4 ways to an eco-friendly period

They’re good for the earth and for the human body too

STs stuffed into black bags, cramps, mood swings, the whole disposal process — suffice to say, periods are a pain. Besides the physical discomfort, these also have layers of plastic that are non-biodegradable. “The chemicals in regular pads can react with the sweat and cause infections and rashes. Tampons that are inserted inside the vagina, if not changed for a long time, can cause toxic shock syndrome, where the toxins can get into the blood stream,” says Dr Kiran Coelho, Head of Department of Gynaecology, Lilavati Hospital, Mumbai. Here, a few Indian brands that make biodegradable sanitary napkins that are also skin-friendly, because they are derived from Nature.

EcoFemme

This women-led social enterprise was founded in 2010 at Auroville. They produce and sell reusable cloth pads made of GOTS-certified organic cotton. While the top layer is made of soft flannel, the inside is made of absorbent cotton flannel and the back layer of breathable polyurethane. It is washable and comes in vibrant colours. The pads can be fastened to underwear using buttons in its wings. To clean the used pad, it should be soaked in cold water for 30 minutes before washing and sun-drying. Visit shop.ecofemme.org; ₹235 upward.

Carmesi

These plant-based pads and panty liners have a top layer made of corn starch, a middle layer or absorbent core made of bamboo fibre and a bottom layer of corn-based bioplastic. These pads come in a bio-degradable disposal bag they claim to be free of harmful synthetics, dyes, artificial fragrance, or dioxins. Available on a subscription basis, they come in two sizes. Visit mycarmesi.com; ₹249 a box.

Saathi

The company believes in zero-waste production and makes disposable pads out of banana fibre. The banana stem for the production is sourced from farmers in Gujarat, where the company is based, and after extracting the fibre, the residue is used by farmers as fertiliser. The pad is free from chemicals and the company claims that it will degrade within six months of disposal. Visit saathipads.com; ₹180 for a box.

Saukhyam

This is an initiative by Mata Amritanandamayi Math, an NGO based in Kerala. Saukhyam provides re-usable pads made of cotton and banana fibre. It comes with an outer cover made of soft cotton dyed with vegetable colours. The inserts are detachable and are stuffed with banana fibre that absorbs the menstrual blood. The base layer is made of polyurethane to make it leak-proof. The inserts are available in three sizes. After use, the pads should be soaked in water for 10 minutes before washing and sun-drying. Visit saukhyampads.org.

Facial exercises can make women look 3 yrs younger

Facial exercises may reduce some of the signs of aging, according to an interesting new study of the effects of repeating specific, expressive movements on people’s appearance.

The study, published in ‘JAMA Dermatology’, found that middle-aged women looked about three years younger after a few months of exercising, perhaps providing a reasonable, new rationale for making faces behind our spouses’ backs.

In recent years, a number of facial exercise programmes have become popular enough that they drew the attention of a group of dermatologists at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

“We became aware that there were all of these commercial programmes — DVDs, instructional videos, even personal trainers — that purported to be able to help people exercise their faces in ways that would make them be happier, healthier, and maybe look younger,” says Dr Murad Alam, the vice chairman of dermatology at Northwestern University, who led the new study.

“But we were not aware of any scientific proof that these programmes could be effective,” he adds.

So he and his colleagues decided to test the usefulness of facial exercises. They began by getting in touch with Gary Sikorski of Providence, Rhode Island, who had developed Happy Face Yoga, one of the longest-established facial exercise programmes.

The basic premise of facial exercising, Sikorski says, is that it provides a kind of resistance training for the facial muscles.

The Northwestern scientists recruited 27 women between the ages of 40 and 65 who wanted to try facial exercising. The women all were photographed and then met with Sikorski for two 90-minute, in-person sessions, during which he taught them the 32 exercises. The full session took 30 minutes.

REVERSE AGING

The women were asked to practice every day for eight weeks. Then they were photographed again and told to continue with the full routine every other day for another 12 weeks. The women were enthusiastic, finding improvements in almost all of their facial features.

Dermatologists noted improvements in the fullness of cheeks after 20 weeks but little noticeable change elsewhere. But they estimated the women to be younger after the program. They ranked the women as, on average, about 51 years old in the photographs at the start of the study, but closer to 48 years old after 20 weeks of facial workouts.

Updating the kanjeevaram sari

Jeyasree Ravi collaborated with weavers to find ways to make the traditional sari lightweight, wrinkle-free and easy to wear

Can a kanjeevaram be lightweight, wrinkle-free and trendy, without losing its age-old, traditional ‘pattu sari’ character? Jeyasree Ravi, proprietor of Palam Silks, has attempted to create a version that ticks all these boxes.

Many years of experimenting with traditional kanjeevaram fabric resulted in her Fabric of Dreams show, organised in April this year. The immense response encouraged her to participate in the Vogue Wedding show held recently in Delhi.

“Ours was the only stall at the event representing South Indian bridal silks, and I was pleasantly surprised by the fascination that young soon-to-be-married women had for kanjeevarams. Just like how south Indian brides opt for lehengas now, brides up north seem to be choosing kanjeevaram saris,” says Jeyasree.

Her new Nava collection is lightweight and wrinkle-free. She says it is woven with superior techniques to create the lustre and feel of traditional kanjeevarams. “I experimented with colours such as burnt orange, peach, blue, green and pastels, avoiding traditional colours such as maroon and green. In the Nava range, we have used two yarns of zari and two yarns of silk thread. This gives lustre to the fabric. It has the sheen, but is at the same time light,” she says. The Nava range of saris weighs anywhere between 0.9 to 1.20 kilograms, whereas the traditional Kanjeevaram bridal sari weighs 1.20 kilograms upwards.

She adds, “Wedding saris are often worn just once. I wanted to create saris that are contemporary so they can be worn for multiple occasions.” She says these saris are also easy to maintain as zari is woven along with silk thread, thus increasing longevity.

