Skip the suds: Try dry shampoo

Called the busy girl's miracle product, dry shampoo is being touted as an alternative to suds (soap, lather, foam). It's not practical to wash your hair every day.

Also, washing your hair daily would rinse away beneficial oils that keep your mane supple and healthy. For those in between times, dry shampoo is a great option. You can use it after a trip to the gym, a long day of travel or if you don't have access to a bathroom. Available in a powder form and in spray cans, dry shampoo gives your hair the appearance of being clean, since it absorbs oils that make the hair dirty. Find the washing routine that works for you, whether it's three times a week or less, and use dry shampoo every day in between.

How to use use it right
Always use dry shampoo on dry, greasy hair. If you try to apply it on wet hair, it will get clumpy, and look messy. Don't rub dry shampoo on your scalp; if it's in a powder form, sprinkle it on the hair. If you're using a spray, hold it several inches away from your head, so that you don't spray it directly on your scalp. Wait for a few minutes and then comb or blow dry into your desired hairstyle.

Dos & don'ts

Avoid using dry shampoo more than twice in a row. Be sure to wash your hair with a regular shampoo after using the dry shampoo twice. Since the latter doesn't clean flakes and other debris from your hair, don't use it in place of a regular shampoo.

After spraying or sprinkling the product, wait for 3-4 minutes, to allow it to absorb oil and impurities.Comb your hair and brush out the excess powder.

Never rub dry shampoo on your scalp, as it can clog the skin pores. It can also lead to dryness and itching.

(Inputs by beauty experts Shahnaz Husain and Tisha Kapur Khurana)

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Restaurant review: Crazy Noodles (Asian), Pune

It's great to see original food concepts targeted at family dining other than the horrendous fast food chains which are high on value for money and 'zip zap' but low on nutrition. So here we have Crazy Noodles, (now two in the city) which is a notch above fast food but caters to the same clientele. It is a symphony of green and pink with huge attractive food imagery on the walls and nice clean, contemporary decor and lovely white crockery. The prices are a above fast food but still very reasonable for a family outing.

Portions are very generous and the colourful menu is well thought out and well explained. Start off with soups and salads; the crispy noodle salad with black pepper mayo is quite a winner, though you have to eat it quite fast before the noodles get soggy. The soups though were very good - crazy noodle, lemon coriander and sweet corn. Dimsums were disappointing and a tad undercooked and bland but the 'medley of mushrooms' platter was outstanding, perfectly tossed button and Chinese mushrooms in light soy and garlic.

There are some interesting variations on the traditional 'teppan' which is a hot plate on which things are tossed like teriyaki chicken. Try the miso cheese teppan with interesting vegetables like bak choy. Mains are all about noodles....we skipped the Thai curries and run of the mill Chinese chicken dishes (hot garlic, chilli chicken, kung pao) and headed straight for the noodles - large bowls of freshly tossed combinations with veggies and sauces. The Japanese soya butter is excellent for children and anyone who does not want to indulge in too much spice but for a crazy experience go for the crazy ramen, a sumo sized bowl of noodles in a spicy broth.

I tried the famous, 'thukpa' a dish originally from Tibet. It lacked the fire and brimstone of the original but was fresh and quite zesty. For the non adventurous you have American chop suey and chow mein as well as interesting fried rice combinations. Do try the mocktails; cinnamon sparkle and green hornet were great. Don't come to Crazy Noodles expecting a gourmet experience but do come if you have a group of kids to entertain with diverse palates and hearty appetites. Even when the menu does say 'spicy', it isn't stomach wrenching at all and there are plenty of sauces you can add if you want that kind of experience. A great option while you are mall shopping. Quick and cheerful.

Plus and Minus: Fresh and feisty, great option for kids but a bit repetitive on the choice of vegetables

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High cholesterol linked to breast cancer

In a significant discovery, scientists have found a link between high blood cholesterol and breast cancer in a study of more than one million patients over a 14 year time period in Britain.

"Our preliminary study suggests that women with high cholesterol in their blood may be at a greater risk of getting breast cancer," said Rahul Potluri, founder of the Algorithm for Comorbidities, Associations, Length of stay and Mortality (ACALM) study.

It raises the possibility of preventing breast cancer with statins, which lowers cholesterol, he added.

The researchers conducted a retrospective analysis of more than one million patients across Britain between 2000 and 2013.

There were 664,159 women and of these, 22,938 had hyperlipidaemia and 9,312 had breast cancer.

Some 530 women with hyperlipidaemia developed breast cancer.

The researchers found that having hyperlipidaemia increased the risk of breast cancer by 1.64 times.

"We found that women with high cholesterol had a significantly greater chance of developing breast cancer. This was an observational study so we can't conclude that high cholesterol causes breast cancer but the strength of this association warrants further investigation," Potluri said.

The research was presented Friday at "Frontiers in CardioVascular Biology (FCVB) 2014" seminar in Barcelona, Spain.

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How to organise a family get-together

Here's how you can plan well

To organise a family get-together, these are a few things that you need to keep in mind.

Invite your relatives
To begin with, you have to first make a list of all the members in your family. After you're done making a list, make sure to call everyone personally and invite them on the date you plan to hold the get-together.

Select a venue
If you think that conducting a get-together in your house is a bit of difficult, look out for an alternate venue. It can either be a banquet hall that you can book for the entire day or a relative's place. But make sure that you have a venue at hand so that it does not become difficult for you as well as your family members in the end.

Organise food and drinks
This is a huge responsibility. Organising food and drinks is not simple, if you have lot of family members. More often than not, people usually cook themselves if there are fewer members. But if you have more than 10 members in your family, it'll be best if you can hire a caterer.

Delegate responsibilities
It is not easy to plan the whole get-together on your own. Thus, ask your relatives to help you out with this. You can assign one to take care of the food and drinks, the other can look out for a venue etc.

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Book Review: Kaw Caw Silly point

Title: Kaw Caw Silly point: A Wonky look at Contemporary India
Author: M.K. Kaw
Publisher: Konark Publishers
Pages: 270
Price: Rs.250

This is a funny and serious book at the same time. Maharaj Krishen Kaw joined the IAS in 1964 and retired in 2001 after holding many senior posts. He was a scholar in his own right, a declining breed in the civil services, and he knew how to wield his pen. "Kaw Caw", his monthly column in 'Naad', the mouthpiece of the All India Kashmir Samaj, was a huge hit. This is an anthology of his best pieces.

Kaw is an insider and knows the establishment truly well. In pieces packed with wit and humour, Kaw deals with serious subjects, sharing with us his understanding of all that is wrong in today's India. He hops from one subject to another with equal ease: Corruption, Mayawati's elephants, Anna Hazare, Robert Vadra, Air India, Narendra Modi, Kashmiri Pandits (his community), marriage, computers and Internet, Delhi Jal Board... and what have you.

Kaw is, of course, not always - or wholly - right. His understanding of Modi, for instance, is clearly at loggerhead with what majority India thought. Kaw felt that Modi's "image of a modern nation builder may come crashing into the dust if the accusations levelled by his enemies and erstwhile colleagues and subordinates come home to roost". Kaw calls Modi an infant compared to Manmohan Singh and says the former Gujarat chief minister lacks knowledge of the big subjects: South Asia, Kashmir, nuclear policy et al. Modi has, however, proved to be a far different persona from what Kaw thought. Just shows that even if you are sincere, you can go wrong.

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Offbeat ideas for your honeymoon

Choosing an exotic location, checking into a luxurious hotel and following a planned itinerary are passe when it comes to young couples who take off on their honeymoons.

For, youngsters these days love to experiment and rough it out while taking the first trip with their spouse. Check out some of the popular adventure honeymoon trips you can go for...

Take a road trip
There's something romantic about hopping onto bike or a car and taking a trip through long stretches of roads, winding mountain paths and by the riverside. Couples not only get to spend quality time with each other, but can also take this opportunity to learn little things about their better half which may have otherwise escaped their notice.

Trek and camp
Booking a honeymoon suite, getting pampered at the spa and lazing around by the poolside scream luxury. Instead, try trekking through rough paths, hiking through forests and camping under star-lit skies with your partner. Cooking over a bonfire and cozying up under a blanket on a dark night might not exactly be luxurious, but it surely does spell romance, all in capitals!

Explore the unexplored
Maldives, Mauritius, Bangkok and the rest of the world may be on your honeymoon destination wish list, but try choosing a place that's hardly explored to set out with your spouse. Discovering local cuisine and attractions, staying with the natives and understanding their culture can prove to be memorable.

Take up adventure sports
Scuba diving, snorkeling, sky diving, deep sea diving, paragliding... there is a long list of adventure sports that one can opt for. It's important that you train for most of these sports before you actually undertake them, and this training period can prove to be the best part of your honeymoon, as you get to understand your partner better and assure them of your presence during difficult times.

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Tolstoy and the Napoleonic wars

Tolstoy was no Russian nationalist. He understood that foreign imports were integral elements of Russia's literature, and even grew to be a pacifist who saw no glory in war.

We take it for granted that Tolstoy, whose 186th birth anniversary was celebrated on Sept 9 (Sept 9 1828-Nov 20 1910) is a great writer. But it was not always so. Tolstoy's contemporaries who were literary critics were confused by what they regarded as a confused mass of material: part fiction about five aristocratic families caught up in the Napoleonic invasion of Russia, a great deal of historical detail gleaned from reading histories, talking to those who lived during the Napoleonic wars, Tolstoy's own involvement in the Crimean War. As if this were not enough, there were philosophical essays which appeared in one version as part of the book, and in another as appendices.

