Thursday, December 30, 2010

New York Blizzard

Due to the 20 inch snow brought about by the blizzard at New York...a baby died after being delivered in the lobby of a Brooklyn apartment building when paramedics took nine hours to reach the mother - Reuters

This makes me worry and think that I should learn about the natural methods of birthing just like how our ancestors did it - no technology, no nothing. Just midwives at home, hmmmm...

Monday, December 06, 2010

Herbalife Ultimate Program Day 1

[To Edward, Kathy and Stella: this is a blog]

I'm back with using Herbalife as my diet plan. It's perfect for me at this time because I'm not doing much.. just sitting around at work and then playing Plants vs. Zombies at home. Talk about a sedentary lifestyle!

This is a feat 'coz I've tried Herbalife before and it's not an easy thing to do and more so, complete. I have to replace 2 meals with the Nutritional Protein Shake and take an assortment of tablets with it. Previously, I had an ultra controlling boyfriend to help me really stick to the program and it worked wonders for me; right now, there's just me and maybe my Dad's snide remarks hehehe. Here's what my typical daily intake looks like:

30 mins before breakfast:
1 glass of water + Fiberbond (this is the fat blocker)

Breakfast:
2 Tbsp Nutritional Shake (aka Formula 1) + 8oz nonfat milk (plus half a banana is also allowed. You're supposed to blend it but I tried just stirring and it's feasible as well)
2 Fiber and Herb tablets (fiber!)
1 Vitamin and Minerals (multivits)
1 Vitamin Mineral Herbal Complex (anti cellulite, anti water retention)

In Between:
1 tsp Herbal Concentrate Green Tea + 16 oz hot or cold water (1/2 tsp is equivalent to 20 mins exercise!!)

30 mins before lunch:
1 glass of water + Fiberbond

Lunch:
Normal food! wooot!
2 Fiber and Herb tablets + 1 Vitamin and Minerals + 1 Vitamin Mineral Herbal Complex

In Between:
1 tsp Herbal Concentrate Green Tea + 16 oz hot or cold water

30 mins before Dinner:
1 glass of water + Fiberbond

Dinner:
2 Tbsp Nutritional Shake + 8oz nonfat milk
2 Fiber and Herb tablets + 1 Vitamin and Minerals + 1 Vitamin Mineral Herbal Complex

oh there's also a personalized protein powder called Formula 3 which I can add to the shake or to yogurt or cereal to increase the feeling of fullness. So I'll add it depending on my need.

Coincidentally, I also bought a fake FitFlop from Greenhills Tiangge for Php 450! I think I could've gotten it cheaper if I wasn't intimidated by the woman seller with a hijab. Anyhoo, I still feel the micro-wobble technology that the original one, priced at Php3500, boasts of as its competitive advantage: A slipper + workout in one! I'm not used to it yet coz I feel muscle soreness on my leg, which is actually what the slipper tag warned of: Use progressively to prevent muscle soreness

So let's see how much I lose by the end of December! I measured my stats last night and will do so every Sunday night :) I aim to lose 15lbs this month! haha!

Good luck to me!!

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Where to Now?

I had a great weekend so far hanging out with Maddy - he bought a new laptop yey! Samsung R440 Silver! It's always fun to accompany someone in buying a new gadget. :) Also, I was finally able to do 2 things that I've been putting off for a long time

1) visit the Forever 21 store at Megamall. The store is huge! There's so much clothes but I particularly liked the designs at the Heritage section. I'll go back there when I'm in a shopping mood.

2) Redeem my free shoes from Charles and Keith! Good thing there's a branch at Megamall. I was not able to get a fashionable high heeled one, but instead, I bought a sturdy but shiny silver wedge that's soo comfortable. Proof of this is that I traded my Crocs for that new shoe once I got to Linden Suites for Ann's bridal shower. The soles of my feet were aching from walking in the same flat angle, albeit in Crocs.

While waiting for the uber-fun surprise bridal shower to start, Rom was asking me what I'd do next after MBA...

I actually do not know yet. I don't have a specific direction yet because MBA just broadened my horizon that I can try on different fields. This is obvious in my job search categories. Right now though, I'm considering the Management Trainee positions at top companies. I'll have to look into them more. I'm constrained by my high salary in IT! If I win the lotto, then I wouldn't have to worry about salary and simply do whtat I enjoy doing. That would be the best thing! Unfortunately, none of the numbers I played came out in the draw. Apparently, no one else's number combination won in tonight's draw. And so the hoping continues as millions of Filipinos contribute to the grand lotto 6-55 pot.. LOL

Where to Now?

Monday, November 22, 2010

i wish i had known about this earlier

7 Money Tips for Twentysomethings

David B. Armstrong, On Saturday 20 November 2010, 1:55 SGT

It's easy to look back, ask,"What if?" and second guess all the decisions I've made in the past 43 years. I have been fortunate to have no major regrets and a whole lot to be thankful for. However, there are some things I would have paid more attention to and done differently if I could go back and relive my early 20s.

Here's a list for all of you in your 20s, as well as for some parents to consider if you have children graduating from college soon:

1. Don't rack up credit card debt, and pay any debts off quickly. Seems simple and downright obvious, but taking on debt is easy to do. The transition from college to the working world can be expensive--new clothes, shoes, apartment, furniture, and other business-world expenses can make it easy to quickly pile on debt. Budget for these expenses, and if credit must be used to get going, have a plan in advance for paying it down.

