Inspiration {LOFT}

25 days of Christmas {Day 3}

2011-12-03T23:54:00.000-08:00

The kids went to a Christmas musical at one of the churches....... the kids love to see the enactment of the nativity scene. Kids can understand better who the real reason for Chrismas is. I think for my younger one it was a little too long but he still liked it and was saying that he liked the story :) The kids have begun counting down the days ...... they look forward to something new that they could do this season. Have you done this with your kids? Im sure they loved it too.

Its such joy to see the kids enjoy the season knowing the reason for the season!

25 Days of Christmas {Day2 }

2011-12-02T23:15:00.000-08:00

Another tradition that we follow is that we cozy up by the fireplace and have yummilicious hot coco. I remember our first Christmas, we celebrated it at Palm Springs! I was totally fascinated by the fireplace there at the hotel. I loved our first Christmas thats where we started this simple yet memorable tradition :)
This was the pic taken on our first Christmas :)

And seven years later .........

Thats me with the kids and dear hubs took the pic:) Happy and content and I hope the kids will remeber these wonderful times and carry some with them into the future :)

Let me know what are your family traditions when u drop me a line :)

25 days of Christmas!{Day 1}

2011-12-01T00:22:00.000-08:00

Each day from today we are going to do something meaningful and fun untill the day of Christmas..... Join us as we journey thro the month of December remembering the birth of Christ!

Today the Kids and I read stories about the birth of Jesus from the net. Heres the link for you to share this miraculous story with your kids.

The nativity story

The Real Reason

Excitement and joy are filling the air;
The lights add special decor.
We're shopping for Christmas gifts everywhere,
But are gifts what Christmas is for?

The wreaths and the trees and the parties
Aren't what we need to convey;
It's the birth of our Savior, Jesus,
The real reason for this holiday.

By Karl

Thanksgiving was just here ...........

2011-11-30T00:10:00.000-08:00

Time definitely flies........... Im soooooo thankful for ALL the wonderful things God has done in my life. The song Count your many blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done", has been ringing in my ears this whole month. God has blessed me with a loving and understanding family, very close friends, loads of acquaintances and many inumerable things that Im soooo thankful for.... I also am soo thankful for you all who read and post on my blog.... Thank you God for all that you have done for me! The month of November is a time of lots of celebration. It started off with our 7th anniversary celebrations:

After which we celebrated our parents birthday!!

Click here to see more.

We decorated our home with soo much warmth and love.... I didnt want to take the decor down:( But had to as we have started with the Christmas decor!

Just the four of us enjoyed and wonderful breakfast ,we made pumpkin pancakes and pumpkin french toast ... it sure was yummmmmmmm..

For Lunch we had our famous pumpkin soup, Deep fried Asparagus and Pumkin seed sprinkled salad.

For the main course we had green bean casserole, ham and yummy chicken made by my dear friend.

Sides included Sweet potato with marsh mellows, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes(made by dad) and home made gravy!

Last but not the least was the Tropical pumpkin flan! Which was a big hit!

Everyone loved the food and we had a wonderful time together.

Well after that we went to the mountains to meet our dear friends to have a wonderful thanxgiving feast!!!!!!!! Thanking God for everything.

Truly thankful! So what did u do this thanxgiving ......... and count your many blessings name them one by one and it will surprise you what the Lord has done!

Rainbow Birthday Party!

2011-11-12T23:04:00.000-08:00

My mom and dad celebrate their birthday on the same day! Yes, this makes it even more special :)

The minute I mentioned that its grandparents bday, my kids wanted to throw a rainbow party for them. After a long time we are being able to celebrate their bday together coz they used to live faaaaaaaaar away! Past two yrs have been a great blessing since they are couple of miles away!! Truly its a great blessing to have them close to us.....:)

Well the minute I heard 'rainbow party', my mind was running wild and we had soooooooooo much fun decorating, cooking and celebrating their birthday today! I sure have loads of pics for you to enjoy!!

Ranbow parties are so much fun! As you can see ... I got carried away. :) We had a desert table thats soooo in today!

We had loads of treats! We had different colored jello, candies sorted out in different colors and one bowl with rainbow colored candies. We also had some CAKE POPS and candy covered oreos. We also had rainbow colored juice! Recipes coming soon!

For the decorations we made a modern art for background, paper flowers with colorful paper bags, tissue paper flowers, punched flowers,paper medallion and we replaced some of the picture frames with the art work that the kids had painted! Kids just loved decorating and cudnt wait for the party to begin. Will be posting -how to's soon:)

We also had a spread of rainbow sandwiches(make your own sandwich) for lunch!We also made some delicious lip smacking chicken kabobs. The kids also helped with the fruit kabobs.

The birthday ended with a beautiful family pic ...... It has captured our wonderful memories forever!

This reminds me of a quote 'Memory is a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose. '

Love you mom and dad!

Blogging after a long time is pretty difficult!!!!

2011-10-31T01:24:00.000-07:00

Its been two months since I blogged.......... yes two whole months!!!! Thank you for all the mails, yahoo and facebook messages..... I missed you all tooooo!!!! Thanks for thinking about my blog and knowing that Ive been missing......... oh what would I do without you all! Ive been wanting to blog soo bad I finally decided to write just how I feel and what Ive been upto ....

Ive been super busy with a lot of things since Sept. The thing thats keeping me oh so super busy is that my daughter is going to kinder yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyy!!!Yes she is and Im homeschooling her part time. Who would think that homeschooling a K would be sooooooo time consuming and FUN!!!!!!

This is her first day at her school! With her amazing teacher! I just dont know how she does it she surely is fabulous!! The kids adore her :).I just volunteer only once a week and thats not easy at all LOL.

We have been on two school trips already :) soooooooo fun!! We had been to the fair and the zoo.
Thats her climbing to the trapezium.....

......... and here she comes :)

Sharon has been going for a bunch of classes........ jaz, ballet, swimming, awana, bible classes at church, practice for christmas programme etc. She loves it all. And I have the distinct pleasure of being the chaperon :)

And then Ive been going for aerobics and spin classes, womens bible study and then off to our biweekly bible studies and I just love going to all of these. I ve also been spending loads of quality time with my friends and families - I cant post all the pics but here are few:)

It has been an awesome two mths but Ive missed blogging a lot.......... tho I wont be able to blog everyday..... there will be more new amazing blogging in the future :) so please do drop in and check it out :)
See you soooooooooon!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lord Rein In Me

2011-08-28T00:56:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

2011-08-22T23:30:00.000-07:00

My blog turns one today yoooooooooooohooooooooo! Thank you for making it happen!!!!

Have blast browsing through my blog yohoooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!

Bucky Balls

2011-08-21T00:33:00.000-07:00

Saturdays Feature {Leearts}

2011-08-20T01:03:00.000-07:00

Check out some of the pretty quilled creations here.

Crafts and kids

2011-08-19T00:22:00.000-07:00

1. CREATIVITY

The most obvious benefit of doing arts and crafts is that the activity promotes creativity. Creativity engages a number of mental processes, such as problem solving, idea generation, and comprehension. Making something from raw material also comes with considerable personal rewards and a sense of accomplishment.Creative actions serve to increase self-awareness and promote self-acknowledgment.

2. MOTOR SKILLS

One of the most important developmental phases for children is that time when they begin to master basic motor skills and eye-hand coordination. Art builds up physical co-ordination. Activities like painting, drawing, coloring, cutting, joining and gluing things together to form a new object improve motor coordination in children.

3. FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS

While plenty of craft projects are flexible enough to allow children to explore their ingenuity, most of them involve a set of instructions that must be followed in order to produce the final product.

