Trick yourself into saving! ( TITLE OF THIS MADE ME SAVE THE INFORMATION WHICH I HAVE YET TO READ :))

By Lauren Fernandez for Yahoo! Southeast AsiaWe’ve all been there before—it’s the 14th or the 29th of the month, the day before payday and all we have to show for ourselves is about fifty bucks in our wallet, and nothing else in the bank. It’s enough to make you wonder if you’re working just to make you survive going to work.

Put an end to this butas na bulsa syndrome by tricking yourself into saving, regardless of your salary pay scale. Essential household expenses like rent, utilities, and groceries are definitely necessary, but anything outside of this is often unnecessary. And these expenses—such as going out and shopping too often—though deceptively minimal at first, can all add up to a huge amount in the long run.

Ending your bad spending habits can be as easy as doing minor lifestyle changes. Here are seven little ways to help you save big in the long run.

1. Squirrel away come payday.
Instead of hitting the nearest department store to celebrate payday, hit a separate savings account. “On payday itself, before I get a chance to shop, I immediately withdraw a few thousand bucks and put it into another account which I don’t touch,” says Joanne Enriquez, a mother, art director, and book designer. Follow suit and make it a habit to set aside at least one fourth of your salary and deposit it in a passbook-style account, so you can’t access it so easily.

2. At supermarkets, shop below eye level.
“All the premium and pricier brands are all placed at eye-level on supermarket shelves,” reveals Enriquez. “So I pick the products that are below or above those items, as they cost less. Household basics like sponges, detergent, and dishwashing liquid do the same job, anyway!”
 

3. Walk, don’t ride.
The next time you have to go to a nearby restaurant at lunch, or if the bus and FX terminal is less than a kilometer away from your subdivision, forego the taxi or tricycle ride, and walk instead to your destination. By nixing your lunchtime taxi, you’ll save at least P1,600 a month, and P19,200 a year. And by not riding a tricycle, you’ll save about P784 a month, or P9,408 a year. Plus, you’ll be healthier—and slimmer, too.

4. Shop your closet.
Before you buy another dress for a party, check your closet first. Always look at your wardrobe with a fresh eye, and spend your weekends coming up with new pairings using your existing clothes. You can also log on to fashion blogs and websites to get ideas on how to dress. A new outfit including shoes may cost you P5,000, an “old-new” outfit from your closet, zero.

Read: How to budget when you're broke
5. Make going out extra-special.
Meaning, you’ll only go out on extra-special occasions. “I used to go drinking or do videoke with my cousins every Saturday, without fail, and that used to cost us at least P1,500 per person,” Dino Gramonte, an IT specialist, recounts. “Now we only go out when we’re celebrating someone’s birthday, or for a despedida. That saves me about P6,000 a month.”


6. Forego the fancy drinks.
If you always order a fruit shake at lunch, and if you grab a tall mocha latte on your way to work, this may be setting you back at least P150 a day, or a whopping P3,000 a month! A fancy drink is always an unnecessary expense—and it may be adding unnecessary calories as well. “I bring my own thermos of home-brewed coffee to work,” says Enriquez, who admits she can’t get through the day without a coffee fix. “If it gets cold, I just transfer it to a mug and microwave it!” Or just ask the waiter for plain, free, H2O.

Read: Build a better budget in 6 months
7. When you think of buying a bag, think of buying a house.
This may sound strange at first, but this is just a play on reverse psychology. The next time you’re itching to buy a new cellphone or “it” bag even if you don’t need it, convert the unit price of your impulse buy into the big-ticket investment you’re dreaming of. Just imagine: 14 fancy cellphones, or 11 designer bags equals P350,000—often the cost of a nice secondhand car, or the minimum deposit needed to purchase a small condo unit.

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Rules of Investment

1. Thou Shalt Set Clear Goals. If you don't have a purpose or a set of clear goals to guide your investment strategy, don't invest. This sounds harsh, but there are so many types, styles and flavors of investing that, without a particular destination, you will be lost at sea. (Photo: Thinkstock)...

2. Thou Shalt Put Thy Financial House in Order. To become a successful investor, you have to make sure that your personal finances are in order first. Investing without a purpose is bad, but investing when you have high-interest debt is much worse. If you are drowning in overdue bills and credit card payments that you can't meet, take care of those more serious problems before getting too deep into investing. (Photo: Thinkstock)

 

Order. To become a successful investor, you have to make sure that your personal finances are in order first. Investing without a purpose is bad, but investing when you have high-interest debt is much worse. If you are drowning in overdue bills and credit card payments that you can't meet, take care of those more serious problems before getting too deep into investing. (Photo: Thinkstock)

 

 

3. Thou Shalt Question Authority. Investing is more about the art of asking and answering the right questions than it is about deciding when to buy and sell. To question authority, you will need to educate yourself, especially on the subject of financials. Press releases are flakes of snow that rain down on investors and melt away, but financials stick around. Although financials can be tampered with, there is always a trail left behind.

is more about the art of asking and answering the right questions than it is about deciding when to buy and sell. To question authority, you will need to educate yourself, especially on the subject of financials. Press releases are flakes of snow that rain down on investors and melt away, but financials stick around. Although financials can be tampered with, there is always a trail left behind.

3. Thou Shalt Question Authority. Investing is more about the art of asking and answering the right questions than it is about deciding when to buy and sell. To question authority, you will need to educate yourself, especially on the subject of financials. Press releases are flakes of snow that rain down on investors and melt away, but financials stick around. Although financials can be tampered with, there is always a trail left behind.

 

 

4. Thou Shalt not Follow Sheep There is a lot of available information for investors (much of which is true) but accepting it with an uncritical eye and neglecting to check it yourself is what leads to herd mentality. This includes getting the latest and greatest stock tip from your Uncle George. When people buy cars, they try to find the best value for the lowest price; when people buy stocks, they only see the price and, ironically, gravitate towards rising prices. If you are going to invest, you have to check things for yourself in order to find the true value and get the bargains. This takes more time, and it could even cause you to miss out on early gains, but it will tell you when to stay out or when to sell well before the herd hears the bell.(Photo: Thinkstock)

 

lot of available information for investors (much of which is true) but accepting it with an uncritical eye and neglecting to check it yourself is what leads to herd mentality. This includes getting the latest and greatest stock tip from your Uncle George. When people buy cars, they try to find the best value for the lowest price; when people buy stocks, they only see the price and, ironically, gravitate towards rising prices. If you are going to invest, you have to check things for yourself in order to find the true value and get the bargains. This takes more time, and it could even cause you to miss out on early gains, but it will tell you when to stay out or when to sell well before the herd hears the bell.(Photo: Thinkstock) less

 

 

5. Thou Shalt Be Humble If you take the first four commandments to heart, there is a good chance that you will perform better than the majority of individual investors. But sometimes, particularly during a bull market, gains are not dictated by investor actions as much as by having money in the market, so don't allow yourself to become overconfident. Overconfidence often leads to overtrading, taking unnecessary risks and eventual losses when the ... more

 

6. Thou Shalt Be Patient Patience is a virtue for a good reason: It pays for itself. When the market dips, or even when a particular stock dips, there are always investors who panic and sell. Selling should be treated just as seriously as buying. If it is just a bump, ride it out. If there is truly a problem with the stock, take your time as well - you may find a way to use it in a gain-loss transaction that will save you taxes. By the time you hear it, bad news has already settled in - taking your time isn't going to make it much worse.(Photo: Thinkstock)

for a good reason: It pays for itself. When the market dips, or even when a particular stock dips, there are always investors who panic and sell. Selling should be treated just as seriously as buying. If it is just a bump, ride it out. If there is truly a problem with the stock, take your time as well - you may find a way to use it in a gain-loss transaction that will save you taxes. By the time you hear it, bad news has already settled in - taking your time isn't going to make it much worse.(Photo: Thinkstock) less

