Friday 29 November 2013

Best Outfit For Scarf

Usually, people will select the clothing first before they choose what scarf to wear with it – or if it needs to be worn with one. A scarf is the best way to accessorize your outfit because it‘s versatility will enable you to be as creative in your fashion statement as possible. However, there are certain rules that you need to know about where a typical scarf can best be used for.

A Silk Scarf and Skinny Jeans
For instance, you may think that a silk scarf is best used for formal occasions only because of its texture. However, most fashion stylists will ask you to wear it with skinny jeans and a simple top – it can be a plain shirt with a snug fit. You have the option to wear in on your head, neck or if the length will permit it, on your hips as a belt. What this scarf will do is make your simple outfit very sophisticated. Just add heels or pumps and a purse and you can be off to an afternoon with your friends. Other lighter materials like chiffon and satin scarves can be worn with a dress or a suit as an accessory.

Tight Sweaters with Wool Scarves
Wool scarves are ideal for winter wear but thinner types can also be used during warmer seasons. They should be worn with tight fitting sweaters – not loose ones (unless you are a man). A bulky wool scarf will not go well with an equally bulky sweater. If you don’t want to appear like you are drowning in your clothing, stay away from this combination. If bulky sweaters are what you prefer, choose the thinner wool scarves.

Summer Outfits with Fringe Scarves
Fringe scarves are best paired with summer outfits. Even longer scarves can be wrapped around the neck or draped to hang loose in front over a sleeveless tank top with shorts and sandals. You can also tie it around your head to protect it from the heat. Use bright colors to compliment the outfit.

Scarves for Evening Events
For evening affairs, go for scarves with embellishments like beads and sequins. The glitter effect will contribute to the elegance of your outfit. Pair it with another glittering accessory like a small purse and it should be a good combination for your night out.

Other pieces that are usually accessorized with scarves are jackets and coats. It can be worn inside around your neck, or draped to fall in front of the coat. A scarf is a good way to create a lot of looks for the few jackets and coats that you own – especially during wintertime.

Scarf-Outfit Pairing Tips
  • Make sure the colors and designs do not clash. Mixing and matching designs can be done with different patterns. Keep away from similar patterns like a plaid scarf with a plaid jacket.
  • Do not pair bulky scarves with big accessories like dangling earrings, long necklaces, etc.
  • Follow the simple rules in color matching. Warm shades must be paired with cooler ones. Also, wearing different shades of one color hue is also acceptable (e.g. pink with red or yellow with orange).
Any fashion stylist will tell you to dress to your strengths. Whatever choice of outfit, you need to ensure that it will compliment your body type and skin color. Regardless of the clothing pieces that you choose or the accessories that you pair it with, if it does not look good on you, it will surely fail.

Dear Scarf

Scarves, neckerchiefs are very important accessories. You can hide figure flaws and emphasize your dignity if you use them in a right way. Wearing these accessories will benefit any woman since they can create a reputation of a classy lady. So, in order to look stylish, follow some basic rules!

1.  You have narrow shoulders but wide hips. Your choice is volume but thin scarf which you should tie around your neck.

2.  If you have a thin neck, a sumptuous bow on the collar of your blouse will help you to make this little defect invisible.

3.  In order to look taller, put on a long scarf without tying it around your neck.
An unexpected fact – beaded shawl will make a woman look younger.

4.  When you try to blend the scarf with your jeans, pay close attention to such kind of details: it should be thin and small with tiny patterns on it.

5.  If you don’t know how to choose right color, it’s recommended to match it with the color of the belt or your own eyes. 

6.  In order to fix a silk or chiffon scarf, use a brooch. However be careful as it works only with plain fabrics. So, if your scarf has prints, it’s better to fasten it with a decorative pin.

7.  You will look more stylish if you don’t wear overly “fussy” scarf. It is known that designer works usually are not so pompous.

8.  The most stylish scarves are hand painted. By the way, textile painting is known as one of the most refined hobby of Hollywood celebrities.


 

Tuesday 19 November 2013

Men, It's Time To Review A Proper Date...

Have we lost all chivalry in society today? I want my men to ask me on proper dates. I want them to take me out on proper dates. It’s really not too much to ask. With all our access to online dating and dating apps, it is easy for men to lose sight of the fact that they need to put forth effort to woo a woman. Make me feel weak in the knees, boys!

