Six smart steps for potential stay-at-home dads
How fathers can fully understand their choice and prepare for consequences.
There are many routes to work-family balance. For some, it’s a matter of finding a workplace that allows you to put family first without sacrificing a paycheck. For others, going the at-home route is the most attractive option.
Becoming an at-home dad is as easy as telling your boss “I quit,” but it should be approached like any other life change — with a good deal of clear-headed consideration. There are six steps that all would-be at-home dads (and their wives) should take to fully understand their choice and prepare for the consequences:
Step one: Find the goalposts
Staying home is a radical change for any working parent — male or female — and families that decide to have dad stay home need to articulate why they’ve made that decision. The responsibility of the at-home parent needs to be well laid-out, too: what are the child-rearing expectations? The cooking/cleaning/housework expectations? How do family roles change during the weekend? At night? Every family comes up with different answers to those questions, but every family needs to ask them.
Step two: Be aware of the implications
Along with death and taxes, at-home fathers can be certain they’ll have to fend off stereotypes and correct the general confusion that surrounds at-home fatherhood. The harkens back to step one: a father who understands clearly what he is doing at home and why can do a far better job of explaining his choice than a parent who elected to stay home without examining why.
Step three: Run the numbers
Having a parent stay home has huge economic consequences, and it is vital that every family ready to make the plunge reviews their finances. That means a brutally honest, point-by-point monthly budget that shows what gets cut when dad’s salary disappears. Of course, such a budget can also be a comforting document. Cutting out spending on daycare, commuting, work clothes and takeout dinners can run more than $20,000 a year for a family of four, which can takes some of the fiscal sting out of staying home.
Step four: Build in some outs
At-home fatherhood can easily become a 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week job, but like any endeavor, time away from the “workplace,” is enormously valuable. Any at-home parent should give themselves a chance to recharge their batteries away from the kids: enroll in a class at a local college, find a flexible part-time job, focus on a particular hobby. Those efforts carry both the short-term benefits of renewed vigor as well as long-term benefits should at-home fathers begin to transfer back to the workforce.
Step five: Consider an exit plan
Very few at-home fathers stay out of the job market forever, and coming up with a strategy for when — and how — to reenter the workforce can help both blunt the impact of leaving a paid job as well as aid in transitioning out of the home years down the line.
Step six: Shoot for greatness
It is fundamental truth that you get out of any effort what you put into it, and parenthood is no different. Waking up every day and shooting to be the best possible dad doesn’t only give the children the richest possible environment, it gives fathers a great deal of satisfaction. A dad who parks their child in front of the TV all day may be less exhausted at day’s end than an engaged dad, but they’re also less fulfilled. There’s much to be said for taking pride in your work, whether it be forging widgets or forging young minds.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Gifts for mom
Mother's Day is Sunday. Are you stumped on what to get her? Here is a site with gift ideas for every kind of mom. Stylish mom, gardening mom, eco mom gadget mom and more.
Friday, May 2, 2008
Avorita
Ingredients
2 avocados, seeded and peeled 6 ounces tequila 6 ounces fresh lime juice 2 ounces Triple Sec 1/2 cup sugar 3 cups crushed ice
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse on high speed for 30 seconds. Blend for an additional 30 seconds until all ingredients are incorporated. Pour into a salt-rimmed margarita glass.
Drink responsibly. Don't drink and drive. MUST BE 21 TO PARTICIPATE.
Cheers!
2 avocados, seeded and peeled 6 ounces tequila 6 ounces fresh lime juice 2 ounces Triple Sec 1/2 cup sugar 3 cups crushed ice
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse on high speed for 30 seconds. Blend for an additional 30 seconds until all ingredients are incorporated. Pour into a salt-rimmed margarita glass.
Drink responsibly. Don't drink and drive. MUST BE 21 TO PARTICIPATE.
Cheers!
Sow your oats
SINGLE GIRL THINGS TO DO BEFORE MARRIAGE
(Cosmopolitan)
Date a guy who's totally wrong for you just because he has amazing abs. So what if he's five years younger and your polar opposite? The joy of running your hands across his six-pack is a perfectly legitimate reason to go out with him.
Collect at least six country stamps on your passport, including one from a place that until recently you didn't even know existed. Yes, it's fun to travel with your man, but you also have to have some solo adventures under your belt before you start sharing your life with him 100 percent.
Embrace feminine decor. Don't go so far as to paint the walls pink -- that'll freak out any guy who sets foot in your place -- but stock up on stuff that appeals to your girlie side. When you're building a nest with him, you'll have to compromise on furniture and accessories, so pile on cute throw pillows while the decorating is all up to you (because here's a tip: Guys hate the things).Wear a hip, fabulous ring on your left hand. Once you have an engagement band, you won't want anything detracting attention from the ring.
Take advantage of the whole bed. You have the rest of your life to stick to "your" side when you sleep next to your man. Right now, place your pillow smack-dab in the center and make like a starfish.
Spend an embarrassing amount of money on a designer bag you love or heels that make you feel incredibly sexy. Chances are, when you have a joint account with your hubby, he's not going to get why a purse might be worth the GDP of a small country.
Learn how to change a tire and work a drill. It's easy to relegate all those "guy" tasks to your man (and you totally should enlist his help), but there's a sense of power that comes with being able to fix something yourself.
Slip one of those furry covers on the toilet. Once it's there, he'll have to accept it (and psst, they make it impossible for men to leave the seat up).
Throw blowout bashes. Sure, it's nice to have a mellow get-together with your girlfriends, but that shouldn't be the extent of your social life. Before settling down, let your wild side reign.
Get a grip on your dough. Sign up for a retirement plan and invest extra income in stocks or CD accounts. Take charge of your own cash flow before merging moola with your guy.
Have your dad take you out to dinner as often as possible. The reasons: It's great bonding time, and his open-wallet generosity will dry up once you're hitched. Face it: Your reception is the last meal that'll be his treat.
Want a cat? Buy it now. Call it Snowflake. Let it sleep next to you in bed. If you wait to get a pet with your betrothed, it will end up being a big, slobbering Lab called Bif.
If all you feel like eating for dinner is ice cream and diet soda, buy a cone and pop a Coke. When you and The Mister mangia together all the time, you'll be less likely to indulge those bizarre - but oh-so-satisfying - cravings.
Use tons of hot water in the a.m.
Take your celeb crush to the max. Plaster a poster of Ryan Gosling in your hallway, and set your computer wallpaper to a topless shot of him.
Plan your fantasy wedding. Now's the time to let your imagination roam - rip pictures of dresses from magazines, size up ceremony venues, and try on some rocks at the jewelry store. This stuff wigs guys out if they witness it, so get it out of your system now.
Start a pleasure ritual that a change in your relationship status can't disturb. Regularly treat yourself to something you love, whether it's a manicure, yoga classes at the fanciest studio in town, or a superrelaxing massage.
Set up your home in a way that fits your needs. Maybe keeping the coffee machine in the bathroom so you can get your caffeine boost while you put on makeup in the morning works for you. Until you have to deal with someone else weighing in on your unusual arrangement, customize.
(Cosmopolitan)
Date a guy who's totally wrong for you just because he has amazing abs. So what if he's five years younger and your polar opposite? The joy of running your hands across his six-pack is a perfectly legitimate reason to go out with him.
Collect at least six country stamps on your passport, including one from a place that until recently you didn't even know existed. Yes, it's fun to travel with your man, but you also have to have some solo adventures under your belt before you start sharing your life with him 100 percent.
Embrace feminine decor. Don't go so far as to paint the walls pink -- that'll freak out any guy who sets foot in your place -- but stock up on stuff that appeals to your girlie side. When you're building a nest with him, you'll have to compromise on furniture and accessories, so pile on cute throw pillows while the decorating is all up to you (because here's a tip: Guys hate the things).Wear a hip, fabulous ring on your left hand. Once you have an engagement band, you won't want anything detracting attention from the ring.
Take advantage of the whole bed. You have the rest of your life to stick to "your" side when you sleep next to your man. Right now, place your pillow smack-dab in the center and make like a starfish.
Spend an embarrassing amount of money on a designer bag you love or heels that make you feel incredibly sexy. Chances are, when you have a joint account with your hubby, he's not going to get why a purse might be worth the GDP of a small country.
Learn how to change a tire and work a drill. It's easy to relegate all those "guy" tasks to your man (and you totally should enlist his help), but there's a sense of power that comes with being able to fix something yourself.
Slip one of those furry covers on the toilet. Once it's there, he'll have to accept it (and psst, they make it impossible for men to leave the seat up).
Throw blowout bashes. Sure, it's nice to have a mellow get-together with your girlfriends, but that shouldn't be the extent of your social life. Before settling down, let your wild side reign.
Get a grip on your dough. Sign up for a retirement plan and invest extra income in stocks or CD accounts. Take charge of your own cash flow before merging moola with your guy.
Have your dad take you out to dinner as often as possible. The reasons: It's great bonding time, and his open-wallet generosity will dry up once you're hitched. Face it: Your reception is the last meal that'll be his treat.
Want a cat? Buy it now. Call it Snowflake. Let it sleep next to you in bed. If you wait to get a pet with your betrothed, it will end up being a big, slobbering Lab called Bif.
If all you feel like eating for dinner is ice cream and diet soda, buy a cone and pop a Coke. When you and The Mister mangia together all the time, you'll be less likely to indulge those bizarre - but oh-so-satisfying - cravings.
Use tons of hot water in the a.m.
Take your celeb crush to the max. Plaster a poster of Ryan Gosling in your hallway, and set your computer wallpaper to a topless shot of him.
Plan your fantasy wedding. Now's the time to let your imagination roam - rip pictures of dresses from magazines, size up ceremony venues, and try on some rocks at the jewelry store. This stuff wigs guys out if they witness it, so get it out of your system now.
Start a pleasure ritual that a change in your relationship status can't disturb. Regularly treat yourself to something you love, whether it's a manicure, yoga classes at the fanciest studio in town, or a superrelaxing massage.
Set up your home in a way that fits your needs. Maybe keeping the coffee machine in the bathroom so you can get your caffeine boost while you put on makeup in the morning works for you. Until you have to deal with someone else weighing in on your unusual arrangement, customize.
Amber Alert
State of Florida: Amber - An Amber Alert has been issued for 15 year old Morgan Amanda Leppert who was last seen on April 22nd in San Mateo, Fl near the Jacksonvillen area. Leppert is described as a white female with blonde hair, blue eyes, 114 pounds, and 5 feet 1 inches tall. She might be in the company of Toby Lowry, a 23 year old white male standing 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing 190 pounds with blonde hair and green eyes. They may be traveling in an aluminum silver 2003 Toyota Tacoma truck with a Florida Tag number of 193KLR.
Officials believe they may have fled the immediate area. Anyone with information is urged to call The Putnam County Sheriffs Dept at 1-386-329-0800 ot 1-888-FL MISSING.
Officials believe they may have fled the immediate area. Anyone with information is urged to call The Putnam County Sheriffs Dept at 1-386-329-0800 ot 1-888-FL MISSING.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Shoes that grow
Have a hard time keeping your growing child in shoes? Try shoes that grow with their feet.
They're called Inchworms!
They're called Inchworms!
Weekend fun for kids
The National Children's Theater Festival "Kids Fest" is this weekend.
The 2nd Annual All Kids included free arts festival on Watson Island. All Kids Included Community Festival Saturday, April 26, 2008
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Join us for a FREE exciting day devoted to kids of all abilities! The day will be filled with special performances, face painting, balloon artists, arts and crafts and more!
The Pompano Beach Seafood Festival is this weekend.
Casting call: MTV Teen Dreams Auditions.
Female singers 16 to 25 and their mothers to participate in the new reality series Dream Team on MTV. RSVP to teendreamcasting@gmail.com
9am to 4pm Sunday April 27th
Hard Rock Cafe-Biscayne
401 Biscayne Blvd. Downtown Miami
The 2nd Annual All Kids included free arts festival on Watson Island. All Kids Included Community Festival Saturday, April 26, 2008
10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Join us for a FREE exciting day devoted to kids of all abilities! The day will be filled with special performances, face painting, balloon artists, arts and crafts and more!
The Pompano Beach Seafood Festival is this weekend.
Casting call: MTV Teen Dreams Auditions.
Female singers 16 to 25 and their mothers to participate in the new reality series Dream Team on MTV. RSVP to teendreamcasting@gmail.com
9am to 4pm Sunday April 27th
Hard Rock Cafe-Biscayne
401 Biscayne Blvd. Downtown Miami
Yucky is cool
Kids like everything yucky. Boogers, ear wax, burps and gas. It makes them giggle. So why not combine yucky and science and see what happens. Learning! Here is the yuckiest site on the internet. Check it out with your kids.
A couple of yucky but eduational books you may want to pick up. Everyone Poops and The Gas we Pass.
A couple of yucky but eduational books you may want to pick up. Everyone Poops and The Gas we Pass.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Paris BFF
Do you wanna be Paris Hilton's BFF?
BFF wannabes may set up profiles, start blogs, and post photos and video at ParisBFF.com, explaining why they should be one of the twenty contestants who battles it out for P.H’s companionship. Fans will vote on which online contestant make it onto the show.
Click here.
BFF wannabes may set up profiles, start blogs, and post photos and video at ParisBFF.com, explaining why they should be one of the twenty contestants who battles it out for P.H’s companionship. Fans will vote on which online contestant make it onto the show.
Click here.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Take 'em to work
The national date for the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® program is Thursday, April 24th!
It's About Teamwork! Working together with employers, employees, parents, mentors, and educators is key to creating a successful day that strengthens the connection between education and work and relationships between parents and their children.
The Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Foundation, administrators of the program, is delighted to bring you another opportunity to create an enriching educational experience for our nation’s daughters and sons. For over 15 years, individuals, families and workplaces have joined in expanding opportunities and transforming the lives of millions of girls and boys both nationally and internationally.
Designed to be more than a career day, the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® program goes beyond the average “shadow” an adult. Exposing girls and boys to what a parent or mentor in their lives do during the work day is important, but showing them the value of their education, helping them discover the power and possibilities associated with a balanced work and family life, providing them an opportunity to share how they envision the future and begin steps toward their end goals in a hands-on and interactive environment is key to their achieving success. Each year, development of new interactive activities and partnerships will assist us in taking girls and boys to the future they dream of.
It's About Teamwork! Working together with employers, employees, parents, mentors, and educators is key to creating a successful day that strengthens the connection between education and work and relationships between parents and their children.
The Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work Foundation, administrators of the program, is delighted to bring you another opportunity to create an enriching educational experience for our nation’s daughters and sons. For over 15 years, individuals, families and workplaces have joined in expanding opportunities and transforming the lives of millions of girls and boys both nationally and internationally.
Designed to be more than a career day, the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work® program goes beyond the average “shadow” an adult. Exposing girls and boys to what a parent or mentor in their lives do during the work day is important, but showing them the value of their education, helping them discover the power and possibilities associated with a balanced work and family life, providing them an opportunity to share how they envision the future and begin steps toward their end goals in a hands-on and interactive environment is key to their achieving success. Each year, development of new interactive activities and partnerships will assist us in taking girls and boys to the future they dream of.
Say thanks
Administrative Professionals Week – April 20-26, 2008
Administrative Professionals Day – Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Fact Sheet: Administrative Professionals 2008
A Large and Growing Profession …
· 4.2 million administrative assistants and secretaries, along with 1.4 million supervisors of office and administrative support staff, were employed in the United States in 2006 (U.S. Dept. of Labor).
· 476,000 administrative professionals are employed in Canada, including 365,670 secretaries, 26,390 executive assistants and 84,140 clerical supervisors (Statistics Canada).
· 362,000 administrative assistant and secretarial positions will be added in the U.S. between 2006 and 2016, representing growth of 8.5%. More than 82,000 office supervisor positions will be added. (U.S. Dept. of Labor).
A Hub of Information and Communication in the Office
Typical duties of today’s administrative professionals:
Prepare documents, correspondence and presentations
Produce spreadsheet reports
Coordinate multiple schedules and calendars
Maintain computer files, directories and databases
Plan meetings and special events
Purchase office equipment and supplies and work with vendors
Participate on project teams
Interview, orient and supervise other staff
Conduct Internet research
Salaries Are Rising …
· $37,240 - Average 2006 annual earnings of U.S. executive secretaries and administrative assistants (U.S. Dept. of Labor).
· 3.2% - Expected average increase in starting salaries for administrative professionals in 2008 (OfficeTeam 2008 Salary Guide).
Administrative Professionals Week (April 20-26, 2008)
· Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day (Wednesday, April 23, 2008) call attention to the important workplace role of administrative professionals. The 2008 Administrative Professionals Week theme is “Forward Moving.”
· Observed since 1952, Administrative Professionals Week is originated and solely sponsored by the International Association of Administrative Professionals.
· IAAP recommends that employers observe Administrative Professionals Week by providing education and training to administrative staff through seminars, continuing education and self-study materials.
IAAP is the world’s leading association for administrative professionals,with 600 chapters and more than 40,000 members and affiliates worldwide
Administrative Professionals Day – Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Fact Sheet: Administrative Professionals 2008
A Large and Growing Profession …
· 4.2 million administrative assistants and secretaries, along with 1.4 million supervisors of office and administrative support staff, were employed in the United States in 2006 (U.S. Dept. of Labor).
· 476,000 administrative professionals are employed in Canada, including 365,670 secretaries, 26,390 executive assistants and 84,140 clerical supervisors (Statistics Canada).
· 362,000 administrative assistant and secretarial positions will be added in the U.S. between 2006 and 2016, representing growth of 8.5%. More than 82,000 office supervisor positions will be added. (U.S. Dept. of Labor).
A Hub of Information and Communication in the Office
Typical duties of today’s administrative professionals:
Prepare documents, correspondence and presentations
Produce spreadsheet reports
Coordinate multiple schedules and calendars
Maintain computer files, directories and databases
Plan meetings and special events
Purchase office equipment and supplies and work with vendors
Participate on project teams
Interview, orient and supervise other staff
Conduct Internet research
Salaries Are Rising …
· $37,240 - Average 2006 annual earnings of U.S. executive secretaries and administrative assistants (U.S. Dept. of Labor).
