Nature Republic: GSS Promotion‏

Stress Less with This Kind of Tea

Next time you're feeling frazzled, cozy up to a nice warm cup of chamomile tea.

In a small study of people with anxiety, stress symptoms dropped by about 50 percent when German chamomile (Matricaria recutita) was taken daily for 8 weeks.

Calming Chamomile
In the study, people took anywhere from 220 to 1,100 milligrams of chamomile extract daily. But chamomile tea is another easy way to get a daily dose of this herbal remedy. Just steep 3 or 4 heaping tablespoons in hot water several times daily. And the nicest news of all? There were few side effects from chamomile in the small study; just one person experienced stomach upset. (Get answers to all your herbal-remedy concerns with this pageful of frequently asked questions.)

How Does It Work?
Researchers suspect that the flavonoids in chamomile could have something to do with the soothing effects. Or it could be that compounds in chamomile bind to the same receptors as antianxiety medications do. Chamomile may even affect the way certain brain chemicals act on nerves. Feeling stressed? Grab a cup of chamomile tea and double it up with one of these other soothers:

• Money troubles? Watch this video for the YOU Docs' advice on using color, plants, and social connections to reduce both work and financial stress.
• Are your worries keeping you up? Here are some anxiety treatments that are proved to work.
• Get back to nature. Here are three of nature's best stress busters.

(Source: http://www.realage.com/tips/stress-less-with-this-kind-of-tea?eid=6141&memberid=6206815)

I Love Coffee Bean's New Ready To Drink Beverages

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has introduced their new Ready To Drink Beverages at $3.50 per bottle. Enjoy in the comfort of your own home! I especially loves its Cafe Mocha which is made with The Coffee Bean premium coffee, infused with milk and rich Dutch chocolate. I can't wait to try out its tea beverages especially in this hot and humid weather :>

Also available in:

Honey Rooibos - Combining creamy African Rooibos with the sweetness of golden honey creates a soothing earthy elixir. Caffeine-free and refreshing.


Jasmine Pearl- Jasmine Pearl is a premium Chinese green tea scented with Jasmine blossoms, for a sweetly delicate, yet complex, refreshing tea.



Peach Assam- Hand-blended rich and robust Indian Assam, a premium black tea with ripe peach notes combine to create a balanced, sweetly flavorful brew.


Available at all Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf outlets.

(Source: http://www.coffeebean.com.sg/coffeebean/promo.cfm)

A Good Way to Handle Weight Regain

Have you lost a little weight, only to gain some of it right back? Take heart. All is not lost, if you go for a daily walk.

Research shows that regular exercise helps preserve some of the health benefits of weight loss, even if you end up putting a chunk of that weight back on!

The Biggest Loser
In a study, a group of overweight or obese adults lost 10 percent of their body weight through diet and exercise. And they enjoyed healthier blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels as a result! But here's the catch: They all gained 50 percent of the weight right back after upping their food intake. Still, during the regain process, half the group continued to exercise 5 days a week. And guess what? Only the exercisers maintained their blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol improvements after some of the weight returned. (Keep weight off for good by following the YOU Docs' tried and proven plan.)

Keep What You Earn
Unfortunately, weight regain is very common after people shed pounds. But by staying active, you could maintain not only your improvements in blood sugar, blood pressure, and HDL and LDL levels but also your improvements in insulin sensitivity and oxygen utilization. So don't let those big health gains slip away. Stay faithful to your exercise program, even if you find yourself dipping into the snack cupboard again. Here are some great stay-active options:

• Got 20 minutes to exercise? Get active using this YOU: On a Diet beginner workout.
• Short on time? Get moving with these seven simple no-workout exercises.
• Bored with walking? Make it more fun with these music playlists that can help keep you motivated.

(Source: http://www.realage.com/tips/a-good-way-to-handle-weight-regain?eid=6119&memberid=6206815)

Yummy Set Lunch At Bakerzin

Healthy Dinner - Korean Tofu Soup With Rice

Looking Forward To Gossip Girl 4

I just finished watching season 3 finale of Gossip Girl and the ending was really shocking and leaves me craving for more G.G...and answers..... i did not really like how it turn out between Chuck and Jenny and was rooting for him to be back with Blair. But i guess thats what makes Gossip Girl so watchable and entertaining.

I hope Chuck will survive the gun shot as it will not be the same without him and Blair together and i love watching their scheming and games :> I did not expect Dan and Serena to explore their feelings for each other again although it was getting abit boring with the perfect Serenate....can't wait to see S & B in Paris in season 4......

