Ringing in 2022. Happy new year and some weird traditions.

 New Year's Day may start the second the clock strikes midnight on January 1 in most countries, but the celebrations undertaken to usher in the new year at different corners of the globe couldn't be more unique. Take Ecuador, for instance: There, citizens parade around the city with scarecrows built to look like popular politicians and cultural icons—and at the stroke of midnight, said scarecrows are burnt to a crisp to cleanse the new year of everything evil. And in Brazil, it's customary to light candles and throw white flowers into the water as an offering for Yemoja, the Queen of the Ocean. Herein, we've traveled the world—virtually, at least—to round up some of the most creative and culturally unique New Year's Eve traditions from around the world.

In Spain, local people will eat precisely 12 grapes at the stroke of 12 PM to respect a custom that began in the late nineteenth century. Harking back to the 1800s, plant cultivators in the Alicante region concocted this practice for selling more grapes around the year's end, however the sweet festival immediately got on. Today, Spaniards appreciate eating one grape for every one of the first 12 chime strikes later 12 PM in quite a while that this will achieve an extended period of favorable luck and thriving.

Assuming you end up being in Brazil for New Year's Eve, expect to observe the seas covered with white blossoms and candles. In the South American country, it is typical for residents to take to the shores on New Year's Eve to make contributions to Yemoja, a significant water divinity who is said to control the oceans, to evoke her gifts for the year to come.

The Greeks accept that onions are an image of resurrection, thus they hang the sharp odour vegetable on their entryways to advance development all through the new year. Greek culture has since a long time ago connected this food with the possibility of advancement, considering all the rotten onion at any point apparently needs is to establish its underlying foundations and continue to develop. Weird traditions continue everywhere as we are ready to welcome the year 2022.  Hope is all we have with the new year's new beginnings..

Wishing you all a wonderful and safe new year.

How to welcome 2022?? Need some ideas?

Would you be able to accept that 2021 is practically finished? We're a couple of days from the New Year (2022) and individuals are as of now lounging in the merry Christmas season. Despite the fact that limitations are back on because of the spread of the Omicron COVID-19 variant, home festivals are dependably an incredible choice to celebrate the New Year.

So, as you start preparing for the New Year with a list of resolutions, goals and plans, don't forget to celebrate the past year that has gone by. Here are 5 doable, fun ideas for a low-key, home New Years celebration.

1. Have a karaoke night: Get out the mics and sing your heart out to your main tunes! Indeed, ring up a couple of companions and host a crushing karaoke party at your home. There are many karaoke chime in recordings promptly accessible on YouTube which you can utilize. Plug them into your speakers and hotshot your great singing abilities. You could even two part harmony with your companions to old melodies and revive valuable recollections.

2. Dance party: Invite over companions or even family and challenge them to a pleasant dance-off in your lounge room. Impact the music and siphon up the means to perky tunes. It's an incredible method for relinquishing all the pressure you've been conveying consistently and enter the New Year with enthusiasm and satisfaction.

3. A photograph session to recall: Grab your craziest garments and extras and spruce up at home for a vital photoshoot with your loved ones. You can beautify your home with vivid lights for a party feel, light up the rooms with candles and afterward present for pictures. Remember to share them on Instagram!

4. Game evening: Bring the house down for certain run of the mill games like monopoly, charades and cards. Either on the web or face to face, assemble your mates for a momentous night loaded up with games and heaps of babble.

5. Cook a great feast: Want a calm New Year's Eve? Prepare your cherished dishes on the last day of the year. You can begin with canapés, fundamental course, beverages and treats. Spoil yourself in the most stupendous manner of all time.

Hope you have the best of time.

Merry Christmas 2021

 Happy holidays! That season is here once more. The celebration of tones, lights and joy have cleared their path for the year 2021 and we can't try to avoid panicking – particularly after last-year's Christmas festivities which was spent in confinement, in alarm of the pandemic and in vulnerability. The aggravation of having passed up seeing our precious ones for the Christmas season have caused us to expect the current year's festivals significantly more.