4. HAVING FUN

Crafts are fun and instructional for children. Having fun is a cornerstone of childhood, and its value should never be discounted when coming up with interesting activities for children to explore.

5. PERSEVERANCE

Perseverance is regularly stated as the single most important quality for any successful business person, sportsman, professional or individual.Fortunately, arts and craft improve everyone's perseverance. Kids learn to keep trying until they finish any task. And if something goes wrong... they simply persist by trying new ways and means. This is a good way for kids to learn patience and to understand that sometimes it takes work to achieve a positive final result.

6. CONCENTRATION

Similar to having perseverance, developing concentration is probably the second best quality any successful individual can have. Arts and craft will definitely teach your child to focus on one specific task at hand... ignoring other distractions. In short, concentration will definitely improve.

Heres a little something that my kids created when i gave them a plain piece of printing paper. inst it cute:)

Benefits of Naval oranges

2011-08-18T23:51:00.000-07:00

The antioxidant vitamin C is a main nutritional ingredient of navel oranges. Other nutrients in navel oranges are also known to help to prevent cancer as well, such as stomach and esophagus cancer. The high fiber content in navel oranges can help improve cholesterol ratios in the body, which is important in controlling diabetes.
Beta-carotene is another antioxidant found in navel oranges which helps prevent cell damage. Navel oranges also contain calcium, which promotes strong, healthy bones and vitamin B6 to boost production of hemoglobin in the bloodstream. The high potassium content in navel oranges helps maintain the balance of electrolytes in cells, and its magnesium helps keep blood pressure at an acceptable level.
Click here to read how to grow them in your backyard!

1 Thessalonians

2011-08-17T23:30:00.000-07:00

Paul writes this letter to the church he began in Thessalonica, shortly after leaving them and being unable to return. He is excited about their Christian faith, reminds them of his intense love for them, and answers questions about what death means for a Christian. As you read this book, find comfort as a believer that when you die yo will still be under Gods care and will be with the Lord forever.

Honey Grilled Chicken

2011-08-15T23:18:00.000-07:00

llkjlkj

Ingredients

vegetable oil 1/4 cup

honey 1/3 cup

soy sauce 1/3 cup

ground black pepper 1/4 teaspoon

chilli powder 1/2 tsp

cumin powder 1/4 tsp

chicken breast halves -8 (skinless, boneless)

garlic 2 cloves

Procedure:

In a large bowl, whisk together oil, honey, soy sauce, chilli powder, cumin and pepper.
Preheat the grill
Place the chicken on the grill and cook for 15 minutes, until chicken juices run clear. Turn and brush with reserved marinade frequently.

India Independance day

2011-08-14T12:06:00.000-07:00

Please Pray for India

Saturdays Feature {Malika}

2011-08-13T01:02:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone,
This blog is all about Malika's passion for designing. Check it out and be inspired. I love her pretty cards......You will really enjoy her blog check it out here.

Building blocks and kids

2011-08-12T23:59:00.000-07:00

Social Benefits- Blocks encourage children to make friends and cooperate while playing in groups.

Physical Benefits- Blocks build dexterity and strength in children’s fingers and hands, and improve their eye-hand coordination.

Intellectual Benefits- Blocks can potentially help develop children’s vocabularies as they learn to describe sizes and shapes. They may enhance their math skills through the process of adding, subtracting or grouping blocks together.

Creative Benefits - Children receive creative stimulation by making their own designs with blocks.

Benefits of Taro root

2011-08-11T23:44:00.000-07:00

aro root can be a great addition to a meal to make it heartier and healthier.They can avoid a high risk of heart issues and a risk of high blood pressure because of the lack of cholesterol and sodium in the food.Taro is high in a few vitamins that are important for the body. Taro has a lot to offer as far as minerals such as magnesium and phosphorus, Taro is an excellent source of potassium and manganese. You can grow taro root in your own garden. Click here to learn how :)li

Colossians

2011-08-10T00:37:00.000-07:00

Paul writes this letter to the church in the Colosse at about the same time as he writes Ephesians. False teachers are deceiving some of those to whom he writes. Therefore, Paul stresses the power and glory of Christ and instructs his readers on how to live as Christians. As you read this book, put your faith in this glorious Savior who died for you, and promise him that you will show Christian love and compassion to others.

Before and after TV Stand --- Unbelievable ( 3 Easy Steps)

2011-08-09T16:47:00.001-07:00

With just few steps you can go from dab to fab!!!!
Step 1: Sand your table.
Step 2: Spray paint
Step 3: Decoupage the draws

And voila!!!!! You are done!

Before:

After:

Creme Brulee

2011-08-08T15:22:00.000-07:00

Creme Brulee is also known as burnt cream, crema catalana or trinity cream. Its a desert condisting of a thick custard as its base and topped with a layer of hard caramel and its usually served cold.

Ingredients:

Heavy cream- 4 Cups

Vanilla essence -1/4 tsp

saffron few strands

Sugar- 1 Cup

Egg yolks -6

Hot water- 8 cups

Procedure:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
Place the cream, vanilla essence and few saffron strands in the saucepan and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat, cover and allow to sit.
In a bowl, whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and the egg yolks and the cream Pour into ramekins. Place the ramekins into a large pan. Pour enough hot water into the pan to come halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes. Refrigerate.
Remove from the refrigerator sprinkle the sugar and used the torch to melt the sugar and garnish with safron.

Where is your faith?

2011-08-07T18:42:00.000-07:00

Saturdays Feature{Neeti}

2011-08-06T18:31:00.000-07:00

Check out her blog for lots of creative cards and craft ideas:)

Gardening with your kids{No TV Activity 7}

2011-08-05T18:05:00.000-07:00

Along with the fun of getting dirty, gardening helps children learn valuable lessons :

they learn about patience as they wait for vegetables to grow,
they learn to be responsible as they see how necessary their care is to the garden,
they also learn what is loss when flowers die at the end of a season.
they learn about nurturing a life
they work with their families and learn to work together and share,
they also understand where food comes from

How to grow Jasmine

2011-08-04T20:47:00.000-07:00

Fertilizers should be added from time to time. Mild or moderate fertlizers must be used.
Phosphorous and Potassium should be applied in two split doses i.e once after annual pruning and again during June and July.
Tips of the plants should be pinched to stimulate lateral growth and frequent prunning.
Younger plants should be tied with the stems to give a fairly heavy support.
The preffered time to plant this Jasmine bushes is June and November.
Sandy loam soil is best recommended for growing Jasmine plant.
Water the plant daily, dont let the soil completely dry.
You can add lime to soil for the plants healthy growth
.

Philippians

2011-08-03T17:28:00.000-07:00

Paul writes this letter to the church he started in Philippi. Even though he is in prison, he feels happy when he thinks of what Christ means to him and of what the Philippians are doing for him. He gives some very practical advice on how to live the Christian life. S you read this book, remember always to rejoice in the Lord and to be content, whatever the circumstances.

Birthday card

2011-08-02T16:45:00.000-07:00

Heres a cute birthday card for you!!

Shrimp Puffs - Indian

2011-08-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

My kinds and I love shrimp:) and this is one of the recipes I concocted to satisfy my shrimp tooth. It was a super hit at our family table :) My kids loved the flaky crispy puffs and were super excited that it had shrimp in it. Im sure you will love it too........ this brings back memories of me and my friends having some egg puffs outside our school at the Indian bakery......... ohhhh yummmm :) Enjoy it and make sure you make lots coz they disappear in minutes:)

Ingredients:

Puff Pastry Sheets – 1 box

For the Filling:

Oil – 1 tsp

Butoon shrimp- 1/2 pound
Onions – 1/4 small, finely chopped
Salt – to taste
Cumin Powder – 1/4 tsp
Coriander Powder – 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder – 1/8 tsp
Red Chili Powder – to taste

Green Chilies -1

Cilantro- few

Procedure:

1. Take the sheets of Puff Pastry out and thaw them according to the instructions on the package.
2. Pre-heat the Oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Now for the stuffing, take a small skillet and heat Oil on medium heat.
4. Once hot, add in the Onions and saute till they turn translucent and add salt.