Tolstoy is quoted as saying that the best Russian literature does not conform to standard norms, and hesitated to call War and Peace (1869) a novel. He is said to have regarded Anna Karenina as his first true novel.

War and Peacewas written mainly in Russian, but at least 2% was in French, because members of the Russian aristocracy regarded French as a more polished, cultured language. Many did not know Russian at all. Orlando Figes, in his review of a new translation of War and Peace (Nov 2007 NY Review of Books), says that Tolstoy regarded 1812, when Napoleon was defeated and had to retreat from Moscow, "as a crucial watershed in the culture of his class, the aristocracy, a moment when nobles like the Rostovs and Bolkonskys struggle to break free from the foreign and artificial conventions of their society, and begin to live more truly to themselves, on Russian principles....Tolstoy shows the aristocracy switching from the French language to Russian."

Figes adds that, contrary to what a number of leftist critics thought, "Tolstoy was no Russian nationalist. He understood that foreign imports were integral elements of Russia's literature, language and high culture...(But) gradually, French emerges as the language of artifice and insincerity, the language of the theatre and the deceit; Russian as the language of sincerity, honesty, and seriousness..."

It's hardly surprising that after all the research Tolstoy did while writing War and Peace, he became a pacifist who thought that war was entirely evil, a form of murder, just as executions were. Napoleon's attempt to conquer Russia, (as the Germans did in the Second World War) was a foolish enterprise, because he had no idea of the terrain, the availability of food for his soldiers and fodder for the horses, and the variable climate. Of the 600,000 soldiers he took with him, only 100,000 remained. The others died of starvation, hypothermia, disease, exhaustion. Similarly, of 50,000 horses, 10,000 died for lack of food and fodder. No, there was nothing glamorous about war.

In 1908, Tolstoy wrote a "Letter to a Hindoo," talking about his idea that non-violence was the only way to win independence from the British. It was an answer to two letters written by the Editor of Free Hindustan, asking for support for Indian independence. The letter happened to come to Gandhiji's attention, and a correspondence between Tolstoy and Gandhiji flourished till the former's death. "If the people of India are enslaved by violence," Tolstoy says sharply in one of the letters, "it is only because they themselves live and have lived by violence and do not recognize the eternal law of love inherent in humanity." But he also draws attention to the contradiction of the Christian nations of his time which continue to profess Christianity while organizing huge armies to slaughter each other.

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What's your dandiya statement this year?

If you are set to dance through the Navratri this season, you might want to pick a dandiya to suit your personality
It's that time of the year when every evening people dress up their best and rush to Navratri mandals near them. As dance is the mode of worship for these nine days and in case if you have not shopped for your dandiya sticks as yet, it is time to hurry up.The market is offering a wide range of dandiya sticks. Most shops and street vendors in Mumbai have lined up a host of colourful dandiyas that is difficult to resist. Here is a look at the variety of dandiya sticks the city has to offer.
The sound of metal: Then, there are these lightweight metal dandiyas, that are usually preferred by kids as they are extremely easy to handle. They are available either in silver or golden. Since they are made of metal, the sound emanating from them is metallic. This year they are available in interesting designs, and are wrapped in golden, silver or copper colour crepe paper, jamewar dandiyas, silver brocade ones, etc.

Designer metal dandiyas: Rs30-50 pair (depends on design and size)

The bandhani effect: The most important and integral part of the festival, dandiyas have evolved in not just one or two, but in several patterns. Starting with the traditional bandhani-wrapped dandiyas that mostly come in red colour, they are now avail able in yellow, blue, green and black colours as well.

"These are the most common patterns for dandiya sticks and are a completely sell-out from the lot. These dandiyas are made of wood and hence, make interesting sounds when hit against one another. This year, we have got golden brocade borders and laces wrapped on the sticks to give them an interesting look," mentioned Rachana Velchi, a Vashi-based vendor.

Designer dandiya: The most interesting dandiyas are the ones embellished with male and female dolls or khilaiyyas (as they are called) dressed in traditional Gujarati outfits. The store always has something unique for Navratri, and this time they are these khilaiyyadandiyas available in different patterns of dolls dressed in vari ous colours like golden, orange, red, blue, green, yellow, etc. They are all sold out very fast and very few pieces of them are left for sale. Some of the other patterns are bright two-coloured satin and lace wrapped dandiyas that are also doing rounds as girls match them with their outfits.

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Book review: Tick-tock, We’re 30

Publisher: Westland Ltd

Category: Fiction

Price: Rs 250

Pages: 402

Author: Milan Vohra

The Sarva Niketan( S.N) gang is back together after a decade, and they're all camped in pajama-wala uncle's house, whose most enduring image is that of a 'mad' dog barking its head off.

Lara Bagai of the S.N gang in Delhi is the last to turn thirty, and this ragtag bunch is here for the reunion they'd planned for when the last from their group would be hitting the big three. Like Sita calls it, the OTWT,' Oh Teri, We're Thirty!' event.

The reunion has Lara upbeat and all prepped up. But there's another pact that, sadly, coincides with this one. Made one evening when Lara was sure she was wasted, the pact had both Nishad and Lara agreeing to marry each other if they were still on the shelf by the time they had both turned thirty.

The last thing Lara would have thought then was the possibility that this could ever come true, so besotted she was with Ranndeep, her alpha male biker boyfriend. What hope in hell did Nishad, the ever so correct guy, have with that stud around? But heck, she's thirty in a few days' time. She's single. Ranndeep turned out to be a douchebag. Nishad is single too, and, worse, hasn't forgotten about the pact. Something has to be done because Nishad is "completely wrong" for her.

Bring on Perzaan. The dishy Turkish bartender and flame eater. Lara's ersatz boyfriend. For the week that the SN gang is in the house, Perzaan will play the no-nonsense, suave, deal-clincher banker. If Lara's spoken for then the pact comes undone. Or does it? Does she pull it off? Does Perzaan? Or does Nishad see through this charade? But that's only the main story; at pajama-wala uncle's house there are plenty other sideshows playing out too. Old flames are fanned and rekindled, strange pairings happen, sexual orientations get defined, and sexual dysfunctions get corrected! A full house, in short.

Then Sita foists Kalyani on the reunion team, and the latter drives the rest up the wall. Except Sita, of course. He doesn't get it. Aunty Nair, ,however, seems to know what's best for her son. Only Coconut Kumari for her Sita is her constant refrain. But, who is she? No one has the foggiest idea who Aunty is referring to. And, given Aunty's fragile mental condition, they even wonder if Coconut Kumari is for real. Then the penny drops.

Full of hijinks and hysteria, whisky and weed, food orgies and trips down memory lane, pranks and showdowns, Tick-tock, We're 30 proceeds at an amazingly brisk pace.

There is enough happening in these 400-odd pages. The characters are splendidly sketched out---from the perennially constipated Thin Rita to glad eye, Sai. Chances are that you'll have a visual profile of each one of them in your mind's eye while reading this book. High on humour and vernacular colloquialisms, you will somehow not grudge the fact that the book is a tad too long. After all, you'd still want to know who each one will end up with and how. You'll also wonder how such a disparate set of characters can be so cohesive too.

Milan writes simply and for India's first Mills and Boon author, her prose is surprisingly devoid of maudlin mush and syrupy sentimentality, though given the theme, it could so easily have gone down that road.

I hope that Oh fuck, we're forty is in the cans too. On the downside, if this book has any serious flaws, it is the way Faviyo is made to sound so permanently horny. Unnecessary.

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How to reduce salt in your diet

Too much of sodium content in your diet can increase your cholesterol levels leading to an increased risk of heart attack and other cardiovascular issues.

While salt is an essential ingredient in any recipe you cook, here are some ways to reduce the intake of sodium.

- If you are cooking using a recipe book, add less than the amount of salt mentioned.
- According to studies, most of the additional seasonings you add to your food contain about 95% salt. So, while making pasta, add fresh herbs instead of using a herb seasoning or freshly chopped garlic instead of garlic powder.
- Choose healthier options at a grocery store. Often, packaged foods tend to be high in sodium content because it helps preserve them for longer. Read the food labels carefully for nutritional facts.
- Go for fresh or frozen veggies instead of their canned varieties, which often contain added salt to help increase shelf life.
- Olives and pickles are saturated in salt, as are many smoked and cured meats, like salami and bologna. Limit your intake of these high-sodium foods.
- Add fresh lemon instead of salt when marinading fish or other vegetables.
- Cut down on sodium-rich condiments such as soy or mustard sauce and ketchup.

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Things your guy doesn’t want you to know

You may be proud of the fact that you've finally got your man to open up and share his secrets with you but don't be so sure about it.

There could still be things he would never want you to know. We reveal a few of them...

He may be your childhood friend or someone you've been with since more than a decade. But this doesn't make it mandatory for your man to tell you every little thing about his life, especially his past. There is certain valuable information he would love to keep to himself and never tell you about it. Moreover, men even feel trapped if they are pushed to open up or communicate. Here are a few facts your man may try to cover up..

How does it feel listening to stories about how your guy bagged a lot of hot chicks during his college days and the kind of physical equation he shared with each of them? It certainly isn't a great feeling. Your guy knows this and so he may hide it from you. You need not force your guy to divulge numbers as it might upset him and put you at the risk of spending the night alone.

His strip club experiences
Most guys take pleasure in watching the ladies dance around erotically. For your guy, going to a strip club with his gang of guys might be an open option for an evening's entertainment but he would make sure you don't even get a hint about it. "Your guy will never even say that he was a regular earlier with the fear that you'd interrogate him on the same," says Dr Minnu Bhonsle, consulting psychotherapist and relationship counsellor. "You would want to know why he likes it, and how much he spends when he goes to a strip club and a lot more," she adds.

