7 ways to choose the right life partner

 by Meghna Mukherjee

Selecting the right life partner is necessary to lead a happy married life. Here's how you can select your perfect one

There are many factors that one needs to consider when choosing a life partner. The most important aspect is to consider things that are crucial to you.

·                        Find someone who you can connect with easily
              It is very important to choose somebody who you can easily strike a conversation with.                  This way, you can enjoy doing things and talking about them together without getting                  bored.

·    Potential partner with same interests
Selecting someone who shares a lot of common interests with you will work in your favour. Remember that all your interests don't really have to be the same, but some would do. Says clinical psychologist and relationship expert Seema Hingorrany, "When you decide to spend your life with someone, you must look at things that the two of you would love to do together. For example, if you are a movie buff, you would ideally like to be with someone who enjoys movies as well. This will make your life interesting."

·    Consider your partner's intellect
If you are a laid-back person and your partner is an over-achiever, that could lead to a threat in your marriage. You must see eye to eye on how both of you are able to think and process things.

·    It's okay to have standards
While choosing a life partner, you need to consider your and your family's standards. Though it's okay to choose someone who probably does not belong to the same strata of society as yours, make sure that he/she's not completely off the mark.

·    You should have respect for one another
You obviously cannot spend your life with someone who has no respect for you or your dreams/goals or your personality. So, choose someone who will acknowledge you for the rest of your life.

·    Is your potential trustworthy
In this day and age, it is extremely important to choose someone you can trust. You definitely cannot lead a happy marriage if you cannot trust each other or have faith.

·    Spend time together
Just as important as it is to have similar interests, it is also crucial to be with someone who gives you enough time and who you would love to spend time with.


Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com

10 Ways to Melt a Woman's Heart

Dedicated to Specially for Boys 

1. Call Her When you're feeling Sad, 

2. Ask to See A Picture of Her; 

When She was a Child..! 

3. Occasionally Call Her; 

By Her First and Middle Names, :)) 

4. When She's feeling Insecure; 

Stare Into Her Eyes and Tell Her;

"There is No-One in the World 

Who could be as Right for you as She Is.." 

5. Call Her just Before you get on the Plane, :)) 

6. Try Desperately; To Make Her Laugh 

When She's feeling Down, 

7. In the Middle of a Conversation; 

Tell Her you Love Her.. :)) 

8. Notice When She's Wearing Something New, :)) 

9. Hug Her When She gets Jealous.., 

Hug Her Hard..! x 

10. Put your Arms Around Her; 

When you Introduce Her to your friends and family.. 

Must Try Guyz, 

Its Really Works.. 

An Eternal Love Story- Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh by Meenu Bahuguna

They fight, they play

and that’s the way, 

they are meant to stay!

Some Love Stories are Meant to be Forever…

Year 2002, it was a day just like any other day but who knew two hearts are going to be one and forever after this day. A 16 year old girl, full of inhibitions came at the Hyderabad airport with her mom to meet a young boy from an influential family of Maharashtra. The girl was Genelia D’Souza and this young man was none other than Riteish Deshmukh.

Surprising Twist- Destiny has Different Plans

Initially, Genelia thought that being a chief minister’s son, Riteish will be a spoilt brat and full of tantrums. So, she decided to give him attitude before he did! Oblivious to her thoughts, Riteish arrived on the terminal and saw this tall girl, who shook hands with him and started looking in a different direction. This cold reaction left him wondering, as why she was behaving so awkward? 

This was their first meeting for the test shoot of their debut film- Tujhe Meri Kasam. 

On the Sets...

To Genelia’s surprise, opposite to her thoughts, Riteish came out to be extremely humble and polite with everybody on the sets. During the shoots, Riteish was immensely respectful towards Genelia’s parents. The actress found it endearing that despite being the Chief Minster’s son (Late-Shri Vilasrao Deshmukh) Riteish was completely down-to-earth.

Best Friends Forever- They Complete Each Other

The story moved forward from here, the two youngsters made things easy for each other on the sets. Not much people know Riteish is also a professional architect, and architecture is what he used to discuss with Genelia on the sets. And young Genelia used to share updates about her college and exams with him.

