Stepping Into Spring With Style

Spring is almost here ladies. Time to whip out that self-tanner, put away the tweed and break out those flirty summer sandals you scored at Harrods. What I love most about spring fashion and beauty are the fabulous new colors and textures. By far the “it” color of the season is green. Whether it is neon or emerald, green is huge this season. Other prominent colors of the season include bubble gum pink, Persian blue and citrus hues. My advice for pulling off these bright hues is simply pairing them with understated yet sleek charcoal for a bit of sophistication.

As far as spring evening wear is concerned, the one shoulder was also big on the catwalk, Versace did the best by making casual jersey dresses extra flirty with a one shoulder. Another huge trend in the evening is the “ethnic look.” Naeem Khan had gorgeous Indian printed dresses while Hermes and Costume National did their take on the sari. I suggest you look for dresses made from gorgeous fabrics in a simple silhouette, so that the dress won’t wear you.

India was also the inspiration for Spring’s most fabulous accessories. Jewellery designers took a cue from the east and dreamed up gorgeous Indian inspired creations that I was going mad for. My favourite way to incorporate this trend is by filling my whole arm with rhinestone encrusted bangles with chunky tribal cuffs. This is the season to be dramatic ladies so take advantage of it.

Speaking of drama, the new Spring beauty trends are definitely dramatic and then some. The most popular looks is artsy chic. You don’t have to be enrolled at Parson’s to adopt this look this Spring. Just head to the nearest MAC counter and try out the Fafi collection. The products are packed with color but the texture is sheer, giving you an airbrushed look. Hot pink lips are also a biggie for Spring but remember this trick, simply dab on the colour with your index finger for a light I just had a popsicle look. But if you’re like me, and would like to go the extra mile, forget the fingers and use a lip brush and flaunt fuchsia lips with confidence this spring, and after. Sometimes trends are meant to be adopted for a lifetime.

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Health:Lassi becomes money spinner for Punjab milk cooperative

Lassi, the low-calorie yoghurt drink that is made in virtually every household in northern India, is the new money-spinner for Milkfed Punjab, the state's cooperative milk producers' federation, with sales increasing almost 50 percent in 2008-09.



According to the cooperative, which earns the bulk of its revenue from sale of pasteurised milk, the sale of lassi in tetrapacks, polypacks and bottles has registered record growth to touch Rs 7.42 crore (Rs 74.2 million).

"Lassi has undoubtedly emerged as one of our most saleable and profitable commodities," Milkfed Punjab managing director VK Singh said in an interview.

And apparently youth, soft targets of soft drink and cola manufacturers, are taking to drinking lassi.

"We have observed fast changing preferences of young consumers who have shown great inclination towards lassi. To meet the growing demand, we had to enhance the capacity of our lassi plant," he added.

Traders confirmed that the demand for lassi was on the rise.

"Lassi is the only item that remains in demand throughout the day," said Manmohan Singh, general secretary of the Verka Milk Booth Association (VMBA), Chandigarh.

"We are often out of stock. Sales have almost doubled in the last one year," he said.

Milkfed's lassi is available in three flavours - plain, sweet, and salty - with the plain version remaining the most favoured.

"The fact that it is free from any fats or cream has made plain lassi popular among people suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure," he said.

Kheer, a sweet dish made of milk, is another lucrative product for the cooperative society. According to Milkfed, the product recorded sale of Rs.1.16 crore in 2008-09, a 97 percent growth over that notched the previous year.

Sale of pasteurised milk similarly increased by 25 percent to touch Rs 496.84 crore.

Additionally, the cooperative exported ghee or clarified butter worth Rs 15 crore to countries such as Australia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Malaysia and the Philippines last year.

Milkfed was set up in 1973 to provide technical inputs to milk producers in Punjab and enhance production. Its annual turnover was around Rs 930 crore last fiscal.

"We are aiming to maintain the present growth rate and apart from that, we have a couple of new offerings that we would divulge in the coming months," Milkfed's managing director said.

"Now we have a presence in every town in Punjab and will certainly enlarge our distribution network," he added.

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Nepalese teen set to become world’s smallest man

London, June 24: Nepalese teenager Khagendra Thapa Magar is set to be named the world's smallest man, after being just two feet tall.


The 17-year-old, who weighs nearly 4.5 kg, is just four months away to take the title from 2ft 5in He Ping Ping, 20, of China.

"He was born weighing only 600 grams. It was like watching a newly hatched chick fresh from a shell,” The Telegraph quoted his mother Dhana Maya Thapa Magar as saying.

"I admit that at first I was ashamed of him and would not leave the house, but now I only feel pride and am desperate for him to be named as the tinniest man in the world," she added.

Magar, from Kathmandu, was said to have already gained a celebrity status with politicians calling for him to be recognised as the smallest man in the world officially.

His father Rupp Abrader Thana Magyar added: "His fame has spread across Nepal and into India. He travels as part of a dancing troupe so that people can see him.

"He does this only a couple of times a year and now we only do this to make people realise that he is going to be the smallest man in the world."

Khagendra said: "Once I am named as the world's smallest man then I can fulfil my dream of visiting the United States of America. I can show off my dancing moves and I can show people how good I am at karate."

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Heavy women have bad relationships

London, June 24: Heavier women are more likely to have a lower quality relationship, but the same is not true for men, according to a latest study.



Dr Janet D Latner, a professor of Psychology at the University of Hawaii and her colleagues examined body image, weight, romantic relationships and differences between men and women.

The study suggested that heavier women had lower quality relationships, which they predicted were more likely to end. They also partnered with less desirable men and believed that their partners would rate them as less warm/trustworthy.

Furthermore, the partners of heavier women rated these women's bodies less positively and judged them as poorer matches to their ideal partners for attractiveness. In general, for heavier men, similar findings were not reported.

Dr Latner said: "Prejudice and discrimination are commonly directed at overweight individuals. However, few previous studies have examined whether weight stigma occurs within established romantic relationships. Our results suggest it does."

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