How to make your own mint foot scrub

What you will need:

                                                                    
                                                 SALT

YOGURT

MINT LEAVES

Ingredients:

Salt: 3 teaspoons

Yogurt: 2 tablespoons

15 mint leaves.

( Regarding the mint leaves, how much you use is really up to you. If you want to add more, go ahead. If you want less, why not? If you don't want to incorporate it-Sure!)

Just mix together and proceed to refrigerate. If you would like a stronger scent of mint in the mixture, tear up the leaves to pieces and place it in.

Soak feet in warm water for about 20-25 mins or longer, then proceed to use the scrub. Rub in circular motions and leave it on for about 10-15 mins.

You are done!

Enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

"Doga is so HOT! All the Pampered Paws are doing it!"

Have you heard about Doga? Notice how Doga kinda sounds like Yoga? Well... Doga my friends is actually Yoga for.... DOGS. Yes, you read that right, Yoga for DOGS.

The latest fad is popular in America, and will probably be so in Singapore soon.

Classes are attended by both doggie and owner, and sessions consist of  variations of ancient  yoga poses. At different points in time, mans best friend will be placed over, adjacent or underneath their owner and together, both owner and dog will meditate and stretch. 

                                                       
There will also be a few minutes allocated to massaging doggie during the session. All in all, the purpose of Doga is to create greater harmony and unity between owner and dog! I can understand how  massaging  can unite both owner and doggie, but Doga? Really? This just seems unnecessary and commercialized. You know, if you want to feel more united with your pet, just spend more time with it, right? Why pay to unite with doggie when uniting can be done if you both just go for walks together or just chill at home together? Also, isn't concentrating/focusing your energy on your inner self  pivotal during Yoga/meditation sessions ( in order to attain a level of consciousness which allows for deeper spiritual insight?) How do you concentrate in a room full of cutey-pie doggies? I bet the doggies wonder what on earth they are being subjected to and would be more interested in interacting with the other doggies.

                                                                                                  

Keeping doggies as pets is awesome. Apart from the love you naturally give and receive, there are other reasons to keeping them, for example, the health benefits of keeping a dog. The simple act of petting dogs alone is enough to lower blood pressure, and even increase serotonin ( a chemical in the body which gives us the feeling of a sense of wellbeing)  levels. Even cancer patients find that it improves their quality of life and general well being. Yoga too is fantastic and also has a myriad of positive effects on our health. It calms people down, makes them happier, allows time for reflection, provides increased blood flow in the body, and provides a form of  low impact exercise.  So.. let's combine.. the image of doggies.. and their owners.. and yoga...... and weigh out the pros and cons...

Pros

1. A reason to spend more time with pet.
2. A reason for both owner and pet to indulge in less strenuous physical activity.
3. A reason to learn yoga.
4. By learning yoga, there will be many health benefits the owner will experience.
5. A session to bond with other doggies, hence doggie will be more sociable.
6. A session for owners to create more friendships ( very important these days considering the high levels of mental health problems; anxiety, loneliness, depression etc.)
7. Owners will be paying for lessons and helping the Doga instructor earn his/her salary.

Hmm.. Maybe Doga isn't so bad after all huh? I guess it'll be a reason for both owner and pet to take part in some physical activity.

Cons

1. This could be a money making fad that you will be falling for.
2. More than a yoga session, it might turn out to be a social meeting every week. You might look forward to meeting new people rather than actually uniting with your dog and learning yoga.
3. You could be supporting something which really strays away and could be regarded by some as an insult to what Yoga  truly is about.
4. People might start buying dogs just to fit in to certain groups such as.. Doga groups..
5. ( I am going to side track a little here) But instead of thinking about the values or purpose of yoga, you might just end up worrying about what you and doggie are going to wear for the next session. Like in the picture below..

Hmm.. all in all, I don't think the cons are too bad. If ya wanna try Doga, why not?

Oh, and just so you know, I didn't think of the title for this post, in fact, I copied  it from a website promoting Doga and pasted it.Why did I do so? Well, honestly, it's because of how ridiculously hilarious it sounds! It just got me imagining a little scene,.. come on envision it with me.. all you have to do is imagine a girl  preferably with an american accent, (makes it more fun) saying :

• " OH MY GOD, Doga is SOO HOT!" "Like alllll, yeah as in seriously, ALLL the pampered PAWS are totally doing it"

Girls mates say:

• Doga? What is that? Is it like a new type of Toga top or something? or wait nono could it be like..

