towel-washing wisdom

So, I discovered that you cannot wash towels of different colours in the same washload.

This is not (as I presumed when I read this same advice on another website) because the towels may run colour. It's because they SPEW lint and bits of thread in the spin-dry phase. Which basically means that my beautiful solid-black towel is now coated with infinite bits and pieces of white and pink from the other towels. :( Hopefully, the next wash will fix it!

Here's the main advice I now have for washing towels in the washing machine, gleaned from the Internet, my mom and my own two towel washloads so far!

Top tips for washing towels in the washing machine

• Do NOT use fabric softener. Use normal liquid/powder detergent.
• Wash towels of similar colours together.
• Put the towels through multiple spin dry cycles to get rid of flecks of thread and lint.
• Dry the towels immediately after to prevent the smell of dampness and mildew (that indicates bacteria is breeding, by the way).

Happy towelling!

Picture source: Waterworks

getting creative on Christmas: handmade decorations!

After a frantic search for Christmas ornaments in my new hometown, I came to the realisation that there were none to be found - this being an Islamic country and all.

Now, the husband and I are not Christian but we've grown up celebrating Christmas and it's a festival very close to my heart. There's no way it could be just another day, without any holiday spirit and accessories! So it was off to the stationery store, where I bought paper supplies, scissors and glue. 

Google searches quickly yielded Christmas tree and star cutout patterns. Now, I have NEVER been a crafts person, but these were simple enough! Print out the pattern and cut it out. Then hold it over the paper and trace the outline. Cut out and you have a tree/star/whatever pattern catches your fancy!

Also found an issue of a "Holidays Special" shopping pamphlet from Sri Lanka. Proceeded to cut out decorations and use them shamelessly :)

Take a look at the Christmas table!

mix and match: stir-fry chicken and kang-kung greens with jasmine rice

Yesterday, I attempted to cook a real meal after about a year and a half – quite the daunting prospect! Since the husband and I have been staying in a hotel for a long time now, we’ve had to live with room service. (While this was AWESOMELY convenient at one level, I did miss the freedom of having my own kitchen and cooking anything I felt like.)

The ingredients were a mish-mash from all over.

I had brought back a pack of Pakistani jasmine rice and chicken stock cubes from our recent Sri Lanka trip. The supermarket down the road from our new place stocks great frozen chicken breast. And the local market on the island had lovely, locally-grown kang-kung – an Asian variety of greens, halfway between spinach and lettuce.

So I decided to make stir-fried chicken and kang-kung greens, with fragrant jasmine rice. Nothing too fancy, but it turned out to be pretty tasty!

I did a regular chicken stir-fry, adding some gravy towards the end (chicken stock and cornflour) – this softened the chicken pieces and the gravy was nicely infused with all the stir-fry flavours. Then I separated the sauce and added in the kang-kung stalks along with the chicken and stir fried for another minute or two.

Finally, I added in the kang-kung leaves. As soon as they wilted, I threw in the sauce, stirred everything for a minute and served on steamed jasmine rice! The rice was cooked on the stove (2 parts water to 1 part rice) in a covered pot, with a dash of olive oil and salt. 

washload worries

I faced and conquered a Herculean task today -- I ran my very first washload ever!

To be honest, I felt like a total idiot pretty much the entire time. I have never used a washing machine befor. I knew NOTHING, and was desperately wishing I had observed my mum more carefully during washing-machine operations at my parents' home. (But of course, I must have been reading/surfing the internet/talking on the phone or going out with friends. Present Me is shaking her head at Past Me!)

Anyhow, right from how many clothes it was okay to put in and whether I could put all kinds of stuff in together, to what kind of detergent to buy and where to put it...the process was a deep mystery. 

The machine? A top-loading Toshiba. The product booklet was NO HELP AT ALL. The English section had obviously been translated from Japanese by someone with a very rudimentary knowledge of the English language -- it made no sense half the time and contradicted itself in a million places.

