DIY, 8-step Manicure

Grab a set of chill out music, a handful of basic tools, and enjoy the stay-in weeknight with a DIY manicure session
Photos courtesy of Media Flair Communications.

WORKING late again with no time for your bi-monthly fix of a manicure services? Pamper your nails right at home with the following steps.

1. Start by trimming your nails to a desired length with a nail cutter or scissor.

2. In order to shape and smooth the edges of your nails, use a nail file. (Tip: Do file nails in one direction from each side of the nail toward the center as this helps in preventing fingernails from splitting.)

3. Proceed to soak fingers in warm water to soften cuticles for about 10 minutes. Pat nails dry, but do leave the cuticles moist.

4. To remove cuticles, apply a cuticle remover before gently pushing back cuticles with a cotton-wrapped cuticle stick or a cuticle pusher. Carefully nip away excess nail cuticle and hangnails. To finish grooming of nails, thoroughly wash off excess cuticle remover and pat dry.

5. Remove any traces from nails before applying nail treatments or color by applying cuticle treatment and massage gently.

6. Before colouring your nails, remember to apply a nail treatment or base coat. It protects your nails, smooth nail surfaces for even application of colour, and help manicures last longer. Then proceed to apply two coats of nail colour.

7. Finish your masterpiece off with a top coat to seal nails and add brilliant shine. When applied between manicures, these top coats add strength and protection, while keeping your nail colours looking shiny and just-applied fresh.

8. Keep hands soft and supple by using hand or foot creme after your brilliantly executed DIY nail manicure!

Read more on how to perform a basic manicure.

Amazing How The Race Ended

88DB.com attends the finale screening of AXN's Amazing Race Asia
by James P. Ong

PERHAPS it was the testosterone and adrenalin brewing in the air, but we sure had fun last night at the finale party of AXN's reality TV show, Amazing Race Asia. There was bottomless Singha beer, Vietnamese spring rolls and something that looked like prawn croquettes. Oh, and there were also the finalists! All six of them: Rovilson and Marc from the Philippines, Collin and Adrian from Singapore, and Pamela and Vanessa from Malaysia.

While AXN screened the last episode of Amazing Race Asia Season 2, our eyes were busy scanning the room and monitoring the reaction on the faces of the finalists to see if we could guess who the winner would be, ahead of everyone else. We asked the organisers, but all we got was "it's going to be a fairy tale ending."

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Cancer Prevention and Cure Are Topics In Year-Long Talks

Free cancer monthly cancer fora by Breast Cancer Foundation and West Medical Group hopes to help totally eradicate cancer as a life-threatening disease in Singapore
By James P. Ong

WITH the aim of increasing awareness of cancer and, consequently, its prevention and treatment, the premiere American cancer centre West Medical Group has tied up with the local Breast Cancer Foundation for a year-long series of free talks called “Life Matters.”

The talks will be held every last Wednesday of the month at Camden Medical Centre, where West Medical Group Singapore holds office, and is open to everyone, with a suggested donation of $20 for the Breast Cancer Foundation.

In January, the topic was “Cancer 101”. This 27 February, it will be “Cancer Prevention.”

According to West Medical Group, cancer is one of the most prevalent illnesses in the world and the most deadly illness in Singapore. Statistics from the Ministry of Health claims it was the cause of 28.5 percent of all deaths in 2006. In 2007, it took the lives of 4,762 Singaporeans.

Read more on Cancer Prevention and Cure.

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Paint The Ways

Painted like a fashion magazine spread, Ronald Caringal's works are tongue-in-cheek renditions of his own encounters with love

FORGET jewelry, flowers, chocolates...forget everything you thought that would make a sweet Valentine's Day gift. Why don't you surprise your lover with a Ronald Caringal painting instead? In the artist's first overseas exhibit (he is from Manila where he runs his own art gallery called "The Cubicle"), he rips open his heart, dips his paintbrush into the blood, and comes up with a witty, tongue-in-cheek collection that looks like they were torn from the pages of a fashion magazine.

The reference to chic and style should come naturally to Caringal, who has spent many of his nights in Manila's wild party scene; even hosting some all-nighters at his gallery, where local bands perform on the top floor of the three-storey apartment building, to the chagrin of his neighbours.

Read more of How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Paint The Ways.

In Search Of Eurasian Food

It’s widely believed that the only way to taste authentic Eurasian cuisine is by visiting a Eurasian household—Quentin’s challenges that belief
By James P. Ong / Photographs by Leigh Mojares

BY THE time we reached Quentin’s, the avenue alongside it was already enjoying a reprieve from vehicular traffic and the skies were ready to turn sunset orange. So when the waitress offered to sit us inside the dimly lit dining area, in one of those elegant tables covered in two layers of cloth, red and black, we opted to dine al fresco. You know, the way people used to in Singapore back when they still lived in proper houses with balconies?

For those who are unaware, Quentin’s first opened in November at a charming shop house along East Coast Road. It immediately attracted a cult following; such is the rarity of restaurants that serve Eurasian food. It is widely believed that the best place to have this type of cuisine is at a Eurasian household. Quentin Pereira, the restaurant’s owner, is said to use recipes from his grandmother.

Read more of In Search of Eurasian Cuisine.

Watch Out For Our Buses!

88DB.com rolls out bus 2008 campaign with 15 buses
By James P. Ong

ON January 16, we finally rolled out our 2008 bus advertising campaign: “Shop For Services” at 88DB.com”. The buses illustrate the different kinds of unique services that can be found in your favourite website—including party entertainment, dog training, real estate brokerage, wedding photography, gown making, golf training and auto repair.

To achieve the colorful illustrations and straight-to-the-point copy, we collaborated with the super talented and patient folks at Religion advertising. “The campaign reflects the infinite number of services that can be found in the 88DB.com marketplace,” says JobsDB.com Managing Director Steven Seek. 88DB.com is a member of the JobsDB group of companies.

So watch out for these Bus Service Numbers (if you like, you can even take photos of it and submit to editor@88db.com.sg):

* 12 * 21 * 28 * 51 * 74 * 88 * 107 * 133 * 147 * 161 * 198 * 65 * 143 *

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There's More To Dog Massage Than Pampering

Rhythmic strokes, joint movements and deep kneading-yes, dogs deserve a massage too, whether it's for therapy or relaxation, and they can get it at Pawsitive Sensations, $25 for 30 minutes
By James P. Ong

MONTY is an 11-year-old corgi who has been going for his weekly 40-minute dog massage since March 2007. The moment he enters the doors of Pawsitive Sensations, he goes straight to the dog massage room and assumes the lying position in front of owner and therapist Zoe Gan, who begins the session with long strokes on Monty’s body, and then progresses to rhythmic strokes, joint movements and deep kneading.

While Monty lies on his side, two ladies wait after him: Gemma, his master, and a helper. Every so often, the two pluck out fresh tissues from a plastic container and wipe the drool off Monty, who is fast falling asleep despite the constant rumble caused by two other dogs in the room.

For canine owners in Singapore, dog massage is something whose time has come. As more and more single people acquire dogs as a companion, those with a considerable dispensable income would like to pamper their bundles of joy not just with toys and accessories but also services.

Read more on There's More To Dog Massage Than Pampering.

Drama Classes Are Good For Your Child

Arts and drama courses impart life skills to children, thereby setting the stage for them to believe that they can fulfill their dreams and be the person they want to be
By Jae Tan

DRAMA classes yield numerous long-term benefits to a child through his growing years. Picking up life skills — like learning to think on one’s own feet, problem solving and putting forth creative ideas by acting on them — is one of them.

Good oratorical skills, essential in working life, can also be developed from a young age through drama.

SAVASkool, which organises kiddie classes for children at the Fort Canning Park, combines the dynamics of theatre, class presentations, speech training and art exposure programs to help student develop their communication skills and self-expression.

Read more on why Drama Classes Are Good For Your Child.

How To French Kiss A Woman

The skill of kissing involves the entire mouth — the lips, tongue, teeth, and the rest of the body
By Joshua Wong

IT IS an experience that most people would remember: their first French kiss. Some people would say it was a great experience while some would prefer not to mention it. But, we all know that French kissing is a very delicate and sensual experience.

Research shows women's lips are one of their erogenous zone, so it's important for men to leave a lasting impression with women. And if you French kiss her like no one else, you'll most likely to kiss something else of her next.

The skill of french kissing does not simply consist of knowing how to move your tongue inside a woman's mouth without hitting her tonsils. It involves the entire mouth — the lips, tongue, teeth, and the rest of the body.

Read more on How To French Kiss A Woman.

Speak Well, Earn Well

Effective communication skills are an advantage in business and relationshiips, so learn the tricks of being clear, concise and persuasives

COMMUNICATION skills simply do not refer to the way in which we communicate with another person. It encompasses many other things: the way in which we respond to the person we are speaking, body gestures including the facial ones, pitch and tone of our voice and a lot of other things.

And the importance of communication skills is not just limited to the management world, since effective communication skills are now required in each and every aspect of our life.

Read more on Speak Well, Earn Well.