Lead chick cuts in and says:

• Umm like I'm not sure, I just know.. that WE HAVE GOT TO DO IT TOO!! Like its soo HOT that even Paris Hilton does it!!

*giggling with excitement* Girls mates say :

• Oh my gawdddd, THAT IS SOOOO HOTTT!!!

Next thing you know, there will be PIGlates, TaichiHUAHUA, DOGging, horse riding.. (o wait there already is horse riding)

Splendid indeed...

Sugar Lip Scrub

What you will need: Olive Oil, Sugar, Honey, Vanilla extract, Strawberry flavouring,

The ingredients have been used because, olive oil and honey are both known for their moisturizing properties. Olive oil also acts as a good base for the other ingredients. Honey contains what is known as (mild) alpha hydroxy acids which makes this a good ingredient  for exfoliating and skin rejuvenation and it is the  amino acids in honey which makes it a good option for  moisturizing.Sugar is a good exfoliant and vanilla extract and strawberry flavouring were added just to give the scrub a nicer scent. Using the last two ingredients are completely optional.

• 1 teaspoon of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• 2 teaspoons of sugar (brown or white, it is up to you)
• this is the optional part, either 1/2 a teaspoon of vanilla extract or 1/2 teaspoon of strawberry flavour ( or any other flavour you like)
• Mix the ingredients together
• Store in container and refrigerate (it is just more settled and cooler if placed in the fridge)

Once you have made the scrub, use either your finger or a toothbrush to apply the scrub and start exfoliating.

If you find that your skin is slightly reddish/pink after using the scrub, go ahead and apply some rose water on and around your lips.


                    Pictures of the ingredients used:
         

                                                                         

                                                                   
Hope this has been useful  and you enjoy the SHORT process of making it as much as i did : )

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

So today is the 1st of October and the beginning of Singapore's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The main focus of this campaign is to encourage women to perform monthly breast examinations and to go for regular mammograms and  physical examinations. The main target group for the campaign are women aged 50 and above. Breast cancer is the most common cancer afflicting women in Singapore with about  1,400 women diagnosed each year, and about 320 dying from it.

Estée Lauder Companies Singapore have illuminated ION Orchard today (Friday) in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month (Which is actuallly quite contradictory considering  Estée Lauder products already contain cancer causing chemicals) . This is part of a global initiative where over 200 landmarks from around the world will be illuminated in Pink for the month of October.

To some, cancer is a scary word and to others, it is not associated with the same fear or seriousness. Nevertheless, we have to be conscious not only for ourselves, but for our mothers, grandmothers, girlfriends, aunts, mother-in-laws and sisters.

So here is to being aware that the month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  This of course does not mean that we should be unaware during other months of the year : )

Oh and why is there so much Pink? Well that is because pink is the official colour for Breast Cancer Awareness, around the world.

I love the new ads that are out to promote Breast Cancer Awareness. I feel that a younger target group will be more accepting of it though. I wonder who their target audience is, I should go try and find out. Anyways, the only thing I would have changed in the add is "obsessed" to "concerned". Personal opinion, that is all, other than that, it's really creative! Really like it.

Elena's Triumph

Dr. Elena Bodnar has come up with an 'Emergency Bra'. Have you heard about it or seen pictures of the bra yet? If not, don't worry, I shall elaborate and add pictures I can find in this post.

So what does this 'Emergency Bra' do? Well... not only does it promise to provide support, but it also acts as a face mask! No not the type of mask you apply on your face for beauty purposes, but the type of mask which can actually filter out harmful chemicals! Isn't that pretty neat? Pictures below.......

Looks like our chances of surviving gas explosions or terrorist attacks or airborne disease outbreaks are going to be boosted.

To actually use the bra-cum-face-mask, the person wearing it just has to  unsnap the brassiere from under her shirt, which breaks it in two. She can then proceed to share it with somebody else, a male friend perhaps? As depicted in the picture below. How.. cute..

So apparently, it takes the average woman about 25 seconds to unhook and use it as a mask.

Dr. Elena Bodnar came up with this idea after Chernobyl (which took place in 1986) and she has won the 2009 Ig Nobel Public Health Prize.I really think its pretty cool and catchy! What a creative idea. The bra comes in sizes 32B to 40C. Hey, it even comes in PINK.

I believe it costs about $30 (US)

Here is a little look back on how the ever handy filter mask has evolved..

my my what have we here? Another possible function of the bra mask?

