By thoughtfully shaping your courtyard space to promote mindfulness, you can create an urban sanctuary right at home. Follow these key elements for designing an unplugged courtyard that nourishes mental and spiritual wellbeing.

Focused Simplicity

To encourage being present, opt for simple, focused design in your courtyard. Too many decorative objects or cluttered arrangements compete for attention, causing distraction. Instead, select just a few handcrafted, natural items such as a stone Buddha, ceramic lanterns, or wooden chimes. Let negative space and clean lines allow your mind to unclench. Place elements intentionally to shape a calm flow. Simplicity clears mental chatter.

Natural Materials

Incorporate natural materials that soothe the spirit and connect you to the elements. Flowing water, rustling leaves, fragrant flowers and textured stones engage your senses, acting as meditative focal points. Choose sustainable, unpolished materials like weathered terra cotta, hand-hewn stones, rattan and linen. Avoid synthetic materials that disrupt nature’s calming essence. Surround yourself with elements from the earth and sky to feel part of the natural world.

Plant Life

Nothing ushers in serenity like living plants. Fill your courtyard with lush, leafy greens to purify the air while calming nerves. Herbs like lavender and mint please the senses with their scents. Cluster pots overflowing with flowering plants to attract butterflies and birdsong. A small garden synthesizes nature’s healing gifts—sunlight, soil, rain and life itself. Tend to plants patiently to practice mindfulness. Let their tranquility rub off on you.

Water Features

The soothing trickle of water has an instantly relaxing effect. Add a miniature waterfall or slender bamboo fountain to your courtyard to moisten the air with pleasant white noise. Sit near as the play of water washes away stress. Place vessels or hollows to catch the overflow, focusing attention on each droplet. Reflecting pools, streams and birdbaths can also impart water’s restorative essence.

Seating for Contemplation

Your unplugged courtyard should offer comfortable seating arrangements crafted from natural materials to invite rest and reflection. Position chairs and benches in peaceful spots with inspiring views. Clear space for yoga, meditation or journaling. Add wide cushions for lounging on the ground. Hammocks stretched between trees encapsulate relaxation. Curate multiple tranquil vignettes to discover through moments of contemplation.

Soothing Scents

Fill your nostrils and lungs with nature’s aromatic offerings. Grow herbs and flowers chosen for their calming scents like lavender, jasmine and lemon balm. Set out bowls of dried petals or diffusers with essential oils. Perhaps place a small censer for burning resins like frankincense or rosemary when needed. Deep breaths of soothing botanicals quiet the body and mind.

Wind Chimes and Art

Add auditory and visual details that prompt awareness. Hang wind chimes made of natural materials to trigger focus through soothing sounds. Select one sculptural artwork as a focal point for meditation. Or curate a tiny gallery with inspirational prints and spiritual symbols. Simplify the visual landscape to avoid overstimulation—just small mindful touches.

Night Lighting

As the sun sets, lighting takes on a key role in your peaceful courtyard. Use solar lamps to define garden pathways and accent plants. Hang lanterns and candles to create a serene glow. Opt for a contained fire pit or chiminea for flickering ambience. Consider installing moon garden plants that open at night. Lighting transforms your sanctuary into a place of tranquility after dark.

Eliminate Technology

Resist any urge to add television, speakers or distracting gadgets to your space. Screens and noise disrupt the tranquility. Allow human voices, wind chimes and songbirds to be the only sounds. Remove visible clocks to prevent anxiety about time. Switch devices to silent mode before entering your sanctuary space. Return to the present moment through your senses alone.

Conclusion

Crafting an intentionally designed, technology-free courtyard oasis provides refuge from the stress of modern living. Follow these principles to create a personal sanctuary that immerses you in nature’s restorative gifts. Let your unplugged courtyard be a space for nourishment, mindfulness and contemplation as you disconnect from technology and reconnect with yourself.

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Pre-covid times:Finding beauty in unlikely placesSeeking peace in unknown lands In covid times:Finding beauty in the warmth of the bedSeeking peace in the storytelling of books and motion picturesAnd then frantically searching for the related memes on social media

Maybe at this time, we can seek the brightness within.Who knows the outer vibrancy might come to us soon!