He is emotional
Being caught crying by a woman is nothing less than a nightmare for some guys. That's one of the reasons guys never express themselves. They love to portray themselves as strong and attempt to create a macho-man like image of themselves. Some even believe that shedding tears or expressing one's feelings is something that just women do. Guys never want you to know that even they think a lot about certain things and that those little matters tend to affect them too.

His porn store location
His hard disk is full of porn and sleazy content but when you may ask him about it, he might react saying, "What?" Guys like porn but they might not be very open to accepting the same. Guys tend to mix up their fantasy world with the real one which is wrong but you need not compare yourself to Jenna Jameson or Sunny Leone every time you're in bed with him. If you know that your guy is trying to keep his porn collection under wraps, let him. Do not stress him into unveiling it by poking him all the time.

He is still a mama's boy
Many men are pampered and spoilt for choice by their moms. So when they get
married or get into a relationship, they end up constantly comparing their partners to their moms which in turn leads to the extremely popular saas-bahu rivalry. They may know it but definitely wouldn't like you to know that they are overgrown mama's boys and still depend on their mommy for their every little need.

His bizarre fantasies
Certain fantasies can be shared and enjoyed together. But he may be into real freaky stuff that may involve weird tools, and you may not quite appreciate them. So, it's absolutely normal for him to not divulge some daydreams and thoughts as you may just head to the door once you get to know of them.

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Add magic to your home decor

Bring in the change in your decor.

Proper lighting: Lighting can make or break a room: Mood lighting is very essential part of decor. Invest in a nice table lamp. Even hanging lamps will add much magic to your room.

A little bit of greenery: The sure shot way to add life to your room is to have an element of greenery in the room. Having plants in a room also has a soothing effect on one's mind. You can also have fresh flowers in the vase. The fragrance of jasmine in a room really uplifts the soul. In your kitchen, add a small herb garden to your windowsill to add life to the room. Plus, they taste great!

Framed memories: Photographs are wonderful ways to add warmth and a sense of vibrancy to your home decor. Photographs that recall fond memories also can give a personal touch to your home. It brings in loads of happy memories. If you have old family photographs, then have these framed and hang them on the wall. Choose your frames carefully. A frame adds much life to photographs.

Fabric magic: Fabric is an easy and inexpensive way to combine all the elements of your room. Break in the monotony and play with your imagination. Think beyond only the ready-made fabric. Have fun by combining patterns, styles and different textures of fabric in accessories and furniture.

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How to avoid jealously between twins

Raising two children of the same age can be a Herculean task, but what do you do when your twins are jealous of each other? Here's how to handle them:

It's difficult for parents to not choose a favourite amongst their kids. But when it comes to twins, don't favour one over the other. Stay neutral. Also, never compare the two; it will only harbour resentment if they believe that their sibling is better than them.

Don't dismiss that they are two separate individuals, with different individualities and identities. Treating them like they are one can be harmful. If one of them makes a mistake, you mustn't punish the other two.

Sometimes, give them a break from each other. Just because they are twins, they don't have to be together all the time and do the same activities. Give them space.

Spend time with each of them separately. So that you get to hear both their sides, when the other is not around. This will help them open up to you if something is bothering them.

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Why brown rice is healthier than white

Brown rice doesn't taste as good but is nutritionally superior to white rice

There has been constant debate over white rice versus brown rice for decades. Although white rice seems to be a favourable choice for the majority of people for its appetising taste and appearance, brown rice wins hands-down when it comes to health benefits.

Says holistic health guru Mickey Mehta, "Brown rice is healthier since the refining process only removes the hull of the rice kernel, leaving its nutrition intact. On the other hand, the milling and polishing used to make rice white, strips off its essential nutrients and vitamins."

Technically speaking...
A cup of brown unpolished rice contains 88 per cent of manganese, 27.3 per cent of selenium, 20.9 per cent of magnesium, 18.7 per cent of tryptophan and only 12 per cent calories. The conversion of rice from brown to white destroys about 60 per cent of iron, 80 per cent of vitamin B1, 67 per cent of vitamin B3, 90 per cent of vitamin B6, 60 per cent of iron and almost half the phosphorous, manganese and dietary fibre naturally present in the rice.

Nutritious and wholesome
Packed with natural oils, brown rice is extremely heart-friendly. Due to its fibrous concentration, brown rice facilitates healthy bowel movement and promotes weight-loss.

A cup of brown rice fulfils about 80 per cent of the daily requirement of manganese in the body. Manganese helps in the formation of healthy cholesterol. Brown rice improves metabolism and keeps you feeling fuller for a long time.

Replacing white rice with brown rice in your diet can help reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Says Mickey Mehta, "Like wheat, brown rice is also a type of whole-grain. Organically grown wild brown rice is the best as it is packed with all the essential nutrients and vitamins."

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Jogging pants get a stylish makeover

The jogging pants seem to have come of age. From being used mostly in gyms and on treadmills, they are now becoming a dailywear because of the comfort they offer. The fit and the material too have evolved, with khaki and denims being chosen as the preferred fabrics.

These fitted and fashionable sweatpant-like bottoms are apparently all the rage at several retailers. To top it all, Bollywood hunks too have taken to them in a big way, wearing these pants at film events, casual outings and even parties.
What's interesting is that one can experiment with a lot of looks, wearing different kinds of shoes - from casual to formal to high-top sneakers.

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Recipe: Spiced beetroot

This tasty dish is a blend of spice and sour. It's delicious, healthy and perfect as a side dish.

Ingredients: - 200g beetroot - 1 large onion, finely chopped - 2-3 dried red chilies - 1tsp urad daal (Black Gram) - 1tsp coriander seeds - 2tbsp grated coconut - 15g tamarind - 2tsp jaggery - 1tsp ghee - Salt to taste

Method: Dry-roast the red chili's, coriander seeds and Black Gram

Blend it with the coconut, tamarind and jaggery.

In a pan heat the ghee and fry the onions until golden brown. Mix in the spices mixture and saute till all the spices are mixed well. Then add the beetroot and mix well.

Season with coriander leaves and lemon.

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Covering up with the facekini, bodykini

There was a time when women were arrested for wearing a one-piece swimsuit, and definitely in many places, the bikini raises eyebrows even today.

But if China's beach fashion is anything to go by, looks like covering up is 'in' with the 'facekini'. It's hard to call this accessory, that resembles a killer's mask in just about every slasher movie you've seen (think Friday The 13th), a fashion statement, but women are embracing this frightening outfit to avoid tanning and skin cancer, because apparently carrying an umbrella and suntan lotion is just not enough. Some Chinese designers have even gone so far as to have Lady Gaga-esque photo shoots with skimpy models wearing facekinis.

Some people may have realised that the facekini-logic doesn't add up. If you're trying to avoid skin cancer, why just cover your face? Is the rest of your body immune? But even those critics would be silenced by the bodykini (a counter-intuitive term because the body is entirely covered except for the eyes), also known as the burkini, which was designed originally for the beach-loving ladies of the Middle East. And while feminists would be quick to call out the oppression of women in this region, Britain's own Nigella Lawson had donned the outfit in 2011. The celebrity chef said it was a preventive measure against cancer, but some tabloids pointed out that Lawson may have simply worn it to escape the paparazzi scrutinising every inch of her body. Since Lawson's bodykini outing, Britain has seen a rise in bodykini sales with companies saying 15-20% of their clients in 2013 were non-Muslim.

Earlier this year, although Madonna was not wearing a bodykini, she was practically covered from head to toe while strolling on Ibiza's beaches - a move that's remarkably uncharacteristic as the singer has never shied away from wearing revealing, even ridiculous looking clothes. While it's too early to tell whether the trend is here to stay, it would mark the full circle where women faced considerable flak to expose skin and now might be facing the same to cover up.

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Restaurant review: Smokey’s BBQ & Grill

Restaurateur Shiv Karan Singh's latest venture Smokey's BBQ & Grill after the success of Smoke House Deli and Smoke House Grill holds promise predominantly for throwing open a hitherto scattered segment 'barbeque and grill', and offering massive juicy courses out of grills.

Spread out over two storeys with covers for 96 including its three bars, one a shot bar, Smokey's woody, rustic decor exudes a casual warmth making it ideal for extended Sunday lunches and even drinks sessions with some very succulent nibbles. Usually the laughter and cheer of the lunching folks rises over the music making it better suited for a visit with a largish group.

Ambience: At the entrance you run into the shot bar, and further down is the elaborate open seating arrangement with a neatly stocked bar at its heart. But what draws you most is the wall done up with vodka bottles in every size filled with coloured liquid. This wall can be quite the reference point of your meal here with its beautiful bright colours adding a touch of life to the otherwise dim interiors. A little elevated section on one corner doubles up for a podium on karaoke nights, while at other times dinner tables are laid out to accommodate more guests. The first floor again has an open seating plan with a bar counter on one end. Most noticeably, certainly after the wall-length coloured vodka bottles display, is the brick wall with real butchery knives in different shapes and sizes. Just under it is a pile of wooden logs to further accentuate the barbeque-and-grill feel of the place.Food
Starters: While you take a pick from the never-ending appetizer menu call for a cucumber and mint mocktail or an apple soaked mojito - they work really well in hot weather. The beetroot salad with lettuce soaked in balsamic vinegar with a dash of feta can be an ideal way to whet your appetite. You can follow it up with the house favourite loaded potato skin which is basically potatoes stuffed with sour cream, chives and baked with cheddar cheese. The oozy cheddar lends a texture to the smashed potato leaving a creamy and tangy aftertaste. Fish fans must try out the grilled Vietnamese Basa marinated with Kasundi mustard, or the spiced coconut marinated fisherman's basket which is a lavish offering of prawns, sole and calamari fritters marinated with coconut and green chilli.

