edgarsclubzim Issue 28 by Edgars Club Zimbabwe

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p64

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Contents

Regulars

04 CONTRIBUTORS 05 EDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LETTER 06 JOIN THE CLUB 07 CLUB VOUCHER

ON THE COVER

08 EDGARS HOSPITAL CASH PLAN

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10 CLUB MEMBERS ALERT 11 JOIN AND WIN 12

CASH CHALLENGE

ON THE COVER

13 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY 14

EDGARS NEWS

MARKETING DESK

ON THE COVER

86 WINNERS PAGE

Shop Smart 16

THE GUIDE

LOCAL DESIGNERS

20 DESIGNER SHOWCASE 22

FEROCE BELLE

ON THE COVER ON THE COVER

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SUMMER issue 2018

Edgars Club benefits

Join The

CLUB These are all the benefits available to our Club Members.

,00

Your Health

Your family

per month

Open an Edgars Account today and sign up to be an Edgars Club Member. These Great Edgars Club benefits for just s

REMEMBER! EDGARS CLUB BENEFITS CAN ONLY BE USED IF YOUR EDGARS ACCOUNT IS UP TO DATE. For more details visit www.edgarsstores.co.zw or email theclub@edgars.co.zw

Your savings

Your style Your life

Club

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ: TERMS & CONDITIONS OF EDGARS CLUB MEMBER BENEFITS To claim Edgars Death benefit – account pay off, Edgars Club payments must be up to date at time of death, and you must have been an Edgars Club member for at least 3 months. The claim must be submitted within 30 (thirty days) of the date of death and all legal documentation must be submitted with the claim, as per insurance industry norms.

Edgars Hospital Cash Plan Members ALERT

Club members are now required to notify Edgars within 72 hours of their hospital admission for their claims to be valid. Members should provide the following details: * Edgars account number * Full name of the member hospitalised, * Name of hospital, * Date and time of hospitalization. Club members should email finserv@edgars.co.zw; sms/ whatsapp/call +263782711734 and leave the required details.

Exclusive to

CASH CHALLENGE BONANZA! US$500

Winners in more ways than one! As a Club member you will receive this fantastic benefit....

WINNER!

US$300

2ND PRIZE

2ND PRIZE winner of the Cash Challenge will get a cash prize of $300 which you get to spend however you like, wherever you like. In addition to this you get to choose an educational institution, in the rural areas, to which we donate cash. This is only open to Edgars Club members. To enter please see below. Winners for the October - November issue will be announced in the next issue when all entries have been considered.

SECOND PRIZE

FIRST PRIZE winner of the Cash Challenge will get a cash prize of $500 which you get to spend however you like, wherever you like. In addition to this you get to choose an educational institution, in the rural areas, to which we donate cash. This is only open to Edgars Club members. To enter please see below.

THIRD PRIZE

GRAND PRIZE

Cash Challenge

US$200

3RD PRIZE

3RD PRIZE winner of the Cash Challenge will get a cash prize of $200 which you get to spend however you like, wherever you like. In addition to this you get to choose an educational institution, in the rural areas, to which we donate cash. This is only open to Edgars Club members. To enter please see below. Please check page 86 for competition entry guidelines.

EDUCATIONAL BONUS? WHAT IS THE EDUCATIONAL BONUS? With every Issue the Edgars Club makes a donation to educational institutions through their Club members. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? This means every Issue, you, the winners of our Cash Challenge, choose an educational institution we donate money to for its development. The institution must be in a rural area.

CASH CHALLENGE QUESTION:

e in where do you see this imag ge e pa this issue ? SMS, CC28 , th unt co number, your name and ac 80 07 78 number TO 0782

TV Winner Elwin Finnity (Victoria Falls Branch)

Edgars

news We’ve got the scoop on what’s happening at Edgars.

Cellphone winner Bellafond K Masanga (Stanley House Branch)

Pictures by Edgars Staff

AND THE WINNERS ARE…… 14

IIt`s great to enjoy the perks of shopping for a USD$20.00 perfume and get to walk away with awesome prizes. The exciting Kalose Perfumes competition ran in all Edgars stores from March to June 2018. The competition was an integral part of the consumer`s shopping journey, offering customers an opportunity to experience Kalose perfumes in a memorable way. The draw for the main prize was conducted in July and a prize giving ceremony held a few weeks after. As part of the promotional efforts Edgars carried the Kalose perfumes across its branch network. The competition was not exclusive to Edgars Account holders only but was also open to all customers. The prize giving ceremony was held at the winner’s respective branches namely; Chiredzi, Bulawayo and Harare. Cell phones, Flat screen Tvs and cash prizes worth over US$3 000 were part of the prizes. Miss Rejoice Godobi from Bulawayo walked away with the grand prize of a Toyota Vitz. Two other customers, Trishy Tsuro from Marondera and Faith Musuva from Chiredzi were smiling all the way to the bank as they walked away with US$2 000 and US$ 1 000 respectively. Celebrating our customer`s in a big way is what we know best. Look out for a series of promotions mark the Launch of summer as well as Edgars Fashion Extravaganza. A big thank you to all customers for participating in the competition!!

Trishy Tsuro from Marondera

Faith Musuva from Chiredzi

Behind the scenes from our Summer Edition shoot

SUMMER IS HERE!

he incredible world of Summer is here with endless shopping opportunities across all our Edgars stores. Check out our new range of summer wear by our local designer’s from pages 22 – 47 showcasing exciting styles,fabrication and colours that will have heads turning. Look out for a host of exciting summer activities planned to keep you our valued customers engaged with the launch of our new summer campaign titled “Sound of Summer.” We are also excited about running the 8th edition of Edgars Fashion Extravaganza from October 1 to the 31st. Fashion Extravaganza is the biggest

promotion in Edgars and our very own platform to launch summer. Look out for details in-store and on various media platform on how you can stand a chance to win a whopping $10,000. In this and every edition, we have a host of articles put together for you by our amazing club magazine team. From tips on beauty, health, travel and entertainment, to scrumptious easy to prepare food recipes for everyone. We also have loads of competitions lined up for you, from Cash Challenge to the makeover competition. You could easily walk away $500 richer or with a full outfit

courtesy of The Club. We always have you our customer at heart and encourage that you continue to familiarise yourselves with our club membership benefits on pages 7 – 11 as well as our hospital cash plan to ensure you enjoy the full benefits when the need arises. Be sure to write in to theclub@edgars. co.zw, we always love hearing from you. For more updates on our new summer promotion and instore activities please visit www.edgarsstores.co.zw . Keep cool this summer and Happy reading!

Edgars Marketing Team

The

guide I

SUIT SIZE MATTERS

t doesn’t matter if your suit costs $500 or $5,000; if the SUIT fits like a garbage bag (or it’s so tight that your co-workers can count your leg hairs), it won’t look good. Suit jackets are shorter than they were a decade ago, but you don’t want your entire bum showing, either. If you hang your arms loose at your sides, your fingers should be able to easily cup the bottom hem of your suit jacket. Avoid longer and or else you’ll look like an undertaker.

YOUR SHOULDERS: A tailor can’t fix a

bunk, saggy shoulder, so make sure the seam ends right at the outside of yours. You want military precision here, fellas. Also: Most guys overestimate their jacket size. Think you’re a

42? Try a 40. Still got room to move? Try on a 38. When you put on a size that’s definitely too small, go back up a step. That’s your suit jacket.