· 3.2% - Expected average increase in starting salaries for administrative professionals in 2008 (OfficeTeam 2008 Salary Guide).
Administrative Professionals Week (April 20-26, 2008)
· Administrative Professionals Week and Administrative Professionals Day (Wednesday, April 23, 2008) call attention to the important workplace role of administrative professionals. The 2008 Administrative Professionals Week theme is “Forward Moving.”
· Observed since 1952, Administrative Professionals Week is originated and solely sponsored by the International Association of Administrative Professionals.
· IAAP recommends that employers observe Administrative Professionals Week by providing education and training to administrative staff through seminars, continuing education and self-study materials.
IAAP is the world’s leading association for administrative professionals,with 600 chapters and more than 40,000 members and affiliates worldwide
Cell phone uses
10 things you didn't know your phone could do
By Kent German, Senior editor, CNET Reviews
Everyone knows you can make calls and send messages with your cell phone, but even the simplest handsets have a variety of uses. You don't need to download extra applications or purchase any accessories to use these features; rather, they exist on your phone from the moment you take it out of the box. While cell phone junkies should see nothing new here, other users may find new ways to use their cell phone that they didn't know before.
Flashlight: Drop your keys in the dark, or perhaps you need to read a map on a rural road? If your camera phone has a flash you should be able to use it as an emergency flashlight. If you can find a "steady" setting in the flash menu, your flash will remain on until you turn it off. If there is no such setting, and your phone has a camcorder option, try activating your flash while recording a video. The flash will remain active for the duration of the shoot, though keep in mind some camera phones cap recording time at just a few seconds.
Voice recorder: Many phones have this feature, but you might be surprised at just how useful it can be. Let's say your short term memory is down to a few seconds. With your voice recorder, also called an audio recorder on some handsets, you can record short notes to yourself and play them back later. It can be a great way to remember an address or a few random facts, or to record a shopping list. What's more, some recorders allow you to save your important notes for posterity.
Camera and notes: Most people know that camera phones can be useful for car accidents or fighting parking tickets, but they also can be great for shopping as well. Say you're shopping for a new gadget and you want to take home a full list of the specs for the models you're considering. Instead of using a pen and paper, you can take a picture of the product's placard and then refer to it later. This method is also useful for remembering rambling or unintuitive product names.
Google search: If you're on a trip in an unfamiliar city and you have a burrito craving, your cell phone can be a much better tool than the Yellow Pages. Google offers a free service that delivers a variety of information through text message. By texting simple queries to 466453 (or "Google" on most devices), you can find the closest Mexican restaurant in addition to things like the current weather forecast or movie show times at local theaters. Texting the name of a restaurant will give you the address and phone number, which you can then call for information or reservations.
Send a voice message: There may be times where you want to send your friend a message that's too long to send by text. Or maybe it's after 11 p.m. and you don't want to disturb him with a phone call. Some phones allow you to send voice mails directly to another phone's voice mail without actually placing a phone call.
Bluetooth file transfers: Everyone knows about Bluetooth headsets, but Bluetooth has a long list of other uses. Previously some manufacturers and carriers restricted how Bluetooth was used on their phones, but most of those limitations no longer exist. Using Bluetooth, you can transfer photos and other files off your camera phone to another Bluetooth device. The process is exceedingly easy, and it's free since you won't have to use your carrier's messaging service.
Record calls: Some handsets allow you to record your conversations. This feature may be buried under an obscure menu, and it may record only for a limited time, but it works much better than trying to use any kind of external recording device. But before you start taking cues from Linda Tripp, it's important to remember that some states require you to notify the person that you're recording the conversation.
Organizer features: Every cell phone on the market has at least a couple of organizer features. The alarm clock is one of the most useful offerings, particularly when you're traveling, and most of the time your phone does not need to be on for the alarm to sound. Other features can include a calendar, a calculator, a notepad, a world clock, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, and applications for converting currencies or units of measurement. But the best feature of all has to be the convenient tip calculator. You can punch in the total bill amount, calculate the tip, and divide the total cost by the number of people down to the last penny. Though it's not available in every cell phone, it can save a lot of drama at group dinners.
POP3 e-mail: If your phone has a Web browser, and the vast majority do, you can access POP3 e-mail accounts like Yahoo or Hotmail. The interface will be different than on a PC, and graphics may not render properly, but if you need to read an important e-mail while on the go, this is the way to do it. After opening your browser, just type in the correct link then enter your login and password as normal.
Ringtone composer: Many phones, particularly Sony Ericsson and Motorola models, allow you to compose your own ringtones. Not only does this allow you to add an extreme level of personalization to your phone, but you can avoid buying new ringtones from your carrier. You don't need to be musically gifted, but it can help.
By Kent German, Senior editor, CNET Reviews
Everyone knows you can make calls and send messages with your cell phone, but even the simplest handsets have a variety of uses. You don't need to download extra applications or purchase any accessories to use these features; rather, they exist on your phone from the moment you take it out of the box. While cell phone junkies should see nothing new here, other users may find new ways to use their cell phone that they didn't know before.
Flashlight: Drop your keys in the dark, or perhaps you need to read a map on a rural road? If your camera phone has a flash you should be able to use it as an emergency flashlight. If you can find a "steady" setting in the flash menu, your flash will remain on until you turn it off. If there is no such setting, and your phone has a camcorder option, try activating your flash while recording a video. The flash will remain active for the duration of the shoot, though keep in mind some camera phones cap recording time at just a few seconds.
Voice recorder: Many phones have this feature, but you might be surprised at just how useful it can be. Let's say your short term memory is down to a few seconds. With your voice recorder, also called an audio recorder on some handsets, you can record short notes to yourself and play them back later. It can be a great way to remember an address or a few random facts, or to record a shopping list. What's more, some recorders allow you to save your important notes for posterity.
Camera and notes: Most people know that camera phones can be useful for car accidents or fighting parking tickets, but they also can be great for shopping as well. Say you're shopping for a new gadget and you want to take home a full list of the specs for the models you're considering. Instead of using a pen and paper, you can take a picture of the product's placard and then refer to it later. This method is also useful for remembering rambling or unintuitive product names.
Google search: If you're on a trip in an unfamiliar city and you have a burrito craving, your cell phone can be a much better tool than the Yellow Pages. Google offers a free service that delivers a variety of information through text message. By texting simple queries to 466453 (or "Google" on most devices), you can find the closest Mexican restaurant in addition to things like the current weather forecast or movie show times at local theaters. Texting the name of a restaurant will give you the address and phone number, which you can then call for information or reservations.
Send a voice message: There may be times where you want to send your friend a message that's too long to send by text. Or maybe it's after 11 p.m. and you don't want to disturb him with a phone call. Some phones allow you to send voice mails directly to another phone's voice mail without actually placing a phone call.
Bluetooth file transfers: Everyone knows about Bluetooth headsets, but Bluetooth has a long list of other uses. Previously some manufacturers and carriers restricted how Bluetooth was used on their phones, but most of those limitations no longer exist. Using Bluetooth, you can transfer photos and other files off your camera phone to another Bluetooth device. The process is exceedingly easy, and it's free since you won't have to use your carrier's messaging service.
Record calls: Some handsets allow you to record your conversations. This feature may be buried under an obscure menu, and it may record only for a limited time, but it works much better than trying to use any kind of external recording device. But before you start taking cues from Linda Tripp, it's important to remember that some states require you to notify the person that you're recording the conversation.
Organizer features: Every cell phone on the market has at least a couple of organizer features. The alarm clock is one of the most useful offerings, particularly when you're traveling, and most of the time your phone does not need to be on for the alarm to sound. Other features can include a calendar, a calculator, a notepad, a world clock, a stopwatch, a countdown timer, and applications for converting currencies or units of measurement. But the best feature of all has to be the convenient tip calculator. You can punch in the total bill amount, calculate the tip, and divide the total cost by the number of people down to the last penny. Though it's not available in every cell phone, it can save a lot of drama at group dinners.
POP3 e-mail: If your phone has a Web browser, and the vast majority do, you can access POP3 e-mail accounts like Yahoo or Hotmail. The interface will be different than on a PC, and graphics may not render properly, but if you need to read an important e-mail while on the go, this is the way to do it. After opening your browser, just type in the correct link then enter your login and password as normal.
Ringtone composer: Many phones, particularly Sony Ericsson and Motorola models, allow you to compose your own ringtones. Not only does this allow you to add an extreme level of personalization to your phone, but you can avoid buying new ringtones from your carrier. You don't need to be musically gifted, but it can help.
Cell phone = trees
Your Used Cell Phone = One Newly Planted Tree
iRecyclePhones.com, in union with American Forest, will plant one tree for each cell phone that’s donated.
The company’s President, Lonnie Jones, saw an opportunity to make a difference – after all, over 100 million phones are discarded each year, causing severe damage to ecosystems worldwide.
How Can You Donate Your Phone Today and Add a New Tree to Our Planet? Click here.
iRecyclePhones.com, in union with American Forest, will plant one tree for each cell phone that’s donated.
The company’s President, Lonnie Jones, saw an opportunity to make a difference – after all, over 100 million phones are discarded each year, causing severe damage to ecosystems worldwide.
How Can You Donate Your Phone Today and Add a New Tree to Our Planet? Click here.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Celebrate earth day
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens, 10901 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables.
The gardens will open its doors for free on Earth Day (April 22), and offer earth-friendly products at a 10% discount. This will be a good day to tour the grounds, have a family picnic, admire the monumental sculptures of Fernando Botero, Roy Lichtenstein and Dale Chihuly, or simply sit on a bench and read your favorite book while overlooking 83 acres of lush tropical paradise.
*****************************
Mr. Electricity will be on hand at the Museum of Discovery and Science this weekend for Earth Day activities, including an energy show sponsored by FP&L. Robert Krampf will have presentations on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. , 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
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Lion Country Safari, 2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee
The safari will host a "Party for the Planet" this weekend through craft projects, tours of the grounds and animals and a contest for the best artwork. Events will take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lion Country Safari's "Party for the Planet" is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquarium's "Conservation Made Simple" public education campaign that encourages families to learn about and conserve the planet.
The park is open daily from 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The last car is admitted an hour before closing. Admission is $22.99 for adults and children older than 10; $20.99 for adults older than 65; and $17.49 for children ages 3-9.
The gardens will open its doors for free on Earth Day (April 22), and offer earth-friendly products at a 10% discount. This will be a good day to tour the grounds, have a family picnic, admire the monumental sculptures of Fernando Botero, Roy Lichtenstein and Dale Chihuly, or simply sit on a bench and read your favorite book while overlooking 83 acres of lush tropical paradise.
*****************************
Mr. Electricity will be on hand at the Museum of Discovery and Science this weekend for Earth Day activities, including an energy show sponsored by FP&L. Robert Krampf will have presentations on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. , 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
*****************************
Lion Country Safari, 2003 Lion Country Safari Road, Loxahatchee
The safari will host a "Party for the Planet" this weekend through craft projects, tours of the grounds and animals and a contest for the best artwork. Events will take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lion Country Safari's "Party for the Planet" is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquarium's "Conservation Made Simple" public education campaign that encourages families to learn about and conserve the planet.
The park is open daily from 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. The last car is admitted an hour before closing. Admission is $22.99 for adults and children older than 10; $20.99 for adults older than 65; and $17.49 for children ages 3-9.
Green house
Put sunscreen on your home!
Damage from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet is the primary cause of fading to your furnishings. To shield your valuables, Llumar Window Film® Residential Films reject almost 100 percent of damaging ultraviolet and up to 82% of total solar energy ¾ protecting your valuable furnishings, flooring and decor. Air-conditioning costs are minimized making it easier for your home to keep its cool.
Find out more.
Damage from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet is the primary cause of fading to your furnishings. To shield your valuables, Llumar Window Film® Residential Films reject almost 100 percent of damaging ultraviolet and up to 82% of total solar energy ¾ protecting your valuable furnishings, flooring and decor. Air-conditioning costs are minimized making it easier for your home to keep its cool.
Find out more.
Green Joe
How to green your coffee or tea.
Coffee is the world’s most commonly traded commodity after crude oil, and tea is the world’s most consumed beverage after water. So if tea and coffee are up there with oil and water on the world stage, we know there must be a lot at stake here. One thing that’s definitely at stake is our desire to get a delicious, healthy, perky, fairly-traded, and eco-friendly brew to sip. Here’s a quick spin through some of the finer points of green coffee and tea connoisseurship.
Top 10 Tips
Here are 10 highly effective ways to go greener. Hit it.
1. The local brew
Seek out the coffee and tea that have traveled the least distance to reach you and also aim at supporting local, independent farms, cafés, and roasters.
2. Mug shots
Go ahead, find that perfect mug and make the investment. Not only is a reusable mug more pleasurable to sip out of than a paper cup, but it will replace an untold number of disposable cups, plastic sippy tops, “java jackets,” and other disposable paraphernalia. If you've got a thing for paper cups and Greek art, try a more durable "We Are Happy to Serve You," the handy-work of TreeHugger founder Graham Hill. Make a quick tally of how many disposable coffee or tea cups you use in a month…yeah, it’s probably a lot.
3. Organic
Coffee and tea that bear organic certification are more eco-friendly because they are grown and processed without toxic chemicals, are cultivated and harvested in ways that protect sensitive ecosystems, and spare workers from exposure to harmful pesticides and herbicides. Shade grown coffee is another important category that preserves habitats for migratory birds on coffee farms, also letting beans mature more slowly and creating richer flavors.
4. Fair Trade
Not only does certified fair trade coffee and tea help ensure living wages and safe working conditions for farmers, but TransFair and Rainforest Alliance both include rigorous environmental standards in their certification criteria.
5. Home brew
The local café is great. It’s got your friends, good food, free wireless. But if you think you can be greener in your own kitchen, give it a try. When you do it at home you know where the beans and leaves are coming from and also where they go when they’re spent. Plus, you can’t forget your mug, you can choose organic milk, and never toss out another paper sugar packet. Try a bit of quick math on the cost savings of making your morning cup-o-joe at home.
6. Loosen up
Tea bags and coffee filters can be useful but are mostly unnecessary. Great coffee can be made at home with a reusable filter or a stovetop espresso maker. A quality tea infuser can last a lifetime and replace an untold number of (questionably compostable) tea bags. If you do use filters and bags, look for biodegradable and unbleached ones.
7. Milk and sugar
Most people put one thing or another in their hot beverage of choice. Don’t foul up your organic, fair trade, bird friendly, solar roasted brew with chemical and hormone-laden milk and sugar from a little paper packet. If you don’t do the cow thing, look for organic rice, soy, or almond milk to yin up your yang. In the U.S., TransFair also certifies sugar, so even your sugar can be fair trade. (Maple syrup in coffee is another well-kept secret.)
8. "Press" the issue
If the local coffee shop you love doesn’t carry coffee and tea that meet your standards, start asking politely. Starbucks has a universal policy under which they will brew a French press of fair trade coffee for anyone who asks. Take the Starbucks Challenge and see if your barista knows what Starbucks has committed to.
9. Compost the roast
Tea leaves and especially coffee grounds make outstanding compost. Coffee’s high nitrogen content has made it a fertilizer of choice since days of yore. Composting leaves and grounds helps keep organic waste out of landfills, makes great soil, and keeps waste baskets dry. If you don’t have a heap to toss it on, just spread coffee grounds on the top of your plants’ soil.
10. Gift the good stuff
Organic coffee and tea make superb gifts for friends and coworkers, as well as effective peace offerings for estranged family members and ex-lovers. It’s also a great way to get people appreciating the many benefits of a “greener” coffee or tea habit.
Coffee is the world’s most commonly traded commodity after crude oil, and tea is the world’s most consumed beverage after water. So if tea and coffee are up there with oil and water on the world stage, we know there must be a lot at stake here. One thing that’s definitely at stake is our desire to get a delicious, healthy, perky, fairly-traded, and eco-friendly brew to sip. Here’s a quick spin through some of the finer points of green coffee and tea connoisseurship.
Top 10 Tips
Here are 10 highly effective ways to go greener. Hit it.
1. The local brew
Seek out the coffee and tea that have traveled the least distance to reach you and also aim at supporting local, independent farms, cafés, and roasters.
2. Mug shots
Go ahead, find that perfect mug and make the investment. Not only is a reusable mug more pleasurable to sip out of than a paper cup, but it will replace an untold number of disposable cups, plastic sippy tops, “java jackets,” and other disposable paraphernalia. If you've got a thing for paper cups and Greek art, try a more durable "We Are Happy to Serve You," the handy-work of TreeHugger founder Graham Hill. Make a quick tally of how many disposable coffee or tea cups you use in a month…yeah, it’s probably a lot.
3. Organic
Coffee and tea that bear organic certification are more eco-friendly because they are grown and processed without toxic chemicals, are cultivated and harvested in ways that protect sensitive ecosystems, and spare workers from exposure to harmful pesticides and herbicides. Shade grown coffee is another important category that preserves habitats for migratory birds on coffee farms, also letting beans mature more slowly and creating richer flavors.
4. Fair Trade
Not only does certified fair trade coffee and tea help ensure living wages and safe working conditions for farmers, but TransFair and Rainforest Alliance both include rigorous environmental standards in their certification criteria.
5. Home brew
The local café is great. It’s got your friends, good food, free wireless. But if you think you can be greener in your own kitchen, give it a try. When you do it at home you know where the beans and leaves are coming from and also where they go when they’re spent. Plus, you can’t forget your mug, you can choose organic milk, and never toss out another paper sugar packet. Try a bit of quick math on the cost savings of making your morning cup-o-joe at home.
6. Loosen up
Tea bags and coffee filters can be useful but are mostly unnecessary. Great coffee can be made at home with a reusable filter or a stovetop espresso maker. A quality tea infuser can last a lifetime and replace an untold number of (questionably compostable) tea bags. If you do use filters and bags, look for biodegradable and unbleached ones.