Along with her two daughters, Vineeta Palam and Sunita Palam, Jeyasree designs the saris for each season. They work with dedicated weavers based in Kanchipuram and surrounding regions.

Jeyasree says most of the men in Kanchipuram have taken up other careers, so women in the family are encouraged to weave during their free time. “In order to make the process of weaving easier for women, we use a motorised pedal and the rest of the process is by hand,” she adds. “As these saris are handwoven and the dye used is eco-friendly, they are not easy to replicate.

Jeyasree says she established Palam Silks in Pondy Bazaar in 2003, at the age of 36. “I come from the Nalli Silks family and married into the Kumaran Silks family. So when I entered the market, I wanted a unique identity. That is when I started focussing on fabric and design,” she says, adding, “However, we attend to our customers in the traditional old style, like how silk merchants used to traditionally come home and display saris.”

Women ditch high heels for trainers

Research shows a significant shoe shift from last year with women aged 35 to 44 driving the trend away from heel. More women bought trainers than high heels for the first time ever this year, figures show.

Some 37% of UK women who have bought shoes in the last year bought trainers, compared with 33% who bought heels, according to analysts Mintel.

The figure is a significant shift from last year when 35% bought trainers and 35% bought heels.

Women aged 35 to 44 are driving the trend away from heels, with 48% of those in this age group buying trainers in the past year compared to the 30% who bought heels.

Getty

Most buyers were from the 35 to 44 age group

Mintel senior fashion analyst Tamara Sender said: "For the first time ever sales of trainers have overtaken high heels.

"The UK sportswear market has seen strong growth in the last year and there has been a trend for consumers to integrate sports clothing into their daily wardrobes, meaning trainers have also become more popular among women, overtaking heels to become the second favourite item of footwear after flat shoes.

Getty

Analysts say consumers are integrating sports shoes in their daily wardrobes

"Athletic footwear is increasingly being used for everyday non-sporting activities showing that trainers are now more likely to be used for non-sports use.

"Women aged 35 to 44 have become the main trainer buyers proving the trend is no longer limited to younger consumers."

Mintel estimates that UK footwear sales will increase 5.4% this year to reach £10.5 billion, up from £10 billion last year.

A guide to shoe-shopping for gals

From pumps and boots to flats — we have a plethora of options to choose from, when it comes to shoes. What one needs to keep in mind while buying shoes is that they should not only look good, go with the outfit you're choosing them for, but should also suit your feet. Here's what you need to keep in mind when you go shoe-shopping next time...

Ankle-strap sandals
Ankle-strap sandals go in different colours and are often seen sported by celebs. They go with almost everything. You can pair them with LBDs, skirts or pants.

Wedges
This is the best option for those who like wearing heels, but are not comfortable with stilettos. A peplum skirt, semi-formal top, espadrille wedges and chunky jewellery — and, you are set to go!

Boots
Looking for something edgy, yet classy? Boots, it is! You can either pair them with a skirt or with boyfriend jeans. There are different variations in boots like tall flat boots, ankle boots and over-the-knee boots.

Sneakers
A pair of black or white sneakers is a must-have for all those who are fashion conscious. Casual, yet quirky — sneakers go well with almost anything. It's time you get into the 'sporty' territory with sneakers.

Loafers
If comfort is what you are looking for, then nothing can beat loafers. They come in different colours, come spruced up with embellishments, prints, embroidery and even tassels! They also have different soles like suede, espadrille, etc.

Pumps
Pumps add an extra oomph to your overall appearance. A pair of black pumps either in satin or suede is the hot trend in the party circles, now.

Flats
Flats include everything from sandals, flip-flops, belly shoes, gladiators, joothis and mojaris. Flats go well with both western and Indian outfits. But, keep in mind that the key to look stylish in flats is to wear a fitted dress.

திருமணமான பெண் தன் தாய்க்கு எழுதிய கடிதம்..

அன்புள்ள அம்மா,

எல்லா பெண்களைப் போலவே கல்யாண கனவில் களித்து மனதைக் கொள்ளையடித்தவரை உங்கள் சம்மதத்துடன் குதூகலமாகா ஆடம்பரமாக திருமணம் புரிந்து கொண்டேன் .

பின்னர் தான் தெரிந்தது வாழ்க்கை சினிமாவில் போடும் சுபத்திற்கு பின்பு தான் தொடங்குகிறதென்று.

வாழ்க்கையில் விரும்புவது விரும்பப் படுவதென்பதையும் தாண்டி நிறைய இருக்கிற்து என்று தெரிய வருகிறது

எத்தனை பொறுப்புகள்

எத்தனை சுமைகள்

எத்தனை எதிர் பார்ப்புகள் ?

எத்தனை தியாகங்கள்

எத்தனை ஏமாற்றங்கள்

நினைத்த நேரத்தில் ,நிம்மதியாக முழு தூக்கம் கலைந்த நேரத்தில் எழுந்திருக்க முடியவில்லை..

குடும்பத்தில் மற்றவர் விழிக்கும் முன் நான் விழித்து என் வேலைகளை ஆரம்பிக்க வேண்டி இருக்கு..

உன்னோடு இருந்த நாட்களில் எனக்கென்ற விருப்பமான் உடைகளில் சிட்டாக பறந்து கொண்டிருந்தேன்..

இங்கே அவர்கள் விருபிய உடையில் வலம் வருவதையே விரும்புகின்றனர்..

இதோ என் தோழியை/தோழனைப் பார்த்து விட்டு வருகிறேன் என்று உன்னிடம் சொல்லிவிட்டு சென்ற்து போல் சொல்லி செல்ல இயலவில்லை.

என் தேவைகளை விட அடுத்தவர் தேவைகளை முன் வைத்தே நான் நடந்து கொள்ள வேண்டி இருக்கு..

