Facts About Digital Eye Strain  

Editor

The digital age has its perks but we have to be wary about its long-term effects when it comes to our health especially our eyes. For Singaporeans who spend most of their time in front of computers and other screens, they might encounter digital eye strain.

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Vision Council recently concluded its studies about digital eye strain. According to the council, one third of the population spend at least 9 hours in front of digital devices. 60% of this population is vulnerable to digital eye strain. Digital eye strain refers to the eye strain instigated by staring at digital devices for long periods.

If we are not familiar about digital eye strain, here are some truths about it:

  • Symptoms: Symptoms include irritated eyes. If we notice that our eyes are uncomfortable characterized by redness and dryness, we have to see our ophthalmologist. Other symptoms include blurry vision, headaches and back and neck pains. There are many doctors here in Singapore that specializes in eyes. We should immediately consult them.

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  • Prevention: It was emphasized earlier that prolonged exposure to digital screens lead to digital eye strain. We can conclude that if we spend less hours of staring on digital screens, we lessen our risks of acquiring such. If it cannot be helped, we have to secure computer lenses and adjust display settings.

Vision Council is also advocating the “20-20-20 habit” – every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds break and look at anything 20 feet away. This will help us protect our eyes and our vision in general. It will also help if we take vitamins and supplements good for the eyesight.

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Pretty and Petite: 5 Fashion Tips Petite Girls Should Live By

Editor

When you’re petite, it’s quite easy to feel that your height hinders your style. You have a closet without maxis, a permanently rolled up jeans, and a stash of clothes almost all coming from the kid’s section. But there’s no need to dread your height anymore. By simply following these five styling tips, you can already take a petite girl’s style into a whole new level.

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  1. Get Fitted. Just like in any wardrobe, it’s important to have perfectly fitted clothes. Don’t settle for clothes that may be too loose or too tight. Instead, wear pieces that can enhance your assets, flatter your body type and give you an illusion of height. In case your clothes don’t fit well, don’t hesitate to have them refitted.
  1. Stick with Monochromatic Colours. Although it can be fun to mix and match coloured tops and bottoms, be careful of doing so as it can break the vertical line of your silhouette. Opt for monochromatic outfit instead, to further lengthen your appearance. If you want to add a splash of colour, wear light to medium-coloured blouses paired with dark skirt or pants.
  1. Play with Smaller Patterns and Vertical Lines. Since you’re planning to create an illusion of height, then it would be best to steer clear from pieces with horizontal lines and large prints. These designs will only overpower your small frame. If you’re fond of wearing patterns and prints, opt for pieces with vertical lines and small prints to elongate your appearance.

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  1. Skip the Mini’s. While mini dresses and mini-skirts look great on taller women, it doesn’t offer the same effect on shorter women. When worn by a petite girl, a mini-skirt’s hem falls in the thigh area, making short legs appear even shorter.
  1. Go for Heeled Shoes. The best and easiest way to add on some height is by wearing heels. Just pick a heel height that you’re comfortable with and you’re good to go. If you’re not into stilettos, then opt for shoes with kitten heels. Shoes with pointed or open toes are also great for creating an illusion of height.

Never let your height stop you from being stylish and fabulous. Just keep these styling tips in mind and you’ll soon be on your way to looking your best even with a smaller height.

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5 Ways to Maximize Your Small Space

Editor

Although renting an apartment has a lot of perks, having lots of space isn’t one of them. Luckily, there are things that you can do to improve your current situation without the need to change into bigger apartments. Manage and get the most out of your limited space by following these apartment organization tips.

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  1. Use Your Ceiling. When you think that you’ve already used all the available spaces in your home, try looking up for other possibilities, like your ceiling. Try installing some sturdy pot racks and hooks to create an area where you can hang your pans and pots. You’ll be surprise as to how much space you’ll be able to free up in your kitchen cabinets and counter.
  1. Opt for Space-Saving Furniture. A good way to save up space and make your nook appear bigger, is to opt for space-saving furniture. Purchase items like the drop-down ironing board, a foldable guest bed, or a dining table with foldable extenders that you can adjust depending on the number of diners you’ll have.