We will bask in such views again,But first we have to wade throughThese murky waters of pandemicLearn from the previous wavesAnd take all safety precautions.

Why toxic positivity is dangerous?While law of attraction & positivity affirmations work very well in a normal situation, what can be said about a super volcanic pressure cooker circumstance such as this pandemic? Stress is a normal response of our adrenaline glands/nervous system to any challenge – adrenaline & cortisol released help us in thinking…

There is no relation between reduced immunity and periods. Period.If it really was, then we’ll get be getting all sorts of viral & bacterial infections during menses and the ensuing immune system reactions such as fever, cough etc. If you cannot scientifically explain reduced immunity during periods, then don’t spread misinformation about not…

How can we as citizens help in the current situation?By only going out of our homes for essential activities and masking, social distancing and washing our face & hands after coming back.If you have recovered from covid (28 days at least), please donate your plasma. You can save lives.If you are active on social media,…

Old picture from 2018In the erstwhile years, the empty country roads always invited me to sit & get clicked on them. Looks like I’ll have to sit on the floors of my home and surround myself with paintings of conifers to relish that feeling!

Old picture from 2019I wonder what to write today, I am at a loss for words. I’m not sure whether it is the writer’s block or the mental block resulting from the helpless situation we are surrounded by. It is getting challenging to even meditate or to shoot recipes or to simply keep calm. I…

The post Covid appeared first on Gluttony Guilts.

The packaging is quite pretty for me – a section of strawberry adorning the logo. It definitely creates a good first impression and continues on with these amazing dishes :

Lettuce and kale salad : What more do you want in a salad when it is freshly made, healthy and crunchy? Talk about crispy lettuce, soft kale and olives and boom, if you have a winner! Not to forget their lovely dressing – a type of tartar sauce which they have improvised and I loved the change.

Poached chicken dimsums : After having poached dimsums, I am thinking of switching to them because they are super healthy and ohhh-so-fresh! The minced chicken is finely made and there are no added zingy or spicy flavours in it. The best part is that the skin is made of wheat flour and it is thin enough to not let you feel its bulkiness. Wheat momos are pretty heavy, but hey, health nuts just made them lighter and tastier!

Chicken Powerhouse : Juicy chicken steaks topped with garlic based tomato sauce and broccoli. The dish is quite good to taste but the broccoli was not fresh – you can actually see the yellow portions.

Brown Rice : The usual brown rice can get monotonous, so why not spruce it up with the fine jullienes of bell peppers and tomatoes and small broccoli cubes? Kind of like our very own Pulao. Power packed nutrients and taste in one hell of a dish!

Strawberry and chocolate yoghurt parfait : The combination of chocolate brownie and sweet yoghurt can work well and this dish proved it. The brownie is so well grounded and mixed well with the freshest and smooth yoghurt and topped with strawberry syrup. The presence of small bits of walnuts provide a crunchy texture to an otherwise smooth parfait.

Dark Chocolate Kheer : Not recommended at all! The kheer tastes as if it has not stewed well and the presence of long grained rice instead of the medium or small medium variety make this dish a downer. When you are making a kheer, it is better to use smaller grained rice so that when the kheer gets thick, the small grains complement it well. The presence of dark chocolate makes it difficult to eat.

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Engrossed in a movieAnd binging on junk foodTaking the worried mindAnd a racing heart to sleepI never knew the miracles of the night.

Maybe at this time, we can seek the brightness within.Who knows the outer vibrancy might come to us soon!

We will bask in such views again,But first we have to wade throughThese murky waters of pandemicLearn from the previous wavesAnd take all safety precautions.

Why toxic positivity is dangerous?While law of attraction & positivity affirmations work very well in a normal situation, what can be said about a super volcanic pressure cooker circumstance such as this pandemic? Stress is a normal response of our adrenaline glands/nervous system to any challenge – adrenaline & cortisol released help us in thinking…

There is no relation between reduced immunity and periods. Period.If it really was, then we’ll get be getting all sorts of viral & bacterial infections during menses and the ensuing immune system reactions such as fever, cough etc. If you cannot scientifically explain reduced immunity during periods, then don’t spread misinformation about not…

How can we as citizens help in the current situation?By only going out of our homes for essential activities and masking, social distancing and washing our face & hands after coming back.If you have recovered from covid (28 days at least), please donate your plasma. You can save lives.If you are active on social media,…

Old picture from 2018In the erstwhile years, the empty country roads always invited me to sit & get clicked on them. Looks like I’ll have to sit on the floors of my home and surround myself with paintings of conifers to relish that feeling!

