It’s the responsibility of hosts to make guests feel at home even if they’re away from home. To ensure that visitors fully enjoy their stay, hosts must provide a guest room that is inviting, functional, and relaxing.
Creating a guest room that satisfies visitors may seem impossible, but it’s possible to make guests comfortable if you have the following essential guest-room items:
A Comfortable Bed with Extra Blanket and Pillows
Do you want your visitors to have a good night’s sleep? Ensure that your guest bedroom has a good mattress. Some guests may need additional pillows and blankets to rest warmly and comfortably, so prepare those beforehand.
A Bedside Table and Lamp
Some people prefer to read books before going to sleep. To make things easier for them, add a bedside table and lamp to the guest rooms. If guests can conveniently access the items they frequently need, they won’t have to go through the hassle of getting in and out of bed.
When it comes to adding a table lamp to the guest room, choose one with adjustable brightness. This way, guests can easily control the light’s intensity and set the room’s atmosphere according to their preference.
Full-Length Mirrors
Guests will definitely check themselves in front of a mirror before heading out. In that case, having a full-length mirror is a must. Depending on the layout of a guest room, you can mount a mirror to an empty wall, a bedroom door, or a closet door.
Wastebaskets
When guests settle down and unpack their luggage, they’ll most likely need a bin to throw away their trash. They would dispose of candy wrappers, empty water bottles, and other wastes that they had accumulated during their trip. Instead of having them leave their rooms to get rid of their trash, provide them with a wastebasket.
A slim and nondescript trash can would be a great addition to our guest bedroom. It doesn’t take up much space, and it can easily complement the overall design of the room.
Towels and Basic Toiletries
Sometimes, guests forget to bring their own towels and toiletries. Help them avoid last-minute trips to the nearest convenience store by providing basic toiletries in the bathroom.
If a guest room doesn’t have an adjacent private bathroom, leave some towels in its closet. Guests would appreciate it if they have different towels for their varying needs, such as bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths
Charging Stations and Wi-Fi Details
Nowadays, a majority of Americans own cellular phones, so you should expect guests to arrive with their personal gadgets. It’s also safe to assume that guests will eventually look for ways to charge their phones and to connect to the internet. For their convenience, prepare a charging station and Wi-Fi password details beforehand.
If a guest room doesn’t have enough electrical outlets, place an extension cord near the bedside table. This way, guests won’t have to move furniture or crawl under a table to charge their smartphones, laptops, and other gadgets.
Night-Lights
Guests may have a hard time finding the way to the bathroom in the middle of the night. They may accidentally hurt themselves while they navigate around unfamiliar surroundings. To prevent guests from bumping their shins and ramming their toes on various objects, install night-lights.
Decorating on a Tight Budget?
Guests will truly feel welcomed when you prepare a warm, comfortable room for them. If you want to improve the look of your guest room without spending a lot of money, follow these budget-friendly tips:
● Reuse old furniture. Look at the items you have at home before you buy any new furniture. You may have extra tables, lamps, or other pieces of furniture that can be reused or repurposed for our guest rooms.
● Sell your items online. Setting up an online shop to sell unwanted, unused, or preloved items is a great way to earn extra cash. You can use the money to upgrade a guest room.
● Try secondhand shopping. Check out local thrift stores and consignment stores for dressers, curtains, and other items that can be used to decorate guest rooms. Some of these shops offer quality furniture at low prices.
If
you ever heard the phrase “not all heroes wear capes,” then you
should know that it refers to the selfless acts done by the likes of
firefighters, police officers, and especially doctors. Whether a doctor is
needed for checkups or to help someone recover from a terrible event, they are
among some of the most influential people we interact within our daily lives.
Do you want a career as a doctor? If you’re going to become a medical professional, then there are things you need to know.
1. Know What Undergrad Classes to Take
No
matter the role you’ll end up taking as a future doctor, it is crucial to take
the right classes during undergrad. Here are the basic elements for any
pre-medical education you could partake in:
One year of college Biology with laboratory. In Biology, you will learn about genetics, cells, and the framework of life, which are the building blocks of medical science and are crucial to succeed in the field.
