Neha Singla

Turmeric

Posted on December 7, 2015 by Neha Singla MIG

The Queen of Indian Spices

The age-old Indian spice serves as a herb, a spice, a dye and has magical properties beneficial for health, facial skin and many other ailments.

India is a country rich in myriad of herbs and spices. Interestingly, all these herbs and spices have their own relevance and benefits. One such spice is bright yellow-coloured turmeric or curcuma, known as haldi in India, a tropical plant with origins in southwest India. It belongs to the ginger family and can be found in three forms – fresh turmeric root, dried turmeric root and ground turmeric powder. Fresh turmeric root looks very similar to a ginger root. It is being used in India since ancient times and has become indispensable to the Indian cuisine.

Haldi is the main ingredient you will, without a doubt, find in every Indian kitchen. It is added in almost all the Indian curries to give that extra flavour and the blazing yellow colour. Yes, almost all Indian curries are yellowish in colour because a tinge of turmeric is deemed imperative. It also has a special place in Indian wedding celebrations. Before the final wedding day, as part of Indian culture, the bride’s family applies turmeric paste on the legs, arms and specifically the face of the bride to make her skin glow and mark a new beginning of her life.

Home Remedies

The spice is considered to be very useful for a flawless skin. Indian households use it in many variations and with various other ingredients to make numerous face packs depending on one’s needs.

For skin exfoliation, mix turmeric powder with honey and apply this paste on your face and neck – it will take care of your pores. It can also be used to treat acne – add a few drops of lemon to turmeric powder, mix it well and apply on the affected areas of the face. Leave it on for 15 minutes and then smoothly scrub it with plain water.
For dry skin, simply mix a dash of turmeric powder to the paste of 1 egg white, rose water, 2 drops of olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Apply this mixture to all the dry skin areas including the face and let it dry. To remove the dry paste use lukewarm water – this remedy is especially useful during extreme cold as human skin tends to dry often with prolonged exposure to chilly breeze.
If you are dealing with increasing fine lines and wrinkles and are too weary of spending extensively on chemical-heavy cosmetics, turn to turmeric for its antioxidant properties, which help in reducing the effects of aging. You just have to mix turmeric powder, rice powder, raw milk and tomato juice – apply the blend on your face and also the neck, leave on for 30 minutes and then wash it off with slightly warm water.

Turmeric has many medicinal benefits as well. Drinking milk mixed with turmeric powder has healing properties for all kinds of internal wounds especially for muscle or bone injury. Externally, when applied on open wounds and cuts, it works as an antiseptic because of its anti-bacterial properties. Simply adding a tablespoon of turmeric to warm water and taking it just before going to bed, acts a great healer for a person suffering from cold, cough or high body temperature. It is because of the fact that turmeric contains a chemical agent, curcumin, which has antiviral and anti-fungal properties and thus helps in building immunity.

Since it has a strong yellow-orange colour, it works pretty well as a natural dye. When dying with turmeric, one doesn’t need to heat the water—cold water is enough. However, for darker shades, it is advisable to heat the water pot used for the dying process. When used without any mordant (material that fixes the dye to the fabric) for dying processes, turmeric is non-toxic and thus it is even safe to put your hands inside the mixture. Although one has to be careful of getting one’s hands coloured. With countless benefits, turmeric indeed proves to the queen of Indian herbs and spices that can enrich your life with everything natural and that too without burning a hole in your pocket.

> Original article

Firenze: Will Make You Fall In Love

Posted on December 4, 2015 by Neha Singla MIG

Firenze – that’s how Italians call ‘Florence’ and perhaps everyone who has ever been to this mesmerising city in the heart of Italy. It’s quiet; it’s chaotic yet it’s a melody that seeps deep down into your heart. With its charming locales, it offers everything honeymooners are looking for.

The moment you set foot in the capital of Italy’s Tuscany region, you begin to notice a perfect blend of history coupled with modernity – a combination that will give you the best of both the eras – rich ancient European monuments and sculptures with a tinge of everything contemporary. One cannot but love Firenze for the artistic beauty it unfolds from every nook and corner. A couple can simply start their day by walking hand in hand on the sidewalks or along the river Arno, which by all means captures the essence of Firenze.