Sliders and hot dogs: If you are a smaller group, and don't have the stomach for a chunky full sized burger, you can safely go for an assortment of pulled tenderloin slider, six chillies chicken slider, lamb slider with buttered onion, and bacon and lamb slider. Like the sliders, the hot dogs too are available in bite size with the classic combination of frankfurters with bacon and mustard sauce.

Steak and meats: If spare ribs are your weakness, you will enjoy Smokey's rendition of this popular dish too with Chilean pork ribs marinated with in-house spice mix, lager and barbeque sauce and slow cooked in a wood fired oven. Among deep sea delights, the pan seared sea bass glazed with Kasundi mustard served with spicy creamy corn on a bed of curried coconut cream with lemon grass renders a subtle sweetness which lingers for very long on your palate.

Mains and pasta: This too is a broad category to choose from comprising the usual pastas, risottos and lasagnas in an array of sauces and combinations. But you must try out the grilled veg tortellini for the succulent smoky flavour and its juicy cheesy bite. Stuffed with grilled vegetables, almonds and cream cheese tossed with oregano, butter and garlic, this veg dish is highly recommended even to meat lovers.

Dessert: Banoffee pie is a runaway favourite of the guests who like the way this homemade pastry topped with toffee, cream, banana and grated chocolate is served layer upon layer in a glass, unlike most places that offer it in a slice. Or you could go with the tried and perfected chocolate mud pie served with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream.

Service: The staff is extremely friendly and are always a call away. They explain the dishes rather well, and are prompt with the service.

It is a decent enough place to let your hair down with your gang and put away a few drinks together with some smoked treats.

Rating: 7.5/10

Where: Smokey's BBQ & Grill, North Wing, VIPPS Centre, Masjid Moth, GK-II, New Delhi
Timings: 12 pm to 1 am
Tariff: Approx. INR 2000 plus taxes and without alcohol for two persons

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Recipe: Kashmiri dum aloo

This veg delight is a hit with almost everyone.

Ingredients: 900 gm potatoes, three-fourth cup of water, salt to taste, ghee or oil for deep frying, one cup ghee, one large onion (finely chopped), four tbsp tomato puree, 140 ml curd, four tbsp hot water, one green pepper (sliced, seeds removed), one tsp garam masala powder, four cloves, four bay leaves, six black peppercorns, four green cardamoms, one brown cardamom, one cinnamon stick.

Paste: One large onion (chopped), garlic, two tbsp ginger, black peppercorns, one tsp poppy seeds, one tbsp coriander seeds, one tsp cumin seeds, two dry red chillies, one tsp turmeric powder, ground mace, ground nutmeg.

Method: Scrape the potatoes, prick all over with a fork and soak in the water with salt for a couple of hours. Dry the potatoes on a cloth and heat the ghee/oil. Deep fry the potatoes until it becomes golden brown. Drain and set aside. Heat the ghee in a flameproof pan and fry onions with all the spices. Grind the paste ingredients to a fairly smooth paste and stir into the onions. Cook for about 10 minutes, stir in the tomato puree, curd and salt. Add the potatoes and hot water and stir over low heat for five minutes. Sprinkle the dum aloo with pepper and garam masala and cook for few minutes. Your dish is ready.

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A quick beauty guide for the festive season

Planning to go pandal hopping this Durga Puja? Here are some simple tips to look your best...

The ongoing festive season is synonymous not just with devotion, fun and revelry, but is also about the new clothes, shoes and accessories. Women of all ages spend a lot of time just deciding the various looks and ensembles to be worn on the various puja days. The best thing about this season is that even those who do not really care much about looking good, want to look their best when visiting the pandals.

For that flawless radiance: Young women are opting for all kinds of quick, non-invasive treatments to get perfect skin during the festive season. Dermatologist Dr Apratim Goel says, "Women are opting for soft peels, gel peels and chemical peels. These vary according to skin type and need. The dull, tanned topmost layer of the skin is peeled away. It also helps to get rid of dark spots and lighten scars, and reveals the fresh flawless layer of skin." These peels do take a few days to show results and should be done under the guidance of qualified dermatologists or cosmetologists.

For the perfect pout: A lip filler can enhance your natural lips and give it a fuller pout. Cosmetic surgeon Dr Sandip Jain says, "Fillers are injectible gels made of hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring substance in our body. So, there is no risk of rejection or infection. Filler injections are done in the doctor's office, takes few minutes and one can go back to work immediately." The results begin to show in two to five days.

Iron out the fine lines: To get a botox jab, you don't need to wait to be 40. "Even young men and women in their 30s are getting botox to even out the fine lines on their faces," says Dr Goel. This procedure is also quick and non-invasive.

Go sweat-free: Festive season means spending a lot of time outdoors, in the hot, humid climate. There are bound to be sweat patches on your expensive festive clothes. Cosmetologist Dr Jamuna Pai says, "Botox helps to stop underarm sweating."

Style your hair well: Neat and well-groomed hair that has zero flyaways and is completely no-frizz, is what every young woman is opting for. Manageable hairstyles that fall over your shoulders and back, in a satiny, smooth wave, is the 'in' look. Many also opt for bold global colours and highlights. Says aesthetician Ritu Kumar Tanwar, "Keratin treatment, hair smoothening, hair rejuvenation to strengthen and protect hair or a hair botox are popular." Hair stylists say that girls with long hair are opting for different kinds of braids — fishtail braids and other braids woven with beads and threads are most sought-after.

Body Basics: Treatments like full body polishing and back polishing are extremely popular this season, thanks to all the backless, low-back ensembles that are in vogue. Dead skin is exfoliated and massaged to lend it a smooth look and supple glow. Exotic manicure, pedicures and special nail treatments are also in.

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Importance of storytelling for children

We have grown up on stories narrated to us by our grandparents, parents and other elders in the family.

They were the good old days when we would lie beside our aajis and azoba, daadis or naanis, as they took us on fantasy journeys with their tales — the wit of Birbal, the righteousness of the Pandavas, the stories of Vikram and Betaal et al. Those were the stories that helped us learn some important lessons of our lives. They taught us about the good and bad and also had a hand in making us the people we are as grown ups. However, now, with technology invading our lives like never before, nuclear families and working parents overpowering the social set up, the art of story-telling has become rare. Here are some of the advantages of storytelling...

Introduces new vocabulary to children: A big advantage of storytelling is that listening to stories enhances a child's vocabulary, feel some parents. Namrata Popat, mother of a six-year-old, says, "My son is very fond of listening to stories and so, whenever I have time, I read out stories to him. The fact that he is curious about some words and wants to know the meanings of the ones he cannot understand, makes me feel good. I know he is learning new words and always find it easy to explain their meanings if it is in the context of a story being narrated." Since the child relates to the words better, they are retained in his memory for long.

Enhances listening skills of children: Studies have proved that infancy is the period when children absorb most of the words that they later use in their lives. So, telling stories even to infants should be an important part of a parent's schedule. When they grow up, storytelling encourages and enhances the listening skills of children. Usually, children like to talk more rather than listen and this behaviour is evident especially in classrooms — they are not usually good listeners. But when a habit of listening to stories is inculcated in them, they learn to become better listeners. It provides them the necessary training to listen and understand more, instead of talking.

Stories on laptop vs stories narrated by elders: The art of story telling has suffered a hit after the visual effect provided by technology has found takers. It has, to a certain extent, become a bane for the art of story-telling. Deepa K, an education consultant, says, "Storytelling is an interactive activity but on digital mediums it becomes a one-way thing where someone is telling you what to think and showing you an image that they think is appropriate. Thanks to this, your brain becomes a dumping ground because you stop using your imagination and your thinking powers by relying only on what is being spoon-fed to you." She states that digital story telling is less humane. Talking about how the art of story telling has changed over the years, Deepa explains, "Many parents feel that showing stories on the Internet is as good as narrating them, but storytelling is about interacting with another human being and using one's imagination to visualise."

It is about being in touch with cultural roots: For Nalini Patil, a full-time mother of two kids, storytelling is about being in touch with one's cultural roots. "My children go to English-medium schools but thanks to my regular storytelling, they know traditional Marathi tales as well. I feel this not only makes them aware of their rich cultural heritage, but also develops in them a love for learning our history. They have also become well-versed in their mother-tongue. Of course, for kids to be interested in listening to tales, the stories also need to evolve with time. "Stories shouldn't be just about morals; they need to be thought provoking," she adds.

Storytelling is a great activity of learning: Storytelling is very interactive. As a story progresses and develops, children ask questions. This is a great learning activity. Storytellers should use ways to make a child curious and encourage them to ask questions because this makes the child think. They learn to associate images in the book with the story and this develops their visualisation capacity and imagination. "A child's memory capacity is enhanced when he/ she is asked to remember something from a story. I ask my five-year-old questions from stories I have told earlier. It is like a game to her, rather than a test," states Niranjan Jha, a human resource personnel from Vasant Vihar. Experts who work with children say that parents should encourage children to sometimes create a small story with the characters they have been told about. This encourages imagination and makes the child more interested in the stories being told.

Storytelling can encourage development of emotions and feelings in a child: The media-soaked environment of today is what greets children as soon as they come into the world. Numerous TV channels, internet, mobile phones — all vie for their attention and the kids often get hooked. These fast-paced visual media block their mental development. Sunanda Shinde, mother to a school-going child says, "I have seen that telling stories makes children more involved than watching TV. Emotions are real when a child is listening to stories because his thinking capacity is enhanced. The interactive session encourages his imagination."

