Lonely Lissiex

Our travel to Paris & Rome -- One of the most memorable trips ever. Memories to last a lifetime. From Paris, a short trip to Lisieux & Lourde; and to Assisi from Rome.

Personalised gift for hubby dear: 
A monogrammed passport holder from HOH; A great way to start the trip!

Our first stopover from Paris was to Lissiex, the birthplace of St. Teresa

The Majestic church at Lissiex

 

Back to Paris

Pretty Paris

  




The majestic Notre-Dame de Paris, also known as Notre-Dame Cathedral, a medieval Catholic cathedral famous for French Gothic architecture.

           


   

                 


                     

Rousing Rome

The famed collosium



 

 

Awesome Assisi

Assisi, a small hillside town in Italy, the resting place of St. Francis of Assisi. We took a train to Assissi, which is around 100 kms from Rome Termini. Visited the famed cathedral, attended a holy mass in Italian

   

Entrance to the cathedral

The famed St. Francis Cathedral, Assisi

Roads leading to the cathedral

Fortified entrance to the cathedral

Inside view of the cathedral

Tomb of St. Francis of Assisi

The small town of Assisi

For a glittering Diwali

With Diwali round the corner, preparations are on in full swing and one don’t want to be left behind. Here is a guide on how to partake in the festivities

Diwali, the festival of lights, is round the corner and the city is gearing up for it in a big way. Shopping is on the minds of everyone and shoppers have their hands full. For all those who want to be a part of the festive season, here is a list of options: 

Bring in the festive decor

For Diwali, the festivities must begin at home. To start with, do away with unwanted clutter and decorate your home well to usher in the festive spirit. Add a dash of red, green and white to your interiors this season. The brighter the shades the better. Make a splash of colours by simply painting a single wall in a bold colour. Pop in bright coloured cushions, throw pillows and rugs in the living room. Similarly, trees and stars are simply irresistible and a star-lit home is a sight to behold. Invest in good Diwali trees and light up your home this Diwali.

Don your festive best
Festivals are just another reason for shopping for new clothes. Diwali, being a traditional festival, go for modern yet traditional designs and bright colours. Chirpy cheerful colours like bright red, orange, maroon and gold are the perfect colours for celebration. Make a bold statement in trendy outfits. Accessorise to suit your attire but be careful not to overdo it.

Exchange of gifts and sweets
Diwali is incomplete without sweets and savouries. For those with a sweet tooth, there are mouth-watering fruit cakes, etc., to choose from. One can even try making simple sweets at home. What’s more, have fun sharing or gifting them to your friends and neighbours. 

Running short of ideas for gifts? A box of sweets or chocolates, dry fruits and nuts are ideal gifts for Diwali and is available today in neatly wrapped gift hampers and packets. If you are looking for traditional gift options, there are petite figurines of Lord Ganesha, attractive diyas and a variety of Diwali decoratives to adorn your home. Gift them to your loved ones and cherish those moments forever.

Any festival, especially ones like Diwali, is a time for calling on your relatives and friends. While it gives a chance to make merry and have fun, it is also a time of sharing. Gift a goody bag of sweets or dry fruits to the less fortunate and bring a smile on their faces. Usher in the festive mood and light up your lives as well as theirs.

Wedding Wows

Chingamasam (Onam month) is also a time for weddings. The mandapam is set for trendy nuptials. Weddings have gone for a complete makeover today with extravagant celebrations, sumptuous feasting and never ending after parties that last for days on end

The month of Chingam, the first month of the Malayalam calendar is considered as the most auspicious month for weddings. Gone are the days when Malayali weddings were a solemn family affair, restricted to rituals and traditions alone. With time, it has transformed to a trendy and glamorous one, with a lavish display of affluence and luxury.

Why Kerala

Kerala, with its coconut palm lined stretches of quiet beaches and serene backwaters, is a hotspot and virgin wedding destination. According to Bobby, director, Wedding Factory, Keralites are great hosts and people choose God’s own country for its excellent hospitality. “Besides, our natural beauty is untouched and just too beautiful to be captured,” he adds. No wonder, weddings in Kerala have become much more structured and organised with wedding planners having a main say in the realm of things. 

Trendy themes

Themes play a huge role in weddings today – from the wedding trousseau to the stage/hall décor, flower, lighting, everything is theme based. While some choose a subtle theme, others prefer the splendour of a royal wedding. Be it any caste or custom, people today go for a particular colour theme or themed event.

When it comes to colour themes, couples today have their own ideas. “Gone are the days of classic white, ivory theme and reddish orange combinations. Like nude makeup, people today prefer subtle colours, like aqua blue, lime green and other pastel shades, which are a hit in weddings,” says Shana Selvam, director, Wedding Factory. Besides, in flower-specific themes, red roses are now passe. The trend is for expensive orchids, lilies and even imported tulips! 

