Since I volunteered to be on the Wellness Committee, I feel more pressured to be healthy..or at least know more about my choices.
I checked out NutritionData and was hoping I would be able to find the date for The Tea House' Taro Cream Blend Bubble Tea. That stuff is so good and I'm sure it has to be more on the unhealthy side of the nutritional spectrum. Since I couldn't find Bubble Tea, I opted to search for a 2nd favorite treat: Taco Bell's Chili Cheese Burrito! I can easily eat 2, maybe even 3 if I try, but after I eat it, I feel so sluggish and get heartburn. I looked up the Chili Cheese Goodness and...surprise, surprise- the fullness factor is a 2.0! No wonder I could eat an entire box of them! It is also high in Saturated Fat and Sodium. I don't know much about fat (other than my body seems to like it) but I'm pretty sure saturated fats are bad.
Although I think the Recipes.Sparkpeople is useful, I hate having to list out ingredients (could it be b/c I don't want to really know HOW MUCH I'm eating?!). I don't cook all too often from scratch but I do occasionally make enchiladas with cream of mushroom (don't knock it til you try it!)
Here are the estimated ingredients I entered:
Ingredients:
* 98% Fat Free Cream of Mushroom 1/2 cup, 1 serving
* Corn Tortillas, 4 tortilla, medium (approx 6" dia)
* boiled chicken drumstick, 3 serving
* Olive Oil, 3 tbsp
* *Kroger Colby and Monterey Jack Cheese shredded, 1 cup
* Salt, 1 dash
* Garlic powder, 1 tsp
* Onion powder, 1 tsp
Here is the nutritional data:
Calories 1,081.3
Total Fat 78.0 g
Saturated Fat 26.9 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.9 g
Monounsaturated Fat 30.6 g
Cholesterol 125.0 mg
Sodium 1,623.7 mg
Potassium 244.1 mg
Total Carbohydrate 60.2 g
Dietary Fiber 7.9 g
Sugars 3.3 g
Protein 37.6 g
Did I mention cheese is a weakness of mine? I adjusted the amount of cheese I would use and that made a huge difference. Instead of a cup of cheese, I put 1/4 cup and the calories dropped down to 781. I then substituted my regular cheese for Fat Free Mozzarella (1/4 cup) and the calories drop down to 731.
So what is the lesson?! Eat less cheese!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
#59: Credit, Money Management, and Saving
I was surprised to make such a good grade on the credit score quiz. I hate to admit but I never actually requested my credit score and I have been meaning to do that. I am very punctual about paying my bills on time. If it weren't for online banking, I'd probably be in a lot of trouble.
I am very interested in starting a budgeting plan. I have high hopes once I am done with graduate school that includes taking at least a month long vacation. I also like my electronic toys and would like to purchase a new computer, camera, and other electronic goodness. I am a horrible online shopper. I can spend a bunch on impulse buys online, such as last night, and I need to tighten my control of spending. I looked at About.com's Build a Budget and the concept is fairly simple. Although my actual budget is pretty flexible, I know I spend more than I should on eating out, going out with friends, and treating myself (as well as others) too often. My biggest expense is tuition but I'm fortunate to have received a small scholarship from school and also can opt for the installment plan which makes the thousand plus bill less daunting.
I attempted to view BankRate's article on advice from top financial advisers and the second page was unavailable. I am sure the key to financial stability is minimize frivolous spending when possible. I love gadgets and books and music and spoiling myself. In the end, I still listen to the same tunes, I read a minimal amount of books, and my gadgets gather dust. If I could be strict with myself, I am sure I can save for a nice vacation for the future.
After reviewing the TCDRS site, I found the resources page most useful. Not to act like retirement isn't a big deal but I have a way before I can think about retiring so I never paid much concern to it. I see the resources page has a glossary which is ideal for me! I never knew the official definition of "being vested" but I see it is important and a great thing to accomplish if possible.
I am very interested in starting a budgeting plan. I have high hopes once I am done with graduate school that includes taking at least a month long vacation. I also like my electronic toys and would like to purchase a new computer, camera, and other electronic goodness. I am a horrible online shopper. I can spend a bunch on impulse buys online, such as last night, and I need to tighten my control of spending. I looked at About.com's Build a Budget and the concept is fairly simple. Although my actual budget is pretty flexible, I know I spend more than I should on eating out, going out with friends, and treating myself (as well as others) too often. My biggest expense is tuition but I'm fortunate to have received a small scholarship from school and also can opt for the installment plan which makes the thousand plus bill less daunting.
