A Colour Coded Valentine's Day For You For February 2015

Colour Stories

The Colour of your attire on Valentine's Day is as important as your intentions themselves!

Love is the most profound emotion of all and if you've found true love, you've found it all! But then, nothing comes without its share of trappings and so does love, especially if Valentine's Day is around the corner. What you get for your beloved is not the most important thing for a perfect Valentine celebration; the colour of your attire is equally significant. So, we bring to you the meaning of your chosen colour, so that your feelings are conveyed to your beloved.

Red is the most common colour chosen by people on this day; actually, it denotes your passion towards your beloved, making it an apt choice for this occasion. Yellow, though not a common choice for this day, may help in making your celebration livelier by adding a touch of vitality between two people. Maybe you don't need anybody telling you this but pink is perhaps the ideal choice for Valentine's Day because it rightly expresses love, affection, understanding and warmth.

Feeling the blues might not be the most pleasant expression but the colour blue signifies much more than that. For instance, a darker shade of blue is a way of expressing deep feelings and this makes it an excellent choice for men as their go-to colour on Valentine's Day. Green, as a colour, signifies optimism, benevolence and understanding, which are the key ingredients in a relationship. So, darker shades of green for men and lighter shades for women will make for an ideal choice for a Valentine's Day outfit.

White is known for denoting innocence and purity like no other colour and can be used to convey the same feelings. It is a beautiful colour to be worn by both men and women and a white dress will be best complemented by white roses. Grey, though a stunning shade on its own, does nothing for the expression of love but can be incorporated in the attire of the man though women should avoid it altogether.

Last but not the least, the colour black, which incidentally also happens to be the most stylish and favoured colour for occasions, is the best choice for men to look dapper. Ladies, too, can burn the floor when dressed in black but for this particular day it might be great if you opt for more feminine shades and let the man go with black. Here's wishing you a happy colour coded Valentine's Day!

Colour Trivia

Colour Facts For February 2015

1. One of the most popular colours amongst all other colours for raincoats is the yellow coloured raincoat. This is especially more prevalent in areas which experience heavy rainfall and no, the reason behind this is not always the love of the colour yellow! It is a well-known fact that of all the colours, yellow, being a bright colour, attracts the maximum attention and is visible from afar. It is because of this that people prefer yellow raincoats, so that they are clearly visible to drivers and motorists from a safe distance.
2. Red is the fieriest colour of all and so are the people who love this colour! The popular perception is that people who claim red is their favourite colour are energetic, exciting and extroverted. They are also said to be born leaders with exceptional leadership qualities. However, it's not all rosy even for the red lovers! It's believed that lovers of red are generally bossy by nature and have a tendency to be moody and restless. They are also a little too opinionated and can get aggressive at times!
3. Blue may be the universal choice for a favourite colour but there was a time when even blue lovers were not allowed to use this colour freely. The reason was that the colour blue was very difficult and expensive to obtain, as it was produced by crushing the precious Lapis Lazuli jewel stone. Thus, the use of this colour was highly limited and regularized, and there were also laws in place to decide which artists were allowed to use this colour for painting!

Colour Quotes For February 2015

• "Colour is a means of exerting a direct influence on the soul. Colour is a keyboard, the eyes, the hammers and the soul is the piano with many strings. The artist is the hand which plays, touching one key or another purposively to cause vibrations in the soul."

  - Wassily Kandinsky

• "Above all keep your colours fresh!"

  - Edouard Manet

• "Instead of trying to reproduce exactly what I see before me, I make more arbitrary use of colour to express myself more forcefully… To express the love of two lovers by the marriage of two complementary colours… To express the thought of a brow by the radiance of a light tone against a dark background. To express hope by some star. Someone's passion by the radiance of the setting sun."

