the ad that's just too cute

I'm a strange television watcher....mostly because I can get more into the advertisements than the shows themselves.

A supermarket visit in my world, reminds me of the different ads I've seen for different products. And truth be told, my purchase decisions are sometimes actually influenced by the ads for a brand or product....yes yes, I'm one of those people.

The Allstate Mayhem ads, Target's holiday ads and some Superbowl ads and GEICO ads are my usual faves.

When I saw this GEICO ad with the Pillsbury Dough Boy...I giggled like an idiot for a good couple minutes....which was something I needed after a long week.

Check it out!

GetOrganised: there's an app for that

GetOrganised

For March 2013, each Sunday I'll be helping you to GetOrganised. I'll share tips and tricks aimed at making organisation work for you...noting of course how you could possibly tweek everything to suit your needs.

So this is the fourth post in the GetOrganised series so far, and this post is specially put together for the tech fans. I've been giving different organisation tips without really putting technology in the mix, but since this is the 21st century and there's an app for everything let's consider some of the apps, websites, desktop programs and so on that can help GetOrganised.

Last year when I was hunting for some new apps to try, I came upon this site (dailytekk.com) that had an article about 100 tools, websites and apps that can help make organisation easier. I will admit that I kinda went to a sort of heaven with all the options and possibilities...and I went through every single one (obviously I had nothing else planned for that night).

I tried to select the program that I thought suited me best....and Wunderlist kinda won my heart. I even blogged about it! Since then, the Wunderlist team has done a major upgrade and premiered Wunderlist2 which has some great new features and really helps keep me in check.

If you're not quite sure what to look for here's the top three features that I look out for:

1. must be multi-platform:
This is super important if you have devices on different operating systems. Try finding a program that works with Android, Windows, Mac and everything else!

2. must be able to sync on various devices:
Your laptop, tablet and phone should be showing you the same thing regardless of which device was used when any changes were made!

3. must be user friendly: 
This tool is supposed to make your life easier...not more complex. If you need a full day of training to use the program then it may really not be the best thing for you....imagine how long it will take for you to figure things out if something goes wrong?

Of course it's been a year so some of the things listed on that page have more than likely been updated and are now a bit different. Besides Wunderlist, another option I tried was remember the milk, and although that one never stuck with me, it's loved by many of my friends.

There's also the option of using the calendar app on your laptop/tablet/phone. Not to mention the fact that every device has an app store these days, I'm sure you'll be able to find an app that is perfect for you.

Now with ideas to make life easy, plus app options to get organised on every device you own....I hope things get a bit less stressing for you. 

#ReadingChallenge: Sundays at Tiffany's

#ReadingChallenge

If this is your first time tuning in to my #ReadingChallenge, here's the skinny: For 2013 one of my personal challenges is to read one book a month. This has in turn become a blog challenge where I review each book I read and where necessary get some influences from each book.

Next on my list I checked out Sundays at Tiffany's by James Patterson. Yes...yes I know I'm late...but at least I read it.

Now this was definitely one of those cute love stories...but with a twist...a slightly creepy twist. Let me break it down (at least for those who didn't read the book), eight-year-old girl has a 30-year-old imaginary friend. Years later when eight-year-old girl is a fab young woman, somehow imaginary friend becomes real...and is still 30-years-old.

Then....they fall in love..............

Say what now...I'll admit I read the book thinking 'this is different.' But after finishing that last sentence and thinking back on the story (mostly for the sake of this review) it hit me that this is a bit...well it's a bit creepy...in a pedobear kinda way.

I'll be honest, it was an easy read and the storyline was interesting but it was kinda predictable (besides the creepy aspect of it). I will 100% admit that I probably kept reading because it was such an easy read.

On another note, I did expect more from the novel...more of what I'm not sure...but more of something. It's probably because persons make James Patterson sound like the god of novels. Yes the chapters were short and succinct, but the speaker changed from the girl to the guy quite often....sometimes causing me to wonder who's view I'm getting when I kinda lose track of where I was reading.

