Sleep – everyone wants to have a good rest to be rejuvenated for next day activities. Whether you had a full 7-8 hours of sleep or lesser hours of sleep, it does not matter. The fact that you are able to sleep is the thing. Just for awhile, think of those people who cannot get to sleep because of many situations – such as war, fear, depression, illness and more. While you can be grateful for sleep, please also spend a moment for those who are unable to sleep. Pray for those people, if you can.
There are many spices that are used for both healing and cooking purposes. While all spices have their benefits, I wish to particularly highlight on one spice today: Cardamom.
Yes! Cardamom….I am a person who is easily swayed by my sense of smell when it comes to perfumes, spices and essential oils. One of my all time favourite will be Cardamom. Below is an image of cardamom (if you do not know it). Some call it as “Queen of Spices”.
There are two types of cardamom: green and black (or brown). The green type is the more common type.
In general, cardamom is used as a treatment for mouth ulcers, bad breath, digestive problems, and even depression.
Ayurveda uses this quite extensively for many purposes. But I am not going to go into further details on that.
I am easily attracted by this due to the fragrance. I use this extensively for my cooking and when the fragrance of this particular spice hits my senses, I feel great….
Below are some websites that talks extensively on this spice. Recently, Crabtree and Evelyn had this used in their Xmas editions….A look at some of their items below (images taken from Crabtree and Evelyn website)…I have eaten the chocolate biscuits with a hint of cardamom…I do like the fragrance of the cardamom, but I do find the chocolate a bit overwhelming.
So, if you are like me, who love the fragrance of cardamom…let us all appreciate and enjoy one of nature’s creation…. 🙂
Some websites listing all on the spice cardamom:
From Myspicer.com
https://www.myspicer.com/history-cardamom/
From IndianMirror
http://www.indianmirror.com/ayurveda/indian-spices/cardamom.html
From WebMD
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-614-cardamom.aspx?activeingredientid=614&
From Organic Facts
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-and-spices/health-benefits-of-cardamom.html
From Nutrition and You.com
https://www.nutrition-and-you.com/cardamom.html
Recipe using Cardamom
Semiya Payasam (Rich Indian Dessert)
If you have eaten out at an Indian Restaurant, mainly South Indian Restaurant, this dessert is usually popular. It is one of my favourite too :).
Check out the recipe below…
http://www.happyandharried.com/2016/08/31/semiya-payasam-kheer/
There are many other recipes for using cardamom in your daily dish. You can search for those…
Have a great weekend!
The simple fact that you are able to read and understand – this is already something that you should be thankful for!
There are so many people around the world who is not able to afford a basic education. We might not be able to help everyone in the world to achieve a basic literacy level. In our community or somewhere we live, we can always look for opportunities to provide someone with a chance to educate themselves or volunteer at a reading club or via any reliable charity organisation to donate for a child’s education and more.
In the past, I shared quite a number of information and articles on the various healing stones and its properties. If you are still in doubt on some crystals or stones, the most informative website that will come handy for you will be this: Healing Crystals for You
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| First page of this year journal |
Below is a simple instruction video to give yourself a hand massage. We use our hands daily and it is crucial we pay attention or care to it on a daily basis and not when we run into skin problems such as tightness, peel, etc.
Make sure you select your own suitable hand cream. Not everyone hands will respond well to all creams. You need to be your own judge when it comes to hand creams or body creams.
Shea butter creams works well for me – not all brands though. So, I am very selective in my hand cream selection. I have been using L’Occitane hand creams for more than 10 years and they works well for me.
Below are some basic videos for you…Enjoy and remember to take care one of the most overused body part – our precious hands! 🙂
We are coming back to Singapore for our 6th times performance,
with brushed up show of “Bukyo ~Dancing Drums~” which we made Japan all excited for living up with our members in Singapore!!!
■SCHEDULE
AUG 31st (THU) 19:30
SEP 1st (FRI) 19:30
SEP 2nd (SAT) [1]14:30 [2]19:30
■TICKETING
Ticket Available from April 20th, 2017
Also, ticket will be available at our first fan event in oversea which is held on April 17th (MON) at 1 Altitude.
⇒DETAILS：http://www.drum-tao.com/event-sg/
And more! Tao will perform the special live performance at “Star Awards Ceremony” which is known for Singapore version of Grammy Awards!!
It’s going to be live so you better check it out!!
