MEHANDI DESIGNS

HOMEMADE HAIR MASKS

Get your hair into tip-top shape with natural conditioning treatments you can make at home

You don’t need to buy the priciest conditioners on the market to moisturize and revitalize your hair — just whip up a wonderful homemade hair mask from ingredients you’ll find right in your kitchen. The bonus? These all-natural moisturizers add softness and shine to your hair without using a single chemical. Here’s how to get started.

Go bananas. Bananas make a wonderful hair mask when blended with an egg, three teaspoons each of honey and milk, and five teaspoons of olive oil. Massage the mixture onto your hair and scalp and leave it on for a half hour before you shampoo it out.

Egg yourself on. Scramble two eggs with two teaspoons of water, then work the mixture into damp hair. Let it soak in for 15 minutes before you wash your hair.

Get a little honey. A sweet conditioning mask mixes equal parts honey and olive oil. You’ll need to rub the mask into your hair and wrap your locks in plastic wrap. Shampoo after 30 minutes.

Oil up your scalp. Make a mask from two eggs and five teaspoons of olive oil and massage into your hair and scalp. Let it sit for a half hour before washing it out.

Try a little avocado. Mix mashed avocado with a teaspoon each of olive oil and honey, then apply to your hair. Leave the mask on for at least 20 minutes, then wash it away.

Get some fruit. Grab a bunch of your favorite fruits. Put a half a banana in a blender with one-quarter each of a cantaloupe and an avocado and two tablespoons of yogurt. Apply the mixture to your hair for 15 minutes before you shampoo.

Mix up some strawberries. Mix a cup of strawberries, an egg yolk, and two tablespoons of olive oil in your food processor, then work it into your hair. Let it soak in for 20 minutes before shampooing it away.

Put a little mayo on it. Thicken your hair while you condition with a hair mask made of mayo. You can use plain mayo, or mix in a few teaspoons of Epsom salts and a beaten egg. Either way, let it sit in your hair for a half hour before shampooing. (The mayo also makes a killer defrizzer.)

Go a little nutty. Almond oil can also help defrizz your hair. To make a hair mask, combine a ¼ cup of honey, a ½ cup of yogurt, and a tablespoon of almond oil, then work it into your hair from root to tip. Leave it on for 20 minutes before you shampoo.

10 BEST BEAUTY TIPS FOR SUMMER

Summer is a time that we all get our bodies pumped up and beach ready, by hitting the gym to get those killer abs to show off our remarkable tans that make our bodies shimmer and shine, while we relax and lounge at the pool or jet ski on the beach. Summer is the time where we find summer love, watch fireworks, barbecue and have the most lavish block parties where everyone is invited.

So in the summer it seems like it is a must to look you best, since we have all these exciting and enticing events going on. There are some tips that we should all follow in the summer to help us keep looking our best so we don't have to worry about beauty and we can just bask in the wonderful sun.

1. Wear Sunscreen: The number one rule of thumb when preparing for the hot sun is to lather up with sunscreen that has a SPF rating of 15 or higher to protect your beautiful skin from those treacherous sunrays.

2. Use Bronzer: Tanning is out Bronzer is in, let's face it in the summer the sun gives you all the heat you need, do you really want to be trapped in the tanning bed? They have a variety of bronzers and spray on tanners that will create the same look as a tanning salon, without breaking your wallets.

3. Makeup without Foundation: It is not recommended to wear foundation in the summer, if you do decide to wear foundation wear very light and subtle colors or opt for tinted moisturizers they are lighter and more gentle to the skin.

4. Color, color, color! It is all about color in the summer use vibrant colors like green, pink, gold and loud colors that reflect the summer time atmosphere.

5. Your Hairstyle: Let's face it hair seems to get oily, sweaty and greasy in the summer due to the humid temperatures, so instead of creating a ultra chic look, summer is the time where you can be playful and stylish while you wear your hair loose in a wet in wavy style or very loose ponytails for a girlish look.

