Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding Bridget Jones's Diary (Rs 200, Picador), The Edge of Reason (Rs 230, Penguin)Before Bridget Jones' Diary hit the stands, the chick-lit genre was almost non-existent. The arrival of the 30-something, not very attractive, not very tall, not very thin, not very successful Bridget Jones revolutionised this space. She is not inspirational; she is lovable ...

Celebrate Independence Day with a sumptuous Indian spread. Chef and cookbook author Manju Malhi* brings you recipes from across the country for you to pick and choose and make a meal plan of your choice. Dress up your space with echoes of the Tricolour and get in some patriotic DVDs to set the mood?Onion raitaPreparation time: 10 minutesServes: 211.4 cup ...

The most important thing to keep in mind while fitting up your store room is that it's not a dumping space for useless stuff. Rather, it's a space that must be utilised to its fullest to stock supplies that you can get at easily, and make for stress-free housekeeping.There are no fixed dos and don'ts; how you fashion out the ...

Planning a vacation, most pet owners face a dilemma: Where to leave him? Do you take him with you, leave him with a relative or a friend, or do you send him to a creche? Then there's the matter of safety, hygiene, care? And most importantly, whether he will take to the place himself! Here's help?When leaving him behindIf leaving ...

The sheer variety of beauty products available in the market is mind-boggling, each promising miracles. Here's some know-how on navigating the shelves and making the right choice.It doesn't take much for a beauty product to be labeled "natural" since the chemicals are quite often camouflaged under an "organic" label. To avoid risks, do online research to see what goes into ...

For your convenience (and your pet's too)If you have a small lead-in to your living space, a landing or a verandah, a little "shelving" against the wall helps you get more organised. For those who're finicky about bringing in "outside" footwear into the house, this provides the perfect place to change into house slippers. Your puppy's belongings can find a ...

All you need to know about keeping that special member of your household happy and healthy. Neharika Mathur Sinha gets expert advice from our columnists Dr Gandhi Narendra and Dr Pradeep Rana...The welcome "hug" your pet dog gives you, or your cat's warm "caress" when you walk in the door at the end of a tiring day is a magical ...

Olive oil and howYou've heard of the goodness of olive oil? Now go beyond pasta and salads and use it in your everyday cooking to give it that extra edge.Bhindi sabzi in olive oil? Yes you can. And what's more, it is packed with nutrition. In fact, all Indian cooking may be done using olive oil, but you must choose ...

Stock-pots, griddles, loaf tins... Do you need them all? Will you use them? Do you want utensils for everyday use that can double up for special dishes, or do you want fancy equipment for all that you wish to do? Vanessa Fitter helps you decide?Figure out your preferred cuisines, family size and lifestyle, before you go about collecting utensils. Also ...

Pooja Sharma, 32, a Delhi-based dietician, had been feeling unnaturally tired through the day. She didn't think much of it but a routine check-up revealed dangerously low haemoglobin counts. After following a special diet plan, with iron supplements, she's feeling much more energetic. 'A symptom may signal a serious illness. But mostly, at the initial stage, the remedy is simple,' ...

Lingerie is still a somewhat taboo subject in India - it doesn't make for appropriate coffee-table chats, even between women, and is considered best dispensed with behind the closed doors of a changing room. However, here's a reality check: Wearing the wrong size bra or one without adequate strap/wire support over a relatively long period of time can leave you ...

Kaveri, Deeksha's sister-in-law, is convinced that she fusses over her daughter, Sanjana, too much, turning her into a sissy. A freak accident at a horse farm teaches Kaveri a few lessons in parenting, and that there's no one "right" way to bring up children?'Ma-maaa!' called Sanjana, rushing in, her cheeks glowing with pleasure. Deeksha swooped down and lifted her seven-year-old ...

Drinking green tea not only helps you maintain weight, fight free radicals, rejuvenate skin cells and lighten skin, it's also a good ingredient to put into face sprays and masks that you may concoct at home. It does away with the stress and puffiness and refreshes your skin instantaneously. Here are some ideas on how-to at home:Soak two spoonfuls of ...