Anyway, by perusing each line of booklet text closely, calling up hazy memories of washloads at home, applying some common sense, and staring at the machine long enough, I finally managed to get it right :) 

I used a liquid detergent (Dynamo, the pink one), figuring out that I had to put it in the little bleach container on the side. I put in the clothes firmly but loosely -- although I think my load had one pair of jeans too many. I left out 2-3 delicates and 1 shirt that looked like it would probably run a bit of colour. I set the water level accordingly and chose the regular wash-rinse-dry cycle.

And, voila! In half an hour, I was the proud take-outer of a ton of freshly washed, gorgeously clean, damp, fragrant clothes!

(Has anyone in the history of the universe ever been this excited about washing clothes? I THINK NOT.)

Ko-Lanka: a find in Sri Lanka!

I am still in the midst of shopping in Colombo in Sri Lanka, mostly for boring household items like serving spoons, dal (lentils), towels, etc. However, I made a trip to Barefoot earlier today - a popular shop-cafe-and-art-gallery, mostly frequented by well-heeled locals, expats and tourists. 

While we were staying in Sri Lanka, the husband and I used to pop over to Barefoot every now and then (especially for the Sunday wine brunches with live music). I would "ooh" and "aah" over all the beautiful, colourful, tasteful items in the store and wish I had an apartment to put them in. (However, many of the items are MOST certainly overpriced although this does not matter that much if you're spending in dollars or euros.)

This time when I went, I entered the Barefoot store from the front door (I usually come in through the cafe), and discovered an adjoining shop called Ko-Lanka. I spotted some beautiful dinner napkins in the shop window and walked in to find a veritable treasure trove of gorgeous handicraft items - cushion covers, mats, dinner napkins, toys, clothes.... Lovely, elegant things - most of them very similar to Barefoot merchandise and quite a bit cheaper!  I went back and forth between the two shops a bit and here's what I found:

• A single dinner napkin in Barefoot is LKR 450. A set of 6 dinner napkins in Ko-Lanka is LKR 550. (Yes, the Barefoot napkin has slight scalloping on the edges but NOT enough to warrant this price difference.)
• The SAME toy in Barefoot and Ko-Lanka has a price difference of LKR 200!
• The kurtas (long shirts/tops for men and women) are far more beautiful in Ko-Lanka. Much better fabrics and fits, especially if you're not a fan of the new-age, shapeless shifts favoured by the Barefoot designers. And Ko-Lanka has (surprise, surprise) better pricing.

In the end, I bought almost everything I wanted from Ko-Lanka -- 3 lovely kurtas, a bunch of handloom toys for my nephews and nieces, dinner napkins, a floor mat, and a few other items.

The only things I picked up from Barefoot were a pair of adorable baby booties for a newborn niece and the lovely candle-stand (see in picture above) that simply called out to me and would not be denied (LKR 600).

All in all, Ko-Lanka is going to be my first go-to shop next time I want items of this sort. Will head to Barefoot only for items I don't find next-door, and maybe for a quick bite in the lovely, breezy, green cafe. (I recommend the beef sandwiches and tuna salad, especially.)

shopping in sri lanka

Hello Sri Lanka!

Reached Colombo city today... I'm going to be here for the next 4 days, shopping for my new home in a small coastal town in the Indian Ocean! Why am I shopping in Colombo? Because the town I've just moved to has EXORBITANTLY high prices for most grocery items when compared with the rest of the South Asia region.

I plan to buy a few kitchen essentials (a deep frying pan/stockpot, serving spoons, melamine bowls to serve meals in), dry grocery items (lentils, rice, pasta), bathroom & linen items (towels, razor blades, cushion covers) and decorative items (a few things from the lovely boutique home decor shops in Colombo).

It's lovely to be in Sri Lanka again: it's such a warm, gorgeous, healing place. Amazing food, amazing people -- sounds like an island cliche, but it's SO true!

Here's wishing me some productive shopping, catching up with old friends, and eating deelish food like the droolworthy prawns at Gallery Cafe below! *slurp*

the breakfast club corner

Mostly finished unpacking today: just the paintings, larger decorative items and my bags and shoes are still lying in cartons.

