tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48337116251205603552024-03-04T20:12:58.446-08:00Recipes, Crafts, and More!!I like to use my hands and make things... It might seem pretty stupid or pointless but that doesn't matter... some of the most interesting work is the stuff that starts like that - out of a raw need for activity. - Bruce Nauman
Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-32565290155550308932023-12-25T14:50:00.000-08:002023-12-25T14:50:35.448-08:00Doing Nothing<span xmlns=""> <p><strong><em>Boredom is Good.</em></strong></p><p>These days I'm very busy <strong><em>doing nothing</em></strong>. Are you laughing? No joke. I'm doing absolutely NOTHING and time just flies without me noticing. </p><p>So I am busy filtering and sorting my thoughts while I am <strong><em>doing nothing</em></strong>. I am thinking, 'It's 10', 'I'm <strong><em>doing nothing</em></strong>', 'It's hot outside', 'I'm <strong><em>doing nothing</em></strong>', 'TJ must be busy at office', 'It's boring here', 'Oh look at that bird', 'I'm <strong><em>doing nothing</em></strong>', 'Have to finish choreography', 'But I'm <strong><em>doing nothing</em></strong>', 'Let's read something', 'No <strong><em>nothing</em></strong> today', 'What should I do', '<strong><em>Nothing</em></strong> at all', 'Sleep?', 'Ok. That's <strong><em>doing nothing</em></strong>'. Wooooh. So you say I wasted my time? I say, 'No! It was good.' </p><p><strong><em>Boredom is good</em></strong>. Sometimes it is. And it is totally human to feel dull and restless at times. By allowing ourselves the luxury of <strong><em>doing nothing</em></strong>, we stop reacting to the external world and let our inner selves loose. When doing nothing, we very easily dive into our own thoughts and lose our sense of hearing any external voices, until it becomes a noise when someone's yelling at you.<br /></p><p>After emerging from the luxurious boredom, we usually feel that we have accomplished nothing and have frittered away precious time. But the reality is rather contrary. We have gained useful insight and often when <strong><em>doing nothing</em></strong>, we discover something new, perhaps about a relationship, perhaps about a new liking, or perhaps about how the universe works. After all, is material accomplishment really the point of life? Slow down a little.<br /></p><p>For once, try parrying the multifarious digital distraction your TV, laptop, cell phone, iPod, Facebook, and the latest Kindle offer. You'll realize how you'd been giving up on something as good as <strong><em>doing nothing.</em></strong></p><p>Check for yourself, because researchers have recognized boredom as 'a legitimate human emotion that can be central to learning and creativity.'<br /></p><p>Hence Proved. <strong><em>Boredom is Good</em></strong>.</p></span>Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-5747948548735666932014-10-08T20:27:00.001-07:002014-10-08T20:27:24.948-07:00Crocheted Fall Throw<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am a self-taught crocheter. I started crocheting about 2 years back, mostly making small stuff like scarf, baby blankets, hats etc. Last fall, I gathered enough courage to start a throw. Not anticipating the amount of work it would involve, I chose a regular thickness yarn to go with a 5 mm hook. I had to drop the project half way through when I realized its going to take me forever to finish this.<br />
But it was like an unfinished item on my TO-DO list, and that bothered me. Then I stumbled upon this super chunky yarn at Hobby Lobby (to be used with 10 mm hook!!). I was almost into tears (not literally of course; I'm not that crazy yet).<br />
So here's what I accomplished in just 1.5 months using super chunky Yarn Bee's Debut yarn (solid rust orange and solid maroon) and Bernat's Denim yarn (Indigo and Batik at the edges). It turned out very pretty and soft. I love the colors too. Not sure why both of these yarns have been discontinued. They were on clearance when I bought them.<br />
PATTERN: the waves in rust orange are inspired from http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/quick--easy-blanket.<br />
After that it's all edging with half double crochet. Pretty easy huh!<br />
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Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-48263485511774420022013-08-08T19:36:00.000-07:002013-08-08T19:36:06.877-07:00DIY Birch Trees Wall Decal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had tried my<a href="http://cannotsitidle.blogspot.com/2012/12/diy-wall-decal-in-just-2-hours.html" target="_blank"> first ever DIY wall decal</a>, which was fun to make, but I got bored of it soon.<br />
This one though, turned out very beautiful!! All my guests admire it and are amazed that it was a DIY project. Also, the quality of the end product is so good, you'd be shocked that store-bought wall decals cost so much, while this DIY wall decal is dirt cheap. <br />
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All you need is:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>contact paper (bought it from Lowe's)</li>
<li>colored paper (optional, for leaves) </li>
</ul>
Method:<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Paint the wall a color that contrasts well with the color of your contact paper. I painted it dark gray. </li>
<li>Keep in mind, colors appear darker when you paint a whole big wall. So I bought the gray a shade lighter than I actually wanted.</li>
<li>Trace and cut out birch trees with free hand on the contact paper. I know it's common sense, but be mindful that if you draw on the back side of the contact paper, your pattern will be reversed on the wall. It's not a big deal with these trees because there's not much directionality to them. Add some branches here and there.</li>
<li> Cut elongated V's cross-section-ally along the edges of the bark. </li>
<li>Space the trees equally along the wall.Start pasting on the wall from the top. That ways gravity will help you and you won't have to lift the weight of the paper.</li>
<li>Cut out and paste birds, some flying, some sitting.</li>
<li>Cut out leaves, in groups of 2 or 3 or 4 or just single ones falling from the branches. </li>
<li>Cut leaf shapes out of the colored paper too. Paste colored paper leaves on top of contact paper leaves.</li>
<li>Place leaves randomly on the branches, and here and there. Be creative!!</li>
</ul>
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On a second thought, you can also choose a very light background paint to give a soothing effect; like something for your bedroom. Like very light blue gray. I think that'll look cool too.<br />
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So ya, just be creative and have fun!!!</div>
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Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-17238365144297173922013-08-01T18:58:00.001-07:002013-08-01T18:58:22.280-07:00DIY Jewellery Hanger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b>Made out of:</b><br />
1. set of 3 round cardboard boxes bought at <a href="http://www.michaels.com/" target="_blank">Michaels</a><br />
2. decorative paper<br />
3. left over paint from previous craft projects<br />
4. silver embroidery thread <br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Paint the lids of the boxes with your favorite color. Choose a neutral color like light gray in the picture above, because you want you jewellery to stand out. So keep the hanger itself simple by design.</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Decorate the sides of the lids with a decorative paper. You can also do some stenciling here if you don't already have paper at home and are too lazy to go to the store :) (I always try to use stuff that I have left over from previous projects. I call it SMART-crafting!)</li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Connect bottom of one lid to the top of another lid with the embroidery thread. To give it extra strength, I cut 3 equal lengths of the thread and braided them. Tie knots on either ends to secure them. </li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>I used a aluminum wire on top of the first lid as the hanger. Other options could be decorative ribbons, beaded strings, etc. </li>
</ul>
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Adorn it with beautiful earrings and necklaces!!! </li>
</ul>
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Now, I'm a scientist by profession, so I have been taught to report successes as well as failures of my experiments. So here you go..<br />
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<b>Successes:</b><br />
1. can hang it in my closet where rest of the accessories are<br />
2. Since it is dangling freely, the back side is accessible and I can use it for stud earrings and loops too. Jewellery holders that are hung on the wall cannot be used for stud earrings and loops. <br />