I attempted to view BankRate's article on advice from top financial advisers and the second page was unavailable. I am sure the key to financial stability is minimize frivolous spending when possible. I love gadgets and books and music and spoiling myself. In the end, I still listen to the same tunes, I read a minimal amount of books, and my gadgets gather dust. If I could be strict with myself, I am sure I can save for a nice vacation for the future.
After reviewing the TCDRS site, I found the resources page most useful. Not to act like retirement isn't a big deal but I have a way before I can think about retiring so I never paid much concern to it. I see the resources page has a glossary which is ideal for me! I never knew the official definition of "being vested" but I see it is important and a great thing to accomplish if possible.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
#58: Money & Finance
I am all about saving a couple trees here and there and I find online banking suitable for my needs. I spend the majority of my time in front of my computer and I never carry cash. I use online banking to send myself reminders when bills are due and automatically transfer money to savings twice a month. My bank does not charge for online banking and I feel it is beneficial for both parties because you save them paper, ink and postage AND you save time. However, this may infringe on the need of bank tellers thus creating a job shortage and such.
I am not too worried about using sites to manage my accounts b/c I feel that my online information is already susceptible to tampering and third party views. This may be naive of me but most banks have some level of protection against identity theft. I decided to create a profile with Mint and received a couple of emails about my weekly expenses. I haven't seen the full potential it offers and plan to cancel the account b/c I don't have time or interest to add in monthly bills that do not extract from my bank account. I think online banking is sufficient use for now. I set up automatic transfers from my checking account to my savings and I also get email reminders when I have bills to pay.
After reading the Consumers Report on spending less, I feel a bit more confident about my spending habit. I recently purchased a water pitcher for myself and my mother for Mother's Day. We constantly purchased water bottles and I've been told that is one habit good to nix b/c of the plastic waste. I definitely think I can be more careful with my debit card as well. At times, I withdraw money but don't make an effort to find my bank's ATM. I've noticed the fees add up fast.
I am not too worried about using sites to manage my accounts b/c I feel that my online information is already susceptible to tampering and third party views. This may be naive of me but most banks have some level of protection against identity theft. I decided to create a profile with Mint and received a couple of emails about my weekly expenses. I haven't seen the full potential it offers and plan to cancel the account b/c I don't have time or interest to add in monthly bills that do not extract from my bank account. I think online banking is sufficient use for now. I set up automatic transfers from my checking account to my savings and I also get email reminders when I have bills to pay.
After reading the Consumers Report on spending less, I feel a bit more confident about my spending habit. I recently purchased a water pitcher for myself and my mother for Mother's Day. We constantly purchased water bottles and I've been told that is one habit good to nix b/c of the plastic waste. I definitely think I can be more careful with my debit card as well. At times, I withdraw money but don't make an effort to find my bank's ATM. I've noticed the fees add up fast.
Friday, March 20, 2009
#55: Facebook Challenge
Unfortunately, I have a Facebook account so that I can tinker with the library's page. Its not that I don't like Facebook; I jumped on the social network bandwagon with Myspace and I am used to their layout and features.
But I do admit, I get sucked into the endless memes in Facebook and write my status practically on a daily basis and leave comments on other people's profiles.
Today, I used the Friend Finder for my high school classmates in 2000. I found a good number of people and sent requests to add them. I don't really know if "knowing" them on Facebook will deem beneficial but it never hurts, right? Besides, either party can choose to ignore the add or the user entirely. It is nice to have someone find you though. Recently a friend that I knew in my art class befriended me in Facebook and she is now a missionary. I feel that it was kismet to cross paths b/c I am contemplating volunteering abroad when I graduate.
As for applications, I have trouble deciphering these. I've taken the occasional quiz and when I try to send it to friends or get my results, I get an error page. However, when I go back to my homepage, the results are posted. I recently added the Living Social: Books application which I haven't perused much but I like sharing my reads with friends. I also updated my Flixster application and added a couple of my favorite movies to my list. I want to see if I can add my Netflix info onto FB which would be great!
I know some people feel that social networking is lame or for losers. I am even reading articles for class that debate whether the internet is a good or bad thing for individuals. In my opinion, I think everything has good and bad in it and everything can be enjoyed in moderation. Either way, Facebook and other networks make everyday life a little more lively.
But I do admit, I get sucked into the endless memes in Facebook and write my status practically on a daily basis and leave comments on other people's profiles.
