Vastu Gyan: Kitchen Vastu

Kitchen is the most important entity in the house. It is referred to as the treasure of the house in some Chinese scriptures.

This is the only prominent place where fire element plays a key role. In vastu shashtra the principle direction of natural energy field of fire is Southeast. Hence the ideal location for kitchen is southeast. A visible advantage of having the kitchen in the southeast is that it is open to the positive effects of morning sun rays and also gets fresh air most of the time.

Cooking gas should always be placed in southeast direction of the kitchen. As this direction is also referred as having the place of the Goddess of food. One should face east while cooking food.
Windows in the kitchen should be in east and ideal location for door is northeast, east or north to allow the natural light and fresh air through out the day.

Color of the kitchen walls can be green, soft pink, orange, brown or yellow. As these colors are considered as appetite stimulator.
All the equipment like microwave, electric oven , toaster etc should be placed in south or southeast direction. refrigerator should be placed either in northwest or southwest direction. Empty gas cylinders should be placed in southwest.  Exhaust fan should be in east direction as all the cooking is done in this direction. Grain pulses and spices must be stored in the west or in the south direction.
The ideal location for sink and drinking water storage is northeast corner as this direction gets maximum morning UV rays that kill the germs.
There should not be a common wall between toilet and kitchen. Kitchen should not be constructed in front of a bathroom, bedroom or worship room.

One need not panic if it is not possible to follow some or even none of the guidelines provided in the Vastu Shashtra as vastu principles and effects are only secondary to one's inner strength and endeavor toward soul growth.

Read my other posts on Vastu here.

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Art from Sharpie Pens!

If you are like me, you learn so much on what others share via blogs and Pinterest that there just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day to study it all or even begin to make it.






I do find however, that there are some things that peak my interest so much, especially when it is this simple and fun.





See, the plate? A really simple and fun project that even the kids can get in on.

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Views From My Balcony

After Mercury hit 42 C in my part of the world, short spell of shower in the evening gave big relief from scorching heat. I totally enjoyed the view from my balcony. Can you spot raindrops in this picture.

Even birds enjoyed their flight afterwards. 

Sun peeking through clouds and making view even more mesmerizing.

Vivid sunset colors, chirping birds, soothing breeze, smell of rain and cuppa in my hand.....don't you think made my day completely awesome.

 Coming up with some moroccan eye candies stay tuned!!

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Symmetry Rules My World ...

Happy Cinco de Mayo, friends!  I hope you're all out enjoying a tall margarita to celebrate the holiday! If I were a fan of tequila, I know *I* would be.  ;)

Thank you for making me feel better about my crazy *self-inflicted* OCD rules of decorating that I shared in my last post!  I'm glad that I'm not alone (lol)!  It also makes me feel a bit more comfortable sharing one of my latest projects!  

In our house, which is an open floor plan, our dining and sitting rooms sit across from each other, separated by our foyer.  When standing in our great room, you can see into both rooms at the same time.  And, for 7 years, one thing that has bothered me is that the lighting didn't match ... crazy, I know (see, there again my OCD rears its head)!

We finally solved the problem and added "this" beauty in here, which is just like the one in our dining room:  

My crazy self also added the same fabric that's in the dining room in here, as well:

What do you think?  Is this a place you might like to "GATHER?"

Here's what the other chandie used to look like: (I'm really enjoying the "presence" the new crystal one has over this one!)  

The new fabric is a fun change, too. Another matching pillow (made by my neighbor) helps to tie it all together, too:

Of course, coastal accents are still splashed around: 

And, so easy to even add a bit of coastal to a simple frame of my sweet boy (a few years ago) by resting a starfish on the corner:

Sufficed to say, having these matching elements now makes things okay in my crazy little decorating world ... for *now* anyway!  LOL

Is that wrong?  Probably ... but, just please play along with me, okay? :)

Thanks for stopping by (and come play with us here):

Dwellings/Amaze Me Monday
My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia/Tuesday's Treasures
Savvy Southern Style/WUW

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Artist In Making!!

