Summer and your eyes

Shades or sun glasses are the best way to protect eyes from ultra violet rays as they act as a visual aid that prevent strong light from entering the eyes


The blazing hot summer days with hot wind are still here. The wind not only brings heat but also a lot of foreign particles. Organs that are worst affected by dust and heat are the eyes. Eyes certainly require special care in summer. Where ever you go, be it a beach, theme park or resort, it is important to safeguard them. Shades or sun glasses are the best way to protect eyes from ultra violet rays that harm your eyes. “Sunglasses can protect the eyes. They act as a visual aid which has lenses that prevent strong light from entering the eyes. They are made of either glasses or plastic. Plastic lenses are made from acrylic, polycarbonate or CR-39. Glass lenses have good optical clarity and are scratch resistant, but are heavier than plastic lenses. Plastic lenses are light and break resistant but can get scratches.CR-39 are the most common and have low transparency for UV rays and infrared rays ,” says Dr Amar Agarwal, Director, Agarwal Eye Hospitals. “Transition glasses are best bet than sun glasses. They change their tinge according to the climate and offer better protection,” says Dr Ravi, a senior ophthalmic surgeon in the city.



Most ophthalmologists point to dryness coupled with burning and itching as the main eye problem during summer. Thanks to computers, mobile phones and other gadgets. “This problem aggravates during summer due to the high evaporation rate,” says Dr Ravi. Washing eyes with cold water does not prevent dryness. On the contrary, it adds to the dryness. Cold water just makes you feel good. Tear supplements and lubricating eye drops are the only solution for dry eyes. It has been a myth that viral infections are exclusive to summer. The outbreak can happen anytime.


During summer, people end up with all kinds of dust allergies. “Dust allergies and pollen grain allergies like vernal conjunctivitis are seen in children and adults during summer,” says Dr Parthasarathi, senior consultant, Udhi Eye Clinic. A good pair of glasses protects eyes not just from the UV rays but also from dust. At the end of the day, whether it is summer or winter, the key is to protect eyes and seek treatment at the right time.

The Tip

How to decorate your home office

• Use basic equipment with plain styling. A desk or armoire with spare lines, a simple bookcase, basic-issue file cabinets, a nononsense chair and a plain desk lamp will look good for your office space.

• Reduce accessories. Hang an academic degree or professional awards, but don’t litter the walls and tabletops with family photos, botanical prints or other knick-knacks.

• Keep the floor covering simple. Options include a solid-colour wall-to-wall carpet or plain hard-surface flooring, such as un-patterned ceramic tile or hardwood strip flooring.

• Leave windows bare if possible, or go with an ultra simple treatment such as miniblinds or 2-inch-wide wood blinds.

• Skip the bric-a-brac. A vase of flowers containing a few tulips or calla-lilies or a potted plant in a plain container should be the only non-essentials in view.

• Stow work gear in drawers and cabinets. Clutter does not look good in a minimalist home office.

• Go with walls that aren’t busy. Skip the patterned wallpaper, trompe l’oeil paintings, murals and such.

THINGS YOU’LL NEED

Hardwood Flooring

Carpets

Desk Chairs

Desk Lamps

Desks

File Cabinets

Flowers

Plants

Tiles

Vases

Venetian Blinds

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How to pick a sheer blouse

A sheer blouse can be a great item to have in your closet. You can pair it with different things to completely change your look, and you can make it work for all sorts of occasions. Here are some things to keep in mind when you hit the stores to pick a sheer blouse that will work for you in a variety of situations.

Pick a good quality sheer blouse that wont snag or pull the first time you wear it. Check the fabric carefully in the store to be sure it is unmarred. Try pulling a piece of the fabric to see how fine the weave is and how well it will wear once its off the hanger and on you.