 

 

7. Thou Shalt Show Moderation Investing too much is not a problem many people have, but it can happen. It is said that the pain of a loss has twice the emotional strength of the pleasure of a gain. For some people, this results in pulling out of the market prematurely, as mentioned above. For others, losing propels them into successively riskier ventures in an all-or-nothing attempt to win those losses back. Losses are hard to take, but look on the bright side: You can sell a loss to offset a gain in another sector or, if it is in a retirement account, you can use it as a tax write-off. Concentrating your money too much in one area, either by sector, risk level or even keeping it all in the stock market, is a sure way to see more of nothing than all in an all-or-nothing game. (Photo: Thinkstock)

 

too much is not a problem many people have, but it can happen. It is said that the pain of a loss has twice the emotional strength of the pleasure of a gain. For some people, this results in pulling out of the market prematurely, as mentioned above. For others, losing propels them into successively riskier ventures in an all-or-nothing attempt to win those losses back. Losses are hard to take, but look on the bright side: You can sell a loss to offset a gain in another sector or, if it is in a retirement account, you can use it as a tax write-off. Concentrating your money too much in one area, either by sector, risk level or even keeping it all in the stock market, is a sure way to see more of nothing than all in an all-or-nothing game. (Photo: Thinkstock) less

 

9. Thou Shalt not Court or Spurn RiskYou should never put everything you have into futures, but you also shouldn't hold everything in Treasury bills. There is an appropriate level of risk for investors of every age and creed. (Photo: Thinkstock)

 

8. Thou Shalt not Ogle Thy Investment There is nothing like a market correction or a general upswing to change perfectly normal investors into fanatics who have market updates text messaged to their cell phones every five minutes. The axiom, "look, don't touch" is insufficient because the more you look, the more you want to mess around with your investments. It is not clear if it is a symptom or a cause, but this rabid over-monitoring almost ... more

 

10. Thou Shalt not Make Heroes of Mere Men

There is no perfect investor. Warren Buffett , George Soros and Peter Lynch have all slipped up from time to time. That doesn't stop them from being great investors who are worth studying and learning from. That said, you should never mimic an investing strategy that you do not fully understand.

The Bottom Line: Praying or getting behind the wheel expecting everyone else to follow the same rules you do are both acts of faith. Investing, in contrast, requires practice. To be a good investor, you have to make doubt a part of your creed and make double-checking a ritual. These guidelines should help you on your way. Happy driving. (Photo: Thinkstock)  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Books that is worth the read

I have limited time and would like to enjoy watching some korean dramma .. inbetween I would also love to catch some books that is worth my read.. {reference as short as possible but with direct hit of learning }

Recommending some wonderful books which you can obtain from the National library or books shop around..

By Spencer johnson
1) One min mum
2) One min for your self
3) The precious present
4) Who move my cheese
5) the one minute teacher ( I just bought this book but have yet to read)
more coming ... i am reading these

Anyone have any Spencer Johnson books do let me know if you like to sell 2nd hand
email me at quek_cf@yahoo.com Must be good or excellent condition 

Cheapest way to kick start your K1-K2 child reading

 

What is the cheapest way to train out children to read????  My personal experience ..

Dear all.

I do personally experience this issue that my daughter cannot read at a late stage which is during the end of Nov of her K1 school. I was astonished and upset that my little one cannot read... it is very worrying...I was partically piss off with her teacher which she should at least have informed me earlier.. She did mention that my child was lacked behind other kids ...

After talking to her teacher and my hubby we decide a few routes to the solution..
We have to ensure that she is able to read.. by reading books to her will not help much it will only assist her to depend on us to read for her...

reading to her is only to create her interest to read.. which is more suitable for younger kids.. at her age 6 , she should know how to read simple word etc...

We have few alternative
1) Is to send her last min to " I can read" which will cost us a bomb
and it may not even be suitable for her, or she may reject the teaching

2) Buy the high frequency book from Popular which cost less than SGD$10 DURING the year.
there are flash card behind..

We choose the 2nd option.. If you persist and dicipline yourself and your kid... you will succeed...

I do let my little one tear out the first set of cards...( they are in different colour) the basic ones only..
And i continue to flash to her repeatly for 2 weeks ... follow by playing with her on the card games.. like fishing out the word...after i request her to read out the words that I pick.. how much she score etc and let her win at times :) and turn the card and by memory find the words... etc
 this continue for 2 months..

FYI, i did not really touch on the chapters on the book initially afraid to frighten her... it was after that :) when she is more confident, i started her on the chapters going thru with her..

I realise sometime children misbehave is to " run away from some issue or problem" like my daughter she will create some mischevious but after she handle her problem, she is much well behave.. try it

And She can read now and crazy over books :)

How to Save Money and steps by steps to follow through...

I need this very urgently and need to remind myself constantly : How to Save Money and steps by steps to follow through... 

One trick from my sister : Recently I have been checking some saving account bank interest rate.. one of the best bank interest rate that can offer me is Maybank .. try open one of the bank with no atm facilities if possible another option is keep the atm card somewhere where you cannot use it (I am going to keep with my sister :)  ). Make a repeated transfer every month on the payday, force ensure to save.  I realise it is in one of the steps below

I have an excel worksheet that I do myself which can be useful... do email me if you like

Saving money is one of those tasks that's so much easier said than done. I am getting some steps down to help myself to start..
With no saving at the age of 36, it is very worrying.

I have lift off some of the information from the web hope it is helpful.

Steps to follow .. all the best

• 1 Kill your debt first. Simply calculating how much you spend each month on your debts will illustrate that eliminating debt is the fastest way to free up money. Once the money is freed from debt payment, it can easily be re-purposed to savings. Plus, the sooner you pay off debt, the less interest you'll pay, and that money can be saved instead.
• 2 Set savings goals. For short-term goals, this is easy. ( i did with $500 put aside monthly)
  
  
  
• 3. Establish a time-frame. Set a particular date for accomplishing shorter-term goals, and make sure the goal is attainable within that time period. If it’s not attainable, you’ll just get discouraged.
• 4 Set a target amount that can be attainable at a shorter time frame..
  Plan on how much you’ll have to save  per month to attain each of your savings goals. Take each thing you want to save for and figure out how much you need to start saving now. For most savings goals, it’s best to save the same amount each period.
  
  
• 5
  Keep a record of your expenses best to be done daily . What you save falls between two activities and their difference: how much you make and how much you spend. Since you have more control over how much you spend, it's wise to take a critical look at your expenses. Write down everything you spend your money on for a couple weeks or a month. Be as detailed as possible, and try not to leave out small purchases. Assign each purchase or expenditure a category such as: Rent, Car insurance, Car payments, Phone Bill, Cable Bill, Utilities, Gas, Food, Entertainment, etc.
  
  
  • Keep a small notebook with you at all times. Get in the habit of recording every expense and saving the receipts.
  • Sit down once a week with your small notebook and receipts. Record your expenses in a larger notebook or a spreadsheet program.
  • There are also many apps you can download to your phone that will help you keep track of your expenses.
• 6
  Trim your expenses. Take a good, hard look at your spending records after a month or two have passed. You’ll probably be surprised when you look back at your record of expenses: $30 on ice cream, $10 on parking tickets? You’ll likely see some obvious cuts you can make. Depending on how much you need to save, however, you may need to make some difficult decisions. Think about your priorities, and make cuts you can live with. Calculate how much those cuts will save you per year, and you'll be much more motivated to pinch pennies.
  