3. I haven't done it here, but you could add a fourth lid with a round mirror pasted on it. Wouldn't that be cool?! Try your earrings there and then, no need to go look in another mirror.<br />
4. Can hang necklaces over the lids too.<br />
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<b>Flaws:</b><br />
1. I used the round box itself instead of the lid for the third layer so I could use the extra width to hang necklaces. It didn't work quite as expected because the weight of the necklaces causes it to lose its balance and tilt downwards from the back. So use lids for all the layers. You should be able to hang 1 or 2 necklaces over each lid layer.<br />
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I hope you like it, but feel free to leave comments even if you hate it!</div>
Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-3608866736467420732013-03-18T11:40:00.002-07:002013-03-18T11:41:07.615-07:00Quick and Healthy Vegetarian soup<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I get easily bored of making the same food again and again. So I'm always looking for new recipes. My full-time job does not leave me enough time to cook elaborate recipes, so my main search criteria for new recipes is that it has to be QUICK,EASY and yet HEALTHY. (Yes, I'm very demanding :))<br />
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So I came up with this super easy recipe for a very healthy vegetarian soup, and you can get really creative with this, adding whatever vegetables you like or skipping the ones you don't like from this recipe. So here's the recipe. Hope you enjoy it.<br />
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<i>Ingredients (serves 2):</i><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>1 cup mixed beans cooked (you can buy mixed bean packs from most grocery stores, or mix your own)</li>
<li>1/2 large red onion, chopped (i like cutting onions in approx. 1cm X 1cm square shapes. Make 4-5 vertical cuts, the 4-5 horizontal cuts)</li>
<li>tomato puree from 3 ripe Roma tomatoes</li>
<li>salt</li>
<li>black pepper</li>
<li>1 tsp lemon juice </li>
<li>Add chopped green bell pepper, carrots or other vegetables if you'd like. I add or reject them depending on how much time I have. Just mixed beans are very healthy by themselves. </li>
</ul>
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<i>Here's a tip to cook beans perfectly:</i><br />
In a microwave safe bowl, soak beans in water, and run in microwave for 7 minutes. Set aside until partially cool. Cooking in microwave quickens the process. Now cook it on gas in a pan filled with water. For soups, I don't like to pressure cook beans, else they get too mushy.<br />
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<i>Method:</i><br />
Heat oil in a pan. Add chopped onions to heated oil and saute until golden brown. Add tomato puree. Add salt and black pepper and let it cook for 5-10 minutes or until raw taste of tomatoes is gone. Add cooked beans, add water for soup like consistency. Let simmer for 10-15 minutes. Add lemon juice. Simmer for a couple more minutes. Yummy soup is ready to be served!<br />
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Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-57159563136548336552013-02-23T08:31:00.001-08:002013-02-23T08:31:25.679-08:00Protein Rich Soy Stuffed Roti(Parantha)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I don't like tofu. I don't like soy based meat. But then, people ask me, how do you get your protein? Oh I have many options, I tell them.<br />
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So here's one. Yes, the main ingredient is SOY. But, even if, like me, you don't like soy, keep reading because you'll love this. <br />
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<b>Ingredients for stuffing:</b><br />
3/4 cup soy nuggets (boiled and finely chopped in a chopper)<br />
1 large chopped onion<br />
3-4 chopped green chilli (vary the quantity based on how spicy you like it)<br />
1/2 to 1 tsp grated ginger<br />
chopped coriander leaves<br />
powdered spices (1/2 tsp cumin powder, 1/2 garam masala)<br />
cumin seeds<br />
bay leaves <br />
salt to taste<br />
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The magic is, of course, in the stuffing. Add bay leaves and cumin(jeera) seeds to heated oil in a pan. Add chopped green chillies, grated ginger and onions, and saute until onions turn light brown. Don't burn them. Saute on medium flame.<br />
Now add powdered spices and salt. There's really no rule here, add or subtract whatever you like or don't like. Be creative.<br />
Cook for a couple seconds and add chopped soy nuggets. Sprinkle some water to mix spices well if it looks too dry. Cook for a couple minutes so the soy chunks take in the flavor nicely. <br />
Add chopped coriander leaves. <br />
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The important trick is to not add too much soy. Just the right proportion so that filling is juicy, not dry. <br />
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Let the stuffing cool. Take the bay leaf out. It has done its job. Use around 1 tbsp stuffing per parantha.<br />
Serve with tomato chutney/garlic chutney/bitter gourd chutney/raita or plain yoghurt.<br />
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Enjoy!!<br />
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Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-51264473355479044382013-02-16T14:57:00.003-08:002013-02-16T14:57:49.406-08:00Healthy Oatmeal Bread<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I am a big fan of healthy snacking. So I often tweak bread and cake recipes from the Pro's to make them healthier. Here's a healthier version of Vonda's Oatmeal cake recipe I found at the Central Market. I used whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour and less sugar than the original recipe. And I just add chopped walnuts to all my breads even if the original recipe does not call for it, that's how much I love walnuts!<br />
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So here's the recipe. Enjoy!!<br />
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1. Soak 1 cup rolled oats in 1 1/4 cups of boiling water. Add 1/2 cup melted margarine. Cover and let stand for 20 minutes, or until it cools down.<br />
2. In a mixing bowl, mix 1 1/2 cups wheat flour, 1 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp cinnamon powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 2 beaten eggs.<br />
3. Mix oats from step 1 in dry mixture from step 2.<br />
4. Add chopped walnuts and raisins/sweetened dry cranberries to the bread mix.<br />
5. Pour in a 9 inch X 5 inch greased baking pan, and bake for 40-45 minutes, or as they say 'until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean' in a 350F hot oven. <br />
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Wait for it cool down to room temperature before you dig in.</div>
Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-45103808053227763392012-12-27T12:01:00.002-08:002012-12-27T12:01:46.925-08:00Spice up Christmas with Indian food<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's a tradition within my friend circle. I host the Christmas dinner every year. This year I hosted 2 dinners in 4 days; one for my new colleague-cum-friends, the other for this regular group of friends to keep up the tradition.<br />
So I knew there'd be a lot of cooking to do. I thought I might as well make it fun for myself.<br />
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<b>Dinner on Dec 22nd, 2012:</b><br />
I had invited my colleagues to my house for the first time. The gathering was one of its kind because some of them were also accompanied my their (indian) parents, some by their children, some indian colleagues had american spouses and some american colleagues had indian spouses. (Also, after the party I realized all the couples, including us, had inter-religion marriages!!! which is not so common in India). That just made the evening ever more special!!<br />
So, here's the menu:<br />
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<b>Starters:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>pani puri (buy puris, and Mirch Masala pani purwh i paste from <a href="https://plus.google.com/113206096752899121458/about?gl=us&hl=en">Apna Bazaar</a>)</li>
<li>Tostitos chips and salsa</li>
<li>Water melon</li>
<li>Pistachios</li>
</ul>
<b>Entrees:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Veg Pulao (I'll post a very easy yet amazing recipe very soon)</li>
<li>Daal Makhani (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gq9rHij2z20">Vah chef's recipe</a> is very popular among my friends) </li>
<li>Ghatte ki sabzi (because I'm from Rajasthan and because an american colleague loves it)</li>
<li>bhindi fry (okra with sauteed onion and tomato)</li>
<li>fish curry (my husband made it, christmas without fish curry is no christmas for him)</li>
<li>roti (ordered tandoori roti from <a href="http://www.mayuriseattle.com/">Mayuri Indian Cuisine</a> restaurant...wasn't a very good idea as the rotis were cold and chewy by dinner time)</li>