6. Body Scrubs: Scrub & exfoliate your face daily to keep it looking fresh and to give you a feeling of renewal.

7. Waterproof Mascara: If you plan to be near the beach/water or any outdoor activity use waterproof make up and mascara so your make up won't smear all over.

8. Frizzy Hair: Deep condition hair weekly since the humid weather can cause frizziness to your hair.

9. Avoid Blow Dryer: Avoid using the blow dryer in the summer, the sun gives you enough heat already instead use an alcohol free texturizer to do the trick.

10. Accessories: Summer is a time for fun in the sun, if you want to look fashionable the must have accessories that look good and also protect you are a nice straw hat that blocks the sun from your face and beautiful sunglasses designer or faux will do the trick and you will be already for fun in the sun.

CHOCOLATE RECIPES FOR LOVERS

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKES


Serves 4

Ingredients:

4 ounces small pieces milk chocolate
4 ounces butter
2 each eggs
1/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons flour

Preparation:

Melt the chocolate and the butter together in the microwave, stirring in short intervals. Blend the eggs and sugar together thoroughly and add the flour. Pour into 4 oz. molds that have been sprayed with Pam and dusted with flour. Bake for 10-15 minutes in an oven that has been preheated to 450 degrees. Cool slightly and decant to paper to cool.

BOURBON STREET CHOCOLATE PECAN PIE
 Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

1 cup light corn syrup
3 eggs
1/3 cup of butter, melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 dash vanilla
1 pinch salt
2 cups pecans, broken
1 pie shell., uncooked
5 ounces of milk chocolate

Preparation:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the corn syrup, eggs and melted butter and whisk briskly. Add the brown sugar and mix well. Add the vanilla, salt and pecans. Incorporate. Pour the mixture into the pie shell and drop in the chocolate pieces. Wrap the edge of the pie with foil to help keep the crust from over browning and drying out. Place the pie on a small sheet pan and put it into the hot oven for about one hour, until the center is set and the pie is golden brown.

Best served at room temperature or warmed slightly in the microwave oven. And a little French Vanilla Ice Cream on the side won't kill you any faster!

MAUSSE AU CHOCOLAT 

Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

8 squares (1-ounce size) semisweet chocolate
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup water
2 eggs, separated
2 extra egg yolks
1/3 cup coffee concentrate
2 tablespoons Grand Marnier
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) sweet butter, softened
2 cups heavy cream, whipped
Melt the chocolate over hot, but not boiling, water or place in a very low oven (180-degree).

Preparation:

Mix the sugar with 1/4 cup of water in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Boil 3 to 4 minutes. Meanwhile, place the 4 egg yolks in the bowl of an electric mixer. Gradually add the sugar syrup, beating constantly. Continue beating for 5 to 6 minutes at high speed, or until the mixture is thick and creamy. Add the coffee concentrate, Grand Marnier, and softened butter and beat tboroughly. Stir in the melted chocolate.

Beat the egg whites with a rotary or electric beater until stiff and shiny. As soon as they are ready, add to the chocolate mixture and beat in with a wire whisk. Finally, fold in the whipped cream. Pour into a large serving bowl and refrigerate until serving time.

You can, if you like, garnish the top with cocoa, whipped cream, or chocolate curls. You may also omit the egg whites and add 1 more cup of heavy cream to the recipe.

CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE TORT

Serves 10-12
Yields one 9 inch cake

So, this is my "death by chocolate" contribution to the world of cooking - a loving send-off to life itself and a heck of a way to go at that! A little slice is all you need. I love serving this with some very slightly sweetened blackberry coulis or sauce to help balance some of the richness.

Ingredients:

5 ounces (1-1/4 sticks) unsalted sweet butter
10 ounces (1-1/4 cups) bitter-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 tablespoon instant espresso or 2 tablespoons dark rum (optional)
8 large eggs, separated
1/2 cup sugar
Pinch of salt
2 teaspoons grated orange zest

Garnish: Cocoa, powdered sugar and a coulis made from slightly sweetened, puréed and strained fresh or IQF blackberries, if desired.

Preparation:

Over low heat, warm butter until just melted but not hot. Add chocolate and espresso powder or rum and whisk until melted. Cool slightly. In a separate bowl, beat yolks and half the sugar until light in color. Add warm chocolate mixture and whisk together.

With a mixer preferably, separately whip egg whites with a pinch of salt, orange zest and add remaining sugar gradually just until firm peaks are formed. Stir in one quarter of whipped whites into chocolate mixture to lighten it. Carefully fold in remaining whites.

Very lightly oil or butter a 9-inch spring form pan and place a circle of parchment or waxed paper on bottom. Pour batter into pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Cool and refrigerate if not serving same day. Note that cake will have a "cracked" top surface, which is part of its charm!

To serve: Slice in small wedge and dust alternately with good unsweetened cocoa and powdered sugar and a tablespoon or two of blackberry coulis on plate.

CREAMY DREAMY CHOCOLATE/VANILLA TRUFFLES
 Ingredients:

1/2 cup heavy cream
2 vanilla beans, split lengthwise
2 tablespoons soft unsalted butter
8 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

Preparation:

In a heavy saucepan, place cream and vanilla beans over medium heat, until the cream bubbles around the edge. Remove from heat and allow to steep for several hours or overnight. Reheat again till the cream bubbles around the edge, remove from heat, remove vanilla beans and pour into a measuring cup. You will want no more than 1/3 cup cream.

Pour cream into a bowl, add butter and finely chopped chocolate, submerging the chocolate completely with a wooden spoon.

Scrape seeds from vanilla beans into the chocolate mixture. Slowly stir mixture with a rubber spatula until it is completely blended and smooth.

Place in refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour, or until a spoon of chocolate ganache mixture holds its shape.

Using a pastry bag or a melon baller dipped in cornstarch, make truffle balls and place onto a baking sheet. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until completely firm.

Roll each chocolate truffle between the palms of your hands, then roll in cocoa. Place in decorative candy cups and serve, or store in the refrigerator in an airtight container for several weeks. Makes about 30 truffles.  

PINK LIPS

WAYS TO MAKE YOUR LIPS PINK AND SMOOTH

Everyone wants an oomph factor in them. In fact, many of the women out there would kill to have luscious, full lips that would send any handsome hunk panting and wanting to kiss them. Beautiful lips can really be an asset and to get that naturally is actually not that hard a job. All you have to do is to refrain from pressing or biting the lips and use certain natural remedies. And you would find yourself with lips that would easily give anyone inferiority complex. Read on to know the easy and natural ways to make your lips pink and smooth, that too with the help of homemade recipes.

HOW TO MAKE YOUR LIPS PINK AND SMOOTH NATURALLY

ROSE PETALS
Crush four, five petals of red rose and coat the paste on the lips. Apart from instant reddening, it will also give smoothness to the lips. Apply every day, 2-3 times, to find yourself with luscious lips. You can make a lip balm too, by mixing crushed rose petals with milk cream. Mix it thoroughly and apply it on the lips for twenty minutes and then wash it off. You will be left with soft and supple lips.

BEETROOT JUICE
Applying beetroot juice is the best way to make your lips pink. It works like wonder. Grind beetroot in mixer, after washing it thoroughly, and strain the juice. Keep it in fridge. Apply it on the lips for twenty minutes, 3-4 times a day, and then wash it off. If you want to go natural, you can put this juice on lips before you go out. It will work as a lipstick and will work wonder on your lips as well.

GHEE
The natural ghee not only brings taste to your food, but will also help you make your lips smooth, pink and full. Rub a little warm ghee on your lips, 2-3 times daily. If you’re suffering from chapped lips, then this recipe is surely for you. Ghee is very good for weather-stricken chapped, dry lips.

OLIVE OIL/CLOVE OIL
Daub a little olive oil on a small ball of cotton and apply it on the lips,before bathing.after a few minutes,wash it and let the lips dry,2-3 times daily.if you're suffering from chapped lips then this recipe is surely for you.

MUSTARD OIL
Mustard Oil comprises of an old remedy for dry lips, but only few people apply it. Before going to sleep, pour a few drop of mustard oil on your belly button and massage it slightly. See the effect in the morning. It will heal the chapped, bleeding lips, making them soft and smooth.

HEALTHY/VITAMIN A RICH DIET
Nothing beats a proper healthy diet, when it comes to pink and smooth lips. Incorporate vitamin A rich food in your diet and drink lots of water. Avoid smoking, as it not only blackens the lips, but also ruins your health. Include juices, fruits and dairy products in your diet.


EXFOLIATION
Exfoliation is very important, if you want your lips to be soft and smooth. Mix olive oil and sugar together, in equal amounts, and blend them thoroughly. Dab the mixture on the lips. With the help of a soft toothbrush, gently exfoliate it. You can apply lemon juice with sugar too. Leave it for half an hour and then rub it with little strokes of brush. Rinse off with cold water. Honey and sugar also would work as a great exfoliator. You will be amazed at how soft your lips become.

HOMEMADE RECIPES FOR LIP BALM

• Mix a few drops of coconut oil, lemon juice, lemon oil and bees wax. Warm the mixture and pour it in a glass jar. Don’t overheat it, as it will lose its beneficial effects. Keep the glass jar with you and dab your lips with it, whenever necessary.
• Mix bees wax, apricot kernel oil and calendula oil. Warm them in double boiler and then add a few drops of orange essential oil. Store in a glass jar and use it when necessary.
• You can mix beeswax, castor oil and sesame oil and warm them in double boiler. Add a few drops of beetroot juice and store for further use.

HAIR STYLES FOR SUMMER 2010

BEST MODERN SHORT BOB HAIRSTYLE FOR
One of the hottest hairstyles still are the bob hairstyles with the different styles that a bob hairstyles can give you and versatility. Some of the best bob styles you can have in 2010 are the modern bob, angled bob and straight short bob hairstyles. As you already know bob hairstyles are not one of the newest hairstyles but with the infinite number of bob hairstyles for all types of hair and hair lengths bob haircuts stay very high in modern and trend hairstyles charts! And if you need other bob hairstyles ideas beside the photos we posted below.

BEST SHORT BANG HAIR STYLE FOR WOMEN IN SUMMER
Bangs Hairstyles for Women in summer 2010
Hello ladies, today we talk about the famous bangs that you can add to your current hairstyle. Bangs can be used on almost any type of hair and hair lengths but I am sure bangs will look greater and sexy on medium to short haircuts. Also bangs come in different styles like the flipped bangs that will give you some extra special look, and that it is not all, beside the flipped bangs you can add some curl to your hairstyles and the final hairstyles will be absolutely awesome! Here are some photos with bangs and flipped bangs for short and medium hair from you can chose your new short hairstyle with bangs, look at the photos:

Best Short Bangs Hairstyles for Women in summer 2010

Best short wavy hair cuts for 2010

For this summer of 2010 that is almost here a great short hairstyle is the short and wavy haircuts with flamboyant waves that will make you feel great and fresh during the hot summer. For a short haircut curly waves looks great and also you can add a light color effects on the crown of the head, that set aflame the brighter accents.

SHORT HAIR CUT STYLE FOR WOMEN

Short vs long hairstyles is an old debate and even now you can’t say witch hairstyles is the best because the problem it is discussed in an wrong meaner.Doesn’t have to be one haircut the best, you have to wonder which (short or long hairstyles) is the best for you! And if you are here it means you have decided for short haircuts.So if you like the have some new short hairstyles ideas for 2010 you are where you have to be, here are a lot of articles, ideas and photos for the latest short hairstyles in 2010.But if you have long hair now when you have decided to have short hair, be sure that you won’t regret making this decision.