One year of General (inorganic) Chemistry with laboratory: Provides you with a strong basis for understanding acid-base imbalances in the human body and how different medications work.
24 semester hours of Biology and Chemistry
One year or 6-8 semester hours of Mathematics: You will want to take Calculus or Statistics. Math is vital for doctors because it will help you to determine the proper medicine dosage for patients as well as read lab results.
One year or eight semester hours of General Physics: You will be introduced to key medical concepts, such as laws of pressure and volume, which are essential for cardiology and understanding how forces operate in the body.
English: Helps you with your critical thinking, reading and writing skills
Biochemistry: There is an increased emphasis on this subject on the MCAT
Psychology and sociology: With the added section on the MCAT, you will need a better understanding of these two subjects
Medical anthropology or history: Learn about how medicine has changed over the years.
No matter what major you choose during undergrad, you will want to make sure you maintain a 3.5 GPA or higher. Medical school admissions are highly competitive, so the better you do as an undergrad student, the higher your chances of getting into the school of your choice.
2. Take the Time to do Extracurricular Activities, Volunteer Work and Internships
While
doing well as an undergrad student is important, it is also essential that medical schools see that you are a
well-rounded student.
In addition to finding job opportunities related to the medical field, you
should have experience with underserved populations. More
and more medical schools are looking for passionate students who are
compassionate about addressing the health care needs of diverse populations.
This experience will allow you to talk first hand about your experience, what
you gained from it, and how you can use this perspective as a future physician.
Volunteering is another experience future medical students should have. Look into volunteering at a hospital or clinic to gain exposure to working in a health care setting or Volunteer as an emergency medical technician. Consider working in crisis-affected communities with a medical corps group — volunteer at a summer camp counsellor working with children with disabilities. No matter where you volunteer, commit and stick with it. The length of time you volunteer somewhere will look more favourable versus only doing it for short stints.
As a future doctor, you will want to show medical schools that you have teaching and leadership experience. One of the most important roles a physician plays is being a teacher when they impart information to their patients. You can gain teaching experience through teaching swimming, a musical instrument to a child, or becoming a teaching assistant. To gain leadership experience, consider holding an office in the student government, in an on-campus club, or organisation. Look into mentoring at-risk youth or organise an event on-campus or in your local community.
Whether you volunteer, work in the medical field or take on a leadership role, it is vital that you show medical schools that you are willing and capable of working hard to accomplish any goal you set for yourself.
3. Spend Time Studying and Preparing for the MCAT
All prospective medical students must take the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). This computer-based standardised test was developed by the Association of American Medical Colleges and is administered fourteen times a year at the Prometric Testing Centers. The exam takes eight hours to complete and will test your physical and biological sciences as well as verbal reasoning. The four main sections of the exam include:
Critical
Analysis and Reasoning Skills
Biological
and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems
Chemical
and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems
Psychological,
Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior
When preparing to take the MCAT, you will want to allow at least twelve weeks to study.
Make sure you register early through the AAMC website so you can secure your test date and location. Once you know your test date, set up a study schedule, and make sure you stick to it. Next, invest in suitable study materials that give you the option to take as many practice tests as you can. It’s best to simulate what the actual test will be like, so there are no surprises on your test day.
4. Take Time to Research Medical Schools
Before
you narrow down what medical schools you want to apply to, make sure you take
your time to research each school. Some things to consider when researching
potential medical schools include:
What is the cost to attend? Is there access to financial aid?
What is the atmosphere of the school? Is it calm and collaborative? Or cut-throat and competitive?
What is student life like? Consider talking to current students or alumni.
What is the faculty to student ratio?
What is the teaching quality like? Ask current students for their perspective.
Think about visiting the medical schools you are considering applying to. This will give you a chance to talk with current students, alumni, professors, as well as the admissions office and ask them questions about the school, curriculum, and life outside of class. While you are at the school, tour the campus and the surrounding area to get a better idea of what it would be like to live there and attend school.
5. Know the Application and Interview Process
When
you start the application process for medical school, you need to remember that
schools admit students on a rolling basis. This means that spaces in the
program are offered to qualified
candidates until all spots are filled.