7. Milk and sugar
Most people put one thing or another in their hot beverage of choice. Don’t foul up your organic, fair trade, bird friendly, solar roasted brew with chemical and hormone-laden milk and sugar from a little paper packet. If you don’t do the cow thing, look for organic rice, soy, or almond milk to yin up your yang. In the U.S., TransFair also certifies sugar, so even your sugar can be fair trade. (Maple syrup in coffee is another well-kept secret.)
8. "Press" the issue
If the local coffee shop you love doesn’t carry coffee and tea that meet your standards, start asking politely. Starbucks has a universal policy under which they will brew a French press of fair trade coffee for anyone who asks. Take the Starbucks Challenge and see if your barista knows what Starbucks has committed to.
9. Compost the roast
Tea leaves and especially coffee grounds make outstanding compost. Coffee’s high nitrogen content has made it a fertilizer of choice since days of yore. Composting leaves and grounds helps keep organic waste out of landfills, makes great soil, and keeps waste baskets dry. If you don’t have a heap to toss it on, just spread coffee grounds on the top of your plants’ soil.
10. Gift the good stuff
Organic coffee and tea make superb gifts for friends and coworkers, as well as effective peace offerings for estranged family members and ex-lovers. It’s also a great way to get people appreciating the many benefits of a “greener” coffee or tea habit.
Wear green
Wearing green today takes on a whole new meaning. Many stylish items are becoming truly green as more Earth-friendly fabrics, made from fibers grown without chemicals, go mainstream. The lineup includes organic cotton, silk, soy, linen, wool, hemp and even bamboo.
Learn more about wearing earth friendly clothes.
What will you do to help the environment?
Learn more about wearing earth friendly clothes.
What will you do to help the environment?
Monday, April 21, 2008
Atta boy
What's the nicest way you've been recognized for a job well done?
A paid day off
A trip to a spa
A bonus check
A nice note
Bragged about you in front of your co-workers
A party
A voicemail
A paid day off
A trip to a spa
A bonus check
A nice note
Bragged about you in front of your co-workers
A party
A voicemail
Save gas
Fast Facts: Tips To Save Gas
(CBS4)
With the price of gasoline on the rise, many people are wondering how much gas can you really save by keeping your tires inflated or turning off your air conditioner? Or how about driving less aggressively or using your cruise control?
Here are some of the top tips to stretch your dollar at the pumps.
1.Avoid prolonged warming up of engine
2. Don't start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the gas amount equivalent to when you start the engine.
3. Avoid "reving" the engine, especially just before you switch the engine off. It wastes fuel and wears out cylinders.
4. Stop jack-rabbit starts. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop instead of stomping on the gas. Also, don't slam on the breaks at every stop.
5. Don't speed. Cars get about 21% more mileage at 55 mph then at 70 mph.
6. Traveling at fast rates in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed.
7. Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.
8. Drive steadily. Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel, which is why using cruise control can actually save you money.
9.. Automatic transmissions should be allowed to cool down when your car is idling at a standstill, e.g. railroad crossings, long traffic lights, etc. Place gear into neutral position. This reduces transmission strain and allows transmission to cool.
10. Park car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear; avoid reverse gear maneuvers to save gas.
11. Regular tune-ups ensure best economy.
12. Use the lowest octane gas that won't make your engine knock.
13. Inflate all tires to maximum limit.
14. Remove vinyl tops - they cause air drag. Rough surfaces disturb otherwise smooth air flow around a car's body. Bear in mind when buying new cars that a fancy sun roof helps disturb smooth air flow (and mileage).
15. Remove excess weight from trunk or inside of car.
16. Car pools reduce travel monotony and gas expense - all riders chip in to help you buy.
17. Use only your right foot for accelerating and braking. That way you can't accidentally ride the brake and use excessive gas.
18. Shift into high gear as soon as possible. If you have automatic transmission, lift your foot from the accelerator about one second early.
19. Make certain your gas cap fits properly.
20. Use air conditioning only when necessary. Try opening the window.
(CBS4)
With the price of gasoline on the rise, many people are wondering how much gas can you really save by keeping your tires inflated or turning off your air conditioner? Or how about driving less aggressively or using your cruise control?
Here are some of the top tips to stretch your dollar at the pumps.
1.Avoid prolonged warming up of engine
2. Don't start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the gas amount equivalent to when you start the engine.
3. Avoid "reving" the engine, especially just before you switch the engine off. It wastes fuel and wears out cylinders.
4. Stop jack-rabbit starts. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop instead of stomping on the gas. Also, don't slam on the breaks at every stop.
5. Don't speed. Cars get about 21% more mileage at 55 mph then at 70 mph.
6. Traveling at fast rates in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed.
7. Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.
8. Drive steadily. Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel, which is why using cruise control can actually save you money.
9.. Automatic transmissions should be allowed to cool down when your car is idling at a standstill, e.g. railroad crossings, long traffic lights, etc. Place gear into neutral position. This reduces transmission strain and allows transmission to cool.
10. Park car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear; avoid reverse gear maneuvers to save gas.
11. Regular tune-ups ensure best economy.
12. Use the lowest octane gas that won't make your engine knock.
13. Inflate all tires to maximum limit.
14. Remove vinyl tops - they cause air drag. Rough surfaces disturb otherwise smooth air flow around a car's body. Bear in mind when buying new cars that a fancy sun roof helps disturb smooth air flow (and mileage).
15. Remove excess weight from trunk or inside of car.
16. Car pools reduce travel monotony and gas expense - all riders chip in to help you buy.
17. Use only your right foot for accelerating and braking. That way you can't accidentally ride the brake and use excessive gas.
18. Shift into high gear as soon as possible. If you have automatic transmission, lift your foot from the accelerator about one second early.
19. Make certain your gas cap fits properly.
20. Use air conditioning only when necessary. Try opening the window.
Thank them
Get ready to recognize your associates during
Administrative Professionals' Week!
Administrative professionals are an integral part of your team, so show them how much you appreciate them! Administrative Professionals' Week is April 20-26 and it’s the perfect time to recognize the hard work, dedication and talents of the many administrative professionals that we employ on client assignments!
If your branch has an associate in an administrative position, here are a few ways you can thank them for their efforts:
• Click here for a Certificate of Appreciation that you can personalize, print and present to your associates.
• Send them our new eCard – it's available on Marketing On Demand and has a customizable field to personalize your message.
• Bagel/donut breakfast – Connect with your client contact and get their OK to arrange a special admin breakfast (or luncheon)at the job site. (NOTE: please make sure your VP approves your proposed spend.)
• Give them a call to simply say “thank you!” for their hard work and commitment to Adecco.
• Let your clients know, too! We have also created new emails to remind your clients to show their appreciation for their administrative professionals – get them today on Marketing On Demand!
Be sure to take this opportunity to thank those who take care of your clients!
Administrative Professionals' Week!
Administrative professionals are an integral part of your team, so show them how much you appreciate them! Administrative Professionals' Week is April 20-26 and it’s the perfect time to recognize the hard work, dedication and talents of the many administrative professionals that we employ on client assignments!
If your branch has an associate in an administrative position, here are a few ways you can thank them for their efforts:
• Click here for a Certificate of Appreciation that you can personalize, print and present to your associates.
• Send them our new eCard – it's available on Marketing On Demand and has a customizable field to personalize your message.
• Bagel/donut breakfast – Connect with your client contact and get their OK to arrange a special admin breakfast (or luncheon)at the job site. (NOTE: please make sure your VP approves your proposed spend.)
• Give them a call to simply say “thank you!” for their hard work and commitment to Adecco.
• Let your clients know, too! We have also created new emails to remind your clients to show their appreciation for their administrative professionals – get them today on Marketing On Demand!
Be sure to take this opportunity to thank those who take care of your clients!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Give you a boost
Even the most outwardly confident person has moments of self-doubt when they don’t feel at their best – but for some people the feeling of low confidence can be an almost permanent one.
Confidence is affected by many factors – including our own feelings of self-worth or perceived degree of success. If you’re lacking in these areas then you should check out the following top ways to boost your confidence – which will have you feeling able to tackle any given situation!
Get a new image
It doesn’t matter whether you are male or female – what you look like will always affect your confidence. Your everyday appearance – including what clothes you’re wearing, how your hair looks and what make-up you’re wearing – will make a massive difference to how you feel. All of us know how much our confidence can be knocked when having a bad hair day, or by having unsightly spots appear overnight smack bang in the middle of our faces!
It’s well worth investing in your appearance with new clothes or a new hairstyle, as this will really boost your confidence. Wear some colors that cheer you up and make you feel good about yourself, or go for a smarter option if you think this will make you feel more confident.
Get a new job
It might be your job that is causing you to lack confidence. If you’re in a place where you’re constantly undermined or lacking a challenge, then your confidence is hardly going to be sky high. If that’s the case, then it’s probably time to move on and find a more challenging role.
Look for that job out there that you really want, and then apply for it – rather than constantly thinking about going for it and then doing nothing. If you get the job then you’ll feel extremely uplifted and much more confident. Admittedly, there is always a risk that your level of confidence will go down if you don’t get the job, but don’t let that bother you; instead, be proud of the fact that you tried – and then try again.
List your good points
Write out a list of all the things that you are good at, to act as reminder to yourself that you are least good at some things! Then, when you’re feeling that your confidence is on the wane, take the list out, read it, and add something new to it. If you’re struggling to think of things to add to your list, then it’s possible you’re missing the obvious or being too harsh on yourself.
It’s also worth remembering some of the things you have achieved so far in your life. They don’t have to be earth-shattering achievements, but could still be something to be proud of – such as passing your driving test, raising a family, getting fit, or successfully saving up for a vacation.
Work on your small talk
Some people really struggle in social situations such as parties because they feel they lack the confidence to engage in small talk with people they do not know. They constantly avoid these situations and therefore their confidence does not improve – and nor does their circle of friends.
Our advice is: if you get invited somewhere, make sure you go! The more social situations you get in, the more comfortable you’ll feel making small talk to people you’ve only just met. Remember: most people probably feel the same way, and will probably be so relieved when you break the ice that they’ll open up and talk to you in kind.
Mix with positive people
Being around positive people will rub off on you and will get you in a positive frame of mind – as well as brimming with confidence! If you’re surrounded by happy, smiling faces and laughter, then isn’t that going to be infectious?
Being positive is all in the mind – so you have to make yourself think positively. But if there are positive people around giving you advice, building you up, and pushing you in the right direction, then thinking positively will come more easily and your confidence will naturally increase as a result. So, if you are aware that the people you mix with tend to bring you down a lot, then do something about it by getting some new friends.
Get fit and eat healthily
Your body shape and weight can have a major impact on your confidence levels – although we’re not saying that everyone who is overweight, underweight or needs to tone up is always lacking in confidence, of course. But getting more exercise and following a healthier diet will boost your sense of well-being – and this in turn will have a positive effect on your confidence.
Getting fitter and eating more healthily will definitely make a difference to your confidence levels – no matter how much or little you improve. Remember the saying ‘healthy body, healthy mind’? Well, it’s true!
Be assertive
Assertiveness breeds confidence in yourself and gains the confidence of others around you. If you take control of a situation, you will gain confidence from that, and any positive feedback you get from others will surely help with your levels of confidence too.
Being assertive doesn’t have to mean being rude or bossy. You could start by making yourself stand tall so that people take notice of you and your oozing confidence. Then decide that each day it’s going to be you that makes everyday decisions at home and in the workplace, rather than waiting to be told what to do or being passive.
Confidence is affected by many factors – including our own feelings of self-worth or perceived degree of success. If you’re lacking in these areas then you should check out the following top ways to boost your confidence – which will have you feeling able to tackle any given situation!
Get a new image
It doesn’t matter whether you are male or female – what you look like will always affect your confidence. Your everyday appearance – including what clothes you’re wearing, how your hair looks and what make-up you’re wearing – will make a massive difference to how you feel. All of us know how much our confidence can be knocked when having a bad hair day, or by having unsightly spots appear overnight smack bang in the middle of our faces!
It’s well worth investing in your appearance with new clothes or a new hairstyle, as this will really boost your confidence. Wear some colors that cheer you up and make you feel good about yourself, or go for a smarter option if you think this will make you feel more confident.
Get a new job
It might be your job that is causing you to lack confidence. If you’re in a place where you’re constantly undermined or lacking a challenge, then your confidence is hardly going to be sky high. If that’s the case, then it’s probably time to move on and find a more challenging role.
Look for that job out there that you really want, and then apply for it – rather than constantly thinking about going for it and then doing nothing. If you get the job then you’ll feel extremely uplifted and much more confident. Admittedly, there is always a risk that your level of confidence will go down if you don’t get the job, but don’t let that bother you; instead, be proud of the fact that you tried – and then try again.
List your good points
Write out a list of all the things that you are good at, to act as reminder to yourself that you are least good at some things! Then, when you’re feeling that your confidence is on the wane, take the list out, read it, and add something new to it. If you’re struggling to think of things to add to your list, then it’s possible you’re missing the obvious or being too harsh on yourself.
It’s also worth remembering some of the things you have achieved so far in your life. They don’t have to be earth-shattering achievements, but could still be something to be proud of – such as passing your driving test, raising a family, getting fit, or successfully saving up for a vacation.
Work on your small talk
Some people really struggle in social situations such as parties because they feel they lack the confidence to engage in small talk with people they do not know. They constantly avoid these situations and therefore their confidence does not improve – and nor does their circle of friends.
Our advice is: if you get invited somewhere, make sure you go! The more social situations you get in, the more comfortable you’ll feel making small talk to people you’ve only just met. Remember: most people probably feel the same way, and will probably be so relieved when you break the ice that they’ll open up and talk to you in kind.
Mix with positive people
Being around positive people will rub off on you and will get you in a positive frame of mind – as well as brimming with confidence! If you’re surrounded by happy, smiling faces and laughter, then isn’t that going to be infectious?
Being positive is all in the mind – so you have to make yourself think positively. But if there are positive people around giving you advice, building you up, and pushing you in the right direction, then thinking positively will come more easily and your confidence will naturally increase as a result. So, if you are aware that the people you mix with tend to bring you down a lot, then do something about it by getting some new friends.
Get fit and eat healthily
Your body shape and weight can have a major impact on your confidence levels – although we’re not saying that everyone who is overweight, underweight or needs to tone up is always lacking in confidence, of course. But getting more exercise and following a healthier diet will boost your sense of well-being – and this in turn will have a positive effect on your confidence.
Getting fitter and eating more healthily will definitely make a difference to your confidence levels – no matter how much or little you improve. Remember the saying ‘healthy body, healthy mind’? Well, it’s true!
Be assertive
Assertiveness breeds confidence in yourself and gains the confidence of others around you. If you take control of a situation, you will gain confidence from that, and any positive feedback you get from others will surely help with your levels of confidence too.
Being assertive doesn’t have to mean being rude or bossy. You could start by making yourself stand tall so that people take notice of you and your oozing confidence. Then decide that each day it’s going to be you that makes everyday decisions at home and in the workplace, rather than waiting to be told what to do or being passive.
Half full or half empty
How you respond to life's ups and downs can say a great deal about your personality. Is every setback just further proof that the world is out to get you? Can you roll with the punches, or do you punch back? Find out whether you may be too negative — or trying too hard to stay positive, no matter what — with this quiz.
I took the quiz and it told me my glass is Half-full!
Here is what else it said:
You try to look on the bright side, and optimism is a skill you've cultivated to help you weather life's rough spots. All the same, you know it's okay to admit when you're angry or hurt. You're neither blindly positive, nor prone to dwell on slights and injuries, and your generally positive outlook helps prepare you to take risks without being held back by bitterness or a fear of failure. Believe it or not, some scientists have theorized that there is an evolutionary advantage to optimism: Human beings may be programmed to view the world as just slightly better than it actually is, in order to recognize clearly any real threats to our well-being and handle them appropriately. Your ability to rise above negative thinking while remaining realistic about temporary setbacks is a great strength.
I took the quiz and it told me my glass is Half-full!
Here is what else it said:
You try to look on the bright side, and optimism is a skill you've cultivated to help you weather life's rough spots. All the same, you know it's okay to admit when you're angry or hurt. You're neither blindly positive, nor prone to dwell on slights and injuries, and your generally positive outlook helps prepare you to take risks without being held back by bitterness or a fear of failure. Believe it or not, some scientists have theorized that there is an evolutionary advantage to optimism: Human beings may be programmed to view the world as just slightly better than it actually is, in order to recognize clearly any real threats to our well-being and handle them appropriately. Your ability to rise above negative thinking while remaining realistic about temporary setbacks is a great strength.
Bat chat
How much do you know about Egyptian fruit bats?
Find out about the bats and more as the Museum of Discovery & Science celebrates Earth Day on Saturday and Sunday. This hands-on, family event has lots of interactive demonstrations, games and animal encounters.
Among the events: Robert Krampf presents FPL's Energy Whys & Lighting Shows at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Join the ''Bat Chat'' at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. both days. And check out the solar-powered race car developed by South Plantation High School students from noon-4 p.m. Saturday. There's also a lineup of IMAX nature films.
The museum, at 401 SW Second St. in Fort Lauderdale, is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Earth Day activities are included in exhibit admission, which is $10, $8 for children (ages 2-12), $9 seniors. A general admission ticket includes exhibits plus one, 45-minute IMAX film; it's $15, $12 children, $14 seniors. For more information, call 954-467-6637 or visit www.mods.org.
Find out about the bats and more as the Museum of Discovery & Science celebrates Earth Day on Saturday and Sunday. This hands-on, family event has lots of interactive demonstrations, games and animal encounters.
Among the events: Robert Krampf presents FPL's Energy Whys & Lighting Shows at 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Join the ''Bat Chat'' at 12:30 and 4:30 p.m. both days. And check out the solar-powered race car developed by South Plantation High School students from noon-4 p.m. Saturday. There's also a lineup of IMAX nature films.
