Enjoy distractions
When you’re adding items to your to-do list, don’t forget the good stuff. If you look forward to reading in bed, going out to breakfast, taking long walks, listening to music, or just sitting quietly outside, make time for at least one of your favourite diversions every day.

Consider crossing out pesky items on your list that you keep saying you’re going to do but haven’t gotten to in over a year, like alphabetizing your bills or organizing your sock drawer. Or get rid of a time-consuming chore that isn’t enhancing your life one bit.

Be kind to yourself
We all have low-energy days, but if you can resist the urge to skip your daily workout when you’re feeling low, you’ll be rewarded both now and later. Try this trick: Tell yourself that you need to do only 10 minutes of exercise. Once you’re up and moving (and feeling better) you’ll most likely want to finish your workout. Even if you can’t push past the 10-minute mark on the occasional bad day, you’ll feel good about doing at least a little something. Sticking with an exercise plan helps you feel good about yourself, strengthens your immune system, and enhances production of mood-boosting hormones.

Bust that stress
Defuse daily hassles by practicing stress-reduction strategies. Try taking deep-breathing breaks throughout the day, inhaling through your nose and then exhaling slowly through your mouth.

Repeating this action three or four times allows more oxygen to get into your bloodstream, creating a feeling of calm. Progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, and meditation also are effective ways of reducing tension, stress, depression, and anxiety. And a brisk 10-minute walk will do far more to dissipate your stress and lift your spirits than eating the bad-for-you snacks you might crave when feeling frantic.

Share your skills for happiness
Volunteer at a local school, club, or community organization. Not only will sharing your unique talents and expertise benefit others, but research shows that volunteering can make you happier and improve your wellbeing, too. Feeling engaged and involved in your local community is good for your emotional health. It’s also an opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people. Win-win.

Connect with loved ones
Unwind and share a few laughs with your family or friends at least once or twice each month. The openness and trust you share with the important people in your life can help give you the perspective you need to cope with everyday challenges. These regular connections will also have a positive impact on your health, especially when you share a good laugh. Laughing lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, and releases endorphins that can ease pain.

Also, don’t neglect relationships at work. Colleagues and co-workers can provide valuable support and keep your blood pressure under control during stressful situations. .

Feeling satisfied and fulfilled with your life is an essential part of your emotional and physical well-being. As you grow to appreciate your time, independence, self-assurance, skills, and relationships, you will be amazed at just how good you feel, both in body and in spirit.

Courtesy :Times Of India

“The coaches of this 45-crore luxury train is being manufactured at Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. Interiors are being done by renowned designers from India and abroad. The combined strength of IRCTC in rail based tourism and hospitality and ours in high-end international tourism would make this a state-of-the-art luxury train. While, IRCTC will be involved in the operations, we will leverage our offices to market the product globally,” Cox and Kings CFO Anil Khandelwal, said.

The luxury train has a passenger capacity of 84. It is the first luxury train that boasts of four distinct configurations. It has five deluxe carriages, each with four cabins; six deluxe cabin carriages, each with three cabins; two suite carriages each with two suites and finally one presidential suite exclusively in one carriage.

“It would have 16 scheduled journeys every year traversing through Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi in the first leg and then Agra, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh, Varanasi, Gaya and Kolkata in the second leg,” he said.

www.summitspring.com

I wore a vintage 40′s salmon pink button over dress. Which I picked up from a vintage store a few years ago. I teamed it with my baby blue with pink heart, Vivienne Westward jelly shoes and a lovely vintage brown holding satchel that my friend got me for my 19th birthday.

Looking the part my mother and I took our seats and as usual the talk turned to what people were wearing and how it is a shame that people no longer dress up for the Opera, like they used to… just as I was saying this, a man walked in to the theatre wearing a top hat, complete with septa, and the most beautiful pink floral patterned jacket decorated with broaches.He proceeded to walk right over to us and after spending a few moments looking for his seat he sat directly in front of us just two rows down…I turned to my mum and said ‘look now see, he looks the part… oh my god… it’s him… it’s Rufus Wainwright!!’ I couldn’t believe it, I am not one to be star struck but for me this was quite a sighting, this man is not just a musician, he’s an artist, he talks to you through song, he’s a creative force and a contributer… and he was sitting in the audience at his own Opera just two rows down?!

