Jeezuz...don't fart on your date!

Hey, ladies! One thing you have to avoid is farting on your date, OMG! It can be the greatest of all turn-offs,and most guys have zero tolerance for such a faux pas.

Imagine you and your date spending a nice time together, getting started so well, you're enjoying this wonderful conversation together, when, out of control, you let go of bad air. With or without any sound, since he did not do it, he will know it's you! Shucks! No amount of perfume can ever make you smell good again in his eyes. You're done and finished.

One advise that you need to follow is this: Don't forget to do your toilet duty before going out on a date. That is very important.

should all dates end with a goodnight kiss?

I know how hard it is to answer this question especially when it is your very first date. In some cultures, kissing on your first date is a no-no. Since the first date is the first level of the getting-to-know-you stage, it is expected that the gentlemen will respect the feelings of the girl who will most likely feel cheap when the guy insists that he kiss her. It can be a very awkward situation especially when the girl does not want it. If it is also the guy's first date, he might also feel the same way and if he pushes hard, the whole thing might turn into a horrible kiss, like you know, missing it with your lips in kissing position and the girl not wanting to get it. Yikes!

If ever it has to end with a kiss, like the guy formally asks the girl if he can kiss her, then the girl may agree to have a peck on the cheek. Yes, a peck on the cheek would bring you a long, long way like you don't want to forget that long after the date is gone. It is going to be sweet and memorable especially if it is your very first kiss from someone of the opposite sex.

what not to order on a date...

Hmmm...the topic sounds interesting, right? Having a date, especially if it's your first date, can be every stressful, ahem, and exciting as well. Why stressful? Well for one, you have to be at your very best on your first date. You have to make a good impression, so that means to say you need to worry about a number of concerns like 1) what are you going to wear? 2) where would be the best place to go to so that we will both enjoy the date? 3) what would be the best scent that will not be too strong or offensive to your date? 4) what are the best ice-breaking lines? 5) what will we talk about? 6) what time should I go home? 7) do we need to kiss in parting? 8) what food is best to order on my first date?

Obviously, this post will hope to answer number 8. What food will you order on the first date? Let's say it's a dinner-date. Okey. Never choose a place which is too informal, like a place which will require you to eat the food with your hands. No. "Kamayan" food houses should be avoided. Why? It will make you look so unromantic to be eating your food with your hand! Yuck! See to it that you will exhibit your best etiquette on a date.

Never order food that is sticky or messy like spaghetti. It gets to be too dirty-looking at times when the sauce spreads around the mouth area or drops to your clothes. Yucky. Another problem with spaghetti is when the pasta is too long and you have difficulty putting it into your mouth, that can look really bad to your date.

Never order anything that get stuck between your teeth like "siopao" or big bread. "Siopao" is that rounded white flour with meat inside. Trust me, this kind of food gets stuck between the teeth and when you smile to your date, oh boy, it can be a total turn-off.

And guys, don't...and never order for hamburgers, especially the huge ones. You know why? To be able to bite on it you really need to open your mouth really wide...ahhhh...showing your tonsils and all. That is not a nice thing to see on a date.

Pizza? It depends. There are pizzas that can be real messy with all the toppings that drop when you bite on it. Also there are very cheesy pizzas that can be very cumbersome when the cheese just refuses to cut when you bite on the pizza. You pull it out of your mouth and the cheese never lets go. Eeky! Scissors please!

Stick to light finger foods. Order food that is not messy to eat, like fries or cake, shake, ice cream, oat meal cookie. You can think of many other "cute-to-eat" food that will not make you look like you're starving.

We will tackle other concerns on my next blog. Baboosh!

saving tips for everyone....

No matter what age you are or who you are, you have to start learning the habit of saving. Don't tell me that you can't do it with the meager allowance or salary that you get what, everyday? every 15 days? Come on, saving is doable, it is a big possibility. Just start small by having a sort of piggy bank where you can put all the loose coins or change. When it is full, go bigger by depositing them in the bank. Don't laugh at me now, because every million starts with a cent. Now, fill up those piggy bank of yours and start becoming a millionaire now.