I know that some of the apps and sites are more for people looking to hook up, rather than find someone special. To be honest, I don’t think that I am going to find a partner by trolling for hotties on Tinder, but I do still think I can meet some cool dudes and maybe even get taken out on a few dates.

It is my strict and personal belief that if I am asked on a proper date, I will ALWAYS say yes! I don’t care who you are, what you do, or what you look like. I will say yes, provided I’m not in a committed relationship – and even then I have been given permission to go on a few (long story).

Let’s review what a proper date is…
It starts by actually asking me out. Please call me up on the phone, or if we are talking in person, ask me then. I will accept a text message asking me out, but it knocks you down a few points. Let’s review the proper way to ask a woman on a date. “Wanna hang out?” is NOT a proper way to ask me on a date, nor is it a proper date.

Most likely I will respond to this with a big “No.” “Brooklyn, can I take you out this week?” Or better yet, “Brooklyn, can I take you to dinner Friday night?” If you are awesome, you’ll say, “Brooklyn, I’d like to take you on an adventure. When is the best time for you?”

To any of these three proposals, I’d likely say, “Absolutely!” Now, I’m not saying drop everything, ladies, but if you are asked on a proper date, say yes! Unfortunately, it takes balls these days to actually ask a girl out.

Now, gentlemen, when you ask me out on a proper date, that means you pick me up at my house, knock on my door and escort me to wherever it is we are going. Please open doors for me. I dressed up for you. You can show me some manners if you’re really trying to impress.

Of course I can open my own doors. Heck, I can change my own oil! That is not the point. I am a lady on a date. Treat me as a woman. The age-old question of who should pay is awkward for the first few months for every couple. Guys, I am sorry but the burden falls on you.

You asked me out, so as your guest, you should pay for me. I won’t reach for my purse, but I will make sure to thank you before, during and after. I will always send a thank you text or call the next day. Ladies, appreciation goes a long way with a man. Do not forget that, ever!

A more casual date is allowed if you are meeting a woman for the first time, as in a dating app/site first meeting or a blind date. Obviously, do not ever allow a complete stranger to pick you up from where you live. But boys, after casual outings once or twice, if you like the girl take her out on a proper date.

When picking a place, know something about the girl. Don’t pick a chain restaurant. No matter how much I love Chili’s, do not take me there for our first date. Pick somewhere interesting, somewhere we can talk and somewhere not too mainstream.

If I’m being taken on an adventure, tell me what to bring. The worst is when you find out you are cliff jumping and need hiking boots to climb the rock face. I’ve got gear, just tell me what to bring!

The same goes for dinner, drinks, show dates – tell me where we are going or give me a dress code. If I show up in a hot dress to find you in jeans and your ball cap, I’ll feel silly. Make sure we are all set for success.

In the end, I put most of the pressure of a first date back on the women. Ladies, stop accepting anything less than proper dates. I have been in long-term committed relationships and had my fella still ask me on proper dates because I deserve it!

I would still dress up special for him and he could show me off. It’s romantic and there is no reason why we can’t all still have great dates! And he loved that I got all gussied up just for him.

Gentleman, step up your game! You will win way more hearts (and…other parts) by woo’ing a girl. We love to be treated like proper ladies on dates. Make us gush for you.

Friday 15 November 2013

Learn Chinese tongue twister - The Monk and the Mute

My Childhood Memory In 80’s Malaysia

Nowadays, what's the children's games? Definitely are computer games, PS3, PSP, iPad, iPhone and more which these advanced electronic devices are not available at our childhood. Since technology advanced pretty fast, few of these games or foods are rare to see now, I’m sure all these will make you recall back to your childhood, those good old days..
No one will know what is the feeling when seeing these pictures but only those are born in 80’s Malaysia (may other countries as well) will understand exactly how much i miss it.

Games























Cartoon






Food








10 Marriage Tips Every Wife Needs To Hear

I came across an interesting blog. (http://eighthrising.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/10-marriage-tips-every-wife-needs-to-hear/)
I cant seems to share it here, so i copied it here.
It's for wife but i think it's useful to girlfriend too. (Just change the "husband" and "marriage" and "D" words.) Check the link above to read more.


