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.