Haircuts ...

Getting a good haircut is both an art and a science.

Where do I even begin?

The first step is entirely up to you. You have to know what will suit you by analysing your facial shape and identifying your hair type. You might want Katie Holme's straight, sharp bob but if you have curly hair and a square jaw then you can forget all about it.

There are a lot of websites to help you identify your face shape. Try this one for starters.

Take a look at famous faces and decide for yourself which haircuts work and which don't. You'll be amazed how many celebrities have made poor choices with their hair.

Choose a style with a good, clear photo that you can show your hairdresser. This website is excellent because it shows multiple angles of each style.

Ok, I've chosen a hair style. Now what?

Now it's time to make an appointment at your hairdresser. Some of us spend a lifetime searching for a good hairdresser. If you find one, stop looking! On the other hand, don't stay with a hairdresser who has consistently made a mess of your head. And remember the adage "You get what you pay for."

How do I make sure I get the cut I ask for?

Take along a printed picture of your haircut. If you can get photos of the hairstyle from different angles, even better (see link above).

Figure out exactly what it is that you like about the style. What you see in the picture may not be what the hairdresser sees. For example, a photo of a short spikey hairstyle shows colour, texture, shape, length, volume and the use of styling products. The hairdresser might focus on the length and the shape, while you are looking at the texture and the funky spikes. Tell the hairdresser exactly what features of the haircut you want. Also, confirm with the hairdresser BEFORE your hair is cut how much, and what kinds of, product the hairstyle requires.

How can I make sure the hairdresser does what I ask?

This is the tricky part. However, if you've discussed the haircut in detail with the hairdresser, you shouldn't have any problems.

The trick is to make sure the hairdresser feels "ownership" of the cut. Many hairdressers don't like being told how to do their job, because they are the artist. Once you've shown your hairdresser the photo and pointed out the exact features of the style that you like, don't forget to ask the hairdresser if he/she thinks it's the right hairstyle for you.

If you have any facial features you want to soften or hide, such as a strong jawline of big ears, tell your hairdresser and ask them for their opinion. Make sure you discuss their offered solutions and agree on any necessary compromises before the haircut begins. It might just be that the hairdresser knows better than you do.

Keep in mind that sometimes your hair pattern won't match a hairstyle. For example, hair that swirls on top of your head might make a short pixie cut impossible. Have your hairdresser look at your hairline before getting a very short haircut.

Finally, if you wear glasses you should endeavour to wear contact lenses while you're getting your hair cut, so you can see your reflection in the mirror as the hair cut progresses. You might notice the hairdresser about to cut your fringe, but you don't want a fringe. You can quickly stop any mistakes before they occur.

Good luck, and good haircuts for all!

Getting pregnant ...

Wives tales and wild theories aside, there's really only one thing you need to do to get pregnant.

Have sex. And lots of it.

In order to increase your chances of conception, you should have lots of sex. It might sound simplistic (even patronising) as a piece of advice, but it's very important to make time in your busy lives to include sex if you want to get pregnant.

Many couples fuddle around with ovulation test kits trying to pinpoint the exact moment of ovulation. However, waiting for the perfect moment means you're giving yourself only a narrow window of opportunity.

Egg versus Sperm:

An unfertilised egg has a lifespan of only 24 - 48 hours, but sperm can survive for up to 5 days. You don't know if your egg will last 1 or 2 days, so assume the minimal survival chances of the egg and put your money on the lifespan of sperm.

Here's where lots of sex comes in handy. Consider this:

If you have sex every day for the 5 days leading up to your expected date of ovulation (which is assumed to be around 14 days from the start of your last period) you are essentially giving yourself up to 10 days of viable sperm.

That's a wide window of opportunity, and with literally billions of sperm swimming their way through the female reproductive system, each surving up to 5 days, there's got to be a good chance of at least one reaching its target before the egg's limited lifespan ends.

Lots of sex doesn't have to tire you out:

Don't let it turn into an ugly routine. Make each day of sex special and unique. Set up a "love den" outside the bedroom with candles, sexy music, kinky costumes, toys and lubes (whatever floats your boat) readily available. Experiment and have fun. Wouldn't it be nice to know that your child was conceived with a big smile on your face?



