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Style guide for women: 5 easy tips on how to dress better instantly

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We’ve heard the phrases “dress for success” or “dress for the job that you want, not the job you have.”

Dressing up will boost your self-confidence, promote self-respect and give a good impression.

As Coco Chanel’s famous quote goes, “Dress shabbily and they remember the dress. Dress impeccably and they remember the woman.”

Now comes the question on how to be effortlessly more stylish with little effort.

Here are KajoMag’s five easy tips on how to dress better instantly without changing your whole wardrobe:

1. Don’t know what to wear? Pick a one-piece outfit.

Style guide for women: 5 easy tips on how to dress better instantly
Pick a dress or a jumpsuit if you are too lazy to mix and match your outfit. Credits: Pexels.

Ever have one of those days when you just don’t know what to wear? Most professionals advise that we should plan our outfits the night before so that you don’t have to make that decision in the morning. But if you are really stuck and tired of playing the mix and match game, pick a one-piece like a dress or a jumpsuit.

2. Highlight one feature on your face

Style guide for women: 5 easy tips on how to dress better instantly
Rock a red lipstick and you definitely look effortlessly stylish. Credits: Pexels.

You don’t need to have professional skills or a suitcase of cosmetics to know how to apply makeup.

First of all you need to pick your favourite facial feature, then start to work some magic on your face.

Put on a bold red lipstick with super light eye makeup or wear a pair of fake lashes while rocking nude lips. Either way, highlight only one feature on your face so that way you won’t spend tonnes of time on makeup and still look polished.

3. Fix your hair

Style guide for women: 5 easy tips on how to dress better instantly
Give your a quick blow dry before going out from the house. Credits: Pexels.

For women, our hair is the crown that we never take off. So no matter how lazy you are in the morning, the least you can do is to simply comb your hair.

There is no need to go full blown salon style on your hair. As long as you tame that frizzy mane, you are good to go.

4. Choose one statement accessory

Style guide for women: 5 easy tips on how to dress better instantly
Pick only one statement accessories and your outfits would immediately looked more stylish. Credits: Pexels.

Even if you outfit is plain and uninteresting, dress better instantly by pairing it with a statement accessory.
Choose a pair of statement earrings or necklace depending on your outfit. Accessories do make you look like you dressed to impress.

5. Wear a pair of covered shoes

Style guide for women: 5 easy tips on how to dress better instantly
A pair of close-toed shoes is always a good choice. Credits: Pexels.

Have you heard the saying, “I make shoe contact before eye contact?” Your shoes can be the first thing people notice when they see you.

However, if it is hard to make a choice of which pair of footwear to go with, go for covered shoes. Covered heels will always make you look more professional than a pair of open toed shoes. A pair of white sneakers, for example, definitely looks better with your jeans than flip-flops.

If you don’t believe a pair of shoes can make a difference, just remember Cinderella.

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10 types of beauty masks you never thought you needed

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At the mention of beauty masks, one immediately thinks of the facial mask.

Not surprisingly though, the beauty industry has come up with so many innovations within this decade that you can find a mask for every inch of your body!

Well… Not exactly every inch of your body, but gone are the days when beauty masks are only meant for your face.

10 types of beauty masks you never thought you needed
The beauty industry has come with so many innovations over the last decade. Credit: Unsplash.

Here are 10 types of beauty masks you never thought you needed:

1. Foot mask

While most people are busy taking care of their faces and hair, some of us often neglect our feet. (Raise your foot if you wished your feet were smooth and soft before adulthood made them dry and cracked.)

The hottest thing in the beauty industry now is the foot peeling mask, which has becomean effective way to get rid of the dead skin on your feet. Be warned, the mask actually helps your feet peel like insects going through the molting process.

Place these masks like a sock on your freshly-cleansed feet and let the chemical do its magic. You will only see the results five to seven days after applying these masks when all the dead skin starts to peel off.

Some widely reviewed foot masks online are TONYMOLY Shiny Foot Super Peeling Liquid and Baby Foot Lavender.