5. Add the shrimp ,green chili and coriander leaves and saute
6. Add Cumin Powder, Coriander Powder, Turmeric Powder and Red Chili Powder.
7. Cook on low flame covered. Once done mix well and keep aside.
8. Cut the Pastry sheets strips into 3s to form a square.
9. Put 1 tbsp of the stuffing in the center.
10. Fold the Pastry Sheet and seal with water.

11. Put the Puffs on a cookie sheet lined with foil.
12. Place in the pre-heated oven at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes.
13. Once they are out of the oven, transfer them to a cooling rack and allow them to rest and cool down for 5 minutes.

Sign Up for NLNBC TALENT SHOW on Nov 20, 2011 @ 5pm

2011-07-31T18:32:00.000-07:00

Saturdays Feature {flibertygibet.com}

2011-07-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

Flib•er•tee•jib•et: 1. a word referring to a flighty, whimsical, or overly talkative person. 2. a gossip. 3. nonsensical. Its origin is in a meaningless representation of chattering.

If you are looking for some fun stuff to read then here it is check out something funny, something cute here.

Cooking with your kids {No TV Activity 6}

2011-07-29T17:49:00.000-07:00

Research shows that cooking with your kids can

It encourages kids to try healthy foods.
Kids feel like they are accomplishing something and contributing to the family.
Kids are more likely to sit down to a family meal when they helped prepare it.
Parents get to spend quality time with their kids.
Kids aren't spending time in front of the TV or computer while they're cooking.
Kids generally aren't eating junk food when they're cooking a meal at home.

Learning to cook is a skill your children can use for the rest of their lives.
Kids who learn to eat well may be more likely to eat healthfully as adults.
Positive cooking experiences can help build self-confidence.
Kids who cook with their parents may even be less likely to abuse drugs.

So what are the way can we help our preschoolers help us in the kitchen???? These are few things that our preschoolers can do with us:

Scrub, dip, tear, break, and snap (for example, snapping the ends off green beans)
Shake, spread, and cut with a cookie or biscuit cutter
Peel (some items), roll, juice, and mash
Remove husks from corn
Wash vegetables in a colander
Measure and pour some ingredients
Hand mix

Heres what we cooked:)
We made some home made wheat breads together....... can u see the look on my sons face..... precious!!! Isnt it?

Please check out other recipes that my kids have created ofcourse with my supervision.
Tiny tot chef.

How to grow and harvest Taro root! (Arbi)

2011-07-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

How to Grow. Taro is a tropical or subtropical plant that requires very warm temperaturesand consistent moisture to thrive.

Taro corms can be planted in dry or wet settings. Taro requires rich, moist, well-drained soil to moisture-retentive soil.

Planting time. Plant taro when the weather and soil has warmed in spring. Taro requires at least 200 frost-free days to reach maturity.

Harvest. Taro tubers are harvested about 200 days after planting when leaves turn yellow and start to die.

Ephesians

2011-07-27T17:22:00.000-07:00

Paul writes this letter from prison to the church he started in Epheses. in the first half he explains God's great plan to redeem the world through Christ, showing what this means for individual Christians and for the whole church. In the second half he gives practical advise on how to live the Christian life. As you read this book, first examine yourself to be sure that you are saved.Then move on to fight against Satan and show your love to your family your church and your community.

Hanging Pictures! (3 Easy steps)

2011-07-26T11:02:00.000-07:00

Since moving into our own home,we have been working on couple of weekend projects to fill in the blank space on the walls. The best way to do it is to add a collection of framed pictures.

1. Cut squares of paper in the dimensions of the frames.
2. Using painter’s tape, secure the paper to the wall in a pattern that you like.

3. Hang the frames with your favourite pics:)

Fruity Posicle

2011-07-25T01:23:00.000-07:00

pSummer’s hot winds and cricket-laden nights are here. Its time to get the popsicle moulds out and enjoy some splash of chillness. Instead of reaching for that box of pre-made popsicles, make this easy breezy and undeniably delicious homemade recipe. This is definitely healthier and cost efficient and its eco friendly too... no package to throw away:) And the fun part is that you can use you own by substituting different fruits and juices that your family loves. They are great for fun days at the pool or just lounging in your favorite chair and daydream:)

Ingredients

100% juice white grape

Few strawberries-chopped

Few blue berries

Procedure

Fill 3/4 of the popsicle mold with juice

Fill in the chopped strawberries and blue berries.

Freeze for 6 hours or untill frozen completely

Enjoy!!!!

25 Thought Provoking Questions!

2011-07-24T23:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday's feature{Adrienne Gager}

2011-07-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Heres another family blog with loads of fun check it out !!!!

Check out their blog and please do leave a comment and share/rate/review their blogs. Hope you have fun! Remember to list your blogs under your category-just leave a comment and url.

Play Dough {No TV Activity 5}

2011-07-22T17:02:00.000-07:00

What you need
Wheat flour
Water

What to do

Make the dough and give it to the kids.Dough is entertaining as it is pliable, when in kids hands it provides hours of fun while improving hand strength, dexterity, and motor skills. Recent research also shows that using your fingers and hands actually stimulates your brain and increases the number of neural connections it makes. So when your child digs into play dough, he's not only building little figures and shapes, he's building his brain!

Growing Cyclamen

2011-07-21T16:42:00.000-07:00

Plant the cyclamen with the top of the tuber just slightly above the soil line.Water the plant when the soil feels dry. Dont water the crown of the plant. Aallow the plant to dry out for 2-3 months.And keep then indoors during the winter. Dont water them when the plant goes dormant. Keep them in a cook dark place so that they can start blooming again in the summer.

Galatians

2011-07-20T22:02:00.000-07:00

Paul writes this letter to the churches he founded in Galatia, warning them against certain false teachers. He remins them of the simple message of salcation by faith aone, which he and other church leaders teach, and cocludes with advice on how to lice a Spirit - filled life. As you read this book, be sure that you are saved by a personal faith in jesus, and ask Gods spirit to help you walk in Christian love and peace.

Quilled and framed!

2011-07-19T00:48:00.000-07:00

I love the art of quilling........ heres another beautiful art piece - enjoy!!

Easy Breezy strawberry mousse:)

2011-07-18T00:23:00.000-07:00

This is a super easy recipe and its just right for the season:)

Ingredients

2 cups strawberries, halved
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cup Cool whip

Procedure

Combine the strawberries and sugar in a blender, and process until smooth.
Combine strawberry puree and sour cream in a large bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Fold whipped topping into strawberry mixture.
Spoon into 6-ounce custard cups. Cover and freeze until firm.
Decorate with sliced strawberries.

A timely song !!!

2011-07-17T00:11:00.000-07:00

Saturday's feature{Susan Mathew}

2011-07-16T23:57:00.000-07:00

Check out these tongue tickling tasty recipes..... I bet you will love this site as it has an amazing variety of recipes to choose from....... Enjoy!!

Check out their blog and please do leave a comment and share/rate/review their blogs. Hope you have fun! Remember to list your blogs under your category-just leave a comment and url.

Textures {No TV Activity 4}

2011-07-15T23:17:00.000-07:00

This activity keeps my little munchkins not only busy but also keeps their mind active as they learn about the different textures around them.

