Latest collection of colorful Rangoli designs with diyas for Diwali 2014

Diwali, the festival of lights is celebrated all over the world by Indians. There is a series of fire crackers, decorated lights, illuminated households with diyas and the new LED lights in various colors and shapes. Rangoli designs are also made in front of every house to welcome Goddess Lakshmi, Hindu Goddess of wealth.

This festival is popular for festivities that include new clothes, sweets, gifts distribution and family gatherings. Rangoli designs are drawn and filled with vibrant colors like red, yellow,pink, green, blue, orange etc.

Also read: Best Rangoli designs for Diwali

How to make a Rangoli:

• First of all finalize the design you plan to make a rangoli.
• Draw the design with a chalk on the floor. If it is on the ground use moggu powder to make the design.
• Start adding the colored powders into the designs based on the initial plan.
• Make sure to start from the center.
• You can decorate the rangoli design with diyas, flowers, beads, leaves as per your choice.

Read: 40 best diwali designs for you

Rangoli design requires skill and creativity to plan for any outages. With time and regular practice you can also make a great statement by drawing a beautiful rangoli design in front of your home.

You can surprise your friends and relatives by a sparkling diwali including diyas and flowers. The diyas will have a mesmerizing effect for the onlookers. The only question is which rangoli design do you opt this Diwali. Buy diyas from the local vendors who come up with new patterns every year.

Do not miss to read: Simple rangoli designs for festival season

Go thru’ the numerous rangoli designs laid out in various colors and backgrounds . You need to consider the space to be allocated for the diwali design mainly to avoid people putting their feet over the colors and making a mess and then you feel bad about it.Keep away curtains such that wind will not blow away.

Further read: Latest rangoli designs

Make the most of this Diwali with wonderful dishes, painting the house, cleaning the house, decorating the house, making rangoli designs and seek the blessing of the Goddess of wealth and have great prosperity in the coming years.

Recommended reading: Why to draw Rangoli designs-Kolam art in front of your home? Scientific reasoning.

Rangoli designs vary from simple geometric patterns to highly intricate images. Everyone can appreciate the beauty of this art form and certainly give a try to create a Rangoli design beautifying your environment and also carry forward the culture and traditions of India.

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Why to draw Rangoli designs-Kolam art in front of your home? Scientific reasoning

In India Rangoli designs –Kolam art is seen in front of most homes. The designs are artistic, few are large, intrinsic and some are small, yet cute. The curves and turns in the designs are a mystery for most onlookers. The responsibility of drawing rangoli lies with the younger women folk. The women need to wake up early in the morning, clean up the yard/ threshold/ verandah and after a bath and prayer sprinkle water on the ground and put the designs.

If it is a cemented floor as in apartments, the floor is wiped with a damp cloth and small rangoli designs are drawn with colorful chalks. A new design is placed everyday also exploring creativity and skill. People have even started to paint designs on the cement floor due to lack of time.

Kolam-Moggu traditionally are made by joining many dots in various designs and are then decorated with rice powder. The dots in the Rangoli designs symbolize the challenges we will face in life. We must patiently and bravely face these challenges to lead a life beautifully like Rangoli. Colored rice powder is used for Colorful rangoli.

People draw rangoli out of their homes to keep away evil forces and negative vibes from their house. This is also done to ensure that all positive energy along with the blessings of Goddess Lakshmi enters the house.

Psychological aspect of Rangoli designs:

Colors play a very important role in life. By drawing a beautiful rangoli in front of the house, it could impact the outlook of your home. The mind of the passer-by person is transformed to a pleasant state removing all negativity. Rangoli designs are both decorative and symbolize a warm welcome and good luck.

The rounded designs of the Rangoli kind of brings down energy levels in you. Symmetry of the Rangoli brings undivided attention. In simple words the moment you pass thru’ a Rangoli you are disconnected from the past and future. You are forced to remain in present. If you are entering a house then you feel good to enter a house and if you are leaving a house then come you out in a good mood.

Religious aspect for Rangoli designs:

In the Epic Ramayana it is mentioned that the people in the kingdom welcomed Lord Rama back after his fourteen-year exile in the forest by painting Rangoli designs outside their homes. Hindu families continue to honor this tradition today.

Rangoli is originated from two words Rang which means colors and Holi which means celebration. So Rangoli is an artistic celebration of colors.

In the earlier days while drawing Rangoli, the women used to sing sacred mantras and used to believe that this will guard them from evil forces. Basic intention behind this creation is the welfare of the family. The rice powder spread on the floor is also a way to give back to nature, such that even the smallest of insects eg. the ant get its feed. I heard this as part of a religious message on television. The message also highlighted the importance of nature and how small activities are interlinked and their importance to mankind.

