DOMINA
May 2011 Issue 1
Two sides of the coin The working woman’s juggle Page: 22
Summer Office Collection 2011 Office Styles to fit you this season. Page:12
1
Final - Domina.indd 1
9/26/2011 7:39:54 PM
Women’s Words
“Most of us today play the role of a superwoman and we don’t realize it. We handle everything from family, kids, careers; multitasking almost every second of our lives. Women are stronger than they imagine themselves to be and without them the world would surely be incomplete.” - Clara Jathanna
“Not all super heroes wear capes. Look at the women.” - Judy Sebastian
2
Final - Domina.indd 2
9/26/2011 7:39:55 PM
Back to Basics
Editorial
T
he ordeal that so many young women like us know, is that they are bound hand and foot by love and motherhood, without having forgotten their former or current dreams. Photo Credits: Kevin Sebastian
When I thought of doing a magazine the first thing that came to mind was doing it on women. Though there are magazines which are on the wall, I wanted to do it solely on women alone and how they have evolved into strong and ambitious individuals. When I sat down and thought, I tried to elaborate the word woman (W: Willpower, O: Organized, M: Mentor, A: Adviser, N: Nurturer).
individuals of the society and they have evolved into strong characters and changed many lives over the period of time. For this it isn’t necessary to be an important person or a celebrity to make a difference in an individual’s life. Out of personal experience, there are two women who till date make changes in my life and have been a great support and strength to me. ‘DOMINA’ means ‘Lady’ in Italian. This magazine talks about how women manage between their two lives yet being in control of, the needs of the hour. Hope this magazine will be able to reach out to the women out there.
So when we ask the question, “Who is a woman?” we are able to come down to a conclusion that a woman is a friend, a mother, a colleague and a mentor. We see them as multi taskers and how they manage to juggle between their work and personal lives and yet remain organized with whatever they do. In the midst of all this they spend quality time with their family and give due attention to each of their family member. We see them as respected
Christine Marie Cherian
Editorial Team Editor: Christine Marie Cherian Designer: Christine Marie Cherian Writer: Christine Marie Cherian Copy Editor: Kevin Sebastian, Anzuma Akther, Heena Mak, Marian Mathew Page Editor: Anzuma Akther, Heena Mak, Marian Mathew Design Editor: Kevin Sebastian Photographer: Christine Marie Cherian Publisher: Colour Power
3
Final - Domina.indd 3
9/26/2011 7:39:58 PM
Contents
28
Features
Summer Collection 2011 Page: 12
The Feminine Work Place Page: 6
Relationship with Colleagues
De-stress Distress
Work Ethics
Quick Bites
Page: 16
Page: 8
Page: 9
Page: 18
Improving Performance Page: 10
4
Final - Domina.indd 4
9/26/2011 7:40:05 PM
Contents
18
Cover Story
Recipes
Page: 20
Page: 24
Beauty Quickies Page: 23
5
Final - Domina.indd 5
9/26/2011 7:40:20 PM
Feature
The Feminine Workplace
“W
omen have been taught that, for us, the earth is flat, and that if we venture out, we will fall off the edge.� ~Andrea Dworkin
When working in an organization one needs to know there are positive as well as negative aspects to it. The negative aspects are usually not spoken about, much due to the fear of the consequences followed when incidents or situations are brought out into the open. Through this article the negative side of what women face at work are brought forward.
they may be more efficient in what they do, due to this discrimination, they lose their chance to prove themselves and many talents tend to get ignored or often not get recognized. In order for their performance and talents to be noticed, their bosses or managers often uses unfair means or rather immoral methods. This is when issues such as sexual and work abuse come into light. They are taken advantage of their appearances; making them extremely careful and alert about their surroundings and who they deal with in order to avoid such situations.
Women tend to face a lot of the negative consequences no matter how ambitious or strong willed they may be. They have to work the extra mile in order to destroy what is hindering them from achieving their dreams and aspirations. On speaking with Mrs. Clara Jathanna; English Teacher, Delhi Private School, Dubai, she shared her viewpoints on this subject.
They tend to get cornered by their bosses by promises of offering them promotions and, at times get extra works at the last minute, with deadlines to be completed, thereby requiring them to stay back after office hours.