What you need
Plain white Paper
Crayons
Color Paper

What to do
Give them couple of plain white papers and crayons. Let them keep the paper over different materials and color on them. They will be super excited to see that there are soo many different textures around them. You could ask them if they are rough , smooth etc. You will be surprised what they say to you:) My 3 yr old son said..."Look momy I made indentations on the paper!" Enjoy yourself with your kids this summer:) After that you can make a little booklet and decorate with colored paper.

Cilantro and its benefits

2011-07-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

Cilantro is used in dishes cooked in Spain to Mexico, the Middle East to the South America. The fresh leafs are often sprinkled over dishes.Cilantro is also known as coriander.

Powerful anti-inflammatory capacities that may help symptoms of arthritis
Protective agents against bacterial infection from Salmonella in food products
Acts to increase HDL cholesterol (the good kind), and reduces LDL cholesterol (the bad kind)
Relief for stomach gas, prevention of flatulence and an overall digestive aid
Wards off urinary tract infections
Helps reduce feelings of nausea
Eases hormonal mood swings associated with menstruation
Has been shown to reduce menstrual cramping.
Adds fiber to the digestive tract
A source of iron, magnesium, and is helpful in fighting anemia
Gives relief for diarrhea, especially if caused by microbial or fungal infections
Helps promote healthy liver function.
Reduces minor swelling
Strong general anti-oxidant properties
Disinfects and helps detoxify the body
Stimulates the endocrine glands
Helps with insulin secretion and lowers blood sugar
Acts as a natural anti-septic and anti-fungal agent for skin disorders like fungal infections and eczema
Contains immune-boosting properties
Acts as an expectorant
Helps ease conjunctivitis, as well as eye-aging, muscular degeneration, and other stressors on the eyes.

Click here for tips on growing cilantro.

2 Corinthians

2011-07-13T21:51:00.000-07:00

Paul writes this second letter to the church in Corinth from Macedonia while on his way to Corinth. This is one of the most personal of all his letters, he expresses both how exciting and how painful his life as a missionary has been.He also finds it necessary to defend himself against those who are criticizing him. This is something that God has taught me ... keeping quiet sometimes harbors more problems. As you read this letter, think about how exciting it can be to serve the Lord, but realize too that being a Christian can sometimes lead to pain and suffering.

A quilled peacock in my garden!

2011-07-12T01:30:00.000-07:00

The peacock strides in silence with his lacy feathers following behind him. It’s plumage iridescent and beautiful captivates the heart of every one who see it. This is a beautiful peacock cut out with exacto knife and is embellished with quilled papers.

Check out this beautiful peacock @ Inna's creations

and check out her website @ increations.blogspot.com

Check out these beautiful quilled white peacock @ Allthingspaper

check out her website @ allthingspaper.net

For loads of quilling ideas check out quilling magic

@www.dp-db.com

Sheeba Asariah

Indian Lamb/Mutton Curry

2011-07-11T01:08:00.000-07:00

Lamb/Mutton is one of my favorite foods. I love to cook at home. In Indian restaurants, when I peruse the menu and see mutton listed I’ll invariably order it. And when I go to the Indian grocery store I definitely bring home some fresh meat to make this yummy dish that mom taught me. This goes well with rice, and wheat bread, naan. My kids also love this dish. You can adjust the spices according to your taste and enjoy this delicious curry!

Ingredients

Lamb 1 Pound washed and cut into small pieces

Oil 2 tbsp

Onion 2 thinly sliced
Green chilly 2 chopped
Ginger and Garlic Paste 2 tbsp
Red chilly powder 1 tsp
Cloves 2
Cinnamon 1/2 inch piece
Roma tomatoes 2 chopped
Salt to taste
Fresh coriander leaves to garnish

Instructions:

In a heavy bottom pan heat oil and add cloves, cardamom and cinnamon.
Add chopped onion and green chillies.Sauté until it is translucent.
Now add the chopped tomato,chilly powder, turmeric powder and sauté further for 2 mins.
Add mutton pieces, salt and combine well.
Add 1/2 a cup of water,cover and allow to cook, till the oil separates and the meat becomes tender.
Serve hot with steamed Basmati rice!

Camp 2011

2011-07-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday's feature{Kalva}

2011-07-09T22:56:00.000-07:00

Curry in Kadai is one of the best places to be to find yummy delicious recipes....... I love the simle and easy recipes here ... I have tried a couple of recipes and have enjoyed them..... hope you would like it tooo.Click here and enjoy the recipes

Check out their blog and please do leave a comment and share/rate/review their blogs. Hope you have fun! Remember to list your blogs under your category-just leave a comment and url.

Sprinkler {No TV Activity 3}

2011-07-08T00:25:00.000-07:00

The kids love it ........ letting them play with water balls, slides or sprinklers will keep them cool and they will enjoy it.

Harvest!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-07-07T00:01:00.000-07:00

I have been waiting for this time..... the plant begin to flower, lil fruits are formed, they turn green and finally they are ripe and ready to harvest........ Got a basket of beans, chillies, and some ripe red tomatoes......... yummmmmmmmmm

1 Corinthians

2011-07-06T00:02:00.000-07:00

This book talks a lot about love, marriage and relationships.......... The verses that summarize this book are

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
⁸ Love never fails. ......
¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

These verses are sooo amazing..... I pray you are blessed by reading these verses.

Sheeba Asariah

Fun with paints!

2011-07-05T00:48:00.000-07:00

A quick painting with water colors.......... :)

Bisi Bele Huli Anna

2011-07-04T22:02:00.000-07:00

Bisi Bele Huli Anna, is a Karnataka speciality. Bisi - hot; Bele -lentis/dal; Huli - tamarind; Anna - rice. We lived in Bangalore for abt 15 yrs and this one of the dishes that we made often and enjoyed it with potato chips:) This dish is also served in many Indian marriages. Its a mixture of rice, pulses and some aromatic Indian spices!!!

Ingredients:
Basmati Rice - 11/2 cups
Toor dal / pigeon peas - 3/4 cup
Tamarind - a marble-sized ball
Chopped vegetables - 11/2 cups (French beans, carrots, potatoes, peas).
Onion - 1
Green chillies - 2
Hing / Asafoetida / Perungayam - 1/2 tsp
Turmeric powder - a pinch

Seasoning:
Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Curry leaves - a few
Few Curry Leaves
2 Dry Red Chilies, Broken

Grind:

Fenugreek seeds 1 tsp
Coriander seeds 1tsp
Red chillies 6
Grated coconut
Cardamoms 4
Cloves 4
Aniseed 1
Poppy seeds 1 tsp
Cinnamon-A small piece

Procedure:

Peel onions and chop them lengthwise, cut vegetables into 1 inch pieces.
Wash rice and dal thoroughly, add 21/2 cups of water, a pinch of turmeric powder and chopped vegetable and keep it aside.
Heat a little oil in a frying pan and fry the mixtures needed to be ground until you get the sweet aroma of the spices, grind it and keep aside.
Soak tamarind in a little water and extract the juice and keep aside.
Heat oil, add red and green chillies, mustard and curry leaves. When mustard crackles, add to rice and mix well. Add tamarind juice, salt to taste and mix thoroughly.
Heat a little ghee and fry cashew nuts until golden brown in colour.
Add all the ground mixture,to the rice and dal mixture and pressure cook untill well done.
Garnish with chopped coriander leaves, fried cashew nuts and add some ghee just before serving.
Serve hot with vadaam / chips / appalam and raita / curd.

July 4th Wrap Up!

