Well Heeled Blog > 2010

2011 Goals: Make Money, Save Money, Get Fit & Enjoy Life

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2011 goals 150x150 2011 Goals: Make Money, Save Money, Get Fit & Enjoy LifePersonal Finances

Because even though money is no longer the top rated New Year’s Resolution, it is still a darn important goal for me! I’ve set some ambitious but still realistic goals for my income, savings, and retirement investments, and if I meet all of these goals (especially the income goal), I will be one happy gal.

  • Making money: My goal is to make $78,000 gross this year, and this will come from a combination of regular paychecks, bonuses, freelance income, dividends, and any gift money I am lucky enough to receive. That means every month I should be on target to hit $6,500 – though of course some months it will be higher or lower.
  • Saving money: I want to save $2,500 in the Galapagos Fund (we currently have $3,000 in the Fund). CB usually puts in the same amount, so if we can contribute a total of $5,000, that would be amazing. This is a trip I really, truly, deeply do want to take in the middle of 2012, so the clock is ticking!
  • Investing money: I will contribute a total of $21,500 to retirement accounts: Roth IRA ($5,000) and 401K ($16,500). I may also consider setting up a SEP IRA, depending on what my 2010 freelance income comes out to. In addition, all of my dividends will be automatically reinvested (compounding interest!), so I will be investing a wee bit over the $21,500 mark.

Run a Better Blog

I have to admit, I’ve been very bad about commenting on other blogs lately, and for a while there I was feeling like I’m in a personal finance rut (hence the proliferation of fitness articles… otherwise, I wouldn’t have anything to write about!). But a new year is a new year, so I am recharging and committed to improving the quality of my posts and the quality and frequency of my interaction with bloggers and readers.

  • Interface: You might have noticed that I’ve been tinkering with the blog look and have given it a face lift (I am using Catalyst Theme, a premium WordPress Theme, and I am so far VERY pleased with it – I will write a more in-depth review on it soon). I have a few other elements I want to add, but I think it’s going in the right direction. If you are reading via an RSS feed, come on over and check out the new look.
  • Interaction: My goal is to comment on 15 blogs a week – I love reading comments and very much appreciate the time that you guys take to leave comments, so it’s only right that I do the same for the blogs that I read and enjoy.
  • Carnivals: I aim to participate in 2 Carnivals of Personal Finance and 2 Yakezie Carnivals a month.
  • Alexa Ranking: I’ve never paid much attention to site rankings, but I should! LOL. Doesn’t mean it’s the be-all and end-all of blogging, but it’s one of many important metrics and metrics keep me on track. My goal is for Well Heeled Blog to break into the 70,000 Alexa Ranking. I am currently at around 200,000+, so this will take some work.

Life, Health, and Happiness

Because I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: what good is a big pile of money if you are not happy, healthy, and enjoying life? For this “life” bucket, I want to focus on travel, fitness, personal development, and giving.

  • Travel: I plan to do some domestic travel, maybe a trip to Washington, D.C., Virginia, and North Carolina. I’ve always been fascinated by those parts of the country…who knows why! I may also take another trip up to Boston area, because, well, I loved it so.
  • Fitness: I aim to exercise for 4-5 hours a week: 1-2 hours of Bar Method, 2 hours of Fitness Boot Camp, and 1 hour of running.
  • Personal Development: This is for classes / self-development that I might want to undertake, such as Chinese Mandarin classes, MySQL classes, public speaking seminars, SEO / blogging e-books, etc.
  • Giving: I will continue to give $20 a month to Central Asia Institute, an organization dedicated to the education of girls in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I give $50 a year to my college.

J. Crew Double Cloth Lady Day Coat is calling me

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jcrewladyday 300x300 J. Crew Double Cloth Lady Day Coat is calling meI haven’t seen much that has caught my eye during this round of post-Christmas sales, but I do like J.Crew’s Double Cloth Lady Day Coat very much. And, it’s still available in my favorite shade, Dark Plum. (It appears that every December, I am tempted by J. Crew’s offerings).

