Category: How-Tos

How to Host a Reading Party

November 21st, 2012 · · Books, Entertaining and Parties, How-Tos, National Blog Posting Month '12, Resolutions 2012 21 comments - Tags: , , ,

I’ve mentioned that I’m desperately trying to finish up my reading resolution. I currently have 9 more books to read before the end of the year. So I was really excited when I received an invite to a reading party! I have never heard of a reading party before and it’s no surprise that Neville, a college friend of mine, came up with the idea. He’s full of very unique ideas that are more or less documented on his blog.

I was so excited about this event that I talked it up to a few of my friends and most of them kind of look at me bewilderedly. The reaction that made me laugh belonged to a friend from work. “Oh my god, Linda, no.” It reminded me of Mean Girls and joining the Mathletes. However, the most popular reaction I got was, “how would that even work?”

Well let me tell you how Neville did it!

First, he invited people using Facebook events.

Then, he moved his bed out into the living room to make more comfortable reading space. An idea he entertained but didn’t implement was pitching a tent in his apartment to serve as a reading nook.

He then bought some light snacks and drinks.

He set rules and limitations. Arrive promptly at 8 pm so that you can meet his other friends and mingle for an hour. At 9 pm reading time starts for a full hour. No talking. No computers. Just reading! He actually told a friend of his to put the computer away! These rules were disclosed in his Facebook invite so they surprised no one.

At ten, he released us from quiet time! Unfortunately, it’s a work night and I still needed to run home and blog for today’s National Blog Posting Month. I want to thank Neville for hosting a fun event, helping me carve out some reading time, introducing me to his interesting friends, and also giving me blog fodder for tonight!

More photos of his party will be posted tomorrow for Worrdless Wednesday!

7 Ways to Better Manage Your Time

September 10th, 2012 · · How-Tos, pursuit of happiness 15 comments

People often ask me how I manage my time. How did I find time to read 40 books last year? How do I have time to juggle a full time job and pick up an additional side gig? How do I keep up with my friends and cook almost every day? How do I find time to follow my favorite TV shows? Admittedly, most days I feel like I could really use another 10 hours to the week. I’m perpetually looking for ways to improve how I can really maximize my time and be productive. Despite my struggles, I have noticed these 7 little strategies have made a huge difference in managing my schedule. I hope you find some of these helpful!


7 Ways to Better Manage Your Time


photo credit

1. Set a timer

Ever taken a five minute break that ended up being an hour? Or closed your eyes for 10 minutes and then woke up 3 hours later? I lose track of time so easily when left on my own. Timers help me regulate my breaks and keep me on task. If I feel like I need a 10 minute break, I will set an alarm. If I want to allot 30 minutes to cleaning, I will set a timer for that too. This eliminates my having to watch the clock and therefore helps me focus.

2. Procrastinate productively

I usually keep my plate really full and not everything on my plate are things I’m dying to get done. What I do to indulge the procrastinator in me is to do something productive when I’m avoding a task. For instance, maybe I need to call the electric company but I want to avoid being put on hold for so long. If I were to procrastinate this task, I might pick something else that I need to get done but isn’t making me feel like hiding. So though I’m am procrastinating one task, I’m still tackling things that are on my general list of to dos.

3. Meal Plan

Planning your meals eliminates multiple trips to the grocery store and temptations to be lazy and eat out.

Things to consider when meal planning:

  • Keep an electronic and searchable record of recipes you love. If you have a surplus of chicken in the fridge, you can do a quick seach in your personal record for “chicken.”
  • Keep an online calendar of your meal plans. Eventually your backlog can serve as useful templates.
  • Plan your meals so you use up all your groceries. For instance, if a recipe calls for a few teaspoons of fresh cilantro, I would plan for a few more recipes that could help use down the bunch of cilantro.

4. Write things down

Write things down in your journals, in your to do lists, in your calendar. The more often you say out loud or write down your intentions, the more imprinted they are in your memory, thus making it easier for you to spot opportunities. Often when I journal, I write down my desires and dreams. It keeps my priorities simmering on the back burner so that when I get an email from an airline about flights to Seattle being on sale, I’m more likely to pause and say, “OH MY GOD, I’VE BEEN WANTING TO GO TO SEATTLE!” Your memory needs help. On that same note, keep a calendar of your appointments. I love Google Calendar because I can have it text me my appointments.

5. Be prepared for pockets of free time

Waiting for the water to boil? Stick some clothes in the wash. Waiting for your doctor’s appointment to start? Write a few thank you notes or read that book you’ve been meaning to read. You have an hour long commute from work? Schedule a phone date with an old friend or listen to an audio book.