2. Contribute to your 401(k). Just do it. Retirement contributions build up fast, often have an employer matching contribution, and are saved before taxes. Look at it as savings with an instant profit.

[See 6 Strategies for Funding Your 401(k)]

3. Start a savings plan early. The best time to start a savings plan is before you are used to having extra money in the first place. A good rule of thumb: Use 50 percent of your after-tax paycheck (excluding 401(k) contributions, of course) to pay for the non-negotiable "needs-based" expenses in your life, like rent and food. Use 35 percent for negotiable "wants-based" expenses--entertainment and other costs can scale back quickly if needed. Save 15 percent. Your goal here should be to save about six months of your pay.

4. Don't try to keep up with the Jones's. There is no need to buy the best brand of everything right out of college. People in their 20s who are driving expensive cars, living in luxury apartments, and buying the most expensive clothes either already have money from something other than their first job or they are piling on debt--which isn't smart.

5. Pay off your highest interest-rate debt first. Hint: It's not always the debt with the highest balance. The debt with the highest interest rate is probably the credit card you ran up on bar tabs and that Spring Break trip in the final year of school. Pay that off first. Your student loans, while they carry a big balance and are possibly the scariest in terms of size, probably have a reasonable interest rate relative to any credit card debt.

6. Save four months of your salary in cash before you start investing after-tax money in an investment plan. This may take a while, but the journey of a thousand miles always begins with one step. This is important because if you lose your job, you'll need to make sure you are not forced to sell your few assets at fire-sale prices or default on debt payments at a young age. It will keep you from a panic and keep you from moving back into mom and dad's place.

[See How to Teach Your Child Money Habits for Life.]

This also gets easier,because once you have the first four months saved, you can apply that savings discipline toward an after-tax investment strategy, and as salary raises come along, you can tune up your savings plan to raise your cash balance over the course of six months to a year.

7. Be patient. It's easy to "want." Be patient; with hard work and good fiscal discipline, you will amass a nice portfolio that allows you to realize all the hopes and dreams you may have for later in life. There are probably a lot more major financial events in your future, and you'll want the flexibility to make proper decisions when the time comes.

Having cash, savings, and an investment portfolio that allow you the flexibility to take advantage of opportunities down the road will really help.

If you remember nothing else, remember this: While it seems like your life is full right now, there is probably a lot coming up--such as a first home, graduate school, and maybe even, gasp, kids!

David B. Armstrong CFA, is a Managing Director and co-founder of Monument Wealth Management in Alexandria VA, a full service Private Wealth Planning and wealth management firm. Monument Wealth Management is backed by LPL Financial, the independent broker-dealer and Registered Investment Advisor. He has been named one of America's Top 100 Financial Advisors for two straight years by Registered Rep magazine (2009 & 2010) based on asset under management. David and Monument Wealth Management can be followed on their blog at "Off The Wall", their Twitter account @MonumentWealth, and on their Facebook page. Member FINRA/SIPC.

*The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendation for individual. To determine which investment is appropriate please consult your financial advisor prior to investing. All performance references is historical and is not guarantee of future results. Securities and financial planning offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC.

--
Grace

"Failure is not defeat unless you stop trying"

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Welcome to Life! (not in the Philippines)

Welcome to Life! This was Chilean President's greeting to one of the 33 miners who emerged from a dramatic ordeal - trapped 69 days under the Chilean desert!

From the time that contact to the miners was established, I was very impressed with the provisions sent down to the miners to ensure top possible physical and mental well-being.

The miners were given planned and paced-nutrition, activities were set to focus on group bonding and unity; (i.e. mp3 players with earphones were not allowed since it would possibly alienate other miners), and video chat was possible with the miners' loved ones. Talk about 100% support from the government!

There were some worries about the long time it took to rescue the miners but everything was well planned. Now all the miners have been rescued, smoothly and even above expectations.

A part of me couldn't believe that such an impressive and well-planned rescue was possible coming from a government. My standards are quite low because of the norm in this country!

I found out as well that mining is Chile's lifeblood, providing 40 percent of state earnings so the rescue was really prioritized and money was not an issue. When that happens, the best can really be accomplished.

I doubt that something similar could be done here in the Philippines. I very much doubt it.

Sunday, September 26, 2010

The Ugly Truth

starring: Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl

Well, the title says it all :-p Good thing I didn't watch this in the movie house. It's short and didn't feel move-worthy at all. It's more like a developing drama in a sitcom. Personally, I think BONES does it better wtih Booth and Brennan.

I liked the story development of Princess Diaries 2 better! Sheesh.

I remember wanting to see this very much while it was showing in the theaters (more because of Gerard Butler and the 300 hype).

I hope Zac Efron does not disappoint me the same way in Charlie St. Cloud!

If there's any consolation, the movie soundtrack rocked!

"Hot 'n' Cold" by Katy Perry
"Cafe Metropole" by Rick Krive
"Catz Meow" by Scott Robinson
"Solo Violin 2" by Daniel May
"Everybody Got Their Something" by Nikka Costa
"Pocketful of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield
"Under the Covers" by Josh Kelley
"Soluna" by Los Pinguos
"De Vez en Cuando" by Los Pinguos
"El Gitano del Amor" by Latin Soul Syndicate
"Chainsaw" by Daniel Merriweather
"Right Round" by Flo Rida featuring Ke$ha

The Ugly Truth

Thursday, September 23, 2010

While Letting My Hair Dry...