  - Vincent van Gogh

Colour Tips For February 2015

1. Painting a house is undoubtedly a daunting task and more often than not, we tend to goof up as something or the other is bound to slip our mind. To save you from such glitches, we have you covered with some basic painting tips. Mix several cans of paint in advance so that there is a consistent colour throughout the room. Next is to thoroughly texture all the wall patches to ensure a smooth finish. We are also giving you a secret tip to give your walls an ultra-smooth finish; sand trim between paint coats for the perfect finish to your walls.
2. Painting can be tricky and trust us when we say painting a wooden surface is even trickier! Painting woodwork takes patience and unwavering attention that is mastered by only a few. A good surface preparation is of utmost importance, so to ensure a good surface, scrape off all loose and cracked paint. Once you are done with scraping, fill the scratches and gouges with a dab of putty and your surface is ready. Next, ensure that you buy a good quality angled brush and paint with straight strokes from the top towards the middle. We are sure the above tips will give your woodwork a flawless finish.
3. We have all been at that point when we are euphoric after finishing off the painting work successfully, only later realizing that there are paint brush marks all over! Well, we know how frustrating it can be but worry not! It is nothing that cannot be taken care of with the help of some sandpaper. Yes, you heard it right; some sanding can take care of those ugly paint brush marks. Use some 80 grit sandpaper on a sanding block or pole and try lightly sanding off those unwanted marks.

World Of Colours

Colours & Emotion For February 2015

1. If happiness were to be a colour, it would definitely be a zesty orange! Not just because of how beautiful the colour is but also because it is officially considered the colour of happiness. Orange combines the happiness of yellow and the energy of red to convey the feelings of enthusiasm, creativity, stimulation and happiness. This, however, is not a coincidence as orange increases the supply of oxygen to the brain and stimulates mental activity. It is this stimulation that arouses feelings of cheerfulness and happiness on spotting this colour!
2. Many of us may love the most cheerful colour of all, yellow! However, there are scenarios where this pretty colour should not be used. This may make some of our yellow-lovers very sad but the truth is that it is improper to use this lovely colour at a few places. It is undoubtedly the most attention attracting colour but studies say that men tend to find yellow a light-hearted and childish colour. So, the next time you are buying your brother or male friend a business suit, you know which colour to steer clear of!

Colours & Fashion For February 2015

Women and make-up go hand in hand and whatever one may say, most women do love using make-up and if it adds so much more to your beauty, who wouldn't? It is wrong to think that make-up is about fake beauty, it should be used to enhance your natural beauty. For instance, to brighten up those beautiful eyes of yours, pick up some eye shadow in colours like purple, mauve, brown or dark green and make sure that they have a golden sheen for a classy finish. All you need now to seal your look is some pretty lipstick in orange or fuchsia, with a hint of both pink and orange. For starters, incorporate these simple but vital items in your make-up kit and release your new glamorous avatar!

Colours & Gems For February 2015

1. Cultured pearls are famous all around the world and are a staple of any fashionista's jewellery box. The law also states that, if not natural, pearls sold should be called cultured pearls. Do you know what goes into harvesting a cultured pearl? Well, for starters they are farmed by using freshwater mussels. Technically, these pearls are made by inserting shell beads into oysters as an irritant and then wait for the oyster to cover the bead with a luscious glow. The process is time consuming and it may take anywhere between three years or more to harvest a cultured pearl.
2. Black jet was very popular as a gemstone during Queen Victoria's reign and her usage of it made it even more popular. It is also popularly known as 'Black Amber', but what many of us don't know is that black jet is not intrinsically a gemstone! It is actually fossilized wood or coal which was formed over 180 million years ago from dead trees. Another interesting fact of black jet is that its colour is so intense that the term "as black as jet" was coined after it and has been a commonly used phrase for hundreds of years now!

Colours & Nature For February 2015

1. If winter wonderlands are your thing, we recommend you visit the Finnish Lapland which is the ultimate dream come true for nature lovers. The colours of autumn are wonderfully interspersed between its colourful wooded hills, the red and yellow trees, hustle and bustle of ski resorts and the myriad colours of its wilderness. The Finnish Lapland is the perfect place to witness the colourful Northern lights which appear here for about 200 nights a year! Not just during winter and autumn, the Lapland is also a delight during the summers as it is bathed in 24- hour sunlight for about three months where visitors can enjoy the Midnight Sun!
2. A waterfall is undoubtedly the most beautiful and wondrous phenomenon of nature. If we try to define it, the description is rather mundane and reads to be; a mass of water flowing over a steep cliff. The good part, however, is that a waterfall upfront is much more gorgeous than its description. Natural waterfalls are the purest form of beauty that nature has to offer. But there is one such instance which makes the beauty of a waterfall dreamier and more irresistible and it is none other than the pretty rainbow. The colours of a rainbow make the waterfall a truly stunning scene to watch!

