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The way artists visualize scenarios and depict them onto the canvas is evolving constantly. The use of colours is getting complex and the way thoughts are illustrated is getting even more complicated. To attempt any type of painting requires deep and intensive thinking that triggers the right part of your brain which helps to put your thoughts into a canvas. But how can anyone know which is the right type of painting for you?  We are all familiar with oil paint, acrylic paint and watercolour, there is so much more for us to explore. Here we take a look at some of the most famous painting styles to get you inspired and get started. FAMOUS PAINTING STYLES IN THE WORLD TO BRING OUT THE ARTIST IN YOU ABSTRACT Abstract art is a type of painting style that involves the use of colors and brushstrokes spontaneously. Here there is no attempt to represent a visual in its real form, it’s with the help of shapes, colors, textures and forms that the artist tries to achieve the desired effect. Colors represent emotions, and shapes symbolize objects. One can say that these types of painting styles give the artists the liberty to paint what he sees. Application of bright colors with the effects of dropping and spilling paint onto the canvas leaves an impact on your mind from the moment you see it and leaves the viewer to interpret its meaning.   [caption id="attachment_10089" align="alignnone" width="800"] Source: thevirtualinstructor.com[/caption]   IMPRESSIONISM As the name suggests, Impressionism is more a representation of an artist’s impression. Impressionism painting styles are generally characterized by small thin visible brushstrokes which gives a feeling of being rough and unfinished. Impressionistic paintings are often painted outdoors to capture the natural changing qualities of light and color. The subject matter is usually of common and ordinary things which may not be accurate in its detail, but more like an expression of the heart. Artists prefer mixing dark tones and complementary colors in impressionist painting styles.     PHOTOREALISM Photorealism painting styles are known to blow your mind away because the end results are as realistic as a photo. People often mistake photorealist paintings for actual photographs not realizing the painstaking work of dedicated artists. The paintings are usually done with oil or acrylic. Photorealist artists generally strive to make the surface of the painting as smooth as possible, without any visible brushstrokes, in order to make the painting resemble a photograph. It always takes a second look to realize that it is actually a painting and not a photo. One needs a lot of concentration, hard work, focus and dedication to capture minute details accurately.   [caption id="attachment_10092" align="alignnone" width="750"] Source: artfinder.com[/caption]   CUBISM Cubism was an innovative art movement that went on to become a revolution. In this type of painting style, two different views of subjects (figures or objects) are brought together in the same picture that makes the paintings appear fragmented and abstracted. Subjects like musical instruments, bottles, pitchers, glasses, newspapers, and the human face/figure were used the most to depict three dimensions on a flat canvas. They would break up the subject into many different geometric shapes and then repaint it from different angles to contrast it with one another. Color schemes are simplified, in order not to distract the viewer from the artist's primary interest.   [caption id="attachment_10090" align="alignnone" width="552"] Source: theartstory.org[/caption]   FRESCO The word fresco is derived from the Italian word which means "fresh". The fresco technique type of painting styles is closely associated with Italian Renaissance painting styles. Considered to be a very different painting style as the technique involves painting on freshly applied plaster, usually on wall surfaces. Water is used to mix the dry-powder pigment with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting becomes an integral part of the wall. This type of painting styles requires great technical skill, as the mistakes cannot be corrected by over-painting.     DIGITAL Digital painting is a technique where a painting is done directly on the computer. Many artists have turned to digital painting since it saves a lot of time and is cheaper in the long run. The traditional painting techniques such as watercolour, oils, impasto, paints etc. are applied using digital tools like a computer, graphics tablet and painting software. Very fast brush strokes, accurate pressure sensitivity, and larger files without any lag time make digital painting a lot easier. Access to plenty of textures and patterns are easily available on the computer with this type of painting styles. The digital painting process is the same as the traditional painting minus the materials, tools and how to paint.   [caption id="attachment_10091" align="alignnone" width="980"] Source: webneel.com[/caption]   SURREALISM To bring out the creative side of a painter, surrealism is the most appropriate art form. This type of painting styles explores the unconscious mind to create art, resulting in dreamlike, daunting scenes and sometimes bizarre images. This thought process for creating art is also known as “automatism” where the mind's deepest thoughts are brought to the surface by way of illustration. This style is a combination of the depictive, the abstract, and the psychological efforts to liberate imagination. Surrealistic paintings never fail to add elements of surprise at the end.   [caption id="attachment_10097" align="alignnone" width="660"] Source:webneel.com[/caption]   PAINTERLY Painterly art has visible brushstrokes and texture where the paint is used in a free or less than controlled manner. Simplified shapes are another key feature of a painterly style of painting. Paintings are created using oils, acrylics, watercolors and gouache where the strokes and textures are very evident. Generally, painters take great pain to eliminate brush strokes or texture from their paintings by blending their paint. But in Painterly art it’s the opposite, artists do not attempt to hide their brushwork that has been loosely and quickly applied.       Next time you visit an art gallery, you’re sure to enjoy the experience more now, since you have a better understanding of the different types of famous painting styles.  Perhaps this article serves as an inspiration that you were looking for and has helped narrow down your choices.   Want to know what do we have to offer to you in this stream? Click here, to see what different forms of famous painting styles do we have to offer you.  

Light, creamy and delicious, nothing transforms a cake from good to delicious as frosting does. Whether you wanna create an artistic cake that will blow people’s minds or just a simple delicate dessert, frosting is what you need to indulge in. It's the first thing one notices about the cake and these days frosting is what takes cupcakes from cute to quirky. The frosting is the ultimate deal-breaker for your cake. A little flavour and decoration on the cake go a long way because that perfect frosting can turn your cake from ordinary to extraordinary. So if you are looking to get your hands dirty and explore the types of frosting let us introduce you to an ultimate guide.  Frosting Or Icing? Before we dive into the type of frosting let's look at the difference between frosting and icing as they are both ways you can decorate a cake. The frosting is usually thick, creamy, and spreadable, while the icing is typically thin, piped, or drizzled on, and will harden when it cools. Frostings are usually used to thickly coat or top cakes and cupcakes, while icings are mostly used for decorations and for light sugary coatings on cookies and donuts. Both are staples in professional and home bakeries.  Types Of Frosting Every Baker Loves Buttercream Frosting Buttercream, also known as ‘American Buttercream’ is the most common type of frosting there and is used on all types of cakes and cupcakes. It's not only super quick to make but also absolutely delicious. It's soft and easily spreadable and is a preferred choice by bakers for its taste and flexibility. It can be used as a filling for inside the cake but as a coating for decoration as well. Buttercream is made by combining sugar and lard or another kind of fat like lard or margarine. Buttercream sometimes uses eggs to impart a smooth and airy consistency and the possibilities for adding flavour and colour are nearly endless. The tricky thing about buttercream is that it melts in hot weather and it needs to be kept chilled. There are also various kinds of buttercream, each with its unique texture and flavour to match.   