Saturday, December 4, 2010
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Kitchen design collection
Beautiful backsplash
Bronze and Beautiful
The bronze leaf motif adds texture and design to the rectangular tile backsplash. The tile material is carried through to the sink.
Basketweave Backsplash
The backsplash should be one of the main focuses when remodeling your kitchen. RMS usercc_insidearch used curved glass tile for a basketweave look, which draws the eye straight to the backsplash.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Bathroom design collection
I never thought about painting the bathroom with this color, but looks like it's pretty soothing.
I like the no shower door bathroom, simple design
I like the no shower door bathroom, simple design
Friday, November 12, 2010
"The Dilbert Principle" by Scott Adams
This is the fun book I read recently.
Meetings
Meetings are a type of performance art, with each actor taking on one of these challenging roles:
Master of the Obvious
The Master feels a responsibility to share his wisdom at every opportunity. The favored lines of the Master of the Obvious include:
You need customers in order to have revenue!
Profit is the difference between Income and Expense.
We want a win-win solution.
You can practice for this role while you are alone. All you need is a common table lamp. Lean toward the lamp and repeatedly explain why "Electricity is essential" to the illumination process. Continue to restate the thought in different ways.
Well intentioned Sadist
The well-intentioned sadist believes that meetings should hurt. They have the same motto as serial killers: Does this hurt? How about now.
The Well Intentioned Sadist has several tools at this disposal for causing discomfort in others.
Schedule excessively long meetings regardless of the topic.
Have no clear purpose.
Have no bathroom breaks.
Schedule meetings for Friday afternoons or lunchtimes.
Whining Martyr
As a whining Martyr, you should craft your complaints into tales that illustrate how valuable and intelligent you are compared to the obstructionist dolts who surround you.
Recommended Whines:
I cant believe the CEO wants another meeting with me.
Boy, I'd love to be able to take sick days like you people who don't have work to do.
Rambling Man
The Rambling man's role is to redirect any topic toward an unrelated event in which he participated.
Sleeper
The sleeper is essentially a stage prop. There are no lines involved in this role. It's acceptable to nod the head gently when the other actors are speaking. If trapped into reponding verbally, as a last resort you can use one of these phrases:
"Uh huh"
"Nothing new to report."
"Same ol' same ol'"
Meetings
Meetings are a type of performance art, with each actor taking on one of these challenging roles:
Master of the Obvious
The Master feels a responsibility to share his wisdom at every opportunity. The favored lines of the Master of the Obvious include:
You need customers in order to have revenue!
Profit is the difference between Income and Expense.
We want a win-win solution.
You can practice for this role while you are alone. All you need is a common table lamp. Lean toward the lamp and repeatedly explain why "Electricity is essential" to the illumination process. Continue to restate the thought in different ways.
Well intentioned Sadist
The well-intentioned sadist believes that meetings should hurt. They have the same motto as serial killers: Does this hurt? How about now.
The Well Intentioned Sadist has several tools at this disposal for causing discomfort in others.
Schedule excessively long meetings regardless of the topic.
Have no clear purpose.
Have no bathroom breaks.
Schedule meetings for Friday afternoons or lunchtimes.
Whining Martyr
As a whining Martyr, you should craft your complaints into tales that illustrate how valuable and intelligent you are compared to the obstructionist dolts who surround you.
Recommended Whines:
I cant believe the CEO wants another meeting with me.
Boy, I'd love to be able to take sick days like you people who don't have work to do.
Rambling Man
The Rambling man's role is to redirect any topic toward an unrelated event in which he participated.
Sleeper
The sleeper is essentially a stage prop. There are no lines involved in this role. It's acceptable to nod the head gently when the other actors are speaking. If trapped into reponding verbally, as a last resort you can use one of these phrases:
"Uh huh"
"Nothing new to report."
"Same ol' same ol'"
Saturday, October 23, 2010
5 Ways to Win People Over
By Amanda Armstrong
Getting someone to really listen is no small feat. Real Simple spoke to five professional influencers about how they make the magic happen.
1. Puncture Your Own Ego
Years ago, a journalist went undercover at several restaurants—one of them mine (Union Square Cafe)—with the aim of bribing the maître d’s to score a table. In his article, he wrote that my host had taken the cash. I was mortified and wanted to repair the damage. When I knew the writer would be at an upcoming industry function, I prepared myself. When we saw each other, I walked over and slipped him a $50 bill. He joked that he was keeping it, and then we had a great conversation, which ultimately led to a friendship. Getting defensive gets you nowhere with people. Instead, be willing to show humility and, above all, humor.