2011-07-03T22:17:00.000-07:00

A little craft for kids

Growing Bromeliads

Scrapbook Page Design

No Bake Lime Tart for July 4th:)

Saturday's feature{Nimi}

2011-07-02T00:49:00.000-07:00

Nimi is a mother of two awesome kids. She is an experienced blogger and not just that but she is also a freelance writer and a cookbook author. Please do check out her blog you will not be disappointed. Im sure you will find amazing recipes for this season. Check out her blog and more about her book here.

Check out their blog and please do leave a comment and share/rate/review their blogs. Hope you have fun! Remember to list your blogs under your category-just leave a comment and url.

July 4th craft for kids

2011-07-01T23:06:00.000-07:00

Kids are on their summer break and are having soooo much fun with friends and family. But then there are the dull days when we just want to stay home and enjoy a laid back day..... On one of those days we do craft, read lots of books and just talk:) I just LOVE those days:) Especially when they are talking and Im listening ......... soooo love those moments. This is what we made for July 4th on one of those days:)

Things you need

Some skewers

Crepe Paper

Glue

How to?

1. Cut the crepe paper into one inch strips.

2. Take small piece of the strip and wrap the blunt end of the skewer and glue it.

3. Fan fold the strips and wrap and glue around the skewer. You can alternate it with different colors.:)

Growing Bromeliads

2011-06-30T22:38:00.000-07:00

Bromeliads can be easily adapted to regular home conditions. Bromeliads are beautiful foliage plants, with leaves in red, green, purple, orange, yellow, banded, stripes, spots or other combinations.

Growing Tips for Bromeliads

The plants prefer well-lit, bright windowsills, but not direct sunlight. Bromeliads are very tolerant of drought conditions. They can be grown in a fast-draining potting soil. A mixture of 2/3 peat-based soil mix and 1/3 sand is good.

Romans

2011-06-29T08:36:00.000-07:00

The book of Romans was written by Paul to the Corinth, Paul's letter was written to the church to inform then that he is going to visit them. He wanted to visit Rome to meet new Christians to encourage them and to be encouraged by them.He had finished ministering in the East and he was moving to the West to share the Gospel. Paul announced the judgement of God according to truth explaining that the judgement is by law and that circumcision alone avails nothing. He also explains that all have sinned there is no one righteous,but instead the righteousness of God comes through Christs sacrifice. Paul stops to recall the privileges Israel enjoyed but how through disobedience she missed the fulfillment of the the promises and the Lord turned to the gentiles for the present time. But Paul affirms that there is a glorious future for the covenant promises. The rest of the book lays out the application of our new covenant relationship through Christ.

July 4th Scrap book page.

2011-06-28T23:35:00.000-07:00

I love scrap booking..... I have been waiting to share all the pages that I have created and heres a sneak peak into one of the pages that my daughter and I created for baby J.:)

Here the little card was given to him by one of friends and the little dress was a gift from someone special. This page brings back amazing memories..... this is why I love scrap booking :)

No Bake Lime Tart for July 4th:)

2011-06-27T23:59:00.000-07:00

Seen before????I KNOW !...But this is my first time making a no bake tart. This is pretty simple and just delicious:) Im a chocolate person, but when I made this... it was definitely a hit!! My family loved it and Im a fan of it too :)

Lemon Curd Recipe

Grated rind of 4 limes
½ cup freshly squeezed lime juice, strained
1 tin Sweetened Evaporated milk
3 extra large eggs, lightly beaten

Add the juice, rind, condensed milk and butter to a heavy based saucepan.
Stir over a low heat until the butter has melted.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and slowly beat in the whisked eggs with a spoon.
Return to a low heat and cook, stirring continuously until the mixture is thick enough to coat the back of the spoon.
Ladle it into jars.

Fill your choice of shells or crust with lime curd. Top with blackberries, raspberries or sliced kiwi.
* If you dont want to make the lemon curd buy some from the store:) Amaze yourself with the instant gratification of this yummy lime tart:)

I can only Imagine

2011-06-26T23:26:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite songs.

Saturdays Feature { Hayley }

2011-06-25T00:34:00.000-07:00

Hayley is another wonderful blogger who has amazing ideas. Check it out her inspirations here.

Check out their blog and please do leave a comment and share/rate/review their blogs. Hope you have fun! Remember to list your blogs under your category-just leave a comment and url.

Nature Walk {No TV Activity 2}

2011-06-24T00:35:00.000-07:00

This activity lets your little kids use up their energy and enjoy their summer... There's a beautiful Botanical Garden near our house, and we go there and my lil munchkins just love it there:)

What you need
Lots of time

What to do

The kids can collect the things that intrigue them . My kids were super excited and had loads of fun .......... they found twigs, leaves, berries , flowers etc.

They also met the turtle family at the nature walk. They loved the whole idea and have been asking to go again :)

They segregated them and put them in the box to be used later.

Check out the photo frame they made using what they collected during nature walk.

Story of my Palm tree:)/ How to grow a palm tree?

2011-06-23T01:31:00.000-07:00

Much before we bought our house, I had already decided the number of rooms and how my dream home should be:) (Dont tell me Im not the only one) Ok I also started buying stuff for my new home that we hadnt even started looking for(hmmm I knew we were going to buy one some day hehehe)And one of my wishes was to have 3 palm trees in the front yard. We saw many houses and we even put an offer on some and didnt get it..... This was the first time for us and it was kinda disappointing... and none of those houses had all that I wanted. Then finally we came to see this house and I totally fell in love with it. From the entrance to the completion of the home tour, it had every bit I had ever wanted..... I still cant believe it... God was sooo goood to answer even the little things I had asked for. I knew this was it!!! This was going to be my home :) And by Gods grace we were able to buy it with my two palm trees in my front yard :) Well every time I see them Im reminded of Gods presence in my life..... just had to share it before giving you tips on growing one :) As I told you before since I wanted a palm tree in my front yard I had already researched on how to grow one :) So heres some tips on growing your very own palm tree....

Many factors are involved in successfully growing a palm tree.
One main aspect is to finding the right sprecies to grow in your garden. Did you know that there are over two thousand and odd palms.......hmmmmm mind boggling huh... yea I never knew that before.The best way to find the perfect palm for your garden is to go to the nursery and talk to them as they will ask you question such as where u live and how hot or cold is it in wineter etc and they will narrow it down for you and then it will be much easier for you to choose your palm.

The next aspect is to decide the size of the plant. You can buy small plants or big mature palms.The small plants are inexpencive but talk a while to grow. The large ones are pretty expencive but will def give instant gratification.:)

The other aspect is to know when to plant the palms. If you are in an extremely hot area like Palm Springs or Las Vegas, avoiding planting during the extreme hot months might be warranted. However, there are very sturdy species that can essentially be planted any time of the year. It’s probably best to check with your palm expert at the nursery when you buy your plants.

The right soil is also important for the Palm to flourish.Find out if its clay or sand.The amendments one uses when preparing the soil for planting are different for clay or sandy soil.The best scenario is to have a sandy soil with a bit of slope or incline to the garden.Sandy Soil: For every three parts of your native soil, mix in one part of organic material (fir shavings, etc.) For Clay Soil: For every three parts of your native soil, mix in one part of organic material and one part of course sand.

Remove from the pot and dig a hole and plant it an inch or two deeper to create a “watering well”. Fill the bottom with soil blend and plant it and water it. I hope you enjoyed this post and if you have more info to share pls post them :)

Acts

2011-06-22T22:30:00.000-07:00

The Book of Acts is more properly a continuation of the Gospel of LukeThe Book of Acts picks up where the Gospel of Luke left off with the account of Jesus and continues the account of Jesus from that point. The Book of Acts reports how the gospel of Jesus through his witnesses was spread in ever widening circles to Jews and Gentiles alike. The Book of Acts could also be considered a documentation on the work of the Holy Spirit to gather , the Christian church, through the spreading of the gospel of Jesus. The book talks about Jesus’ ascension, Pentecost which marked the birth of the Christian Church, the church’s calling its first deacons or lay leaders to assist with the ministry, the conversion of Saul (Paul), the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles of Cornelius’ household.