I wonder too if I'm on the fence about the book because of the fact that there are a few questions I have after reading it...questions that could have easily been answered in text, but were ignored. Maybe I'm just reading too deep into the book.

My #ReadingChallenge rating for Sundays at Tiffany's:

 

Overall it was a good book, the language, tone and setting of the novel really fit the characters and their story. I was a bit disappointed that it got more and more predictable as you got to the end of the novel...and I'll admit that I'm not sure whether it was given the 'New York Time Bestseller' title because of the author's reputation, or the book itself.

If you give this book a read, comment on this post and let me know what you think of it!

cut the...stress!

It's been a stressful few weeks for me but I've been pushing through.

Then I found this photo...and while I knew that stress causes some of these things, I really didn't realise how many of these negative effects I was experiencing (especially the head, skin and immune issues which together are not good).

I think maybe this is a good way to start grading my stress level; the more things I'm experiencing is the worse stressed I am....that's my theory and for now, I'm sticking to it!

Fortunately I'm working to reduce the stresses in my life by sleeping, staying organised, being thankful for what I have, and having faith that what I need will be mine in due time.

How bout you?

GetOrganised: tackling a to do list

GetOrganised

For March 2013, each Sunday I'll be helping you to GetOrganised. I'll share tips and tricks aimed at making organisation work for you...noting of course how you could possibly tweek everything to suit your needs.

After figuring out what exactly you need to organise, the next thing to do is to make sense of it all.

You have a to do list with probably 100 things and it probably seems really overwhelming....but there are five methods I've used to make sense of my to do lists while making note of the 'asap task' versus the 'soon task' and the 'eventually task.'

NB: It would be a good idea to have at least three different coloured pens for this exercise

1. Use a coloured pen/marker to note the tasks that can be done in 5 minutes or less. These quick tasks are your 'asap tasks' and would include simple things like making a phone call, checking or sending off email, or even rearranging something to make it more accessible later.

2. Use another coloured pen/marker to mark the tasks you need to finish within 7 days. These are clearly the 'soon tasks' and may be tasks like finishing a report, completing the notes for a meeting or purchasing an item. Feel free to also jot down which day of the week the task needs to be completed by. This will help you prioritise the tasks based on due date.

3. It could be assumed that the remaining tasks are 'eventually tasks.' Be sure to look at them twice to see if any of these tasks are linked to tasks in the other categories. You may notice that some of them are very much related and can either be done together, or that the start of one task will be dependent on the completion of another. Maybe you want to prepare a presentation, but that presentation will need the responses from an email and a face-to-face meeting in order to be completed. The email is your 'asap task', the meeting is your 'soon task' and then the presentation your 'eventually task'....all correlated.

4. Delegate what can be delegated and note areas where help will be needed. While all the things you need to do may not be school or work related and would be best done by you, don't feel that asking for a little help is out of the question. If a friend offers to help, confirm that they will be able to assist and complete a task within a set time frame; then note that the task has been delegated. As it relates to getting help, try finding more experienced persons to help with tasks you can't really manage alone. This may give you the chance to learn something new, and may quite likely get the task done quicker and more efficiently.

5. Make changes when necessary. The reality is that as you complete some tasks, others come up whether planned or not. Be ready to make changes to your list (or make a new list each week) as new things to do pop up and as you make progress with various tasks. Sometimes tasks that starts off as 'eventually' become 'asap' for whatever reason. So just be ready to adjust.


So yes, the 'asap tasks' and the 'soon tasks' are sometimes the ones that determine whether or not 'eventually tasks' get done at all. This of course is why it's a good idea to break the list into categories and work smarter to get things done.

Now you're probably also thinking about a location that your list can be kept while you get busy with getting things done....or make note of things to be added. I use a small notebook. It not only reminds me of the things I need to get done, but also gives me the space to jot down other things I need to add to my list for the week ahead. On a Sunday afternoon I sit and figure out the week ahead, making use of the notes I've made throughout the week and using the lists from the week before to see which tasks need to be carried over.

