Hot trend: leather nails

After caviar and velvet manicures, leather effect nail varnishes have swept fashion aficionados off their feet. No sooner did British TV presenter Alexa Chung sport them at an award show, celebrities are bellowing for their own bottle of liquid leather.

Glossy on application, this varnish dries up quickly to give you a leathery feel; so you don't even need a top coat! Fashion glossies like Harper's Bazaar and Vogue have already called it one of the top nail trends to watch out for this year. This limited-edition varnish has a waiting list of 900 (and still counting) thanks to the red carpet launch they got. Soon to be launched at beauty stores in India, this manicure is edgy and chic.

What it is: A matte finish nail lacquer that, when dry, gives a leathery finish.

How to embellish it: Each bottle comes with different studs, rhinestones and crystallised skulls that you can glue on to your nails; all you need is a rock-chick attitude.

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Keep the skirt short

The length of skirts have always been an indicator of economic downturn but the 'Hemline Index' is bringing good news.

Shorter skirts show happier times and celebs are going mini and frilly.

- If you are young or have a good physique, then mini skirts are quite flattering.
- Kilts, wraps and pleated skirts are great for women who have age on their side.
- A flowing, pleated mini is perfect for summer.
- A high-waisted mini works great if you are tall and slim.
- Leggings are apt accessories for short skirts. Of course, it depends on the occasion.
- Don't wear trainers, clogs or heavy shoes with short skirts.
- Footwear like flats, knee-length boots and stilettos are right for this outfit.

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4 Reasons why you shouldn’t eat bread

Whether its sandwiches or subs, a lot of us love eating bread and do so, on a daily basis. But it isn't exactly the most healthy foods that there are. Here's why you should stay away from bread!

It doesn't have many nutrients:

Unlike other food items, bread, especially white bread and items made from it lack nutrients. You're not getting any fiber, you're not getting the wholesomeness of grains — you're basically getting nothing important out of it. While bread made of wheat is a little better, if you're looking for nutrients, bread made out of whole grains are what you must opt for.

It contains too much salt:

Most bread varieties, especially the processe3d kind that you buy from the supermarket, contain lots of salt. So if you eat lesser bread, the amount of sodium in your body is significantly reduced. Of course, one slice of bread, every now and then won't do any damage. In fact, you can bake your own bread at home, without adding too much salt.

It makes you gain weight

If you eat too much of bread, because of all carbs, salt, refined sugar and preservatives that it contains, it can make you put on pounds! Eating it in moderation is fine; especially when you take the time to make sure it's as healthy as possible.

It's not a wholesome, filling meal

Since certain kinds of bread lack nutrients, when you eat them, you might not feel satiated, because it's not filling!

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Moderate drinking in pregnancy is alright

Drinking 3 to 7 glasses of alcohol a week, during pregnancy, does not seem to harm foetal neurodevelopment, a new study has claimed.

The researchers said but social advantage may be a factor, as more affluent and better educated mums-to-be tend to drink more than women who are less well off.

They assessed the ability to balance - an indicator of prenatal neurodevelopment - of almost 7000 ten year olds who were part of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC).

Those children whose mothers' alcohol consumption during (18 weeks) and after pregnancy (47 months) was known, underwent a 20 minute balance assessment when they reached the age of 10.

The assessment included dynamic balance (walking on a beam); and static balance (heel to toe balance on a beam, standing on one leg for 20 seconds) with eyes open and then again with eyes closed. Each child had two attempts at the test.

70 per cent of children's mums drank no alcohol while pregnant, while 25 per cent drank between 1 and 2 (low consumption) and 3 and 7 glasses a week (moderate consumption).

About 4.5 percent drank 7 or more glasses a week and of these, around one in seven were classified as binge drinkers - 4 or more glasses at any one time.

The study has been published online in journal BMJ Open.

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How I start my day: Robin Sharma

"Your body takes 40 days to adjust to a new habit"
Leaders understand that the real fight is the fight against time. There's so much to achieve in such less time. The solution? Get up uber-early. That way you have your day, versus your day having you. Getting up early is one of the gifts I give myself. Here are a few things that I do to help me get up between 4am and 5am.

I try to work out daily in the morning hours. This drives up energy levels dramatically. You'll feel more inspired. And you'll need less sleep.

I take a massage each week. This isn't an indulgence, it's an investment in your full creative expression/productivity/passion and sustained good health.

Do your Holy Hour. If you've read The Greatness Guide, you know about this key leadership practice. Take 60 minutes from 5am to 6am and get inspired. Read good books. Write about your hopes, goals and dreams in your journal. Read your mantras aloud. Hit the gym. You'll start feeling good and energetic. Getting up early will be effortless after this practice.

I meditate. Just 30 minutes of meditation clears my mind. With less worry and more clarity, I sleep more deeply at night.

Remember the 40-day rule. Any new practice will feel foreign and stressful for the first 40 days as you adjust. Stick to the 5am rise. Have the courage and persistence to get into this habit. After 40 days, you'll have a new protocol in place, which will boost your leadership skills and give you far more happiness in all spheres of life.