Scientific aspect of Rangoli designs

Rangoli is really not a mechanical or ornamental phenomenon. It is science of creating energy pool. Dots which can be extremely attentive creation are important part of Rangoli creation. That’s why Indians keep Tilak or dot on their forehead, it is also known as the Spot of attention.

Watch this video to understand how the designs are connected scientifically.

If some of you are science students then you may recall your early lessons in physics that all colors originate from white light. That’s why prayers to light or Sun god is one of the most important prayers you offer in your daily life in Indian tradition.

Rangoli is spiritual distribution of colors. The Rangoli designs maintain symmetry in their design. Which means left and right side of the Rangoli always look similar. Interestingly most of this Rangoli designs used to be rounded edges unlike sharp edges. Rangoli is subtle art of influencing you to stillness. In marriages, Deity festivals, Religious celebrations, Rangoli plays very important role in India.

Rangoli is a one of traditional decorative folk art of India. It is a colorful pattern usually made on the entrance of the house. In North India, rangoli design is mainly made on Diwali (Deepavali – the festival of lights) to welcome Goddess Lakshmi.

Materials used for making Rangoli designs 

Colored Sand, Flowers, Candles, Oil lamps (diyas), Leaves, Marble Dust, Colored Rice, Saw Dust, Colored Suzi, Colored Stones or rock salt, Pulses, Colored Chalk Powder, Rice Powder

Themes of Rangoli designs:

Flower Theme, Religious Theme, Geometric Shape, Floating Rangoli, Festival Theme etc. Flower arrangement done in Kerala during Onam festival is very popular across the world, this art is called Pukalam.

Different names for Rangoli art in India

Rangoli art has different names in different states of India. Telugus refer rangoli as Muggu, keralites and tamilians call it Kolam, Chowkpurna in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, Mandana in Rajasthan, Aripana in Bihar, Alpana in Bengal, Rangavalli in Karnataka and Maharashtra, Alikhthap in Kumaon, Ossa in Odissa, Saathiya in Gujarat, AND Sonarakshana-Sanjhi in Uttar Pradesh.

Rangoli designs vary from simple geometric patterns to highly intricate images. Everyone can appreciate the beauty of this art form and give a try to create a Rangoli design beautifying your environment and also carry forward the culture and traditions of India.

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How to clean your house in 45 minutes or less

The reason I planned to write this article is because I have come across several situations when I got less than an hour to arrange for a guest at dinner time. You are just back from work and you receive a call from your hubby informing of guests who will stay back for dinner. You have about 2 hours in your hand before guests arrive and there you go…

Do not let your unorganized home be a reason to avoid friends to your home and miss a great get together with friends. You can manage to get your house in order within 45 minutes to 1 hour by setting priorities. You understand that everything cannot get sparkling clean but definitely the house can look organized by keeping things in the right place.

Where do you start?

Your focus should be as per the layout of your house and the size of the rooms you can accommodate guests. The important rooms would be the living room, kitchen, dining area and the bathroom.

You may not have time to mop all the floors but yes a nice sweep to remove dust and having a clean floor is a must. Start with placing things in its designated place.

Clean the entrance and living room-15 minutes

First and foremost clear all the clutter lying around and the floor.

• Place shoes, chappals in the shoe rack, magazines and newspapers under the teapoy, kids school books and related stuff on their study table, toys into the corresponding toy bin, mail / letters into the mail tray, anything else that shouldn’t be in these areas in bags that you can stash out of sight.
• Use a microfiber cloth to dust horizontal surfaces, as well as the TV and coffee table.
• Straighten couch cushions and pillows, tuck in the deewan spread cover or sofa covers to remove any creases.
• Dust the floor, do a sweep around the floor. Check the floor and clean up any food stains. Grab your stash baskets or bags and move on to the bathroom.

Clean the Bathroom -15 minutes

This is believed to be the heart of the home for many. There are people who need to visit toilet often, you cannot be sure if your guests may require the washroom. Prioritise as per the usage cycle and cleaning will become much easier.

• Focus on cleaning the counters, sink, mirror, taps. Ensure the essentials are around like the disinfectant and tissues. Place a fresh mug and bucket.
• Pour toilet cleaning solution like Harpic into the toilet and after you finish the mirror and shelves, it is time to clean the toilet. Scrub the toilet with a brush and flush. Use disinfecting wipes to wipe down the seat and to go over the outside of the toilet.
• Shake out the bathroom rug so it looks fresh. Hang some fresh towels. Close the shower curtain or door and empty the bathroom trash into a garbage bin.
• Pick up any dirty clothes and throw them in the hamper. Place a new air freshener or spray some room freshener for fresh aroma to linger in the room.

