Smart Ways To Spend Your Money At MINISO

Marketing itself as a Japanese lifestyle and fast fashion brand, MINISO has a variety of products from stationary to kitchenware. It is taking over Singapore’s commercial scene for years now. Its global effect is widely prominent too!

On that note, here are 4 affordable items that you can score at MINISO:

#1: WATER BOTTLES

MINISO has no shortage of stylish, functional, and cheap water bottles. From bold neon patterns to muted natural hues, you name it and they have got it! They even have a minimalist bottles with inspiring quotes. Finding a bottle that freshens and motivates you may aids your performance throughout the day.

Image Credits: miniso.ca

Among its wide selection of bottles, the one wrapped around with a soft silicone is a standout. Its unique design protects your hands from warm drinks. Nonetheless, these water bottles fit in most cup holders. Feel free to drink your favorite beverage while you are on the go!

#2: NOSE STRIPS

I am attracted to flawless and smooth skin. Thus, I became an avid fan of deep cleansing. I cannot fully describe my obsession with nose strips. My partner and I frequent different Japanese and Korean brands just to find the most efficient one. During our search, we chanced upon MINISO’s Volcanic Mud nose strips (about S$2.5). This type is primarily made for men. However, we were drawn by its adhesive prowess. One strip can help you to achieve a silky smooth nose.

Challenge your friends or family members as you compare who has the less black heads or white heads. Personally, I always lose!

Related: Smart Ways To Spend Your S$2 At Daiso

#3: TRAVEL-SIZED BOTTLES

For jet-setters, a set of reusable bottles from MINISO (i.e., less than S$5) is one of the best presents that you can ever give. You can transfer different liquids such as shampoo, essential oils, and hand cream.

Image Credits: carousell.com

The “cosmetics packaging” set was the most useful thing that I received last year. As a makeup junkie, I was able to transfer my setting spray in a smaller container instead of bringing a 500 ml spray bottle. Imagine carrying that weight on a daily basis!

#4: SCREEN PROTECTOR

Most gadgets kiosks sell tempered glass phone protectors for S$10 and beyond. That is crazy! You can snag a cheaper deal (S$3.90) at MINISO. The only downside here is that you would have to put the screen protector by yourself.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

If this is something that you are comfortable with then, you can immediately purchase now.

Sources: 1, 2,3, & 4

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How to Get Your Life Back on Track After an Injury

Sustaining an injury can be one of the most traumatic incidents in a person’s life. No matter how big or small, having one can result in a dramatic change in the way you live your life. Not only will the scars be physical, but you may be enduring some difficult emotional troubles if your injury is serious. If you have been out of action for a while, returning to your daily life can be another obstacle you must overcome. Though everything may not be the same as before, there are some small but helpful ways you can get your life back on the track you are happy with.

Ask your friends and family for help

You may be struggling to complete tasks that you would have found a breeze before your accident, and while you are determined to do things by yourself, there is every chance that this isn’t a possibility. In time, you will be able to navigate your life in a similar way to before, but for the short term, you will need help. Knowing that it is normal to rely on a trusted group of friends and family is the first step you can take, and you should remind yourself of this every day. Asking for help will let you ease back into your regular routine, but it will also mean that you have a great support network should you need some emotional support.

Keep your doctor on call

Coming home from a hospital environment will mean that you are stripped of a lot of the resources you will have gotten used to when you had nurses there to help. Though it may be a relief to be home, that isn’t to say you won’t encounter complications after your release from the ward. In the off chance that something in your recovery was to go wrong, it’s wise for you to have the number of your doctor saved in case of an emergency. Also, you should make sure you attend all your aftercare appointments, so they can check your progress is going smoothly. This way, they will be able to suggest helpful tips on getting back on track, but they will also be able to spot any potential problems and stop them before they go any further.

Create a schedule

There is no doubt that certain aspects of your life will seem as though they are spiraling out of control, and you may not know where to start when you return home. To help keep your mind busy, write down a simple schedule that you can stick to. This will help you keep track of your progress, but it will also enable you to figure out where social life, work, and other activities can fit in around your new life. It will also act as a reminder that you are the one in control of your life, and that you have the power to change it if you are not currently happy with it.

Start exercising again

Exercise could well be the last thing on your mind after sustaining your injury, but there are countless studies to show that it can speed up the recovery process as well as improve mental health. The best way to start is by doing gentle exercises like walking. However, there are also specific exercises you can do depending on which injury you have. Your physiotherapist will suggest those that are best for you, but you can also enjoy exercises like Pilates for back pain and yoga for knee injuries. Having a relaxing and meditative form of exercise to rely on will relieve some of the mental and physical pains of your injury and will help your body on the road to recovery.

