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Why The Centrepiece Should Steal The Show

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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When you are planning any wedding, it can be hard to know what should really take up your attention – and the attention of the guests. It goes without saying that the bride and groom should be the most important factors in the whole day, but the truth is that you also want to make sure you are giving other elements some air to breathe as well. A good example is the centerpiece, and actually this is a part of the wedding which people often think of too late and end up having to rush, to the point where the centrepiece does not have the full effect it should have. In this post, we are going to look at what a centrepiece should actually do in order to be successful.

Originality

Most of all, you want it to be original, in a way which means that nobody has ever seen anything quite like it before. If you can achieve that, then you will find that it really does make a difference to how well it is received, and it will mean that you are much more likely to enjoy it yourselves as well. Originality is of course one of the hader things to get down, so it is worth asking any creative or artistic friends you might have if they can provide a design or even the centrepieces themselves. With a touch of originality, the whole thing will be much more successful, and enjoyable for everyone to look at too.

Linked To Favors

If you really want to make it memorable, you need to find a way to link the centerpieces thematically to the favors on the same table. Your favors should really be considered a part of your centrepiece, and they themselves need a lot of thought and effort put into them in order to be quite right. If you are unsure of what you should give as favors, you should try to think of something that your guests will appreciate and yet is likely to be a fairly safe gift option. This means you could consider something along the lines of getting some Giftsin24 stationery personalized for each place at each table, or anything else of equal value. This is bound to go down well and will make the centrepiece all the more memorable as well. 

Thematic

Your centrepiece, above all, should be linked in some way to your theme for the day. If it is not, then it might well not go down so well, and it is something which you might want to make sure you have got right from the start. Thetroublewith trying to make your centrepiece thematic is that it is almost impossible to get it perfect – but with the right approach there is no reason you shouldn’t be able to end up with a centrepiece which you can be proud of, and which everyone will love. Do this, and the whole day will also seem much more successful on the whoel too.

Cash For Creatives: Making Money With Your Passion

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

As a creative, it can be surprisingly difficult to make money with your craft. There you are with an incredible skill that sets you apart from the rest, but turning this into a career can be tricky. As a writer, artist or musician for example you might feel like unless you get a big break you’re likely to be working your day job forever and having your passion as something that’s simply a hobby. However with the accessibility of the internet, there are increasing opportunities where you can use your skills to pay the bills. Here are a few ideas!

 

Musicians

If you have a love and passion for music, you don’t have to wait to get snapped up by a recording artist and become a star to do well. You could create tracks, one of which could be picked up by a producer to be used in film, tv or advertising. If you’re a bit of an audiophile (check out the explanation for this to see if you match up!) chances are you’re big on sound quality and details so your music will already be of an excellent quality. You could sell your music downloads, you could even play live gigs if you’re good and this is your kind of scene. Venues are always in need of bands for live music and you could be paid well for this. Another option would be to teach or tutor. You could offer singing lessons or instrument lessons to children or adults. Have a professional website created and turn it into an exciting business.

Photo sourced from here

 

Photographers

Gone are the days when you have to hope one of your masterpiece photos sell and earn you a decent amount of money. You don’t even need to shoot weddings or portraits either, there are other options. Thanks to sites like Shutterstock you can make great, regular income from your photos as a photographer. You can upload your photos and you get a small amount of money every time someone downloads one, which means once the pictures are on the site you can continue earning from them with no additional work. You do need to know what kind of things people are after, for example flowers and landscapes are ten a penny. But pictures featuring people in different scenarios do very well, be aware anyone featuring will need to sign a model release form.

 

Artists

Again, no need to focus on one huge masterpiece and hope that it sells. There are plenty of smaller projects you can take on as an artist which can all combine to earn good money. You could upload things like illustrations and sketches as clip art on sites like Etsy. Every time someone downloads it you get some money so again once the work is done you can continue earning. You could use your drawings to make things like art prints and posters, greetings cards and more and sell these online or open up a shop or stall.

