Bright hues, sleek designs and a range of eye-catching accessories, the Furniture Studio in phase IX, Industrial area, Mohali is a pleasing set-up of wood crafted items. From beds to comfy chairs to dining tables and even a stylish bar, the studio boasts of some great designs and stylised accessories including a range of cushion covers that are inspired by paintings of Raja Ravi Verma. Brainchild of Asha Chandoke, partners with Manjeet Kaur and Shivani Singh, the studio is a one-stop-shop to bedeck your home as here you can customise furniture according to your taste or pick a complete set of furnishing items (that would also include flooring, wallpapers and trimmings like flowers and lampshades).

Spread in an area of 10,000 square feet the Furniture Studio not only offers readymade furniture but also manufactures pieces to suit your requirement. Says Asha, "We have made this studio right from the scratch. It was an industrial unit and it took us eight months to complete the entire place as we have set up the studio in a way where people can come and see a complete room with right accessories in place." Indeed, the hard work shows and the furniture showroom stands out for the range of furniture they have displayed.

With no interior or an architecture degree to her credit, Asha says, " Its sheer creativity and love for "all things beautiful" that has brought out the designer in me. But I must say, every woman is creative." Promoting works created by women, she says, "The furniture is designed by me, but the paintings and other accessories displayed in the studio are outsourced. And through this studio we would be more than happy to promote art by women."

With 15 concepts the studio showcases eight bedrooms, three bars, three drawing rooms and two dinning concepts.

Done in varied designs and themes it's the colour combination of bright and light hues that lends a distinct touch to the entire décor. And what we liked about the studio is the amalgamation of large structured and sleek designs that makes the furniture apt for flats as well as bigger homes. The use of colours like magenta, green, peacock blue, silver and even red makes the furniture stand out and appealing to the eye.

As for the price range---if you want to pick an entire concept of a bedroom it would cost you anything between Rs 90 to Rs one lakh. Drawing room furniture with accessories is priced between Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakhs. For the bars or the dining table you'll have to shell Rs 55,000 and Rs one lakh respectively. jigyasachimra@tribunemail.com

Four friends travel to Las Vegas for a bachelors party and wake up up the next morning clueless and completely lost. Anybody wants to make a guess here? Yes of course, it's about the movie Hangover that left four friends sloshed who forgot everything about the previous night. Any similiarirty here. Memories of the previous night-- partying hard and drinking harder. If you remember this and the fact that it is the first day of 2011, with a slight twitch in the head, never mind, you must read this. We quickly rustle up tips that will help you sober up, and straighten out things in your head. Just about a little effort for the good start.

"Once you know that you have a hangover, get down to dealing with it," says Vineet Mishra, director, Cocktail Jockey.com. There are many cures that are supposed to help check a hangover. To begin with, Vineet comes up with tips to deal with the spinning head. Here you go…

• Do not have an alcoholic drink in the morning as a cure for a hangover. Another drink does not help and may only make your hangover worse.
• Take Vitamin C as it may increase the rate of alcohol breakdown in the body.
• Alcohol causes dehydration, so drink plenty of water. Also drink fruit juices and tomato juice.
• Tomato/Vegetable soup or sports beverages (i.e. Gatorade) may help replace depleted salt and potassium.
• Try a cold pack to relieve headache.
• Alcohol consumption can irritate your stomach lining. So avoid aspirin and ibuprofen since they may only serve to increase this irritation.
• For an upset stomach following a hangover, try an over-the-counter antacid. Peppermint and chamomile tea may also help.

It is normal to have a hangover. Spirits soaring high, feet tapping all over the place… who could keep a count of drinks? Adds Chef Ramanpreet, executive chef, The Lobby, "Drinking too much alcohol depletes necessary substances required to stay healthy such as vitamins and minerals, water and blood sugar in the body." Onion, according to the chef, is rich in fruit salt, which can dilute the blood. Hangover happens due to lack of blood supply to the blood. A double shot of espresso coffee is a tried and tested remedy to deal with the hangover." It might sound weird, but anything with nicotine assists in overcoming hangover. "If this too doesn't work, a glass of coke will surely do the trick."

jasmine@tribunemail.com

Live to eat is a credo that has many followers. This could be because food satisfies the most basic of human desires-flavour. From the rough, spicy textures of a roasted chicken to the smooth softness of a kalami kebab, food encourages everyone to experiment and innovate. And if it were not for an offended cook in a Hyderabadi nawab khana, the dum biryani would never have been born!

