don't get discouraged! how long it takes to see results

A mere month ago, many of us made our resolutions for 2008. Right about now is when motivation may be lacking, or when a bit of discouragement at not seeing dramatic results begins to settle. See below for the expected length of time it takes to see results for some popular resolutions. Remember: things take time! Don't get discouraged!

• working out - A new fitness routine, even if done diligently/regularly, could take as long as three months before you see and feel results in your body. Of course, this depends largely on genetics. Some are lucky enough to have seen results after the first week, while others after the first eight weeks. Regardless, know that the longer you do stick to it, the longer the results will last once they are obtained.
• being nicer - By simply wearing around a more pleasant expression, or by being generally more amicable to those around you, what's nice about being nicer is that the results are almost immediate. People tend to reflect the energy and expressions of others around them, so you've most likely already gotten a healthy dose of positive feedback.
• consuming less sugar - It can typically take a mere two to four weeks to feel a difference in your energy level by consuming less sugar. Once you're out of that craving time (which can be difficult), you find yourself with a steadier blood glucose level, which keeps you from getting those "sugar highs and crashes" that are so common amongst sugar eaters. If you really stick to it, some claim that years of low to no sugar consumption actually helps with premature aging (i.e. wrinkles). Obviously, this is a very long term effect, but only another reason why sticking to this resolution is worthwhile!
• better posture - Walking, standing, and sitting tall can have positive effects on your body in a matter of six to eight weeks. At first, better posture may feel particularly unnatural, or may even make you somewhat sore since you're using different muscles than your body's adapted to using. However, once this period is over, better posture can alleviate back pain, prevent muscle knots, avoid joint dysfunction, and enhance general emotional well-bring. It can also aid in a sense of self-confidence.
• recycling more - Sure, it can be difficult to gage how much your recycling is benefiting the earth. However, thanks to carbonfootprint.com's handy carbon emission calculator, you'll be happy to know that if you've gone from recycling nothing to recycling everything possible plus composting, you've already saved 0.235 tonnes of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere this past month. If you went from recycling nothing to recycling some things, you've already saved 0.118 tonnes.

Technorati tags: resolutions, results, workout results, carbon footprint, how much time until results

Photo credit: UGA

real time world clock: birth, death, consumption

We found this world clock to be extremely interesting. It shows you in real time according to averaged statistics how many births, deaths (broken down by cause), barrels of oil pumped, military expenditure, earth temperature, and even internet users are in the world at the moment. Well, to be more precise, it's just illustrating the rate of change taking place over the course of a given period by how fast the numbers change. You can view these rates by year, month, week, day, or "now" (meaning from the time you click the "now" button, how much has gone on since). Some of the stats may be surprising, others depressing, but at the very least: interesting. There's also a link towards the bottom of the page to calculate your life expectancy based on lifestyle.

Technorati tags: world clock, birth rate, death rate, life expectancy

Photo credit: Poodwaddle

stevia pleasia: all-natural sweetening non-sweetener

Though not officially a "sweetener" by FDA standards, stevia is a nearly calorie-free, all-natural herb that enhances the sweetness of anything to which it's added. Already a legal "sweetener" in Canada and other countries of the world, stevia is a native herb to Paraguay, and has been used as a sweetening agent for centuries. Stevia is still gaining regulatory approval in the U.S. and E.U. However, you can legally purchase the sweetening non-sweetener at health food stores and sites like www.stevia.com as long as you call it a "dietary supplement."

Technorati tags: stevia, natural sweetener, dietary supplement, herbal sweetener

Photo credit: jungleseeds.com

the not-so-weary traveler: best flight accessories

Ever since we were told that our carry-ons could no longer contain liquids, the travel isle has made a comeback. Our favorite all-in-one kit is the Malin+Goetz Travel Kit. At $30, you get six one-ounce bottles of body wash, two moisturizers, face cleanser, shampoo and conditioner, all in a handy clear ziploc bag. Carry on conscious free once more.

Another flight accessory that we love is the Burton Sleeper Hoodie. It's a sweatshirt that has a special pocket for ear plugs, an integrated flap to cover your eyes from light, armpit zippers for airing out, and even a built-in inflatable neck pillow.