Here is what J. Crew says about this coat:

A feminine, flattering silhouette with a beautiful drape. Distinctly textured wool/nylon from Italy’s Manifattura di Carmignano mill, known the world over for its exceptional woolen fabrics. The mill’s double-cloth is one of our all-time favorites, and you won’t find it anywhere else—Manifattura di Carmignano makes it exclusively for J.Crew. Rounded collar. Long sleeves. Inset waistband at high waist. On-seam pockets. Functional buttons at cuffs. Repp-stripe tie-silk piping. Fully lined. Hits above knee. Import. Dry clean. Catalog/jcrew.com only.

It is listed at the sales price of $238. Then, there is the 30% off Final Sale, bringing the total down to $166.60, which will quality for free shipping. Add in taxes, the total would come out just a shade under $185.

But, do I really need a coat now? And should I get on for Final Sale, without possibility of exchange / return if the sizing doesn’t work out? My head says no. But my shop-happy heart says yes…

With any luck, it will be sold out soon and the decision shall be made for me. icon smile J. Crew Double Cloth Lady Day Coat is calling me

New Year’s Resolutions: For 2011, Life > Money

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HappyNewYear 300x225 New Years Resolutions: For 2011, Life > MoneyPersonal finance is usually one of the top New Year’s Resolutions, but for 2011, more people are emphasizing health, quality of life, and having fun over pure dollars and cents. (Might it be signs of a recovering economy? If that’s the reason, I’m all for it!) Check out my latest post for Lending Tree Blog – with the feedback from four other personal finance bloggers on their resolutions.

Personal Finance Bloggers Share Their New Year’s Resolutions

image source: http://cwl.nsw.gov.au/

Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Puppy Merry Christmas!Merry Christmas to all my wonderful readers!!!

Hope you all got what you wanted under the tree! My gifts included a gorgeous pearl-and-sugar-crystal necklace… handmade… by CB’s mom. I had actually coveted it for a long time and she finally decided to give it to me. icon smile Merry Christmas!

I will be resting at home because I sprained my ankle! That’s a really big bummer. At least it’s an excuse to sit on the couch, drink lots of hot cocoa, and watch holiday-themed movies.

I would be sad that I can’t partake in after-Christmas sales, but with the power of internet, even a lame-footed blogger such as I can join in the post-holiday shopping. It’s dangerous, though, because I’ve been spending all day surfing J.Crew, Banana Republic, Gap, and Ann Taylor.

During this down time I will also be taking some time to think about my financial goals for 2011 (see here for how I did on 2010 goals). Watch for the 2011 Goals Post next week. icon smile Merry Christmas!

Are you planning on doing any after-Christmas shopping? Online or in-person?

image source: kaboodle.com

2010 Goals Review: Not Bad At All

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When I first wrote my 2010 goals, I wasn’t sure how the year would turn out. Fortunately, things have worked out for the most part. 2010 was a year of surprising developments: CB and I moved in together, we started a fund to save for my dream vacation, I began working out, and I learned how to make a mean baked Tilapia. Seriously!

In the actual goal news, it appears that I have only accomplished a few of them – but the goals that I did accomplish were the important ones, so overall, I am pretty happy with how I’ve done. Next year, of course I will try to do better.