#ReadingChallenge: The Happiness Project

#ReadingChallenge

If this is your first time tuning in to my #ReadingChallenge, here's the skinny: For 2013 one of my personal challenges is to read one book a month. This has in turn become a blog challenge where I review each book I read and where necessary get some influences from each book.

For the month of February I checked out The Happiness Project by Grethen Rubin. Sounds like a good one right? I'll admit....the concept of the book is great! I mean who wouldn't want some help to make their life happier? The drawback though is that it's so filled with research that it somewhat detracts from the 'happiness' of it all.

The result of that drawback: I'm still not even half way through the book....and February is finito. I really don't think I chose the best time to read the book though. First of all it was the shortest month (if that makes any difference).

But, let me be fair....maybe it was my frame of mind that made it seem so hard to read. I had lots of work trying to get done and since I'm not a big reader, the research-like content and the tiny print (in the paperback copy I got) could very well be the reasons why I wasn't really excited to read about all the psychological and philosophical studies and explanations behind achieving happiness.

It then made me wonder if Rubin's definition of happiness was the same as mine. Consider that while she's married with kids and trying to balance all sorts of responsibilities within those circles; while I'm just here trying to get into grad school and figure out the next step in my life.

Just a thought really.....

My #ReadingChallenge rating for The Happiness Project (so far):

And this score is based on the fact that I'm not even done reading it yet. But I can definitely see where she's going and maybe later in the year I'll get back to it....hopefully soon.

If you give this book a read, comment on this post and let me know what you think of it!

no giving in

Having a rough week....sigh

My solution?

MUSIC

Reggae to be exact.

Here's one of my favourites from a young reggae act who's been putting in lots of work - Chronixx

Hope it gives a little motivation for a rough week.

GetOrganised: the basics

For March 2013, each Sunday I'll be helping you to GetOrganised. I'll share tips and tricks aimed at making organisation work for you...noting of course how you could possibly tweek everything to suit your needs.

The first thing about getting organised is figuring out what you need to organise. Makes sense right?

You may think everything is in chaos, but I've noticed that the best way to make sense of everything you need to get done, is to decide what you need to get done.

It can be pretty overwhelming to have lots to do and have no clue where to start...or to even remember what you need to do.

Yes, sometimes no matter how organised you think you are, when sleep hits or an emergency pops up, it can throw you off completely...but then you start over and make sense of what you need to get done.

How do you do this?

Simple! Make a note of all the things you want to organise or improve....we'll call it your spruce up list. It would be good too to put each thing into specific categories (this will make the next step much easier).

For example your 'spruce up list' may look like this:

Home - tidy closet, get rid of old clothes, sort bookshelves
Work/School - finish reports, organise notes, tidy office
Personal - hire assistant, clear up email, plan vacation, pay bills

So you've made your spruce up list. Right now, after making the list and looking back at the many things to organise you may think 'what the heck have I gotten myself into.' But trust me, this super list of many things will make sense soon....very soon.

Feel free to keep adding to this list until you're able to tackle everything one by one. Don't worry we'll be getting to that in the next GetOrganised post.

organisation ahead

Lately, more and more persons have been asking how I manage to get everything done with my many hats...my response is 'I'm organised.'

This seems to be a figment of imagination for some, but as I see more persons talk about their challenges getting everything done (and I overcome my own), I've decided to share some of my organisation tips and strategies that help keep me on track.

I'll make one post each Sunday in March (so that means five posts in total). Each week I'll focus on another method, tool, or area of your life that you can try to pull together with just a little organisation.

Now here's my disclaimer to all readers: 

Don't feel that because I've got these organisation methods and techniques going, then it means I don't have a few spells of disorganisation. I can say though that based on my own experiences and the experiences of others who have adopted these tips and tricks, things stay all organised once you maintain the structure put in place.

