Coolest Toothpick Dispenser

This is the coolest toothpick dispenser that I have seen thus far.

I had my reservations that this contraption would actually work.

As you press the head of the bird, the drawer containing the toothpick opens while its beak reaches downward.

And, whaddaya know, the bird and its manufacturer have dispelled my doubts.

Good job, birdy! 

Cool Coconuts Are Hot In Singapore

Coconuts have been around for the longest time and while there is a dearth of coconut plantation in Singapore, there is no shortage of supply to keep us going nuts over it from the shores of Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

If you want to have the real McCoy and do-it-yourself, then you would need to get hold of a parang and learn to use it like a pro before you go and cut up the coconut (without risking injury or endangering others).

For fuss-free coconut drink, then head to your neighbourhood store or supermarket and be splashed with a wide selection of the pre-packed natural drink as well as processed ones.

If you die-die want to eat the pulp as well, you can buy pre-cut coconuts or go to drink stalls which would cut the fruit for you and let you enjoy the drink with a drinking straw and pulp with a spoon.

Click here for 7 Science-Based Health Benefits of Coconut Water

Fret not, if you are overseas. With online grocers, the coconut drinks are well within your reach.

Do Something New

Make a change and do something new to enrich your life.

Food-wise, if your staple are fish-and-chips and cheese-caviar-and-cracker, you might wanna take your palate on an adventure with Russian borsch soup, French coq au vin, American apple pie, Romanian sarmale (cabbage rolls), Penang laksa, Hainanese chicken rice, Singapore chilli crab, and so forth.

 Main dish: Iberico Pork Jowl

If you spent your growing up years in Asia, you might be familiar with White Rabbit candy which has a coating of translucent wafer that melts in your mouth. Well, you might now wanna try the novel ice-cream version of it.

Don't stay in the same well and remain constrained by the usual walls of limitations.

In the field of sports you can do beyond soccer and baseball to new arenas such as volleyball, rugby and skateboard whether as a spectator or a participant.

If your tummy is in the way, then one of the best way to up the game of your life is to flatten it and enjoy the productivity-gain. Usual advice would be to steer clear of food after 8 pm, start an exercise regime and watch what you eat. 

With a trim abdomen, you will find greater mobility with ease of movement and sharper mental faculty to focus on the stuffs that you do. Your Body Mass Index (BMI) would also improve and yield the attendant health benefits.  

Click here for STRONGEST BELLY FAT BURNER DRINK LOSE 15KG | 30LBS IN 2 WEEKS

The following statement gleaned from a T-shirt is for your reflection:

Take Time To Do What Makes Your Soul Happy

Enjoy your life and be open to try new things. It will give you more options to do what makes your soul happy.

Thank you for reading and sharing Daily Refreshing.

Making A Song Of Bruises

Growing up you would probably have had your fair share of bruises brought about, say, when learning to ride a bicycle or skateboard. Then there could be scars sustained from contact sports which you wear as a badge of honour for having won trophies with the team you represented.

Further down there could be heartbreaks which you have undergone and came through, in which case, the Taylor Swift in you could turn them into songs, if you knew how to.

Regardless of your age, you would find yourself getting hurt, misunderstood or unloved. 

When you reach a low point, get some space to reflect and journal your thoughts. Meet up with a loved ones who is known to be an empathic listener to share your feelings and make a connection with him or her to diffuse the tension on the inside of you. Go for a walk in a park and let your mind wonder off to take in the splendor and sound of nature. 

                                                          Photo by Motoki Tonn on Unsplash

  

Regather your thoughts to face the reality of your bruises and decide on an appropriate response to move forward. When you able to do, you will be the stronger for it. Much like the Japanese art of kintsugi (golden rejoining) where broken ceramics are restored with gold-laced epoxy and transformed into an upscaled and high value masterpiece.

Or, as with the following song, "bruises make for better conversation".

Click here for Train - Bruises ft. Ashley Monroe

 

Singapore Stands By You

The pandemic has made this world a bleaker place and it has impacted us in more ways than we were prepared for.

We have learned to adapt and cope by making adjustments and getting vaccinated. This is the indomitable human spirit which was last best seen during World War 2.

So we soldier on and chipped in to make our world a brighter place with whatever we have in our hands. This present darkness is fleeting and it too will come to pass.

In the meanwhile, please stand alongside others to unravel treasures of darkness that stem from hidden human potential to dream again, re-create, re-build and restore our former glory and make it greater.

May the following clip inspire you and let you know that you are not alone.

Click here for Singapore Stands By You.

 

 

So Near and Yet So Far

Overheard, the Olympics is not like your school sports day. It is a rarified contest where qualifying for it is already in itself an achievement. 

For the athletes who overthink the event and let it get to them, it could put a halt to all their preparation and years of hard work. As for the athletes who have undergone more than the normal distribution of hardship, this could actually be a blessing in disguise to help them weather the limelight with a broader perspective and circumspection.

That said, I would like to appeal to sports journalist, in particular, to hold their horses when a medal could be in sight. It would be better to lower the expectation of success for their country's athletes and not raise high hopes for the nation before the golden eggs are hatched. 

An optimistic overture that is not met would crush the hopes of many who are appropriating sporting success. Please hold back and save the champagne for when the medal is obtained.

Photo by Alexander Naglestad on Unsplash

That said, let us savour the golden feats of Sunisa "Suni" Lee and Hidilyn Diaz.

Click here for The Truth About Olympic Gymnast Suni Lee

Click here for Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins Philippines' first-ever Olympic gold medal

Click here for The Philippines welcomes home nation’s first Olympic gold medallist, Hidilyn Diaz

Dreams and Breaks

The following slogan on the T-shirt of a passerby caught my attention and you might wanna chew on it:-

"Dreams don't work unless you do." Unless you do the work, for clarity.

And, if you have been working too hard, this is a gentle reminder to take some breaks.

Click here for Why Taking Breaks Is The Key To Productivity.

Here's one great way to take a break. 

Automat by Edward Hopper
Courtesy of www.EdwardHopper.net

While you are taking your break with your cuppa, you might wanna contemplate the circumstances of the woman in the picture which could be fodder enough for a novel (a la a picture paints a thousand words) and the following quotes by Mr Hopper:

“If you could say it in words, there would be no reason to paint.”

“No amount of skillful invention can replace the essential element of imagination.”

Thank you for reading and sharing Daily Refreshing. This has been a good break for me to write as part of my dream to be a writer.