  • Save $5,000 for retirement: Check! When I set this goal, I was still job-hunting. After I got a job, I decided revised this goal to save $21,500 for retirement. Ultimately, I decided not to max out the 401k. In seeking a balance between  retirement goals and short term goals. I decided to save $15,000 in the 401K. I will meet this revised goal of saving $20,000 for retirement (401K + Roth IRA).
  • Get job: Check! After six months of freelancing and job-hunting, I got a job.
  • Travel: Check! I actually traveled more frequently than I had expected – I had to go overseas for a family situation, then traveled to San Francisco twice and to Boston with CB.
  • Tango: Pass. I still dance, but I haven’t been keeping up with classes as well as I should. I hope I will find a consistent class that is closer / more convenient to my apartment.
  • Find the perfect jewelry box: Fail. I haven’t seen any that I liked.
  • Seek out more freelance opportunities. Pass. I have gotten more freelance assignments this year, but I was lucky and they mostly presented themselves without me having to do much legwork.
  • Keep a gratitude journal. Fail. I haven’t kept a journal at all. But I am going to reaffirm this goal for 2011 because gratitude is SO IMPORTANT and I have SO MUCH to be thankful for, even when things don’t go my way. It is never too late to remind myself of that.
  • Language – continue to improve Chinese Mandarin: Pass/Fail. It’s a process. But my Chinese is nowhere as good as it needs to be if I am to fulfill my goal of working in China later on.
  • Start a decor blog. Fail. I registered two domain names but that was as far as I had gone. But, I am toying with the idea of starting a health / fitness blog for 2011. What do you think? Would you guys read that blog?

The Agony and the Ecstasy of Christmas Shopping

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On which side do you fall?

CB and I ventured into the malls this weekend, which was clearly eye-opening in (1) how many people are procrastinators in this Christmas shopping business, and (2) the For Sale signs that dangled in front of every single store.

For Christmas, I’ve spent about $120 total on 5-6 gifts for my cousins and friends. I’ve spent several hundred dollars on myself over the past month or so (hello fitness classes!) and a $300 dress for my birthday, so I think it’s fair to say that I should not indulge any more for Christmas.

But I still haven’t gotten CB’s gift yet. Christmas is in less than a week. I still don’t have something for him to open under the tree. And the worst part is, I am less stressed about it than I should be. I am not sure what this says about me as a girlfriend. Oops.

One MONTH of Fitness

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I can’t believe it, but I’ve managed to maintain a consistent exercise regimen for ONE WHOLE MONTH now. In fact, my first step towards fitness was a Boot Camp class on the morning of Wednesday, November 17. Since then, I have attended:

  • 14 Boot Camp sessions
  • 3 Bar Method classes (did you know that Bar Method was initially categorized as Alcohol & Bars in Mint? Too funny!)
  • 1 Zumba class

That’s a grand total of 18 hours of exercise over the past 30 days. Oy, it sounds so little now that I’ve actually put it that way….

With the exception of the very first week (i.e. when I started on a Wednesday), I have completed 3-4 hours of moderate to intensive cardio and strength exercises every single week. It’s a little surprising, even to me, that I have stuck with this – given that I have led a sedentary life for the past, oh, 10 years. (I still do not enjoy exercise).

Appearance:

I haven’t seen any difference yet (I suspect my diet is to blame – healthy eating is hard, especially with all the treats lurking about during the holidays). I also haven’t weighed or measured myself. All that will come in January when I get my six-week check-in, but I don’t want to be discouraged prematurely. Aside from the vanity reasons of getting in shape, this whole process is really about living a healthier life. Right?

Strength:

Am I stronger? I want to say YES! Just a little bit. icon smile One MONTH of Fitness I can do 20 modified push-ups in a row. I can hold a straighter plank for longer. The one place that I can really feel that I am working on strength is in the Bar Method. I can honestly say that I find very little joy in the exercises… it’s all I can do to keep breathing and not blurt out WHAT ANOTHER 30 REPS?! But then the hour is over and I think, oh, I can do this again. The power of selective memory…

Cardio:

I can run for 10 minutes now… still don’t like it though! I would like to like running because it’s such an inexpensive way to get good cardio exercise. But I don’t, maybe after I build up more stamina?

Flexibility:

When I first started working out, I was shocked by how inflexible I had become: I could barely touch my fingers to my calves! Growing up, I participated in gymnastics and dance, so I always had this idea in my head that I am flexible. Turns out, I WAS flexible. But exercise is bringing it back. Now, I can touch my fingertips to the ground, which I think is fairly good process for just a month of periodic stretching and exercise.