2. Chin mask

This is reportedly a surgical-free way of lifting your jawline. V-mask, face lift mask, chin up mask are basically masks designed to reduce the appearance of your double chin. You can also use this to say goodbye to turkey neck.

Most of these masks for your chin claimed to to work to redefine your jawline after one 30-minute treatment.

3.Under-eye mask

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrARKnACoN8

Puffiness, fine lines and dark circles… these are some of the problems we have under our eyes.

Nowadays, you can easily find comma-shaped masks at Malaysian drug stores work to reduce these problems. They are known to be a quick fix to brighten your eyes while giving a cooling effects on your skin.

4. Lip mask

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOVE9QR78tM

Forget about lip balms, we are taking our lip care to another level with lip masks.
Famous beauty brands such as Laneige, TONYMOLY and Sephora have all come out with their own lip masks which work to soothe, replenish, moisturise and nourish your dry and cracked pout.

But if you are not willing to spend that kind of money, slathering your lips with butter and leaving it on overnight works too.

5. Elbow mask

South Korea will always a solution for every problem you have on your body no matter how small.

A couple years back, Etude House from South Korea came up with masks to moisturise and brighten your dry and rough elbows.

Well, that is definitely something we need just in case anybody noticed we have rough elbows in the first place.

6. Hand mask

This is another beauty inspiration which comes from South Korea.

Hand masks are meant to nourish your rough hands and brittle fingernails. L’Occitane has a product to gently slough off the dead skin on your hands. Lush also offers a hand mask that works like a specialised bath for your hands.

Gone are the days that you apply only lotion on your hands.

7. Body mask

Now what about the rest of our bodies? No worries, the 21st century beauty industry has you covered in that area too.

Body mask products are aimed to give users that spa-like experience at home, leaving your body smooth and refreshing.

8.Boob mask

The public won’t be able to see your breasts from top to bottom, but it doesn’t meant that you should neglect them.

Boob sheet masks are apparently a thing, and were created to hydrate the chest areas. They also have anti-aging and skin-brightening properties, ensuring your chest will look great in those décolleté tops and dresses.

9.Belly mask

Show some love to your belly! Pregnant mamas now can lighten the appearance of stretch marks while carrying their babies with beauty masks designed for their pregnant bellies.

They are also meant to soften scars after Caesarean section.

10. Butt mask

Finally, we are now talking about the tush! If you think your buttocks lack suppleness, firmness and bounciness, fret not! There are masks designed to restore those qualities to your butt.

Canada-based beauty brand Nannete de Gaspé is one of the leading players in the industry when it comes to beauty masks.

They introduced to the world the concept of dry masks in 2016. So it is no surprise, this brand offers masks for different parts for the body and that includes the bust and butt.

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Tips You Should Know Before Going to The Kuching Food Festival

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Kuching Food Festival is back!

Taking place at the Kuching South City Council from July 27th to August 19th, the month-long festival is one of the most talked about festivals in Kuching.

And as usual, it would not be the same without our Facebook acquaintances posting pictures of what they had at the food festival.

For those who have been to Kuching Food Festival before, I think we can all agree that it is definitely the best festival in Kuching (what with Kuchingites being obsessed with food, and all).

However, going over to the Kuching Food Festival is not without its struggles.

And so, here are some Kajo-worthy tips for those who are heading towards the Kuching Food Festival!

 

  1. Pick a theme before heading over to the Kuching Food Festival

Kuching Food Festival will have at least 280 food stalls, 15 of which will be serving halal food. This might be overwhelming for some and it would also not be a surprise if you leave without buying anything. Before going, do set a theme in mind to avoid being overwhelmed with choices. For instance, you might want to try only desserts during your food expedition.

  1. Do park your car at a safe and nearby parking lot and then walk over to the food festival

Every year Jalan Padungan is congested with traffic due to the overflowing crowd at the festival. While this may be a norm for festival goers, it may be a hassle for others. Therefore, it is advisable to just park your car at nearby parking lot to ease the traffic.