(Left) Panoramic view of the Florence city; (right) the famous Michelangelo’s statue of David

From morning till late in the night this river never sleeps and is the lifeline of the city. With a picturesque garden ‘Cascine’ and numerous temporary eateries on its banks, it gives countless choices for a day well spent. Cascine is a wide, spacious historical park that is just a perfect spot to lay down the mats in the realm of nature and sunbathe in the company of your spouse. During the summer, you’ll witness many residents hosting a bar-be-que on the riverbanks. Newlyweds can simply immerse in the happenings around them and experience the bliss.

For the lady of the house— every Tuesday the banks of Arno, overstepping all the calmness, transform into a full-fledged market that sells anything from everything at throwaway prices. You will notice people in large numbers thronging the temporary market. Around this zone, it is hard to be oblivious of the tramway passing across the Cascine Park. This tramway network connects Florence to Scandicci, which is one of the biggest suburbs of the city through a 7.4 km stretch with 14 stations. For an easy and quick movement from the main train station of Santa Maria Novellato other parts of the city, this modern day public transport will come to your rescue when you no longer have the energy or the willingness to walk any further.

For the much in love couples, a perfect escape from the clamor of the centre of the city is the Boboli Gardens. The gardens fall exactly behind the Pitti Palace and house the sculptures from the 16th and 18th century. With an entry ticket of mere 10 euro, you get to feel the magnificence of these gardens that is hard to match. Take a stroll while you embrace your partner without anybody being even mildly perturbed – just look for a sunny day to be your perfect third travel companion. If either of you is a book lover or a photography enthusiast, you couldn’t afford to miss this panoramic beauty.

In this Renaissance city when a bunch of people discuss art over a cup of coffee, the sculpture of David created by Michelangelo at the beginning of the 15th century always finds its way into the conversation. You just cannot come back from Firenze without setting your eyes on this piece of art, whether or not you are an ardent art aficionado. Placed at the centre of the city, outside the Palazzo Vecchio, in the vicinity of the Duomo, David boasts of a sculpture that is carved into the history world around. So much so that last July in Australia a certain art enthusiast tried to build a similar looking sculpture in his backyard that got him enough reactions on placing a nude statue within a residential area.

In fact, many art schools in Italy initiate their lessons by simply projecting the picture of David on the big screen and let their students throw themselves into the centuries-old art. Interestingly, what is placed outside the Palazzo Vecchio is nothing but a replica, the real statue stands inside the ‘Galleria dell’ Accademia di Firenze’ (Gallery of the Academy of Florence) to protect it from any uncertain danger. Duomo di Firenze, which is at a sniffing distance from David’s replica, is an ordinary name for ‘Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Flowers’ that has become synonymous with the identity of Firenze over the years. Along with its relevance encrypted in the history of the city, Duomo makes for an exquisite backdrop to capture your unforgettable memories.

Walking around Firenze could unfold many interesting things for a couple. Nobody loves their cup of tea as much as Indians do. Being in Italy could deprive you of your cuppa when there is aroma of coffee all around. However, small streets a little away from the centre will take you to several tiny cafés that serve you tea in exactly the same manner as it’s supposed to be – hot water kettle, milk, your favorite tea flavor with a nice cup-plate to go with it. Sip in your choice of tea and you are ready to explore the city on your toes.

Boboli Gardens in Florence is home to a collection of antique sculptures San Lorenzo leather market is a great place to bargain for a classic Florentine souvenir

On the surface, being in Firenze could make a newlywed feel deprived of a beach when the sun is shining bright. However, if you walk further down the Arno River ahead of the Ponte Vecchio (Old bridge), you will witness a gamut of people lying on what looks like the sea sand with beach beds along the riverside, which serves as your very own beach—it is nothing less than a hidden treasure for a couple on the lookout for doing something different than hovering in and around the many museums of the city. On this artificial seashore there is no dearth of small yet fully operational bars that house various drinks to quench your thirst and for that matter your hunger as well. You can take a nibble of a sandwich or a Panini or whatever suits your taste buds and keep enhancing your tan without actually being at a real seaside. And yes, these man-made beaches are equipped with washrooms as well that is a quintessential aspect of being at a beach. You just have to get there and soak into the sun.

Moving from the sand to the sky is Piazza Michelangelo (Michelangelo Square), situated in the Oltrarno district of the city, which gives a breathtaking panoramic view of almost all of Florence. To the surprise of many visitors, David would come chasing you here as well—a bronze cast of the statue stands tall in the middle of the square facing the city. In the company of David and your beloved one, while basking in the glory of a beautiful sunset, on a quiet corner find your moment of love that can only be felt and not expressed in words. To add a cherry on the top, indulge in the numerous flavours of gelati (ice cream), no matter if it’s a hot sunny day or a cold winter evening. It is believed that Firenze has some of the best gelati in the whole of Europe. Give your memories an instant sweetener that will definitely make your heart melt and infuse in you a sense of belongingness with the city.

