Lifestyle Ideas | Monthly Archives: March 2013

Day Light Saving

Posted on March 27, 2013 by lifestyle Posted in Family, Home & Garden Leave a comment

Day Light Saving is also the summertime in many countries (Britain and other European countries). DST as it is called is the practice of advancing the clocks in order to have more daylight in the evenings. The clocks are adjusted one hour ahead around the spring season and then the adjustment of making the clocks turn one hour backwards is done in autumn season.

This idea is pioneered by George Vernon Hudson in 1895 and implemented during the First World War. This concept has been appreciated as well as been criticized. The places that it benefits are: retailing, sports and activities tied up with the sunlight. The prime aim of this practice was reducing the usage of electricity in the evenings. The problem faced by DST is the complicated timekeeping. This upsets the meeting schedules, travel timings, medical devices and more importantly the sleeping patterns. When Day Light Saving protocols change the software automatic updating also get disrupted.

The change in sleeping patterns many a times leads to health complications and issues.

Although it is just an hour or 60 minutes / 3600 seconds but they are precious. We always aim at making the best of time that we have. To make best of this one hour when it is available to us, there are a few things to that we can do:

Go for a long walk: Because of DST we get extra daylight. The first thing in the mornings instead of sleeping is to go for a long walk. A walk in the woods is also a great idea. Take in the fresh air and appreciating the nature is a good way to start the day.
Play with your kids: This spare time lets you bond with your kids. You can play ball with, throw Frisbee , read with them and relax while having fun with the children.
Stay in touch: Get in touch with your family and friends. With a busy schedule all year round there is barely any time to talk and spend some time with friends and extended family. This extra hour gives you that time. Pick up your phone or get in touch with an old friend via Internet.
Clean up your house: Take that extra hour to clean up your house. You also employ a cleaning company to make your house all sparkly and shiny.
Pen down your thoughts: In this hectic lifestyle, there is very little time for introspection. Make use of this one hour to introspect and pen down what you feel. Grab a pen and paper and rite the way you feel. It can be a poem or an article whatever you wish to write.
Relax: The final suggestion is to kick back and relax. The extra hour from the day light saving time is to relax. There are so many responsibilities that we take every day. Take a breather, relax. This can mean a sauna bath or a bubble bath, watching television, playing computer games, listening to music or some time with your partner.

Image credit: <a href=’http://www.123rf.com/photo_15576531_an-image-of-a-nice-clock-showing-daylight-saving-time.html’>markusgann / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Spring is Coming – Plant Your Own Vegetable Garden

Posted on March 20, 2013 by lifestyle Posted in Home & Garden Leave a comment

Spring is the season of birth; not only for the multiple animals we see around us but for plants as well. Soon after the last of the deadly frost has left with its traces, life starts to bud out from wherever it can. This is the perfect time to once again re-organize your life and to break free from the shackles of the dark and cold winter.

Flower beds and trees come alive during this part of the year and if you are into gardening and enjoy reaping the joys self-sown seeds, then spring is the perfect time to start preparing and planting your vegetable garden. With a bit of understanding, anyone can successfully plant a spring vegetable garden.

Remember that the most important step of planting vegetable seeds is that you need to have a plan about where and how you want to create your vegetable garden. This includes selection of the best possible location and deciding which and how many vegetables you want to plant.

Although it is even possible to grow vegetables in pots and buckets, if you want a proper kitchen garden in your backyard or in one corner of your garden then choose a spot that gets ample sunlight. Vegetables need at least 6 hours of bright sunlight every day, in order for them to grow adequately. 8 – 10 hours of sunlight is even better.

Ideally it should be a spot that is near your kitchen or house for it to be easily accessible. However, there are other things that you need to cater for as well; for example, you should be able to water the plants conveniently in that portion of your home. Also check to see that this particular area is not affected by sewerage.

One of the other things to consider is that the patch should get good circulation of air but be careful it should not be too windy otherwise the soft young plants could suffer. Dig a little hole in the soil to see if there are small stones, pebbles or hard ground underneath. Vegetables and other crops require soft soil which is loose enough to incorporate nutritive fertilizer and other composts within itself. So basically the type of soil doesn’t matter as much as the physical property of it. Otherwise if you are too concerned about the ground and want to provide ideal conditions to your newly sown vegetables then have the pH checked by a professional; it should be around 6.0.

It is best to draw a rough picture of your vegetable garden on a paper to mark off any shortcomings in the planning. You can make the rows anyway you like; however, what you should remember is that some vegetables grow on vines and would need support. So for such plants choose the edges of that area so they can grow on the boundary wall. Don’t forget to create a boundary fence to keep away dogs and wild pigs.

All sorts of vegetables can be easily planted during spring time; for example spinach, tomato, cabbage, salad, green chillies, potatoes, onions, cucumbers, broccoli, eggplant, Sugar beet, beans, asparagus, carrots Brussels sprouts amongst many others. This would be the best time to plant in the various herbs as well.

