Your checklist for a party-ready home starts here…
Every year party décor gets creative and a lot personalized. With retro revival being the buzz all things fashionable, it was only a matter of time before home décor too went down this route. Sophisticated metallic is the theme for party décor this season.
Christmas table setting at home Image courtesy-pixabay
Be a party starter
Stick to one color theme– gold, silver or green. Even for the Christmas tree, use small ‘interesting’ (handmade, if possible) decorations. Here are a few pointers that will get your décor and party skills up to speed:
Color code Think delicate Champagne colors and beautifully bordered linens in velvet. Party décor is more about feeling good and mood elevation. Go for deep bold-colors, textured tablecloths and layered textures.
Think green– Go for more natural decorations. Use earthy colors mixed with gold for your tree. Get the green from outside and put it inside for a pollution-free party. Use solar-lights.
Floral fun– Over the top-floral accents continue to have a moment. But stick to only one flower. Be it roses, chrysanthemums, white tulips or orchids. Don’t forget to decorate every nook and cranny. Poinsettias in white ceramic pots also work.
Food in a Christmas home Image courtesy -pixabay
Party basics – Entertaining is all about quality over-quantity with some personal touches. From the food and drinks to the décor, everything will be carefully crafted and thoroughly curated. Minimalism and mindfulness are the new high points in 2017.
Food facts Go for easy nibbles, not big meals. That’s why the cutlery is also smaller and elegant. Food shouldn’t get in the way of mingling. Create truly centerpieces with fruits like plums and pomegranates on a gold plate.
Joy to your home #Christmas party checklist”
Try these out for a great party
• Use glitter-dusted candles sprinkled with Epsom salt to clear negative energies.
•Put highlights of the evening and menu on an elegant chalk-board placard.
•Place some floating candles with oranges and apples for a seasonal party decoration. Use scented candles and lanterns.
• Place some ribbon and flowers around the mirrors with fairy lights.
• Use leftover gift paper to make glamorous streamers.
A piping hot cup of tea snuggled in the lap of your hands is a tremendous feeling when the weather is bitterly frosty outside and giving you goose bumps. The credit of this comforting cup of tea does not go to the swanky packaged brand names. Instead the respect and admiration should be bestowed upon the tea growers and the labour working in the tea garden estates. To honor their backbreaking efforts, International Tea Day is observed on December 15 every year.
India was the pioneer in initiating the proposal to the United Nations panel for observing an International Tea Day which was supported by various countries. Even The Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) and Inter-governmental Group (IGG) welcomed the proposal as a great incentive to shape the lives of the tea growers and laborers. The proposal of India for observing International Tea Day was unanimously supported by countries such as Canada, the United States, European Union, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Kenya and Malawi. Thus, the first International Tea Day was celebrated in New Delhi, India in 2005. Ever since then, it has become a custom to draw worldwide awareness to support the tea growers and workers. In year 2015, the Indian government advocated the expansion of the observance of International Tea Day through the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
Apart from India, countries like Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Malaysia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda and Vietnam are the major tea producers of the world. The united efforts of these countries is to build a better tomorrow for the laborers who are working in the tea estate at a negligible wage. The monthly income paid to them is unable to sustain the living standard above the poverty line. They are living in a wretched condition lacking the basic infrastructure to support a healthy and sanitized lifestyle. They dwell in shabby homes exposed to the extreme weather conditions. They lack provision for education, health facilities, hygienic food and clean lavatories.
The International Tea Day celebration is an initiative to sensitize the government and the citizens of the various countries to influence the owners of Tea Estate and Mega brand names to abort unfair trade practices. Global Tea Conferences along with trade union have been organized to reach a commendatory conclusion that benefits the poor tea growers and laborers. The conference’s agenda is to discuss various issues of the global tea industry ranging from the hazardous condition which is inflicting upon the tea growers and laborers, their exposure to chemicals, their pay package, residues, climate change and sustainability of growing tea.
Sipping on a cup of tea Image courtesy- pixabay
In every sip of that cup of tea, we should be beholden to the tea growers and planters who slog day and night in harvesting tea. However, just being grateful to them won’t evaporate their woes in thin air. We must together raise our voice as powerful consumers and make a difference in their lives. So, let us come together to provide dignity of life to those who provide us with nerve soothing beverage.
The article is authored by famous Dietitian Sheela Seharawat. She is the founder and chief mentor of Diet Clinic Health Care Pvt. Ltd. Also, she is one of the youngest successful entrepreneurs of India.
Travel is a luxury that most wish they could do more of. It is an escape from everyday life. Travelling is a great way to see new things, step outside of your comfort zone, and do things you normally wouldn’t do. It’s about fun and excitement, rest and relaxation. As awesome as getting away may sound, it doesn’t happen often for most. Since taking a trip requires money, most end up pushing off their dreams to travel more. If money has held you back from vacationing more often, these tips will come in handy.
Vacation Locally
You don’t have to go far to feel like you’re on vacation. Often, people are unaware of the many things to see and do right in their hometown. So, book a hotel room nearby and search for some tourist attractions in your area. Sometimes a weekend stay in a nice hotel can be just what you need to feel replenished. Look up free or affordable things to do in the area. Depending on what time of year you decide to plan a staycation, you may be able to find a lot of outdoor activities, festivals, and events offered to the community that you can take part in.
Buy Timeshare
If traveling more is your goal, but you’re on a budget, a timeshare may be ideal. You’d essentially purchase or rent a suite at a resort which can be used during set times throughout the year. Some companies, likeWelk Timeshare, offer various in-network resort locations to choose from. Therefore, when you want to go on vacation, the room has already been paid for. With resort destinations, a lot of the attractions are all-inclusive or on-site allowing you to save even more money. If you really want to increase your savings, consider splitting the cost of a timeshare with friends or family then split the allotted vacation time so everyone can enjoy a vacation without the high cost.
