101 Ways To Success

101 Fun Romantic Date Ideas & First Date Ideas

2013-10-06T21:54:00.001-07:00

A date at your favorite coffee shop
A date at the local park
A romantic picnic date
A date to a baseball game
A romantic afternoon walk together
A date to fly a kite together
A date at the beach on a sunny day
A putt-putt golf date
A horseback riding date
A canoing date
A date to a soccer game
A romantic camping trip date
A date to a classic car show
A date to the local spa to pamper each other
A date to the local zoo
A date running a marathon or jogging together
A date at a high-class cocktail lounge or restaurant
A date to test-drive new cars together
A date to a volleyball game
A date to learn to para-sail together
A date cooking a romantic meal together
A date to meet each other’s family members
A date at the local museum
A date to the county fair
A birdwatching date
A date to pick fruit together at a local orchard
A date to take your kids, nieces or nephews to the park
A roller-blading or rollerskating date
A date to a football game
A date to tour new homes together
A date to learn to scuba dive together
A date to carve pumpkins together for Halloween
A date to the local flea market
A date to ride a romantic ferris wheel together
A date to look at flowers at the local greenhouse
A date to watch a romantic DVD or video together at home
A date to go on a hiking trip together
A date to play a round at the local golf course
A romantic dinner date at a four-star restaurant
A whitewater rafting date
A date to window shop at a nice shopping center
A date to go fishing together
A date to a basketball game
A date to a local art gallery
A date to color eggs together for Easter
A romantic tour of local historic places
A date to build a snowman together
A date at the first place you ever went out together
A date to a local air-show
A rock-climbing date
A date at the local mall arcade to play games together
A date to buy ice-cream on a hot day
A date to go to your local comedy club for some laughs
A date to pick wildflowers together
A date to tour local college campuses
A date to a hockey game
A date to an aquarium
A date to go boating together on a nice, clear day
A date to learn surfing together at the beach
A date to a play or a live stage show
The classic “dinner and a movie” date
A romantic afternoon sharing old pictures from your childhood
A date to the planetarium or science center
A date to a carnival
An afternoon sightseeing drive on a nice day
A date to a batting cage
A romantic ride in a horse-drawn carriage
A date to your local bookstore
A date to the pet store to pick out a pet together
A date to a boxing match
A date to the gym to exercise together
A date to a karaoke bar for some singing
A date to build a sandcastle together at the beach
A date to wash your cars together
A date to the horse-racing track
A date to your local pool or swimming hole
A go-cart riding date
A date to a romantic movie
A date to go shopping for new clothes together
A date to a downtown nightclub or dance club
A date to walk your dogs together
A date to a stock car race
A date to go target shooting or a shooting range together
A date to read to each other at the park on a nice day
An overnight date at a nearby bed-and-breakfast
A date to a local antique shop
A romantic sledding date on a snowy day
A date to a wishing well to make wishes together
A date to a wrestling match
A date to a local winery
A date to go bungee jumping together
A date to a friend or family member’s wedding
A date to local garage sales to go treasure hunting
A hunting date
A date to go skydiving together
A date to listen to the symphony together
A romantic hot air balloon ride
A date to play Frisbee together at the park
A date to a local amusement park to ride roller coasters
A date to a rock concert
A date to the casino to learn a new game together

Source: www.romancetracker.com/101-great-romantic-date-ideas/

101 Ways How to Become More Creative

2013-10-05T23:29:00.000-07:00

1. Take a walk and look for something interesting.
2. Make metaphorical-analogical connections between that something interesting and your problem.
3. Open a dictionary and find a new word. Use it in a sentence.
4. Make a connection between the word and your problem.
5. How is an iceberg like an idea that might help you solve your problem?
6. Create the dumbest idea you can.
7. Ask a child.
8. Create a prayer asking for help with your problem.
9. What does the sky taste like?
10. Create an idea that will get you fired.
11. Read a different newspaper. If you read the Wall Street Journal, read the Washington Post.
12. What else is like the problem? What other ideas does it suggest?
13. What or who can you copy?
14. What is your most bizarre idea?
15. List all the things that bug you.
16. Take a different route to work.
17. Make up and sing a song about the problem while taking a shower.
18. Listen to a different radio station each day.
19. Ask the most creative person you know.
20. Ask the least creative person you know.
21. Make up new words that describe the problem. E.g., “Warm hugs” to describe a motivation problem and “Painted rain” to describe changing customer perceptions.
22. Doodle
23. What is the essence of the problem? Can you find parallel examples of the essence in other worlds?
24. Go for a drive with the windows open. Listen and smell as you drive.
25. Combine your ideas?
26. How can a bee help you solve the problem?
27. Write your ideas on index cards. One idea per card.
28. Give yourself an idea quota of 40 ideas.
29. What can you combine?
30. Can you substitute something?
31. Which of two objects, a salt shaker or a bottle of ketchup best represents your problem? Why?
32. What can you add?
33. What one word represents the problem?
34. Draw an abstract symbol that best represents the problem.
35. Think of a two-word book title that best represents the problem. E.g., if the problem concerns receptivity to change a suggested book title could be Involuntary Willingness.
36. Write a table of contents for a book about the problem.
37. Ask the person you like least for ideas.
38. What is the opposite of your idea?
39. Imagine your idea and its opposite existing simultaneously.
40. Daydream.
41. Draw abstract symbols to describe the problem.
42. Think out loud. Verbalize your thinking out loud about the problem.
43. List 20 ideas or thoughts into two columns of 10. Randomly connect ideas from column 1 to column 2. Combine the ideas to see what you get.
44. How would Abraham Lincoln approach the problem?
45. Write the alphabet backwards.
46. How would a college professor perceive it?
47. How would an artist perceive it? A risk-taking entrepreneur? A priest?
48. Imagine you are at a nudist beach in Tahiti. How could talking with nudists help you with the problem?
49. Can you find the ideas you need in the clouds?
50. Eat spaghetti with chopsticks.
51. Make the strange familiar.
52. Make the familiar strange.
53. What if you were the richest person on earth? How will the money help you solve the problem?
54. If you could have three wishes to help you solve the problem, what would they be?
55. Wear purple underwear for inspiration
56. Write a letter to your subconscious mind about the problem.
57. How would George Clooney solve the problem?
58. Forget the problem. Come back to it in three days.
59. Look at the problem from, at least, three different perspectives.
60. Imagine the problem is solved. Work backwards from the solution to where you are now.
61. How would the problem be solved 100 years from now.
62. Think about it before you go to sleep.
63. When you wake write down everything you can remember about your dreams. Next, try to make metaphorical-analogical connections between your dreams and the problem.
64. Imagine you are on national television. Explain your ideas on how to solve the problem.
65. What one object or thing best symbolizes the problem? Keep the object on your desk to constantly remind you about the problem.
66. List all the words that come to mind while thinking about the problem. Are there any themes? Interesting words? Surprises?
67. What if ants could help you solve the problem? What are the parallels between ants and humans that can help?
68. Create a walk that physically represents your problem.
69. Talk to a stranger.
70. Keep a written record of all your ideas. Review them weekly. Can you cross-fertilize your ideas?
71. How would an Olympic gold medal winner approach the problem?
72. Read a poem and relate it to the problem. What new thoughts does the poem inspire?
73. What associations can you make between your problem and an oil spill?
74. If your problem were a garden, what would be the weeds.
75. Change your daily routines. If you drink coffee, change to tea.
76. List your assumptions and then reverse them. Can you make the reversals into new ideas?
77. Make something that symbolizes the problem and bury it.
78. Draw the problem with your eyes closed.
79. Create a dance that represents your problem.
80. Mind map your problem.
81. Become a dreamer and create fantasies that will solve the problem.
82. Become a realist and imaginer your fantasies into workable ideas.
83. Complete “How can I _____?” Then change the words five different ways.
84. Suspend logic and think freely and fluidly.
85. Learn to tolerate ambiguity.
86. What have you learned from your failures? What have you discovered that you didn’t set out to discover?
87. Make connections between subjects in different domains. Banking + cars = drive in banking.
88. Immerse yourself in the problem. Imagine you are the problem. What would you feel?
89. What are the parallels between your problem and the Viet Nam war.
90. Hang out with people from diverse backgrounds.
91. Create a funny story out of the problem.
92. Make analogies between your problem and nature.
93. Imagine you are the opposite sex. Now how do you perceive the problem?
94. Force yourself to smile all day.
95. Use mashed potatoes to make a sculpture of the problem.
96. Sit outside and count the stars.
97. Walk through a grocery store and metaphorically connect what you see with the problem.
98. How would you explain the problem to a six year old child?
99. Cut out interesting magazine and newspaper pictures. Then arrange and paste them on a board making a collage that represents the problem.
100. Write a six word book that describes your progress on the problem. E.,g, "At present all thoughts are gray," “I am still not seeing everything.”
101. Still can’t find the answer? Buy a copy of Thinkertoys: A Handbook of

Creative Thinking Techniques.

- See more at: http://www.creativitypost.com/create/101_tips_on_how_to_become_more_creative#sthash.RfV9qTcW.dpuf

101 Ways To Make Ideas Happen

2013-09-28T23:22:00.000-07:00

Press send.
Post it to Facebook.
Post it to Twitter.
Post it to Instagram.
Send out an email blast.
Add it to Pinterest.
Turn off the TV.
Quit second guessing yourself.
Step out the front door. With your running shoes on.
Say yes to something new.
Say no to something old.
Tell the world.
Go.
Set a timer for ten minutes, and just start.
Make a list. Cross the low-priority stuff off.
Prioritize life.
Dream big. No. Bigger.
Lean into discomfort.
Create a challenge.
Write a manifesto.
Be ok with your flaws.
Say yes to imperfection.
Find beauty in the small things.
Count your blessings.
Change everything.
Ask for help.
Go ugly early.
Take responsibility.
Quit waiting around. Ask yourself, “What’s the worst thing that could happen?”
Get over yourself.
Be a cheerleader.
Create a community.
Share your knowledge.
Design a logo, just for yourself. Even if you’re not a designer.
Name your idea.
Start a movement.
Champion a cause.
Whatever you do, be consistent about it.
Quit looking at the competition.
Appreciate everyone.
Treat everyone equally, but know your boundaries.
Quit being such a fraidy cat.
Stop making excuses. (Yeah, they sound like excuses to me).
Listen to those who have been granted the gift of wisdom.
Build a support team.
Reciprocate.
See a therapist.
Go to church.
Give up the fear of rejection.
Love.
Reach out to someone new.
Rest.
Replace negative energy with positive action.
Forgive.
Move on.
Ask for directions.
Read the directions.
Try.
Try again.
Affirm yourself.
Know your strengths.
Quit focusing on your weaknesses.
Collaborate.
Read everything you can get your paws on.
Ask questions. Relentlessly.
Quit caring about what other people think.
Quit trying to get people to like you who obviously aren’t interested in liking you or hanging out with you.
Follow the wild hairs, the new-fangled notions, and the white rabbits.
Be real.
Have courage.
Love others who have the courage to be real, too. It takes major strength for them to step out there, especially if they are sharing their hearts.
Make a wish.
Put it out there.
Fall down.
Stand up.
Dust yourself off.
Hold your shoulders back. Remember, Cinderella had to walk into the ball alone.
Deal with it.
Know yourself.
Believe you can.
Trust your team.
Seek inspiration. You’ll find it.
Throw it out there. See if it sticks.
Brainstorm.
Make a list.
Blog.
Self-publish.
Show up.
Risk.
Challenge the status quo.
Reinvent.
Upset the apple cart.
Admit fault. It’s amazing how this openness can change people’s response to you.
Say you’re sorry.
Define your WHY.
Hone your HOW.
Keep moving. Slow down, or speed up, but don’t stop.
Unplug.
Pace yourself.
Never, never, never give up.
Repeat.

101 Ways How To Get a Girl

2011-08-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

101 Ways How To Get a Girl

So, you want tips? I got more tips than your body has room for right here. Here’s 101 ways how to get a girl…

Get some style
1. Get a decent haircut. One that suits you and makes you feel more comfortable.
2. Ensure your facial hair is under control, including eyebrows, beard, mustache, etc.
3. Wear clothes that fit you correctly. Everyone is a different size so make sure you buy clothes that fit you well and make the most of your physique.
4. Wear clothes that suit your style and are the correct colours. This will instantly make you more attractive to women.
5. Dress appropriately for your age. We all get older and therefore we need to adjust the style of clothes we are wearing.
6. Make sure you have a decent aftershave. How you smell is hugely important as it can cause huge attraction in women.
7. Wear something that makes you different. Don’t just follow the crowd and wear what everyone else does. If you wanna show off your personality then go for it.
8. However, don’t wear something stupidly ridiculous because 1: It ain’t cool & 2: It looks way too try hard.

Improve your body language
9. Get your posture sorted. Good posture shows you are a strong, dominant man.
10. Make sure you stand relaxed but purposeful.
11. Confident bodylanguage is key. I am always mentioning in posts that confidence is one of the key factors to being successful with women.
12. Smile. I think people underestimate the true effect of a smile. A smile shows you are a warm & friendly and therefore someone they will feel comfortable having approaching them.
13. Keep your head up. Keeping your head up shows you are confident and not afraid of being seen.
14. Keep good eye contact.
15. Don’t fiddle as this is nervous behaviour. Any signs of nerves does not come across very attractive to women.

Learning how to approach
16. You need to get out into the real world and approach real women. You can learn all you want, but at the end of the day you to need to go out and do it. One option is to start with routines. This takes away the problem of knowing what to say and just allows you to focus on doing the approach.
17. Start simple and progress. Ask girls the time, then maybe directions, etc. Don’t allow yourself to get stuck in the ‘just asking questions’ loop. They are just to help you gain confidence to approach. Make sure you keep progressing with the interactions.

Think about using routines to start with
18. Routines help you to gain confidence, tho don’t become dependent on routine based methods. Only good for the short term.
19. You can progress very quickly and therefore get instant results. Never a bad thing :-)

Become adept at reading a girls body language
20. Know when she is interested what you’re saying.
21. Know when she is bored.
22. Know whether she wants to take things further.
23. Knowing if she wants to be kissed.
24. Knowing if you are creeping her out.
25. Know if you are coming on too strong.

Get down the gym
26. Start a fitness regime and stick to it. Women are attracted to men who are in good shape.
27. Include cardio to lose weight if needed or high intensity interval training.
28. Swim. Swimming has been proven to be an excellent way to lose weight and improve the strength of your heart. If you can’t swim then learn. You never know when you might need it.
29. Lift weights to bolster those muscles. Women love guys who are in shape. It’s not that they are superficial, it’s just having a nice body shows you care about yourself and will therefore care about them.
30. Don’t go overboard with weights as women don’t like men who are too muscly. Sometimes being too big can actually be detrimental to how attractive you are.
31. Keep up with your training on regular basis. Steady and consistent workouts will reap the most reward.
32. Get professional help.

Learn some new skills
33. Women love men who posses skills.
34. Learn musical instrument. E.g women love men who play guitar.
35. Learn something cool such as magic.
36. Improve your dancing skills as it’s both practical and attractive.
37. Poetry is a great skill to have. Women love poetry and love guys who can recite poetry.
38. Make sure though it is something you enjoy & not just for the sake of getting some nookie.

Have fun
39. Do some Karaoke. Doesn’t matter whether you can sing or not. Sometimes it can be better when you can’t sing because it will make her laugh and show you don’t care about what others think of you.
40. Semi extreme things such as surfing, mountain climbing, biking, sphereing, etc. All great fun and all adrenaline filled which girls love.
41. Explore new places.
42. Seasonal fun. Having a water fight in summer, kick leaves in Autumn or make a snowman in Winter. Fuck Spring :-)
43. Make the boring stuff like furniture shopping fun by throwing her on the beds, throwing cushions at her, etc.

Get a passion in life
44. Women love men who are passionate. Watch this video all about getting a passion: The Biggest Thing To Attract Women
45. You can be passionate about anything.
46. Be passionate about anything such as your career, business, hobby, a charity, etc.
47. Make sure you portray this passion to the girl through speech and your body language, as well as your actions.

Recognise and utilise your strengths
48. Use the skills you have already to improve your chances.
49. Everyone has strengths that can be used to attract women. If you don’t think you have then you are not looking hard enough.
50. It could be humour, intelligence, conversational skills, athletic prowess, etc.

Improve your confidence
51. Use affirmations as part of a confidence routine.
52. Push outside your comfort zone each day by doing one thing that scares you.
53. Go out into the real world. Ask 20 women the time and then do progressively harder stuff.
54. Realise that not trying is the only failure.
55. Also realise that women want to be approached so go for it.
56. What’s the worst that could happen? You get turned down and that’s it. Nothing major.

Become a great conversationalist
57. Learn to find out what she likes (Deep and wide rapport).
58. Talk about things you both like. If you can’t find anything you both like then get the hell outta there :-) Also Talk with passion about the things you care about.
59. Speak clearly, without being so quiet she struggles to hear or so loud that she finds it intimidating.
60. Listen when she speaks and respond accordingly.
61. Learn to escalate your conversations.

Get help
62. Don’t be afraid to admit you need help. We all need a little help sometimes.
63. Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Learn to take on board the good advice and ignore the bad.
64. Find someone who is better than you and learn from what they do. Remember to put what you learn into action and not become someone who always learns but never does.
65. Also don’t go OTT with learning. This can can lead to paralysis by analysis. Tho you should check out TSB Mag, they give away so much quality free information.

Risks are part of success
66. We all need to take risks in order to be successful.
67. What’s the worst that could happen? If a girl says no then you move onto the next one.

Be a ‘real man’
68. Display leadership.
69. Be a decision maker.
70. Be picky and choosy. This shows that you are not desperate and that you are more desirable.
71. Make sure you have lots of options. Men with options are always more attractive because any one girl isn’t that special to them by default.
72. Check out the article: how to attract girls for more information on being a real man.

Get your mindset sorted
73. Believe that you are good enough. If you do, you are.
74. Eliminate any need for acceptance or approval.
75. Make sure you have the abundance mentality.
76. Work on your mindset with affirmations. Check out quotes about success as they can be inspirational. One of my favourite quotes is; “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will” – Vince Lombardi.

Become a master of flirting
77. Being a master flirt is a great way to attract women, especially at work and in social circles.
78. Body language is key; have good eye contact, smile with your eyes, use a cheeky grin, etc.
79. Know what to say; Fake like she is annoying you, Roleplay together, reframe her tests, etc.
80. Set the frame of all interactions and keep in control.
81. Remain playful at all times. Remember flirting is meant to be fun.
82. Check out 30 Proven Flirting Tips, for Men & How to flirt like a master.

Be adept at using the phone
83. Don’t be afraid to use the phone. It can be a powerful tool that can really help you improve your interactions with women. The need to be good on the phone is greater than ever as the mobile phone/cellphone has become so popular over the last few years.
84. You can use it to further build attraction with a girl and also build rapport.
85. It’s also used to arrange further meet ups between you and the girl which sometimes makes it a necessity to progress with women.
86. Put your phone in her pants on vibrate then use her phone to give it a call. Added bonus you get her number if you didn’t already have it.

Learn to be good in bed
87. Know that if you are good in bed then you will be irresistible to women.
88. Check out David Shade as he is one of the most renowned guys who teach men how to give a girl an orgasm.
89. Be confident in the bedroom. Girls love guys who take control in the bedroom and take the lead with sex.
90. Once you get to know the girl you can ask her what she really likes. Make sure you balance asking her with just out an out sex. If you repeatedly ask her it can become a hindrance to the sex because it can kill the moment. Learn what she likes and then do it till you get it right. Then you may ask again.

Be prepared
91. Always carry condoms for obvious reasons.
92. Always have somewhere you can take a girl back to on a night out. Be in your place, a friends place, hotel, etc.
93. Always have a form of transport to get you back to your chosen destination.
94. Always carry your phone on you as you never know when you will need it.
95. Make sure you have enough money on you or your credit card for Taxi, hotel room, etc.

Sexually Aggressive Physical Moves
96. Warning these are advanced techniques that if done correctly can work like a charm. Do not attempt unless you have been trained first hand, or these can easily blow up in your face in a bad way. That said…
97. Pinch her on the nipple(s).
98. Slap her or grab her on the ass.
99. Twang her bra from the back, hard.
100. Push her back if she is getting too close.
101. Put her in the ‘sensual choke-hold’.

And that’s the end of the list. Congratulations if you read this far, you must be one persistant dude. That in itself says a lot about your character.

101 Ways To Improve Your Relationship Right Now

2011-08-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

101 Ways To Improve Your Relationship Right Now

All relationships need a little pick-me-up sometimes—even the best ones. To that end, YourTango has compiled a list of 101 ways to reconnect with your significant other, right now. These actions will make your partner feel loved, appreciated and desired, and will, in turn, make you feel more connected to him/her. Whether you'd like to increase intimacy, find a thoughtful way to say "I love you," or just show your honey some gratitude, we're sure you'll find something useful in the list below.

And since the world (and our site!) is full of loving, creative souls, we hope you'll share with us, in the comments section below, the special ways you share love and strengthen your bond with your significant other. We hope you'll bookmark this page and refer back to it whenever you need relationship inspiration.

Create Intimacy

1. Lie down on the bed and spend two minutes looking into each other's eyes without saying anything. (Blinking is OK.)
2. Next time you're in bed pull the covers over your head and have a whispered conversation. If you whisper first he'll probably whisper back—it's incredibly intimate.
3. Listen to each other. Think you already do that? Try active listening. Ask your partner to talk about something, and after each sentence (or paragraph) repeat what you heard. Start with, "I heard..." You don't have to repeat back the words verbatim, just say what you think she said. If you misinterpret or leave out anything, your partner will correct you. Take turns doing this. It's great for intense discussions, arguments, or just a weekly ritual to improve communication.
4. Pray together. If you're comfortable talking about it, discuss what you pray about.
5. Do the wonder intimacy exercise. Free associate and list sentences starting with "I wonder" on a piece of paper. (I wonder if I'll ever learn to cook. I wonder if I'll ever cook for you. I wonder if I could love you more than I do.) Take turns reading your wonders to your partner, without judging, commenting or analyzing. This may feel silly at first, but just try it and see what happens.
6. Do the nostalgic memory exercise. Pick a shared memory from "the honeymoon period" of your relationship. Discuss the memory and take turns talking about a) sensory memories (sights, sounds, smells) b) what you were thinking and c) what you were feeling.
7. Set time aside every day for mutual silence.
8. Pet Names. Sure, you can call each other baby, boo, or schmoopy, but coming up with a nickname only you two get is cute and provides a little laugh. Studies have shown that nicknames are a sign of a strong relationship. Others might not think "Bomboushay Yaya" is endearing, but if it means something to you then that's all that matters.

Speak

9. Say something positive—anything at all. Researchers have found that happy couples have a ratio of five positive comments to each negative comment.
10. Think of one quirky thing she does that you love and tell her about it.
11. Ask him what he was like when he was a little kid.
12. Tell him he looks sexy in that shirt (pants, shorts, insert the appropriate item of clothing).
13. Compliment something that he's improved upon.
14. Tell him he makes you a better person, and then tell him how.
15. If you're feeling anxious about something, ask your partner to be your stress absorber. Ask him to listen as you explain what you're worrying about. The catch is that he doesn't have to say anything—no reassurances or offers of assistance. He just has to pay attention to what you're saying and offer you a hug or hold your hand. As you're talking, imagine your stress dissipating as the words leave your mouth.
16. The next time she does something that makes you angry, before you say something about it stop and ask yourself, "What am I really mad about?" Little things can often be masks for deeper issues. If you decide it's a larger issue, hold your tongue and bring it up when you're not mad.
17. Accept her apology. If you've been fighting, and she makes an attempt to reconcile, don't rebuff her.
18. If she holds a notable position in her field (or even if not) remind her of how awesome she is at her job and how it intensifies your amazement of her.

Be Vulnerable

19. Apologize for something you never apologized for, even though you knew it was your fault.
20. Tell her a sexual fantasy you've always felt embarrassed about.
21. If there's a secret you've been wanting to share with him, write a list of five reasons you're afraid to say it, five ways you could phrase it, and five possible reactions he could have. Then pick one phrase and do it.
22. Think about something your partner does that makes you feel bad, but you haven't told him about. (If this doesn't exist for you, great! Skip this one.) Decide what you'd like him to do instead, and tell him about it like this: Next time you're feeling relaxed and loving, say, "I want to tell you something. Sometimes I feel <insert feeling here> when you <whatever it is that makes you feel bad.> Could you do <what he could do instead> instead?"
23. Think about a time when something went wrong between the two of you—a fight, a disappointment, a miscommunication. Ask yourself: What could I have done differently? What could we have done differently? What can we learn from this? Then talk to your partner about it, starting with what you could have done differently.

Eat

24. Make a special treat. Even if you're on a diet, there's always room for a little snack once a week. Maybe it's a food from her childhood (like the s'mores her dad used to make when they went camping) or something that reminds him of your first date (spicy homemade guacamole? no problem!). A little treat that you've either made or just remembered to pick up will show you're thinking about the two of you.
25. Cook a meal together. Divide up the tasks so you can both be in the kitchen working at the same time.
26. Make breakfast for him. It's more unexpected than lunch or dinner.
27. Next time you're at the corner store, pick up his favorite candy or gum.
28. Pack her a lunch to take to work. Bonus: put it in a paper bag with a note. Double bonus: include a small piece of chocolate.
29. Think of a piece of food that he likes but is difficult to find and order it online.
30. Use a toothpick to write "I love you" on the outside of an unpeeled banana. It'll turn dark in a few hours and he'll be able to see it.