Take a quick look at what I'm now calling "the breakfast club corner": cereal, coffee and different kinds of tea! 

I decided to put all this stuff together on a small open shelf -- we use these items every morning and I reach for one of the teas at least 2-3 times a day! This was it's accessible and also looks very attractive. Adds a pop of colour to the kitchen :)

moving day!

We've finally moved into the new place! Today morning saw us getting here bright and early with the packers. By noon, all the worldly possessions we had brought with us were lying in the kitchen. The day was spent unpacking and organising about half the boxes. 

Most of the clothes and kitchen items were at the top of our priority list, followed by books, DVDs and some decorative items to make the place look homey. Although we've had to leave most of our books and movies in storage in Delhi, we have some perennial favourites and a few new titles with us.

Check out the bookshelf -- it's my own interpretation of the gorgeous shelf unit I wrote about in a recent post. The shelf unit was already there. Everything else is ours, including some souvenirs picked up during our travels and a few cherished gift items from family and friends.

frying pan in the bag!

I found and bought the most gorgeous non-stick frying pan -- I think this one's going to keep me satisfied in the kitchen! It's the "Issencia" model from the Tefal range.

Features I love:

• It's BEAUTIFULLY non-stick -- things just roll off it!
• It's got a Thermo-Spot (patented Tefal technology), which indicates the perfect cooking temperature at which you can add the ingredients and turn the heat down. This is great since non-stick coating is supposed to become toxic at too-high temperatures.
• It's got optimal heat distribution -- things cook at the same rate in each part of the pan.
• It's HUGE. I bought the 28-inch model and was able to make a generous helping of sauteed chicken and kangkung comfortably.
• Best of all, it was on sale! :)

blend it right

After the recent confusion about which blender best suited my needs, I finally reached a decision today. I'm going to go with the dull but dependable blender (Philips HR 2011/70, to the left).

I think the more funky mini-blender (Philips HR 2870/60, to the right) would be a great addition to an established kitchen, which already has a primary blender. In summer, you could put it on the countertop instead of storing it away and make smoothies/iced coffee whenever frequently.


But for a new kitchen like mine, which is in the process of being set up, I think I need a tougher and more versatile blender that can do more than make smoothie. I want to be able to chop hard walnuts, blend tomatoes for soup, churn a litre of milk...all of which the basic, no-fuss single unit can handle.

Here are some points to consider when you're planning to buy a blender/mixie.

Top tips to choose the right blender for you:

• Capacity: Jar capacity varies from 500 ml to 3 litres. Do you cook in large quantities? How many people do you prepare food for? Also, do you have the space to store a larger blender?
• Wattage: Power typically varies from 250 watts to 750 watts amongst household blenders. Choose lower-wattage blenders if you're going to blend dressings and sauces; go for a higher-wattage model if you're keen to blend large quantities of food or crush ice.
• Material: Glass jars are sturdier but more expensive, while plastic jars are flimsier but more affordable. If it's a long-time purchase, try and go for glass. Also, is the footing (the base on which the jar rests) sturdy and well-balanced? If not, it could topple while in operation.
• Speed: Multiple speed settings will allow you to blend different ingredients best. A pulse feature is also helpful - it allows the chunky food items to stop and start and fall downwards to the blade for better impact. Less time, smoother blend!
• Cord: If you're planning to leave the blender on your countertop, look for one with a cord-storage feature. It'll look neat and be safer.
• Features: Opt for a model with numerous jars/multi-function units only if you plan to use the blender for food processing (whip cream, chop spices, etc.). If your main aim is to blend, stick with a simpler, no-frills model.
• Budget: If you're a nomad like me, and move every few years, stick with a basic model. If you're planning to use the same blender for a number of years, splurge and get one that works for you and your kitchen!

Happy blending!