Similarly, wedding photography and videography form an important part of the wedding package these days. “The buzzword today in weddings is candid moments. People prefer candid clicks and videos to the conventional pictures and traditional posing. A trailer video to the wedding, a 5-7 min video on wedding highlights and helicams are also a trend in weddings these days,” says Ruben Bijy Thomas, candid wedding photographer, Magic Motion Media. Another ‘in’ thing is the pre-wedding photo shoots which often get converted into wedding movies.

Glam it up

Wedding dresses have also changed over the years. They insist on dress codes for theme based parties trying to involve the guests as much as possible in their celebrations. Choices are aplenty from Manish Malhotra wedding attire to Sabyasachi Mukherjee party wear. “It is not just the couples, but the entire family goes into a theme based dressing.

For weddings during onam season, the onam theme of white and gold colour is in demand. The simple kasavu sari has gone for a makeover with heavily worked blouses to give it a bridal look. While Hindus prefer that, Muslims prefer heavily worked lehengas with heavy jewellery for their D-day,” says Reshma Binu, owner, Mannath. From lavish spreads to elaborate wedding grandeur, the new-age Malayali is leaving no stone unturned to make his/her wedding a memorable affair.

The fish saga

The fish is a wonderful creation of God. It forms an integral part of the Kerala palate and its presence in the Kerala cuisine is impossible to ignore. The transformation it takes when it reaches different districts of Kerala is remarkable. It blends well with natural fruits and herbs in the hands of a holiday maker. It's steamed in a bamboo shoot in the hands of a tribal cook. 

Similarly, the use of coconut in fish preparation makes all the difference in fish curries. Red tamarind is used in Malabar while the central region uses the black tamarind (kodampuli). Another distinctive feature is the flavour of cumin, which is present in the Malabar curry form. Meenchatti, an earthern ware vessel, used to prepare the fish curry adds that special flavour to Kerala fish curry.

Fish is the most delicate meat and it deteriorates faster than other proteins due to the water content and moisture in it. It is important to ensure good hygiene while handling fish, such as the quality of water and ice, and use of stainless steel equipment that can be easily cleaned.

Eating healthy
Fish is one of the healthiest food not just in monsoon but throughout the year. Health experts vouch for the fact that fish is low in fat, high in protein and an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids. The recommended daily amount of omega 3 fatty acids from fish is 200-600mg. And remember, the best source of omega 3 fatty acids is fish and not fish oil capsules.

While Malayalis love their fish deep fried, other healthy ways to enjoy fish include baked, poached, grilled and steamed. It has been proved that people who consume fish regularly have a lower incidence of depression and may help diabetic people manage their blood sugar levels better. Therefore, eating one or two servings of fish weekly can reduce the risk of a range of diseases, from childhood asthma to prostate cancer.

Methods of cooking fish
Healthy ways to cook fish include:

•  Baking - make shallow cuts along the top of the fish. Put into a greased dish and cover with foil. Flavor with herbs, lemon juice and olive oil. Bake at around 180°C and baste frequently.
• Shallow frying - dry and flour the fish. Place a small amount of oil or butter in the pan. Fry the fish at a medium heat.
• Grilling - cut slashes into whole fish to help the heat penetrate the flesh. Place fish on a preheated grill. Baste frequently.
• Poaching - not suitable for flaky varieties. Place fish in gently simmering stock. Whole fish should be placed in a pan of cold stock, which is then slowly brought up to a gentle simmer.
• Steaming - put fish in a steamer or on a plate over a saucepan containing gently boiling water. Cover.

Fish curry varieties:
1. Pollichathu: Fish marinated with flavoured masala wrapped in plantain leaf and broiled. 
2. Pattichathu: Fish cooked with black tamarind, curry leaves, red chillies (either chilly hot or very mild), best when matured for 2 days in the meen chatti in which it is cooked.
3. Mappas: A fish preparation with mild spices and first extract of coconut milk, slightly thick gravy.
4. Piralan: Fish prepared with mild spices has the thick creamy coating of first extract of coconut milk.
5. Peera: Fish cooked into dry dishes using plenty of grated coconut.

Types of fish cuts 
• Fillet - the boneless flank of the fish.
• Dressed - with head and fins (entrails, scales and gills are removed).
• Steak - cross-sections taken from a dressed fish.
• Gutted - whole fish with entrails removed.
Chill kill is a process pioneered by the Japanese, where in the live fish is put in ice and killed. They bring down the temperature below +4 degrees and this prevents deterioration of the fish for longer periods. Also the fish is kept away from sunlight which causes enzyme action to accelerate thereby deteriorating the fish faster. Chill kill also contributes to better flavour of the fish, as flavours of the fish are released only after 6 hours of fish being killed in ice.