YOUR CHEST: With the jacket buttoned, the lapels should lie flat on your chest. If they

bow out, you need a different size or a different brand. The modern way is to keep the lapels moderately narrow. Also: like a slim tie, slim lapels, and a small-collar dress shirt, so everything is in sync.

Around Your Torso: With the jacket buttoned, slide your thumb between the button and your gut. If your thumb is snug, good. If it’s a little loose, you’ll need to have your tailor take the jacket in a bit in the back.

YOUR ARMS: They should hug your actual arms, closely following your natural lines, and stop in time to show a half-inch of shirt cuff. But don’t worry too much about the length or width while you’re at the store: Any decent tailor can sort out both the length and any excess bagginess. Just make sure you have your tailor take a careful look once you’ve bought the suit. Most guys— and many tailors—don’t consider whether they should

have the arms of a suit slimmed down. They almost always should.

YOUR PANTS: Fasten your pants at your natural waist (about an inch below your navel)Too loose? You know what to do: Talk to your tailor. One more oft-misunderstood/neglected step: If there’s too much fabric through the leg (i.e., if you can grab a fistful),ask a tailor to taper your pants. It’ll create a cleaner, slimmer line like those you see in the pages of a GQ magazine. These days, we want our suit pants to fit like our jeans, and the key to that look is a tapered leg. YOUR PANT HEMS: Most

suits will come with long, unfinished hems. Get them tailored to hover just above your shoes, or right on top of your shoes—no longer.

c source: Extract from The GQ Guide to Suits

Prices available instore. ***Available at Selected stores ONLY

LOCAL DESIGNERS In this edition we celebrate looks and trends presented to you by our local designers.

designers initiative

or the past 3 years, Edgars Stores has invested in local designers in a project dubbed, Edgars Local Designers Initiative. This 2018 saw us awarding 3 young local designers with an internship opportunity at our manufacturing arm in Bulawayo â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Carousel. The Edgars local designers initiative launched in 2016, and as a business we are excited in seeing the continued growth in these young designers and being in a position to invest in them. The search for the local designers is carried out through a promotion that runs bi-annually and is open to designers residing in Zimbabwe or of Zimbabwean nationality residing in other countries, who will gain skills that will be invaluable to their careers, from being groomed in the artistry of garment construction, all the way through to learning how to market and sell their products. With each edition, 6 clothing designers are selected out of the competition entries. Adjudicators then split the 6 into 2 groups based on initial presentation and potential to give a good mix in the group. 1 group goes in for one year and the next group goes in for internship the following year. The uniqueness of the local designers initiative is that not only are the designers trained at Carousel, they are upskilled and empowered as the internship program requires them to design a range that will actually go into production and be sold at 2 of the biggest Edgars branches in Zimbabwe. The past 2 editions saw the successful launch of designs by Sekai Sandamu, Heather Madlabuta and Kudakwashe Chihungwa in 2016, 2017 launched Salome Jere, Tawana Nyamupingidza and Thandiwe Mguquka. These designs in the past 2 editions were very successful in-store and well

received by customers with some pieces selling out within hours of hitting the sales floor. This year we celebrate DMart Fashions by Degma Matanhire, Meraki Collection by Pretty Mbishi and Feroce Belle by Tapona Mangwiza. The 2 ladies and 1 gentleman were stationed at Carousel clothing factory in Bulawayo for a 3 month period from April to June. A lot of work was put in by this group as they had to surpass the levels set by their predecessors. The 3 ranges designed are for ladies so our female customers will have some exciting merchandise to look forward to in-store come October. The ranges boast of freshness, unique blend of fabrics, interesting design features and accessories. The most fascinating aspect about the ranges for 2018 is the designers made every attempt to be commercial while not losing their essence as creators of bespoke merchandise. The product will definitely stand out in stores due to its uniqueness as well as the pieces being one of a kind. As Edgars we will continue investing in local talent, particularly up and coming talent to give them an opportunity to showcase their capabilities to the nation. We support the local tertiary institutions by facilitating for further development of this young talent in a live working environment, giving the designers a full perspective of their industry of choice. There is still a lot of work to be done in further developing local designer skills, hence this program is ongoing. We encourage our customers to give us feedback on their experience with the designer merchandise in stores, and look forward to having this assorted range in stores come October. Rumbie Dzimba â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Group Marketing Executive.

Fashion trend alert

FEROCÉ BELLÉ By Tapona John Mangwiza

Fashion trend alert

Fashion trend alert #STYLECAM

THIS PAGE:FREE 2BU BIKER JACKET R599.95 FREE 2BU OVERSIZED CHECKED SHIRT R349.95 FREE 2BU BUTTON-DETAIL LEGGINGS R299.95 FREE 2BU OVAL HOOPS EARRINGS R59.95 KELSO CHAIN NECKLACE R99.95

Fashion trend alert #STYLECAM

THIS PAGE:FREE 2BU BIKER JACKET R599.95 FREE 2BU OVERSIZED CHECKED SHIRT R349.95 FREE 2BU BUTTON-DETAIL LEGGINGS R299.95 FREE 2BU OVAL HOOPS EARRINGS R59.95 KELSO CHAIN NECKLACE R99.95

Fashion trend alert

NAKI By Pretty Mbishi

Fashion trend alert

Fashion trend alert #STYLECAM

THIS PAGE:FREE 2BU BIKER JACKET R599.95 FREE 2BU OVERSIZED CHECKED SHIRT R349.95 FREE 2BU BUTTON-DETAIL LEGGINGS R299.95 FREE 2BU OVAL HOOPS EARRINGS R59.95 KELSO CHAIN NECKLACE R99.95

Fashion trend alert

DEEMART FASHIONS By Degma Matanhire

Fashion trend alert #STYLECAM

THIS PAGE:FREE 2BU BIKER JACKET R599.95 FREE 2BU OVERSIZED CHECKED SHIRT R349.95 FREE 2BU BUTTON-DETAIL LEGGINGS R299.95 FREE 2BU OVAL HOOPS EARRINGS R59.95 KELSO CHAIN NECKLACE R99.95

Prices available in-store

Fashion trend alert

Dried Kapenta (Matemba) Stew SERVES : 4-5 PREP TIME 20 MINS COOK TIME 16 MINS TOTAL TIME 36 MINS INGREDIENTS

4-5 Servings ~ 20 min 50g dried kapents 1 medium onion, chopped 2 large tomatoes, chopped 1/2 tsp curry powder 1 tsp garlic, minced 2 tsp tomato paste Water 2 tbsp spring onion greens, chopped 2 tbsp oil for frying UTENSILS Bowl Frying pan Chopping board

Sharp knife Teaspoon DIRECTIONS Soak your kapenta in boiling water for about 10 minutes. Make sure they are all immersed in the water. After 10 minutes, drain and pat dry your kapenta. Heat oil in pan and add the kapenta.Fry until browned. Remove from pan and set aside. Add onions and curry powder into the same pan. Fry for about a 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, garlic and tomato paste. Stir, reduce heat and cover the pot for about 3 minutes to allow the tomatoes to get cooked. After 5 minutes, add a little of water. You may add soup powder at this point, if using, cover the pot again and let it simmer for another 3 minutes. Return the kapenta to the pan and simmer for a final 3 minutes,

allowing the kapenta to soak in the soup flavour. Sprinkle some spring onion. Enjoy! Recipe Credit: Zimbokitchen https://www. zimbokitchen.com/dried-kapenta-matemba-stew/

Fashion trend alert

makeover competition

WIN A MAKEOVER

Enter our competition and stand a chance to win a brand new look!