I am really happy about my progress so far, although I can definitely do better. I am looking to add a Tai Chi class into my rotation, and just bump up my Boot Camp classes to 4 classes per week, and my Bar Method classes to 2 times a week for the next 30 days.

Thank you to everyone who have shared your fitness stories and ideas, and who have encouraged me. It means a lot.

Paying yourself first – in exercise

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A New York Times column caught my eye this morning – apparently, a study published in the Journal of Physiology, found that exercising in the “fasted state’ (i.e. before you’ve eaten anything) combats a high-calorie, high-fat diet later on in the day.

Just how exercising before breakfast blunts the deleterious effects of overindulging is not completely understood, although this study points toward several intriguing explanations. For one, as has been known for some time, exercising in a fasted state (usually possible only before breakfast), coaxes the body to burn a greater percentage of fat for fuel during vigorous exercise, instead of relying primarily on carbohydrates. When you burn fat, you obviously don’t store it in your muscles. In “our study, only the fasted group demonstrated beneficial metabolic adaptations, which eventually may enhance oxidative fatty acid turnover,” said Peter Hespel, Ph.D., a professor in the Research Center for Exercise and Health at Catholic University Leuven in Belgium and senior author of the study.

At the same time, the fasting group showed increased levels of a muscle protein that “is responsible for insulin-stimulated glucose transport in muscle and thus plays a pivotal role in regulation of insulin sensitivity,” Dr Hespel said.

In other words, working out before breakfast directly combated the two most detrimental effects of eating a high-fat, high-calorie diet. It also helped the men avoid gaining weight.

Is this a fitness version of “paying yourself first”? Get the workout over and done with first thing in the morning, and then whatever other exercise you can pack into the day later is just gravy (or, er, a healthy, low-sodium gravy lite?).

But reading this article made me feel better about getting up at pre-crack of dawn to kick box and do lateral runs. I usually only drink water before my workouts, or have a bit or two of a banana, at most. Even though this study focused on men and were a bit sketchy on the details, for the sake of self motivation I have to believe that it also applies to women.

Do you like to work out in the mornings or evenings? Will studies like this change your habits?

Boot Camp vs. Gym: Pros & Cons

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My first month of Fitness Boot Camp is almost over. As a new member, I got a special price of $100 to try it out. After this month, the price will be $200. Aside from the charge, I’ve also been taking a few Bar Method classes / Zumba classes to mix it up. If I keep doing this, my monthly fitness costs will exceed $300! I am committed to getting in shape (must repeat: lifestyle change, lifestyle change), but I also have financial goals to achieve.

So, I’ve been considering doing the Fitness Boot Camp for another month, then switching to a gym membership – even the most expensive gyms such Equinox cost around $150 a month and offers unlimited classes. Plus, during the December / January holiday seasons, there are frequently deals with waived initiation fees.

I have scoped out the class schedule of an Equinox gym that’s relatively close to work, and I found about 2 classes per week day that I’d like to join: Express Train, The Ultimate Body Shaper, Rock n’ Body Sculpt, Boxing Boot Camp, Barre Burn, etc. If I do classes 5x a week, that would be 20 classes a month or $7.50 per class. There’s no where else I can get classes for that cheap. On the other hand, even the cheapest membership wouldn’t make financial sense if I don’t go (not to mention the health costs of sliding back into a sedentary lifestyle). And I don’t have the best track record with gym attendance.