This advisory is for those who've decided to step out, brave the cold, the traffic snarls, dense fog and 'do something exciting'. Every hospitality venture worth its name will boast of a celebrity DJ flown in from far-flung places. Read DJ Jerry, DJ strawberry, DJ huckleberry…there's no dearth of those promising to rock.

For those who don't believe in creating a ruckus, in loud celebrations and over the top revelry, there are a host of options.

nHotel Mountview: At Magic Wok and Rustles, they promise to serve you a special menu for New Year's eve apart from the presence of a disc jockey to liven things up along with a live band.

nTaj: The celebrations will be themed 'Once in a Blue Moon' at the Café 17, Black Lotus and Lava bar; with the lobby and the restaurant having blue orchids flower arrangements. While house DJ takes to most of the places, it'll be an international DJ at Café 17. And for those who'd rather let their imagination run wild, go dancing atop tables, celebrate till the next twilight, here are the options.

nBella Vista: Claims to have it all, the fire jugglers, the flair girls, fire breathers, Latino and samba dancers. Then there's the inevitable DJ Sushien. Need we say more?

nCafé Oz and Bar: It's a One Night Stand at the gourmet café and bar with DJ Nati flying in from Holland to add the finishing touch. What say?

nKava: For those who wish to venture beyond the dine out party, it's couple entries at their New Year's eve bash Masquerade with DJ Appurv and DJ Abhishek. Added to the package are international performers.

nThe TOY Hotel: They invite you to come and ring in New Year's with Bollywood actor Jimmy Shergill. DJ Pari and DJ Shanks take places behind the console.

nScore: It's reality TV show model to add to the celebrity factor at the discotheque. DJ Sanjana will control the tempo of the party.

nBlack Magic: It's going to be a regular club night with not more than 30 couples included in the VIP lounge with drinks on the house. The talks are on with a celebrated Punjabi singer to add the right jazz.

Amidst the crowded closed spaces, did we forget anything? Yes…Punjabi folk singers, Jelly Punjabi, Teji Sandhu and a rapper Black Carbon will enthral one and all at the Plaza-17. And then there are associations where the average age of people gathered to commemorate is about 62. Club rules apply!

manpriya@tribunemail.com

New Year's Eve, a time to enjoy, can be dangerous for your health, say experts. Experts at the Loyola University Health System, Washington, have said that the health hazards of too much revelry include drunk walking, fattening holiday drinks and the surprising ways that alcohol is bad for you.

Drunk walking: Research has shown that New Year's is the deadliest day of the year for pedestrians. Drinking and walking can be as dangerous as drinking and driving.In 2005, the journal Injury Prevention reported from 1986 to 2002, 410 pedestrians were killed on New Year's Day. Fifty-eight per cent of those killed had high blood-alcohol concentrations.

Fattening drinks: Popular holiday drinks such as martinis, Irish cream liqueur, eggnog, hot chocolate and rum and coke are loaded with calories.Loyola registered dietician Brooke Schantz said the more you drink, the higher the calorie count, and the more likely you will be to overindulge in food."It's okay to treat yourself to your favourite holiday drink. But try to do it in a way that won't bust your waistline," said Schantz.

Alcohol's surprising toll: Alcohol does much more harm to the body than just damaging the liver. Drinking also can weaken the immune system, slow healing, impair bone formation, increase the risk of HIV transmission and hinder recovery from burns, trauma, bleeding and surgery, said Elizabeth J. Kovacs of the Loyola's Alcohol Research Program. — ANI

Changing consumer preferences in favour of slimmer displays and the technological innovations in televisions and energy efficient offerings has caught consumer curiosity.