I thought of trying my hand again at baking, but I guess it won't happen this year. School schedule is too tight to give me some free time to regain my creativity in time for joining bazaars for the holidays.

I think it's better if i spend the time to relax and think about my future.

I'm still in limbo right now because of this horrible last subject: Strategic Management. When I hopefully get a grade on my paper this coming Saturday, I'd only have a month or so to prepare for the Oral Comprehensive Examination.

When I finish that along with graduation requirements, I think that's the time i can finally breathe and think of my career path and basically what I want to do in my life.

I'm a late bloomer in the life planning department. I only started saving for real last year! Imagine that. Well, better late than never hehehe.

I am still awake coz I took a bath but my hair dryer is not working... thus, I'm air drying my hair while blogging so I can finally sleep afterwards.

Yoga again tomorrow! Yey!

While Letting My Hair Dry...

Saturday, September 11, 2010

S. T. R. A. M. A.

That which never ends.

Is it a test of patience? of endurance? of perseverance.?

Is it a totally twisted and elaborate plan that everyone thinks they can win over but end up being stuck in the same maze as everyone before.

It's a mystery and simply something that I have to deal with.

I keep wishing that it's over. It's been eating up my life too much. I've put so many things on hold, but I can't anymore. It can't lord over everything else anymore. I'm still pushing through with it but putting it in its rightful place -- and definitely not at the top.

Life has to move on. Strama or no Strama.

Life goes on. Grrrar!

Monday, September 06, 2010

7 Spending Tips From Frugal Billionaires

I read this right after I get to the office from a 1-inch jeepney seat and a mosh pit of a bus ride to Ayala. Can I be a billionaire first before being frugal? ;-p I guess not! Looks like i have to get used to body grinding from random people on the way to office LOL.

7 Spending Tips From Frugal Billionaires

by Jean Folger
Sunday, September 5, 2010

provided by

Carlos Slim Helu (Carlos Slim), a telecom tycoon and billionaire with well-known frugal tendencies, has a net worth of $60.6 billion, according to Forbes. Assuming no changes in his net worth, he could spend $1,150 a minute for the next 100 years before he ran out of money. To put this in perspective, he could spend in 13 minutes what a minimum-wage earner brings home after an entire year of the daily grind.

Granted, the world's billionaires (all 1,011 of them) are in the debatably enviable position of having, quite literally, more money than they can possibly spend, yet some are still living well below their means, and save money in surprising places. Even non-billionaires (currently 6,864,605,142 of us) can partake in these seven spending tips from frugal billionaires:

1. Keep Your Home Simple
Billionaires can afford to live in the most exclusive mansions imaginable -- and many do, including Bill Gates' sprawling 66,000 square foot, $147.5 million dollar mansion in Medina, Wash. -- yet frugal billionaires like Warren Buffett choose to keep it simple. Buffett still lives in the five-bedroom house in Omaha that he purchased in 1957 for $31,500. Likewise, Carlos Slim has lived in the same house for more than 40 years.

2. Use Self-Powered or Public Transportation
Thrifty billionaires including John Caudwell, David Cheriton and Chuck Feeney prefer to walk, bike or use public transportation when getting around town. Certainly these wealthy individuals could afford to take a helicopter to their lunch meetings, or ride in chauffeur-driven Bentleys, but they choose to get a little exercise and take advantage of public transportation instead. Good for the bank account and great for the environment.

3. Buy Your Clothes off the Rack
While some people, regardless of their net value, place a huge emphasis on wearing designer clothes and shoes, some frugal billionaires decide it's simply not worth the effort, or expense. You can find David Cheriton, the Stanford professor who matched Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page to the venture capitalists at Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers (resulting in a large reward of Google stock), wearing jeans and a t-shirt.

Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of the furniture company Ikea, avoids wearing suits, and John Caudwell, mobile phone mogul, buys his clothes off the rack instead of spending his wealth on designer clothes.

4. Keep your Scissors Sharp
The average haircut costs about $45, but people can and do spend up to $800 per cut and style. Multiply that by 8.6 (to account for a cut every six weeks) and it adds up to $7,200 per year, not including tips. These billionaires can certainly afford the most stylish haircuts, buy many cannot be bothered by the time it takes or the high price tag for the posh salons. Billionaires like John Caudwell and David Cheriton opt for cutting their own hair at home.

5. Drive a Regular Car
While billionaires like Larry Ellison (co-founder and CEO of Oracle Corporation) enjoy spending millions on cars, boats and planes, others remain low key with their vehicles of choice. Jim Walton (of the Wal-Mart clan) drives a 15-year-old pickup truck. Azim Premji, an Indian business tycoon, reportedly drives a Toyota Corolla. And Ingvar Kamprad of Ikea drives a 10-year-old Volvo. The idea is to buy a dependable car, and drive it into the ground. No need for a different car each day of the week for these frugal billionaires.

