Enlightenment of a 20 Something

For W

2012-02-04T15:12:00.000-05:00

I'm back...

2010-11-17T09:35:00.004-05:00

It has been almost a year since I last blogged. :-( It has not been due to a lack of enlightenments though, just a lack of time. But I've decided time to get back to it.

One of my more recent enlightenments has been about my health. It is bad...really bad...and I wasn't sure how to fix it. And when you don't know how to do something, you should get some help and that's where Rick, the trainer comes in. We've been working on my nutrition and workouts and it amazes me how badly I eat without really thinking about it.

And apparently so does everyone else.

Here's a cool chart about what the average American eats:

Courtesy of: http://www.visualeconomics.com/food-consumption-in-america_2010-07-12/

Fabulous Friday: "Are You Drunk?"

2009-12-04T10:00:00.001-05:00

My work spouse forwarded this to me yesterday and I started laughing so hard my head hurt.

Here's the link: http://eatingtheroad.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/where-should-i-eat-fast-food-edition-flowchart/

There's one for chain resturants and cereals.

Enjoy.

Money Monday: Little Known Facts that Effect Your Credit Score

2009-11-30T10:00:00.004-05:00

Found this article yesterday on Yahoo Finance and it's the first time I've ever seen a breakdown of how much certain actions will damage your credit.

Here's the article: How Common Mistakes Effect Your Credit Score
Here is the chart:

Still think this doesn't effect you?

Here's another way to look at (excerpt from the article)

"In order to show just how badly a drop in your FICO score can hurt your wallet, we spoke with members of the home mortgage, auto and credit card lending industries. We presented hypothetical scenarios of a consumer who decided to apply for a $200,000, 30-year mortgage; a $20,000, five-year auto loan and a credit card... they were able to provide an idea of what a borrower who had the following credit scores could expect.

For a Consumer Who Started With a FICO Score of 780:
-Following a 30-day late payment, the consumer's car loan rate would jump nearly 3 percent, costing the borrower $26 more each month.
-Following a debt settlement, the consumer would pay as much as $109 more each month on a home mortgage.

For a Consumer Who Started With a FICO Score of 680:
-Following a 30-day late payment, the consumer would pay $41 more each month for a car loan.
-Following a 30-day late payment, the consumer would pay as much as $95 more each month on a home mortgage.
-Following a debt settlement, the consumer would no longer qualify for a credit card."\

If you own a home and car (or are thinking about purchasing one) that's almost $1700 extra PER YEAR that you're paying because you were 30 days late on your credit card. That's the average person's car payment for 4-6 months.

Something to think about before you charge your holiday shopping without knowing how you're going to pay for it...

Money Monday: Holiday Shopping

2009-11-23T20:04:00.002-05:00

The holiday season is upon us. I thought you all might enjoy this as you start looking at your holiday shopping list.

Budget For Holiday Shopping

Personally, I'll be looking at some Amazon.com (Y.M. has me addicted) on Thursday and Friday because of their awesome price matching and shipping straight to my job.

How does barbecue sauce differ from region to region?

2009-11-19T12:26:00.001-05:00

How does barbecue sauce differ from region to region?

Posted using ShareThis

Fabulous Friday: One more reason to go on a diet...

2009-11-18T14:47:00.002-05:00

Can fatty food make you stupid?
I knew fatty foods made you fat and there are a lot of fat stupid people (see: http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/) ...but I thought it was correlation not causation.

Sigh.

Money Monday: I had to share this...

2009-11-16T18:00:00.000-05:00

...because this puts my industruy into terms everyone can understand.

Plus it's funny.

Courtesy of: http://www.zwixy.com

Teach It Tuesday: U.S.'s Smartest Cities

2009-10-06T11:34:00.003-04:00

I have to share this

One more reason that Raleigh > Charlotte

:-)

Money Monday: Back-Ass-Wards

2009-10-05T23:10:00.003-04:00

I was watching a Dairy Queen commercial and I had an epiphany.

The western world is messed up. In the rest of the world if you are poor, you don't have enough food,you are skinny and malnutritioned. However in the West, especially in America, if you are poor you are the more likely you are to be fat.

Think about it: 99 cent Value Meals at Wendy's, Dollar Menu at McDonald's, 5 for $5 deal at Arby's and pick 3 for $4 combo at Dairy Queen; you can get an entire meal for $3.00-$4.00 from your favorite fast food place but you'll get 850-1,200+ calories with that $1 fry.

But...

If you want to eat a wholesome lunch balanced 400-500 calorie lunch at Whole Foods it will cost you a good $5-$10.

So in the words of Main Thang (that's a whole 'nother blog post...) "Do the math."

You can have a $5 side salad or you can have 5 roast beef sandwiches. If you're broke than obviously you're trying to get the most for your money and therefore Arby's will probably win.

(house)Work Wednesdays: Real Simple's September 2009 Keep-It-Together Checklist

2009-09-09T15:40:00.001-04:00

This list is exactky what I needed for this month.

Check it out:
September 2009 Keep-It-Together Checklist

Shared via AddThis

Teach it Tuesdays: Spell Check...

2009-09-01T21:02:00.002-04:00

Thanks to MS Office and phones that complete our words, an increasing number of Americans can't spell for s**t. Unfortunately, I am included in this number.

On yesterday's post I spelled what should have been "their" (as in the possessive) "there" (as in the noun.) This is really sad coming from a former spelling bee champion (it was elementary school but still.)

This is an interesting article about the "lost art" of spelling. http://www.audiblox2000.com/learning_disabilities/spelling_problems.htm

Money Monday: How Americans spent there money

2009-08-31T09:00:00.002-04:00

Since this was the last weekend for awhile that I don't have anything planned, (it's wedding season, part deux) so I was getting my life in order. Whilst reading through some emails I came across this one from a work colleague: How The Average U.S. Consumer Spends Their Paycheck.

Now the one thing that is clearly missing from this chart is any debt payments; not the things you charge to you your card every month (like food and clothes) but the cost of your debt (such as interest and fees.)

Either way, this chart is interesting and worth taking a look at. And while you're at it...

Take an hour and look at where you're money's going. I recommend using www.mint.com, it'll change the way you see your money. :-)

Selfish Sundays: Me Time

2009-08-09T10:00:00.001-04:00

I have never been one who was obessessed with "me time."

All through college I was constantly with people and my idea of "getting away" was just to switch the group of people I was hanging out with for a short period of time. My over scheduled life plus dorm room and sorority house living didn't exactly lend it self to time with one's self.

But now the tides are turning...

Exihibit A: Two Friday nights ago

In lieu of going out with the crew, I decided to take advantage of Yankee Manfriend being out of the house by having a date with the dog, some chinese food, wine, and a girl double feature. It felt amazing.

Exhibit B: Last night Thursday Night

Though I was tempted with a trip to Blu with the coworkers, a dinner and a movie date with Ms. Symm, and a movie date with Y.M. I decided to put myself first and stick to my original plan for the evening: Be in my pjs and in the bed by 7pm...with a Big Mac and apple pie...and watching the Wedding Planner.

And you know what...I feel much more sane because of it. :-)

Fabulous Fridays: Cellllllebraaaaaationnnnnnn

2009-08-07T11:47:00.003-04:00

So my mommy is the new social chair of her department at work. Basically this means she is supposed to bring food and bring celebrations to her department. Here's the challenge though: Because she works for the state government, she's not allowed to celebrate any holidays or birthdays for fear of alienating people due to their religious beliefs. My mommy, quite perplexed on what to do, called me for some advice.