She stated that, women tend to face discrimination in different ways at their work place. They are given less priority as compared to the men population. Though
6
Final - Domina.indd 6
9/26/2011 7:40:21 PM
Feature
Picture provided by Mrs. Clara Jathanna
Another factor stated by her, is that women have a lot of other priorities which have more importance and cannot be ignored. The first priority without any question is their family. Family cannot be compromised for work, and the duties of a wife or mother needs to be fulfilled before anything else.
Due to these above issues faced by women at work, they often go through mental trauma, and in turn this tends to affect their physical health as well. They should be respected for who they are, given their space and privacy and their rightful place in the organization.
Opportunities are usually seen knocking at the doors of men rather than women, as they are usually considered lower than the men and not able to accomplish the task given to them. In turn we see how the work given to men population eventually gets completed by the women colleague, and not given due credit for their work; very rarely do we see otherwise.
On a closing note she mentions that there is a power shift, and women are now finding it better to make dominance; this giving self confidence to many young women out there, who wants to make it big in their respective fields.
Being in the same position doesn’t always have to mean that one gets paid equally. A lot of bias is seen in this regard too. There are times where we see both men and women having the same or equal position in an organization, yet the women get less compared to the men. This can bring down an individual’s morale in working harder.
7
Final - Domina.indd 7
9/26/2011 7:40:21 PM
Feature
Relationship with Colleagues
G
ood colleagues, comfortable place to be in.
Colleagues are our assets at work today. In this modern world, we spend most of our time in our work places than at home with our families. We tend to share a lot of our time discussing our day to day work activities, sharing our personal problems and also good moments with our colleagues. So it is very important that we maintain a good relationship and rapport with our contemporaries.
Not all of us are from the same background and intellectuals. Therefore we should always respect the imperfections, cooperate and guide one another. One should also give moral support to your colleague when in times of need. Your colleagues are your friends. Your relationship with them does not end after office hours. With the number of hours and years that you spent with them, they automatically become an essential part of your life.
We need them today and tomorrow, therefore it is important that we are matured enough not to hurt someone and then be hurt in return. We should respect and take care that we uphold the values of our colleagues and work place and respect each other.
To capitalize on this bonding and relationship, one can invite them for a social gathering; go out during weekends or even kitty parties.
The advantages that one gains when working well with your contemporaries is that there is always a pleasant environment to be in. One can always share their thoughts, views and ideas without being worried or concerned about not being approachable.
On concluding note, we must treasure our colleagues as they are essential part of our lives. Good colleagues help us to build a comfortable and happy place to be in. Therefore we should give due respect and value to this relationship.
As the rapport matures, we also mature in our attitude and our level of understanding. Our respect for one another strengths as time cruises along.
8
Final - Domina.indd 8
9/26/2011 7:40:21 PM
Feature
Work Ethics
W
orking ethically and openly is the fundamental to any organization.
In any work environment there is always a decorum which has to be followed by every employee. They should respect and oblige the organization’s rules and ethics.
4) Speak out when something is not right 5) It is the responsibility of each and every employee to take the lead in playing an important role in complying with the ethics
On interviewing Mrs. Suni George, who works as a Customer Support Executive, Emquest (part of the Emirates Airline group) here are a few pointers regarding the ethics.
6) Demonstrate good principles such as integrity, honesty, fairness and respect 7) Leader should encourage ethical conduct and obedience by setting an example to their subordinates as well as to their organization as a whole.
1) The first and foremost ethic is to follow the organizations code of conduct 2) Organization consists of multi nationals, it is necessary that one should respect one another’s culture. One should value and respect individuals from diverse backgrounds enabling each one to contribute to offer the best work
Picture provided by Mrs. Suni George
3) One should be committed to offer the highest standards of integrity
9
Final - Domina.indd 9
9/26/2011 7:40:22 PM
Feature
Improving Performance
A
im at the sky to reach the tree top.
Marie is a well known aspiring journalist, and started her career 3 years back. The journey for her was not an easy one as she had to face a lot of challenges as she was competing with talents from all over the world. She started as a trainee in a small organization and over the years she struggled and worked harder to reach where she is now.
shared her thoughts and viewpoints on how to improve our work performance and achieve our dream position.
