Flower Power Pin

Hey guys! Daaman is back with its second edition of the video blog. This time our artsy design associate, Aqsa, shares a quick little technique for making an awesome Flower Power Pin to jazz up a favorite outfit of yours. Pens and paper at the ready, here we go! 

- Mark and cut a circle of 4 inches from plain paper
- Fold a piece of cloth so that it has about ten layers and cut out cloth circles, using the paper circle as a guide
- Mark and cut a circle of 2 inches on felt and sew a safety pin to it
- Fold the cloth circles into triangles and glue them onto the felt
- Place eight triangles on the felt and finish by gluing one in the center 
- Attach to your favorite shirt for a little funky detailing!

Bring On the Calm!

So you’ve got to submit this assignment to wrap up, a deadline to meet and someone’s been raining on your parade (a lot) lately; the traffic jams just plain drive you up the wall. Well let’s just admit: stress is our permanent guest and it’s time to start dealing with it.

We’ve got some simple things for you to keep in mind as you go about your day and handle all sorts of crisis situations.

Smile. It can lift your mood, a phenomenon known as the facial feedback hypothesis. You can actually feel your mood changing as you smile because the brain picks up on the act and assumes you are happy. Go ahead: fool yourself!!  

Sing. There’s evidence that a primitive sensory organ in the inner ear might react to music, triggering a response that creates a pleasurable buzz So get humming your favorite cheerful song, or listen to what we call ‘happy music’, your favorite dance tracks can do the trick (no angry punk rock!).

Sweat. Exercise may buffer the brain from stressful situations. There’s some evidence that working up a sweat promotes the growth of new neurons that are less reactive to stress. So play your favorite jam and take out half an hour for yourself to get feeling (and looking) good!

Hang with upbeat people. Emotions are contagious: You can catch a mood, just like a cold! When you watch a person doing something, the mirror neurons in your brain are activated, even if you’re not doing anything yourself. So if you see someone smile, your mirror neurons for smiling fire up, whether or not you’re in a good mood. So spend time with happy people and you’ll eventually feel happier yourself (also, get rid of THAT snarky ‘friend’!).

And anyway, when was the last time you stopped and looked at a sunset…or looked up, period? We thought so. So put aside your gadgets and revel in what’s around you. Focus on pleasurable experiences and you’ll activate happiness-related neurons, which could make future good times feel even more intense.

Our Favorite '80s Movies

The 80s brought us all things associated with fun, it was after all the decade that saw the launch of MTV, brought us classic rock and of course, crazy fashion: teased hair (dare I mention the Mullet), neon clothing and ripped jeans... Ray-Bans!

Here we present, after much consideration, Daaman's favorite coming-of-age movies about misfits that made their place in pop culture history from the decade that makes us all just a little bit nostalgic (understatement!). 

The Breakfast Club 

Five stereotypical teenagers are stuck in detention, the Emo kid, the Brainiac, the Princess, the jock and the criminal. Though not complete strangers to each other, they come to realize that there’s much more to them than just their appearance. Considered as one of the most memorable movies of John Hughes (and there were plenty!). The movie stars Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, Ally Sheedy, and Judd Nelson as the high school clique representatives who form the Breakfast Club.    

Pretty In Pink

High school senior Andie Walsh (Molly Ringwald) is a working-class girl who has a crush on one of the rich, preppy boys in her school, Blane McDonough (Andrew McCarthy) while Andie's best friend, Phil Dale (Jon Cryer), is in love with Andie but plays it off as a joke in front of her. When Andie and Blane try to get together, they encounter resistance from their respective social circles.

Footloose

Upbeat city kid Ren MacCormack (Kevin Bacon) moves to a small town from Chicago where rock 'n' roll and dancing have been banned and also ends up falling for the conservative Reverend’s (the versatile John Lithgow) daughter played by Lori Singer and his rebellious spirit shakes up the populace. The movie is loosely based on the religious community of Elmore City, Oklahoma.  

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

“Life moves pretty fast, you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” It's almost graduation and Ferris can get away with just one more sick day – and it had better be a good one! Ferris Bueller, a high school teenager is bent on having a day off from school and so must his best friends, Cameron and Sloane. Matthew Broderick stars alongside Mia Sara and Alan Ruck in this must see classic, after all: While the rest of us were just thinking about it...Ferris borrowed a Ferrari and did it all in a day.

