Mom to be

Am I Having A Boy Or Girl? Fun Ways to Tell!

Our super-cool gender predictor gives you just-for-fun ways to guess the gender of your baby.

The suspense is torturous: am I having a boy or a girl? Until the Big Reveal, here are some entertaining, sometimes weird ways to predict your baby's sex.

Highs and Lows
This one you can do just by looking south: if you're carrying high, break out the pink. If your bump is low, you're carrying a boy.

Be Still My Beating Heart
Next time your OB pulls out the Doppler to listen to baby's heartbeat, ask her to tell you what the heart rate is. According to legend, 140+ beats per minute indicates a girl, and below 140 a boy.

Sweet and Sour
Craving ice cream every single day? Some people believe this means it's a girl. If you have to have salty or sour stuff, then it's a boy.

Spot On
If you're breaking out like crazy, blame it on your girl babe. The belief goes that girls steal their mother's beauty, hence, those annoying zits.

Nice Ring to It
Pop off your wedding ring—if you still can!—and tie it to a string. Hang it over your belly. If it swings in a circle, a little guy's in your future. If it goes back and forth, you've got a girl

Queasy Does It

Sick as a dog during the first trimester—or still? Signs indicate you're having a girl. Little or no morning sickness points to a boy.

DIY ideas for this Valentine

3D HEART

Cut out two large hearts and two slightly smaller hearts. Trim one side of each of the large hearts to be smaller than the medium hearts. Glue the larger halves of the large hearts next to one another on the card, to form one large heart with two small flaps sticking up. Then nest the two smaller hearts on either side and glue one half of each down.

HEART ART

Turn your or your child's abstract art into heart balloons.

LIGHT MY FIRE

Cover a matchbox with black paper, fill with red hots or other candy and write your valentine a note with chalk.

LUCKY IN LOVE

Affix a penny from the year you met, started dating or were married.

RECIPES FOR 7 TO 9 MONTHS OLD / WEANING RECIPES

Most babies in this age-group have already started with solid food . Hence, it is important to give them food which is not allergenic and is easy to digest. Common fruits and vegetables can be given to baby even as first foods.

Below weaning recipes involve multiple ingredients, so try these only after you have introduced your baby to individual ingredients and baby did not show any adverse reaction to them. Do not add salt or sugar to recipes for your baby. 

Do not take below measurements/quantities as one feed. This is only for proportion and you should change depending upon how much or less you want to make.

Stewed Fruits

Good old stewed fruits. Can be given to baby after she has had apple and pear separately without any adverse reaction.

Ingredients

• 1 Apple, 1 Pear
• 1 cup water

Recipe

1.Pit and peel both apple and pear.

2.Cut both fruits into small pieces. Put in a pan or pressure cooker.

3.Add water.

4.Let the fruits cook for 15-20 minutes till soft or till 5-6 whistles in pressure cooker.

5.Mash or blend the fruit well and serve once cooled.

Vegetable Soup

Great way to feed veggies to your growing baby. You can add as many or as few vegetables as you have.Don’t add salt to your baby’s food.

Ingredients

• 1 carrot, ½ potato, few peas, beans, 1 piece pumpkin, 1 piece bottle gourd(lauki)
• 2 cups water
• A pinch of turmeric

Recipe

1.Clean and wash all vegetables well in running water.

2.Dice them into small pieces.

3.Put them into the pressure cooker along with water and turmeric.

4.Let it cook till 5-6 whistles and veggies well-cooked (You should be able to mash them with a spoon).

5.Blend using a hand blender or mixer.

6.Adjust consistency to your baby’s liking and serve.

Suji(Semolina) Upma

This is another variation with veggies and spices(optional).

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp suji (semolina)
• 1/4 cup Mixed veggies – carrot, peas, beans, potato(boiled and mashed)
• 1-2 cups water

 Recipe

1.Dry roast suji in a pan, stirring continuously else it can burn. (Once your baby has been started on dairy, you roast suji in a little ghee)

2.Once suji is roasted a little and gives off nice aroma, add water.