I Love You- Never Happened 'Officially'

Soon, they became best friends off the sets. The fondness grew but no formal proposals were made from any side. 

After the Hyderabad shoot, Riteish came back to Mumbai. By now, he had started missing Genelia’s company. She also could not keep herself untouched by his charm. The aura of Riteish was slowly taking over her.

Love was never a sudden thing for them, It was a slow process, where they first got to know each other and before they could realise it, they were in love!

Journey from Friends to Best Friends to Life Partners

A 16 year old girl and a 24 year old boy, met back in the year 2002. They gradually fell in love and after a 9 year long relationship, finally tied the knot on February 3, 2012. This youngest couple of Bollywood literally grew up together. The beauty of this relationship is that they were so used to each other as friends that till now also they don't know when love 'officially' happened and who proposed whom?

A Decade of Love but the Discovery is still ON!

In the times, where break-ups and link-ups are like the trends around, this is one inspiring couple that has stood by each other for more than a decade now. Riteish- Genelia, have always been in love since their first film, but being from a non-filmy background, never disclosed it in the media.  The strong bond of commitment between them has made them the first couple of Bollywood to never have a single share of controversy or link-ups with any other co-star till date.

Secrets to a Happy Married Life: A relationship based on understanding and friendship without insecurities, makes this beautiful couple shine out from rest of the celeb crowd.

Those Unsaid Promises:

Riteish: Genelia gives him unconditional support and love. Her love is the most amazing thing for him. He is deeply and madly in love with his wife.

Genelia: Riteish is a secure husband and even the decision to work in movies after marriage is totally her choice. Her husband is always by her side to support her in her decisions. For her, guys like Riteish are rare in today's world.

Most Beautiful Part about This Couple

There were no formal proposals, no candle light dinners to woo each other. For Riteish and Genelia being happy with the person one loves has always been the most important thing. With their parents' blessings always by their side, this couple never gave a second thought to marriage. The most romantic aspect of this celeb-jodi is that they started off being friends and even after their marriage are still the best of friends.

A journey from being 'sweet' young lovers to a beautiful 'mature' married couple- Wishing this cutest couple's love to blossom and be as pure as it is now- Forever!

Source: http://www.bollywoodshaadis.com

Importance of "Ek Chutki Sindoor" in Marriage....

Significance of Sindoor for an Indian Married Woman

By Parul Singh

Marriage is a sacred institution which marks the beginning of a new life for the bride and the groom. There are many rituals performed during the marriage ceremonies and each ritual has its own importance. But, the most important custom of every Hindu wedding is Sindoor Dana. Here, the groom puts sindoor (red vermilion powder) in his bride’s hair partition, thus symbolising her marital status. In some communities, it is the groom’s mother who does this part to welcome the bride in their family. Putting sindoor is not just a ritual, but signifies a long life for the husband. But, this is just one aspect of it. So, let us tell you more about this important practice.

A divine blessing

The modern society perceives sindoor as a demarcation line between the married and the unmarried women. But, this is not the case. This practice is much deep-rooted. The ritual has been performed for over 5000 years now. Its use has been well documented in Harappan excavations. Sindoor also finds a mention in the Puranas, Lalitha Sahasranamam and Soundarya Lahharis.

It is suggested that the red colour symbolises power. According to the Hindu mythology, a woman has to adorn sindoor till the time her husband is alive. Even Goddess Parvati (wife of Lord Shiva) and Sita (wife of Lord Rama), use to put sindoor in their hair partition. It is believed that Goddess Parvati not only protects the husbands of all the married women who put sindoor, but also wards off any lurking evil. So, the next time your wife applies it, she is indirectly praying for your long and healthy life.  

The science behind it

The application of sindoor is not just a ritual, but a practice which stimulates good health. On one hand it serves as a longevity prayer for the husband, but on the other it keeps a tab on the woman's physical well-being. The sindoor is prepared using mercury, turmeric and lime. Mercury acts as a catalyst that helps to ease stress and strain. It also helps in keeping the brain active and alert. Other than this, mercury also helps in controlling blood pressure, activating sexual drive and libidinal energy. This is why, a widow or an unmarried woman is forbidden from applying sindoor.

For a happy married life

From vaastu to feng shui, women make every possible effort to bring in happiness and prosperity in their homes. But, it is this ritual of applying sindoor which can ease all your efforts. According to the Hindu astrology, applying sindoor in the hair partition is considered to be auspicious as it brings good fortune. Besides this, it is believed that putting the red vermilion powder also activates the chakras in the forehead and on the crown. This attracts cosmic and pranic energy, and bestows the couple with prosperity and good health. 
So, now you know why the elderly women in Hindu families put emphasis on applying sindoor. From the day a woman gets married, this vermilion colour becomes a part of her entity. 

source:http://www.bollywoodshaadis.com

4 Lessons Indian Husbands Must Learn from Sachin Tendulkar By Meenu Bahuguna

Sachin Tendulkar, the Master Blaster, is an inspiration to the world. He made his international debut when he was merely 16 years old. Mathew Hayden, the Australian batsman once said, “I have seen God, he bats at no. 4 for India in Test.” He clearly meant Sachin Tendulkar.

Our 'Little Master' has made the world proud with his antics on the field and has been named among the greatest cricketers of all times. Professional achievements aside, there is another part to Sachin– a shy boyfriend, a loyal husband and a committed life partner. As inspirational as he is in cricket, there are a lot of things that all Indian husbands can learn from this 'God of Cricket' too.

Dedication and commitment

For a person of Sachin’s stature, there is definitely no dearth of beautiful temptations. But Sachin is one of the few cricketers whose name has never been involved in a controversy with regard to his love life. While some of his contemporaries were chasing Bollywood divas, Sachin remain chaste and oblivious to abounding enticements surrounding him in all part of the world. His commitment and love towards his wife is really inspirational. Well it won't be wrong if we say that every woman should be blessed with a husband who is as dedicated as Sachin Tendulkar.

Focus on qualitative time

Since Sachin travels all over the world almost all round the year, he hardly gets to spend a lot of time with his family. However, the Master Blaster balances his work and family by ensuring that he spends qualitative time with his wife and kids whenever he is at home. He takes them out on holidays, family dinners and bonds with his family lovingly whenever around. His wife Anjali says, “He hasn’t spent Diwali at home since we got married. But it really doesn’t matter that it’s Diwali… any time he spends at home is great!” Sachin epitomises the fact that quality of time is always more important than quantity.

Only love matters

Sachin’s wife Anjali is six years elder to him. She is at least one inch taller than him. She is from a different community and culture. But all these petty things just didn’t matter. For Sachin, the boyfriend, as well as for Sachin, the husband, love is all that matters. This is one quality that every husband can emulate. Nothing is bigger than love. Once in a BBC interview when asked about his dream women, Sachin answered ‘my wife’ without batting an eyelid.

Recognises his wife’s sacrifices

Unlike a lot of husbands who never recognise the sacrifices that their wives make for the family, Sachin has gone on record time and again recognising Anjali’s contribution in his life. He concedes that he never has the time to teach his kids or spend much time with them, he always endorses that it is his wife who manages everything so beautifully at the personal front. He recognises and respects the fact that Anjali gave up her doctor’s career so that she could manage the family.

He says that Anjali has been his biggest support and even mentioned that when he is on the field batting, his wife fasts for him!

Sachin Tendulkar is a true inspiration, not only in the field of cricket but also off the field. Be it love and dedication to his family or his humility, there is a lot that every man can emulate from him. So, all the husbands out there, look beyond the Master Blaster's cricketing shots and you are sure to score a century with your wife!

source: http://www.bollywoodshaadis.com/

Physical attraction does make a difference in a marriage.

Physical appearance plays a crucial role in shaping new relationships, but does it continue to affect established relationships, such as marriage? In the current study, the authors examined how observer ratings of each spouse's facial attractiveness and the difference between those ratings were associated with (a) observations of social support behavior and (b) reports of marital satisfaction.

In contrast to the robust and almost universally positive effects of levels of attractiveness on new relationships, the only association between levels of attractiveness and the outcomes of these marriages was that attractive husbands were less satisfied.

