Naz Lifestyle Diaries

As promised, I am going to give you instructions about how to make the pattern of the A line dress today. So I hope you are all hooked to learn a little about sewing and pattern making today. If you have a little notion about sewing it will be easier but do not worry if  it is your first attempt, it will not be difficult as well. So let us take some measurements. I am giving you these measurements as an example. You take your own measurments and it is in centimeters . 1.Shoulder length _  38/2  = 19 2.Waist length      _  38 3.Around the waist _  70/4=17.4 +1.5 ease allowance=18.9 4.Bust                     _   79/4=19.7+1.5 ease allowance=21.2 5.Hips length          _  15(adolescent)  Adult= 18  It is standard size 6.Around the hips   _  96/4=24+1.5 ease allowance=25.5 7.Sleeve length          _  ...

On Tuesday  we decided to do our shopping at Supper U in the nearby city. All the household tasks were quickly executed and we headed towards our destination. After a quick round through the shops in the mall we did our shopping in the supermarket. It is always a pleasure to shop for groceries in hypermarkets as there are varieties of articles , clothes, food etc.  In the refrigerated area after buying meat and fish , I saw paneer ( cottage cheese ), in blocks and in cubes. I could not resist, so I took one block. The day after was market day, and I went to buy vegetables. When I saw spinach, I immediately decided to make paalak paneer for dinner. So I bought two bunches. I made naan and  a mixed vegetables curry and I made pickle with green chillies and tamarind. I thought I would make a vegetarian menu as I am fed up  of  the  same dish with chicken etc. Paalak paneer Ingredients: 200 gm paneer(cottage cheese), cubed 1 bunch spinach 1 onion choppe...

So let us just take a break from food and talk about fashion. Yes, cooking and sewing are my upmost hobbies. As well as I like to cook succulent dishes,desserts, baking all sorts of cakes, cookies etc, my interest in sewing clothes is likewise. My interest in sewing started well back to my childhood days when I was in the primary school. Once a week we had sewing and embroidery classes at school. We learned to make embroidery on napkin, then in upper classes we would make underskirt, nighty and stitching it by hand. I  remember it was a strap nighty in a red with white tiny dots fabric. I then transformed the nighty into a dress by adding sleeves to it !!! Do not ask me how, I do not remember.  I used to wear that dress when going to tuition on Saturdays.  During school holidays my mother encouraged me to take embroidery and sewing classes. I would also learn to do crochet on my own, making table placemats, caps etc. I would also do embroidery projects ,such as placemats...

Sunday is time for celebration as everybody is at home.Getting up late and for breakfast having hot tea with bread and 'gateau piment'(fritters made with yellow peas), 'gateau pomme de terre'(potato fritters), samoosas and many other mauritian snacks.They are normally bought but sometimes I do make them at home, yes of course if I am in the mood of making them! And on rare occasions we have pancakes with jam etc. Reading our favourite newspaper, listening to the radio and dragging the breakfast time, and being lazy....This is how it is every Sunday morning in my home.All this while I would be pondering over what to cook for lunch.Sunday meal  is always an elaborate one with the rich and delicious dishes I make to please everybody. Fortunately this Sunday the task was easy as it was unanimously decided by everybody that I prepare Bryani!....Hmmm. Bryani is the most delectable and popular dish in Mauritius.It is  a family dish and is served on almost every special occasio...

When you are out of time and hungry this roll up is the solution to end your hunger as it is made in a jiffy . Really?... Of course if you have everything handy and some leftovers....like fried fish , cooked chicken, cooked or roast veggies or mixed veggies.And of course some mashed potatoes and very thin naan or tortillas or any wrap in the freezer.Yes, it is lunch time, so let's get started. The ingredients: Mashed potatoes cooked fish or chicken, shredded or some cooked veggies Grated cheese Sliced cucumber, tomatoes, onion chilli sauce, ketchup, mayonnaise or yogurt Method: In a bowl fold the fish and cheese into the mashed potatoes, add salt and pepper according to taste.On the wrap place about two tbs of the mashed potatoes in the center, drizzle some ketchup, chilli sauce and mayo or yogurt.Place some sliced salad pieces. Start rolling from one end then place in a heated pan, microwave or oven. Note If it is all veg, then saute some mixed veggies with a little o...