Notwithstanding, the pandemic isn't finished at this point. Truth be told, it is a long way from being finished. With the new Omicron variant advancing in a few nations, the limitations are again set up and the alarm has returned. As the feeling of dread toward getting the new variant again hooks the world, it has faint the lights of the Christmas festivities, once more. In any case, we can in any case praise the celebration – at home, with the family and by having a quiet and calm day with our friends and family.

Keep safe! Merry Christmas ☃️🎄.

Why people shop online?

Online shopping in the recent times has become the most sought mode of buying things. A lot of things like books, electronics, grocery and clothes are all bought online with a help of few clicks. But why are people shifting to online buying than in store purchasing. Is it because of COVID-19 only ?? I don't think so. There are a number of reasons why people tend to online buy stuff they want, basically for the convenience it offers. Let's iterate all the reasons for the shift in buying strategy :

1. The variety and range of the products is really huge no matter what item is in consideration.

2. You need not travel to the store, which in most cases a tiresome job to get done, especially in the urban area.

3. Better pricing with coupons and discounts offered by various website stores.

4. Easy and quick turnover times for product replacement and refunds.

5. No sales pressure from the shopkeeper.

6. Quality and discreet shipping service offered.

7. Easy checkout process, no need to wait in the queue for payments.

8. Clear product description provided, also vendor details are transparent making it a secured transaction.

So generally with all the pros discussed I guess in the years to come online shopping is going to stay. 

I however personally feel in store purchase gives me more pleasure as I can verify the product completely before buying it. What's your say? Do write your thoughts.

What if Earth spins in the reverse direction?

Have you ever wondered which way the Earth rotates and what would happen if it spins the other way round? 

Oh okay what does that mean to me. Now the Sun rises in the east and sets in the west however if the Earth start spinning other way then it would mean that the sun rises in the west and set in the east. It sounds weird. Alright!

From the time we've known the poor little Earth has been revolving around its axis from West to East. But if one fine day it decides to spin in the opposite direction then Earth would not be the way we see it today.

A sudden change in direction of spin will cause destructive winds and massive waves. The oceanic currents change which would typically wipe out everything on the ground. These bring out a dramatic change in the climatic conditions across all the continents. In short Earth would become more greener. 

Currently, oceans control the climate globally by distributing the heat from the Sun all over the Earth. The moisture is carried from the driest parts of the Earth to the bring rainfall to thorny jungles.

But due to the reverse spinning the currents change and in turn the thick forests will turn into barren lands and the deserts today would be more green. In general there would be much more vegetation throughout the Earth. It results in more oxygen. 

Western Europe will get more cold splashes while Russia on the other hand will become warmer. Well too much of oxygen may make it difficult for human existence. So better let the world spin the way it does now and think about making the shift. :)

 

Christmas hand made gift ideas

Everyone would agree: The best Christmas gifts come straight from the heart.It may be easy to find personalized presents from major online retailers like Amazon and Etsy, nothing tops sticking a DIY Christmas gift under the tree.I will share a few of homemade gift ideas to gift you're loved ones — winter candles, gift baskets, salt dough ornaments, and so on. These will definitely interest everyone on your holiday shopping list: parents, coworkers, friends, kids, grandparents, significant others, best friends, and anyone else who has a place in your heart.

1. Candles : Cut out some winter scenic view on a white paper and place it inside a candle holder. It'll be classy gift for one who loves cosy evenings with lighted candles.

2. Bath Tea: Make your own bath soak with layers of Epsom salt, flowers and essential oils.

3: Coffee mug mixers: These are basically spoonful of chocolate with a hint of flavors added like peppermint, cinnamon, candy cane etc. 

4: Tea towels : make designs on tea towel using cookie cutter or any other designing tool if you have. 

5: Decorating glass ornaments : You can fill ornaments with fun stuff or paint them with the Christmas colors.

6: Body scrub: Woohoo best one for those who love some aroma and relaxing therapy 

7: Christmas tea bag/Chocolate tree: make a tree using tea bags for a tea lover, use chocolates for a chocolate freak 

8: Painting canvases: Show some creative skills and pop some colors into the space of your loved one.

9: Recipe jar: Place all ingredients in a mason jar and also keep the directions to bake. 

10: Picture frame: You can make a calendar using the favorite pictures your loved one and you wanna remember through the years. 