For your primary application, you will submit a single application through one of three centralised application services; AMCAS (for MD admissions), TMDSAS (for Texas Medical Schools), AACOMAS (for DO admissions). Your primary application will provide medical schools with the information that need for the initial screening process. The application will include:
Transcripts
MCAT scores
Information about your most meaningful
experiences. This is where you would include extracurricular activities,
research, volunteer work, clinical work, etc.
Personal statement
Letters of recommendation
Make sure to submit your application as early as
possible. Applications that are submitted early in the cycle will be reviewed
first, which will give you a better chance of acceptance.
There are two possible outcomes after you submit
your primary application. First, it could be rejected, or second, the school
will send you its secondary application. The secondary application usually
includes a variety of essays you must write on assigned topics.
Once your secondary medical school application is
reviewed, you will either be rejected, invited to the campus for an interview,
or your application will be put on hold until after the first round of
interviews. If your application is placed on hold, it will be reviewed as other
candidates accept or decline offers.
Final Thoughts
These five things will help you on your way to becoming a doctor.
Start preparing during your undergrad career as you begin your journey to
becoming a medical professional.
An event space isn’t a place where people sit to listen to someone talk, or a place where people just dine and share a drink. It’s a significant part of the experience and if you get it wrong, your party could start on the wrong foot. Sure, you want your party to be unique, but using predictable locations will lead to the familiar sameness people are accustomed to. To make your party epic, do something different with the location to add zest.
These tips will give you a hint on where to start.
1. Add Oomph to Familiar Places
Break the preconceived notion of party location by not following the same standardised ideas. Every party goers want new experiences and doing something out of the norm will make your party rocks. Instead of having it at your house, plan a pool party at your cottage in the woods, or a beach party with friends if you have or can rent a beach house. If you can’t afford to go so far, book a pub with a function space and have your drinks and menu customised. You can have anything from an industrial-style space with raw brick flooring and leather baguettes or a brewery setting complete with massive stainless-steel tanks, Tramsheds graffiti, and classic brewery pictures that create the illusion of a real brewery. Although you will still be at a pub, the different settings will make the difference in creating the ambience while maintaining the familiarity of a party.
2. Escape Room Thrill
An escape room is a great way to have some stimulation and get your adrenaline running before you hit the club later. You and a couple of friends will have fun figuring out the clues to escape before you run out of time. Find the clues, keys, and codes to aid in your escape. It doesn’t cost much, but if you like some competition and a nerve-wracking experience, this could be it.
3. Take a Food Tour
A food tour
is fun and will have you try different food in various shops and restaurants
while hearing about the food and how it fits into the city’s culture. You
should expect to walk around, but that’s fine because you’ll have enough time
to digest and spread the meals. The multiple course meals are spread out a few
hours apart in several locations, mostly between six to seven stops. Don’t
overeat on breakfast, and plan to miss dinner because you will be full.
4. Entertainment Complex
Entertainment complexes are full of game options that you and your friends can enjoy. You will get anything from pool tables, bowling, and arcade games. Entrance is usually free, but you must buy a party park or individual games. Have friendly competition by dividing yourself into groups, and punish the losing team with something fun or dorky.
How your party turns out will largely depend on where you host it, but your friends’ anticipation for a good time will also play a role. Make sure you inform everyone on time, so they are ready for some fun.
The HVAC unit is the environmental workhorse of any home. It performs day and night to keep your home comfortable. However, most homes have an HVAC unit that is at least 10 years old, and any unit that is more than 12 years old should be replaced. Luckily, there are many benefits to upgrading to an energy-efficient unit with modern features and functionality.
Go Green, Save Money
Heating and cooling can cost around $930 a year. According to the Energy Star site, all Energy Star-certified HVAC units use 8% less energy and can save you up to $115 a year. Such devices can save you even more when paired with a smart thermostat. Keep in mind that both the condenser and the blower should be replaced when you upgrade your HVAC system so that it will perform at optimal efficiency. You could save up to 30% on your cooling costs by upgrading to a new unit. While the cost of a new HVAC unit may seem daunting, it’s a worthwhile investment that will pay for itself in savings and comfort.