Let our creative stylist Marshall Malikula treat you to a brand new head-to-toe makeover. You will win a new look courtesy of Edgars Stores Zimbabwe, as well as a professional photoshoot that will appear in the next edition of The Edgars Club Magazine. To enter you must be an active club account holder and you must email us: 1. Your picture and 2. A 200 word motivation as to why you deserve to receive a makeover.

Send your email to theclub@edgars.co.zw Ts & Cs apply.

Marshall Malikula

Stylist & Grooming Consultant: Marshall

Malikula is a Professional Stylist and Image consultant with a proven track record, for internationally acclaimed fashion brands across Southern Africa. Fashion and all things visual are his second nature. He has a vast wealth of experience in styling fashion shows, photo shoots, beauty pageants, corporate and personal grooming. More recently he started styling for a popular music programme on ZTV. His wide array of knowledge of fashion has seen him write for The Newsday, Zimbabwe Standard, Echo newspaper a weekly in Botswana as well as contributions to the Jet, Zimbabwe blog. Naturally, Marshall finds great joy and pride in transforming people, work and living spaces. His mantra is â&#x20AC;&#x153;No matter how you feel. Get up, Dress up, Show up and never give up!â&#x20AC;?

visit www.kaloseperfumes.com

PERFUME talk with

KALOSE

The History of Perfumes

The word perfume derives from the Latin "per fumum", meaning through smoke. Perfumery, or the art of making perfumes, began in ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt and was further refined by the Romans and Persians. - Knowledge of perfumery came to Europe as early as the 14th century. The first modern perfume, made of scented oils blended in an ethanol solution, was made in 1370 at the command of Queen Elizabeth of Hungary and was known throughout Europe as Hungary Water. - The art of perfumery prospered in Renaissance Italy, and in the 16th century, Italian refinements were taken to France. - France quickly became the European center of perfume and cosmetic manufacture.

Perfume Concentrations

● Fragrances consist of a concentration of perfume oils in a solvent . ● The more perfume oil in a fragrance, the more strength the fragrance has. The strengths are broken down into the categories shown below:

20-30%

Perfume(Parfum) Last upto 6-8hrs

10-20%

Eau De Parfum(EDP) Last upto 4-5hrs

CONCENTRATION

5-15%

Eau De Toillete(EDT) Last upto 3-4hrs

2-4%

Eau DE Cologne (EDC) Last upto 2hrs

CONCENTRATION

1-3%

Eau Fraiche Last upto 2hrs

0-1%

Aftershave/Splash Last upto 1hr

CONCENTRATION

What is Kalose Perfumes

● Kalose perfumes carry 15% essential oils meaning they would last you minimum 5 hours a day ● Kalose comes in three different variants; –20ml Travel Sizes (11 lines) –50 ml male and female perfumes (8 lines) –100 ml female perfumes (3 lines)

Fragrance Rules

Where to spray so that it lasts longer How To Wear Fragrance Presented By: Real Men Real Style

Recommended Areas To Apply Fragrance

Body Temperature

(Select One Or Two) Lower Jaw Neck

Shoulder Chest Inner Elbow Forearm Wrist

Hot

Warm

Medium

Cool

1. Less Is More 2. Start With One Spray 3. Apply To Dry Skin (Not Clothes) 4. Apply To Dry Skin After A Shower 5. Waste = Walking Into A Spray Cloud 6. Don't Kill The Note ( Rubbing Application Onto Other Parts Of The Body)

Target the pulse points: 1. Behind Your Ears 2. Around Your Neck 3. Inside the Elbows 4. In Your Belly Button 5. Behind Your Knees 6. Down Your Calves 7. On Your Ankles

Available at:

downtime cooking

BEAUTY Best Moisturisers

Every day, natural makeup should be effortless, quick and easy, but achieving it requires skill and the ability to recognise what colours and tones suit your skin.

JEAN PAUL GAULTIER SCANDAL

Jean Paul Gaultier presents a Parisian femininity loosened up by the spirit of Pigalle. Scandal is a new kind of fragrance for women, the elegant aura is sullied by the Pigalle spirit beloved by Jean Paul Gaultier..

BEAUTY BUZZ

We take a glimpse at what’s hot and happening in the world of beauty.

While manicures are meant to be a relaxing half hour or so, they can be fraught with decisions that are just too overwhelming to make in a massage arm chair. Now that we’ve mastered the art of finding the right nude tones and nail magic tricks, the next salon challenge you’ll face is picking a shape.

FLAWLESS SKIN Estee lauder - Advance night repair - $110

Powerful nighttime renewal for radiant, youthful-looking skin. Instantly adds radiance. Intensely hydrates. Advanced Night Repair significantly reduces the look of key signs of aging. It maximizes the power of skin’s natural nighttime renewal with our exclusive ChronoluxCB™ Technology. Also includes Hyaluronic Acid, nature’s “moisture magnet,” to help lock in moisture. Lines and wrinkles look significantly reduced. More than 75% of women felt their skin looked more youthful in just 4 weeks.

Flori Roberts brow powder $23

A soft, easy blend brow powder formula which helps you shape and contour your eyebrows and will help you achieve that perfect, natural looking brow line.. #Working the brows can make that difference

MOISTURIZERS FOR DRY SKIN

Clarins extra firming day cream - $145. Mistake: Using Inappropriate Ingredients Fix: Using moisturisers that contain mineral oil or petrolatum might feel like it alleviates the tight feeling, but your skin cannot absorb mineral oils – meaning it just sits on top of your skin, leading to clogged bumps under the skin. Dry skin needs moisturisers that provide the skin with protectants and emollients in order to have a shield to prevent moisture loss. Look for the words ‘nourishing’ or ‘hydrating’, and moisturisers that contain ceramides like urea, shea butter, beeswax, jojoba oil and sunflower seed oil.

Estee lauder( Daywear) - $127 Mistake: Leaving Skin Bare After Cleansing Fix: Leaving skin without toner, serum or moisturiser for more than 60 seconds after cleansing is a big no-no. Dry skin that is not balanced after cleansing (with a toner) will get even drier, while dehydrated skin will overcompensate by producing more oil. To avoid this, ensure you tone your face and apply moisturiser right after cleansing. When using a serum, make sure the skin is freshly toned to increase its effectiveness.