3.Keep stirring to avoid lumps.

4.Add mashed veggies.

5.You can add a pinch of turmeric, cumin powder and a pinch of salt. This is optional step.

6.Bring it to your desired consistency for the baby. It should be a little thin as it keeps getting thicker once it cools down.

APPLE SUJI KHEER

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp suji
• ½ red sweet apple
• ½ cup Baby’s milk
• Water as required

Recipe

Peel and grate apple finely.

Roast suji in a heavy-bottomed pan and keep aside.

Add water and cook suji for 2 minutes.

Add grated apple and cook for 2-3 minutes.

Once cooked, add baby’s milk to bring to right consistency and mix well.

Your baby will love this variation.

Gift Suggestions for your Valentine

For Him

Giordano Analog White Dial Men's Watch

Park Avenue Luxury Grooming Kit 7 Pc Set 

Davidoff Cool Water Men

Gulzar Music CD

French Connection Men's Striped Formal Shirt

Mommy's Health

How to lose weight with Honey and Warm Water?

In today’s calorie-rich world, you may be often stumped as to how to lose weight. There is some wisdom in the good old home remedies and amongst them, lies a simple habit of drinking warm water mixed with honey and lemon, which will go a long way in your quest for weight-loss.

When you overeat or do not exercise enough, the food you consume puts too much load on your digestive system. Since your body can’t digest all this food at once, it experiences a nutrient deficit and tries to overcome that deficit by storing fat which results in weight or inch gain. Although warm water and honey is not the complete solution for weight loss, it sure helps the process.

How to Use

Every morning, on an empty stomach, take a glass of warm (not hot) drinking water. Add 1 eatspoon of honey in it along with 3 to 4 drops of lemon, and drink this concoction.

Note: Honey should be added after the water is heated because if honey is heated, it loses its properties.

Benefits

Warm water helps in clearing the digestive system by washing away residual undigested substances in the intestine, stimulating better digestion in the process. It helps in flushing out toxins from the body.

Lemon’s benefit lies in its cleansing quality. It is very effective for cleaning the digestive tract thus facilitating better digestion and ultimately weight loss. Also, lemon is rich in vitamin C which helps prevent cough and cold.

The third musketeer, honey, contains enzymes that improve metabolism. A boost in metabolism means faster breakdown of the consumed food, better absorption of nutrients and faster conversion of stored fat into energy. The digestion becomes easier which in turn nullifies the body’s need to store any fat.

Myth: Honey leads to weight gain

Unlike sugar, honey is not a simple carbohydrate. Sugar and other starchy substances lead to weight gain, because they are simple carbohydrates and can easily be converted to fat. This is not the case with honey, which has natural sweetness and other essential enzymes which stimulate metabolism and digestion.

Lifestyle Modifications

It’s important to remember that only this remedy will not be enough for weight loss. It is a very good habit to inculcate in your daily routine, but along with it; you must have a healthy diet plan and enough exercise to shed those extra kilos.

Those who are underweight or of ideal weight will also benefit from this habit since this remedy improves metabolism and digestion which helps absorption of nutrients.

Source: Indusladies.com

Baby Food: Sooji Kheer/ Semolina Pudding

The Sooji Kheer is easily digestible and works very good as a baby food, if you don’t add chopped dry fruits. instead just add ground dry fruits powder.

