Make Your Monsoon Colourful! For August 2015

Colour Stories

Here is a list of colours you should use during the monsoons, while some others you should avoid!

The rains are lovely, we agree, but it is a little difficult for us to look lovely while it is pouring cats and dogs! With the high humidity, which makes our makeup all runny and is the reason for many a bad hair day, it is not easy to look your best. On top of everything, it's not easy to choose what we want to wear because not all colours work during the monsoon. Some colours are too dull for the grey atmosphere while others are too light and bright to be maintained!

This does land most of us in a fix about which colour to opt for but we decided to come to your rescue and help you with picking the best colours. So, here is a list of colours you should use, while some others you should avoid like the plague!

Yellow: One of the brightest and happiest colours of the colour spectrum, yellow fits in perfectly with the grey skies. Just make sure that your bottoms are not yellow because they may get stained by mud and you are good to go. Incidentally, yellow also makes for the prettiest of raincoats and umbrellas!

Orange: A very pretty colour which also has the power to add life to any setting! Being a warm and comforting colour, you can use it in its various shades and play around with different items. For example, get a printed orange skirt, a pretty scarf, cool orange shoes and don them on different days with different outfits.

Pink: By pink, we don't mean the light baby pink, in fact, stay away from that colour during the rains. We're talking about a richer shade of pink. A darker pink can add the necessary colour without hurting the eyes and guess what? It is easy to clean too, all the more reason to go pink!

Blue: This colour is not everybody's favourite colour for no reason! Be it rain or shine, you can totally sparkle in a blue outfit and spread some cheer on a typically gloomy monsoon day. Be it a royal blue dress or a pretty sky blue scarf you picked up, blue can salvage any bad looking day for you!

White: Now, this is one colour you should avoid like the plague! It is pretty and lovely we know, but you also know how difficult it is to get rid of those stubborn mud stains. Additionally, you move around the entire day looking like an unhygienic person!

Brown & Grey: The mud on the ground is brown in colour and the skies are overcast with grey clouds. Need we say more? You definitely don't want to blend in with your surroundings and look as dull as them. So, brown and grey are the colours thou shalt not even think of!

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For August 2015

1. It is a popular belief that peachy-pink nails indicate good health. This is because of a healthy supply of blood into your fingertips. Usually when one suffers from a disease or deficiency, it reflects directly on the nails, causing the nail beds to become discoloured. Doctors look at your nails sometimes to see for such signs. The discoloration is a result of deficiencies in the body or diabetes, allergies, or other diseases. Another form of discoloration occurs when nails appear bluish. This indicates a lack of oxygen in the blood. It could be caused by lung disease, such as emphysema, or asthma.
2. Fluorescent dyes that emit light react to pressures and strains by changing their colour, they are part of a new polymer blend. They are used for a number of purposes, ranging from anti-tampering films for packaging to early failure sensors, according to the polymer scientists who have developed it at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland. It is now possible to detect a material's mechanical distortion through a change in its fluorescence - for example, from red to green. The effect is easily seen in the UV light by the naked eye.
3. Winners prefer wearing red. There's proof too. Though this vibrant colour can be daunting for some, Tiger Woods, the famous golf champion, prefers wearing red on the final day of golf tournaments (and always emerged a winner). British scientists studied this and have found that sportsmen wearing red "have an advantage over blue-suited competitors," according to MSNBC. "We find that wearing red is consistently associated with a higher probability of winning," the researchers wrote in the journal, Nature. The effect is subtle, though, so it may only factor in when evenly matched competitors face off.

Colour Quotes For August 2015

• I found I could say things with colour and shapes that I couldn't say any other way – things I had no words for.

  - Georgia O'Keeffe

• Colour is my day-long obsession, joy and torment.

  - Claude Monet

• My mother warned me to avoid things coloured red.

  - Claes Oldenburg

Colour Tips For August 2015

1. Getting your house painted during the monsoon? We have a very important tip for you. Ensure that you have your walls scanned with a moisture meter to inspect if there are any traces of moisture left behind on the walls. It is important to do so because painting on walls with moisture can lead to leakage, cracks and fungus. Ideally, the best time to get your house painted is between February to April, long before the monsoon sets in. Even so, you should still get it scanned prior to painting. We stress on doing the moisture scanning because there could be moisture trapped in your walls from the previous rainy season.
2. Did you know that the quality of paint used on the exterior of your walls can affect the interior walls of your home? Well, it seems to be one of the primary reasons for most of the damage done to interior walls. So, if you are using inferior quality paint on the outsides of your property, then it allows moisture to seep in to the interior walls. This can lead to damp patches and in the long run, it can turn into a breeding ground for algae and fungus. Thus, the next time you are choosing an exterior paint for your home, make sure to choose one of high quality, which can help your walls fight the weather.
3. Here are a few basic maintenance tips for your walls. You should make it a point to wash your walls with mild detergent water and a soft sponge at least twice in a year. This will help you clean stains as well as help you keep the surface clean. After the cleaning is done, wash away all traces of detergent and wipe dry. And, always refrain from cleaning spots on the wall with plain water because the dust in the wall tends to stick more and makes the wall look dirtier. Finally, if you spot any dampness check for the source and have it rectified immediately.