The Biggest Myths About Stretch Marks

Those lines on her thighs are poetry and the stretching of her skin tells a story of a strong beautiful woman. The real badge of a woman. Her stretch marks were lighting strikes of life, proving she could weather the storm.

tretch marks are a natural part of life … or are they? It seems we’re never done debating whether they can be avoided, treated, or gotten rid of altogether. And although it seems women as a whole are becoming more accepting of them and other parts of our natural appearance—like body hair—stretch marks are definitely still a sore spot for some. Even I’ll admit that it took me a long time to embrace those squiggly lines across my chest and thighs, instead of trying every “miracle” product to get rid of them. Now, while we agree that what a woman does with her body is definitely her choice, it’s high time we got to the bottom of what is

and isn’t in our control. Ahead, we debunk the biggest myths around stretch marks, from treatments to prevention (if that exists), and explain how they actually form. MYTH: STRETCH MARKS ARE A NATURAL PART OF BODY DEVELOPMENT This is true in some cases. Sometimes it has to do with a rapid shift in weight, and other times, it can depend on your gene pool, puberty, or hormone (such as estrogen) production. In laypeople’s terms, every woman can’t necessarily control whether they have them or not. “Stretch marks may occur after puberty, although there are also familial traits, ancestry, or hormonal

look smart beauty traits (estrogen) to consider, too. But there’s usually a body mass shifting with either weight gain or weight loss or fluid retention that causes a stretching component to the skin,” he says. This includes pregnancy, too. Stretching of the skin is the most common cause, but stretch marks can be caused by hormonal changes, medications, and stress that weakens the elastic fibers in the skin. MYTH: STRETCH MARKS OCCUR ONLY IN WOMEN This is complete fiction, but they’re usually much less common in men (maybe about 1 percent of cases). When men do develop stretch marks, it usually has to do with medical therapies or weight and body image shifting. MYTH: STRETCH MARKS CHANGE COLOR There may be truth to this. Most stretch marks may start ruby-red or violet and eventually lighten to pink or pale pink. Ultimately, color fluctuation will depend on the person’s ancestry and ethnicity. And none of these colors indicate a problem, as stretch marks aren’t a threat in any way to your health. MYTH: YOU CAN MAKE STRETCH MARKS DISAPPEAR WITH PRODUCTS We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in general, topical treatments alone aren’t going to prevent or resolve stretch marks. However, there are some things you can do to at least minimize their appearance, if that’s what you want. First, hydration makes a huge difference. Keeping the skin moisturized does help increase the skin’s

elasticity and treat symptoms of existing stretch marks including itching and irritation. He highly recommends a daily moisturizer like DDF Moisturizing Dew, but remember that this will only lighten the marks, not cure them. You can also use retinoids to fade their color a bit. There are really high-potency over-the-counter retinols, but you have to be careful in using them, so it should be under the supervision of a board-certified dermatologist.Ultimately, if you are serious about eliminating your stretch marks, the best thing you can do is consult a board-certified dermatologist for cost-effective, more therapeutic treatments. MYTH: TANNING CAN COVER UP STRETCH MARKS Tanning actually makes stretch marks look more prominent. If this is hard to understand, Lancer

suggests thinking of them as scars. “Scars don’t have functional melanocytes to the same extent as non-scarred skin. Stretch-markdamaged skin has an unreliable skin-repair mechanism, so chances are they will not tan to the same color as the rest of the skin, so it’s not a good idea.” MYTH: DIET HAS NO EFFECT ON STRETCH MARKS We know it seems like a “stretch,” but , if you have a highly inflammatory diet, then your metabolism is going to lead toward being overweight. Chances are, it’s going to increase the propensity for a hidden trait for making stretch marks more visible. Sobel agrees, adding that “along with daily moisturizer, it’s important to drink enough water to keep your skin hydrated. Vitamins A, C, and E also help keep your skin healthy, as well as repair damaged skin, and can be found in foods such as avocados, berries, carrots, oranges, nuts, and bell peppers.” MYTH: IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO PREVENT STRETCH MARKS Though it’s true that your likelihood of getting them is largely based on genetics, there is a way to help prevent them--and that’s through proper hydration of your skin, says Dendy Engelman, a dermatologist in New York City. Keeping your skin constantly moisturized will ensure that it maintains maximum elasticity, in turn making you less apt to form marks. c source: thisisinsider

shop smart fitness

FIT ESSENTIAL How to choose the perfect shoe for every workout

ne of the, if not the, most important pieces of workout gear are your shoes. After all, if there’s something wrong with your feet you struggle to exercise at all. If something is amiss with your feet, you can be pretty certain that the problem will slowly but surely, rise to affect your knees, hips, spine, general posture or gait, causing a chain reaction of instability and improper alignment all the way through the body, and leading to muscle imbalances and pain in places that appear to have nothing to do with your feet.

unning There are two main considerations

to make when choosing running shoes – your gait and how much shock absorption you need. Of course, you can also concern yourself with shoe weight, color and manufacturer but those are personal details rather than deciding factors. Your gait describes how you run and that dictates how your foot hits the ground. If you run on the inside of your feet, you are said to be a pronator whereas if you run on the outside of your feet you are a supinator. If your foot fall is neither of the above then you are said to be neutral. Running shoes are designed to counteract over pronation or over supination and make you run using a

more neutral foot fall. To figure out whether you pronate or supinated, simply look at the wear patterns on an old pair of running shoes or look at your footprints next time you get out the shower. A good running shoe store will also be able to identify your foot fall characteristics. Heavier and high mileage runners need a cushioning shoe designed to absorb impact. Every step you take shoots a shock load through your foot and up your leg which can result in injury. So minimizing these forces may help reduce your risk of suffering problems like sore shins and knee pain. The heavier you are the more impact there tends to be and the more cushioning you are likely to need.

iking. Hiking footwear needs to offer a

combination of support and cushioning and also a degree to protection for when the going gets rough. If you’ll be out in the great outdoors facing a variety of weather conditions, it also helps if your shoes are waterproof as wet feet can get super uncomfortable very fast. While you can get walking shoes, they do not offer any real ankle support or protection. So if you are going off the beaten track and into the wilds, boots are a better option. Boots offer ankle support and are more likely to keep your feet dry – especially if made of oiled

leather, or if they boast Gortex or a similar waterproof but breathable lining.

ycling. While you can ride a bike wearing

almost any kind of shoe, proper cycling shoes offer a number of advantages. Firstly, they are very stiff which helps save you energy. If you pedal in squashy running shoes, some of your downward effort is absorbed in the sole of the shoe, which means some of your energy is wasted. Also, cycling shoes are designed to be used with toe clips or clipless pedals. Using toe clips or clipless pedals means you don’t just push down on your pedals; you also push forward, pull backward and pull up. This makes for a much more efficient pedal stroke. So if you want to get the most out of your cycling, a pair of cycling shoes can help ensure the union between you and your bike is as solid as possible, and that will enhance your cycling performance.

ourt Sports. Basketball, squash, badminton,

tennis and volleyball are all good ways to get and stay fit but the demands of these sports means that a pair of running shoes is not really your best choice of footwear. Court sports involve a lot of explosive lateral or side-to-side movements which means a relatively thick-soled running shoe would be unstable and that could lead to injury. Not only that, the soles of running shoes are not designed for side to side movements and too much lateral movement could cause the sole to come away from the body of the shoe.Court sports shoes are supportive, are designed to move in all directions and have non-marking soles so you won’t make a mess of the playing surface. While there are different shoes for each court sport, they have similar properties and you could, for example, wear tennis shoes for other court-based sports.

ield Sports. Field sports such as soccer, foot-

ball and rugby are typically played on grass or artificial turf so grip and support are of paramount performance. That means that field sports shoes usually have studs or cleats, with the exact design and configuration depending on the regulations of the sport in question and the surface on which you are playing. Contact is not uncommon in field sport, so the studs/cleats must be free of sharp edges to minimize the risk of injury.

