Month: July 2022

Brightly coloured mirror work art called Lippan Art is a traditional folk art from India. this decorative piece in primary colours and geometric pattern is surrounded by house plants

Indian Traditional Art Forms—Lippan Art for Beginners

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Indian folk art has so many treasures to offer. Art is one of the things that unites the country.
One such form of traditional Indian art is Lippan art. Lippan art comes from the deserts of Kutch in Gujarat. They can be as colourful or subtle as you want them to be, embellished with tiny mirrors that sparkle and twinkle in the sun or moonlight.
Learn how to make this mirror work art or Lippan art at home. Lippan art for beginners doesn’t need a lot of expertise or expensive materials. It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon indoors doing DIY projects with kids.

Amazon Kindle Paperwhite with the colour image of the book The Blue Hour by Alonso Cueto on a background of blue and yellow mirror work folk art from India

Book Review: The Blue Hour by Alonso Cueto

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La Hora Azul or The Blue Hour is a novel by Peruvian author Alonso Cueto and is translated into English by Frank Wynne. The book looks back on Peru’s history, exploring the aftermath of the Peruvian Civil War.
Alonso Cueto won the Herralde Prize in 2005 for The Blue Hour (La Hora Azul). The book has plenty of themes to keep you engrossed: family secrets; an obsessive love affair; the brutality, misery and guilt of war; and an anti-hero searching for answers.

Translated books are a treasure trove of insights into different parts of the world. I would highly recommend adding this and diversify your reading list.

bowl of pasta with Butternut squash fettuccine with sambal oelek and bacon bits sprinkled with grated cheese

Make it Vegan or Meaty: Butternut Squash Fettuccine Recipe

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I love creamy pasta. What I don’t love is all the cream, milk, and cheese that make it so creamy. This butternut squash pasta recipe is the best of both worlds. It’s smooth and creamy without the milk products. As a bonus, you can make this as a vegan dish or sprinkle some crispy, crumbly bacon bits to satisfy your meat cravings.

Butternut squash is from the pumpkin family and is versatile enough to be used in various dishes—from soups to a roasted side dish and this pasta sauce. They are a good source of fibre, vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and vitamin A. It is not commonly available in India, but once in a while you do find it.
Here’s an indulgent pasta recipe you’ll love.

Art installation of several circular pieces of carved wood and paintings set against a dark blue wall

The Power of Affirmations: How to Manifest the Life You Want

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Positive Affirmations and Manifesting your Reality are terms that are thrown around casually in most conversations and interviews these days. At first glance, it seems like wishful thinking or something happening in your life just because you really wanted it to.
However, each of us has at least one thing we really want, but it doesn’t always manifest in our lives. What makes the power of manifestation work for some and not others?
Affirmations become more than wishful thinking when we consciously remember and visualise our goals throughout the day.
If you are new to the concept of manifesting your reality, here are a few simple things to get you started.