Winterize your skin

My mom's amiga told her that Jeddah experienced rain and sandstorm last week which usually is the signal for the turning of the season here in the Middle East. Yesterday's hot and steamy road trip to hear the mass at the Aramco reinforced this news. However, this morning, the weather was back to being subzero. No, it's actually colder today than the previous week. I look like a homeless individual when I came into the office today. Lesson learned for me: never trust unconfirmed weather forecasts.

Since it's still cold, I'll share with you some of my winter skincare tips:

• Keep skin hydrated. It's ideal to drink water to keep hydrated, but it's best to spritz it on your skin. Follow it up with a heavy moisturizer to keep the skin well supple. Remember that with humidity, it's not about the water you consume.
• Showers should be warm, not scalding hot. Taking hot showers not only scald your skin (tee-hee), but it also draws moisture from your skin thus making it itchy.
• When it comes with soaps, switch to moisturizing ones. I've read somewhere that you should always match your skincare products with the season, so do that. Liquid soaps, too, are more moisturizing than the solid, bar ones. Plus, it prevents soap scum because it's synthetic.
• Wash your hair often. I promise you that your hair won't fill up the room. Also, invest in a good, rich conditioner to combat the frizzies.
• Stay kissable with lip balms. I always reapply after drinking or eating (or putting something in my mouth). Don't miss a beat with this one. It's also ideal to have one with SPF.
• If you feel that heavy lotions make you feel icky when applied during the day, slather them on your hands and feet at night before sleeping. To get best results, wear socks and gloves after applying.

I am so not expensive!

This comic strip totally captures why freelancers are paid higher than the usual.

For more of Freelance Freedom, head over here.

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Visual Guide to the Apostrophe

Unnerving it is to admit but some of us English language users still have a hard time figuring out the apostrophe.

It's a good thing Matthew Inman came up with a visual guide on how to use an apostrophe. It is a lovely resource with all the illustrations and muted colors, but I'm loving the last cautionary advice for everyone.

Piggybacking on the idea, I think it would be nice if we do something with txtspeak, right?

Butterfingers No More!

I've been itching myself to buy a digital SLR so I can really go full speed with my photography plans. Aside from the lack of financing my plan due to a recent toy splurge I've been toying around for days which kept me away from my online activities, I have this knack of dropping my things accidentally. I guess that's what we call "clumsy".

Imagine my delight when I saw this tutorial for a do-it-yourself camera handstrap over at Photojojo!

So chica, no? I would love to do one in orange or purple. We should all go make one! And, it's a cute li'l gift you can give to friends who are DSLR users too!

[image via]

Saving on Ink

Businesses nowadays are trying their best to go "green". Even in the richly supplied offices of Saudi Arabia, most companies are engaging their employees and partners to join the green revolution. For example, Saudi Aramco has asked us months ago to send them our invoices electronically in order to save on paper, ink, and as well as time and the carbon footprint for going to and from the offices.

In contrast with the supplies-strapped offices back home, we employees are trained to be efficient with almost everything in the office like turning off the lights and the computer monitors when not in use or use the back pages of photocopied materials when printing drafts among others. I am happy to say that I'm still continuing some of these things here; it's like a forced habit already.

Spranq, a creative communications agency from The Netherlands, is taking the green revolution to another level. They have revised an Open Source type, Vera Sans, by punching holes in it. Their creation is called Ecofont and it promises to consume 20% less of your normal ink usage. Because of their efforts, they are now nominated in the Accenture Innovation Awards 2009.

Personally, I use fonts that are "light" in terms of font weight (or the thickness of the character relative to their height). I use Helvetica 45 Light as my "normal" font, and, instead of clicking on the "bold" function, I use the Helvetica 55 Roman as an alternative. (Helvetica... *drools*)

Aside from using "light" fonts, I also print drafts in 50-60% gray. The final ones, on the other hand, is in 85% grey so that the black ink of my CMYK printer would have a longer printing life than the usual.

What are the simple ways you do to help out in saving the environment through your organization/company?

Entrepreneurs can change the world.

This gave me that little inspiration (or should I say major push) I need to pursue my plans for social (and, let's not forget, sustainable) entrepreneurship.

Now, where did I put my idea bank?

1 Billion = 7: The Advertising of Microsoft's New OS

There are hundreds of article piling up on the interwebs about the release of the new Microsoft OS, Windows 7. Out of all of those, this one makes me smile and be secretly proud of being a Windows user.

It is, of course, general knowledge to listen to what their audience or market is telling them; it's great for business. But to have a campaign that ascertains them of being a part of co-creating something great is, albeit nothing new, empowering.

