Digital Scrapping And Bits & Pieces

Why do some websites simply disappear within a short phase after surfacing on the internet.I was spellbound by the uniqueness of one particular site as it kindled in me my passion for scrapbooking but then left me in the lurch due to its abrupt departure.However,such sites boost up your hidden talents and motivate your creativity as they treat you lavishly with lovely tools  they feature on their sites. Along with that, they endlessly pester us  to become a member of their site.Apparently in the initial stages everything is provided for free.We often fall into the trap.Suddenly we feel secured on these sites.They become part of our lives. Once we are hooked to the site we wouldn’t even imagine interacting with  any other sites because we tend to become virtually attached to a certain website and depend on it for everything.When we have reached that point, we are lured again with their sweet talking to become a paid member so that we may enjoy a lot more cooler stuff.

For almost three years, I had been avidly active on this scrapbooking site which had also become my favourite surfing spot on the internet. This website made life a little more easier and a whole lot more enjoyable.I spent my pastime creating many picture blogs and cards using whimsical embellishments,stickers and background themes offered by them.This web site gave me enough opportunities to design and put together old photographs and make online digital scrap books and cards.How convenient it was when the children needed help with their school projects and assignments.Glad I was able to help them using the countless tools that was made available in this website.On every occasion,whether it was a birthday,anniversary or a festival,I never missed the opportunity to make beautiful cards for friends and family.I also made a lot of memorable digital scraps and cards under different topics and was very contented with my achievement.

But alas! I was thoroughly disappointed when the site closed down their network unexpectedly.I lost most of my creations which I had saved on my ‘personal page’ on their site.Although at that time  they alerted us about the closure and reminded us to download our creations as backups, I managed to save only a few due to time limit.On the other hand the few I had saved got deleted owing to a virus that invaded our computer sometime ago.

A number of times I have surfed the internet looking for comparable sites to fill the void. Regrettably,I have nt still  found one to stir up my creativity.In the meantime. I have found another technique to create cards for family and friends.Old photographs and random pictures from my desktop come to my rescue in this instance. All I do now is refill my printer with Canon MP560 ink cartridges and upload pictures from my desktop and get them printed. Other times I scan my children’s drawings and send them as greeting cards to family. I am simply amazed at the outcome. They are as good as cards from the store.However, refilling with Canon MP560 ink a few times will often cost more but since the finish product is exceptional, I would n’t think twice about replenishing my printer with ink cartridges whenever the need arises.

A digitally created card

 

.

 

How To Detoxify Our Home

We all love a clean house. A clean house is free from odour and germs. And so  for the sake of keeping  our home immaculate we go to great extent in buying chemically made products which instantly remove dirt and stubborn stains from our favourite furniture, carpet or any other household articles. Using these kind of products may leave our home spick and span but at what cost?  Ignorantly  or fully aware of the fact that detergents and all purpose cleaning products pose a huge threat to our health, we  continue to depend on these ‘cleaning agents’ to help us maintain a spotless home.These products contain toxic ingredients or have irritants that can cause   severe damage to our body. Inhaling too much of air freshener, carpet cleaners and laundry detergents is the starting point to respiratory problems.Why should we jeopardize our health using toxic chemicals for cleaning when  we can find  non toxic substitutes that are extremely safe , right  in our kitchen cabinets. These   household components  which are accessible and affordable, help detoxify and clean our home. They work as effective as the chemicals but without any exposure to danger. Baking soda and vinegar are basic household products that we use for cooking on a daily basis. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and has a number of useful constituents. Besides helping in diminishing the effect of acidity, it also acts as a   deodorizer to freshen homes and douse grease fires in the kitchen. It can also be used in the refrigerator and pantry cupboards to reduce the effect of odour. It soaks up unpleasant smell from carpets and upholstery and help in disinfecting the drains and sinks. In addition, it can also bring sparkle to old jewellery, porcelain, and stainless steel.

I do a lot of baking and there is always a tendency for spills. I avoid using harsh oven cleaning powder or detergents as the smell of the chemical triggers a nagging cough. To clean the oven  I wet the interior of the oven  surface and  sprinkle a fistful of  baking soda on the  sodden portion  and scrub with steel wool,which I can assure is strong enough to clear up any stubborn food deposits .The steel wool  also comes in handy whenever we need  to scour  greasy pots and pans. Tiles and floors could be cleaned by using bicarbonate soda with wet sponge and rinsing afterwards.Soured apple juice  is used, to prepare vinegar.Vinegar can get rid of greasy mold and can be used as a polish to clean floors. It can also revive your coffee pot, the tea pot and your cookware. Vinegar can be used in a solution with water or straight without diluting.

