Diy project-bean bag for my reading nook.

Being a voracious reader. I can hardly put my book down until sleep or my son interrupts .But I had always yearned for a reading nook in the comfort of  bedroom. I thought of recycling few things at home and here is DIY  bean bag (not exactly but close to bean bag )project .
Procedure:
I haven’t taken any pics for this procedure but tried to compensate with free hand drawing (please near with me if it is too bad).
For the outer cover:
Take out  few T-shirts and cut then into triangle shapes.
You can use 3 or 4 triangle each for bottom and top part.
Attach the triangle pieces together for both top and bottom.
Attach top and bottom together , you will get it in the shape of  sack.
For the filling:
Leave the upper part in the top side opened to fill with Styrofoam beads.
But I tried to stuff it with worn out clothes ,bubble wraps and pillow foams. My son absolutely loves this.

Frightful Films

The Honest Courtesan

Where there is no imagination there is no horror.  –  Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

“Scary Movies” is the name of my one year ago today column, but it’s about the interaction between porn and escorting; I did do a short piece on vampire sex workers as part of October Miscellanea, but since I really love horror movies, I think we’re long overdue for a discussion of them.  Before we start I should mention that slasher flicks aren’t horror; yes, I know that video stores stock them with horror and movie companies often stamp “horror” on the boxes, but that’s about as valid an argument as “the sex offender registry is not a criminal penalty because it is housed in an administrative agency, not in a court office or in an agency charged with carrying out punishment.”  Slashers are actually more closely related to porn than horror…

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chicken curry in 15 minutes (kerala style)

Everyone loves chicken .Don’t just postpone your chicken special treats for the weekend.Here us the recipe for chicken curry which can be prepared in 15 mins.

Ingredients:

chicken-1/2 kg

coconut-1 cup

tomato-2 nos

curd-2 tsp

To grind:

cardamom-1 

cinnamon-small bark

saunf-1/4 tsp

mustard-1/4 tsp

kus kus-1/4 tsp

small onion -3 nos

ginger garlic -2 tsp

pepper – 3 tsp

Method:

Marinate the chicken with curd and keep it aside.

In the mean time,pour oil in a pressure cooker.

Add curry leaves and let it splutter.

Add the ground ingredients to it and saute it till you get nice aroma.

Add tomatoes and chicken ,pour 1/2 cup hot water and close the lid of cooker.

After 3 whistles,check if  the chicken is well cooked.

Simple yet tasty chicken curry is ready

Does “#KISS OF LOVE” protest could be befitting reply against moral policing?

The most trending debacle is “#kissoflove” campaign against moral policing

DIY project-Autumn vase

DIY is a trend nowadays.I am die hard DIY and i would always love to recycle waste materials .Today I am going to show you simple yet interesting idea of a DIY autumn vase.

Today i am going to show you how to recycle empty detergent bottle ( i used a lizol bottle) to a autumn vase.Its super simple and you need not spend a penny for it.

Things required:

Empty detergent bottle(cut into half)

Small sticks

Duct tape

Scissors

Paints

Cotton

Procedure:

Paint the upper part of the detergent bottle in a dark paint.Here i have used black paint .You can use any dark paint accordingly to your wish.

Using the duct tape,bundle the small sticks together .Now paint the sticks with the lighter paint which goes well with the paint in the detergent bottle.i have used orange which sounds weird color for a branch .But its my favorite color.

Glue small balls of cotton to the branch.

Viola!!!..beautiful yet simple Autumn vase for your coffee table.

Kaaram Or Urai marundhu- For new born of next generation

Motherhood is a serious business with no time frames,holidays and paycheck.But it the best and most lovable job on earth.No matter how much we grumble and tumble about the drastic change in our lives,it gives immense joy and very purpose of our living.Every mother wants her children to be strong ,healthy and supple.It is this constant fear of every mother on earth.

Belonging to the land of ayurveda,there are some tips/remedies which are being passed from one generation to another.One could simply brush it off like some “old wives tale”,but it really works (well..for my son).Here are knowledge which i got from my mother.

It is inadvisable to give any medicine for newborns.Todays mother have totally forgotten about  preparation called kaaram (malayalam) and urai marundu (tamil) which is made  using herbal ingredients.

Ingredients:

Kadukka or kaddukai or Yellow Myrobalan or Chebulic Myrobalan or Inknut:

It helps in improving appetite,preventing constipation.It is used as a precaution for common cold.

Sukku  or Dry ginger

 It prevents  bloating of  stomach.It prevents  pain, indigestion and vomiting. Most of the infants suffer due to the  pain in lower abdomen.Taking small dosage of sukku will releive the babies from pain.

Jathikai or  Nutmeg

It is given in small dosages .It helps to reduce flatulence (gas) and aids digestions and improves appetite.

Masikai Gall-Oak or nut-gall

. Helps the baby get good sleep. Good sleep promotes healthy growth in babies

Vasambu or Acorus or Sweet Flag

It prevents all kinds of infections .It is also a natural insecticide,so place it near your baby to avoid insects.It aids in digestion and prevents vomiting.

Method:

Tips To Select Fresh Produce From Market

Once i went to nearby market to buy fresh vegetable and fruits.Though i have been there a lot of times,i have always accompanied someone with me .But this time i was a loner standing among the chaos .

