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9 Tips for Keeping Your Bathroom Clean

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Not everyone is fond of cleaning the bathroom but there are ways to keep it dirt-free and odor-free without exerting too much effort. Here are tips for keeping your bathroom clean all the time.

Don’t use a bar of soap. Ditch your soap bar and switch to a liquid soap instead. The bar can leave residues on the dish soap and will make your bathroom like untidy and grimy. This way, even your sink will stay clean, too.

Use a water repellent. Tired of having to scrub the shower curtain and walls to remove soap scum and minerals? The lazy way to avoid the task is to use a water repellent just before you use the bathroom. You will still need to clean and scrub occasionally, but this will help keep your bathroom looking immaculate.

Protect the shower curtain. How do you keep the shower curtain clean? Spray the bottom of the curtain with All-purpose cleaner that contains bleach, then rinse with water to get rid of scum, minerals, and mold without having to scrub. This only works for vinyl curtains.

Wipe down the walls and shower. Make it a habit to wipe the wet walls and door with a moist squeegee just after you bathe. This will only take a few minutes and will save you time in the long run. Moisture can be a big problem in bathrooms because that will encourage mold growth.

If your bathroom has windows, make sure to open it occasionally to dry moisture. You can also have an exhaust fan installed or leave the door to the bathroom slightly open to allow moisture to evaporate.

Wipe up fresh spills and stains. What about stains from cosmetics and other body products? Do not wait for the spill and stain to dry before you decide to clean it. The simplest solution is to wipe it with wet tissue or wet wipes while still fresh.

Clean the walls with water and vinegar mixture. Instead of scheduling one day in a week to scrub the walls, why not spray them with a mixture of water and vinegar right after you bathe? The vinegar is a natural cleaner and disinfectant. It can also get rid of stains.

Use baking soda on the toilet. Instead of purchasing a toilet cleaner, just sprinkle baking soda on the toilet daily right before you shower and then scrub for less than five minutes. This will prevent stains from building up.

Remove dust when you see it. The easiest solution for this is to pat the dusty surfaces with used dryer sheets. Not only do you get to recycle materials, you will also save time scheduling a vacuuming of the bathroom surfaces.

Place clothes hamper in the bathroom. There should be a container for used towels and clothes before you leave the bathroom. Place it near the door so it’s easy to reach. However, don’t mix in wet or moist towels or clothes with the dry ones.

Beauty Treatment Highlight: Thermage

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Thermage is a fairly new procedure that has gained popularity in the past few years as an alternative to other skin tightening procedures. It can take a while before you see the effects, but it is advertised by celebrities, so what is it and can you undergo thermage?

What is Thermage?

Thermage is not just a facial treatment but it is also a body treatment designed to stimulate the formation of collagen too tighten and lift skin. Because collagen can take a long time produce, this procedure needs to be repeated over a course of several months before you can see the changes.

What does it do?

Thermage uses a device called thermage radio frequency with has a heating mechanism that targets layers of the dermis that are supposed to be rich in collagen or are responsible for collagen formation. But the effect also spreads to the area called the fibrous septea so that it acts as a contour as well besides being a stimulant. When the dermis is heated, the fibrils contract then thicken so that it tightens. When it heals, it reshapes and more collagen are produced.

What is it for?

Thermage is an approved procedure in most countries that addresses several skin problems usually associated with aging such as wrinkles. It is a good alternative to surgical face lift and other face lift procedures because

How is it done?

Thermage will heat up the dermis to produce the best results, but it dies not damage the epidermis. The device delivers the radiofrequency energy to the dermis while at the same time a cooling spray cools the epidermis. The procedure can take up to two hours maximum depending on which areas need treatment, but you need to come back later for the next several months.

Are there any risks?

Thermage is not an invasive procedure, therefore the risks are not as severe. However, you should expect mild swelling and pain. It can also be painful which is why an anesthetic cream is applied before the procedure, but you should feel better within the day. There is a minor risk of skin indentation, burns, scars, and bumps which is why you should only undergo this procedure at a reputable clinic.                                            

Do I qualify for the procedure?

It may not be as effective for people with saggy and advanced wrinkles because it does not work like face lift. However, it is effective for those who have mild loose skin and fine wrinkles, especially in their 30s or 40s.

If you have problems with scowl lines, jowls, forehead lines, hoods over the eyes, bulges, cellulites, crow’s feet, acne scars, and uneven skin color then thermage might be a good option. If you are looking for immediate and dramatic results, however, a face lift might be better for you.

What Are the Causes of Brain Fog?

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If you notice that your memory isn’t as sharp as before, or that you find it hard to focus on your tasks, those might be signs of brain fog. To put it simply, brain fog occurs when you already have difficulty thinking clearly every day. The thing is, there can be many causes of brain fog. Here are some of them.

1. Lack of sleep

It’s already common for many working Singaporeans to not have enough sleep. Though you can say you’re used to it, there will come a time when you’ll definitely experience brain fog because of lack of sleep. Sleep gives our brain some much-needed time to rest. It also helps the cells and muscles tissues all around our body to recover. Sleep is a natural need for humans, so don’t take it for granted.

