Monday, January 28, 2008

10 Things that everyone should know



It's a tough world out there, and everyone needs an arsenal of things to keep themselves together. I like to call myself a fairly independent woman, but there are always things that help me out.

1. How to grab a bartender's attention:
This is really very tricky, but the name of the game is just to get noticed. Bartenders are used to people waving and shouting at them, so patience is the best weapon in your arsenal. But you can't rely on charm only, so here's a tip: keep moving. Don't wait as if you're wating in line. Instead, follow the bartender. Most bartenders move from one end and work their way to the other. Once you spot which direction the bartender is going to be headed, put yourself in that line of sight. Make sure you have money or a card visible in your hand. This will signify that you are ready to purchase drinks, and it won't take as long. Plus, know what you're getting ahead of time, a bartender can do just what a waiter does: I'll come back in a moment, and then you never see them again

2. Use a public restroom without picking up germs:
You're unlikely to catch an STD even in the grungiest bathroom, but there are tons of disease-causing bugs in there...including E.Coli. The toilet seat is not that germy actually, but still make sure that you put a barrier between the seat and yourself. This can be a little bit of toilet paper or a toilet gaurd. The real important things are flushing and washing. Flushing a toilet actually send fecal particles up to 20 feet in the air, so get out of the stall, wash your hands and leave. Don't linger so long in there *ahem* girls.

3. Fake goodlooks:
Your boss calls an emergency meeting for five inutes from now, or you spot your ex in a cafe, and of course "Murphy's Law" you're not looking your best. These work for guys and girls.
* Splash a little cold water on your face. This will temporarily tighten your pores and help even out your skin tone.
* Blot oil with a napkin, a towel, or even your t-shirt. The best thing to use though is tissue since it's porous enough to pick it up wihtout sticking.
* Camouflage breakouts with eye-drops...they don't make the zit disappear, but they do take the red-coloring temporaily out of the skin around it, making it easier to blend in.
*run your teeth over your lips. This will highten bloodflow to your lips, and will remove any obvious loose flakes. Then put some petrollium jelly on your lips. (Girls suck on some candy that will stain your lips)
* Pinch your cheeks for color

4. Fit everything into your bag:
My guy friends always laugh at me when they see me with my big purse. I carry a big purse during the week for a reason...because it fits everything. But I've come to accept that there must be ways to fit everything you need in a regular sized bag. And really this isn't just for girls, guys could learn this to so that they can minimalistic. First, you have to redefine what everything means. You have to lower this down to day-to-day essentials. I'm talking about your keys, wallet, sunglasses, cellphone, and super basics. Anything else that you don't carry with you everyday, should stay at home or at work. Then go with a size that will fit it all. Don't buy a super mini-clutch if you carry a notebook with you everywhere. Make sure that there are several smaller pockets inside the bag. Stash large items like your wallet in the main part of the bag, while your tinier things (such as your keys) should be in the pockets. That way, the big things will always be visible and the little ones won't get lost. Keep consistant when you switch bags. For example, always put your keys in the inner zippered pocket, your cell phone in the outer pouch, and so on. If you keep things consistent, you'll always know where everything is and you'll be able to reach in with your eyes closed and pull out exactly what you're looking for. Lastly, make sure that the bag has a lighter linning than the back on the inside. It's easier to see what you're looking for when the background is something that can contrast against it.

5. How to make a great omlet every single time:
Heat 2 ounces of butter (or 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, in a nonstick pan set on medium, and coat the entire bottom evenly. Add three beaten eggs to the pan, then (and this is key) continually push the cooked edges toward the center of the pan. You want to keep the eggs moving so that they don't stick. When the eggs become firm, cover half of the omelet with your fillings (think diced ham, cheese, veggies). With the spatual, fold the other side of the omlet over the filling side so it makes a half circle. After 30 seconds slip it onto a plate.

6. Set a mental alarm clock:
This become inportant when crashing at places on a weeknight, and there's no alarm clock. Try this next time: start by making sure the room is dark but not pitch black. If light get in your body won't be able to wake up. So as you're lying down, ready to drift off, tell yourself that you're going to wake at...say...seven. Say it over and over in your mind-I will wake up at seven- and at the samet time, envision the numbers on an imaginary clock. You should awaken at or very close to the desired time.

7. Talk and eavesdrop at the same time:
Mastering this talent gives you the percet cover when you're listening in on something. You can completely tune in to a nearby converation if you make a few mechnicali movements wiithin your own discussion that indicate you're paying attention but don't require actual focus. Lean slightly toward the person talking to you; this convey's an eagerness to hear what htey have to say, even though you're actually checked out. Maintain steady eye contact and nod your head occasionally. Every 30 seconds or so, volunetter a vague verbal cue like "right" "yeah". These words are easy to spit out without thought, so they relate to any topic.

8. Freshen you breath without a toothbrush:
Get some carbonated water, and swish it around in you mouth. This washes away food particles caught in your teeth or on the back ofyour tounge that cause odor. Then take a few bites (if you can) of crunchy vegtables. Apples, oranges, carrots, cucumbers, celery, and lettuce. These help cleanse your teeth naturally. If you can, much on parsley...which is a pretty efective breath-booster.

9. Fix a broken shoe:
Conquering the this common nightmare requires an easy preemptive maneuver-arming yourself at all times with the right extrastrong glue. One brand--> E-6000. Coat a thin layer on the hell, the press it firms against the back of your shoe. It's super strong and sets in in minutes, but go easy on your feet for a while, as it takes a while for the glue to set in completely. E-6000 is generally sold at craft stores, so if you don't have one nearby go for gorilla glue...which is more common and equally strong.


10. Tell a funny story:
I am probably the worst person to give this advice as I have the most awkward sense of humor. I'm one of those people that will laugh at exactly the most inappropriate times. But, I do know a few tips that I've noticed in other people. First rule of thumb: edit out the related details. "Keep your story short, clear, and to the point. If it doesn't matter what the main characters were wearing or what kind of car they drove, don't bore everyone with these tangents. Second, have fun telling your story without giving away the punch line. Go ahead and laugh while you're talking, it'll encourage others to do it too. Just don't give away the punch line early on. It's always best to keep it as a surprise.


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