How to Enjoy a Movie at Home in 5 Easy Steps

Posted by Editor in Uncategorized on Jun 25th, 2019 | Comments Off

While there’s nothing quite like watching a movie at a theater, you can also make your home viewing experience a lot more comfortable and a lot less stressful – you don’t need to wait, you can bring any food you want, and you even get to do it in your pajamas.

Here’s what you can do to enjoy movie night at home the right way:

1. Ask yourself if you want company or not

It’s your call to decide whether you want to watch a movie by yourself or with other people. Both choices have their own pros and cons that really depend on your preference, so be sure to mull over it for a moment or two before calling friends over.

2. Choose your movies in advance

The last thing you want is to take up more time choosing the movie you want to watch rather than actually watching the movie, so be sure to choose it in advance.

While it’s easy to pick a movie if you’re watching by yourself, it can be trickier to choose if you’re watching with other people, you might want to choose a genre that they’re more into. Your safest bets will usually fall under the adventure and comedy genres.

If you’re watching with kids, don’t forget to check the movie ratings! They’ll help you as a guide to provide age-appropriate content, though they shouldn’t be the only basis for the film/s you should watch.

3. Choose the best space

This doesn’t have to be a dedicated room just for watching movies. Whether it’s the living room or your own bedroom, it should be a place where you can watch the film without being disturbed.

To maximize your sense of privacy, add curtains or blinds that let you block light from outside your windows temporarily.

Turning off the lights in your living room or bedroom can also help to focus your attention and improve your overall immersive cinematic experience.

4. Set up your viewing system

Your “home theater system” need not be sophisticated, but it does need to be able to display your movie. Computers and tablets are widely popular devices along with flat screen televisions, with the former being much easier to set up.

5. Pick the refreshments you want

Having to stand up in the middle of the movie to get your refreshments can be annoying even if you pause it, so avoid this by choosing the food and drinks of your choice before queuing up the films you want to watch.

Be sure to choose finger foods when you do this, since they allow you to eat without having to look away from the screen.

Get to Know the Best Varieties of Air Plants for Your Indoor Garden

Posted by Editor in Uncategorized on Jun 25th, 2019 | Comments Off

Indoor gardening is a great way for you to practice your green thumb, but when you don’t have as much time as you would like, the best option that you can turn to is the air plant, or the genus Tillandsia, which belongs to the bromeliad family.

Here are the best varieties of genus Tillandsia that you can get that will quickly and easily spruce up your home or office in Singapore:

1. Tillandsia ionantha

Arguably one of the most popular air plants, T. ionantha not only boasts silvery leaves that deepen into shades of red and pink the longer they grow, but also an extreme amount of resilience and hardiness.

In its natural element, T. ionantha usually grows on trees, which is why you can find them displayed lounging on pieces of driftwood indoors.

2. Tillandsia maxima

This variety is worth a look if you’re looking for an air plant that makes a great impact. Unlike most varieties, T. maxima is capable of withstanding a little more sunlight and bearing multiple flowers at once.

You can usually tell if this plant is about to bloom when you see the leaves turn coral-red, and the purple flowers are gorgeous to add as living room decor.

3. Tillandsia cyanea

Versatility allows this particular plant species to grow both in soil and as is, as long as it’s given plenty of moisture. But what makes T. cyanea special is the stalk of pink bracts that fan out like a feather, which is why it’s often called the “Pink Quill” plant.

4. Tillandsia aeranthos bergeri

Give your indoor garden a little more spice with the spiky pink and blue flowers of the T. aeranthos bergeri, a very low-maintenance variety that grows well under the bright fluorescent lights of the standard office setting.

When you do find this plant in bloom, be sure to give it more moisture by rinsing it under running water instead of submerging it.

5. Tillandsia loliacea

This variety is a sure-fire charmer if you fancy yourself some miniature air plants instead of the other regular-sized varieties. T. loliacea never grows bigger than an inch and a half long, but its tiny flowers can stalk up to two to three times its height.

T. loliacea is also suitable for growing on both driftwood and inside a terrarium because of its size, but more so the latter since it can soak up any excess moisture that way.

Choosing air plants means choosing a plant that’s not just low-maintenance, but also a great way for you to practice developing your green thumb. And because Singapore is humid all year round, you can expect them to bloom for just a little bit of care.

Get started with them today!