 

Tech Gifts for the Whole Family

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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Do you have a family full of tech addicts? Are you not sure what gift to get them to bring joy to their faces come Christmas morning? Check out this great guide to tech gifts for the whole family:

 

An iPhone X for Mom

 

Does your mom love keeping tabs on the rest of the family? Does she love being able to keep in touch with all of you at the touch of a button? How about embarrassing you on Facebook? If so, then you can bet she’d love to receive a brand new iPhone X, which will allow here to do that and a whole lot more in style.

 

A Segway for the Teenage Boy

 

When it comes to teenage boys, there are a whole lot of options, from games consoles to iPads that are sure to impress., but if you want to really blow them away on Christmas morn’, then go for the less obvious – give them the gift of a Segway. You might be thinking at this point that Segways are for tourists only and they aren’t exactly cool, but if you get more info on them here, you’ll see that Segways are the new hoverboards. They’re cool, unique and great for lazy young lads!

 

The Fuji Instax for Your Teenage Girl

Image source

 

If the teenage girl in your life loves taking selfies or artful pictures of the world around here, giver her a taste of old-school photography by purchasing her there Fuji Instax, which as well as being a fun little camera, also comes in pretty pastel colors. She’ll love it.

 

A Drone for Dad

 

He Might be all grown up, but if you know at heart, your dad is just a big kid, if he enjoys watching airplane documentaries and if he’s into gadgets, you can’t go wrong with one of the newer drones on the market, which will awaken his inner kid and ensure he has fun on Christmas Day.

 

The LeapPad3 for the Little One

 

The LeapPad3, which you can learn more about here is a great little gadget for little ones who are already showing an interest in tech. It’s a device that is totally safe for them to use and which gives them access to over 1200 games, ebooks and apps to keep them happy for the foreseeable future. Plus, you won’t have to keep handing over your own iPad for them to play with!

 

An iPad for the Grandparents

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If your grandparents aren’t already online, then it’s time to change that by gifting them an iPad or whichever tablet you prefer, so that they can learn how to surf the web, enrich their lives and yes, facetime with you and the rest of the family. It’s becoming increasingly important to be able to access the internet effectively, so do this for them now. Even better, buy them an iPad and spend the time showing them how to use it and letting them now all of the functions it can perform.

 

It’s going to be an amazing Christmas with these gifts in your family’s stockings!

 

 

The 2017 Christmas Gaming Gift Guide

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

(Image Source)

 

For those with loved ones who are interested in gaming, Christmas is almost always a hard time of year. With an industry like this, it can be impossible to know what’s best when you don’t have any experience, and this leaves a lot of parents stuck in a rut. To help you out with this, this post is going to be exploring some of the most popular gaming options out there, along with a rundown of their features and benefits over their competitors. With this in mind, your job should be a lot easier this Christmas.

 

  • The Xbox One X

 

Since the release of the Xbox One, there have been two revisions to make the console a lot better. Now, this has left the world with the Xbox One X; a console which is claimed to be 40% more powerful than any other on the market. Using this power, the One X is able to handle 4K rendering, along with incredibly high-quality textures in the games you play.

 

The Xbox One X may be the most powerful out there, but it is also the most expensive, and this will be a serious turn off for a lot of people. Along with this, games aren’t transferrable, and future updates could come with steep costs. It is always worth being aware of changes like this, as they could impact your experience in the future.

 

  • The PlayStation 4 Pro

 

Like the Xbox, the PlayStation 4 Pro is the most powerful console Sony has ever made. Boasting 4K performance, this little console has loads of performance under the hood, and a lot of games work extremely well with it. The Pro’s GPU is significantly more powerful than the older model, and this is where all of the new juice comes from.

 

This console is a little cheaper than the Xbox but doesn’t have quite the same level of performance. Along with this, games will be equally as locked down, and a lot of people will struggle to have fun with the restrictions they have. This can make it impossible for a child to get their hands on the games they’d like to pay.

 

  • The Nintendo Switch

 

Nintendo has had a long history of taking the gaming industry by storm with a weird and unique concept. The Switch is no exception to this, and is one of their oddest designs to date. Offering the chance to have a handheld or desktop console, this option is great for those on the go, especially when kids are involved. A lot of people are very excited about the lineup for this product. Of course, though, you’ll need to make sure you’re getting what the kids want.