Of course, getting pregnant relies on both the man and the woman being fertile. In the case of fertility problems seek medical advice. Women over the age of 35 will take longer to conceive and should keep trying.

Weight loss ...

Losing weight shouldn't daunt or faze you. After all, a healthy body weight is the human body's natural state. Think about that and you'll understand that reaching your ideal weight goal is really very simple.

The first simple step to losing weight:

First of all, you need to identify what is causing your weight to be out of it's natural balance. All you need is a compact notepad and a pen.

For 2 weeks, carry your notepad with you and write down every single thing you eat. Good or bad, calories or no calories. Every glass of water and cup of tea. If you have a sore throat and you eat a lozenge, write it down. When it comes to larger meals, write down a description including any ingredients you can identify.
A single day's list may look like this:

• Multi vitamin capsule


• Large bowl of cereal with full cream milk


• 2 pieces of peanut butter toast with margarine


• Strong black coffee with 2 sugars


• Breath mint


• Bag of potato chips


• Can of cola


• Turkey, lettuce, avocado and cranberry sauce sandwich on white bread with butter, salt and pepper


• Cappucino in a mug with 2 sugars


• Breath mint


• 1 litre of water throughout day


• Chocolate chip cookie


• Steamed vegetables (brocolli, peas, carrots), mashed potato with butter and cream, chicken fried in vegetable oil, salt and pepper


• 3 glasses of white wine


• Vanilla icecream

Keep this list with you, but don't worry about studying it or agonising over what you're eating. At this point in time you don't know what it all means so just keep doing what you do while keeping track of what you eat.

The next fun step to losing weight:

Now it's time to face reality and find out how many calories you're consuming.

After 2 weeks, carry your notepad over to your computer and take a seat. You're going to go through your list of daily foods and find out how many calories are in each meal. You can read the labels on the food packaging, or do it online. There are lots of web sites that makes this easy for you (here are a few that I used):
http://health.ninemsn.com.au/tools/caloriecounter.aspx
http://www.calorie-count.com
http://www.thecaloriecounter.com

So now you know that a tall Starbucks caffe latte has 180 calories, a bowl of Special K (2 cups) has 234 calories, and a steamed carrot with salt has 16 calories.

You might be surprised when you start playing around. 1 standard glass of white wine has 70 calories, a standard glass of red wine has 74 calories, but a bottle of beer has 117 calories. (Keep in mind that most people pour themselves significantly more than a standard glass of wine.)

Have a look at how many calories you should be eating, but don't get hung up about it, just focus on eating less calories whereever you can.

The active step to losing weight:

You are now an informed consumer with something to think about and some choices to make.

You know how many calories are in the foods you eat on a daily basis. When you go to the supermarket, use your new knowledge to your advantage. If you have choices between brands, have a look at the label and see if you can lose a few calories out of your diet by simply changing brands.

The passive step to losing weight:

As soon as you start writing down what you eat you'll start to notice that you probably snack more than you need to. When you've had a look at the calories in your food, you'll have a change of heart and you'll simply find yourself eating better without even trying.

This is a really passive mental switch that takes place, because you have taken a huge leap in facing the reality of what you're eating. Does this sound familar "I don't know why I am fatter than I used to be, I eat the same foods it must be my metabolism"?

Those were my words exactly. My husband pointed out that my most overweight friend had said the same thing and that got me thinking. So I started writing down what I ate and I immediately started losing weight. When I checked out the calories, I immediately replaced my fattening snacks with healthier choices. Why wouldn't I if I could??? With the help of some simple toning and aerobic exercise (walking on the beach) I am now the exact weight that I want to be. It was that simple.

Hanoi ...

If you arrive at Hanoi airport you will most likely want to catch a taxi into Hanoi city (unless you have other transport arranged). The ride takes about an hour, so empty your bladder first (take it from me). The taxi stand is just outside the terminal. It's pretty obvious. Check the board for the set taxi fare (prices are listed in $US and Vietnamese Dong). Don't let the driver overcharge you.