</ul>
<b>Desserts:</b><br />
hot gulab jamun and cold vanilla ice-cream..a deadly combination! Must try!<br />
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Overall it was a fun party. Lots of food!! Amazing people!! Music and games!!<br />
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<b>Dinner on December 24th, 2012:</b><br />
Now my regular group of friends. With this group, everytime we get together, the menu is set : chicken curry or mutton curry for all the meat eaters, some paneer gravy for the only vegetarian in the group (me), and roti. Even the dessert is fixed forever - ice-cream cones.<br />
I was craving for some change, but I still had to please the very picky eaters in the group. So here's the menu I came up with:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Starters:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>pani puri again (since it was a favorite on the 22nd dinner)</li>
<li>chips and salsa again (easy and everyody's favorite)</li>
<li>garlic bread (i tried this garlic bread from <a href="http://www.wincofoods.com/">Winco</a> for the first time, people just loved it!)</li>
<li>veg spring rolls (<a href="http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/Vegetable-Spring-Rolls-skk.aspx">Sanjeev Kapoor's recipe</a>, people love this too!</li>
</ul>
<b> Entrees:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Chicken Tikka burger (<a href="http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/chicken-tikka-burger-teenpatti-foodfood.aspx">sanjeev kapoor's recipe</a>) - i tweaked the recipe a bit by serving jalapeno ranch dressing, Mirch Masala coriander chutney, and pickled jalapenos to make the burger spicier and juicier!</li>
<li>Spicy roasted potatoes (<a href="http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/roasted-potatoes-with-north-indian-spices-10000001723410/">recipe</a>)</li>
<li>Hawaiian salad (mixed greens, chopped pineapple, chopped mangoes, roasted almonds, lemon juice, a pinch of paprika powder)</li>
</ul>
<b> Desserts:</b><br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>Didn't do much here, asked a friend to bring ice-cream cake from Coldstone bakery. </li>
</ul>
Overall, I think my guests liked the change too. The food was easy to make, easy to serve, and easy to just pick and eat. <br />
We did the White Elephant gift exchange too. Some gifts were oh-so-funny!!<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>a beautiful gift bag(of course empty)</li>
<li>past Halloween's masks, wigs</li>
<li>underwear (of course new and unused)</li>
</ul>
And then played our favorite holiday game -<b> Dumb charades!</b> <br />
<br />
and danced a lot, on desi music!!<br />
<br />
All in all, it was fun 4 days to have all the friends over, eat, drink, and party!!</div>
Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-85628211197346559972012-12-16T13:31:00.004-08:002012-12-16T13:32:41.127-08:00DIY Wall Decal in just 2 hours!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I had to make this. The idea was brewing in my head for quite some time, and I have to confess, with all such ideas, I lose peace of mind until I implement it.<br />
Got the perfect opportunity, my husband was out for dinner with his soccer team. And this is what came out of a very productive me-time! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCMLQqnRVMUNMyTcdm7avDcxzq0hVkonNQIACQZvvaCh7NUZ_EKKmGZk-jDaENsgH_1-qx8W4zsgBZImjbHhZN5qByp0twaY0qGr3jBOhf87TZMQIIWnXTcD9UDxscywsw0DwKyozewZr/s1600/WP_20121216_006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZCMLQqnRVMUNMyTcdm7avDcxzq0hVkonNQIACQZvvaCh7NUZ_EKKmGZk-jDaENsgH_1-qx8W4zsgBZImjbHhZN5qByp0twaY0qGr3jBOhf87TZMQIIWnXTcD9UDxscywsw0DwKyozewZr/s400/WP_20121216_006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Just three rectangular sheets of white contact paper, cut out hand-drawn shapes and figures to create a sort of a stencil. I created a beach scene here with palm tree on one side, night sky and sea on the other, and us sitting on a bench by the beach. Paste it on the wall, and Voila!! The wall color shows through the cut contact paper. Mine is a cool shade of gray. But I guess a more contrasting color could also look very nice.<br />
The best part of such crafts is that they are quick to make, and if you get bored of it after some time, the contact paper peels off easily! so you can change your wall art easily and keep the decor fresh!</div>
Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-32650155518845422482012-12-14T19:57:00.000-08:002012-12-14T19:57:01.273-08:00One drawback of Kinect Dance Central<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I enjoy dancing a lot! and I enjoy working out too! So Kinect Dance Central is perfect for me, but for one drawback.<br />
After having spent 8 hours in front of a computer screen at work, my eyes are tired. So I'd like my evening workout to be such that it freshens me up and takes away all the tiredness. But, with Dance Central, I realized that since I have to stare at the TV screen to follow the dance steps, it stresses my eyes. It feels great for the rest of my body, but my eyes are still, and perhaps even more tired after this workout. </div>
Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-25340683426714734562010-12-18T22:20:00.000-08:002010-12-18T23:23:29.582-08:00Faking a smile<div><div><div><div>This is my latest discovery, or, as I like to call it, the Holy Grail!! </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Background: I (re)started practicing yoga. It is different this time, because I am not thinking of it as a 'stretching exercise' as I did earlier. I am motivated to practice yoga in its true form - synchronising my body movements with my breath, with a smile on my face. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>And this what I discovered - faking a smile works!!! It indeed cheers one up. It instigates the 'feel good' mood, and then that smile is no longer fake. After a while, I am smiling for real, and yoga has a whole new meaning. Its no more just exercise. </div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>And there's more to it. That 'feel good' mood continues after I finish yoga. I carry that cheerfulness with me to my work, and it helps me enjoy work or whatever it is that I am doing. </div><div>And... it makes people around me happy. It makes the world a happier, merrier place. </div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Have you smiled today??</div><div> </div></div></div></div>Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-15873712772621338572009-08-27T12:46:00.001-07:002009-08-27T12:46:53.338-07:00World is a Small Place<span xmlns=""> <p>The first few years of a child are spent surrounded by the walls of the house and protected dearly by the family. He enters a world which comprises of his mama, papa and sister.<br /></p><p>Ever wondered why this toddler dreads going to school? One of the reasons is that he dreads losing the protection of the family. He sees his school bus as an Unidentified Terrestrial Object that would take him away from his world. He conceives his new school as a new world with new unknown faces and strange people.<br /></p><p>Yet, his playmate in school might find it a wonderful new world with many new people to meet and newer friends to make. This child is more likely to grow independent and open to new things unlike our cry baby. This child's world is more likely to grow bigger sooner than our cry baby's world.<br /></p><p>Not all of us are good at accepting new people and their newer different ways of behavior. We tend to bond with a small group of people around us whom we select based on our own judgments. The rest are conveniently disowned as different, not-our-kinds, weird - Aliens. They form the outer world not warmly welcomed into our own world.<br /></p><p>Groups are formed in order to provide support and protection to the members. But I doubt if groups formed out of religious basis do just that. When religion is used as a tool, more often than not, it takes the form of paranoia. I have been an eye witness of college riots among students of rival religious groups and those were enough to keep me from joining any such groups myself.<br /></p><p>Paranoia surpasses limits in the part of the world I hail from. The apparent logic behind distrust for other religions and groups is the genetic make of the members of those groups. Different religion unquestionably implies different genes, different biological make-up and therefore, 'different' humans. Marriages, therefore, can happen only among the followers of the same religion.<br /></p><p>As noted by researchers of the World Values Survey, culture strongly influences how a person sees the world around him. Collectivistic cultures of Istanbul, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Muscat, and Oman stress interdependence between people and the notion of group goals. Cooperation is sought with people inside the network which is organized along family and friendship lines; everyone else is an outsider.