Get Sexy

31. The next time you hug him, reach around and squeeze his butt. It's the little things that keep it hot.
32. Browse an online sex toy store together and talk about what items you'd like to try. If you want, order one.
33. Bathe together periodically.
34. Put one of his fingers in your mouth and lightly suck on it. It's chaste and incredibly sexual at the same time.
35. Write erotic fiction for each other. Pick something you've done together and recreate it in words, or pick a steamy fantasy and write down exactly how you want it to happen—even if in reality, it's impossible.
36. Dedicate one day exclusively to sex. Turn off your phones, don't check your email and stay in bed all day. Rent a hotel room for a day, if this will help you get away from life and only think about each other's bodies.
37. Take turns being dominant in bed. Tell him or her that you want to experiment. Tonight you call all the shots, tomorrow he does. Try a blindfold, tying his or her hands with a tie or scarf, or spanking.
38. Masturbate together without touching each other.

Use Family and Friends

39. Next time a member of her family calls and you answer the phone, stay on the line a chat a minute before handing off the phone. She'll be touched that you want to speak to her relatives.
40. Invite his best friend to dinner and stay for a drink, then cut out to give the two some time together.
41. Take out his yearbook. Ask about the people in it and what they meant to him.
42. Borrow a friend's dog and take it for a walk together. Dogs bring out people's good sides.
43. Read a book to your child together, switching off pages.
44. Bring him a glass of wine (or water) when he's helping your child with her homework.
45. When you hear the baby crying in the middle of the night, be the first one to get up.
46. Write her mom a note, and praise her on how well she raised her daughter.

Daily Life

47. Do her chores. Take out the garbage or do the dishes, even if it's not your turn or your job.
48. Cover him with a blanket. If you're up in the middle of the night or have to leave early in the morning and you see your partner has tossed the comforter off, take a minute and tuck him in.
49. Set out her coffee cup next to the coffee pot with milk and sugar in the morning so all she has to do is pour and get out the door.
50. Next time you wake up before him, turn off the alarm clock and rouse him by kissing his forehead.
51. Repair something of hers that she hasn't gotten around to fixing—an old watch battery or a broken bracelet clasp.
52. Pick up her dry cleaning.
53. Next time you know she hasn't gotten enough sleep and she's going to work tired, tell her she looks great. (Whatever you do, don't tell her she looks tired.)
54. When she tells you something about her schedule, put it on your calendar so you can remember to ask about it—a big meeting at work, a doctor's appointment, a lunch with an old friend.

Surprises

55. Leave an open bottle of wine and an empty glass in the kitchen for your spouse after a long, hard day. Hopefully you'll be able to join for a glass, but even if you're working late or taking the kids to soccer practice, it's a sign of how much you appreciate him/her.
56. Keep gifts for him hidden in the house so you'll have a surprise for him if he's had a bad day.
57. Get him a subscription to a magazine he likes.
58. Buy a pack of his brand of clean underwear. Next time he needs to do laundry but doesn't have time, give it to him.
59. Pre-order a book from Amazon from an author you know she loves so it'll arrive right after it's published.
60. Just once, upgrade to a small luxury item you know she likes but doesn't usually indulge in—super soft toilet paper, organic arugula, a fancy bottle of wine.
61. Start planning her next gift right now. Figure out the date of the next big holiday—a birthday, anniversary or religious celebration—and think about what she might want. Pay attention to things she says she wants and write them down. Thinking about giving will extend the joy we get from being generous.
62. Scrawl a heart and your initials in the steam on the bathroom mirror. He'll see it if he comes in right away, or next time the mirror fogs up.
63. Write love notes and put them places you know you're partner will find them: in his coat pocket, in her jewelry box, in the silverware drawer, on the laptop keyboard.
64. Send flowers to her office. It doesn't have to be a fancy bouquet; anything fresh-cut will look pretty on her desk and remind her of you.

Use Technology

65. Ask him to send a baby picture of himself or another picture without you in it and make it your computer wallpaper.
66. Change the background of her phone to a picture of the two of you.
67. Make a playlist of all the songs that remind you of your relationship and put it on his iPod or iPhone.
68. Copy and paste the lyrics from a love song into an email and send it to her.
69. Send him a link to a song on YouTube that makes you think of him.
70. Think about something you've both wanted to do together (travel to Costa Rica, learn French, build a fence, etc.) and find a TV show you can tape, or a website that shows you how to do it. Plan a date night around watching it together.
71. Email her an old photo of the two of you on vacation or your wedding day.
72. Set the DVR to record a show she's been talking about but hasn't yet recorded. Or look for a show you know she'll like and tape it for her.
73. Clean his computer keyboard and monitor.
74. In the middle of the day, send a text message that says "Thinking of you."
75. Start a couples blog. Fun And Free: A Couples Blog

Touch

76. Use your body (hands, eyes, mouth, arms, legs etc.) to show him you're paying attention and listening when he talks to you.
77. Wrap your arms around his middle and squeeze as hard as you can. (If you're stronger than him give him a little warning.)
78. Massage a part of her body that you wouldn't usually pay attention to—her forearm, her calf, her butt. (OK, maybe you do pay attention to that part—but you probably don't massage it.)
79. Make a touching date. One night after dinner (or a weekend afternoon—some time when you're relaxed), go to bed and take off your clothes, but leave on your underwear. Make a list of ways to touch (tickle, scratch, massage with fingertips, massage with whole hand, kiss with lips, kiss with eyelashes, squeeze). Then take turns: one person chooses a body part, one person chooses an action, and you switch off touching each other. The key is to avoid having sex or touching the skin beneath the underwear. Is a list too much for you? Skip it and take turns massaging each other--just make sure to avoid having sex!
80. Sneak up behind him for a quick shoulder massage.
81. Stage an impromptu wrestling match.

Switch It Up

82. Pretend to be strangers and pick each other up at a bar.
83. Next time you're out to dinner, offer to treat, as opposed to splitting it or paying from your joint account.
84. Change your alcohol habits for one night. Do you usually drink a lot together? Try abstaining for one night, and see what happens? Don't drink much? Try splitting a bottle of wine between just the two of you and see where it leads.
85. Clean the house together—naked.
86. Set up a bank account where each of you puts $50 a month to go towards something that can be mutually enjoyed.
87. Instead of watching TV, read a story out loud to each other.
88. Have a "no-technology" day or hour or evening.
89. When he's tired from a long day of work, offer to watch a movie he loves but one that you wouldn't normally watch with him.
90. Don't react when he says something annoying.
91. Reverse your spooning (or other snuggling position) for a night.
92. Next time you're going somewhere in the neighborhood together, walk instead of driving. The stroll will give you time to chat.

Play

93. Put on music you both like and dance in your living room.
94. Play a card game. Gin rummy is a great one for two people.
95. Take some grapes (or raisins or chocolate chips) and try to throw them in each other's mouths. It's silly and a little messy but will make you giggle together.
96. Teach him a card game he's never played.
97. Talk in an accent together all night.
98. Play movie-oke.
99. Exercise together. Play tennis, go hiking, go for a jog.
100. Go sledding, or skinny-dipping.
101. Make up a game and play it together with your kids.

Readers, how do you show love and improve your relationship? Tell us in the comments.

(http://www.yourtango.com/200938263/101-ways-improve-your-relationship-right-now)

101 Ways to Be Happy

2011-07-31T18:53:00.000-07:00

101 Ways to Be Happy

Do you want to be happy? Of course you do, who doesn’t?!

Here are 101 easy ways to achieve a better, happier life!

It’s not things that make us happy but our experiences.

TRAVEL
1) Travel when you can. Travel can open your eyes to the world and offer a fresh new perspective.
2) Take a weekend trip. If you haven’t got the funds for a jaunt to Paris, no matter. Even a weekend or day long break from home can make you happier.
3) Spend time by the ocean. There’s nothing like sand between your toes and fresh sea air.
4) Go camping. Commune with nature closer to home—the food will taste better and you’ll sleep deeper in the great outdoors.
5) Go skydiving. Face your fears and reap the benefits of this exhilarating extreme sport—you’ll be euphoric for weeks.

6) Go stargazing. Find a spot relatively free of unnatural light and marvel at the beauty of the night sky.
7) Sit in front of a beautiful view. Find a spot close by with a nice view that you can visit when you need a break.

WORK
8 ) Make enough money to meet your basic needs. Studies have shown that anything beyond that amount will not necessarily make you happier.
9) Avoid financial hierarchies. For a new job, choose a place where everyone makes a similar amount. People feel better when they feel equal to their co-workers.
10) Find satisfaction in the job you have. Don’t expect to find one job that will make you happy—instead focus on the positive aspects of your work instead of blaming a job for your unhappiness.
11) Take initiative at work. You’ll gain professional respect, self-fulfillment and feel more in control in the workplace.
12) Keep plants in your workspace. The LA Times found that employees who decorate their office space are more satisfied with their jobs.
13) Bake cookies and bring them to work. You’ll enjoy the baking and making your co-workers happy.

HEALTH
14) Get enough sleep. Sleeping for 8 hours per night can elevate your mood and better prepare you to greet the day.
15) Take vitamin C. Keeping your immune system happy will keep you happy.
16) Laugh out loud. Laughing releases endorphins and lowers levels of stress hormones.
17) Cook with more garlic. Garlic not only adds delicious flavor to meals, it also keeps blood pressure down to keep you relaxed and healthy.
18) Get more fresh air. Fresh air is invigorating and alters the levels of serotonin in your brain—the stuff that makes you happy!
19) Eat more foods with tryptophan. It has an amino acid needed to make serotonin, the chemicals that make you happy. Try more bananas, dairy products and poultry.
20) Work out. Exercising can not only make you feel better about yourself, it also releases endorphins in your body to give you a natural high.
21) Eat chocolate. Besides releasing endorphins and stimulating serotonin production in your brain, chocolate releases phenylethylamine, the chemical that causes feelings of love.
22) Meditate. According to the Dalai Lama as well as several medical studies, meditation not only decreases stress, but also triggers a neurological response that makes you happy.
23) Do yoga. Learning to control your breathing through yoga practice helps you control your responses to stress and fear.
24) Get a massage. Besides its relaxing properties, the touch involved in massage creates warmth in your body and releases the chemical oxytocin—also known as the cuddle hormone.
25) Eat chickpeas (or other beans). Chickpeas have an amino acid that makes you happy, and beans keep your sugar levels steady throughout the day.
26) Have sex. Numerous studies show that a healthy sexual intimacy with a caring partner can have tremendous physical and emotional benefits.
27) Install more windows in your house. Getting enough exposure to the sun has been proven to be crucial to happiness and well-being.
28) Put full-spectrum lights in your home or office. If you live in a wintry climate that doesn’t get much sun, you can replicate the effect with light bulbs that mimic the sun’s rays.
29) Drink coffee. Studies in Brazil showed that people who drink coffee every day are less likely to suffer from depression. Coffee is the world’s most popular mood-enhancing drug, but remember to drink in moderation
30) Eat more spinach. Popeye’s favorite green is packed with folic acid, an important vitamin that boosts serotonin production.
31) Eat foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids. Certain kinds of fish like salmon or sardines have Omega-3, which is known to elevate mood levels—high doses are even used to treat depression.
32) Eat more colorful fruits and vegetables. They contain antioxidants which help remove toxins from our bodies that cause stress and aging.
33) Put some strawberries in your breakfast. The smell of strawberries is known to invigorate and energize.
34) Drink hot mint tea. The scent of fresh mint is energizing and the steam will perk you up.

ATTITUDE
35)   Smile.   It takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown.
36)   Make a grateful list. Focus on all the great things in your life to enhance feelings of joy and attract more good things.
37) Break outside your comfort zone. Being comfortable doesn’t make you happy—challenging yourself does.
38) Follow your gut. Most of the time your first instinct is not only correct, but the best choice.
39) Don’t regret your decisions.  If it turns out you were wrong, don’t waste time worrying about it, instead make the next best decision and move forward.
40) Accept that you can’t be happy all the time. Focus on being content and the truly happiness will be all that much sweeter.
41) Try to see from others’ perspectives. Much of our unhappiness comes from our frustration with other people not understanding us. Try to imagine how they see the world and the frustration will ease.
42) Let the little things go. There’s no sense in wasting your energy and inhibiting your happiness by worrying about things you can’t change.
43) Make the decision to be happy. Happiness is an attitude, not a physical state.
44) Don’t take things personally. So often, anger and frustration directed at us is a result of someone else’s misplaced stress. Recognize that it’s not necessarily about you and you’ll remain calmer and happier.
45) Savor the small moments. People who take longer to enjoy small moments and then reflect on them later in the day show significant increases in happiness.
46) Avoid comparing yourself to others.  It’s damaging to self-esteem—focus on your own achievements.
47) Make meaningful goals. Harvard scientists say humans need a sense of purpose to thrive and that people with dreams and aspirations are happier than those without.
48) Embrace spirituality. Research suggests that people who participate in a religious community or explore alternate sets of beliefs are happier and better adjusted in life.
49) Have a good cry when you need it. Allowing yourself to break down completely is cathartic and you’ll feel better after you let it all out.
50) Learn to forgive yourself. Focusing on your past mistakes serves no purpose besides keeping you from moving on.
51) Maintain perspective. When life starts to feel out of control, remind yourself of the positive things in your life and how lucky you are.
52) Define what happiness means for you. Don’t worry about what other people define as happy, find what makes you happy and go for it.

RELATIONSHIPS
53)   Stay close to friends and family. Moving far away from networks of support can take a toll on your level of happiness—even if you have moved in order to make more money.
54) Get a dog. The studies showing the positive effects man’s best friend can have on your psyche are numerous: better emotional and physical health and a wagging tail.
55) Give more hugs. Hugging releases the same chemical as massage and is always free!
56) Make time for your friends. Personal connections are so important and making even a little time to be with people who make you smile can keep you happy.
57) Make new friends. Meeting other people is exciting and finding a new person with whom to connect can only enhance your fulfillment.
58) Write thank-you notes. Expressing gratitude makes you and the recipient happy.
59) Call your mom. Or your dad, or your grandma or anyone you haven’t talked to in a while and surprise them with a chat.
60) Get a cat. If you’re not a dog person, cats make wonderful, loving, stress-reducing housemates and bed-warmers.
61) Cuddle up with someone you love. Enjoy time with your kids or your partner for instant happiness.
62) Babysit for a friend. Being around children’s infectious optimism is sure to boost your mood.
63) Hold a baby. They’re cute and cuddly and without a care in the world—you’ll feel instantly uplifted.

ACTIVITIES
64) De-clutter. A clean home is a clean mind, and you’ll feel better in an orderly environment.
65) Donate to charity. Giving to those less fortunate than you will make you appreciate what you have.
66) Rent a comedy. Take an hour and a half out of your day for pure laughing entertainment and you’ll feel instantly boosted.
67) Watch kittehroulette.com. If watching nonstop videos of playful kittens doesn’t lift your spirits, nothing will.
68) Take a nap. A quick power nap, especially on a sunny afternoon, is luxurious and will help you make it through the day.
69) Change one thing in your daily routine. You’ll stave off boredom and might discover something new that delights you.
70) Take a walk. Taking a quick walk, even just around the block can clear your mind and raise your mood.
71) Surround yourself with smells that make you happy. Smell is a much overlooked sense that greatly affects our mood—try a coconut shampoo that reminds you of a vacation or bake cookies that remind you of childhood.
72) Listen to upbeat music. Even just a few minutes of a hip- shaking tune gets your blood flowing and makes you feel more positive.
73) Set your alarm early on a day you know you get to sleep in. When you wake up you’ll get the pleasure of realizing that you don’t have to get out of bed—then rolling over for some more satisfying zzz’s.
74) Paint a room in your house yellow. Looking at the color yellow has been proven to improve moods.
75) Make a home cooked-meal. You’ll get not only tasty food, but the pride of having made it yourself.
76) Dress up for no reason. Putting on clothes that make you feel good increases your self-esteem and your mood.
77) Add some soft blue to your bedroom. Light blue has been shown to be the most calming color and can set the mood for a restful night’s sleep—essential to a positive attitude.
78) Do something you loved as a kid. Riding a roller-coaster or going sledding can help you connect to your inner child and remember simple thrills.
79) Wear red. Red can make us feel confident, powerful and strong.
80) Splash on some perfume/aftershave. Studies show that floral scents can make you happier.

ACTIVITIES ( Part 2 )
81) Volunteer your time. Selfless acts and helping others is a fast route to genuine contentment.
82) Decorate your home for the holidays. Preparing for holiday celebrations is always fun and a great excuse to invite friends and family over.
83) Take time for yourself. Go to a movie, or a museum or a walk around town by yourself to re-connect.
84) Perform random acts of kindness. Hold open a door for a stranger or leave some money in the vending machine, for no other reason than doing something nice for your fellow man.
85) Send snail-mail. Rediscover the pleasure of old-fashioned communication.
86) Make time to curl up with a good book. It can be either a thought-provoking tome or a guilty pleasure.
87) Invest in fancy bedding. Be cozy and happy drifting to sleep and wake up to a happy morning.
88) Go bowling with friends. Throw back to your younger years, and bonus points for matching shirts.
89) Dance. Alone or at a club, dancing is fun and stress-releasing.
90) Pay off your credit card debt. Debt can be a major source of stress and you’ll feel great when you eliminate it from your life.
91) Clean the house. Even if you don’t like cleaning, a clean home can drastically improve your attitude.
92) Volunteer at a local animal shelter. You’ll get the pleasure of knowing you’re lending your time and brightening the day of some furry friends.
93) Find a hobby. Painting, singing, tai chi—it doesn’t matter as long as you have an outlet to express yourself.
94) Turn off your phone for a day. Let people know in advance that you are taking a personal day and can only be reached in case of emergency. Savor the silence.
95) Sing in the shower. It doesn’t matter what you sing, just make sure you belt it as loud as possible.
96) Stash some money in a secret place so you can discover it later. Pick a spot you’re likely to forget so you get a thrill weeks or months later when you stumble on it.
97) Enjoy a guilty pleasure TV show. Make some popcorn and banish the guilt—we all need a cheesy escape sometimes.
98) Go for a walk or jog in the rain. The high produced by exercise will be heightened by the cool rain on your face.
99) Enjoy a cold beer or chilled wine on a hot day. Need I say more?
100) Go to hear live music. Hearing music live puts you in the moment in a way an iPod can’t.
101) Why not put your own way???

101 Hilarious Ways to Get Fired

2011-07-29T22:13:00.000-07:00

101 Hilarious Ways to Get Fired

By HR World Editors

If you want to leave your crummy old job with a bang, you've come to the right place; this collection of tactics will have you relieved of your duties in record time. Just don't come crying when you're arrested or committed to a nuthouse.

Pranks
Pull these pranks, and it won't be long before you're called in for a discussion with and HR representative.

Office-Item eBay Auction: When someone asks to borrow your stapler, just let them know they'll have to participate in the auction just like everyone else.
Wildly Overblown Résumé Drop: Give yourself a high-ranking position, list one of your duties as "pimping" and leave copies all around the office.
The Fort: Turn your office space into a fort and require everyone who enters to give the "password."
Linux Switch: Switch all of your office's computers to the least user-friendly version of Linux you can find.
Copy Machine: Mess with the copy machine's settings. For instance, set it to 200 percent reduction for 15 copies.
Noisy Drawers: Put a button-activated toy at the back of a few select co-workers' drawers so that each time they're closed, they'll make noise.
Chairs: Arrive early and steal the entire office's chairs but leave your own.
Microwave Experiments: Conduct experiments by cooking sparkling, metallic objects or getting raw eggs to blow up. Clean up nothing.
New Hires: Loudly tell new hires to "run while they still can."
Oreos: Bring Oreos to share with the whole office, but first lick the filling out of each one and reassemble the cookies.
The Vending Machine: Steal from the vending machine and don't apologize.
Pet Snake: Set your pet snake free at work.
Unplug: Arrive early and unplug every monitor except yours.
Whoopie Cushions: Put whoopie cushions in everyone's chair.
Intercom Music: Play phone music over the intercom, like "Mary Had a Little Lamb." (It's 321 2333 222 333 321 2333 321 321, if you're interested.)
Refrigerator: Unplug the refrigerator on a Friday afternoon so that it builds up a nice stench by Monday.
Occupied: Make dummies with pants and feet so that it looks like there's someone in all of the bathroom stalls. Enter one and relieve yourself.
Office Pool: Set up a kiddie pool in your office and fill it up cup by cup from the water cooler.
Ice Cream: Bring ice cream to work and offer it to others. When they accept, scoop it all over their papers.
Pens: Steal 90 percent of the pens in your office. Cover the tips of the remaining ones with clear nail polish so that they won't write.
Vacation: Bring your vacation to the office, complete with beachwear and sand.
Note from Mom: Show up late, and when questioned, present a note from your mother.
Elevator Music: Change the elevator music to death metal.
Nap station: Set up napping pods in a heavily used conference room and charge $5 per minute.
The Interview: Post an ad for your job and conduct interviews for your replacement right in your office.
Email: Ask that your email be changed to something excessively long and complicated, like "fairy-princess-office-goddess@company.com."
Barbecue: Throw a barbecue in your office, complete with an indoor grill, kegs and friends from outside of work.
Hide Supplies: Remove the toner and paper from the printer and offer no help finding them.
Stuff Your Pants: Put as many socks as you can in your pants and complain at the extra attention.
The Pole: Tell your co-worker you wouldn't touch them with a 10-foot pole, then find a pole that's anything but 10 feet and poke them.
Lunch Raid: Steal everyone's lunch from the office refrigerator and eat bits and pieces of each.
The Band: Book an obnoxious, untalented band to play at your office.
Outdoor Office: Move all of your office furniture out to the parking lot, arranged exactly as it was inside.
Sell Everything: Bring in all of the school fundraisers you can find, especially if you have no children.

Behavior
The following behavior will slowly but surely ensure your desmise.

Creepy: Listen to music with graphically violent lyrics, preferably about slow, painful death.
Madonna Obsession: Whenever possible, answer questions with Madonna lyrics, such as "because I'm a material girl." The cone bra is not optional.
T-Shirts: Wear offensive shirts with obnoxious slogans
Window: Make your own window by cutting a hole in the wall.
Do Nothing: Let your phone ring, ignore emails and refer all work to your boss.
Lie: Lie about obvious things, such as saying "I'm not here right now."
Christmas: Wear jingle bells every day of the year.
Special Brownies: Bring "special," laced brownies as a treat for your office mates, then rat them out to HR as drug abusers.
Tourette: Suddenly develop Tourette syndrome and blurt out inappropriate phrases about your boss and co-workers.
Paranoia: Act extremely paranoid: Enough said.
Bullhorn: Speak exclusively through a bullhorn — especially on the phone and to your boss.
Viruses: Repeatedly install viruses on your computer, even if the technology department gets you a new one.
Time Clock: Clock in, leave and come back eight hours later to clock back out.
Meow: See how many times you can fit the word "meow" into your sentences.
Never Show Up: If work calls, tell them you're sick or on vacation to score some extra paid days.
Run a Business: Run a business out of your office. Accept calls meet with clients and use office supplies for anything but your real job.
Scream: Always scream rather than speak.
Skepticism: Question anything anyone says with assertions like, "Says who?," "Who went and made you Einstein?" and so on.
No Comprende: Speak only in a foreign language. Occasionally slip by to English but refuse to acknowledge it.
Stinky Cheese: Eat stinky cheese or some other fragrant lunch after heating it up in the office microwave.
Booze: Drink on the job and offer alcohol to all of your co-workers.
Gangster Rap: Bring gangster rap to the office with posters, language and music.
Air Horn: Drown out annoying co-workers with the pleasant sound of an air horn.
Office Supplies: Steal all of the office supplies you can carry, in plain sight of everyone.
Appointments: Make appointments for days that don't exist, like February 30, or September 31.
Accent: Adopt a couple of foreign accents, such as Jamaican and British. Switch back and forth between the two.
Chew Tobacco: Chew tobacco noisily and spit in strategic places.
File 13: Refer to your trash can as your inbox.
Nonstop Email: Give everyone in the office a heads up every time you use the restroom, chat with a friend or finish an assignment.
Grades: Give your co-workers grades in the form of report cards, rating them on looks, stupidity and salary.
Email Signature: Change your email signature to something creepy or offensive, like "I will eat your flesh."
Spam: Spam your co-workers.

Sexual Harassment
Obviously, these methods may come attached with a lawsuit, so tread lightly.

Strip-Club Holiday Party: Plan your office's holiday party at the local strip club.
Flirtatious Emails: Send wildly inappropriate, unsolicited emails to everyone in the company.
Love Notes: Send notes to everyone in the office asking, "Do you like me? Check yes or no."
Pornography: Get caught checking out adult Web sites on the job.
Impromptu Striptease: During a really important meeting, whip out a boom box and dance on the table.
Gifts: Give everyone lingerie or other adult gifts for the holidays.
Offer Services: Post flyers on the office bulletin board offering massages for a small fee.
Victoria's Secret: Place a heavily bookmarked lingerie catalog on the desks of colleages, whether they're female or male.
Screen Saver: Create an explicit screen saver.
Candy Bowl: Replace all of the candy in your candy bowl with condoms.

