no-bake cheesecake! February 10, 2010
Posted by healthyglutton in spoonfuls.add a comment
Here is a recipe for a very easy and quick cheesecake you can make for weekend get-together. It takes about half an hour to prepare and would certainly bring a lift to an ordinary day. I used a 23cm freezer-safe pie plate for it and it serves about 6 people.
Ingredients:
for the graham cracker crust
1 1/2 graham cracker crumbs
1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 tbsp sugar
for the cream cheese filling
8 oz pack cream cheese
5 tbsp sugar
250 ml cream, whipped
Procedure:
Combine all the ingredients and mix it well. On a pie plate, press the graham mixture on the bottom of the plate as well as on the sides. Put the prepared crust in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
Using an electric mixer, blend the cream cheese and the sugar until the consistency is smooth. Add the whipped cream in the mixture and blend until all the mixture is smooth and even. Spread the cream mixture on the crust. Top with shaved chocolates or peaches.
You can also use a variety of sliced fruit toppings or other variations of chocolate (white, semi-sweet or dark). Or even try adding peanut butter in the mix for additional flavor. The trick is to find the taste that you and your family would love and enjoy!
declutter February 4, 2010
Posted by healthyglutton in scraps.add a comment
Unlike most people I know, I look forward to spring cleaning. I feel like I’m in the zone whenever I unearth a bunch of boxes and sort them in their right place. I find it very active and an opportunity for me to be shamelessly sentimental.
However, there are some people who positively dread spring cleaning. People feel swamped just thinking about it. There are, however, more reasons to look forward to than simply cleaning house.
Extra Stash of Cash
Whether under the couch cushions, under the sofa or between the cabinets, loose coins can be real finds. You can put all the loose change you found in a jar and start a small savings stash for extra expenses.
Retouch Old Photographs
You’d be surprised that all those embarrassing photos when you were extremely awkward seem really funny now. With the innovations in technology, you can scan them and make your own collage of old family pictures and make really good “masterpieces” that you can hang in the living room or give away during the holidays.
Revisit your CD Collection
Have a great time listening to poignant tunes you actually forgot you have. There are also neat cases where you can store 100 to 500 CDs in a compact packet. You can just easily find them now and pop it in the player in an instant.
Sell your Old Treasures
You can either make a garage sale or post the items on an Ebay account and sell them for reasonable prices. You can sell old bags, clothes or books provided that these things are still useable to the buyers and you feel like you can actually make good money from it.
Donate to Charity
Somebody would always find a need for those outgrown favorite pajamas that you got ages ago. And kids will always be fascinated with toys even if it’s already outdated. So donate these things to charity and it will surely be a treasure for those who would receive it.
manic monday November 1, 2009
Posted by healthyglutton in stressed.1 comment so far
There are a lot of stressors in the office. In fact, a lot of people consider this as a normal phenomenon. But it does not really have to be.
Here are some tips to help you get a little better along each day:
1. Set your hour limits. Working freakishly long hours is going to take its toll on your health and performance. If you really need to work overtime, set your own limit. Besides, if you have to render more than a couple of hours overtime everyday, you need to reconsider organizing your schedule or delegating your responsibilities.
2. Know your priorities. Set them and see to it that they are realistic too. You save time and energy while giving the impression that you are on the top of your game.
3. Know your duties. There is a job description for every post and you certainly do not need to be the “do-all, be-all” in a 50-personnel office. If the task is overwhelming, delegate.
4. Speak up. A lot of the things that stresses us out can be solved. Sometimes the only thing keeping a problem alive is if people are not talking about it. There is, however, a mile of difference between getting your point across properly and blabbering about your grievances every lunch hour.
5. Learn how to relax. Give yourself time to breathe and enjoy yourself. Have a weekly timeout with your family or friends and blow off steam. Spending quality time also realigns your focus and recharges you for another week.
The corporate world is a jungle but with the right tools, it can be a manageable environment.
closing the deal October 24, 2009
Posted by healthyglutton in career.add a comment
Preparing and acing an interview can be a tough job. Unless you want to fail an inteview, you should never go to one unprepared. If you do not know what you’re doing, the interviewer will know and would most likely tell you.
In the interview you need to show your potential employer that you’re the person they are looking for. Here are some tips to help you weather that dreaded but very important interview.
Know the job. You need to know what you are signing up for. You do not need to overly detail every aspect of the job description but you have to be careful and knowledgeable enough to figure out that you want this job and that you can really do it.
Ask questions. Be courteous and assertive when asking questions. Do not go on hyperdrive and switch places with the interviewer. Being able to ask a few smart questions about the job shows that you are interested enough in it.