  
  
  
  • Can you move to a less expensive apartment or house? Can you refinance your mortgage?
  • Can you save money on food, or give up some inhouse restuarant dining altogether?
  • Shop the discount racks at clothing stores or best dont shop at all . Items on clearance are marked down considerably and could save you 50% -70%of the price.
  • Can you drop a land line and either only use your cell phone or save money by calling over the internet for free with services such as Skype?
  • Can you cut down on your utility bills?
  • Can you restrict eating out? Buy food in bulk?  Cook more at home? You might be able to save a lot of money when grocery shopping.
• 7
  Reassess your savings goals. Subtract your expenses (the ones you can't live without) from your take-home income (i.e. after taxes have been taken out). What is the difference? And does it match up with your savings goals? Let's say you've decided you can definitely get by on $150 per month, and your paychecks amount to $230 per month. That leaves you with $80 to save. If there’s absolutely no way you can fit all your savings goals into your budget, take a look at what you’re saving for and cut the less important things or adjust the time-frame. Maybe you need to put off buying a new car for another year, or maybe you don’t really need a big-screen TV that badly.
  
  
• 8
  Make a budget. Once you’ve managed to balance your earnings with your savings goals and spending, write down a budget so you’ll know each month or each paycheck how much you can spend on any given thing or category of things. This is especially important for expenses which tend to fluctuate, or which you know you're going to have a particularly hard time restricting. (E.g. "I will only spend $30 a month on movies/chocolate/coffee/etc.")
  
  
• 9 (this is one of my main weakness)
  Stop using credit cards. Pay for everything with cash . Don't even use cheque (I only use cheque for payment like my kid tution fees etc something to track ) . It's easier to overspend when you're pulling from a bank or credit account because you don't know exactly how much is in there. If you have cash, you can see your supply running low.                                      
• Interesting to follow thru ** : You can even bundle up the predetermined amount of cash allocated for each expense with a label or keep separate jars for each expense (e.g. a bundle/jar for coffee, another for gas, another for miscellaneous). As you pull money from a jar for that particular expense, you'll see how much remains and you'll also be reminded of your limit. This is a good one that I can start using.  I probably should have a few jars

• Food / restaurant
• Grocery
• Transport
• Miscelleaneous
• kids

• If you need to have credit cards but you don't want the temptation of having them available to use day-to-day, restrict that section of your wallet with a note or picture reminding you of your savings goals.
• Use Credit cards wisely, it's all about your self control. If you use them responsibly (i.e. completely pay them off every month), you can benefit from them. But the reason most credit card companies make money, however, is because people end up spending money that they don't have. Unless you are one of the people who can religiously pay off the balance in full every month, you're better off foregoing the promotions that credit card companies use to lure you in (cash back, introductory APR, airline miles, and so on).
• But I have an issue also, i tend to limit out my monthly expenses, so without self control.. even if I pay off monthly i dont have any amount left to save.
• Ultimate - dont use credit card, dont bring it out if you cannot control.
• once the habit is break- then you can start by giving yourself a limit.

1. 10 Open a savings account with limited access or difficulties to access. It’s a lot easier to keep track of your savings if you have them separate from your spending money. ( my sister tricks)
2. 11Pay yourself first. Savings should be your priority, so don’t just say that you’ll save whatever is left over at the end of the month. Deposit savings into an account (or your piggy-bank) as soon as you get paid. An easy, effective way to start saving is to simply deposit 10% of every check in a savings account. If you get a check or sum of cash, say 710.68, move the decimal point one place to the left and deposit that amount: 71.07. This works well and requires little thought; over several years, you've a tidy sum in savings.
   • You can set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to your savings account.
   • Many employers allow you to deduct savings from your paycheck. The money is directly deposited in your savings account so you never even see it on your paycheck.
   • You can also have investments for retirement taken directly out of your pay, and the taxes may be deferred with this option. Your employer may offer a 401k matching program for retirement as well making it even more worthwhile to save.

Don't get discouraged and don't give up. You may not think you can become wealthy but to become a millionaire is possible if you set up a aggressive savings plan and stick to it. You may be surprised how much money you can put away for something far more enjoyable than what you could buy with short term savings. Good things often take time and the longer you save the more interest you will be making on your savings as well!

 

Tips from website

• Every time you go to buy something think of the thing you are saving for and the rough percentage of your savings so far that the thing costs and quite often you won't buy it.
• Always over-estimate your expenses and under-estimate your income.
• If you can afford to share things you have, from food to living space to appliances, try to do so. What goes around comes around when it's between close friends, soon enough, you'll find your friends doing the same, and everybody benefits.
• Take care of your possessions. In this way, you'll need to replace items less. Also, don't replace items until it's absolutely necessary. For instance, just because a motor in an electric toothbrush breaks doesn't mean it stops functioning as a toothbrush. Continue to use it, and when ready go buy a new one or check the warranty.
• Have a hobby? Match your funds. One important habit for saving is if you have a hobby, such as model airplanes, scrap-booking, dirt biking, scuba diving, etc., set a hard and fast rule that whatever you allow yourself to spend on your hobby, you match those funds to your savings. For example, if you buy yourself a $45 pair of riding gloves, another $45 goes to your savings. Serious about saving? Try doubling your matched funds! These savings plans will do two things: Save money regularly and quickly, and really show you how much you are spending on your hobby, when it costs you twice as much.
• If you receive unexpected cash, put all or most of it into your savings, but continue to set aside your regularly scheduled amount as well. You’ll reach your savings goals sooner.
• Make purchases with paper money, not exact change, and always save the change. Use a piggy bank or jar for your coins. Coins and change may look insignificant but when accumulated over time they can help you save. Some banks now offer free coin counting machines. When you redeem your coins, ask to be paid by check so you won't be tempted to spend your new found cash.
• Most people can save something regardless of their income. Starting to save a little will help build the habit of saving. Even saving as little as $5 a month will teach you that you don't need as much money as you think.
• If you can't bring yourself to destroy all your credit cards, at least freeze them. Put them in a container, fill it with water, and stick it in a freezer. That way, if you feel the urge to use credit, you have to wait until the ice melts, and during that time you may come to your senses and realize you don't really need to buy what you wanted to buy.
• If you get paid about the same amount on a regular basis, it'll get easier to budget your money over time. If you have a variable income, it'll be harder to anticipate your expenses because you won't know when's the next time you'll get paid. List your budget categories in order of importance and fulfill the most important items first. Play it safe; assume it'll be a while before you get money again.
• Use affirmations. For example, repeat this affirmation to yourself until it sinks in: Debt is not an option.
• Enjoy the simple pleasures in life. During the Great Depression, people still had fun, just not lavishly expensive fun. Children had soapbox derbies, teenagers had dance contests, and everyone played Monopoly, did puzzles, read, and listened to the radio. Get together to discuss philosophy or pray; play poker or make crazy quilt pillows; play instruments and dance. In those days, it took some imagination and ingenuity, but they had a lot of fun without hanging out at the mall, and you can too. Many of the friendships and alliances formed during the Great Depression on the basis of such activities stood the test of time.
• Try to find at least one penny on the ground everyday. Put the money you find in a jar and see how fast it adds up!
• Even if you REALLY want something, ask yourself, do you REALLY need this? More than half of the time it will be a big no.