After depositing your first piggy savings in the bank, start again. When it's full again, bring it to the bank, on and on. You will surely come back to thank me for this.

are you a loser?

Nobody wants to be a loser, so let's try to know the signs that make someone look like a loser.  Don't forget to check this out.

Losers have very low self-esteem.  They often look down while walking, while talking, while giving a speech, etc. Their heads just automatically go down when they meet people.  Along with this is the habit of slouching that only reinforces the loser's total outlook.  That's right.  Losers look down a lot and slouch a lot.

Losers whisper.  Their voices are no louder than a whisper so that you don't understand what they are saying much of the time.  Whether they are in the classroom or in ordinary situation, their voices never seem to come out of their mouths.

Losers don't know how to dress.  Because they have poor self-image, this is all reflected in the way they dress,  Their hair is not well kept and their clothes speak of no taste and color.

Losers do not know how to speak.  They have the tendency to eat their words, they do not know how to face a crowd, they answer in monosyllables. Even if they are intelligent, losers do not know how to show their intelligence in look and in speech.

Knowing all these, are you a loser?

Manners, manners, manners

Guys, in going to internet cafes, you need to observe some manners or basic courtesy or respect for other people. Internet cafes are public places, it's for everyone who wants to do their online tasks there for an hourly fee. In other words, you're not the only user there. There are several different types of people who go to net cafes. Some are young, some are old, some are very old, so please observe etiquette. What do we mean by this? It's very simple.

1) One user, one cubicle or one person for one computer. Internet cafes have limited space. Usually for such limitation in space the computer units are so arranged that users are seated elbow-to-elbow with each other. In other words, the space per computer is only good for one user. Never cramp or gather in one computer unit because that would inconvenience other users seated to your left or right.

2) Do your online tasks silently. Do not read aloud because you will be disturbing others.

3) Use the headphones correctly. The purpose of having your headphones is for you to be able to listen to your music without disturbing others. NEVER sing along with the singer because without you knowing it you are already annoying everyone around you. A lot of users who have their headphones on and are singing along with the music they hear usually are offkey and this is going to bother the other users.

4) When chatting using the microphone, please see to it that you keep your voice down. Do not shout for all the world to hear every word. That is so annoying. You don't own the place, you don't own everybody's peace of mind.

5) Do not bring food that create a lot of noise. Again, the reason is obvious.

Always remember guys, that the true test of one's education is one's respect for others. Let us be more sensitive about the feelings of others.

Just in: bold-colored pant suits!

Yes, hollywood celebrities so into it right now as I type this. Some have chosen traditional colors while others have opted to combine formal with their wild side by having them made in wild and daring colors.

what you guys are missing

Today's kids are missing out on a lot of real games people used to play back in the day.  I am talking about a lot of games having to do with physical activities involving all the kids in the neighborhood who gather to play games such as "catch me if you can" or other tag variations which involved a lot of catching and running around.  The kids would group themselves into two groups sometimes and try to catch the opponents and rescue their comrades and a lot of other fun tag games.  There were no computers or television sets to strap the kids in one place.  Games were all about running, hiding, pulling or tugging, jumping, etc. You can just imagine the great fun kids of yesterday had that kids today miss.

Ten Ways to Achieve Self-Confidence

Self confidence is the difference between feeling unstoppable and feeling scared out of your wits. Your perception of yourself has an enormous impact on how others perceive you. Perception is reality — the more self confidence you have, the more likely it is you’ll succeed.

Although many of the factors affecting self confidence are beyond your control, there are a number of things you can consciously do to build self confidence. By using these 10 strategies you can get the mental edge you need to reach your potential.

