Month: February 2022

Cookware

An artist needs his easel, paints and brushes to create masterpieces, a weaver needs colorful threads to knit intricate designs, and cooks need good cookware to churn out delicious food. Unlike the olden days where there was a limited choice, the market today is filled with an array of designer pots and pans in various metals shapes and sizes.

Choosing cookware can be an easy affair if you run through a checklist before doling out cash. Cooking habits play a major role in deciding your cookware. For example, go for cast-iron sets if you like to blacken and sear food. Cast-iron cookware provides even heat and is incredibly durable. Opt for non-stick pans if you like less oil or want to heat sticky food like rice. The quantity of food consumed in your house also plays a role in deciding your cookware. If you have a large family you will like to own big pots, while a small family will have medium or small-sized utensils. Once you have these requirements clearly sorted out in your mind, you can allocate your budget accordingly.

There are various metals that are used in making cookware these days. Cast iron, stainless steel, copper, aluminum and tin are some of the popular ones. Most common and low-maintenance cookware is made from stainless steel. Though pots made from aluminum are the least expensive, they are less durable and discolor with some kind of acidic food. Vessels made from copper provide the best heat conductivity.

Caring and maintenance is required to provide a long and useful life to your utensils. Always allow your fry pan to cool before washing or soaking. Drying your pots immediately after washing will prevent having water spots. Do not leave your cookware exposed to flame or a heat source without food or liquid inside.

Cake Decorating

You have sifted the flour, beaten the eggs, softened the butter, mixed the ingredients, put it in the oven to bake – voila you have a beautiful cake. Now it time to decorate.

The first and obvious consideration before decorating is what occasion is the cake celebrating – if any at all. Let’s begin with a simple cake that is planned dessert for supper. A white or chocolate frosting is usually sufficient for a dessert cake. A basic frosting recipe contains butter, sugar, and water or milk. More liquid can be added if you are making a glaze. Different flavored extracts, fruit zest or juice, and chocolate are often added. The most important ingredient is sugar for it provides the sweetness and bulk. Butter comes next (sometimes shortening is substituted) and eggs. Egg whites can be used as well, but should be whipped in a mixing bowl to prevent peaks.

If the occasion is more elaborate like a wedding, anniversary, birthday or shower, you need to decide whether you want to use icing or frosting. There is a difference. Icing sounds more professional when talking about frosting. But the fact is, there is a difference. Frosting is stiffer and pipes well. It is considered creamier and softer than icing. Whatever you decide do not use inferior ingredients. Buy quality ingredients to guarantee your cake and topping is fresh, tender and delicious. You can make decorations like flowers ahead of time and put them in the freezer. Don’t look for shortcuts. You won’t be happy with the results. There are hundreds of books and online sites that can give you wonderful recipes for cake decorating. Treat your cake as a canvas and bake and decorate a piece of art.

Cheese

Legend has it that an unknown Arab nomad accidentally discovered cheese. He embarked upon a horseback journey across the desert filled with a saddlebag of milk. When he stopped to rest, the milk had separated into curds and whey. The logical explanation to this occurrence is the functioning of rennin. The bacteria were present in the saddlebag, which was made from the stomach of a young animal.

Cheese has been a popular food for centuries and has also been mentioned in the Old Testament. Even today, inducing various types of bacteria into milk transform it to cheese. The bacteria in time works on the milk and, depending upon the different types used, specific textures and flavors of cheese are determined.

Cheese is always manufactured from milk. Milk from cattle (cows, sheep, goats) is used at all times. Cheese textures vary from hard to semi-soft, and from mildly acidic to sharp. There are hundreds of different types of cheese available. Primarily, they are classified based upon 4 factors. These include type of milk used (raw, skimmed or pasteurized) and the source of the milk (cow, goat, sheep, buffalo, horse, yak or camel). Other factors include type of bacteria or acid used and the country it is made in.

Since cheese is available in such a wide variety, it can be confusing for the consumer to decide what to buy. Stored cheese is a good travel food. It has a long shelf life and contains high fat, protein, calcium, and phosphorus. Cheese can also be eaten in various forms. These include consuming raw, cooked, cold or warm cheese preparations.

Party Masks

Party masks are used for fun and pleasure on occasions like Christmas, New Year’s, Halloween, Mardi Gras or even birthdays. On these occasions, fancy dress costumes, wigs, and accessories are used, but masks are the easiest, shortest and cheapest way to enjoy a party. Party masks can take any form, from cute to funny to hilarious to scary to political to downright sexy.

For a birthday party a child can use masks that look like animals. Children can prepare cat masks, dog masks, lion masks, pig masks or robot masks. They can also use masks like Batman, Scooby Doo, and Spiderman. There are also character masks of Bob the Builder and Harry Potter. Pop star masks and political masks for well-known political faces could be used. For Halloween parties, horror masks that make one look like a zombie, ape man, devil, reptile, skull, vampire, witch, or werewolf are popular. But for lighter occasions like New Year and Christmas, masks of a more comical and clownish nature could be most suitable.