6. Skip Luxury Items
It may surprise some of us, but the world's wealthiest person, Carlos Slim (the one who could spend more than a thousand dollars a minute and not run out of money for one hundred years) does not own a yacht or a plane. (Reducing the amount you spend is the easiest way to make your money grow.)

Many other billionaires have chosen to skip these luxury items. Warren Buffett also avoids these lavish material items, stating, "Most toys are just a pain in the neck."

What We Can Learn
Some of the world's billionaires have frugal tendencies. Perhaps this thrifty nature even helped them make some of their money. Regardless, they have chosen to avoid some unnecessary spending (at least on their scale) and the 6,864,605,142 non-billionaires out there can follow suit, eliminating excessive, keep-up-with-the-Jones style spending. No matter what a person's income bracket is, most can usually find a way to cut back on frivolous spending, just like a few frugal billionaires.

--
Grace

"Failure is not defeat unless you stop trying"

Friday, July 30, 2010

Spot the difference.

Previously: I choose not to get a car
..because I'm expecting my boyfriend or husband to get one and drive me around

Currently: I choose not to get a car
...because it is financially more practical not to.

It seems trivial but it makes a world of difference to me.

Empowerd woman, yeah!

Monday, July 26, 2010

9 "Harmless" Habits That Age You

By the Editors of Prevention
Thu, Jul 15, 2010

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Buzz up!vote now

Look Your Age—Or Younger!
It pretty much goes without saying that smoking cigarettes and frying your skin in the sun make you older, so kudos for quitting and slathering on the sunscreen religiously. But if you're trying to turn back the clock—or at least slow it down a little—don't overlook these other habits that may be sabotaging your efforts.

1. You keep your college bedtime
It's not uncommon for superbusy women to cram a day's worth of around-the-house to-dos into the late evening hours, a practice that pushes back bedtime into—eep!—Late Night with Jimmy Fallon territory. The problem with this is that too-little sleep is proving to be really, really bad for your health: Research links it to high blood pressure, diabetes, weight gain, and even just looking tired and older.

Act your age: We're not saying you need a perfect 8 hours every single night, but make sleep a priority more often and your body will thank you. Everyone's sleep needs are different; to find out what yours are, sleep experts recommend you turn off the alarm clock when you're well rested, and see how long you naturally sleep. (Most people need 7 to 8 hours.)

2. You have a soft spot for sweets
A sugar-packed diet can take its toll on your waistline, but now experts also believe it can make your skin dull and wrinkled too. To blame is a natural process known as glycation, in which the sugar in your bloodstream attaches to proteins to form harmful new molecules called advanced glycation end products (AGEs, for short). The more sugar you eat, the more AGEs you develop; these damage surrounding proteins like collagen and elastin, which keep skin firm and elastic. Once damaged, springy and resilient collagen and elastin become dry and brittle, leading to wrinkles and sagging. These aging effects start at about age 35 and increase rapidly after that, according to a study published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Act your age: It's not easy to eliminate sugar completely, but limiting added sugar to no more than 10% of total calories can help. If you're a 45-year-old woman of average height (5-foot-4), that's 160 calories (or 10 teaspoons) from added sugar—about the number in one 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola or six Hershey's Kisses. By comparison, the average American consumes 31 teaspoons per day of added sugar, or the equivalent of 465 calories. Watch for stealthy sugar in unexpected foods, like salad dressing. Many prepared foods contain hefty amounts of sugar, but it's hidden under aliases—including barley malt, corn syrup, dextrose, fruit juice concentrate, maltose, maple syrup, molasses, and turbinado—on ingredient panels.

3. You're stressed more often than not
You don't feel good when you're stressed-out—be it from work projects piling up, a miserable commute, issues with the kids, etc.—and there's good biological proof why you shouldn't. Stress increases the concentration of the hormones cortisol and norepinephrine in the bloodstream, kicking up blood pressure and suppressing immunity. Over time, stress that doesn't go away can delay healing, harden your arteries, and possibly shrink areas of your brain involved in learning, memory, and mood—talk about feeling older!

Act your age: Stress will never go away completely, but how you manage everyday blips can keep hormones on a more even—and healthy—keel. Deep breathing is the top antistress pick of Prevention advisor Andrew Weil, MD: He makes time for it at least twice a day. "It only takes 2 minutes," he says. "I do it in the morning, when I'm falling asleep in the evening, and anytime I feel upset." Try it: Exhale strongly through the mouth, making a whoosh sound. Breathe in quietly through the nose for a count of 4. Hold your breath for a count of 7, then exhale with the whoosh for a count of 8. Repeat the cycle 3 more times.

4. You only exercise to lose weight
Exercise is one of the best turn-back-the-clock agents around, but too many of us don't reap its full benefits because we only associate physical activity with weight loss. If you tend to hit the gym in 2-week stints to shed a few pounds, but then take a few months off from physical activity, you're missing out on some major health perks. Research shows that vigorous exercisers have longer telomeres—cellular biomarkers that shorten as we age—compared with healthy adults who rarely work out. Being active consistently can help fight brain fog, reduce inflammation, and prevent type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions that crop up over time.

Act your age: Don't let your sneakers get dusty. Choose any activity you enjoy—be it walking, cycling, or dancing—and aim for a minimum of 20 to 25 minutes a day. Break it down, if you have to, into two 10-minute sessions. Slowly increase the frequency, duration, and intensity in small increments. If you miss a day, don't let it become a habit; just pick up again the next day.