Water droplets!!!!

2011-06-21T22:06:00.000-07:00

This painting is super quick and very easy. Even if you haven't touched a paintbrush ever, its time to do it now:) All you need is some water colors and water. Dip your paint brush well in water, dab some paint and drop your paint brush lightly on the paper...... use different colors.. its OK if the colors run and mix. U can never go wrong trying this painting:) And once u are done with it, use a black pen and draw an outline...... it doesn't have to be exactly around the leaves and the pot... From the time I started painting theSe.......... I cant stop it :) Dont you wana get your paints and try it ???

Love these colors:)

2011-06-21T12:46:00.000-07:00

Ive been inspired by these colors:) would decorate a whole room with these colors but for now its on "Jess" :), I love these bold colors especially the green belt :) dont u?

First day of summer - Fresh tomato basil salad

2011-06-20T23:43:00.000-07:00

Yaay summers here!!!!!! In the summer, I am obsessed with home grown tomatoes.I grow them in my very own lil eden. They are the most delicious tomatoes in the whole world ( yes,Im exaggerating lol ) But they are BIG and juicy ( go on..... click here to see it). And I make this yummilicious Italian salad ....... Yes, its uber easy and delicious:) Try it out and let me know how you liked it..... but it tastes best with my home grown tomatoes :) Enjoy the summer!!!!

Ingredients

2 large tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
ground black pepper to taste
1 Serrano pepper finely chopped
5 ounces mozzarella cheese crumbles
5 leaves fresh basil, torn into strips
1 shallot finely chopped
salt to taste

Procedure

1. Chop tomatoes .Add olive oil, green chilli, chopped shallot and sprinkle with black pepper and salt. Toss lightly and add the mozzarella cheese crumbles. Throw in some torn basil leaves:).Cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for half an hour before serving.

An Ode to my DAD -My hero!!!

2011-06-19T03:31:00.000-07:00

Dad is ....

To my mom, a loving, caring, God fearing and a sacrificial person,

To my friends, he is a patient, calm, and a wonderful teacher,

To the eligible bachelors (when I was single) he is a firm and strict yet wise man-(Every time these guys tried to make small talk with my dad (coz they knew they had to win my dads heart to win mine)Dad would just ask just one question (they were about 16/17 yrs old) Where do you think you will be(career wise) in the next five yrs?The looks on their faces was just hilarious.... I guess they didnt even have a clue where they would be in the next 5 mins LOL)

To his colleagues he is a highly intellectual and a honest man-(He was the head of a team and their successful contribution for Jaguar Aircraft was published in the UK newspaper, he has also worked with the Ex President dr Abdul Kalam for the development of the LCA aircraft.)

To his subordinates he is an amazing Boss who has always treated everyone justly and helped them to climb the corporate ladder(Yes, there are many success stories.... and No, I may not be one of them- just in case you were wondering LOL)

To his friends, he is loyal, truthful and 'forever' friend,

To his enemies.... (Im yet to find one) he is their best friend,

To my brother, (in his words) "He is awesome man, he knows everything about everything!! I cant fool him!!!" LOL

And to me he is all that and my HERO!!!

I always prayed that I wanted to be like him when I grew up........ I didnt know that being him would be such a challenge!!!
And at times I see the contrast in me rather than similarities and Im so thankful that he still believes in me.........
When everyone (including me) gave up he believed in me,
When I failed, he gave me the assurance that its just a stepping stone to success.......
When life's burdens got too heavy to bear,
He gave me his shoulders to lean on and whispered wise words into my ears...
When he saw the joy in my eyes and smile on my face he had tears of joy in his......
For all the heart aches that I gave him,
He gave me his undying love and intern taught me to love others ....... Coz of His undying, unselfish, abundant love, I can understand Gods amazing love. God has sent a piece of Him to me. Thank you Jesus!

Thank you dad for being YOU!!! You are my hero and always will be.......... but as you know, now I have a hero who has taken precedence over you - My Jai:) Who loves me dearly...... Yep yep Im in good hands and I believe my kids will grow up and call him their hero!! As we moms fade away in the background, we shed tears of joy and stand tall with pride seeing our family being blessed!!
Definitely behind every successful man there is a wife- who keeps saying he is wrong!! LOL

To all the Dads out there... keep on lovin and watch ur steps coz ur lil munchkins are trying to follow urs..... Have a fantabulous Fathers Day!!!

Dont forget to check out some amazing fathers day gifts that my kids made :)

Heres a traditional south Indian breakfast dish for dads:)

Saturdays Feature{Fun and food cafe}

2011-06-18T00:51:00.000-07:00

Heres an amazing food blog with outa the world pics. Check it out

Fathers Day Gifts!!!

2011-06-17T00:35:00.000-07:00

The kids made this for their grandpa with the twigs that they collected during Nature walk.

Sharon wanted to gift a frame for her daddy with her favorite pic that they took together at school on 'Father daughter pancake day'....... so this is what we made :) She picked her own frame, she said she didnt want any other pic in it so we added a scrap book page for the A. Well I suggested that she could add a sticker on A that says 'I Love U' and she replied, "If I say it, it would have more meaning, momy." Hmmm well she is right !

Jason always says "I will be like daddy when I grow up." So we got him dressed in dads clothes and shoes, got pics and decorated the frame with some pebbles that the kids collected and voila- a cute fathers day gift. He has said that he will give it to dad and say"Dad look, Im like you" CUTE!!!!

Growing beans and its benefits....

2011-06-16T00:27:00.000-07:00

Recent studies have confirmed the presence of lutein, beta-carotene, violaxanthin, and neoxanthin in green beans. In some cases, the presence of these carotenoids in green beans is comparable to their presence in other carotenoid-rich vegetables like carrots and tomatoes.
Recent surveys have shown that 60% of all commercially grown green beans are produced in the United States, with large amounts of green bean acreage found in the states of Illinois, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Wisconsin. Although countries like France, Mexico, Iraq, and Argentina are large-scale producers of green beans, there is plenty of this delicious vegetable available in our own backyard.Click here to see how to grow them in your backyard.
If you are unable to obtain fresh green beans, you can still get many valuable nutrients from green beans that have been frozen or canned.When first frozen and then cooked, retention of some B vitamins in green beans (like vitamins B6 and B2) can be as high as 90%.
Green beans have recently been shown to have impressive antioxidant capacity.
Green beans may be a particularly helpful food for providing us with the mineral silicon. This mineralis very important for bone health and for healthy formation of connective tissue.

John

2011-06-15T00:10:00.000-07:00

The Gospel according to John is quite different in character from the three synoptic gospels. It is highly literary and symbolic. It does not follow the same order or reproduce the same stories as the synoptic gospels. To a much greater degree, it is the product of a developed theological reflection and grows out of a different circle and tradition. It was probably written in the 90s of the first century.The Gospel of John begins with a magnificent prologue. The prologue proclaims Jesus as the preexistent and incarnate Word of God who has revealed the Father to us. The rest of the chapters consists of the Baptist's testimony about Jesus followed by stories of the call of the first disciples.It contains a series of "signs"--the gospel's word for the wondrous deeds of Jesus.The whole gospel of John is a progressive revelation of the glory of God's only Son, who comes to reveal the Father and then returns in glory to the Father.

Having fun with chalk!!!