There’s a blog post that’s recently gone viral, written by a divorced man featuring some really sound advice about marriage (click here to read it).  I really have to applaud this guy.  It takes guts to stand up and be transparent about your failures.  It’s equally as commendable to stand up and say how you’d do things differently.
One thing that his post is lacking, however, is the female perspective.  After reading his post, I wanted to take some time and write down some things that I’ve learned in the last ten years.  You see – I’m now in my third marriage.  When people learn this fact about me, their reaction is usually pretty awkward.  It’s almost as if they’re waiting for me to be embarrassed by my admission. While going through two divorces was some of the most painful times of my life, I’d only feel ashamed if I’d gone through it without being able to say I’ve learned a thing or two.  My husband and I had both been through divorce before we married each other, and with that brings a unique perspective into many do’s and don’ts of how to treat your spouse. Don’t get me wrong – our marriage isn’t perfect, but our failures in past relationships have shaped decisions we make about the way we treat each other, and to be honest, I’m glad I went through it.  We’ve learned better, so now we do better.

And with that, I’d like to offer up my version of his wise marriage tips – from a woman who has triumphed the murky waters of divorce.
  1. Respect your husband.  - Notice how it doesn’t say “Respect your husband if he has earned it”. A man’s greatest need in this world is to be respected, and the person he desires that respect from the most is his wife.  The trap that we’ve all been ensnared by is that they only deserve our respect when they earn it. Yes, we want our husbands to make decisions that will ultimately garner our respect, but the truth is that your husband is a human being. A human being who makes mistakes. This is the man that YOU have chosen to walk alongside you for the rest of your life, and to lead your family and he needs to be respected for that quality alone. Take it from me – when respect is given even when he doesn’t deserve it, it will motivate him to earn it. That doesn’t mean you pretend that his choices are good ones when they aren’t. Things like that still need to be communicated, but you can flesh out your differences WITH RESPECT. It makes all the difference in the world to him.
  2. Guard your heart.  - The grass is not greener on the other side. Do not believe the lie that with a slimmer figure, a higher salary, a faster car, or a bigger house, you will be a happier woman. The world is full of things and people that will serve as reminders that you don’t have the best of the best, but it’s simply not true. Live the life you’ve been blessed with, and BE THANKFUL. I get that we all have struggles, and there are even times when I would love 1,000 more square feet of house to live in, but square feet is not fulfilling – relationships are. Guard your heart from things and people that will try to convince you that your life or your husband is not good enough.  There will always be bigger, faster, stronger, or shinier – but you’ll never be satisfied with more until you’re fulfilled with what you have now.
  3. God, husband, kids…in that order.  - I know this isn’t a popular philosophy, especially among mothers, but hear me out. It’s no secret that my faith is of utmost importance, so God comes first in my life no matter what. But regardless of your belief system, your husband should come before your kids. Now unless you’re married to someone who is abusive  (in which case, I urge you to seek help beyond what my blog can give you), no man in his right mind would ask you to put your kids aside to serve his every need while neglecting them. That’s not what this means. When you board an airplane, the flight attendants are required to go over emergency preparedness prior to takeoff. When explaining the part about how to operate the oxygen mask, passengers are instructed to first put the mask on themselves before putting it on their small child. Is that because they think you are more important than your kids? Absolutely not. But you cannot effectively help your child if you can’t breathe yourself. The same holds true with marriage and parenting. You cannot effectively parent your children if your marriage is falling apart. Take it from me – I tried. There will also come a time when your kids will leave the house to pursue their dreams as adults. If you have not cultivated a lasting relationship with your spouse, you will have both empty nests and empty hearts.
  4. Forgive.  - No one is perfect. Everyone makes mistakes. If you make forgiveness a habit – for everything from major mistakes to little annoyances (every day, I have to forgive my husband for leaving the wet towel on the bathroom counter ;) ) – you will keep resentment from growing.
  5. Over-communicate.  - I used to have a bad habit of not speaking my feelings. I played the standard “You should know why I’m mad” game, and that’s just downright unfair. Men are not wired like women, and they DON’T always know that they’ve been insensitive. I’m still growing in this area, and there are often times when my husband has to pry something out of me, but I’m trying to remember that I need to just communicate how I feel.
  6. Schedule a regular date night.  - This one isn’t new, but it’s very important. Never stop dating your spouse.  Even if you can’t afford dinner and a movie (which we seldom can), spending some regular one-on-one time with your spouse is essential. Don’t talk about bills, or schedules, or the kids. Frankie and I often daydream about our future, or plan our dream vacation. We connect emotionally and often learn something new about each other – even after four years.
  7. Never say the “D Word”.  - If you’re gonna say it, you better mean it. Plain and simple, threatening divorce is not fighting fair. I did this a lot in my previous marriages. I’m not proud of it, but I learned better. I was hurting deeply, and I wanted to hurt back, but it never helped me feel better.
  8. Learn his love language.  - Everyone has a love language. The way you perceive love is often different from the way your spouse perceives love. Does he like words of affirmation, or does he respond better when you give him gifts? Whatever his love language is – learn it and USE IT.  Edited to add: If you are unfamiliar with the principles behind love languages, you can learn more about it here.
  9. Never talk negatively about him.  - I learned this lesson the hard way too. If you’re going through a difficult time in your marriage and you need advice, see a counselor. Family counseling is a great tool, but try to remember that your family members and friends are not the most objective people to give advice. The argument they are hearing is one-sided and they often build up negative feelings toward your spouse, which usually doesn’t subside once you and your husband have gotten past it. Protect his image with those that you’re close with and seek help from those that can actually be objective.  News flash, ladies – your mother cannot be objective!
  10. Choose to love.  - There are times in a marriage that you may wake up and not feel in love anymore. Choose to love anyway. There are times when you may not be attracted to your husband anymore. Choose to love anyway. Marriage is a commitment. In sickness and health, in good times and in bad. Those vows are sacred. They don’t say “if you have bad times”. They say “in good times AND in bad”, implying that there WILL be bad times. It’s inevitable. So choose to love anyway. He’s worth it.