Look for a well-fitting blouse. You want to be sure there isn’t too much sheer fabric hanging from your arms or mid-section. This will look sloppy rather than sexy. Find sheer blouses in darker colours, such as brown, blue or black, which will give enough coverage to wear them during the day as well as at night. Patterns also work well in sheer blouses. Try a sheer blouse with a smooth nude bra underneath for a natural effect. Just be sure the fabric isn’t too sheer, showing more than you intended. You want to give a hint of what’s underneath without baring it all to the world. Slip a black sheer blouse over a lacy black bra for a night time look. This will look very classy if you do it right. Wear a nude camisole or a tank top underneath a light-coloured sheer blouse to make it appropriate to wear during the day. Top a sheer blouse with a vest so you can wear it to work. This is an easy way to change the look. Check a sheer blouse in a three-way mirror with good lighting so you can make sure the blouse looks good and not tacky.

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Making a success of that blind date

The prospect of going on a blind date can be very exciting. But blind dates can be nervewracking as well. For one, you have no idea what your date looks or is like. You may have also heard horror stories from friends or other sources about a blind date gone awry. But here’s the thing: since you have decided to try your hand at a blind date, you should attempt to make that one outing pleasurable, irrespective of how your companion turns out to be. Here are some tips to help you have a successful blind date. Plan and prepare The first impression is always the most lasting one, as we generally form an impression of a person within just minutes of meeting them, which is unlikely to change. Blind dates are no different —your first impressions sets the stage for the entire date.

Select clothing that is appropriate for your date, such as casual for a movie or a little more dressy for a nice dinner.

Don’t wear clothes that are revealing or over the top. Work towards a neat appearance in terms of make up, clothing, accessories and footwear. If you are a man, shower, shave, and ensure that you smell good. But do not overdo the cologne bit. Women also need to work on cutting out the body odour.

If you are a smoker, be liberal with the mouth freshner. Remember, you only have once chance at a first impression, so make it a good one.

Safety

Blind dates can be fun and exciting, but remember that this is your first meeting. If you were set up by mutual friends, you may know something about the person and your friends may have an idea of your date plans. But if you met on the Internet or otherwise, take a few extra precautions. Make sure that a friend knows where you will be and at what times, as well as the name of the person. Carry a cellphone with you as a precaution. Another option is to make the first date a double date and have a friend join you.

The first meeting

Arrive a little early and offer a polite greeting and handshake when he/she arrives. Smile and be friendly, even if you are nervous.

Be open-minded

Remember that this is a blind date. If you set your expectations too high, you will surely be disappointed. Secretly, we may all want good-looking, highly intellectual, slapstick funny dates with an abundance of cash. That’s not reality though. Stay open-minded and free of high expectations for your date. This will allow you to relax and have a good time rather than setting yourself up for disappointment should the date not go well.

Be yourself

It’s easier said than done. One of the biggest mistakes that people make on blind dates is trying to be someone that they aren’t. Just be yourself. Ladies, don’t wear high heels if you normally wear sandals. If you are a jeans and T-shirt person, don’t have your date at a five-star restaurant. During the date, answer questions honestly and talk candidly about yourself without exaggerating.


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Travelling beauty

It’s easy to look good from home. You have all that you need right at hand. But what do you do when you’re on the move? Is it really viable to lug around the contents of your dressing table? Or do we need to get more realistic about it? Here are a few tips

• Choose small bottles and pour your beauty lotions into them. Plastic bottles are less likely to break and more ready for wear and tear. Restrict your self to one or two bottles of your most wanted lotions.

• Disposable wipes are very convenient to carry around. If you dampen them a little, they can be used to remove make up, clean and tone the face as well.

• Use a cream blush that can double up as lipstick. Or a lipstick that can be used as a blusher and eye shadow too. Neutral colours come in handy for multi-purpose use.

• If you’re planning to be outdoors most of the time, don’t forget your sunscreen lotion.

• A small bottle of Vaseline can be used as face cream, hand cream and foot cream at night.

• One eye pencil can be used as kajal, liner and even as a light smudged eye shadow.

• Carry around mosquito repellents or your skin won’t look good when it’s bitten and blotchy.

• Water — it’s vital to look good. Carry around a large water bottle and take frequent sips.

How to pick the right hair color

When you color your own hair, picking the perfect new shade or color for your hair can be a daunting task, but here are a few tricks to make it easier

Coloring newbie?