5. You blast your iPod
Nothing makes you feel 80 years old like having to cup your ear and say "Excuse me?" to get your friend to repeat herself... again. Hearing loss typically develops slowly, the result of prolonged exposure to thousands of high-decibel insults to the ear, many of which come from exposure to everyday gadgets, like iPods or hair dryers. MP3 players set at 50% volume can pump out sounds up to 101 decibels, well over the recommended safety threshold.

Act your age: To ageproof your iPod, keep the volume as low as possible. Use noise-canceling earbuds to block out ambient sounds, reducing your need to jack up the volume. Wear earplugs when you're around other loud noises too, like the garbage disposal, coffee grinder, lawn mower, etc.

6. You never see your girlfriends
Your friends were probably the meat and potatoes of your social calendar back in your 20s; now you spend most of your spare time shuttling your tweens around to their various get-togethers. But here's why making time to cultivate your friendships is so key: One study found that satisfying friendships predict longevity better than even close family ties, and they can protect against obesity, depression, and heart disease, among other health problems. No wonder you always feel reenergized after a marathon catch-up call with your best college friend or a girls' night out with your high school crew.

Act your age: Your friends keep you young—simple as that. So if hectic schedules keep you apart, consider carving a more permanent place in your schedule for friend time. Take advantage of Facebook or e-mail groups to stay in touch on a more frequent basis—even clicking through and commenting on a pal's recently uploaded vacation photos can help you feel closer.

7. You eat veggies—but not daily
You've likely heard that antioxidant-packed fruits and veggies can help you stay young. These powerful compounds fight free radicals that would otherwise wreak havoc on your body and skin, damaging cells that can lead to cancer and make you look older. But here's the rub: Antioxidants remain active for only a few hours and need to be continually replenished, so don't think you're set for the week after eating a big salad for lunch on Monday.

Act your age: ODing on veggies a couple of days a week or month—and skipping them the rest of the time—doesn't do your body any favors. To truly maximize their age-defying benefits, aim to eat antioxidants every 4 hours or so or with every meal.

8. You've shunned all fat from your diet
Cutting out artery-clogging saturated and trans fats is a heart-healthy move, but when it comes to your health and vitality, equally slashing unsaturated fats, like those found in fish, nuts, and olive oil, is like throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater. One kind, omega-3 fatty acids, is the ultimate anti-aging fat, essential for protecting your brain, heart, bones, joints, skin, and more. Another kind, monounsaturated, can lower bad LDL cholesterol, raise cardio-protective HDL cholesterol, and decrease your risk of atherosclerosis. Plus, studies suggest that a higher intake of these fats may contribute to longer life expectancy.

Act your age: Remember that fat isn't inherently evil, and it won't make you fat per se. About 20 to 35% of your daily calories should come from fat (mainly healthy, unsaturated fat) like those from the above sources.

9. You can't recall when you last had sex
Yep, sex feels good and does wonders for your mood, but it's also fantastically great for your health. Research shows that people with active sex lives have stronger immune systems, less pain, a lower cancer risk, healthier hearts, and less stress. The best news: It can even make you look younger—up to 12 years, a study shows.

Act your age: Rekindle the romance between you and your partner. To shake things up, try making the first move next time. "Some women are not active participants in their sex lives," says Pat Covalt, PhD, author of What Smart Couples Know. "A lot of men would like to be touched more, seduced more. Everyone wants to feel wanted."

Friday, July 23, 2010

Sleep-in-a-Bottle

5-hour-energy: Another energy drink but no sleep in a bottle...

There's also Cobra, Lipovitan, Extra Joss and a multitude of other brands claiming to give instant energy to the worn-out worker or sleep-deprived student. Variants that are low in sugar and calories are also available in the market for those who want the energy boost without adding extra poundage.

I, for one, am a student/worker who is constantly sleep-deprived and need the mental awareness and focus to do my work during the day and attend classes in the evening or cram a paper or two. Although I have derived benefits from downing a bottle of energy drink, at the end of the day, my body still craves for real honest-to-goodness sleep. The rush of energy from a caffeine or energy drink boost may give temporary focus and alertness, but when it wears off, the body crashes just like a cellphone out of battery. My body longs for the bed and I have to give up a day of productivity because I can't function anymore without enough rest or at least pockets of it.

Why hasn't anyone invented sleep-in-a-bottle? My hunch is that maybe the combined benefits of sleep are still too difficult replicate with the current technology. A full night's sleep will give one better complexion and skin tone, sharper vision (no bloodshot eyes!), focus, alertness, energy and a pleasant disposition to name a few. So far, scientists have only been able to replicate the focus, alertness, and energy part of the 8-hour sleep benefit.

My sleep deprived mind has been conjuring up different sleep-in-a bottle products that I would definitely buy if ever it becomes available in the market - for a reasonable price, of course. A great variant would be called Sleep Like a Baby which contains the potent 8-hour-deep sleep like that of a child - without cares and simply for recharging and growth. There can also be a Power Nap variant mimicking the benefit of power naps for those who can't even afford one (what a sad thought!). Another one to cater to call center agents would be called Good Night's Sleep because sleeping during the day with all the noise and lights versus sleeping during the night which is aligned with our normal circadian rhythm definitely has a big difference.

