INSPIRATION - DO A LITTLE MORE EACH DAY

MY PHOTO FOR THE DAY - LITTLE BOY AND THE FLYING SEAGULLS

HUMOR - DON'T LET YOUR MIND WANDER

MOVIE LINCOLN - A TOP CONTENDER FOR OSCAR AWARDS

This little boy in the photo grew up to be Abraham Lincoln, one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history. 

Abraham Lincoln - childhood photo

'Lincoln', by Steven Spielberg, starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field is a beautifully crafted movie that centers around the last  four months of Lincoln's  life from January 1 to April 19 1865 and  the passage of the 13th constitutional amendment that forever abolished slavery in America. The movie 'Lincoln' has received a lot of nominations for the upcoming Oscar awards. 

POWER OF YELLOW COLOR

Yellow is a color that is bright, highly visible, fast paced and stands out among any other colors. Have you noticed how yellow lines on the road or sides of pavements catch your attention, rather than white lines. Yellow flowers in a vase or a painting with moderate amount of yellow or a small decorative article in yellow or at times wearing a yellow stoned bracelet or pendant or wearing a light yellow top, cardigan or scarf and so on can be invigorating and stimulates the mental and intellectual faculties. In color therapy, the color yellow helps us to focus, study and recall information. Yellow stands for enthusiasm for life, confidence, optimism, logic,  practicality and mental challenges. Yellow relates to practical thinking related to decisiveness got to do from the head rather than from the heart. If you are going through lot of changes in life, or under a lot of stress, yellow would not be color easily tolerated as its vibrates too fast. A softer color would be more soothing during negative phases in life. 

Colors are a fascination for me. And I do believe colors affect us emotionally and psychologically. Yellow is a cheerful, zesty and attractive, attention arresting color. It's nice to creatively use it in your life. I choose to think of yellow as a fun and peaceful color. I am reminded of happiness, summer, sunshine and beaches.  I enjoy yellow as in Lemonade, succulent sweet mangoes, bananas, yellow flowers, lemon cakes, a silver ring with a lovely light yellow stone, abstract paintings with different shades of yellow blended in with other colors. I think a simple outfit of yellow t-shirt (any shade) with jeans looks so pleasing and cool in the summer

. 

During the Christmas sale in December, I bought a beautiful dark yellow Karen Millen bag (a cross between light mustard and  yellow) from  Selfridges (Bull Ring shopping area in Birmingham) UK  and I just love it. 

Karen Millen bag from  Selfridges , Birmingham

Selfridges Building, Bull Ring, Birmingham

Delicious mango

WHATS MAKES A PERSON - BELIEFS OR BEHAVIOR?

MY PHOTOS FOR THE DAY - ON A COLD WINTER AFTERNOON

I took these photos at Warwick Castle grounds

INDIAN MUSIC NIGHT

We attended a beautiful musical concert, "Indian Music Night" which was held at Maidan Cultural Center yesterday 6 February. It was organized by DAI and Indian Business Council. It was a musical rendering of North Indian Classical music by Maestro Kala Ramnath on the violin, Yogesh Samsi on tabla and Rupak Kulkarni on flute. The music was spell binding.  Here are some photos from the event. 

SEVEN DANGEROUS THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER DO AFTER A MEAL

There are somethings we are so used to doing after a meal like having a piece of fruit, a cup of tea, or loosening the belt after a heavy meal or taking a shower or going for a walk, assuming it will aid digestion. Some of us even take a nap or go off  into deep slumber. Those who are used to smoking, will usually be found having a smoke after a meal. It probably never occurred to you that these simple habits are actually dangerous. Read and see why.

1. Don’t smoke - Experiments from experts proves that smoking a cigarette after meal is comparable to smoking 10 cigarettes (chances of cancer is higher)

2. Don’t eat fruits immediately -  Immediately eating fruits after meals will cause stomach to be bloated with air. Therefore take fruits 1 -2 hours after meal or 1 hour before meal.

3. Don’t drink tea - Because tea leaves contain a high content of acid. This substance will cause the protein content in the food we consume to be hundred thus difficult to digest.

4. Don’t loosen your belt - Loosening the belt after meal will easily cause the intestine to be twisted and blocked. 

5. Don’t bathe - Bathing after meal will cause the increase of blood flow to the hands, legs and body thus the amount of blood around the stomach will therefore decrease, this will weaken the digestive system in our stomach. I remember my mother telling me this as a child not to take a bath after a meal and I never asked her why. 

6. Don’t walk about - People always say that after a meal walk a hundred steps and you will live till 99. In actual fact this is not true. Walking will cause the digestive system to be unable to absorb the nutrition from the food we intake. Wait for 1.5 to 2 hours to go for your walk or exercise

7. Don’t sleep immediately - The food we intake will not be to digest properly. Thus will lead to gastric and infection in our intestine. Have your dinner 2 to 3 hours before going to bed.

My friend had posted this on her facebook page (from World General Knowlege) and I thought of sharing it in my blog. 

WHEN YOU BELIEVE IN YOUR DREAMS

MY PHOTO FOR THE DAY - ON A FOGGY DAY

A week ago when we went for the Bike Show, we had to cross the Marina Mall Bridge to go to the other side. It was a foggy day. The view from the bridge was nice. Here is a photo I took; you can see the buildings fade in the fog.

HUMOR - GETTING OLD

This reminds me of something funny that happened last week. My husband I, we both didn't remember where he parked the car in the Marina Mall parking lot, which is huge. This has not happened before. We usually look for indicators and signs posted in the area where we chose to park,  which makes it easy to locate our car when we return. This time, we didn't do that.  We were actually searching for almost 15 minutes. Finally when we found our car, we were pretty excited, well, relieved. My husband goes, 'we have to remember where we park the car next time'. 

Has this happened to you?

WEIGHT LOSS - EVERYONE HAS WILL POWER BUT ARE YOU READY TO CHANGE?

When I came across this quote, I thought, 'My God, this is so true'. There was a time when I used to think not everyone has the will power. To be specific, when I used to try to lose weight around 10 years ago, my problem was will power. I thought I didn't have enough will power to follow through a weight loss plan. I used to get tired, impatient and fed up after a few days of dieting and then go back to regular eating habits. Couple of years later, about 8 years ago to be precise, when my doctor encouraged me to lose weight after a hip injury, I had no choice, but start a healthy diet plan to reduce my weight. With much resistance and struggle  between my mind and body, I overcame and cast away all old eating habits and began to enjoy eating healthy.  The happiness in seeing the weight drop, encouraged me to continue. I realized something very important that time. Losing weight had nothing to do with my will power. I had plenty of will power. I was 'willing' to lose weight. But I wasn't ready to change. I started to shed weight, as soon as I 'changed' my eating habits and let go of the foods that are fattening, ate less, made conscious food choices and exercised. In the process, I changed as well for the better. It was my readiness to change and stick to that change, that helped me lose weight. 

So don't ever think you don't have enough will power. Yes you do. You just have to be ready to change your thoughts and choices and habits revolving around food. In order to change your eating habits, you have to make a decision. When you start eating less, eating healthy, stop eating all the high calorie laden foods and exercise 5 times a week, you will lose weight. And if you follow through this plan, you are guaranteed to lose weight and feel wonderful about yourself and your achievement. 

DOUBLE DECKER BUS ROOF RIPPED OFF IN BRIDGE CRASH

A double decker bus trying to pass under a railway bridge in Hampshire, UK, on Monday morning, couldn't get through smoothly and had it's entire roof ripped off in the process. Fortunately these were no passengers in the bus as the bus was out of service. The 45 year old driver who was driving the bus was safe and treated for shock after the incident.

YOU ARE UNIQUE

MY PHOTOS FOR THE DAY - PEACOCKS AT WARWICK CASTLE

We had visited Warwick Castle in December 2012. It was a beautiful experience. I would have to write a separate post on that sometime soon. What I wanted share here is a few pictures I took of the peacocks in the lovely Peacock Garden at Warwick Castle grounds. They were so many of them. They are quite used to people around, so they are not afraid when we move close to them or stand near them.

WORRY DOLLS

In December when I was in Birmingham, I went to this shop in Pallasades in City Centre where they sold decorative articles, talismans, wall hangings, jewelry, show pieces, mugs, gift items...they had so many beautiful and interesting things. I forgot the name of the shop. Something interesting that caught my attention and evoked my curiosity was 'Worry Dolls'. They were simple handmade fabric dolls. Outside the packing, it said, "you can tell your worry to the doll and it would take the worry away". Although I wouldn't buy worry dolls, I have been wanting to write a post on it. 

Let me share with you, what Worry Dolls are about. Usually people have trouble sleeping at night if they are worried about something. Worry keeps them awake. In Mayan tradition, worry dolls were used to 'take away' a person's worry so he could sleep well at night. Worry dolls originated and are made in Guatemala. The dolls  are about 1 inch or less, made with little sticks of wood with short wires to create torso, legs, arms and head. Colorful little pieces of cloth and yarn are wound around the frame to create the doll.  Scraps of woven fabric are used to the doll costumes. They come in a set of six or more in a box or bag. 

As the tradition goes, if a person can't sleep due to worry, he takes out a worry doll from the bag or box and places it in his palm and tells his worry to the doll. The doll is then placed back in the box or bag and kept under the pillow or on a nightstand  near by.  And he goes to sleep peacefully !. If he has several worries, he tells the next worry to another doll and so on. Legend says, while the person sleeps, his worries are taken care of by the dolls!

This post is not meant to encourage anyone to buy Worry Dolls or  think this could take care or solve their worries. 

SHAKIRA'S BABY MILAN

Columbian pop singer Shakira and Spanish football star Gerard Pique was blessed with a baby boy on January 22 in Barcelona. The baby is named Milan, which means dear, loving and gracious in Slavic; in Ancient Roman, eager and laborious; and in Sanskrit, unification." 

Shakira is the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. To celebrate the birth of their first child, Shakira and Gerard in association with UNICEF is holding a World Baby Shower online, inorder to raise public awareness and help vulnerable and less privileged infants through purchasing UNICEF inspired gifts and  giving donations as little as 5 $, which can have their basic needs covered. Visit Shakira's UNICEF page to know more about or participate in her World Baby Shower.

Gerard Pique and baby Milan Pique Mebarak

Gerard and Shakira

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN COMMUNICATION

MY PHOTO FOR THE DAY - BABY ON THE BIKE

ART - BEAUTIFUL FIG TREE

I came across this beautiful work of art, titled 'Fig Tree' at Dar Al Funoon Gallery. It's mixed media on canvas by artist Reza Derakhshani. The painting is huge in size.  The design, blend and use of colors with a metallic hue creates a beautiful and captivating visual effect. To be honest, the photo I took does not do justice to how it actually looks in person. I liked it so much, that I thought of sharing this lovely piece of art with you. 

OSTRICH PILLOW FOR POWER NAPS

A pretty unconventional yet unique design, this pillow is made with comfortable material meant to aid you in getting a power nap or short nap at work, while travelling in trains or waiting at , airports. By burying your head in this pillow like how an ostrich buries its head in sand, you won't be distracted by people around or people passing by. 

Ostrich pillow is created by Kawamura-ganjavian,  an architecture and design studio founded in 2000 by Key Portilla-Kawamura and Ali Ganjavian. The studio was established in London and is now based in Madrid and Lausanne, with outposts in London and Paris. 

According to kawamura-ganjavian," the 'Ostrich' pillow offers a micro environment in which to take a warm and comfortable power nap at ease. It is neither a pillow nor a cushion, nor a bed, nor a garment, but a bit of each at the same time. Its soothing cave-like interior shelters and isolates our head and hands (mind, senses and body) for a few minutes, without needing to leave our desk".

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES

MY PHOTO FOR THE DAY - CHERISHING BEAUTY

LITTLE ACTIONS - THEY ALL ADD UP

This was the 'poster of the week' by Urban Times in February 2012.  I really liked this proverb. When you read this, what does it mean to you?

I feel every little act counts. Every little kindness brings back blessings. Repeatedly committing little or big offences or wrong can land one into great trouble, face great sorrow or huge loss in course of time.  A moderate or little amount of money saved from your earnings will increase your bank balance and come to your use. If we eat unhealthy or junk food  or overeat, we are paving way to attract illness in a matter of time. Instead  if  when we make small changes in our lifestyle, food choices and eating habits and follow through, we become healthier. Day by day with conscious effort, one can rid of an old habit and nurture a good one that will change your life, improve your emotional quotient, reduce your stress and improve your relationship with those around you. Little acts of faith brings you greater good. Practicing a skill or art or pursuing a hobby can make you excel in it. When you put effort everyday, working towards your goal, you are getting closer to accomplishing your dream. Whatever we do,  little by little we are bound  to experience the rewards or consequences.

HOW TO GET YOURSELF TO EXERCISE AND STOP GIVING EXCUSES

Have you felt like this? You want to exercise, really intend to. But then when it's time to actually exercise, as if under some spell, you start making excuses until the urge to exercise goes away. And you tell yourself, okay, I am going to really start or go back to my exercise regime 'tomorrow' or 'next week', giving yourself false promises, followed by a false sense or relief. Somewhere inside, you feel bad for a while and then give up and go back to a sedentary routine and once in while remind yourself, 'oh I should start exercising' and the desire remains somewhere at the end of your wish list.

Well, you know what you have to do? Go against your mind and body's lethargy. Don't live under the umbrella of procrastination. Don't listen to those excuses that crops up whatever they might be. Block them. Defy them. And "just start" exercising for at least 10 minutes a day, 5 times a week. Its' not a huge amount of time. In a few days to a week,  you will begin to feel comfortable exercising and look forward to those special 10 minutes. Do you know why? It's because you begin to feel good, vibrant and more energetic as exercise releases good hormones into your blood stream. You get to enjoy physical and psychological benefits you never experienced before. Gradually increase it to 15 minutes and then, a little more. In a few weeks, increase it to half an hour and then gradually in few months, exercise for 45 minutes to an hour. 

Make exercise a compulsory and essential part of life and enjoy a multitude of health benefits.