Décor

Trendy Colours For Your Home This Year!

Now is the time to give your home a fresh new look and usher in a new beginning in your life.

The New Year is truly the time to try out new things and this also holds true for your wall paint. It is also the time to give your home a fresh new look and usher in a new beginning in your life. The difficult part here could be choosing that perfect colour to lend your interior a fresh look. Well, we are going to help you out in picking that perfect colour by bringing you a list of the trendiest colours in wall paint this year.

Your first option could be a vibrant Mediterranean blue, which when paired with grey or pink, can transform your interiors to a fabulous space. Olives and orange is another colour combination which has the potential to give a new life to your walls while also looking extremely chic and stylish. The neon craze does not seem to be in a hurry to leave and has emerged, yet again, as one of the best options for home décor.

The best way to use neon is to pair it with pastel pallets of purple, green and aqua, which will aid the neon in standing out. Use greens, blues, beiges and whites, and watch your house transform into a Renaissance painting! Want your walls to not just look great but also hot, then grey is your go-to colour. If you have chosen to settle for grey walls, then the best thing for you to do is to combine a soft grey shade with charcoal accents and a greyish white ceiling. Last but not the least, for all the art lovers out there, you can opt for rich shades of plum.

Organizing The Clutter At Your Place!

Despite your best intentions, it is you who is cluttering your own house!

All of us would like our houses to be organized and look straight out of an interior décor magazine but the reality is often different from what we would like it to be. So, generally what our house or certain parts of it look like, are cluttered corners. The general perception is that the clutter is a result of having too much stuff around. However, clutter is often a result of the way you go about organizing your home. We hate to be the ones to break it to you but despite your best intentions, it is you who is cluttering your own house.

This is no reason for depression and by keeping a few simple things in mind you can enhance your organizational skills. The first part of the plan is to realize that buying lots of bins and boxes is not the solution to your problem. Before shopping for storage space, figure out which items you need to store, as this is the most important part. This is essential because we become emotionally attached to stuff lying around and then keep hoarding it for eternity. Well, that has to stop now. You may have stuff that was given to you as a gift or holds special value for you but accept the fact that every item has an expiry date and needs to be disposed of when the time comes.

The next thing is to not take up the task of cleaning the entire house at a single go, proceed in this area with baby steps. You need both time and energy to be able to do justice to this task and taking up more than you can manage to do will only lead to an early burn-out. The best way to go about this is to take baby steps towards de-cluttering your space and master housekeeping!

Clean Your Closet, Now!

We have a few simple clear-headed tips which can help you clear your closet clutter in a jiffy!

The ritual of closet cleaning is just a futile exercise for many of us and despite regular maintenance, our closets are probably at their messiest best! It is a nightmare, especially for women, since they tend to get overly attached with their clothing! We agree that the sheer impossibility of the task is daunting but we have a few simple clear-headed tips which can help you clear the disorder in a jiffy!

There is a reason why some clothes are still lying there without ever getting their tags removed! We have all been at that point when we thought a certain dress will look great on us but realized our mistake too late and never looked at the dress again. So, now is the time to give that dress away to someone who can make it work or to charity! Next in line are all those clothes hanging in your closet for pure sentimental reasons. Do yourself a favour and do away with those frayed items of clothing, keep the memories but let go of the items!

The next item on your list should be the teeny tiny knick-knacks which take up considerable space in your wardrobe. For instance, clear up the pile of socks that has lost their partners from your closet. Use them as rags or anything else; just understand that they cannot be used as items of clothing anymore. After the mismatched socks have been done away with, it's now time for items like college tees, items with blown-up elastic, clothes that don't fit anymore, stained or damaged clothes or even clothes saved from past relationships that need to go.

