Everyone
pays attention to style and elegance in clothes but many don't pay equal
attention to comfort - a key factor that can determine how you will dress.
Essentially, today's clothes can no longer just satisfy styles and tastes;
menswear is expected to be also comfortable and wearable, blending in the
kind of fabric and style that can easily fit into any lifestyle, any time
of day. In essence, comfort is supreme in a day and age when climatic changes
are playing havoc.
The current spell of unbearable heat and humidity in Sri Lanka demands comfortable clothes - long sleeves or short, accent should be on light weight cotton and cotton mix fabrics that can let your body breath.
Investing in quality cotton shirts is never a waste; heat or not, cotton is an intelligent choice for the tropics. Cotton is also very much in, as the fashion world discovers this practical fabric again and again. Cotton blends are also alright provided the occasion is right; officewear in such fabrics can be easy to maintain, free of wrinkles.
Colours can also play a role in diffusing heat - cool shades such as white and blue will absorb heat and make you feel comfortable while black will make you feel even hotter. Light shades would be ideal for daywear - thin stripes and checks can also be worn with a degree of comfort.
Personal hygiene is vital in ensuring your clothes can be worn to feel comfortable - shower twice or thrice a day and remember to use deodorant daily. Places such as under arms in shirts are likely to waste away faster if you don't take care of personal hygiene; not to mention unpleasant body odour and a feeling of discomfort. Clothes, especially shirts, should be washed after use daily in order to ensure long life and proper use...
Comfort is always a factor to consider when buying apparel - whether a shirt, a pair of pants, a suit or even a pair of shoes, comfort should be a priority with style and fashion taking secondary places; after all, you are the wearer who has to live in those clothes.
Though she studied home science as a subject at school it was never to be taken seriously let alone at home. But perhaps it was the seed sown then that many years later Kumarika has managed to nurture to such an extraordinary extent.....
Kumarika
Misso has found her niche in the catering business in New South Wales,
Australia, a remarkable achievement when one considers that decades earlier
her own father had strongly instructed the domestic workers not to 'teach'
Kumarika the art of cooking.
Today, in the Mount Druitt area in New South Wales, Kumarika's reputation is fast growing in the business of catering for not only residential functions but for state government festivals as well.
Kumarika was the third born to Violet and Walter Salgado, a very well known family in the Negombo area. She is also the cousin of Saroja Salgado who is in the catering and bridal industry. Kumarika's memories of growing up in her hot, sandy homeland with her brothers and sister are vivid and colourful. Schooling in the Ave Maria Convent reinforced her religious beliefs and confidence which is so evident to anyone who visits her or has a conversation with her even for a short time.
Though
she studied home science as a subject at school it was never to be taken
seriously anywhere, let alone at home. But perhaps it was the seed sown
then that many years later Kumarika has managed to nurture to such an extraordinary
extent many thousands of miles away from where it all began. An integral
part of this success story is the abounding love and support Kumarika receives
from her two children and especially her husband Lorensz Misso. Born and
bred in Kurunegala, Lorensz was well known for band management and for
organising and providing sound and entertainment services to the community
in the area. Lorensz met 20 year old Kumarika in 1975 and it took almost
two years for him to convince her that she was his life partner. Kumarika
became his wife in the April of 1976.
Lorensz's parents Marjory and Shelley Misso had welcomed Kumarika into the family with open arms. Mrs Misso who was known to be a famous seamstress in Kurunegala, taught Kumarika the art of making everyday dishes as well as party favourites, cakes and novelties.
Their son, Shohan was only three when in 1985 the family migrated to Australia. Two years later, Kumarika was again blessed with a healthy little baby girl, Natasha. Lorensz by this time had become the manager of Tandy, an electronic company with many branches throughout Australia. In 1987, a personal milestone was reached when they purchased their very first home, one they could call their own.
Lorensz
was doing well in his field. After a period at Tandy's, he was employed
by Chandler's, another chain electronic store and finally was working as
the manager of a Singer store when the company had decided to cease operation
of individual stores all around Australia and New Zealand. By this time,
Kumarika was supplying friends with small quantities of delicacies and
dishes such as gothamba rotti and seeni sambol. She was preparing novelty
birthday cakes on order and the demand was overwhelming.
It was not until mid last year that Kumarika contemplated taking things a step further by including string hoppers and especially hoppers in her menu. Kumarika's popularity spread by word of mouth and she was inundated with orders so much so that at times she was forced to decline.
Eventually, Kumarika Catering Services was registered as a company. The exposure Kumarika needed in the business world came when they were invited by the Sydney Opera House Trust to participate in the Festival of Cultures 1997 at the Sydney Opera House grounds last September. Kumarika and Lorensz adorned the stall with Sri Lankan memorabilia including batiks of the Sigiriya frescoes, the Kandy perahera, masks and craft items.
Hoppers were cooked and served on the spot to consumers and the response was wonderful. Curries and other food items such as rolls, gothamba rotti and pastries were also served though none could match the appeal the hoppers had. All throughout the operation strict health guidelines were to be observed and complied to. Officials who had been circulating amongst the stalls had been so impressed that Kumaika and Lorensz were invited to take part in the AUSTCARE National Refugee Week activities held at the centre of Sydney tourist attraction venues, Darling Harbour, a few weeks later in October.
Kumarika is now a well-established catering agent in the area and has managed to bring the humble Sri Lankan hopper into the great attention of Australians of many cultural backgrounds. The determination, courage and perseverance demonstrated by the Missos in a community of diverse cultures is indeed to be applauded.
'Bermarenes',
a recently opened flower shop down Jawatte Road in Colombo is the pride
and joy of two sisters Mary Jayaratne and Bernadette Bond. Mary has been
arranging flowers and dabbling with blossoms from a very early age. "I
had done so for thirty five years," she says.
"I often made bridal bouquets and flower arrangements for festive occasions but now since my sister has returned home after thirty five years of living in England and South Africa, we thought we would open this flower and gifts shop."
The
sisters, no doubt feel that is one of the most soothing, delightful occupations
to handle flowers. Their colourful appearance and smooth surfaces can do
much to uplift one's morale.
The two enterprising sisters get casablanca lilies, tiger lilies and chrysanthemums from abroad. There are pink, mauve and cream orchids which put together skilfully can enhance a festive table even of the most fastidious.
There
are the beautifully smooth, bright green dried moss trees and alstomeria,
a kind of large orchid.
Mary has the record of creating a 25 foot high floral arrangement when in 1995 the ship "Colombo Bay" was launched by P & O which held a launch at the Hilton. The flowers used were roses, carnations, gerberas and orchids.
Flowers must blend, say the sisters and one must be both striking and innovative when arranging them.
'Bermarenes' also has gifts of rhine stones, rings, chains, pendants and bracelets for those who want to buy a nifty gift for a friend. There are also stuffed toys for children. Perhaps one could say that nothing can be more powerful as a decoration with natural flowers, be it for the home, a function or for a bride.
Should I wash my face more often if I have acne? Is it necessary to use a special soap?
Dermatologists generally recommend washing the face two or three times a day to remove the excess oil, bacteria, and dead cells from the skin surface. But washing must be done gently; overwashing can actually aggravate acne.
It is generally not necessary to use a special soap unless your dermatologist recommends that you do so. Medicated and abrasive soaps may, in fact, cause too much dryness because topical acne medications also produce drying and peeling.
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