roup Exercise Class. A pair of running

shoes may seem okay for group exercise classes but as running shoes are designed for forward movements and group exercise classes often involve sideways movements, they are not as ideal as they may appear The thick soles of running shoes can be a trip hazard when moving side to side and the sole may be damaged by lateral movement. Also, in running shoes, the placement of the shock-absorbing material is de-

shop smart fitness

signed for landing on your heel whereas group exercises classes, especially those that are dance or martial arts based, involve a lot of forefoot impact.

trength Training. Look around most gyms

and you’ll see a wide variety of footwear being worn; from trainers to tennis shoes to sandals to nothing. For many recreational exercisers, footwear for strength training is not really a big concern but if you are serious about pumping iron, your shoes can help make a small but noteworthy difference to your workouts. If you are lifting heavy weights in shoes that have good shock absorbing properties, you may find that you are less stable than you should be. This is especially the case for running shoes with very squashy soles. If you are trying to squat, deadlift, press or clean the heaviest weights you can, the one thing you don’t want is your feet to be wobbling around! Proper weightlifting shoes have no shock absorbing qualities but instead just offer lots and lots of support. Some have straps across the mid-foot to further enhance stability and many are manufactured using a wooden heel block designed not to compress. On the downside, weightlifting shoes are not really suitable for any other kind of workout activity so if you intend to jog on a treadmill or use a rowing machine, you may need to take two pairs of shoes to the gym with you.

ross Trainers. Can one shoe do it all? Cross

training shoes are designed to try and be a “Jack of all trades” (but master of none) that you can use for a variety of activities. They tend to be firmer than running shoes, more shock-absorbing than weightlifting shoes and offer at least some of the lateral support normally associated with court sports shoes. Of course, trying to make a shoe that is the footwear equivalent of the Swiss Army knife means that a cross trainer is not going to work perfectly in all scenarios but merely be adequate. An alternative to cross trainers are minimalist exercise shoes. Ironically, these completely un-engineered shoes are good for a wide range of activities including strength training, running, cycling and group exercise classes although some heavier exercisers may suffer because of the complete lack of cushioning. If you like a little of variety in your activities, cross training shoes or minimalist shoes may very well be suitable for your needs. However, if you want to practice any of these activities at anything other than a very basic level, you would be better served wearing shoes especially designed for the job. And remember, always match your socks with your chosen shoes because even the best-performing shoe can be super uncomfortable when paired with the wrong type of sock. c source: healthandstyle

downtime cooking

HOMEMADE PIZZA

Even a novice cook can master the art of pizza with our simple step-by-step guide. Prepare pizza from scratch in under two hours. Use your favorite toppings and combinations.

Homemade Hawaiian Pizza

SERVES : 6 PREP: 30 MINS COOK: 45 MINS TOTAL TIME: 2 HR 30 MINS

This crowd-pleasing recipe starts with my fluffy homemade pizza crust and is finished with a sprinkle of crisp bacon. It’s love at first bite. INGREDIENTS: 1/2 recipe homemade pizza crust 1 1/2 cup (127g) pizza sauce, or more depending how much you like (homemade or store-bought) 1 and 1/2 cups (6oz or 168g) shredded mozzarella cheese 1/2 cup (75g) cooked ham or bacon, sliced or chopped 1/2 cup (82g) pineapple chunks (canned or fresh) 3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled DIRECTIONS: Prepare the pizza crust using the crust recipe included. Preheat the oven to 220C After waiting 15 minutes as described in crust recipe, top with pizza sauce, then the mozzarella cheese, then the ham/bacon, and pineapple. Sprinkle with bacon crumbles. Bake for 14-16 minutes or until the crust is lightly browned and the cheese is bubbling. For the last minute, I move the oven rack to the top rack to really brown the edges. That’s optional. Remove from the oven. Slice pizza and serve immediately. Store leftover pizza covered tightly in the refrigerator and

reheat as you prefer. Baked pizza your dough should be smooth and slices may be frozen up to 1 month. elastic. Poke it with your finger - if it slowly bounces back, your Homemade Pizza Crust Recipe dough is ready to rise. If not, keep YIELDS 2 12-INCH PIZZA kneading. Shape the dough into CRUSTS a ball and place in a large mixing PREP: 2 HRS 15 MINS bowl that has been coated lightly TOTAL TIME: 2 HRS 30 MINS with olive oil. Turn it over to coat all sides. Cover tightly with plastic INGREDIENTS: wrap and allow to rise in a warm 2 and 1/4 tsps instant yeast environment (about 23-260C). 1 and 1/3 cups (320ml) warm After about 30 minutes, Depending water (40-460C) on your type of yeast, your dough 3 and 1/2 cups (440g) flour, plus will have doubled in size in about more as needed 1 - 2 hours. Punch the dough down 2 Tablespoons (30ml) olive oil, to release the air. Divide the dough plus more for brushing crust into two. Roll each half into a ball 3/4 teaspoon salt and let rest in two separate bowls 1 Tablespoon (13g) granulated lightly covered for 15 minutes. Presugar heat oven to 200C degrees. Allow cornmeal, for dusting to heat for at least 30 full minutes. Every inch of your oven needs to DIRECTIONS: be very, very hot. Grease and dust In a large mixing bowl or the 2 baking sheets with nonstick spray bowl of your stand mixer fitted or with olive oil. Sprinkle with with a hook attachment, combine cornmeal (preferred for flavor and the yeast and warm water. Stir it texture) or flour. After 15 minutes, around and let sit for 5 minutes of flatten each ball of dough 1 at a until the yeast is foamy and distime on a lightly floured surface solved. This is called “proofing” the or directly on your cornmeal lined yeast. If the yeast doesn’t dissolve, pizza pan. Flatten into a 12-inch your yeast is dead. Start again with round circle, flattening and stretchactive yeast. Add flour, olive oil, ing the dough. Lift the edge of the salt, and sugar. Mix by hand or dough up to create a lip around the with the dough hook on low speed edges. To prevent the filling from for 1 minute. Once all of the ingre- making your pizza crust soggy, dients are mixed, knead for 7 min- brush the top lightly with olive oil. utes by hand or with your dough Using your fingers, push dents into hook on low-medium speed. If the surface of the dough to prevent your dough is too wet, add up to bubbling. Let rest for 15 minutes 1/4 cup more flour. After kneading, before topping.

Hearing

loss in Children

The earlier children with hearing loss start getting services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential.

earing loss can affect a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ability to develop speech, language, and social skills. The earlier children with hearing loss start getting services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential. If you think that a child might have hearing loss, ask the childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doctor for a hearing screening as soon as possible. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wait!

What is Hearing Loss?

A hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear is not working in the usual way. This includes the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, hearing (acoustic) nerve, and auditory system.

Auditory (Hearing) System

Each part of the ear plays an important role in supplying the brain with sound information. Hearing loss is the result of damage to one or multiple parts of the outer, middle or inner ear. To best

understand hearing loss, it may be helpful to understand the anatomy of the ear and how hearing works. The auditory pathway processes sound information as it travels from the ear to the brain so that our brain pathways are part of our hearing.