Boss Abuse
If you're leaving because you hate your boss, get revenge and fired at the same time.

The Jerk: Any time your boss stops by while you're on the phone, say you have to go because your jerk boss just showed up. When called on it, deny ever saying such a thing.
Candy from a Baby: Steal your boss's candy dish and leave a trail of candy that leads to your desk.
Crickets: Put an open box of crickets in your boss's office for a few weeks of constant chirping.
The Home Page: Constantly change your boss's home page to an adult site, then request help from IT using his or her email.
Phone Volume: Gradually turn down the volume on your boss's phone.
Magnet: "Accidentally" leave a hard-drive-wiping carpenter's magnet right next to your boss's computer.
Cubicle Move: While your boss is on vacation, move his or her office to a small cubicle. Then move in to his or her office.
Laser Pointer: Aim a laser pointer at your boss's crotch during meetings.
Rumors: Spread creative rumors about your boss via office memos.
Intercom Giveaway: Get on the intercom and tell random co-workers to report to the boss's office to claim their new big-screen TV. Don't disguise your voice.
Superglue Mouse: Glue your boss's mouse to the desk.
Salty Mouse: Once your boss has recovered from the superglue incident, put salt on his or her mouse pad.
Nickname: Give your boss an endearing yet offensive nickname, like "Jellobutt."
Worship Your Boss: Greet your boss at his or her car each morning, fetc coffee and go around obsessively telling everyone how much you admire your boss.
Keyboard: Rearrange your boss's keyboard keys to spell out something funny or embarassing.
Delicious Cookies: Bring your boss some delicious cookies that will leave him or her in the bathroom all day.
Credit Card: Steal your boss's corporate credit card and use it on adult sites.
Gas: Siphon gas out of your boss's car in the parking lot, preferably at just before rush hour.
Chair: Tie down the adjustment lever on your boss's chair so that it will slide down when they sit and rise when they stand up.
Bench: Replace your boss's chair with a park bench.
Termination: Create a phony termination slip and leave it on your boss's desk.
AutoCorrect: Set your boss's AutoCorrect settings to change his or her name to an offensive slur.
Thinking: Change your boss's normal mouse settings to busy so that he or she will sit waiting for their computer to finish its task.
Parking Space: Park in your boss' space every day by "accident."
Garlic Phone: Put a piece of garlic in the mouthpiece of your boss's phone.

101 Ways To Celebrate People

2011-07-26T20:30:00.000-07:00

101 Ways To Celebrate People

In tight financial times, ongoing, meaningful rewards and recognition provide an effective, low cost way of raising morale and encouraging higher levels of performance. Here are 101 ideas to help you embed employee recognition into your everyday work.

Create a Hall of Fame wall with photos of outstanding employees.
Give employees time off to give blood.
Arrange for a team to present the results of its efforts to upper management.
Encourage, enable and empower staff to excel.
Plan a surprise picnic.
Answer your assistant’s telephone for a day.
Encourage and recognize staff who pursue continuing education.
Post a thank you note on an employee’s door.
Wash the employee’s car in the parking lot during the lunch hour.
Create and post an “Employee Honor Roll” in reception area.
Acknowledge individual achievements by using employee’s name when preparing a status report
Make a photo collage about a successful project that shows the people that worked on it, its stage of development and its completion and presentation.
Bring an employee bagged lunches for a week.
Find out the person’s hobby and buy an appropriate gift.
Make a thank-you card by hand.
Cover the person’s desk with balloons.
Make and deliver a fruit basket.
Inscribe a favorite book as a gift.
Establish a place to display memos, posters, photos and so on, recognizing progress towards goals and thanking individual employees for their help.
Swap a task with an employee for a day – his/her choice.
Establish a “Behind the Scenes” award specifically for those whose actions are not usually in the limelight.
Give the person a copy of the latest best-selling management or business book or a subscription to a trade magazine.
Nominate the employee for a University formal award program (UMatter or Workplace Award).
Keep in mind that managers should serve as coaches to indirectly influence rather than demand desired behavior.
Take time to explain to new employees the norms and culture of your department.
Give special assignments to people who show initiative.
Give out Felix and Oscar awards to people with the neatest and messiest desks.
Design a “Stress Support Kit” that included aspirin, a comedy cassette, wind up toys and a stress ball – or design your own.
Present “State of the Department” reports periodically to your employees acknowledging the work and contributions of individuals and teams.
At a monthly staff meeting, award an Employee of the Month and have everyone at the meeting stand up and say why that person is deserving of the award.
Set up a miniature golf course in your office, using whatever materials you have on hand. Set aside an afternoon or evening to hold a mini golf tournament. Have each area design their own “hole” and give a prize.
If your team is under pressure, bring a bag of marbles to work and take a break to have a contest – a sure stress reliever.
Serve ice cream sundaes to all of your employees at the end of a project.
Once a year, have a “Staff Appreciation Day” where the managers supply, cook and serve food.
Recognize employees who actively serve the community.
Serve a team a hero party sandwich at the end of an assignment, for a job well done.
Give employees an extra long lunch break.
Have staff vote for top manager, supervisor, employee and rookie of the year.
Name a continuing recognition award after an outstanding employee.
Include an employee in a “special” meeting.
Give a shiny new penny for a thought that has been shared.
Send flowers to an employee’s home as a thank you.
Allow employees to attend meetings in your place when you are not available.
Purchase a unique pin to serve as a memento for a task well done.
Wear color-coded name tags in a staff meeting to indicate significant achievements – such as length of service, successful project completion, etc.
Create an Above and Beyond the Call of Duty (ABCD) Award.
Hold informal retreats to foster communication and set goals.
Ask your boss to attend a meeting with your employees during which you thank individuals and groups for their specific contributions.
Pop in at the first meeting of a special project team and express your appreciation for their involvement.
Provide a lunch for project teams once they have made interim findings. Express your appreciation.
Send a letter to all team members at the conclusion of a project, thanking them for their participation.
Start an employee recognition program. Give points for attendance, punctuality, teamwork, etc. Provide gift certificates to employees who reach certain point goals.
Find ways to reward department-specific performance.
Give a personalized coffee cup.
Plan a surprise achievement celebration for an employee or group of employees.
Start a suggestion program.
Give Mr. Goodbar (candy bar) Awards
Recognize employee’s personal needs and challenges.
Give an employee a blue ribbon for achievement.
Write a letter of praise recognizing specific contributions and accomplishments. Send a copy to senior management and the employee’s personnel file.
When you hear a positive remark about someone, repeat it to that person as soon as possible (Face-to-face is best, e-mail or voice mail are good in an pinch).
Call an employee to your office to thank them (don’t discuss any other issue).
If you have a department newsletter, publish a “kudos” column and ask for nominations throughout the department.
Publicly recognize the positive impact on operations of the solutions employees devise for problems.
Acknowledge individual achievements by using employee names in status reports.
Video tape a special event and share copies with participants.
Express an interest in employee’s career development goals.
Post a large “celebration calendar” in your work area. Tack on notes of recognition to specific dates.
Design and give magnets with appropriate messages.
Create and string a banner across the work area.
Give a deserving employee a mug filled with treats.
Give a framed poem (poster or card) as a thank you.
Greet employees by name.
Practice positive nonverbal behaviors that demonstrate appreciation.
Support “flex-friendly” schedules.
Encourage employees to identify specific areas of interest in job-related skills. Then arrange for them to spend a day with an in-house “expert” to learn more about the topic.
Encourage employees to participate in community volunteer efforts.
Share verbal accolades – forward positive voice mail messages.
Actively listen to co-workers, especially when discussing their accomplishments and contributions.
Use 3x5 cards to write “You’re special because…” statements. People can collect the cards and refer to them when things aren’t going perfectly.
Have a recognition event created by a peer group that decides what they will give and why they will give it.
Keep a supply of appropriately funny notes that can be given as immediate rewards. Keep the supply visible – in a basket or box in your office.
Widely publicize suggestions used and their positive impact on your department.
When someone has spent long hours at work, send a letter of thanks to his/her home.
Throw a pizza lunch party for your unit.
Acknowledge and celebrate birthdays.
Give a note reading, “Thank you. You are a ______!" Attach a roll of Lifesavers.
Make a necklace of lifesavers and give it to someone “For being the “lifesaver of ___________.”
Serve popcorn and lemonade on Friday (especially after a particularly hard week).
Allow an employee to choose his/her next assignment.
At an employee meeting, randomly tape gift certificates to the bottom of chairs (for the first time, choose chairs only in the front row).
Recognize a team accomplishment by designating that team as consultants to other teams.
Give a puzzle as an award to a problem solver.
Recognize those committed to personal health and wellness.
Have weekly breakfasts with groups of employees.
Treat an employee to lunch.
Give out gold coins for a job well done.
Bake a gift (cookies, bread, etc.) for an outstanding employee or team.
Send birthday cards to employees’ homes, signed by dean or director.
Have an outstanding employee spend a day with a dean or director.
Smile. It’s contagious.

101 Ways Your Smartphone Can Make You Smarter

2011-07-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

If you own a smartphone, chances are you're already well-versed in the ability of your device to make you smarter than ever, but there's so much more that you can do. From add-ons to hacks, there are many ways you can make your smartphone even more flexible than the manufacturers intended, so read these tips to make you and your smartphone both smarter and better.

Communication
Turn your smartphone into an even better communication tool with these tools and hacks.

Make cheap calls: Connect your smartphone to Jajah's Mobile Web, and you'll be able to save some money on international calls.
Broadcast text messages: Sign up with TextMarks, and you'll be able to send out messages to a large group, or just let people see what you're up to.
SMS conversations: Don't shy away from your SMS in favor of email -- many smartphones will show you a thread of your messages.
Upgrade your messaging: Use Aglie Mobile to get feature-rich instant messaging, photo, video, and voice.
Store your contacts: Back up all of your contact data with Zyb.
Make free phone calls: VoIP providers like VoIP Buster allow you to make PC-to-PC calls using your smartphone.
Set groups: Many smartphones come with a group feature, which you can use to send out mass SMS messages or assign a ringtone.
Sync with Thunderbird: Read this guide to find out how you can sync your smartphone with Thunderbird.

Finance
With these strategies, you'll be able to use your smartphone as a personal finance manager.

Track your budget: Automate budget tracking by IMing a budget bot from your phone.
Track receipts: Download Keep Track, and you can track electronic receipts for your expenses, credit cards, and more. You'll also be able to export to Microsoft Money or Quicken.
Store your wallet in your phone: Take photos of wallet contents and keep them in your smartphone.
Send money: Use PayPal's text messaging service to pay for anything, right from your smartphone.
Comparison shop: With Amazon's TextBuyIt service, you can find out how much an item is on Amazon before you decide to buy it in the store.

Travel
These are a few ways to make your smartphone an awesome travel companion.

Organize your travel: WorldMate will make it easy to get up-to-date travel information from your smartphone.
Get up-to-date travel data: Fizz Traveller offers itinerary planning, alarms, daylight maps, and so much more.
Talking Phrasebooks: Brush up on a foreign language with MobiLearn's Talking Phrasebooks.
Use your GPS: Many smartphones now come equipped with GPS, so you'll never get lost. You'll also be able to get directions using apps like Google Maps.

Media & Entertainment
Use these strategies to make the most out of images, music, and other media on your smartphone.

Get a visual radio: If your smartphone comes equipped with a radio, create a visual radio that will stream data, photos, and more from the station.
Listen to music with Bluetooth: BlueMusic will allow you to listen to music on your smartphone device through your Bluetooth headset.
Download some games: Get more than the games your smartphone comes with -- download some great stuff online.
Upload Flickr photos: Send an email to Flickr from your smartphone, and you'll be able to upload photos on the go.
Use it as a presentation remote: Download software to turn your smartphone into a universal remote.
Play Nintendo: With FinalBurn, you'll get Nintendo emulation on your smartphone.
Stream music: Use NuTsie to stream iTunes music to your phone.
View photo and video: Download Resco's Photo Viewer in order to view your own video and image files.
Watch TV: You can watch live and recorded TV over the Internet with your smartphone and Slingplayer.
Make your own ringtone: Turn your MP3s into ringtones with ToneThis.
Get Game Boy on your smartphone: Take advantage of gnuboy and play Game Boy on your smartphone.
Watch and listen to broadcasts from your home PC: Download Orb, and you'll be able to turn your home PC into a broadcasting system.
Listen to Pandora: If you have an AT&T or Sprint phone, you can listen to Pandora on it.
Emulate console gaming: Use SmartGear to get multi-system game emulation on your smartphone.

Organization
Put everything in its place on your smartphone using these tools.

Send yourself photo reminders: With Kwiry, you'll be able to send yourself a photo with a quick note attached to it.
Manage your personal information: Manage your time, contacts, and more with Agenda One.
Stay on top of tasks: Use this task editor to create, edit, and complete tasks on your smartphone.
Reminders: Use services like Jott to send yourself reminders from your phone.
Maintain a to-do list: Update and manage your to-do list from your smartphone by using an AIM bot.
Gather lists: With ListPro, you'll be able to stay on top of shopping lists, library collections, and more.
Manage your time: Make use of the Papyrus time management system to manage your schedule.

Information
Did you know that you can have an entire encyclopedia in your pocket? Get that and more here.

Visit Answers.com: Get answers right on your smartphone with this mobile edition of Answers.com.
Look up words: Get mobile dictionary WordBook to look up definitions inside your smartphone's apps.
Mobile content: You may already be doing this, but smartphones are great for reading content with RSS and widgets.
Read books, reference material, and news: Get the Mobipocket Reader, and you'll be able to read ebooks, news, and more on your smartphone.
Search Wikipedia: Here you'll find the mobile version of online encyclopedia Wikipedia.
Get weather updates: With PocketWeather, you can get weather reports for anywhere in the world.

Utilities
Make regular utilities on your smartphone just a bit better.

Upgrade your file management: Use this file management utility to get control of your files and programs.
Improve your browser: Give your smartphone's built-in browser an upgrade with Opera Mini, a browser that can take on most of what you'll want to view.
Add a miniSD card: Free up some storage space on your phone by using a memory card.
Get a powerful calculator: This fully-featured calculator will deliver scientific calculations, unit conversion, and much more.
Manage smartphone tasks: With this program, you can see which programs are running on your smartphone.

Security
Use these tools and ideas to beef up your smartphone security.

Detect threats: Protect your smartphone from virus threats with this software.
Add important numbers: Be sure to add in case of emergency contacts, a locksmith, a cab company, and your insurance provider's claim number to your phone book.
Save your passwords: Use SplashID, and you'll be able to store and back up your passwords, credit card numbers, and more. This password manager will also generate random passwords for you.
Kill spyware: Detect worms, spyware, and more on your smartphone with Spybot.
Back up important information: Back everything up with this software that will save your data.

Convenience
These are some of the ways you can make your smartphone more easy to use.

Sync your contacts: Sync your contact details and data over the Internet with this app.
Settle into your home screen: Use this smartphone plugin to completely customize your home screen.
Remap your keys: Make your keys do exactly what you want them to by remapping them.
Reboot easier: With this application, you'll be able to quickly and easily reboot your smartphone.
Open document files: Download ClearVue Suite to open MS Office, PDF, and more.
Synchronize your calendar: Seamlessly synchronize your Google Calendar with your mobile device using GooSync.
Sync your contacts everywhere: This Yahoo! program will allow you to sync your smartphone with a variety of different contact managers.

Hacks
Take your smartphone just a bit beyond what's intended with these hacks.

Unlock your phone: Change the way your apps are allowed to work by unlocking your smartphone.
Unstick keys: Fix keys that are giving you trouble with this method.
Create your own AIM bot: Use this guide to roll your own AIM bot that you can use from your smartphone.

BlackBerry
These tools are made specifically for BlackBerry smartphones.

Read HTML messages: Use BBSmart to enable HTML messages within your BlackBerry.
Get remote access: Take advantage of RDM+ for remote access to your PC.
IM: Upgrade your BlackBerry's IM capabilities with a decent IM client.
Edit documents: Use eOffice to get document editing that includes integration with Google Docs and Spreadsheets.
Manage your day: Stay on top of your time with the PocketDay time management program.

Windows Mobile
Here, you'll find a number of the many useful applications for Windows Mobile smartphones.

Remake your home page: Unclutter your smartphone's homepage with PointUI Home.
Stay on top of email: Manage your email with your Windows Mobile device and synchronize with your desktop using FlexMail.
Remote control your Windows desktop: Turn your smartphone into a remote control with this app.
Sync your notes: Make use of Evernote and you'll get an incredible flexible note-taker that will sync between your smartphone and desktop.
Get a close button: Spb Pocket Plus will give you the ability to close programs and better manage tasks.
Upgrade your browser: Turn your old clunker of Internet Explorer into a more smooth browsing experience with Opera Mobile.
Improve your to-do list: Create, edit, and synchronize tasks with Microsoft Outlook using Oxio's ToDo List.
Integrate with your PC: Use True Connect, and you'll be able to work on your Windows Mobile smartphone as if it were your PC.
Manage your memory: Get MemMaid to better manage your memory, clean your registry, and wipe files.
Read RSS Feeds: Download pRSSReader for a free, smart, and compact RSS reader for your Windows Mobile smartphone.
Listen to Internet radio: Use the Resco Pocket Radio to get hundreds of Internet radio stations.
Transform your interface: Spb Mobile Shell will help you make your Windows Mobile interface look the way you'd like it to.
Use Gmail: Check out this tutorial to find out how to set up Gmail on your Windows Mobile smartphone.
Play a variety of media files: MPlayer will allow you to play just about any media file you'd like on a Windows Mobile smartphone.
Organize your tasks: With SmarterTasks, you'll be able to manage your tasks in contexts.
Release memory: Oxios Hibernate will free up as much memory as possible on your smartphone.

Palm
Make your Treo, Centro, and other Palm devices work just a bit harder.

Watch videos: Use the CorePlayer to watch videos on your Palm device.
Read Office 2010 files: Buy the Data-Viz Premium Edition, which will allow you to work with documents from Office 2010.
Create your own ringtones: MiniTones makes it easy for you to turn an MP3 into a ringtone.
Improve your browser: Download Universe 3, an open source browser for the Palm, and you'll get features not available in Browser.
Upgrade your email: Upgrade VersaMail to something that works with HTML and popular webmail clients, such as ChatterEmail.
Send a postcard: Send multimedia greetings using photos and voice recordings you've taken with your Palm.

Symbian
Symbian smartphones can get an upgrade with these tools.

Edit office documents: Get Quickoffice's mobile editing suite to manipulate documents on your Symbian handheld.
Get directions: Check out Smart2Go, a service that will give you mapping and directions on your smartphone device.
Use it as a webcam: Use SmartCam, and you can use your Symbian smartphone as a webcam.
Get a simpler IM: Mundu IM offers a chat client that is a lot simpler than the Symbian IM.
Share photos online: Send cameraphone photos to a Nokia Lifeblog, and you'll have them online without having to use a computer.

iPhone
Get more out of your iPhone here.

Videora iPhone Converter: Easily convert videos to watch on your iPhone with Videora.
Get location-based Wikipedia information: GeoPedia will serve up Wikipedia articles related to your current location.
Use your iPhone as a disk: Install PhoneView to use your iPhone as a disc, and share lots of different media between your iPhone and computer.
Get location-aware reviews and listings: Visit Yelp on your iPhone, and you'll find reviews and business listings nearby.
Turn it into a flashlight: Although it will suck the life out of your battery, the Light app will turn your iPhone into a handy flashlight.

101 Ways to Say NO to Sex

2011-07-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

No
I've decided to wait
I'll let you know later
How about a movie instead?
I'm not ready
It's getting late
I want my first time to be special
You're crazy
I want to be loved, not make love
I don't do sex
I don't love you
I have to go now
You're just using me
Rub my back instead
I can't support a child
I'm scared
This isn't what I had in mind
Not until we're married
I know your reputation!
Let's stop seeing each other for a while
If you loved me, you wouldn't ask
School comes before sex
We might get caught
Is that all you think about?
I'm allergic to sex
You'll tell everyone
I have a sunburn
It's not worth it.
Let me think about it
I'm waiting for the right person
It's against my religion
My parents would kill me
Let's get something to eat
I just want to be friends
I said "no" and I mean it!
We're too young
Don't ask me to make this choice
I don't feel comfortable
Sex can be more trouble than it's worth
With all these diseases going around?
Not everybody's doing it - I'm not
I just got my hair done
I don't like kids
I don't sleep around
Don't make me laugh
I think I hear my dad
We can find other ways to express our love
If I do, you'll leave me
I've got homework
My parents are waiting up
If we do it now, it could ruin it later
I don't know you well enough
I just want to hold you
I want you to leave
I'd rather watch the game
Have you thought about consequences?
I think my mother's calling
I don't want to
People will think I'm "easy"
Go away
I don't know who else you've slept with
I want to break up until you can wait
Maybe later
I love you too much to have sex
I'll find my own way to the door
Love isn't just about sex
It's not what I want to do
My favorite show's on now
I thought you were different
I quit last week
The coach said not to
I want to stay a virgin
I have to go to the bathroom
It's past my curfew
It's against my values
I'm too busy
I don't want to have kids now
Ask me again in 5 years
I want to have a career
You ignore me any other time
I don't want to get pregnant
Thanks anyway
I'm not ready to commit
Let's ask my parents
We won't respect each other
I have to get up early
I'm not sure you're the right person
Not tonight
I don't want that kind of pressure
My friends will be here any minute
I don't want our relationship to be just about sex
Let's wait
I'm not looking for this
I need more time
It might ruin our friendship
I want to stop now
Please respect my wishes
I'm afraid of HIV
I love someone else
I'd be sorry later
I want to know you better

101 Ways to Personalize Your Wedding

2011-07-19T18:26:00.000-07:00

What makes a wedding special? It's all in the details, and we've got some exciting ideas to make your celebration memorable.

By:

Rachel Griffiths

Creative "I Dos"

1. Ceremony seating can tie in with your wedding theme, so consider hay bales for a country wedding or satinccushions for the floor of that urban loft, says Sasha Souza of San Francisco's Sasha Souza Events.

2. Worried that the littlest flower girl won't make it down the aisle on her own? Have a junior bridesmaid pull her in a classic red Radio Flyer wagon.
3. Have someone who is near and dear to you do a reading—perhaps a special love poem—or sing an aria from a favorite opera.
4. Lollipops in candy colors, clusters of berries, autumn leaves—get bold with your boutonnieres.
5. If you don't like the idea of getting birdseed or rice in your hair, give guests sparklers, pinwheels or mini-flags for the big send-off.
6. Pre-ceremony, don't offer food or booze; keep it low-key with glasses of ginger lemonade, says Peter Callahan of Callahan Catering, with locations in New York City and Philadelphia.
7. Hot summer ceremony? Have your wedding programs printed on paper fans.
8. Beach brides: Bury vases in the sand so it looks as if your flowers are growing there, says Michael George of Michael George Flowers in New York City.
9. Will guests be tossing petals post-ceremony? Hang cones or little galvanized metal buckets filled with these pretty items on the backs of ceremony chairs—they'll double as pew décor.
10. Dress doors and entrances with flower garlands and fabric swags. Souza once used a pair of 200-year-old doors as a backdrop for a beach wedding.
11. Your aisle runner is an opportunity to amaze. For a beach wedding, George sprinkled smooth-edged sea glass along the sand so that the whole aisle twinkled.
12. Use a length of linen fabric in one of your wedding colors for an aisle runner. (Hint: It's easy on the budget!).
13. For romantic atmosphere, project slow-moving images—think flowing water or clouds—onto a sleek fabric chuppah or a wedding arch, suggests George.
14. Use a silver tray carpeted with moss for the ring-bearer's pillow.
15. A tip for ensuring that all eyes really are on you: Go for all-white flowers, such as delicate lily of the valley, in your bouquet.
16. If you prefer fairy-tale flowers, ask your florist to arrange individual petals into the shape of a sumptuous rose of any diameter.
17. "Don't be afraid to be creative with your ceremony music," says Souza, who's arranged "I dos" to everything from a single flamenco guitarist to a full jazz band.

18. Reserve ceremony seating for your most important guests by placing name cards on their chairs. If you want to give these guests extra-special treatment, write a personal note on each card.