 

Somehow, over the years, Nintendo’s prices have barely moved. Instead, as they have made improvements, their prices have stayed the same, and this makes some of their goods incredibly good value. The Switch falls into this category, even though the games will all be locked to a single device. Thankfully, the portability of the device makes not being able to share games much more forgivable.

 

  • A Simple Phone

 

Nowadays, almost everyone has an extremely powerful phone in their pocket, and this is a market which a lot of parents or gift-givers won’t consider. Games, like Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire, have been designed to run perfectly on these devices, and don’t lack the excitement regular video games provide. This sort of option is great for parents who don’t want to invest in a television alongside their console.

 

  • The Mighty Computer

 

Finally, as the last option to consider, a lot of people don’t see a computer as a gaming device, nowadays. In reality, though, this sort of machine is perfect for gaming, and will often outperform all of the consoles on this list. With new processors and GPUs coming out all the time, there is good reason to think about this sort of option. For a child, this sort of experience could be too intense, and a console would be much better. But, for adults, games like CoD and Battlefront will be much better on PC.

(Image Credit)

 

Hopefully, this post will give you everything you need to start your Christmas console shopping for this year. A lot of people find themselves struggling for ideas when their friends or family members are gamers. With this list in mind, though, it should be nice and easy to start making the right choices in this area. Of course, they will probably give you some idea, anyway.

The Key To Helping Others: Taking Care Of Yourself First

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Everyone knows that they need to be taking care of themselves, but sometimes, that’s much easier said than done. If you’re one of those people who is always looking after other people, then you might find that your own needs aren’t being met. And while that would be just fine for a while, if it carries on unchecked then, sooner or later, you will find that it’s something you should have corrected much earlier. Here are a few ideas to ensure all your needs are met.

Source: Pexels.com

The Essential Ingredients

While it’s nice to daydream of going on a long travel trip, or taking a couple of months just to do whatever you want to do, sometimes simply just taking care of the essentials in life is enough to give us a solid platform on which to be our best. Before you’ve even begun thinking about the needs of others, make sure you’re eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise, and that your health is in check. You’ll find it much easier to be there for others if you’ve been there for yourself first.

Getting Help From Others

It might sometimes feel like that, but you’re really not in this all on your own. You will have people who are willing to help you, and if you don’t – or they’re not available – then there will be professional options. If you’re overworking yourself trying to take care of an elderly relative who needs support, then look at getting some respite care in the home. It’ll give you a break, during which you can refresh and re-energise. For things like children, then you’ll have siblings, parents, and other friends with their own children to give you a break for the evening.

Indulging

If you’re a person who always thinks of the needs of others first, then you probably can’t even remember the last time that you treated yourself to something nice. Moving forward, make a promise to yourself to do something that’s only for your benefit will help ease the burden of looking after others.

It could be buying a new dress, taking a day to do something that you love doing, catching up with your new favorite reality game show like Biggest Liar in Ghana, or simply spending the evening with relaxing music and a good book.

Be Wary of Overdoing It

Some people don’t know how to say no. Whenever something is asked of them, they’ll volunteer their time and move it straight to the top of the priority list. While this may, on the face of it, look like a good characteristic, it can only be considered as such if it’s not negatively impacting the person’s life. If you find yourself overwhelmed with tasks, then learn to say no. It might just help people understand that you’re doing a lot for them without asking anything in return.

Learn to Laugh

Finally, remember that our attitude is everything. If we’re positive, then the battle has already been half-won. Learn to laugh at life, and you’ll prevent too much stress from building up. Positivity will take you a long way!

New Year Party Planning Perfection

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Why is it that New Year’s Eve has the reputation of being the biggest anticlimactic celebration of the entire year? Most people are feeling groggy and tired after overindulging at Christmas time, so partying the night away doesn’t often seem too appealing. Let’s ditch the old notion that New Year is boring and overrated and attempt to celebrate in style. There are a number of different ways you can party the night away, so let’s explore a few key things that you can tick off your to-do list right away.