Clean the Kitchen and dining area -15 minutes

Kitchen occupies the maximum time when guest are around. You need to focus on the table and counters where you shall serve the food and eatables. Also ensure you cooking area is clean and organized.

• Stash any unnecessary tools or appliances. Spray disinfectant on the counters to remove grime.
• Wash all essential utensils and empty the sink. Ensure no food particles and the drain looks clean.
• Replace with fresh dish towels and dusters in the kitchen.
• Clean the refrigerator handle and external stains if any.
• Spot clean any food stains on the floor. Remove all leftovers from the dining table and wipe the table and chairs quickly. Replace the table mats.
• Arrange your dinner set and accessories such as serving bowls, trays, glasses etc.
• Empty the trash and take all bags outside to your can. Put in a fresh liner.

Final round of inspection

Now that the cleaning is complete go around and inspect all the rooms for any important thing you missed out during the cleaning and organizing process.

In Indian homes the wash basin is built away from the dining table, watch out that the sink has running water, if not make alternate arrangements. Place disinfectant, fresh towel and ensure mirror is clean.

You have another hour to focus on the cooking a quick fix dinner menu. If your hubby has already ordered for dinner considering the short notice, then you can take a 15 minutes break and then freshen yourself before your guest come in.

You can set up a warm welcome lowering dimmer switches and lighting candles to add mood and soften the focus on your home.

You will feel the pride of all the cleaning you managed to do and organize your home. Get ready to celebrate!!

Please add a comment and, if you like the post, feel free to share it with your friends. You can also visit our Facebook page and Google plus page for more insight on other articles.

Also read :

A Cleaning Routine that works in Real life

Tips for Organizing your Home

Tips to Clean and Maintain your Bathroom

15 Tips to Manage Space and make your Home look Larger

How Essential is Good Housekeeping in Home Management

Health and Safety Precautions during Monsoons

Monsoon is the season when we have abundant rains, cold breeze, at times windy and powerful associated with lightning and heavy thunder. Monsoon provides rains which is a relief from the scorch summer heat. All water resources are filled and all our water related needs taken care of.

Monsoon brings in nostalgic memories of our childhood days. Playing in the drizzle, making paper boats, forcing amma to make hot snacks, sneezing by late evening, cold and cough in the night, being absent from school. The fever would be then conveniently transferred to other peers in school and family at home.

However, with the arrival of monsoons also comes the risk of waterborne diseases like diarrhea and stomach infections.

Health Precautions to be taken during Monsoons:

• Drink water that has been purified. You can boil water, cool and drink.  Drinking water that is properly purified or boiled reduces the chances of contracting a waterborne disease. Avoid tap water. When outside or traveling use packaged mineral water.
• Carry a raincoat or an umbrella to protect yourself from getting wet in the rain. Moms, do ensure your child is carrying one even if they are fussy.
• Avoid walking in the dirty water during the rains. The dirty water -flowing or stagnant is a breeding ground for various viral and bacterial infections. Keep your shoes and socks clean. Dry shoes adequately to prevent smell and damp feet problems.
• If you get wet in the rains, wash your hands and legs when you reach your destination. Change your clothes as quickly as possible.
• If your hair gets wet in the rain, wipe your head thoroughly and dry your hair. Do not enter an AC room with damp hair. High chances of catching a cold.
• Use a mild antiseptic like Dettol or Savlon in the water used for bathing or to clean bruises in the rains. It will help you minimize the chances of getting an infection.
• For those of you who are asthmatics, avoid damp walls. Most wet walls promote the growth of fungus which is a trigger for asthma.
• Avoid eating uncooked food and leafy vegetables. During monsoons, the chances of germs and contagious infections are higher. Cooking food properly destroys these germs.
• Avoid self medication when you contract a viral infection. Do not take medications indiscriminately during the rainy season. Your immunity would decrease and the chances of contracting an infection increases.

Safety precautions to be taken during Monsoons:

Water is the most essential requirement next to air for survival, but when it is allowed to stagnate around us beyond a time required it becomes hazardous and dangerous. Water is the best medium for organisms to thrive.

Flooding of water during monsoons is a common sight in the cities due to drain clogging. The next major concern is insect bites and the crawling varieties when water level increases and the soil is damp and slushy. Mosquitoes breed in standing waters.