Travel in Groups
When funds are tight, paying for a vacation on your own may be out of the question. However, if you have some friend or family members you don’t mind traveling with, then you can reduce the cost of the trip. Not only are group discounts more common for travel, but splitting the bill two or three ways is a lot better than footing it all yourself.
Crash on a Couch
Do you have friends and family members who live in other parts of the country or world? If so, take advantage of this by planning a vacation in the area they live. Ask beforehand to crash on their couch to save money on hotel accommodations. If you don’t know anyone you can crash with, you might also consider looking into vacation rentals as many people open their homes to tourists as a way to make extra money. Renting a room at someone’s beach house could cost a lot less than paying for a hotel.
Always Look for Deals
Tourism is how many states and countries make a living. Therefore, they are always offering deals and discounts to attract newcomers. If you really want to travel more, just make sure that you keep an eye out for any good deals. Anything that will cut the cost of your trip will suffice. Whether you findcheap eats in Londonto reduce the cost of eating out or affordable hotel rooms in Australia, every penny helps reduce yours out-of-pocket costs.
Getting away is something everyone should do more. While you may have thought that traveling more on a shoestring budget was impossible, there are solutions out there. Whether you plan a few staycations, purchase a timeshare, crash on the couch, or just look for deals at a destination you’re interested in traveling to, you’ll save a lot of money while exploring more of the world around you.
Jane Donovan is a copywriter and blogger from the deep south! She grew up taking vacations to the Gulf of Mexico and the lakes of Georgia before growing up, leaving her hometown for college, and studying aboard in Madrid, Spain! Jane majored in English and start working in journalism and copywriting just after college since 2005!
Mushrooms can liven up an ordinary meal and often work as a delicious substitute for meat, without letting meat lovers feel deprived.
Fungi that have been consumed for thousands of years, mushrooms have been used for both, their culinary and medicinal properties. In addition, this superfood also helps restore pollution-damaged habitats, acts as a natural pesticide, and even provides a sustainable fuel called Econol.
The most well-known types include white or button, mushroom, shiitake, Portobello, and chanterelle. Mushrooms can be eaten raw or cooked, although their flavor usually intensifies with cooking.
Health benefits of mushrooms:
Weight management– Mushrooms are low in calories and nutritious. One study showed that substituting red meat with white button mushrooms may support a healthy weight. Mushrooms contain a few calories but are rich in protein, fiber and several vitamins and minerals. They are rich in potassium, B vitamins, and selenium. All are low in fat.
Improved nutrition– Mushrooms boost immune function-Adding more mushrooms to your diet may help improve diet quality. Mushrooms contain long-chain polysaccharides, especially alpha and beta glucans also found in oatmeal. These nutrients have beneficial effects on immune system.
Mushrooms are also great sources of protein, fiber, B vitamins (especially niacin), vitamin C, calcium, minerals, and selenium. They also contain antioxidants that are unique to mushrooms, such as ergothioneine, which according to studies is highly powerful.
Other naturally occurring compounds like fungal proteins, lectins, peptides, and laccases in mushrooms also support immune function.
Mushrooms have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for hundreds of years to improve health. For example, shiitake have long been thought to cure a common cold. Studies have shown that mushroom extract, especially from shiitake, may help fight viruses. Shiitake and oyster mushrooms contain the highest levels of beta glucans.
Shiitake mushrooms Image credit- Basilicofresco.
Optimal vitamin D levels– Eating certain mushroom species is seen in a study to be more effective than Vitamin D2 supplements. Just like humans, mushrooms produce Vitamin D when exposed to sunlight. In fact, they are the only non-animal food source that contains vitamin D. Wild mushrooms contain a considerable amount, as they are exposed to sunlight.
Optimal digestive function– Mushrooms support your gastrointestinal health, thanks to their supply of dietary fiber and fungal enzymes.
Antibacterial properties– Penicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline are all derived from fungal extracts.
Anti-cancer properties– In Asian countries, beta-glucans from mushrooms have long been used in the treatment of cancer. Results from animal and test-tube studies indicate that mushroom extract might decrease the likelihood of tumor growth. While beta-glucans do not kill tumor cells, they enhance defense against further tumor growth by activating cells in the immune system.
When taken as a supplement, beta glucans from mushrooms have also been used to counteract the side effects of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, such as nausea.
Photo of a dead log with many emerging Oyster Mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) in Montgomery County, Maryland at the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park Image credit- Djlayton4, Daniel J. Layton
Heart health– They are beneficial for Hearth health. Mushrooms contain several substances that may help lower your cholesterol. This includes beta-glucans, eritadenine, and chitosan. Mushrooms also contain a variety of potent anti-oxidants including phenols and polysaccharides, which are known to help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Oyster mushrooms have highest antioxidant content.
Not all mushrooms may be beneficial to your health. Out of 10,000 species of this fungus, 50-100 types are toxic. Most of these are wild mushrooms. These can cause symptoms such as gastrointestinal problems, visual issues, palpitations, chills and kidney and liver failure. Keep away from harmful varieties of mushrooms at all costs. Some can be fatal.
To be safe, it is best to buy them from your local store or market.
Arsenic content
China is the only country that sets limits for arsenic in mushrooms. Mushrooms easily absorb both good and bad compounds from the soil in which they grow. This includes the element arsenic, which can cause several health problems and increase the risk of certain diseases like cancer when ingested over the long-term. Avoid wild mushrooms found near polluted areas.
While store-bought mushrooms may contain arsenic, it is found in small amounts and should not be a concern, as they are not usually consumed on a daily basis.