Whipped Cream Frosting As the name indicates, Whipped Cream frosting requires heavy whipping of cream and white sugar. Often called Chantilly cream or crème Chantilly, it is made by cold-whipping together heavy cream and sugar till light and fluffy. Whipped cream frosting is a particularly great frosting for topping summer cakes like strawberry shortcakes and berry cakes. It's airy, fluffy, and prone to collapsing so it needs to be either used right away or refrigerated. To make the best and the fluffiest whipped cream frosting, one needs to ensure that the bowl, the whisk, and the heavy cream are really cold. Also, make sure that your mixing bowl is grease-free. Both these factors will result in the thickest and the richest kind of whipped cream frosting. Royal Icing Royal icing is a pure white and fluid paste that solidifies into a hard outer shell on drying and is traditionally used to cover and decorate dense fruits. This frosting is made by beating together egg whites, icing sugar, and lime juice, and once it dries it looks smooth, hard, and matte. This icing is also ideal when you have to decorate something like sugar cookies or perhaps, pipe it into gingerbread snowflakes or cupcakes. It's also easily dyeable making an array of decoration options available. [caption id="attachment_11373" align="alignnone" width="700"] Source: paperstreetparlour.com[/caption] Cream Cheese Frosting Known for its tangy flavour, cream cheese frosting is perfect for carrot cakes, cupcakes, and of course red velvet cakes. With all that, creamy and cheesy deliciousness is also perfect for filling doughnuts. Similar to American buttercream, cream cheese frosting is made with a fat and a sweet base but cream cheese is added to it. A mixer or bowl and whisk is typically the only equipment needed to make this frosting. Cream cheese frosting is popular for its range of thick-to-thin consistencies with a slightly sour, tart taste. Pipeable, sweet and tangy cream cheese frosting is the goodness that your spongy cakes crave.  [caption id="attachment_11369" align="alignnone" width="565"] Source: gimmesomeoven.com[/caption] Meringue Meringue is a very light & frothy icing made by beating together egg whites, cold water, and granulated sugar. The foamy consistency is achieved by introducing air to the mixture and when sugar is added the foam becomes stiff, making it easier to create peaks on top of any kind of dessert. There are 3 popular varieties of meringue – French, Italian, and Swiss and the difference lies with how the eggs are beaten. Meringue can be plain or flavoured, and when used as peaks and toated with a burner they look beautiful as well.  [caption id="attachment_11372" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Source: chowhound.com[/caption] Ganache Ganache is a simple frosting made with melted chocolate and heavy cream. It’s a cross between icing and frosting and is versatile for coating different pastries and desserts. It's perfect for dipping fruits and donuts. It's the ultimate chocolate heaven and a favourite among die-hard chocolate lovers. Ganache can be used as a pourable glaze, a smooth cake topping, a rich pastry filling, and even a fluffy, fudgy chocolate filling. Although Ganache is simple to make it is easily the richest and decadent frosting out there.  Fondant Mainly used for celebration cakes, fondant is a heavy frosting that can be sculpted. It's an icing sugar paste that can be rolled and it provides cakes with a smooth look. Fondants have three types which are rolled, marshmallow, and poured. Fondant is made with water, gelatine, glycerine, water, sugar (icing or castor sugar), and shortening. When made well fondant can be stretched without tears and are ideal for covering huge cakes and also sculpted into various shapes.  Icing Either Makes Or Breaks A Cake The frosting is an essential step for all your baked desserts. The delicious types of frosting is what elevates all of your sponge cakes and makes your cookies even more decadent. Whether you slather it, drizzle or pipe it and make frills there is no denying that frosting is a quintessential necessity for desserts.  Check Out Some More Streams Here That Will Make You Salivate

Every baking method has a purpose. A little knowledge about them goes a long way to get incredible and amazing results. Successful baking is all about accurate measurements, temperature control and a few key baking methods. You must be wondering, why so many different baking methods? These different types of baking methods turn a batter into golden products with irresistible flavors and textures. Each method is based on specific ingredients and creativity where the results are different with every method. From light as air cake to one that's sturdy, there’s a whole lot of science going behind your favorite baked treat. Once you understand these baking methods, there'll be many happy baking days ahead. Listed below are different baking methods and techniques which can make the process easy for you. Top Five Baking Methods And Tips For A Happy Baking! Whisking Method As the name suggests, this method uses whisking instead of a raising agent to work air into the mix. There is little to no raising agent in this baking process, hence whisking must be done properly for the cake to rise. Air is trapped in the cake mixture while mixing and the texture of the cake is entirely dependent on this. The whisking method requires the wet mixture like eggs and sugar to be whisked to incorporate air and body. Side-to-side whisking creates the best shear force where one layer of the liquid moves toward another layer, creating air channels for the ingredients to become fully mixed. Then the dry ingredients are sieved and folded gently through the egg mixture in batches. The whisking method is great for people who are looking for low-fat cakes as they mostly contain no butter. Swiss Rolls, chocolate log and Génoise are made using this method. Tips: Flour should be sifted and folded gently in stages to ensure that aeration is maintained. [caption id="attachment_10917" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Source: 1zoom.me[/caption] All In One Method One of the basic baking methods is where all the ingredients used in making the cake are mixed together at the same time. As the name suggests, all the dry ingredients are sieved, placed in the bowl with the other ingredients and blended together. Of all the types of baking methods, this method is the quickest and easiest method is the time taken for completing each step separately can be done together in a single step. These baking styles have largely replaced other cake baking methods for commercial production because of their convenience. The major advantage of this method is, it does not depend on long beating to aerate the batter. The final results are a moist, sturdy cake that's ideal for slicing and stacking. Italian sponge cake and lemon drizzle cakes are made using this all-in-one method. Tips: Make sure the butter is fairly soft as this will make it a lot easier to mix all the ingredients together. [caption id="attachment_10918" align="alignnone" width="2048"] Surce:7marvels.co.uk[/caption] Creaming Method Possibly the trickiest of all the baking methods commonly used to bake cake, cupcakes and cookies. In these baking styles, the butter and sugar are beaten together until they have formed a smooth paste-like texture that is light in color. When butter and sugar are creamed together air pockets form, which helps the bake to rise. At this point, the eggs can be added one by one and not too quickly to avoid curdling of batter resulting in a tough, dry cake. If this step is skipped or neglected, it can result in hard-baked cakes. After adding eggs the other dry ingredients are added alternatively and mixed well with the batter. Victoria sponge cake, Fig and Caramel Cake are classic examples using creaming baking methods to make the most delicious cakes. Tips: Scrape down the bowl periodically so that all the ingredients are being creamed evenly. [caption id="attachment_10919" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Source: 1zoom.me[/caption] Melting Method Another very straightforward technique is where the butter used in the cake is often melted together in a pot before the eggs and then the dry ingredients are added. Make sure the melted sugar and butter are allowed to cool to room temperature before the eggs are added. There’s no beating or whisking in this method, hence a chemical raising agent such as baking powder is used to help the cake rise. The melting method is the easiest and most foolproof of all the cake making methods often used to get more dense and moist cakes than cakes made by other methods. The melting method may require more time to cook and should be monitored frequently. Generally, ginger breads, chocolate cake, brownies and fruit cakes are made using the melting method. Tips: Care must be taken not to over mix the mixture, as it will overdevelop the gluten and the cake will end up dry and tough. [caption id="attachment_10920" align="alignnone" width="1332"] Source: goodfon.com[/caption] Rubbing Method The rubbing-in method is also known as the cutting-in method where cold butter is rubbed into the flour using the fingertips until the mix becomes breadcrumb or sand-like texture. Butter is divided into small portions and put in the flour to be mixed completely with your fingertips to form a sticky dough. Next, add sugar followed by the liquid quickly as the raising agent will start to work immediately once the liquid is added. Alternatively, the butter or fat can also be cut into the flour with two knives, a pastry cutter or even a food processor and hence called the cutting-in method. Roll up your sleeves to make some crumble as well as shortcrust pastry, banana loaf cake, rock cakes and perfect scones using these baking methods. Tips: Mix quickly and lightly introducing a bit of air wherever possible without melting the fat. [caption id="attachment_10921" align="alignnone" width="600"] Source: depositphotos.com[/caption] Also Read: Experience “YUM” With Australia’s Most Loved Desserts. Lock-downs have brought out the hidden chef within us with everyone wanting to bake and post pictures on social media to showcase their skills to the world. Once you understand these baking methods, there is pretty much no recipe you can’t master. It’s really hard to stop once you get going. Try out these different baking methods and do let us know which is your favorite.