Latest 2010 short haircut hairstyles for women

Short Pixie Haircut for 2010
Pixie haircut in 2010 can make you look and feel a lot better that other haircuts for the simple facts that is trendy, cute and easy to maintain during the hot summer.Pixie short haircuts bring attention to you facial features and if this is what you want then the pixie haircut is perfect for you.And remember that pixie haircut it is the kind of hairstyle that requires minimum maintenance. If you are a busy girl or don’t want to spend much time for your hair, pixie is the haircut you should look forward to and also for some new pixie haircuts ideas just look at the photos here:

Short Pixie Haircut Hairstyles for Summer 2010

Mughal Style Jewellery

               Unique Mughal Style Gold Rose Cut Diamond Pendant

A Mogul Era inspired handcrafted pendant studded with Diamonds & Very Intricate Enameling. These Diamonds are hand polished in the exact same way as done in the Mogul Era. The Diamonds are picked by trained eyes and selected to make this piece more graceful and closest to the original Mughal Era Jewellery.
Diamond= 6.50 Cts

Centre Single Piece = 1.50 Cts !!! HUGE SIZE !!!

Total Wt. = 37.250 Gms

                                                                        

Ring Rose Cut Diamond

      Rose Cut Diamond Ring are part of very old vintage or antique rings, they must be cared for meticulously to maintain and revitalize their beauty.Because the dome of the diamond will rise higher than the ring, extra precautions are needed to ensure it is not chipped or damaged along the facet points that are the most delicate parts of any diamond shape.

    Rose Cut Diamond Bracelet

These Rose Cut Diamond Bracelet artistically designed pieces of bangles reflect the excellent skill of Mughal Era designs.

     Polki Diamond Pendant

The dazzle of sparkling maroon color by delicate uncut diamonds (Polki) in pendant set sure to make you feel like a princess.

CLOTHES COLOR

Whatever color we pick up to wear, in some way or other is indicative of our personality. Clothes color and personality type are two terms that tell a lot about each other. Color and clothes styling says a lot about your individuality. It is interesting to know about the philosophy of colors. You must have noticed reserved people often choose to attire in sober shades, which do not flash their personality. On the contrary bold men can be often seen wearing dark bright shades that highlight their presence in the crowd.


Red is symbolic of dominance, passion and sensuality. It is a color meant for bold and firm men who love to lead the world. If you want to make a distinctive fashion statement, red is the trick.

Peach and pink shades are indicative of coolness and calm. With pink, you'll look as fresh as a flower.

Black, an all time favorite represents power. Acting as a symbol of elegance, versatility and grace, this color can smoothly sail in all functions.If your focus is on looking neat and clean, white is just apt for you. It indicates purity and simplicity. It is the perfect summer color.

Blue is a color of warmth and trust. It's a fabulous shade that can be found in almost every man's cupboard.

Yellow is the color of beautiful sunflower. It conveys anxiety and alertness of mind. But do not forget it is also the color of deadly fire.

Burgundy is indicative of spirituality. It is a rich color that decides how passionate you are. Burgundy shirt looks stylish.

Green comes from greenery. It is a color of nature with beautiful green leaves, fresh green vegetables. It represents freshness, relaxation and calm.

Brown is meant for classy informal styling. It conveys reliability and trust.

Gray is indicative of the fact tat you are a balanced person in life. It looks elegant and is considered to be brainy. The colors you wear can make or break your look. Color can enhance your facial features, eye color, and shape of your body. It can also work against you by camouflaging your body, accentuating the negative and even changing the perception of your natural coloring. Many people are not aware of which colors do and do not compliment their look. Moreover, a person's favorite color to wear is often the worst possible color for their natural color schema. To figure out which color palette is right for you, just look in the mirror at yourself and take a good inventory by asking a few questions.