Are you unknowingly harming thechild?

One of the most important aspects a parent, especially a mother shares with her child is communication. It is important to be a friend to your child to get into their psyche. Be honest and straightforward with them. These would help improve the relationship with kids.

• Check yourself first: Challenge everyone in the family to observe their own honesty for one week. Keep track of your own lies, white or otherwise, exaggerations and pretenses. Then get together and talk about how easy it is to lapse into some form of dishonesty.
  
• Get together for dinner: Are you unknowingly harming your child? There is great importance in spending quality time during dinner hours.
  
• Family dinners: Only half of urban Indian families finds time to eat dinner together. Making family dinners a priority is not easy, but the long-term benefits are well worth the effort. How ever, it is important to keep it relaxed and pleasurable.
• Sitting down at the table: This is still one of the best ways for families to grow and stay connected.
  
• Money matters: Money gives people- both young and old, decision-making opportunities. You must teach your child how to spend money wisely. Educating; motivating and empowering children to become regular savers and investors will enable them to use their money more efficiently.
  

How to prepare Scrumptious recipe Apple Crumble ?

Apple crumble is a simple, yet scrumptious recipe that can be served either hot or cold .

Ingredients:

• 1 packet digestive biscuits
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup low fat butter/nutralite
• 3 medium size apples
• 2 tbsp cinnamon powder
• 1/2 cup raisins
  
• Honey

Method:

• Crumble the digestive biscuits with two knobs of butter and flatten half the mixture on a baking tray.
• Put in the refrigerator to set.
• Peel and core the apples and chop them finely.
• In a saucepan, add rest of the butter and sugar and stir over a gentle heat.
• Once the sugar has been caramelised, toss in the apples and cinnamon powder and cover it with a lid for about 15 minutes, till it forms a jam like consistency.
• Now add the raisins and pour the entire mixture onto the crumble base.
• Spoon the rest of the crumble on top of the apple mixture and let it set in the refrigerator for an hour.
• Serve with a drizzle of honey.
  

Barbie Launches Rapunzel Barbie

On the auspicious occasion of their 50th anniversary Barbie is all set to entertain her fans with brand new product launches and hoards of activities and promotions. Having enticed the audience in the Lakme Fashion Week, Barbie is all set to woo girls across the world and county with latest innovation from the field of Hair and beauty.

As part of the celebrations Barbie has introduced the most glamorous Princess doll ever- Barbie as Rapunzel. The doll is beautifully dressed in a beautiful lavender and fondant pink gown overlaid with shimmering soft purple tulle. There is a delicate pink ribbon rose which adorns the bodice and she wears a tiara upon her signature long hair. The lovely Rapunzel has a magnificently long hair which almost epitomized her character.

The all new Barbie and Rapunzel is a modern day princess with unique features and a play pattern which combines Princess Play and Hair Play, so girls can enjoy playing and learning with Barbie all this summer! With the newly launched Barbie as Rapunzel Doll and Salon Playset, girls can play out the Rapunzel story, style her tresses for hours altogether making it not just as long as they want but also “cut” it short just like in the fairy-tale!

Little girls may also try out new hairstyles on the Rapunzel Barbie. Barbie and Rapunzel fans can add waves and length to Rapunzel’s hair with some great hair accessories and hair extensions which is packed together in the Barbie as Rapunzel Doll and the amazing Salon Playset.

The impatient Grandmaster, Viswanath Anand remenbers his mom on Mother's Day

• Viswanathan Anand has done what few sports persons in India have achieved. He has captured the hearts of millions of cricket crazy Indians by playing an excellent game of chess. Today the world's chess champion has only seconds, but his first and most important coach was his mother Susheela. 35 years ago, it was Susheela who taught him the moves.
  
• He was not restless, but he was certainly impatient, recalls Susheela of her early mentoring years. While playing chess, he would make a move but was unable to wait for the opponent to play his move. He wanted to make the second move immediately. Occasionally she used to tell him to study the board carefully but perhaps he could see more than she could.
  
• Sushila could never play competitive chess, but there was no nice little tribute from a chess lover some time back who said that she would easily become a Grandmaster herself, if she had taken the game seriously. The if is a big hypothectical uncertainity, she is happy playing her role as mother, mentor and guide to perfection.
• Her contribution to Anand's success is legendary and she found the perfect foil in her daughter-in-law Aruna to continue the same work that she had put in while defining the progress of her son.
• The mother and son share an easy relationship. Anand still talks of his mother as though he is a child roaming in the family garden, waiting for her to pamper him. She has always been there for me, he says. Those few words explain it all- The month spent on the road participating in tournaments, the treats that they enjoyed after every win. Anand hsd travelled all over India and abroad with his mother and became good friends. She used to give him an Archie comic and Tintin whenever he won. He remembered his playing in Delhi and said after every win he would run for an icecream or a kulfi.
• The initial years were very tough and they could have to stay with their relatives or friends whenever they were abroad. They used to save money and used to go out for a meal. But Anand's favourite homecooked food is Spinach sambar, lime rasam and potato curry.
  