With these great ideas, maybe I should put up my own Sleep empire and pioneer these sleep-in-a-bottle products! There's definitely a need for this!

--
Grace

"Failure is not defeat unless you stop trying"

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Secrets of Extreme Savers! Wow!

Secrets of Extreme Savers

You can put away a lot more than the average American without living a deprived life.

Avoid Debt

Courtesy of Ed Haskell

Super Savers: Ed Haskell, 50 and Debbie Chasteen, 52, daughter Laura, 15
Savings Rate: 50% of after-tax income
Home: Liberty, Mo.
Occupations: Ed is a retired Air Force officer; Debbie is a college professor

Since they married two decades ago, Ed Haskell and Debbie Chasteen have saved more than half their income every year. But Ed's aggressive savings habits go back even further. From his early 20s, Ed was determined to live frugally so that he didn't have to work into his 60s. When the couple was dating, Debbie realized how serious Ed was about saving when she needed a new car but didn't have the cash. Rather than have her borrow, Ed offered to put up the money so she could continue maxing out her 403(b) retirement plan. That avoidance of debt has been a key to their success.

[Click here to check savings products and rates in your area.]

Before they make any purchase, even big-ticket items like cars, they save up the cash. In 1996 they paid cash for their first home, a $105,000 townhouse in Macon, Ga. Five years later they bought their current three-bedroom home in the Kansas City suburbs for $200,000 -- in cash. "Sure, we could afford a bigger house and more expensive cars, but we're content with the things we have," says Ed, who retired 10 years ago and now teaches and consults. By the time Debbie retires in six years, Ed estimates they'll have a $2.5 million retirement nest egg.

Delay Gratification

Courtesy of Nicole Elovitz

Super Savers: Nicole, 40, and Mitch Elovitz, 44, daughter Maude, 11
Savings Rate: 35%
Home: Lake Oswego, Ore.
Occupations: Nicole is director of marketing for a clean energy technology company; Mitch is a manager for the county government

Nicole is a master of the long wait. She regularly holds off for three to six months before buying anything that costs more than $100, and she never spends more than $30 without first checking with Mitch (he does the same). She once put off buying a $3.99 ringtone for her cell phone for weeks to see if she really wanted it. And when she saw a $195 pair of earrings she liked, she trimmed the grocery budget for five months to find the cash. "I usually mentally buy something before I actually do it."

Nicole and Mitch budget for everything, from their property taxes (which they prepay to get a 10% break) to vacations ($250 a month) and entertainment ($400 a month). Because they've socked away $250 a month since the day daughter Maude was born 11 years ago, they already have $50,000 in her college 529 plan. And they constantly are looking for ways to save. But it's their ability to curb impulse buys that has fueled the family's savings. "We're not perfect, and sometimes we overspend. But if you have a game plan for savings, you don't get too far off track," says Nicole.

Create Multiple Streams of Income

Courtesy of Tiffani Murry

Super Saver: Tiffani Murry, 33
Savings Rate: 20% to 25%
Home: Atlanta
Occupation: Recruitment technology manger for a major consumer products company

Tiffani Murray's friends call her an extreme saver, but Murray prefers to call herself a smart saver. "From the time I was a kid, I liked to have money so if I wanted something I could buy it myself," says Murray, who opened her first savings account at age 12. Twenty years later she regularly uses coupons, always files for rebates, buys plane tickets with credit-card points and earns free stays at hotels in exchange for writing reviews about the service as a mystery shopper. "I have found many ways to stretch a buck and still live the lifestyle I enjoy."

Murray, who earns a six-figure salary, owns a three-bedroom home in Atlanta and drives a three-year old (recently paid off) Infiniti Coupe. "I could afford a bigger house or fancier car, but what I've got is just fine," she says. What's more important is her long-term goal of retiring by age 55.

To find more money to save, Murray turns her free time into extra cash. After work and on weekends, she writes freelance articles on career advice, retools résumés and even does event planning. This work she enjoys can add up to $25,000 a year in extra income. "I'd like to retire early and when I do, I won't have to want for anything," she says.

Live Below Your Means

Courtesy of Seitz family

Super Savers: Marcus, 44, and Sheila Seitz, 45, children Marisa, 18 and Alexander, 15
Savings Rate: 60%
Home: Alexandria, Va.
Occupations: Marcus is a lieutenant colonel in the Army; Sheila is a project manager for a training company

Marcus and Sheila Seitz earn more than $250,000 a year, but you might not guess that from the modest home they share with their teenage children, a 1,700-square-foot townhouse, or the family vacations of camping trips and visits to D.C.'s free museums. "We've always lived below our means," says Marcus, who hopes to retire by age 50. "By saving now, we will have unlimited options later on." Those options might include traveling for a year or moving to Vegas, where Marcus hopes to test out his poker skills and Sheila would like to teach.

With those goals in mind, the Seitzes do all they can to maximize their savings. By living in a townhouse rather than a McMansion, they not only have a smaller mortgage payment (their only debt), but they also pay less in property taxes, utilities and maintenance. The Seitzes also take advantage of the perks of being in the military (Sheila was also in the military before moving to the private sector), shopping at military stores and taking advantage of the post-9/11 GI bill, which allows them to transfer Marcus' educational benefits to their children so their college expenses will be covered.