2. Don’t Be Needy
People can smell any sense of urgency, and they’re easily turned off. An audience wants to feel like it’s in good, stable hands, and a comedian needs to exude that tone while putting aside her own insecurities. This rule of thumb applies to just about any attempt at persuasion. If I get the feeling that a person desperately wants something from me (not including one of my kids), I am more reluctant to give it up. For instance, when an agent goes overboard trying to ingratiate himself with me, I run the other way. So the next time you want something from someone (no matter how much), try acting cool and blasé.
3. Tell Someone (Nicely) What She Has to Lose
Although most folks say they want to hear what they can gain by taking your advice, they’re actually more influenced by what they have to lose by not heeding it. For example, you’ll get further with your boss if you emphasize the revenue you’ll miss out on by not pursuing a project, rather than by citing any potential benefits. That’s why the phrase “Don’t miss it!” is more effective in ads than “Take this opportunity.”
4. Throw a Curveball in Conversation
This is my go-to technique when I’m faced with a person who isn’t receptive to what I’m saying. Recently one of my clients was in a terrible mood, so rather than press my point, I took a 10-minute break to show her pictures of a friend’s home that I knew she would love. She instantly relaxed, and her mood shifted. Soon enough, she was speaking enthusiastically about the opportunity I was pitching. Going on a tangent—as long as it’s one you know the other person will be interested in—really works.
5. Reiterate the Other Person’s Argument
As an online journalist, I often get yelled at for something I’ve written. These attacks usually appear on other people’s blogs, and (as long as they’re rational) I try to repost them on my own. Doing this helps prevent “flame wars” (an escalating exchange of nasty cyberdialogue), because I am listening to and stating their opinions, after all. Outside of the Internet, the same rules apply. If you’re trying to explain to your kid that he can’t stay up late, begin by stating his opinion—“Look, I know that you want to read the last 492 pages of Harry Potter”—before adding your two cents. Even if he’s reluctant to concede the point, he’ll appreciate the fact that you listened to him in the first place.
Getting someone to really listen is no small feat. Real Simple spoke to five professional influencers about how they make the magic happen.
1. Puncture Your Own Ego
Years ago, a journalist went undercover at several restaurants—one of them mine (Union Square Cafe)—with the aim of bribing the maître d’s to score a table. In his article, he wrote that my host had taken the cash. I was mortified and wanted to repair the damage. When I knew the writer would be at an upcoming industry function, I prepared myself. When we saw each other, I walked over and slipped him a $50 bill. He joked that he was keeping it, and then we had a great conversation, which ultimately led to a friendship. Getting defensive gets you nowhere with people. Instead, be willing to show humility and, above all, humor.
2. Don’t Be Needy
People can smell any sense of urgency, and they’re easily turned off. An audience wants to feel like it’s in good, stable hands, and a comedian needs to exude that tone while putting aside her own insecurities. This rule of thumb applies to just about any attempt at persuasion. If I get the feeling that a person desperately wants something from me (not including one of my kids), I am more reluctant to give it up. For instance, when an agent goes overboard trying to ingratiate himself with me, I run the other way. So the next time you want something from someone (no matter how much), try acting cool and blasé.
3. Tell Someone (Nicely) What She Has to Lose
Although most folks say they want to hear what they can gain by taking your advice, they’re actually more influenced by what they have to lose by not heeding it. For example, you’ll get further with your boss if you emphasize the revenue you’ll miss out on by not pursuing a project, rather than by citing any potential benefits. That’s why the phrase “Don’t miss it!” is more effective in ads than “Take this opportunity.”
4. Throw a Curveball in Conversation
This is my go-to technique when I’m faced with a person who isn’t receptive to what I’m saying. Recently one of my clients was in a terrible mood, so rather than press my point, I took a 10-minute break to show her pictures of a friend’s home that I knew she would love. She instantly relaxed, and her mood shifted. Soon enough, she was speaking enthusiastically about the opportunity I was pitching. Going on a tangent—as long as it’s one you know the other person will be interested in—really works.