Wednesday 13 November 2013

Do You Know About OIL?

Does applying oil to your skin terrify you with visions of breakouts, blackheads or a greasy oil slick? If so, you’re not alone. But before you forego oils entirely as part of a healthy skin care regimen, read on. It turns out that using oils on your skin (and yes, this includes your face) have some incredible benefits. The key is figuring out which oil is right for your skin type and knowing how to use it.


Marula OilMarula
Known as Africa’s “miracle oil,” Marula Oil has been revered among African women for centuries for its powerful moisturizing and anti-aging benefits. Extracted from the fruit kernels of the marula tree, this precious and highly prized oil from Kenya nourishes and deeply hydrates the skin while protecting it from those damaging free radicals that accelerate aging. What makes it so effective? For one thing, it’s super-rich in fatty acids and Vitamins E and C. And for another, it has higher levels of antioxidants and Omega Oils than Argan Oil. But the proof is in the using. Marula Oil has been shown to visibly reduce the look of wrinkles—from crow’s feet to those “parentheses” that frame the lips. The way to get the best benefits of this light, non-greasy oil is to use it sparingly. Day and night, massage just two or three drops on your face, neck and décolleté as a stand-alone moisturizer or layered under another facial moisturizer, if your skin is on the drier side.


Grape Seed OilGrape Seed Oil
Another oil known for its great anti-aging benefits, Grape Seed Oil is light, absorbent and helps to regulate your skin’s natural oil production—making it ideal for oily skin. Found to lighten age spots and pigmented skin caused by UV rays, Grape Seed Oil has been shown in scientific studies to have more linoleic acid than most oils, as well as more antioxidant power than Vitamins C and E. Plus, biochemists researching the health benefits of this oil have found that it contains Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (also known as OPCs)—another class of flavonoid complexes that act as antioxidants in the body. In addition to their antioxidant abilities of fighting off free radicals, OPCs also stabilize Collagen and maintain the skin’s Elastin, for a visibly firmer appearance. Use Grape Seed Oil directly on your body to reduce the appearance of stretch marks and saggy skin. Although the oil is often found in many cosmetic products, you can also add one to two drops of Grape Seed Oil to your face moisturizer to enhance its effectiveness.


