5 Changes Pregnancy Hormones Do To Your Body

Posted by Editor on Sep 29th, 2016 in Pregnancy and Health | 0 comments

 

Once you get pregnant, your body undergoes minor and major changes, which can affect you both physically and emotionally. To lessen the negative impact of hormonally induced changes, educate yourself about what to expect during the pregnancy.

1. Your breast becomes bigger.

There’s no surprise on this one. Hormones fuel the increase of breast size to prepare the body for breastfeeding. Enlargement of breast takes place anytime during pregnancy, and the further you are in your pregnancy, the larger your breasts will become. Expect to go up a bra size or two, as well as breast leakage of the colostrum, the liquid generated by the breast prior to milk.

2. Your hair becomes thicker—and then fall out post-partum.

Thanks to pregnancy hormones, you’ll have fuller locks that would make any women jealous.  That is because pregnancy hormones prolong the growing phase of the hair, preventing fall outs at their regular rate. However, three months after giving birth, the body’s hormone levels return to normal. Your hair sheds rapidly, which lasts up to a year, to balance out hyper hair growth in the past months. To get a clear picture, your hair loses an average of 100 strands a day, but during post-partum you lose 300 strands a day.

3. You’ll have terrible mood swings.

It may sound cliché, but it’s normal to experience mood swings due to high levels of hormones. At times you may feel ecstatic, but there are also times when you feel extremely low. However, if you’re having trouble feeling happy or you’re experiencing extreme sadness or constantly crying, which affects your appetite and sleep, seek out professional help and get tested for depression.

4. You’ll experience pimples and break-outs again.

A boost in androgen will expectedly give you break-outs, which you probably have never experienced before. If you are bothered by pimples and acne that doesn’t seem to go away, have yourself checked by a dermatologist and discuss about safe skin treatments since acne-fighting staples like glycolic and salicylic acids are not recommended for pregnant women.

5. Your feet may increase in size.

The hormone relaxin, from the name itself, relaxes the ligaments in your pelvis area to prepare the body for delivery, but it also affects other ligaments including your feet. Due to the relaxation of ligaments, the arch of your foot falls a little lower, spreading out the foot and causing it to become larger. This is why women usually go up a shoe size when pregnant.

Hormones are powerful chemicals that regulate the different aspects of the body. When these hormones get pumped up in higher levels during pregnancy, it can make unusual things happen to you. And when it starts to feel like it’s too much to handle, just remember that you are growing an entire human inside you; that should be enough reason to embrace the changes you are experiencing.

Easy Ways to Save Money When Hiring a Plumbing Contractor

Posted by Editor on Sep 22nd, 2016 in Lifeline Services | 0 comments

Your home will need some plumbing repairs at some point. While you can handle these projects on your own is possible, hiring a professional plumbing contractor would be the best choice for certain repairs and situations. But this doesn’t mean you need to shell out a lot of cash. Simply follow these tips to help you save some money when hiring a plumber.

1. Be More Knowledgeable About Plumbing

One of the easiest ways to protect yourself from inflated plumbing expenses is to educate yourself on the basics of the trade. You can do this by doing some research on the internet or by reading plumbing how-to books at your library. You can also ask some specific questions to your plumber during his inspection, and follow his suggestions.

Apart knowing the basics in plumbing, you should also educate yourself on the costs of various plumbing works. An honest and reputable plumber will surely appreciate your knowledge, and be more than willing to answer all your questions about your plumbing job. You, in turn, will feel more secured that you’re getting the most out of the money that you are spending on your project.

2. Get Referrals From Trusted People

One of the best ways to save some money when hiring a plumber is to get referrals from your family and friends who know about 24 hrs plumbing contractors in Singapore to recommend to you. They will let you know as to how satisfied they were with a particular plumber’s work, as well as the amount they paid for his plumbing services. This will serve as a great starting place for your plumber search, so prospect more than one plumber or plumbing agency.

Apart from asking referrals from your relatives and friends, consider looking for an experienced and reputable plumbing company that can provide you with a list of good references. Although they may not have the cheapest hourly rate, their training will definitely allow them to work efficiently and get your plumbing job done properly.

3. Hire the Best in the Industry

Hiring a highly skilled and reliable plumber normally costs a little more than the service of bargain workers. This is why some people hire plumbers who charge cheaper. However, doing this might actually cause you to spend more money as you may have to have the same problem fixed again – properly this time. Whereas if you’d just spend a little more to hire an experienced plumber, you’re only going to spend once to fix the same problem.

Although it seems counterproductive to your plan of saving money, imagine spending lesser amount several times just to get your problem fixed. Not to mention the amount of time you’ll also save by hiring the best plumber there is in Singapore.

4. Opt for a Local Plumber

Since most plumbers include their travel time in their service charge, it makes sense to hire someone nearby so that you could pay less. If your project takes several days to finish, hiring a plumber who’s based in your neighbourhood will surely cut some extra costs.