Bharatanatyam is one of the most graceful and beautiful classical dance forms of India. A Bharatanatyam dancer narrates a story, bringing out images through her eyes, body and gestures. The integral part of storytelling is the use of single or double-handed gestures called mudras along with footwork and facial expressions. Mudras are hand gestures that represent a beautiful hand movement that adds grace and beauty to the dance form. Each of these mudras has a host of meanings ranging from objects to feel, animals to verbs and much more that allow for any story to be told. Mudras in Bharatanatyam are considered as the alphabets of Indian classical dance and are used in all the dance forms, although their meanings might differ in each. Mudras of Bharatnatyam form a very significant part of this dance form as it’s considered the soul of Indian classical dance. Each mudra has a specific meaning and purpose behind them. Mudras are basically divided into two: “Asamyukta Mudras” which represent mudras that are done with only one hand and the “Samyukta Mudras” which represent the mudras done with both hands. There are approximately fifty-five root mudras, out of which thirty-two are classified as “Asamyukta Mudras” and twenty-three are classified as “Samyukta Mudras”. Here Are A Few Famous Mudras In Bharatanatyam To Get You Started! Significance And Forms Of Some Of The Famous Asamyukta Mudras Pataaka – Flag In this form of Mudra, all the fingers are kept straight together signalling for someone to pause. The only variation in this mudra is that the thumb should be slightly bent while keeping all the other fingers tight. Pataaka mudra is used to depict clouds, forests and the denial of objects. [caption id="attachment_10869" align="alignnone" width="272"] Source: sulekha.com[/caption] Tripataaka - Three Colors Tripataaka means “three parts of the flag”. From your Pataaka hand position, just bend your ring finger, while keeping the other fingers straight. This denotes trees, arrows, thunder, crown and so on in Bharatanatyam dance form. [caption id="attachment_10870" align="alignnone" width="250"] Source: sulekha.com[/caption] Ardhapataaka - Half Flag From the Tripataaka position, one should bend the thumb, little finger and also the ring finger. Only the index and the middle finger will be stretched open. This mudra represents leaves, the number two in a dance move and board or a slab. [caption id="attachment_10871" align="alignnone" width="183"] Source: sulekha.com[/caption] Kartari Mukha - Scissors To form this mudra keep your little finger and the ring finger bent and pressed against the thumb. Gently open your index finger and the middle finger and spread them apart like a scissor. This is used to portray differences in opinion, anger, looting and separation. [caption id="attachment_10872" align="alignnone" width="183"] Source: sulekha.com[/caption] Mayura - The Peacock This mudra represents a peacock and is made by joining the ring finger and the thumb together leaving the index, middle and little finger extended straight without any gap. This mudra is used to depict the bird’s neck, creepers, Krishna’s feather which is placed on the crown or something famous. [caption id="attachment_10873" align="alignnone" width="183"] Source:sulekha.com[/caption] Ardha Chandra - Half Moon This mudra is performed by keeping all the fingers up and straight along with the thumb and it replicates the Pataaka Mudra. The only difference is that in Arthachandra all the fingers including the thumb are kept straight. It depicts a spear, a hand seizing the throat, waist, contemplation and many more. [caption id="attachment_10874" align="alignnone" width="183"] Source: sulekha.com[/caption] Significance And Forms Of Some Of The Famous Samyukta Mudras. Anjali Mudra Anjali Hasta is the first of the samyuta mudras commonly called the ‘Namaste’ where both hands in Pataaka hasta and joined together to get Anjali hasta. This mudra is used to show respect by offering salutations. When the joined hands are placed above the head, it’s offering salutations to God. If placed in front of the face, it’s offering salutations to a Guru or elders and if placed in front of the chest, it’s offering salutations to peers. [caption id="attachment_10875" align="alignnone" width="183"] Source: depositphotos.com[/caption] Kapota Mudra This is an extension of Anjali Mudra where there is a slight bulge at the knuckles of the palm. In this gesture, the palms touch each other only at the tips and the base of the palm with the center being cupped. These hand gestures in Bharatanatyam depict respect for elders, the mark of humility, show obedience and down to earth attitude. [caption id="attachment_10876" align="alignnone" width="313"] Source: picfair.com[/caption] Karkata Mudra Karkata means a crab or a crane which is formed by interlocking fingers of both hands held straight while keeping the thumbs outstretched. These Bharatanatyam mudras denote many things from blowing a conch, stretching limbs, to showing your midriff. [caption id="attachment_10877" align="alignnone" width="207"] Source: naatyaanjali.com[/caption] Swastika Mudra The swastika is one such mudra in Bharatanatyam that's quite easy to achieve. We get the swastika pose when both the palms in pataka mudra are crossed at the wrists. Swastika symbolizes the crocodile and is also used to portray a blocked road or path, imprisonment or to say “No”. [caption id="attachment_10878" align="alignnone" width="206"] Source: naatyaanjali.com[/caption] Shivalinga Mudra This mudra is a combination of two different Bharatanatyam hastas (Shikhara and Ardhchandra mudra) that is a representation of the form of Shiva Linga. This Bharatanatyam's powerful hand gesture denotes the supreme creative energy which is a union of Lord Shiva and his wife Devi Parvati. [caption id="attachment_10879" align="alignnone" width="225"] Source: pinterest.com[/caption] Pushpaputa Mudra Join both hands by bringing the little fingers together with the palms facing the sky with a shallow dip in the middle. It symbolizes the openness of mind and soul, offerings to God or acceptance of offerings. It can also be used to show a bowl or a plate. [caption id="attachment_10880" align="alignnone" width="273"] Source: picfair.com[/caption] Mudras in Bharatanatyam are one of the purest forms of expression which allow us to convey what words cannot. The content here is to help a new learner understand the basic mudras in Bharatanatyam. If you like them, get yourself enrolled for an offline or online class. Keeping the pandemic in mind, one can opt for Bharatanatyam online classes from any of the professional classical dancers or renowned Bharatanatyam dancers to help take your dancing to a whole new level, involving a spectrum of expertise, technique and style. If you want to share your experience with us, please do so in the comment box below……. we’d love to hear them!

What Is Music Therapy And How Does It Help? Music therapy is a type of art therapy that uses music as a therapeutic tool to improve and maintain the physical, psychological, and social well-being of a group of people or individuals. It involves various activities, ranging from listening to music to singing, playing an instrument to writing songs and much more. Sounds great, but what does music therapy help with and does it really work? Music has been used as a therapeutic tool for centuries and has shown to evoke happy memories and raise your spirits. One really doesn't need to have a strong connection to music. Even if you can't sing or play an instrument, this therapy is great for a rehab session or to guide you into meditation. Music therapy can be highly personalized, making it appropriate for people of all ages, whether they are struggling with illnesses or totally healthy. In the past few decades, music therapy has played an increasing role in improving mental health and overall well-being of people. What To Expect During A Music Therapy Session? For someone who is new to this therapy might wonder what actually happens during these sessions. It’s difficult to answer this as there is no such thing as a “typical” music therapy session. As music therapists work in many different settings and with different kinds of patients, treatment programs and duration always vary. Each session is different and customized depending on the client's age, needs and preferences. Every session can look different, but the only thing common here is the inclusion of music. During music therapy you and your therapist will do one or more of the following – sing, listen to music, create music, dance to music, play an instrument or discuss lyrics. Sometimes music therapy sessions are done in groups and some prefer private sessions. Some music therapists treat patients in their private practice or at a nursing home, while some may come to one’s home. Whichever setting one chooses, the impact of music therapy will help people accomplish their goals and improve the quality of their lives. Benefits Of Music Therapy On Physical Health Reduces High Blood Pressure A recent systematic review stated that music therapy along with lifestyle changes reduce high blood pressure. Listening to just thirty minutes of music every day may significantly reduce stress levels too. Effective In Pain Management Music has the power to reduce pain and helps manage pain in people who are living with chronic pain. Music therapy is increasingly used in hospitals to reduce the need for medication and also to decrease postoperative pain. Overall, music has a positive effect on pain management. Helps In Keeping Heart Healthy Benefits of Music therapy don't end with its ability to help with relaxation. It has the potential to strengthen chest muscles, improve heart function and heart rate variability. Patients with heart ailments who underwent music therapy sessions were able to improve their vascular health and lower their risk of future cardiovascular disease. Improves Body Coordination Music therapy helps to reduce muscle tension and improves body movement and coordination. Music may play an important role in developing, maintaining and restoring physical functioning for people with movement disorders. Control Over Headaches And Migraine Pain Studies have shown that music therapy benefits headache and migraine sufferers to have better control over their pain. This therapy may reduce the intensity, frequency, and duration of these headaches. People exposed to music had a decrease in the number of days that they experienced headaches. Helps Boost Immunity A particular type of music can create a positive and profound emotional experience that can increase the body's production of immune-boosting hormones. These immune boosting hormones have the ability to invade harmful viruses and reduce the factors responsible for illness. Benefits Of Music Therapy On Mental Health Suppress Depression And Anxiety Findings of a research have shown that music helps with depression symptoms and anxiety. Inspiring and exhilarating music could uplift the mood of people suffering from depression. The power of music is yet to be studied and explored fully, but there is no doubt that music has a great effect. Improves Concentration Levels Studies have shown significant effects of the impact of music therapy on all age groups. It's not clear what type of music is better but listening to music enhances concentration and cognitive ability. Helps To Induce Sleep Many people who suffer from insomnia find that music therapy helps them improve sleep hygiene. Researchers have shown that relaxing music before bedtime can make for a good night’s sleep. Ability to fall asleep quickly can make you feel relaxed and at ease. Reduces Stress And Aids Relaxation Listening to certain kinds of music has proven to reduce stress. One of the great benefit of music therapy as a stress reliever is that it can be used while doing your usual chores so that it really doesn't take an extra time. Countless studies have shown that music's relaxing effects can be seen on all, including newborns. Enhances Memory Performance Music Therapy reactivates areas of the brain associated with memory, speech, reasoning, and emotion. Music can help people recollect happy memories of past experiences. Children who take music lessons develop a better memory compared with children who don’t. Trauma And Crisis Management Music therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic application for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. For people experiencing trauma and crisis, music therapy can help with improving your mood, feeling confident, being in control and providing a non-verbal outlet for emotions.  Click here for more online Music Therapy Sessions with Cece Streams Music therapy alone may not constitute adequate treatment for medical conditions. However, when combined with medication, psychotherapy, and other interventions, it can be an important part of a treatment plan. Find the sounds that work for you and plug in your earphones with your favorite music to get carried away by the musical waves that will make you feel relaxed and happy. 