Fit Your Needs
When choosing a new HVAC unit, select the size that fits your home and needs. Consider the square footage of your home and take into account how many people and pets are in the home. This will help you determine what kind of filters you may need. If family members have allergies, asthma, or other breathing problems, consider adding special features like an electrostatic or high-MERV filter to trap even more airborne contaminants. You can even add a UV light to kill bacteria and mold in the air.
Reduce Repairs
If your existing HVAC unit has been having issues, it may be time to upgrade. Why spend money repairing an old, inefficient unit when you could upgrade to one that is more efficient and better for the environment. The A/C Guys recommend planning a regular maintenance schedule with your HVAC professional to keep your new investment in tip-top shape.
Improve Performance
A new HVAC unit will heat and cool more effectively. Older units may have worn-out parts or may be clogged with dust. With a new HVAC unit and proper maintenance, your home will reach its desired temperature with less energy consumption. Newer units also filter out more contaminants from the air, leading to overall better health.
Make Smart Choices
Don’t forget to update your thermostat while you’re upgrading your HVAC system. A smart thermostat can integrate directly with your new system and be installed by an HVAC professional. Many smart thermostats will learn your preferences and automatically increase or decrease the temperature, according to CNET. Many smart thermostats also let you regulate the temperature via a mobile app when you’re out of the home.
To increase home value, comfort, and savings, consider installing a new HVAC unit. It will work tirelessly to keep your home perfectly comfortable. Plus modern optimisations can do so with less electricity. Remember to keep up regular maintenance to ensure a lengthy life span for your new HVAC unit.
The road to being an entrepreneur is long and tough but it doesn’t have to be if you know where your endpoint is. Some people come out and become an entrepreneur because they are tired of climbing the corporate ladder while others become an entrepreneur simply because they want to be of service to others.
Whatever the reasons for becoming an entrepreneur, the modern entrepreneur must have the knowledge and ability to harness the power of modern technology to run their business.
With modern technology, you can own a mobile virtual office for just less than SGD$10 a month and not worry about paying unnecessary recurring monthly rents for an office space which can amount to the thousands; thus keeping your operating costs really low.
In this article, I will be sharing with you 5 tips on how Google can help you run your business in the most cost-efficient and time-saving way.
Tip #1: Using the G Suite
The G Suite is a set of cloud computing, productivity, and collaboration tools, software and products developed by Google Cloud. As an entrepreneur myself, I use Google Office Suite to create documents such as contracts, presentation decks, and financial reports. What I really like about the G Suite is that I can access my files anytime, anywhere and it is entirely web-based. What this essentially means is that as long as I have access to the Internet, I can pretty much get my work done while on the move.
Tip #2: Gmail for Business
You don’t necessarily need to have an email address that ends with @gmail.com to use Gmail. Even if you already have an existing web domain name for your business, you can still use Gmail to send and receive emails.
There are many features that I like about using Gmail but one which really stands out for me is the “Smart Compose” feature that really saves me time when composing an email reply.
Tip #3: Google Calendar
If you’re often on the move and travelling for business, Google Calendar can help you manage your schedule more efficiently. I personally use it to keep track of my appointments and to remind me of important occasions such as birthdays and anniversaries. One of the features that I like about Google Calendar is that it works in tandem with Google Maps where I am being sent a reminder to leave for my next appointment and estimates the time for travelling to my next meeting location.
Tip #4: Google Drive for Business
Google Drive is a Gamechanger and I absolutely love it because it is highly functional and it allows for the ease of collaboration with others. With Google Drive, I can easily backup and store all my files in the cloud or share them with others.
Furthermore, the documents, presentation decks, and spreadsheets that I create are saved directly onto my Google Drive and it saves me the hassle of having to bring any additional storage devices around.
Tip #5: Google Photos
Google Photos is a rather nifty service that is part of what the G Suite offers. As I travel a lot for both work and leisure; I do take lots of photos on my phone and that can be a real problem because there are just so many photos to store and organise. With Google Photos, I don’t have to worry about running out of storage space because it gives users free, unlimited storage for photos up to 16 megapixels.