Coming up the ladder of success from where you were to where you aspire to be is a dream of every individual. No individual wants to remain where they are already and wants to learn something new. As each day passes by, a bigger or tougher hurdle needs to be overcome, in order to move one step higher. Here are a few ways of improving ones work performance. On interviewing Mrs. Shabnam, computer teacher working at The Delhi Private School, Dubai, she
Picture provided by Mrs. Shabnam Pawaney
10
Final - Domina.indd 10
9/26/2011 7:40:22 PM
Feature She stated that in order to improve ones performance and achieve what we want in life we need to know our positives and negatives. By knowing our positives, one can work harder in improving them. In this way the end results turn out to be better and this helps an individual in moving up the success ladder. Our negatives can be eradicated by taking the help of family, friends and colleagues. The support from them will help in boosting the courage and self confidence in an individual.
An individual in order to reach the top will also have to constantly improve their work skills; this can be done by going for occasional seminars, trainings and various other courses that will help them to improve their performance at work.
“In order for them to be well focused at what they do, they shouldn’t let anything hinder or obstruct their way.”
She went on to add that, the only way to improve work performance is by working towards the goal. Being goal oriented helps an individual to remain focused at all times. This in turn helps the individual to look into new aspects in their respective fields and also in a way try to expand their horizon about different matters.
As one moves along in life, things change, situations change, people around you change, challenges, other responsibilities, obstacles come your way which could hamper your work efficiency. These should not hamper your performance or bring down your self confidence.
The more goal oriented and goal focused an individual gets the better the end results. In order for them to be well focused at what they do, they shouldn’t let anything hinder or obstruct their way. Being strong willed and ambitious is what will lead an individual to their dream.
One should be able to prioritize and necessitate as per the needs of the hour. Combined with guidance, direction, support and determination it is evident that one will be able to reach to great heights.
She also guided that to reach to the top, planning in advance is necessary, as this helps the individual to know what to look forward to and work accordingly towards it. Being a long term plan, one needs to explore and research the various challenges and the opportunities of achieving ones goal. An individual has to be constantly up-to-date and closely follow the obstacles that come their way so that they are prepared and find help to overcome it. As the working environment is a dynamic one, an individual has to be able to adapt to the changing work situations and compile to the organization’s rules and regulations.
11
Final - Domina.indd 11
9/26/2011 7:40:22 PM
Feature
Formal Top: 40 Dhs Straight cut skirt: 55 Dhs
Summer in the Office
D
Store: Debenhams
ressing comfortable and feeling at ease is what we want during summers...
Final - Domina.indd 12
12
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
9/26/2011 7:40:26 PM
Dress: 45 Dhs Store: Max
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
Final - Domina.indd 13
13
9/26/2011 7:40:31 PM
Dress: 35 Dhs Accessories: 15 Dhs Store: New Look
14
Final - Domina.indd 14
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
9/26/2011 7:40:57 PM
Model: Srijita Chattopadhyay Studying at Manipal University, Dubai Media 1st Year Student Make Up Stylist: Heena Mak and Srijita Chattopadhyay Hair Stylist: Christine Marie Cherian
Dress: 50 Dhs Accessories: 35 Dhs Store: Max
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
Final - Domina.indd 15
15
9/26/2011 7:41:15 PM
Feature
De-stress Distress
L
ong and hectic day at work? Here are a few ways on how you can calm and rejuvenate yourself.
Moving on from the list of ordinary activities one can possibly do at a stretch, from 9 to 5 or 8 to 4, depending on the work timings. After a day’s work you get back home tired and want to unwind, but instead it’s time to do the dishes. You come back home only to see that you just have the equal amount of chores to do. Here are a few ways that will help you to not raise your temperature to a feverish level:
1
Listening to the sounds
Quite definitely one of the ways to unwind is by listening to music that suits your mood. One can also listen to them novelty instrumental CD’s that are scientifically proven to actually make you feel better. Nothing like a little therapeutic music can’t fix for those restless tension filled work hours that fix the temples of your head.