7 Summer Skincare Tips Dermatologists Swear By

Posted by Editor in Uncategorized on May 30th, 2019 | Comments Off

With the summer season approaching, it is time to rethink your skincare routine with beach trips and backyard BBQ parties in mind. We all know that SPF is part of the most essential, but that’s not all there is to include in your skincare regimen. From proper exfoliation to using lightweight products, we’re sharing some of the tested-and-proven tips of skin experts to keep your glowing skin all summer long.

Out with the old, in with the new

Exfoliate regularly—and by regularly, we mean twice a week—with a gentle exfoliating scrub to brighten and reveal a youthful layer of skin. Plus, getting rid of dry skin allows serums and lotions to sip into the skin quickly and deeply, maximizing their potency and effects.

Apply clay masks

In addition to regular exfoliation, apply clay masks at night to unclog pores and help remove make-up residue. The chemical properties in clay masks draw out build up of dirt, oil and impurities, making them an ideal part of any skincare routine for achieving healthy and glowing skin.

Use lightweight creams

Thicker creams contain compounds that can clog the pores and can cause breakouts during humid seasons. Instead of your usual thick moisturizers and facial oils, opt for hydrating gels and serums, which are typically lighter.

Strategize your SPF

Before putting on your make-up in the morning, slather some SPF all over your face and neck. Reapply every two hours if you are outside. If you are worried about ruining your make-up, use mineral powder or compressed powder with SPF in it. You see, sunscreen doesn’t only come in cream form. Maximize sun protection by using different products with SPF.

Be careful with cloudy weather

Sunburn can happen even on cloudy days, when cooler weather tempts you to skip sunscreen. However, clouds can block only 20 percent of the sun’s UV rays. Therefore, application of sunscreen as you would during sunny days is very much required during cloudy days.

Go for faux tan

Instead of going sunbathing and risking getting skin cancer, do your skin some favor and reach for skin bronzing products. Self-tanners are much safer option and they let you achieve just the right bronzy glow that you desire.

Stay Hydrated

Inside and out! Be sure to drink plenty of water every single day, and slather moisturizing lotion (with SPF) all over your body to seal in the moisture and keep your skin hydrated. Especially after shaving, hydrate your skin right after getting out of the shower with body oil or nourishing cream.

Summertime is the perfect time to wear less make-up. Improve your skin’s complexion by perfecting your skincare routine with these expert tips.

7 Ways to Get the Most From Your Hotel

Posted by Editor in Uncategorized on May 30th, 2019 | Comments Off

For many of us, one of the reasons we get excited about a trip is the hotel stay. In between sightseeing or after a day-long business meeting, hotels serve as our relaxation spot. Below are seven ways to get the most of your hotel stay on your next trip.

Do early check-ins

Most people like early check-ins. Although hotels say they can’t guarantee early check-in time, most housekeeping staff clean the rooms much earlier than the requested check-in time of customers.

Stick to a single hotel

When it comes to hotel accommodation, unless you book the presidential suite, it is mostly the loyal patrons who are treated royally. And you can only achieve this loyalty status, which comes with special privileges like free breakfast, happy hour drinks and free use of special amenities—by staying in the same chain every time you need to book an accommodation.

Check for hidden offers

Many hotels in Singapore occasionally give away perks and discounts to people who post reviews about their hotel in travel sites, like TripAdvisor and Booking.com. You can also join some hotels’ email lists to receive emails of special deals.

Ask for it

Do not hesitate to ask for little extras. In four- and five-star hotels, minor requests like extra slippers, ear plugs, conditioner, iPhone cord or even a microwave can be granted as long as the hotel has them on hand. These are part of the complementary and are usually free of charge. Forgot your razor or toothbrush? Simply ask.

Be nice

Room assignments and upgrades are made by actual people, usually by the front desk staff. If you approach them nicely (and tip them well), you may find yourself booked in a spacious suite with a free bottle of wine.

Celebrate with them

People naturally like to celebrate engagements, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and all sorts of life’s triumphant moments. Informing the hotel of the occasion (even when there’s none) when booking is a surefire way to find a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of champagne or some other perks when you arrive at your hotel room.

Know the Hotel Concierge

The hotel concierge main duty is to help customers have a great time during their stay, so do not be afraid to introduce yourself and make friends with them. The person is your key to hot tips and inside information about the deals in your hotel. The concierge is your go-to person for any special requests.

Try any of these ideas and see which of them would be granted by your hotel. With these seven tips in mind, we hope your next hotel stay would be a more enjoyable one.