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  1. Ditch the Wooden Dividers. Wooden dividers are what consumes a lot of space in a studio unit apartment. The next time you perform some general cleaning in your place, get rid of those dividers and replace them with fabric curtains. It will serve the same purpose of dividing your space into several sections, while using very little space. Using sheer curtain dividers also allows more natural light in, making your room more spacious, airy and brighter.
  1. Stick with Basic Furniture. Having extra space is what provides an illusion of spaciousness in a small area. A good way to achieve this? Stick with the basic furniture, or go for home items that can also be used for storage.
  1. Declutter Regularly. When you leave in a condominium unit, there’s no room for sentimentality on things that only eat up so much space. Maximize your limited space by regularly going through and organizing your stuff at home. If you think you won’t be able to use some of these items in the future, then sell or give them away.

Making your apartment more spacious is pretty easy. You’ll surely be surprised as to how much space you’ll be able to save just by following the aforementioned tips and shopping wisely of the home items that you’ll need.

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Beat The Summer Heat!

Editor

5 Cool Drinks and Foods to Keep You Hydrated This Summer
Staying hydrated is always a great idea, especially now that the summer temperature is rising up. But how can you ensure that you stay hydrated this whole summer season if drinking at least eight cups of water daily is not your thing? Curious enough? Well, here are other ways on how you can get your hydration fix on this scorching hot summer season.

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  1. Flavoured Waters

Almost all of us know someone who can’t stand drinking water. It’s true that water can really get dull after some time, but you can now spice up the boring drink by adding some natural flavour in it like a zest of lemon, cucumber, mint leaves, lavender and cayenne. Not only will you stay hydrated with this drink, you’ll also get special health bonuses like drinking a glass full of vitamin C and antioxidants.

  1. Smoothie Bites

Another great way to get your hydration fix this summer is through making some smoothie bites. All you’ve got to do is blend you favourite fruits together, pour it into an ice cube tray, freeze them and pop them in your drink. For a refreshing smoothie bite start, try the fruity combo of pineapple, mango and coconut water.

  1. Green Juices

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If you haven’t tried a green juice yet, then it’s probably time to experience and see what the green juice hype is all about. For starters, try out the green juice made from apple, celery, kale, spinach and parsley then pair it with a bowl of raw almonds for that perfect afternoon snack.

  1. Oatmeal Bowls

Although it may not look like it, oats are actually hydrating. They tend to soak up the milk or water they’re cooked in, making them rich in water. But if you’re not into hot oats, try out a cold oatmeal bowl topped with berries and bananas for breakfast. All you’ve got to do is add some water to your uncooked oats and keep the in the fridge overnight. In the morning, top your cold oats with some freshly cut fruits and almond butter for a delicious and balanced breakfast meal.

  1. Summer Soup

Soup is definitely the last thing you’d want to eat during summer season, but wait until you’ve tasted some cold soup. We promise, it tastes a lot better than it sounds and is one of the ideal summer hydration alternatives. Two of the must-try cold summer soup are the creamy gazpacho or avocado soup. Up the nutrient and water content of your gazpacho soup by adding more veggies. If you’re all in for the avocado soup, just blend some scallions, avocado, cucumber, veggie broth, and presto – you now have a creamy avocado soup.

With these easy-to-do and cool alternatives for your hydration fix, you no longer have an excuse to fall behind on your 8-cups-8-ounce rule this summer. So start drinking up now and soak the summer heat with these tasty drinks.

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Get Your Couch Kid into Action

Editor

5 Ways to Motivate Your Child to Exercise
Motivating your child to exercise can be very tricky and difficult especially when you’re competing for his time against sedentary activities like surfing the Internet, playing video games and watching TV shows. Plus, the daily stresses in school, peers and family life also helps them in making excuses to not be active. Still, you can change all this by taking charge of your child’s life and by using these motivating ways to get them off the couch and exercise.

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  1. Explain the Importance of Exercising. A good way to get them to exercise is by explaining its importance to them. Explain how performing even light workout routines can shave extra pounds off their body, increase their energy, improve their athleticism and make concentrating at school a lot easier.                                                          
  1. Make Working Out a Group Activity. Turning exercise into a group activity is another great way to motivate your couch kid to be active. Encourage him to bring his friends along and exercise with him. Doing this will help in establishing good exercise habits in him. If you want, you can also get your family involved in this healthy lifestyle to establish good exercise habits not just in your child but in each member of the family.
  1. Incorporate Fun Activities With Exercising. Make your child more motivated to exercise by getting him involved in fun activities, such as karate classes or bike riding. You can also get him moving by frequently visiting zoos or nature parks, since this activity involves a lot of physical exercise.

