Kuch Khaas Hai...

Island flavors of rum, banana, lime, and pineapple combine to make a frosty warm-weather treat.

Ingredients

* 1/4 cup light rum
* 2 tablespoons frozen limeade concentrate
* 1 medium banana
* 1/2 cup pineapple chunks
* 1-1/2 cups crushed ice
* Sugar (optional)
* Lime slices

Directions

1. Ina blender container combine rum, limeade, peeled banana, pineapple, and ice. Blend until slushy. Sweeten to taste, if desired. Garnish with lime. Makes 2 to 3 servings

Spice up the Derby classic. Crush 5 mint sprigs along with 3 teaspoons of superfine sugar in the bottom of a glass; add ice and clove-infused vodka. Stir and serve.

Dessert in a glass. In a shaker filled with ice, add 1 1/3 jiggers of brandy, 1/3 jigger creme de cacao, and 1 tablespoon each of whipping cream and chocolate syrup. Shake, strain, and serve. Sprinkle with chocolate shavings.

The men's fashion trends 2011 is all about being casual and comfortable. The American debonair is back and this time with a classy dissonant combination of the 21^st century high fashion. This year you get to define your own fashion apparel, in a way that you extract the most out of experimentation. The spring 2011 men's fashion show was all about the urban gentleman, a man who wears sublimity in a characteristically uncanny way, so that he defines what he wears and not the other way around. Here are some of the 2011 fashion trends brought in by some of the best designers of men's wear.

D&G

Their collection of men's fashion trends 2011 yet again manged to be a big hit. The collection is called Ode to Suburbia which was a tribute to the men's fashion from the 50's American suburbia and their casual lifestyle. It will take you back to time when the polo necks, the gingham, the vintage safari and the beach vacation prints were high fashion. Now think of all that, mixed with todays flavor. A palette of somber light shades dominated the moss green ramp. Placid shades of green, khaki brown, blue, gray and maroon gave the modern man a sense of sophistication unlike any other.

So this year it's time to wear safari pants and shorts with light colored shoes. They also brought back the checkered shirt patterns of red and white, black and white and combined it with the beige lowers. Light green, blue and yellow T-shirts or shawl sweaters worn with checked shirts, looked fantastic and so did the dark brown cardigans and leather jackets. Ragged and faded jeans made a classy reentry as well, combined with the suave charms of a man who knows himself well. D&G has given today's man an opportunity to be free and comfortable in his own skin. Learn more about the 1950's fashion for men here at Buzzle.

Missoni

Missoni's trends have always been a personal favorite of mine. Their men's fashion trends 2011 is all about geometrical prints that added so much more zinc to the pants. The pants are slim fits and have a combination of colors from similar pallets of orange, maroon and blue. Mufflers and hats only added excellent contrast to the flashy lowers. This year they have stressed more a lot on men's coats and it was the single most essential part of their collection.

Long trench coats that reminded of 1940's, as well as exceptionally well tailored coats with bold golden buttons. Graphite gray and deep maroon coats looked the classiest. Missoni's fashion trends for 2011 also flashed some peppy shades such as olive green and mustard brown for the coats. As for the pants metallic shades of black, gray and blue looked svelte combined with pointed leather shoes as well as boots.

Trussardi 1911

Trussardi's men's fashion 2011, takes you back to the time when retro fashion was a way of life. Their collection can be worn by any man who dares to try. The predominant colors are white, black, gray, brown and red. The skinny black pants are a must have, they can be worn with almost anything. Casual well fitted, stripped white and black round necked long sleeved pullovers, plain black shirts and a casual gray T-shirt with rolled up sleeves were the styles that stood out the most. Their simplicity added with some pure personality got the good word going for them. The leather jacket that we all miss so much is back with a bang, now you can flaunt it, like the real roadies do.