The museum, at 401 SW Second St. in Fort Lauderdale, is open from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday. Earth Day activities are included in exhibit admission, which is $10, $8 for children (ages 2-12), $9 seniors. A general admission ticket includes exhibits plus one, 45-minute IMAX film; it's $15, $12 children, $14 seniors. For more information, call 954-467-6637 or visit www.mods.org.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Make chores fun
Make Chores More Fun
(Ann Matturro Gault)
Chores and fun in the same breath? You bet. Here, 9 ideas for getting kids to beat you at the cleaning game.
1. Hide treats, stickers, or pennies in, on, or under knickknacks, then ask your child to dust. She gets to enjoy the rewards only when everything is dusted.
2. Post individual lists of chores kids can do (one for each child in your family). Whenever your child accomplishes a task, have her mark it with a sticker. Whoever has the most stickers at the end of the week gets the Helper of the Week award.
3. Play "Go Fish" with a basket of clean socks. Divide the socks among the players, leaving a pile to draw from. Each player, in turn, holds up a sock and asks another player if he has the mate. If not, the asking player must take a sock from the top of the draw pile. When finished, the player with the most pairs wins.
4. Turn any socks that stay single into child-friendly dust mitts. Insert child's hand into clean but dampened sock and use it to remove dust from houseplants and furniture.
5. Have a scavenger hunt. Make a list of everyday items (newspapers, magazine, shoes, etc.). Set a timer for 5 minutes, then have kids collect stray items throughout the house. The winner is the child who picks up the most (and returns them to their rightful spots).
6. After dinner, do a "10-Minute Tidy." Set a timer and have family members scatter through the house putting away the day's clutter.
7. Appoint someone to be Inspector D. Clutter. Armed with a laundry basket and plastic police badge from the dress-up box, this person roams the house and puts stray belongings into clutter "jail" (the basket). To set an item free, its owner (Mom and Dad included!) must do a chore.
8. Turn a bucket into a personalized cleaning caddy. Use permanent marker to write your child's name on it and have him decorate its with other drawings. Store supplies such as sponge, dustrag and roll of paper towels, etc.
9. Show them the money? Some experts believe allowance should be reserved for teenagers. School-aged children will easily get behind the idea that chores are something you do as a member of the family — not for money. They'll be excited just to show off their skill at completing a task."
(Ann Matturro Gault)
Chores and fun in the same breath? You bet. Here, 9 ideas for getting kids to beat you at the cleaning game.
1. Hide treats, stickers, or pennies in, on, or under knickknacks, then ask your child to dust. She gets to enjoy the rewards only when everything is dusted.
2. Post individual lists of chores kids can do (one for each child in your family). Whenever your child accomplishes a task, have her mark it with a sticker. Whoever has the most stickers at the end of the week gets the Helper of the Week award.
3. Play "Go Fish" with a basket of clean socks. Divide the socks among the players, leaving a pile to draw from. Each player, in turn, holds up a sock and asks another player if he has the mate. If not, the asking player must take a sock from the top of the draw pile. When finished, the player with the most pairs wins.
4. Turn any socks that stay single into child-friendly dust mitts. Insert child's hand into clean but dampened sock and use it to remove dust from houseplants and furniture.
5. Have a scavenger hunt. Make a list of everyday items (newspapers, magazine, shoes, etc.). Set a timer for 5 minutes, then have kids collect stray items throughout the house. The winner is the child who picks up the most (and returns them to their rightful spots).
6. After dinner, do a "10-Minute Tidy." Set a timer and have family members scatter through the house putting away the day's clutter.
7. Appoint someone to be Inspector D. Clutter. Armed with a laundry basket and plastic police badge from the dress-up box, this person roams the house and puts stray belongings into clutter "jail" (the basket). To set an item free, its owner (Mom and Dad included!) must do a chore.
8. Turn a bucket into a personalized cleaning caddy. Use permanent marker to write your child's name on it and have him decorate its with other drawings. Store supplies such as sponge, dustrag and roll of paper towels, etc.
9. Show them the money? Some experts believe allowance should be reserved for teenagers. School-aged children will easily get behind the idea that chores are something you do as a member of the family — not for money. They'll be excited just to show off their skill at completing a task."
Prevent cleaning
5 Ways to Prevent House Cleaning Slavery
By Rhonda White
Eliminate the house cleaning drudgery with these easy 5 tips... If you hate "cleaning day" put an end to it by marking it off your calendar. There's an easier way to maintain a clean house than slaving away over dust and dirt. Follow these 5 quick tips to ease your house cleaning burden:
1. Change your expectations. Many of us fantasize about having the perfect, spotless house. With that illusion, we often expect ourselves to maintain a perfect home inside and out by working ourselves frantically. It's almost as if we feel our home is a mere reflection of ourselves as to how successful we are as a homemaker. While it's a worthy goal to keep a clean house, our desire to portray ourselves as "superwoman" will soon bring us to exhaustion. You have to examine your priorities and determine where housecleaning will fit on that list. We know that it's definitely not going to be toward the top if we have a husband, children, a job and other required activites. Get a good focus on what should be a reasonably "clean enough" house, and schedule accordingly and let go the "little" things that are not really necessary.
2. Buy colors that hide dirt and materials that resist wear. If you're like me you're always on the lookout to save another buck or two. However, when you're talking about a lifetime of work involved with upkeep, opt for better quality that will last much longer. When furniture, carpet and appliances are well-used and worn, no matter how much you clean, everything appears more dingy giving the sense that it's not so clean. It's impossible to wash away scrapes, scratches and set in stains. Choose your colors carefully as well. White carpet and white furniture may be alot of upkeep for those with children. Try darker, mixed colors and blends that appear to keep the eye busy looking at the designs and shades rather than looking for dust and dirt.
3. Buy some cleaning supplies and tools to make your job easier. There's nothing like trying to dig a well without a shovel. Invest in some cleaning supplies and tools that will make your job of cleaning easier and save you tons of time. I'm not one to go to the extreme on buying every new cleaning gadget on the market. Some work and some are just for looks. You need to decide what tasks need to be done at your home and find the best tools and supplies to accomplish that. My two favorite gadgets are the Swiffer duster and Mr. Clean's Magic eraser. The Swiffer duster has extendable handles to reach up or down to dust without stretching and bending. The duster slides between grooves and objects saving myself lots of time and work. The magic eraser cleans my walls, refrigerator door and other hard-to-clean surfaces making them look almost new again.
4. Clean messes and spills while they're still fresh. This seems so simple, yet, many of us think we'll just clean up that mess later when we have more time...and then it takes twice as long to clean up a mess that's dried or settled in. So, take this common sense advice seriously and you'll save yourself lots of cleanup time later. While we're on this topic, don't be afraid to call out for help from your children. It's good to teach your children to help work together as a family to accomplish tasks that need to be done. Little ones that make messes can be taught to help clean up their own messes. Invest a little time in teaching simple tasks like these and you'll save lots of time and effort in house cleaning.
5. Create a daily schedule to maintain cleanliness. I hate wasting a whole day away on cleaning. I would rather schedule 30 minutes each day to clean the bathroom up, pick up some stray items laying around and clean a few dirty spots along the way. You can also schedule one day to focus on floors, one for dusting and polishing the furniture and one for laundry and ironing, etc. There's no need to get it done all in one day if you can schedule a little bit each day. Get most of your cleaning done throughout the week and make your Saturdays a real day off!
By Rhonda White
Eliminate the house cleaning drudgery with these easy 5 tips... If you hate "cleaning day" put an end to it by marking it off your calendar. There's an easier way to maintain a clean house than slaving away over dust and dirt. Follow these 5 quick tips to ease your house cleaning burden:
1. Change your expectations. Many of us fantasize about having the perfect, spotless house. With that illusion, we often expect ourselves to maintain a perfect home inside and out by working ourselves frantically. It's almost as if we feel our home is a mere reflection of ourselves as to how successful we are as a homemaker. While it's a worthy goal to keep a clean house, our desire to portray ourselves as "superwoman" will soon bring us to exhaustion. You have to examine your priorities and determine where housecleaning will fit on that list. We know that it's definitely not going to be toward the top if we have a husband, children, a job and other required activites. Get a good focus on what should be a reasonably "clean enough" house, and schedule accordingly and let go the "little" things that are not really necessary.
2. Buy colors that hide dirt and materials that resist wear. If you're like me you're always on the lookout to save another buck or two. However, when you're talking about a lifetime of work involved with upkeep, opt for better quality that will last much longer. When furniture, carpet and appliances are well-used and worn, no matter how much you clean, everything appears more dingy giving the sense that it's not so clean. It's impossible to wash away scrapes, scratches and set in stains. Choose your colors carefully as well. White carpet and white furniture may be alot of upkeep for those with children. Try darker, mixed colors and blends that appear to keep the eye busy looking at the designs and shades rather than looking for dust and dirt.
3. Buy some cleaning supplies and tools to make your job easier. There's nothing like trying to dig a well without a shovel. Invest in some cleaning supplies and tools that will make your job of cleaning easier and save you tons of time. I'm not one to go to the extreme on buying every new cleaning gadget on the market. Some work and some are just for looks. You need to decide what tasks need to be done at your home and find the best tools and supplies to accomplish that. My two favorite gadgets are the Swiffer duster and Mr. Clean's Magic eraser. The Swiffer duster has extendable handles to reach up or down to dust without stretching and bending. The duster slides between grooves and objects saving myself lots of time and work. The magic eraser cleans my walls, refrigerator door and other hard-to-clean surfaces making them look almost new again.
4. Clean messes and spills while they're still fresh. This seems so simple, yet, many of us think we'll just clean up that mess later when we have more time...and then it takes twice as long to clean up a mess that's dried or settled in. So, take this common sense advice seriously and you'll save yourself lots of cleanup time later. While we're on this topic, don't be afraid to call out for help from your children. It's good to teach your children to help work together as a family to accomplish tasks that need to be done. Little ones that make messes can be taught to help clean up their own messes. Invest a little time in teaching simple tasks like these and you'll save lots of time and effort in house cleaning.
5. Create a daily schedule to maintain cleanliness. I hate wasting a whole day away on cleaning. I would rather schedule 30 minutes each day to clean the bathroom up, pick up some stray items laying around and clean a few dirty spots along the way. You can also schedule one day to focus on floors, one for dusting and polishing the furniture and one for laundry and ironing, etc. There's no need to get it done all in one day if you can schedule a little bit each day. Get most of your cleaning done throughout the week and make your Saturdays a real day off!
The dirt on dirt
What is House Dirt Composed Of?
(Geyser Vacuum Center)
The dirt in most people’s homes comes from three primary sources, two of which are unpleasant and one of which causes allergies. The allergen is pet dander. Cat fur is notoriously bad for causing a buildup of what we think of as dust and dirt. That is because the particles in cat dander are very tiny, and vacuuming along, especially without a HEPA filter, will not get cat fur out of your carpet. Even if you don’t have a pet, the dander is so fine that it may float into your house, or you may have picked it up from a co-worker with a pooch.
The second source of dirt is what causes the problem for most vacuum cleaners. It is bits of crushed rock. While we don’t often think of rock getting into our homes, it gets in fairly easily. You may have a rock on your shoe. One may have gotten into your son’s book bag. Your daughter may have had one caught in her hair from playing outdoors. Most of this gravel is very small, and you may not pay much attention to it. As you walk over it, the rock gets crushed and becomes sand. This sand then grinds into your carpet and becomes a buildup of dirt over time. Waiting longer to clean your carpets means that you are permitting more dirt to pile on top of each other. The dirt becomes compacted in your carpet and then begins to harden, making it even harder to remove.
The third component of dirt and dust is human skin. Some estimates are that human skin amounts to 80 percent of the dust and dirt residue in people’s homes. Even at much smaller percentages, human skin that has sloughed off through daily life makes up a good portion of the dirt in our homes. Getting rid of the dirt in your home will mean that you have vacuumed up these skin cells. Human skin is very light, which means that it floats. It often settles on bookshelves, furniture, and mantles instead of the floor. When you dust, however, you are pushing some of the dust onto the carpet, where it combines with the pet dander and rock already forming a layer of dirt.
These three components are not the only components of dirt. If you baked cookies, bits of flour and sugar may have gotten into the air. They become part of the dirt in your home when they land on the ground and are crushed into the flooring. Thinking about dirt and how it affects our health and our environment should be encouragement to clean often. Allowing the dirt to build up in your home means permitting allergens into your house. You are risking your immediate health the longer you leave dirt in the floors.
Cleaning more often also is better for your appliances because they don’t have to work as hard to get rid of two days’ worth of dirt instead of two weeks’ worth of it.
(Geyser Vacuum Center)
The dirt in most people’s homes comes from three primary sources, two of which are unpleasant and one of which causes allergies. The allergen is pet dander. Cat fur is notoriously bad for causing a buildup of what we think of as dust and dirt. That is because the particles in cat dander are very tiny, and vacuuming along, especially without a HEPA filter, will not get cat fur out of your carpet. Even if you don’t have a pet, the dander is so fine that it may float into your house, or you may have picked it up from a co-worker with a pooch.
The second source of dirt is what causes the problem for most vacuum cleaners. It is bits of crushed rock. While we don’t often think of rock getting into our homes, it gets in fairly easily. You may have a rock on your shoe. One may have gotten into your son’s book bag. Your daughter may have had one caught in her hair from playing outdoors. Most of this gravel is very small, and you may not pay much attention to it. As you walk over it, the rock gets crushed and becomes sand. This sand then grinds into your carpet and becomes a buildup of dirt over time. Waiting longer to clean your carpets means that you are permitting more dirt to pile on top of each other. The dirt becomes compacted in your carpet and then begins to harden, making it even harder to remove.
The third component of dirt and dust is human skin. Some estimates are that human skin amounts to 80 percent of the dust and dirt residue in people’s homes. Even at much smaller percentages, human skin that has sloughed off through daily life makes up a good portion of the dirt in our homes. Getting rid of the dirt in your home will mean that you have vacuumed up these skin cells. Human skin is very light, which means that it floats. It often settles on bookshelves, furniture, and mantles instead of the floor. When you dust, however, you are pushing some of the dust onto the carpet, where it combines with the pet dander and rock already forming a layer of dirt.
These three components are not the only components of dirt. If you baked cookies, bits of flour and sugar may have gotten into the air. They become part of the dirt in your home when they land on the ground and are crushed into the flooring. Thinking about dirt and how it affects our health and our environment should be encouragement to clean often. Allowing the dirt to build up in your home means permitting allergens into your house. You are risking your immediate health the longer you leave dirt in the floors.
Cleaning more often also is better for your appliances because they don’t have to work as hard to get rid of two days’ worth of dirt instead of two weeks’ worth of it.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Fit to be bride
Fit Bride 12 Week Fitness Plan - A personalized Fitness Plan that helps you get in the Ultimate Buff Bride Shape for your all-important Wedding Day.
If you are looking to tone up, burn fat and get in shape for your Special Day, then get ready for the Perfect Fit Bride Training Plan.
If you are looking to tone up, burn fat and get in shape for your Special Day, then get ready for the Perfect Fit Bride Training Plan.
Spring knot
Spring Wedding Myths Busted
By Kate Wood
Spring is the time of year most often associated with weddings, so you might feel there are even more expectations about what kind you should have. But we're here as always to tell you that the kind of wedding you should have is the kind that works for you! We've broken down some of the most common assumptions about spring weddings to help you make your own rules.
Myth #1: You must use pastel colors
Though some spring brides embrace the colors traditionally associated with the season, others cringe at Easter egg-inspired hues. If you find yourself in the latter category, go with a color scheme that fits your style best. Pulling off an unexpected palette gives your wedding an element of surprise that will wow your guests. If you want to go with a seasonally appropriate but still unconventional choice, take the pastels up a few notches and go with brighter hues like hot orange, acid green, and magenta.
Myth #2: You have to have flowers everywhere
On the one hand, spring is a bride's bonanza for flowers -- a huge variety of blooms are in season and easy to get. But if flowers aren't your thing, there are lots of options for creating interesting and unusual decor. One way is to incorporate other kinds of natural elements into your centerpieces: Think moss, wheatgrass, river rocks, or herbs. While these will still evoke a spring-like feel of freshness and rebirth, there's not a flower in sight. Want something more dramatic? Towering, blooming branches like cherry blossoms, quince, or dogwood look modern and incorporate some flowers without being in-your-face. Best of all, they look great anywhere -- whether on the altar or on your reception tables.
Myth #3: You have to have a daytime wedding
Dreaming of an evening affair? Don't let the season stop you. Some associate spring with a brunch reception. Brunches are beautiful, but they're not the best option if you want to have an all-out dance party. Though the days are getting longer, you can still wait until sunset (or even later) for your ceremony. If you want a daytime wedding -- particularly outdoors -- go ahead and take advantage of the fair weather. Spring's milder temperatures make a midday wedding much more comfortable than it would be in the heat of summer.
Myth #4: You have to stay inside
We know, we know -- April showers. While in many places early spring (in other words, March) can be unpredictable, don't rule out an outdoor wedding for the entire season. The elements will be a factor in an outdoor celebration at any time of year, but rather than giving up on going al fresco, just plan ahead. When you're looking at ceremony and reception sites, ask what other couples had done as a rain plan and whether any changes needed to be made. Get the details on those other spaces so if you're planning to have 200 guests, you won't choose a site where the indoor space can only hold 120. Another option: Reserve a just-in-case tent.
Myth #5: Your attire should be informal
The weather's warmer so hemlines can be higher. Sure, your bridesmaids won't have to worry about freezing in tea-length dresses, but it doesn't mean you have to have them. If floor-length is more your style, that's just fine. Same goes for your gown and the guys' attire. Though a light-colored linen suit would be perfectly apropos for some springtime affairs, if a classic tux better suits the tone of your wedding, go for it. No matter what time of year you're marrying in, the main thing that's important is comfort -- so if you love the look of satin dresses but are worried your maids will be melting, choose a similar style in a more forgiving fabric like a silk blend.