• Use mosquito nets during bed time and insect screens to prevent entry of mosquitoes.
• Stock sufficient stock of eatables-‘ready to eat’  varieties. Check out on shelf life during purchase. You can never plan to accommodate shopping for groceries after work.
• Be prepared for power outages due to heavy wind and non stop rains. Ensure your gas cylinder is full.
• Make sure your electrical gadgets are working fine i.e room heaters. Dust your blankets and dry warm clothes in advance (during hot summer days)
• In case you are lying on the floor, use large mats and proper bed spreads. Do not allow an article to remain in the same place for long. Shift while cleaning regularly. Observed that Centipedes crawl around damp areas and near the drains of the bathroom.
• Ensure servicing of Automobiles – they must be serviced at the beginning of the monsoon, especially battery should have been checked. Engine oil, Brake oil and brake itself should be thoroughly checked and updated, so that vehicle can be used in emergencies without any problems basically because in cold weather sometimes the vehicle may not start if the battery condition is not updated.
• Check the tyres for adequate air and the stepney is in good condition.
• Keep spare umbrellas and rain coats handy in case you forget at work or college.
• Know your roads well i.e be aware of the pits in the road –which are covered with water. Most accidents and missing cases are reported due to open drains in non familiar areas.
• Leave for places well before normal time to avoid tension of being late, give yourselves more time to deal with emergencies like road diversions.
• Keep away from loose electrical wiring.

When heavy rains happen we will be worried about drying clothes, going outdoor for work or school. Water is essential for mankind. Let it pour such that our water resources have enough water to take us thru’ the coming year.

Enjoy the rains and have fun !  Protect your family, follow precautions that will keep you healthy this rainy season. Wishing you a Safe and Enjoyable Monsoon.

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Top Tips for Moms to get relief from Stress

Moms have a big role to play in managing the home, bringing up the kids, manage financial requirements of home, take care of family members and maintaining harmony at home.

Most home managements tasks can get accomplished when you plan your work and then work your plan.  A big step in making this happen is to do today’s work today.

The cornerstone in each home is the mother. It’s the cornerstone that keeps the structure on the square, and this is what mothers do for the home. In order to be fit for the family, however, you first have to be fit by taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, and spiritually. With several responsibilities and multi tasking in the role of a mom, you need to get relief from stress

The top 30 Proven tips for Stress relief

1. Get up fifteen minutes earlier in the morning.  The unavoidable morning mishaps will be less stressful. You will also get time to do scripture reading and thank God with a prayer. Your day will be blessed and you will get direction to proceed with your tasks.
2. Prepare for the morning the evening before.  Tidy up before retiring for the night.  We refer to this as putting the house to bed before you go to bed. This helps you get a good start the next morning.  A little twist to the old adage reminds us that “an ounce of evening is worth a pound of morning.” Eg: Chop the veggies, plan the menu, put out the clothes you plan to wear, etc.
3. Don’t rely on your memory.  Write down appointment times, extra milk purchased, laundry details, date cooking gas was replaced, etc
4. Make duplicates of keys.  Keep a duplicate key set for critical doors and cupboards. This will save time in an emergency.
5. Allow 15 minutes of extra time to get to appointments. Plan to reach the places of appointments 15 mins in advance especially doctor visit. Arrive at the railway station or an airport one hour before domestic departures.
6. Get up and stretch periodically if your job requires that you sit for extended periods.
7. Add an ounce of love to everything you do. You will feel the positive energy flowing.
8. Take a hot bath or shower (or a cool one in hot summer) to relieve tension.
9. Do something for somebody else. Learn to share and give.
10. Focus on understanding rather than on being understood; on loving rather than on being loved.
11. Relax your standards.  The world will not end if the grass doesn’t get mowed this weekend.
12. Get enough sleep.  If necessary, use an alarm clock to remind you to go to bed.
13. Create order out of chaos.  Organize your home and workspace so that you always know exactly where things are.  Put things away where they belong and you won’t have to go through the stress of losing things.
14. When feeling stressed, most people tend to breathe short, shallow breaths.  When you breathe like this, stale air is not expelled, oxidation of the tissues is incomplete, and muscle tension frequently results.  Check your breathing throughout the day, before, during, and after high-pressure situations.  If you find your stomach muscles knotted and your breathing is shallow, relax all your muscles and take several deep, slow breaths.
15. Writing your thoughts and feelings down (in a journal, or on paper to  be thrown away) can help you clarify things and can give you a renewed perspective
16. Try the following yoga technique whenever you feel the need to relax. Inhale deeply through your nose to the count of eight.  Then, with lips puckered, exhale very slowly through your mouth to the count of 16, or for as long as you can.  Concentrate on the long sighing sound and feel the tension dissolve.  Repeat 10 times.
17. Minimize intake of caffeine in your diet
18. Talk it out.  Discussing your problems with a trusted friend can help clear your mind of confusion so you can concentrate on problem solving.
19. Learn to live one day at a time.
20. Every day, do something you really enjoy. Enjoy the work you do
21. Use your weekend time for a change of pace. Plan for an outing with family and have a get together. Keep away from the same activities you do in the week.
22. Plan ahead. Always set up contingency plans. Avoid stock out position at home. Keep a watch of your surroundings and plan for ‘ just in case’
23. Simplify your work. Make life easy. Ensure preventive maintenance for all electrical and electronic gadgets.
24. Eliminate destructive self-talk:  “I’m too old to. . .,”  “I’m too fat to. . .,” etc.
25. Say “No!”  Saying “no” to extra projects, social activities, and invitations you know you don’t have the time or energy. You can instead spend quality time with family.
26. One of the most obvious ways to avoid unnecessary stress is to select an environment (work, home, leisure) which is in line with your personal needs and desires.
27. Allow yourself time – everyday – for privacy, quiet, and introspection. Whatever you want to do tomorrow, do today; whatever you want to do today, do it now.
28. Learn to delegate responsibility to capable others. Encourages caring and communication among family members.
29. Have a forgiving view of events and people.  Accept the fact that we live in an imperfect world.
30. Have an optimistic view of the world.  Believe that most people are doing the best they can.