Have no qualms about it. Wear well fitted leather jacket with stripped buttoned up shirts or a plain T-shirt and your all set to roll. Accessorize with the classy dark Ray-bans and do not forget the evergreen Italian leather shoes. Also remember the belts need to stand out, so if your wearing black all over, try white belts so on and so forth. Trussardi's latest men's fashion trends 2011, got in the hand bag in a big way this year, so that is totally up to your discretion if you want to give it a try. Some of the styles that really looked good were, the blue shirts with crunched up sleeves worn over dark gray and black stripped T-shirts along with brown pants. As well as the soft yellow T-shirts worn with a wrapped muffler or coat. Here are some useful fashion advice for men and will definitely help.

So these were a few ideas from the men's fashion trends 2011. There are absolutely no restrictions on experimenting with these with your own sense of fashion. Also do not forget to get the right kind of men's hairstyles that are popular in this spring fashion. You can even give add your own dynamic appeal with certain personal preferences added or subtracted from the apparel and the accessories.

Looking at male models on the ramp, you are tempted to believe that every guy is built in the same mold - tall, lean and well built. The reality, as we all know, is far from the truth. There are many men who are not as tall as the average male model and find themselves a tad shorter. For these men, finding a pair of denims that not only fit well, but also make them look taller than normal can be quite the task. In this article, we tell you which are the best jeans for short men.

Denims for Short Men

Traditionally fashion was somehow always more partial to those who were particularly blessed when it came to their bodies. The tall and the thin could carry off most fashionable clothing pieces with elan as they appeared to be stitched just for them. With fashion becoming all the more accommodating, there are many clothes that are available for those amongst us who are not as blessed, where height and weight are concerned. For men who are short, finding that perfect pair of denims can always be a problem. One way to overcome this problem is to get your jeans tailored for you, according to your preference and your stature. It is possible to buy denim cloth that has thin, practically invisible stripes that always add to the illusion of height. Another good idea that can give you an illusion of height is to match your denims with shirts of a similar color. This will make you look taller. There are many styles of denims that can actually give men an illusion of height and help them look much taller. Given below are some of the best jeans for men who are slightly vertically challenged.

Boot-cut Denims

If you are looking for good denims for short men, then this would probably be one of the best options for you as they make you look not only taller but also slimmer than you are. When we ask you to wear boot-cut denims, we definitely do not mean that you should opt for a pair of bell bottomed jeans as that will just make you seem shorter.
Low Rise Denims

Regardless of the style of denims that you opt for, remember to choose a pair of jeans that are low rise. Denims that sit on you in such a manner that they rest below your waistline or your belly button, create an illusion of you being taller and having a longer upper body.

Neutral Denims

When we talk about neutral denims, we are talking about those jeans that are neutrally colored. So, opt to buy denims in colors like black, khaki, or even gray. Try and match your shirt with the denims by wearing a shirt in the same color family. Monochromatic clothes make you seem taller than you are and therefore are always a good option.

Narrow Leg Denims

These can be one of the best options for men who are short as narrow denims tend to make you look much taller than you are in reality. Baggy or wide legged denims on the other hand, only tend to make you look shorter.

While these are the best styles of denims for normal wear, if you think you can carry it off, try out overalls. While they are not a style that men wear normally, these denims do create an illusion of height, which is what you are looking for. For a more casual option on the weekend, opt for denim shorts. These make your legs look much longer than they are. But do remember to choose shorts that are structured and not baggy or overtly loose. The best jeans for short men are those that fit well and look good.

Fill a shaker with ice, add a dash of vermouth, shake, and strain. Add 2 jiggers basil-infused vodka. Shake vigorously; strain. Note: 1 jigger equals approximately 1 1/2 ounces.

In Colonial days, this drink was made with vinegar. This modern version, which uses Champagne as the main ingredient, is much more appealing.

Ingredients

Baked meringue makes a creative (and edible) container for this refreshing fruit and cream combo.

Ingredients

Meringue Box:

* 5 large egg whites
* 1/4 teaspoon(s) cream of tartar
* 1 1/4 cup(s) sugar
* 2 ounce(s) white chocolate, melted and cooled

Amaretto Cream:

* 1 1/2 cup(s) heavy or whipping cream
* 2 tablespoon(s) sugar
* 2 tablespoon(s) amaretto or other almond-flavor liqueur

Fruit Topping:

* 1/2 pint(s) raspberries
* 2 kiwifruit, peeled and thinly sliced
* 1/2 pineapple, rind and core removed, cut lengthwise in half, then crosswise in thin slices

Directions

1. Prepare Meringue Box: Preheat oven to 200 degrees F. Line 2 large cookie sheets (16 1/2" by 12 1/2" each) with parchment paper. With nontoxic pen, trace one 8" by 8" square and two 8 1/2" by 1 1/2" rectangles on each sheet of parchment. (If not using a nontoxic pen, turn parchment over so that tracing side does not touch food.)