Today, I used the Friend Finder for my high school classmates in 2000. I found a good number of people and sent requests to add them. I don't really know if "knowing" them on Facebook will deem beneficial but it never hurts, right? Besides, either party can choose to ignore the add or the user entirely. It is nice to have someone find you though. Recently a friend that I knew in my art class befriended me in Facebook and she is now a missionary. I feel that it was kismet to cross paths b/c I am contemplating volunteering abroad when I graduate.
As for applications, I have trouble deciphering these. I've taken the occasional quiz and when I try to send it to friends or get my results, I get an error page. However, when I go back to my homepage, the results are posted. I recently added the Living Social: Books application which I haven't perused much but I like sharing my reads with friends. I also updated my Flixster application and added a couple of my favorite movies to my list. I want to see if I can add my Netflix info onto FB which would be great!
I know some people feel that social networking is lame or for losers. I am even reading articles for class that debate whether the internet is a good or bad thing for individuals. In my opinion, I think everything has good and bad in it and everything can be enjoyed in moderation. Either way, Facebook and other networks make everyday life a little more lively.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
#54 Social Networking Through Books
Part 1: My thoughts on Book Clubs
I would love to join a book club but I never have the time to do so. I also think whenever I plan to read a book, I lose interest. The same applies for dieting and other stuff like mowing the lawn. If I say I will do it, I inadvertently don't. A close friend of mine started a book club that was supposed to read a book each month but we would meet every week and read short stories. As interesting as this was and fun to see friends every week, I was unable to commit to it.
Part 2: Implementing a Book Club
I think it would be easy to start up a book club, however, getting people to stick to their guns is another story. I feel like that my opinion and ideas are biased b/c I know the process of setting up a book club. The general public is unaware that they can book meeting rooms at the library. If I had time, I would love to set up a book club on romantic comedies or possibly books that were made into movies. I know one of branches does the books/movie adaptation and there is a database (Mid Continent I believe) that lists the books and movies.
The Houston Great Books Council site is useful; however I am sure they are many more book clubs in Houston. I looked at Meyerland Borders book selection which is appealing. They are currently reading The Best American Short Stories by John Updike.
Part 3: Testing
I decided to use the Dictionary of Failed Relationships as my test subject (and that is collecting dust somewhere in my home)and see if anyone has written reviews about it. On LibraryThing and Facebooks' Living Social, the book has a ~2.5 rating (out of 4). There were a couple of reviews on Facebook that state the women are whiny and the other states its different and interesting.
From my experience, most chick lit books do deal with whiny women. But I enjoy that kind of stuff.
I would love to join a book club but I never have the time to do so. I also think whenever I plan to read a book, I lose interest. The same applies for dieting and other stuff like mowing the lawn. If I say I will do it, I inadvertently don't. A close friend of mine started a book club that was supposed to read a book each month but we would meet every week and read short stories. As interesting as this was and fun to see friends every week, I was unable to commit to it.
Part 2: Implementing a Book Club
I think it would be easy to start up a book club, however, getting people to stick to their guns is another story. I feel like that my opinion and ideas are biased b/c I know the process of setting up a book club. The general public is unaware that they can book meeting rooms at the library. If I had time, I would love to set up a book club on romantic comedies or possibly books that were made into movies. I know one of branches does the books/movie adaptation and there is a database (Mid Continent I believe) that lists the books and movies.
The Houston Great Books Council site is useful; however I am sure they are many more book clubs in Houston. I looked at Meyerland Borders book selection which is appealing. They are currently reading The Best American Short Stories by John Updike.
Part 3: Testing
I decided to use the Dictionary of Failed Relationships as my test subject (and that is collecting dust somewhere in my home)and see if anyone has written reviews about it. On LibraryThing and Facebooks' Living Social, the book has a ~2.5 rating (out of 4). There were a couple of reviews on Facebook that state the women are whiny and the other states its different and interesting.
From my experience, most chick lit books do deal with whiny women. But I enjoy that kind of stuff.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
#53: Finding Books Online
For this exercise, I looked up bookstores in my area and reviewed their online presence.
Doing a Google search for "Bookstores 77054," I retrieved a list of stores. The closest are Half Price Books, Brazos Bookstore and Inner Harmony. Half Price has a general website that lists their locations. This store is my favorite bookstore b/c 1)they're discounted books and 2) they have a wide variety of topics including my favorites: art, fiction and graphic novels. Brazos' site is aesthetically pleasing but hard to navigate and takes too long to upload pages. I am impatient; if I'm going to browse, I'd rather do it in person. As for Inner Harmony, no site or online reviews are provided.
