Essential Tips For A Beautiful You

Essential Tips For A Beautiful You
Everyday tips for the maintenance of your hair, skin and body

By Aileen Lane | Reprinted with permission from Ezyhealth & Beauty magazine

MANY women believe that having a wardrobe with the latest season’s clothes is sufficient. They feel that walking out the door with a smart outfit, immaculate shoes and the latest designer handbag completes their look. However, being perfectly dressed is just one side of looking great – the other part is being well-groomed and using makeup.

To achieve a great look, equal attention must be dedicated to each of these aspects.

When makeup is used correctly, your skin will look clearer, your dark circles will be less apparent, your eyes will look brighter and your lips more defined.

Taking care of the following areas will help you along the way:

• Skin – Beautiful makeup starts with beautiful skin. Getting in the habit of cleansing, toning and moisturising every morning and night will remove dirt, excess oil and perspiration. This will reveal your radiant skin underneath – a perfect canvas to start applying your colours.

• Body – With the hot climate, it’s a great idea to get into the habit of showering regularly. Always put on deodorant.

• Hair – Your hair should always be maintained by a regular trim every four to six weeks. If you colour or highlight your hair, ensure your roots are always touched up.

• Nails – They should always be neatly filed and cleaned, including what’s under them. If you always wear open-toed shoes, always indulge in regular pedicures.

• Teeth – Brush your teeth twice a day and floss nightly. Carrying mints in your handbag is essential if you smoke or drink coffee.

Aileen Lane is the Lead Consultant/Director of Nutri-Style Nutrition and Image Consultants. For queries, go to www.nutri-style.com or email info@nutri-style.com.

This story cannot be reproduced, whether in part or in whole, without the permission of Ezyhealth

Source: Essential Tips For A Beautiful You

Expert Advice on table Setting

Setting It Right
Time to unpack your fanciest bone china and shiniest silverware
to glam up that special night of romance

By Nadya Huang | Photo by Koh Boon Wei | Styling by Nadya Huang and Sabrina Wong
reprinted with permission from “Expert Advice” by Home Concepts Magazine

IT’S global recession and you have important guests flying in town. How would you like to entertain them? Dining at a five-star restaurant may be tasty but it certainly is not tasteful. So, why don’t you just entertain at home? If you have no time to attend a crash cooking class, you can always hire good catering service. Just remember to bring out your best china and flatware to make your guests feel truly important.

FOR A FORMAL SETTING:

1) A service plate always acts as the centre of the setting.

2) A soup bowl is placed on top of the service plate.

3) A napkin is always balanced on the rim of the soup bowl or placed on the left of the forks.

4) Forks are placed left of the plate.

5) Knives are placed on the right, with the sharp edge of their blades facing the plate.

6) Spoons are on the right of knives. From left to right: dinner knife, teaspoon, dinner spoon, soup spoon

7) Dessert cutlery is placed horizontally above the service plate.
a. The handle of a dessert fork should face the prongs of other forks.
b. A dessert spoon, if needed, should be placed above the dessert fork in the opposite direction.

Beverage glasses should be placed above the knives and spoons.
a. A water goblet should always be placed on the most left, closest to the service plate.
b. If you are serving more than one kind of wine, glasses are placed in service order from left to right:
| water goblet, Chardonnay wine glass, Bordeaux wine glass, and champagne flute.

9) A bread and butter plate should be placed above the forks with a butter knife lying across it.
The featured formal setting would suit a five-course dinner that includes:
a. Soup, served with warm bread and butter
b. Pasta/rice course
c. Entrée
d. Dessert
e. Coffee/Tea

RULES OF THUMB:

• If possible, all dishware and cutlery should be positioned on a placemat.

• The service plate will act as an under-plate for the dishware of all courses served before the entrée. The plate is then replaced by the entrée when it is served.

• Remember that cutlery is used from the outside in. Cutlery used for the first dish should always be placed furthest from the service plate. For example, if you have a salad and a fish course before your entrée, your cutlery should be placed from left to right in this order: salad fork, fish fork, dinner fork; dinner knife, fish knife, salad knife.

• All utensils should be equidistant from each other and their handles should be straight and level.

Source: Expert Advice on table Setting

Quick Makeup Tips For Everday

Applying makeup on your face needn’t be a chore with these helpful and practical tips• If you’ve applied too much blusher, simply dust over with loose or pressed powder until the colour is subdued.

• When applying mascara, always keep a cotton swab handy. It’s perfect for removing any smudge.

• Your eyes and lips should always be made up but they should never compete for attention. Always remember that a heavy, smoky eye calls for a neutral lip; likewise, a bright red or dark lipstick works best with a neutral eye.

• To keep lipstick off your teeth, once your have applied lipstick, put your index finger into your mouth and pull it out. The extra lipstick will come off on your finger.