Cut Down on Everyday Expenses

Courtesy of Arnheim family

Super Savers: Julie and Ralph Arnheim, both 43, daughters Natalie, 14, Isabelle, 12 and Emelia, 9
Savings Rate: 40%
Home: Los Altos Hills, Ca.
Occupation: Julie is a stay-at-home mom and co-founder of RubbingNickels.com; Ralph is a lawyer

Thanks to her husband's successful law career, Julie Arnheim has been able to stay at home full time for the past 10 years with her daughters, ages 9, 12, and 14 (she previously worked in sales for a financial software firm). But living in the San Francisco suburbs is expensive, and Ralph hopes to retire by 55 or 60, so the Arnheims do all they can to keep a lid on spending. Julie describes their savings strategy as "eco-thrifty" -- they cook at home six nights a week, skip Starbucks, get most of their fruits and vegetables from their garden and keep chickens in the backyard for eggs.

Instead of socializing in restaurants, Julie organizes pot-luck dinners with friends. The Arnheims swap items with neighbors, everything from books and kids soccer equipment to party dresses for their daughters and jewelry and scarves for the adults. Julie says some of their eco-thrifty habits are inspiring the neighbors too: "Several neighbors and local friends have either already gotten the poultry raising itch or are curious about it," she says.

Click here to see the complete list of Secrets of Extreme Savers

___

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This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit

--
Grace

"Failure is not defeat unless you stop trying"

Tuesday, July 06, 2010

A Tribute

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

How to Start Saving for a Million

<div id='embedded_article'><p><b>Source:</b> <a href="http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2008/02/seven-figure-saving-strategy-for-your-twenties.html">Kiplinger</a></p><script type='text/javascript' src='http://js.embedarticle.com/article/js_snip/b640577ffe592ff74a7338cedd8fe675c415246e'></script></div>

--
Grace

"Failure is not defeat unless you stop trying"

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Aromatheraphy Stress Relief

It's time to sniff those scents!! Wooosahhhh the grass is green, the sky is blue.. my strama prof is E.C and it's not easy!

***************************

Are you stressed? Aromatherapy can be a tremendous help in stress relief. We are all faced with stress at some point in our lives. Controlling it is crucial in your overall health and well being.

If handled inappropriately, stress can be devastating. Stress lowers your resistance and makes you more vulnerable to illness and disease. It can also be mentally crippling.

Aromatherapy is a technique that uses the body's sense of smell to help boost your mood, relieve stress, energize and encourage better health.

Essential Oils for Stress Relief

Below are essential oils helpful in the relief of certain stress related problems. Try adding a few drops of a related essential oil to a cotton ball and inhaling.

Anxiety

Depression/Guilt: Jasmine, Geranium, Lavender, Bergamot, Neroli, Nutmeg, Clary sage, Grapefruit, Sandalwood, Ylang ylang, Rose, Vetiver

Helplessness: Grapefruit, Rosemary, Lavender, Pettigraine, Neroli

Insomnia/Restlessness: Marjoram, Lemon, Vetiver, Valerian, Rose, Sandalwood, Chamomile, Neroli, Ylang ylang

Irritability/Nervous Tension: Sandalwood, Pettigraine, Clary sage, Lavender, Bergamot, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Palma rosa, Vetiver, Jasmine, Ylang ylang

Tiredness/Exhaustion: Peppermint, Rosemary, Jasmine, Basil, Cinnamon, Lemon, Clary sage, Lavender, Nutmeg, Sandalwood, Rose, Vetiver, Geranium

--
Grace

"Failure is not defeat unless you stop trying"

Friday, June 04, 2010

Confused :-(

Confused. I don't know what I want to be....
--
Grace

"Failure is not defeat unless you stop trying"

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Hospital Duty

I've been sleeping in the hospital and taking care of my mom for a couple of days now... and it has been affecting my mood lately. Apparently, staying in the hospital, albeit with free wifi, 24/7 aircon and 3 meals, is quite depressing.

Sigh.

I know I should be strong for my mom, but maybe I'm not that strong enough yet. I need to have Christian songs playing non-stop on my laptop to keep my mood from dropping.

May God help me and give me strength.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Five Common Budget Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

So far, i'm on the right track.. just need to consistently apply what I'm doing now :)

Five Common Budget Mistakes and How to Avoid Them | Money Estate - Personal Finance Blog

Posted by Money Advisor in Budgeting, Financial PlanningMar 21st, 2009 | 7 responses

B udgeting is something that most of us learn about in grade school and don't recall it comes to crunch time and we realize that unless we take the reins and take control over the finances it could quite simply cause our personal finances to come crashing down. When making a budget, many people make mistakes but constantly tweak the budget until they find the right combination of savings, expenses and debts which must be repaid.

Avoid these mistakes in order to make your financial plan easy to follow:

Mistake No. 1: Not writing down and Defining Your Budget

A budget may sound great while you calculate the options for your income in your head, but until you write it on paper – it can be difficult to make these ideas come to life and begin to increase your personal financial health. Take the time to write your budget down on paper, or simply create a spreadsheet which can easily be accessed, changed and updated with the available funds or changes that you have made to make the budget easier to follow.