To be honest, over the last two months or so, I've been the least organised ever! I assume that it's because I was sick almost twice in a row during Christmas. That definitely caused some setbacks with the things I needed to get done and keeping up with everything I needed to focus on. Fortunately I'm getting back on track using the same methods that helped keep me sane over the last few years!

.......And I'm super excited to share them with you!

I'm also hoping to get some sample docs together so you download and print for yourself.

BarBQue for a cause

The Syndicate BarBQue Lyme Series kicked off this year with the first staging on January 27th.

It was great fun with a good vibe and a-mazing food! How good? Lets just say I'm not keeping up with hiphop music, I have overcrowded spaces and I'm not a fan of fish..........but.......the DJ's had me enjoying every mix, the crowd was good but not to make the venue stuffy; and the escoveitched fish was amazing!

I was also glad to be out with the Bloom family....that's never a bad thing really. =)

You can click here for more photo highlights from the January 27th staging courtesy of J-Dash Labs.

So you're probably wondering how the charity part of it works...For the 2012 event they donated a cheque to the Jamaica Association for the Deaf with proceeds from the event. Since the event is now a series, the funds donated to charity will be handed over once per year instead of after each staging. This means that the bigger each staging is, is the more help that charity can get.

With that said, I'm excited to see the menu and DJ lineup for the March 10th staging. Also excited to see even more folks coming out to enjoy a different kind of Sunday afternoon.

On a slightly different note, I want to say that I really do appreciate the Syndicate Events team who are by extension a part of the Bloom family. They have much faith in our mission and it means a lot to know that even before things were all in place, they thought it important enough for them to #GetInvolved and help make a difference for special needs students in Jamaica.

Thanks bunches!

Sooooo in a nutshell....all I'm saying is.....once your in Jamaica on Sunday March 10th, the Syndicate Events Charity BarBQue is 100% where you need to be!

#ReadingChallenge: The Weird Sisters

#ReadingChallenge

If this is your first time tuning in to my #ReadingChallenge, here's the skinny: For 2013 one of my personal challenges is to read one book a month. This has in turn become a blog challenge where I review each book I read and where necessary get some influences from each book.

My first book of the year was The Weird Sisters by Eleanor Brown. While the ending was a bit predictable, overall the storyline was interesting, and the 'page-turning feature' was that I had the lives of 3 characters to follow while not really knowing what they will each do next.

While I get that the story is told by the sisters themselves, I really don't know which sister it is because it's written in third person narrative. A tad bit strange...for me at least, but it was a nice change in comparison to other books I've read.

To be honest I picked up the book while in a pharmacy with my little sister. When I read the summary on the back I gave her a look-see and her first comment was "Oh 3 sisters like us! Sounds good so buy it." I'll admit I was a bit skeptical (at that time I hadn't 100% decided on my reading challenge) but decided to run with it....I was definitely not disappointed!

I see the birth order theories come out in the sisters and the dynamics of a close family and sibling relations. Also in the mix is the toss up between staying close to home and going as far away as possible. Outside of that you get even a bit of romance with each sister taking on relationships in their own very distinct way.

The first drawback I consider with the book was that some things just seemed to take forever to get explained...or got unnecessarily repeated at times. The only other challenge for me personally was the Shakespeare references. I've read 'concise Shakespeare' but never really delved into the various stories so sometimes the references left me up in the air about what the heck they meant lol. But the summary of the novel did clearly state that the father was all about his Shakespeare soooo I really kinda put myself in this position.

I can't say that the sister's represent exactly how my sisters and I are, but there are some similarities that more often than not had me laughing about it all. The plan is to have my older sister read the book next and get her to give me her thoughts on it...she's much more of a reader so I know she'll be done with it in no time. 

My #ReadingChallenge rating for The Weird Sisters:

Worth checking out, and I figure that if you're into Shakespeare it'll be a great read for you.

If you give this book a read, comment on this post and let me know what you think of it!