5 ugly but delicious fishes to eat this monsoon
a) Indian Halibut ( malayalam name Aayirampalli)
b) Sole fish ( Manthal)
c) Indian monk fish ( Orathal)
d) Leather Jacket ( udupuoori)
e) Lung fish ( Varaal)

(With inputs from Faraz Javeed, CEO, Wild Fish)

Save Energy, Save the Earth

The International Energy Day reminds us of the need to conserve and preserve the natural sources energy in a bid to protect the environment

We live in an environment which is fast degrading and degenerating with each passing day. Climate changes and global warming due to deforestation and pollution is taking a toll on mankind, reminding us of our duty to sustain the green environment around us. It is important to conserve the greenery around us which in turn affects the nature.

There are many ways to promote green concept. Environmentalist Tony Thomas, based in Palakkad, believes in maximum utilisation of energy like natural air and natural light. “The basic energy conservation must begin with the sun. The solar energy, if not converted to food for plants, will self-convert to heat energy, which in turn will lead to global warming,” he says.

Swear by solar power
Switching to solar power is a great way to preserve energy, as solar energy not only benefits individual owners, but also benefit environment as well. Sunlight, or solar energy, can be used directly for heating and lighting homes and other buildings, for generating electricity, and for hot water heating, solar cooling, and various other commercial and industrial uses.

The advantages of using solar power are many as there is no pollution and is a natural source of energy. The solar cells are long lasting, easy to install and low maintenance is required. Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) swears by sustainable energy and completely operates on solar power. The solar power plant installed at the airport uses 46,150 solar panels laid across 45 acres producing 50,000 to 60,000 units of electricity per day to be consumed for all the operational functions of the airport.

Green Energy
Today most schools and colleges are strongly advocating the need to conserve energy and protect the environment. Simple steps like, reducing the use of vehicles, putting off lights and AC, when not in use, creating a green space at home and workspace, and so on need to be taught at home so as to drive the energy saving concept in children. 
When it comes to energy conservation, always remember the 3 R’s - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. The three R’s of the environment help conserve the natural resources and save energy. Inculcating eco-friendly habits like saving natural sources of energy like water and electricity could make a difference to the earth. 

Lighting
When it comes to lighting, LED and CFL lights have revolutionised the lighting industry and is extremely energy efficient. It is not only long lasting and durable but uses less electricity making it more efficient and very cost effective compared to ordinary bulbs and tube lights. Most households have turned to LED lighting today.

However, people lack awareness and have no vision for posterity. “Creating awareness among the government and educated in the society is the key. Apart from cutting down on illuminations, we should turn to energy saving appliances and conventional methods of energy usage to save our planet for our children. ,” feels Ranitta Mariam, Kochi based school teacher.

Tom Allen rightly said, ‘Energy conservation is the foundation of energy independence.’ Let us begin with individual contributions to conserve natural energy. It is never too late for a new beginning. 

Joy of motherhood

Motherhood is a choice, an enriching experience of a lifetime. This Mother’s Day, let us salute the most remarkable creations of God to mankind

A mother is the ultimate embodiment of selfless love and supreme sacrifice. It is a calling to create and nurture a new life. The greatest joy of a woman is when she becomes a mother. It is important to know there is nothing called a perfect mother but it is the mother’s instincts that one follows instinctively. The physical, psychological, and emotional changes a mother undergoes are unique and transforms her forever.

The road to motherhood is not easy. Being a mother requires a lot of strength and the process of going into labour and delivering a baby requires a woman to have faith and vanquish fear. Malini Menon, councellor, explains. “Most mothers are so tuned to their child’s needs; their lives revolve around their children so much that often, they tend to ignore self. But mothers develop a sense of physical and mental strength out of nowhere. They develop a sense of responsibility and maturity when dealing with their children. And one of the best things that a woman can wear is her confidence.”

The emotional connect

From the time an embryo is formed in the womb of a woman, she is on the road to motherhood and develops a strong emotional connection with the baby growing inside them. Love is a very powerful emotion and becoming a mother increases a woman's ability to love by many folds.

Motherhood is demanding, no doubt. It takes up a lot of your time and energy, leaving you drained by the end of the day. At the same time, it is deeply gratifying and enriching too. Kannur based Dr Shiney Roshan says, “A mother instinctively knows that she is a special creation because she alone has been given the power to bring forth another human life. The very thought strengthens her character, and builds confidence, faith and love.” 

