Eye Care

Tips for Eye Care

Eyes are one of  the most wonderful gift given to us, so we should take care of the eyes.

Here are some tips to take care of your eyes:

Take diet consisting of fruits and vegetables and full of vitamins to make eyes brighter.

Have a good night sleep and give enough rest to your eyes.

Wash eyes with cold water to get sparkling eyes. 

Soak cotton in Luke warm milk and cover eyes with it for 15 min. 

Wear a good quality sunglasses which protect your eyes from UV rays while going out in the sun.

 

To soothe tired eyes, take cucumber slices and place on closed eyes for 10 minutes. Now relax completely. 

Since the skin around the eyes is very sensitive, take good care and handle it delicately. You can massage your eyes with almond oil using your ring finger without giving much pressure.
 

If your eye twitches, or your eyes are red and feeling itchy, massage your scalp with curd.

After every 20 to 30 minutes of work, look at a distant away object and blink several times. This will help in better focusing.

For Puffy Eyes: Grate a potato with its peel and apply on your closed eyelids for about 20 minutes and relax completely. You may even take a nap.

Apply pure castor oil for the eyebrows  and eye lashes before going to bed for good growth.

Read in good light and keep a good distance while watching television. 

Splashing water on you face during breaks can keep you refreshed. This also helps in cooling your eyes.

Rub your palms against each other till them become warm. Cover your eyes with your warm palms for about a minute. Palming is another great way to relax and soothe your eyes. Do this in morning when you wake up.

For wrinkles or fine lines around the eyes, apply egg white, leave it till it dries and wash it off with cold water. Do this regularly or on alternate days. This natural remedy for wrinkles around the eyes is very effective.

In a small bowl of chilled water add few drops of Vitamin E oil or Rose Water. Dip cotton pads for 5 minutes in this and place on the eyes while relaxing for 20 minutes everyday.  This will refresh your eyes.

 

ANGER MANAGEMENT

ANGER

Anger is one of the most misunderstood and overused of human emotions. Anger is a natural emotion that every human and many non-human animals experience. We need to understand that anger is a reaction to an inner emotion and not a planned action.


Mild forms of human anger may include displeasure, irritation or dislike. When we react to frustration, criticism or a threat, we may become angry and usually this is a healthy response. Anger may be a secondary response to feeling sad, lonely or frightened.


Anger is not just a mental state of mind. It triggers an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline.

Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to following problems:

• Backache
• Headache 
• Stroke 
• Skin problems
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Low self-esteem
• Moodiness
• Grief     
• Rudeness
• Tiredness
• Hunger
• Pain   
• Some physical conditions, such as pre-menstrual syndroms 
• Physical illness 
• Mental illness 
• Alcohol, some drugs, alcohol abuse, drug abuse 
• Injustice
• Being teased or bullied  
• Humiliation
• Embarrassment
• Deadlines 
• Traffic jam 
• Disappointment
• Failure
• Infidelity
• Burglary
• Financial problems   
• Being told you have a serious illness   
  
  

What Is Anger Management?

Anger management is a procedure of acquiring the skills to recognize signs that you are becoming angry, and taking action to deal with the situation in a positive way.

Dealing with Anger:

The first step in dealing with anger is to become aware of it. There are many ways to handle anger once you recognize it and get to the reason of it.

Relaxation: As simple as it sounds, basic relaxation exercises can be powerful tools in overcoming one's anger. Among these simple techniques are deep breathing. BREATH IN and OUT.

Express your anger: Make sure you do this when you have calmed down. Do this in an non-aggressive way.

Cognitive Restructuring: Cognitive restructuring is basically changing the way you think about things. This involves thinking more positively about a situation.

Problem Solving: Not all anger is inappropriate. Make a plan for how you can fix the situation and approach it with good intentions.

Better Communication: Angry people tend to jump to conclusions and overreact. By slowing down and thinking about what to say, this problem can be avoided. Also, make sure you understand what other people are saying before responding to them.

Using Humor: By refusing to take yourself too seriously, you can defuse your anger. Try using humorous imagery to lighten your mood or to make fun of yourself. However, you should avoid using sarcastic and harsh humor which is simply another expression of anger.