<br /></p><p>Individualistic societies, on the other hand, view each person as an individual and value individual goals. These mores are more prevalent in wealthier, market-based democracies where group boundaries aren't very important. Cooperation with unrelated strangers becomes necessary in such societies. Accordingly, members of the capitalist democracies are more likely to accept strangers into their societies and are actually kinder and gentler than more traditional economies.<br /></p><p>World is a small place, belittled by our own prejudices.<span style="color:red;"><br /></span></p><p> </p></span>Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-71551453447900068572009-08-13T14:24:00.001-07:002009-08-13T14:26:46.197-07:00Importance of Hobbies<span xmlns=""> <p>Though I had professed the goodness of boredom in a recent article, I was wise enough to add a necessary qualification of rareness to it. Rare boredom is helpful; if you frequently find yourself dying of boredom for the lack of other options, read on.<br /></p><p>I felt the urge to write this article because I feel lucky than ever to have hobbies that I am passionate about. One fine morning I found myself in a new part of the world amid new faces, and totally unprepared. Not having a conventional regular office job might be viewed by some as a disadvantage; the same has proved bliss for me.<br /></p><p>How many of us can claim that we return reenergized and revitalized after a busy day at work? Not every hobby can earn a living, and we are compelled to seek careers that give us headaches as each day ends but loads of <em>moolah</em> as the month ends. Jobs that leave no time for hobbies are themselves strong reasons to have hobbies and to take time to indulge in them.<br /></p><p>Ever wondered why CVs require you to mention your hobbies? What has a software company to do with my hobbies? I had not realized until recently. Hobbies bring out hidden talents in us which we might not realize. Experts say that having hobbies keeps us focused and improves our concentration. Hobbies boost our self esteem and confidence and bring out the leader in us. Indulging in group activities with fellow hobbyists teaches us the rules of working in a team. Religiously following a hobby imparts us singular knowledge in the field and with it comes a sense of achievement.<br /></p><p><strong>Healthy Mind, Healthy Body:</strong> The mind, body and the soul are in total synchronization while pursuing hobby. Pursuing a hobby stimulates parts of the brain related with creativity and positive thinking. When a hobbyist passionately pursues a hobby, it is the emotional returns that are valued rather than the monetary returns. Keeping oneself busy in hobbies leaves no time for wayward thinking and helps channel our energies toward constructive activities.<br /></p><p>All of us are passionate about at least one thing that gets the blood gushing through our veins. Passions can be as trivial as collecting stationery and as demanding as social services, each is a source of energy and ecstasy for the hobbyist.<br /></p><p>Passions and hobbies can become a source of income too. You will find demand for almost anything that you can supply – goods as well as services. If money is what drives you, let it drive you toward your passion. As for me, money spoils the fun attached to hobbies and I prefer to keep it out of my way.<br /></p><p>With the kind of sedentary lifestyles that most of us live, hobbies can save us from sluggish minds by allowing imagination to flow. Of course, creativity cannot be forced and is not constant; there are ways to enhance it. And, as with everything else, age is no bar here.<br /></p><p>Have hobbies? Keep them.</p></span>Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-11268757590462886392009-07-28T14:28:00.001-07:002009-07-28T14:34:03.407-07:00Nostalgia<span xmlns=""> <p><strong><em>America reminds me of Home</em></strong></p><p>Yesterday Seattle reached a record temperature of 88F/31C. It broke that record just today and reached 90F/32C. It is unbearably hot; and I am surprised. I had presumed that having spent 24 years of my life in a desert where 122F/50C is just as normal as rising of the sun, I had become inured to extreme hot temperatures. I was reminded of the scorching heat of Rajasthan.<br /></p><p>The night was warmer than ever and we couldn't get sleep. The best we could do was to open the window and let the breeze, meager though it was, come in. I was reminded of the night outs on the roof, under the night sky, and air as cool and fresh as it could be.<br /></p><p>The otherwise uninterrupted sleep was sometimes encroached upon by the cacophony of high speed cars on the highway. I was reminded of the dogs barking (and crying) right after midnight on the street outside my house. How sweet that was! At least now it seems so. I couldn't resist a chuckle, in slumber though I was.<br /></p><p>Before the alarm clock could, the noisy bulldozer and crane and the even noisier workers at the construction site woke me up. We have been taught to say our prayers before starting the day. All I could say was #%$%&&!!. And again, I was reminded of the chirping of wonderful little cute birds that would convey a beautiful new day, bells in the nearby temple ringing a blessing to the ears, and the conventional cock-a-doodle-doo of the rooster in our Kerala house.<br /></p><p>And similarly, the Wednesday trips to Ganesh temple have been replaced by unending net surfing. The respecting titles 'aunt' and 'uncle' of respectable ages have been replaced by Mrs. Thomson and Mr. Right of equally respectable ages. That feeling of kinship for fellow Indians has been replaced with side-glances of 'yet another Indian working with Microsoft'.<br /></p><p>Those were the days... Sigh!<br /></p></span>Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-76500262240292896942009-07-15T14:44:00.001-07:002009-07-20T09:43:55.119-07:00HEALTHY LIVING : Know it all about Surya Namaskar<span xmlns=""><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Significance in Hinduism<br /></span></strong>As the name implies, <em>Surya Namaskara</em> is <em>Salutation to the Sun</em>. The Sun or the Surya is the chief solar deity in Hinduism and is believed to be the king of all planets responsible for controlling all their movements. According to the Vedas, praising the Sun God enhances good health and prosperity. The sun is praised in the simplest way by folding one's hands in <em>namaskara </em>at the time of sunrise chanting the mantra <em>'Om Suryaye Namah'. </em>While a variety of different procedures of salutation to the Sun God has been explained in the religious books of the Hindu society, physical prostration to Sun, showing complete surrender of oneself to God, is the main aspect of these procedures. </span><br /><span xmlns=""></span><br /><span xmlns=""><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Practicing Surya Namaskar<br /></span></strong>The best time to practice <em>Surya Namaskar</em> is either at sunrise or sunset facing towards the sun. The image below comes handy to remember the sequence of asanas comprising the Surya Namaskar.<br /></span><span xmlns=""><br /><br /><br /></span><span xmlns=""><p style="MARGIN-LEFT: 18pt"></p><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 374px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 358px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358806820950601890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvK8AXjz66p11aWnK4vUO0DhAn9SyrNGUnb0AdX961RUgcjf0trohLZp5jnoYfPSVFwgwSX26LU3sjMLRpZXRJNo6W3cQ1hyVgz7rbDHcp1F1XIIZ7jt6lRk9xgkoYmCyS6rU4j0BpzaG/s320/surya_namaskara.gif" />It is very important that breathing be synchronised with each posture of the Surya Namaskar. <em>Starting with exhale</em> in the Prayer Pose, each asana is moved into with alternate inhalation and exhalation. The asanas are ordered so that they alternately stretch the spine backward and forward. A full round of <em>Surya namaskara</em> is considered to be two sets of the twelve poses, the first with moving the right leg first in each pose and the second set with moving the left leg first through the series. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDIM4Cv6Q5I">This</a> video on YouTube demonstrates precisely the practice of Surya Namaskar, however, without the mantras. </p><p>The following mantras are chanted in sequence with the 12 chakras.