A Spirited Cocktail Hour

19. Make the bar spectacular, says Souza. How about having one carved from solid ice, with bright poppies frozen inside for a dash of vibrant color?
20. Want to decorate with ice but are working on a budget? Have your caterer embellish your drinks with ice cubes that have edible flower petals frozen inside.
21. Let the season guide your choice of drinks: Callahan suggests spiked pink lemonade for spring, mint or lime punch for summer, caramel-apple fizzes for fall and martinis—extra olives, please—in the winter.
22. You can create your signature drink based on color. If you're having a wedding with a peachy palette, try bellinis; if you've gone for something blue, offer a cocktail spiked with curaçao.
23. A superpopular, tiny treat guaranteed to tempt guests? Mini-hamburgers, complete with bite-size buns and tomato jam, a tasty condiment made with tomatoes, sugar and lemons.
24. Glamorous versions of comfort-food classics—lobster corndogs or truffled popcorn—are hits, says Souza.
25. Matchstick-size slivers of sugarcane make delicious skewers for grilled scallops or fruit kabobs.
26. Want to be really over-the-top? Conjure up some 1940s glamour with a fountain that gushes champagne, says Callahan.
27. For pretty swizzle sticks, consider edible flowers on long stems.
28. Want to spread the good luck? Spicy wontons, with fortunes tucked inside the crispy wrappers, should do the trick.
29. Signature drinks are sexier if they're shaken and stirred right on the spot. Have your bartender whisk up Sgroppinos (sorbet, champagne and limoncello) in elegant copper bowls set into blocks of ice.
30. Serve small sips of colorful exotic drinks—think tropical fruit made into a slurry with a splash of liquor—in votive candle holders, Souza suggests.
31. Tantalize guests with tiny shots of tasty, chilled soup in edible "bowls" such as baked-potato skins or even small, hollowed-out tomatoes.
32. Your trays should be as appetizing as the treats they offer, Callahan says. Try clear acrylic trays with insets of decorative, large-grained sea salt or halved figs.
33. Serve hors d'oeuvres with a healthy helping of style; for example, try a pretty bamboo basket piled high with dumplings or shrimp skewers poking up from wheatgrass flats, Souza suggests.
34. For an update on the classic raw bar, have the wait staff shuck oysters as guests watch. Callahan likes to display seafood in antique wooden crates or small rowboats.
35. Pinot noir, chardonnay or sangiovese, anyone? Host a cocktail-hour wine-tasting, conducted by the bartender.
36. Your signature drinks stand out when bartenders rim guests' glasses with salt or sugar in your wedding colors.
37. Don't send your hors d'oeuvres out naked! Try pretty garnishes of flowering herbs such as basil, mint and thyme.
38. Give guests a quick taste of family history—serve bite-sized versions of favorite recipes, Souza suggests.
39. For a whimsical look, line your buffet tables with wheatgrass and then put up mini white picket fencing.
40. Caviar and crackers arranged on large flat trays, crab cakes piled on cake stands—give buffets visual interest by varying presentation height.
41. "Each cocktail station should have a unique size and shape," advises Souza, who, these days, favors interesting serpentine and triangular tables.

42. Chilled, flavorful summer soups look and taste refreshing when served from giant bowls carved out of ice.

A Ravishing Reception

43. Make your entrance grand—line the path to your ballroom with rows and rows of glowing candles.
44. Having a garden wedding under the trees? Surprise your guests by hanging chandeliers lit by candles from sturdy branches.
45. For a picture-perfect memory, place your guest book on a table beside a rented photo booth. Guests can paste their snapshot in your book along with their good wishes for your future.
46. Ask your videographer to set up a stationary camera and let guests record messages: It's a video guest book!
47. Hire conga players for the cocktail hour, then kick up the energy with a full dance band later on. Just remember: For dinner music, turn down the decibels and try soft jazz, says Souza.
48. "The puppy has to have flowers!" laughs George. He designs fluffy floral collars for all canine attendees.
49. Play princess for the day: Just for fun, fly jaunty flags in your wedding colors from the tops of tent poles.
50. Tie escort cards to tree branches.
51. If you want a traditional escort-card table, update it by covering it with pebbles painted in your wedding colors, with a bed of moss or with lots of fluffy carnations.
52. Always look for ways to be playful with your flowers; adorn statues with daisy-chain crowns or pretty garlands.
53. Guest transportation can be unexpectedly fun. Think: an old yellow school bus or a London-style double-decker.
54. If you're tying the knot by the water, consider a boat for your grand getaway.
55. Vary your table arrangements, George says, by placing a single-vase centerpiece on some tables and then using the same flowers and colors in more elaborate, multivase arrangements on other tables.
56. A night under the stars? Keep guests comfortably cozy with ceramic chimineas (small outdoor firepots) or slow-burning fires in low, stone bowls.
57. Use your wedding colors on everything, from the ink on your invites to the shades of your bridesmaid bouquets to colorful yarmulkes. Then surprise guests with unexpected color accents on the garnish for cocktails or even the hue of the first-course soup.
58. A truly personal touch for a small wedding? Write a compliment to each guest—"outrageously funny," "impeccable style"—on his or her place card.
59. Want guests to kick off their shoes at your beach wedding? George arranges stacks of fluffy towels and copper troughs filled with rose water for guests who want a quick rinse before slipping back into their Manolos and heading for cocktails.
60. Place a card printed with the words to your first-dance song at every seat, so guests can enjoy serenading you while you make your way around the floor.
61. If your centerpieces contain calla lilies, reinforce the look by tucking mini callas into the folds of your guests' dinner napkins.
62. Must centerpieces always be flowers? Not necessarily, says Souza. She once designed a table with a six-inch fire pit in the middle, so that the center of the table was, literally, a blaze of glory!
63. Write guests' names in gold or silver ink on bay leaves, then place each guest's leaf on his or her napkin.
64. "People say you shouldn't mix tablecloth patterns. Not true!" says Souza, who likes at least three different looks, in complementary colors.
65. Your vessels should be as original as the flower arrangements they hold, says George, who uses rectangular, square and cylindrical ones in all colors—including black. Souza agrees. "I like vases carved from ice," she says.
66. Planning a seaside reception? Consider creating a centerpiece of sea glass strewn with shells and starfish.
67. Use lighting to alter the feel of a space. Souza suggests having the colors and brightness change over the course of the night to set different moods.
68. Think lanterns for lighting: clusters of jelly jars nestled in trees; glowing globes massed over pools so the water twinkles with cheerful colors.
69. Keep your high-rollers happy late into the night by setting up an after-hours lounge with billiards, blackjack and casino games.
70. George suggests decorating the "Just Married" sign on your car with flowers and using ribbons or strings spray-painted in your wedding colors to attach the soda cans.

Fab Food

71. If you want to be sure that guests will be ready to get up and dance, serve no more than two courses at the table—and keep the food light and full of flavor, says Callahan.
72. To highlight your toasts, Souza suggests doing them as soon as you sit down. "You get more focused attention that way—and fewer intoxicated guests," she says.
73. If you're seating guests at gorgeous tile- or copper-topped tables, skip the linens.
74. Whet guests' appetites with little square dishes of Tuscan nibbles—caramelized shallots, roasted peppers, bread sticks, Italian cheese—placed on each table, advises Callahan.
75. The fastest way to get your tables talking? Ask your caterer for a first course that guests can share, such as cheese fondue.
76. Have a first course that teases the palate with a number of distinct flavors. Callahan's personal favorite? Lobster with parmigiano-reggiano cheese, layered with potatoes and crisp leeks, all topped by brilliant-yellow bok choy flowers.
77. Skip the fuss of taking dinner orders by having waiters serve guests from huge platters holding a variety of main courses.
78. Mix and match seating options, using couches, chairs and tables of different sizes. "The look is organized chaos," says Souza.
79. Segue into your after-party by bringing out a new signature drink, like a Brazilian caipirinha made with mango juice.

80. Go beyond regular or decaf coffees by offering delicious espresso drinks with splashes of sweet liqueurs.

Sweet Nothings

81. Your favorite candy can be translated into a cake, says Brenda Maher of Chicago's Cakegirls. When asked for an Almond Joy cake, Maher delivered a confection of almond pastry filled with chocolate-coconut ganache—to everyone's delight.
82. Please your inner child—and guests—with whimsical mini-clouds of raspberry cotton candy. "They're the width of a lollipop!" says Callahan.
83. Feel free to indulge with an ice-cream bar stocked with your favorite flavors.
84. Passed frozen desserts are especially fun. Callahan's pick? Bite-size Chipwiches.
85. A tiered cake with layers in different flavors will please your picky guests. Maher suggests having the least common flavor as the smallest layer.
86. As the hour gets late and the dancing heats up, Callahan keeps guests cool with inch-long Popsicles spiked with liquor.
87. While the adults are having coffee and biscotti, treat the kids to delicious hot chocolate and animal crackers.
88. Everyone loves a candy table. Go for old-fashioned lollipops, rock candy and licorice in bright colors.
89. Serve up decadent chocolate truffles alongside dessert drinks like chocolatinis.
90. Let them eat cupcakes: Send guests home with a sweet little treat placed in a clear Lucite box, says Souza.
91. For a fun cake topper, Maher suggests a chocolate monogram or pulled sugar curlicues.
92. Small cakes, placed on each table, become striking centerpieces when frosted in your wedding colors or in other eye-catching hues.
93. Having a small cake at each table is a popular idea, but always request a larger version for the ceremonial cutting.
94. Favor guests with something special: homemade mini cookies tied up in clear bags, with a recipe card, printed on bright paper, tucked in, too.
95. Planning a wedding picnic? For one outdoorsy Chicago couple, Maher baked cakes-for-two that were placed in guests' lunch baskets.
96. A perennial favor choice, the chocolate truffle, looks fabulous in individual boxes gift-wrapped in your wedding colors and finished off with a mini bow.
97. As a charming gift to guests, a simple, colorful candy favor presented in a heart-shaped box is just right.

By Invitation Only

98. For a save-the-date card with a difference, send a playful photo-booth strip of yourself and your groom, holding up a hand-lettered, decorated cardboard sign that announces the big news.
99. To design a custom postage stamp with your photograph or wedding emblem, go to photo.stamps.com.
100. Your wedding invitations will be sure to command everyone's attention if you send them in envelopes of shimmering paper or an eye-catching color.

101. If he proposed beneath an oak tree, have your invitation embellished with an etching of an oak branch; if you became engaged in spring, have a daffodil design—if you use whatever has special meaning just for you, you can't go wrong.

101 Ways to Love Each Other

2011-07-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart so long. If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can be together all the time. - Calvin & Hobbes

Expressing love to our partners, children, family and friends not only strengthens communication it also improves connection and intimacy. Too often we get distracted by the trivial and forget how important it is to nurture our relationships.

Finding simple, but heartfelt ways to love each other is a source of encouragement for the giver and the receiver. By loving consciously, we discover Love is the force that puts the world back together when it feels like it’s coming apart. It provides a sense of contentment and gratitude deep in our hearts and is the voice that tells us, “Everything will be okay.”

Consider these ways to love each other and help create a world where beauty and grace can fill the hearts of everyone willing to give and then receive Love’s gentle power:

Don’t wait to say, “I love you.” Tell someone today, right now.
Tell your child you believe in her or him.
When you ask a question, listen to the answer.
Leave an unexpected note.
Admit when you are wrong.
Do what you say you’re going to do.
Be generous with compliments and judicious with complaints.
Forgive, let go and move on.
Smile when someone touches your heart.
Prepare and share a meal together.
Tell your parent one thing he or she did that inspired you.
Treat a friend to lunch.
Seek to understand first, before asking to be understood.
Hold onto a hug one moment longer than expected.
Be an encourager.
Show patience, even in your busiest moment.
Help a friend find something that has been lost.
When someone is on your mind, pick up the phone and let them know.
Tell your wife how much you love her every night.
Tell your husband you are proud of him every day.
Be faithful to your partner even when you think Temptation has made its case.
Pray together.
Turn on a light to interrupt the darkness.
When asked for feedback; give it honestly, but with compassion.
Never forget the love you have been given; treasure it; respect it and hold onto it.
Put your child’s needs ahead of your own.
Show respect and expect respect in return.
Be comfortable in the silence.
Grab a work-out together.
Let your wife know you would marry her again.
Read to your child.
Extend a hand when there is a need.
Make time to just play!
Don’t gloat when you are right.
Let them see you being vulnerable; it will validate their own vulnerability.
Call your mom or dad often and offer some real insight into your life.
Climb the mountain and then enjoy the view together.
Never use love, or the threat of withholding love, as a weapon.
Be the rock in the storm.
Remember the words you use can encourage and they can hurt, too.
Do the right thing, always.
Be the first to stand up for your child.
Look for opportunities to make a loved one’s day a little easier.
Say, “Thank you.”
Open your heart to receive a loved one’s best effort.
Carry your friend; but know when it’s time to put him down.
When angry, think about how your words will be received ten minutes into the future.
Linger at the dinner table after the meal has been eaten.
Know when to offer space and respect boundaries.
Remember that everyone deserves a second chance.
Go for a walk and leave the iPods at home.
Diffuse embarrassment with laughter.
Be willing to fall in love with your partner over and over.
Leave work at work.
Receive the compliment – it’s a gift created especially for you.
Your children hear everything; give them something worth repeating.
Speak your mind, but with a tender heart.
Share. Honor. Trust. Love and then repeat.
Provide a safe place to rest.
Notice the small things and recognize them.
Cover your partner with more of what they want.
Trust a friend.
Don’t offer or try to fix a loved one.
Place your partner’s hand inside of yours.
Laugh together.
Call when you are running late.
Watch home videos or look through family photo albums together.
Take the good with the bad.
Ask your child for his opinion.
Save enough energy for a good-night kiss.
Compliment your partner in front of others.
Become the loudest cheerleader.
Live in the here and now with those closest to your heart.
Tell your loved ones what they mean to you.
Be a model for healthy living.
When your partner comes home stop what you are doing and greet her.
Demonstrate self-acceptance and self-love.
Wait for the “rest of the story” before coming to an opinion.
Make the relationship a priority.
Show your gratitude.
Refrain from expecting perfection.
Be generous with your most valuable resource – your time.
Help a loved one to feel special on their birthday.
Love each one for who they are today.
Solve problems together.
Let them see the real you.
Cry together.
Let a loved one know that he or she is making your life better.
Do the unexpected.
Choose true connection over mediocrity.
Never insult your spouse, child and friend.
Plan a family night.
Know when to disconnect from the computer and re-connect.
Give gifts from your heart.
Acknowledge your partner’s worth.
Stop trying so hard to be the perfect parent and just be who you are.
Lift up your friend.
Let your parents know you will continue the positive family traditions.
Remember the art of patience.
Simply love and love simply.

Where is #101?

The list ended at number 100 because I invite you to share in Comments (below) your ideas. There are countless ways to love each other and I would love for you to add to the list.

101 Ways to Make Extra Cash for the Holidays

2011-07-15T23:36:00.000-07:00

The holiday season is looming and you're finding yourself a little bit short on cash. Maybe you received a pay cut or you won't be getting that bonus this year. If you want to be able to buy those hot news toys for your kids or that crave-worthy new gadget (iPad, anyone?) for yourself or for that other special someone in your life, you should try one or more of our 101 ways to make extra cash for the holidays. Someone's pain can most certainly be your gain for this coming season.

If you don't mind manual labor...

1. Winterize people's homes.
2. Wash and groom people's pets.
3. If you're able-bodied, shovel snow for money.
4. Clean out gutters.
5. Rake leaves for a separate fee.
6. Become a pooper scooper.
7. Wash and detail people's cars.
8. Become skilled at fixing things and offer your services to the community.

If you have a an eye for design...

9. Act as a personal shopper.
10. Become an image consultant.
11. For a reasonable sum, offer to hang holiday lights and decorations for others.
12. Gift wrap the gift-giver's gifts for them. Find gift wrapping jobs >>
13. Sell your photos to stock agencies, or submit them for use on AOL through SEED.

If you are into arts 'n' crafts...

14. Get crafting, and sell your creations at flea markets or craft shows.
15. Make things (clothes, crafts, toys, furniture, etc.) and sell them on Etsy.com.
16. Find clients to commission murals for you to paint.

If you have an entertaining talent...

17. Take your talent to the streets and try entertaining passers-by. You may even get discovered!
18. Play an instrument and/or sing? Find restaurants that will let you entertain patrons and receive tips.

If you like writing...

19. Write letters from Santa to kids who have written to him. Be creative!
20. Do freelance work. Write for AOL through SEED >>
21. Proofread or edit other writers' work.
22. Start a blog, and get it sponsored and/or set up merchandising links you can get credit for.
23. Write a book and sell it through LuLu as a digital download.
24. Get paid for writing guides through sites like ChaCha.com.

If you have a knack for academics...

25. Tutor students.
26. Sign-up to teach SAT, GMAT, LSAT, etc. classes.
27. Give e-lessons: teach basics of Word, Quicken, excel, etc. -- advertise through Craigslist

If you like to motivate (or nag)...

28. Give lessons (i.e. singing, dancing, language, piano, swimming, etc.).
29. Be someone's gym buddy, diet coach or bad habit tracker.

If you consider yourself neat and orderly...

30. Reorganize your friends' and neighbors' closets.
31. Offer your services to help people orchestrate a move.
32. Organize and run your neighbor's garage sale for a portion of the profits.
33. Organize your friends' and neighbors' garages.

If you don't mind being a sell-out...

34. Come up with a gimmick like wearing T-shirts to advertise a company for money.
35. Get paid by allowing companies to wrap your vehicle in their advertisement.

If you are reliable and responsible...

36. Spread the word that you are available for house-sitting.
37. Babysit for your friends/neighbors and post your info on community bulletins. Find babysitting jobs >>
38. You could also choose to pet-sit.
39. Take care of houseplants for your friends or neighbors while they are away.
40. Start dog-walking.
41. Run errands for your friends.

If you're skilled in tech...

42. Build or maintain websites for small businesses.

If you are great in the home and garden...

43. Bake cookies/cakes/pies or make jam/jellies/honey to sell
44. Grow produce or flowers to sell at a local farmer's market.

If tedium is not a problem...

45. Address holiday cards for all of your friends, family, co-workers and your acquaintances.
46. Organize/scan/convert photos for others.
47. Transcribe notes.

If you love socializing and meeting new faces...

48. Cater holiday parties.
49. Try your hand at event planning, and plan holiday parties.
50. Make a deal to clean up party venues for some monetary compensation.
51. If you're a cute girl, let boys hire you to play video games with them. Find out more on GameCrush >>
52. Be a friend and guide. Read more about Rent-A-Friend.

If you want to pay it forward...

53. Go grocery shopping for the elderly or the disabled.
54. Make the decision to donate life by donating sperm or eggs.
55. Sell your hair to wig makers.
56. Donate your plasma.

If your nights and weekends are free...

57. Wait tables as you are available. Find waiter or waitress jobs >>
58. Spend your nights slipping into a security guard uniform. Find security guard jobs >>
59. Work evenings or weekends in retail. Find seasonal retail worker jobs >>
60. Sign-up to be a mall Santa this season. Find out more about Santa jobs >>
61. Work as a valet to park and retrieve cars. Find valet jobs >>
62. Become a driver of some sort (truck, delivery, bus, personal). Find driving jobs >>
63. Get a temp job, and fill-in for those on vacation. Find temp jobs >>
64. Work the big events at convention centers.

If you have/have access to a lot of junk...

65. Sell unwanted items for yourself and others on eBay or Craigslist
66. Sell your brand-name clothes with tags to recycling retailers like Plato's Closet or old clothes to consignment shops.
67. Sell your old cameras and equipment to brick and mortar camera shops like Ritz Camera.
68. Sell your college textbooks or other books on Half.com.
69. Collect old cell phones from friends/co-workers to be recycled at greenphone.com.
70. Collect bottles and cans to receive cash refunds from participating recycling centers in certain states. Check your cans and bottles for the universal recycle symbol and the valid state.
71. Pawn something of value.
72. Dig around for antiques (garage sales, your attic, your grandma's attic) and resell them to collectors.
73. Have your own garage sale.
74. Sell your gold for cash.
75. Sell the jewelry your ex gave you. Learn more at Ex-Boyfriend Jewelry's site.

If you have a lot of time on your hands...

76. Search out circulating coins, collect them, and sell them.
77. Strike up a deal to earn some money by waiting for people's packages from the delivery man.
78. Stand in line for impatient people during the mad-rush shopping days.
79. Help "pre-try" cases as an online juror. Find out more at eJury.com or TrialJuries.com.
80. Take surveys online. Try SendEarnings.com or MySurvey.com.
81. Become a secret shopper.
82. Enter into multiple sweepstakes and contests and collect your earnings or sell your prizes.
83. Become a movie extra.
84. Go paparazzo. Hang out at celebrity hot spots and sell any celeb photos you snap.
85. Give your opinion. Sign-up for focus groups.
86. Start your home-based business (multi-level marketing). Read a Mary Kay success story >>
87. Operate a call center from your home. Find out more at Alpine Access.
88. Join a marketplace for work, where you get paid to complete tasks. Check out Mechanical Turk.

If you don't mind lending out your possessions...

89. Offer to let someone use your truck or van to move (better yet, help them move too)
90. Rent out your ladder or home improvement tools.
91. Obtain a powerwasher, leafblower or snowblower and rent it out, along with your service.

If you have a lot of extra space...

92. Rent out a room in your home.
93. Turn your home into a bed & breakfast for weary travelers. Find out more at Crashpadder.com.
94. If you live near a hospital or in a top destination city, rent your basement or extra rooms to long-term visitors.
95. If you have lots of land, rent it out as storage for boats and RVs.
96. If you have an empty garage or shed, rent it out for general storage.
97. Rent out your parking space if you live near a big event venue or in a city with minimal parking.

If you have no fear...

98. Have dare-bets with your friends: "I bet you $100 you couldn't eat 10 Big Macs in 45 minutes!"
99. Sign up to participate in research experiments. Check with your local universities.
100. Become a lab rat and enter into clinical trials.
101. Try your luck in the casinos.

101 Ways To Annoy People

2011-07-14T22:59:00.000-07:00

1. Sing the Batman theme incessantly.

2. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sensual massage."

3. Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."

4. Learn Morse code, and have conversations with friends in public consisting entirely of "Beeeep Bip Bip Beeep Bip..."

5. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.

6. Amuse yourself for endless hours by hooking a camcorder to your TV and then pointing it at the screen.

7. Speak only in a "robot" voice.

8. Push all the flat Lego pieces together tightly.

9. Start each meal by conspicuously licking all your food, and announce that this is so no one will "swipe your grub".

10. Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inch paper, 98 copies.

11. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.

12. Sniffle incessantly.

13. Leave your turn signal on for fifty miles.

14. Name your dog "Dog." 15. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."

16. Reply to everything someone says with "that's what YOU think."

17. Claim that you must always wear a bicycle helmet as part of your "astronaut training."

18. Declare your apartment an independent nation, and sue your neighbors upstairs for "violating your airspace".

19. Forget the punchline to a long joke, but assure the listener it was a "real hoot."

20. Follow a few paces behind someone, spraying everything they touch with Lysol.

21. Practice making fax and modem noises.

22. Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers and "cc:" them to your boss.

23. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.

24. Invent nonsense computer jargon in conversations, and see if people play along to avoid the appearance of ignorance.

25. Erect an elaborate network of ropes in your backyard, and tell the neighbors you are a "spider person."

26. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with the prophesy."

27. Wear a special hip holster for your
remote control.

28. Do not add any inflection to the end of your sentences, producing awkward silences with the impression that you'll be saying more any moment.

29. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears.

30. Disassemble your pen and "accidentally" flip the ink cartridge across the room.

31. Give a play-by-play account of a persons every action in a nasal Howard Cosell voice.

32. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.

33. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."

34. Drum on every available surface.

35. Staple papers in the middle of the page.

36. Ask 1-800 operators for dates.

37. Produce a rental video consisting entirely of dire FBI copyright warnings.

38. Sew anti-theft detector strips
into peoples backpacks.

39. Hide dairy products in inaccessible places.

40. Write the surprise ending to a novel on its first page.

41. Set alarms for random times.

42. Order a side of pork rinds with your filet mignon.

43. Instead of Gallo, serve Night Train next Thanksgiving.

44. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a "croaking" noise.

45. Honk and wave to strangers.

46. Dress only in clothes colored Hunters Orange.

47. Change channels five minutes before the end of every show.

48. Tape pieces of "Sweating to the Oldies" over climactic parts of rental movies.

49. Wear your pants backwards.

50. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints by the cash register.

51. Begin all your sentences with "ooh la la!"

52. ONLY TYPE IN UPPERCASE.

53. only type in lowercase.

54. dont use any punctuation either

55. Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute whole streets.

56. Pay for your dinner with pennies.

57. Tie jingle bells to all your clothes.

58. Repeat everything someone says, as a question.

59. Write "X - BURIED TREASURE" in random spots on all of someone's roadmaps.

60. Inform everyone you meet of your personal Kennedy assassination/UFO/ O.J Simpson conspiracy theories.

61. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times: "Do you hear that?" "What?" "Never mind, its gone now."

62. Light road flares on a birthday cake.

63. Wander around a restaurant, asking other diners for their parsley.

64. Leave tips in Bolivian currency.

65. Demand that everyone address you as "Conquistador."

66. At the laundromat, use one dryer for each of your socks.

67. When Christmas caroling, sing "Jingle Bells, Batman smells" until physically restrained.

68. Wear a cape that says "Magnificent One."

69. As much as possible, skip rather than walk.

70. Stand over someone's shoulder, mumbling, as they read.

71. Pretend your computer's mouse is a CB radio, and talk to it.

72. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "no, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.

73. Drive half a block.

74. Inform others that they exist only in your imagination.

75. Ask people what gender they are.

76. Lick the filling out of all the Oreos, and place the cookie parts back.

77. Cultivate a Norwegian accent. If Norwegian, affect a Southern drawl.

78. Routinely handcuff yourself to furniture, informing the curious that you don't want to fall off "in case the big one comes".

79. Deliberately hum songs that will remain lodged in co-workers brains, such as "Feliz Navidad", the Archies "Sugar" or the Mr. Rogers theme song.