Change Your Environment: Often our environment contributes to our anger by causing irritation and fury. When stress becomes too intense, simply get away for 15 minutes and refresh.

Sleep: try to get at least 7 hours good quality sleep every night. Sleep is crucial for good mental and physical health.

Recycle Week round up & Cybermummy!

Blimmin' 'eck, I've hardly had chance to stop for a cup of tea since Recycle Week began last week. I've been too busy hanging around with 'Shedwyn' our mascot for the Stand up for Recycling out on the Street Campaign and 1000 bin challenge, which I launched in conjunction with My Zero Waste only last Monday.

For those who are new to the challenge, the mission is to collect 1000 photos and videos of on-street recycling bins, the aim of which is to raise awareness of "recycling-on-the-go" facilities.  It's a totally independent social-media campaign, which although supported by WRAP's Recycle Now team, is simply a bloggers' grassroots initiative to inject some fun into the subject of recycling.

But crikey, what an amazing week it's been, with photos coming into our Facebook page  from as far as Greece and Shedwyn impersonators coming out of the woodwork from all sorts of unexpected corners.

It started with a gaggle of Shedwyn imposters popping up at a recycling bin in Bury St Edmunds ready for Monday's launch.

I don't think it was that difficult for folk to spot the real Shedwyn from the line up of imposters that included a very busy mum, a local soap maker, a borough councillor, a wildlife volunteer and a children's clothes shop owner.  To see who the Real Shedwyn is, you'll find there's a huge clue on the new website, which was also launched on Monday.

Monday was brilliant. Not only did the Facebook page reach over 100 followers, but photos started to come in too.  What really made it though was the announcement by Suffolk's comedy club "the Chortle Factory" on BBC Radio Suffolk that they were getting behind the campaign and planning all sorts of frivolity for pop up entertainment at local recycling bins as well as comedy litter picks.

Next, came confirmation from a whole range of performers including Abi Roberts, Doug Segal and Checkley Bush, as well as Crouch End's new comedy club Boom-Tish!, that they would all be doing something over the summer at an adopted recycling bin.

But it's not just comedians, singers and entertainers who are getting involved.  News in at the end of last week was that talented artist Penny Lindop would be getting her sketchpad out at a recycling bin and submitting her entry of support too.

And throughout the week, Shedwyn popped up in all sorts of places, including:

A random waterside recycling bin in Ely (and it is random, especially as it is the only one):

An eco-club visit to Abbots Green Community Primary School in Suffolk

On a train to London

And of course the Cybermummy conference in London, where she mingled with some fabulous bloggers, including the gorgeous Clare from The Babbling Mummy.

and the amazing Melinda from Her Melness Speaks....Out!

And look who else she bumped into...

...none other than Michael Douglas, the One Show's very own Street Barber...who just wanted to get on record that he's not actually responsible for Shedwyn's barnet, but he did let on that he's got up to some recycling shenanigans of his own in recent years.  Shedwyn's on a promise to get a link to one of his videos for the 1000 bins campaign and I can tell you now, she's very excited at that news indeed.  Look at her.  Bless her. She just can't contain herself!


Then it was down to business and the hunt for recycling bins at Cybermummy's conference venue (The Brewery in London), which was kindly modelled by the most wonderful Surprised Zoe.  Of course, she's not always surprised,. but that's how I've come to know her.

And last but not least, the event just wouldn't have been the same without a truckload of Shedwyn imposters popping up at the after-show party.  And here's a fabulous line-up of the suspicious characters, but I'm not going to reveal who they are.  That would spoil the fun!  I'm going to leave it to my blogging pals to guess and see if they can spot themselves too.

So...Cybermummy Shedwyns....here's over to you........a dozen imposters to make your minds boggle.

  1. I think this Cybermummy Shedwyn was startled by the flash

2. And this Cybermummy let her hair down in style

 3. This Shedwyn imposter just knows the glass of wine will give her away.

 

4. This CyberShedwyn hangs around more bins than she might reveal.

 5. This Shedwyn is dreaming of her next blogpost.

  6. While this Shedwyn imposter doesn't blog at all. Could she be an imposter in more ways than one?

  7. This disguise is good baby!

 8.A bearded Shedwyn. Whatever next!