Paint brushes are incredibly powerful tools that help artists put out their imagination on the canvas. Nearly every artist has these tools in their studio as paint and paint brushes go hand-in-hand. Paint brushes come in various sizes, shapes, and materials. You’ve got various options when it comes to picking out your favorite paint brush. Every artist has their own style of painting, so there is no right or wrong brushes. It’s up to the artist to decide which one they are most comfortable working with! Here we take you through all that you need to know about the different types of paint brushes to make it easier to achieve different effects you are looking for. [caption id="attachment_12038" align="alignnone" width="764"] Source: letsmakeart.com[/caption] Anatomy Of Paint Brushes Paint brushes are an artist’s most important tool, so it is best to understand the various parts of your paintbrush before you start. These magical wands (paintbrush) consist of three major parts - bristles, ferrule, and handle. Bristles - Bristles is the head of the brush that holds the paint. This type of paint brushes are made from natural hair, synthetic fibers, or a combination of both. Bristles come in different shapes, which dictate the type of brush it is; bright, fan, filbert, flat and round. The tip of the bristles is called the toe, while the heel is where the strands go into the ferrule at the tip of the handle, and the belly is the fattest part of the bristle head. Ferrule - The ferrule of a brush is the metal band that holds the brush together, and the crimp is the part of the ferrule that holds the bristles and the handle together. Ferrules are made from tin, aluminum, brass, copper alloy, nickel, or chrome plated. The quality of the ferrules should be good; else the bristles may fall out. Handle - Handles are made from a wide variety of material like plastic, wood, acrylic or even bones. Length of the handle differs from brand to brand. Long handles help an artist reach further while shorter ones provide more control. The number printed on the handle indicates the size of the paint brushes, starting from 0, 1, 2, up to 12 or larger. [caption id="attachment_12043" align="alignnone" width="512"] Source: teresabernardart.com[/caption] Most Common Types Of Paint Brushes And Their Uses Paint brushes are available in a variety of sizes and shapes. You might be wondering, why are there so many types of paint brushes for art? To help navigate the wide variety of paintbrushes, we’ve outlined a few of the most common types below. Read on to know more about the types of art brushes and their uses for beginners and art-lovers. Round Paint Brushes The round brushes have bristles that are in a circular formation with pointed tips. They are the most adaptable kind of brushes as you can do a whole lot of things with them.  It’s ideal for painting lines of all sizes, covering large areas quickly and easy to work on details. Used For: Sketching, outlining, detailed work, controlled washes, and filling small areas. You can create thin lines with the tip and wider lines by pressing it down. [caption id="attachment_12042" align="alignnone" width="419"] Source: indiamart.com[/caption] Flat Paint Brushes Flat Paint Brushes are good for spreading paint quickly and evenly over a surface. They have flat style bristles that are square or rectangle in shape. Used For: Filling wide spaces and bold strokes. Use edges for fine lines, straight edges and stripes. Long haired flat paint brushes can be used for varnishing too. [caption id="attachment_12037" align="alignnone" width="420"] Source: amazon.in[/caption] Bright Paint Brushes A bright brush looks very similar to the flat brush but it has a shorter bristle than the flat brush. For best results hold the brush closer rather than holding the brush at a distance from the canvas. Used For: Short controlled strokes, thick heavy coloring. [caption id="attachment_12034" align="alignnone" width="425"] Source: htconline.in[/caption] Filbert Paint Brushes Filbert paint brushes are essentially a flat and oval-shaped end with medium to long hairs. Their rounded edges are effective in blending paint pigments. Natural fibers work best for filberts as the hairs stick together better when wet. Used For: Blending, detailing soft rounded edges, thick covering. [caption id="attachment_12036" align="alignnone" width="415"] Source: creativehands.in[/caption] Fan Paint Brushes The fan brush is a flat and splayed brush that can be used to stipple or flick paint onto the canvas. Fan brushes are great for creating unique textures and special effects. These types of painting brushes make it easy to create multiple lines or dots at once. It’s helpful in creating modulating marks and interesting textural effects. Used For: Good for smoothing, blending broad areas of paint, textural effects. [caption id="attachment_12035" align="alignnone" width="419"] Source: amazon.in[/caption] Angled Paint Brushes Use of angled paint brushes are versatile and can be applied in both general painting applications as well as some detail work. Bristles are tapered to a point which gives the brush the ability to spread pigment over large areas as well as paint tight corners to offer finer handling. Used For: Curved strokes, filling corners, filling wide spaces, to reach small areas with tips. [caption id="attachment_12033" align="alignnone" width="419"] Source: amazon.com[/caption] Mop Paint Brushes A mop brush is a large, round edged wash brush most commonly used to cover large areas. It is used for soft paint application as well as for getting thinner glazes over existing drying layers of paint without damaging lower layers. Used For: Covering large areas, for wetting the surface, and for absorbing excess media. [caption id="attachment_12040" align="alignnone" width="419"] Source: trekell.com[/caption] Have you ever tried coffee painting, click here for freshly brewed painting techniques Rigger Paint Brushes A rigger brush has longer hair compared to the other types of paint brushes. It is used for painting straight lines in oil, acrylic or watercolor. Rigger brushes are available in synthetic and sable hair. Used For: Good for drawing fine lines, commonly used to paint the rigging on maritime paintings. [caption id="attachment_12041" align="alignnone" width="420"] Source: desertcart.in[/caption] Paint brushes are like magic wands for weaving colors across the canvas. Choosing the correct brush makes it easy to create the masterpiece in your mind. Hope this page will help you choose the right paint brushes to suit your needs. It’s time to pick up your brushes. Happy painting!            

Just like our skin, our hair too needs some home hair care tips for nourishment to look healthy. It’s every girl’s dream to have lush, thick black hair. With today’s unhealthy lifestyle and high pollution levels, the fear of losing hair is on the higher side. Losing 50 to 90 strands of hair a day is considered normal, however, if you start losing more than that, then it’s time to pay attention to your hair and scalp.  Going to a salon for a hair spa treatment might seem like the only way to rejuvenate your hair but sadly these styling tools and colorants damage the hair and make it even more weak and dry. Good hair care does not necessarily mean spending on those branded shampoos and conditioners in the saloon which comes with a heavy bill.  You can indulge in some simple home hair care tips with readily available natural ingredients for healthy, glossy, and full of life tresses.  Home Hair Care Tips For Healthy And Bouncy Hair! Here are some age-old natural home hair care tips and secrets that can do wonders for your scalp and hair health. Follow these simple home hair tips for men and women, to flaunt your hair like the models do. Aloe Vera Home Hair Care Tips for Healthy and Clear Scalp Aloe Vera is an effective home remedy for scalp itching and flaking. This hair care routine cleanses the hair shaft efficiently, stripping off extra oil and restores the natural pH level of the scalp. It is also used for the treatment of dandruff and makes your hair look healthier, shinier and softer. How to Apply: Extract the pulp from a stalk of Aloe Vera and apply it to your hair and scalp. Leave it for 30 minutes and rinse it with normal water. Repeat this three to four times a week for best results. [caption id="attachment_10966" align="alignnone" width="300"] These haircare tips will make your hair healthy[/caption] Coconut Milk to Reduce Split Ends and Breakage There are a whole lot of things this age-old home hair care tips can do to your hair. Potassium content in coconut milk helps reduce dandruff, softens the hair and boosts hair growth. One of the healthy hair care tips that are rich in proteins and minerals helps reduce breakage of hair and split ends leaving your hair moisturized. How to Apply: Massage coconut milk from your scalp to the tips of the hair. Wrap a towel around your head and leave it for about 20-30 minutes and then rinse with a mild shampoo and cold water. For effective results apply once a week. [caption id="attachment_10968" align="alignnone" width="300"] Care for your hair by these tips Source: indiatimes.com[/caption] Fenugreek Seed Paste to Stop Hair Loss This magic seed is the most effective hair care tip to stop hair loss. Fenugreek seeds have high protein and nicotinic acid content which prevent hair fall and helps in the re-growth of the hair. It is also good for treating a variety of scalp issues like dryness of hair, baldness and hair thinning. These seeds contain large amounts of lecithin, which hydrates the hair and strengthens the roots or hair follicles. How to Apply: Soak the fenugreek seeds overnight in water and grind to a fine paste. Apply the paste to your scalp and leave it on for about 30 to 40 minutes. Rinse your hair using normal water without shampoo. Repeat it twice a week for a month. [caption id="attachment_10970" align="alignnone" width="300"] One of the best way to take care of your hair is apply fenugreek on your hair Source: diabetes.co.uk[/caption] Simple Beetroot Home Hair Care Tips for Hair Coloring  Beetroot is a natural alternative way to dye your hair without using harmful chemicals. Being rich in nutrients, beet juice boosts the circulation of blood throughout the scalp, which stimulates hair follicles and acts as a temporary dye. You may even customize it as per your required shade and tone. How to Apply: Cut the beetroot into small cubes and boil it till the water is reduced to half its quantity. Let it cool and then grind it. Mix this with henna to make a paste. Apply it to your scalp and hair and leave it for about an hour, then rinse it with normal water. Follow these procedures once a month for gorgeous looking hair with natural colors. [caption id="attachment_10967" align="alignnone" width="300"] Tips for healthy hair[/caption] Onion Juice to Fight Scalp Infection Onion juice has antimicrobial and antifungal properties which can do wonders for your hair. It helps fight against scalp infection which prevents hair from becoming brittle and weak. Onion pulp can nourish your hair follicles and replenish the nutrients you have lost from your scalp. They also contain antioxidants that help prevent hair ageing and thereby graying. How to Apply: Grind onions and squeeze the juice out of them. Apply the onion juice to your scalp with a cotton ball. Leave it on for 30 minutes and then wash it off with normal water and a mild shampoo. Follow this procedure once a week to see the difference. [caption id="attachment_10972" align="alignnone" width="300"] Best healthy hair routine for your hair is here Source: hairstylecamp.com[/caption] Eggs for Volume and Texture An egg mask is perhaps one of the most potent remedial home hair care tips for flexibility, strength and overall wellness of the hair. Eggs are a powerhouse of vitamin B-complex and biotin, both of which strengthen the roots of your hair and also help increase volume. The proteins in the egg strengthen the hair shaft and root while the fats in it act as conditioners and