• If you’re making a quick change from day to night makeup, a coat of lip gloss over your lipstick will give you a glossy evening finish.

• When applying makeup, always apply in a dabbing motion. Never rub as this removes the product underneath.

• Having sharp pencils will not only give you more accurate application, but it is more hygienic, especially if you wear contact lenses. Get in the habit of giving your pencils a quick sharpen after use and store in the fridge.

Aileen Lane is the Lead Consultant/Director of Nutri-Style Nutrition and Image Consultants. For queries, go to www.nutri-style.com or email info@nutri-style.com.

This story cannot be reproduced, whether in part or in whole, without the permission of Ezyhealth

Source: Quick Makeup Tips For Everday

Pregnancy Tips: Too Much Water in Water Bag

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Dr Low Kah Tzay, Paediatrician | Mt. Elizabeth Hospital
reprinted with permission from “Great Expectations by Today’s Parents magazine

I’m due to have my second baby soon. My doctor says there is a lot of water in the water bag.

What does this mean?

It can be difficult to find out the cause of polyhydramnios (excessive fluid) and, sometimes, no cause can be found. Sometimes the extra fluid is due to a problem with the baby, or with the placenta or with you, the mother.

Possible causes include:

> Maternal diabetes, where your blood sugar levels are not well controlled. Your baby’s urine output increases and this in turn increases the volume of amniotic fluid

> Being pregnant with twins. There may be a particular problem if the babies are identical (monozygotic).

> Infections that affect your baby, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, toxoplasmosis and syphilis, may be associated with polyhydramnios.

> A congenital problem with the baby occurs in about 20 per cent of polyhydramnios cases. There may be a blockage in the esophagus (swallowing tube), meaning he cannot swallow the amniotic fluid and control the amount of it around him. It may also be a sign that the baby has a problem with his central nervous system, or with his heart or kidneys.

> Sometimes, polyhydramnios is associated with babies who have chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down’s or Edward syndrome

> In rare cases, the placenta may have developed a tumour or there may be a problem with the arteries in the umbilical cord resulting in polyhydramnios.

Most women with polyhydramnios go on to have healthy babies, particularly if the condition is mild. If you are not known to have diabetes, you will be given an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). If this is high, you may be referred to a diabetes specialist who can get your blood sugar levels down. This will reduce the amount of fluid.

Ultrasound scanning can help spot any problems with your baby. If a detailed scan shows nothing untoward, your baby is usually fine and the polyhydramnios is caused by something else.

There are other laboratory tests for investigating polyhydramnios if infection is suspected. You would be followed up at more frequent intervals as you are at higher risk of going into premature labour, cord prolapse when your water bag ruptures or the placenta starting to come away from the wall of the uterus (abruption placenta).

In mild cases of polyhydramnios, your doctor will advise you to rest or even start your maternity leave early. Even then, because your uterus is so swollen, you may go into labour prematurely.
Go to the hospital immediately if your waters break or you start having contractions.

Dr. Low Kah Tzay is a pediatrician working at Mt Elizabeth Hospital. He specializes in the management of growth and development of children; such as feeding difficulties, language delay, sleep disorders, attention disorders, autistic spectral disorders and learning difficulties. His website is at www.pediatricdoctor.net.

Sources: Pregnancy Tips: Too Much Water in Water Bag

Pregnancy Tips: What is Low and Anterior Placenta?

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Dr Vanaja K, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist | National University Hospital
reprinted with permission from “Great Expectations by Today’s Parents magazine

When I went for my scan, my gynae told me I have a low and anterior placenta. What is that and what implications does this have? Will it affect my baby adversely at all? Will I have any problems during labour and delivery?

Placenta is otherwise called after birth. After the delivery of the baby, the placenta will separate from the womb and will be delivered. It is important to know the exact location of the placenta in pregnancy. Usually it is located in the upper part of the womb and will not block the passage. The placenta can cover the neck of the womb in early pregnancy and as pregnancy advances, it will move away and not cause bleeding in pregnancy, so the mother can expect a normal delivery. For some it may continue to cover the neck of the womb in late pregnancy and can cause bleeding in pregnancy without any pain.

In medical terms it is called placenta praevia. In such cases, a Caesarean section will be the mode of delivery. The timing of delivery will be decided by the obstetrician based on the amount of bleeding, maturity of the baby, condition of the mother and baby. Bleeding in pregnancy will be considered a high risk case and some may need to stay in hospital for a few days before delivery. A lowlying placenta means the placenta is in the lower part of the womb. It is important to know whether it is blocking or not blocking the passage to warn about bleeding and the necessity for a Caesarean section. Bleeding will have effects on the mother and if it is heavy, it can affect the baby as well.