Further, in contrast to the importance of matched attractiveness to new relationships, similarity in attractiveness was unrelated to spouses' satisfaction and behavior. Instead, the relative difference between partners' levels of attractiveness appeared to be most important in predicting marital behavior, such that both spouses behaved more positively in relationships in which wives were more attractive than their husbands, but they behaved more negatively in relationships in which husbands were more attractive than their wives. These results highlight the importance of dyadic examinations of the effects of spouses' qualities on their marriages.

Source: Beyond initial attraction: Physical attractiveness in newlywed marriage. By McNulty, James K.; Neff, Lisa A.; Karney, Benjamin R. Journal of Family

There are ways to find that perfect partner.

Marriage isn't all fun and games.

So if you're gonna do it, do it right. But how do you know who to marry? Should you just trust your feelings or pick the person who "looks good on paper"? Luckily, science has answers for us:

1) Find someone who you idealize and who idealizes you. (I've posted about the benefits delusion has on love before.) If you're already cynical about the person by the time you hit the altar, you're in trouble:

This study examined the long-term consequences of idealization in marriage, using both daily diary and questionnaire data collected from a sample of 168 newlywed couples who participated in a 4-wave, 13-year longitudinal study of marriage. Idealization was operationalized as the tendency for people to perceive their partner as more agreeable than would be expected based on their reports of their partner's agreeable and disagreeable behaviors. Spouses who idealized one another were more in love with each other as newlyweds. Longitudinal analyses suggested that spouses were less likely to suffer declines in love when they idealized one another as newlyweds. Newlywed levels of idealization did not predict divorce.
Source: "Positive Illusions in Marital Relationships: A 13-Year Longitudinal Study" from Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

2) Marry somebody with high self-esteem. Ladies, you're probably already attracted to this. Guys, watch out for women who don't feel good about themselves:

A model of the commitment-insurance system is proposed to examine how low and high self-esteem people cope with the costs interdependence imposes on autonomous goal pursuits. In this system, autonomy costs automatically activate compensatory cognitive processes that attach greater value to the partner. Greater partner valuing compels greater responsiveness to the partner’s needs. Two experiments and a daily diary study of newlyweds supported the model. Autonomy costs automatically activate more positive implicit evaluations of the partner. On explicit measures of positive illusions, high self-esteem people continue to compensate for costs. However, cost-primed low self-esteem people correct and override their positive implicit sentiments when they have the opportunity to do so. Such corrections put the marriages of low self-esteem people at risk: Failing to compensate for costs predicted declines in satisfaction over a 1-year period. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)

Source: "Commitment insurance: Compensating for the autonomy costs of interdependence in close relationships." from Journal of Personality and Social Psychology

3) Ladies, want a husband who is actively involved with his kids' lives? Find a guy with higher socioeconomic status. Plus it'll make your kids smarter. (Money never hurts, does it?):

Previous studies in developed-world populations have found that fathers become more involved with their sons than with their daughters and become more involved with their children if they are of high socioeconomic status (SES) than if they are of low SES. This paper addresses the idea proposed by Kaplan et al. that this pattern arises because high-SES fathers and fathers of sons can make more difference to offspring outcomes. Using a large longitudinal British dataset, I show that paternal involvement in childhood has positive associations with offspring IQ at age 11, and offspring social mobility by age 42, though not with numbers of grandchildren. For IQ, there is an interaction between father's SES and his level of involvement, with high-SES fathers making more difference to the child's IQ by their investment than low-SES fathers do. The effects of paternal investment on the IQ and social mobility of sons and daughters were the same. Results are discussed with regard to the evolved psychology and social patterning of paternal behavior in humans.

Source: "Why do some dads get more involved than others? Evidence from a large British cohort" from Evolution & Human Behavior"

3) Guys, you want to avoid that whole "involuntarily celibate" situation that men fear after years of marriage? Don't marry a woman who is sexually submissive:

Women are bombarded with images of women's sexual submission and subservience to male partners. The authors argue that women internalize this submissive role, namely, they associate sex implicitly with submission. The authors propose that this association leads to submissive sexual behavior, thereby reducing sexual autonomy and arousal. Study 1 found that women implicitly associated sex with submission. Study 2 showed that women's implicit association of sex with submission predicted greater personal adoption of a submissive sexual role. Study 3 found that men did not implicitly associate sex with submission. Study 4 demonstrated that women's adoption of a submissive sexual role predicted lower reported arousal and greater reported difficulty becoming sexually aroused; sexual autonomy mediated these effects.