My solution: celebrate fake holidays

You know, like National Doughnut Day or National Relaxation Day. I did a little research and discovered that there's something to celebrate almost everyday.

Here's the list, http://www.holidayinsights.com/moreholidays/index.htm, for those days that you can't find anything to celebrate. :-)

Thoughtful Thursday: Where have I been?

2009-07-30T12:37:00.001-04:00

Though this summer has been full of "enlightenment," life has been crazy and blogging comes after sleep in the priority list.

I vow to pick up my blogging again in August. :-)

Thoughtful Thursday: Remembering your inner fat kid

2009-06-18T12:44:00.005-04:00

Everyone had that awkward stage in life. It may have been when you were 5 or it may be still happening now, but everyone has it. And as awful as it was and no matter how great a job you've done of becoming a better person, I think that it's very important to never forget that stage in your life.

Why?

Because that's where you're humility comes from.

It doesn't matter if you've become a supermodel from being a fat kid or Rico Suave from being socially awkward, you need to always remember where you came from; and more importantly how you felt during that stage.

Remembering when you were, "Fat kid," "Four-eyes," "Pizza face," "Weirdo," "Nerd/Dork/Geek," or "Freak" can keep you from getting to big for your britches and make you a better person. :-)

Fabulous Friday: Closets...Again

2009-06-12T10:00:00.001-04:00

It's that time of year. It's getting hot and it's going to stay that way so it's time to put away the winter wear and bring out the sundresses, mini skirts, tanks, and sandals. Unless you're like me and you look in your closet and realize all you own is jeans and black dress pants...then it's time to go shopping. :-)

This week thanks to a sale and a coupon at New York and Company, I was able to get 2 pairs of shorts, 2 shirts, a belt, a pair of dress pants, and some breath mints for under $50. :-)

They are all pieces that will easily mix and match with each other and my existing wardrobe, which is the middle of being revamped. I was only able to shop effectively shop because I had done the steps 3 steps in this "5 cheap tricks to fix your closet" so I knew EXACTLY what I had in my closet and what I needed to round some outfits out.

Read through it and happy shopping.

Thoughtful Thursday: Talking = Overrated?

2009-06-04T22:18:00.003-04:00

So yesterday afternoon I realized that I spent a lot of time talking to Stepdog (Yankee Manfriend's 4 year old "puppy.") I mean A-L-O-T.

To you pet owners: You know exactly what I'm talking about.
To you non-pet owners: Don't judge. Pets are an endless stream of praise, love and affirmation and everybody needs that. (Plus pet owners live lover than non-pet owners so :-P)

I ask her questions when I'm thinking out loud. I tell her my to-do list. I ask her if she has to go to the bathroom. I ask her if she would like to go see her aunt Lisa and play with Tank and Delta. I'll ask her if she's already had dinner. I even let her choose her treat if she's been a good girl.

And do you know what I get in return?

Her version of communication: "Woof," kisses, and a whole lot of funny facial expressions. She can only say one thing and yet she always manages to communicate (and get) exactly what she wants.

You can't help but think maybe talking is a bit overrated; maybe it's actually getting in the way of us actually communicating...

(house)Work Wednesday: These are a few of my favorite things

2009-05-27T10:37:00.002-04:00

I love to organize things.
I love plastic Sterilite containers.
I love matching hangers.
I love label makers.

And I love Real Simple for putting this into their email: Organize Your Closet Like a Pro

Happy Organizing.

(house)Work Wednesday: Oh that whole resolution thing...

2009-05-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

So in an effort to get back on track with my (house)Work Wednesday Resolution I made the following three dinners in the past week or so.

* This is the one Y.M. liked the best.

What did I learn in my cooking adventures?

"Louisiana hot sauce" DOES NOT equal "regular hot sauce" (aka Texas Pete.) If you are going to use Louisiana sauce, then you should water it down OR just don't use as much.
Flour thickens up sauces if they don't stay on wings (courtesy of my Y.M.)
You should really buy the regular chicken breast instead of the thinly cut...but if you buy the thinly cut by accident, you can always just fold the chicken in half; then it's just folded, instead of "stuffed." :-)

Money Monday: "On Your Side"

2009-05-04T19:37:00.001-04:00

Jumped the gun a bit BUT...

We had some amazing news at work today.

McKinney is "on your side."

and the Press Release

YAY!!!!

Selfish Sunday: "Gentlemen Start Your Engines..."

2009-05-03T19:47:00.004-04:00

This weekend I'm slated to do A LOT of work. And normally I would not let anything distract me from doing that work, because I believe in doing what I promised others I will do.

However, when free tickets for the NASCAR race in Richmond became available yesterday morning, I decided that some self gratification was in order. Though I did work in the car...and all of today (Sunday)...I still think it was completely worth it spend my Saturday crossing something off my bucket list since the PERFECT situation arouse.

What was the perfect situation?

Y.M. ended up with an invite to join Neb at the race (since Lisa couldn't come because she was busy with this awesome event) at around 10am; they decided to head up together around noon, leaving me with the stepdog. As they were packing up to go, Mrs. R-D called to brag about how she, her hubby, and his coworkers had gotten free tickets to the race and knew her NASCAR fan friends would be jealous...only to find out that they were on their way there too. So they decided to meet up at the tailgate and then continued packing. Then Mrs. R-D discovered that her group had one extra ticket and asked me to go (HELL YEAH!!!.) One phone call to my mommy to make sure she could watch the stepdog, beer run, and shower later, the three of us are on the way to Richmond for my first NASCAR race. And I didn't have to do anything but sit in the car and not get lost once we got the race. :-) And the whole trip cost me less than $30.

See? Perfection.

Perhaps it was someone from above letting me know that I need to take some me time, especially when I've had a week like this past one...and I really appreciate it.

Teach It Tuesday: Toes

2009-04-28T20:52:00.003-04:00

Earlier this week I was late to a meeting at work and there weren't enough chairs so I sat on the floor. During the meeting (of course as I was paying attention to everything going on in the meeting) I starting looking around at the only thing I could see: people's feet.

As I looked around I noticed something: Everyone's big toe was shorter than their second toe. And on some people's feet their big toes were really short, like even with their third toe short.

Now on my feet my big toe and second toe are the same size and if anything my big toe is a little bit longer. I know that some people have longer second toes (like my Manfriend) but I didn't realize I was so outnumbered. This got me looking into what the toe length variation means, genetically and otherwise and this is what Google told me:

If your big toe is longer than you second, your feet are better built for athletics, particularly sprinting.
Italians (like Y.M.), Greeks and other people from the Mediterranean region tend to have a longer second toe. Same goes for people of Celtic descent.
Speaking of Italians...Some Italian folklore says that if you have a longer second toe you are a dominant personality and will be the "boss of the family." (Mob or otherwise...)
A Des Moines University study of children born in the US and UK showed that those who were born with longer second toes made better grades in school and did well in aptitude tests.
The same study says that people with longer second toes are highly disproportionally represented in death rows and in psychiatric facilities for the criminally insane.
More than 90% of the adult population have a longer big toe than second toe. (Although apparently they don't work at my job...)
And even though it is the most common "foot architecture" to have a longer big toe, it (like having white skin) is a recessive trait.

Go ahead. Look at your feet.

I know you want to. :-P

Thoughtful Thursday: Maybe We Should Be More Like Animals...