Old picture from 2019I wonder what to write today, I am at a loss for words. I’m not sure whether it is the writer’s block or the mental block resulting from the helpless situation we are surrounded by. It is getting challenging to even meditate or to shoot recipes or to simply keep calm. I…

The post Pandemic Life appeared first on Gluttony Guilts.

No crackers – air pollution levels and green-house gases levels are already high. If one person burns crackers, then it might not have appreciable effects but if crores burn on the same day, then obviously the effect is widespread. Use organic colours for making rangoli. Metal based colours are toxic and even when you wash them, they enter water and ultimately the food-chain. They are harmful even when they get suspended in air when you sweep them. Shop from local vendors – you are supporting local economy and making Diwali joyful for local businesses too! Use paper-based decorations instead of plastic ones. Plastic in any form is toxic and micro-plastics have already entered our food-chain. Gift eco-friendly or sustainable gifts that spread happiness for us as well as the environment. Use/buy glass or wooden jars instead of plastic ones. Use flowers for decoration – they are sustainable and spread beautiful aroma around and you will not be requiring any room-fresheners. When the flowers get spoiled, you can use them for composting. Lighting diyas and natural wax candles is always better than using electric lights – you are saving electricity fir essential activities. Petroleum based wax candles are toxic, so better to avoid them.

Avoid plastic disposable tableware for guests and opt for our traditional pattal plates or wooden/Areca palm leaves/bamboo cutlery.

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Ingredients-1 cup chana dal4 chopped GarlicCumin seedsPinch of turmeric powder1/3 tsp Red chilli powderChopped green chillies (as per taste)Coriander leavesSalt1 cup rice flour1/2 cup lukewarm water For stuffing Soak chana dal for 4-5 hours. Drain water Grind this with garlic Put this in a bowl and add salt, cumin seeds, red chilli powder, turmeric powder,…

Cooking Time: 20 mins Ingredients 1 cup sooji 1/4 cup curd 1 pinch baking soda Salt 1 medium finely chopped carrot 4-5 finely chopped beans Oil Steps: Take sooji in a bowl and add curd Add some water to prepare a smooth mixture. Ensure that the mixture is of thick consistency only Leave…

Ingredients 10 Bhindi 1/5 tsp Dhaniya powder 1/5 tsp Sauff 1/5 tsp Jeera 1/5 tsp Kalonji 1/5 tsp Methi Seeds Salt Amchur Powder Red chilli powder Steps Dry roast sauff, jeera, kalonji, dhaniya and methi. Grind them in a mixie so that fine powder is obtained Add chopped onion and chopped garlic to oil. Saute…

A different style to cook aloo gobhi and this remains our favourite!Ingredients4 medium sized Potatoes250 gm CauliflowerOnion ginger garlic pasteSaltPinch of Turmeric powderRed chilli powder1 tsp dhaniya powder2 tomatoes1/2 tsp Garam masala Steps In a pan add oil and stir fry potatoes and cauliflower till they become golden brown. Add a little bit of salt…

Pancakes are a delicious breakfast item. Here we have tried to make them healthy and we have also given it a twist by adding some cocoa powder to the mixture! Follow the steps and enjoy the goodness of it with some honey, nutella or icecream! Ingredients2 cup whole wheat flour1 cup milk1 egg2 tablespoon sugar2…

With the advent of modern age, processed food items are a regular thing now. Majority of us aren’t even aware that the myriad sort of allergies and diseases cropping up these days are a combined result of processed food and all the toxins that we are slowly absorbing into our system. Hale and Heart is…

Finally my ardent desire to visit the famed Hwealth Cafe has come to fruition. I am becoming health conscious day by day and I prefer not to feel guilty while eating out. The vibrantly hued cafe will be a treat to your eyes with green interiors, potted plants, foosball table and ludo spread. Strawberry blueberry…

Delivery: On time Packaging: Perfect Grilled chicken in pesto sandwich: The chicken mince was fine but the characteristic flavour of pesto sauce was missing here. Chicken sausage and mushroom bowl: The sausages, the mushrooms and the vegetables were fresh and juicy but the same can not be said about the brown rice which was dry….