2011-06-14T23:44:00.000-07:00

I'm done with my painting with water colors and chalks. Im a lover of nature and this painting brings me sooo much joy. There will be more in the coming days ... enjoy :)

A typical South Indian dish -Idiyappam (Rice Noodles)

2011-06-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

Idiyappam is a tasty South Indian breakfast dish. The perfect combo would be Idiyappam and coconut milk and sugar!!! Its def my fav. It could also be had with Navaratna Kurma .

Ingredients:

Parboiled rice 2 cups
Freshly grated coconut ½ cup

Coconut milk ½ cup
Salt ½ tsp

Procedure:

Wash and soak rice for three to four hours. Air dry the rice and grind into a fine powder.
Mix 1 cup of rice flour with required warm water and salt.
Knead into smooth dough. Apply little oil on the inner side of the cooking press and insert it in to the cooking press.
Press it on the idly moulds greased with oil.
Steam in the idly cooker for 8-10 minutes.
Remove and garnish with grated coconut.
Serve with coconut milk and sugar / with Navratna Kurma

Enjoy!!!

What faith can do...

2011-06-12T22:59:00.000-07:00

Saturday's Feature {Tamara Albright}

2011-06-11T22:49:00.000-07:00

Tamara Albright is an entrepreneur, artist and wellness sage. Her experience includes the development and launch of an aromatherapy body care line, provision of commercial art services to musicians, authors and more as well as toy design. As a certified NIA instructor, she leads holistic fitness classes to a variety of age groups ranging from tweens to 60+ adults. Tamara has also created and led group activities for young children and is CPR certified.

Check out their blog and please do leave a comment and share/rate/review their blogs. Hope you have fun! Remember to list your blogs under your category-just leave a comment and url.

Paper Bag {No TV Activity 1}

2011-06-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

This activity lets your little kids use up their energy and practice gross motor skills. I had hung a bird feeder from the roof and kids always were trying to reach that with twigs and sticks and I would always say "Stop That! I am watching you." They would stop and kinda looking disappointed! Thats when I got this Idea 'Tada':)

What you need
A plastic bag
Newspaper
String
Wooden spoon

What to do

Tear strips of newspaper and roll it into balls. ( My kids loved doing this and they were pretty busy for a while:)). Fill the bag and tie and string and hang it. Thats it! Voila and there you have a "play thing" that keeps kids busy for a while :) S and J loved hitting the bag with sticks.... I would suggest giving them a wooden spoon as its safer :) Have fun keeping your little munchkins busy this summer :)

Grape vine!!!

2011-06-09T00:00:00.000-07:00

The grape vine is filled with lush leaves and loads of green lil grapes........... I just cant wait for them to ripen :) My lil munchkins are also uber excited :)

Did you know?? that these little grapes have loads and loads of health benefits???? Here are a few:)

Asthma: Grapes can be used for cure of asthma.
Heart diseases: Grapes increase the nitric oxide levels in the blood, which prevents blood clots thereby reducing the chances of heart attacks. In addition the antioxidant present in grapes prevents the oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which blocks the blood vessels.
Migraine: Ripe grape juice is an important home remedy for curing migraine. It should be taken early in the morning, without mixing additional water.
Constipation: Grapes are very effective in overcoming constipation. They are considered as a laxative food, as they contain organic acid, sugar and cellulose.
Indigestion: Grapes relieve heat and cure indigestion and irritation of the stomach.
Fatigue: Light and white grape juice replenishes the iron content present in the body and prevents fatigue.
Kidney disorders: Grapes can substantially reduce the acidity of the uric acid and helps in the elimination of the acid from the system, thereby reducing the work pressure of kidneys.

Breast cancer: Through a latest study, it has been discovered that purple colored Concord grape juice helps in preventing breast cancer.
Alzheimer’s disease: Resveratrol, a beneficial polyphenol present in grapes reduces the levels of amyloidal-beta peptides in patients with Alzheimer's disease. Studies suggest that grapes can enhance brain health and stall the onset of neurodegenerative diseases.
Macular degeneration: Grapes can prevent the age related loss of vision or macular degeneration. Three servings of grapes a day can reduce the risks of macular degeneration by over 36 %.
Prevents cataract: Flavonoids present in grapes have antioxidants, which can reduce and fight the damage caused by free radicals such as cataract apart from cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and age related problems.
Blood cholesterol: Grapes contain a compound called pterostilbene, which has the capacity to bring down cholesterol level. Saponins present in grape skin can also prevent the absorption of cholesterol by binding with it.
Antibacterial activity: Red grapes have strong antibacterial and antiviral properties and can protect you from infections. They have a strong antiviral property against poliovirus and herpes simplex virus.
Anticancer properties: Grapes are found to have strong anti cancer properties due to the anti-inflammatory effect of resveratrol present in grapes. It is particularly effective in colorectal cancer and breast cancer. Anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins present in grapes have properties of an anti-proliferate and can inhibit the growth of cancer causing agents. Grape juice not just prevents the risk of cancer but also suppresses the growth and propagation of cancer cells. The pigments contained in grapes enhance the overall immunity of the body.

If you want to know how to grow and harvest grapes check out my previous post for more information.

Luke

2011-06-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

As with the other two synoptic gospels—Matthew and Mark—this book’s purpose is to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ and all He “began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven” (Acts 1:1-2). Luke’s gospel is unique in that is a meticulous history—an “orderly account” (Luke 1:3) consistent with the Luke’s medical mind—often giving details the other accounts omit. Luke’s history of the life of the Great Physician emphasizes His ministry to—and compassion for—Gentiles, Samaritans, women, children, tax collectors, sinners, and others regarded as outcasts in Israel.

Another quilled card!

2011-06-07T21:46:00.000-07:00

Blog friends!!

2011-06-06T21:57:00.000-07:00

Cant wait to catch up with you all again!!! Pls do check out their blogs:) They are simply superb!!!
http://yummy4tummy.wordpress.com/

http://inspirationalartofcooking.blogspot.com/

http://preetyskitchen.blogspot.com/

http://spicesnaroma.blogspot.com/

I am Back!!

2011-06-06T01:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Blog friends,
Hope this post finds you all in high spirits and good health:) Sorry I havent blogged in a while.... I had an awesome vacation... went to HG and India. Came back celebrated my bday and was sick for 2 wks...Now am back with all the energy :) Here are some of the pics taken in the past couple of wks.:)

Went to Hongkong

Bro in laws Wedding in India

We also celebrated our kids bday in India

Came back here and celebrated my bday:)

Yes we had loads of fun and now am back with loadsa new ideas:) C ya soon!!!!

And if our God is for us

2011-06-05T22:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday's Feature {Lanie}

2011-06-04T22:49:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!!! Check out this nice blog where Lanie makes very pretty and amazing craft items. They are pretty and very inspiring.Through embroidery she makes some beautiful creations.Do check it out here.

Check out their blog and please do leave a comment and share/rate/review their blogs. Hope you have fun! Remember to list your blogs under your category-just leave a comment and url.

Lapbook {Alphabet E}

2011-06-03T23:50:00.000-07:00

Talked to them about the letter Ee. They learnt that Elephant, Eggs and Eggplant start with the letter E.We learnt about the elephants characteristics, their habitat etc.

We made a chart about "Extinct Relatives". We learnt the reasons for their extinction and the things we can to help the animals:)

Check out the Activity here
Coming soon!! E related snack made by my lil chefs:)

Wild flower!

2011-06-02T22:43:00.000-07:00

William Blake
(1757—1827)

As I wandered the forest,
The green leaves among,
I heard a Wild Flower
Singing a song.

"I slept in the earth
In the silent night,
I murmured my fears
And I felt delight.

