You're head over heels for your new boyfriend who seems perfect in every way except for one thing: You can't seem to shake the hunch that he isn't totally over his ex. Sometimes you wonder if it's all in your head and is simply a matter of your own jealousies and insecurities coming into play. And yet there are times in which you suspect there may be a method to your madness. Rather than push these doubts to the farthest corner of your mind, it may be a good idea to pay closer attention to your guy's actions to determine whether or not your suspicions have any foundation- and decide whether you should continue on in the relationship or run for the hills. How can you tell if your boyfriend is still pining for his ex?
Here's how:
1. He wasted no time in jumping into another relationship- with you. Rebound much? Everybody needs time to heal after a long, intense relationship, and immediately starting a new one with someone else may just be a sign that he's doing all that he can to forget his ex before he's actually moved on.
2. He constantly brings her up in conversation. Even if it is just to rag on her or talk about how awful their relationship was, it shows that she is still fresh in his mind. If he were truly over her, he wouldn't feel the need to talk about her at all, good or bad.
3. He compares her to you. Once again, even if you come out on top of these comparisons, they are simply not fair and show that he is still constantly thinking about her and perhaps trying to convince himself that you are just sooo much better than her-which we know you are! ;)
4. He continues to hang out with her. He may pull out the "we're just really good friends after just having broken up a month ago" card, and of course, you don't want to be that girlfriend who looks insecure by constantly complaining about it and creating all sorts of rules and restrictions for your man, but if you don't say how you truly feel and allow him to continue to do what he wants, you will be doing yourself a major disservice. Let him know you don't think it's appropriate for him to be constantly hanging out with her when he's got you. If he gets defensive about it, then he's definitely not over her.
5. He constantly calls her. While it may not be as bad as hanging out with her, one typically leads to the other. Once again, this is time he should be spending chatting on the phone with you. Find out what the deal is before they start having "strictly platonic" sleepovers.
6. He accidentally calls you by her name. We can let it slide once, especially if his relationship with you is still fresh. However, if it happens frequently, and he doesn't apologize profusely, don't let him off the hook so easily, as it's not exactly the best way to kick off a new relationship.
7. He brings you to places that remind him of her. If you thought that bench in the park with the AK + BV FOREVER engraved on it was your guys' new special spot, think again. Ask him why he keeps taking you back to the same places. If he keeps on frequenting places where he used to take his ex, he is either extremely unoriginal, or he may be reliving fond memories- that don't involve you.
8. He's annoyed she's dating someone new. He finds out his ex is with someone new and expresses immense discontent and disgust about it, disregarding the fact that hello, he's in a relationship, too-and with you! If he has truly moved on, the feller should care less about what she's up to- especially when he's got you to drool over!
9. He keeps pictures of her. While we understand that a guy isn't going to automatically incinerate all pictures of his ex acquired during the course of their three year relationship the minute they break up, it is not only inconsiderate but also a tell-tale sign of his ongoing infatuation with her to keep photos of her lying around when he has begun a new relationship with you. It is permissible to keep old photos and keepsakes in a box that is stored far far away; however, if naked pictures of her pop up on his phone, RUN!
It goes without saying that last year was a beyond tough financial year for far too many of us. Some things have simply been out of our control, such as the flailing economy or total lack of jobs during this horrible market; however, the good news is that with a little self-discipline we can still retain at least some control over our own personal finances. Whatever financial mistakes we made last year can be eliminated and even made up for beginning now. It's a new year and time for a fresh start. Now while you may still find yourself unemployed and floundering in debt, the good news it that you can begin to turn your situation around with several small and seemingly insignificant savings tips which can ultimately lead to that much needed financial turn-around and ideally, even eventual complete financial freedom.
The key ingredient to financial peace of mind according to financial author and motivational speaker Dave Ramsey is to "live like no one else now so that later on you can live like no one else."
What does this mean?
It means taking control of your hard-earned money and not allowing it to control you. It means living within and perhaps even below your means for the time being-- shortcutting if not all together giving up certain capricious luxuries that you have been used to spoiling yourself with in the past, so that you may obtain full financial freedom to live as you please in the future.
For example, a Starbucks grande latte only costs $3.00. However, imagine if you were to purchase one for every weekday for an entire year, you would have spent a grand total of $3,120 per year in coffee alone! Now imagine what we must spend per year in other more costly products and services such as hair, nails, clothes, bar hopping, and clubbing, to name a few-- products and services which will inevitably add up quickly and deplete our hard-earned savings even more quickly .