1. Heat 1 tbsp ghee in a thick bottomed pan or sauce pan.
2. Add 2 tbsp cashews/kaju and fry them in the ghee for about 1 minute on a low flame.
3. Add 3 tbsp sooji/rava/semolina.
4. Saute and stir continuously.
5. The sooji would start to release its aroma. you will also see ghee separating from the sooji. takes about 3 to 4 mins on low flame. stir continuously so that the sooji gets fried evenly. the cashews would also become golden by then.
6. Add 3 cups milk (750 ml) and stir.
7. Add 4 to 4.5 tbsp sugar and stir again. 
8. Stir and bring the sooji kheer to a gentle simmer.
9. Lastly add ¼ tsp cardamom powder (4 cardamoms crushed to a powder in a mortar-pestle ), 1 tbsp raisins/kishmish 
10. Stir the kheer and switch off the flame.
11. Serve sooji kheer hot or warm or refrigerate & then serve chilled

Kitchen Tips

1. Add cardamom peels to the tea canister, instead of throwing them away. It will lend a very subtle flavour of cardamom to every cup of tea you brew!

2. To prevent chopped brinjals from getting discoloured keep them in salted water, till required.

3. When adding flour to any liquid to thicken it, first mix the flour in a little liquid to make a smooth paste and then add it to the rest of the liquid and stir well. This will prevent lumps from forming.

4. Crush chikkis coarsely and use as nougat over cakes and ice creams.\

5. A handful of salt added to the rinsing water for glass and crockery will not only make them cleaner but sparkling clear.

Add Elegance to Your Dining Space in 3 Easy Steps

If you love hosting dinner parties, you know it’s not all about producing exquisite delights for the taste buds. You also have to create a pleasant ambiance and arrange the room in a way that makes the most impact. You may be a top-notch cook, but are you a diva of design? If not, fear not. With a few simple changes, you can transform your dining space into a party-worthy room without spending a fortune.

Make the Dining Table Stand Out

Your dining table is the centerpiece of the room, and it should be made worthy of that honor. The Design like team advises choosing a piece that will set the tone for the room. In this case, we want elegance, so opt for a sleek wood with a polished finish that exudes finesse and will last for years to come.

If you want to keep your current table, consider covering it with a fresh, crisp white cloth. The crispness of the white is classic and easy to style into any theme.

Embellish your table with earthy but chic decorations. Southern Living recommends mixing antique mirrors with candles. This gives your table a unique look, and the light reflection off the mirror will create a beautiful, intimate ambiance.

Consider fresh flowers as a centerpiece. Nothing works better to brighten up the room and give it a fresh touch. Plus, you can match the flowers to your color scheme or choose certain types to go with your theme.

Inject Splashes of Color

If your dining space looks tired, an infusion of color might be just what it needs. With a nod to fine dining establishments and black-tie balls, black and white is the epitome of elegance.

That doesn’t mean you should follow suit. White is great to have as the backdrop and will make other colors pop.

You don’t have to overpower the room; choose one item like the set of chairs or even the cushions on the chairs to have a bright makeover. Metallic and citrus hues are popular at the moment; it depends on your personal preference.

Bright curtains or an art deco rug pull the look together with a statement. Vivid serveware or a few pretty vases add some personal pizzazz that your guests won’t forget.

Accessorize Your Space

Not all of us can afford a crystal chandelier, but SFGate Home Guides suggests you can accessorize you room with reflective items to replicate the opulence. Silver frames to display pictures and a large mirror on the wall helps reflect light and give dimension to the room.

Consider how lighting will affect the ambiance; nighttime dining will need a sophisticated covering for the windows. Visit The Shade Store for inspiration on how to dress your windows with a touch of class.

Creating an elegant look doesn’t have to take long or break the bank. If you are the creative type, you can make most things yourself. Alternately, visit your local thrift store and grab yourself some bargains.

Pain Cure Remedies From Your Kitchen

In my way of thinking, treating yourself with herbs and spices in pain is far better than seeing a physician or gulping down any prescribed bullet of drug first. Well, I should make myself clear here, the pain I am referring to or would refer to are mild and general which anybody of us can have and do have in some time or the other. Not chronic migraines, recurrent and persistent pain, broken bones, etc.  Natural pain killers can help you to a great extent. Even most of us would know about them, would be eating them also, mixed with ours daily meals, but won’t know that with tastes these natural herbs and foods have pain killing and healing abilities too. Food is powerful. What you eat is what you get. Food and herbs are not like medicine, but they are medicines. So try these including in your daily diet and let the pain be just a memory.