Warnings

• If you have spendthrifts in your circle of friends, you may need to formulate a list of ready excuses to explain why you can’t go out with them all the time.
• Do not go out "window shopping" with any money on you. You will only be tempted to spend money you cannot afford to lose. Only shop with a predetermined shopping list.
• After a long week of working, you may want to indulge in some luxury, telling yourself, "I deserve this". Remember that the things you buy are not gifts to yourself; they are trades, products for money. Say, "Of course I deserve this, but can I afford it? If I can't afford it, I'm still a worthy person, and I still deserve to meet my savings goals!"
• Unless you're in truly desperate financial straits (like 10 seconds from eviction and your three children are starving) don't try to cut corners connected to health. Basic preventative care for yourself, your family, and your pets might cost you a $60 office visit or a $30 heart-worm pill today, but the skipping it will contribute to expensive problems and heartache down the road.
• If you do mess up don't beat yourself up about it. Just try to do better the next time you get paid.

Related wikiHows

• How to Save Money on Self Storage
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• How to Teach Your Child About Budgeting
• How to Use Your Car to Become Debt Free, Wealthier and Happier
• How to Buy Nothing
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• How to Thrive Financially During a Recession
• How to Save up Money for Something You Want
• How to Earn More Money Without Spending Any Money
• How to Save Money and Still Have a Good Amount of Money (for Kids)
• How to Get Children to Save Money
• How to Save Money on a Rental Projector

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Here is a list of suggested articles that have not yet been written. You can help by researching and writing one of these articles. To get started writing one of these articles, click on the red link of a title below.

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Restaurant Excellent Food and service provided in Singapore

Tried and tested great for company dinner location.
They can prepare in set.

This is a good Italian restaurant with excellent services and food.
If you are looking to spurge with some nice dining. You can try this place out.

I am not associated with this restaurant... just posting to keep a record of all the places & facilites available. Also to share with all other.

The open space dining is on the 2nd floor. Do remember to make a reservation.

Oso Ristorante
46 Bukit Pasoh Road Singapore 089858
Tel: (65) 6327 8378 Fax: (65) 6224 9610
Email: reservations@oso.sg
Opening Hours Lunch : 12pm - 2:30pm (Mon - Fri)
Dinner : 6:30pm - till (Mon - Sat)
http://www.oso.sg/home.html

For those who prefer to dine in privacy, OSO Ristorante has 3 private rooms elegantly designed for all coporate /informal events. 2 of these rooms named after a prominent wine and champagne, AZELIA and Billecart Salmon

What's job are suitable for your personality type?

Came across this and thought of keeping this for a while for reading...

May be I can do a personality check to understand more about myself.

By Melainne Chiew
Originally beginning life in the 1950s as a way of determining whether one had a higher chance of developing coronary heart disease, the Jacob Goldsmith theory (or the Type A and Type B personality theory) has evolved to include two more alphabets, Type C and Type D, as a way of segmenting 7 billion people into 4 different boxes.Even though numerous medical and psychological experts have consistently debunked this personality segmentation theory, the idea has slowly gained steam throughout the years, becoming an integral part of our business culture and helping to determine what kinds of career would be suitable for each of us.Due to the nature of the work, different personality types will excel in certain industries. Type A: Management, politics, business, entrepreneurshipType B: Advertising, events, marketing, salesType C: Engineering, accounting, programmingType D: Administrative workWant to know which type you are and whether you’re in the right industry? We break down the characteristics of the 4 different personality types for you.Type A: The BulldozerHell hath no fury for the aptly described number one alphabet. Uptight, detail-oriented and very tense, type A personalities are in it to win it. Often seen and heard exploding into the room like a blazing comet, type As are ready to shred any obstacles in their path without mercy. They are also early risers and early birds, reaching their intended destination long before the sun has risen so that they can snap up every last worm in the soil. They’re also incredibly competitive and do well in an office environment that continually presents them with difficult challenges which they can obliterate. Their innermost desire is to finally see a day that lasts 36 hours.While generally considered the ideal personality type for getting ahead in one’s career, Type As are notoriously known for their elevated levels of anxiety, and as such lack the ability to relax even when the occasion calls for it. They’re also more prone to depression, perpetual dissatisfaction, nightmares about work, and may have many enemies.Good & bad characteristics in a nutshell: Independent, decisive, efficient, deadline-driven, ambitious Aggressive, blunt, rushed, insensitive, controllingType B: The SocialisersOften highly creative and full of interesting thoughts, type B personalities are extremely magnetic and enjoy being the center of attention. They have an amazing ability to socialise with pretty much anyone and are extremely sensitive to the nuances and distinctions in everyday human interaction. They can tell whether a person is feeling happy or sad just by noticing the way the person’s eyebrow is arched.Type B people are also extremely easygoing and take things slowly and steadily, which translates to their careers as well. They take time to think before making a decision and tend to leave work until the last minute.Very fond of sleep, type Bs often sleep way into the day, only rising when the sun is beginning to set. Due to their constant need for attention, Type Bs become extremely hurt when no one pays any heed to their stories. They’re also prone to stagnancy, failure, and frequent bouts of ennui.Good & bad characteristics in a nutshell: Charismatic, humorous, energetic, enthusiastic, gregarious Dwells on failures, excessive socializing, shoddy last-minute workType C: The Detail SeekersFor these people, the devil, angel and God are in the details. Type C personalities are natural introverts who enjoy taking a work or piece apart to understand what makes it tick. They are very devoted to their work and pride themselves as perfectionists, ensuring that everything is as accurate as humanely possible.Type C people are extremely patient and will tend to dive into the smallest possible detail, which makes them very dependable because they will check everything inside out before taking the next step.Unfortunately, type Cs are pushovers when it comes down to the crunch. They are more likely to conform to the wishes of other people rather than deal with confrontation, even if it means hurting themselves in the process. They’re also almost devoid of human emotions and prefer to remain rational.Good & bad characteristics in a nutshell: Accurate, logical, analytical, consistent, thoughtful Excessively detail-oriented, unassertive, overly serious, emotionlessType D: The Risk AverseThe final personality type, Type D stands for “distressed”.These are the people who think of the glass as empty, stained and chipped off the sides. Life is always bleak for type D personalities and they tend to suppress such negative emotions, making them prone to depression.Typical feelings felt by type Ds are anxiety, irritability and chronic sadness, and they might exhibit behavior commonly identified as social inhibition.When confronted with change, type D people retreat into their shell; they are extremely risk-averse and prefer walking on the downtrodden path that others have already explored and created road signs and maps for. They are extremely good at following orders and will try as much as possible to avoid all forms of responsibility.Good & bad characteristics in a nutshell: Punctual, structured, orderly, dependable Lacks initiative, depressed, risk-averse, tense--No one is fully one type or the other; we are all a mixture of different types. However, remember that you are what you become. Like Carl Jung, famous psychologist, once said, “Personality can never develop unless the individual chooses his own way, consciously or with moral deliberation.”Are you in the right industry? Share with us in the comment box below!The JobsCentral Group, a CareerBuilder company, is the owner of JobsCentral.com.sg, one of Singapore's largest job and learning portals. Get a free career personality test and more career- and education-related articles at JobsCentral and JobsCentral Community. Alternatively, Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter for more career-centric content!

woman boss information

When the person calling the shots is a woman, keep these points in mind:
1. Women are more comfortable with cooperation than with hotdogging."Women are much more into networks of connections and involvement," says Karen Lawson, Ph.D., president of her own management-consulting firm in Philadelphia. "They want input, and they're often interpreted by men as being indecisive, when that's not it at all. They're just being consultative."

2. The boss may nod when you speak, but it doesn't mean she's down with what you're saying."She's indicating, 'Yes, I'm listening,' " and encouraging you to go on, but it's not to be interpreted as agreement," Lawson says. "She'll listen more and talk less in the boardroom, but don't take advantage of her silence," because she's simply taking account of opinions and "weighing all options before verbalizing her own opinion."