5. Reiterate the Other Person’s Argument
As an online journalist, I often get yelled at for something I’ve written. These attacks usually appear on other people’s blogs, and (as long as they’re rational) I try to repost them on my own. Doing this helps prevent “flame wars” (an escalating exchange of nasty cyberdialogue), because I am listening to and stating their opinions, after all. Outside of the Internet, the same rules apply. If you’re trying to explain to your kid that he can’t stay up late, begin by stating his opinion—“Look, I know that you want to read the last 492 pages of Harry Potter”—before adding your two cents. Even if he’s reluctant to concede the point, he’ll appreciate the fact that you listened to him in the first place.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
How often to wash Linens
Sanitize your linens—and fight off a cold
Though how often you wash your sheets is clearly a personal decision, there are scientific arguments for washing your bedding weekly to benefit your health. According to ehow.com and examiner.com, laundering sheets weekly (in hot, 130-or-more degree water) gets rid of the dead skin cells (fodder for bacteria) and allergy-inducing dust mites that accumulate after a few nights’ sleep. If you or someone in your family is prone to sweating—or if you’ve got Fido cozying up with your in bed—consider washing every couple days to rinse out dirt and pet dander. Don’t ignore your mattress pad either—it’s a good idea to wash it bi-weekly or at least monthly.
Pillows are another consideration. To ensure you’re not resting your head on a big pile of germs—you should be washing your pillows at least every six months. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when washing them, though generally you should be able to clean them in your home washing machine, and with down ones in particular, it’s a good idea to throw in a couple clean tennis balls while drying which helps keep feathers fluffy. Investing in zippered pillow protectors is also key: they act as a barrier between your pillow and its case (the latter of which should be washed at least weekly) to keep the former nice and sanitary.
Comforters and blankets need proper maintenance as well. Your comforter should we washed monthly (and your duvet weekly). Read the care instructions on the label, since chances are you’re going to need a front loading commercial size washer to accomplish this. Make sure it’s dried properly to avoid mold and fungus from growing. Blankets should also be washed or dry cleaned monthly.
Towels, as we previously discussed, also need TLC—with washcloths and hand towels, in particular (since they’re actually used to wipe off the dirt and oils off your skin), there’s a real risk of spreading staph infections and pinkeye. It's also a good idea because bathrooms are warm, humid breeding grounds for bacteria to begin with. Washing bath towels weekly, and smaller, more frequently used towels even more often that that, is the best way to tackle the germ problem.
5 exercises you can do anywhere
Schedule too nutty to get to the gym? We've got five foolproof exercises you can do anywhere that will get you feeling strong, boost metabolism and burn calories.
#1 WAIST TRIMMER
Sit towards the edge of a chair with your back perfectly straight and your hips firmly planted. Hold on to a water bottle, a book, or a dumbbell with both hands at chest-level. Keeping your hips still and squared toward the front, rotate your torso to the left, then back to center, and to the right. Keep abs contracted and use a slow, controlled motion so that your abs and obliques––not your arms––do the work. Rotate to each side 15-20 times and complete 2-3 sets.
#2 COUNTER PUSH-UPS
Assist your push-ups by doing them against any counter, desk or sturdy table rather than on the floor. Keeping elbows in and legs straight, do 2-3 sets of 15-20 push-ups.
#3 QUICK BOOTY SQUAT
Sit on the edge of a chair with feet shoulder-distance apart and shins parallel. Be careful to not let your knees extend past your toes. Stand up and sit back down, quickly tapping your booty on the edge of the chair. Focus on pushing your backside out and keeping your weight in your heels. Complete 2-3 sets of 12-15 repetitions.
#4 KILLER WALL SITS
Stand with your back flat against a wall or door. Keeping your entire back against the wall, walk your feet out about one-and-a-half feet in front of you. With your feet shoulder-distance apart and your weight in your heels, slide your back down the wall into you're in a sitting position, you're thighs parallel to the floor. Hold this position for at least 30 seconds. Slowly slide back up the wall and repeat 3 times.
#5 CHAIR AB TILT
Scoot to the edge of a chair as you did in the Waist Trimmer. Lean back, feeling all of your abdominal muscles engage, but don't let your back touch the back of the chair. Hold for as long as you can, then return to sitting upright. Remember to breathe, and repeat this several times throughout the day, strengthening your back, core, and abs.
#1 WAIST TRIMMER
Sit towards the edge of a chair with your back perfectly straight and your hips firmly planted. Hold on to a water bottle, a book, or a dumbbell with both hands at chest-level. Keeping your hips still and squared toward the front, rotate your torso to the left, then back to center, and to the right. Keep abs contracted and use a slow, controlled motion so that your abs and obliques––not your arms––do the work. Rotate to each side 15-20 times and complete 2-3 sets.
#2 COUNTER PUSH-UPS
Assist your push-ups by doing them against any counter, desk or sturdy table rather than on the floor. Keeping elbows in and legs straight, do 2-3 sets of 15-20 push-ups.
