Cheap Remedy - Split nails

I have the problem of snagging my nails - quite frequently, that is. Sometimes, I did not even know when/ where/ how they split, especially after I began my life as a SAHM. Of cos, the easiest way to get around it will be to simply trim it off, IF the split had not already gone into the portion where the flesh is. Unfortunately again, this happens almost everytime.

So how? Initially, I had to rely on the professionals - the Manicurist. Ya, and u think they are just there to beautify your nails huh. Sometimes, they can be "life-savers" too. What they do is to patch up the tear with acrylic powders , forming something like a fake nail over your natural nail. The one that I last visited charges $7.50/ nail - a hefty sum for someone that's relying on another person for "income"! It would have been well worth the cost if that could last me till the nail grow out enough to be trimmed. Alas, that NEVER happened. Having to return for "re-servicing" every week (at best fortnightly, for people like me who use their hands excessively for cleaning, washing etc. For true blood Tai Tai, ya, the patch will probably last much longer. In the first place, I don't think they even need such a service, unless of cos, they so carelessly snag their beautifully manicured nails while trying out clothes at Dxxx, Pxxxx etc), and I think they charge you for removing the existing/ failing acrylic layer, that simply translates to "Option Denied".

Sure, I can learn the art of manicuring and just purchase the tools. NO TIME. Luckily, there's an easier n cheaper option available. Orly carries a Nail Rescue Kit that includes a small container of acrylic powder n glue. What u have to do is to simply apply the glue over your entire nail, dip into the powder, wait a while for it to dry, then buff the surface till it's smooth. Walah! Brand-new nail! Ok, the kit doesn't come cheap (think it $20+) and the glue was already dried up when I opened it (apparently a common complaint for this particular item), but the powder can really last. The first time I tried it (after purchasing another nail glue of other brand, which is just a couple of dollars), it didn't work well. The second time, I decided to apply extra layers, and it worked marvelously. Lasted much longer than those salon-done ones, though it wasn't as pretty. But it's sturdy. Worked for me.

Here's the catch - how to remove them when they start to wear off? First time round, I paid some "school fees" again and bought those artificial nail remover that comes with a plastic container n sponge from the same brand. I soaked n rubbed n soaked n rubbed... in the end, I had to use the nail file to try and remove the failed job as much as possible. The liquid dried up before I got to use it for the 2nd round. Then, I read on the web that I just have to get a normal nail remover that is NOT acetone-free, drench a piece of cotton pad with it, wrap it over the nail, and cover the whole thing with foil for 15-20mins. Just tried it earlier. Voila! Nice n Clean!

So, the morale of the story? Cheap and simple solution may very well turned out much better than fanciful (expensive) ones.

Lesson learnt:-

If u r often in the same predicament as me, u may want to take note of the following -

1. Just buy the Orly powder, WITHOUT the glue. U can easily get more affordable and reliable nail glue elsewhere.

2. You DO NOT need a separate remover. Just use your regular one as recommended above. They work just fine, if not better. If yours is the harsher version, u may want to apply some Vaseline on your cuticle to prevent them from drying.

Hope whoever finds this article, can get some value out of it.

Ho Ho Restaurant

Was a little disappointed, as I'd planned to go skiing this morning. However, it started snowing and I knew K wasn't keen cos he doesn't like to be in the open when it's cold. Thus, the plan was postponed AGAIN. Many of my plans for the week had already been shoved due to all kinds of reasons, like weather, work etc. So it wasn't difficult to imagine what I was feeling.....

Anyway, there was no reason y dinner plan should change, as he was the one who proposed it and it's indoor. When we reached there, we were still wondering if we went to the right location. Ho Ho Restaurant was recommended by his colleagues but it really looked "lok pok" from the outside.

We went in, ordered Ginger n Scallion CRAB and 红烧豆腐．Fortunately, we were smart enough to go for small portion for both dishes. Surprise, surprise! The dishes tasted great, though some 煮炒stalls back home scored better, but this is by far, the BEST Chinese cuisine we had since we arrived in US. The crab cost US$15 and the size is huge. Although the meat tended to stick to the shell, overall, it tasted fresh and palatable. The tofu is an all-in-one dish, with vegetables, mushrooms etc, healthy and savoury. Good thing about this joint is, the flavouring and seasoning is just right. Chinese food here has the tendency to be overpowering in terms of flavouring, exceptionally sweet, sour, salty whatever. Too heavy for our liking. It's tweaked to suit the American. No matter where you eat, they food will taste the same, and we're getting really sick of Chinese food here. Moreover, the dishes came with steamed rice. We had to order rice when we dined elsewhere.

At the end of the whole experience, what made it all the more worthwhile was the bill. Cost around US$24. For the same price, we get to eat fried rice, noodles etc elsewhere. And no tipping is required! That's a big deal here where it's common to tip between 15 - 20% of your bill. Trust Singaporean to be complaining about the 10% service charge......

Ho Ho will definitely be in our list of regular haunt!

TV Features - All-truth/ Half-truth/ No-truth?

In this instance, my verdict is NO TRUTH. Ever heard of 天天火锅？The aggressive ads, features in TV programmes, with the hosts raving about the superb soup etc. Well, I would say utterly OVER-RATED and OVER-PRICED!

Why eat steamboat? For the soup of cos! This joint actually charges for the soup ($10 for 2 flavours), unless you go for their "promotion" - outdoor seats along the corridor. I'm lucky I opted for that. The soup did taste different from the usual "instant chicken stock" taste u get from most steamboat joints, but it's definitely far from spectacular. Couldn't even make out significant differences for my 2 choices of Chicken & Pork Ribs soup. Though they claimed that no MSG was used, I still felt rather thirsty after the meal. So much about 真材实料。

Besides the $10 for soup (if u're not going for the "promo"), they charge $18/pax plus 10% service charge. U would think for that kind of money, the spread should be quite substantial. Shocked!! Fishballs, mushroom balls, luncheon meat, some vegetables, tang hoon.... about 15 variants???, inclusive of the staples in the buffet spread. Oh, they still have some in their menu, say about 10 variants, which includes Tiger Prawns, the size you would use to make hay bee. For $12 at Marina South, u DEFINITELY get much more out of it (if u don't mind the smell and heat). Put it this way, if I were to throw away 10 plates of ingredients uneaten, the operator will still be laughing all the way to the bank.

As if I wasn't suay enough, I burnt my oesophagus while eating a tofu and paid $31 for the doctor. And I'm still suffering from it now, the constant choking, congested feel, especially near my heart when I have to swallow stuff, or even just burping.

If u really must try, u just need to take a look along the same stretch of shops, compare the size of the Tiger Prawns from another joint nearby, that should send a CLEAR signal - DON'T GO!