New technology adoption by Indian consumers is fuelling the trend for premium or technology-led product categories in the Indian market. Interestingly, there is already a strong upgrade and replacement trend evident among existing TV owners. No doubt while slimmer form factor is one of the key drivers in the Flat and Flat Panel TVs, new technology introduction in the television category such as Full HD LCD TVs, LED televisions and 3D TVs too are seeing good acceptance amongst Indian consumers. The slim form factor , the energy efficiency of LED TVs ,mega contrast ratios and the greater range availability are the factors fuelling the demand for LED TVs in the Indian market.

Simultaneously a rapid transition has also been seen in content broadcasting - from SD to HD bringing significant improvements in picture quality. Over the past few months, the industry added a new third dimension in entertainment: 3D TV. With the release of Avatar and manufacturers unveiling their new HDTVs with 3D capabilities it brought 3D awareness to the masses.

Samsung Flat Panel TV range is an ideal blend of aesthetic appeal, innovative technology and advanced features for a complete entertainment experience. — TNS

As per astrological tradition, if money is deposited in the existing saving account or a new account is opened in a bank or long term investments are made on the first day of the year or on New Samvat (Hindu New Year is falling on April 4 this year) the recurring enhancement of assets and wealth are assured. New insurance policy, acquisition of property, starting new business, investment in shares and mutual funds, etc, bring prosperity.

However, lending or borrowing money or filing a legal suit should be avoided. It is believed that money lent on this day hardly comes back and loan taken on New Year may not be repaid easily. To add to your jewellery and fortune, keep 12 almonds wrapped in a yellow piece of cloth in the bank locker or home locker. You can also try that with cash box of business premises or at home on January 1 or on April 4.

Madan Gupta Spatu, astrologer

Hollywood beauty Natalie Portman lost so much weight to play Nina, a troubled ballerina, in Black Swan that she "nearly died".

The 29-year-old actress who recently announced that she is expecting her first child, went from slim to skeletal for the role, which is tipped for an Oscar nod, reported Entertainment Weekly.

Portman trained in ballet for a year to get her moves right and is now engaged to her dancing partner in the movie, Benjamin Millepied.

"There were some nights that I thought I literally was going to die. It was the first time I understood how you could get so wrapped up in a role that it could sort of take you down," said the actress.

Portman said that she was also worried about the box-office performance of the film. "Everyone was so worried about who was going to want to see this movie. I remember them being like, 'How do you get guys to a ballet movie? How do you get girls to a thriller?' And the answer is a lesbian scene. Everyone wants to see that," said the actress. — PTI

Her Hollywood career has been cut short by her troubled personal life and Lindsay Lohan is planning to turn shoe designer after completing her current rehab stint.

The 24-year-old actress will be introducing footwear to her 6126 fashion brand and her designs are expected to be debuted next autumn, reported E! Online. The 'Mean Girls' star who will leave court-ordered rehab in January after three months in the sober house, has already begun working on the collection.

"The shoes are classic, glamorous, timeless with a sexy flair. She'll finalise everything when she's out," said the actress' spokesperson.

Lohan was in trouble again recently with one of the workers at Betty Ford clinic. The helper allegedly forced her to take several drug and alcohol tests after going back to the facility few minutes late. —PTI

It's a common saying - you first eat with your eyes and then with your stomach! And presenting a fare that was pleasing to the eye and enticing to the palate was Chinese restaurant Yin Yang in Sector 22 (they are already functional at Phase X, Mohali). Though the location of the restaurant in Sector 22 is not too appealing, the food and the Feng Shui-inspired décor makes for the loss of location.

To start with, lets talk about the décor, which unlike most of the city restaurants (that are either inspired travel experiences of owners or by the interior decorators) comes as a pleasant change. The entire ambience is done according to Feng Shui. So much is the inspiration that even the colour of lampshades, placement of utensils, colour on walls, ceiling and even the tables tops as well as placement of the cash counter is according to this ancient Chinese system of aesthetics, which uses the laws of both Heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive energy.