Mogambo is the same fine dine restaurant which refused to admit a lady with her driver. Though I do not wish to go into commenting about the infamously famous incident, I would love to write about my gastronomic experience there. Situated at the famed Park Street, Kolkata, this is one of the best fine dine…

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So how about a calming trip with least use of your digital devices, comfortable stay at a colonial bungalow with wooden interiors, surroundings that speak organic nestled in the lap of Himalayas and amongst gleeful people who share your passion for travel.

Departure

We were picked up from Mandi House metro station, Delhi at around 10:30pm in a tempo traveller with flexible chairs that did not give your backs a resounding ache. We departed straight to Haldwani through Hapur with occasional stops in between.

Arrival – Day 1

The village in which we were going to stay for the next 1.5 days was an hour and a half drive away from Haldwani and was called Khatauni village. A light shower greeted us at Haldwani with the soothing shade of deciduous trees protecting us from a heavy spell. First time in Haldwani – too good!

We reached the Silent Valley Resort near Kalsa river at 8:30 a.m. and were warmly welcomed by the owners who showed us the bungalow cum house with rooms that exuded the old world charm.

A delicious breakfast followed in the lap of coniferous trees and the wild twittering of birds. How delicious it is to move away for a few days from the city and enjoy a raw unhindered experience of the mountains.

We were so hungry that when it came to clicking the picture, the quantity of every item was substantially reduced.

After a few hours rest, we went for a short downhill trek towards the river Kalsa. The dried pine leaves occasionally give you a surprise slip but the pleasant s walk in the shade of the towering flora makes you forget them.

We also saw the organic farms in the vicinity of the resort where organic peas, cauliflower and other vegetables were growing and the workers engaged in their routine work rituals. We were warmly welcomed by the hosts to savour the fresh green peas from the farm and needless, to say, they were sweet and mellow.

Organic farm

The flow of the river Kalsa was moderate but care should be taken while crossing the banks as the rocks are quite slippery. I was slightly careless and slipped quite a few times. In one such incident, my Ray Bans went into the flowing waters and I had to hanker along to get them back from the clutches of Kalsa.

Sitting on the rocks at the Kalsa river is a therapy in itself. The cool environment and the music of the gushing water transforms you into a blissful state.

After returning from our sojourn, we were greeted with a delicious and humble home cooked meal of chappati, masoor dal, sautéed potatoes and okra. All the ingredients are organic and grown in the family’s farm itself. What a joy it is to eat a home cooked meal away from home!

After this delicious lunch, I preferred to sleep in my vintage room for four hours! The cool surroundings with the comfortable environment of high ceiling roof and woody interiors aided in a relaxing nap.

Day 2

We were greeted with a heavy downpour which lasted two hours. The breakfast was shifted to the indoor wooden dining area while savouring the beautiful Himalayan rainfall.

We geared for our trek to the Karkotak peak while leaving our main luggage behind which would be taken to Bheemtal by our traveller. The trek started after the crossing the Kalsa river and the initial terrain was simple and levelled. Gradually the trail started involving pebbles and dried pine leaves with breath taking views of the surrounding villages and the mountains.

Some views would definitely remind you of those old Bollywood numbers when the protagonists get lost in some coniferous forest.

For me, this easy trek was difficult because of my ankle inflammation and the knee injury sustained a day before. I was always the last one in the group, so at times, it got frustrating. Those 8.5km seemed like a lifetime because of the slower pace of my legs and continuous drizzling but after reaching the peak, those two aspects were readily forgotten.

The Karkotak peak is situated at an elevation of around 1700m and a clear pristine view of the Bheemtal and Nauchekital is clearly visible. You will spot some local kids playing merrily around the temple area and you will slightly wish to be amongst them.

The descent was easier and we met many local villagers there and enjoyed clicking a few pictures in the tall mountain grasses. An hour’s rest at a local guest house and an hour’s hangout at a pub made us forget the tiredness of the trek.