improve its texture. Yolks are rich in biotin, which supports hair growth and the egg white contains protein, calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus which are all essential for good hair. How to Apply: Beat two eggs well in a bowl and apply it all over your hair and scalp. Leave it on for ten minutes and rinse well with your usual shampoo and conditioner. You can use it not more than once a week. [caption id="attachment_10969" align="alignnone" width="300"] Healthy hair at home Source: rawpixel.com[/caption] Simple Step By Step Full Hair Care Routine At Home Step 1 - Oil Massage The most important step in a hair routine is to oil your hair regularly. A gentle oil massage to your scalp will help to increase blood circulation and promote hair growth. The essential nutrients in the oil prevents hair fall, dry and itchy scalp and premature graying. Massaging your hair with natural oil based hair moisturizer at home like coconut milk can bring life to dull and dry hair. Amala also contains over 80% moisture and has hydrating properties. Step 2 – Cleansing The second step is to cleanse your hair with a good shampoo that suits your hair type or a homemade Aloe Vera pulp. Shampoo removes dead skin cells from the scalp and leaves it healthy and clean. Keep in mind to choose a gentle sulphate-free shampoo and use it two to three times a week. Step 3 – Conditioning Your hair might be stripped off its natural oils after you have shampooed your hair. Irrespective of your hair type it is very important to condition your hair to reduce friskiness and dryness. Conditioner makes your hair a lot more manageable and can avoid breakage of hair. Step 4 - Protection Our hair goes through a lot of damage throughout the day due to various reasons like, pollution, environment, lifestyle, bad diet, styling tools to name a few. 33% of women have changed their washing habits in the last 12 months citing damage as the top reason. The best way to prevent this damage to the hair structure is to apply a heat protection spray. This protects your hair from environmental damage and keeps them looking beautiful. Winter Hair Care Tips Just like the skin, the hair too needs protection from the cold weather. Try these cool hair care tips to keep your hair in great shape during winter: Avoid excessive heat styling as it sucks the moisture from your hair which is already dry due to the cold weather. Allow your wet hair to dry naturally as blow drying draws moisture out of the hair and increases the chances of breakage. Never go outside with wet hair as wet hair is more vulnerable to damage than dry hair during winter. Always keep it 80% dry before stepping out. Avoid frequent hair washes in winter, but when you do, wash your hair with lukewarm water and not hot water. Just like face masks are essential for dry skin, hair masks can also make a great difference when it comes to dry and damaged hair. Fortunately for us, looking after hair has become simple with so many known home hair care tips to get us going. Follow these hair care steps to achieve the hair of your dreams and to dazzle the world. And do keep in mind that it’s a combination of a healthy diet; regular exercise and natural treatment for natural hair that are the key to a healthier and happier hair. FAQ’s About Hair Care: How can I get healthy hair naturally? Having a diet rich in proteins, iron, minerals and vitamins will help you get healthy hair naturally. How to maintain healthy hair? Regular oiling, cleansing and conditioning are the best ways to maintain your hair. What Happens When You Don't Take Care Of Your Hair? If you don't take care of your hair, over a period of time you will start experiencing dandruff, hair fall, dryness and split ends. What kind of hair brush should one use? There are different combs/brushes for different hair types, but the mixed bristle brushes are really good for both worlds. What homemade ingredients are good for hair? Avocado oil, Coconut oil, Honey, Aloe Vera, Eggs and Beetroot are a few good homemade ingredients for hair.  

Art is a term that surrounds the various artistic ways a person spills out his feelings. Many people use art journaling as a way to put out their thoughts and to describe their mood at a particular time using words and images. From writing to scribbling, sketching to painting or even just a collage, there are numerous art journal ideas to be creative. There is no hard and fast rule on how an art journaling for beginners should be. The beauty of an art journal is that anything is fine; your art journal is yours and no one can have an opinion over it. Some art journals have a lot of writing, while others are purely filled with images or doodles. Don’t worry too much about how it’s going to look; at the end of the day, it’s a healthy expressive outlet. Why Keeping An Art Journal is Good for You         Art journaling is therapeutic as it lets you flow out your emotions with ease.         As there are no rules, you can never go wrong. It gives you a feeling of doing things right.         The process is beneficial for dealing with stress and makes you happy.         It gives you artistic freedom and allows you to be an artist every day.         As it is a very personal thing you can pour your thoughts without holding back.         Expressing yourself creatively Improves your brain and art skills at the same time.          It gives your thoughts an expression and it almost feels like meditation. [caption id="attachment_12346" align="alignnone" width="300"] Art journal ideas for beginners[/caption] Art Journaling For Beginners Tips You don’t have to be an artist to start an art journal; it is your space and do whatever makes you happy! There’s no fuss, no deadlines or any pressure to make it perfect. All that you need is a little time for yourself. Looking back at what you’ve written or drawn can gain valuable insight into the challenges that you have faced in your life. It’s so easy to pick up a journal and start creating; notebooks and a pencil is all that you need to start an art journal. You can make it as fancy as you can by using art materials and a little bit of your creativity. Just keep these few points in mind before you get started:         Decide on the art journal ideas you’re going to use.         Keep some art supplies handy, like – paper, pen, colors etc.         Just write some appropriate quotes if you are not able to put down your feelings.         Don’t get caught up in too many details, just go with the flow!         If you are not good at drawing, cut out images from a magazine and draw over them.         Covering it is not 100% necessary, but remember to let everything dry before you close.         This is purely for you to explore more about yourself.         Do it every day and enjoy what you do!         It's 100% OK to leave your art journal unfinished. Art Journaling For Beginners Tool Kit Art journaling for beginners doesn’t take much to start; a paper and a pencil is all that you need. But once you have experimented and want to try new styles, the below listed art journal supplies will help you bring a spark in your creativity! Journal – The place where you put all your awesome work is called a “journal”. Your art journal could be anything from a sketch book to a dairy. There are no hard and fast rules, you can use anything. Just keep in mind to use thick pages if you are working with colors and any normal A4 size paper if you are just drawing or sketching. Gesso – It is important to prepare your page for different media, especially for watery paints. Main purpose of gesso is to prime your pages so none of your paints seep through the paper. It’s a thick and much pigmented white acrylic paint used as a base layer. You can also mix it with other paints to lighten them. Another great thing about gesso is that it dries quickly and makes the page strong so that it doesn’t tear. You can even cover up your mistakes with it. An absolute must have tool for art journaling for beginners! Paint – It’s best to start with acrylic paints as they are versatile and easy to use. Acrylic paints come in different colors, sizes and brands. Choices of colors are endless but start by picking colors that complement one another. You can also use watercolors as they are soft and elegant that can give a dreamy effect to your work. Make sure to use thicker paper or watercolor paper for great results. Brushes – If you are planning to work with paints, you are going to need some brushes to apply them. Art journaling for beginners can pick a few brushes of different sizes and tips from your local art store. Try out these new brush pens which are filled with watercolor. They’re super fun and great to paint with as one side is like a watercolor brush with the other side like a pen tip. Pencil And Pens – To add details to your page, it’s a must to have a black waterproof pen and white gel pen. Black and white pens go a long way in creating contrast on your page and it also helps to make details stand out. Colored pencils can be used for plain journaling, outlining, drawing, doodling etc. Stamps And Stencils – Stamp kits are versatile and can be used on every page. A stamp kit consists of letter stamps, flower and geometry shape stamps which can be used to make borders. Alphabet stencils or geometrical stencils also offer plenty of possibilities to create a page. It can be used with acrylic paint, watercolors, gesso, spray bottle paints, and much more. Old Magazines Or Books - One of the easiest ways to start art journaling for beginners is with collage. Thousands of photos in magazines or books can be used to create a killer art journal page.  Cut out some images that catch your eye to use in your art journal. Stunning And Creative Ideas For Art Journaling For Beginners Each page on your art journal tells its own story, but someone who is new to an art journal might not even know how and where to start. Here are a few DIY ideas for art journal pages to get you inspired and fuel you up to start journaling. All About You To start with, dedicate the first page to yourself. Paste a photo or draw a picture of yourself if you are good at it. Add your favorite colors, paste pictures or drawings of your favorite places, favorite foods, anything that’s your favorite. Put up some pictures of your family and friends. This art journal idea for beginners is a great one to start with as this page or page is all about you. [caption id="attachment_12340" align="alignnone" width="300"] ideas for art journal pages Source: echorecovery.org[/caption] Botanical Page Flowers, plants, and gardening are great ideas for art journal pages. Create your own botanical prints with dried flowers, leaves, seed packets in your art journal. These things can be from places you visited or flowers you were given by someone special. You can even create your own designs by combining sketches or watercolours of flowers and plants or even with doodles. [caption id="attachment_12341" align="alignnone" width="300"] creative art journal ideas Source: pinterest.com[/caption] Use Inspirational Quotes These are great art journal ideas when you don’t know where to start or when you fall short of words! Write your favorite quotes or song lyrics all over the page. Use colored pens, markers, highlighters or even calligraphy to cover the page beautifully. Clip snippets from magazines or print off pretty quotes and add them to your art journal. [caption id="attachment_12347" align="alignnone" width="300"] art journal drawing ideas Source: favim.com[/caption] Dream Journaling If you are a person who dreams often, you can consider keeping a dream journal. Dream journaling is the practice of recording your dreams each morning while they are still fresh in your mind. You could write down all about what you dreamt. You can even sketch them out, like what’s in your mind or how it made you feel. This will be a great way to process your thoughts and discover new patterns in your dreams. [caption id="attachment_12343" align="alignnone" width="300"] diy art journal ideas Source: artfulhaven.com[/caption] Vision