Says Mohindra Singh Judge from Yin Yang, "Right from the colour combination of red, gold and white to the placement of aquarium as well as the number of fish in it, we have tried to keep the aesthetics completely according to Feng Shui." A strong believer of this Chinese system of aesthetics, he adds, "The entire décor explains the theory of Yin Yang - opposites always stay together, like day and night, man and woman, hot and cold for example." So they have red on table-tops and yellow on the ceiling, seven gold and one black fish to add to the dancing bamboos on the cash counter.

Another interesting thing that attracted our attention was the statue of Green Tara at the entrance. Known as Jetsun Dolma in Tibet, she is the mother of liberation and represents the virtues of success in work.

Researchers at University of the Basque Country have said that parents should enforce good lifestyle habits even before children turn 13. Drinking, eating junk food and all other unhealthy life habits that are already being detected in early adolescence and that are especially predominant amongst women and young people between the ages of 19 and 26.

Marta Arrue and colleagues studied 2,018 young people from the CAV-EAE. She collated and analysed habits of life according to sex and age (adolescents from 13 to 17; young persons from 18 to 26).According to the thesis, the least healthy habits turned out to be eating ones, followed by ingestion of alcohol, sedentarism, risks involving sexual relations, the consumption of tobacco and drugs and, finally, low quality or insufficient sleep.Arrue concluded that special attention has to be paid to adolescents of 16 years; the age in which either healthy activities are opted for or risk behaviour patterns arise.

She also said that risk factors tend to be associated in a simultaneous manner, although healthy behaviour also.Apart from the psychological factor, she suggests that cultural and economic factors should be considered, as well as legal.

The results show that adolescents and young people with healthy life habits have higher self-esteem, better psychological wellbeing, greater satisfaction with their bodies and fewer psychopathological indicators.

— ANI

It's holiday season and that means rich and butter-laden food-cookies, pudding, cakes almost every other dish; so should you feel guilty every time you take a bite? Contrary to what health Nazis say about butter, it's actually good for you, say some health experts.

While it is true that we sometimes eat too much fat and that our diets are far from ideal, butter is not the culprit.

In fact, when eaten in moderation, it can do you a lot of good.

"There appears to be an enormous mismatch between the evidence from long-term prospective studies and perceptions of harm from the consumption of dairy food items," the Daily Mail quoted Professor Peter Elwood, an expert in fat metabolism, as saying.

And if you think margarine was a better choice, you are wrong. Many varieties of margarine are packed with other unhealthy substances and chemicals - synthesised unsaturated fats which increase the risk of coronary heart disease by raising levels of 'bad' low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lowering levels of 'good' high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

So even though butter contains animal fats at least it's natural and natural in this case is much better.

Butter is a simple emulsion of milk-fat, protein and water, and is packed with nutrients. It is a high-energy food, containing 700 calories per 100g. It is rich in Vitamin A, which is needed for the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system.

Butter is also rich in Vitamin D, which helps build strong bones, and contains Vitamin E and selenium - essential for healthy nervous and immune systems.

In fact, recent studies have shown that it can help to fight cancer, as it is rich in an anti-carcinogenic fatty acid obtained through cattle eating grass.

Although butter is 'fattening', you really don't need to eat a lot of it to feel satisfied. — ANI

Coca-Cola India rolls out the latest communication campaign 'Shadow' for brand Coca-Cola featuring Bollywood heartthrob and Coca-Cola Brand Ambassador- Imran Khan on mass media. Part of the global 'Open Happiness' campaign in India, this is the first ever campaign in the history of Coca-Cola India, which was first released on mobile phones and online media and is now being released on television. The campaign has already been downloaded and previewed by over 300,000 consumers and already has over 90,000 referrals online.

The latest communication is targeted at the youth and reinforces the need to connect with other human beings in this lonely world. Using visually exciting elements of shadow puppetry, the latest 'Shadow' film showcases how a bottle of Coca-Cola acts as a catalyst in making an instant connection between two strangers. — TNS