Get enough sleep

When you have an injury, your body will feel more tired than usual, as it expends energy trying to heal. Unfortunately, it could mean that your energy levels are low and that you are irritable with those around you. The key to this is getting enough rest. If you are out of action for a while, you will have plenty of time to regain your strength by interspersing your exercise with naps. Your injury might be making it more difficult for you to sleep, so make sure you invest in soft, comfortable furnishings and injury-specific tools to aid you in having a better sleep. More sleep means that your body will recover at a faster rate, but if you are spending a lot of time in bed, you might be feeling down. For resting times, make sure you have some activities to enjoy and that you aren’t spending too much time alone.

Seek emotional support

Having a serious injury can result in some difficult emotions that you might have fears over confronting, and it may also leave you with some trauma to deal with. When you are spending days in bed, cut off from the outside world, these feelings can be exacerbated. Try and communicate well to family and friends how you are feeling so that they can give you the appropriate support. For the days when it gets too hard, or when nobody is around to pick you up, you shouldn’t feel ashamed about seeking help from a therapist. It is better to talk through your emotions to save them from haunting you in the future.

Stay positive about the future

Your life may have changed immeasurably since your injury, or there could be elements that you are finding it hard to return to, but this doesn’t mean that your life is over. In fact, it could even open some new doors that you weren’t expecting, like the chance to spend more time with your family, or learning some new life skills. Though it will be impossible to stay positive every day, it will be the driving force behind you getting your life back on track if you can summon some positive energy to help you through the tough times. This will also set you up for any challenges life may throw at you in the years to come.

 

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5 Ways You Can Use Instagram to Take Better Travel Photos

Instagram has risen in popularity in the past few years, and many travellers use this platform to share their work, experience, and even tips for things related to travel and photography. It’s a good place to get travel inspiration, and also to share your travel photos.

Documenting your travel is an important part of the journey, so you can look back and remember all the adventures you’ve had. Instagram has been the place we often use to share our travel documentation, and it’s easy to print Instagram photos as travel keepsakes.

Of course, we want to make sure we take good travel photos for these purposes, and Instagram can actually help us improve our travel photography. Here’s how.

  1. Research and scout the locations

So many people these days post their travel photos and videos on Instagram, using geotags and hashtags to make them more discoverable. Thanks to these, you can get ideas for your next getaway. Moreover, Instagram can give you specific information that isn’t usually available on official tourism websites, and you get to ‘see’ the place through other people’s eyes to see whether it’s worth visiting.

What sort of information can you get from this? Plenty! For example, you can see whether there’s a good spot you can use to get a unique angle for your shot, or if there is any architecture or buildings you can use to frame your subject. If you’re want to check whether a place is crowded with tourists, you can use geotags to get a glimpse of the place.

  1. Find the ideas, and tweak them

Not only it’s a good place to research and scout the locations, Instagram (along with Pinterest) can also give you something else: an abundance of photo ideas. While in the old days we might have had to subscribe to travel magazines to learn the tricks of beautifully composed images, we can now learn from fellow Instagrammers.

See any images taken in your destination? Learn which composition works best, and try to come up with a unique angle and perspective that hasn’t been covered by other people. Having this in your plan before you travel can help you save the time when you’re there, and also prepare you to get creative with your photography.

  1. Use humans as your point of interest

It’s not always easy to take photos of a famous landmark without a few people in the frame. When it’s impossible to do that, use them to your advantage! Including them in the frame can add interest to your photo, as long as you know how to compose it. Many Instagram photos show us how we can incorporate human elements to add a sense of scale.

And while we’re on this topic, stay away from selfie shots if you want to create incredible travel photos. Ask your friend to take photos of you, or if you travel alone, ask a fellow traveller (tip: show them a shot as an example of how you want the photo to be composed, so all they have to do is replicate it. You’ll get much better results this way).

  1. Edit consistently

If there’s one thing that Instagram teaches us, it’s to have consistency, especially when it comes to editing. Not only does this make your photos and feed to look more cohesive, but it also helps you find and develop your own style in photography.

Editing plays an important role in creating a cohesive and consistent imagery. It’s where you transform your shots into images that are distinctively yours. How do you want your photos to look? Do you want them to have a warm tone with vibrant colours? Or do you favour muted colours with a darker tone? Explore your style and develop your own presets to make sure that your photos stand out.

  1. Learn how you can improve

Instagram photos can give us clues on what to improve. Pay attention to travel photos that grab your attention. Maybe it’s the negative space in the frame, or maybe it’s the human element, or the intricate details. Use Instagram feature ‘save to collection’ to build your own album of inspiration.

Another way you can learn from Instagram is by following accounts that share their tips on travel and photography. Many people use Instagram stories to share editing tutorials, travel hacks, and photography techniques, so make the most of it!