Fitness Boot Camp Pros & Cons:

Pros:

  • Great instructors
  • Planned workouts: I love the fact that I never have to think about what workouts I’m going to do – if I show up 4-5 times each week, I know I am getting all of the major areas hit: strength, cardio, flexibility, balance, etc.
  • Accountability: Wake-up calls (and texts, and emails when I miss a session)
  • Month to month contract
  • Measurement / weighing of progress every 1.5 months

Cons:

  • Cost – $200/month
  • Only in the mornings
  • No choice of classes / times

Gym membership at Equinox Pros & Cons:

Pros:

  • Variety of classes – all included in the gym membership price!
  • Option to work out morning or after work: which, for the mornings that I don’t want to get up at 5am, is huge plus.
  • Cheaper than Boot Camp – $140/month: $60 is nothing to sneeze at. [In fact, if I choose to go to a cheaper gym, the membership can be as low as $30 a month].
  • Luxurious shower / locker facilities

Cons:

  • No accountability: no one will give a mouse’s behind if I don’t go workout
  • Limited validated parking – if I want to stay for 2 classes back-to-back I would have to pay for parking
  • 1-year contract
  • About 15-30 minutes from work (but it’s on the way home)

If I were rolling in dough I would do both (muahaha). But, alas, rolling I am not. So I have to choose. What do you think? Should I stick with what’s been working [Fitness Boot Camp]? Or should I give the gym membership a go [Equinox]?

source: topnews.in

Working Out: Necessary Evil or Truly Enjoyable?

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After a few weeks of working out 3-5 hours / week, I’ve decided to step up my game and dedicate 7-8 hours to exercise time – with a mix of Fitness Boot Camp, Bar Method, and Zumba to keep things interesting. So for this upcoming week, I pledge to:

  • Go to Fitness Boot Camp 4x (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings)
  • Attend Bar Method 2x (Monday & Wednesday evenings)
  • Attend Zumba 2x (Friday & Sunday evenings)

Coming from a 20something who has led a very sedentary lifestyle for literally the past 10 years, I am really excited that I’m finally taking the steps to a more active life. I realize that I haven’t written much on personal-finance dedicated matters, but these fitness classes are costing me a pretty penny, so look for a post on the cost of getting in shape.

For now, here is a question I want to ask those of you who exercise regularly:

Did you always enjoy exercise? If not, WHEN (if ever) did you start enjoying working out instead of seeing them as an, ahem, necessary evil?

Because although I love the way I feel after a workout (the feeling of accomplishment, and the feeling that I have done something good for myself), I certainly don’t enjoy the moments while I’m working out. Even with Zumba, which is probably the most fun I can have doing cardio, I’d probably have more fun reading a book or watching a movie (i.e. not exercising).

Will I ever actually enjoy the process instead of only the results?

Zumba Zoom Zoom

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Can you be truly committed to a healthy lifestyle with adequate exercise if you hate cardio? Well, “hate” might be a strong word, but I’ve never been the biggest fan of cardio exercise, especially if it came in the form of running.

zumba 300x240 Zumba Zoom ZoomBut I like to dance, so on Friday night I decided to try out something that combines dance and cardio: Zumba!

It was a pretty intense workout. I like the instructor and the energy, although some of the dance moves were difficult to master so I might have spent too much time on replicating the moves instead of going for maximum calorie burn. The studio was also PACKED to the rims, which detracted a bit from the overall experience.

Compared to the cardio portion of Fitness Boot Camp, I can say that Zumba is certainly more fun (and if you are really good at Zumba, you’d be amazing dancing in a Latin club). A CNN article I found says that some participants burn 700 calories in an hour. I’m quite sure that’s not my situation, but on a Friday night, Zumba is the perfect antidote to a long work week.

THEN, after Zumba, I discovered that a tango practica is coming to my neck of the woods (just once a month, but still, better than nothing!). I usually have to drive 20-40 minutes from my apartment to go to tango – one reason why I haven’t danced so much lately – so a new venue that is just 10 minutes away is amazing. This way, I can at least tango once a month.