In summary it’s when you as mother are strong that you can lend strength to your family.  It’s when the house is first stabilized by doing today’s work today that progress can be made in other areas of home management. Therefore it’s at this point that family and personal projects and activities are most likely to bring enjoyment and satisfaction. It’s all about the cornerstone, foundation, and structure concept in doing today’s work today.

Follow these top tips to get relief from Stress .Enjoy life. Give your inputs in the comments section. You can also follow us on our facebook page and Google plus page.

Great tips to save LPG in your kitchen

There is a lot of discussion and news these days on LPG (Liquid Petroleum Gas) price hike. With the norm implemented of one connection per house hold and the number of cylinders restricted per connection it has become all the more critical to save fuel and avoid over spending by procuring additional cylinders.  In fact you need to be careful with the way you use your LPG and make sure your cylinder last longer.

Commonly observed during peak times in the kitchen, moms run around to collect curry leaves from the kitchen garden or pick the pack in the refrigerator during the process of cooking. At times due to delay the ingredients in the oil placed on the stove will start turning brown to black and the dish will have a burnt smell. Need for planning?

Great tips to save LPG in your kitchen

• First and foremost: Light the stove only when you have everything in your reach. Before you start cooking plan for the menu, collect all vegetables / ingredients that would be needed. Chop vegetables and keep the masalas ready to avoid wastage to time and gas once you put on flame.
• Ensure the base of the vessel is dry before placing on the burner. You can save a minute or two of gas that will be required to evaporate the water inside and out. The savings altogether will be huge.
• Preferably use pans that have a wide bottom, because when the flames extend beyond the pan, it is wasted.

Remember the popular saying : ”Tiny drops of water makes a mighty ocean” or in Hindi: Boondh, Boondh se gada barta hain”

• Use of pressure cooker will save time and fuel. Soak dhals for 15 mins at least prior to cooking. Saves cooking time, only 1 whistle will be required to cook the dhal in the cooker.
• Avoid spilling of any cooking items on the stove mainly on the burner. This will block all the pores and the flame will not be not uniform. Clean it periodically to improve efficiency.
• Minimize water addition while cooking as more LPG will be consumed to evaporate excess water.
• Avoid open vessel cooking as much as possible, Placing a lid will ensure the energy is used most efficiently and you save on gas.
• Once the cookware is sufficiently heated up, reduce the flame and cook on less heat. In fact food cooked on low flame tends to have better nutritional value and will taste great.
• Thaw frozen foods prior to cooking, the heat energy that will be required to bring down the foods to room temperature will be saved.
• Cook in larger quantities and store what you do not need for another time, this will lessen your work and save gas.
• Try and get all family members to eat meals at the same time, so that you do not have to heat food every time someone comes to the table. This problem is severe during winter and rainy seasons when the food becomes cold quickly.
• If there is a requirement for hot water frequently in the home, boil it and preserve it in a thermos flask, rather than heat water every time it is necessary.
• Avoid spillage of any cooking items on the stove mainly on the burner. This will block all the pores and the flame will not be not uniform. Clean it periodically.
• Check the regulator, pipes, burner for leaks and also ensure that regulator is switched off after cooking to eliminate any chance of wastage due to small leaks.
• Before leaving the house / going to bed or do not forget to turn off the cylinder knob. You need to off the cylinder knob first and then when the flame is exhausted, switch off the stove. This way you use the gas that remains in the pipe too.