There are four types of hearing loss: The first and most com-

problem.

mon type is sensorineural hearing loss which results from missing or damaged sensory cells (hair cells) in the cochlea. Conductive hearing loss describes any problem in the outer or middle ear that prevents sound from being conducted properly to the inner ear. Mixed hearing loss is a combined loss of both sensorineural and conductive hearing. Finally, neural hearing loss occurs when the auditory nerve cannot send signals to the brain.

Screening and Diagnosis

Signs and Symptoms

Treatments and Intervention Services

The signs and symptoms of hearing loss are different for each child. If you think that your child might have hearing loss, ask the child’s doctor for a hearing screening as soon as possible. Don’t wait! Even if a child has passed a hearing screening before, it is important to look out for the following signs.

Signs in Babies

1. Does not startle at loud noises. 2. Does not turn to the source of a sound after 6 months of age. 3. Does not say single words, such as “dada” or “mama” by 1 year of age. 4. Turns head when he or she sees you but not if you only call out his or her name. This sometimes is mistaken for not paying attention or just ignoring, but could be the result of a partial or complete hearing loss. 5. Seems to hear some sounds but not others.

Signs in Children

1. Speech is delayed. 2. Speech is not clear. 3. Does not follow directions. This sometimes is mistaken for not paying attention or just ignoring, but could be the result of a partial or complete hearing loss. 4. Often says, “Huh?” 5. Turns the TV volume up too high. Babies and children should reach milestones in how they play, learn, communicate and act. A delay in any of these milestones could be a sign of hearing loss or other developmental

live smart health watch

Hearing screening can tell if a child might have hearing loss. Hearing screening is easy and is not painful. In fact, babies are often asleep while being screened. It takes a very short time — usually only a few minutes. All babies should have a hearing screening no later than 1 month of age. If a baby does not pass a hearing screening, it’s very important to get a full hearing test as soon as possible, but no later than 3 months of age.

No single treatment or intervention is the answer for every person or family. Good treatment plans will include close monitoring, follow-ups and any changes needed along the way. There are many different types of communication options for children with hearing loss and for their families. Some of these options include: 1. Learning other ways to communicate, such as sign language. 2. Technology to help with communication, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants. 3. Medicine and surgery to correct some types of hearing loss. 4. Family support services.

Causes and Risk Factors

Hearing loss can happen any time during life – from before birth to adulthood. Following are some of the things that can increase the chance that a child will have hearing loss: A genetic cause: About 1 out of 2 cases of hearing loss in babies is due to genetic causes. Some babies with a genetic cause for their hearing loss might have family members who also have a hearing loss. About 1 out of 3 babies with genetic hearing loss have a “syndrome.” This means they have other conditions in addition to the hearing loss, such as Down syndrome or Usher syndrome. 1 out of 4 cases of hearing loss in

babies is due to maternal infections during pregnancy, complications after birth, and head trauma. For example, the child: Was exposed to infection, such as, before birth Spent 5 days or more in a hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) or had complications while in the NICU Needed a special procedure like a blood transfusion to treat bad jaundice Has head, face or ears shaped or formed in a different way than usual Has a condition like a neurological disorder that may be associated with hearing loss Had an infection around the brain and spinal cord called meningitis Received a bad injury to the head that required a hospital stay For about 1 out of 4 babies born with hearing loss, the cause is unknown.

* * * * * * * *

Prevention: Following are tips for parents to help prevent hearing loss in their children: 1. Have a healthy pregnancy. 2. Make sure your child gets all the regular childhood vaccines. 3. Keep your child away from high noise levels, such as from very loud toys.

Get Help! If you think that your

child might have hearing loss, ask the child’s doctor for a hearing screening as soon as possible. Don’t wait! If your child does not pass a hearing screening, ask the child’s doctor for a full hearing test as soon as possible. If your child has hearing loss, talk to the child’s doctor about treatment and intervention services. Hearing loss can affect a child’s ability to develop speech, language, and social skills. The earlier children with hearing loss start getting services, the more likely they are to reach their full potential. If you are a parent and you suspect your child has hearing loss, trust your instincts and speak with your child’s doctor.c source: patient

downtime teens

Education & the entrepreneur

Book smarts or street smarts?

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uch like the never-ending debate about whether the chicken or the egg came first, the “born entrepreneur” versus the “developed entrepreneur” debate shows no signs of abating. Since entrepreneurship is premised on identifying needs and crafting profitable ways of meeting them, there’s a school of thought that argues that entrepreneurs can rely solely on their instincts to “hustle” their way to success. After all, you don’t need any formal qualifications to be innovative! The examples of businesspeople who made it with little or no education are too many to mention. Such lists feature not only your uncle, cousin, or school buddy now swimming in the dough, but notable zillionaire “drop outs” such as Bill Gates, Michael Dell, Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. Interestingly a sizeable number of these “drop outs” emerged on the back of innovations in ICT but that is a discussion for another day. Surely then with such glaring evidence we can conclude like rapper Drake (another drop-out who graduated years after attaining fortune) that “...turning in papers

won’t get me paid...” Well before calling time on assignments, demanding lecturers and other such “joys” of formal learning, you may want to consider the case presented by the “book smart” side of the debate. This school of thought appreciates that though entrepreneurs are born, their innate skills must be nurtured through a structured education. The present cut-throat trading environment makes it necessary to get educated so that entrepreneurs can out-manoeuvre competition and make sense of often complex operating environments. It is argued that rather than using “trial and error”, an education allows the entrepreneur to adopt business operating methods that have been tried and tested. Entrepreneurs who place themselves in a formal education system also stand to benefit from accessing research data and analysis that they can employ to avoid costly mistakes. Such critical information can also help businesspeople to benchmark themselves against leading businesses within their respective

industries. Some entrepreneurs and other professionals often tend to forego formal education as it is often associated with the humdrum routine of sitting behind a desk scribbling endless notes. The information age we inhabit however has turned the traditional concept of an education right on its head. You can now obtain knowledge in myriad often engaging ways such as learning online and even establishing relationships with coaches or mentors. Given the above and other evidence, it therefore would seem that a combination of book and street smarts might not be such a bad middle ground for any entrepreneur.

Addresses are as follows: Chitepo Campus: Cnr H Chitepo Ave/3rd Street Harare Bulawayo Campus: 30 Jason Moyo Street Bulawayo Technical Campus: Cnr 210th & 237th St Highfield Harare Chitungwiza Campus: Cnr Mangwende Dr/ Mpofu Rd Seke www.specisscollege.com ,www.facebook.com/SpecissCollege college@speciss.co.zw, 04-708494-7

Oct/Nov Notebook

What to see, do and experience in the months of October and November

AFTER disbanding the group Soul Afrika in 2016 to pursue solo projects, talented and award winning hip-hop artiste Takura has not looked back. Born 29 years ago in Masvingo, Takura has proved his prowess through the release of some chart toppers like Zino Irema and MaObama that has moulded him into a household name in showbiz. Takura is a Zimbabwean musician. He grew up in Kingsdale, Bulawayo. In late 2013, Takura formed the group Soul Afrika with his best friend Donald Mapholisa in Gweru. Mapholisa left the group when he got married. After disbanding the group Soul Afrika

Facebook: edgarszimbabwe

to pursue solo projects, Takura released two songs “Zino Irema” and “MaObama” which made him into a household name. He released an EP in 2016 called Stripped which has songs such as “Mungandidi”, “Mari Hairambwe” and “Ndoda Kutaura Newe”. He embarked on a national and international tour in style with a show at Gweru’s Club Eclipse on Friday 23 September 2016, before going to Bulawayo’s Horizon Night Club the following night. He performed in Mutare before he left for his maiden show in Cyprus on October 7, 2016. On his return, he headed to Masvingo on October 14 before the grand finale

@EdgarsZW

in Harare on October 22. The tour was headed by One Entertainment.

talent to watch

TAKURA He scooped two awards at the Midlands Music Awards held in Gweru in September 2016, winning the best single and best video for Zino Irema. In April 2018 Takura launched his debut 18-track album titled Someone Has to Do It as well as a clothing line.