What’s more?
You can store unlimited videos as long as they are below 1080p resolution. Just so you know, Google Photos also uses Google’s image-analysis technology to organise the photos and videos that are uploaded; thus, making them easier to search, share and even edit
Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable and comprehensive option that fosters collaboration with others, the G Suite is certainly at the top of my list.
The G Suite Pricing in Singapore (G Suite Basic) cost SGD$97 per user per year and you can sign up for G Suite with a G Suite Premier Partner in Singapore.
If you are based in Malaysia, the G Suite Pricing in Malaysia (G Suite Basic) will cost RM270 per user per year. However, do note that from 1 January 2020, a digital tax of 6% will be imposed on foreign digital service providers. Hence, it will be worthwhile to sign up for an annual contract with a G Suite Premier Partner in Malaysia before 31 December 2019.
Are you working on your short story writing skills? Writing Short stories is the best way to get into the writing game. Short stories help you test your creativity and hone your writing skills before you get into something bigger.
In this informative piece, we will take you through on how you can develop your writing skills so that you can write short stories effectively.
Before we get into the main course, here is a caveat:
Short stories are fiction pieces within the range of 8,000 to 10,000 words (except for micro fiction which can be less than 500 words). There are longer forms of short stories that are about 20,000 words in length.
Most respected writers in the world today started off by writing short stories. Thus, short stories will give you a break into the literary world and help you gain your desired audience.
Many readers
prefer short stories because they are easy to read. Thus, you can make an
impression on the minds of your audience with a concise but eventful short
essay.
Also, learning how to write short stories helps a student develop brief writing skills which will come in handy when writing essays and homework assignments.
Mastering the
art of short writing will go a long way to sharpen your overall writing skills
and prepare you for more significant writing projects.
Short Stories Don’t Follow the Conventional Novel-Writing
Process
That’s why they
are called short stories. You don’t have to go through the process of creating
significant and minor events, character profile and story structure for your
quick writing project.
Everything has to be spontaneous, with more surprises until the end. This doesn’t mean that you should not plan your story; all you need is a few characters and one or two significant events to piece your story together.
A short story needs lesser work and more creativity. Your aim is to leave your readers wowed by your story, so you need the right emotion to achieve that.
Now let’s get
down to business. Here are six skills you need to develop to help you write
effectively.
1. Write in One Sitting
Try to write
the first draft of your story within the shortest possible time. Write short
stories in one sitting and novels within the space of three months. You should
not worry too much about plotting as long as you have a good story to
tell.
The first draft
often serves as a discovery process, so you should see yourself as an
archaeologist whose primary concern is to prove that ancient cities are buried
within the earth but waits excitedly and patiently to see how they look.
2. Good Dialogue is Key
You can write a
good dialogue only when you have an in-depth knowledge of the characters and
have equally done much rewriting around your story.
The characters
in your account must have unique voices, and you can achieve that if you make
sure what they say in dialogues truly represents who they are. In order not to
distract your readers, your speaker tag should merely go with “he said” or “she
said,” And avoid the use of words like “she exclaimed,” “he announced” or “she
spoke vehemently.”
3. Write about Death
Death is a
natural phenomenon, and any good story should involve death. Check up all the
stories you have read so far, and you will find they contained this
theme.
The Hunger
Games, The Lord of the Rings, Charlotte’s Web, and even Harry Potter all had
death scenes. Include death in your stories and let it stand out.
4. Create Suspense and Drama
Suspense makes
your story attractive and your readers eager to know what happens next.
However, to do that, try to make the fate of the protagonist hang in the
balance. Don’t reveal everything to your readers at once or you will end up
making them know what come next already.
5. Edit like a Pro
Even
professional writers write about three or more drafts before their story is
complete. Your first draft is like a secret trying and error which should not
make it public. Your second draft is to work out the structural changes, plots,
and character development, while the third draft is for deep polishing to make
the story come out perfect. Without the first two drafts, don’t make the
mistake of polishing your work.
6. Share Your Work
Your story
writing comes out better when you know people will be reading it as soon as it
goes public. If you want to know how your story will fare, don’t hesitate to
share it.