நினைத்த நேரத்தில் தூங்க கூட முடிவதில்லை.

எனக்கு விருப்பமான டிவி நிகழ்ச்சியைக் கூட பார்க்க முடிவதில்லை..

சில நேரங்களில் எதற்கு இந்த திருமணம் என்று அலுப்பாக இருக்கிறது..

இந்த திருமணம் என் சுதந்திரதை அல்லவா பறித்து விட்டது..என் சுயத்தை அல்லவா சூறையாடி விட்டது

உன்னிடம் இருந்த போதே மிக மகிழ்வாக இருந்தேனே!

உன்னிடம் திரும்ப வந்து விடலாமா என்று கூட தோன்றுகிறது

உன் மடியில் படுத்து கொள்ளனும் போல இருக்கிறது

வேண்டாம் வேண்டாம் என்று நான் சொல்ல சொல்ல ஒரே ஒரு இட்லி போட்டுக்கோ.. உனக்கு பிடிக்குமேன்னு பால் கோவா செஞ்சேன்னு நீ பின்னாலயே வந்து வந்து ஊட்டி விடுவதை கொஞ்சிக் கொள்ள வேண்டும் போலிருக்கிறது.

எந்த கவலையும் இல்லாமல் உன் அரவணைப்பில் உன் கொஞ்சலில் உன் பாதுகாப்பிலேயே இருந்திருக்க கூடாதா என்று தோன்றுகிறது..

ஆனால் அடுத்த கனமே

நீயும் என் வயதில் என்னை மாதிரி தானே உணர்ந்திருப்பாய்

நீ உன் திருமணத்தில் செய்த தியாகங்கள் தானே எனக்கு இந்த அழகிய நினைவுகளைக் கொடுத்திருக்கிறது..

நீ அன்று நான் இன்று நினைப்பது போல் நினைத்திருந்தால் நான் இன்று இருப்பேனா..

நீ செய்த தியாகங்களையும் உழைப்பையும் பாசத்தையும் எதிர்பாறா அன்பையும் நான் திருப்பி தர வேண்டாமா..என்று நினைத்து கொள்கிறேன் ..

அதுவும் உன்னிடம் இருந்து கற்றது தான்..

அப்படி நினைக்கும் போது வாழ்க்கையே எளிதாக தெரிகிறது..

தெளிவாக புரிகிறது காலம் செல்ல செல்ல நீ உன் குடும்பத்தை நேசித்தது போல் நானும் என் குடும்பத்தை நேசிக்க ஆரம்பித்து விடுவேன்..

நீ செய்த தியாகங்களை நானும் செய்ய தயாராகி விடுவேன்..

உனக்கு நாங்கள் கொடுத்த மன உறுதியை திடத்தை என் குடும்பமும் எனக்கு தரும்

ஆமாம் மா நீ எனக்கு கொடுத்ததை நானும் என் குடும்பத்திற்கு கொடுக்க தயாராகி விட்டேன்..

நன்றிம்மா .

என்றும் அன்புடன்...!! 

பெண் அன்பில் ஒரு தாய்

பெண் அழகில் ஒரு தேவதை

பெண் அறிவில் ஒரு மந்திரி

பெண் அதரவுயில் ஒரு உறவு

பெண் வெறுப்பில் ஒரு நெருப்பு

பெண் வெற்றிக்கு ஒரு மாலை

பெண் தோல்விக்கு ஒரு பள்ளம்

பெண் நட்பில் ஒரு நேர்மை

பெண் கண்டிப்பில் ஒரு ஆசிரியார்

இருந்தாலும் பெண் ஒரு புரியாத புதிர்...   As received through whatsapp 

why women are special

Mum and Dad were watching TV when Mum said, "I'm tired, and it's 

getting late. I think I'll go to bed." 

She went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches. Rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took out the idli batter from the freezer for breakfast the morning , checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and started the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

She then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and secured a loose button. 

She picked up the game pieces left on the table, put the phone back on the charger and put the telephone book into the drawer. She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom.

She stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the excursion and pulled a text book out from hiding under the chair. 

She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick note for the grocery store. She put both near her bag. 

Mum then washed her face with 3 in 1 cleanser, put on her Night Solution & age fighting moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth. 

Dad called out, "I thought you were going to bed."

"I'm on my way," she said. She put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked and the patio light was on.. 

She looked in on each of the kids and turned out their bedside lamps and radios, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper, and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework.

In her own room, she set the alarm; laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. 

She added three things to her 6 most important things to do list. She said her prayers, and visualized the accomplishment of her goals.

About that time, Dad turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular. "I'm going to bed." And he did .....without another thought. 

Anything extraordinary here?

 Wonder why women live longer...? 'CAUSE THEY ARE MADE FOR THE LONG HAUL......... (and they can't die sooner, they still have things to do!!!!)                           As received through whatsApp

Get fashionable & fit blouses

Amethyst’s newly-launched The Blouse Room offers sari enthusiasts bespoke tailoring

Amethyst’s new service The Blouse Room claims to have a solution — bespoke blouses according to each client’s preference and body type.

Anti-fit is doing very well, especially among the younger clients. Cold shoulders, off shoulders, scalloped edges and demi capes are in vogue,” she says. For a while, jackets were a popular choice with saris; the limelight has shifted to shirts now. Plain shirts with collars look rather fetching with these colourful yards of tradition.

Talking of changing trends, Shabri notices that no longer do clients use blouse bits that come with saris. They prefer looking for contrasting blouse pieces to team with their sari. “You can barely be creative with those one-metre bits that come with saris.”

Other than customised blouses, The Blouse Room also has a selection of ready-made ones by designers such as Masaba Gupta, Sonam Dubal, Tarun Tahiliani and Peachoo, among others.