2009-04-16T10:00:00.002-04:00

This week a lot of animal clips have come through my inbox and DVR that reminds me of how people could learn a lot from animals.

Baby and Boxer

Bella and Tara

Christian the Lion

Do differences really matter?

(house)Work Wednesday: Spring is in the Air

2009-04-15T12:00:00.000-04:00

Two Sundays ago Lisa, YM, and NEB went to the Southern Ideal Home Show for a very domestic double date. Plus we won free tickets so why not?

Anyway after an afternoon of searching the fairgrounds for the perfect hot tub, closet organization system, and appliances for my future house, we headed to Cameron Bar and Grill for a late lunch. Lisa and I had the Strawberry Salad and it was amazing...

...so amazing that I wanted it again for my late dinner...but I couldn't justify $16 in salads in 5 hours. Sigh. So instead of getting the salad, I headed to Harris Teeter for the weekly produce trip and went to get all my lunch meats and such. As walked through the deli a light bulb went off in my head: MAKE THE SALAD YOURSELF!!!

Now I know most people might have thought of this, but I am not the type to think of restaurant food as something I can DIY-ify but this seemed like a good start.

Here's how it broke down-

1/2 pound of fresh Salad Mix: $3

1 1lb tub of strawberries on VIC card special: $1.25

1 bottle of light raspberry vinagrette dressing: $2.49

A dash of sugar because I don't like the candied pecans in the original salad: $0

Some feta cheese from my fridge: $0

= 3 Strawberry Salads for $6.74 + tax.

And voila!!!

Isn't it pretty?

Teach It Tuesday: My new "favorite" foods

2009-04-14T18:39:00.004-04:00

I went to the doctor a couple weeks back and after some blood test was told that I have high cholesterol. I expected it to be a little high from my awesome college eating habits, but didn't expect it to be as high as it was...especially since I'm in my mid 20s.

Luckily because I am in my mid 20s, there's changes I can make now to get it back down where it should be and keep it there without medication or too much worry about long lasting damage. In honor of my cholesterol enlightenment, here are some facts about it that I hope will help you all out.

Your cholesterol should be under 200mg/DL and your triglyceride level should be under 150 mg/dL.
One of the main sources of cholesterol in the human diet is animal fats (especially in red meat and eggs.)
Foods that are high in saturated and/or trans fat are usually also high in cholesterol.
Cholesterol is required to built and maintain cell membranes but your body creates cholesterol on its own, so you don't have to eat it to get enough of it.
A person with normal cholesterol levels should limit themselves to 300mg of cholesterol a day to remain healthy. Those who need to lower it (like me) should stick to 200mg or less.
If you want to lower your cholesterol, foods that are high in soluble fiber will help a lot.

This is the "increase these in your diet list" from my doctor:

Soy products
Red wine
Oatmeal
Almonds
Fish
Garlic

High cholesterol can lead to a higher risk of heart disease because cholesterol will sit on the walls of your arteries like spackle, making it difficult for blood to flow properly. Ewww.

Here's an additional source for more information: American Heart Association

Money Monday: 10 Commandments- Courtesy of MSN Money

2009-04-13T23:47:00.003-04:00

I came across this Financial Commandments for Your 20s and I thought of all the people who I know who need to read this article.

Basically:

Thou shall plan ahead
Thou shall live WITHIN your means
Thou shall make saving a habit
Thou shall pay off your credit cards
Thou shall start investing
Thou shall establish credit
Thou shall develop a marketable skill
Thou shall cut the financial umbilical cord
Thou shall marry wisely
Thou shall have fun

I think I'm in good shape but it's always nice to have a easy to understand reminder.

Sabbatical Saturday: Day trips can help you make it between vacations

2009-04-11T23:45:00.000-04:00

My Yankee Manfriend and I have been trying to get away for a long weekend vacation for awhile and it just isn't working out and isn't going to anytime soon. Finally we (mainly Y.M.) decided that just because we don't have time for a full blown trip doesn't mean we can't get away for the day and enjoy a change of scenery.

So we woke up this morning and headed to the NC Zoo (which we've been trying to do for the last two years...) Most def a needed break from town after the last couple weeks of work and will tide me over until I can get away for a real vacation.

Secondary enlightenment: People watching at the Zoo might be more entertaining than looking at the animals...but that's another post...

Teach It Tuesday: Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds

2009-04-07T11:59:00.003-04:00

I have quite a few people in my life that have pet allergies and quite a few that are pet owners, which can cause a clash when trying to have events or company.

E shared a list of Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds with me as we were looking to see if our friends would have a reaction to the newest addition to their family. Here's the abbreviated version (of dogs I've actually heard of):

Bearded Collie
Bolognese
Fox Terrier (Wire)
Greyhound
Goldendoodle
Irish Water Spaniel
Italian Greyhound
Maltese
Poodles
Poodle hybrid
Pomeranian
Schnauzers
Scottish Terrier
Welsh Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier

For a more complete list and the reason each breed is hypoallergenic go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic_dog_breeds

So will there be a problem? Nope, the little addition is a Pomeranian. :-)

Edit: Too bad Y.M.'s furry child is not on the list...and sheds enough to make a floor length coat every three days. Thank goodness for the Dyson.

house(Work) Wednesday: Medicine Cabinets

2009-03-25T17:41:00.003-04:00

Since me and Y.M. have resigned our lease for another year (blah...) I've decided that I need to do a little sprucing up around the townhouse to keep my nesting instinct at bay. (After all, I've moved every July for the last 6 years and now I'm going to miss my yearly redecoration.)

Since saving to pay of student loans is a higher priority than redecorating in the allocation of my finances, I'm always looking for cost effective ways to nest in my rented space.

I saw this on medicine cabinet decoration on Real Simple and I think it would be a cute Saturday afternoon project for the guest bathroom. I think it's too girly for Y.M. (who gets the medicine cabinet to himself in exchange for me getting all the other cabinets in the bathroom) but who knows...he may not even notice it...

Money Monday: Credit Myths in 60 seconds

2009-03-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

This came through my RSS from Lifehacker and I thought it was worth passing along.

Money Monday: Career Log

2009-03-16T10:00:00.000-04:00

In my RSS feed this week came up a "How To" that I think everyone should do:

How to Keep a Career Log

I have a lot of friends that are in the job market, or are fearfully they soon will be, and are having a hard time with getting their resumes to speak to the people they are hoping will employ them. By keeping a Career Log it's easier to reflect on projects and roles you have experienced that may help you land that next position. :-)

Money Monday: Why do you do what you do?

2009-03-09T23:01:00.001-04:00

I am one of those people that is lucky enough to love my job but this post from my sorority sister at Darling Dexter got me thinking because a lot of my friends that are 1-2 years out of college seem to be dealing with this same internal issue.

Just thought I'd pass this along because I think this is a good articulation of a problem a lot of 20 somethings (and beyond) face.

Thoughtful Thursday: Resolutions Revisited

2009-03-05T10:00:00.002-05:00

So I thought this Thursday I would look back and see how I was doing on my New Years Resolutions.