  1. Come in a group

Exploring new food is better if you experience it with good company. As Kuching Food Festival offers possibly over hundreds of dish types, it would be time efficient to come with friends and family. As you may have different preferences in food, this means you get to sample different types of food in one sitting.

  1. Bring a portable mini fan

This might sound weird, but it does make sense in this kind of weather and setting. As the festival tends to be overcrowded and hot, it is advisable to stay cool with a mini fan. If you do not have a mini fan, you can easily get one at the festival.

  1. Wear loose, cool attire

Our hot humid tropical weather combined with the heat from the open-air cooking at Kuching Food Festival can get overpowering. Do stay cool by wearing loose cooling clothing.

6. Bring your own tissue and wet wipes

This might sound insignificant but you will thank me for it. Often, the food stalls will provide you tissue upon purchasing their food. But it might not be enough as you might want to use that tissue to wipe your tables or utensils before eating.

7. Bring your own water bottle

Again, this is mainly because of the heat and is also economical. During your food expedition, you will be surprised how much you will save just by bringing your own water. It also cuts down on extra plastic waste.

8. Be adventurous

Instead of having the usual food you can get all the time outside the festival, be brave and try food that you have never tasted before. By doing this, you can avoid being overwhelmed with the choices of food. Apart from that, you will leave with unforgettable memories of the food you have sampled.

9. Do not eat too much before going for the fun rides

Apart from food, visitors also have the chance to go on fun rides such as the Merry-Go-Round. This may seem fun, but it can be otherwise if you had too much too eat before going on one of the fun-rides.

10. Do clear your table

MBKS has provided chairs and tables for festival-goers to enjoy their special purchases. Even though there are cleaning staff, bear in mind that the festival has recorded up to 280,000 visitors coming in the first week, so clearing the table after you use it  will make the festival much more enjoyable for everybody.

11. Bring your own plastic containers

As a part of MBKS’ ‘No styrofoam’ campaign, none of the food stalls will be using styrofoam packaging, so bring along your own containers. There will also be 3R (reduce, reuse, recycle) dustbins around the festival site as part of their efforts to promote a green city and an environmentally-conscious people.

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

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If you have not visited Mount Singai before, now is the best time to do so. Due to our love of being outdoors, KajoMag has listed six reasons why it should be on everyone’s bucket list to visit.

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

1. Close to town

Located in Bau District, Mount Singai takes only 30 to 40 minutes’ drive from Kuching City.

As it does not take a lot of time to reach there, you do not have to worry about getting up early or using a lot of gas.

2. Good spot for beginner’s training

If you are not particularly athletic but still want to be active, then Mount Singai is perfect for you.

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

Mount Singai hiking area can be split into two sections. The first half is a set of stairs leading to the Catholic Memorial and Pilgrimage Centre (CMPC) while the second half is the hiking trail leading to the summit.

Typically, an average hiker can reach the pilgrimage centre within 20 to 30 minutes while the hiking ground can take about an hour to reach.

Visitors might find Mount Singai relaxing and enjoyable as the hiking terrain is not as hard and challenging as most hiking spots around Kuching.

Also, due to the steps and the inclining nature of Mount Singai, it is the best spot to pump up your cardio and enjoy nature.

3. Friendly hikers

On average, Mount Singai can have a few hundred visitors in one weekend.

And due to that, you will always bump into other fellow hikers along the way.

At Mount Singai, the hikers will typically greet you and some will even give words of encouragement  to reach the summit.

When meeting these friendly and supportive hikers of Mount Singai, it makes the hiking trip even more memorable.

4. Spiritual experience

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

On your trek up to the retreat centre, you will notice there are monuments stationed along the way up.

They are the 14 stations of the Cross which represent Christ’s last day on earth as a man.

Mount Singai has long been a pilgrimage destination for devoted Catholics, with the earliest converts to Catholicism in the area among the Bisingai people dating as far back as 1885.