By Kate Wood
Spring is the time of year most often associated with weddings, so you might feel there are even more expectations about what kind you should have. But we're here as always to tell you that the kind of wedding you should have is the kind that works for you! We've broken down some of the most common assumptions about spring weddings to help you make your own rules.
Myth #1: You must use pastel colors
Though some spring brides embrace the colors traditionally associated with the season, others cringe at Easter egg-inspired hues. If you find yourself in the latter category, go with a color scheme that fits your style best. Pulling off an unexpected palette gives your wedding an element of surprise that will wow your guests. If you want to go with a seasonally appropriate but still unconventional choice, take the pastels up a few notches and go with brighter hues like hot orange, acid green, and magenta.
Myth #2: You have to have flowers everywhere
On the one hand, spring is a bride's bonanza for flowers -- a huge variety of blooms are in season and easy to get. But if flowers aren't your thing, there are lots of options for creating interesting and unusual decor. One way is to incorporate other kinds of natural elements into your centerpieces: Think moss, wheatgrass, river rocks, or herbs. While these will still evoke a spring-like feel of freshness and rebirth, there's not a flower in sight. Want something more dramatic? Towering, blooming branches like cherry blossoms, quince, or dogwood look modern and incorporate some flowers without being in-your-face. Best of all, they look great anywhere -- whether on the altar or on your reception tables.
Myth #3: You have to have a daytime wedding
Dreaming of an evening affair? Don't let the season stop you. Some associate spring with a brunch reception. Brunches are beautiful, but they're not the best option if you want to have an all-out dance party. Though the days are getting longer, you can still wait until sunset (or even later) for your ceremony. If you want a daytime wedding -- particularly outdoors -- go ahead and take advantage of the fair weather. Spring's milder temperatures make a midday wedding much more comfortable than it would be in the heat of summer.
Myth #4: You have to stay inside
We know, we know -- April showers. While in many places early spring (in other words, March) can be unpredictable, don't rule out an outdoor wedding for the entire season. The elements will be a factor in an outdoor celebration at any time of year, but rather than giving up on going al fresco, just plan ahead. When you're looking at ceremony and reception sites, ask what other couples had done as a rain plan and whether any changes needed to be made. Get the details on those other spaces so if you're planning to have 200 guests, you won't choose a site where the indoor space can only hold 120. Another option: Reserve a just-in-case tent.
Myth #5: Your attire should be informal
The weather's warmer so hemlines can be higher. Sure, your bridesmaids won't have to worry about freezing in tea-length dresses, but it doesn't mean you have to have them. If floor-length is more your style, that's just fine. Same goes for your gown and the guys' attire. Though a light-colored linen suit would be perfectly apropos for some springtime affairs, if a classic tux better suits the tone of your wedding, go for it. No matter what time of year you're marrying in, the main thing that's important is comfort -- so if you love the look of satin dresses but are worried your maids will be melting, choose a similar style in a more forgiving fabric like a silk blend.
Survive her wedding
How to Survive Your Best Friend's Wedding
By Diane Vadino
Your best friend's wedding: Just because it's the happiest day of her life doesn't mean it has to be the happiest day of yours. Don't be disturbed if, mixed with all that genuine excitement, you feel just the subtlest, quietest tinges of, well, take your pick: jealousy? Loneliness? Anxiety?
When my best friend got married a few years ago, I experienced every one of those emotions—plus, let's see, depression, terror, and confusion. None of that meant I didn't love my best friend—I did, and I do; I just wasn't quite prepared to give up so much of her time and attention. (I forgive her other commitments; she forgives my neuroses and selfishness.)
Obviously there are loads of women who can handle their best friend's wedding without a smidgen of self-doubt or soul-searching. For the rest—and, I would argue, the majority—of us, there are a few ways to navigate these uncharted, rose petal-strewn waters.
Don't feel guilty
Few things dominate a conversation like plans for an upcoming wedding. If you're feeling like your hopes, dreams, anxieties and crushes—more or less the substance of your discussions for as long as you've known each other—will suddenly take second (or third, or fourth) place to wedding deejays and gift registries, you're probably right. The unfortunate truth: You will get less of her attention. You will be required to care, deeply and endlessly, about the shade and silhouette of the bridesmaids' dresses—which, inevitably, will suit none of the bridesmaids. And you will be asked to do all of this with a smile on your face. Of course, because you're her best friend, you're going to do it all—but don't beat yourself up if that smile is just the teensiest bit forced. A wedding is one of life's more demanding endeavors, and it's natural to feel a bit put out by unexpected responsibilities, especially as your best friend—your rock—is likely less emotionally available than ever before. It doesn't make you a love-hating, anti-wedding monster—just human.
Resist the urge to romanticize
Yes, weddings are wonderful, life-defining events—but a lot of hard work goes into making that fairy tale come true, even for just a few hours. There are two sides to that coin: Expect a certain level of stress and irritability on your best friend's behalf—perhaps in an amount that's inversely proportional to how much work she anticipated in the beginning. At the same time, don't wander into the same trap yourself: An expensively decorated reception hall is hardly a guarantee of a lifetime of happiness. She isn't buying a one-way ticket on the express train to bliss, while you loiter around Lonelyville: Marriages are work. And just because your best friend has decided that marriage is right for her, it's certainly not a one-size-fits-all cure for the occasional Friday night spent doing laundry.
Don't take it out on him—either of them
In a perfect world, you'll already feel like your best friend's fiancé is part of your extended family. If not, hopefully your issues with him are relatively superficial: Chances are, he's as in awe of the wedding machine as you are, which could, happily, find you in the unlikely similar position of keeping your best friend—and his fiancée—solidly grounded. The big question, of course, is how to handle reservations that go beyond garden-variety gripes: If you feel like he's in a position to deliver real pain, either physical or emotional, you owe it to your friend to suck it up and speak your mind. It might not be pretty, but there's more to being a best friend than splitting two halves of a BFF necklace.
Meanwhile, if you're seeing someone but not quite at the ring-shopping stage, resist the urge to start unfairly contrasting the two relationships. While a certain amount of self-aware stock-taking is good for the soul, the run-up to a wedding is an emotionally charged time, and it's unfair to everyone to start demanding—either of yourself or of him—proof that he's the one. Take advantage of him as a refuge, an island of calm. But don't catch wedding fever and then submit your man to an unexpected—and probably unfair—sizing-up.
If you're single ...
The world is your oyster. While marriage offers myriad benefits, so can the single life—the excitement and endless possibility of where life could take you next. A dear friend's wedding can stir up all kinds of submerged emotions—and, crucially, a sense that life is, indeed, moving forward, whether you're ready for it or not. There are few better times to honestly ask yourself if you're content to continue on your current path—and if not, how best to change it. Always dreamed of moving to Africa? Opening a restaurant? Buying an apartment? None of those require a life partner—and personally, I've consistently witnessed an amazing synergy: When even longtime single people pursue their most deeply held ambitions, their excitement and confidence is palpable—especially to potential paramours.
Enjoy it
Fingers crossed, your best friend is only going to get married once—and while it may feel like the world's gone all topsy-turvy, have faith that it'll straighten out soon enough. She deserves her time in the spotlight, even if you're looking forward to quieter days, when the topics of conversation can be, once more, evenly divided. Just remember: More likely than not, she'll get her chance to return the favor, after you've taken all possible opportunities to wring every last bit of fun out of pre-wedding life. As for my best friend, she'll be repeating her vows next month, and though it took a bit of practice (and several years' worth of perspective), I'll be there to support her—at last, with a completely genuine smile on my face.
By Diane Vadino
Your best friend's wedding: Just because it's the happiest day of her life doesn't mean it has to be the happiest day of yours. Don't be disturbed if, mixed with all that genuine excitement, you feel just the subtlest, quietest tinges of, well, take your pick: jealousy? Loneliness? Anxiety?
When my best friend got married a few years ago, I experienced every one of those emotions—plus, let's see, depression, terror, and confusion. None of that meant I didn't love my best friend—I did, and I do; I just wasn't quite prepared to give up so much of her time and attention. (I forgive her other commitments; she forgives my neuroses and selfishness.)
Obviously there are loads of women who can handle their best friend's wedding without a smidgen of self-doubt or soul-searching. For the rest—and, I would argue, the majority—of us, there are a few ways to navigate these uncharted, rose petal-strewn waters.
Don't feel guilty
Few things dominate a conversation like plans for an upcoming wedding. If you're feeling like your hopes, dreams, anxieties and crushes—more or less the substance of your discussions for as long as you've known each other—will suddenly take second (or third, or fourth) place to wedding deejays and gift registries, you're probably right. The unfortunate truth: You will get less of her attention. You will be required to care, deeply and endlessly, about the shade and silhouette of the bridesmaids' dresses—which, inevitably, will suit none of the bridesmaids. And you will be asked to do all of this with a smile on your face. Of course, because you're her best friend, you're going to do it all—but don't beat yourself up if that smile is just the teensiest bit forced. A wedding is one of life's more demanding endeavors, and it's natural to feel a bit put out by unexpected responsibilities, especially as your best friend—your rock—is likely less emotionally available than ever before. It doesn't make you a love-hating, anti-wedding monster—just human.
Resist the urge to romanticize
Yes, weddings are wonderful, life-defining events—but a lot of hard work goes into making that fairy tale come true, even for just a few hours. There are two sides to that coin: Expect a certain level of stress and irritability on your best friend's behalf—perhaps in an amount that's inversely proportional to how much work she anticipated in the beginning. At the same time, don't wander into the same trap yourself: An expensively decorated reception hall is hardly a guarantee of a lifetime of happiness. She isn't buying a one-way ticket on the express train to bliss, while you loiter around Lonelyville: Marriages are work. And just because your best friend has decided that marriage is right for her, it's certainly not a one-size-fits-all cure for the occasional Friday night spent doing laundry.
Don't take it out on him—either of them
In a perfect world, you'll already feel like your best friend's fiancé is part of your extended family. If not, hopefully your issues with him are relatively superficial: Chances are, he's as in awe of the wedding machine as you are, which could, happily, find you in the unlikely similar position of keeping your best friend—and his fiancée—solidly grounded. The big question, of course, is how to handle reservations that go beyond garden-variety gripes: If you feel like he's in a position to deliver real pain, either physical or emotional, you owe it to your friend to suck it up and speak your mind. It might not be pretty, but there's more to being a best friend than splitting two halves of a BFF necklace.
Meanwhile, if you're seeing someone but not quite at the ring-shopping stage, resist the urge to start unfairly contrasting the two relationships. While a certain amount of self-aware stock-taking is good for the soul, the run-up to a wedding is an emotionally charged time, and it's unfair to everyone to start demanding—either of yourself or of him—proof that he's the one. Take advantage of him as a refuge, an island of calm. But don't catch wedding fever and then submit your man to an unexpected—and probably unfair—sizing-up.
If you're single ...
The world is your oyster. While marriage offers myriad benefits, so can the single life—the excitement and endless possibility of where life could take you next. A dear friend's wedding can stir up all kinds of submerged emotions—and, crucially, a sense that life is, indeed, moving forward, whether you're ready for it or not. There are few better times to honestly ask yourself if you're content to continue on your current path—and if not, how best to change it. Always dreamed of moving to Africa? Opening a restaurant? Buying an apartment? None of those require a life partner—and personally, I've consistently witnessed an amazing synergy: When even longtime single people pursue their most deeply held ambitions, their excitement and confidence is palpable—especially to potential paramours.
Enjoy it
Fingers crossed, your best friend is only going to get married once—and while it may feel like the world's gone all topsy-turvy, have faith that it'll straighten out soon enough. She deserves her time in the spotlight, even if you're looking forward to quieter days, when the topics of conversation can be, once more, evenly divided. Just remember: More likely than not, she'll get her chance to return the favor, after you've taken all possible opportunities to wring every last bit of fun out of pre-wedding life. As for my best friend, she'll be repeating her vows next month, and though it took a bit of practice (and several years' worth of perspective), I'll be there to support her—at last, with a completely genuine smile on my face.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Let your hair down
After a long hard day at work, you have to make time for yourself. Here are some great ways to pamper yourself and just let your hair down and relax.
Shortcuts for mom
Go Ahead -- Eat Out.
You have been working all day, either at home with your kids or at the office. At the end of the day, you are ready for someone else to step up and take care of you for a change. But instead of throwing yourself on the sofa with your feet up, reality sets in and you have to think about dinner. The simplest option, of course, is going out to eat or getting take-out. But for some reason after doing it habitually, we feel guilty, as if we are cheating, or doing something unhealthy. Here are some tips for enjoying restaurant food without the guilt.
• Drink a glass of water when you arrive at a restaurant. Sometimes people confuse thirst for hunger.
• Skip the soda and save your sugar intake for something really special (did anyone say chocolate?)
• Eat Smart. Did you know that while super-sized options save you money, they nearly double your fat and calories?
• Get your dressing on the side, so you can use what you need without drowning your food.
• Order appetizer portions instead of entrees. By controlling your portion size, you can prevent yourself from over eating. Or, if you order an entrée, ask for a “to-go” box and pack up half the meal before you start eating. Out of sight, out of mind.
• Remember – restaurant food tastes good for a reason…lots of butter and salt! With that in mind, consider avoiding cream sauces and gravies if you are watching your waist-line.
• Choose healthy carbs, such as whole grain bread, brown rice or whole wheat pasta.
• Your mama always told you to eat your veggies. Well, she’s right (of course).
• Look beyond the Kid’s Menu. Appetizers from the “regular menu” should have plenty of delicious options for kids that will expand their palates and help them to eat healthier.
• Your kids are watching what you eat. Be sure to set a good example.
If you are feeling guilty for eating out so much, give yourself a break. You are not alone. The average family eats out 29% of the time, where they spend 44% of their food budget. Cut yourself some slack. Go ahead and eat out, just make good choices.
Click here for more shortcuts!
You have been working all day, either at home with your kids or at the office. At the end of the day, you are ready for someone else to step up and take care of you for a change. But instead of throwing yourself on the sofa with your feet up, reality sets in and you have to think about dinner. The simplest option, of course, is going out to eat or getting take-out. But for some reason after doing it habitually, we feel guilty, as if we are cheating, or doing something unhealthy. Here are some tips for enjoying restaurant food without the guilt.
• Drink a glass of water when you arrive at a restaurant. Sometimes people confuse thirst for hunger.
• Skip the soda and save your sugar intake for something really special (did anyone say chocolate?)
• Eat Smart. Did you know that while super-sized options save you money, they nearly double your fat and calories?
• Get your dressing on the side, so you can use what you need without drowning your food.
• Order appetizer portions instead of entrees. By controlling your portion size, you can prevent yourself from over eating. Or, if you order an entrée, ask for a “to-go” box and pack up half the meal before you start eating. Out of sight, out of mind.
• Remember – restaurant food tastes good for a reason…lots of butter and salt! With that in mind, consider avoiding cream sauces and gravies if you are watching your waist-line.
• Choose healthy carbs, such as whole grain bread, brown rice or whole wheat pasta.
• Your mama always told you to eat your veggies. Well, she’s right (of course).
• Look beyond the Kid’s Menu. Appetizers from the “regular menu” should have plenty of delicious options for kids that will expand their palates and help them to eat healthier.
• Your kids are watching what you eat. Be sure to set a good example.
If you are feeling guilty for eating out so much, give yourself a break. You are not alone. The average family eats out 29% of the time, where they spend 44% of their food budget. Cut yourself some slack. Go ahead and eat out, just make good choices.
Click here for more shortcuts!
Best hair over 40
By Lois Joy Johnson
Over 40 Hair: The Long and the Short
The conventional wisdom for hair after 40 is that a well-mannered middle length works for everyone. We beg to differ. Your sexiest hair length may be a lot longer -- or shorter -- than you thought.
No matter how great you look, if you're over 40, your hair isn't what it used to be. Hormonal changes (especially at menopause), years of chemical processing and heat styling, even dieting and smoking, can contribute to skimpier volume, a receding hairline, broken wisps around the face, and a widening part. The gradual decline of estrogen slows hair growth; it also reduces production of collagen, so hair becomes drier and more brittle and loses shine. Gray hair -- whether you color it or not -- has a coarser texture.
You can fake healthier-looking hair in the short term -- and boost hair health in the long term -- with the right products and care. What you need now, no matter what your hair's length: low-sudsing, detergent-free shampoos that are loaded with humectants; rich, nourishing conditioners; protein-based masques; concentrated silicone or botanical serums to reduce frizz and add shine; non-drying mousses and styling sprays; creams to create a body-building base for blow-drying; light, leave-in conditioners for smoothness, silkiness, and manageability.
Short Hair Pros and Cons
Lena Kaptein, 42, cropped her bob in 1994 at the suggestion of a hairdresser friend who said she needed a more modern look. She instantly landed an Aveda campaign and has kept her short hair since. "My bob was too much work -- and all that teasing and hairspray are so not sexy. My son, my husband, and I have the same haircut -- we all wake up looking like Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Two minutes later, with a little molding paste, I look amazing."
Short Hair Suits You If...
Short hair can work for you if you have very delicate or very large features and a fairly firm jaw, a well-shaped head, and an elegant neck. The key is proportion. The secret, according to hair guru John Frieda, is the jawline: If the bottom tip of your chin is more than 2 1/2 inches lower than the bottom of your earlobe, short hair won't look good unless you increase the length at the nape.
Short Hair Pros
You never have to worry about your hair looking messy, rain wrecking your blow-out, or (if it's really short) hat-hair. It's easy to disguise regrowth by eliminating a part or running your hands through for a choppy, tousled effect. Because it's cut frequently, short hair tends to be very healthy, even with extreme color changes.
Short Hair Traps
A cut that's too shaved at the nape looks masculine. Highlights can look spotty if cut comes after color, and skinny, discreet ones don't work as well as chunky, bold streaks do. Virgin color on a super-edgy cut can be boring -- unless it's gray. But a vibrant hair hue can act as a permanent accessory on short hair, according to color pro Brad Johns. (If you go for a bright hair color, tone down your makeup for day.)