2. Too much stress

It’s already obvious that too much stress affects us negatively. That’s why it’s one of the main causes of brain fog. The thing about stress is that it slowly builds up and affects our mental health, and sometimes we don’t even notice. When we experience stress too often, our thoughts will be all messed up and we’ll have difficulty getting ideas. That means our creativity and productivity will be affected.  

3. Having an unhealthy diet

Eating too much unhealthy food and not drinking enough water can also be causes of brain fog. Usually, when we talk about healthy food, we think about it in the physical aspect. For example, it’s to help you lose or maintain weight. But eating healthy actually has a greater impact on our minds. So, try to avoid food with too much sugar, junk food, processed food, and the like.

4. Spikes in hormones

Hormonal fluctuations can be caused by many things and one of the most common is stress. Hormonal changes can affect our mood and our brain overall, this is why too much stress can be very detrimental. Another cause of hormonal changes that’s not exactly bad is pregnancy. To put it simply, pregnancy can change a lot of things in the woman’s body. If you notice, some mothers have difficulty remembering things sometimes. This may be a small sign of brain fog caused by the hormonal changes.

5. Certain medications

There are prescription medications that actually have side effects. Surely, your doctors will tell you about these though. Some pain relief drugs and hypertension medications, for example, can affect the brain in a certain way. Although it’s nothing big to worry about, it can cause brain fog in the long-term. As long as your doctor says it’s fine, then don’t worry too much about it.

The Importance of Making Eye Contact in Any Interaction

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Making eye contact is a major part of communication. Whether you’re speaking to a Singaporean or any other person, it won’t matter how loud your voice is or how eloquent you are if you don’t look at the person you’re speaking to. Eye contact can be important in many, if not every interaction we have. Let’s just jump right into it!

Your eyes can communicate your thoughts and how you feel

For some reason, there are a lot of people who are good at telling your thoughts just by looking at your eyes. Though you may not notice it, how you hold eye contact may really say things about you. Sometimes you yourself would even use eye contact to decipher what the person across from you is thinking. There are also even times when you can communicate with your partner just by looking at each other, right? Simply put, the eyes are powerful tools for communication.

It shows that you are being attentive

How many times have you been with a person who rarely looks at you when you speak? This can be during a date, a friendly meeting, or even a discussion at the office. Surely, you’ll feel like that person is bored and he/she does not like to listen to you. On the other hand, if you maintain good eye contact, you can show that you’re actually interested in whatever the other person is talking about. It shows that you are engaged and, in turn, the other person will feel better about being in your presence.

It invites the attention of others

Put it this way, when you don’t hold eye contact with another person, it’s highly likely that they will do the same. So when they stop looking at you, of course, they’ll eventually stop listening as well. But if you were to make good eye contact, it helps the other person stay engaged in the conversation because they know you’re really interested in communicating with them. Even when you’re talking to a crowd, making eye contact can still have the same effect.

It helps you establish stronger relationships

In some situations, giving eye contact can mean that you’re meaning to start a friendly conversation with someone. There could be situations where you just find yourself staring at your girlfriend, for example, just admiring her. These are very subtle things and you really might not notice them, but they have quite a significant effect on our relationships. This could be because, as said earlier, eye contact is very simply a big part of communication. And effective communication is how we make our relationships stronger.

Ideas for Setting Up Your Gaming Room

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It’s every gamer’s dream to create the ultimate gaming room where they can spend their free time playing for hours and admiring their growing collection. However, you don’t have to rich to create one of your own.

What do you need to set up your own gaming room with comfort, accessibility, and function in mind?

Location and Size

If you already have an extra room in your home, the you can renovate it to make it an ideal place for storing your gaming gear and accessories. The gaming room should be well-ventilated, insulated, soundproofed, and has enough space for all your items. There are no rules on how big the room should be, but it should have enough space for your television or projector, personal computer, consoles, games, chair and tables, and other items.

Soundproofing

If you are planning to invest in a good sound system, then you should make sure that the room is soundproofed so you don’t wake up your neighbors in the middle of the night. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to soundproof the room because a cheap alternative is to install soundproof foam.

It’s easy to install and remove and will easily absorb the loud noises so that the other family members can have a good night’s sleep. Make sure that the quality speakers are placed strategically so that you can still hear all the explosions and gunshots without disturbing your neighbors. Most gamers recommend a surround sound system for this setup.

Insulation and Ventilation

You can hire a specialist to inspect the place if you want the room to be well-ventilated and well-insulated. You will be investing a lot of money on the room, that is why you need to make sure that there will be no heating issues or damage to your consoles, PC, and games. Invest in quality ventilation and air conditioning to protect your items and gadgets from the elements.

Wiring

A tangle of wires will not only look messy, but they can also be a source of fire and accidents. Make sure that you cover the wires properly or place behind shelves and tables or under the carpet, so that they do not make the room look disorganized. You should also have enough power sockets to avoid using too many extension cords, and don’t forget to tie all the cables that cannot be hidden under decor and furniture. An organized gaming room also makes cleaning and maintenance easier.