6. Schedule some fun activities

Constant productivity can lead to a fast burn out. Have a seat. Breathe. Watch your favorite TV show. As I was scurrying around these last two months trying to keep my head above water, I did take a few scheduled time outs. I would sit with Alan and watch a documentary or one of our shows. I scheduled a few meals with my girlfriends. These pockets of connecting with loved ones helped me keep my sanity.

7. Prioritize

This one can be a doozy. Always keep in mind what your big goals are and what you want out of your life. This may help you decide between playing a full day’s worth of video games or cutting it short with XBox so you can connect with your loved ones.


Question: What helps you manage your time?

Eight Packing Tips to Make Your Move Easier

May 15th, 2012 · · How-Tos 7 comments - Tags:

I’ve moved eleven times since 2001 which makes me a bit of packing expert. In fact, I’m gearing up for another move in just three more months. Here’s a list of eight packing tips that have made my life easier when it comes to moving.

Eight Packing Tips to Make Your Move Easier

  1. Start collecting boxes a couple of months before your move-out date. The last 5 years, I worked in places where we get many shipments and I started to hoard the boxes a couple of months prior to my move-out date. Prior to that, I would check with friends who recently moved or grocery stores.

  2. Right before a move is a good time to declutter, sell, and make donations. The more you get rid of, the less you have to pack. Go through your closet and start taking out what you’ll never wear again. Sell what you can and gift or donate the rest. If you make some cash, maybe you can save it towards your moving expenses!

  3. If you keep your shoes in shoe boxes like I do, you can use the dead space in your shoe boxes to store knick knacks. Just remember to open each box to check for stowaways when you begin the unpacking process.

  4. Find extra padding. I keep a lookout for free bubble wraps as I collect my boxes but they are a bit harder to find for free. I make up for the lack of bubble wrap by being creative. Dirty laundry make great padding for fragile items. T-shirts, kitchen and bathroom rugs, and towels can serve as cushion. Just be sure to launder and clean as you pack and unpack! I have used newspapers, toilet paper and paper towel rolls, rugs, purses, sheets, stuffed animals, pillows as cushions for my breakables.

  5. Label everything. I know this is an obvious one but I’ve witnessed friends not labeling what are in each box they packed and I wondered why they did that to themselves. I even label the box of randoms. I’ll bullet list what random objects I have in the miscellaneous boxes.

  6. Start packing at least a month before moving out. Everyone has more stuff than he or she realizes.

  7. Use your storage. I pack jewelry into zippered compartments in my handbags. (I also leave a note on the moving box in which these bags are stored with a reminder to check the handbag compartments.) I use the compartments in backpacks. I even use tupperware to hold the smaller bits. For example, I packed kitchen magnets in tupperware containers. I also packed silverware in clean tupperware containers. That way, I could just unload the silverware and not worry about washing them.

  8. Flatten and store as many moving boxes as you can after you’ve unpacked. This will give you a head start for your next move.

I know moving is a pain but I hope these suggestions make it easier for you. Good luck and enjoy your new home! 

Thank you UMoveFree for sponsoring this post. 
Moving soon? UMoveFree complaints are few and 
far between for this Texas-based relocation 
service.

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 85)

March 23rd, 2012 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), How-Tos 23 comments - Tags: ,


1.

This week on Totes Awesome Channel, we are talking about distractions.


Youtube Link

I’m easily distracted while driving if I’m talking on the phone. I also purposefully distract myself with lower priority task items to avoid the higher priority stuff.


2.


Yesterday morning I was a weepy mess about a lost necklace and blogged about it. Thank you for the sweet and encouraging comments! Alan searched and found it while I was at work. He’s basically my hero.


3.


I updated Kim about the necklace and she assigned to me some new rules regarding the necklace. Her rules are great guidelines on how to treat your treasures with more respect. (Wish I could submit this to the Adulting Blog.)


How Not to Lose Your Necklace of Sentimental Value

  1. Buy a pretty hook or box that is the designated spot for your necklace whenever you’re not wearing it, please.
  2. Nothing else is allowed on the hook. Only that one necklace.
  3. It is placed somewhere un-cluttered and away from places it can fall and be lost forever (i.e. sink, toilet, trash can).
  4. You ALWAYS put it there RIGHT AFTER taking it off. If you know you will be taking it off when you are not at home (i.e. gym or getting ready to go out, at a friend’s house), just don’t wear it that day.
  5. If you are taking it off and NOT putting it on the hook at home (WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?!), tell someone, “I’m taking off my necklace and putting it on my coffee table next to my book,” so that when you say “OMG i lost my necklace,” someone can say, “you put it on your coffee table next to your book this morning.”


4.

