Raiding the Kitchen

Hey everyone,

Its been quite a while that I wrote a beauty post. Though this blog is all about Decor and has nothing to do with skin care or hair care, but this blog is my extension and I thoroughly believe that one must always look radiant and take good care of themselves irrespective of their busy schedules.

I am not much of a believer of those expensive creams and lotions but instead love raiding the kitchen for my skin and hair care. I believe in natural things. I mean I really don't get the point of buying a cream/gel containing aloevera when we can just pluck a portion and apply the natural aloe juice-all pure and untouched by chemicals(preservatives etc).Or for that matter why buying a cream that boasts off milk cream and kesar(saffron), when you can get it in your own kitchen, and believe me they will be all much better than your expensive creams.Anyways that just my personal opinion.

Here today I will be sharing when and why I raid my kitchen. Who knows you might also start raiding your kitchen!

 CLEANSING- TONING- MOISTURIZING

CLEANSING:

The first and the foremost step in skin care is the cleansing step. We all accumulate a lot of dirt on our skin throughout the day. So it becomes rather mandatory to thoroughly clean it up before moisturizing.

 

 

• Use half a cup of coconut/olive/baby oil and mix it with equal portions of water. Mix it thoroughly and put it in a bottle. Using a cotton, remove all the dirt/make-up in a single swipe.
• Use milk. Soak a cotton ball in milk and apply it on your face and then after 2 minutes of massaging remove it using a cotton.

TONING:

The second step of your skincare should be to re-balance the pH and close all the open pores to make your skin look firm and tight. Many people does not pay much heed to this step..But this step is as much important as the moisturising step. Here's the toners that are present in your kitchen.

 

• Ice- Rubbing the ice on your face closes all the open pores and instantly gives you a glowing firm skin.
• Vinegar- Use either the apple cider vinegar or the simple vinegar and dilute it a little. Apply on your face using a cotton ball.
• Tomato juice- The acidic property of the tomato juice closes all the pores and gives a tight radiant looking skin. Apply the juice and keep on for 5-7 mins before wiping it off with a cotton wipe.
• Cucumber Juice- This soothes, relaxes and tones your skin. Apply the juice or put thin cucumber slices on your face.
• Green Tea- This miracle drink does wonders for both your skin and body. Rich in anti-oxidants this also tones and evens out your skin.
• Rose water- Excellent for all skin types.Relaxes you with its rosey smell.
• Honey + Apple juice- The  concoction of one tablespoon honey and fresh apple juice when applied on face for 15 minutes tones the skin, keeping it firm.

MOISTURIZING:

This is the most important step for keeping your skin soft and supple. It is a myth that people with oily skin can go without moisturizing, but it is not TRUE. Your skin needs moisturization irrespective of the type, so don't miss this step at any cost.

• Honey- Honey has humectant qualities i.e it attracts water and also retains it in the skin, so the skin remains supple and elastic. It also protects against wrinkles and dryness. This is used in several cosmetic creams.
• Milk-cream- Malai as it is called in India, is a miraculous thing for your skin. I use it to massage my face followed by steaming to clean out the impurities from deep under the skin. Trust me, this mosturizes your skin leaving it super soft and supple. My grandmother used to apply it and she had the most spectacular skin- free of freckles and super soft. And she had been using this for all her life.
• Curd- Curd is full of anti-oxidants and vitamins and is very mositurising. Apply it on your face as it is and let it dry. Wash it off with cold water and you get a visibly fairer, clearer and even skin in minutes.
• Fruits- Banana, avocado, apple, papaya, cheekoo, melons, watermelons, mangos, strawberry, oranges etc are full of moisturising properties and store house of vitamins and minerals. Mash your favorite fruit and apply on your face. Wash off after 15 minutes to get the fresh as a dew skin in minutes.And you can just apply any fruit.Tip: Dont throw over-riped fruits,instead puree them and apply on your skin.

So go out ladies and raid your kitchen. Your kitchen has the most awesome and priceless things for your skin. Take cues from the likes of Cleopatra and get an envious glow on your skin and fuller pockets too.

                                                                   MUCH LOVE


                                                                   AAKANKSHA

(All images via google)

Jute and Greens

Hey people,

So hows winter in your part of the world. Well here in Delhi its super cold even now. Anywhoo here today I will be sharing the corner of our kitchen which has been shared before (here). Though not much has been changed as this corner still holds the green in jute wrapped bottles. These jute bottles are DIYed. I got few bottles from the local kabadiwallah for Rs. 10 each ,covered it all up in jute and just add few money plant leaves into it-cheap,easy and classy. Now these surely lend some freshness to the kitchen

Do you also have a green corner? Share with me in the comments section.

                                                        MUCH LOVE

                                         
                                                       AAKANKSHA

Wanderers

Hey everyone,

A few days back I showed you the tremendously growing wandering jews in our garden under the hedges (here). Now then also I told you that these can floruish in the water too.So ,I, often get a few cuttings inside to bring in the nature but also because these grow at such an amazing speed that gardener is usually cutting it once a week and I just dont want those cuttings to get wasted....So one fine day when our weird (later on that)gardener cut these, I just have to get those inside. So here they sit in a vase by the window staring the wanderers outside.

Are you digging the wanderers???Share with me in the comments section.