16
Final - Domina.indd 16
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
9/26/2011 7:41:19 PM
Feature
2
Writing
Well this particular method, not many may indulge in, but this is definitely a way to vent out ones frustration over things. If your day at work didn’t go that well or you’re under pressure over other personal matters, bring out your feelings by writing. You needn’t have to be a great writer in order to do this. Once you do this, you tend to feel much, much better.
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
3
This goes without saying. When you talk to your friend you tend to feel a lot better. Its funny how sometimes the conversation between friends can just jump from one topic to another and at times end up laughing your heart out.
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
4
Long time no speak?
5
Seeing the sights
Yoga
Relaxation to the mind and body as a whole is extremely important to just about anyone, and yoga is one way to bring in this positivity. It makes a person completely stress free and this helps the individual in being a part of everything that takes place even after a hectic day at work. A quiet atmosphere and with good time in hand, Yoga does a great deal in de-stressing yourself.
There’s nothing better than taking a long drive to answer the call of nature, figuratively. Taking a long weekend travel can do wonders to you; this method requires no introduction or doesn’t require a doctor’s prescription, unleash the inner traveler in you and find your hiding spot out in the open.
17
Final - Domina.indd 17
9/26/2011 7:42:10 PM
Quick Bite
Quick Bite
H
ungry every one hour while working? Here are few easy ways of eating while being at our desks and working at the same time.
A common factor one sees in any working individual’s cabin or drawer is having snacks or something to munch on frequently. In this way it will keep them at their seat and work continuously and at the same time have a bite when feeling hungry. The common quick bites which people prefer having in their cabins or drawers are:
1
Cup Noodles
A red or yellow cup of noodles is a common site in most of the office cabins. It is cheap, easy to get, different flavours available and storage is not an issue as long as it is kept in a cool environment. This is one of the easiest ways to make noodles, as long as you have a mug of hot water and it is ready within a matter of a few minutes. The cup noodle satisfies ones hunger for a while and keeps the individual busy without worrying about eating in short intervals.
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
18
Final - Domina.indd 18
9/26/2011 7:42:22 PM
Quick Bite
2
Nutrition Bar
A Nutrition Bar is something that can be bought in bulk and stored in drawers and definitely easy to carry it around no matter where one goes. This is extremely healthy and nutritious and keeps an individual filled for hours, avoiding the individual from taking frequent breaks.
3
Juice
Something to quench your thirst, juice is another item which can be bought from any grocery and available for a small price.
4
Biscuits
This is very common refreshment seen in drawers and cabinets in the offices. It is easily accessible in any small groceries and the cost is also very affordable. People have a choice of selecting between various flavours according to their personal preferences. Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
5
Chips
Chips, it is the pleasure food of all time. People can eat as many as packets as they may wish and can never get bored or tired of it.
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
19
Final - Domina.indd 19
9/26/2011 7:42:34 PM
Cover Story
The two sides of a coin
T
he working women’s juggle
Women of today have gone far beyond of yester years, so much so that they are ranked equal to man. No one would have imagined how far they could go including going up to the moon. They have become bolder, daring, ambitious, courageous and have acquired high ranks in almost all fields in the different walks of life today. More so to add ‘Behind every successful man there is a woman.’
UAE and Bahrain, working at Travelport, here is what they had to say regarding their lives.
Women of today not only do their household chores, but they also go for work at the same time, and yet they manage to strike a balance between both their lives. No working women’s lives are similar to the other and here are two women of different backgrounds who juggle their personal and professional lives differently.
Mrs. Marian Mathew (Mrs. MM): I have a team of 14 people, who take care of the operational and functional queries of the reservation system used by the Travel Agencies. I manage and supervise the staff, give them directions on how to solve and tackle difficult situations, manage the day to day activities of the desk, offer guidelines and assistance to the team and other work streams.
Describe your job profile.
Mrs. Elizabeth Mathew (Mrs. EM): I work as the Senior Medical Laboratory Technologist -1 at the Satwa Medical Fitness. We are a Medical Support Team where we do testing on samples.
On interviewing two women, Mrs. Elizabeth Mathew, Senior Medical Laboratory Technologist – 1, working at the Satwa Medical Fitness and Mrs. Marian Mathew, Functional Support Manager –
What are your working hours? Do you have shift patterns?