Food For Thought

Planning a New Year’s Eve party has to involve delicious food. It’s your job to supply enough sustenance for the people who might be enjoying a tipple or two, Getting hungry at a party it’s the worst feeling in the world. Everybody would be miserable if they were trying to dance the night away with empty bellies. However, don’t forget that people will have been eating leftover turkey for the past week in an attempt to finish off the festive leftovers. Keep the food light and fresh and avoid the heavy, stodgy food that you’ve already eaten. Light fish, salads, hummus and dips are the perfect dish for a glamorous do. Celebrating is thirsty work, so read up on some classic cocktail recipes. Brush up on your cocktail making skills and try out some new fruity favourites, which are sure to be a hit!

Image By: Burst

 

Dress to Impress

If you’re hosting a big party you obviously want to look your best. Try out a new style or choose a quirky dress-code. Parties are much more fun when there is a theme. Everybody always has a meltdown before a big occasion and insists that they don’t have anything to wear. Make it easy for them and dish out some inspiration with your invitations, you’ll be everybody’s best friend if you make all the difficult decisions for them.

Vivacious Venues

Whether it’s an intimate dinner party or a big blow-out, you need to find the perfect venue. If you fancy getting away from your house (and avoiding the mammoth next-morning clean up!) then consider places like http://coralgablescountryclub.com. Many companies offer great deals on special occasions like New Year so it’s worth having a browse around to see what they can offer you. Ask them if you can bring your own food and drink and save on some of the costs!

 

If you fancy keeping it simple, there’s nothing wrong with a homely, cosy gathering to make merry. You can go minimal with decorations and ask everybody to bring one of their favourite foods. If you’re on a budget this would be the perfect idea. A ready-made buffet sounds like perfection!

 

Resounding Resolutions

It wouldn’t be New Year without setting some achievable resolutions for next year. Have a think about what your passions are in life and use new start as an excuse to get to where you want to be. You can start small and then build upon each goal every month. One of the best ways to accomplish your goals is to take small steps. You’ll be strolling your way to success and happiness in no time!

 

Your Pledge In Pictures

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

(Image Source)

 

Photographs can be incredible things. With the ability to store a moment in time, this sort of tool has had a massive impact on the way that people choose to live. At an important event, like your wedding, they become even more invaluable, and this is when it call gets really interesting. To help you to arrange the photos for your big day, this post will be exploring exactly how to get the best ones. So, now, you just have to sit back, relax, and enjoy your marriage.

 

Why Get Photos? When on holiday or at smaller family events, a lot of people refuse to take pictures, worried it would take away from the event itself if they are set behind a camera for it. Of course, though, at your wedding, you won’t be taking them yourself; you’ll pay someone else. Companies like Casa Loma have all of the resources you could need to create a great shoot when you tie the knot. Having photos of your event will make it a lot easier to remember going into the future.

 

A Touch Of Video: When you’re choosing to use a professional company, you open the doors to options which you may have never considered. Video is a lot better than photos when you’re trying to keep memories alive. There are loads of businesses out there which can record, edit, and publish the videos you’d like from your wedding. As an additional feature, this will often cost some money, but it will be worth it once you’re able to choose to relive your special day. This is a very modern approach.

 

Doing Something Different: Of course, using video isn’t the only way to make your wedding memories interesting, and photos can often give you everything you need. Having a shared Instagram hashtag, for example, would enable all of your guests to submit their own photos of the big day. This sort of option is great if you’d like to avoid having a professional. But, even if you do, it can still be worth grabbing one or two snaps yourself.

 

Finding A Company: Choosing the business which will be entrusted with your wedding photography will take some work. Reviews on websites like Google will be a great start, but it could also be worth doing some of your own comparisons. Along with this, you should be working hard to find all of the portfolios you can, as this sort of evidence is some of the best you’ll find for this sort of professional.

 

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start looking for the right photographer for your wedding. This sort of job is a lot easier than you might think. But, of course, the approach you take will make all the difference in the end. It’s never worth trying to take the pictures for your own wedding. This will make the day stressful, and you won’t be able to focus on the right things. Instead, you need someone to do it for you, and there are loads of great candidates out there.