The driver will almost certainly try to take you to a hotel where he gets commission. Come prepared with the name and address of your hotel written down on a piece of paper and simply decline any other hotel. You don't have to get angry, just be strong. The driver will try to convince you that the hotel he is trying to dump you at is the right hotel, even if the name is completely different. Be aware that there are some copy-cat hotels in Hanoi using the same names as popular hotels. Try and find a photo of the hotel from the outside so you know what it looks like. Hotels in Hanoi are also weird about changing their names, so make sure you have the most current information.

If you don't have a hotel in mind, there are a million options in Hanoi. Find a location on your guidebook map and ask your taxi driver to drop you off. As a tourist, you will most likely want to stay in the Old Town of Hanoi. You can walk around and take a look at different hotel options. Ask to see the room before you agree to stay.

Walking the streets you'll quickly encounter the thrill of crossing a road in a city without traffic lights. Be a little cautious (don't step infront of a bus), but mostly just go for it. You'll get used to it quickly. Every time you cross the street it's like taking a leap of faith. I had a couple of close calls, but came out without a scratch.

While walking around, stop and ask some other tourists where they are staying and if they like their hotel. Don't be afraid to follow someone trying to hawk their hotel off the street. Competition is fierce in Hanoi and this is one way that hotels find guests. We reluctantly followed one persistent lad and were pleasantly surprised. We stayed at Ocean Stars II in the heart of the old town. It was comfortable and the manager was a very decent man. There were bathrooms in every room, but the walls were thin and hotel guests tend to wake up early in Hanoi for the many day trips that operate from the area.

If you're only in Hanoi for a short time, you'll probably be one of the early risers. If you're staying for a while, you'll probably be one of the all-night partiers in which case you'll probably be getting back to your hotel after the other guests have already left. There are quite a few buzzing night spots which don't start buzzing until after 10pm.

You can take day trips and overnight trips from Hanoi to a variety of locations, including the beautiful (but tourist-filled) Halong Bay. Your hotel and many tourist operators in Hanoi can organise trips for you. Again, ask other tourists if they have been on any tours and see if they have any advice they can share. If you're feeling brave you can do it yourself, which is easier than it might initially seem.

If you want to catch a public bus out of Hanoi, make sure you know which bus station to go to. Ask someone (your hotel manager if he's a nice guy) how much you should expect to pay for a taxi to the station. Catching a taxi out of the Old Town is an experience. There are only a few reputable taxi companies, and finding one is like searching for a needle in a haystack. If you're unsure, set a reasonable fare for your ride before you get in the taxi and write it down so the driver can see (because 15,000 Dong sounds like 50,000). If the driver disagrees, walk away. A driver will very quickly agree to the fare (you'll be surrounded by taxi drivers all vying for your business). Don't get angry, there's no need.

When you reach the station, find the ticket counter with the name of your destination on it. If there is no one at the counter, you will be approached directly by bus operators. Check that they are offering the same fare that you expect to pay, but don't be worried when you find yourself herded onto a minivan or something else you weren't expecting. If the destination and ticket price are clearly displayed on the bus, everything is as it should be so relax and try to enjoy the ride.

Buses pull up (not really stop) along highways and pick up passengers. They shout the destination out the door as they approach pedestrians standing on the roadside. Once you've seen this a few times, you might feel confident to catch a ride on a bus in the same way. Bus drivers compete for passengers along the highway so don't be surprised by how crazy your bus driver is as he swerves across 4 lanes to overtake an oncoming truck.

I highly recommend taking a side trip to Ninh Binh from Hanoi. This is a quiet city about 2 hours south of Hanoi, surrounded by the most beautiful landscape and populated by friendly children. 2 days in Ninh Binh is good, but some people go there for just 1 day. Don't take organised tours from Hanoi to Ninh Binh, you will miss out on a glorious chance to rent a bicycle or a motorbike and get a little bit lost in the dreamscape of Ninh Binh.