Source: "Sexual Submissiveness in Women: Costs for Sexual Autonomy and Arousal" from Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

4) Find someone who is conscientious and even a bit neurotic if you want a long and healthy life together:

The present study tested the effect of conscientiousness and neuroticism on health and physical limitations in a representative sample of older couples (N= 2,203) drawn from the Health and Retirement Study. As in past research, conscientiousness predicted better health and physical functioning, whereas neuroticism predicted worse health and physical functioning. Unique to this study was the finding that conscientiousness demonstrated a compensatory effect, such that husbands' conscientiousness predicted wives' health outcomes above and beyond wives' own personality. The same pattern held true for wives' conscientiousness as a predictor of husbands' health outcomes. Furthermore, conscientiousness and neuroticism acted synergistically, such that people who scored high for both traits were healthier than others. Finally, we found that the combination of high conscientiousness and high neuroticism was also compensatory, such that the wives of men with this combination of personality traits reported better health than other women.

Source: "Compensatory Conscientiousness and Health in Older Couples" from Psychological Science

Successful Real Life Star Couples Of Bollywood

Most of Bollywood films ends with happy ending story however, the real life couple rarely end with happy. Successful marriage is a trend that Bollywood actors are yet to follow. Be it the yesteryear actors or the younger breed, a successful romance has not yet proven to be the guarantee to a successful marriage. However, few successful married couples are exception to this Bollywood story.

Starting with Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu, can be count as the most successful married couple of Bollywood.

they are considered as the first Bollywood star couple. While Dilip Kumar was the intractable Tragedy King, Saira Banu was the beauty queen of Bollywood. They fall for each other and got married in 1966. The age difference between the couple was of no consequence, as they stated that they didn’t care about it. Saira Banu was twenty-two and Dilip Kumar was forty-five at the time of their wedding together. Cynics predicted that the marriage would not last for long due to the huge age gap, but they were proved wrong as the couple started going strong even after forty odd years of marriage.

Sunil Dutt and Nargis are often looked at as an example and are known as one of Bollywood’s golden couples who made it despite a number of tribulations. 

They got married on 11th of March, 1958. Sunil Dutt and Nargis kept their relationship under wraps for a long time. Once they were married, they lead a life of togetherness and had three children together. Sanjay Dutt is their eldest son who is a well known actor and superstar in the Hindi film industry. Their daughters Namrata and Priya have also done well for themselves.

When we talk about mid era of Bollywood, one of most ideal couple is comes into mind is Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan. Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan’s love story is one that set standards in the film industry due to the absolute commitment that they had for each other. The wedding ceremony was took place on 3rd June 1973. Amitabh apparently had a short affair with Rekha and later refurbished with Jaya Bachchan and live happily. Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Singh is another example of ideal couple of Bollywood. They are considered as the most romantic and made for each other couple of Bollywood. They are perfectly complimented as on and off screen couple. Likewise in recence era, Kajol- Ajay, Akshay- Twnkle, Arbaaz- Malaika, Abhishek- Aishwarya are considered as the most successful married couple of Bollywood.

Source: http://www.delhiweddingvendors.com

10 Qualities of Great Marriages

Here are 10 qualities of great marriages: 

1. Friendship: Spouses who have a strong friendship have staying power in that they not only love each other, but genuinely like each other. They enjoy spending time together and there is mutual respect.

2. Humor: Spouses who can make each other laugh tend to be good at de-escalating conflicts when they do arise. Couples who have the ability to lighten up a tense moment have a big advantage in that they are able to lighten the mood quickly and possibly derail conflict. The use of funny nicknames can be an indicator of great fondness for one another. The names often stem from a "you had to be there" moment from the beginning of their relationship. 