World of Colours

Colours & Emotion For August 2015

1. The colour yellow is generally a cheerful and warm colour which can improve our mood at any time. But strangely, that’s not always true! While on the surface level, we consider yellow to be a cheerful colour, on a deeper psychological level for some people, this colour is not all about happiness. It is known to make some people lose their temper sooner and even create anger and frustration. In fact, it’s also believed to make certain kids irritable because of which they cry a lot when in a yellow room.
2. Have you been undergoing a lot of stress of late? Is home sweet home the only place you get some peace? Well, our advice would be to add the colour green in a larger proportion to your house. It is known to be one of the most restful colours to the eye and is perfect for almost any room of the house, ranging from the kitchen to the living room. The colour is known to have a calming effect on the nerves and helps in relieving stress by making you feel relaxed. A special point for couples here, it’s also known to boost fertility.

Colours & Fashion For August 2015

The constant pressure of keeping our wardrobes up to date can really be tormenting at times. The good thing, however, is that fashion also comes with its easy and convenient parts. One of them being statement pieces; yes, there are some items which will never go out of fashion and you can wear them forever! So, we list out five items that you need to own. Firstly, it is mandatory for you to have snug fit jeans in the coolest shade of blue, trust us, this will save many a day. Next on list, a little black dress – it may be overdone but there is a reason it is, and you should get one right now. Another absolute must is a pencil skirt, preferably in black. It works for both the boardroom meeting and hitting the club, we can’t be asking for more. A gorgeous sari is also a must, we should all be proud of our heritage and nothing can be better than a sari for showing off our heritage as well as exuding oomph - what say, ladies? Last on the list are high heels, we know flats are comfortable but heels make you feel confident, go stand tall and pretty!

Colours & Gems For August 2015

1. Gemstones have been used for the purpose of decoration since time immemorial and every pretty gemstone that you can think of has been moulded into accessorizing items. The rage towards richly coloured gemstones like ruby and emerald are even greater when it comes to pieces of jewellery. So, today we let you in on one of the prettiest and rarest gemstone found, the Red Beryl Emerald. This lovely densely coloured red stone is found only in very few places like Mexico and the Mountains of Utah. It can crystallize only under low pressure and high temperature along fractures or cavities and porous areas of volcanic magma. The best part, however, is that only a very few cut specimens exist and if you can manage to find one for yourself, we would be awestruck!
2. Ever wondered what happened to the rarest mineral on earth? Well, it became one of the rarest gemstones in the world. Let us introduce you to Painite, one of the rarest gemstone on earth. This mineral was first found in Myanmar. Initially, only a few small painite crystals were known to exist. It was only until 2005 that more painite was unearthed in Myanmar. If chic and elegant were stones, they would be painite! It generally comes in hues of blackish brown; all you lovely ladies out there just have to own one!

Colours & Nature For August 2015

1. Nature offers us a spectrum of colours we often can’t imagine even in our most vivid dreams. It splashes its brilliant hues on earth’s canvas, and one such place is Lake Natron in Tanzania, close to the Kenyan border. The lake is shallow; however evaporation has left behind natron (sodium carbonate decahydrate) and trona (sodium sesquicarbonate dihydrate) owing to its brilliant shades of pink. This natural phenomenon occurs as the salinity levels increase and the salt-loving microorganisms thrive. The red photosynthesizing pigment in the bacteria produces the deep reds of the lake and the orange colours of the shallow parts of the lake. The alkali salt crust on the surface of the lake is also often coloured red or pink by the microorganisms.
2. Nature has its own way of flaunting its imagination. Every time we feel we’ve seen it all, it challenges us and shows us something that sweeps us off the ground. Be it rainbows, colourful planets, flora and fauna, there always a little surprise waiting for you. The bioluminescent waves of Vaadhoo Island in the Maldives are one such surprise. A concentrated population of bioluminescent phytoplankton resides on the water, delighting us with their shimmer. It looks like the ocean waves are studded with diamonds. Different species of phytoplankton are known to bioluminesce, the chemical energy is turned into light, illuminating the waves.