Answer concisely. Excessive yapping can throw you way off course and can imply that you are a scatterbrain. Answer directly and do not try so hard to be impressive. If you know what you’re talking about, you can definitely get it across in a few sentences.
Suit up. But do not overdress. Wear a crisp and clean attire and try to minimize on the accesories – a dress watch will suffice for an accessory.
Practice. Try to anticipate several basic questions and have your answers prepared. Rehearse a few hand gestures to avoid looking stiff and smile appropriately.
The interview can be the most anxious part of the job application process but if it’s done right it can be your ticket to your dream job.
Good luck!
keeping it going October 12, 2009
Posted by healthyglutton in going green.2 comments
Our world looks like it’s speaking up. We are experiencing what most people call climate change and it looks like it’s not going to stop anytime soon. A lot of people has already pointed fingers on people and things which can be blamed for what’s happening. Now, we can try and throw more blame on people who can opt not to care about or we can do little but helpful things to help mend the problem.
Unplug appliances whenever it’s not in use. Not only are you helping the environment but you’re also doing your electricity bill a favor. Saving money while helping the earth is not a bad idea at all. You can also use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones.
Shower in cold water. You will definitely feel energized after a cold shower anyway.
Look into your closet. Do you really need to buy new clothes, shoes and bags so often? Reuse and reduce your own clutter and you’ll be doing all of us a favor.
Check your kitchen cupboards. If there are a lot of harmful chemicals used in your cleaning materials, you need to switch to more environmentally friendly cleaning products.
Plant a tree. It may take years for us to see the fruits of this task but we all have to start somewhere. There is only one earth and, as far as we know, this is the only inhabitable planet we have so we really do not have any choice but to save it.
why they should hire you October 8, 2009
Posted by healthyglutton in career.3 comments
It is no secret that there are many jobseekers today. In fact, they make more of them each year. Chances are there are those who have the same qualifications and skills as you do, and they (just like you, of course) would do their best to be hired. The challenge is how to get your potential employer to choose you.
Before you suit up and brush up on your interview skills, you have to pay close attention to the paper which defines you – your resume. Here are some tips to make that piece of paper work for you.
1. Write your objective clearly. If you want to work as a human relations officer in a supervisry level for a stable and reputable company, write it. Be direct to the point and as specific as you can. Everybody wants a good and productive career.
2. Do not include trivial details. Write only the relevant experiences that would work for your reputation. It would also show that you are focused and have a strong background. There is also no need to mention your age, hobbies and favorite color.
3. Use regular and crisp fonts. There is no need to use crazy and “creative” fonts. It is safest to use Times New Roman or Arial fonts.
4. Pay attention to the content and avoid improvisations. Use the common formats in writing your resume. Your relevant work experiences should immediately follow your objective, followed by your skills and educational background.
5. Make your resume presentable. Do not fold your resume or put it in an envelope. Do not print it in paper with pink flowers or blue stripes just because you want it to stand out. Just keep it neat and it will do the well by itself.
Good luck!
Take Five September 25, 2009
Posted by healthyglutton in piggy banker.2 comments
The simple things are often too simply neglected. There are tons of little windows of opportunities to save more than what we toss in our savings accounts. I currently follow several simple rules in saving cash. My friends suggest that I take little steps on this and I realize that it is the smartest thing to do anyway. Here are some ways that can generally help you boost your savings (and you do not even have to follow them all).
I – Use paper money.
Instead of paying the exact amount, try paying with larger bills. Later, you can chuck the coins to…wait for it…a piggy bank! I know, it’s cliché but you can pick alternatives. I just like piggy banks, because it’s just really cute. You’re probably thinking that coins have very little worth these days but over time you will see that it’s definitely worth the trouble.
II – Turn off the television.
I am not saying do not watch TV altogether. Unfortunately, the advertisements in between your favorite programs are going to do nothing but urge you that you do not have all the things that you need. Try watching several commercials for facial creams and the next thing you know you have several half-empty tubes of moisturizer; and you do not really feel any different at all. (As a bonus, you may even make a sizeable dent in your electric bill.)
III – Avoid using money as to de-stress.
There are a lot of times when we feel that we deserve to spend so much because we work just as hard. Although this may be true, we also inadvertently add more stress to ourselves by spending more than we should. Try to cultivate an inexpensive hobby to take your mind off work after a long day rather than blowing cash for expensive places you cannot really afford.
IV – Walk.
This saves more than cab fares. And let’s face it, we all need the exercise.
V – Drink more water.