I had a full week off work. It was kind of an unplanned vacation so I used it as a very productive staycation. I took two naps, worked out for 30 minutes for 4 days, went to The Woodlands to see friends get married and party with them, finished my Defensive Driving course, got my oil changed, had my car inspected, patched a hole in my tire, had a lunch during work hours with an old coworker, updated my food blog twice, tried new recipes, took clothes to the tailor, stayed on top of chores, had date nights in the apartment with Alan, went to SXSW, wrote Morning Pages for 5 days, finished two books, worked on a mutual project still in development, renewed my City of Austin library card, planned a road trip in April, and flossed.

Adulting!


5.

Me in a nutshell:

(Thanks, Ashley!)


6.

I’m really in love with the girls in my life. If I’ve Gchatted you this week, or emailed you, or share a collab channel with you, or shared a meal with you, chances are I’m very impressed by you and am so grateful to know you.


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ Alan finding my necklace ♥ Alan finding my necklace ♥ Alan finding my necklace ♥ Hunger Games tonight! ♥ credit card rewards ♥ hilarious emails with Kim ♥ pho date with Michelle and Shelley ♥ surprise from Alan ♥ hilarious conversations that make me cackle ♥ buying prints from Thomas to decorate my walls ♥ comfortable maxi dresses ♥ warmer weather ♥ homemade sticky rice with coconut sauce and ripe mangoes


Question: Who impresses you and why?

Melted Crayon Art

March 6th, 2012 · · Creative Endeavors, How-Tos 14 comments - Tags: , ,

I really cherish the memories I make with my friend, Brandi. We don’t just do movies and drinks when we get together. We started off our friendship by skydiving together. We’ve sampled bacon at the first two and soon to be third Bacon Takedowns. She was the one who was maniacally infectiously laughing in the video of us rolling down a hill while strapped inside a ball. We’ve co-hosted a “Never Have We Ever” dinner party and shot bows and arrows at the Texas Renaissance Festival. Even our girls’ nights in are unique. Case in point, last weekend we stayed in to make melted crayon art for the first time, taking small breaks to munch on s’mores. Here’s our personal guide on Melted Crayon Art!


Materials Needed:

  • hot glue gun

  • crayons

  • canvas or thick board

  • blow dryer

  • newspaper or something to protect your workspace from crayon shavings and splatter

  • bedazzled stickers (optional)

  • acrylic paint (optional)


Steps:

For Brandi:

  1. Use a ruler and align bedazzled stickers.

  2. Ruminate over which colors to melt.

  3. Cut crayons into pieces with equal lengths.

  4. Align crayons along edges.

  5. Hot glue crayons along edges.

  6. Protect work space and lean board against the wall.

  7. Make a s’more and eat.

  8. Blow dry crayons and watch in amazement as the colors melt and meld into each other.

  9. Stop blow drying as soon as the crayons melt to where she wants it. The wax dries almost instantly.

For me:

  1. Use acrylic paint to paint a textured background.

  2. Immediately regret painting blue and white background as I ruminate over which colors to melt.

  3. Resign to just use janky color combinations as this is just a “starter” piece.

  4. Hot glue crayons along edges.

  5. Protect work space and lean board against the wall.

  6. Make a s’more and eat.

  7. Blow dry crayons and watch in amazement as the colors melt and meld into each other.

  8. Stop blow drying as soon as the crayons melt to where I want it. The wax dries almost instantly.

  9. No longer regret artistic decisions that lead to a cool piece of art.


Questions: Who is your adventurous partner in crime? What kind of shenanigans do you guys get into?

Do-It-Yourself Fail

November 26th, 2011 · · How-Tos, National Blog Posting Month '11 10 comments - Tags:

Martha Stewart had this fun and easy looking craft on her site. You basically just adhere lace to tiles and then spray paint. I had visions of making these beautiful coasters for a few people on my Christmas list.


I need a new vision. It was super tricky! If you wait too long for the paint to dry, you end up pulling off the paint when you remove the lace. Too soon and it’s blotchy!

Brandi used die cut stencils and they worked out a lot better.


Question: What is your favorite handmade gift to make?

How to Make a Satin Bow [video]

November 12th, 2011 · · How-Tos, National Blog Posting Month '11, videos 12 comments - Tags: , ,

One of my first paying jobs in high school was gift wrapping at a china and silverware store. It was there that I learned how to make pretty and professional looking satin bows to top off presents. It takes less than 5 minutes and looks impressive! I made you a video demonstrating how.


Youtube


Question: Have you started on your Christmas shopping yet?

How I Censor Myself Online

July 19th, 2011 · · Big Brothers & Big Sisters of America, How-Tos, pursuit of happiness 38 comments - Tags:

We have a natural right to make use of our pens
as of our tongue, at our peril, risk and hazard.
 
- Voltaire

It took me some learning from college days, to really consider who might come across what I publish by way of Facebook, Twitter, or any other online public forum. I’m still learning. For instance, something I didn’t consider til a year or so ago, is that comments you leave on blogs are searchable. I now have a mental checklist of questions I go through before I publish, comment, upload, tweet, or record.