The Outsiders

The movie details a town split between the wealthy South Zone gang called 'The Socials' and the poor North Zone gang called 'The Greasers'. When two poor greasers, Johnny (Ralph Macchio), and Ponyboy (C. Thomas Howell) are assaulted by the socs, and Johnny kills one of the attackers, tension begins to mount between the two rival gangs, setting off a turbulent chain of events. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the cast includes Matt Dillon, Emilio Estevez, Rob Lowe, Patrick Swayze and Tom Cruise.  

Now if you’ve been missing your friends, arrange for a weekend get together, share lots of laughs and watch one (or two!) of these movies while you reminisce about the good ol’ times!

Pineapple Delight

Daaman presents its very first video blog! We are going to be covering all sorts of fun stuff from décor, styling tips to quick desserts and drinks to keep you posted on the latest! So hang around and see what the Daaman team's been up to.

This time our design associate, Mehreen, shows us how to make a taste-bud tantalizing cold pineapple dessert. Watch this quick video and try out the recipe for yourself!

5 Very Cool Ways to Beat the Summer Heat

The heat wave is just around the bend, so sit back at home (we know you don’t want to go out anyway!), pull the curtains and make it a movie matinee day with your favorite people and these drinks to beat the heat!!

We selected 5 awesome taste bud tantalizing drinks for you to try out.

1. Daaman Citrus Delight

If you love tea, but you don’t find it refreshing in hot weather, try this wonderfully fresh iced alternative. 

Ingredients

·         6 ordinary tea bags

·         2 tbsp sugar

·         10 mint leaves

·         300 ml fresh orange juice

·         1 lime juice
½ sliced orange, mint leaves and ice to serve

Method

Make the tea with 1.2 liters water and the sugar. Add mint to the pot and infuse for 10 minutes. Strain and cool.

Pour into a jug, stir in the juices and serve with orange slices, mint and plenty of ice.

2. Karachi Kooler 
This citrus peach cooler is a refreshing drink, perfect for a day at any Karachi beach.

      

      Ingredients 

·         2 lemons, juice only

·         2 limes, juice only

·         1 lemon, thinly sliced

·         Nestle peach nectar

·         A few sliced strawberries

·         Mint leaves  

·         Lemonade

Method

Put the lemon juice and lime juice into a large jug. Add the sliced lemon and lime, and a handful of ice cubes. Add peach nectar to fill about one-third of the jug and top up to fill with lemonade.

Add the strawberries and top up with mint sprigs.

3. Mocha Madness

A decadent iced coffee for a sunny afternoon and chocoholics. Serve in tall glasses for a retro treat.

Ingredients

·         85gm dark chocolate, 70% cocoa

·         1 tbsp coffee granules (even instant coffee would work)

·         700ml milk
4 scoops vanilla ice cream, plus extra to serve (optional)

Method

Roughly chop 75g of the chocolate and put into a large jug with the coffee. Bring 300ml of the milk to boil and then pour over the chocolate and coffee mix, stirring to melt. Once melted, cool.

Tip the cooled mocha milk into the blender with the ice cream and remaining milk. Blitz until blended, and then pour into 4 tall glasses. Add an extra scoop of ice cream to each, if you like, then grate a little of the remaining chocolate on top.


4. Grape Fantasy (With 7Up)

Make your own grape juice by pureeing and straining fresh grapes for this sweet and tangy sparkling drink. If you have very sweet grapes, you might not need the full amount of honey. Taste as you go. For a special treat, freeze extra whole grapes ahead of time and float them in the drink along with the ice cubes.

Ingredients
         

   ·   4 cup(s) seedless red grapes, plus more for garnish

·         2 tablespoon(s) lemon juice

·         2 tablespoon(s) honey

·         2 cups 7Up 

      

      Method

     

    Puree grapes in a blender. Pour the puree through a fine-mesh strainer set over a medium bowl or large measuring cup. Press on the solids to extract all the juice. Add lemon and honey to the juice; stir until the honey is dissolved. Add 7Up. Divide among 4 ice-filled glasses. Garnish with whole grapes.