Board You can use these vision board art journal ideas to represent goals or projects that you have in mind. These art journal ideas for beginners are a powerful way of influencing your mind and creating your own reality. Practically, it’s a board where you write or glue things to visually present your goals. Visual images tend to stick in our minds and the mind is what we want to influence here. [caption id="attachment_12348" align="alignnone" width="300"] vision board art journal Source: artfulhaven.com[/caption] Click here for a session with Cece streams for more ideas on art journaling! Mandalas Create your own mandalas with geometric shapes and patterns in your art journal. Mandalas have deep meaning and are thought to be relaxing and even if life feels chaotic, mandalas may help to focus your mind. This mandala journal is designed to support your diary journaling, and reflective thoughts. Your mandala art will become a visual response to the moment, feelings and ideas, and they speak for themselves without words. [caption id="attachment_12345" align="alignnone" width="300"] mandala drawings Source: sheenaofthejournal.com[/caption] Make a Collage Collage is easy and fun to do. Collect some old magazines, favourite photos, different kinds of paper, greeting cards, cut them out into different shapes and stick them to make a perfect collage. The options are endless, you may cut out people, places, trees, flowers, birds, animals, or words and phrases from paper etc. Collage can be funny, colourful, beautiful, imperfect, peaceful, energizing, and absorbing. You can mess with it and even pull it off if you don’t like it. [caption id="attachment_12342" align="alignnone" width="300"] do it yourself collage Source: favim.com[/caption] With so many great options, I hope these art journal ideas will help you fill those empty pages. Use it in whatever way you want to as there are no boundaries. Don't worry if you are not at it, because if you enjoy the process, it most definitely 100% perfect. Welcome to the world of art journaling for beginners! If you have come across some unique or creative art journal ideas, please share them in the comment box below. FAQS On Art Journaling For Beginners: Q: What's the difference between a diary and a journal? A: A diary is mainly used to record events as they happen but a journal is used to explore ideas and record significant experiences. Journal is much more personal than a diary. Q: What is the best paper for an art journal? A: Watercolor paper is the best paper for art journaling. Q: How can journaling help your art practice? A: Art journaling gives us space to experiment and explore and helps us to get to know our style. Q: What types of journals can you have? A: Travel, dream, gratitude, hobbies, personal, relationships, food, lyrics, motherhood, bucket lists etc. Q: What is the point of art journaling?                                                                                        A: It's a visual diary to record your thoughts, memories, and emotions through art and creativity. Q: What are bullet journal ideas? A: A bullet journal idea for beginners helps to track short and long term goals quickly. Here you set up your journal into sections by month, week, and year.

With the negative impact of a sedentary lifestyle, poor diet and the new realities of social distancing, more and more people are spending time in their kitchen than ever before. Healthy cooking is all about capturing the flavor while retaining the nutrients in food. It isn’t only about the ingredients; it’s also about how you prepare your food. You don’t need to be an experienced chef to cook healthy. Just a few basic cooking tips and techniques can get you there. It is an act of self-care, so let’s start the journey to a healthy lifestyle right from your own kitchen. [caption id="attachment_10994" align="alignnone" width="300"] Hack to a healthy life is healthy cooking Source: gadgetsng.com[/caption] Healthy Vs Unhealthy Cooking Methods Only 14% of adults eat the recommended amount of vegetables and 18% eat fruits. The nutritive value of our food is mainly determined by what we eat and the way we cook. There is a line-up of unhealthy cooking methods that are easy and quick, but what comes with this is a whole lot of health issues. On the other hand, cooking a healthy meal influences the total calories in the meal and the nutritional benefits that will make a big difference to our health. Healthy hacks while cooking will allow you to have control over your calories, thereby reducing the risk of obesity and other diseases. Every time you cook, you have a choice to choose the cooking method, hence choose wisely! Easy Healthy Cooking Tips You Must Know Healthy cooking for beginners isn't exactly a cakewalk, but these easy tips will help you get there. –          Use skinless poultry or trim all fat from the meat before cooking. –          Cut vegetables in medium sizes and cook them immediately to prevent loss of essential nutrients. –          Use salt wisely by substituting it with lemon juice, herbs, or spices to season food. –          Avoid the yolk of the egg by substituting it with two egg whites as cholesterol and fat are in the yolk and not in the white. –          Use less of all fats and oils to replace with small amounts of unsaturated fat such as vegetable oil, corn oil, soybean oil, olive oil or peanut oil. –          Stock up wisely on healthy items like unsalted canned beans and tomatoes, precooked unseasoned brown rice, unsalted chicken stock and dry staples like quinoa, lentils, and chia seeds that you can always have as a quick healthy snack option. –          Opt for fresh veggies, fish, meat, and poultry instead of frozen vegetables and meat to get more vitamins and antioxidants. –          Use season foods for they have the highest amount of nutrition, antioxidants and phytonutrients. –          Avoid excessive heating of milk as lactose reacts with proteins and reduces the quality of protein in the milk. –          Use sprouts in your diet as it improves the digestibility of pulses and grains besides increasing Vitamin C. –         Opt for fresh fruits and vegetables instead of 100% fruit juices and don't discard edible peels. –          Take extra time and read food labels to choose foods that are lower in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. –          Use non-stick cookware as they don’t need as much oil as a typical stainless steel pan. [caption id="attachment_11756" align="alignnone" width="300"] healthy cooking tips and techniques[/caption] Healthy Cooking Techniques To Capture The Nutrients And Flavors There are plenty of cooking ideas to cook nutritious and flavorful food. Before you don your apron, consider these 7 healthy cooking methods to have complete control over what goes into your body. Microwaving, Healthy Cooking Tips To Reduce Nutrient Destruction This may be the healthiest way to cook because of its short cooking time.  Microwaves cook food fast by heating from the inside out which results in minimal nutrient destruction. Studies suggest that it may just be one of the best ways to preserve nutrients in vegetables. It can be used to cook, reheat, defrost and you can microwave just about anything. One thing you need to be extra careful about is the choice of cookware, use only microwave-safe containers. [caption id="attachment_11761" align="alignnone" width="300"] Easy cooking tips for a healthy Source: eatthis.com[/caption] Poaching, Healthy Cooking Tips To Cook Delicate Proteins Poaching is a moist heat method of cooking where the ingredients are gently simmered in some kind of liquid until they’re cooked through and tender. Since it’s one of the gentlest cooking methods, poaching allows the actual flavor of the food to shine. This technique is used to cook delicate proteins such as fish, chicken, eggs, and some fruits and vegetables. It is one of the healthiest ways to cook your food, with minimal fat and oil. [caption id="attachment_11762" align="alignnone" width="300"] Tips you must know to stay healthy Source: cooking.nytimes.com[/caption] Steaming, Healthy Cooking Tips To Retain The Natural Goodness  Steaming anything from veggies to fish allows them to cook in their own juices and retain all that natural goodness. If you use a flavorful liquid or add seasonings like salt or lemon juice to the water, you are flavoring the food as it cooks. The steaming method reduces unwanted fats, making the dishes very light, healthier and gentle on the palate. This technique is one of the simplest and healthy methods of cooking because it adds no fat or calories. [caption id="attachment_11763" align="alignnone" width="300"] healthy cooking methods that will help you lead a healthy life[/caption] Grilling, Healthy Cooking Tips To Cook Quickly To get maximum nutrition without sacrificing flavor, grilling is a great cooking method. It is a method of dry heat cooking that has the ability to cook meat and vegetables very quickly. Grilled meat is typically lower in fat and calories compared with meats cooked in other ways. Grilling is commonly done on a barbecue, griddle or grill pan. The high heat from the grill locks the moisture and keeps food tender. [caption id="attachment_11759" align="alignnone" width="300"] learn healthy cooking[/caption] Stir-frying, Healthy Cooking Tips To Retain More Nutrients Stir-frying quickly cooks small, uniform-sized pieces of food with small amounts of oil, vegetable stock or water. In addition to being quick and easy, they are also healthy as you need only a small amount of oil or cooking spray for this cooking method. It results in tender-crisp vegetables that retain more nutrients as they’re rapidly stirred and fried. This method of cooking is definitely healthier than deep-frying or pan-frying. [caption id="attachment_11757" align="alignnone" width="300"] Healthy cooking for beginners Source: pinterest.com[/caption] Click here for online classes to learn to cook at home Broiling, Healthy Cooking Tips To Reduce Fat Content Broiling uses very high heat to cook food for a short period of time. It’s a great way to cook tender cuts of meat quickly and evenly. Broiling allows fat to drip away, reducing the total fat content in your food. In addition to being diet-friendly and healthy, broiling is also fast and cheap as this can be tried out by putting the food on the top rack or by using a toaster oven. [caption id="attachment_11758" align="alignnone" width="300"] tips for healthy cooking Source: sodelicious.recipes[/caption] There is always a misconception that healthy cooking hacks are bland and expensive. It’s time to start changing the way we think and focus more on how to learn healthy cooking. Hope these cooking tips and techniques will make cooking healthy meals at home a little easier. Try them out for a healthy but satisfying meal that will make you feel good. FAO’s On Healthy Cooking: How to start cooking healthy meals at home? You can make your meals healthier by paying attention to portions, where 50% can be vegetables, 25% protein and the balance 25% portion maybe with healthy grains. Also try to limit fat, sugar and salt in your cooking. What are the 10 healthy eating tips? Plan ahead for the week, do not skip your meal, drink plenty of water, know what you are eating, eat in moderation, choose food with healthy fats, increase the intake of fruits and vegetables, cut down on sugar and salt, indulge in fibre-filled diet and have more of home cooked food. How to find new healthy recipes? You can find some cooking snack articles on Google that will take you through their healthy recipes step by step. What are the 5 healthiest foods? Eggs, Salmon, dark green vegetables, avocados and refined grains are the healthiest foods. How do I cook healthy every day? Use cooking methods such as boiling and steaming because they're the gentlest and healthiest way to prepare food without losing the nutrients. What can I cook in 5 minutes? Pasta, sandwich, salad and omelettes are a few of the healthy dishes you can cook within five minutes.  