3. If she talks about what happened on the golf course last weekend, don't think she's dropping hints."Women often draw on personal experiences to illustrate a point or explain an idea," says Lawson. Don't take it to heart.

4. Be careful about how you oppose her."Women tend to get defensive when challenged because they see it as a personal attack on their credibility," says Lawson, "whereas men see challenging as a sign of respect and equal treatment."

5. When she says, "I'm sorry," it's not necessarily an apology for wrongdoing-she just may be showing that she understands. "Women tend to say, 'I'm sorry,' to express empathy or shared feeling, and men often interpret it incorrectly," Lawson says.

6. If the boss comes to you and presents a problem that needs solving, don't dole out advice until she finishes. "She's using the man as a sounding board, and when he begins to tell her what she should do or how to handle the problem, she gets annoyed because she just wants him to listen, not solve the problem," says Lawson.

7. She's not NECESSARILY a stickler for protocol. "Women will ask for team and individual input, with relationships and impact sometimes more important than rules," says Marilyn Manning, Ph.D., president of The Consulting Team, in Mountain View, California. "A man prefers to decide who's right and wrong, winner or loser, as in all sports games."

Read more at Men's Health: http://www.menshealth.com/sex-women/gender-and-work-how-handle-having-woman-boss#ixzz1nb7F2I8y

Top tips to start every day refreshed and focused

The best ways to get a morning boost
Welcome to the realbuzz.com guide to the best ways to get the most out of your mornings, so that you start every day feeling refreshed and focused.
Your morning ritual is something which shapes how you feel for the rest of the day. If you’re someone who constantly reaches for the snooze button again and again, then chances are you end up prizing yourself out of bed, only to feel rushed and frantic because you're running late.
Okay, some of us are just not ‘morning’ people, but you can make yourself go some way to becoming one just by modifying your morning routine. The following tips focus on how to improve how you feel from the very moment you wake.

Move your alarm clock
You may want to have you alarm clock close to hand so you can constantly keep leaning over and pressing it for a few extra minutes snooze time. The reality is it doesn’t really help. Place your alarm just that bit further away so that you really have to stretch or even get up to reach it — any stretching movement stimulates the waking part of the brain.

Avoid caffeine
It may be through habit that one of the first things we do when we get up is go straight for the caffeine hit, but this should be avoided if possible. Since your body has been several hours without fluid, what you need is a proper rehydrating drink such as freshly squeezed orange or grapefruit juice. A cup of hot water with a touch of lemon and honey is also a good way to start the day. If you can, add some ginger — this acts as an extra boost your circulatory system.

Exercising in the morning
Although many of us probably don’t feel like it, a bit of morning exercise will help. We are not talking about a full-on several-mile run, just some activity to increase your body temperature, and get your metabolism and enzyme activity kick-started. This could involve just doing a few basic stretches or even jogging on the spot. If you do fancy taking on something more energetic in the morning, then ensure that you have thoroughly warmed-up.

Deep breathe
There is often a sense of anxiety ahead of a stressful day and sometimes we are far from relaxed when we get up. To get your body into a state of relaxation, it is important to control the functions of the body, like the beating of the heart and breathing properly. A good method is to try 2:1 breathing, this is easy and really effective — you gently slow the rate of exhalation so that you are exhaling twice as long as you are inhaling.

Surroundings
Your surroundings can have an impact on your mood from the moment you wake. If you wake up surrounded by clutter, then that is hardly going to get you off to the right start. Keep your bedroom as clutter free as possible. You can also pay attention to your décor — certain colours can be good for your mood, choose something that uplifts you. If possible have some green plants in your bedroom — a little bit of greenery can do wonders to enhance your mood and positivity.

Good posture
Your body position is fundamental, bad posture has the effect of limiting the flow of oxygen through your body, meaning you are not getting the maximum benefit, and waking your body up will be a real struggle. Pay attention to straightening your posture, feet flat on the floor, hold your stomach in and extend up through your spine. These small movements will work wonders and act to relieve tension before you get out and face the day ahead.

Breakfast
Is this the most important meal of the day? Yes! After a long sleep, breakfast is responsible for replacing your liver glycogen, which helps you stay focused and switched-on throughout the morning. Choose your breakfast carefully — sugary breakfast cereals only give you a quick hit and can rapidly wear off. The best bet is to eat some protein combined with carbohydrate to help maintain your alertness throughout the morning. If you find yourself hungry before you have even reached work, you might want to consider eating part of your breakfast at home, and then preparing the remainder to have at work.

These simple changes to your morning ritual will be strange at first but they will slowly become habit and then second nature — before you know it bleary eyed, groggy mornings will soon be a distant memory.
To get refreshed and focused
— start tomorrow!

7 ways to spring clean yourself

I really like this and I am doing this now... still in process.. you can do so too...

Clean up your relationships
Many of us cling on to friendships and relationships well past their use-by date, believing that quantity is more important than quality when it comes to the people in our lives. However, if you are holding on to relationships that no longer make you feel good, it may be time to let them go. If you think you may just be going through a rough patch then it is worth talking things through with your partner or friend; however, if they have been bringing you down for a while and there’s no resolution in sight, it may be time to focus on those people who make you happy instead.

Dust off your talents
From ballet classes to music lessons, children are always rushing about from one activity to the next. Yet as we get older, many of us abandon the hobbies and interests we used to love in favour of a growing list of chores and obligations. To add some fun back in to your routine, try starting up an activity again that you used to enjoy or be good at. If you find that your passion is no longer there then move on to something else – with so many hobbies out there to try, you’re sure to find something that you enjoy.

Straighten out your finances
If you want to start afresh with a clean slate and a clear mind, one of the best things you can do is to get your finances in order. While it may be scary to assess your financial situation, going on in ignorance will only cause your worries to eat away at you and may even lead to a worse situation further down the road. Bite the bullet and, if necessary, set yourself a budget for the next few months or so. Make a plan to cut down on anything that you don’t need to be splurging on, such as your morning cup of coffee or that fancy store-bought lunch.

Declutter your mind
Many of us harbour negative emotions over time such as anger, jealousy and hatred; however these emotions are not only worthless, they can also be detrimental to your health and happiness. Try to realise that these feelings aren’t adding anything to your life and let go of any negative emotions or grudges you have been holding. Also, find a method to deal with any anxiety and stress, such as through yoga, meditation or counselling. Remember that worrying won’t change the future; it will only ruin the present.

I heard that by reading books it is much better than watching TV or listening radio. The activities occuring in our brain cells are much higher.
Trying reading some improvement books

Clear your schedule
How are you spending your time? Is it on things worth spending it on? The truth is that many of us go through our lives wasting precious hours on things that don’t matter and then complaining that we can’t fit in things that do. Rather than letting your time slip away unnoticed, mentally go through your week and work out how you spend your time, writing down everything you do and how long you spend on it. Once you have your week written out in front of you, you can identify how to maximise your hours, what to cut back on and how to make room for more valuable activities.

Spruce up your diet
Whether due to lack of inspiration or habit, we often end up eating the same meals over and over with little variation in our diets. However, repeatedly sticking to the same foods may mean that you are missing out on certain nutrients and it will also lessen your enjoyment of meals. To liven up your mealtimes and boost your inspiration for cooking, try experimenting with different foods you have never tasted and interesting new recipes. If you are a snackaholic this may be the perfect time to start sampling some healthy replacements for those biscuits and crisps!