The perfect way to prepare the soil is to till the soil about 6 inches deep; this allows air circulation as well as good mixing in of compost or manure. After tilling, put a good layer of fertilizer over it and then till again.

Easter is coming early This Year

Posted on March 11, 2013 by lifestyle Posted in Family Leave a comment

Easter Sunday comes on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox. This year the equinox is 28^th March and Easter Sunday comes on 31^st March in 2013. Easter always comes after the first full moon following the first day of spring.

Easter comes in early this year. On this day Christians celebrate the resurrection of Lord Jesus. Traditionally, Easter is celebrated on the same day across the world, based on the astronomical cycles of the Moon’s phases and the seasons of the sun. This year everyone is busy wondering, that they had just celebrated Christmas and it is still pretty cold, so how is the Easter bunny approaching? This has nothing to do with the church but relates to the moon.

Easter is based on Hebrew tradition to find a day for celebration of the Passover. Easter the feast of Jesus’ resurrection is based on the Passover tribute and uses similar timing based on Sun and Moon cycles. The word Passover is pesach in Hebrew or pascha in the new Greek testament. The variant of this name in most of the European countries is “Easter”. The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates pascha, but does not follow the Gregorian calendar which is used in west. It uses the Julian calendar till date. The Orthodox Church states that the pascha shall always follow after Passover.

The Christian calendar is almost a reflection of the Jewish one. The Passover and Easter are very close. The difference lies in the fact that Christian calendar strictly follows the lunar cycle.

The other celebrations do not change and are still present but many people find it hard pressed for time spiritually post Christmas.

Many centuries ago before the mechanical clocks and calendars, there were no other ways apart from the lord’s celestial cycles to measure time. With advent of technology accuracy of time increased. But till today the celestial cycle is still considered valid for the calculation of religious days.

Not only spiritually are people pressed for time because of the fast approaching Easter, but also it is tough for the people who organize the Easter bunny tradition. The famous Easter bunny that hides eggs and brings chocolates to children has become symbolic of the start of spring. The people associated with the preparation need to be extra organized this year.

Things could be even worse, as in 1818 Easter Sunday was on March 22, the earliest till date Easter it will not occur again till 2285. Another instance of early Easter is the year 2008 when Easter Sunday was on 23^rd March. However, this date will also note come till the year 2160

People will not be completely forgetting the Easter celebration. It is just a reminder for everyone to start preparing for the holy days. Keeping the ancient methods of calculating Easter day, let the preparations begin for 31^st March 2013.

Image: Copyright (c) <a href=’http://www.123rf.com’>123RF Stock Photos</a>

Mother’s Day- Great Mother’s Day Present

Posted on March 1, 2013 by lifestyle Posted in Family Leave a comment

Mother’s day is soon approaching. In 2013 it falls on Sunday 12^th May. You can stop mid April and check out the gifts that you wish to give your mom. This is the one day when you show how much you care and appreciate her. On Mother’s Day show your gratefulness for everything she does for you. Plan a present that she has been wanting or whatever special that brings a smile to her face.

Moms can be gifted jewellery, cookbooks, and spas or can also gift a gadget if your mom is techno savvy. Save up your money to gift her a relaxed smiling day.

Here are a few suggestions which can help you to choose a Mother’s Day gift wisely:

A day at the Spa: Moms surely get tired being all day on her feet; cooking, cleaning and caring for the family. She gets physically and mentally exhausted. Give your mom a Spa treat where she can relax and indulge in some self time. She rarely gets a chance to put up her feet. Express your care and love and your mom will surely come home a happier person.
Jewellery: Every woman loves jewellery and your mother is no exception. Gift a piece of jewellery, a necklace, pair of earrings a bracelet or a ring. Your gift will be cherished by your mom for years to come. A little personalization will add that extra dash to the gift; inscribe her name or some special words on the piece of jewellery that you gift her. It makes it more meaningful and lets her know she means the world to you.
Flowers: You can never go wrong with flowers. Flowers are a great gift to show your care. If you know your mom’s favorite color or flower, the gift can become more memorable.
Breakfast in bed: Make her some special breakfast which she can have in bed.
Take her for a dinner: Moms are continuously taking care of the family and might not be getting time to indulge in her favorite foods. On this Mother’s day, take her to her favorite restaurant. You get some bonding time that both of you will appreciate.
Relaxed Day: No worries if you are short on cash. Money need not give her the happiness. Give her a relaxed day of doing nothing. Do all the household chores on Mother’s day. Start with cleaning the house and cooking a meal for her. Let her have the complete day to herself.

Some other gift ideas are:

a homemade gift
Make some cookies or bake her favorite sweet.
Take her shopping, every woman loves to shop
Gift her some music CDs or DVDs of her favorite movies.
Write her a poem, a song
Take her for a short trip: fly out of town or go on a cruise

Indulge you mom in something she has wanted to do for a long time but her house duties had kept her busy. Every heartfelt effort would be loved and admired.

This Mother’s Day make it special for the most important person in your life.. YOUR MOM!
Image: Copyright (c) <a href=’http://www.123rf.com’>123RF Stock Photos</a>