2. In large bowl, with mixer on high speed, beat egg whites and cream of tartar until soft peaks form. Sprinkle in sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until sugar dissolves and meringue stands in stiff, glossy peaks when beaters are lifted.

3. Fit large decorating bag with large round tip (3/8-inch opening). Fill bag with half of meringue. To make sides of box, pipe meringue lengthwise in 3 side-by-side strips to fill one rectangle; repeat with remaining rectangles. With meringue remaining in decorating bag, pipe an outline around both 8-inch squares. Spoon half of meringue remaining in bowl into each square. To make bottom of box, spread meringue in 1 square for a flat base. To make top of box, with back of spoon, swirl meringue in other square to make puffy peaks.

4. Bake meringues on 2 oven racks 2 hours, rotating cookie sheets between upper and lower racks after 1 hour. Turn off oven; leave meringues in oven 1 hour or overnight to dry.

5. When meringue is dry, carefully remove pieces from parchment. If not assembling box right away, store in tightly sealed container at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

6. To assemble box: With serrated knife, trim base all around to make an even 7 1/2-inch square. Trim 2 box sides so that rectangles are each 7 1/2 inches long. Do not trim remaining 2 sides. Using melted white chocolate as glue, attach two 7 1/2-inch sides, flat sides in, to outside of square base, then attach remaining sides to base and adjacent sides. (If side pieces crack, you can glue them together with melted chocolate.) Use extra chocolate along inside seams to reinforce corners and prevent filling from leaking out later. Let box stand at room temperature at least 1 hour to allow chocolate to dry completely.

7. Prepare Amaretto Cream: In medium bowl, with mixer on medium speed, beat heavy cream with sugar until stiff peaks form. With rubber spatula, gently fold in amaretto; cover and refrigerate up to 4 hours if you like.

8. To serve, place meringue box on square platter or serving tray; spoon Amaretto Cream into box. Arrange some of fruit on top of cream; lean meringue top against side of box. (If not serving right away, cover box loosely and refrigerate up to 2 hours.) Use serrated knife to cut into pieces. Serve with remaining fruit.

The dictionary meaning of the word 'equity' is the quality of being fair and impartial. This is what we as human beings strive to achieve in our relationships either knowingly or subconsciously. The notion of restoring balance to the relationship is what drives most of us as all strive for harmony. Equity theory of relationships proposes that partners in a relationship who feel that they are putting in more efforts to keep it going will experience emotional distress and anger. The theory also proposes that partners who feel that they are getting more than their share of rewards in a relationship will also experience emotional distress in the form of guilt. In both the cases the affected partner will try and restore balance by making certain behavioral changes that they perceive to be the right thing to do.

Equity Theory and Intimate Relationships

The theory is based on the belief that people value fair treatment and individuals have their own perceptions of fairness. In an intimate relationship if a person in putting in time and effort that person will expect a certain output for this effort and when that doesn't happen the person will experience distress. It can lead to anger and controlling behavior in relationships. This can be better explained with an example:

Sarah and Ian are in a relationship for a year, she is studying while Ian works in an accounts office for a living. Sarah takes the effort to go and meet Ian in his office during his lunch breaks and sometimes after his office gets over. All is well until Ian asks her not to come to his office because he extends his breaks and work is piling up. Sarah now feels emotional distress and anger because she feels that she is putting in so much efforts to make the relation work and is not getting her expected outcome which is spending time with Ian.