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Restaurant Review: Jammie’s Kitchen

Located on Queen's Road in Vaishali Nagar, Jammie's Kitchen is one of the few good restaurants that side of town.

It was a slow mover in the sense that in the initial year the owner, Upendra Singh Jamwal (Jammie!) depended mostly on word-of-mouth publicity and was happy to wait for local foodies to discover his restaurant and its cuisine. Two and a half years down the road and it has managed to attract a loyal guest base and people do go back for innovative meals and good service and a value-for-money meal.

Decor
Perhaps the first thing you will notice about Jamie's Kitchen is that it's not located in a crowded area and the large hall (it can seat 54) is well-lit and also allows natural light from three sides so the feeling of being boxed in is certainly not there. The interiors are non-fussy, non-cluttered with just the basic seating - obviously the focus here is more on cuisine. An added advantage is the adjoining garden that can be booked for larger parties as it can accommodate up to 150 people.

Food
On offer at Jammie's is Indian and Continental fare and the available choices in both the segments will make your job of deciding just a little more difficult....However, some of the recommended items on offer are Sabzi Seekh Kebab (`275), Murg Malai Kebab (`350) and Tandoori Tiger Prawns ( `1500). There are a large variety of mutton/fish/sea food available - Grilled Basha (`425), London Town Fish & Chips (`425), Grilled Jumbo Prawns (`2100) and Filet De Beckti A La Meuniere (`450). Other popular choices are Roast Lamb (`475) and Bacon Wrapped Chicken (`395). There is an equally interesting choice for vegetarians - Dahi Wale Baingan (`225), Moroccan Spicy Vegetables (`325) and Vegetable Au Gratin (`295). There is enough choice for the fussiest of guests.

Plus and minus
Go to Jammie's Kitchen - not for the ambience but purely for the food choices and the quality of food and what's good here is that you get to try a whole lot of dishes that you don't normally get at other restaurants. Chances are that you will find it rather peaceful with not too many customers but that shouldn't bother you if you're there for the food. Service is fairly good and it's a place where you can enjoy a totally relaxed meal.

Jammie's Kitchen: 52, Green Park, Queens Road, Jaipur - 302 021
Meal for 2: `1200
Opening Hours: 12-3.30pm and 6.30-11pm

Rating:
Food: 3.50
Service: 3.50
Decor: 3.00

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Which bacteria are you having for dinner tonight?

Grandmothers and mothers, since ages, have been in the practice of boiling water to disinfect baby bottles.

It is ritual that they have been following to ensure that there is no growth of bacteria or germs of any kind, which usually thrive in still and stagnant water or leftover milk. We pay that 'extra' attention towards the health of our tiny toddlers, then why is the health of our family members such a neglected affair?

We all are aware that unhygienic and dirty water can be breeding site for various kinds of diseases. Recent reports shared by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in July 2014 validate that, nearly 11%* of water samples collected in Mumbai were found to be contaminated. The civic body collected 3,116 samples, of which 264 (11.65%) samples were found to be unfit to drink, which included 99 having E.coli bacteria. Figures state that there has almost been a 100% increase in the presence of E.coli bacteria in the water since last year. These scandalizing figures show how most of the houses in Mumbai unknowingly put at stake the health of their family members by using this water for cleaning and rinsing daily utensils and doing household work.

It is surprising but true that the common behavior of washing your utensils with cold water is often the root cause to the innumerable health problems that arise. It is a known reality that a temperature of water must be as high as or above 70O Celsius to eradicate all the growing of germs on your utensils, something that is unattainable with a hand wash. "With diseases like typhoid, cholera, dysentery becoming every household's problem, it is time one must look deeper into every aspect of hygiene starting from the utensils in which one dines. Although it seems quite insignificant, water temperature when rinsing dishes is just as important as the food one consumes," says Mr.Ranjith Nair, Siemens Home Appliances, India.

This temperature is easily reached in a dishwasher, but in a washbasin or a sink, it's near to impossible. All those who possess a dishwasher might know that a dishwasher reaches 70° C before dishes, pot, pans and other cutleries are sanitized and all those potential germs are swept away. "So for all those stuck with scrubbing dishes - there is a higher likelihood of some bacteria crouching on your plates and thus higher chances of you falling prey to the diseases. Remember that if you aren't using a dishwasher, you are probably gulping germs for dinner," says Nair.

These are few things one must bear in mind when washing your utensils:

Killing bacteria and microorganisms
Remember that cold water or luke warm water is a breeding spot for germs. Running water from the tap is at a low temperature of 28° C which is ineffective for a hygienic clean wash of your utensils. Temperature of water when washing dishes must be as hot as 70O C, something that cannot be attained via hand wash.

Cleaning power
Washing dishes in hot water helps to kick away and clean dirty dishes reducing the amount of time one has to spend scrubbing also it reduces the need for extra dish cleaning products

Cutting grease
The water temperature is extremely important for the grease cutting ability as it is severely hampered by cool water wash that leaves dishes less than clean

Drying time
A hot water wash helps in drying the dishes much more quickly than the warm or cool water. Dishes basically dry themselves easily if the water temperature is right. As an auxiliary advantage, your dishes will be dry spot and streak free with hotter water. Many people try to conserve hot water during the rinsing part of dishwashing and just hand dry dishes. But one should keep in mind that pools of water and wet dishtowels are a haven for bacteria. You may have just disbursed a lot of energy in getting dishes clean only to allow them to become contaminated again.

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How old is ‘too old’ to get married?

Mrs. Bennett's, the anxious mother from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, desperate efforts to marry off her 'old-enough-to-be-married' daughters is no different from that of the mothers of present times.

The quest for 'A Suitable Boy' for the girl exists in most families and is greatly influenced by the communities we've been raised in. But is there really a defined marriageable age for Indian women?

Everyone wants to settle down sooner or later and it is only natural to feel so. The urge becomes stronger when you see people younger to you get married. However, the need to confirm to the age factor, as far as marriage is concerned, is not practical. Parni, 36, carries the 'unmarried' status and she is happy doing so. "When I was in my late twenties, it was a little difficult. Parents pushing me to meet some guy every other day and friends assuring me of the match-made-in-heaven concept; it seemed everything around me was turning negative. That's when I decided to give up the idea of marriage and concentrate only on my career," says she. But no matter how strong we train our minds to behave practically, doesn't the heart feel let down at times? "I am not averse to marriage. It's just that I don't want to marry just anyone for the sake of it. I am sure, if and when the time is right, I'll find someone. Even if I don't, I am quite happy in my space," she adds.

The society we live in is such that they believe a person can be only truly happy after he/she has entered the holy communion of matrimony. That anything against this norm is questionable. It is not that great a crisis for a man who remains unmarried (by choice or luck) for a long time, but a spinster woman who invites criticism or at best unsolicited advices. Perhaps this notion stems from the fact that as a woman climbs the ladder of age, her chances of conceiving become less, and in most cases complicated too. Dr Kavita Sama, MBBS, MS (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) agrees, "Women who decide to have a child after the age of thirty five, face greater possibilities of congenital abnormalities. The Down syndrome is a common defect among children in such cases. With age, chances of an easy delivery become lesser and the choice remaining is a caesarean delivery that has its own recovery time."

But there are others who despite having crossed the customary marriageable age have found partners of their choice, although a little late in life, and have been successful in overcoming the biological complications too. An architect and visual designer by profession and now a full time mother of a three-year-old daughter, Madhumita says, "That is the only drawback of marrying late but then it is a conscious decision. One must be prepared for the challenges and open to consultations from doctors". Having studied in the United States for almost nine years, her parents understood her mindset and hence avoided any discussion on marriage. Only when she came back to India, they started asking the dreaded, unavoidable questions. "But everything has its own time..." she adds, "I've lived in New York with roommates and in Mumbai all by myself and I can say that I've had my share of social life. Today when I stay home and spend time with my daughter, I don't feel that I have missed out on anything. I can fully concentrate on playing the role of mother without any insecurity".

Whether all families have such an unbiased outlook, is hard to gauge, thanks to diverse cultures and their interpretations of the 'marriageable age for women'. But one thing is certain; the spinsters in the country have been and are still fighting an uphill battle.

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Class with Poirot

What does the young Indian workforce have to learn from an ace imaginary detective?

He's full of himself, suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and loves his mooch. Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot is a man like no other. Ninety four years after crime writer Agatha Christie created his character, he remains top of the mystery pops.

With Christie's birthday celebrations kicking off last week, and psychological thriller queen, Sophie Hannah releasing a book that brings Poirot back, we thought it's time to revisit his genius, and learn from it.

Rely on little gray cells: No matter what your job profile, it's important to be analytical, look for solutions on your own. And, lesson#1 is to tap the power the "little gray cells" wield. "It is the brain, the little gray cells on which one must rely. One must seek the truth within - not without," Poirot said. "One does not, you know, employ merely the muscles... It is enough for me to sit back in my chair and think. It is this - " he tapped his egg-shaped head - "this, that functions!"

Find your core: Figure out what makes you tick - what gets your goat, leaves you jelly-kneed. What are deal-breakers for you? Fully knowing yourself is significant because you are your best companion on the journey of life. "A man is confronted quite soon with the necessity to stand on his own feet, to face dangers and difficulties, and to take his own line of dealing with them," Poirot said. When that happens, you'd better know what you are made of!