My Thoughtful Thursday resolution: Do a better job of deciding what I want and making a plan to get there. So far this is going pretty well, I've planned out my 1, 2, and 5 year career plans and discussed them with my boss so we're all on the same page.
Fabulous Friday: Resolution #2: Shop more. Check. Spurred by the need to do some shopping for a fabulous weekend in Vegas with my girls, I have increased my spending on clothing and have purchased one item suitable for the 9-5 every two weeks. Additionally, with the help of Lisa's plan to also eat in more during the week (Lisa, her boy N.E.B., my Y.M. and myself were double dating it 2-3 times a week), I've cut my "Restaurant" spending by $50 in both January and February. Yay!!!
Sabbatical Saturday: Resolution #3:Vacation more. Already hit Vegas (and was under budget by the way...) with the girls in February and I have a plan to go to Houston and Dallas in June taking care of quarters 1 and 2 of this year.
Selfish Sundays: Resolution #4: Take one day a month off to do NOTHING but exactly what I want to do. Sadly this is one that I'm failing on so far. The second half of January and all of February came and went without a day where there wasn't something on the agenda. I guess I'll have to take two days in March...
Money Monday: Resolution #5: Track my finances using the Mint.com. CHECK! I love Mint as much as I love Google...and that's saying a lot.
Teach It Tuesday: Resolution #6: Take classes. Hmm...I have failed to sign up for any classes so far this year. Need to get on that...
(house)Work Wednesday: Resolution #7: Cook more meals at home. In January I cooked my one meal from scratch (Simply Chicken Parm from Allrecipes.com) but in February I didn't cook a single meal and I was supposed to do 2...boo...

So here's where we stand-

Done (100%)- 4
Half assed (50%)- 1
Haven't even started (0%)- 2

My resolution score: 64% completed

How are you doing with your goals?

Money Monday: Haggling...umm...Negotiating

2009-03-02T11:00:00.002-05:00

Got this article about haggling prices from Ladies Home Journal (yep...LHJ...I'll admit I get a weekly newsletter from them.)

How to Save Money on Just About Anything

What are things worth haggling for? According to LHJ...

Big ticket items
Hotel rooms (FACT, saved my crew $300 on a trip to Vegas recently...)
Bulk purchases
Anything damaged
Anything already marked down
Healthcare

Selfish Sunday: Rainy Days

2009-03-01T13:28:00.003-05:00

Rainy day + stuffy nose day 10 = Changing my agenda for the day from meetings all day to my favorite pajamas + a book + my bed + Advil Cold and Sinus.

Sometimes you just have to take care of yourself. Just sayin'.

Teach It Tuesday: "Did You Know"

2009-02-24T12:20:00.002-05:00

I put this as an entry to the McKinney blog (http://www.fivewords.mckinney.com/) but I decided to share it with all of you as well.

My how things have changed...

Fabulous Friday: The new way to shoe shop

2009-02-20T10:00:00.002-05:00

I like comparison shopping. I hate walking/driving around to do so. I hate even more when I buy something that is 90% what I want to find something that is PERFECT a week later...usually after the receipt for the first purchase has found it's way to the trash can.

Thanks to the people at Lifehacker I found this site: www.modista.com and it's AMAZING.

You can click on a shoe (or purse) that you think is cute.
The site shows you the item you selected and then items that are similar to it in shape and/or color.
Find something you like better and then click that and the process repeates itself.

And you can look at the prices at of all the items so you can see if there's something very similar for a good chunk of change cheaper. Love it.

(house)Work Wednesday: Cleaning for Guest

2009-02-17T23:52:00.002-05:00

No one likes to clean bathrooms. But having 4 people share one bathroom for a week (must get at least two full baths next time around...) means that the bathroom has to be cleaned before our guest arrive.

Here's a quick bathroom cleaning guide from Katie at The Hyper Homemaker.

Bathroom done in under 10 minutes. Love it.

Teach It Tuesday: Stretch Marks...yay...

2009-02-17T16:39:00.002-05:00

I'm back from my blogging hiatus.

It's February and the holiday hangover is long gone and it's time to start thinking about getting ready for bathing suit season. I know a lot of my friends are concerned about stretch marks as they have either lost or gained weight rapidly in our post-collegiate lives.

Here's a link from wikiHow on how to get rid of them. I'm a fan of doing #2 with the cocoa butter.

Good luck people.

Thoughtful Thursday: First Class Brains

2009-01-22T10:00:00.002-05:00

This quote has hit my inboxes multiple times this week and it's totally worth a really thinking about it for a moment.

F. Scott Fitzgerald said: “The test of a first class mind is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in the head at the same time and still be able to function.”

-Are you first class...or not?

-Are you first class in some areas because you don't care about them at all and you have no opinion or because you care about them a lot?

house(Work) Wednesday: Winter Wonderland

2009-01-21T22:13:00.004-05:00

Here in North Carolina we had our first big snow of the season and I felt unprepared. In thinking about how to winterize my life, I started thinking about about frozen pipes. Now like most 20-somethings, I'm a renter and I usually wouldn't even think about the pipes BUT since I just changed my renters insurance policy (to USAA, the best insurance company EVER) and one of the things they mentioned was burst pipes in the winter, it was a little more top of mind.

Here's some tips from State Farm about how to prevent burst pipes that could flood your house, apartment, or condo and cause thousands of dollars of damage to your building and property.

Stay warm.

Teach It Tuesday: Presidential Knowledge

2009-01-20T21:00:00.005-05:00

In honor of the inauguration of our 44th president I thought some random presidential knowledge was appropriate.

The U.S. President serves as both the head of state and the head of government. (In the U.K. the Queen is the head of state and the Prime Minister is the head of government.)
Obama is the 5th youngest president elected.
Because of the 22nd amendment the longest a person could be president is 9 years 364 days.
When the Obamas got home from the inauguration 93 people had put all of their belongs away for them so that when they got back after the festivities their new home was ready for them.
The plane that George W flew out of Washington on is "Executive One" instead of "Air Force One" since he's no longer the President.
Even though Obama's oath wasn't taken until 12:07ish, he became President at noon because of the way the 20th amendment is written.
There have been 56 inaugural parades in Washington, D.C.

Every wonder how much the Pres makes? Here you go, courtesy of Wikipedia

DATE Salary In 2008 Dollars

September 24, 1789 $25,000 $566,000
March 3, 1873 $50,000 $865,000
March 4, 1909 $75,000 $1,714,000
January 19, 1949 $100,000 $875,000
January 20, 1969 $200,000 $1,135,000
January 20, 2001 $400,000 $471,000

There's your knowledge for the day.

And if you live in North Carolina, I hope you had a happy snow day. :-)

(Being) Fabulous Friday: "Sushi is like crack...

2009-01-16T10:00:00.001-05:00

... and that sushi was good crack." - My P.I.C. (Partner in Crime) about our maiden voyage to Asuka Japanese and Fusion Restaurant

Sushi's making a comeback. For a twenty-something it can be sophisticated dinner alternative to a steakhouse house dinner. Not to mention it's cheaper and healthier for you than steak (though steak will always be my dining first love.)

I used to not it sushi at all because I didn't want to eat raw food (I know, I know) but once I tested the waters with a California Roll (which has all cooked meat) I was hooked. And the fact that you can pretty much find a place that does "Half Off" or "Buy One, Get One" anytime you have a craving, it made an affordable, healthy alternative.

Thoughtful Thursday: Take a moment a reflect

2009-01-15T10:00:00.003-05:00

I was emptying out my email and came back across this email that I thought would be nice for people to think about...

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk,smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the followingstatement, 'My purpose is to __________ today.'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat lessfood that is manufactured in plants. 5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires,issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control.Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea whattheir journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for __________. Today I accomplished _________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

Happy Thursday.