This love and relationship theory also explains how partners in an intimate relationship react after they feel that they are getting rewards beyond their efforts. Those partners who feel that they are being over rewarded will also experience emotional distress in the form of guilt. These partners will also have a perception of fairness and will make certain changes to restore balance to the relationship. Let us take the previous example to understand this:

Ian who is working in the accounting firm is over burdened with work and this leads him to neglecting Sarah's needs for intimacy. It becomes especially difficult for him when he sees that she is making all the efforts. This causes him emotional distress and feeling of guilt, because he feels that he is letting her down or not meeting her expectations. He will then try to compensate by getting Sarah gifts or by exorbitant gestures of affection like buying her a pet rabbit.

The equity theory of relationships proposes that partners who feel neglected or rewarded will make efforts to maintain equilibrium in the relationship. Equity is calculated by evaluating the contribution made by each partner to the relationship and the benefits received within the said relation. The theory also states that partners do not have to make equal contribution or receive equal benefits as long as the ratio between the contributions and benefits is similar. For example if one partner is contributing financial to the relationship and the other is contributing time the inputs will be considered equal. The benefits in this situation will also be considered equal when one partner gets love and the other financial security. This love and relationship theory is one of the best ways to understand how to make a relationship work.

The equity theory of relationships proposes that individual perceptions of inputs and the perceived outcomes is what keeps relationships going. The inputs as well as the outcomes and their fair distribution is what forms the basis of a good relationship and if it is absent then partners will make behavioral changes to restore harmony. The theory applies to different types of relationships, like between a parent and child, between lovers, between office colleagues, employee and organization, etc. Here is a table that outlines some of the inputs and the expected outcomes that people expect in a relationship.

Input	Output
Adaptability	Recognition
Effort	Praise
Loyalty	Commitment
Hard Work	Appreciation
Flexibility	Care
Tolerance	Understanding
Love	Security
Support	Gratitude

Equity theory of relationships has pointed out some behavioral patterns of partners to resolve relationship issues. Individuals will try and restore balance if they feel they are being unfairly treated and they will seek to maximize their outcomes. The perception of inputs and outcomes are individualistic and therefore are difficult to quantify. This theory basically points out that the strongest urge is to restore balance and maintain fairness in a relationship.

Insecurities can lead to a lot of problems in a relationship and sometime a person becomes so occupied by them, that the negativity is taken to a whole new level. Both the partners have to understand that insecurities are born in a relationship and that they don't exist from before. The relationship has to be nurtured in such a way that there is no space for doubts and questions. You won't even understand how insecurities can ruin a relationship in no time. Maintaining healthy relationships is very important if you want to make the relation last and be happy. Given below are some reasons that give rise to insecurities in a relationship and how one can deal with these insecurities.

What Insecurities in a Relationship Mean

Trust

Trust is a very important aspect in every relationship. However, trust is something that cannot be gained easily. It takes years of staying together to know if you can trust that person. Some very easily say that we trust our partners, but how sure are we? Constant efforts have to be made to gain the trust of your partner and if it's not done, it hits a low pit. It is at this moment that insecurity issues step in. You are all of a sudden unsure of all the promises and plans you'll made together.

Jealousy

One of the leading causes of insecurity is jealousy. We first need to understand that jealousy is not only limited to physical appearance but much more than that. When two people are in a relationship, they sort of own each other emotionally as well. If that space is suddenly occupied by a third person (male or female), doubts of regarding importance are going to surface. Every relationship demands a sort of ownership of time and space of the partner.

Spontaneity

Spontaneity is very vital in a relationship as the lack of this will eventually show your partner the lack of your interest in the relationship. There has to be a surprise element to the relationship as well which tells you that the love is not dead yet. Enthusiasm towards each other is one of the best ways to keep the relationship alive with healthy thoughts and feelings. If this goes missing, the level of interest is going to be judged which if found low, will lead to insecurities.

Distance Issues

The maximum number of insecurities in a relation arise if two people are in a long distance relationship. When the person is near you, you are subconsciously aware of him/her being there with you, near you. Distance brings a lot of a problems in relationship, mainly those of communication. When communication takes a step back, assumptions take a step ahead. Insecurities relating to infidelity are a maximum here. The best advice here is to communicate enough and proper.