Nothing else
reveals your areas of strength or weakness like receiving feedback from those
who read your story. You stand a better chance of writing a better story next
time after you might have experienced the possibility of failure.
The best way to
share your story is by entering a writing contest. It makes you sit up when you
know that you have a deadline to meet and a prize waiting for you if you
win.
Perfecting your short story writing skills will help increase your chances of acing all your college essays and develop a career in writing.
If you,
however, need someone to guide you through on how to develop your short story
writing skills you can sign up at a qualified essay writing service and have
advanced writers prepare a few essays or short stories from scratch.
Making a few changes around the house from time to time can refresh its look and improve your comfort; and where else to start if not the bedroom, the room where you spend most of your time?
Because visuals can influence your mood and often your sleep quality as well, you should ensure that your bedroom aesthetics are on-point and suit your taste.
If your current space is rather dull and not that inspiring, perhaps it’s time for a few changes. Improving the overall look of your room isn’t as difficult as you would expect and a few tricks will help you change the design of the space for the better.
So what exactly should you try doing first?
Here are a few useful tips that can provide you with the most appealing results that you are after.
Change Your Curtains
The curtains you use can have a strong visual impact on the overall décor.
If they are dull-coloured and there is a mismatch of style, your bedroom aesthetics will be affected. A simple change of curtains can go a long way.
Choose a high-quality fabric and opt for shades or patterns that match the rest of the décor.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on new curtains, you can even make them yourself. With some nice fabric, a sewing machine, and some basic DIY skills, you can design new curtains that suit your bedroom’s aesthetics better.
Get New Sheets For Your Bed
The bed is the focal point of the entire room; it is what catches the eye when you enter a bedroom, hence, it does also contribute to the aesthetics of the space.
With boring, plain bed sheets, you won’t be able to obtain the décor results that you desire, so one of the first things to do is getting new sheet sets.
Nowadays, you will find bed sheets in a variety of beautiful styles, vibrant colours, and patterns that stand out. Focus on quality when you are buying new bed sheets; the higher the quality, the better these will look and feel.
A simple change of sheets can do the trick whenever you get bored of how your bedroom looks like.
Repositioning Your Bed
Rearranging the furniture in your room is another effective way to improve the aesthetics of the space. Repositioning your bed, for example, will allow you to change the entire layout of the area. Try out different spots and figure out how to position your bed to maximize the room’s available space.
Hang Some Artwork
A room full of colour and art will always look better than a monochromatic décor with no elements. You can get affordable wall prints online and hang them on the walls or if you would like, you can even hang paintings or photographs that you have created yourself.
Play around with unconventional décor pieces, and combine electric colours for a décor that “wows” you as soon as you step inside the room.
Bring Some Greenery Inside
Bringing a bit of nature indoors can make any décor seem more vibrant and inviting. Potted plants are a great option here and having a few plants placed around the room will help you create a more relaxing and visually-appealing ambience. Besides adding potted plants, you can also even choose to paint one of your bedroom walls in a soft shade of green.
Add a Mirror
If you want to create the illusion of a bigger space, a simple and effective trick would be to install a mirror. This will not only help make the room feel more spacious but it will also add more light because the mirror will bounce back the natural light that enters your room.
Declutter – Get Rid of Stuff You Don’t Need
Clutter is one of the things that might be currently affecting how your room looks like. Too much furniture in a small space and all sorts of objects left disorganized across the room might be the main issue that is preventing you from having a beautiful and visually-pleasing room. Get rid of furniture items you don’t use and free up some of the space. Throw away stuff that isn’t useful nor contributes to the overall décor. A simple decluttering exercise will make the room feel and look entirely different.
Splurge On Some Lush Pillows
With pillow covers coming in different colours and patterns, you can “dress” your bed and make it the focal point of the bedroom. Throw a couple of pillows on your desk chair and add a fluffy blanket on the side of your bed for an even cosier vibe.
If you want to give your bedroom a different look, these are the things you should consider trying. Changing the aesthetics and feel of the room doesn’t necessarily have to involve extensive renovations or remodels. Sometimes, a few small adjustments can upgrade the space.