Kochi based Aswathy Vipin, a first-time mother feels she has become more responsible and committed after the birth of her daughter. “My life revolves around her completely and I gave up my career for my child. Every day is a new learning and I cherish every moment spent with my child,” she says.  

Role of hormones 

A new mother’s body is flooded with pregnancy-related hormones, say doctors. These tend to add a lovely glow to the skin, which make her appear radiant and fresh. The quality of her hair also improves, and hair fall reduces due to these hormones, say experts. Cosmetologist Dr Jaishree Manchanda says, "A woman's blood flow changes during pregnancy. This increased blood flow happens in order to help nourish the growing baby, but by a happy accident, it can make a woman look gorgeous and radiant too. So, once a woman is pregnant, her skin glows with an unmistakable radiance."

Motherhood and beauty

Pregnancy and child rearing takes a toll on the mother’s physical appearance. Most mothers battle with weight gain issues and find it tough to lose their baby fat and skin pigmentation. At times, stretch marks can leave permanent changes in the skin. Mothers should never neglect herself and need to take care of themselves. Ensure to eat healthy and exercise well. 

Hair:

Have a healthy diet that is rich in antioxidants to strengthen the roots of your hair.

Acne:

The best natural ingredients to deal with this are aloe vera and eucalyptus.

Dark circles and puffy eyes:

Sleep for seven to eight hours, eat healthy and stay hydrated.

Skin:

Eat a lot of green leafy vegetables. Use cocoa butter, almond or olive oil on skin to avoid stretch marks.

Your kitchen, your space

Doing up your kitchen and home this festive season? From modular kitchen boutiques to designer furniture, retailers are all set to woo its customers with trendy designs and decor

Homes are a reflection of one’s own self as it reflects the taste, style and personality of its owner. Adding the finishing touches to the interiors of a home can be quite daunting. Design and aesthetics, therefore, play a key role in the décor of a home.
Interestingly, technology integration in home furniture is a trend today and is seen to be moving in good volumes. The key is in the details and the prime importance in any kitchen design is to get the geometry of the space right along with the function, flow, scale, proportion and balance. According to Jain Varghese, proprietor, Casa Modular and Interiors, a stylish, well-organized kitchen is the way to go. A good example of this is the trend in modular kitchens. “It is compact, hassle-free, and all items are within reach. Moreover, it is easier to re-design it unlike a wooden or steel kitchen,” says Varghese.

Traditionally, Indian homes look for functionality. Hence, today we see a combination of functionality and aesthetics that are playing a key role, and products which have the combination of these, move faster. “Another very basic and common measure of functionality is the kitchen triangle that connects between preparation, cooking and cleaning areas. It should be kept minimum and not exceed 20 feet to ensure comfort as well as save time,” says Kochi based interior designer, Smitha Naik, of SNSofDESIGN.

Types of kitchen designs:
 The single line kitchen: This is the simplest kitchen, also called galley kitchen in a narrow space. It gives an efficient and streamlined appearance as all the storage units and appliances are installed besides one another along the wall. 
 The two-line kitchen: Also called double galley kitchen, this is wider version of a single galley kitchen, where facing walls forms the kitchen. The distance between the two galleys must be sufficient enough, such that it does not bump into equipment on the other side while working.
 Island kitchen: One way of having an uncluttered kitchen is by opting for a kitchen island which serves as an additional workspace in the scullery.  This kitchen is practical in rooms where space is plentiful.
 The L shaped kitchen:  The main advantage of an L-shape kitchen is that, it makes space available for eating area or other family activities. It provides place for more than one person, working in the kitchen at the same time.
 U-shaped kitchen: The U-shape kitchen offers the most efficient and effective design solutions. Abundant storage space is available with cabinets all around the room. Storage is not a problem with sufficient space for appliances and cupboard.

Intelligent design of storage
Naik believes design of storage in itself has to be creative as based on technical aspects. She stresses the need for good storages space and a good floor space in an ideal kitchen for any Indian home. That includes, kitchen cabinets, steel racks, overhead storage, as well as accessories.

In any kitchen, food storage is very important and dictates its own storage requirement. Avoid storing vegetables too close to an oven or a hob. Most of cutlery must be stored below worktop. Drawers are still the best storage option for cutlery. 

Accessories have dual functions to perform- utility and decor. The designer accessories available for the kitchen, makes the kitchen the focal point of the home. Wired accessories are becoming increasingly popular in the kitchen.
Different styles of storage can break the monotony of a long cupboard area. Crockery, cutlery and glassware are stored at overhead storage unit. Moreover, cabinets and shutters are crucial and play an important role in deciding the looks of your kitchen. 

These small thoughts and ideas will help make each day more productive. Remember, a happy home starts with a well-designed kitchen.