Lifestyle Forum

Brooklyn Girl’s Penne Arrabiata Recipe

Posted on March 28, 2019 by Jenna George

Ingredients

olive oil
garlic ( paste and sliced)
red chilly flakes
sliced tomatoes (garlic and olive oil)
chopped basil leaves
tomato sauce
penne pasta
bread crumbs
salt
pepper
Sliced chicken breast

How to cook

Step 1 :Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a pan over medium heat.

Step 2: Add sliced garlic and stir for a few minutes.

Step 3 :Sprinkle red chilly flakes, and sauté for a minute.

Step 4 :Add in sliced tomatoes and tomato sauce.

Step 5 : Add the freshly chopped basil leaves.

Step 6 :Keep it in simmer for 20 minutes.

Step 7 : Stirring occasionally.

Step 8 :Take another large pan and bring lightly salted water to boil.

Step 9 :Add the penne pasta and let it cook for 8 minutes. Once it is cooked drain the pasta.

Step 10 :Whisk 2 eggs with a fork in a small bowl.

Step 11 :Take a plate and spread the bread crumbs.

Step 12 :Mix the garlic paste, salt and pepper to the bread crumbs.

Step 13 :First dip the sliced chicken pieces into the egg, then coat it with the bread crumbs.

Step 15 :Heat olive oil in a pan. Fry the chicken pieces until its coating turns to dark brown.

Step 16 :Once the chicken is fried put it into the sauce which was made before. Toss the chicken pieces in the sauce. Let it be in simmer for 10 minutes to soak the flavour.

Step 17 :Add the penne pasta to the sauce. Stir it well and it is ready to be served.

Goa, Pearl of the Orient

Posted on March 21, 2019April 10, 2019 by Jenna George

Goa, one of India’s most popular tourist spots, both for the domestic and international traveller. It has 130 km long coastline on the Konkan cost of the Western Ghats. During 1510, the Portuguese conquered Goa. In 1961, Portuguese handed over control of this colony to India. There are old Portuguese architecture, lifestyle and flavour in its history. It is a fairy tale land for the traveller across the country. Unending beaches, beautiful landscapes, hills and old architecture makes it rich in its culture and beauty.

Anjuna Beach

Anjuna Beach
Calangute Beach
calangute Beach
Se Cathedral

Aguada Fort

aguda Fort
Basilica of Bom Jesus

The Chocolate Heaven, Bangalore

Posted on March 5, 2019March 28, 2019 by Jenna George

The Chocolate Heaven, specialty chocolate café. A café for chocoholics who love chocolate stuffs a lot.

“The name itself explains everything. I really had an amazing chocolate experience in this cafe. It offers a wide range of food varieties from sweet to spicy. “
Chris Babu, customer

It not only offers chocolate stuff, but also provides its customers with a wide variety of Italian food. Spiced bread and intense cheese with varieties of Italian cuisine that range from pasta to desserts. Chocolate heaven offers its customers waffles, hot chocolate, brownie, pizza, coffee, pancakes, pasta and a lot more!!!

“They have a very good menu for you to choose from- waffles, cakes etc. The main course, they have pizzas, pasta, burgers, sandwiches etc. It is all set for good food service ”
Roshny Ross, customer

“If you’re a chocolate lover, then chocolate heaven is for you. Heaven for all the chocoholics out there. For dessert lovers, this is a must visit the place.” Roshan Richard, customer

“Its the apt destination for all chocoholics. It has an amazing variety of choices on various chocolate dishes, pizzas and many more. “ Midhun Nair, Customer

Location:

VILE PARLE, MUMBAI	MAHIM, MUMBAI
BORIVALI, MUMBAI	CHENNAI
BENGALURU	AMARAVATI
GANDHIDHAM, GUJARAT	VISAKHAPATNAM
WHITEFIELD, BENGALURU	KALYAN NAGAR, BENGALURU
OLD AIRPORT ROAD, BENGALURU	BHELUPUR, VARANASI
GOMATI NAGAR, LUCKNOW	SURAT, GUJARAT

Munnar, Kashmir of south India

Posted on February 14, 2019April 9, 2019 by Jenna George

Munnar is a hill station located in the Idukki district of Kerala. It is placed at a height of around 1,500 m to 2,695 m above sea. It was the summer capital for the Britishers during the colonial period. It is enriched with beautiful lush green tea and spice plantations It is much known for its tea estates. Neelakurinji or Strobilanthus has a special spot in the tourism map of this attractive destination. The flower blooms once in twelve years and it attracts people from all around the world. This destination is heaven for tourist. Munnar also has a wide range of resorts and hotels. Among these resorts and hotels, you can also find cheap and affordable accommodation facilities.