The suggestions highlighted here can help you boost the appeal of the area without much effort from your part. Look over these ideas and decide on the options that you think would work best for you personally.
Did you know that people can judge your performance
just by how you dress? Most people wonder why some guy in the office got that promotion
and someone more qualified did not. The reason could be how that guy dresses
because when you look dapper, you feel more confident and it oozes all over
everything you do.
With that in mind, here are the top 4 office dressing tips for men that may come in handy:
Tip #1 Always Stand Out
When you look like everybody else, nobody notices you. Your style should make a statement about you. It should say you pay attention to detail and you care about how you look. This doesn’t mean that you should be wearing neon-green suits to work so that you can stand out though. What it means is that you can add something to your navy blue or black suit and make a statement. Lapel pins are becoming increasingly popular among distinguished men. Choose a metal lapel pin for formal wear and flower pin for weddings and corporate events.
Tip #2 Add Some Statement Pieces
Over and above wearing a well-fitting suit or casual wear, you can add something to bring the entire look together. A bold formal watch and beautiful cufflinks are some of the things you can wear to work without looking like you are trying too hard. If you are wearing a jacket for a business casual look, you can add a pocket square like Steve Harvey and look like a million bucks. Tie clips are also excellent if you wear ties every day.
Tip #3 Match the Colours
It’s imperative to stay within the neutral range
when going to the office. That means wearing blue, grey and black unless you
are very daring. However, you can add a brown shoe which must match with the
belt.
Another secret is to match your socks with your trousers and avoid those with weird colours and whimsical motifs. If you choose to wear a tie, make sure it goes well with the shirt that you’re wearing. You can have an idea of whether a tie matches the shirt by laying them together on the bed before you dress.
Lastly, choose a shirt that goes with the colour of the suit. For example, grey suits do well with light pink shirts while blue suits go well with either white or light blue shirts. If you’re unsure, stick to white as a universal principle.
Tip #4 Stay Within the Office Dress Code
Every office has got a dress code. Some prefer that you wear business formal from Monday to Thursday while others are more relaxed. The worst injustice that you can do to yourself is to wear a full suit complete with a tie every day in an office when everybody else wears business casual. You will look weird and you might be seen as trying overly hard. Aim to stand out but make sure you are still within the dress code.
Gone are the days when style was a female thing. Today, every man has to compete with hundreds of other good-looking professionals in the office where style is concerned. With these dressing tips, well-kept hair, shining shoes and mild cologne, the sky is the limit for your professional career growth.
In the 2017 statistics of the Singapore Kennel Club, there are approximately 62,000 dogs in Singapore. As the country’s dog population continues to rise, there is also an increase in pet-friendly places around Singapore. Pet cats and dogs are social creatures and they thrive when they are able to spend time bonding and interacting with their pet owners regularly. Unfortunately, today’s busy lifestyles often make it a challenge to spend time with pets. In order to meet this basic need, pet parents should find ways to spend quality time with their pets. Luckily, there are now many pet-friendly establishments ranging from cafes to malls and even parks that are easily accessible.
Proper planning is the key for a hassle-free day out with your pet. You need to pick out a good collar and leash, and a great outfit to boot! And don’t forget your responsibility in cleaning up after your pet. Arm yourself with pet wipes and poop bags so you can dispose of waste properly.
Here are some of the best pet-friendly places in Singapore:
Tiong Bahru Bakery @ Eng Hoon Street
Address: 56 Eng Hoon Street #01-70 Singapore 160056 Opening Hours: Daily 08:00 am – 08:00 pm
Tiong Bahru Bakery has an outdoor seating area that is perfect for owners to go on a date with their pets. They also have signature pastries that your canine buddy will surely love.
The café allows pets indoors and they have a “create your own fur kid pasta menu”. You also have the choice to customise your menu from a wide variety of choices. The place is spacious and has a big space just for pets to mingle and interact with one another.
This is a 3-in-1 pet-friendly bistro –they are a deli, board game café, and a sports bar. Aside from mouth-watering Asian and Western cuisine, they also serve healthy doggie meals that your pooch will surely enjoy.