(house)Work Wednesday: Resolution #7

2009-01-07T10:00:00.000-05:00

Note: Sorry for the delay in sending. I drafted but did not schedule this posting.

Finally my last resolution: Cook more meals at home.

Now, I'm not a big cook...like I don't cook at all...and I think 2009 is the year to work on that.

My plan?

Slowly increase the number of meals I cook from scratch at home. This is going to sound awful but I figured out that I haven't made a meal from scratch since September (and when I say "from scratch" Velveeta Mac and Cheese would count...) All my "at home" meals come out of frozen food packages or my Yankee Manfriend makes them for me. So this year I'm going to make sure that every month I will make at least the number of meals that corresponds with the month (i.e.: January-1, September-9.)

With the help of Better Home and Gardens, Allrecipes.com, and Shape hopefully I'll stop feeling so awkward in the kitchen.

Teach It Tuesday: Resolution #6

2009-01-06T10:00:00.001-05:00

Note: Sorry for the delay in sending. I drafted but did not schedule this posting.

My Teach It Tuesday Resolution: I have decided to go back to school.

No, I'm not talking about getting my MBA (for now at least,) I'm talking about taking classes at the local community college. Taking classes is a good way to keep your brain exercised, learn new things, and meet new people. Last year Lil Lisa and I took graphic design to keep our brains from rotting and it was a lot of fun and only $55.

This year my plan is to take 2-3 classes, one that's in my profession, one domestic, and one totally random one. I'll let you know how it goes.

Money Monday: Resolution #5

2009-01-05T17:00:00.001-05:00

On Friday I discussed my resolution to shop more and spend less on food and I'll have to make sure I'm saving enough money to do my Sabbitical Saturday resolution. Now how am I going to keep up with all that?

By doing my Money Monday resolution: Tracking my finances using the Mint.com. One of my Alpha Rho girls turned me onto it is pretty easy to use and very easy to manipulate into my obsessive accounting system that I developed as part of my (SUCCESSFUL!!!) debt busting resolution from 2008.

Hopefully we'll come out of this year in better financial shape for the second year running.

Selfish Sundays: Resolution #4

2009-01-04T17:00:00.001-05:00

Without an academic schedule to make me take time off, I think it's very important to make sure that I take time to myself. After all my co-worker was correct when he said "If you're on salary you have to make yourself stop working, because your employer will never tell you when to stop. The more you work, the better value they are getting." And making myself stop working I shall.

Hence my Selfish Sunday Resolution: Take one day a month off to do NOTHING but exactly what I want to do.

Things that I'm not allowed to do on my "me day"-

Pay my bills
Run errands
Work
Clean

Acceptable "me day" activites-

Mani/pedis
Shopping
Watching girly movies on my Yankee Manfriend's monster TV
Lunch dates with my favorite ladies
Receiving breakfast in bed

Sabbatical Saturday: Resolution #3

2009-01-03T18:00:00.002-05:00

My Sabbatical Saturday Resolution: Vacation more

I've been told that I'm a workaholic, most recently by my oldest friend, who I haven't seen in 2 years even though he lives at the beach and is in town for every holiday.

After he said that, I got to thinking about all the friends that I have scattered across the country and my love for going on airplanes...so why haven't I seen them more often? Cause I won't take time off and go anywhere and then in October I'm all burned out at work. There's really no excuse for that when I get 4-5 weeks vacation time a year....

This will not be the case in 2009. My plan is to go on a trip once a quarter in which I take PTO and don't take my laptop.

I've already got this quarter figured out because in about a month I'll be in LAS VEGAS with my girls for a bachelorette party. :-)

My thoughts for the other 3 quarters?
3 out of the USA's 4 largest cities: NYC, LA, Chicago, and Houston

Fabulous Friday: Resolution #2

2009-01-02T17:26:00.001-05:00

My Fabulous Friday Resolution: Shop more.

That's right, I said shop MORE. I know you were expecting the cliche, "Lose 20 pounds" and don't worry that's a goal of mine too...but back to the shopping.

I am not one that spends a lot of money on durable goods. In fact, after looking at my finances a larger chunk of my money than I thought is not lost to the NY&Co and Targets of the world but to Whole Foods, Wendy's, and Outback. I look like a pauper and eat like a prince and in the process am essentially eating my hard earned money for a quick fix.

I've decided to that my goal for this year is to downgrade my eating out regime (which should help with the losing 20 pounds thing...) and use that surplus in my budget to upgrade my attire and footwear. Not only will I purchase more clothes and footwear, but I will purchase higher quality apparel, especially when it comes to the five essentials.

Carrie (and the title of my Lil Lisa's blog) say it best: I Like My Money Right Where I Can See It... Hanging In My Closet

Thoughtful Thursday: Resolution #1

2009-01-01T15:36:00.004-05:00

So it's a new year and with new years come resolutions. So for the first week of the year I'm going to share my seven resolutions.

My Thoughtful Thursday resolution: Do a better job of deciding what I want and making a plan to get there.

That's all I have for today, going to head back to watching the Private Practice marathon.

Money Monday: Little Steps

2008-12-22T09:00:00.003-05:00

As this year winds to a close it becomes time to reflect on the past year and make aspirations for the next one. In a totally unscientific poll of my friends the two highest things on our list of things we want to focus on in 2009 are: 1) our weight and 2) our finances. To achieve success in either one of these it takes a gradual lifestyle change, starting with little steps.

Here's a link from "The Simple Dollar" of 100 little steps that can get you saving:
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/02/06/little-steps-100-great-tips-for-saving-money-for-those-just-getting-started/

My top 5 from the blog:

Switch your bank accounts to a bank that respects you. (...and that's why I'm not a Wachovia customer any more...)
Master the thirty day rule. Whenever you’re considering making an unnecessary purchase, wait thirty days and then ask yourself if you still want that item.
Invite friends over instead of going out. (My Yankee Manfriend's favorite MO)
Do a price comparison - and find a cheaper grocery store. (That's why I buy my packaged goods at Wal-Mart Supercenter. I get 2 weeks worth of food for $50 compared to the $70 at Food Lion and the $80 at Harris Teeter for the same items. That's a $520-$780 yearly savings a.k.a. my car insurance for the whole year. )
Design your “debt snowball.”

Here's one more list from Jeff at "My Super-Charged Life": http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/20-ways-trim-your-budget-survive-hard-times-ahead/

Happy saving. :-)

Thoughtful Thursday: Holiday Spirit

2008-12-18T10:24:00.000-05:00

Thought provoking statement of the week.

From my P.I.C. (Partner in Crime):
"You know whats wrong with society? They push this whole Santa character...yet they tell their kids never to take candy from strangers. WTF?"

And we wonder why people grow up to be hypocritical...

(house)Work Wednesday: Laundry

2008-12-17T10:15:00.000-05:00

So this was my wikiHow of the day and I thought I would share it with all of you.

Fast Folding:How To Fold A T-Shirt In 2 Seconds - Explained

Brought to you by the people at VideoJug.

Don't know if I'll ever use it...but I'm a big fan of being efficient and notsomuch a big fan of the time it takes to fold laundry so this might be useful.

Thoughtful Thursday

2008-12-11T10:23:00.001-05:00

Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn't block traffic. - Dan Rather

Hmm...

Note: Sorry I forgot to press publish on this last week :-/

Teach It Tuesday: Qwerty

2008-12-09T12:00:00.001-05:00

Look at your keyboard.