HONEYMOON

How to reach
Florence has its own international airport – Florence Airport, Peretola, which is well connected with big cities in and around Europe. You can either book a direct flight to Florence that will make a halt at Milan or Rome or Paris in France or to save some money you can take a direct flight to Milan or Rome and then take a train to Florence’s Santa Maria Novella station.

Where to stay
Staying in the vicinity of the centre will give access to all the major sights. Check numerous options close to Duomo or Piazza Santa Croce. You can either book an apartment with a local through various B&B websites or look for hotels that offer affordable and clean stay.

> Original article

A NEUROTIC DESIRE…

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Neha Singla IconoclastDaily

Drowning in fashion misery?
Bogged down by negative self-perception?
Or simply floating in suspended motion?

Today, we idolize a trance-like perfection: perfect hair, perfect body, perfect skin, perfect shoes, perfect dress… and in the quest for this illusive perfection we become insignificant commodities. Nothing can stop us, nothing else matters when we want to reach the zenith of external beauty: only an insatiable desire to attain an unrealistic image of ourselves.

Our entire existence is affected by this mania: People. Social interactions. Communication. Synergy…. These are some of the words for which our fashionista develops a deep-seated animosity. She confines herself to her imaginary distortions just like an infant in her mother’s womb: disconnected from the outside world. Making friends is no more relevant to the modern day narcissist.

It is ironic how physical beauty becomes utterly monstrous in the voyage to conform to the ideal image. How for a fashion obsessed teenager, getting good grades in school for that beautiful Zara dress becomes the only motive in life. How to achieve that model like figure, we girls just abandon food, like rats abandon the sinking ship. This idée fixe leads to a distorted and destructive self, sinking us deeper in an ocean of misery and low self- esteem. We don’t realize and in no time at all, the monster within grows into a dominating despot, high and mighty, leaving us vulnerable and helpless.

MONSTER-TOP — Concept and styling: Neha Singla

But, let’s face it: no matter how domineering or bossy the monster is, we are the queens of our own lives. When we get behind the driver’s seat after three too many drinks that is our very own decision.

Whether we want to or not, we have to own up to the choices we make: and the good news is that taking charge of your own life is empowering enough. You then know that it is you, who has let the monster take a more elevated position than your own self. As they say “It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in us.”

We just have to stop treasuring short-term rewards and focus on long term effects. If you fall off the wagon initially, just don’t give up hope. As Napoleon Hill has rightly quoted:

Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.

So just be cognizant of the fact that the chain that binds you is only real if you believe it is and how breaking it can set you free and make you more babelicious than ever before.

JUST SOME FLESH FOR MY RING!!!

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Neha Singla IconoclastDaily

71a0e6189f60bb89b0657300fe0a3258 — 24 carat gold band made from Sruli Recht’s abdomen skin

An out of the league designer and artist, Sruli Recht, born in Jerusalem, Israel, studied in Australia, moved to London and finally based himself in Reykjavik, Iceland, in the northern Europe. Getting into the mind of Recht, I intepret, that one cannot categorize his work, for a simple reason that he has always done things that are not close to normality.

He is the only designer who has actually used his own skin for one of his art pieces. He removed a 4 by 0.4 inch skin from his abdomen while he was awake, got it tanned, with hair intact and mounted it to a gold ring. As some of the writers have rightly put it “he donated a piece of himself for art.” But not everyone has the same appreciation for his work, as many people feel such products are repugnant and the price he is selling them at is extravagant.

Not to mention, he captured the entire process live, below you can watch the video:

As bizarre the idea of human flesh on a ring may seem, what surpasses the human imagination, is the concept of sharkskin gloves lined with thousands of thorns slanted inwards.

Shark skin gloves with thorns lined inside

You can put on the gloves once , only once because if you want to remove them, you have to cut them off or else you rip your hands. With such a line of products to his name, I am not appalled if bloggers infamously quote him as: “Fashion’s Maddest Man.”

His urge to do different things in the most different possible ways has always landed him in trouble. The concept of making an umbrella with a knuckle duster handle, as he called it The Umbuster, got him charged of importation, manufacturing and selling of prohibited weapons. Though, at the end he managed to win the case, with court declaring that the Umbuster is not a weapon.