Short Haircuts
Nicky Kunz, 53, has always had short hair; it's been gray since she stopped coloring it at 32. "I have a small face, and my features would just get lost in long hair. Every two weeks I buzz it myself, since no one else gets it right. My hair is dry, so I use leave-in moisturizers."
The Best Short Haircuts
The Cap: Shortest of all, and cropped like an adolescent boy or a Marine, this works best for very textured, tight curls and very coarse, wiry hair. Well-defined brows help, as do strong bone structure and a big dose of charisma.
Choppy: On everyone's most edgy list of "things to try someday," the ultra-short shag has a kind of rock-band/French gamine appeal. It's not for the shy. But it is perfect for those with wispy, fine hair that just goes limp when bluntly bobbed; it also suits wavy hair that has built-in body. What's key is to vary the length of some sections for an irregular look. Piece-y cuts of about 2 to 3 inches all over can be tucked behind your ear, tousled for more texture, or combed flat for a more classic look.
Bangs: Full, shaggy bangs or long, graduated bangs that can be swept to the side give short cuts the illusion of long hair that's been pulled back. If you have thin, overplucked, skimpy, or misshapen brows, short hair with long bangs gives you the extra definition you're missing. Bangs can also hide a low, small forehead. Keep them jagged, not Campbell's-Soup-kid straight, for sex appeal.
Short Hair Care
If you do one thing, use your hands and styling creams or pomades to break up the layers for a tousled, frizz-free look. Try Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shaping Cream ($14); Kerastase Paris Lumiere Nutri-Sculpt Finishing Cream ($29).
Hide your dark or gray roots with a color-intensifying mask or shampoo that blurs regrowth and stretches the time between salon appointments. Try Goldwell Color Glow Treatment Be Blonde ($14) and Colorective Bloody Mary Shampoo ($34). Shortcuts for short cuts: try a creamy all-in-one shampoo, body wash, and conditioner, like Sephora Triple Layer Cake Hair & Body Wash ($15). Thermasilk Moisture-Infusing 2-in-1 Shampoo Plus Conditioner ($14) is perfect for shorties who shampoo daily.
If you have chemically straightened or color-treated hair, use a conditioning cream like Alberto VO5 Sheer Hairdressing ($6) every day, and a rich mask like Frederic Fekkai Technician Color Care Mask ($34) once a week.
Long Hair Pros and Cons
Lisa Berkley, 46, a longhair "lifer," gave up straightening her naturally curly hair. "I'm more bohemian than sophisticated -- we live on a farm, and I'm in jeans and tees when I'm not working. My daughter, Isabelle, is 8 and a mini-me. We love our curls loose and wild. I even enhance the curls on top with a curling iron to exaggerate the look! I give my hair even more focus with beachy highlights that mimic what the sun does."
Long Hair Suits You If...
Long hair can work for you if your hair is healthy and your cut contemporary. Unless you have a hairdresser on call, aim for a length somewhere between collarbone and cleavage. "Long hair needs to be kept healthy with regular trims and conditioning, plus yearly updates to evaluate length and cut," says Mitch Barry, whose long-haired clients include Bernadette Peters and Christie Brinkley.
Long Hair Pros
You needn't wash and style it every day. Long hair is a showcase for color (it doesn't have to look natural anymore). Oh -- and men think it's sexy.
Long Hair Traps
Too long can look weird if the proportions are wrong -- e.g., if you're a petite five-footer with a Rapunzel mane. Too big a color change can spell disaster unless you're willing to devote major time and money to maintenance. Long-hair accessories need careful editing -- especially headbands, glittery barrettes, and froufrou clips, which are as silly as microminis on a grown-up.
Long Haircuts
Except for one "disastrous" bob during pregnancy, Donna Bunte, 47, has had long hair all her life. "It makes me feel young and feminine, and my husband just adores it. It's layered now -- more contemporary looking -- but I can still pull it back when I want to."
The Best Long Haircuts
Layers: Cutting long, face-framing pieces into your hair is equivalent to wearing the hot jeans that make your legs look longer and slimmer. Layers have a softening effect that flatters your features and jawline.
Parts: A side part adds sophistication. Center parts work only if you have deep, full bangs or stick-straight hair. A slightly messy, off-center part works for everyone, and helps camouflage roots.
Fringe: Not only are bangs a Botox alternative, they also add instant style, dressing the face even when hair is pulled back into a lazy chignon or ponytail.
For fine hair: Grow it no longer than shoulder- or collarbone-length, or it will look skimpy. Thickening products or volumizers will add body at the roots; a protein shampoo can help build bulk. Try Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray ($19).
Blown straight: Heat straightening is a hair-health hazard. Minimize damage with a deep 3-minute conditioner like Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine ($4) twice a week.
Over 40 Hair: The Long and the Short
The conventional wisdom for hair after 40 is that a well-mannered middle length works for everyone. We beg to differ. Your sexiest hair length may be a lot longer -- or shorter -- than you thought.
No matter how great you look, if you're over 40, your hair isn't what it used to be. Hormonal changes (especially at menopause), years of chemical processing and heat styling, even dieting and smoking, can contribute to skimpier volume, a receding hairline, broken wisps around the face, and a widening part. The gradual decline of estrogen slows hair growth; it also reduces production of collagen, so hair becomes drier and more brittle and loses shine. Gray hair -- whether you color it or not -- has a coarser texture.
You can fake healthier-looking hair in the short term -- and boost hair health in the long term -- with the right products and care. What you need now, no matter what your hair's length: low-sudsing, detergent-free shampoos that are loaded with humectants; rich, nourishing conditioners; protein-based masques; concentrated silicone or botanical serums to reduce frizz and add shine; non-drying mousses and styling sprays; creams to create a body-building base for blow-drying; light, leave-in conditioners for smoothness, silkiness, and manageability.
Short Hair Pros and Cons
Lena Kaptein, 42, cropped her bob in 1994 at the suggestion of a hairdresser friend who said she needed a more modern look. She instantly landed an Aveda campaign and has kept her short hair since. "My bob was too much work -- and all that teasing and hairspray are so not sexy. My son, my husband, and I have the same haircut -- we all wake up looking like Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Two minutes later, with a little molding paste, I look amazing."
Short Hair Suits You If...
Short hair can work for you if you have very delicate or very large features and a fairly firm jaw, a well-shaped head, and an elegant neck. The key is proportion. The secret, according to hair guru John Frieda, is the jawline: If the bottom tip of your chin is more than 2 1/2 inches lower than the bottom of your earlobe, short hair won't look good unless you increase the length at the nape.
Short Hair Pros
You never have to worry about your hair looking messy, rain wrecking your blow-out, or (if it's really short) hat-hair. It's easy to disguise regrowth by eliminating a part or running your hands through for a choppy, tousled effect. Because it's cut frequently, short hair tends to be very healthy, even with extreme color changes.
Short Hair Traps
A cut that's too shaved at the nape looks masculine. Highlights can look spotty if cut comes after color, and skinny, discreet ones don't work as well as chunky, bold streaks do. Virgin color on a super-edgy cut can be boring -- unless it's gray. But a vibrant hair hue can act as a permanent accessory on short hair, according to color pro Brad Johns. (If you go for a bright hair color, tone down your makeup for day.)
Short Haircuts
Nicky Kunz, 53, has always had short hair; it's been gray since she stopped coloring it at 32. "I have a small face, and my features would just get lost in long hair. Every two weeks I buzz it myself, since no one else gets it right. My hair is dry, so I use leave-in moisturizers."
The Best Short Haircuts
The Cap: Shortest of all, and cropped like an adolescent boy or a Marine, this works best for very textured, tight curls and very coarse, wiry hair. Well-defined brows help, as do strong bone structure and a big dose of charisma.
Choppy: On everyone's most edgy list of "things to try someday," the ultra-short shag has a kind of rock-band/French gamine appeal. It's not for the shy. But it is perfect for those with wispy, fine hair that just goes limp when bluntly bobbed; it also suits wavy hair that has built-in body. What's key is to vary the length of some sections for an irregular look. Piece-y cuts of about 2 to 3 inches all over can be tucked behind your ear, tousled for more texture, or combed flat for a more classic look.
Bangs: Full, shaggy bangs or long, graduated bangs that can be swept to the side give short cuts the illusion of long hair that's been pulled back. If you have thin, overplucked, skimpy, or misshapen brows, short hair with long bangs gives you the extra definition you're missing. Bangs can also hide a low, small forehead. Keep them jagged, not Campbell's-Soup-kid straight, for sex appeal.
Short Hair Care
If you do one thing, use your hands and styling creams or pomades to break up the layers for a tousled, frizz-free look. Try Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Shaping Cream ($14); Kerastase Paris Lumiere Nutri-Sculpt Finishing Cream ($29).
Hide your dark or gray roots with a color-intensifying mask or shampoo that blurs regrowth and stretches the time between salon appointments. Try Goldwell Color Glow Treatment Be Blonde ($14) and Colorective Bloody Mary Shampoo ($34). Shortcuts for short cuts: try a creamy all-in-one shampoo, body wash, and conditioner, like Sephora Triple Layer Cake Hair & Body Wash ($15). Thermasilk Moisture-Infusing 2-in-1 Shampoo Plus Conditioner ($14) is perfect for shorties who shampoo daily.
If you have chemically straightened or color-treated hair, use a conditioning cream like Alberto VO5 Sheer Hairdressing ($6) every day, and a rich mask like Frederic Fekkai Technician Color Care Mask ($34) once a week.
Long Hair Pros and Cons
Lisa Berkley, 46, a longhair "lifer," gave up straightening her naturally curly hair. "I'm more bohemian than sophisticated -- we live on a farm, and I'm in jeans and tees when I'm not working. My daughter, Isabelle, is 8 and a mini-me. We love our curls loose and wild. I even enhance the curls on top with a curling iron to exaggerate the look! I give my hair even more focus with beachy highlights that mimic what the sun does."
Long Hair Suits You If...
Long hair can work for you if your hair is healthy and your cut contemporary. Unless you have a hairdresser on call, aim for a length somewhere between collarbone and cleavage. "Long hair needs to be kept healthy with regular trims and conditioning, plus yearly updates to evaluate length and cut," says Mitch Barry, whose long-haired clients include Bernadette Peters and Christie Brinkley.
Long Hair Pros
You needn't wash and style it every day. Long hair is a showcase for color (it doesn't have to look natural anymore). Oh -- and men think it's sexy.
Long Hair Traps
Too long can look weird if the proportions are wrong -- e.g., if you're a petite five-footer with a Rapunzel mane. Too big a color change can spell disaster unless you're willing to devote major time and money to maintenance. Long-hair accessories need careful editing -- especially headbands, glittery barrettes, and froufrou clips, which are as silly as microminis on a grown-up.
Long Haircuts
Except for one "disastrous" bob during pregnancy, Donna Bunte, 47, has had long hair all her life. "It makes me feel young and feminine, and my husband just adores it. It's layered now -- more contemporary looking -- but I can still pull it back when I want to."
The Best Long Haircuts
Layers: Cutting long, face-framing pieces into your hair is equivalent to wearing the hot jeans that make your legs look longer and slimmer. Layers have a softening effect that flatters your features and jawline.
Parts: A side part adds sophistication. Center parts work only if you have deep, full bangs or stick-straight hair. A slightly messy, off-center part works for everyone, and helps camouflage roots.
Fringe: Not only are bangs a Botox alternative, they also add instant style, dressing the face even when hair is pulled back into a lazy chignon or ponytail.
For fine hair: Grow it no longer than shoulder- or collarbone-length, or it will look skimpy. Thickening products or volumizers will add body at the roots; a protein shampoo can help build bulk. Try Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray ($19).
Blown straight: Heat straightening is a hair-health hazard. Minimize damage with a deep 3-minute conditioner like Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine ($4) twice a week.
Monday, April 14, 2008
No stress taxes
People like to quip that the only two givens in life are death and taxes, and it goes without saying that stress is a big part of both. This is understandable, at least as far as taxes are concerned.
Fortunately, taxes don’t have to be a major source of stress. (Really!) Here are some steps you can take to minimize tax stress for now and the future:
Know What You’re Doing
If you understand the process, doing your taxes is much easier. There are even some online resources that can help make the whole process much easier.
Start Early
Don’t save doing your taxes until the last minute. That only multiplies the stress you’ll feel! Set yourself a deadline for getting things done that’s at least a week or two earlier than your actual deadline. Even if you’re using a C.P.A., try having your portion of the work prepared before your C.P.A. needs it. The sooner you get it done, the less time you spend with the thought of taxes occupying your mind.
Take Baby Steps
If your tax situation is complicated, it might be best to break up the job into smaller parts, and tackle a little bit each night over the course of a week rather than taking up a whole chunk of a weekend day. So, unless you’re the type who needs some serious pressure to stay motivated to reach a goal, I recommend that you set a schedule for yourself and work for either a set amount of time or tackle a specific part of the job each night until it’s done.
Make It Fun
You don’t need to be working in a ‘library’ environment; you can set a fun mood in your workspace and the job may be more enjoyable. Put on some nice music, put out some candles, prepare some snacks, and just do it. You’ll still be doing taxes, but it can be a more sensual, relaxed experience.
Reward Yourself:
Once you’ve completed what you need to do for your taxes, reward yourself for a job well done by doing something you enjoy, or trying something new.
.
Professional Help
Unless your tax situation is very simple, you might want to reduce the stress of taxes by using a C.P.A. to prepare your taxes. While this doesn’t completely eliminate the work you need to do, it does reduce stress by minimizing your workload, and it’s reassuring to have someone who knows exactly what they’re doing in charge of the process. Depending on your situation, the expense of going with a C.P.A. may be offset or completely eclipsed by the money you save in deductions they can recommend and you may have missed.
Minimizing Next Year’s Stress:
If you maintain an organized system for keeping track of your tax records as they accrue throughout the year, you can make next year’s tax preparation process much easier. You may even experience less stress throughout the year knowing how much easier you’ll be making things for yourself.
Fortunately, taxes don’t have to be a major source of stress. (Really!) Here are some steps you can take to minimize tax stress for now and the future:
Know What You’re Doing
If you understand the process, doing your taxes is much easier. There are even some online resources that can help make the whole process much easier.
Start Early
Don’t save doing your taxes until the last minute. That only multiplies the stress you’ll feel! Set yourself a deadline for getting things done that’s at least a week or two earlier than your actual deadline. Even if you’re using a C.P.A., try having your portion of the work prepared before your C.P.A. needs it. The sooner you get it done, the less time you spend with the thought of taxes occupying your mind.
Take Baby Steps
If your tax situation is complicated, it might be best to break up the job into smaller parts, and tackle a little bit each night over the course of a week rather than taking up a whole chunk of a weekend day. So, unless you’re the type who needs some serious pressure to stay motivated to reach a goal, I recommend that you set a schedule for yourself and work for either a set amount of time or tackle a specific part of the job each night until it’s done.
Make It Fun
You don’t need to be working in a ‘library’ environment; you can set a fun mood in your workspace and the job may be more enjoyable. Put on some nice music, put out some candles, prepare some snacks, and just do it. You’ll still be doing taxes, but it can be a more sensual, relaxed experience.
Reward Yourself:
Once you’ve completed what you need to do for your taxes, reward yourself for a job well done by doing something you enjoy, or trying something new.
.
Professional Help
Unless your tax situation is very simple, you might want to reduce the stress of taxes by using a C.P.A. to prepare your taxes. While this doesn’t completely eliminate the work you need to do, it does reduce stress by minimizing your workload, and it’s reassuring to have someone who knows exactly what they’re doing in charge of the process. Depending on your situation, the expense of going with a C.P.A. may be offset or completely eclipsed by the money you save in deductions they can recommend and you may have missed.
Minimizing Next Year’s Stress:
If you maintain an organized system for keeping track of your tax records as they accrue throughout the year, you can make next year’s tax preparation process much easier. You may even experience less stress throughout the year knowing how much easier you’ll be making things for yourself.
Get your extension
April 15 Filing Deadline Approaching; Filing Extension, Last-Minute Reminders Available
April 15 is the deadline for filing a federal tax return. But not everybody can meet that deadline. If you need more time to get your paperwork in, make sure you file a Form 4868, Automatic Extension of Time to File, with the IRS by the April 15 deadline and you'll get an automatic six-month extension of time to file. The extension gives you until Oct. 15 to file the tax return.
Remember, a delay in filing your tax return will also delay your receipt of your economic stimulus payment, if you qualify to receive one, since payments are based on the tax return.
Note that an extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. You should pay any taxes you owe by April 15; otherwise, the outstanding tax balance will accrue interest and possibly penalties, increasing the total amount you will owe. If you can't pay the full amount that you owe by April 15, pay as much as you can to minimize the interest and penalty charges.
With the deadline approaching, our last-minute reminders may be helpful.
And visit 1040 Central, your one-stop shop for all your tax information needs.
April 15 is the deadline for filing a federal tax return. But not everybody can meet that deadline. If you need more time to get your paperwork in, make sure you file a Form 4868, Automatic Extension of Time to File, with the IRS by the April 15 deadline and you'll get an automatic six-month extension of time to file. The extension gives you until Oct. 15 to file the tax return.
Remember, a delay in filing your tax return will also delay your receipt of your economic stimulus payment, if you qualify to receive one, since payments are based on the tax return.
Note that an extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. You should pay any taxes you owe by April 15; otherwise, the outstanding tax balance will accrue interest and possibly penalties, increasing the total amount you will owe. If you can't pay the full amount that you owe by April 15, pay as much as you can to minimize the interest and penalty charges.
With the deadline approaching, our last-minute reminders may be helpful.
And visit 1040 Central, your one-stop shop for all your tax information needs.
Tax Facts
Tax Cheaters
Thirteen percent of Americans believe cheating on income taxes is acceptable, down from 17% in
2003 according to an IRS survey. Who do you know that cheats on taxes?
1. A friend (53%) 3. A co-worker (15%)
2. A family member (25%)
__________________________________
Have You Filed Your Taxes Yet?