<br /><strong><em></em></strong></p><p><strong><em>Chakra -------------------- Mantra/Salutation<br /></em></strong></p><p>Anahata -------------------- <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om mitrāya namaḥ</em></span> </p><p>Vishuddhi ------------------ <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om ravaye namaḥ</em></span> </p><p>Muladhar -------------------<span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om sūryāya namaḥ</em></span> </p><p>Ajna------------------------ <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om bhānave namaḥ</em></span> </p><p>Vishuddhi ------------------<span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om khagāya namaḥ</em></span> </p><p>Swadhisthana ---------------<span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om puṣṇe namaḥ</em></span> </p><p>Muladhara ------------------<span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om hiraṇya garbhāya namaḥ</em></span> </p><p>Vishuddhi------------------- <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om marīcaye namaḥ</em></span> </p><p>Ajna------------------------ <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om ādityāya namaḥ</em></span> </p><p>Muladhar------------------- <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om savitre namaḥ</em></span> </p><p>Vishuddhi------------------- <span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om arkāya namaḥ</em></span> </p><p>Anahata ---------------------<span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"><em>om bhāskarāya namaḥ</em></span></p><p>Watch <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evbR7Vzkifo">this</a> video to learn how to chant the mantras with correct pronunciation.</p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Benefits of the Surya Namaskar Poses<br /></span></strong><em></em></p><p><em>Pose 1 (and 12)</em> – Improves balance, exercises shoudler, back and neck muscles and stimulates respiratory system. </p><p><em>Pose 2 (and 11)</em> – improves digestion, promotes flexibility in back and hips, tones the spine. </p><p><em>Pose 3 (and 10)</em> – Improves blood circulation, stretches back and leg muscles, stimulates lymphatic system. </p><p><em>Pose 4 (and 9)</em> – Exercises spine, strengthens hand and wrist muscles. </p><p><em>Pose 5 (and 8)</em> – relieves neck and shoulder tension, strengthens the heart </p><p><em>Pose 6</em> – increases flexibility in neck and shoulders, exercises back muscles </p><p><em>Pose 7</em> – Improves circulation to abdominal organs, improves digestion, stimulates nerves in spine<br /><strong><span style="color:#000099;"></span></strong></p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Benefits Of Surya Namaskar<br /></span></strong></p><ul><li>Surya Namaskar benefits joints, ligaments and the skeletal system by improving posture, flexibility and balance. </li><li>Stimulates the cardio vascular system. </li><li>Oxygenates the blood and helps strengthen the heart. </li><li>Surya Namaskar also beenfits the endocrine system and enables the various endocrinal glands to function properly. </li><li>It relaxes and rejunevates, and alleviates tension, stress and anxiety. </li><li>Patients of insomnia will gain from regular practice of Surya Namaskar as it eliminates the need of depressants to fall asleep. </li></ul><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Things To Remember </span></strong><br /></p><br /><ul><li>Allow a gap of atleast 2 hours after your meal before practicing Surya Namaskar .</li><li>Do not practice surya namaskar on the floor, use a mat.</li><li>As with any Yoga practice session, follow Surya Namaskar by <a href="http://writentalk.blogspot.com/2009/07/30-minutes-of-yoga.html">Shavasana </a>for rest. </li><li>Synchronization of breathing with each asana is essential. </li><li>Add Surya Namaskar at the beginning of your <a href="http://writentalk.blogspot.com/2009/07/30-minutes-of-yoga.html">daily yoga routine</a>. </li></ul><p></p></span>Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-17102620110908821162009-07-13T10:35:00.000-07:002009-07-20T09:46:33.492-07:00BOOK LOVERS : Book Hopping<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcApNVB8moMpqmoihuzOu65yv0n9lYMltJTYx70_NPF-zjPsyyIuB9-LyfwCiWqff7mw0vJtIxJRc5DHK9FzpQXgglRkHaspJusE1Nfr7fm1RqnSPfuy5XRvmU86lss_C2m9fGyVsL_FL/s1600-h/bookstack.bmp"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 214px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358013265829771954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvcApNVB8moMpqmoihuzOu65yv0n9lYMltJTYx70_NPF-zjPsyyIuB9-LyfwCiWqff7mw0vJtIxJRc5DHK9FzpQXgglRkHaspJusE1Nfr7fm1RqnSPfuy5XRvmU86lss_C2m9fGyVsL_FL/s320/bookstack.bmp" /></a><br /><div><em>'Only in books has mankind known perfect truth, love and beauty.' - George Bernard Shaw</em></div><br /><div></div><div>Reading is always fun. Be it fiction, comic or some good old classic, it is the most inexpensive form of entertainment that provides enduring pleasure. No wonder it maintains an apex status on list of favourite hobbies the world over. </div><br /><div>Thanks to computers the number of people reading books has reduced considerably. Ironically, in an era where bookstores and libraries are passe, the internet has opened loads of avenues for the book lovers. Be it buying a book using the internet or reading an entire book online, the potential of what you can do with books online is infinite. </div><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#000099;"><strong>Read Books Online</strong></span></div><div><strong><span style="color:#000099;"></span></strong></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;">Unbelievable but true, with GoogleBooks, you can read an entire book online. </span>Austen, Plato, Johnson, Shakespeare...everyone is there - you name it and the website has their works. </div><br /><ul><li>Log on to <a href="http://books.google.com/">http://books.google.com/</a></li><li>Find books classified under segments like fiction, non-fiction, Sci-Fi, classics etc.</li><li>Click on the title of the book you wish to read.</li><li>Without downloading the book, you can start reading it online.</li><li>Use the 'search in this book' feature to look up any word or phrase from the book.</li><li>Get links to the online stores from where you can order the book.</li></ul><p>If you wish to download a book, go to <a href="http://gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page">http://gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page</a> and download more than 25,000 books legally, for free.</p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Reflect</span></strong></p><p><span style="color:#000000;">For critics who like to share their reviews with other readers and those bookworms who want to know what to expect from their next read, this one is an ideal place to write what you feel and read what you want to know. Log on to <a href="http://www.bookswellread.com/home.php">http://www.bookswellread.com/home.php</a></span><span style="color:#000000;"> and read or share book reviews.</span></p><p>There are plenty of other blogging websites that invite reader reviews as well. Go ahead and post your thoughts. </p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Share Books</span></strong></p><p>A book lying on a shelf is wasted ammunition. Like money, it must be kept in constant circulation.</p><ul><li>Register your books at <a href="http://www.bookcrossing.com/">http://www.bookcrossing.com/</a>, write down the unique number and web address on the book and then set it free to travel the world to find new readers. </li><li>Log on to the website to track the book's journey around the world as it gets passed on.</li></ul><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Find your book mate</span></strong></p><p>Come across singles who share your passion for reading. The website <a href="http://www.singlebooklovers.com/">http://www.singlebooklovers.com/</a> publishes personal profiles of intelligent and cultured single men and women across countries who like books, reading, arts and culture. Get aquainted with bookworms and bibliophiles of all ages; all with a common love of books and reading.</p><p>Then there is <a href="http://www.anobii.com/">http://www.anobii.com/</a>, a website that provides tools to let like-minded people connect and strike meaningful conversations. </p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Get a recommendation</span></strong></p><p>This one is fun. On <a href="http://whatshouldireadnext.com/">http://whatshouldireadnext.com/</a>, just enter the book or author you like and the website will analyse their database of real readers' favourite books to suggest what you could read next. Now isn't that freaky and interesting?</p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Social Networking</span></strong></p><p>Look up a book and find its description, sale information and similar reads in just one click. Besides this, the website <a href="http://www.bookjetty.com/">http://www.bookjetty.com/</a> is also a social utility that connects you with your friends' bookshelves and links you up with book stores and your local libraries. </p><p><strong><span style="color:#000099;">Lazy Readers </span></strong></p><p>If you are a lazy reader who likes to read less but effective stuff, then go to <a href="http://lazylibrary.com/">http://lazylibrary.com/</a> and look for books that are less than 200 pages. You'll be surprised at the kind of stuff you stumble upon here. </p><p>And for those of you who haven't picked up a book yet, get <a href="http://www.richmond.k12.va.us/readamillion/readingquotes.htm">inspired</a>!