The Billion Designers of Windows 7 by Stuart Elliott in NY Times

“Our customers co-create the product with us,” said David Webster, general manager for brand and marketing strategy at Microsoft in Redmond, Wash. “We’re using the customers’ voice to tell our story.”

Mr. Webster summarized the points the ads make: “You told us you want it simpler, we made it simpler. You told us you want it to boot faster, it boots faster.”

In one poster ad, these words are superimposed over a photograph of a woman: “I asked for it to use less memory. Now it uses less memory. I’m a tech goddess.”

In another poster ad, these words appear over a photo of an older man: “I suggested they make it less complicated. Guess what? Now it’s less complicated. I so rule.”

In commercials, Microsoft engineers say, “Bring it on; what do you got?” PC users fire back with pithy phrases like “Less clutter, just less clutter.” And the engineers reply: “Loud and clear. We’re all over it.”

How a Sewing Machine Works

At last, another question from my childhood days answered.

I miss pedaling our almost four-decade old (or more!) sewing machine. As a weird kid growing up, It was such a pleasant experience then.

What are your sewing machine memories from childhood?

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A Simple Step to Win Brand Loyalty: Provide A Range of Free Services

One of the great things you can do to establish brand loyalty is to provide great free services to your loyal consumers and/or customers.

My Swatch watch broke down on the last work day of the week. Naturally, I'd have to pay for the battery and for the replacement service. I was wrong. Dead wrong.

Over the weekend, I armed myself with some money and my lifeless timekeeper to the Swatch store (in a nearby mall) to have the battery replacement procedure done on it.

I handed over the watch to the store attendant and coyly asked how much is the service to which he replied, "It's free." I thought my ears were deceiving me. While he was busy replacing the battery on my watch, I asked him again, "How much is the battery?"

He then strangely looked at me as if I cannot understand the word "free." And he handed me over my newly adjusted watch and told me, "You don't have to pay us anything," and pointed out to a sign in the store which says that the battery service and polishing is free.

So I deduced that as long as my watch is from their collection, the battery service and polishing (of the glass) is free for life. It's a good deal, right, as long as I buy watch from them.

I'm not sure if this is true for the Swatch stores in the Philippines though. The last time I had a battery replaced, I forked out a huge amount to have it done.

The next thing I'll try (for free, of course) is the polishing service. Maybe I'll go to their newly opened store which is just around the corner from where I live.

Make a Bed with Hospital Corners

It maybe meticulous and time-consuming but the thought of a pristine-looking bed makes the chaos organizer in me smile.

Politeness means Bowing and Shrinking

Friends are constantly complaining (over the social networks) about the nonstop rain back home which caused a lot of flooding almost everywhere. I actually miss having raindrops fall on my head and, gasp, the smell of the earth after the rain. The rain is a gift, y'all; learn to appreciate it. (Wait, did I just say y'all?)

If I was there right now, I'll be sporting this Polite Umbrella by JooYoun Paek, a New York-based Korean interaction designer.

The umbrella morphs to reduce occupied space and to increase user maneuverability. Users of this shrinkable umbrella can easily adjust them anytime by pulling a handle so that they can protect themselves from harsh winds or bumping into others. It bows and shrinks, y'all! (Did I just say y'all again?)

Definitely a recommended buy for those who do not wish the evils brought by those pesky poking ends of an umbrella on a rainy day.

Crack Eggs with One Hand

A very sisiw thing to master if you always play Cooking Mama. (^_~)

Guess the Number of M&Ms in a Jar

An excellent trick, no? Who would've known there's such a thing as "packing friction"? Uh, yes, that's me.

Them packing science people! ;-P

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Folding Dress Shirts

I never fold my dress shirts when transporting them. I just don't like the idea of folding. I use cloth bags instead to cover my dress shirts and hang them in the car if I need be.

Just in case I need to fold a dress shirt like, for example, returning it to the store because it was a size larger than the usual, or I need one for a trip abroad, the video below from Real Simple is a nifty how-to for this problem.



There is also an easy step-by-step photo tutorial of the video that can serve as an alternative. Still, I'd rather have you watch the video.

Weird Things Said in Job Interviews

CNN listed 40+ ridiculous answers (and instances) that hiring managers have heard from applicants in an interview.

Here are some of my favorites:

When have you demonstrated leadership skills?

"Well my best example would be in the world of online video gaming. I pretty much run the show; it takes a lot to do that."

Use three adjectives to describe yourself

"I hate questions like this."