Getting Through Your First Gig: The Do’s And Don’ts

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

So, you’ve been rehearsing with your band mates for several weeks now, you have a set together and are finally feeling ready to start gigging. But what can you do to make sure everything runs smoothly?

As someone with 10 years of gigging experience, I would like to share some first gig: dos and don’ts with you, to ensure that your first gig is memorable for the right reasons!

Read it here

Step into the world of Nouvelle Indian Cuisine and cook in style with the help of Asha Khatau!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

From Asha Khatau’s kitchen to yours! With the thought of “expressing herself” in mind, the gourmet queen Asha penned her book, Nouvelle Indian Cuisine, which officially released on 30th November 2017.

“The book was a great way to express, what I believe is my unique style of cooking. I was not worried about what people would think. I played around with flavors, had fun, experimented, and at the end of it, tried to bring the world together on a plate” said Asha Khatau

Ms. Anuradha Paudwal said “Asha ji is family, she is like a little sister to me. She has done a great job in this book. I would also like to thank Amruta ji for removing some time from her hectic schedule & marking her gracious presence on our request. I wanted the best lady for the launch of this book. This book is not special just for its content but also the fact that she has entered her 60th year makes it even more special. As far as Amruta ji is concerned, all I can I say is that we have the very best lady as or the first lady, we are proud of you” 

Chef Vicky Ratnani said “Definitely this book must go international because there are many people around the world who aspire to cook Indian food. I think the kind of dishes this book has are very trendy easy to make at home. This book is fabulous and one day I will surely cook these recipes”

Nouvelle Indian Cuisine by Asha Khatau, the latest book in The Best of Epicure series, Nouvelle Indian Cuisine by Asha Khatau, is a modern and experimental approach to traditional Indian cuisine.

Nouvelle Indian cuisine, which was inspired by French nouvelle cuisine, began over a decade ago and is now on its way to becoming mainstream. The hallmarks of this cuisine are dishes plated aesthetically in a modern style that are also lighter on the palate.

The recipes featured in this book use the best of traditional Indian flavours while combining them with modern culinary trends. In other words, Indian food prepared with western sensibilities and a modern style of plating and serving making it distinctively unique.

With over hundred delicious recipes to choose from, this book is sure to please the gourmets, foodies, and the young generation. These recipes are easy to master and equally impressive.

About Asha Khatau- Asha Khatau is a well-known figure in the field of gourmet vegetarian cooking. After twenty years of experience in providing memorable meals for her family and friends, Asha was persuaded to start her own cooking classes about eighteen years ago, which run under the name of ‘Epicure’. The classes feature regional cuisines from all over the world. She has also conducted cooking demonstration all over India as well as different parts of the world. During her extensive travels in India and abroad, she makes it a point to visit local bazaars and restaurants to taste authentic flavours and ingredients.

The success of her cooking classes inspired her to write her first book The Best of Epicure’s Vegetarian Cuisines of the World, which was awarded the ‘Best Vegetarian Book in the World’, at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2002, considered to be the Oscars of the cookery world, in the cookbook category.

She has delivered ten more books so far and each one of them is super-successes. Her book, Delectable Desserts of the World, has received an honorable mention at the World Media Awards 2006 in the Best Foreign Cookbook in the World category. Exciting Vegetarian Cuisines of the World placed her among the ‘Top Ten Chefs in the World’ for her research on vegetarian cuisines, at the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards at Paris Book Fair 2011.

At a show celebrating 20 years of Gourmand World Cookbook Awards it was announced that Asha’s first book Vegetarian Cuisines of the World was chosen as one of the ‘Top 20 Books in the World’ and is amongst the ‘Best of the Best in the World’.

Her latest activity includes consulting to eminent caterers and restaurants in Mumbai, for menu planning as well as training people in international cuisines, designed to client needs. Her cookery videos are now available on YouTube. She also volunteers at SPJ Sadhana School and Om Creations.