@EdgarsZW

Feel like doing something a little different.Tamba Tamba is a premier play center in Harare for the whole family. www. tambatambazimbabwe.com or call on 0776 617 493. Adults and kids under 1 are FREE

WASTE NOT YOUR TEARS by Vivienne Ndlovu, 2018

the read

smart Wowed by the lights and prospects of city life, Loveness leaves her small mining town in search of a new life in Harare. She imagines herself falling for a hot-shot city man becoming his wife and spending her life in luxury while tending to her city children. The man she considers the love of her life is anything but a hot shot, and he is abusive and uncaring. To top all this off, he his HIV positive. Loveness is at a crossroads. She must consider her choices. Although, Waste Not Your Tears does not shy away from misfortune, it is also a novel of forgiveness and hope. Loveness is an unlikely heroine on a stage set during the crisis of HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. She lives, however, amongst us, and reading this sensitive and thoughtful novel provides insights into the challenges of making the wrong choices, but having the strength to move forward.

comedy nights

On the Roof, Travel Plaza, Harare Chipiri Comedy Night is an amazing stand up comedy show that is on weekly every Tuesday. Good atmosphere and vibe featuring some of Zim’s finest comedians. The show is full of suprises so much that even the comedians have the biggest challenge in trying out new #exclusive material never heard by anyone in the audiences. Organizer: hararemagazine@gmail.com

GO GOSPEL ZIMBABWE (THE BATTLE OF THE CHOIRS). 11 NOVEMBER 2018

Go along to see Zimbabwe’s Best Gospel Choirs! Everyone in the family will be entertained by an amazing musical performances from Zimbabwe’s best choirs at this year’s Go Gospel Choir Competition. This evening of amazing music will have the colour and drama of TV shows such as “American Idol”, “The Voice”, or “Clash of the Choirs”, and be professionally judged by a panel however this is not going to be an ordinary choir competition! email admin@ gogospel.org http://www.gogospel.org/

the show

kids MOWGLI (2018)

Mowgli (2018) PG-13 | Adventure, Drama 19 October 2018 (USA) Human child Mowgli is raised by a wolf pack in the jungles of India. As he learns the often harsh rules of the jungle, under the tutelage of a bear named Baloo and a panther named Bagheera, Mowgli becomes accepted by the animals of the jungle as one of their own, but the fearsome tiger Shere Khan doesn’t take a liking to him. But there may be greater dangers lurking in the jungle, as Mowgli comes face to face with his human origins.

STREAM Android OS has more than six million applications, some of which can perform the same function of watching your favorite movies. Popcorn time is a free application. It is made for all users ranging from android users to Linux. It allows users to stream all TV shows and movies. With this application, one can stream their content in various qualities any time.

the app

IFLIX A forever-free version of iflix that’s YOURS, and yours for life. Preview and play all you want - there’s hundreds of movies to discover (or start with our hand-picked recommendation from Movie of the Day!), tons of popular TV shows and enough local content to last a lifetime. Enjoy quality streaming on any device or for a bigger viewing experience, connect to your TV. No ads, no contracts and you can cancel online anytime It’s your entertainment, YOUR terms.

AKA’S TOUCH MY BLOOD

AKA’s third studio album, Touch My Blood, is one of the most anticipated South African albums of the year. The rapper, who has managed to stay at the forefront of the music scene for just under 10 years, always shakes up the industry with his releases.

the album

Prices available instore

CHIPIRI COMEDY NIGHTS

shop smart home Some handy tips to consider when renovating your space.

Driveway Design Ideas

here are a variety of layout options for residential driveways. For example, you can have a circular drive, a long straight drive, or a driveway with sweeping curves. As with any home improvement project, you’ll want to consider function before form. With that in mind there are four main considerations when determining the best driveway layout.

First, is how you want your driveway to function

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. Do you want room for two cars to pass? Do you need space for a turn-around? How much parking would you like? . Is the position of your home’s garage. Does your garage face the street? Is it on the side of your home? Or is it a detached garage in the rear of your house? . Is your property’s terrain Will your driveway need to traverse a steep slope? Are there mature trees or large boulders you want to work around? . Is the look you would like to create Do you want a grand estate-like entrance? Or are you looking for a simple driveway that doesn’t distract from your home and landscaping?

Circular Driveways

Circular drives are one of the most popular driveway

layouts. Sometimes called a horseshoe driveway, this layout option has an entrance at the road, rounds off as it approaches the house and then has a separate exit lane leading back to the road. This type of driveway is so popular because it eliminates the need for backing out or turning around so that you can always safely enter oncoming traffic in drive with a clear view of the road. A common variation on the circular driveway is the tear-drop driveway. A tear-drop driveway has only one entry and exit point off the road, but opens into a loop that cars may drive around. Whether a standard half-circle, a horseshoe or a tear drop design, circular drives require quite a bit of room, so they aren’t typically an option if you have a small front yard.

Curved Driveways

There are a variety of reasons to opt for a curved driveway. First is that the best access point from the street does not line up with your garage, requiring the driveway to curve or angle. Second is that your property has existing trees, boulders or other features that you want your driveway to be designed around. Third is that you are looking to add interest to the overall look of your home and front yard. Whatever reason you have for wanting a curved driveway you’ll want to make sure that it is maneuverable for all types of vehicles, from compact cars to large delivery trucks. Broad sweeping curves are the easiest to navigate

shop smart home functional and if placed incorrectly on your property it may not function correctly or could become a safety hazard. Once function is addressed it is time to think about how your driveway will look on your property because the placement of a driveway will drastically impact the overall appearance of your home.

Safety

The most important driveway placement consideration is safety. Drivers need to be able to enter and exit your driveway easily for safety reasons. This means that where the driveway meets the street there needs to be good visibility. Also, it is best to avoid placing the driveway entrance near a corner or high traffic area. It is also a good idea to keep your driveway a reasonable distance from your neighborsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; driveways.

Access

Access is the second most important consideration when deciding on the ideal placement of a driveway. Typically, a driveway must conveniently access three points: the garage, the front door and parking. If needed, a walkway can be used to usher guests from the driveway or parking area to the front door.

and look the best. Additionally, you want to avoid placing curves too close to the street or house. This will give drivers time to safely straighten their wheels after leaving the road and before entering a garage or parking space.