No matter how quirky his work may appear to anyone, it has always earned him recognition. No wonder his store “Vopnaburio” has been selected by the Wallpaper magazine, among the ten most interesting shops in the world in 2010 with the likes of Hermes in New York and Stella McCartney store in Milan.

An in-depth research on this man leaves you wondering, what to refer him as because his work has always been swinging like a pendulum between art, design and fashion. Before writing this article I didn’t have the slightest of the clue of who Sruli Recht is, so much so that didn’t even know how to spell his name.

But now without any hesitation I would say that despite all the unconventional things he does, I have developed a liking for him when in one of his interviews he unperturbed says “screw those steps; I don’t have the time for them.” The intellect he portrays, leaves you spell bound.

His work is truly a piece of art, for art is not only to provoke pleasant emotions: art in its every form is a medium of expression and Sruli Recht uses this medium quite well, literally.

How to lead a sexless life and be a fucking genius?

Posted on July 4, 2014 by Neha Singla IconoclastDaily

Having sex these days is like a daily dose of vitamin for the body, without which it seems almost impossible to survive. Nevertheless there’s a new breed emerging to the surface proving a new direction. They are the asexuals, infamously classed as the fourth sexual orientation, people without any sexual desire or feeling. Is asexuality the new NORM?…

Let’s not confuse asexuals with homosexuals or bisexuals. For a matter of fact, the latter two do have a sexual desire (strong enough) for either the same sex or the opposite sex. Furthermore asexuality is not celibacy, which means not having sex for whatever reason, though having the orientation. And you dare not categorize them as impotent, if they desire, they can give birth to any number of babies you want.

Asexuality is simply a sexual orientation where the person does not experience sexual desires of any kind: however startling it may sound, it is a reality. Breasts. Vaginas. Penises. These so called sexual organs don’t generate any erotic fetishism in asexuals. Isn’t it an anomaly in a world that is otherwise over obsessed with sex?

However, research reports that asexuality is around as long as sexuality itself. Notable people such as scientist Issac Newton, Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, English art critic John Ruskin were considered to be asexuals. They never showed any interest in women or men per se, indeed they seemed to lack physical attraction or desire for sex. Surprisingly enough, John Ruskin was initially married but later got divorced; rumoured to have refused any physical contact with his wife.

Perhaps that’s the reason behind their success: they devoted all the time in the world to their passions.

Glenn Gould- the great Canadian Pianist of the 20th century

Rumors have always been ripe about Karl Lagerfeld, the legend himself, being an asexual. However, for the man who has never revealed his exact birth date, revealing his actual sexuality is beyond our imagination. Furthermore the social media is always abuzz about the alleged asexuality of Tim Gunn, the man who has multiple credits to his name. Not to mention, he served as an associate dean at Parsons from 1989-2000, only to become a chair later, at the famous design school.

Anthony Bogaert, associate professor at Brock University and author of Understanding Asexuality, has been researching on asexuality since many years now. Interesting facts came forth: 1% of Britain’s population is asexual. As he remarks in his book:

“There are two forms – those who have some level of sex drive, but don’t direct this toward others (they may masturbate) and some who have no sex drive.”

He believes that asexuality is a reaction to the oversexualization of our culture.

In 2006 american asexual activist David Jay felt the need of founding the website AVEN – Asexual Visibility & Education Network to find like minded people and start a discussion.

“Sometimes I believe its difficult to be asexual in this world that is so focused on sexuality. I have known that I was an asexual since I was about 14-15. Kind of when all my friends started to realize that they were interested in sex but I couldn’t relate to what they were going through.”

He said of his [a]sexual orientation.

After its foundation the website really took off and today they have over 12,000 members across the world. Below you can watch David coming out publicly in an interview on the NBC network.

Rare sexual orientation? Dysfunction? Sexual aversion disorder? Whatever asexuality is, there is no denying that though having zero sexual attraction, these people can still be involved in pure romantic relationship with someone. They lead sexless lives and they love it.

Holding hands is as far as I would ever take anything. For me sex is just revulsion, it really is. Just ugh!! Cuddling, that’s OK, not kissing.

Anwen Hayward, a 20 years old student at Aberystwyth University told The Telegraph in an interview.

Not the entire world is going crazy over screwing itself. There are many out there (hidden or just hesitant) who lack the libido. Maybe for them sex is just a brouhaha and they feel happy and content irrespective of the so called physical need phenomenon.

Maybe that’s how a genius is born!

Neha Singla

The Queen of Indian Spices

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