Your Instagram feed might look amazing with your holiday photos, but you need more than a display on a tiny screen for your precious travel memories. It’s really easy to print your travel photos online with Photojaanic and transform them into personalised travel keepsakes, like photobooks, wall art, postcards, or calendars.

Happy travelling!

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Smart Ways To Spend Your S$2 At Daiso

#1: KITCHEN CLIPS

All of us want to maintain the freshness of food. Personally, I do not want to eat chips that lost its crunchiness. To protect your leftover food, you may seal them with Daiso’s Kitchen Clips.

#2: MAGTOOLS JAR OPENERS

When was the last time you asked someone for help to open a stubborn jar or water bottle? This experience happens frequently to me. To make my life easier, I considered buying a lid opener. Daiso houses a specific brand for its jar openers – the Magtools. This tool does not require having powerful muscles!

Image Credits: amazon.com

#3: HEAT PACKS

Nothing screams value for your money louder than Daiso’s compressed heat packs for S$2. From adjusting your temperature in cold countries to aiding in your sick child’s fever, heat packs have many uses. It works in a matter of minutes!

#4: JAPANESE CANDIES

My fondness for Japanese candies started last Christmas. I was gifted a bag filled with Japanese candies including the brand Hi-Chew. Popular locally and internationally, Hi-Chew is a soft fruity candy that you can eat during your commute. Parents may also use it as a reward for a well-behaved child.Paying S$2 is not a huge price to pay for its multiple uses.

Image Credits: hi-chew.com

#5: BATHROOM LAUNDRY HOOKS

For students who reside in dormitories, you put laundry hooks inside your bathroom to save some space. You can hung your delicate (or costly) items inside your house without having to worry about it. Besides, it only costs S$2!

#6: EGG TIMER 

As soon as my beloved co-worker arrives, she sets her alarm to six minutes and boils her two eggs. It takes 6 minutes to reach the consistency that she desires. I am planning to purchase Daiso’s adorable egg timer to help her eat perfect hard-boiled in the mornings.

Image Credits: imgur.com

#7: ERASERS

I noticed that Japanese erasers are well-made. In Daiso, look for the Mono and Matomaru erasers and skip on the adorable shapes (e.g., sushi and dog erasers). The latter may look cute but, it does not provide the best performance.

Sources: 1, 2 & 3

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Budget-Friendly Tips On Maintaining Sustainable Fashion

As I was exploring the possibilities of becoming a Minimalist, I came across a YouTuber who declared her love for sustainable fashion. She was aiming to build a limited closet which included timeless pieces. She stressed on the importance of to re-wearing such items for the next 3 years or so.

Sustainable Fashion, also termed as Eco Fashion, is a part of the growing design philosophy that creates a system supporting social responsibility and environmental impact. When it comes to clothing, you can make sustainable choices too! Start with these tips:

#1: DITCH FAST FASHION BRANDS

Wouldn’t you jump for joy upon scoring an eleven-dollar blouse at Zara? I certainly did. There was an underlying reason behind its cheap price tag. Many fast fashion brands outsource their labor overseas. Furthermore, they use cheaper materials that can easily fall apart after multiple washes. Opt for fabrics that are made from eco-friendly materials such as silk, soy, hemp, organic cotton, and bamboo.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

Singapore’s abundant line-up of fast fashion brands include Zara, Topshop, H&M, Pull & Bear, Bershka, Forever 21, and Uniqlo. These brands persuade you to purchase a volume of trendy pieces due to its year-long sales. Try to invest on quality over quantity instead.

#2: CREATE A SHARED CLOSET

A surefire way to diminish the need to purchase a new clothing article is by borrowing one. Siblings, cousins, and friends often embrace the idea of sharing clothes with each other. You may even swap your clothes or give out your unworn items.

You can take advantage of a shared closet during rare occassions such as a themed wedding. You do not want to end up with a landfill of bridesmaid dresses like the protagonist from the movie 27 Dresses!

#3: SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES

Significant change starts with your sustainable choices. Make it a habit to support local products. Not only are you helping our economy but, you are also helping reduce the carbon footprints created by vehicles. Use the same philosophy when you travel. Purchase from the local weavers, jewelry artists, and shoemakers.

Image Credits: facebook.com/pg/zhaiecocollection

Eco-friendly Singaporean brands include Zhai and Etrican. Zhai is Singapore’s first boutique that carries clothing made from bamboo fiber. Nestled in the hippie streets of Haji Lane, it is the ideal choice for sustainable fashionistas. The later, Etrican, claims to be the pioneer in eco-friendly clothing in Singapore. See for yourself!

Sources: 1 &2

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