| How to Make Great Packed Lunches for Work Posted: 13 Jan 2011 09:32 PM PST  A lot of us are in the habit of buying lunch out each day. I don't mean we're all enjoying three-course lunches with wine – for most people, it's just a sandwich and maybe a bag of chips and a drink from the nearest store. The problem is, when you're sinking a few dollars on lunch five days a week, every week, the cost soon adds up. Buying a sandwich out is probably costing you around $3-$6 a pop; making that same sandwich as home would likely cost about a third of what it does in the store, around $1-$2.
So why don't more of us brown-bag our lunch? In most cases, I think it's simply habit. Of course, there's always the excuse that we're too rushed in the mornings – but that's pretty easy to overcome.
Finding Time to Pack Your Lunch
Firstly, you'll probably spend just as much time standing in line at the store as you will making a packed lunch at home. It only takes five minutes to put together a sandwich (I used to make my sandwiches whilst cooking my oatmeal for breakfast!)
Set your alarm clock ten minutes early, and you'll have plenty of time to make yourself some lunch. If you find it really hard to get out of bed in the morning, you can make sandwiches ahead of time and freeze them (don't include lettuce or other salad greens if you're freezing sandwiches). Just grab one out of the freezer before you head out the door to work, and it'll have defrosted by lunch time.
Storing Your Lunch
If you've got a fridge at work, keep your lunch in there. It might be a good idea to label your lunch bag with your name and the date (that way, no-one's gonna accidentally scoff it, or chuck it out).
If you don't have access to a fridge, just keep your lunch in an insulated lunch box that will stay cool. You can get these for a few bucks, and if you refrigerate them overnight, they'll keep your food cool and fresh till lunchtime.
Avoiding Sandwich Boredom
As well as the perceived "hassle" of packing a lunch, many people feel that it'll quickly get boring. Don't fall into the "ham sandwiches again?" trap: vary your lunches to keep them interesting. Here's some ideas.
- Sandwiches: There are loads of different types of bread to try. Pitas, tortilla wraps and bagels all transport well – and using different breads will encourage you to vary the fillings.
- Salads: Instead of a sandwich, why not make a big salad for lunch? Include some lean protein (like cold chicken, boiled egg, tuna or prawns) and some carbohydrate (pasta, rice or couscous work in many salads, or just take a few crackers to eat on the side).
- Leftovers: An incredibly simple way to make lunch with next to no effort is to cook a bit extra at your evening meal the night before and pop it in an air-tight box. I'm very partial to cold stir-fry; if you've got access to a microwave at work, you'll have even more options. (If you're reheating rice, make sure it's been kept completely chilled until you reheat it.)
- Extras: Try to include a piece of fruit or a handful of veggie sticks with lunch – too many of us don't eat any fruit or vegetables during the workday. You might also want to throw in a treat like a cookie or a small bag of chips. Look out for multibags of "treat sized" portions – far cheaper than buying candy bars and chips from the vending machine at work.
If you're stuck for packed lunch ideas, have a search on Google – there are hundreds of sites packed with great suggestions. You can also buy books of packed lunch recipes, though these tend to be aimed at parents making lunches for their kids.
Do you buy lunch out? Is it really a convenience or treat – or just a habit? Could you save $2 or more a day (that's $10 a week, almost $500 in a full working year) by taking a packed lunch to work?
 | Written on 9/17/2009 by Ali Luke. Ali writes a blog, Aliventures, about leading a productive and purposeful life (get the RSS feed here). As well as blogging, she writes fiction, and is studying for an MA in Creative Writing. Republished on 1/13/2011.
| Photo Credit: shawn campbell |
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| 50 Very Simple Ways to Be Romantic Posted: 13 Jan 2011 11:30 AM PST  Ok, so maybe Valentine's Day isn't for another month, but that doesn't mean you can't show your partner some special attention now. In fact, I invite you to join me in this experiment. The plan is to show your love for your partner in a small and different way each day for a whole month and see what magic happens. Here are a list of 50 things you can do to express your love. If things aren't good between you and your partner right now, this might be just the thing to slowly melt the ice between you both. If things are already good, this will strengthen your relationship further. By the way, there is nothing expensive on this list so there is no excuse not to give this a shot.
- Write "I love you" in the steam on the bathroom mirror after he takes a shower.
- Offer a back massage with some good smelling lotion.