</p><p><em>Happy Reading!!</em></p><br /><p></p>Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-10312449213704310282009-07-13T10:23:00.000-07:002009-07-20T09:47:00.003-07:00HEALTHY LIVING : Beware of Green Potato<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOEam9mDFOcLW0wjeALSxNvxrMYIpBo5P5rmD5P2Yxgd9vdt3QMWGVBZsFIwA4cf6AX8pgeeQCPFXw0S-NLVdv9iUVO-90h7pPczQwVSd7VU0tgClKlZX52B-SAK9HBj09P_4bbXkH2LX/s1600-h/green-potato-1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357998735826349298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMOEam9mDFOcLW0wjeALSxNvxrMYIpBo5P5rmD5P2Yxgd9vdt3QMWGVBZsFIwA4cf6AX8pgeeQCPFXw0S-NLVdv9iUVO-90h7pPczQwVSd7VU0tgClKlZX52B-SAK9HBj09P_4bbXkH2LX/s320/green-potato-1.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Potatoes naturally produce small amounts of a toxin called <em>solanine </em>as a defense against insects.</div><div></div><div>But prolonged exposure to light and heat increases <em>solanine </em>production and can cause potatoes to turn green. </div><div></div><div>Eating green potatoes can cause fever, headahce, vomiting and diarrhea.</div><div></div><div>Boiling, but not baking, usually removes most of the solanine from potatoes. But as a rule, it' s best not to eat potatoes if they are green. </div><div></div><div>To help keep potatoes from turning green, store them in a cool dimly lit place.</div>Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-76174973499365080372009-07-09T12:39:00.001-07:002009-07-20T09:47:40.547-07:00HEALTHY LIVING : 30 minutes of YogaYoga and its benefits are well known to most of us. What many of us do not know (and do not care to understand) is that Yoga is more than just another form of exercise. In order to be able to receive in its fullest and purest form what Yoga has to offer to us, it is inevitable that we grasp the gist of Yoga.<br />The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit root <em>'yuj'</em> which means to join. Therefore, the essence of Yoga is the union of the individual soul with the Supreme Soul. Yoga teaches us to overcome the bondage of body through restraining our senses, mastering our mind, and controlling our thoughts and desires. Technically, <span style="color:#ff0000;">Yoga trains us to become high-performance users of our own minds. </span><br />For this reason, each of the asanas of Yoga strive to unite our body and soul with the Supreme and for the same reason, each of these asanas should be performed with that goal in mind. Asanas strengthen and purify the body and control and focus the mind. <em>30 minutes of the Yoga</em> routine described below is devised to reach out to all parts of the body from head to toe. Remember that asanas should be firm yet relaxed. When in a Yoga posture, we must make sure that we can breathe slowly and deeply. We must feel a good stretch but not pain, strain of fatigue.<br />The routine that I describe below is called <em>'Home Kriya Routine'</em> because one can easily do it at home as per his/her convenience of time and space. It is however preferable that the kriya be performed in morning between 4:00 am and 6:00 am. Also, allow a minimum gap of 2 hours between the kriya and your meals. Start your yoga routine with <a href="http://writentalk.blogspot.com/2009/07/know-it-all-about-surya-namaskar.html">Surya Namaskar </a>for best results.<br /><br /><strong><em><span style="color:#ff6666;">30 Minutes of Yoga Routine</span></em></strong> (to be performed in order)<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">STANDING ASANAS</span><br />1. <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6666;">Joint Rotation (6 minutes)</span></em></strong>- Start with rotation of all the joints of the body from head to toe. Rotate your joints at neck, shoulders, wrists, hips, knees and ankles. Rotate 5 times in clockwise direction and 5 times in anti-clockwise.<br />Joint rotation is good for warming up and improves muscle extendibility, mobility of the joints and flexibility.<br /><em></em><br /><em>Relax and take deep breaths thrice. Inhale (2 seconds), hold (2 seconds), exhale (3 seconds). </em><br /><br /><em>2. <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Tadasana (1 minute)</span></strong></em>- Watch Shilpa Shetty perform Tadasana at <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqpb6YhMa8U">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pqpb6YhMa8U</a>. <em>Stay in this posture for 20 seconds. Repeat twice.</em><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 77px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 198px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356913204507305074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg1KR9jEN-8IoA-_7jPY0bzxSpIMSrqUlVb27boDpjsYB-tqY6MKREA7Sl_OSu7Ht1oD84_yT0d7zJJ7l2FVr8DcVqH4iZiimthdgvfm7fh53_WyQA806f4zfWJvNUAGITR2IFSoE9DNXl/s320/tada.jpg" /> Tadasana<br /><ul><li>Corrects postural weaknesses </li><li>Tones up the leg muscles </li><li>Strengthens the knees, ankles and thighs </li><li>Cure for flat feet (by practising lifting the legs through the arches) </li><li>Alleviates symptoms of sciatica </li></ul><p><em>Relax and take deep breaths thrice. Inhale (2 seconds), hold (2 seconds), exhale (3 seconds).</em></p><p>3. <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6666;">Gomukhasana (1 minute)</span></em></strong>- Watch this video to learn to correct procedure of attaining Gomukhasana. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXfnTRcSI7o">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXfnTRcSI7o</a> This asana can also be performed in sitting position. <em>Stay in this posture for 20 seconds. Repeat twice.<br /></em><em></em></p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 137px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356928272831781234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEKiD6ZGs_28sFN4ZESvK5eXfOAMeUG9BXBzwqn_cVN8aqKNUpPoRAytcl86tptlaMk6vs07ewwdHDwTXhoWCQ5eaS3c9FF1e8ExTBxYzc_r85cLP8OiNTkrARhoZ5ouwjBOx5i6k14m-s/s320/gomukhasana.gif" /> <p><em></em></p><p><em>Gomukhasana </em>stretches each part of your body making it more flexible. Beginners might face some difficulty initially, but<em> Gomukhasana </em>can be mastered with regular practice.<br /><br /><em>Relax and take deep breaths thrice. Inhale (2 seconds), hold (2 seconds), exhale (3 seconds).</em></p><em>4. <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Uttanasana(1 minute)</span></strong> - </em><a href="httphttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU2krTgDsSU">This </a>video gives a detailed explaination of <em>Uttanasana. Stay in this asana for 20 seconds. Repeat twice.</em><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 102px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 144px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356915822433644482" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhueMtzhXX75Y-DanWlxq5JB38adgcDRBtrIHZtrEzTdoxHgoPQ7oIej-5Kus-F0MtU1Qz_YSWM-NUPervlBCiuvHTt9Gz5qHXAzC8VbidbJCd-nS886HwlNs-MUHMJkBqvuAXEN-Q6xILS/s320/uttanasana.jpg" /><em>Uttanasana</em> calms the brain and helps relieve stress and mild depression. It strengthens the thighs and knees and improves digestion. Uttanasana also helps relieve headache and insomnia.<br /><br /><em>Relax and take deep breaths thrice. Inhale (2 seconds), hold (2 seconds), exhale (3 seconds).</em><br /><em></em><br />Sit down slowly with your legs stretched forward for <em>Sitting Position Asanas</em>.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;">SITTING ASANAS</span><br />1. <span style="color:#ff6666;"><strong><em>Ustrasana(1 minute) -</em></strong> <span style="color:#000000;">Get inspired from Shilpa Shetty. Though Ustrasana might seem difficult to beginners, regular practice will help make it effortless. It is a very rewarding asana. My personal favourite. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7l3Dd9EIEg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7l3Dd9EIEg</a>. <em>Stay in this asana for 20 seconds. Repeat twice.</em></span></span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 172px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 132px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356919210795143986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGcyU_SgyBauXbDe-fawBvhQM86WdEoJNKZg000u92sjpqleVkSJ-X5ln-euGgp9SfWWRAG7ndKBbK3kt_uPk5yL1yKX7aXt3mEda_aTnThszsks_iSIZaoMX7UlugkBjOaPgAgny2QdX/s320/ustrasana.jpg" /> <em>Ustrasana </em>stretches the entire front of the body and strengthens back muscles as well. It improves posture and stimulates the organs of the abdomen and neck.<br /><br /><em>Relax and take deep breaths thrice. Inhale (2 seconds), hold (2 seconds), exhale (3 seconds).