Ever wondered why the keys are in that order? Ever even thought about it? I bet you are now...

Here's the answer:
In the 1860s Carlos Glidden and Samuel W. Soule were trying to create a typing machine. The found that when the keys were placed in alphabetical order the arms that printed the letters onto the paper would crash into each other, especially with speedy typists. They tried many configurations and discovered if the most used letters were operated by the pinky fingers it slowed the speed of the typing and prevent the arms from hitting each other and jamming. Also the four row configuration meant the hands had to move around more and therefore also slowed down the speed at with which one could type.

In the age of computers this logic doesn't matter anymore but it's ingrained in use that this is the way keyboards should look and so things will remain that way.

And that my friends, is why it so hard much harder to go from IMing on your computer to texting on a 9 button keypad... and why your Blackberry has a QWERTY keyboard.

Money Monday: WWGD (What Would Grandma Do)?

2008-12-08T11:15:00.001-05:00

We are a very credit dependent society. We buy things with money we are going to earn because they are 10% off and then charge them and have to pay 10, 15, or maybe even 25% interest on it. That makes NOOOOOO sense. I guess it's our society's "it will get better" attitude. But we are in need of a serious reality check and it starts with everyone individually looking out how they spend money and use credit.

I personally have a general rule about buying things: I don't pay for anything longer than I'm going to use it.

What does this mean?: Financing a car for 5 years is fine (but not ideal) because you're going to be using it in 5 years. Charging (which is the SAME THING as "financing") my Starbucks is not ok because I'll be paying for it after the 20 minutes I took to drink it. Now I'm not saying this is the perfect way to run your finances, but for someone starting out in the real world I don't think it's a bad start.

I think young Americans need to stop thinking about financing and finances like our parents' generation of "I can have it all now and pay for it later" baby boomers and start thinking like our grandparents' generation in a more "I'll buy when I can afford it" mentality.

I found this article on MSN Money that I think brings my point home: People need to learn to live on cash (meaning money in your checking account so your debit card is fine.)

Totally worth the read. :-)

Sabbatical Saturday: Hair Salon

2008-12-06T12:00:00.004-05:00

Never underestimate the joys of having someone else do your hair but it is even more joyful if it's a good, relaxing environment along with being at an affordable price.

I was looking for a place to get my hair done because 1) my previous place is too far away (like 40 miles) 2) the place doesn't have an inviting environment and 3) when I go there the stylist is always working on more than two people so my last haircut (just shampoo and cut) took 3 and a half hours. I watched ALL of Sex and the City on my iPod while I was there and that is not a "short" movie. That's a bit ridiculous for $60.

Anyway, decided I to check the "beauty services" section of Craigslist for a new place. I found a place called Papillion Salon. Automatic three bonuses: 1) It is near my house, 2) "Salon" is in the name (so it's probably a nicer environment, and 3) what I need done is on special this week for $40. I then googled them and they had a website, bonus again on the "legitimate" scale.

(EDIT: Ok so I checked again and I goofed: They didn't have a website but I found them here: http://www.carynews.com/ads/8141888/1475162/752396.html so I knew what kind of people to expect when I walked in. Maybe they should hire us at Raleighwood to take care of that...)

So I went there this morning and I loved it. Here's why:
The stylist, Aleishia, did my hair exactly how I told her I wanted it done

They offered me water, coffee, and tea and kept it coming my entire visit.
Everyone who worked there was so nice and friendly, exactly what I expect in the South.
They apologized repeatedly for anything they thought wasn't making my visit perfect.
They gave me more coupons for the next couple of trips.
It's a local business.

So in exchange for their good customer service I'm recommending them to all of you.

Papillion Salon and Spa in Cary. :-)

(being/becoming) Fabulous Friday

2008-12-05T15:04:00.002-05:00

I am always on the go and I don't take the time to cook. (I know...bad...bad...) However I am concerned about my caloric intake even when I have to grab something on the go or I'm out with friends.

I found this link: http://www.shape.com/healthy_eating/grab_and_go/ that has some of the best selections for people watching what they eat at some of my most frequented eateries including Applebee's, Wendy's, and Chick-Fil-A.

My fave:
Wendy's
Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich and a Side Salad
-Saves 110 calories and 8 grams of fat compared with the Homestyle Chicken Fillet Sandwich.
-Calories 320 Fat 7g Saturated Fat 1.5g Carbohydrates 61g Fiber 5g

(house)Work Wednesday: Liking to Clean vs. Liking It Clean

2008-12-03T22:00:00.003-05:00

I decided because I had the day off from work today and did nothing of substance that I would just continue that trend to the blog and skip something of actual substance this week and just go with something random. Enjoy.

So I was talking to Lisa after going on a movie double date to see Transporter 3 with her, N.E.B., and my Y.M. and we got on the subject of hand vacs. And Audis...because they were in the movie and we're in marketing so we can appreciate good product placement.

Lisa: Check out this statement in a review and tell me what seems odd: This is the best cordless hand held vac that I've ever had in 34 years of marriage. No cleaning before marriage?

Me: Maybe she didn't have one. I wouldn't have one except for Sweetie (Y.M.'s dog and the source of a ridiculous amount of hair.) I just bought it two weeks ago. I had planned on putting it on the registry (Bridal...somewhere off in the future...), but nooooo...stupid dog hair.

Lisa: You must not be as OCD as me

Me: I am, but I've been using the Dyson. (Yes the Y.M. likes to clean enough that he bought a Dyson to deal with the pet hair....yeah I know you're impressed.) Then Y.M.'s like "I woulda gotten you a dyson hand vac." Well damn.

Me (in a fit of ADHD): I want an Audi now

Lisa: I want a dyson hand vac

Me: Hmm. Well if i can afford an Audi or for that matter the dyson hand vac, someone else can clean my house. I don't like cleaning that much, I just like it clean.

Lisa: Hahahahahaha TRUEEE!

There is your "housewifey" conversation of the week brought to you by me and Lisa.

Liking TO clean is different than liking IT clean. Maybe there was some enlightenment in the afterall...

Thoughtful Thursday: Decisions Part 2

2008-11-27T10:00:00.004-05:00

So last week I wrote about choice and how the brain processes choice. I've been thinking and analyzing choice in my own life ever since.

For those who don't know me, I like rules. Rules make it so there's no analysis to be done and that means my analytical brain can have a little vacation for 3 minutes whilst the rest of me is following the rule.

My stepdad makes fun of me and my mom because we have created these random rules about life that don't seem to make sense. For instance, if you are going to leave a light on in your house it's never a lamp, it's always an overhead light. We prefer to buy Tide...the original...in a powder, we always drink skim milk, and blue Dawn dish soap. But why? The green Palmolive washes dishes too...

I've come to an answer. My mom and I are analyzers and our poor brains are overloaded. I did some research and apparently sometimes when people have to much to analyze they make up rules so that there are somethings they never have to think about. Basically, its a mechanism the brain does to be more efficient. If there's a rule then you don't have to think. The decision has been made for you.

Here's an awesome example from my life:

Let's say I'm at a restaurant. It's after dinner and I think I might like dessert. For effect let's say I'm at Cheesecake Factory and I have 40 options for dessert. How does someone who likes to analyze all the options figure out which one to pick. By playing by the rules. Now I can cross off anything with nuts, caramel, peanut butter, toffee, and cheesecake because I don't like those and I don't care for beige food. Now my 40 options are just down to chocolate cake or ice cream, much easier for me to analyze. :-) Most of the time the rule means no dessert at a restaurant and that's fine, I can now think about my conversation instead of sucking up brain power on dessert analysis. Seems crazy but it works.