Get rid of clutter
While you’re dusting off the other areas of your life it’s a great time to have a traditional spring clean and clear out any household clutter. Throw away or give to charity anything you don’t use anymore (including clothes you’ve been waiting for years for the “right occasion” to wear!), clear your kitchen cupboards of junk food and re-arrange the furniture to freshen up your home. Not only will this give you space for more useful things, but decluttering your home can also boost your mental health.

Read more on realbuzz.com...Top tips to start every day refreshed and focused10 ways to boost your happinessImprove your health and happiness

.....Natural Ways to Fight Depression

A depressive or anxious mindset continues to be one of the most common psychological ailments.

People seem hesitant to seek help, afraid that taking psychotic drugs or counseling will make them look ridiculous. If you are one of such folks, reading about natural ways of defeating depression might prove rather useful. Others, who don’t have a severe problem of depression but suffer from phases of low mood too can benefit from the following advice:
Exercise Regularly

Exercising regularly is perhaps the best, daily activity you can indulge in to ensure better mood. Researchers across the world have confirmed that you don’t need to be a gym-junkie or into hardcore weight training to feel the benefits of exercising. Just take upon any kind of physical activity that gets your heart pumping and makes you sweat. This includes running, jogging and a bit of stretching. If you can combine some bit of light-weight training, it is even better but not imperative. Exercise has a direct impact on our mood. It makes the body secrete more endorphins. These biochemicals are responsible for inducing a feeling of goodness that sustains for many hours after exercising. You should exercise for more than 30 minutes to use exercising as an anti-depression tool.

Make Small Dietary Changes
You can make small dietary changes to fight off depression. Ensure that you get your daily quota of vitamins, particularly folic acid and other types of vitamin Bs. For this, regularly indulge in green leafy veggies, bright-colored fruits, potatoes and dairy products like yogurt and cottage cheese. These vitamins are essential for synthesis and release of mood-lifting chemicals within the brain. Vitamin B12 is required for the overall regulation of our nervous system. Combine this with some source of essential fatty acids. This includes flax and mustard seeds. Omega 3 fatty acids are required for release of mood boosters like Serotonin and Dopamine. Thus, increase your intake of walnuts, soybeans, fish and tofu.

Get Sufficient Sleep
All of us suffer from phases of troubled sleep. When this problem starts to surface regularly, it becomes an underlying cause of depression. Lack of good sleep causes irritation. It reduces your ability to handle low mood swings. Trying to catch a nap and staying-up late at night watching TV further reduce the quality of night sleep. Ensure that you get at least seven hours of peaceful sleep each night. Lack of sleep disturbs the body clock, and can push you towards chronic depression.

Take Psychological & Physical Breaks
Boredom and a mundane lifestyle are among the more common causes of depression. Even if you don’t have something really exciting to do, seek regular breaks. Here, a break refers to something that engages your mind and body. This ensures that you are holistically disengaged from your anxiety or depressive way of thinking. For instance, going shopping to the local market, playing a game of soccer outdoors, playing snooker or bowling indoors or washing your car occupy your mental and physical faculties. Try talking more among your friends and family to ensure your mind is engaged in healthy conversations or arguments that help you get rid of feelings of anguish or frustration.

Develop Better Lifestyle Habits
Some seemingly minor factors contribute to depression in a big way. For instance, lack of exposure to sunlight causes Vitamin D deficiency. This vitamin is essential for better mental health. Similarly, people on low-fat diets don’t understand that a basic amount of cholesterol is required for the synthesis of serotonin. Without this neurotransmitter, we cannot sustain that good/happy feeling. This makes us more prone to being anxious. Thus, extreme dieting should always be avoided.

Avoid Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia is a condition of lack of sufficient sugar in our bloodstream. This is often found among people who tend to fast for long periods, between meals. Phases of Hypoglycemia aren't good for your mental health. This impairs the release of serotonin. Hypoglycemia is often found among people who tend to consume too much of refined sugars. Such sugars are highly processed and get immediately absorbed into the bloodstream. This causes a surge in the blood sugar levels, inducing a feeling of goodness. However, the surge is soon followed by a sudden fall in sugar levels as refined sugar is metabolized quickly. Thus, a few minutes after eating a sugar-loaded candy, you might suffer from a short phase of Hypoglycemia. These wide fluctuations in blood sugar levels cause a spike in the release of stress hormones like cortisone and adrenalin, making us more prone to nervousness and anxiety. Thus, eat regular intervals but stay away from snacking on processed, sweet foods.

..The health benefits of antioxidants

The process in which oxygen combines with another material is called oxidation. For instance, unprotected iron will turn to rust when oxidized, fruits will turn brown, and butter will become rancid. A similar process occurs in the body causing it to degenerate and age, and as we get older more oxidation occurs in the body.
When our cells are exposed to free radicals, this process of oxidisation occurs. Therefore, our aging process depends on our ability to protect our cells from oxidation. However, this is no easy task; we are exposed to free radicals every day, introduced to the body from toxic chemicals that are either breathed in or absorbed through the skin.
The body’s oxidative reaction occurs due to the exposure to environmental toxins that are present in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat and the household products we use. And it is these ‘free radicals’ that contribute to the oxidative reactions in the body and cause tissues to damage and can also affect memory and mood, wrinkling of the skin, hardening of the arteries, stiffening joints — the list goes on.
Exposure to environmental toxins dramatically increases the level of free radicals in the body, sometimes beyond what our body can fight on its own. The human body is capable of handling and neutralising a certain amount, but when the system is overloaded the body’s normal ability to cope with them is compromised and become susceptible to premature aging and disease.
Free radicals can be found in the following:
Junk food
Refined foods, such as sugar and white flour
Processed foods (canned, frozen and ready made meals)
Colourings, preservatives and food additives
Chemotherapy or radiation exposure (X-rays, TV and computer monitors)
Drugs and medications
Coffee and tea
Hydrogenated and saturated fat (margarine and oils)
Fizzy drinks
Exposure to heat or cold
Household chemicals
Tap water
Cigarette smoke and alcohol

Natural antioxidants
Fortunately there are nutritional approaches to protect the body from free radical damage. Antioxidants are powerful nutrients that have shown to be efficient in minimizing the effects of free radicals. Antioxidants are nature’s free radical fighters and occur naturally in plant foods. Therefore, if we are not getting enough variety and quantity of antioxidants, these toxic chemicals will destroy cells leaving the body vulnerable to disease.
The body needs plenty of antioxidants to help destroy free radicals, to promote the growth of healthy cells and protect these cells against premature aging. Much of the damage can be repaired in a short amount of time by simply providing the brain and body with repeated doses of antioxidants. Eating fruits and vegetables at optimal ripeness and consuming them in less processed forms without removing their skins, provides quality antioxidants.
Organic produce is high in antioxidants as well as being rich in flavor and full in nutrients. It is worth remembering that no matter how healthy your lifestyle is, you will be exposed to free radicals. Therefore antioxidant-rich foods are a must to your everyday diet. To help protect your body, nature has provided us with a wide range of different antioxidants. They are found in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and seeds, beans and many other natural foods. The more antioxidants the body gets, the better it is able to adapt to stress.
Antioxidants can be found in the following foods:
Whole and unrefined foods
Natural plants (fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs, whole grains, beans, raw nuts and seeds)
Raw foods
Cold-pressed oils (olive, canola and flax)
Seaweeds
Sprouts
Free-range meat and eggs
Nutrients that reduce free radical damage

The best sources of antioxidants to fight free radicals are rich in vitamins C, E and vitamins B, flavonoid and beta-carotene. Below is a quick guide to foods that are high in these nutrients, and therefore packed with antioxidants:

Berries (cranberries, blackberries, blueberries) and citrus fruits are potent antioxidants that promote collagen and reduce wrinkles keeping the skin looking young.
Carrots and apricots protect the skin against sun’s ray damage.
Green leaves, vegetables, apples, oranges, cherries, beets, carrots, artichokes and strawberries are rich in the minerals copper, magnesium, and selenium; all needed for healthy hair, nails and bones.