Start with a semi-permanent color. Semi-permanent colors wash out after a few washes, whereas permanent colors never wash out. If you are new to coloring your hair, you might start with a semi-permanent hue unless you want to cover gray hair or go two or more shades lighter or darker.

Don’t go by the picture on the box.

Pictures on hair color boxes can be deceiving. You are better off going by the color swatches on the box and the descriptions.

Is your skin color warm or cool?

Most hair colors fall into either ‘categories’. You’re likely a ‘warm’ tone if you have golden, olive or dark skin and brown or dark eyes (most Latinas, Asians and African Americans fall into this category). You tan easily and the veins in your inner wrists are green. You’re a ‘cool’ if you have fair skin and blue or green eyes. You burn before you tan and the veins in your wrists run blue.

Choose the correct shade

If you have warm skin, opt for golden shades such as caramel and bronze in a darker shade than your skin. Avoid jet-black hair which will give you a washed out look and if you do opt for a golden shade, don’t go too light or your hair could turn orange. If you have cool shade, avoid colors that will highlight the ruddiness of your skin tone: Gold, auburn and copper. Ash blondes and cool browns work best.

How to tell if you’d make a great blonde

A basic thumb rule is that people who had blonde hair as children have the right skin tone to be blonde adults.

The right shade of blonde

Brassy blonde color or highlights on someone with a warm skin tone can be harsh. Opt for warmer shades instead. If you have brown hair and want to go blonde, you don’t want to go too light. Opt for contrast.

When to go red

Almost everyone can go red, what’s most important is finding the right shade to complement your skin color. Women with a cool or pink skin tone pull off red best, according to Jennifer J, a stylist quoted in the February 2006 issue of Marie Claire.

How to hide that gray

Gray hair can be hard to color because of its coarse texture. If your hair is less than one-thirds gray, opt for a semi-permanent color that’s a shade lighter than your natural color (or matches your color). The gray will blend right in. Semi-permanent color is less damaging than permanent color.

Uh-oh, the color’s all wrong

It is strongly suggested you seek out professional help if your dye job went wrong. Coloring over color can be tricky and you don’t want to over-process your hair.

Don’t go extreme

At-home coloring is best for people looking to go a couple shades lighter or darker or to cover gray. If you have light brown hair, a dark blonde will look beautiful on you. For extreme changes, it’s best to seek out professional help.

Make the phone your friend

Alexander Graham Bell didn’t know what he was starting when he invented the telephone. He never could have predicted the number of problems his invention would cause in the relationships of today. Agreed, the phone may be one of the greatest inventions of all time, but men and women still don’t know how to use it when it comes to dating. Not to worry. Here’s how to use the phone to win your lady over rather than scaring her off.

YOU SCORED THE NUMBER

Amongst the most popular questions vis-a-vis dating these days is, ‘How do I approach her?’ or ‘How do I ask her out?’ or even ‘When do I call her?’ Do you really need to mull over this for days together? Let’s say you meet a woman at a club. You’re both on the dance floor and you’re having a great conversation about whether or not there is a life force besides ours. The two of you hit it off and you ask her for her home phone number. You’re dying to pick up the phone and give your new friend a call, but of course, you can’t call that very same night. That would seem way too eager.

RULES ARE MADE TO BE BROKEN

There is an unwritten rule that you have to wait a certain amount of time before calling up a woman you’ve just met. Not waiting doesn’t necessarily make you seem overeager; it’s what you say and your demeanour on the phone that really matters. Therefore, if you call her on the second day, be calm. Ask her how she’s been and chitchat for a short while, but don’t let the conversation drag on.

AFTER THE DATE

So the two of you went out and had a great time together. Within the next couple of days, you should call to tell her that you had a lot of fun. This call does not serve the specific purpose of asking her out on another date; it’s just to touch base and show her that you’re confident enough to call her again. By not securing another date with her, you’ll be catching her off guard once again and subtly easing yourself into her thoughts.