Mrs. EM: It is a must that we have to work for 35
20
Final - Domina.indd 20
9/26/2011 7:42:34 PM
Cover Story hours overall. So we work for 6 ½ hours on weekdays and the other ½ hour is cumulated to every alternate Saturdays. I do have shift patterns. I work from 7am - 1:30pm, 9am – 3:30pm and afternoons 3pm – 9:30pm and on every alternate Saturday from 8am – 1pm. Mrs. MM: My working hours are from 9am – 5pm. However it is stretchable; I start early everyday and occasionally have to stay back after working hours.
How do you manage household work? Do you have any extra help?
Mrs. EM: I usually do the cooking after I get back from work. For cleaning we do have a lady who comes for an hour twice a week. Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
in-laws are in town, breakfast is definitely heavier as compared to our usually routine. For lunch, we usually have any vegetable with rice and fish; we have less of meat. For dinner we have chapatti and any curry to go with it.
Mrs.MM: It is tough, as I have to look into the
health issues and ensure that the diets are being prepared and given on time. The diets cannot be maintained the same every day, as it gets boring for the family. So I have to make sure that I move around with choices in such a way that they don’t get tired of having the same thing over and over again. What is more difficult is to decide what to cook, as each one has their own preferences.
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
How do you spend your weekends? When do you get the time to do grocery shopping? Mrs. EM: Fridays we are at church till mid afternoon
Mrs. MM: I start my day at 5am in the morning. I do get a little domestic help for a few hours everyday. But yet, I still have to make sure that the work to be done is communicated.
and in the evenings we go out as a family to have dinner. Saturdays, depending on my work schedule, I go for work or else mornings will be in church and the rest of the day will be busy in the household chores and teaching my children. The grocery shopping is done by my husband. There is no particular day that
How do you manage the food diet for the family?
Mrs. EM: In the mornings since there is very less time to have a proper breakfast, I usually make oats and milk for the family. But when my parents or my
21
Final - Domina.indd 21
9/26/2011 7:42:36 PM
Cover Story How do you manage between the work and personal life?
is kept aside for grocery shopping. Whenever any errands are required I give a list to my husband and he does the shopping.
Mrs.EM: It is definitely stressful to manage between the two. I try and finish my work at office itself, so that there isn’t a need for me to carry it home. If there is any incident or issue that takes place at work, I try and not affect the atmosphere at home. Whereas when I’m at home, I dedicate it completely to my family so that I can spend quality time with them. Teaching my daughters, cooking and having family talks happen simultaneously; there is no specific time for anything.
Mrs. MM: My weekends are the most busiest and
hectic days of the week. Fridays we usually spend half the day in church, and evenings we either invite guests home or we are invited over by friends or relatives, which tends to go late night. Saturdays, I spend most of the time in the kitchen preparing meals for the family, making sure that the house is neat and tidy. The grocery shopping is done mostly on Saturdays.
Mrs. MM: It is difficult to manage between the two, because we have got to prioritize personal and work life and family is very important and need to make sure that their needs are met at the same time, not being laid back at work or delaying any deadlines at work. Need to be on your toes at all time if you have a very challenging job.
How is the work pressure? Has there been anytime when you brought office work home?
Mrs. EM: The work pressure can be very hard to handle, but due to the support of the team, the pressure is able to be handled. There is a lot of team work that goes about which is what makes the job less pressurized. There was never a time where I had to bring back work home, unless I had to pass on an important message to my colleagues regarding the timings.
What advice would you like to give working women?
Mrs. EM: Working is definitely hectic. But at the same time, it is very challenging and interesting as each day goes by, a way to learn new things everyday, good experience, a medium to meet new people everyday and also have fun with your colleagues. My personal advice, women should definitely work, and should be able to prioritize between their personal and professional life. This is also another way to support the family financially.
Mrs. MM: The work pressure is very high, as there is a lot of competition plus we need to win the customers and keep them satisfied and meet up their expectations and there is no compromise to service delivery. There has been several times when I have had to bring back office work home.
Have you ever turned back to see how much you have done in a day?
Mrs. MM: Work is definitely an advantage for women. It is just not the additional financial income to support the family, but also gives you position in the society, it broadens your horizon and exposed to the outside world and coming across different situations.