5. Report Any Small Problems Immediately

Compared with larger and more serious plumbing problems, smaller issues are easier and less expensive to fix. The only problem is most homeowners find smaller problems quite easy to ignore – allowing small plumbing issues like a leaky faucet to manifest into a much bigger problem. So consider calling in a plumbing contractor as soon as you notice some issues. Not only will this help you save money from major repairs, it’ll also prevent small problems such leaks from turning into a more serious plumbing issue.

6. Call During the Business Hours

The perfect time to call for plumbing services, especially when you’re thinking of saving some money, is during regular business hours. Calling late at night or on weekends will likely cause you to pay higher rates just to get the same job done. The same thing goes for hiring a 24 hours plumber. Reporting a problem on a regular work week gives your plumber a lot of time to fix it, allowing him to restore the usual routine of your household faster.

7. Ask for a Detailed and Written Quote

Ensure that you get the details of your plumbing task into writing. Discussing the numbers are fine, but have all the details laid out in order to control your costs, and eliminate surprise expenses. Also, consider requesting bids from three plumbers so you’ll have an idea as to how their services differ. If one appears to be more expensive than the others, have that particular plumber explain his quote.

In the event that the plumber refuses to commit to provide you with an overall cost, have him commit to writing an hourly rate instead. That way, you get to monitor the time he spends working on your plumbing job, while getting an idea on your expenses as your project progresses.

8. Purchase the Materials Directly

Rather than paying a premium price for your bathroom fixtures, consider purchasing them directly from a building or plumbing supply store. This will definitely save a good portion of your expenses, especially if you plan on having larger bathroom renovations.

Numerous plumbing projects will definitely pop up in your home over time, making the services of skilled plumbers in Singapore highly valuable. Fortunately, getting such services doesn’t have to be expensive. Simply putting the aforementioned tips to work is already enough to cut your costs and add more value to your repairs.

The Michelin Star System Explained

Posted by Editor on Aug 14th, 2016 in Resto Biz | 0 comments

 

If you are not a foodie lover, you will not appreciate a Michelin three starred restaurant even if you see it and actually dined there. For those who are familiar about the star system, they just know the definitions of the starred restaurants but not the nitty-gritty things about it. It is time that you know nitty-gritty of Michelin star system because it is now in Singapore.

On July 21, 2016, the Michelin’s international director Michael Ellis awarded one star to two hawkers. The two hawkers include Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noddle and Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle. This is another first not only here in Singapore but the history of Michelin guide being a Michelin-starred food establishment that offers meal below S$5.

You already know that Michelin have three star with different definitions. One star represents a “very good cooking in its category”. The two stars on the other hand represents an “excellent cooking, worth a detour” and finally the three stars represents “exceptional cuisine, worthy of a special journey.” The provision of giving out the stars is done every year by a their roster of inspectors. No one knows the exact criteria or definition of what is looked for in a restaurant. It is the Michelin’s closely guarded secret.

Despite that, it has become a highly sought-after accolade because of its integrity unlike other guides that take advantage of hidden fees and advertising. Regarding the frequency of visit for restaurants waiting to be re-inspected, it was said that inspectors visit less annually but if the restaurant seeks for a promotion, it will be visited several times in the same year.

Michelin guide doesn’t include every country. Until 2005, it was just exclusive in Europe. In 2005, it launched its New York Guide. As of 2012, Michelin guide covered Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Benelux, Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, France, UK, San Francisco, Chicago and in Asia Hong Kong, Macau, Tokyo, Kyoto, Yokohama, Osaka, Kamakura and Kobe.

Now you may be wondering if décor counts. In some cases, it does not. There is for instance Sushi Saito that serves food using wooden counter within a car park but still awarded three stars. You also need to know about Espoir. Espoir refers to “rising star”. It was a term introduced in 2005. It is a guide that includes good restaurant with chances of at least being considered for a star promotion. It was said that you can only hold the status for two years.

Coping with Postpartum Depression

Posted by Editor on Aug 9th, 2016 in Pregnancy and Health | 0 comments

 

You just gave birth and you love your baby more than anyone in the world but why do you feel so blue? Everyone is ecstatic for that wonderful baby except you. This is supposed to be a happy time. If you are feeling this, you have to know that you are not alone. You do not have to keep it and endure whatever you are feeling alone.

The truth is you are experiencing a natural phenomenon for new mothers. It is called postpartum depression. About 80% of new mothers experience postpartum depression. Some amount of emotional vulnerability is normal and expected after the mother gives birth but it should only last no longer than two weeks. If you are still irritable, moody, anxious, weepy or unable to sleep after two weeks, it is time that you should know how to get over postpartum depression.