So far, this week my workouts consisted of:

Monday: Fitness Boot Camp (strength & cardio) – $12.50 (assuming 16 classes a month, $200 membership fee per month)
Tuesday: Fitness Boot Camp (strength & cardio) – $12.50
Wednesday: Bar Method (tone & resistance) – $22
Thursday: Fitness Boot Camp (strength & cardio) -$12.50
Friday: Zumba (cardio) – $5* new student special, usually $10-$12

I cannot believe I worked out every single day of the work week. Today is a day of rest, but tomorrow (Sunday), I want to take another Bar Method or a Tai Chi class. I also can’t believe that my week of workouts cost $60! Aside from the pain of my wallet, I feel really proud of myself, and I hope that before long, I will start to enjoy these exercises instead of treating them like an assignment. Baby steps.

source: beautifyyourself.com.au

Hitting the Bar (Method) after work

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barmethod 252x300 Hitting the Bar (Method) after workThis morning, I decided to sleep in for a bit instead of attending Fitness Boot Camp. Then through the day I felt slightly guilty, so I decided to try out a Bar Method class after work.

According to the website, the Bar Method is a body sculpting workout that

integrates the fat burning format of interval training, the muscle shaping technique of isometrics, the elongating principles of dance conditioning, and the science of physical therapy to create a revolutionary new workout that quickly and safely reshapes your entire body.

(Wait, where’s the part where they promise me the moon?)

Just kidding. I’ve read a lot about the Bar Method (mostly good, with a few lukewarm reviews), and I’ve been interested in adding Bar Method workouts to supplement the Fitness Boot Camp. The only thing holding me back from the Bar Method is the cost. Each class costs $20+, even if I buy multi-class packages, the classes will still be around $18 or $19. But I decided to take the class once and see how I feel, then make a decision.

And, let me tell you…. the workout is HARD. It doesn’t seem hard, because it’s no-impact (no jumping, no cardio), you just wear socks, and you work with very light weights (2-3 pounds). My body was burning through the exercises. When do 20-30 repetitions with each tiny movement, your muscles will get exhausted. And when your muscles get exhausted, they will shake. I shook a lot.

Looking in the class, about 90% of the students are in great amazing shape – they are all long and lean and slim, like ballet dancers. I saw this one lady who was about my size, very petite. Even though we might wear the same size in clothing, it’s clear that she has the tone and definition (and, judging by how calmly she held her plank, the strength) that I dream about.

I really like the after work exercise option, so I might try to figure out how to add Bar Method into my schedule (and more seriously, my budget). My ideal exercise schedule would be Fitness Boot Camp 4 mornings a week, then the Bar Method twice on weeknights, and once on weekends. I also found a Tai Chi class that I really want to try, so that might become an occasional exercise as well. The Bar Method might deliver everything that they’ve promised, but I don’t think it’s a class I can do just on its own. It’s also probably not a replacement for cardio.

My Bar Method instructor said that most students see a difference in their body after a month of consistent classes (3 – 5 times a week). There is a new client special of $100 for a month of unlimited classes… I am going to see if I can make it to 3 Bar Method classes a week, if so, I will consider getting the pass.

If you have tried the Bar Method, let me know your thoughts! What type of results did you see, how long have you been doing it, what’s your favorite exercise?

image source: barmethod.com

The High Cost of Healthy Groceries

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The common perception is that cooking at home is always cheaper than going out to eat. Most of the times, I think this is true.  Lately, I’ve trying to cook at home more, both to save money and to help myself meet my fitness goals. After I started tabulating our grocery bills, though, I’m not sure how much money we are actually saving. It turns out that CB and I actually have pretty high standards when it comes to our groceries: I want items that are healthy, delicious, and convenient (which means pre-cut, individually-packed, pre-cleaned, etc.).

I am trying to incorporate more fish and high quality meats and vegetables into our diet (trying to improve my nutritional intake, from, say, three years ago). These high standards, not surprisingly, translates into high cost of groceries. I’ve been buying a lot of frozen wild salmon ($30 for eight 6 oz. individually vacuum-sealed fillets), frozen Tilapia loins ($15 for 6-8 loins), Greek yogurt (I like FAGE, which costs $1.99 for one small container), and other fares such as organic noodles, pre-cut butternut squash, and brown rice.  CB is resisting it, but I am hoping to move us onto pastured eggs before long.

