Monday 12 November 2012

Finger Knitting How-to


You know how I love to make handmade gifts from just about anything.  Well, this is anything.  Sitting on the couch on a lazy Sunday...that beats gift-getting for sure. It is a gift itself. 

The two kiddos are finger-knitting. It is a really easy way to make something from nothing, quickly, especially if you use a super-bulky yarn.


You end up with a long coil of knitting like this, that curls itself into a sort of tube.


The boy is using a finer and less expensive yarn, here.  You can pretty much use whatever yarn you have sitting around to do this. 



As a scarf!!


Instructions:


Materials: 
Any yarn
An eager kiddo

Time: However long you want!

I think that super-bulky yarn is a good weight to start with.  Its easy to work with on the fingers and your kiddo will get something done pretty fast.


Start by placing the yarn in between your thumb and hand, such that the tail hangs behind your hand.

Pick up the yarn that goes to the ball, leaving the tail in between your thumb and hand. Bring the yarn behind your middle finger and over your ring finger.


 Now, bring the yarn around your pinky, behind your ring finger and over your middle finger.

 Next, bring the yarn around your index finger.


Now, we're going to head back again. Bring the yarn behind your middle finger and over your ring finger.

 Then, around your pinky, behind your ring finger, over your middle finger.

Starting with your pinky finger, bring the lower loop on your finger over the upper loop and over your finger. 


Continue this process on each finger, bringing the lower loop over the upper loop and over your finger.  Bring the tail in between your index finger and your middle finger.  This is your home base. Now, repeat.


 Wrap the yarn around your index finger.


 Proceed to repeat the over and under until you have two loops on each finger.


 Pull the lower loops over all the upper loops and over the finger, starting at the pinky.


You end up back at home base and you just keep repeating.


This is how the back looks.

 
This is how the opposite side of the finger knitting looks.


To finish, cut the yarn and bring the end through each of the loops.  If your child wants a break at any point, bring a pencil or pen through the loops in this same way and set aside.  Then, easily place the loops back on the fingers when you want to continue.


 Take the loops off your fingers and pull tightly.


Voila - there's your finger knitting chain. 

Source: Flax And Twine

The Comfort of Eggs in a Basket

egg in a basket

Ideally, make this with slices of toast cut thick. This allows, over medium heat, for the bread to reach just the right golden crispness, the egg whites to fully set, and the yolk to remain nicely runny so you have something to dip in.
I guess I have a fondness for very fast and simple eggs + bread dishes. Maybe it's because when I'm hungry, I'm hungry, and it's a substantial comfort to know that a dish like this--and one that tastes as good as this--is just 5 minutes away. I know that hunger won't have dominion long. Eggs and bread is my protector.
What are your go-to quick meals when hunger looms?
Eggs in the Basket
egg in a basket in a pan
  • 2 slices bread 1-inch thick
  • 2 egg
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 tablespoons oil, butter, bacon fat, etc.
Cut a hole in the slice of bread about 2" x 2", reserving the piece you cut out. Heat the fat in a skillet over medium heat until quite hot (if using butter, the foam should start to subside) and add the bread and the cut-out round in the skillet next to it. Crack the egg into the hole and season with a good pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until the bread is golden underneath; flip carefully and cook the other side until also golden, seasoning with more salt and pepper. Don't forget to flip the cut-out round, too.
Serve immediately.

Tuesday 6 November 2012

10 sneaky ways to drink more water!!

The Beauty Gypsy

Water is not called the ‘source of life’ for nothing… it is crucial for every body function, right from metabolising fat and regulating temperature to facilitating important bio-chemical reactions, lubricating the joints and limbs, aiding digestion, hydrating the skin and helping the body flush out waste and toxins. So, it stands to reason that without regular top-ups, our skin (actually our whole body) will go into crisis mode. The simplest solution? DRINK MORE WATER!
Remember: The sensation of thirst is not triggered until you’re already dehydrated, so it’s important to drink before you actually feel thirsty
Yet, 99% of us don’t heed this advice. H2O is bland, it’s boring, it’s always “just there”… maybe if water becomes more expensive, we will start paying more attention! But till then, I would be the first to admit that sometimes drinking the requisite “eight glasses” (find out exactly how much water you need HERE) can be a real challenge! So, after much interviewing, thinking, researching and experimenting, here are 10 tips to help you accomplish that feat.
water, diet, skin, acne, complexion, adequate water, ways to drink more water, drink water, health
Drink your water! Stay well hydrated! Stay healthy! Stay pretty :)

Sunday 4 November 2012

How to chalk your hair :)

how to chalk your hair
Chalk isn't just for sidewalk art anymore. Temporarily coloring hair with the stuff is all the rage in the online hair community.
What you'll need:
  • non-oil based pastels
  • water bottle
  • plastic gloves
  • towel
  • straightener/curling iron
how-to-chalk-your-hair-1
Step 1: wet the hair first so the color will attach to it. (note: if you're blonde, do not wet your hair before chalking, unless you want a longer lasting effect.)
how-to-chalk-your-hair-2
Step 2: apply the chalk to the strand of hair in a downward motion while twisting the hair. (note: any color chalk will work with blonde and light brown hair. for darker brown hair use blues, pinks, reds or greens. for red hair, colors will alter slightly, yellow will look orange and blue will look purple. best colors to use are green and purple. for black hair pick the most vibrant colors available.)
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Step 3: let the strands dry.
how-to-chalk-your-hair-4
Step 4: set the color using a straightener or curling iron.

Here Are few Cool Examples Of Hair Chalking

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Source: Beauty N Style