80. While making presentations, occasionally bob your head. like a parakeet.

81. Lie obviously about trivial things such as the time of day.

82. Leave your Christmas lights up and lit until September.

83. Change your name to "AaJohn Aaaaasmith" for the great glory of being first in the phone book. Claim it's a Hawaiian name, and demand that people pronounce each "a."

84. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.

85. Chew on pens that you've borrowed.

86. Wear a LOT of cologne.

87. Listen to 33rpm records at 45rpm speed, and claim the faster speed is necessary because of your "superior mental processing."

88. Sing along at the opera.

89. Mow your lawn with scissors.

90. At a golf tournament, chant "swing-batabatabata-suhWING-batter!"

91. Ask the waitress for an extra seat for your "imaginary friend."

92. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme.

93. Ask your co-workers mysterious questions, and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something
about "psychological profiles."

94. Stare at static on the TV and claim you can see a "magic picture."

95. Select the same song on the jukebox fifty times.

96. Never make eye contact.

97. Never break eye contact.

98. Construct elaborate "crop circles" in your front lawn.

99. Construct your own pretend "tricorder," and "scan" people with it, announcing the results.

100. Make appointments for the 31st of September.

101. Invite lots of people to other people's parties.

101 Ways to Make Money Online

2011-07-13T19:25:00.000-07:00

Well, of course that everyone can’t make money in all these ways. It all depends on your skills, knowledge and area of interest. So, I am going to list you a 101 proven ways to make money online successfully!

Are You a Blogger?

1. Contextual Ad Networks – Create a blog on a topic (niche) you love, build up a readership and transfer your visitors into dollars from your own blog completely for free!
2. Affiliate Programs – Other way to make money from your own blog is to use affiliate programs and opportunities. Some blogs actually make more money with this technique than the first one.
3. Sponsor a Post – If you have a blog with built readership, you can easily use it to sell some sponsored posts on it for some extra and fast cash on your account.
4. Sell Your Blog Ad Space – Another very effective way to make money online blogging is to sell your own blog ad space to the potential advertisers. A lot of blogs uses this method.
5. Write Articles for Other Blogs – Content is the most important thing for sure. So if you are an experienced writer (blogger), you can easily earn some extra cash by writing down articles for other websites and blogs in your own niche – some bloggers actually make a lot of money using this technique.

You Know to Program?

6. Write Software and Sell it Online – If you know some programming and know how to create a software. It is great opportunity to make money from it by selling it or by integrating some kind of ads in it!
7. Develop Websites for Others – If you are good with codding websites, you can always develop own-created websites and sell them online to your customers.
8. Write a Facebook Application – Facebook is the most important community online. Develop an application for this platform and make some money through it.
9. Develop an iPhone (iPad) App – Apple Store accept any application that is quality and legal to use. Most applications for the iPad and iPhone devices are actually created by community. Of course, you can sell them using Apple Store and make 70% of it’s price!
10. Extend Existing Software Functionality – If you have some programming skills, you can easily extend functionality of open-source software and publish it as your own. This may open some new opportunities to get customers and potential earnings.
11. Build Websites and Sell Them – Of course, you can always build websites and sell them online. The price may strongly depend on your skills and knowledge in this area.

You Like to Write?

12. Write Down an E-Book and Sell – A lot of successful bloggers write an e-book and sell it online through their blogs or a websites to the targeted audience.
13. Look for Some Freelance Jobs – Every day there is thousands of available freelance jobs online. You can search through internet and find the appropriate offer for you.
14. Write Articles on Other Sites – This is similar to freelance job, actually its some kind of it. But here you exclusively write for some websites and make money per article you write.
15. Write Guides and Sell Them Online – If you have some knowledge in your area of expertize, you can write down some guides and sell them online. Guides are quite popular on internet and they might be easily sold online for a good price.

You Like to Play Games?

16. Farm Gold and Sell it For Money – If you ever played some multiplayer online game, they are all full of gold spammers and farmers which sell the in-game currency for the money. You can be one of them and sell your gold easily to other addicted players.
17. Sell your Online Characters – If you play online games like WoW or simply any other game, you can easily sell your developed characters for money. Some players actually make some good amount of money selling their own high-level game characters.
18. Play Entropia – Entropia Universe is a MMO game which uses a micropayment business model, in which players may buy in-game currency (Project Entropia Dollars – PED) with real money and redeem them back into real world currency at a fixed exchange rate.
19. Participate in Tournaments – You like to play games, have some fun and meet some new people? That the game tournaments are just right thing for you. Of course, most of these tournaments offers some prizes for the best contestants.
20. Write Game Guides and Sell Online – A game guides are very effective these days. Especially those where someone teach you how to make in-game gold and level up faster.
21. Be a Game Taster – For the gamers, it is probably the best job in the world. Though it is hard to get, you can play your ass off and earn money while you do that!

Are You Good with Photoshop?

22. Design Logos – Every good and successful business needs a good logo design. If you know how to create an attractive logos, you can easily sell them online.
23. Website Design – Well, every blogger is not good at design and they mostly hire a professional designer to design their blogs or a websites for them – in exchange for money of course.
24. Draw Cartoons – If you are good at drawing a cartoons and comics on your computer, you might be hired on some websites that might pay you to work (draw) for them.
25. Design Online Ads – Webmaster still need design work if they want to create an attractive and effective advertising campaign. Here you can create and sell banners and other ad elements.
26. Make Icons and Sets – Icons and sets are important for every design, website, software or application. If you know how to create one, you can earn some extra money by selling them.
27. Create MySpace and Twitter Backgrounds – A lot of people addicted to MySpace or a Twitter buy professional backgrounds especially created for their accounts.
28. Create Photoshop Brushes and Patterns – If you know how to create them properly, you can earn some extra cash by selling your own Photoshop brushes and patterns.
29. Create a Photoshop Filters – A Photoshop filters are easy to sell – if they are quality and effective. You can create some and earn money selling them online.
30. Make Tutorials and Sell Them – A Photostop tutorials are good sellers because people want to learn how to successfully use this most advanced photo editing software.

You Know About HTML?

31. Start an Online Store – You can earn money by ordering products wholesale, or drop shipped and create your own store online and activate sales easily.
32. Create Websites for Sale – Develop a functional website or a blog and sell it once you are finished. A web-based applications and services are good for earning some money online fast.
33. Start an Affiliate Website – It is simple, refer other people to buy some products from your advertisers and earn commissions for every sale and lead you provide to them.
34. Make Website Templates – A templates for the most important content management systems like WordPress, Joomla and Blogspot are always at good price.
35. Create Scripts – A customized scripts can be sold online quickly and easily. Create some functional and effective scripts and sell them to your targeted audience online.

Are You a Tech Geek?

36. Resell Web Hosting – The most popular web hosting companies offers reseller packages. Here you just rent the server space, split it and resell it online – under your name.
37. Host Game Servers – People will pay for using your server. Setup your server to be capable to run game and chat servers easily. Offer your price and start making some cash.
38. Host Forums or Blogs – You can use your server to allow your customers to host forums and blogs on it. You can choose to charge them for some services and make money that way.
39. Install Apps for Others – People constantly ask for help in this area. You can choose to charge people for installing apps and services on their websites.
40. Charge for Tech Questions – Of course, people ask a lot of questions too. If they want to hear something from you, like some useful advices and suggestions – don’t keep them waiting! Charge a fee for your services and make yourself (and them) happy doing it!
41. Provide Email Hosting – Setting up an email server, blocking spam and making sure it’s locked to relaying is a pain for most webmasters. Provide an easy way for them to outsource the whole service to you.
42. Test for Money – Manually test applications and services on different operating systems and browsers. Then report back to the application developer. You can earn some good money this way.
43. Offer a Backup Service – Rent a server and massive amounts of storage space from a data center and provide remote access through FTP or other method for a monthly fee per gigabyte of the rented storage. You can earn some good money doing this.
44. Start Selling a Domains – Domains are some good and the most wanted products today on internet. You can try your luck by providing cheap and effective domain sales.
45. Sell SSL Certificates – There are some services on internet that allows you to resell SSL certificates online. This way you can sell SSL certificates and make money doing that.
46. Setup Servers and Sites for Others – A server setup can be a tough job! For the beginners it is a quite hard and not possible way. So, these users hire a professional which do all this job for them – of course, in exchange of money!
47. Provide Free Hosting on Your Server – You can provide a free hosting accounts on your server. Allowing you to host sites for free – in exchange you place an ads on their sites. This way you can earn some really good revenue and get potential customers easily.

Have Knowledge in Something Useful?

48. Become an About.com or Ehow.com Writer – You have probably heard of About.com and Ehow.com sites. You can start making money by writing for them some short but useful articles related to niche you are interested in.
49. Run an Online Course – An online courses are popular today. You can provide it too if you are an expert in your area of expertize. People would like to pay to learn some valuable information online.
50. Sell Video Instructions and Guides – A video instructions and guides are probably the most effective ways to teach someone something quickly and easily.
51. Start a Subscription-based Website – Provide some unique techniques, recipes or any other tips or advices on regular basis through subscriptions and charge a fee for a membership.
52. Run a Paid-only Community – You probably know there are some community boards that require you to pay for using them on monthly based fee. You can create one too and charge members using it.

Got Your Own Talent?

53. Create Video Montages – If you have some talent and experience in this area, you can charge people creating a nice DVD or video of their favorite events like weddings, anniversaries, reunions…
54. Edit Photos for Others – Some people would pay you to edit some photos for them. If you have a talent and unique approach, you can make some good amount of money doing this.
55. Create Photo Mosaics – People might like to pay you to create those nifty pictures that are made up from 500 (or more) smaller images.
56. Take Stock Photos – The most stock photography websites allows you to sell your own created photos to hundreds of websites. If you have a talent in this area, you can make some good money out of it.
57. Record Songs and Sell Them – Of course, for this one you need to have some talent too. There are some places on internet that allows you to sell your own music online.
58. Sell your Artwork – If you can paint, draw, sketch or make caricatures. Try selling them online. You may be surprised how many people are willing to buy it.
59. Make Videos Online – Sites like Revver, Break and even YouTube allows you to share ad revenue and pay you for your created videos. Ads are embedded into videos and might receive a lot of clicks.
60. Create Video Commercials for Others – If you have experience in creating video materials, you can try to provide to create a video commercials for others and publish them online.
61. Create a 3D Objects and Sell Online – A 3D objects and animations can be sold quickly online. But again, it all depends on market demand and your skills as designer.

Like to Spend Time Online?

62. Look for an Online Jobs – Internet is the place where you can find thousands of jobs. Search for some job boards or Craigslist to find an appropriate job for you!
63. Take Paid Surveys – A few sites on internet allows you to complete surveys and make money out of it. You might not earn enough money with this technique, but every dollar counts after all!
64. Use Get-paid-to Surf Services – There are some services that will pay you for surfing the internet and in exchange they will display an ads on your computer.
65. Enter Contests Online – An online contests are good way to earn some prizes and money for free and relatively quickly. All you need is to attend and have luck to be someone of the winners.
66. Submit Other Sites to Social Bookmarking Services – Some website owners will pay you for submitting their own sites to social bookmarking services like Delicious, Digg or StumbleUpon.
67. Get Free Samples Instead of Cash – If you in any case like some valuable and in most cases unnecessary samples and things, you can get them free using a free stuff directories online.
68. Get Paid to Search Internet – A services like Scour allows you to earn money while searching the internet using their own search engine. Need to register to see this offer.
69. Become an Assistant – Some people would pay you if you do things online for them. You should actively try to find these offers on community you follow regularly.

Have Some Experience in SEO?

70. Directory and Search Engine Submission – For a lot of us this is a frustrating thing. You can charge to manually submit other websites on directories online and popular search engines.
71. Be a SEO Consultant – If you know a little more about SEO than an average person, you can be a SEO consultant and teach people SEO for money.
72. Write SEO Guides and Sell Online – Search Engine Optimization guides and books are very well sold on internet. You can write down one and sell it online for potential customers on internet.
73. Be a Link Builder – If you can find good and quality link sources, you can earn some respectable amount of money by building a link base for other websites. Links are important on internet, especially for SEO. So, you can charge them per link or by the hour you spend to find them.
74. Develop SEO Services – If you have some codding skills, you can create a SEO tools and charge people using them. It is a very good way to make some steady income.

Have Some Money to Invest?

75. Sell Websites and Domains you Own – Every day, there is thousands of sites and domains people sell online. You can also sell your own website or a domain name for some quick money.
76. Buy Sites and Resell Later – Some people manage to earn some good amount of money by purchasing websites and sell them once they get a higher price.
77. Buy Domains and Sell Later – This is the same as reselling websites. Some people can buy some potentially good domain names and sell them online once they get some good value.
78. Convert E-Currency Online – Some people earn money using people who want to convert some EGold money into PayPal account. You can also offer this service and charge a 5% – 10% fee for it.
79. Buy Something and Sell Products – For example, you can purchase some specialized software and sell related products produced by it. Some people manage to earn some good money using this technique.

You Like Ebay?

80. Sell Your Stuff on Ebay – You can always try to sell your junk on Ebay. Using this, you can earn some money quickly by selling stuffs that are not necessary and useful for you anymore.
81. Buy Low Sell High – Since Ebay is an auction-based service, you have the opportunity to buy things at low price and sell them high to earn some money easily.
82. Create a Virtual Store on Ebay – Create your own virtual store on Ebay allows you to get more views for your items and more potential customers.

Like to Be in a Middle?

83. Offer Referral Exchanges – You can offer referral exchange rates in between advertisers and potential customers of that service. Allowing you to earn commission every time they sell it online.
84. Be a Link Broker – Many people want to buy quality links for their websites while others want to sell them. Be the middleman to make these connections and make a profit doing this.
85. Sell Websites and Domains for Others – You can always charge some lazy people to sell their own websites and domain names and save them a lot of work for a fee of course.
86. Refer Others to Jobs – Many online companies will pay referral bonus of $500 or more for referring the right candidate for a job. Develop relationships with recruiters and scour job boards for candidates that fit. Make the connection and make some cash doing this.
87. Organize Community – Many community board administrators will pay you if you manage to organize their own community by getting some fresh users to them.

Like Facebook, MySpace or Twitter?

88. Use Store Apps on Facebook – There are many applications on Facebook that allows you to sell your own stuffs and make money that way easily.
89. Get Friends and Followers for Money – Some people will pay you for getting more friends or followers for their own accounts. You can choose your fee and allow them to contact you easily.
90. Be a Twitter Publisher – You can make money using Twitter publisher service, which allows you to be paid for every sponsored tweet you publish on your account.
91. Sell Products on your Accounts – A social media services like Facebook or Twitter are great places to present your own (or affiliate) products for your friends and followers.
92. Create and Sell MySpace Scripts – MySpace is one of the most important social networking service on internet. You can create a customized scripts and design for this service and sell them to MySpace loyal members and customers.
93. Make Money with Facebook Apps – You can create your own Facebook app (or buy one) and earn money through it using advertisements and user leads.

8 More Ways to Make Money Online

94. Form your Own Country – Yes, you are reading it right. You have probably heard of Sealand, a private self-claimed country. Well maybe it sounds hard to do, but with a little persistence you can create one. Once you have your own country, you can apply for a domain name. All domain names are owned by you and you can sell them legally!
95. Be a Support Stuff for Others – You can also be a support stuff for companies you are related to. A lot of companies would like to pay for people that are willing to help others.
96. Get Paid to Read Email – There are some services on internet that will pay you to read regular (a bit spammed) emails in your inbox. Maybe you may not earn much money online using this technique but every little help for sure.
97. Be Innovative and Unique – You have probably heard of The Million Dollar Homepage. A website created by one student which have made million of dollars using this simple but interesting website. You also might create something innovative and silly!
98. Let Others to Give you Some Money – You can place some donation buttons, or ask for donations in your posts and some of your loyal visitors might help you to make some extra money.
99. Make Money Gambling (or loose all!) – Of course, additional way to make money online is to gamble on internet. I occasionally bet sometime, and in most cases I loose. But again, some people actually make a living with gambling. You can try but it’s important to set your limits here.
100. Sell Licensed Products and Services – If you have some licensed products or services, you can sell them to someone easily if you don’t need them anymore.
101. Subscribe and Bookmark Bash Bosh – The best way to make money is to learn! So, feel free to subscribe to this blog and I guarantee that you will start making money online soon.

101 Ways to Take a Bite Out of Your Food Budget

2011-07-12T19:21:00.000-07:00

Food is usually one of a family’s biggest variable expenses, and while some of these ideas seem like common sense, maybe you can pick up an idea or two to help you reduce the amount you spend on food. I know these work so give them a try for yourself. What will you do with the savings?

Remember, there are several benefits to saving money at the grocery store:

You’re saving after tax dollars
Your savings are immediate — no waiting!
Use the money like I recommend in my 17 sneaky savings strategies and build up your savings account and/or your emergency fund!

Not all of these ideas will apply to you, but hopefully, there are a few that can help you “take a bite out of your food budget!”

1. Budget for your food expenses. Once you’ve reached your budget’s limits, stop spending on food and make do with what’s in the cupboard.

2. Shop when you’re full. Shopping while you’re hungry is a sure way to overspend.

3. Shop at local farmer’s markets. There, you have a better opportunity to haggle.

4. Make friends with your butcher. He or she can point you in the direction of potential sales.

5. Buy items nearing expiration. As long as you use them or freeze them, they’re perfectly okay … and usually cheaper.

6. Check with the day old bread store. They usually have breads, pastries, and other items that are much less expensive.

7. Shop at Aldi’s. They’re well known for having high quality food at great prices.

8. Buy in bulk. When you DO find items on sale, buy in bulk.

9. Learn to preserve food. Those bulk purchases are no good if the food spoils. Learn to preserve food by freezing or canning.

10. Use those coupons. Duh! But did you know that many coupons can be combined with in-store specials? Stores run those specials 4 to 6 weeks after the coupons come out.

11. Join or start a coupon club. Get with friends or co-workers and trade coupons for fun and savings.

12. Shop at the warehouse clubs. For increased savings, share the cost of the warehouse club membership with your coupon club buddies.

13. Buy the “frugal cuts” of meat. Some cuts are less expensive than others because the take longer to cook. Learn to overcome and adapt and save!

14. Buy the store brands. My cupboard, fridge, and freezer are full of store brands and in most cases, I can’t tell the difference between store brands and name brands. In many cases, they’re manufactured in the same facility!

15. Bring your own grocery bags. Some stores will give you a discount for bringing your own, some will charge you extra for using theirs!

16. Shop at ethnic food stores. Many times the local ethnic food shops have comparable items for less than the big chain grocery stores.

17. Use a shopping list. Stick to your list and resist those impulse purchases.

18. Check the per unit price on everything. Don’t get tricked by the price tag.

19. Be careful what you pick up. Simply touching an item can cause you to want it.

20. Don’t let yourself get bored with your food choices. Change things up every now and then. For some people, spending more comes from boredom. Others can eat a peanut butter sandwich every day for 30 years.

21. Grow your own herbs and spices. I love to grow and dry my own herbs and spices. They taste better and you know how they were raised.

22. Grow your own food. Even a small container garden on your deck can save you some big bucks if you cultivate those items that the grocery store thinks should be expensive. Yellow bell peppers, bibb lettuce, and herbs come to mind.

23. Ignore everything lining the checkout aisle. These impulse buys can ruin everything good you’ve done up to this point.

24. Learn to cook. Cooking is a matter of following directions. You can do it! Sign up for a class and eat your homework!

25. Dine out responsibly. The best way I know is to use Restaurant.com and their $25 gift certificates that cost only $10 or less.

26. Make your own coffee. Using a french press will get you close to the gourmet coffee flavor found in those $5 cups.

27. Make your own spice blends. By making your own spice blends you save money and can tailor the flavors to your own tastes.

28. Check your receipt at checkout. Although the computer doesn’t make a “mistake,” sometimes the data wasn’t entered correctly or the cashier scanned something twice.

29. Comparison shop between grocery stores. When it comes to branded items and the perimeter things (fresh fruits, vegetables, and meats), there is rarely any difference between the most expensive stores and the cheaper ones.

30. Buy items in season. Sure you can get fresh strawberries in February, but they always cost more. It’s a long way from Chile.

31. Buy local only if it makes sense. Sometimes it doesn’t.

32. Buy organic only if it makes sense. Sometimes it doesn’t, either.

33. Pay with cash. People who pay with cash spend less.

34. Pay with a rewards card. If you have the discipline to pay it off each month, a cash back rewards card can put just a little more money back in your pocket.

35. Cook in bulk. Cook several meals at once and freeze them for consumption later in the week. Casseroles are great for this.

36. Brown bag your lunch. Saving that $5 to $10 a day really adds up.

37. Join the Grocery Game. What you spend to join the Grocery Game is nothing compared to your savings.

38. Take advantage of the rules. Learn to pay for one but feed five by using the restaurant’s rules against them.

39. Ramen is your friend. A pack of Ramen noodles is about 17 cents at my Wal-Mart Supercenter. If you can stomach the boredom, you could eat 2 meals a day for only 34 cents.

40. Beans and rice, rice and beans. Use these as fillers in your meals and cut your meat consumption in half.

41. Consider organ meats. They’re usually cheaper because of the “yuck” factor, but many people enjoy eating everything from the heart to the liver to the kidneys … and more.

42. Learn expiration dates. Different foods have different freezer lives.

43. Shop at stores with double coupons. It’s free money if you only buy items with coupons.

44. Drink more water. Filter you home’s tap water using a filtering water pitcher and ditch those plastic water bottles.

45. Join a church. Wednesday night suppers are usually very cheap and usually very good.

46. Have a potluck at your home. Invite some friends over and have your own potluck supper.

47. Eat at a buffet every now and then. Make sure you maximize your money when you belly up!

48. Fast once a month. It’s usually easier after you’ve abused the buffet anyway.

49. Get a job at a restaurant. Many restaurants offer free or discounted meals to their employees.

50. Don’t take the kids grocery shopping. All of you parents out there already know why.

51. Go fishing. Nothing could be fresher and it really tastes great. Plus it’s a cheap outing with the family. Back in college it was a REAL need for me! If I didn’t catch something, I didn’t eat!

52. Avoid processed foods. Not only are they more expensive, they’re usually less healthy for you, too.

53. Do your own prep work. Pre-chopped vegetables, pre-marinated meats, and pre-grated cheese usually cost more. You’re paying for convenience.

54. Make your own snacks. Learn to make jerky, energy bars, or dried fruits.

55. Go to lunch. If you do want to go out for a special occasion, consider dining out at lunch. Usually it’s a bit cheaper than dinner (and the portions are more sensible).

56. Visit family. You know grandma always has something good to eat.

57. Buy a side. Go in with another family (or two or three) and buy a side of beef or pork.

58. Learn to hunt. It’s worked for thousands of years to feed families.

59. Learn to make homemade herb tea. Nothing like some fresh peppermint tea!

60. Know before you go. Check your cupboards before you leave and cross those items off your list that you’ve duplicated.

61. Set a time limit. The more you just wander around in the grocery store, the more you’ll spend. It’s just a simple law of retailing (keep the customer in the store!). Get in, get it, get out.

62. Buy from the farmer. Many farmers will sell fresh eggs and even meats to you if you ask.

63. Sign up for discounts. Many stores offer discount cards if you’re willing to receive an email or two and some junk mail every now and again.

64. Make fewer trips. Okay, this one save your fuel budget, but it still counts!

65. Check out grocery store alternatives. Many times drug stores will have food products that are cheaper than the grocery stores.

66. Make them match prices. If you don’t want to travel all over town, ask your grocery store to match the prices published in their competitor’s weekly circular.

67. Buy one get one free? This is only a good deal if you can use that extra item before it goes bad. Would you buy it anyway?

68. Make your own mayo. I was surprised how much better homemade mayonnaise tasted when it was prepared with fresh ingredients!

69. Make some camp stew. Use leftovers to make an end-of-week stew. This CAN get interesting …

70. Pick your own. Seek out a “you pick” family farm. I’ve picked blueberries, strawberries, vegetables of all sorts, and pumpkins for much less money than I would’ve spent at a traditional grocery store.

71. Use more lemon juice. It preserves the color of fruits. No one wants to eat a discolored piece of fruit and it will then get thrown out. It also gives a little spark to cheaper, bland foods you might not have eaten.

72. Eat less. Seems kinda obvious, but by cutting back on the amount you eat you’ll save money. We eat too much and subsequently throw away too much anyway.

73. Shop the dented can store. Many towns have a salvage grocery store that sells dented cans of food or semi-crushed boxes of food for next to nothing. A slightly dented can of soup or a box of cereal with a damaged corner won’t hurt you.

74. Don’t let the fridge get empty. When it’s 7:30 in the evening and everyone’s hungry but there’s nothing available to eat, guess what happens? Outback anyone?

75. Look out for “purchase limits.” If a store limits what you can purchase, it’s probably because the price is really, really good!

76. Buy food, not packaging. The little single use packages of oatmeal, pudding, fruit cups, etc, are more packaging than food. Get some reusable containers and buy in bulk.

77. Carry a calculator. Know how much you’ve spent at all times. And no, the pitiful calculator on your cell phone doesn’t count unless you can use it very easily.

78. Find and use grandma’s cookbook. If she cooked during the Great Depression, all the better. She probably knew the best ways to stretch that food budget and many of those ideas are in that cookbook.

