7 steps to cleaner hands

(Image: TTSH)

Last Friday, 24 April, I posted some tips to avoid the flu. One of them was to wash the hands frequently and thoroughly.

As the world now faces an imminent global outbreak of swine flu, it seems opportune to elaborate on the proper way to wash the hands thoroughly. Here is the lowdown.

Washing our hands is something we do everyday and it seems like a no-brainer to get them properly cleansed, right? Apparently not. A cursory swishing of the hands under a running tap just won't cut it. Now that you have got the know-how, do it right the next time, yeah?

Sartorial Smarts

(Photos: Banana Republic)

We are in the midst of a recession. Yes, I know. Can we still afford to look good? Yes, we can.

Shop smart, that's how. Take the above dress from the Banana Republic. It is simple, basic and pretty. More importantly, it is also versatile.

One dress = three looks = all pretty.

Invest in clothes that can be worn in more ways than one. This is what I call sartorially (and recession) smart!

I didn't know that!

Not that I am a know-it-all in the first place.

But do you know that you aren’t supposed to sneeze into your hands? Or cough into them, for that matter.

Well, that’s exactly what the good doctor, Brent Ridge, who is also vice-president for healthy living for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, said.

I was watching this episode of the Martha Stewart Show and Dr Brent was giving tips on avoiding the flu. One of the tips he mentioned was that when you sneeze or cough, don’t do so into your hands but into your elbow instead. This way you don’t get the germs onto your hands which may then infect the things you touch.

All this while, I was under the impression that to prevent germs from being expelled into the air and infecting people around you, you are supposed to sneeze into your hands. It seems that the proper way to do so is into your elbow. Well, well!

Here is the list of Dr Brent’s tips on avoiding the flu:

1. Make your environment less hospitable for the virus.
2. Sneeze and cough into your elbow.
3. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly. Also, keep your hands away from your face.
4. Don't smoke and reduce alcohol consumption.
5. Get vaccinated.

So the next time the flu season comes around, you know what to do. But then again, there may not even be a next time if everybody just practice good hygiene now.

The Green Cause

(Photo credit: Yarn Forward)

(Photo credits: Marlo's Crochet Corner)

Aren’t these bags the most awesome? And they are made using recycled plastic bags too.

Here’s how. Check out the details here and here.

Next time instead of throwing away those unwanted plastic bags, why not get them pretty little fingers busy making these beauties and saving the earth at the same time?

Not bad, huh?

The heat is on

It’s another hot and humid day here in Singapore. Temperature hovering between 28 to 32 degrees Celsius according to the weather forecast. What I need now is a tall cool glass of iced lemonade.

Here is the recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart:

Recipe for Classic Lemonade

This perennial favourite requires just 3 ingredients:

• Lemon juice
• Sugar
• Water

To make 2 quarts, pour 3 cups of fresh lemon juice (from about 20 lemons) through a fine sieve into a pitcher. Add 2 cups of superfine sugar, and stir until it has dissolved. Stir in 4 cups of water and some ice, and then garnish with lemon slices. Enjoy!

Plaids and Stripes DO mix

Pretty boy, Korean heartthrob of Boys Before Flowers (Kgotboda Namja) fame, Lee Min Ho, shows how.

(Photos: Star News, My Daily)

The gorgeous 21-year-old shot to stardom with the recently ended runaway hit Korean drama, Boys Before Flowers, the latest remake of the drama based on the popular Japanese manga, Hana Yori Dango, by Yoko Kamio. He won countless hearts (mainly female) with his charismatic portrayal of the role of Gu Jun Pyo (the Korean equivalent of the manga’s protagonist, Domyoji Tsukasa), leader of the notorious F4.

Since then, there is no looking back. This man is hot property in the Korean entertainment scene and is in great demand for all sorts of commercials and endorsements for products ranging from snacks, drinks, clothes, cosmetics to even luxury car, Cadillac. Although the drama ended its run on 29 March 2009, Lee Min Ho has been keeping himself busy with photo shoots and commercial activities. In the photographs, he was pictured at a Dunkin’ Donuts event in Seoul on 14 April 2009 doing his bit for charity serving coffee (and his megawatt smile) to customers for a donation that goes towards a fund that helps children from needy families get an education.

Right, back to the topic of plaids and stripes and unconventional mix and match before I got distracted by, ahem, the delectable Lee Min Ho.

Here are more unusual outfit combos that are just brilliant, don’t you think? Who would have thought?

(Photos: Style Bubble Daily Wear)

When it comes to flair, you just can’t beat the inimitable Susie Bubble of Style Bubble blog fame. I love her impeccable sense of style and must say that this young lady has got a handle on quirky outfit combinations that work beautifully together. She sure makes dressing up seems like a whole bunch of fun which methinks is what fashion is all about, no?

Black and Green

(Photo credit: The Sartorialist)

I saw this picture sometime back in The Sartorialist blog. As anyone interested in reading style blogs would know, The Sartorialist is the hugely popular blog by Scott Schuman and is also one of my favourite fashion blogs.

I love the colours worn by the subject of this photograph.

Shortly after I saw this picture, what do you know, but that a friend should give me the following pair of earrings?


Yes, in almost the same shades of black and green. Great minds do think alike, huh?

Thanks pal, lurve, lurve, lurve this pair of earrings. If you like the design of the earrings, go check out Crafty Kit blog where there are loads more pretty and unique handmade earrings at very affordable prices and in these tough economic times, who cannot use a bargain, yeah?

To end this post, here are more beautiful earrings from Crafty Kit. Yup, a thing of beauty is a joy forever so let’s share the joy –

Just a short hello

First off, this is not just another fashion blog. Neither is it another food blog.

Fashion and milk tea? Well, they are just two of my favourite things.

I have started this blog as I love to write. Nothing heavy. Just a depository for my thoughts and take on random matters that catch my fancy with a bias towards fashion and style and pretty things which make me happy.

Photo credit: here

Come join me for a cuppa!