Decor

Beautify Your Bathroom!

Today, we decided to solely focus on beautifying your bathrooms and making them the most peaceful corner of your home!

We feel that bathrooms are that one corner of the house where you can be left to total peace. Come to think of it, isn't your bathroom the only place where nobody can disturb you and you can enjoy the luxury of being lost in your thoughts? So, today we decided to solely focus on beautifying your bathrooms and making them the most peaceful corner of your home.

Let us list out the various things that can be done to bathrooms and you can simply pick your favourites from our list. We came across this idea a few days ago and just fell in love with it! Have a barn door enclose your shower stall instead of the regular sliding glass door or curtains; trust us, you are going to love the new look. Go creative with the décor of your bathroom mirror, pick whatever you love, intricate woodwork, pastel colours or metal work and bask in the change.

To complement your mirror work, if you can get hold of a copper sink basin, your bathroom is simply going to look like a piece of art. For those of you who really love their bathrooms, you can go for an eccentrically accented wall as per your choice. We would suggest you accent the wall around your bath tub or shower stall for a bold statement. In case you don't want to go for accent walls, you can try starting small with bold wallpapers which are equally good at making an impact in a quick, efficient manner.

Those who love colours can add a pop of colour by opting for colourful accessories or posters for your bathroom. You could also try to add some colours naturally by placing tiny potted flower plants but for those, your bathroom should have ample space and more importantly, sunlight. Well, we have given you quite a few ideas today; be sure to pick the ones you loved and do let us know how they look!

Let Us Focus On The Entire House!

Today, we have something for each corner of your house and you can work many a wonder with just one reading!

We keep bringing you handy tips on how to go about spicing up things in certain parts of your house but today we have come up with a comprehensive guide. This article has something for each corner of the house and you can work many a wonder with just one reading!

Let us get started with your living room. It is a myth that black, white and grey are boring and we strongly believe that they can add character to any home. Incorporate these colours in the form of a sofa, an accent wall or some wall hangings and see how your living room transforms!

The next area is your kitchen and dining room. This is yet another area of the house where a family spends a considerable amount of their time, so we thought of ways to make it more personalized. It will be wonderful to have a higher than standard table here, which can help in food preparation along with concealing the chairs when not in use! It is a perfect setting for a kitchen which is slightly smaller. Hang a pretty chandelier to complete this cosy family area. We would now suggest that you add a hanging indoor swing to a corner of your bedroom or balcony and your new reading corner is ready!

Finally, here are some pretty ideas for your bathroom. Firstly, make sure that you allow as much natural light into the bathroom as you can. Next, make sure the windowsills are not cluttered with toiletries and other knick-knacks. Go for task lighting and have specific function lightings over the sink and shower area. Also, get some antique soap and lotion holders for a vintage feel. It is time for you to get started with these tips now until we are back again with new ones!

Stylish Homes Are Made Of These Things!

Presenting the ultimate essential list of things that will instantly upgrade you to a stylista. Read on!

They say, fashion can be bought, but style… style is inborn. We all know this type. They are always effortlessly dressed, they mix and match things we could never imagine carrying off and they make it work ridiculously well. They have picture perfect homes that look like straight out of the latest décor magazine issue. But everyone deserves chic homes that are naturally and effortlessly stylish. Thus, here's presenting the ultimate essential list of things that will instantly upgrade you to a stylista.

Stylish people have one thing in common and that is an eye for detail. This trait helps them come up with something unique, always. They know the secret is to hunt for the tiny details and then work them up well for a unique dress, event or home. Usual pieces like cabinets, frames, doors and shelves, which we often overlook, are items stylish people always make a difference with.

They believe in the power of making a statement. It can be something as simple as a sharp accessory or simply wearing the same outfit in a different way. Similarly, a statement piece can up the status of your dining table, while art pieces can add depth and meaning to your space or a simple accent colour can work up unimaginable style. Whatever the piece, it stands out as a focal point and is hard to ignore, lending oodles of chic.

Stylish people are popularly known as risk takers because these little risks fetch them benefits in the long run and is totally worth it, as it makes heads turn (in a good way)! Their tastes are impeccable and are an instant hit.

Born stylistas usually love all things good and have a knack of collecting the rarest of books, outfits and souvenirs. They have an eye to find these hidden gems from their travels or from the local flea market. These pieces not only look great but have stories to tell. They are great conversation starters. You can incorporate these pieces on your coffee table or showcase too. So, be sure to throw in an intriguing piece like a decorative item or an art piece in your home. A stylish rug with an interesting print can also do the job.