கணவனின் காலை மனைவி பிடித்து விட்டால் வீட்டில் செல்வம் பெருகும்

கணவனின் காலை மனைவி பிடித்து விட்டால் வீட்டில் செல்வம் பெருகி, லட்சுமி கடாட்சமாக காட்சியளிக்கும்

திருப்பாற் கடலில் வீற்றிருக்கும் மகா விஷ்ணுவின் காலை மகா லட்சுமி தாயார் பிடித்து விடுவதாக பல்வேறு கோவில்களில் சிற்பங்கள் மற்றும் உருவப் படங்களைப் பார்த்திருப்போம். மகாவிஷ்ணுவும், லட்சுமி தேவியும் தம்பதி சமேதரராக இருப்பதால் இதை நாம் பெரிதாக யாரும் எடுத்துக் கொள்வதில்லை.

ஆனால் இதில் மாபெரும் ஒரு உண்மையை நமது முன்னோர் மறைத்து வைத்திருக்கிறார்கள். அதாவது கணவனின் காலை மனைவி பிடித்து விட்டால் குடும்பத்தில் சொத்து பத்து சேரும் என்ற உண்மையை மறைத்து வைத்துள்ளனர். ஆண்களின் முட்டி பாகம் முதல் பாதத்திற்கு முன்பாக உள்ள கணுக்கால் வரை உள்ள பகுதி சனிகிரகத்தின் ஆளுமைக்கு கீழ் வருகின்றது. அதே சமயம் பெண்களின் கை பாகத்தை சுக்கிரனின் ஆளுகைக்கு உட்பட்டதாக முன்னோர் ஜோதிட ரீதியாக வகுத்துவைத்துள்ளனர்.

ஆண்களின் முட்டி பாகம் முதல் பாதத்திற்கு முன்பாக உள்ள கணுக்கால் வரை உள்ள பகுதி சனிகிரகத்தின் ஆளுமைக்கு உட்பட்டிருப்பதால், இந்த பகுதியில் பெண் என்ற சுக்கிரனின் கைகள் பட ஆணுக்கு பணம் சிறிது சிறிதாக வந்து சேரும். எனவேதான் செல்வத்திற்கு அதிபதிகளான லட்சுமி தேவி மகாவிஷ்ணுவின் கால்களை பிடித்து விடுவதாக சிற்பங்கள், ஓவியங்கள் வரைந்து வைத்துள்ளனர் நமது முன்னோர்கள்.

கால மாற்றத்தால் ஆண் அதிக்கம், பெண் அடிமைத்தனம் போன்ற பல்வேறு விரும்பத்தகாத நிகழ்வுகளால் இம்முறைக்கு பல்வேறு எதிர்ப்புகள் கிளம்பியதால் உன்னதமான இந்த நிகழ்வு தற்போது மறைந்து விட்டது வேதனைதான்.

herbal medicince for child birth at Valapadi nr salem tamilnad

Women Safety Apps





App makers in talks with handset cos after govt makes panic buttons in mobiles must from Jan

App makers are actively discussing integrating their products designed to ensure women's safety into handsets in the wake of the government notification to install panic buttons in all mobile devices from January 2017. Some of the well-known personal safety apps, including VithU, Woman Safety Shield, I Feel Safe, Nirbhaya: Be Fearless, I'm Shakti and Secure Her, are compatible with Android OS-based smartphones.
These apps come at a very negligible or zero cost to handset vendors, and can be leveraged with existing hardware modules. Some like handset vendor Karbonn are developing their own women's safety app, while Korean major LG has already unveiled a phone with a panic button.
“We are in advanced talks with few device makers to install the `I Feel Safe' with a panic button option with some of the device vendors,“ said Bhawna Kumari, business head at MSAI, adding that the company is running field trials. MSAI provides software solutions and IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers to mobile device makers.
Kumari, however, refused to disclose the names of vendors incorporating such an app, but added that the new bundled devices are likely to hit retail store shelves starting August.
The `I Feel Safe' app will be available in some of the mobile phone models across 2G, 3G and 4G technologies being launched in the Indian market shortly .
Device makers, according to the executive, are eager to grab the market by demonstrating a user-friendly safety app with the panic button option as a unique business proposition.
As they prepare inventory for the upcoming festival season including the Diwali line-up, they are strategically adopting women safety apps, though most were tight-lipped about their plans. Samsung, Lenovo, HTC and Intex did not respond to ET's queries while Micromax, Lava and Xiaomi said they will be adhering to the govern ment mandate to install panic buttons on new handsets.
Karbonn said it is developing an in-house app, which is expected to be pre-installed in some of the new smartphones it rolls out to differentiate them from competitors.“We would be making safety apps available on Karbonn's app store and Android Play Store for easy download by existing customers,“ a spokesperson said.
Additionally , the device maker will also be pushing safety feature updates over FOTA (firmware over-theair) to all Karbonn customers. The devices and updates would be launched over the next few months, the company added.

Role of bangles in a traditional Indian wedding

Colourful bangles

Bangles look beautiful on the delicate wrists of Indian women, especially the young brides. Besides enhancing the beauty, it is one of the many symbols that mark a married Indian woman, the others being sindoor, toe ring, mangalsutra, etc. However, with the woman no longer being confined to home after marriage, the age-old tradition of wearing wedding symbols daily has taken a backseat and these are now reserved for special days only. For daily wear, women now wear kadas or a single thick bracelet with trendier, geometric designs nudging into the market of traditional designs.
However, tradition still plays a significant role during an Indian wedding, you will see the brides wearing bangles on their wedding day and for some months after it as they flaunt their status as a newly-married bride. Traditionally, a part of the solah shringar for Indian brides, bangles made of glass, gold or other metals is meant to signify good fortune and prosperity.
In a multicultural country like India, bangles, its colours and the material it's made in differs from community to community or state to state. Let's take a look at some of them...