Source: Pregnancy Tips: What is Low and Anterior Placenta?

Green Tea Bag Gets Rid of Eye Bags

EGCG-content has anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce puffiness even more

SO you’re still not ready to go to a cosmetic surgery clinic to remove your eye bags. Wanna try an alternative eye treatment that’s natural and non-invasive? We’ve all heard about how placing straight-from-the-fridge used tea bags on your eyes can help minimize swelling and dark circles. But did you know that, among all the teas, green tea is the most effective?

This tip from our favorite eco-friendly site, www.treehugger.net:

Got puffy under eyes that no cream can fix? Do a tea bag compress. The tannin in tea bags has been proven to reduce swelling (baggy under eyes) and discoloration (dark circles).

Either put your used tea bag in the fridge or let it cool down for a half hour. Then damp the tea bag over your eyes for 10-15 minutes.

If you’re looking for that extra oomph, try using a caffeinated tea bag. It will reduce the inflammation even more.

Green tea bags work best because not only do they have caffeine, but they also contain EGCG (another anti-inflammatory).

According to Dermatologist Andrea Kunin, coauthor of the DERMAdoctor Skinstruction Manual, EGCG helps remove under eye fluid buildup (the main culprit for under eye circles and bags).

Plus, green tea’s packed with antioxidants. So why not kill two birds with one stone?

What do you think about this tip? Would you try it? Leave a comment.

Source: Green Tea Bag Gets Rid of Eye Bags

How To Be Emo, Really!

How To Be Emo
From wikiHow – The How to Manual That You Can Edit

HAVE you recently felt depressed? Alone? Abandoned by your family and friends? Misunderstood by the world? If you have, and like to express your feelings and emotions through poetry and music, chances are you’re what today’s society considers “Emo“.

Steps On How To Become Emo:

1. Understand what Emo is. Emo has many meanings. Some would say it’s only a genre of music, categorized by hardcore music with sad, Emotional lyrics. Others consider it’s only a brief way to call someone emotional. Still, there are those who believe Emo is a life style and choose to live their lives the Emo way. Like any style, fashion or culture, the exact definition is up for debate and often varies according to personal expression. The term Emo is loosely associated with emotional rock; most Emo’s like underground or Indie music.

2. Appreciate Emo music. Emo is a rock music genre, usually consisting of emotional lyrics and optional Screamo. Over the years, this music genre was usually seen as underground until recent times, making Emo music more popular than ever. This music sometimes consists of lyrics seen by many as “whiny,” and “sensitive.” Listen to a lot of Emo bands, and maybe even consider picking up an instrument, such as a bass or guitar. You could also try to play the violin, and if you invest enough time into it, Emo songs on the violin are incredibly Emo-sounding. The drums can also be a very good instrument. You may even want to write your own songs by writing poetry and turning it into songs.

3. Test yourself. Try listening to Emo music. If you end up liking this type of music, and come out wanting to download the songs after you’re done with the album, you’re probably a “true” Emo. Getting inner Emo is all a matter of finding out of you have it or not.

4. Dress Emo. After you have discovered your inner Emo, try shopping for a new wardrobe. Emo fashion has roots in both punk and goth. Wear tight jeans, tight shirts with Emo band logos on them, studded belts, and an old, black and worn down pair of sneakers. Girls can wear black skirts with striped socks or leggings. Leg warmers are also acceptable. For accessories go to Hot Topic and buy black rubber bracelets and any Emo-looking necklaces. Thick, black-rimmed glasses are not uncommon for Emo guys. Also, stripes and checkers are big in the Emo culture. Take an example from others Emo’s you see around as inspiration, but do not copy, just do your own thing. Theres always more Emo points in thrift shop buys also.

5. Get an Emo hairstyle. Dye it black or brown with perhaps some blond or unnatural color streaks, especially in the bangs. If you are a girl, you may possibly want to cut your hair to a very short bob-like hairstyle but keep your bangs long, swept drastically to one side and covering your eye. Or, for those who like long hair, get many choppy layers and highlights. For a guy, you may want to spike up the back side, and pat down on the front side. You could also get your bangs/fringe dyed a lighter color than the rest of your hair.

6. Get the attitude. A lot of times, Emo is associated with being bitter, depressed, insecure and resentful. But at its core, you can be Emo because you’re sensitive, introspective, thoughtful, and quiet. Don’t ever be loud or in anyone’s face; focus on your own emotional life.

7. Remember Emo’s are people too! Don’t be all glum if everyone makes fun of you! Remember you are still a person.

Source: How To Be Emo, Really!

This Yellow Is The Color of 2009

Yellow 135 is ‘color of change, hopefulness, warmth and good cheer’
From The Washington Post

PANTONE has named Mimosa, an orange-juice tinted yellow, the 2009 color of the year.