  9.  Yeah baby. Work it Shedywn number 9!

10. And check out this rock chick!

11. Glam rocks! But there was no funny business in this Shedwyn's powder room.

12. And this Shedwyn is so hot, she's simply "smokin'"

It was a great day hanging out with so many Shedwyns at the Cybermummy party and my only regret was that I had to leave early to catch the train home.  However, I did catch a few extra Recycle Week snaps to add to the 1000 bins Facebook page.

And yesterday, a fitting end to Recycle Week, The Rubbish Diet got a mention in  The Independent on Sunday's Cybermummy feature.  I caught up with the article whilst on a family excursion to Southwold.  I did notice that I'd been re-christened as Kate.

Oh well, I'm sure there's a touch of royalty in the sentiment and Kate is rather fashionable, just like "recycling-on-the-go"

So I kept the feature and when the rest of the newspaper was finished, I popped it into the "newish" recycling bin on The Green

A fitting end to a fun-packed Recycle Week. 

For more information about what else I got up to at this year's Cybermummy, check out my post over on my other blog...Anything but rubbish.  It's the place where I ramble about things away from the bin.

Although Recycle Week is over, this is only the very beginning for the 1000 bins challenge, which runs right up to the end of Zero Waste Week on the 11 September.  It would be great if you could join in and encourage your friends to submit photos as well as entertaining videos.  There will even be a competition too, details of which will be announced at www.myzerowaste.com at the end of July.

For details of how you can participate, please vist www.1000bins.com.

In the meantime, I am sure the CyberShedwyns (who were such great sports) will reveal themselves very soon.

___________________________________________________________

Recipe: Quorn Bolognese Vermicelli Bake

This is a nice filling and comforting pasta bake- a vegetarian main that's packed with flavour, that will feed the whole family very happily. Using vermicelli gives it a really interesting texture, different to most pasta bakes, and ensures that the dish doesn't dry out. Quorn is a vegetarian mince, made through combining a type of mushroom with microproteins from eggs. You can of course use TVP or any other similar veggie mince in this dish.

Quorn Bolognese Vermicelli Bake (serves 4)

2 tbsp olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 x 350g pack of Quorn mince
650ml Passata
1 vegetable Oxo stock cube
2 tsp Italian seasoning (a dried herb mix of oregano, marjoram and basil)
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp worchester sauce
250g vermicelli pasta
125g grated mozzarella
75g grated cheddar
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Fry the red onion and garlic in the olive oil in a large saucepan, covered, for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the Quorn, passata, stock cube, herbs and sugar, and cook on a low-medium heat uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally
2. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 180C. Cook the vermicelli in salted boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain and mix into the Quorn mixture (once it has had its 15 minutes), mix well, season to taste, and then pour into a baking dish.
3. Smooth over to make it even, top with the mozzarella and cheddar, and bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Heat the bake under a hot grill for a couple of minutes to gratinate, and serve!

BAD BREATH

Bad Breath

Bad breath, medically called "halitosis" can result from poor dental health habits and may be a sign of other health problems. Bad breath develops from the bacteria that are present in our mouth. These bacteria contact with the food we eat and release a foul odor.

Basically, all the food you eat begins to be broken down in your mouth. As foods are digested and absorbed into your bloodstream, they are eventually carried to your lungs and given off in your breath. If you eat foods with strong odors (such as garlic or onions), brushing and flossing -- even mouthwash -- merely covers up the odor temporarily. The odor will not go away completely until the foods have passed through your body.

WHAT CAUSES BAD BREATH?

If you don't brush and floss your teeth daily, food particles can remain in your mouth, which promotes bacterial growth between teeth, around the gums, and on the tongue. This causes bad breath.


Dry mouth also causes bad breath. When you have dry mouth, especially in the morning, dead cells accumulate in the mouth and decompose causing foul odor.


When our mouth is dry, saliva production decreases, leaving the mouth’s natural ability to clean itself impaired. Saliva is the mouth’s natural mouthwash, which contains properties that reduces bacteria in the mouth.

TREATMENT OF BAD BREATH

Brush your teeth and rinse your mouth thoroughly after every meal to remove food particle from the mouth.


Brush with baking soda to reduce the acidity in the mouth and make it difficult for the bacteria to grow.