LEAVE A MESSAGE

Now this part is crucial. If she doesn’t answer and her voice mail picks up, leave a message. In any case, her phone will give her a missed call list, so she will know you called in any case. If you don’t leave a message, she might think you were too nervous or lacked the confidence to leave proof that you called. Make sure to leave your name and number clearly. Don’t blabber on forever, don’t sound too serious and don’t repeat the information. If you leave a message, it becomes her obligation to call you back. If she doesn’t, and you really feel that the first date went well, you can try her again - but only after a few days.

NO ANSWER

This too is very important: If there is just no answer every time you call, don’t call her every hour. Calling obsessively will make you seem like a stalker. Finally, something that most of us have learned the hard way is that you shouldn’t take what other people say too literally. If she says she’ll call you on Monday night, for example, do not sit by the phone waiting for her call. Just call her up.

Little pecks and hugs

Win over your guy’s heart by doing little things, knowing what they like and when

LITTLE SURPRISES

"Darling, I picked up a new pair of khakis for you" or "Sweetie, I got a babysitter for tonight so we can see a flick" definitely are the kind of surprises that men want. When you spring little surprises on them - whether it’s buying them a sweet gift or recording their favorite songs, they feel loved.

UNEXPECTED TOUCHES

They pop out of the shower in the morning, and as you shuffle past them, you hit them with a peck on the back of the neck. While coffee is pretty good, your gentle peck is really the best part of waking up. Yes, it’s true - the slightest touch from you can bring your man to his knees in midsentence.

EGO STROKING

Guys often feel the need to be the provider, the man of the house, and whether they’ve succeeded in hanging a shelf or grilling a mean Tbone, they are in heaven when you give them that "you did a great job” peck on the cheek. More than anything, your man wants to feel as if he is your hero.

VEG TIME

Guys crave for do-nothing moments only after work. They absolutely love it when you understand the bizarre behavior and leave them to their own devices as they pound peanuts and watch the game on the occasional Sunday or alphabetize their CDs after dinner.

FASHION POLICING

Why do men want to wear their 10-year-old T-shirt at times? Because they think it’s cool and irreverent. Little do they realize that it makes them look like crap. As much as they hate to admit it, they desperately need your fashion help.

YOU DRESSING SEXY, MOSTLY

Your guy thinks you are the sexiest, most beautiful woman on the planet. The fact is that they feel pretty cool when it’s obvious that they’ve scored the hottest babe in the room.

Five steps to finding your dream partner

Finding the right one when it comes to partners isn’t easy, but what usually complicates the situation is that you aren’t really sure what the ‘right one’ is like. If you don’t have a focused idea of the kind of partner you’re looking for, you aren’t likely to recognize them even if you fell over their feet in the coffee shop. Take a look at the following steps and see how easy it is to define your dream partner.

Step 1: What’s the most important attribute that your dream partner must have. Unlike the other attributes you will put on your list, this is the one unshakable thing that your partner has to have. The idea here is that this is going to be something important to you and it will help you to immediately narrow your search down to only the potential partners who have this personality trait or physical characteristic.

Step 2: What physical/personal characteristics are important to you. Make a list. Long hair, short hair, talkative, reserved, tall, athletic, sexy smile, nice accent, etc. What would make the ideal partner for you. Try and get a picture in your mind. Then once you meet people who have a number of these characteristics you can see how they score on the other points on your list.

Step 3: What does your dream partner do? What kind of education do you hope they have? What do they do in their spare time? Is it important to you that they’ve been to college? Do they need to be someone who is in a good secure job? What about people who need to travel as part of their job, is this something you’d be prepared to live with for the right partner, or not. Answer these questions for yourself to know what you want in your partner.

Step 4: Think about the kinds of opinions that you have on issues important to you - such as political or religious beliefs. How necessary is it to have your dream partner agree with you on these? Are you happy to consider a partner who opposes you completely on these issues?

Step 5: The last thing for you to think about is the future. For any relationship to endure, both parties need to be walking in the same direction headed for the same destination and that’s the purpose of this final step of defining your dream partner — to know where you’re going and if your partner is headed the same way. Think long-term.