tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29489491605499090192026-10-19T10:05:16.110-05:00Information to empower you to make a fine home away from homeRafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.comBlogger349125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-16722099530064429722013-04-10T19:05:00.000-05:002013-04-16T14:41:59.703-05:00

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Red Jadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299513775184954121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-37402674246709325852013-04-02T09:52:00.000-05:002013-04-16T14:41:20.787-05:00

Is time really money? Don't believe the lie that time is money. The truth is time is far more important than money. Time is life and please take that literally. It is possible to waste money and we've all been somewhat guilty of that. But that can be replenished. Just like a hammer or a kitchen knife, money is a tool that can be replaced. What you can't do is waste life because all of us

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-46087773698619824902012-02-11T14:26:00.012-06:002013-06-23T17:47:26.493-05:00

An interesting thing happened once I decided to explore the idea of a life coach. I have experienced a certain burst of clarity about certain things. For example, it occurred to me that when I do find a coach I need to be ready with a list of issues/areas of concern. I started working on the list and in doing so I realized that though I had struggled and failed to develop some goals for the New

Red Jadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299513775184954121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-89771209194768129832012-02-04T00:12:00.001-06:002012-02-05T00:26:01.174-06:00

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Red Jadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299513775184954121noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-20511596287906406192012-01-16T15:25:00.000-06:002012-01-16T15:39:37.321-06:00

Last week, we said that we are to filter every New Year Resolution (NYR) through three main questions. (Read about it here). That should have narrowed your NYRs to just a few that are worth doing and with just a few days to the new year and here are the five MUSTS to live up to them. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Be accountable – A lack of

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-10029647481334768862012-01-12T10:55:00.000-06:002012-01-12T10:55:05.266-06:00

People often ask me what someone should expect to put aside for their expenses in the first year they are in the US. This is a tough question mainly because the cost of living varies widely depending on your city. Here is a sample budget for monthly expenses in Houston. You can use this cost of living calculator to calculate the cost in the city you will be moving to. To use the cost of living

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com166tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-43233494787170673612012-01-10T10:06:00.003-06:002012-01-10T10:07:45.531-06:00

At the end of 2011 I read Reinventing yourself by Mark Chandler. It was a great book to jump start my new year. Some of the key highlights in the book were Use of Language: What kind of language do you use to describe your situation. Is it self-defeating and depreciating? Watching your language will help you figure out what you really think about a situation. Perspective is everything and it is

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-75824548114933182732012-01-09T00:00:00.000-06:002014-01-02T12:31:04.902-06:00

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Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-50421865402536007472011-12-13T17:11:00.002-06:002011-12-13T17:11:52.776-06:00

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-2869130884729477482011-12-11T00:03:00.002-06:002011-12-11T00:03:01.032-06:00

Watching the movie "Invictus" last night, I was struck again by the power of forgiveness and the strength of character that Mandela exhibits.If Mandela can forgive the people who put him behind bars for 27 years for fighting for democracy, who are we not to forgive the petty differences that come between us and our family and friends?Here is the poem that Mandela said saw him through that dark,

Red Jadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299513775184954121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-20526520593598128072011-12-10T09:39:00.001-06:002011-12-10T09:41:30.306-06:00

Be the judge after watching this video by Ken Robinson. A must see for all parents! By Ken Robinson

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-15243358070165676212011-12-07T00:00:00.000-06:002011-12-07T00:00:01.662-06:00

If you are anything like me, you may feel like you have lost yourself in the midst of the activities of the year. Here are some great questions to ask to reconnect with yourself and your passions this coming year.&nbsp; What did like to play with as a child and why? What games interested you the most?&nbsp; What sorts of success stories create a lump in your throat or really impress you and

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-89706158078851361452011-12-06T18:58:00.009-06:002011-12-06T19:23:05.056-06:00

CNN heroes are people who are making a difference either in their communities or in communities far away from their own. These are people who have dedicated their lives to improving the lives of others.Now is the time to vote for your favorite hero who will win the 2011 CNN Hero of the Year Award, plus a cool $250,000. The deadline for voting is December 7th.In alphabetical order, below is

Red Jadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299513775184954121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-84980672192395768282011-12-05T09:06:00.001-06:002011-12-05T09:11:31.820-06:00

Source:&nbsp;http://www.fleurdelis.com/desidera.htm &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;http://www.home-life-online.com/be-gentle-with-yourself.html