Planning to Skip Cardio? Here’s Why You Shouldn’t

Posted by Editor in Uncategorized on May 14th, 2019 | Comments Off

Every once in a while, you’ll see a hulking Singaporean bodybuilder casually walking down the streets. If there was a scenario where he was made to climb up the stairs to the fourth floor of a building, he would easily get tired. This is just an example, of course. We’re not taking shots at all the mass monsters out there! In fact, there are also a lot of bodybuilders who can run for hours and not get tired.

The above example is just a small picture of how different you will feel if you do cardio or not. This is the issue though; some people just seem to not like cardio at all. Whatever their reason is, they might not understand the importance of cardio overall. So here it is:

To have a stronger heart

The number one and most important reason why we need to do cardiovascular exercises is to have a strong and healthy heart. Always remember that the heart is also a muscle, and it’s the most hard-working one! Doing cardio regularly can help keep the heart in great shape. You’ll be able to perform different activities without easily losing your breath.

It can serve as a warm-up

Warming up and cooling down is important in any form of exercise. So, you can use light cardio as your warm-up. Start slow and gradually increase the intensity, only to a point where you’re not too tired to do your actual workout. When you warm up with light cardio exercises, you’re simultaneously preparing your heart to be able to pump out blood effectively during the workout while also heating up your muscles so that they become more flexible.

You’ll be able to do more overall

As stated earlier, when your heart is healthy and strong, you can perform a lot more and a lot better. This is simply because your heart is able to pump out blood more efficiently throughout the body. Because of this, oxygen and other nutrients are delivered to muscle tissues through the blood. This enables muscles to work at a higher capacity and also recover faster.

Better control of blood sugar

Outside of working out, doing cardio exercises also have great benefits for our health. Sugar (glucose) is the body’s main source of fuel. When you exercise, your body will be better at utilizing glucose for fuel and energy. This will also significantly help you fight against spikes in blood sugar and even blood pressure.

Again, cardio is important, but you should also learn to strike a balance. If you push yourself too much during cardio exercises, you might be too exhausted to do your workouts. Your heart will get strained and your body, overall, will have difficulty keeping up with your demands.

A List of the Best Museums You Can Go to in Singapore

Posted by Editor in Uncategorized on May 14th, 2019 | Comments Off

Whether you’re a Singaporean or an interested tourist, there is no better place to get to know the rich culture and history of Singapore than the museums. All from history and diverse cultures to technological advancements and toys, there are many museums around Singapore to go to!

National Museum of Singapore

The oldest and largest museum in Singapore, the National Museum is also one of the architectural icons of the nation. It has two separate galleries; one centered on Singapore’s history and its evolution from a British colony to an independent nation, and another that features a rotating selection of galleries called the Singapore Living Galleries. This, of course, is a good place to go for anyone wanting to learn more about the history of Singapore.

ArtScience Museum

If you’re in the Marina Bay Area, it will be hard for you to miss the white lotus-shaped building that is the ArtScience Museum. Currently its permanent exhibition, “Future World”, features interactive technology and high-tech installations that kids and adults would surely enjoy. The ArtScience Museum has also hosted many blockbuster exhibitions like Harry Potter-themed ones, Titanic-themed ones, dinosaurs, LEGOs and a lot more.

Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum

LKC is Singapore’s first and only natural history museum, and it’s very far away from being a letdown. Two floors and 15 different-themed zones of an exhibition gallery showcasing more than 2,000 specimens of animals, plant life, sea life, dinosaur fossils and a lot more. The museum showcases scientific research as well as environmental issues that can be both enriching and eye-opening to visitors, locals and tourists alike.

Peranakan Museum

The Peranakan Chinese of Singapore are natives who are descendants of Chinese immigrants who eventually came to the Malay Archipelago. This museum hosts an exhibition that showcases the Peranakan culture from their artifacts to different historical galleries on the Peranakan community. The building stood as the Old Tao Nan School before it was reconditioned as a museum.

MINT Museum of Toys

‘Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys’ or MINT should be a great visit for all the toy lovers in Singapore. The museum houses a great collection of over 50,000 vintage toys and items, dating as old as the 1840s and all from different countries. All those are divided into 4 different levels while another 2 galleries are dedicated to vintage enamel signs. MINT also hosts special events from time to time.

Singapore Science Centre

Originally, the Singapore Science Centre was a part of the National Museum of Singapore. It was then separated to be able to focus more science and technology. It features a 12-gallery exhibition with over 1,000 exhibits and each collection promoting technology, life sciences, industry sciences, and more. It’s an amazing place to bring kids! The Science Centre also has the nation’s only dome-shaped theater, the OMNIMAX Theater.

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