Picture source: Philips

the declutter drive: wardrobe

Organising all our stuff and getting rid of things my husband and I don't need is a top-of-mind issue for me at the moment. Our new place is really small, and I'm wondering how on earth it's going to contain everything we have and still look pretty.

Of course, the keywords in the last sentence are "everything we have". I really do think we have too much, especially when it comes to our wardrobes. I gave away bags and bags of stuff to charity before we moved to this city. Still, I think I need to be more ruthless and whittle down our wardrobes further. It's hard, but I really want to create a small yet AWESOME collection of clothes, shoes and bags that work for us!

There are a few great tips I've learned over the years/found online about how to declutter and organise your wardrobe. Simple, practical advice. I'm looking forward to implementing a couple of these as soon as I can unpack our boxes!

Top tips to declutter your wardrobe

• Sentimental-schmentimental: I love keepsakes as much as the next person. But I know I sometimes use sentiment as a way to hoard things - even clothes! ("I wore this on my six-month anniversary." "My mom made this when she was a fashion designer." "My best friend gave me that on my 25th birthday.") It's good to have keepsakes but be reasonable at the same time. E.g., my mom has given me 10-15 things designed by her - I should keep the 5-6 I really love instead of hanging on to items that are completely worn out or don't fit me well anymore.
• All together, now: Bring all your stuff out at once. You have to get messy to get organised! I did this a few months before my wedding, when I was preparing to move - and I was SHOCKED by the sheer volume of clothes I had stored and gave away a ton of stuff to my staff and to a great disaster-relief organisation in Delhi. I think it's time for my system to be shocked again.
• Repurpose: Is there something you may use more if it were altered, or turned into something else entirely? Perhaps a sari that would work better as a suit? Or a gaudy scarf that would make some great curtain ties? I had a gorgeously patterned long dress that I never wore because the pattern overwhelmed my petite frame when it covered me from top to bottom. So I cut it up: the top half became a blouse, and the bottom half became a scarf!
• Build variety: Assess items that are similar. Do you have 5 pairs of blue jeans? Or 4 yellow t-shirts? Chances are you only regularly reach for the ones that fit you well and suit you. Get rid of the others. If there are a bunch of clothes you really love but have worn ALL THE TIME over the past year, donate them/put them into a suitcase under the bed. Get out of your comfort zone and give yourself a chance to love other clothes! Not only will these methods create space, they'll also help refresh your look and style.
• Zero tolerance: Be strict with yourself. If there's a hole or a stain in something, chuck it. If it has faded patches, throw it. If you haven't worn it in 2 years but are keeping it "just in case" (just in case what? they stop making clothes we like?), bin it. Once it's thrown, don't second-guess yourself. I've debated endlessly about throwing certain items and honestly, 2 months later I don't even remember what I threw!
• The reverse-hanger trick: Put all your hanging clothes in the closet with the hangers facing one way. Whenever you wear an item, put it back with the hanger facing the other way. In a few months, you’ll get a pretty good sense of which items you’re not wearing. Get rid of these!

Okay, that's it for now. Once I complete this daunting task, I'll write another post consolidating all the best tips and advice on decluttering and cleaning out wardrobes.

Picture source: neenjames

dressing up a small apartment

Our new apartment is very, very small - so it's going to be imperative to blend beauty with functionality. Also, given that it's already pretty much furnished, buying special furniture items for small spaces isn't really an option.

Luckily, we have a tall standard shelf unit, midway between the open kitchen and the living room. I absolutely LOVE the shelf concept in the picture below: a few colourful books, some pretty crockery, a couple of decorative items, and concealed storage. It's practical AND it looks great!

I'm thinking books, DVDs, jars of dry fruit and some pretty glasses on the top shelves. Maybe add a few decorative items in front of the books and DVDs. For the lower space, I doubt I'll be able to get drawers like this where I live, but I can certainly get my hands on some cane baskets with lids or some such. Could use those to store linen methinks.

Am very excited about this unit. The problem of storage has been keeping me up at night...a few more ideas like this one and I may just manage to solve the mystery of where to store our stuff!