In Maharashtra
The bridal chooda is made of green glass bangles in odd numbers. These are worn along with solid gold bangles called patlya and carved kadas called tode.
In Southern states
While gold is considered most auspicious in southern states of India, some communities see the brides wear green coloured glass bangles along with the gold ones, since green signifies fertility and prosperity.
In Gujarat and Rajasthan
In Gujarat and Rajasthan, the bride's mother gifts her a pair of ivory bangles and only after wearing these ivory bangles, the bridal couple can perform the 'saptapati' ritual or saat phere to complete the marriage ceremony.
In Punjab
The red and white chooda worn by Punjabi brides is quite popular and you can see young brides enthusiastically flaunting them even in western wear. The chooda is basically 21 slender ivory bangles in white and red decorated decorated with stones. In fact the bangle-wearing ceremony is held in the morning on the day of the wedding.
A puja is performed by the pandit wherein the bride's maternal uncles give her a set of chooda after washing them in milk. As per tradition, the brides are supposed to wear them for minimum of 40 days and then continue to wear them for a year; in some communities even for 15 months. These bangles are usually worn in larger size as the newly married girls are going to wear them till one year. Another interesting ritual associated with the chooda ceremony is putting the 'kalire' or tinkling bells. These dome shaped streamers with tinkling silver and gold bells are tied to the chooda by the bride's cousins and friends. They are like blessings for the bride as she starts a new life and also to remind her of her old friends.
In West Bengal and Odisha
Bengali and Odiya woman wear white bangles made up of conch-shell known as shaka, while pola are red bangles made up of red corals. In earlier days, the affluent ladies used to wear shakhas made of elephant teeth.
Bangles and colours

Red signifies energy and prosperity
Green denotes good luck and fertility
Blue is for wisdom
Yellow bangles are meant for happiness
White is for new beginnings
Orange is for success
Silver bangles denote strength
Gold bangles symbolise fortune and prosperity

Tools that make a woman's life easier

Highlights

• Menstrual cup: This is a cup that collects your blood during your period, rather than absorbing it, and it truly liberates women!
• Portable bidet: Every time we go on a road trip and have to settle for a dirty loo, we cringe at the unavailability of a faucet to clean ourselves. 

 

Who said being a woman is easy? But there are a host of gadgets in the market that aim to make the lives of women easier. We take a look at 10 of them...

Menstrual cup  This is a cup that collects your blood during your period, rather than absorbing it, and it truly liberates women! Now swim, play all kinds of s p o r t s, dance in the r a i n and do all those things what you could not when you have your period.

Female urinating device  Ever had to hold your bladder because of inhospitable terrain, and then been jealous of men who can stand and pee? Now you can just do that with female urinating devices, which direct your pee to the pot without spillage.Makes life so much easier.

Clip-on camisole There are days when you head for a night out straight from work, and wish you could wear your favourite dress to work, but only if it wasn't so cleavagebaring. Fret not! The clip-on camisole will come to your rescue in times when you want to cover up.

Sweat-absorbent pads We are human and we sweat too.However, s e a t patches on armpits become embarrassing sometimes. To save you from the stress, sweat-absorbent pads are a great resource to have around you

Cushion silicone heel protector We love high heels and how they make us feel. So, to relieve us from the pain we feel when we wear them and after, now we have silicon heel protectors that provide cushioning for the heel and prevent blisters.

Lingerie wash bag Don't we hate it when our lingerie gets lost in a sea of other clothes in the washing machine? Well now you can conveniently put all your undies in a lingerie mesh wash bag, put it inside the washer, and take it out when done.Convenient, isn't it?

Portable bidet  Every time we go on a road trip and have to settle for a dirty loo, we cringe at the unavailability of a faucet to clean ourselves. However, now you have a portable faucet that can be fit onto any bottle, and used like a normal jet.

Double-sided tape We have all faced that huge `gap' on our breasts every time we wear a shirt. Now that, and other potential embarrassing moments, can be prevented with the handy double-sided tape. It is also great for temporary repairs and keeping accessories in place.

Bra clip Don't like to show your bra straps when wearing racerback tops? No worries, the bra clip can keep your straps anywhere you like, and even create interesting designs in case you want to show those straps off.

Compressed towels These towels are compressed into small coinlike tablets, which turn into cloth wipes with just a splash of water.Easy to carry, these small wonders are also supposed to be biodegradable.

wife's eye, elephant massage at Thailand

Lets see the world through a wife's eyes!

World's most perfect Man - Her Father!
World's most beautiful woman - Her Mother!
World's most Intelligent female - She herself!
World's best husband - Her Brother!
World's most Handsome boy - Her Son!
World's most luckiest man - Her sister's husband!
World 's luckiest women - Her brother's wife!
World's most mad woman - Her Mother in Law!
World's most dumb, selfish, liar, miser and useless  man - .......
Do I need to tell this???

Are you wearing the wrong bra size? Find out

Jan 11, 2016, 12.00AM IST

Millions of women are risking aches, pains and saggy boobs
Finding the perfect bra can be about as easy for women as it is for men to undo one. A woman's boobs change size six times throughout her life and it's common to find the same girl coming up a different size in each store or label. That confusion can mean accurately estimating your own size is almost impossible. Some women use fitting room trial and error to get a look they like, while others book an appointment for a proper fitting from an expert. But despite the amount of options on offer, a staggering amount of women still wear the wrong size bra every day— and it could be doing you damage. To help women everywhere, we've taken a look at some stats to show estimation is no replacement for an accurate bra fitting... w
Style more important than size
Two-thirds of women wear the wrong bra size, a recent poll found. And of those, almost a third purchased their bra knowing it wasn't the right fit. A smaller cup size with an over-sized back size is the most common combination of errors according to a survey. w
When you are born determines your size
As unbelievable as it may sound, but your birth month also influences your boob size. For instance, those with birthdays in January, February and March are more likely to have bigger boobs — with an E cup average. But if you're born in April, that figure drops down to a B cup. Ds and DDs are the average for those born in June, July and November, while the rest of the months average a C.
Coffee can affect your size
Your choice of cuppa also apparently plays a part. Drinking coffee can actually make your boobs smaller, a study found. Just three a day is enough to make a difference. They reckon half of women have a specific gene, which links the two.
Health Issues
Women wearing the wrong size bra are risking nerve damage, poor posture and pains in their neck, shoulder and back and saggy boobs. —Daily Mirror