Bishan Park
Address: 453 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1, Singapore 569972 Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
There are several wonderful reasons why you should visit Bishan Park’s Dog Run with your pooch. It has a fenced dog run where your pet can go off leash and play with other dogs in the park. If you don’t have time for a park excursion during the day, you can always schedule it at night because the park is open 24 hours! Spending time at the dog park is a great way to enhance your pet’s social skills while getting that much needed exercise.
Address:Sentul Cres, Singapore 821313 Opening Hours: Open 24 hours
Punggol Waterway Park is another pet-friendly place that is open 24 hours. Enjoy the great outdoors and breathe in the fresh air as you and your pet dog take a walk around the park. Isn’t this a great way to workout with your pet?
This is the only mall in Singapore that allows pet owners to bring along their pets when they go shopping. In fact, it is often known as the first pet-friendly mall in Singapore! Pets and their owners pass through specially designated lifts and escalators as they enter the mall. There is a K9 Park at the mall’s rooftop, which is the first dog park in Singapore that is built within the premises of a mall. The DoggieStyle café at the rooftop is a spot where dog owners can enjoy a cup of their favorite brew with their pooches.
Address:55 Lor L Telok Kurau, Singapore 425500 Opening hours: Mon, Tue 6pm-10pm | Wed, Thu, Fri 11am-10pm | Sat, Sun, Public Holiday 9am-10pm
The Garden Slug is a café that doubles up as a workspace. What’s great about the establishment is that they have a menu for pets so you can choose from a wide array of mouth-watering treats that are perfect for your date.
There are many other pet-friendly places in Singapore where you can enjoy quality time with your canine buddy. As the number of responsible pet owners and pets increase in number, more and more establishments are now opening their doors and creating facilities for pets and their owners. Wherever you may choose to spend the day, always remember that adequate preparation and planning are essential to a hassle-free excursion with your pet.
Thanks to the kind folks at Filmgarde Cineplexes, we were privileged to have been invited to the Singapore Gala Premiere of Fagara and truly, we had such an enjoyable and emotional experience at the theatre that we just have to share our personal view and opinion of the movie.
Fagara, co-produced by Ann Hui and Julia Chu, is the screen adaptation of Amy Cheung’s novel “My Spicy Love.” The movie is written and directed by Heiward Mak and stars Hong Kong’s Sammi Cheng, Megan Lai from Taiwan, Li Xiaofeng from mainland China, and a guest appearance by Andy Lau.
Fagara will be released in the theatres on 12 September 2019.
Our Personal View & Opinion of Fagara
After the movie, we asked ourselves this question, “Would we have spent the money to watch this movie if we haven’t been invited?” Our honest answer would be, “No” and it’s not because the movie isn’t great. We swear the movie is really excellent but because there hasn’t been much attention given to films like these; we would have instantly overlooked it and gone for the usual blockbusters instead (think Disney, Marvel, DreamWorks, Universal, Warner Bros).
Hence, Fagara is like a hidden gem that’s competing for the world’s attention alongside the big industry players and we feel compelled to share about this movie because there are just so many valuable lessons within the short time span of close to 2 hours. If Fagara was available on mid to long haul flights and accompanied with a brief write-up on the in-flight magazine, I’m pretty sure I would have watched it. In fact, if Fagara was available on Netflix or the likes, its reach might be even greater.
For us, we personally like the movie because of its heartwarming and candid storytelling approach. We were fully engaged throughout and it was one hell of an emotional rollercoaster ride that left tears rolling down our cheeks. Though the movie is mainly in Cantonese and Mandarin, English subtitles are available.
Our Personal Rating
4.5/5
Movie Trailer
Movie Synopsis
After her father died, a Hong Kong girl discovers she has two hitherto unknown sisters, one in Taiwan and one in China. To settle her father’s debt, she must reunite with them to run the family’s hot pot restaurant. While the androgynous Taiwan sister is plagued by her toxic relationship with her mother, the fashionista sister from China is trying to fend off her grandmother’s pressure to get married. Meanwhile, she is striving to unshackle herself from her ex-boyfriend in order to start a new relationship.