Making certain small yet crucial changes now will lead to even bigger and better change in the future: complete financial freedom-- and all the Starbucks lattes you want. :)
Here's how (listed alphabetically by category):
Beauty:
1. Prolong the life of your lipstick by using a lipstick brush.
2. Switch to slightly cheaper hair care products and make-up for the time being. Many stores carry their own store brand products that are just as good and are slightly cheaper as the same name brand products.
3. Buy two-in-one products such as a blusher/brozner or a primer/lipstick or primer/mascara.
4. Turn bottles upside down to get maximum usage as opposed to throwing them out when they are not yet entirely empty.
5. Do it yourself. Save manis, pedis, waxing, and facials for special occasions only. If you don't know how to do these things on your own, it's super easy to learn. Many beauty supply stores sell products and kits worth investing in that come with complete instructions. With a little practice, you'll be pro in no time, not to mention you'll save a grip of cash. For more information, refer to at-home facials in the 'beauty' section of this blog.
Cell phones:
1. Switch to a cheaper monthly plan. Cut back on excess minutes, texts and applications.
2. Try to find a plan with roll-over minutes.
3. Get on family plans as servers often offer package deals at a significantly reduced rate.
4. Find carriers that offer mobile-to-mobile specials and try to recruit the people you talk to the most.
5. Save the majority of your lengthy phone calls for nights and weekends, which servers typically offer for free.
Clothes & shoes:
1. Nix your insatiable shopping addiction by canceling catalogue subscriptions, both online and in snail mail.
2. Only buy things that are on sale. Many girls don't like to do this (including me!) as they feel that the only things that go on sale are the items that no one wants. Fortunately contrary to popular belief, many stores place items on sale in order to push them out before the upcoming season's worth of clothing arrives (which usually happens way before the season itself actually arrives). So you will be able to score a ton of sweaters, boots, and a lot of other cute winter finds as early as February, which is when many stores are beginning to prep for spring lines.
3. Shop at second-hand stores. I'm not suggesting you go on a spree at Salvation Army (unless you like the selection, then go for it!); however, there are a many second-hand stores that sell only name brand items that have been in style for the past six months or less, such as Buffalo Exchange (http://www.buffaloexchange.com ).
4. Get creative. Rediscover items in your closet that you haven't worn in a while and find a new, fresh way to make them work.
5. If you come across stilettos or boots that are super cute yet have been completely worn out due to repeated usage, pay to have them repaired as opposed to buying the same ones new. It will come out cheaper, and you still get to keep your styling shoes without having to go through the effort of breaking in new ones.
6. Host a clothes swapping party. Get all your girlfriends together and score some new clothes without spending a dime. Swaps can be temporary or permanent, depending on you and your girlfriends' preference.
Entertainment:
1. Set a monthly entertainment budget for yourself and stick to it.
2. Read magazines online or at the bookstore. Most publications are online these days, so you can enjoy all the perks of catching up on weekly celebrity gossip without paying an average of $3.50 per magazine.
3. Rent DVDs for a dollar each at Red Box (www.redbox.com), which are increasingly popping up inside major supermarkets. They have almost all the same hits as Blockbuster or Netflix.
4. You can also rent DVDs and CDs for free from your local library.
5. Look in the local paper for free concerts to satisfy your live music fix.
6. Download iPod music from friends who have similar music tastes (totally legal!) as opposed to purchasing each individual song on iTunes.
Food & beverages:
1. Avoid dining out at all costs. If you must for whatever reason, avoid ordering appetizers and drinks, which will quickly amount to mass money rapeage. If you can, order from the lunch menu, as prices are generally lower since the portions are slightly smaller. Also, share dessert with everyone present in order to divy up the cost.
2. Brew your own coffee and tea. Why pay $3.00 for a drink when you can spend that much for on an entire week's supply?
3. Pre-party at a friend's house before hitting the bars or clubs where drink prices are painfully high.
4. Grocery shop with a pre-made list of all the things you need. Stick to the list. Eliminate all excess junk food you don't need. On top of saving money, you'll start to shed your 'winter coat' as well. :)
5. Clip coupons. Even if it's just for a couple dollars, doing so on a regular basis will really start to add up in terms of savings.
Gas:
1. Create a gas budget. Try to stick it to as much as possible, which will force you to find alternate means of transportation if you find you are way over your pre-designated budget.
2. Carpool as much as possible to class, work, or to go out. Work out a schedule with friends and co-workers, allowing for everyone to cut back on gas.
3. If carpooling is not an option, rely on public transportation. Sure, it may be a minor inconvenience as it might take slightly longer to arrive at your destination, however, you'll realize how much it's paid off once you realize how much you've saved in the process.
4. Fill up at independent stations as they are usually cheaper than franchises.
5. Start walking/riding your bake/skating to places that are within a reasonable distance.
A few last tips:
1. Create a budget each month for each thing you spend on money on, including all your bills.
2. Separate out in individually labeled envelopes the exact amount of money in cash you will need for each expenditure. Once the money in each envelope is gone, consider yourself done for the month.