“Munnar is the place where you can find your inner soul.”
John , a tourist

Fact File

Altitude : 1600 Mts to 1800 Mts above sea level
Tourist Season : August to May
Clothing : Warm Clothes and Rain Gear
Temperature : Min. 0 c – Max. 25 c

Places to visit

TATA Tea Museum
Cheeyapara Waterfalls
Pothamedu ViewPoint
Attukad Waterfalls
Top Station
Kundala Lake
Mattupetty Dam
Eravikulam National Park
Marayoor Dolmens
Anamudi Peak
Indo Swiss Dairy Farm in Mattupetty
Lock hart Gap
Blossom Park
Meesapulimala
Chokramudi Peak

Photo Gallery

Munnar glimpse

Mysore, the cultural capital of Karnataka

Posted on January 22, 2019January 24, 2019 by Jenna George

Mysore (Mysuru) also called the city of palaces is a prominent tourist destination in Karnataka for people around the world. It is about 143 km away from Bangalore. It is a beautiful spot enriched with cultural heritage. It is located in the feet of Chamundi hills. Due to its cultural richness, it was known as the cultural capital of Karnataka. The city of Mysore was ruled first by the Ganga dynasty followed by the Cholas, Vijayanagar Empire, Chalukyas, Hoysalas and the Yadu Dynasty. The famous Chamundi temple on the Chamundi hills and some of the other beautiful and astonishing temples were built by the Hoysalas. The city of Mysore lost some of its prominences when the capital of the state was moved to Srirangapatna. The main festivities in Mysore takes place during the time of Dasara, the state festival of Karnataka. The city receives the most number of tourist during this festival period. The Mysore palace is one among the most visited tourist destinations in India. The city has other tourist attractions like Chamundi Hills, Chamundeshwari temple, St. Philomena’s church, Karanji lake etc.

Places to visit in Mysore:

Palaces: Apart from the famous Ambavilasa Palace, also known as the Mysore Palace, the city is enriched with Jaganmohan Palace, Lalitha Mahal, and Jayalakshmi Vilasa.

Chamundi Hills: The famous Chamundeshwari temple is situated on the top of the Chamundi hills which is not only a pilgrimage center but also one of the prominent tourist attractions. There is also a huge statue of bull Nandi and the statue of Mahishasura, and goddess Chamundeshwari at the top.

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens: It is also known as the Mysore zoo attracts a large number of people due to its rich flora and fauna. The animals are free to move around in the natural environment in an enclosure.

Brindavan garden: It is known as one of the best terrace gardens of the world. It is situated near the KRS dam. The garden offers a wide range of activities for tourists such as boat rides, musical fountains etc.

St. Philomena’s Church: The church which was built in neo-Gothic style is one of the biggest churches of India. the high twin spires which are around 175 feet high are visible from miles around. The church portrays scenes of the events in the life of Jesus Christ like his birth, last supper, crucifixion and resurrection through the glass stained windows.