One can easily visualize the scene of indian market with grocers shouting the prices,hawkers protruding into the street beyond the pavements,stale smell of rotten vegetables and fruits mixed with wonderful aromas of fried pakoras,samosas,bajji and filter coffee. Being alone i soon realised how could i select fresh produce from a heap or on what parameters can i judge its quality and freshness.how could i trust if the grocers are giving me old stock of veggies or if he is simply scaling up the prices.

Here I am giving you some tips to buy fresh produce  of vegetable and fruits from market.

 Leafy greens:Always notice if the leaves are tender  and fresh with no fungus and insects or leaves with holes.Go for a brightly coloured ones.

Shasthi viruttam-A way of cleansing your soul and win over negative energy

Hinduism is a way of life with prime importance for thavam (devotion) and daanam (service to society).Viruttam or fasting in Hinduism is mainly observed for the fulfillment of a vow. Shasthi viruttam is observed in the tamil month of aipassi (that occurs between months of October November)  to seek the blessings of lord muruga or kartikeya .It is a 6 day fast to kill our ego and relieve us from sin.It is mostly observed by the hindus in tamil nadu and some parts of kerala .

History:Legend is that lord murugan who accordingly to hindu myths,was general in the army of devas.He lead the devas and fought a battle with demon soorapadman .The birth of murugan is to demolish the mighty soorapadman who created havoc and tortured humans on earth.

Legend has it that murugan killed Demon soorapadman  (Soorasamharam) on the sixth day of the battle with his weapon Which is Vel (lance)  after fierce fighting.This incident of victory over evil(demon) is enacted even today in many murugan temples by slaying the effigies of four asuras with murugan’s Vel.

Fasting:There is no particular hard fast rule way to fast .People should not fast unwillingly because viruttam itself means self control.Shasthi viruttam is observed by abstaining oneself from food or  by eating fruits throughout the day.Engaging oneself by listening to the stories of God Muruga or by reciting Skanda Shasthi kavasam.

Shasthi viruttam not only denotes triumph over evil,but also helps us to overcome fear  and anxiety .It helps to make us aware our existence and purpose  and purifies us for better living.

Shasthi viruttam 2014 is from 24th october 2014 to 29 th october 2014.This is followed by thirukalyanam on 30th october 2014.

Say “No Crackers” to Diwali

Diwali which means “The Festival of Lights” but contrary to that belief Diwali is now the” Festival of noise and pollution”.Do we really enjoy/need bursting crackers which causes alarming increase in pollution and unwanted noises.Okay i do accept that we are polluting everyday with our vehicles and industrial wastes .these things are unavoidable.But bursting crackers for enjoyment in the name of a festival is nonnegotiable.

Even before the dawn on Diwali,people started bursting crackers.I could see a lot of birds flying hither and wither disturbed by the noise of the crackers in the wee hours of morning.Those birds were flying to some space to stay safe.

Not only the birds are disturbed,we humans are placing us into the puddle.Pollution levels were at peak during diwali.We were all inhaling those poisonous fumes throughout the day .Rain ,humidity and smoke intermingled and there was smog  everywhere causing more problems for people with breathing diseases.Even then people were still bursting crackers ruining their hard-earned money.

Does this really give happiness?.There is a line of control between desire and a necessity .It is left to us to identify which do we really need or want .

Say “no” to crackers because Diwali is not only about crackers,it is also about peace,harmony,prosperity and finally pollution and noise free for every Diwali hereafter.

How to make chicken curry

HOT SPICY CHICKEN FRY

With holidays round the corner and family at home .With the chilly weather the time sounds right for something spicy.so we are going to try something spicy and super easy this time.Lets try out with everyone favorite chicken.
So the recipe for the day is HOT SPICY CHICKEN FRY.

Things required:
Chicken -1/2 kg
curd-2 tsp
salt-to taste
oil-4 tsp
curry leaves-handful
To Grind:
cumin-1/2 tsp
red chilli powder-2 tsp
coriander powder-2 tsp
pepper:3/4 tsp
cloves -4
cardamom -2
poppy seeds-a pinch
saunf -1/4 tsp
ground cinnamon-1/4 tsp
ginger garlic paste -2 tsp
onion -2 nos
tomato-2
hot water -1 cup

 

 

 

PREPARATION METHOD:

Marinate the chicken with curd .

add salt to taste.set it aside for an hour

pour oil into the vessel and add curry leaves into it.

Add ginger garlic paste and saute it thoroughly till it turns brown.

Add onions and saute it well till its golden brown.

Add the ground spices (mentioned above) to it and saute it in low flame.

Now add the marinated chicken and mix it well with the masala.

Keep sauteing till the chicken is tenderly cooked.

Add tomatoes and keep mixing it well in low flame.

Add 1 cup of water to it

Check if the chicken is cooked and the masala is blended into it .

Continue sauteing till the oil seperates from the masala.

GARNISH IT WITH CURRY LEAVES….ITS SUPER EASY!!!

 

 

MOUTH WATERING SPICY CHICKEN FRY IS READY.
CAN BE TAKEN ALONG WITH RICE AND CHAPATTI