79. Have theme nights. Pasta night, omelet night, pancake night, baked potato night, or tomato soup and grilled cheese night can drive down the per meal cost.

80. Calculate your per meal cost. After you do a little math, set a goal to reduce your per meal cost by using these tips. Just how much CAN you save?

81. Buy only groceries at the grocery store. Don’t lump your shampoo, deodorant, make-up, and toothpaste into your food budget. You can probably buy those items much cheaper somewhere other than the grocery store.

82. Save that junk mail. Look for coupons or for sales circulars from stores you don’t frequent and do some comparison shopping.

83. Make a smoothie! Once fruit starts to look a little over-ripe, blend it with some yogurt, a little ice, some honey, and voila! You got a $4.99 smoothie!

84. Make your own yogurt while you’re at it. Believe me, you can make your own yogurt and it will taste better and be better for you.

85. Plant fruit trees. The harvest may be a few years down the road, but in the meantime, you’ll enjoy the shade and the ability to demonstrate to your kids how an “investment” really works.

86. Shop a little lower … or higher. Those items at eye level are premium items and generate the highest profit for the grocery store. Look up and down to find the savings.

87. Make a menu plan. After you’ve planned your menu, then you can make your detailed list of things you need to purchase. Don’t deviate from your list!

88. Ask for a rain check. If a store is out of an advertised item, ask for a rain check so you can buy it at the sale price once it’s back in stock.

89. Don’t confuse “on sale” with high value. Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean it’s worth it. Evaluate each item for its own worth to you and your family.

90. They get you on the end. The shelves at the end of an aisle are called “end-caps” and they are premium space for retailers. As a result, those items are usually not the best deal for your budget.

91. More could mean … more. Check those per unit prices. More than once I’ve found a larger package costs more per ounce/pound/each than a smaller package.

92. Keep a journal. I’ve heard that the typical family buys the same 100 food items each month and rarely deviates from that list. Start your journal and see if it’s true for you. If it is, branch out and find other items that taste good and are friendly to your food budget.

93. Make your own salad dressing. My personal favorite is one teaspoon of Dijon mustard, one half teaspoon black pepper, two tablespoons soy sauce, one teaspoon sesame oil, one fourth cup balsamic vinegar, and three fourths cup of extra virgin olive oil. Shake to combine. I call it Asian Vinaigrette and since I buy all the items in bulk, it’s cheap! Ranch dressing is simply sour cream, milk, mayo, dill, onion powder, and garlic. Try making your own. It tastes great.

94. Don’t buy eggs, buy a chicken. If your municipality allows it, they’re pretty cheap to keep and nothing tastes as good as fresh eggs.

95. Big buying sessions and little buying sessions. Buy staples in huge bulk if you can get a great deal, but buy fresh items in smaller quantities since you probably can’t use them before they expire.

96. Beware of the bag. Bagged produce tends to contain those pieces not deemed good enough to sell on their own. Inspect each bag to make sure the produce isn’t bruised or otherwise yucky.

97. The sell-by date is not an expiration date. Many products can go several days or even weeks longer. The expiration date comes with a funny odor. The sell-by date simply lowers the price.

98. Avoid display items. If a grocery product is part of an elaborate display, chances are it isn’t because it saves you money.

99. Don’t blindly trust the warehouse clubs. As a caveat to #12, don’t always think that just because you’re in Sam’s, or Costco, or BJ’s that the price is fabulous. It may not be!

100. Know the sale trends. Whole turkeys are cheapest in November and December, hams around Christmas and Easter, ribs and pork shoulders around July 4th. Buy a couple of turkeys in November and spread the savings throughout the year. Do the same for ham and pork shoulders/ribs.

101. Treat your spending like a job. Consistently work to get better at saving money on you food budget and these other 100 items will become second nature. You’ll probably come up with another 101 on your own!

101 Ways To Increase Your Longevity and Quality of Life

2011-07-12T02:41:00.000-07:00

For generations people have tried to find ways to live a long life full of happiness. While the following list is not the missing fountain of youth, it is filled with plenty of information that can help you keep your body and mind in top shape to help promote longevity and quality of life. From healthy eating to staying in physical and mental health to staying safe, you will find suggestions you can use. You can even find advice from some of those who have lived to see their 100th birthday.

Eating Habits
Make sure you are engaging in healthy eating habits to help your body and mind stay healthy.

Eat small meals. Eat small meals several times throughout the day rather than one or two big meals. The constant nutrition feeds your body all day and reduces the blood sugar swings, which is easier on your body.
Eat breakfast. Don’t skip the most important meal of the day. Even if you just eat a piece of fruit and a handful of nuts, you are giving your body the nutrients to start your day.
Cut calories. Eating fewer calories may help your body produce important chemicals that help promote longevity in mammals.
Increase proteins. Increasing specific proteins, especially when coupled with cutting calories, has been shown to increase longevity by 30-50%.
Don’t overeat. Eating too much food not only causes weight gain, but it puts stress on various systems in your body such as the cardiovascular system and your bones and joints.
Avoid fad diets. These diets usually are not a healthy way to eat and weight lost on these diets typically comes back after you stop the diet. Instead, readjust your ways of eating to include healthier, more natural food in appropriate portion sizes.
Go natural. Select only the best foods for your body. Don’t depend on prepackaged foods, instead, take the time to learn how and why you should eat naturally.
Organic. Eliminate unnecessary chemicals by eating organic food. Check out resources such as Organic Guide for news, recipes, and more.
Eat balanced. Get a balance of several fruits, vegetables, grains, and proteins in your diet rather than relying on just one or two staples.
Reduce fast food. The unhealthy oils, preservatives, and quality of fast food will not promote your longevity, so reduce the amount you eat or give it up altogether.
Eat slowly. Savor your food and eat slowly so that you can give your body time to digest as you go. This will help prevent overeating.

Nutrition
Good nutrition is key to longevity as you need the best food and drink to fuel your body. Find out below some great suggestions for good nutrition.

Drink water. Opt for water rather than sodas or juice and make sure you are getting at least 8 glasses a day to keep your body hydrated.
Reduce processed foods. Processed foods include unhealthy fats, artificial colors, and preservatives, all of which work against the health of your body and provide no nutritional value.
Add superfoods to your diet. Superfood are foods that are packed with plenty of nutrition that helps you fight off illness and increase longevity. Check out this list of foods you may want to make sure you include on your next grocery list.
Drink red wine. Some studies indicate that drinking wine in moderation can increase longevity. Red wine, especially, shows promise with reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Eat garlic. Garlic is thought to reduce blood pressure, lower cholesterol, and is also an antifungal and antiviral agent.
Mediterranean diet. Following a Mediterranean-style diet can reduce your chances of cancer and heart disease, according to at least one study.
Fish oil. This nutrient, either obtained through eating fish or taking a good-quality supplement, not only increases overall physical health, it also helps boost your brain power.
Antioxidants. Eating fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidants helps combat the overproduction of free radicals, tiny molecules that can destroy cells and tissue in the body.
Okinawa Food Pyramid. This way of eating is a balance of nutrition from the Japanese region that boasts the most documented centegenarians in the world.
Eliminate white sugar. Using natural sweeteners in place of refined sugar keeps blood-sugar levels at a even keel, which helps promote a healthy cardiovascular system, and helps reduce cholesterol.
Green tea. Full of antioxidants, green tea is an excellent drink to have every day and one used for centuries in Asian cultures.
Kombucha. Try this fermented tea for a health elixir that many claim provides a plethora of health benefits from detoxifying the body to boosting metabolism to aiding digestion.

Exercise
Exercising every day will help your body stay in top working order, which will help you live a longer life.

Take the stairs. This is an easy one to do any time you see an elevator. If you are only going one or two floors, take the stairs instead of the elevator.
Yoga. Not only is yoga an excellent low-impact form of exercise, its benefits also extend to mental well-being.
Do something every day. Whether you take a walk around the block, work in the garden, or go to the gym, do something physical every day even if time is an issue.
Motivation. Find a reason to keep moving. This list offers great ideas to keep you motivated for physical activity.
Low cost. If not having a gym membership is your excuse for not exercising, then find ways to exercise with little or no cost involved. Not only will you be doing your body good, but you can reduce the stress of financial expenses as well.
Ride a bike. You are never too old or too young to enjoy riding a bike. Not only is it great exercise, you can also enjoy the company of others while you do it.
Work in the yard. If you love gardening or just want to mow the grass to an acceptable level, working in the yard not only provides exercise, but you will finish your task with a sense of accomplishment you can see.
Sex. Enjoy safe sex with your partner. Not only does it make you feel good and bring you closer to your partner, it has also been shown to improve your health with its cardiovascular benefits.
Tai Chi. This ancient form of exercise uses a graceful form of stretching to keep your body and your mind physically fit.
Swim. This low-impact exercise is one of the best ways to improve your physical health and can be done outside when it’s warm and inside during the colder months.

Physical Health and Wellness
Taking good care of your body will definitely help you reach a ripe old age. From learning breathing techniques to reduce stress, to stopping smoking, these tips will help you stay physically healthy.

Good genetics. Unfortunately, you can’t do much to change this aspect, but having the genetic component for longevity will certainly give you a boost.
Learn to breathe. Certain ways of breathing can calm your nervous system and help reduce your stress. Learn breathing techniques and make them a part of your daily life.
Check-ups. Preventative healthcare prevents major illnesses and promotes longevity, so visit your doctor at least once a year to ensure you are staying healthy.
Professional teeth cleaning. Neglected dental health can lead to other physical illnesses, so visit your dentist and get your teeth cleaned twice a year.
Floss. Infections that develop in your gums can quickly spread to other parts of your body, so maintain a flossing habit to promote dental health.
Maintain a healthy weight. Constantly losing and gaining large amounts of weight puts stress on your body, so keep your weight at a healthy place without the fluctuations.
Protect your skin. Protect your skin all year round to from damaging rays by wearing sunscreen and protective clothing.
Massage. Not only does massage serve as a wonderful form of relaxation, it also provides many health benefits as well.
Holistic approach. A holistic approach to physical wellness takes into account the body, spirit, mind, and emotions and can improve your life.
Alcohol. Drinking alcohol in moderation is important to longevity and quality of life. Overdoing it can ruin relationships, careers, and safety of yourself and others.
Stop smoking. Smoking can bring on a whole host of health problems, many of which are very serious. Stop smoking now, or better yet, don’t even start.

Mental Health and Wellness
Being in a healthy state of mind not only contributes to a better quality of life, but it also contributes to a healthier one too. Use these tips to stay mentally healthy.

Laugh. Laughter keeps you young and healthy, especially if you are sharing your joy with friends and loved ones.
Meditation. Meditation has been shown to reduce stress and can help you refocus when you feel overwhelmed. Learn some simple types of meditation you can do first thing in the morning, throughout your day, or at the end of the day as a way to wind down.
Don’t forget your brain. Keeping your brain in top shape will help keep your mental edge sharp as you age.
Be grateful. Taking the time to reflect on the wonderful aspects of your life and being grateful positively affects physical health.
Forgive. Learn to let go of anger and grudges rather than dwelling on the negative. Letting go will not only make you feel better, but better enjoy the longer life you will have.
Confidence. Being confident in all that you do will give you the power to accomplish all that you desire.
Give up perfection. For perfectionists, it can be difficult to let things go. Don’t worry about perfect, doing good enough allows you freedom from stress and gives you time for enjoying your life.
Be thankful. No matter how you thank your higher power, be it through prayer or simply acknowledging the gifts of nature, take a moment to acknowledge what you are given every day.
Flexibility. Learning to be flexible and have an open mind not only teaches you something new, it also helps you stay happy, too.
Be adventurous. Don’t shy away from the unknown, instead, embrace the opportunity to try new experiences.
Keep in touch with emotions. Identify your emotions and accept them for what they are rather than pretending they don’t exist to stay healthy mentally and physically.
Overcome bad moods. If your day started off in the wrong direction, it doesn’t have to shape the rest of the day. Squash that bad mood and life a happier life.
Think positively. Positive thinking puts you in the right frame of mind to help keep you happy and healthy.

Safety
No one can live a long life if they live too dangerously. Heed these safety precautions to help you live a safer, and hopefully longer, life.

Seatbelts. Wearing a seatbelt every time you are in a car, even in the back seat, reduces your chances of sustaining a life-threatening injury.
Driving. Practice safe driving habits by becoming a defensive driver to reduce your chances of getting in an accident. If you are aging, learn to recognize when you may need to stop driving altogether.
Sports helmets. Protect your head every time you participate in activities that could result in head injuries such as bicycling, skiing, or rollerblading by wearing an appropriate safety helmet.
Safe sex. No matter what age you are, use condoms every time you have sex to make sure you guard against HIV and other STD’s.
No drinking and driving. Avoid this combination and you will greatly reduce your chances of hurting yourself and others.
Smoke detectors. Install smoke detectors in each bedroom and in main living areas, then remember to change the batteries each time you move your clock for the time change.
Lock up. Locking doors and windows when you are sleeping or when you leave your home helps protect yourself from those who might have less than good intentions.
Avoid abusive relationships. Not only can abusive relationships be detrimental to your mental health, they can be physically dangerous as well. Avoid abusive relationships or find help to get out of one now.
Handrails. Use handrails on steep stairs or any stairs in inclement weather. Wet or icy stairs can easily cause a fall.
Repetitive injury. Any repetitive head injury considerably elevates the chances of long-term brain injury. Use caution if you participate in activities such as football, soccer, and boxing.
Home safety. Practice smart safety around the house such as using a sturdy ladder rather than a rickety one or having a fire safety plan.

Lifestyle
The way you live your life has a direct connection between your health and happiness. Take these tips for ways you can improve your style of living from better sleep to less stress to finding spirituality.

Have a reason to live. Whether you have a partner, children, a great job, or a special cause that is important to you, always have a purpose in life and a reason to get up every day.
Manage stress. Keep your stress at a manageable level. While some stress can be good for you and work as a motivator, chronic stress at high levels takes its toll on your body and mind.
Travel. Traveling has been shown to increase longevity in the elderly by providing benefits for the mind and body.
Sleep. Not only should you get the right amount of sleep, you should make sure your sleep habits are healthy ones by following such tips as sticking to a regular bedtime and having an evening routine that promotes good sleep.
Have friends. One study suggests that having good friends goes a long way to promoting longevity.
Own a pet. Pet owners not only live longer, they live happier lives. The bond between a pet and its owner can also open up avenues for social connections as well.
Voluntary simplicity. Lose stress and live more slowly by learning to live without all the trappings of society with voluntary simplicity.
Build relationships. Don’t ignore the people in your life or wait for them to come to you. Learn ways to build relationships so you will always have a circle of friends and family in your life.
Be spiritual. Spirituality, which may or may not include religion, is an important component to a healthy and happy life. Find ways to incorporate spirituality in your every day life.
Manage your money. Stress over money can reduce your longevity and quality of life significantly. Learn ways to improve your finances and get rid of this unnecessary stress.
Be alone. Spending time alone gives you a chance to think through problems, consider what is important to you, and also gives you some important time to decompress from the day-to-day grind.
Balance work and family. Finding the right balance between these two important elements of your life will enhance both of them and lead to a better, and hopefully longer, life.

Stimulate Your Creativity
A creative mind keeps you on your toes mentally and helps improve your quality of life by allowing you to find the bright spots when others might not be so inclined. Learn ways to stimulate your creativity with these suggestions.

Take a class. Sign up to learn how to do something you’ve always wanted to do, whether it is cooking, photography, or learning sign language.
Sculpt. Pick up some modeling clay and play with some simple sculpting or sign up for a formal class to learn how to sculpt.
Aromatherapy. Learn about the benefits of aromatherapy to incorporate it in your life for ways to improve your health and well-being.
New food. Try a new type of food, especially if it is a different ethnic food than you are accustomed to eating to expand your world.
Learn a language. Learning a foreign language has long been associated with brain development, plus you will be able to better communicate when you take advantage of the benefits of travel.
Concert. Listening to music, whether it’s a small chamber music ensemble or a full-out rock show, will improve creativity as well as brain function.
Yarn art. Play with yarn or thread as you learn to knit, crochet, or embroidery.
Crosswords. Get crossword puzzles online or from your newspaper to enjoy a fun game that can also teach you how to think in creative ways.
Video games. Playing video games isn’t just for kids. Strengthen eye-hand coordination in addition to learning new ways of problem-solving while playing video games.
Hobbies. Start a new hobby or take up an old, forgotten one to get your creative juices flowing.

Advice from Cetegenarians
Who better to learn from than those who have actually lived a very long life. These folks, most of whom have reached their 100th birthday, all have something to share about longevity and quality of life.

No problem for centegenarian Eric!. This British gentleman offers advice on how he lived a long life, including being athletic and enjoying his job.
No big secret to centegenarian’s success. Playing down her longevity, this woman includes good genes and lots of fruit as reasons she has lived long.
Grandmother celebrates 100th birthday be becoming world’s oldest paraglider. Not only does this woman’s love for adventure keep her young, she just may not stop trying it all.
106-year-old voter shares hopes, secrets. Being cheerful is among this woman’s secrets for longevity that she shares.
Fairvern resident turned 100 on Nov. 19. Find out what to what this woman credits her long life in this short article about her birthday celebration.
Young at Heart Chorus. While these folks haven’t quite made it to 100 yet, they are well on their way with this unusual method of staying young.
100-year-old celebrates her birthday by smoking 170,000th cigarette. And here’s proof that there is always an exception to the rule.
At 100th birthday party, woman looks back on a life of milestones. This amazing woman still walks every day, one of the activities she claims has helped her stay young.
Family helps ‘Nanna’ celebrate 100th birthday. Religion and not worrying about the small things helped this woman live a long life.
Iowa Man Celebrates 100th Birthday with Wings and Women at Hooters. Find out if this is what kept this man alive for so long.
Bob Hope: a million laughs, a singular talent. While Bob Hope died after turning 100, his life was full of laughter and giving to others, as this article shows.

101 Ways to Say No

2011-07-10T19:44:00.000-07:00

I'd love to, but...

1. I have to floss my cat.
2. I've dedicated my life to linguini.
3. I want to spend more time with my blender.
4. the President said he might drop in.
5. the man on television told me to say tuned.
6. I've been scheduled for a karma transplant.
7. I'm staying home to work on my cottage cheese sculpture.
8. it's my parakeet's bowling night.
9. it wouldn't be fair to the other Beautiful People.
10. I'm building a pig from a kit.
11. I did my own thing and now I've got to undo it.
12. I'm enrolled in aerobic scream therapy.
13. there's a disturbance in the Force.
14. I'm doing door-to-door collecting for static cling.
15. I have to go to the post office to see if I'm still wanted.
16. I'm teaching my ferret to yodel.
17. I have to check the freshness dates on my dairy products.
18. I'm going through cherry cheesecake withdrawl.
19. I'm planning to go downtown to try on gloves.
20. my crayons all melted together.
21. I'm trying to see how long I can go without saying yes.
22. I'm in training to be a household pest.
23. I'm getting my overalls overhauled.
24. my patent is pending.
25. I'm attending the opening of my garage door.
26. I'm sandblasting my oven.
27. I'm worried about my vertical hold.
28. I'm going down to the bakery to watch the buns rise.
29. I'm being deported.
30. the grunion are running.
31. I'll be looking for a parking space.
32. my Millard Filmore Fan Club meets then.
33. the monsters haven't turned blue yet, and I have to eat more dots.
34. I'm taking punk totem pole carving.
35. I have to fluff my shower cap.
36. I'm converting my calendar watch from Julian to Gregorian.
37. I've come down with a really horrible case of something or other.
38. I made an appointment with a cuticle specialist.
39. my plot to take over the world is thickening.
40. I have to fulfill my potential.
41. I don't want to leave my comfort zone.
42. it's too close to the turn of the century.
43. I have some real hard words to look up in the dictionary.
44. my subconscious says no.
45. I'm giving nuisance lessons at a convenience store.
46. I left my body in my other clothes.
47. the last time I went, I never came back.
48. I've got a Friends of Rutabaga meeting.
49. I have to answer all of my "occupant" letters.
50. none of my socks match.
51. I have to be on the next train to Bermuda.
52. I'm having all my plants neutered.
53. people are blaming me for the Spanish-American War.
54. I changed the lock on my door and now I can't get out.
55. I'm making a home movie called "The Thing That Grew in My Refrigerator."
56. I'm attending a perfume convention as guest sniffer.
57. my yucca plant is feeling yucky.
58. I'm touring China with a wok band.
59. my chocolate-appreciation class meets that night.
60. I never go out on days that end in "Y." 61. my mother would never let me hear the end of it.
62. I'm running off to Yugoslavia with a foreign-exchange student named Basil Metabolism.
63. I just picked up a book called "Glue in Many Lands" and I can't put it down.
64. I'm too old/young for that stuff.
65. I have to wash/condition/perm/curl/tease/torment my hair.
66. I have too much guilt.
67. there are important world issues that need worrying about.
68. I have to draw "Cubby" for an art scholarship.
69. I'm uncomfortable when I'm alone or with others.
70. I promised to help a friend fold road maps.
71. I feel a song coming on.
72. I'm trying to be less popular.
73. my bathroom tiles need grouting.
74. I have to bleach my hare.
75. I'm waiting to see if I'm already a winner.
76. I'm writing a love letter to Richard Simmons.
77. you know how we psychos are.
78. my favorite commercial is on TV.
79. I have to study for a blood test.
80. I'm going to be old someday.
81. I've been traded to Cincinnati.
82. I'm observing National Apathy Week.
83. I have to rotate my crops.
84. my uncle escaped again.
85. I'm up to my elbows in waxy buildup.
86. I have to knit some dust bunnies for a charity bazaar.
87. I'm having my baby shoes bronzed.
88. I have to go to court for kitty littering.
89. I'm going to count the bristles in my toothbrush.
90. I have to thaw some karate chops for dinner.
91. having fun gives me prickly heat.
92. I'm going to the Missing Persons Bureau to see if anyone is looking for me.
93. I have to jog my memory.
94. my palm reader advised against it.
95. my Dress For Obscurity class meets then.
96. I have to stay home and see if I snore.
97. I prefer to remain an enigma.
98. I think you want the OTHER [your name] .
99. I have to sit up with a sick ant.
100. I'm trying to cut down.
101. ... well, maybe.

101 Ways to Flirt

2011-07-08T21:19:00.000-07:00

So, you've practiced flirting and know the top 10 flirting techniques; now what? Well, here are 101 different things to do when flirting. These are for both guys and girls, but some are better for one or the other (If you're a girl, for example, you'll probably be the one to flutter your eyelashes; While a guy will probably offer to buy a drink).

Smile
Laugh
Run your fingers through your hair
Touch them gently on the arm/shoulder
Give them a hug
Tease them
Complement their clothes
Say, "It seems like forever since I last saw you"
Whisper
Offer them a blanket or coat if it's cold
Offer to buy them a drink
Lean toward them
Be Positive
Wiink
Send them a text message
Find them on Myspace or Facebook and add them
Drop something and see if they pick it up
Brush against them "accidentally"
Flutter your eyelashes
If it's a nice day, suggest you go outside to enjoy the sunshine
If it's a cold day, suggest to go get hot chocolate
Be yourself
Tell them something about who you are; a secret hope, a silly fear...
Ask them what shampoo they use
Open the door for them
Carry something heavy for them
Complement them on jewelry they're wearing
Ask what they like to do for fun
Ask questions about their interests
Invite them to go stargazing with you
Send them flowers anonymously
Give them your phone number or email address
Tell them they have beautiful eyes or a beautiful smile
Laugh at their jokes
Tell them, "I bet you can't guess what I'm thinking..." then when they fail, tell them something flirty, like "you look great today", or "We should skip class and go to the beach".
Let them catch you checking them out
Touch yourself, maybe put your hair behind your ear, or adjust your clothing
Whistle at them
Say, "Is it hot in here, or is it just you?"
Blush
Bite your lip and look down
Give your full attention to the other person
Make them a CD
Invite them to a movie
Invite them to watch a show or sporting event
Dare them to do something
Be competative -- "I bet I can beat you at racketball"
Brush their hair out of their eyes
Take them for a walk outside, and sit down in the grass.
If you're sitting outside, offer to help her up.
Let him notice you smelling him
Tell her she smells great
Ask them how their day was.
Ask them if they're doing anything fun this weekend.
Invite them to go with you and your friends someplace.
Teach them how to do something
Tell them you were thinking of them the other day.
Lick your lips.
Mirror their body language; if they talk slowly, talk slower; if they're leaning forward, lean forward toward them, too.
Call them for no reason other than to say, "Hello".
Suggest a book or movie you think they'd really like; they'll be impressed you are tuned into their tastes and are thinking of them.
Stand up straight and don't slouch
Say their name often
Nod when they speak
Ask them their opinion on something in the news.
Leave a note someplace for them to find it
Teach them a few dance moves
Ask them what their favorite dessert is.
Tell them you had a dream with them in it.
Attend an event that they are in or want to go to.
Offer them something you're eating -- gum or a piece of candy.
Tell them you want their advice or input on an issue.
Ask them what they would think if you asked them out.
Make sure to tell them "good luck" if they are going someplace or doing something important-- taking a test, interviewing for a job, etc.
Use a corny pickupline to make them laugh.
Win them a prize.
If they ask you a question, say, "Maybe I'll tell you... if you'll let me buy you lunch."
If they looks sad, try to cheer them up.
Poke them
Ask if they need any help with what they're doing
Hold their hand
Tickle them
Invite them over for a candlelight dinner
Ask them what they are thinking, right now
Ask them to sit next to you
Tell them a secret
Play a game with them
Pay attention to their body language
Be mysterious
Make up a riddle for them to solve, with the prize being a date with you, a kiss, etc.
Tell them a joke
Cook something for them (cookies, or even a dinner).
Dedicate a song to them on the radio
Tell them, "I think I want to flirt with you"
Invite them to go bike riding with you
Say it's cold, and suggest you should scoot closer to avoid hypothermia
Ask them what they want in a guy/girl
Use sexually suggestive language in a context with something they're interested in (like, "So if you're into astronomy, you must have no problem staying up all night long")
Tell them you enjoy their company
Ask lightly, "Are you flirting with me?"
Ask them what their name means; if they don't know, you can look it up

101 Ways to Eat Well

2011-07-08T21:06:00.000-07:00

Are you confused about where to start on your quest for Eating Well? We've gathered 101 of our favorite tips and tricks to develop healthier eating habits to jump-start your own efforts.