5. Coconut Kela-Mela

This version of pina colada uses ripe bananas blended with fresh pineapple and coconut milk. Serve it in festive tropical-drink glasses.


Ingredients 

·         2  very ripe bananas

·         1 cup(s) diced fresh pineapple, plus 4 wedges for garnish

·         1 cup(s) pineapple juice

·         1/2 cup(s) coconut milk (either fresh or canned)

·         3 cup(s) ice cubes

    

      Method 

    

    Puree bananas, diced pineapple, pineapple juice, coconut milk, and ice in a blender. Divide among 4 glasses. Garnish with pineapple wedges.

5 Ways To Design A Colorful Bedroom

Bring a little color into your life!! Revamp your room and let your favorite color—and these gorgeous bedroom photos— inspire you to create a bold and beautiful boudoir. We give you five ways to bring a little bit of sunshine to your private sanctuary and make it definitively yours.

Red

Paired with the right fabrics, even the most striking hue can set a serene mood. In this bedroom, fire engine red is offset with cool white – giving it a light breezy feel of a summer haven. White furniture and soft blues define the space.

Gray

If you are more into a look of pure opulence try a combination of gray with pink. Add plush fabrics, grand furniture, and pops of pink detailing to bring in a little femininity without being overly saccharine and make a gray color palette look extraordinary.

Pink

And if you really like to stand out – neon is the way to go. Pink knows no limits in this petite boudoir. This high-gloss hot pink is accented with exciting tribal patterns and crisp white linens to offset the popping shade.

Black

Bring contemporary to the forefront with the contrast of black and white that speaks volumes in class with minimal effort. A monochromatic palette lets accent colors, like the bottle green pillow and floral arrangement, really pop. Add thick black framed photos to showcase and personalize your space.

Brown

This sophisticated hue lets a collection of vintage prints and neutral linens shine, without overshadowing colorful details like a thrift shop chair and a turquoise glass lamp. Orange, blues, greens and pink all work really well with brown so you get plenty of creative freedom.

Changing the color to your room is the easiest and most cost effective way to give your room a makeover – not to mention an instant mood changer. Go for a color that really lets your personality shine and makes you feel truly at home. So time to let go of your fear and play with color! 

Skin Tips To Keep You Glowing This Winter Season

Winter may be about to say it’s goodbye while leaving us with the usual problems that it brings in tow: dryness, rough hands, cracking, peeling and chapped lips. Well, not to fret! We’ve compiled a list of winter ‘ to do’ things. 

The real problem? Using the same products that we use throughout the year; Foaming face washes, alcohol-based toners, and astringents are all designed to strip oil — and in winter ladies, there's little oil to strip.

So make sure to follow through on a few of these tips to keep looking great this winter.

Exfoliate! It’s a must, and cannot be emphasized enough. The best way to get the maximum benefit from any product that you use is to make sure that you prep your skin. An exfoliator with gentle granules (not made with any nuts) is the best. Also, winter is actually the best season to start using Retin A (but do make sure to talk to your dermatologist before using it as it can have unwanted side effects.)

Sunscreen. Yes, it’s winter and it might get cloudy – but that doesn’t mean the sun isn’t there. Sunburn can happen even if it’s not sunny. So make sure to slather on some SPF 30 (at least)! Another tip is to buy make-up or moisturizer that already has SPF in it. Sunscreen is a must the whole year round – even indoors.

Hydrating Mask:  when your regular products are just not doing what they should! Look for a mask with sunflower oil, cucurbita pepo (pumpkin seed oil), tocopherol (vitamin E) or glycerin and make sure to use it once a week. Switching your moisturizer in winter to something a little thicker or with some these ingredients should also do the trick.

Chapstick. So you wear a luxurious lipstick… but in winters even that can’t salvage chapped lips. Time to think beyond the balm and treat lips to the same TLC the rest of your face enjoys. Want to try a little home remedy? Try exfoliating with a mixture of fine salt and olive oil, which is an effective and easy little regimen. For painfully chapped lips, use a dab of hydrocortisone cream once a day for no more than a week. 

Now, don’t let winter cramp your style and enjoy the season while it lasts and still look fabulous!