(Robin Sharma - Leadership expert and author)

(As told to Nona Walia)

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Men who behave like a 'drama queen'

Are you tolerating a man who blows things out of proportion and refuses to quit his histrionic personality? You are probably with a male 'drama queen'. Here's our take on the situation.

So you're at this party and everyone's having a blast. And just when you decide to hit the dance floor with your partner, the waiter serves your guy the wrong drink — and he goes berserk. Not only does he make a mountain out of a molehill by screaming at the waiter in front of everyone, but also, instead of celebrating the friend's birthday, he decides to celebrate his fight over this petty issue. And that's when your heart sinks and you think, 'My man's such a drama queen'. Yes, that's the word for him, too. And why not? After all, he screams, shouts, vies for attention and wants the whole world revolving around his histrionics — character traits often attributed to women. The drama queen could be anyone; it needn't necessarily be your husband or boyfriend.

Rebecca Joseph, a copywriter, agrees. "I have a very close guy friend. He's cute and macho. But I've never come across anyone who cribs as much as him. It's fun at times, almost like spending time with another woman." Clinical psychologist Mansi Hasan says, "Women may find it difficult to handle such emotional outbursts by men. It may also affect the relationship in a negative way — women are also emotional and two emotional people may create conflicts." But the question is, why have men suddenly taken to this pattern? While experts say this has always been the case, here are some contributing factors:

Born like that
Psychiatrist and psychotherapist Anjali Chhabria says it could be something to do with his personality. "We come across more and more men with narcissistic, histrionic and dependent personalities. That will reflect in the manner they behave in."

Family matters
It depends on how one's family deals with situations. Someone who has seen a lot of drama in his family during his growing-up years will pick that up. Like Hasan says, "They may have seen parents or siblings behave in this manner and get attention."

Hungry for attention
Sometimes, he may not love the drama as much as the attention it brings. Hasan explains, "They may get their way out with this kind of behaviour. It is rewarding for the person — he gets attention and also gets what he wants. Many women like men who are 'dramatic' as they find them emotional and sensitive. Some men are addicted to being dramatic just because they're addicted to attention as well."

Unaware or insecure?
Some men probably don't realise how overtly dramatic they can get. Also, there are those who turn dramatic because of insecurity in relationships. Chhabria says, "A dependent personality involves a strong sense of attachment. Such individuals need constant support and reassurance from the people they are close to, especially their partners. They tend to be overly sensitive and insecure about losing their loved ones. This makes them go all out for their partner and they expect the same in return."

Dealing with a drama queen
It's best not to assume too much when with a drama queen. Also, be calm when dealing with their mood swings. Says psychologist Chandni Mehta, "Explaining how immature their behaviour is, and exercising patience and calm, are ways to deal with them. Maintaining a distance is another mature approach. Fighting back may work, but it can also worsen the situation." Try to be self-aware and avoid any created drama. Also, let go if you love the person. Chhabria says, "Women should let such men express themselves freely and they should stand by them, rather than reject them."

Effects on relationships

Mehta: "It can start fights and spiral in unwanted directions. It may also create more insecurity and instability."

Hasan: "Unless the woman is emotionally strong, there are likely to be conflicts in the relationship. Such men should be encouraged to express themselves, but not through tantrums or whining."

Chhabria: "Being overly expressive may sometimes be seen as selfishness. The partner may feel less important and think that her man is only concerned about his emotions. Along with being expressive come expectations. This can be a burden for the partner and she may wish to end the relationship."

simi.kuriakose@timesgroup.com

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Why women consider solo parenthood

A new survey has found that two in five unmarried women would consider having a child on their own.

The poll also found that, a third of childless single women would consider adopting without a partner, the New York Daily News reported.

The poll, which addressed a broad range of issues on America's changing family structures, dovetails with a recent report by the US Census Bureau that single motherhood is on the rise.

It found that of 4.1 million women who'd given birth in 2011, 36 per cent were unmarried at the time of the survey, an increase from 31 per cent in 2005.

And among mothers 20-24, the percentage was 62 per cent, or six in 10 mothers.

When asked if a single mother could do as good a job of raising a child as two parents can, 30 per cent of respondents said yes, 27 per cent said no, and 43 percent said "it depends."

While 42 per cent of unmarried women said they would consider single parenthood, compared with 24 per cent of men, answers varied greatly as to the ways they'd consider going about it.

Thirty-seven percent of women said they'd consider adopting solo (compared to 19 per cent of men), about a third of women — 31 per cent — said they'd consider freezing their eggs, and 27 per cent would be willing to use artificial insemination and donor sperm.

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Be organised at your workplace

Can't find that file in which you have stocked all your important documents? Did you recently find month old food coupons dumped at the back of your drawer? If so, it's high time to re-group and get rid of that messy desk.