 

On the whole, without any doubt, it is extremely safe to use household substitutes like vinegar and bicarbonate soda to clean almost everything and anything in our home. In point of fact,these household products were utilized even during the time of our great –grand parents and they had been maintaining cordial relations with their immune systems for a long time unlike the present generation.Thus to be free from health hazards we need  to steer clear of  harsh chemicals  and consequently   switch over to  inexpensive substitutes from our ‘kitchen cabinet‘ to maintain an exclusively  hazardous free and  hygienic home .

 

 

 

A Toast To Summer!

The family vacation maybe  over but the  holidays for the children is still on, as schools reopen only in September.Despite the fact that we all seem to be thoroughly exhausted in the company of summer,we are  in some way coping  the hot and humid weather.With the  prevailing  weather condition in this part of the world,there is n’t much outdoor  activities  to  get occupied  except take part in religious activities like  reading the holy book and offering   extra prayers as this is the holy month of Ramadan,which  by the way,will come to an end in the next few days.And soon, we can expect some fair weather.It is always the case during the latter part of summer time,when the holiday spirits begin to wear off and all that extra time that you hold so precious,seem to drift so soon.And almost immediately  you start to brood over the lost time.

Summer makes me wonder,ponder and  beyond.At the onset,as  much as the season brings with it  the  holiday spirit,goodwill and cheer, it also ignites a lot of physical strain on us during the closing stage.By the way  I am not  being unreasonable,I still  hope to enjoy the rest of the holidays in  optimism.

Looking on the bright side,it’s apparent that Summer has not  been very harsh on me.In addition to  the exhilaration of our three week vacation to the pearl of the Indian ocean( Sri Lanka),I am also ecstatic at some of the other  things that summer has freshened me up with.It has  enabled  me to  mentally remove a few  redundant anarchism and enjoy the rest of the season with a clear mind set.My sugar level  is  well under control and the daily exercising has  brought in  some good results.I have lost a few more pounds and have gained high  energy levels.So you can just  imagine  alongside the hustle and the bustle of summer,how contentedly I am marching around the house with equally energetic children.

This Summer I also tried my hands at new recipes catering to the family’s tastes buds.Some recipes came out quite well while a few didn’t turn out as expected.That didn’t give me a reason to sign.I gave the dishes  a new name and felt happy about my achievement.On the whole,Summer has taught me to approach things  in a positive manner and I am grateful for that.


Please feel free to take a peek at Summer Skies- pictures taken during the vacation

Toward Healthy Living

To be healthy,eat healthy.That’s exactly what I am doing  since my high sugar diagnosis. My daily consumption of food is a combination of all the nutrients like proteins, fat  and carbohydrates in smaller portions.Thanks to my dietician who  helped me with  a balanced  meal plan which I  got to follow on a regular basis.Having a tete-a-tete with  the  dietician and carefully considering  the pros and cons of certain foods and the harm some food could cause long term,heightened my aspirations,to make changes in my dietary habits.

I have already lost a couple of kilos in the first few weeks of  starting my ‘weight loss-sugarless’ journey. As I am  advised to keep fit and be on the move for at least half an hour everyday,I have made it  mandatory to go on a  walking ‘spree’ for about 20-30 minutes a day. Aside  avoiding everything  which contains sugar, I have also  drastically curtailed salt intake so that the organs in the body will not malfunction.I can no more nibble as I desire  on  nuts and savouries but instead allowed  to  snack on fruits: though  advised to skip mangoes, bananas and avocados, which could spike my sugar levels and who knew my favourites: carrots, potatos and green beans fall in the same category that set off the  sugar elevation.

Drinking plenty of water,possibly seven to eight glasses per day would help flush all the wastes and toxins off the system and also makes one feel full,thereby curbing the  hunger pangs.And with that in mind,without any hesitation,I have now made it a priority to respectedly  drink  the recommended amount of water each day.According to studies,stress is also a major cause  for the sugar swings that lead to type 2 diabetes.So a ‘good night’ sleep facilitates a great deal in diminishing all forms of stress related symptoms and  dampening mood swings thus enabling one to be in peak conditions.

All in all,I am left with  no options but follow this dietary chart and  I  bet  this food diagram will also ward off  my cravings for those occasional treats.Although the task of implementing the guidelines is challenging, I have wholeheartedly accepted to significantly make adjustments in my  everyday life  for I believe this is a good  ‘bargain’ toward a hale and hearty living. 

Healthy option-  baked  vegetables