First Lady Michele Obama lit up the inaugural ceremony and parade on Tuesday in a sunny shade of yellow, which Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, says is the color of change, of hopefulness, of warmth and of good cheer.

“We chose yellow based on the … elephant in the room, the economy,” says Eiseman. As an antidote to doom and gloom, dab your home with a dose of yellow. Eiseman recommends painting Mimosa in a front entry for an instant message of welcome.

Avoid overdosing by experimenting with small accessories, such as pillows, throws, plates and sheets.

Just in time for the news, major home retailers — Crate & Barrel, Pottery Barn and Williams-
Sonoma — introduced bright new items for spring in “lemon,” “citrus,” “sunburst” and “turmeric.”

How optimistic-sounding.

Source: This Yellow Is The Color of 2009

How To Start Freelancing

Freelancer, How To Find Clients
Talent is not enough, you need strong networking skills and client list

By James P. Ong
Editor, 88DB.com

FIRST of all, let’s be clear what we mean by freelance.

According to Dictionary.com, a freelancer is “a person who works as a writer, designer, performer or the like, selling work or services by the hour, day, job, etcetera, rather than working on a regular salary basis for one employer.”

Advantage: You’re your own boss, you control your time. Disadvantage: You’re your own boss, yet your own paycheck is not guaranteed.

Is being a freelancer difficult? No, after all, you will still be using the same skill sets you used to in your previous job. But it can be challenging, because you will need to multi-task and take care of such things as billing statements, bookkeeping, and filing. Just think of it as preparing yourself to become a business owner.

In the current economic scenario where people are losing jobs, some have no choice but to become a freelancer. Take heed, it’s not just the creative fields that employ freelancers. If you are an accountant, sales agent or a banker, you can also make a living out of freelancing or consultancy. And because companies are also working on a tighter budget, they are more open to outsourcing jobs to freelancers.

You still need to work hard at getting gigs, however. Talent is not enough, you also need to know people who can refer you to potential clients. Tell everyone what you’re doing, post ads online and in community billboards. Spread the word.

Here are more tips from Entrepreneur.com on how to find clients:

1. Develop a portfolio to demonstrate the scope of your skills. If that means working for no pay or low pay initially, do it. Samples of your work will be your best calling card.

2. Tell everyone you know―colleagues, friends, family, neighbors―about your new freelance gig. Referrals will make up the bulk of your business initially.

3. Join professional organizations―online or in the community―that serve your field. In addition to all the other benefits you’ll gain, you’ll also pick up insider tips of where to find work.

4. Join local organizations, like the chamber of commerce or Rotary club. “Creative people often overlook organizations like these, thinking they’ll be filled with stiff bankers and businesspeople,” notes an authority. “And they may be―but that’s who’ll be hiring you to do your creative work.”

5. Volunteer in the community doing something you love, and you’ll broaden your network of potential clients.

6. Cold call. Yes, everyone hates cold calling, but the reason freelancers need to do this is because it works. Another important point to remember is that freelancing doesn’t solely mean doing the thing you love. It also means knowing how to sell and market your services. When starting out, about 90 percent of your time will be spent on sales and marketing tasks.

Source: How To Start Freelancing

How To Create Smokey Eyes With Eyeliners

Fashion makeup artist and 88DB.com member Fionna Lau shares her tips

I haven’t met anyone who does not know or does not want to have smokey eyes makeup. Everyone loves the smoky eyes look. Do you know that you can achieve the smoky make up look by using eyeliners too? Yes!

Creating smoky makeup looks is one of the most popular eye makeup and timeless makeup ever known. It is always in fashion and suitable for all types of eyes. It can be worn as a casual everyday makeup or as a formal evening make up look. This eye makeup for Asians is an absolute favourite!

This smokey eye tip is for day looks -

1) Firstly, line the rim of your upper eyelids with black eyeliner pencil, making sure it goes into the lashline.

2) Go over the top of the black eyeliner with a brown eyeliner pencil starting from the outer ends of the eye to the centre of the eye.

3) Softly shade the eyelids using short strokes and smudge the brown eyeliner with your ring finger. For the bottom eyelids, rim with the brown eyeliner instead of black to soften the smokey eye.

4) Smudge the eyeliner along the rim with your ring finger, and draw another line again. For a more intense smokey look, you can do the same as the top lid – rim with black and followed by brown, and smudge. I prefer to use a more creamy formula eye pencil as it draws easily than a waterproof eyeliner pencil.

5) Pad a little translucent loose powder over the lids to seal in the creamy formula. Although it may smudge on the bottom lid during the day.

It doesn’t matter as it adds effects to the overall raw smokey eye look!

Copyright © www.fionnalau.com

Learn how to create smokey eyes with eyeliners.