Technorati tags: flight accessories, travel kit, travel

Photo credit: Burton, Malin+Goetz

inside out glassware: BY:AMT

What happens when you turn a glass inside out? The answer: the inside out collection (e.g. the champagne glass in the photo above) from BY:AMT. These glasses use the negative space within the glass to assume the shapes typical of your cocktails: flutes for champagne, golbets for wine, shot for liquor, etc. We realized this works two-fold: besides just looking incredibly cool, the buffer zone created between your hand and the glass immediately surrounding the drink absorbs more of the warmth of your hand, thus providing slightly better insulation than typical barware. That's a smart—and beautiful—bar!

                                               

Technorati tags: barware, glassware, inside out glasses, modern design

Photo credit: BY:AMT

new year, new playlist: 3rd ed.

See below for our annual workout playlist. Some are classics. Some are newbies. All are guaranteed to get your heart rate going at the gym or on the trails. What are your recommendations of the moment?

Gym Class Heroes - "Cupid's Chokehold"
Fatboy Slim - "Rockafeller Skank"
Paramore - "Misery Business"
The Killers - "Somebody Told Me"
Bloc Party - "Banquet"
Cascada - "Everytime We Touch"
New Order - "Blue Monday"
Salt N Pepper - "Push It"
Gwen Stefani - "Holla Back Girl"
Foo Fighters - "All My Life"
Modest Mouse - "Float On"
Depeche Mode - "Just Can't Get Enough"
Kanye West - "Stronger"
Postal Service - "Such Great Heights"
Rick Springfield - "Jessie's Girl"
Plain White T's - "Our Time Now"
Cake - "The Distance"
Bon Jovi - "You Give Love a Bad Name"
Outkast - "Sorry Miss Jackson"
Fergie - "Glamorous"
Good Charlotte - "Broken Hearts Parade"
Veruca Salt - "Seether"
Jimmy Eat World - "Sweetness"
Janet Jackson - "The Velvet Rope"

(If you're curious, you can check out our playlists from previous years here and here.)

Technorati tags: best workout songs, gym playlist, songs for exercising

Photo credit: Princess Cruises

how-to: get the best gas mileage

Regardless of whether you have a hybrid vehicle, simple smart driving tactics and auto maintenance can vastly help reduce how much gas you use in a given commute. Check out the FTC's page here on their tips to improve mileage. Some of our favorites are below.

• Drive gently. Speeds above 60 mph and "jackrabbit" starts and stops use a lot of fuel. Look ahead in traffic and anticipate how fast you can actually go. There's no use in cutting someone off if you'll have to come to a near complete stop just a half mile ahead.
• Combine errands. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
• Pack light. Avoid carrying unecessary weight in your vehicle. (This is another great excuse to keep your car neat and organized.) Particularly avoid packing things on top of your car, as the added wind resistance decreases fuel economy.
• Maintain your auto! Keep your engine tuned, tires inflated, oil changed, and filters clean. A properly maintained car can have approximately 15-20% better mileage than a poorly maintained one.

Also, be sure to check out FuelEconomy.gov, a site dedicated to teaching the consumer about everything fuel-ish, from the best local gas prices to explanations on alternatively fueled vehicles.

Technorati tags: fuel efficiency, gas mileage, saving gas

Photo credit: gm-volt.com

money matters: helpful personal finance sites

With the new year comes a new budget. Sure, your tax deadline may not be until April, but officially your fiscal face is only forward. We like the sites listed below. They help you stay on budget, track your savings, and even allow you to see others' financial progress in comparison to yours.

• NetworthIQ: You make an anonymous profile and plug in your net worth. You can compare your financial status to others of your similar age, profession, location, etc. It also allows you to share tips with and pose questions to others.
• MoneyCentral: MSN's answer to everything in the realm of personal finance. Great, informative site with tons of articles on everything from retirement to the kids' college fund. They also have savings and debt calculators.
• 401k Help Center: The name says it all.
• eFile: Last but never least, the IRS. Currently, you are officially able to file your 2007 taxes online for free. It's always good to get a head start on these things, even though most of us dread going through receipts and statements.

Technorati tags: money, personal finance, best money sites

Photo credit: mokra

how-to: memorization tricks

It's very clear that not all of us are a Raymond (Dustin Hoffman's Oscar-winning role in the 1988 film Rain Man). Most of us can't memorize whole telephone books or count into a five deck shoot. However, there are mnemonic devices out there to memorize just about anything. A few interesting tactics come from Wired's How-To article here, summarized below.

To memorize a long string of numbers: associate each number with a letter, then make a memorable phrase out of the letters. It's a bit complicated at first, but practice makes perfect.

To memorize names when you meet people: make a rhyme with the name or associate the name with a distinguishing characteristic of the person. Another classic trick is to simply repeat it a time or two out loud during the first conversation to better associate his/her face with the name.