Olive Oil Olive Oil
Olive Oil is more than just a condiment. Once referred to as “liquid gold” by Homer, Olive Oil has been used as a beauty and skin care remedy by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Egyptians and Romans. Today, it’s still prized for everything from erasing stretch marks and minimizing wrinkles to anti-aging therapy and deep hydration. One reason Olive Oil is so effective is that it’s rich in antioxidants, such as Vitamins A and E, polyphenols, phytoserols and the rare compound, Hydroxytyrosol, all of which help repair skin and neutralize the free radicals that cause skin damage. These antioxidants have a natural ability to stimulate cells and bring skin back to a firmer, healthier state. Applied to the face or body, Olive Oil will penetrate deeply and create a protective barrier that traps moisture without clogging your pores. And because it’s gentle and non-irritating, it’s a good choice for sensitive skin, though people with very dry skin should avoid using it. Olive Oil can serve many skin care purposes: As a nighttime facial moisturizer, Olive Oil can be applied sparingly to cleaned skin. Mixed with sugar, it makes an excellent exfoliating facial scrub. Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of olive oil with a few drops of an essential oil like lavender to the bath for a fragrant, hydrating soak. Actress Emily Blunt once told Allure magazine that she soaks her face in Olive Oil to soften her skin. If you’re prone to acne, you might want to proceed with caution (though Olive Oil has also been touted as a great treatment for acne as it doesn’t clog pores.) As a skin care remedy—the same as when using it as a condiment—100% cold-pressed, extra-virgin Olive Oil is best.


Argan OilArgan Oil
Extracted from the kernels of the argan tree, Argan Oil is one of the rarest and most expensive oils in the world. Berber women have used this precious oil for centuries to nourish and protect their skin. Abundant with super-high levels of Vitamin E, antioxidants and essential fatty acids, it’s excellent for repairing cell membranes, preventing premature aging, reducing inflammation and retaining moisture. Argan is also rich in proteins, which help tighten the skin, minimize wrinkles and improve elasticity. Experts believe that Argan Oil can also help with many skin conditions, from dry skin patches to psoriasis, eczema and acne. Argan Oil can be found in some skin care products, though many people look for it in its pure form. If you have pure raw Argan Oil, a few drops can be applied to clean skin at night
as a moisturizer. It’s non-greasy and non-oily, absorbing easily into the skin.


Black CurrantsBlack Currant Oil
Derived from Black Currant Seeds, this centuries- old health tonic is wonderful for skin that has undergone some sort of trauma—for example, post-laser treatment, or even for someone with wind-burned skin après a day on the slopes. Rich in vitamins, antioxidants, essential fatty acids and anti-inflammatory properties, it helps slow down the skin’s aging process and is wonderful for repairing damaged tissues, healing scars and minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It even helps minimize symptoms of psoriasis and eczema. A word of caution: Allergic reactions to Black Currant Oil are possible, so check with a professional before using.


Rose HipsRose Hip Seed Oil
Rose Hip Seed Oil is one of the best oils available for anti-aging and skin rejuvenation. Packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it helps delay the effects of skin aging, promotes cell turnover and boosts Collagen production for firmer, smoother skin. In addition, it’s ideal for minimizing the appearance of scars, stretch marks, age spots and hyper-pigmentation. Rose Hip Oil is known as a “dry” oil, which means that it soaks into the skin easily without leaving a greasy residue. This oil deeply hydrates and can be used straight out of the bottle—even on sensitive skin. It’s not, however, recommended for use on acne prone or very oily skin.


CamomilesChamomile Oil
Just as chamomile tea is known for its relaxing, stress-relieving properties, Chamomile Oil is excellent for calming the skin. A great choice for people with sensitive skin, Chamomile is a natural skin soother, calming irritations, redness, sunburn, windburn and bruises almost immediately. In addition to its calming abilities, Chamomile’s anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties make it an ideal choice for people suffering from rosacea or broken capillaries, as well as for treating acne, eczema, psoriasis, rashes, burns and redness. As Chamomile is a member of the ragweed family, people with allergies to ragweed should avoid Chamomile Oil. To make sure it’s okay for you to use, test patch the oil by dabbing a drop on your wrist for a day to see if you have any allergic reactions.

Wednesday 30 October 2013

What are "Heaty" and "Cooling" Food?

When a Chinese uses the terms 'heaty' or 'heatiness' to describe the kinds of foods he/she would like to have or avoid, most Westerners would probably have no idea what those concepts are or find them strange. 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the notion of heaty (yang)(as opposed to cooling or yin) is related to the balancing of ‘yin' and ‘yang'. To most people, especially the Chinese, in Asian countries such as China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singaporeans, such concepts are very much part of the indigenous culture and are commonly used as a form of expressing certain set of symptoms or sensations often associated with emotional or physical reactions such as: 

  1. Feelings of irritability;
  2. Short temper; 
  3. Fever; 
  4. Constipation; 
  5. •Flushed face or cheeks; 
  6. Dark yellow urine; 
  7. Sore throat
  8.  •Nose bleed; 
  9. Outbreak of pimples and acne; 
  10. Rashes
  11.  •Mouth ulcers; 
  12. Indigestion. 