3. Avoid using your credit cards at all costs!!! If you absolutely must, get rid of all your cards except for one!!! And only put on your card what you can pay off in full at the end of each month!!! I cannot stress this point enough. Credit card companies are so deceitful in making you feel as though you can 'deal with paying later' when really all you're really accomplishing is piling on debt that will have to be dealt with at some point. Even if you simply pay the minimum due each month, interest rates are so insane that they nearly qualify as usury. These plastic little monsters have singlehandedly lead to the financial downfall of many young women.
I hope these tips have helped, if even just a little....If you have any additional ones, please do share! Happy saving! Here's to 'living like no one else now so that we can live like no one else tomorrow!'
Believe it or not, chowing down on certain foods can actually be beneficial to your looks. Look no further than your own kitchen for the secrets to healthy skin,shiny hair and whiter teeth.
Here's how:
1. Lobster: These little crustaceans are a good low-fat source of protein (key for hair & nail growth) and contain a high amount of naturally occurring zinc, which helps prevent acne. Shellfish also contains vitamin B, which helps make hair look healthier & shinier.
Also good: Oysters and clams
2. Artichoke: It is chock full of fiber, which is detoxifying, helping the body to rid itself of waste. They also contain rutin, an antioxidant that reduces inflammation throughout the body. The result is clearer, less blotchy, and more radiant skin.
3. Strawberries: Not only are they sweet, but they are also loaded with vitamin C, another antioxidant that helps stimulate collagen production and reduces damage from free radicals, the nasty agents that cause skin to age prematurely. They also contain a malic acid, which is a natural astringent that helps remove discoloration from teeth.
Also good: Blueberries, kiwis, and oranges
4. Sweet potatoes: They are full of fiber and vitamin A (often used as an acne and wrinkle-treating prescription topical), an antioxidant that helps keep skin clean and smooth.
Also good: Carrots and tomatoes
5. Wild Salmon: It reduces inflammation more effectively than almost any other food and also enhances radiance and reduces wrinkles as well as puffiness.
Don't let harsh, bleak winter weather leave your skin looking the same way! Make your skin glow all year long with these 3 simple steps.
Here's how:
1. Exfoliate. While exfoliating at least twice a week is super important for fresh, glowing skin, you still must be careful when doing so. Over-scrubbing will strip your skin of its natural oils, leaving your face super dry and dull-looking. What's worse, you skin may overcompensate by producing extra oil, causing you to break out. To ensure this doesn't happen, use products with round granules rather than sharp ones that will create tiny tears in the skin. Also, make sure to scrub gently by cleansing in a circular motion starting at the jawline and working your way up. Scrubs we like: St. Ives Apricot Scrub & Origins Never a Dull Moment.
2. Moisturize. Use a heavier, age-defying moisturizer at night and a lighter one with SPF during the day Make sure to use oil-free products if you're acne-prone. And don't forget about moisturizing your neck as well! Also, make sure to dot an eye cream in the morning and at night all around the eye bone to prevent lines from forming.
Nighttime moisturizers we like: Oil of Olay Positively Ageless & Neutrogena Firming Nighttime Moisturizer Daytime moisturizers we like: Neutrogena Healthy Defense Moisturizer SPF 45 Eye creams we like: Oil of Olay Positively Ageless Eye Serum & Origins A Perfect World for Eyes
3. Bronze. Add a little color to your face with a dab of bronzer. Brush a powder bronzer/blush over cheekbones, forehead and at the tip of your nose and chin.
Bronzer we like: Revlon's Beyond Natural Blush/Bronzer Duo in Peach
(Note: Listed products are available at all major CVS and Target stores nationwide).
Hello everyone, we hope your new year has gotten off to a solid start! I just received this from a friend of mine and thought I'd share...Hope you can find something relevant to your own life in here! Enjoy. :) Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and less food that is manufactured in plants...
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2009 .
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily...And while you walk, smile.
Personality:
1. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
2. Don't have negative thoughts over things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
3. Don't over do it. Know and stay within your limits.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
6. Dream more while you are awake.
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need...
8. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
9. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
10. Make peace with your past so that it won't spoil the present.
11. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
12. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
13. Smile and laugh more.
14. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...
Society:
1. Call your family often.
2. Each day give something good to others.
3. Forgive everyone for everything...
4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
5. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
6. What other people think of you is none of your business.
7. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Life:
1. Do the right thing!
2. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
3. GOD heals everything.
4. However good or bad a situation is, it will change...
5. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
6. The best is yet to come...
