neuralgia.

AJWAIN (CAROM)

As a cure for indigestion and diarrhoea, ajwain tea is excellent. (Try this: boil two cups of water, and add a handful of ajwain. Wait till the decoction is reduced to a cup. Cool, strain and drink.). A concoction of ajwain in buttermilk is good for respiratory disorders. (Crush the seeds, bundle them in a cloth and inhale, to rid yourself of a headache or to clear nasal passage if you had cold.) besides, ajwain is said to nourish the muscles of the heart and help improve kidney function by strengthening the urinary tract as well it is also believe to promote hair growth.