Special thank you to all the fellow travel mates, who made this trip unforgettable.

Picture credits to Divyajeet, Gaurav and Mihir Panda.

The post Digital Detox Retreat In The Lap Of Himalayas appeared first on Gluttony Guilts.

We cannot just turn a blind eye to such challenges in the name of positivity.

So when some justify their ignorance in the name of positivity, they blatantly ignore the plight of the people who are running from pillar to post to search for medical supplies. This stress is causing us to think of different ways to help out people. This instagram community is not only there to share happy & creative moments but also to amplify support for our fellow humans. This stress of preventing a life loss is causing us to help each other out. If we were just positive, then we would have shared some positive quotes and be done with our day. Our positive vibes are not going to provide any support to the affected people.
If you feel overwhelmed with such gory news, then switch off the internet and do what makes you happy. But for god’s sake, just don’t invalidate someone else’s suffering & the efforts of influencers/bloggers supporting the affected by saying “this needs to stop now” in the name of positivity. You didn’t do anything to help someone, fine, it’s your life and actions. But don’t criticise people who are going out of their way to help the aggrieved because it is inhumane and insensitive.

So if you still support this toxic positivity, then you are no different than the privileged who watched suffering and chose to look the other way in the name of positivity – the ones that our history books warn us about!

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A note on skinny shaming or making someone conscious of their slim body:

A person’s shape is not only dependent on their diet but also on their metabolism, genetics and physical activities.When you see a person in the perfect shape, perfection defined by societal standards, they might be in “shape” due to a good diet, regular exercise, depression, anorexia, bulimia, stomach infection or some other disease.Pointing out to someone that how come they are in shape despite eating so much is cruel and reeks of judgement & childish unawareness because you have not seen them actually eating or working out or vomiting due to bulimia or losing 10 kg because of a stomach infection.The food plates that you see on our feed is eaten by our whole family. We do not have maggi or pasta everyday, those dal chawal vegetables plates you see is what we have everyday.

So please be kind and mindful and stop skinny shaming anyone you meet in person or on internet. You think it is a compliment but it feels weird! Many mental health practitioners have also pointed out that skinny shaming is a real thing where a person is made to feel guilty about their “perfect” body.

The post Skinny Shaming Is Bad! appeared first on Gluttony Guilts.

The vibrantly hued cafe will be a treat to your eyes with green interiors, potted plants, foosball table and ludo spread.

Strawberry blueberry shake: Slightly sweet, slightly sour, this pleasant tasting shake is a perfect healthy accompaniment to your salads.

Chocolate peanut butter shake: Forget healthy, I am more concerned about the decadence of this shake. The rich warm chocolate perfectly blends with the sweet salty peanut butter thereby giving a shake with a plethora of flavours.

Corn nachos with hummus, Peri Peri dip and pesto dip: The deafening crunch while you bite into this will keep you addicted and the freshly prepared dips won’t let you stop.

Pan tossed masala cottage cheese fingers: The usual cottage cheese is getting monotonous and the healthy versions available today are sometimes nauseatic. But the chefs at the Hwealth Cafe know perfectly well how to make paneer appetizing as well as healthy. The cottage cheese cuboids are lightly grilled and are topped with a subtle barbeque sauce with hints of black pepper providing the necessary zing.

Baked egg white in mushroom veloutte sauce: No yellows and hence, I do not gave to feel guilty about binging on my favourite food item. And that light creamy mushroom sauce with chopped pungent garlic compliments the grilled toast and egg white.

Mediterranean veggies wrap: This will be a heaven for vegetarians as the amount of sliced vegetables enclosed in whole wheat wraps or our humble roti as I would like to call is enough to fill your rumbling belly. The sauce used is hell spicy so watch out.

Spaghetti in spinach garlic sauce: Kudos to them for coming out with a healthy and innovative dish but this can be made better. The spinach sauce tastes way too bitter and mars the slurpy flavour of spaghetti by making it sticky.

Chicken breast in mushroom sauce with sauteed vegetables and brown rice: Perfectly grilled juicy chicken breast which oozes out the sauces while getting torn, cut apart or chewed upon is every foodie’s dream. And when this chicken is paired with soft brown rice with chopped vegetables and sauteed vegetables, my my you have a winner!

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