We are looking forward to seeing you all in Singapore!!
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Sign up for TAO CLUB!
The members are over the world now!
It’s free! Join us with your family and friends♪
Check out TAO’s official Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/DRUMTAO.JPN/
DRUM TAO
http://www.drum-tao.com/main/english
Do you know that the “Sun-Maid girl” really existed?
Her name was Lorraine Collett Petersen.
Read the below link to know the history of the “Sun-Maid girl”
http://www.sunmaid.com/cp_sm_subm/the-sun-maid-girl
And coming to the benefits of raisins, we know of some….here is to know more of it….
http://www.sunmaid.com/cp_sm_subm/frequently-asked-questions#q1
History of raisins, anyone? Of course, being a Humanities person, I shall never stop searching for histories of anything…From Ancient Egyptian time, let’s trace the history of raisins….
http://www.sunmaid.com/cp_sm_subm/history-of-raisins-and-dried-fruit
Other than the above, if you constantly have sweet cravings and do not want to indulge in sweet things all the time, try popping some raisins into your mouth. The sweet feeling will subside and you will not be craving for any more sweet things.
And if you are also an oatmeal fan, try adding some raisins into your oat porridge – it is sure yummy and healthy too.
You can also try the same with bran flakes. It helps increase the fiber in your body. But do take note that you must drink enough fluids such as water and juice to “soften” the fiber in your system.
For those who are keen in Japanese Drums, Drum Tao group is the one to watch for. They will be down in Singapore for a one night event on 17 April, Monday @ 1-Altitude.
I am not able to go – sadly 😦
Below are the details…..
Below taken from the email as I received…
“Spend memorable moments with TAO at the world’s highest al-fresco bar, 1 Altitude.
There will be photo-shooting and even special live performances by TAO!!!
You can’t just miss this!!!
【DETAILS/TICKET】
●DATE：April 17th (Mon)
●SCHEDULE：
Door Open @18:00
1st Live 18:30
2nd Live 19:15
3rd Live 20:00
●TICKET: SGD88
(Inclusive of 2 hours free flow and canapes from 6PM-8PM)
●GET TICKETS
https://www.sgepay.com:801/MultiPay/57
T&C: – Admission is from 6PM onwards on 17 Apr 2017 only.
– Present online receipt for admission.
– Incl. 2hr free flow of drinks & canapes from 6PM – 8PM
– Opening of the rooftop bar is subj. to weather condition.
– Non refundable for any cancellation or bad weather.
– Age limit applies. At least 18yo (women) and 21yo (men) after 10PM
– Dress code applies. No singlets / No sleeveless for guys.
– Free standing basis.No guaranteed tables.
For any other enquiries call 1 Altitude at 64380410
DRUM TAO FACE BOOK：https://www.facebook.com/DRUMTAO.JPN/ “
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There are many times we are told to drink so much water daily. But is that the truth?
There are many articles in support or disputing it – I am not here to prove anyone right or wrong.
The simple logic I have is that each of our body systems knows how much water we need and it will act accordingly. It is no use forcing yourself to drink water. Once the thirst hits you and you crave for water, go for it. Read the below article or you can also search on your own other articles….
Happy Drinking! 🙂
From The New York Times, “No, You Do Not Have to Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day” by Aaron E. Carroll
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/25/upshot/no-you-do-not-have-to-drink-8-glasses-of-water-a-day.html?_r=0
Continuation from part 2….
Now coming to crystal water. I drink water daily treated via crystals and it is called VitaJuwel. I have several collection of the bottles and also the vials. Even my pet cats are drinking the gemstone water, for their health and wellbeing.
Gemstone water is not new to the market. Since ancient days, gemstones have been used to purify water.
I purchase these items in Singapore. All information can be found in the below links (scroll after the pictures for the list of links).
I share this as personally myself, my family, my friends and pet cats are benefiting from it. Simple changes to daily routine in our life will make it more healthy and worthwhile. Why not consider switching to gemstone water instead?
You can “taste” the difference of water of each blend and also can feel the difference. Putting crystal stones directly into water for drinking purpose is not healthy as we will not be sure of the impurities present. But using VitaJuwel bottles and vials is definitely a better choice as the crystals are packed nicely in glass.