You have until midnight tomorrow night to file your income tax return for 2007, but according to a TD
Ameritrade survey, only 11% of Americans wait until the last day to do their taxes. The survey found
that the more Americans earn, the earlier they file. When we file our taxes:
· 40% file their taxes in March or early April.
· 25% file “right away.”
· 17% file in February.
· 11% file on April 15th.
· 7% file after the April 15th deadline.
Thirteen percent of Americans believe cheating on income taxes is acceptable, down from 17% in
2003 according to an IRS survey. Who do you know that cheats on taxes?
1. A friend (53%) 3. A co-worker (15%)
2. A family member (25%)
__________________________________
Have You Filed Your Taxes Yet?
You have until midnight tomorrow night to file your income tax return for 2007, but according to a TD
Ameritrade survey, only 11% of Americans wait until the last day to do their taxes. The survey found
that the more Americans earn, the earlier they file. When we file our taxes:
· 40% file their taxes in March or early April.
· 25% file “right away.”
· 17% file in February.
· 11% file on April 15th.
· 7% file after the April 15th deadline.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Wine event
Join me as I host the 13th Annual Bank of America Wine and Culinary Celebration
April 11, 2008
The 13th Annual Bank of America Wine and Culinary Celebration will take place at the Museum of Discovery and Science on April 11, 2008 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event will feature a progressive sequence of wine and food pairings, each bound to delight, educate and entertain guests. Over 30 of South Florida’s top restaurants and chefs will be represented, as well as wines from wineries around the world, courtesy of Southern Wine and Spirits.
The event will also showcase a silent auction. VIP admission at 6 p.m. is $150 and includes a VIP martini reception, wine tasting seminars, plus VIP access to the Grand Tasting. General admission at 7:30 p.m. is $85. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call 954.713.0954. To purchase tickets on-line, please visit www.mods.org.
April 11, 2008
The 13th Annual Bank of America Wine and Culinary Celebration will take place at the Museum of Discovery and Science on April 11, 2008 from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The event will feature a progressive sequence of wine and food pairings, each bound to delight, educate and entertain guests. Over 30 of South Florida’s top restaurants and chefs will be represented, as well as wines from wineries around the world, courtesy of Southern Wine and Spirits.
The event will also showcase a silent auction. VIP admission at 6 p.m. is $150 and includes a VIP martini reception, wine tasting seminars, plus VIP access to the Grand Tasting. General admission at 7:30 p.m. is $85. To purchase tickets or for more information, please call 954.713.0954. To purchase tickets on-line, please visit www.mods.org.
Your best job
What was your favorite summer job when you were a kid?
I loved working at the snack bar in the roller skating rink in Springfield, Missouri. "Hot dog and a coke? No problem"
Jeff Martin was a magician. I'll bet there was a lot of hocus pocus from Mr. Potter.
I loved working at the snack bar in the roller skating rink in Springfield, Missouri. "Hot dog and a coke? No problem"
Jeff Martin was a magician. I'll bet there was a lot of hocus pocus from Mr. Potter.
New show for Oz
Oprah Winfrey's latest syndication project is the man dubbed by some as "America's Doctor."
According to Broadcasting and Cable, Winfrey's Harpo Productions is developing a show for Dr. Mehmet Oz, with a projected launch date of fall 2009. The format of the show is still undecided at this point. Dr. Oz, vice chair and professor of surgery at Columbia University and director of the Cardiovascular Institute at New York Presbyterian Hospital, is a regular guest on both Oprah's syndicated daytime TV show and her satellite radio show. The 47-year-old physician also hosts the Discovery Health program Second Opinion with Dr. Oz, and has co-written best-selling books like You: An Owner's Manual.
Harpo Productions has already created successful shows for Dr. Phil McGraw and Rachael Ray, with a Kirstie Alley-hosted program also in the works. In addition, Harpo and cable network Discovery Health are teaming to re-launch the latter as OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network in 2009.
According to Broadcasting and Cable, Winfrey's Harpo Productions is developing a show for Dr. Mehmet Oz, with a projected launch date of fall 2009. The format of the show is still undecided at this point. Dr. Oz, vice chair and professor of surgery at Columbia University and director of the Cardiovascular Institute at New York Presbyterian Hospital, is a regular guest on both Oprah's syndicated daytime TV show and her satellite radio show. The 47-year-old physician also hosts the Discovery Health program Second Opinion with Dr. Oz, and has co-written best-selling books like You: An Owner's Manual.
Harpo Productions has already created successful shows for Dr. Phil McGraw and Rachael Ray, with a Kirstie Alley-hosted program also in the works. In addition, Harpo and cable network Discovery Health are teaming to re-launch the latter as OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network in 2009.
Teens and jobs
Hey, teens, if you want to get a job this summer, you’d better start looking NOW!
A recent study by SnagaJob.com found that _half_ the hiring managers don’t have the budget to hire seasonal workers this year. 76% of those who _will_ hire seasonal workers, plan to fill the jobs by May.
With all the recent job cuts, more **adults** are applying for jobs that teens normally fill and they’re more likely to be hired. Companies see adults as being more responsible than teens, and know they won’t quit when school starts. So, how can _you_ land a summer job?
Here are a few job-hunting tips, courtesy of MSNBC:
* First, try job boards that specialize in summer work for teens.
Like TeenJobSection.com, JobDoggy.com, and GrooveJob.com.
* Another job hunting tip: Spend most of your time networking. Why?
Because 90% of job openings are never advertised. So, let everyone
know you’re looking for a job. Including your teachers, adult
friends of the family, and the parents of your friends. Don’t
forget to inform your contacts on sites like FaceBook.
* Also, consider working in a resort town or national park. Fewer
foreign student visas are being issued, which means fewer foreign
workers will apply for seasonal jobs.
* Another job hunt tip: Dress for success. Even if you’re applying
at an amusement park where everyone wears shorts, wear business
attire to the interview.
* Keep a positive attitude. Most hiring manager say that enthusiasm
and a willingness to learn are the biggest factors in determining
who gets hired and who doesn’t.
A recent study by SnagaJob.com found that _half_ the hiring managers don’t have the budget to hire seasonal workers this year. 76% of those who _will_ hire seasonal workers, plan to fill the jobs by May.
With all the recent job cuts, more **adults** are applying for jobs that teens normally fill and they’re more likely to be hired. Companies see adults as being more responsible than teens, and know they won’t quit when school starts. So, how can _you_ land a summer job?
Here are a few job-hunting tips, courtesy of MSNBC:
* First, try job boards that specialize in summer work for teens.
Like TeenJobSection.com, JobDoggy.com, and GrooveJob.com.
* Another job hunting tip: Spend most of your time networking. Why?
Because 90% of job openings are never advertised. So, let everyone
know you’re looking for a job. Including your teachers, adult
friends of the family, and the parents of your friends. Don’t
forget to inform your contacts on sites like FaceBook.
* Also, consider working in a resort town or national park. Fewer
foreign student visas are being issued, which means fewer foreign
workers will apply for seasonal jobs.
* Another job hunt tip: Dress for success. Even if you’re applying
at an amusement park where everyone wears shorts, wear business
attire to the interview.
* Keep a positive attitude. Most hiring manager say that enthusiasm
and a willingness to learn are the biggest factors in determining
who gets hired and who doesn’t.
Know these numbers
Here are some great numbers to remember, when it comes to your health!
The first health number: **2. **That’s the number of shot glasses’ worth of sunscreen you should slather on before heading outside. So says dermatologist Dr. Perry Robins. Studies show that repeated burns put you at serious risk for skin cancer, so you’ve gotta protect yourself! Also, wait //at least//30 minutes after applying your sunscreen before you go outside, to allow the active ingredients time to absorb into your skin.
Keeping with our "2" theme, don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen every
**2 hours**.
The next health number: **70. **As in, 70 degrees is the perfect bedroom temperature for getting maximum sleep. Why 70 degrees?Well, in order to trigger the production of sleep-inducing brain chemicals, your core body temperature needs to drop slightly at night. It usually drops by at least a degree from the temperature it is during waking hours. If your bedroom is too warm, you’ll keep waking up because your body will think it’s morning. So the Yale Center for Sleep Medicine says no matter what time of year it is, your bedroom should stay at the same temperature to ensure a restful night – and the ideal temperature is 70 degrees.
And one more health number: **500. **That’s the number of calories you’ll need to burn each day in order to lose **one pound **in a week.
Think trimming 500 calories a day is going to be too hard? Then know
this: If you take your dog for a 15-minute walk in the morning, skip your can of soda at lunch, and play 30 minutes of basketball with your buddies when you get home, you’re pretty much there.
The first health number: **2. **That’s the number of shot glasses’ worth of sunscreen you should slather on before heading outside. So says dermatologist Dr. Perry Robins. Studies show that repeated burns put you at serious risk for skin cancer, so you’ve gotta protect yourself! Also, wait //at least//30 minutes after applying your sunscreen before you go outside, to allow the active ingredients time to absorb into your skin.
Keeping with our "2" theme, don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen every
**2 hours**.
The next health number: **70. **As in, 70 degrees is the perfect bedroom temperature for getting maximum sleep. Why 70 degrees?Well, in order to trigger the production of sleep-inducing brain chemicals, your core body temperature needs to drop slightly at night. It usually drops by at least a degree from the temperature it is during waking hours. If your bedroom is too warm, you’ll keep waking up because your body will think it’s morning. So the Yale Center for Sleep Medicine says no matter what time of year it is, your bedroom should stay at the same temperature to ensure a restful night – and the ideal temperature is 70 degrees.
And one more health number: **500. **That’s the number of calories you’ll need to burn each day in order to lose **one pound **in a week.
Think trimming 500 calories a day is going to be too hard? Then know
this: If you take your dog for a 15-minute walk in the morning, skip your can of soda at lunch, and play 30 minutes of basketball with your buddies when you get home, you’re pretty much there.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Survive the dump
TIMELINE: HOW TO DEAL WITH BEING DUMPED
(Match.com)
One minute post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Violent tantrums, bursting into tears, acting dazed.
A better way to deal: Focus on yourself, notice your breathing, and attempt to slow things down in your body. Once you're calm, extract yourself from your now ex (ouch) so you can be alone -- or with friends -- to process the info.
One hour post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Trying to make yourself feel better -- eating three pints of Ben & Jerry's, drowning your sorrows in bourbon, going on a shopping spree, or calling your ex very late at night to make that "one last" point.
A better way to deal: Doing things to soothe your spirit is healthy, as long as you don't pick something that will make you feel worse afterwards. Positive choices include talking to a close friend who will just listen or going to the gym. The endorphins you get after a workout (or even a long walk) can help counterbalance waves of sadness.
One day post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Being impulsive! You feel the sudden urge to call an ex, ask out 50 people online, get a tattoo, or cut off all your hair.
A better way to deal: Recognize the tendency to do something impulsive, but don't act on it. No one likes to be rejected, but getting a Mohawk isn't going to help.
Three days post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Crawling in a hole, never leaving your bed, listening to "your song" on repeat.
A better way to deal: Focus on getting rest, eating well and taking care of yourself, because you've had part of you ripped out of your life. Sticking to a routine that helps you stay occupied is smart.
One week post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Dialing your ex, logging into his or her email, obsessively checking your phone for messages, looking to see if his/her profile is reposted online.
A better way to deal: Resist picking apart all the reasons your ex gave you for the breakup and thinking you can work your way back into his or her life if you just change that one little thing. It really helps to say, 'I'm going to grow from this no matter what.'
Two weeks post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Clinging to reminders of what it was like to be a couple, reminiscing about the bliss of being in a relationship, thinking you'll never love again.
A better way to deal: This is the time to start clearing out "ex" reminders. Put photos away, delete your emails, rearrange your bedroom so you don't relive memories when you look at things, etc.
One month post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Trying to forget that this misery-making person was ever in your life. Who needs 'em?
A better way to deal: Before you forget about your ex entirely, take a little time (now that you have some distance) to think more about him or her. Not to win him or her back, but to make some sense of the relationship and avoid repeating its mistakes.
(Match.com)
One minute post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Violent tantrums, bursting into tears, acting dazed.
A better way to deal: Focus on yourself, notice your breathing, and attempt to slow things down in your body. Once you're calm, extract yourself from your now ex (ouch) so you can be alone -- or with friends -- to process the info.
One hour post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Trying to make yourself feel better -- eating three pints of Ben & Jerry's, drowning your sorrows in bourbon, going on a shopping spree, or calling your ex very late at night to make that "one last" point.
A better way to deal: Doing things to soothe your spirit is healthy, as long as you don't pick something that will make you feel worse afterwards. Positive choices include talking to a close friend who will just listen or going to the gym. The endorphins you get after a workout (or even a long walk) can help counterbalance waves of sadness.
One day post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Being impulsive! You feel the sudden urge to call an ex, ask out 50 people online, get a tattoo, or cut off all your hair.
A better way to deal: Recognize the tendency to do something impulsive, but don't act on it. No one likes to be rejected, but getting a Mohawk isn't going to help.
Three days post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Crawling in a hole, never leaving your bed, listening to "your song" on repeat.
A better way to deal: Focus on getting rest, eating well and taking care of yourself, because you've had part of you ripped out of your life. Sticking to a routine that helps you stay occupied is smart.
One week post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Dialing your ex, logging into his or her email, obsessively checking your phone for messages, looking to see if his/her profile is reposted online.
A better way to deal: Resist picking apart all the reasons your ex gave you for the breakup and thinking you can work your way back into his or her life if you just change that one little thing. It really helps to say, 'I'm going to grow from this no matter what.'
Two weeks post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Clinging to reminders of what it was like to be a couple, reminiscing about the bliss of being in a relationship, thinking you'll never love again.
A better way to deal: This is the time to start clearing out "ex" reminders. Put photos away, delete your emails, rearrange your bedroom so you don't relive memories when you look at things, etc.
One month post-breakup
What you'll feel like doing: Trying to forget that this misery-making person was ever in your life. Who needs 'em?
A better way to deal: Before you forget about your ex entirely, take a little time (now that you have some distance) to think more about him or her. Not to win him or her back, but to make some sense of the relationship and avoid repeating its mistakes.
The cost of tears
THE HIGH COST OF CRYING AT WORK
(Women's Health)
You get... Kleenex, Visine, and makeup remover Because... You'll need these products to mop up the water show you just put on. You pay... $15
You get... No promotion Because... If stress caused your tears, the boss may not think you can handle more responsibility. Forget the 10 percent raise. You pay... $6,716
You get... A trip to the cardiologist Because... Built-up emotional stress can result in higher blood pressure and cholesterol, which ups your risk of heart disease. You pay... $60
You get... Cell phone bill Because... Minutes of sobbing to your boyfriend, mother, and best friend from the parking lot will add up. Darn those peak hours. You pay... $100
You get... i-Tunes Because... Just in case another crying bout strikes, you'll need something to muffle the sobs coming from your office. You pay... $50
You get... Cardio Kickboxing Class Because... Punching and kicking will help you take out your frustrations and put you back in control. You pay... $18
You get... One-year gold membership to vault.com Because... After losing out on a big promotion, the best job advice may be to get a new one. You pay... $72
TOTAL: $7,031
(Women's Health)
You get... Kleenex, Visine, and makeup remover Because... You'll need these products to mop up the water show you just put on. You pay... $15
You get... No promotion Because... If stress caused your tears, the boss may not think you can handle more responsibility. Forget the 10 percent raise. You pay... $6,716
You get... A trip to the cardiologist Because... Built-up emotional stress can result in higher blood pressure and cholesterol, which ups your risk of heart disease. You pay... $60
You get... Cell phone bill Because... Minutes of sobbing to your boyfriend, mother, and best friend from the parking lot will add up. Darn those peak hours. You pay... $100
You get... i-Tunes Because... Just in case another crying bout strikes, you'll need something to muffle the sobs coming from your office. You pay... $50
You get... Cardio Kickboxing Class Because... Punching and kicking will help you take out your frustrations and put you back in control. You pay... $18
You get... One-year gold membership to vault.com Because... After losing out on a big promotion, the best job advice may be to get a new one. You pay... $72
TOTAL: $7,031
Primary colors and more
The Crayola 64 Box is turning the big 5-0 and Crayola is changing things up. Wild Watermelon is
now Awesome. That’s just one of the name changes of eight colors in the Crayola 64 box that was
announced yesterday at the Toys R Us in Times Square in New York City. More than 20,000 kids
picked the names in an online poll. The old names followed by the new names:
Laser Lemon – Super Happy
Turquoise Blue – Happy Ever After
Wild Tangerine – Fun In The Sun
Hot Magenta – Famous
Screamin’ Green – Giving Tree
Orchid – Best Friends
Beaver – Bear Hug
Wild Watermelon – Awesome
Some Crayola 64 Box fun facts:
· The Crayola 64 Box made its debut in 1958 on the “Captain Kangaroo Show.”
· More than 200 million Crayola 64 Boxes have been sold over the last 50 years. The 12.8 billion
crayons inside would circle the earth 24 times.
· An original 64 Box was added to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in 1998,
the same year it was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.· The most popular color inside the Crayola 64 Box is blue.
now Awesome. That’s just one of the name changes of eight colors in the Crayola 64 box that was
announced yesterday at the Toys R Us in Times Square in New York City. More than 20,000 kids
picked the names in an online poll. The old names followed by the new names:
Laser Lemon – Super Happy
Turquoise Blue – Happy Ever After
Wild Tangerine – Fun In The Sun
Hot Magenta – Famous
Screamin’ Green – Giving Tree
Orchid – Best Friends
Beaver – Bear Hug
Wild Watermelon – Awesome
Some Crayola 64 Box fun facts:
· The Crayola 64 Box made its debut in 1958 on the “Captain Kangaroo Show.”
· More than 200 million Crayola 64 Boxes have been sold over the last 50 years. The 12.8 billion
crayons inside would circle the earth 24 times.