Apart from the above-mentioned destinations Mysore also has other tourist spots:

Around 200 parks
Rail Museum
Sand museum
The folklore museum
The oriental research institute
The happy man park
Wax-Museum of Melody World
Karanji Lake
GRS fantasy park
Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery
Planet X amusement park

Other destinations in Mysore within 100km :

Srinrangapatna – 28 km from Mysore
Talakad – 48 km from Mysore
Nanjudeshwara temple of Nanjangud, also known as Kashi of the south – 23 km from Mysore.
Ranganatittu bird Sanctuary – 18.6 km from Mysore
Bandipur wildlife sanctuary – of 80 km from Mysore
A dense hill range known as BR hills – 88 km from Mysore
Melkote – 53 km from Mysore

Transport facilities:

Road
- State Highway 33 and National Highway 275 connects Mysore to H D Kote and Mangalore respectively
- New expressway to connect Bangalore and Mysore State Highway 17, which connects Mysore to Bangalore
- Mysore is connected by National Highway NH-212 Gundlupet, where the road forks into the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Trin Trin
- PBS Bicycle sharing system is an initiative by the government.
Rail
- Mysore railway station connecting – Bengaluru, Mangalore, and Chamarajanagar.
Air
- Mysore Airport – 10 kilometers south of the center of the city.

Accommodation:

The city has all the facilities to provide the tourists with the best accommodation facilities. It offers you a wide range of hotels in all ranges and prices. There are several 5, 4 and 3-star hotels with excellent service offered.

Mysore Palace
Srirangapatna
Blue lagoon
Karanji lake
Tippu’s Summer Palace
Balmuri Falls

Open from 10am – 11pm

Address

2, Church Street, Bangalore PH: 080 43336000

Tips for travellers with disabilities

Posted on January 15, 2019January 15, 2019 by Jenna George

Plan well in advance: Find a suitable destination. Get the Inform your service provider regarding your necessities. You should be specific and clear to the service provider when describing your disability. Provide as much as information regarding your medication so that you remain safe during the travel.

Find the suitable accommodation well in advance: Before the arrival make sure that the service provider has arranged accommodation in the proper place. Make sure that all the accommodation necessities are informed to the operator. Make sure that the promises made by the tour operator are fulfilled.

Choose the right guide: Travel guides are available in every destination but make sure that you have got a guide who is specialized in taking care of people with disability. Choosing a guide who is specialized in this field makes your travel much smoother as he knows the exact places where you can and you can’t access. They can arrange wheelchairs and communicate

Plan your route safely: Both destinations and travel routes should be friendly for disabled travelers. Make sure that your travel guide knows the accessible and non-accessible places for you. Stay in the town which is accessible to more facilities It is the most crucial point in planning a trip. Make sure that the accommodation facilities are in the most accessible part of the town. You should have accessibility to medical facilities and other facilities

4 Best fat burning food for weight loss

Posted on January 10, 2019 by Jenna George

Do you really want to loss weight.?? Then there are 4 kitchen ingredients for it. It is also budget-friendly and healthy.

Tuna

It is a low calorie and protein-rich food. Tuna doesn’t have much fat in it. It is the most loved food by the fitness models and bodybuilders as it helps in maintaining high protein with low calories and fat contents. Eating more protein-rich foods helps you burn down more calories. Only use tuna canned in water, not in oil. Using tuna canned in oil is a higher calorie option. Tuna has other essential nutrients that keep your body strong while you are trying to lose your weight. It also boosts your metabolism. As the healthiest option, you can choose varieties of with low mercury.

Almonds

Almonds were taken as remedies for heart problems, diabetics etc. It is also the best remedy for people who are trying to lose weight as it contains monounsaturated fat. It prevents you from overeating and the dietary fibers which will make you feel full even if you have consumed only a small amount. Raw almond is the best options than the roasted ones.

Eggs

Eggs contain the right amount of amino acid which helps in improving the metabolism. Which means eggs have high protein which helps to burn out more calories. High protein foods reduce the intake of food after the meals compared to other food items which contain the same calories. It helps in reducing appetite. Having an egg for breakfast can be a key step for your weight loss.