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| Various Blends: VitaJuwel Bottles – Happy Moments (Pistachio Opal), Fitness (Red Jasper), Passion (Carnelian) and Allure (Garnet) |
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| VitaJuwel Bottles – Happy Moments (Pistachio Opal), Fitness (Red Jasper), Passion (Carnelian) and Allure (Garnet) |
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| VitaJuwel Bottles OLDER Version – Inner Purity (Aquamarine) and Momentum (Agate Moss, Opal, Chalcedony) |
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| Old version bottle pod cannot be removed. Newer version the pods can be exchanged. |
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| Different part of the bottles, pods, etc. |
YouTube Video – An introduction to Gem Water and VitaJuwel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhtzhiI8WdA
YouTube Video – VitaJuwel ViA – Introducing Crystal Water Bottles
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZElEaQxiK2Y
Scientific evaluation by German Institute Hagalis, Überlingen proofs VitaJuwel’s effect on water
http://www.my.vitajuwel.com/scientific_report.pdf
Awards
http://www.vitajuwel.us/en/references/auszeichnungen-2
FAQ
http://www.vitajuwel.us/en/service-2/faq
Singapore Vitajuwel
https://www.vitajuwel.sg/
Various Blends
https://www.vitajuwel.sg/pages/how-to-choose-your-blend
It is another interesting story / tale from the Hitopadesha album. Once upon a time, there lived a Sage on the banks of a river. The sage and his wife didn’t bear any children. They were unhappy about this fact of their life. One day, when the sage was engaged in penance, a kite dropped a she-mouse and it happened to fall in the lap of the Sage. The Sage thought that the God might have sent this mouse to him. He thought that if he would take the mouse to his home, people would laugh at him. So he decided to change the mouse into a girl.
The Sage brought the girl to his home. On seeing the Girl, the Sage’s wife asked, “Who is she? From where did you bring this girl?” The Sage narrated to her the whole story and said, “I would bring her back to her original form”. The Sage’s wife stopped him instantly and said, “I beg of you. Please don’t change her into a mouse. You have given her life so you have become her father. Since you are her father, I am her mother. God must have sent her to us because we don’t bear any children”.
The Sage accepted the request of his wife. They started bringing up the Girl child as their own daughter. Soon the Girl grew into a beautiful maiden. By the age of sixteen, the Sage’s wife decided to get her daughter married. She asked her husband to find a suitable match for their daughter. The Sage liked the idea and suggested that the Sun God would make the best match for their daughter. The wife agreed upon this and the Sage prayed to the Sun God to appear. When the Sun God appeared, the Sage asked him to marry his daughter.
But the Girl refused the idea and said, “Sorry! I can’t marry the Sun God as he is burning hot. I will be reduced to ashes in his warmth and light”. The Sage got disappointed to hear this from the Girl. He asked the Sun God if he could suggest a groom for his daughter. The Sun God said, “The Lord of Clouds could make a good match for her, as he is the only one, who can easily stop the rays of the Sun”.
The Sage then prayed to the Lord of Clouds to appear and asked him to marry his daughter. But the Girl once again rejected the proposal and said, “I don’t want to marry a dark person like him. Besides this, I am terrified of the thunder he generates”. The Sage was disheartened once again and asked the Lord of Clouds if he could suggest a possible groom. The Lord of Clouds said, “Wind God can make a possible match for her as he can easily blow me away”.
The Sage then prayed to the Wind God to appear and asked him to marry his daughter. The Daughter declined the idea and said, “I can’t marry a frail person like the Wind God who is always stirring”. Once again the sage got sad and asked the Wind God to give some suggestion. The Wind God replied, “Lord of Mountain is solid and can stop the hard blows of wind easily. He can make a suitable match for your daughter”.
As per the kind suggestion made by the Wind God, the Sage went to the Lord of Mountain and asked him to marry his daughter. But the Girl once again declined the proposal and said, “I can’t marry the Lord of Mountain because he is too cold-hearted”. She asked the Sage to find a softer groom for her. The Sage sought Mountain Lord’s suggestion for the same. The Mountain Lord replied,”A mouse will make a perfect match for her as he is soft and can easily make holes in the mountain”.
The daughter approved the idea of marrying a he-mouse. Moreover, she was pleased at this proposal. The Sage said, “This is destiny. You came as a mouse and you were fated to marry a mouse”. Saying this, the Sage converted the Girl back to a female mouse. The female mouse got married to a male mouse and lived happily thereafter.
Moral: Destiny cannot be changed.
Source: http://www.culturalindia.net
Blog by Esther Neela M. 