  1. How would I feel if my little from Big Brothers & Big Sisters found this? Am I setting a good example? How’s my language? And I’m not just talking about swearing, am I demeaning myself or anyone? Am I contradicting anything I’ve tried to teach her?

  2. Sometimes I’m most inspired when I’m angry at someone. How would I feel if the person who inspired a post were to read the post? Is it something I’ve discussed with them in person? Is the focus on my journey or am I merely airing dirty laundry? Are they identifiable? How would they feel if they read it?

  3. Am I violating anyone’s privacy? I’m a pretty candid person, but many of the people in my life are more private. Am I disclosing anything about them that they would not like to be disclosed? If I’m confused or if it’s not clear, I ask them simply, “May I post this [photo/post/conversation]?”

  4. How would I feel if an employer or coworker found the posting? This is the obvious one that still gets people in trouble. Am I divulging confidential information? Am I complaining about a coworker? Am I airing grievances online instead of speaking to those directly involved?


    5. Questions: How do you censor yourself? What would you add to this checklist?

How Not to be an Asshole on Facebook

February 21st, 2011 · · How-Tos, Lists 22 comments - Tags:

I absolutely love Facebook. Facebook has made it easier for me to keep in contact with my friends who are no longer living in the same city as me. Facebook has led to a reunion of sorts between me and my long lost sister of 16 years. Facebook helps me remember birthdays! Facebook is a wonderful tool and I will never be one of those silly people who goes on full Facebook hiatuses. That all said, I do try to abide by code of ethics when using Facebook. Let me share with you my personal code of Facebook ethics.


How Not to be an Asshole on Facebook


photo credit

  1. Don’t air dirty laundry. I’ve seen both guys and gals outing their current partners as lying cheats. I’ve seen feuding friends publicize their brawls on newsfeeds. Most of these feuds end up being resolved offline, and later I’ve found embarrassed participants remove evidence of drama. The thing is, it’s already a bit late. Airing out drama online will sear impressions of both you and the people you’ve outed to your audience and the impressions will not be good. I find it good practice not to be logged into Facebook when you’re blindingly angry.
  2. Respect people’s requests for photo removals. Listen, unless you’ve taken flawless photos every time and have the thickest skin, you know what it’s like to have an unflattering photo of you on the internet that you did not upload. Have empathy. If someone is insecure about a photo of him or her that you’ve uploaded, respect his or her wishes and remove the photo. Don’t just untag it.
  3. If you know a photo of a friend is a bad photo, don’t bother uploading it. Jumping off the previous rule, if you already know that the photo of your friend, Sensitive Susan drooling in her sleep on the road trip to Padre is a bad photo, don’t upload it! If you happen to be sitting next to her sporting the best hair day ever, don’t be a tool, use the crop tool.
  4. Don’t be that person who brings everyone down with incessant depressing “woe is me” statuses. Do you know the 5 to 1 rule (PDF file of academic research article)? The 5 to 1 rule is a popular rule in pop psychology right now, asserting that negative interactions have a bigger impact on us psychologically compared to good interactions. Studies show that 5 good interactions is psychologically equivalent to 1 bad interaction. Use this rule when publishing Facebook statuses. Your Facebook audience is not your group therapy session.
  5. Don’t upload photos with illegal happenings in your foreground or background. Here’s looking at you, recreational drug users.
  6. Unless you’re in the business, don’t upload photos of yourself in your underwear.
  7. Don’t forget that people can see your Facebook life. If I were to summarize all these rules into one neat and tidy Golden Rule, it is this: People can see you.


Question: What can you add to this list?

10 Ways I Cultivated a Sense of Wonder this Year

December 4th, 2010 · · How-Tos, pursuit of happiness, Reverb10 11 comments - Tags: ,

I’ve signed up for #Reverb10, a project where bloggers are sent a daily prompt in December aimed towards nurturing a reflection of 2010 and positive manifestations for 2011. Curious and want to join? Click on the badge below.

December 4: Wonder

How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year


10 Ways I Cultivated a Sense of Wonder this Year

  1. Since June 2005, I’ve consciously done something new once a week.
  2. I maintain lasting friendships with children.
  3. I maintain lasting friendships with people at least a generation older than me.
  4. I read up on new subjects. I read my first marketing books this year. Fascinating!
  5. I share jokes.
  6. I tried new recipes with ingredients I’ve never cooked with before.
  7. I carry a camera and notebook around. Ready to capture thoughts and possible blog fodder.
  8. I keep a blog.
  9. Signed up for Sketchbook Project 2011, despite having no drawing talent.

    10. 10. I remember that time is limited.