#3 QUICK BOOTY SQUAT
Sit on the edge of a chair with feet shoulder-distance apart and shins parallel. Be careful to not let your knees extend past your toes. Stand up and sit back down, quickly tapping your booty on the edge of the chair. Focus on pushing your backside out and keeping your weight in your heels. Complete 2-3 sets of 12-15 repetitions.
#4 KILLER WALL SITS
Stand with your back flat against a wall or door. Keeping your entire back against the wall, walk your feet out about one-and-a-half feet in front of you. With your feet shoulder-distance apart and your weight in your heels, slide your back down the wall into you're in a sitting position, you're thighs parallel to the floor. Hold this position for at least 30 seconds. Slowly slide back up the wall and repeat 3 times.
#5 CHAIR AB TILT
Scoot to the edge of a chair as you did in the Waist Trimmer. Lean back, feeling all of your abdominal muscles engage, but don't let your back touch the back of the chair. Hold for as long as you can, then return to sitting upright. Remember to breathe, and repeat this several times throughout the day, strengthening your back, core, and abs.
Monday, October 4, 2010
30 Smart Time Management Tips and Tricks
, On Wednesday September 29, 2010, 11:11 am EDT
Yes, yes, yes, you are very busy. That's why you meet deadlines at the last minute. Or after. That's why you cruise into meetings 15 minutes late. It's why you forget details or schedule two tasks for the same time or have 500 unanswered emails in your inbox. It's why you can never take a vacation, or even a full weekend off.
Or is it? Maybe poor time management is simply a bad habit. Maybe you can learn to organize and control your time better. Because let's face it, time management is really self management.
Consider taking a look at these classic time management tips. One, or two, or three, may work for you:
1. Obvious tip one: Make a to-do list (electronic or paper). Put the most important item first and work down from there.
2. Obvious tip two: At the end of your day, review what you've done and make a new list for the next day. In order of importance.
3. Be ruthless about setting priorities. Make sure that what you think is important is really important.
4. Learn to differentiate between the important and the urgent. What's important is not always urgent. What's urgent is not always important.
5. Carry your to-do list with you at all times.
6. All things being equal, do the hardest, least fun thing first. Just get it over with!
7. If a task takes less than five minutes, do it right away. If it takes longer, put it on the list.
8. Deal with E-mail at set times each day, if possible. If you need to check messages as they arrive, limit your sessions to less than five minutes.
9. Schedule some uninterrupted time each day when you can concentrate on important tasks, even if you have to take refuge in a conference room or at the library.
10. Another approach: Before you check your E-mail or voicemail or get involved in the minutiae of the day, devote a solid hour to your most important project.
11. For a couple of days, take an inventory of how you spend your time to find out where and how you're wasting it.
12. Eliminate the time wasters (e.g., if personal phone calls are taking up too much space in your workday, turn off your cell).
13. Cut big jobs into small chunks. Order the chunks by importance. Work on one chunk at a time.
14. For big, complex tasks, schedule wiggle room. Projects tend to take longer than you think/hope. Give yourself a buffer.
15. If part of your day involves routine repetitive tasks, keep records of how long they take and then try to do them faster.
16. Go one step further and set specific time limits for routine tasks. Work tends to fill whatever amount of time you happen to have.
17. Establish smart efficient systems for all your tasks, big and small, and stick to them.
18. Value your time. People who wander into your workspace to chat do not respect you or your schedule. Set boundaries.
19. When and where you can, say no. Trying to do everything everyone asks you to do is a recipe for failure.
20. In general, guard against overscheduling yourself.
21. Bottom line to items 19 and 20: Learn to delegate, wherever and whenever you can.
22. Aim to handle pieces of paper only once. Same for E-mails. Read 'em and deal with 'em.
23. Reward yourself for completing tasks on time. No fun stuff until the work stuff is done.
24. Organize and declutter your workspace so you don't waste time looking for things.
25. Schedule demanding tasks for that part of your day when you're at your peak.
26. Group related tasks (e.g., sort papers on your desk and then file them). It's more efficient.
27. Use down time (e.g., waiting for meetings to begin) to, for example, update your to-do list or answer E-mails.
28. This advice applies to life outside work, too. It's better to be excellent at a few things than average at many.
29. Don't be afraid to get projects done early. It takes them off your mind, and it doesn't mean you'll just be given more to do.
30. Create the business environment that works for you. Adjust the lighting, turn off your E-mail pinger, get that cup of tea. Set the stage and get to work.
Karen Burns is the author of the illustrated career advice book The Amazing Adventures of Working Girl: Real-Life Career Advice You Can Actually Use, recently released by Running Press. She blogs atwww.karenburnsworkinggirl.com.
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