Mrs. EM: Usually there hasn’t been a need to do so, but unless there has been any particular incident that took place. Mrs. MM: I have not got the time to do so, but have sometimes.
Recommendations would always be good for women to work, as this is additional support to the family, at the same time builds the overall personal development of the women.
22
Final - Domina.indd 22
9/26/2011 7:42:36 PM
Beauty Quickies
Beauty Tips
G
etting late to go somewhere and less than 15 minutes to get ready? Here are few tips on how to get ready in a matter of 10 minutes.
Ms. Emily Hale
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
Women like dressing up whether it may be for parties or just casual outings. Some may prefer going for simple, elegant and classic look, whereas some may prefer going for the bold and shocking look.
3
When it comes to hairdo, one can either brush their hair and leave it open or even tie a high pony tail or even have a messy plait. This again depends on the individual’s personal preference on what they feel comfortable.
Here are a few beauty tips for women out there who want to get ready in a matter of 5 - 10 minutes. Ms. Emily Hale, beautician at Silvia Salon located in Satwa, has a few pointers.
4
Highlighting the eyes gives a woman a more classic look. Applying eyeliner and kajal makes the eye standout the most
1 2
Applying foundation or powder on your face gives your face a fair complexion
5
Lipstick or Labello will give your face a little more life, as it highlights your lips. Preferably light brown colour or red. But this can vary from one individual to another depending on their personal choice
Since we have only 5 – 10 minutes to get ready, all time couldn’t be spent on make up alone. Dressing can be simple to jeans with a top or a casual dress. Dressing according to the occasion is extremely important.
23
Final - Domina.indd 23
9/26/2011 7:42:47 PM
Recipes
Mouth Watering Dishes
D
ishes with big names doesn’t always have to be difficult to cook. Here are two recipes which women out there would love to make for their family.
Vegetable Crumble
Method: Step 1: Add olive oil, garlic, onions and chili flakes
Preparation Time: 1 hour
in a saucepan and stir for a while
Step 2: Add celery, capsicum, cabbage and add salt if necessary and stir
Ingredients: • • • • • • • • • • • • •
2 Onions 1 Broccoli (small) 2 Carrots 1 bowl Macaroni Half Cabbage Half Cauliflower 1 Capsicum (red or green) 1 Celery 5 cloves Garlic Olive oil Chili flakes (5 round chilies) Bread Crumbs Salt
Step 3: Then add broccoli, cauliflower, macroni and
add salt and mix well. Leave it on low flame and let it cook for a while
White Sauce preparation Ingredients: • • • •
Half Butter 4 ½ tbsp Maida Water Milk
24
Final - Domina.indd 24
9/26/2011 7:42:47 PM
Recipes • •
Step 4: Add the Cheddar cheese and mix well till
1 tbsp Cheddar Cheese Pinch of pepper and salt
completely melted
Method:
Step 5: Mix white sauce with the vegetable and mix well
Step 1: Add butter in a sauce pan. Once melted
Step 6: Serve into a baking pan and sprinkle a layer
sprinkle maida gradually and mix well
of bread crumbs evenly on it
Step 2: Add milk to the mixture and mix well
Step7: Keep it in the oven for 5 minutes. Once the
Step 3: Add water to dilute the mixture further and
bread crumbs turn golden – brown, take it off the oven and serve hot
add salt
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
Recipe provided by Mrs. Shirley Mathews
Picture provided by Shirley Mathews
25
Final - Domina.indd 25
9/26/2011 7:42:50 PM
Recipes Butter Chicken
Step 6: Mix tomato paste and tomato sauce to add
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Step 7: Keep for another further 5 – 10 minutes
to the colour Serve hot.
Ingredients: •
4 tbsp (half ) Butter
•
1 tbsp giragam powder
•
2 tbsp Ginger – Garlic paste
•
1 tbsp Chili powder
•
Pinch of Tumeric powder
•
2 tbsp Tandoori Masala
•
1 small Tomato paste (tin)
•
1 Nestle Cream (tin)
•
1 tbsp Tomato sauce
•
Chicken (900 gms)
•
Salt
Method: Step 1: Put butter in sauce pan Step 2: Add giragam powder, ginger – garlic paste and mix
Step 3: Add chili powder, turmeric powder and tandoori masala and mix
Step 4: Add the chicken and salt Step 5: Once chicken is half cooked, mix Nestle
Cream in lukewarm water and add to the mix above
26
Final - Domina.indd 26
9/26/2011 7:42:52 PM
Recipes
Recipe provided by Mrs. Achamma Mathews
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
27
Final - Domina.indd 27
9/26/2011 7:42:55 PM
Decor
Fine Living
H
ome Sweet Home...