UPDATE: You can see how my version of this storage shelf unit turned out here.

Picture source: Better Homes and Gardens

to airfry or not to airfry?

Close on the heels of yesterday's blender-related bewilderment, I am now facing yet another kitchen dilemma! Should I buy one of these nifty looking Philips airfryers or not?

The revolutionary concept is that the gadget uses hot air to fry foods, using minimal oil - so cooking in the airfryer is healthier than deep frying.

If I were setting up my kitchen once and for all, I'd get one without a second thought - although it is substantially more expensive this side of the world than in the U.K. or the U.S. (No discounted prices yet - it's too new!) But given that I may have to sell it/give it away in two years, I'm wondering if it's worth the price?

I like the idea of being able to make healthy chips once in a while, but I'm not a big fan of eating potatoes too frequently. I'm more excited about using it to airfry other things we traditionally deep fry: okra (ladies' fingers), cauliflower, spinach, bitter gourd... Otherwise, in our attempts to eat healthy, we rarely consume these vegetables in fried form - even though they're super-tasty!

I heart the white model and it would fit in perfectly with my planned kitchen colours, but I suspect it's an older model because I can't seem to locate it on the Philips website. The black is super-sleek but would look terribly out of place.

Plus, people who've used it have mixed feelings about it. (I've been reading the reviews online, especially on Amazon.) Some say it's the best kitchen investment they've ever made, while others say it's an expensive mistake!

Unfortunately, I don't know a single person who owns one. I'd love to get more user info about the kinds of food you can cook in the airfryer and whether it turns out well. Most of the U.K./U.S. reviews are focused on chips and chicken nuggets.

At its high price point, I think I'll give this item a skip until I hear some feedback from people I know or Philips offers a discount in my area. (The husband is also going to check out the pricing in the Dubai Duty Free Store on his way back from a business trip. Perhaps we'll get lucky!)

PS - Whether or not my husband and I buy the airfryer, both sets of parents are definitely getting one each as a present from us! My mom and my mom-in-law have elevated cholesterol levels, and both find it hard to steer clear of yummy fried foods. So this will be a PERFECT addition to their kitchens.

Picture source: Philips

bewildered by blenders

Since my last place of residence was a hotel, my (now extremely limited) kitchen supplies are currently in storage at my grandmother's house in New Delhi. I plan to get a few things from there when I next make a trip (March 2013 in all likelihood), including a cherished waffle-maker, a great electric kettle, and a brand-new sushi set. 

As is obvious from the items above, the soon-to-be-mine kitchen needs to be set up pretty much from scratch! One of my key purchases is going to be a countertop blender, so I'm learning how to choose the right type.

I don't need it it to be too fancy; just something basic and reliable to make soups, smoothies and ice-blended coffee drinks. (There are no Starbucks or CBTL outlets in this town!) Perhaps I could use it to chop veggies as well...?

Philips is a great brand - my mum's bought their stuff for years and it's served her well. I've been going back and forth between these two Philips models:

The no-fuss single unit (on the left) has a 1.5 litre jar so I can use it even when I occasionally cook for guests. It has a five-star serrated blade and multiple blending speeds. It comes with a tough and efficient mill for grinding hard things like coffee beans. The whole unit requires little space for usage and storage.

The downside? There's a single jar for all functions. Plus it looks rather dull! (But it's pleasant enough to look at. Does boring really matter if it gets the job done?)

The mini-blender (on the right) has a 600 ml jar so it's primarily meant for a two-person household like mine. It also has a separate vegetable chopper and a smoothie beaker to carry. I love the fresh, funky colour - I've already bought some lime-green accented cutlery and assorted kitchen items, so it'll fit in perfectly.

The downside? It has only 2 speeds (do I really need more?) and a three-star blade. It will also require slightly more space for storage.

The prices of both are more or less the same so that's not a deciding factor.

Sadly, writing this down hasn't clarified my thoughts at all - I'm still as torn between the two blenders. I'm going to put off the decision for a few days and come back to it!

Picture source: Philips