#ReadingChallenge: my review system

Just in case you missed the first post, my blog challenge for 2013 is to review the books I read for my #ReadingChallenge.

Since the plan is to read one book a month, that means each month I review the book I read and mention what I'll be reading next.

Before I post my review of any book I've read I want to post the rating system that I'll be working with so that we're more or less on the same page.


So first of all glittered stars are pretty...so I chose these as my visual for the rating scale.

As one would expect, 1 star would mean not so great while 5 stars would mean amazing. The ratings are based on my own opinion and though I don't take into consideration other reviews of the book, I may just mention the average rating that the book got on goodreads.com.

But I'm rating books here...and to be very honest my opinion of the book may be totally different than what someone else thinks. So in a nutshell, here's a simple rating guide!

Now let's get to rating! Here's what I thought of the books I've read. (as the year progresses and I read more, more books will be added)

The Weird Sisters (Eleanor Brown) - 4 stars

The Happiness Project (Gretchen Rubin) - 3 stars (incomplete)

Sunday's at Tiffany's (James Patterson)  <coming soon>

the weekend ahead

Those who know me would know that I'm rarely out these days. But with 2 great events happening this weekend....looks like I'll be making a move twice this weekend!


Friday
After getting through the last day of the week, Friday is for relaxing and putting the stressful week behind you. That is...unless of course you're like me and will be using Friday night to catch up on some work you need to get finished. *not much fun*

On the bright side, if i get enough stuff done on Friday night then I'll have enough time for my Saturday and Sunday shenanigans...and for some sleep!


Saturday
Is possibly another day for catching up on some work (this is what happens when you're trying to get a business off the ground....you work just about whenever work is to be done). 

The Saturday night party is Bottles & Cues at Club Overtime (NHT Building, New Kingston) . It's the first of a series which will be held on the last Saturday of every month...and my Coppershot family will be on the wheels of steel so that's definitely an insight for the great vibes you'll be getting! It's free with invite and $500 without...and ladies are free before 12. #WorthCheckingOut



Sunday 
Since Sunday is more of a relaxed day, the perfect Sunday flex for you is the Syndicate Events BBQ. This is the second in their charity BBQ series and if you recall, from the previous one (held Ash Wednesday 2012) the Syndicate Events team was able to donate J$100,000 to the Danny Williams Primary School for the Deaf to aid in the construction of a resource room. Thanks to their event sponsors they were also able to donate meat produce for the school kitchen, and 2 laptops for students.

I think what impresses me most about this event is that for just $1,000 you can choose from 4 different dishes to enjoy, you have a well stocked bar to buy out, good music to soak in....and it's all for a worthy cause! #WorthCheckingOut


All in all my weekend is working on personal projects and having some good fun with friends. It sounds like a done deal for me...and I'm inviting everyone to come have some fun!

OneLove: Jamaican Blogger Tag

So this is all new to me, but I got tagged in a blogger tag by fellow Jamaican blogger As Told By Nella. *yay for Jamaican bloggers*

What's a blogger tag you ask?

Pretty much, it's like a game of tag...you know that game you play as a kid?....yup!

It involves bloggers of all niches who aim to form links and possibly discover new information and new bloggers while having a little fun. It begins when one blogger chooses the topic of the tag, then gives a list of questions (or one general question that's wise enough to be broken down into list form). After the first blogger answers the question(s), he/she will "tag" other bloggers to continue the tag. 

Now for the rules:
1. Title your post "OneLove: Jamaica Blogger Tag"
2. Link back to the blogger who tagged you (you can add a basic definition of what a tag is for the benefit of your readers) 
3. Copy and paste the rules at the beginning of your tag
4. Copy and paste the questions so your readers know what's going on
5. Answer the questions
6. Tag seven other Jamaican bloggers to continue the trend.So it's pretty simple....and since most of my readers are outside of Jamaica you all probably don't mind getting to link other Jamaican blogs. =]

Based on the steps....I've already titled the post, linked to the blogger who tagged me (click here for her blog), and pasted the rules...now I post the questions and answer them! 