Cloves For Toothache

I have always seen my dad and mum chew some cloves when they have toothache. And now knowing the effects of cloves for tooth, cloves are just right relief for your toothache. Cloves have natural compound called Eugenol which acts as a natural anesthetic. If not comfortable with chewing cloves then you can also use natural clove oil. Just dab some cotton swab in oiland place over the affected area. It will give some relief while numbing the aching area. This is better than using those fancy toothpastes claiming to give you toothache relief.

Wonders of Garlic
Since years and years, Garlic has played a starring role as a painkiller. Garlic is a wondrous and powerful product. It has numerous benefits. Chop up a clove of garlic and heat it inmustard oil or olive oil. After heating apply it all over aching joints. It gives tremendous relief from arthritic pain. Also it is used for ear infections and pain the same way. Heat some garlic cloves in oil and then put few drops of oil into your ears. Active components of garlic like germanium, selenium and sulfur have positive effects on pain causing chemicals in our body. It is even better to include garlic in your daily meals. The more you eat it, more benefits you will have.

Oats For Those Cramps

To the ladies out there. The ticket to soothing menstrual pain could be daily bowl full of oats. According to recent studies, scientists have claimed that oats if taken daily can lower down the pain by 60% within few months. Oats are loaded with anti-cramping mineral magnesium. They are also one of the best sources of dietary zinc for women who suffer more painful days. But then, it won’t work like magic. You have to add oats to your daily diet. We keep on hearing about the benefits of oats, so now one more reason has piled up. Eat oats and say bye bye to those painful days.

Ginger Beats Muscle Pain

Ginger is not just limited to adding taste to your food, but it has healing properties as well. If taken daily, ginger helps soothe muscle pain, stiffness and joint pains. The root of ginger contains powerful component called gingerols that helps to reduce tissue inflammation which is the reason for stiffness and muscle pain. It can also be applied to sore muscles after exercise as an oil, juice or even just grated. And for those who love ginger flavour in their meals, can enjoy its benefits along with its powerful taste.

Kitchen’s Favourite Turmeric- Haldi

Turmeric or Haldi is favourite to Indians. In some or the other way it is used widely in all dishes. Or at least is tried to be used. Turmeric has been used as a potent painkiller and anti-inflammatory in many cultures for centuries. It contains compounds that have shown to ease pain without the harmful side effects and dependency risk of conventional pain relievers. It can be used for cuts, joint pains, toothache and more. For cuts, just make a paste and put it over bruised area. For body pain or joint pain, the best way to use turmeric is adding or making a drink and gulping it down. It’s better to drink and eat than applying.

I am sure there would be many more ways stored right in your kitchen for pain relief. So keep in mind these sources and more if you find, and add some of these to your daily diet too. Just keep in mind that if you follow a healthy diet, then at all times let food be your medicine for optimal health.

Source: Snapdeal

5 Tourist Places to Visit in India with Your Children

Vacations are a great way for you to de-stress and bond with your kids and at the same it can be a great learning experience for them. Learning about a new place, new language, new food and new culture will be exciting and enriching for them. They will even get a great topic to write about in their next essay assignment – ‘What I did over my winter break’! But, more than anything else vacations are a great way to reconnect with your family – school, work and other chores usually take up so much of our time and effort that is difficult to find room for special family moments. A trip is a great way to make up for lost time. There are no distractions on a vacation – just you and your family having a gala time!

1. Pondicherry: If you are looking for a place that is quiet, pristine, and beautiful and has beaches, then Pondicherry is the place for you! It was host to the largest French colony in India which means this place has a rich cultural heritage as well. Your kids can have fun while getting to learn something new! Visit the Sri Aurobindo Ashram for a spiritual experience where you can learn about the great guru’s practices and vision. And when it comes to food you must go to the quaint French restaurants and cafes!