Tips for women on Lingerie Hacks

Always wear a nude or beige colour brassiere under white outfits and use a paper clip to turn a brassiere into a racerback, says an expert.
Neha Kant, founder of online lingerie store Clovia.com, an online lingerie store, has shared tips and hacks for ladies.
* Colour: Always wear a nude or beige colour brassiere under white outfits for no show. Most girls make the mistake of wearing white under white which is not right.
* One brassiere style is not enough for every kind of outfit: Like with an off-shoulder dress instead of wearing a brassiere with transparent straps, which in most case are hardly transparent, one should go for a tube or a strapless brassiere.
* Accessories: Interesting brassiere accessories like low back converters are a saviour if one wants to wear a low back dress.
* D.I.Y: Use a paper clip to turn a brassiere into a racerback, or to hide straps that keep poking out from sleeveless tops.
* Know your size: For broad body types, a brassiere extender can be used to extend current band girth.
* Straps: Keep a strapless from falling down by securing it with a convertible strap.
* If the straps are digging in, it means under-bust band is loose and is not providing adequate support. Go down a band size.
* How to preserve the elasticity: Rotate between four brassieres and switch them out every week to preserve their elasticity.
* How to know if your brassiere fits well: If you lift your arms over your head, the band of your bra should lay flat against your rib cage with the cups containing all of your tissues.
* Try "sister sizing" of bra if you do not get the perfect fit. For example, A 36B will have a similar cup size of 34C. http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/lingerie-hacks-tips-for-women-115092800809_1.html

Vital health checks every woman should have

To pre-empt problems when you're older, it's wise to get checked out for certain things sooner rather than later...

Feeling healthy right now? Don't be too complacent; research found that almost half of people in their late 30s are at increased risk of illness and poor health later in life, as we put off making positive changes to our lifestyle. "Your 40s are the perfect opportunity to press the 'reset' button on health habits to make a lasting difference to your overall wellbeing," says Dr Chris Tomkins, head of proactive health at a healthcare centre. Prevention really is better than cure: "Most test results can give you peace of mind and if a problem is picked up, treatment is more effective the earlier an issue is identified," says women's health expert, Dr Marilyn Glenville. It's time to get checked out...

Cervical smear

Why? Although cervical cancer is most common in women between the ages of 30-35, it's still vital to have regular smear tests. You should have one every three years between 25-49, and every five years between 50-64.

What is it? A smear involves taking a small sample from the cervix (the neck of the womb) to check for any abnormal cells that might lead to cervical cancer. Almost all cervical cancer is caused by the HPV virus, which is initially contracted by sexual activity. "However, it may lay dormant for years before it starts to cause cancerous cells on your cervix," warns Dr Pixie. "If you have bleeding between periods or after sex your should see your GP," she adds.

Mammogram

Why? Breast awareness is very important at any age, because breast cancer, the most common cancer in the UK, affects one in eight women. "Attending mammograms every three years is vital," advises Lloyds Pharmacy pharmacist Alison Freemantle.

What is it? This is an x-ray of both breasts to look for any changes that might suggest cancer. Women between the age of 47 and 53 should get it done. Regular breast checking is incredibly important, too; see your GP immediately if you notice any changes to your breast tissue, such as irregular lumps or bumps, or skin dimpling.

Regular eye tests

Why? Having an eye check once a year with a qualified ophthalmologist is important, no matter what your age.

What is it? A simple test, where the ophthalmologist looks into the back of your eye with a special torch, can highlight health conditions such as diabetes and glaucoma and also check for eye conditions that result in a gradual loss of vision, which can't be treated with glasses — such as cataracts and macular degeneration, the most common form of vision loss in the over 50s.

Bowel checks

Why? Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK but accounts for the second highest number of deaths, so it's essential to have regular tests.

What is it? This involves submitting a specimen of your stool for analysis. "It's important to catch bowel cancer early, so get checked out at 40," says Dr HelenWebberley, medical director of an online tests site. "The test can detect tiny amounts of blood in the stool which can indicate cancer or precancerous polyps. These polyps can be removed before they go on to cause any harm."

Bone health

Why? The health of your bones becomes even more important once you hit the menopause. "Past 50, one of our greatest risks is osteoporosis," comments Dr Marilyn Glenville. This is because a drop in oestrogen for a prolonged period can cause a loss in bone mass. "Have a bone density scan, especially if you have a family history of osteoporosis, or any other risk factors for the condition such as being a heavy drinker and smoker, or suffering from rheumatoid arthritis or Crohn's disease," says Dr Glenville.

What is it? An x-ray that uses very low doses of radiation to take pictures of your spine and hips while you are lying down. Dr Glenville also recommends having a 'bone turnover' test — a urine test which detects whether you're losing bone mass on a daily basis. "This shows if you need extra nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D." Consider having a vitamin D test too, because it's essential in helping our bodies absorb calcium.