Another great site with mnemonic techniques is here. It goes over chunking/grouping, loci, and acronyms, as well as gives more links on memory aid sites.

Technorati tags: memory, memorization, how to memorize, mnemonic devices

Photo credit: brainblogger.com

flower power: traditional meanings

Perhaps we're feeling the need for a bit of floral cheer to brighten these winter months. At any rate, we thought it would be interesting to list the traditional meanings of flowers. An abbreviated list from aboutflowers.com is below.

• azalea = abundance
• baby's breath = festivity
• begonia = deep thoughts
• carnation = gratitude (pink), flashy (red), refusal (striped), remembrance (white), cheerful (yellow)
• chrysanthemum = excitement (bronze), truth (white), sharing (red), secret admirer (yellow)
• daffodil = chivalry
• daisy = innocence
• freesia = spirited
• forget-me-not = remember me forever
• gardenia = joy
• geranium = comfort
• hyacinth = sincerity
• iris = inspiration
• ivy = fidelity
• jasmine = grace and elegance
• lavender = distrust
• lilac = first love
• lily (calla) = regal
• magnolia = dignity
• marigold = desire for riches
• orchid = delicate beauty
• poppy = consolation
• rhododendron = beware
• rose = friendship (pink), passionate love (red), unity (red and white), purity (white), zealous (yellow)
• snapdragon = presumptuous
• sunflower = adoration
• tulip = caring (pink), royalty (purple), declaration of love (red), forgiveness (white), hopelessly in love (yellow)
• violet = faithfulness
• zinnia = thoughts of friends

Technorati tags: flowers, meanings of flowers, what flowers mean, floral messages

Photo credit: S.Beach

from flat to floral: jill-able vases

Besides being just plain nifty, these vases by Jill-able allow you to store a vase for every week of the year in a small drawer. Simply fill the Jill-able with water to inflate its shape, then insert your flowers of choice. They're also great to accompany floral gifts (just in case the receiver doesn't have a receptacle handy).

Technorati tags: vases, gifts, flowers

Photo credit: Jill-able

10 tips for keeping your resolution

Happy New Year! The ball has dropped to bring us into 2008, but don't drop the ball on your resolution! See below for ten tips on how to attain your goal, whether it be to get in shape, eat healthier, or save more money. You can also check out the eHow.com article here on five steps to keeping your resolution.

1. Be realistic with your goals. It's a lot easier to say, "I won't eat any fast food whatsoever this year" than actually forego the quick and easy route when on a long road trip. Instead, opt for something like, "I will eat healthier this year," as it allows for the occasional french fry craving or necessity.
2. Be loud and proud. Tell your close friends about your resolution, as they'll be more than likely to continue to ask you about it as reminders or encourage you (or poke fun at you to stick with it) throughout the year.
3. Don't be a slave to dates. Setting firm date goals can be stressful and much harder to attain than general ones.
4. Be the turtle, not the hare. It's not a speed race. If your resolution is to lose 10 pounds, don't try to shed all of them by Valentine's Day! Pace yourself. Do what you can when you can.
5. You might've already made this mistake, but really think about your resolution. Don't wait until the few minutes before the stroke of midnight, because then it'll be more about what just happened to be on your mind at that specific moment rather than something that is more pervasive in your life that should be considered.
6. Make a plan and stick with it. Like any other goal, it helps to write a plan down on paper and keep it somewhere to refer back later. Having an outline helps us break down the overall attainment process so that it presents itself as easier to achieve.
7. Related to the tip above, track your progress. Make one of those little color-in thermometers we remember from selling cookies back in the day and watch yourself work your way to your goal. It helps motivate you.
8. Don't obsess about slip-ups. If you make a mistake or fall off the path, just pick right back up from where you began and don't stress out! You're only human.
9. Keep with it. Many resolutions revolve around changing lifestyle, which is a big deal. It takes time to form a habit and alter how one goes about his/her day-to-day living. Just continue to persevere and it will pay off!
10. Think: Pavlov. It's very basic, but once you realize you've made progress, reward yourself somehow. If you take a look back after a few months and realize you've indeed made that 5 mile run every week, go out and buy yourself a pair of running shoes or mocha frappuccino. Obviously, a little reward goes a long way - don't overdo it!

Technorati tags: how to keep your resolution, resolutions, new years, goal setting

Photo credit: Mike@EC, blogs.europeancarweb.com