There are also loads of masks to choose from for different parties. There could be Mardi Gras masks, feather mask or patriotic mask showing famous politicians. Feather masks could be used for most elegant or extravagant parties. These masks are especially trendy at any carnival or Mardi Gras celebration. For parties, full masks, half-masks, or eye masks could be used. On these occasions a person can have fantasy eye masks. He can also use plastic face masks for animals and human beings.

Wholesale Beads

As beads serve multiple purposes and can be used for creative work like jewelry making, crafts, handbags, and the like, they are gaining popularity among women and kids. Apart from this, craftsmen and artisans use these beads to enhance the value of their product. They combine these beads along with their weaves to create beautiful patterns. Creativity gets a new horizon when one starts working with beads

Among a wide range of beads available on the market, they are classified on the basis of their color, size, cut, finish and availability. Certain beads are widely available and hence cost less, where as beads like pearl and Swarovski crystal are rare, precious and expensive.

Suppliers boast of their collection of beads, and import these beads from different corners of the world to meet the increasing demand. They then supply the beads to local markets, and give great bargains if bought in bulk.

When going for bead purchases, there is a wide variety available. You can choose your beads based on size, color, shape and cost. If you want to choose a bead on color, you can choose it from a rainbow of colors like aqua, aquamarine, charcoal, cobalt, emerald, black and any other color in existence. There are various sizes to choose from. You can mix the sizes and arrange them in different styles to suit you. If you want to mix shapes, you have various choices including oval, round, banana, butterfly or even candy. You can also buy a mix of different beads readily available with the suppliers. If you are going to buy a precious bead then you should also focus on the cut and clarity of the bead.

Acne Solutions

The onset of puberty is often signaled by the appearance of tiny reddish bumps on the skin – especially the face. These bumps or pimples better as acne become infected and scar the skin, sending teenagers and adults rushing to the medicine cabinet for an instant cure.

Acne is one of the commonest skin disorders. It is an infection of the skin, accompanied by an increased production of oil by the sebaceous glands. This oil combines with dead skin cells and the resulting debris blocks hair follicles. Such conditions are ideal for skin bacteria that multiply quickly giving the skin a swollen, red and somewhat embarrassing appearance. Acne affects much more than the skin. It influences personality and self-esteem.

The causes of acne are not yet fully understood. As a result, there is no real antidote. It is believed that the hormonal surge that accompanies puberty is responsible for acne. Hyperactivity of the sebaceous glands, excessive dead skin cells, bacterial infections and chemicals like chlorine are also listed as causes. There are as many myths about the causes of acne as there are facts. It is believed that consumption of fatty foods like butter; greasy food, chocolates and sugar are causes. These suggestions lack scientific evidence.

Cures for acne are designed to tackle bacterial infection, reduce the secretion of oil glands and remove dead skin cells. Creams and lotions which crowd super market shelves offer a four-fold benefit to the user. These include eradication of the infection, removal of dead cells, stemming the production of oil and masking the discomfiting bumps and scars caused by acne. It is always advisable to consult a dermatologist before using a skin lotion or ointment for acne. There are a few precautions one can take to reduce the effects of acne. These are, washing the face regularly using warm water and a mild soap. You should also avoid squeezing pimples, strong sunlight and excessive use of makeup.

While acne often disappears in adulthood, it could leave deep scars and skin blemishes on the body. Dermatologists and plastic surgeons have developed several techniques to mask facial scars. Some of these are dermabrasion, laser resurfacing and punch excision. Chemical peels that remove dead skin layers are also widely used. Stress is known to increase acne in some people. Exercise and controlled diet help reduces stress and the spread of acne. Acne cannot be prevented, but judicious use of available solutions goes along way in reducing its impact on the skin and more importantly on the mind.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses are shades for the eyes that may offer protection, better vision, comfort, or just a chic look. They are different from spectacles which only function for people with disorders of vision. Sunglasses are more associated with fashion rather than function.

It is surmised that the idea of sunglasses took birth from the Roman Emperor Nero who liked to watch gladiator fights through emeralds and rubies. But the modern sunglasses took shape only in the 1940s and the movie and pop fraternity has had a huge contribution in making them so popular. Today, sunglasses are available in all perceivable colors, with hundreds of rim and frame styles and protective enhancements.

The most popular classic style of sunglasses is the aviator. They have oval pear-shaped lenses that narrow towards the bridge of the nose. Early movies have stars flaunting their aviators with style. This style is still largely popular; despite the entry of polarized lenses, sports eyewear, wraparounds and clip-ons.

Polarized sunglasses provide protection from severe solar glares from water and snow surfaces, beaches, and roads. They use the light polarization technology mastered by Edwin H. Land in 1936. People who want to discard their spectacles for something trendier without compromising on their visual quality opt for prescriptive sunglasses. Sportspeople wear a different type of polarized sunglasses that are mirrored on the outside that reflect light of different colors.

Whatever type of glasses one might be wearing can be changed into something radically different by attaching a pair of clip-ons. Clip-on sunglasses are a pair of lens available in a wide variety of colors and features that may be affixed onto an existing pair of glasses or even a hat. Sunglasses are associated with fashion in a big way and people like Britney Spears, Ivana Trump, Sophia Loren, and Linda Evans have their own lines of sunglasses. One could say that sunglasses are as much a part of the catwalk as they are of the street.