Whenever I get a chance to dip my fingers in color I never miss the opportunity. Some times I find excuses to play with colors. These days I am trying lots of different painting techniques so thought this is the right time to get organised with all my brushes, pens and other accessories. If you know me well you must be aware of my habit of hoarding lot of junk and I try to upcycle, recycle and reuse almost everything around me.

Here is how I turned plastic food containers into my brush holder, pen holder and tool holder.

Now artist in making is all set to create some magic with these magic wands.....lol I typed it not being serious.  But seriously when I see everything around my home organized, colorful, artistic and done by me it gives me a boost to do lot more.

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Then & Now Part II

Are you ready for Part II of Then and Now?

In this post we will tour the upstairs bedrooms and bathrooms of my home, as well as the man cave and sewing room in the basement!

When you reach the top of the stairs this is the first thing you will see in the hall. The wall now has color. In fact the whole upstairs is what I called builder's white when we moved in. I changed all that...several

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Unusual Uses For Baking Soda

Once again I am sharing some interesting and weird uses of stuff very common in households. Its Baking Soda. Earlier I have shared unusual uses of toothpaste. Now I am going to tell you uses for baking soda other than making your cakes and muffins soft, fluffy and spongy.
Baking soda is white, dry, powdery chemical leavening agent. It is pure sodium bicarbonate and is different from baking powder. It releases carbon dioxide in form of bubbles when it interacts with an acid and water.

Image Source: Click Here

• Used as a cleaning agent: Take soda on damp sponge and clean your microwave, silver items, plastics, showers, bath tub, bathroom tiles, refrigerator, burnt-on food from cookware, cutting boards, food containers, tea pots, dentures and stainless steel sink. To clean the toilet, add a cup to the toilet leave for an hour and then flush, it will sparkle and odor will be gone. Use it to remove grease from pots and pans. Remove crayon marks from walls and vinyl floor. Soak brushes and combs in baking soda solution.  To make scrubbing dishes easier use it in dishwasher. Sprinkle it over the carpet leave it for an hour or overnight and then vacuum up. Mix it with warm water to wash baby bottles, nipples and brushes.
• Use it in your laundry: Add half a cup of baking soda to regular liquid laundry detergent to whiten dirty cloths and socks. Use it to wash diapers. It also minimizes the smell of dirty laundry. 
• Health and beauty uses: Dissolve half cup soda in a tepid bath and soak in the bath for fifteen minutes to soothe sunburn, windburn and prickly heat. Use half cup soda in a tub of warm water for soft and relaxing bath. Use it as an antacid. Works as a underarm deodorant. Use it as a scrub for face and body.  One teaspoon baking soda in one-half glass of warm water works as a refreshing mouthwash. Mix tablespoon of soda with your regular shampoo and then rinse your hair it will prevent conditioner and styling gel build up in hair. Mix half teaspoon of soda with peroxide and use it as a toothpaste. Baking soda works as a blackheads remover, wash face with warm water and apply a dab of baking soda on affected area leave it for two minutes now rinse off soda with warm water.
• Used in allergies: In a neti pot full of warm water mix quarter teaspoon of soda and quarter teaspoon of salt clean out nasal passage once a day will cure nasal allergies and cold. To soothe baby's diaper rashes add two tablespoon of baking soda in baby's bath. To reduce pain and swelling of red bump caused by insect bite or animal/plant sting dab thick paste of soda on the sore area and let it dry. For itchy and dry eyes make an eyewash with baking soda use one teaspoon of baking soda and two cup of water. 
• Uses in the home: To repel cockroaches and ants put it under the sink and in kitchen cabinets. Add a teaspoon to the water in vase to keep cut flowers fresh for longer. Keep it in open container in a fridge to absorb odor. Baking soda can work as modeling clay mix soda in 1 1/4 cup of water with one cup cornstarch. To soften the stiff brushes boil them in solution of one cup soda, 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/2 gallon water. Sprinkle a pinch of baking soda in shoes, slippers, socks to remove bad odor from them. Wash fruits and vegetables with baking soda solution. Use it as an air freshener by mixing it with perfumed bath salt and then keep it in small sachets. 

There many other  uses also but I found these tips very useful in day to day life so shared them here for my blog readers. Now I am sure that after reading this you are going to stockpile it, isn't it :) and its very cheap too!!

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