Making sense of everything

Simple solutions for the most irritating skin problems

nobody@vox.com(swinging lhianne) — Tue, 20 May 2008 01:28:50 -0700

Is your skin less than flawless? Hey, join th club - nobody's perfect, not even celebrities (they have air-brushing, duh). You can still put your best face forward with these quick fixes for problem skin.

For greasy skin - Wash your face twice a day, morning -and- evening, with a salicylic acid cleanser. This will help control oil, will lightly exfoliate skin and prevent clogged pores. Antibacterial soap also helps remove oil and kill acne- causing bacteria.

For that dry, flaky skin - The eternal teaching of drinking 8 glasses a day is the main trick to get your skin all quenched up. Wash your face one a day with a creamy, moisturizing cleanser. Choose a non-comedegenic formula so you don't get clogged pores. If you tend to get breakouts, a cleanser with glycolic or lactic acid is best.

For that big, honking pimple - In order to deal with a monster pimple, never squeeze or pick at it! You'll just spread the infection and make the zit angry. Instead, hold a hot warmcloth on the blemish for about 5 minutes,twice a day, to help open the pore and drain the pimple. You can camouflage it by using a concealer that contains benzoyl peroxide,salicylic acid, or tea-tree oil.

For those blackheads on the nose and chin - They form when oil and dead skin cells clog your pores. Wash your face twice a day with a grainy scrub. Be very gentle..or you may cause irritation. Then use a daytime, oil-free moisturizer - or a night-time treatment with salicylic acid. Don't use strips right after exfoliating your face, or you could damage your skin.

I remember I had ALL of these during my teen years, and back then it was the biggest deal for me. But now, I can live with these but then again, we have to take care of our skin not because of what others will say, but because it is our skin and we don't want to have the nastiest skin and we are the ones who will reap the consequences a few years from now.

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6 pack rules to remember for jetsetters

nobody@vox.com(swinging lhianne) — Mon, 12 May 2008 20:19:36 -0700

There is never,ever a bad time to travel. Yes, the weather maybe the number one enemy, but then, it really isn't. As they say, you'll make a lot of excuses if you don't want to do things, but you'll move heaven and earth to the thing you want to do. So, when you're the type that needs to get out of town on a monthly or even a regular basis, there are a couple of tips to take note as to avoid a stressful travel. Here are a few that even th best travel channel shows wont' feature:

1. Bring a pashmina or a sarong - these are versatile pieces that can take you from the beach to the streets. Also, pack a silk animal-print or Pucci-esque scarf to add glamour to an other-wise simple outfit, and a black dress for your evening escapades.

2. Mark your suitcases with a colorful ribbon or sticker - This way, you can easily locate them at the luggage belt upon arrival at the airport.

3. Pack an extra set of underwear and clothing in your hand-carry - Just in case, ( well, this is most likely to happen but I hope not) you will have an additional outfit on hand.

4. Roll your clothes instead of folding them - This is to avoid excess creasing or wrinkling.

5. Stack your clothes in piles in your bed - After assessing your inventory remove half of what you think you need. Keep your wardrobe casual, simple, and versatile.

6. Stick with one carry-on and one piece of check-in luggage - I know this is the one that's the hardest to follow or even consider. It's like there's always something we HAVE TO bring, But then, it all comes to functionality first then there goes the fashion part.

I remember when my friend from work was endlessly convincing me last December to go on a trip to Berlin in Germany. I wasn't really up for long trips but the main lure for me was this cafe which has no name. It's in the heart of Zion street (Zionstrasse).

I was having second thoughts for a week even though my visa was ok and at the night before the flight I decided not to go mainly because of work. But the next morning I just woke up so early and I thought that was the sign that I should go. Good thing my friend had already bought our tickets. And all that I was able to follow in the rules above was number 6, mainly because I have 2 hours to pack. It was all worth it, it was so difficult to find because it has no names or signages, you have to ask the locals for directions. Its warm, yellow wooden floor planks, and mahogany table sets and stools lent an inviting cozy ambience, while cheeky art murals and the stark red bar gave it a quirky twist. The menu was just on a sheet of paper listing the day's fare. When it comes to paying, there's a bowl on the counter where you can drop the amount you think is fair. Really cool place.

I have learned that making things simpler either for short or long travels is the key to a stres-free journey. I go out of town not only I want to see something new, but just to take my mind off the hustle and bustle of work, which I can only escape temporarily but not forever.

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Airline Safety measures you didn't know existed

nobody@vox.com(swinging lhianne) — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:20:11 -0700

As we all know, summer is the right time to go places, discover the world and experience sights and sounds of any possible destination country. Although, some have not been blessed with such opportunities, let me remind those who still have the chance to savor the moment because there will come a point in time that they would be so busy like most of us, they wouldn’t have bountiful chances of going out of the country they live in.

While some have the luxury of time to take long trips in cruise ships or by land, sadly, most do not. It is not true that the fastest way from point A to point B is a straight line. In some cases, airlines can be the fastest way from point A to point B. We have been riding airplanes for a long time now, but do you know, there are still some certain rules that we do not know? If you are going out of the country soon, why don’t you check out the graphical airline safety procedures in front of your seat? Here are some.

1. In the event of an airplane emergency evacuation, style points are given to the most stylistic and creative exit impression.

Evacuation All-Star Exhibition

2. While using your chairs as flotation devices, check the water for bubbles and ask, “Okay, who farted?

Float, Float, Float your seat...

3. Staring at the emergency exits long enough and waiting for it to open might do the job for you but, for most of the time? It doesn’t

I see you...

These are just some, remember, it is knowing what information to trust and what not to trust that saves you

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Common mistakes when buying the most basic of gadgets

nobody@vox.com(swinging lhianne) — Thu, 01 May 2008 05:24:13 -0700

After working your heads off, finally, pay day arrives. Most people allocate it even before the day arrives but for some, they just go with the flow. Pay day is the happiest day of a business owner because of the profits they gain during these few days.

But, are you getting your dollar's worth? Or are you one of those compulsive buyers? Since you are working your head off, why not make sure that you are buying the right gadgets fit for you and not just buying for upgrading sake? Here are some personal experience tips in buying gadgets.

Laptop

Asus EEE PC

There are tons of choices and best laptop brands around but, not all will fit you. If you are a graphic designer, a Mac book will definitely fit your needs but, if you want tons of programs and applications, I suggest you get a laptop with Windows operating system. If you are always on-the-go and would just like to type word documents or surf the net, The Asus EEE pc would be a good choice. If you are budget conscious, Asus, Neo or Twinhead would be a just right brand to choose from. These notebooks are made in Taiwan and China but, is fairly reliable and worth the dollar value.

Mobile Phone

For most of us, any mobile phone would do but for choosy ones, certain phones fit certain personalities. There are a few categories of mobile phones; Fashion, Function, Elegance and Budget. A sample of a fashion phone is the Motorola V3. It has a fine thin finish and a metal touch. Function phones are plentiful and one of them is the Nokia n95 or the Sony Ericsson w960i. They don’t look that good but the features in it won’t surely fail you.

Vertu is one of the most elegant phone manufacturer in the world and some of their models can already get you a pre-loved car. The Nokia 8800 is the cheaper elegant phone, but still has a premium price to pay compared to the last category, the budget phones. These phones fit everyone else and mostly, for those who just wants to send text messages and make calls.

Just remember to first research for whatever gadget you would like to buy before buying them to avoid regret and confusion after spending your hard earned money. Every dollar counts and these spendings are considered “Doodads” in the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad” Are you just spending all your earnings or are you ready for a rainy day?

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