Crafts and do it yourself (DIY) projects are a great way to bring out your creative side, they also help keep you occupied and also calm you down and act as a mode of relaxation as well.  These crafts use materials that are very easily available, and you can always add your personal touch to them. Also, a do it yourself project always yields unique items, which are one of a kind. Making these could also be a way in which you involve all your family members and spend some quality time with them as well.  These work as great home decor pieces as well, and can also add an element of color and design to your home. These Are A Few Crafts Projects That You Could Try At Home: 1. Yarn wrapped painted jars You will need: Glass jars (you can repurpose pickle and jam jars by removing their labels) Yarn or any type of string that is slightly thick White spray paint Working area lined with newspaper Candle or string lights Wrap the yarn or string tightly around the jar. Cover the entire jar leaving some gaps for the paint to not cover. You can overlap the string to form a criss-cross pattern as well. Once wrapped with string, spray paint the jars and let them dry Once the jars are dry, remove the yarn to reveal the unpainted parts of the jar through which you can see the light placed in the jar Place the candles or string lights inside the jar. The light will be visible through the non-painted areas  2. Acrylic paint pour art This is one that can be done very easily with the materials you have lying at home! You will need: A canvas Acrylic paint  Pouring medium Plastic cups for different paint colours Mix equal parts of acrylic paint and pouring medium in the colors you wish to use for your fluid art. If you do not have pouring medium, mix the paints with a little bit if water and glue and use this as your pouring medium. The consistency of the paint should be pourable and not thick, it should be able to flow easily as well. Set your canvas on a tumbler or glass, in order to allow the excess paint to flow down and pour the paints across the canvas, one color after another. Next, tilt the canvas on all 4 sides so that the colors flow in different directions, creating fluid designs Let it dry for 4 hours and your unique piece of art is ready! 4. Lace lamp You will need: Any kind of lace fabric A balloon Glue Water Big paintbrush A cup or holder Mix equal parts of glue and water to make a thick mixture, let the mixture not be too runny as it will cause the lace to slip Inflate the balloon and then cut the lace, enough to cover the surface of the entire balloon. You can also work with pieces of lace and glue them together Place a piece of the lace on the inflated balloon which is mounted on a stand and slow start applying the glue-water mixture over it Work in parts, waiting for the glue to dry as you continue to use it over the rest of the parts of the balloon Once you have repeated this process over the entire balloon, let it dry for a few hours Once completely dry, pop the balloon to reveal a beautiful hollow lace structure Now attach this to a bulb and your lace lamp is ready! 5. Magazine tea coasters This is a great way to use your old magazines and repurpose them to unique looking coasters You will need: -Sheets from a magazine -Glue Start by taking a sheet of the magazine paper and creating a zig zag fold for the entire sheet Once this is done, you can either roll it to make a circle, shape it to the form of a square or rectangle or even make smaller circles and then join them together to make coasters of different sizes. These are a great way to recycle magazines at home 6. Marbled Votives You will need -miniature glass jars -nail polish -Large bowl filled with water  Nail polish dries really quickly in water and this is what helps you create abstract patterns on the jars.  In the bowl of water, add a drop of one color of nail polish. As soon as it falls into the water it will spread out. Next, add another color and wait for the same to happen. Continue to do this till you see concentric circles of different colors. now, dip the votive glasses into the water and make sure all the sides are coated with the nail polish. Set aside to dry. You can also play around with the designs by swirling the colors with a toothpick to get different effects.  now, you can place tea light candles into these or use them as decor pieces as well  7. Tie-dye  You Will Need: powder fabric dye white cotton napkins ice rubber bands scrap cardboard baking pan roasting rack protective gloves   Step 1:  From the centre of the napkin, crumple the fabric into a tight ball and secure it with rubber bands.  Step 2: Wear Protective gloves. Place a pan on a roasting rack. Put the crumpled napkins on the rack and place a piece of trimmed cardboard around each napkin. Then, add ice to the top of the napkin container. Then sprinkle powder fabric dye onto each ice-filled container. Cover the ice with lots of dye for a more colourful napkin. Let the ice melt completely. Step 3: Rinse the napkins with cold water and dry them. It is ready to be used for picnics and as fun tableware.   8. Pom-Pom Blanket You +88 Need: Extra thick yarn (about 5 skeins for 10 pom-poms) 5-inch embroidery hoop Upholstery thread Sharp scissors   Step 1: Wrap the yarn vertically around a 5-inch embroidery hoop about 15 times. Tie a knot of upholstery thread around the center of the yarn. Step 2: Then wrap it around another 25 times and tie a second knot of upholstery thread around it. Repeat another 25 times and tie a third knot of thread around the yarn. Step 3: Cut a piece of yarn, wrap it around the upholstery thread and tie a knot on one end so most of the yarn is free on one side. You need this to attach the pom-pom to the blanket. Step 4: Cut the yarn along the hoop, it will look like a rough ball. Trim to make it round. Step 5: Attach the pom-pom to the blanket by threading the long piece of yarn through an opening in the weave and tie it secure. Macrame Plant Hanger Materials Needed: 1/4" white twisted polyester rope (3) colors of thinner (1/32") polyester rope scissors screw hook carabiner Step 1:  Cut the rope into four sections of 25' each. Step 2: Thread each section through the carabiner. Place the carabiner in the center of the ropes. Fold the ropes in half, creating 8 strands. Step 3:  Cut a 20" piece of rope and tie it around all 8 strands and wrap until there is a few inches of the rope left, then tie it. Cut a 20’ piece of the other coloured rope and tie it around the 8 strands and wrap till there is a few inches of rope left. Tie off. You can repeat step this with other colors of rope, creating a stripe pattern. Step 4: Separate the 8 strands of rope into 4 groups of 2 and tie each group of 2 into an overhand knot. Be sure to keep the knots the same distance away from the carabiner hook. These knots will designate where the top of your planter is. Step 5:  Lay the knots down flat next to each other. Knot together the 2nd and 3rd piece of rope, the 4th and 5th pieces of rope and the 6th and 7th pieces of rope using an overhand knot. Then, knot together the 1st and 8th pieces of rope. This second set of knots will sit in the middle of your planter, so make sure the length between the first set of knots and the second set match your planter. Tip: If you're using a 10" tall pot, the space between each knot should be 5 inches. Step 6: Gather all 8 strands and tie a piece of colorful rope around them and wrap the colorful rope around the white strands, which creates a pattern. Step 7: Place your pot into the holder and adjust the knots around the pot. Cut the bottom of the rope under the patterned secction. Screw a hook into your ceiling, and showcase your new hanging planter near a window or outside on your porch. Make Clay Trays Materials Needed: Sculpey or Fimo clay in 3 different colors shallow glass bowl circular items to use as stencils (lids, small bowls,etc.) rolling pin Roll Out Clay Step 1: Condition the clay by rolling it around in your hands for a few minutes. Once soft, start rolling it flat with the rolling pin to a 1/8-inch thickness. Step 2: Create a polka-dot pattern in the clay with a pen or you can make different patterns as you like.   Step 3: Place a circlular object, over the clay and use it as a stencil. Cut around the stencil with a knife, and lightly smooth out the edges with your fingers. Step 4: Turn over a shallow bowl. Place the clay circle right side down over the bowl, and lightly press down until it takes the shape of the bowl. Bake according to the clay packaging instructions. You can use as trays or ashtrays.  Block-Printed Napkins Print Materials Needed Napkins Potatoes Acrylic paints Step 1: Take the potatoes and cut them into shapes and patterns. Make them into stamps Step 2: Dip the potatoes into acrylic paint and then press them on the napkins. Step 3: Let them dry and wash them before use. Use these as decorative Napkins for dinners. If you loved this art and crafts article, you might also like our streams where we show you how to recycle the products and create something entirely new.