One of my friends gave me this brilliant idea. Drinking water makes you feel fuller and it’s a very healthy and cheap alternative from ordering drinks with your meals. You can buy bottled water as it is still way cheaper than most bottled drinks but you can also opt for the benefits of drinking tap water.
There are really a lot of ways to help us save money. Choose the best way that fit your needs and practice it as much as you can. Good luck!
retailed September 18, 2009
Posted by healthyglutton in piggy banker.2 comments
I really enjoy grocery shopping. Unfortunately, my cash and plastics almost always seem squirmy at the sight of colorful and tempting packages with “special deals and limited offers” plastered to it. At the end of the day, I look at the piles of items in the grocery bags and realize that I made tons of inappropriate and needless purchases.
In my efforts to try and save as much money as I can I read a few articles on how to improve my shopping skills. Here are some ways which can help us make better choices in grocery shopping.There are no real strict rules and you can skip some of the guidelines and just choose the ones that would best fit your needs.
Read the label. There is one brand of rather expensive canned tuna that I always buy knowing that I am getting my money’s worth, but when I read the label of the cheaper brand I realized that it is being manufactured by the same company (yes, same address and all!) – I made the switch.
Add an occassional set of comfort food on your grocery list. Having a pint of ice cream or a couple of your favorite chocolate bars in your fridge helps you curve the need to go to the nearest fastfood when you’re feeling a bit down.
Make sure that you’re full before you shop. A lot of items seem much more appetizing when you’re hungry.
Buy staple items in bulk. Read the ounces and do the math.
Avail of as many discounts or rebates that you can get. There are a lot of stores which offers good and useful memberships like SM Advantage, Shopwise and Makro. You can even get free items aside from the points that are often convertible to cash coupons.
Plan your grocery day. Do not go to the grocery just because you ran out of catsup. You need to set aside a day so you can avoid being rushed out of the store with items you do not really need.
Make a grocery list and stick to it. This is the hardest but the best test of discipline, and it produces the best results too. You can also make allowances for extra items you forgot to list but make sure that it is limited to a certain amount as well.
You do not need to be overly dramatic when it comes to grocery shopping but there are miles of savings that you can benefit from it by doing just these simple exercises. Eventually, these skills will come out like clockwork and actually turn out to be enjoyable. Happy shopping.
a green mind September 15, 2009
Posted by healthyglutton in going green.1 comment so far
Global warming is so not hot.
I can definitely feel the change in temperature and can positively swear that the seasons do not feel the way they used to. I do try to take some little steps to help abet this so-called disaster in slow motion. I choose to bring canvass bags whenever I shop and opt for no plastic at all whenever I can. I even throw sidelong glares at people who throw their junk in improper places.
I read a lot of literature regarding the proper waste disposal and appropriate ways to recycle stuff. I also find that there are a lot of well-meaning individuals who would like to contribute to a healthier earth. They are, however, lacking in the basic understanding of which items should be recycled and how. Some of them cannot even differentiate the concepts between reuse and recycle.
Well, there are a lot of things to learn about going green. But we have got to start somewhere, right? So, and without further ado, here’s a list of types of plastics and how they should be recycled.
1 – Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE)
2 – High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
3 – Polyvinyl chloride (V or PVC)
4 – Low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
5 – Polypropylene (PP)
6 – Polystyrene (PS)
7 – Other -This is a combination of some or all plastics.
All plastic products have Resin Identification Codes indicating its type. While the ones with numbers 1,2,4 and 5 are the safest plastics, not all of them should be reused. Type 1 can easily absorb bacteria and type 3 have been identified to cause hormonal and reproductive disorders, type 6 is even identified to contain and emit carcinogens.
Be sure to check which type of plastics are used in your households and follow the guidelines on disposing it properly. That’s a good start!
the 30-second rule September 14, 2009
Posted by healthyglutton in piggy banker.add a comment
I am a helpless shopper.
I have the will of a marshmallow when it comes to shopping. I buy everything on sale or “limited stocks only”. I blindly take cans and packs of anything (some stuff I would never even dare to use) in the supermarket.
But I am on a deadline – I plan to save the heck out of my earnings. And I start now!
My friend, Elesi and I agreed on a pact – as I have no inner control. She would help me stick to my savings plans and I will… er… give her something to do.
So we have arrived on a 30-second rule. Before I buy something, I will pick it up and ask myself a bunch of questions like: “Do I need it?” or “What will I do with this?;” then I will slowly put it back on the shelf. I will look at it and check if I still want it.
You may laugh at my seemingly idiotic attempts at being the next millionaire, I don’t really mind. But I plan to stick to this and well, uhm, we’ll see.