Enjoy "Sunday breakfast" in smaller amounts: one egg, one piece of toast, and one strip of bacon, instead of two to three of each.
Pick a different raw veggie each week for afternoon snacking at the office: carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, or cucumber slices. Enjoy with a small amount (1 TBS) of hummus or nut butter if you're heading for a post-work gym visit!
Substitute applesauce OR mashed cooked beets for all or part of the oil or butter in sweet baked goods. This works very well in muffins and quick breads.
Sprinkle parmesan cheese or chile powder on hot popcorn instead of butter and salt.
Instead of butter and jelly, try half a smashed avocado on whole grain toast for a satisfying, healthier-fat breakfast.
For dessert, serve cooked fruit with a sauce of plain yogurt mixed with a little maple syrup. Just microwave sliced unpeeled apples with cinnamon, to enjoy apple-pie taste in just two minutes.
Make your own salad dressing—after a while, the bottled kind won't even compare, tastewise! Check out different recipes for dressings here.
For healthy homemade pizzas, top whole grain pita with tomato sauce, cheese, piles of vegetables, and a little drizzle of olive oil. Cook at 375°F for about 20 minutes and you've got your own in-house pizza party!
On weekends, make a pot of soup for the week ahead. Carrot ginger soup... potato leek chowder... lentil soup... cream of broccoli soup... Freeze into single or double serving portions, and you can grab one for a quick lunch fix or for dinner on a night when you're squeezed for time.
Keep homemade trail mix in an airtight container in the kitchen. Every week top it off, changing up the mix of nuts and dried fruits. No time for breakfast? Grab a handful. Heading for the airport? Fill a baggie for the plane. Running on fumes and dinner's not ready? Hit the trail mix. A small amount is very filling, and it's always ready and waiting.
Buy instant oatmeal when it's on sale. Oatmeal is an ideal way to start the morning, and a portion ensures you get over one full serving (16g+) of tasty hot whole grains right at the start of the day.
Eating fruit as an afternoon snack is a great way to banish the 3:00 PM hungry horrors. It's a wholesome and healthy snack, full of vitamins and nutrients, and satisfies the sweet tooth without the dangers of a sugar crash afterwards.
At a restaurant, eat half (or less) of the food served on the plate. Take the rest home for lunch or dinner the next day.
Experiment with making differents types of salads—you don't need to get stuck in the lettuce-tomato-dressing rut. Fruits, beans, fish, cheeses, olives, and many different types of greens offer endless combinations.
Keep a hard cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano in your refrigerator. Even a small chunk is completely satisfying and filling, and the crystally bits are so delicious.
Pasta meals are a perfect solution for quick, delicious and healthy meals. Saute vegetables or fish while the water boils and the pasta cooks, and you're at the table in 15 minutes.
Try a new recipe once a week—and discover new ways to enjoy healthy foods and improve your creative cooking skills.
Add canned, rinsed beans (black, pinto, chickpeas, white) to pasta dishes, salsas, and salads to increase fiber and protein. It's also very inexpensive!
Tired of apples and oranges but love their portablity? At the beginning of the week, take 5 minutes to cut up some exotic fruits: mangoes, pineapple, and kiwifruit, with a spash of lime juice to prevent browning. Put in a large container and take to work for afternoon snacks for the entire week.
Parsley is more than just garnish! Add fresh chopped bunches to salads and other dishes. Packed with Vitamin C, iron, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants, it's a fresh-tasting health boost, and also freshens your breath.
Even no-added-sugar fruit juice is calorie heavy. Dilute with half sparkling water and cut calories in half.
Substitute low- or non-fat Greek yogurt for mayo in tuna, egg, and chicken salad, for sour cream in tacos and on baked potatoes to save on saturated fat and calories and enjoy the health benefits of yogurt.
Share an appetizer, entree, and dessert with your dining companion. Savor all the elements of a quality meal while keeping calories in check.
Use queso fresco in place of cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese for Latino-style dishes. It's more authentic, costs the same, is stronger in flavor (you can use less!) and lower in fat.
Opt for "kiddie" sizes in ice cream parlors. A few spoonfuls are just as satisfying as an entire cone. (Just ask – often kiddie size isn't listed but is available.)
Eat a solid breakfast with a good amount (10-15 grams) of protein, in addtion to complex carbohydrates—this combo will keep you satisfied until lunch.
Eat a lunch of water packed tuna, olive-oil packed canned sardines, or mackerel with whole grain crackers and a crunchy apple for healthy omega-3s, protein, and lots of fiber.
Use cottage cheese in place of ricotta in lasagna to lower saturated fat, and in place of sour cream in blended vegetable dips with crudités.
Recent research shows that fat-soluble vitamins (including vitamin A, vitamin K, as well as beta carotene, lycopene, and all the carotenoids) are better assimilated and absorbed by your body when a small amount of healthy fat is eaten in the same meal. Drizzle a teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil over your salad or steamed vegetables, even if you're not using dressing or another sauce, or eat your fresh fruits with nut butters.
Add grated carrot and zucchini to your meatloaf and meatball recipes for extra veggies, vitamins, fiber, and flavor.
Opt for hummus or peanut butter on toast for added protein and healthier fats.
Make your kids' own popsicles with unsweetened fruit juice and fruit, or blend yogurt with fruit juice for a creamier version. You'll make back the money you spent on the molds in a matter of weeks!
Don't deprive yourself of foods that you love. If you're obsessed with the oatmeal-maple scones at your nearby coffee shop, allow yourself to have one once a month, or share with a friend. Deprivation can lead to overeating.
You've heard it a million times, but once more won't hurt: Drink lots of water. Oftentimes when we think we are hungry, we are actually slightly dehydrated. Check here for recommendations for the optimal amount for you.
Take time to chew your food thoroughly. Eating at a slower pace will help your body know when it's really "full," and you'll digest your food better as well.
Switch from beef burgers to turkey burgers mixed with oatmeal. You'll cut the fat and add whole grains to your meal.
Sauté onions, mushrooms, and a handful of spinach leaves, and add them to your scrambled eggs, for a quick Veggie Scramble good for any meal of the day.
Flavored yogurts tend to be very high in added sugar – often about 5 teaspoons per cup! Buy plain instead, and add your own fruit, granola, or even a spoonful of jam or maple syrup.
Love Italian sausage? Buying chicken sausage instead of pork can cut the calories almost in half, and the saturated fat by about two-thirds – without losing out on flavor.
Balance your calories over a week. If you've had a day of heavy eating, eat lightly the next day.
Libations such as beer, wine, and liquor have more calories than you might expect. Cutting back on your alcohol intake is not only good for your health overall, but also your waistline.
When filling your plate, make half of it vegetables, one quarter grains (preferably whole) and one quarter protein. Increasing your vegetable intake is one of the easiest ways to improve your eating habits.
Use whole wheat flour tortillas in place of white for wraps, burritos, and quesadillas—they have a wonderful flavor and will increase your whole grain intake.
Eat fish or seafood 1-2 times a week, and choose baked, steamed, grilled, or poached preparations over fried.
If you're new to cooking and eating lots of vegetables, it can be overwhelming for you to make changes. Try picking an unfamiliar vegetable once a month, and build a meal around it. Soon your repertoire will be vast!
Choose "natural" brands of nut butters when shopping. They don't have the added sugar and hydrogenated oils that "regular" versions do. In fact, peanut oil has a similar effect of lowering "bad" LDL cholesterol as olive oil does.
Most deli meats are loaded with sodium, and some have other additives. Opt for lower-salt versions, naturally processed versions, or make that sandwich filling a "sometimes" option.
Load up your baked potatoes, eggs, soups, and beans with fresh or jarred salsa. It's a great way to add flavor and lots of extra veggies.
Munch on mucho berries in the summer months when they are freshest and most inexpensive. Freeze batches for use in baking and smoothie-making in the winter months.
When making smoothies with fruit, yogurt, and milk (dairy, soy, or rice), throw in a double handful of spinach to get veggies into one more meal. Don't let the odd color throw you off—you'll be suprised at how good it tastes!
Salads aren't just for lunch and dinner. Fresh greens with a vinaigrette are a wonderful, fresh option to enjoy with egg or tofu scrambles for breakfast.
If you eat red meat, look for a source for local grass-fed beef, which has a much healthier fat profile (twice as many Omega-3s) and support your local agriculture. Check here for resources.
Enjoy takeout sandwiches when you're in a hurry, but skip the chips, mayo, and soda, and opt for whole-grain bread.
If you choose not to drink red wine, you can still get the health benefits by eating fresh red grapes or drinking grape juice, which are rich in antioxidants and flavonoids.
Try using low-sodium chicken or vegetable stock (or homemade) in place of water when cooking rice, bulgur, couscous, farro, barley, and other whole grains. It adds a lot of low-calorie flavor.
Dessert doesn't have to be loaded with fat, sugar, and calories. Enjoy fruit—fresh, baked, macerated or poached—with a small amount of dark chocolate, a small scoop of ice cream, or some grappa. Your sweet tooth will be satisfied and you won't be uncomfortably full.
Always go to the grocery store with a list and NOT on an empty stomach. Pick out one reasonable "treat" per visit to keep the deprivation devils at bay.
Keep a variety of no-added-sugar dried fruit on hand for when your bananas have entered banana-bread stage. Dried fruit packs more calories than the same amounts of fresh, so keep portions to a small handful.
Add frozen peas to just about anything—soup, pasta sauce, pasta, grains—for extra veggies and fiber. Add at the end of cooking so they stay firm and sweet.
Take your own snacks to movies and when travelling: dried fruit and nuts, homemade cookies, bottled water and juices, or baked chips or pretzels. You'll save money and calories.
For a pre-game, protein-loaded treat, puree lowfat cottage cheese with salsa for a dip for baked tortilla chips.
Enjoy pasta in healthy amounts: one half cup is a healthy adult portion. It may not seem like much but when you eat it with vegetables, olive oil, or other healthy ingredients you will be satisfied!
To avoid overeating at parties and buffets, sit farther away from the food tables, and limit yourself to one pass through the line (unless you're loading up on more salad or veggies!)
Use tapenades, avocado, or hummus in place of mayo for sandwiches for healthier fats and protein. If you use mayo, consider one of the brands with added omega-3s or olive oil.
Parties often result in an excess of less-healthy foods. Be the one in your social group who starts to bring in healthier options and encourage others to do so as well.
Make one dinner per week a Veggie Feast: three or four nutrient-dense vegetables (carrots, broccoli, spinach, beets, squash, tomatoes), lightly steamed, with just a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil. This is particulary wonderful at the end of the harvest season with farmers-market-fresh veggies, and is a great way to ensure you're getting enough of them over the week.
Dip ripe strawberries in a thin layer of melted dark chocolate, then let cool on wax paper, for an elegant and healthy dessert.
Experiment with different healthy oils. Walnut, hazelnut, avocado, flaxseed, safflower, and grapeseed oils are some options for drizzling and cooking.
Educate yourself about your favorite restaurants' cooking methods and options. If you'd like to see more healthy options, ask for them often or make suggestions—restaurants want to cater to your needs.
If you eat eggs on a regular basis, consider switching to egg whites for extra protein and less fat. Scrambling them with salsa, hot sauce, or a spoonful of olive tapenade is a great way to add flavor.
Spice things up! Add red pepper flakes, chopped jalapenos, garlic, hot sauce, or cayenne to your dishes if you like. Full-flavored food is often more satisfying and can help prevent overeating.
Take a 10 to 15 minute break before you help yourself to seconds—particulary if you were voracious before the meal. Oftentimes our stomachs are full before our brain is, and the wait helps to ascertain if you are satisfied.
Measure out snack foods (popcorn, chips, cookies, crackers, and even granola) instead of eating directly out of the bag, especially when relaxing in the evening.
Enjoy "treat" foods away from home. Have a weakness for French fries, brie, or brownies? Don't keep them stocked at home, but enjoy them in reasonable portions when out for a special occasion.
Keep several bags of frozen veggies on hand at all times at home (add to any recipe!) and at work (a bowl of microwaved peas and corn is an easy, fiber-filled snack). Frozen veggies may have even more nutrients than fresh ones out of season, as they are frozen at their peak ripeness.
Be open to the "no thank you helping." Just one spoonful—enough for two bites—is enough to sample new foods. Who knows, you might fall in love!
Eat a small, healthy snack before heading out to holiday dinners or parties. An apple and a handful of whole grain crackers will help you from indulging in excessive amounts of rich foods (but be sure to enjoy small amounts!).
Intersperse each alcoholic drink with a tall glass of water. It will keep you hydrated and avoid overdoing it at celebrations!
Make your own tostada shells at home instead of opting for the expensive and pre-cooked boxed kind. A 30-pack of fresh white or yellow corn tortillas can be purchased for around a dollar and will stay fresh for weeks if refrigerated. Simply spread them on a cookie sheet, spray with cooking spray, and bake at 425°F until lightly browned.
Add healthy whole grains to a salad by making your own whole grain croutons. Click here for a recipe!
Make a point to eat foods with healthy fats at each meal or snack. For example, walnuts in your granola at breakfast, water-packed tuna at lunch with olive oil on a salad, natural peanut butter with an apple for a snack, and avocado on your black bean tacos for dinner.
Revel in the flavor, ease, and frugality of cooking a whole chicken. Click here for One Bird Three Meals.
Keep a variety of unsalted nuts on hand: walnuts, almonds, peanut, pine nuts, cashews, hazelnuts. Stored in the freezer, they will keep up to a year, and are amazingly versatile in all types of recipes.
For crunch and flavor, sprinkle pumpkin seeds, walnuts, or other nuts or seeds on your salad instead of cheese and white-bread croutons.
When grocery shopping, cruise the perimeter of the store first. This is where many of the unprocessed foods are located—produce, dairy, and meat, poultry, and fish. If you're trying to cut down on snack foods, avoid the cracker-cookie-chip aisles completely.
Whole fruit has more fiber and satisfies longer than juice (even 100% fruit juice).
Are you really hungry? If an apple or some other fruit doesn't appeal to you, you're probably not actually hungry – just bored or responding to external food cues.
If you're new to trying whole grains, start with different varities of whole-grain pasta. You may have heard horror stories about it in years past, but many improvements have been made to flavor and texture by food manufacturers.
Chop pre-cooked chicken sausage into small bits and keep in your freezer. It's a great way to add just a little meaty flavor to soups, omelets, and pasta dishes.
For an inexpensive, elegant healthy dessert, try making a fruit granita. Click here for a recipe.
Cut whole grain pita bread in wedges, top with a little grated Parmesan cheese, Italian herbs, and a drizzle of olive oil, then broil till golden brown, for a great crispy treat with soups.
Try to make at least one meal technology-free: no texting, no laptop, no TV. It's a nice change, whether eating alone or with family or friends, and you'll pay more attention to enjoying your food.
Rinse and "spin" lettuce as soon as you bring it home, then layer with paper towels or clean dish towels in a bag or container in the fridge. You'll eat more salads if your lettuce is ready to use – and it can last up to two weeks this way. (Bagged salad greens are also handy, but much more expensive.)
Invest in a slow cooker. You'll be amazed at the healthy (and easy!) meals you can get out of one—soups, stews, roasts, chickens, and even vegetables can be ready and waiting for you when you get home in the evening. Click here for No-Soak Crock Pot Black Beans.
Make a point to discover what sort of local, seasonal produce can be found near you. It's a good way to connect with the local community—and you'll enjoy the freshness and superior flavor.
Start a casual cooking or eating group with friends or co-workers who are also interested in sharing healthy, delicious foods at home, at work, or out at restaurants. You'll be sure to try new foods and learn new techniques and recipes.
Use over-ripe bananas to make smoothies. Put one banana in a blender with an equal amount of frozen berries. Add milk (or soy or almond milk) to cover, and blend. No ice needed, with frozen berries.
A good portion control trick is to use your salad plates as dinner plates. This will start you off with a smaller portion of everything; after you finish, wait for a bit to see if you need a second helping.
Frozen veggie burgers are a great quick dinner; wilt some spinach at the same time in the pan you're cooking them in, top with sliced tomatoes and serve on whole grain toast for a balanced 10-minute dinner.
Grilling is a fun and healthy way to cook just about anything! Vegetables, pizza, chicken, fish—even fruit take on great texture and flavor, and it gets you out of the house on a nice summer evening.
Your version of dining al fresco (i.e., outside)—can be as simple or as elaborate as you'd like. Fresh air, natural light, friends, and conversation all lend festivity to a meal.

101 Ways to Pay for College

2011-07-08T21:01:00.000-07:00

College students and parents are always looking for creative ways to finance their college education and reduce college expenses. It’s important to look at paying for college from every angle, from the school you choose to the way you finance your education. It’s also much easier to pay for college if your monthly expenses are well-managed, or you have a small income to tap into. Check out these 101 tips to pay for college and feel free to let us know any we missed!

College Planning

If you are a high school senior, apply to multiple schools so that you have several financial aid offers to compare.
Take a look at colleges that are close to your home, or close to a relative you can stay with. If you can commute to school, you won’t have to pay for room and board.
Carefully plan your school application and college testing expenses – they can add up!
If able, take Advanced Placement tests while in high school to obtain college credit. Any credits you receive could enable you to graduate early, which would save you money in tuition!
Your high school may have a program with a local community college that will allow you to take “dual credit” classes.
See if your school has a tuition payment plan available.
Consider attending a community college while you decide on your college major and save money to attend a 4-year school.
If you are planning to attend a public school, consider attending one in the state you live in, to take advantage of lower tuition charges available to in-state students.
Select your college dorm carefully. Some dorms may cost more because they are newer, or have additional facility/recreation fees attached.
Select your campus meal plan carefully. If you use up your meal credits early, you will have to purchase additional credits. Most plans do not let you roll over unused credits to the next school year.
Select your college major carefully. You’ll want to research future career options and salary expectations to make sure you will be able to afford to repay your student loan debt.
If you are interested in joining the ROTC or the military, you may be able to have all or part of your college education paid for.

Apply for Financial Aid

Fill out the FAFSA (Federal Application for Federal Student Aid) every year at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ to qualify for financial aid.
Once you fill out the FAFSA, your school will send you an award letter with your financial aid package.
If your family’s financial situation changes after you’ve already submitted your FAFSA information (i.e. job loss, medical emergency) work with your school’s financial aid office to see if you can obtain increased financial aid.

Get Free College Grants

College grants are free – you don’t have to pay them back! Once you fill out the FAFSA, you are automatically in the running for federal and most state grants based on the financial information that you entered.
If you are a graduate student, ask your financial aid office if there are non-need based grants available for your field of study (sometimes called fellowships).

Apply for College Scholarships

If you are lucky, your school may award you with an athletic or academic scholarship. These types of scholarships often cover all 4 years!
Ask your financial aid office if there are college scholarships available for your field of study, heritage, community, or hobbies.
Ask your department (i.e. English, Science, Business) if there are scholarships available for your major. Your dean or professor may know about these scholarships, too.
Look for college scholarships from your workplace, church, community, and organizations that you are involved with.
Start a college scholarship search on the web with sites like Fastweb. Your personal profile that you set up will help you find scholarships that match your profile.

Borrow Student Loans

The Federal Stafford Loan is a low-cost student loan, backed by the federal government. Your award letter will show how much you are eligible to borrow every year, or you can do additional research here.
Graduate students can use the Federal Grad PLUS Loan , to supplement Stafford Loan funds.
If you have maximized free money and federal loan options, consider using a private student loan to pay for college.

Save Money on College Textbooks

Purchase used college textbooks at the college bookstore. Just make sure you get in line early – used textbooks get sold quickly.
Look for new or used college textbooks online on sites like Ebay or Amazon. If you are able to find the majority of your textbooks with one vendor, you might qualify for free shipping or a volume discount.
You can download certain popular textbooks for free from websites like Freeload Press.
If you’re strapped for cash, ask your professor if you can use a previous edition of the textbook (older editions are usually less expensive).
If you don’t need your textbooks once you’re done with them, sell them back to the bookstore or on sites like Amazon or Ebay.

Make Extra Money

If you were awarded federal work-study on your award letter, you can earn extra money by working at your school or in your local community.
If you were not awarded federal work-study money, ask your financial aid office if you can get on a waiting list in case there is an opening.
Get a paid college internship. Many degree programs now require an internship to fulfill graduation requirements, but you’ll probably have to work harder to find one that pays.
Ask your favorite professor if he/she needs an assistant.
Look for part-time student jobs in your campus newspaper, on campus bulletin boards or in your college’s student activity office.
Apply for part-time work at local businesses or restaurants.
Ask friends and family if you can intern at their workplace.
Start up a baby-sitting, pet-sitting or house-sitting business that you can run in your spare time.
Find a summer job at a camp or local business .
Sign up with your school or a local company to become a tutor. You may be able to make even more money by starting your own tutoring business.
Creating websites is a lucrative part-time job for many students.
Start your own business in your local community or online (just think Michael Dell).
If you are majoring in photography, consider working as a wedding or portrait photographer in your free time. Your school may also hire student photographers to work at athletic games and school functions.
Your school may hire students to work during athletic events.
If you have school spirit, get hired by your school to give tours or allow a prospective high school student to live with you for the weekend.

Reduce your College Expenses

Work with a college advisor to make sure that you are taking the appropriate classes to fulfill your major and graduation requirements on time.
Look for student travel deals on sites like StudentUniverse or STA Travel.
Use student flight deals offered by airlines, like AirTran.
If you will be flying extensively, sign up for a frequent flier program to earn free flights.
Purchase your computer, software and accessories through a student discount program from Dell, Apple, HP or Microsoft.
Use free campus transportation whenever possible.
Split your campus parking pass with a friend, and share the cost. If you don’t want to buy a parking pass, consider parking off-campus.
Walk, bike or skate to school.
Carpool to school or work with a friend or roommate.

Manage Your Living Expenses

Rent or dorm fees are generally the second highest education expense, after tuition. Shop around to find college apartment move-in specials for college students.
Find roommates to split your living expenses.
Consider doing without, or reducing, monthly expenses like cable, telephone and entertainment expenses.
Buy used furniture on Craigslist or through campus newspaper ads.
Purchase student discount cards, or look for student discounts at local restaurants and businesses.
Reduce food expenses by cooking more at home, instead of eating out.
You may be able to get free room and board by signing up to be a dorm monitor or resident assistant.
Some college apartment complexes provide free or discounted rent for students who refer other tenants to the building.
Join your family’s cell phone plan (it’s usually cheaper than getting your own). Check your account frequently online or on your phone to make sure you don’t go over your allotted minutes or text messages.
Use free websites like Facebook or Flickr to communicate with friends and family, and share pictures for free.
Communicate using inexpensive or free internet calling services, like Skype. You can also talk for free on some instant messengers, like MSN, if both parties use headsets or microphones.
Start using coupons at the grocery store, local restaurants or department stores.
Bring your own snacks to class, so you won’t be tempted to buy anything from the vending machine or cafeteria.
Some campuses have free Wi-Fi. Check to see if it’s in a convenient location to avoid paying for internet.
Look for free events happening on campus, like movie screenings, rather than going to the movie theater.
Never turn down free food around campus (club meetings, events, etc).
Ask about free student checking and savings account at local banks.

Debt Management

Use cash or student loans to purchase textbooks, food and other college expenses instead of a credit card.
If you need a credit card, make sure you get one with no annual fee and a low interest rate.
Save money in interest by paying more than the minimum on your credit card.
Save big money by paying the interest on your unsubsidized student loans every month while you are in school, if you are able.

Gift Ideas

Send your family and friends your high school graduation invitations, along with a letter explaining your college intentions. They may just send you contributions to your college fund.
Ask family and friends to contribute to your 529 College Savings Plan or another type of college saving account in lieu of birthday or holiday gifts.
Ask family and friends to donate furniture for your apartment or dorm room.
Ask a relative to give you a loan, that you will pay back with interest. Make sure you draw up the appropriate paperwork to protect both parties.
If your relatives are about to get a new computer, ask if they will give you their old one!