Lets go with them questions!  

1. Why did you give your blog its name? (If it is named directly after you, try and make your answer interesting. eg: Did you feel nervous at all about putting your name out there? Did you just lack creativity at the time?) 
2. Why did you start blogging and why do you blog now?
3. Do you think being Jamaican influences your blogging style? 
4. What do you think about the increase in bloggers in Jamaica? 
5. What is your favourite thing about being Jamaican? 
6. Ackee and saltfish or “ (mackerel) run down”? 
7. Stew peas or stew chicken? 
8. Tastee Patties, Juici Beef Patties or Mother’s? 
9. Pantucky or KFC? 
10. What do you hope to be the future of blogging in Jamaica?

The questions are all nice and easy. Here's my answers!

1. Like many other people I have about a million thoughts in a very short span of time. I've wondered if I have an attention disorder, but been told that millions of thoughts isn't a bad thing because it's a sign that the brain keeps ticking! So here on my blog, it's really a collection of some of the millions of thoughts I have..at least the ones I get the chance to fully think through and post lol...hence the ever so obvious name: "In Between A Million Thoughts" 
 
2. I started my blog as an avenue to express myself. Reading it, you'd see that there is no set theme throughout the blog, but rather a number of different things that interest me at different times. Whether it's a review, a bit of motivation, a cool idea or some kind of commentary, my blog gets some of my thoughts out to an audience of persons across the globe...oh, the reason I started is the same reason I keep blogging.
 
3. I don't know if being Jamaican  necessarily influences my blogging style, but I know that more often than not my posts are based on a Jamaican situation that I tweek to have an international flair.
 
4. I love the fact that more Jamaicans have blogs! First of all, a blog is an opportunity for persons to express their opinions and I'm 100% sure that the average Jamaican has loads of opinions! Secondly what I've noticed is that Jamaican blogs vary in content and method of delivery (whether photography, writing or videos) which is a great way for us to share our thoughts, show off our creativity and in quite a few cases share our culture with the world from a very personal standpoint.
 
5. Wow, my favourite thing about being Jamaican....that would be everything! While there are stuff I don't like about home, there's so much more stuff that I love. The food, entertainment, music, dance and overall lifestyle has such interesting variety that even other folks across the globe want to be Jamaican.  

6. I can't necessarily say I go head over heels for either one, but since I totally don't like mackerel run down....I'll have to go with Ackee and Saltfish...my only problem is when it's cooked with too much oil!  

7. Stew chicken wins hands down...with the chicken cut up of course! =] Preferably this should be served with green banana, yam and fried/boiled dumplin! (great now I'm hungry -_-)
 
8. Although patties really shouldn't be a part of my EatHealthy diet...from the list, I'm gonna go with Juici Patties. I've never really had a horrible experience with them and I strangely like that super flaky/messy crust! Overall though...a patty from the Devon House bakery is really the patty a chick needs in her life. lol
 
9. While Jamaican KFC is probably the best across the globe, I say 'Pantucky.' For those overseas who are unsure as to what this is all about...'Pantucky' is chicken prepared in a metal pan (similar to a bbq grill) with lots of seasoning (usually jerk seasoning). This is one of the things about Jamaican food that I like because 'Pantucky' isn't just chicken but also includes the option of pork, lamb and ribs. A nice option for dinner or for that post-party meal.

10. I think right now the Jamaican blogging community is making some good progress. Through the Jamaica Blog Awards there is the exposure and recognition of numerous blogs by bloggers across the island and within the diaspora. What I'd love to see though is more collaboration between the bloggers. From an entrepreneurship standpoint, I'd also like to see more bloggers being taken seriously by corporate entities and developing their craft to be used as a main means of income.   