High-cal pals?Your best friends can be your worst enemies-if you're trying to stick to good-for-you fare. When university of miami researchers asked 154 students to choose snacks for their buddies, 75 percent of the stuff picked was unhealthy (fruit roll-ups, cookies, chips and more). but when the same students were asked to select treats for themselves, only 50 percent of ...

Do you want to tackle your work with greater ease, feel more alert, and not have to drag yourself out of bed every morning? Get on to this super simple energy-boosting plan and add more to your day, every day.The route to a calmer, healthier youStress can shoot up blood pressure to dangerous levels. To keep it in check, meditate. ...

To mark the month of independence, we spoke to a couple of women who have learnt to set themselves "free" and are happier for it. read on to pick up tips to tackle your own demons.Have faith in your child: Neerja Sharma, 52, housewife, Jaipur, had a typical parenting fear: that of her college-going children staying out late. Showdowns with ...

Don't delay planting if you want a spread of winter flowers and vegetables.Dig up and leave beds fallow for a week to allow soil to "recoup". Take out soil from pots and spread out in the sun to disinfect. Also add some manure (a handful to a 10-inch pot soil) to up its quality.Vegetables such as karela, ghiya, bhindi, cluster ...

Experience huesThe first thing that strikes you as you step into this two-storeyed bungalow is the tapestry of vibrant elegance created by a fine blend of furniture and accessories. 'I'm fortunate to have travelled a lot - from Myanmar to Cambodia to Vietnam, and many parts of India. I've gone mostly to village markets to make my picks. Along with ...

Follow these easy-to-remember basics tips to make sure your cleanliness quotient stays up-always. 1 Your kitchen has the most germ-ridden situations in the house. For example, the kitchen sponge, used for cleaning, is ironically, more likely to spread germs. Keep sponges and dishrags dry and clean. Microwave them for 30 seconds to zap those bugs. The kitchen sink often surpasses ...

ShavingShaving with a razor does not cause hair to grow frequently or thicker. It simply blunts the hair so the new emerging hair feels thicker.How: Lather up with a moisturising body wash and a loofah, and then use the razor on your body-use a razor meant for women, such as Gillette.Time for regrowth: 1-3 daysPros: Razors don't cost much and ...

Have the July showers dampened your plans to go out with your family this weekend? Get innovative and work up some indoor magic!Snack it up!: Pakoras and samosas are passe for today's generation. They don't get as excited at the thought of munching on these delicacies served with mint chutney. Cheese is always popular with youngsters, so try cheese fingers ...

The rainy season is here, with its cool breeze, outdoor fun and cozy days at home. But remember that water-borne diseases such as cholera, jaundice and gastroenteritis can play spoilsport. A little care can keep monsoon troubles away.Prevention is the best cure: During the monsoons, water-borne diseases and viral infections run rampant, causing stomach infections. Boil drinking water for at ...

The rainy weather can take its toll on one's appearance. Humidity adds volume to one's hair, weighing it down and leaving it frizzy. It also opens up the pores of the skin, stripping it of its essential oils while making it sticky at the same time. Since not many beauty products work in this weather, you can use skin and ...

Want to do your bit for the environment? Start at home! Here're some simple steps you can take to make your house eco-friendly, and what you should keep in mind when you're getting a house made...In your house...Install solar water heaters. They're cost-efficient and eco-friendly.Use renewable materials (easy to dispose, they don't harm the environment) in the house. Bamboo window ...

Pretty green views, adventure treks, or simply a relaxing stay at a five-star resort - you can take your pick from our list of special packages this season...Club Mahindra Lakeview Resort MunnarThis two-nights-and-three-days-package includes all meals, an Ayurvedic massage and a facial per person, and a discount on laundry and alcoholic beverages. Two children below 12 years can stay and ...