My god he looked delicious, utterly eccentric, yet kitsch and classic all at the same time. As I sat gazing at the back of his head I was almost horrified when my mothers head came into my eye line. She was stood talking to bloody Wainwright! ‘Sorry to interrupt Rufus, but I bet you’ve
never had this said to you before… we named our dog after you!! (thank god she didn’t show him a picture of the big bumbling mutt!) ‘Oh my God’ shrieked Rufus, ‘Thats fabulous’…
Bless him for being so kind I am sure deep down he was as horrified and scarred as me!

His Opera was as wonderful as he, and as the lead diva sang the line ‘I give you my autograph, my last act as an artist’, I felt glad we never asked him to sign a crummy piece of paper or the lid to the box of our minstrels… him sitting in the audience showed he’s just a normal man trying to live his life… as I dropped my mum home, I saw an excited tale wagging through the reflection of the glass door, we have Rufus the dog but at least I can say I met Rufus the man!

Prima Donna

My style has evolved over the years for the better, hopefully. I still have the non conformist within, however I do tame the beast when attending someone’s wedding or a celebration of the birth of their first child! I now take in to account where it is that I am going, and who will be there.

Summer is all about occasion dressing, or dressing right for each event you are attending, and if like me, you don’t like to wear the same thing twice then you really need to have a gander at Moonspark.

Moonspark stocks an array of dresses suitable for all summer happenings BBQ’s, walks in the park, festivals, picnics & party’s.

A personal favorite of mine from the website is this stunning Mina Lace Babydoll dress -£79.99. The lace, leaf detailing is utterly stunning and the embroidered trim and baby-doll style gives this dress and incredibly feminine finish. I am attending a casual garden wedding in a few weeks, and thinking this dress may just be perfect for that occasion. I would accessorize this dress with a bright block colour shoe, maybe hot pink, turquoise or bright red? The same with the handbag, however I would clash the colour of the bag to the shoes. I would then add a head piece to this look and finish with a vintage cape. Alternatively you just just put some gladiator sandals to this look and it would become an utterly charming day dress.

By typing JLB20 into the discount tab at the checkout when on the Moonspark, website you can get 20% off this dress and other items.

You’ve found the perfect 4th of July napkins, sparklers (and fire extinguisher!) and decorated the tables with red and white gerbera daisies, but what about the rest of the house?

Patriotic American’s tend to go all-out to celebrate our country’s independence, and this year, Sure Fit Furniture Covers offer the perfect details that you need to celebrate the 4th of July in style.

Between colorful theme cocktails and dripping BBQ sauce, it might not be such a bad idea to do a quick cover up!

SureFit

A staple at restaurants, events, family dinners and date nights, Penne alla Vodka is a classic dish that is simple to make and highly sought both here and across the pond. Now you can add some extra pizzazz to your favorite recipe, with the new tomato flavored vodka from Three Olives.

Sure to please your guests, Three Olives Tomato Vodka will spice up your dish with some added kick. Infused with tomatoes, pepper, horseradish, and spices, our recipe is sure to add some zesty flavor to this classic dish.

Recipe for Penne Alla Three-O Vodka:
Penne alla Three Olives Tomato Vodka
1 pound penne
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 chopped tomato
1 medium onion, finely chopped
Crushed hot red pepper
½ cup Three Olives Tomato Vodka
¾ cup canned tomato puree
½ cup heavy cream
2 to 3 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley
¾ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Salt to taste

Simmer olive oil in a large skillet over moderately low heat. Add tomato, onion and crushed pepper and simmer for about 3 minutes. Stir in vodka and bring to a lively simmer for about 5 minutes. Add tomato puree and heavy cream and simmer, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes. Stir in cheese until melted, and add parsley, salt, and pepper. Keep sauce warm over very low heat until pasta is ready.

More than 27 percent admitted they would happily wear a slightly skimpy outfit to work if it won them a bonus or promotion. One in 20 of them even owned up to wearing revealing outfits to work on a regular basis, said the poll of 3,000 workers conducted by the fashion forum website theragtrader.

The research revealed that 78 percent of women believe the way they dress affects their day at work. And over half – 54 percent – believe dressing up helps them perform better in the office.

A spokesman for theragtrader.com study said: “The research proves that what you wear to work can really affect your success rate. This relates to both accomplishing more during 9-5 and even climbing the career ladder quicker too.

“Even when working from home, it’s incredible how clothing can influence your productivity. If your clothing is too relaxed in style, it’s harder to get into work mode and all too easy to waste the day.”

The survey also revealed two thirds of women feel more in control if they are smartly dressed, while 61 percent think it gains them more respect from their colleagues.

Women were also more competitive in the office fashion stakes with 48 percent of women admitting there was an element of competition when it came to office attire, compared to just 27 percent of men.

Source: – Indo-Asian News Service