Hearing

Why? Hearing loss is a common problem as we age, "but most people suffer from it for up to 10 years before seeking help," says Alison Freemantle. Hearing loss can be gradual and often begins with having difficulty hearing people speak when there's a lot of background noise. This can affect quality of life and make a person feel isolated. If you have problems hearing, it could also signify an infection or ear disease, so visit your GP. If you haven't had a hearing test since childhood it's worth having one to check everything is as it should be.
 What is it? There is a free Lloyds Pharmacy hearing test, which is carried out by a fully qualified Sonetik audiologist. "The test takes about 10 minutes and checks for levels of hearing loss," explains Alison. "And if a hearing aid is suitable, Lloyds Pharmacy offers a free trial." http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/Vital-health-checks-every-woman-should-have/articleshow/48810112.cms 

Self-defence techniques to women free of cost

The school girls look skinny. But looks can be deceptive. In this case, they definitely are. For, these girls can pack a punch. They have learnt self-defence techniques, which they are capable of applying in any threatening situation, anywhere.

These girls are beneficiaries of a programme by the voluntary organisation Vajra, which teaches self-defence techniques based on the combat system Krav Maga to girls and women, free of cost. Resident of Luz Avenue, Mylapore, and founder of the NGO, Puja Malhotra says, “The Nirbhaya incident affected me a lot. I wanted to ensure personal safety for women and girls.”Puja decided on teaching Krav Maga, which borrows from Aikido, Jujutsu, boxing, and Judo.

“Krav Maga targets the attacker’s vulnerable points so as to neutralise him quickly. I prefer to describe Krav Maga as a ‘defensive tactics system’, a tactical and logically sound approach to dealing with violent confrontations,” she explains. An art and theatre promoter, Puja depends on a team of trainers to keep the initiative going. S. Sreeram and Manoj are the main instructors and co-founders of Vajra.

“ At present, we train students at seven Corporation and two private schools in the city. The classes are held during the physical training period. We are approaching other schools across the State. The students are given certificates after completion of their training. Self-defence should be made a part of the school curriculum. As we believe the seeds of violence against are sown at home, we counsel boy students and fathers of the girls trained by us to respect women. Periodically, we call the parents for a meeting where they are urged to give equal importance to their sons and daughters,” says Puja. She says the benefits of Krav Maga are far-reaching, instilling confidence in students who earlier retreated into the shadows and would be tongue-tied during group discussions.“Girl students, who have successfully completed training, teach others part-time and earn some money,” says Puja.

Vajra also conducts a two-day free training programme for physical trainers attached to schools in villages. “My aim is to start classes across India. I urge the central and state governments to make this system of self-defence a mandatory part of the school curriculum.” Puja Malhotra can be contacted at 98409 55556.

womens fear on third or electronic eye ரகசிய கேமரா, 'இரு பக்க' கண்ணாடியால் ஆபத்து

CHENNAI:  It is not just the prying eyes of prowlers and voyeurs on the streets that women have to endure. With smaller cameras and instant sharing applications, eyes are on them everywhere. Their anxiety has peaked after the FabIndia incident in Goa, in which Union Minister for Human Resource and Development Smriti Irani had spotted a camera in the changing room.“As this has happened to a Minister, we are scared as to what will happen to common people like us. Cameras are getting smaller. It is a very frightening thought for us,” says Selvi P, a housewife.

Sowmya R, a hospital employee, says that she makes it a point to check for such spy cameras in trial rooms by making a phone call and see if it gets through. “I don’t know if this really works, but I do it as a force of habit,”  she says. Although this may not really work accurately, reports do say that a disturbance in the call would mean the phone is interfering with an electromagnetic field which could be because of hidden cameras.

Some have decided not to use trial rooms in retail outlets at all.

“Reportedly @smritiirani spotted a camera in the changing room at FabIndia Goa. I think I will settle to not buy from stores at all.” tweeted singer Chinmayi Sripada.The Internet, with information publicly shared, ‘trolled’ and modified, has changed definitions of privacy, and even simple Google search on ‘hidden cameras,’ reveals results of ‘leaked hidden camera videos of celebrities’.There were several reactions on social media too, that were taking the focus out of the actual issue at hand, with memes and online reactions that raised concerns about women’s privacy. Like a tweet that was circulating online echoed, @PritishNandy

Are we becoming a paranoid society? The #FabIndia case just doesn’t sound right. Where does security end and voyeurism begin?                                                                           http://m.newindianexpress.com/chennai/444935

ரகசிய கேமரா, 'இரு பக்க' கண்ணாடியால் ஆபத்து: ஜவுளிக்கடை, லாட்ஜ்களில் உஷாராக இருப்பது எப்படி?

ஜவுளிக் கடைகள், லாட்ஜ்களில் ரகசிய கேமராக்களை பொருத்தி பெண்கள் உடை மாற்றுவது போன்ற காட்சிகளை படம் எடுக்கும் அநாகரிகம் பரவலாக நடந்துவருகிறது. இத்தகைய சூழலில், பொது இடங்களுக்குச் செல்பவர்கள் உஷாராக இருக்கவேண்டியது அவசியமாகிறது.

சில ஜவுளிக் கடைகளின் உடை மாற்றும் அறைகள், சில லாட்ஜ் களின் படுக்கை அறைகளில் ரகசிய கேமரா வைக்கப்படுகின்றன. இதில் பதிவாகும் காட்சிகளை சிலர் பார்த்து ரசிப்பதோடு, இணைய தளங்கள் வரை பதிவேற்றம் செய்யப்படுகின்றன என்ற புகார் பரவலாக கூறப்படுகிறது. கோவாவில் ஒரு ஜவுளிக் கடைக்கு சென்ற மத்திய அமைச்சர் ஸ்மிருதி இரானி, அங்கு உடை மாற்றச் சென்றபோது ரகசிய கேமரா இருந்ததை கண்டுபிடித்த விவகாரம் சமீபத்தில் பரபரப்பை ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது. அத்துடன், இதுபோன்ற இடங்களுக்கு செல்லும்போது உஷாராக இருக்க வேண்டும் என்ற எச்சரிக்கை உணர்வையும் பொதுமக்கள், குறிப்பாக பெண்கள் மத்தியில் ஏற்படுத்தியுள்ளது.