Bee pollen, royal jelly and bee propolis are complete foods. These powerful antioxidants contain 22 amino acids and vitamins D, K and E, carbohydrates and proteins. A human body can survive on bee pollen alone. This is an energy booster and can help alleviate allergy symptoms.

Lycium fruits and liquorice flavonoids are high antioxidants which help counteract effect of chemotherapy and radiography (radiation).

Aloe Vera raw gel (cold-pressed only) contains an abundance of 75 minerals and vitamins including the rare B12 and 12 amino acids which help with digestive and skin disorders. Aloe Vera is a miracle plant and a natural healer.

Raw nuts and seeds, dark fish, seaweed and avocado are rich in EFA, omega-3, alpha- linoleic acid and selenium. These foods can influence against premature aging and enhance your memory.

Chestnuts, papayas, sprouts, squash, sweet potatoes, kiwi, broccoli, cabbage, spinach can help detoxify the liver.

European studies have found that high intake of flavonoid from vegetables and fruits are related to low heart disease and cancer.

Many of these foods improve the functioning of the immune system. When the body is healthy it can cope with free radicals as it has a mechanism into place to ensure their destruction. To achieve a healthy complexion eat plenty of raw food and drink lots of water. What goes into your body reflects your overall appearance!

.....5 Habits to Adopt for Perfect Sleep

Sleeping issues continue to daunt most of us from time-to-time.
Our demanding schedules ensure that our sleep is disturbed either in terms of quality or duration-wise. A sporadic incidence of bad sleep isn't that big an issue. However, if you feel that lack of sleep or poor quality-of-sleep is hampering your performance at work or your health, you need to read about the following better sleeping habits:
1. Develop Your Personal Sleep Routine
You don’t need to follow sleep timing-related advice that surrounds us in the form of tabloids and blogs. Just develop a pattern that is suitable to your lifestyle. It doesn’t make sense to follow a routine that inconveniences you and makes you “work” towards getting proper sleep. However, you need to follow some sort of routine. This means knowing when you should switch-off the lights and when you need to wake-up. This is best done by noticing at what time you tend to get a bit heavy-eyed at night. Keep your going-to-bed time around this period. Follow this with a wake-up timing that allows you an extra few minutes to laze in the bed. Ensure a wake-up time with the flexibility of 15 to 20 minutes. Even if you get less than the recommended eight or nine hours of sleep, it won’t matter much if your quality of sleep is good.

2. Eat Lighter & Early Dinner
Ensure that you have had your major meal or supper at least three to four hours before the sleep time. Eating too close to bedtime tends to keep away the sleep. Since the body is actively involved in metabolizing the food that you have consumed, its metabolic rate is up. This means that chances of falling asleep decrease. You might wonder that often after having a heavy meal you get a bit drowsy. However, that is more of a nap that is induced by the body trying to maximize its resources towards digesting the food and slowing down other systems. However, to get a longer and refreshing nighttime sleep, you should eat lighter and a bit early.

3. Exercising Helps
This might sound a bit strange to you but exercise and the quality of your sleep are interrelated. You need to understand that sleeping patterns are essentially a part of your internal body clock. This includes the body’s ability to rest and return to active performance. However, due to issues like stress, anxiety and poor dietary habits, this inherent body clock is compromised. In order to sustain the optimal performance of our bodily rhythm, you need to exercise regularly. This doesn’t mean pumping iron in the gym is compulsory. Any sort of activity where you can dedicate about 40 minutes, combining some stretching, running and jogging is sufficient.

4. Choose Evening/Night Foods with Precaution
Once the evening sets-in, try to reduce your intake of alcohol and caffeine. Even nicotine is known to disrupt the action of biochemicals in our body that induce sleep. There are some foods that help you in falling asleep with ease. For instance, milk and complex carbohydrates found in foods like brown rice contain a higher amount of Tryptophan. This compound is known to assist the sleeping cycle. Avoid foods that are high in sugar before bedtime. These tend to induce the sugar-rush that can disrupt your sleep cycle.

5. Keep Away From Nighttime Distractions
Your pre-sleep routine can include reading a book or watching a bit of TV but ensure that you don’t indulge in something so fascinating that it doesn’t let you switch-off your mind. Shun-out any kind of distracting light coming through the windows by drawing the curtains. Try to avoid watching typical genres on TV that can arouse your senses. This means keeping away from action-packed and thriller movies/serials. Switch-off the cell phone, laptops/tablets or any other gadget that might buzz you. (Health, MensXP.com)

bACK PACK REVIEW FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL KIDS

Backpack Review

I was looking for the review of children backpack for my daughter in Primary 2.

Books are heavy and i am sourcing for reasonable price back pack that is not too heavy.. I am thinking to ship in and buy a reasonable price one for her and myself... anyone interested?

Choosing between types of backpacks
This report covers backpacks for school and commuting, including rolling backpacks and kids' backpacks. We also take a look at laptop backpacks, which include a padded compartment for a notebook computer. ConsumerSearch has a separate report on hiking backpacks for camping and hiking trips, but for short hikes, many of the packs included in this report could be pressed into duty. Related Searches

Leather Backpacks for Women
Backpacks Kids
Kids Rolling Backpacks
Jansport Wheeled Backpacks
Backpacks come in a wide variety of colors, shapes, sizes and prices. Unlike some other consumer products, paying more won't necessarily get you a higher-quality pack. In fact, many of the top-rated backpacks are classic styles from JanSport and L.L.Bean that cost less than $50. These simple backpacks score highly for durability, but they don't feature many of the bells and whistles found on pricier packs, including those from The North Face -- another top-rated brand in reviews. Although you won't necessarily get better quality in an expensive backpack, you will usually get more extras such as internal organizers, mesh bottle holders, key fobs, headphone ports, ventilated back pads and laptop sleeves. Keep in mind that all of these extras add weight to the pack, so it pays to consider whether you really need lots of pockets and zippered pouches.
Backpacks for adults and older children in high school have capacities starting at about 1,800 cubic inches and ranging up to 2,700. Some smaller packs are available at about 1,500 cubic inches, like those designed specifically for women. For younger children, it's important to select a backpack that's appropriate for their size. The smallest packs for kids in preschool and kindergarten have capacities of about 800 cubic inches, while larger backpacks for elementary and middle school children can reach up to 1,200. Experts recommend that children carry no more than 10 to 15 percent of their bodyweight to avoid back strain. See our What to Look for page for more information on sizing and weight guidelines.
We found the best comparison tests of backpacks at ConsumerReports.org, even though the site hasn't updated its review since 2009. Editors test just six packs, rating each one on construction, durability, water resistance, convenience, comfort and safety features. ConsumerReports.org's testing is well-documented and very solid, but there's no analysis to accompany the backpack ratings and we wish more packs were included. Good Housekeeping also conducts a detailed test of backpacks, putting 32 packs to the test using a panel of kid testers. Each pack is tested for practicality, comfort and durability, and only seven earn a recommendation for children going back to school. A similar review, also from Good Housekeeping, evaluates 17 backpacks for storage capacity and organizational features. It recommends just one back for younger children and one for high-school-age kids.
Because backpacks are so frequently used as a convenient way to transport laptops, tech-focused publications also delve into backpack ratings. CNET.com, for example, says of backpacks (after mocking their less-than-sophisticated look when worn by adults), "Despite years of bag evolution, they're still the best way to carry a laptop, books and other assorted gear around campus." A related section on CNET includes dozens of individual product ratings and descriptions of backpacks, but most reviews haven't been updated since 2009. PCMag.com has a similar section, including individual backpack reviews with editors' ratings, most recently updated in 2010.
Owner-written reviews are also valuable when evaluating backpacks. Some of the best parental and kid assessments come from eBags.com, an online retailer that has thousands of reviews on a variety of different packs. Some backpacks attract hundreds, if not thousands, of individual reviews on this site. Likewise, LuggageOnline.com offers hundreds of backpacks, many of which earn a few dozen comments or more. Buzzillions.com, which aggregates consumer feedback from around the web, and Amazon.com are also good sources for backpack reviews.