A home is a place where we see families spend time together and after a long day at work and they sit share their day’s experience.
Having less furniture with lots of windows will help in having more air circulation, this giving more chances of fresh air coming in.
It is necessary to keep a home well decorated and well maintained. The most striking factor of any home is the home décor. Each home differs from the other because of its interior décor.
Children will be more free and easy to run around when there is less furniture and play without hurting themselves. The lesser the furniture, the more it makes it easier in cleaning and maintaining a more hygienic atmosphere. Here is a home where we will see which isn’t over decorated, yet well maintained and brightly lit.
Though ideas can be replicated, changes can be brought in and given a more personalized look, as the tastes and preferences of individuals differ from person to person. The only fact which will look similar is the style.
The most important place of the house is the Living room; the place where the family spends quality time with each other. It is most preferable when the room is kept bright and well lit.
It is important to note that the home is not over crowded and have sufficient interiors to make it look more homely and pleasant to live in.
28
Final - Domina.indd 28
9/26/2011 7:42:57 PM
Decor
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
The selection of furniture should not be too big and chunky; rather it should be more elegant and sleek. The furniture should be arranged in a manner that it isn’t too clustered, as it takes away the beauty of the room.
decor. Candle stands or small flower vase can be kept on the centre table which will give the room a neater look. Placing pictures like scenic or family portraits on the wall avoids the room from looking dull and gives it more life and energy. The selection of scenic paints needn’t have to be too vivid, rather something which is done with oil pastels.
The colour of the furniture mostly depends according to the colour of wall paint. The lighter the wall paint, the selection of furniture becomes darker and vice versa.
Keeping plants is another form of decorating. Having bright wall colour paint with plants around gives the feeling of sitting in a garden with a roof top. This makes the individual more relaxed and at home.
This is also a place where family gatherings and other small social gatherings take place, and the living room having many windows will help in air circulation. This is also a place where family gatherings and other small social gatherings take place. Therefore, it is essential to have simple and pleasing to the eye
Final - Domina.indd 29
All in all, the Living room should look simple, yet elegant.
29
9/26/2011 7:43:02 PM
30
Final - Domina.indd 30
9/26/2011 7:43:05 PM
31
Final - Domina.indd 31
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
9/26/2011 7:43:07 PM
Decor The one place to find all the women; Kitchen. This is the heart of any home; no home survives without a kitchen.
These cabinets and cupboards are mostly seen as built in or slightly jut out, and this saves up a lot of place. It is also necessary to have a lot of drawers in order to keep spoons, forks, knifes and various other small items which are needed for cutting or any other purpose in the kitchen.
The women of the house prefer to have their kitchen which aren’t too big or too small, but should have sufficient place to move around and have everything kept nearby and that are reachable by them.
At some homes we see both the washing machine as well as the dishwasher kept in the kitchen. As we know how big and chunky these machines are and occupies a lot of place, a best remedy to avoid the usage of too much space is by keeping it in between the cupboards.
Few women prefer having a small table in the kitchen, where they can serve their family hot food, directly from the stove, (as seen above). These tables can be of different sizes, shapes or colours depending on an individual’s personal choice.
This way it pushes in between the gap of the cupboards and gives the kitchen a very neat look rather than a clustered look.
This can either be attached to the cooking range area or it can be kept separately, depending on how an individual would prefer it. The women prefer having their kitchen’s brightly lit. They prefer having very warm colours for the tiles or paint used in the kitchen giving them a more calm feeling while working. Working in a room which is dark and dull, makes the person feel very tired out and tedious to the work to be completed and in the end tends to laze off half way through. Having a lot of windows and a back entrance helps in good air circulation, as it is extremely essential while working in the kitchen, so that the aroma of the food cooked doesn’t get spread throughout the house. In order to avoid such situations, one can keep the windows open, and/or if there are back doors to the kitchen, it can be kept open so that fresh air may come in. If neither of the above two is possible, have a kitchen hood which helps in having good air circulation. Another factor which we see in kitchen is the kitchen cabinets and cupboards where utensils and other items which are required for the kitchen purposes are kept.