• The adjectives that define a young Anand -active and impatient-contradict the very nature of the game that he is a master of. Sitting patiently over a board was not his forte. His impatience is not limited to chess alone. It was the same with tennis laughed Susheela, but he was always to easy to handle.
• Anand recalls instances when his mother would deprive him of his walkman when he became too difficult to handle.
  
• Born in Chennai on December 11, 1969 to Viswanathan and Susheela, Anand grew up with his older brother and sister in a household that encouraged extra-curricular activities. Carrom was the family's game of choice. Susheela said, he used to be good in carrom too and as an afterthought she added that he never gave her any problems when he was a child.
• Like any mother, eager to divulge those embarrassing childhood incidents their adult children would prefer buried in the family's skeletal cupboard, said Susheela when his father went to Zambia he brought home a big doll, and Anand played with it for a long time dayin and dayout.
  
• The Grandmaster narrated his own embarrassing experience while attempting to buy a sari for his mother with the pocket money he had saved. He was in Dubai at that time and he asked the ladies team what size sari he should buy for his mom he said sheepishly. Of course, they burst out laughingly. He added that his mother still wears that sari.
• Anand's mother Susheela recalled that her older siblings took care of him when he was a child. Even if she said something about Anand, they would react.
• The one life lesson that his mom ensured he incorporates into his daily life was to never forget one's mistakes. There was this time when he lost the game, and his mom said that he had been too careless and had to think about his mistakes when he lost the game. He said that he was so angry that he wrote down all his opponent's move as brilliant and his as questionable. Even today, when he sees that notebook, he remembers how angry he was. But he learned an invaluable lesson that day. Today, after every tournament,he writes down all his thoughts and mistakes. It helps him remember.
• The Anand's are a family that thrive on love, discipline and ability to enjoy life. She is a very patient mom. We share the need for a cool room, a warm blanket and a afternoon siesta, said Anand. He does not need that one day in the year to tell his mom he loves her. Every time he is with her, it is special and he feels 12 again.
  

Want to study in Singapore with Scholarship ?

• Singapore is one of the most preferred destinations for higher education. The universities with the cutting edge technologies, superior research facilities, and the ability and the foresight to transform the right minds into dynamic professionals has a recognition for education in Singapore.
  
• Students who have completed the Singapore Cambridge GCEO level qualification, equivalent to the Indian class X may apply to one of over 17 junior colleges in Singapore for a 2 year pre-university course, leading to the Singapore Cambridge GCEA level examination.
  
• Singapore's 3 local universities rank among Asia's best, and offer internationally recognised undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes, as well as research and scholarship options in various disciplines. In addition to this, an array of leading international universities have established their presence in Singapore, either by setting up a campus or through collaborations with local universities.
  
• Further the list of private schools that attained the certification are available on: Case trust and SQC
• A Star India Youth Scholarship: A full scholarship offered by the agency for science, technology and research for outstanding students from India to pursue 4 years of secondary and pre-university studies in Singapore, leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCE level or equivalent. Secondary 3 level studies will commence in 2010 at selected Singapore schools for successful candidates.
  
• Annual allowance of s$2200 (secondary level) and s$2400 (pre-university level)
  
• Settling in allowance of s$400 (once only).
• Exemption from school and examination fees.
• hostel accomodation.
• Subsidised medical benefits and accident insurance cover.
• Return economy clsss air passage at the start and end of the scholarship term.
• For more information visit: astar
• Singapore Airlines Youth Scholarship: Full scholarship for outstanding students from India to pursue 2 years pre-university studies in Singapore, leading to the Singapore-Cambridge GCEA level or equivalent. Studies in Singapore at selected junior colleges will commence in 2010 for successful candidates.
  
• Who can apply: Indian nationals
• Born between 1991 and 1993.
• completed Standard X in the year 2009.
• Possess outstanding academic track record (an average of 85%) with English as first language in the Standard X State/ National examinations.
• Value of Award:
  
• Annual allowance of s$2400.
• Settling in allowance of s$500 (once only).
• Exemption from school and examination fees.
• Hostel accomodation.
• Subsidised medical benefits and accident insurance cover.
• Return economy class air passage at the start and the end of the scholarship term.
• For more details visit: SIA Youth Scholarship
• Register your interest at: Notification For Scholarship
  

How to boost your self-esteem?