5. Help the community build their church

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

Upon reaching the entrance point of Mount Singai, you may find a heap of bags containing pebbles and sand.

These are to build a new church hall at the pilgrimage centre.

As there are no access roads for vehicles leading towards the centre, the only way to bring these building materials up is on foot.

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

While there are no entrance fees for Mount Singai, visitors can do their part for the kampong community by helping them carry the bags up to the construction site.

Consider it your personal Rocky or Shaolin monk challenge by carrying a bag up. You can also help trick your mind into thinking you have some extra weight to lose.

6. Instagrammable view

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

Millennials with an active Instagram account would understand the novelty of having awesome pictures in their IG account.

6 Reasons Why You Should Visit Mount Singai

When you reach the top of the steps, Mount Singai offers a rest stop with one of the best viewing spots.

Apart from that, the summit also offers an equally breath-taking view for visitors to take picture.

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10 adult art projects to try for non-creative people

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Italian poet Eugenio Montale once said, “In reality art is always for everyone and for no one.”

As comforting as it might sound to non-creative people that art is for everyone, the reality is there are people out there who are just not artistic at all.

Having said that, non-creative people sometimes find ways to channel their inner creativity and craftiness.

Of course, the results might not be as good as those who are artistically-inclined and sometimes even far from being sell-able.

If you are looking for adult art projects to try own especially when you are feeling crafty, here are few suggestions:

1.Collage

To make collage art, you can use everything under the sun, from magazine and newspaper clippings to photographs and old postcards.

You can even recreate a famous art piece such as Van Gogh’s Sunflowers.

Watch the video here.

2.Hand lettering

If you love quotes and poems, this is an adult art project for you. Pick up a brush or a calligraphy pen to practice your hand lettering.

Once you get the hang of it, move on to create a homemade card or a quote display as a gift or just hang it in your room.

Watch the video here.

3.Photo embroidery

Forget about conventional embroidery, embroidered photographs is the in thing now.

Take your favourite photos and embroider something on it. Maybe put a pair of wings on the photo of your mum or a pair of horns on your least favourite teacher.

4.Origami
10 adult art projects to try for non-creative people
How about giving origami a try? Credits: Unsplash.

All you need for origami is origami paper and of course tutorials which can be easily found online.

Once you master the art of origami you can turn them into wall decorations or simply as a gift.

Watch the video here.

5.Mod podge craft

The art of decoupage was originated in France in the 17th century. Now with the existence of mod podge, the craft of decoupaging has never been this easy.

Known for its fine finish and strong adhesiveness, you can use mod podge on flip flops, coasters, wooden boxes, cake stands and even table tops.

Watch the video here.

6.Tie-dye

If someone told you that tie-dye was for hippies, don’t believe them.

Widen your imagination and you can tie-dye almost everything, from a bag to a curtain and your short jeans.

Watch the video here.

7.Fabric Marker

Unleash your inner craftiness by drawing on a plain T-shirt with a fabric marker.

Draw a random asymmetrical design or write your favourite quote. You can also use fabric marker to personalise your own shoes, tote bag and cushion cover.

Watch the video here.

8.Vegetable printing

Vegetable printing are not just for kids. With the right materials, you can make your own cushion covers, coffee mug, paper wrappings and gift tags.

As for what vegetables you can try, see if you can use potato, carrot, celery and winged beans.

Watch the video here.

9.Washi tape

The Japanese people are a source of tons of brilliant ideas, one of those ideas including washi tape.

This decorative tape can be used for anything you can imagine.

You can decorate your book, table, computer keyboard, plastic cups for a party, even use it as wallpaper.

Watch the video here.

10.Beading

Beadwork can be easy if you stick to the basic of stringing beads together with a thread to produce a necklace, lanyard, or bracelet.

If you want to challenge yourself, you can also move on to harder beadwork skills such as bead crocheting or 3D beading.

Watch the video here.

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Your ultimate guide to Malaysian nasi goreng

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Nasi goreng, which literally translates to “fried rice” in Malay, has ignited a few cross-country fights over the past few years.

