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6 Insider Hair Tips Everyone Must Know

When your hands grace the manes of multiple women and men for about 10 years, chances are…you will have some pretty interesting stories as well as insider tips to tell. And, that is what Ning Agoncillo shared with me the other day. Luckily for you, I am willing to share all her efficient hair tips for free!

1. SAVE ON ADD-ONS

If the salon that you frequent charges you with the shampoo and conditioner whenever you are getting a haircut, save on the add-ons by showering at home. Not only will you save cash but you will also save precious time.

2. DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE NAMES

Different salons have different names for the same treatments. For instance one salon may call it Keratin Treatment while the other can call it Reborn Treatment. You must take the responsibility to inquire about the treatment process beforehand in order to compare the salons and to get the best price.

3. EVERYTHING CAN BE REPAIRED

Ning Agoncillo is one of those people who spend years perfecting their craft!

Image Credits: facebook.com/makeupbyningagoncillo?fref=ts

And, given the years of experience and education, she imparts that a good hairdresser is able to repair anything. If your hair has been suffering dryness and frizziness for years, do not fret because it can still become healthy! If you dyed your hair with the wrong shade, do not worry. You can outgrow and re-dye your hair.

4. YOUR HAIR CUT MUST COMPLEMENT YOUR FACE SHAPE

Your hair cut must complement and frame your face well. Square-shaped faces must keep their hair long with layers in order to highlight their face. Also, it is a must to avoid short hair cuts. While for people with round-shaped faces, getting a pixie cut is a good idea. And for heart-shaped faces, a medium hair cut with uniform layers will look nice.

5. KNOW THESE IF YOU ARE GETTING A TREATMENT

If you are getting a treatment, do know that you will stretch your dollar as well as maximize its effects if you steamed your hair in the process.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

6. YOU SHALL NOT INVEST ON EXPENSIVE SCISSORS

Investing on expensive stylist’s scissors is not advisable if you are not a professional or if you are not studying to become one. This is because the scissors need preservation techniques such as keeping it cool or not lending it to others in order to maintain its perfect setting.

How To Learn A New Language Without Spending A Dollar

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could easily upload foreign languages by putting microchips to your brain? Okay, maybe it sounds a tad futuristic and creepy too! However, it is not possible – yet.

Fortunately, you can learn to speak a new language confidently in a relatively short period of time. Here are some tips:

1. TAKE OUT THE EXCUSES AND FEARS

In order to learn a foreign language successfully, you must wash away the excuses and fear inside of you. Whether it is fear of making mistakes, fear of being ridiculed or fear of looking stupid, all your worries will only hold you back. Realize instead that communication is designed to understand each other and never to look down upon someone.

2. SET GOALS

Set an attainable and realistic goal to start with. While you are at it, reward yourself for every milestone you reached. For instance, you may begin with learning at least 50 words in 3-6 months. Then, slowly pick up the pace to learn the grammar too.

3. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE ONLINE COURSES

Upon digging through all the free resources in the web, I found that two websites shine from the rest namely: Omniglot and Open Culture. Omniglot has a user-friendly interface that allows you to find the language you desire from the “language index” that is fixed alphabetically. Simply scroll down to find the course links.

Alternatively, you can browse through the collection of featured lessons provided by Open Culture. It consists of 48 languages including French, Mandarin, English, Spanish, and more. Simply download the audio lessons to your computer or music player (mp3 format) to pick it up easily.

4. DOWNLOAD AN AWESOME APP

Want a fun way to learn a new language? Then, download the gamified language tutor App called Duolingo. I am personally in love with Duolingo. More than just learning the basic phrases, it allows you to test your skills in written and spoken language. This is why “Yo entiendo Español.”

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

5. INTERACT IN THE NEW LANGUAGE

One of the best ways to absorb a foreign language is to interact with others. It will teach you naturally and spontaneously to express your thoughts instead of mentally translating every word before you say it.

Sources: 1 & 2

Eternal Benefits Of Waking Up Early

It was 5:30 in the morning and I heard my sister mumbling that she was about to for school. I had two choices: to doze off once more or to wake up and get things done. I chose the latter. And, I do not regret a single thing!

Waking up early has more free benefits that you can ever imagine! You do not have to wake up as early as 5:30 am, just by give yourself more time in the morning (e.g., an hour more) is enough. Pressing the snooze button is no longer an option once you hear the long-lasting benefits of waking up early…

1. PRODUCTIVITY

Waking up early gives you an opportunity to get more things done and to earn more in the process. Furthermore, mornings are usually the time when your brain is most focused and alert. Not to mention, there are fewer distractions in the early hours of the day anyway so you can really achieve more things, smoothly.

Aside from being productive, a biologist in Harvard named Christoph Randler found that individuals who wake up early are more proactive. Other studies echoed his findings and showed that early risers are better at goal setting, planning, and making decisions.

2. BETTER GRADES

A study conducted by Texas University found that students who consistently rise early each day scored better in their exams and overall grades. This is due to the fixed routine and regularly eating breakfast.

So if you are a student, it is best to wake up early than to sleep for long hours and rush to school. Who likes the pressure of hurrying up anyway?

3. MENTAL HEALTH

If treasure relaxation then, waking up early is perfect for you! Early risers have the luxury to give themselves more time to do the things they like such as reading the morning paper, preparing a healthy breakfast, and working out. These things may seem small but it will surely brighten up your mood!

Moreover, studies have shown that “morning people” are generally more optimistic and satisfied with their lives. In fact, Del Suggs who is the author of Truly Leading: Lessons in Leadership, suggests to begin your day with writing down three things you are grateful for. This simple and efficient exercise is rooted from the principles of Positive Psychology.