Avoid all this hurry and wastage of gas. Follow these suggestions which can save LPG gas and in turn benefit you with money. With a few changes to your cooking habits, you can save even more gas.

Become a wonderful Home Manager, an additional feather in your cap!

Learn what to do when your Job is making you Stressed

If your current job is making you feel stressed , you may put aside the feeling and continue with the current job. Stress is being accepted as part and parcel of one’s life and therefore nothing major is done to combat it.

People do feel stressed even for minor reasons and ultimately spoil their health. You need to address stress, no matter what the sources may be. Stress is a serious issue and can lead to illness and psychological problems as well as preventing you from enjoying your day to day activities. What is the point in earning money when you are not able to enjoy it?

We work to support our families and to ensure financial stability. Therefore you need to plan a way while you can earn a living and improve your living standards without burning the bridges.

Top actions to implement and avoid stress at work

Speak With People

The first and foremost thing you need to do is to speak to people about the stress at workplace. You can inform your family and reliable friends  who are capable of understanding the situation and give advice to address the problem.

The next is to talk to your immediate supervisors and seek help. They may put in some measure and delegate work or probably give you an opportunity to work in another department wherein the work pressure is low. Make it a point to talk to your Management about the work issues and also communicate the solutions if any in your mind.

Formal approach – Put it in Writing

If you already completed the first step of talking to the Management and you are not seeing any improvement then try a formal approach. Write a letter to your Superiors explain the problem, do not point fingers at any individual. Mention that the workload is high and you are struggling to complete activities that are critical to the organization. Mention issues about the environment which is a barrier in smooth functioning.

This will help in two ways. The Management cannot ignore this request as they have received in writing and secondly the letter will be a record of your issues and will be convincing when you decide to leave as you had given a sincere try.

Take Some Time Off

At times a small break will be relaxing. You have been working as a machine day in and day out and on holidays for your family and children getting no space for yourself. Even if you can’t afford to go on a lavish holiday somewhere sunny, you should at least take a few days off to enjoy a weekend break or something similar.

If you have used up all of your leave and you can’t get the time off work, then you should go and speak to your doctor – you might find that they’re able to get you the time off you need to recuperate. Doctors will correlate the severity of work related stress, and they may be able to recommend other coping strategies too.

Read: A cleaning routine that works in real life

Address Yourself: Re-organize

At times you may be experiencing lot of stress at work not with the workload. It could be that you are thinking of the workload or how to get the work completed rather from where to start and complete.

For example, if you are just highly meticulous and hard -working and want to do the best possible job, then you might find that this causes undue anxiety and actually ends up making you work less effectively. You can use simple techniques to assure yourself that ‘you’ve done the best you can – that’s all you can do’ or that ‘if I don’t complete the work on time they’ll just know to set me a little less next time’. Having more expectations and maintaining high standards could also result in great stress.

Meanwhile you can reorganize your work, prepare working schedules, delegate some of your tasks. You can save time in the office and this will create a confidence to handle your work.

Quit and Look Elsewhere

If all these measures fail and you are still finding yourself highly stressed then it is time to plan for a new job. At times the thought of a change and better tomorrow will give you hope for a brighter days. Not necessarily you quit the job. You can continue and look out for better career options.

When you join another organization, it is not necessary that the boat will sail smooth. Be optimistic and start a new leaf. Give your best and even in highest waves you will be able to sail right.

Closing out statement

Be able to balance work and home life. Share your problems and seek advice. You must have a network to bank upon in emergencies. Never ever take out your anger and frustration on family members. When you are angry, silently count 10, 9,…,1 and you will observe that your anger has gone away.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

- Steve Jobs

Tips to improve efficiency of your Air Cooler this Summer

With summer at its peak air coolers provide cooling to the room and relief from the humidity and heat around. Air coolers have become indispensable gadgets at home. The efficiency of the air cooler is critical to beat the external heat.

During summer the external environment is dusty and the dust will settle in the air cooler, therefore you need to clean it periodically.

Many of us do not follow the cleaning process as required and then end up with cough and breathing problem. The air cooler should be cleaned once a week of all dust and dirt accumulation. The water needs to be replaced once a week to avoid breeding of germs and bacteria.