Build Self Confidence

1. Dress Sharp

Although clothes don’t make the man, they certainly affect the way he feels about himself. No one is more conscious of your physical appearance than you are. When you don’t look good, it changes the way you carry yourself and interact with other people. Use this to your advantage by taking care of your personal appearance. In most cases, significant improvements can be made by bathing and shaving frequently, wearing clean clothes, and being cognizant of the latest styles.

This doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot on clothes. One great rule to follow is “spend twice as much, buy half as much”. Rather than buying a bunch of cheap clothes, buy half as many select, high quality items. In long run this decreases spending because expensive clothes wear out less easily and stay in style longer than cheap clothes. Buying less also helps reduce the clutter in your closet.

2. Walk Faster

One of the easiest ways to tell how a person feels about herself is to examine her walk. Is it slow? tired? painful? Or is it energetic and purposeful? People with confidence walk quickly. They have places to go, people to see, and important work to do. Even if you aren’t in a hurry, you can increase your self confidence by putting some pep in your step. Walking 25% faster will make to you look and feel more important.

3. Good Posture

Similarly, the way a person carries herself tells a story. People with slumped shoulders and lethargic movements display a lack of self confidence. They aren’t enthusiastic about what they’re doing and they don’t consider themselves important. By practicing good posture, you’ll automatically feel more confident. Stand up straight, keep your head up, and make eye contact. You’ll make a positive impression on others and instantly feel more alert and empowered.

4. Personal Commercial

One of the best ways to build confidence is listening to a motivational speech. Unfortunately, opportunities to listen to a great speaker are few and far between. You can fill this need by creating a personal commercial. Write a 30-60 second speech that highlights your strengths and goals. Then recite it in front of the mirror aloud (or inside your head if you prefer) whenever you need a confidence boost.

5. Gratitude

When you focus too much on what you want, the mind creates reasons why you can’t have it. This leads you to dwell on your weaknesses. The best way to avoid this is consciously focusing on gratitude. Set aside time each day to mentally list everything you have to be grateful for. Recall your past successes, unique skills, loving relationships, and positive momentum. You’ll be amazed how much you have going for you and motivated to take that next step towards success.

6. Compliment other people

When we think negatively about ourselves, we often project that feeling on to others in the form of insults and gossip. To break this cycle of negativity, get in the habit of praising other people. Refuse to engage in backstabbing gossip and make an effort to compliment those around you. In the process, you’ll become well liked and build self confidence. By looking for the best in others, you indirectly bring out the best in yourself.

7. Sit in the front row

In schools, offices, and public assemblies around the world, people constantly strive to sit at the back of the room. Most people prefer the back because they’re afraid of being noticed. This reflects a lack of self confidence. By deciding to sit in the front row, you can get over this irrational fear and build your self confidence. You’ll also be more visible to the important people talking from the front of the room.

8. Speak up

During group discussions many people never speak up because they’re afraid that people will judge them for saying something stupid. This fear isn’t really justified. Generally, people are much more accepting than we imagine. In fact most people are dealing with the exact same fears. By making an effort to speak up at least once in every group discussion, you’ll become a better public speaker, more confident in your own thoughts, and recognized as a leader by your peers.

9. Work out

Along the same lines as personal appearance, physical fitness has a huge effect on self confidence. If you’re out of shape, you’ll feel insecure, unattractive, and less energetic. By working out, you improve your physcial appearance, energize yourself, and accomplish something positive. Having the discipline to work out not only makes you feel better, it creates positive momentum that you can build on the rest of the day.

10. Focus on contribution

Too often we get caught up in our own desires. We focus too much on ourselves and not enough on the needs of other people. If you stop thinking about yourself and concentrate on the contribution you’re making to the rest of the world, you won’t worry as much about you own flaws. This will increase self confidence and allow you to contribute with maximum efficiency. The more you contribute to the world the more you’ll be rewarded with personal success and recognition.

(Courtesy of John Jorgensen)