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-91317862517044954852011-12-04T20:35:00.006-06:002011-12-04T21:35:55.728-06:00

Now that the holiday season is in full swing, this is the time to remember that an office party is not really a party i.e. it is not the time and place to let loose and go crazy!Most office party disasters happen because people drink too much. I know the free booze is tempting but it's not worth it. Treat the office party as an occasion that calls for your best behavior. Here are a few tips:Do

Red Jadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299513775184954121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-64217260550378680202011-12-02T15:51:00.002-06:002011-12-02T15:53:38.562-06:00

I have a couple of goals/projects that I would like to tackle. Stuff I have been thinking about for a long time, but have not done anything about yet. I often find that I am second guessing myself . . . it’s too difficult . . . where do I start . . . it’s a crazy idea . . . you get the drift. And yet, deep in my soul, I have always felt that God would not have given me these ideas if I was not

Red Jadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299513775184954121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-85039446197396518062011-12-01T08:42:00.001-06:002011-12-01T11:30:04.044-06:00

Heart attacks and strokes kill more people than all cancers and auto accidents combined. According to the American heart Association, most sudden heart attacks and strokes occur in people with normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels.&nbsp; Eating right, exercising, watching your weight, controlling your cholesterol are important, but more can be done to reduce the risk for a

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-54921538259375213552011-11-30T00:05:00.007-06:002011-11-30T00:05:01.416-06:00

While surfing the net aimlessly late last night, I came across this website for unclaimed property (oh, the places aimless surfing will take you . . . ).Curious, but not expecting anything, I typed in my name and . . . I hit pay dirt! I actually found $100 from about 15 years ago; it looks like a paycheck that I never collected. Wow! I sure could use 100 bucks right about now.It's very easy to

Red Jadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299513775184954121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-74376868367287903742011-11-29T11:32:00.001-06:002011-11-29T12:20:10.685-06:00

If you are anything like me, you may feel like you do not know the whole story about the relationship between Africa and the West. The national history center is a great resource with historical information about the world. Though it covers world history, there is some great information about Africa. Here are some interesting podcasts to consider The Airlift: African Students Overseas in the

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-90369493725330270412011-11-28T09:43:00.001-06:002011-11-28T09:51:28.033-06:00

Thanksgiving: I’m supposed to be thankful and deep down I know I am. After all, I only have to look at my wife and three kids to know how fortunate I am. But my mind keeps going back to what a sad year it's been for sports in America. Amidst the great wins, we've seen the worst side of sports probably ever. Two of the most popular sports (NFL and the NBA) have gone through a work stoppage

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-12957157241319071182011-11-27T13:05:00.012-06:002011-11-27T15:09:31.316-06:00

We have written about crowdsourcing platforms before, here and here. And today we have one more to bring to you . . . IndieGoGo.If you have a passion, IndieGoGo can help you raise the money you need and increase the publicity you need to make it a reality.For those of us who donate, we get the opportunity to support causes and projects that are important to us.I came across some pretty fun,

Red Jadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299513775184954121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-75084992360893373162011-11-26T10:10:00.001-06:002011-11-26T10:50:53.556-06:00

In case you are still wondering if Black Friday is worth it, check out this videos and others like it on YouTube If you really must buy gifts during the holidays, come up with a list every year and look out for deals throughout the year. Check out these sites that offer deals all the time. SlickDeals DealsPlus DealNews Woot PlasticJungle

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-21919873605218222832011-11-25T15:23:00.010-06:002011-11-25T15:52:49.102-06:00

I shudder when I read the news reports about the violence related to Black Friday shopping.Black Friday shopping is not worth it, if it will make you throw civility out of the window and push, fight, shove, pepper spray, others to "get a good deal".However, those who indulge in this kind of behavior are not going to agree with me. But what about those who are subjected to these incivilities?It is

Red Jadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299513775184954121noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-11764001955564697262011-11-24T08:32:00.000-06:002011-11-25T08:49:57.218-06:00

Rafikihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471106445583883590noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2948949160549909019.post-75997605397231097902011-11-23T16:02:00.015-06:002011-11-23T18:08:39.082-06:00

For the designer lurking in all of us, now you can easily and cheaply make your designs a reality, courtesy of Shapeways. Shapeways is a 3D printing firm. In case you have no idea what that is, you can read all about it on their website.Shapeways offers a choice of materials (glass, stainless steel, plastic etc.) so all you have to do is upload your design, select your material and wait for the

Red Jadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05299513775184954121noreply@blogger.com0