ROSES FOR VALENTINES

RED ROSES..FOR VALENTINES

• Red Roses...Fresh red roses with dew drops is a symbol of Love.Roses are the flowers which Lovers give each other.We have seen them in many movies too,lovers giving and receiving red roses.etc.
• Not only red roses, but there are differant colours  in roses which convey messages with them.
• YELLOW ROSE...If you want to convey a message to your friend or lover ,give her a yellow rose.It says that "You are my friend/lover,and I will take care of you".Yellow rose represents both friendship and joy, happiness,and freedom too.If you want to convey a message to your friend saying "I want our friendship to turn into love"then tie a red coloured velvet ribbon to the yellow rose.
• VIOLET ROSE...If you want to convey "Love at first sight"then give  violet colour rose to her.
• PINK ROSE...If you want to convey"Thank you"then give pink colour rose.
• WHITE ROSE...Conveys mental peace,purity,sanctity and silence.
• ORANGE ROSE...Conveys your hopes and implied  desire,saya "I am proud of you".
• WHITE ROSES BOUQUET...Conveys wishes  "Happy marital life" to the newly married couple .
• BLACK ROSES BOUQUET...Conveys hatred and good bye especially from your lover,and is commonly used in funerals.
• RED AND WHITE ROSES BOUQUET...Conveys unity of lovers.
• WHITE AND PINK ROSES BOUQUET...Conveys "Lasting Love" wishes to near and dear. 
• RED ROSE...Red rose symbolizes "True love",and it directly conveys"I LOVE YOU" meaning.It signifies a lovers  respect.It means love,unity,romance as well as passion.

So...give colour roses and convey, according to the symbolic meanings..
MESSAGES OF ROSES...

• 1 RED ROSE...Conveys a message"I like you ,and you are a special to me".
• 2 RED ROSES...Conveys a message"We both are in love".
• 3 RED ROSES...Conveys a message"I love you".
• 11 RED ROSES BOUQUET...Conveys "I love  you more than any one".
• 25  ROSES BOUQUET...Conveys"All the best", "Congrats".
• 50  ROSES BOUQUET..Conveys" Love without expectations".
• 100 ROSES BOUQUET..Convey"I will stand by you all the life"
• ROSE WITHOUT THORNS...Conveys" Love and relationship".
• ROSES WITH LEAVES...Conveys " Lifelong  sweet relationship"
• 13 ROSES WITHOUT PERSON...Conveys "Silent Love".

STUFFED BRINJAL / VANKAYA JEELAKARRA KARAM KURA

VANKAYA JEELAKARRA KARAM KURA /STUFFED BRINJAL 

Vankaya jeelakarra karam..There are 5 to 6 varieties of stuffed brinjals curries.It is another variation among the brinjal curries.Naturally brinjal curry tastes yummy either with steamed rice or rotis..This is a very simple and easiest of all and can prepare it in emergency times.It is not suitable for auspicious days as onions are added. 
MATERIALS:
Brinjals- 500 gms
Cut in to 4 halves with the ends intact
Onions-4 to 5 nos-medium size
chopped into chunks
Red chillie powder-2 tbsp
According to your spicy levels
Jeera powder-1 tsp
Salt-as required
Oil -3 to 4 tbsp
U can reduce the oil,if you are calorie conscious
STOVE TOP METHOD:
Mix  the chilli powder,jeera and salt together with a spoon.
Stuff in to the brinjals.
Now place a pan on the stove ,add oil to it.
After the oil is heated add the stuffed brinjals and onions chunks.
Mix well,and cook in low to medium flame until cooked.
This curry cooks well if it is covered with a lid,without burning.
Surely it may take 20 to 30 mins time on gas stove.
Serve with steamed rice or rotis.

BEAUTY TIPS

BEAUTY - MOISTURISING SKIN:
•To improve the eye lashes ,at bed time apply 2 drops of  pure castor oil to the eye lashes.
 •Massage  dry and wrinkled elbows every day at bedtime with a good moisturizer or baby oil to make it soft,smooth .
 •Massage your face and neck every night at bedtime with a good moisturizer  or baby oil to make it soft,smooth and glowing.
 •If the skin around the heels become hard and cracked ,scrub your heels with a pumice stone using soap and water. Lastly wash and massage nicely with a vaseline.
 •To improve and moisturize  dry complexion, take a teaspoon of badam oil and mix with a half spoon of milk cream and lime juice. Apply every night before bed on face and neck.
 •To get cure from rough dry skin around the knees,elbows and heels,massage them regularly with castor oil.
 •In the winter or cool weather take oil bath to prevent your body from becoming dry.Put 1 tbsp of olive oil in your bath water
along with a few drops of your favourite cologne. The skin will turn soft after the bath.

PAPPU PULUSU/PAPPU CHARU/TUR DAL STEW

PAPPU PULUSU

Pappu pulusu.. is a traditional Andhra vegetarian  variety  made with tur dal,and sounds best among various stews.It is  nutritionally a complete and fulfilling one and has delicious taste too.