The world today has become sadly, a very unhappy place to live in. Recession, tension at work, worries at home-just about anything can get you feeling down in the dumps and miserable about yourself. If you find yourself a victim of low self-esteem, then here are some ways to get back on track and feel good about yourself.

• Complement yourself: Instead of expecting your best friend to tell you that you look good in the new shirt, go ahead and complement yourself. It could be something as simple as telling yourself "I like the way that conversation went" or something like "I think I look nice today." Always make sure that the positive aspects are highlighted.
• Give yourself a make over: A make over is a great way to boost your self-esteem. Put on your best clothes, perfume and lipstick and you are ready to go. Make sure you get someone to click pictures of you looking in your best and whenever you feel down, remind yourself that you are goodlooking and life can be fun.
• Work out: Being physically fit can be a great emotional booster. Well, you don't have to look like John Abraham or Kareena Kapoor but you sure can shed those extra pounds that you have been wanting to since for ever. You will be great, look great and exude possitive energy.
  
• Change: Have something about you that you are not so fond of? It can be as simple as a habit that yiu dislike or some feature of your body. As far as your body feature goes, try to understand why you dislike it so much. Most of the time, the reason could be something shallow or superficial. This realisation will help you to boost your self-esteem. If you are unhappy about some habit of yourself then try your best to call it a day.
• Treat yourself: Set aside some quality time for yourself. For me time is not some thing that is to be spent in misery or wallowing in self pity, but to have fun. Catch up on that movie or play that you have heard so much about during the weekend or just walk your dog in the nearby park.
• Get away from people who put you down: These people simply cannot stand the fact that you are happy with life. Most likely, such people lead empty lives themselves. It would do wonders for yourself if you get away from these people.
• Be a good samaritan: What goes around, comes around. Do something good for someone else and you will be surprised at how good you feel at the end of it.
  

TEACHER STUDENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TEACHER : "Can anybody give an example of "COINCIDENCE?"
PAPPU : "Sir, my Mother and Father got married on the same day, same time."

TEACHER : "George Washington not only chopped down his father's Cherry tree, but also admitted doing it. Now do you know why his father didn't punish him?"
PAPPU : "Because George still had the axe in his hand?"

PAPPU : Daddy, have you ever been to Egypt?
FATHER : No. Why do you ask that?
PAPPU: Well, where did you get THIS mummy then?

TEACHER : What a pair of strange socks you are wearing, one is green and one is blue with red spots !
PAPPU: Yes it's really strange. I've got another pair just like that at home.

TEACHER : Now, PAPPU, tell me frankly do you say prayers before eating ?
PAPPU: No sir, I don't have to, my mom is a good cook.

TEACHER : PAPPU, your composition on "My Dog" is exactly the same as your brother's. Did you copy his ?
PAPPU: No, teacher, it's the same dog !

TEACHER : What do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested?
PAPPU: A teacher

Learn a foreign language and be assured to get a job

• Normally considered unconventional, students of foreign languages are now beating their counterparts in technical courses to jobs, thanks to a healthy demand for their skills. Students of French, German, Spanish and Japanese and other languages are waiting to be picked up for c in IT firms or as school teachers.
• Websites require employees who can compare product features in foreign languages using technical terms. IT companies that are based abroad but need local operators to man the site in the required language pay very well. As a lot of students work as high school teachers in theri second year, there are plenty of opportunities for them out of college. In fact they take up part time work at two or three schools.
• Placement is not an issue and it is a surprise that in times like these when proficiency in a foreign language can give candidates an edge over others, students are not jumping at the chance to enroll in such courses. In fact, the demand is such that many of the students get snapped up even before they complete the course.
• 5 year integrated course in French studies are available now in various universities to improve the quality of students. The integrated course has several components, including culture and translation studies completion of which will get the students certificates of merit at the end of each of the 5 years of study . This means that a student after 5 years will have the degree plus 5 certificates of merit when he or she approaches the companies for jobs.
• The number of candidates taking the Japanese language proficiency test had increased from less than 400 in 1999 to more than 2000 in 5 years. Now housewives who want to do translational work and software engineers who aim to act as a bridge and those who are looking to do literary, technical and drawing translation work are taking these tests.
  
• With several Japanese automobile giants setting up plants here, tourists coming from Japan for various reasons and new Japanese management concepts being introduced in Indian companies, a candidate proficient in the language has nothing to fear from the recession.