Monica's Archives

Festive season has started, which means a few holidays and many of us are set to go for vacation. Whenever a trip is planed, we are excited for the fun and enjoyment waiting for us. The most hated part of the trip is I guess, the packing part. So, to ease you a little, I would suggest some of my packing hacks which may be useful for you too. Though every traveler has different methods to bring what they need. ·          Decide how many pairs of clothes you need. Today, we have lot of options to mix and match. Keeping that in mind, decide which clothes you can take. Place them on your bed. Keep one set extra, in case of emergency. ·          Use packing cubes to be more organized. Can keep your lowers in one, t-shirts and uppers in another. Undergarments in one. This way all clothing will be easily accessible.        Instead of folding your clothes, roll them, it takes less sp...

Ingredients: Maida/all purpose flour – 140gms(1¼ cups) Soya flour                        - 1 teaspoon Soya milk                         - 400ml Vegetable oil for frying Topping/Curry: Vegetable oil                     - 2 tablespoon Button mushrooms         - 250 gms Tomatoes(chopped)      - 250 gms Soya milk                        - 2 tablespoon(for topping), more for curry Pine nuts(chilgoze)       - large handful Method: ·      ...

Today, microwave oven has occupied a prominent place in the modern kitchen due to its convenience, time saving. They are fast and efficient. Is microwave food healthy? This is the most concerned question, though we all use it daily. Let us learn about microwaves today. ·          Microwave ovens convert electric energy into electromagnetic waves. These waves stimulate molecules in our food to heat it up. ·          We have a mindset that radiations are bad for us. However, this is not the type of radiation associated with atomic bombs and nuclear disasters. ·          Microwave ovens produce non-ionizing radiation, which is similar to radiation from our cell phone, which are much stronger. Light is also electromagnetic radiation, so all radiations are not bad. ·          Microwave ovens have metal shields and metal ...

Men and women should use sunscreen daily which can lessen skin cancer that has been trying to form since youth. Anyone over the age of 6 months should use sunscreen daily. Skin is the biggest and longest organ, so we need to take care of it. ·          Sunscreen protects our skin from sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which comes in two forms – UVA and UVB rays. ·          UVA rays penetrate deep into our skin, causing premature ageing and skin cancer and this damage is not reversible, while UVB rays cause sunburns. ·          Choose a sunscreen with ‘broad spectrum’ protection which means it can protect against both UVA and UVB. It protects sensitive skin against sunburn and it reduces the appearance of sun damage – discolorations and dark spots, sagging or leathery skin – wrinkles. ·          There are two types of s...

Whenever I used to go for an outing or a party, my make-up used to be patchy. Face used to be dull and dry. I thought it is because I have normal to dry skin. I use to see patches on my face and at times at the end, there would be no makeup, it used to vanish resulting in a very dull look. Then, I tried a foundation primer from Smashbox. “Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Radiance” Primer creates an extra layer between our skin and makeup. It is used to help makeup last longer, smooth the skin surface, and even out the skin tone. I applied this primer after my CTM regime i.e. cleansing, toning and moisturizing. It has an orange tint in it, of which I was a little afraid of first, but when applied, was easily spreadable and there was no orange tint on the face. Only a pea size amount was enough for face and neck. Leave it for a few minutes to dry completely. It feels velvety smooth and evens the skin tone. Then apply foundation and rest of makeup.   ...

Cowpea contains almost all essential vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, C, folic acid, iron, potassium, magnesium, calcium, selenium, sodium, zinc, copper, phosphorus, etc. It is also beneficial for our skin and hair. Cowpeas health benefits include improving digestion, supporting heart health, detoxifying the body, treating insomnia, managing diabetes and supporting blood circulation. Ingredients: Cowpeas ( lobhia, black eyed pea ) – 1 cup Whole red chilly                                  - 3-4 Whole coriander seeds                     - 2 spoon Fennel seed powder (Saunf)            - 1 spoon Dry mango powder (Amchur)    ...

Our organs and tissues work together as body systems in our body. We have 10 body systems. Today we will discuss mainly digestive system. The digestive system is a group of organs that work together to change the food we eat into energy and nutrients our body needs. After we consume food and liquids, the digestive system breaks them into their basic parts: carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and vitamins. These basic nutrients are then absorbed into the bloodstream, which carries them to cells throughout the body. Nutrients provide the cells with the energy they need for growth and repair. Everything in our body, from our hormones to our heart, need the nutrients from the digestive process to work correctly. It involves a number of organs. Most absorption of nutrients and water happen in the intestines which include small intestine, large intestine and rectum. The small intestine is 20 feet long and an inch in diameter. The small intestine is the portion of the digestive tract that co...