11: Salted caramel candy: These are incredibly simple and definitely cheers up those sweet tooth.

12: Handmade soap: Throw in some aroma using essential oils into your soap for the season.

13: Pillow/Cushion covers : Either decorate them with pompoms or other essentials or simply using paint make Christmassy designs.

14: Jewelry case/Box: You can convert the basic dollar gift boxes by decorating them using craft supplies or painting them with acrylic or chalk paint.

15: Homemade jams/sauces: If you are good at making jams, nothing like a home made jam using fresh seasonal fruits.

Hope these ideas keep you going and helps you make the perfect choice of gift for your near ones.

Merry Christmas and happy celebrations.

Movie review: The Christmas Chronicles

Today me and my little one wanted to watch a Christmassy movie and I stumbled upon this movie called The Christmas Chronicles. I'm so pleased to be saying this. This has to be easily the best heartfelt Christmas flick, I've seen in many years. It's simply brilliant. We've seen many interpretations of Santa Claus on the big screen, but hardly any with the soul, emotion and believability that Kurt Russell conveys.

What I love about the film is the themes that are being dealt with. Learning to love your siblings. Turning a situation from bad to good. Coping with the loss of a parent/husband. Saving Christmas for the world. I was so emotional throughout watching, and it was a real tear-jerker in parts. Big shout-out to the brilliant young actors Judah Lewis & Darby Camp. I hope and look forward to seeing more from them both, as they have pack loads of potential in life. 

One of my favourite parts of the film is when Santa is in jail and jams with the inmates who happen to be good musicians.

The movie is just what I needed to see, as I've felt un-festive these past few years. Here is a great Christmassy film for all ages. 

It is so much more different than other boring Christmas movies! This one really has different, feelings emotions and stories and that's the great thing about it! 

I have to recommend this for families and people of all ages. Well done to the cast, the production team.

Why do children write letter to Santa?

 With Christmas around the corner children around the world are now writing a letter to Santa. The tradition of writing a letter to Santa has been in practice for generations around the globe. Every year children all over the globe write letters to Santa. Some leave the letters in the shoes and some put it in the stockings above the fireplace and others send written letters addressed to Santa's workshop from the North Pole or even throw the letter into the fireplace so that it will float up the chimney and fly to the North Pole. According to the stories about him Santa lives in the North Pole with his wife Mrs. Claus. Throughout the years Santa and his elves makes toys for Christmas. Elves are small magical creatures that helps Santa, also known as Santa's helpers. Some take care of Santa's reindeer , otters make cookies and some make candies. Santa has a total of 9 reindeer - Dasher, Dancer, Prancer,Vixen, Comet,Cupid,Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph. One of the main jobs of the elves are to read all the mails written by children to Santa and make sure each one of them is read by Santa. On Christmas Eve Santa travels all around the world on a sleigh pulled by reindeer and delivers a toy to every kid's house. Children usually leave milk and cookies for him near the Christmas tree.

In a tradition that has been for decades, millions of children write letters to Santa to tell him how they have been good all year and what they would like to get as a present from father Christmas. So be good, help your father, mother, brothers or sisters, your friends or your neighbors. The more good you do the happier Christmas you will have. Christmas is the best time of the year so let us all enjoy it. 

Have you written your letter to Santa??

Some surfaces you should not clean with baking soda

 Yes baking soda is an excellent cleaning agent however there are certain surfaces that you should not be cleaning with it. Baking soda can remove rigid household dirt and grind from almost everything like fabrics to bathrooms yet this versatile cleaning agent does more harm than good on some surfaces.

This cleaning agent when mixed with vinegar had excellent stain removing capabilities and works well on stubborn marks too.

You should not be using baking soda to clean these surfaces: 

• Glass
• Ceramics
• Marble
• Wood
• Silver

Cleaning glass with this popular household item may seem like a good idea, but using baking soda is more likely to scratch the surface rather than actually clean it.

The abrasive consistency of this raising agent will certainly scrub away dirt and stains, but not without leaving some long-lasting damage.

So ensure you keep baking soda away from these surfaces while you are on a cleaning spree.