I certainly hope this information has been Wonder-ful ! :)

Feeling stressed out today?

Depression and anxiety are two of the five most common mental health disorders Singaporeans are currently facing. Why don't you create time just for YOUrself today? Take sometime off, even if it is for just 20 minutes. Do something, anything at all which will make you smile a little or giggle a little.

                         Light up some candles at home

Colours and different scents play important roles in creating calmer environments. Allow your tired eyes to fixate on turquoise, lavender, blues and greens . That shouldn't be too hard now should it? Look at the natural world around you, the trees, grass, the sky. If you happen to live in a concrete jungle, well then.. make the best of your situation. You could place little potted plants at home or buy paintings which radiate serenity.

Examples of calming scents are Lavender, Bergamot and Jasmine. Imagine sipping a hot cup of chamomile and honey tea, listening to the pitter patter of raindrops, inhaling calming lavender, blocking all negative thoughts.. and just resting your body and mind. Okay it sounds a little too dreamy for hot and humid days, so hey switch on that  air conditioner or turn the fan on high (if the heat  is a contributory factor to making you feel more anxious and stressed out), sip on your chamomile and really, just relax! Buy some flowers for the home, you don't need many.. even if you buy just three of four stalks, you can place them in different parts of the home. Flowers are known to make people happy and some studies have shown that it might even increase intimacy with others ( I guess that could be if someone else bought you the flowers, he he he). Anyways, here are some pictures of one of my favourite flowers, the lotus.

Spend time with your pets, animals receive and give us love. Giving and being loved makes us feel happy. So what are we waiting for? Now buying a dog, rabbit or cat may be difficult for some of us so an alternative could be to buy pet fish :). They do not usually require alot of maintenance plus they are very pretty to look at. You could learn yoga? I think the most important thing about learning yoga, (apart from feeling ready to learn it), is learning from someone you KNOW, someone who lives a life which lives up to the teachings of yoga. This is because places which offer yoga classes have become so commercialized, hence I think discernment is necessary when deciding the institution you want to learn yoga from. You don't want to go for yoga classes which end up making you feel more stressed out, so I guess choosing a REAL teacher is  imperative.If paying for classes is difficult, you could try alternatives such as meditating or just learning what you can from YouTube, then if you want, you could try practicing at home or outside at the park.

 Tonight, Listen to YOUR favourite music, eat the food YOU want, drink what YOU want and gaze at the stars

Have a good rest tonight my friends.

Two examples of DIY Turmeric Face Masks

I recently tried 2 turmeric face masks and I thought they worked well, thought I'd try it out on my brother and my best friend too. The masks we tried are for acne prone skin, the key agent is turmeric.Both the boys have given me their honest comments which I have also included in this post. Enjoy :)



What you will need if you decide to try both masks:

(From right to left)

1) Rose water ($6 from Little India)
2) Turmeric Powder ( $4 from Little India)
3) Sandalwood Powder ($6 from Little India)
4) Yogurt from any supermarket

Keep in mind that you will also need

- 1 bowl & 4 teaspoons



First mask: TURMERIC AND YOGURT

1. Add in 1 teaspoon of turmeric and 1 teaspoon of yogurt. Mix well. Reach a slightly thick consistency, such that it is "solid" enough to remain on your skin without dripping off.
2. Lie down and relax,  wait for about 20-30 mins and wait for the mask to tighten. All three of us ( my brother, best friend and I) felt a slight "biting" and tightening sensation. That's what you should look out for too.
3. After 25-40 mins, wash off the turmeric, beware of the mess you might make.. and do not be alarmed if your face is slightly yellow in colour. Just proceed on to washing it off with a mild soap. After that, you can use rose water to tone your face and moisturiser .

Second mask: TURMERIC SANDALWOOD AND YOGURT

1. Add in 1 teaspoon of turmeric, 1 teaspoon of sandalwood, 2-3 teaspoons of yogurt. Mix well. As mentioned above, mix it such that your end up with a thick consistency.

From here, just repeat steps 2-3 and your done!




What did Ashley think?

He said he felt really refreshed after using the mask. The tightening of the mask actually works and his skin felt pretty smooth once the mask was washed off.

What did Sonu think?

Initially he said the scent of the mask reminded him of cake, haha! Now tell me, how could that ever be a bad thing? :) Once the mask was on, it took him about 8-10 mins before he felt its tightening effect. While he washed off the mask, the hard bits of the mask gave an exfoliating effect which made him feel he had also applied a scrub onto his face. Overall, he said his face feels smoother.