Learn to listen: The retired policeman is big on getting people to talk. Early on, he positions himself as Papa Poirot, a benevolent confessor, especially to young women. Later, to aid his work, he makes up stories to get people talking. In The ABC Murders, he explains why to best friend Arthur Hastings. "There is nothing so dangerous for anyone who has something to hide as conversation!... A human being, Hastings, cannot resist the opportunity to reveal himself and express his personality which conversation gives him. Every time he will give himself away."

Find method in madness: Poirot emphasizes a vital life skill - an order and a method in everything. And though his meticulousness - arranging books according to height, symmetrical furniture and thoughts on square crumpets — often comes in for ribbing from Capt. Hastings and Inspector Japp, Poirot has the last laugh. Hastings says in The Mysterious Affair at Styles: "Sometimes I feel sure he is as mad as a hatter and then, just as he is at his maddest, I find there is a method in his madness." In The Mystery of the Blue Train, Poirot clarifies: "I am not mad. I am eccentric perhaps [but] I am very much as one says, 'all there'."

Command respect: With his obsession for order and method, his outrageous moustache and inflated ego, Poirot could have turned into a preposterous mountebank. But the man commands respect simply by being consistent and delivering each time. And though we do laugh at his eccentricities, it's without losing respect for him.

Stack up skills of all kinds: In Lord Edgeware Dies, Poirot reads writing upside down during his police career. That sets him on the killer's trail! He networks zealously, though you would never think so. And while any other detective would have considered not being able to blend in a drawback, Poirot celebrates his "foreign-ness". "Everyone tells everything to me sooner or later. I'm only a foreigner, you see, so it does not matter. It is easy because I am a foreigner," he says in Elephants Can Remember.

Take up work that you enjoy: While Poirot was usually paid handsomely by clients, he also took on umpteen cases that didn't pay well but piqued his curiosity. And often, he turned down work for reasons best known to him. His reasoning for refusing a case in Murder on the Orient Express: "If you will forgive me for being personal - I do not like your face, M. Ratchett."

Cultivate the instinct: Researchers at University of California recently found that going with your gut is the way to go. But Poirot knew it all along. As he says in The Mysterious Affair at Styles: "Instinct is a marvellous thing...It can neither be explained nor ignored."

EXPERT SPEAK

"There is no better way to know and understand people. The whole science of psychological treatment is based on good listening skills. To develop and maintain relationships, understanding people is essential - this can happen with active listening."

Dr Samir Parikh Director, Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, Fortis Healthcare, agrees with Poirot's life lessons.

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7 Must-visit book cafes outside Delhi

Reading cafes is an evolving concept in India. The steady rise in the number of such cafes in various cities confirms a renewed passion for books among people today. Here's a list of what we think are the seven must-visit book cafes outside Delhi. Read on!

Literati Bookshop and Cafe, Goa
This quaint bookshop in North Goa's Bardez offers a homely ambience with a touch of serenity. "We sell new, second-hand and antiquarian books. The cafe enables people to stay for as many hours as they want with the option to eat and drink," says Diviya Kapur, Proprietor-Literati Goa. Literati boasts of a varied range of genres across Indian and International titles. "We have a good selection of books on children, health, religion/spirituality, biography & autobiography," adds Diviya. Moreover, Literati Goa plays host to events like- book releases, readings, movie screenings, author meets and workshops. The cafe menu changes every season, though the last few years have predominantly been about Italian cuisine. On your next trip to Goa, think not just beaches but books too!

Where: E/1-282, Gauravaddo, Calangute, Bardez, Goa - 403516
Timings (Closed on Sundays): 10.00 am- 6.30 pm; Italian cafe open from (October to end March)
For More Details, Click Here

The Coffee Cup, Hyderabad
Nestled in the northeast of the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Sainikpuri is home to one of the oft-visited book cafes in the city. The absence of a cultural circuit and a recreational space for book lovers, foodies and coffee addicts compelled owners Varun Sharma and Puja to start a book cafe in Sainikpuri. The cafe's interiors gleam in sheesham wood. The sit-out terrace verandah wreathed in green plants is idyllic where you can soak up the evening calmness or just watch the sun go down. The decor is, as Varun tells us, "a modern take on the old Hyderabadi charm". The books corner houses a collection of bestsellers, children's fiction and comics. Photography workshops, storytelling sessions and are exhibitions are regularly organised here. Weekends are reserved for musicians, artists and performers.

Where: E-89, 1st Floor, Sainikpuri; Hyderabad
Timings (All days): 8.00 am- 11.00 pm
Cafe menu: American (New), Barbeque, Cajun/Creole
For More Details, Click Here

Pagdandi Chai Cafe, Pune
'Pagdandi' means 'the path/road less taken'- quite an offbeat name for a book cafe, no? The story goes like this- Nisha and Vishal Pipraiya, Partners, Pagdandi Chai Cafe, were once upon a time leading busy lives as a television producer in Mumbai and IT manager respectively- when they decided to tie the knot. Acting on a creative impulse, the couple took a detour and quit their jobs in the quest for an alternative route, a path that leads to fulfillment. "Pagdandi was born in 2012. We wanted a place where we could settle down with a cup of adrak (ginger) chai in one hand and our favorite book in the other. A space where happiness awaits to welcome you." says the couple.

Pagdandi is a concept store that promotes what is otherwise not considered 'mainstream'. "We focus on independent publishers. We are currently stocking a large selection of Tara Books and are in talks with Leftword and Zubaan. Our gallery wall showcases works by budding artists and photographers. Our library thrives on community donations. A person who donates books gets a free library membership in return," informs Vishal.

Where: Shop No.6, Regent Plaza, Baner Pashan Link Road, Baner, Pune - 411045
Timings: 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
Cafe menu (Must-try): Frozen yoghurt, masala chai and cupcakes
Decor: Bench/low mattress seating for an authentic 'adda' ambience.
For More Details, Click Here

Cafe Bookworm, Lucknow
'Reading with a sip' - says the tagline of Lucknow's first book cafe that was launched in August 2013. Movie theatres, amusement parks, restaurants and bars are not difficult to find in this city but enquire about a book cafe and you might find lucknowites scratching their heads. "When we think of entertainment, books do not cross our minds as one of the potential sources. I often question the strict rules that academic libraries swear by. 'Keep Silence' comes to mind when I think of a library. I was unhappy with such a skewed perspective that did not allow us to think of books beyond academia. I wanted a place where there would be a co-existence of books, laughter, discussions and food. Later, I realized such places do exist in other parts of the world by the name of book cafes. I was intrigued and started talking to people about working on something like this," says one of the co-owners (on request of anonymity). Unfortunately, his attempts were written off. 'Nobody reads books these days', he was told. For three years, he conducted surveys, studied reading behaviour of people and estimated on investment costs. "After much struggle, I along with two of my friends launched Cafe Bookworm in August 2013," he adds.

Sadly, after almost one year, the owners feel that sustaining the cafe has become tougher vis-a-vis lack of funds. Losses incurred by popular bookstores like Landmark too have demoralized them immensely. "We have concluded that the book market size is too small. We might close this cafe and start an online book cafe that would cater to all kinds of readers in Lucknow. We are developing our website," rues the owner, who feels Gomti Nagar (interiors of Lucknow) as a venue is not a viable one.

Where: Neelkanth Road, Above Hero showroom, Vivek khand-2, Gomti Nagar Lucknow, India 226010
Timings (Closed on Wednesday): Mon - Tue: 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm; Thu - Sun: 12:00 pm - 9:00 pm
For More Details, Click Here

The Bibliophilia Cafe, Guwahati
North-east India's reading population throngs to Panbazar's 'The Bibliophilia Cafe', know why? Going by the words of Imran Hussain, Founder, The Bibliophilia Cafe- Panbazar is regarded as the 'book hub' in North-east India. "Our family business revolves around books. Books formed an essential part of my growing up years. In college, I sensed that most students craved a space where exchange of ideas, borrowing/lending/buying of books and discussions intermingled without hindrance. Keeping all constraints in mind, I started this cafe as a social enterprise," says Imran. The Bibliophilia Cafe is a lending library-cum-reading-room with high speed Wi-Fi facility where readers can access e-libraries from across the world.

TBC is an endeavour to keep alive the slowly diminishing reading culture. "We have established TBC in college campuses across Assam, both in rural and urban areas and have opened six book cafes in college campuses," adds Imran.

Where: The Bibliophilia cafe, House No. 2, First Floor, Jasowanta Road, Panbazar; Guwahati-781001, Assam
Books: Academic, e-journals and e-books from paid academic websites.
Timings: Mon - Sat: 9:30 am - 8:30 pm; Sun: 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
For More Details, Click Here

Leaping Windows, Bangalore
Leaping Windows is a paradise for comic fans. With interiors decked up in murals of characters from graphic novels and comic strips; Leaping Windows takes pride in its stockpile of not-so-easily available comics. "We usually gravitate toward independent world comic series and fables like Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore's Walking Dead, Sin City (neo-noir comics by Frank Miller) and Manga," informs Utsa Shome, Founding Partner, Leaping Windows. Initially, Leaping Windows only had an online library that gradually leaped beyond the contours of cyberspace to exist in a physical space. "The first year was the most memorable for me. Setting up anything always is. It was hectic but a great learning experience too. Bidisha Basu (Co-founder) was a journalist, I was a corporate lawyer; and both of us knew nothing about running a cafe. Soldier on, we told ourselves. In our third year, we finally managed to launch our cafe and library in Mumbai and Bangalore happened next. Our food has also evolved from counter food to proper European fare," adds Utsa.

Where: 509, 9th Main 3rd Cross, HAL 2nd Stage, Indiranagar, Bangalore- 560038
Cafe menu (must-try): Smoked Sausage and Olives Penne, Orange Fennel Pancakes, Four Cheese Pizza
Timings: (All days) 10:00 am - 11:00 pm
For More Details, Click Here

Kitab Khana, Mumbai
Touted as the 'Most Beautiful Bookshop in Mumbai' - Kitabkhana is a boon for the generation that's growing up amid a digitised world of e-books and I-pads. Owners Amrita and Samir Somaiya conceptualised Kitabkhana in a way that people would flock to its quarters housed within more than a century-old heritage building. The old world charm ambience coupled with the pleasure of discovering well stocked bookshelves with contemporaries and classics is a reader's delight. The in-house cafe - 'Food For Thought' - run by Reshma and Kapil Sanghi doubles up as a hanging out zone for visitors.

Where: Somaiya Bhavan, 45/47 Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400001
Timings (All days): 10:30 a.m. to 7: 30 p.m
For More Details, Click Here

ipshita.mitra@timesgroup.com

(Originally published on August 09, 2014)

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How to run a successful start-up

Establishing a start-up of any kind isn't easy and managing it is an altogether daunting task. Here are a few tips to lead a new venture competitively.

A vital quality for successful entrepreneurs, leadership skills are important while being at the helm of a start-up. It is niche since holding the reins of a new venture entails effectively managing employees who leave the allure of big organisations to work in a different environment and take up opportunities that wouldn't usually come their way.
Shubhra Bhardwaj, CEO, founder and director, Ferriswheel (an event management firm) says that styles of leadership change depending upon the size of the company and its employee base.Talking about the distinguishing features of a start-up, he says, "The driving force behind a successful start-up is thinking out-ofthe-box. The environment in such a company is also homegrown and informal as opposed to a large company where employees are bound by well laid out codes of conduct."

According to Andrew Warren Smith, managing director, DDI India, the largest issue confronting start-ups is the risk of failure. "With a 90% failure rate amongst start-ups, leaders must be aware that the odds are stacked against them. Large corporates thrive by maintaining their status quo repeating successes of the past and leveraging scale to remain competitive. Hence, it is important for leaders to back their desire to succeed with innovations that can not only disrupt the status quo, but also carve a niche for the organisation."

He elaborates further saying that leadership in start-ups goes beyond merely possessing entrepreneurial and commercial skills and has to be coupled with a strong execution capability."Entrepreneurs today must identify market opportunities and implement robust and sustainable plans that can quickly and efficiently capitalise on these factors."

BOOST EMPLOYEE MORALE

An essential quality of a good business leader is to instill a sense of confidence among his her employees. This is especially important in start-ups where individuals are constantly trying to prove their mettle in newer ways.A little pat on their backs can surely help them go a long way.

Says Swapnil Kamat, founder, CEO and chief trainer at Work Better, an executive education and training firm, "Irrespective of the size of an organisation there are a few things that help improve employee morale. Acknowledging their contributions towards the growth of the company, appreciation of the efforts put in and updating them about the progress of the firm are some of the ways to keep them going."

"As a start-up leader, it's quite stimulating for me to be around my team whenever difficult situations arise. This brings a lot of positive energy and a sense of oneness to work. One thing that keeps me as well as my team motivated is ongoing communication -addressing work issues, discussing matters and giving honest feedback to each other," expresses Bhardwaj.

PEOPLE MANAGERS VS SUBJECT-MATTER EXPERTS

As a start-up leader, it is important to be observant of your people, understand their aspirations and give them timely feedback all year round in order to get the most out of them. It is also important to let your employees know that subject matter experts are as important and vital to an organisation as senior ranking managers, in charge of handling teams of employees.

Secondly, a start-up leader needs to play an active part in helping each team member understand their strengths, weaknesses and what the organisation expects from them.

TO SUCCESSFULLY LEAD A START-UP :

Be resilient and always on the look-out Leaders of start-ups need to be passionate and ambitious, display high-levels of energy and initiative. Typically dissatisfied with the status quo, they must be competitive and reluctant to take no for an answer. They must also be good at identifying opportunities for new products, services and markets Be confident and engaging Such leaders convey a simple, vivid picture of the organisation's vision and goal and generate energy and enthusiasm that can invoke passion among employ ees to work towards a common goal Be ready to take risks Leaders of start-ups need to recognise risks and pursue actions that have acceptable levels of risk.

They need to proactively build and align stakeholders, capabili ties, and resources for getting things done quickly. They must also be flexible to adapt to change and mend the work envi ronment accordingly Be self-aware and receptive Start-up leaders need to be aware of their impact on others, seek input, be receptive to feed back and take action to improve themselves based such feedback Have a solid vision Your vision of the company is vital and must be backed with conviction. The ultimate test however, is instill ing it among employees and encouraging them to put in their best effort towards the company

By Sheetal Srivastava

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Try these food pairings for good health

Certain foods have a synergy with others. Here are food duos that work best together to give you an energy boost

Sometimes, the wrong food combinations can leave you feeling bloated and upset. And pairing the right foods together works well. It's said, "You are not what you eat, but what you digest." And research says packing power food pairings together can bring out the best in each other to give better health, induce weight loss, and give you an energy boost. Here are a few of them...

Lemon and spinach leaves
Dark green leaves of spinach have cancer-fighting lutein, niacin, zinc plus vitamins A, C, K, folate, iron and more. It builds a healthy cardiovascular system. Drizzle some lemon juice (which is also rich in vitamin C) over your spinach so as to retrain its iron-rich content. It works well to cleanse the intestinal tract.

Olive oil and tomatoes
Most people love olive oil drizzled over tomatoes. Tomatoes are a major source of beta-carotene, which further strengthens your immune system. And having olive oil with it helps the body absorb the tomato's antioxidants, lycopene and other carotenoids. Next time you have a salad, add just a half teaspoon of good olive oil over it.

Strawberries and yogurt
Yogurt is a powerhouse of calcium that builds bones. It also contains B12. It has been found that it might be able to prevent high blood pressure as it has potassium that can flush out excess sodium in the body. Strawberries are packed with vitamin C, which boosts immunity. Together, they work wonders for the body. Have yogurt with strawberries in the morning for an energy fix.

Broccoli and fish
Fish like mackerel have the cancer-fighting mineral selenium. When paired with broccoli, a veggie that has sulforaphane, both compounds become 10 times more effective in slowing cancer cell growth than when eaten alone. In addition, garlic and fish can also lower LDL (bad) cholesterol effectively together instead of on their own.

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5 Things a man will never ever tell you

There are somethings that a man will never tell you. But these things would help you understand your partner better and improve your relationship. Read on to know a few of his secrets...

- We want you to like our friends, but not love them: A man would want his girlfriend to get along with his friends, but he may not like you hanging out with them all the time. Also, don't make statements professing your love for his friends.

- We don't like it when you go gaga over anyone else: Be it Brad Pitt or Salman Khan, we don't like it when you drool over their bulging biceps or six-pack abs. Don't be surprised if we start praising Jessica Alba or Katrina Kaif out of the blue.

- We worry that you will find someone better: It's not just women who worry about losing their guy to some hotter chick, even men suffer from pangs of insecurity. Just that they are better at hiding it than most women.

- We don't cuddle hoping for sex... well not always: It's not just women who like to just hold hands or relax in her partners' arm. A guy will never admit to this but he loves cuddling too. It doesn't mean that he doesn't have naughty things on his mind, but there are some exceptions to the rule.

- Don't expect us to tell you what we do on a boys' night out: Whether it's girls, sports, cars or bikes, don't expect a guy to reveal any of the things that he has discussed with his buddies. It's probably better that way!

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Recipe: Prawn malai-curry (Bengali)

Debajyoti Mishra says bhog is the best pointer to a good Puja Idol, pandal and ambience are the markers -separat ing wheat from the chaff -when it comes to Puja. But when Debajyoti Mishra was young, the sole pointer to a good Puja was its bhog. "We even knew where the even knew where the begun or the kumro bhaja tasted better and would invariably land up in a group," recalls the composer. Rolls, at that time, were not an option and all one could gorge on were oil-soaked Moglai parotas. "But it was home food that ruled the roost," he says.

Mahalaya onwards, it was a celebration of Bengali food at the Mishra household. "On Ashtami, mutton would be cooked at my grandmother's house. It was cooked without onions and would be sent, in moderate portions, to all the neighbours. Even if we fell short of meat, the jhol was enough for a meal."

Debajyoti would accompany his uncle to the meat shop, which was no less than a ritual. "There would also be luchi, sada bhaat and aloor dom," he says. With brass vessels spread all around, his grandmother would sit to cut thor into tiniest of pieces. "Thakuma would put oil on her fingers before starting the task, but she always ended up with a blackened thumb. From daler bora, neem pata bhaja, mocha -she would prepare a lot of delicacies. And before Laxmi Puja, naru, moa and takti would be made. We youngsters would swarm around Thakuma like flies."

If ever Debajyoti managed to save money from grocery shopping, he would go out with friends to have kachuri from a Bhowanipur shop. "At that time, crossing Rashbehari was a big thing." Debajyoti says he picked up cooking from his grandmother. "My mom was an assistant to her. If ever I complimented my mother, she would say, `Tor thakumar moto hoyni'.On Thursdays, she would have veg food and Gondhoraaj rice was one of the many variations that would be cooked".Debajyoti was also influenced by his guru Salil Chowdhury . "He was benevolent when it came to teaching notations but miserly about sharing recipes. But I'd quietly see him cook from a distance; watch him add rum to spice up a chicken dish." The composer still tries cooking in the evenings during Pujas. "I make pulao, kash miri chicken, radha ballabhi, aloor dom and chingrir cut let. After all, Puja is all about eat ing to your heart's con tent," he adds.

INGREDIENTS

Prawns: 1 kg
White oil: 150 gm
Onion: 4
Cinnamon stick: 2
Cloves: 4
Cardamom: 6
Whole cumin: 12 tbsp
Ginger paste: 2 tbsp
Cumin paste: 2 tbsp
Cumin powder: 2 tsp
Kashmiri chilli powder: 1 tsp
Turmeric powder: 12 tsp
Sugar: 1 tsp
Garam masala: 1 tsp
Coconut milk: 2 cups
Ghee: 2 tsp
Coriander leaves (for garnishing): 5-6 Basmati rice: 500 gm
Gondhoraaj lebu: 1 with leaves Salt to taste
PREPARATION

FOR THE CHINGRIR MALAIKARI

Clean the prawns with warm salted water and marinate with 14 teaspoon of turmeric powder and 14 teaspoon of salt along with a pinch of onion, ginger and cumin flakes. Prepare a paste of onion and ginger in a mixer. Heat ghee in a kadai or pan and fry the prawns till they turn golden brown. Keep them aside in a bowl. Add cinnamon, cardamom, cloves and bay leaves to the oil. Add the paste of onion and ginger and fry it on medium flame for 4-5 minutes.

Add remaining turmeric powder, kashmiri chilli powder, salt and garam masala. Add coconut milk and 12 cup of water and bring it to boil. Cut the green chillies and add them to the gravy along with the fried prawns.

Allow it to cook for 5-6 minutes. You can garnish it with coriander leaves and add some coconut flakes. The chingrir malaikari is ready to be served.

FOR THE GONDHORAAJ RICE

Soak the basmati rice for half an hour in water and keep aside. Put water in a pan as per requirement and bring it to boil. Add a pinch of salt, one spoon of gondhoraaj juice, one small piece of gondhoraaj rind, two gondhoraaj leaves and one spoon of ghee to the boiling water and add the soaked rice. Serve the cooked gondhoraaj rice with malaikari.

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Get your fix of lace and border

Looking for some serious bargains on lace and sari borders? Head straight to the market near Santa Cruz (W) station in Mumbai.

It's a treasure trove of fabrics ranging from simple and delicate whites to Kashmiri-embroidered borders. Bang opposite the station is a line of shoe shops, behind which starts this specialised market of small wooden shops and a few air-conditioned ones. Make your way through the crowded lanes — packed with fierce female shoppers trying to find match for their new saris among the embellished borders — and explore right up to SV Road. Thousands of heavily embellished sari borders and lace in silk, cotton and velvet are sourced from Surat, Jaipur and Kolkata. Some shops retail all types of surface embellishments.

It is the perfect setting for comparing prices and bargaining. If vintage is your thing, there are a handful of shops and street vendors who buy and sell old and used sari borders and antique zari, at a fraction of the original cost. Shopping for lace is easy here. Mix and match and take a cue from designers showing at Mumbai fashion week to tailor your own creations by combining two or more types of borders, trims or laces in vibrant and bold colours and patterns into a single 'statement' border. The borders are so elaborate and dazzling, you can create entire sari blouse backs using left-over sari borders or lace.

What you'll find at the market:

- Floral cut-work border embroidered with a machine

- Assorted machine-embroidered trims

- Floral pattern on cotton

- Sequin and thread-work on cotton

- Hand-embroidered peeta work

- Leather finish with sequinned lace

- Hand-embroidered threadwork lace

- Peeta-work lace with hand embroidery

- Geometric pattern border

- Cross-stitch border

- Kashmiri-embroidered border

- Machine-embroidered ribbon

- Warli pattern border

- Sequinned cotton trim #

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The art of good living

The secret to good living lies in making our personal space beautiful and organized. So, here are some simple ways to have a slice of good living

Declutter: The key to good living lies in decluttering. Give away whatever you don't need. Old unused items (if they are not used for last six months) in your house need to go. Give them away in charity. Decluttering also means organising your cabinets, wardrobes, workdesk and bookshelves. Allocate space for all the items you require and once that happens you exactly know all your stuff.

Personalise a corner: Tell us who doesn't want to have a nice, warm and cosy corner? And most of us have drab corners in our house. So, make a little reading nook or put a little breakfast table by the window where you can read your newspaper and enjoy your cuppa. If you have kids, then you can create a bright, lively kids' corner for reading story books or indulging in some hobbies. Make it more alive by framing bright paper or create your own art work. Get your kids involved in some DIY projects. If you have a bay window sitting area, make it more lively by adding colourful cushions.

Space optimization: Add more space to your interiors whether it's your living room. bathroom or kitchen. Install glass shelves on the bare well to stack books, coffee mugs or bath accessories (in the washroom). Are we using your balcony or you are just using it for dumping some thing? Turn it into a little green corner and enjoy your share of sunshine in the morning. Even though you don't have a great view, give it a little makeover and see the difference.

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Tips to help you sleep like a baby

In today's world, when there is so much stress and people are hard-pressed for time, there isn't enough time to relax. Hence, sleeping disorders are commonplace.

Like a balanced diet and exercise are important to stay healthy, sleep ensures that your body gets proper rest and is rejuvenated. Here are some ways to get a good night's sleep...

Sleep at a fixed time: It is important to go to sleep at a fixed time. This doesn't mean just going to bed at the same time every day, but actually falling asleep at that time.Ensure that you follow this strictly.

Don't go to bed right after dinner: Apart from keep your dinner light, make sure that you give a gap of at least two hours between dinner and bedtime. Chances are that you will keep tossing and turning if your stomach is full before going to bed.
Wash your face and feet: Taking a shower is a good idea before going to bed, since it helps you relax, but if this is too much of a hassle, then make sure that you wash your face and feet before hitting the sack.

This way, the day's stress will literally get washed away.

Wake up at the same time: Just like you sleep at a fixed time, you must wake up at the same time each day as well. If you sleep well, then you don't need an alarm to get up at the same time every day . Try to maintain this over the weekend as well.

Workout in the evenings: While it is advisable to start your day with a workout, it also makes sense to work out in the evening. This way, you can shake the stress of the day away and burn a good number of calories. This is bound to tire you out, thereby ensuring that you sleep well.

Don't carry a book to bed: Many people are of the habit of reading before going to sleep, but this can keep you up longer than you would want. Finish reading on the couch or chair and don't take your book to bed.

Sleep in a dark room: If you are someone who needs to have a light on at night, break this habit. You can instead switch on a night bulb in another room. Your bedroom should be devoid of any light as this helps you sleep better.

Keep noise at bay: Just like you should keep books away from your bed, ensure that your iPod isn't with you in bed.
Apart from tampering with your sleep, listening to music while in bed is also an unhealthy practice.

De-clutter your bed: The number of items on your bed are also responsible for the quality of your sleep. Make sure that your bed is comfortable and only has the things that are required, such as pillows, sheets and blankets.
Everything else should be taken off.

Avoid caffeine: Follow a healthy diet and ensure that you don't consume caffeine since it tends to mess with your sleep cycle.

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Use old scrap for chic interiors

There's more you can do with your interiors; use old scrap to make pretty home decor items. Simi Kuriakose tells you how...

We have moved into an era where all people can think is about going green. Recycling is passe. The trend that has made a buzz now is upcycling, that is, reusing vintage products such that you can make it into something of a higher value.

Basically, it is about using products for a little more time before there is place in the landfill so it can be discarded. Though greentailing is not all that hyped up in India as it is abroad, it sure has grabbed many an eyeball. Gone are the days, when all that youth could think of is draining their brains. A lot of our youngsters are making a business out of recycling and well, what's better when you can both make money and tell mother nature that you care.

Upcycling, like mentioned earlier, is quite a rage in the West, especially when it comes to home decor. But fret not! For all of you who like trying out and customising goods at home, here are some fun ideas for you to try out yourself at home:

1. Bind your old hard cover books together (side by side), such that it looks like a plank. You can use this as a book shelf and place them on your wall. This is a funky way of upcycling.

2. To get that rustic look, you can use cane sieves (the ones with which your moms and mom-in-laws sieve rice in) to make it into a photo-frame. How? Well, just paint them in funky
ways, give them different strokes with different hues and you can paste your photographs on them before placing them on the wall. You could also make a photo wall, by placing many sieves in different angles (like if you place one horizontally, place the other vertically and otherwise).

3. Use your old coasters as a wall hanging. Use colourful ribbons or threads to tie up the coasters after they're painted in your style, and then place them on your wall. You could do the same with your tea sieves, by painting them up and hanging them on the wall.

4. Radhika Khaitan, who is an upcycler herself, says you can use old baked beans tins, or beer bottle tins in many ways. Clean the tins up and paint it to use it as a flower vase. She also says that you can stack many a newspaper together, glue them up together and cut them such that they make pretty coasters.

5. Take small boxes, glue up your favourite magazine articles on them, and also sequence the edges to use it as a showpiece for your desk.

6. Another upcycler, Suren Vikhash U says, "You can use tetra pack containers to make pen stands by cutting them partially in the middle. This is a good and easy way to upcycle."

7. Use your old cartons and boxes, paint them or cover them up with colourful paper, place sequins on them, and use the end-product as a magazine or newspaper holder.

These are just some simple methods you can use to make your home decor look both classy and eco-friendly.

Well, there are a lot more ways to do the same and customise your home decor according to your personal style. After all, your home should reflect your personality and what better way to do up your interiors your way.

simi.kuriakose@timesgroup.com

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