உடை மாற்றும் அறை, குளியல் அறை, படுக்கை அறை போன்றவற்றில் மறைத்து வைக் கப்படும் ரகசிய கேமராக்கள் சிசிடிவி (கண்காணிப்பு கேமரா) போல பெரிய அளவில் இருக் காது. கண்ணுக்கு தெரியாத இடத்தில் மிக மிக சிறிய அளவில் பொருத்தப்பட்டிருக்கும். ஸ்குருவின் தலைப்பகுதி, கடிகாரம், பிளக் பாய்ன்ட், பிளக் ஹோல்டர், முகம்பார்க்கும் கண்ணாடியின் பின்புறம், குளிர்சாதன பெட்டி, கதவின் கைப்பிடி என எதிலும் இதைப் பொருத்தமுடியும். லாட்ஜ்களில் படுக்கை, குளிக்கும் இடம் ஆகியவற்றை நோக்கியுள்ள அனைத்து இடங்களையும் முதலில் கவனமாகப் பார்க்க வேண்டும். விளக்கை அணைத்த பிறகு, இருட்டாக உள்ள அறைகளில் படம் பிடிக்கக்கூடிய நவீன அகச்சிவப்பு கேமராக்களையும் இந்த அநாகரிக வேலைக்கு பயன் படுத்துகிறார்கள்.

கண்டுபிடிப்பது எப்படி?

ஹோட்டல் அறைக்குள் நுழைந்ததும் அனைத்து மின் விளக்குகளையும் அணைத்து விட்டு, அறை முழுவதையும் செல்போனில் வீடியோ எடுங்கள். பின்னர் அதை ஓடவிட்டுப் பாருங்கள். எந்த இடத்திலாவது சிவப்பு அல்லது வெள்ளை நிற ஒளி வந்தால் கேமரா இருக்கிறது என்று அர்த்தம்.

செல்போனில் யாரிடமாவது பேசியபடியே அறை முழுவதும் மெதுவாக நடந்து செல்லுங்கள். திடீரென இரைச்சல் சத்தம் கேட்டால், அருகே ரகசிய கேமரா போன்ற எலக்ட்ரானிக் பொருட்கள் இருக்கிறது என்று உணர்ந்துகொள்ளலாம்.

ரகசிய கேமரா மட்டு மின்றி, முகம் பார்க்கும் கண்ணாடி யால் கூட வில்லங்கம் ஏற்பட லாம். பொது வாக உயர் அளவிலான போலீஸ் விசாரணை, ஆட்களை அடையா ளம் காட்டுதல் போன்றவற்றுக்கு ‘டூ வே’ (இருபக்க) கண்ணாடி பயன்படுத்தப்படும். அதாவது, முகம் பார்க்கும் சாதாரண கண்ணாடிதான். ஆனால், அதன் பின்னால் இருந்துகொண்டு இங்கு நடப்பதை பார்க்க முடியும். அவர்கள் இருப்பது இங்கிருந்து தெரியாது. லாட்ஜ்கள், ஜவுளிக் கடைகளில் இருப்பது இத்தகைய கண்ணாடி இல்லை என்பதை உறுதிசெய்துகொள்வது அவசியம்.

வழக்கத்தைவிட உங்கள் அறையில் விளக்கு வெளிச்சம் அதிகமாக, கண்ணை கூசும் அளவில் இருந்தால், அங்கு இருப்பது இருபக்க கண்ணாடி யாக இருக்க வாய்ப்பு அதிகம். ஏனென்றால், மங்கலான வெளிச் சத்தில் இத்தகைய கண்ணாடி வழியாக தெளிவாக ஊடுருவிப் பார்க்க முடியாது.

விளக்குகளை அணைத்துவிட்டு கண்ணாடி மீது டார்ச் அடித்துப் பார்த்தால், பின்னால் ஏதேனும் இருக்கிறதா என்பதை அறியலாம். கருப்பு பிலிம் ஒட்டப்பட்ட காருக்குள் பார்ப்பதுபோல, இரு கைகளையும் அணைத்து வைத்தபடி கண்ணாடியோடு முகத்தை ஒட்டிக்கொண்டு பார்த்தாலும் கண்டுபிடிக்க முடியும். இன்னொரு எளிய வழி. கண்ணாடி முன்பு நின்று உங்கள் விரலால் கண்ணாடியை தொடுங்கள். விரல் நுனிக்கும் கண்ணாடியில் தெரியும் பிம்பத்துக்கும் நடுவே இடைவெளி இருந்தால், அது முகம் பார்க்கும் சாதாரண கண்ணாடி. கொஞ்சம்கூட இடைவெளியின்றி விரலும் பிம்பமும் ஒட்டிக்கொண்டிருந்தால், உஷார்! அது இருபக்க கண்ணாடி.

இதுபோல ரகசிய கேமராக்கள் மூலம் படம்பிடிக்கப்படும் காட்சிகளை அதிக விலை கொடுத்து வாங்க ஏராளமான இணைய தளங்கள் இருக்கின்றன. இவர்கள் கொடுக்கும் பணத்துக்கு ஆசைப்பட்டுதான் பல இடங் களில் ரகசிய கேமராக்கள் வைக்கப் படுகின்றன. கேமரா வைக்கும் செலவைக்கூட அவர் களே ஏற்றுக் கொள்வதாகவும் கூறப்படுகிறது. இதுபோன்ற ரகசிய கேமராக்கள், அகச்சிவப்பு கேமராக்களைக்கூட கண்டுபிடிக்கக்கூடிய கருவிகளும் சந்தையில் கிடைக்கின்றன.                                                    http://tamil.thehindu.com/tamilnadu/BF/article7072852.ece?widget-art=four-rel