Colours & Ancient Sciences 

Feng Shui For August 2015

Having good energy in and around your home is of utmost importance and here we are with some quirky tips to ensure that!

Positive Energy for your Home!

Time and again, we have stressed on how important it is to maintain good Feng Shui around the house and today is no different! We still think having good energy in and around your home is of utmost importance and here we are with some quirky tips to ensure that. Yes, you heard that right; everything we tell you today is offbeat and something you haven't heard before. So, to increase the inflow of positive energy and happiness in your home, follow the below mentioned tips:

Focus on the Entrance: The first rule of Feng Shui is to make sure that your entrance is pretty and soothing to you or your visitors. Put up a nice painting or even a pretty picture of yourself, if that is what works for you!

Take a baby for house spotting: This might sound really off the mark but it is not always possible to have a Feng Shui expert accompany you for your house hunt. Well, here comes the baby! According to Feng Shui, if the baby cries without any reason in the house, we are sorry to say that your house lacks positive energy. So, look for one where your baby smiles and is happy because children can pick up on these things very well.

This is how you get rid of unwanted guests: Getting rid of unwanted guests has never been this easy. According to Feng Shui, all you need to do is make them sit with their backs towards the entrance of your room and you will see them leaving soon! Just make sure that you don't sit with your back to the door.

Get rid of the clutter: We know we keep repeating this again and again but trust us when we say that it is indeed the most important aspect. And, we want you to know that clutter is not only trash and other such stuff but even defunct instruments like televisions, watches, clocks or pens that can clutter the energy of your house.

Feng Shui also asks you to be careful of broken flooring and mend it or cover it because it can adversely affect your relationships. Last but not the least, floating fish and flowing water are two auspicious symbols of Feng Shui and you could try and incorporate them into your décor scheme too!

Reiki For August 2015

Teaching children the value of Reiki from a young age is very beneficial, read on to find out how.

Tips For Teaching Reiki To Kids!

Children learn the practice of Reiki easily as it inherently comes to them. With time, they can master the art. However, the learning should be made fun and interactive at all stages to keep children interested. Incorporating art and song in their teachings is a great route to take. The work of Howard Gardner, specifically his theory of Multiple Intelligences, helps you with more teaching techniques.

Make teaching fun: Children love examples and the best way of teaching them anything is to show rather than tell. Have the kids actually practice what you are teaching on somebody, maybe their best friend so they feel an emotional connect. Initiate discussions and have their doubts cleared. Don't complicate your teachings with jargon and scientific terms but simplify it; remember it should be fun for them.

Work around their comfort: Invite their friends over and work around a space where they feel comfortable. Demonstrate what they are going to be learning before you start the session. If they are not open, ask them to wait and let the kids who are interested learn without distraction. Encourage them to participate as they feel empowered. Eventually, they will shed their inhibitions and participate freely.

Interaction: For maximum participation, give the kids a chance to get comfortable with the environment. Give them a tour and allow them their time to get accustomed to the space. Children respond well when they feel safe and their curiosity is appeased. Ask them if they have any questions and answer them, even if they seem silly (What's in that closet? Why is there a small door leading to the backyard? Whose room is that?). This information will help them settle in a way they won't even be conscious of.

Vaastu For August 2015

Each house has energy of its own and once a person starts living in the house, the energies of the house affect them.

Get Some Positivity For Your Home!

Vaastu is known to suggest that each house has energy of its own and once a person starts living in the house, the energies of the house affect them. Thus, it is very important to live in a house with positive energy as per Vaastu and if not, here are some easy remedies to ensure this. The biggest challenge for many of us while trying to make our house Vaastu compliant is that it is difficult to make structural changes. So, here we are with some simple and effective Vaastu tips that are easy to implement.

The first thing that we need to do is get a nameplate outside your doors, so that it is easy for opportunities to trace us. The next step towards purifying the energy of your house is to burn earthen lamps and incense sticks as they are considered to be cosmic cleansers. Vaastu thinks it is best to have the kitchen in the south east corner of your house but if that is not the case, at least place your gas stove in the south east corner of your kitchen.

Another easy way of getting rid of negative energy is to place lemons in a glass of water and change it every Saturday. It is also good if you can keep the mirror away from your bedroom because it is believed to cause health problems in the family. Hanging a couple of metal bells on your doors is also believed to help in an inflow of positive energy into your home. Finally, make sure to keep bowls of salt around the house as they are believed to absorb negative energy.