When you are brushing your teeth, also brush your tongue. The tongue is covered with thousands of tiny hairs that can trap bacteria.

Drink sufficient amount of water (6-8 glasses) daily.


Gargle with salt water to reduce bacteria in the mouth.


Quit smoking. Tar and nicotine can build up on the surface of the teeth, tongue and cheeks. It can also dry the mouth and inhibit saliva flow.


Exercise and eat fiber rich foods to prevent constipation.


A few drops of peppermint or tea tree oil can be applied to the tongue or toothbrush to help freshen the breath. In addition to its refreshing nature, their antibacterial properties will kill the bacteria found in the mouth.

Recipe: Red Onion Chutney

Hey guys. Well, gotta admit, you may see a little less of me over the next couple of months. Well these past couple of weeks, not only have I had my exams to worry about, and arranging the usual Glastonbury Festival "holiday", but i've got a new job too! Don't worry, I havent quit the garden centre job that I love, but basically i've got a job for the summer at new restaurant chain "The Cosy Club". Nice menu (sorta ciabattas, paninis, all day breakfast, tapas, and specials), Nice people, and rather a lot of hours! So until I (hopefully) get to Uni in October, there might be a few less posts than usual! This red onion chutney is stunnin', fab with a big slab of brie, in a cheese sandwich, or with a juicy homemade burger!

Red Onion Chutney (makes 750g)

110ml olive oil
1kg peeled and thinly sliced red onions (about 10/11 onions)
1 tsp dried thyme
400g caster sugar
150ml red wine vinegar
250ml cider vinegar
Salt and pepper
50g finely chopped cocktail gherkins

1. In a large saucepan, fry the onions and thyme in the olive oil, on a medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
2. Add sugar, stir in, and cook for a further 5 minutes, stirring often.
3. Add the vinegars, and cook on a medium heat for 50 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Take the chutney off the heat, and skim off any excess oil with a ladle. Mix in the chopped gherkins, add a little salt and pepper, and spoon into jars.

Home Remedies for Dandruff

HOME REMEDIES FOR DANDRUFF

Dandruff is best described as the excessive shedding of skin on the scalp. Many people suffer from dandruff problems. Fortunately, there are many ways to treat and prevent dandruff.

Causes of Dandruff

Dandruff is a condition marked by excessive scalp flaking and itchiness. Dandruff has several causes, including dry skin, excessive cold weather, Hormonal changes, an overgrowth of yeast. Stress and poor diet also have been linked to dandruff.

Home Remedies:

Keep hair and scalp clean to avoid accumulation of dead cells:
The foremost consideration in the treatment of dandruff is to keep the hair and scalp clean so as to minimise the accumulation of dead cells.

Mix lemon peels with extra virgin coconut oil and allow the mixture to absorb direct sunlight for one week or up to 10 days. Strain the mixture and use it to pre-treat hair before shampooing.

Hair should be brushed daily to improve circulation:
The hair should be brushed daily to improve the circulation and remove any flakiness. Exposure of the head to the rays of the sun is also a useful measure in the treatment of dandruff.

Washing hair in green gram powder twice weekly helps keep the scalp healthy and reduces dandruff.

Using olive oil on hair gives the scalp healthy nourishment with such vitamins as vitamins A, E and K. Olive oil also has anti-inflammatory qualities, which can be helpful when the scalp is irritated. Olive oil should be warmed slightly and applied to the hair and scalp, and keep it for at least 30 minutes before shampooing and rinsing.

Dandruff Treatment using Lime:
The use of a teaspoon of fresh lime juice for the last rinse, while washing the hair, is another useful remedy. This not only leaves the hair glowing but also removes stickiness and prevents dandruff. Lime juice or lemon juice is an excellent oily dandruff home remedy and can also be used to prevent this scalp condition.

Dandruff can be removed by massaging the hair for half an hour with curd which has been kept open for three days, or with a few drops of lime juice mixed. Apply it on your hair before taking shower.

Dandruff Shampoo:
Mild cases of dandruff often can be cured just by washing the hair and scalp daily with a gentle shampoo. Shampooing can remove excess oil and dandruff flakes from the scalp. If a gentle shampoo doesn't do the trick, a medicated dandruff shampoo might be necessary.