The most famous incident was when former England footballer Rio Ferdinand twitted “Nasi goreng lunch… Keeping it local in Singapore.”

Indonesians were quick to correct Ferdinand saying nasi goreng is not from Singapore, but Indonesia.

Meanwhile, some Malaysians jumped into the squabble, slamming Indonesians for wanting to claim every dish in the region including rendang.

However, do you know that chao fan or fried rice in Mandarin has been served in China since 4,000 BC?

Perhaps now China can stop claiming the South China Sea and stake their claim on nasi goreng instead?

Regardless of who owns nasi goreng, a visit to any Southeast Asian country especially Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore would not be complete without tasting this dish.

In Malaysia, there are plenty of nasi goreng variations served in different parts of the country.

Some of these variations cannot be found in its neighbouring countries.

So here is your complete guide to Malaysian nasi goreng:

1.Nasi Goreng Ayam/Udang/Kambing/Daging

If you see this on the menu, you just need to choose your type of protein.
This fried rice is cooked with chicken (ayam), udang (prawn), kambing (mutton) and daging (beef).

2.Nasi Goreng Special

Nasi goreng special is usually an in-house specialty. However, most often they just add a sunny side up egg with a piece of fried chicken on top of your nasi goreng.

3.Nasi Goreng Tom Yam

This Malaysian nasi goreng has a Thai inspiration.
It is cooked with tom yam paste, lime, sometimes with a bit of lemongrass and fish sauce.

Watch how to make it here.

4.Nasi Goreng Pattaya

This Malaysian nasi goreng might sound like it comes from Thailand but it is believed to originate from Malaysia.
It is made by wrapping chicken fried rice in a thin fried omelette, almost similar to Japanese omurice. Nasi goreng Pattaya is often served with chili sauce, tomato ketchup and slices of cucumber.

Watch how to make it here.

5.Nasi Goreng Hailam

Hailam refers to a Chinese cooking style which usually uses watery soy sauce.
Hence if it is Nasi Goreng Hailam, it is fried rice served in vegetables, chicken or prawn cooked in Hailam-style.

6.Nasi Goreng Kerabu

Nasi Goreng Kerabu is a fried rice dish serve with ginger flower (bunga kantan), curry leaves and fried anchovies.
It is inspired by Kelantanese famous dish nasi kerabu, a blue-coloured rice served with dried fish or fried chicken, pickles and keropok.

Watch how to make it here.

7.Nasi Goreng Cina

The irony of nasi goreng cina (Chinese) in Malaysia it is usually can be found in Malay restaurants instead of Chinese restaurants.
There are plenty of nasi goreng cina variations out there but they all have one thing in common, sesame oil.

Watch how to make it here.

8.Nasi Goreng Kampung

If you love fried anchovies and kangkung (water spinach) then you will love this dish.
A nasi goreng kampung is not nasi goreng kampung without fried anchovies and kangkung.

Watch how to make it here.

9.Nasi Goreng Yong chow
Your ultimate guide to Malaysian nasi goreng
Yong chow fried rice.

This dish can be found mainly in Chinese restaurants.
It is fried rice cooked with char siu pork or lap cheong (Chinese sausage), scallion and vegetables such as long beans, carrots and green peas.

10.Nasi Goreng Belacan

Nasi goreng belacan is rice fried with shrimp paste (belacan), fish or chicken and long beans.

Watch how to make it here.

11.Nasi Goreng Ikan Masin

If you are into salty food then this is the Malaysian nasi goreng for you.
It is fried rice cooked with salted fish.

12.Nasi Goreng Mamak

Nasi goreng mamak is cooked in Indian-Muslim style. Nasi goreng mamak tends to be oilier than most Malaysian nasi goreng. Besides chilli paste, other main ingredients of this dish are dried tofu, fish cakes and curry powder Maggi’s instant noodle

13.Nasi Goreng DabaiYour ultimate guide to Malaysian nasi goreng

This is a Sarawak specialty of fried rice. It is rice fried with a seasonal native fruit called buah dabai (Canarium odontophylum).