Oakley was the first brand to recognize the potential of sunglasses as a fashion accessory. Their sunglasses are still very highly priced and exclusive. However there are countless other brands including Ray-Bans, Serengetis, Christian Diors, Chanels, Donna Karans, Dolce & Gabbanas, and Louis Vuittons. thronging the designer sunglasses market. These popular brands have spawned another endless market of replica sunglasses, whose products are available at fractions of the costs of the originals.

Sunglasses are a must-have on beaches, picnics, or just when walking down the street on a sunny day. They have become as important as any other part of clothing.

Dance Shoes

To begin your dance journey, enroll in a dance school to taking up formal dance lessons. Your next very big step will be buying a pair of dance shoes.

Typical ballroom dance shoes may have non-slip soles and a metal shank for support on the foot’s arch. They are so lightweight and flexible that you may sometimes forget that you are wearing them.

Some dance shoe stores carry only dance shoes that can be purchased online. These stores have wide selections of handcrafted ballroom and even Latin dance shoes from overseas shoe capitals. Dance shoes can be worn in all types of dance x96 be it Latin, salsa, ballroom, tango, or swing.

Dance lovers who majored in dance are major buyers of dance shoes. Dance majors hone not only their physical skills but also their knowledge of the science, history, and theories surrounding the art of dance. They brace themselves for rigorous dance techniques and choreography classes, long nights of dress rehearsals, and academic classes.

These dance majors can also have careers apart from professional dancing. They can concentrate on other dancing-related fields such as dance education, therapy, and administration. Challenging both their minds and bodies in this demanding art form, those who major in dance need all the help they can get. This is where dance shoes come in. They are the dancers’ best friends with their stylish look, durability, and ease of use.

Students of dance are taught how to express their ideas and emotions through various forms of dance such as modern, jazz, ethnic, folk, and ballet. They learn about positive body image, good nutrition, and methods to prevent injury. They also help in the production of dance concerts, working with costumes, lights, and sound. They may opt to teach dance later on in their careers.

So if you want to pursue your love for dance on a higher level, enroll yourself in dance school. But before doing that, you need a good pair of dance shoes to weather all dance challenges.

Camps for Troubled Teens: Disciplines and Wilderness

Parents looking for a quick fix usually choose troubled teen camps. There are two types of teen camps: boot camps and summer or wilderness camps. They usually last from one to six weeks, and while teens may shows signs of improvement for days or even weeks after coming home, they often revert back to old behaviors after the fear of authority disappears.

Boot camps are military-style facilities that use discipline, military exercises, rigorous physical training, and fear of authority to transform a troubled teen into a “good soldier” who follows rules. Unfortunately, most boot camps do not address underlying emotional or behavioral problems. Without therapy or behavior modification, long-term effectiveness is limited. If parents do chose to send their troubled teen to a boot camp, the best chance for long-term success is to follow it with a treatment program.

Wilderness camps are usually seen as an alternative to boot camps. Instead of the aggressive approach that boot camps tend to use, wilderness camps are more likely to be behavior modification programs with a component of the program held outdoors. They remove urban distractions so troubled teens can reconnect accept responsibility for their choices. Because these wilderness camps are generally held in summer, they may not include an academic component. There are a few that do, though, which is especially important for teens who have fallen behind during the school year.

The biggest benefit to wilderness camps as opposed to boot camps is that they often provide substance abuse treatment for troubled teens. Again, because wilderness camps usually only last for one to six weeks, the best chance for long-term success is to follow it with a treatment program. This will supplement and reinforce the treatment teens receive at camp.

Soul Mate Symbols

Over the centuries, various symbols have been used to represent, express and intensify love. Ancient symbols carved from stones that were thought to contain love energies have been used to unite soul mates lost in many lives.

The most common symbols used to depict love, loyalty, and friendship are a horse, a dolphin, and a dog. These symbols, when carved out of any gemstone, make a powerful love or friendship talisman. Similarly, the butterfly is also a symbol of love, transformation and joy. In fact, crystal is believed to be an amplifier that can attract your lost soul mate to you instantly. Fashioned in the shape of a heart, a pendant can amplify love, removing energy blocks so love can flow freely.

The Tarot revolves around powerful soul mate symbolism. The tarot card of love is devoted to people, love and partnership. Cards such as companionship and entanglement also reflect the focus on relationships. There is also a new soul mates tarot card. The key symbols here are used in picture form to communicate ideas about love. The flowers represent growth and feelings, while cranes stand for the human soul.

Palm lines, symbols and patterns are also considered to be indications of deeper mysteries, and in our palms are the powerful symbols that hold the key to reaching our soul mates. Similarly, Reiki, Astrology, Tarot and many other ancient mystic arts contain symbols and indications about the concept of soul mates.

The Cupid’s arrow, entwined hearts, a red rose, ribbons and lace, doves, love knots, etc., are some of the modern day symbols to represent the same concept.