CppQuant: TIP: 4 verbs that make you resume sticky

CppQuant: TIP: 4 verbs that make you resume sticky

First I'm thinking "Food", but this blog truly caught my eye, now that I'm hunting... Worth studying.

What's Cooking in Carolina?

What's Cooking in Carolina?

Ooohh... my 1st discovery of blog containing food recipes! Exciting!! Now if I can only start documenting and filing my own list... to be followed by my own kitchen and time to actually start cooking!

Matthew in Beirut: Backstroke of the West

Matthew in Beirut: Backstroke of the West

Is it today? Or just another ordinary day??

Recent changes in my finances have sent me on overdrive to find life-changing options that will reverse my current situation. Now that my performance bonus is down to , and my monthly take home pay shows no signs of imminent improvement till the next EDR session, I'm facing a blank wall. Who would've known that one day, my family would be dependent on me 100%??!?!

My eyes have been so puffy from all the stored-up frustration and late-night crying (in the office, in my car, in bed while the others are peacefully snoring away...). I feel like my skin's suddenly aged +5 years. It doesn't help my Viktor Ortega (Emphasis) haircut hasn't been getting flattering comments from my gay officemate-friend.

What have I dreamt up so far?

1. Take my MBA to jumpstart my self-promotion to a better paying job - This has 2 options: To avail of my Janssen benefit and have them pay for my MBA. But this means I'll be limited to UP, Ateneo and La Salle only. My minimum personal requirement? AIM. Next option? Take it abroad, at least in Asia. An Ivy League education costs around P3M++. In Asia, it would be less than half. I've surfed options in Singapore, HK but my preference is Australia!! Now I need to find a full grant/scholarship to get me going. But that means being JOBLESS for at least 16-18 months, unless I work at night...

2. Migrate to Australia - This came so unexpectedly! Catrina and I were supposed to talk to this Singaporean immigration lawyer, but then I ended up going with my honey instead. During the course of our discussion, my excitement was mounting up like a geyser ready to explode. Everything seemed easy, everything made so much sense... but then again, where will I get the AUD3,500 to process my visa application? Froggy was more than willing to lend me the money, but I felt so hesistant. This is a super-possible dream. I could be leaving the Philippines before December 2005, but I still have to pray about it more... There are so many things to leave behind here. Although now its not so much that I'm leaving someone I love. I'm actually feeling that I can do it more now than two months ago. I can actually SURVIVE and LIVE without him now. I don't know why... Maybe its because I've seen that he's also not THAT driven nor PASSIONATE in keeping me by his side all the time. If he can live without me, so can I. In fact now, he just left to attend a prayer meeting. I wanted to spend time to talk to him about my life options, but then again, he doesn't seem that hot to turn the car around and just listen to me. I find it sad considering we had a SUPER MAJOR fight yesterday that kind of spilled over till this morning. Wait, I digress...

3. Find a new job - This is the fastest, and easiest thing to do. But then again, who would want to leave a multinational like J&J?!?!? The past 2 weeks I've already updated my CV, and have used Jobstreet.com to help me out. Potentials to date? Zero.

4. Become an entrepreneur - I've always told myself since 1994, "I'm more cut-out for corporate!" But with my artist-y side, being more creative and always being late, it seems I'm not disciplined enough to kiss up to bosses and submit to all their wishes. You CANNOT believe all politics that is dancing behind a thin shroud of pretense here. The sudden promotions, the re-organizational plans (there are changes a-coming soon, but no one's talking to me). Last political move I heard was that one of the PMs here, the one's whose promotion has been pretty quick and has been known to have a glib and super-smooth tongue (and sleeping around with some people inside... Lord, spare us!), is taking the IDP program next year. What?!?! Even our new GM hasn't taken the IDP! What has he done to have merited that?
5. Shift careers - I discovered Aveeda (www.aveda.com) and realized that its one of those premier training institutions for future hairstylists, salon and spa specialists/owners, and all others like make-up artists, mani-ped technicians, etc. Those job are well-paid everywhere else but in the Philippines. Alas, to take a full 9-month course (in the US, of course) will cost around US$ 13,000. Eh di sana nakapag-start nalang ako ng MBA. Delete that option.