Straight Driveways

There are two situations in which a completely straight driveway is appropriate. First is if you have a small front yard and the distance a vehicle will need to travel from street to garage is very short. In this situation your layout options are limited and it is best to keep your driveway simple and functional. Interest can be added to a short, straight driveway with decorative paving materials such as stamped concrete or interlocking pavers, as well as creative driveway lighting and striking plants. Second is if you have a long distance between the street and your home and are looking for an estate-like entrance. A long, straight driveway lined with trees is a great way to welcome guests to your home. This type of driveway layout purposefully directs peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s focus to your home, putting it on display. Driveway Placement Tips: When it comes to driveway placement there are four main considerations: safety, access, drainage and aesthetics. First and foremost, a driveway must be

Pro Tip: Always provide a walkway from the driveway to the front entry. Even when you have a fancy grand entrance to a home, the first guests that arrive to the party often park in the driveway, especially if they are family members. Also, this walkway is handy when unloading groceries or larger purchases.

Drainage

The durability and lifetime of a driveway is increased when properly placed in a high and dry location. Areas with poor drainage and wet soil provide a weak sub-base for a driveway that will not be able to support vehicle traffic. This often results in the driveway crack or sinking and becoming uneven. If you have an existing driveway with poor drainage, consider these driveway drainage solutions.

Aesthetics

Finally, how the driveway will look must be considered. A driveway should be located in a position that accentuates both the home and the landscape. Placing a driveway right in the center of your front yard can often have a dominating effect. In order to avoid this, many designers place the driveway off to one side. Your next decision is to choose the best material to use to pave your driveway, considering your budget and design goals. The material you select for your driveway also must durable enough to resist tire marks, oil drips and any other chemicals. c source: landscapingnetwork

downtime teen talk

Dealing with ACADEMIC pressure

No matter your age, hygiene is important and the early you start the better.

t’s like a pressure cooker in here! No doubt, school is tough. For some, it’s the worry of being able to get enough credits to graduate high school, while for others it’s being able to get 15 points or 10 Á to advance to the next level. No matter what our goals are, we all struggle with a tremendous amount of stress and pressure. At school there is a range of academic pressure we feel, derived from a need for perfection, worry over grades, parental pressure, competition, sports, or a tough class load. Academic pressure does not begin in college. The nervous breakdowns, panic attacks, burnouts, and depression are also apparent in many younger students. The same situation is not always stressful for all people, and all people do not undergo the same feelings or off-putting thoughts when stressed.

Having a strong support network to fall back on when times get tough at school is critical to staying upbeat and maintaining a big picture perspective. Friends can be the best people to relieve your stress, but they can also be the reason behind the stress. Choose the friends that will be positive and supportive when the going gets tough. Having a good group of friends at help you maintain a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle.

External Factors

External forces also create academic pressure. Many of us fail in the subject of time management and excel at procrastination. The cure requires dedication and commitment. Set up a schedule, or set a timer. When you watch T.V., play video games, or surf the web, set a timer for 30 minutes. Time

allocation helps divide the hours to reasonable amounts so you are not left at the 11th hour to complete homework. Some students just want to take the easy way out and cheat. They may have jobs after school to support their family or themselves, which carries a higher priority for them than school work. In the same context, many students feel that excelling in sports is a higher priority than school. Others may resort to cheating to make up for their lack of academic motivation or live up to the standards set up by older siblings or parents.

Managing Pressure

There are many healthy ways to deal with academic pressure. If you don’t feel motivated about a subject, arrange a study group. Reward yourself after completing every section. Other ideas include:

1 2 3 4 5

downtime teen talk pressure goes up.

. Finish your work at a nearby café or library if the environment at home is not the best. . If you play sports or work, take time to plan your hours to include more study time as well. . If you know you have a big game coming up where you will be out for long practices, work ahead. . Ask your teachers for assignments for the days you won’t have sufficient study time. . Make sure you maintain good sleeping and eating habits and, from time to time, go out for a run, a ride on your bike, and exercise. These will help alleviate your stress and get your body moving!

it comes to that less-than-helpful sort of competition between my friends and me that, often times, has been the cause of much of my academic stress. For myself, I didn’t want to let my parents or myself down by failing, but I also didn’t want to fall below the standards of my friends. And when your friends are all in the running for being the class valedictorian, it’s hard! But it’s important to set your own goals and take on your own responsibility. It’s good to be proud of other’s accomplishments, but it’s important to be proud of your own hard work as well. So every once in a while, make sure to give yourself a pat on the back!

Academic Pressure & Cheating

Managing Your Stress

Ring! Ring! That lethal sound can only mean one thing; it is September and school is back in session, and along with it are the wandering eyes, cheat sheets, stolen tests, and technology, of course. Cheating has become the method of survival, the only way to reach and maintain the top for many… but there are better routes to reach number one while keeping your integrity intact. Cheating does not make you a smarter or better person. If you set reachable goals, study hard, and get outside help, you can succeed academically without cheating. The key to keeping your integrity is to not stay up late doing non-school related activities and fall back on cheating when time runs out. People also resort to cheating when they have been pressured too much by their parents, or even by themselves. Finally, if you are ever caught cheating, the teacher who catches you will tell the rest of your teachers, and their trust in you and your college recommendation letters go out the window.

When Friendly Competition Goes Too Far

I can speak from experience when

If you have admitted you are stressed, read through the seven tips about things that can help. These tips will help you reduce your stress overtime. However, what are you going to do today that might help?

Slow Down

What can you not do today that will allow you some free time to exercise, relax, have fun, and make yourself feel good? Take a time out. A few minutes away from the problem can help. Here are some things other people like to do: *Find something to make you laugh * Play at a playground * Be a kid for a couple of minutes * Listen to music * Have a bath * Get a massage * Play a musical instrument

Exercise

Did you know that one of the best ways to deal with stress is exercise? Here are some useful facts about exercise and stress: . Stress produces chemicals in your body that make you feel edgy and tense. Your heart beats faster. Your muscles get tight. You breathe harder and your blood

2 3

. Exercise moves those chemicals out of your body. It reduces muscle tension and takes your mind off of problems. . Exercise helps you sleep better and improves the quality of sleep, making you feel better rested. Choose activities you’ll enjoy. The type of activity that will relieve your stress best depends on your personality and lifestyle. If you usually do quiet activities, vigorous exercise may be best. If you are active, calming exercise may be better. Remember, one of the stress reducing benefits of exercise is that it’s fun. Choose an activity you’ll enjoy.

Get Plenty of Rest, Eat Well

Teenagers need lots of sleep because they are growing and developing at a furious pace. Not getting enough sleep can give you bad skin, make you clumsy and emotional, and make it hard to concentrate. Keeping your sleep on a schedule helps, too. Go to sleep and get up at the same time every day.Eating well means eating a variety of foods, in moderation, that are high in vitamins and minerals, and provide a balance across the food groups. The basic rules are: * Eat breakfast. * Do not skip meals. * Eat five servings of fruits and vegetables each day. * Get enough iron and calcium (especially important for girls). * Do not eat too much junk food. * Drink 8 glasses of water each day. (You feel tired when you are dehydrated.)

Discuss Your Problems

Don’t feel alone with your problem – chances are good that other people feel the same way, too. Ask for help. If you feel like your stress is just too much, talk with your parents, siblings, a friend, or a counselor. c source: nextstepuni