"In the morning I went
As rosy as morn,
To seek for new joy;
But oh! met with scorn."

Source: http://www.doctorhugo.org/synaesthesia/Blake.html

Mark

2011-06-01T22:35:00.000-07:00

The Book of Mark is the second book of the New Testament of the Bible, and the second of the Four Gospels. The book of Mark includes the preaching and message of John the Baptist, the baptism and temptation of Jesus, and Jesus begins work in Galilee; Jesus goes from Galilee to Jerusalem – in which he chooses his 12 disciples then give instructions what the disciples should do; the death of John the Baptist; Jesus teaches and preaches through stories and parables, Jesus heals, and Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount; the last week of Jesus – the last supper, his trial and death; and the resurrection of Jesus from his death; and Jesus appears to his followers.

The Book of Mark is the shortest of the four books of the New Testament that tells us about the life, teachings and preaching of Jesus. However, it is also full of action. From the start of the ministry of Jesus, he worked through many amazing miracles. After choosing his four disciples, all of them fishermen, right away, Jesus performs miracles of healing, including the man possessed with an evil spirit, crowds of sick people, a man with leprosy, among others. Mark repeatedly tells how Jesus healed people, and that he did them by the power of God.

This book is full of miracles of Jesus that amazed not only the people but even his followers. According to Mark, the most significant and powerful miracle of Jesus was his suffering and death. It was a Roman soldier, the first person who saw Jesus die on the cross who said that Jesus indeed was the Son of God as found in Mark chapter 15, verse 39.

The first followers of Jesus to discover the empty tomb were three women, who were told by the angel not to be afraid, that if they are looking for Jesus from Nazareth who was nailed to a cross, God has raised him to life.

Framed Art

2011-05-31T21:40:00.000-07:00

Mango Lassi

2011-05-30T22:07:00.000-07:00

Ingredients

1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup canned mango pulp
sugar, to taste

Procedure

Blend all the ingredients for 2 minutes, then pour into individual glasses, and serve.

This goes to Sameena Mango recipes event

Praise you in this storm!

2011-05-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

Saturday's Feature {Susan Midlarsky}

2011-05-28T22:48:00.000-07:00

Firstly I would like to apologize for not being able to post today. I usually dont delay posts unless and until there was a computer glitch but today was fairly a crazy busy Saturday.... thus posting at the wee hours of the morning. I promise this wont happen again.

Todays feature is a wonderful teacher who has inspired many. Check out Susan Midlarsky’s website, home of math and literacy programs for children and professional development for adults! Check out her blog here.

Please visit the pages below for information, including Singapore Math and NaNoWrimo-based homeschooling and tutoring professional development opportunities, and more.

Have a fab weekend!!!!

Check out their blog and please do leave a comment and share/rate/review their blogs. Hope you have fun! Remember to list your blogs under your category-just leave a comment and url.

Lapbook {Alphabet D}

2011-05-27T23:05:00.000-07:00

Talked to them about the letter Dd. They learnt that Duck, Dog and Drumstick start with the letter D.We've been working on our Duck Lapbook. Here are some pics. We learnt about their habitat etc....

For making the lap book we got the information from the net. And printed them out and made our own layouts.

We made a chart about the life cycle of the duck

Check out the Activity here
Click here for Alphabet D related snack made by my lil chefs:)

Pond friends:)

2011-05-26T22:45:00.000-07:00

Mathew

2011-05-25T22:23:00.000-07:00

The beginning of Mathew explains the geneology of Christ and tells us about the fulfilment of the prophecy that Jesus would come from the line of David. It also explains the love and compassion that Joseph had for his wife. The book of Mathew has detailed information about His brith, His life, death and resurrection.We can also read about his Baptism by John the Baptist and how He chose His disciples.We can also see the most amazing miracles in this book and how many were drawn to the truth.This is the book about the Agape Love that changes the heart of men and turns it towards Him. A book that has captivated the hearts of many and will continue to do the same until He returns.

A quilled card

2011-05-24T21:33:00.000-07:00

Navratna Korma

2011-05-23T22:13:00.000-07:00

The other day for our Bible study group, I found this recipe and tried it (of course with my little changes:))..... the korma turned out amazing! This recipe is def a keeper... Im sure you will like it too :)

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onions
1/2 teaspoon garlic paste
1/2 teaspoon ginger paste
1 tomato
1 teaspoon chilli powder
1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
2 teaspoons ground coriander
1 teaspoon garam masala
1 cup water
1/2 cup chopped carrots
1/2 cup chopped fresh green beans
1/2 cup green peas
1 cup chopped potato
1/4 cup coconut milk
salt to taste

Procedure

Grind onions, tomato, ginger and garlic to a fine paste.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garam masala, then stir in the ground mixture and cook until the oil separates. Stir in chilli powder, turmeric, coriander. Pour in water, and add carrots,beans, peas, and potatoes. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and simmer until potatoes are tender.
Stir coconut milk into the skillet with the vegetables . Bring to a boil, and continue cooking 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt to taste.

Inspiration {LOFT}

25 days of Christmas {Day 3}

25 Days of Christmas {Day2 }

25 days of Christmas!{Day 1}

Thanksgiving was just here ...........

Rainbow Birthday Party!

My mom and dad celebrate their birthday on the same day! Yes, this makes it even more special :)

Well the minute I heard 'rainbow party', my mind was running wild and we had soooooooooo much fun decorating, cooking and celebrating their birthday today! I sure have loads of pics for you to enjoy!!

Blogging after a long time is pretty difficult!!!!

Lord Rein In Me

Happy Birthday To Me!!!

Bucky Balls

Saturdays Feature {Leearts}

Crafts and kids

Benefits of Naval oranges

1 Thessalonians

Honey Grilled Chicken

Ingredients

Procedure:

India Independance day

Saturdays Feature {Malika}

Building blocks and kids

Benefits of Taro root

References

Colossians

Before and after TV Stand --- Unbelievable ( 3 Easy Steps)

Creme Brulee

Where is your faith?

Saturdays Feature{Neeti}

Gardening with your kids{No TV Activity 7}

How to grow Jasmine

Philippians

Birthday card

Shrimp Puffs - Indian

Sign Up for NLNBC TALENT SHOW on Nov 20, 2011 @ 5pm

Saturdays Feature {flibertygibet.com}

Cooking with your kids {No TV Activity 6}

How to grow and harvest Taro root! (Arbi)

Ephesians

Hanging Pictures! (3 Easy steps)

Fruity Posicle

25 Thought Provoking Questions!

Saturday's feature{Adrienne Gager}

Play Dough {No TV Activity 5}

Growing Cyclamen

Galatians

Quilled and framed!

Easy Breezy strawberry mousse:)

This is a super easy recipe and its just right for the season:)

Ingredients

Procedure

A timely song !!!

Saturday's feature{Susan Mathew}

Textures {No TV Activity 4}

Cilantro and its benefits

2 Corinthians

A quilled peacock in my garden!

Indian Lamb/Mutton Curry

Camp 2011

Saturday's feature{Kalva}

Sprinkler {No TV Activity 3}

Harvest!!!!!!!!!!!!

1 Corinthians

Fun with paints!

Bisi Bele Huli Anna

July 4th Wrap Up!

Growing Bromeliads

No Bake Lime Tart for July 4th:)

Saturday's feature{Nimi}

July 4th craft for kids

Growing Bromeliads

Romans

July 4th Scrap book page.

No Bake Lime Tart for July 4th:)

I can only Imagine

Saturdays Feature { Hayley }

Nature Walk {No TV Activity 2}

Story of my Palm tree:)/ How to grow a palm tree?

Acts

Water droplets!!!!