Berries

Berries improve bone density, vision and also helps in weight loss. It is also a main source of fiber. Metabolism rebooting is another health benefit of having berries. Berries come in wide varieties that are naturally sweetened and flavored. Berries are also a great source of antioxidants that help cells from damaging that protects from earlier diseases and aging

Thommankuthu, Nature’s miracle

Posted on January 8, 2019January 10, 2019 by Jenna George

Apart from the crowded tourist destination like Munnar, Vagamon, Meeshapulimala in the Idukki district of Kerala, there is a spot that gained fame recently. Thommankuthu waterfalls are among the best spurts in Idukki. Thommankuthu is within the lush green forest, nomadic rivers, unending cascades, woodlands and plenty of caves. It is just 20 km away from Thodupuzha. ‘Kannadiyar’ river is formed from the fall that is originated 20 km inside the Plakkulam forest area and touches the Kaliyar ranges. The Thommankuthu fall has a ten-step waterfall which is at an altitude of 1500m. In each step of the falls, there are ponds and chutes which has unique names like ‘Thommankuthu’, ‘Ezhunilakuthu’, ‘Thenkuzhikuthu’, ‘Chekuthankuthu’, ‘Palunkankuthu’, ‘Kudachiyarkuthu’, ‘Muthikuthu’, ‘Nakkayankuthu’, ‘Thekkanthonikuthu’, and ‘Koovamalakuthu’.

One of the major tourist attraction of this falls is the seven caves. It’s the best place for wildlife lovers as it is the home for rare species of butterflies like Tamil yeoman, Nilgiri clouded yellow and southern bird wing. It is also rich with colorful bird species like the Great Indian Hornbill. There are tourist guides alloted at each of the seven steps to ensure the safety of the tourist. All effective safety measures were placed in 2003.

For those who are interested in trekking deep inside the forest can go with prior consent from a guide. This consent gives chance for the tourist to explore and visit the other five waterfalls that are not allowed for other tourists. It is one of the ways you can get to know more about this place. Trekking consist of 5 people in a group with a nominal charge of Rs 1000 and Rs 100 for each additional member. The ticket fares and other charges are cheaper here compared to other destinations. This destination is eco-friendly in every manner. There are only limited lodging facilities in this spot. The proximate accommodation facilities available are at Thodupuzha which is 17 km away from the destination.

Best season to visit:

May to september

How to reach :

Cochin International Airport – 70 km
Thodupuzha KSRTC bus station – 20 km
Aluva railway station – 70 km

Overview

Posted on January 3, 2019January 9, 2019 by Jenna George

In Lifestyle forum, you get contents of personal interests and daily activities. A blend of local and global style with a broad variety of content centered around the personal lives of people — home, travel, beauty, food, recipes, fashion, makeup, design, and decor. You can freely avail all the new trends and changes in fashion make-up and other fields on an up-to-date basis with frequently updated contents on the various topics. Travel and food reviews and interviews with some of the prominent celebrities are also included. Lifestyle can be of anything which starts from home décor to travel to health and fitness and covers a wide range of topics that you come across every day in your life.

Summer Skin Care Tips

Posted on April 2, 2019April 4, 2019 by Jenna George

Enrich your diet with antioxidant’s

Add antioxidant’s like citrus fruits, berries , vegetables to your diet a radiant skin.

Apply moisturizer on the around the eyes

Apply a moisturizing eye cream. Make sure that the product contains hydrating agents such as hyaluronic acid, cucumber etc. During summer

Make sure that you take cold showers

Avoid hot showers as it can dehydrate you. Cold showers makes your skin refreshed . It also prevents from skin aging.

SPF 40+

Confirm that the sun scream has SPF more than 40 as it protects the skin from UV rays.

Coconut Oil

Apply a small amount of coconut oil on the face everyday to keep it smooth and hydrated.

Easy Face Mask to protect your skin in summer

Carrot, cucumber and aloe Vera mask

Add 1/2 tbsp of carrot juice with 1/2 tbsp of cucumber juice with aloe Vera gel and apply it on your face . doing it regularly can moisturize your skin and keep it hydrated.

Lemon ,glycerin and rose water mix

Take a 1/2 lemon lemon with 1/2 tbsp of cucumber juice and rose water. Use the lemon to apply it on your face . Regularly use it everyday morning. Don’t go to sun for 1/2 hr after washing out the mask.

Rasgulla, recipe

Posted on March 4, 2019 by Jenna George

Ingredients

1-liter Full Cream Milk
2 tablespoons Lemon Juice
1½ cups Sugar
4 cups Water
2-3 Green Cardamom

Serves: 13 rasgullas

Direction:

Step 1: Bring the milk to boil (medium flame).