Mistake No. 2: Not Planning for Surprise and One-time Expenses

Planning for the unexpected is an essential way to ensure that you are prepared for whatever it is that life throws at you. Whether you have a pet that needs an unexpected trip the vet or medication to purchase for your child, these expenses can be confusing when you have not allocated for these expenses that can change from month to month.

Mistake No.3: Not Budgeting for Contributions to an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is an essential part of creating a healthy financial plan that allows you to maintain comfort in the time of a job loss or illness within the family. There are many situations that can cause the unexpected expenses to wreak havoc on the finances – having an emergency fund allows the consumer to prepare for these situations and therefore allow the consumer to have an alternative to expensive interest rates when choosing to finance the expenses with a credit card.

Mistake No.4: Not Changing the Budget

Each month the budget should be reevaluated and changes should be created if you find that you are spending more in one part of the budget, or less in one part of the budget. If you are unable to make the budget balance and have your income get into line with your expenses than it may be time to consider taking on additional hours or finding a way to up your income.

Mistake No. 5: Leaving Income for Spending without Budgeting

Every part of the budget should be accounted for, just like every dollar of the income should be accounted for. Any excess over the expenses should not be spent as a little something extra for the consumer it should be used towards savings and investments and establishing the emergency fund. Tweak the budget to accommodate the influx of income and determine where the money should be allocated.

Image by linusb4.

Budgeting Tips for Newbies When we have our income before us every month,...
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--
Grace

"Failure is not defeat unless you stop trying"

Tuesday, May 04, 2010

life lesson # 678 - do no always give a child everything she wants because she will have a problem adapting to change later on in life ... spoken from experience!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Supposedly Just Passing By

I just decided to pass by since I watched Alice in Wonderland with

dreamspinner_ last Friday and she mentioned about LJ, hehe. The last time i had an entry was October! My gosh! I've been awfully busy balancing school life, work life, family life and love life.

Work, of course, takes most percentage of the pie that is my lfie while school comes in second. Love life would have the third largest share, since it more or less overlaps with school - my boyfriend being an MBA student as well - so our 'dates' mostly are study sessions where we sit side by side in campus, typing away at our laptops with the occasional consultation or two on some analysis that we are not sure about.

Family life, unfortunately, has to come in last with almost just a day at San Juan (Saturday night until Sunday late afternoon) although I'm now texting with my mom on a daily basis to ask how her day is. This act would have probably struck me as weird a few years back but it just makes sense now - since i'm living away from home and she has cancer.

My mom is the best, most kind, most loving and the nicest person I know on this planet, my heart aches whenever I think of the pain she has to experience each day and yet she still remains strong and all she asks for is our time, our love which she unconditionally gave us when we were small.

It's a sad thought really but when I'm at Makati, I don't want to go all emo and think deeply about this lest I be useless and teary-eyed. I guess this is my way of coping - only allowing myself to feel the pain when I'm in San Juan. This mostly likely is because the reality of it is in my face and there's no where to stash away these feelings.

This should be enough crying for one day.. now back to my case analysis paper... and then zzzz

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The Man's Bday is Coming up...

Event Planner Mode: On.

Should it be with me only?

Should I invite friends?

Do we just eat?

Sing at World Music?

It should be stuff he likes...

hmmmm

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Pwede bang mag LOA?

I'm bored with my work.. there's no job depth... I need some job enrichment according tot he Trajano Job Satisfaction model

Friday, January 22, 2010

Management Science Jargon

I read my refresher paper on Operations Management recently and I had a hard time understanding it!!

I want to revise it to become more layman friendly because my proposals are useless if not understood by the business owner... tsk! To think I was so proud and accomplished after finishing that paper.

There are times really when you need to put your work aside then look at it again after sometime to have a more objective point of view.

Oh well, I'll update that paper when I have time :)

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Updating Business Requirements

I've been tasked to update business requirements due to some rule changes

I like this work, it feels important.

Maybe I should consider branching into Business Analysis together with Quality Assurance.

Hmmmm...

I wonder what specific skills and years of experience I need? --> http://www.softwarecertifications.org/qai_csba.htm

I know that one of my problems is not having a firm grasp of programming language / logic.. and I still have no interest in learning one hehehe

We'll see.. just a passing thought though

Monday, January 18, 2010

Happiness!

Just to break the continuous stress related posts in my blog, i just want to say that I AM HAPPY.

*lol*

Despite the trials that come my way, I can say that I am at my happiest point right now because I know that this happiness is well-placed and has a stronger foothold than my previous frivolous happy-go-lucky type of joy. :)

Happiness is what we make it ;)

Friday, January 15, 2010

i. am. stressed.

Since it's the weekend, i was thinking that i could treat myself to a much needed hair-cut and maybe a foot massage at Cinese foot spa since my left leg/ankle/foot hurts.

I've been resisting the needless self-treat temptation until the time comes that it becomes necessary. I actually think this is THE time since I've been stressing left and right and also as a preparation to the brewing busyness of the current term.

This is a justification to treating myself - I actually think I'm entitled to despite the current situation. I believe that it is also a preventive measure against future, more debilitating stress-related illnesses.

Breathe in. Breathe out. De-stress.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Rant of the Day

hates that i was not taught anything but expected to provide something.

hate it

hate it

hate it.

*tears forms into a gazillion pieces*