The fish is especially expensive – I try to have fish (wild Alaskan salmon or Tilapia, although I am attempting to branch out) twice a week. Our monthly fish budget – assuming we get 1 pack of salmon and 1 pack of Tilapia – is almost $45! Yikes. I also like to get a big container of FAGE Greek yogurt for snack during work every week. At $5 a carton, that’s a cost of $20 a month.  If we start buying pastured eggs, a dozen would cost $5 to $6.

I think we need to start really keeping track of our food expenses. Or else, I’m going to eat us out of our house and home. Almost three years ago I asked readers what was your food budget. At that time, my groceries budget was $110. Now, I’ve set our grocery budget at $250-$300 a month for the two of us, although I hope to stick to the lower end of the scale.  A benefit of cohabitation is that we can pool our grocery monies together and buy in larger quantities, so I am hopeful that our money will stretch further.

So, let me ask again – How much do you spend on groceries a month? And, what kind of healthy produce / meats do you buy?

Fitness Boot Camp Journal: Milestones of the First 10 Days

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Today was Day 10 of my Fitness Boot Camp! I first started on Wednesday, November 17, and have gone to class 3-4 days per week. Here are a few highlights of the first 10 days of fitness (and hopefully the start of many more days to come).

1. Running / jogging for 10 minutes straight.

For the 5K / 10K / marathoners out there, I know how silly this sounds. Anyone can run for 10 minutes, right? Not so. The last time I ran for 10 minutes straight was about a decade ago, when I was in high school. No joke. That’s why I was so incredibly, incredibly proud of myself for doing an Indian Run with slow jog and sprints, for 10 minutes straight (fine, I might have taken 2 big steps in between).  Plus, I have never heard of the term Indian Run until Fitness Boot Camp, much less than run one.

2. Eating a healthy breakfast.

Before I started Fitness Boot Camp, I had atrocious eating habits, especially in the mornings. I would eat cookies or crackers or cake (cake!) for breakfast – those are delicious things, but for breakfast? Probably not. After I started Fitness Boot Camp in the mornings, I knew I had to have something substantive to eat after my workout.  So now, my breakfast usually consist of bananas, oatmeal, low-fat Greek yogurt, granola, or a slice of toast with peanut butter. Or a combination of the above.

3. Holding a better plank.

The plank is one of the best exercises for the abs, core, and back. It is also one of those exercises that is deceptively easy when you first see someone do it.  Oh, plank, you had me fooled.. but now I know your true power, I will never underestimate you again! After I hold the plank for a (short) while, I literally start shaking. Sometimes I have to put my knees down and rest for a bit. But – if I am not imagining it out of wishful thinking – I can tell that my planks on Day 10 are just getting a little bit stronger and longer than Day 3. Maybe I can even keep up with the instructor by Day 20 100!

Sources: (1) womenshealthmag.com (2) runnersworld.co.uk (3) howstuffworks.com

Best of Blogs Roundup – Yakezie Friends Part 1

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Last month my Yakezie member profile was featured and I received many kind remarks from other Yakezie bloggers, some I knew and some I didn’t. But, I am glad they commented because now I have a whole new segment of blogs to read and enjoy!

For this roundup, let me introduce you to a post that has caught my eye from these bloggers.

How I spent $500 on clothes in one month

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After getting back to Mint for the first time in several months, I realized why despite all its little quirks and annoyances it’s still one of the best and most convenient budgeting tools out there: the crisp graphs shocks you into realizing how much you have spent (and by you, of course I mean “me”).

In November I spent like there were no tomorrow. $513 on clothes and shoes, $313 on food, and $225 on gas and repairs. I am a little chagrined just writing down those numbers.

Clothes

The $500+ in clothes went to my Lela Rose splurge ($310), exercise wear ($22), a beautiful silk Nanette Lepore top I got on super clearance ($38), and a pair of Western knee-high boots ($143). I wish I can blame it all on influence of those lovely, lovely style blogs, but unfortunately it’s just me.