Tips to clean the air cooler (during regular use)

1. Disconnect electrical connection. This will avoid any electrical shocks as you are working with water.
2. Drain out all water in the base tank. Dispose this water. Scrub the base with detergent and then flush with clean water. Pat dry the tank with sponge or soft cloth.
3. Ensure no water falls on the electrical wiring and motor during cleaning process.
4. Remove the side covers and wash the pad cloth externally. When it dries fix the side covers to the air cooler.
5. Change of cooling pads is recommended annually. But if you are observe a foul smell, it is high time you changed the khas khas grass/ vetivar root pads. You need to replace atleast once in two years to keep away bacterial infestation and foul smell.
6. Oil the motor such that it runs smoothly and no jarring noise.
7. Clean the fan blades of the air cooler with a damp cloth to wipe away dirt.
8. Once the cleaning is completed, fill water in the tank and 1 cap of Dettol/ Lizol disinfectant. This will keep away bacteria and the room will smell good and clean too.
9. Preferably avoid local made perfumes for air cooler as this will bring down the life of the vetivar root pads . The grass will deteriorate and start smelling.

Avoid surprises during Start up

We had two big surprises this year . Initially the air cooler did not start , we called the technician and he checked the wiring and the cooler started. It was a simple loose connection problem as an outcome of rigorous cleaning.

The second surprise was that the air was blowing at one place only and not getting distributed in the room, the technician confirmed that the ASM (Auto Swing Motor) was not working. This caused lot of inconvenience as the other occupants were not getting cool air.

After request and negotiation for price he decided to replace the spare. The ASM was replaced and then what a relief…. there was a big smile on the faces of kids too. The sweat that settled on our faces and clothes slowly started to evaporate and we were feeling fresh.

Read on: Tips to Keep Your Fruits and Vegetables Fresh in Summer

Regularly clean and enjoy clean air. Likewise when the monsoon sets in it is time to pack the air cooler. Follow proper cleaning methods and shift the air cooler to a dry area.

Tips to clean the air cooler (when not in use)

Follow Points no.1 to 4 and 7. Wrap the air cooler with a large old bed sheet. Wrap a polythene cover to prevent dust, water entry. Tie the ends securely with a plastic rope and shift it to the allocated place. Remember the resting time is 7 to 8 months therefore let the pads dry sufficiently. Securing completely will prevent any insects making their base in the air cooler that not in use.

Read on: How to keep your Home cool during Hot summer

The Seven Important Home Management skills to Teach your Child

All of us bring up children knowing that one day they will take off independently. We want our children to be able to take care for themselves and their surroundings when it is time to be on their own. These days children are studying in boarding schools and as they grow up they do not hesitate opting a job away from home.

In Indian society girls get married soon after education and it becomes very important that they understand the essential Home Management skills to balance home and work. The partners will get influenced with their Home Management skills. Therefore every parent should teach the seven important Home Management skills to the child and make them equipped to face the world.

Good Cleaning habits

It is always better to spend 3 to 5 mins on regular cleaning rather than spending an hour at the end of a long day due to pile up. Initially it may be difficult to adopt this practice but as the benefits are plenty it is good to start this habit. Remove clutter and waste things .You will get more space and less of dust accumulation. The place will be clear and facilitate better thinking.

Every article should have a place and if there are too many not in use articles dispose it off. You can sell it as scrap or donate to some needy person.

Laundry skills

Laundry skill is essential when you plan to stay away from home. Your child should be prepared to face a situation like button dropping out from shirt. Children should be trained to wash their undergarments as they are growing. You need to train them on folding the laundry clothes, sewing a button on a shirt / jeans truly because mommy will not be always around the children

Time Management

Successful home management is about planning and execution. All of us are blessed with 24 hrs in a day. Time lost now is lost forever. Therefore train your kid to utilize time effectively. Make a schedule for the kids , involve them during preparation such that they own the new time table. These skills in managing time will help them as they are growing up, during higher studies and in their career as well. Such children value time and make the most of the allocated times. But first you should role model the quality of being masterful with time.

Basic Money Management

Basic money management skills is a must. Parents should make children realize that money is required to buy all stuff and money is earned with hard work , therefore needs to be spent wisely. As they grow up, it becomes very essential to teach them about saving money and planning for future expenses.

How to Cook and Plan a menu

Learning to cook is not a home management skill, it is basically survival skill. By learning to cook, the child becomes associated with other essential skills like menu planning, budgeting, time management and overall creating healthy eating habits. These qualities lasts for a lifetime.