3. Communication: As obvious as this may seem, many couples are not very good at it. Those who are able to openly express their feelings in an emotionally safe environment typically deal with situations as they come up and avoid burying frustrations which always have a way of coming out at some point. 

4. Chore Sharing: Those who divvy up the household or parenting responsibilities in a way that is mutually agreed upon are less likely to hold resentments about what they perceive as "unfair." Each participates and contributes to the marriage in this way. 

5. Sexual Intimacy: Couples who have their sexual needs met or at least have negotiated a reasonable compromise, if their levels of need aren’t compatible, feel taken care of by the other. Some are highly active, engaging in lovemaking multiple times a week and others are content with far less. There is no "right" or "wrong" here, but if one person is feeling their needs aren’t being met it’s important to talk about it. 

6. Affection: Spouses who stay in physical contact in some way throughout the day feel connected to each other, even if it's a simple stroke of the hair, kiss on the cheek or playful tap on the rear. These moments don’t necessarily lead to sexual intimacy but are rather easy ways to say, "I love you and we’re connected" without the words. Some households are so chaotic between jobs, kids and life that these brief shows of affection can be grounding when everything else is swirling around you. 

7. No "Horsemen of the Apocalypse:" This is a term coined by couple’s researcher, John Gottman, who is able to predict divorce with incredible accuracy. His "four horsemen of the apocalypse" are criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling. He has shown that couples who demonstrate a high level of "the horsemen" in their relationships are more likely to divorce. 

8. Mutual and Separate Friends: Partners who socialize with other couples and also maintain separate friendships have greater balance in regards to honoring themselves as individuals within the marriage. This leads to more self-satisfaction, which translates to relationship satisfaction. 

9. Reliability: It’s human nature to feel good when those we care about follow through behaviorally and we know they will be there. If couples do what they say and say what they do, they create an atmosphere of comfort in knowing their words mean something to the other, which increases emotional safety in the marriage. 

10. Relationship Vision: Couples who have created a relationship vision for themselves know where they’re going as they’ve planned it together. They get joy out of reaching for their goals as a team and are less likely to be derailed by surprises down the line. Where do they see themselves in 10 years? What are their marriage and family goals? 

Perhaps many of the above ideas resonate with you, and perhaps some do and some don’t. It’s also possible that you have many additional ideas about aspects of successful marriages. At the end of the day great marriages are created by the two people involved and are defined as such by what works for each of them together. I encourage you to sit down with your spouse and talk about your ideas of what makes a great marriage and make it so for yourselves! 

Source: http://www.hitchedmag.com/

The best pre-wedding diet plan

10-point wedding diet plan for brides

If you want to lose weight for your wedding, our pre-wedding diet ideas lift the lid on the best meal plans, weight loss tips, and slimming strategies to help brides shed the pounds.

By following our 10-point plan and a healthy menu, you’ll be sliding rather than squeezing into your gown on your wedding day. After all, nothing beats that feeling of feeling lighter and knowing you are looking your best. The good news is it’s not just a case of scrimping and skipping meals. If you stick to the tips and follow the menu you’ll definitely feel the benefit even if your wedding date is just days away.

Diet tip 1: Always eat breakfast

Kick-start your body’s engine with a low fat, slow energy release, unrefined meal. Aim for a 300-350 calorie meal to fit in with the body’s natural metabolism which is primed in the morning and tails off during the day.

Diet tip 2: Hydrate

Drink plenty of fluids (water, herbal teas and sugar-free cordial); aim for two liters spread throughout the whole day and you’ll feel more energized and alert. Plus, toxins will be flushed away and your complexion will definitely improve.

Diet tip 3: Don’t skip meals

Running on empty is a bad choice as your blood sugar levels will dip causing headaches, fatigue and aggravation, which may even lead to a binge when you eat again. Your body needs a balanced intake of food to function properly, so starving yourself is not the answer.

Diet  tip 4: Cut the booze

If you drink your maximum recommended units (21 per week for women) then you are taking in more than 1,000 extra calories. Strengthen that willpower and try to cut alcohol as much possible in the lead up to the big day.