Miss Universe 2021 : Harnaaz Sandhu from India

After about 2 decades Indian beauty wins the Miss Universe title once again. Harnaaz Sandhu of India was crowned Miss Universe 2021 on Sunday, marking the end of a controversial pageant hosted this year in southern Israel.

I am not one who is much obsessed in these beauty pageants, however when the laurels hit the home country it's a matter of pride. Isn't it?

And I really loved the way she spoke confidently during the question answer round. southern Israel.

In a speech on stage during the pageant, Sandhu urged young people to "know that you are unique and that's what makes you beautiful, stop comparing yourself to others.

"I believed in myself, and that's why I'm standing here today," she added, to loud applause from the audience.

It's a powerful message to everyone in these uncertain times. Never lose hope and always remember you can achieve only if you determine to and believe in yourself. 

Congratulations once again to this beautiful lady. May you dream high and achieve your dreams.

Flavour Dream - fiction. (Don't curb dreams of younger ones. Allow them to go reach them)

Hari was all set to start afresh on his new venture. Having a normal childhood with not much exposure to various cuisines he was hooked to the staples at his home - rice and sambar, idlis and dosas.

Ranganna, Mallika and Hari were a happy family of three. Ranganna worked in a private company as a clerk. Mallika adorned the typical homemaker title. Both of them worked hard to make ends meet. A luxurious lunch in a restaurant was far from reality. One sunny afternoon as Mallika was watching a regular regional soap on television, Hari who was then around ten made a sharbat for his mom. It was not only a surprise in terms of his love towards his mom but she was totally in awe with the drink. It was extra ordinary. Hari had it in him. He had knowledge of flavor, he knew how to present his work beautifully. She praised Hari and started using his help in the kitchen when he showed interest. He learnt all of the delicacies his mom cooked at home, but it was all limited to one geographical area. Hari wanted to explore the world and the cuisines from each part. He expressed his interest to his parents who thought Hari taking cooking as a profession was not going to fetch him fortune. They also presented their logical views to him. But Hari was determined. He bargained a year from his dad to try his luck in the cooking industry and if nothing seemed to work out he'd return to his graduation studies. Mallika and Ranganna finally agreed to Hari's request and let him apply for the upcoming country's best cookery show. 

On the day of selections Hari prepared his all time favorite payasam(Kheer) with extra pinch of saffron. Loaded it with the roasted nuts for the extra crunch. Also to serve with it he made simple Malai khulfi . He served them on a silver plate and garnished them beautifully with red rose petals. Judges who tasted his dish instantly fell in love with his raw cooking abilities and wanted to give him a fare chance in the competition.

Hari's happiness knew no bounds. He was thrilled and excited about the upcoming cooking sessions he will have to go through, also he was anxious of all the learnings he would be able to get through this special journey.

Hari prepared for his beautiful trip to the capital city where the next twelve weeks he will have to be spending. Ranganna and Mallika were equally delighted on this first step towards Hari's success. They wished him luck. 

Each week Hari cooked awesome recipes, thanks to all the information his mother had imparted to him. He knew his flavors really well. The judges were impressed and Hari was one among the top 5 candidates. He excelled in savory and desserts. His recipe of tadka panneer got a spot in the menu of a reputed hotel chain. One of his sweet recipe was published in a famous chefs cookbook.

Eventually it was a battle between two contestants in the grand finale where Hari was to cook against the master of baking, Chetan. Chetan had also struggled his way up. His knowledge in baking was extraordinary and so was aptly called the master of baking.

Ranganna and Mallika for the first time travelled all the way to the capital city to witness his son take part in the final round of the competition. Hari had already won their hearts reaching this far in the competition. He had made them proud. It was an intense final cook. Hari made an elaborate Thali that ended with a masala buttermilk. Judges were in awe by the looks of the dish let alone the taste. It was a pleasure to have such an enthusiastic and artistic chef, they pronounced after the tasting. Hari undoubtedly win the title sand was given a chance to work on the most prestigious restaurant in the world. He was living his dreams. In a span of 3 years he earned fame through his culinary expertise. Today he was ready to establish himself as an entrepreneur by starting his own restaurant - Flavour Dream.