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  1. Set up a Weekly Family Sports Night. One good way to provide physical activity not just for your child, but for the entire family is by trying several types of sports like croquet, volleyball, badminton, basketball, or baseball. Make the activity fun by changing some of its rules or having shorter game times.
  1. Reward Your Child for Exercising. The best way to get a child moving is by giving them a reward. Your reward can be something as simple as treating him to a low-fat yogurt after a basketball game, or you can go big by visiting his favourite amusement park over the weekend. Also, consider rewarding your child with items that will help him in fitness quest like new fitness shoes, or any fitness gear to make him want to exercise more.

Encouraging your child to be active and exercise can be very difficult nowadays, but by making the activity fun and enticing to them, you’ll surely be able to get you couch potato moving sooner than you think.

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5 At-Home Family Bonding Activities  

Editor

The typical day-to-day routine of a family is so hectic that it’s so easy for everyone to grow apart. While your kids have the time to play with each other for a few minutes every day, true quality time with the entire family is a rare luxury for many of us. To keep the family’s closeness intact, here are some bonding ideas you can do with your family without having to leave the comfort of your home.

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  1. Make Home-Cooked Meals or Bake Some Goodies

Enjoy family time in the kitchen by bonding with them over baking and cooking meals. Plan for a good meal for your Sunday lunch, then let the kids help you in the kitchen. Give some cooking tips and assign them tasks that will utilize these tips right away. Another great idea is to teach them a family recipe that has been passed down from generation to generation.

  1. Make Traditions

Save the weekends for fun family time. This way, the kids will have something to look forward to. Some of the great traditions you can start doing with the family are movie marathon Fridays, game night Saturdays, and dine-out Sundays. Match these ideas with your children’s likes and interests.

  1. Revisit Family Memories

Take an evening to sit down and revisit fun family memories together. Watch again those home videos of the kids when they were still very little or peruse old photo albums. Let the children share about their favourite vacations or birthday parties and tell them stories about these events.

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  1. Schedule an Extended Family Get-Together

Invite cousins, aunties and uncles, and grandma and grandpa. Have everybody bring something for everyone and volunteer to host this intimate party. Let the kids help in setting up your place for more fun bonding moments with them.

  1. Let Your Backyard be a Playground

Singapore is blessed with a summer-like climate, so why not turn your backyard into a mini pool where you and your family can experience summer together? Prepare soap bubbles, picnic foods, and an inflatable pool for a weekend afternoon bond with the kids.

Spending time with the family may require some effort, especially when you and your go to work and the kids go to school every day. However, with these at-home bonding activities, spending quality time with the family no longer requires much time and preparation; therefore, making it easier for everyone to get-together.

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How to Save Up For That Dream Vacation  

Editor

Dreaming of a month-long vacation in the romantic sights of Paris or a week-long getaway in the green pastures of Ireland? How about a quick island getaway in Pulau Pangkor or Pulau Tioman? Wherever it is you plan to go, it is certainly possible if you prepare for it ahead of time. Here are some tips we want to share with you to make that dream vacation of yours come true.

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  1. Pick a Place and Commit to It

Travel plans can be changed in an instant, but if you keep switching destinations, you won’t get anything started. Before you know it, the year is almost over and you’re nowhere closer to your goal.

  1. Subscribe to Travel Sites

Even if you have already secured a good amount of money for your vacation, still be on the lookout for great discounts and cheap promos. Regularly check websites of airlines, hotels, and travel agencies or subscribe for newsletters to get notifications of ongoing promos.

  1. Start a Travel Fund

If you haven’t started an account yet that’s dedicated for your travels, start doing so. Make sure to separate it from your regular savings account, but still contribute to both funds regularly. The best way to do this is to set up automatic deductions from your checking account into your savings accounts.

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  1. Come Up With a Budget Plan

Do the necessary research to find out how much your trip would probably cost. Consider all necessary expenses, such as the travel, accommodation, food, activities, shopping, and souvenirs. Keep in mind that most of your travel expenses include how to get to your destination and how you’ll get around the place. Also, a contingency fund should never be disregarded.

  1. Cut Back On Everyday Expenses

How is it possible to save up for your travel? Make conscious decisions about your spending habits. When saving up, there’s no need to deprive yourself of some indulgences; or else you’ll find yourself craving for more of these things and give in to it one day in a more costly way. Make savings more fun and easier with a reward system. Make a clear target amount and once you accomplish it, reward yourself with something good—but still reasonable.

For now, it might seem that your dream vacation is forever away, but with proper planning and wise saving you’ll have that holiday escapade sooner than you ever have imagined.

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