</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>2. <span style="color:#ff6666;">Paschimottanasana(1 minute) - </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiU0yJE6xms">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiU0yJE6xms</a>. Stay in this pose for 20 seconds. Repeat twice.</em><br /><br /><em></em><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 150px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 89px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356910107839639794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtWJnxNnbju_zJ5VYwmZkfYW4EELrfxyg6DpnJVVn1bmM8IzPCZhX3qs4Ibl_XYl2wY1V0-ualWZA6CMl-FAai3XNPX5ZEHEVH3sbusxnXjQ1hV53PrBPBqRfXnwBH9x-zhagBuUrs1GK/s320/paschimosanasan.jpg" /><em>Paschimottanasana </em>reduces body fat. It helps relieve constipation and gastritis. <em>Paschimottanasana</em> helps cure piles and diabetes too.<br /><br /><em>Relax and take deep breaths thrice. Inhale (2 seconds), hold (2 seconds), exhale (3 seconds).</em><br /><br />3. <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6666;">Marichyasana(1 minute)</span></em></strong> - Marichyasana is a very good asana for whole body stretching. One can experience instant relaxation. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk45dCPQBoM">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk45dCPQBoM</a>. <em>Stay in this pose for 20 seconds. Repeat twice.</em><br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 158px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 106px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356922884379002930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBcvtYz4E0fbyAUP4XmniEf2u8k7uPOBKDQYl0zDUAsR8gqh1UBvSGBL1SVTwhfz1_ApEKc_RwIfy92qBUwDNlLna5IEeNzs0sWhXx9E91_96QnouYI-YpPUJlzY0EcqqtMgekrWj5zOob/s320/yoco_marichyasana_iii0.jpg" /><em>Marichyasana</em> helps alleviate constipation and obesity. It stretches the spine and shoulders, stimulates liver and kidneys and improves digestion.<br /><br /><em>Relax and take deep breaths thrice. Inhale (2 seconds), hold (2 seconds), exhale (3 seconds). </em><br /><br />Lie down ou your belly for Prone Yoga Asanas.<br /><br /><span style="color:#ff6666;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">PRONE YOGA ASANAS</span> </span><br />1. <strong><em><span style="color:#ff0000;">Bhujangasana(1 minute)</span></em></strong> - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUIfEpiSCf8&feature=channel">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUIfEpiSCf8&feature=channel</a>. <em>Stay in this pose for 20 seconds. Repeat twice.</em><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 276px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 117px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356908976544535314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPJYSaSYW5KzSWFMwXAUEEG8j4UTv-21NrkZp1FMuvwEjS7oNaCnKcfz3h9mvtcRPRlwoYgTtClLQra7uA-EzpBvHccWLU6SPhr3p-XjFb6VzSJgDOXlo9xTImh617vaklvh8mGJVaeAId/s320/bhujangasana.gif" /></div><div></div><div><em>Bhujangasana</em> improves flexibility and helps relieve and prevent lower backache. It rejuvenates spinal nerves enriching them with a rich blood supply. </div><br /><div><em>Relax and take deep breaths thrice. Inhale (2 seconds), hold (2 seconds), exhale (3 seconds).</em> </div><br /><div></div><div>2. <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6666;">Shalabhasana(1 minute)</span></em></strong> - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0ueCMhQmDQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0ueCMhQmDQ</a>. <em>Stay in this asana for 20 seconds. Repeat twice.</em> </div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 133px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 103px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356924708045587954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVS2CvkwiwcDp0PPSfjTROA05gBzd3I6BnCqGoy6v9mwfcRzMBCfDs-0x6VVgCgIa-DwL0jLfl6n8WJignsNlFx46yKMxDY_nEQnvfaKARZDBDTcb8eXQiob5Otm5m81BiR7pafljTneYt/s320/shalabhasana.jpg" /> <div><em>Shalabhasana </em>strengthens the lower back, leg, and buttocks. It aligns the spine and helps balance the nervous system. </div><br /><div><em>Relax and take deep breaths thrice. Inhale (2 seconds), hold (2 seconds), exhale (3 seconds).</em></div><br /><div>3. <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6666;">Makarasana(2 minutes)</span></em></strong> - Switch to Makarasana and relax your muscles. Concentrate on each part of the body and feel the stretch. Feel the improved blood circulation. </div><br /><div></div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 274px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 47px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356925781169378882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzf8n5C4KqcoVJ6NFDmbJvgxMJ3iPI3h4ZOGpNFbfN0doyXHEF2jHYCnpYig6Ih8W_fVpROP6nI0fb7u-veJbQYgw__fGfrjqrBtSDVNOB12ml3CtYN4tApPNEv8w7bv-wUo-SUT8I3ELj/s320/Makarasana.gif" /><em>Makarasana</em> is good for relaxation. It promotes sleep, regulates blood pressure and reduces anxiety.<br /><br /><div>Lie down on your back by turning from your left side. This is important to avoid gush of blood to the heart. </div><br /><div></div><div><span style="color:#ff6666;">SUPINE YOGA ASANAS </span></div><br /><div>Stretch your hands away from your head and stretch your legs in the opposite direction(therefore making a straight line of your body). Stretch for 10 seconds. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 191px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 158px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356908527592976114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNIdta5FoJsZmHe_5awrzV68LyEvxiENCYU-ONACeqEwj52fCcLDMQoN-UbbIpUrfFv5AJ-qyFjm4MztJALxtIv_OXmyorRTDYHHU8VcYZZuZmr3AsgWQN-8Ui8129fhdxtPi67nggc9nv/s320/b6.gif" /> <div><div><div>1. <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6666;">Paripurna Navasana(1 minute)</span></em></strong>- <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR5TTooempQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nR5TTooempQ</a>. <em>Stay in this asana for 20 seconds. Repeat twice. </em><br /><br /><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 141px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 140px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356908059346175090" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguOuRDPH_FPGTVUoR2opJ1npI7O0LxciSRdvgi7YYzch4W_reEEK15EuUhkXx2DUQMg6QlnnLz0exFbn_RjUkVf3_W0FstCSKsfNbm-nycw56ul7a6XnBB6e5m_m-yL-ZhyinlQz8f5b8u/s320/078_paripurna_navasana.jpg" /></div><div></div><div><em>Paripurna Navasana</em> strengthens the abdominal and lower back muscles as well as the quadriceps. It also develops balance. </div><br /><div><em></em></div><div><em>Relax and take deep breaths thrice. Inhale (2 seconds), hold (2 seconds), exhale (3 seconds). </em><br /><br />2. <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6666;">Sarvangasana(1 minute)</span></em></strong> - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFvegMMrKDs">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFvegMMrKDs</a></div><div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 117px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356926553720274050" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL_WI3z9G9hhMVGu5o4Q2MVXnbjUcHf99kHbYX_s8PdVXCMbwgZ0am0Pgr6UOTNtVJJ-7qUoQVB2bK9zCmVCO5mvZ4QlJUy1WgWM3s537NrD0H645_Y9rAMq2dE-7drrlogWfkB9Iu3Qvw/s320/sarvang.jpg" /><em>Sarvangasana </em>helps cure ailments related to bronchitis, asthma, heavy breathing and shortness in breath. It is very helpful in alleviating digestion problems.</div><br /><div><em>Relax and take deep breaths thrice. Inhale (2 seconds), hold (2 seconds), exhale (3 seconds). </em><br /><br />3. <strong><em><span style="color:#ff6666;">Shavasana(2 minutes)</span></em></strong> - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq4bJk1VvL0">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cq4bJk1VvL0</a></div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 91px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356927015625201986" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3tA38qJGChzxhpefdFc-jMPVqQcExhN3WyTJVC8fWdGn35p-quthXqxiQQiZ52iG4LelJPu2b8xGWIyDkzrN0ryhWlsYQAJeeblBYX032hoGYwN_yW4F-XaqexmwsMgx-4RwW-nkbBhl/s320/shavasana.jpg" /> <div></div><div></div><div>When practicing the C<em>orpse Pose</em> or <em>Shavasana</em>, relax each part of your body in a systematic manner. Focus on one body part at a time starting from your head and progressing toward toes. Practice of the corpse pose can help lower blood pressure and is in fact therapeutic for arterial hypertension. </div><br /><p>After completing these asanas, come back to sitting position while keeping your eyes closed. Remember, you must never sit up straight from the supine position. While in <em>Supine Position, </em>turn to your right side with our right hand under your head and left leg on top of the right leg. Stay in this position for 5 seconds. Rise slowly still keeping your eyes closed. Sit in <em>Sukhasana. </em>Open your eyes slowly. Rub your palms against each other and place them on your face for a few moments. You can then leave your seat as you may please.