2. Kullu Manali: If you want to experience true winter with snow fights, snow angels and snow sports, then head to Manali. Bathed in snow, the Himalayas makes for a magical tourist destination. The snow-capped mountains will take your breath away! Have an adventurous holiday with your family with rafting, paragliding, rock climbing and skiing.

3. Jaipur: Old forts, palaces and other heritage structures – experience India’s rich culture in this beautiful city of Rajasthan which is known for its hospitality. This pink city is also known for its great shopping and delicious food! Make sure you visit Jantar Mantar, Hawa Mahal and JalMahal for an exotic trip!

4. Kerala is another very interesting destination for children. In addition to activities and beautiful landscape the driving distances between places is all around 2-4 hours long. Spending a night on a houseboat is always a treat for children. In addition, they can also do day canoeing trips across tiny villages connected by the backwaters. Alot of opportunities to spend time or activities with elephants. To give an example - Elephant Junction in Thekkady. Spice/Tea plantation tours, rural and farm excursions are very common in Kerala. Visiting the Periyar National Park, that offer alot of jungle activities.

5. Ranthambore National Park is another very enjoyable destination for kids with its Tiger Safaris. Where spotting tigers amongst other wildlife is not an uncommon sight.

A Few Things Before You Buy A Mattress

A Few Things Before You Buy A Mattress

Getting a sound sleep during the night is essential. A good night’s sleep depends on a lot of different factors — comfort, stress level, room temperature – but to get it right, you’ve got to start with the basics and your mattress is the first building block to a restful slumber.

If you’re planning to buy a new mattress and taken a stroll down the bedding stores, you already know that there is a dizzying array from which to choose. The question is, how do you know which mattress is best for you?

The thumb rule of buying a mattress remains, it should support your body in a neutral position, one in which your spine has a nice curvature and your buttocks, heels, shoulders, and head are supported in proper alignment.

If you want to know the most popular types of mattresses, read on till the last:

Memory Foam Mattresses

Memory Foam (or visco-elastic foam) mattresses have been developed after years of research. They are made of layers of different densities of foam that respond to weight and temperature, and are known for comfort because they contour to the specific shape of your body.  Memory foam does not exert any pressure on our body. This helps in better blood circulation, and helps sleep better. They are considerably a lot more resistant to germs, mites, dirt, motes as well as parasites than other mattresses.

Innerspring Mattresses (Bonnell Spring)

Bonnell Spring Mattresses are by far the most widely used. An innerspring mattress is made with a steel coil innerspring support system, with various foams and fibers on top to provide comfort at the surface. This helps the bed weather years of use and prevents the coils from popping out of the mattress. Salespeople may try to sell you on the idea that more coils mean more comfort, but that’s not necessarily true.

Latex Mattresses

Latex mattresses are made from either natural or synthetic rubber and they offer both softness and durability. Latex reduces pressure points while sleeping particularly at the shoulders and hips, and it allows for better circulation with less tossing and turning. You will find them enough firm and supportive

Air Mattresses

Air mattresses are not necessarily blow-up mattresses only where you put your holiday guests on for a few days. The three main categories for use of air mattresses are camping, temporary home use (guests) and full-time permanent use (in the bedroom). Higher-end air beds look like a standard innerspring mattress, but use air-filled chambers instead of coils, and are covered by a foam layer on top. Besides, like latex and memory foam, you can also find air toppers for your mattress.

When to Say ‘Goodbye’ to Your Old Mattress

The mattresses made today are believed to last a lifetime. But that neither sounds practical nor hygienic; you shouldn’t plan on keeping yours for that long. The preferences of our bodies change over time so the mattress that was once a joy to sleep on may no longer feel comfortable.