To test the search features, I chose to look for The Dictionary of Failed Relationships. Brazos does have this title online and provides a short synopsis of the book. I searched HCPL's catalog and Bartleby, both do not own copies. Amazon does have this title as an eBook for as little as $8.80. Luckily, I went to Half Price recently and stumbled across this book in their CLEARANCE section for $2.00! Although it is convenient to purchase online, I do enjoy visiting real locations b/c it is rewarding when you find great deals. I use Abebooks.com frequently which has books as little as $1 and most sellers will lower their shipping and handling for multiple purchases.
I briefly reviewed the book swapping sites and I am weary to try those b/c I would have to pay for shipping and there is still a chance that someone may not honor your service.
Another part of the exercise is to explore eBooks. I downloaded the required software to read ebooks from Harris County Public Library's Overdrive and started reading a non-fiction book. This isn't my preferred method of leisure reading (on my computer screen) but it is convenient for when I have to be online for long spurts and am interested in testing out a book before I buy it.
I don't ever intend on purchasing ebooks b/c I enjoy having a book at hand and getting the tactile experience. I don't know if its being old fashioned or resisting change, but reading the traditional bound book is more appealing than reading an electronic version.
Doing a Google search for "Bookstores 77054," I retrieved a list of stores. The closest are Half Price Books, Brazos Bookstore and Inner Harmony. Half Price has a general website that lists their locations. This store is my favorite bookstore b/c 1)they're discounted books and 2) they have a wide variety of topics including my favorites: art, fiction and graphic novels. Brazos' site is aesthetically pleasing but hard to navigate and takes too long to upload pages. I am impatient; if I'm going to browse, I'd rather do it in person. As for Inner Harmony, no site or online reviews are provided.
To test the search features, I chose to look for The Dictionary of Failed Relationships. Brazos does have this title online and provides a short synopsis of the book. I searched HCPL's catalog and Bartleby, both do not own copies. Amazon does have this title as an eBook for as little as $8.80. Luckily, I went to Half Price recently and stumbled across this book in their CLEARANCE section for $2.00! Although it is convenient to purchase online, I do enjoy visiting real locations b/c it is rewarding when you find great deals. I use Abebooks.com frequently which has books as little as $1 and most sellers will lower their shipping and handling for multiple purchases.
I briefly reviewed the book swapping sites and I am weary to try those b/c I would have to pay for shipping and there is still a chance that someone may not honor your service.
Another part of the exercise is to explore eBooks. I downloaded the required software to read ebooks from Harris County Public Library's Overdrive and started reading a non-fiction book. This isn't my preferred method of leisure reading (on my computer screen) but it is convenient for when I have to be online for long spurts and am interested in testing out a book before I buy it.
I don't ever intend on purchasing ebooks b/c I enjoy having a book at hand and getting the tactile experience. I don't know if its being old fashioned or resisting change, but reading the traditional bound book is more appealing than reading an electronic version.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Still Exercise 52- Pt. 3
A customer tells you that he's read every book written by Dean Koontz and asks you to find an author who writes similar books. Using two of the sites listed above, find three new authors to recommend to your customer. Post the sites you used and the results in your blog.
Dean Koontz is renowned for his suspense novels and there are many authors like him. I used What Do I Read Next and Novelist's Read-alikes to find suggestions. Other authors the patron might enjoy include Clive Cussler, W.E.B. Griffin and John Saul.
A customer has read Alanna: the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce. She would like to read the other books in the series in order. Using one of the above resources, post the series title, the order of the books in the series, and the resource you used.
This one took an extra step to find b/c it does not specify if the series is for adults, teens or children. I used Mid-Continent Public Library's series finder. I searched by author and found the series Song of the Lioness which is comprised of four books:
Alanna: the first adventure, In the Hand of the Goddess, The Woman who Rides like a Man, and Lioness Rampart.
Dean Koontz is renowned for his suspense novels and there are many authors like him. I used What Do I Read Next and Novelist's Read-alikes to find suggestions. Other authors the patron might enjoy include Clive Cussler, W.E.B. Griffin and John Saul.
A customer has read Alanna: the First Adventure by Tamora Pierce. She would like to read the other books in the series in order. Using one of the above resources, post the series title, the order of the books in the series, and the resource you used.
This one took an extra step to find b/c it does not specify if the series is for adults, teens or children. I used Mid-Continent Public Library's series finder. I searched by author and found the series Song of the Lioness which is comprised of four books:
Alanna: the first adventure, In the Hand of the Goddess, The Woman who Rides like a Man, and Lioness Rampart.
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