MATERIALS:
Tur dal-1 cup
Onions -1 large 
(Made into chunks)
Tamarind-1 big lime sized
(Squeezed into juice by adding 5cups of water)
Green chillies-6 to 10 nos
(made into slits)
Garlic flakes-10 nos
Oil- 2 tbsp
Mustard seeds-1/2 tsp
Methi seeds-a pinch
Red chillies-8nos
(Add according to your spicy levels)
Chilli powder-1/2 tsp
(If necessary)
Sugar/Jaggery-1/2 tsp
Curry leaves
Cilantro
Salt
METHOD:

• First of all ,dry roast the tur dal for 3 minutes in a kadai on low flame.
• Wash the roasted tur dal,and add 2 and 1/2 cups water ,and pressure cook till the dal is done.
• After 3 whistles, switch off the stove, and let it stand aside for half an hour.
• Now add the oil to a micro safe bowl and Micro High for 30 seconds.
• Add the seasoning mustard seeds,methi and red chilli slits and again Micro High for 2 minutes.
• Remove out and mix well,and add onion chunks and garlic flakes and MicroHigh for 4 minutes.
• Mix once  for every 2 minutes.
• Remove out,mix well and add squeezed tamarind juice,green chilli slits ,chilli powder,salt required, and Micro High for 8 minutes.
• If your spicy levels are high then only add chilli powder.
• It starts boiling by now,remove out add cooked tur dal,and 1/2 tsp of sugar/jaggery,curry leaves and Micro @80% for 10 to 12 mins.
• Check for every 4 minutes.Add cilantro and stand aside covered for 15 mins.
• Serve hot with steamed rice and roasted papads.

STOVE TOP METHOD:

• After cooking tur dal in a pressure cooker,let it stand for half an hour .
• After the pressure goes off take the cooked dal out into another bowl.
• Now place a pan on the stove,add oil,and after it is heated,add seasoning and redchilli slits.
• After they splutter add onion chunks and garlic and fry for 5 min on low flame.
• Then add the squeezed tamarind juice,green chilli slits,chilli powder and salt and let it boil.
• Now add the cooked tur dal,sugar and curry leaves and let it continue boil for 5 mins in low flame.
• Add cilantro and switch off the stove and cover it with a lid.
• Let it stand aside for 15 mins,and then serve hot with steamed rice .

HENNA- AS A HAIR DYE

Henna..
Henna..has been used since ages as a hair colourant. Henna,as mehandhi has been used for skin dyeing since ancient times to dye skin, as a temporary tattooing on hands,fingers and hair.

• The name is also used for other dyes too,black henna and chemicals mixed henna, which are not derived from mehandi plant.
• Henna is a tall shrub or small tree,multiple branched cultivated in sub tropical regions  of Africa,Southern Asia and Northern Australia.
• Henna.. is an herbal option.. for those who are allergic to chemical based hair dyes, considered by many Indian women for colouring their grey hair.

• Some hair dressers say,that henna is not safe,but for REAL HENNA it is not true.
• Henna and Black henna is different.Black henna is chemical based .

• Natural henna may be herbal,until unless any colouring chemicals are added.We have to rely on them.
• As some henna powders have metallic compounds that react with the ammonia activator in synthetic hair dyes. So,Buy henna only from reputable sources to avoid this,or go natural.
• Experts say,that instead of relying on the henna powders directly wet grind the mehandi leaves with water and apply to the hair.
• It gives a dark red/brown colour to the grey hair when kept for longer periods.
• For light brown/shade remove/wash in one hour only. 
• Henna dries out the hair and causes it to be brittle in the long run,it is not an good idea to henna for a long time, say years together.
• Next compulsorily- To avoid dryness,use a moisturizer or oil  to soften the henna hair.
• After applying henna,as a hairdye for more than one hour your hair will become brownish/reddish.Only selective people like the shade.
• In my view,when you have grey hair upto 25% to 50% then henna is useful to you much,as the hair totally looks well,and you can retain upto 1to 2 hours.
• But when you have grey hair more than 75% of your total hair,then you have to think ,as it looks red/brown tinge.
• Those who are allergic to respiratory problems and asthamatics,may suffer due to cold and coughs and pneumonia due to the wet henna on the hair for a long period. 
• The problem with regularly hennaing is the duration of the  time,dryness and brittle hair,the red/brown colour and lastly prone to cold allergies.

Henna  as a hair dye..

• Go natural,by using self made henna powder/paste,or purchase from a reputable known shop.Or you can get the henna leaves, and dry them and powder them and store them in a airtight container for people who has the oppurtunity.
• Mix henna powder,with tea decoction/instant coffee powder,a night before.
• Before applying add whole egg(if u can tolerate the smell)/egg whites,mix well and apply on the hair.
• Keep on your hair for 1 and 1/2 hours to 2 hours.
• Moisturize.. after you henna your hair compulsorily go for moisturizing your hair ,which softens your henna hair.
• Moisturize your hair with  eggs,or curds or coconut milk ,herbal oil and keep your hair clean with regular  headbaths.

• Apply a conditioner,and keep your hair under condition..

  

Highlights ..

• You can also go for highlights, and highlight colour all grey hair.
• So the rest of your hair will stay healthy, being your greyhair is covered with highlights, and your hair will look gorgeous.
   

Hair dye/ Hair colour..

• Go for a temporary, mild and gentle, herbal hair colourant,which just deposits colour on grey hair without impacting natural hair.
•  Best go for the gentle hair colour that you can find in the market, especially if your hair is grey.
• If you have more grey hair go for a hair colour.
• Do not use hair dyes which contain ammonia, go for ammonia free hairdyes..
• But they do contain hydrogen peroxide ,but hydrogen peroxide is less damaging for the hair.
• See that dyes do not contain parabens and sulphates too.
• Select for mild colourants ,and do not go for permanent hair colour which lasts for 5 to 6 weeks. 

• It is a confusion.. to select henna or a hair dye,but it is up/left  to personal .
• Hair loss may be due to many reasons,check them without getting panic,and come to a decision.
• Shedding normally upto 50 to 100 hairs a day may be normal.

I have a collection of tips from many sources, which I edit, and make an article for my blog.