14.Nasi Goreng USA

Again no, this Malaysian nasi goreng does not get any inspiration from the United States of America.
In fact, the acronym USA means udang (prawn), sotong (squid) and ayam (chicken).
Thus, this fried rice is served with prawn, squid and chicken.

15.Nasi Goreng Paprik

The key ingredient in nasi goreng paprik is the sauteed chili paste. With a bit tom-yum paste, this fried rice is a little bit on the spicy side.
This is another Malaysian nasi goreng inspired by its neighbour Thailand. The word paprik refers to Thai phrase pad prik where pad is stir-fry and prik means chilli.

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How to order drinks in Sarawak coffeeshops?

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Ordering drinks in foreign countries can be confusing. Even here in Malaysia, how to order drinks might even be different depending which state are you in.

Adding on the difficulties to order drinks, most Sarawak coffeeshops and food courts do not even have proper menus.

So here is a quick guide on how to order drinks in Sarawak coffeeshops.

How to order drinks in Sarawak coffeeshops?
How to order your drinks at Sarawak coffeeshops?

If you want to order coffee, take note that you have to say “kopi” or “Nescafe”. “Kopi” usually refers to drinks made with local coffee brands like Kopi Cap Kapal Api or Anggerek, while Nescafe is a Nestle brand of coffee. A cup of Nescafe costs slightly more than a kopi.

So here’s a basic list of what you can order at almost any coffeeshop, ‘kopitiam’ or ‘kedai kopi’ in Sarawak:

Kopi ‘O’ Kosong – ‘Kosong’ means ’empty’ in Malay. This is the Malaysian version of Americano or Long Black since it is just a hot cup of black coffee.
Kopi ‘O’ – Hot black coffee with sugar
Kopi ‘O’ Peng – Anything with the word ‘peng’ means ‘iced’. A Kopi ‘O’ Peng is iced black coffee with sugar.
Kopi – Malaysians love their condensed milk. A cup of kopi is coffee with condensed milk.
Kopi Peng – This is basically iced coffee with condensed milk.
Kopi ‘C’– Malaysians apparently love their alphabet. So a drink with the letter‘C’ means ‘with evaporated milk’. A cup of Kopi ‘C’ is coffee with added sugar and evaporated milk.
Kopi ‘C’ Kosong – If you want a kopi ‘C’ without the sugar, then it is a Kopi ‘C’ Kosong.
Kopi ‘C’ Peng – A glass of iced Kopi ‘C’.
Kopi ‘C’ Peng Kosong – The iced version of Kopi ‘C’ Kosong.
Kopi ‘O’ Peng Kosong – A glass of iced black coffee with no sugar, condensed milk or evaporated milk. An iced Americano, in other words.
Neslo –  Here is a Malaysian version of mocha. It is a mixture of Nescafe coffee and the chocolate and malt powder drink, Milo.

When you’re asking for tea and all its variants, just replace the word ‘kopi’ with ‘teh’ which means tea in Malay. The same rule applies to Malaysia’s favourite chocolate and malt drink, Milo.

If you are in Sabah, change the word ‘Peng’ to ‘Ping’ and you are good to go.

Good luck!

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What you need to know about Glycemic Index (GI)

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When it comes to food, there are so many numbers that we have to take note of.

These include calorie count, fat content, sugar levels but there is one number that the casual dieter might not have heard of.

It is the glycemic index or GI. According to the Glycemic Index website (yes, there is a website dedicated to it updated and maintained by the University of Sydney’s GI group), GI is a ranking of carbohydrates on a scale from 0 to 100 according the extent to which they raise blood (glucose) levels after eating.

What you need to know about Glycemic Index (GI)

Rice is one of the foods with high GI number. Credit: Pixabay.

What is Glycemic Index (GI)

It is the incremental area under the blood glucose response curve of 50g of carbohydrate portion of a test food expressed as a percentage of the response to the same amount of carbohydrate from a standard or reference food taken by the same subject.