I've never stress out about dessert at restaurants...but it took me 20 minutes to pick out a flavor of candles yesterday...

Just imagine how indecisive I'd be if I didn't already have some of these in place. :-)

OHHHH...and Happy Thanksgiving. :-)

(house)Work Wednesday: Thanksgiving Soiree

2008-11-26T18:06:00.005-05:00

"Friends are the family we pick for ourselves."

Very true. And there's nothing like spending time with your family for the holidays, but since usually your real family wants to spend this time with you, sometimes you have to make time to celebrate the holidays with your friends.

This past weekend me and my Yankee Manfriend threw a Thanksgiving soiree for our friends. It was our Second Annual Potluck Thanksgiving. Basically, we made the turkey (and I use the term "we" loosely, Y.M. made the turkey but unlike last year at least I went along on the trip to Trader Joe's to pick it out) and everyone signs up to bring something. We then fill in any holes in the "traditional" Thanksgiving dinner.

Like an 20 something couple, we were on a budget and there are some things we didn't want to skimp on, like the turkey, but there are other things that you can most definitely save a lot of money (and cleaning time) while still having a nice presentation thanks to...

(Drum Roll)...

The Dollar Store

I don't know about you but I forget about the Dollar Store until it's time to look for something random for Halloween. And typically when I'm trying to save money I hit up the local Wal-Mart, but I didn't really need, nor do I have the storage space for 100 paper plates even if they are $3.00. The Dollar Store makes it really easy to get "Holiday" specific items while balancing a good price without having to buy in bulk.

Here's a list of the things I got at the Dollar Store for our party of 12 people.

Plates
Cups
Plastic utensils
Plastic Shot Glasses
Apple Juice
Napkins
Potpourri

Total Cost: $7.00 + tax

And no one knew the difference.

They also have a lot of serving utensils and other items that would be great to take to a party if you're on the "bringing" end of a potluck. This way if you don't get your serving spoon or potholder back it's not a huge deal. Think about it: Your grande skim mocha latte at Starbucks will cost more than you would have spent on the serving spoon, dish, and potholder you brought to the dinner and will be used for about the same amount of time. ;-)

Money Monday: Your Digital Reputation

2008-11-24T18:21:00.006-05:00

In this day and age where recruiters for jobs look at your MySpace pages and your VP is on Facebook, you have to make sure you're digital rep is as well taken care of as your regular work reputation if you want to be respected in the real world. This respect could be the difference between a raise or being laid off.

I found this article on MSN.com that might be useful. However I have more advice. (Duh.)

My #1 suggestion: Look at your privacy settings on Facebook.

Not kidding...

I'll wait...

I'm sure you have facebook open on another tab anyway...

Ok good.

Some things you need to look at and my suggestions of who you should access to:
(Anything with a "*" means it's subjective based on the content you put in that medium and therefore gets a "but ONLY if it's appropriate for this group to see" tag.)

What everyone can see:

Your name
Your friends (Everyone can see this...you never want to cut off networking opportunity)
Your school and occupation information
Your networks
Your hometown
Activities*

What your friends of friends can see:

Same as above
Your blog*
Email address
Your relationship status
Your religion and political views
Class list
Activities

What only your "friends," the ones you make limited profile...like your coworkers, parents, and friends' parents, can see:

Same as above
Cell phone number
Your blog*
Interests* (Beer and dancing on bars...maybe not so much...)

What only your friends can see:

Your pictures (You never know who the friends of your friends are...)
Your wall (Same as above...)
All your random applications (You don't want your coworkers thinking you have too much time on your hands...)
Your blog that has your rantings about your life
Your notes
Your events
AIM screen name
All that other stuff Facebook has

One more thing: Remember that your profile is a representation of YOU and therefore YOU are responsible for it. Don't feel bad about deleting inappropriate comments on your wall or untagging pictures of yourself that don't display the kind of person you want people to see you as. You never know when Mom, Dad, or the CEO of your company might decide they are going to be "hip" and get on Facebook (like my mom did last weekend...) and you don't want them to see double fisting cheap beer, dancing on a bar, and showing your Britney.

Selfish Sundays: Apologies

2008-11-23T23:11:00.003-05:00

There are few things that have more power than a sincere apology.

Even the most prideful of people should be able to apologize sincerely to the ones they really care about; believe me the ones who you have wronged will remember how you've hurt them. They can't help it, it's a survival instinct.

Takeaway:
"An apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything." ~Lynn Johnston

Just about anything...as long as you are apologizing for the right thing...

After all "True remorse is never just a regret over consequence; it is a regret over motive." ~Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook

Thoughtful Thursday: Decisions

2008-11-20T14:34:00.002-05:00

If you all have time I want you to listen to this podcast from Radio Lab: http://blogs.wnyc.org/radiolab/2008/11/18/choice/.

It's about the choice and how we make choices. It's very interesting.

For those who don't have the patience to listen, here's the take away:
You have two parts of your brain 1) Emotion and 2) Logic. They normally keep each other in check so that you can make choices. However they have a capacity, especially the logically side and if it has too much to handle, the other one has to take over. This is why when people are trying to figure out something (like why that boy didn't call, why they lost their job, or why their friends are acting weird) they are more likely to make more emotionally based emotions in other aspects of their life because the logically side is distracted and the emotional side is taking over. This could result in bad eating, drinking too much, and/or smoking.

Now I have a pretty well exercised analytical side...but I have a HORRIBLE diet. When I'm bored I can make lists and plan out foods and even go and buy everything but when I get to work and I've been analyzing things all day I become very impulsive in my only outlet during the day...my lunch. I eat fast food and chicken even when I brought something else for lunch. I've struggled with my random cravings for forever and the more I think about things, the worse it gets. Hmmm...

Enlightenment: Less thinking might equal better eating...I'll let you know.

(house)Work Wednesday: November Treats

2008-11-19T16:19:00.000-05:00

One of the reasons that November is my second favorite month is because November means pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING.

Here's 10 recipes from the people over at Real Simple to inspire some pumpkin flavored appreciation.

http://simplystated.realsimple.com/celebrations/index.html

Money Monday: Perfect Time for a Budget

2008-11-17T16:00:00.002-05:00

So I woke up this morning and CNN told me about how the world's economy is going still going into the toilet and will be for...well the foreseeable future.

Made me think: Good time to revisit my budget and see where I can squeeze some extra savings out.

I made my first budget at 19 and I think it's the best habit I ever got into. (Now if only I could feel the same about diet and exercise...) If you don't have a budget and you have income, then you need to make one. It will help you so much in the long run to achieving your goals and being independent. You don't want to have to be 28 and not be able to buy a car if you need one.

Here's a resource with 79 other resources for budget making.
http://mysuperchargedlife.com/blog/back-to-basics-79-brilliant-budgeting-resources-youll-love/

Work on yours this week and then next week I'll show you mine.

Selfish Sundays: Enlightenment comes from the most random places...

2008-11-16T14:01:00.007-05:00

This might be the most insightful bumper sticker ever.

Enlightment brought to you by AIM speak and Facebook applications.