Menu planning saves a lot of time and money too. It is generally said that “A family that prays together, stays together”. Likewise a family that cooks and eats together is definitely teaching their child the values of life, spending time with family is important and there is lot of value attached.

Team work

Team work is a great home management skill to teach because no one is capable of running a household without help. Teach the kids to do their part of cleaning and arranging at home in order to keep the house clean and organized. Assign a few activities to each family member, no matter how basic, to ensure everyone contributes their role in the home functioning.

Relax on Perfection

Most of us get discouraged when things are messy and go out of control in the environment. Teach your child not to give up easily, but have a fighting spirit and face life and situations bravely as it comes. Do not be stringent about perfection and do not police around. Children, spouse and elders may not appreciate your military standards and may feel like being at home. Relax on certain matters that involve perfection, make your family enjoy the time you are all together.

You have gone through the seven essential Home Management skills to teach your child and you need to educate them with proper examples and role modeling. Motivate the kids to do good and practice the skills in life.

Great Tips to Reuse Old Toothbrushes

Dentists recommend that you replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months or earlier depending upon the bristles getting frayed. You need not dispose these toothbrushes, the old toothbrushes can be reused at your home in several ways. On priority you need to identify the old toothbrushes with a permanent marker and clean the brush prior to reuse.

How to clean the old toothbrush

• Primary reason for cleaning the brush is to avoid any spread of germs. Since these brushes were used orally, it needs to be soaked in warm water and bleach solution for an hour’s time.1:1 ratio of vinegar and water solution is also good to remove all germs.
• Label the brush with a permanent marker so that it doesn’t mix with the regular brushes.

Reuse your old toothbrush for cleaning:

• You can quickly clean the grotty build up around taps, between tiles and the area between wall and floor of your bathroom.
• Kitchen sinks is another critical area that can be addressed with an old toothbrush. The gaps in the metal can be thoroughly cleaned of sticky build up.
• Clean hard to reach areas eg: AC grills, cooler rails, venetian blinds. Clean with dry brush and later wipe with a wet cloth.
• Clean the computer keyboard and monitor. Also note that you should not use an old toothbrush for cleaning LCD and flat panel monitors as the bristles can damage the surface.
• You can use old toothbrush for cleaning cutlery- Forks, around the tea cup handles, Tea filters, the vegetable grater which attracts oil in the gaps and becomes brown in color.
• Ideal for cleaning the intricate design on delicate jewelry such as rings, earrings, daily wear chains which gathers oil and dust and looks dull. I soak the jewelry in soap water for 15 mins and then run the brush thru’ the designs to get a clean product.
• You can quickly remove soil deposits on the shoe sole. Handy during rainy season when the shoe and sandal sole will get clogged with the damp soil.
• Very handy to dry clean the seams on shoes where the leather meets the sole.
• Very useful to clean the bottle threads especially the pickle jars, Oil containers, baby bottles.
• Very handy to apply color to hair, you can straighten your unruly eye brows. Clean your finger nails and remove hidden dirt especially after gardening.
• If the end of the slim brush has a hole you can cut off the top side, smoothen it and use it as a perfect threader for the elastic tape of a knicker, cord for a curtain, pajamas, lehangas, sari petticoats,etc.
• Clean dust from the corners of wood furniture, wall edges just above the marble tiles, design work on beds where dust settles on the protruded surfaces and which is difficult to clean with a wet cloth. Dust in crevices you cannot get to with conventional methods.
• Clean Soap tray when you observe soap deposits in the base.
• Toasters.  Microwaves.  Coffee Machines.  Use a toothbrush to clean off crumbs and stains that fall in those hard to reach spaces.
• Clean your hair combs after soaking in soap solution for 15 to 20 mins. You will be amazed to see your hair brush looking new.
• Clean and exfoliate your feet . Soak your feet in lukewarm water in which salt is added. After 20 mins use an old toothbrush to clean the toes, the feet lines and gently scrub dead skin cells to make your feet look neat and clean.
• You can clean the bottom of buckets and mugs where grime has collected and can be a hygiene risk. Especially cleaning is required in crevices and around the raised letters of the name/logo of the manufacturer.
• Clean artificial flowers and plants and make them look clean and attractive in your home.

Don’t throw out your old toothbrushes. Instead, use them to clean a host of varied items and small or hard-to-reach areas and crevices. Later you can dispose the old toothbrushes after re-using them for a week to 10 days.

If you liked the article or know of other reuses of an old toothbrush, do mention in the comments.

Further reading: How to Remove Stains from Tupperware containers

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