Excessive "cold" energy in the body, on the contrary, will make us feel weak, lethargic, tired and restless.  

The constitution of each person is influenced by congenital factors as well as the acquired lifestyle (e.g diet, stress level, amount of exercise and sleep, living environment), and this varies from person to person. In other words, different foods act upon the human body in different ways and affect our state of health. The body's metabolism, functioning of organs and organ structure all combine to determine our susceptibility to these heaty and cooling effects of foods. 

Examples of cooling and heaty foods:

Cool (Yin) Foods: 

Bamboo shoot, banana, bitter gourd, clam, crab, grapefruit, lettuce, persimmon, salt, seaweed, star fruit, sugar cane, water chestnut, watermelon, lotus root, cucumber, barley, bean curd, chicken egg white, marjoram, oyster, pear, peppermint, radish, strawberry, tangerine, and yogurt, broccoli, cauliflower, zuccini, corn, tomatoes, pineapple, turmeric.

Neutral (balanced Yin and Yang) Foods:

Honey, corn, abalone, apricot, beef, beetroot, black fungus, carp, carrot, celery, chicken egg yolk, cuttlefish, duck, fig, kidney bean, lotus fruit and seed, milk, olive, oyster, papaya, pork, potato, pumpkin, radish leaf, red bean, plum, sunflower seed, sweet rice, sweet potato, white fungus, yellow soybean, brussels sprouts, snow peas, sweet potato, taro, dates, figs, raspberries, raisins, sage, rosemary, thyme, brown rice, apple.

Heaty (Yang) Foods:

Pepper, cinnamon bark, ginger, soybean oil, red and green pepper, chicken, apricot seed, brown sugar, cherry, chestnut, chive, cinnamon twig, clove, coconut, coffee, coriander (Chinese parsley), date, dill-seed, eel, garlic, grapefruit peel, green onion, guava, ham, leaf mustard, leek, longan, mutton, nutmeg, peach, raspberry, rosemary, shrimp, spearmint, sweet basil, tobacco, vinegar, walnut, jack-fruit, durian, leek, shallots, spring onion, , apricots, blackberries, black currant, mangoes, peaches, cherry, mandarin orange, grape.

How a food is prepared also matters. E.g Beef is considered as neutral, but if you have it deep fried or grilled, it would be considered as heaty. In addition, there are some interesting broad guidelines to determine whether a certain food is heaty or cooling:

Heaty/yang foods:
  • grow under the hot sun;
  • are sweet;
  • •have lots of fats; 
  • rich in sodium;
  • are hard, dry or spicy

Cold/yin foods:
  • •grow in little sunshine;
  • are salty;
  • are lean;
  • rich in potassium;
  • soft and wet; 

The heatiness and cooling effect of foods refer to their capacity to generate sensations - either hot or cold in our body. They do not refer to the state of the food but its effect on our bodies. For example, tea is a cooling food. This means that it generates cold energy in our body. To seek a balance in diet, we can classify food as predominantly yin or yang. Hence, if you eat predominantly yin foods, your body will be capable of producing only cold energy, in contrast, eating predominantly yang foods produces hotter energy. 

If a person suffers from cold rheumatism, eating foods with a warm or hot energy would be helpful. If a person's acne condition deteriorate due to consumption of fried foods, it is beneficial to eat cooling foods to counter heatiness and relieve symptoms. Hence, to strike a yin-yang balance in the diet, it's almost natural for the Chinese to have a glass of a lemon barley or winter melon (cooling) drink to go with a plate of (heaty) fried rice, or a bowl of (heaty) spicy noodle with some (cooling) fruits such as star fruits or water melon.  

The concept of heatiness is not meaningful or relevant in the western medicine paradigm. However, it is believed that there is some parallel to Acid (heaty) and alkaline (cooling) balance, or protons and positive charges (heaty) and cooling (electrons and negative charges). Medicine evolves. Conventional medical doctors in the west has long started to integrate and learn about alternative treatments or medicines and incorporate them into their practice. Today they believe that these new medical approaches are beneficial and effective in many ways. 

Thursday 25 April 2013

3 Top Ways To Cure Sweaty Hands or Feet

Look, whatever reason YOU have to stop your foot sweating, it really couldn't be any easier once you know the simple home remedies that get results super FAST. I'm talking, within hours.


