4 kinds of concentrated scents

Confuse of the different scents of a perfume/cologne? Read this so you’ll know what to use in a party or date.

1. PERFUME. The strongest fragrance available. Use sparingly because its fragrance lasts longer-typically up to six hours, depending on the skin type.
2. EAU DE PARFUM. Lighter than perfume, with an 8-15 % concentration. This kind is less expensive and fragrance lasts from 3-5 hours.
3. EAU DE TOILETTE. Thus fragrance is most suitable for everyday use. It’s lighter and can last up to 4 hours.
4. EAU DE COLOGNE. Often referred to as cologne, this kind has the greatest dilution of fragrances. With a concentration of 3-5 %, it lasts for up to 2 hours.

Source: FHM 2007

When cheap is no good

Scouting for price-cuts is a smart habit. But when are you truly saving or when are you just throwing away precious peso? Here are tips on how to discern those discounts.

CLOTHING. Watch out for discounted items with uneven stitching an prone to small holes when used or stretched. They simple won’t last long: they lose their original shape and colors after a few washings and get easily ripped. In the end, it is still a waste of money.

FOOD. Watch out for sales of food items that are about to expire or old stock, or with slightly damaged packaging. Refrain from purchasing cans that appear misshapen or bloated. Keeping items for just a few days longer from the time you bought it may rob them of all the nutritional and health benefits.

MEDICATION. Watch for unbranded medicines. Beware of fake drugs.

COSMETICS. Watch out for the ingredients used and the texture. Cheaper brands don’t usually do not blend well and do not look natural on the skin. Worst of all theycan cause irritation.

SHOES. Watch out for the brand. Best way to test a shoe? Put it on. If it feels stiff and its shape doesn’t really fit the contour of your feet, walk away. Shoes of poor quality are known to cause pains and calluses, and don’t last as long as their more expensive counterparts.

JEWELRY. Watch out for the metal used. Those prone to skin allergies should be careful when buying pieces made of metal.

Source: Good Housekeeping 2005

Helping Hands

17 ways to get your kids to pitch in with household chores

1. Start early. Teaching kids about cleanliness at an early age makes the task more a habit than a chore.
2. Be specific. Show kids how a task is done before assigning them.
3. Work with their personality. It’s not difficult to get kids to help if the chore appeals to them. E.g. if your kid likes water, ask him to wash the dishes.
4. Make it a habit. Let your kids make their beds every day, and to set the table for lunch and dinner.
5. Rotate. Give every child the chance to do different chores to prevent boredom.
6. Make it fun. When your kid puts away her toys, put some music. Pretend that you’re neighbors and that he also has his own house to clean up and dust off.
7. Give points. Let your kids receive stamps for every 5 points, and every 20 stamps gets them a monetary fund.
8. Provide positive reinforcement. Reward your kids for a great job with certificates.
9. Make chore time bonding time. Exchange stories while folding and putting clothes in the closet.
10. Don’t nag. Nagging turns them off. Sometimes the more you nag, the more that they won’t do it.
11. Set an example. Of course you must do your chores too. Children are more inclined to help when they see you working around the house.
12. Teach them how to delay gratification. Teach your kids to work before playing.
13. Give them their own cleaning tools. Child will be delighted and takes every opportunity to utilize them.
14. Give rewards. Prizes for doing chores vary depending on the age and wants or needs of the child. Monetary rewards should be accompanied by lessons on saving.
15. But don’t bribe them. Instead reward them in loving ways. For instance you can say, “when you finish your bed., I will read you a story.”
16. Don’t lose your cool. Screaming may get you what you want, but be careful. You don’t want your children thinking they need to yell to get their way, too, right?
17. Clean together, stay together. Make a Saturday as a family shore day. It’s fun to see everyone making a concerted effort to keep the house clean.

Source: Good Housekeeping 2005

Why We Should Read Food Labels

Is this product good for me and my family? What nutritional benefits will I get from it? What ingredients make it up? Will some of the ingredients trigger allergies? How many servings will I get out of this pack?

More and more consumers ask these questions when faced with the many product choices

In supermarket shelves. The key to getting the answers and making informed choices is reading and understanding the labels on product packs.

What Labels Tell Us

The food labels that you see on products should indicate the following basic information:

Type of Product. Is it a cereal drink or a milk powder? Is it full cream or filled milks? Is it tonic food drink or chocolate milk?

Net Weight. This refers to the quantity inside the packages so the consumer will know how much she is paying for. For example, a 150g full cream milk makes 5-6 servings.

Contact Details. If consumers want to give feedback, how can the manufacturer be contacted?

Ingredients List. This provides a list of ingredients used in the manufacture of the product. Ingredients are usually listed from the most to the least amount. So if sugar is number one on the list, this tells us that the product contains mostly sugar.

Best Before Date. Before buying a product, always look for the Best Before date. The consumer will get the most out of the nutrients in the product before the date indicated in the Best Before.

Nutritional Claims. Descriptions such as low fat, fat-free, non-fat, cholesterol-free, lite, good source and excellent source are often found on product labels. But what do these terms mean?

- Low fat means the product has 3 grams or less fat.

- Non-fat or Fat-free means less than .5grams of fat per serving

- Cholesterol-free means less than 2 grams of cholesterol per serving

- Lite means 30% less calories than the original product

- Good Source means the specific nutrient it contains fulfils 10%-19% of the daily RENI (Recommended Energy and nutrient Intake)

- Excellent Source means the specific nutrient fulfils 20% or more of the daily RENI.

Health Claims. What are the potential health benefits of the product?

Function Claims. These describe the way a nutrient or food substance maintains or supports a normal body function.

Nutritional Information. This is a guide on how much nutrients are contributed by the product per serving based on the recommended requirement for the day (RENI). A good Nutrition Information table should have the RENI column that indicates the percentage of nutrients that the product contains per serving.

Source: Nestle magazine