32
Final - Domina.indd 32
9/26/2011 7:43:08 PM
33
Final - Domina.indd 33
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
9/26/2011 7:43:11 PM
34
Final - Domina.indd 34
9/26/2011 7:43:14 PM
35
Final - Domina.indd 35
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
9/26/2011 7:43:16 PM
Decor The next best place in the house is the Bedroom. People prefer their rooms to be big and spacious. Certain people prefer having their rooms brightly lit, therefore we often see either big or a lot of windows in bedrooms.
The master bedrooms also find these type of decorations as it adds to the beauty of the room during the night. The curtains that are used for the room should depend on the colour of the room and the furniture so that it stands out accordingly. If the furniture is of dark colour and the wall paint is of bright colour, the curtain should be a colour which is in between the two (as seen above).
The wall paint used for the room is usually white or off white or some other bright colour which makes the room looks brighter. On the other hand, there are people who prefer having their rooms painted in dark colours such as dark red, maroon or purple are being used as wall paint, giving it a cosier feel.
Therefore, when we see a bedroom it should look relaxing and cosy, where one will be able to get good rest after a long day at work, rather than have a room that is extremely crowded and has a messy look, which stops an individual from even considering taking a break.
Usually the interior decors for bedrooms are kept simple and the furniture kept in the room are usually less; this gives the room a more comfortable ambiance and also makes it look more spacious rather than a crowded look. Either contemporary or antique style furniture is used depending on an individual’s personal choice. Here again the individual can choose between having a chunky or simple looking furniture for the room. Having corner or bedside tables is important for any bedroom, as this is a necessity during the night. Different shapes, sizes and colours are available. The shadow effect which falls on the walls during the night gives the room a very dim look. Wall paintings that is suitable for the bedroom adds to the interior decor of the room. This again brings more life to the room. Another decor which can be used for bedrooms are the florescent stickers. These can be stuck on the ceiling or on the walls, and when the lights are switched off at night they illuminate. These decorations are mostly seen in the children’s bedroom, as they find them very fascinating and like watching it as the light dims gradually.
36
Final - Domina.indd 36
9/26/2011 7:43:16 PM
37
Final - Domina.indd 37
Photo Credits: Christine Marie Cherian
9/26/2011 7:43:20 PM
Decor The bathroom is a place where people usually don’t keep any decorations.
At the same time avoid having too many bathroom cupboards as it will give a very crowded look which will make the bathroom look small in size.
If required depending on an individual’s personal interest of decorating, one can decorate the bathroom either with small scented candles, giving it a good aroma or keep a vase of flowers (as seen above) or it can have a mix of both.
The tiles or paint which is used for the bathrooms are usually light shades, this giving the bathroom a more warm look.
The main aspect they look into is that there is no bad smell and is kept clean at all times. This place should be the most hygienic place in the entire house. Regular cleaning needs to be done whether or not the place is clean or dirty, and this ensures the tidiness of the place. An air freshener is needed in the washroom at all times in order to avoid any bad odour. Different essences of air fresheners are available depending on the individual’s preference; some fresheners are extremely strong whereas some have a mild smell. There are air fresheners that are automatic which keeps going on and off in every five to ten minute interval. It is necessary to ensure that there is a towel, hand soap, waste bin, toilet roll and tissues (if required) at all times in the bathroom. A small mat or carpet or a water absorbing mat should be kept in the bathroom so as to avoid having wet floor, which can cause it to be messy and untidy. These can be colourful or simple and plain depending on an individual’s personal choice. All toiletry items should be kept away in small cabinets or cupboards in the bathroom so as to avoid it from looking crowded and messy.
38
Final - Domina.indd 38
9/26/2011 7:43:23 PM
39
Final - Domina.indd 39
9/26/2011 7:43:41 PM
40
Final - Domina.indd 40
9/26/2011 7:43:53 PM