(Source: http://www.tvfanatic.com/shows/gossip-girl)

Day At Sembawang Beach

Lunch At Beaulieu House
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Love the Marmite Chicken, interesting dish and gonna try cooking it at home :>

I Love My New Solvil et Titus Spectacle

Yummy Salmon Sukiyaki Dinner At Ichiban Sushi

Haven't post anything this few days as have been down with bad flu and sore throat and just don't feel like doing anything. Guess i exercised too much last week as i have decided to start exercising more regularly and eating more healthy meals. Luckily feel much better today although still tired :>

Japanese Drama - Moon Lovers /Tsuki no Koibito

I love watching Kimura Takuya's drama and has been looking forward to his next drama since "Mr Brain". In what's being promoted as his "first full-scale love story" in 10 years, SMAP heartthrob Takuya Kimura stars as a successful furniture manufacturer in "Tsuki no Koibito" (Moon Lovers; Fuji TV, Mon., 9 p.m.).

The drama finally aired its first episode on the 10th this month. According to initial reports from video research, the average ratings reached 22.4% in the Kanto area. In Kansai the ratings were at 20.2%, while Nagoya was at 23.6%. At the highest, it peaked at 24.5% in the Kanto area. Of the drama serials that are airing this spring, it surpassed ratings from Abe Hiroshi's detective drama, Shinzanmono (TBS), which originally had the highest ratings at 21.0%.

In Moon Lovers, Kimura plays Rensuke, the boss of an interior design company who becomes entangled in a love story. Appearing with him are Taiwanese actress Lin Chi-ling from the movie Red Cliff, Shinohara Ryoko, who plays the role of an interior designer in the drama, and Kitagawa Keiko, who plays a model coming from a wealthy family. The drama will develop many storylines revolving around the characters. This will be Shinohara Ryoko's first actual drama since taking a break to give birth to her child in 2008 and she is one of my favourite Japanese actress and i always enjoys watching her drama. She plays the role of a very skilled interior designer who has been hanging out together with the Kimura’s role since their student days. Her feelings for him have always been beyond the friend stage, but she kept on hiding them even as an adult.

Rensuke (Kimura) has become a major force in Japanese interior design with a policy of trying to please as many consumers as possible. He built his furniture empire from scratch, and now has his sights set on China. He plans to build his first overseas Regolith furniture store in Shanghai, but construction is being held up by local demonstrators who claim that the opening of the new store means the closing of factories that employ them. Rensuke has asked his old schoolmate, Maemi (Ryoko Shinohara), to do the interior design for the new store, and the two of them travel to the site and meet with a representative of the factory workers, a woman named Shumei (Lin Chiling). It's a meeting that changes the lives of all three participants.

Following the drama, Fuji TV also aired the variety show SMAP X SMAP (10:09 p.m. ~ 11:09 p.m.). The live broadcast featured all three actresses and attracted average ratings of 20.4%, which ended the night on a high note. I watched the first episode on http://www.mysoju.com/tsuki-no-koibito/ today and can't wait for more episodes to be uploaded.

(Source: http://asianfanatics.net/forum/topic/720910-kimutakus-tsuki-no-koibito-moon-lovers-reach-224-ratings/)
(Source: http://asianmediawiki.com/Tsuki_no_Koibito_~Moon_Lovers~)
(Source: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/rss/fd20100509cs.html)

Haruka Ayase returns in "Hotaru no Hikari"

I'm so excited by this news i found online as i love this 2007 drama and did not expect the drama to return for a second season with my favorite actors Naohito Fujiki and Haruka Ayase starring in the drama too!!! I can't wait to watch the drama in July 2010 :>

The popular 2007 drama series "Hotaru no Hikari" is returning for a second season, it was learned on Sunday. Haruka Ayase (25) will once again play the starring role.

Originally based on a shojo manga by Satoru Hiura, the first series told the story of a young office lady named Hotaru, who has no interest in romance and instead prefers spending her time lazily at home. However, her life changes when circumstances lead her to live under the same roof as her boss. Although the first series focused on Hotaru's reawakening to love, "Hotaru no Hikari 2" will be more about her path towards possible marriage.

Naohito Fujiki (37) will also return for the new series. NTV plans to broadcast the show on Wednesdays at 10:00pm, starting in July.

(Source: http://www.tokyograph.com/news/id-6087)