While you're at it, also make sure to do away with clothes which are out of style and the clothes whose colours have faded. We are sure that after you're done, you will thank us and also yourself for paying heed to our advice. Happy de-cluttering!

Colours & Ancient Sciences

Feng Shui For February 2015

We have put together a few simple Feng Shui tips for you to follow to better your child’s academic scope.

Your child is the apple of your eye and you would do anything to see them do well in all spheres of life, especially academic. It is the universal desire of all parents to ensure the academic brilliance of their children and parents leave no stone unturned to ensure this. We understand your concern for your child's well-being and have put together a few simple Feng Shui tips for you to better your child's academic scope.

One of the most important things you need to start doing in your child's study room is to mop the floor once a week with salt water. If possible, also place small bowls filled with salt in the north east corner of the room and change the salt daily. To further ensure increased focusing abilities, make sure that the study table is not placed close to a door or window. It is also beneficial if you can ensure that there is a wall behind the child while studying.

Ensure that your child's study room is always clutter-free and all old papers, broken clocks and dusty corners should be cleaned out. You should also avoid having a mirror which reflects the child while studying. This is best avoided because having a mirror reflecting the child may lead to a lot of pressure on the child.

If your children are already adults and are soon going to be out in the world to make a career for themselves, then here's a valuable tip for you too. Place a metal tortoise in the north of their bedroom as this will lead to better career opportunities for your child.

Reiki For February 2015

The vibrations that your food is carrying are as important as the food you eat.

Our food not only helps us live but also defines the kind of life we live. The kind of food we eat determines the kind of person we become and there is a science behind it. It may sound a little complicated but if you give it some thought, it is as simple as what you eat today goes into your body and becomes the molecules in your body. Thus, the vibrations that your food carries are as important as the food you eat.

The memories of home are often memories of food cooked and served lovingly by our mothers. Incidentally, those were also days when we enjoyed better health because of the love and care showered upon us in the form of the food we ate. The reason the food that we eat today comes with improper vibrations is because they are carrying the stress of the farmer growing them right to the person who transported it to the markets.

To add to this already dismal scenario, most of the food we consume is not prepared by someone who is doing it out of love but by someone who does it for money. Thus, it is upon us to ensure that the food we eat should be full of positive energies. This can be made possible by adding positive vibrations to your food through Reiki. The process starts right from the point you buy your groceries; draw an imaginary ball of energy in your cart and request it to heal every item that you place in your cart.

Next is the cooking stage, and as you cook, you can let Reiki flow through your palms into the food as you stir it. Finally, at the time of eating, heal the food by placing your hands over the food and request Reiki to connect you deeply to the food.

Vaastu For February 2015

There are certain Vaastu tips which can help you prosper and multiply your growth when applied properly to your surroundings.

In today's day and time, we find most of us burning the midnight oil only to ensure a prosperous and comfortable life for our family and ourselves. Sometimes, all these efforts are not sufficient and we are left wondering what went wrong, despite our best efforts. Well, maybe it is time for you to look into other areas of your life, namely pay attention to the Vaastu aspects of your house and life.

There are certain Vaastu tips which can help you prosper and multiply your growth when applied properly to your surroundings. The first thing that you need to pay attention to is your cash almirah or locker, which should always be placed close to the south or south west wall, so that it opens in the north direction. This is important because north is the direction of Lord Kuber and an almirah facing the north side is considered auspicious. While placing your locker, also make sure that any beam of light does not fall on it directly because this may lead to financial stress on the family.

You can also place a mirror in front of your locker, which will reflect the cash in your locker and lead to enhancement of wealth. As for the northern part of your house, always keep it clutter-free to attract wealth into your house. If possible, also make sure that you have the west portion of your house as a store room.

Lastly, when you're cleaning your house, do not ignore your doors and windows. Make sure to clean them properly because dirty doors and windows obstruct the flow of money. Follow these simple guidelines to ensure a life of financial stability for you and your family.