· An original 64 Box was added to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in 1998,
the same year it was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.· The most popular color inside the Crayola 64 Box is blue.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Save Starbucks
You know better than anyone else what you want from Starbucks. So tell them. What’s your Starbucks Idea? Revolutionary or simple—they want to hear it. Share your ideas, tell them what you think of other people’s ideas and join the discussion.
So pour yourself a cup of ...uh...coffee and check out the site.
So pour yourself a cup of ...uh...coffee and check out the site.
Is white okay
Before Queen Victoria set the trend with a white wedding gown in 1840, most brides wore their best dress—in any color—on their wedding day. In the years following Victoria ’s and Albert’s royal wedding, white came to symbolize purity—a tradition that prompted heated debate over whether encore brides could wear white.
In today’s fashion world, the answer is a resounding “yes”! Regarded as a symbol of joy instead of virginity; white is a perfect color for dresses for a second wedding. Pastels and ivory are also popular color choices for your second wedding dress.
In today’s fashion world, the answer is a resounding “yes”! Regarded as a symbol of joy instead of virginity; white is a perfect color for dresses for a second wedding. Pastels and ivory are also popular color choices for your second wedding dress.
Wedding again
Second Wedding Etiquette Advice and Help for Second Marriages
Not that long ago, popular thought dictated that second weddings should not be elaborate, formal or extravagant; rather, one should aim for smaller, quieter and more intimate. Today, however, more than 30 percent of today’s weddings are encore weddings and decidedly more commonplace. The focus is on celebrating two people who have found each other, discovering love again and embarking on a new beginning. In truth, celebrations can be as elaborate or as intimate as we desire, without fearing social stigma.
Not that long ago, popular thought dictated that second weddings should not be elaborate, formal or extravagant; rather, one should aim for smaller, quieter and more intimate. Today, however, more than 30 percent of today’s weddings are encore weddings and decidedly more commonplace. The focus is on celebrating two people who have found each other, discovering love again and embarking on a new beginning. In truth, celebrations can be as elaborate or as intimate as we desire, without fearing social stigma.
I do take 2
WED-nesday's focus is on "I do take 2"
Do you think you'll ever walk down the isle again?
Do you think you'll ever walk down the isle again?
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Prom and circumstance
How are today's high school prom's differnet than when you went to the dance?
Keep kids safe!
On prom night, you'll want your teen to have as much fun as possible. You'll also want them to be as safe as possible. From hiring a driver to having post-prom chaperones, these five ideas will keep your teen protected and help contain your worrying so that everyone can have a fun and relaxing prom night.
Hire an All-Night Chauffeur
Driving at all hours of the night can be dangerous, especially on prom night with an increased number of teen drivers. Keep your child protected by hiring a limo for the whole evening. Yes, it will be costly, but you can't put a price on safety -- have other parents chip in. This will ensure that your teen won't be out on the roads all night, there will be a more experienced driver on hand to deal with problems, and they'll have a safe ride home and to other locations. Another key factor is drinking and driving. We all hope our kids don't drink, but it's better to be on the safe side. Most limo companies have teens sign a contract that they won't drink or do drugs. The driver is in no way a babysitter or in charge of what your teen does; however, you can instruct the driver that he/she is only to drive them to certain places and to call if they get out of hand or appear to be drinking. Also, stress that your teen can call you anytime and anywhere if there's a problem -- no questions asked.
Assign a Young Adult as Chaperone
Having a parent chaperone the post-prom party can be a buzz kill for teens. Give them a little freedom while still keeping a close eye by eliciting an older, responsible young adult to tag along. Older brothers and sisters are a great start, or try a responsible relative -- the teens will trust them, and the chaperones will allow the teens to have the right amount of fun without crossing the line. Get the group together before prom to set all the ground rules and consequences for breaking them.
Sign Up for the Post-Prom Party
Post-prom parties hosted by schools are becoming bigger and better every year with rocking bands, giveaways, activities, games, and more. Teens come armed with pillows and sleeping bags, and the school provides a night of entertainment (with chaperones) followed by a big breakfast in the morning. If your teen signs up for the post-prom party but doesn't show up, parents are notified immediately. Once a teen is inside, they're not allowed to leave (unless a parent gives the chaperone permission).
Get to Know Their Friends
Friends are very important to teens, so it's crucial to get to know their pals and their date. Have them over to your house for a pre-prom party, movie night, or dinner -- you can even extend the invite to the parents. The more parents you have looking out for your teen, the better. If your son or daughter is hanging out with someone you don't approve of, talk about it with them and explain your concerns in a civil way. You may not be able to prevent them from hanging out together at prom, but you'll feel better once you set boundaries for your own teen.
Set Some Ground Rules
You may not want to think of yourself as being overprotective, but when it comes to prom, the more questions you ask, the less surprises you'll have to face. Before prom, make sure you talk to your son or daughter about drugs, alcohol, sex, and the consequences. Set check-in call times and get a copy of the itinerary for prom night so you know where they'll be at all times. It also doesn't hurt to team up with other parents to keep an eye on each other's teens, especially if they're attending a post-prom party at a friend's house.
Keep kids safe!
On prom night, you'll want your teen to have as much fun as possible. You'll also want them to be as safe as possible. From hiring a driver to having post-prom chaperones, these five ideas will keep your teen protected and help contain your worrying so that everyone can have a fun and relaxing prom night.
Hire an All-Night Chauffeur
Driving at all hours of the night can be dangerous, especially on prom night with an increased number of teen drivers. Keep your child protected by hiring a limo for the whole evening. Yes, it will be costly, but you can't put a price on safety -- have other parents chip in. This will ensure that your teen won't be out on the roads all night, there will be a more experienced driver on hand to deal with problems, and they'll have a safe ride home and to other locations. Another key factor is drinking and driving. We all hope our kids don't drink, but it's better to be on the safe side. Most limo companies have teens sign a contract that they won't drink or do drugs. The driver is in no way a babysitter or in charge of what your teen does; however, you can instruct the driver that he/she is only to drive them to certain places and to call if they get out of hand or appear to be drinking. Also, stress that your teen can call you anytime and anywhere if there's a problem -- no questions asked.
Assign a Young Adult as Chaperone
Having a parent chaperone the post-prom party can be a buzz kill for teens. Give them a little freedom while still keeping a close eye by eliciting an older, responsible young adult to tag along. Older brothers and sisters are a great start, or try a responsible relative -- the teens will trust them, and the chaperones will allow the teens to have the right amount of fun without crossing the line. Get the group together before prom to set all the ground rules and consequences for breaking them.
Sign Up for the Post-Prom Party
Post-prom parties hosted by schools are becoming bigger and better every year with rocking bands, giveaways, activities, games, and more. Teens come armed with pillows and sleeping bags, and the school provides a night of entertainment (with chaperones) followed by a big breakfast in the morning. If your teen signs up for the post-prom party but doesn't show up, parents are notified immediately. Once a teen is inside, they're not allowed to leave (unless a parent gives the chaperone permission).
Get to Know Their Friends
Friends are very important to teens, so it's crucial to get to know their pals and their date. Have them over to your house for a pre-prom party, movie night, or dinner -- you can even extend the invite to the parents. The more parents you have looking out for your teen, the better. If your son or daughter is hanging out with someone you don't approve of, talk about it with them and explain your concerns in a civil way. You may not be able to prevent them from hanging out together at prom, but you'll feel better once you set boundaries for your own teen.
Set Some Ground Rules
You may not want to think of yourself as being overprotective, but when it comes to prom, the more questions you ask, the less surprises you'll have to face. Before prom, make sure you talk to your son or daughter about drugs, alcohol, sex, and the consequences. Set check-in call times and get a copy of the itinerary for prom night so you know where they'll be at all times. It also doesn't hurt to team up with other parents to keep an eye on each other's teens, especially if they're attending a post-prom party at a friend's house.
Proms over the top
Today's Proms are More Like Practice Weddings
Gone are the days when a high school prom meant a home-made dress, a corsage, and a car borrowed from somebody’s dad. Today’s proms are more like practice weddings – multiple-event extravaganzas designed to spread the fun out as long as possible. According to USA Today, the average couple spends about $1-thousand bucks on the prom. And the hair, clothes, and spray tans are just the beginning.
There are also pre-dance parades, and steak “rehearsal” dinners the night before. As well as fancy rides, like a horse and carriage, limousine, or even a helicopter. Then, students strut their stuff down an Oscar-worthy red carpet before a cheering, picture-taking audience that includes friends, neighbors and parents. Then, after the band has packed up and gone, there’s after-hours entertainment, like hypnotists, lounge acts, and celebrity impersonators. Followed by “after-after” parties, like all-night bowling, followed by an after-prom breakfast. And most of the time, local businesses sponsor the after-parties. Why? To keep kids out of trouble. They figure if every kid’s invited to all the “cool parties,” they’ll be less likely to throw their own rowdy, hotel-suite soirees. Here are a few prom-related events from around the country:
In Palmyra, New Jersey, students attended a free roller skating and soccer party until 4:00 a.m., before heading home with prizes.
At Big Horn High School in Wyoming, students have a pre-prom “grand march”. Basically, a parade where students are presented to the town, along with biographical tidbits like whether they used teeth whitening strips to prepare for the party.
And in Gates Mill, Ohio, the planning for complicated after-prom celebrations starts at the beginning of the school year. A recent extravaganza included a dance at the Cleveland Browns Stadium, dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, and prizes like TVs and tickets to Browns games.
Gone are the days when a high school prom meant a home-made dress, a corsage, and a car borrowed from somebody’s dad. Today’s proms are more like practice weddings – multiple-event extravaganzas designed to spread the fun out as long as possible. According to USA Today, the average couple spends about $1-thousand bucks on the prom. And the hair, clothes, and spray tans are just the beginning.
There are also pre-dance parades, and steak “rehearsal” dinners the night before. As well as fancy rides, like a horse and carriage, limousine, or even a helicopter. Then, students strut their stuff down an Oscar-worthy red carpet before a cheering, picture-taking audience that includes friends, neighbors and parents. Then, after the band has packed up and gone, there’s after-hours entertainment, like hypnotists, lounge acts, and celebrity impersonators. Followed by “after-after” parties, like all-night bowling, followed by an after-prom breakfast. And most of the time, local businesses sponsor the after-parties. Why? To keep kids out of trouble. They figure if every kid’s invited to all the “cool parties,” they’ll be less likely to throw their own rowdy, hotel-suite soirees. Here are a few prom-related events from around the country:
In Palmyra, New Jersey, students attended a free roller skating and soccer party until 4:00 a.m., before heading home with prizes.
At Big Horn High School in Wyoming, students have a pre-prom “grand march”. Basically, a parade where students are presented to the town, along with biographical tidbits like whether they used teeth whitening strips to prepare for the party.
And in Gates Mill, Ohio, the planning for complicated after-prom celebrations starts at the beginning of the school year. A recent extravaganza included a dance at the Cleveland Browns Stadium, dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, and prizes like TVs and tickets to Browns games.
Alterna-prom
It's Prom Season
And all across North America, happy, well-dressed kids are spilling out of limos and buses on their way to an end-of-the-year dance. Of course, not every school sanctions proms – often because of safety concerns. During prom weekend in 2004, nearly half of the traffic deaths among 15 to 20-year-olds involved alcohol. So, groups have started offering alternatives called “Alterna-Proms.” That way kids can still kick up their heels and celebrate, but in a safer, more-controlled environment. Here are some recent end-of-the-year events we read about in Family Circle magazine:
The Senior-Senior Prom in Portland, Oregon. It brought together members of the senior class and elderly local citizens for a night of dancing, mutual understanding, and shattered stereotypes.
No Prom for Darfur. Kids in Cape Cod, Massachusetts used the money they would’ve spent on a prom – between $600 and $1,000 dollars per couple – and donated it to fight genocide in the Sudan in Africa. They had a 3 hour dance, and set up tables so students could write letters and sign anti-genocide petitions.
The Prim Prom in San Ramon, California. Put on by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it promised modest attire, proper etiquette, music with clean lyrics and no suggestive “freak” dancing that’s becoming popular with kids.
In San Antonio, Texas, the Two Worlds Prom added Muslim culture to the school dance. Boys and girls partied in the same space but separately. Traditional foods were served. And at one point, the evening’s celebrations were halted for prayers.
Finally, one school held a traditional prom that was actually very different for them. For the first time in history, Turner County High School in Georgia had their first non-segregated, school-sponsored prom - instead of separate parties outside of school for black and white students, they all danced together at their own school in harmony.
And all across North America, happy, well-dressed kids are spilling out of limos and buses on their way to an end-of-the-year dance. Of course, not every school sanctions proms – often because of safety concerns. During prom weekend in 2004, nearly half of the traffic deaths among 15 to 20-year-olds involved alcohol. So, groups have started offering alternatives called “Alterna-Proms.” That way kids can still kick up their heels and celebrate, but in a safer, more-controlled environment. Here are some recent end-of-the-year events we read about in Family Circle magazine:
The Senior-Senior Prom in Portland, Oregon. It brought together members of the senior class and elderly local citizens for a night of dancing, mutual understanding, and shattered stereotypes.
No Prom for Darfur. Kids in Cape Cod, Massachusetts used the money they would’ve spent on a prom – between $600 and $1,000 dollars per couple – and donated it to fight genocide in the Sudan in Africa. They had a 3 hour dance, and set up tables so students could write letters and sign anti-genocide petitions.
The Prim Prom in San Ramon, California. Put on by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, it promised modest attire, proper etiquette, music with clean lyrics and no suggestive “freak” dancing that’s becoming popular with kids.
In San Antonio, Texas, the Two Worlds Prom added Muslim culture to the school dance. Boys and girls partied in the same space but separately. Traditional foods were served. And at one point, the evening’s celebrations were halted for prayers.
Finally, one school held a traditional prom that was actually very different for them. For the first time in history, Turner County High School in Georgia had their first non-segregated, school-sponsored prom - instead of separate parties outside of school for black and white students, they all danced together at their own school in harmony.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Jonesing for Jones
The new Indiana Jones movie doesn't open until Memorial weekend but if you're jonesing for Indy items now, you can order action figures, hats, statues and all kinds of other stuff. Indianajonesshop.com is open for business.
Put FUN in reFUNd
10 funny tips for spending your tax refund
More than half of Americans say they'll put their tax refunds into savings, and the rest say they'll pay off debt, do home improvements or give it to charity.
How Americans actually use their tax refunds -- shows this breakdown: 34% will spend it on "the newest model of iPod. Every year. Forever."
Another 20% will go for pay-per-view wrestling, 19% for Hannah Montana concert tickets, 9% for "personalized celebrity recording for answering machine," and it just gets worse from there.
What are some ways to use that refund that aren't so ridiculous? The funniest personal-finance blogger on the Internet has some advice for you.
We'll start with No. 10. "For the eternally single folks out there who, through no fault of their own (*cough* incredible unattractiveness *cough*), have not found the right person for them, I have just two words: Russian brides," he writes.
No. 9 is filling the pantry. "Cereal 10 for $10? Buy 100 boxes! Steak for $2 a pound? Buy the cow! You'll save money as well as time you won't have to spend looking for deals on those items for a while."
Improve your health is No. 6. "For example, if you sleep on a bed of straw, upgrade to a decent mattress," he advises.
No. 5 is getting some culture. "Grab yourself some tickets to a Broadway show, a symphony, or something else entertaining and sophisticated.
No. 1 is probably the best: "Save it anyway, dingus."
More than half of Americans say they'll put their tax refunds into savings, and the rest say they'll pay off debt, do home improvements or give it to charity.
How Americans actually use their tax refunds -- shows this breakdown: 34% will spend it on "the newest model of iPod. Every year. Forever."
Another 20% will go for pay-per-view wrestling, 19% for Hannah Montana concert tickets, 9% for "personalized celebrity recording for answering machine," and it just gets worse from there.
What are some ways to use that refund that aren't so ridiculous? The funniest personal-finance blogger on the Internet has some advice for you.
We'll start with No. 10. "For the eternally single folks out there who, through no fault of their own (*cough* incredible unattractiveness *cough*), have not found the right person for them, I have just two words: Russian brides," he writes.
No. 9 is filling the pantry. "Cereal 10 for $10? Buy 100 boxes! Steak for $2 a pound? Buy the cow! You'll save money as well as time you won't have to spend looking for deals on those items for a while."
Improve your health is No. 6. "For example, if you sleep on a bed of straw, upgrade to a decent mattress," he advises.
No. 5 is getting some culture. "Grab yourself some tickets to a Broadway show, a symphony, or something else entertaining and sophisticated.
No. 1 is probably the best: "Save it anyway, dingus."
Who's got the remote
Tech Battle Of The Sexes
Women are outracing men in adopting some technology, especially gadgets and services that offer scheduling convenience, according to a survey for Solutions Research Group. More women are streaming shows from TV network sites – 15% compared with 11% of men. Women also use their digital video recorders, like TiVo, more often than men, about 9.3 times a week vs . 8.3 times. DVRowning women with kids watch 56% of their TV after it has been recorded, vs. 42% for men.
Men still dominate many tech categories, including video downloading and console gaming. But about as many women as men are playing PC games, as well as networking socially and shopping online.
Women are outracing men in adopting some technology, especially gadgets and services that offer scheduling convenience, according to a survey for Solutions Research Group. More women are streaming shows from TV network sites – 15% compared with 11% of men. Women also use their digital video recorders, like TiVo, more often than men, about 9.3 times a week vs . 8.3 times. DVRowning women with kids watch 56% of their TV after it has been recorded, vs. 42% for men.
Men still dominate many tech categories, including video downloading and console gaming. But about as many women as men are playing PC games, as well as networking socially and shopping online.
The passing of a legend
President George W. Bush led tributes to Charlton Heston yesterday after the Hollywood icon died at his home in Beverly Hills on Saturday. He was 84. Heston revealed in 2002 he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Bush hailed Heston as “one of the most successful actors in movie history and a strong advocate for liberty.” In addition to appearing in many movies, including “The Ten Commandments,” Heston also ran the National Rifle Association.
What do you remember most about Charlton Heston?
What do you remember most about Charlton Heston?
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