- Write a poem. Then use Google Translator to translate a poem into either French or Italian. Then handwrite it out with the translation on the back side. Or better yet, greet your partner at night and read it to them with passion and then hand them the translation.
- While in public, declare "I love you, Matilda!" (not Matilda, but your partner's name.)
- Make a CD with a few songs that are meaningful to your relationship.
- Invite him to take a bath complete with bubbles, champagne, candles, and maybe a little Barry White. (the music, not actually Barry White in your tub.)
- Surprise her at work and take her out to lunch, maybe take-out food in the park or maybe to a little diner, for a midday romantic interlude.
- Put together a little gift on his pillow: chocolate and a note that says "Your love is like chocolate: sweet and delicious."
- If your partner has a work presentation at an off site location, have flowers and a note of support delivered there.
- Dedicate a song to him on the radio and send him an email telling him when to listen.
- Cook a special love meal of your partner's favorite foods. Play his favorite music and turn the lights low for a romantic dinner.
- Give your partner a pedicure and foot rub.
- Send a text message or email that says "I love you!"
- Mail a card and inside write down the top 10 things you love about your partner.
- Give him a picture of you for his wallet that says "I love you."
- Leave a love note in her car telling her to have a great day.
- Carve your initials in a tree.
- When your partner least expects it, give him a great big kiss, even if it's in public!
- Go see a romantic movie, sit in the back row, hold hands, and cuddle.
- King for a Day/ Queen for a Day. Declare that you will dedicate a particular day just to your partner to do whatever they want. Maybe start with breakfast in bed.
- Buy a tree and invite your partner to plant it with you explaining that this tree represents the love between you both that will grow over the years.
- In the midst of talking about how your days went, the chores that need to be done, etc. interrupt and say "I have something important to tell you. I love you and here's why." Then list 5 things (or more) that you really appreciate about your partner. Finish with a kiss and say, "Ok, so you were talking about the water heater."
- Write an old fashioned love letter and mail it. Be romantic and lavish. Have some fun with it.
- Before going to a party together come up with some secret code words you can use during conversation. You can be telling each other "I can't wait to get you alone tonight!" without anyone knowing!
- Find a hotel that has a jacuzzi and book it for a one night getaway somewhere close but fun.
- Place an ad in the classifieds declaring your love. Then take the newspaper, wrap it in a bow, and put a little note on it saying what page to look on.
- Blindfold surprise. Blindfold your partner and drive them to the place where you had your first date, and have that date all over again!
- Write a love poem for her.
- Make an early valentine. Cut out some paper in the shape of a heart. Write something sweet on it in red and put it in her purse or his briefcase.
- If your partner is going on a business trip secretly hide a love note inside their luggage.
- Offer to help them with some dreaded chore they must complete and make it into a fun time maybe with some music. (cleaning out the basement, raking the leaves, shoveling after a big snow storm, giving the dog a bath, washing the car, etc.)
- Do something romantic and spontaneous, like picking a flower and giving it to her right on the spot.
- Invent a meal and name it after him or her.
- Buy some body paint and write your love message on your body.
- Record yourself reading a romantic love poem for your honey. Then give your partner a CD and tell them to play it in the car on their way to work.
- Make a small postcard sized love collage. Then cover it with clear packing tape. Write a love message on the other side and mail it!
- Keep a box with mementos of fun things you've done together. Later when the box is filled, arrange them on a board and have it framed.
- Buy some underwear with special messages on it. Or buy your own and paint a special picture or message with fabric paints.
- Make a donation to charity in the name of your love for your partner. Give your sweetheart a card that tells how grateful you are to share your life with her.
- Keep a box with special cards, letters, photographs, and other mementos. On your anniversary or on Valentine's day take a little time to share fond memories together as you review the contents.
- Create a mindmap of all the things you love about your partner and make it into a card.
- Take a walk on the beach together. Run up ahead and write a message in the sand, and then call your partner to see what you "found."
- Say "I love you" often, slowly, and with feeling.
- Play hooky together. You work hard. Now today take a day to work easy at just sharing some fun time together. Call it an "I love you day."
- Send an e-card to your sweetie to brighten his day. Here are free e-card resources: Apple iCards, BlueMountain, Hallmark.
- Make little "I love you" posters with either crayons, markers, collage, paint, whatever. Post them in surprising places: the bathroom, the closet, the car, under her pillow, on her pillow.
- Create a small website or blog dedicated to your partner. Write a short love message each day for a month...or forever.