Diet tip 5: Don’t skimp on protein

Eat a portion of protein at lunchtime to help avoid an energy slump in the afternoon, which could have you heading for the vending machine. Try a chicken salad or prawn stir fry to keep you full into the afternoon.

Diet tip 6: Eat mindfully

You can’t afford to ‘waste’ calories by eating mindlessly at the fridge, straight from the saucepan or while you’re on the go. Make sure that you sit down to savour all your meals and snacks.

Diet tip 7: Use a smaller plate

Swap your normal plate for a slightly smaller one, making your meals seem larger and you'll find your 'full' switch will flip a little faster.

Diet tip 8: Say no to processed food

If it comes in a packet, leave it on the supermarket shelf. You’ll automatically eliminate food manufacturers’ high fat and high sugar products, not forgetting artificial ingredients. Natural and fresh is always best.

Diet tip 9: Move more

Remember, as well as cutting calories you should burn them too – make sure you compliment the 10-point plan with physical activity. Try a brisk walk to work, an invigorating swim after dinner or join a class at your gym.

Diet tip 10: Mix it up

Make sure you don’t eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner day-in day-out. Keep things interesting by finding new recipes so that you don’t get bored and end up reaching for the chocolate. A good way to avoid the routine rut is to plan your meals ahead and buy ingredients accordingly.

Weight loss menu ideas

Here’s our mix and match menu to give your diet variety – choose one breakfast, lunch and dinner option and two snack options per day and remember space your meals evenly. Please note this is only a short-term weight-loss plan aimed to cut calories in the run up to you wedding. The best way to lose weight in the long term is to gradually increase your levels of physical activity and follow a balanced, healthy diet.

Weight loss breakfast idea (approx 300-350 calories)

• 50g oats mixed with 100g low-fat natural yoghurt and 100g strawberries

• 45g cereal with 200ml semi-skimmed milk and 200g blueberries

• Two boiled eggs, one slice of wholemeal toast and 10 cherry tomatoes

Weight loss lunch ideas (approx 200-250 calories)

• Brown pitta bread stuffed with 50g lean ham and 100g salad • Two rye crackers topped with 100g cottage cheese and 50g of ham • One slice of wholemeal toast, smeared with half an avocado and a sprinkle of Tabasco sauce

Weight loss dinner ideas (approx 250-300 calories)

• 150g grilled cod, 150g broccoli and 10 roasted cherry tomatoes

• Omelette made with two eggs, two egg whites, 50g mushrooms served with150g salad

• 150g grilled turkey, 150g roasted vegetables (yellow peppers, courgettes, red onions)

Weight loss snack ideas (approx 150 calories each)

• One 120g pot of yoghurt plus one tablespoon of honey

• 50g reduced fat hummus with one medium carrot cut into sticks

• Three rough oatcakes smeared with marmite

Source:  http://www.getwed.com 

The Dangers of Arguing in Front of Your Kids

You know that sick feeling that comes over you when you and your husband are shouting angrily at each other -- and then you look up and see your child standing wide-eyed in the doorway?

If you're like me, you can remember just how upset you felt when you heard your own parents argue. By the time we were preteens, my sister and I had suggested to my parents that they get divorced if they couldn't get along any better. They never did anything of the kind, so I have to conclude it bothered us more than it bothered them.

Is Arguing in Front of the Kids Always Harmful?

An occasional disagreement -- call it a "heated negotiation" -- during which you treat each other with respect and move into problem-solving, say therapists, is actually a good thing for kids. It's considered a form of role modeling. But arguments in which you repeat the same points over and over, or call each other names -- where you are venting resentments rather than solving problems -- have no up side for the children. "If you bully one another, your kids learn to bully others. "And they will turn that treatment right back on you once they are teenagers."

Do Parental Fights Have a Negative Influence on Kids?

"Children start by being frightened by their parents arguing," says Jacobs. "Later, they become disgusted. 'How can they live like this?' they wonder. Eventually, they develop a fear of being similarly trapped, and as adults may have the tendency to bail out of relationships early."

What Can Parents Do to Minimize Any Trauma?