All that clutter in your cubicle can cause stress and negatively affect your productivity. Organizing your desk and work routine will help you focus on your work better. Here are a few desk clean up and cubicle organising tips.

Tips to organize your work space:

Planning is worth the effort
Planning isn't as boring and time-consuming activity as you think it is. Proper planning will give you the overall picture of you tasks at work. It saves time and energy. Plan your day and this will help you slot timings for your meetings and other tasks. You will be successfully able to pull items together in a short amount of time.

Streamline your supplies
Keep only supplies you need on a daily basis on top of your work area. Your drawer at work is just like your cupboard at home. So rearrange it in a way that things that you hardly use are at the bottom. Discard the excess, duplicates and out-of-date items.

Take small steps
Take it one by one. Break large projects down into small and schedule these steps into your day. Spend no more than 30 minutes tackling one task or area. Do one thing at a time.

Communicate effectively
You may wonder how communication can help tidy up your desk, but concise and clear communication can cut down on paper messages, emails and time spent on the phone. Be clear when communicating to others, especially when leaving a message on voice mail or email. This way you are more likely to get a full response, even if the other party doesn't reach you directly.

File it, don't pile it
Create a filing system that works for you. Even a "to file" bin or folder is okay as long as you tend to it on a regular basis. In addition, open and process all mail. Don't let mail pile up.

Manage your time
In order to have a more organized, balanced work style, you need more time. We can't control how many hours are in a day, but successful people spend their time wisely. Figure out the tasks that need to be done and set an appropriate time in which to do them.

Energize your work routine
Work can be boring, you may feel sleepy but there are ways you can breathe new life into your daily grind. The change in routine will not only energize your brain and body, it will even readjust your attitude. Take 10 minute breaks or go for a walk to feel fresh and better.

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Get out of that friend zone

So you're totally smitten by this man who is fun and has taken off a platonic route with you?

And now, you have no idea how to break the wall between friendship and love without seeming desperate to date him? Read on to apply these tips in your life and walk out from that friend zone.
Prove you are wanted: Yes, a man loves competition and the moment he realises that a woman, who other men are dying to pursue, is so close to him, he'll feel the need to get closer. When you go out with him, flirt with other men (friendly flirting, mind you) and make him look at you as a woman, not just a friend.
Don't try too hard: It's a turn-on for both the genders to see a person trying too hard. Let him make the move, without just you initiating it every time. Also, don't obsess over him. Give him some space and play it cool.
Sex talk. Nah Nah!: Keep the 'sex talk' out of conversations. You don't want him thinking that it's all about the benefits that's on your mind. Keep just the right amount of mystery, because the missing part is what he should want to trace out.
Note the body language: Let your body not give out a 'This is just a casual thing' vibe. Make sure you let him know, through your body language, that you are interested. But don't throw yourself on him.

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How to survive boring office meetings

This has become a routine of sort in office. Though nothing comes out of it actually, it's impossible to skip the daily meetings in office.

Sometimes people call meetings for the heck of it. Do you keep wondering how to survive those endless boring meetings at work? Here are a few options.

Just shut up: If you do not want to be a part of stupid conversations, then you might as well keep your lips sealed! Try giving a suggestions and there will be counter suggestions and reactions which means you will be actively involved in the meeting. I am sure there are times when you regretted having said something for the heck of it. Don't speak unless it really makes sense or you have something valuable to contribute.

Give it a miss: If you are really not up to it and think you are going to be spoilsport or end up dozing off, it's better to skip the meeting altogether. This way even your boss will be relieved that you spared her the horror of seeing you yawn and fall asleep, while being a bad influence on others.

Get creative: See it as a change from work. You could do a lot more than just sit there thinking about nothing. This is your time to observe people, come up with ideas when people give silly suggestions. You can perhaps guess the brand of the outfit worn by people around. You could even let your imagination run wild and come up with what hair colour suits best on whom. Or perhaps what accessory can be paired up with their attire.

How tweet: Well, that is if the meeting's in a conference room and you are not seated in a place that will majorly distract the speaker. You can tweet all the silly things said in the meeting. But mind you, it should be in jest and good light. Don't overdo it or get into attack mode, it might cost you your job.

Word game: If you are looking at a constructive way to spend time, then play a word game along with your friend. This could enrich your word power. You could start off with guess the word on a clue.

Crossword/Sudoku: Instead of letting your brain go dead because of the boredom. Keep it active through some brain stimulating activities — play a suoku, solve a puzzle. This is the best way to kill time as you will never know how time flies when your brain's busy.

Unleash the artist in you: You can begin with a sketch of the speaker. Perhaps you will discover an alternate career option for yourself!

Read jokes: This is the time to read all those forwards that have been occupying huge chunks of space in your mailbox. If your phone isn't connected to the internet, then you can as well read and forward SMSes that were good, but you didn't have time to share.

The points mentioned above are on a lighter note. With experience am sure people come up with their own ways to beat boredom during office meetings.

reshmi.ar@timesgroup.com

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