(Being / Becoming) Fabulous Friday

2008-11-14T16:00:00.007-05:00

As a post-collegiate 20 something, there's an a life "upgrade" that must happen to head toward your real world self; similar to that which happened between high school and college but MUCH more intense.

One of the things that has to be upgraded is your 9-5 wardtrobe. And here's my suggestions for doing so...

Get out of the "Juniors" department. It may work on the weekends but unless you work at the Disney Channel or someplace really laid back you can't go to work looking like this:

but this --> will work.

Get out of the College/Greek/Misc College org T-shirts. Now I love my t-shirts along with the next person (especially when you realize how much you spent on them...) BUT when you find yourself wearing shirts that say "Homecoming 2003" and it's 2008 it's time to let them go as part of your default jeans + T-shirt weekend uniform. Try subbing them out for a plain tee like this one from Old Navy.

Get the 5 essentials: a classic coat, a pair of black pants, a classic black dress, jeans, and a white shirt AND make sure they fit correctly). These are the basics of any wardrobe and set the foundation for your closet. After all, how many events is a white shirt and jeans or black pants inappropriate?
Get some nice shoes. Rainbows, sneakers, and wedges aren't going to cut it everyday anymore. You need at least one pair of black shoes and one pair of brown, and they should be closed toe.

Happy shopping. :-)

Thoughtful Thursday: The Difference Between Schoolwork and Work Work

2008-11-13T09:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday on my way home I was talking to my mom and telling her about this project that one of our interns is using for a school project as well as a work project.

During the convo I made this statement: "I feel that if the project was done for a school project it would be easier to do than as a work project. I told her that projects I had done for work had been similar to ones I had done for school and it was always easier in the school version."

She asked "Why? It's the same project either way, isn't it?"

My response: "Uhhhhh..." Blast. Why was it different?... And then I thought back to my freshamn year of college...

(insert "Twilight Zone" music + screen blur)

So it's orientation before my freshman year of college and I'm working on my schedule. I had a hole to fill and I was required to take a 100 level gym class to graduate from Wolfpack Country so I selected the easiest one I could find that fit in my schedule: Step Aerobics. I based my decision (as ever good new freshman that was an overacheiver would) on the following train of thought:

I need an "A" in Step Aerobics.
If I actually give it my all, I can actually get an "A"

"A" is good so we'll do that one.

Then I met with my advisor who told me this: Gym was a class eligible for "credit only" status (meaning you could take it for a grade or as a pass-fail with no grade) and that as long as I got between a 70-100% I would pass with a lovely "S" for "satisfactory"on my transcipt.

Hmm. Interesting...

Because of my awesome lack of athelic skills, I decided "credit only" was the best option but I was still going to try in the class. Well because of this change in events instead of giving the class the 90-100% I had planned, I gave it exactly 74%, got my "S," and was done with 100 level gym classes. Woot.

Why did I tell you this?

In school, you were graded on the quality and effort of your work. If you put in 85% then you get out 85% and that's fine cause that's still a B. In aerobics I gave 74% and passed...and even if it had been a grade it would have been a "C" and let's be honest and truthful: "Cs get degrees."

But what if my job had been aerobics?

I couldn't have gotten away with giving 74%, or hell even my B 85%. At your job you have to step it up and give 95-100% or you'll never move up in your career, if you even get to keep your job. Translation: You have to be an "A" student at your job just to keep it and an A+ student to advance it. Woah...

This moment of enlightment (and the answer to my mom's question) smacked me in the face like a Mack Truck:

"B" student status isn't going to cut it in the real world like it did in school. If you're a "B" employee you're less than average, not better. You have to get the work done, you have less time to do it, and it has to be as close to perfect as possible. I mean we're talking 95-100% range only, 100% of the time. Period.

Now why doesn't your advisor tell you that when you get to school so you can make that a habit form day one of college...

(house)Work Wednesday: Table Setting

2008-11-12T12:00:00.003-05:00

Hey guys...

I'm pretty sick today so you'll have to wait until next week for the first real edition of the Wednesday segement of my enlightment: (house)Work Wednesday

To hold you over I'd like to recommend this blog from the Hyper Homemaker: http://hyperhomemaker.blogspot.com/2008/10/setting-proper-table.html

I feel that everyone should know how to set a table. Especially since my Southern mommy taught me how to do it when I was 8...gotta love us G.R.I.T.S. ;-)

Teach It Tuesday: Cured Ham

2008-11-11T21:39:00.005-05:00

In the spirit of the holidays, here's this week's "Teach It" random answer.

Question:
What disease did "cured ham" actually have?

Answer:
Ham has the ability to get Clostridium botulinum, a deadly microorganism. Curing the ham with salt and potassium nitrate inhibits the growth of this microorganism, therefore “curing” the ham and making it so it can’t infect you.

Hope you had a good Tuesday.

Money Monday: Lunch- My Daily Mid Day Dilemna and a hole in my wallet

2008-11-10T22:45:00.011-05:00

One of the big things that I have learned in the first half of my 20s is how much it costs to feed myself. (Thank you Mom for feeding me for the first 18 years of my life.) I mean, I am in theory, I'm still paying for meals on my credit card from my first senior year of college. (Lesson learned: "Do not charge food and /or booze"... but that's for another Monday...)

I read this article on MSN (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/CollegeAndFamily/MoneyInYour20s/HowToBuildYourFirstBudget.aspx?page=2) about making a budget and this is the part that stuck out to me:

"Food: Basic groceries should cost a single person about $150 a month. You'll spend a lot more if you eat out frequently, however, or if you buy lots of processed foods, frozen dinners and gourmet stuff. Cut your food costs by bringing lunches and snacks from home. Substitute potlucks or picnics for expensive socializing at restaurants. Shop grocery-store sales, and learn to make a few healthy meals at home."

Makes sense right? One problem: I personally don't have/am willing to take the time to make lunch every morning or even every night.

Solution: Pack lunches for 5 days on Sunday afternoon.

This is what I did (with the assistance of Lil Lisa):

Decide on the menu for the week. (Morning Snack: Yogurt and an orange; Lunch: Ham sandwich, orange, and salad; and Afternoon Snack: Fiber One Bar)
Bought materials. (A loaf of bread, a small jar of Fat Free Miracle Whip, sliced deli ham, alfalfa, a half pound of Spring Mix salad, a bottle of salad dressing, pudding singles, 6 pack of yogurt, 5 oranges, and a box of Fiber One bars.)
Got out 10 (5 sandwich ones and 5 round 2 cup) Glad plastic containers and 5 sandwich bags.
Put a serving of ham in each sandwich bag.
Layer contents of sandwich container as follows: 2 slices of bread, plastic bag with ham inside, and then alfalfa. This order will prevent any of the contents of the container from getting gross before Friday.
In the 2 cup containers I put salad and croutons.
I packed up my lunch and snacks for Monday and then put the rest in the fridge.

And now my fridge looks like this: (This is on Monday night so there's only 3 cause my Tuesday's lunch is already packed.)

Now all I have to do is put the lunches in my lunch box every night and then grab the lunch box in the morning when I get my water before heading to work.

Easy...and cheap. Total savings between last week (in which I ate out every day for lunch) and this week... $25. YAY!!!

Hey Everyone...

2008-11-09T21:50:00.002-05:00

I love to pass on information I have learned or picked as I've gotten older. So I decided that the best way to pass on this knowledge and archive it was to start another blog.

This one will be more focused than it's kinda random and temperamental blog-sister, www.gbppangel.blogspot.com. Hope you all enjoy.