As far as hygiene is concerned mattresses do collect dust mites, fungus, and other germs that can exacerbate allergies and impact your sleep patterns. Ideally, you should change mattresses every 10 to 15 years.

Source: Pepperfry blog

Enjoy Winters

The chilly weather seems dull and boring to some, and restricts us in more ways than one. But, if we look at the sunny side, there are many ways in which we can enjoy this season and indulge in some activities, in which we otherwise don’t.

1. Sip herbal soup: For a tired body and low mood, nothing works better than soups. From spinach soups to mushroom soups, from onion soups to corn soups, there a lot of options to choose from. Ginger, garlic, turmeric and many other such ingredients are helpful in this chilly weather and help us stay fit.
2. Soak your feet in hot water: Soaking your feet in hot water relaxes the nerves and soothes you. Dip your feet in warm water for 15 minutes and add a little essential oil. One may also take a hot water bath in bathtub (if available).
3. The magic of Ayurvedic massage: There are many Ayurvedic treatments which will relieve you of all the tiredness and rejuvenate you. From hot stone therapy to abhyangam, you can choose the massage according to your choice. One can also opt for face massage.
4. Start Yoga: Yoga can be done indoors also. So, the discomfort of going out in the chilly weather to exercise can be done away with this. Yoga tones the body and improves concentration and memory.
5. Read your favorite book or listen to music: Bets way to enjoy winters is to just lie and listen to good music, eat good food and read a good book. Nothing will relax and rejuvenate you more than doing what you love to do.

Source: Yepme blog

Budget-Friendly Ways To Dress Up Your Walls

Budget-Friendly Ways To Dress Up Your Walls

Bored of staring at empty walls in your house? There is so much you can do to bring flair and style to your space by dressing up your walls. Spruce up your bare walls with colour and creativity without splurging a fortune. Here’s how!

CREATE A GALLERY WALL
It is about time you got your favourite photos out of the attic and on the wall. One of the easiest ways of decorating your walls with aplomb is to convert it into a photo gallery. Use matching frames to display your collection. Keep the grouping of the pictures you choose cohesive. Pick vintage family photos or pictures from your special vacation. On a colourful wall, black and white images will look great and for a neutral wall an assortment of colourful artwork will do wonders.

MIRROR-MIRRORS ON THE WALL
Group a collection of mirrors on your empty wall. Pick mirrors of different shapes and sizes. Find a huge Victorian type of mirror and surround it with little round mirrors, square ones or the ones with regular frames, as per your choice. If a lot of mirrors are too much for you, opt for single pieces like sunburst mirrors. You can create your own sunburst mirror. Find a lovely little round mirror, glue kabob skewers around it and you are all set to add some Hollywood Regency style to your wall. Besides this, a display of adorable tiny mirrors will look great too on any wall.

QUOTES ON CANVAS
All you need is a blank or an old canvas, old magazines/newspapers or patterned paper, full adhesive letters, colours and you are on your way to creating your own colourful quote artwork. Zero down on quote/quotes that you want to display on your wall and you are all set. Tear out interesting pieces from newspaper or magazines and glue the best ones on your whole canvas, stick letters on the canvas, paint the whole canvas white or whatever background colour you want to give your quote artwork and once it dries out, remove the letters. You will love the final product.

PLATES WALL ARRANGEMENT
The popularity of decorative plate walls has remained pretty constant with all as this arrangement is quite versatile and can be made in almost any style of home, from the most contemporary to modern or ultra-traditional one. All you need to do is bring out your fancy china plates, mismatched plates from yard sales or cheap plates from thrift stores and use them to create a stunning wall display, preferably in your dining area. Use peel and stick disk hangers or wire plate hangers, map out the pattern in which you want to place these plates on your wall and you will have the coolest DIY plate arrangement in front of you.
These creative wall décor ideas are not only pretty simple to incorporate but are also quite inexpensive. Go on and wow your wall with these fun ideas.

Source: Snapdeal blog