If kids witness a bad argument, don't sweep it under the rug, says Lindquist, go ahead and apologize to them. Reassure them that you love each other. Mention specifically, in age-appropriate terms, how you would have liked to talk about the conflict. For example: "I'm sorry Daddy and I were arguing last night. We both feel bad when we say bad words. We can work things out better when we don't interrupt each other and use soft voices."

How to Keep Arguments Under Control

1. Argue as though the neighbors are able to hear you No name calling, no foul language, no raised voices.
2. Actively use your listening skills.
3. Give direct eye contact and do nothing else while your spouse is
talking. Look riveted. Nod your head, no matter what they are
saying.
4. Repeat what the person has said. Use as many of the same
words as possible.
5. Sympathize. Let the other person know you understand that they
are feeling bad, even if they are blaming you for the problem.
6. Ask, "Is there anything more you want to tell me?" Give your
partner a chance to discover deeper feelings, and to shift to a
calmer, more neutral place.

If you find yourself getting carried away, call a time-out. Stop right there and agree to talk later. Then make a time to sit down and have a real discussion about what is bothering you -- the bigger issues of your life and your marriage.

And do it when your children do not have to be an audience.

Mangalsutra

Mangalsutra - The Sacred Symbol of #Marriage

A Hindu marriage symbolizes not just coming together of two individuals, but also the bonding of understanding, commitment, mutual love, oneness and spiritual growth. Traditionally, #Hindu marriage is much more than just celebration and fun. It demands sacrifice, companionship, #dedication, and #devotion from both the partners. Each and every #rituals and customs associated with marriage portrays the real essence of #wedding. Traditionally, there are five signs of marital status of women, according to Hindu #culture- #mangalsutra, toe rings, #kumkum, bangles and a nose ring. Talking about Mangalsutra, the word denotes a significant meaning. While mangal means aupiscious, sutra can be deciphered as a thread.

Significance Of Mangalsutra In Hindu Marriage

Mangalsutra, as such, is not just a jewelry item, but a sacred thread of #love and #goodwill worn by #married #women, as a symbol of their successful marriage. An inevitable part of Hindu marriage ceremony, Mangalsutra refers to a revered symbol of wedlock. India being a land of diversity, different regions in the country have assigned different names for this scared symbol. While it is known as the thaaly or maangalyam in Kannada, Telugu and Tamil in Southern India, people in the northern part of India calls it Mangalsutra. It is believed that the concept of this sacred thread had its roots laid down in South #India. Having immense significance and importance, it traveled to North India as well and today, forms an imperative part of the wedding ceremony.

Mangalsutra is the token of dignity and love given to a #bride by her #groom. 
On the wedding day, the groom ties the Mangalsutra around the neck of the bride, while the priest recites Vedic hymns and prays. It signifies the union of the bride and the groom, amidst the presence of deities, who are believed to be attending the marriage. In some regions, the groom ties first and his sisters tie the rest. Talking about its appearance, this sacred thread is made of two strings of small black beads with a locket or pendant. Sometimes, it is also made of small beads of gold and black beads, with gold and diamond pendant.

Considered auspicious for married women, mangalsutra is believed to have divine powers. Each of the black beads in the Mangalsutra, signify protection from evil power and are believed to protect the marriage of a couple, essentially the life of the husband. Hindu women feel superstitious, when this scared thread breaks or gets lost. In the present times, mangalsutra are boasts of various designs and patterns. While the Gujaratis and Marwaris often go for a diamond pendant, Maharashtrians have a pendant that consists of one or two vatis and Bengalis in the meanwhile, have coral incorporated in the designing of the Mangalsutra.

Present Scenario

Today, the concept of wearing a mangalsutra has changed considerably. It is more of a fashion statement than a symbol of marriage, thanks to modernization. With the progressive times, the wearing of mangalsutra in working women has considerably reduced. There is also a marked change in the style and making of mangalsutra over the years. Previously, women used to wear simple design mangalsutra, with small pendants, but now, the trend is to wear short length ones, that too with a single string. Instead of gold pendants, they prefer diamond ones. However, the black beads have still managed to remain constant. Whatever may be the reason to adore it, mangalsutra surely symbolizes the real essence and concept of a Hindu marriage. 

ref. - www.weddings.iloveindia.com