So there we have it....another set of my millions of thoughts! Thanks a bunches As Told By Nella for tagging me in this game! I tag:

Bloom Foundation for Education - The blog for my non-profit organisation aimed at improving the life of special needs students in Jamaica.
DANCE Jamaica  - Blog by my friend Charissa that has just about all things dance related on this talented little island, specifically as it relates to dance ministry. 
Natalia Oh! - My fab fashionista and DIY Queen focusing on female fashion and easy DIY projects to enhance your wardrobe.
The Smoking Jacket - Men's styling for the fashion forward lad who really wants to make a statement when he goes anywhere.
ChiefIsWrite - A somewhat unexpected collection of poetry from a writer turned marketer.
Sour Skittles - A mix of this, that and the other from a friend who like me, blogs of her random thoughts. 
Adrian Creary - Amazing photos by an equally amazing young man!

Let's see how many new Jamaican blogs I'll find out about!

blog challenge 2013

I've officially decided what my 2013 blog challenge will be. It really is more of a general 2013 challenge but I'll be using my blog to enhance the challenge.

What is this 'challenge' I speak of?

Tada!

My 2013 blog challenge is a ReadingChallenge which I'm doing through goodreads.com and anticipating will be great.

I have a very simple reading goal for 2013 and that's to read 12 books (about 1 book per month). This may be little to nothing for the 'star reader' (who probably goes through one book in 2 days), but I never really had a love for reading novels, although I read my InStyle magazine monthly and read the newspaper with no stress. Last year I probably read 3 books in total....so my 12 book goal for 2013 is actually a big step up!

I've started off the year with 'The Weird Sisters' which so far is pretty good. What I plan to do is at the end of the month give my 2-cents and rate each book I read.

I'll admit that I have no clue which book is next, but, I'll be doing some book shopping as the weeks go by to get the other 11 books on my shelf.

Feel free to give me some suggestions of books I should read.

Oh...any one out there want to take on this challenge with me? You can build your own challenge on good reads, so check that out!

help my charity this Christmas

One of the members of my charity entered the Foundation into a competition where we can receive a J$100,000 grant from a local company - Sagicor Life Jamaica.

You can read the submission below (or click here for a clearer image) and then vote for us by liking the photo on Facebook. After you've liked it, feel free to share it with your friends so we can get as many likes by December 19th when voting closes.

This is quite an opportunity for us, and with all the plans that the team and I have for 2013, the grant would definitely help us fund some of our projects with the Danny Williams Primary School for the Deaf and the Lister Mair Gilby High School for the Deaf.

So #GetInvolved and help us make a difference this Christmas. Let's get those likes up to at least 120 by December 19th!

super healthy potato chips

The average person sees potato chips and says 'oh yea these look good.'

But then there are the not so average people (like me) who read food packages and nutrition labels; comparing the calories, fat, carbs, sodium and vitamins and minerals before purchasing a snack (unless I really feel for a specific thing).

This week I met potato chips from heaven that are neither baked nor fried, and are gluten-free and vegan approved- Pop Chips.

It's almost like a potato chip for everyone, but of course the only problem is that there is as much air in the package as there are chips -_-

I tasted the plain chips, and to be honest I did consider how much nicer it probably would have tasted with a hint of salmon cream cheese. Honestly though it was a nice snack to curb that 'post-breakfast but pre-lunch' hunger that hit me. I figure the flavoured ones are nice too (and probably don't need any additions).

After some Googling I noticed that these chips are honestly like 'the international healthy potato chips'...and if you don't believe me, you can check it out on their website where the nutritional facts are available for all their products (they definitely make use of their website!).

I'm working on getting back in shape so finding the healthy snacks is a MUST because I'm quite the snack-er! 1 snack down, many others to go!

how do you know if you've found 'the one'?

Quite a few persons seem to think my boyfriend and I are just the bees-knees (which of course we are lol). Of course with that belief, every now and again I get a question which usually comes in one of two situations:
1. Single girl who is looking for that companion they can grow with and feels that her 'prince charming' isn't coming around...ever
2. Guy (sometimes single...other times in a relationship) who either honestly trust my advice or have some interest in me (more often than not, it's the latter...which while it is flattering, it's also a bit annoying).