Lack of Understanding

Have you heard of lack of empathy in a relationship? This has been a problem in so many relationships that some of them have even lead to divorces. Insecurities basically arise when there is no understanding or when there is no initiative to understand someone. An emotional block can do a lot of harm to the feelings that should actually flow between two people in love. A genuine effort to understand and comfort in certain situations can solve problems to a great extent.

These were some issues that give rise to insecurities in a relationship. The moment you see some signs of insecurity, take a step back and see what you need to work on. Insecurities don't only affect your relationship but gradually you start looking at the world through them. They can cause a lot of emotional turbulence for you that is not only unhealthy but also heartbreaking at times. Learn to fight insecurities by communicating well with your partner.

When we talk of human emotions and particularly something as indescribable as the feeling of being in love, there can never ever be certainty about it. Why people fall in love, how they fall in love, when and with whom, no one can really tell. If you ever ask couples in relationship how much time it took them to know that they are the "one" for each other, the answers will range from years to months to days to even five seconds! So, to say for certain that there is a relationship timeline which all couples go through, is nothing but humbug! However, most healthy relationships (I would not say all), do go through some common stages, before culminating into a serious long-term partnership for life.

Stages of a Relationship Timeline

As I mentioned above, there are a few relationship stages which almost all couples go through. The first of these is the romance stage. In this stage, both the man and the woman feel highly attracted to one another. They date, meet often, call each other and have fun together. Both of them are at their best behavior at this stage and ignore whatever flaws they might see in each other. Researches show that during the romance stage the body produces endorphins, which make a person feel happy and unusually excited all the time. The man and the woman, during this stage, cannot even imagine to be separated from one another. They want to spend every waking moment in each other's company.

Next comes the stage when illusions fade. People in a relationship realize that after all they are "people". Their partners are not as unique, special or different as they thought they were. They have some shortcomings and flaws just like any other person. The man and the woman may tend to withdraw a bit from each other during this stage. If the communication between the two is not strong, the relationship may never move forward to the "power struggle" stage and it may end in a relationship break up.

If you look at a typical relationship timeline, you will see that this is one of the most difficult amongst all stages of a healthy relationship. During this stage, both the partners see each other for who they really are. The partners may start resenting each other's habits. There are lots of clashes, fights and trust issues. If the couple is able to survive this stage, they are most likely to stay committed.

After knowing about each other's differences, if the couple is still able to form a friendship, an emotional bond between them, it lends a kind of stability to their relationship. The man and the woman realize that although they are very different from each other and have some relationship issues, yet their basic values and goals in life are somewhat similar. The partners, during this stage, are able to develop trust in between them. They may not fantasize about each other any more but they certainly feel more connected emotionally and physically. What follows next is a public acknowledgment of the relationship. The couple introduces each other to one's friends and family. There is talk of an engagement or marriage in the future.

If you have ever been in a relationship before, you must have observed that you too went through some of the stages of a relationship given here. Although, there is no fixed relationship timeline for men or women as every relationship is different, still, if you are a woman, an important relationship advice is to know the guy well, his nature, his personality, his values and his lifestyle, before taking things further. This will save you from lots of disappointments in the future. The same holds true for men too. Do not make a commitment or say that you love the woman, just because she wants to hear those words, talk of commitment only when you mean it!

In Bollywood or the tinsel down in India, when two actors are linked, by the grace of the Indian paparazzi, they go in a state of complete denial. They say that they are just good friends. How 'good' friends they are is an open secret to the whole world. Nevertheless, this friendship thing can be really dangerous. Because once you get into that friend zone and either of the individuals are complacent about it and comfortable about it and take the other one for granted there could be problems. That is specially when the other person might develop feelings and just cannot make a move further beyond the friendship zone. Moreover, he or she is to be there for him or her for anything, just as a boyfriend or a girlfriend would do. Are you too caught in this rut, so why don't you check out how to get out of the friend zone!

Ways to Get Out of the Friend Zone

Tired of being in that friend zone? I mean does the fact irk you that the person you love considers you just as a good friend and looks upto you for everything for helping out in laundry to watching movie? Then it is time to stand up and speak up if you want to take the relationship to the next level. You might be wondering how, right, so read on!