The list of experiential gifts with the best trips you could go on, classes you could take, and restaurants to try which worked before  2020, may not be exactly feasible today. And while many things have reopened in some form or fashion, it’s understandable if you or your loved ones are still limiting your interactions with the outside world. The downtown time we have all experienced has led to a plethora of digital experiences that can be delivered to your home with a  click of a button. Whether you live in separate states or are practising social distancing and since you may not be able to celebrate with your loved ones in real life knowing how to give a good virtual gift has become a key life skill. Also if you are a person who last-minute gift buyer, gifting an experience instead of a last-minute gift.  Let’s look at the best virtual experiences you can gift your loved ones.  A Streaming Service Membership No one is going to be disappointed with a streaming subscription, especially since these days that’s how we are entertaining ourselves at home. Gifting a streaming service membership means your loved ones will never be without a TV show or a movie. If you're gifting to someone who already has the classics like Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+, consider a newer or more niche streaming service like Discovery Plus.      A Meditation Subscription Give the gift of calm to your loved ones to help them cope with everything that’s going on in their lives, through a meditation app. There are various apps these days, they have hundreds of guided meditations for everything from stress and anxiety to sleep. With all that’s happening in the world, anyone would be grateful to receive a gift that helps them in achieving zen.      A Heartfelt Card Notes have always been known to have a sentimental meaning. They always have a personal touch and make the receiver feel special. With the advent of the digital age and email and phone calls being the most common means of communication, a personalized note is a gift that will stand out. Services like Postable allow you to send mail through your phone. Just pick a card, write a message, and Postable will send your recipients a request to input their mailing address and then handle the shipping for you.     A Masterclass If people on your list would like to become an expert in anything a Masterclass will make a perfect gift for them. The star-studded lecture series has been offering a variety of courses taught by successful actors, singers, athletes, mixologists, and many more. The courses are of 12 to 20-minute durations and cover a variety of topics as the instructor moves ahead. Whether your pal wants to learn some acting skills from Natalie Portman or take a beginner cooking lesson from famous Chef Gordon Ramsay, the Master class has it all.    [caption id="attachment_10324" align="alignnone" width="850"] Image Source: shiftedmag.com[/caption]   Home Workouts There might be a stigma around fitness-related gifts as people may take it as an insult. But this gift is ideal for a friend who is missing her in-person training session or that high-intensity training at the gym. Various apps and websites have tailor-made sessions to cater to one's fitness goals.    [caption id="attachment_10325" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image Source: thenytimes[/caption]   Make-up Subscriptions If have a friend or a loved one who loves keeping up with make-up trends and is obsessed with experimenting with looks they are a great candidate for a beauty subscription box. These subscriptions let their recipients experience new exciting products every month. These can range from mid-range to luxurious products as well. The products in these subscriptions are also vetted by experts and have step-by-step instructions on how to use the products.      A Private Cooking Lesson For the person who wishes to improve their cooking skills or just try a hand at cooking a private cooking lesson is a perfect back. It's like inviting a chef to your kitchen but virtually. These lessons can either be over Skype or even Zoom. The private lessons are taught by pros and they cover a variety of dishes.     A Spotify Membership We all know the ad’s in between enjoy your playlist can a tad be annoying. But none of us ever invest in getting the subscription or it just slips our mind. So appeal to someone’s musical side by gifting a Spotify membership.      A Book Subscription We all know a book worm and what better way to delight them with a book subscription. Companies like The Big Book Box curate books and goodies with a new theme every month. And these are a surprise so you would never know what you are getting making the experience more magical.  A Message From Their Favourite Celeb Cameo is an online service that allows you to buy personalized shout-outs from celebs and reality stars. The company has a roster of thousands of athletes, comedians, and personalities to choose from, including Debra Messing, Billy Porter, and tons of other celebrities The stars set their own price per message, and you can request exactly what they say in their video. A Care Package Subscription When it comes to wellness there’s nothing better than a monthly delivery chock-full of healthy, helpful items to boost your well-being. Care packages include carefully curated items intended to help take care of yourself emotionally, mentally, and physically. One can also expect a mix of tips, activities, and gifts that promote mindfulness, creativity, and movement.  If you are doing some last-minute Christmas shopping or giving a gift to a loved one who you cannot meet personally, a virtual experience is the way to go. These are also curated in such a way that makes them personal. So gift an experience to someone rather than just a  gift card. Happy Shopping!!

Many Children today are spending more time in front of mobile, tablets, laptops and television than ever before. They are swapping fun and active outdoor time with more of a sedentary lifestyle. Time for outdoor play is diminishing and this is a serious cause of concern. In the long run it will have severe consequences on their health and overall well-being. As parents it is very important to recognize the importance of outdoor play for our children's healthy growth. Come let’s encourage our children to step into the sunshine with these fun outdoor games for kids. 10 Fun Outdoor Games for Kids To Play Hopscotch Well, this popular game has entertained children for ages and needs no introduction. Hopscotch is one of the simple outdoor games for kids where players throw a small object into numbered spaces of a pattern marked on the ground and then hop through these spaces to retrieve the object. There is only one hard and fast rule and that’s, you can’t touch the lines. Scavenger Hunt To play the game, create a list of items that can be found around your home or neighborhood. Next step is to make teams and give them their first clue. Once the players find the first item, they can move to locate the second with help of the next clue. When the time limit runs out, count the items collected from both teams. Whichever team collects the most items is the winner! Super fun, right! Hide and Seek Hide and Seek is an old popular fun outdoor games for kids in which players hide themselves in a set environment, to be found by the denner. The denner is that one chosen player who has to count till a certain number while the other players hide. After finishing the count he tries to find the hidden players. The first one found is the next denner, and the last one is the winner of the round. Jump-Rope This simple exercise can be turned into a fun game with just a long rope and a couple of friends. It’s traditionally a girls' playground or sidewalk activity where two players hold the edges of the rope and swing it in a circular motion. The other players take turns jumping, while counting to know who can jump the most. Capture The Flag Capture the flag is a traditional outdoor game that can be played with two or more teams. Each team tries to get into enemy territory, steal the flag, and make it back safely to their side. Teamwork is the key to success in this game. However if you’re caught by an opposing team member, you’re frozen and can no longer do anything for your team. Kick The Can This fun outdoor games for kids is similar to hide & seek with a slight variation. Place a can in the middle of the play area and choose one kid to guard the can. The guard counts while the other children hide. The hidden children have to try to kick the can without getting tagged by the guard. The child who kicks the can wins, or the guard wins if no one is successful in kicking the can. Red Light, Green Light Gather a group of at least five to six children, and choose one of them to be the traffic light. The kid representing the traffic light has to stand with his or her back to the group. The rest of the kids have to stand at the other end. When that child yells, “Green light,” the group runs toward the traffic light and when the child yells “Red light,” everyone must stop running. If a child keeps running through a red light, they are out, who then becomes the next traffic light. Four Squares Four squares is a ball game played on a square court divided into four squares. The objective of this game is to eliminate other players to achieve the highest rank on the court. This is done by bouncing the ball back and forth between squares. The person in square one gets to choose the rules. Anyone who violates the rules will have to move down in the ranking, or can even get eliminated. Ring Toss Ring toss are perfect outdoor party games for kids. Set up wooden poles and let the kids toss plastic rings on them. You can also use inflatable pool rings and have kids toss them onto people instead of the pole. For bigger children, change the difficulty by using different items for the rings, like plastic bracelets, rope rings, hula hoops, or pool diving rings. Tug of War This game is a standard classic fun outdoor games for kids. Here two teams fight against each other in a test of strength. Equal number of players from both the teams pull on opposite ends of a long thick rope.  It has a piece of tape or handkerchief tied in the middle to show the center point. The goal is to pull the other team across the center line. First team to do so is the winner. Indulge in Legendary Tales of immortal love from India through virtual storytelling with Cece Streams. Spider Web This game is a great way to get kids outside. Start by making a web with tape on the floor, if you are doing it on the lawn, then rope or ribbon will work well. Have the kids try to jump between the ropes or tapes into the sections without touching the spider web. Whoever makes it to the finish without touching the web is the winner. There is nothing better than playing outdoor games with your friends and family. So get your kids outside and have a blast with these fun outdoor games for kids. If we have missed any of your favorite games to add to this list, leave us a comment in the box below.