</p><p>You can increase time given to each asana as you become more comfortable with regular practice. Do not stretch outside your limits as this may cause injuries. </p><p>Also, it is very important to mix up different work out plans. Cross training is essential to make sure that all the parts of the body are evenly worked out. </p><span style="color:#ff6666;"><em>Most Important : </em></span><span style="color:#000000;">It is very important to watch your breath while performing these asanas. You must be able to breath deep and slowly. Synchronize your breath with each movement. Practice taking long deep breaths.<br /></span></div></div></div></div>Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-18537610250803298832009-07-02T09:14:00.000-07:002009-07-02T09:18:42.435-07:00Aim In LifeNot Just One, But Many<br />Can't compromise with any<br />Things To Do, Places To Go<br />Money To Earn, Lessons To Learn.<br />Too Worldly, Am I?<br />Heart To Follow<br />Smiles, to subdue sorrow<br />Friends to keep<br />Families to please<br />Not Many, But Just One<br />Aim To LIVE<br />One Life To Live...Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-73633875237550338252009-06-26T11:42:00.000-07:002009-07-20T09:49:25.518-07:00IN NEWS : The King of Pop & His Path to DebacleHe was gifted. Born with an inimitable talent. A star at the age of 5. He gave the world the music that is to stay here with us and all our future generations. With albums like Thriller, Off the Wall, Bad, and Dangerous breaking world records, he'd reached the pinnacle of his career.<br /><br />People close to him say he was shy and avoided getting too close to the public for fear of breach of privacy. The same people were astounded to see him rock the concerts. And, the very same people knew it very well that his lifestyle would cause him to plummet. So, while his demise might be sudden and unexpected for the rest of us, it wasn't so for the few people who knew him well.<br />As a child, he was often teased for his funny nose. So, he underwent multiple nasal surgeries, forehead lift, thinned lips and a cheeckbone surgery, summing up to a total of 10 facial surgeries.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 211px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351719165772141842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFL1wXbPAoOSbiCCy5MsV7Msb0wbaRAfFIMNCIMeiClT4u3LjVAjAJEl1j89q5UX_q5AnSZPKFgsfTl3L23JkhEDCnNBi_oe7wwLfw71Bbe-ZXWhur0C3KFX15qzjDOT0NxK2BSE7CZ-95/s320/MJfunny.jpg" />His obsession worried his wellwishers. But MJ was all on his own and was heedless to any suggestions from anyone. As a result of multifarious skin treatments and surgeries, his skin grew pale and he was diagnosed with vitiligo and lupus. It was apparent that his changing appearance was more than just a natural aging process and that garnered media attention to his personal life.</p><p>Jackson was utterly lonely. He did not have a group of friends to talk to on a regular basis. His disturbed childhood and loneliness piqued his emotions for children. Lately, he began to spend more and more of his time with children, perhaps wanting to catch up with his missed childhood. However, his overindulgence hit back hard on him and he was accused of child sexual abuse in 2003. The controversy proved abysmal for his public image and his career. His personal life was no longer his and was under constant scrutiny.</p><p>Jackson's turned vegetarian to attain 'a dancer's body'. Again, it was his obsession and the extremity of his lifestyle that proved fatal for him. He was reported to be visibly drowsy, lacking concentration and often slurring in his speech. His talent was not in its best of health either. Jackson failed to bring out any hits for the last 10 years of his life. Both his public as well as personal life was declining and he ran out of money. He died of a cardiac attack. His tragic end is the unravelling of a lifestyle of over indulgence and lack of foresight. He will be remembered equally well for his controversial life as for his peerless talent.</p><p><br /></p>Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-39108463741770243162009-06-24T10:25:00.000-07:002009-06-24T11:27:07.790-07:00What's it about GRE?You won't know until you take the test. Well I didn't know until I finished taking the test and got my scores. I scored 1380; 800 in Quantitative and 580 in Verbal. I am of the kind who does not care to devise smart strategies to take the test. I'd rather study 100% of the material I have and would grab more from any and all the sources I can find. So for GRE, I studied<br /> 1. <span style="color:#ff0000;">Barron's Essential Words For The GRE</span> : There really isn't any need to rote the humongous word list from Barron's GRE. You will do good with the Essential Word list which consists of 80 word lists of 10 words each with example sentences. I knew all the words that appeared on my GRE.<br /> 2. <span style="color:#ff0000;">Barron's GRE Edition 2008</span> : Good for the Quantitative Section. It gives a comprehensive revision of Math Strategies required for GRE coupled with Practice Exercises.<br /> 3. <span style="color:#ff0000;">Cracking the GRE 2008 : The Princeton Review</span> : Good for Vocab and Analytical Writing. Has 4 Hit Parade Lists and 2 Beyond Hit Parade Lists. I must say, they have done a extensive research in building these lists. It helps to concentrate on a list of most probable words than to rote the extraneous words from GRE Barron's which you might end up messing with. Also, it has sample issue and argument essays. The DVD that comes with this book tells you the strategies to take the GRE, the most important of which is to keep in mind that it is a Computer Adaptive Test so you do good by starting strong because the first 10 or so questions of each section weigh the highest and determine a good percentage of your score.<br />And for the Issue Essay, downlaod the pdf from <a href="http://gredownloads.com/archives/43">here</a> . This site has many more GRE preparation materials. Go through them if you have enough time.<br />Most importantly, do not miss to take practice tests before going for the real one.Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4833711625120560355.post-73391316992393902942009-05-15T11:11:00.000-07:002009-07-20T12:11:15.340-07:00CULTURE : Mirror Mirror on the WallHow do we start our day? We look at the mirror. How many times a day do we do it? More than the number of meals a day. You got it right.<br /><em><strong>Mirror has taken a very important role in defining our selves for us.</strong></em> Yet, it is deceptive. When we are looking at the mirror, we unmistakably ask the mirror "How do I look?". And we answer that question ourselves; "I look Ok", "Not so good","I look good today" and so on. Without even our noticing it, we carry that image with us all through the day. A "Not so good" image hampers our confidence and a "looking good" image keeps us smiling the rest of the day.<br />As this practice continues, <em><strong>we tend to define our self worth according to what we see in the mirror.</strong></em> This article would not be worth writing if we all were wise enough to realize that outer appearance has nothing to do with our inner selves.<br />Letting a mirror dictate your thoughts and actions about yourselves is pitiable. If you don't act toward achievement because your mirror tells you that you are not capable or that you don't have it in you, you will do good by smashing that mirror to tell it and more importantly, to tell yourself otherwise. We are all what we think we are. Let our deeds and actions, and not the mirror, define that for us.<br />Let's start disabusing ourselves by<em><strong> spending a day without looking at the mirror</strong></em>. Let's do it today. Ignore the mirror for one whole day. Dress up, tidy your hair and put on your shoes. You will feel something missing. You will be tempted; but hold on. Examine how you feel about yourself today. Do your daily tasks as usual. Now that you are not biased about your looks, give your 100% in whatever it is you are doing. Even if you insist your mirror tells you that you look good, avoid it today. Put your heart and soul at work and prove that you do good irrespective of how you look.<br />Share your <em><strong>mirror-free experience</strong></em> with us. It surely will help many divest themselves of the delusions of a mirror.<br /><br /><a href="http://writentalk.blogspot.com/2009/06/can-i-have-something-american.html">CULTURE : Can I have 'Something American'?</a><br /><a href="http://writentalk.blogspot.com/2009/07/inherently-us.html">CULTURE : Women And Nature</a><br /><a href="http://writentalk.blogspot.com/2009/07/america-and-decline-of-morality.html">CULTURE : America and Decline of Morality</a>Varshahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11495871373776370370noreply@blogger.com0