Ok, let's look at the ENTREPRENEUR aspect. I've found (but haven't acted on) these options:

1. Komfort Zone
2. Think Rich, Pinoy! (ok, ok, ok.. its actually a book)

Hmmm... where did all my options go??

I'VE SEEN THEM NA!

I'm tickled PINK, BLUE and YELLOW!

I've finally seen the flip-flops that will (hopefully) take Manila by storm!!!

Nope, they won't dupe you like they've spelled it. I know, the brand name's a mega-potential problem, and it definitely doesn't sound as cool as "Havaianas". But I'm so willing to give this brand a chance, and am equally excited to put a stamp of endorsement on it. Alas, let me bit selfish a bit by not identifying the brandname here. No, not yet. Unless you're smart enought to have figured it out already *wink-wink!*

This is another Brazilian-made flip-flop brand that claims to be more comfortable, lighter and definitely more design-durable than its predecessor. Albeit I was slightly taken aback by the inital set of designs I've seen today (they all-too-closely resemble their competitor!), my PR Manager Amor assured me that steps would be taken to ensure the brand will be marketed well. I almost bought a pair, but Amor warned me not to do it... yet. I quite forget where I saw them though, but they were definitely in Festival Supermall.

Aside: Guys, I truly do believe, despite the "jologs" image, that Festival Supermall is STILL a treasure trove for bargain and fashionistas who know where to get the GOOD stuff! Alas, my eyes caught several yummy finds earlier, but because I was with my 2 bosses, I just made mental note of saving up and returning there BY MYSELF. My sweetie will not survive a day malling with me, given the amount of time I'd spend poring over great shopping finds. Festival Mall, your fan shall return! Promise!!

All ye' fashionistas out there, get ready, cuz these brand-new Brazilians are definitely a cut above the old ones. They'll definitely make you flip over with delight!

GI Diet ~ will it work?

My silent senses are starting to go on overdrive.

I simply CANNOT believe I've already gained 8 lbs. (yes, E-I-G-H-T) since our Boracay trip in early Feb. That's like 3 lbs a month! I've found that I've started feeling the old aches and pains, and that my body is getting more tired than usual.

I've previously extolled to others the virtues of the Atkins Diet as being:

"The diet that worked for me, without having spent a single cent! Its just all about diet modification!"

Now tell me, how do I curb the cravings for sweets again??? Duh... I just have to admit I'm a sucker for desserts and all things sinful to the waistline. Sheesh. Call me a foodie, call me a gourmet, call me a gourmand. Whatever it is, I truly enjoy eating, and it's starting to create stretchmarks on my P40,000 size "small" wardrobe.

Now I've come across Europe's hottest (fad?) diet: the GI Diet. GI stands for "Glycemic Index". Its actually no eureka concept in the dieting world. I've actually studied a bit about GI when I started doing Atkins.

Basic concept: Eat foods that have low GI to better manage your blood sugar and avoid spiking, which drives your body to crave for more carbs. The higher the GI, the higher the sugar content, without necessarily the right nutritional value. Along with high GI would possibly be high, empty calories as well. Makes perfect sense to me!

Here's an excerpt I got from Prevention.com:

Your Guide to the Glycemic Index
Exciting new way to pick the best foods to lose weight, live longer, and feel great
by Holly McCord, RD

What Is the Glycemic Index?

The Glycemic Index--or GI, for short--is a system that ranks foods by how they affect your levels of blood sugar. Low-GI foods (less than 55) produce a gradual rise in blood sugar that's easy on the body. Foods between 55 and 70 are intermediate-GI foods. Foods with high-GI numbers (more than 70) make blood sugar as well as insulin levels spike fast. We now realize that's a health threat.

Can Choosing More Low-GI Foods Make You Healthier?

Mounting research suggests keeping blood sugar from spiking pays off in many ways. Low-GI foods appear to:

• stave off heart disease
• prevent type 2 diabetes
• help you evade serious side effects if you have diabetes
• curb your appetite so you lose weight
• perhaps even help you feel more energetic

For starters, I've noticed low-GI foods are generally VEGGIES. Ugh. I love em, but I definitely ain't planning to become a vegan. Atkins was much simpler because all I had to be aware of was the carbs!!!

So what do you think? Should I start giving it a try?