Step 2: Mix lemon juice with 2 tablespoons water (stir continuously).

Step3: When the milk solids separate completely spread it into a cheesecloth and drain the excess liquid.

Step 4: Hang it for 30 minutes to get an accurate amount of moisture. ( Not more than 30- 40 minutes.)

Step 5: Untie the cheesecloth and move it into a plate.

Step 6: Crush the milk solids with hand. ( should have a little moisture)

Step 7: Knead it until it turns like a dough.

Step 8: from the paneer dough make 13- 15 small balls in equal proportion. (Make small balls as the size of the balls will double when immersed in the sugar syrup)

Step 9: Heat 4-cups water with 1½ cups sugar and cardamom in a saucepan with a lid in a medium flame.( sugar syrup)

Step 10: Drop the balls once it starts to boil.

Step 11: Cover it with a lid. Let it cook over medium flame.

Step 12: About after 5-minutes stir gently. Again, keep it for 7 to 9 mins.

Step 13: Turn off the flame. ( the size of the panner balls will be double the size)

Step14: Transfer them to a large bowl and let it cool for 5-6 hours.

Tips:

Use cows milk for best result (full fat)
Do not make sweets with packed panner .
Make sure that the balls you made have enough moisture or else they will be too hard.
Do not knead after it starts to release the fat.
Make sure that the syrup is boiling when cooking the balls.
If you want to double the recipe, cook them in batches.

HAIR CARE TIPS

Posted on February 12, 2019 by Jenna George

A women’s most precious accessory is her hair. Every girl dreams to have a smooth and shiny hair. Often your hair gets exposed to heat, excessive styling, chemicals, and pollution. Over a period of time, your hair starts to become dry and rough. There are, ways to revive your hair and to bring back its lost smoothness and shine. Infusing certain ingredients to just using the correct styling techniques can heal your hair.

“Hair related issues are faced by most of the women. People are not aware about the issues that will arise in future because of using the chemical products for styling the hair. Good protein rich food can help to recover from hair damage.”
Dr. Anu liz Mathew

Tips and tricks to help repair damaged hair.

Choose apt comb
No excessive shampooing
Healthy and nutritious food
Massage
Don’t heat

Choose the apt comb

The comb that you use plays a very important role in determining the amount of damage caused to your hair. Try to choose the comb that does not pull much on your hair during brushing. Brushes which are boar spikes, being milder on your hair and help to dispense the natural oils on your scalp. It will make your hair look shinier. Try not to use plastic combs as the static energy generated when combing with a plastic comb makes your hair frizzy and more prone to breakage.

No Excessive Shampooing

Washing your hair frequently makes the hair dry as it loses the natural oils. Even if you feel that your hair is too oily limit the use of shampoos to a limited time. Dry shampoo is the best option for shampoo. Choosing the shampoo is equally important as the number of times you wash your hair. Always choose a shampoo which has moisturizing and conditioning properties. Avoid the shampoos which have silicone, parabens and sulphates because it can cause damage. These properties make your hair appear shinier and smoother for a short run but for a long run avoid using the shampoos which have these properties. Natural ingredients like Amla, Bhringhraj, and Shikakai, nourish and strengthen your hair.

Healthy and Nutritious Food

Good food is the best way to bring back your dead hair. Your hair is made up of keratin. When you’re not taking the amble amounts of protein, it can directly affect your hair. Vitamins, fatty acids and other nutrients are essential for providing your hair with the essentials that can be only provided through good food. Include more protein, and vitamins in your diet. Combining these essentials in your diet not only improves the texture of your hair but also contributes to your overall health as well.

Massage

Conditioning your hair is really important. Hair nourishment can be given from hair masks made from natural ingredients. Hair oil treatment can help restore the original condition of your hair. Try not to use products with harsh chemicals instead try for those with natural ingredients.

Don’t Heat Your Hair

Hairstyling techniques like blow drying, straightening and curling are some of the worst enemies of your hair. It literally heats up your hair making it lifeless and dry in long run. The natural oil and other ingredients present in the hair disappear and the hair becomes damaged when it is exposed to heat. Try not to use these ways to style your hair because it can permanently damage your hair.