Vinegar Foot Baths - Mix together 1/2 cup vinegar and a quart of very warm water in a basin. Soak your feet for 25 minutes. Then, dry your feet well - make sure you don't forget the spaces in between your toes. Don't rinse your feet. Let the vinegar really saturate your pores.

Not only does the vinegar act as an astringent, It exfoliates a thin top layer of your foot skin. You'll experience dryness for hours after this soak. Plus, the acid in the vinegar neutralizes odor causing bacteria deep in your feet. Some people like using apple cider vinegar for this treatment. However, for foot sweating, I prefer white vinegar. It's stronger and works faster.

As a side benefit, vinegar also inhibits fungal growth so you'll protect your toenails from fungus and clear up common problems like athletes foot.

Salt Water Soak - Simple? Yes. Effective? Ohhh Yes. Don't underestimate the power of a salt water soak on your feet. The salt will dry them right up and if you use Epsom salts, you'll have soft dry skin as well. Exfoliating with a loofah before soaking your feet in salt water makes results faster AND longer lasting. You also want to make sure you use warm water to open up your skin's pores and allow maximum exposure to the salt.

Be careful if you have any open cuts or sores on your feet. This will burn if you have any open abrasions.

Sage Tea - I saved the best for last. Sage tea contains super high levels of Tannic Acid which is a natural astringent. Add 4 or 5 bags of sage tea into a large basin of hot water and let it steep until the tea is fully dissolved. Then soak your feet for 25 minutes.

The tea will work its way into your foot pores and go to work, drying them up and neutralizing odor causing bacteria. Sage tea is VERY powerful as a long-term foot odor cure. Try this tonight and fall in love with the results.

Just a heads up - after you take your feet out of the basin, they'll be a little tanned from the tea. Don't freak out, the tanned color washes right off with a little soap and water.

Thursday 4 April 2013

Adam Cohen “What Other Guy”


I know what you look like in the morning
The way your kisses are sweet and warm
And I could draw you with my eyes closed
Seen you with nothing on but the radio


I know how many years of French you took
Your favorite movies your favorite books
I know what really gets you going, glowing


I know where you go with your beautiful friends
I know what you taste like when the night ends


I know the kind of things that make you laugh
the way you tilt your head for a photograph
What other guy knows you like that?
I can name the first guy you ever kissed
I can name the perfume on your wrist
What other guy knows you like that?


I know what you want by what you’re wearing
What kind of night you’re preparing
I know what your hands do when you’re kissin’
your number one and number two favorite positions
I know how your skin’s glistens, Listen:


I know where you go with your beautiful friends
I know what you taste like when the night ends


I know the kind of things that make you laugh
the way you tilt your head for a photograph
What other guy knows you like that?

I can name the first guy you ever kissed
I can name the perfume on your wrist
What other guy knows you like that?


the kind of question you don’t like to be asked
What you like to talk about, what stays in the past
What other guy knows you like that
Please don’t make me sorry I asked.


I know the most embarrassing moment you ever had
Who you like more between your mom and your dad
Babies make you happy old people make you sad
models make you jealous, liars make you mad
What other guy knows you like that?
I know all the good the ugly and bad
All the sweet and all the sad
The way you tilt your head for a photograph
What other guy knows you like that?
i’ve got great pictures of you in a bubble bath


What we can talk about now, what stays in the past

Tuesday 26 March 2013

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How Does Molded Cheese Taste

Cheese is a milk-based product that is deliberately "spoiled" and is full of bacteria. That's primarily what gives cheese its distinctive flavour and aroma. However, cheese has a much longer shelf-life than the milk from which it is derived. Indeed, certain varieties that are encased in a protective rind and can take years to fully mature. And yet manufacturers will insist it must be eaten in 2 to 5 days of opening! This is sheer nonsense and is only a legal precaution.


The actual duration a cheese will "keep" varies according to the type of cheese. Once exposed to air, the bacteria begin to rapidly multiply, producing a visible green-blue mold. However, many cheese are visibly moldy by design, so any additional mold is unlikely to do you any harm. If the cheese is not intentionally moldy, people will often scrape or cut away the mold, but it is perfectly edible. The only real difference is a stronger taste and aroma.

Eventually, though, cheese will spoil for real. The first visible sign of spoiling is a darkening of the colour, a result of the cheese drying out. However, the interior of the cheese may be perfectly fine; you can simply cut away the harder protective exterior. The only reason to throw away cheese is when it has completely dried out. At that point, it can be said to have fully spoiled. It may well taste fine, but it is unpalatable. If there's no moisture left then it cannot even be melted at cooking temperature.