something interesting about babies ....:)

Babies still too small to speak know how to make jokes and form friendships, say researchers at an Australian university who have spent two years filming the behaviour of young children.
Academics at Charles Sturt University are studying how children interact with other infants while in childcare using footage obtained from tiny cameras strapped to their heads.
The study affords a "baby's eye view" of the world in which even simple objects such as spoons appear oversized, said Jennifer Sumsion, foundation professor of early childhood at the university.
But it also shows that children aged from six months to 18 months use sophisticated but subtle non-verbal means to make friends and make each other laugh.
"We were very, very surprised to see just how sophisticated they were in terms of their social skills, their helping skills, in making sure they were inviting other children to be part of their group," Sumsion told AFP.
Sumsion said babies interacted with each other by making eye contact and with hand gestures and humour.
They used "little social games that you wouldn't necessarily see unless you were looking very closely", she said.
Examples of this included children pretending to hand another child a toy, only to snatch it away at the last minute, or babies sitting close to each other in highchairs playfully switching their drink bottles around.
In another instance caught on camera, a one-year-old girl tried to comfort a baby when she was frightened by gently placing a piece of see-through fabric over her so she could see out but feel protected.
The researchers, who analysed the baby-cam footage alongside other video shot of the children at the same time, did not force the babies to wear the cameras and they were only attached for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
They hope the research will shed light on the secret world of babies and their experience in childcare.
"What surprised us though was the games that they were playing with each other, even at that age. It's really very positive to see," Sumsion said.
mfc/jah

Been really busy with my new job... trying hard to catch up with the new pace, new boss, new friends, new environment, new treats, new opportunity, new money :)

Found this article - information interesting...

Perfect spaces
Casually touching a guy's arm or knee while laughing at his joke is a great flirting techniqueit subconsciously tells him you're interested, and makes him feel more connected to you. But, warn experts, the move can sometimes backfire, so it's smart to test a man's personal space first. "
The bubble of air 18 inches around someone's body is their intimate space: a no-go zone when you first meet someone, says Judy Dutton, author of How The Science Of Sex Can Make You A Better Lover. "To see if someone's up for you breaking through this barrier, find an excuse to step briefly into this zone, say, by allowing someone behind you to pass, or to grab an appetizer off a wandering traythen step back out again. If this person is drawn to you, he will respond by stepping in closer after you've backed off, she says.

Pores......

This article is useful not only for teens for woman who reach 35 .. haha

I do admit that by squeezing the white and black head is so tempting. getting rid of the dirt.. seem like a must ... But that also leave some scares... doing some reading if there are any technique to extract at home.

A pore-refining cleanser is one way to treat common pore problems

By Maui V. Reyes for Yahoo! Southeast Asia

You probably won't admit it, but we're pretty sure you've spent a considerable amount of time staring at your face in the mirror, in awe of how your pores seem to have gotten bigger. Or maybe you're having another acne flare-up, or some blackheads just decided to pop up the day before a big date.

Problematic pores can be caused by a bunch of factors. It could be hereditary (thanks, mom!), or caused by hormonal fluctuations (hello, puberty). Often times, it's because of bad skincare habits, such as sleeping with your makeup on, or forgetting to wash your face after hitting the gym.

Whatever the cause, everybody gets them at one point in their life. Here, a rundown of the common pore problems women face, and how to treat them.

Blackheads. They're those black spots on your face that you're just oh-so-tempted to pick, poke, or pop. These buggers are formed when pores (called comedo, or the sebaceous follicle) get clogged with excess oil, dirt, or bacteria. When exposed to air, this mixture of pure grossness oxidizes, which gives it that lovely black color. This formation of dirt and bacteria will continue to gather even more dirt and bacteria, making it harder, more solid, and more tempting to pick at.

Treatment: Fight blackheads with a pore-refining cleanser and exfoliate once a week—this cleans out the pores and gets rid of dead skin cells and whatever grime you've collected. If your blackheads still insist on taking up residence on your face, consider consulting your dermatologist about other possible treatments.

Whiteheads. With the co-existence of whiteheads and blackheads, we understand if you feel like your pores are playing a game of checkers on your face. Like blackheads, whiteheads are formed inside the comedo, except the opening is so small that air can't oxidize all the goo that got trapped inside. The result is basically the same dirt and grime trapped under your skin, except, well, it's white. We know it's tempting to squeeze your pores 'til your whiteheads emerge, but resist doing so. You've probably also seen extracting tools being sold in drugstores as "whitehead removers" (they look like a thin metal stick with a loop at the end)—resist buying those, too. Whitehead extractions should be done by a dermatologist, with the right sterile tools.

Treatment: To keep whiteheads at bay, treat them the same way as blackheads: wash with a pore-refining cleanser (ordinary bath soap just won't cut it), and exfoliate once a week.

Acne. Acne happens when your pores get clogged with excess oil, dirt, or pollution. Unlike blackheads and whiteheads, however, acne develops when the pores actually get infected because of all the dirt and grime—hence, the unflattering inflamed, red spot. Unfortunately, women get them more than men, thanks to hormonal shifts, which cause skin to produce more oil and sebum.

Treatment: How to keep acne at bay? First off, use a facial wash suited for your skin type. Facial washes targeted for specific skin types are formulated to balance out how much oil the skin produces. If you're dealing with hardcore acne, it might be a good idea to seek the help of a dermatologist, who can prescribe an anti-microbial cream to disinfect your zit. Worst cases of acne require an oral antibiotic.

Enlarged Pores. Nothing can betray a woman's age the way enlarged pores do. Your pores become bigger because of wear and tear—think makeup, pollution, and dirt that accumulate in your pores over time. Factor in the oil that your skin still has to produce, which exits through the pores! Imagine a plugged-up faucet: with no way for all that oil to exit, the skin "stretches" to make room for the excess oil. Unfortunately for you, that could mean clogged pores…which could lead to blackheads, whiteheads, and acne.

Treatment: So what's a girl to do? First off, don't go out under the sun without any sun protection: UV damage kills the collagen in your skin, a protein that helps keep skin cells strong and tight. Go for skin-firming serums and creams, and slough off dead skin cells with a light facial scrub.

Papules, pustules, nodules. Papules are small, solid bumps that appear in groups; pustules are bumps that contain white blood cells, dead skin cells, and bacteria—making them look like whiteheads, but really, that's pus in there; and nodules are those pesky red bumps that are hard and painful to the touch. This trio certainly isn't a delight to have hanging around your face, but unfortunately, you can't get rid of them by yourself.

Treatment: Papules and pustules can be removed through light therapy, topical anti-microbials, or over-the-counter acne medications (ask your dermatologist what is best for you). Nodules, however, are deeply rooted in, and you might need a steroid shot to let them simmer down. Again, don't try to pop or prick them yourself—you will only worsen the condition by causing an infection!

How to extract white or black head

Do view her video.. I have yet to try it out http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-extract-whiteheads-and-blackheads-properly-77100/