                                                             MUCH LOVE

                                                             
                                                             AAKANKSHA

WANDERING JEW

Heyyaaa!!!
Today I am sharing the story of a plant that was propogated from a single stem and that is well flourished today and covers a significant portion of our garden under the hedges. This plant is the Wandering Jew. I am simply amazed by the growing speed of this plant. Its been only few months that we planted few of the stem cuttings under the hedges to cover the shabby looking soil and whoooaaa its already filled and how... Infact this is slowely trying to cover the grass area and so we have to get it cut on a regular basis.
And not only these flourish outdoors but when placed in the water inside the house, these still look fresh and growing after days.

Mighty turtles walking down the aisle

Wandering Jew Plant Quick Facts:

Scientific Name: Zebrina pendula
Common Names: Wandering Jew
Light Requirement : Bright Light to Filtered Light
Water Requirement : Drench, Let Dry
Humidity : Average Home
Temperature : House
Potting Mix : All-Purpose
Propagation : Layering, Stem Cuttings
Decorative Use : Hanging Basket, Table
Care Rating : Very Easy

This plant is sure to fill any pot/area very quickly and particularly in hanging baskets these looks stunning when they fall.

Are you digging these wandering jews??Share with me in the comments section!

                                                                         
                                                                          MUCH LOVE

                                                                         AAKANKSHA

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2013

 

Hapiiieeee Newww Year guyss.....May the new year brings in the prosperity, love, joy, health and awesomness in your life....Have a supaah year ahead!!!!

 

MUCH LOVE

 

AAKANKSHA

AHOY THERE!!!

Hey all!!!
Today I am sharing with you all the first fruit (rather vegetable) of this season straight from our backyard.... How lovely is this feeling of plucking the veggies from your kitchen garden...organic and fresh and truly juicy and melting in the mouth. Have a lookie.

                                                                   Beans and One big fat brinjal
               

This single spongeguard is the last we had this season.

Three mighty brinjals on one tiny stem

                                                                First lot of the spinach

 

Now I am not much a fan of the brinjals that we are getting in large quantities but love the spinach. It truly is soft and melts in you mouth.

We made brinjal and palak (spinach) pakodas.

And Palak paneer was made from the rest of the left palak. Recipe here .

 

 

 

MUCH LOVE

 

 

AAKANKSHA

 

LOOK AT ME!!

Hey all,
Look who is here....

                                                                                                  Baby B

                                                     Mystery plant (To know about it click here)

                                                                            Mr. Beans are flowering

These are such attention seekers...I tell you...every morning they grow bigger than the previous day and HAAAAOOOOO.... they literally leave us amazed... The mystery plant's flower is soo gorgeous.. and those little tiny brinjals...aww so cutee....Grow fast dude....

                                                         

                                                                                MUCH LOVE
  
                        
                                                                                AAKANKSHA

NEW BEGINNINGS

Hola people!!

Looks like autumn is the "IT" season for our kitchen garden when we get loads of organic veggies straight from our backyard... It is such a wow feeling...plucking the fruits from your hands feels so much fulfilling....you grow them and nurture them and finally eat them hehe....whaattt.... they are meant to be eaten na.... anywhooooo we are already getting a kg of sponge guard every third day and now several other veggies are having new beginnings...and very soon we will be enjoying the veggies straight from our garden to our plates(not literally......I meant only after the cooking process is over )... hehe.... Have a lookie at our backyard where we are growing spinach,beans,cauliflower and brinjal presently..... Grow fast lovelies is what I say to them daily...
And ya one mystery plant is also growing.... of which we dont have any clue...gardener says that this is pumpkin growing.....but I ask HOOWWWW?????????.... we never ever sowed pumpkin seeds or for that matter never ever bought pumpkin seeds.... but how cute it would be if it is actually pumpkin...
 Eagerly waitin....

Sponge-guard

 

Another

 

                                                                 Flowers of Sponge guard

 Brinjal plant flowering

 

 

 

 

 Spinach

 

                                                                        Cauliflowers

                                                                         Mr. Beans

 

                                                                           Parsley

                                                                      ?Mystery Plant?

How did you like the pics?:-)
Do you recognize this mystery plant?
Share with me in the comments section!

                                                                       
                                                                      MUCH LOVE

                                                                      AAKANKSHA

ROOMIES

Hey all,

The winters are slowly setting in and we can already feel the nip in the temperature here in Gurgaon...How excited I am ..I mean.. I just love winters...reasons being infinite...From several hot cuppa of coffee, cozyness of the quilt, soups, hot noodles, jackets, mufflers, boots, coats, fake smoke from your mouth...hehe, smell of winters, soaking in the sun,bar-be-ques,christmas,loathing on the clothes....and what not...But what i hate dont like about them is that the ambience inside the house seems so gloomy and dull..... Anywhoo that does not mean we will sit and let that happen....NO WAYS....when we have those greens with us, no winter can ever fall upon us.
So this winter too, my roomies will going to be my greens....or is it the other way round....my greens will going to be my roomiess....whatevaaa
Here are some greens that I am planning to get inside:

                                                                 Money plant

 

                                                                           Palm

 

 

                                                                    

                                                                           Arcaria

 

 

                                                                         Succulents

 

 

                                                        Cuttings from our garden

 

 

There are so many more options, but alas all my other plants are outdoor plants.... But thinking of investing in some gorgeous small succulents this time.
Apart from these, I will also be getting colorful gorgeous flowers in to go GAGA over these winters.


                                                         MUCH LOVE


                                                        AAKANKSHA


(So how are you fighting those gloomy winter woes?Do tell me in the comments section.)