I won't judge them because I'm also guilty of saying some weird things in an interview. One instance, when interviewed for an internship to an advertising agency about my weaknesses, I said, "I think my weakness is not knowing what my weakness is or weaknesses are."I never heard from them again during the application period for interns.

I'm just grateful for the list made because I know what not to share during these interviews.

How to Open A Banana Like A Monkey

Neat, no? But wouldn't it be easier to just slit the banana from the side just like when you're eating nilagang saba (boiled Musa Saba banana)?

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Quick Access Folders in Windows Taskbar

I oftentimes want a quick access to some of the files here in the office computers that I use for my job. So what to do when I don't want to use Rocketdock's Stack options because it's a tad slow for me or the Quick Launch option just doesn't do the job?

Make yourself a new taskbar of that folder. Here's how:

• Right-click on the taskbar and select Toolbars from the menu
• Choose New Toolbar from the menu
• Search for the folder you want a quick access to and click on the O.K. button

Now, your new toolbar sits at the rightmost corner of the taskbar near the notification area. With this new toolbar, a menu pops-up which lets you browse its contents and open files right then and there.

Nifty, no? ;-P

How to turn a square cloth to a simple bag

I fell in love with the Furoshiki when it was featured in one of the episodes of Japan Video Topic shown over IBC13, which I believe is a state-run television network back in the Philippines. Well, furoshiki is this square wrapping cloth that is traditionally used for transporting numerous types of objects.

According to enthusiasts, you can see sizes of furoshiki that range from a hanky-sized one to something as big as a bed sheet. The type of fiber used can also range from the inexpensive cotton to the more luxurious silk. Nowadays, I've seen furoshikis sporting modern prints (btw, it'll be a great business venture) but I guess more people lean on the traditional ones when they give it as a gift.

What got me more interested is that you can reuse the furoshiki when it's given to you. Not only is it great for re-gifting, but it's also environment-friendly. Yey! =D



There are tons of instructional videos out there on how to use furoshiki with transporting (or gifting) ordinary objects. The video above is one of my favorite uses for furoshiki. It demonstrates how you can turn the ordinary furoshiki (or any other square-ish cloth you have lying around) into a simple bag you can use to carry your stuff around.

I'd say it's a neat thing to know when you don't have a bag but you need one asap.

So Rusty My English

Working abroad means I am always surrounded with people from various races -- from Jordanians, Egyptians, Saudis, to Indians, Chinese, Indonesians, and Pakistanis -- you name it, I've already met one (or more) from each nation here in the Desert Kingdom. Having little knowledge with the native languages commonly used by the people I communicate with everyday, I have to rely on the English language in order to engage with them in locution, whether for business or personal use.

There are days wherein I feel being proficient in the English language proves to be very beneficial on my part especially with my work, but there are also times wherein it proves otherwise which I find unusual. One concrete example is with semantics. Some just don't get what I say at all or they particularly sift through what I say and grab whatever words that they'd understand.

I was frustrated when the misunderstandings repeats all over. I have thought of a temporary solution which is to bring my level at par with theirs. It did help me with conversing with others; however, the anxiety of not having to practice speaking English for a long-ish period of time takes toll particularly with my tongue. I sometimes forget how to enunciate simple words correctly. Even my basic syntax skills needs some brushing up or else I'd go back to elementary school.

To circumvent these "side effects", I read aloud this Pronunciation Poem (found below) aside from various speech exercises as part of my early morning rituals at work.

Pronunciation Poem
from http://www.infiltec.com/j-prono.htm

I take it you already know
of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble, but not you,
on hiccough, thorough, laugh and through.
Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,
to learn of less familiar traps?


Beware of heard, a dreadful word,
that looks like beard and sounds like bird.
And dead -- it's said like bed not bead --
and for goodness' sake don't call it deed!
Watch out for meat and great and threat
(They rhyme with suite and straight and debt)


A moth is not the moth in mother,
nor both in bother, broth in brother.
And here is not a match for there,
nor dear and fear for bear and pear.
And then there's dose and rose and lose --
just look them up -- and goose and choose,
and cork and work and card and ward,
and font and front and word and sword,
and do and go and thwart and cart --
come, come I've hardly made a start.
A dreadful language? Man alive.
I'd mastered it when I was five.

During moments when I can cyberloaf (or the use of computers by employees for purposes unrelated to work), I read a lot from my feeds and try to define unfamiliar words in order to increase vocabulary. I also find it helpful if I can chat with someone over the instant messenger, prompting me to muster up all of my working knowledge with regard to the English language.

Or maybe I could just simply blog, twit, or plurk my way to English proficiency if all else fails.