By the way, i just ate a molded cheese few weeks ago.
Mmm...still alive, guess it's fine to eat it after-all. LOL!

Monday 4 February 2013

10 Benefits of Almond Milk



If you are trying new products to substitute for milk, try almond milk. When created properly, almond milk has many benefits that will increase the quality of your diet. Here are a few that might interest you:
 
1. Almond milk doesn't taste like milk.
One benefit of almond milk is that it definitely doesn't taste like milk. Almond milk has it's own unique flavour: light, nutty, crisp. It does differ from milk. So if you hate the way milk tastes, but wants something you add to your cream of wheat or coffee, try almond milk. It won't taste like milk, but will have the same consistency that you need to enhance certain dishes.

2. Almond milk is healthy and nutritious.
Need to boost the magnesium, potassium or Vitamin E in your diet? Drink almond milk! Almonds are full of these essential nutrients. So, as you consume it, you are increasing the level of health in your diet.

3. Almond milk is lower in calories than dairy milk.
Per Discovery Health, regular and plain almond milk is lower than calories than Fat-Free, Skim and Non-Fat milk. One glass of it is 70 calories versus 86 calories of its counterpart. Therefore, you can enjoy the benefit of an entire flavourful glass of almond milk without destroying your diet.

4. Almond milk doesn't have to be refrigerated in an icebox.
Dairy milk has to be refrigerated or it will spoil. Yet, you will see in the stores that almond milk is set on the shelf with dry foods. It doesn't have to be set on ice to keep its integrity. This fact is excellent for road trips and camping trips. Use almond milk instead of regular milk and lessen the load in your ice chest.

5. Almond milk is a better milk alternative than soy milk.
Yes. Although the FDA touts the benefits of soy milk, others don't. Kaayla Daniel, the author of The Whole Soy Story: The Dark Side of America's Favorite Health Food, says soy milk isn't that good for a diet. Why? It is full of sugar. Therefore, the lift people feel after drinking it largely has to do with its sugar content. With this in mind, almond milk is the better choice because of all of the nutrients in it naturally.

6. Almond milk is an excellent alternative for people with milk allergies.
Normally, when you think of a person who can't drink milk, it's because they are lactose intolerant. Yet, there are other things that comprise milk that some people are allergic too. If you happen to be one of those people or your baby is, almond milk is an excellent alternative. It can be consumed without all of the ill effects.

7. The residuals of almond milk can be used in baking.
If you make your own almond milk at home, you know that there is pulp left over. The almond pulp left over can be used in recipes that call for it - like cookies or even crescents. So, you get the benefit of creating more than one food item from almonds. Here's one recipe off of Tribe.net:

Cream together:
1 cup sugar
1 cup earth balance margarine


Add and mix well:
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
1 cup almond pulp


Add, mixing with hands:
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour


Chill for a couple of hours, then roll out and cut (Just use a small glass to make circles). Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake 8-10 minutes at 350 degrees. You get almost six-dozen, 1-inch cookies. They are quite tasty!

8. Almond milk can easily be incorporated into a raw food diet.
There is a lot of controversy over the nutritional and health benefits of dairy milk in the Vegan community. A lot of it has to do with hormones and other things used to process and preserve milk. As a result, many people prefer almond milk as an alternative in a raw food diet. It can be used to create smoothies and other delicious treats. Also, anyone can make it at home. Try it out for your self by following the recipe on the web pages "How to Make Raw Vanilla Almond Milk."

9. Almond milk is one product part of a new wave of milk alternatives.
According to a report by the International Market for Dairy Alternatives, the U.S. continues to grow in sales and production of dairy alternatives. Why? For several dietary reasons, Americans are choosing to consume non-dairy products. So, the U.S. is trying to meet that demand. Be part of the new wave of eating right. Substitute almond milk for dairy milk and see how much better you feel.

10. Almond milk is an excellent alternative for lactose intolerant people.
If you are lactose intolerant, you have difficulty digesting milk. As a result, when you consume it, you become bloated, gassy and sick. Almond milk is a product you can use in replace of milk. Pour it over your cereal or drink it with a piece of cake and you'll see it is an excellent, tasty alternative. Therefore, you get the benefit of eating your favourite foods without the downside of a negative reaction to lactose.