4. WORKING OUT

As I said, waking up early gives you more time to exercise. And, we all know that exercise either in the morning or at night, has bountiful advantages to your body. By making exercise a daily morning habit, you are able to stimulate energy to your body that will get you ready for the challenges ahead!

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

5. DIET

How many times have you heard the statement: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day?” Well, it is true.

Skipping breakfast is not recommended because your body needs nutrients to help you concentrate and function throughout the day. Also, skipping breakfast makes you more likely to crave unhealthy food and to overeat.

Your body has been on a “fast” mode all night while you were sleeping and you need to “break that fast” with a serving of healthy food.

Sources: 1 & 2

3 Affordable Online Pet Stores Offering The Best Services In Singapore

George Eliot once said: “Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”

Animals are creatures that love us genuinely without judgment that even words cannot describe the bond we form with our pets. Most of the times, the loyal and affectionate bond formed goes way beyond the “master and pet” relationship that people treat them as members of the family.

With that special bond, you only want what is best for your pet. This is why it is extremely important for you to find a store that sells the right food, accessories, and pet care products. Look no further, as this list will give you four of the best online pet stores in the country. Furthermore, these prices are inclusive of GST already (no hidden costs yay!).

1. DOGGY FRIEND

Doggy Friend maybe one of the cheapest online pet stores out there but their services are optimum. Looking at their user-friendly website that is easy to navigate, I saw a wide range of dog and cat food brands. You will definitely find a product and price that suits you best.

Doggy Friend, as a company, focuses on pet supplies such as clothing pieces, toys, dental accessories, and food supplements. Currently, they are having promotions on food including: Bow Wow Treats Mix N Match: 3 for $10 and Special Dog Wet Food (400g) for S$2.55. While their ongoing online sale is mainly on toys including: Qoo Santa Pet Toys for S$2.50 and JU-BE Bowling Pin for S$6.

Image Credits: facebook.com/Doggyfriend-1460708560842852/timeline/?ref=page_internal

And if you want to give a present for your pet loving friend but you do not know what to get him or her, you may buy a Doggy Friend gift certificate instead. Their gift certificates range from S$10-S$50.

Website: doggyfriend.com.sg

2. PETS’ STATION

One of the pet stores that date way back is Pets’ Station. From a family business that emerged in 1969, Pets’ Station had rapidly expanded over the years. With over thousands of products available at competitive prices, you can expect a variety of premium pet supplies that are exclusive to their shop alone. What is special about Pets’ Station is that they offer grooming services (for as low as S$45) and sell cute pets too at their 7 physical stores islandwide.

Are you eager to browse through their products? Then, grab the chance to participate in their warehouse sale this coming Saturday and Sunday!

Image Credits: petsstation.com.sg

Website: petsstation.com.sg

Outlets: 7 store locations

3. KOHE PETS

Where else can you find an online shop that is convenient, easy to navigate, accessible, and offers free samples?

Yes your read that right! Kohe Pets online shop regularly offers free samples for their products so you will find it easier to decide the perfect treat that your pet will truly like.

Furthermore, Kohe Pets has a huge selection of more than 2,500 reasonably priced products ranging from the popular brands to the unique brands that are hard to find in Singapore. Their focus leans more on healthy and whole pet foods. According to testimonials, their deliver is swift as customers receive their orders usually on the next day.

Image Credits: facebook.com/kohepets

Lastly, Kohe Pets are always generous with their promotions that some items are set to 20% off or Buy 1 Get 1 Free scheme!

Website: kohepets.com.sg

Sources:1 & 2

8 Telltale Signs That You Are Seriously Devoted To Online Shopping

Almost every human soul on Earth loves shopping! Who does not appreciate the rush they get while picking the perfect outfit? Then, a few decades down the road came the Internet. Marrying these two resulted to the growth of E-commerce and online shopping, especially in Singapore.

In 2014, a website called Flipit found that 50% of E-commerce traffic in Singapore came from the mobile devices. The accessibility to efficient Internet connection in our country led more and more people to shift their buying power online. With famed websites such as Zalora, Qoo10, Taobao, Lazada, and Rakuten, there has been an ongoing debate whether traditional physical stores are losing their appeal.

Previous Paypal research showed that the size of Singapore’s online shopping market reached S$1.1 billion in 2010 and it is forecasted to hit S$4.4 billion by this year. The elevated power of E-commerce has two sides namely: positive and negative. Positively, it brings convenience as it can save one’s money and time. Negatively, it brings susceptibility to serious devotion and addiction.

On that note, here are the 8 Telltale Signs That You Are Seriously Devoted To Online Shopping:

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

1. If you open your bag or purse, you will see a bunch of deposit slips from different online shops.

2. Most of the time, you would have an open tab in your browser with a full shopping cart waiting for you to pursue your purchase.

3. Every minute of your free time in home and work is spent scrolling through Instagram, Carousell, and other online retailers.

4. Your daily routine will not be complete without doing rounds of browses through your favorite online shops to see their new arrivals and sale items.

5. You receive packages via mail that you forgot you once ordered.

6. You get uncomfortable and anxious when you think about shopping in physical stores.

7. Your heart races when you read an email announcing that the online ship has an ongoing sale.

8. You bought the same thing twice by accident.

Image Credits: pixabay.com (License: CC0 Public Domain)

If more than 5 signs apply to you, perhaps you should re-consider your online shopping habits along with the other 1.2 million Singaporean online shoppers (i.e., above the age of 18 years old only) out there!

Source: 1, 2, & 3

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