Chikmagalur, the land of coffee

Posted on January 29, 2019 by Jenna George

Chikmagalur, a picturesque destination, is situated 3400 feet above the sea level in western Karnataka. Famous for its coffee plantation and cool, pleasant climate, it is a favourite tourist spot for people from across the country. Bababudan Giri ranges are another tourist attraction. It is known for its shrine of Sufi saint Hazrat Dada Hayat Khalander. It is a sacred place for muslims, hindus and parsis can be the best example for religious harmony. It was one of the unexplored sites in the state, due to its topography and flora this hill station changed to a prominent tourist destination. The verbatim meaning for Chikmagalur, “Land of the younger daughter”.

There is a rich heritage history that hides behind the name Chikmagalur. Years ago, a legendary chief who ruled Sakrepatna- Rukmangada gave this district of the state as dowry to his younger daughter. It is thus this place got its name. Chikmagalur places an important role in the coffee culture of our country. The locals here believe that Babu Budan, who was a Muslim saint from Yemen, brought the coffee seeds in 1670 and cultivated them here. It is a perfect place who like to experience and explore through the thickly grown coffee plantations. Chikmagalur has a great circuit of many mountain ranges and misty hills. It is an apt place for natural enthusiast’s, explorers and trekkers.

Mullayanagari, the highest peak in Karnataka stands at a height of 2000 meters. It is famous for trekking and other sporting activities. This place is 12 km away from Chikmagalur. The best time to visit Mullayanagiri is during the spring season. Among all the other tourist destinations in Chikmagalur, Kudremukh is the most prominent destination as it has, magnificent cascades, enchanting mountains, and evergreen landscapes. The Bhada wildlife sanctuary, which lies to the to the northwest of Chikmagalur, is home to leopards, tigers, and many more wild animals. The place also has many adventures for people who love wildlife and nature. This region is best to visit during December and January. People can enjoy many other activities such as trekking, jeep safari, river rafting in Chikmagalur.

Tourism Season (Peak) November to May

Nearest Railway Station:Chikmagalur, Kadur and Tarikere

Nearest Airport: Mangalore (152 Km)

How travelling can fight depression

Posted on January 24, 2019January 26, 2019 by Jenna George

Mental health issues are increasing day by day and can be affected by any individual at any time. Depression is one of the major issues faced by most of the youth as well as adults. There can be many causes behind in having depression. According to the accounts of the American Psychiatric Association, depression affects an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. And 1 in 6 people (16.6%) will come across the depression in some part of their life. Depression can affect you at any time, but on average, mostly it appears during the late teens to 20s. Women are more likely to experience depression than men. But recently people have taken new steps to come out of this issue mainly through travelling. Many people agree that travelling had helped them fight depression to a great extent. Ways in which travelling helps you to fight depression:

Traveling Opens Up You To A New World

People will have a tendency for you to feel isolated and alienated from other people. Negative thoughts and beliefs start to emerge in your mind due to the isolated feeling and other emotion that you come across during this time. Traveling gives you a new phrase to your life by making you think what’s happening around you and finally, you will start to think differently. Distraction isn’t a cure for depression, but as time passes you are not focusing on your inner thoughts too much and this will allow you to think differently.

Exploring Yourself

Thoughts of low self-esteem are another problem that you will come across when you have depression. You tend to believe that you are not capable of doing things. It makes you move away from your actual potential. Travelling is not only an entertainment rather it is infotainment. It teaches you many things give an opportunity to experience a new place, culture, lifestyle etc.

Meeting People

Depression can bring anti-social tendencies in people. When you are at home it makes you difficult to mingle with other people. Once when you start to travel you will come across people with some of the similarities which will make you interact with new people and have a new bond. Meeting people from different places can bring out ideas and beliefs that you may not have encountered before.

You See The Big Picture

Once you get affected by tending to see only the negative side of your life. You will never think about how to solve the issue that is coming across you and starts to think negatively. Travelling gives you an opportunity to see the reality of life and makes you find out solutions of your problems. You will then start to think differently.