Food

The $300+ on food was $185 on groceries, $110 in restaurants, $22 at coffee shops, and $18 on fast food / burger joints. So… yes. Lately, I have gotten into the habit of enjoying wild Alaskan salmon ($30 a pack at Costco) and Tilapia loins ($16 a pack at Costco), so that’s where 25% of our grocery budget went: to the fishes.

Auto

The car expenses were the only area that couldn’t be prevented – most of it went to gas costs and some of it went to the mechanic. I put $150 a month into a separate account – my Car Repair Fund – and I only withdraw month if the repair is over $150. My hope is to continue building up that fund so I am not caught off guard by any big repairs, say, ones over $300.

The bottom line

I’ve realized that while I don’t need to keep tabs on where every penny goes, it is a good excellent idea to be mindful of how much I am spending. I honestly didn’t realize how much I have spent on…everything in November. It was much too easy to compartmentalize every purchase instead of adding up the numbers. Just think – if I spend every month like I did last month, I would be spending $6,000 a year on clothes and $3,600 a year on food. I wish my income can support that, but alas, it does not.

So, thanks to Mint for setting me straight.

Fitness Boot Camp Journal: Days 6-8

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Day 6 (11/25):

For Thanksgiving, I had the luxury of sleeping in. So instead of getting up at 5am, I lazied around until 730am to attend the 8am class. This workout was all about intense cardio for some preemptive calorie burn before the big Thanksgiving dinner.

Day 7 (11/29):

Three days without working out – combined with holiday feasting – has led my body to believe that it can retreat to the glorious inactivity of the past. >< Today was a combination of strength (fitness bands) and cardio (sprints). It was so difficult to get out of the bed while it was still dark outside, but I guess I will be glad I did? I felt pretty sluggish and “out of it” this morning, hopefully that will change tomorrow.

11/30: Today was supposed to be Day 8. Instead, I forgot to set my alarm the night before and completely missed the start of the boot camp. Oops. Maybe it’s a good time to take a break.

12/1: I also missed this morning’s workout! My instructor sent me a text and then said she will be giving me a wake-up call tomorrow!

Day 8 (12/2):

Finally! I’ve gotten back on the workout horse. My instructor gave me a wake-up call as she promised. It’s much easier to hit the snooze button on my alarm then to say no to your trainer when she asks you on the phone “are you coming in to work out today?” So, I deferred to authority and dutifully went to boot camp. It was tough – lots of work with resistance tubing to work the biceps, then cardio with jump ropes and steps. I’ve forgotten how fun (or how much coordination) jumping rope can be. Makes me want to buy my own rope so I can play in the courtyard.

Can I Afford to Read Fashion & Style Blogs?

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Chatting with Revanche of A Gai Shan Life one evening, I blurted out:

I don’t think I can afford reading style blogs anymore.

Style blogger Susie Lau 001 300x180 Can I Afford to Read Fashion & Style Blogs?Because, you see, I love style blogs – I appreciate the helpful information on how to put together a professional wardrobe, where to find a good tailor, what type of shoes goes best with what type of skirt, and how to mix and match different patterns. The sheer entertainment value of style blogs is also nothing to sneeze at: looking through a blogger’s photo spreads reminds me of a veritable ever-updated fashion magazine (and instead of paying $4 for a magazine at the newsstand, blogs are free!)

But I’ve realized reading style blogs has left my financial immunity hopelessly compromised against the shopping bug. It’s hard not to want to buy more clothes when I see those beautiful, impeccably put together outfits and the wonderfully evocative way many of these bloggers write about fashion and lifestyle.

I’ve purchased so many things in the last couple of months… if I don’t stop soon, I’m going to burn a hole through my wallet.  Now that I’ve warned you, click on the links (of some of my favorite style blogs) above at your own risk!

Does reading style blogs make you want to buy more clothes?

image source: guardian.co.uk