There are three groups of GI:  low (where food GI is below 55) moderate (56 to 69) and high (70 and above).

According to Recommended Nutrient Intakes for Malaysia (RNI) report, research on glycemic response of foods is still low. The argument is that the practical use of GI to assess one single food item is questionable.

This is because there are many other factors including carbohydrate content or even cooking method influencing the glycemic response of foods.

However, there are reports that reducing food intake with high GI can improve overall blood glucose control.

Should you take Glycemic Index into account?

Does it mean that having low GI foods are good for you? Not necessarily.

Some low GI foods may not be good because they have high fat content.

Conversely, some high GI foods maybe be good because it has high nutrient content. Thus, it is unnecessary to completely avoid all high GI foods.

In other countries, nevertheless, GI is advised to be used as part of the nutritional management for people with diabetes.

American Diabetes Association, Canadian Diabetes Association and Diabetes United Kingdom recommends people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes to take note of the glycemic index of food.

Moreover, one study found that a moderately high protein, low GI diet works best for longer-term weight management.

Generally, what experts agree now is that the use of GI is only a base for choosing carbohydrate-containing food.

As for Malaysians, our high GI foods are fried meehoon (99), fragrance rice (97), kuay teow (90), wholemeal bread (85), pineapple (82) and sardine sandwich (73).

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What you need for the perfect clutter-free office desk

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Albert Einstein once said, “If a cluttered desk is sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”

Most of us spend a lot of time sitting at our office desks every day. According to Herbalife’s Nutrition At Work 2016 survey, nine out of 10 Malaysian workers spend at least six hours a day sitting at their desk.

While Einstein might be right about cluttered desks and busy minds, a clutter-free office has it perks too. (Admit it, there are desks out there that look like a hurricane passed through your office.)

Besides being clean, clutter-free desks definitely offer less distraction as they keep your mind on the project you are working on. Plus, a minimalist office desk is always looks good on Instagram or Pinterest-worthy.

What you need for the perfect clutter-free office desk
A clutter free desk offers less distraction when doing your work. Credits: Unsplash.

One of the best ways to have a clutter-free office desk is to go paperless. The trees would appreciate your effort too.

Furthermore, you can skip having letter trays and files on your workspace.

Always remember to put away all your books on the shelf unless you need them for your work.

Another tip to have a clutter-free desk is to make sure you clear your desk at the end of day.

That way you can come to a neat, organised office desk every morning.

Here are just the basic things that you need to achieve that clutter free office desk:

1. Planner
No matter if it is a digital planner on your smartphone or a good old book planner, everybody needs one.

It makes your working life easier to create new plans, organise your work and arrange your schedule.

What you need for the perfect clutter-free office desk
Always plan your day ahead in order to be more productive. Credits: Unsplash.

2.Basic Stationery
No, you do not need colourful stapler bullets in your life. And no, you also do not need 12 different colours of highlighters unless you are in the creative field.

If you are in Malaysia, chances are that you will have all sorts of pens from various official functions, hotels or government agencies. Clear or donate them away.

Every job has different needs when it comes to stationery. The plan here is to narrow down which of these stationery are required for your job and stick to the basics.

What you need for the perfect clutter-free office desk
Narrow down your stationaries needs. Credits: Unsplash

3.Stationaries holder
Now that you have all the stationery you need, it’s time to pick your stationery holder.

Again, pick the simplest of them all or choose the cutest mug out there and stuff everything inside.

What you need for the perfect clutter-free office desk
Be very basics when comes to choosing your office accessories.

4.Sticky notes
A sticky note is a miracle piece of paper with a re-adherable ability. It works wonders by attaching itself to documents or desk temporarily.

It also helps people as a reminder or sometimes a to-do list.

For those who are nature-lovers and prefer to go paper-less, you can always use the app version of sticky notes on Windows 7, 8, and 10.

What you need for the perfect clutter-free office desk
The ever useful sticky notes.