Parents

Pay for all or part of college expenses with your personal cash or savings.
Create a 529 College Savings Plan for your child’s education.
Some states will allow you to lock in today’s tuition prices through a 529 Pre-paid Tuition Plan.
Help your student find and apply for college scholarships.
Ask your employer if they offer scholarships for employees’ children.
Take out a Federal PLUS Loan in your name to help pay for your child’s education.
Help your child obtain a private student loan by co-signing.
If you have a lot of unnecessary items around the house, consider holding a garage sale or selling items on Ebay and using the funds for your child’s education fund. Also, many household items can be donated to charity, which would save you money on taxes that you can then use to help pay for your child’s education.
Help your student create a budget and stick to it.
Many parents have to reduce their monthly expenses while their child is in college, in order to have enough left over to pay their child’s food and living expenses while he/she is in college.
Purchase airfare for your child to come home well in advance to save money in travel costs.
Mail your student care packages with food and study supplies to help reduce spending needs. Weigh the cost of mailing a grocery gift card rather than mailing food items; it’s probably much cheaper to send a gift card than a heavy package.
If your student needs a credit card, consider adding him/her to one of your accounts. Chances are your card’s interest rates are better than what he/she could qualify for, and you can keep an eye on college spending.
If you are paying for college expenses, make sure you look into all of the tax deductions available to you.

After College

Sign up for the Peace Corps, Americorps, or similar volunteer organization after college. In exchange for your service, you may receive money towards your student loan debt.
If you work in a public service job for 10 years while making payments on your student loans, the government will forgive the rest of your student loan debt. To receive this benefit, your loans must be consolidated into a Direct Loan held by the Department of Education while you make payments, so consider consolidating as soon as you leave school and your grace period expires.
Consider working for an employer in the private field that offers student loan payoff as an employee benefit.
See if your occupation has jobs that qualify you for loan forgiveness in exchange for a certain number of years in public service (Ex. teacher, physician, nurse, lawyer).
Live at home after college. You can use the money you save in rent and expenses can help pay off your student loans.
Paying more than the minimum on your student loans will reduce the amount you will pay in interest, and pay the loans off faster.
Use your student loan interest as a tax deduction every year, if you qualify.

101 Ways to Cope with Stress

2011-07-08T20:58:00.001-07:00

Get up 15 minutes earlier
Prepare for the morning the night before
Avoid tight fitting clothes
Avoid relying on chemical aids
Set appointments ahead
Don't rely on your memory ... write it down
Practice preventive maintenance
Make duplicate keys
Say "no" more often
Set priorities in your life
Avoid negative people
Use time wisely
Simplify meal times
Always make copies of important papers
Anticipate your needs
Repair anything that doesn't work properly
Ask for help with the jobs you dislike
Break large tasks into bite size portions
Look at problems as challenges
Look at challenges differently
Unclutter your life
Smile
Be prepared for rain
Tickle a baby
Pet a friendly dog/cat
Don't know all the answers
Look for a silver lining
Say something nice to someone
Teach a kid to fly a kite
Walk in the rain
Schedule play time into every day
Take a bubble bath
Be aware of the decisions you make
Believe in yourself
Stop saying negative things to yourself
Visualize yourself winning
Develop your sense of humor
Stop thinking tomorrow will be a better today
Have goals for yourself
Dance a jig
Say "hello" to a stranger
Ask a friend for a hug
Look up at the stars
Practice breathing slowly
Learn to whistle a tune
Read a poem
Listen to a symphony
Watch a ballet
Read a story curled up in bed
Do a brand new thing
Stop a bad habit
Buy yourself a flower
Take time to small the flowers
Find support from others
Ask someone to be your "vent-partner"
Do it today
Work at being cheerful and optimistic
Put safety first
Do everything in moderation
Pay attention to your appearance
Strive for Excellence NOT perfection
Stretch your limits a little each day
Look at a work of art
Hum a jingle
Maintain your weight
Plant a tree
Feed the birds
Practice grace under pressure
Stand up and stretch
Always have a plan "B"
Learn a new doodle
Memorize a joke
Be responsible for your feelings
Learn to meet your own needs
Become a better listener
Know your limitations and let others know them, too
Tell someone to have a good day in pig Latin
Throw a paper airplane
Exercise every day
Learn the words to a new song
Get to work early
Clean out one closet
Play patty cake with a toddler
Go on a picnic
Take a different route to work
Leave work early (with permission)
Put air freshener in your car
Watch a movie and eat popcorn
Write a note to a far away friend
Go to a ball game and scream
Cook a meal and eat it by candlelight
Recognize the importance of unconditional love
Remember that stress is an attitude
Keep a journal
Practice a monster smile
Remember you always have options
Have a support network of people, places and things
Quit trying to fix other people
Get enough sleep
Talk less and listen more
Freely praise other people BONUS: Relax, take each day at a time...you have the rest of your life to live!

101 Ways to Save One Dollar Per Week

2011-07-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

Is your rainy day fund all wet? Every paycheck, you plan to save, but it seems like there's nothing left over after bills and creditors get their share. It's getting tougher to pay the bills on time, let alone save any money! Don't fret; there's a solution. There are a lot of ways to put another dollar in your pocket here and there. Here's what you need to do:

Draw up your current budget: First things first; find out where your money goes. Calculate your monthly income and make a list of all expenses.

Now that you know how much money you make and spend, it's time to cast a critical eye on expenses. Let's find out where you can trim the fat from your budget.

Around The House

Cutting down on waste and excess around your home is one of the easiest ways to save money. Are you one of those people who leaves lights on all around the house? With three TVs running? We're talking to you.

Adjust your thermostat: Turn your thermostat up a couple of degrees in the summer and down a few in the winter. Every degree saves approximately 3 percent in energy costs. If your home is empty during the day, consider buying a programmable thermostat to avoid heating and cooling your home when no one's there. Set the thermostat to turn the air or heat on about 30 minutes before you get home.
Turn off the lights: If you're watching TV in the living room, turn off the lights in the kitchen. If you're eating dinner in the dining room, turn off the lights in the living room. Don't waste energy by burning lights in rooms that you're not occupying.
Use low energy light bulbs: Compact fluorescent light bulbs use only a fraction of the electricity that regular incandescent bulbs use. Plus they last much, much longer.
Change your air filters: A clogged or dirty air filter reduces airflow to the heating or AC unit, causing it to work harder and use more energy. Change your filters once a month.
Shut doors and windows: Your dad was right: you really shouldn't pay to heat or cool the outdoors.
Turn off your computer: Computers suck up a lot of energy. Most will go to sleep after a period of sitting idle, but take it one step further by just turning it off.
Simplify your cable: Do you really need 100 movie channels? Consider a smaller package.
Downgrade your phone services: When's the last time you used call forwarding or had a three way chat? Only use services that are absolutely necessary. Take advantage of free long distance with your cell phone if possible. Consider using VoIP or a cell phone to eliminate your land line.
Consolidate services: Most of the big telecom companies and cable providers now offer discounts if you use them for combined cable, telephone and internet service.
Use cloth napkins, towels and diapers: Paper napkins, paper towels and disposable diapers are easy and convenient, but cloth can be washed and used again. Use these to save money and the environment.
Do the dishes: Use reusable dishes for your meals instead of paper plates and cups.
Hang your clothes out to dry: The dryer uses a lot of energy. It takes a lot to run, plus it can also heat up your house, causing your air conditioner to have to work harder. Accomplish that fresh, dried-on-the-line smell in your own backyard.
Buy energy efficient appliances: If you are in the market for new appliances, take energy efficiency into account. Look for items with the Energy Star label.
Get an energy audit: Your electric or gas company can send someone to your home to tell you specifically what you can do to make your home more energy efficient.
Enroll in cost saving programs: Ask your energy company if they offer any load management, off-hour rate or other cost saving programs that you can take advantage of.
Close the flu damper in your fireplace: Don't let hot or cold air escape out of the fireplace. Keep the flu closed.
Insulate your water heater: Pack insulation around your water heater to help retain heat. Also try turning the heater's thermostat down a few degrees.
Install low flow showerheads: You can cut your shower's water consumption in half by installing one of these.
Change washing machine settings: Heating water uses energy and costs money. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water instead of hot.
Use a gas dryer: Gas dryers use less energy than their electric counterparts.
Open a window: Take advantage of Mother Nature. If the weather's nice, turn off the air or heat and open the windows.
Eliminate drafts: Use caulk or weather-stripping to strengthen the seal around doors and windows to eliminate the loss of hot or cool air.
Shade your windows: Close shades, blinds or drapes during the day to keep light and heat from coming in through the windows. Direct sunlight will heat your home and cause the AC to work harder. Alternately, uncovering windows to let sun in could be helpful for heating in the winter.
Plant a tree: Strategic placement of trees and bushes around your home can increase shade and decrease energy consumption. Try shading your air conditioning unit as well as windows that get a lot of sun. Just three trees can save between $100 and $250 a year in heating and cooling costs.

An energy efficient home is only part of the equation. Transportation costs can put a huge dent in your budget. Let's take a look at what you can do to make hitting the road more cost effective.

On The Road

Getting from point A to point B can really cut into your budget. Here's how to get where you need to go without breaking the bank.

Get regular tune-ups: Keep all of the moving parts in your car running smoothly to get better gas mileage and prolong the life of your vehicle.
Turn off the AC: Roll down your windows and let the air cool your car.
Keep air in your tires: Underinflated or flat tires will reduce gas mileage.
Shop around for gas: Before you pull over and start filling up, shop around for the cheapest place to get gas.
Look for frequent shopper deals on gas: Some grocery stores offer 3 cents off per gallon with a frequent shopper card. Save even more when you do more business with them, like 10 cents off per gallon when you buy $100 worth of groceries.
Shop for gas mileage: If you're car shopping, avoid the Hummers. Focus on smaller cars that get good gas mileage.
Try to avoid traffic: Idling in traffic can burn up lots of gas. Try to avoid rush hour traffic as much as possible.
Consider the savings: It costs an average of 36 cents per mile to own and operate an automobile. Don't drive all the way across town to save a nickel on a gallon of milk.
Keep moving: Stop-and-go driving not only wears out your engine faster, but also uses more gas than moving at a steady pace.
Use cruise control: If you're not going to be hitting any stop signs or traffic lights, set your cruise control to conserve gas.
Slow down: It's simple. Drive the speed limit to save gas as well as make your life a whole lot easier.
Keep it light: Remove any heavy, unnecessary items from your car. An extra 100 pounds can decrease fuel economy of an average automobile by about one percent.
Find the shortest route: The shorter the distance you have to travel, the less gas you will have to use.
Combine errands: Run as many errands as you can in one trip to cut down on your driving time.
Carpool: If your co-workers live nearby, take turns driving each other to work. If you're going out with your friends or family, fit as many people as you can into a single vehicle.
Use public transportation: If the option is available, take a bus, train or taxi instead of driving.
Take a walk: If you live close enough, try walking to work. It's free and healthy.
Ride a bike: You may live a little too far to walk, but you can try hopping on a bicycle to make your commute. Again, this option is free and healthy.

Now you know how to save money on your drive to the grocery store, but it's also important to cut costs once inside.

Food For Thought

Watching your order total at the checkout can be daunting. Take these steps to help ease the pain.

Plan ahead: Map out your meals for the entire week. Go through your cabinets, fridge and pantry, making a list of any items you'll need for your planned meals.
Cut coupons: Savings of 25 cents here and 75 cents there can add up fast.
Look for sales: Ads for savings are what make the Sunday paper so thick. Take advantage of them. Look for flyers throughout the week, pay attention to TV commercials and check junk mail for coupons before you throw it away.
Shop around: Don't limit yourself to one grocery store. One store may have great dairy prices but overpriced produce. Another could have good meat sales, but your favorite cereal is too expensive. Pick and choose what you'll buy from each store. However, if you bring sales flyers from the competition, many stores will match the price.
Go generic: Just about every product has a generic counterpart at a much lower price. Buy these products; you can get the same thing for a lot less money.
Don't stray from your list: If you didn't write it on your list, you don't need it.
Bring your calculator: Is 24 ounces for $1.00 better than 36 ounces for $1.25? Bring a calculator with you to figure out the best deal.
Buy in bulk: It never hurts to stock up on items you use frequently. Bulk is often cheaper, so fill your cart. Be sure that you are able to use the item before it goes bad.
Don't shop on an empty stomach: Everything looks good when you're hungry. Eat before you shop so you're less tempted to pick up anything and everything that looks good.
Check your receipt: Before you leave the store, take a glance at your receipt to make sure everything checks out. Items may ring up at an incorrect price or be scanned too many times.
Grow your own food: Plant some herbs and vegetables in a small garden out back. You may not be able to replicate the produce aisle, but it can help cut your grocery bill.

Trimming your grocery bill will work wonders when it comes to stocking up your pantry, but even a house full of food won't satisfy a craving for your favorite restaurant.

Wining And Dining

Eating macaroni and cheese, salad and Hamburger Helper every night can get old fast. Treat yourself to a meal at a restaurant from time to time, just be sure to keep it within reason.

Limit yourself: Avoid making restaurant visits an everyday event. Treat yourself once a week or once a month.
Look for new restaurants: Lots of new restaurants offer discounts and specials to attract customers.
Go out for lunch instead of dinner: Most restaurants are cheaper at lunchtime. When you decide to treat yourself, go out to lunch and stay in for dinner.
Avoid weekends: Everybody goes out to eat on the weekends. Restaurants may limit specials and coupons during this time. For the best deals, visit during the week.
Drink water: Save a few dollars on your bill by drinking water instead of soda or alcohol.
Bring leftovers home: Restaurant portions are huge, generally twice the size of a recommended serving. Ask for a doggy bag and bring the leftovers home.

Now that you're operating on a full stomach, it's time to take a look at what you're wearing and how you decorate your home.

Don't Lose Your Shirt

The sheer volume of sales flyers, coupons and advertising that we are inundated with is enough to make your head spin. Cut through the clutter: focus on what you're looking for and compare prices for the best deal.

Distinguish between needs and wants: Before you start buying toys and specialty items, decide what you need more: the product or the money.
Look for sales: You can often find everything you need on the sale rack.
Wait for end of season sales: Pick up next year's bathing suit for a fraction of the cost at the end of the summer.
Shop online: The Internet offers many items used or at a discount. Try to find sites that offer free shipping.
Shop at closeout stores: They may not be pretty, but you can find great deals at stores like Big Lots, Marshalls and TJ Maxx.
Head to the second-hand store: Goodwill, thrift stores and pawn shops offer many quality used goods at low prices.
Find a garage sale: One man's junk is another's treasure.
Consider alternatives: Expensive does not always equal quality. Check out professional ratings from Consumer Reports and read what customers say online to find out if you're getting biggest bang for your buck.
Avoid fashion trends: Don't spend a ton of money on an item that you won't want to wear next month. Stick with classic styles that you'll wear often.

Once you've got your necessities down, you can focus on how to save money on the fun stuff.

Everybody Have Fun Tonight

Entertaining yourself doesn't have to mean spending a lot of money. It doesn't even have to include going out.

Get cheap novels: Instead of filling your bookshelves with brand new books, consider buying used. There are chain stores that offer used books at half and even a quarter of the cover price. Libraries often have great sales as well. Better yet, borrow books, movies and CDs for free at the library. Once there, you can also surf the internet as well as read magazines and newspapers.
Cut down on subscriptions: Pick one or two magazines that you enjoy the most and cancel the rest.
Share with friends: Go through old books or movies that you have lying around and propose a trade with one of your friends for something that you haven't read or seen yet.
Have a game night: Instead of going out, invite friends and family over for board games.
Host a potluck: Invite people over for dinner and have each person bring a separate dish. It's fun and much cheaper than going out.
Catch a matinee: Movies at 2PM are the same as 7PM. Beat the crowd and save money by catching the early show.
Go to a discount theater: Lots of cities have theaters that show movies after their initial release. Check out movies on the big screen at big savings.
Don't buy popcorn: Tickets are expensive enough. Don't pay for an overpriced popcorn and Coke, too. Eat something before you go and drink water if you get thirsty.
Rent a movie: Bypass the high ticket prices and expensive snacks altogether. Head over to the video store and rent a movie.
Support your Alma mater: High school and college sporting events can provide cheap entertainment.
Watch tomorrow's stars today: Many large cities host minor league games that cost a fraction of the big league price.
Check out the local art scene: Poetry readings, art openings, high school plays, and community theater programs can be fun and inexpensive.
Watch for free events: Check the newspaper and Internet for open houses, festivals, library events and other community gatherings in your area.
Members only: Museums and zoos often have deals and special events for members. Sign up to support the arts, furry friends and your savings.
Explore the great outdoors: Pack a picnic and go for a hike at a park or recreational area nearby. You can even pack a tent and sleeping bag to stay for the weekend.
Go for a swim: Enjoy some good clean fun in the sun: head to the lake or beach.
Listen for free tickets: Newspapers and radio stations often hold contests to give away free movie and concert tickets.

Saving money on entertainment is great, but be careful how you take care of the bill. Plastic can be hazardous to your bank account's health.

Plastic Money

Credit cards are not free money. They can become a black hole for your finances in the blink of an eye. Use them responsibly. Remember: at some point, you'll have to pay them back.

You only need one: You can get into enough trouble with one credit card; don't compound the risk by getting more.
Cut up the rest: Once you've chosen your card to keep, destroy the others. Be sure to also cancel the associated account.
In case of emergency: Consider your credit card a safety net. Don't use it for anything that you don't absolutely need.
Pay off the balance: As soon as you get your statement, pay off the balance. Minimum payments don't cover much more than the interest charge.
Look for hidden fees: Look closely at your statement and take note of what kind of fees you are paying out. Programs like credit life insurance, credit disability insurance, involuntary unemployment credit insurance and credit property insurance are generally unnecessary. Make sure you don't have to pay for them.
Get a low interest rate: Zero percent interest doesn't last forever. Many credit cards offer this as an introductory rate, but before you jump at this opportunity, find out how long it lasts and what your rate will be when it expires.
Watch your statement: On top of hidden fees, you may also find double or fraudulent charges that you will need to dispute.
Utilize rewards: Rewards programs are everywhere these days. If you have the discipline to pay off your balance each month, use your card to pay all of your bills and rack up lots of points. Just be sure to use the card responsibly. The rewards won't even cover the interest that you'll pay if you carry a balance.
Say no to the free shirt: Just about everywhere you go, there's somebody trying to get you to sign up for their credit card. A free shirt, free hat, or a ten percent discount may be appealing, but these little freebies can hurt you in the long run. Even if you never use the card, the application alone can bring down your credit rating.
Pay on time: Late payments are messy. They incur fees and allow the credit card company to raise your interest rates. Make a note on your calendar and pay ahead of time.

Staying out of debt is a big part of building a savings. Here are a few more of the little things you can do.

This And That

Consider these extra tricks when trying to save a few bucks.

Take your lunch to work: Instead of paying five or six dollars for a "value" meal at lunch every day, bring a sandwich, apple and drink from home.
Go to beauty school: Time for a manicure, pedicure or haircut? Go to a training salon and get professional work done at a fraction of the cost.
Quit smoking: It's much easier said than done, but smokers, you're burning up a gold mine. Smoking a pack a day costs about $1,460 a year.
Keep charity receipts: Any kind of donations that you make throughout the year can be used as a tax write off.
Keep less money available: Leave your credit cards at home and take only the cash you'll need. If you run short, put something back.

Letter To Get Ex Back - How to Win Your Ex Back Even If You Are The Only One Trying

2011-05-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

Letter to Get Ex Back – The Most Powerful Technique to Get Your Ex Back

The ex back letter is probably one of the most powerful techniques you can use to get your ex back. In fact, I have heard many people using this tactic with great results.

For example, I have heard of one lady who almost lost her boyfriend. She sent him a letter and soon, her boyfriend started chasing her and even proposed to her.

Wondering how to write the ex back letter? Well, just read the article below.

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3 Things to Include In Letter to Get Ex Back

Wondering how to get your ex back. Trying to write a letter to get ex back? A breakup is a very hard thing to have to deal with emotionally, mentally, and physically. It hurts emotionally because you were attached to them. It hurts mentally because you cannot think straight without that person in your life. It hurts physically because when you suffer mentally and emotionally, you can develop health problems, become tired, or even get sick. When you love someone, all you want to know is how to get them back. Here, we are going to discuss how you can write a letter to get ex back.

1) Be Cool and Nonchalant

The first thing you will want to include inside of your letter to get your back is that you are okay with the breakup. It might sound crazy, but just go with it. People like cool and nonchalant, and that is what is going to get them back. No one likes clingy, needy, or seemingly psychotic. Let him or her know that you agree with the decision

Again, this may not sound right to you at first, but you need to do this if you want them back. It is psychological, and it works. Next, if you did something that you were not supposed to do in the relationship like have an affair, just briefly apologize for that, but do not spend too much time with it. You do not want to put too much emphasis on what you did.

2) Something Great Is Happening In Your Life

The next thing to include inside of your letter to get ex back would be to tell them that something really great has happened in your life and you would like to tell them about it sometime. Do not make it sound like it needs to be immediately, however, the more space you give them right now, the quicker they will come back around.

Tell them that you want to give them time for themselves because you know that they need that right now. Be very generous about that, it will help them to feel that there is no threat in trying to communicate with you. Be comforting, like they are the one that is hurting. Remember, this is all psychological.

3) Be Friends Again In The Future

The last thing you will want to include inside of your letter to get ex back is that you would like to be friends again sometime in the future. Let them know that it is a possibility, do not beg for it or seem too needy. Stay cool, calm, and nonchalant throughout your letter. It may seem tough, but this is what is going to get them back.

This letter to get ex back is going to set the stage for when you guys do meet again. It will cool some of the tension and allow you to both feel like there is room to breathe. On one hand, you are giving them the choice to make the decision, on another, they may see that you are not being overbearing, needy, and pushy, and they may actually like that. Cool and nonchalant are very attractive characteristics. If you follow these simple steps, you are going to see just how easy it can be to get them back.

Money Making Websites

2011-05-09T18:57:00.000-07:00

Money making websites are a niche business that few people understand in terms of their profit producing power. Some websites are producing more than a hundred and fifty thousand dollars a month, providing their owners with breathtaking income. Other are making six thousand dollars a month, still providing more income than most middle class households. There is gold in them thar hills when it comes to money making websites, but the little secret is that most websites don't make much money and only a few make over five hundred dollars a month. Finding out how to build these high profit making sites is the secret ingredient.

When talking about profit producing websites, the subject may turn quickly to retail websites where something is sold. Of course, some of the sites do provide retailers high profit potential. In this day and age, few people have not bought something seen on line using a credit card or Pay Pal. But the subject for this article is a website where content alone provides income for its owner. Jesus always taught that not listening and obeying His words would lead to a life filled with peril and heart break. "But he that heareth and doeth not is like a man that without a foundation built a house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great." (Mark 6:49)

Since blogs are some of the highest performing websites in terms of profit making, they are a good place to start the discussion regarding money making websites. The blog mania in America is fueled by the simple fact that any subject can be commented on and so the Internet becomes a community bulletin board where anyone can express an opinion and can be viewed from Rwanda to Russia to Rhode Island. And since many blogs are simply the extension of one's own passion about a subject, they are a natural springboard for profit generation. In other words, what could be more unpretentious and effortless than producing information about the subject a person is so wrapped up in? Making an income while doing what one immensely loves is nothing short of an example of life's great joys.

A blog can be about anything but there are certain subjects that are the most popular. Blogs that are humor driven or tech centered are the most heavily visited. No matter what the subject is of the blog, the principles of marketing still are in effect. And the adage that says the more customers an entrepreneur has through the front door the more money will be made is still true for Internet marketing as well. The old adage says scratch an itch and people will respond is certainly borne out on the Internet. People need humor and they need information and the money making websites that do one or the other or both will be the ones that make the money.

Now the money that is made on these blogs is made through affiliate marketing on those sites. Let's say for example that a person absolutely loves the TV show Boston Legal and starts a blog about the show. Every possible fact about every actor, every piece of news about each star, every tidbit of information about new plots, possible story endings and discussions about each episode are a part of this website. If the author of the website is a good writer and communicator and keeps the blog current every few days with news about the show, a niche audience can be developed over time. Once the audience has really been developed, this is about to become one of those money making websites because the author can now go to large advertisers and invite them to post ads on his Boston Legal blog. Within weeks forty ads are found on the BL website inviting people to link to another address on the World Wide Web. And every time someone visiting the BL site does that very thing, the cash register of the BL website goes cha ching.

Look, someone can have one of the small income money making websites selling knick knacks and paddy whacks and use the affiliate marketing paradigm just described, but if someone really is tepid about paddy whacks, is that really going to be much fun? The idea is to do something someone really truly enjoys. Any career counselor will give the same exact advice and when followed can keep down blood pressure, fight depression and perhaps add years to one's life. But of course there are already designed programs that can provide an Internet source of income. Consider some of these ideas:

There are money making websites that will pay people to watch ads for thirty seconds at a time at the astounding rate of one cent. If a person can also then convince twenty friends to watch the same ads, the earnings are a nickel and if you can keep it up for thirty straight days the earnings can be thirty three dollars for the month. On the other hand, creating one's own money making websites is not difficult with affiliate networking. Similar to the blog idea described earlier, one can build a website about any subject and post Google's Ad Sense ads or offer free things online such as tickets, games and other items of interest. Then when one gets affiliate websites to advertise on one's own site, the money will start coming in through a pay pr click or pay per action agreement.

For more information: http://tipstomake7figuresonline.com/