There are many mothers here in Singapore who are enduring postpartum depression. You have to learn how to cope up. The first thing that you need to do is to recognize that you are suffering from postpartum depression. You should get the help of experts and take care of yourself. Here are some ways on coping up with postpartum depression:

Be good to thyself. You should look after yourself and not ignore your needs. Your baby needs you more than anyone else in the world. You have to look after yourself. Try to get some sleep and eat healthy foods. Do not think that you are a bad mother just because you know you have depression.

Do not expect too much. If you have depression, it is just enough to wake up and face the day as it is until you get better. Do not expect too much because you will only be disappointed. If you are having a difficult time, you should never face it alone and underestimate it. You need the love and support of the people around you. Do not hesitate to seek for it.

Share whatever you feel. You have to tell your husband, parents or friends about how you feel. If you have to, join a mother support group. The important thing here is not hiding whatever you are feeling and get inspiration from women who also experienced the same thing.

Get rest. Caring for a newborn baby is enough to leave you tired and exhausted every day. It is therefore important that you get your rest. There are other mothers who do not cope with depression because in the first place they do not give their selves enough time to rest and recuperate.

Take it slow. Many mothers are left tired and exhausted because when the baby sleeps, they catch up with work too. The exhaustion will never improve things. Think that chores can wait and you need all the energy.

Types of Personal Caretakers and Their Services

Posted by Editor on Jun 29th, 2016 in Favourite Lifestyle | 0 comments

 

In this modern day and age, it is quite typical to see individuals trying to do their best in juggling everything. From house chores up to daily tasks needed to be completed at the office, people will always try to do their best to accomplish as many things as they can. That is why it’s so admirable to see people who are able to manage their time well and complete all of their tasks in a day to day basis.

The “Secret” of Personal Caretakers

But do you want to know what their secret is? Do you want to know how they’re able to do all of these things with no problem? Well, they must have amazing skills in time-management that they’re able to do all of the tasks needed to be completed with ease. And the other possible answer is the hiring of a personal caretaker from a reputable company providing concierge services to interested clients.

A caretaker, also sometimes called as a personal assistant, PA, or personal aide, is the person providing his/her assistance services to the client to complete any daily tasks related to a personal or business issue. The client will be the one deciding whether the services of a personal assistant is for a short or long term basis. If it’s for a one-off job then it is best to tap the services of a concierge company so you can check if you need to pay for a sign-up or membership fee or anything at all.

Benefits of Having Your Own Custodian

There are various benefits provided by getting the services of a personal custodian even if it’s just for a one-off job or a recurring one. One of it is the client’s able to focus on more important things and they can give other less vital tasks to the concierge. You can even get to relax especially when you know that all of the things listed in your to-do list gets done on time.

If you decided that it’s high time to get the services of a concierge, you will discover that there are several types of services they can do for you. You can get their services to complete a personal, domestic, corporate, or for travel tasks. What you will read next is a detailed discussion on these several types of concierge services offered by these service providers today.

The reasons why Comfortable Kids Shoes should be purchased

Posted by Editor on Jun 24th, 2016 in Life with Kids | 0 comments

 

Many parents around the world are continually working hard in order to provide all of the basic needs of their children. As much as they can, these parents will do their best and aspire to really give all the needs of their children when it comes to clothing, food, education, and other things. In addition, the footwear needs of your adorable little ones should never be neglected as well.

At a young age, they are at their active years when they will want to play inside and outside the house. They will even have playdates along with their friends at the park, playground, or at each other’s residences. They love running and jumping around the place so it’s really important that you purchase comfortable and suitable kids shoes in the market.

However, if you want to give them the best by purchasing from a shoes Singapore store, you ought to make sure to be fully aware of these particular important tips. These tips will serve as a guideline for parents who might be facing a trouble when it comes to purchasing the most suitable shoes for their kids. You see, your children are at the age wherein their feet grows at a fast pace.

So if you purchase shoes with the right and fit size already, there’s a high chance that they’ll only outgrow it quickly. It means that you have to purchase another pair by the end of the month and a couple more if you keep on buying the right-sized shoes for them. There are reasons why you should buy your kids comfortable shoes.

If you want to know what they are then you should continue reading. It is very important that your kids feel comfortable as they run, jump, walk, and do other things. And with the right shoes on their feet making them really comfortable, it’s one of the reasons why parents need to take into account this particular tip. There will be less complain coming from your kids saying that the shoes doesn’t fit them or it falls out when they run.

They will enjoy doing outside especially when they have comfortable shoes. Your kids doesn’t need a lot of pairs of kids’ shoes in their closet. What they need is a good pair of shoes when they want to go out and play with their friends. That is why it’s very important that you take into consideration the comfort of the shoes you’re purchasing.

The main reason why you should focus on the comfort is you don’t want to go ahead and purchase a shoes that won’t be comfortable to wear. In the end, you will just be wasting your money getting this or that one. It’s great if you can have it exchanged. But won’t it be much better to get it right in the first purchase you make?