Decor

Try to make the place look aesthetically-pleasing besides placing your collection of action figures and gaming posters. Invest in quality chairs that are comfortable and easy to clean, quality lighting, and in sturdy shelves or storage cabinets to hold your collection. You can also decorate the walls with gaming wallpaper or removable vinyl and install arcade gaming machines for a complete experience.

How to Motivate Lazy People to Clean their Mess

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Living at home with a messy person is a constant struggle for those who love to clean after themselves. It’s not like you can throw them out or tell them to find another home. How do you motivate someone not to be messy even if they would rather do nothing all day?

Talk About It and Compromise

Sit down and talk about the problem calmly, because when you keep nagging the person, the effect is usually the opposite of what you intended. Ignoring the problem will also not solve it, that is why you should talk agreeing on a solution that will be the most beneficial to you both. This can be especially stressful if you’re living with a friend or a schoolmate, so be sure to make the person understand what you want from him/her without resorting to insults.

Define Your Expectations

Maybe your roommate is just lazy at organizing his/her stuff but is not necessarily dirty. The latter can mean that the person does not clean up leftover food or does not pick up his/her trash. A messy person still tries to keep his/her stuff neat, but does not make an effort to organize them properly. If the person is just messy, then there is still hope, but if he/she is dirty, then you need to emphasize why he/she needs to clean up the mess because it could cause diseases, attract vermin, and produce bad odors. A person will not change overnight just because you’re irritated, so you need to be realistic about what changes you want to see.

Define Boundaries and Respect Space

If you cannot stand the mess in your shared bedroom, then maybe it’s time to move out of the room. The simple solution sometimes is just to walk away from difficult people. But if he/she is willing to compromise, then you should also respect his/her space. Maybe the person will feel guilty once he/she finally sees the differences in how you organize your things. Don’t force yourself to clean up after their mess, because that’s not your job.

Set Up a Schedule and Point Out Examples

If the person agrees to help you with the cleaning chores, then you need to set up a schedule to divide the work. Don’t expect him/her to transform into a cleaning machine overnight, because that will not happen. Instead, inspire him/her to form a habit of cleaning until it becomes second-nature to him/her. If the inspirational talk and pictures of a clean room versus a messy room do not work, however, make your roommate watch an episode of Hoarders or other reality shows about dirty houses. Maybe they will change their mind about piling their clothes on the chairs next time.

Pointers for Meat Cuts and the Best Way to Prepare Them

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If you cut meat just to make smaller pieces that are easier to cook, then you’re doing it wrong. There are proper ways to cube, cut, and shred meat for a better presentation and better-tasting meals.

Partially freeze meat to make it easier to prepare

A meat that is rock frozen is just impossible to slice, but if you thaw it completely is also difficult to slice if you are aiming for specific cuts. The best option is to partially freeze (45 minutes) the meat so that the water inside is frozen, giving it a firm structure. Your fingers should not leave an indentation either when you touch the meat.

Slice meat across the grain

Remember that most of the meat is made up of muscle that can be tough. Slicing across the grain makes the meat tender and easier to cut besides. The grain refers to the muscle fibers that are stacked like a close-packed cord. That stringy long thing you see on the meat is the muscle. The idea is to shorten those fibers so that it isn’t tough to chew.

Chicken cut recommendations

Chicken legs are considered dark meat and are best for braising, broiling, grilling, and roasting. Chicken thighs, whether boneless or bone-in, are also considered dark meat and best prepared by braising, broiling, grilling, and roasting. Chicken wings can also be prepared by braising, broiling, grilling, and roasting. Chicken breast, whether boneless or bone-in, are best enjoyed by baking, frying, and grilling.

Beef recommendations

Ribs can be broiled, grilled, roasted, or slow-cooked while brisket is best prepared when slow-cooked. Beef chuck is good for roasting, broiling, grilling or fried in a skillet. Beef plate is utilized as ground beef and best prepared by braising. Flank can be braised, broiled, grilled or pan-fried, while round is best prepared by braising. Shanks can be enjoyed in stews and soups.

The sirloin should be braised, broiled, and grilled like the tenderloin, while the top sirloin should be broiled, grilled, sautéed, and pan-fried. Short loin on the other hand is best prepared by grilling while the bottom sirloin is good for roasting and braising.

Pork recommendations

Spareribs are best for grilling and roasting, while the belly is best for braising, frying or can be cured as bacon. Pork jowl is best fried or used in stews and soups, while pork shoulder can be prepared by roasting and slow cooking. Pork loin, whether boneless or bone-in, is best enjoyed braised, grilled or roasted.

Pork rack are good for grilling or roasting like the pork sirloin. Pork arm shoulder is used for ground pork or for roasting, while hocks are best prepared by smoking or as ingredient for stews and soups. Ham can be cured or uncured and may be roasted for better presentation.

Turkey and duck recommendations

You can apply the same techniques with the chicken meat on duck meat, but duck breasts are best prepared by searing. Turkey on the other hand is lean, so it is good for brining or grinding the meat.

Fish recommendations

Oily fish are best prepared by baking, roasting, steaming and barbecuing, while other types of fish can be grilled, steamed, roasted, baked, broiled, and pan-fried. Avoid boiling fish because the meat will fall apart.

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