Personally, I feel that both masks worked equally well. If I were to choose between the two, I must say I prefer the mask consisting of turmeric and yogurt only. This is because I did not feel as much of a "biting" sensation on my skin with this mask as compared to the mask with sandalwood. However, I must say that I loved the scent of the mask with sandalwood, it was very calming. Once i washed the mask off my face, it was certainly smoother and more taught.

Try it sometime, it's really easy ONCE you purchase what you need. hehe.


Toodlezzzzz Rainbowzzzzzzzzz :)

In the news

Baby boy from China, he weighs 20 kgs. He isn't even a year old yet. He's been dubbed "Michelin Baby". Possible causes are genetics, an overactive thyroid, too much exposure to bisphenol A ( a chemical found in many many household products, plastics, canned food items and even formula containers) or hey, just a really big appetite.

He is currently undergoing medical tests- I'm sure we'll know the reason why he weighs as much as a 6 year old soon.

Though it's very important to find out why he has packed on the pounds rather quickly within a short period of time, let's hope the medical tests don't cause him much pain :(

Puffin on the Hubble Bubble

Hubble bubble is another term for SHISHA.

A few other terms are waterpipe smoking,hookah,narghile, boory, goza, ghalyun or arghile. Names vary upon how different cultures address it.


I'm all for colours, I like this picture.

Now for those of you who may chance upon this post without prior knowledge as to what shisha or waterpipe smoking is, here is a brief introduction.

To put it simply, shisha is basically a method of smoking tobacco, but this time, through a waterpipe.Some say shisha originated in the Eastern Mediterranean region or even Africa.

A basic waterpipe apparatus consists of a:

• Head
• Body
• Water bowl
• Hose

So you see the part in the diagram which says bowl ? That is the head region, and tobacco is placed inside this bowl, and then foil is wrapped over it. Pieces of charcoal are placed on top of the foil which covers the tobacco below it. It is the tobacco which gives off the aroma of burned sugar when smoked.


Over the years, with the 'help' of globalization and transnational media, shisha smoking  has almost become the trendy thing to do. Youth have taken to it easily, and looking at how it has become so commercialized and glamorized, it is even likely that a global waterpipe epidemic has begun.


Attractive device huh? At a quick glance, the numerous hoses almost look like snakes though don't they?

So what's so bad about Shisha then? Let me demystify a few things.

1. If anyone tells you it isn't as harmful as smoking, let me tell you-it is. If not, worse.
2. There is tobacco to begin with.
3. Levels of tobacco vary greatly, sometimes what you're smoking is 30-40 or even 50% tobacco?
4. Apart from tobacco, carbon monoxide, nicotine and carcinogenic ( which translates to cancer causing)  polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are present.
5. You will usually generate 2 types of smoke during each session ( which mind you lasts an average of 30-60 mins) they are side stream smoke and mainstream smoke. The amount of smoke you are inhaling is alot my friends!
6. The water bowl does NOT act as a filter.
7. Charcoal is used. Come on people, since when has inhaling burning charcoal been okay for our health to begin with? Even worse, the types of charcoal used in different places vary. There are different grades of charcoal out there, do you know what type you are using during your shisha sessions? Do you think shop owners really purchase the best charcoal for their patrons to use during their shisha sessions?

Almost 5 million deaths are attributed to tobacco smoke globally already ( and this is without including tobacco smoke generated from shisha smoking) can u imagine how this number might only increase?

If you already are smoking shisha and don't think you can stop in totality, here are a few tips on how you can make your shisha sessions less harmful.

•  Sit outdoors. Good ventilation is vital so you or your friend/s don't inhale too much mainstream and side stream smoke. Less ventilation also equates to increased inhalation of carbon monoxide.
• The size of your device matters, the bigger your shisha device, the better, the longer the pipe, the less carbon monoxide
• Know what type of charcoal is being used
• Know the level of tobacco your smoking up.

Hey people, I know you must really enjoy the various flavours offered during a shisha session.

You've got your grape, apple, cappuccino,vanilla, coconut,cherry, strawberry, banana and many more, but hey, if you really like these flavours so much, why don't u just eat a banana or strawberry or apple? HA HA HA.No seriously. It's way better for your health anyway.

Oh come on, it's pink, how could it not be on this blog? He He.



ToooooOoodleZzzzz Rainbooooowzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz