13
Apr
2018

How to Overcome Shyness

Overcoming shyness isn’t easy especially for those who have a deep-seated fear of rejection and criticism. Here are some points that might help.

Admit That You Have Anxiety
Accept that you feel anxious around other people and that you’re afraid of making a fool of yourself. Maybe if you admit it you will start to examine what it is that makes you feel uncomfortable when socializing and what you need to do about it.

Begin With Simple Things
For extremely shy people, making eye contact alone is difficult. But doing this will let you connect with people more easily. You don’t have to go out and start looking strangers in the eye. Start with your friends and family. These are people you feel comfortable being around with so it’s easy to start conversations, initiate physical contact and practice gestures and facial expressions.

Stop Criticizing Yourself
Often it’s not the other people who are making you feel uncomfortable, it’s those things that go through your head before you start a conversation or when you’re around a lot of strangers. Try not to over-think about how people perceive you and judge you. Sure, it’s not gonna be easy, but you should start by not criticizing yourself first or labeling yourself as shy.

Don’t Listen to Bullies
Shy people are often the target of jokes. You don’t need those people in your life. You’re the type of person who takes time to choose people you want to be close with. Even if you have few friends, they are meaningful friendships so stay away from bullies who make fun of you.

Think About Your Strengths
Maybe you are awkward around strangers but that doesn’t mean you don’t have your charms too. Just think about the qualities that your friends find fascinating. If you have a talent or skill, you can use that as a starting point to boost your self-confidence.

Forget About Those Embarrassing Moments
Stop replaying those scenes in your head that remind you of embarrassing moments. You’re conditioning yourself to avoid doing the same thing, but avoidance isn’t a solution. Everyone makes mistakes and anyone can make a fool of themselves. Laugh about it instead of wallowing in self-pity, at least you have something to tell your grandchildren.

Stop Hiding and Avoiding
You cannot gain confidence overnight. It comes with practice over time. The first time is always the most terrifying, but the more you do it, the less anxious you’ll be because you know what to do next. Avoiding situations where you can potentially embarrass yourself isn’t gonna solve anything. Life is too short to sit in your safe corner and not enjoy it.

Try New Interests and Hobbies
The only way for you to socialize is to be around other people. Sometimes your hobbies can be a great ice breaker when meeting new friends. Trying out new things, however, will open up more opportunities for you. If you feel anxious, bring a friend along with you to the school or local club or team.

Posted by Editor in Self-Improvement
13
Apr
2018

How to Make Xocoatl, the Aztec Chocolate Drink

The first chocolates were not bars but drinks. In fact, throughout most of the history of chocolate making, it’s well-known as a form of beverage. Chocolate wasn’t also associated with the word “sweet” until recently. It comes from the Nahuatl word “xocoatl” which means “a bitter drink from the brewed cacao beans.”

The History of Xocoatl
Today, you can duplicate xocoatl without having to grind the beans yourself. You can even add other spices such as anise, cinnamon and vanilla besides chili peppers. The drink has been present even before the Olmec culture. They were the first to cultivate, ferment and roast the cacao beans.

Chocolate was considered a drink reserved for gods. Only the nobility, priests and warriors were allowed to drink it. Even when it was introduced to Europe after Hernan Cortes returned from Mexico, chocolate could only be accessed by the rich Spanish.

It was only after the invention of the cocoa press by Coenraad Johannes van Houten, that it became popular among the masses. This made the process of extracting the cocoa butter from roasted beans easier. The byproduct was turned into powder then mixed with different ingredients. The concoction was poured into molds and then hardened. This was the beginning of modern chocolate.

Ingredients for Xocolatl with Jalapeño
2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
2 cups of water
1 sliced Jalapeño
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
2 teaspoons of sugar or more, optional

Directions:
1. Mix the water and jalapeño in a saucepan then boil the mixture.
2. Add cocoa powder, vanilla extract and the sugar.
3. Keep stirring the ingredients until the chocolate has dissolved.

Ingredients for Xocoatl with Chili Pepper
1/4 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder
5 and 1/2 cups of water
1 green chili pepper
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Boil 1 and 1/2 cups of water then add the sliced chili peppers including the seeds. Boil for another 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Remove the chili pepper and seeds from the water by straining. Add 4 cups to the remaining water.
3. Slow-boil in medium-low heat then add cocoa powder and vanilla extract. Stir the concoction for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Keep stirring until the cocoa powder has fully dissolved.

Ingredients for Xocoatl with Cinnamon and Cayenne Pepper
50 g of dark chocolate bars
300 ml of water
A pinch of cinnamon
A pinch of cayenne pepper
Vanilla extract

Directions:
1. The chocolate bars must be broken into smaller pieces then placed inside a jug.
2. Boil the water then pour it in the jug which contains the chocolate bars
3. Add cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and a few drops of vanilla extract.
4. Mix all the ingredients until the chocolate has fully dissolved.

Posted by Editor in Food Buzz
05
Mar
2018

How to be Responsible Over Your Alcohol Intake

Teenagers and adults alike love to grab a cold drink once in a while. Bars in Singapore, for one, are always bustling with enthusiastic people especially when the weekend is near. It’s one way to reward oneself after a week’s worth of hard work, and not to mention, most social occasions also involve the presence of alcohol. However, it is important to note that alcohol isn’t ideal for everyone. There are certain cases where people are prohibited or discouraged from consuming too much alcoholic drinks, especially when their health is involved.

There is a different amount of recommended alcohol intake for every person. With that, it is important to always take into consideration how you can control your urges and avoid drinking beyond what is ideal. Keep in mind that to drink is a personal choice. The decision is entirely yours to make, hence it is crucial to wisely deliberate over it.

On handling issues involving alcoholic drinks, there are some guidelines you can adhere to in order to limit your intake depending on only how much your body can handle. Did you know that one way of being responsible over your alcohol intake is learning when to say No?

Figure where you stand on the issue of alcohol
Whether you like it or not, you shouldn’t be forced to fake it and be giddy over alcohol or indifferent towards it when you’re not. Stay true to yourself. If you dislike alcohol, then controlling yourself not to go overboard will be a piece of cake. This doesn’t mean you should worry if you’re an avid alcohol lover though, you’re good as long as you know your limits.

Don’t be swayed by peer pressure
Since drinking can become a social activity, there are instances where you’ll be forced to drink such as during rounds of drinking games. Regardless, you shouldn’t allow peer pressure to lure you in any further when you can’t handle it anymore. Do not make impulsive decisions without thinking over the potential consequences you may suffer. Learn how to say no!

Explain your situation, if necessary
If you are around people you feel comfortable with, simply explaining your situation will give them the idea as to why you’re consuming less alcohol. Chances are they’ll be more understanding and considerate, and they might even stop bugging you to take that next shot. You don’t have to go into further details. The mere knowledge of your complex cardiac condition will give them the idea that too much alcohol won’t be good for you.

Big crowd perks
Ah, the perks of drinking with a big crowd! Not only will the place be instantly livelier and easily filled with chattering noise, but there is also the likelihood nobody will really notice if you’re not drinking. Simply having a lemonade drink or cola will make people assume you’ve thrown gin or vodka in there as well.

Posted by Editor in Healthy Habits
05
Mar
2018

What are the Nutritional Benefits of Eating Rice?

Rice is primarily the staple food across many countries in Asia, including Singapore. It has been undoubtedly a popular feature of meals across the city-state. Singapore’s national dish, for instance, is Hainanese chicken rice. It is among the many cultures who consume rice several times a day. In these countries, a meal isn’t exactly considered a meal without the presence of rice.

Inherent nutrition in rice, however, may be eliminated because it has to undergo through a refined process. It is composed of various steps of which involves cleaning, sterilization, filtration, and milling, among the many. Regardless, rice still provides a number of health benefits through healthy consumption though.

Hence to answer the ever famous question of whether rice is good or bad — rice isn’t necessarily bad for the body. It only turns harmful once we gobble up huge portions beyond the recommended daily intake. As a matter of fact, it is actually rich in nutrients and brings about more advantages in comparison to other carbohydrates.

• Gives energy
Rice is packed with carbohydrates, which are reliable sources of energy. In our busy day-to-day activities, we need to ensure the body is getting all the energy it needs to function well in order to achieve maximum work productivity. The body also uses these energy to ward off potential diseases as well as maintain healthy biological processes. The next time you eat a meal without rice and end up feeling rather sluggish, you’ll know the reason why.

• Prevents gastrointestinal diseases
With the low fiber content in rice, it is then a healthy food option for people suffering from colitis, morning sickness, or diarrhea. Rice also contains low levels of sodium, which makes it beneficial for people with kidney diseases and even those with high blood pressure.

• Promotes muscle growth
Aside from carbohydrates, rice is also rich in essential amino acids. When it is served along with slices of meat, the meal is now ideal in terms of promoting proper muscle mass. Rice has enough protein content which is important for muscle growth and development. It also maintains lean body mass. This makes rice a good option for vegetarians and vegans who seek to develop their physique.

• Other benefits
Rice holds natural anti-inflammatory and mild diuretic properties, and it also serves as an aid for proper digestion. Rice meals are typically satiating — making us eat slower and increasing our chances of eating just the right amount. This promotes proper digestion, one of the basis of an accelerated metabolism.

Rice also contains other essential nutrients such as manganese, which supports the body’s immune system, and thiamine, which plays an important role in improving the cognitive processes of the brain.

Posted by Editor in Health and Wellness
01
Feb
2018

Experience a New Kind of Fun at Home Club Comedy

Comedy is a great way to relieve stress and go home with a smile. Everyone needs to laugh a little more each day instead of stressing out on things that aren’t even that important. Comedy is a necessity as it does not only help you relax, it also relieves the tension build up inside of you from stressful experiences like work.

The Place to Go
Lucky for you, there is an actual stand-up comedy community in Singapore which invites everyone for a couple of laughs. Stand-up comedy has been going on for quite a while now and the Singaporean stand-up comedy has just started to begin. Even as a beginner, the stand-up comedy community in Singapore does not lack when it comes to laughter.

Having a spot every Tuesday with an entrance fee of just $10, stand-up comedy might just be your new thing. Besides nothing else usually happens on a Tuesday. It’s pretty obvious that Home Club is one of the best clubs in Singapore as it is signed in by nightlife photographer Malcolm Baey in his Ultimate Singapore Nightlife Guide.

Laughter Throughout the Night
Experience a new type of nightlife filled with laughter and entertainment as you explore the world of stand-up comedy. Comedy is something everyone should treasure. People nowadays are getting old faster than they should because of how serious they’ve become. Allow yourself a night to just enjoy and have a couple of laughs. Laughing is a great way to stay young and positive!

Imagine going to the Home Club every Tuesday for a great night of laughs, wouldn’t that be fun? The best part is, it wouldn’t be that much of a hassle because all you have to do is be there, get a drink, and enjoy the comedy in front of you. You’d even get to go home with a good feeling because you’ve laughed your heart out.

The More, The Merrier
Now, imagine going to the Home Club every Tuesday with friends! Wouldn’t that be fun! Imagine all the laughter and amusement you’d all have as the comedians crack up jokes that will make you spill your drink in laughter! You’d even have so much fun that you’d think of it during work.

Comedy is an important part of life and if we can’t release the tension inside of us, we’d have a hard time coping up. Comedy is a great way for us to release that tension. Let’s face it, we all have different tastes when it comes to jokes, but check out the Home Club on a Tuesday, you might find out that the jokes they’re telling are pretty funny.

Posted by Editor in What's trending

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