 

New Years Resolutions That Are Actually Worth Making

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

A lot of people complain at those who make new year’s resolutions. And in some ways they have a point, you don’t have to wait until january the first to change your life for the better. Every day is an opportunity to improve and grow, that is certainly true. However there’s something about the promise of a brand new year stretching ahead that can give a whole lot of motivation and really push you to set and reach your goals. So if you do want to improve your life, now is a good time to start making plans since we’re nearing the end of the year. Here are some new year’s resolutions that are generally worthwhile making.

 

Health

One of the things people can go wrong with when setting health goals is being unrealistic or too specific. They might set a target weight that’s too low or a dress size that’s unlikely to work with their body shape. They might aim to look like a certain celebrity or set another goal which simply isn’t achievable. When it comes to health, you should be aiming to live a better lifestyle. Create an eating plan which is focused on plenty of fresh produce, lean protein, low fat dairy and whole grains, but allow yourself the odd day where you can have whatever you fancy so that it’s sustainable long term. Work out what your BMI should be, and plan how much weight you would have to lose (or gain) to get there. With exercise, don’t set yourself the goal of running at 6am every morning if you hate getting up early and hate running. Find a sport, class or activity you enjoy and do this instead. Aim for three days a week, you can build from it if you want but you won’t overwhelm yourself right away. Diet and exercise is a big part of health, but look at the bigger picture too. You should aim to sleep more, drink more water and quit your dangerous vices. Companies like Serenity at Summit Rehab Center can deal with more serious addictions, otherwise speak to your GP regarding your drinking, drugs or smoking addiction. Take care of your mental health too- the body and mind are closely connected so to look after your overall wellbeing you need to be paying attention to the way you feel too. Meditation and relaxation techniques can help with anxiety, otherwise speak to your doctor if an issue like depression or anxiety is affecting your life.

 

photo from this source

 

Finances

Being able to keep your finances in order is one of the best skills you can master in your adult life. Whether your budget is big or small, knowing exactly how much you can spend and when to pay your bills so that you’re not getting into trouble or falling behind is important. If you know you’re not the best with money, mak 2018 your year to get it right. If you’re in debt, speak to a debt management company who can negotiate with creditors on your behalf. They can often get you reduced payments and the interest frozen. Use a budgeting app or work out your money on a calendar so you know exactly what needs to be paid and when. Spend some time getting this right so that you’re not falling behind and can feel calm and confident when it comes to your bills. Another thing you could do to improve your financial situation is ask for a promotion, change careers or do some work from home. You could do this by setting up a home business, or

 

Social

We all lead such busy lifestyles. Between working full time, taking care of children and running a house, you will often find that time completely escapes you. However it’s important to find time for loved ones, these are the people that matter so you will want to keep social bonds strong. You could arrange a monthly dinner together at the weekend, in the summer this could be a barbeque or a picnic. The rest of the year you could host dinner parties at home, or take it in turns to go to each other. You could arrange a day out or a mini break with them, whether it’s jetting off somewhere or going camping with a couple of other families. Even making the time for the occasional phone call is important. If you know you’ve been neglecting your loved ones and not attending social things recently, you could aim to sort this out in the new year. Having a support network is around you, so be sure to be there when your loved ones need you and in return you know they will be there for you. You will feel far more secure in life, and if things ever do go wrong you will have people who care about you close to you.

 

Travel

The planet is colossal, and if we only ever stay in one place we miss out on so much. Travel expands your mind, gives you a whole new perspective and it’s fun too. If your budget is smaller you could aim to go on road trips in the country where you live, visit different places where you’re from which you’ve never seen. If you’re able to spend more you could aim to visit new countries and destinations that have always appealed to you. If you go on a cruise, you will stop off at lots of different destinations along the way. Or you could go on a river cruise through cities, there are tonnes of these in Europe. You could go backpacking, or just aim to go on a couple of vacations. Either way, you’ll never regret travelling and seeing more of the world is a worthwhile resolution to make. It benefits both adults and kids and is something you can do if you’re a family or by yourself.

Photo from this source

What resolutions will you be making for 2018? Have you got any ideas yet?

 

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