Ignorance Can be Bliss (Later)

Well, in this context, by ignorance I don't mean lack of knowledge or information. What I mean is the first thing you can do to wriggle out of the friend zone is to not be available all the time to your friend. People take each other for granted a lot of times. So your 'good friend' probably needs to realize that he or she cannot take you for granted and you don't have a life without him or her. This might sound harsh, but it is sometimes necessary for understanding how to get out of the friend zone. If that friend really cares for you or has feelings for you, he or she would understand how it is not to have you around. The cardinal rule therefore is to ignore that friend of yours, mingle with others as well. That will also give you time to think whether should you be friends or lovers.

Don't Stick to Him or Her

Just as it will do good for you to ignore him or her, another thing which will help you get out of the friend zone is that you will need to mix up with other people. Consider going for a date apart from that individual who considers you just as a good friend. He or she needs to know that there are people other than him or her which you might be interested in. Moreover, it is more a big blow for a person to know that someone else's life doesn't revolve around him or her. This tactic can work out well regarding how to get out of the friend zone. The bottom line is avoid clinging on to him or her.

Hinting Away

Drop indirect subtle hints that you either want to go ahead a step further from friendship or if not that, then there cannot be anything else. However be careful that you do not spill the beans about your intentions towards the other individual. That will be sheer harakiri. I guess you would not be taken seriously in that case! Giving subtle and intelligent hints, be how to get out of the friend zone with a guy or how to get out of the friend zone with a girl, remember this.

Friend Indeed

For a better understanding of how to get out of the friend zone, what you need to do is you have to accept your status as a friend. That too, has to be done graciously and not with a wrinkled nose. As that will reflect the fact that you are mature and intelligent enough. This is a very significant aspect when it comes to moving out of a friend zone and a solution for the ever important issue of do you love your best friend.

Walk and Talk

This one last thing I want to say is that share your dating experiences with the person you want to get out of the friend zone with. If you can even show how you used some flirting tips given by other friends! Make the other person see you as a viable and hot dating object and not someone who does not have other 'options' in life. It could shatter him or her, for good and come to you!

Finally, in connection with how to get out of the friend zone I would say, flirt with that person a little bit and treat the other individual as a man or a woman. Ultimately, if all these things do not work, don't fret. Big deal! Move on, there are other fishes in the pond! Oh and please keep in mind that these are just suggestions and not concrete methods of getting out of the friends zone. Sorry, but these have not been scientifically proven! That's it! All the best!

If you think about Easter the first thing that one thinks of is Easter eggs. Easter eggs used to be a symbol of fertility and new life as per the Orthodox and Catholic, Christians – however these days Easter eggs can also be made use of as being a gift giving idea. Chocolate Easter eggs make tasty gift ideas and are able to come in several different shapes and forms.

Although the Religious festival of Easter is far more typically referred to as a commemoration of the Resurrection of Christ, Easter was initially famous a long time before this by Pagans. For Christians the egg consequently represents new life, a practice which has held up into recent times where it’s epitomised by using the chocolate Easter eggs we now see at Easter time.



What are Easter eggs without the Easter bunny? The Easter rabbit can be tracked back to the Pagan days. Worldwide, the Easter bunny is a most important image of Easter much like how Santa Clause is the symbol of X-mas. The Easter rabbit is known to disguise Easter eggs and young children like the idea of having to go on an Easter egg hunt to try and find many of the stashed eggs.






Designing hard-boiled Easter eggs at Easter time is an additional well-known tradition and one of which comes from the belief that the 1st eggs ever offered at Easter were birds eggs. Because of this, these eggs were painted in bright colours, which would give them further meaning as a gift item – therefore, the tradition continues.

Optical illusion art, also known as op art, is a mathematically-based genre that produces optical illusions. It uses the repetition of form and color to create moiré patterns that give rise to illusions. It also distorts our sense of depth, causing foreground-background confusion, as well as other perplexing effects.

Optical illusion art requires math ingenuity, technical skills and meticulous planning. Because it manipulates the rules of perception, a viewer trying to decipher such a painting may observe movement, hidden images, three-dimensional forms, and other simulation.