- Complete that chore or favor that your partner has wanted you to do for a long time.
- Be super kind for a whole day. Act like you would with a new love, a child, or a frail person. Show lots of kindness, generosity, and love no matter what for a whole day.
- Take an interest in your partner's interests. For a woman it might be watching a football game with your guy. And for men it might be going to see a chick-flick. Do it with a spirit of enthusiasm and love. Have fun.
Print this out and do one each day. Make up your own. You don't have to tell your partner that this is something you are doing. Just do it. Who knows, maybe you'll establish a positive habit of expressing your love on a daily basis.
Please share your favorite ways to tell your partner you love them!
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| The Power of Asking for What You Want Posted: 13 Jan 2011 06:39 AM PST  Getting what you want out of life isn't always easy. You can spend weeks, months or even years working on your goals. That's a lot of effort and planning just to get from point A to point B. Worse still are the people who do nothing but wait around hoping that what they want will just appear in front of them. There's a better way to get what you want, just ask for it. The old adage that the fastest route between two points is a straight line applies here. Asking for what you want is easier and works faster than any plan you could come up with.
My Story of Asking for What I Want
Sometimes asking for what you want can really surprise you. After I graduated college, I got a full time job and began my career. About a year into the job I had an opportunity to travel through Southeast Asia. This travel was not for work, it would have been a personal trip for 30 days! I was in a bind. Traveling through Asia had always been a dream of mine. However, I knew I couldn't just quit the job I tried so hard to obtain.
I tried to think through my situation. I realize that most jobs in America only allow two weeks of vacation per year. In fact, I don't think I had seen anyone where I worked take any time off whatsoever. But I wanted both a job and travel so I racked my brain figuring out a plan to make it work. I realized I had only one option: to ask for what I want.
I had no doubt in my mind that I would get a "no". No one expects their employer to allow that much time off just to travel. But to my surprise, I got the OK. The only stipulation was that I would be put into a different position when I got back. I was completely satisfied with the arrangement. A few months later, I was in a plane half way over the Pacific on my way to Thailand. And the best part was, I felt reassured that I had a position when I got back.
The biggest reason most people don't try asking for what they want is fear. They fear rejection or they fear that they'll ask in the wrong way or say something stupid. Asking someone for something you want can be a scary thing to do, but it's a lot better than waiting for it to just happen. And with a few tips, you can make your experience a lot better.
Here are a handful of things I did to help get the response I was looking for.
- Be Assertive
There's something about combining confidence with control that gets attention. People really respond positively to it. You're probably going to be nervous asking, but that's normal. Relax as best as you can and be confident. If you ask in an assertive, polite way, you're more likely to get what you want.
- Know what you want
The more specific a request you make, the easier it will be for both you and the person you're asking. If you appear indecisive and unsure in what you want, your request will come off as weak. Part of success in asking for what you want is showing the person how much you really want it. Show this by being specific in what you want. Plus, being specific is just polite to the person you're asking in case they have to work around your request.
- Be Flexible
Being specific in what you want is important, but so is being flexible. When I asked for my time off to travel, I had to accept the different position when I came back. If I had been rigid in my demands, I wouldn't have succeeded. It wasn't ideal for me, but it was acceptable in order to get what I wanted. If you're prepared to compromise, you'll succeed too.
- Be prepared for a "no"
Asking for what you want isn't a silver bullet for success. Oftentimes, you'll receive a "no" and you have to be prepared for that. Years after my travels through Southeast Asia, I thought I would ask for similar time off from a new employer. I asked for a month off to travel and got a "no". However, they did spend several days in consideration so I think it was pretty close to being accepted. I had to settle for a regular two week trip instead. I didn't get what I wanted, but nothing bad happened to me by asking.
- People want to help you
Before you ask for what you want, realize that people want to help you. It is rare for someone to respond negatively to a well-thought out polite request. Most people get a good feeling by helping another person out. Plus, they'll probably remember a time when they were in a similar position. If you keep this in mind, you'll be more confident. And that will get you one step closer to getting that "yes".
Remember, if you don't ask you won't receive.
 | Written on 1/13/2011 by Steve Bloom. Steve is the writer behind Do Something Cool where he blogs about travel, motivation, personal growth and adventure. He's always looking for ways to make life more interesting. Get tips on living life to the fullest through his Facebook fan page. | Photo Credit: danielle_blue |
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