5.A small plant

Studies have shown that having some greenery in your office can have positive effects.

Plants reportedly can help reduce stress, increase your productivity and even reduce sickness.

So what are you waiting for? Pick a small plant which suits the size of your office desk.

What you need for the perfect clutter-free office desk
Have you chosen your plant yet? Credits: Unsplash.

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8 easy Japanese recipes to try at home

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Forget about sushi and sashimi, there are easy Japanese recipes out there for you to try at home.

Fellow Asian countries like Malaysia already have the basic Japanese ingredients like rice and soy sauce.

Other traditional ingredients that you might require to make your own Japanese cuisine at home are miso, dashi, sake and mirin.

In Sarawak, most of Japanese ingredients are easily available at local supermarkets such as Everrise and Ta Kiong.

Here are 8 easy Japanese recipes for you to try at home especially on weeknights:

1. Omurice
8 easy Japanese recipes to try at home
Omurice. Credits: Pixabay.

For Malaysians, omurice is the closest thing you have to nasi goreng Pattaya.

It consists of fried rice covered with an omelette.

The rice is usually fried with chicken and various vegetables. Then a thin sheet of fried rice covers the top of the rice.

2.Tonkatsu
8 easy Japanese recipes to try at home
Tonkatsu anyone? Credits: Pixabay.

Tonkatsu is one of those easy Japanese recipes you might think is NOT so Japanese.

Tonkatsu (a combination of ton for ‘pork’ and katsu for’cutlet’)  is a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet often served with shredded cabbage.

It’s easy to make. Salt and pepper your pork fillet, then cover it with flour. Dip the meat into a beaten egg before coating it with panko. Panko is a kind of Japanese bread crumb easily available at the supermarket or a Japanese store.

Can’t find panko? Make your own bread crumbs by ripping up some bread, spread it on a baking sheet and put it in the oven at 300 F degrees for 6-8 minutes or until it’s a golden brown. Then crush it into powdery form.

You can either deep-fry the tonkatsu or bake it in the oven for a healthier option.

3.Katsudon

Once you know how to make your own deep-fried pork cutlet, now you can make katsudon.

This dish is a bowl of rice topped with pork cutlet, egg and some vegetables.

4. Gyudon

What you mainly need to make gyudon is beef, onion, dashi, soy sauce, mirin and salt.

Simmer the thinly sliced beef and onion with all the seasoning above. Once it is cooked, pour the beef on top of hot steaming rice.

If you like, add on a raw egg or soft poached egg.

For a complete Japanese experience, serve your gyudon with Japanese pickled ginger (beni shoga) and ground chili pepper (shichimi).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGdOZBQcbbg&pbjreload=10

5.Oyakodon

Oyakodon is almost similar to katsudon and gyudon.

But for oyakodon, the ingredients such as chicken, egg, scallion, onion are simmered together in soy sauce and stock.

After it is cooked, it is poured on top of a bowl of rice.

6.Onigiri Rice Balls

Forget about Korean kimbap, onigiri is much easier to make for that perfect lunch takeaway.

It is made from normal plain rice formed in triangular shapes and wrapped in seaweed.

Traditionally, the filling is usually made from pickled ume, salted salmon and other fancy Japanese ingredients.

But you can always make your own simpler version of onigiri with ingredients which are already available in your kitchen.

For example, tuna with mayonnaise, or even small portions of fried food such as fried chicken or pork.

7.Miso Soup with tofu

This is one of those easy Japanese recipes which only requires you to boil.

Apart from being easy to make, it is also a healthier cooking method.

Firstly, boil water your nori (seaweed) for few minutes. Then, put in some tofu and if you like some green onions. Finally, add in your miso paste.

8.Niratama Donburi

The word niratama comes from nira which means garlic chives and tama which is an abbreviation of tamago (egg).

So this dish is basically made of eggs and garlic chives stir fried together to make an omelette.

After that, put it on top of a bowl of rice and get ready to dig in.

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