What's the question you ask:  

How do you know he's the one?

The last time I was asked this question was by a number of high school students who after seeing my laptop wallpaper (I forgot to make it generic before going into that session) got into a series of questions about my life. I'm a proud and happy wifey, and since my session was to be a relaxed heart to heart with them, I didn't see anything wrong with me sharing even a little bit of relationship advice.
 
On a serious note though; I'm honestly usually a bit taken aback by the question because I really have no amazing fairytale answer to give (which can be quite a bummer for someone who's hoping for it)....but there is that princess part of me that kinda wishes I could formulate a fabulous fairytale answer even just for my own sake.

In answering I tend to look back at where my hunny and I are coming from, how our relationship started out and the journey we've had together so far. I usually smile (at least in my head) when I talk about this stuff, because there is comfort in knowing that we have grown...individually and together, and that there is a love and friendship that we share. 

Then usually after getting out all the cute stuff, there's the follow-up questions:  

1. But don't you ever wish you were still single?

2. Aren't there stuff that he does that bugs you? 

And my responses: 'no not really' to the first question...and 'yea' to the second. 

Unlike some people, I don't find my relationship to be a 'tie down' and that's probably because my boyfriend and I were friends before it got serious. And yes there are some things that he does that kinda annoy me...but I'm pretty darn sure there are stuff I do that annoy him. 

After that experience though I really started looking into this whole idea of 'is he the one.' Not because I don't imagine that there is a future for us together (preferably with the nice wedding, good kids, picket fence etc etc), but more so that I'll be better able to answer the question when asked again (particularly by teens who really are hopeful for a fairytale scenario). 

Then I found this video:

I think honestly that it's a good way to look at the situation (regardless of your religious standpoint). Instead of trying to find the perfectly amazing spouse...be the perfect spouse. And how do you do that? Be the best you that you can be. 

As he mentions in the video, you may be searching far and wide for that perfect person that fits your fairytale standard; but then you walk pass/overlook the real perfect person who you see ever so often. This person may not be a knight on a white horse/the perfect homemaker, but he/she may have all the qualities you need to sync with your qualities, so that together you can help each other realise your full potential both together and individually.

So instead of wondering whether or not you have found 'the one', ask yourself if you've found someone who will help you realise your full potential; just as you will help them realise theirs. 

You'll be surprised to know what you'll find hidden in a relationship you have with a friend/acquaintance. =]

W: Wunderlist review

AlphabetChallenge

I've promised to share my organisation secret with you all....and here it is!

WUNDERLIST

I know the name sounds odd but that's the task management software that I use to keep everything in check. It's a free program and it can be downloaded on your desktop, phone or tablet from their website.

Now, what makes it great is some of the features that help you organise tasks the way you want them to be organised.
 - I can star the important tasks
 - I can add notes to each task to explain the who, what, where, when and why
 - I can put each task in a specific list (with each list specific to a project or job)
 - I can give each task a due date....and set a reminder closer to the time it's due

And to top it off........I can sync the lists on each device I've downloaded Wunderlist to (although there is no BlackBerry version so it's currently only on my desktop) and I can share lists with other persons whether they have the program or not (of course it makes more sense if they have it too so they can add and remove tasks as they are completed).

All in all it's an easy to use program and it helps keep you on top of things by showing each day's tasks in one list and even giving another list of those overdue items I've been putting off or those I've forgotten.

Initially I was using it on my own to feel it out; but now I've decided to get the rest of the Bloom Foundation for Education board using it so that we can keep up with the things to do and what's been done without having to always be sending emails with the info.

So while I could go on about how glad I am that I found Wunderlist....I have this week's things to do list to put into my Wunderlist....so toodles!

...working better?

After posting about how I manage working from home, I saw this pic online that spoke about how persons can work better.

Although they have a question mark in the heading, I do think that these 10 tips are some simple ways that can help you to work better. =]

What do you think?